tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37787036647895007972024-03-20T02:37:18.650-07:00Conquering Book MountainA book review blogShontrell Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14903508109301416157noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3778703664789500797.post-87493356800552501312013-07-23T10:13:00.000-07:002013-07-23T10:13:11.580-07:00DEEP FRIED TROUBLE by Tyora Moody<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">About the Book<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<i>Widowed and officially
retired, EUGEENA PATTERSON throws herself into organizing the neighborhood
association. This presents a great opportunity to re-connect with old friends
and get to know new neighbors like recently widowed Amos Jones, that is until Eugeena
stumbles upon her estranged neighbor’s dead body. Eugeena’s daughter is
fingered as a prime suspect, but where is she?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Determined to find her missing daughter,
Eugeena and Amos sort through a list of neighbors with shady or unknown
backgrounds. The more she searches, the more Eugeena becomes unsure about this
neighborhood association idea. Someone closer than Eugeena thinks, wants to
keep it that way.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<b>Book Trailer:</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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View the book trailer below.
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Eugeena Patterson, a recently retired school teacher,
charges into the world of investigation when she stumbles upon the body of an
old friend who has been murdered and her missing daughter is named as a person
of interest.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Enlisting the aid of Amos Jones, a neighbor who is a retired
police officer, she is determined to solve this case.<o:p></o:p></div>
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From the nice-but-nosey neighbor Louise to Porgy the Corgi,
the characters are so true-to-life that I feel like I know them personally. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The plot is very well-written. Eugeena’s segue from teacher
to amateur detective is seamless and totally believable. I like that the
characters’ faith is evident through the book, but it doesn’t overwhelm the
story. There are no preachy-feel-good-everybody-needs-to-go-to-church
sentiments or any bible-thumping here. Eugeena relies heavily on her faith in God and that’s just how she is, it's not all in your face.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Like in her Victory Gospel Series, the author touches on an
important issue. In this book, that issue is post-partum depression. After a
conversation with Leesa, her daughter with whom she has a somewhat strained
relationship, she realizes her daughter may be suffering from it. I hope in
subsequent books, the issue is explored more and that Leesa gets help for it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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While the murder is ultimately solved, enough things are
left open to make me anxious to know what happens next.</div>
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<ul>
<li><i>What’s
going on between Cedric and Carmen?</i></li>
<li><i>What’s the
real story about Leesa and Chris?</i></li>
<li><i>Will
Eugeena stop fighting the attraction and let herself get “friendlier” with
Amos?</i></li>
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Eugeena and Amos strike me as similar to Alvirah and Willie
Meehan, characters in a series by Mary Higgins Clark. I greatly enjoy the
Meehan stories, but I identify more with the characters in Deep Fried Trouble. They’re
more like me. Not outside the realm of possibilities for people like me. My
world is more similar to Eugeena’s family than to Alvirah, a former cleaning
lady who struck it rich when she won $40 million dollars in a lottery. I know
that despite the odds, that’s possible and does happen, but still…<br />
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I give the story four
stars out of five and will be breathlessly waiting for the next installment.<o:p></o:p></div>
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~*~<o:p></o:p><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">About the Author<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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Serving up a creative mix, flavored with FAITH. <o:p></o:p></div>
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And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in
the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. — 1 Colossians 3:17 NIV<o:p></o:p></div>
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Tyora Moody is an author and entrepreneur. Her debut novel, When Rain Falls, was
released March 2012 (Urban Christian). This is the first book in the Victory
Gospel series. The second book in the Victory Gospel Series, When Memories
Fade, was released in April 2013 (Urban Christian).<o:p></o:p></div>
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Deep Fried Trouble, the first book in the Eugeena Patterson
Mystery series will be released June 2013.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Tyora has coined her books as Soul-Searching Suspense. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and
American Christian Fiction Writers. She served as a judge for the Christy
Awards for three years.<o:p></o:p></div>
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She owns and operates TywebbinCreations.com, a design and
marketing company. For over twelve
years, she has worked with authors, small business owners and non-profit
organizations to develop their online presence. For free tips, how-to guides and
e-courses, visit DIYwithTy.com.<br />
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When Tyora isn’t working for a client or doing something
literary, she enjoys spending time with family, catching a movie on the big
screen, traveling and when the mood hits her, baking cookies. Visit the author
online at<a href="http://www.tyoramoody.com/"> TyoraMoody.com</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Visit the author online at:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.tyoramoody.com/">www.TyoraMoody.com </a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/AuthorTyoraMoody.">www.facebook.com/AuthorTyoraMoody.</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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View the blog tour schedule at: <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://tywebbinvirtualevents.com/2013/05/deep-fried-trouble-virtual-book-tour-with-tyora-moody">http://tywebbinvirtualevents.com/2013/05/deep-fried-trouble-virtual-book-tour-with-tyora-moody</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Deep Fried Trouble Contest<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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Book Giveaway! Are you ready to get into Deep Fried Trouble?<o:p></o:p><br />
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This contest is so easy! Do you want to win an autographed
copy of Deep Fried Trouble? Stop by one or more of the blogs this week and
leave your answer to the following questions.<o:p></o:p></div>
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You know I’m a retired social studies school teacher. I kind of miss my students. I said kind of…
Anyhow, I was curious to know, who was your favorite teacher and what subject
did they teach?<o:p></o:p></div>
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~*~<o:p></o:p></div>
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Shontrell Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14903508109301416157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3778703664789500797.post-16394394736326896372013-04-29T12:22:00.000-07:002013-04-29T12:28:09.762-07:00REAL MEN DON'T QUIT by Coleen Kwan<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Serial bachelor.
Celebrity author. Her perfect forever?</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1tr37dha87jlk7CHlO9NxMWm2pltD_QxVrrEKBdgW5UEOwSMME6P4eYeDxkvyCDTcmCd8ei-OxYpIhKX62Sc6eG-r982IAksgFOzvnH30mpG2iLHzJDZ6xjBXuLRQivNnEi4_LYTcog/s1600/Real+Men+Don't+Quit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1tr37dha87jlk7CHlO9NxMWm2pltD_QxVrrEKBdgW5UEOwSMME6P4eYeDxkvyCDTcmCd8ei-OxYpIhKX62Sc6eG-r982IAksgFOzvnH30mpG2iLHzJDZ6xjBXuLRQivNnEi4_LYTcog/s1600/Real+Men+Don't+Quit.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">When famous author Luke
Maguire decides to write his next novel in the small town of Burronga,
Australia, he's sure he can ignore the fiery redhead next door. Not only has he
just been burned from a high-profile breakup, but he's never been one to set
down roots. No, he'll finish his novel and leave Burronga. And soon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Tyler Jones just wants
to run her business with her best friend, Ally, and take care of her
three-year-old daughter, Chloe. She's never needed help from anyone, especially
not a man, and the brooding, rugged writer next door can't tempt her. Not in
the least. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Only Tyler and Luke can't stay away from each
other. So they set rules. No staying overnight, no future plans, no sappy
good-byes when Luke inevitably quits town. But the chemistry between them is
too strong to contain in a rulebook. Are Luke and Tyler ready to risk their lives
of independence for something more?<o:p></o:p><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Title: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Real Men Don’t Quit
(Real Men #2)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Author: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Coleen Kwan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Genre:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> Contemporary Romance<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Length:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> 241 pages<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Release Date:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> April 2013<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Imprint:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> Bliss<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">ISBN: </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">1622660870</span></div>
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Tyler is the single mother of three-year-old Chloe. Working hard to provide for her daughter, she's afraid that the girl's paternal grandmother, Gretchen, will one day succeed in taking Chloe away from her.<br />
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Luke is the author of a wildly successful novel that he secretly hates. With a looming deadline and struggling to write its sequel, he temporarily moves into his agent's house (next door to Tyler), hoping to make headway in writing the new story.<br />
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The two meet when Chloe makes her way toward the pool on Luke's temporary homestead. Luckily, Luke spots her and intercepts her before she gets close to it. He takes her back around to the front of the house and just as he asks her which way is home and she points, out runs Tyler.<br />
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The story started out a bit confusing for me. The first couple sentences said Luke stumbled into the kitchen looking for coffee after waking up in a strange house. Then, after reading a bit more, I thought he was in his own house. Then, I read further and finally figured out he was in someone named Elliot's house. So, I thought, <i>Who the hell is Elliot? </i>After reading on a bit longer, I got it all sorted out in my head. (It was morning and maybe I needed coffee more than Luke did.)<br />
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I had another couple bouts of disbelief as I read how Tyler stood in her living room, in her underwear, defending her ability to care for her child to a strange man wearing a t-shirt and boxers and how, in her search to find Chloe after she found the girl missing from her room, she managed to not notice a chair by the kitchen door with Chloe's shoes under it.<br />
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But then the book snuck up and grabbed me. I don't know when or how, but the story took hold and I couldn't put it down. Since I previously confessed to being a sap, this may come as no surprise -- A couple parts moved me to tears.<br />
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This was a quick read and when I got to the end, I found myself asking. <i>That's it?</i>" But not in a bad way. Ms. Kwan made me want more. I wanted to keep reading about Luke, Tyler, and Chloe's life now that they were a family unit. I wanted to know more about Nate and ally and their life after he surprised her with their wedding, solidifying in her mind that he truly was committed to her and their future. (I'm going to have to snag a copy of <i>Real Men Don't Break Hearts</i> to read the story of how their romance developed.)<br />
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For a quick beach or poolside read, this is an excellent choice.<br />
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That being said, there are some things that I would have liked to see explored/expanded. I expected Gretchen to fight dirty in trying to take Chloe from Tyler, not to just back off after a talking to by Luke. I would have also liked there to have been more to the issue of the celebrity who commissioned the custom necklace from Tyler , then refused to pay her. I thought maybe there was an issue with Paige and Seth's marriage that related to Ally (Seth is the guy who left Ally, Tyler's BFF at the altar on their wedding day) and maybe Crystal was being crappy to Tyler because of her friendship with Ally. Turns out, Crystal was just mad because she wasn't going to be the host of a Dancing With the Stars-type show and was upset about that. Then Paige's demeanor made me suspect something was going on with her, but nothing was ever revealed (maybe in the next book?). I also wanted to see more done with Luke's dad. The man abandoned his family and showed up twenty years later, broke and claiming to be recovering from recently having half his liver removed. His ending up with some rich woman was expected, but I wanted to learn about his character through his own actions/words, not mostly through what other characters said/thought about him.<br />
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While I wanted more out of the story, I give it four stars for what it is (a quick summer read), not what I wish it was.<br />
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Click the cover below to be taken to the Amazon page for <i>Real Men Don't Quit</i>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C74WXG6/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00C74WXG6&linkCode=as2&tag=conqbookmoun-20"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00C74WXG6&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=conqbookmoun-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=conqbookmoun-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00C74WXG6" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Author Information</span></b><span style="color: #1616f6; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjps1pAglhpiRnWD0oiVt_Z7hDI9df_f4x6_WtezbE13DwzGPrgclwQHLEe0nXKhlLhBiWyjvwxjBG5quRKgf5sBlwimhyRzG3zk4bTmB7JgT3zyDMJ_MzJ_rx1KdIvgjIj44HkNnyBuQ/s1600/Real+Men+Don%2527t+Quit+-+Author+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjps1pAglhpiRnWD0oiVt_Z7hDI9df_f4x6_WtezbE13DwzGPrgclwQHLEe0nXKhlLhBiWyjvwxjBG5quRKgf5sBlwimhyRzG3zk4bTmB7JgT3zyDMJ_MzJ_rx1KdIvgjIj44HkNnyBuQ/s200/Real+Men+Don%2527t+Quit+-+Author+pic.jpg" width="150" /></a><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;">Coleen</span></b><span lang="EN"> </span><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;">Kwan </span></b>has been a bookworm all her life. At school English was her favorite subject, but for some reason she decided on a career in IT. After many years of programming, she wondered what else there was in life — and discovered writing. She loves writing contemporary romance and steampunk romance.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Coleen lives in Sydney, Australia with her partner and two children. When she isn’t writing she enjoys avoiding housework, eating chocolate, and watching The Office.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 19px;">Author Website: </span><a href="http://www.coleenkwan.com/">http://www.coleenkwan.com</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 19px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 19px;">Facebook: </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/coleenkwan.authorpage"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 19px;">http://www.facebook.com/coleenkwan.authorpage</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 19px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 19px;">Twitter: </span><a href="https://twitter.com/coleenkwan"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 19px;">https://twitter.com/coleenkwan</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 19px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 19px;">GoodReads: </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5210210.Coleen_Kwan"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 19px;">http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5210210.Coleen_Kwan</span></a></div>
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**Disclosure: I received an ARC of this novel for review purposes. I received no compensation, financial or otherwise.Shontrell Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14903508109301416157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3778703664789500797.post-68542247967982942702013-04-24T00:00:00.000-07:002013-04-24T10:37:40.581-07:00TAKE A CHANCE ON ME by Susan May Warren<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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TAKE A CHANCE ON ME by Susan May Warren<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I seemed to reach the part of my TBR pile where the
make-me-cry books were hiding.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The emotions of the characters are so vividly portrayed that
I was reduced to a cry baby several times, a couple times not even realizing it
until I realized I was blowing my nose. Mrs. Warren did an <i>outstanding</i> job with this book.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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This is the first book in a six-book series.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Darek Christiansen is a single father, former-fire fighter
turned lodge-owner-to-be. Ivy Madison is the new assistant county attorney who
moves into the small town of Deep Haven. Having been shuffled around to
fourteen foster homes as a child, she’s looking to establish roots and make a
home for herself. The two meet when Darek acts a stand-in for his brother in an
auction. No one bids on him and Ivy feels sorry for him, so she makes the
winning (only) bid for him.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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In Ivy, Darek sees a chance at a family for his son and a
chance to be the kind of husband he should have been to his first wife, Felicity.
