Merry Christmas!

As Santa's little helper, I'm a bit busy this week. Still, I wanted to take a moment to thank all of you for your loyal readership and to wish everyone a blessed Christmas. Here are a few of my holiday favorites. Hope you'll share yours, too.

Guest Blogger: Elizabeth Collums, Author of Passengers

During the Great Irish Famine the Ewing family made their way from their rural cottage to the village of Highland Way. Annie, the oldest daughter was left to care for her mother and younger sister after her father left to find work in Dublin.

A mysterious letter arrives from America forcing Annie, Lily, and Katy into a harrowing journey. The hand written note not only will expose deep secrets, it will also challenge the strength and fortitude of the Ewing women, leading each member into their own soul searching voyage.

Follow this extraordinary passage that begins in Ireland and leads each woman to uncover their own courage and truths in this new world.

GUEST POST

What I wanted to be when I grew up was never addressed in my house. My dad was gone a lot as a truck driver trying to scratch out a living for us so my mom was my only companion. I called myself an unaccompanied minor long before that phrase was popular. Because, you see, physically she was in the house, but mentally she was in her own world. Maybe she still had an emotional hangover from The Great Depression that she often dwelled on or it could have been the dark cloud of the Vietnam War that overshadowed any thought of dreams or celebrations in our home. My mom worried for years that my brother would be drafted and then she stayed in a deep depression when he was and then she didn’t want to let him go when he came home alive and well. She was so consumed with bitterness of the past and worry of the future she didn’t make room for living her life much less mine.

So, I made every feeble attempt behind my closed bedroom door to reach for my own stars with my dog, Pete, and every stuffed or plastic creature I owned. Public speaking? No problem. I had spent countless hours practicing my very own interview with Johnny Carson in front of my dresser mirror. Sewing? No problem. I taught myself how to sew by making clothes for my dolls. Writing? Again no problem. Whatever the teachers assigned, I did double what they asked for. My room was my sanctuary. However, nothing my parents did or didn’t do could keep me from putting my best foot forward to get out and on my way.

I think so often how sad for my mom that she spent most of her life looking down and missed out on the journey. That’s what life is. One event after another. I’ve had more than my share of making stupid decisions, as well as experiencing personal triumphs. I’ve been married, had children, grandchildren, widowed and emptied nested. I’ve worked at jobs ranging from cleaning houses to postal work. And it’s been the most colorful, aggravating, heartbreaking, joyous, challenging, earth shaking, blessed life I could’ve ever imagined. And I have never been alone. God always sent the right person at the right time, as long as I was looking up.

My bucket list is long. Publish my book, travel to Ireland, United Kingdom, see penguins and pandas up close and personal, learn how to ride a horse, master a pottery wheel.....and the list goes on and on. I don’t ever want to forget to dream, learn, explore and yes, I still play make believe. Every time I look in the mirror, I still see that little girl from the reflection of this sixty-one year old, young woman.

ORDER YOUR COPY OF PASSENGERS HERE

Ann C. Purvis, chose to publish her first novel under her birth name, Elizabeth Collums; this is her true roots and where she has drawn from many of the experiences she wrote about. She lives in Denham Springs, Louisiana and enjoys DIY projects. She has two daughters, a step daughter, son-in-law, two amazing granddaughters, and her dog Daisy.

Facebook Address: https://www.facebook.com/ann.purvis.754
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18639299.Elizabeth_Collums

"Waiting On" Wednesday: Shelter by Jung Yun

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My pick for this week is:

You can never know what goes on behind closed doors.

One of The Millions' Most Anticipated Books of the Year (Selected by Edan Lepucki)

Kyung Cho is a young father burdened by a house he can’t afford. For years, he and his wife, Gillian, have lived beyond their means. Now their debts and bad decisions are catching up with them, and Kyung is anxious for his family’s future.

A few miles away, his parents, Jin and Mae, live in the town’s most exclusive neighborhood, surrounded by the material comforts that Kyung desires for his wife and son. Growing up, they gave him every possible advantage―private tutors, expensive hobbies―but they never showed him kindness. Kyung can hardly bear to see them now, much less ask for their help. Yet when an act of violence leaves Jin and Mae unable to live on their own, the dynamic suddenly changes, and he’s compelled to take them in. For the first time in years, the Chos find themselves living under the same roof. Tensions quickly mount as Kyung’s proximity to his parents forces old feelings of guilt and anger to the surface, along with a terrible and persistent question: how can he ever be a good husband, father, and son when he never knew affection as a child?

As Shelter veers swiftly toward its startling conclusion, Jung Yun leads us through dark and violent territory, where, unexpectedly, the Chos discover hope. Shelter is a masterfully crafted debut novel that asks what it means to provide for one's family and, in answer, delivers a story as riveting as it is profound.

Interview: Peter Murphy, Author of Born & Bred

Peter Murphy was born in Killarney where he spent his first three years before his family was deported to Dublin, the Strumpet City.

Growing up in the verdant braes of Templeogue, Peter was schooled by the De La Salle brothers in Churchtown where he played rugby for ‘The Wine and Gold’. He also played football (soccer) in secret!

After that, he graduated and studied the Humanities in Grogan’s under the guidance of Scot’s corner and the bar staff; Paddy, Tommy and Sean.

Murphy financed his education by working summers on the building sites of London in such places as Cricklewood, Camden Town and Kilburn.

Murphy also tramped the roads of Europe playing music and living without a care in the world. But his move to Canada changed all of that. He only came over for a while – thirty years ago. He took a day job and played music in the bars at night until the demands of family life intervened. Having raised his children and packed them off to University, Murphy answered the long ignored internal voice and began to write.

