Winner Take All by Joanne Rock

I can't find the thread for this online read.  Is it too early or is it missing from the online reads page by accident?

Thanks, Jayne or Lorie or Wayne or Dee or Rae.

Interesting twist in this intro. 

Ooohh this looks like an interesting read!

to reading more of this!  Wayne, I agree, it's cool that it's set in the 70's.

I'm excited to be reading something from Joanne!  I've never read a book of her's I didn't really enjoy.  I get the feeling this will be no exception!

Wow, I just found this.  I really like it so far.  1971 was the middle of high school for me!  I rembember it so well!

Going to have to check out the series!

All my favourite childhood reads featured horses, I swear, and so I am irresistibly drawn to any covers featuring horses and any stories with horses.  And racing?  And Australia?  I am SO there! 

Bron

Well, he was not acting obnoxious. He was perfectly mannered. But he is putting a power play on the heroine, and his thoughts indicate that he doesn't care what she thinks, he is only thinking about himself. So, IMNSHO, that is obnoxious. But you are welcome to disagree.

in 1971, I was born. 

i'm enjoying this story so far-can't wait to see what happens next

 btw, i wasn't born until '74

After I read the comments about his behaviour in this chapter, I went back and reread it to see if I had missed something. And if anything, I found myself feeling that JENNA'S behaviour was actually a bit rude and a bit on the self-centered side. All the poor guy did was fall for her and try to maintain contact through letters while he was fighting overseas and she kinda treated him like pooh, and "banished him from her life" because of his background when he was perfectly willing to be with her despite their differences. So in this chapter, I actually saw a guy reunited with a girl that had hurt him, and him observing her after time apart, trying to get a feel for her, and when an opening came about for him to be alone with her, he swept it up. It seems that she doesn't do well when she doesn't get things her way because she keeps treating him coldly as if he did something to her and glares her animosity at him. But, it appears he knows what he wants and is willing to fight for a chance.

He seems nice enough to me. And I really hadn't thought much about Jenna's behaviour until I went back looking for his. She must have her reasons for treating him this way, most likely to protect herself from being hurt as I sense a bit of an inferiorty complex in regards to their stations in life and society.  In addition to that, she is also there with an ulterior motive, while his behavior can be taken at face value. Anyways, that's what I felt after going back, but it is just my opinion. Oh, the things you can find when you reread!

I am enjoying the story so far Joanne! I like it when the hero and heroine butt heads, and hope that she will be able to put their differences aside. But not before some interesting tension of course!

Katie

Very interesting comments!  I can certainly see both sides... Jenna acting out/Thomas acting out.  I think that some of the most intriguing people we meet, the people we are attracted to in life, have the capacity to bring out the best AND the worst in us.  I see that in real life with couples who are attracted to one another and certainly in fiction. 

Example-- I like to think I'm a nice, easy going person.  It takes a lot to rile me.  But my husband has always been excellent at pushing my buttons :-).  No one can make me madder!  I think there's a flirtatious quality to verbal sparring, even when it's done in a more contentious fashion.  We get to know one another that way and we take more risks that way, but all the while, we are in "safe mode" because we aren't admitting attraction.  Immature?  Maybe.  But a very honest human response. 

Katie, great point about Thomas's actions being more face value whereas Jenna has an agenda!  I agree.  With any luck, we'll start to see more reasons why the characters do what they do over the next few chapters.  I'm having fun re-reading myself since I wrote the story a few months ago and I tend to write in longer chunks than the short chapters.  Seeing the work parcelled out this way (even though it was me who created the chapter breaks!) always creates a different experience than when reading in bigger batches.

He knows what he wants and he's going after it.  He played by her rules in the past. Now that she is on his turf he's being more "pushy."  In a way, I can't blame him.  He knows that there's a major attraction between them.  Yet he did keep quiet and away from her for a year.  Can't really blame him for taking advantage of the fact that she is there before him--looking like she fits in in his "world."

Well I like that, Frenchie :-).  And interesting about the alphas... I wouldn't have though I write alphas per se, but I can see how some of my guys look like alphas on the outside. 

I think a lot of people have public personas that aren't always fully reflective of who they are inside... me included!  I seem very laid back Type B on the outside.  On the inside, I have a manic Type A who secretly runs the whole show ;-).

I read a lot of HPs and there is a HUGE difference between a "real" alpha and the way that Thomas is acting.  He is trying cajole her into telling him what he wants.  Some of the alphas (especially those that I don't care for either) would be much more aggressive in their methods.

Thomas is actually quite "tame."  An alpha would not have listened to her when she said she wanted no more contact -- not if he felt a strong connection -- he would have pursued her.  Therefore I am inclined to give him some slack and see what happens.

