January 10, 2013

Review of Dark Days of Promise by Stephenia H. McGee

Author Shaunna Gonzales dives into some very deep and often neglected topics in her contemporary military family novel, Dark Days of Promise. Having come from a military family myself, and seeing the effects of PTSD, I felt the author handled the issues with both respect and realism.


When Vicki finds out her ex-husband has been killed in action in the Middle East, she struggles with raising three children, especially two boys, on her own. Without even the occasional visits of a father, she fears they will not know how to become men. She never expects her best friend's son to have served with her ex-husband, and certainly never expected to be drawn to such a dangerous man. Her children adore him, but Vicki knows he has a dark side. Kelly can be fun and caring, but he also has killer instincts he can't always control.

I enjoyed this story for its depth and genuine feel. The romance is warm, with a few stirrings of heat, but the relationship progresses nicely. Despite a few slow sections, I give it four stars for being a great read and an excellent story of the honor and sacrifice of our military.

January 6, 2013

GRACE FILLED BOOK BLITZ - Day Twelve

GRACE FILLED 12-DAYS OF CHRISTMAS BOOK BLITZ


Dark Days of Promise Excerpt

"Look at me, Vicki."

I avoided his eyes.

"Damn it, Vicki, look at me!" His voice begged for my full attention. When I didn't look at him, he stood, placing me in the chair. He squatted down in front of me on his good leg. I met his gaze for the first time since he'd started talking. His eyes pierced me, imploring me to understand what he found impossible to explain. He began again.

"I can't do this by myself. I know I don't deserve it, but I'm asking you to help me. I'm asking you to consider being my anchor in the sanity of civilian life. Marshall asked me to take care of his family should anything happen to him. I believe he meant you, as well as the kids. I don't know how to do that without being a soldier. Soldiering is all I know. Do you realize I walk the perimeter of both our houses every night?"

I gasped in surprise.

"Sometimes twice if I'm not sure everything's right. I even carry a weapon when I feel you might be in danger. The boys have made a lot of tracks in the snow, which is why you haven't noticed. It's okay; I'm not a 'Peeping Tom.' I don't peer in your windows or invade your privacy. You should close the blinds though. You're beautiful, even in your old pajamas."

"You can't see in my windows, can you?" I choked.

"Not if I'm not looking," he hedged.

"I can't believe--"

http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Days-of-Promise-ebook/dp/B009EHRB7K/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1356558654&sr=1-1&keywords=Shaunna+gonzales

Oh My!

Oh my, it's been a long, long time since I posted anything here. Really, I do this now because I recently got a note, if you can call it...