Arcadia Novels, by Jeso Lea Ryan - Author Interview and My Review

I was provided a review copy from Promotional Book Tours to facilitate a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

By Jesi Lea Ryan

Most people who experience death don't live to tell about it.

 When sixteen year old Arcadia "Cady" Day wakes in a hospital after experiencing what can only be called a psychic episode, she finds her family in tatters. With her twin sister gone, her dad moved out, her mom's spiraling depression and her sister's boyfriend, Cane, barely able to look at her, the only bright spot in her life is Bryan Sullivan, the new guy in school. When Bryan's around, Cady can almost pretend she's a regular girl, living a regular life; when he's not, she's wracked with wild, inexplicable mood swings. As her home life crumbles and her emotional control slips away, Cady begins to suspect that her first psychic episode was just the beginning...  





 Think high school sucks? Try being an empath who has to experience everyone else’s suckage on top of your own. (Literally.) In the months since her family life imploded and her psychic gifts began to arise, Cady has struggled to figure out how she can fit into her normal life without going crazy from the constant presence of emotional energy. Her grades have tanked. Her best friend is afraid of her. And she begins to have doubts about why her boyfriend, Bryan, is really keeping her around. But a chance meeting with another gifted girl online opens up a whole new world of possibilities. Unfortunately, this new world comes at an awful price.


 Find The Arcadia Novels here: Amazon (Arcadia's Gift)/Amazon (Arcadia's Curse) AUDIBLE Audio Book of Arcadia's Gift

My Review:

A whole new paranormal twist with empath "Cady" coming into her own after the tragic loss of her twin. Weaving in the idea of great loss and tragedy with a great and awesome gift, author Jesi Lea Ryan creates an original story full of characters easy to identify with for YA readers.

A fabulous main character, Cady will win over your heart with her down-to-earth personality. This may be paranormal fiction, but the relationships and characters are refreshingly real and relateable. 

I definately recommend trying this series, and can't wait for the third book to come out. I already have my own hopes for what will happen to the main characters.

Author Interview: 

I had the chance to interview the author of the Arcadia Novels, Jesi Lea Ryan, and I am excited to be sharing her responses her on the blog today. Let's learn a bit more about her as an author and her books, shall we?

1. What inspired you to write the Arcadia Novels? Why paranormal fiction?

This series was the first time I ever tried my hand at writing paranormal fiction. I had been reading a lot of it, both young adult and adult, and wanted to give it a shot. There are so many books out there about vampires and werewolves already, so I wanted to do something different. I've always been drawn to psychics, so it felt natural to write about them.

2. Why did you decide to make Arcadia an empath? Do you see it as a blessing or a curse?

I chose to make my main character a psychic empath mostly because I had never read about one before, and I could sort of make up my own rules. Besides, I couldn't think of a worse fate for a high school girl than to have to experience everyone else's teen angst on top of her own. So in that way, I see psychic empathy as a curse. But then Arcadia is able to find good in her abilities, so they are a gift as well.

3. As a girl did you ever wish you had a special gift? What gift would you have wanted?

I'd absolutely love to be able to communicate with the dead. I've had a few "unexplained" experiences in my life. It would be nice to get confirmation that those experiences were real. I also would love the ability to teleport. I love to travel, and I want to see the world. Unfortunately, travel takes money and time. Can you imagine being able to think yourself to a place in an instant? How cool is that?

4. You did an amazing job of writing about grief and loss with the characters in the book. Was this from past experience? Where did your insight come from?

Thank you. Writing such emotional scenes are much harder than you'd think. I really haven't experienced the levels of loss and pain that Cady did, so I wouldn't say I draw on personal experience. I haven't had someone very close to me pass away suddenly. But I do read an insane volume of books. Through fiction, I've lived thousands of lives. I guess you could say I draw from the experiences of other characters I've read.

5. Any hints you can share with us about the 3rd book in the ARCADIA trilogy?

Well, I left Cady in a pretty sorry state at the end of ARCADIA'S CURSE, so I have to find a way to patch her back together.  I can't tell you a lot, but I will say that even though Cady's story will wrap up in the third book, I may not be completely done with these characters yet. In fact, there is a certain emotionally damaged house mate who is bugging me for his own book...

6. Is there anything else you would like to share with my readers?

I am hard at work on ARCADIA'S CHOICE. While I don't have a release date yet, I expect it to be out late spring or early summer. In the mean time, ARCADIA'S GIFT has just been released in audio book.  Look for it on Audible, Amazon and iTunes.

