Author: Mary Jane Clark Publisher: William Morrow Date of Publication: January 2013 It's the dead of winter and struggling actress and wedding cake decorator Piper Donovan is thrilled to be in warm and romantic Sarasota, Florida, enjoying the powdery white beaches, soothing seas, and golden sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico. She and her family are there to celebrate her beloved cousin's wedding. Not only is Piper creating the sugar sand dollar-festooned wedding cake, she's also the maid of honor.
But a cloud seems to hover over the whole affair. Shortly after a bridesmaid mysteriously disappears, a kindly neighbor's car is run off the road and a prospective witness, an innocent Amish teenager, is threatened to keep silent. Then a body is found on the wedding beach. In my review of The Look of Love, the second book in this series, I ended by saying I hoped the third book would be the charm. I am happy to say that it definitely was this time around. Footprints in the Sand was a much more enjoyable story. The mystery was much tighter with less suspects. That was my main complaint about the first two books. I liked Piper more in this book. She seemed more sure of herself and she actually solves the crime. OK it's almost too late for the revelation, but still. Kudos for her. I liked the characters overall. It was easier to connect with them. It's a very quick and enjoyable read. It gives me hope that the next books will be better. I just hope Jack makes his move in the next book!
A gripping novel set in Belle Époque Paris and inspired by the real-life model for Degas’s Little Dancer Aged Fourteen and a notorious criminal trial of the era. When the father of Marie and Antoinette van Goethem died it left their family in a serious financial bind. In 1870s Paris there weren't too many options for the two sisters along with their absinthe addicted mother and their little sister. It was decided that Marie, while traditionally too old, would go to the ballet with their younger sister Charlotte where they would both earn a wage. Antoinette would go to the theater as an actress.
These decisions would lead to diverging paths for the two sisters. Marie would reach great and unexpected levels of success and Antoinette would sink lower than anyone thought she could.
At first I was kinda iffy about this book. I listened to the audiobook and I had trouble with all the french names and words sprinkled throughout. It was hard to distinguish one from the other I guess and keep them all straight in my head. However, over time that became less of an issue and the story really captivated me. I really enjoyed this book. After I got done, I looked up the work of Degas and started to really examine the subjects and see if I could recognize any of the characters in the artwork. I know that's silly, but it was a fun little exercise.
I definitely recommend this book to fans of historical fiction. Even if you aren't this book was still very well researched and was a fascinating read.
Welcome to author, Alecia Stone who joins us with an interview today. She is promoting her debut novel, Talisman of El.
Publisher: Centrinan Publishing Date of publication: May 2012
WHAT IF YOUR WHOLE LIFE WAS A LIE?
One Planet.
Two Worlds.
Population: Human ... 7 billion.
Others ... unknown.
When
14-year-old Charlie Blake wakes up sweating and gasping for air in the
middle of the night, he knows it is happening again. This time he
witnesses a brutal murder. He's afraid to tell any one. No one would
believe him ... because it was a dream. Just like the one he had four
years ago - the day before his dad died.
Charlie doesn't know why
this is happening. He would give any thing to have an ordinary life.
The problem: he doesn't belong in the world he knows as home. He belongs
with the others.
My thoughts:
Talisman of El has the potential to be a great middle grade fantasy series. In the first book, there is a lot of world building. I liked the world of Arcadia. As far as fantasy worlds go, it sounds beautiful, mysterious and intriguing. The characters were fun. Charlie and his friends were written pretty well. The loyalty between them is strong. That is one element of middle grade books that I always like. When a group of "misfits" kids form a family of sorts. Having said all of that, I felt that the book really needed a bit more editing. Some of the transitions were abrupt and confusing. This really slowed the book down for me because I found myself rereading passages to see if I had missed something. Some of the dialogue felt awkward and out of place. I just wish I liked the book more than I did. I would recommend this series to a middle school reader. It is perfect for that age level as there is nothing too mature in the book.
Kari & Autumn: What inspired you to become a
writer?
