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

Dear Ms. Stanley,

Having fallen in love with the idea of historical mysteries after devouring my first Marcus Didius Falco book, I got all excited to learn there’s a new ancient Roman series in the works. And one that’s set in Roman Britain and is written in the “noir” style too. As I read the book, I wondered why I like the setting of ancient Rome/Roman Britain so much. I haven’t nailed down a reason yet but I’m happy to have another book utilizing the setting.

But is it truly a new subgenre? I like the gritty feel to the book but it’s not that much different from other historical Roman mystery series. Plus the hero is a doctor, a profession already used by Ruth Downie in her fledgling series. It’s told in first person POV but so is Lindsay Davis’s series. It’s fast paced and intense but, IMO, so is the Falco series. It uses rough, vulgar language which is a slight variation on Falco but not by much. Bad things happen in that series as well. Perhaps it’s slightly more noir but not enough that it’s that distinguishable.

Shouldn’t true roman noir mean …

Note: The version I read was an earlier one sent to DA by Mrs. Meador.

Dear Mrs. Meador,

When you sent DA a file of your new book “The Centurion and the Queen,” I was a happy camper. Though it’s beginning to be used more as a setting for romance books, stories set in ancient Rome and Roman Britain were once few and far between. I could never figure out why since the time offers strong warriors, strong women and lots of chances for conflict between the two. Maybe the HBO series “Rome” has opened some doors here.

The story starts off with a bang. In the aftermath of a skirmish between his well trained century and a group of the local barbarians, Centurion Marius Markus Lardanium spies Delia, Queen of the Corieltauvi lurking in the forest watching. His immediate response just seems so guy and so Roman: to get this native woman in his bed. After all, Rome has now conquered this ghastly outcrop of an island and it shouldn’t be too hard to get what he wants. He’s the conqueror and she’s one of the conquered. Or so he …

Dear Ms Langdon,

Almost a year ago, I noticed this book for sale in the UK. I pondered buying it, then added up the cost plus exchange rate plus shipping and reluctantly decided to wait. When I saw it was being offered here now and in ebook form as well (go Harlequin!), I snapped it up. Now having read it, I think it would have been worth the exchange rate prices. Well, almost.

Dania impressed me from the first. She’s intelligent and thinks her way out of conflicts. When her Celtic clan was reluctantly ready to go along with the Druid priest who demanded her death to appease the gods, she quickly came up with an alternative plan that stayed true to her roots and made sense. In her years in Coria, she changed with the opportunities presented to her to spy on the Romans garrisoned there while still maintaining her independence and helping those she saw in need. Dania waits too late to take the sage advice of lots of people who remind her that no one gets to the position Fabian is in — a very young tribune — without lots …

Dear Mrs. Mueller,

After I enjoyed your short story “Till Death Do Us Part,” I knew I had to try some more of your work. The problem still is that a lot of them are very highly priced. So when I noticed you have some freebies at your website, I was very happy. I love freebies!

All of these stories are short (range 21-32 kb) and all use different locations and eras from Roman Britain to Dark Ages Ireland, 17th century Bermuda to the Western prairie. I’m coming to expect strong women in your works and am delighted with these four. They look life in the face and stand up for themselves. All have faced various hardships and tragedies and managed to not only survive but to triumph. Only one of these might be considered a romance but all are filled with evocative descriptions and interesting characters. I do have to mention that I wish the editing was a little stronger.

A New Beginning - Western
Warrior - Roman Britain
Absolution - Dark Ages Ireland
Black Angel - 17th century Bermuda

These stories convinced me to lay out some hard cash for your books at various publishers (and wow, your books …

Dear Ms. Nash,

I keep trying your series set in Roman Britain because I love the time period. “Celtic Fire” had some problems for me and unfortunately so does “The Grail King.”

Owein (the brother of the Celtic heroine in “Celtic Fire”) lives alone in the ruins of his village. He had come to live here several years after the events of “CF” and had at one point been a slave for years. Two years ago the village was attacked by Roman legionaries, his wife was killed and most of the rest of the villagers were rounded up and herded to the fortress town of Isca.

Owein has always had the Sight but the price of his Druidic gift is high. After a vision he is crippled by headaches and lethargy. The Horned God always demands a price for the gift. It is after a vision that Owein comes across Clara Sempronia, alone and collapsed in the snow. He takes her back to his house where she eventually reveals her quest. Her father is dying and she needs find a stolen cup to help save him. It belonged to her mother and drinking from it …