Lastly, I want to say thank you to all those who have taken the time to read my books. Being an author has been a life-long dream of mine. I'm still shocked and amazed every time someone I don't know personally reads one of my books. I'm also grateful to all of the book bloggers, yourself included, who have lent me valuable support. I thank you.

Author Bio:

Jesi Lea Ryan grew up in the Mississippi River town of Dubuque, IA. She holds bachelor degrees in creative writing and literature and a masters degree in business. She considers herself a well-rounded nerd who can spend hours on the internet researching things like British history, anthropology of ancient people, geography of random parts of the world, bad tattoos and the paranormal. She currently lives in Madison, WI with her husband and two exceptionally naughty kitties.

 Stalk Jesi Lea here: Facebook/Twitter/Website/Blog

Broken Dolls, by BR Kingsolver - Author Interview

Broken Dolls by BR Kingsolver

Private investigator RB Kendrick makes her living nailing cheating spouses, digging up other dirt to help in a divorce, finding long-lost relatives, and occasionally sniffing out criminal activity and fraud. When she takes a job to find a missing girl, she has no idea she is headed for the most dangerous case of her career. Usually, her ability to read minds gives her an edge. But when the people she’s hunting are also telepaths, that advantage is limited. The search takes her into the dark underbelly of telepathic society, where anything, and anyone, is for sale. She discovers that telepathic women and girls are being trafficked. With people trying to kill her, she’s on the run, not knowing who she can trust. Will she find the missing girl, or become a victim herself?

The Devil Wears Scrubs, by Freida McFadden - Interview and Review

*Disclaimer - I received a complimentary copy of the book from Juniper Grove Book Solutions in exchange for my honest review. All experiences and opinions are my own.

Newly minted doctor Jane McGill is in hell.

Not literally, of course. But between her drug addict patients, sleepless nights on call, and battling wits with the sadistic yet charming Sexy Surgeon, Jane can’t imagine an afterlife much worse than her first month of medical internship at County Hospital.

And then there’s the devil herself: Jane’s senior resident Dr. Alyssa Morgan. When Alyssa becomes absolutely hell-bent on making her new interns pay tenfold for the deadly sin of incompetence, Jane starts to worry that she may not make it through the year with her soul or her sanity still intact.

Amazon | GoodReads

 My Review:

The Devil Wears Scrubs is a humorous look at the weary world of the medical intern. With personal experience as her insight, Freida McFadden crafted a book enjoyable for both the medical community and those who are glad we were never medical interns alike. Great writing and a colorful cast of characters keeps this a quick and enjoyable read.

Author Interview:
I was lucky enough to be able to catch Freida McFadden for an interview about herself and The Devil Wears Scrubs. Here is what she had to share about writing, internships and her book.

Q1. I loved your portrayal of the painful existence of an Intern. What was the inspiration behind The Devil Wears Scrubs?

My own experiences. It’s actually scarily close to my actual internship.

Q2. Doctor Jane McGill is a great character. Is she based on yourself or any other interns you knew?

Mostly just me, although I did use some stories told to me by others.

Q3. I am a fan of your blog, A Cartoon Guide To Becoming a Doctor. I loved your recent transcription error share. What prompted you to start writing about medical humor and how do you find the time to write?

I find that if there’s something you really love to do, you can always make time to do it. For me, that’s writing. Conversely, there’s always a way to weasel out of doing something you don’t want to do!

4. Why did you decide to become of a doctor? Was medical school and being an intern what you expected?

My reasons for going to med school are complicated. And no, it wasn’t really what I expected. It’s sort of like having a kid—nobody can explain to you what it’s really like until you’re living it.

5. Can we expect to see more books from you in the future? Are you currently working on anything?

I’m working on a book now about the competitive nature of medical school. It’s sort of a thriller, but still fairly true to my real experiences.

About the Author:

Freida McFadden is a physician who has finally finally finally come to the end of her training and is still intact to write about it.

Amazon Author Page | GoodReads | Website

Excerpt:
I find Alyssa sitting in the resident lounge, which is her working area of choice when we’re on call. She’s wearing blue scrubs that make her eyes look bluer. Alyssa isn’t beautiful, although sometimes I wish she were because it would give me another reason to hate her. She’s on the cusp of beautiful, but she’s a little too skinny, a little too tall, her forehead a little too long. My mother always says that the forehead is what makes the face. I’m not sure I agree with that one, but Alyssa’s forehead definitely isn’t doing her any favors.

