Reviews for "Sugar Walls"!

Okay ... I don't think I'm alone in chewing off my fingernails every time I release something new, wondering if folks are going to like it. I'm a bit nauseous every time I do, as I wait for some reviews to roll in.

Recently, I've had a few, and so far the news is good! Hallelujah, maybe my nails can grow back.

From Jersey Girl Sizzling Book Reviews:

Sugar Walls is an entertaining short story that quickly takes you through the months of Jack and Emilie's secret interest and desire for each other. While their desire grows, the author stimulates the reader's interest with some really steamy fantasy self-pleasure scenes. The build-up of Jack and Emilie's desire is just the warm up for their eventual coming together where their steamy, intense coupling is HOT, HOT, HOT! I thoroughly enjoyed this short story, it was definitely hot cha cha cha worthy! 

From The Brunette Librarian:

Mysti Holiday does a great job of writing a scorching hot story with full character development in a short story format. Fun, flirty, and quick, Emilie and Jack’s story unfolds to their happily ever after. Sure they are different, but life is dealing with those differences. It makes us unique and that’s exactly what this story is! 

And, from The Love Of Reading:

A sexy short story from Mysti Holiday! Even thought short Sugar Walls was immensely enjoyable. Ms. Holidays writing is fun, sexy and full of sexual tension! But it's not only tension it has, oh no, there is plenty of rolling on the living room carpet in this one! 

Thanks to the reviewers for easing my ill feelings just a bit.

Authors, how do you feel about reviews?

New Reviews!

Foxglove has love for Megan's work this week on Long and Short Erotic Reviews. I'm smilin'. 4.5 stars on both books. That's some love. Megan's books got some great quotes and well, read on.
Click here to go to LAS Erotic Reviews AFTER you read the post. :-)






Livia was cast out of heaven for the crime of falling in love with a human. So what's a fallen angel to do when she meets the man of her dreams? Falling certainly has its perks.

Ty didn't expect the angel at his party to be fallen or to have a murky past. He also didn't expect her to end up in his arms. Now he's not about to let the past stand in the way of their future.

"As I said, this is a story of second chances. True ones like Livia and Ty and false ideas of trickery and evil intent aimed at Livia. Just when things look bad for our hero and heroine, forces at work help Livia find her true calling. This is a tale for those who like a bit of fantasy with their happily-ever-after."

Click here to read the full review.
Click here to buy the book.

Raylan believed himself unworthy of love until he met Chase. Chase brought out Raylan’s natural need to control and the power to force submission. But time and distance make having a relationship hard. Can Raylan prove to Chase they have what it takes for love to last through this Christmas and every other Christmas for the rest of their lives?

Chase found the muse for his songs in Raylan. Each time they touch, kiss, make love, music fills his soul. But working odd gigs to make ends meet while Raylan photographs rock and roll royalty isn’t beneficial to Chase’s creativity. Can he convince Raylan they’re better off together than apart?

"Chase and Raylan are great together, but they are also major ‘drama queens’ where their emotions are involved. This is the story of a new relationship, and the pitfalls that can come between two people in love if they aren’t careful. I really enjoyed the little things these two did for each other, and there is one big surprise Raylan has for Chase that I don’t want to reveal here. But it is the high point of the story, that one perfect moment when you just know these two have something real and beautiful between them.

I recommend this to those who love happy ever after, but one warning: tissues and ice in equal measures are needed for this one."

Click here to read the full review.
Click here to buy the book.

Reading, Writing, Revisions, Rejections and Bad Reviews

So we all get them. The dreaded R's (and a W). Ok, so some aren't so dreaded. But I happened by Wendi's blog and she got me thinking about a few things.

I haven't had a rejection in a while, not to say one isn't coming. I never count ye olde chickens.

So let's say you have this wonderful story. You've written on it for a long time and made it past step A. Step B--you send to the crit partner. You never know when that wonderful isn't exactly polished enough. That can be a super pain. But, I'd rather have Kealie tell me the story isn't ready rather than step C.

What's step C? The submission process. That's where I am at now. I've got to out in submission land. I'm hoping they aren't lost or worst...in the slush pile to be rejected. But that brings me to the next point.

For every submission, a little rain must fall. Rejection will happen. The dreaded step D. I know, here I am sounding so confident. I'm not. I'm skeered to death that even though I have a book under contract, that I have worked my tail off on the book, that it still won't be up to par. What do I do with rejection? Honestly, after a chunk of Godiva chocolate (milk chocolate, thank you very much), and a little teary action, I give myself a month and revise. If it's a thank you very much, but no thank you, well, I still revise but I look at secondary publishers.

So now I'm at step E. The revision. Not everyone will love what you wrote. Some editors will look at it and say, there's too much work to be done and I don't want to do that. Others might say, this story has no promise. Then there will be some who say, yanno, this is something I totally want to work with. We all want those editors. So I set myself a month. If the editor likes what he/she sees, but it's not quite there and the offer to revise is offered, then I give myself that month to get it revised per editor's instructions. Is it painful? Sometimes. Is it hard? Can be. But if you don't at least try, then you'll never know.

So it's been revised and resubbed. Once again to step D. The waiting and the hoping.

But let's skip ahead. Say the book has been accepted, edited and released. Now we're at the review stage. My take? Reviews are opinions. What that reader thought of your work on that given day. The reader could be having a crummy day. Could be stressed. Could be just not really interested in reading. Could be that your work is just what he/she is looking for. As much as I find it hard to adhere to this sometimes...you gotta swallow ye olde pride and just smile. Was it Monty Python that said, "Always look on the bright side of life"?



