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#Jennifer crusie
purpledragongifs · 4 months
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If you are not going to be a comfort, have the decency to be an empty space. - Jennifer Crusie -
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mfred · 1 year
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This book is everything!
Agnes and the Hitman by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer
This is my original copy of Agnes and the Hitman, from 2007. The pages are yellowing and getting a little brittle but I will keep it as long as I can because I love it so much.
It's everything that you want in a rom-com: shenanigans, hijinks, dead bodies, the mob, Southern Belles, hitmen, women who fight back (with cast iron pans!), fits of almost uncontrollable rage, mistaken identify, buried secrets, and looooveeeeee.
I enjoyed re-reading this book almost as much as reading it the first time. Some details I remembered, some were a surprise all over again. There are a lot of twists and turns, maybe a few I saw coming, but still fun all the same. And Agnes! What a character. Loyal, the center holding together her found family, exasperated-- even maybe at her wit's edge, dealing with a rage problem while also falling in love. She's so great.
5 stars.
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nzbookwyrm · 9 months
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Liz Danger has come home after fifteen years to deliver a giant teddy bear for her mother’s birthday (color: Guilt Red) when a cop with a great ass picks her up for speeding, fixes the missing lug nuts in her back wheel, pulls her out of a ditch, doesn’t give her a ticket, and helps her avoid her family. This is a man with real potential.
Vince Cooper picks up Liz for speeding and his life gets a lot more interesting. Then he picks her up again in the local bar the next night and realizes that “interesting” doesn’t begin to describe what’s going to happen to him with Liz in his life.
As Liz navigates her dysfunctional family, her flamboyant boss phoning in from Chicago, her still-interested ex, a dachshund with issues, a disaster of a wedding, assault, murder, and three hundred and ninety-three teddy bears, Vince shows up to get her through, even though he knows that the real peril for him in Burney is the one who came with her own warning label, Liz Danger.
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hedgehogreads · 1 year
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“Just be careful not to lose it.”
“Do I strike you as the kind of man who loses important things?”
You lost me. The thought popped into her head and there was nothing she could do to get rid of it.
 - Dogs and Goddesses, Jennifer Cruise, Anne Stuart, Lani Diane Rich
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fated-mates · 1 year
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It’s a Jen week this week! We’re reading Bet Me this week, the book many people put right on the top of Best Contemporary Romance lists — one of Jen’s favorite books and a book Sarah liked to tell people she loved but has now discovered she’d never actually read. Minerva and Cal are absolutely terrific, as is this book, and we’re having a rollicking conversation about fat rep, about friendships in romance, about food (Sarah’s love language), about shoes, and about why grown people at little league games are a weird thing.
S02.36: Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie: I wanna mash their faces together. (5/13/20)
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I really love how the relationship between Pete and Penny develops in Top Gun: Maverick.
It is established within the film that they have a history; an on-again-off-again romance, but unlike what you would normally see between two former lovers, there is no bitterness between them. Regardless of how their relationship ended, it did so amicably and when Penny lays out her boundaries, "Let's not start this again." Pete doesn’t object; he doesn’t argue for them to give it another go; he respects her wish and doesn’t push. This one small detail speaks to his maturity in a romantic sense and how he has grown up over the years.
Penny has established her romantic boundaries, but what causes her to reconsider, to emotionally and literally reopen the door to Pete, is spending time together, reconnecting, and having fun with one another. There’s no grand romantic gesture, no standing at her bedroom window holding a boombox, no "she’s lost that loving feeling." Penny has agency in this romance and isn’t just swept along by romantic gimmicks.
Furthermore, it's only when Penny invites Pete into her life again that he reveals what happened between him and Rooster. He doesn’t just use her as an emotional sounding board without permission, she offers.
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frasesenespa-ol · 1 year
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Este no es el gran amor que los dos nos merecemos
Mujeres Audaces (Jennifer Crusie)
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camidalet · 2 years
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THIS IS WHAT I LIKE TO HEAR!!!!
i’m honestly so happy for them - it’s so deserved and i hope they get nominated and win so many awards
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tmorriscode · 2 years
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The most unrealistic thing in Top Gun: Maverick is that Jennifer Connally’s hair is perfect after riding around on the back of Tom Cruise’s Kawasaki.
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99motionpicture · 1 year
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OneRepublic-I Ain't Worried | Top Gun: Maverick | Tom Cruise | Jennifer ...
