On Writing Romance by Leigh Michaels

Here is something a little different than the normal fiction review. Since all three of us posting on this blog are writers, I'm sure we have all read a couple of books on the craft. And there is a new Friday romance writers blog hop going on, so this book may come in handy for other writers. I didn't buy this book for myself. My older stepsister bought it for me for Christmas over a year ago because she knew I was interested in writing.


About the book: "According to the Romance Writers Association, more than 50 percent of paperback fiction read and sold in the United States is romance, and more romance titles are published every year than in any other genre. Many writers try writing romance first because demand for the genre is so much greater than any other. For those new to the genre and/or to writing, this book provides a starting point for developing the skill set essential to writing a best-selling romance novel.


On Writing Romance is a thorough reference that will provide readers with detailed descriptions of more than 20 subcategories within the romance genre, tips for avoiding clichés, specific instruction for creating the perfect romantic couple, guidelines for drafting those all-important love scenes, submission information for breaking into the genre, and much, much more."



While I don't consider myself a romance writer, per say, I did find this book interesting and somewhat informative. It all depends on what type of writing you do because it is geared towards the general, m/f romance novels. While, in general, the book refers to romance as a story between two people, the main focus of every chapter is on a romance story between a man and a woman. She does mention on a regular basis that there are exceptions such as gay romance. Which is what I write when I write in the genre: m/m romance.

Layout - This writing book has a decent layout with different sections that divide between "getting ready to write," "framework," "writing the novel," and "submitting." The very beginning provides a good introduction to the genre, general requirements along with a discussion on picking/researching a story. Every section has a wealth of information for the romance writer and I did learn new things with each section, though I did actually know quite a bit of it from the years of learning about writing in general.

Audience - The obvious audience for this book is suggested by the title. Romance writers, especially newer romance writers, will find this book useful. But even those who don't write romance as the main storyline can get some useful information in reading about methods for books in the genre because often times the romance will be a subplot in many different genres. Readers should just remember that the book is focused on writing romance novels, which have their own specific requirements (like happily ever after endings) that the author focused on, for good reason.

Overall Thoughts - Not a bad read. I've read a number of books on writing, mostly for fiction books in general. While this isn't a book I would have thought to purchase myself, I am kind of glad my stepsister gave it to me. It's one of the few books I've been given as a present by siblings that I have managed to finish reading over the last 5 years. Solid, useful book for romance elements in writing and easy enough to read. I would recommend other writers, and romance in particular, at least consider checking it out.


Dawn's Verdict: 8/10

Friday, June 10, 2011 | Labels: , , | 2 Comments  

South of Charm, by Elliot Grace





Amazon Editorial Review

We're huddled in the far corner of my bedroom. Arms wrapped around our knees in the dark. The approaching footsteps grow louder. Ominous thuds. Our mother, but somehow not. She's standing outside my door. We listen to the creak of the hinges. My sister clenches my arm. "She's coming," she whispers. "She's broken."
I've watched Elliot Grace's journey to write this novel and to find a publisher. He has worked hard and his book was released recently by Wooster Books. I've yet to read the whole book, but I saw the first review today and I thought it would be a good way to support a fellow blogger and to get Elliot's book out there as it will be some time before I can read it in full. How do I know it'll be good? Because Elliot has posted many excellent excerpts on his blog, So close, and talked so much about his characters that I feel I know them well. I love Elliot's emotive writing style. He reminds me of Pat Conroy who is one of my favourite writers.

Here is an excerpt to give you an idea of Elliot's magic with words:


Alone in the dark, one arm hugging the other, I studied the knee-high ocean of wheat billowing in the breeze.  A field butted up to our backyard, the year's crop still green, their stalks thin like rye grass.
And as I sat, I thought of Richie Frank's laugh, like the boisterous call of a blue jay.  I wondered if Brad had caught me in height, or perhaps passed me by.  He'd been gaining on me the summer past.
And while I knew I'd be seeing them in less than a day, I felt certain that my friends were long gone.
Then as I watched the darkened silhouette of a field moving as one, I spied a pair of golden eyes shimmering amongst the harvest, and realized an old friend had returned.
Dad had scoffed at the idea of bringing the cat on moving day.  "That old thing?" he'd said.  "He won't make it through the winter no matter where he lives.  Leave him be."
The wheat parted, and the cat sauntered into the yard.  He walked with a limp, his coat no worse for the wear, but covered in burrs and field dust.  He made his way to my side, where he rested his haunches, regarding my shock with disinterest.  As if a cat making a ten mile trek across the county to reunite with a friend was common practice.
"It's you," I said.  "You're here."
I reached behind a mangled ear and with thumb and forefinger, massaged his scruff.  He managed a purr, broken and laced with phlegm.  A moment passed before he lifted a paw to his tongue and started cleaning.  He had his work cut out for him.
"You're the first visitor I've had out here," I said.
 
