Sydney Winward's Blog, page 15
August 11, 2020
Book Review of Always, Almond Fudge by Charlotte O’Shay
My Review
Oh my cute.
I absolutely adored this novella! Charlotte O’Shay not only managed to write an adorable, heart-warming love story, but she brought in a little bit of history and the heartache war brings. Always, Almond Fudge is a great addition to the One Scoop or Two series and is a must read for those looking for a sweet, short read with all the feels. Loved this one!
My rating: 5 stars
Favorite Quote
Oh, gosh , let the floor open and absorb her along with her embarrassment. She’d stopped serving her customer, mid-scoop, to drool over the good-looking fellow at the back of the shop. Heat suffused her already overheated skin as she jerked her gaze away from him and collected herself. But not before she caught his mischievous grin. This would never do.
Blurb
On a lengthy car ride to their annual seaside vacation, a mother recounts the true story of a sweet family tradition.
It’s the summer of 1941 in the seaside town of Langford, Rhode Island, and seventeen-year-old Meredith Franklin works as a server at Seymore’s Ice Cream Shoppe. When aspiring baseball player Anthony Fanelli strolls into the ice cream shop, his teasing banter leads to romantic sparks and dreams of forever love. Their whirlwind courtship comes to an abrupt halt on December 7, 1941, when America enters World War Two, forcing the couple to put their future on hold.
Decades later, a treasure trove of wartime letters details the romance of Merry and Anthony and the sacrifices of a generation.
August 10, 2020
Book Review of The Warrior’s Progeny
My Review
When you think of Greek gods and goddesses, you don’t usually think of them in a modern sense. Jeny Heckman did an amazing job at bringing the traits of Greek gods into modern day people such as football star, Colton Stone, and Dr. Lillian Morgan.
The author created realistic situations and excelled at placing obstacles between the hero and heroine. One of her strengths that amazed me was her ability to write from a man’s perspective. It was fun getting inside Colt’s head and witnessing his easy temper. Well written and a great read.
My rating: 4 stars
Favorite Quote
“Your mom didn’t want to get married again?”
“No,” Chelsea said, climbing into the large man’s lap and running her hand up and down the stubble of his rusty beard. “’ Cause she said Daddy was perfect. She might still be sad but I’m not sad anymore and told her we need a new daddy.”
“Ah… S-so, the game. Do you guys have jerseys?” Colt asked, changing the topic before those beautiful blue eyes inquired if he wanted the job.
Blurb
Colton Stone, a newly traded tight end, arrives in his new city ready to play ball. His reputation is as beaten as his football helmet. When he receives a vacation invitation, he accepts. A decision that could be fueled by magical interference. When he meets Dr. Lillian Morgan, he isn’t certain what to think.
A widow with two children, Lilly is looking forward to her friends’ wedding. When she meets Colton Stone, his arrogant attitude only makes her long for the love she took for granted. She adores her work as a pediatric surgeon, but the football player reminds her of a child.
When black energy touches their world Colt and Lilly become the pawns of immortal gods. So is the love developing between them natural or part of a larger prophecy?
August 9, 2020
Book Review of The Renegade’s Heart by Claire Delacroix
My Review
It took me a few tries to get into this, but I was soon immersed in the story. Although I didn’t like how each beginning of the chapter had to go back and reflect on the previous scene in the new character’s point of view, and I think Murdoch’s goal could have been achieved by other means, I did enjoy how the story unfolded. The world-building was unique and the characters were interesting. I’m curious to know what plans the author has for Elizabeth.
My rating: 4 stars
Blurb
Released from the captivity of the Fae, Murdoch Seton wants nothing more than to forget his lost years. Undertaking a quest to recover treasure stolen from his family seems the perfect solution – but Murdoch is not counting upon a curious maiden who holds both the secret to the theft and his sole redemption.
Isabella is outraged to find her brother’s keep besieged by a renegade knight – especially one who is too handsome for his own good or hers. After a single encounter, she becomes convinced that his cause is just and decides to unveil the true thief, never imagining that their single shared kiss has launched a battle for Murdoch’s very soul.
