Showing posts with label readers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label readers. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 5, 2021

Reading Reviews #IWSG #readers #bookreviews

 


The first Wednesday of every month is officially 

The Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It's a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

IWSG Asks: Has any of your readers ever responded to your writing in a way that you didn't expect? If so, did it surprise you? 
I don't like to admit this, but I'm such an insecure writer that any reader who responds with a positive review surprises me! I have such a bad case of imposter syndrome, I think with each book I publish readers will see what a horrible writer I am and call me out. With every 4 & 5 star review my books receive, I breathe a huge sigh of relief.

I was surprised by my first one-star review. Not because I received it, I had fully expected to find one with my debut book. That first one-star review arrived with my third book. 

I was surprised by my response to it. I had been fearful of the complete and utter devastation I would inevitably feel. I was afraid I would never want to publish my books ever again because of some scathing remark from some faceless reader.

Instead, I laughed.

Yes, I laughed at my first one-star review. And surprisingly still, I continue to laugh at the critical reviews I receive. Not because I'm some diva writer who laughs in the face of adversity, but because I am so much more critical of myself. These one-star reviews can never compare to the criticism I give to myself.

Sometimes, I agree with the reviewer. They make valid points that I did not see. Yes, maybe that character wasn't as heroic as I intended. Maybe that scene did not fit the storyline. Good point. Thank you for responding.

Good reviews are great for stroking a writer's ego, but sometimes the bad reviews give a writer more insight.

Another surprise I received from a reader was when they labeled my steamy romance as sweet and wholesome in a review.

But, my paranormal romance was filled with sex scenes, hot and sensual, definitely with the bedroom door held wide open. Not what I would ever classify as a sweet romance. When I think of sweet romance, that bedroom door is held firmly closed.

I was puzzled. It took me some time to figure that one out. That's when I started discovering other books labeled as steamy sweet. It's not exactly the sex scenes that are the issue here. 

The love shared between the characters is sweet, tender and wholesome. The romance where they fall in love is sweet.

But the characters also share sexy times, too!

Sweet and steamy!

Yes, I got it! That's totally what I write! It took a reader's review to make me look at my own writing in a new way.

Be safe! Stay healthy! And keep writing!

~ Tricia 


Be sure to visit the other writers in the 

I write sensual paranormal and historical romances. Interested in learning more about my stories? Become a VIP Reader by signing-up for my newsletter where you'll learn about my new book releases, updates on my works-in-progress, writing tips, book reviews, contests, and other fun book-related info!


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Thursday, August 6, 2020

Favorite Romance Tropes #BookLovers #LongandShortReviews #BlogChallenge


This week's topic: My Favorite Tropes of the Romance Genre



My favorite subgenres for Romance are Paranormal and Historical, but these tropes can be applied to any subgenre in my opinion. I have too many favorites to list here, but I'll pick some of my top faves along with the best recommendations I have for these types of reads.

  • Amnesia - The H/H doesn't remember how s/he got where s/he is because of a blow to the head, a medical condition such drugs or some other creative reason. Now, s/he has to function in their life, learning about the person they are/were, sometimes there is a mystery involved (to spice things up!)
693043     738780     1489428


  • Friends to Lovers - Falling in love with Best Friend/Best Friend's Brother/Brother's Best Friend - My favorite is when the heroine is the younger sister of the hero's best friend, but there are other combinations that are fun to read, too! The best friend is taboo, but love disrupts the balance of friendship and if they declare their love, then there's no going back to the way things were between them.
Romancing Mister Bridgerton With 2nd Epilogue (Bridgertons Book 4) by [Julia Quinn]     When He Was Wicked With 2nd Epilogue (Bridgertons Book 6) by [Julia Quinn]Emma by Annette Barnes


  • Employee/Employer - Falling in love with the Boss Romance - The H/H are put in close working conditions (office, manor house, etc.) where their attraction for each other grows.
10210. sy475     360259     11432010


  • Alien Abduction - The H/H is an alien from another planet and abducts the H/H. This abduction might be planned or accidental. The purposes of the abduction are for repopulating an alien planet, experimentation, servants/sex slaves, fulfilling alien prophecies, mail-order alien brides, etc. 
206857     Accidental Abduction (Alien Abduction Book 1) by [Eve Langlais]     53998636. sy475



Be sure to check out the other blogger's suggestions at ...


