The New Book Review

Showing posts with label Fiction: Romance. Show all posts

Monday, September 3, 2012

Amazon Top Ten Reviewer Gives Book a Great Shoutout!

Title - Return to the Aegean
Author - E.J. Russell

www.emmajanerussell.wix.com/books

Literary Fiction – mystery/romance
ISBN-10: 1467935255
ISBN-13: 978-1467935258
Available as Kindle

Reviewed by Eleni Ergina, a top 100 reviewer for Amazon.UK
5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT !!! 21 April 2012

Thalia, a successful deep sea diver, travels around the world, trying to escape the ghosts of her past and the tragedy that struck her family thirteen years ago, until finally she decides to return to the Greek island of her childhood, to discover the truth about the loss of her mother and her twin brother. In the Greek island Katafigio, after a long quest, Thalia discovers the truth, but most importantly she discovers herself, finds solace in the love and care of old friends and reclaims something she thought she had lost for ever; the sanctuary of her childhood.

The excellently written book is a story of self discovery as much as it is a mystery. In modern day Greece, Thalia investigates her brother's case, rekindles old relationships and reestablishes her roots in the beautiful island of Cyclades by the fictional name of Katafigio. Throughout the story, brief flashbacks masterfully unfold the history of her family, without interrupting present events. The story is gripping, well paced and wonderfully immerses the reader into Thalia's world.

The characters are very well developed, realistic, and although not always likable, drawn with great insight and humor. However, the greatest quality of this book is the beautiful atmosphere. I cannot praise enough the brilliant use of imagery, the amazing descriptions of Greek nature, and the detailed accounts of the island's customs and everyday life. It is truly a love letter to the island and its people.

I was given a free copy by the author, but that did not influence my opinion in any way.

~Learn more about the author at http://emmajanerussell.wix.com/books. She tweets at http://twitter.com/EmmaJaneRussel1/statuses/226579768232001536

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Monday, August 13, 2012

Editor Reviews Catherine MacDonald's New Romance

Book: Seasons of the Vineyard

By Catherine MacDonald

Genre: Romance

Website: www.supernovel.com
Blog: http://supernovel.com/blog
Rating: 5 stars

Amazon link: http://tinyurl.com/cywffj3

Reviewed by Linda Barnett-Johnson, Editor and Virtual Assistant for Authors, originally for Amazon.

I have read and written reviews for a few books. None have left me wanting more than this book, Seasons of the Vineyard by Catherine MacDonald. If you like a strong woman character, this is the book for you. I couldn't put it down. There are twists and turns throughout. I spoke out loud in a few places. Pleading or getting angry at some of the events. But that's a sign of a great book. You get involved. You can't help it.

If you love learning too, this book will take you to wine country where the author shows you how grapes are grown and how wine is made. You know that Ms. MacDonald has done her research. It's very educational as well as a great romance. I laughed in spots and got mad in others. That's the sign of a well-written book. Ms. MacDonald has a knack for pulling you in from the beginning and makes you want more when you are finished.

This book is for women and men. Men can learn about the wine making process and how a strong woman can achieve through hard work and determination. Women will love and identify with the main character, Francesca, as she is pulled in many different directions, but finally does what she is meant to do, run a successful vineyard. I don't want to give anything away, so get the book today. You'll be glad you did.

~More about Linda Barnett-Johnson, editor and virtual assistant may be found on her Web site at Linda Barnett-Johnson Editing Services. She is an administrative director of LSS School of Writing, assistant editor of Long Story Short ezine . Find her

Blog here.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Romance Blogger Reviews New Romance by Trish Jackson

Way Out of Line
By Trish Jackson
Author's Web site:

http://www.trishjackson.com
Genre: romantic suspense
ISBN-13: 978-1475218343
ASIN: B0084FD84I

