May 8 2006
REVIEW: CB-Let’s Pretend by Raine Weaver
Dear Ms. Weaver,
I wasn’t really expecting to find a new auto buy author from this contest. I haven’t had an autobuy ebook author since Lynne Connolly’s Rose and Richard series but you are on the list. I’ve read all of your publications since reading Let’s Pretend and have found them to be pretty good across the board. My least favorite was Rhenn and my most favorite was Incubus. Incubus is an atmospheric modern day gothic written in short story format. It worked very well for me. This letter, though, is about Let’s Pretend.
Let’s Pretend opens with repressed Veronica Peale being taken advantage of, once again, by her friend, Kayla. Ordinarily, I hate these repressed heroines. The reason that this storyline works for me is because the heroine recognizes that she needs a change and is proactive about asserting herself. Ronnie longs for her boss, Paul Lang, to recognize her as a sexual being. Kayla gives her Brant Coleman as an escort who will change her life.
Brant is an amoral hero along the lines of an Anne Stuart hero. He is bad, in almost every sense of the word: both the positive and the negative connotation. He is a user and a master manipulator and he uses all of his skills on Ronnie. Why this works is because everything that he does actually helps the Ronnie break out of her mold. Further, Brant is not using his skills to make Ronnie fall for him. He is making Ronnie into a desirable, exciting, and adventurous woman. Brant knows how a man’s mind works and is manipulating both Ronnie and through her, Paul Lang.
Of course, because this is a romance, Brant falls for Ronnie and realizes that his life isn’t worth much without Ronnie. Where the book failed for me was the ending. It involved an over the top villianous action that was not in keeping with the story and unnecessary for plot development. Had that portion not been in the book, I would have given this story an A. It is a B+ and it was good enough to entice me to buy the rest of your back list. Because your sensuality level is about on par with a Bravo or even a very hot Blaze, I would feel comfortable in recomending your books to other romance lovers. I look forward to your future offerings.
Best Regards,
Jane
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May 08, 2006 @ 07:33:05
Hey, I’m glad you liked it. I haven’t actually read Raine’s other stories yet.
May 08, 2006 @ 09:24:25
Disclaimer: Raine is a writing buddy of mine.
Fact: She’s awesome talented, as you’ve discovered. Great review.
May 08, 2006 @ 12:32:37
Jane, when Let’s Pretend was first chosen for this contest, I was nervous–to say the LEAST.
I’ve gone from nervous to stunned, to disbelief, to being overwhelmed by the fact that you like my writing!
Now, lest I get really sloppy here, I’ll focus on heartfelt gratitude, even if it doesn’t seem to be enough…
THANK YOU!!
(and big thanks to Jorrie, Jaq, and Cece!) :-D
May 08, 2006 @ 12:35:32
I thought about the “winner” concept when Jayne and I announced our books because it may not be a winner for the author unless you truly believe that bad publicity is better than no publicity. But your book was a winner for me so THANKS back at ya. PS tried to email you but aol kept rejecting me.
May 08, 2006 @ 15:42:47
hehehe what Jaq said (and neither Jaq or I are ones to BS about awesomeness :) )
May 08, 2006 @ 17:55:13
Raine deserves it – and this book is, and has been, on my TBB list.
May 08, 2006 @ 20:45:52
More thanks!
You ladies are the BEST!
May 08, 2006 @ 22:04:44
yea! Raine!
May 09, 2006 @ 10:56:17
YAY!! I admit it Raines an autobuy for me too! A wonderful talent I’m so glad you ladies found!
May 09, 2006 @ 15:19:52
(Raine, furiously waving her thanks to Dennie & Sasha…)
May 09, 2006 @ 16:10:43
I’ve been wondering if this book would be something I would like, but I’ve yet to dive into the e-book pond. Is there any possibility that there will be a paperback edition like some (or all?) of the Ellora’s Cave stuff?
May 09, 2006 @ 16:18:08
Samhain books release in print (about) 3 months after e-release, and they can be found at Borders and Waldenbooks, as well as Amazon. :)
May 09, 2006 @ 16:27:43
I *believe* Raine posted on her blog that LP goes on sale in print sometime this month…
May 09, 2006 @ 17:48:40
Hi, Rachel! Yes, I’m told that Let’s Pretend will be released in print on May 16th, in the places Shannon mentioned. Thanks for asking!
Thanks Cece and Shannon, for stepping up for a tardy Raine.
(Congrats on your review here too, Shannon!! I have your book, but haven’t had time to read it!) :-)
May 10, 2006 @ 08:14:17
Congrats to you, too, Raine! And it’s so exciting to see Samhain books in Borders so soon!
Jorrie Spencer » All about Samhain
May 16, 2006 @ 22:45:09
[...] Jane of Dear Author reviewed Let’s Pretend by Raine Weaver. B+ Brant is an amoral hero along the lines of an Anne Stuart hero. He is bad, in almost every sense of the word: both the positive and the negative connotation. He is a user and a master manipulator and he uses all of his skills on Ronnie. Why this works is because everything that he does actually helps the Ronnie break out of her mold. [...]
Dear Author.Com »Blog Archive » Summary of the May Ebook Contest
May 19, 2006 @ 07:19:16
[...] Raine Weaver’s Let’s Pretend [...]
Dear Author.Com »Blog Archive » Incubus by Raine Weaver
May 21, 2006 @ 20:02:16
[...] After I had purchased, read, and thoroughly enjoyed Let’s Pretend, I purchased your backlist. Thank goodness it was easy to do so and the prices were right. The second book I read was Incubus. This is a short story or novella length. I’ll try to keep the review commesurate with the story length! As with Let’s Pretend, the sensuality level of this book is no different than a Blaze. [...]
Alyssa’s Book Blog » Blog Archive » Let’s Pretend
Aug 23, 2008 @ 23:25:10
[...] Raine Weaver’s Let’s Pretend was one of them, which I bought after reading a number of blogger recommendations. Veronica Peale is playing a [...]