He has no plans to make plans for the future and is happy to let things unfold as they do anyway.


Visit Peter online at www.peterdamienmurphy.com

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in a nice respectable suburb on the south side of Dublin, Ireland. It was the type of place you would imagine that children would be happy in but in my late teens, I wandered downtown in search of the places where my literary heroes had roamed. I found them and spent the next few years absorbing the atmosphere that still lingers.

When did you begin writing?

Growing up, I was strongly encouraged to read and write. As a lovelorn teen I wrote poetry and songs and became a bit of a troubadour for a while. Later, after I moved to Canada and became busy raising a family, I stole a few hours, here and there, to write short stories—some of which were not too bad. A few years back I got cashed-out of a job that I had grown very tired of and decided to start doing what really made me happy—writing.

Do you write during the day, at night or whenever you can sneak a few moments?

I find the evenings are best for writing and I spend the day editing and reworking the previous day’s work. Reshaping it always gets me in the mood to take another plunge forward.

What is this book about?

It is the story of Danny Boyle, a pious and innocent child who gets waylaid by the storms of the world around him. His granny, a formidable and influential dowager, raised him to be good but when she dies, all of her secrets come tumbling out and shatter everything Danny believed in. Lost and confused, he gets involved with the drug scene and gets duped into leaving his fingerprints on a murder weapon. But his family still has powerful friends who are prepared to move Heaven and Earth to save him, only, even that might not be enough.

What inspired you to write it?

A few years ago, I was having dinner with family in Dublin when the talk turned to the recent murder of an alleged drug-dealer. Everyone voiced reasonable and insightful opinions and it set the wheels in motion. Even the greatest villains among us begin life as babies and I wanted to explore what might have happened along the way.

Who is your favorite character from the book?

Danny Boyle’s grandmother, Nora. She seems so self-assured at first and doesn’t hesitate to put everyone in their place. She does what she believes has to be done and pays her penance forward. But, as the story unfolds, her certainty is tested and Nora is forced to look at things differently.

Was the road to publication smooth sailing or a bumpy ride?

Notwithstanding that the whole process can feel like it moves at glacial pace, I have been very fortunate. I found someone, my editor Lou Aronica, who saw something in my writing and has spared no effort to coax me along. Initially, some of his opinions ruffled my feathers but he has been proven right. Because of that I get to do my part—write—and trust that the rest will be well taken care of. Writing, publishing and reader’s reactions all make for a bit of a rollercoaster ride but what part of life isn’t?

If you knew then, what you know now, is there anything you would have done differently?

No because all of that led to this. I spent over 3 years working on my first novel, Lagan Love, and have managed to produce the first 2 books of Life & Times; Born & Bred and Wandering in Exile in 2. What I am learning along the way is to avoid filling pages with anything that is not central to the story—a practice that can only be improved by making mistakes along the way.

Where can readers purchase a copy of your book?

Amazon: http://www.amazon.ca/Born-Bred-Peter-Murphy/dp/1611881161

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/born-bred-peter-murphy/1116303578

Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/born-bred/id755632981

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/born-bred

Local Bookstores: http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781611881165

Chapters/Indigo: http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/born-bred/9781611881165-item.html?ikwid=peter+murphy+born+%26+bred

Ben McNally Books: http://www.benmcnallybooks.com/?q=events/fine_print_presents_born_and_bred_peter_murphy

What is one piece of advice you would like to share with aspiring authors everywhere?

Write, write, and write. Like anything else, it gets easier with practice.

What is up next for you?

I have been working 10 to 12 hours a day for 3 years and when the 3rd book, All Roads, is done, I need to take some time to attend to the rest of my life. I need a haircut and I need to get organized for my move to Portugal. I tell myself I must take a few months off but, already, I’m playing with a few new ideas!

Is there anything you would like to add?

Yes, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to talk about my work.

Book Spotlight: The Rent Collector by Camron Wright

Survival for Ki Lim and Sang Ly is a daily battle at Stung Meanchey, the largest municipal waste dump in all of Cambodia. They make their living scavenging recyclables from the trash. Life would be hard enough without the worry for their chronically ill child, Nisay, and the added expense of medicines that are not working. Just when things seem worst, Sang Ly learns a secret about the ill-tempered rent collector who comes demanding money--a secret that sets in motion a tide that will change the life of everyone it sweeps past. The Rent Collector is a story of hope, of one woman’s journey to save her son and another woman’s chance at redemption. It demonstrates that even in a dump in Cambodia--perhaps especially in a dump in Cambodia--everyone deserves a second chance.

Purchase at: http://deseretbook.com/Rent-Collector-Camron-Wright/i/5108645

Camron Wright has a master’s degree in Writing and Public Relations. He has owned several

successful retail stores, in addition to working with his wife in the fashion industry, designing for the McCall Pattern Company in New York. He currently works in public relations, marketing and design.

Camron began writing to get out of attending MBA School and it proved the better decision. Letters for Emily was a “Readers Choice” award winner, as well as a selection of the Doubleday Book Club and the Literary Guild. In addition to North America, Letters for Emily was published in several foreign countries.

He lives with his wife, Alicyn, in Utah, at the base of the Wasatch mountains and is the proud father of four children.

Learn more at http://www.therentcollectorbook.com/about.htm

The Rockin' Chair by Steven Manchester is an Amazon Editor's Pick for the Month of September

During the month of September, you can purchase the Kindle version of Steven Manchester's The Rockin' Chair for only $1.99!

