Thursday, June 28, 2018

Cursed by the Crown ~ Author Interview with Hanleigh Bradley


Today we're taking a few minutes to talk to Hanleigh Bradley about her upcoming release Cursed By The Crown. If you've not heard about the book yet, then you should definitely check it out. It's Hanleigh's first attempt at swapping genres. Instead of writing her usual Contemporary Romance, she's delving into a fantasy world where it's totally legit to have Seven mates.

Let's kick it off with a few questions about you, Hanleigh. Give us five words that you think describe you best.

Imaginative. Dreamer. Spontaneous. Silly. Ambitious.

What was the first book you ever wrote?

Broken Rules was the first book I ever published. I wrote that back in 2015. But before that I wrote under another name, writing Harry Potter fanfiction... yes, I was that geek. I wrote a whole load of stories. If you've ever read any of the Snitch of Secrets series... you've read my work and didn't even realise it.

Tell us about your current WIP.

I'm currently working on my second book in the Fate Series, Inexplicable Fate. It's a Romantic Suspense book; all serial killers and sexy arsed cops.

Do you have pets?

Two dogs; Manny and Missy. Although I secretly want to get a duck.

Talk to us about Cursed By The Crown. Rumour is you're very excited about this release...

My closest author friends say they've never seen me so excited about a book before. It's completely different to anything I've ever written before. It's still got all the juicy romance but it's so magical. It also incorporates some of the Asian themes I love so much. I'm currently learning Mandarin and so I've used my basic - very basic - understanding of some of the Asian languages to help me create the world Cursed By The Crown takes place in.

Tell us more! We want dets but no spoilers.

It focuses on the Kumari, or the Queen at the very beginning of her reign. She's in a bit of a rush to find her Seven mates to maintain magical stability.

Wow. Seven mates?

Yeah. That's quite a few, right? I was really excited to write about her seven mates. The challenge as an author of guaranteeing that their characters don't accidentally merge or that you don't diminish the others by focusing on one. To guarantee the stability of the realm she must choose seven mates, one from each of the seven tribes; Canku, Laoshi, Kumai, Dixia Muxue, Seom, Nun and Wenhe.

Do you have a favourite mate amongst the Seven?

Ewk. That's a question and a half. No and yes. I think Armel is really special because he's her first mate and I adore Maroo, but really, I'm not sure I can say they are my favourites. I love them all. They all have different strengths that make you love them.

Tell us about your female lead!

She's amazing. She's young and naive but she's also strong and independent. She thinks for herself and throughout the book you see her come into her own, especially with her mates support. Her name is Bae and she has fiery red hair and green eyes. I wanted her features to resemble magic. In this world magic is very corporal. It's not just something that you imagine is there, it's visible, at least to Bae. It's a silver fox - a Kitsune.

So, when can we read it?

The book is currently up for pre-order and will be released on the 1st of July.

Will there be another book?

At least three, if not five. The next book will be called Tainted By Prophecy.

You have a little giveaway for us all today, don't you?

Absolutely, you can all read the first two chapters for free today!



British Author with a world inside her head that insists on being put to paper.



Title: Cursed By The Crown
Release Date: 1st July 2018
Pre-order Price: $2.99
Release Week Price: $3.50
Normal Price: $4.00


Trust was a liberty that as Kumari, Bae could not afford, especially after the murder of Bae’s mother, the late Kumari.

The Kumari bloodline had to continue regardless of the cost, even if it was the life of someone she loved.

There were only two things that a Kumari should trust; magic and her seven mates.

The race was on for Bae to find and claim her seven mates before she would have to defend her realm from an unknown enemy.

With them, she still might not win, but alone she would definitely fail.



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Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Miss Etta by Deanna Lynn Sletten ~ Coming September 2018!! Preorder now!

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I love the story of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. It's one of my favorite movies. (Paul Newman, Robert Redford, and Katharine Ross) 

And if you follow my blog at all, you know I am a huge fan of Deanna's. I have read and loved all of her books. I'm super excited to see what she does with Miss Etta's story. ~ Susan

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I am very excited to share with you my upcoming novel, Miss Etta. I have been working on this novel for years...and now I'm finally able to share it with all of you. I'm also excited about the cover - created for me by the talented Deborah Bradseth of Tugboat Design. ~ Deanna Lynn Sletten

Be sure to read below about The Real Etta Place below.