Now to the review:

Jennifer at Serendipity's Library has written the first review of South of Charm. It is posted on goodreads and she has graciously given me permission to reprint it here:

It was good!

I picked up Elliot's book on Friday and did not put it down until yesterday (Monday) afternoon.


The story is about a ten year old boy who is forced, along with his four year old sister, to watch his parents’ marriage disintegrate. His mother starts acting completely out of character....I won't tell you why you will figure it out on your own. Most of the story is told from his perspective and I found it both sad and interesting to look at the violence and abuse parents can sometimes inflict on each other through the eyes of their child. You will want to think some parts of the story seem unrealistic...but pick up any newspaper and you will realize that the sad truth is this is probably happening everyday in your own town.
On a happier note I love that there is a baseball aspect to the story...cause its summer time and baseball is the king of summer. Go Phillies! Although the little league coach is a complete jackass.
I found myself yelling at the characters which is a good sign....if I care enough to show how crazy I am without caring who is looking at me....well then, that my friend means the book and characters are well written.
Normally my reading leans towards the Horror, Mystery, Paranormal type novel but South of Charm
was a nice break from that and it really made me think...which sometimes I like to do.


L'Aussie here again. I have trouble rating this book as it has so many themes both adult and YA. I asked Elliot how he would categorise it. Here's his reply:


'My editor insists that it's an adult book, and has shelved it accordingly. I'm hesitant to agree.  Yes, there is some adult content. Very little swearing, and when asked, I've given it a PG-13 rating.  It's one of those coming of age stories involving our youth, as they face a very mature problem, a la Stephen King's "Stand by Me." (I think it was actually called "The Body," before Hollywood bought the rights.)  Not sure if this really answers your question, but when asked, I simply call it a coming of age story for everyone.' 


Now because I haven't actually finished Elliot's novel I asked Jennifer where she would place the little rooster bar below. She said a solid 8 out of 10! Thanks Jennifer!





Jennifer's Verdict: 8/10

Monday, June 06, 2011 | Labels: | 5 Comments  

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

I have finally read a book in this series. So many people kept telling me I should read the books but it took me awhile to find the time. It helps that I had a friend read it at the same time as me. Part of the reason I hadn't read the book yet is I wasn't sure which series to read first: The Mortal Instruments or The Infernal Devices. The second one is actually the prequel series to The Mortal Instruments and I always find it weird to read books/series and then find out a book or books came before it. I still might check out The Infernal Devices at some point but for now, I''ve got City of Bones and eventually will read its sequel, City of Ashes.

About the book from Goodreads: "When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder—much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It’s hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing—not even a smear of blood—to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy? "
This is Clary’s first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It’s also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace’s world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know. . . .


Characters: They are a bit different. There is a kind of a triangle, with the friend and new guy but it's not quite the usual characters used in the same situations. While I liked almost all of the characters most of the time, many of them had moments where they annoyed me a little bit. Like Simon's, the friend, had a personality that at times with his remarks would bug me. And I normally root for the friend over the mystery boy but he makes it less of a need. And the main character... Clary isn't very observant, especially when it comes to Simon. Like, there are several moments where she notices something or he does something and she doesn't catch on until he flat out comes out with it. Wanted to shake her a little. And even Jace got to me with some of his moodiness. I think I'm going to like Alec but will have to wait and see as they develop in the series.

Story: Thankfully, this story had action and Clary was willing to take action. She ended up in a few of the situations but she doesn't just wait to be saved, whether Jace was there to rescue her or note, though he is around most of the book. There are twists and turns that keep the story moving forward, which is always good to see in a book. Action helped to keep the story flowing and interesting even though a few of the chapters were really long.

