Customer Reviews

Learning Curves (Signature Select)

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4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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In LEARNING CURVES, author Cindi Myers tackles an important and largely ignored subject, the anti-fat prejudice of America. "Fat-ism" probably is the only politically correct form of discrimination still considered acceptable.

The heroine here wears a size 12, which she explains is the median size of the adult American women. Still, in many circles--especially in television news, where the heroine works--a size 12 is considered grossly obese.

Myers is to be admired for acknowledging this issue, and for addressing it thoroughly and well. A romance novel, particularly, would not seem to be the perfect forum to air these kinds of concern, but LEARNING CURVES does an excellent job of it. Even the title is clever.

The rest of the book is more conventional; there's not much left unexplored in romance fiction. Yet the subtext here takes LEARNING CURVES out of the ordinary and brings it somewhere unexpected.

I have enjoyed this book and would recomend it to my customers.This book breaks the mold,it gets the point across of not only learning to accept oneself,but points out that there are more pressing concerns in the world.This is a book that in short will make you feel.

In Denver Shelly Piper learns that "perky" Pam Parsons was selected for the anchor spot on "First for News" though she worked diligently for ten years at the show; worse she learns that her size 12 did her in; even worse they offer her a spot on a weight reduction program to be shown over a year. Irate, Shelly quits.

Former Dallas anchor Jack Halloran, funded by his Uncle Ed Palmer, hires Shelly to co-anchor his KPRM public TV show "Inside Story". As they work diligently to make their show a success, the hunk, who quit his last show because no one took him serious as a reporter only a handsome visage, and the "fat" female co-star begin to fall in love. However, can they form a relationship off the air that will not destroy their terrific on the air affinity?

This is an intriguing contemporary newsroom romance that stars two wonderful protagonists struggling to overcome perceptions of how the media and consequently the audience see anchors. Jack wants to be taken serious instead of cotton candy while Shelly needs to prove that a big woman can perform the job. Though their romance takes a back seat to their journalistic relationship, fans of character driven tales will enjoy Cindi Myers fine look at the spotlights of TV news.

Harriet Klausner

"Hey Judy's" review brought this book to my attention. I thank her, and John Michael O'Loughlin (author of COLLIE'S CAPTIVITY IN THE MONARCHY OF THE KINGDOM'S REALM) for the gift of LEARNING CURVES.

Though all the reviews were very well written and helpful to me, Judy's comments succinctly described the gist and guts of this delightful novel, and it caught me enough to immediately place the book on my Amazon Wish List. TV News careers are of interest to me, and certainly a book about the struggle to balance surface appearances with richness and depth.

This romance (which could fit the mainstream category) flowed freshly and freely in engaging entertainment. Jack Halloran and Shelly Piper, the main character pair, were immediately likeable as they battled the "bulges" ... of news anchor appearances mattering more to certain audiences than stories with prime-rib-potency or healing-heart-lift. The irony was refreshing of this male and female lead being placed on opposite sides of this conundrum. In this case, the guy was so gorgeous he endured decades of being seen only for his assets of skin, muscle, skeleton, and pheromones. And his baby blues. Can't forget those. The woman was supposedly too fat to be allowed in the limelight to present her research from her physical presence.

Here's a glimpse of some of the substance in this worthy novel:

"Shelly laid the receiver on the cradle and stared at her blank computer screen, sadness dragging at her like an anchor. She'd spent the afternoon with a woman who had almost died because she couldn't convince a doctor there was something really wrong with her. And now her best friend was having a completely unnecessary surgery - mutilating herself, even -- for the sake of vanity, or to please some man who didn't appreciate how special she was just the way she was."

The sub-plot couple, Yvonne Montoya and what's-'is-name (oh yeah, Daniel; too beautiful a name for that "azz") were drawn almost too clearly in their irritatingly ignorant choices in life paths and partners, being dictated nearly wholly by the visceral pull of (mostly) perverted needs and beliefs. Yet, the author does amazingly well with the way she grows and concludes this couple's bungling bump-and-grind, irrevocable evolution toward the idealized ceremony of the alter (more one of sacrifice than of mature partnership). I kept wishing Yvonne would get rid of her class "azz" of a fiancé. I kept wishing she would say, "Go Jump," to his demands of her. Yet, I was surprised that I felt satisfied at the conclusion of their sour dance.

And, of course I loved the resolution of the warming dance-steps of Jack and Shelly.

Not only was this novel a simple yet deceivingly complex weaving of a refreshingly entertaining romance with substance (yummy meat on the bones of the "fill-in-the-blanks" formula); it was allowed space at the end of the story for a few nonfiction details from the author and publisher's intentions and process for this "more-is-better" offering from Harlequin's SIGNATURE SELECT SPOTLIGHT. Marsha Zinberg, Executive Editor for this "brand new featured author program" is to be complimented. Don't miss her introductory letter to the reader from which I'll quote a short segment:

"Signature Select aims to single out outstanding stories, contemporary themes, and oft requested classics by some of your favorite series authors and present them to you in a variety of formats bound by truly striking covers.... In addition these books bring you bonus features .... more about ... the author ... the setting or inspiration for the book ... subjects related to the theme ..."

The content in the bonus sections in LEARNING CURVES was very interesting. I particularly liked the "Alternate Ending" section, and was giving huge thanks that it wasn't used. Though it was well written, fit well into the story, and might have been appreciated by many readers, for me that alternate ending would have undermined the fantastic work done in this novel to create a consciousness shift from a culture of too-many-fools lost in abject superficiality, to a growing collection of beings worthy of living within human skin, as they edge beyond the early phases of painful adolescence.

From my perspective as a voracious reader of entertainment fiction from multiple genres, as well as mainstream novels, I see this program as sheer genius in understanding and responding to a thrusting undercurrent of cravings from both readers and authors in what they want to read and produce.

Initially, I mistyped Ms. Zinberg's name as "Zingburg."

Freud I salute you. Thanks for the input!! As Freudian slips go, this was a zinger. And this program and this editor definitely have the most delightful, satisfying type of "ZING"!

And, thank Whomever, that the covers of these Select novels have appealing art related to theme rather than overblown sexy steam. I quit buying romance novels (un)covered with Superglued sexual embraces decades ago. To be honest, I don't recall ever buying one of those "covers." I didn't get into reading romance novels until they began using book cover art I didn't have to go crimson to carry.

PUHlease, let me add that big boobs are heavy to carry. Off, on, or installed. No wonder we have titanium backbones now to "go with." Maybe it's time to cut the cr(..) instead of brutalizing the fat. Where oh where has our little balance gone? Maybe a Harlequin Angel's trying to bring it back? Seesaw? A graceful, NATURAL, Hourglass? It's about time!

And, Thanks to Amazon for its gifts of gusto given in graphic grandeur, ever working to link "I want" to "I have." But, mostly, thanks to my husband who has always loved me "as is," even as I caused his hair loss! Actually he still has plenty of his gorgeous copper hair (surrounding the growing, glowing dome under the welding hat), and a thick abundance of white-spiced beard (which keeps the sparks away from his Adam's Apple).

My Best Wishes For Success to Cindi Myers, Marsha Zinberg and all involved in this venture!

Linda G. Shelnutt