Reviewed by Juanita Keys originally for

www.mission-romance.blogspot.com.au

When raging hormones bring young lovers Hal and Trent together one steamy summer, neither would imagine the trouble their union will bring. Despite his inner warnings, Hal finds he can't resist his attraction to the beautiful young girl he meets on a private beach. She is young - perhaps too young. Spoilt, indulged Trent, however, knows exactly what she wants and she's not about to take 'no' as answer or let something as trivial as age keep them apart. The white lie that brings them together will drive them apart in a way that they least expect.
Jackson sets an amazing scene in the lead up to events that will change these two young lives forever. Caught in the act by her distrustful father, Hal finds out that the girl of his dreams has mislead him in the worst possible way. When you mess with the rich who have connections in Congress, you can only expect trouble - a lot of trouble. He finds himself in jail for statutory rape and the only thing that keeps him sane, is the advice of a prison guard to 'never let go of his dreams'.
While Hal serves his time and battles his demons in prison, we're taken on a tumultuous journey that alternates between Trent's emotional derailment and Hal's experiences in confinement. Despite their brush with drugs, cults, jailhouse bullying and other nasty, character-building experiences, they never forget each other nor do they give up hope of one day being reunited again.
Again, Jackson brings about their reunion in a very unique and unexpected way. We're taken on a fast-paced, action-packed journey around the world to the wilds of Zimbabwe and Mozambique where finally, amidst brushes with death that threaten to tear them apart again, the two are once again reunited. Nothing in WAY OUT OF LINE is what you expect. Just when you think you know what's going to happen, Jackson whips you off in a whirlwind of action that takes you to places you never imagined.
If you're looking for a book that has it all, then this is one you should not miss. Follow Hal and Trent's journey to hell and back as they learn hard, fast lessons in the real world, experience brainwashing, drugs and the terrors of a wild country and live through it to be reunited in a love designed by Fate.

~Trish Jackson blogs at http://romanticreviewramble.blogspot.com/

Monday, July 9, 2012

Bantwall's Reluctant Matchmaker Book Tour

Title – The Reluctant Matchmaker

Author – Shobhan Bantwal
Author's website link - http://www.shobhanbantwal.com
Genre or category – Women’s Fiction, Ethnic Fiction
ISBN-10: 0758258852
ISBN-13: 978-0758258854

The Reluctant Matchmaker by Shobhan Bantwal

In her thought-provoking, uplifting new novel, Shobhan Bantwal vividly blends the nuances of contemporary Indian-American culture with an unconventional romance...

It starts with a bizarre accident. Petite and successful Meena Shenoy's contented life turns upside down when she collides, literally, with her strikingly tall boss, Prajay Nayak, and suffers a nasty fall. But when she discovers that he's a bright, caring, family-oriented man, she's attracted to him. When he unexpectedly asks her to meet him in secret, she wonders whether he feels the same way about her.

Meena walks into his office that evening with high romantic hopes. Imagine her shock when instead of declaring interest in her Prajay makes an astonishing request: He wants her to craft a personal ad that will help him find a suitable wife - a statuesque, sophisticated Indian-American woman who will complement his striking height.

Despite her feelings for Prajay and the complications of balancing work and her "marriage consultant" role, Meena can't refuse the assignment, or the generous fee attached to it. While she nurses her bruised heart, Meena comes to some surprising realizations about love, tradition, and the sacrifices she will—and won't—make to fight for the man she loves.

Advance Praise for The Reluctant Matchmaker:

"Bantwal pairs romance with her trademark taste of how Indian expatriates live in New Jersey, complete with family dynamics and tensions between different ethnic groups." -- Publisher's Weekly

"The Reluctant Matchmaker is a very entertaining and easy read. A real page turner!" -- Book Pleasures

"This was a thoroughly enjoyable novel . . . a perfectly absorbing and engaging read." -- Coffee Time Romance

"Bantwal’s latest is a fun romance. Meena’s American modernity clashes with her Indian upbringing in a rebellious manner that will leave readers smiling." -- Romantic Times

About the Author:

Shobhan Bantwal is an award-winning author of six multicultural women's fiction books with romantic elements and numerous short stories, branded as "Bollywood in a Book." Her articles have appeared in The Writer magazine, Romantic Times, India Abroad, India Currents, and New Woman. The Reluctant Matchmaker is her latest novel. Shobhan lives with her husband in Arizona. Visit her online at www.shobhanbantwal.com to learn about her books, trailers, contests, photos, recipes, and more. Visit her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ShobhanBantwal.author

Friday, June 22, 2012

First Book, A Romance, Praised by Goodreads Reviewer

Title: Burning Embers

Author: Hannah Fielding

Website link: http://www.hannahfielding.net

Genre: Romance

Reviewed by Beth originally for Goodreads.com

Hannah Fielding's first book Burning Embers takes you on an unforgettable journey to Africa in the 1970s. Her vivid descriptions of Africa and beautiful love story will take you away. The story is about a very immature and sheltered young woman, Coral Sinclair, who returns to Africa following her father's death. there she meets Rafe de Monfort, a mysterious neighbor to whom she is attracted. They are drawn to each other but Rafe must face his demons and Coral must mature. The descriptions in this book are pictures painted with words. The love story is sensual without being crude. The characters well developed and the book totally enjoyable. If the sign of a good book is that it transports you to another place this book is it. It is a book that I would re-read and one that I will share with my friends.

