So MusicMan and I finally watched the season finale of CASTLE. Before I go any further, let me say two things:

1. Read ahead at your own risk…there will be spoilers!

2. Of course she’s not dead!!!

So, what did you think?

There were many, many things about it that I enjoyed–the intense, emotional scene when Castle comes to Beckett’s apartment to try and get her to stop working on the case, and they have that blow up that just screams sexual tension (yum!)–she tells him to leave, that she doesn’t want him around, etc. That was my favorite scene of the whole episode, partly because for pretty much the first time, they called each other by their first names. It’s the subtleties that make it!

I pegged Montgomery as being the one to die several weeks ago when I heard that there was going to be a death. He was the only one who could go that we’d care about–but not care about too much to ruin the show. (That’s why of course she’s not dead! This isn’t BBC America’s Robin Hood, thankyouverymuch.)

I also figured out how Montgomery was going to save Beckett and get killed at the same time as going down a hero–but the way they did it was purely for dramatic reasons. If he really were a hero, he would have warned her ahead of time instead of when she walked into the hangar, and then they could have played the scene out but with her knowing. Doh. (PS Loved that he shot that b-stard when he was leaning over him.)

Castle sure stepped up, dragging Beckett out of the way, though didn’t he? *mrwor* And the very last bit when he’s bending over her, begging her not to die, and he makes The Big Revelation (that everyone knows except for Kate, and she probably does anyway)…it was heart-wrenching. Loved it.

So, here are my thoughts going forward because I know they have at least one more season, maybe two, approved:

1. Kate was probably wearing a bullet-proof vest. She’s not dumb.
2. She won’t remember Rick saying “I love you.”
3. He’ll probably come to see her in the hospital to find Josh there with her, and be chased off.

See, I don’t want them to get together any time soon because I’m afraid the show will jump the shark. It usually does. Now, I have to admit that JD Robb does a brilliant job of handling an on-going relationship with Eve Dallas and Roarke, and there are many overtones of the In Death series in Castle…but I’m not convinced a television program will maintain a good storyline if they get together. I’d like to be wrong, however. I’d really like to be wrong.

What I’d like to see happen, by the way, is for the new captain to be a woman. And I’d like there to be some…something between her and Rick. A little tension maybe, a little flirtation, a little power play…whatever. Just enough to turn the tables on Beckett. We’ve had her pushing Rick away for the last three seasons and now it would be interesting if this season focused on her coming to terms with how she feels, and what he means to her, maybe even becoming ready to act on it…but Rick’s moved on. Or so it seems.

After all, a rich, smart, talented guy who has great relationships with his mother and daughter wouldn’t be not dating, not seeing women—would he? At least a little, and at least since the woman he’s hot for is pushing him away and involved with someone else.

So. Those are my thoughts. What did you think? Agree, disagree, what are your hopes for next season?

I happened to be flipping through the radio stations this morning (something I rarely do, as my dial is normally set to NPR), and got caught at an old rock and roll station. They were playing Stairway to Heaven.

I cannot remember the last time I heard that song, but I do remember one of the first times I ever did: back in 8th grade (maybe 7th) when I got my first kiss from a guy named Freddie. Stairway to Heaven was playing in the background, and we were at a party at a friend’s house.

So, what song was playing when you got your first kiss?

So today is what I’m calling the “soft” release day for The Vampire Narcise, the third book in my Regency Draculia series.

When I say soft release, it means that the book will start to show up in stores; they can start to put it out (they aren’t supposed to before now, but sometimes they do).

A hard release, or lay-down date, means that they absolutely cannot put the books out until that particular day–and usually the publishers pay the bookstores a fee to make sure that doesn’t happen. That’s usually the case for big name authors or ones who are being launched “big” so that the first week sales aren’t affected by a rolling release/availability.

Anyway, Narcise is available as of today…unless you’re reading her on an e-reader, in which case, the publisher isn’t making it available until June 1. (Sorry about that.)

There are reviews beginning to roll in, and I’m delighted with the response. Narcise was both a difficult and easy book to write. Oxymoronic, I know, but true. It’s dark and it pushes boundaries and breaks rules, and as one reviewer said, “It’s not for the faint of heart.” (Bookpage.com)

I hope you’ll let me know what you think of the book and if you see it in the stores this week or next. Here’s a link for a non-spoiler review, and also one for The Vampire Dimitri (I enjoyed reading this review because it made me chuckle) that I have to share. I love reading reviews that are just as entertaining as the book, showing that the reviewer clearly has not only a sense of humor, but “gets” the book.

The Vampire Narcise, reviewed by Love,Romance, Passion.

The Vampire Dimitri, reviewed by Dangerous Romance.

And yay me on blogging two days in a row!

I’ve got the itch to start blogging again. I can’t guarantee it will be regular blogging, but I’ll do my best. So I’ll post on Facebook and Twitter when I have a new entry up, and I hope to get some discussions going.

So, to start off, I wanted to talk about some popular TV shows and a trend I’m noticing. Talk me out of it, will you?

As many of you know, I’m a total Castle fanatic. (If you don’t watch, well, then I feel sorry for you. I mean…Nathan Fillion? All sweet and funny and with the greatest daddy-daughter relationship ever? Plus, he’s a writer!) I love the dialogue, the mysteries, the writer’s life aspect, and many other aspects. (eg, Nathan Fillion.)

And then there’s Body of Proof, with Dana Delany, to which I’ve really become addicted. The first few episodes I wasn’t certain about, but now I’m really hooked on the show (which is good because Castle is over for the season–and I haven’t seen the finale yet, so NO SPOILERS!), so MusicMan and I need something to watch.

Of course, I can’t help but make comparisons between the two shows, and in general, they’re favorable. We’ve got a self-assured male partnering with a driven, career-minded woman in a crime investigation. Decent mysteries, some good technical stuff, and a nice supporting cast. (Esposito, of course, is my favorite from Castle, and I love Ethan from Body of Proof.)

I got to thinking about another similarly set-up show: Bones. I’ve tried to watch it several times, and for some reason, I can’t connect with it. I just get too much of a sense of “try.” Like they’re trying too hard to put tension between Bones and whatever Boreanaz’s character’s name is. Like they’re forcing attraction between them.

Here’s the thing that stuck in my head, though: why is it that the women are the socially-inept, blinders-on-except-for-my-career, driven, remote halves of the teams? And the guys are the ones who seem to understand relationships and social interaction.

I’m not saying it’s a bad thing, I’m just wondering why it’s always the women. Think about Moonlighting, too. Same deal. The guy clearly has the hots for the woman, who’s not looking any further than her career, whose attention is so far inside her work that she can’t see the forest for the trees. Oh, and The X-Files too! Scully and Mulder. (Those two names have never worked for me, by the way. Too many Us.)

Why is it always the woman? Or is it? Are there shows/set-ups where the guy is the driven character, with no social interest, while the female half of the team is the one who knows how to have fun, to joke around, to try and push the other half into a relationship? Any relationship?

If you know of any, let me know…there are probably obvious ones out there, but I can’t think of them.

Oh, and by the way, in regards to Body of Proof, let me just go on record as saying that so far I love what they’re doing with Megan (Delany) and her male sidekick (Peter?) so far. Nothing. Nada. Just a friendship–like Liz Lemon and Jack Donaghey in 30 Rock. He’s mentoring her in her interpersonal relationships, and she’s teaching him about dead bodies. Love it. I hope and pray they don’t ruin it and try to force some romantic relationship between the two of them. I’ll boycott if they do.

What do you think? Comment below!