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tomcruise-fan-uk · 2 years
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Tom cruise and Jennifer Connelly
Attend the royal performance and uk premiere of top gun maverick at Leicester Square in London | may 19th 2022
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nzbookwyrm · 7 months
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claqueta-y-accion · 1 year
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Si no tienes que ver te recomiendo top gun maverick
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laurenceslife · 1 year
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Chapter 70
- I’ve arrived! – Gina came through the door cheerfully the next day, in the afternoon.
- The filming has come to an end?! – Delilah came up to her cheerfully by seeing the suitcase that was next to her.
- No, it’s just gonna be continuing here in L. A. – her mother answered firmly – Where is Dad?
- You haven’t even hugged me! – the little girl said resentfully.
- Sorry, I was just waiting for Dad! – the woman hugged her daughter.
- Hi! – Laurence came downstairs from his room wonderingly because she had already arrived.
Gina also said hello to him, and kissed him, then carried her clobbers upstairs to the room alone.
- Well, haven’t you changed your mind? You’re gonna leave the series? – her husband went into the room with her.
- What a nice welcome! – Gina was indignant – Instead of being happy about me that I came home, you already presume that I changed my mind! I, who doesn’t change her mind!
- If you wouldn’t have started a quarrel with me last time on the phone, now we wouldn’t have met in such a tense mood! Since yesterday, I was already afraid that you would continue it! – the man said angrily, too.
- You could have prevented it by a nice welcome!
- You were the one who started a quarrel! Still I’ve got to propitiate you?! – Laurence spread his arms.
- I cheerfully came home, whereupon you received me querying what I’ve already told you about that I’m not gonna change my mind about, either. I’ve already ended the quarrel; you could have received me like nothing happened.
- How should I have known that you’ve already ended the quarrel?! I’m not perfect, either! Now are we gonna be having a quarrel over it all day?!
The man was considering how they could change the conversation to be peaceful, and sat down on the bed.
- I’m going to say hello to your father and to talk with Delilah. I haven’t seen her for a week – the woman left the room.
- Before it, you could unpack your clobbers and we could make peace! – her husband shouted after her.
- You two had a quarrel?! – his father shouted from his room.
- You see?! We’d better make peace before you say hello to him! – his son went after Gina.
- We’re better to give time to each other, and continue it peacefully. Now we would be only quarreling, anyway – the woman said firmly – I haven’t talked to my daughter for days. I’d like to spend time with her – they arrived before the little girl’s room.
- I’d like to join. Before her, he wouldn’t be quarreling. I missed you, and I’d like to be spending the time with you – Laurence kissed her, holding her face between his hands.
- OK. In the end, I decided to leave the series exactly to spend more time together and not to become estranged from each other… - his wife reflected – I missed you, too – she kissed him, too, and they were kissing for some seconds, then Gina said hello to her father-in-law, and then they went into Delilah’s room.
- Will we go to walk the dogs? – her father asked cheerfully.
- Yes! – the little girl jumped up cheerfully. She was still happy that her mother came home and she was already dealing with her.
- What things happened while I wasn’t home? – her mother asked after they had called the dogs together, put on their coats, and set off.
- Dad’s gonna play a famous man!
- I know, he’s told me. He immediately called me as soon as he was asked to play the role.
- He’s not simply just a famous man. I’ve played a famous person already, but now I’m gonna play a very good and smart man who gave hope and inspiration to people all over the world – Laurence said.
- When is the filming gonna be? – Delilah asked.
- I don’t know, first, a sci-fi’s filming is gonna be next year, and I’m gonna have a little role in a movie which casts Superman and Batman together which I also look forward to playing in. Do you know since when I’ve been waiting to at least see such a movie? – the man asked roughly.
- For twenty-five years – the woman said disconcertedly – But you haven’t even told me that it’s already fore sure that you will play Perry White again!
- You see that I just told Delilah, too – her husband defended himself but his voice remained composed because of the child.
- But you’ve talked to me not long ago – Gina laughed perplexedly.
- And I’ve been home with him till the end! – their daughter began to speak.
- OK, you’re right – her mother said for her sake – And what things happened, too, while I wasn’t home?
Laurence would have told her that Jeremy was going to play in the movie, too, and he would have also talked about Charlie’s and Tom’s newest litigation, but he was patient with his daughter, and let her talk first, and didn’t want to talk about such brutal things before her.
