AN AMAZING REVIEW OF SIERRA AND A FEW FUN FACTS

I LOVE this review of SIERRA by Laura of FUONLYKNEW. 

Stop by her blog and enter the giveaway!

I have always considered my books to be ROMANCE. I LOVE that she places them in other categories. I like the idea of having other elements in my stories. I feel it adds to the intensity of the romance.

Laura entitles the post, She Chose Life . . . another thing I love.

Here's her review:

The best word I can use to describe Taylor Deans writing is ‘haunting.‘

I have read all of her books, and they all stayed with me, lingered.

The same can be said about Sierra.

Taylor classifies her books as love stories.

There is romance in all of her books, but I classified some of them as horror and thrillers.

Sierra starts out with your typical happy family on vacation.

Then it turns dark in a hurry.

Two maniacs abduct Alyssa and Sam and their son Clay, forcing her to drive them deep into the woods.

Pa and Adam had found their Eve. They had no use for the man and the boy.

Sam and Clay are gunned down right before her eyes and Alyssa succumbs to the shock.

When she comes to, her reality is horrifying.

Her escape attempt is thwarted by her kidnappers, but now they’re lost.

But wait, they stumble upon a cabin.

Alyssa dares to hope. Could her savior be inside? Maybe she can survive this, but does she want to?

I can’t imagine anything more soul-destroying then to see your loved ones murdered.

No matter how much she grieves for her husband and son, Alyssa’s will to survive drives her on.

There is a miracle in the cabin. The miracle is Alex.

He’s damaged goods, but then, so is she.

Two people, trapped in a cabin for the winter, turn to each other.

What I like most about Sierra was how Taylor lulls you in the beginning, then she shreds the peaceful scene to pieces. It happens so fast you barely have time to comprehend what is going to happen. Just like in real life.

You’ll be proud of Alyssa. Her heart has been shattered, she doesn’t want to live, but she can’t quit.

So she fights. with everything she can dredge up, she fights to live.

And life is waiting. Alex is waiting. He just doesn’t know it yet.

So, Sierra is a thriller, wrapped around a love story.

Of all of Taylor Dean’s books, this one moved me the most.

I cried, wiped the tears so I could see to keep on reading, and cried some more.

I smiled, then grinned, then laughed, and finally clapped.

Taylor gives you stong, genuine characters, a horrifying scenario that could happen, and the healing power of the human spirit.

I guarantee, after you read Sierra, you’ll have to read Taylor’s other books!

5 Stars

Taylor, I’m waiting for more!!

TEN Things you Don’t Know About Sierra 

1. Sierra is my first novel.

2. Sierra was originally a 165,000 word monstrosity. (It’s now 100,000 words.)

3. Sierra was inspired by the true-story-TV-movie of the ordeal endured by Olympic Medalist Kari Swenson, entitled, Abduction. (1987) This movie inspired a 'what if' story in me. What if the kidnapping had been successful? What if she was taken deep into the woods? What if she was rescued there? What if she had to stay with her rescuer through the winter?

4. The first ten pages of Sierra were handwritten back in 1991 (pictured below) on a day when I just couldn’t stand it anymore, I had to write my story. If I didn't commit it to paper right then, I was going to die! Frankly, the hastily written pages are really, really awful. But, the gist of the story is there and it's eerily similar to the published version that stands today. Back then, for some unknown reason, I thought Nightmare into Paradise was a good title. (I blame it on the nineties.) I've come a long way.

I didn’t officially write Sierra until 2006. 

5. My sister—one of the first people to ever read Sierra—stayed up ALL night to read it and still says it’s the best book she’s ever read.

My sister's thoughts on Sierra:

If you only read one of her books, it should be this one. Dean captures the real terror and thoughts of a woman in a dangerous situation; the real fears we have in love; the realistic responses of survivors of terrifying scenarios.
If you like to see the man you love chopping wood with his shirt off, save you from any situation you encounter, and then go inside and make you dinner, Sierra is the book for you!

6. Of all of my novels, Sierra is my personal favorite.

7. The original cover of Sierra was an actual picture of a snowbound cabin. (It was never published with this cover.)

©iStockphoto.com/rita robinson]

8. In my original story of Sierra, Alyssa takes Alex to court to have their marriage declared legal. Ugh. It was one of the first plot lines to get DELETED. Thank goodness. But I sure had fun writing it.

9. It took me one year to write Sierra. (and even longer to EDIT, EDIT, EDIT!)

10. The original (awful) title of Sierra was Sanguinity.

Below is how my family and friends read my early manuscripts--somehow they still liked them! When people enjoy your early unedited and unformatted stories--you know you're on to something.

I am about to release TWO more books! (June 2013)

Zachary Drake had love in his life--and tragically lost it. He knows it won't come his way again.

