Archive for July, 2006
Dear Ms. Perrin:
 You have a nice voice. It's very readable but the characters and plot of this story failed to do your voice justice. I am sure that you are writing within the guidelines that were put forth by HQN for its Spice line. I don't really understand what those guidelines are, as evidenced by your story, but I presume that they have to do something with having explicit definitions of sex. I usually define erotica as a novel that uses sex to advance the story, generally it is to advance a character development or character growth of one or more characters through sex which is what I found Sasha White's book Bound to be wherein the heroine learns that she needn’t change her life geographically to change herself.
Your book featured explicit sex but no growth through that sex. Your explicit sex was merely explicit sex. While the scenes had something to do with the story of the moment, the sex didn't have any thing to do with the over all plot. You could read those same scenes without the explicit sex and it would not …
I always think it’s interesting to read how others got interested in the ebook market. I found Jenn from Pocketables via PocketPC Thoughts. She had just reviewed a very cool tech toy called a UMPC (ultra mobile pc). I spent the day cruising her website, reading her detailed reviews and noticed that she used her UMPC for reading ebooks (She had Shanna Swendon’s Once Upon Stilettos). Jenn is one of a few women who blog about tech items. (I like Gadgeteer as well). Jenn also writes for Anything But Ipod and is a Contributing Editor for Mobility Today. I am not sure how she manages to keep up with all her writing gigs, her real job and still finds time to read. Thanks Jenn for sharing your thoughts with us today.
- Q: When did you start reading ebook? Why?
Years ago, I remember reading about all the hype surrounding ebooks and just couldn’t understand the appeal of it. I had tried reading an entire book from the Internet Public Library ( www.ipl.org) and staring at the monitor for such an extended amount of time hurt my eyes so
…
Dear Mrs. Lancaster,
 Thank you so much for submitting your book, An Endless Exile, for consideration in our July ebook contest. I’m always looking for a good historical novel and yours is excellent. I had heard of the name Hereward “the Wake” (Hereward the Watchful), the only Englishman to defy and defeat William the Conqueror, but didn’t know much more about him than that. After reading your novel, I’ll find it hard to ever forget him.
It must be difficult to have a folk hero for your hero and balance the adoration he must receive from his followers with enough flaws to make him human. When you add the fact that you must stick to known historical information about the Norman Conquest, its aftermath and the people involved as well as the few facts known or suspected about Hereward then make the tale told in first person by his wife, well, you’ve done a heck of a job.
While I was reading the story, I couldn’t help but think of Lymond and Phillipa from the pen of the late great Dorothy Dunnett. Hereward has the same indolent charm, natural charisma, intelligence, cunning, and problems …
Dear Mrs. Waldron,
 After reading your latest book last year (Independent Heart), I had to wait for the publisher to reset the type on Mozart’s Wife before it was available in paperback form.
It’s not a romance book but does tell the love story of Mozart for his darling little wife and of Stanzi Marini for him. It also takes you back to Germany, Austria and Prague in the 18th century to watch the trials their love undergoes, the bitter jealousies, the constant worries about bills and money, the heartbreak of losing four of their six children and the horrible toll on Constanza’s health. She’s been alternately reviled as a woman who wasn’t worthy of her genius husband and praised for her efforts to ensure that his musical legacy lives to this day.
This book shows a middle ground probably closer to the truth. It also immerses the reader in the day to day struggle to survive in those times and offers another possibility to explain Mozart’s mysterious death and burial. I like that neither Mozart nor Constanza is turned into a villain and both their strengths and
weaknesses are presented. Details of daily life …
Dear Ms. Phillips:
 This book was a fairly average read until about page 145 or so when it turns into a complete wall banger for me. Probably you loyal fans will enjoy your latest installment, but I wasn’t won over. The tone, characters and plot were average and failed to engage me except in the negative.
Ty Benson’s mother opened her home to more than one troubled teen. Daniel Hunter (aka Hunter) was one and Lilly Dumont was another. Hunter, Ty and Lilly became inseparable until a point in which Lilly’s guardian and uncle became too abusive for Lilly to endure. Hunter, Ty and Lilly fake Lilly’s death and she disappears from Ty and Hunter’s lives forever. (I am not giving anything away here, this is in the prologue).
Ty and Lilly have strong feelings for each other which were never acted upon. The book opens with a new threat to Lilly’s life. Her uncle plans to declare her dead so that he can seize her trust fund. Ty has never been able to forget Lilly. Lilly, now Lacey Kinkaid, built herself a life …
Dear Ms. Cook,
 I know that authors usually have little control over their covers but I just have to mention the cover for Undressed since it’s so far off base. Way far. If I had just seen this book in a store, I would have immediately thought “contemporary screwball comedy.” If I’d bought it thinking that, I would have been stunned to find out it’s actually a Regency historical. What was the art department thinking here? Since people still seem to be buying Regency historicals, why on earth is this one disguised with a drawing of a cute little cartoon slip?