Ms. Stone:I read Jane Austen’s Pride and
Prejudice when I was fourteen, and since then, I’ve wanted to be a writer. It’s
always been a dream of mine, albeit one I didn’t think would come true. I just
loved the way she brought her characters to life. She had the ability to suck
me into the world she had created. I fell in love with the story and the
characters, and I just thought it would be great if I could create a world
people could escape into, even if it was only for a moment.
Kari & Autumn: Where do you come up with the
ideas for your books?
Ms. Stone:It must be a combination of all the
movies and stories I’ve read over the years. I’m a huge fantasy and sci-fi fan,
and I truly believe that genre has allowed me to broaden my imagination. As for
Talisman Of El, I can’t pinpoint an actual source, but it was great creating that
world and exploring it with the characters.
Kari & Autumn: What exciting projects are
waiting in the wings?
Ms. Stone:Well, since I’m writing a trilogy,
I have two more books to write. I’m currently writing the sequel.
Kari & Autumn: Who is your favorite literary
character and why?
Ms. Stone: It has to be the boy who never
grows up. It’s none other than Peter Pan. He’s a brilliant character. He
sustains that immortality people long for. He represents youth in its purest
form. I love his mentality, and he has the most amazing adventures. He’s just a
great character with a wonderful imagination.
Kari & Autumn: Just for fun, if you could be
any animal, what would it be and why?
Ms. Stone:I always have a different answer for this question. I guess
it depends on my mood. Right now I feel like spreading my wings and flying away,
so I’m going to go with an eagle. They are a beautiful and intelligent species.
For me, they represent freedom.
Author Bio:
Alecia Stone has been in love with
anything and everything paranormal for many years. She graduated with a BA in
Film & TV and has worked in television for a short period of time before
branching out into storytelling. When she isn't writing, she enjoys going to
the movies, listening to music, and travelling. Talisman Of El is her first
novel. She currently lives in England, UK.
Author: Deborah Harmse First published in 1994 by Loveswept. Reissued January 2012 A cop who has seen too
much of the dark side of life, Mackenzie Hoyle has developed a few rough
edges. He’s working a murder case and has some hard questions for a
troubled student at the local high school. But getting past Rebekah de
Bieren challenges his toughest tactics. The tiny, blonde civics teacher
is as protective as a mother lion, making his job a little more
difficult—not that he’s complaining. She’s sexy, straight-shooting, and
reawakens something deep and primal he’d forgotten existed.
When I read the synopsis for In the Arms of the Law, I was expecting a romantic suspense story. Instead, it was heavier on the romance and pretty light on the suspense. The story had promise in the beginning. Mack visits Becky's school to try to persuade her to convince one of her students to speak to the police about a murder he may have witnessed. The sparks fly immediately between the two. But, Mack has his reasons for keeping himself distant and not wanting to get involved. This book was just OK for me. I was expecting more suspense and action. There was none of that. It focused more on the relationship between Mack and Becky. I'm not sure I liked Becky all that much. While I like an optimistic character, I thought she was a bit too "Pollyanna" for me. Her attitude just didn't fit a person who had been in the Peace Corps and later became a teacher who chose to work in an inner city school. I thought she would have been a bit more cynical than than than she was presented. Also, I thought her attitude of "I'll make his life better and change him" didn't make me feel confident for the HEA.
Please welcome author, Pamala Fagan Hutchins, who is promoting her book, Saving Grace. Enjoy her guest post about "Dialect in Dialogue". Make sure to check out the book trailer at the end of the post!
Publisher: Skipjack Publishing Date of publication: 2012
If
you're at all inclined to be swept away to the islands to fall in love with a
rainforest jumbie house and a Texas attorney who is as much a danger to herself
as the island bad guys, then dive headfirst with Katie Connell into Saving
Grace.
Katie escapes professional humiliation, a broken heart, and her Bloody
Mary-habit when she runs to the island of St. Marcos to investigate the
suspicious deaths of her parents. But she trades one set of problems for
another when she is bewitched by the voodoo spirit Annalise in an abandoned
rainforest house and, as worlds collide, finds herself reluctantly donning her
lawyer clothes again to defend her new friend Ava, who is accused of stabbing
her very married Senator-boyfriend.
