Writer's Digest Judges' Reviews

 

Note: In some cases, the entire judge's review is not displayed to avoid spoilers and surprise endings

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Under the Purple Moon

Judge, 29th Annual Writer's Digest Self-Published Awards

"The format is easy to read, and the chapters are of good length with cliffhangers that will make a reader not want to stop reading."

"The title will draw in most readers while the cover image, of a woman on a rocky beach writing on a laptop with a bottle of wine next to her, gives readers a hint about the plot."

"The plot starts out contemporary in nature before taking an unusual twist into the paranormal. This is NOT your everyday romance novel, but saying too much more about the plot will reveal secrets that the reader needs to discover by themselves. The description of the Napa valley is lovely."

"The emotional journey of the main character, Tess, hits more lows than highs and each of those lows get more terrifying while the dynamics between Tess and the men in her life-Grant, Vincent, Jackson, and Nolan-have the reader wondering who will win her heart."

"The writing is very good. She makes the main characters either unable to save themselves, or they refuse to talk in order to fix a relationship problem."

"The story line includes sexual situations that are not too graphic. Some are lovely, but others are scary moments. The secret ‘man’ in Tess’s life is very scary and abusive. Secondary characters bring more problems to the main character’s lives. A life-threatening car crash on page 94 adds to a race toward an ending that will satisfy the reader."

2021

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Journey Intuition
"Excellent opener, with realistic dialogue and engaging character voices. Their voices have hooked us well, and we're eager to go forward into their story...The author has structured the story so well and shares big info blocks with great instinct. Well done. Good twists throughout, especially at the end of the book... Author has layered this book well, with so many engaging moments. Well done."
Writer's Digest Rating (March 2020) On a scale from 1 - 5 (5=outstanding):
Structure, Organization, Pacing: 4
Spelling, Punctuation, and Grammar: 4
Production Quality and Cover Design: 5
Plot and Story Appeal: 5
Character Appeal and Development: 5
Voice and Writing Style: 5

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You Danced on My Dreams: Beyond the Ballroom...
"Enter the world of ballroom dancing! Theresa E. Liggins, in You Danced on My Dreams, takes the reader into the apparently glamorous cut throat world of ballroom dancing lessons, teachers and students. With an audience hooked on Dancing with the Stars, books like this have ready made readers just waiting. Tyana and Antonio carry this tale for the most part. They are dancing and business partners as well as being romantically involved to the extent of being engaged to be married.
Antonio has a great following of wealthy women who expect more than dancing from him. Tyana’s working in the same venue offers her little protection from Antonio’s would be predators and thereby hangs the tale. The narrative moves along quickly and efficiently with glimpses into competition in this world of dance including practice, preparation, travel, costuming and so much more.
Tyana’s eventual withdrawal from Antonio and his delays give the plot its most interesting twist leading to a welcome surprise ending. There are a few clues along the way so the surprise is not total but is sweet and welcome. Lovers of dance and romance will enjoy this book, as will those who like unexpected satisfying endings. The book should do well in the mass market."
Writer's Digest (February 1, 2017), overall rating (from 1 - 5): 4

To Love and To Cheat...
"I liked the flow of the story. While this type of novel is not my cup of tea I did enjoy the way in which the story unfolded. I also liked, albeit in an uncomfortable manner, how many of the altercations that took place between the characters was palpable. You had a sense while reading it that you could cut the tension with a knife. Ultimately, I think it was how uncomfortable this book made you feel while reading it in certain situations that made me want to know more."
Writer's Digest (January 10, 2013), overall rating (from 1 - 5): 3

The Escort II--Princess and the Surrogate...
"The front cover is attractive and offers a beautiful skyline with the title in a large font that stands out and is likely to grab the attention of potential readers. The back cover copy is interesting and intriguing enough to "seal the deal." Ms. Liggins has created compelling characters and written a story that should please readers of both romance and literary works. The story concept is age-old but with a contemporary twist. This author does an excellent job of describing scenes, setting, and characters' external appearances."
Writer's Digest Review 2005 

The Escort III--Son of an Escort...
"This is a story with extremely complex relationships from the various marriages and the surrogate and natural children. It is a view into a life style of which few people would have any knowledge. Family dynamics are quite unusual. The cover relates quite well to the story."
Writer's Digest Review 2006

Dance Me to the End of Love...
"This is truly an intriguing romance silhouetted against the unique background of ballroom dancing. This is a subject that I'm sure will fascinate all your readers. The characters are intriguing and three dimensional and I loved Tyana--a heroine I could care about--and so will the readers."
Writer's Digest Review 2004