Monday, January 16, 2012

Reviewer Suggests Sex and the City Fans Read This One

Title: California Girl Chronicles: Brea & the City of Plastic

Author: Michelle Gamble-Risley
Author’s Website Link: http://www.3lpublishing.com
Genre: Contemporary Fiction/Romance
ISBN: 978-0-615-55787-8
Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/California-Girl-Chronicles-Brea-Plastic/dp/0615557872

Reviewed by Sigmarie Soto originally for ZiggySoto

Book 1 of Michelle Gamble-Risley’s California Girl Chronicles is not what you’d expect—it sure wasn’t what I expected anyway. And I’ll admit I wasn’t disappointed at all. Everyone loves an entertaining, escape-for-awhile novel, and that is exactly what Brea & the City of Plastic is. Book 1 takes us through Brea Harper’s journey of moving to Los Angeles to make it as a screenwriter, while going through some fun, sexy, humiliating, and heartbreaking moments along the way. In a world where business and professional lines are blurred, this novel is more than appropriately titled, and there’s never a dull moment.

While Brea may be a born-and-raised Cali girl, women everywhere can relate to her on some level. She is genuine, unpredictable, good-hearted, at times fickle, and well-aware of her flaws, which makes her all the more likable. There are moments where she is vulnerable and other moments where she is strong. Who can’t relate to that? I found myself having shake-my-head moments when Brea knowingly makes mistakes as well as ha-take-that moments when she triumphs.

The characters Brea meets along the way are as equally intriguing and multi-dimensional as Brea, with some you will love to hate, others you will hate to love, and everything in between. While I was rooting for Brea every step of the way, I also couldn’t get enough of Brea’s love interests, especially Kale, the successful, sexy, almost too-good-to-be-true movie producer who is head over heels for her. And add into the mix Brea’s new and old friends, including Kale’s Latina housekeeper, Maya, and Brea’s straightforward roommate, Denise.

Michelle’s first novel is refreshingly honest. With Brea, we see and experience things that most women think but rarely admit. The narration is playful and humorous, though we can easily feel Brea’s conflict and dilemmas at the right moments. The dialogue is enticing yet real, which Michelle uses to bring more depth to her characters than initially meets the eye. Since Book 1 is such a fun read, I can’t wait to see what new adventure Brea will take in Book 2. I think I may like this even more than Sex and the City.

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Sci-Fi/Romance Available as Free E-Book on Some Sites

Title: Surviving the Fog
Author: Stan Morris
Author's Web site: https://sites.google.com/site/stansfreeebooks/Home
Genre: Science Fiction, Romance
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/Ecowitch
Where this review was published: smashwords.com https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/712
Publisher: Stan Morris
Reviewer's rating: four stars
Available at Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes and Noble, and iTunes
Reviewed by Sam Ecowitch, originally for smashwords.com
I was strangely taken by this book, despite it appearing like (and me kind of expecting) a post-apocalyptic/end of the world story when it really isn't. This follows the fortunes of a group of young teens as they try to survive following the appearance of a strange and deadly fog that has covered much of the planet (it can't go above a certain altitude) that has resulted in the 'disappearance' of the adults that run the camp. Ultimately this is a story of survival and of how, given the right leadership and tools, even the youngest can survive the most extreme situations. The writing was descriptive and engaging and created the right mix of tension, fear, hope and optimism to give credence to the work and the possibility that kids really could do this. But some of the more difficult situations and how they're resolved didn't quite sit right given what we know about the kids present. They not at a survival training or outdoor activity camp, it is in fact a sexual abstinence and education camp so the fact that every kid/teen present is able to use spears, bow and arrow, hunt etc to some extent does at times seems a little stretched at times (especially when taking on 'bad men'). However this does not detract from the story too much as Morris' writing makes it somehow okay, acceptable and strangely believable."

----- The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Monday, September 26, 2011

Steve Spencer , originally for Amazon. A 5-Star Review.

With "Angel," Ms. Hughes didn't quite knock it out of the park. She did, however, bang the ball into the gap for an easy stand-up triple--and for that, she deserves every one of the five stars I'm giving her. (She's British, so I hope she'll forgive the baseball analogy. I guess the cricket equivalent would be hitting a "four" instead of a "six.")

Time travel's been done before; so has the Titanic; so have Merlin and Excalibur--but to put it all together and make it work demonstrates artistry of a high order. I won't give away the added twist, except to say that it pushed me out of 4 stars and into 5. I think you'll like it, too.