As the treacherous Fae move to claim Murdoch forever, Isabella seeks to heal the knight who has stolen her heart. But will Murdoch allow her to take a risk and endanger herself? Or will he sacrifice himself to ensure Isabella’s future?
August 7, 2020
Welcome Guest Jean Grant to My Blog!
A little about this trilogy…
Each book is a standalone, but they can be read in or out of order. The trilogy spans 1263 – 1322 A.D. from Vikings to Scottish Independence to upheaval in England. Each story tells a tale of a MacCoinneach family member “gifted but afflicted” with a mystical ability that comes at a cost: to heal but lose your own breaths in return, to feel auras/lifebloods but to feel others’ pain, and to see the future but be unable to prevent the visions unless refraining from touch. Conquering Norse, Scottish lore, Ancient mystics, and invading English…the trilogy has a bit of everything. Can our mystical family hone their gifts for good, escape curses, discover mercy, find home, and find love?
[image error]
A few questions & answers…
You’re going to Mars with the first SpaceX group. The essentials will be provided, but you’re allowed to bring one personal item. What will you bring?
Chapstick/lip balm or Coffee. It’s a tie. Ugh, I need both!
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Gardening! I am in love with flowers. I’ve expanded to raspberries, blueberries, apple trees, and this year – a raised bed veggie garden. I love nature and plants oh so very much. I also hike and travel (when we can…). My family loves the great outdoors, especially the national parks. I’ve included a photo collage of my day lilies from this summer. I love the variety!
What’s your favorite place to visit?
Nearby: Sugar Hill and Franconia Notch, New Hampshire in the White Mountains: hikes, water, grand views, Mt. Washington, and meadows of lupine. And also nearby: Maine, coastal and mountain. Far: New Zealand (honeymoon) and Scotland. I’ve also traveled to Guatemala on a mission trip.
If you could have dinner with any person, living or dead, who would it be?
The Rock! Dwayne Johnson. I just adore him. He’s handsome and so so charming.
What’s your favorite guilty-pleasure TV show?
Soapy Spanish dramas! Gran Hotel, Cable Girls, High Seas (all with subtitles – Gran Hotel is like Downton Abbey but with more murder twists), The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, The Last Kingdom, Virgin River, Sweet Magnolias…I’ve been bingeing a lot lately. Classics: The X-Files and LOST.
Do you believe in writer’s block?
Sort of. I call it Losing my Muse. My creative lust, passion, voice. The inner spirit that speaks to me and helps me pour words onto the page. I’m in the middle of a drought right now (thanks, COVID19 and kids/husband home 24/7). I had a month stretch of this lost muse way back a few years ago. I’ll break through. It’s all mental and emotional. I don’t see it as ideas that are blocked, but rather a. my creative muse just goes into hiding because of some external life factor or b. I have imposter/self-doubt syndrome. So much of this business, including writing, is a head game.
What is your dream job, other than being a writer?
I went to school first to swim with sharks (to be an ichthyologist). Truly, I loved (and still do) these misunderstood apex predators and keepers of the marine ecosystem. I tacked on a biology major to that marine science major and ended up loving microbes. Then I studied microbiology and immunology in graduate school. Fast-forward many years and now I write novels. Writing was always my passion even when young, but so was science. Now, I try to keep the science alive in my work, be it in my novels somehow or in non-fiction magazine articles I write. It helps that I married a scientist and my kids love all things ‘ology. My science high school teacher used to call me Jean Jean the Science Machine.
What is a “deleted” scene you took out of your latest writing project?
Hahaha. A great question. I kill a lot of darlings. It hurts! But it is always for the better. I save them all in files on my computer. For this latest book, A Hundred Lies, I purged all of Chapter One and had to sprinkle it in throughout the book. I was sad to let Chapter One and Domhnall’s backstory go! Sniff sniff. My editor thought it was all backstory (it was) and a bit of an info dump. It was hard to let some of those scenes go, especially the first one. Readers won’t even know and it’s for the better.
[image error]
Blurb
1322, Scotland
Rosalie Threston’s fortune-telling lies have caught up with her. Uprooted yet again, she’s on the run from a ruthless English noblewoman. She flees to Scotland and seeks refuge in the arms of a laird’s son who happens to be a real Seer.
