MONDAY MUSINGS

Today's post is a shout-out to Author Karey White!

I fell in love with her books when I read the Husband Maker series.

All three books are out now, so you don't have to wait for the next book like I did.

Grab a copy of one of her books today! You're in for a real treat!

Karey writes clean romance. Her stories keep me engaged the whole way and stay with me for days afterwards.

Enjoy!

AMAZON

Charlotte’s a girl with nicknames. She may not love being called Charles or Chuck, but the hardest nickname to take is the one she was given in college, the one that’s followed her now for too many years. They call her “the husband maker” and sadly, it fits. Every guy she's dated since high school has gone on to marry the next girl they date. Not two or three girls down the road. The very next one. 

Is she doing something wrong or is she just cursed? 

When Kyle Aldsworth enters the picture and sweeps her off her feet, Charlotte begins to hope that maybe she's not destined to be single forever. A senator’s son with political aspirations of his own, Kyle's wealthy, handsome, and in need of a wife. Will Charlotte be disappointed yet again, or will she finally be able to make a husband for herself?

AMAZON

It’s been six months since Charlotte and Kyle broke up, and the Husband Maker strikes again. Kyle is officially engaged, while Charlotte is still nursing a broken heart. 

In an effort to get Charlotte out of her rut, she and her best friend decide it’s time for some good old-fashioned matchmaking. While Aleena arranges for Charlotte to meet up with a handsome Scottish tourist, Charlotte gets her two best friends together. But when sparks start to fly between Aleena and Angus, Charlotte is left feeling more alone that ever--at least until the charming Scotsman becomes more than just a safe, rebound guy and teaches her that maybe, just maybe, she can dare to open her heart again.

AMAZON

Charlotte has spent years as the husband maker, sending every guy she dates off to enjoy marital bliss with the next girl he dates. But things have now changed, and she's determined to use her husband-maker abilities one last time--on herself. And she finally knows exactly who she wants. 

Angus has loved Charlotte since they were teenagers, but he's tired of waiting for her to realize how good they could be. She's broken his heart one too many times, and it's time to move on with his life. Maybe a position halfway across the country will be just what he needs to get over her. But when Charlotte won't let him go without a fight, Angus has to decide if he's willing to let her in again or if she's too late.

BUY ALL THREE BOOKS AS A SET

I also loved, loved, loved this book.

AMAZON

After being dragged to the 2005 movie Pride and Prejudice by her mother, sixteen-year-old Elizabeth’s life changes when Matthew Macfadyen’s Mr. Darcy appears on the screen. Lizzie falls hard and makes a promise to herself that she will settle for nothing less than her own Mr. Darcy. This ill-advised pledge threatens to ruin any chance of finding true love. During the six intervening years, she has refused to give any interested suitors a chance. They weren’t Mr. Darcy enough. 

Coerced by her roommate, Elizabeth agrees to give the next interested guy ten dates before she dumps him. That guy is Chad, a kind and thoughtful science teacher and swim coach. While she’s dating Chad, her dream comes true in the form of a wealthy bookstore owner named Matt Dawson, who looks and acts like her Mr. Darcy. Of course she has to follow her dream. But as Elizabeth simultaneously dates a regular guy and the dazzling Mr. Dawson, she’s forced to re-evaluate what it was she loved about Mr. Darcy in the first place.

I still have a few more books to read from Karey and they are at the top of my TBR list! Check out her Amazon Author Page to view her other books.

MONDAY MUSINGS

Today's post is a shout-out to Author Jennifer Peel.

I've recently read almost all of her books and I have loved every single one.

Currently I'm reading the last one on my kindle, House Divided.

Thank goodness she's releasing a new book this week!

If you enjoy clean romance with some real-to-life drama thrown in, and a lot of wonderful humor, then you'll enjoy her books. I promise, there isn't a boring page to be had. The plots just move forward, hook you, and don't let you go!

Enjoy!

AMAZON

Charlee Jensen had what she considered the idyllic childhood growing up in a town named for that most prized emotion of all, Loveland, Colorado. At seventeen, her teenage crush, a man eight years older than her, marries and she naively thinks this is the worst thing that would ever happen to her. Then her parents divorce and her world crumbles. She finds herself being whisked away from her beloved home and estranged from her father.