I write sensual paranormal and historical romances. Interested in learning more about my stories? Sign-up for my newsletter where you'll learn about my new book releases, updates on my works-in-progress, writing tips, book reviews, contests, and other fun book-related info!

You can Follow me on ...


BookBub | Amazon | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest | Instagram


Happy Reading!
~Tricia



AMAZON


Friday, October 12, 2018

What's After THE END? #MFRWAuthor




Blogging is an opportunity for authors to connect with readers. Despite being writers, blogging is an entirely different style of writing and often stumps us. To help our authors blog consistently, thoughtfully and with purpose, Marketing for Romance Writers is announcing the 2018 Blog Challenge. Each week, authors use our writing prompt to create a meaningful blog post. We'll be posting every Friday... join us as often as possible.

Week 41: "Epilogue or No?"


I read and write mostly romance and there's always a moment after you get to the end of a really good book that you want to be reassured that the characters you invested so much of your life and time in will definitely turn out fine. And sometimes it's just because it's so difficult to let go of those wonderful characters. The Epilogue can set some of your worries at ease.

What is an Epilogue?


The section at the end of the book. It usually takes place after the action of the story, sometimes a few days later, sometimes a few years. If you're reading a romance, then sometimes the author fast forwards a few years to let the reader glimpse the life of the hero and heroine after they connected at the end of the story. Maybe they're married and have children.

Why Write an Epilogue? 


By giving a glimpse of the character's life after the events of the book you bring a sense of closure to your reader. Readers are reassured that all is well with their characters who, frankly, if an author does it well enough, seem like real-life friends.

This is also a great place to tie up some of those elusive loose threads. Maybe those unanswered questions didn't find a place in the story, but readers deserve to know those answers.

What Do I think?


Personally, I enjoy reading epilogues. In fact, my favorite epilogues are written by Julia Quinn who then went on to publish an entire book of them. Her stories of the Bridgertons are simply wonderful and it's difficult to let go of those characters after you're finished reading them. Those epilogues bring a sense of satisfaction and contentment and definitely leave me smiling and wanting to read another of her books.






Be sure to visit the posts for the MFRW's Blog Challenge!

I write sensual paranormal and historical romances. Interested in learning more about my stories? Sign-up for my newsletter where you'll learn about my new book releases, updates on my works-in-progress, writing tips, book reviews, contests, and other fun book-related info!


Happy Writing!
~Tricia

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

How Writing Changed the Way I Read #IWSG #writinglife


The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day.
The Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!


IWSG Asks: How has being a writer changed your experience as a reader? 

There was a time in my life when I could read a 300 page book in a day. I'd absorb every word, engrossed in the tale the author wove in my head, morphing myself into the main character to experience all the wonderful and often life-threatening adventures and if it was a romance, falling head over heels in love with the hero.

Then I started to study the craft of writing. I began to learn how those authors wove those fantastical tales.

I learned how a writer writes.

Instead of reading to lose myself into a book, I began studying the placement of those words, learning how the author created a world where the reader could find those adventures. I learned why they chose to reveal certain characteristics and events at the times they did. How they created the descriptions for the settings and the people in their stories. I discovered how plots work and all the intricacies involved with back story, foreshadowing, hero's journeys and 3-act structures.

Essentially, I'll never read books in the same way ever again.


Now, when I read a book its with a critical editor-like eye. Every story I read has become a textbook for the craft of novel writing. I learn what the author does that makes the story work, but what's worse is that I see the mistakes the author makes, too!

I've begun to anticipate certain actions and plot-points to the point where I can predict what will
happen next (which ruins a mystery, believe you me!). Sometimes I catch grammar mistakes that make it past all those people in the process of creating a book and I cross my fingers with hope that I don't have any of those in my books. Sometimes the author's words don't grip me with that magical wonderment that I had before and no matter how I try, I can't lose myself into the story. I see too much that pulls me out of it. I uncover character faults, badly written dialogue, and head-hopping POV.

Who knew head-hopping point-of-view could be so distracting?! It never bothered me before and now I can't stand it!

