looking for some feedback
Last week, I shared the delightful news that CataRomance awarded ON THE VERGE OF I DO their Reviewers’ Choice Award for “Best Harlequin Desire” of 2012—an honor I am still so over-the-moon thrilled about it.
And so many of you—here, on Facebook, Twitter, etc.—chimed in to say you’d read & loved Kara & Eli’s story, too. Some of you even agreed it was one of your favorite reads of last year. (Thank you for that, by the way; thinking about your lovely comments continues to put a smile on my face. :kissmeirish )
ON THE VERGE OF I DO is also the book that hit the USA Today list for me.
So all of this got me to thinking: What was it about this story that resonated with so many of you?
Why did you—& the reviewers at CataRomance —like it so much?
Now, I’m not fishing for compliments, I swear. (If I were, I would be ever so much more direct about it. :flutter ) I really am curious. I’m always curious to know why readers enjoy certain stories, or what makes a book more memorable for them.
So what was it about this story that stood out for you?
Was it the Southern (Charleston, SC) setting?
The friends-to-lovers theme?
Or maybe the engaged-to-one-sister-but-in-love-with-another thing?
I’d like to ask if it had anything to do with my writing, but that wouldn’t explain why this story stood out from some of my other Desires, since my writing style tends to be similar for all of them. Although, if there’s something you noticed that I didn’t, I’d love to hear about it. :love
Or maybe it was something simple like the cover or the title or that you love heroes named Eli. :like
Whatever it might be—if you can remember back to when you actually read ON THE VERGE OF I DO—please let me know. I really would like to know.
And then I’ll see if I can do it again. And again. And again. And again. :happystpatty
Comments
9 Comments • Comments Feed
Donna A says:
Friends to lovers is always good but I think in the end it always ends up being the story. The characters spoke to me but no matter how much I liked them if the story didn’t rock it wouldn’t have worked. And this is why you are the writer and I am not. Keep those stories coming please.
On February 28, 2013 at 7:45 am
Heidi says:
Thank you, Donna! I like friends-to-lovers stories, too. And I will do my best to keep ’em comin’…tho I’m not sure they’ll all be like I DO. :lol
On February 28, 2013 at 11:12 am
Kathleen O says:
I loved that this series was set in Charleston SC.. It is one of my fav cities I have visited in the US.. But it was the whole being in love with my sister’s ex fiancé while they were still engaged element of the story that was so intriguing…. It’s always a little messy with this scenario and I love Messy…
On February 28, 2013 at 9:16 am
Heidi says:
“I love messy.” I love that! :love
On February 28, 2013 at 11:10 am
Beth r says:
I love friends to lovers, but I think the draw here is more the forbidden/hopeless aspect of loving the sister’s fiancé. The HEA is such a great payoff when it works out.
On February 28, 2013 at 11:44 am
Jessica Lemmon says:
I loved the aspect of the forbidden romance in this book, too. The “how are they going to work this out with the family?” thing kept me turning the pages. :peekaboo Well…that and because you’re YOU. I mean, I ADORE your books, so I’m always burning through the pages!!! :love
Congrats again on USA Today – woo to the hoo! :hot
On February 28, 2013 at 1:32 pm
Heidi says:
Thank you, Jessica! :flutter
And thanks for the story feedback, too. I’m filing all of this away in a very hmmm way. :hide
On March 1, 2013 at 10:58 am
Laura J. says:
For me…they were “real”. They could be actual people. These were people that you liked, wanted them to be together and get the HEA.
I will also say that 1) I do love friend to lover stories and 2) I love Charleston, SC and I wouldn’t mind if you wrote more friend to lover stories and the setting take place in Charleston, SC (or if you like to change it up a bit—Savannah GA or Beaufort SC would work too. Something about the charm of those southern towns). I will also happily volunteer to road trip it with you to visit these locations for research. :like
On February 28, 2013 at 5:04 pm
Heidi says:
Road trip! :like
This is all great info, thanks. I’m mentally filing away everybody’s comments & feelings so I can keep them in mind for future stories. :chomp
On March 1, 2013 at 11:00 am