Dialect
in Dialogue: A Little Goes a Long Way
Do you
ever pick up a book and seamlessly fall into the rhythms and idiosyncrasies of
characters from a part of the world you’ve never visited? I do. I loved Divine
Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood for drawing me into rural Louisiana and The
Last Picture Show for pulling me into a small Texas community in the
mid-20th century. With both books, effective use of dialect played a huge role
in my enjoyment of the setting and characters. But the opposite can happen,
too. A hyper-focus on authenticity can make the book inaccessible to readers
from outside that region, because it’s just too dang much work to read. I want
to turn pages, not turn backflips trying to work my way through.
So how
do the good writers immerse us in the sounds of a culture without making us
work for it? I had to answer that question for myself when I wrote a
series of books set in Texas and the Caribbean. I’ve lived in both places. I
know exactly how people sound and talk. In early drafts, I wrote dialogue just
like it sounded to me in my head. And when I wasn’t quite authentic enough, my
island-boy husband corrected me.
Here’s
an example from an early draft of Saving Grace:
“Dese hills are steep. Da sun is brutal. Dere are
centipedes as long as me foot.” Someone laughed. “I not jokin’ you,
ladies. You will see beautiful trees, blossoms and vines, but dey can
reach out with dare t’orns and stickers and tear your soft skin. Dey grow
t’ick togedder, at times I will be using dis,” he patted the machete strung
across his hip, “to clear a path for us to get t’rough. You aine gohne make me
sad if you decide dis hike is not for you. I can only carry one of you
out if you get hurt or are overcome with our tropical heat, so leave now if you
gonna be leavin’.”
I’ve
seen worse phonetic patois, but this is still hard to read. Compare it to
dialogue from the final version:
“These hills steep. The sun rough. There be centipedes as
long as me foot.” Someone laughed. “I not jokin’ you, ladies and gentlemen. You
will see beautiful trees, blossoms and vines, but they can reach out with their
thorns and stickers and tear your soft skin. They grow thick together, so at
times I be using this,” he patted the machete strung across his hip, “to clear
a path for us to get through. You ain’t gonna make me sad if you decide this
hike not for you. I can only carry one of you out if you get hurt or fall to
our tropical heat, so leave now if you gonna be leavin’.”
It’s
the same, yet different. I had the honor of Jane Friedman’s edit on this
passage back when she was with Writer’s Digest, and she felt the first version
was too phonetic. She encouraged me to focus on grammar, not spelling, to
create the sound.
It only
took me three more years to figure out how to use her suggestion, but I am very
happy with how it came out. Reviews from Caribbean readers are that the
dialogue in Saving Grace is authentic. Reviews from non-Caribbean
readers are that the book is a page-turner.
So
here’s what worked for me in creating dialect; I hope it helps you craft
authentic and accessible regional dialogue for your characters:
1. Explain
it early on. Think of movies that switch out of subtitles after the first
five minutes. What is the point of having everyone speak in Russian in the
first place if you’re just going to go change it to English? The point is to
show the viewer what it sounds like. So, writers, use your words to explain
what makes the sound unique. Here’s an example of how I tried used this
technique:
His Calypso accent was thick, much thicker than Ava’s, with
his “th” sounding like “t” and all the g’s and d’s dropped from the end of his
words, but he was understandable.
2. Focus
on grammar. To create the lilt of the tropics, I stripped out “be” verbs
(mostly) and had my characters speak in the present tense. It worked like a
charm. Is it 100% accurate? Of course not. But does it capture the essence of
the sound? I believe that it did.
3. Go
light on the phonetics. Nobody wants to be sounding out the big words,
right? It slows the reader down. If they stop turning pages, your book is about
to be shut. So pick the highest impact phonetic spellings, and then back off. I
used “bahn yah” several times, once I described how it sounded.
4.
