September Roberts's Blog, page 8

Orchids for Lila Review #8

From Goodreads.com

by Emy on 22 March 2013

Lila Ray is not not interested in men. Her priorities in life are studying for her major (botany) and caring for her aging father. Then, she meets Jack Hall. Jack is charming, sexy and gives Lila pleasure like no one else has ever done. He’s also a vampire.

I was recommended this book by a friend of the author, and this in no way has affected my review.

Being a debut novel, Orchids for Lila has its fair share of issues. However, it has its good points too, and I enjoyed reading it.

Firstly, I admit, when I started this, I thought I was in for a hard-going read. The first few chapters are full of sentences starting in one place and finishing in another, unnecessary backstory and other mistakes you would expect from an amateur writer. Being as this is September Robert’s debut novel, I gave it the benefit of the doubt and continued to read. As the book went on, thankfully, the writing got much better. There were still some issues with the text, such as some awkward/stilted dialogue and the occasional lapse into backstory or a sidenote on something mentioned briefly that Lila, our narrator, wanted to expand on.

Also, ‘slippery lips’ was often used as a descriptor for Lila’s lady-parts (too often), and then, once, it was used for Jack’s ACTUAL lips and I almost died.

There was also a lot of botanical terminology, some of which I didn’t understand (Latin plant names, mainly). It didn’t bother me as such, particularly because Lila’s major is botany, but I have the feeling it could put off some readers.

Speaking of botany, I really loved that orchids were used throughout the novel in a variety of different ways. I really enjoyed that, and it made me smile every time it came up. Well done, September Roberts, for taking an idea and running with it.

Aside from the issues with the writing, there was only one other big issue with this novel: the lack of conflict. There were no issues with Jack and Lila being together, despite the fact he was a vampire. There was some reference made to ‘rules’ and the fact it was forbidden for vampires to consort with humans, but nothing came of it. I kept expecting Jack to be caught and punished for it, or something. I don’t count (view spoiler) as conflict, by the way. So easily dealt with as to be a non-issue. Lila was jealous for about two pages as well, at one point. Once again, not conflict because it was too easily dealt with. And there was a female vampire who wanted Jack, but nothing really happened there either.

Basically, their relationship was a field of candy and rainbows, aside from Lila’s obligatory ‘oh no, what if he leaves me and doesn’t really want me’ internal monologue.

This is not necessarily a bad thing. Despite the lack of conflict, I found myself still interested. I did keep expecting something to happen, so maybe that’s part of it.

But that’s not the only thing that kept me reading.

I really enjoyed September Robert’s portrayal of Jack as a vampire. There were actual consequences for poor Lila’s sleep pattern, and Jack’s ‘day sleep’ was actually pretty creepy. Weirdly, I also really enjoyed how Lila’s menstrual cycle was handled in the novel. It was nice to see some thought actually put into this.

Lila’s father was a great character. Despite being only a secondary character, he was well-developed and very human. It’s a shame I can’t say the same for the other secondary characters. Lila’s friend, Jan, was kind of forgotten about for most of the book after Jack’s appearance. She popped up occasionally in dialogue as though the author had just remembered she existed, but that’s about it. Either it’s the author’s fault, or Lila’s a very bad friend for forgetting about her friend as soon as she has a man. I also had an issue with Paul because he was so stereotypically ‘gay’. That’s something that really bothers me in novels with gay secondary characters. Too often they become camp cardboard cut outs.

Lila and Jack, however, were well-developed. I loved Jack. He was not your typical alpha-male of paranormal romance (that is, domineering and ever-so-slightly-rapey). He was gentle, kind and charming, with a boyish quality and a ready grin. Seriously well done on his characterisation, September! Lila was also an interesting character, being quite clever, self-sacrificing (on her father’s part, anyway) and accepting of Jack. But, Lila, just because you tell me your antics are hilarious doesn’t mean they are!

