Swept to Sea Review

Heather Mannings Inspirational does not have cover art available at this time. It earned three stars with little if any sexy scenes.

Ms. Manning has a knack for feminine characters who are well drawn and life-like... Manning does a beautiful job of describing unsettling scenes without being overly graphic, a task whose balance deserves praise.

For the full review, please visit http://indtale.com/reviews/inspirational/swept-sea

Wedding Gown Girl

This one earne three and a half stars with little if no sex and violence.
Kathy Bosman exercises that indispensable tool of the classic, "What if?” in this fun “Wedding Planner” type story... The location of Fish Hook Beach feels real with the frolicking dogs and Ms. Bosman uses the slightly different dialect to her advantage, showing the reader a place many will never have the chance to visit in person.
For the full review by Erin Murdock, visit http://indtale.com/reviews/contemporary/wedding-gown-girl

(Sorry, no cover art available.)

The Texas Cowboy Review

 

This contemporary Western earned three and a half stars with a few steamy spots.

 

 Lane does a good job of showing the contrast between the very affluent in Dallas to those considered less than, proving that first appearances can be deceiving and often misleading. She also does a nice job of steering clear of the intimate details while making the immoral actions necessary to the story quite clear with dialogue.

To read my full review, visit http://indtale.com/reviews/contemporary/texas-cowboy

More Beginnings Review

Three thumbs for Iris Blobel and her novella, More Beginnings. I truly wish she had drawn it out more with descriptions of the area and deeper examination of her characters.
Blobel captures a feel for the Australian lifestyle in Hobart... in this Contemporary novel. Blobel's effort to cross readership lines of young adult and adult is very well done. 
For my full review, visit http://indtale.com/reviews/contemporary/more-beginnings-beginnings-2

Heart River Inn Review

I'm not a chocolate fanatic so cocoa bites and nibbles aren't my style and I think (personally) star rankings belong to a few other bloggers and professional review sites so how about we go with thumbs? I have awesome 'hitch-hiker' thumbs So I'm giving thumbs just as if they were stars ---as in 5 thumbs are fantastic, 1 thumb not so good and all the ones in between. Fingernails for halves-ies too!

So here we go with the ones linked to the full review in InD'Tales for the month of May.

 

Heart River Inn

Jocie McKade

This Contemporary Comedy earned probably my highest accolades in recent memory!

 No kidding 4 Thumbs up and a Fingernail too! Yes, you will laugh or at least chuckle. I know I did. My biggest complaint is the cover art, but hey I dare you to furnish the author with a picture that fits what she describes.

Visit http://indtale.com/reviews/contemporary/heart-river-inn for my complete review and while you're there, sign -up for a subscription. It's free!

A Taste for Killing Review

I'm not a chocolate fanatic so cocoa bites and nibbles aren't my style and I think (personally) star rankings belong to a few other bloggers and professional review sites so how about we go with thumbs? I have awesome 'hitch-hiker' thumbs So I'm giving thumbs just as if they were stars ---as in 5 thumbs are fantastic, 1 thumb not so good and all the ones in between. Fingernails for halves-ies too!

So here we go with the ones linked to the full reviews in InD'Tales for the month of May.

A Taste for Killing (Chasing the Taste)

H.K. Sterling

A steamy  4 Thumbs up read! Suspense/Thriller without the gory details in this novella. Read my full review at http://indtale.com/reviews/suspense-thriller/taste-killing-chasing-taste 

Bogota Blessings Review

I'm not a chocolate fanatic so cocoa bites and nibbles aren't my style and I think (personally) star rankings belong to a few other bloggers and professional review sites so how about we go with thumbs? I have awesome 'hitch-hiker' thumbs So I'm giving thumbs just as if they were stars ---as in 5 thumbs are fantastic, 1 thumb not so good and all the ones in between. Fingernails for halves-ies too!

So here we go with the ones linked to the full reviews in InD'Tales for the month of May.

Bogota' Blessings

E.A. West

4 Thumbs up with this clean read (which means very little if any skin.)

You can find my review for this Inspirational at http://indtale.com/reviews/inspirational/bogota-blessings

Enjoy it. I did!