For American readers, the British punctuation may be disconcerting in places (I don't know what their rules are). Also, "its" and "it's" are reversed throughout, and there are one or two historical solecisms (Stonehenge was not one of the original Seven Wonders of the World, the ancient Greeks having never seen the place); but none of that detracts appreciably from the story, and I can recommend "Angel of the Titanic" to you wholeheartedly. "

~A Ripple in Time is Hughes debut novel.

-----
The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Author and Poet Reviews Sci-Fi and Romance Book

Title: Hidebound

Author: Joy V. Smith
Author's website: http://pagadan.wordpress.com/
Genre: Science fiction/romance
ISBN: 978-1-4658-4677-8
[Note: Adult content]

Reviewed by Vincent Miskell originally for Amazon

Fissa's desire for independence, leaving the safety of her home planet to travel space on her cousin's ship, the St. Catherine, may be her first and final adventure. The ship is attacked, and she crash-lands in a shuttle on a planet covered with carnivorous vegetation. Now her life is in the hands of Ferenc, an alien humanoid with strange physical powers. Will he abandon her, force himself upon her, or continue to save her as they journey over deadly terrain? Under the constant threat of death and with a growing attraction for the enigmatic humanoid, Fissa must grow up fast and make some life-altering choices. Joy V. Smith has deftly combined science fiction adventure with romance, realistically exploring an emotional and physical relationship between human and humanoid.

~Reviewer Vincent Miskell is a college instructor, a writer, and a poet. His short fiction has appeared in Rosebud, Intertext, Eclipse, and in the SF Read more at Amazon's Vincent Miskell Page http://www.amazon.com/Vincent-Miskell/e/B001K8RFXQ/ref=sr_tc_2_rm?qid=1316387745&sr=1-2-ent

Learn more about author Joy Smith at http://pagadan.livejournal.com/
-----

The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Monday, August 1, 2011

Romantic Full Moon Bride Tours The Web

Full Moon Bride
By Shobhan Bantwal

Review by Lily Azerad-Goldman, B.F.A. is an artist and a children's author.

The Full Moon Bride is Shobhan Bantwal’s fifth book. Her first four books tackled serious and often complex topics of interest to contemporary women – especially women in India or of Indian culture. In her latest book she takes us inside the experiences of a young woman who is going through the arranged marriage process.

About The Full Moon Bride

What makes a marriage—love or compatibility? Passion or pragmatism? THE FULL MOON BRIDE is a compelling story that explores the fascinating subject of arranged marriage, as young Indian-American attorney Soorya Giri navigates the gulf between desire and tradition.

In choosing between two very different men, Soorya must reconcile her burgeoning independence and conservative background. And she must decide what matters most to her—not just in a husband, but in a family, a culture, and a life.

About Shobhan Bantwal

Award-winning author Shobhan Bantwal calls her writing “Bollywood in a Book”—romantic, colorful, action-packed tales, rich with elements of Indian culture—stories that entertain and educate. Shobhan has five published novels by Kensington Publishing, with a sixth slated for 2012. Shobhan can be contacted through her website: www.shobhanbantwal.com or Facebook.

Since 2002, Shobhan's articles and short stories have appeared in a variety of publications including The Writer magazine, India Abroad, Little India, U.S. 1, Desi Journal, India Currents, Overseas Indian, and New Woman. Her short stories have won honors and awards in fiction contests sponsored by Writer's Digest, New York Stories and New Woman magazines. Shobhan can be contacted through her website: www.shobhanbantwal.com or Facebook.

What People Are Saying –

Shobhan Bantwall is certainly a prolific author with her fifth book, The Full Moon Bride just released. After writing about serious social issues as India's dowry system, female-fetus abortions, the repressive lives of some women and political violence in India, she has chosen a lighter subject, the Indian-American immigrant experience. Her compelling characters and fine writing will keep readers enthralled.

Women's Fiction with a touch of romance and sometimes a little mystery is what Shobhan Bantwall is all about. She enjoys incorporating the rich elements of her Indian culture, religious beliefs, myths, legends, superstitions, foods, scents, recipes, clothing, accessories, language including slang, history, geography, and most anything that she feels adds to entertainment and knowledge.

Moreover, she beckons her readers to travel with her on adventures where they not only experience different places, tastes, smells and feelings through her characters, but also perceive their thrills, joys, sorrows and triumphs.

Written in the first person, The Full Moon Bride is charming and engaging. Soorya Giri has everything, wealth, a rich doting Indian family and a successful career. Despite the fact that Soorya is intelligent and a successful lawyer, she is very shy and at age thirty has not yet been on a date, let alone been kissed! She lacks the self-confidence of American girls. Thanks to her Indian upbringing and customs, she considers an arranged marriage, without giving it a second thought! Under the auspicious purnina (full moon) her parents invite a prospective groom and his family. She believes she will be rejected because of her “homely” appearance, as has occurred previously.

