Comments on: REVIEW: Shadow Music by Julie Garwood

By: Angie

Angie — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 19:32:58 +0000

I was hugely disappointed with Shadow Music. I too have been hooked on Julie Garwood’s past historicals. I actually just now discovered her but have been getting my hands on every last one of them. And then I read Shadow Music. Why did I read it? Waste of time! It started off okay but then it seemed that she just wanted to rush through it to end it. I will not be getting any of her newer books. My advice is to pass on Shadow Music.

By: Jody

Jody — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 02:01:46 +0000

Danni
One doesn’t have to have written a book to understand what makes good fiction. Readers, especially those of us who have been reading romance for over 40 years, are well aware of the elements of a good story: conflict (internal/external), characterization, plot turning points, dark moment and resolution. No one is saying that writing a book is easy, but what is being said is that it is a reader’s expectation that the author of Garwood’s expeirence will have an understanding of the period in which she is writing or why write a historical. Having read all of Ms Garwood’s books both historical and romantic suspense, I can say with expeirence that her last historical was a big departure from her other historicals in large part because she created a heroine who wasn’t reflective of the period in which she placed her nor was she the classic quirky Garwood heroine readers love to watch torment the hero (that is her MO). Add to this an external conflict that has been done to death in old Scottish romances (solve border problems with Highland/English marriages) which many readers aren’t willing to accept anymore because of it is historically incorrect. Many readers expected Garwood to come up with something special since her absense in historical fiction for 10 years, but what we got was the same old tired plot that has been done to death. A reader’s opinion in reviews is just as important to the process of writing (publication) for an author. No author if she wants to build a readership can ignore what readers say about her “baby” both good and bad. Most authors learn to develop a thick skin to criticism of their work and realize they can learn from their readers to help their craft advance.

By: danni

danni — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 23:55:36 +0000

i am seventeen. i’ll start with that fact. i have read two of Julie’s books and am about to read a third. i love historical fiction. have any of you critics ever written a book? if you have, then you will know that it isn’t easy. I should know, I have written two. To me, if the plot and characters are good i don’t exactly care if the historical background is incorrect. it is a fictional book. i would also like to say that Ransom is one of my favorites. prince charming is quite good,

By: Jody

Jody — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 07:20:05 +0000

Try her new book FIRE AND ICE, which is a continuation of the her romantic suspense. She returns her readers to her signature quirky but witty/sassy heroines, much like those of her early historicals. This book is so much better than her last historical though it did have a few moments where she stumbled a bit, ie the ending being abrupt, which may be a result of a publishers insistance rather than her own.

As to historicals, as one who likes an historical scenario, tough fiction, to be at least plausable her last one was poorly concieved. Those of us who question the accuarcy are a bit tired of those who don’t care if the history is correct. After all aren’t we reading the books because of the historical setting? If not then wouldn’t we chose contemporaries? I am not talking absolute correct history so that it reads like a text book, however, the scenario should have a ring of truth to it and shouldn’t rely on the “old” historical myths (solve the Border conflicts with marriage of English Lady’s to Highlanders, when the Border wars have NOTHING to do with the Highlands, makes no sense and a basic understanding of the history of the period would get that). Most midlist authors who are writing historicals now set in Scotland get it, so why should MS Garwood.

But the biggest criticism is not historical accuracy but the fact the story was’t character driven like her past historicals. One can accept the history light of her books as long as she gives the reader characters one can care about and these characters weren’t that; she too perfect with no flaws thus no internal confilict and he sort of bland toast. There was not chemistry between a couple who don’t even meet for the first 100 pages.

I think she should remain with her romantic suspense and forego any more historicals unless she can give us heroine like Sophie Rose, who has spunk and wit. Some lacking in her last historical heroine.

By: rose

rose — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 05:29:02 +0000

I imagine the internet has been both great and a curse to authors.
I cannot imagine how this kind of feed back feels.
I hate historicals, so I don’t know Ms Garwood’s earlier prowess with them. I started reading her contemporary books last year, mostly because they were a series, which I love. I found a whole bunch of them in the local thrift store, starting with Heatbreaker.
They were O.K., I didn’t become a huge fan, But I would have read the next, thinking it would be one of the Buchanan brothers, I was thrown for a loop when it turned out to be a historical, I guess involving one of their ancestors.
How does this work?
I have a peeve with authors starting a series, and then abandoning it, not due to anavoidable circumstances, but I guess they get tired of them. That leaves the readers hanging!