I was interested in this book for a number of reasons. The potential for conflicts was enormous, it had gotten a good review elsewhere and it wasn’t your basic English aristocrat spying for England story. The plot is that Brenna, the heroine, was stolen as a baby and raised by a Scottish couple. Twenty-six years later the truth comes out and Brenna is whisked away to London by her new found parents to be presented in Society. There Brenna meets with an old friend of her twin brother’s who has been publicly …
Dear Mrs Reed,
 Several people have recommended your work and this book in particular for our monthly contests. After reading it, I can see why. As Keishon said in her review of two of your books, the writing and characterization are stronger than most Ellora’s Cave books I’ve tried. I was most pleased about the plotting. With many romantica books, it seems like the reader is just getting a series of hawt sex scenes strung together on a threadbare plot. The Fifth Favor is much more like a standard print contemporary in that the plot is, well, really the reason for the book instead of a weak excuse. Plus you got a fantastic cover. Brava.
For whatever reason, I haven’t seen too many books about male escorts. Maybe authors aren’t called to write them or publishers don’t want to print them. I wasn’t sure what I would be getting with TFF and was pleased that you treat the subject with grace and dignity. As the hero, Adrian, explains to the heroine, Billie, he started out in the business to make money in a way that most 20 year old men can only dream of, …
Dear Ms. Wolf:
 You hate writing these romance books, don’t you? I can see your boredom throughout your entire book as you cobbled together a story stealing scenes and characters from previous books. The whole story is uninspired.
Diana Sherwood is an impoverished young woman who lives with her mother, Louisa, in a cottage on the estate of the Louisa’s cousin. Diana lost her father in the Pennisula wars. While she and Alex, the heir of the Earl of Standish, grow up together, they fall in love. This love is tested when Alex chooses to go to war instead of marrying Diana. When he comes back three years later, Diana is about to embark on a season to find a stable husband and completely rebuffs Alex. Ultimately, Diana gets herself engaged to a nice man while Alex is left grappling with Diana’s abandonment. But the love story is between Alex and Diana. Do you see the problem here? Yes, one person is going to get the shaft. Even beyond the cavalier treatment of characters, the worst sin you commit is your blatant lifting from …
Dear Ms Pattillo,
 I am delighted to meet up again with Betsy, David and the good people at the Church of the Shepherd. You’ve managed the neat trick of making a series about a the personal and professional tribulations of a female senior pastor not only interesting but also funny, warm and at times deeply emotional.
In “Heaven’s to Betsy” we were introduced to the Reverend Betsy Blessing, interim Senior Pastor at the old downtown Church of the Shepherd in Nashville, TN. That book ended with Betsy starting a romantic relationship with her long time friend and fellow minister, David Swenson, or The Lutheran, as some of Betsy’s congregation call him. Now, a few weeks later, what Betsy thinks is going to be a real first date with David turns into a proposal. Which is quickly followed by David’s mother, who works for Budget Bride Magazine, taking over the wedding planning and turning it into a Skinflint Wedding from Hell.
Add to that, Betsy and her congregation are faced with an offer from a real estate agent which might give them a chance to move their dying downtown church out to the Nashville suburbs. Just …
Dear Ms. Britton:
 Here’s some advice. Put this up on your website, rally your author friends, decry the reviewer’s writing credentials (I have none), and your sales numbers will rise. That is the lemonade of out this lemon.
The heroine in this story is so frustrating that I wished I could reach through the pages ala Jasper Fforde’s books and slap her upside the head. I read somewhere that you keep the bedroom door shut to appeal to your growing youth readership. Let me tell you that even 15 years old appreciate a smart, savvy heroine.
Sarah Tingle is down on her luck. She’s been hired to drive the crew bus for Lance Cooper. Lance Cooper has also hit a rough patch. He hasn’t won a race in over a year. Sarah bakes cookies for Lance’s crew, gives him a respite from the Nascar pressure and fans and helps Lance break through his driving slump. Unfortunately, the course to love is bumpy because Sara can’t let go of her #$*&(#$ insecurities and emotional immaturity to let Lance love her.
To say that I disliked Sara would be …
Dear Ms Wax,
 This is the third book of yours I’ve read. Do I detect a slight shift towards women’s fiction with this one?
Once again you write about a heroine at whom life throws a curveball and who has to stand on her own two feet. Amanda Sheridan’s husband of 20 years has walked out on her for a shiny new model called Tiffany. He’s also walked out on their two children and life in suburbia. After two months of being stunned, Amanda finally decides to hire a lawyer. She gets her next shock when the lawyer tells her that her husband not only has no assets but might be disbarred for dipping into his clients’ accounts. Faced with no job skills, a huge mortgage and two children to support, she and her new friends decide to capitalize on Amanda’s zest for cleaning. “Maid for You” is born. But in order to be able to clean her neighbor’s homes and also keep her head held high, Amanda resorts to a new persona, Solange de Papillon, a real French maid. Can she pay the bills, juggle her new career and keep the interest of the …
I have only been to one Literacy Signing. I lugged a suitcase full of books from my house to the signing much to the chagrin of Ned who was forced to carry it everywhere (at least when there was no porter in sight). I was excited about finally getting to meet some of my favorite authors. This was before I understood that authors are human beings, not some magical creatures whose books spill forth from on high. I now understand that in order for my favorite authors to remain my favorite authors, the less contact I have with them, the better.