A bloody past and inevitable future plague Domhnall Montgomerie. He avoids physical contact with others to ease the painful visions. When an accidental touch reveals only delight, he wonders if Rose is the key to silencing the Sight.
Mystical awakening unravels with each kiss. But can Domhnall embrace his gift in time to save her life, even it means exposing her lies?
Author Bio
[image error]
Jean’s background is in science and she draws from her interests in history, nature, and her family for inspiration. She writes historical and contemporary romances and women’s fiction. She also writes articles for family-oriented travel magazines. When she’s not writing or chasing after children, she enjoys tending to her flower gardens, hiking, and doing just about anything in the outdoors.
Buy/Book Links:
Amazon Barnes and Noble iBooks Kobo Google Bookbub Goodreads
Connect with Jean on Social Media
Website Twitter Facebook Goodreads Bookbub Instagram Amazon Author Page
August 6, 2020
Interview with Author John Selby
Thanks for joining me today, John! Let’s get to know you and your writing a little bit better. How did you get interested in writing fiction?
I started writing in 7th grade. At the time, not only was I being bullied mercilessly, but I was also very bored during classes. So I started writing during classes and breaks. I was a Star Trek fan, so naturally, I created my own version. I carried around a large loose-leaf notebook with me wherever I went in school. Over the next two years, I think I wrote about 600 pages in tiny handwriting, single-spaced. It would probably be well over 1,000 pages if printed in a book. I think I still have it somewhere, but I doubt even I can read my handwriting from then.
Oh, I did something similar! But I can’t say I have 600 pages. That’s awesome! Are you an outliner or a pantser?
Normally I wear shorts, although not always… Oh, you mean do I outline or just write by the “seat of my pants.” I do both. I have an outline, but once I start writing, the flow will often take me in a completely different direction. I will follow the flow as far as it goes, then revise the outline.
Haha! That gave me a good chuckle. Which element of novel-writing do you consider most challenging? (Plot, setting, characters, dialogue, etc.)
Without question, it’s editing. When I write, I am mostly writing off the top of my head, which means I am paying less attention to sentence structure, spelling (thank goodness for spell check), or grammar. When I get to a freeze point, where the flow has stopped, then I will go back and edit. However, it is so difficult to edit your own work. Your eyes just seem to skip over the mistakes. It’s so much easier editing other people’s work!
It’s always fun to get to know other people’s writing process. Freeze point. I like that phrase 
August 5, 2020
An Interview with Dr. Lillian Morgan From The Warrior’s Progeny
Thanks so much for joining me today on my blog! Let’s get to know you a little bit. What’s your name?
Hello, my name is Dr. Lillian Morgan, but my friends call me Lilly.
It’s great to meet you. What are you a doctor of?
I am lucky enough to be a pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon, and work with kids all day.
That must be hard, working with sick children and scared parents.
It can be at times. The goal is to keep everyone calm and worry about things when we actually need to worry about them. Children are amazing resilient beings, and the parents of a child warrior is something to behold.
You went to Hawaii recently and had quite an experience?
Oh, you heard about that. Yes, my dear friends were getting married. My kids, Travis and Chelsea, and I hadn’t had a vacation since my husband passed four years ago. So, we packed up and headed for Kauai for the wedding.
And you met Seattle’s newest football star, Colton Stone. What did you think?
Yes. Colt. Well, he hit my friend in the face with a football. In all fairness, it was his friend, Aulelei Tua’s bad throw but he missed catching it and hit Que right in the face. Not that she’d notice.
And?
And what…
And what did you think of Colt? Be honest.
Fine, he’s hot, but he’s like 6’7” and huge and I’m, only, what, 5’6”, and a hundred and ten pounds soaking wet. He’s all flame and fire and I’m an educated woman. It’s been a long time since I’ve been with a man and I’m not sure I’m ready for it.
I’m sorry about your husband. What happened to him?
David, my husband, was diagnosed with stage four, pancreatic cancer, when the kids were just three and four years old. He died in less than a year. We had the perfect marriage, and I don’t know, maybe I’m just scared to try again. Somehow it doesn’t feel right to do that to David.