By: Sabrina

Sabrina — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 00:43:10 +0000

An,

Totally agree, much different then her earlier books, do not care for it at all…passion is gone:(

By: an

an — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 21:27:22 +0000

Stepping away from the argument on historiography for a moment, did anyone notice Garwood’s style changing?

It felt like she wrote this one at a much younger reading level, especially in the beginning.

By: Fiction Happens

Fiction Happens — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 15:17:03 +0000

Really? I find that a little sad. Shouldn’t every girl/woman be able to imagine her man as her knight in shining armor? Isn’t that what love does to you? Makes you realize that YES there are “fairy tale” and “happily ever after” men out there where you can entertain the idea of being swept off your feet.

In no way are books guides on “how to find men” unless that’s actually the title…

I’m an adult too and have been one for a bit myself. But I can still entertain the idea of my own man riding a white horse and carrying a sword even if the idea does make me giggle it makes me swoon just as much. And sometimes it is just nice to curl up with a book no matter how outlandish it is or inaccurate and lose yourself in a world of TOTAL fantasy.

And really I find it a little sad that even grown women can’t still picture their knight in shining armor… have women become just that jaded that they lose the little princess inside them?

By: Carrie

Carrie — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 15:09:19 +0000

If you reread the comments above there are quite a few who argue the historical innaccuracy of her works, i never specifically pointed out one or either, so sorry if you felt as if i was writing a comment to your review? Also if you reread them, many stated that theyve lost the magic of her older books, NOT just the new one, after rereading them as an adult. So I ONCE again never took issue on you for being an adult? merely that it is sad that people do not appreciate her characters in the same way they once did because theyve “grown up”, so once again i was not taking issue with your specific post I therefore have no idea why you took such an insult to me. If you REREAD my comment and take the time to look at what I was saying youll see I didnt say It was used as a guide to finding a man, and to come back with what you threw at me, can unlike most women today say that I never went tirading about looking for a man and was a virgin until i met my love, one reason i also love her books, virtue. I clearly stated that they left you with a warm- happy feeling, if they did not do this to you I am truly sorry. I didnt say they left you with a “how-to” on finding a man, but made you feel really warmed up if you were somewhat down. Reread it and youll see what I mean. I then continued saying why it hit home to me, I was explaining why I never lost that magic, Yes the guy I have is from a prominent family, yes he could use a sword, but that isnt the comparison I found, I found him to be my modern day “Darcy”, they very phrases and sparring of words in Garwoods novels make me laugh because he does very much the same. Ive been able to get him to listen to me read Garwood to him and he laughs for the very same reason, the similarities in attributes. I really wish you would have taken the time to read what I was saying rather than state that my whole review was about using her novels as a how to guide for men. You started your entire review as if someone had attacked you, which wasnt the case at all, in my review it was informal, finding many common issues and giving my view on the topic.You acted as though I was saying every man should be out of a book, i said no such thing I said I think this is one reason her books still give me a warm feeling even after becoming an adult. Granted im only 21, but with working already on a masters degree in History, with a minor in archaeology, a wonderful boyfriend, and working my way through college as a certified heart monitor technician for a hospital, im well on my way to working on my own fairy tale ending, not a medieval one to say the least, yet I can still find attributes to relate with those characters. I never once declared not having a guy from a book is wrong, and from the way you wrote your statement it appears you took it that way. You insult me by stating i used it as a way to find a man, yet by remaining virtuious and focused on creating an amazing future for my life, I waited until love found me, please reread my comment and others for that matter. I in no way insulted you, yet you tried to do so to me, why? As you stated,
“I am an adult now, have be for QUITE a few years, and can honestly say that when I read Ms Garwood's books or any other author's books I was not looking for a man in real life that is similar to those I read in books, glad the above reviewer found a man that is close to the â€œcharactersâ€ in a fiction book. But I read for fun and entertainment, not a guide to finding a man.”
As i stated if you look to others reviews they said that once they grew up it lacked the same magic, not saying thats how you wanted to find a man. If you cant find where others stated that ill be happy to pull them up for you. Im just appaled that someone would write back on a review that in no way specifically attacked any members review. I merley did what any educated historian would do I pulled out common issues and expanded my beliefs upon the matter.

