Helen Garraway's Blog, page 16

Book Review Alert: Followers of the Owl by M.G Hernandez

Reviewed: January 21st, 2024
Released: August 18th, 2022
Genre: Mystery Suspense

A girl and a boy, haunted by their past, must battle their personal demons to fight the evil hiding in plain sight.

Eighteen-year-old Dee Bailey works hard on her personal brand. She’s intelligent and passionate about her community. To her peers, she’s a great friend and everyone’s favorite social butterfly.

But when alone, she’s terrorized by a secret that leaves her cowering to the floor. Until one night, a mysterious girl in white appears on the manicured lawn of her family’s vacation home. She follows the robed figure into the woods with no clue that she’s about to change the course of her future.

Meanwhile, Brandon Cuenca is drowning in the weight of his self-sabotage. Mourning the death of his girlfriend, he throws himself deep into a world of drug binges and questionable life choices—until the news of another disappearance of a Wakefield teenager forces him to set his problems aside. The victim was the third girl abducted in their social circle.

But when a chance encounter lands him in her path, he learns that bringing her home is more complicated than finding her. What happens when the missing doesn’t want to be found?

Followers of the Owl explores greed, avarice and the human need to find light in the darkness.

Trigger Warnings: Use of profanity, drug use/alcohol use, no sex but brief sexual interactions, dysfunctional relationships, brief discussions of triggering topics: sexual/physical abuse.

Read my Thoughts…

Book Review Alert: Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Reviewed: January 20th, 2024
Released: September 14th, 2023
Genre: Romantic Fantasy

ASSISTANT WANTED: Notorious, high-ranking villain seeks loyal, level-headed assistant for unspecified office duties, supporting staff for random mayhem, terror, and other Dark Things in General. Discretion a must. Excellent benefits.

With ailing family to support, Evie Sage’s employment status isn’t just important, it’s vital. So when a mishap with Rennedawn’s most infamous Villain results in a job offer-naturally, she says yes. No job is perfect, of course, but even less so when you develop a teeny crush on your terrifying, temperamental, and undeniably hot boss. Don’t find evil so attractive, Evie.

But just when she’s getting used to severed heads suspended from the ceiling and the odd squish of an errant eyeball beneath her heel, Evie suspects this dungeon has a huge rat…and not just the literal kind. Because something rotten is growing in the kingdom of Rennedawn, and someone wants to take the Villain-and his entire nefarious empire-out.

Now Evie must not only resist drooling over her boss but also figure out exactly who is sabotaging his work… and ensure he makes them pay.

After all, a good job is hard to find…. Read My Thoughts…

Book Review Alert: Shards of Glass by Michelle Sagara

Reviewed: January 13th, 2024
Released: November 23rd, 2023
Genre: Epic Fantasy

The Academia, once an elite proving ground for the rulers of the world, has been frozen for centuries. Now its strange slumber has ended, and a new Chancellor, an orange-eyed dragon, has reopened its lecture halls and readied its dorms. In order to thrive once more, however, the Academia needs fresh blood—new students with a passion and talent for learning.

One such student, Robin, has the perfect recruit in mind: his friend Raven, an orphan who lives in the dangerous Warrens. Robin grew up in the Warrens, and he wouldn’t have made it if not for Raven. He knows she’ll be safe at the Academia, where her unusual gifts can be appreciated.

But when students start turning up dead, the campus threatens to collapse completely. Raven and Robin will not let that happen to their new home…if they can survive long enough to figure out who—or what—is trying to kill them. Read My Thoughts…

Author Interview – Carole Wolfe

Author of My Best MistakeToday, I am joined by chick lit author Carole Wolfe to talk about her My Best Series.

Helen: Welcome Carole. It was great meeting you in Miami at the Readers Favorite Book Awards. Congratulations on winning an award for your book My Best Mistake. Tell us a little about your book.

Carole: My Best Mistake – Tasha’s Story won the bronze medal in the 2023 Reader’s Favorite Fiction – Chick Lit category. It is book one in the five book My Best Series. My Best Mistake – Tasha’s Story follows single mother Tasha Gerome as she struggles to become her own person. Everyone wants something from her while she’s looking for a little peace and quiet.

