Comments on: REVIEW: Shadow Music by Julie Garwood

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 “characters” 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…