Tag Archives: indie authors

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Book Review: Reservation by Rachael Wade (Preservation, Book 2)

Reservation (Preservation, #2)Reservation by Rachael Wade

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“If there’s anyone in the world who deserves a happy ending, it’s two broken people who taught each other to love.”

I’m going to be straightforward about this one…If someone had told me I’d be giving this book five stars, I don’t know that I would have believed them. Although I’m well acquainted with (and a huge fan of) Rachael Wade’s work, I wasn’t really sure I even wanted to read Ryan’s book. I’d fallen in love with Ryan at the beginning of Preservation but by the time I’d reached the end, he’d left me annoyed. I’d felt like he didn’t deserve Kate. But when Reservation came out, I felt like I needed to read it – maybe for some kind of closure, or maybe to try and better understand Ryan Campbell and his motives. I’m so glad I decided to read this book!

Not only did I fall in love with Ryan all over again, I felt like I found some resolution in the way things had ended in book 1. That’s not to say that I didn’t want to wring his neck or clock him over the head with a frying pan; I just better understood the motive behind his actions. I gained that insight I’d been looking for – the why behind his stupid, seemingly selfish decision. I guess, in other words, I’d gained a sense of compassion for him while reading Reservation. That compassion continued to grow as I went through the book, and by the time I’d reached the last half of the book, I couldn’t bring myself to put it down.

There had been one small detail that I would have liked to have seen more “resolved,” so to speak. But other than that, I absolutely loved Ryan’s story. I’d also appreciated the fact that Ryan’s story hadn’t simply his side of the Preservation book – it was a completely original novel with a completely different story line, and I loved that! Now I’m just waiting for Carter’s story, book 3 of the Preservation series…rather impatiently, I might add, since he just so happens to be my favorite character from the series!
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Cover Reveal: The Replacement by Rachael Wade

I just have to say, I’ve only read the excerpt of The Replacement, an upcoming novel by one of my fave authors, Rachael Wade, and I’m already in LOVE! Like, sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for it to come out in love! So, even though I’m a little late getting this posted, I HAD to share! Feel free to drool…and share!

 

The Replacement

A gritty, coming-of-age drama about a young woman’s self-destructive quest to find purpose, self-worth, and love in a broken world.

My name is Elise Duchamp. I’m 23 years old and I’m known as the town whore.
No, not the kind who exchanges sexual favors for money. The other kind. The kind who gives it all away for free, whenever and however she likes. I am that girl. The one everyone whispers about and the one none of the girls seem to like, because all of their boyfriends either want to sleep with me or already have. Promiscuity is my thing—the kind that slowly, violently turns my insides black, but gives me something I need.

All things considered, I’m not completely reckless. I’m safe, and contrary to popular opinion, I haven’t chucked my entire moral code out the window. Just most of it. I live in a world of careless choices, and with those choices come careless people. I cannot judge them, because I am one of them. I too bow down to the altar of the self-serving. I am not a good friend. I am not and never could be anyone’s girlfriend. I’m convinced any goodness in me shriveled up and died long ago.

But I am a replacement. That is something I know how to be, and this is a story of the lengths I’d go to in order to keep it that way.

Add it to your Goodreads To-Read list HERE.
Connect with Rachael on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads. Find her other books HERE.http://www.amazon.com/Rachael-Wade/e/B005EUR0A4/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

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Book Review: October Snow by Jenna Brooks

October SnowOctober Snow by Jenna Brooks

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“Really great books are hard to find, harder to put down, and impossible to forget,” – source unknown.

This quote made me think of October Snow, instantly. It is a book that will stick with me forever. The emotions, thoughts, and personal reflection that this book stirred in me are practically impossible to articulate, but I’m going to give it a try.

October Snow is an in-your-face look at the reality that so many women face each and every day. Centered around the topic of domestic violence, the book is an amazing way for victims to find a character they can fully identify with. It is this common thread of domestic violence that ties the three friends in this book together, but interestingly enough, they don’t even realize it until somewhere towards a quarter of the way into the book. But there is so much more to this book than that.

