Book Review: Portrait of Seduction by Carrie Lofty

So over the past semester, I’ve learned some things about myself and my writing after spontaneously deciding to take a creative nonfiction course for my English major. What have I learned? Easy…I’ve realized what I like in my romance novels.  Dear PLAC (Prestigious Liberal Arts College), Thank you for once again contributing to my passion for romances, though I doubt that’s what you intended!

See, there are two things that can make or break a book for me: dialogue and characters.  Seriously.  I can’t stand it when a character’s motivation makes no sense or when they sound like a robot-child-idiot.  “Hello. I can not be with you Duke Blank for my parents are divorced and I am too sad for words.”  It drives me bonkers.  BONKERS! Even in my own writing, my stories are–as one professor stated–“strong in character and dialogue”–although at the time I don’t think me meant that as a compliment as he was criticising my “issues with depth.” Oh well! We all can’t be deep wells.

Therefore, when I was reviewing my latest book, Portrait of Seduction by Carrie Lofty, for RT BOOKREVIEWS, I was a little apprehensive about the heroine’s character.  She seemed so passive.  A little weepy.  And prone to fainting.  I was like…ummm…yeah…not sure if this is going to work for me.  Imagine my surprise when I realised halfway through the book that I actually liked dear, dear Greta!  Sure she started out a wilting violet, and yes, she did faint and cringe and worry her way through the first half of the book,  but I felt that she evolved throughout the book.  She was a little stronger.  Congratulations Greta!

For my full book review check out RT BOOKREVIEWS or click on the image below!

Romantic question: Would you continue to read a book with an annoying heroine?  How many chances do your characters get before you put the book down?