Caught in a Trap by @ElaineRaco Chase

Genre: Erotic Romance/ Humor/ Contemporary Fiction

Description:

“Kit Forrester lived a life of lies - so what was one more? When her first vacation ever sank like the Titanic - she couldn't tell her friends THAT! So she did what she always did - she lied. Kit told everyone about her fabulous five day cruise. Her days of fun in the sun and moonlit nights with the man of her dreams - Rafe Morgan - tall, handsome, incredibly sexy and successful. And well - now they were engaged!

Now she had a 6'2", 230 lb. problem - Rafe Morgan did exist and he wanted answers.

Retired Navy SEAL and Texas business tycoon, Rafe Morgan was sure he was being set up by his suddenly acquired fiancée. He had spent 20 years in the Navy and was trained to handle anything - until he came up against one volatile New York redhead with wicked curves and the world's hardest ass!

Then he saw her sex lair and was more than willing to be Caught in a Trap. And to set one of his own!”

Author:

“Elaine Raco Chase is the award-winning author of sixteen novels with over 3 million books in print. She is published in 25 countries and 15 languages. As a romance writer, Chase has won two sales awards for top romance novels of the year, Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award for romantic suspense, and the Affaire de Coeur Silver Pen Award for writing excellence. Her non-fiction debut Amateur Detectives - A Writer's Guide was nominated for the prestigious Agatha Christie Award. Elaine was past President of Sisters in Crime International, a charter member of Romance Writers of America and a registered lecturer for Poets and Writers. She currently teaches a variety of writing courses.”

Please check out her website for all the books in her catalog and feel free to stalk her on Facebook.

Appraisal:

I found this story a thoroughly enjoyable journey through miscommunication and false assumptions before you have all the facts, while struggling through a quagmire of insecurities. Kit Forrester had survived a horribly abusive childhood and was well on her way to moving forward with her life, working in the account purchasing department at Shippley Electronics in San Antonio, Texas. She moved there eighteen months ago from New York to start a new life after years of therapy and putting herself through school.

Rafe Morgan was a wounded Navy SEAL who struck it rich when he purchased a rundown ranch in which to build a new future. Every time he dug a new well looking for water he would strike oil. Being a good-looking bachelor he was a prime target for every socialite in Texas. This included Mr. Shippley’s, from Shippley Electronics, two beautiful gold-digging daughters. Rafe had been able to start many new companies and develop an impressive, diverse portfolio with his newfound wealth. He has learned to be wary of beautiful women, but Kit doesn’t consider herself beautiful. She was practical and down-to-earth, always looking out for and taking care of all of her friends’ best interests before her own. Rafe was sure she had set a trap for him and was not going to let himself fall for any of her tricks. Rafe followed the age old adage: Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.

There is no denying Rafe and Kit had steamy chemistry, no matter how many times both of them fought it. Rafe had the patience of a saint. I tired listening to all of Kit’s inner insecurities and self-admonishment. This of course led us on a comedic roller-coaster ride of emotional errors. However, to Kit’s credit, none of these insecurities affected her business acumen. She was smart, confident, and well spoken; however, her personal life was still an emotional mess, despite years of therapy.

Caught in a Trap is a fun, steamy read with well-rounded enjoyable characters. It is not a quick read though, it is an in-depth journey into the lives of both Kit and Rafe. I can almost guarantee you will want to slap some sense into Kit a few times, bless her heart. But at the same time you will love her because she has a good soul that had survived atrocities and Rafe will scald your sensibilities. Although I wanted him to shave his mustache.

Buy now from:     Kindle US     Kindle UK

FYI:

“Content Warning - this book is intended for mature adult readers (18+) who are not offended by profanity and explicit sex scenes. While this is a romantic comedy, some readers may find some subject matter difficult - unfortunately such events are true.”

“Spoiler alert: please be advised that no comic books, superheroes, duct tape, handcuffs, ropes or organic chocolate milk were harmed during the writing of this novel.”