What I've read/reviewed recently

I'm not a chocolate fanatic so cocoa bites and nibbles aren't my style and I think (personally) star rankings belong to a few other bloggers and professional review sites so how about we go with thumbs? I have awesome 'hitch-hiker' thumbs So I'm giving thumbs just as if they were stars ---as in 5 thumbs are fantastic, 1 thumb not so good and all the ones in between. Fingernails for halves-ies too!

So here we go with the ones linked to the full reviews in InD'Tales for the month of May.

Elsa (The Secret Heritage Series, Book One)

By Allison Bruning

I give it a 2 thumbs review and remind readers that the bedroom door on this one is NOT firmly shut in this historical.

You can find my full review at http://indtale.com/reviews/inspirational/elsa-secret-heritage-series-book-one

Screenwriting isn't as simple as writing a book, as if that is easy...

Mags LC:

Have you ever wanted an amazing book made into a movie? Check out Hollywood Screenwriter Aaron Notestine's great 3 part series in InD'tale magazine starting in this month's issue!
www.indtale.com

News Worthy Notes

For weeks, okay, maybe months, I've been silent here on my blog. (I do that when I have little of importance to say.)

News worthy note #1:  My son just got married! Yes, the colors are pink and black.

News worthy note #2: The whole family was together for the very first time. (Visit my Facebook timeline for tags.)

News worthy note #3:  I attended the American Night Writers Association (ANWA) Conference in February. Phoenix was a very welcome change of scenery, especially the sunshine. While there I pitched my current project - Duplicity of Love Trilogy, to Victoria Curran with Harlequin. She loved it and asked for the two novels I have completed. (Her Promise and In Her Hands) Her request is the reason I have tucked myself away as much as possible in my writing cave to work on the third in the trilogy, His Journey. It isn't completed yet, I'm working on it. But you see I have had reason to get sidetracked for a bit with this wedding.

Of course there is always the demand of my time to do the reading and reviews with InD'Tales e-magazine. You won't find my reviews here but you are welcome to follow this link https://plus.google.com/communities/102849317807537724903?gpsrc=gplp0&partnerid=gplp0#communities/102849317807537724903 to follow on Google or this link http://indtale.com  to subscribe and find out what I've been reading and what I think of each novel or novella.

I must admit that I am a bit hard on the authors and their books that I read, maybe even tougher than the other reviewers at InD'Tales (A tough call as we don't read/review the same books.)

So, there is a summary of what I've been up to. I wouldn't recommend you hold your breath until my next post, but then again, I tend to go in spurts so you might want to check back again soon.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

The good news is that 'The Drive the Thrive,' which contains a short bibliography by yours truly is moving forward and closer to the publication date. For those of you watching and waiting for this one, please remember that all proceeds go to fighting cancer.

The bad news is that my baby, as in latest novel, 'Her Promise,' didn't get a date to the publishing ball in this first round of submissions.

More good news, the second book, 'In Her Hands' and companion to the afore mentioned book is back from the really mean check, fix or die reader/critique.

Now for the ugly news…'In Her Hands' just got a major hair cut that left her roughly 4000 words short of where she needs to be. Not all is bad as much of what was cut can be reattached elsewhere or reworked. With no deadlines and beta readers breathing hard on my heels, this will be done in a timely manner. When she (In Her Hands) is ready, she will go to beta readers. From there we polish her up until she shines and send her out to find a hot date to the publishing ball!

In the mean time, I'm going dancing…

Death holds more than Darkness.

Even death holds Dark Days of Promise…

Newly widowed Vicki Laramie is struggling to make ends meet. While her three children grapple with the death of their father, she must find a way to support her family and find a role model for her boys.

Excitement Brewing, Praying the Publisher is able to make the Deadline.

Exciting news!

