Dailey And Roberts: Comparing Their Novels

Excerpts comparing Janet Dailey's 1996 romance novel "Notorious" and the Nora Roberts book "Sweet Revenge," published in 1989:

From "Sweet Revenge":

"Talk to me."

"It was just a dream, as you said."

"You're hurting." He touched her cheek. This time she didn't jerk away, only closed her eyes. "You talk, I'll listen."

"I don't need anyone."

"I'm not going away until you talk to me."

From "Notorious":

"Talk to me, Eden."

"It was only a dream, just as you said." She kept her gaze fixed on the water glass.

"It was more than that." His fingers brushed her cheek, pushing back a strand of hair. She closed her eyes at the contact. "You need to talk about it. I'll listen."

"I don't need anyone," she insisted stiffly.

"I'm not leaving until you tell me about it."

-- From "Sweet Revenge":

"But it was only a whisper of a kiss, the brush, retreat, brush of mouth against mouth."

From "Notorious":

"His mouth brushed her lips in a mere whisper of a kiss, lightly rubbed and retreated, again and again."