Helen: Congratulations again on your medal. What were your thoughts behind your cover?

Carole: The current cover is the third cover for the book. Originally, the book cover had a pair of legs (mine) posing in pink pig slippers. It was cute, but confused readers. It also made it difficult to create the covers for the rest of the books in the series. The new cover is pink and represents the small town where Tasha lives. The rest of the books in the series have similar covers with images that represent something important to the story or main character. It makes it easy for readers to know that these five books are in the same series.

Helen: Covers can be quite diffficult to get right, but your My Best Series covers look great together. How did you come up with the series titles?

Carole: The word mistake usually has a bad connotation, but we don’t learn unless we make mistakes. The best mistake you can make is the one that changes your life. That’s what Tasha has to discover in this book. The series is called My Best Series because each character must make their best attempt at something to grow and evolve. 

Helen: I love finding out the reasoning beind covers and titles! When did you realise you had a passion for writing?

Carole: I’ve been writing since I was a kid. In the third grade, my friend and I “published” a book on typing paper and bound it with blue yarn. I still have that book, and I look at it to remind me where I started and why I still write. And the friend that I published with is one of my biggest supporters!

Helen: How wonderful. That is a great reminder of where it all started. What are you working on now?

Carole: I’m writing a new Women’s Friendship Fiction series about four friends in their fifties. They are in a running group together and are supporting each other through life’s twists and turns. The new series introduces some new characters but includes characters from the My Best Series as well. Readers don’t need to read the first series to enjoy the second one. But anyone who has read the first series might discover some fun references to past adventures.

Helen: It’s nice when you can link series! How do you come up with your ideas for your books?

Carole: Everywhere! I’ve gotten some great ideas while being in line at the grocery store, at a movie theatre and on an airplane. Plus, people are always talking on their phones, and I routinely make up the side of the conversation I can’t hear. That can be funny! I also get lots of ideas from my family. For example, one time when we went to the airport, my son announced he didn’t wear any shoes. While that didn’t make it into a book directly, it got me thinking about what happens if you forget to put on shoes. And that’s how pink pig slippers ended up on my first book cover.

Helen: Love it! Authors are always thinking ‘What if…” If we were all given the same prompt, everyone of us would come up with something different! What genre you do you typically write and why?

Carole: I write Women’s Fiction and Chick Lit. I want readers to finish my books and feel. It doesn’t necessarily matter what emotion is felt, as long as the reader finishes the story feeling different than before she or he read the book. (And I say she and he because men read Women’s Fiction as well! I have several male readers who have finished the entire series.)

Helen: Who inspired you write?

Carole : As I mentioned before, I’ve been writing since I was a kid, but two teachers fueled my writing inspirations as I grew up. My high school yearbook advisor encouraged me to apply to journalism school, and as a result, I received a scholarship. Once in college, my journalism professor told me, “Someday I’m going to read a novel you wrote.” Those two teachers encouraged me to pursue my dream of being an author.

Helen: It is so important for teachers to encourage young people to express their creatvity. I am so glad you had that support. What is the best thing that’s happened to you since you began writing?

Carole: I’ve met some incredible people and made wonderful friends. Writing is a solitary practice, so it’s great to have a group of people who understand what I’m doing and why I might not be immediately available to chat. Other writers are also great for bouncing ideas off of and asking questions about how they are handling new technology or practices in the industry.

Helen: Let’s talk a little about the writing process. Which element of the writing process do you find most challenging and why?

Carole: Character development is an ongoing challenge for me. Creating engaging characters is essential. Readers don’t always have to like the characters. But if the story’s characters aren’t interesting, readers (including myself) don’t finish the story. Making a character too likeable or too mean is problematic as well. I spend a lot of time thinking about what my characters are doing and why.

Helen: How do you fit your writing into your everyday life?