Alyssa must be as sleep deprived as I am, but she doesn’t look it. Her straight brown hair is swept back into… I think it’s a chignon, although I truthfully don’t know what the hell a chignon is. Not one little hair is out of place. Her eyes aren’t bloodshot and don’t have little purple circles under them, like I know mine do without even looking in a mirror. And she smells good. Nothing in this hospital smells good, except somehow Alyssa does.

“Hi,” I say timidly.

Alyssa is flipping through her index cards. She carries around a pack of index cards on which she catalogues information about all our patients, and possibly one about me too. My biggest fantasy is stealing her index cards and watching her flounder. Then I get disgusted with myself that stealing index cards has now become my biggest fantasy. In any case, she doesn’t look up from her cards when she speaks to me.

“Are you ready?” she asks me.

She’s not really asking me if I’m ready. She’s really saying to me, “You better be ready and not be wasting my time, girlie.” I wring my fists together and in the process, I crumple my notes slightly. Even though it’s three in the morning, I’ve got a little surge of adrenaline going.

“I’m ready,” I say, with all the finality of someone pledging her marriage vows.

Alyssa gestures at the couch across from her. I’m not allowed to actually sit next to her while we talk. I’m lucky she lets me sit at all. I can imagine her forcing me to stand at the doorway, maybe on one foot.

Before I can open my mouth, Alyssa says, “What took you so long?”

Light Bulb Baking: A History of the Easy-Bake Oven, by Todd Coopee - Interview and Review

*Disclaimer - I was provided a review copy from Promotional Book Tours to facilitate a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. Come back tomorrow to read my review.

This first definitive retrospective of the Easy Bake® Oven celebrates its journey from children's toy to pop culture icon and inductee to The National Toy Hall of Fame. The book explores the innovation, history, economics, commerce, advertising, and marketing behind the toy’s 50 year history. This book is a must read for vintage toy collectors, nostalgia buffs, foodies, and anyone who has ever peered through the oven's watch it bake window, eagerly anticipating the moment they will be able to serve and enjoy their very own culinary concoction.

Purchase it on Amazon

My Review:

The Easy-Bake oven is a classic I remember from my own childhood. Before reading Light Bulb Baking: A History of the Easy-Bake Oven, I had no idea there was such a long and rich history associated with this popular toy. From it's creation and through each transformation, Todd Coopee did an excellent job bringing the toy's history to life through photos and stories.

If you think you know everything there is about the simple, yet brilliant little light bulb oven, you will be amazed at how far this chameleon of a toy has come since 1963. Todd Coopee did an amazing job researching not only the toy, the accessories and marketing, but the company that created it as well.

I loved the addition of classic recipes and contest winning recipes in the back of the book. It has inspired me to look into getting an Easy-Bake Oven for my own daughter.

This is a must-have for all history buffs, trivia lovers and bakers with a childhood history attached to the Easy-Bake Oven. 

Author Interview: 

I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to ask author Todd Coopee a few questions about his book and the inspiration behind it. 

Q1- Traditionally seen as a girl's toy, why did you want to write about the Easy-Bake Oven?

A -. My interest was piqued after my first visit to The National Toy Hall of Fame in Rochester, NY. At the time of my visit, the Easy-Bake had recently been inducted in the Hall of Fame and an entire exhibit devoted to the toy was still in the museum. I wasn't convinced there was enough material for an entire book, but the more I looked into the Easy-Bake Oven’s history, the more interesting it became. After some initial interviews with former employees of Kenner – the company that developed the toy – I felt compelled to tell the story about how the Easy-Bake had become a pop culture icon.

Q2 -  In the author's note you mentioned that you were able to participate in your sisters' baking adventures. Did you have a favorite recipe or memorable recipe?

A2 -The best people to answer this question would be my parents. They were usually the recipients of our culinary concoctions! As I recall, we were very much into making traditional cakes with chocolate and vanilla frosting – nothing like the recipes created by the winners of the Easy-Bake Baker of the Year contests outlined in the book.

Q3- Would you consider yourself a cook or baker today? Did the Easy-Bake Oven spark a greater 

interest in food at a young age?

A3 - I’m very much a baker. My parents owned a restaurant and bakery in Massachusetts for 25 years, so I was surrounded by the cooking, serving, and presentation of food most of my childhood. Of course, we also had an Easy-Bake Oven at home. It was stored in our games closet at home mostly for rainy days, so it was always a special treat to take it out and plan what we were going to make.That’s one of the great things about the Easy-Bake. It allowed us to “manage our own kitchen”. We could be creative, use real ingredients, produce something that was editable and serve it to other friends and family. 

