Behind the Curtain with Ms Romantic Reads
Ever wanted to look inside the mind of a romance book reviewer? I’m thrilled Michelle Wilson, aka Ms Romantic Reads has joined me for the day and willingly answered all my questions. Take it from someone who has been reviewed by Michelle, she provides honest feedback. And we authors are the better for it.
This familiar avatar can be found on most social network sites. I’ll post them below. For now, let’s find out what’s behind the curtain. 
Q. How did you get started reviewing romance books?
A really close friend of mine, got me started. We often read similar books and would email our thoughts back and forth, then she started her own book review blog, MyFictionNook. At first I thought that was ridiculous because who cared about someone else’s opinion about a book? Then I discovered some review blogs and saw quite a few people out there turn to such blogs, not only to figure out what to read next, but to connect with like-minded readers. I followed my friend’s example six months later. I’ve been consistent since October 2012.
Q. Do you run your blog, review books all by yourself, or do you have help?
It’s all me, baby Yes, I do everything by myself. I’m a little OCD and a bit of a perfectionist (that’s probably the artist in me), so I would find it too difficult to rely on someone else to keep things running. Does that make sense?
Q. Do you get paid for anything having to do with your blog?
No. My blog is a free one hosted by WordPress. I don’t have any expenses that need to be covered so why charge for anything? All advertisements or promotions on my blog are FREE. And paying/charging for reviews just seems icky to me. One might argue that time is money, and heavens knows I spend a lot of time on my blog or reading, but that was sort of the point from the very beginning. Reading is fun, talking to people is fun. I won’t charge money for something that I just have fun doing, you know?
Q. What do you do when you’re not blogging or reviewing?
Keeping my hubby out of trouble, and painting. I have always been interested in art, so in 2005 I decided to teach myself how to draw and paint while hubby was on deployment. I specialize in fine art and digital art. You can check out my Gallery on my art blog at MWilsonArt.
OMG!! You are so talented, Michelle! It broke my heart to choose just two and resize them. Folks, you owe it to yourself to drop by her art blog!
Q. What piques your interest in a story?
Cover, blurb, reviews. In that order. If the cover doesn’t catch my eye first, I probably will just pass it by.
Q. What turns you off faster than being wet down by a fire hose?
Haha! Well, if there’s a hot firefighter at the end of that hose, I may not mind getting wet 
TMI? Oh well, too bad. It’s how I am, lol.
Bad or non-existent editing, heroes/heroines who are TSTL (too stupid to live), cliffhangers and really short stories masquerading as “books”. I understand authors want and need to make a living, but they should also consider their customers who are expected to part with their money. There is stiff competition out there, so if I have a choice between 100+ pages and up to 50, at the same price, guess which one I’ll purchase? I’m also not a fan of trilogies or serials that are made up of extremely short stories that could easily be compiled into one book. It leads me, and many others, to think that greed plays a large role in the decision to split it up.
Q. Ever have trouble with an author who didn’t like your review? (Lord, I hope the answer to this is no. Surely, we writers know better.)
Trouble per se, no. However, I did have an author not like the review I had left, and she went on Facebook and made some remarks which prompted her friends and followers to agree with her and call “the reviewer” (me) names, I had no idea what I was talking about, blah blah blah. She didn’t realize that we were following each other. I made a note not to buy any more of her books (not out of spite, but simply because I didn’t enjoy her writing style) and unfollowed her. End of story.
Michell can be found here:
Blog – MsRomanticReads: http://msromanticreads.wordpress.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MsRomanticReads
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/MsRomanticReads
Bloglovin’: http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/6023427
Okay…enough with the serious questions! We are here to peek behind the curtain and see the real Ms. Romantic Reads! Your answers will be just between the two of us. (cough, cough)
Bring it on!
Q. You and one male survivor are shipwrecked on a deserted island. He’s not your husband. So who is he? Why did you choose him?
Not my husband? Oh dear, Navy boy won’t like that at all! Okay, this is my fantasy so here goes:
David Gandy because 1) he’s gorgeous 2) I love his eyes 3) he’s gorgeous. He may not be built like a line-backer, but he has this aura of sophisticated elegance and casualness that I find insanely attractive in a man. He also has this small scar above his right eye which makes him a little mysterious. He looks like he’d be good at many things to pass the time.
Q. Describe the perfect kiss in three words.
Wet, deep, bruising.
Q. If you could be one of the heroine’s from any of the books you’ve reviewed, who would you be? Why?
Oh.My.Gosh! Could you ask a harder question?!
Is there a book about Lara Croft? She is who I’d want to be. No? Okay … wow, this is so tough. I can’t think of just one, but I can tell you what type of heroine my choice would fall on. She is independent and confident. She doesn’t beat around the bush, and she can kick some serious butt. She may not need anyone in her life, but she wants someone to come home to, someone who is her equal in all ways, someone she can laugh with.
Q. What is the first thing you notice in a man?
His eyes. Always.
Q. If you were in the “Miss America” talent competition, what would your talent be?
Playing the flute. I had a gorgeous silver one, but my mother commandeered it
Q. Tell me two truths and one lie about yourself.
Ooooh fun! Okay here goes:
I have lived on three different continents.
I have met a celebrity.
I fainted once while riding Space Mountain.
Thank you, Michelle. You’re a great sport. I for one, appreciate everything you do!
This was so much fun! Thank you so much for having me on your blog
Okay, everybody, let’s try to guess the lie.