Andie Parker would do anything for the love of her life.

Even marry a total stranger.

In spite of the unorthodox manner in which Zach and Andie come together, there is no denying that things are unexpectedly good between them, taking them both by surprise. However, when secrets come between them--and trust does not--Andie soon finds herself vowing to never make the same mistake again. But, she'd do it again in a heartbeat and she knows it. She'd marry a hundred strangers if it helped Nick.

She'd do anything for Nick . . . anything.

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?

AMAZING Reviews of Sierra

Below is a review of Sierra from Katrina at Kindred Dreamheart. LOVE THIS REVIEW!!

This is quiet frankly the best clean romance novel I've ever read in my whole entire life. Finally a “love story” I can recommend to my mom without blushing or her thinking I'm some kind of freak. This was such an emotional read. Sierra tells the story of a woman targeted by madmen on a mission. Her family is brutally taken away and she is held captive in the wilderness. In the mist of her suffering she finds a hero. I was outraged. I was hopeless. I cried along with the main character, Alyssa. I cast the e reader away swearing to not finish this novel. But at last, my curiosity got the best of me. This was such a charming story. Even in the super gushy parts, I hung to every word as if it was oxygen, I needed to see what would happen next. In the end a part of me wished this was a true story and that fairy tale romances like this could actually exist. Yet at the same time, I wouldn't wish the horrors she faced on my worst enemy. I would recommend this to any and everyone. This is a few readers away from an "American classic”!

This next review is quite possibly one of the best reviews I've ever received for Sierra. That's really hard to say, because so many have given me wonderful reviews that I LOVE and I don't want to leave them out. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my other reviews too! But, this is a truly amazing review. Thank you to Ruth of My Devotional Thoughts.

Let me begin by saying that any review I leave here will never do this book justice. Not since "Hunger Games" has a book so captivated me and taken me on such an emotional roller coaster! I thought I had read romances before, and books like "Jane Eyre" and "A Tale of Two Cities," I had always considered the peaks of romantic literature. Let me say this. This is the most romantic book I have ever read in my 38 years on this planet! In case you have not guessed by now, I loved this book!

When I began this book, I had no idea what I was getting into. I was horrified right off the bat, but I was so intensely drawn into the story that I savored every word on every page. Alyssa and Alex are fantastic characters, and Taylor Dean has made them truly three-dimensional. I connected with both in ways I never dreamed possible that I could connect with fictional characters. Alex gets my award for the most romantic character in a book--right alongside the Dumb as a Box of Rocks Award. No spoilers--read the book yourself.

I found myself tingling in unexpected ways and moaning (even when there were students in the room with me). More than once, I found myself crying over this story, and once I even threw the kindle down on the desk, determined to not finish it. It was too painful to read. Why? Well, let's just say that while I have not experienced anything like Alyssa did, I long for so much of what she and Alex expressed. And the book was so real to me that I found myself longing for what I don't have. Very rarely does a book ever affect me like this. I am a romantic at heart (which the majority of people would never guess), but so far, I can't find anyone who wants to share that romance with me. At least I was able to have some vicarious pleasure with this story.

Let me end by saying there is basically no profanity. No misuse of God's name--always makes me happy. And no sex before marriage. What? Really? What an amazing idea in this day and age! And I am glad the author had the decency to give the characters privacy in the bedroom. In fact, that makes it even more romantic, in my opinion. This book brought out the true romantic in me that often gets neglected.

Reviews of Sierra

Below are some reviews of Sierra.  I received the first one from Andrea at A Chick who Reads:

Review: If you look at the cover of this book, you may think you are getting a light hearted winter tale. That's definitely not the case here.

This is the kind of story that grabs you from the first page and makes you hold on until the last page is turned.

I always find books like this hard to review because of that whole spoiler thing.

So rather than try to sum the book up, I'll tell you this. When I first saw the cover and saw the genre as romantic suspense, I almost dismissed it. The cover gave it a kind of Harlequin-y look. A cozy suspense novel. (Not my favorite genre in the harlequin imprints) But something in the blurb made me give it a try.

It is nothing like the cover. And it isn't cozy.

This book will definitely surprise you and Taylor Dean will be an author you'll be adding to your must read lists!

Rating: 5 flowers

My next review is from Chasity at Batty for Books. Warning: Spoiler alert!!

My Thoughts:

“Sierra” Blew me away. The book started as a sort, cute, happy story and then bam tragedy struck and I didn’t see it coming. The whole feel of the book changed. It was suck an amazing thing to do and a very hard thing to do in writing. The more work of Taylor Dean’s that I read the more that I am impressed. She really knows how to tell an amazing story and how to grab your attention and hold it.

Alyssa’s life goes from picture perfect to horrid in a flash after her, her husband and her two year old son are all taken hostage by two crazed mountain men while they are on a vacation.