Actually, I am not sure whether no organic chocolate milk was harmed in this novel. There was plenty consumed, however, I don’t recall any being spilt. So, perhaps that is a judgement call?

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 90-95,000 words

Guest post from @FernRonay, author of Better in the Morning

Talk to yourself. It’s okay.

If I were not a writer, but say, a normal person, trying to write a clever guest post about writing, I’d start with this: Writers are weird. Everyone knows that. So, it must come as no surprise that we tend to talk to ourselves. I don’t mean while walking down the street or while doing dishes. I mean in front of our computers and in different voices. If you want to blackmail me, forget the sex tape. Record me writing.

Hardy har har.

I can do better than that.

What the hell are ya talking to yourself for? Losing your marbles? You didn’t even eat lunch yet. Why don’t you stop acting crazing in front that, what is that thing? That thing! That weird looking typewriter? They don’t make typewriters like they used to. Not like they made ‘em back in my day. I typed eighty-eight words a minute. Did you know that? Eighty-eight words a minute. Isn’t that something else? A what? A lap-what? Oh it’s a computer? A computer, ya don’t say. Hmm. It’s so small. Well, anyhow, now go eat. Then you can go back to typing and talking in strange voices in front of that, what do you call it, lapbottom. Oh laptop. Yeah yeah, your laptop. Go. Eat.

That’s Grandma Ant. She’s a character in Better in the Morning. And, yes, she’s a character. She’s also dead. She died at a ripe old age and still talks and walks and acts like she did when the protagonist Veronica knew her when she was still alive: old and funny in the way old people are so adorably funny sometimes.

She doesn’t talk like me, the author, a young (relatively!) educated lawyer from the east coast now living in Los Angeles. She talks like Grandma Ant. So, I have to talk like Grandma Ant. Yes, I have to get into character. Yes, I would have said that even if I weren’t living in La La Land. I’m not that affected!

When the voices have gone silent

Every writer fears the blank page but what if your character who won’t talk to you? You’re staring at a blank page in silence, which can feel awfully lonely. Hey, that may be the best time to be caught on tape ‘writing,’ not such a great time for writing itself. In these situations, I sometimes turn to YouTube and search a character’s attributes: Old Italian lady (for grandparents) or lawyer explains judgment process (bitchy coworker) or Kathy Bates (who I picture as the snarky boss). You can’t and would never take direct quotes but it’s not even about the words they’re using. It’s about getting an essence and running with it. I mean, writing with it. It’s okay to imitate that person (by yourself in front of your computer like the weirdo you are) enough to start talking like them and then getting it all on the page as quickly as possible.

When the voices won’t shut up

The flip side of course is this.

Husband’s friend: My daughter just turned two. Here, look, this was her at her party yesterday.

Me: Aw! She’s so beautiful. Gah bless her.

Husband: Did you just say “God bless her?”

Me: I actually said “Gah bless her” but yes, it’s a side effect of the book I’m writing. What’d ya want from me?
Doh!

Some of the vernacular of your characters may slip into yours. It happens. It’ll go away. Eventually. I’m told.

It’s okay

If your loved ones think you’ve gone mad, it’s okay. If your YouTube search history is rather suspect, it’s okay. If you start talking like an old person, it’s okay. As long as you get out on paper the book you were meant to write, it’s okay.

Now, go eat something.

Get your copy of Fern Ronay’s book, Better in the Morning here:

Kindle US      Kindle UK     Paperback 

Better in the Morning by @FernRonay

Genre: Romantic Comedy/ Women’s Lit/ Relationships/ Ghosts

Description:

“Veronica Buccino has a plan: marry John DelMonico and quit her soul-sucking job as a lawyer. And when he tells her he has big news, she’s certain he’ll pop the question. But instead of proposing, John informs her that he’s moving to London.

Heartbroken, Veronica feels lost. Salvatore and Antoinette, her dead grandparents, begin to visit her dreams in an attempt to steer her in the right direction. At their suggestion, Veronica takes a news reporting class, which leads to a challenging freelance assignment covering a conspiracy trial. She also begins dating an unlikely suitor: creative Syd Blackman.

