JOSHUA'S FOLLY REVIEWS

I wouldn't publish a book unless I felt good about it, confident in it, LOVED it!

However, I knew going in that Joshua's Folly was not like my other books--and this made me nervous. I love this book, but I kept asking myself, will I disappoint my readers?

(Read the Joshua's Folly Debate here.)

A few of the reviews have confirmed my worst fears:

~This was a quick read and easy read which I liked but the story was just to fluffy for me,and not really my style not one of Taylor's best books but I'm still a fan and eager to read more books by her

~it was ok not her usual style, i like taylor dean books for being different and this wasn't.

I guess I kinda expected that reaction from some readers. It was risky to publish Joshua's Folly. But, then other reviews helped me realize it was the right thing to do. It does appeal to some audiences:

~Aaawwww!!! Taylor, Taylor, Taylor, you have reduced me to tears, yet again! Tears of joy, laughter and pain. I love how your books make me feel like I am one of the main characters and the events of the story are happening to me, right at that moment. This is yet another MUST read people, get reading and rate. You won't be disappointed :)

~This is my 3rd book by Taylor Dean and I have loved them all. She’s an amazing writer. I inhaled this book like it was chocolate once it came out. Dean once again created characters you can’t help but love and cheer for; Joshua and Marisa work their way into your heart and become dear friends you don’t want to ever part from. This romance is so touching, fun, poignant, and heart wrenching at times. The emotional connection between Joshua and Marisa is wonderful to read about; their love story is one in a million and will make you laugh, cry, and sigh endlessly. I loved them together, didn’t want them ever apart, and was sad to let go of this when I was done. I will definitely reread it someday. You won’t regret reading this contemporary romance set on a dusty Texas cattle ranch, and might want to wake up for 2 am hot chocolate after you read it.

I actually liked the way the below reviewer explained the situation! She really hit the nail on the head. 

~Taylor Dean is a wonderful writer who is known by her fans for the suspense in her books. Joshua's Folly was different than her normal books, so even though this is by NO means a bad book, I would not suggest this as your first Taylor Dean book. I would recommend reading I Have People, Sierra, Lancaster House, or For Nick (which releases next month I believe) first and then come back to this one. That way you get a true sense of her writing style signature, which is incredible. Still, Joshua's Folly was a sweet romance.

Marisa is a woman who has been through a lot in life, and as a 10 year old girl fell in love with a picture of strong, handsome and sturdy-looking (if that's a word? it seemed to fit here) Joshua when she needed someone like that in her life more than ever. Joshua hasn't had the easiest road either, and now he is raising his [daughter] as a single father on a cattle ranch in Texas. The book begins with Marisa arriving in Texas to help out the boy from the picture she fell for all those years ago for the summer, and her feelings only get stronger after meeting him in person.

I enjoyed the laid back setting of the Texas ranch and the "folly" area. I could picture clearly in my mind the characters and setting in this book, thanks to Taylor's descriptive writing. She manages to show instead of tell, which is a big problem for me in some books.

One thing you should know about Taylor Dean is that she has very strong morals which is apparent when reading her books, and I applaud her for that, for not selling out and writing something she doesn't believe in just to sell books. Her characters never have pre-marital sex, they don't swear, and they treat people as they wish to be treated. I actually think Joshua's Folly might appeal to fans of religious romance fiction books, and not because religion is mentioned at all, because to my recollection it isn't, but because of the strong morals of the characters.

Overall, if you are looking for a sweet clean romance book, this is a great book to pick up so long as you don't go in expecting Dean's signature suspense! And don't forget to check out For Nick, coming July 2013, where she is back to the suspense! And it's a great read!

Lesson learned: Each book I release had better be even more amazing than the last! I plan on living up to the challenge. The comments my beta readers have given me on my next book, For Nick, have been extremely favorable, with many saying it's their favorite of all of my novels. I wasn't expecting that, but I'm thrilled. I never know which book people will love the most, because I LOVE all of them!