If you have never been to a Literacy Signing, this is what it is like. They place a couple hundred authors in a large ballroom with conference tables set up next to each other in one long row. It’s hot and there is not enough circuation. Each author has a placard with their name in front of them and they are placed alphabetically. Some authors, like Jennifer Crusie, Suzanne Brockmann, Nora Roberts, and the like have special places in the corners of the ballroom because their lines are so long.
A …
CONTEST! Phaze is releasing six stories to be published early next month as part of their Samba Heatsheet line – all stories set in South America. Phaze will offer two Dear Author readers three downloads apiece. Just post in the comments section one title that will be released in the Samba Heatsheet line.
There are two websites for Phaze. One is the publisher site which is mainly devoted to giving information about its books, Phaze events, and submissions and the other is the bookstore. Phaze appears to have opened its doors in 2004. There are novels in print and for sale at Borders. It publishes erotic stories in a several categories, lengths and explicitness:
- Heat Sheets: 5,000 – 12,000 words (short stories)
- Photon: 12,000 – 30,000 words (novella)
- Comet: 30,000 – 60,000 words (category)
- Eclipse: 60,000 – 90,000 words (novel)
And
- Pulsar—Milder language, standard sex and pairings.
- Nebula—Bold language, may contain toys, sensual bondage, mild D/s, anal play
- Nova—Bold language, may contain threesomes, anal sex, significant bondage, serious D/s, m/m encounters
There is forum which contains reviews, news, contests, and events. There is also an …
Dear Ms. Feehan:
 I haven’t bought a book written by you in years. My neighbor bought this one and offered it to me. It’s hard to turn down free books and I thought I remembered you fondly. After reading the first 100 pages, it was brought back in stark relief why I had stopped buying you. Your writing is awkward – filled with info dumps, interchangeable characters and spotty world building.
Libby Drake is one of the seven magical sisters. She is a doctor and her special trait is her ability to heal people. Some of her other sisters have this ability, but she has the strongest ability. Strangely, she can bring two people back from the brink of death after gunshot wounds, concussions, and brain trauma but she can’t heal a young boy who has cancer. That makes perfect sense.
Tyson Derrick is the hero. Strike that, he is a SUPER hero. He fights fires, speeds around in expensive cars and motorcycles, and goes on rescue missions. AND, he is a brilliant research scientist. AND he is a multi millionaire from money he …
George Bush gives German Chancellor an impromptu back massage at the G-8 Summit. Very appropriate. I think he must be reading too many of those Harlequin Presents Boss/Secretary books.
It looks like we’ve either scared everyone away or no one has any new loves. Out of the nominations, Jayne and I have picked the following four books. We have one more month of contests and then we’ll probably go on a contest hiatus until next year.
Jayne’s picks:
Shelby Reed, “The Fifth Favor”
Mary Lancaster’s “An Endless Exile”
Jane’s picks:
Shelly Laurentson, “Pack Challenge”
Leigh Elwood, “Dare Me”
We’ll put up the reviews about every other day or so and sticky them at the top of the blog until the next review goes up. Thanks for participating!
Dear Ms Carras,
This one starts out as a tad more like a historical novel than a historical romance. Kind of in the Plaidy/Lofts style. But the second half turns up the romance.
It’s 1558 and 17 year old Jean Hamilton is a spirited Highland lass who’s been sent to the French court to wait on her sovereign Queen, Mary Stuart. At 14 Mary is still more a girl than a Queen and the two form a friendship as Jean begins to learn her way around the sumptuous royal palaces and the intrigues that abound in them. She has an up close view of the political maneuvering among France, Scotland, England and Spain in which royal personages are just so many chess pieces to be wielded in marriages and alliances. There is one man she can’t get out of her mind and heart, a handsome young Englishman named Thomas Randolph who travels to the various courts of Europe in the official service of his Queen, Mary Tudor and with the secret friendship of his friend, Elizabeth Tudor.
When she is taken prisoner by an English privateer during her Channel crossing back to Scotland, Thomas comes to her rescue and takes …
We’ve been tagged by Keishon. I suppose in the interest of full disclosure, I’ve known Keishon online for a long time. If she tags me, I best get off my butt and be responsive. I think its kind of inline, too, with the 100 bloggers blogging thing.
1. When did you start blogging and why?
Dear Author started in April when I got upset over two of my favorite authors writing books that disappointed me greatly. I invited Jayne to blog with me and wha laa, we are bloggers.