Miss Etta: A Novel by Deanna Lynn Sletten
Historical Women's Fiction
Release Date: September 4, 2018

She rode with the most famous outlaws of her time. Then she vanished.

In the fall of 1895, Etta Place falls in love with Harry Longabaugh, alias the Sundance Kid. She gives up everything to follow him and his partner-in-crime, Butch Cassidy, in their outlaw life across the continent and beyond. Breathtakingly beautiful and every inch a lady, Etta can also ride and shoot as well as any man. As their fugitive life begins to crumble, she finds herself alone and living in a convent with her newborn son. Knowing she can’t hide away forever, she moves halfway across the country to begin anew. Etta prays her past won’t catch up with her.

In 1911 Emily Pleasants steps onto the train station platform of Pine Creek, Minnesota with a teacher’s contract in hand and a secret life she’s fled. A young widow with a small son, she’s searching for a safe place to raise her child where no one will recognize her. She meets Edward Sheridan, a successful merchant and bank owner, who quickly falls for her beauty, intelligence, and kindness. Still, she worries her notorious past will threaten the one thing dearest to her—her son.

From the deserts of Texas to the sweeping vistas of Wyoming, the refinement of New York City to the lush valleys of Argentina, Etta followed the outlaw men she loved so dearly. And then, she disappeared.

One woman, two separate lives. What became of the elusive Etta Place?

Now available for preorder - Miss Etta


Coming soon to paperback and audiobook.


The Real Etta Place

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Harry Longabaugh alias the Sundance Kid
and Etta Place

Etta Place was a real woman who was married to the notorious outlaw the Sundance Kid. From 1895 to 1907, she followed Sundance and Butch Cassidy, the leader of the Wild Bunch, along the Outlaw Trail and down to South America where the threesome tried to go straight. She was a young, beautiful woman who was said to be refined and mannered, even though she could shoot and ride as well as any man. No one knew her real name. She went by the alias Etta Place, but some thought her name was Ethel.

Sometime around 1906–1908, she disappeared. Some say that during that time, she died in a Denver hospital and Sundance went on a drunken brawl and shot up a bar before returning to South America. Others say she died in childbirth. Stories persist that she left Sundance for someone else, that she came back to America alone, or that she died in the final shootout in San Vincente, Bolivia where it was believed that Butch and Sundance died. In reality, no woman was killed during that shootout, and there has yet to be any evidence that Butch or Sundance died that day.

What became of Etta Place? No one knows. And that is what makes her story so interesting. Using a timeline of true events that are known, I create her past life with Butch and Sundance, while giving a fictional version of her life after she disappeared. Enjoy!

Author Bio

Deanna Lynn Sletten is the author of Maggie's Turn, Finding Libbie, One Wrong Turn, and several other titles. She writes heartwarming women’s fiction and romance novels with unforgettable characters. She has also written one middle-grade novel that takes you on the adventure of a lifetime. Deanna believes in fate, destiny, love at first sight, soul mates, second chances, and happily ever after, and her novels reflect that.

Deanna is married and has two grown children. When not writing, she enjoys walking the wooded trails around her home with her beautiful Australian Shepherd, traveling, and relaxing on the lake.

Deanna loves hearing from her readers. 
Connect with her here—


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Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Release Day! Before and Again by Barbara Delinsky

Happy Release Day!

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Before and Again

Before and Again
by Barbara Delinsky

Print and e-book, 416 pages
Published June 26th 2018 by St. Martin's Press

Mackenzie Cooper took her eyes off the road for just a moment but the resulting collision was enough to rob her not only of her beloved daughter but ultimately of her marriage, family, and friends—and thanks to the nonstop media coverage, even her privacy. Now she lives in Vermont under the name Maggie Reid, in a small house with her cats and dog. She’s thankful for the new friends she’s made—though she can’t risk telling them too much. And she takes satisfaction in working as a makeup artist at the luxurious local spa, helping clients hide the visible outward signs of their weariness, illnesses, and injuries. Covering up scars is a skill she has mastered.

