Your Reviews Matter

For me it has been difficult to get public reviews. So, I am ever thankful to Mr. Bill Bushnell for his review of my second novel PROSPECTS, Mining Maine for Riches which appeared on centralmaine.com in 2021. Here is some of what he said.

“Mining for minerals began in Maine 200 years ago, driven by dreams of great wealth hidden beneath the earth’s surface. Mining has always been risky, dangerous and economically unpredictable, especially as portrayed in Robert Spencer’s novel “PROSPECTS. Mining Maine for Riches.” Spencer’s portrayal of southern Maine’s pegmatite mining history is fascinating. The story combines mining history, business deals, family relationships, courtship, romance, tragedy, deceit, heartache, suspense and even murder, providing an exciting tale. Spencer also uses clever foreshadowing, so readers must pay attention to catch clues to what might happen next.”

One thing he didn’t mention is that throughout all four of my novels, I seek to portray women who may not be limited by the popular gender roles of their time, whether it be the late Victorian period in my Lizzie Millett Series: The Spinster’s Hope Chest (2018), PROSPECTS, Mining Maine for Riches, (2020) and Francena Hallett’s Heart (2023) or the New England Colonial period in Conflicting Roots (2025). There have always been females strong enough to break society’s bonds.

In a much-appreciated personal review, Laurie Corron of New Hampshire says “Your characters are so real, especially the women. I cherished the bonds they made with each other, the men in their lives, and their children. I felt as though I knew them. They were all strong, and loving, and talented, and capable."

Fellow Maine author Cheryl Gillespie (Gracie & Albert and Beaver Creek to Hanoi) writes “This book is an homage to the strength of women in the years when life kept them as second class citizens. Spencer’s main character was strong and resilient."

In an Goodreads review reader Grace Davis says, “I liked many of the characters, strong women that bucked the trends at the turn of the century.”

Also, on Goodreads, Aurelia Hulls writes “Lizzie’s fight to succeed in a world stacked against her is both inspiring and heartbreaking. It’s a reminder of how far women have come and how many of their struggles still echo today.”

As an indie author, getting reviews of my work is almost as difficult as writing a good novel. PLEASE! If you have enjoyed reading what I have written, tell me what you think. If you could share your opinion on Amazon or Goodreads. It would help me spread the word.