By: Sabrina

Sabrina — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 06:02:26 +0000

I have absolutley no issue with Ms Garwood’s books being historically accurate or not, and I agree if I wanted accuracy then I would read non fiction. HOWEVER, in my honest opinion as stated before Ms Garwood has lost her magic, the way she used to pull you into her books and it played in your mind like a movie. I am not going to repeat myself since anyone can read my above review. I am an adult now, have be for QUITE a few years, and can honestly say that when I read Ms Garwood’s books or any other author’s books I was not looking for a man in real life that is similar to those I read in books, glad the above reviewer found a man that is close to the “characters” in a fiction book. But I read for fun and entertainment, not a guide to finding a man. I have a man and trust me he is far from any characters in books, thank God, cause I just can’t see him carrying a sword or showing up on a white horse.

By: Sami

Sami — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 03:40:53 +0000

Wait wait wait. Stop. You mean… a fictional book wasn’t historically accurate?! Oh my God! When did things like this start to happen?! I missed the memo…

Man and I thought Harry Potter had issues…

By: Carrie

Carrie — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 03:33:46 +0000

I feel that most of the arguments here are based on her books being “historically innaccurate”, if you all are ashamed so much of reading Garwoods books, due to what you all feel is a lack of what we historians must write in called historiography, then you must entertain yourselves with more non-fictional writing. For i do believe these books are works of fiction, not a biography, so should be judged for the love of the characters she created, in here own sphere and creation of her own history. When a fiction author writes a novel, they in turn create their very own moment of history; what they wished could have happend, or how it could be envisioned in their story, characters from that period can be used but what they do within the story shouldnt be taken to heart.Has anyone ever watched a disney movie? ALL of those fall very far from what the original works and stories were, yet it doesnt mean we loved them less for it, we accepted it as Disneys own creation of something thats already occured. A few others have stated that they’ve “grown away” or after rereading them have changed their opinion of them, perhaps thats because while you once read them they filled you with the love and hope that someone out there could truly live their life with finding a man much like in Garwoods books, yet as the years passed, and although may have found love and happiness, it was nothing like in Garwoods sphere of characters. I believe that it is lucky for me to be able to retain this love of her books and relish in rereading them. I think in part this is because regardless, they leave me with a happy, good feeling, and amazingly enough Ive found a man just like most of her stubborn “I wont ever love her” kind of guys, that with my inncessive talking, driving him daft often, he loves me for it. I still hold onto these books in my heart because of how they make me feel, and how they remind me so much of the man I love, how it worked out just like in one of her novels, starting a bit rocky and ending into this beautiful happy-ever after story. Im very saddend that many have changed their minds after ‘becoming an adult’, but maybe one day you could go back into Garwoods CREATED world and enjoy her characters for who they are and what they stand for in their own right.

By: Fiction Happens

Fiction Happens — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 03:31:27 +0000

I think I’m going to write a book too… And I’m gonna put London right next to Africa… it won’t even be an island… it’ll be a peninsula! And they’ll all have Spanish origins. FICTION is fun like that. Behold my literary middle finger!

By: Tagore

Tagore — Mon, 26 May 2008 18:34:59 +0000

I love Julie Garwood….Saving Grace being my favorite.
BUt unfortunatley this one left me empty. Like many said there just was nothing there. No Chemistry, no real action, even then ending climax…well sucked!It was so boring, simple, I don’t know…vanilla! BLAH! I like her contemporaries and her past historicals some better than others, but this one….Well Let’s just say I am glad I used my library card instead of my debit card.

*tears slipping down my disappointed face*

By: Shayleigh

Shayleigh — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 17:28:09 +0000

These reviews are very upsetting. I too have been looking forward to this book for months. I loved Heartbreaker and Mercy, but after those books it seemed Julie went on a steady decline, each book worse then the last. I thought maybe it was the contemps…she wanted to write historicals but was locked in a contract, which I think is something a writer should not have to deal with. I believed that if she wrote a historical we would see the, “old Julie.” Now knowing that the historical lacks what we all love about Julie’s book I am very sad. I had such high hopes for this book.