In Darek, Ivy sees the chance for a family and a sense of belonging. Their
relationship develops and Ivy finds out that something she did in the past
could come between them when he finds out. Because of proposal she made during
her last year of law school, Jensen, Darek’s former best friend who killed
Felicity in an auto accident, was placed on probation and allowed to perform
community service in lieu of going to prison.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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During the course of the story, we see a rekindling of a
friendship between Jensen and Claire. Since they were young, Claire loved
Jensen, but believed he loved Felicity. Jensen loved Claire, but fell prey to
Felicity’s charms and a competitive spirit where Darek was concerned. The two
help each other work through their own internal struggles about themselves and this
allows them to come closer together while Jensen struggles to complete the
number of community service hours dictated in his probation agreement or else
get sent to prison for four years.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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We also see a fight for custody for Tiger, Darek and
Felicity’s young son. Felicity’s mother has never forgiven Darek for getting
her daughter pregnant and still grieving for the loss of her daughter and has
waged a battle to prove Darek an unfit parent.<o:p></o:p></div>
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These interwoven stories are set against a message of love
and faith in God. There were a couple of conversations about God and his love
that I thought were a bit preachy, but in the context they were set in, they
was realistic. Several times, those conversations touched me personally, giving
me comfort.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I give this book 4.5 stars and I will definitely be on the lookout
for the other books in the series. At the back of the book is an excerpt from
the second book in the series, <i>Walk on By</i>.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
(**Disclosure: I received an ARC from the publisher for purposes of a review. I received no compensation, monetary or otherwise.)<br />
<br />
Video trailer for Take a Chance on Me:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dytil71dJTjo2uVDrrfyxxVD5kUf0Cj0mp-0cUkkF4QeVaaTEFOYxycS3tDtR1cCc06h9yCDS48otbB-iX4SA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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~~</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
EXCERPT</div>
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<i>My dearest Darek,</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Even as I write this letter, I know I’ll tuck it away; the words on it are more of a prayer, meant for the Lord more than you. Or maybe, in the scribbling upon this journal page, the words might somehow find your heart, a cry that extends across the bond of mother and child.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>The firstborn child is always the one who solves the mystery of parenthood. Before I had you, I watched other mothers and wondered at the bond between a child and a parent, the strength of it, the power to mold a woman, making her put all hopes and wishes into this tiny bundle of life that she had the responsibility to raise.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>It’s an awe-filled, wonderful, terrifying act to have a child, for you suddenly wear your heart on the outside of your body. You risk a little more each day as he wanders from your arms into the world. You, Darek, were no protector of my heart. You were born with a willfulness, a courage, and a bent toward adventure that would bring me to the edge of my faith and keep me on my knees. The day I first saw you swinging from that too-enticing oak tree into the lake should have told me that I would be tested.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Your brothers shortened your name to Dare, and you took it to heart. I was never so terrified as the day you came home from Montana, fresh from your first year as a hotshot, feeling your own strength. I knew your future would take you far from Evergreen Lake. I feared it would take you far, also, from your legacy of faith.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Watching your son leave your arms has no comparison to watching him leave God’s. You never seemed to question the beliefs your father and I taught you. Perhaps that is what unsettled me the most, because without questioning, I wondered how there could be true understanding. I held my breath against the day when it would happen—life would shatter you and leave your faith bereft.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>And then it did.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>It brought you home, in presence if not soul. If it hadn’t been for your son, I might have done the unthinkable—stand in our gravel driveway and bar you from returning, from hiding.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Because, my courageous, bold oldest son, that is what you are doing. Hiding. Bitter and dark, you have let guilt and regret destroy your foundation, imprison you, and steal your joy. You may believe you are building a future for your son, but without faith, you have nothing to build it on. Evergreen Resort is not just a place. It’s a legacy. A foundation. A belief.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>It’s the best of what I have to give you. That, and my unending prayers that somehow God will destroy those walls you’ve constructed around your heart.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Darek, you have become a mystery to me again. I don’t know how to help free you. Or to restore all you’ve lost. But I believe that if you give God a chance, He will heal your heart. He will give you a future. He will truly lead you home.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Lovingly,</i><br />
<i>Your mother</i><br />
</div>
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<div class="Default" style="page-break-before: always; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Chapter
1 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Ivy Madison would do just about
anything to stay in the secluded, beautiful, innocent town of Deep Haven. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Even if she had to buy a man. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">A bachelor, to be exact,
although maybe not the one currently standing on the stage of the Deep Haven
Emergency Services annual charity auction. He looked like a redneck from the
woolly woods of northern Minnesota, with curly dark-blond hair, a skim of
whiskers on his face, and a black T-shirt that read, <i>Hug a logger—you’ll
never go back to trees</i>. Sure, he filled out his shirt and looked the part
in a pair of ripped jeans and boots, but he wore just a little too much “Come
and get me, girls,” in his smile. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">The auctioneer on stage knew
how to work his audience. He regularly called out names from the crowd to
entice them to bid. And apparently the town of Deep Haven loved their
firefighters, EMTs, and cops because the tiny VFW was packed, the waitresses
running out orders of bacon cheeseburgers and hot wings to the bidding crowd. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">After the show was over, a
local band would take the stage. The auction was part of the summer solstice
festival—the first of many summer celebrations Deep Haven hosted. Frankly it
felt like the village dreamed up events to lure tourists, but Ivy counted it as
her welcoming party. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Oh, how she loved this town.
And she’d only lived here for roughly a day. Imagine how she’d love it by the
end of the summer, after she’d spent three months learning the names of locals,
investing herself into this lakeside hamlet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Her days of hitching her measly
worldly possessions—four hand-me-down suitcases; a loose cardboard box of
pictures; a garbage bag containing <i>The Elements of Legal Style</i>, <i>How
to Argue and Win Every Time</i>, and <i>To Kill a Mockingbird</i>; and most of
all, her green vintage beach bike—onto the back of her red Nissan Pathfinder
were over. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Time to put down roots. Make
friends. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Okay, <i>buying </i>a friend
didn’t exactly qualify, but the fact that her money would go to help the local
emergency services seemed like a good cause. And if Ivy had learned anything
growing up in foster care, it was that a person had to work the system to get
what she wanted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">She should be unpacking; she
started work in the morning. But how long would it take, really, to settle into
the tiny, furnished efficiency apartment over the garage behind the Footstep of
Heaven Bookstore? And with her new job as assistant county attorney, she
expected to have plenty of free time. So when the twilight hues of evening had
lured her into the romance of a walk along the shoreline of the Deep Haven
harbor, she couldn’t stop herself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">She couldn’t remember the last
time she’d taken a lazy walk, stopping at storefronts, reading the real estate
ads pasted to the window of a local office. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<i><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Cute, two-bedroom log cabin
on Poplar Lake. </span></i><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">She could imagine the
evergreen smell nudging her awake every morning, the twitter of cardinals and
sparrows as she took her cup of coffee on the front porch. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Except she loved the bustle of
the Deep Haven hamlet. Nestled on the north shore of Minnesota, two hours from
the nearest hint of civilization, the fishing village–turned–tourist hideaway
had enough charm to sweet-talk Ivy out of her Minneapolis duplex and make her
dream big. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Dream of home, really. A place.
Friends. Maybe even a dog. And here, in a town where everyone belonged, she
would too. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">She had wandered past the fudge
and gift shop, past the walk-up window of World’s Best <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="page-break-before: always;">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Donuts,
where the smell of cake donuts nearly made her follow her sweet tooth inside.
At the corner, the music drew her near to the VFW. Ford F-150s, Jeeps, and a
handful of SUVs jammed the postage-size dirt parking lot. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">She’d stopped at the entrance,
reading the poster for today’s activities, then peered in through the windows.
Beyond a wood-paneled bar and a host of long rectangular tables, a man stood on
the stage, holding up a fishing pole. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">And that’s when Deep Haven reached
out and hooked her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“Are you going in?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">She’d turned toward the voice
and seen a tall, solidly built middle-aged man with dark hair, wearing a jean
jacket. A blonde woman knit her hand into his. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“I . . .” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“C’mon in,” the woman said. “We
promise not to bite. Well, except for Eli here. I make no promises with him.”
She had smiled, winked, and Ivy could feel her heart gulp it whole. Oh, why had
she never learned to tamp down her expectations? Life had taught her better. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Eli shook his head, gave the woman
a fake growl. Turned to Ivy. “Listen, it’s for a good cause. Our fire
department could use a new engine, and the EMS squad needs more training for
their staff, what few there are. You don’t have to buy anything, but you might
help drive up the bids.” He winked. “Don’t tell anyone I told you that,
though.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">She laughed. “I’m Ivy Madison,”
she said, too much enthusiasm in her voice. “Assistant county attorney.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“Of course you are. I should
have guessed. Eli and Noelle Hueston.” Noelle stuck out her hand. “Eli’s the
former sheriff. Hence the fact that we’ve come with our checkbook. C’mon, I’ll
tell you who to bid on.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<i><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Who </span></i><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">to bid on? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Ivy had followed them inside,
taking a look around the crowded room. Pictures of soldiers hung in metal
frames, along with listings of member names illuminated by neon bar signs. The
smells of deep-fried buffalo wings, beer, and war camaraderie were embedded in
the dark-paneled walls. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">A line formed around the pool
table near the back of the room—what looked like former glory-day athletes
lined up with their beers or colas parked on the round tables. Two men threw
darts into an electronic board. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Then her gaze hiccuped on a man
sitting alone near the jukebox, sending a jolt of familiarity through her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Jensen Atwood. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">For a moment, she considered
talking to him—not that he’d know her, but maybe she’d introduce herself, tell
him, <i>I’m the one who put together your amazing plea agreement. </i>Yes, that
had been a hot little bit of legalese. The kind that had eventually landed her
right here, in her dream job, dream town. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">But Noelle glanced back and
nodded for Ivy to follow, so she trailed behind them to an open table. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“Every year, on the last night
of the solstice festival, we have a charity auction. It’s gotten to be quite an
event,” Noelle said, gesturing to a waitress. She came over and Eli ordered a
basket of wings, a couple chocolate malts. Ivy asked for a Coke. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“What do they auction?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“Oh, fishing gear. Boats.
Snowblowers. Sometimes vacation time-shares in Cancún. Whatever people want to
put up for charity. But this year, they have something special on the <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="page-break-before: always;">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">agenda.”
Noelle leaned close, her eyes twinkling. Ivy already liked her. And the way Eli
had her hand wrapped in his. What might it be like to be in love like that?
That kind of love . . . well, Ivy had only so many wishes, and she’d flung them
all at living here, in Deep Haven. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“What?” Ivy asked. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“They’re auctioning off the
local bachelors.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">And as if on cue, that’s when
the lumberjack bachelor had taken the stage. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Ivy sipped her Coke, watching
the frenzy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“So are you going to bid?”
Noelle asked. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Ivy raised a shoulder. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">The lumberjack went for two
hundred dollars, too rich for Ivy’s blood, to a woman wearing a moose antler
headband. He flexed for her as he walked off stage, and the crowd erupted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">A clean-cut, handsome young man
took the stage next, to the whoops of the younger crowd down front. “That’s my
son,” Noelle said, clearly enjoying the spectacle. He seemed about nineteen or
twenty, tall and wearing a University of Minnesota, Duluth, T-shirt. He was
built like an athlete and had a swagger to match. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“He plays basketball for the
UMD Bulldogs,” Noelle said. She placed the first bid and got a glare from the
young man on stage. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">A war started between factions
in the front row. “Should I bid?” Ivy asked. Not that she would know what to do
with a bachelor ten years younger than her. Maybe she could get him to mow her
lawn. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“No. Save your money for Owen
Christiansen.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Probably another lumberjack
from the woods, with a flannel shirt and the manners of a grizzly. Ivy affected
a sort of smile. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“Maybe you’ve heard of him? He
plays hockey for the Minnesota Wild.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“No, sorry.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“He’s something of a local
celebrity. Played for our hometown team and then got picked up by the Wild
right after high school.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“I’m not much of a hockey fan.”
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“Honey, you can’t live in Deep
Haven and not be a hockey fan.” Noelle grinned, turning away as the wings
arrived. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Ivy ignored the way the words
found tender space and stabbed her in the chest. But see, she wanted to live in
Deep Haven . . . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Noelle offered her a wing, but
Ivy turned it down. “Owen’s parents, John and Ingrid Christiansen, run a resort
about five miles out of town. It’s one of the legacy resorts—his
great-grandfather settled here in the early nineteen hundreds and set up a
logging camp. It eventually turned into one of the hot recreation spots on the
north shore, although in today’s economy, they’re probably struggling along
with the rest of the Deep Haven resorts. I’m sure Owen’s appearance on the
program is a bid for some free publicity. Owen is the youngest son of the clan,
one of six children. I’m sure you’ll meet them—all but two still live in Deep
Haven.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">A redhead won the bachelor on stage
and ran up to claim her purchase. Ivy escaped to the ladies’ room. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">What if she did bid on Owen?
Truly, the last thing she needed in her life was a real bachelor. Someone she
might fall for, someone who could so easily break her heart. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Maybe she could ask said
bachelor to show her around Deep Haven. Teach her about hockey. Certainly it
might give her a little social clout to be seen with the town celebrity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">She could faintly hear the
announcer stirring up the fervor for the next contestant, then a <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="page-break-before: always;">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">trickle
of applause for the main attraction as he took the stage. She walked out,
standing by the bar to survey this hometown hero. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">They grew them big up here in
the north woods. Indeed, he looked like a hockey champion, with those wide
shoulders, muscular arms stretching the sleeves of his deep-green shirt that
read <i>Evergreen Resort—memories that live forever. </i>He stood at ease like
one might do in the military, wearing jeans that hugged his legs all the way
down to the work boots on his feet. The man looked like an impenetrable
fortress, not a hint of marketing in his face. So much for winning the
audience. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">In fact, to use the only hockey
term she knew, he looked like he’d just been checked hard into the boards and
come up with some sort of permanent scowl, none too happy to be standing in the
middle of the stage of the local VFW as the main attraction. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“C’mon, everyone, who will
start the bidding for our Deep Haven bachelor tonight?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Ivy looked around the room. It
had hushed to a pin-drop silence, something not quite right simmering in the
air. She glanced over to where Jensen Atwood had been sitting and found his
seat vacant. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">On stage, the man swallowed.
Shifted. Pursed his lips. Oh, poor Owen. Her heart knocked her hard in the
chest. She knew exactly what it felt like not to be wanted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“One hundred dollars? Who has
it tonight for our local hero?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">She scanned the room, saw
patrons looking away as if embarrassed. Even Eli and Noelle had taken a sudden
interest in their dinner. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Owen sighed and shook his head.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">And right then, the pain of the
moment squeezed the words from Ivy’s chest. “Five hundred dollars!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Every eye turned toward her,
and for a moment, she had the crazy but horribly predictable urge to flee. But
the words were out, so she took a step forward, toward the stage. “I bid five
hundred dollars,” she said again, fighting the wobble in her voice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Ivy shot a look at Noelle,
expecting approval. But Noelle wore an expression of what she could only
pinpoint as panic. Wasn’t she the one who’d suggested Ivy buy the man? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">And then from the stage, she
heard, “Well, that’s good enough for me! Sold, to the pretty lady in the white
jacket. Miss, come up to the stage and claim your prize.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Still, no one said a word—not a
cheer, not a gasp, nothing. Ivy swallowed and met the eyes of the man on stage.