Most notable is the fact that there is useful information for victims and their families – information that could make the difference between successfully making it out and ending up being back in the clutches of an abuser. But what really snagged me and kept pulling me in was the emotional investment I had in each of the characters. I was able to identify with all of them in one way or another. I also found myself wonderfully bonded to them and their little circle, if for no other reason than they remind me so very much of the bonds that I have formed with other women in my own life. Their mannerisms, their reactions, their emotional scars, their attachment, all of what you see from these three women describe the reality of how domestic violence and trauma affect a person forever. That, above all else, makes October Snow nothing short of an addictive read. And as I continued to turn the pages late into the night, I found myself gripped with fear, sadness, happiness, and concern. I’m not a person that cries over books or movies, at least not easily. But I cried for at least three chapters while reading October Snow because of how deeply and profoundly the book touched some of the deepest parts of my soul and humanity.

I wanted, so desperately, to give October Snow a full five stars. The story definitely deserves it, but there were a couple of minor issues that kept me from doing so. The first was the fact that there were a few instances where I had a hard time following the story. This was particularly true for some of the dialogues; I couldn’t tell who was speaking sometimes and it threw me. But there were also a few scenes that I felt jumped too quickly for me. There were also a few scenes where I felt like the topic or conversation dragged; I just wanted to get back to the story. But please don’t let any of this deter you from reading October Snow because, in all honesty, it wasn’t so distracting or jarring that it took much from the overall story. I still enjoyed the experience of reading it more than I’ve enjoyed reading any book in a very long time. And I’d give it a solid 4.5 stars if there was a half-star option. =)

Jenna Brooks is definitely an author to watch for; I have a feeling she’s going to end up taking the literary world by storm! And, for the record, if there’s ever a book that needs to be made into a movie, this is it! Many thanks to the author for giving me a reading experience that will forever be a part of my life.
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TBH Teaser Thursday

After some serious thought and self-honesty, I’ve realized that keeping up with my blog on a regular basis is not something I have the time to do right now. While I love sharing the little milestones and events in my life with all of you, I know that I already have a very full plate. With five kids to parent (two of which are always home and two that have special needs), various appointments, Mommy duties, fixing up our home and parenting articles and a novel to write, I wonder how I find time to pee some days. But I also recognize the importance of keeping everyone up to date on at least SOME aspect of my writing. So I sat down and brainstormed some ideas. Enter TBH Teaser Tuesday.

Every Tuesday, I will share an unedited section of my current novel in progress, The Broken Home. While I will try to share sections that I feel confident about, it’s important to keep in mind that, because these sections are unedited, they may change minimally or drastically between now and publishing. Some sections may not make their way into the novel. That’s just how editing works sometimes. But the ultimate goal is to give everyone a chance to see what’s going on behind the scenes as it’s happening. It’ll be kind of like sitting in on a movie filming, only in words and without all the extra takes. =) So please enjoy this very first ever TBH Teaser Thursday! And, as always, I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Instantly, I knew I was dreaming; I knew because I had suddenly appeared in the middle of a grassy field with no rhyme or reason to how I’d gotten there. Yet despite that knowledge, this unnerving sense of dread tugged at my brain. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it; something just felt “off.”

Though certain I’d never seen this place before, it felt strangely familiar. A large, two-story house loomed in the distance. It reminded me of the classic farm homes I’d seen in movies and old paintings. A small, covered porch marked the entryway. A rose bush with beautiful yellow blooms grew in front of the large bay window just on the other side of the porch. White smoke lazily curled out of the chimney stationed over the larger A-framed peak.A dozen questions floated through my mind as I took a hesitant step towards the dark, eerie structure.

Why does this place feel so familiar?
Why am I so scared?
Who lives here?
Where am I?

Shaking from fear (can you even shake from fear in a dream?), I took another step, and then another. As I neared the porch, I felt drawn to the rose bush. The yellow blooms and green stems seemed so much more vibrant than everything around me. Without even realizing it, I had walked right up to the bushes, plucked one of the beautiful buds and was now holding it up to my nose. A sweet, pungent fragrance filled my nose; it brought a small smile to my face.