Much to her surprise, she likes the charming prospective groom Roger, but her self-confidence is such that she does not believe he is attracted to her. Perhaps, he will only like her because of her money and rich father. He has grandiose dreams of putting up a play on Broadway that require a substantial investment.

A game of cat and mouse ensues with Roger. Does she or does she not like him? Does he truly love her? And at about the same time, she is attracted to a widowed black lawyer. We cannot wait to see who is going to gain her heart.

The author mixes this love triangle with Indian culture, cuisine and customs from the old country. She brings to life her characters with a lot of bantering dialogue and authentic descriptions of their lives in America. Join Soorya on her bumpy journey to find that nebulous, elusive thing called “love!”

Bantwall's new novel explores the complicated patterns of self-confidence, love and attraction, trying to balance Indian customs and American experience. She has created credible characters, with all their vulnerabilities, flaws, quirks, virtues and vices! The characters were so true to life that I found that I missed them a lot when I finished reading The Full Moon Bride! Maybe they will come back in Ms Bantwal's next novel. This one is a real page turner, don't miss it!

Title – Full Moon Bride

Author – Shobhan Bantwal

Author's website link – http://www.shobhanbantwal.com

Genre or category – Women’s Fiction, Suspense, Ethnic Fiction

ISBN – 978-0-7582-5884-7

(Review originally posted at - http://www.bookpleasures.com/websitepublisher/articles/3504/1/Shobhan-Bantwalls-The-Full-Moon-Bride-Reviewed-By-Lily-Azerad-Goldman-of-Bookpleasurescom/Page1.html)

For much more information about Shobhan Bantwal and Full Moon Bride, you can visit her website http://www.shobhanbantwal.com and you can order your own copy at http://www.amazon.com/Full-Moon-Bride-Shobhan-Bantwal/dp/0758258844

----- The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Horse Thriller? See What You Think

Title: The Bone Trail
Nell Walton
Soft Cover, 2010, $13.95 U.S.
ISBN: 978-1-45649-90799
Available from Amazon

Reviewed by Carol M. Upton: www.dreamsaloud.ca
First published in Horses All: www.horsesall.com

On the afternoon of the last day of Lindy Abraham’s life, she stood leaning against an old Jeep Cherokee, once red, now faded to kind of a dusky umber, rapping her heel impatiently against a tire. She waited in the Nevada desert in the middle of June; it was hot, and her peach colored cotton tank top stuck unpleasantly in the hollow between her narrow shoulders. ~ Nell Walton

In The Bone Trail, Nell Walton hooks the reader from the very start. We can feel the unrelenting heat and isolation of the desert, and the vulnerability of those who venture there. I was immediately drawn into this exciting story about the disappearance of two wild horse advocates – mystery, thriller and romance all rolled into one.

Walton’s book is inspired by the true-life events with which many horse lovers are familiar – the brutal helicopter roundups of wild mustangs off U.S. public lands, hearing of them being run to exhaustion into long-term warehousing facilities, where many face illness and death. But, there is more to this story, something far worse, and investigative journalist Kate Wyndham is determined to the discover the truth, even at great personal risk.

Every single character in this novel is lively and engaging – from the cold-blooded mining security staff to the Shoshone Reservation inhabitants to the stonewalling local police. Before we know it, we are following Kate’s terrifying trail, gripped with fear and sickened by the possible outcome.

This is one of those books the reader hopes will never end. Rumor has it that Walton is working on a sequel and there is no doubt readers will be lined up to get their hands on it.

~Nell Walton is a journalist and the founder of the online equestrian news magazine, The AllHorses Post (www.allpetspost.org/allhorsespost). She lives with her husband and four horses (including two mustangs) in East Tennessee.

~Submitted by Carol Upton (604) 886-8951
Dreams Aloud Promotions
~ Linking your dreams to the worldwww.dreamsaloud.ca

Monday, June 27, 2011

Mystery/Romance Given Rave Review

FIRST STONE ON THE RIGHT

By B. J. Mohr

contact@glenedenpress.com

Genre: mystery/romance

ISBN: 978-0-615-47641-4

Reviewed by Vi Grimba, originally for Amazon. com

I loved this book; could not put it down. This was a beautiful love story. I could actually feel the passion between Jenny and Will. The character development was so vivid that I felt as if I personally knew everyone.