Her only goal is to stay under the radar and make it through her remaining probation. But she isn’t the only one in this peaceful town with secrets. When a friend’s teenage son is thrust into the national spotlight, accused of hacking a powerful man’s Twitter account, Maggie is torn between pulling away and protecting herself—or stepping into the glare to be at their side. As the stunning truth behind their case is slowly revealed, Maggie’s own carefully constructed story begins to unravel as well. She knows all too well that what we need from each other in this difficult world is comfort. But to provide it, sometimes we need to travel far outside our comfort zones.

Before and Again is a story of the relationships we find ourselves in—mothers and daughters, spouses and siblings, true companions and fair-weather friends—and what kind of sacrifices we are or aren’t willing to make to sustain them through good times and bad.

     

Congratulations Barbara
 on the release today of
Before and Again!

I am currently reading Before and Again and am loving it, as I have loved all of Barbara's stories. She definitely has another hit on her hands. 

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About the author

Barbara Delinsky

I was born and raised in suburban Boston. My mother’s death, when I was eight, was the defining event of a childhood that was otherwise ordinary. I took piano lessons and flute lessons. I took ballroom dancing lessons. I went to summer camp through my fifteenth year (in Maine, which explains the setting of so many of my stories), then spent my sixteenth summer learning to type and to drive (two skills that have served me better than all of my other high school courses combined). I earned a B.A. in Psychology at Tufts University and an M.A. in Sociology at Boston College. The motivation behind the M.A. was sheer greed. My husband was just starting law school. We needed the money.

Following graduate school, I worked as a researcher with the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and as a photographer and reporter for the Belmont Herald. I did the newspaper work after my first son was born. Since I was heavily into taking pictures of him, I worked for the paper to support that habit. Initially, I wrote only in a secondary capacity, to provide copy for the pictures I took. In time, I realized that I was better at writing than photography. I used both skills doing volunteer work for hospital groups, and have served on the Board of Directors of the Friends of the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and on the MGH’s Women’s Cancer Advisory Board.

I became an actual writer by fluke. My twins were four when, by chance, I happened on a newspaper article profiling three female writers. Intrigued, I spent three months researching, plotting, and writing my own book - and it sold.

My niche? I write about the emotional crises that we face in our lives. Readers identify with my characters. They know them. They are them. I'm an everyday woman writing about everyday people facing not-so-everyday challenges.

My novels are character-driven studies of marriage, parenthood, sibling rivalry, and friendship, and I’ve been blessed in having readers who buy them eagerly enough to put them on the major bestseller lists. One of my latest, Sweet Salt Air, came out in 2013.  Blueprints, my second novel with St. Martin’s Press, became my 22nd New York Times bestselling novel soon after its release in June 2015.  Making Up, my work in progress, will be published in 2018.

2018? Yikes. I didn’t think I’d live that long. I thought I’d die of breast cancer back in the 1900's, like my mom. But I didn’t. I was diagnosed nearly twenty years ago, had surgery and treatment, and here I am, stronger than ever and loving having authored yet another book, this one the non-fiction Uplift: Secrets From the Sisterhood of Breast Cancer Survivors. First published in 2001, Uplift is a handbook of practical tips and upbeat anecdotes that I compiled with the help of 350 breast cancer survivors, their families and friends. These survivors just ... blew me away! They gave me the book that I wish I’d had way back when I was diagnosed. There is no medical information here, nothing frightening, simply practical advice from friends who’ve had breast cancer. The 10th Anniversary Volume of Uplift is now in print. And the money I’ve made on the book? Every cent has gone to my charitable foundation, which funds an ongoing research fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital. ~ Goodreads

Connect with Barbara

Website | Facebook | InstagramGoodreads | Twitter

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Monday, June 25, 2018

Cami Checketts' Final Echo Ridge Romance and Echo Ridge Romances $.99 Sale!

I have featured Cami Checketts' books here in the past as well as having read and reviewed some of them. She recently published her final Echo Ridge Romance, Counterfeit Date

All this week, all of her Echo Ridge Romance stories are on sale for only $.99!! 

Grab them while you can for this great price!! 


To capture Lolly's heart, Mason tricks her into helping him get ready for his dream date ... with her. 
Mason Turner only has eyes for Lolly Honeymiller. She's vivacious and hilarious and unfortunately thinks of him as her best friend's ex. Lolly's friends cook up a scheme: pretending Lolly is making him over for a special date with his dream girl. The more time he and Lolly spend together, the harder it is to keep his feelings a secret.

