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

Dear Ms. Shearin:

This may have been a case of mismatched expectations. The cover quotes and inside the book endorsements said that it was “fall out-of-your-chair funny” and that you had “mastered writing with humor.” I confess my reading experience was quite different. This is not to say that I didn’t find the narration pleasant, but I didn’t find the humor referenced and lauded. Given that humor is quite subjective, I suspect everyone’s response to this would be quite different.

Raine Benares is an elf and a seeker with a tie to a big bad magical stone that can give her immense power but can also swallow her whole like it did to her daddy. She goes to the Isle of Mid, a place of sorcery training, to figure out how to excise the stone’s hold over her. She’s not quite a prisoner, not quite a guest. Mychael Eiliesor is paladin and commander of the Guardians who watch over Raine. Raine and Mychael are attracted to each other but her tie to the dark rock and his sense of duty to the Guardians prevent them from moving closer together. Complicating …

Dear Ms. Roberts:

As you can tell by my book pimping post, I was excited to read this book. It was exactly what was promised: A Nora Roberts take on the paranormal. The characters and the magic felt familiar. The vampire lore followed traditional paths. I hadn’t read a Roberts book, though, with as many action scenes. I appreciated the way in which they were written because I was able to follow them (which I can’t always do).

Hoyt Mac Cionaoith is beset with rage and grief when his twin brother is taken and turned by an old seductive vampire. He attempts to vanquish Lilith, the vampire, and during the fight is attacked by his newly turned brother. This is a heartbreaking scene. The goddess Morrigan comes to Hoyt and tells him that he has been chosen to be part of a group to battle Lilith and her minions as she attempts to control this world and all others. Morrigan tells him that he must join forces with five other individuals and form a circle that will defeat Lilith. Hoyt agrees in exchange for concessions …