2. What don't you talk about?
Personal stuff. In the context of a book review, it’s all fair game though.
3. Are you and your blogging persona the same person?
Pretty much. In my professional life, I do comport myself differently but only mildly so in order to show deference to those who deserve it and who may have influence over the outcome of my client’s cases.
4. How do you use blogging to build friendships?
Not blogging. I don’t expect people who read the stuff I write to love me, us, or the blog. It is through commenting, as Keishon said, that you develope relationships/friendships.
5. How would you describe …
Vanessa Jaye linked to an interesting blog post from Anne Frasier. Anne Frasier used to write really wonderful romances under the name of Theresa Weir. About 5 years ago she started publishing in the suspense genre. Her print runs are down and she’s a bit disappointed. Her idea is to get 100 bloggers to blog about her book and see if that would make a meaningful difference in sales. The question she ultimately poses (but doesn’t come out and say exactly) is this:
Can blogland help an author be a bestseller?
This is a fascinating concept and given the recent negativity, a welcome one. I think it would be really cool to see if we could get 100 people to blog about one book a week or two before the release date. I kind of have a couple of books in mind. One is an upcoming Berkley Sensation book. I think it’s got real appeal because it is a different kind of paranormal with great sexual tension but the sex scenes aren’t so over the top that anyone is going to be turned off. There is a definite Linda Howard-esque …
Dear Ms. Brodeur:
 Mancamp features two women who have had enough of men in NY City who have had enough of the men in the city. The men no longer know how to fix things, open doors, or be manly enough. Lucy, a biologist, is a long term relationship with Adam but the relationship seems to be faltering. Martha, an aspiring actress who has just started up her new company called First Date, is alone and looking but no one is coming up to scratch. First Date was conceived because Martha had gone on so many terrible first dates that she thought she could assist men in becoming better daters.
Lucy has a friend named Cooper who is a dairy farmer she met while they both attended Columbia. Cooper can FIX things. He opens doors for them. He does his best to make both Lucy and Martha happy. It’s just one quick step from First Date to Man Camp to be held on Cooper’s farm. Man Camp is designed to get your metrosexual back in touch with his masculine side.
Where the book is at its …
Dear Ms. Carey,
 Your voice is like none other than I have ever read. You have a way of making a 700 page book seem like a glorious journey instead of an arduous task. When I first recieved the book, I was a little daunted by its size. I had vague memories of the manner in which I devoured Kushiel’s Dart but was certain that this could not hold the same treasure. While it doesn’t hold the same magic as the first trilogy, it is certainly heads and tales above much of what is published.
Kushiel’s Scion returns to the world imagined in the first three Kushiel series but the narrator Phedre is replaced by Imriel nó Montrève de la Courcel. Imriel is the son of the Phedre’s greatest enemy and possibly greatest weakness-Melisande Shahrizai. Imriel endured terrible things at the hands of the Mahrkagir in DarÅ¡anga. And Phedre suffered terribly to win Imriel, herself and Joscelin their freedom.
Imriel, as he nears manhood, struggles with his legacy from his mother, his shame over Phedre’s torment at the hands of his mother, and his own dark desires. …
Dear Ms Allan,
 You manage to pack a great deal into your Regency novella, Fateful Deception. I’m grateful that the heroine, Lucinda Handscombe, is neither a silly twit nor a too modern young woman. You have her act as a reader might expect a sheltered young woman of the period to respond. The hero, Captain Robert Monceaux, is a gentleman and behaves as such. There is no “one night of love” for the heroine to remember in her spinsterhood and when she turns down Robert’s initial proposal, it’s not just because he doesn’t love her but for practical reasons which would have been of far greater importance in that time.
The villain was a rather stock character but his motivation was believable and far less grating than these “foaming at the mouth” types. But after all the trouble you take to set the atmosphere and get lots of things right, you throw in an enormous clunker of a historical mistake. Robert couldn’t have inherited his Dukedom from his mother’s brother. The title (at least in England) would have had to pass through the male side of the family. There are also some …
Dear Ms Cassidy,
 I have to say that you’re taking a typical werewolf romance story and turning it in a different direction that I’ve read before. I mean, how many werewolves are fated to marry/mate with domestic housecats? Not too many. As with “An American Werewolf in Hoboken,” I loved the cat heroine’s feline POV. Yes, cats are finicky, yes they only want the best (as everyone knows they deserve only the best, thank you very much),no they don’t like fingers waggled in their faces and anything in a house is theirs. You must have cats to have nailed that attitude so well.
Once again, the sex scenes are well done and I appreciate a heroine who knows what she wants sexually and is willing to go for it. No shrinking virgin heroine here! I loved the hero’s discussions with his penis.