Just when her love life and career are looking up, Veronica is tossed back to square one by an event that makes her question all her new choices.”

Author:

“Fern Ronay was born and raised in Belleville, New Jersey. She is a lawyer and CPA as well as a writer, reporter, and blogger. After six years in Manhattan and six years in Chicago, she now lives in sunny Los Angeles with her husband.

In addition to writing novels, Fern authors the blog Stop and Blog the Roses and is a co-host on AfterBuzzTV. When she is not writing, reporting, or blogging, Fern can be found eating something, reading something, or running”

Learn more about Ms. Ronay at her website, her BLOGHER site, or follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

Appraisal:

I have to admit it took me a long time to get into this story. I had a difficult time liking Veronica. She hated her job, disliked her employer and her co-worker, Kate. Veronica carried a disdain for her work and put forth very little effort in researching or filing cases she was given. She viewed it all as soul-sucking work, which it really was for her. Except for one case that involved Tristen Hines. The firm actually represented Pat Stephens who was suing Tristen for damages she was responsible for. Tristen was able to connect on a human level with Veronica, an element Veronica had been sorely missing in her work. As this part of the storyline played out, Veronica becomes more likeable as she is fraught with obstacles trying to do what is best for both parties of the lawsuit.

After John leaves Veronica to pursue his career in London we start to get a look at the real Veronica outside of work. At the encouraging help of her two friends and her dead grandparents, Veronica signs up for an online dating service. Rounding out her evenings, she also signs up to take a news reporting class. I liked the way all these elements are woven together into a realistic human interest story – communing with her dead grandparents aside. Antoinette and Salvatore, Veronica’s grandparents, were fun to have around. They guided and encouraged Veronica to stretch her wings and seek different things that would make her happy with her life. They helped by pushing her out of her comfort-zone.

In the end, I enjoyed reading about Veronica’s journey through all the conflicted emotions she was forced to deal with. I think this will make a great beach read or book to take on a summer vacation.

Buy now from:    Kindle US    Kindle UK     Paperback

FYI:

This book contains adult language, meaning there are several F-bombs dropped.

Format/Typo Issues:

I was given an advanced readers copy to review, however, I found the editing was excellent.

Rating: **** Four stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 85-90,000 words

Hawthorne (Druid Spirit Chronicles Book 1) by Kevin Fury @Fury237

Genre: Epic Fantasy/ Mythology/ Adventure/ Young Adult

Description:

“Can a Druid’s apprentice, a renegade skinwalker, and a Celtic prince find the strength to defeat a goddess of death and war? What secrets will a hidden faerie world reveal? What sacrifices must be made? Who will die?”

Author:

“Kevin Fury grew up in Michigan and Florida, but you could equally say he grew up in Tolkien's Middle Earth and C.S. Lewis's Narnia. From the first time he walked through the wardrobe into Narnia, he knew he loved fantasy fiction. It allowed him to dream of bright places and also of the dark and mysterious. After finishing his English degree, he moved to Colorado and worked for Barnes and Noble. He managed four Barnes and Noble stores over fifteen years and during that time he worked on his novel, Hawthorne, hoping to one day have his own work on the shelves. He lives with his family in Denver and is now dedicated to working full time on writing.”

Learn more about Mr. Fury at his website or stalk him on Facebook.

Appraisal:

Rhiannon O'Neil, Druid apprentice, lives in fear of the fae who have killed all but her and her uncle, Brennan. Brennan has been tutoring Rhiannon in the Druid healing arts, but there is much he hasn’t taught her. When her uncle disappears from his home in Ireland, Rhiannon enlists her Native American fiancé, Logan, to help her. However, Logan carries a secret burden with him which he hasn’t shared with Rhiannon. Logan’s secret turns out to be far larger than even he was fully aware. On their first night in Ireland, Logan disappears. Rhiannon now has to rescue Logan from his fae captors and find her uncle, who she’s not even sure is still alive.