Now, that I've learned and practiced how to read a novel from a writer's perspective, its extremely difficult to turn off that mini-editor in my head. I'd love to slap a hand over her mouth to shut her up so that I can finally enjoy losing myself into a novel again, even a badly written one. The pleasure that reading brings is one of the reasons I started off on this path in the first place. However, I'm still learning with every book I read. Whether its written by a bestselling author or someone who is newly published, I'm still learning about the writing craft. And I sincerely hope that reading those books helps my own writing abilities grow.

It's difficult being a writer! Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

I have list of my favorite authors, the ones that I'm able to lose myself in their stories that keep my internal editor on a leash, and I've put them on my automatic to-buy list. To my extreme sorrow, I hesitate to read new-to-me authors these days. But, that doesn't mean I give up on them. It's one of the reasons that I think book reviews are so important. Those reviews give readers a chance to find out if that author and story is a right fit for them. I read a lot of book blogs and review sites. I chat with people on Facebook and Twitter to discover new authors. And I absolutely love Goodreads! So many great groups on there all dedicated to books. Also, I love reading anthologies. Often, I'll buy an anthology for one of my favorite authors, but those short stories give me a taste of a new-to-me author's writing style. I recently got hooked on a couple of new favorite authors by reading Holly and Hopeful Hearts by Bluestocking Belles this winter.  


As a thank you to those fantastic authors, for their talent and hard-work, I started writing reviews. I also want to help fellow readers find those valuable reading gems that are able to magically sweep them off their feet and into another world. I hope to help readers find great books to read, and I hope to help authors find those very special readers. Really, book reviewing feels just like an extension of my old day job as a bookseller. Instead of speaking to a reader face-to-face to tell them what kinds of books are sitting on our bookstore shelves, its the review that helps lead them to virtual bookshelves. And if I can help readers find a way to escape into another world for a short time, with either my own books or another author's books, then I feel very good indeed.



Be sure to visit the other writers in the 

I write sensual paranormal and historical romances. Interested in learning more about my stories? Sign-up for my newsletter where you'll learn about my new book releases, updates on my works-in-progress, writing tips, book reviews, contests, and other fun book-related info!
Happy Reading!
Tricia


Thursday, July 14, 2016

Favorite Books to Read #IntAuthorsDay Blog Hop

I've been an avid reader since I was 10 years-old when my mom bought me a stack of Sweet Valley Twins books to read during summer vacation. I enjoyed reading before that, but those books were the first to bring out the bookaholic in me. I devoured them!

And I kept reading...and reading...and reading.

When I was a teenager, I picked up one of my mom's romances and fell in love with books all over again. Throughout the years, I've collected a large amount of books and I have an extensive "keeper" shelf with books that I like to re-read again and again. Since I could write a whole book with that list, I'll just share a small selection of some of my favorite books here.

Working for over 12 years as a bookseller, I've recommended these titles to countless customers who've come back to tell me how glad they were for my suggestions. If you get a chance, give these books a try.

And please, please, please, when you're finished reading a book (any book at all!), if you enjoyed it, give the author of that book some love and write a review. Post it on places such as Amazon, Goodreads, your blog, or anywhere else appropriate. It doesn't have to be a lengthy dissertation, just a quick note about how much you enjoyed the book and why. Authors rely on readers to spread the word about their books. They need readers like you! After all, we wouldn't have some of these awesome books if authors didn't write them! Writing reviews is some of the best thanks an author can get!



A special thanks to Debdatta Dasgupta Sahay for hosting this event. 
Check out her reviews and blog posts on b00kr3vi3ws. 


The Devil's Lady by Deborah Simmons 
 (with a brand new cover!)

Bid by King Edward to marry one of his knights, Aisley de Laci hopes to avoid the altar by choosing Baron Montmorency. 'Tis a union she is certain none will endorse, especially the baron, who is rumored to practice the dark arts from his isolated keep.

Renowned in battle, the Red Knight has secluded himself at Dunmurrow for reasons of his own. And he does not want a wife, no matter how wealthy and beautiful she might be. But even he cannot defy the king's order, and what comes to him, he takes—and holds.

Although Aisely refuses to believe the tales that make Montmorency more myth than mortal, she begins to wonder whether he does possess mysterious powers. How else to explain her own growing feelings for her husband, a man so shrouded in shadow she has never seen his face?

Was she under a spell or truly the Devil's Lady?




