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Theodora Taylor

THEY SAY LOVE IS BLIND by Pepper Pace

December 13, 2012 in B Reviews, Book Reviews, self-published, steamy

Description: When plus-sized Tory meets blind Floresian hottie, Lee, on the bus, she has no idea that she’s in for the romance of a lifetime.

The Good: Ms. Pace has created yet another compelling couple in Lee and Tory. Loved the details of Lee’s day-to-day life as a blind man, and especially loved learning about Flores, an island country I had never heard of before reading this book. I appreciated that they were both insecure about things the other didn’t mind, size for Tory, sight for Lee. Lee is an excellent hero, and his big family really makes this lovable story shine.

The Bad: The main characters fall in love very quickly, which rings false, considering how insecure they are. Also, the story treads water for a bit in the middle.

The Naughty: Steamy. Lots of sex scenes.

Editing issues: A few typos. A couple instances of head-hopping.

Publisher: Indie

Length: 202 pages

Final Grade: B+

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Theodora Taylor writes and reviews in Pittsburgh, PA.

 

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Theodora Taylor

CARNAL KNOWLEDGE by Celeste Anwar

December 11, 2012 in black woman white man, Book Reviews, bwwm, bwwm romance, paranormal, self-published, shifter(s), steamy, vampire, werewolf

Description: When sassy Kaeli collides with Cajun Lycan, Navarre Lyssandro, it’s chemistry at first sight. If they can survive the vampires who are out to get Navarre, they just might make it work.

The Good: Really good action scenes. Kaeli was very sassy and Navarre was very sexy with clever claws that extended (kind of like Wolverine’s). Also, gotta love a Cajun accent.

The Bad: Though I liked the characters, there was no time to get to know or care about them. And though the story has really good bones, it was clumsily executed. It felt like getting an outline as opposed to a fully fleshed out short. Also, see the Editing section.

The Naughty: Steamy. Explicit language.

Editing issues: Weird indents in places. Incorrect capitalization in places. Lots of syntax errors.

Publisher: Indie Author

Length: Short (less than 1000 locations on Kindle)

Final Grade: C

Click on the book widget to buy at Amazon for $1.49.

 

Theodora Taylor writes and reviews interracial romance novels in Pittsburgh, PA.

 

 

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Theodora Taylor

BABY GIRL AND THE MEAN BOSS by Pepper Pace

December 6, 2012 in A Reviews, black woman white man, Book Reviews, boss, bwwm, bwwm romance, co-workers, self-published, steamy

Description: Nicole–Baby Girl to her co-workers, even though she’s not that young–barely manages to put up with her grumpy boss, Marty. That is, until she gets into a terrible car accident and he unexpectedly comes through. Could this be a case of mistaken intentions, or is Nicole’s mean boss the perfect guy for her?

The Good: This book is a highly romantic read, with one of my favorite tropes, damaged people–in this case literally and figuratively–finding healing in each other. I love that the heroine and the hero get to see each other at their worst, and Ms. Pace does a great job of illuminating the vulnerable people under their hard shells. There’s also a nice emotional mystery running through the story. You’ll be dying to know what’s made these two people the way they are. The answers are very satisfying, as isthe epilogue. BABY GIRL AND THE MEAN BOSS is well worth its small price.

The Bad: See editing.

The Naughty: Steamy. Lots of sexual tension. Masturbation.

Editing issues: Several typos. Adverb abuse.

Publisher: Indie Author

Length: 132 pages

Final Grade: A-

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Theodora Taylor writes and reviews in Pittsburgh, PA.

 

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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

WORTH THE PRICE (Hart’s Fall, Montana) by Delilah Hunt

October 10, 2012 in B Reviews, black woman white man, Book Reviews, bwwm, bwwm romance, married couple, rancher, self-published, steamy

Description: With her father facing possible bankruptcy, Danika turns to his worst enemy, Brandon Sharpe, for help. Brandon agrees to help her, but under one condition. She must become his wife!