As far as the mystery: It was the best thriller I have read in a very long time. The ending was a complete surprise. I could definitely read this book again.

~Read the First Chapter of First Stone on the Right for FREE by request at: contact@glenedenpress.com."

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Title: Visions

Publisher: Sugar and Spice Press

Publisher's Web site: http://www.sugarspicepress.com

Author: Anna James

ISBN 978-1-936668-19-9

Available from Sugar and Spice Press

Reviewed by David Russell

Once again Anna shows herself to be a consummate ‘crossover’ artist, in this work fusing the genres of detective, horror and romance, with a bit of ghost story thrown in. It sustains drama and suspense throughout, with an intricate plot and fastidious attention to detail.

Very effective use is made of ‘flashback’ technique, which is highlighted in italics – highly reader-friendly. They combine dreams and visions with ‘real’ temporal flashbacks to Prus’s childhood.

This is a really fast-paced narrative – really dynamic opener of a nightmare vision of someone being murdered. My curiosity was immediately aroused as to what triggered off the nightmares. The setting is Salem, Massachusetts. This could not have been more appropriate. This was the scene of some notorious witch hunting in the 18^th Century, celebrated in the 20^th by Arthur Miller’sThe Crucible (Penguin Classics) (otherwise known as The Witches of Salem) which drew analogies between those persecutions and the activities of the Un-American Activities House under Senator Joe McCarthy in the 1950s. Rightly, there are references to this context in the narrative.

Salem turns out to be the birthplace of the heroine Pru (Prudence). Pru revisits her birthplace, and is surprised to find it in good condition, although it has been deserted for many years. Pru has very belatedly discovered that she was adopted, and that her natural parents were murdered, reputedly in the same house. Pru is met by MaryEllen who tells her the place is haunted, and that the murders took place there.

Matt, the detective, had been resident in the vicinity since childhood. He had access to the case files relating to the murder. There had been a serial murderer, Joshua Adams; and after his death a ‘copycat murderer’ who repeated the pattern. There was one vital clue, a piece of plastic stuck to the victim’s shirt.

Excellent fusion of detective and romance with Pru immediately fancying Matt the detective. Highly dramatic when their first tryst is cut short by a violent storm which causes a power cut and a tree to be blown down. (Passion continues to rise in between the interruptions. Lovely sensual description later on, ‘her hips meeting his’. A touch of the domestic too; Pru helps entertain Matt’s parents when they come to dinner.) In the course of the storm, a wall board is damaged, to reveal a staircase leading up to the attic, which could have offered the killer an escape route. Because this route had not been discovered at the time of the murders, it was assumed that there had been a suicide-murder, of man and wife. An escape route called all this into doubt. I was most impressed by the thoroughness of the architectural details.

Pru is determined to go to the attic, to be confronted with a dream assailant, who accuses In her nightmare, of practicing witchcraft. The ‘encounter’ in the attic, to me, fuses vision and reality, past in flashback and present. Traumatized by her realization of the true murderer, Pru has a fall, into unconsciousness, and has to be rushed to hospital.

When she recovers, the killer is revealed. I won’t reveal the killer’s identity here: that must be discovered by reading the book in its entirety – though I’m sure some readers of this review will be making some good guesses. I’ll just drop a hint that jealousy took its part, and that a telltale pen was found in a key location.

After the revelation, the story has a conventional ‘happy ending’ in the form of Pru and Matt deciding to get married. To me this was something of an anticlimax after the intensity of the story itself.

Here is the blurb and short excerpt that can also be included with the review:

Prudence Bailey has just learned that Laura Bailey, the woman she has always believed to be her mother, is in fact a distant cousin. Laura adopted Prudence when she was four years old after her father, Joshua Adams, brutally murdered her mother, Jane, then killed himself.She has no memory of the past and, after Laura’s death, decides to return home to Salem Massachusetts to learn more.

Twenty years have now passed since the murder / suicide took place.

Almost immediately she meets Detective Matt Cavanaugh, her neighbor. Matt is gorgeous and sexy and Pru is instantly attracted to him. Matt is also linked to her past. His father, now a retired police officer, was first on the scene the night of her parents’ deaths.

From the moment she returns Pru experiences visions that lead her to believe that the circumstances surrounding her parents’ deaths are not as they seem. The facts don’t add up. And when a recent murder that Matt is investigating is linked to the past they discover that Pru is right and the killer is still on the loose.

Will they discover the killer’s identity in time or will history repeat itself?