“I’ll meet him by the bar,” she said, her voice small. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Owen looked as relieved as she
was that they didn’t have to create some public spectacle. He moved off the
stage and the auctioneer mercifully introduced the band. The men in back
resumed their pool playing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Ivy couldn’t help it. She edged
over to Noelle. “What’s the matter? I know he looks a little rough around the
edges, but—” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“That’s not Owen,” Noelle said,
wiping her fingers with a napkin. She shot a glance past Ivy, possibly at the
stranger she’d just purchased. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“What?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“Owen couldn’t make it. That’s
Darek Christiansen. His big brother.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Ivy turned now, found her man
weaving his way through the crowd. He didn’t stop to glad-hand anyone or even
slap friends on the back. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">In fact, it seemed she’d
purchased the pariah of Deep Haven. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Noelle confirmed it. “Brace
yourself, honey. You’ve just purchased the most ineligible eligible bachelor in
town.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="page-break-before: always;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">***
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Everything inside Darek told
him to keep going, right on out of the VFW until he hit his Jeep, and then
punch the gas toward the hills. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">And hide. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">He would murder Owen next time
he saw him, which wouldn’t be anytime soon, given the kid’s celebrity demands. <i>Sorry,
Bro. I can’t make it up today—I have a photo shoot. </i>Owen couldn’t have
thought ahead to that, maybe rearranged his oh-so-packed schedule? But Owen
didn’t think beyond practice, improving his shot, and updating his Facebook
status. Last time Darek checked, his twenty-year-old kid brother had 32,876
fans. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Darek had maybe thirty-eight
friends on his own page. Not that he was counting, but it seemed like some sort
of commentary on his life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">The minute Darek had hung up
with Owen, he should have made himself scarce—loaded Tiger into the Jeep,
attached the boat, and headed for some pristine lake. Except losing his head
and forgetting his responsibilities was how he got here in the first place. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Instead he’d experienced a
streak of clearly misplaced hope that the stigma, the gossip, might have
finally died and he might once again be an eligible bachelor. Someone who just
wanted to start over, for himself and his son. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">The near silence in the room
when they’d called his name, when he’d stepped up to take Owen’s place,
confirmed that no, nothing had been forgotten. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Darek stalked past the bar,
where, of course, his high school buddies gave him tight smiles. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">He hadn’t seen any of the
former Deep Haven Huskies getting up to sell their . . . well, it wasn’t
exactly his body, and she certainly didn’t expect a real date, right? So he
wasn’t sure what he was selling up there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Darek glanced at his father,
John, sitting at the end, nursing a Sprite. A linebacker-size man—bigger than
any of his boys; he’d played fullback for the Minnesota Gophers back in the
day. That he’d ended up with hockey players could only be blamed on the skating
rink he’d cleared on the lake every January. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“Great job, Son,” his father
said, catching his arm. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“This was a bad idea,” Darek
groused, slowing his exit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“Five hundred dollars doesn’t
sound like such a bad idea. You were the most expensive bachelor here. That
will make the news.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“Yippee,” Darek said. But his
father was right—he’d created a bit of buzz, and hopefully it would someday
turn into goodwill for their lakeside vacation spot, Evergreen Lodge Outfitter
and Cabin Rentals, which most people shortened to Evergreen Resort. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“Do you know the woman who bid
on you?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Darek scanned the room to
locate her. He couldn’t see her well from the stage with the lights in his
face, but he thought he’d glimpsed a redhead wearing a white jean jacket, her
hair in a messy ponytail. She wasn’t tall, maybe five foot four, and a little
on the curvy side. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Now he found her, sitting next
to Noelle Hueston and staring at him like she’d purchased . . . well, the
devil. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Darek turned away, his lips a
grim line. “No, I don’t know her.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">His father wisely said nothing,
took a sip of his Sprite. Then, “She looks pretty.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“Next time you want to sell
your flesh and blood, pick a different son.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">He caught his father’s smirk as
he turned to leave, and it only darkened his mood. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">No one from Deep Haven, not a
soul, had bid on him. What was so different about him from, say, the two
previous bachelors? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="page-break-before: always;">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Okay,
maybe that wasn’t a fair question. Neither of them walked around with the
stigma of being the youngest widower in town, pity and probably the tsk of
tongues following in their wake. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">He glanced over to the chair
where Jensen Atwood had sat, smug, rich, wearing a fancy leather jacket, his
hair cut short and slicked back, contempt in his eyes. Yes, he’d seen the man
sitting near the back, next to the jukebox, like no one would notice. He had a
lot of nerve showing up here, and Darek had just about launched off the stage
toward him. That might be a show the locals would bid on—a go-round between
Jensen and Darek. Finally. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Instead he’d dark-eyed the guy
into fleeing. It fed the heat inside him, gave Darek the strength to stand there
like an idiot while the town shifted uncomfortably in their seats. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Until, of course, Moneybags
piped up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Five hundred dollars. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Wow, did she waste her money on
him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">And what kind of woman paid
five hundred dollars for a man she didn’t know? Hopefully she didn’t want a
real date. He wasn’t a real-date kind of guy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">In fact, he was a <i>never</i>-date
kind of guy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Darek shook his head and headed
out the door. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">He paused on the sidewalk for a
moment, drawing in the clean air, shaking off the reek of old cigarettes,
whiskey, and town gossip that coated him like grime. The moon had risen,
hovering above the town, milky light washing over the trading post, the Blue
Moose Café, pooling in the harbor, icing the waves of the lake. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">He could feel his heartbeat
thundering in his chest and hated how easily his guilt took hold of him, turned
him surly. At the least, he should swallow his pride—what was left of it—and
meet the woman who had forked out good money for him. For charity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Instead he moved away from the
door and dug out his cell phone, about to call home. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“Hey, where are you going?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">He turned, pressing End. His
“owner” had followed him out of the VFW. A fireball with green eyes and
freckles, wearing the jean jacket he remembered over a T-shirt and a green
scarf. She stood about to his shoulder but had no problem slamming her hands to
her hips and toeing up to him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“I thought we had a date.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“Is that what you want? A
date?” He didn’t mean for it to emerge so sharp, even angry, and didn’t blame
her for the way she opened her mouth as if she’d been slapped. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“No, I, uh—” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“Then why did you buy me? And
why on earth would you pay five hundred dollars? Sheesh, lady, you must be
desperate or something.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Wow. He must have lost control
of everything decent inside him. But he didn’t like the feeling of being
humiliated. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Or owned. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">In fact, the entire thing made
him feel trapped and small, and he’d had enough of that, thank you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Her mouth closed. Pinched. “I’m
not desperate. If you want to know the truth, I felt sorry for you.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">He probably deserved that,
despite the way it sideswiped him. He didn’t let on, however, preferring to
stare at her, something icy he’d learned from his years on the rink. “Okay,
then, let’s just get this over with. What do you want?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="page-break-before: always;">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“I—”
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“You should know that I’m not
like the other guys in there. If you’re looking for some kind of fling, I’m not
your man. I can probably hook you up with one of my buddies—” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“Wow. Stay <i>away </i>from
me.” She whirled around, heading down the sidewalk, and he knew he was a
first-class jerk. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“Wait!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">She held up a hand. “Forget it!
You’re right; this was a bad idea.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">He ran after her—boy, she had a
fast walk for such a short woman. “Listen, I’m sorry. Really. It’s just that
you don’t want a date with me. If you ask, I’ll bet you can get your money
back.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“I don’t want it back.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">She didn’t stop and he was
walking fast to keep up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“Then what do you want? Why did
you buy me?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">She stopped, breathing hard.
Pressed her fingers to her eyes. Oh no, she wasn’t crying, was she? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">He swallowed, his throat on
fire, hearing his words and wishing he wasn’t the kind of guy who ran full
speed into hurting others. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<i><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">You are so selfish. </span></i><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Felicity, in his head. Always in his head. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“I’m sorry,” he said softly,
shoving his hands into his pockets. The wind took his words, flung them toward
the lake. “It’s just that I’m the last person you want to be seen in town
with.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">She sighed, turning her face
away from him. “Well, I don’t have anyone else.” Her voice emerged small and
wheedled in past the anger, the annoyance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">It settled inside, in a place
he reserved for Tiger, and he tempered his tone. “Are you here for the weekend?
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“No. I live here.” She said it
with a layer of determination, as if convincing herself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Really? “I know nearly everyone
in this town—” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“I moved here yesterday. I’m
the new assistant county attorney.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Uh-oh. He’d heard that the
current assistant CA had resigned to stay home with her newborn child. He’d
miss the way she tolerated his monthly phone calls. But someone had to keep
tabs on Jensen, right? He looked at this angry sprite and grimaced, imagining
her reaction next time Jensen threatened a restraining order. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Darek might be the one doing
years of community service. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“Sorry,” he said again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Her shoulder jerked in a
halfhearted shrug. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“Maybe . . . maybe I could help
you carry furniture or chop wood or mow your grass or something.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">She had folded her hands across
her chest. “Wow, I must be a real catch for you to offer to mow my lawn instead
of being seen in public with me.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“No, I—” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“Like I said, you’re off the
hook.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“I don’t want to be off the
hook. You bought me fair and square.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">She pursed her lips. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“I have an idea. C’mon.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">She frowned at him, and frankly
he was done begging, not sure how he’d gotten to this point in the first place.
So he turned and headed for the Jeep, parked just down the street. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">He didn’t look behind him but
heard her steps. When he reached the car, he held her door open like a
gentleman, although he knew he might be a little late to resurrect any sort of
real <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="page-break-before: always;">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">gallantry.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">She looked up at him before
getting in, her eyes big and shiny in the moonlight. They caught his and for
the first time, he noticed how pretty they were, with golden flecks at the edges.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“I’m safe, even if I’m a jerk.”
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“I have friends who will hunt
you down and kill you if I go missing.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“I have no doubt.” He took a
long breath and stuck out his hand. “Darek Christiansen, Deep Haven tour guide,
at your service, milady.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">She regarded his hand for a
moment, and he sensed something shifting inside her. “Ivy Madison.” Then she
slid one of her petite hands into his and smiled. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">The full force of it reached
out and poured into him, hot and bold and shaking him through. He dropped her
grip, swallowed. Stepped back. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">She climbed into the Jeep and
reached for the seat belt, her eyes on his as he closed the door. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Oh, boy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Maybe he should have run when
he had the chance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">*** <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Jensen sat outside the VFW in
the Pine Acres work truck—the one he took to town when he wanted to hide—and
watched Darek get the girl. Again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">And why not? Darek Christiansen
always won. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Tonight, he’d stared Jensen
down until he’d had no choice but to slink out. The last thing Jensen wanted
was a fight. Especially with only six weeks left on his sentence. He didn’t
need a judge deciding he wasn’t repentant enough and upgrading his community
service to a stint behind bars. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Jensen should simply concede
that Darek would always win. His streak began in fourth grade, when they’d both
started playing hockey, and continued long after Jensen moved away, returning
every summer as they vied for Felicity’s attention. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Sure, Jensen had a few
glimmering moments. Like the summer Darek escaped to Montana to fight the fire
in Glacier National Park with the Jude County Hotshots, after Jensen had given
up his own firefighting dreams. Jensen and Felicity had nearly become something
that stuck then—probably would have if Darek hadn’t returned home tan and
triumphant. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">And of course, there was the
simple fact that in the end Darek had <i>married </i>Felicity. Jensen hadn’t
quite seen that one coming. But then again, he doubted Darek had either. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">He watched as Darek and the
redhead headed out of town in his Jeep Wrangler. For a moment, he debated going
back inside to listen to the Blue Monkeys. After all, that’s why he’d braved
the auction—Jensen normally slunk in late for the band’s events, sitting in the
shadows so no one saw him. But today he’d misjudged the time, the auction ran
over, and well, creeping back in now felt too much like tucking his tail
between his legs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">He had at least a smidgen of
pride left. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Jensen put the truck into gear
and pulled out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">One hundred hours and he’d be
free; he could leave Deep Haven and never look back. Maybe keep driving all the
way to California or Mexico, where he could change his name and leave his past
in the dust. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">On top of the hill over the
town, Jensen resisted the urge to glance out the passenger window at the
scattering of lights that made up Deep Haven. Eyes, watching him, blinking,
accusing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">He kept his gaze on the road,
slowing as he took the truck around a curve carved through the granite, where
the shoulder disappeared. His hands slickened and he caught himself holding his
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="page-break-before: always;">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">breath.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">He couldn’t wait to leave. But
to do that, he’d have to find a few more places where he could go, hat in hand,
begging for hours. Deep Haven seemed determined to keep him from fulfilling his
community service, especially lately. Volunteer jobs had fizzled to ten hours a
week and some places, like the after-school tutoring program, had turned him
away. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Apparently the fact that he had
graduated from college and managed two years of law school didn’t matter to the
English teachers struggling to teach their sixth graders to read. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">No, if the citizens of Deep
Haven had their way, he would have been their first public stoning. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">He turned south where the road
split around Evergreen Lake and took the paved road to the end, pulling in to
the gated community of Pine Acres. The electronic gate and pass card could
probably be considered overkill, but his father had promoted safety for the
vacation homes when he jumped into the world of property development and
created the luxury vacation community, and he kept his word. At least to the
residents of the community. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">As Jensen drove through the
gates, he noticed that deer had snacked on the currant bushes by the entrance.