Just got the word (okay, I got it late Wednesday night)--- The Drive to Thrive will be available Mid- February! That's right! I'm excited because it includes my biographical short. We will be signing copies at the ANWA Conference so if you want to be able to read what I might write on the anthology ask early before my writing become illegible to all (even me. Lol)

Post Script: My hubby and I are actively working to be able to fulfill the last scene of the anthology. (I Wanna Dance All Night, I wanna Dance All Night…)

Offering you a Taste of "His Journey"

Trevor adjusted his goggles and jumped. He might as well have hit sheer ice. The bone chilling water enveloped him, slicing through his flesh with numbing clarity. The painful cold caused every hair on his muscular body to stand on end and set his teeth to chattering. His breath effectively stolen by the freezing water, he managed to fight for the surface of the pool.  

He stared at his work crew in shock, unable to think of a single cuss word.

"Cold, ain't it hombre?" Rufus, the only Mexican on the crew asked. Rufus stood a mere five feet four inches tall with jet black hair that always seemed to stand in disarray. He held Trevor's towel in a wad of disheveled terry cloth. Trevor eyed the towel anxious to wrap it around himself.

He tried to glare at each of his three employees in turn. Was his face frozen solid? His eyes seemed the only organs in his body answering his instructions to move. No wonder they refused to inspect the pools. What had he been thinking? He'd been thinking of how to get a jump on the competition and show some much needed profit on the company's ledgers at the same time. The company wasn't in trouble, but Trevor lacked his father's head for business.

His father had discovered many years ago that Trevor had a propensity for designing beautiful pool areas. It was the part of the business Trevor did best. Since his father's untimely death he'd unwittingly strangled most of the life out of the company. He must find a way to prove to himself and others that he was more than his father's screw-up.

The outdoor temperature in the sun at this hour boasted 52 and rising. Not bad for a brisk walk, but not the overly warm triple digits this same pool area would boast in three months time. Problem was that people wanted to use their pools as soon as the temperatures hit the mid seventies and that meant inspecting and repairing the pools in cooler temperatures.

"Ready to get out Boss-man?" Brodie, the smart-alec on the crew crossed his arms over his chest. Not an easy feat for a guy with a chest circumference of fifty inches and arms to match.

Anxious to get out of this fix without losing face should have been Trevor's first concern, but survival preempted his leadership skills. Both far outweighed the business' needs at the moment. His gaze fell on Darin. At the tender age of eighteen, Darin was the youngest man on the crew and Brodie's "little" brother. He also had a tender side that Brodie often beat out of him whether physically or by shear intimidation of muscle and strength. Darin didn't let Trevor down this time.

Inspirational Thriller

Widow finds the perfect role model for her children in a returned soldier, but finds the lingering post-war issues he deals with might kill her.

Professional Reviewer has this to say:

Written in the first person, this is an engaging romance, a story of family, and of life involving military personnel. The respect and admiration for those who serve in the military shines through, as well as the care and sympathy for those suffering from the effects of combat PTSD.  With barely a hint of prayer or religious overtones, “Days of Promise” manages to be inspirational without being preachy. …This is a winning and uplifting contemporary romance!
To read full review, visit http://www.indtale.com/reviews/inspirational/dark-days-promise

Book 3 earns Praise of Young Reader

Not sure this is true for all authors, but it is for me. I received a nice compliment this morning. My son, age 13 going on 30 stopped in his tracks this morning to listen to me read. It wasn't that he yearned to be 3 and hear a bedtime story, it was the story that I was reading…Go Trevor!

I've lived and worked with this character for over five years and am now working on "His Journey." Trevor has waited patiently for me to tell the story from two female's point of views and now it is his turn to tell his story. I love the guy, he is continually surprising me and this morning, well, let's just say-- his actions held my son in the palm of his hand with the rest of his audience!

"His Journey" will be Book 3 in a trilogy that I'm writing. "Her Promise" is out shopping for a date with a publisher while "In Her Hands" is off to her first of many polishing sessions. When "In Her Hands" is complete with all her polishing done, it too will go shopping for a date to the publishing ball. I have no doubt that it will find one easier than her sister as "In Her Hands" is a romance while "Her Promise" has a different twist.

Happy New Year!