Memories are the ultimate contradiction. They can warm us on our coldest days – or they can freeze a loved one out of our lives forever. The McCarthy family has a trove of warm memories. Of innocent first kisses. Of sumptuous family meals. Of wondrous lessons learned at the foot of a rocking chair. But they also have had their share of icy ones. Of words that can never be unsaid. Of choices that can never be unmade. Of actions that can never be undone.

Following the death of his beloved wife, John McCarthy – Grandpa John – calls his family back home. It is time for them to face the memories they have made, both warm and cold. Only then can they move beyond them and into the future.

A rich portrait of a family at a crossroad, THE ROCKIN' CHAIR is Steven Manchester’s most heartfelt and emotionally engaging novel to date. If family matters to you, it is a story you must read.

PURCHASE HERE!

First Chapter Review: The Rockin' Chair by Steven Manchester

The first chapter of The Rockin' Chair by Steven Manchester was sent to me by the author. This book is available for pre-order at Amazon.

BLURB:  Memories are the ultimate contradiction. They can warm us on our coldest days – or they can freeze a loved one out of our lives forever. The McCarthy family has a trove of warm memories. Of innocent first kisses. Of sumptuous family meals. Of wondrous lessons learned at the foot of a rocking chair. But they also have had their share of icy ones. Of words that can never be unsaid. Of choices that can never be unmade. Of actions that can never be undone.

Following the death of his beloved wife, John McCarthy – Grandpa John – calls his family back home. It is time for them to face the memories they have made, both warm and cold. Only then can they move beyond them and into the future.

A rich portrait of a family at a crossroad, THE ROCKIN' CHAIR is Steven Manchester’s most heartfelt and emotionally engaging novel to date. If family matters to you, it is a story you must read.

COVER: I love it. All of the covers of Steven's books have been nice. I was looking through them at his publisher's website and see they all have a chair in them. Not sure what that's supposed to mean, but here it works well because of the title and because of the rustic feel that speaks to the setting.

FIRST CHAPTER: As Alice hides herself, her memories wander from the days of her childhood to the days when she is gray-haired and liver-spotted. But then Elle shows up and tells her it's time to go home.

KEEP READING: This is a tough one for me, because I was fairly confused through most of the first chapter. I've already read some of Manchester's work, so I know he can deliver. I feel the opening chapter is intentionally vague to relay the confusion Alice feels as she sits waiting in terror. She appears to be suffering from dementia, though that is not stated. I can only guess based upon the last paragraph of the chapter. Manchester offers the reader a lot of emotion in this opener, which is not surprising because he writes about family ties. I would definitely continue for at least another chapter, because I feel once I understand exactly what is happening, I'll be eager to continue.


Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Story Plant, The (June 18, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 161188067X
ISBN-13: 978-1611880670


I received the first chapter of this book from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, for which I have not been compensated in any way.

Sneak Peek: The Past Defines Chapter One - #BeNotorious Blog Tour Day Six

Sneak Peek: The Past Defines Chapter One - #BeNotorious Blog Tour Day Six

Welcome to Day Six of the #BeNotorious Blog Tour! We are revving up to the release of the highly anticipated sequel of Katie Jennings’ family drama When Empires Fall, aptly named Rise of the Notorious!

Follow along on this notorious blog tour from April 2^nd till release day on April 23^rd, and be sure to enter the giveaway for a chance to win some AMAZING prizes!

Today’s stop is a sneak peek at Chapter One of Rise of the Notorious. A true blast from the past, learn just one of the many dark and dirty secrets of the Vasser family in this tempting excerpt! Enjoy!

* * *

CHAPTER ONE
United States Army
Criminal Investigation Division
Quantico, Virginia
October 2, 1944