I know this may sound really stupid, but I don't know what an HP is either.  When I think of HP, I think of Hewlett Packard, and I know that it's not what HP in this sense means.  LOL!

Thomas as a true Alpha. 

I REALLY like him!  Yes, he may be a bit sneaky soon about making sure Jenna spends more time with him, but it's all for the greater good. 

Now we have to wait until Tuesday for more....  *pouts*  Loving this, Joanne!!!!

On the one hand he thinks that a relationship between them wouldn't work.  On the other hand, he doesn't want her to get away -- I'm sure that is not just so that they can stay friends.

Lidia

FF, I'm with you...  I think Thomas has alpha qualities and I don't like it when people take advantage of others, but I do see redeeming qualities in him.  He wants to get to know her better and she is attracted to him and he probably knows it.

I like this story and am looking forward to reading Something to Talk About!

I was wondering....

All this talk about Thomas and the fact that he is pursuing (very nicely, not forcefully seducing an innocent like many of those sheiks and Greek millionaires lol) Jenna who clearly has an attraction to him...does anyone notice the parallel to the other online read in which Paul continues to pursue Rita even though she said she doesn't want to see him and plans to move away and never see him again? It seems that both of these men just want a chance to show the women how good it could be if they were together. And, IMHO, both of them should get that chance, from the ladies they like, and all of us!! I noticed that our Thomas seems to be getting a bum rap in here...but Paul is the man over there! And I am not saying Paul is the one of the two men who actually has "taken advantage" of their lady thus far; however many might question Rita's emotional vulnerability on the night they got "together". Thomas however, merely offered to walk with Jenna and is possibly going to help her in hopes she decides to un"banish" him...pretty tame taking-advantage-of in comparison.

I don't know, I guess I just am seeing things a little bit differently. I was wondering if anyone else had compared the two men? Or their reaction to both? Are we judging them based on their actions in the read, or on their backgrouds (wealthy heir vs. poor soldier, etc.) or anything like that? It's just a niggling question I had from reading both reads and the discussions afterwards. What do you guys think?

 Personally, I haven't really seen Thomas's behavior to be anything different from little things that I am sure many of us have done at one time or another in our lives (and if you haven't I don't mean to offend, but I bet we all have in some small way)...gosh I remember literally thousands of times in middle school, high school, college and beyond where I would try to be somewhere at a certain time, whether it be passing by his class room, walking by his lunchtable, sitting at a certain desk in a lecture, or going to the break room at a certain time because he comes in to get the deposit from the safe (mmm tasty security guard-lol) and all for the sake of, yes, feasting my eyes upon HIM (whoever he was at that time) but also in the hopes that his being within proximity of me would make him realize how fabulous I am and that he couldn't live without me!! (Haha...amazing that they need more time to figure that out, I know )  Was I being manipulative? I hope not...

 I just think that that is what both of our boys are doing...creating oppurtunities and giving themselves the time they need with the chicas they want in order to hopefully get their attention, for good. So, sure in my case I had a master plan, as these men do...but don't we all? So we think about the things we say, how we should act, how much to reveal, how much to talk, where we should go, all in the hopes of some certain result. Or if someone you care about is acting distant (as both of our heroines are doing), do we offer comfort, question them until they tells us why, or give them space and just leave them alone altogether? We all think about these things and decide how to proceed I suppose...I think it is normal. And, that deciding to fight for it if it feels right is kinda hot!

Anyways...food for thought and perhaps discussion....

TEAM THOMAS!! haha I like the poor guy...I guess we all get rubbed the wrong way about different things, but I hope we don't judge him too harshly!

 (and I step down from my soap box )

kt

I'm really enjoying this story. I've already purchased all the books this month. I love reading about horses and racing. In jr high and high school I read mostly horse books. Mainly the Black Stallion books over and over again.

Shell

Well said FF!

I like both Paul and Thomas, I just think Thomas is being more forceful than I would like. Part of it may be that in this online read I can identify with Jenna as a rebel rousing 70's young adult and in the other online read I identify better with Paul's need to give back to his people.

Everyone reads with their own bias and gets out of stories what they want based on their perceptions.

With that said, I got to say I do like both stories and will look for more books by both of these online read authors!

BTW, just thought I'd mention that I love these online discussions, especially when there are divergent points of view.  It gets me thinking about different ways to look at things even if I don't agree with them!

Hi Guys, I haven't posted for a while and I am enjoying the discussion.

I know that everyone was liking Paul because he wants to give back to his people.  But did we just forget that Thomas served 2 tours of duty in Vietnam?  Remember, Jenna dumped him right before he left and he tried to write to her and she responded cooly. 

