Friday, January 13, 2012

Unwrapping: Let's Try this Again - Same Test + Giveaway!

Captive of My Desires
by Johanna Lindsey - 2006
Giveaway is Closed. 

Test Your Ability to Recognize Old Romance
from New with an incentive:

On Wednesday's post, I had a lot of folks view the test, I assume try their luck at it, and then for whatever reason choose not to comment on it. The point I was attempting to make with this exercise was whether ot not it was possible to recognize 'old' Historical Romance from 'new' Historical Romance from part of a 'love scene'. I need more input, everybody!

I do want to give a special shoutout to the husband of ROMANCEAHOLIC who without any experience in the genre proved what I had expected - he got two of the scenes wrong, one of which I hoped folks would mistake for 'old' - thank you for playing along and because of your dear wife's honesty, I'm including her in the Giveaway, whether she comments on this one or not.  In fact, anyone who commented on Wednesday's post is welcome to comment here for an entry in the giveaway ... several were truthful or explained how they knew which were which but some I suspect fudged a little. Won't judge you if you own up to missing one.  It's all in fun, no right or wrong results.   : )

About the Giveaway: 

1990 Edition
Same test, same answers, same rules, nothing's changed, no tricks, only this time to encourage those who were afraid to admit that they could not pick 'old' from 'new' (only reason I can assume you didn't brag) - I'm giving away a copy of GENTLE ROGUE by Johanna Lindsey - 1990 edition to one lucky commenter.  Winner will be chosen from comments on this post only with the exception of the above mentioned who gets an extra entry if she comments here.
To enter this giveaway all you need do is take the test or say you took the test on the previous post, say whether you found it easy to recognize 'old' from 'new' or not so plus a valid email address and you're entered. Btw - a simple correct or missed will do - if you tell me correct, then please add why it was so easy. Be sure to leave a valid email address in the comment or I can't qualify you for the giveaway. This giveaway is open to EVERYONE!!


This is my favorite of the Malory Series.
Quick blurb for GENTLE ROGUE:

Heartsick and desperate to return home to America, Georgina Anderson boards the Maiden Anne disguised as a cabin boy, never dreaming she'll be forced into intimate servitude at the whim of the ship's irrepressible captain, James Mallory.

The black sheep of a proud and tempestuous family, the handsome ex-pirate once swore no woman alive could entice him into matrimony. But on the high seas his resolve will be weakened by an unrestrained passion and by the high-spirited beauty whose love of
freedom and adventure rivals his own.

THE TEST

I will list part of a scene from a Historical Romance without any other information given, I want you to tell me if the Romance was written pre- 2000 or post- 2000. Simple, huh? Answers can be found at a link at the end of this post. These might surprise you - some of you might recognize the lines but have fun anyway.

Game on!

Scene #1 - "A chore, like any other? Very well, she told herself. Just get it done.
She dropped her gaze to the bed, loath to watch him while she explained the horrid facts to him. "I must have a child, and it must be conceived immediately. You were chosen to aid me because your hair and eyes are the same as my husband's, for the child needs have the look of him. So we must copulate this night, and the next, and the next, until your seed bears fruit. I like this no better than you, but I have no choice - and neither do you."
His chains rattled, but she would not look toward those expressive eyes of his. Briskly, she took hold of the thick sheet covering him and flipped it to the end of the bed, where it slithered to the floor."

Scene #2 - "Deliberately, [she] leaned forward until her breasts rested on his chest; and seizing upon all her imagination, she lowered parted lips and moved them slowly, warmly upon his. Her eyes flew wide as his mouth opened and twisted across hers, his tongue thrusting through as his arms went around her, crushing her in his embrace. Her world careened crazily as he slowly turned until she half lay across his lap, her head pressed back against his shoulder. ... She should have found his blistering kiss repulsive, but in truth it was wildly exciting."

Scene #3 - "[She] was so startled by the invasion she went completely still, her mind filling with confusion as the combination of the caresses and the kiss filled her with a sharp excitement that was almost overwhelming. She remained still and uncertain as his mouth explored hers, her hands balling into fists by her waist as he ... excuse the interruption - too racy for this blog ..., and the excitement spiked to a level that raised fear in her had her grabbing at the hand to stop him.
[He] immediately stopped his caress, but he also broke their kiss to lift his head.
'I am your husband.'
He whispered the words against her lips and she stilled again, uncertainty flowing through her. He was her husband and had every right to do whatever he chose, ..."