Even Joshua's Folly!

JOSHUA'S FOLLY IS FREE FOR THREE DAYS!

JOSHUA'S FOLLY will be free on Amazon Kindle for the next three days, June 15-17!

Get your copy today!!

Can you fall in love with a picture?

After Marisa survives a traumatic experience in her youth, she finds comfort in the form of a photograph of Joshua, her foster mother’s nephew. She falls in love with him, creating and refining an image of the man of her dreams. When Marisa has the opportunity to visit Joshua’s cattle ranch outside of Amarillo, Texas, she meets Joshua in person for the first time. She quickly realizes he is someone she could really fall in love with, not just a silly childhood crush.

Life is seemingly perfect for Josh and Marisa, with endless possibilities before them. That is, until Josh’s reservations take a toll on their relationship and their summertime romance ends rather unexpectedly.

Will Marisa be able to forgive Josh for his folly? 

JOSHUA'S FOLLY RELEASE

JOSHUA'S FOLLY  is now available in paperback and Kindle!! It is signed up for Amazon Prime (Kindle Lending Library) and will be exclusive to Kindle for 90 days. 

Can you fall in love with a picture?

After Marisa survives a traumatic experience in her youth, she finds comfort in the form of a photograph of Joshua, her foster mother’s nephew. She falls in love with him, creating and refining an image of the man of her dreams. When Marisa has the opportunity to visit Joshua’s cattle ranch outside of Amarillo, Texas, she meets Joshua in person for the first time. She quickly realizes he is someone she could really fall in love with, not just a silly childhood crush.

Life is seemingly perfect for Josh and Marisa, with endless possibilities before them. That is, until Josh’s reservations take a toll on their relationship and their summertime romance ends rather unexpectedly.

Will Marisa be able to forgive Josh for his folly? 


Book Reviewers: I'll be happy to send this book out to you for review! However, I'm currently out of commission for the next two weeks due to this cute little guy (my new grandson) entering the world!

Graham Ethan Isaacs

I'll send out review copies when I return home!

THE JOSHUA'S FOLLY DEBATE

I'm late publishing my next novel, JOSHUA'S FOLLY.

You're probably wondering why!

After all, I originally announced in June 2012 that I had six completed novels that I would be slowly publishing over the next year.

So, what's the hold up?

(Besides the fact that I can't stop editing it OR reading it just ONE more time, just to be sure there are no mistakes. Seriously, at some point I have to declare it DONE.)

Here's my dilemma:

LANCASTER HOUSE and THE MIDDLE AISLE are both dominated by the all-consuming question: Is Zoe crazy or not? This concept keeps readers eagerly turning the pages.

SIERRA leaves readers on the edge of their seat, wondering if Alyssa will escape her kidnappers and find happiness in her new life.

I HAVE PEOPLE keeps you guessing: Is Holly's life what it seems? Or are her memories skewed?

The similar theme that runs through my books is SUSPENSE. Not 'murder-mystery' suspense, but the kind of suspense that keeps readers turning the pages, wondering what will happen next!

One reviewer said this about my books:

I think I might have mentioned that Taylor Dean is one of the best discoveries I've made this year as far as authors go. I've read 3 of her books so far, Lancaster House, Sierra and now I Have People. There's one element that binds them together, suspense.

 ~Andrea of A Chick Who Reads

That's a lot to live up to.

Remember the song from Sesame Street: one of these things is not like the other . . . one of these things doesn't belong . . . can you guess which thing is not like the other, before I finish my song . . .

Realization hit. JOSHUA'S FOLLY is not like the others.

I love JOSHUA'S FOLLY. I love the story, I love the romance, I love the setting, and I love the angst. 

However, JOSHUA'S FOLLY is not filled with suspense.

It is a tru-blue-slow-build contemporary romance novel. It has some suspenseful scenes--and there is the wonder of what will happen between the hero and heroine. But, there is not an overall feeling of 'what-will-happen-next-I-can't-put-this-book-down.'

