I have a lot of respect for Nora Roberts , not just because she's an award willing bestselling author, but because I've seen reports of how she comports herself in the authorial community and those reports show her as classy and wise.

So I thought I'd read a straight up, regular old modern no hocus-pocus, no English lords or pirates romance. I chose "Montana Sky" mostly because the Smart Bitches recommend it.

And I read it through. And liked the characters, and the set up and the writing and the plot.

And was left deeply dissatisfied. So okay, I realized the story was published in 1996.

But still. There was far too much of the "You're a tough lady that can cut the balls of steer, but I don't trust you to go out alone at night. So let me physically restrain you while I kiss you, and although you're a tough, independent lady, you're going to be romantically turned on by the fact that I don't trust you to go out alone by yourself."

Nope, it didn't do it for me. Now contrast that with a recent dialogue exchange from Moonlight (my current vampire TV show) where Mick (the vampire) notices that his love interest, Beth (the human) has called a reporter by his first name in an overly familiarly way:

And he says "Ben? Hmm, should I be worried?"
And Beth says "Yes, because although I am not romantically interested, the jealousy is pleasing."
And Mick chuckles and Beth walks away smiling.

And here those emotions: jealousy of female attention to another male, the female being pleased that the male is jealous, are given direct reference WITHOUT the whole "I BIG MAN, YOU NO TOUCH MY WOMAN" kind of thing going on in Montana Sky.

You can use those tired-and-true romantic cliches, but you don't have to give into them.

So while I see why Nora Roberts is so famous and popular, this seminal work of hers would be hard for me to recommend whole-heartedly.