Let your setting do some of the heavy lifting. By describing setting with
specificity and detail, you can get your reader’s imagination to fill in your
dialectical gaps. If my character drinks a Red Stripe beer instead of just a
beer, what sounds do you hear around you in the bar? Remember, the reader wants
to think and imagine. Those are fun things to do. Working to sound out words
isn’t.
5. Drop
in a few colloquialisms along the way. “Yah mon” and “irie” worked for me
in Saving Grace. I’ve had a lot of fun working simple yet lyrical
colloquialisms into my Caribbean-based books. This is also a great way to show
something about who your character is. Is she a worrier? Is he funny? Does she
cling to the old ways? Is he a sports-nut? All of these traits can be shown
through regional expressions.
I hope
these suggestions help you paint a picture, no matter what region or culture
you’re trying to illustrate in your work. If they do, drop me a note and let me
know at Pamela@PamelaHutchins.com.
Happy writing, y’all.
About the Author:
Pamela Fagan Hutchins writes award-winning mysterious women’s fiction and
relationship humor books, and holds nothing back. She is known for
“having it all” which really means she has a little too much of everything, but
loves it: writer, mediocre endurance athlete (triathlon, marathons), wife, mom
of an ADHD & Asperger’s son, five kids/step-kids, business owner,
recovering employment attorney and human resources executive, investigator,
consultant, and musician. Pamela lives with her husband Eric and two high
school-aged kids, plus 200 pounds of pets in Houston. Their hearts are still in
St. Croix, USVI, along with those of their three oldest offspring.
Her latest book is the mystery/women’s fiction, Saving
Grace.
by: Holly Goddard Jones
published by: Touchstone
publish date: February 12, 2013
One woman’s disappearance exposes the ambitions, prejudices, and anxieties of a small southern town and its residents, who are all connected, sometimes in unexpected ways. I was really anxious to read this book because it was blurbed by Gillian Flynn so I think I was expecting it to be kinda like a Flynn book. I kept expecting a dark and twisted gotcha moment that never materialized. The expectations I had for this book never came to fruition, but I think it was my fault for putting them there unfairly.
Ronnie is a wild woman in a small town and when she goes missing the only person that is upset about it her sister, Susanna. The story of Ronnie's disappearance gets tangled in the life of Emily, one of Susanna's students. Emily takes over walking Wyatt's dog after he has a heart attack, and he too, becomes a player in Ronnie's disappearance. An old flame from Susanna's past is back and he is also caught up in her sister's missing persons case.
The story is complex and told in a similar fashion as Flynn story. But the gore and horror aren't there. This book is more like a Tami Hoag book in that manner. I like both of those writers and I liked Holly Goddard Jones too. The book was a good solid mystery. It was intelligently written and kept the reader guessing throughout the book.
by: Wiley Cash
published by: William Morrow
publish date: April 12, 2012
For a curious boy like Jess Hall, growing up in Marshall means trouble when you get caught spying on grown-ups. Adventurous and precocious, Jess is protective of his older brother, Christopher, a mute whom everyone calls Stump. Though their mother has warned them not to snoop, Stump can't help sneaking a look at something he's not supposed to--an act that will have repercussions. It's a wrenching event that thrusts Jess into an adulthood for which he's not prepared. He now knows that a new understanding can bring not only danger and evil--but also the possibility of freedom and deliverance.
I had been hearing about this book here and there. I finally got the audiobook from the library. I was very impressed with this debut novel.
The book tells the story of the attempted healing of Stump by the congregation of the church his mother attends. The healing does not go as planned. The Sheriff becomes involved and his history with the family is revealed.
I really liked how the audiobook was recorded. The book was written in varying viewpoints. It was told from the point of view of the Sheriff, Jess, and the town's midwife. The audiobook was recorded by three different readers and I particularly enjoyed that.
A Land More Kind Than Home was a fantastic book with a shocking ending. This is one book I will be recommending for sure.
Author: Sarah MacLean Publisher: Avon Date of Publication: March 2012 A decade ago, the Marquess of Bourne was cast from society with nothing but his title. Now a partner in London’s most exclusive gaming hell, the cold, ruthless Bourne will do whatever it takes to regain his inheritance—including marrying perfect, proper Lady Penelope Marbury.
