Customer Reviews

The Critic

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Dyanne Davis pens an interesting and entertaining tale of romance in her latest book, The Critic. Aspiring romance writer, Toreas Rose, has secretly been pining over talk show host Jared Stone. Her romantic bubble is burst when he cruelly and ruthlessly attacks romance writers on his show. When Toreas is asked to appear on the show on behalf of romance writers, she sets off a string of events that bring her and Jared to the brink of insanity as they try to figure out if they are drawn to one another by hate or by love. Their heated encounters serve as a great source of inspiration for her writing and a source of stress as Toreas discovers passion that she never experienced before.

Davis presents a very funny romance that incorporates and embraces Christian beliefs. Readers may get impatient with the main characters as they dance around the inevitable fact that they are destined to be together. Although this was the unedited version of the manuscript, there were a surprisingly high number of typographical errors. This reviewer sincerely hopes the final manuscript will address these issues so that readers can truly enjoy this book. Unedited manuscript errors aside, The Critic is a cleverly plotted and delightful love story.

Reviewed by M. P. McKinney

APOOO BookClub

This book is a wonderful love story - modern but it reminds me of Pride and Prejudice! Here is the black version of P&P and this story is funny and holds the readers interest. I am so sorry this book did not get more publicity - this is a true romance for the romance reader! Ah! if only I could find a Jared of my own...!

Toreas Rose is an aspiring writer who has fallen in lust with local talk show host and book critic, Jared Stone. And who wouldn't, Jared Stone is one fine brother. Every day she tunes in to his show just to watch him on her small screen. The one sided relationship is blissful, that is until one day Toreas turns the sound up and gets an earful of Jared bashing romance writers and the books they write.

Outraged Toreas goes with a group of her book club member to appear on Jared's show. But instead of giving him a piece of her mind, she punches him in the gut with an unexpected result.

Turns out Jared blames romance writers for ruining his life. So as a way of getting revenge or venting his anger, he begins taking potshots at romance writers on his show. But after his encounter with Toreas Rose, Jared finds he can't stop thinking about her and can't figure for the life him why he's so drawn to her, a romance writer of all things. Toreas appearance on his show not only fuels his ratings, but his desire for her as well.

Toreas has had to live with critics all her life, seen and unseen. It's the reason she moved three states away from her parents. She's given herself two years to prove herself as a writer with the finical backing and blessing of her father. But her time is nearing an end and Toreas is no closer to fulfilling her dream. That is until Jared places himself squarely in her life and brings out not only her writing muse, but Jared also brings out her awareness of herself as a woman. Even their constant arguing is a form of foreplay.

I found myself laughing out loud at the subtle humor in this book and the way it took on the notion of how true romance should be written.

If you're looking for a book filled with passion, lust, skin, sin, and heaving bosoms. Keep looking.

If you want to read a story about two real people who take you along on their journey of discovering true love. With romance, lots of laughs, some sighs, and a few tears thrown in. Then read this book and savor each page. I promise you it's worth the trip.

Well done, Mrs. Davis, very well done indeed.

As far as Jared Stone is concerned, romance writers are a bunch of stupid women who cater to the whimsical desires of their stupid readers with sappy stories about the happily ever after, which he feels does not exist. They are not worth the paper they write on for all the useless garbage they are spewing to readers who are soaking it up and spending tons of money that could be put to better use. Besides, these writers have caused him a major setback; this is personal and he intends to exact his revenge on them. This is Jared's mindset as he attacks all romance writers from the set of his cable talk show that, unfortunately, has a major cash flow problem. When he is pitted against the local American Romance Writers (ARW), the station's ratings go up and so does his libido.

Toreas Rose is appalled that the man she once fantasized about is attacking her dream and chosen profession as a romance writer. She gets a chance to tell him face-to-face how she feels and all she can muster is a wicked punch to his mid-section on television for everyone to see. Instead of demanding an apology, Jared kisses her to prove a point. For Jared, the kiss awakens a longing within him he cannot explain. For Toreas, it awakens her long suppressed sexual desires. However, Jared sets out to prove it doesn't take a rocket scientist to write a few words of dribble and call it a book. Toreas wants to gain more experience in the sex department to help her with her novel. Despite their dreadful beginning, the two try to help one another, but the confrontations and the insults turn into one sizzling side story.