Now eight years later, with two degrees that she never wanted in hand, and no job prospects, her father offers her a position with his CPA firm. With no other options available, Charlee accepts his offer and returns to the hometown she loved. While rebuilding her relationship with her father, she discovers that perhaps a romantic relationship is in the cards for her, with her old teenage crush, Ryan Carter, who just happens to still live next door and is now a partner in her father’s CPA firm. 

Newly divorced and single dad, Ryan Carter, isn’t quite sure what to make of the girl next door, who’s all woman now. He finds himself having a hard time resisting this beautiful yet annoyingly charming woman, but their age difference and his complicated relationship with his ex-wife cause quite a bit of trouble for the couple. Ryan finds himself torn between keeping the peace with his ex-wife and mother of his child and his feelings for Charlee.

Can they successfully overcome their troubles in Loveland? Find out in this clean romance filled with sparks, humor, and of course, a little bit of trouble.

AMAZON

One red eye flight and ten years of marriage later, Carly Bishop had what she considered a practically perfect life. Her journalist husband and her two adorable children were everything to her. But soon she would find out that her dream life didn't fall in line with her husband's expectations. 

Left alone to sort out the pieces of her crumbling life, Carly finds strength in her children and her growing relationship with her in-laws. Most importantly, she finds her greatest strength as she builds a friendship with herself. 

This is a beautiful story of one woman's strength and determination as she finds the will to move forward and be happy while the life she had grown to love crumbles around her. It is a story of a man who has lost his way and may lose it all if he can't find his way back. The Girl in Seat 24B is a story of love and forgiveness.

AMAZON

There once were two couples, neighbors in fact, but like most neighbors today, hardly a word was spoken in passing. What they knew of each other mostly consisted of what was inadvertently heard through the wall that divided their townhomes. 

The Langstons and the Russos had more in common than they both knew. Both couples were newly married and terribly unhappy, each for different reasons of course. Scott and Jenna Langston were facing an incurable disease and Ava and Peter Russo were plagued with heartache and betrayal. 

Too often, Scott could hear Ava crying through the wall. He wondered what would make such a beautiful woman so sad, but he had enough of his own problems, he couldn’t worry about what was happening on the other side of the wall. On occasion, Ava could hear Scott’s pleas for his wife to be well. She wanted to offer help and comfort, but she was too physically and emotionally exhausted to reach out across the wall. 

Eventually, Ava’s crying ceased and her name changed. Scott’s pleas went quiet as they went unanswered. Now, instead of two couples, there were two very lonely heartbroken individuals divided by a wall, each trying to deal with the hand they had been dealt.

AMAZON

At thirty two, Kelli Bryant is ready to take on the world, and Chandler Media, as the new Marketing Director, but her plans are derailed when her promotion is given to none other than Ian Greyson, Kelli’s old college flame, her one true love and the one man she hoped to never see again. 

Between Kelli’s determination to remain on top and Ian’s strict new office policies, there’s no shortage of fireworks in the office. Their explosive relationship spills over into their personal lives as Kelli tries to keep Ian at arm’s length and Ian desperately tries to win her back (during off hours only, of course). 

Professional Boundaries is a clean romance filled with fun and humor. It is a story of two professionals who just can't keep it professional. 

AMAZON

There is a law irrevocably decreed in the state of Alabama that you must choose a team. You're either an Auburn fan or an Alabama Fan. There is no fence sitting or waffling. It’s one or the other. However, it doesn't mean that you can’t fall in love with someone from the opposing side. They even have a name for it ... House Divided. 

Ellie Eaton and Brady Jackson were just such a couple, but unfortunately they were separated by more than just their loyalty to a university. Against the odds and against the rules, Ellie and Brady dove right into the forbidden current of friendship and then love. Their sweet, innocent romance was one for the storybooks, but old rules and family prejudices ultimately tore them apart, just as they were each ready to depart to their beloved universities, Ellie to Auburn and Brady to Alabama. But years later, when near tragedy strikes, they're brought together again and given a second chance at love, this time with the help from some very unlikely sources. 

House Divided is a sweet romance filled with southern charm, a dash of humor and, for good measure, a pinch of lies and intrigue.

Here's her newest book, to be released this week, Sept. 9th!