While the world destroyed itself with war thousands of miles away, Paul Morgan sat back comfortably in his desk chair and smiled. He had, thanks to his well-connected father, avoided the overseas conflict. It wasn’t that he couldn’t handle the violence of war or that he was anything less than a true patriot, he just felt his unique skill set was better suited on the home front. And with war crimes on the rise, how could anyone say that he was anything less than necessary?
His job was a simple one. He was a military man who brought other military men to justice.
One thing he knew without a shadow of a doubt was that war was hell. But regardless of this fact, America still expected her men of arms to maintain civility. It was his job to take the cases that were forwarded on from the commanders overseas and see to it that the soldiers who committed war crimes be dealt with accordingly.
It was a job his training as a New York City police officer had primed him for before he had enlisted in the Army to help fight the war. Only, after boot camp, his father had insisted on his removal from the general ranks and his placement in the CID as a warrant officer. It wasn’t the position he had been looking for, but now that he was here he couldn’t be happier.
While the friends he had made in basic training died bloody deaths upon foreign soil, he rested comfortably in Quantico, ready to investigate them if they made a mistake. Sure, it gave him some sleepless nights, but it would be foolish of him to regret his good fortune.
Not that he didn’t have other regrets, of course. In fact, it was becoming much too difficult to not regret one, nagging little thing in particular.
It was the inconvenient string that had come attached to the woman he had decided to marry three years earlier. Not that he had known at the time that this string would be a burden; he had married her in part for this important string.
His wife was affluent…very affluent. Her great uncle had created an American empire, one that had grown into a flourishing, world-renowned business. One that shined like a beacon on the hill for all to admire and envy, eager to feel even some small part of its glory.
It was an empire that was not only monumental, but magnificent and respected.
It was an empire of hotels. The Vasser Hotels.
When he had married her, she had carried the prestigious name Vasser. Now, it appeared that name was going to haunt him until the day he died.
The phone call had come unexpectedly days earlier, an unwarranted intrusion of the quiet peace of his work environment. It had shattered his resolve, weakened his confidence, and shaken him to the core. How could they ask this of him? How dare they even assume he would play a willing role in the cover up of something so undeniably heinous?
Yet they had demanded it. Who was he to deny the whims of a force he had no hope of defeating?
His earlier smile faded as sweat began to bead on his forehead. He wiped it away nervously with the handkerchief from the breast pocket of his suit jacket, his nearly colorless blue eyes darting to the door of his office. Any minute now that wench would walk in, primed for their scheduled appointment. What he wouldn’t give to throttle her for what she was making him do.
What she was giving him no choice but to do.
Lazy afternoon sunlight poured in from the window at his back and highlighted the auburn of his neatly combed hair. It pierced through the half open blinds so that slats of light shone golden on the white wall across from him. Decorating the wall were his awards, achievements, and family photographs. He turned his eyes away from the photograph of his Major General father, feeling sick to his stomach.
If he got caught then it was all over. Everything. He was a doomed man if this ever, ever came back to him. He just had to pray with everything he had that the Vassers had the situation on their end under control. If that man ever killed again…Paul shuddered to even think of it.
Blood was going to be on his hands now. Blood of men he had never met, distant relatives of the wife he should have never married. Damn the Vasser name for carrying its prestige and allure. Damn them all for forcing his hand on this godforsaken cover up!
A sharp, brisk knock on his office door had his heart stalling in his chest. Struggling for words, he attempted to clear the sudden lump in his throat and remove the fear from his expression. He’d be damned if the Vasser woman knew he feared her…
“Come in.” Paul watched as the door slid open and the woman entered, all long, slender legs and vivid red silk. Her golden hair was perfectly styled to curl around her softly angular face, her expression coldly detached and ruthless. It was like the devil himself had just ascended from Hell disguised as an angel, ready to collect his due.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Morgan. So nice to finally meet you,” Stella Vasser purred, her lips curving into a cat-like grin as she shut the door at her back and faced him, her dark coat draped over her arm. “I appreciate you agreeing to see me to discuss the matter at hand. My family will be eager to learn what the status is on the investigation.”
“Don’t play coy with me,” Paul growled, slamming his fist down upon his metal desk in a wave of sudden fury. “I know why you’re really here.”
Stella’s grin remained, but her expression notably hardened. Her eyes of rich cobalt examined him as a spider would a fly trapped in its web. Oh, and what a web she had weaved. Until she had this particular little fly snared and secure, her husband and her family faced terrible consequences for what had been done. For what Cyrus had done…
“I know you do. However all pretenses must be carefully maintained.” She sauntered forward on sharp heels and took a seat gracefully in one of the armchairs facing his desk. Folding her hands primly in her lap over her coat and purse, she eyed him once more. “My husband anxiously awaits his flight back from France.”
“He should have died there,” Paul spat viciously, his earlier fear subsiding as his anger over the whole situation boiled over and claimed him.
Stella’s stunning red lips curled into an angry snarl. “How dare you say such a vile thing?”
“How dare he commit such vile acts?” Paul cried out, the urge to jump to his feet and leave her and the whole mess behind exploding through him.
“His reasons are none of your concern,” she replied through gritted teeth, eyes flashing dangerously. “I don’t expect you to understand.”
Paul forced himself to be calm, sucking in deep breaths through his nose in an attempt to quell the uneasiness and anger coursing through his veins. The nerve of these people…
“So what exactly would you like me to do?” he asked finally, avoiding her eyes. Such cold eyes…he had never met the husband, but he must be a crazy bastard to marry a woman like this. It irked him that despite everything else about her, he couldn’t deny that she was one of the most beautiful creatures he had ever laid eyes upon.
And when she smiled at him with all that ruthless power in her eyes, it made him feel a foot tall.
“I want you to bury it.”
He laughed, a dark, forced cackle that was borderline hysterical. “You think it’s just that easy?”
“Of course it is. You’re in charge, are you not?”
“Damnit, woman, this is the Army!” He threw his hands up into the air, exasperated as he glared at her again. “Incidents of this magnitude do not just get brushed aside!”
“Sure they do.” Stella stared him down with all of the conviction she could muster. She had to hold strong, had to protect her husband. She was his only shot. “This is war, Mr. Morgan. Men die. Record the deaths as casualties of war and we will be done with this.”
“And what of the evidence, Mrs. Vasser? It is already a matter of record, as are the witness statements and the commander’s report.” Paul reached for a manila folder at his side, thrusting it across the desk. It landed before her and she eyed it with amusement.
“It is your word that determines the fate of my husband, not the evidence nor the witness statements. If you choose not to pursue this investigation, then it will be filed away, never to be looked upon again. That is all I ask of you.”
“And what happens when it is discovered that I covered up one of the most heinous war crimes committed against fellow American soldiers in the history of the Army?” he asked, the heat in his voice mixing with a bitterness he couldn’t shake. “Will my wife’s family somehow protect me when it’s my head on the chopping block?”
“We take care of our own,” Stella replied easily, her head tilting to the side as she smirked at him. “At least those who serve our purpose.”
A cold chill settled in his gut at her words, sending a shiver down his spine. He didn’t need to ask what was done with those, even inside the family, who did not serve their purpose. There were three dead bodies being shipped back from France who would be a testament to that violent truth.
“Then consider it done.” He settled back against his chair, numb now to the fear, to the anger. There was nothing he could do; he couldn’t refuse her request. If the Vasser family fell under the weight of this horror, his wife and consequently he would fall with them. It was a connection he despised, and yet could not ignore.
He, by all association, was a part of the Vasser family. As a limb of the empire, roped by a foolish little string attached by marriage, he had now become an unwitting player in the elaborate cover up staged by Cyrus Vasser and his cunning wife, Stella. It was one that she had assured him the rest of the family was completely unaware of, which only made the truth that much easier to keep hidden. He wondered briefly how Cyrus Vasser’s parents would react if they ever learned that he had murdered his own brothers in cold blood, all so that he could assume control over the family empire. He had to pray that day would never come, for all their sakes.
Stella rose to her feet, extending her hand to his. “Thank you, Mr. Morgan. I will inform my in-laws that the deaths have been ruled an accidental consequence of war. You have mine and my husband’s sincerest appreciation. We will not forget this.”
He stared at her hand blankly for a moment before accepting it and rising from his seat.
“Have a safe trip back to New York, Mrs. Vasser,” he said dully, watching as she turned and swept from the room, the scent of her sultry perfume lingering in the air. He shuddered once as he sank back into his chair.
He was right when he realized this moment would haunt him for the rest of his life. Only what he didn’t know at the time was that it would even further haunt, and even attempt to destroy, the life of his unborn son.
If he had known that then, perhaps he would have crashed and burned with the truth instead of covering for it. It would have been the noble thing to do.