So, what didn’t work so well? I don’t think this story can really stand that well on its own. If someone hasn’t read Wolfmates I, I guess they can muddle through the relationships and set up but it certainly helps (a lot) to have read the first installment. And the buildup of the …
In a comment over at Alison Kent’s blog, Julie Leto posted something that surprised me:
In my mind, writing reviews like this one (not a bad review…a TRASH review) is the same as going to Walmart and standing in front of the romance section and telling people to put that book down. If you didn't like a book, say so…but you don't have to insult everyone while saying it.
Um, I have done this before. I have struck up conversations with readers browsing the romance aisles. I have offered up opinions to other readers at the bookstore to say, “I didn’t like this book but I really liked this one.” I didn’t realize that was insulting to the author. I mean, I guess it means one less sale, but I didn’t know it is a reader’s duty to not offer an opinion. Is it different if the person asks for your opinion? I’ve had that happen before. Reader stands in the aisle, contemplates a book, looks over at you and says “what do you think.” But now, I can’t respond lest I break some bookstore etiquette?
I know that I am rather new to …
Dear Ms. Vaughn:
 I understand that this is the second in a series which started last year. I am happy to report that it stood alone without any need to read the first book (although I am sure that it adds something). Kitty Norville is a werewolf who has a radio show called The Midnight Hour. It’s a call in show wherein the paranormal folk (werefolk and vampires) and curious folk can call in and chat about topics related to being paranormal. Kitty used to be based in Denver, but her pack expelled her so she has been traveling all over the country, broadcasting her show and trying to rebuild her life.
Her lawyer, Ben, calls and tells her that she has been summoned to testify before a Senate hearing on paranormals, specifically about whether the Center for the Study of Paranatural Biology is entitled to more funding. Upon arriving in Washington, she is welcomed by Alette, the master of the city, and introduced to a group of werefolk. She quickly engages in a relationship with a hot Brazilian werejaguar but soon she is embroiled in vampire issues, …
“A Norman heiress was a chattel to be sold in marriage to the highest bidder. If one husband died she was up for sale again. Only the first of Matilda de Risle’s husbands gives her anything back. His is the customary Saxon morning gift — the present to a wife if her lord finds her sexually pleasing on their wedding night. Matilda’s morning gift was Dungesey in the Fens…”a bolt hole my, dear somewhere to hide should trouble come.” And come it does. As the war between King Stephen and Empress Matilda in the 1140s tears England apart, Matilda de Risle has to fight for her land, her son’s safety–and her own life. Matilda, snobbish, bossy, inquisitive, realistic, competitive, and tough, is at once a powerful and endearing central character in Diana Norman’s splendid new novel of medieval English life. It is set in a barbarous civil war and is by turns violent and very funny. Above all it fills the pages with real people, with the scents of the Fens in all seasons, and tells in the end a heartwrenching love story.”
Dear Mrs Norman,
This blurb really tells why I’ve enjoyed all of …
Is criticism or questioning always discourteous? Can we have intelligent disagreement or will it also devolve into a catfight. Alternatively, is all female centered disagreement automatically termed a catfight? Karen S brought to the blogosphere’s attention the interview of Jill Barnett over at The Book Bitches. I have some thoughts about Ms. Barnett’s comments (the author of the delightful Bewitching) that I am going to expound upon below. But in my attempt to get a clarification, I was smacked down by the blog owner, in the nicest way possible.
Mrs. Barnett is a very gracious lady, I doubt she will come here and “have it out” with anyone over what are her views and personal opinions – neither would I allow it.
She has her way of thinking and expressed it very eloquently in this interview. She is entitled to it and need not explain herself to anyone here (if she wishes to do so elsewhere that's her prerogative). . . .
I am very much for free speech and all that, but I WILL NOT have one of these tasteless bloggers-readers-authors catfights in my home. I hope you understand :)
Every blog owner has the right …
One thing I find very frustrating as a reader is when a reviewer raves a book from 20 years ago. I want to read those books, but to do so usually involves effort in hunting them down and then opening up the checkbook if its a particularly HTF OOP (hard to find, out of print) book.
Enter epublishing and the Long Tail. Long Tail is term coined by Chris Anderson in an …
Dear Ms. Roberts:
 Thanks for stopping by. How fortuitous since I picked up your book at Costco ($14.19) and read it this week.
Angels Fall features Reece Gilmore, a young woman who suffered a terrible emotional trauma in Boston as she was just embarking on a career as a chef at one of the hottest Boston restaurants. She ran away from Boston because of those memories and found herself Angel Fist, Wyoming. Her car breaks down and while she is waiting to get her vehicle, she sees a sign at a local diner seeking a cook. Reece is a woman who is living just one day at a time. One day, while hiking, Reece sees a murder committed but there is no physical evidence to support her and many people begin to believe that her trauma induced mind is giving mass to her terror.