Just then, I heard a rustling behind me. I turned quickly to see what had made the sound. I met the eyes of a young woman that could have been my sister. Her raven-colored hair whipped around her head in the breeze. Her pale complexion reminded me of my own. She had the same high cheekbones, slightly crooked nose and uneven lips. I heard someone gasp; it took a moment before I’d realized that the sound had come from me.

Who was this woman? I opened my mouth to ask her, but a panic filled her eyes. Without a word, she lifted a finger to her, as if warning me not to speak. The motion pulled my gaze to her lips. Oh, her lips! Thick, black string had been grotesquely sewn through her lips. Crusty scabs covered each jagged stitch.

I opened my mouth to scream, but nothing came out. The woman extended her pale, thin arms, either to embrace me or smother me, I couldn’t tell which. I just knew I didn’t want to be here. I didn’t want her to touch me. I needed to escape her morbid mouth and sad, empty eyes. I closed my eyes, screamed inside my own head, tried to will myself awake. It didn’t work. She now loomed just feet away. As she closed the distance between us, I noticed dried blood under the fingernails of her outstretched hands. She smelled sickeningly sweet, like decaying roses. The scent cut off my airway, suffocated me. I clasped my throat, lifted my head and gasped for air, but fresh air no longer existed – only the suffocating, decaying roses.

Dizzy from the lack of air, I fell to the ground. Only after my knees hit the ground did I realize that it hadn’t been dizziness that had caused me to collapse; the ground beneath me was shifting and cracking. While I stared at the ground in fear and utter disbelief, the woman completely closed the gap between us and wrapped her arms around me. At that exact moment, the ground beneath me split, revealing a canyon that appeared to have no bottom.
It’s going to swallow me up!

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Love and Relativity by Rachael Wade

Love and RelativityLove and Relativity by Rachael Wade

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Today is my birthday and I get to share something totally amazing with you: my favorite read this year, Love and Relativity by Rachael Wade! (Yes, I’m strange…I like sharing on my birthday ;-) )

I laughed. I cried. I read until I needed toothpicks to keep my eyes open! In short, Love and Relativity made my very short “epic love story” list. But in more depth:

“My problem is, I can’t do this shit anymore, Emma. The girl I fucking love is sitting across from me, and I can’t have her. I can never have her because all I seem to do is hurt her, and it’s killing me, alright? Seeing you like that last week…it tore me open and ripped out my insides. It feels worse than the three years I couldn’t touch you combined. There’s nothing left of me, because you have it all. You were right. I am no good for you—not now, and not in the future. I’m done with this back and forth bullshit, so please, just say what you came to say and be done with it, because I can’t fucking take it anymore.”

That. Right there. And so much more is why Love and Relativity is currently my favorite Rachael Wade novel, and probably one of my favorite reads this year.

Jackson is totally bad-boy-with-a-good-heart yummy. He tries his damndest to stay away from Emma, to do what’s right by her. He wants more for her than him, but their love is fueled by sheer magnetism and Jackson isn’t the bad boy he thinks he is. He’s caged himself in, simply put up walls because of the things he’s been through, which really just makes him all the more desirable in the end.

Emma is struggling with her own issues: a jerk of an ex-boyfriend, her own walls and inhibitions, the grief and loss of her sister and the secret that binds her and Jackson together – the one thing that tells her that there’s more to Jackson than meets the eye. But figuring it all out is easier said than done.

Be prepared for some serious swooning and steamy scenes. And don’t be surprised if you spend half the book wanting to ring either Jackson’s or Emma’s necks because we, the readers, can see they are perfect for each other but one or the other seems to think that they’re better off sabotaging the entire thing.

My favorite character from Preservation also plays a pretty big role in Love and Relativity. I got to know him better and I got to see him happy, which I totally loved. He’s the sweet, pure hearted guy who most girls overlook because he lacks that bad boy edge. But to me, he’s beyond yummy and totally the kind of guy I would marry (and yes, I did marry the total sweetheart and I’ve never looked back! =)). So for me, Love and Relativity also righted and the wrongs I’d felt at the end of Preservation, making Love and Relativity all the more enjoyable.

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Where’s My Cover????