* * *

Rise of the Notorious

By International Bestselling Author

Katie Jennings

Coming April 23, 2013

Click HERE to Enter the Giveaway!

Don't forget, you get an extra entry for each blog you comment on during the tour!

Giveaway runs from April 2nd until April 24th. The winners will be announced here on this blog and will be contacted via email.

Good luck!

Meet Katie Jennings…

International bestselling Author Katie Jennings is the author of six full length novels, including the popular fantasy series The Dryad Quartet as well as the bestselling family drama series The Vasser Legacy.

She lives in sunny Southern California with her husband and cat, who both think she’s the biggest nerd ever. She’s a firm believer in happy endings and loves nothing more than a great romance novel.

You can find out more about Katie on her official website, www.katieajennings.com.

The Book Connection's Best Books of 2012

It's time to list my top ten favorite books of the year. My taste in books remains fairly consistent, with mysteries, Christian fiction, thrillers, and historicals being my favorites. This year, I expanded a bit to include Amish fiction to my regular reads, and branched out to read dystopian fiction, a speculative fiction book and a space western novella. I should note, this list only contains fiction.  Though I did have a few non-fiction favorites, There wasn't enough for a complete list.

The Best Books of 2012

10. Best Seller by Timothy Sagges

9. For Love of Sarah by Hazel Statham

8. Raging Water by Marilyn Meredith

7. Nicholas by Cheryl Holt

6. Act of Grace by Karen Simpson

5. Forever Young: Blessing or Curse by Morgan Mandel

4. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

3. Sea Change by Karen White

2. Unexpected Christmas Hero by Kathi Macias

1. Defending Jacob by William Landay

Honorable mentions in no order:

No Bells by F. M. Meredith

Special Delivery and The Deliverer by Kathi Macias

Abby Finds Her Calling by Naomi King

Executive Actions and Executive Treason by Gary Grossman

Attorney-Client Privilege by Pamela Samuels Young

Summer of Secrets by Charlotte Hubbard

First Chapter Review: Goodnight, Brian by Steven Manchester

National bestselling author, Steven Manchester, sent me the first chapter of his latest book, Goodnight, Brian. 

BLURB: Fate was working against little Brian Mauretti. The food that was meant to nourish him was poisoning him instead, and the doctors said the damage was devastating and absolute. Fate had written off Brian. But fate didn’t count on a woman as determined as Brian’s grandmother, Angela DiMartino – who everyone knew as Mama. Loving her grandson with everything she had, Mama endeavored to battle fate. Fate had no idea what it was in for.

An emotional tale about the strength of family bonds, unconditional love, and the perseverance to do our best with the challenging gifts we receive, Goodnight, Brian is an uplifting tribute to what happens when giving up is not an option.

COVER: Love it. Very peaceful and speaks to the setting of the story. Mama's cottage is near Narragansett Bay.

FIRST CHAPTER: A very pregnant, Joan, her husband Frank, and their son, Ross visit Mama at her cottage. It's close to Christmas and soon Mama will be decorating for Santa Claus, but everyone is eager for the arrival of the new baby. When Brian arrives, Joan and Frank are thrilled that he is perfect in every way.

KEEP READING: Yes, mainly because I love Mama and want to see more of her. Manchester delivers a story that the synopsis indicates will be emotional and powerful. While we don't see that drama unfold in the first chapter, the events set the stage for what is to come.

The author has a gift for providing the right amount of detail to paint pictures for the reader, without overwhelming her. His strength also resides in the creation of fabulous characters. As I mentioned, I loved Mama. But that strength also transfers to the creation of less than likable characters too, such as Frank. Though I tried to give him a break, I already knew by the end of the first chapter I couldn't stand him. Maybe that will change, but his personality rubs me the wrong way. It's a good thing when an author can create such a strong reaction with a make believe person.

Family ties make for some great stories. I feel Goodnight, Brian will be one of them.



Paperback: 308 pages
Publisher: Story Plant, The (January 8, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1611880610
ISBN-13: 978-1611880618
SRP: $10.85

I received the first chapter of this book from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, for which I have not been compensated in any way.

Book Spotlight: The Harbormaster's Daughter by Heidi Jon Schmidt

The story of a mother and daughter in an idyllic Cape Cod town...

On a freezing January night, LaRee Farnham answers a knock at her door to find a policewoman holding three-year-old Vita Gray, whose mother has just been murdered a few miles away. LaRee raises Vita with fierce love and attention, at the same time trying to shield her from the aftermath of the murder, which has deeply divided the histoiric village of Oyster Creek.

