First Chapter Review: The Very Best Christmas Present Ever by Evie Lester

I downloaded The Very Best Christmas Present Ever to my Kindle in December when it was free. This seasonal romantic comedy is only 99 cents right now.

BLURB:  This comic romance is a tasty morsel for the holidays to make even the truest cynic believe in love again.

Christmas is a time of togetherness, celebrations, family and love. But for Heather it is a time for second guessing and false hope. Fearing for her still young marriage and feeling abandoned in a time of great emotional need, she has pinned all her hopes on a Christmas present--a small gesture with great meaning--to renew her faltering relationship.

As her husband, Derek, an intern, spends long hours and late nights in the emergency room saving lives, Heather diligently and lovingly teaches her kindergarten class and wonders if her marriage is slowly, imperceptibly, slipping away. As Christmas approaches, she remembers the joy and the closeness she and her husband shared in holidays past, and grapples with her options for reigniting the spark they once shared. But did she get it all wrong when she decided that a mere sweet pastry from the hottest bakery in town was the answer to all her woes? Could it be that simple?

And how could a poodle skirt, a princess and bouncer help?

When all is said and done, Derek and Heather will come to know the regenerative power of love and Christmas, as the very best Christmas present ever touches both their lives and leaves their lives forever changed.

COVER: I'm not one to complain about seasonal settings, but this doesn't do it for me as the cover for a romantic comedy. I'm expecting a bit more whimsical. Though the silver and gold theme is lovely and the two wine glasses hint at a couple living there, I want warm and toasty. Give me a fireplace with a couple sitting together on the couch in front of the tree, not this sterile Christmas tree photo that might appear on the cover of a magazine.

FIRST CHAPTER: Heather narrates the story of how she got the very best Christmas present ever. In the opening chapter, the gift giving has already happened and she is sharing with the reader how it all took place.

KEEP READING: I'm not a huge fan of first person narrators. I don't want characters talking directly to me. It's just one of my peeves. Here, though, Lester really makes it work. The first chapter opens up with a great hook and you're quickly ready to plop down and listen to Heather share her story. Within the span of very few pages, Lester sets up the conflict, introduces both characters (though Derek is only spoken about), and reveals Heather's occupation. The final paragraph begs the reader to continue. Well done. I definitely want to know how this turns out.


File Size: 1802 KB
Print Length: 65 pages
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B00H1FBLIM

I downloaded a free Kindle version of this book. This review contains my honest opinion, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

New from MuseItUp Publishing: The Great Fruitcake Bake-off by Vivki Batman

Fruitcake lover, Samantha Greene is in a pickle. To defend her five wins in her apartment complex's The Great Fruitcake Bake-off, she has to find a new entry. The to-die for new neighbor, Dixon Roberts, catches her eye and agrees to team up. Only, what they discover is baking a prize-winning entry can be complicated, bad guys abound and are plotting to take over the crown, and ultimately, first prize isn't just about a ribbon.

Excerpt:

"I am not entering this year." I pinned an unbreakable stare on Bethany, my long-time friend. We were piddling over coffee in her cubical like we always did before getting to the nuts and bolts of company business. "Period."

"Why not, Samantha? You should be proud to be the five-time winner of the Great Fruitcake Bake-off. You're a legend."

"Is being a legend in the fruitcake world a good thing? It's exhausting finding the perfect recipe, then bake and exhibit it. Besides, shouldn't somebody else win?"

Bethany's fists went to her hips. "Sam, we're talking fruitcake. It's not groundbreaking like, like the Declaration of Independence or...the Pyramids."

"I'm shocked to hear you say that. Fruitcake is the cake of all time. It dates to--"

She bobbed her head. "To the sixteenth century."

I raised my finger. "It gets a bad--"

"Rap." She sighed a soul searching blow of breath. "You always say that. You also always say you love participating; yet, you're not defending your title this year."

"I've used up all of Grammie's recipes."

"You could start over with the first confection you entered five years ago, couldn't you?"

"It seems like cheating...in a weird way. And I don't cheat."

