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Theodora Taylor

My Latest Book Is Here and My Last Freebie Promotion

November 30, 2012 in alpha male, biracial hero, black woman asian man, bwam, Christmas, ebook talk, erotic, Her Perfect Gift, steamy

I feel like I say this every time I announce a new book, but sorry, once again, for the blog silence. As you might have guessed by now, if I’m not posting regularly that means I’m working hard to get the next book up.

Can you believe it’s been an almost a year since I posted my first book, THE OWNER OF HIS HEART? Insane, right! I’ve learned a lot in that year, mostly about work/writing balance and how the cure to just about anything from diminishing sales to disgruntled readers/commenters is writing another book. And unfortunately for people who love free reads, I’ve also learned a lot about writing discipline.

What does that mean? Well, long story short, though I appreciate the KDP Select program, especially the early boost it gave OWNER and the incentive it gave me to meet my writing deadlines, my latest book will not be in this program. Why? Four reasons, really:

1. I felt I was unfairly punishing fans who didn’t have Kindles by making them wait 90 days to get my latest book.

2. October and November were hands down my busiest months in the history of me having a day job, but I still managed to stick to my writing schedule — in fact, spending regular time with the unusual couple from my latest book, HER PERFECT GIFT, was a total sanity saver. So I’m thinking if I could write through that craziness, I can probably be trusted to meet my writing goals without KDP Select’s use-it-or-lose-it freebie promotion program hanging over my head.

3. I’ve reached a plateau. As I mentioned before, I love my day job and don’t want to quit it to write full-time. However, there are only 24 hours in the day. I’m very happy with and grateful for the money I’m making at both of my jobs. I love being so busy on both fronts and I don’t want to take time away from either endeavor to promote. Hence, this is my last free promotion. I hope new readers will continue to find the 50 Loving States series, but in order to keep writing it, I don’t have time to run free promotions every three months. Or, to put it more bluntly, I’d rather be using that time to write the next book.

4. Did I mention HER PERFECT GIFT is a holiday novel? Who wants to wait 90 days to read a holiday novel?

So here’s the breakdown. THE WILD ONE will be free on Amazon this whole weekend. After that, though, all my books will go wide on all sites at around the same time (I can never guarantee the same day, since different sites have different holding times) and will never be offered for free again.

So if you haven’t read THE WILD ONE, which is the follow-up to my first book, THE OWNER OF HIS HEART, yet, click on the book widget in the right side bar to download your free copy.

And as for HER PERFECT GIFT, my latest book. Well, this one is a doozy. Here’s the description:

The fifth smoking hot interracial romance in the 50 Loving States series!

Lacey Winters has sworn off love. She’s kept her heart locked away for her own protection, and she’s vowed never to fall under a dangerous man’s spell again.

But that was all before she met Suro Nakamura, a hit man who seems bound and determined to stomp all over her pesky vows. 

He’s dangerous in more ways than one, but can Lacey resist this holiday temptation?

A story sure to set your holidays on fire, this book features a woman with a past, a hit man determined to see her in his future, and red hot Christmas chemistry.

I loved this couple (especially the hot and quiet hero) to pieces and hope you will, too.I also, love the holidays, and I’m now looking forward to writing a Christmas novel every year. Click on the pic below or the book widget in the side bar to get your copy.

Happy Holidays!

Theodora

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Theodora Taylor

DEEPER, LOUDER, HARDER by Jorja Tabu

March 21, 2012 in A Reviews, B Reviews, BDSM, black woman asian man, black woman white man, boss, business man, bwam, bwwm, bwwm romance, celebrity, erotic, Novella, office romance, self-published, steamy

LOUDER by Jorja Tabu is free over at Amazon until this Friday, so I figured now would be a great time to delve into her novella set, DEEPER LOUDER HARDER, which includes her first three IR stories.

Description:


DEEPER – Prim and proper librarian, Charlotte Goodtree, finds herself loosening up in all the right ways when a handsome contractor enters her life. But will his explosive secret destroy their budding relationship?

LOUDER – Up and coming rapper, Ghost Diva (Gabby to her friends), receives the break of a lifetime when she lands the opening spot on tour for multi-platinum rapper, Echo. And, to her surprise, their chemistry burns even hotter off-stage.