That’s too bad because you looked like things were heating up between you and Stone?
Colt’s amazing, he really is. He’s not what I originally thought and he sure as hell isn’t anything like his public image. He can be arrogant, but he can also be very sweet. You should see Travis and Chelsea around him, they absolutely adore the man. But I’m being cautious. Like I said, I’ve not really dated anyone since David passed and Colt and I are very different. However, I can’t lie, there is something about Colt that’s a part of me.
Why do you think the author chose to tell your story?
It’s unusual, isn’t it? I mean to most people we live relatively normal lives. When things started happening…the dreams, the emotions…somehow we stepped into something different. I can’t say, except that I feel so weird, and not like myself at all.
Weird? Weird how?
I’ve never in my life been jealous but I’ve had these terrible thoughts. And every once in a while I’d swear I see things in the shadows, like dark ribbons of energy or smoke. I’m having these dreams that feel so incredibly real and I don’t know, it scares me. Something’s gonna happen. I feel it…something’s coming.
–I’d like to say thank you so much to Sydney and all her readers for taking some time out to be with me today. I appreciate you more than you know.
Blurb
Colton Stone is a newly traded tight end whose reputation is as battered as his football helmet. When he receives a vacation invitation from his new teammates, he accepts. There he collides with Dr. Lillian Morgan, a pediatric cardiovascular surgeon, and doesn’t know what to think.
A widow with two children, Lilly is looking forward to her friends’ wedding. When she meets Colton Stone, his arrogant attitude only makes her long for the love she took for granted. Lilly struggles between letting go of her perfect past for an uncertain future.
Strange events occur, out of the realm of normal consciousness. When black energy touches their world Colt and Lilly become the pawns of the immortal Greek gods. Is the love developing between them natural, or part of a larger prophecy?
Excerpt From The Warrior’s Progeny
Lilly looked down at the football, lying prone and guilty in the sand, as realization hit her.
“Oh my God, Que! Are you okay?”
She examined Que’s head and neck checking for injuries, with rapid authority. A small goose egg already formed just above her right temple. A tiny cut opened in her eyebrow, from her broken sunglasses now laying in the sand, causing a small bead of blood to well up.
Used to the recklessness of her son and his friends regarding the sport, Lilly turned, gearing up for an impressive tongue lashing to teenagers.
“What in the hell…” she bellowed, turning around and smacking her face into the sweaty muscular chest of a massive redhead. Refusing to let the fourteen-inch height difference and the hundred and sixty pounds of additional weight intimidate her, Lilly balled her small fists on her hips, shifted her gaze up, and narrowed her eyes.
“What in the hell is the matter with you? You’re on a crowded beach with a bunch of young children and families. You’re a grown-ass man. Can’t you catch a football?” When he stared down at her in fascinated disbelief, she continued. “There is a wide-open park just over there,” she said, stabbing her finger in the general vicinity. “Maybe you and your little friends”— she looked over at all the massive men in his group, but continued undaunted—“should go over there and pull your heads out of your asses.”
Author Bio
[image error]
Award-winning author, Jeny Heckman, was born in Bellingham, Washington, and was the youngest of two daughters. She met her husband, Jeff, in August 1992, and eloped three months later, at Magen’s Bay, on St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.
She wrote her first book, the Catch, in a few short months but took several years before she gained the courage to self-publish it at her son’s urging, and her love for writing began.
In 2018, Jeny knew her next project would be a series that showed adults could have adventures in the paranormal-fantasy genre too. So, she created the Heaven & Earth series, a story of doomed Greek gods and their only salvation, their modern-day descendants. Her first book of the series, the Sea Archer, was immediately picked up by the New York publishing house, the Wild Rose Press, and won, “Best in Category” from the 2018 Chanticleer International Book Awards.
In the year 2020, Jeny released, Dancing Through Tears, a short story from the anthology, Australia Burns: Volume Two, highlighting the Route 91 massacre from the perspective of one family at the concert, and at Mandalay Bay. She also intends to release, the Warrior’s Progeny, and Dee’s Cornucopia, in 2020, continuing the Heaven & Earth Series.
