Ireadtoomuch

Is This Novel a Romance?

Revisado: 04-27-24

I like that new authors are giving a platform to discuss their work. And I enjoy listening to writers discuss the concept behind their work and what has inspired them to write. But this is a podcast about romance novels and romance writers. And after listening to this discussion, Courtney Deane (maybe not spelled correctly) has attributed her debut novel as a romance. Well, romance has strict criteria, and I don’t think hers meets it based on her own description. Perhaps she should call it a love story. Or a story with romantic elements. But her readers will eat her alive if she calls a novel a romance, and it does not have a happily ever after or HFN. If it doesn’t have a happily for now, she’s inviting review disaster. It sounds more like. Chic Lit than a romance.

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Like, if I heard Mike one more time…

Revisado: 04-27-24

I enjoyed Kate Prior’s take on monster romances-I anticipate reading her gargoyle main character. It sounds like fun! I did have issues with listening to podcast host, Gomez, and Prior’s discussion. Nearly every other word was.”like.” They sounded like two teens sitting at the cafeteria lunch table rather than two professional authors. if they snapped a rubber band every time they said like, their wrists would be bloody. Kate Prior in particular stuffs her speech with “like.” I really wish each would spend some time trying to eradicate that useless, filler word from their vocabularies. It was so annoying and detracted from what was a very interesting conversation.
They should read a transcript and see what I’m talking about. Like, I hope they read this and like take a note.

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Practical tips to understanding and overcoming writers block

Revisado: 04-27-24

This was a very good interview. The podcaster, Gamez, asked insightful, questions related to her experiences as an author. Her guest, who works with other writers overcoming writer’s block, was articulate and offered good, practical advice. I found Ms. Gamez and her author-guest interesting and their discussion helpful.

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Preparation is Essential

Revisado: 04-27-24

I like the idea of the author using it’s a wonderful life as the basis of her new novel. But the podcaster had never seen the movie and said she hadn’t watched it because her mother hadn’t liked it! Maybe they wouldn’t be a big deal except for the movie was the basis for the new novel. She understood the key points but yet she really couldn’t relate. And the author referred back to another classic movie that the podcast hadn’t seen either (To Kill a Mockingbird?). I suggest she sit and watch some classics before trying to have a conversation with an author who does watch them and uses them in their novels. This one was a miss for me.

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S.E.Harmon Can Write

Revisado: 12-04-22

S.E. Harmon is a self-published author. But unlike many that I have read, Harmon writes extremely well, The author creates a realistic world where pragmatists are forced to
either dismiss what they cannot understand or (uneasily) accept that there’s more than what they can see. Christiansen, FBI profiler, is reluctant to put his career in jeopardy in order to satisfy ghostly demands. Yet he is forced over and over to listen to, and deliver, messages from the “other side” all the while suspecting he is losing his mind. Rain is terrified. But he’s compelled to present the truth, even though he knows no one will believe him. Rain learns that there’s no place for the paranormal in the FBI.

I’ve read this entire series, but I enjoyed them enough to listen to the Audible series as well. Harmon’s writing style is witty, humorous, and intelligent. And the relationship between him and his ex, police officer Danny, is hot-scorchingly hot. But the sensual scenes are integral to this LGBT love story. Because this is a love story as well as a ghost story/mystery. These scenes are neither clunky nor awkward, though they are explicit.


The mystery is fundamental to the story and to Rain’s gradual understanding that he is not actually mentally unstable, contrary to the FBI’s assessment. This mystery is the vehicle that drives the main character and forces him to except his true nature and allows him to discover his true purpose.

BTW, his hippie parents, who exist on a different plane than most of us, are a trip. They raised Rain and his twin sister to accept alternate world views than are the social norm. That unrestrained upbringing causes Rain to seek rebel and seek comfort in stability, the polar opposite of his childhood where reading auras and sensing the unseen is common place. Well, that and weed.