My Lady's Dare by Gayle Wilson 


Valentine Sinclair, the Earl of Dare, was an enigma, even to those who professed to know him well. For while his morals seemed suspect and his leisure pursuits as reckless as any of his well-heeled peers', there was something lurking beneath the facade of good looks, wit and charm that he so skillfully hid behind.

Or so it had seemed, until the night Dare wagered a small fortune for a French gambler's English mistress, and won. Now, with the stunning widow installed at his town house, even the Matchmaking Mamas of the ton were doubting that the Earl of Dare would ever recover his good name, for it appeared that the infamous Mrs. Carstairs was destined to become a Sinclair Bride.







The Rogue by Claire Delacroix

Dear Reader:

Seductive and mysterious, Merlyn was the laird of Ravensmuir — never had a man so stirred my body and soul. I gave myself to him — willingly, trustingly, passionately — and we soon wed. Then a horrible revelation emerged, shattering my innocence and my marriage...

Five years later, Merlyn returned to my doorstep, desperate for my help. The scoundrel swore he was haunted by memories of me, that a treasure locked in Ravensmuir could clear his name. Yet I could not surrender to his will again. Now he is said to be murdered and Ravensmuir has fallen into my hands.

But even as I cross the threshold of this cursed keep, I hear his whisper in the darkness, feel his caress in the night, and I know that Merlyn has told me but part of his tale. Should I do as is right and expose his lair? Or dare I trust my alluring but deceptive spouse - the rogue who destroyed my heart?

— Ysabella



This Is All I Ask by Lynn Kurland

Gillian of Warewick knows no other treatment than the terrible physical and mental abuse issued by her father. When he arranges a match for Gillian with Christopher of Blackmour, she is fearful: Blackmour is rumored to be an evil sorcerer. When Gillian meets him, he proves to be far more of a man than her father is, yet he is unwilling to be a lover to Gillian. She finds that Blackmour has as many psychological scars to heal as she has physical scars.








Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again . . .

The novel begins in Monte Carlo, where our heroine is swept off her feet by the dashing widower Maxim de Winter and his sudden proposal of marriage. Orphaned and working as a lady's maid, she can barely believe her luck. It is only when they arrive at his massive country estate that she realizes how large a shadow his late wife will cast over their lives--presenting her with a lingering evil that threatens to destroy their marriage from beyond the grave.  




 
AMAZON KINDLE








Frederica by Georgette Heyer

Frederica Merriville and her three siblings have come to London for the glittering social season, in order to give young and beautiful Charis a chance to make a good marriage. Frederica herself, a witty charmer, believes herself happily beyond marriageable age -- she is twenty-four, after all. But when they are introduced to London society by their distant "cousin" Lord Alverstoke, Frederica is amazed to find herself, unknowingly, falling in love. Likewise, Alverstoke, a cold aristocrat, finds himself thoroughly beguiled by Frederica and her young rascal brothers.












As a PRIZE for Celebrating
International Authors' Day
I'm giving away one of my favorite books written by AJ Krafton. 

This stunning book hooked me with its darkly poetic writing. You can read the review I posted here.

Haunted by a crushing fear of death, a young Victorian woman discovers the secret of eternal youth--she must surrender her life to attain it, and steal heartbeats to keep it.

In 1860 Surrey, a young woman has only one occupation: to marry. Senza Fyne is beautiful, intelligent, and lacks neither wealth nor connections. Finding a husband shouldn't be difficult, not when she has her entire life before her. But it's not life that preoccupies her thoughts. It's death--and that shadowy spectre haunts her every step.

So does Mr. Knell. Heart-thumpingly attractive, obviously eligible--he'd be her perfect match if only he wasn't so macabre. All his talk about death, all that teasing about knowing how to avoid it...

When her mother arranges a courtship with another man, Senza is desperate for escape from a dull prescripted destiny. Impulsively, she takes Knell up on his offer. He casts a spell that frees her from the cruelty of time and the threat of death--but at a steep price. In order to maintain eternal youth, she must feed on the heartbeats of others.

From the posh London season to the back alleys of Whitechapel, across the Channel, across the Pond, across the seas of Time...

How far will Senza Fyne go to avoid Death?



Be sure to check out the other posts on this Blog Hop
for Great Prizes!