Jeny lives in Washington State with her husband of over twenty-eight years.
Book Trailer:
Social Media Links
Website: https://jenyheckman.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heckman.jeny
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jenyheckman
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenyheckman
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeny-heckman/
Pintrest: https://www.pinterest.com/jenyheckman17
GoodReads: https://bit.ly/3fd8RJA
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jeny-heckman
YouTube: https://bit.ly/30vNfUI
Newsletter Sign-up: http://eepurl.com/dDTPI9
Buy Links
Amazon Kindle: https://amzn.to/3dEdzzL
Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-warriors-progeny-jeny-heckman/1137148709?ean=2940162896401
iBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-warriors-progeny/id1517325582
July 29, 2020
Book Review of You Stole My Heart by Kristal Dawn Harris
My Review
I’m a sucker for this type of story. I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect when I opened this novella, but I’m happy I stumbled across it. The novella was not only well written, but it had a story that both broke my heart and warmed it at the same time. Short and sweet with realistic and loveable characters right off the bat, I really enjoyed it!
My rating: 5 stars
Blurb
Country music singer, Lucas Knight, was well on his way to the top when the woman he loved disappeared without a trace. Blackmailed and betrayed, Alessandra Moore fled town with a broken heart and a treasured secret. After thirteen miserable months, Alessandra returns to Tennessee only to come face to face with the man who haunts her dreams, and a love that can’t be denied. One night of passion shatters every lie, and Alessandra’s secret brings Lucas to his knees.
Can love overcome blackmail, betrayal, and a secret? Find out when Lucas and Alessandra come face to face in, YOU STOLE MY HEART!
July 27, 2020
Book Review of Professional Boundaries by Jennifer Peel
My Review
What would you do if your ex-boyfriend and your soulmate who broke your heart came back into your life ten years later to steal your promotion, become your new boss, and wreak havoc on your heart and your life?
I devoured this book. I enjoyed watching the enemies to lovers trope unfold. The hero and heroine got into a lot of fights, with sizzling chemistry flowing right off the pages. I’m looking forward to reading more of Jennifer Peel’s books!
My rating: 5 stars
Favorite Quote
“They serve breakfast here all day and everything is fabulous.” I plucked my menu out of the stand on the table. I pulled that baby in front of my face, to give myself a moment’s reprieve. Staring at his gorgeous face for long periods of time was making me do dumb things, like go to lunch with him. Who knew what else might happen?
Blurb
Kelli Bryant is all set to be the new Marketing Director of Chandler Media. After all, she has the right credentials and her colleagues love her. But her plans are derailed when her promotion is given to someone else. And not just any someone else, but her old college boyfriend, Ian Greyson, her one true love, and the last person she ever wants to see again.
Ian made a terrible mistake thirteen years ago when he walked away from Kelli, so when fate intervenes and gives him the chance to reconnect with her, he takes it. But unbeknownst to him, it means stealing her promotion.
The battle lines are drawn when the two old flames butt heads about everything from office etiquette to sales goals. Their explosive relationship spills over into their personal lives as Kelli tries to keep Ian at arm’s length while he desperately tries to win her back, outside of business hours, of course. Will they ever learn how to mix business with pleasure, or will they keep their professional boundaries?
July 25, 2020
Interview with Author S.P. Dawes
[image error]When Imogen is asked to be her best friend’s Maid of honour, she wants to ensure she gifts her with the best Hen party possible, but in doing so, it pushes her entirely out of her own comfort zone. When she’s reacquainted with her best friend’s brother though, old feelings re-surface, but when her life is put in the balance it’s not just his true colours that show and she’s left with more questions than answers.
From the Author
I love writing stories that have an element of tough truth running through them. Often things people miss because they can’t see behind closed doors. Abuse comes in many different forms and I want to give a voice to those people who are often unseen but also give them some hope and light, that things can change and things can get better and a little love along the way never hurt anyone.
We can be strong and independent, but true strength comes from unity and I truly believe that.
An Interview with S.P. Dawes
Do you base your characters on real people or make them up from scratch?
My first 2 books were based on people I know, although widely exaggerated. After that, characters just started popping up from things I read or watched then I added some personal experiences in to help put myself in their frame of reference.