Have you noticed anything missing? Well, other than me lately, of course?

That’s right, my cover!

So what happened? Well, while taking off some much needed time for personal matters, I discovered a horrible, terrible truth:

I had purchased stolen art.

Now, I honestly thought I had chosen a reputable cover artist. In fact, I had found my cover artist through a best-selling indie author.

I won’t go into names and I won’t go into details because I’m not here to ruin someone else’s life. But I have spent three times the amount I “should” have for a cover. I have gone through more than a month of frustration and confusion. I have had to leave my readers hanging. And all the while, someone else profited.

Thankfully, the original artist (whom I found completely by chance!) has been more than amazing. She has agreed to let me use the cover for a fee and is even making some modifications to make it look a little better. What floors me most is how compassionate and understanding she’s been through all of this. She’s said how sorry she is for me…and I’ve only lost money. She lost a very special piece of art that she never had planned to sell.

So, needless to say, I removed my cover until it is completed. She has given me permission to continue using the old cover until the new one is made, so the ad in the back of Rachael Wade’s Preservation will remain until the new cover is complete.

I would also like to take a second to update the poster winners from the Lights On event:

Posters will be mailed out this week. I am so sorry for the delay, but I hope you understand. I couldn’t send out a poster with stolen artwork until I had permission. So thank you for being so wonderfully patient! To make up for having to wait so long (and because I want you to have both!), I will send out signed posters of the new cover once I have the completed cover in hand!

I’d also like to thank everyone who has remembered me in my absence. You have no idea how much it means to me that you’re all still there and thinking of me! I’ve missed you all so very much and plan to stay online. I won’t be online as much as before my little vacation, but definitely more often than these past few months.

HELPFUL HINTS FOR AUTHORS LOOKING FOR A COVER ARTIST:

  • Get a recommendation from other authors.
  • Go with your gut – if something feels “off,” it probably is.
  • Ask for a certificate of authenticity.
  • Inquire about stock photos used in the cover art – do they purchase rights, do you need to purchase rights, where do they find their stock photos, etc.
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YOU Can Help Turn the Lights On

“It is better to light one small candle than to curse the darkness” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

 

 

 

Today, I’d like to take a moment to share a wonderful event with you. Founded by one of my favorite authors and dearest friends, Rachael Wade, Lights On is a site dedicated to “turning the lights on.”

So often, we forget that big changes start with individual people. That’s what Lights On is all about – encouraging individual people to get involved so that, together, we can make a big change. Ten authors, myself included, are participating in the kick-off event, which starts today (8/1), and ends 8/8. All of the participating authors have selected a charity to represent and support. Each author is offering up exclusive prizes that will be raffled off for those that have made a donation to their sponsored charity.

The amount doesn’t have to be big: remember, big changes start with small efforts. Come see which charity I’m supporting and why. Oh, and don’t forget to make a donation to any of the charities supported by any one of the participating authors to have a chance at winning one of the exclusive prizes up for grabs.

 

Participating authors include:

 

 

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Book Review: Zeke by Wodke Hawkinson

ZekeZeke by Wodke Hawkinson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ever wondered how women end up in abusive relationships? Why it is they don’t just leave or how, exactly, they fall in love with an abusive person in the first place? Read Zeke by Wodke Hawkinson. I didn’t just read a story that had me on the edge of my seat; I read a story that so accurately the victim’s mental rewiring and abuser’s charming mental instability that I had to step back and remind myself that I was reading a fictional story.

It’s not often that I find a book that can evoke a strong emotional response from me; Zeke did. And it wasn’t just the brilliant writing: exceptional character building would be an understatement, engaging story fails to do this book justice, and to say that the story and characters were realistic couldn’t even come close to describing what I experience while reading Zeke. In fact, the story was so realistic that I felt as though I was simply reading another victim’s story.

As you may well know, I am an advocate for domestic violence victims. I am also a survivor of domestic violence, so Zeke really jumped off the page for me. He was a living, breathing, standing in my living room abuser for me. I had to take several breaks throughout the book, just to breathe and remind myself that I was safe. But there are women out there that are NOT safe. They are with real versions of Zeke. While not all of them are likely as mentally unstable as our male protagonist, they are all mentally unstable in one way or another. Anyone that has ever been in an abusive relationship could probably find a resemblance of their abuser in Zeke.