Mr. Fury has woven an epic adventure that includes at least three different main story arcs that splinter along the path before rejoining the arc again. His fantasy world is amazingly detailed and his characters are well rounded with distinct personalities. Rhiannon is a strong female heroine who is plagued with insecurities, but she finds her strength when she has time to center herself. This isn’t always easy for her to do because a lot of the action comes fast and furious where snap decisions must be made. She is often pitted against egos that are much greater than her own as well. Luckily, proving her integrity, she is able to make a few interesting fae friends who are able to assist her on her quest.

The story-line takes several surprising twists where tough decisions must be made. Mr. Fury did an excellent job weaving all of his threads together for a dramatic conclusion. The battle scenes throughout are all graphic and captivating. While this story is far from over the most important story arc was brought to a satisfying close. There are still hardships to confront, responsibilities to address, and relationships which could prove troublesome.

From what I could learn about the author, Kevin Fury, Hawthorne seems to be his debut novel. He takes an elementary approach to Celtic Mythos, if you are new to Druid mysticism, The Sidhe, or The Fae, this is a good book to become familiar with their basic truths and beliefs.

Now, I am going to get nit-picky. I am giving Hawthorne a four star rating because the author did a great job keeping the big picture in order, which is hard to do with such an epic story. However, I found two small inconsistencies that did throw me out of the story momentarily. The first was when Fao, the wolf, followed Rhiannon out of the cave (chapter 11) who was following Tinurion. He then reached down and stroked Fao’s head. A page later Fao woke up, stretched, and walked over to sit next to the Tinurion. The second was when Rhiannon shed her cloak in the raging water because of its weight (chapter 33) and in the next chapter she is pushing up the sleeves of her robe. These were small and had no real bearing on the story whatsoever. I wanted to warn Mr. Fury to keep an eye on the small details as well. A good line editor should have caught these. Despite these issues I would recommend this epic fantasy that mixes Celtic mythos with Native American myths and look forward to the next book.

Buy now from:    Kindle US     Kindle UK     Paperback

Format/Typo Issues:

I came across a few proofing issues that could use some attention. Mostly missing, extra, or wrong words, but they didn’t throw me out of the story. These could have been addressed before publication, but I have to review the file I was given.

Rating: **** Four stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 115-120,000 words

Reprise Review: Sliding Past Vertical by @LaurieBoris

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Description:

“Sarah Cohen is a walking disaster. She means well, but the ex-diver’s hasty decisions wreak havoc on her life in Boston. Good thing Emerson is a phone call away in Syracuse, with a metaphorical mop to clean up the mess. Their long-distance friendship can be excruciating for him, though. Years after they shared a brief college romance, he’s still in love with her. When everything goes wrong, Sarah takes another plunge: back to the scene of her last mistake, to start fresh. Unfortunately for Emerson, the move puts her too close for comfort. Her attempts to straighten her life’s trajectory are sometimes amusing and sometimes catastrophic. With Sarah around, is anyone safe?”

Author:

Laurie Boris is a freelance writer, editor, proofreader, and a regular contributor to the multi-author blog, Indies Unlimited. This is her fourth novel.

For more, visit Laurie’s website.

Appraisal:

This is the third Laurie Boris novel I’ve read. Sliding Past Vertical has one significant difference from the other two, there isn’t a major character with a fatal illness. But the qualities from her previous novels that made them both excellent reads are present in Sliding Past Vertical. Characters you can relate to, with typical human flaws and mostly likeable. Even those you don’t care for are realistic and not unlike people you’ve met in real life. The stories each have real world plots that shine a light on the human condition in an entertaining way while possibly enlightening the reader about their fellow man.

As for the specifics of this book, I liked Sarah, the protagonist. At least for me, that is important. If I don’t like the main character, warts and all, I find it harder to care what happens to them. However, the character I related to the most was Emerson. It was obvious early on that Emerson’s feelings for Sarah were much deeper than hers for him. He’s been biding his time and now sees his chance. How and whether this will resolve itself is a question until the very end and one that could easily have hit a false note, regardless of the resolution. Somehow Boris hit the perfect pitch.