Do you ever get writer’s block, and if so, how do you overcome it?
I do, often before the twist in a story, because I haven’t dreamt it up yet. So I just walk away until something pops up, usually when I’m in bed.
What genre do you write and how did you come to start writing that genre?
I love Romantic suspense thrillers with a bit of crime because I read all those singularly and together.
Who are your favorite authors?
Emilia Finn, Brittany Sahin, Julie Thorpe, Katerina Diamond and Helen Fields.
If you could relive a day from your past, which day would it be?
My wedding day. It was beautiful and I’d love to do it again.
What is the first book that made you cry?
Julie Thorpe’s Forget Me Not, cried buckets. And Nick Spalding’s book Mad Love
From Laughter.
What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer?
Julie has been incredibly helpful, as has A. R. Ford and C. R. Reilly and others.
If you could tell your younger writer self anything, what would it be?
Do it, don’t get disheartened, just appreciate the art of it.
How did publishing your first book change your process of writing?
Hugely, because people liked the story but also gave me advice to make it better, so it helped my writing to become more polished.
What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?
Trying to imagine what they’d think. Because I know from experience it’s not always what we’d expect.
Do you have a favorite character you’ve written? Tell us about them!
My favourite character would have to be Hayley, because she’s a fighter but she’s incredibly kind hearted too.
What is your current writing project about?
Finishing the series with the middle brother, who’s wife I killed off in the vine coda. He’s had a few years on his own now, so needs someone special.
Thanks so much for being on my blog! It was great to learn more about this series and the characters you have created. Good luck with your new release!
July 20, 2020
Book Review of A Foreman’s Unplanned Bride by Blythe Carver
My Review
I loved this one! Molly and Lewis were always at each other’s throats, but they were true and they were genuine. Every thought, every emotion was laid out on the table for the other to see, which only added to the richness of their relationship.
Each character, even the side characters, were written with such depth and detail. I couldn’t help but love every one. This quickly became one of my favorite enemies to friends to lovers story that I’ve read.
This is the second book I’ve read in this series, but I’m itching for more!
My rating: 5 stars
Favorite Quote
Molly adjusted the position of her hat, pinning it more securely above the mass of curls she had arranged on top of her head that morning. She had taken a great deal of care with her appearance, in fact. Her dress was by far the nicest he’d seen her in yet, complete with lace and ruffles.
Strangely, had he imagined her in such a concoction, he would never have pictured anything as lovely as what sat beside him. His imagination had originally brought to mind something like a monkey wearing a ball gown, while this? This was a revelation.
She was a woman.
Yes, a ridiculous conclusion to come to. She’d been a woman all along—at least, female. Female with long, lustrous hair which waved behind her like a flag in the wind and smelled like fresh cotton and flowers when he was close to her…
Blurb
A foreman set in his ways and a hardheaded journalist with a mind of her own can’t abide by the conditions set forth in her father’s will. But they also can’t abide with the notion of being in the same country, much less the same ranch.
Foreman Lewis Sutton’s been like a son to Richard Reed. Except he’s not his son. So when Richard dies and Lewis has to contact his estranged daughters to come claim the ranch that Lewis loves, he’s left with a bitter taste in his mouth. Sure that the estranged princesses from the east coast will send a lawyer to sell the property, Lewis finds himself in the unenviable position of knowing he’ll lose the only home he’s ever known.
Molly Reed’s got a good life in Baltimore. She’s just taken a position that she’s been pursuing for what seems like forever. A journalist spot. She’s been trying to get that job for so long, and she’s written her heart out to get it. She can’t even use her own name. She can’t even conduct interviews. She’s had to ask her friend Cory Weston to go to the interviews and ask the questions she comes up with while she plays secretary and takes notes. Cory’s in love with her, so he’d agree to just about anything.
She tells Cory she’ll be back, and she has to go settle some affairs at her father’s ranch. She doesn’t know the conditions yet.
Little do either Molly or Lewis know, the conditions of the will are that Richard’s daughters must live on the ranch for a year before doing anything with it. Then there are more conditions, but the lawyer won’t tell anyone what those are until the year is up.
