I’m still new to being an author, so I don’t know if it’s okay for Authors to vent like this in their blogs, but I’m going to take a chance and go for it.

(Warning: Pretty much everything I say and write has a comedic undertone…So this rant is pretty much the softest rant you’ll ever read. #I’mJustBeingMe)

How much is too much? Really! I need to know because I’ma be honest, I’ma about to pull out my hair!!!

Okay let me breathe for a minute…

*breathes for a minute*

Okay, here we go. I would first like to clarify that this is not a rant…Well, at least I hope it’s not a rant. Because rants are so unlike me, but I have reached my “gotta rant about it” point!

Reached it, I tell you!

I need to VENT! I need to talk about this, and who better to talk about it with then all of the awesome readers I’ve been getting to know. I mean, this may be a little tiny rant, but I promise I’m not about to go all “Chelsea Cain” on my readers (lol).

Okay, back to my original  reason for this post.

Anyone who has communicated with me (both in person, and online) knows that I am a person that accepts constructive criticism well.

The honest reason for this is because of the talents I possess.

The particular skills that I excel at put me in the position to be criticized by others. I’m not only a writer, I’m also a musician. I’ve been writing music and singing all of my life. Many times this talent has put me in the position of receiving criticism (“You need to hold the note longer Patrice”…”You’re flat”… “Don’t sing alto when you know you’re a soprano”… “Breath from the diaphragm and sit up straight”… “Having an off day are we?”… and my favorite “SING OUT, Patrice! Nobody can hear you!”…Umm hello! Everyone knows I have a naturally soft voice!) .

Now while I do not take criticism about my musical talents well AT ALL (lol…I’m seriously a know-it-all when it comes to my music) I have taken constructive criticism about my writing in stride, especially from those whom opinion I value (aka the readers. . . and a couple of other people whose opinion I admittedly value more…Is that bad, If so I apologize. I just want to be honest. I don’t want to offend). I need the criticism because I’m gonna be honest, I have absolutely no training in writing novels. I need to learn! I haven’t taken classes, nor did I follow the steps on EHow, when I looked up “How to become an author”. I have received a little bit of criticism already since the release of Dangerous Beauty two. Things ranging from too much character development, to  . . .

“annoying blatantly obvious and unforgivable”

editing mistakes.

This is okay. I repeat, this is just fine. Speak your mind. I am a firm believer that people have a right to comment and complain freely about items they purchase with their hard earned money. I mean, I myself have complained about some items that I have purchased in the past. Recently I bought a USB microphone that was a huge piece of s-word and I. Went. Off about it! I warned everybody against purchasing that piece of crap…Is that the same as criticizing a book? Idk.

But ANYWAY (lol) let me try to get down to the point of this post.

Like I said, I accept criticism well, but there is this ONE complaint, that I have received now on both books (I don’t know if from the same person or not ) that is really, REALLY, picking at my nerves y’all.

I don’t know why its picking at me so much, but it is. Its making me wanna scream.

Carter’s beauty!!!!!! The complaint is about the mention of Carter’s beauty.

Kyle says she’s beautiful. Lucca rarely comments on her beauty, but he’ll throw a “beautiful” in after addressing her, but honestly, he’d do that with any woman because that’s just the way his character happens to talk. Dante has commented on her beauty like once, and Mickey…Well we all know Mickey and Carter’s relationship. It’s constant playful flirtation, both of them trying to one-up each other. I think it’s funny…Then we have Nathan. He is the one that comments on Carter’s appearance the most. It’s mostly in his thoughts, or he’ll tell her how sexy she is or something like that. This happens ONE, because she’s his woman, TWO because they are newlyweds and every things just super blissful for them right now, AND three, because he actually really is attracted to his wife.

Here’s my opinion. The book is called Dangerous Beauty for a reason. Anastacia and Carterina Stone are HOT! What is so wrong with that? I tried to relay that the first thing that is noticed about them, when meeting them, is their striking beauty. In book two Carter is called “La pericolosa bellezza” (Dangerous Beauty) because she is both beautiful and dangerous. To me Carter’s appearance didn’t overtake the drama in the story. I do not feel that her beauty is annoyingly stressed, but that’s just my opinion. I would like to hear everyone else’s.

So here’s my “How much is too much?” Question.

Are comments of the heroine’s beauty in the Dangerous Beauty Series too much? If so, did it take away from the whole story in any way for you?

If anyone decides to answer my question feel free to disagree with me, please. Be truthful and tell me like it is. Don’t hold back. I’m writing DB3 right now, and so far, Carter has met some new people and one says to her . . .

“I have heard much about you and I must say, words do your beauty no justice.”

I thought it was a sweet and gentlemanly thing for a man to say when meeting a lady for the first time. But I just don’t know any more y’all *sigh* I really don’t…

Please, help me! If there’s been too much just let me know. I will seriously go through what I have of book three and weed it out. The story as a whole is what’s important to me, the plot twists and turns, and character development. I want the readers to see past the outer shell and see what’s on the inside as well. So if comments about Carter’s beauty are keeping some from truly enjoying the story, tell me. . .