He’d have to reshape them, maybe spray. A bulb was out on the automatic entry
lights, and he spotted a tree down along one of the wooded drives. He’d come by
tomorrow on the four-wheeler and clean it up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">He had to mow, anyway, and
finish painting the Millers’ garage—a project his father thought might fill
time and create some goodwill. After all, the Millers were one of his father’s
largest clients in the Cities with their string of cinemas. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Jensen crawled into the
driveway of his father’s massive vacation home and parked the truck outside. As
he got out, the stars created a canopy of brilliance, innocent and bright. They
felt so close he wanted to reach up and touch one. The wind hushed in the white
pine and birch, the poplar and willow that surrounded the property. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Motion sensor lights flickered
on as Jensen moved toward the service door, blinding him for a moment. Then he
let himself into the darkness of the garage and didn’t bother to turn on the
lights, toeing off his shoes and moving from memory up the stairs to the great
room. At the top, moonlight streamed through the grand windows that overlooked
the lake, waxing the wood floor with light. The ceiling rose two stories,
trapping the silences of the grand house, and the place smelled of the walleye
he’d cooked for lunch in butter and dill. He dropped his keys onto the granite
countertop and opened the double-door stainless fridge, peering inside for
something. Anything. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Grabbing a root beer in a tall
bottle, he twisted off the cap and padded out to the deck. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">The lake rippled in the
darkness, fingers of light feathering over the surface. He could barely make
out Gibs’s light next door, trickling through the woods and across the sandy
beach. He should check on the old man. A canoe lay moored on the sand, evidence
of a recent visit by his granddaughter, Claire. How she loved to canoe the
length of the lake. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Jensen didn’t mean to stalk,
but he loved watching her. And what else did he have to do, really? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Across the lake, almost
directly from Pine Acres, the lights of the Evergreen Resort main lodge blazed.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Once upon a time, he and Darek
had been the kings of Evergreen Lake. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">He set his root beer on the
railing and dug out his harmonica. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">The sound echoed across the
lake, long and twangy, Johnny Cash’s “Cry! Cry! Cry!” Maybe it was a little
indulgent, but tonight, he couldn’t help it. <i>“You’ll call for me but I’m
gonna tell you, bye, bye, bye . . .” </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="page-break-before: always;">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">He
listened to the last of the sound lingering as he finished. It was so easy,
sometimes, to just close his eyes, lose himself in memories. The heat of the
sun on his skin, the taste of trouble in his laughter. Standing on the bow of
the canoe, his feet balanced on the edges. Claire and Felicity on the seat in
the middle, and at the stern, facing him, similarly balanced, stood Darek. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Jensen had seen that sparking
of challenge in Darek’s eyes as he said, “You can’t knock me off.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“Watch me.” Jensen gave the
canoe a playful jerk. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Felicity squealed. The summer
had turned her hair a rich, luscious blonde, and with her skimpy bikini, he
could barely keep his eyes in his head. She faced him, grinning, and he
wondered if she could hear his heart pounding in his chest. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Claire grabbed for her side of
the seat, and he caught her gaze on him. She always made him feel a little
naughty, even when he wasn’t thinking anything he shouldn’t. Then again, he
supposed that’s what a missionary kid was supposed to do. Make you behave. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">But on days like this, with the
sun streaming down his back and both girls smiling up at him, he didn’t care about
behaving. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Just winning. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Jensen jerked the canoe hard,
and Darek’s arms windmilled. He nearly went over but found his balance and
stamped his foot, making the canoe lurch the other direction. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Jensen caught himself and
jerked it back, this time fast, hard and— <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Darek leaned into it, and
suddenly Jensen found himself in the air. The chill of lake water swept away
his breath, and he kicked hard to right himself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">He found Darek’s hand reaching
for him when he came up. Jensen took it. And yanked. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Darek flipped over his head and
into the lake. Darek came up sputtering, then launched himself at Jensen. They
wrestled until they both hung on the side of the canoe, breathing hard. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“Let’s take your dad’s boat
out, get some dinner down at the Landing,” Felicity said as Darek reached for
her. She swatted him. Glanced at Jensen. “Please?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“Sure.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Claire reached out and helped
Jensen into the canoe. Darek climbed in after him and they paddled back to
shore. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Thankfully, his father wouldn’t
be back until the weekend to grouse about the boat. Claire and Felicity met him
in sundresses and they picked up Darek across the lake, then motored down to
the outside grill and restaurant, Jensen’s knee propped on the diver’s chair as
he guided the boat. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“Faster, Jens!” Felicity said,
so he pushed up the throttle. Darek frowned, his eyes darkening, but Felicity
was laughing and Jensen could feel it in his chest. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Her laughter always felt
sweetly dangerous, like if he hung on too long, it might burn him. He could
still hear her sometimes, in the darkness across the lake. Taste the memory of
that curious summer when he had her all to himself, feel the texture of her
kisses. What a fool he’d been, gobbling up the idea that if he did it right,
she might belong to him. Believing that he even really wanted that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Because she’d never belonged to
him. Not then, not later. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">He opened his eyes, staring
into the night, at the lights across the lake, pressing into the darkness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">He should have remembered that Darek Christiansen
always won.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
~~</div>
</div>
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<br />
Click on the image below to be taken to the Amazon.com pages
for <i>Take a Chance on Me</i>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1414378416/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1414378416&linkCode=as2&tag=conqbookmoun-20"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1414378416&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=conqbookmoun-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=conqbookmoun-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1414378416" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
~~</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
AUTHOR BIO</div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFCbtuUJI54jkXFhwqZ_TU6TWuIJNMoHLmvAXdbdzHRSY534zZ3KSSncmFNwncosTFPTB7IDp5eShJi6wFgO66rY0jx2CBlqTJZoCkUOMIjYnrEr-5FaqWGU75l-tmf1mxfpq0mF8QQ/s1600/pic_full_warren_susanmay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFCbtuUJI54jkXFhwqZ_TU6TWuIJNMoHLmvAXdbdzHRSY534zZ3KSSncmFNwncosTFPTB7IDp5eShJi6wFgO66rY0jx2CBlqTJZoCkUOMIjYnrEr-5FaqWGU75l-tmf1mxfpq0mF8QQ/s320/pic_full_warren_susanmay.jpg" width="320" /></a>Susan May Warren is the RITA Award-winning author of more than thirty novels whose compelling plots and unforgettable characters have won acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. She served with her husband and four children as a missionary in Russia for eight years before she and her family returned home to the States. She now writes full-time as her husband runs a lodge on Lake Superior in northern Minnesota, where many of her books are set. She and her family enjoy hiking, canoeing, and being involved in their local church.<br />
<br />
Susan holds a BA in mass communications from the<br />
University of Minnesota. Several of her critically<br />
acclaimed novels have been chosen as Top Picks by Romantic Times and won the RWA's<br />
Inspirational Reader's Choice contest and the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of<br />
the Year award. Four of her books have been Christy Award finalists. In addition to her<br />
writing, Susan loves to teach and speak at women's events about God's amazing grace in<br />
our lives.<br />
<br />
Visit Susan's website at www.susanmaywarren.com<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
~~</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Q&A</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br />
1. This is the first installment in a brand new six-book series. Can you give us a bit of background on this series?<br />
<br />
<i>I love stories about families – watching the members interact and grow together through challenges and victories – and I conceived this series as I watched my own children begin to grow up and deal with romance and career and futures. I love Deep Haven, and it’s the perfect setting for a resort, so I crafted a family, much like the families I know, who run a resort. They want to pass on their legacy to their children…but their children don’t know if they want it. It’s sort of a parallel theme to the legacy of faith we instill in our children. As they grow older, they need to decide whether it is their faith too. It’s a saga about family and faith and what happens when those collide with real life.</i><br />
<br />
2. This Christiansen Family series is set in Deep Haven, Minnesota. Tell us about this setting.<br />
<br />
<i>Deep Haven, Minnesota is based in a small vacation town in northern Minnesota where I spent my childhood. It’s located on Lake Superior, surrounded by pine and birch and the sense of small town and home. Populated by everyone from artists to lumberjacks, it’s Mitford, or perhaps Northern Exposure gone Minnesotan. Quaint, quirky and beautiful, it’s the perfect place to escape for a vacation.</i><br />
<br />
3. What was your inspiration for this particular book and the main character Darek Christiansen?<br />
<br />
<i>As I started to put together this series, I began to think about our culture and our children today. I started to take a look at the big questions we are faced with as parents – and as young people; the issues that affect us as a culture, as well as personally. I wanted these books to go beyond family drama, beyond a great romance to raise bigger questions and stir truths that we might pass along to others. This story is about our propensity in our culture to blame others for what goes wrong in our lives – and how this alienates us from each other, and ultimately, God. Darek is the oldest brother in the family; the leader and a real hero. He’s a wildland firefighter and a widower who’s had to give up his job to come home and run the resort and care for his young son. Darek doesn’t realize he has a problem – he lives with anger on his shoulder, hating the man who killed his wife (his best friend). His real problem is that he can’t forgive himself. In this first story, readers meet the family, hang out at the resort and discover that God can redeem even a heart of stone, if we take a chance on Him.</i><br />
<br />
4. What lessons or truths will your readers find in the pages of this novel?<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>This book is for the person who feels they just can’t get past the anger they have for someone</i><br />
<i>else to live in joy again. It’s for parents who see their children making bad choices and don’t</i><br />
<i>know where to turn. It’s for people who believe that no one will ever really love them because of</i><br />
<i>who they are, or the things they’ve done. It’s for people who need the courage to take a second</i><br />
<i>chance on love and faith and family. I’m hoping readers walk away with a sense of how much</i><br />
<i>God loves them, and that yes, He can heal the angry and broken-hearted.</i><br />
<br />
5. How do you expect this new series to resonate with your audience? How do you want your books to<br />
make them feel?<br />
<br />
<i>Great question! I love a story that brings me on an emotional journey from anger to laughter to</i><br />
<i>hope. But most of all, I want readers to be wrapped up in joy, that feeling we get when watch</i><br />
<i>our football team win, or when we’re hands up in a convertible on a hot summer day, or digging</i><br />
<i>our feet into a sandy beach, or hugging our loved one when they return home. Ah. The sense</i><br />
<i>that, just for a moment, all is right in the world and everything tastes and feels delicious. I write</i><br />
<i>romances, and in the end it’s worth the journey to the happily ever after.</i><br />
<br />
6. As a writer, what did you particularly enjoy about crafting this story?<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>I loved Darek’s transformation. His relationship with his son is so precious, but when he truly lets</i><br />
<i>go of his anger, he becomes the hero I always knew he could be. I love writing about broken</i><br />
<i>heroes who find healing.</i><br />
<br />
7. What advice do you have for budding novelists?<br />
<br />
<i>Read! Then write the book you’d like to read. But, along the way, learn the craft. In fact, a</i><br />
<i>good writer never stops learning</i>.<br />
<br />
8. What is the best advice or encouragement that you have received?<br />
<br />
<i>Just keep writing. If you want to be a career novelist, you just have to keep writing.</i><br />
<br />
9. In your writing career, what are you most proud of?<br />
<br />
<i>After over forty novels, I’m always striving to keep the stories fresh and unique; so I guess I’m</i><br />
<i>proud that every book is bathed in prayer, has a message singular to that story, and has unique</i><br />
<i>characters and journeys. Every story is a new adventure for me, and the reader.</i><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Shontrell Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14903508109301416157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3778703664789500797.post-6481379547536181882013-04-22T10:35:00.000-07:002013-04-22T10:35:11.803-07:00THE PRACTICE PROPOSAL by Tracy March<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHQy2v3vwz9NBAdh5RyNIZG03Ekl5jhJYU8MB65s8j8htHkNH7mTrw5TbKLxOlKjhU2jPsG9zeGaNk63nmv3SMWpQkpWuYD6E0fDDYLeBNMEbjZ9FaXTPyUNVKOqmsvdyj3G_u8A_Yw/s1600/The+Practice+Proposal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHQy2v3vwz9NBAdh5RyNIZG03Ekl5jhJYU8MB65s8j8htHkNH7mTrw5TbKLxOlKjhU2jPsG9zeGaNk63nmv3SMWpQkpWuYD6E0fDDYLeBNMEbjZ9FaXTPyUNVKOqmsvdyj3G_u8A_Yw/s1600/The+Practice+Proposal.jpg" /></a></div>
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Liza and Cole knew each other as kids at her father’s baseball camp for underprivileged children. Her father and mother are now part owners of the Orioles, a team he’d hoped to play for after he graduated. Now, he’s a hunky famous baseball player for the Nationals and she wins a date with him at a charity auction. His renewed association with her comes at an opportune time, according to his sports agent, Frank. Cole’s up for a new contract and team management isn’t pleased with his recent publicized flings. Wholesome and pretty, Liza is just the type of woman that Frank would have chosen to show Cole as settling down with to ease the worries of the team.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
After the death of her fiancé, Liza isn’t interested in getting into a relationship. The only reason she won the date is that her mother bid on her behalf. She enjoys their date, but the end of it is unsettling it with the appearance of reporters, saying they heard he’s considering settling down with Liza and his demonstrating how he’d propose. Spooked, the next day, she focuses on a dilemma at work. Part of the team who manages the foundation that sponsors the camps, she’s responsible for meeting a quota in the amount of donations she obtains and she’s running out of time, nowhere near the amount she needs. Frank approaches her and offers to make a half million dollar donation if she dates Cole for two months and <i>doesn’t</i> fall for him. Per the terms of the agreement (for which he presents a written contract), she has to be herself and there are to be “no shenanigans.” She initially declines, but then thinks about it as being an opportunity to spend time with Cole and there being no risk of her falling for him because of her devotion to her deceased fiancé. Then she thinks about the boys who would benefit from her organization’s program, who would get a chance to pursue their dream of playing baseball. Then she signs the agreement.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The readers are treated to a ringside seat (page-side seat?) of the relationship. We see an incredibly imaginative and fun date (their Baseball Pie War), a kiss that throws Liza’s world careening, and an incredibly sweet tweet (A girl without freckles is like a night without stars. Wish you were here…). Then, of course, there’s the speed bump of a tweet to Cole by an ex-fling that almost throws a monkey wrench into things. They make it past that pseudo-obstacle and sleep together. I mean really <i>sleep</i> together. Liza admits she’s not ready and Cole respects that (making me fall a little in love with him myself). Their relationship progresses and, with Cole’s help, Liza overcomes internal barriers to their romance. Both of their teams, the Orioles and the Nationals, make it to the World Series. During the seventh inning stretch, there’s a super-surprising proposal and Liza’s on top of the world. Then it comes crashing down when she overhears Frank and Cole talking after the game and finds out why he started dating her. She returns the ring and goes home, crushed. A heart-to-heart with her best friend, Paige, and an intervention by the people who love her bring the two of them back together again.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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As I revealed in a prior review, I’m a sucker for a happy ending. I had tears in my eyes at the end of this one.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The character development was on point. We find out about Cole’s background and how he got where his is now. Events in the story lead to a revelation concerning him that was an utter surprise to him. (I was floored by it too. I didn’t see that coming <i>at all.</i>) A memorable injection of something I found comedic in the book was in this scene and it made me snort a little. Sorry, it’s a spoiler, so don’t read the next few lines if you don’t want the secret revealed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>Cole had been relieved he hadn’t been conceived in a casino hotel room, only to find out it happened in a car in a rickety abandoned barn. “What kind of car was it?” he asked.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>Frank smiled a little. “A red eight-banger Ford Mustang.”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>At least there was that.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Through her conversations with Paige and Cole, we see Liza’s opening herself to love again, accepting the loss of her fiancé, Wes. The other characters were also developed and intriguing. I’d love to see a story about Paige. (Hint, hint, Ms. March. <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span>)<o:p></o:p></div>
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I give this read five stars and recommend it to anyone who likes a solid story line with a happily ever after.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book from the author for review. No compensation was received, financial or otherwise.</div>
Shontrell Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14903508109301416157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3778703664789500797.post-658550418348245702013-04-18T11:03:00.001-07:002013-04-18T11:03:23.159-07:00CHASING MRS. RIGHT by Katee Robert<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_R1h898ZODRvvmMj702zn5iJy2Qnv9Vx3zohpxUWlm6gvazAYT3mKTLEqA5Djd6F9Y6f2hu58RbITB76oQ8SOzU7pBKDLhnfNkPSXJSeK-wBAyC0jHqMKxAGBZOQwm43BfrWCl9-XQ/s1600/Chasing+Mrs.+Right.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_R1h898ZODRvvmMj702zn5iJy2Qnv9Vx3zohpxUWlm6gvazAYT3mKTLEqA5Djd6F9Y6f2hu58RbITB76oQ8SOzU7pBKDLhnfNkPSXJSeK-wBAyC0jHqMKxAGBZOQwm43BfrWCl9-XQ/s1600/Chasing+Mrs.+Right.jpg" /></a></div>
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Most people don’t know I secretly LOVE romance novels.