Overall Impression: It was interesting. At first I wasn't sure how I would feel about the book and I did put the book down for a couple of weeks as I waited for my friend to get a copy and then again for another week since I ended up with a bad cold. But I did become interested in the story the author created. It is one I'm sure many readers will like, especially those who like a mixture of fantasy/paranormal creatures used in a single story. While it didn't strike my fancy in a large way, I still mostly liked the book.


Dawn's Verdict: 7/10

Friday, June 03, 2011 | Labels: , | 1 Comments  

Fools Rush In, by Janice Thompson

Fools Rush In is a light-hearted romance novel, and not something I would normally pick up. But, since I'm trying to "diversify" my reading tastes, I thought I'd give it a go.

Blurb from Goodreads: Ever wonder how Italian sounds with a Southern drawl?
Bella Rossi's life is just starting to get interesting. When her Italian-turned-Texan parents hand over the family wedding-planning business, Bella quickly books a Boot-Scootin' wedding that would make any Texan proud. There's only one catch--she doesn't know a thing about country music. Where will she find a deejay on such short notice who knows his Alan Jackson from his George Strait? And will Bella ever get to plan her own wedding?

Fun, fresh, and full of surprises, this flavorful combination of Italian and Tex-Mex highlights the hilarity that ensues when cultures clash.

I'm the first to admit that when it comes to romance novels I'm not the biggest fan. But I am a sucker for a chick-flick, and I must admit that this novel had that feel to it. Fools Rush In was funny in enough places to make me keep reading, but it was the voice and the contrast between the main characters that made it a worthwhile read for me:

He extended his right hand. I took it, but found it difficult to focus, because, now that we were within hand-shaking distance, something else stood out, something that totally threw me. His clothes were, well, dirty. And he had that same wet puppy smell Nick's boys always got when they'd been playing in the summer sun too long. And I was pretty sure he had--what was that, sawdust?--in his hair.

If you're looking for something meaningful, or a novel with surprise twists, this probably isn't the book for you however. It was easy to anticipate the plot twists, and its predictable ending just reinforced my view of romance novels. But if you read it to be taken along on a cute tale of romance, then it doesn't really matter.

Seven out of ten from me!


WritersBlockNZ's verdict: 7/10

Tuesday, May 31, 2011 | Labels: | 3 Comments  

Matched by Ally Condie

Another book read for a book reading club online. It's one of the few books I have in hardback since I am fonder of paperback when it comes to books. However, I had to buy this book twice because my first copy had a major printing error. Chapters were missing and instead other chapters were repeated. It was weird but the second copy meant I could actually read it.


About the book from Goodreads:

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.


The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.



This book had a lot of potential for it was a book I'd heard about for months and so wanted to read. However, the book didn't quite reach that for me. Especially in the beginning. The end finally brought me on board but it took till the last 6 chapters or so for me to really be involved in the main character's story.

Love triangle: Okay. This is part of what didn't do it for me and that's because I'm very picky about love triangles. This has the same type that I've read in other books, including a book I haven't reviewed here to avoid going on a love triangle rant. It's a girl who loves two boys. One boy is the dedicated friend who takes risks for her and/or others despite what that could do to him. The other boy is more of a mystery. He is darker and has a surprising connection to the main character that she can't shake off. Always the nice guy loses or it seems he is losing if the triangle isn't resolved in the first book. But the nice guy losing bugs me to no end. Sure, I liked Ky, and he becomes a well developed character by the end, but it's the same old thing. And the friend relationship comes off more as a given which makes it less developed. Xander shows up at random but he isn't involved much in the actual story.

The world: I give the author great credit for the world she has created. As someone who hasn't even built the world for her epic fantasy series that she has had for almost 10 years, I can't even imagine the work Condie put in creating the Society. The details were well done and I enjoyed discovering when we were given the chance to see what the main character notices since it's done in first person narrative. I look forward to seeing the rest of the world outside the one province as the sequel promises to show. There is more going on in the world than the main character first realized and it will be interesting to learn even more in the future.

Overall: The beginning was a little rough and unfortunately it made the book a little too easy for me to put down most of the time. By the end, I started to get into the story but it took a bit too long for that to happen. I'm hoping the sequel is even better but I'm going to wait for the paperback version.


