As an avid reader, I’ve been reading novels longer than I’ve been writing them. Despite possessing an eclectic taste in fiction, I promised myself this year only to read current, chart-topping novels. And to that end, I must admit, it hasn’t been easy. There are so many unfinished novels on my kindle reader! I’m still stuck in the past. I adore the classics—from George Eliot to Somerset Maugham, Du Maurier, and Steinbeck. I’m just naturally drawn to descriptive language and exotic settings. The novels I reviewed, however, managed to hold my interest up to the last page. If I possessed half of these authors’ talent, I’d be blessed.
I wrote...
Uncovering Love
By
J.J. Sorel
What is my book about?
To escape an abusive ex, Scarlet Black takes on a new identity and accepts a role masquerading as an admin assistant. She moves to a secluded mansion in a small English coastal village working for the reclusive billionaire, Daniel Love, whose wife has disappeared under mysterious circumstances.
Scarlet soon forms a connection with her troubled but handsome younger boss, and together they descend into a torrid relationship. The deeper they delve into each other the more insatiable they become. The problem is if she breaks from her undercover role her ex, a rogue policeman, will find her. But if she stays, after winning the trust of this guarded and damaged man, the deep bond they’ve formed will be shattered.
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The Books I Picked & Why
Big Little Lies
By
Liane Moriarty
Why this book?
Like most talented writers, Liane Moriarty makes storytelling look easy. It’s as though she’s lounging back, sipping on a crisp white wine and, like a seasoned raconteur, tells a story while gesticulating expressively and rolling out witty commentary. I’m awestruck by her enviable grasp of language, and her evocative portrayal of human conflict within an exceedingly complex world. That she’s able to do so in a pithy, punchy, and at times humorous fashion is impressive. Her female characters are so multi-dimensional and real, I remove my writer’s hat to her.
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Verity
By
Colleen Hoover
Why this book?
This book was a real page-turner for me. The story had a creepy element that Ms. Hoover managed to convey brilliantly, while beneath the mystery there’s believable chemistry between the male and female leading characters.
This book is a masterclass on how to layer the essential elements of good storytelling seamlessly. She’s woven a strong plot, three-dimensional characters, and a nice little twist.
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The Stopover
By
T. L. Swan
Why this book?
This sexy story captures the visceral connection between her leading male and female characters beautifully. I felt their chemistry from the word go. Chemistry in a romance novel is what a slightly flawed, left-of-field detective is to crime novels. At the end of the day, writing romance is all about expressing deep passion and emotion. I believe T. L. Swan achieved that very well with this story while adding enough sauciness to charm the reader.
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The Next Wife
By
Kaira Rouda
Why this book?
The grass is not always greener on the other side is the takeaway message from this novel.
Talk about schadenfreude dripping from page to page.
While the new wife is very easy to despise, the ex-wife comports herself with dignity when she has every right to be angry and pop Xanax like candy.
Here we have a genuflecting husband begging to return to the marriage he destroyed. He’s had his fun and now he’s pining for the woman, who he finally realizes is his true soul mate.
Like all good mysteries, there’s an “I didn’t see that coming” moment which in my humble opinion made this book shine. Twists are not easy to devise. As a writer, you can accidentally give the game away by offering hints that readers sniff out a mile away. Readers are an instinctive bunch. That didn’t happen in this novel, therefore kudos to the author.
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Beautiful Bastard
By
Christina Lauren
Why this book?
I had to mention this book because along with Sylvia Day and E.L. James, this story propelled my commercial writing career along. Before immersing myself in the contemporary romance world, I read books mainly written in the nineteenth and early twentieth century. I was new to this world with its descriptive sex scenes that bounced off the pages.
Despite the leading man being, as the title suggests, a bastard, he redeems himself by showing a believable sensitive side. Creating a jerk is easy enough, I suppose, but creating a character who is likable and flawed at the same time takes talent. That was my takeaway as a writer from this cheeky, fun read. This book, along with 50 Shades of Grey, and The Crossfire series taught me that the sky’s the limit when writing bedroom scenes. The steamier the better. But over and above everything else, being able to express raw, believable emotion is what really draws a reader in. This novel, along with the aforementioned novels, managed to do so with great skill.