(Okay, I guess I just let that cat out of the bat. But y’all won’t tell anyone,
right?)<o:p></o:p></div>
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This book reminded me of what captivates me with this genre.
I love love and I love happy endings. Having had a rough time personally over the past few years, I love
reading about a happily ever after. I know it’s fiction, but it gives me hope.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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I love that the focus of the book is on the evolution of the
characters’ and their relationship. I know that’s what romance novels are
supposed to do, but it’s so well done here. The author is masterful at allowing
us to <i>see</i> this change in them instead
of having other characters remark about it or narrating it in the text. Some
writers use sex and pillow talk as the avenue for the characters to get to know
each other and some utilize the
hero-saves-damsel-in-distress-and-the-two-fall-in-love-while-he’s-saving-both-their-lives
plot.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In this book, however, we have two vulnerable characters who
essentially save each other from themselves. Roxanne is emotionally scarred by
relationship advice she’d gotten from her mother, witnessing what her mom went
through in several failed marriages, and having a couple men up and leave her
out of the blue. For several years, she’s satisfied herself with one-night
stands and casual dating. Ian is fresh out of the military, just home from a
tour of duty in Afghanistan. Suffering from episodes of PTSD when he’s in loud
places, close spaces, and/or around a lot of people, he is affected by an
inexplicable calming affect that Roxanne has on him when he (literally) runs
into her when they first meet. He realizes the treasure he has in her and works
to get past her barriers build a relationship with her.<o:p></o:p></div>
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While Ian helps Roxanne battle her inner demons regarding
relationships, she helps him get through dealing with his parents, with whom he
has a rocky relationship with, and also with accepting that his sister, Elle,
is going to marry a man who wouldn’t be his first choice for her. Her fiancé,
Gabe, happens to be the brother of Ian’s best friend, Nathan. (Given the
excerpt from the first novel in this series, <i>Wrong Bed, Right Guy</i>, there seems to be a heck of a story behind
that.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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While the story surrounds Ian and Roxanne’s relationship, it’s
not a touchy-feely, sappy story that non-lovers of this genre think all
romance novels are. Both characters are strong, but flawed, two halves of the
same whole.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I give this book five stars and I’m off to locate and read <i>Wrong Bed, Right Guy</i> and impatiently wait for the August release of the third book, <i>Two Wrongs, One Right</i>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Click on the covers below to be taken to the Amazon.com pages for all three books.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BFQEG76/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00BFQEG76&linkCode=as2&tag=conqbookmoun-20"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00BFQEG76&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=conqbookmoun-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=conqbookmoun-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00BFQEG76" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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*** Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book for the purpose of a review.
I received no compensation, monetary or otherwise.<o:p></o:p></div>
Shontrell Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14903508109301416157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3778703664789500797.post-42836073192232191022013-04-17T12:31:00.001-07:002013-04-17T12:31:11.293-07:00SINNERS AND THE SEA by Rebecca Kanner<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTkuZiN_dIhP2PAAQt2jXgolpqmx-WNawpJBHWo5lvuIXkGJ3WaXbdoltO9fymtWEGnZALxk8AVY2E9seoQBt13O7NcCMDq9S12M7OE7FxwPu5aG6YSAolYEtEkKc8c14_y855uJJNBw/s1600/Sinners+and+the+Sea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTkuZiN_dIhP2PAAQt2jXgolpqmx-WNawpJBHWo5lvuIXkGJ3WaXbdoltO9fymtWEGnZALxk8AVY2E9seoQBt13O7NcCMDq9S12M7OE7FxwPu5aG6YSAolYEtEkKc8c14_y855uJJNBw/s1600/Sinners+and+the+Sea.jpg" /></a></div>
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Let me start by saying that one of the things I like about this book is that its focus is on the characters and their relationships, it's not a sermon packaged as a novel.<br />
~~<br />
Like a lot of people I’m sure, I never gave Noah’s wife much
thought. Not about what she went through of the town crazy man who was building
a big boat and certainly not where she was from. I also never gave thought to
the relationship between Shem, Ham, and Japheth or their respective
relationships with their parents. This book touches on all of that.<br />
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My heart ached for the young girl who, her mother having
died after birth, despaired over her guilt in being a hindrance to her father
having a new wife. I felt sorrow when I read her musings as to why her mother
hadn’t killed her and about her having picked up the knife a couple times with
thoughts of ending her own life.<o:p></o:p></div>
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When Noah takes her as his wife, he comes across as
fanatical, brusque, and cold. That’s not the mental picture I had of him. (Not
that I’d given that much thought either. I just knew he’d been a determined and
obedient man.) And I certainly NEVER thought him to be a horny old goat or so
focused on producing an heir that he’d “lay with” his wife so many times that
she’d end up sore. (EEEWWW! He was OLD!)<o:p></o:p></div>
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The author does a <i>magnificent</i>
job of bringing this story to life. I
don’t think I’ll ever read the story of Noah and the flood the same again. The
story was so engaging I had to remind myself several times that it’s fiction
and not a true account of what happened.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Like most, I know the story of how Noah was directed by God
to build the ark and to bring his family and the animals aboard, but I never
thought about what happened while they were on the boat and out to sea for so
long.<o:p></o:p></div>
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One thing this story did for me is to re-awaken a long
dormant fascination/curiosity about people in the bible. I grew up going to
church every week, sometimes twice a week, and even went to a church school
until I entered public school in the sixth grade. I’d heard bible stories all
my life and wanted to dig further into some of them. I heard people’s names and
an interesting tidbit or two and tell myself I’d research it later, but,
somewhere along the line, I never did. This book reminded me of that.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Ms. Kanner shows us the relationship between the three
brothers as well as their relationships with their mother and father. We see
them growing up and how their wives were found. <o:p></o:p></div>
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At first, I was a little unsettled (for lack of a better
word) with the depiction of the men in the story, feeling almost like it was
wrong to portray them that way. But then I stopped myself. They were merely
mortal men, flesh and blood, just like men today. Given their culture, I can
understand them expecting women to be submissive. Who’s to say that they weren’t
like they’re depicted in this story. It’s certainly very realistic.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I enjoyed this book and give it 4 stars. I can certainly see
a series of this kind of book written for other wives in the bible too. I’d
definitely read them.<o:p></o:p></div>
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** Disclosure: I
received an ARC of this book from the publisher for the purpose of reviewing. I
received no compensation, monetary or otherwise.<o:p></o:p></div>
Shontrell Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14903508109301416157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3778703664789500797.post-24739285148247913492013-04-17T12:07:00.001-07:002013-04-17T12:07:25.028-07:00ORDINARY GRACE by William Kent Krueger<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0aJe5xXoRAUVdx3cc___izSLl6xhKjk9yfwMlN2E5yUGvI_9nudD8ybVsZxHXuEMLQCrHLCRlrWSNszmuOCu8Bf-c08OQoPERscc8hODQMCRcc4wV97KvjCMNSeK45pwU4lWr9t4QNQ/s1600/Ordinary+Grace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0aJe5xXoRAUVdx3cc___izSLl6xhKjk9yfwMlN2E5yUGvI_9nudD8ybVsZxHXuEMLQCrHLCRlrWSNszmuOCu8Bf-c08OQoPERscc8hODQMCRcc4wV97KvjCMNSeK45pwU4lWr9t4QNQ/s1600/Ordinary+Grace.jpg" /></a></div>
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The way this story is told reminds me of Stand By Me. (I saw
the movie version, haven’t read the book.) <o:p></o:p></div>
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We have two boys, their father who is a minister, their
musically-gifted sister and mother, a blind renowned musician, his deaf sister,
the minister’s friend who is a drinking and a gambling gravedigger, an Indian,
and a cop who seem to form the cast of main characters. On the surface, it
seems almost impossible to take this group and form a story worth reading, but
this author did it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I was captivated from the beginning and the story kept my
interest all the way through to the end. Somewhere along the way, I forgot this
is fiction and thought I was reading a memoir.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The story has an
accidental death (suspected murder by some), murder, an apparent suicide, and
an exploration of a number of relationships: parent/child, husband/wife, sibling/sibling,
father/son, pastor/flock, friend/friend, and boy/girl.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We see the effect on a profound loss on a marriage and a
family, how it has the potential to destroy it. With the death of Ariel (Frank
and Jake’s sister), their family seemingly falls apart, his mother losing her faith
in God. I thought she was exaggerating when she told her minister husband that
if he mentioned God one more time, she’d leave. His next words to her include a
mention of Him and, true to her word, she left home.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Will the several tragic events in the book, the most heart
wrenching for me is the death of Karl. Through all the suspicion surrounding
him, he was simply a young man hiding the secret of his sexuality. Defending
himself against accusations of causing Ariel’s death, he tells the minister his
secret. The boys eavesdrop and are caught by off-duty Officer Doyle. Coming to
Karl’s defense, young and innocent Jake tells him about the teen’s sexuality,
not understanding what it means. Of course, Doyle runs off at the mouth and the
secret gets out, resulting in Karl killing himself. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Events after this lead to another scene that tugged at my
heartstrings. Gus is arrested and Frank pleads for his temporary release so that
he can finish digging Ariel’s grave. The task is important because he remembers
what Gus told him about graves.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Because he comes from a long line
of gravediggers, and he won’t just dig a hole.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“But, son, that’s what a grave is,”
Officer Blake said. “Just a hole.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“No, sir, it’s not. When it’s done
well, it’s a box carved into the earth that will hold something precious. I don’t
just want anyone carving Ariel’s box.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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This is also the story Jake’s coming of age. Under all the
things going on around him, he strikes back at a bully who makes disparaging
remarks about his brother and sister, wonders about love, and begins to learn
through observation of his father, Gus, and Officer Doyle, what being a man is
all about. We see his internal struggle during the time period he thinks he
allowed his sister’s murderer to escape and his finally unburdening himself to
his father.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I found the story’s epilogue bittersweet. The nostalgic
placing of flowers on loved ones gone is always sad to me. In the last chapter,
the true identity of Ariel’s killer was revealed, and the epilogue ties up all
the loose ends and brings us to current day.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I’d never heard of this author before, but I will definitely
be on the lookout for his other books.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I give Ordinary Grace five stars. It’s an excellent read.</div>
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** Disclosure: I received an ARC from the publisher in
exchange for an honest review. I received no monetary or other compensation.<o:p></o:p></div>
Shontrell Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14903508109301416157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3778703664789500797.post-46298338375016021822013-03-27T09:41:00.000-07:002013-03-27T09:52:54.559-07:00WHEN MEMORIES FADE by Tyora Moody<br />
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigxzUEV8gjgJbkX-9jQrfT8jmTSFHNtFAOT79Y1sUievCY8ZRMCuKgR4aFuEfeP-Lo5K2IYiqnY9aUJ3-vvZwjrRuEIwrU01KjuolMhr6ZUIXu3OAvEKv1_lbcL5kTtTscOpDjmewalA/s1600/When+Memories+Fade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigxzUEV8gjgJbkX-9jQrfT8jmTSFHNtFAOT79Y1sUievCY8ZRMCuKgR4aFuEfeP-Lo5K2IYiqnY9aUJ3-vvZwjrRuEIwrU01KjuolMhr6ZUIXu3OAvEKv1_lbcL5kTtTscOpDjmewalA/s320/When+Memories+Fade.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is the second book in the Victory Gospel Series, though
both books can be read as standalones. I have read the first book, When Rain Falls, and will post a review of it on a later date.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Angel Roberts’ mother, Elisa, disappeared on Angel’s fifth
birthday, leaving her to be raised by her grandparents. Now twenty-five, she
embarks on her own investigation into the disappearance with the assistance of
an investigative reporter, Wes Cade. Initial information is scant, but they
uncover information seeming to tie her disappearance to the recent
disappearance of another young lady.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I thought I figured out who the bad guy was about halfway
through, but boy was I wrong!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The characters are remarkable developed and I feel like I
know them personally. We see Angel come into herself, learning to handle being
betrayed by her boyfriend and her best friend, allowing herself to be open to a
relationship with Wes, and to work through the emotions/feelings that have
blocked her, allowing her to accept and use the musical talent she inherited
from her mother.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wes also shows growth. He learns how to turn off the
investigative reporter in him and see the person, not just a news story. He
also realizes that he’s allowed his career to take precedence over his family.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This enjoyable book is proof that Christian books are not
all preachy and full of holier-than-thou , scripture-citing characters. While
the characters’ beliefs are evident, they’re human, with human struggles just
like everyone else.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While taking the readers through the twists and turns of the
investigation, Ms. Moody explores several topics of note.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At the beginning of the book, Angel’s grandmother,
Fredericka, suffers a stroke after an upsetting conversation with Angel about
Elisa. The author gives us a glimpse of the changes a family undergoes after
such an event as well as some of the emotional effects.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We’re also given a look at the emotional and physical toll
of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s. Wes’ mother is resistant to the
idea of putting his grandfather in a care home, choosing to care for him
herself.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The reader is also given information on the workings of
missing persons cases and several organizations that work to help locate them.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I applaud Tyora Moody for a well-written, five-star book and
I can’t wait to read the third installment in this series and Deep Fried
Trouble, the first book in the Eugeena Patterson mystery series.<br />
<br />
Follow Tyora Moody:<br />
<a href="http://tyoramoody.com/" target="_blank">Author website</a><br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/AuthorTyoraMoody" target="_blank">Facebook</a><br />
<a href="http://www.twitter.com/tyoramoody" target="_blank">Twitter</a><br />
<a href="http://pinterest.com/tyoramoody" target="_blank">Pinterest</a><br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4978725.Tyora_Moody" target="_blank">Goodreads</a><br />
<br />
Click the book images below to be taken to the Amazon pages to purchase both titles in the Victory Gospel Series.</div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1601628226/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1601628226&linkCode=as2&tag=conqbookmoun-20"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1601628226&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=conqbookmoun-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=conqbookmoun-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1601628226" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/160162753X/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=160162753X&linkCode=as2&tag=conqbookmoun-20"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=160162753X&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=conqbookmoun-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=conqbookmoun-20&l=as2&o=1&a=160162753X" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
You can also check out Shattered Dreams, a short story prequel to the Eugeena Patterson mystery series that includes a sneak peek at chapter one of the first book, Deep Fried Trouble.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009V7H5G0/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B009V7H5G0&linkCode=as2&tag=conqbookmoun-20"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B009V7H5G0&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=conqbookmoun-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=conqbookmoun-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B009V7H5G0" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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** Disclosure – I received an ARC of this book from the author.