I kept asking myself: will this novel disappoint my readers? 

This question has kept me from publishing the book.

In other words: AUTHOR INSECURITY!

I asked several beta readers to read it for me and give me their opinion of the novel. 

The consensus: No, it's not like your other novels. It doesn't have the 'suspense' that you've become known for.

BUT, it is still a really good contemporary romance novel.

Okay.

Back to square one.

Will I disappoint my readers with this novel?

I seriously considered NOT publishing JOSHUA'S FOLLY. I shared my thoughts with my beta readers.

They disagreed. They felt I should publish JOSHUA'S FOLLY. They felt it would still appeal to a large audience of readers.

I went back and forth, unsure of what I should do.

In the end, I decided to PUBLISH JOSHUA'S FOLLY!

Yes, it is different from my other novels. But, if you enjoy a realistic contemporary romance novel, without ghosts, kidnapping, memory loss, vampires, or domestic abuse, then you'll enjoy JOSHUA'S FOLLY!

Don't get me wrong . . . JOSHUA'S FOLLY is not lacking in the drama department!

AND if you don't enjoy a realistic contemporary romance novel, no worries! My next novel, FOR NICK is signature Taylor Dean. It has plenty of 'suspense' to keep you  turning the pages!

So, off to the ebook formatter it is for JOSHUA'S FOLLY. Which means, I'll have it available in just a few short weeks!

Decision made!

WAIT FOR IT!

Over the year 2012 I published four novels. I have two more I am releasing. My plan was to release Joshua's Folly in March, and For Nick in June of 2013. Since I published Lancaster House and Sierra in June of 2012, that would be one book every three months! 

I think I can give myself a break! What I'm trying to say is, unfortunately, Joshua's Folly is on hold. It was not released in March as planned. 

The feedback for Joshua's Folly from early readers has been good. As a matter of fact, it has been fantastic!

So why am I waiting?

To be honest, I'm waiting on one person's opinion. 

I know, crazy, right!

This one person is my daughter. She always reads my books prior to publication and I value her opinion. She's always spot on in her observations and she's never steered me wrong. She gives me the most constructive criticism of ANYONE. And you know what? Writers need someone who will tell it like it is. She's that person for me. Even my worst review isn't as tough on me as she is!

Already she caught one scene that needed MAJOR changes. No one else had caught the issue with the scene, except her! And she was RIGHT! 

However, she's suffering from the effects of early pregnancy right now. She's a voracious reader and usually reads one of my books in one weekend. However, she feels so sick that reading makes her dizzy. Hence, she's making her way through Joshua's Folly at a snail's pace. 

This is my daughter who lost a baby to Trisomy 18. The fact that she's pregnant again is extremely joyous news and I can't put any pressure on her! She's already experiencing major stress and worry, hoping that everything will be fine with this baby.You can read her heart-breaking story here. (Remembering Jerad) Be warned, it's a tear jerker.

In the meantime, I made the decision to go ahead and send Joshua's Folly to several more early readers. If my daughter isn't able to finish the book, then I'll at least have several more opinions. 

BTW, of all of my books, Joshua's Folly has always been my daughter's personal favorite. It has changed drastically since she last read it, so I HAVE to know her opinion!

I don't like to publish a book without having several people read it and give me their feedback. It helps me to know that the book is ready to see the light of day. Having another set of eyes read my book is so very important. They see mistakes that I don't see because I'm too close to it. Unfortunately, Indie Writers can sometimes have a reputation for releasing work that isn't quite ready yet, and I don't want to do that.

So, please be patient and I apologize for the delay!

To those of you who have been asking about Joshua's Folly, THANK YOU!  I love that you're excited about my next book!

Joshua's Folly

Joshua's Folly

Coming your way by the end of March 2013!

So, what's the hold up?

Proof copies of Joshua's Folly are currently being read by some early readers. If they like it, I'm ready to publish. If they don't like it, it's back to the drawing board for me! 

