Archive for category reviews

review roundup

Feb 9

Posted by kate in kindling fire with snow, reviews, the boy next door | No Comments

Reviews for The Boy Next Door are starting to roll in!

4-star review from Three Dollar Bill Reviews:

This is the kind of story I enjoy … I love how “down-to-earth” it is.

By the way, I am working on a sequel, which will be Neal’s story. I’m still writing it, so I don’t have an ETA on that, but it is in the works.

4.5-star review from Tj at Jessewave:

The characters of Lowell and Jase really came to life for me and their revived friendship and budding romance felt very real. But the road to love is not an easy one. Jase has a troubled ex-wife Karen, who is understandably hurt from Jase’s rejection of her, and tries to control his life by threatening his custody of their daughter. As much as I wanted to hate Karen, and at times I felt that she was a bit of a harpy, I could also understand her pain, a pain that anyone who has had an unrequited love will understand.

The Boy Next Door also made Loose Id’s bestseller list 2 weeks in a row, so thanks to everyone who bought the book. And thanks to the reviewers for taking the time to review! Book bloggers are seriously awesome.

And, bonus, a new review of Kindling Fire with Snow from Val Kovalin:

The author did a good job with the subtle, precise details (much of it through dialog) that communicated their opposite personalities and cultural backgrounds (introverted Jewish guy, extroverted Irish-American). Also, I was very impressed with the vivid details, including landmarks and street names, which made Brooklyn come alive as a setting for this engaging story about second chances. Recommended.

Pssst. The Boy Next Door is available here!

review roundup

Dec 9

Posted by kate in in hot pursuit, kindling fire with snow, reviews | No Comments

I don’t know if other authors read reviews, but I totally do. I will admit to occasionally having, “What, no, why would you think that?” reactions, but I’ve found that even when reviews are critical, I often agree.

Well, here are some positive reviews that have been posted in the last week! Hard to argue with that!

First, 4 out of 5 stars for Kindling Fire with Snow from Lily at I Love Books. (“Overall Kindling Fire with Snow is an engaging, sexy, emotional and satisfying read. Recommended.”)

Second, 4 out of 5 stars for Kindling Fire from Janna at E-Romance Reader. (“Thanks to this author’s fluent writing, nice character building (for such few pages) and vivid portraying and picturing of the setting, I truly enjoyed this story.”)

And finally! I attended the New York City NaNoWriMo Thank God It’s Over party and offered up a signed copy of In Hot Pursuit to the fundraising raffle. My new writing buddy Tamsin won it and reviewed it on her blog. (“What I love about this book, other than it’s fast pace, witty humor, and fun leading man is that the primary focus isn’t the sex…its how Noah’s broken heart gets the chance to heal….the sex is a natural part of the relationship that blossoms from the situation(s) and is never unwarranted (even the hot scene in the bathroom—or shall I say the FIRST hot scene in the bathroom?—Chapter Two!). Yeah, its a little more often than in other books but hey, ITS A ROMANCE PEOPLE…that’s how they roll.”) Hee. Tamsin flashed the super hot cover at people on the subway, which makes me a little giddy.

So, yeah. Sounds good, right? You want to read these books? Click on the linkies.

Speaking of good books, the Rainbow Awards were announced today. I was one of the jurors. I’ve read a number of the winning books, and there’s some really great stuff here if you’re looking for something to read. Big congratulations to all of the winners!

new review of Kindling Fire with Snow

Nov 18

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Four kisses from Michele n Jeff Reviews:

The story is sweet and romantic, and the protagonists are engaging and as well developed as is possible for a short story. There is a sense of genuine affection and attraction between the two men, which translates convincingly, successfully involving the reader in the outcome of this tale of rediscovered love. The end of the book left me wanting more Seth and Kieran, which is the true mark of a satisfying read.

Thanks, Lisa!

You can buy the book here!

first review!

Oct 26

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Kindling Fire with Snow got its first review. 4.25 out of 5 stars from Jessewave:

Kate McMurray wrote two very realistic characters and didn’t attempt to romanticise them by making them bigger than life. Keiran and Seth were two ordinary joes who met after being separated for over a decade and in the interim a lot had happened to them — life happened… As they tried to figure out if they were just reliving the past or whether there was a future somewhere for them, the author skilfully showed us how they navigated between past and present and tried to be realistic about what lay ahead for them, if anything. I loved the fact that the protagonists actually talked to each other as adults, despite Seth’s initial attempt to remain closed off.