Born out of wedlock, Vita is the product of the town's two very different cultures: the hard-working fishing families of Portuguese descent and the "washashores" from the mainland, who've drifted to the coast for its beauty. At sixteen, Vita is shy and isolated, estranged from her father, and bullied at school, but she is determined to come out of herself, step-by-step.

When the shocking details of her past surface suddenly, Vita feels utterly betrayed by those closest to her, and the fraught tension between Oyster Creek's two cultures comes to a head. LaRee must ask hard questions about herself as a mother, while Vita turns to unexpected avenues to find meaning and discovers that the truth is almost never found in black-and-white...


Read the reviews!

"Expertly explores the complexities of domestic life and the tug of forbidden love."
-Elizabeth Strout, New York Times Bestselling Author of Olive Kitteridge

"Superior literary fiction."
-Library Journal

"Subtly nuanced, beautifully crafted prose...Schmidt delivers a thoughtful, realistically complicated exploration on love, marriage, friendship, and community."
-John Charles, Chicago Tribune

Reading level: Ages 18 and up
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: NAL Trade; 1 edition (August 7, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0451237870
ISBN-13: 978-0451237873
Available in paperback and electronic formats

Interview: William Landay, Author of Defending Jacob

William Landay is the author of Defending Jacob, the much buzzed-about new novel that has drawn comparisons to Presumed Innocent and We Need to Talk About Kevin. His previous novels are Mission Flats (2003), which won the Creasey Dagger Award as best first crime novel of the year, and The Strangler (2007), which was named an L.A. Times Favorite Crime Novel of the Year.

He can be found online at his website, which includes a blog, and on Facebook and Twitter.

Where did you grow up?
I grew up in the Boston area. In fact, except for my four years in college, I’ve never left. That makes me horribly parochial, I’m sure. Most of our romantic visions of writers involve world-travelers like Hemingway. But I like to think of long-rooted writers like Eudora Welty, who lived in the same house most of her life in Jackson, Mississippi. At least I’ve got Eudora beat — I’ve moved many times.

When did you begin writing?
I started writing fiction in a casual way when I was 26 or 27. That is very late in life, and even then I did not think of myself as “a writer,” just someone who liked to write. I wrote stories in my free time. They were awful, I’m sure.

When I was 30 or so — by that time I had become an assistant D.A. — I decided I would try to write a novel. Note that I did not decide to become a novelist. Honestly, it never crossed my mind that I could actually earn a living as a professional novelist. I simply wanted to write one publishable novel, just to see if I could do it. But I’m a stubborn guy, I guess. I kept trying and failing, trying and failing, for years. I never took any writing classes, and I did not know any novelists to guide me, so I learned the hard way, maybe the only way, by trial and error.

By the late 90’s I had left the DA’s office to write full time. (I worked as a bartender at night to support myself.) Still, I was thinking of it only as a one-book project — it was simply a project that was taking a very long time. I got married around then, to a woman brave enough to marry an unpublished writer. (Everyone who is not a published writer is technically an unpublished writer. “Unpublished writer” is a title that every plumber and convict can fairly claim.)

When I finished the first decent manuscript, a book called Mission Flats, I was about to give the whole thing up. My wife and I were about to have our first child. It was time to admit defeat and move on. In fact, when the first offer for Mission Flats came in, my wife and I were at the obstetrician’s office to hear the unborn baby’s heartbeat. We took the call on my cell phone while we sat in the doctor’s waiting room, my agent telling me we’d received a generous offer for the book. I wound up with a two-book deal, which, happily, required me to keep writing. And that is when I became “a writer,” finally.

Do you write during the day, at night or whenever you can sneak a few moments?
During the day, mostly. Nights and weekends, I’m usually with my kids, who are now 8 and 10 years old. But I write all day, or try to. I never have been able to write “whenever I could sneak in a few moments.” For me, writing requires long stretches of time and deep concentration. And coffee. Lots and lots of coffee.

What is this book about?

Defending Jacob is the story of an ordinary suburban family — father Andy Barber, mother Laurie Barber, and son Jacob — who endure the unfathomable ordeal of seeing 14-year-old Jacob put on trial for the murder of a schoolmate.

But it is “about” so much more than that. The difficulty of raising kids. The impossibility of truly knowing another person, even a spouse, even your own child. In Defending Jacob the characters are constantly surprised by what they learn about one another. Long-held secrets bubble up to the surface — secrets that might never have been divulged, that might never have troubled their happy marriage.
There is also the scientific question of the “murder gene,” the very real science which suggests that a predisposition to violence may indeed be a genetically heritable trait.
The book also delves deep into the criminal justice system as seen by a consummate insider, the veteran prosecutor Andy Barber, whose views of the defendant’s position are informed by his many years on the other side.

I think the sheer variety of “it’s about...” is one of the reasons the book has received such an overwhelming response. It is rich material. Defending Jacob generates great discussions, because it touches on so many difficult decisions and interesting topics. (It’s a great book club book.) It works on many levels, for many different audiences: fans of legal thrillers, of family dramas, of scientific stories. That is why it has pulled endorsements from writers as wildly different as Lee Child and Nicholas Sparks — two writers who have rarely been mentioned in the same sentence till now.

What inspired you to write it?
Oh, I don’t think a book ever has a single inspiration. There is never a moment where a writer leaps up out of his chair and says, “Aha! I’ve just had a vision of a novel!” At least, I ‘ve never had that experience. What happens is that you start with the little seed of an idea, or in this case several seeds: a true story about a homicide detective who was both the son and father of a murderer; my own experiences in the courtroom and then as a father raising young kids; the emerging science of behavioral genetics and the haunting notion of a “murder gene.” All these ideas and many others, I’m sure, get mixed together and over time a story emerges. Often slowly — very slowly.

