First sneak peek
So a colleague and friend has asked repeatedly to read what I’ve written so far, and I’m finally going to give her a peek today. First six chapters, nothing too crazy – but that’s still 15,000 words and I’m rather nervous.
Friends are lovely. But if they don’t write – or worse – if they don’t read much, it can be quite painful to let them have a swig at your book. It’s like leaving your kid with a friend who has never had babysitting experience. Sure you know they have your best interest at heart and will try very hard to like your kid. But will they know what to do with the child once they have it? And will they be able to look you in the eye later, if your child turns out to be just gawdawful?
Thankfully, this friend professes to be a wide reader and she claims to love romance. Which helps, I suppose. I’ve decided I’m not going to expect her to give a critique of what I’ve written – although she’s welcome to give comments if she so wishes. I think I’ll lean on her more as my personal cheerleader. Someone else to get peppy at me and ask me how the manuscript is going every Wednesday or Friday, so I keep on keeping on.
Word count: 1,113
Total word count to date: 15,303.
I’m starting to suspect this won’t be a 100,000-er, but a mini saga.
Too late! I’m enjoying this too much.
15 words or less
Oooh… challenge!
“Please describe your book in 15 words or less.”
Two ad agencies
Clash of cultures and bodies
True love wins the day
Book review: Rose, from the Seven Brides series
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Not usually one for Westerns, I’d picked up this book during a long weekend break, expecting to be slightly bored. Not so! Leigh Greenwood writes a great epic romance, but also packs quite a series of adventures, so you’re left panting after the plot.
First published in June 2005 by Leisure Books (Dorchester Publishing), Rose heads up the book series of seven brides for seven brothers. Apart the name of that famous musical/film/TV series, the Seven Brides series has nothing to do with Stephen Vincent Benét’s short, The Sobbin’ Women. (Which, if you think about it, is quite scandalous. The men ought to be shot.)
For this story anyways, there’s no crazy wifenapping although predictably, Rose faces off with a family of grubby boys-to-men, and becomes an integral part of their home. All the while looking very fetching while sweating it out over a gutted turkey out in the big, bad brush. Of course.
What was less predictable: the action, which starts from the first page and only eases up for a little while over meaningful looks and chaste kisses, before something else happens. Considering there are 7 brothers – which means two major characters and six minor ones – you had to wrap your head around quite a few names and all their hang ups, as well as latch on to the action, which comes thick and fast. But Leigh – who is a man! – writes well, reeling us in easily with his languid storytelling manner, and crafting characters so memorable, you have little difficulty figuring out who’s doing what by the time of the first plot twist.
As for the sizzle quotient, mostly lots of sweet cuddles and kisses with one semi-explicit sex scene. Otherwise, a good old-fashioned romance that leaves the insides all gooey and happy.
I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Got it free from Kobo when they were having an offer, but now I want the rest and I’m willing to pay for the privilege.