4. Is there currently an Easy-Bake Oven in your home?

More than one! All of the photos of the ovens in the Visual History section of the book are from my personal collection – so I actually own over 40 different versions of the toy. Now that the book is published (and to avoid being featured on an upcoming episode of A&E’s Hoarders), I’m going to keep a few of the classic models and donate the rest to the National Toy Hall of Fame so that others may enjoy them.

5. I was impressed with the number of photos and information in the book. How long did your research take you to create Light Bulb Baking? 

It was a two-year project – albeit not full-time. The idea was to release the book to coincide with the toy’s 50th anniversary. The longest part of the process was piecing together the visual timeline – a process that was made more challenging due to the number of mergers and acquisitions in the toy industry during the Easy-Bake’s 50 years. The librarians and resources at The Strong museum in Rochester, NY and the former employees from Kenner that I spoke with were immensely helpful during this process.

6. Anything else you would like my readers to know?

My book is really a celebration of a cultural icon. I hope that readers appreciate the toy’s journey and the important role it played in so many lives. I also hope it brings back memories of childhood and the important of play to both children and adults!

About the Author:

Todd Coopee is a writer, award-winning business owner, toy historian, and pop-culture enthusiast. His affinity for nostalgia, vintage toys, and baking fed his passion for the Easy-Bake Oven, which led to his 2013 retrospective, Light Bulb Baking: A History of the Easy-Bake® Oven. Todd lives in Ottawa, Ontario and has been known to bake tiny treats for his friends and family. 

Follow Light Bulb Baking on:

Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | YouTube

  

Learn more about Todd: http://about.me/todd.coopee

Haunted U: School Spirits - Book One, by Jessica Gibson. Author Interview and Review

*Disclaimer - I was provided a review copy from Promotional Book Tours to facilitate a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.



Ezzie Lovegreen lives in a world where witches and ghosts are real. That doesn’t mean she’s not surprised when she’s suddenly being haunted by one at school.

With the help of her best friend Stella, her boyfriend Beau, and her grandmother Winifred, Ezzie must find out what happened to the ghost and set her free.

Secrets will be revealed that could change Ezzie’s life forever. Will Ezzie be strong enough to face the challenges set in her path?  

Buy on Kindle

My Review:
A fun and exciting new paranormal series not to miss!

Jessica Gibson created a whole world of magic. Characters with magic in their family, some not even knowing it. Ezzie and Stella are an inseparable pair of BFFs. Stella might not have the gift that Ezzie does, but she still helps out.

Throw in a hunky boy-next-door boyfriend, neighboring Mermaid and a cool grandmother and this story starts out with a great foundation of colorful and intriguing characters.

 Ezzie seems to have everything going for her, but the author plants some doubt and family mysteries along the way that will keep me reading the series to figure out. Coming into her powers as a witch, being pushed to join a coven, and falling in love keeps her very busy. But after she is sought out by a ghostly fellow university student, she has much to learn as she tries to help the ghost find peace. Marked by a mysterious stranger though, Ezzie may need a little help of her own.

Curl up with Haunted U: School Spirits - Book One, a warm mug and a blanket. Get comfortable because you won't want to put it down.

Author Interview:
I was fortunate enough to catch Jessica Gibson for an interview about her book, Haunted U: School Spirits - Book One. She shared a little insight into her inspiration and the future of the series and characters.

Q1: What inspired you to write Haunted U (School Spirits)? You left readers with a major cliff-hanger, so, how many books do you hope to write for this series? 

A: The inspiration behind Haunted U was a conversation I had with a fellow author friend of mine, Lola James, about my refrigerator sounding like it was haunted. It’s an old refrigerator, and it always makes these terrible moaning noises and tapping sounds. Lola and I joked about writing a book around a haunted refrigerator and thus Gerald was born, and the story formed from there. 

I plan on a few more books in the series, it all depends on where the characters take me. I’ve 
already started the 2nd book in the series, Ghostly Matters.

Q2: I loved that Gerald haunted a fridge. What or where would you choose to haunt if you were a ghost? 

A: I think I would haunt a library, unlimited books!! Or really anywhere with a lot of people so I wouldn’t get too lonely.

Q3: Mermaids, ghosts and witches, what paranormal creatures would you like to see Ezzie meet next? 