HARDER – Black secretary, Lisa Tyrell, is just about to quit on her domineering half-Japanese boss, Mr. Yamamoto, when he confesses that he’s not just domineering, but a conflicted Dom. Can she help him navigate his emotions without losing her heart.

 

The Good:

DEEPER – Ms. Tabu excels at nailing the awkwardness of getting to know the person to which one is sexually attracted. Her characters in all three books have considerable — but understandable and realistic self-esteem issues, stemming from class, racial differences, and internal conflict. The couple in DEEPER are super-sweet and the sex is AH-MAZING, with really clever set-ups. Also, Charlotte’s sister, Mandy, is a hoot, who really does need her own story.

LOUDER – I’m not a fan of lyrics in books, but Ms. Tabu nails the ones she gives to her characters. I love that her H/H are terrifically conflicted within themselves and with each other, as two people in their separate situations would be. She sets up great situations for them, and builds sexual tension that you could cut with a knife. I found this story to be just ridiculously romantic and the characters really stayed with me.

HARDER – Ms. Tabu has put this book in the exact right order, because each novella just kept getting better and better, and HARDER was my favorite of the three. This is just a really smart romance. Ms. Tabu is very concerned with her characters’ emotions, which makes them feel like living, breathing people, and the situations she sets up for this H/H just blew my mind. At one point, I found myself nodding and saying, “Respect, respect” out loud. Also, her dialogue in all three novellas is crazy-solid. This novella, in particular, is really funny and really different.

The Bad: I don’t think I’ve ever encountered a romance author who ends her stories so abruptly. I can understand not having an epilogue. But writing-wise, it feels like the author has a very short attention-span, and just decides she’s done with the story at a certain word-count mark — even if the story isn’t quite done. Reading this novella collection, felt like eating a plate of slightly undercooked cookies. I mean, cookies are yummy, no matter what, but I wish she had left them in the oven just a beat or two longer.

DEEPER – Because the H/H meet and fall in lust within the first few pages, the author fails to establish the heroine’s character before unraveling it. We’re told she’s an uptight good girl while watching her do wild bad girl things.

LOUDER – The hero has a daughter who’s mentioned often, but whom we never get to meet.

HARDER – The cover for the individual novella is not great, and even misleading at first glance. I didn’t realize that the cover model was wearing a stocking, and thought that I’d be reading an IR romance, involving a white woman and her PoC boss.

Though I loved the heroine’s POV, the hero was so compelling that it felt weird that he didn’t get one of his own — especially since the heroes of DEEPER and LOUDER got their own POVs. Of all the stories, this one gives you the most “kicked out” feeling. Luckily it’s given a sequel in HARDEST, which feels more like the ending this novella should have had.

The Naughty: Erotic. Serious breast play. (DEEPER) Steamy>Erotic. Sex on couch. (LOUDER) Erotic. D/s. Lingerie. Heightened sexual tension. (HARDER)

Editing issues: 12 typos found in set. DEEPER has a weird indent situation. In all three novellas, the author uses “taunt,” when she means “taut.”

Publisher: Indie author

Length: 60,000 words

Final Grade:

DEEPER – B+

LOUDER – A

HARDER – A

Click on the book widget to buy at Amazon for $4.99.

 

Love IR romance as much as I do? Then pick up THE OWNER OF HIS HEART and HER RUSSIAN BILLIONAIRE, the first two books in my 50 Loving States series!

 

 

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Theodora Taylor

WE ALL SCREAM by Nona Wesley

February 2, 2012 in black woman asian man, Book Reviews, bwam, D Reviews, Novella, Phaze Books, steamy

Description: The economy has been rough on Diahann Marshall’s family-owned ice cream shop and her love life has gone even colder than the product she sells. Can local business owner Sun Li, who she thinks is a Chinese food delivery guy, be the perfect solve for both?

The Good: Compelling premise. I’m a big fan of mistaken identity plots and kept on reading just to see how it would all turn out.

The Bad:  The H/H relationship is so under-developed that the great set-up is effectively ruined. Both characters (but especially Sun Li) lack strong/clear motivation, which makes suspension of disbelief particularly hard when certain romantic plot points play out. At the end of the day, this romance just isn’t very romantic. Also, the heroine’s sister, who is set up here for a book of her own, is meant to be funny, but often comes off as racist. (ex. she refers to the hero as Jackie Chan)

The Naughty: Steamy.

