From the back:

Jacqueline Kirby decided to get away from the weather and doldrums at Coldwater College in Nebraska. A trip to New York would be ideal and since she is the assistant head librarian at the college she can take the trip as a tax-deductible professional expense: She will attend the convention of Historical Romance Writers of the World.

The visit is everything that Jacqueline though it would be an more. Much more. First Dubretta Duberstein, the scandal columnist, dies under mysterious circumstances. She did have a bad heart, of course, but... Then, one of the most popular of the writers at the convention, Valerie Valentine, asks Jacqueline for help. Someone, it seems, is threatening to kill the novelist.

I actually listened to this one on audio in my car, but found parts of it absolutely hilarious! The whole convention is cheesy in a lot of ways, but I really think that being book people, a lot of BC'ers might enjoy this fun read, so I'm going to make it a bookray!

Bookray!

Member Order:

Kitten22 - Connecticut, USA (US Only)
butlin - New Hampshire, USA (international)
butternut - Massachusetts, USA
Casperette - Minnesota, USA
Pyan - Wisconsin, USA
momofap - Iowa, USA (international)
indymomto2 - Indiana, USA
FamFatale - Virginia, USA (US preferred)
snickarbo - Florida, USA (international)
LGinder - California, USA (US Only)
Jenvince - California, USA (international)
Zarylia - Poland(school year)/Minnesota, USA(summer) (international)
katayoun - Iran (international)
Hengameh - Iran (international)
Skyrider - Cambridge, UK (international)Here now!
Loeweneckerchen - Germany (international)
nickel27 - Germany (international, would like to be near end)
Metropolitan - Brazil (US or Canada preferred)
boardom - Pennsylvania, USA

then:
check with shaunesay to see if more listed for the ray...
if not, then off to bookczuk - South Carolina, USA (for Starbookz)


Please journal as soon as you receive the book so we know that it is safe and sound, and again when you have finished so we know how you liked it and that it's just about ready to move on. Also, please PM the next person in line to receive their address a few days before you are finished reading the book so as to cut down on delays. Thanks everyone! I hope you enjoy and I'm very interested to hear what you have to say!

Sending off to Kitten22 to start the Ray!

Received today. Can't wait to read!

First off, let me just say thank you to shaunesay for making this into a ray. I do not mean any of my comments as a reflection on this BookCrosser.

I was very disappointed with this book. The whole premise promised to be amusing, but the actuality of the book falls far short. I had zero respect for the main character, Jacqueline, who I found to be self-centered, rude, and pompous. I was appalled by the way she treated James as if he were some sort of unworthy sidekick. I sincerely disliked the woman by the end of the book, and only continued reading because I had already invested so much time into the book already and didn't want to just give up and pass it on.

I simply cannot believe that this horrid book was a product of Elizabeth Peters's mind. The same mind that produces the Amelia Peabody books. I always knew she was a snotty elitist feminist, but I ingored it as I love her stories. I must say that I feel no desire to ever purchase another of her books. As much as I enjoy the Amelia Peabody books, after reading this slop I just cannot justify giving the woman a single cent of my money in royalties. This "effort" is truly an embarrassment to her and a grave dissappointment to her fans.

Sending on to butlin - next in ray.

So it took so long to journal. Received during my move and had no computer for a while. Just started reading last night. Will journal again once I am ready to send along

I am going to send this along to the next person. I really couldn't get into this book. I have so many others that I really want to read. Hope Butternut enjoys it!

After reading some of the other reviews I was not expecting to like this book. I will agree with everyone that this is not a literary masterpiece. But I thought that it was a quick funny read. The author is poking fun at the historical romance genre.

Sent to Casperette 6/19/04.

Book arrived today. I am not sure how I became part of this bookray as I do not remember signing up for it. I may have accidently signed up on this one. This is not a style of book I enjoy rwading so I will pass it on this next week to the next bookcrosser on the list: Pyan in Wisconsin. Sorry about the mix up.

I found this book to be absolutely hilarious as she rips up the commercialization of the bodice-ripper genre. The satirical tone and dry wit were right on target.

I recieved this book in the mail. I found that this book was really boring and slow reading. I will not read another book by this author.

Wow, I don't think I've seen a bookray travel so fast, and all because most people don't like it! Sorry guys, I found it very funny, but perhaps that was because I listened to it on CD. While Elizabeth Peter's non-Amelia Peabody mysteries aren't as enthralling, I really didn't think this one was THAT bad. I kind of feel like I did some false advertising as much as some of you have disliked it! Oh well... win some, lose some... Maybe some of it's future readers will like it better.

I sent this book on to the next person that wanted it.

Found it on the to be read bookshelf. Moved it up the reading list !!

Got in todays mail. Will read quickly and pass on!

I'm going to pass on this one. I read a few chapters and I was having a real hard time with it - not that it wasn't interesting it was the size of the print and the color of the pages I think. How lame is that? These new contacts I have make reading smaller print - guess I need reading glasses.

I'll be mailing it out in the next day or two as I have the next address. Thanks for sharing anyways!!

Received yesterday. Will get to it as soon as I can, I do have some rings/rays to read ahead of this.

I enjoyed this book. Mailing today to Zarylia.

Warsaw/Poland - Just received the book in the mail and was reminded of playing 'Clue' in my basement and reading Nancy Drew novels late into the night. :-D Unfortunately this book came in on the heels of 3 other bookrings so it may be a while before I can get to it. I do have a plane ride coming up in the not-so-distant future though that this could be perfect for...

Warsaw/Poland - The perfect airplane read, didn't require massive amounts of brain power, not serious, and very funny. :-D That said, I can see where the others are coming from in saying they didn't like it; I've only read 2 other Elizabeth Peters books but I can tell you that this is NOT her best. It was funny though; there were several parts where I was forced to smother a giggle. ;-P Anyway, thanks for including me in the ring, the book should be on it's way to katayoun shortly. :-D

Update 14/03/05 - sent off to katayoun today by priority mail, enjoy!

the book is here and it's a complete surprise, don't remember siging for it! :) though a very nice surprise, i must add. got 3 more books before this and then i'd be enjoyinh this, thanks shaunesay and hope all is fine. and also thanks Zarylia

this was fun, read it over the weekend at my parents coutryside place(with the sound of nightigales in the background! and the scent of almond blossoms in the air, really a most amazing place :)) and enjoyed it alot. i liked ms kirby/kirsby/kirky, and i loved the setting! thanks shaunesay and thanks zarylia.
will be handing it to hengameh, tomorrow, dinner and a lovely time! HURRAH!

lovely "joo-jee kabob" (grilled chicken) and exchange of books, the book is now with hengameh.

sorry for the delay,but it's still in my TBR pile;

RELEASE NOTES:

i didn't read the book.it's now on its way to skyrider.

Despite the current political tensions between both countries, the book's made it rapidly from Iran to the UK. Thanks to Hengameh for sending it on and to shaunesay for sharing in the first place.

More thoughts after I've read it...