Their relationship moved SO FAST though. o.o But, I guess that’s fine. For some people, it happens that way. I did feel invested in their relationship, at least, despite the whole lust-at-first-sight thing. (That’s a problem with this genre, though, not this book.) (view spoiler)

Now, being an erotic novel, there are a lot of sex scenes. I mean, A LOT. As far as sex scenes go, they were scorching hot. A selection of favourites include the snooker scene, sex in the snow and the exhibitionist scene. Occasionally, though, my eyes kind of glazed over when a sex scene started because I just wanted them to get wherever they were going. As a personal preference, there were too many sex scenes for me. However, they were well-written (except ‘slippery lips’ XD), varied and most felt quite original.

In conclusion, this was an interesting addition to the vampire romance genre. It wasn’t full of drama, but it was sweet and easy to read. I would give other books by this author a try!

Orchids for Lila Review #7

From Goodreads.com

by Didi H. on 12 February 2013

I LOVED THIS.

I ADORED THIS.

Intensely erotic and hot as hell, I couldn’t put this down. I do love me some vampires and this definetely did not dissapoint! What is it about vampires anyway? Is it the infinite energy for mind-blowing sex? Is it the dangerous risk to mortality? Or is it the lure of something different and taboo?

I think it’s all of these and more. But, let’s not get philosophical ;P, This story is about Jack, a hot and impossibly sexy vampire, who starts a taboo relationship with a human. A very lucky human, named Lila. Their journey together is sweet and honest. They do encounter drama from the overly judgemental vampire community, but since they try and keep it secret, that isn’t much of a problem.

I loved so much about this book. It wasn’t angsty. I do love that, but sometimes you just want to read about a normal couple who truly fall in love with each other for each other. No drama, no bullshit. I really liked that.

I loved the way their love unfolded. It was sweet and moving in a way not often seen in paranormal romance. But, the real drive of this book was Jack. Oh,Jack***sigh***, He was everything and more.

Sweet, considerate, sexy as hell, funny and intelligent…God, the list goes on and on.

But he was also fiercly protective of Lila and showed vulnerability while maintaining his uber-confidence as well. Did I mention he was sex-on-wheels? YES! he had the stamina of a race horse and the ability to squeeze multiple orgasms out of Lila within minutes. There really should be a reward for that! HeHe!

Truly enjoyed this one and would definetely recommend it!

Orchids for Lila Review #6

From Goodreads.com

by Terra on 12 December 2012

Vampire erotica… need I say more? Hot sex scenes littered with a unique take on the girl-meets-vampire story. Not a ton of tension to keep me page turning into the late night hours which is why this only gets three stars. Enjoyable read nonetheless and I would definitely read more from this author.

The latest

So I finished my second book in November, and have submitted it to four publishers. I’ll see if any of them are interested. I’m keeping my fingers crossed! I should hear back within the next 2-8 weeks (submission queries take FOREVER!). I’ll shout it from the rooftops when I hear back.

 

I have also started the follow-up for Orchids for Lila, featuring Ben and Michele. I am so grateful to my friends who offer me advice and share their knowledge so my stories are more realistic. Writing is always better with company.

Orchids for Lila Review #5

from The Pulse Magazine on February 7, 2013

By Shelly Aucoin

September Roberts got her start writing fan fiction for the Southern Vampire Mysteries (inspiration for True Blood) on FanFiction.net before eventually moving to WordPress.com. Her fan fiction stories are full of sexy encounters with the 1,000-year-old Viking vampire, Eric Northman, and the telepathic human barmaid, Sookie Stackhouse.

September quickly collected a major following and has now graduated to writing her own original novels. Her first book, Orchids for Lila (released in November), is about a young woman who falls in love with a vampire. The Orchids for Lila e-book is available from Amazon.com.

Lila Ray is a college student and aspiring botanist who spends most of her time studying or hanging out with her elderly father. She doesn’t have time for the unimpressive men she meets and is getting close to graduation. Lila’s not classically sexy, with her pixie cut and thin figure, but when she meets the tall, handsome, charismatic Jack Hall, he makes her feel like a goddess.

Jack and Lila fall for each other and quickly develop an intense sexual relationship that threatens to swallow them both. Although she’s scared at first, she can’t resist the sexy vampire and takes the news exceptionally well when he reveals his dark secret. The problem is vampires aren’t very approving of relationships with humans, and Jack’s world threatens to tear them apart. Lila has a lot of questions, but Jack isn’t allowed to answer them. What other secrets are between them?

Unlike many romance writers, Roberts isn’t stingy with the action, and readers get the first steamy scene early in the book. Fans of the Fifty Shades trilogy and The Crossfire trilogy will definitely enjoy Orchids for Lila. Though it is tamer than the E. L. James series, readers do get lots of erotica; there’s even a touch of BDSM and a vampire sex club.

The author’s most popular fan fiction story is Getaway, which you can read for free on at mysecretofanfiction.wordpress.com. She also has several short stories and one-shots, all of which are impossible to put down once you start reading. Best of all, she believes that every story should end with a happily ever after.

September Roberts is a vegetarian who lives in Utah and bakes when she isn’t writing. Her love of nature led her to earn a degree in botany after exploring most of the western United States in her youth. Her author web page is septemberroberts.wordpress.com.

mysecretofanfiction.wordpress.com

septemberroberts.wordpress.com

I can’t thank you enough for this lovely review, Shelly. Thanks for pimping my book and my fanfiction wordpress too!

Guest Post on Read Our Lips! Book Review Blog

My guest post is live! Go here to read it, and then follow their blog if you want to read really great reviews of romance/erotica books. They are going to be giving away another copy of my book, so if you haven’t had the chance to buy it yet, and are still interested, here’s a chance to get it for free! As an extra bonus, this guest post has a smokin’ hot excerpt I haven’t posted before, so go read!

Help me pick an excerpt!

I’m going to do an author guest post for Read Our Lips! Book Review Blog on Monday the 4th, and I need to pick an excerpt from the book pronto! Do any of you have a favorite hot/sexy/sweet sex scene between Lila and Jack you think others might want to read too? Please help! Thanks! S

Orchids for Lila Review #4

from Read Our Lips! Book Review Blog on January 31, 2013

by Michele

A great debut novel from a promising new author! This is not your average vampire book.

A smoothly paced, smartly written story, about a woman and a Vampire falling in love.

What I loved about Orchids for Lila-

1- It’s a low angst journey about a woman and a Vampire falling in love. Very atypical for a Vampire novel. Refreshing.

2- The sensuality between Jack and Lila is amazing, the way it’s described is prosaic without being pretentious.

3- Lila’s relationship with her single Dad, Bob. I adored Bob.

4- After reading so much in the way of “Dom books”, I loved being able to see a man that could let his woman take the lead in bed from time to time. Don’t get me wrong, Jack can be very dominant, but sex between Lila and Jack seemed very natural.

5- Jack’s a Vampire, which makes things interesting, but there’s no sub-plot of someone taking over his territory, (he has no territory) or that he might kill her by kissing her.

6- Jack sends botany student, Lila, orchids as love gifts. He compares colors in the flowers to parts of her body when they make love. As in:

“I thought of you when I saw this Paphiopedilum. You turn the same color pink when I pleasure you.” Jack’s voice became quieter and deeper.”

Oh look! My panties are in a puddle in the floor! Smart is so sexy

7- Jack’s sexy, dirty talk. He’s brilliant, so there’s something extra sexy about it.

8- Lila explaining grocery shopping, woman to man. It tickled me.

9- The author straddles the line between Alpha and Beta male beautifully. Jack is no one to mess with, but when he’s with Lila, he exposed beautiful vulnerabilities that don’t take away from his masculinity in the least.

10- The sexy billiard lesson Jack gives Lila when they first meet.

11- The dashes of humor are perfectly placed.

12- the visit to the sex club. Hot!

13- It’s a book that doesn’t pander to the lowest common denominator. It’s written by a smart woman for smart women.

What I didn’t like about Orchids of Lila-

1- A little more angst would have been good. I loved them together, but a little conflict would’ve had me rooting for them

If you want something low angst and sensual, give this book a shot. The ending might surprise you.

Orchids for Lila Reviews!