Rain is now forced to confront his paranormal abilities since he’s being actively haunted by Ethan, a troubled teenage ghost. Ethan is determined to get a message to his parents so they may move on. Ethan wants them to understand the real him, not the idealized version of his life self. And Rain is the medium he’s chosen to do this. That’s because Rain is rare in the spirit world. Rain is not just a medium, he’s a ‘bridge’ between this earthly plane and the dead. So, Ethan is a ghostly stalker according to Rain, Still, Ethan pushes Rain to do what is right and necessary. Ethan is the catalyst for change upsetting Rain’s structured existence. Unexpectedly, they become weird sort-of friends. Ethan plays quid pro quo with this FBI profiler to get what he wants. It’s really what he needs to move from this plane to whatever’s next.

This novel is funny, a primer of how to write about the supernatural and the paranormal, in an irreverent, heartbreaking way.

I enjoyed the mix of real-world police politics, crime, woo-woo, and hippie philosophy along with a strong helping of unrequited love. This recipe delivers a steamy, romantic ghost story. I enjoyed the performance, but the compelling story is everything.

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Solid Story But Narration Problematic

Revisado: 08-25-20

This historical romance addressed the Draconian views of male homosexuality that still exist in some parts of world today. But the main characters, Charlie & Tristan faced public trial, disgrace and ruin along with possible execution if charges were brought against them. I found their involvement with the Battle of Waterloo, doctoring and overcoming hardships (no spoilers here) interesting, heart wrenching and moved the story forward.

My problem with the story was minor but irritating: the author overused the word "placid" describing Lottie to the point it was boring, and I wondered if he possessed a thesaurus. How about calm, serene, tranquil, etc.

Here's my biggest issue: the performance. An American narrated an thoroughly British story using an American accent. Fine, but then he attempted horrible Irish, Spanish, Belgium accents that made me cringe. I mean laugh and cringe simultaneously. I'm sure if he'd read it consistently in his native accent, I would've overlooked it, but the man nearly ruined the story by his inability to mimic those accents. They didn't have to be perfect, but good grief.

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Lying, Insecure & Closeted

Revisado: 08-20-20

i found little about this sad, panicked man who was so freaked out about his sexuality, he lied to everyone, including himself. I didn't find the main character, Mark, particularly sympathetic. Nor did I enjoy the screwed up machinations he tortured himself with, his lies of omissions, his refusal to live any kind of normal life and the way he hurt others. Mark was so self abosrbed and filled with such self loathing, I couldn't buy any kind of miraculous acceptance of himself or Seth. This wasn't for me.

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Gritty Mystery/Romance

Revisado: 05-05-20

The narrator did a great job with various character voices, particularly Jae Min's. Interesting story filled with murders, mayhem and two stubborn individual, Cole and Jae. Cole is wry, funny and sarcastic. It's a steamy, fast-paced clash of cultures with tragedies and finding new beginnings. Ford is good with description using few words to create atmospheric and place.

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Hilarious, Touching and Totally Inappropriate

Revisado: 01-31-20

I laughed aloud throughout the performance because hitman Leland has few lines he won't cross. P.I. Jackson has the misfortune to became the target of a bored hitman's interest. But Leland loves to jerk his chain and finds that Jackson is the real deal. Leland's story is actually tragic and his humor is a defense mechanism. I love Jackson because he's a good guy. The only reason for four stars is that I wish the author had reigned in Leland's ridiculousness somewhat. He is beyond crude. But this is both a mystery and a love story that works.

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esto le resultó útil a 11 personas

Heartfelt, Steamy with a Believable Storyline

Revisado: 12-02-19

I read several reviews prior to purchase, and I found the writing solid with interesting characters and scenes that moved the story forward. Were they steamy? Oh yes. But I don't consider the sex scenes gratuitous. This is a story of awakening sexuality and a love story. It's a HEA romance but not silly or cloying. Spoiler alert: the scene were Penn's father beats him and his boyfriend comes to his defense is powerful.

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