Once A Lover...

Anthony,
Once a Lover... is a captivating and riveting romance novel from page one. I look forward to seeing the complete work. Backed with enthusiasm.

Anthony,
Once a Lover... is a captivating and riveting romance novel from page one. I look forward to seeing the complete work. Backed with enthusiasm.

You provide us a poignant romantic suspense with a thought provoking plot and fascinating, well-etched characters. Rich southern imagery. Evocative narrative. Superb dramatic tension. Polished writing. A remarkable read. Backed.

Oh, wait sorry. I think I really mis-read that as suddenly it all makes sense to me. The pain of losing his love - I initially took the his to mean Elizabeth's, hence my confusion. Please ignore me!

The book sounds really intriguing from the pitch and led me to open the book and read on. However, I got slightly confused in the first paragraph as the he/she, her/his seemed to be mixed up - 'she still feels the pain of losing his love. He walked away...'
Kendall Craig, 'The Halo (of Delight)'

I really enjoyed this. The pitch drew me in and then there was the story! This deserves to reach higher and higher.

BACKED INDEED.

Hope you get the chanced to peek inside The Russian Hat!

warm wishes
Brendan

This is definitely a publishable romantic thriller. I have to assume the thriller part is as good as the romantic. Well done and good storyline and character development. I wish you had more uploaded. It's obvious that Troy and Beth will get back together but I'm curious why he left her in the first place.

The only thing I can comment on is that I wonder if Beth, in real life, would have been so cool and immediately forgiving upon meeting Troy 8 years later; just seemed that she would have yelled, thrown something or demanded to know what happened. Just a thought. It's like 8 years goes by and they almost take up right where they left off, would that really happen? Or is there more information that we don't know yet.

Wonderful and happily backed
Denise

Would you mind having a peek at my book, "Road to Redemption: From Cop's Daughter to Convicted Felon?"

This starts out immediately as a gripping romance, which is well done. The dialogue flows well, and the characters feel real. My pleasure to back it.

Amy
Love Match

We 'feel' Troy's loneliness and emotional torment at the absence of his one-time lover, as you skilfully use the internal monologue and we can easily empathise.
As he paints, you create a real sense of immediacy and I felt a 'a fly on the wall' observer in that room, watching him, preoccupied with the memories of his lover, unable at first to focus entirely on selecting the right paint colour.
But then, it is itself a masterful brushstroke of symbolism when you equate the colours and stokes he finally makes on the canvas to produce a result which, in abstract art, expresses for Troy and his lover, the uniqueness of love which only they knew and only the paint on canvas could express.

Shelved.
Ray
(A Child from the Wishing Well)

Compelling read, I wish I had more time to understand what the danger is for these two people and what tore them apart in the first place when they are clearly still in love.

Backed it a while ago, i believe.

Tim Chambers
Moonbeam Highway

Wow this is compelling romance at its best! Wonderful pitch! BACKED -Elizabeth Wolfe (Memories of Glory)

A cleverly crafted, well paced and well writtent thriller. Your chacter development of Troy and Elizabeth is excellent and your use of imagery is superb. Backed with pleasure.

Andrew Burans
The Reluctant Warrior: The Beginning

This is a tight, gripping thriller that you have put together beautifully. I was left breathless by your clear skill, and have backed this with pleasure.
Abi xxx

Once a Lover…

[R11 & 25 &42]

The opening chapter began very well. I liked the focus on Troy’s painting and his inner dialogue about it and Elizabeth. The setting is atmospheric. I was somewhat taken by surprise when the painting turned out to be an abstract, but that explains why I couldn’t get an idea of a figurative painting forming. This also allows you to focus on his ideas. Great job repeating the title at the end. Nicely sets it all up.

And chapter two is even better. I don’t normally like an extended explanation of who is who and who did what, but you effortlessly tell Elizabeth’s back story and keep my attention throughout. I think it is how you explain the rôle of her boss in securing her job and the relationship with her parents. Then chapter three: good focus on her new job and colleagues, ending with her finding Troy almost around the block from her. Great Job. One tiny typo: in chapter three, “She wanted understand” needs a “to”, but no real suggestions other than that. This works as it is and promises an engaging read.

I’m backing this. And I’d be extremely grateful if you can find the time to take a look at Bokassa’s Last Apostle in return. Thanks.

A tight thriller which really gets to the obsession of love. You've set up a good story here, really exploring human emotions and have delivered to believable characters in Troy and beth. I thought it clever to show Troy trying to exorcise his demons through painting and failing to. More than happy to back you.
David
Bailey of the Saints.

How sad Troy left Beth a week before the wedding. I wonder how Troy felt. He says she never knew, but then it almost sounds like he thinks it's best she didn't know... and I'm wondering if he's thinking about this all the wrong way.
xBeccaX
The Forever Girl

Backed.

Once a Lover

The pace of this along with the structure is just right for me, very impressed.
You really portray an aching longing in the opening along with a sense of frustration.
This is very strongly driven by narrative, but I don’t think that matters, the story in its self is so striking.