Prologue
Sweat trickled down the sides of her face. Her eyes were huge with fear and tremors racked her body. “No! Please don’t.” Prudence Bailey could hear the terror in the woman’s voice as she begged for her life. Someone came toward the woman; he was holding a knife. Or was it a she? Pru couldn’t tell from this angle. She saw the woman’s arms shoot up to try and ward off her attacker. It was a futile attempt. He overpowered her easily. Then it happened. The knife plunged deep into her chest. The screams were terrifying. She saw the woman crumple but it wasn’t over. The knife plunged into the woman again and again. Finally, the screaming stopped.

Pru shot straight up in bed. She too was drenched with sweat and her body shook with fear. This was the third night this week that she’d had the nightmare. It was the same each time. She pulled the blankets aside and got out of bed. Why is this happening to me? she wondered as she went down the stairs to double check that the windows and doors were locked. She didn’t know but she was sure as hell going to find out.

Thanks you for your consideration.

Happy Reading,

Anna James

Visit me at: http://annajames1.wordpress.com/

Visit me at: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001402819536

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Love That Horror...and Sci-Fi...and Romance!

TITLE: Take One At Bedtime

AUTHOR: Jenny Twist
AUTHOR'S WEBSITE: https://sites.google.com/site/jennytwistauthor/
GENRE/CATEGORY: Story Collection of horror, sci-fi and romance
PUBLISHER: Melange Books
ISBN: 978-1-61235-064-6

Reviewed by Mysti Parker on GoodReads.com

If you love easy-to-read short stories, you'll enjoy Jenny Twist's Take One at Bedtime. This anthology of tales ranging from romantic to horrific is the perfect accompaniment for your bedside table.

In fact, for many of the stories, I took Dr. Twist's advice and read one (sometimes two or three on a good night) while I rested in my bed. They're the perfect length for a quick tale before you turn out the light, or during your lunch break, or when you're in a waiting room, or riding on the bus...I think you get my drift.

Most of these stories are set in England or Spain, and Ms. Twist employs her knowledge of both locales very well. The settings and personalities really come to life with her vivid language. Every story begins in a way that pulls the reader in and brings you to a conclusion you usually don't expect. Each tale is unique and paced nicely. I enjoyed them all and was sad when I reached the last page. I think you'll see what I mean when you buy your copy.

You can find Take One at Bedtime at Melange Books in e-book or print format.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Wow! A review and how-to publicity post in one!

Title—Beyond Nostalgia

Author—Tom Winton
Author’s web link--http://tomwintonauthor.com/
Genre—Romance/Literary Fiction
ISBN--1460920937

ISBN--978-1460920930

Reviewed by Mark Williams International

Fellowship Of Kindle Writers: Tom Winton

Time was, only women read romance novels, and only women wrote them.

Of course, that’s not strictly true.

Barbara Cartland has a lot to answer for!

In fact many (most?) of the great novels of English literature have been romances, and not just the obvious ones like Pride & Prejudice or Jane Eyre.

Easy to forget that so-called “horror” classics like Dracula and Frankenstein are first and foremost romance novels.

Love, of course, is one of the eternal themes of literature.

Love is what separates man from beast.

That, and the ability to write.

No wonder so many novelists choose it as a central theme.

Enter: Tom Winton and Beyond Nostalgia.

http://markwilliamsinternationaldotcom.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/220px-jane_eyre_ver1.jpg

“‘Beyond Nostalgia’ is a monumental romance, a ‘Gone with the Wind’ set not against the backdrop of the burning of Atlanta, but against the rumbling disaffection of America itself. “

So said one reviewer on Amazon.com, and plenty of others share those sentiments. Not least, me!

As male romance writers blossom in the brave new world of e-publishing (two in the UK Kindle top ten!) it is writers like Tom who have a great future ahead of them as word spreads and promotes their work to a wider and appreciative audience.

But Tom Winton offers not just a great novel for us as readers.

He also has an inspiring story for those writers among us struggling against great odds (ie all of us!).

Here, in Tom’s own words, is the story behind the story.

