Desert Tryst named INDIEFAB BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD FINALIST

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Review of Desert Tryst from Audible UK

I just discovered that a lovely person named Jumime wrote a fantastic review of Desert Tryst on Audible UK and it is just so perfect that I am going to share it with y'all:

"Short+Sweet+Hot, like a chilli Chocolate Brownie!"

Would you consider the audio edition of Desert Tryst to be better than the print version?

I haven't read the print version, but judging by the narration, I think it would be as good as the audio edition.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked that you can feel the connection and chemistry between the main characters and that plenty of backstory is given for them, despite the short length of the novel. I also liked how sweet a character Thomas was, it's easy to see why Dmitiri would be drawn to him.

What about Greg Tremblay’s performance did you like?

He's a fantastic narrator, my favourite by far. He really brings the characters to life, making each voice distinctive and adding real emotion to his performance.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I definitely laughed at points, especially at Dmitri's internal musings, but mostly I aawww-ed at how these guys clearly want each other and have this chance to make it happen. I also really sympathised with Dmitri's hard life and upbringing and how, despite that, he's a strong character who's a good man at heart, if not in deed.

Any additional comments?

I like the fact that this is a short story because it's very well written and narrated, it avoids unnecessary 'padding' as some longer novels are prone to using to fill their stories and I can listen to it all in one sitting if I choose, as opposed to sometimes having to spread it out over a couple of days. I'm notorious for listening to a single book repeatedly. That being said, if a full-length sequel to this was written, I'd be all for it. Well done Susanne, this book is on my favourites list :)!

Thank you so much Jumime!!! I love you!!! :)

Click here to find Desert Tryst on Audible UK 

AudioFile Review of Desert Tryst

Why, look! A *lovely* review of DESERT TRYST in AudioFile Magazine! *much happy dancing ensues*

"Narrator Greg Tremblay impressively portrays the two men in alternating chapters."

"...the buildup to their belief in each other and passionate love is satisfying for listeners to hear. The New Mexico desert provides an evocative setting for this short yet enjoyable story."

http://www.audiofilemagazine.com/reviews/read/107920/

Go get it! You know you want to. ;)

AudioBook:
http://www.audible.com/pd/Romance/Desert-Tryst-Audiobook/B0117VPKTG

(on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/audiobook/desert-tryst-1night-stand/id1017791097)

Ebook:
http://www.amazon.com/Desert-Tryst-1Night-Susanne-Saville-ebook/dp/B00Y3O5WY8

Listener Reviews for WICKED BELOVED

Listening to @a_howdz read Wicked Beloved by @susannesaville is porn for my ears. Sooooo hot.
— Christy (@spacelovinggirl) September 29, 2012

@susannesaville @a_howdz I am a puddle on the floor. Your writing is really fantastic. Such great characters as always. Your delivery is :D
— Emma Stockburn (@estockburn) September 28, 2012

@a_howdz you are just like warm honey. But seriously you have made @susannesaville wonderful words and characters truly hypnotic :D
— Emma Stockburn (@estockburn) September 26, 2012

@susannesaville I'm listening to your book and I die. One bravo, two Damn he kills it. The multiple voices... I just *flatline*
— Crystal Beck (@Lost_In_Anarchy) September 26, 2012

Great audio book narrated by @a_howdz who does an amazing job at reading off fantasy porn, but you already knew that. audible.com/pd/ref=sr_1_1?…
— Megan (@StoleTarts) September 25, 2012

Sample and purchase at:

Audible US

Audible UK

iTunes

I'm With The Band

I'm With the Band: Confessions of a Groupie by Pamela Des Barres
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Having recently had occasion to use the phrase I'm with the band in actual conversation, I thought I should read this book next. The cover image captures the sexy yet innocent vibe of the 1960s perfectly. I mean, the rock stars called her "MISS Pamela". There's an endearing formality amongst all the wild sex.

It really was a different time. You could phone-up the backstage at arenas. Miss Pamela hitch-hiked *everywhere* and only once did the driver who picked her up try to kill her.

Also-- Not sure why people have called her a slut. She didn't lose her virginity until 19 years old, she made Jimmy Page really work for it before she slept with him, and she turned down Mick Jagger because she was being faithful to Jimmy Page (who was not faithful to her). It wasn't until later, on the rebound, that she went from one relationship to another, but they were relationships, not one-night-stands. (And yes, she did end up with Mick Jagger for a while, don't worry.)

