Romance at Borders

On Sunday, I accompanied my sister to my local Borders. While she dithered about, trying to decide what to buy to take on her long train journey, I saw that Nalini Singh's Mine to Possess was already available, despite having a release date of 2 September (said date having been etched in my mind since this series is, so far, the only series I have followed since its start). I picked it up and went to pay for it.

The lady behind the counter smiled. I smiled back, gave her my book and waited. She looked at the book, looked at me (decked out in "I'm an astronomer in training" T-shirt that I'd picked up during my summer travels) and said, "I always thought these books were only for one thing. You can tell, can't you, looking at the cover"
Me: Eh?
Her: Well, he's hot, isn't he? Look at that (points out the cover model )
Me: And you can't see his face, which makes him perfect.
Her: Bursts out laughing. Continues laughing loudly. Keeps going until my sister, the other people in line, other staff and even people at the back of the store are looking over . Ohhh....that's funny...hahahah...that is really good. I've not laughed…hahhahah.
Me: Umm...great. Can I take the book, now? (and put it in my bag )
Her: holding on to the book I remember this other book. It had a couple and they were wearing very little, you know, you could see her breasts and it was winter! There was snow everywhere! I couldn't think how they would...
Me: These books are just for fun, I reckon. Not for thinking. Logic doesn't come into it.
Her: Still...this seems a good one...haha... I wonder what he does?

my sister, who'd had enough socialising by now, interrupted and dragged me away but not before I saw two of my current students among the group of people observing all this.


ETA: For some reason, I can't upload pictures or anything right now. Maybe Fanny'll help? Or, just go here to have a look at the cover. I think I've fixed it. I also think I've killed the computer my department gave me. Ah well.

Ms Singh's "Hot Men" Contest

To celebrate a new book in her Psy/Changeling series (which I've been following since it involves animals/people) , Nalini Singh has a contest in which she urges her readers to list "hot men" from novels (and TV/films). Details here.

When I read the first bit of Ms. Singh's contest guidelines, I reckoned I'd put up Lucas from her first book as the leading "hot bloke". Why? Because he was sensible (useful in a man), could figure out directions (ditto--I'm hopeless at directions), had no hesitation in telling the heroine he fancied her (no waffling about) and could change into an animal (always a huge plus, eh?)

But then there was the addendum. So my field of choices suddenly increased!

In addition to Lucas then here're a few other picks:

5. Sam Tyler and Gene Hunt (yes, together, please!) from the TV series Life on Mars
Why? Because they just work well together :) The series was fun and it was the combined "hotness" of these two that made it so. Sam, with his modern sensibilities and sensitivity; Gene, with his rather un-pc and yet endearingly straightforward view of life and the world around him. Put them together and you have one hot man. And they're coppers. Who doesn't have a thing for coppers?

4. Septimus (Mark Strong) from the film Stardust (among others): It's the hair and the eyes and the determination to get what he considered to be his, despite rather large odds. Nobody said "hot men" had to be all good, right? After all, heaps of novels and plays have told us that evil can be seductive and Septimus surely is.

3. David Tennant as Doctor Who. It's the glasses and the hyperactive behaviour and the lack of availability (though that's been a bit shot lately!). I always fancied a guy in glasses and if they come wearing ratty suits with sneakers and have a tendency to find adventure wherever they go, it'd be fantastic if they took me along as well. Being damaged helps, of course :)

2. Clive Owen (preferably in tights, as in Elizabeth: The Golden Age the Extras episode; or wisecracking as in Shoot 'em Up; or weary and cynical as in Children of Men...you get the idea). I don't think I need to explain why in this case but, if I do, I'd suggest watching any of his films. More than once, actually.

and, finally...

1. Capt. Mal (Nathan Fillion) from Firefly/Serenity and The Operative (Chiwetel Ejiofor) from Serenity. Again, a twosome--opposite and, yet, similar. Both were honourable, both are very fanciable and both are willing to do much for what they believe in. But, they are also not afraid to question their beliefs and respect each other (and the people around them) . As with no. 3, I reckon with these two, adventure would be a constant and, right now at the start of another semester of teaching and writing, I'd like an adventure!

Oh, and MtP is probably the first non-textbook I've pre-ordered. I'm feeling rather fangirlish about it all!