- Joey kissed me – the little girl laughed.
- And you let him do it? – her mother dropped her teeth – Did she tell you? – she asked the man tensely.
- She didn’t tell me either – he also answered, marveling.
- How much were you talking to her? – the woman asked in a low voice.
- Rather let’s talk about it later. Let’s be talking with her instead. You’ve wanted to be spending the time with her – Laurence said in a low voice – You didn’t even let her answer – he continued a bit indignantly.
- We were just playing that we were married – their daughter answered loosely.
Their parents reflected – Exactly with that boy who was “in love with her”… - they thought.
In the end, they only told her not to agree to such a thing anymore and not to agree with him in any such thing which she would consider strange.
              After they had arrive home, Laurence was cooking dinner alone; his wife was rather playing with Delilah in the children’s room so the man turned on the music. He was making one of his favorite foods, fish with potatoes and saffron, and was listening to Airto Moerira, one of his favorite performers, and this way, he was doing just fine.
He had dinner with her daughter and father; during it, the woman, in the bedroom, was watching that series which they watched together, Game of Thrones. She wasn’t watching it in the living room so the little girl wouldn’t see that brutal series. During it, she was eating chips with sauce, she said she was desiring it then.
- What did I miss? – her husband came into the room after he had finished eating off but the series was still lasting.
- Why didn’t you come earlier? – Gina asked back bluntly.
- Why weren’t you eating with us?
- What do you think? The series is on now – the woman answered dryly.
Laurence rather even left the room, and went into the guestroom to meditate, anyway, he didn’t know what happened in that episode so far, and he didn’t even feel like spending the time with his wife now when she was behaving that way.
He put Delilah to bed who had had a bath meanwhile, and then her father was reading, then took a shower, and went to sleep, too.
- Why weren’t you watching Game of Thrones with me? – his wife challenged him; she was still awake.
- And why weren’t you cooking together with me? – the man said emphatically.
- We always watch Game of Thrones together when both of us are home. We don’t always cook together.
Her husband still felt like the woman was angry with him because of something else. He was considering why she was angry with him, but only that came into his head that she was offended that he told their daughter first that it was already sure that he would play in the Batman-Superman movie. He didn’t understand why it was offending – She had surely been angry with him already before it – he thought.
He was considering why she was angry with him, but for the time being, he let her sleep, and hadn’t asked her.
- You haven’t even returned thanks for I’m leaving the series because of you – Gina began to speak who was deep in thought, too.
- And I didn’t ask you to do it – the other said firmly, pushing himself up on one elbow in the bed and turning toward her – But you’re right, maybe I should have thanked. Or maybe I should have talked you out of doing it. It’s the same already. The essence is that till now, you haven’t said a word about it but you were just conducting yourself sulkily, while you’re gonna leave the series for me.
His wife realized that he was right, but she was angry with him in the future too, because he hadn’t returned thanks for what she was doing for the two of them, so she didn’t say anything but only sulkily turned around, and tried to sleep. For the time being, she was too resentful yet, she thought she would deal with setting their marriage right later, they would have time for it when she wouldn’t work in Canada anymore.
- Come, you’ve got to give breakfast to your dad! He’s surely hungry already since he wakes up so early – she woke him up severely in the morning after she had gotten up.
So her pique was still lasting – Laurence thought.
- Are you sure you rather wanna spend the time with me than filming your series in Canada?! – he asked irritably, still lying in the bed – As I can see, you don’t feel good with me and don’t even do anything so it would change – he continued in a lecturing voice after sitting up.
- I would help you in making breakfast but if you want, you can make it alone or I will do it!
- And while making breakfast, how would you behave with me?! – the man asked angrily again.
The woman decided to tell him:
- I can’t forgive momently. You have never made such big sacrifices for me, how big sacrifices I’m making now for the two of us, and you haven’t even returned thanks for it and didn’t even try to stop me! – after that, she hurried downstairs to make breakfast.
Her husband drank a Moroccan mint tea before breakfast, while reading and listening to the music, and then all of them had breakfast together with his father and Delilah. During breakfast, Gina was behaving normally, but Laurence thought it was only for the others’ sake.
After that, all of them were watching TV together so he still couldn’t know how she would have been conducting herself with him.
One of Delilah’s girlfriends was brought over by her parents, and they left her there like they usually did. The two little girls went into the children’s room, and Gina went over to one of her girlfriends.
