Blog Tour Review with Giveaway: The Romance Novel Formula by A.K. Leigh

Posted December 17, 2021 by Lisa Mandina in Blog Tour, giveaway, Review / 8 Comments

Blog Tour Review with Giveaway:  The Romance Novel Formula by A.K. Leigh

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the THE ROMANCE NOVEL FORMULA by A.K. Leigh Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

I received this book for free from Rockstar Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Blog Tour Review with Giveaway:  The Romance Novel Formula by A.K. LeighThe Romance Novel Formula by A.K. Leigh
Published by A.K. Leigh on December 7, 2021
Genres: Nonfiction
Pages: 151
Source: Rockstar Book Tours
Format: E-galley
My Rating: four-half-stars
Goodreads
Buy on AmazonBuy on Barnes & Noble

Blurb:

Is there a secret formula for writing a successful romance novel?

Backed by research and professional expertise, The Romance Novel Formula provides everything you need to take you from idea to first draft of your breakout romance novel.

Join best-selling romance author and academic researcher, Alicia Leigh, as you discover:
*How to take your love interests on the “lovers’ journey” – inclusive of ALL types of romantic relationships: ménage, alien, LGBTQI, polyamory, etc.
*A unique five-act structure to make your story easy to write and manage.
*The specific story “beats” exclusive to the romance genre (and which other books on writing typically exclude).
*The story and character arcs necessary to classify your book as romance.
*How to avoid stereotypes by focusing on archetypes.
*Popular romance tropes.
*Essential writing techniques.
*Advice on dialogue.
*The most common writing mistakes . . . and how to avoid them.
*Goal, motivation, and conflict.
*Fear, need, and flaw (what are they, and do you need them?).
*Much more!

Complete with checklists and over 30 writing exercises, The Romance Novel Formula is the new essential romance writing guide for aspiring and experienced writers, plotters and pantsers, and professional researchers. 

My Review:

This book really was a great read, and I think it will be a great help if/when I decide to jump back into writing. I’ve been on the fence this past year, not doing well with writing. Trying to outline but not having luck getting myself going. However reading this book has made me really want to try again. As I read through, each section had questions to help me flush out what I was wanting in my book, making think really beyond just the basics that I usually have as a pantser. If you’re a writer, you know that term, but it means I don’t usually outline. I just sit down with my idea and start writing. But I have noticed that I get stuck about halfway through if not sooner a lot of the time.

While reading I was filling in info from a book that I am really close to being done with, or at least I think I should be close, and so it helped me to figure out maybe what I might need to go back and re-write in order to get the whole story back on track. One thing that really helped me as I read was that the author used examples from three books to show what she was talking about. Now, while I haven’t read any of the books, one was Pride and Prejudice, which I’ve seen the movies and know the story. The other two stories were also familiar enough that I was able to see what the examples meant for each section.

All of the different questions that were spread throughout the chapters in the beginning of the book were also in the end as worksheets. Worksheets that I see myself making copies just for myself to fill out whenever I want to start writing a book. I really liked the book so much, that even though I was reading an e-galley, I decided I wanted to go ahead and purchase a physical copy of the book, again to help myself with writing and planning in the future.

The only issue I really had was that some of the beats she described in the story felt like they were dragging things out longer than I have felt necessary for that part of my story. But, seeing as how I keep getting stuck doing it the way I do it, I’m going to really sit down with all these worksheets and plan out a book or re-plan out one book that I’ve gotten quite a bit done on to help finish it. I can’t decide which I want to do. Which will be easier and not get me stumped and so frustrated I quit again. Oh, one other small issue is while all the examples were perfect, I kind of was hoping for examples of the hook at the end of Act 4 because I couldn’t quite picture what that was.

I highly recommend this for anyone who wants to write romance but either doesn’t know where to start or like me is having trouble getting all the way to the end. As someone who has been buying and reading quite a few books to try to help over the past two years, this was one of the easiest and quickest reads, along with being what seemed the easiest to put to work right away.

About the Author:

A.K. Leigh (aka Leigh Hatchmann) is an unrepentant dreamer and romantic, trauma survivor, writing teacher, and identical triplet. Her multi-genre fiction transports readers into a world of cozy mysteries, suspense, crime, the supernatural, and time travel––all entwined with a heart-pumping HEA romance. Her non-fiction titles (as Alicia Leigh) take readers on journeys to strengthen self-love, heighten creativity, and increase imagination. Find her books, and follow her, at: www.amazon.com/author/akleigh.

Join her exclusive LOVELEIGHS CLUB at: www.fallinlovewithleigh.com/loveleighs.

Website | BlogFacebook | Instagram | YouTube | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

Giveaway:

3 winners will receive a finished copy of THE ROMANCE NOVEL FORMULA, International.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One: 

12/6/2021Mythical BooksExcerpt
12/7/2021The Momma SpotExcerpt
12/8/2021Two Chicks on BooksExcerpt/IG Post
12/9/2021BookHounds YAExcerpt/IG Post
12/10/2021The Girl Who ReadsReview/IG Post

Week Two:

12/13/2021#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee BlogSpotlight/IG Post
12/14/2021Rajiv’s ReviewsReview/IG Post
12/15/2021perusewithcoffeeReview
12/16/2021@coffeesipsandreadsReview
12/17/2021Lisa Loves LiteratureReview/IG Post
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8 responses to “Blog Tour Review with Giveaway: The Romance Novel Formula by A.K. Leigh

  1. Danielle Hammelef

    This is a new writing resource for me and I can’t wait to learn more about how to write romance from an expert.

    • Lisa Mandina

      It was very easy to follow and had good tips, and I liked all the examples. I’m the type of person who wants examples along with instructions.

  2. Alicia Leigh

    Thank you for the wonderful review. I am delighted to hear my book has helped inspire you – that was my goal! 😊❤️

    • Lisa Mandina

      Thanks for commenting on my review! Authors are my rock stars, so this is awesome! I am hoping what I read and using your outline stuff will help my pantser self become more of a plotser and get some books finished!

      • Alicia Leigh

        My pleasure. Reviewers are my rock stars! As you know, I’m a plantser – in between a plotter and pantser for those who don’t know the lingo – so I wanted to create a way for everyone to be catered to. Hope it helps you. 😊

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