I don’t care if she is accurate about Scotlands history, political or geographical. If i wanted this kind of accuracy in my historical books, I would read Non-Fiction. This part of the reviews I read didn’t upset me.

Julie Garwood’s historical books have always sucked me in, I didn’t want to put the book down until I was done, and even then I didn’t want it to be over. She had a way of pulling you into the book, making you love, or hate the people she created. Knowing that is still lacking from her latest books is a HUGE let down.

I thank you all for taking the time to write reviews.

I hate to say it but I think it would have been better if Julie had just retired instead. I would have been sad that there were no more books of hers to read, but it would have been better then this.

By: Sabrina

Sabrina — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 08:53:04 +0000

In my mid teens my mother got me hooked on Julie Garwood’s historical romances, still have every one of them. It was an escape, it was fun, I loved it, and it was a bonding for my Mother and I. We read others like Kathleen Woodiwiss(God rest her soul), but always came back to Julie Garwood. Years later when she started writing the contemporaries ones, I bought them, read them, and enjoyed them to a point but they weren’t the same. My Mom tried but just couldn’t get into even her first one. So when I saw that “Shadow Music” was coming out I immediately called my Mom and we were both thrilled. I live in Alaska, (Mom in NC) and if anyone has been here the winters are a bit tiring so I was looking forward to this book for months. I ended up getting it early because of the holidays, my little present to myself. Now I wish I had not bought this book, normally I would start reading her books and not put it down at any cost..take it to the bathroom;) stay up late–suffer at work in the morning–yell at the hubby to take care of the kids, skip eating lunch at work to read, whatever it took I was glued to her books–usually finished in less then 2 days. This was a HUGE disappointment..she has lost her magic of the Highlands. It took me a week to start reading it and 4 days to finish reading this book, I even put it down to watch the “The Apprentice”…I can’t stand that show but I was so let down by this book I had to take a break from it. My husband even was asking me why it was taking so long to read it. I guess I will stick to Nora Roberts and some of the other consistent authors from now on. The sad thing is, now I have to tell my Mom there’s no magic. When my daughter becomes a teenager–years from now–I will have Julie Garwood’s first historicals to share and bond with her like my Mother and I did, but trust me, I will leave this book out. Ms. Garwood needs to find her magic again.

By: Catherine

Catherine — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 23:18:10 +0000

This one was sort of tepid for me. I think the magic might be lost for Ms. Garwood, so long as the relationships keep having the ‘I love you because I just said so, even if it doesn’t feel right’ quality her last few books have had.

By: Terri

Terri — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 03:40:57 +0000

I’m #1 on my library’s wait list and am picking it up tomorrow. I, too, think of Julie’s historicals (and Johanna Lindsay’s) as historical romantic popcorn — once I start, I can’t stop. It’s entertaining and enjoyable…. So, I’m looking forward to reading it.

And I’m hoping for the best….

Terri B

PS — I just reread Honor’s Splendor and The Prize in anticipation…

By: Pra

Pra — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 00:19:38 +0000

I’ve long waited for Garwood’s return to historicals. I’ve only ever read one of her contemporaries – Heartbreaker – which was really very good, but I am not much into contemporaries as such, so I still haven’t gotten around to reading the rest.

Generally, the reviews I’ve read so far don’t sound too favorable. But I am still hopeful. It is Garwood after all. Her worst has to be a hundred times better than the best of a lot of authors. I’ve read quite a few historical / regencies in the last few weeks, and most have been bad. Very bad. So I am really looking forward to reading this one. Its a good thing I haven’t re-read any of her old historical romance books in a while. It will be stop me from making a furious comparison.

P.S. I adore Brodick.

By: Cyndi C

Cyndi C — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 23:48:01 +0000

I just finished the Shadow Music. It took me on even a day to finish it. I always liked the way Julie Garwood told her stories, but as I read the last page of this book, I was sincerely disappointed with it. It had only a little of what Julie’s past books have.
Maybe times have changed and the out look of todays women and men are different.
All though, having a highlander like Colm in bed would be fantastical, reality is there wasn’t the zest in these pages.
But I still am hoping. *Weep, Weep*