Nestled in the picturesque Rocky Mountains, lies the quaint town of Merryton, Colorado. You will never find finer people or better friends. But try keeping a secret in Merryton and you will soon find that the good townspeople are better than any private investigator or undercover journalist. The men and women of Merryton are like living barometers, and when a storm is brewing in the life of one of their own, they are sure to get to the bottom of it--and forecast it on the Merryton grapevine.

Jessica and Blake Summers know a thing or two about what it’s like to be the latest and greatest news on the vine. Their thirteen year marriage has had more than its fair share of heartache and loss. Then the past comes knocking, in the form of a teenage girl, a daughter Blake never knew existed. The news sets the Merryton grapevine on fire.

In the wake of this revelation and firestorm, Blake and Jessica are forced to reevaluate their own relationship and priorities, all while learning that raising a teenage girl is not for the faint of heart. But in the midst of the chaos and uncertainty, they discover that Madeline may just be what the doctor ordered to heal their broken hearts and mend their own tattered relationship.

Will they have the courage to look forward and find a greater love than they could ever imagine? Or will past hurts and the town grapevine tear them apart?

ANY FLAVOR JELLYBEANS BUT BLACK--BOOK REVIEW

AMAZON

Jason Guile is bleeding profusely and often. It's not uncommon for his sneezes to be a mist of candied red. This can't be good for one's health. He thinks it's a shame he never got to graduate high school, go to college, get a job, and so on and so on. But he figures he may as well live life to the fullest while he still has it. No one can bleed all the time and go on living, right? Risk is no longer a concern. 

Yet, every time he catches a whiff of licorice-flavored jellybeans, a chill runs the length of his body. He remembers his first experience involving death--his Aunt Dolly's funeral at age five. His mother's comfort to him? Her favorite snack: black, licorice-flavored jellybeans. 

Unfortunately, Carly loves them too -- even her lip gloss often reeks of black licorice.

Carly Henson has been Jace's best friend since they were kids, and has always been prone to accident... or so it always seemed. Carly shows up at Jace's after midnight with a black eye, busted lip, and purple bruises all about her neck and back. She has a confession to make. She's not accident prone; her father is an abusive, alcoholic asshole.

Jace finds new purpose in his existence. He can't die. Not yet. Carly needs him. The two embark on a journey to free Carly of her father's rage. Her only salvation seems to be her 18th birthday, and Jace is determined to keep her safe until she can move out and never receive her father's bashings again. The two are racing the clock, counting down to February 19th. But the stench of black jellybeans is a constant reminder that Jace is running a race of his own--one that we all eventually lose.

~

I met author Kenneth S. Harris when he contacted me awhile back. He was reading Lancaster House and wanted to know if I was interested in swapping book reviews. He'd written a book called The Perfect Tree. I agreed and ended up loving his book. You can read my review here.

Fast forward and Mr. Harris has written another book. Again, we agreed to swap reviews. He decided to read Girl of Mine and I happily agreed to read his new book, Any Flavor Jellybeans But Black. I greatly enjoyed his first book and I felt eager to delve into his newest endeavor. The title intrigued me from the get-go. I HATE black jellybeans or black licorice. The smell alone makes me sick. Therefore, I felt an immediate connection to the book. Secondly, I love the cover. Very clever.

This is a story of young love, of friendship, of wanting to do the right thing, but maybe not knowing exactly what the right thing is to do. It's a story of becoming an adult--and being expected to act like one--even though you're not quite considered one.

The writing is impeccable and it was so very easy to lose myself in the story. I love when a book is so well written I forget I'm reading and just glide along with the story.

I entered the world of three best friends, Jace, Carly, and Allen. They're teenagers preparing to embark upon adulthood as they figure their way through life. Both Jace and Carly are facing some fairly serious issues and the reader is allowed to experience these issues right along with them. The book is realistic in the way it handles teenager/young adult problems. I enjoyed the sense of anticipation laced within the novel. I constantly wondered what was about to happen. The  book had a nice pace with never a dull moment. As a matter of fact, I felt as though I was living the adventure, an invisible onlooker. Parts even made my heart race as I rooted for Jace and Carly to survive their predicament. (I hate driving in snow and Mr. Harris was able to communicate what it's like during white-knuckle driving.)

In the end, things wrapped up nicely. My only complaint: I wanted more! I wasn't quite ready for the story to be over!

