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

There I was, sitting at my computer, reading a review copy of Pepper Espinoza’s gay male triad novella from Samhain, Falling in Controlled Circumstances. I’m feeling pretty nifty that I’m reading a review copy—like, OMG, people are actually giving me free books in the hopes that I’d write something nice about it. And I’ve got that warm, flippy, rolling feeling in my stomach because the romance is THAT good, the characters that well-written, their story that heart-warming. I’ve got the beginnings of a multiple review post started in my head: I was going to suggest that the answer to the question that’s been bopping around Romancelandia in the last few weeks about “Where have all the good contemporaries gone?” was that they’ve all migrated to gay male romance e-books. After all, you’ve got Madelaine Urban and Abigail Roux’s Caught Running and Love Ahead, and Jules Jones’ Lord and Master series, and you’ve got this book, all fabulous, gentle, emotional, just plain GOOD romances. They’re not trying to be clever—they’re just trying to tell a love story. They’re not trying to make a …

Dear Mrs Belmond,

When I finished reading “A Rather Curious Inheritance,” I knew there ought to be more about Penny Nichols (who is aware of the silliness of her name) and Jeremy Laidley (her sort of English cousin) after their show of interest in each other and in combining the actually rather lovely inheritance from their recently deceased great aunt Penelope. I had to wait a year and a half for it but you delivered with “A Rather Curious Engagement.” Once again you use the backdrop of plumy London, the sunny Cote D’Azur and this time add the elegance of a luxurious classic teak 1920s yacht to the story as Penny sniffs out then solves another mystery. At least Jeremy is getting good at spotting the gleam in her eye which signals he’d better get in gear to help her or risk being left in her dust.

I’m sorry to say I found it very slow to get started. You didn’t info dump about the first book to get new readers up to speed and refresh memories of those who’d read it. But the long drawn out way you …

Dear Mr. Beaumont,

While reading another of your books, “The E Before Christmas” I was in stitches. This book had me almost crying as I watched yet another “train wreck” occur for a British ad agency. The scene is mainly on the set of a brill TV advert for tyres (tires to us Americans) which Greg Fuller of Fuller Scheidt Advertising has dreamed up in order to make tyres sexy. He thinks, what can go wrong? He’s got two Hollywood stars to act in it, a Hollywood director to direct it and, if he does say so himself (and he’s the kind who would) he’s written a fantastic script. So how does it all go pear shaped by the end? .

Your books have large casts of characters, who have multiple interactions and intricate plots which readers need to …