Everyone wonders what it would be like to rekindle a lost love - so this book should have a wide appeal. Both of your characters are likable; it's easy to see them back together except for the baggage they carry between them. A small thing but first impressions count: in your pitch, it should be "ever truely loved." Backed. Burgio (Grain of Salt).

hullo Anthony. Very nice romance. Boy meets girl. Boy splits from girl. Time passes and boy becomes lawyer and girl an investigative TV reporter. Very good story and technique. Already shelved and backed. Please consider mine.


Linda Lou Long
Southern dis-Comfort
http://www.authonomy.com/ViewBook.aspx?bookid=11421

Anthony, It's a good story and well writte. I think it would benefit from some dialog.
I like the way you write and your descriptive work is excellent.
I'm backing it.
David (Flawless Murder) Please have a look at my book.

Man you can write a pitch. Help me! Yours rock. Very rarely do I like both pitches and these sell the story to me the casual reader. You have mastered this craft and have mastered your market. SHELVED for the professionalism.

I can use your comments on my book when you get the chance. Cheers!

JC
The Obergemau Key
Authonomy's #1 rated commentator

Anthony, you have a lovely simple style, though lyrical. It's a professionally written book and I think very commercial, especially where women are concerned - they seem to find artists irresistible. The pitch is romantic. I have a feeling it will be a success. backed. Lynn

Wow this is fab! If I was in a book store I just bought it.

Beautiful writing, great story... romance and thrill, what more could I want?

I'm glad to see there is a lot posted and I will be coming back to read this.

Jo xx

Spoilt

Such insight into the mind of a painter - do you have another talent besides writing?

Hi Anthony, This fairly reels off, fluid in its background about Troy and Beth. Loved the line “…astract art is like an inside joke.” I became involved in it, feeling I knew Beth soon into the story. Her being challenged at her job more than she expected and falling back on finding Troy’s whereabouts had the suspense of reality. Both of these characters are with-it and cautious, holding back, which pressed me to read. Shelved – Katherine (The Swan Bonnet)

Troy the artist- tormented by his muse, Elizabeth. The abstract painting is as close as he can come to touching her- for now. And the picture you have painted for us in chapter one of Once a Lover..., Anthony, is that of a spurned soul who may be on the edge of the deep end.

Kudos on a professionally scripted manuscript! Backed!

Teric Darken

(K - I - L - L FM 100 / U-TURN KiLLuR)

Hi -- I enjoyed this. You might think of giving it a polish-up, but definitely has potential for the market.
Best wishes, Barry
(Little Krisna and the Bihar Boys)

Great, interesting opening.

I think the line "Troy gazed at the paint...amused him greatly." should be cut. It doesn't fit there--or it's distracting, anyway.

You're showing his feelings through his actions, so I don't think it's necessary to tell them as well. When he throws the brush and says "Damn it," that's enough. No need for the "What's wrong with me?" line as well. Just my opinion.

The "Mad genius" thing is too cliche. The writing stands alone without it.

Again, when you describe why Troy paints, just show it--don't tell the reader, because that diminishes the power of his actions.

Get rid of the adverbs, e.g., "He paused momentarily." When someone pauses, it's usually momentarily.

You end the first chapter well...it's interesting, and will keep the reader reading.

Cully

You can certainly write. Ah, regrets at leaving a loved one, don't we all?

Powerful emotions drive your wonderful story.

Happily shelved.

Melxx

stunning cover!

I wish that I could paint my love.



backed.

Lisa~
Brewer House

Backed with pleasure.
warm wishes
Hatts

Fiction writing with a little of everything - extremely compellingread and I will return for more later! BACKED with pleasure!

liz
The Cheech Room

This seems to be a competent piece of writing with well rounded characters and some snappy dialogue. Not my usual genre but an interesting read nevertheless. Jim Darcy The Firelord's Crown

I read from Chapter 33 to Chapter 36. In Chapter 33 I found it confusing that you called Vinnie Giachetti so many times by either Vinnie, or Giachetti or Vinnie Giachetti, I think it would read easier to call him the same name. (Although , I did jump in from Chapter 33 so others may be used to the name changes.) Apart from that, the story read well and I was quite sad when Beth lost Troy in the hospital, and for the funeral there after. The pitch reads well and overall I thought it was well written, it certainly has potential and I wish you all the best with it. A clever eye catching cover too.

Backed,

Lisa,

A Fine Line

I think anyone who reads your pitches will feel compelled to look at your chapters. Anyone who reads some of your chapters will realize this is a well-crafted story with some interesting twists and turns.

Love the line in the first paragraph of Chapter 3, “Did this man not understand that women were able to keep two thoughts in their head at the same time?” There is a POV shift in this paragraph.

Happy to shelve this.

Rodney B.

I read through to the end of chapter 7 determined to discover what on earth had caused Troy to end his engagement to Beth, very clever writing indeed, the pacing and the short chapters keep the intrigue tight and the mutual lust boiling. The characters have had time to endear themselves to the reader. Each of them imperfect, yet well fleshed out and intensely likeable. The secret Troy harbors must be a dangerous one for hime to have broken their engagement in such a cruel and final manner. Unfortunately I don't have time to read on at the moment to ascertain what it is.

I backed this earlier today and am delighted that my hunch proved correct after having read only 2 chapters at that point. I will keep this on my shelf so that I can read further.
Well done.
Suzannah Burke
Dudes Down Under.