No monetary or other compensation was received in exchange for this review.</div>
Shontrell Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14903508109301416157noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3778703664789500797.post-10728432830304789312013-02-09T00:00:00.000-08:002013-02-08T22:03:32.881-08:00ALL FOR A SONG by Allison Pittman<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8QhJI95pagtsbiDlYK2c1dJtsd9pD2Vto2umD-590EaauO0POPRCFXKOSkGCf_svHONbPpAV2J4TWD5u3VYYN_zyHGBm8FZFNgHLE0oItOet1-CNIJad8ray3wA6Lnh_JCqTBx_rAqg/s1600/All+For+a+Song.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8QhJI95pagtsbiDlYK2c1dJtsd9pD2Vto2umD-590EaauO0POPRCFXKOSkGCf_svHONbPpAV2J4TWD5u3VYYN_zyHGBm8FZFNgHLE0oItOet1-CNIJad8ray3wA6Lnh_JCqTBx_rAqg/s320/All+For+a+Song.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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Nineteen-year-old Dorothy Lynn Dunbar is a preacher’s
daughter who lives in a small country town with her mother. Her father is
deceased and she’s recently become engaged to the new preacher, Brent Logan.
She is a talented singer/songwriter/guitar player, but her musical gift is
undiscovered, I suspect primarily because her mother thinks her guitar is
unladylike.<o:p></o:p></div>
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She loves Brent, but secretly wonders what the rest of the
world is like and whether she’ll get the opportunity to find out. That chance
comes when, on a visit to her sister to have her wedding dress made, she
happens on a revival, given by Aimee Semple McPherson. Roland, Ms. McPherson’s
assistant hears her play and sing and convinces her to sing at the revival. As
he knew they would, the crowd is captivated by her innocence and her music,
glorifying God. He convinces Aimee to take Dorothy with them and convinces
Dorothy to go with them, promising to help her find her brother, who was to have
come home from the war, but never showed up. He agrees and she goes with them,
promising Brent that she’ll be back in time for their wedding.<o:p></o:p></div>
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During this trip,
Dorothy experiences things she’d never have been able to in Heron’s Nest. I
guess it can be said that she sowed her wild oats. But through it all, she maintained her faith.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Interwoven with the chapters telling the story of her youth,
is the story of her old age. Through that, we learn what happened after she
went back home.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The characterization in the book is exceptionally well done. Kudos to Ms. Pittman for creating characters that invoke feelings in the reader.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I didn’t like Aimee’s character at all. I have never heard
of her and don’t know anything about her, but the little bit of her that I saw
here was reminiscent of the preachers who have people in wheelchairs up front
and the people jump up shouting, proclaiming to be healed and the audience then
throws money at the preacher to further their good works. She came across to me
as needing to be the one in the spotlight. She was reluctant to take Dorothy
along, not wanting to accept that Dorothy may have been the reason that they took
in more money when she first performed. Then she fired Roland. I can’t figure
out if she was mad that he brought Dorothy along or that he’d allowed Dorothy
to stay in one of the hotel rooms that was reserved for her and her people.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I didn’t like Roland at first, but he kind of grew on me. I didn't necessarily like him, but I don't hate him either. I
knew from the start, though, that he liked Dorothy and wanted more than a
protégé or mentor/mentee type of relationship. He wanted to exploit her
talents, but he genuinely cared about her. Just not enough to marry her.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I loved Brent’s character, even though we don’t see all that
much of him. Their romance wasn’t what I expected. I loved that they expressed
their affection for each other. In most books like this, the intendeds sit on
the porch swing every night and don’t even so much as hold hands. Though it hurt him, he gave her the space she needed to grow and waited for her to come back to him.</div>
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I felt sorry for Darlene. She did move away from the small
town and to the big city, but she still had the country girl mentality for the
most part. She, like the rest of Dorothy’s friends/family, had cast </div>
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Dorothy as the quiet little country girl preacher's daughter who simply does what she’s
told to.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I’m not sure what I think about Donnie. I understand that he
was changed by the war and came back a different person and that he couldn’t
come back to the same old life, but I don’t understand wanting to completely
distance himself from his family.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I loved Charlotte. This is her first time seeing her
great-great aunt (it may be great-great-great aunt, I lost track of greats).
Having had no relationship whatsoever with Dorothy, she’s the one who
appreciated getting to meet her the most. The several relatives who showed with
a birthday cake and snacks saw their visit as a chore (except for one).
Charlotte, on the other hand, chose to find Dorothy because she wanted to.
She’d taken the time to track her down and she knew all about her.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I enjoyed this book much more than I thought I would. And
I’ll definitely read it again. I rate it 5 stars.<o:p></o:p></div>
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~~~</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Author Q & A</div>
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1. What was your inspiration for this book, All for a Song?</div>
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<i>There were so many different pieces that came together with this book; it’s hard to name just one. First, I was introduced to, and then became fascinated with Aimee Semple McPherson, and while I wasn’t ready to take on her story, I knew I wanted to create my own characters to somehow come into her sphere. She was a woman who embraced both ministry and fame, and I wanted to create a character who had that same opportunity. With that, I am so inspired by the decade of the 1920’s—such sweeping social changes, shifts in moral centering, an explosion of choices and opportunities for women. It was a time to test one’s faith—to go against the new norms in pursuit of righteousness. Such a challenge! </i></div>
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2. Tell me about your main character Dorothy Lynn. Was her character based upon anyone in particular?</div>
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<i>The young Dorothy Lynn, no, not really—not beyond any other singer/songwriter out there. She’s a young woman with a message and a voice, so maybe she’s a mash-up of every musician I know. The older Dorothy Lynn, Miss Lynnie, is somewhat based on the mother of a friend of mine. His mother went to be with the Lord while I was in the final stages of writing this novel, and at her funeral, I learned that she had a stroke years before her passing, during which she had a glimpse of Heaven, and had spent her intervening years longing to return. I remember going home from that celebration of her life and re-writing just about every Breath of Angels scene, incorporating that into Dorothy Lynn’s story. It was exactly what the story needed, and brought about a depth I couldn’t have imagined in the initial draft. </i></div>
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3. What lessons or truths will your readers find in the pages of this novel? </div>
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<i>I hope that they learn that it’s good to take a chance, to take hold of opportunities that come your way, even if it doesn’t always make sense to do so. Yes, there are times that require periods of prayer and reflection and guidance-seeking, but then there are times when you have to hop on the next train and trust that God has the details well in hand. Along with that, I’d want them to know that while there is breath, there is opportunity for grace and forgiveness, but we might need to humble ourselves. There’s a theme of a longing for home, no matter how enticing the alternative seems.</i></div>
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4. Although this novel is set in the 1920s, how does Dorothy Lynn’s story still resonate today? </div>
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<i>The world today wants nothing more than to entice young women to exploit themselves in some way, and the enemy wants nothing more than to make us think that we are beyond redemption. We all make stupid, thoughtless, reckless decisions; we all get ourselves into such unbelievably embarrassing messes; we all disappoint our loved ones. The world tells you to move on; God tells you to go back. </i></div>
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5. As a writer, what did you particularly enjoy about crafting this story? </div>
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<i>Oh, my goodness. As a historical writer, I loved the time period—that sort of new, innocent fumbling with innovations of the time. One of my favorite scenes was when the 107-year-old Dorothy Lynn experiences her first iPad. (By the way, I had to make her that old in order to make all the history “fit.” I spent every day for a month watching the Willard Scott segment on the Today show making sure that her age would be believable. Wouldn’t you know? Every week there’s somebody that tops the 105th birthday!)</i> </div>
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6. What is your hope for this story? How would you like it to impact readers? </div>
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<i>I would love it if this book would prompt a reader to reach out to somebody they feel they have lost. Reconciliation is hard—whether you’re the perpetrator or the victim of whatever “wrong” that happened. But life is short, even if you’re going to get more than a century of living, at some time that final day will come. Close those gaps in your life. Offer and ask for forgiveness. Leave a legacy of grace. </i></div>
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7. How has this novel helped you to grow as a storyteller? </div>
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<i>My tendency (a very purposeful one) is to leave my stories with a bit of an “unfinished” edge. I like my characters to leave the page on the cusp of fulfillment, so that my readers can have the pleasure of imagining those final, satisfying moments. A good friend (and, coincidentally a fan) of mine said, “I love your books. I hate your endings. I’m just going to have to accept that this is what an Allison Pittman story does.” So—how fun was this to write the most definitive ending, ever! To open a story on the last day of a character’s life—so totally new for me. </i></div>
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8. What is the best advice or encouragement that you have received? </div>
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<i>It goes back to a conversation I had with James Scott Bell back when I’d written approximately 7 chapters of what would become my first novel, Ten Thousand Charms. The whole conversation is chronicled in Chapter 16 of his fabulous book The Art of War for Writers. (I’m the “young woman” – which I was, at the time, sort of…) Anyway, I was frustrated and discouraged, and he explained to me that this writing thing was like a pyramid. At its base, you have everybody who ever thinks they maybe might want to try to start writing a book someday. At the top is Max Lucado. The rest of us are somewhere in-between. “Your job…is to keep moving up the pyramid. Each level presents its own challenges, so concentrate on the ones right in front of you.” I love and welcome every new challenge.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KFmuOUjoSIko0f2TrPEMHLhJW3lnt4dmo0IEwCG2Hh-NF9uKFwmTgKEIOEaDwHbwNTVIGeK0g0uANeGBdQ44gVY8j77FzPrMUKHZX4E7lz1NunzmENjs8OMkb-yDE_p5kuMVBSmLog/s1600/pic_full_pittman_allison.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KFmuOUjoSIko0f2TrPEMHLhJW3lnt4dmo0IEwCG2Hh-NF9uKFwmTgKEIOEaDwHbwNTVIGeK0g0uANeGBdQ44gVY8j77FzPrMUKHZX4E7lz1NunzmENjs8OMkb-yDE_p5kuMVBSmLog/s320/pic_full_pittman_allison.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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About the Author </div>
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Award-winning author Allison Pittman left a seventeen-year teaching career in 2005 to follow the Lord’s calling into the world of Christian fiction, and God continues to bless her step of faith. Her novels For Time and Eternity and Forsaking All Others were both finalists for the Christy Award for excellence in Christian fiction, and her novel Stealing Home won the American Christian Fiction Writers’ Carol Award. She heads up a successful, thriving writers group in San Antonio, Texas, where she lives with her husband, Mike, their three sons, and the canine star of the family—Stella. </div>
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Visit Allison at her website, www.allisonpittman.com .</div>
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Topics Allison can speak on:</div>
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<ul>
<li>Her research for this novel, set in the iconic Roaring Twenties.</li>
<li>Her inspiration for her character Dorothy Lynn and the All for a Song story.</li>
<li>The challenge of remaining true to ourselves in a world full of temptation—Remaining in the world, but not of it.</li>
<li>Finding and fulfilling your life’s purpose.</li>
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To schedule an interview with Allison Pittman, please contact: Katie Dodillet, katiedodillet@tyndale.com, 630.784.5275</div>
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*** Disclosure: I received an ARC from the publisher. No compensation or other consideration was received in exchange for this review.Shontrell Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14903508109301416157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3778703664789500797.post-21883260540906467082013-02-06T11:16:00.000-08:002013-02-06T11:16:11.242-08:00DESTINY'S DIVAS by Victoria Christopher Murray<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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VCM has done it again...<br />
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I enjoyed this book so much that I'm not even sure where to start this review. I could rave about how well thought out and real I think the characters are or about how well the three women's stories are told and brought together in the main plot. There is a message in the book, but it isn't some bible-thumping, holier-than-thou sermon between the front and back covers.<br />
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Sierra, Raine, and Liza are the three members of Destiny's Divas, a gospel singing group, each of them representing a different generation. Not only do they sing, but they give their testimony along with their musical ministry.<br />
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Sierra, the youngest, is presented to the public as a role model. Her testimony is that she's a celibate young woman who is saving herself for the man God has for her. The real Sierra, however, is anything but. And when the guy she's been seeing breaks up with her instead of proposing like she thought he would, we see a glimpse of a psychotic side to her. The reader can't help but to feel sorry for her, though. Beneath that psychotic/deluded surface, she's simply a girl looking for love who latches on when a man pays her some attention, thinking it's time to start planning a future. Things she does catches up to her, however, ruining not only her chance at what could possible be the love she yearns, but possibly the group itself.<br />
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Raine is a former pop star who had the idea to form the group. From the outside looking in, she has the perfect home life - a handsome, loving husband, a wonderful daughter, and a doting mother-in-law. Her testimony is about unconditional love. But, of course, things are not what they seem. Raine and her dear hubby's mom don't see eye to eye on everything and it's time for Mom-in-Law to go when she does the unthinkable - questions and tries to interfere with Raine's way of raising her daughter. (As a mother myself, I caught myself raising an eyebrow, thinking "Who does she think she is?")<br />
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Lisa is the oldest in the group. A preacher's wife, her testimony is that love can be everlasting. Her marriage of 20+ years is perfect and the ministry she and her husband began is flourishing. The only dark cloud in her life is that her kids have moved as far away as they could, refusing to visit, and she doesn't know why. Her daughter phones periodically, but Liza doesn't even have her son's phone number. The ministry is threatened by a scandal that her husband won't tell her about. Kept in the dark, she taps into her inner Sherlock Holmes and starts digging. What ultimately comes to light shows just how bliss ignorance is.<br />
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I started reading this book laid back on the couch. When I got to the last chapter (and I read it in one sitting because I couldn't put it down), I found myself sitting straight up on the edge of the couch, my eyes wide. (The build-up from the time they get off the plane to the actions of that night is PHENOMENAL!)<br />
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I found this to be a story of redemption or of overcoming what some would see as insurmountable obstacles. Sierra's downfall was ultimately an act that many see as harmless. For her, it resulted in humiliation on a national scale and the loss of what was potentially the love affair she'd been seeking all her life. Raine's difficulty was in meshing her husband and mother-in-laws African culture with her American one in relation to how her daughter was to be raised. Most of the women I know (myself included) would have tossed the she-devil out and banned her from visiting or even calling. But Raine stuck it out, still trying to have a relationship with her. In Liza's case, the secrets that were revealed would have left some women hiding in shame, and others bitter and resentful. Liza is neither.<br />
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Through all their ordeals, instead of giving up or crumbling, they emerged stronger women.<br />
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Lady Jasmine even peeked into a scene.<br />
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Will we see this trio again? RTB and VCM, if you're reading this, will Lady Jasmine and Lady Rachel be fighting over which of them can book the group to perform at a function? Maybe at the next meeting of the American Baptist Coalition?<br />
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I thought The Deal, The Dance, and The Devil was my favorite VCM novel, but now, I'm not so sure.<br />
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Destiny's Divas and other Victoria Christopher Murray titles are available in print and e-book formats at local and online retailers. Click on the cover below to purchase from Amazon.com.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1451650469/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1451650469&linkCode=as2&tag=conqbookmoun-20"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1451650469&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=conqbookmoun-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=conqbookmoun-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1451650469" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