My New Year resolutions:

1) Walk 3-5 days a week and somehow manage a full hour...
2) Get a manuscript under contract.
3) Dance (waltz or swing) with my husband at our son's wedding (which means we must learn to dance and preferably together.)
4) Have fewer trips to the various doctors and feel better than I do now.
5) Remember to Live today like it is my last, Laugh aloud when something strikes me as funny, Love my family and tell them I love them, not just assume they know.
6) Make resulotion mid-year that will fill my days with joy, happiness, and sweet memories.
7) Figure out how to use the electronics in my life or get rid of them, they've given me enough gray hairs!

What are your resolutions?

Maria Hammarblad said this about her read of Dark Days of Promise

Vicki is a single mom, living with her three children. Her ex-husband is in the military, fighting in some faraway war, and thanks to some help from the closest neighbour Janine, they're doing okay on their own. One day, four men in uniform knock on Vicki's door. She has to tell her children their father is dead, and such words never come easy.

Her ex-husbands death emphasizes the word "single" in a way the divorce never could, and as she tries to cope with a rebellious teenage son and make plans for the future, a handsome banker asks her for a date. Vicki accepts, thinking she's truly alone and that her children need a father figure. These might not be the right reasons for entering a relationship, but it seems logical. At about the same time, Janine's son returns home from the war. He is handsome, strong, and PTSD makes him unpredictably violent.

Gonzales has a knack for creating believable characters. They not only come alive on the pages, but I expect them to appear in real life at any moment. Their thoughts, intentions, and problems are believable. It's hard to describe the story conveying how exciting it really is; it contains just the right amount of danger and adventure to keep you turning the pages, and just when you think you know what'll happen, everything takes an unexpected turn.

The book is classified in cryptic categories such as "Christian books and bibles." I normally don't read Christian books: in my opinion the authors usually overdo it, and the material comes across as a few hundred pages of trying to convert people. Gonzales doesn't fall into that trap. There is religion in the book, but the mentions of faith come naturally, as a part of life for the people involved. She handles religion in an elegant, non-threatening and non-coercive way that makes this book stand out as something that can be appreciated both by people looking for a Christian read, and by people wanting to be entertained by an enthralling romantic suspense.

I warmly recommend the book and I will keep my eyes open for new releases from Shaunna Gonzales. If you buy it, be prepared to shut out the world for a while - I just HAD to know what would happen, so I read it all in one day.

Lovestoread had this to say about Dark Days of Promise

Dark days of promise was a great read from cover to cover. It had just the right mix of romance and plot twists that made me want to keep reading. I was pleased that it was romantic without being graphic.

D.R.Weaver talks about Dark Days of Promise

I could relate to Vicki's circumstances. While my two oldest children were younger than hers when my first husband died, I can relate to the loneliness of being a single parent ever responsible for the children. I remember too well my concerns for my son, knowing that try as I might I could not teach him some things. I could tell him stuff, but I could never understand what it is to be a guy. I don't care how many babies a male obstetrician delivers, he still doesn't really get what it's like--from the woman's view--to give birth.

Sometimes I wanted to smack Vicki, though. lol But we all do stupid things when we're trying to do what we think is best for our children. I can forgive her for being human. One thing I appreciated about her was that she never quite gave up on Kelly who needed a chance to heal. And he needed help to do it.

Trust is a big issue in Dark Days of Promise. My husband is a Vietnam vet, and when we first married, I learned very early not to stand within the reach of his fist if I had to wake him up. He never hit me, but he scared both of us a couple of times. Fortunately, it's rare for the PTSD to show itself now, but it seems still to lurk in that stage between sleeping and waking.

Of course, I'm a black belt now. I think I can take him. ;)

Yearning for an early taste of Christmas?

My personal favorite taste of Christmas in fiction.

