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Showing posts with label Gina Lamm. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gina Lamm. Show all posts

Monday, September 9, 2013

Interview and Review: Geek Girls Don't Date Dukes by Gina Lamm

Today we welcome author Gina Lamm.  She joins us with an interview as she promotes her latest book, Geek Girls Don't Date Dukes.

Publisher: Sourcebooks (Casablanca)
Date of publication: September 2013

Leah Ramsey has always loved historical romance novels and dressing in period costumes. So when she has a chance to time travel and experience the history for herself, she jumps at it-figuring it can't be too hard to catch the eye of a duke. After all, it happens all the time in her novels. Avery Russell, valet and prize pugilist, reluctantly helps Leah gain a position in the Duke of Granville's household... as a maid. Domestic servitude wasn't exactly what she had in mind, but she's determined to win her happily ever after. Even if the hero isn't exactly who she's expecting...


My thoughts:


Geek Girls Don't Date Geeks is the second in the "Geek Girls" series by Ms. Lamm.  I have to admit that this one was just OK for me.  I think I liked the first one more.  The one thing about this book that I did like was the hero isn't a rich duke.  He is a valet who has nothing to offer but himself. He has been caught in a bad situation and is doing everything he can to take care of his ailing aunt. I liked him much more for that.  


The only thing that I didn't like was that it felt like it took forever for Avery and Leah to get together. Other than physical attraction, I wasn't feeling the love between the two.  I didn't care much for Leah. She came across as a bit self-centered to me.  But, she did redeem herself in the end.  It was a quick read, so if you read the first one, it's worth reading this one.





Hi everyone, and happy Monday to you all! GEEK GIRLS DON’T DATE DUKES hasn’t even been out a week, and I’m already overwhelmed with love. I’m so grateful to From the TBR Pile for having me as a guest today. Thanks Kari and Autumn!

Kari& Autumn: What inspired you to become a writer?

Gina: I love stories. I’ve been a voracious reader all my life. I love playing pretend, being creative, acting, dancing, writing, all of it. But telling stories through writing has become my favorite way to express my need to create. When I discovered eBooks, I started spending a lot—a whole lot—of money on them. And I read so fast that I really was outpacing my book budget! One day I started to write a story to entertain myself, and that story turned into my very first novel. Through the encouragement of friends and family I decided to try to get it published. Though that book was never accepted for publication, it definitely put me on the path to becoming a career author. I love to write, and I can’t imagine having any other career as fulfilling as this.

Kari& Autumn: Where do you come up with the ideas for your books?

Gina: Stephen King’s book On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft says to write what you like. That’s what I had been doing before I read his wise words, but I really do try to keep that the focus of my writing now. I write about what I love, and what I like. When trying to come up with a new concept for a book or a series, I scan my brain for things I’m drawn to. With the concept for the “Geek Girls” series, World of Warcraft and Regency romances were my two “likes” and I mooshed them together to get a kooky time-travel series. I still try to stay true to things I like when picking concepts now. I don’t write to trends, I write what I’d want to read. If that matches a trend, wonderful! But if not, that’s okay too. I think it’s important for authors to be true to themselves.

Kari& Autumn: What exciting projects are waiting in the wings?

Gina: Well, I’m currently hard at work on the third and final book in the “Geek Girls” series. It’s entitled THE GEEK GIRL AND THE RELUCTANT RAKE. I’m billing this one as my “Regency Road Trip,” and it’s hella fun. You’ll meet Ella Briley, the heroine of book three, in GEEK GIRLS DON’T DATE DUKES. I’m having a ball writing this kickass female comic artist. But I’m definitely looking forward to a couple of new, unrelated projects to follow up with. It’s a bit too early to spill any of those ideas, though. Still keeping a coupla cards close to the chest. ;)

Kari& Autumn: Who is your favorite literary character and why?

Gina: Oh gosh, that’s totally a tough one. But I do have to go back to Mr. Stephen King. DOLORES CLAIBORNE is my favorite book of all time. Even though romance is my favorite genre, DOLORES CLAIBORNE taught me so much about voice, and deep characterization that I can’t discount its affect on me now. Even when I didn’t understand a darn thing about novel writing, there was something so magnetic about that character, about her struggle, about the human experience as seen through her eyes. Actually, talking about it makes me really want to go read it again right now! :)
 Kari& Autumn: Just for fun, if you could be any animal, what would it be and why?

Gina: I’d probably be a hawk, or a falcon. A bird of prey, so I wouldn’t have to worry so much about being eaten. But I’d love to fly. I think that’s a pretty common human wish, but as I’m writing this while in vacation up in the mountains, I think it’d be extra cool!


Thanks so much for having me here. I’ve really enjoyed it! 

