Yes I'm from Santa Cruz but...

Ok I picked up a new book yesterday from Target. I love their books because, well really, they are 25% off the cover price. How can you go wrong? They usually have a lot of best sellers even hardbacks, self help and cook books.

I picked up an author I had read a review on while catching up on my favorite website, Smart Bitches Trashy Books. Her name is Tessa Dare. I was hooked. The story is about a girl, Isabel, from the West Indies (almost always a plot that is a win for me) who is making her debut into London society, and gets engaged to a man who was spurred at the alter by her new sister-in-law. Toby, her new fiancee, is a rake who loves to laugh and teases her mercilessly, and Isabel is having none of that. She's totally a serious heroine who has yet to laugh at anything unless Toby has said it. I hate to say it, but she is a stick in the mud. Want to know why?

She's different from many of the regency heroines I read about in that she is ACTIVELY involved in the plight of the lower classes. Most regency heroines are different in that way. They tend to be very compassionate to others, despite class, but Isabel is determined to marry a man of influence so that she can change the world of the less fortunate. Score one for her.

I'm all for helping the less fortunate, but shit Isabel, get over yourself. I've reached a scene where she's been asked by Toby to go for a ride in his curricle. Toby drives fast and recklessly and all Isabel can do is hold on tight. Speak up for god sakes! Tell him to slow down! Grow a spine for more than slavery! Then he offers to go window shopping, telling her that he needs a new cane, and she quizzes him as to why he even needs to use one, and makes faces when he states that its because its "fashionable" implying that he's frivolous. You have no problem ranting about frivolous spending but can't tell the man to slow down?

Then he tries to make amends and offers to take her to the museum and they can get a sneak peak of Lord Elgin's Parthenon Marbles. Isabel goes off in a fit of pique about who "owns" the marbles because England "stole" them from Greece. AND THEN he offers to go get some tea, he has the GALL to get her an ice, which Isabel has never had before, and then admits to the ice being sweetened with sugar which is produced by slaves on sugar plantations. Isabel flips out and has second thoughts about this engagement because (and I quote) "You would offer me this as a refreshment? Tell me, what is refreshing about human bondage?"

Oh. My. God. And then Toby has the gall to say, "its only an ice." And I for some reason was so mad about Isabel being such a stick in the mud who hates her lush lavish curves that draw male attention (and yet she's dressed in the height of fashion) and cannot enjoy anything because it harms someone, that I was COMPELLED to write this blog on the first 68 pages I've read.

*huffhuffhuff*

Yes, I'm from Santa Cruz. Yes, I'm aware of how American consumerism affects the world. But for God sakes woman, the man is only trying to please you! Tessa Dare has exactly 6 pages to redeem Isabel or I'm going to throw it across the room.