Lolly offers to help Mason Turner prepare for a date with his dream girl. Through makeovers, shopping, and practice kissing, she tries to keep her distance but finds herself falling for a man she can never have. As the date approaches, both wonder if they can keep things fake or if the farce will implode and shred both of their hearts.


Christmas Makeover: Echo Ridge Romance by [Checketts, Cami]

Chelsea Jamison has been infatuated with Drew Stirling longer than she's loved playing basketball, high-top sneakers, and the Knicks. Unfortunately, all Drew sees is the kid who kicked his trash in the high school free throw contest and not the girl whose heart breaks into a fast dribble when he's near.

Drew makes an unexpected visit home to Echo Ridge and their friendship picks up where they left off as they scheme to make a teenaged boy's Christmas dreams come true. When Chelsea realizes she's fallen for her best friend, she wonders if there is any hope of a relationship with Drew or if she's stuck in buddy-status for life.


Last of the Gentlemen: Echo Ridge Romance by [Checketts, Cami]

Despite the hardships she's faced, Emma Turner is determined to make a good life for her three children. Working nights and struggling through life doesn't leave much time for romance, which is just fine as far as Emma is concerned. But when her son's good-looking lacrosse coach takes an interest in her children, Emma has to fight off the smolder in her stomach and banish her daydreams. 

This schoolgirl crush needs to end before she embarrasses her son and herself. If only she could tell that to her heart.


My Best Man's Wedding: Echo Ridge Romance

Jessica Porter made a vow to marry her best guy friend, Josh, when they turned thirty. When Josh calls with the news that he's coming home to Echo Ridge for his wedding, Jessica is determined to break up the happy couple and take her rightful place as his bride. 

Gentry Trine, a coworker, agrees to pretend to be her fiancé to stir up feelings of jealousy. However, Jessica didn't realize fake fiancés could kiss like champions, and make a girl smile nonstop. Can she figure out which is the right man for her before she loses them both?


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Kaitlyn knows who she's destined to spend her life with, until superstar Axel Olsen turns her dreams upside down.

Kaitlyn Johanson is chosen by heartthrob, nationally-acclaimed lacrosse player, Axel Olsen, for a dream date. She didn't know a man touching her hand could feel like heaven, but she awkwardly blacks out then admits to him that she's in a relationship.

Kaitlyn comes home to Echo Ridge hoping to rekindle her relationship with her high school boyfriend, Mason. She never expects Axel to show up in her hometown, hosting a lacrosse camp with Mason and his stepdad.

When Axel steals her attention and possibly her heart from the man she is supposed to marry, she has to decide if she'll take a risk on new love or give old love a second chance.


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It's Monday! What Are You Reading? June 25, 2018


It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's an opportunity to visit other blogs and to comment on their reads. And ... you can add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date. And here we are!

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I'm four weeks out since my knee surgery. I'm kind of amazed at how slow the recovery has been for me. I've never had surgery before and thought I would be back to 'normal' a lot sooner than I have been. I guess the doctor knows what he's talking about when he told me to take 6 weeks off of work. And I guess having to miss 6 weeks of work in the summer time isn't necessarily a bad thing either, right?

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you all have a good week. Happy reading!

What I'm currently reading

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Before and Again
by Barbara Delinsky
I love her books and this one releases tomorrow!!

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Rattling the Heat in Deadwood 
(Deadwood #8)
by Ann Charles 
(audio-book)
I love this author and her Deadwood series. I attended a library event last week and got to meet her again.


What I recently finished

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A Man Called Ove
by Fredrik Backman
This was a reread for me for my book club. I love Ove!

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Bring Me Back
by B.A. Paris
Read my thoughts here.

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Heaven Adjacent
by Catherine Ryan Hyde
Another wonderful story by this fabulous author. Read my thoughts here.

What I am going to read next

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House of Belonging 
(Hesse Creek #3)
by Andrea Thome
I read and loved book 2 in this series. I'm excited to go back to that world.

I really love my reading life!

What are you reading this week?