This was easily a five-star read for me. But, personally, I don't care for swearing in books. I believe the language in Any Flavor Jellybeans But Black was realistic to the characters, however, I just don't want that type of language in my mind. Personal choice. That being said, I cannot deduct from my rating because the writing and the plot kept me hooked all the way through. It would be a disservice to both the author and the book to give it anything less than a well deserved five stars!

MEET THE AUTHOR

 

Kenneth S. Harris has a B.A. in English. His passion for crafting fiction has led to the creation of his novels The Perfect Tree and Any Flavor Jellybeans but Black, and several short stories. He currently lives in Kentucky with his wife and three children. 

"Writing is an escape and a celebration of life, much like reading," Kenneth says. "Story telling is an essential part of the world's traditions and evolution. Who humanity is 100 years from now will likely be defined (at least in part) by the stories we tell."

Visit Kenneth online at www.kennethscottharris.com or follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ken_s_harris.

HANDS OF MERCY

On Tuesday, I shared EYES OF LIGHT.

On Thursday, I shared SECRET KEEPERS.

Today I'm sharing the final book in the

Bending Willow Trilogy,

HANDS OF MERCY.
I'm really looking forward to reading this!

AMAZON

BLOG * GOODREADS * FACEBOOK

Released 1.26.15 - In the finale to the Bending Willow Trilogy, love, loss, and forgiveness weave a tapestry that will touch hearts as James, Suvi, and Austan are tried by separation, death, grief and revenge. As they struggle to survive, they will discover that when all seems lost, the only hope comes from unseen Hands of Mercy.

About the Bending Willow trilogy:

This series has religious undertones about not judging others and being more aware of hidden secrets people carry, but I tried very hard not to come across as preachy (I hate books that give me a sermon instead of letting me draw my own conclusion from the character’s actions). This is a story about several characters’ journeys as they take different paths in life, from very religious to agnostic to atheistic (yet I love them all, especially the troubled ones). The characters will sometimes ponder upon their spiritual life, but not in a preachy way. That would have made my daughters throw my book out if they thought mom was trying to pull one over on them.

BOOK TRAILER

       

Meet the Author: Charissa Stastny

Charissa Stastny hails from Las Vegas, Nevada, but has never pulled the handle of a slot machine and can’t shuffle cards to save her life. Since 4th grade, she has envisioned herself an author after writing the creative work, The Creature from McGool, and continuing in shame to pen some cheesy romance scenes as a teenager. Thankfully, she has matured somewhat and is a member of the Idaho Writer’s Guild and tries hard not to spread too much cheese around in her writing now. She graduated from Brigham Young University and enjoys writing, reading, hiking and biking. She resides in Idaho’s Treasure Valley with her husband and children (where card shuffling isn’t required).

Q & A

Tell us a little about your family. 

My husband and I are high school sweethearts and married after his mission. We have four children—3 daughters (one married, one serving a mission in Korea, and one still in high school) and one son (in high school). We love being together and our favorite activities include biking, hiking, camping, and going to Disneyland.

How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing? 

Quite a lot. There is always one character I identify with—usually the shy, awkward one with a good heart who doesn’t know how to accessorize. My cool characters are my dreams of how I wish I could be. It’s fun as a writer to live vicariously through our characters. 

Where do your ideas come from? 

My characters. A vivid character creates their own action, tension and stories. 

Do you have a favorite character? 

I love Suvi and wish I could meet her in real life. Austan’s pretty cool too (he’s a hoot to write), but I don’t know if I’d be brave or confident enough to meet him in person. I wouldn’t be able to come up with witty comebacks fast enough.

And now . . . the question that features my favorite answer!

Most writers are readers. What are some of your favorite books?

I love The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy, any of the Harry Potter books, Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, and anything by C.S. Lewis. Contemporary romance authors I can’t get enough of are Amy Harmon and Taylor Dean. I can reread their stories over and over and not tire of them.

Wow! Thanks, Charissa! What an honor!

I hope you've enjoyed this three part introduction to Charissa's books!

Giveaway

(ends March 1st)

Comment on post or sign up for Charissa's newsletter, here.

Up for grabs:

13 lucky winners! (1 each-$20, $15, $10 Amazon Gift cards; 10 eBook winners)

SECRET KEEPERS

On Tuesday, I shared the first book, 
EYES OF LIGHT.