The Good: I love, love, love, blackmail marriage stories, and I love Ms. Hunt’s writing, so this was a good combination for me. I’m also a sucker for a hero who isn’t traditionally handsome. Brandon is not only tortured and vulnerable, he also has both emotional and physical scars. Sexy! Sexy! Also, there’s a very intriguing B story with Danika’s best friend that will definitely bring me back for the next installment of the Hart’s Fall, Montana series.

The Bad: The story starts off strong, but falters when Ms. Hunt runs into a rather tricky bit of writer’s physics. Basically the heroine leaves, comes back, leaves, comes back, then leaves some more. This creates a yo-yo effect that not only diminishes the overall romance but makes the reader care less about Danika. It begins to feels as if she’s torturing the already tortured hero and makes the resolution less satisfying than it could have been. Leaving, like tears, is writing dynamite. If a character is going to leave, she should do so twice, maybe three times, tops, or else she risks alienating the reader.

The Naughty: Steamy. I hereby declare Ms. Hunt queen of the written blow job as hers are always very sexy.

Editing issues: Weird overuse of the word “tautened.”

Publisher: Swept Away Publishing (Indie)

Length: 169 pages

Final Grade: B- (three stars)

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Theodora Taylor writes and reviews in Pittsburgh, PA.

 

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Theodora Taylor

BRUSH STROKES by Dee Carney

October 2, 2012 in beta male, black woman white man, Book Reviews, bwwm, bwwm romance, self-published, steamy

Description: Tanya, a blocked artist, turns to her hot model, Joe, to help unlock her painting — and perhaps  her heart.

The Good: I really got a kick out of reading about an artist as the main female character, and their first encounter was very hot. There was also an instance of sophisticated juxtaposition, when a literal fire raged as the H/H argued. Love the cover!
The Bad: I was left with a few unanswered questions, most of which concerned Joe, the thinly drawn beta hero, who never did manage to reach three-dimensional status.There were also lots of unnecessary details, which made for chunks of clumsy exposition.

The Naughty: Steamy. Hand job. 

Editing issues: One incident of head hopping. Awkward grammar in places. Weird word choices.

Publisher: Black Dawn Fiction (indie)

Length: 89 pages

Final Grade: C+

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

 

Theodora Taylor writes and reviews interracial romance novels in Pittsburgh, PA.

 

 

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Theodora Taylor

HOT FOR TEACHER by Roslyn Hardy Holcomb

September 6, 2012 in B Reviews, black woman polynesian man, Book Reviews, self-published, steamy

Description: When Caja “a sex ‘em and leave ‘em” sort of woman meets Michael, a ridiculously hot Samoan teacher, she discovers the “leave ‘em” part might not be that easy with this one.

The Good: I loved that Caja was a really different kind of heroine. She’s the one who wants a jump-off. She’s also a former gymnast and has overcome an eating disorder. I loved this take on the romcom staple of uptight woman meets her match in laid back guy. Michael is a very sexy hero (Yay, Polynesian guy with tats!) and more importantly, a very good and level-headed match for Caja. He handles her issues well, and by the end of the book, they just make sense as a couple. I also loved the small Georgia town setting and flavor, the fact that the heroine’s best friend is a lesbian with relationship issues of her own, and this line: “fat-free cheese taste like butt” — because it really does.

The Bad: Michael’s POV pretty much disappears in the second half of the book, making one wonder if it was really needed at all. There’s a big twist in the second half that could have been better set up in the first. Also, the Van Halen song, “Hot for Teacher” is still stuck in my head.

The Naughty: Steamy.

Editing issues: n/a

Publisher: Indie

Length: 114 pages

Final Grade: B+

Click on the widget to buy at Amazon for $3.99.

 

Theodora Taylor writes and reviews in Pittsburgh, PA.

 

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Theodora Taylor

BABY ON BOARD by Dahlia Rose

August 15, 2012 in B Reviews, black woman white man, Book Reviews, bwwm, bwwm romance, steamy, Sugar and Spice Press

Description: When the baby daughter he didn’t know he fathered literally gets left on his doorstep, Major Rafe Steele turns to Ivy, the sexy nurse next door for help. But can he convince his practical neighbor that he’s not the frat boy lothario she thinks he is?