The man had to stay home to look after the children so he made lunch which they ate together with them, but without his father; he only took the food to him because he didn’t like to eat before other people because of his paralysis.
After the little girl’s parents had come for her and taken her home, Gina still hadn’t come home.
Her husband went to walk the dogs with their daughter; during it, he was considering whether the woman was giving him a miss intentionally.
- Has Ashley gone home already? – Gina asked when she had arrived and hung her brown fur coat on.
- Already a long time ago – Laurence came out.
- So that’s OK. I’m going to do gymnastics. During it, you two could go to buy everybody gifts for Christmas – his wife set off for the stairs that led to the bedroom.
- Only the two of us?!
- Now I’m gonna be doing gymnastics; after that, I’ll be tired – the woman said firmly.
- It doesn’t work like that! We, the two of us, can’t buy everybody gifts! And that’s your decision that you’re doing gymnastics instead of it.
- I made the breakfast, and we’ve bought the gifts for some people; it’s only necessary to buy them for the rest of them already.
- And I made lunch – the man said emphatically.
- You like cooking and shopping, anyway.
- What’s got you two again?! – the older Laurence shouted out of his room. Its door was open so he heard them.
- We’re just talking about who should go to buy presents – his son went up to him.
- Why aren’t you two going together?! I bet you two had a quarrel over something again!
- You see, already my father realized it, too – the younger Laurence went back to Gina.
- You said it like it was because of me – his wife answered in a low voice.
- Why, is it because of me? – her husband pointed at himself, and went upstairs to their room.
He called Bruce to be talking with somebody who he had talked to a long time ago, anyway, and then he already also invited him for Christmas.
After that, he called everybody who he wanted to invite, and was talking with his several friends and relatives.
When he went downstairs to make dinner, the woman wasn’t home – After gymnastics, she surely went shopping with Delilah – he thought.
- Where’s Mom? – the little girl came out of her room.
- She surely went shopping – her father said wonderingly, and went to the kitchen to make lasagna.
After he had been ready, Gina had also arrived, and after having dinner, she had Laurence casing those gifts which she didn’t have wrapped in the shops.
The man was struggling with the packings with their daughter, hoping that one of Delilah’s presents wasn’t among them, and considering if his own gift was also among them if it didn’t even come into his wife’s head.
              For Christmas, Bruce couldn’t come, but on the other day, they went to his place. By then, the woman had gotten over the pique of what she felt because his husband hadn’t returned thanks for her leaving the series because of them. They were feeling good during the holidays at last, with their parents, siblings, children, cousins, Gina’s girlfriends, and some of her husband’s friends.
              Next year, the filming of Gina’s movie was still lasting, and both of them gave their voices for animated productions: Laurence gave his voice in an all-night animated movie, and his wife gave her voice for the last time in her series. After that, her husband’s little parts were filmed in one of his movies, in Oklahoma, and then his sci-fi’s filming had started, too, in Ohio and New Mexico. By that time, the woman had completed filming her movie, and together with Delilah, she went to the filming location with him. The man’s role was very different from his personality in this movie, he had never played such a role, he was hooked on the movie, in spite of getting much less salary for it than he usually did, he loved filming it.
              Laurence’s Superman-movie, Man of Steel was released on June 10, on the 75th anniversary of Superman; he watched it with his old friends, and then, in October, he made friends with Arthur Mendoza, the director of Acting Circles in Los Angeles, who was also an acting teacher, and he became his mentor after his father died.
              Even two of his series started, he was also a producer with Cinema Gypsy of either of them, of a dramedy, and for a while, they hadn’t known if he would also play in it, but after that, he undertook the role. He was playing with one of his old pals Anthony Anderson, who they wanted to work together with for a long while, and made very good friends; and Laurence considered playing in a comedy for ten years already. He played again with even two actresses, Jennifer Lewis who played his mother-in-law in What’s Love Got To Do With It, and now she played his wife, and he played again with Tracee Ellis Ross who used to play his ex-wife, and now she played his daughter-in-law, but it was very amusing to work with Jennifer, and Laurence thought they couldn’t have found a better actress than Tracee because he liked to work with her in CSI. The filming was there, in California, so he could go home. The other series’ filming was in Canada so Gina and Delilah went with him, too, and the woman regretted quitting her series when both of them would be filming there, anyway, but she kept reassuring herself with when the man was filming in California, they were at least even in one state, and she also liked her series’ last episode wherein she played, but it was filmed already a long time ago in Canada. On the other hand, she also got a little role in the second season of Laurence’s Canadian series, as an addition, she was playing exactly his wife, but what she liked the most about it, was that they were filming in one place again and that she could be playing together with such a good actor like her husband, and the man liked that her wife got such a beautiful role. Also, Oswald designed the clothes, Laurence loved the beautiful suits and ties that he had to be wearing, and Gina was working together with Bryan Fuller the director again, like with many other actors of the series, too.