For this reason, I wouldn’t recommend this book to everyone. For those that are still healing from the trauma caused in an abusive relationship, Zeke may not be a suitable read. But I would recommend this book to anyone else that enjoys psychological, nail biting, edge of your seat books. I’d also highly recommend this book to any young woman who is just starting out in the dating world or to any woman that may be on the verge of entering an abusive relationship.

There are Zeke’s on every corner, ladies, and they don’t come with a sign. Instead, they are charming, handsome, sweet, and completely in “love” with you. But what you see on the surface is nothing more than an act; deep down, they only want to control you, and many of them, like Zeke, actually enjoy seeing you in pain.

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Book Review: A Darkness Shattered by Bruce Clothier

A Darkness Shattered (The Darkmind Saga)A Darkness Shattered by Bruce Clothier
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A Darkness Shattered was another one of those books that really shocked me. I’m really not very into the zombie books…or at least I didn’t think I was. After reading A Darkness Shattered, I’m starting to wonder. =) (This is the second zombie book I’ve read that has made me think I might actually like the genre more than I had originally thought.)

There were so many strengths with this book: very descriptive writing, believable events, characters you either love or hate, and an engaging story line. And there was more to this book than just zombies: love, friendship, loyalty, survival, empathy, compassion and doing the right thing simply because it’s the right thing to do. I loved the depth and realism of each character. And I absolutely adored the little colony of people. I would have loved to have lived there any day of the week! But what I loved about this book most was that the gore wasn’t disruptive to my stomach. While it was very realistic, it wasn’t so over the top that I felt like I was going to lose my lunch.

There were some religious undertones, but none that I couldn’t ignore – a prayer, some “divine” knowledge, that sort of thing…but again, nothing that truly took away from the story for me. Also, the transition from one character’s thoughts, movements or actions to another was a little rough at times. But honestly, the disorientation during transitions was very slight, and once the transition was over, you were right back where you should have been – fully engrossed in the character.

So overall, definitely a good read, one that I would highly recommend. And needless to say, I’m really glad I gave this book a chance, even though it’s really not the kind of book I would normally read. Even more surprising is the fact that I’m also looking forward to the next book…or at least I hope there’s a next one or I’ll be rather disappointed. Bruce Clothier is definitely an author to watch for.

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Foretell Review

Foretell (Wanderlove, #2)Foretell by Belle Malory
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Foretell carries on where Wanderlove left off, for the most part, but the story is now told from a different perspective. Readers are now taken into the thoughts and experiences of The Oracle, otherwise known as Estelle.

Estelle first learned of her curse shortly after her father’s death. She’d always known her ability could be dangerous in the wrong hands. In fact, her own mother and sister have fully abused her abilities to obtain wealth and fame. But it wasn’t until meeting Lola, Rex and Gabe that Estelle realized just how much danger she and the world could be in because of her ability. She also learns that gypsies from all over the world are hunting for her, trying to find her so that they can use her abilities for their own gain.

After earning the trust of Estelle, Lola, Gabe and Rex take Estelle to safety, but that safety is soon compromised when Estelle decides to try and break the curse. This journey will lead her to love, heartbreak, and even to the brink of death. Will she break the curse or will she forever serve evil people?

Again, I am fully wowed by Belle Mallory’s story. Something about her writing just captivates me. It’s so real to me, as if the whole gypsy world, the curse of the Oracle and the reincarnation of gypsy souls truly does exist. I also find myself fully engrossed in her stories. The writing flows so easily, so beautifully. The characters wonderfully created. I love how they seem so much like real people.

All in all, I’m a little sad that there probably won’t be another book in the Wanderlove series. (Although who knows except Ms. Mallory.) Nothing has changed for me. I am a dedicated Belle Mallory fan and look forward to reading anything she writes in the future. A huge thank you to the author for creating a story that will forever stay with me. I am certain I will read both books again sometime in the future.

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