Why put so much faith in my early readers?

I trust them. They tell me what they think of the book; no holds barred. They've never steered me wrong in the past. If they feel major changes are needed in the novel, I'll make them. 

I don't send a book out to my early readers unless I feel it is READY. I'm happy with the book as it stands.

That being said, I cannot publish a book without having others read it and tell me what they think of it! I NEED a second (and a third, and a fourth, and a fifth, etc.) opinion. I need fresh eyes to peruse the novel and tell me what I missed. Are there logic errors? Are there huge mistakes? Another set of eyes will see what I missed. I'm too close to the manuscript. If there are mistakes, I can no longer see them.

Sorry for the delay in releasing this book! Thanks for being patient. But I have to be sure I'm putting the best possible work out there for the reading public!

After proofing Joshua's Folly several times on my computer, I thought the book was complete. 

Then I received my proof copy. 

As usual, I found just a FEW edits!!

Reading a book you are holding in your hands is a different experience than reading it on your computer. You see things you wouldn't normally see. 

Like, the, fact, that, I, often, put, commas, where, I, don't, need, them!

I've become a 'comma nazi!' I pause at every single comma and ask myself, "Is this comma needed?"

My final edits are complete. We'll see what the consensus is from my early readers! 

In the meantime, I'm getting to work on edits for my next book, FOR NICK!

(coming your way in June 2013!)

I think this might be my favorite cover . . .

SNEAK PEEK OF JOSHUA'S FOLLY

Here's a sneak peek of the prologue to Joshua's Folly:

Marisa’s eyes fluttered open, her lashes tickling her tear-stained cheeks.  The surrounding room was unfamiliar and for just a moment she wondered where she was.

She sat up quickly, too quickly. Pain washed through her little body in waves, the kind of pain she’d never felt before in all of her eleven years.

She almost cried out, but then she remembered where she was and she didn’t want to wake up her new family. If she caused too much trouble, maybe they wouldn’t want her anymore, maybe they’d send her away.

Where would she go?

They were nice. They were kind. They told her they loved her very much.

They were strangers.

Her stomach rumbled loudly. She hadn’t eaten very much dinner. If they thought she didn’t eat very much then they’d know she wouldn’t be too much of a nuisance to them. And they’d keep her. Please let me stay, I don’t have anywhere else to go.

Marisa’s eyes wandered around the room. It was just like a room she’d seen in a magazine once. It was called, “a little girl’s dream room.” Everything was pink. The walls were pink, the carpet was pink, the bedspread was pink, the ruffled canopy overhead was pink.

She liked pink.

It was a beautiful room. A room for a princess. She especially liked the wallpaper border. It was filled with pink bows all connected together as if the bows were holding hands.

She should feel happy.

But she didn’t. She felt so sad that all she wanted to do was cry. Not just cry, she wanted to sob.

I want my mommy and daddy.

Marisa berated herself. She wasn’t five years old anymore. But it didn’t stop her from yearning for her mommy and daddy.

Mary had left the hall light on. Her room wasn’t dark. That was good because she hated the dark. The dark scared her.

Everything scared her.

She wanted to go home.

Mary said this was her home now.

But it wasn’t her home and it never would be. She didn’t have a home anymore. She didn’t have a mommy and daddy anymore.

Marisa collapsed onto her bed and curled into a tight little ball. The movement made the pain come back. She changed positions, straightening her legs, stretching them out as far as they would go in the huge double bed. She told her body to relax and let her sleep.

It didn’t work.

The pain wouldn’t let her sleep. No position was comfortable. The sheets felt cool on her skin. The nightgown was brand new and made her skin feel itchy. The room felt weird and kinda creepy. It was so unfamiliar, so foreign. Marisa grabbed the cute little teddy bear sitting on the nightstand and hugged it tightly to her chest. Clearly, Mary and Jerome had wanted a younger child. A cute, frilly little girl who would squeal at the sight of ‘the little girl’s dream room.’ She couldn’t be that little girl. A few more tears escaped as she cried as quietly as she could. Her heart hurt the most of anything, as if she didn’t have a heart in her chest anymore; instead it was a huge, heavy rock. A boulder. Lodged in her chest. Heavy and tight.