              Laurence played in a Super Bowl commercial, exactly when his heroes James Earl Jones, David Bowie, Samuel L. Jackson and others, and he did something at last what he hadn’t done before, and he played Morpheus’ role again, a thousand million people watched the Superbowl, and the commercial was also funny so it was also a good experience for him.
              In 2014, he was juggling between his two series, enjoyed playing in so different series, in a dramedy and in a bloody, dark series at the same time; he was using all of his capacity, and the dramedy gave him opportunity to show his lighter side, and the other one gave him opportunity to play in such a beautiful and elegant horror series, he got used to use his darker and mental side. But he didn’t play in every episode of either of the series’ so he had time for his family too. The development of another of his series started already last year, that was going to be made according to one of his old movies, but for the time being, its filming hadn’t started, while he had a leaning towards that possibility, but he had a leaning towards his dramedy series too. He’s also been planning for a long time to make a movie about one of the writings of his favorite author Paulo Coelho, but something has always intervened. Recently, he was getting so good roles that he couldn’t resist them, he couldn’t postpone those roles, he had to take the chances then; he thought it’s possible to whenever make the movie, he was going to do it then when he wouldn’t be getting so good offers to play in other movies and series.
              Everybody said to him that they loved his dramedy series; they were people of every color of skin, while the series was about black people, so he wanted to continue it, and continued it. Besides, he loved a lot of things about this series.
- Lucky that you got so little part in Batman v Superman. Beside the two series, you wouldn’t even have time for a bigger part too – Gina said in the middle of May when they were packing to set off for the States where the filming was going to be, and then already the woman and their daughter went with him, too, to their relatives and friends.
- Why? I even have time for further developments with Cinema Gypsy. We’re developing Prison Town with authors Dawn Prestwich and Nicole Yorkina, and we’re also developing the animated series which is gonna be based on what my life was in Brooklyn! – the man said enthusiastically, even stopping packing.
His wife was ready packing, and went over to Delilah’s room to pack her clobbers too, and her husband turned on the music to continue packing while listening to his favorite singer, Cassandra Wilson. After that, on e-book, he was reading his book titled Perfect Brilliant Stillness; during it, he continued listening to the music in the future too.
- I’m ready. Tomorrow, we already only have to board the plane at eight – Gina came back contentedly.
- We’ve gotta get up pretty early but we’ll sleep on the plane – Laurence put down the e-book reader – Well, are we going to have dinner? – he stood up from the bed.
- Delilah still doesn’t wanna come.
- While she should go to sleep early – the man was setting off for the little girl’s room.
When he stepped in, his daughter happened to be watching his latest animated movie on TV.
- OK, you can still watch it till the end, and then we’re gonna go to have a dinner – her father said, and went back to his room to meditate, but saw that his wife was watching Game of Thrones what he even forgot to watch because of going to sleep early, that was why they would have gone down to have dinner earlier.
Before meditating, he watched the episode with her till the end; during it, they were eating chips with sauce like usual, which the woman was off her food this time by, so her husband and their daughter didn’t go down to have dinner, either but Laurence ordered the dinner to their room.
- I really would come to meditate already – he came back to the room after he had dinner with Delilah in the suite’s living room – During it, you could go to take a shower.
- You could be meditating after I go to sleep, too, or in the living room. Delilah should be sent to have a bath and put to bed already, anyway.
- I’ve sent her to have a bath, and then I’ll put her to bed. We should be going to sleep already, too. What do you still wanna do?
- I’m thinking about doing gymnastics.
- You won’t be able to sleep properly due to it. You’re revving yourself before going to sleep.
- I’ve had enough of your constantly complied methods, too, that you’ve got to meditate every day, you’re constantly reading that book when you’re happen to be not working, our house is full of crystals, you even sleep with them, and you’ve always got to sleep on a neck pillow! Sometimes we could also decide according to what we happen to be feeling right. I eat when I wanna, what I wanna, and sleep when I feel like I need it, I do gymnastics when I feel like doing it, and you see, I don’t have any problems!