The Struggle of the Aspiring Author
I can’t speak for all authors, but the road to the recent publication of my novel, Beyond Nostalgia, has been fourteen years long and full of potholes, bumps, and more than a few depressions. But wait… don’t throw away your pens and give your computer the old heave ho quite yet!
It doesn’t have to be that way.
I read somewhere that Robert James Waller wrote his mega-selling novel, The Bridges of Madison County, in three short weeks.
Much of my delay was self-inflicted. What I am going to say here has nothing to do with blowing my own horn. It is meant to convey a message — do not give up.
It took me two and a half years to write Beyond Nostalgia, on a part time basis. While doing the seven drafts I laughed, I cried, and I even got turned on a few times.
I loved the process and I hated it.
When I finished it twelve years ago, I sent out a fair amount of queries. Two or three agents showed interest – read a few chapters — but there was no cigar.
Disgustedly, I threw the manuscript into a closet, and there it stayed for eleven years. Alongside it, on that closet floor, I left a piece of my soul.
I wrote virtually nothing from then on and wasn’t the most pleasant person to be around. No longer experiencing the high I’d always gotten after a good thousand word session, I was not happy.
Then, in December of ’09, I was at my local library one day and, after choosing a few books, I sat down and started reading a copy of Writer’s Digest like I used to years earlier. I read an article about online writers’ communities and thought, “heck… maybe I can give this a shot.” A day or two later I had the missus upload the entire manuscript onto Harper Collins’ authonomy website. I was absolutely stunned by what happened next.
I’ll never forget the first of over 400 reviews I received.
Other than those few agents who’d taken a peek, the only people who’d ever read Beyond Nostalgia were my wife and I. I’d always believed I had a good book but had very limited feedback.
When I read the first review I received, chills ran up my arms and the smile that rose on my face was far wider than it had been in many years. The reviewer, who was very experienced on authonomy, said, “This is far better than most of the books I’ve read on this site”.
And what happened after that blew me away.
Many, many of the reviews I received were more like raves. Beyond Nostalgia climbed to number 61—out of a field of 6,000 books– in less than three months.
The first two months, in the monthly ratings, it was ranked #3 or 4 in romance and in literary fiction. It also got to #9 in all genres. Harper Collins has since changed some rules which make it possible to rise faster, but back then things didn’t happen so quickly.
One morning, after those three months, I burned out and no longer wanted to do so many reads and reviews. But I had become a much better writer.
I then did an eighth and ninth draft and started sending out queries. That was the most difficult writing I’d ever done.
How, I asked myself, can I possibly tell these agents what my 87,000 word story was about in just two or three paragraphs?
While waiting for responses a friend recommended I put the manuscript on Random House’s YouWriteOn site. He said it was very low maintenance, and since he too was an authonomy veteran who had done lots of time in its trenches I thought I’d give it a shot.
After receiving eight reads (the minimum required for a ranking) Beyond Nostalgia was ranked 13^th. The next day it hit number one, where it stayed most of the month. Only at the very end of the month, when I accidentally deleted the wrong review, did I finish in fifth. But the top five are considered Best Sellers, and my novel is now in contention for Random House’s YouWriteOn “2011 Book of the Year”.
I was riding high after being one of YouWriteOn’s Best Sellers last July. Then responses from those queries I’d mailed out started trickling in.
I suppose I shouldn’t say “trickling in”, because in one month I had ten agents request to see part or all of Beyond Nostalgia–four of them in one day.
Son of a gun, I had Brad Pitt picked out to play my mc in the sure to come movie. Martin Scorcese was to be my director. Even the sound track played in my head. Then, over the next couple of months, everything went poof! I didn’t have one agent offer to represent my book. Three said they were sure I’d find an agent “soon”. But it didn’t pan out. I was almost ready to throw Beyond Nostalgia back in the closet.
But I didn’t.
At the eleventh hour Tim Roux at Night Publishing took a look at my book when one of his authors recommended it. A couple of days later he offered to publish it.
We first did a test run for a few weeks on Smashwords, and it did very well. It did so well that Online Novels declared it one of February’s two “Most Popular” novels in their General Fiction category–and It hadn’t come out until February tenth.
Tim is a small, new publisher, and we are trying to make a go of it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and many other online outlets. The book can be ordered at any Barnes & Noble brick and mortar store, but I only wish they would stock it.
At any rate, after being on Amazon for just four weeks, Beyond Nostalgia made the Literary Fiction “Best Sellers” list for a short time last week. It is also on Amazon’s “Highest Rated” and “Hot New Releases” lists in both Literary Fiction and Contemporary Romance.
It will take a lot of work, and luck, to keep the book out of Amazon’s sea of obscurity, but this time I will not give up.
And any aspiring author who believes in their book needs to do the same thing.
Hang tough!
Don’t make the mistake I did.
With the online market growing as you read this and all the helpful online writer’s communities available today, we all have a chance to go up against the big boys.
It won’t be easy, but we have that platinum opportunity.
Click on the links above to visit the sites I mentioned and one more called Agent Query, which is the only one you’ll need when you’re ready to chase down that elusive agent.
Keep writing!

Tom’s book is available in paperback through Amazon.com and as an e-book from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and smashwords.

Unquestionably a great romance novel. Unquestionably not Barbara Cartland!

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