About the author:

Becoming a magician proved to be less interesting than Gina Lamm had anticipated when she was six,
so in her adult life, she’s turned to writing.


This belly-dancing, wisecracking, marshmallow-addicted mother of three energetic fur-children loves nothing more than penning funny, emotional tales of love, lust, and entertaining mishaps.

Married to a real live superhero, she and her family live in North Carolina, surrounded by tobacco farms, possums, and the occasional hurricane.

twitter username:

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Review & Interview: The Geek Girl and the Scandalous Earl by Gina Lamm

Today, we welcome author Gina Lamm.  She joins us today to promote her new book, The Geek Girl and the Scandalous Earl.  Enjoy her interview after my thoughts about the book.

Publisher: Sourcebooks
Date of publication: March 5, 2013

An avid gamer, Jamie Marten loves to escape into online adventure. But when she falls through an antique mirror into a lavish bedchamber—200 years in the past!—she realizes she may have escaped a little too far.

Micah Axelby, Earl of Dunnington, has just kicked one mistress out of his bed, and isn’t looking to fill it with another—least of all this sassy, nearly naked girl who claims to be from the future. Yet something about her is undeniably enticing…


My thoughts:
I have read a lot of regency romance, but I haven't read too much in the way  of romances that involve time travel.  The Geek Girl and the Scandalous Earl is a nice combination of both.  Jamie is a musician who is into gaming and computers.  She is mysteriously sucked into a mirror and ends up in London, 1816.  She finds she has been brought there by a witch to be a love match for Micah (Mike) Axelby.  The two are well matched and the romance was very sweet.  The problem is that 1816 society stands in the way of their HEA.  While I was happy with how it was resolved, I wish there was a little more resolution regarding Mrs. K.  Maybe in the next book?

When I read historical novels, I always have certain questions that constantly run through my mind. Things like: Did women shave their legs? How clean was everyone, really?  So, when these things came up for Jamie, I had to laugh. Having a 21st century perspective on 19th century living was one of the things I liked about the book.  I definitely recommend this quick and engaging read.  The next book, Geek Girls Don't Date Dukes, comes out in October.  I look forward to reading it!

I’d like to thank the ladies from the TBR pile for having me today!

Kari& Autumn: What inspired you to become a writer?

Gina: Well, it’s kind of simple, really. I love stories, and being creative is a part of my brain that I can’t shut off. I like to make things. So when I started reading ebooks, I started to go broke! I decided I’d write something for fun, just to kill some time between book-buying bouts. I ended up with a story that turned into a full-length novel, and then I was hooked. I wanted to see if I could make it as a writer! So far, so good. 

Kari& Autumn: Where do you come up with the ideas for your books?

Gina: I love having a jumping-off point. So when I find calls for submissions, I usually brainstorm to see if I can come up with something related to what they’re asking for. I don’t always write these stories, but they’re great brain exercise! In Stephen King’s ON WRITING, he says you should write what you like. I take that advice to heart, and I always try to insert my favorite pastimes, hobbies, and loves into my stories.

Kari& Autumn: What exciting projects are waiting in the wings?

Gina: Ooh, that’s a fun question! Well, coming up in the fall of this year will be the sequel to THE GEEK GIRL AND THE SCANDALOUS EARL. It will tell the story of Leah, Jamie’s best friend, and her journey through time to find love. It’s called GEEK GIRLS DON’T DATE DUKES, and it should release around October of 2013.

Kari& Autumn: Who is your favorite literary character and why?

Gina: I don’t know if I can pick one favorite, but I’ll try! I admire authors who can make their characters really, truly human, but so relatable. Even when they do incredibly frightening things. I have to go with DOLORES CLAIBORNE, the title character from Stephen King’s masterpiece. I’ve never been able to find a book with voice and characterization so clearly done well. It’s my favorite of all time. A truly human story, even though it’s scary! Of course, I have plenty of favorite romance characters too. Duchess from THE WYNDHAM LEGACY by Catherine Coulter is a good example.

Kari& Autumn: Just for fun, if you could be any animal, what would it be and why? I’d be a bird. 

Gina: Something like an osprey, I think. Predator who can fly and lives by the sea. If I’m an animal I’d rather do the chasing than be chased!

Thank you, Gina!

About the author:
Becoming a magician proved to be less interesting than Gina Lamm had anticipated when she was six, so in her adult life, she’s turned to writing.

This belly-dancing, wisecracking, marshmallow-addicted mother of three energetic fur-children loves nothing more than penning funny, emotional tales of love, lust, and entertaining mishaps.

Married to a real live superhero, she and her family live in North Carolina, surrounded by tobacco farms, possums, and the occasional hurricane.

twitter username: