Jane Cousins's Blog, page 13

Why I still hesitate to buy a book when it has hundreds of five star reviews

Choosing a book to read has become a bit of minefield for me of late. So many glossy covers out there (I've told you in the past what a sucker I am for them) Cool sounding book blurbs and of course, the ever present best-selling author recommendation (talk about a baited hook)

Then there's all those five star reviews.

Well you can pretty much discount the first twenty or so as they all start with the words "I was provided this book by *&&^% in exchange for a fair and truthful review" (And I've definitely shared my views on free book reviews in the past - check out my earlier blog)

So who do you trust to give you the real 411 on a book?

When I'm checking out a book I always read a couple of the 2/3 star reviews to get a feel for why they didn't like the book - if it's because the large majority think the heroine is a crying mess or TSTL - then I won't buy the book. Simply because I like a strong heroine who can stand on her own two feet.

But other than that it's a bit of a hit and miss targeting system isn't it?

Mainly because each of us has an individual perspective on what we want from a book. Some want romance, but not too soppy or too unbelievable. Erotica can be a bit of sore spot for some, many people have lines they don't want to see their characters cross - bondage, alternative positions, same sex partners etc.

And then there is humour. The spectrum of what people find funny can be a tricky one. I personally don't mind a bit of whacky (Stephanie Plum, Charley Davidson) but the author has to know when to rein it in or I'm out of there. Witty, clever, smart are generally safe bets. And I always pay attention to a review if a person says they found themselves smiling for no particular reason and laughing out loud.

I've read reviews where people have thrown the book on their DNF pile as soon as they came across a swear word. Personally, if it's done right (Shelly Laurenston does great cursing) then swearing - to a degree - can really add to story/character.

I could go on... and on... about what readers want from a book/characters/story. And no two requirements would be exactly the same.

Unfortunately I can't provide any answers here. I too often find myself the majority of one - disliking a book thoroughly - against hundreds of glowing five star reviews and all I can think is "What book were they reading?"

Just as what we want from a book is highly subjective so is the rating of five little stars.
Some people would never think to give less than five stars no matter what they thought of the book - all that hard work on behalf of the author they exclaim.
Others - the tough crowd - only ever give two star ratings except when they love something, awarding the rare three star rating as if it were an Oscar.

So... hold on, why am I writing this again? Oh, how to choose good books... frankly I have no clue... any ideas?

FAQ's - Southern Sanctuary Series

Have been inundated with a heap of questions lately. Thought I'd answer them in one foul swoop and get them off my to-do list.

Q. When will Darcy get her own book?
A. Okay people... chill. I know you love Darcy. I love Darcy, but at the same time I also love torturing her (perhaps there is more of Darcy in me than I'd care to admit)
Currently Darcy is slated for book nine or ten... okay maybe eleven. It's a timing thing, as other events have to happen before Darcy can go head to head with match making demon Great-Aunt Alma.
Saying that, just FYI - because it is Darcy after all - I have written the first two chapters already (I couldn't help myself, Darcy made me do it) and I pretty much know who all the bad guys will be and the general outline. In the meantime be patient, I promise Darcy will keep turning up and being... well Darcy, until then.

Q. When will we get to find out more about the Sanctuary/towns?
A. You're in luck, book 5 - To Bedevil A Beauty - due out in Nov 2014, will follow the new Chief of Police to the Sanctuary and you will get to discover it through his eyes and meet a lot more of the locals... yes, including the sheep.

Q. Will Hadleigh and Vaughn get another book based purely on them?
A. This is a toughie. Possibly is the answer. I do have a rough idea for one but at this stage will probably just incorporate their further adventures in to books dedicated to their friends/family.

Q. Will we ever find out more about the paranormal reality show that Maat's warriors star in?
A. Definitely. One of my upcoming books will be set predominantly with the show as a back drop.

Q. When will the rest of Maat's warriors meet their melds/mates?
A. The boys will are taking a break book 5 and appearing as secondary characters in book 6. But expect one to take a starring role in book 7.

Q. My burning question about the series hasn't been answered, what can I do?
A. Well, you can send me an email via the Goodreads site and I will do my best to get back to you with an answer.

Big thanks to everyone for reading my books and especially to those who have taken the time to let me know how much you enjoy reading them.

To Seduce A Siren (Southern Sanctuary, Book 4) - Released 31st July 2014

Being a Siren sucked! Charisse Bright could attest to that. Admittedly, the supernatural package came with a face/body to die for and the ability to manipulate others with her stunning voice, but there’s a major downside to being a songstress of the high seas and she wasn’t just talking about the never-ending compliments, the incessant flattery or the drooling… ick, the drooling!
No, she had a deep, dark secret. Being a Siren meant bonding with a possessive, bitchy and hungry… oh, so very hungry, rock.
Charisse has enough on her plate dealing with the demanding bitch-rock on top of her extensive, magical, high-maintenance family. The last thing she needs in her life is a man. One who keeps scowling at her rather than flirting, kissing her one moment, insulting her the next. And worst of all, he appears to be completely an utterly immune to her Siren powers.
No, the last thing she needs in her life is an uncontrollable, annoying man.

Women! Women of all shapes and sizes love Maat warrior and world-class superflirt, Nate, but after a hundred years of flirting - with the best of intentions - Nate is kind of weary of the whole meaningless dating scene. He wants a relationship, with a nice, easy-going, uncomplicated woman. Problem is, the two women currently in his life, couldn’t be more different, or problematic.
One’s a bat-crap-crazy, assassin vampire Queen, stalking him, determined to make him her eternal chew toy. And the other… well, the other is a gorgeous woman with way too many secrets. Common-sense tells him he should steer well clear of Charisse Bright, but there’s just something about the woman that he finds impossible to resist.