Scene #4 - "She stood there proud and unashamed to have him see her thus, with no attempt to cover herself in any way, and he looked long and hard, feasting on the reality of what he had only been able to imagine previously. She was so very beautiful to him, so perfectly formed for all her height.
[He] was unaware that he had walked to her, but he stood next to her now, the velvet gown forgotten, dropping from his fingers to the floor. Everything was forgotten as his hands rose to cup her cheeks, and he lowered his head to taste the nectar of her lips. Slowly, he tasted, gently at first to savor, then with the full measure of his need.
In those first moments, he was so consumed with desire that he would not have noticed if [she] resisted. But she was not resisting in any way. ... she was kissing him back with an unrestrained abandon."

Okay, the rest is up to you ... which of these four scenes were written pre-2000 and which were written post-2000?

Click here for the answers!   Please be honest and don't cheat - I'm trying to demonstrate that without knowing the novel, it's difficult to see the difference in the timeline of writing style. Thanks for playing!

Remember to be entered in the Giveaway, you MUST comment and you MUST leave a valid email address!  Giveaway runs till 11:59 PM EST Saturday, January 14, 2012. That's only 2 days to enter!  Winner will be chosen at random and announced on Monday's post.  Thanks and Good Luck!  : )

Happy Reading Everyone!      
                  Giveaway is Closed. Thanks to everyone who participated.

12 comments:

The_Book_Queen said...

Oh, I sucked at this test the other day. LOL. And even though I looked at the answers after, I couldn't tell you right now what the real answers are. :) Here's my guesses though:

1) Old
2) New
3) Old
4) Old

Ha, I know I'm wrong, but oh well. :)

Enjoy!
TBQ
The_Book_Queen AT yahoo DOT com

Amy Valentini said...

LOL!! TBQ, there's NO right or wrong results! Thanks for playing. : )

Dalila G. said...

I did comment on 'Wacky Wednesday' and MISSED! LOL!

I know the answers now so I feel funny trying to put in my two cents, but I still can't believe I missed!
I'm not wild about missing out on passages of books I've read before. I will have to say, in my defense, that I've read the books a while back and have read a zillion books since...*wink*...plus I'm throwing in my age as a factor too! LOL!!
You know, about memory going and all that jazz. :-)

Have an awesome weekend Amy and thank you for the giveaway.

DNodrog3(AT)aol(DOT)com

Alainamauro said...

Okay, my guess is new, old, old, new.

This was fun!

Amy Valentini said...

Thank you, Alainamauro, for your honesty ... you did get them all completely wrong but that's okay, there are no wrong results. Thanks for visiting. : )

jthoren said...

1. Old
2. New
3. New
4. Old
I'm still not sure about the two middle answers, but I'll just say this is my final answer, because I could debate and second guess forever.


4.

jthoren said...

Whoops, forgot to leave my email, jeseik@yahoo.com. Sorry about that.

Amy Valentini said...

You all are doing great! Thanks. jthoren, got the email, NP! : )

Maureen said...

Amy,
Sorry I missed Wacky Wednesday, difficult week as you know, and although I am not entering the contest I would like to play my hand.

Old
New
New
Old

Am I sure? Nope, but hopefully I have been reading romance long enough to have some clue...lol!

Continue on Amy, I love your blog and as you know I take real pride it your endeavors. Hey did you get your Diva invite?

Enjoy,
Maureen

Amy Valentini said...

LOL! Maureen, Wrong! That's good. If you had read them all, you would have recognized them but if you haven't then you'd go by instinct and instinct told you different. I love this ... y'all are proving my point beautifully!
And no, haven't gotten my Diva invite. : (
Thanks for coming by. <3

AP said...

I know im too late for the giveaway but I had to see if I could answer right. I knew I had read the first and last books.. I was reading it and I was like "Hey I know this! I've read this scene" and I dont read a lot of historical other then johanna lindsey and julie garwood so yay! The other two I stumped on.

I never noticed much difference in historical today verses yesterday but again I'm no expert. I did just read Kristen Callihan's Firelight which is Historical with a Paranormal twist which I loved.

Now contemporary when I read I like to guess the decade. The fashion and hair styles usually give it away. But its a fun!

-Amanda P
Paranormal Romance

Amy Valentini said...

Hi Amanda P, what a treat to have you come by - I love your blog and visit as often as I can. I'm glad you had fun with this quiz. I was delightfully surprised that it wasn't as easy as I thought it would be to choose. My point was to show some of the young reviewers that not all Romances from the past are 'bodice rippers' containing weak, damsel-in-distress heroines.
I hope I've introduced you to two authors that you will try out. Kathleen Woodiwiss and Lynsay Sands' historicals. I know you must read her Atlantis Vamps.
Love that Lynsay writes both historical and paranormal - love those Argeneaus! : )