Who is your favorite character from the book?
Well, I like them all, even the surly, moody, possibly homicidal teenager, Jacob. They are all my creations, my babies. But I do love Andy Barber, the father so unshakable in his devotion to his child that he simply can’t abandon him, even when that might be the morally right thing to do. I feel for Andy. I am a father, and I can’t imagine abandoning my sons either. I’m also a son, and who among us would not want a father like Andy Barber, who will stick by us no matter what?

Where can readers purchase a copy of your book?
Here are the links.

Print: Amazon - B&N - IndieBound

eBook: Kindle - Nook - iBooks

Audiobook: Blackstone Audio

Do you have a video trailer to promote your book? If yes, where can readers find it?

Yes, you can view the trailer here.
What is one piece of advice you would like to share with aspiring authors everywhere?

Stick to it. Be stubborn. Believe in your own vision of the book you are creating. Don’t be put off by criticism or negativity. Believe that what you are doing matters. You have to believe in it first — others won’t believe until they see it, after it’s been created, or at least mostly created.

Also, don’t try to anticipate what the audience wants. They don’t know what they want until you show it to them. Henry Ford once said, “If I’d asked my customers what they wanted, they’d have said ‘A faster horse.’” The same is true in writing, or any other art. The artist leads the audience, not the other way around.

What is up next for you?
I’ve made a lot of mistakes, but talking about an unwritten book is probably the one bad idea I haven’t tried. I don’t mean to be evasive. It’s just that every book twists and morphs as you extrude it from the muck of your imagination. Anything I told you today would be inaccurate by next Tuesday. But stay tuned, because it’s going to be my best thing yet. I’m convinced of it.

Interviewer's note:  Read my review of Defending Jacob here.

Is there anything you would like to add?



Thanks for having me. It’s been fun.

Interview with Quinn Barrett, Author of Invisible Snow

Joining us today is Quinn Barrett, author of Invisible Snow. Read until the end of this interview to see how you could win a free eCopy of her book.

Quinn is a native of Southern California, currently residing in the West Los Angeles area. After graduating from UCLA with a degree in English, she worked as a corporate business development strategist specializing in emerging growth technology, software and Internet companies. She is married and raising a teenage son. Her hobbies include reading, walking, golf, cooking, and travel. Invisible Snow is her first novel.

Welcome to The Book Connection, Quinn. It's wonderful to have you here. Can you tell us where you grew up?

In the Pasadena area of the Los Angeles suburbs.

When did you begin writing?

I dabbled in short stories during high school. A couple of interested teachers encouraged me to become an English major. I did some writing in college, too, but once I graduated, I was über focused on my business career for many years.

Do you write during the day, at night or whenever you can sneak a few moments?

All of the above. I prefer to write at night, but it can be hard with meshing with the family schedule so I end up writing whenever I can.

What is this book about?

On the surface, Invisible Snow is a family drama full of secrets and suspense. At a deeper level, the story explores conventional perceptions about family and the illusions we attach to them. In short, there is no such thing as a "perfect" family no matter how wonderful it may appear to someone from the outside looking in.

What inspired you to write it?

The idea marinated over time from years of sitting in work and church meetings, women's groups, booster club and PTA meetings. I sensed an underlying hostility from many dutiful women who performed their simple assignments with masterful precision, but seemed frustratingly unfulfilled. It made me realize that most of us lose ourselves in simple tasks to avoid walking our true path, living our own dreams. Kate's journey is about coming to terms with her choices and breaking free of her self-imposed limitations.

Who is your favorite character from the book?

Each character is a part of me, so I love them all... even the more annoying ones, but Kate has to be my favorite (once she begins her journey of self-realization, that is) because she is the heroine of the novel. She is an extraordinary woman with resources beyond belief. She is capable of anything as long as she can stay out of her own way. And isn't that true for all of us?

A few other characters were also a lot of fun for me to write. Louise and Mary made me laugh a lot. Even I couldn't believe how ridiculous they could be as characters until I typed it. I also loved Walker and Joan's wisdom, but that's easy. Loving the darker characters is an interesting process.

Are you a member of a critique group? If no, who provides feedback on your work?

I've had opportunities to join writing groups, but I prefer to work alone. I have an editor I work with closely, but also I have about eight close friends who are avid readers so once I'm far enough along I ask them to take a gander to get their impressions. After I incorporate their notes, I ask my first wave of readers to enlist their book-loving friends who don't know me to read my draft. You'd be surprised how many people are happy to participate in this process.

Who is your favorite author?

Harper Lee and Ayn Rand, but not necessarily in that order.

Was the road to publication smooth sailing or a bumpy ride?

I considered various options as I was writing the book. There are definite pros and cons to whatever path I took. I spoke with a lot of writers—some established, some new—and got a lot of good advice. I also did a lot of research about the growing digital market and concluded that the ultimate responsibility for building a market for my book was mine. And because I have worked primarily in technology since the early 90's I decided to leverage my tech skills and created my own corporation, Wise Bear Media to publish Invisible Snow as well as all future books.

I wouldn't say the road is bumpy as much as it is long. There are a lot of little details that require a lot of attention, but I've actually enjoyed the process. Understanding the new paradigm within the publishing industry is a must for all new authors.

Where can readers purchase a copy of your book?