Marisa’s eyes wandered the room again. Everything was brand sparkling new. Fresh.

Except for herself. She was broken. Damaged.

I’m sooooo cold.

Her eye’s wandered to the hallway. The walls were covered with family pictures. Framed, nameless faces. More strangers. I don’t belong here. I don’t belong anywhere. I’m all alone.

Totally alone.

Marisa climbed out of bed. She couldn’t sleep. Not here. Not ever. Mary said the pain would lessen as time went by. Mary said she hoped she would be very happy here. She liked Mary. Very much.

But sleep was so hard. Nighttime was so cold. And she was so alone.

Marisa tiptoed into the hallway and stared at Mary’s family pictures. Happy, smiling faces. Joyful occasions. The precious moments of life, captured and remembered forever.

Her eyes rested on one photo in particular. Once it caught her attention, she was hard pressed to look away. Warmth trickled through her body, right down to her toes. It was the first time she’d felt warm in many days.

It was a picture of a young man. He was handsome, maybe just a few years older than her. He smiled into the camera as if he didn’t have a care in the world. He was outdoors, the sun shining in his windblown hair, his blue eyes glistening with life. He looked directly into the camera lens, giving her the sense that he was staring into her own eyes. There was something about him that made her feel . . . safe, and she longed to climb into the photo, just to be at his side.

“Stay with me forever and never leave me. Promise?” she’d ask him.

“I promise,” he’d say. “I love you, Marisa. I love you.”

Sometimes a promise to stay together forever didn’t work out. She knew that all too well.

Mary must’ve sensed her restlessness because she came to check on her. “Marisa, are you okay, sweetheart?”

“Yes, I’m so sorry if I woke you.”

“You didn’t. I just wanted to make sure you were doing all right.”

“I’m okay,” Marisa answered, trying to force a smile. Be happy. Be thankful. Be on your best behavior.

“Trouble sleeping?” Mary asked, concern lacing her features.

“Yes, I’m sorry. I’ll go back to bed. I didn’t mean to disturb you.”

“You didn’t, Marisa, really. I wanted to check on you. I was worried about you,” Mary said, touching her shoulder softly.

Mary was wonderful. Really wonderful. Marisa valiantly held back the tears that threatened to erupt. Maybe even explode. She wasn’t sure, but she knew if she started crying, she might start screaming too. It wouldn’t be pretty.

“Who is this?” Marisa asked, pointing to the picture of the handsome young man. Another glance at him and the same thing happened. Warmth infused her body.

“That’s my nephew, Joshua. He lives in Texas on our family’s cattle ranch.”

“He’s very handsome.”

“Yes, he is.”

“He reminds me of a prince in a fairy tale, you know, the ones who always save the damsel in distress. The knight in shining armor who rides up on his white steed and whisks the princess away to his castle.” Marisa sighed. “I read a lot,” she said by way of explanation for her overactive imagination.

Mary smiled. “Joshua is that kind of a young man, always ready to help anyone in need.”

A few tense moments of silence passed. Marisa continued to hold the ever-threatening tears at bay. The constant, raw ache inside of her body, mind, and spirit refused to subside. Would it always be a part of her?

 “I’ll be right back,” Mary said softly as she walked away rather purposefully.

Marisa heard the sounds of rummaging through boxes from the hallway closet. She breathed in deeply and let the air out slowly, feeling completely overwhelmed by her new life circumstances. Slowly, she placed her fingers to her lips and kissed them softly. Then she placed her fingers to the picture of Joshua. “Save me,” she whispered.

 When Mary returned, she held a picture in her hands. It was the same picture of Joshua that graced the wall.

“Come on, let’s get you tucked back into bed.”