Today I'm featuring the second book in the
Bending Willow Trilogy,

SECRET KEEPERS.

AMAZON

BLOG * GOODREADS * FACEBOOK

Suvi feels unworthy of her happily-ever-after, especially when her knight in shining armor becomes the target of evil men due to her dark past. James believes he has won the heart of the woman he loves, but when she leaves him and exposes sinister secrets, his love may not survive. Austan stands guard against the Dragon’s wrath, but nurses hope that he can reveal his true identity. When a chance arises to team up with a pair of Israeli Mossad operatives, he may finally be in a position to do what he has wanted for four long years—reunite with Suvi and rekindle their love.

My five-star review:

This book was filled with non-stop action, but that's what made it an entertaining read, and that's why I like to read--to be entertained. At the same time, Secret Keepers deals with some very sensitive issues, hence this is by no means a fluffy read. I love happy endings--and this book has one, thank goodness. After everything the characters go through, it was a satisfying end to book two. I look forward to book three! Great job, Charissa!

BOOK TRAILER

 

Meet the Author: Charissa Stastny

Charissa Stastny hails from Las Vegas, Nevada, but has never pulled the handle of a slot machine and can’t shuffle cards to save her life. Since 4th grade, she has envisioned herself an author after writing the creative work, The Creature from McGool, and continuing in shame to pen some cheesy romance scenes as a teenager. Thankfully, she has matured somewhat and is a member of the Idaho Writer’s Guild and tries hard not to spread too much cheese around in her writing now. She graduated from Brigham Young University and enjoys writing, reading, hiking and biking. She resides in Idaho’s Treasure Valley with her husband and children (where card shuffling isn’t required).

Q & A

What got you started on your writing journey? 

I’ve dabbled with writing since I was a kid. I loved reading clean romance as a teen and wrote many cheesy scenes between handsome cowboys and milkmaids in my journal. The world will NEVER see these!

What kind of trials do your main characters have to endure? 

Suvi’s trials never seem to end. I feel bad for being so brutal to her, but it makes for a good story. She’s a recovering closet alcoholic, as well as dealing with repressed memories of abuse as a teen and adult. And as if those weren’t bad enough, she has drug capos and a psychopath killer stalking her in Book 2. Good thing her dad is a Mossad agent. 

James’s trial seems to be Suvi, even though he’s smitten by her. The baggage above that she carries becomes his by association...and puts his life in jeopardy. 

Austan’s life rivals Suvi’s. Unloved and unwanted as a child, made to play dead as an adult and lose the love of his life, he’s used to life’s gut punches. The secretive life of a CIA-NCS operative isn’t as glamorous as he thought it’d be when he signed up; but with Suvi’s life at risk, he can’t quit. 

Don't miss my post about the exciting third book in this series, HANDS OF MERCY.

Saturday, January 31st.

Giveaway

(ends March 1st)

Comment on post or sign up for Charissa's newsletter, here.

Up for grabs:

13 lucky winners! (1 each-$20, $15, $10 Amazon Gift cards; 10 eBook winners)

EYES OF LIGHT

The first time I met Author Charissa Stastny, she emailed me to tell me how much she loved Lancaster House.

We've been author friends ever since!

I went on to read her books and she went on to read more of mine.

Charissa has written a three-book series. 

In celebration of the third book's release yesterday, I'm sharing a three part series of posts to introduce you to each of her books.

The Bending Willow Trilogy

A cast of three very different heroes come together in this trilogy. Austan Sandoval is the master of disguise and deception. James Hinton is a clean-cut missionary out to save the world. Suvi Goldstein seems like she has it all, yet secrets bind her to misery. This series follows these characters through several harrowing years, showing how the transforming power of God holds out hope to all—from the missionary who’s led a charmed life to the vilest of sinners.

Today I'm sharing the first book in the Bending Willow Trilogy,

EYES OF LIGHT.

AMAZON

BLOG * GOODREADS * FACEBOOK

After swindling millions from a Central American drug cartel, Austan stumbles upon the location of the daughter of an Israeli Mossad assassin and determines to recruit her to his team. James serves the Lord as a missionary in Guatemala and sacrifices all to bring truth to those he meets. When Suvi tries to escape her past, she’s torn between violent men in one world and a kind, forgiving man in another as she battles darkness to discover the light within herself.