It's true. You might not like what they have to say, but really, it's an opinion. You'll never make everyone happy. Think about it this way. Taylor Swift. It seems like this girl can't put a foot wrong. Then look at the reviews on Amazon for her latest CD. Yeah, she's got some serious haters. Some are really more reviewing her as a person (which is a whole 'nother ball of wax), but as much as it's loved, the CD is not loved. Or take the Stephanie Meyer series. Twilight isn't a favorite of mine. Not a book I could get into. Check out the reviews. Either it's loved or hated. Do you think she or Taylor actually sit up at night worrying about reviews? Probably not. Why? They have boat loads of cash to count. I'm sure they don't want to be hated. No one does. But reviews, like opinions and individuality are parts of life.

So, follow old Monty Python. Always look on the light side of life. :::Whistling::::

Surprise!

I love surprises... mostly. I'm not fond of "scary" surprises, like someone leaping out at me from behind a corner. And don't throw me a surprise birthday party -- I don't like feeling flustered AT ALL.

But, she wrapped gifts for me and put them under the tree, my daughter kept saying, "Don't peek!"

I never peek.

Part of the fun of Christmas is that anticipation... the build up... the, "Oooh... what's in that oddly shaped package?"

I'm also one of those people who carefully opens gifts. No tearing into the wrapping for me -- I've always been that way, even as a little kid. Used to drive my siblings BATTY because they'd have all their gifts open in a matter of a few heartbeats, and I'd take an hour to do mine.

I love that build-up. The little breaths of excitement as part of the package is revealed. The rattle as I shift it in my lap. The feel of its shape under my fingertips...

I find that I feel much the same way about writing sex.

I don't want my characters to see each other and then rip their clothes off and go at it. I want that build up. The tension. The little gasps of surprise at a small touch, the shivers of desire as the buttons on a shirt are slowly opened. The need pooling deep inside after a look of desperate craving.

Sometimes that makes it hard for me to write erotic romance, especially short erotic romance where there isn't a lot of time to have that kind of tension before the characters get to the act. It's one of the reasons why I've used masturbation scenes in both of my published stories (and probably will again). It adds sex (of a sort) to the story without taking away that underlying tension that my characters feel.

I'm actually toying with writing a hot mainstream story as my next piece instead for that reason... I'm on the fence, but I do wonder if a more mainstream story would ease that need to have my characters leap into the sack right away.

It's a thought.

What about you? Do you like surprises?

In other surprises, I got a very enthusiastic review for "Blue Light Special". It said, in part:

A totally amazing shorty with a sexy, hotter than Hell cop, a woman who wants him and some really REALLY hot sex scenes….okay fine only one actual penetration sex scene but plenty of foreplay and titillation. It ROCKED!!!! Do I recommend this hot, sexy short read? You bet your ass I do :) And it makes me want EVERYTHING by this author!!!! - Seriously Reviewed

It made me chuckle all day long.

Reviews...

So ... I got my first truly negative review a few weeks ago. It's taken the wound that long to scab over (I admit, I was picking at the scab a bit). I wasn't sure how I'd handle a really bad review. Now I know.

I admit, it was seriously demoralizing -- partly because it was the FIRST review for "Blue Light Special" (which has since gotten two good reviews here and here) and after all the work and excitement and whatnot, having THAT be the first feedback I received was really tough.

Still, I've *mostly* gotten past it. Will I remember it? Absolutely. It's oddly easier to remember the negative stuff. But will I let it affect me negatively? Nope. I'll look at it as a challenge -- and work at making my next story so vibrant and real that this particular reviewer will have to eat her words.

How do you deal with negative reviews?

Rambling...

A quick note about some awesome news: "Shut Up and Kiss Me" earned its first review and it was pretty darn good!

Got Erotic Reviews gave it 4 Diamonds and said, in part: The characters won me over early on and I found the internal and external conflicts believable. Plus there was the added bonus of some nice, hot sex while the characters struggled with their needs and their feelings.

In other not really newsworthy news, I'm finding it difficult to maintain any one train of thought lately. I'm bouncing between the release of "Shut Up and Kiss Me" (TOMORROW!!!!), completing interviews and guest blog posts for my virtual tour, editing one completed short, writing a new story and just day to day living.

More than once I've been in the middle of something, stopped and then wondered: What was I just doing?

Or stood and walked into another room and completely forgotten what I wanted to do in there.

The days are speeding by (how can it already be MAY?) and I don't know what it is that I do all day to keep busy, but I am certainly busy and the hours pass in a blur.

I'm thinking I need a set schedule. What do you think? Anyone else have this problem? If so, what do you do about it?

Pondering...

I know we, as authors, value our reviews. But do you think they ultimately make a difference in whether readers buy your work?

This question was posed on a blog I read, and the comments (9 of them) said that reviews mattered little compared to recommendations from friends and supporting writer friends.

I pondered this for a bit and wondered why I buy books, especially from a new author. And, you know what? I DO consider reviews IF they come from reputable source... I almost never use Amazon reviews because I don't think they're necessarily authentic.

I do read reviews at reviews sites and blogs, and I take them all into account before I buy. I don't trust one review, necessarily, but will compare several and see what they say.

I do prefer recommendations from friends, since they know me and my reading habits well. And I certainly support my author friends when they are published, but I don't think reviews can be discounted out of hand.

What do YOU think?