Reviews and Ratings

Still tweaking that Spaniard but I just wanted to touch on Reviews again – because this morning something intrigued me. I found a review that I knew nothing about. Over on Once Upon A Romance, Connie Payne has reviewed Sicilian Husband, Blackmailed Bride. I’m not going to quote all of the review – though it’s a thoughtful and considered one – but after the review I quoted a couple of days ago, it’s fascinating to compare two sections from each.

So here is part of Connie’s review:

Amber and Guido’s rocky road to reconciliation will have you wondering if they’ll ever find their happy ending. At times the fierceness of their pride, the unrelenting attitudes appear to overshadow, but when we’re hurt it’s a way of self-preservation as it is with the heroine and hero.

There was much to touch on and explore in this story with little time to do so. The conflict was long, the resolution quick. Amber and Guido’s story would have made a great single title, giving the time to explore these things.

Everything about Sicilian Husband, Blackmailed Bride, from the emotions and feelings to the miscommunications and misunderstandings, is intense, heated. Kate Walker has penned quite the passionate story.


And here is the one from Romance Reviews Today.

The first ninety-five pages span less than one full day and are filled with miscommunication, misunderstanding, and angry sexual tension. I found I didn't care for either character because their internal monologues were so out of sync with their actions. I also found it very difficult to believe that a woman so much in love would leave her husband, first without a fight, and second without confirming if their marriage is real or not. I also had a very hard time reconciling Guido's undying love and passion for Amber with his leaving her on her own for a year and not coming after her until she's at the alter to marry another man . . . The "big misunderstanding" is often used for conflict in novels, and if not drawn out too long works well; however, in this case a simple conversation and a dollop of common sense would have alleviated most of the problems facing the couple

What I found fascinating was the way that they were so obviously discussing the same novel and yet one found a lot to enjoy and comment on positively in exactly the same things that the second reviewer found unsatisfactory.

There’s one line that’s repeated almost exactly:

RRT : filled with miscommunication, misunderstanding, and angry sexual tension.

OUAR: Everything about Sicilian Husband, Blackmailed Bride, from the emotions and feelings to the miscommunications and misunderstandings, is intense, heated.

But the vital point, as I said earlier and as Connie recognises is that:

At times the fierceness of their pride, the unrelenting attitudes appear to overshadow, but when we’re hurt it’s a way of self-preservation as it is with the heroine and hero.


Which changes nothing. But to me it’s intriguing. It’s like that comment about belief - To those who believe, no proof is necessary. To those who do not believe, no proof is possible.

The style of writing and of romance in the Presents line tends to divide the readers – and very often many of the authors into fiercely for or against lines. To those who see the Presents hero as solely bullying, domineering and arrogant, then no explanation for his behaviour will ever justify it. And in the same way then those who don’t enjoy the strong focus on the emotional story, the ‘emotional rollercoaster ride’ that is a Presents novel, then such a story will always disappoint because

RRT . . .for me there was simply not enough plot to keep my interest.

Devoted Presents readers and those who understand and appreciate the emotional development and the strong, intense feelings will always love them – and, I think, love them for all the things that their critics dislike about them.

I’ve always felt that Presents is the line that readers in a way have to learn to read. They need to pick up on the clues and the cues that a lot of readers don’t see or don’t accept. Personally I’ve always loved the strong conflict, the intense emotions, the forceful hero, the defiant heroine. And that’s why I write what I do.

But as I said before, in the end it’s always just one person’s opinion. And that’s why there are so many different lines and styles and types of romance and romantic fiction. Horses for courses – or that plain and simple fact that you can’t please all of the people all of the time.

PS Remember Domenico? The Groom from my February book? Well I was intrigued to see that on Amazon.com and on Amazon.co.uk this weekend, The Italian's Forced Bride is back at #1 on each of their bestseller lists.

Guido's up there too in Sicilian Husband Blackmailed Bride and in the UK at least his brother Vito is coming up fast in The Sicilian's Red-Hot Revenge. I'm used to competing with other authors' books to see who gets to the #1 slot but 3 of my own heroes battling it out makes for interesting viewing.