A: The next book in the series is going to focus mostly on ghosts (at least that’s how my outline is right now, but that could very well change lol) Maybe further in the series I’d like to introduce some Fae characters, and possibly some lesser known paranormal creatures.

Q4: Wini is the grandmother everyone wants to have. Did you base her on anyone you know? Besides keeping a closet stocked with pajamas, what would you want to do as a fun grandmother? 

A: I didn't really base her on anyone I know, she’s sort of a mash-up of my grandmas, and the grandma we all wish we had. I love the idea of Ezzie being sent to Wini in the summertime, I think I would like to be the fun grandma who takes the kids on adventures.

Q5: Stella is a great friend, but often left out of the magical side of things. If you were a non-
magic friend of a witch, would you choose to see what your friend does? 

A: I for sure would make the same choice Stella made. It would be hard to be on the outside of all of that, never really knowing what was going on.

Q6: Anything else you would like to share with my readers? 

A: I’ve got a lot of fun books in the works this year. Book 3 in the Blood Ties series, Book 2 in the Wedding series, plus a few stand alone novels!!!


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About Jessica Gibson

Jessica Gibson is a recovering bookaholic, she’s down from four books a week to a more reasonable one. It was that love of words and creativity that made her dream about writing her first book. That dream was hidden for years, always put on the back burner, filed away in the “someday” section, until her husband Matt gave her the kick in the pants she needed to actually get off her butt and write. Jessica and Matt live in Southern California and have a serious addiction to reality tv shows like Pawn Stars and American Restoration. They have one son and hope to add to the family in the near future.

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Mirror Deep by Joss Landry - Review and Author Interview

*Disclaimer - I was given a complimentary copy of The Scent of Roses in exchange for my honest review as a reviewer with Promotional Book Tours . All experiences and opinions are my own.

Mirror Deep by Joss Landry

DANGER AND ROMANCE

…Roll like thunder in Kat Bonner’s world, when a known felon comes to the ranch to drop a bomb about her past. Kat turns to Pierce for help, the same Pierce who bucks her every chance he gets … and whose feverish investigation lands them in trouble with the law and directly in the path of a serial killer. Mystery deepens, fraught with wrong turns, bumbling detectives, old murders, and Kat’s doppelganger no one ever sees but her, just as she never sees the change in Pierce’s feelings toward her brewing, mounting, until she can no longer deny them.

Buy on Amazon | Paperback | Kobo | B&N | EBookPie | Scribd

My Review:
Kat Bonner is a great character, a wild and headstrong gal who reminded me of the gorgeous horses in the story. Her gift is in working with horses, but life has a few surprises for this country girl. I felt she was in need of the right kind of love, not taming, just understanding and appreciation. Of course, she finds it in the most unlikely of places.

But this story is no tame romance. Instead, the characters are thrust into a great mystery. Faced with a mysterious past and danger in her present, Kat turns to Pierce. It is fun to watch that relationship change and develop. I found myself rooting for him the whole time but there is so much going on in the story, it is hard to tell what will happen next.

A wonderful story from Joss Landry. It will not be the last book I read of hers.

Author Interview:
I recently had the pleasure of reading Mirror Deep and I am very excited to ask you a few questions 
regarding your book. 

Thank you for reading my book, Andrea. I appreciate readers, and any feedback they give.

1. What inspired you to write Mirror Deep? 

Well, I am familiar with horses. When my children were 
younger, all four of them belonged to our local chapter of the Pony Club. While the children learned 
to ride, and participated in local competitions and dressage events, we lived on a small 50 acre hobby 
farm and took all sorts of courses on how to raise horses, which also included horse reproduction. As 
part-time, urbanite farmers, we also cropped the best horse hay in a 100 mile radius. Come fall, our 
barn would own the sweetest smell… Although wouldn’t last long. Wouldn’t take a week before horse 
farms in the area came by truck to buy most of our hay. Writing Mirror Deep brought it all back. Good 
memories.

2. Would you consider yourself a horse person? Did you pull from personal experience to write about 
Kat's talents with horses? 

I love horses. I used to stand on the deck and stare at one of our horses in the pasture. She or he would 
raise their long neck and turn to stare right back at me. They’d come running. Magical creatures. My 
children were fortunate to ride and learn at Ian Millar’s farm. To see Ian work with his horse Big Ben was 
fabulous. Together they won more than 40 Grand Prix titles worldwide. He now holds the record for most 
Olympic appearances. He brought back the Silver for Canada in 2012.

3. Kat is a headstrong heroine. Do you think this is an important characteristic for a modern romance? What attributes do you believe make for a lovable female character? 