Editing issues: Several typos (counted 11). Missing chapter breaks in places.

Publisher: Phaze Books

Length: Novella

Final Grade: D+

Click on the book cover to buy at Amazon for $2.99.

 

Wanna see my softer fictional side? Pick up my book, THE OWNER OF HIS HEART, at Amazon for $4.16.

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Theodora Taylor

PLAYER’S ULTIMATUM by Koko Brown

January 2, 2012 in athlete, B Reviews, Book Reviews, bwam, bwlm, erotic, self-published

Description: Yvonne Floyd agrees to pose as her best, gay friend’s fiancee, so that he can sign another contract with the Italian soccer team he plays for, which has a conservative owner. However, she doesn’t count on falling for Robbie’s Japanese-Brazilian teammate, Paulo.

The Good: This book had me at the description. I’ve never read any romance novel with a soccer player as the hero. And though I’m not a fan of the sport, Ms. Brown does a fantastic job of introducing us into the world. And unlike most romance novels involving athletes, she actually gives us a taste of the sport. It’s like an IR version of the TV show, THE GAME. I seriously could not turn the pages fast enough.  The heroine was big-boned in all the right ways, and the Japanese-Brazilian hero, Paulo? Hot! Hot! Hot! And he rocks a fauxhawk — how cool! Also, there are two zinger surprises at the end that I just loved.

The Bad: A key piece of information concerning Paolo’s motivation is kept hidden until the end. There’s nothing wrong with having a character hold on to a big secret, but if the reader doesn’t know there’s a secret she should be waiting to hear, then it translates into more of a “Wha???” than a “Surprise!” when it’s revealed. But in this case, Ms. Brown’s strong plot made up for any unclear character motivation.

The Naughty: Erotic. Sex with masks. Sex in bathroom.

Editing issues: A few typos (I counted nine).

Publisher: Koko Brown

Length: Novel

Final Grade: B+

Click on the book cover to buy at Amazon for $2.99.

If you love IR Book Reviews, consider picking up my book, THE OWNER OF HIS HEART. It’s a great and enjoyable way to support this site.

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Theodora Taylor

GOLD MOUNTAIN by Sharon Cullars

November 1, 2011 in A Reviews, Book Reviews, bwam, historical, Loose ID

Description: In 1865 both Leah and Qiang come to California during the Gold Rush, hoping to find their fortunes. Instead they find each other.

The Good: Oh, I just loved this book. Both the hero and the heroine were worth cheering for all the way to the end. The sex was super-sensual and what a lovely, lovely romance. Cullars has an amazing sense of time and place, and really plunges you into her historical setting. The love interests were very well-developed and well-matched. This is by far the best BW/AM romance I have ever read.

The Bad: Considering the quality of the writing, this book hasn’t found nearly as many readers as it should have. If you do read it and love it as much as I did, please consider telling a friend or at the very least, leaving a review on Amazon and GoodReads.

The Naughty: Sensual sex.

Editing issues: None

Publisher: Loose ID

Length: Novel

Final Grade: A

Click on the book cover to buy at Amazon for $5.69.

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Theodora Taylor

ADRIENNE by D. Renee Bagby

October 27, 2011 in Book Reviews, bwam, C Reviews, paranormal

Description: After being saved from an attack by a mysterious stranger, Adrienne wakes up on an alternate Earth called Bron. She soon discovers that she is the soul mate of a young Asian king named Malik and that she’s basically been bridenapped. Cue the conflict.

The Good: Lots and lots of story, interesting world-building, and a well set-up mystery.

The Bad: Unfortunately though this story has lots of potential, it’s populated by two rather unpleasant people. Adrienne is generally cranky, she lacks curiosity, and at times, she’s incredibly rude to her servants. Malik himself is entitled, spoiled, and physically abusive to his servants and subjects. It’s hard to cheer for a happy ending for the fantasy equivalent of Cleopatra and Mark Anthony, and it’s a credit to Bagby’s storytelling skills that I was even able to finish this book.

The Naughty: A couple of sex scenes. Steamy.

Editing issues: Imprecise language and dialogue, and minor grammar errors (8 by my count).

Publisher: Samhain

Length: Novel

Final Grade: C-

Click on the book cover to buy at Amazon for $4.24.

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