Nate’s determined to rise to the challenge. Protect Charisse. Kill the vampire Queen. And along the way seduce a Siren into giving up all her secrets… he won’t settle for less than her body and soul.

When is the right time, to break up with a series?

You know the story, it's an all too familiar one. You fell in love with the first few books, the characters, the smart story-telling, it was funny and fresh.
Like all new love you devoured and treasured those first books. They went to the top of your must read pile and you happily pre-ordered the next in the series months in advance.
Then things started to change. Just little things at first. You questioned whether the fault lay with you, you were tired, cranky, perhaps you had set your expectations too high.
But no, then the next book in the series arrived and it was all too clear, something had gone terribly wrong.
Sometimes it's really easy to cut the cord, big shout out to Mary Janice Davidson and her Undead series. Loved the first three and still happily re-read them. But no... just no to book 4 onwards.
Some series it's a lot harder to accept the truth. And you keep trying (and inevitably failing) until finally you know the characters are better off left to your imagination. That's why I'll never read the final two books in the Sookie Stackhouse series. But thanks Charlaine Harris for the ride.
And some series - well, you just keep buying through the good and the bad. Because when they are good they are stunning. Case in point, Laurell. K. Hamilton's Anita/Vampire slayer series.
So to everyone out there going through a bad break up. I hope you find a new love soon. Trust me when I say, there are plenty more fish in the sea: Darynda Jones, Gail Carriger, Kate Locke, Nalini Singh, Thea Harrison (elder races), Shelly Laurenston/G.A Aiken.

Which of the books I have written is my favourite?

This question is sort of like asking a mother which of her kids does she love the best?
I fall in love with each and every story as I write it. The characters charm me, I want the very best for them and often they open their mouths and surprise the hell out of me.
And if I'm not feeling the love... well it's time for a bit of re-write.
I won't equate the four months it takes for me to write a book to pregnancy/labour but I will state that creating something from nothing, watching it grow and develop, the characters taking on a life of their own - is pretty darn special.
I just hope everyone out there finds something/someone to love as much as I do writing.

Special Price - To Wrangle A Witch (Book 3 Southern Sanctuary)

Special Price June 6 - 12 Amazon Countdown Kindle.

To Wrangle a Witch
(Book 3 Southern Sanctuary)

Serena Chastain, former reality TV - sparkly purple shorts wearing – starlet, and Earth Witch is having a really bad five months. Imprisoned in a mental facility by two Chaos demi-gods bent on revenge, Serena is drained of her magic and only days away from dying.

Truth Mage Locke Valhalla battles evil every day… in the boardroom, wielding the contents of his briefcase like a sword, his platinum credit card his shield. His life is pretty much perfect. He’s established very firm boundaries to ensure his loving but interfering family are kept at bay and his immaculate home is the equivalent of the fortress of solitude – only much cleaner and better decorated with a big screen TV plus an expensively stocked bar.

Unfortunately Locke’s perfect world is about to come crashing down. Blackmailed into rescuing Serena, what’s a three piece suit wearing corporate lawyer with a slight dirt phobia supposed to do when he’s saddled with an Earth Witch with a bounty on her very fine - but definitely off limits – ass? A woman who insists upon rolling around in the mud to reconnect with her magic! A woman who refuses to wear clothes and seems to take great delight in twitching all her mouth-watering assets in his face at every opportunity!

With a Kiss of Vampire Assassins also chasing that very fine butt, it’s up to Locke to protect Serena from the bad guys whilst the Earth Witch teaches him that only good things come to those who are willing to wrangle with a Witch.

DNF book pile in danger of crushing me

When I first started reading romance/PNR books I gobbled them down like brightly coloured (thankfully calorie free) candy.
Historical, modern, shifter, millionaire, funny, sad, horror, thriller, vampire - good, bad, indifferent - I read them all.

Those days are long gone. Too often of late I get three chapters into a book and find myself wading through sewage. The story inconsistent with the book blurb or just doesn't deliver - period.

What has changed? Is it me? Is it the industry?

I think it's probably a little of both. Certainly I'm older, pickier and more impatient but I think the industry has to take its fair share of the blame as well.

Often I find myself picking up a book - with a fantastic sexy cover, that inevitably has nothing to do with the actual plot/characters or book. But it isn't just the cool cover that's sucked me in, the book blurb sounds fresh, inventive and fun... then I start reading.
It's like some smart machine came up with the premise and handed it off to an author who couldn't deliver - or vice versa.

I think the simple truth as a reader is this - if the author writing the characters loves them, loves the plot... has to write this story or else dire things will happen to them - then that's the book I want to read.
So please lets have less smoke and mirrors from the publishers and more depth from the authors.

Why I often find myself humming Monty Python's "Every Sperm is Sacred"

Okay that's not strictly true - in my head I replace the word 'sperm' with 'review'. And if it's four stars or above there is a happy dance involved and just general flailing about.
Truly every review is hard won and entirely precious. I don't have a big machine behind me or even a small one for that matter.
When it comes to acknowledgements - well to be frank, it's just me. No publishing company, no editor, no beta readers - no, nothing.
But I promise to keep doing my best to write great funny/sexy books, if you guys will keep buying them and giving me feedback.
Thxs Jane