Shontrell Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14903508109301416157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3778703664789500797.post-16795242838146472402013-02-05T12:21:00.000-08:002013-02-05T12:21:04.745-08:00THE FIRST MALE by Lee Hayes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This story captivated me from the first page.<br />
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Strange things are happening to Simon and he doesn't know what to make of it. Inexplicable powers are manifesting and he's having dreams/visions of a snake calling his name and an old woman is attempting to contact him through his dreams.<br />
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This book details Simon's movement toward fulfilling a destiny he had no idea of.<br />
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My heart pounded and raced while I read this book. When I finished and closed it, I could almost hear Rod Serling's voice -- "Welcome to the Twilight Zone."<br />
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I initially said I was "captivated" by this story, but a better way to say it is that I was sucked into the story from the first page. You know how when you watch a really good movie and you're so into it that you lose track of everything but what's going on in the movie and when someone interrupts, you initially blink, trying to orient yourself to reality, then get mad because they disturbed you? THAT'S how I felt. This is a book that I can (and will) read multiple times.<br />
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Simon is the first-born male of his family. With that distinction, comes a devastating prophesy. The first male is to be the destroyer of the world. At birth, he was snatched and spirited away by his high priestess grandmother, Adelaide, his whereabouts magically hidden from everyone. But now, his twenty-first birthday is approaching and his full powers will come to fruition.<br />
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Not only is Adelaide searching for him, but so is someone in the Darkness.<br />
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The First Male is available in paperback and e-book. To purchase from Amazon, click on the cover below.<br />
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**Disclosure: I received an ARC from the publisher. No monetary or other compensation was received in exchange for this review.Shontrell Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14903508109301416157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3778703664789500797.post-51910447450241698542013-02-01T12:32:00.000-08:002013-02-05T12:22:03.758-08:00MIDNIGHT CRAVINGS by Joelle Sterling<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is a love story about a young witch-in-denial and a Haitian boy-turned-zombie.<br />
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A couple reviews I read before reading the book mentioned this to be a YA novel, but I don't see that it was marketed as such. I can only conclude they made this assumption based on the ages of the main characters. If it truly is meant to be a YA book, I don't think it should be.<br />
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The gore wasn't enough to make me put the book down, but the story wouldn't lose anything without it. And, certainly, removing it, would open the door for this to indeed be considered a YA book.<br />
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The story weaves the elements of witchcraft, vampirism, and voodoo-induced zombieism with the growing pains endured in adolescence. It also explores different relationships:<br />
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<ul>
<li><i>The familial relationship- Holland and Phoebe and Jonas and his family in Haiti</i></li>
<li><i>Friendship between teen girls - Holland and Naomi</i></li>
<li><i>Teenage crushes - Holland and Jarrett</i></li>
<li><i>Uneasy friendships - Jonas and Zac</i></li>
<li><i>Friendships of opportunity - Zac and Phoebe</i></li>
<li><i>Friendships that endure - Jonas and Holland</i></li>
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The characters are well-defined and believable and the story line flows fluidly.<br />
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I rate this 4 stars. I am looking forward to reading the rest of this trilogy, The Dark Hunger and Forbidden Feast.<br />
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Midnight Cravings is available at Amazon.com and other retailers in electronic or print form. Click on either title to be taken to it's page on Amazon.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1593094191/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1593094191&linkCode=as2&tag=conqbookmoun-20"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1593094191&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=conqbookmoun-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=conqbookmoun-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1593094191" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1593094930/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1593094930&linkCode=as2&tag=conqbookmoun-20"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1593094930&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=conqbookmoun-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=conqbookmoun-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1593094930" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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**Disclaimer - I received an advance reader copy of Midnight Cravings from the publisher. No monetary or any other form of compensation has been received in exchange for this review.Shontrell Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14903508109301416157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3778703664789500797.post-77091814720153827492012-12-28T00:00:00.000-08:002012-12-28T00:00:07.245-08:00TEMPTED BY THE STORM by Maxine Mansfield<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've only been reading fantasy for a short time, so I was excited to what was between the pages of Tempted by the Storm. <br />
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I found gnomes, elves, wizardry, dragons, barbarians, paladins, and more.<br />
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Some of the happenings in the story had me shaking my head and wondering, <em>What the heck</em>? NEVER in a million years would I have expected a fantasy novel to include characters utilizing a blow-up doll named Miss Bunny as a make-shift sled to get get out of a dangerous situation. (And for it to actually work.) <br />
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I chuckled when I was introduced to Leeky Shortz, Tug McGroin, Ms. Bea Hayven, and Sherman Bobert Limburger the Ninth (who says he was "thrown over for a Gouda . . . and destined to go down in history as the man who stank at love."<br />
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While I couldn't believe some of what I was reading, I couldn't put the book down and finished it in one sitting. The story line is captivating, the naughty parts are <em>ooh la la,</em> and the characters are so well-developed that I felt almost like I knew them personally.<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Prior to reading this book, I hadn't read anything by Ms. Mansfield, but I am certainly going to get my hands on a copy of book one of this series, <em>Touched by Magic</em>, as soon as I possibly can and I'll be snapping up books three and four when they're available.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I rate Tempted by the Storm four out of five stars.</span><br />
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Tempted by the Storm can be purchased from <a href="http://www.wilderroses.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=156&products_id=907" target="_blank">Wild Rose Press</a> or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tempted-Storm-Academy-Series-ebook/dp/B00A3Z273K/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1356636871&sr=8-2&keywords=tempted+by+the+storm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amazon</a>.<br />
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Fantasy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Heat level</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">: 4,
Scarlet Rose<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Publisher</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">: The
Wild Rose Press<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Release date</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">: November
9, 2012<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Blurb:</span></b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Larksong Hammerstrike has always been just the younger sister of
Princess Aryanna. Never quite as pretty or as smart, always lacking, a mere
empath whose power gets her into trouble more often than not. But at Carnalval,
the festival of all things sexual, she unleashes her sensual side for a night
in the arms of a masked stranger. When morning dawns, Lark can't resist a peek
beneath the mask of her lover and is once again crushed by fate. The man of her
lusty adventure is none other than the future Lord of the High Elves and
destined to marry her sister. As heir to the kingdom of Landis and current
instructor of wizardry at the Academy of Magical Arts, Sarco Sunwalker is honor
bound to rise above the temptation of the beautiful empathic student who
invades his mind, body, and soul. But when sparks fly, lightning strikes, and
thunder rolls, Sarco finds himself more than tempted by the storm of Lark's
passion and vows to find a solution that will prevent a war between races, fulfill
an infamous quest, and win Lark's hand.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
~~~</div>
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">
</span>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Excerpt<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">There was only one word that could describe the
creature standing before him. Wonderful.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“Did you say something?” the woman whispered.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">He shook his head. “Nothing, I just can’t
believe my luck. You really are real and here with me.”</span></span><br />
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">She smiled, but her smile didn’t extend to
her eyes.</span></span><br />
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Before another heartbeat passed or another
breath taken, he stood at her side. With tenderness, he gazed into her gentle,
masked face and took both of her hands in his. He was humbled as her fingers
trembled even more than his own did. “We don’t have to do this if you’d rather
not.”</span></span><br />
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">She smiled wider, and her eyes gleamed with
mischief. “I suppose we might as well. After all, we’re already here, and
you’re at least halfway undressed.”</span></span><br />
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Sliding his hands up her arms and around her
shoulders to her back, Sarco felt for and found the clasps holding her gown
together. With the flick of a wrist, they gave way, and with a swish, the silky
fabric fell to her hips exposing lush, rose-tipped breasts. Just the right size
to hold in both hands, to fondle, to caress, to taste.</span></span><br />
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“Hmm, it seems you’re halfway undressed
yourself.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
~~~</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0DNebiJaY4nl2PMehY3okXY6SOp0VZH5e4612u2d3v5sy_Vt-SVVfHotnc-avQPQaj36Qq7R5OuC0sz5fhGwKQogZV_tnW64tngO-EyR7yPPxREPFp9RtqLmllVjTCXNT6YbIfU9BBw/s1600/Maxine+Mansfield.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0DNebiJaY4nl2PMehY3okXY6SOp0VZH5e4612u2d3v5sy_Vt-SVVfHotnc-avQPQaj36Qq7R5OuC0sz5fhGwKQogZV_tnW64tngO-EyR7yPPxREPFp9RtqLmllVjTCXNT6YbIfU9BBw/s200/Maxine+Mansfield.jpg" width="200" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">About the Author <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Maxine Mansfield writes fantasy, erotic romances. She lives in the far
northern state of Alaska where the summer days are long and the winter nights
even longer. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">She has one very special man, his three equally special children, and
their six delightful grandchildren in her life. Not to mention a very bossy
African Grey parrot named Gabriel. Oh, and Gnomes! Many, many Gnomes.</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Maxine can be found online at the following places: </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Website: </span><a href="http://www.maxinemansfield.com/default.html"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">http://www.maxinemansfield.com/default.html</span></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Twitter: </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/%20https:/twitter.com/LeekyShortz%20"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">https://twitter.com/#!/LeekyShortz</span></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Facebook: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002681720132"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002681720132</span></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Other Books: Touched by the Magic (1st book in the Academy Series) </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00830P8ZG/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&tag=conqbookmoun-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00830P8ZG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL110_&ASIN=B00830P8ZG&MarketPlace=US&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=conqbookmoun-20&ServiceVersion=20070822" width="132" /></a></div>
</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
</span><br />
<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=conqbookmoun-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00830P8ZG" style="border: currentColor !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
Shontrell Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14903508109301416157noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3778703664789500797.post-51728166162260721952012-10-18T11:28:00.002-07:002012-12-03T11:39:24.699-08:00Twisted Seduction by N'Tyse<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh42HfVKPIf5s7mYuo2ekF8rvxGGeKhNtUB0HIMthd9p5nATfo7aJhw1KpRberQ_DqpwSAbogqo7SV6sZ0E1ZTht9k2ILR4G6k4rGd5b995PekL0MIR59z7Nn-vrleUmERvz51MobwmA/s1600/Twisted+Seduction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh42HfVKPIf5s7mYuo2ekF8rvxGGeKhNtUB0HIMthd9p5nATfo7aJhw1KpRberQ_DqpwSAbogqo7SV6sZ0E1ZTht9k2ILR4G6k4rGd5b995PekL0MIR59z7Nn-vrleUmERvz51MobwmA/s320/Twisted+Seduction.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=conqbookmoun-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1593093950" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
</div>
<br />
According to the girlfriend code, one does not date, sleep with, canoodle, fraternize, or otherwise become involved with a friend's ex. Disregarding this rule has resulted in not only the break-up of lifelong friendships, but sometimes also can erupt into physical altercations.<br />
<br />
If the above-mentioned interactions with an ex-boyfriend can result in a loss of friendships and/or physical fights, can you imagine what would happen if this code were violated when a friend has a relationship with your <i>husband</i>? (If it were me, I'd end up sulking behind bars because the best friend I killed or maimed is the only one who'd write me regularly and put money on my books.)<br />
<br />
Let's take this interaction with a friend's husband a step further. What happens if friend A is behind the scenes, setting up the opportunity for friend B to get it on with friend A's own husband? (Personally, I'd suspect the husband is rich and friend A wants out of the marriage, but terms of a pre-nup prohibit her from walking away and murder would be too obvious. Hmm, I may have read that in a book somewhere.)<br />
<br />
N'Tyse has addressed this exact scenario in Twisted Seduction.<br />
<br />
Denise and Nadine are best friends and business partners. Denise has been married to Jeff for nine years. Na dine and Jeff secretly lust after one another. One night, after choir rehearsal, the two of them chat as they're leaving the church. While covertly ogling each other, Jeff opens up about sexual problems in his marriage. Moments later, ON THE CHURCH GROUNDS, Nadine is crouching between Jeff and her car, playing "Hide the Salami in My Throat," which then progressed to the two of them getting to know each other in the biblical sense inside her car, still in the church parking lot. (I swear I heard "Give it to Me Baby" by Rick James in my head while reading this scene. Although, Salt-n-Peppa's "Push It" comes to mind too, now that I think about it.)<br />
<br />
Having grown up in church, even going to a church school in elementary school, I had to put the book down for a minute. All I could think was "<i>Oooh, they're going straight to hell in gasoline-soaked undies!</i>"<br />
<br />
That thought aside, I picked the book back up and didn't put it down again until I had read the entire book.<br />
<br />
An addition to some steamy scenes, the book reveals the motive for Denise having maneuvered her best friend and husband together so that she can be with another man. A life-altering secret that no one but Nadine has been privy to also comes to light- Deandra, Denise's daughter, isn't Jeff's child.<br />
<br />
Three years later, we see Denise's plot to getting her husband and friend together explode. What happen affects her marriage as well as her friendship and business relationship with Nadine. Her secret affects Jeff, her daughter, and Nadine and Jeff's relationship, and Denise and Nadine's business relationship. (I can see Eddie Murphy pointing a finger at Denise, lecturing her when she comes up with her plan: There's gonna be some consequences and repercussions.)<br />
nhg<br />
Readers are also given a glimpse of another intriguing character in Canvas Green. In him, we have a young, black male who presents himself as a "project thug" in Jeff's words. Canvas applies for a job at Jeff's car dealership, needing to earn income to support himself and his little sister. Jeff senses there is more to Canvas beneath the rough exterior and gives him a second chance and a mentor/mentee relationship develops between the two. Things go well, but, unfortunately, Canvas loses his job and we get a glimpse of him returning to a life on the streets. Though he's not a major character in the story, something about him in the scenes he's in draws me to his character. I'd love to see a story done about him and what happened to him up to this point.<br />
<br />
N'Tyse effectively draws the reader into the emotional upheavals the characters go through. Although I think Denise brought all her upset on herself, I had to sympathize with her when things fell apart. Yes, she did some scandalous, downright dirty stuff, but my heart hurt for her. Even thought I wanted to reach into the pages of the book and slap Jeff in the back of his head for seeking out the attentions of a stripper, I understood that in the physical release with her, he was able to feel like a man again for the time he was with her.Like a lot of men, he let his little head do the thinking. I felt sorry for Nadine who, in keeping Denise's secrets, was caught between her loyalty to her best friend and loyalty to the man she loves. It may be further evidence that I'm a sap, but the funeral scene brought tears to my eyes.<br />
<br />
I give this book five out of five stars. The plot is compelling and the characters are engaging. I can't wait for the sequel, Twisted Vows of Seduction.<br />
<br />