Mary took her by the hand and led her to the pink canopied bed. She carefully helped her to slide under the covers, then pulled the blankets up to her chin. She placed a soft kiss on her forehead ever so lightly.

“Here’s a picture of Joshua for you,” she said as she slipped it under her pillow. “There. Now Joshua will always be with you, keeping you safe at night. He won’t let anything happen to you, I promise. He’ll be your very own guardian angel, your very own handsome prince.”

“Thank you, Mary,” Marisa breathed as sleep claimed her.

She was safe. 

JOSHUA'S FOLLY

My next book, JOSHUA'S FOLLY will be coming your way in March of 2013!

My mother, who LOVED this book, calls this novel a TRU-BLUE romance. 

No paranormal, no ghosts, no kidnapping, no amnesia, no abuse. 

It's just a contemporary love story, but there's something about this novel that I LOVE. 

Oh, and the drama . . . well, it's not lacking in that department!

Here's a little something to whet your appetite: the 'folly' is not just a mistake made on Josh's part, it's a PLACE!

(I know, how cool is that?)

Here's the blurb:

Can you fall in love with a picture?

After Marisa survives a traumatic experience in her youth, she finds comfort in the form of a photograph of Joshua, her foster mother’s nephew. She falls in love with him, creating and refining an image of the man of her dreams. When Marisa has the opportunity to visit Joshua’s cattle ranch outside of Amarillo, Texas, she meets Joshua in person for the first time. She quickly realizes he is someone she could really fall in love with, not just a silly childhood crush.

Life is seemingly perfect for Josh and Marisa, with endless possibilities before them. That is, until Josh’s reservations take a toll on their relationship and their summertime romance ends rather unexpectedly.

Will Marisa be able to forgive Josh for his folly?

This particular novel has been through the ringer, so to speak. At one time, it was a 165,000 word monstrosity. After editing and streamlining the plot-line, it is now a modest 75,000 word novel. This is SHORT for me! I'm currently working on final edits and I'm horribly tempted to make the novel longer. The problem is that it's perfect just the way it is. It doesn't need more. More will ruin it. More drama, more action, more angst, more issues, MORE of anything will be too much. Believe me, I've conjured up hundreds of new plot-lines for this book, I've ran the ideas by family and friends, and they just feel wrong. Sometimes you have to know when to stop! I feel this novel is best left untouched. The story is perfect as it stands right now.

JOSHUA'S FOLLY

Making an appearance in your life in March 2013!

Old and New Cover Comparisons

One of my favorite things to do is show my readers my old and new covers. My next book that I'm going to release is entitled, Joshua's Folly, a contemporary romance.

I agonize over my cover choices. The popular book covers of today mostly have pictures of real people. While some of those covers are absolutely amazing and I LOVE them, there are many that I don't care for at all. I don't like to see a picture of a real person on a cover because it sets an image in my mind of how they look and I like to picture the characters in a book in my own imagination, the way I think they look.

I chose to go with animated covers. I fear this makes my books look juvenile sometimes. I get comments about my covers all the time. In particular, for Lancaster House and The Middle Aisle. Some people LOVE them and some people HATE them! You can't please everyone, all you can do is please yourself!

In the end, that's what I decided to do. Every single person I asked for advice about my covers gave me a different opinion. I realized that I needed to make the decision. I wanted eye catching covers and I felt the animated images were definitely eye catching! Also, I write clean romance and if my covers look different, then I felt that they spoke to the content inside. They are different from your average romance novel.

That being said, I'm still on the fence with my cover for Joshua's Folly. To be honest, I LOVE the old cover. I LOVE the new cover too, but I LOVE the old cover a little more. The problem is that now that I've gone with animated covers, I feel like all of my covers should match and be animated. Keep with the theme!

Tell me what you think!

The old cover:

The new cover:

Now that I look at them side by side, I realize the new cover matches with my new Taylor Dean Books theme and it's the right choice. But, I'd still love to hear your opinion.