Buy now from:    Kindle US    Kindle UK    Paperback

FYI:

Some adult language and situations.

Added for Reprise Review: Sliding Past Vertical was the winner in the Contemporary/General Fiction category for 2014 Readers' Choice Awards at BigAl’s Books and Pals. Original review ran September 28, 2013.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: ***** Five stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 75-80,000 words

Wolves Among Men: The Saga of Wolves by Penelope A. Sweet

Genre: Paranormal/ Fantasy/ Supernatural

Description:

“After the death of their parents, Ethan Harlow and his sister do their best to pick up the pieces and live a normal life, but after an attack that leaves Ethan in the ICU, their lives quickly become anything but normal.

After Ethan notices strange changes in himself, he sets off across California to find an answer, a name for what he has become. Unfortunately what he finds is far worse than anything he could have imagined. A centuries old evil waiting to return, a race of creatures that shouldn’t exist and war Ethan never meant to start.

With the help of his new friends and the woman that made him, Ethan must make a choice…

Will he run for his life? Or stay and fight at the side of the wolves that have become like a family to him?”

Author:

“Penelope A. Sweet is a lifelong believer in magic and monsters, and it’s this belief that drives her to search within the shadows for the darkest of tales. A lover of all things horror and all things macabre, Penelope’s passion is to bring you the stories that send chills down your spine, keep you awake in the night and most of all keep you coming back for more.” 

Appraisal:

It is hard to know where to start with this review. I am generally a lover of shifter stories and in the beginning I felt like this one had potential. Perhaps with a good copy or line editor this novel could turn into a great story. First thing I would do is tone down the wimpy main character, Ethan. I almost wanted to throw my Kindle against the wall if I read the line “I wish I understood what was going on” or knew what was happening or similar statements. Honestly, I could understand his confusion without having to read those words over and over again throughout the entire story! The poor boy was not very smart, but I could have dealt with him being a wimp. However, the problems escalated when his dialogue was always chuckled. Not only his but most of the other characters chuckled their lines as well. Should I add here that this is not a comedy? I didn’t feel like the chuckling dialogue lightened the mood either.

Another fact that didn’t sit well with me was that Ethan’s maker abandoned him after changing him. She left him on his own for a good three months for him to deal with his “change” on his own. Later we learn his maker, Sam, is over two hundred years old and was now the leader of her own group that was made up of other lost ‘pups’. How much sense does that make? I felt that was totally nonsensical and I couldn’t justify that in my head at all. It is little wonder that Ethan caused the problems that escalated this story to a war between two totally different werewolf clans that ran on different philosophies. This was a unique story idea that ran into problems without a proper editor, story critique group, or beta readers who are not friends, to guide the author.

These applied elements would have also helped with proofing errors I encountered. Several were missing or wrong words such as there/they’re, read/red, wondering/wandering, thought/though, and gentile/gentle, but the most disturbing for me was Matt being spelled out as Mattes too many times to mention. Once he was even Mat.

So basically I felt there was a good story in all the words, somewhere. Several twists give the book a nice pace. Also, the characters are interesting and diverse. The story needs some work to reach its full potential though. I should also mention Wolves Among Men ends in a cliff-hanger, but the good news is that book two, Unleashed, is now available.

Buy now from:       Kindle US       Kindle UK

FYI:

Wolves Among Men is the first book in the Saga of Wolves series. Book two, Unleashed, is also now available. Only two F-bombs were dropped.

Format/Typo Issues:

Way too many proofing issues for anyone’s comfort.

Rating: ** Two Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 85-90,000 words

Guest Post: Alessandra Harris, author of Blaming The Wind @AlessandraH17

The Journey Without a Map: Writing By The Seat of Your Pants

Where do story ideas come from? It’s a question writers are commonly asked and one that leaves me completely stumped.  Some writers create complex character sketches then rigorously outline their novels, knowing exactly who will do what and when. But then there are writers like myself who fly by the seat of our pants, meaning we sit down and let the story unfold. Leaving me to wonder, where exactly do my ideas originate?