To purchase a copy of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1593093950/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1593093950&linkCode=as2&tag=conqbookmoun-20">Twisted Seduction: A Novel</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=conqbookmoun-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1593093950" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
from Amazon.com, click the photo of the book cover.<br />
<br />
N'Tyse is currently working on a debut film titled "Beneath My Skin." Check out the trailer <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSZodNEX2k0" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
For updates on N'Tyse and her work, check her out at all the following:<br />
<a href="http://www.ntyse.com/">www.ntyse.com</a><br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/author.ntyse">www.facebook.com/author.ntyse</a><br />
<a href="http://www.twitter.com/ntyse">www.twitter.com/ntyse</a><br />
She can be reached via email at ntyse.amillionthoughts@yahoo.com<br />
<br />
**Disclosure: A complimentary copy of the book was received from the author for review. No compensation, financial or otherwise, was received.Shontrell Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14903508109301416157noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3778703664789500797.post-76076177303540106182012-10-16T08:00:00.001-07:002012-10-16T08:00:58.083-07:00Blackberry Days of Summer by Ruth P. Watson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIo1bmBsvK7prWGAnIYAeOXeO3H3kggadhRuvxyt3YXtZVdMSA9goDaqdbCn0nZx2pfwARj93yzlhDkyt4TLFlwynmBN-evdZw-RnoqADTN4A1m1VkVKT596jazC3OQ_8hUtH324HVA/s1600/Blackberry+Days+of+Summer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIo1bmBsvK7prWGAnIYAeOXeO3H3kggadhRuvxyt3YXtZVdMSA9goDaqdbCn0nZx2pfwARj93yzlhDkyt4TLFlwynmBN-evdZw-RnoqADTN4A1m1VkVKT596jazC3OQ_8hUtH324HVA/s320/Blackberry+Days+of+Summer.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
This is a coming of age story
that involves love, lust, adultery, murder, and forgiveness.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Herman Camm attended the funeral of Mae Lou’s husband. Carrie,
her daughter, is uneasy around him. Not long after the burial of Carrie’s
father, Herman and Mae Lou announce their impending marriage. While her
husband, Willie, was away at war, Pearl had also been seeing Herman. Her husband
comes home from the war earlier than she expects and he suspects something is
going on. Of course, Pearl denies it. Herman and Pearl continue seeing each
other, having clandestine meetings. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Three plot lines converge: Herman commits a horrific act
that has life-altering consequences for fifteen-year-old Carrie who has
obtained her mother’s permission to court and is now in love, Mae Lou shows
signs of tiring of her husband’s philandering, and Pearl is afraid that her
husband will hurt Herman and vows to stay away from him. The end result is a
dead Herman Camm and multiple suspects with motive and opportunity. However,
no one really cares that he’s dead. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
The characters in the book are true-to-life and easy to
identify with. The reader witnesses Carrie’s pain with the secret she harbors
after having found out another secret about herself that she’s coming to terms
with. Pearl is a married woman who is having an affair with a married man, but
underneath the façade, there is a yearning for something that she can’t seem to
find. Mae Lou is a widow with three children. There’s an unspoken suggestion
that she may have met Herman prior to her husband’s death. Her character is
that of a hard-working mother and wife who does what’s necessary to take care
of her family. Given her nature, one does wonder what attracted her to Herman
and why she kept him around.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While providing a compelling story, the novel also gives a
glimpse of African American life after World War I. It shows the difficulty for
the returning soldiers to find employment. It also illustrates how hard the
women in that era worked to take care of their homes and children. There is a
glimpse of the life of those with more children than they can afford to have as
well as mention of the hush-hush abortions that young girls had.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Blackberry Days of Summer is Ruth P. Watson's "I have arrived" statement to the literary world.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I rate this book five out of five stars.</div>
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<br /></div>
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** Disclosure: I won an ARC of this book in a contest. I received no compensation, financial or otherwise, in exchange for this review.</div>
Shontrell Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14903508109301416157noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3778703664789500797.post-80433737951696259142012-10-16T07:52:00.000-07:002012-10-16T07:52:46.090-07:00Oh Gad by Joanne C. Hillhouse<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwXlc4RYNVLq0tq9rdrV9Zet6YXAyg0FEUowgqAxQDjUV0I_8oHYNwXE_TR68-pcU7hEXItOSg2zWL4BP4pzNHWG5p6VloHkbxGHkNJ-4zc0BqwgJDY8O7F5Mnggo_ONu8L8zQRJZJSg/s1600/Oh+Gad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwXlc4RYNVLq0tq9rdrV9Zet6YXAyg0FEUowgqAxQDjUV0I_8oHYNwXE_TR68-pcU7hEXItOSg2zWL4BP4pzNHWG5p6VloHkbxGHkNJ-4zc0BqwgJDY8O7F5Mnggo_ONu8L8zQRJZJSg/s320/Oh+Gad.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Oh Gad is the story of a young woman who was born in another
country, but was raised in the States by her dad. She returns to her homeland of
Antigua when her mother dies.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The book starts a little slow with setting the background,
but, after several chapters, I found myself intrigued. The main character,
Nikki, has always felt alone. She laments never truly knowing her mother, but
accepts that as being her own fault. She talks of being alone in “the organized
chaos of New York housed with a man who never stopped being a stranger… A man
who told her he was her father, but never taught her what family was.” This novel is the story of her journey to
discovering herself. On that journey, she goes over potholes and speed bumps in
her relationships with family members as well as several with men.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In addition to giving us the story of Nikki’s finding
herself, the reader is given a look into the Antiguan culture. The dialect is
wonderfully written and rolls off the mental tongue while reading it. The book
also touches on the subject of developing the country and its effects on the
people who live there.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I rate this book a four out of five stars.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
** Disclosure: I won an ARC of this book in a contest. No compensation, financial or otherwise, was received in exchange for this review.</div>
Shontrell Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14903508109301416157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3778703664789500797.post-71932006312714663832012-10-16T07:37:00.000-07:002012-10-16T07:41:32.888-07:00A Silken Thread by Brenda Jackson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirNg2dcJ2QGShtrv4_ziuNWTcOtEW8BiQWG723t5aBBDOiMPuTRINAq8T2TeGSoEgnnBKK2h-FPYcKTcXnZ51OqPZOqeuwIuksnNLpZ0HENHW6stcX1eT6mmoLPHHrn0L-6RtB8KiQOQ/s1600/A+Silken+Thread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirNg2dcJ2QGShtrv4_ziuNWTcOtEW8BiQWG723t5aBBDOiMPuTRINAq8T2TeGSoEgnnBKK2h-FPYcKTcXnZ51OqPZOqeuwIuksnNLpZ0HENHW6stcX1eT6mmoLPHHrn0L-6RtB8KiQOQ/s1600/A+Silken+Thread.jpg" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A Silken
Thread is a novel composed of intricately woven sub-plot surrounding three relationships that are affected by the machinations of one heartless, callous
woman.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Karen
Sanders is hell-bent on stopping her daughter, Erica, from marrying a man she
considers beneath them. Despite Erica’s love for Brian, Karen goes to desperate
lengths to push her into the arms of Griffin, who is of the blue blood status
that Karen approves of. Although we later learn what shaped her into the person
she is, it </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">doesn't</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> diminish the repercussions of her actions for those involved.
This is a masterfully told story of love, trust, betrayal, and faith. It
explores the man/woman relationships of these characters, but also goes into
the parent/child relationship as well as the relationship between friends. This
book reinforces the belief that “what’s meant to be, will be.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The author
draws the reader in and allows them to feel the pain of the characters as they
are subjected to the things that rip their relationships apart. The unexpected
twists and revelations will keep you turning the page to see what happens next.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">I give this book a rating of five stars out of five.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">** Disclosure: I received a copy of this book free in a random drawing. No compensation, financial or otherwise, was received in exchange for this review.</span></div>
<br />Shontrell Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14903508109301416157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3778703664789500797.post-15389629777172723112012-10-16T07:20:00.001-07:002012-10-16T08:07:49.158-07:00Sinners & Saints by Victoria Christopher Murray and ReShonda Tate Billingsley<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRLarDKYdcYbWLZ6sXkEyXNLxvDsax0SyAFzS8wmvJMDNbBoOOlf7VRQ-jNbBZDT2If45Tp5vpQZLWjqMwZIkSEueMV2h3QLk7p2DhCrZTR03VHDDDbwsFxEKcItpBxSoQ62qg6bmyQ/s1600/Saints+&+Sinners.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRLarDKYdcYbWLZ6sXkEyXNLxvDsax0SyAFzS8wmvJMDNbBoOOlf7VRQ-jNbBZDT2If45Tp5vpQZLWjqMwZIkSEueMV2h3QLk7p2DhCrZTR03VHDDDbwsFxEKcItpBxSoQ62qg6bmyQ/s320/Saints+&+Sinners.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Move over Batman and Robin, there’s a new dynamic duo in
Gotham City.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]-->Fans
of Victoria Christopher Murray and ReShonda Tate Billingsley are familiar with Jasmine
Larson Bush and Rachel Jackson Adams, first ladies of mayhem.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The ladies are set to go head to head as their husbands vie
for President of the American Baptist Coalition. The gloves come off as soon as
the ladies get off the plane in New York and the two go multiple rounds before
finding out there’s a surprise contender entering the presidential ring – one
who’s been hiding in the corner the whole time, waiting for them to knock each
other out.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The two schemers team up to outwit this unexpected entrant
to the race while, at the same time, staying a step ahead of each other. The
two effectively eliminate the threat and a deeper conspiracy is uncovered, one
that has repercussions that will affect the winner of the race, no matter who
it is. <br />
One of the women gets the win she desires, but, as the saying goes: “Be careful
what you wish for.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This collaboration is exceptionally well-written. The
writing styles of the two women mesh seamlessly. Were it not for the two names
on the cover, it could easily be thought to have been written by one author.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Readers who are not familiar with the stories of Jasmine and
Rachel will have no problem keeping up with the story. In fact, this will make
them want go back to the beginning for both women to see what shenanigans they've been part to up to this point. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The sequel, Friends & Foes, is set for release in 2013.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is definitely a five-star read.<br />
<br />
** Disclosure: I received no compensation, financial or otherwise, in exchange for this review.</div>
Shontrell Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14903508109301416157noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3778703664789500797.post-29108405250760993742012-07-26T18:16:00.000-07:002012-07-26T18:26:17.439-07:00The Art of Deceit by Fabiola Joseph<div style="text-align: left;">
<img src="http://aambcgroup.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/fb-book.jpg?w=217&h=300" />
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 11px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 11px;">I'm not going to discuss the men in this book because, simply stated, their actions/reactions are based on physical attraction and their penises. The prime example is Tay's telling Tangie that she's "just a star fucker." He knows this about her, but his attraction to her and his enthrallment with her sexual prowess override this. He tells his bodyguard "She got a nigga hooked and there's nothing that I could do about it." Well, there is something he could do about it -- walk the other way.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 11px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 11px;">But I digress...</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 11px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 11px;">I've read books before where a character did or said something that was so overboard it made the character ridiculous. That's not the case here. The characters in this book are very well developed and realistic. Their words and actions are consistent and in sync with the characterization the author has set out to show the reader. The women characters in this book intrigued me.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 11px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 11px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 11px;">Tangie</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 11px;">The main character set off a rollercoaster of emotions for me.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 11px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 11px;">1. Admiration - She's a go-getter who lets nothing get in her way. When she sees something she wants, she goes after it. No matter what else she has going on, her eyes remain on her ultimate goal. She is a master manipulator/charmer and no one she comes across is immune to it.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 11px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 11px;">2. Hate - I hated her for the things she did to get what she wanted - Seducing Carl and rubbing it in his face that they'll never be together because he doesn't make enough money for her. Taking the groupie to the hotel room as a "gift" for Tayvon and her rejection of Amira because leaving Tay would be walking away from what she'd aspired to all her life and losing the material things that it represented.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 11px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 11px;">3. Sympathy - Her sexuality rules her. She uses sex to control and manipulate, with the exception of Amira. She found true love with Amira, but was afraid of what others would think/say. Her grief over Amira's death was heartwrenching. The author vividly paints the picture of the denial phase and the reader can't help but feel sorry for Tangie.In different places in the story, we get brief glimpses of a sad little girl who feels like she's on her own with no one else to look out for her well-being and happiness. This is where her "get him/her before he/she gets me" attitude stems from. I would be interested to know the kind of childhood she had. Her mother instilled a lot of her attitude in her. It would also be interesting to know her mother's story. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 11px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 11px;">4. Finally, I must admit that Tangie is a woman that I fear. The insecure part of me quakes at the thought that a woman like her might decide she wants my significant other, whether it be for money, sex, or whatever. Someone like me would have not no chance whatsoever in trying to stand up to or fight against the ruthlessness with which she operates. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 11px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 11px;">Shamika</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 11px;">While on the surface, Shamika isn't a nice person, I sympathized with her character. Not because of what Tangie did to her, but because of who she is. She's a hood chick struggling to fit in. Her actions are a desperate attempt to come up from the lower ranks to the upper eschelon. With her preoccupation with trying to fit in and be the person she thinks she should be, she doesn't realize that she's trying too hard and pushing Black to look elsewhere. It's obvious that she comes from a background of poverty or just barely making it. She wants a big house like Tay and Tangie's instead of the simple townhome that she and Black share. She envies Tangie's jewelry and clothes. The material things that she sees Tangie with is what she wants for herself. It's hard for me to determine whether she truly does love Black or whether she's holding on to his potential. In her words, they have a "thug love," not a kissy, kissy love like Tangie and Tay. In my opinion, she doesn't know what love is and is simply looking for a method of come-up.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 11px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 11px;">Amira</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 11px;">This character was only in the book for a short while, but her presence had the greatest impact on the story by bringing out the other side of Tangie's character. Amira was a tragic character. Because of her career in the spotlight, her personal relationships were affected. She was having to suppress who she was to keep her fans happy, but in meeting and falling in love with Tangie, she was willing to risk her career. When Tangie wasn't brave enough to admit to reciprocal feelings, Amira wasn't emotionally able to cope with it. Tangie was her downfall.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 11px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 11px;">***** SPOILER ALERT! *****</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 11px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 11px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 11px;">Once I sat down to read, I couldn't stop until I finished the book. I can't wait for the sequel to find out what happens. Part of me hopes that Tay isn't really dead, that maybe it's one of the body guards or Carmello. I want to know whose baby Tangie is carrying. I'm a little surprised that with her mindset of sex as a tool, she wouldn't make sure the men wrap it up or that she wasn't on some type of birth control.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 11px;">While the story is entertaining, I'm a little disappointed that she didn't get any punishment for her actions. Yes, she lost Amira, but that loss doesn't seem to have changed her. It's as if she cried it out and now she's moved on with her life. She uses and abuses people and it doesn't seem to affect her at all. Her character remains consistent in her "all about me" attitude. She doesnt' seem to grow from that. Maybe in the sequel she will.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 11px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 11px;">I applaud the author for a well-written story. She is certainly a wonderful storyteller. This was my first time reading her work and I look forward to reading more. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 11px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 11px;">A copy of this book was provided by the author for review. I received no compensation.</span></span><br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>Shontrell Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14903508109301416157noreply@blogger.com0