Dawn's Verdict : 6.5/10

Friday, May 27, 2011 | Labels: , , | 4 Comments  

Silver Wattle, by Belinda Alexandra

I've just finished reading Belinda Alexandra's Silver Wattle. It didn't take me long as I was rivited! I love her emotive style of writing. She leads me right into the story through her wonderful settings and characters. I loved her two previous novels - White Gardenia and Wild Lavender and have had Silver Wattle sitting on my bookshelf for months.

From Goodreads: Silver Wattle confirms Belinda Alexandra as one of our foremost storytellers. Weaving fact into inspiring fiction with great flair and imagination‚ this is a novel as full of hope‚ glamour and heartbreak as the film industry itself.Belinda brings her love of other cultures to her books, and Silver Wattle begins in glorious Prague. It’s the story of two Czech sisters, Adela and Klara, whose nefarious stepfather murders their mother – and plans to murder them too so that he and his fancy woman can have their inheritance.

The girls flee to Sydney, Australia to live in safety with their uncle and his wife, an Indian who had been saved from committing sete. Indian culture and early Australian bigotry is explored through Ranjana. Things go smoothly enough for awhile. Klara is a talented but highly strung pianist, while Adela turns out to be a gifted photographer who eventually makes a career in film. There is an interesting sub theme about the early days of the film industry in Australia and how American distributers sabotaged the development of Australian cinema which was flourishin. Adela marries one of these distributers (a) because he clandestinely supports her career and (b) because Beastly Beatrice cons Adela’s beloved Dr Philip into marriage and Adela is on the rebound. Unrequited love is a powerful theme throughout the novel.

Adela's character is the most interesting I think. Belinda Alexandra draws on her own love of wildlife to paint a picture of a character deeply moved by native animals (she raises a pet possum that she plucked from a dead mother's pouch) and wildlife is the major recurring theme in her photography. I found it interesting that In real life, the author is a volunteer rescuer and carer for the New South Wales Wildlife Information Rescue and Education Service (WIRES.)

Alexandra keeps the tension going throughout the novel and I couldn't put it down. There were so many mysteries to be solved...

This is a novel with complex plots and themes, but still remains easy to read. I highly recommend it to all.

 





L'Aussie's Verdict: 8/10

Sunday, May 22, 2011 | Labels: , | 5 Comments  

Halo, by Alexandra Adornetto

Halo had been on my to-read list for some time, so when I finally snatched up a copy, I was very happy to get the chance to read it.

Blurb from Goodreads: Three angels- Gabriel, the warrior; Ivy, the healer; and Bethany, the youngest and most human- are sent by Heaven to bring good to a world falling under the influence of darkness. They must work hard to conceal their luminous glow, superhuman powers, and, most dangerous of all, their wings, all the while avoiding all human attachments.

Then Bethany meets Xavier Woods, and neither of them is able to resist the attraction between them. Gabriel and Ivy do everything in their power to intervene, but the bond between Xavier and Bethany seems too strong.

The angel’s mission is urgent, and dark forces are threatening. Will love ruin Bethany or save her?

The good: Halo is beautifully written, and the Romeo and Juliet style story (which is perhaps a little obvious in it's allusions), is alluring and left me with a gooey feeling. I love a good romance, and while the angel/demon paranormal aspect of Halo is important, it really feels like a romance at heart. The characters' relationships form slowly, creating a sense of believability that a lot of YA romance lacks. Bethany is an appealing protagonist, especially as her naivety puts her in some interesting situations. As for Xavier... other than being perhaps a little too perfect, he's very likable, and I couldn't help rooting for him the whole way through.

The not-so-good: This is a long novel. Not necessarily in word count, although it is 484 pages, but in terms of actual story. The real conflict in the story doesn't actually start until over half way through the novel, when another character is introduced. I feel like the novel could have been a third shorter at least, even though the slow start does play on the relationship of Bethany and Xavier. The fact that the novel ends on a cliffhanger only compounded my feelings on this, because I was left wondering if the next novel could have been combined with this one in order to provide a more conclusive ending.

Overall: Halo may not be the best novel for anyone who wants an action driven, fast paced plot, but it is a great read and the characters and their relationships make it worthwhile. 7 out of 10 from me.

WritersBlockNZ's verdict: 7/10

Tuesday, May 17, 2011 | Labels: , , | 3 Comments  

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