M. Jean Pike's Blog, page 30
August 19, 2023
Lake Whispers
Every summer I head up to Lake Erie for a week’s vacation from my life.
I love the nostalgic, ‘fifties feel of the souvenir shops, arcades and hamburger stands in Geneva on the Lake. I enjoy a day spent in Cleveland at the zoo or the aquarium, and I never get tired of the coffee shops and boutiques in Ashtabula Harbor.
But my writer’s soul comes for the water; the sunlight sparkling like fairy wands on the rippling surface. The soft splash of waves against the rocks. The calls of seagulls in the early morning quiet. Like life, the lake isn’t always gentle, but there’s beauty in the turbulence as well as the calm.
There’s something about sitting by the water that unlocks my inner writer and speaks to the creative side of my soul. I love it when I find that magical zone where the lake starts to whisper stories to me.
I confess there are times when my WIP’s sit on the back burner for days at a time, all but forgotten as I work at my day job, run to this appointment and that, catch up the housework and the laundry, etc. etc. But as I sit quietly by the lake, the stories return, my characters come more sharply into focus, and sometimes, new characters introduce themselves.
That’s how it was this week.
I’m excited about the progress I made on my WIP, a new Redford’s Crossing Romance, this week. And I hope that next week, as I return to the business and busyness of life, the lake whispers will stay with me.
I’ll keep you posted…
August 18, 2023
Reader’s Favorite Gives The Little Things 5 Stars!
Reviewed by Stephanie Lynn for Readers’ Favorite
The Little Things by M. Jean Pike is a thrilling Christian contemporary romance. Filled with themes of family, forgiveness, past regrets, a hint of suspense, and a healing message about trusting God, this story packs a punch! Rochelle Delany, or Ro, returns home only to find that it no longer offers the promise and security she once knew. A lot has changed in the years she’s been gone, and returning to the small town in Ohio isn’t easy. Not only has her life changed drastically since she left, but when she returns home, she finds out that the house she grew up in is being sold. What? Finding that her brother had made plans to sell the house to a local home renovator, Sandy Fairbrother, sparks all sorts of emotions within Ro’s already chaotic life. Can they work things out, or will she be left alone and on the run again when she needs him most? Can she trust Sandy with her secrets, or is it better to skip town before anyone else gets hurt?
I found The Little Things by M. Jean Pike to be a fun story and an eye-opening read. Rochelle’s life had been much harder than many realized over the last several years. I loved seeing her and Sandy as they reunited. Their unexpected reunion is only the beginning of their surprise journey. I also adored meeting Jace and Gus in this story. Jace is a precious child, and I loved Sandy’s relationship with him. Gus the bulldog is also a fun addition, and I honestly can’t think of another story that includes doggy diapers, which made for some hilarious conversations between the characters. I felt this story is a pleasant change and works well as both a Christian contemporary romance and romantic suspense read, as it balances the romance and drama well while also having a thrilling twist that adds a dash of suspense to this lovely small-town tale.
Reader’s Choice Gives The Little Things 5 Stars!
Reviewed by Stephanie Lynn for Readers’ Favorite
The Little Things by M. Jean Pike is a thrilling Christian contemporary romance. Filled with themes of family, forgiveness, past regrets, a hint of suspense, and a healing message about trusting God, this story packs a punch! Rochelle Delany, or Ro, returns home only to find that it no longer offers the promise and security she once knew. A lot has changed in the years she’s been gone, and returning to the small town in Ohio isn’t easy. Not only has her life changed drastically since she left, but when she returns home, she finds out that the house she grew up in is being sold. What? Finding that her brother had made plans to sell the house to a local home renovator, Sandy Fairbrother, sparks all sorts of emotions within Ro’s already chaotic life. Can they work things out, or will she be left alone and on the run again when she needs him most? Can she trust Sandy with her secrets, or is it better to skip town before anyone else gets hurt?
I found The Little Things by M. Jean Pike to be a fun story and an eye-opening read. Rochelle’s life had been much harder than many realized over the last several years. I loved seeing her and Sandy as they reunited. Their unexpected reunion is only the beginning of their surprise journey. I also adored meeting Jace and Gus in this story. Jace is a precious child, and I loved Sandy’s relationship with him. Gus the bulldog is also a fun addition, and I honestly can’t think of another story that includes doggy diapers, which made for some hilarious conversations between the characters. I felt this story is a pleasant change and works well as both a Christian contemporary romance and romantic suspense read, as it balances the romance and drama well while also having a thrilling twist that adds a dash of suspense to this lovely small-town tale.
July 21, 2023
Reading Is My Superpower reviewed The Little Things!
The Little Things by M. Jean Pike is a sweet romance with a redemptive faith thread, small town setting, and layered characters you’ll enjoy meeting. The dash of suspense fleshed out the various dimensions to Rochelle’s story and also allowed the author to spotlight something that’s not talked about a whole lot – in fiction or otherwise. I enjoy novels that make me smarter and more aware of issues that aren’t part of my own experience. I especially loved little Jace and Gus the dog… not to mention the thoughtful way everything comes full circle in the end. A quick & engaging read!
My Rating: 4 stars / enjoyed it!
KissingBook Level: 3 / may forget to breathe on occasion
Read the full review here!
July 20, 2023
Bookish Thoughts
Good morning!
Today I’m over at Bookish Thoughts with author Penelope Marzec. Stop by and read an excerpt from The Little Things!
July 19, 2023
Character Spotlight
For today’s stop on the blog tour, Rochelle from The Little Things stops by Pelican’s Blog to talk about her story!
Character Spotlight from The Little Things
July 16, 2023
July 15, 2023
One More Page
Today’s stops on my blog tour include One More Page at Pelican’s Blog and a devotional thought, Hope for the Prodigal, over at Stacy Week‘s place.
Stop by and visit!
July 14, 2023
It’s Release Day!
Release day has arrived for The Little Things and I’m celebrating with two stops on my blog tour today! I’m Looking out the Window with Gail Palotta, and my heroine, Rochelle, stopped by Clare Revell’s blog to do an interview. Stop by and celebrate with us!
July 13, 2023
Blog tour #2…
Today I’m over at my publisher’s blog talking about my characters. Find out what makes them tick and hear the song that helped me find Rochelle’s voice!
The Little Things: Coming tomorrow!
Interview with Author M. Jean Pike on her Latest Book