IHP review and upcoming things

Sep 13

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New review of In Hot Pursuit, this time from Obsidian Bookshelf:

What did work for me? The beginning feels especially strong, and the restroom encounter is super-hot. The romance develops in a realistic way for the uncertain circumstances surrounding Noah and Harry — with high sexual tension and a more tentative emotional connection that follows. Noah’s ambivalence about whether to keep hiding his sexual orientation in the workplace provides a deeper emotional layer to his personality. In Hot Pursuit is an intriguing fish-out-of-water story about a man who leaves his usual surroundings long enough to get a new perspective on his life — and possibly a second chance.

—

I spent pretty much all of yesterday afternoon reviewing edits to the novella I have coming out from Dreamspinner Press this fall. The process was actually mostly painless, just time consuming. I’m really anxious for this one to be published; if nothing else, I think it’s some of my best writing to date and I’m really proud of it. (It’s a second-chance romance in which teenage sweethearts meet again years later. Then they get snowed in during a blizzard.)

vacation and review

Aug 3

Posted by kate in ephemera, in hot pursuit, reviews | No Comments

I’m currently on vacation in South Florida, learning the hard way how my pasty Irish skin reacts to the sun down here. (I am TOASTY, y’all.) It’s great, though. I mean, it’s very hot, but it’s nice to not be in New York and also to not have to worry about things that stress me out at home.

In news that is the opposite of stressful, In Hot Pursuit got a 5-star review from Sensual Reads. They had this to say:

Emotionally charged and action packed, In Hot Pursuit by Kate McMurray will work its way into your heart and soul.

Hooray! I’m gonna go back what I’ve been doing, which is mainly nothing. It’s great!

new writers who rock

Jul 23

Posted by kate in reviews, vanity | 2 Comments

I was nominated as a great new author at Jessewave‘s (so those of you who got here from there, welcome!). It’s humbling to be on a list with some other really great writers. (I’m familiar with Mary Calmes and P.D. Singer but haven’t read anything by Heidi Champa or Louise Blaydon… I am going on vacation soon and need things to read, however!)

So thanks to Anna who nominated me and Wave for sticking my picture up there. You can learn more about In Hot Pursuit and also stay tuned because I’ll have a new book out this winter.

joyfully reviewed

Jun 29

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In Hot Pursuit at Joyfully Reviewed:

I am very impressed with In Hot Pursuit, especially because it’s written by a first time author. Along with some very hot sex, In Hot Pursuit is suspenseful, exciting, angst filled, and romantic. Kate McMurray nailed it.

Aw. Yay!

another review

Apr 25

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Great review from Elisa:

This is probably the strength of this book, there is everything, prejudices, love, loss, hope, but each of them is woven in the plot without being a sore eyes, the texture is fluid, like silk, and warm, like wool. Noah’s character feels real, in his hurting, in his trying to deny that hurt, and in his searching for solace in anonymous sex.

Two reviews in one day! Hey, I’m happy for my little book to get some attention. I’m so thrilled that the book has been well-received, that the reviews have been so positive. Seriously, thanks to everyone who read the book!

And, you know, if you haven’t you can buy the book. Is it gratuitous to stick a buy link in so many blog posts?

new review of In Hot Pursuit

Apr 25

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It’s a gross, rainy day in New York. I’ve had a bit of a headache all day, so I went out and drank a gigantic latte, which if anything perked me up a little. While I drank it, I sat in a cafe with my laptop. I’ve heard that there are a lot of freelancers and writers in this neighborhood, so any given cafe in the Park Slope/Prospect Heights area of Brooklyn is bound to be full of people typing away on their MacBooks on a Sunday afternoon. Today was not an exception. I sat next to this woman who, I think, was doing the same thing I was. Next to her requisite MacBook, she had a notebook open with what looked (to my curious eyes) like the outline of a novel. I was charmed when at one point, the woman blurted, “Yes! Aha!” I have those epiphany moments, too, when everything comes together and you figure out a plot problem that had been eluding you. It was a fun moment.

Anyway! I’ve been hard at work on a few big projects, but in the meantime, here’s a new review of In Hot Pursuit from Night Owl Reviews:

In Hot Pursuit was a great story and I enjoyed it a lot. This is one I will read again down the road. The damsel in distress or in this case the man in distress made for a good storyline. Noah having to be the strong one even with him still getting over loosing his lover in the past and now finding Harry made for a bit of conflict for Noah but it was well written into the story as a whole. Harry and Noah set the pages on fire with the heat and steaminess of their love scenes together. It was finger burning hot. This one is a keeper and I will definitely recommend it to others for a good read.

Aw, shucks.

Buy the book here!