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

Dear Ms Allen,

I had planned on reading this book anyway because 1) I like a previous book of yours I tried and 2) I just had to support the era in which you’d set the story. After all, I can’t remember the last book I read that features Visigoths! When we all got together and decided on a mass blog review of the book, I did have some moments of unease. I mean, look at the cover which features an obviously nekked hero and a heroine, though completely clothed, toting water as a slave. And then there’s the title. Oy. All it needs is a secret baby to complete the image that so many people have of romance books. And where’d the crystal chandelier come from on the cover?

The romance/relationship is pretty standard captive romance fare. “You’re my slave..no I’m not….yes you are….no!…yes, you must work for your keep…I can’t do anything…you’ll learn or not eat…” Julia learns the joys of living with barbarians while Wulfric is so understanding of her. He caters to his ’slave,’ is hurt when she expects the worst from him, wants to comfort and soothe her fears …

Louise Allen’s book, Virgin Slave, Barbarian King, was one cited by Julie Bindel as part of the patriarchal propaganda designed to “feed directly into some women’s sense of themselves as lesser beings, as creatures desperate to be dominated.” Ms. Allen’s response was on the Guardian today.

I wish Allen had talked more about the historical aspect of the novel and less about the idea of feminism as owning the right to have whatever fantasy a woman wishes.

Via Michelle Styles.

Dear Ms Allen,

The first third of your book is delightful. Loved the characters, loved their actions and interactions. The second third is done well but contains the action which will drive the plot for the remainder of the book. My warning is that some will think it too improbable (me) and some will find it distasteful. In last third you have some high handed actions by the hero (which I was willing to excuse because he really does have the best interests of the heroine and other’s in mind) and feature lots of scenes that while fun to read, really don’t contribute anything to resolving the relationship of the two leads. Plus there is a series of little misunderstandings that are needed to continue the book but which get old. I think maybe you made the hero a little too noble and self sacrificing. But I did enjoy the servant characters and their insights into the main characters and their actions.

Another drawback for me is that we never see the hero’s point of view. I know that you had to do this for the sake of your plot but I really like Alex and wanted …