- As I can see, you still have. You have a problem with me now too, as an addition, you haven’t even told me – the man said meaningfully.
- How wouldn’t I have any problems since when you’re not working, you spend even that little time reading, instead of dealing with us?! – Gina shouted.
- I read that book exactly to spend at least that little time well with you guys how much I have. And that’s not right that I don’t deal with you guys beside it – Laurence said emphatically.
- I didn’t marry you, didn’t want a child with you and didn’t leave the series so you would have a little time for us – his wife said in a similar voice.
- OK, I promise to read the book for less time from now. And now, while we’re gonna be home, and I’ve hardly got any scenes, you two could come with me to the set too, most times my scenes weren’t gonna be which will be shot, anyway – her husband said imperturbable.
- That’s a good idea. And now put Delilah to bed. She should be sleeping already – the woman cooled off somehow or other, too.
- But then don’t be doing gymnastics – the man said, went over to the little girl’s room, read for her, then went back to the bedroom – I told you not to do gymnastics – he said when noticed that Gina was lifting her legs on the carpet.
- We’ll sleep on the plane. And till then, we’ll sleep together with your crystals, anyway, you’ve said they’re good for sleeping.
- OK, already complete it; during it, I’ll take a shower – Laurence went to the bathroom.
Her wife also went to take a shower punctually when he had been ready and had come out.
- You’re ready exactly now? – her husband asked blithely.
- Yes – the woman answered seriously, and went into the bathroom.
The man, while going to the room to meditate, was considering if Gina still had a problem with him, and that was why she only went into the bathroom when he had come out.
After meditating, he even forgot it, and went to sleep.
- We’ve got to wake Delilah up! – the woman sat up, startled when her phone’s alarm began ringing, and she made it stop with much difficulty, in a hurry, then went over to their daughter’s room – Put this on – her command broke through after she had woken the little girl up; during it, Laurence changed clothes.
- While you guys are changing, I’ll drink a mint tea – he said after her wife came back to the room.
- Good for you that you’ve got so much time – Gina reached out for her clothes sternly.
The man succeeded in drinking the tea in time, and in a hurry, they succeeded in catching the plane. By hurrying, at least the woman and Delilah smartened from sleepiness, too. Gina even said sorry for the way she was behaving last night and today, she said it was surly only because of the travel that she was edgy, because they had to get up early.
On the plane, she still also could drink coffee, and her daughter could drink chocolate milk, which they smartened by again, and then they also could have breakfast.
Till lunch, they were watching a movie, and they were sleeping on the plane.
              Laurence gladly arrived at the quarters because he was going to take part in the movie soon what he waited for through twenty-five years to at least see it. As an addition, his family was going to be there with him, too. That day, he didn’t have to go to be filming yet, so they looked around in the neighborhood together, and had a dinner in a local restaurant.
              Next day, they went with him to the set, and it was going this way on every filming-day. On the weekends, they met with relatives and friends. On the weekdays, during filming breaks, they also talked with Jeremy, and Gina could meet one of her former series-mates Jennifer Garner again, who was the wife of one of the co-stars Ben Affleck, and the two women sometimes spent the time the two of them, they went shopping or took their children to the playground together. Laurence wasn’t even missing them but he was only enjoying the filming and the time he spent with Jeremy. The period of filming passed quickly for him, especially because he didn’t even have many scenes.
              After they had been ready shooting his scenes, they moved home to their California house because in Burbank, some episodes were shot with him for his dramedy too, and he appeared in two talk shows; and with his wife, some sound recordings were recorded in Chicago for a video game. Beside this, the woman played in even two episodes of a series, but in the second episode, she didn’t have many scenes. When her husband was working, then Delilah was with her mother, and when Gina was working, then she was with her father.
- Mom, Dad got a leading role in a movie, the filming’s gonna be in Canada so he can play in that too, beside your series there! – the cheerful little girl said after Gina had completed filming, and had come home.
- Really? – startled, the woman looked at the man who was in the living room, too.
- We’re gonna talk about the movie soon, now I’ll put Delilah to bed – Laurence answered coolly, and went into the children’s room with their daughter.