Another great question. I admit, Kat is headstrong, and the first thing people around me asked, was if 
I had modeled her on myself. We do share some points. However, Kat is less careful than I am more 
prone to action. I believe her determination and courage to solve her issues while throwing caution to 
the wind are attributes I like in a heroine. My heroine and hero need to be a little bigger than life to 
please me and have me tagging along on any adventure.

4. Do you have a favorite romance story or author? 

I have so many, much too difficult to pick and choose only one. I am a fan of mysteries, P.D. James 
would be my favorite in that category. I like Sandra Gulland with: The Many Lives &Secret Sorrows Of 
Josephine B. one of the great love stories of all times.

5. What is your favorite Fall food or dish? 

Pumpkin bread, and pumpkin pies, apple pies. Deep dish vegetable stew with buckwheat noodles or sticky rice on the side. Freshly picked apples. 

6. Anything else you would like to share with my readers? 

From someone who’s had more lives than a cat … I have found useful to never take life for granted. I Enjoy each and every little joy as though the moment was my last, and through the wise teachings of Ho’oponopono, I am slowly getting closer to my goals.

With a degree in commerce, Joss has worked as a consultant for more than twenty years, writing copy for marketing firms and assisting start-up companies launch their business. She recently made the switch from composing copy and promos, to writing fiction and prose. She is developing her style through courses and the support of other writers. A recent graduate of the Long Ridge Writer’s Group, she is a member of the Romance Writers of America and is presently working on honing three other novels for publication. Blessed with four children and five grandchildren, she resides in Montreal with her husband, a staunch supporter, and enjoys spending her time biking, rollerblading, playing tennis and swimming. She loves creating stories, as she says that it fulfills her need to think outside the box.

 Follow Joss Landry: Website | Blog | FaceBook Page | Twitter | Pinterest | LinkedIn |

Within The Realm - Interview with Jillian Neal + #Review

Disclaimer - I was provided a review copy from the Promotional Book Tours to facilitate my reviews. All opinions are my own. This post may contain affiliate links.

Within The Realm

The Gifted walk among us. They are unseen, but in plain sight. The Earth’s energies are as visible to them as the tangible world is to us and they can harness and bend these forces to their will. Atop the Pentagon resides the government of the Gifted Realm.

 Rainer Lawson is set to join the ranks of Elite Officers in the Gifted Police force. With his fellow officers, they will work together, using their abilities, to try and end the most sinister criminal organization in existence. His parents fought and died to re-establish the Realm, and he won’t allow them to have sacrificed in vain. The will to protect those he loves has always driven Rainer, but his desperation to protect Emily, the love of his life, consumes him. While passions ignite and vengeance is sought, Rainer may discover that all of his money, fame, and power, could cost him the only thing that has ever truly mattered. -

See more at: jillianneal.com

The Fairytale Mother - Author Interview and Review

Disclaimer - I was provided a review copy from the Promotional Book Tours to facilitate my reviews. 

All opinions are my own. This post may contain affiliate links.

The Fairytale Mother

Once upon a time two lives intertwined…

A broken heart.

When Andrew Krenshaw’s wife goes missing, terror becomes desperation as he is forced to cope with a world of uncertainty where he has suddenly become a single father, an unfortunate celebrity… a potential murderer.

A hopeful heart.

Melanie Tull has everything she ever wanted in her life… except perhaps love. Her husband is absent and demanding all at once. Her home, a shell of perfection with a cold center. Her life, busy yet vacant.

… Herein lies the tale that binds them.

My Review: 

I really enjoyed reading Fairytale Mother. In some ways I could identify with both Corinne and Melanie as a tired, under-appreciated Mom. I can't say I would make the same decisions either made, but I understood  the motivations behind these mother's choices.

Heather Muzik did a great job of playing off of a parent's fear of being alone, physically or emotionally. Both family's story expertly woven together. I found myself wondering what scarred me more, feeling abandoned or alone in a marriage.

The Fairytale Mother is an emotional journey, well written, with characters to either love or hate. It defies assumptions and kept me reading deeper to see what happened. I highly recommend giving this dark tale a try. It won't disappoint.

 

Interview with Heather Muzik:

Q1 - I love a story with a good twist and was delighted with The Fairytale Mother. What inspired you to write it?