"You are a shining example of excellent values." Bethany drummed her fingers from the littlest to the index and considered. "I've got it! Why not check online and find a recipe?"

"They don't call you brainchild for nothing." I rubbed a finger along the divot below my lower lip. A tiny speck of excitement blossomed within me. "I'll need a brand new fruitcake. I wouldn't want to be like Crazy Wanda who enters the same freakin' lump of dough every freakin' year."

"It never hurts to expand your repertoire, even if it's by collecting fruitcake recipes."

Genre Romantic Comedy
Release December 6, 2013
Pages 51
ISBN 978-1-77127-453-1

PURCHASE FROM MUSEITUP PUBLISHING OR AMAZON!

Interview with Sherry James, Author of the Studs 4 Hire Series (Giveaway)

Welcome back, Sherry. It’s been a while. Why don’t you bring us up to date on what’s been going on since you were here last in 2010.

Thanks for having me again, Cheryl. I can’t believe it’s been that long. Time really does fly. Since then I re-released the first two Studs 4 Hire books, which we’ll talk more about in a minute, released my first Western Historical Romance novella, The Cowboy and the Hellcat, and have multiple manuscripts in the works which I hope to see released sometime this coming next year.

I have two active kids who are very involved in 4-H, and my husband and I are 4-H leaders for our county’s horse club. We all ride and show, plus we put up all of our own hay. Needless to say our summers are pretty busy. But, all of that physical activity and work is great for countering the sedentary time I spend at the computer writing!

I’ve never been able to tell which I like better, your romantic comedy stories or your cowboy ones; though there’s humor in both. Do you do anything differently when you’re writing for one subgenre versus the other?

Hmm. I guess the biggest thing is that for the Studs 4 Hire series I amp up the humor, or at least try to! With my cowboy stories I like to interject a little humor here and there to lighten some moments, to give the reader a reprieve from the tension and a chance to relate to the characters from a relaxed, everyday life perspective.

But the Studs books are romantic comedy so they require humor to be sprinkled in from the first page until the very last. When I plot the Studs books I also purposefully concoct storylines which naturally lend themselves to a lighter, humorous tone. That doesn’t mean the characters' motivations or goals aren’t just as important as in a serious or darker book, they are. They’re just twisted in a fun and quirky way. A few movies I think are great at illustrating this are Sleepless in Seattle, You’ve Got Mail, and What a Girl Wants. All serious conflicts we can relate to or understand, yet twisted up with humor.

Writing humor is not always easy, though. It’s very subjective. As I’m writing a Studs book I’m constantly pushing myself for a better, funnier way to say or show something. I look at normal everyday things or situations, and try to put a quirky spin on them so people can not only relate, hey, crap happens to us all!, yet, have a good laugh, too.

And humor doesn’t always have to be the knock-your-socks off type; it can be low key, even very subtle. My brother, Rob, is great at low key humor. He’s not the type of guy who walks into the room and is instantly the life of the party by wowing everyone with jokes. He’s shy and sweet, and his wit is so subtle it sometimes just comes out of the blue and hits you when you least expect it.

You decided to re-release and self-publish the first two books in your Studs 4 Hire series. Did you enjoy the experience? Any tips on what to do and what to avoid?

I did enjoy it, although it wasn’t an experience without challenges. But, it was nice to get the control back on the two books. I used an independent publisher and we gave the books another edit, and fresh new covers I’m really excited about. I think these covers showcase the lighter, romantic tone of the books, especially, Woman in Charge. It’s one of my favorite covers. The heroine is really cute, the colors pop, and, of course, there’s Elvis!

As for tips? Wow. How many hours do we have?! ;-)
Let’s just say there is definitely a learning curve to the whole process. I suggest anyone considering independent publishing to educate themselves as much as possible before you indie publish—talk to other writers who have done it, take an online class or two, read the best indie publishing books available, and stay up-to-date with current marketing strategies. The more you know the less you’ll be kicking yourself for wishing you’d done things differently.