A broken engagement and years of disappointing courtships have left Penelope with little interest in a quiet, comfortable marriage, and a longing for something more. How lucky that her new husband has access to such unexplored pleasures. Typically in historical romances, we see the proper side of society. So when I read A Rogue by Any Other Name it was a refreshing change. Bourne may be a Marquess, but he is also the owner of the most infamous gaming hell in London. It caters to men who want to gamble and indulge in other things as well as to women on the "other side". Penelope may be his life long friend but she is also the key to revenge against the man who took everything from him. I liked Penelope. I felt so badly for her as she seems to constantly get the short end of everything. Even in her marriage to Bourne. He obviously cares about her, but he is so blinded by revenge that he can't see that what he has in front of him is more valuable than anything. I often found myself wanting to shake some sense into him. I have to say I was glad that she made him wait in the end before she decided she believed his transformation. He deserved it. Overall, I enjoyed the story. I loved Bourne's friends. They were quite amusing and made for a lot of comic relief. The next few books in the series feature their stories, so I look forward to reading them. This one ends in a sort of cliffhanger that gives a peek into the next book, One Good Earl Deserves a Lover. It is Phillipa and Cross's story. I'm looking forward to reading it.
Welcome to author, Jessica Scott! She joins us with an interview as she promotes her latest novella, Anything for You. Enjoy her interview after my thoughts.
Publisher: Self Date of publication: February 1, 2012
Sergeant First Class Shane Garrison has spent a year recovering from his combat injuries. A year spent in the arms of the woman of his dreams. But loving Jen comes with a price: every time he touches her, he faces the uncertain fear that loving her might mean losing her forever.
Jen is a breast cancer survivor and with Shane, she’s found a man who loves her despite her scars. But her scars may be too much for their love to survive.
As their love grows, so does the risk to Jen’s life. And Shane must make the toughest decision any man can make to save the woman he loves.
My thoughts: Sometimes when I finish a book, I wish I could see more of the characters. I always wonder if the HEA is going to last and if it is still all roses and sweetness after. Anything for You lets us revisit Jen and Shane from Because of you (my review). I loved this couple Their story was very emotional and they fought hard to be together In this novella, it is some months later and Jen and Shane are both facing some very real fears. I think anytime we love someone one, we can have the fear of losing them in the back of our mind. It was refreshing to read as it shows that after the HEA, life is still there staring us in the face. I loved the gift that Shane gave to Jen in the end. It made me fall in love with him all over again. If you haven't had a chance to read Jan and Shane's story, definitely pick it up along with this one. You won't be disappointed.
Kari& Autumn: What inspired you to become a writer?
Jessica: I started writing officially
back in 2007 when I was away from my kids for the first time at Officer
Candidate School down at Fort Benning. I spent a lot of my free time at Barnes
& Nobel and one day, I came up with this idea for a hero who only wanted to
train because he knows he's going to end up back at war. And the rest, they
say, is history.
Kari& Autumn: Where do you come up with the ideas for your books?
Jessica:From the people around me.
War does different things to different people and I wanted to explore that from
a normal soldier perspective not a special forces kind of way. I wanted to
write about the Everyman and Everywoman's reaction to war and coming home from
war.
Kari& Autumn: What exciting projects are waiting in the wings?
Jessica:There's are two more books
in the Coming Home series as it stands right now. Laura & Trent's story is
coming along with Reza's story are both finished. Just waiting to find out
their fate:)
Kari& Autumn: Who is your favorite literary character and why?
Jessica:Oh that's a tough one.
Probably Lessa from Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern series.
Kari& Autumn: Just for fun, if you could be any animal, what would it be and
why?
Jessica:Totally a dragon. I mean who
wouldn't pick a dragon?
