Dear Author: Romance Book Reviews, Author Interviews, and Commentary

Dear Ms. Austin:

Let me tell you straight up that this isn’t going to be good for your ego. You may want to go to Sybil’s site and just skip this letter. Of course, it was sybil’s blog that enticed me to buy this. God, I really need to stop listening to sybil. I will state from the outset that the virgin/whore theme is one of my least favorite romance book themes. You didn’t even have a good excuse. (An unreciprocated high school crush is not a good excuse).

Your heroine, Cathy/Cat acts like a virgin during the day and a vixen at night. She is former stripper who has danced the pole for four years and now owns a bar wherein she simulates several sex acts with both men and women yet she is, wait for it . . . , yep, a real virgin. Her reason? She couldn’t have her first love, Blake Carlisle, who joined the navy when Cat was 16. Cat/Cathy is not only a virgin, but a shy innocent who has a hard time picking out …

Dear Ms. Leigh:

I know that we have been harshing on you here and I thought maybe we haven’t given you a fair shake. Just because I was totally icked out by your erotica version of the 7 Brides for 7 Brothers concept (where instead of singing and dancing in the snow, the brothers are gang banging one bride after another), and Jayne was turned off by your MagiCK story, doesn’t mean that you aren’t a good writer, right? when I was knocking around Samhain Publishing the other day, I gave you another shot. Excuse me, chance. I really am going to have to choose my words carefully in this letter.

Oh, where to begin. The book opens with Jessie finally capitalizing on her heart’s desire, Slade. Since she was 16 she has wanted this man and she is fed up with him sleeping with every other woman but her. Slade has wanted Jessie since she was 16 but felt she was too young. His male urges are so strong for her, that in …