Part of my style of writing can be attributed to my background.  One of my duties when freelance writing for an online publication was to interview people.  I always started with a list of questions that I wanted to ask, but the direction and end result of the interview depended greatly on the person being interviewed. I’d learn more about them, they had their own agenda, and an article would result.

That method of journalism has translated into my fiction writing. I start with a skeletal outline of what I think the story is about, but the fun comes when the characters show up and start running the show. It’s through writing that I learn about the characters, their backstory, and how they react in a given situation. This knowledge propels the twists and turns in the story, and I can honestly say that none of my stories have ever ended the way I originally thought they would.  Only through writing am I able to understand the story I am telling, and later revisions help to mold and structure the story further.

When I first had the idea for Blaming the Wind, all I knew is that I wanted to explore the lives of two married couples.  I had no outline whatsoever, but I had a general sense of the characters: an unemployed, pregnant newlywed, a mom who is the breadwinner of her family, a sports agent, and a stay-at-home dad.  I let these characters occupy space in my thoughts and researched their professions until I felt compelled to put fingers on keyboard and start writing.  

As I wrote, I grew fascinated with these characters that were coming alive on the page. Instead of forcing them to act according to an outline, I got into the head of each character.  What would she do in this situation?  How would he think to rectify his mistake?  And when writing like that, you have to be open to where the characters take you.

Of course, writing without an outline has its challenges. Knowing your characters and having a general idea of the story are great for the big picture.  But it’s easy to stall in the middle of the story.  Often I’ll get to the halfway point and think, what the heck happens now?  I start wishing I had an outline to guide me.  So, I’ll do just that.  I’ll spend time brainstorming what exactly the characters want then plot ways to complicate their paths to getting there. I’ll flesh out supporting characters and add subplots.  Then, with enough material ahead of me, I start writing again.

Outline-less writing creates a solid first draft, but then the real fun begins after I let the story sit for a while then return to edit.  Since I hadn’t spent a lot of time beforehand thinking about plot and character arcs, the different acts, and story beats, this all comes into play during editing. My go-to guide is Revision and Self-Editing by James Scott Bell.  So, while creativity writes the first draft, structure shapes that draft into something that resembles an actual novel.

So where do ideas come from?  I still have no idea.  It’s kind of like a dream. The story originates from you – past experiences, people you’ve known, what you’ve read, ideas for the future- yet it takes shape as a completely separate entity.

Get your copy of Alessandra Harris’ book, Blaming the Wind here:

Kindle US 

Kindle UK 

Paperback 

Reprise Review: The Crooked Beat by @NickQuantrill

Genre: Crime Fiction

Description:

Former PI Joe Geraghty has family problems, lots of them. His brother, Niall, is in trouble. He thought he could solve his money problems by smuggling some cigarettes, however the consignment has been stolen and now he owes local hard man George Sutherland for them.

It seems everyone wants Geraghty to drop the case, in particular Don Ridley, his former partner and mentor. But Geraghty can’t let his family down and when the past crashes into the present Joe is in until the bitter end.

Author:

Nick Quantrill was born and raised in the industrial English city of Hull. He’s a prolific short story writer, but has also produced three full-length crime novels starring protagonist PI Joe Geraghty.

For more information on Nick, go to his website.

Appraisal:

I’ve previously read and reviewed two of the author’s works. Both were quality performances, strong and well written, however The Crooked Beat feels like a step on. Perhaps it is because the story moves immediately, rather than a slow build. Perhaps it is the use of first person narrative.

This latter element brings us closer to the protagonist, Joe Geraghty. He’s a man incapable of finding a happy ending. He has few friends and is out on his own now after the private investigation firm he previously worked for closed and his mentor Don retired.

Throughout The Crooked Beat there’s a lot of the difficult past for Geraghty to deal with. Through flashbacks we learn about Don Ridley, who in many ways has been like a father to Joe, and how his behavior ultimately affected Joe. In addition a man involved with the death of Geraghty’s wife may have the answer to the riddle he’s pursuing. He really is a tortured soul.