About Jess
Jessica Scott is a career army officer, mother of two
daughters, three cats and three dogs, wife to a career NCO and wrangler of all
things stuffed and fluffy. She is a terrible cook and even worse housekeeper,
but she's a pretty good shot with her assigned weapon and someone liked some of
the stuff she wrote. Somehow, her children are pretty well adjusted and her
husband still loves her, despite burned water and a messy house.
Oprah has called her. True story.
Her debut novel BECAUSE OF YOU launched Loveswept, the
first Random House digital imprint.
She's written for the New York Times At War Blog, PBS
Point of View Regarding War, and IAVA. She deployed to Iraq in 2009 as part of
OIF/New Dawn and is currently a company commander stationed at Fort Hood.
Most recently, she's been featured as one of Esquire
Magazine's Americans of the Year for 2012.
Author: Kaylin McFarren Publisher: Creative Edge Publishing Date f Publication: July 2012
Believing herself
responsible for her father’s fatal diving accident, Rachel Lyons has
withdrawn from the world and assumed a safe position at a foundation
office. When called upon by a museum director to assist her former love
interest with the recovery of a cursed relic from a sunken Chinese
merchant ship, she has no intention of cooperating – until her brother
is kidnapped by a drug-dealing gangster. In order to save him and gain
control over her life, Rachel must not only overcome her greatest fears,
but also relive the circumstances that lead to her father’s death.
Severed Threads is the first in a series involving treasure hunters Rachel Lyons and Chase Cohen. Rachel and Chase have a history. After Rachel's father died in a diving accident, Chase disappeared out of her life with no explanation. Now he is back asking for her help.
Overall, I did enjoy the story. Chase and Rachel have a great chemistry together. I did find myself rooting for them to get back together. The book has a lot of action and some mystery to it. I liked both as well as a few twists that were thrown into keep you guessing. The only thing I didn't enjoy about the book were the multiple side stories. I felt like there was too much going on and it made the book more convoluted than it needed to be. Ultimately, they slowed down the book for me. It looks like Severed Threads is the first in a trilogy, so I will be looking for the next book, Buried Threads, which is coming soon.
About the author:
Linda Yoshida, aka Kaylin McFarren, is a rare bird indeed. Not a migratory sort, she prefers to hug the West Coast and keep family within visiting range. Although she has virtually been around the world, she was born in California, relocated with her family to Washington, and nested with her husband in Oregon. In addition to playing an active role in his business endeavors, she has been involved in all aspects of their three daughters' lives - taxi duties, cheerleading coaching, script rehearsals, and relationship counseling, to name but a few. Now she enjoys spending undisciplined time with her two young grandsons and hopes to have many more.
Author: Sharon Cullen Publisher: Loveswept Date of Publication: February 11, 2013 Nicholas Addison, celebrated captain of the Blackwell Shipping Fleet, has agreed to take Mrs. Emmaline Sutherland aboard the Pride andferry the raven-haired beauty across the Atlantic on what he imagines will be a routine trip. But when the ship is attacked by pirates, the seemingly innocent passenger is revealed to be none other than the infamous marauder Lady Anne, whose name strikes fear in the hearts of sailors everywhere—and whose seductive wiles commandeers Nicholas’s affections. Doesn't everyone love a good pirate tale? Imagine a dashingly handsome pirate and a beautiful, dark haired beauty held captive on his ship. A tale filled with adventure, treasure and love on the high seas. Well, The Notorious Lady Anne certainly has adventure, treasure and love on the high seas. But, in an interesting twist, it contains a beautiful pirate and her handsome captive. Emmaline has taken on the persona of the pirate, Lady Anne, in order to seek revenge on the owner of Blackwell shipping. Nicholas Addison has been hired to command a ship in order to try and find out who keeps attacking their ships. I really liked this twist in the story. You don't often see a role reversal like this one. I loved Emmaline and Nicholas together. They are a perfect match for each other, they just don't see it at first. One of my favorite parts was the way Nicholas gets Emmaline to marry him. The story is well written with a couple of great twists and lots of adventure. I definitely recommend picking up this Loveswept offering. I haven't had the pleasure of reading any of Ms. Cullen's other books, but I know I'll be keeping my eye out for them.