 

First of all, I am thrilled to hear that you enjoyed my twisted tale. I, too, enjoy a good twist, whether it is in a story, show, movie—you name it. That being said, I must admit that I first came up with the idea for The Fairytale Mother about three years ago as a fairly straightforward dark and emotional journey. The twists and turns and ultimate voice of the story evolved much later, and I think the book and the reader are the better for it.

 

When it comes to inspiration for my books, a lot of it comes from my own curiosity and fear—looking at disturbing, upsetting, or ethically challenging situations and how they affect the human condition either directly or indirectly. The intricacies of life intrigue me.

 

Q2 - Who is your favorite character in the book? Who did you have the most fun writing?

 

Great question! Really putting me on the spot and keeping me on my toes. Hmmm… I would have to say Paul, actually. It isn’t so much that I liked him, but rather that I found him challenging to work with. He is a relatively passive character who is for the most part denied a perspective. I guess I just love how his veiled character is only really understood through the lens of other characters reacting to him; I think it brings life and intensity to the story in such an organic way.

 

 

Q3 - Which authors are your favorites or have influenced your writing the most?

 

As a reader yourself, you know how hard this question is…. Let me see, I would have to say Mark Twain, Jodi Picoult, Joyce Carol Oates, Sue Grafton, Anita Shreve, Ayn Rand, Allan Folsom. There are more, many more—some are authors I have read only a few books from, others I have read their whole catalog, but one thing they all have in common is their stories have resonated with me far longer than the last page.

 

As for influences, Stephen King and V.C. Andrews are definitely huge. I started reading both of them about the same time, around age thirteen, and they were elemental in formatting my perceptions of the written word—influencing what I like to read, how I like to be drawn into a story, and to some degree how I write.

 

Q4 - This was the first book of yours I read. Of course I should read them all, but do you have a favorite? Or a suggestion for following up The Fairytale Mother?

 

Well, of course I would love for you to read all of my work, but I must say that considering the genre diversity in my catalog, I definitely appreciate your thoughtful interest in taking the next step. I would have to say that The Fairytale Mother is kind of like a bridge between a couple of my books—a perfect place from which to choose your own adventure. On one side is Apathetic, which is a frustrating, wholly disturbing and very twisted coming-of-age story in the shadows of abuse and neglect (and therefore not for everyone). On the other side is Celia’s Journey, which is a tragic and heart wrenching story of loss and grief that is ultimately redemptive. Fairytale marries those two sides and it is up to readers to decide which way to go from there…. Or, if you are like me and like to slip in something fun between the heavy stuff, I have some of that in my bag of tricks too.

 

 

Q5 - You mentioned in your bio that you like bacon and my readers love food. So, what is your favorite dish using bacon?

 

Um… that would be bacon. Unadulterated strips of crispy, chewy goodness. I have a really hard time getting bacon into a recipe because it is so darn good by itself. That being said, I do make grilled cheese with bacon and tomato… and bacon and cheddar stuffed hotdogs are wonderful. And I love BLTs in the summer. Mostly, I like bacon as a garnish—on baked or mashed potatoes, on fries, on nachos, on salad, on ice cream, and on the almighty burger.

 

Q6 - Anything else you would love to share with my readers?

 

Yes, there is. I love to connect with readers—my readers, your readers… readers of any sort, any kind, anything. I love chatting, discussing, even arguing about books. So, feel free to connect with me on Goodreads or FB or Twitter or Pinterest, etc. Drop me a line or a laugh… or a recipe (especially easy weekday stuff that’s full of homestyle goodness)! 

A big thank you to Heather for taking the time to chat with us and answer these questions. I love hearing directly from the author, don't you?

Buy: Kindle / Paperback /B&N (coming August 8th)

About Heather

After a childhood spent living in various northern states--New Jersey for half of that (South Jersey, exit 4, to be exact)--she struck out on her own. First stop, Atlanta, Georgia. After attending GA Tech to study Industrial Engineering, she settled down in a small town outside the city where she has remained ever since. She keeps house for one husband, two sons, and a thankless dog (who she adores anyway). Her loves: books, bacon, bargains... heavy metal, Christmas movies... a great pair of jeans... and anything cheesy. The four dirtiest words she knows: wash, cook, dust, iron.

Connect with Heather:

Website http://www.heathermuzik.com/

Goodreads  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3225942.Heather_Muzik

Twitter @HeatherMuzik

Pinterest http://pinterest.com/hmuzik/

A Risk Worth Taking, by Victoria James - Author Interview + Giveaway

When tragedy strikes, high-powered designer Holly Carrington steps up to raise her orphaned niece. But to secure the baby's future she must return to her hometown and face the memories of all she has lost. Can small-town bachelor Quinn convince Holly to give up her big-city dreams and risk her heart, or will they set themselves up for heartbreak...again?