His wife still heard that the little girl said that it wasn’t necessary to put her to bed anymore. After that, her husband, as usual, was reading for his daughter while Gina went to take a shower, and after the man had finished reading, he took a shower, too, and then was meditating in the bedroom while his wife was browsing a magazine in the living room.
Laurence, after meditating, already went to her to talk about his new movie with her, which was a drama-thriller so he didn’t want to talk about it before Delilah.
- Would you tell me at last how you’re gonna have time for so many things at the same time?! – his wife stood up from the sofa edgily, trembling, as soon as she noticed him.
Her husband didn’t count on so much psyching out. For a few seconds, he stood in the living room, startled, far from her, and then went up to her, and slowly sat down on the sofa.
Gina was standing in the future too,she  furiously put the magazine down to the coffee table, and was standing in front of him with arms folded.
- I don’t understand what your problem is. We’re gonna work in one place in the future too – the man said emphatically – I got a leading role at last, as an addition, in the same place where we work. It’s a huge chance, I can’t miss it. And I don’t play much in the other series – he continued uncomprehendingly.
He answered it well – the woman thought angrily and bitterly.
Laurence saw that he still hadn’t succeeded in reassuring her, and he was edgily considering what more to say.
- This one occurrence hacked you off when you got such a small part in a movie, as an addition, you had so little scenes exactly in that movie which you waited for through twenty-five years – his wife stated furiously.
- I didn’t wait for twenty-five years to play in it, especially not to have some big role in it. I was even happy that this movie could come to fruition and I can see it, even if I would play in it, even if I wouldn’t – her husband said firmly.
- It’s still inconceivable for me how you’ll have time for a leading role in a movie while you are one of the chief casts in our series, and sometimes you play in Black-ish too – Gina continued in a telling-off voice.
The man suspected that she was afraid that he wouldn’t have enough time for her and their daughter – It seemed like this worry of hers would never stop, at least it returned again and again, at least that returned again and again that she thought he wasn’t dealing with Delilah enough – he thought restlessly.
- You know how prepared I am, and you also think that I’m so talented that this was also a reason why you were happy about that can be playing in one series with me – he said emphatically – It’s not necessary to shoot my scenes so many times, we complete them earlier. That’s exaclty why I can play in so many movies every year. And also that’s why I have time for my family and hobbies too.
- You still haven’t done anything like this. Evidently now you’re not really gonna have time for us. Moreover, I dare to say that your performance is also gonna be worse in one of your roles if not in all of them, because you’ll work tiredly. Would you tell me what you’re fleeing from into work?! And is it worth it to get a leading role if your performance’s gonna be bad in it or in something else?!
Laurence decided to tell her.
- My performance won’t be worse. I always sleep as much as I need. I’m good at it. I also sleep in the studio, in the changing room when my scenes aren’t shot. On the other hand, you’re right about after a long time, nowadays I’m fleeing into work again like I did when I was young – he sighed, and was staring into space, somehow or other downwards, with enlaced hands – After my father died, I’m fleeing from everything that reminds me of him – he continued, ashamed because his family reminded him of him, too.
- Your dad died already a year ago! Till when do you want to do this?! Don’t you think this is selfishness?! – the woman asked furiously.
After that, she repented that instead of helping him in coming out of this state of mind in the interest of all of them, now she ignored his emotions, as an addition, she could have thought that after a while, he would get over his father’s death.
- Yes, I do. That’s why I’m reading that book which, in the end, is partly about not dealing only with ourselves – the man answered sadly.
- I’m sorry – his wife sat down next to him, agitated – And I still blamed you for reading that book too much – she looked at him, holding his hand – You could have told me what you feel. Maybe I could help you, and we wouldn’t have even quarreled.
The man didn’t want to tell her that nowadays, he read the book less because she said he was dealing too little with them because of it, and that could be why the book hadn’t called his attention to this.
- I think I’d better finish reading the book quickly, and after that, I’ll deal with you two more. The book helps in finding stillness, too – he said only this much, and then stood up, and went upstairs to their room to read.
Gina turned on Cuban music, which both of them like, and she was doing gymnastics in the living room.
After finishing it, Laurence still hadn’t come downstairs from the room. He was still reading.
His wife was making the dinner, too, and her husband only came downstairs from their room to have dinner.
After that, he went back to his room to meditate, and then was reading on for a little time, took a shower, and went to sleep.
The woman went to sleep then, too, and before falling asleep, they were making love.