Carole: This is a great question, and the answer changes as my life changes. When my kids were younger and we were always on the go, I wrote while I waited in the carpool line, watching at soccer practice and sitting in the dentist’s office. I fit in time even if it was only for ten minutes. As the kids got older, I scheduled my writing time into two hours blocks. That worked for a while as I was writing my first series, but now that I am also marketing and promoting my books, I’ve had to change things up again. I do recommend keeping an open mind. If something isn’t working, then change it. Don’t try to keep the same schedule you’ve always had if it isn’t working.

Helen: Do you listen to music when you write, if so, what do you listen to and why?

Carole: I listen to the same music all the time. I have the soundtracks of several movies that instantly tell my brain it’s time to write. None of the songs have words, though. Otherwise, I’d be singing too much to write!

Helen: I’m the same. I listen to a lot of classical music, so I have the noise in the background, and yet sometimes, I don’t even notice when the TV goes to sleep and I’m surrounded in silence. I’m so immersed in the world I am writing about that my surroundings disappear. So far, I have been fortunate not to hit writer’s block. Have you encounter writer’s block, and if so, what do you do to overcome it?

Carole: I take a walk outside. It’s good to get away from the computer for a bit and get some exercise in. The change of scenery helps my brain. I usually come up with a solution to whatever has been bothering me. It’s like the characters need to get outside and stretch their legs as well. 

Helen: I agree, I thnk sometimes you have to let the back brain noodle on a plot knot and the solution will come to you. You can try too hard sometimes. What advice would you give new writers?

Carole: Do what works for you. There is no one way to write. Feel free to read craft books, listen to podcasts about writing and go to conferences, but you don’t have to do everything in the exact way someone else does it. It’s great to get advice, but what’s important is to do what works for you.  

Helen: Great advice. Thank you so much for chatting with me today. Just to close us out, what is the best thing that has happened to you since you began writing?

Carole: I’ve met some incredible people and made wonderful friends. Writing is a solitary practice, so it’s great to have a group of people who understand what I’m doing and why I might not be immediately available to chat. Other writers are also great for bouncing ideas off of and asking questions about how they are handling new technology or practices in the industry.

About the Author

Carole Wolfe

Carole Wolfe writes women’s fiction that makes you smile. She enjoys running at a leisurely pace, crocheting baby blankets for others and drinking wine when she can find the time. After moving nine times in twenty years, Carole and her family have settled in Texas.

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Purchase My Best Mistake via Amazon:

Link to book on Amazon UK: eBook | Paperback | Audiobook

Link to book on Amazon US: eBook | Paperback | Audiobook

As an Amazon Associate I may benefit from purchases made using these links.

If you enjoy fantasy books with a touch of romance then you will love SoulBreather, or my epic fantasy Sentinal series. As a new threat against Remargaren is discovered, only one man can wake the ancient guards who can protect them, only he doesn’t know how. Start the adventure and stay for the journey.

Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and get notified when my next books are published.

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Thank you for all your support in 2023!

It’s that time of year when you look back at what you achieved last year and plan for the new year.

But before I do that I just want to say thank you to everyone who has read my books and left a rating/review. Your support makes writing so fulfilling, and your enthusiam for my characters makes me want to write more! I hope you signed up to my newsletter (If you haven’t scroll down!) and downloaded the bonus novella I wrote in the world of Remargaren as my Christmas gift to you.

I also want to thank the kind person who gifted me a subscription for my annual website fees. I am so happy you enjoy the content I post to my blog and on my website and I am thrilled that you chose to support my writing journey. I don’t know who you are, but I thank you so very much for your support.

If anyone is interested in supporting my writing efforts, I do have a Patreon, which is limping along without any subscribers, so I haven’t been posting much lately, but once someone subscribes, and peeks at all the content I posted last year, I will be much more active in 2024, I promise! Patreon levels start from £2 per month, so you can choose how much you donate.

Anyhow, back to what I achieved in 2023, and what’s in store for 2024?

I published four books! Yes four!! and two novellas and one audiobook.

23rd January: SoulBreather23rd February: Sentinals Banished7th June: Men of Magic and Myth (MM Anthology- Novella: Familiar Troubles)10th June: SoulBreather-Audiobook 15th June: DragonBound11th October: Sentinals Destiny23rd December: Sentinals and Guardians, Novella 2.5 (Free for Newsletter subscribers)

My books won Awards!!