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Sunday, June 24, 2018

Bring Me Back by B. A. Paris ~ My Thoughts #BringMeBack #NetGalley

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Bring Me Back

Bring Me Back by B.A. Paris 
Print and e-book, 336 pages
Published  June 19th 2018 by St. Martin's Press 

Finn and Layla are young, in love, and on vacation. They’re driving along the highway when Finn decides to stop at a service station to use the restroom. He hops out of the car, locks the doors behind him, and goes inside. When he returns Layla is gone—never to be seen again. That is the story Finn told to the police. But it is not the whole story.

Ten years later Finn is engaged to Layla’s sister, Ellen. Their shared grief over what happened to Layla drew them close and now they intend to remain together. Still, there’s something about Ellen that Finn has never fully understood. His heart wants to believe that she is the one for him...even though a sixth sense tells him not to trust her.

Then, not long before he and Ellen are to be married, Finn gets a phone call. Someone from his past has seen Layla—hiding in plain sight. There are other odd occurrences: Long-lost items from Layla’s past that keep turning up around Finn and Ellen’s house. Emails from strangers who seem to know too much. Secret messages, clues, warnings. If Layla is alive—and on Finn’s trail—what does she want? And how much does she know?

A tour de force of psychological suspense, Bring Me Back will have you questioning everything and everyone until its stunning climax.


My thoughts about Bring Me Back ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)

First line—"We were on our way back from skiing in Megève. I decided to stop in Paris on the way up as a surprise for Layla, because she had never been there before."

I don't know how this author does it, book after book, but Bring Me Back is another unbelievable, psychological thriller that made me dizzy with all the twists and turns in the story. I was guessing and then second-guessing myself, thinking I had it all figured out. And then when the end came, I was totally wrong on my guesses. I love when that happens. What an amazing story! 

I received an ARC of Bring Me Back from St. Martin's Press in exchange for my honest review. 

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About the author

B.A. Paris

B A Paris is the internationally bestselling author of Behind Closed Doors and The Breakdown. Having sold over one million copies in the UK alone, she is a New York Times bestseller as well as a number one bestseller on Amazon and iBooks. Her books have sold in 37 territories around the world. Having lived in France for many years, she recently moved back to the UK, and has five daughters.

Connect with B. A.

Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon

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Saturday, June 23, 2018

Book Spotlight Giveaway! The Girls from Ames by Jeffrey Zaslow


I have sooooo many books! The Book Spotlight Giveaway feature that I post every Saturday is a way for me to clear my shelves and to share some of the many books I have. This feature is a way for my to cull my collection and to give someone else the opportunity to enjoy these treasures.

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Good luck and be sure to stop back next week!

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The Girls from Ames

The Girls from Ames: A Story of Women and a Forty-Year Friendship by Jeffrey Zaslow
Paperback, 352 pages
Published April 6th 2010 by Avery

The instant New York Times bestseller, now in paperback: a moving tribute to female friendships, with the inspiring story of eleven girls and the ten women they became, from the coauthor of the million-copy bestseller The Last Lecture

As children, they formed a special bond, growing up in the small town of Ames, Iowa. As young women, they moved to eighth different states, yet they managed to maintain an extraordinary friendship that would carry them through college and careers, marriage and motherhood, dating and divorce, the death of a child, and the mysterious death of the eleventh member of their group. Capturing their remarkable story, The Girls from Ames is a testament to the enduring, deep bonds of women as they experience life's challenges, and the power of friendship to overcome even the most daunting odds. 

The girls, now in their forties, have a lifetime of memories in common, some evocative of their generation and some that will resonate with any woman who has ever had a friend. The Girls from Ames demonstrates how close female relationships can shape every aspect of women's lives-their sense of themselves, their choice of men, their need for validation, their relationships with their mothers, their dreams for their daughters-and reveals how such friendships thrive, rewarding those who have committed to them. With both universal events and deeply personal moments, it's a book that every woman will relate to and be inspired by. 

    

About the author


Through his Wall Street Journal column and bestselling books, Jeffrey Zaslow has told the stories of some of the most inspirational people of our time.

The Last Lecture, written with Randy Pausch, has been translated into 48 languages, and was #1 on best-seller lists worldwide. Five million copies have been sold in English alone, and the book has remained on The New York Times best-seller list for more than 112 weeks.

In 2011, Jeff collaborated with Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and her husband, veteran astronaut Mark Kelly, on their memoir, GABBY: A Story of Courage and Hope. The book was launched with a cover story in People magazine, and an hour-long ABC TV special hosted by Diane Sawyer. GABBY debuted near the top of the New York Times bestseller lists for both hardcovers and e-books.