After brutally killing her loved one the proceed drag Alyssa through the forest with them so she can become the mother of their new community. Alyssa’s worst nightmares quickly become a reality.

But when the mountain men stumble upon a cabin in the mountains they are caught off guard by the man who lives there and the fact the he may be willing to risk his life to save Alyssa.

Taylor Dean’s writing is amazing. I love that her romance novels have other aspects. Like “Sierra” had the suspense/mystery theme to it as well. It wasn’t just a romance novel it was so much more. A very powerful, profound book! Another great read from Taylor Dean!

Thanks to Andrea and Chasity for two wonderful five-star reviews!!

REVIEWS!

Do you have any idea how rewarding it is to receive great reviews?

Well, I'll tell you.

It's amazing, it's wonderful, it's thrilling, it's miraculous, and . . . well, you get the idea.

Brandy of Book Worm Brandy gave me two wonderful reviews, one of Sierra and one of Lancaster House. Not only that, she read both books in one weekend, which is a huge compliment!

You can read the review of Sierra here and the one of Lancaster House here.

Or just read them below!

Lancaster House:

Lancaster House is amazingly written and such an original story. I was Zoe and Andre's number one fan from the beginning, they are an amazing couple, and Taylor easily conveys their love in this story.

Taylor made Zoe so likeable and so easy to sympathize with. You just want to tell off all the people who are so adamant about calling her crazy. Of course she's not crazy you want to scream at them! (Or at least I did, but I get really involved in novels if you haven't been able to tell) : )

I really can't say enough about Taylor Dean and this novel. She has created such an epic story of paranormal romance that you don't even realize that it is a paranormal telling. I ended up feeling so bad for Zoe because to me, all she deserves is to be happy and to be with Andre. It is a beautiful love story that you ABSOLUTELY MUST READ!!!

Sierra:

I read Sierra in less than 24 hours. I cried, I laughed, I experienced happiness, anger and envious during my reading. Taylor Dean has become one of my favorite authors and Sierra will forever be added to my list of favorite all time books.

Taylor eloquently writes of loss, love and hope in this book. It is not just 'another romance novel', not by a long shot. The loss that Alyssa endures was so painful to me, yet the turn around that happens in her life made me absolutely giddy. Taylor writes from the heart and you can really tell with each chapter.

I WANT everyone I know to read this book, it is that amazing. I love when I am blown away by a book and I was by Sierra. I didn't want it to end, but I was happy with the way it did. I love happy endings, I won't lie. It's an amazing story that will stay with you for a long time. Taylor Dean is an exceptional writer and one that will be around for awhile!

Wow! Couldn't help but tear up after reading that review of Sierra. Thanks, Brandy!

Review of Sierra

Thanks for the great review of Sierra, Shelly, of Dive Under the Cover!
To see the review click here.

Or read below:

This is another one of those books that I started and finished in one sitting. I am finding a lot of those lately. Before you have this picture in your head of my kids running around like wild people and laundry and dishes piling up around me while I read, let me tell you that I read at night when my kids are in bed. Now, I may still have laundry and dishes piled up, but it's not because I read too much!!

This was a fantastic story and I will say again that Taylor Dean is a wonderful story teller. There were times during this story that I was in tears, times that I was yelling at Alyssa to run, times that I was on the edge of my seat and times that I was praying for her safety. This story literally goes from one extreme to the other. I don't want to give anything away so I will keep my comments brief.

Alyssa goes from the high of coming home from a great mini vacation with her family to the lowest low in literally a couple hours time. She is taken hostage by two "mountain" men, think Deliverance and you have the right idea. They have bizarre reasons for taking her and forcing her to walk for days in the mountains to where they are building a new life. Just when she thinks that she would rather die than endure another day like this, she is given a chance to start again in the only way that she really can given her circumstances.

I adored Alex from the minute he is introduced into the story. In an attempt to run away from things that have happened in his life he finds himself seeking the solitude that he finds in the mountains. He has created a very simple life for himself and he is completely content with it. That is, until Alyssa walks through his door. In an instant his life is changed.

This story spans the space of a year and there are so many things that happen to each of them. This is a story about love and loss and second chances, but more than that it's about how you can survive even when it seems like all hope is lost. It's a beautiful love story, but it's so much deeper than that. I think this is a story that every woman should read.

I would recommend this to anyone who likes a good love story. It a story that I would definitely read again! I can't say enough nice things about Taylor Dean and I am looking forward to reading and recommending more of her work.


There are no content concerns in this book really. I don't really remember any profanity and all the love scenes are tastefully done in a fade to next scene kind of way.

It's entirely surreal to read a review from someone who LOVED your book. There's nothing like it in the world!

I read this review and think, "Is she talking about my book?"

And she is!

Wow!!!!!