REVIEW ROUNDUP and authorly musing...

So here's a bit of a Review Round-up. I *really* appreciate anyone who takes time to read and comment on my books but I've got behind on a few things over the last couple of weeks, including posting my thanks.

I know, it looks like I have something out every damned week, doesn't it? *lol*. Please be reassured (!!) that a lot of this is timing at the publishers, rather than any dastardly scheme of my own. Plus I'll be taking a rest to the end of the year, and maybe even into 2011, so there won't be much more from me until well into the New Year. That's not to say I won't be writing, just that I don't have anything else contracted at the moment.
*clare looks around her, wondering if she's last year's news, even in early november*.

Anyway, enough of that sob story!
My review of reviews has been ... interesting, to say the least. I'm thrilled at the good and encouraging ones I've received, but there have been a couple that made me go ... ouch. I'd always encourage anyone who wants to give feedback to post a comment on Amazon or AllRomance or GoodReads - the authors really appreciate it and it helps other readers make choices for future reading. And I *don't* expect every comment to be glowing, or a book - *my* book - to be liked by everyone!

However, I do sometimes worry that people are more inspired to post a comment after a negative and/or disappointed response to a book than after a delighted but calmly content response. Does that make any sense?

I'm not complaining *in the least* about my feedback, and I'm also at fault for not posting my own personal responses as a reader often enough, or at least not publicly. I'm just in a Musing Mood :).


Between a Rock - the "no-sex" story?! - has thrilled me by getting in the October Top 10 at Amber Allure.

It's had a good response at GoodReads and it had a lovely review at Jessewave's :

EXCERPT: Clare London's stories are mostly character based, and this book is definitely character based with no bells and whistles, and it's told almost entirely from Garry's first person POV except at the end. I enjoyed Between A Rock and a Hard Place very much, and even though Will was only present physically at the very end I was able to get a sense of his character because Garry described him so well in his musings. As for Emily and Max, they are are now two of my favourite characters and at times I really felt sorry for poor Garry. If there was one thing I would have wanted I would have loved to have spent more time with Garry and Will after they left the airport, so that I could have shared some of their private reunion. Definitely recommended.

Branded is dear to my heart as I really loved writing Maen and Dax. It just got a fabulously detailed and thoughtful review from Michelle at GoodReads .

EXCERPT: As you can probably guess, the two men fall in love, but this is not a simple happily-ever-after story, permeated with tender love scenes and endearing words, though it does have that. It is a novel rife with action and betrayal. The men are captured, more than once, their lives endangered numerous times, they are separated for long periods, and their love questioned. It is both heart-wrenching and sweet. However, the main storyline of this book, is not of their love and struggle to be together, but of their fight, both together and separately for change. It reminded me more than once of a famous Margaret Mead quote, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

This story was inspiring, horrifying at times and endearing. One that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys angst filled stories of love and courage.

NOTE: the rest of the review contains spoilers.

Blinded by Our Eyes also received a thoughtful and perceptive - as always! - review from Elisa Rolle . I liked her assessment of Charles, the narrator, and how his personality came across at times as complacent, as a lover of visual beauty in art - until he had to face a reality that was far from beautiful.

EXCERPT: Last to enter the scene is Antony, supposedly Paolo's lover, but even that it's not clear. Charles suspects Antony to be the one who killed Paolo, for different reasons. But when he meets the man, again for an artistic fascination more than for a sexual interest, Charles changes idea. I think the reasoning in Charles's mind was, since Antony is a good artist, able to create beauty, he cannot be the killer. Strange reasoning indead, since there is not direct connection between the two things, if not in Charles's mind and, at this point, his morbid fascination with everything is beauty.

Now from all of above someone could think I didn't like Charles, and it's wrong; I think Charles was a complex character, and I did like the author didn't write him like an umpteenth wanna-be private investigator. Sincerely I think Charles was interested in finding the murderer more since the murderer killed a potential great artist than for a love of justice: that made him original, and even his obsession for beauty was something that gave him deepness.

I've received some great reviews for 72 Hours .

At Jessewave's:

EXCERPT: This was an amazing heart pounding thriller, that once I started, I had to read through as much as I could to see what would happen. On that basis alone, it was a great book, but it is so much more. It's also a heart wrenching love story about misunderstandings and learning how to love someone that would have also been a fantastic book on it's own merits. Now combine the two and you get this suspenseful thriller with interesting characters and a wonderful love story to boot. Why are you still reading this review? Go now and get this book!

At Literary Nymphs :

EXCERPT: It is very easy to see the strong connection between the two men, as well as what pulled them apart. The author could have very easily used the situation the men and the rest of their team found themselves in as the reason to get back together, however she did not. By having Tanner and Niall struggle with their feelings for each other as they tried to come to terms with their past made the story more believable.
The mystery surrounding the team will hold the reader's attention. The action scenes are strongly written and while it is not overly difficult to figure out who the bad guy is, the reason he is after them may keep you guessing.

Also others at GoodReads for 4 and 5-stars, and a couple of 5-star reviews at Amazon .

Maybe this disproves my concern that people only want to share the bad news?!

But... I also have a 2* "disappointment" rating on the same book:

EXCERPT: Hate to give bad review but can't let someone else waste $6.99. I read the sample and that should be enough to give you an excellent idea about the rest of the book. Why did I buy it after reading the sample? Hope over experience, I suppose. Might have been a good idea just never got any better.

*ulp*
I don't get many ratings on Amazon, and it's sobering when one skews so far to the other side.

Anyway, that's how things are at the moment. Lots of great encouragement, lots of fun - and the occasional pulling on the brakes :).

And as the reason I started this post - THANKS to all readers, supporters and commenters, it's good to share it all with you!

♥