However, Geraghty must also pull his family out of trouble and deal with Sutherland. Quantrill deals with these many story arcs with aplomb and cleverly produces an exit when none seem obvious.

One of the aspects I really like is the Hull backdrop (I admit I’m slightly biased having lived there for over a decade). Quantrill draws the area very well which adds atmosphere.

Another subtle element is the author reflecting a number of the character’s past (via flashbacks) against the backdrop of the city’s current regeneration. The old is being torn down and replaced with the new, which parallels Geraghty’s changes in circumstances. His old life is being ripped up too, though as yet a future hasn’t been built. It’s neat and clever.

All in all this is an excellent book, intelligently written and a significantly more than your average PI tale.

Buy now from:    Kindle US    Kindle UK    Paperback

FYI:

Smatterings of adult language. 

Added for Reprise Review: The Crooked Beat was a nominee in the Crime Fiction category for B&P 2014 Readers' Choice Awards. Original review ran September 14, 2013.

The Crooked Beat is Book 3 in Joe Geraghty (3 Book Series).

Format/Typo Issues:

None.

Rating: ***** Five stars

Reviewed by: Keith Nixon

Approximate word count: 70-75,000 words

Blaming the Wind by Alessandra Harris #BookReview @AlessandraH17

Genre: Women's Fiction

Description:

“Sophia Douglas can’t shake the fear that she’s in over her head. A spontaneous elopement and a layoff from her high-paying job are stressful enough, but a plus sign on her pregnancy test sends her into a panic. Fearing her husband, Terrence, might leave like her father did, Sophia confides her insecurities to Tara, her friend and mom of three.

Though Tara Fisher encourages Sophia to trust Terrence, she’s hiding her own secret: a handsome attorney is pursuing her, and she’s questioning her commitment to Josh, her husband of ten years. After a devastating career-ending accident, Josh has changed and so have Tara’s feelings for him.

When a crisis arises that threatens to destroy Sophia and Terrence’s young marriage, Sophia must either overcome her fear of abandonment or lose everything she never knew she wanted. Meanwhile, as Tara is torn between responsibility and passion, her imperfectly put together life starts to unravel, and ghosts from her past resurface to haunt her.

As these two couples grapple with secrets, temptation, and illness, only time will tell if their vows are strong enough to hold them together.”

Author:

“Alessandra Harris loves drama... well, on the page, that is. Alessandra's novels delve into real-life issues without shying away from controversial topics and reflect the diversity of the world in which she lives. After graduating from San Jose State, Alessandra volunteered as a contributing writer for CityFlight.com, a former online magazine geared toward the San Francisco Bay Area's African American Community. An avid reader of women's fiction, she transitioned to writing fiction with the help of writing instructors and critique groups.

Currently, Alessandra is the organizer of San Jose Writers, an eclectic group of writers in the South Bay Area, California. At home, she enjoys spending time with her husband and four wonderful children.”

To learn more about Ms. Harris you can visit her website or follow her on Facebook or Twitter.

Appraisal:

Blaming the Wind is the story of two married couples who are grappling with life and the unexpected twists it sometimes takes. Terrence and Sophia are relative newlyweds while Tara and Josh have been married ten years and have several children. The story is told from the point-of-view of all four of these characters.

I thought the story captured a lot of the difficulties that are commonly experienced by married couples. Things like different and changing expectations, attitudes due to past experience, and the unexpected issues the world throws at you. I found Blaming the Wind to be a dramatic and entertaining read that I could easily relate to.

Buy now from:       Kindle US        Kindle UK     Paperback

FYI:

Some adult language.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 90-95,000 words

Reprise Review: Adrift in the Sound by Kate Campbell

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Description:

Lizette is a gifted abstract painter with severe personality issues—perhaps bi-polar—although I don’t believe this was stated. Pressured to achieve as a child, when her artist mother committed suicide something snapped inside Lizette. Estranged from her father, she drifts into bad company, and makes unwise life-choices. The story follows Lizette as she struggles with mental illness and searches for meaning in her life. Although set in the Seventies, no attachment with that era is required to connect with this story.