I am honored today to bring you an interview with author Victoria James.  A Risk Worth Taking is the first book in Victoria James' new Red River Series which features the Manning brothers, this is Quinn, the eldest's story.

This is a book with characters you will surely fall head-over-heels for and I can't wait to read the rest of the brothers' books. I had the chance to read this book and devoured it!  But now, let's learn a little more about this talented author, Victoria James.

Buy this book on Amazon, Barnes & Nobel, Kobo or on iTunes.

Here is a little about Victoria James to whet your appetite! 
Victoria James is a romance writer living near Toronto, Canada. Victoria is a mother to two young children, and one very disorderly feline. Victoria attended Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario and graduated with a degree in English Literature, where she met and then later married, her own hero. After Queen's, Victoria earned a degree in Interior Design. After the birth of her first child she began pursuing her life-long passion of writing. Her dream of being a published romance author was realized last February, 2012, when Entangled Publishing bought her manuscript. Victoria is living her dream-staying home with her children and conjuring up happy endings for her characters.

Victoria, what inspired you to write A Risk Worth Taking and the Red River Series?

I wrote this book a few years ago and I've re-written it once before it was bought by Entangled. Someone 

very close to me had suffered through many losses and I was in awe of her and her husband’s strength 

and faith. People who go through really traumatic losses and go on to live life to the fullest really inspire 

and humble me. I find that kind of strength of character admirable, and I’m desperate to see people 

who've gone through so much receive the best possible happily ever after-in real life and in fiction.

Small-town settings are always my favourite to read and write. We have a place we go to regularly to
that is on Lake Erie, it’s in a small town, and every time I go I’m inspired. We take the country roads to get there and I find it so scenic and so relaxing (well, if the kids are sleeping in the backseat. If they’re awake, it’s not really a relaxing ride). Red River is loosely based on this town-including the old lift bridge that Holly mentions in the book. One day, I’d love to have an old house out in the country just like Holly!

 Who is your favorite character in the book? Who did you have the most fun writing?

That’s a hard question because I love them all! It’s like asking a mother to choose which child is her
favourite, LOL. I did have a lot of fun writing the brothers-men approach relationships differently than we do. And all three of the Manning men are strong men who, given the right woman turn into absolute charmers!

On your author bio you mentioned that you always wanted to be a writer. Which authors inspired
you? Who is your favorite romantic fiction author?

When I was young, my first favourites were Nancy Drew, the Little House on the Prairie series, and Anne of Green Gables.

I first became addicted to romance because of Judith McNaught. I devoured all of her historical
romances. I didn’t actively pursue writing as a career until my first child was born. Something about
having kids makes you feel old, LOL, so I knew if I really wanted to do follow my dream I’d better hurry up and do it!

You mentioned your coffee obsession on your blog, so how do you take it? Do you have a
favorite brand or roast?

At home I add milk-never sugar. If I’m out at a coffee shop though, I use cream. My absolute favourite is any brand of Ethiopian coffee-LOVE it!

Okay, tell us a little about your "very bad cat". How did he/she earn that title?

She was our first ‘baby’ and we really doted on her. After the kids came along, we didn't have as much time. So if she feels she’s not getting enough attention-she lets us know: last week she peed in the playroom. The week before, my two year old daughter left her jacket on the ground-and one hour later it had pee on it. We usually notice this happens if it’s been a busy day, or extra crazy day around the house. Our cat lets us know it’s time to slow down and give her a hug ;-) Unfortunately, after I've finished cleaning up cat urine, the last thing I feel like doing is hugging her!

Since my readers also love food, what Spring or Summer seasonal fruit or vegetable do you look
forward to?

We are really big believers in organic, local produce. Shopping farmers markets is a total highlight of
summer. We moved to our current home two years ago and have been so busy that we didn't bother with the garden, but this year we’d really like to carve out a small space for our own vegetables. I can’t wait for fresh berries, tomatoes, and cucumbers.

Anything else you would love to share with my readers?

Well, if you like romance with a lot of heart, family, and small town charm, give my book a try! Be sure to enter the giveaway-and good luck! Thank you so much for having me, Andrea!

Connect with Victoria James on Facebook, Twitter & on Goodreads

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Disclaimer - I was sent a digital copy of A Risk Worth Taking from Entangled Publishing to help me write my post. All opinions and experiences are my own.