In THE CRITIC, Dyanne Davis writes a very charming and believable love story involving two people who begin as adversaries, but end up in a very happily ever after of their own. I have no doubt there are many men who don't care for romance novels or the euphoria some women get from reading them. I also feel there are many women who have been raised to be "good" girls, and as a result, have been sexually repressed for most of their lives. In this advance copy, Davis does a very good job of addressing how both men and women can let go and let life happen. The character development was very good, as well as the writing. As a first timer for this author, I will be looking to read more from her.

Reviewed by Brenda Lisbon

of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers

I loved this book. I had lots of laughs thoughtout the book. The romance is just a fairytale come true. Good job Dyanne! This is definitely a re-read for me.

I can write romance better than you. No you can't. Yes I can. No you can't. Yes I can!

And so it goes when Baptist Georgia peach Toreas Rose and talk show host Jared Stone collide. Author Dyanne Davis keeps the fire going in "The Critic," her latest romance novel.

The two characters are a study in contrast: Torese is trying to be as pure as the driven snow, hiding behind baggy clothes and her father's sermons, while temporarily living away from home in Chicago. She has running conversations with God about what she considers her sins. She writes romance stories, yet is afraid to show desire in real life. Jared Stone is straightforward with more than his share of testosterone, worldliness, and good looks. He comes to Chicago from L.A. to do a local TV talk show. He is angry with romance writers and insults them on his show.

Jared blames romance writers for his girlfriend's unrealistic view of life that causes her to dump him. He told Torese that anyone could write a romance story, says they are written in fixed formulas. Torese challenges him, and then the fun begins. How do you research for a romance story? I'll let Torese and Jared tell you.

Dyanne Davis builds her characters with mental thoughts, narration, and lively dialogue. I enjoyed the read and laughed through each chapter. "The Critic" is a well-written, delightful, entertaining read. I suggest you take it to the beach this summer, on your vacation or simply enjoy it at home. I enjoyed it at home.

Minnie E Miller

Author

This is a sweet, romantic, quirky novel about two characters who fight to cover their intense passion for one another. Toreas is the sexually repressed fledgling, romance writer who has been writing for nearly two years, but still hasn't been published. Jared is the tall, handsome, sexually experienced TV host for a barely functioning cable talk show. When Jared takes on romance writers and readers on his show, Toreas comes out fighting. When the two meet, the sparks fly! The story has extreme build-up to the ultimate moment that the two come together. The story is very sweet and ends as you would expect. I recommend for all lovers of romance.

The concept sounded good. A handsome talk show host bashes romance books and them claims anyone can right a book. A novice romance writer working on her first book sees the show. She is angry and writes to the show and is invited on the show with a couple of her friends from her writers group. There is Jerry Springer like moment on the show and the viewers love it. Toreas has to continue to have contact with Jared to avoid a law suite. Sounds interesting. Well after about 25 pages I realized that these two had no chemistry and no passion and I didn't like or care about either one of them. This book had no romance and I don't mean sexual encounters. I couldn't even tell that they liked each!

Toreas Rose was so boring and annyoing and Jared was really unappealing and unpleasant. He needed counseling for his issues.

SPOILER BELOW**************Read if you want to know why Jared hated romance writers. The reason is realy really stupid!

Jared had been dating a woman very casually. They had only gone out a few times. She was a big romance fan. She went to a romance book convention where there were male book cover models. She fell in love with one and stopped seeing Jared. Shortly after Jared's mother dies without seeing him married with children. He blamed the model for not getting married before his mother died. How stupid was that? He was just seeing this woman casually. They were not engaged or in love. What rational man behaves this way?

I don't recommend this book and will never read another book by this author again.