Watching this brave, strong woman overcome the trauma of her past was worthwhile even without the romance. The romance was like frosting on a delectable cake. There should be no mistake about it; this book contains a strong romance thread. Brody is …
This isn’t a video. Instead, it is the ultimate time waster. McVane won’t like it though. She’s not into this stuff.
dress up dolls
Dear Ms. Cassidy,
 An American Werewolf in Hoboken is the first of your Wolfmates trilogy and starts the series off with a bang. I love that so much of the hero’s POV is told while in his shapeshifted werewolf state. And from someone who owns a large dog and spends a fortune on dog “things” I can feel JC’s pain when she walks out of Petsmart after “adopting” Max from the local animal shelter. Thank you for making JC just an average Jane earning a living instead of some high profile lawyer or glamorous model. I do wonder how Max and his pack survive even if it is out in the sticks of New Jersey. Wouldn’t someone report seeing wolves running loose, even if one of them is a vegetarian who keeps pet rabbits? And what’s with grandma Eva’s predictions of lifemates obtained from reading messages in a bowl of chicken noodle soup? Shouldn’t she at least be reading alphabet soup?
As I’m coming to expect, the frequent sex in this book is hot without being silly or crude. Do I want to know if you did research for the “sex on a dining room table” …
Dear Ms. Pace:
 Jayne raved about this book when it first came out and it has only taken me a year to read it. I am not sure why I waited other than the fact that I can be a cheapskate at times and didn’t want to splurge on a trade paperback. But you showed up at my library and I snapped you up. Now I am wondering why I waited so long?
The book is standard chick lit fare: plucky heroine finds her world falling apart and must spend the book reorienting her life. Jane Laine finds out her boyfriend of two years has started a new relationship without telling her. She has a job at an art gallery working for the most horrible man on earth. The gallery’s main claim to fame is the representation of Ian Rhys-Fitzsimmon. Ian is the hottest modern artist of our time, according to the book. Ian plans to do a summer art festival tour that takes him all over the world. His art sells best after the art fairs and he requests that Jane …
Dear Ms See,
 I thought about getting this in ebook form then pondered about it in the bookstore before finally breaking down and buying it. I enjoyed the story and your research but I never could get past the feeling that I was reading a book in order to do a book report.
This isn’t a romance novel. It’s more a historical novel about the lifelong friendship of two women born in a remote province in China in 1820. Lily and Snow Flower are matched as laotongs or “old sames” at the age of seven, shortly before their foot binding begins. Laotongs weren’t just friends, they were best friends for life in a relationship that is closer than that between husband and wife or parents and children. The two women progress through life together, sharing their joys, sorrows and every day lives until a series of misunderstandings and misinterpretations almost destroys their relationship.
Told in first person by Lily, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan shows the hard life of even privileged women in 19th century China. They are born into families who basically see …
Dear Ms. Smith:
 Unfortunately, your book is what inspired my post about the real deal paranormal authors and the posers. Your story features a hero vampire who believes his immortality is a curse and a heroine with cancer who would do anything to live. That’s it. That’s the entire story. There is one thread of a plot that featured some action which was discussed briefly and comes to a head in the MIDDLE of the book, but the rest is about whether the vampire would acquiesce Prudence’s desire to live.
The world building is virtually non existent. We know only that the vampire was greated by drinking of the blood grail. That he and his five comrades all drank from the Grail (they had a whole Three Musketeers bond going – one for all and all for one). What we don’t know is whether other vampires exist. How many people know of vampires. What special powers they have. How long can they go without drinking blood. Whether animal blood affects them differently. Who governs them or whether they are simply lawless? You …
Dear Ms. Stout,
I zipped through your fun book, “The List. A Love Story in 781 Chapters” in no time. It’s infectious and funny and so true for any woman who’s ever dated a man she thought was Mr. Right, questioned a man she thought was Mr. Right, cried to her girlfriend about a man she thought was Mr. Right, then gotten drunk and done something she wishes she hadn’t because of a man she finds out is Mr. Wrong. Plus you include a cat in the story. My cat loves that. I think most women who’ve been Out There in the Dating World will relate to something in it. It’s a wickedly honest, second person chick lit crossed with a sort of affirmative gift book.
195. You’ll fall asleep with Mr. Right.
The furry kind.
196. You’ll dream about being a bride.
197. The groom will be faceless.
198. The dress will be Vera Wang.
199. The ring will be Harry Winston.
200. The phone will ring again.
201. You’ll wonder who the hell just woke you up from a perfect dream.
202. It’ll be the
…
Dear Ms Smith,
 Despite what I know about wills and how bizarre this one would be considered today, Aunt Sophie’s Diamonds is a fantastic book.
