Imagination

Merriam Webster defines imagination as : 1 : the act or power of forming a mental image of something not present to the senses or never before wholly perceived in reality
2 a : creative ability b : ability to confront and deal with a problem : resourcefulness c : the thinking or active mind : interest
3 a : a creation of the mind; especially : an idealized or poetic creation b : fanciful or empty assumption

Mark Twain said, "Now, isn't imagination a precious thing? It peoples the earth with all manner of wonders, strange beasts and birds, angels, cherubim and seraphim. And it has to be exercised. No child should be permitted to grow up without exercise for imagination. It enriches life for him. It makes things wonderful and beautiful." - speech in Elmira, April 1907 (reprinted in Mark Twain in Elmira by Jerome & Wisbey)

Can anyone imagine growing up without an imagination? My imagination was (is) so strong that when I read The Ghosts of Departure Point by Eve Bunting, I slept with the lights on for two weeks. It wasn't even a scary book, but it was about ghosts and it gave me the heebity geebities. I was in elementary school, what can I say?

My strong imagination is the reason I don't read horror. When I read a book I can see it so clearly in my mind that it becomes real to me. It's like a movie playing in my head. I buy into vampires, werewolves, witches and wizards, magic, ghosts and supernatural abilities. I read the entire Harry Potter series, *sniff* and in the third book, *sniff* when he created his very first Patronus, *sob* I cried because I was so proud of him. When I watch the Twilight movies, I get upset with Bella for being such an idiot. Jacob is so obviously in love with her and overall just seems like a better choice, so why on Earth is she chasing after that pale faced glittery vampire??? None of these people are real, but they bring out real emotions in me.

********************SPOILER ALERT*******************

J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood books were the first "paranormal" romance books that I read. The first book was good. I was interested, I bought the second one. The second book, Lover Eternal had me hooked. I fell head over heels in love with Rhage and could completely understand why Mary would want to be with him, faults and all. I was able to forgive him for cheating (sort of) on her because for him it wasn't sex, it wasn't about emotion. It was the release that kept his monster at bay. Kept Mary safe. I bought into the whole idea of the Scribe Virgin saving her life, curing her of the cancer that had been ravaging her body for years. The cancer that was going to take her life. I believed that the Scribe Virgin returned Mary to Rhage when she found out that Mary couldn't have babies because she couldn't rob her of her warrior as well.

In Lover Awakened, I totally believed that Bella's love could heal Z's broken mind. I believed in his struggle with his own worth and his belief that Bella would be better off with his brother. I cried for him throughout his struggle and his own self destructive behavior and I completely believed in their HEA.

In Lover Revealed I hurt for Butch and what he was going through, or thought he was going through, with Marissa. I hated her brother for putting both of them through it and felt his pain for being unable to fight with the men he considered his family, his brothers. I struggled with the turning of Butch. I struggled with his "vampire roots" being strong enough to turn him into a vampire. I struggled with the fact that some long lost deep rooted relation to Wrath was enough for him to survive turning, but I wanted Butch to be a vampire, so I sucked it up and moved on. I am happy that Butch is a vampire and I don't think too much about it.

So please, why is it, that when I got to Lover Unbound my imagination gave up? Why did I struggle to believe that V could fall in love with a doctor he had been conscious with for only a few moments? Why did I struggle to believe that Rhage and Butch would risk their brothers secrets and safety for a doctor that no one knew? And when she died, why do I still struggle with the fact that she's a ghost and only V can touch her?

How am I capable of believing in vampires, lessers, dragons, curses, witches, warlocks, magic and Dark Hunters but I can't buy into the whole ghost Doc Jane thing? Tell me friends, have you ever run across a story line you just couldn't believe in? If so, what was it and why do you think you struggled? Inquiring minds and all that.

Happy reading!