The Good: Ms. Rose does a good job of painting Ivy as defensive and insecure without making her too tiresome. She’s defensive because she doesn’t look like the other women on their block, who are always throwing themselves at Rafe; and she’s insecure because she has endometriosis and isn’t sure if she’ll ever be able to have children, which was a refreshing change as far as heroines go. I also really liked seeing Ivy’s day-to-day life as a nurse at Walter Reed, and her best friend/co-worker there was get-out funny. Rafe’s mother is also a funny and caring gem of a character, and an on-going conflict with another neighbor is wrapped up in a surprising way.

The Bad: The overall read suffers from too-long block paragraphs and overly long character speeches. Also, the book could actually be a few chapters shorter as it feels like it’s treading water in a few places. It’s a thin line between day-to-day details and unnecessary content. Lastly, readers who have actually had fertility issues might not appreciate how neatly Ivy’s are dealt with in the end.

The Naughty: Steamy. 69. Explicit language.

Editing issues: 3 typos. Weird indents on Kindle.

Publisher: Sugar and Spice Press

Length: 133 pages

Final Grade: B

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Theodora Taylor writes and reviews in Pittsburgh, PA.

 

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Theodora Taylor

ON CALL: AFTERNOON by P.D. Singer

August 13, 2012 in B Reviews, Book Reviews, doctor, gay male romance, self-published, steamy

Description: When Keith, the new single doctor in town, meets sexy black veterinarian, Dante, he’s way to shy to make a first move. Can his cat, Harpo, bring them together?

The Good: I adore vets in real life and wish they’d be used more in romance. Ms. Singer does a good job of making Dante vulnerable (he’s got cat scratch fever), while keeping him attractive in the opening scenes. The romantic build up to sex is sweet and awkward, and the couple is very well-matched. Also, the cat at the center of the story is quite a character. If you love cats, you will love this story.

The Bad: Ms. Singer doesn’t manage to overcome the curse of short stories. The characters are too good for the story length, and many readers will come out of this experience wanting more. Also, if you’re even thinking about adopting a cat, this book might push you over the edge, so leave it alone, if you don’t want to add in new four-legged friends to your family.

The Naughty: Steamy. Intimate medical exam.

Editing issues: None found

Publisher: Rocky Ridge Press (indie)

Length: short story

Final Grade: B+

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

 

Theodora Taylor writes and reviews interracial romance novels in Pittsburgh, PA.

 

 

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Theodora Taylor

AFTER THE KISS by Violet Williams

August 1, 2012 in B Reviews, black woman hispanic man, Book Reviews, bwlm, cop, Hispanic, Hispanic hero, self-published, steamy

Description: When Ebony Rivers meets Demetrius Sorventinos, it’s chemistry at first sight. The only problems are she’s already dating the son of his Russian mob boss, Maxhew Kournikova … and “Demetrius” is really an undercover cop named Tony. Oh dear…

The Good: This is a very high stakes premise with hot sex and edge-of-your-seat situations. Also, the story is told from the first person POVs of Ebony and Tony/Demetrius, and their voices are written with a strong hand. You’re never confused about who’s doing the talking. Overall, the book was a very compelling read.

The Bad: Ebony is very passive and when she does take action it’s often for dubious reasons, with which the reader might not agree. We are given many reasons to cheer for her getting out of her relationship with Maxhew, but in the end, that makes it hard to understand why a smart girl would get into and stay in a relationship with such a an unrepentant thug in the first place. It becomes really hard to root for her continued relationship with Tony/Demetrius, when one suspects that the heroine is being dumb and putting her life at stake for someone she believes to be another thug. Also, there’s a bit where Ebony has an angry memory of one of Maxhew’s friends using the n-word in front of her, which is supposed to insinuate that Maxhew isn’t above racism; but then she laughs when Tony/Demetrius calls her an “Indian giver” a couple of pages later.

The Naughty: Steamy. Masturbation. Cheating. Violence. 

Editing issues: 10 typos found. 2 counts of idiom misuage. 3 counts of word misuage.

Publisher: Quiver Publishing (Indie)

Length: 139 pages.

Final Grade: B-

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

 

Theodora Taylor writes and reviews interracial romance novels in Pittsburgh, PA.

 

 

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