Here is a collection of reviews I have received for Orchids for Lila:

from WordPress on January 21, 2013

by gnome speak:

you are the cat’s meow. it was so wonderful to read the bits and pieces of you that made the character of lila more appealing, and genuine. her relationship with her father, and their devotion to each other over the years was the perfect balance to the different world that jack exposed lila to during their time together. bringing lila forward from her past to live in the present, and watching her finally allow herself some independence and an unexpected future was an easy journey to enjoy. the botany and museum aspects of the story, along with historical nibbles, was just up my alley, of course. pervtootie nerds unite  it is always nice when a romance can yield a partnership, and both participants actually share interests and care about one another- against the odds and expectations of self and others.

i can always count on humor, romance, schmexy hotness, and a sweet HEA from you, no matter what you write. in this world and in these recent weeks, the past two days of reading were just the time-out i needed to restore and recharge. i anticipate more books from you, and would recommend this to anyone who wants to enjoy a story that is grounded in family, friendships, and first loves, and how these relationships can be life altering (in both positive and negative ways) throughout different stages of our lives. plus, i cannot tell a lie, the phenomenal attraction and exploration of the main characters, and fangy mystique add a bit of spice to the mix too i am bitten, *shakes head in error* smitten with this love story.

brava on your first book. you should feel proud of this accomplishment. i gnome exactly what i am saying since i have read the first to last of it now 

*******

from WordPress, Amazon and GoodReads on January 13, 2013

by Itsamia

Well here goes – wasn’t sure where to post this review so went for the front page!

I really loved your book – it is very readable & had the ability to keep me reading well past the demands of real life or sleep!

The characters were well drawn & very likeable – especially Lila. Whilst the vampire heroes of this genre are usually hot & attractive I sometimes find the female characters less likeable; but I loved Lila & enjoyed being in her head. She is intelligent, feisty & just the right amount of different. Her relationship with her Dad was beautiful & raised interesting issues about the responsibility of caring for a parent & the guilt caused by moving on, something which had resonance for me.

There were some good points made about the reality of being a vampire; leaving behind family & friends & the difficulties of making permanent relationships in the vampire world. I was glad that, whilst Jack had his pain & sorrow, he essentially liked who & what he was.

Jack & Lila’s relationship was a joy to read about; I loved their nerdiness & the attraction between them was white hot – leading to lots of great sex! The club was amazing – hopefully they can spend some more time there in the future!

I hope you have plans for a sequel as I would love to read more of Lila’s story – in the days since I have finished the book I have missed her. Thank you!

*******
from Amazon.com November 28, 2012

By Kerrik:
 

If you enjoy an erotic romance then this book is for you!! You’ll fall in love with the characters and the intimate scenes are set so well that you’ll need a fan to cool yourself off!!

Orchids for Lila Review #3

from WordPress on January 21, 2013

by gnome speak:

you are the cat’s meow. it was so wonderful to read the bits and pieces of you that made the character of lila more appealing, and genuine. her relationship with her father, and their devotion to each other over the years was the perfect balance to the different world that jack exposed lila to during their time together. bringing lila forward from her past to live in the present, and watching her finally allow herself some independence and an unexpected future was an easy journey to enjoy. the botany and museum aspects of the story, along with historical nibbles, was just up my alley, of course. pervtootie nerds unite  it is always nice when a romance can yield a partnership, and both participants actually share interests and care about one another- against the odds and expectations of self and others.

i can always count on humor, romance, schmexy hotness, and a sweet HEA from you, no matter what you write. in this world and in these recent weeks, the past two days of reading were just the time-out i needed to restore and recharge. i anticipate more books from you, and would recommend this to anyone who wants to enjoy a story that is grounded in family, friendships, and first loves, and how these relationships can be life altering (in both positive and negative ways) throughout different stages of our lives. plus, i cannot tell a lie, the phenomenal attraction and exploration of the main characters, and fangy mystique add a bit of spice to the mix too i am bitten, *shakes head in error* smitten with this love story.

brava on your first book. you should feel proud of this accomplishment. i gnome exactly what i am saying since i have read the first to last of it now