Jeff’s 2009 book about female friendship, The Girls From Ames, spent 26 weeks on The New York Times list, rising to #3. People magazine named it one of the “Ten Best Books of the Year.” Lifetime Television is adapting the book for a movie.

Also in 2009, Jeff coauthored Highest Duty, the memoir of Capt. “Sully” Sullenberger, who famously landed US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River. Highest Duty debuted at # 3 on The New York Times list.

Jeff’s final book, The Magic Room: A story about the love we wish for our daughters, was published in January 2012. The nonfiction narrative is set at a small-town Michigan bridal shop, and looks at the lives of a handful of brides (and their parents) who’ve journeyed to the store’s “Magic Room.”

Jeff died on February 10, 2012, at age 53 in a car accident while on tour promoting, The Magic Room. ~ Goodreads




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Thursday, June 21, 2018

A Sister's Place by Savannah Page ~ My Thoughts

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A Sister's Place

A Sister's Place by Savannah Page
Print and e-book, 400 pages
Published February 14th 2017 by Lake Union Publishing

Sometimes the friend you’ve always needed is the sister you’ve always had.

Throughout the years, sisters Gracie and Juliette Bennett have let life’s changes pull them in opposite directions. But when their beloved grandmother Mimi passes away, they’re drawn back together in the most unexpected way. Set to inherit the family home, a charming Craftsman with an overgrown garden and lush fruit trees near the beach in Santa Barbara, the estranged sisters learn there’s a catch: the house can be theirs, but only if they agree to live in it for one year—together.

Suddenly Gracie, a pragmatic paralegal who’s always stayed close to home, and Juliette, an intrepid recent NYU grad in search of the next thrill, are living under one roof. Forced to reexamine their relationship, they find themselves confronting their pasts and bonding over love, heartbreak, and deeply held secrets. Soon they’ll discover whether a sister’s love is what they need to get them through their darkest hours—and if their grandmother’s clever plan can preserve more than just a piece of family history. It just might preserve the friendship of a lifetime…and reveal the sisters and women they were always meant to be. 

     

My thoughts about A Sister's Place ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)

First line—"Dear Gracie and Juliette, This is both a time of endings and a time of new beginnings. This is the first of five—five letters, five seasons. And this is also the last—the last of my letters, the last of my time here on earth."

This story starts off with emotion. Gracie and Juliette are reading a letter from their grandmother Mimi, who recently passed away. Mimi places a challenge before them. They can claim ownership of the family home—if they live in it together for one year. Gracie and Juliette are sisters who are as different as night and day and this will definitely challenge them. But they do it for Mimi. 

As we witness the seasons pass, the sisters go through their ups and downs where they sometimes wonder if they can make it a year. Their relationship grows and changes as they struggle to find the sisterly closeness they once had. And when life throws them a curve ball, will they be there for each other? 

I enjoyed A Sister's Place as I watched the sisters work though their personality conflicts and learn to live with each other. I have to admit that at times the story seemed to move along kind of slow as the year passed for them. It ended on a high note as they finally figure out that family is the most important thing. 

I received a copy of A Sister's Place from Goodreads in exchange for my honest review. 

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About the author

Savannah Page

Savannah Page is the author of Everything the Heart Wants, A Sister's Place, and the When Girlfriends series, heartfelt women's fiction. Sprinkled with drama and humor, her writing celebrates friendship, love, and life.

A native Southern Californian, Savannah lives in Berlin, Germany, with her husband, their goldendoodle, and her collection of books.

Savannah loves to hear from readers, so feel free to shoot her an email, stop by her Website, or connect with her on Facebook and Instagram!

Connect with Savannah


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Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Announcing the 2018 Reader Survey ~ Please Participate!



Discovering reader preferences, habits and attitudes – Announcing the 2018 Reader Survey … by M.K. Tod, Heather Burch and Patricia Sands

Readers and writers – a symbiotic relationship. Ideas spark writers to create stories and build worlds and characters for readers’ consumption. Readers add imagination and thought to interpret those stories, deriving meaning and enjoyment in the process. A story is incomplete without both reader and writer.

