Love at First Write by Jae

Love at First Write by Jae

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Book received from Ylva Publishing for an honest review

This anthology contains four short stories written by Jae. All four stories involve at least one writer, some involve two (like the first story, 'Romance Bet', involves a reporter and a best-selling romance author). One of the four stories is also part of a series, the Shape-Shifter series. And at least one of the short stories has been previously published prior to this collection - 'Sex Sells' previously appeared in Finding Ms Write.

The Romance Bet
Reporter, Romance Writer, Bet, Solo POV

Story consists of a reporter talking with a romance writer. The reporter has never read a romance book, at least not a contemporary romance book, and is disdainful of the genre. She accidentally lets this information slip while talking to the romance author. One thing leads to another and a bet is made - since 'anyone' can write a romance novel, the reporter has a month to do so. Well, a novella - for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), since that requires 'only' 50,000 words for 'victory' (and 50,000 words, apparently, is a novella not a novel, despite the November writing event being called a novel writing event). 50,000 is, roughly depending on different factors, about 125.6 pages (if the font size is 12, font is Times New Roman, and there's single spacing (all other factors the same, Comic Sans would make it a 141.9 page book; Arial - 111.1 pages; Calibri - 105.1 pages; Courier - 138.1 pages; Verdana - 134.7 pages; it would be neat if I could write those little factoids in the font I'm writing about, but I don't know how).

Distracted myself with the idea of reading a 50,000 word book written entirely in Comic Sans. Where was I?

Oh, right, so a bet is made. The journalist, who has never even read a romance book, will write one in a month. because 'anyone' can.

Interesting enough story. I didn't really like either character, but interesting enough story.

Rating: 3.78

December 6 2017

Sex Sells
This is the story I'd previously read. I'll insert here the review I'd written for that read.

Writer, Editor, Solo POV
A woman is in public talking on the phone – specifically with her editor. She’s thinking of how to kill someone (then saying so loudly – again in public). Editor mentions something about how those books that include romance tend to sell a lot more copies than books like what the author currently writes (mysteries). They discuss this. Then fumbling over what a ‘date’ means.

Neat story. I want more stories involving these two characters. I like them. Sadly this is more of a snippet than anything else. It’s not even really a full short story. More of a snippet.

Rating: 4.15

January 18 2017

Rating: 4.50

December 6 2017

Overall rating: 4.325

The Snow Liger
Writer, Investigator, Shifter, Solo POV

Griffin, the liger shifter, and Jorie, the writer, live in snowy Michigan - as the story puts it, it's either snow time or it's about to snow time in Upper Peninsula Michigan. This is another story snippet as opposed to full length short story, but it's quite good and interesting. And, frankly, probably a lot more interesting for someone who has read the first book in the series than someone who's read nothing in the Shape-Shifter series. There just are 'things' that need to be known that aren't reinforced, that are just touched on. Like, for example, this story mentions that Jorie is a Dream Seer - said in passing in the same way that the next story happens to mention that one of the characters can read the other character's mind - said in a joking manner not to be taken seriously, I mean. Except, Jorie is in fact a Dream Seer. She can 'see' things through dreams.

The fact that Griffin is a liger (her father is a lion shifter, her mother is a tiger shifter; they don't actually use those words, but other words something like Puwar for the tiger shifter . . . or something like that) and therefore has cat like tendencies is probably something a reader new to the series can pick up relatively quickly.

But still, more of a nice little glimpse into the further lives of Griffin and Jorie for those who've read the series instead of an introduction for new readers into the series.

Rating: 4.48

December 6 2027

Blind Date at the Booklover's Lair
Writer, Hypnotherapist, Bookstore, Blind Dates, Solo POV

It is rather unfortunate that this story starts off with me disliking it out of the gate. Why? Because I really, and I mean really, dislike that pushy 'best friend' who barges in and demands that the main character go on a date. A blind date. In an hour. This is the same best friend who had set her up on a date a month ago with someone horrible; and had previously set her up with Lisa, the main character's horrible ex. I really dislike Chi Lo.

Well, no matter, that was relatively easily gotten past.

The main character has two names, one of the reasons I keep calling her 'main character' - she uses a pen name on her books, and then there's her actual name. Though it's something like the difference between Tricia and Trisha (or Trish). I'm going on and on because I couldn't actually remember the main character's name. heh. mmphs. Right, on with it.

Chi has set Tricia up on a date at Tricia's favorite bookstore. She's to meet a Jenny in the LGBT section and she'd be holding a particular author's book (not Trish) - and that's how she'd know her. And so that's what happens - Tricia very reluctantly changes and goes to the bookstore. Scopes out the woman in the LGBT section. Finally wanders over and introduces herself - they have coffee, etc. etc.

I wish to learn more of Jen and Tricia's story. Was a great humorous story.

Rating: 4.78

December 6 2017

OVERALL
The Romance Bet: 3.8
Sex Sells: 4.15 + 4.50 = 8.65/2= 4.325*
The Snow Liger: 4.48
Blind Date at the Booklover's Lair: 4.78
Overall rating: 4.34625

* admittedly I was going for the 4.33 overall rating, so I put down whatever would get me there for the second read rating.



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