My five-star review:

I really enjoyed this book. Two things stand out to me: One, I really wasn't exactly sure who Suvi was going to end up with, and that kept me turning the pages. Two, this book contains a beautiful message. The ending scene brought tears to my eyes. The message is simply this: no matter what you've experienced due to your circumstances in life or whatever you've done in your life, you are still precious in the eyes of God. The author brings this message to the reader rather eloquently. I finished this book and immediately started on the sequel. I'm looking forward to continuing Suvi's story.

Meet the Author: Charissa Stastny

Charissa Stastny hails from Las Vegas, Nevada, but has never pulled the handle of a slot machine and can’t shuffle cards to save her life. Since 4th grade, she has envisioned herself an author after writing the creative work, The Creature from McGool, and continuing in shame to pen some cheesy romance scenes as a teenager. Thankfully, she has matured somewhat and is a member of the Idaho Writer’s Guild and tries hard not to spread too much cheese around in her writing now. She graduated from Brigham Young University and enjoys writing, reading, hiking and biking. She resides in Idaho’s Treasure Valley with her husband and children (where card shuffling isn’t required).

THE BOOK TRAILER

       

Q and A

Where did you get your inspiration for this book? 

My muse started with a door-to-door salesperson. An Israeli girl named Suvi with a nose ring and a vivacious personality knocked, charmed me into buying one of her oil paintings, and then talked to my daughters and me for an hour. After she left, a story started to form around her in my mind. As I wrote my imagined story for Suvi, I wanted to help my own daughters be aware of hidden secrets people carry so that they would be more merciful in their judgment of others. We never know what awful circumstances and experiences have led someone to act in certain ways. 

My little brother was my inspiration for my James character. He served a mission in Guatemala and I used his letters he wrote home to cast Elder Hinton. I tease my brother that James Hinton is him…only cool!

Did you put real experiences in this book?

In Eyes of Light, the missionary scenes are almost all taken from real-life experiences my brother had while serving in Guatemala. I found his letters captivating and used them to form my character James. In Secret Keepers, there are several scenes—like the Garden tomb and Wailing Wall—I described from being in Israel as a college student. I also stayed on a kibbutz in the Galilee and based Suvi’s experiences there on mine. 

I find that little bits and pieces of real life creep into my writing whether I want them to or not. My sisters always tease me by saying things like, “Ha! James rides his bike like your husband.” or “Suvi bites her nails like you.” Sometimes those references happen on purpose, but usually not.

Do you have a favorite comment or question from a reader? 

After my husband read my first book, he commented, “It would have been better with a zombie in it.” Since then, the Search and Find feature on Word has become my best friend. I always use it before I send out drafts to readers, because unfortunately, my husband is skilled at sneaking zombies into files. There is nothing worse than when the masculine hunk in my story tells the girl of his dreams that ‘he wants to eat her brains.’ Ugh! 

Too funny, Charissa! Thanks for sharing!

Next up: The second book in the Bending Willow Trilogy, Secret Keepers, will make an appearance here on Thursday, January 29th.

Don't miss it!

Giveaway

(ends March 1st)

Comment on post or sign up for Charissa's newsletter, here.

Up for grabs:

13 lucky winners! (1 each-$20, $15, $10 Amazon Gift cards; 10 eBook winners)

Great Historical Fiction

If you enjoy sweet, clean well-written historical fiction, then you will enjoy a Meredith Kennon novel!

I recently read The Gown Shop on Regent Street.

My review:

I greatly enjoyed this novel about a group of friends struggling through life together after facing the horrors of war. It was well written and flowed beautifully. I can't begin to imagine what it would be like to pick up the pieces of your life after war--but this story gives you a glimpse into the hard realities people faced. I found myself feeling thankful for the simple things in life that I take for granted on a daily basis.
While I loved the story of the gown shop, my favorite parts included Frank and Melany. I especially enjoyed Frank's sleuthing and Melany's articles.
This book works as a stand alone. It is the first book in the series that I've read and I understood everything that was going on. I'd love to go back and read the earlier stories that were occasionally referenced in the novel--as a matter of fact, I'm looking forward to reading more! Great work, Meredith Kennon!