What then do readers want? What constitutes a compelling story? How do men and women differ in their preferences? Where do readers find recommendations? How do readers share their book experiences?

ANNOUNCING A 2018 READER SURVEY designed to solicit input on these topics and others.

Please take the survey and share the link https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/68HL6F2 with friends and family via email or your favourite social media. Robust participation across age groups, genders, and countries will make this year’s survey – the 4th – even more significant.

Participate by clicking this link. Those who take the survey will be able to sign up to receive a summary report when it becomes available.

M.K. (Mary) Tod writes historical fiction. Her latest novel, Time and Regret was published by Lake Union. Fellow authors Patricia Sands and Heather Burch helped design and plan the survey. Mary can be contacted on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads or on her blog A Writer of History.



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Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Release Day! Heaven Adjacent by Catherine Ryan Hyde ~ My Thoughts #HeavenAdjacent #NetGalley

Happy Release Day!

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Heaven Adjacent

Heaven Adjacent by Catherine Ryan Hyde
Print and e-book, 316 pages
Published June 19th 2018 by Lake Union Publishing

From New York Times bestselling author Catherine Ryan Hyde comes a bittersweet novel about healing old wounds and finding a new place to call home…

Roseanna Chaldecott spent her life as a high-powered lawyer in Manhattan. But when her best friend and law partner dies suddenly, something snaps. Unsure of her future, Roseanna heads upstate on one tank of gas and with no plans to return.

In the foothills of the Adirondacks, Roseanna discovers the perfect hideout in a ramshackle farm. Its seventy-six acres are rich with possibilities and full of surprises, including a mother and daughter squatting on the property. Although company is the last thing Roseanna wants, she reluctantly lets them stay.

Roseanna and the young girl begin sculpting junk found around the farm into zoo animals, drawing more newcomers—including her estranged son, Lance. He pleads with Roseanna to return to the city, but she’s finally discovered where she belongs. It may not provide the solitude she originally sought, but her heart has found room for much more.

     

Congratulations Catherine
 on the release today of
Heaven Adjacent!

My thoughts about Heaven Adjacent ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)

First line—"Rosanna was standing under the barley warm water in her tiny, cold makeshift shower when the bell at the gate began to clang."

I just absolutely love Catherine's stories and the wisdom that she shares. Her stories are always filled with normal, down-to-earth people who struggle through life but come out better in the end. She always fills her stories with life lessonslessons we could all learn from. 

Heaven Adjacent is a thought provoking look at a woman who decides she is done with her current life and sets out to find her little piece of heaven on earth. As her new life evolves, is this really what her idea of heaven is? She was looking for peace and quiet. Can her life be filled with people and still be what she's looking for?

As I was reading this wonderful story, I couldn't help thinking that maybe the wisdom imparted here should spread like Catherine's 'pay it forward' did. We should all look for what makes us happy and strive for that little peace of heaven on earth, like Roseanna did.

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About the author


I am the author of more than 30 published and forthcoming books, including ALLIE AND BEA, SAY GOODBYE FOR NOW, LEAVING BLYTHE RIVER, ASK HIM WHY, WORTHY, THE LANGUAGE OF HOOFBEATS, TAKE ME WITH YOU, WHERE WE BELONG, WHEN I FOUND YOU, WALK ME HOME, SECOND HAND HEART, DON'T LET ME GO, and WHEN YOU WERE OLDER. 

I'm an avid hiker, traveler, equestrian, and amateur photographer, and have released my first book of photos, 365 DAYS OF GRATITUDE: PHOTOS FROM A BEAUTIFUL WORLD.

I am co-author, with fellow author and publishing industry blogger Anne R. Allen, of HOW TO BE A WRITER IN THE E-AGE: A SELF-HELP GUIDE.

My novel PAY IT FORWARD was adapted into a major motion picture, chosen by the American Library Association for its Best Books for Young Adults list, and translated into more than 23 languages for distribution in over 30 countries. The paperback was released in October 2000 by Pocket Books and quickly became a national bestseller. Simon & Schuster released PAY IT FORWARD: YOUNG READERS' EDITION in August of '14. It is suitable for kids as young as eight. A special Fifteenth Anniversary Edition of the original PAY IT FORWARD was released in December of '14. ~ Goodreads

Connect with Catherine

Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter

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