              Next day, they were making breakfast together, but after having breakfast the three of them with Delilah, the man went back to the room, and read the book through already that day. Until then, he only came downstairs to have lunch and to use his mini trampoline.
- I still have to go to appear in two talk shows in New York, where I’ve already promised to go. Will you two also come with me there for a few days before we go back to Canada? – he asked during dinner.
- Have you completed reading the book? – Gina answered back tensely.
- Yes, I’ve read it through.
- And are you sure it has affected you already now?
- I read that book a lot nowadays. I realized that I need you two, and that I should attend your and Delilah’s interests too, already now.
His wife dropped her teeth. She didn’t count on it to go this fast - And in Canada, they were going to have more time to deal with one another, anyway, when she was hardly going to be working, and anyway, they were going to work in one place and live together till the end – she thought with happy relief.
- Of course, we’ll go with you – she smiled at him joyously.
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theladyragnell · 4 months
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Hi! Happy new year 😊 It just struck me you're a voracious reader with (I think) quite a few romance novels under your belt and a talent for writing romance yourself, so I come begging a favour for the beginning of the year: if I wanted to read the most fun and indulgent and giggle-inducing romance in 2024, what would you you recommend? I'm hoping for something not only well-written, but triumphantly and unapologetically in its genre, if that makes sense. Thank you so much for taking the time to read (let alone answer!) this ask!
Oh friend, I love reading romance novels, please, buckle in, let's have some fun! You seem to be looking for the flavor that I tend to refer to as romps, as opposed to the more serious and dramatic or erotica-flavored romances, so let me give you a bit of a selection of those.
Contemporaries: Jennifer Crusie is the absolute master of banter, for all her best works are pretty old at this point! Bet Me and Faking It have aged the best in my opinion. I read Alexandria Bellefleur's The Fiancee Farce last year, and if you've ever read and enjoyed a "whoops, we have to get married for this clause in my relative's will" fanfic this one's for you. The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest was one of my favorite romances from last year, though it's a bit less bantery than these others. Oh! Talia Hibbert! Her Brown sisters books are a thing of beauty and a joy forever (Ravenswood is also good, but a bit more serious in tone and we're going for romps here). Jasmine Guillory is also worth a try, lots of fun if maybe a little less banter-focused. Oh! And a shoutout for two action romcoms I read this year, Partners in Crime by Alisha Rai and To Have and to Heist by Sara Desai.
Historicals: Tessa Dare loves a bantery romance, give The Duchess Deal a try on for size! Last year I read The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes by Cat Sebastian, which was a joy, and I hear a lot of good about Sebastian's m/m books too, though I haven't been able to dive into them yet. Away from the romps, Mary Balogh is one of my all-time favorites (but start with her newer work, particularly the Survivors' Club series), I've been enjoying Christina Britton a lot lately, and Eva Ibbotson's books for older readers have my heart forever and always. (I feel like this section is reading less enthusiastic than the contemporaries, but it's just that I read so many historicals that it's hard to remember which book with Duke in the title stands out!) Oh! Ravishing the Heiress by Sherry Thomas somehow hits my loves perfectly, though again not a romp, I've got a rather graver taste in historicals. And Olivia Waite's sapphic historicals! The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics is the first one. And everyone recommends Courtney Milan, but The Duke Who Didn't is a true joy.
Fantasy: Fantasy romance is my genre crossover of the 2020s! It's my two favorite escapist genres mixed together, and when it hits the sweet spot it REALLY does. And my friend, I am looking you in the eyes and I am telling you to read T. Kingfisher's paladin books, starting with Paladin's Grace, if you have any interest at all in fantasy as a genre. (Fair warning: Kingfisher also writes horror, and takes great pleasure at least once per fantasy book of reminding you of that.) And now that I've given you the gateways, I'm also going to recommend you The Devotion of Delflenor by R. Cooper (it's not bantery, but I keep telling people, if you fall into my very specific sweet spot of having been in E/R fandom in 2013-2014 and having loved the Tortall books in your youth you NEED to read this, and even one or the other means you should, the pining is exquisite), The Sorceress Transcendent by Casey Blair, Olivia Atwater's Regency Faerie Tales series, and Troubled Waters by Sharon Shinn.
... Okay, you asked for one book and I gave you SO many. That is because romance has so many tones and moods and subgenres, and only you know which one is going to put the biggest smile on your face! Hopefully I have given you enough information to make the choice that is best and happiest for you.
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