Check out all of Meredith's novels here.

The Island Series

Today I'd like to share with you a dystopian series I read and greatly enjoyed. I absolutely love these covers!

Meet the author:

Jen Minkman (1978) writes paranormal romance, dystopian fiction and poetry. She is from the Netherlands and self-publishes her work in English. Her works are available in paperback & digital format.

Jen was born in the Netherlands and lived in Austria, Belgium and the UK during her studies. She learned how to read at the age of three and has never stopped reading since. Her favourite books to read are (YA) paranormal/fantasy, sci-fi, dystopian and romance, and this is reflected in the stories she writes. In her home country, she is a trade-published author of paranormal romance and chicklit. Across the border, she is a self-published author of poetry, paranormal romance and dystopian fiction. Her books are already available in English, Dutch and Chinese. Translations in Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, and Afrikaans are coming soon!

She currently resides in The Hague where she works and lives with her husband and two noisy zebra finches. You can follow Jen on Twitter: @JenMinkman or e-mail her at jenminkman (at) hotmail (dot) com!

I just finished The Deep last night and I loved it!

The Island series takes the reader into an amazingly creative dystopian world filled with mystery, deceit, and mayhem.

Once I finished reading The Island, I was filled with questions and a burning desire to know more. No worries, as the series continued, all was revealed. The story unfolded, bit by bit, revealing the truth behind the inhabitants' existence. The Deep was a satisfying conclusion to the story and kept me engaged with its non-stop action and adventure--and of course a little romance too!

I'm always impressed with the fact that Jen translates her books from Dutch to English herself. The Deep was well-written and had a smooth, easy-read flow to it. I enjoyed my time in this dystopian world. Thanks for a great series, Jen!

To grab a FREE copy of The Island go here: Amazon

You'll be hooked, so . . .

To purchase The Waves on Amazon, go here.

To purchase The Deep on Amazon, go here.

Enjoy!

COVER REVEAL

A book reviewer friend of mine wrote her debut novel and I signed up to participate in her cover reveal . . . so here it is!

Gorgeous cover! Congrats Brandy!

Again by Brandy Jeffus

Release Date: May 15th, 2013

Check out Brandy's Book Review website, here!

Blurb:

From recess buddies to high school sweethearts, Eli Stone and Bonnie Jinks were constants in each other’s lives. Although young, their relationship had withstood the test of many teenage tribulations. Marriage and a happy ever after were in their future plans.

One alcohol fueled mistake rips them apart. Bonnie ends up on the road with her new boyfriend while Eli joins the military. It seems as if their lives would never intersect again.

A near fatal accident brings them together and their chemistry is undeniable. But will the pain of the past keep them apart? Can they make their love work again?

THE PERFECT TREE

Blake Kiser is a 12-year-old boy who has given up his latest summer to help out more around the farm. It's not like he has much else to do though—his best friend, Matt, has moved away, leaving Blake more alone than ever, until Greta arrives. Gretchen Wills is a bit of an oddity, who stands out even more in the quiet country town of Hemingford, like a firefly in a dark basement. But like every firefly, shine too bright and you're bound to get caught.

Blake shows Greta some of Hemingford's local color, including the old Bradley House—a house every kid in Hemingford believes to be haunted. They are enthralled by the broken-down shack and the eerie tales that surround it—stories of the man who used to live there. But they find something much more concrete than ghosts waiting within: a crude man who becomes a very unlikely friend. But as wicked crimes are committed throughout the rural community, Blake witnesses the quiet town of Hemingford transform into something ugly he doesn't recognize—and suddenly, childish fears of ghosts and monsters seem irrelevant in the wake of true, tangible danger.

The Perfect Tree is a novel about trust, who you should and who you shouldn't, and the people who surprise you along the way. Truly, like nature, we all harbor the capacity for good, evil, and the various degrees in between.

Sounds like an intriguing read, doesn't it? Notice how the tree on the cover can be used for good or evil? Deep, I know! Here's how I found this amazing book:

A few weeks ago I received a direct message on Twitter. It was from a gentleman, letting me know that he was reading Lancaster House. I was thrilled. 

At the same time, I felt a little nervous. While many men have really enjoyed Lancaster House, it is overwhelmingly a romance novel. And I guess I think of my books as ‘girl books.’ I don’t feel that men are my target audience.