Author:

“A novelist, journalist and photographer, Kate Campbell grew up in San Francisco and has lived and worked throughout California and the West. Adrift in the Sound, was a finalist for New York's 2011 Mercer Street Books Literary Prize. Campbell's environmental and political writing appears regularly in newspapers and magazines throughout the U.S. She lives in Sacramento and, in addition to writing fiction and poetry, publishes the Word Garden blog.” Learn more about her on her blog.

Appraisal:

I read because I love to lose myself in another world and experience life vicariously through someone else’s eyes. Also, as an aspiring writer, I read to learn. For me, reading Adrift in the Sound was tantamount to attending a fiction writing master class.

Tactile scene settings sucked me into a story as multi-layered as one of Lizette’s beautifully described oil paintings. Ms. Campbell colors her scenes with fine details, often transforming the settings into another character to add emotion. For example, after an argument with her father, Lizette turns her back on him and the house and takes the path in the rain toward the small cabin her mother used as her artists’ studio. Lizette perceives the cabin like this: “Two big windows stared into the tangled garden, watching the house through rain-streaked eyes.” Or her view of the car ferry that will take her to Orcas Island in the Puget Sound, where much of the story unfolds: “The wide-bodied boat nudged the dock, bounced against the pylons, settled into its berth like a lumbering beast nestling into a safe burrow.” Or the way the ocean appears to her: “The afternoon sun scattered silver sequins across the water.” I confess I have a ton more highlights on my Kindle; so many I had to stop myself. Unable to choose which to use in the review, I simply chose the first three—they’re all exceptional.

Lizette’s world is populated by a cast of complex, multi-faceted characters. Many are unpleasant. All were real to me. A brutal sexual assault early in the story permanently scars Lizette and scarred this reader along with her. It happened because she takes crazy chances and trusts the wrong people. But don’t see her as a weakling. On a number of occasions she does significant harm to those whom she perceives as a threat. Although, as I watched Lizette become a danger to others, I was never quite sure of her intentions. That’s a measure of how off-balance the author kept me, and how hard I was rooting for Lizette.

Lizette’s affinity for the native Indians who live on Orcas and form her support group provides more wonderful characters whose lifestyle grounds the story in history and in nature. I have no connection with Native Indians or their customs, but I found their lives and beliefs and plain commonsense added to the palette of an already colorful story.

The novel is a deep, slow burn, and not without humor. One particular scene involving a large snake and an unpleasant junkie had me laughing so loud I woke my wife (I read at night). A larger-than-life character--self-described poet, Toulouse--is described in the eyes of Lizette’s friend, Marian thusly: “Toulouse moved off with a flourish, tipping a goodbye from the rim of his foolish hat. Marian watched him go, his self-importance shoved up his ass like a mop handle.”

Complex, troubled, and gifted, Lizette connects with the natural world on such a deep level that she pulled me along until I stood beside her marveling at the natural beauty of an ocean wave, or the fearsome power of the killer whales as they hunt in the Sound, or the subtle simplicity of an old Indian woman dancing in a mask of feathers and bear skin. She broke my heart as we watched a seal taken by a predator, or a pet dog injured. I know, as she does, it’s natural. You can’t interfere, you can’t help—but still, you share the stab of her guilt.

With more “Oh, didn’t see that coming” moments than I had any right to expect, Adrift in The Sound is the best book I’ve read in a long time.

Check it out. You won’t regret it.

Buy now from:    Kindle US    Kindle UK     Paperback

FYI:

Added for Reprise Review: Adrift in the Sound was a nominee in the Contemporary/General Fiction category for B&P 2014 Readers' Choice Awards. Original review ran July 24, 2013

Format/Typo Issues:

No typos to mention. Some graphic scenes and bad language (used appropriately).

Rating: ***** Five stars

Reviewed by: Pete Barber

Approximate word count: 90-95,000 words