I want to reiterate, this is really a learn-as-you-go endeavor, and you need to be prepared for the unexpected. The odds are favorable you’ll encounter a few things you really had no way of anticipating beforehand. Every author’s career is unique and so every author’s results are going to be unique, too. Some authors I know are making bestseller lists and six figure incomes, while others are barely making enough to meet their writing expenses.

For me the whole pricing aspect has been one of the biggest head scratchers.
1. What’s the right price point for the length of my book?
2. What’s the right price point that won’t give my book the stigma it’s of low quality?
3. What’s the right price point that won’t over price the book so readers are reluctant to try an author unknown to them?
4. And finally, what’s the right price point for me to net enough money to pay the expenses of independently publishing the book, plus, hopefully, provide me with at least a part-time income?

Also, there is the challenge of wearing multiple hats. When you indie publish, you have to do it all, from editing, cover art, distribution and promotion. You might hire an editor or a cover artist, but you’re still the one to make the final call and decide if the book is ready for publication.

But don’t let all of that hold you back. Sometimes you just have to jump in and do it. Experience is your best teacher. All that being said, yes, indie publishing has been frustrating at times, but it has also been very rewarding. If there is one thing I’ve learned in the twenty plus years I’ve been writing it’s this—the writing business is a crap shoot. Keep your sense of humor, be patient, and have fun. If you can do that the odds are in your favor you won’t lose your sanity.

You’ve got a new Studs 4 Hire novella coming out next month. What can you tell us about it?

I’d love to! ELF TROUBLE is the first of what I hope to be a number of Holiday Studs 4 Hire “shorts” that will be coming out over the next couple of years. The big books are about the women behind the company, Sydnie, Casey, and Terri, and yes, Terri will get her story soon. I promise. The novellas will bring the guys, okay, the Studs, who work for the company, to center stage.

Here’s a teaser!

Gil Boyd hates Christmas, so when his bosses at Studs 4 Hire assign him to construct a Santa house for a local animal shelter’s annual fundraising event, he’s forced to quiet his inner Grinch and get the job done.

But Gil doesn’t count on quirky shelter volunteer, Holly Everwood, her unwavering holiday spirit, and her zany mutt to tempt his resolve to remain unattached. Can Holly show him the real magic of Christmas does exist if only he’ll open his heart?

Elf Trouble will be available at the various online booksellers starting in November. Watch my web site and Facebook page for an actual release date announcement.

Where can readers find out more about your work?

My website www.sherryjames.com. Plus they can find me on Facebook and on Twitter @SherryJames. I also blog the second Friday of each month at www.authorsbymoonlight.com

What’s up next for you?

Let’s see . . . where do I start? I have a ton of projects lined upped, the trick is getting them all done. As I mentioned, I have more of the Studs 4 Hire Holiday “shorts” in the works, and Terri’s story, Woman to the Rescue.

The sequel to Cowboy Fling is almost done and I hope to see it released sometime next year. The working title is Cowboy Affair. I hope readers will be excited to see how Paige’s sister, Dorie, fared on her side of the sexual fantasy bet. I know it’s been a long time coming.

I also have another western historical in the works. It’s entitled The Madam of Nickel Creek. I love this story. And Vin and Lilac have been prodding at me for a long time to finish their book. But they have to wait a while longer. I have a bit more work to do on another contemporary western romance I’m getting ready to send to a traditional publishing house.

Whew! That’s a lot on my plate, I know. I’m hoping to have a very productive winter!

GIVEAWAY ALERT!

In honor of the upcoming release of Elf Trouble, I’m holding a giveaway. Email me at sherryjames@hamilton.net with your name and snail mail address by Nov. 1st . Please put Book Connection Giveaway in the subject line. I will randomly select one winner from all entries to win an autographed copy of Studs 4 Hire Woman on Top, and the cutest little elf who will fly into your mailbox to share with you a great recipe for a delicious Elf Cocktail. Just in time for Holiday entertaining!

Thanks again for having me here, Cheryl. Always a pleasure.