Jenna and Thomas had a history, just like Paul and Rita.  Both women are trying to deny their feelings for these men.  Both are brave soldiers and heros. 

I think Jenna really hurt Thomas because he has genuine feelings for her.  She herself knew immediately that he was at the breakfast table...as she could feel his presence.  In her own words, they had undeniable chemistry. 

I think as time goes on, we are going to be liking Thomas more and more.  I read "A Soldier Comes Home" and along with Chrissie and Ray's story, there is alot of Paul and Rita in the story.

This is not the same Paul we are reading here.  This is Paul after serving 2 tours in Iraq-present day.  In my mind, he is a totally different person.

I am not saying I did not enjoy the book.  But it was not the funny, light hearted read I usually get in a Harlequin Super Romance.  It's alot about what family's of soldiers in war go through and really makes you think.

That's one reason why I am willing to give Thomas the benefit of the doutbt.

Have a great one,

Kim 

Joanne--thanks for addressing the timing issue in setting the story in Saratoga in the spring. LOL, and yes there can be many a cool morning in August, only to end up a blistering hot day. I just love Saratoga Springs any time of the year and it is a wonderful setting for a romance.

Thanks, April...I am glad we see eye to eye!

I am going to have to say that we'll have to disagree on Thomas. I really don't see him the way FF and Papaya do, at all! I don't see him as having power over Jenna, as he isn't her boss or her boss's son for that matter, he isn't sexually harassing her, and he isn't pushing, grabbing, speaking dirty, etc. He is a person she was once intimate with and was once friends with, according to both of their histories together. She isn't a cowgirl/boy that considers their hat to be an extension of their bodies, and the one she is wearing is in fact a totally foreign "costume". He sees the fact that she is wearing it as such and takes it from her head and says "you're trying to hide under there." If he were truly an Alpha male trying to have power over her, I do believe he would be gratified that the rabble rouser who doesn't fit into society is gussied up like Jackie O and trying to change in a way that should please him. Instead, he sees the real Jenna underneath the costume and thinks she is better off without it.

And I would have to disagree on the subject of Jenna not being conflicted on her feelings for Thomas. She can't tear her eyes from his, said eyes make her knees wobbly, she wants to smooth her hand over his chest, she wants to spare them "heartache" by not continuing their assocation...she defintely does have feelings for him but she is afraid of being hurt when she tries to fit in for him and doesn't. She is not letting him state his case, that being that he likes her fine the way she is and I doubt he would want to change her. That's a long way off from Alpha. So, okay, he doesn't manage to get her off to themselves, he doesn't convince her to give them a shot...ummm if he doesn't get her alone, how do they talk about their issues? And if they don't talk about their issues, Jenna will continue to have her walls up. And if Jenna continues to have her walls up...where is the story? Or their romance? Or their relationship!!

I have to say that at some point we have to put aside "politcal correctness" or who has a higher station in life, and let the prince pursue the farm girl, or the architect pursue her construction worker, or the president pursue his intern (lol)...because people, if we end up so politically correct that someone with more power can't pursue someone with less... we are going to end up back in the dark ages with no one marrying outside of their class and if that is not bad enough, where are all our fabulous cinderella stories going to go! Who is going to end up pursuing anyone, whether it is upward or downward! Lowers (Jenna) will keep thinking they aren't good enough, and uppers (Thomas) will be bashed over the head for sexual harassment! So I say, let there be pursuit, as long as it is in the name of love, whether it be up, down, side to side, whatever. Because I want to read about love, and if no one pursues anyone, what have I got to read about? Will we only date what comes along easily, and fits perfectly into the slot we allot them, no effort required? Will we be back to marriages that are arranged for business purposes, or family purposes, just like back in the day, no effort required, who cares if you don't like them? No thanks. Gimme love, gimme the chase, gimme the effort, gimme the good stuff.

If people just left people who have high walls up alone, I think it would be a really sad thing. Some of those walls are only there to see who cares enough to scale them, and some of them are there from having been hurt intensely in the past. If someone cares enough to scale them, and can show the person how much they want to take care of them so that they don't need walls anymore, it is definitely worth storming the castle.  How sad would it be if we all just walked away from someone who was hurting, in this case a friend whose parent had recently died and who was clearly in a tight situation, because they said to. Sometimes it is the kid who is biting and punching and starting fights who needs a hug the most. And we are all just big kids most of the time...

So that is the end of my piece...I am pretty sure I have said everything that I can possibly think of (though of course we have several chapters coming that I am sure we could dissect from opposing viewpoints in the days to come ). Team Thomas and Team Jenna! I am rooting for them both, the girl with the walls and the guy with the cajones to scale them!

Katie