I thought she was fairly self-aware. The horrors visited by hard drugs and alcohol are plainly depicted. "Intimate diseases" are present as well.

Oh, for what it's worth, Timothy Hutton is not in this book, so that other reviewer is thinking of another story.

I found this book to be a very entertaining read, a glimpse behind the curtain at the 1960s-1970s rock scene as experienced by a woman of the times.

View all my reviews

Let's Spend the Night Together

Let's Spend the Night Together: Backstage Secrets of Rock Muses and Supergroupies by Pamela Des Barres
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I found this an interesting and mostly fun read. Each chapter of the book is devoted to a SuperGroupie - a gal who knew what she wanted, went after it, and succeeded. And in the process inspired her rock heroes to write songs about her.

These particular women interviewed consider themselves freewheeling feminists who were neither victimized nor exploited, but flashes of girls who did experience degradation at the hands of cruel bastards drunk on fame can be seen hovering at the edges of some of their recollections. And violence even found one of the SuperGroupies. (The rape scene in Showgirls seems to be based on what happened to one of the women interviewed.)

Full of advice for anyone wanting to become a SuperGroupie, though it also warns of the dangers and heartbreak that accompany the role, this book is a fun read for those interested in the 1960s-1970s rock scene. It gets somewhat repetitive when it gets to the 1980s stories.

And if Elvis is on your radar at all, you should read the first chapter at least.

View all my reviews

If Bioshock's Andrew Ryan Wrote Sleaze

Man-Hungry Female by Orrie Hitt
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Had Bioshock’s Andrew Ryan decided to write down his Ayn-Rand-ish diatribes on the wonders of unfettered capitalism, and sprinkle the narration with a few drinking binges and the ogling of girls, it would have been this book.

There is very little sex in the story—and I have no idea who is supposed to be the Man-Hungry Female of the title (she only seems to exist in the cover designer’s imagination).

Our nominal hero is a Jerk. Yes, capital J. Because he's a jerk of olympic proportions. Insensitive. Self-righteous. Chauvanistic. Egomaniac.

The plot is...thin. Hero inherits movie studio, decides to sink all his capital into making a documentary on the horrors of social welfare. The truth must be told! The screenwriter must be slept with!

Cue long boring soliloquies on how free market capitalism rocks. An odd seduction technique, but it works on the heroine. So. If political theory also gets you hot, this is the story for you.

The Kindle edition is formatted atrociously. Typos. Reversed paragraphs. I’d recommend looking for the paperback to read.

View all my reviews

How Do You GoodReads?

How many of you are on GoodReads? Or any of the few other sites that allow you to keep track of what you've read and share your reviews with friends?

I'm on GoodReads and I've got a question for ya:  Do you only rate books you've read recently? Or within the last, say, 10 years? Or do you not have a cut-off point, and rate even books you read as a little kid?

I ask because I rate everything - and it has been brought to my attention that some books I loved as a teenager might not stand the test of time, and some books I hated at one point I might actually enjoy today -- so my star ratings might not be an accurate snapshot of my current reading tastes.

Does that matter? I suppose it would if you were interested in GoodReads' new if you like such-n-such, you'll like that-n-this matching program. I might miss out on a book I'd like based on an opinion I formed back when I thought boys had cooties.

I have a To Be Read pile taller than my dresser, though, so getting more reading material really isn't a problem for me.

But I'm curious how other people approach this conundrum. How far back do you rate?

Review Etiquette

Every once in a while, you hear about an author who responded nastily to a negative review. This is generally regarded as a good time to get popcorn and lurk for the lulz, because those situations never end well for the author.

Never.

So my advice to authors is ignore bad reviews. Even if it's a totally unfair opinion or you just want to correct this one little thing ----

NO.   Let it go.

Because, however sweet you think you are being, telling someone their opinion is wrong only makes you look like a jerk.

What about the other side of the coin, though? What if you get a really fantastic review that warmed your heart and made your day/week/year?

Is it okay to thank the reviewer? Tell them how much you appreciate it?

Or will that look smarmy, like you're trying to ingratiate yourself with them for future good reviews?

Would it freak the reviewer out, to hear from you, and make them self-conscious about their writing? That could lead to resentment.

What do you think?