Have you ever had a crazy relative who left a bizarre will? Sophronia Tewksbury was a manipulative old bat and left her relatives with a mind boggling one. The entailed estate went to one nephew, various lesser jewels were given to others but her diamonds were to be buried with her. Outrage is the best description of their reaction to that news. Scheming sister Marcia, estate poor cousin Jonathon, marriage minded nephew Gabriel and ward Luane are all determined to get their hands on the necklace. But Marcia’s neglected daughter Claudia just wants a few small adventures before heading back to her dreary life in Devonshire as the governess to her Uncle’s bratty boys. Coexecutors of the will Sir Hillary Thoreau and Sophie’s solicitor Mr. Fletcher will have their hands full trying to guard the grave, sort out the family squabbles and maybe, for Sir Hillary, find a little romance before all is sorted out.
You do wicked, witty trad regencies better than about anyone else. And with …
Dear Ms. Krahn,
 Sheesh, what a back blurb. I almost didn’t want to read your book because of it until a friend persuaded me.
“She had to persuade him. Barter was a way of life in Rapture, Pennsylvania and Whitney Daniels learned long ago that everything has its price. So when an officer of the new federal government threatened to arrest everyone in sight for violating the unfair tax on spirits and distillers, Whitney was sure she could talk him out of it. But the innocent beauty soon realized that handsome, stubborn Major Garner Townsend was a formidable opponent. The only thing she might be able to entice him with was herself! And as she looked up into his piercing blue eyes and felt the heat of his lean, muscular body luring her nearer, she realized that there would be no losers in this tempting bargain …only tender lovers!
He had to possess her. Garner was determined to do his duty, even if that meant breaking the heart of the lovely, infuriating Whitney Daniels. But the green-eyed spitfire managed to cloud his judgment and melt his icy composure. Before long he was …
Liquid Silver wanted to give away three books but only two people sent me an email. These are the winners: Michele B and Jennifer. Look for an email from LS soon.
Dear Ms. Walker:
 Brilliant farce of book. I loved how you took conventional paranormal romance stereotypes and just eviscerated them. You took the normal kick ass capable heroine and made her into a whiny, crying boring woman. The whole cohesive world building thing? Totally blown apart with your incomprehensible, deux ex machina filled denouement.
Kane Winter is one of the best bounty hunters in the country. His partner and he are about to nab a very pricey bounty when things all go to hell. Kane’s memory of the events that take place are indistinct because he blacks out. When he awakes, his partner is dead. Kane recalls two vampires attacking the bounty and a third vampire, a woman, joining the fray. For some reason, Kane decides that the woman is responsible for the murder of Duke.
Kendall is a 300 year old vampire who polices other vampires. Not only does she rid the world of nasty vampires, but she can also right crimes by getting rid of abusive fathers, drug dealers, and other subversive elements of society. Through her special group, she also can …
I watched the World Cup Soccer Championship game with Ned on Sunday. Ned and I are soccer neophytes. We know virtually nothing about the game, but we wanted to be part of the 1 billion who watched. The problem is that not one of the announcers took the opportunity to explain much about the game. We didn’t know what effect the yellow card had. We didn’t know what offsides meant. We didn’t know why penalties were called. We didn’t understand the timing thing. World Cup is an opportunity to sell those who don’t ordinarily watch the sport on the sport but the broadcasters at ABC did nothing to enhance the viewing and Ned and I spent most of our time asking each other what was going on and not being very engaged.
I feel that way about some romance authors who are putting out paranormal books. It’s as if the world building is an afterthought. They just plop down a vampire or a werewolf into a normal setting (either modern or historical) without much other explanation as to how it is normal for those creatures to exist in this alternative …
NCP began publishing in 1996. They sell ebooks and also offer some of their books in print.
They have several book categories:
- Anthologies, Special Collections
- Contemporary Romance
- Fantasy and Fantasy Romance
- HARMONY™ Romance, Multicultural, and Interracial Romance
- Historicals: Medieval, Western, Regency, and Georgian
- Historicals: Other Time Periods and Unusual Locales
- Love Bites™ Short Stories (SENSUAL to CARNAL), including Short Story Themes and Holiday Themes
- Paranormal Romance, Vampires, Werewolves and Shifters (Contemporary)
- Time Travel
- Thrillers, Mysteries, and Romantic Suspense
- Science Fiction and Futuristic Romance
Their sensuality ratings are sweet, sensual, spicy and carnal.
BOOK LENGTH:
- Full Novel = 90,000 words and up; 360 pages and up (double-spaced)
- Mid Novel = 61,000-89,000 words; 244-356 pages (double-spaced)
- Category = 40,000-60,000 words; 160-240 pages (double-spaced)
- Novella = 20,000-39,000 words; 80-156 pages (double-spaced)
There is a link to an author information page with links to each individual author. Those author pages have covers for all the author's books at NCP. Some have pictures and …
As you can see, we are sporting a new look here at DearAuthor. The hope is that this theme is easier to read and easier to navigate. There are some special features like a FAQ section; a Readers information section; a new type of Archive.
On the right are icons that will change the font size of the post. Click on the tabs to show the newest posts, newest comments, and the blogroll.