With the mistletoe still in hand, he placed it at the back of my head. I felt his fingers entwine in my hair. My heart accelerated its beating dance, knowing a much more euphoric rush would accompany his kiss. More than his first visit, more than his peck on my cheek, more . . . A warm quiver of anticipation settled over me, fixing me to the spot. The music from the movie in the next room swelled, intensifying the moment. His lips brushed mine, hinting of gingerbread and milk. In that instant, I wondered if I’d ever truly experienced such a kiss. The gentle pressure was warm and sweet, inviting me to live in the moment. An experience I’d never known in all my years with another . . . I couldn’t even remember his name. My adrenalin roller coaster revved its engine in my stomach before climbing with massive force in an upward motion before dropping to my deepest core. And yet it didn’t last long enough.

Excerpt from Dark Days of Promise.

Available now at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobe and Desert Breeze Publishing.

http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Days-Promise-Shaunna-Gonzales-ebook/dp/B009EHRB7K/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1385441080&sr=1-1&keywords=Dark+Days+of+Promise

Rachel Anderson has this to say about Dark Days of Promise

Shaunna Gonzales has thoughtfully constructed a realistic view of what life with the military is like for many brave defenders of freedom and their families. I loved the twists, the mentor, and the growth Vicki experiences through her struggles. This book will increase the reader's appreciation for the sacrifices made in their behalf every day.

Sally Pink Reviews has this to say about Dark Days of Promise

Gonzales pens a story that will tug on your heartstrings with "Dark Days of Promise." Vicki Laramie is struggling to raise three children when she learns her ex-husband is killed in Iraq. Kelly Chase has just left the Army and suffers from PTSD. Can they help each other through their dark days to find happiness?

The story opens with a realistic look at Vicki's struggles. Thankfully, her neighbor, Janine, gives her the emotional and steadfast support Vicki needs to get by. Enter Janine's son, Kelly. He's just left military service, but finds adjustment to civilian life a challenge. Despite their attraction, Vicki and Kelly are challenged at every turn. When something traumatic happens to both of them, will it prove to be the turning point both of them need to move on with their lives?

Gonzales' writing style is easy to read and she handles the first person narrative well. The plot moves at a nice clip.

The best part of the novel is how Gonzales taps into emotions. Phillip is the teenager you want to ground for life, yet he's sympathetic as well, searching for the one person to help "ground" him. Vicki is honest and real and raw. Kelly struggles with issues many do upon returning from war. The supporting cast is just as endearing. Gonzales isn't afraid to show us their strengths, vulnerabilities, and weaknesses.

The story has a spiritual element, but doesn't come off as "preachy." In fact, Gonzales does an excellent job showing the power of faith in a very natural way. The story is sweet for romance readers, with the main characters holding hands and kissing. In fact, it was nice to read a "sweet" romance that didn't feel forced. Overall, "Dark Days of Promise" offers hope in the face of adversity and is a heartwarming story. I highly recommend it.

Fiction with Flair Reviews said this about Dark Days of Promise

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.

Dark Days of Promise Excerpt

Vicki's day has just gone from bad to worse! See what she is in for.

My terrified mind flooded with all the horror stories of kidnap and rape victims. I scoured my memory banks for anything helpful to my chances of survival. At last I settled on a news report about a kidnap victim who'd been found because of fingerprints lifted from smooth surfaces within the kidnapper's vehicle. Opening my fists, I pressed my icy fingers to the dashboard hoping to leave a clue proving I'd been here while my mind replayed the news report. I couldn't stop the trembling as it started at my hairline and traveled to my toes.

"How did you find me?" I tried not to let my voice betray my fear, hoping instead to sound like I was still cold. I adjusted my scarf allowing it to lie in a loose fold around my neck, shivering in my coat in spite of the Jeep's warm interior. My breath appeared imperceptible now.

Will I soon be just as invisible? I stared ahead and uttered a silent prayer. Oh God, please help me ...

Available now at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobe and Desert Breeze Publishing.

http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Days-Promise-Shaunna-Gonzales-ebook/dp/B009EHRB7K/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1385441080&sr=1-1&keywords=Dark+Days+of+Promise

...Watch Your Back...

"You should really watch your back." Farley's volume no longer reflected a quiet respect. His expression became accusing and cold. "I hear Kelly is dangerous. He put someone on the floor at the bank the other day."

"How?" I stopped my question and examined his expression, discovering a weird twitch of his lips. He had intended to shock me.