Invisible Snow is available at:

Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Invisible-Snow-ebook/dp/B004XZRWK4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1303879269&sr=8-2

Barnes & Noble Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/invisible-snow

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/62525

Amazon Print Book: http://www.amazon.com/Invisible-Snow-Quinn-Barrett/dp/098306881X/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1305226130&sr=1-3

Create Space: https://www.createspace.com/3567565

Or directly through the Invisible Snow website . . . http://www.invisiblesnow.com/.

PDF eBook, ePub, .Mobi, etc. available at: http://www.wisebearmedia.com/invisiblesnow/about/buy-the-book/

Where can readers find out more?

At http://www.invisiblesnow.com/.
Readers can also get more information about me at http://www.quinnbarrett.com/ which provides links to my blog, Facebook, and Twitter account, too.

Do you have a video trailer to promote your book? If yes, where can readers find it?

I do . . . on the home page of http://www.invisiblesnow.com/. It can also be viewed on YouTube via Wise Bear Media.

I used Animoto.com  to create the trailer. It was super easy and affordable.

What is the best investment you have made in promoting your book?

A good book cover design. And lots of word-of-mouth marketing via the blogosphere.

What is one piece of advice you would like to share with aspiring authors everywhere?

Just sit down and do it. If nothing comes, be patient and wait. It's kind of like fishing. Keep jotting down ideas until one gets hooked and then just start reeling it in. There may be boring gaps of time between nibbles, but it feels great to be in that current. I try to reproduce that sensation every time I write. It's addicting . . . although I'm not a big fan of actual fishing.

What is up next for you?

I'm working on a sequel as well as another original book, but I have lots of ideas in notes and journals that I plan to develop and write eventually.

Is there anything you would like to add?

Thanks for the opportunity to introduce myself and Invisible Snow to your readers.

About Invisible Snow

Kate Snow married the wrong man for the wrong reasons. Paul Delacroix was smitten with Kate the first time he laid eyes on her and was willing to do anything to have her. She was raised in a large, impoverished family near the slopes of Sun Valley, Idaho. He was the sole heir to his family’s Los Angeles-based multi-billion dollar corporation. It should have been a fairy tale romance, but it wasn’t.

Kate’s marriage unravels when she discovers a mysterious safe room which harbors her husband’s darkest secrets. The legacy of the family business is at stake, but power is not always about money. Their showdown results in a shocking twist of fate—a destiny Kate never saw coming.
Invisible Snow is a classic family drama about wealth, power, greed, and redemption. Marriage is a delicate dance of power between lovers, but Kate and Paul Delacroix are strangers caught in a disparate union somewhere between betrayal and truth. Confronting their true selves for the first time results in an epic clash of wills where only one will prevail.

First-time novelist Quinn Barrett takes readers on a riveting journey about personal empowerment and self-realization. She explores conventional perceptions about families and the illusions we attach to them. This complex family drama challenges us to consider the personal choices we make and why we make them.

Quinn Barrett can be found on:

http://www.invisiblesnow.com/

http://www.quinnbarrett.com/

www.facebook.com/quinnbarrett

www.facebook.com/invisiblesnow

www.twitter.com/quinnbarrett

Invisible Snow Giveaway

Connect with Quinn on Facebook, like her Invisible Snow fan page, and follow her on Twitter to become eligible to receive an Invisible Snow eBook. Once you connect with her, email her at info@quinnbarrett.com. Her first 10 new friends, fans and followers will receive an Invisible Snow eBook in the digital version of their choice: PDF, .mobi or ePub.

Giveaway: Born Under a Lucky Moon: A Novel by Dana Precious

Born Under a Lucky Moon: A Novel is the tale of two very important (but distant) years in the lives of Jeannie Thompson and her (embarrassing, crazy) colorful family members to whom “things” just seem to happen. From the Great Lakes of Michigan to Los Angeles and back again, it is a story of surprise marriages, a renegade granny, a sprinkler system cursed by the gods, and myriad other factors Jeannie blames for her full-tilt, out-of-control existence. But it’s also about good surprises—like an unexpected proposal that might just open Jeannie’s eyes to her real place among the people she loves most in the world . . . the same ones she ran far away from to begin with.

I've read numerous reviews of Born Under a Lucky Moon, and all of them have sung the book's praises. I was excited when the publicist contacted me and asked me to review it. While I haven't read the book yet, I received a second copy to give away to one of my readers.

Here's what some people are saying about Born Under a Lucky Moon:

"This is a feel-good, amazing read...I highly recommend it."

--Luanne Stevenson, Blogcritics reviewer

"An incredible book that I have no doubt you’ll absolutely love!"

--ChickLitReviews.com

"I can wholeheartedly recommend Born Under a Lucky Moon to anyone looking for a fictional story about families, and why we love them even if they are always getting themselves into sticky situations."

--The Book Chick

Read more reviews and learn more about author Dana Precious at http://bornunderaluckymoon.com/

How can you win a copy of this great book? Follow the rules below:

1) You must be a follower or subscriber of The Book Connection to win.


2) For your first entry, leave a comment with a valid email address. You can't win if you don't provide an email address.

3) One additional entry if you friend me on Facebook. Leave a comment with your profile link to show you're friending me.

4) One additional entry if you follow me on Twitter. Leave a comment with your profile link to show you're a follower.

5) Two additional entries if you like the Born Under a Lucky Moon page on Facebook.

6) Two additional entries if you follow Dana Precious on Twitter.

7) You must be 18 or older to be eligible to win and a resident of the United States or Canada.

Deadline for entries is 11:59 PM Eastern on Sunday, April 3, 2011. Winner will be selected out of all entrants who followed the rules governing this contest. The winner will be notified by email and have 72 hours to respond before a new winner is selected. Your free book will be shipped via the USPS. The Book Connection is not responsible for lost or damaged items.