However, I was pleased when I received another message from this same gentleman, letting me know that he was ‘digging’ Lancaster House.

Whew!

A few days later, I received another message from the gentleman. Would I be interested in reading his newly published novel and swapping reviews on our blogs?

I don’t do reviews. I don’t have time. If I spend my time reading novels and writing reviews, I’d never get any writing done! However, being that this was a mutually beneficial swap of reviews, I readily agreed. I felt flattered to be approached with the idea and it seemed like a great opportunity to help a fellow author. Besides, I love to read—any excuse to do so and I’ll grab it!

Then I was filled with trepidation. What if I don’t like his novel? How do I write my review? What if he hates my novel? What if he gives me a bad review? What if I like his novel and he hates mine?

You get the idea. 

Image courtesy of [Salvatore Vuono] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I pushed aside my worries and downloaded his book to my Kindle.

The Perfect Tree, written by Kenneth Scott Harris, is not my usual read. I like clean adult romance. To my surprise, however, the book hooked me from the very beginning. It is very well written and flows beautifully. I found myself feeling anxious to see where the story was going and this doesn’t always happen to me when reading a book. I have a few books sitting on my kindle that I’ve never finished because they didn’t capture my attention. (I’m sure they’re wonderful books, they just weren’t for me.) Not the case with The Perfect Tree. Every day I looked forward to entering Blake and Greta’s world once again.

The Perfect Tree is a ‘coming of age’ story. It captures the feelings of childhood perfectly—that stage in life when you’re still a kid, but you’re making the transition into the teenage years. The characters of Blake and Greta act and think like real children and I think this is what kept me so very intrigued. I love a book that portrays a child as a child, with child-like thoughts, not adult thoughts. It reminded me of my childhood; the innocence, the carefree days, and the first tender feelings of young love. The relationship between Blake and Greta is endearing. The Perfect Tree has a ‘feel’ to it, a certain ambiance that stayed with me after I finished the book. I know this is a somewhat cliché concept, but I couldn’t stop thinking about it for days afterwards.

In essence, the young characters are intrigued by a ‘haunted house’ said to be inhabited by a ghost. I assumed the book was going to be some kind of ghost story and I felt that tingly anticipation as my heart raced that little bit faster. Sorry, no spoilers! However, the characters soon find that there are many things in life that are worse than ghosts. The innocence of childhood ends and their eyes are ‘opened.’ I greatly enjoyed the book and it’s an easy five star rating. And the ending—well, the ending is AMAZING. I wanted more! I found myself daydreaming about what happened next. Again, no spoilers. You’ll have to read it! It’ll be worth your time.

Meet the author of The Perfect Tree:

Kenneth S. Harris has a B.A. in English. His passion for crafting fiction has led to the creation of his first novel, The Perfect Tree, and several short stories. He currently lives in Richmond, KY where he works as part of the Content and Social Media Team at Consultwebs.com.

Find Kenneth Scott Harris here: http://www.kennethscottharris.com/

The Perfect Tree is available on AMAZON.

I asked Mr. Harris to share a few of his thoughts on The Perfect Tree:

What was your inspiration for writing The Perfect Tree?

The Perfect Tree was inspired by a "true" story originally told to me by my Grandmother, and then echoed again by other people in the community. It was about a lonely, old man who went missing nearby a long time ago. He was found hanging from a tree in the woods, or so the story goes. I thought it was such a sad tale that he was so lonely he chose to end his life. That inspired the short story, "The Perfect Tree," which was the first story I ever published in a peer-reviewed literary magazine at the college where I obtained my B.A. The story is now the prologue of the novel and actually exists within the characters' world, penned by a unique woman, Alfie Mae Piper (Pip, the narrator of the short story).

I was happy to see the short story become so much more and fit so well into the novel. I'm sure Alfie Mae would be happy too. 

Does The Perfect Tree include any personal experiences from your childhood?

Several parts of the book were also inspired by my childhood. For instance, the relationship between Blake and Greta is reminiscent of a fantastic friend I had growing up. Van is also based on a culmination of bullies I tried to steer clear of as a child.

And Fall Festivals, especially as a child, are simply magical. Therefore, I tried to capture that magic in the book.

Thank you, Mr. Harris, for a wonderful book!