On the individual post pages, look for the words “Toggle Similar”. You will see the posts that we have tagged as having similar content. We’ve just started adding tags, so the related content might be small but will grow over time. If you have any feedback, please let us know by sending an email to Jane or click here for the contact form.
I am cycling this to the top to close out the contest. One more guess needed, ladies.
CONTEST! Venus Press is offering DearAuthor readers a chance to win three gift certificates worth $5.00. You just need to post below one of the three books Jane bought in trying out Venus Press. Hint: One is from the Confessions line, one from the Paranormal line, and one from the Contemporary line. The first three posters to guess one of the books will get the $5.00 gift certificate.
Post your guesses here. Hints will go up tomorrow. We have only one entry folks and no matter what’s going on between author and publisher, this blog is for readers and this contest is for three free books!
Sorry authors, this ain’t Las Vegas. If you’ve picked up the most recent edition of RT’s magazine, there is a little piece about authors behaving badly on the internet. Told in broad, but descriptive terms, the article poses three examples:
- A Bestselling Author asking for bank statements of an ebook publisher
- A “fanged” author referring to the stupidity of readers
- A popular author angry about the commentary over grammatical errors in books
Guess the reading world is smaller than we suppose or the internet has longer arms than we suppose. One or the other.
I was so conflicted over the video to post. Pirates of the Carribean comes out today and I am as a big a lover of Monsieur Depp as anyone, eyeliner, pouffy shirt, long fingernails, natty hair and all. But it is also the weekend of the World Cup Championship. So to be fair to both of these monumentous events, I offer up two! videos
Dear Mr. Cornwell,
 Let me say that even though I give The Fallen Angels a B+, I doubt that many people will want to read this one once I’ve finished with this review. How’s that for a ringing endorsement?
It’s 1792 Paris and the full horror of the French Revolution has finally broken. In one week, over 1000 of the hated aristos have been butchered in the prisons and the streets flow with blood. Three Englishmen and a gypsy groom, Gitan, have arrived at a prison searching for the fiancee of one of them, Toby Lazender. They find what is left of her and as his groom gathers her remains, Gitan learns about the horrible way in which she died. He also learns that it was on the direct orders of a man named Bertrand Marchenior, a member of the dreaded Paris Security and a secret member of a group called the Illuminati, ones who are dedicated to republicanism and the removal of monarchies and organized religion. They are ruthless, they are determined and they recruit Gitan to their ranks to act as a spy when he returns to England with …
Dear Ms Piel,
 I was excited to see the sequel to Strange Brews and looked forward to watching the defeat of the Dark Mage. You’d set this story up so well, leaving us with evil only temporarily defeated and what should be a strong hero and heroine waiting to take it on. It’s too bad that Prince of Ice turns out to be only an adequate Quest Against Evil storyline. Plus the Arch Mage needs to read this checklist before attempting to take over the world again.
In a land of enchantment, mages with magical energy called ki work their spells. In their ancient history, a dark wizard once tried to take over the world only to be defeated. But he wasn’t killed and rose up again in Strange Brews. Two mages, Eliana and Damir, along with a young Norsk boy helped send him back into a spell of suspension. Now 10 years later he’s ready to try again. He’s sent out dark energy which has felled all the Woodland mages except young Cahira. Before they lost conscienciousness, Damir and Eliana told Cahira to travel to the land of their …
Dear Ms. Piel,
 I’ve read a couple of your books before and always enjoyed them though sometimes some improbabilities marred my final grade. Therefore, I was really excited to see a 5 heart review for your first Woodland Mage book. My final thoughts are: not as good as the review but not as bad as I thought it might be when I started to read it.
The opening chapter doesn’t make me fall in love with either main character. Eliana appears to be a little dishonest and up to no good. Damir comes off as a bit smug and condescending. Apparently they’ve been that way for most of their lives. Then Eliana accidentally drinks the potion that wipes her memory clear and Damir’s reaction really didn’t thrill me. He decides to take his
revenge by taking her to his home and pretending she’s his wife. He keeps stating to himself that this is allowed by the laws of the country (for one mage to take revenge on another for past acts) but when he persists even after he realizes she has no memory and that she truly believes she’s his wife, it just seems icky. He …
Dear Ms. Howard:
 It’s a good thing that you are going back to writing romances because Cover of Night is not a romance. It is a suspense book with a romantic theme. Frankly, it's a shitty not a very good suspense book. The setup, which pits the town of Trail Stop against a band of professional killers, is ridiculous beyond belief strains the edges of credulity.
The first half of the book is spent setting up the conflict. No real action takes place in the first 70 pages. There is little meaningful interaction between Cate and Cal, two of the protagonists (not to mention the most boring sex scene ever in a Linda Howard book). More than half the book is spent in the minds of the antagonists and watching the antagonists get their operation together (and watching it fall apart).
I found it hard to believe that these killers could stay in business or be the “best” when the whole operation turned into a giant mess. The killers were only the “best” because you told me they were. Not because they evinced any abilities to succeed on their …
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