Sentinals Justice: Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal – Epic FantasySentinals Justice: Global Book Awards: Gold Medal – Sword and SorcerySoulBreather: Global Book Award Silver Medal – Fantays Myth & LegendSoulBreather: Readers’ Favorite Finalist Medal– Fantasy/Sci-FiSoulBreather: Readers’ Favorite Five star ReviewSentinals Across Time: Finalist for the 2022 CIBA OZMA Book Awards for Fantasy FictionSentinals Across Time: Readers’ Favorite Five star Review

It has been a busy year, a highlight of which was going to Miami to be presented with the Gold medal for Sentinals Justice.

So what’s in store for 2024? Well I have plans for four more books!

A standalone dystopian fantasy. Cover reveal to follow soon! Planned release Spring 2024OblivonGate – Book three of the SoulMist series. On preorder. Planned release date July 1, 2024. Sentinals prequel-Part I. Release date TBCSentinals Prequel-Part II. Release date TBC

Other goals:

I am planning out a new epic fantasy series.Online shop on website – make it easier to buy signed paperback and audio direct from me!Create a Booktok storeDevelop plan to crack wide salesAudio for Dragonbound

So plenty to keep me busy outside of the day job! 

2024 is a year full of opportunity and a lot more writing. I look forward to sharing the results with you throughout the year. Once again – Thank you for all your support, I hope you stay with me as we continue this amazing journey.

If you enjoy fantasy books then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series or the Romantic Fantasy SoulMist series. As a new threat against Remargaren is discovered, only one man can wake the ancient guards who can protect them, only he doesn’t know how. Start the adventure and stay for the journey. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and get notified when my next books are published.

Sign up to my newsletter and download Sentinals Stirring for free

By clicking the sign up button above, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and the newsletter platform provider to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.

By signing up to my newsletter, you agree to receive commercial information from Helen Garraway, located at 61 Bridge St, Kingston, Hertfordshire, UK (Data Administrator

Book Review Alert: Dead Serious Case #4: Professor Prometheus Plume by Vawn Cassidy

Reviewed: January 1st, 2024
Released: December 31st, 2023
Genre: MM Paranormal Fantasy 

Inspector Danny Hayes has something very important to ask his boyfriend Tristan Everett. Over the past six months they’ve survived reapers, chaos monsters, and biblical storms, not to mention averting an apocalypse. So, what’s left to do but pop the big question?

Tristan is ready for a break from world-saving, spectral crises, and most definitely from ghosts. He wants some one-on-one time with his boyfriend, preferably horizontally. So when their Boxing Day celebrations result in a drunken booking of a romantic New Year’s getaway at a quiet little hotel near the wilds of the north Yorkshire moors, Tristan can’t wait.

But as usual nothing ever goes according to plan. Snowed in during an unexpected murder mystery weekend at what turns out to be one of the most haunted hotels in Northern England is not what they had in mind, but when one of the actors turns up really dead not just fake dead, they once again find themselves caught up in another investigation.

With only one night to figure out who the killer is while wrangling a multitude of overly helpful ghosts, Tristan begins to wonder if romance really is dead…  Read My Thoughts …

Book Review Alert: The Mid Witch by DJ Bowman-Smith

Reviewed: December 30th, 2023
Released: August 20th, 2023
Genre: Paranormal Women’s fiction

One Woman’s Struggle with Midlife and Magic

Lilly is facing the fact that her husband is a philandering bastard, and she needs to move on now her children have flown the nest. Losing her job has not helped her dire financial straits, and her almost ex-husband wants to sell her ancient family home against her wishes. As she grapples with rude estate agents, stray dogs and hot flushes, a new problem emerges – she’s becoming a witch.

This paranormal women’s fiction is a funny and poignant take on midlife with a pinch of spice, a touch of magic and a relatable older heroine you can root for.

Read My Thoughts …

Sentinals Across Time receives Readers’ Favorite Five Star Review

For immediate release:

Author’s new book receives a warm literary welcome.

Readers’ Favorite announces the review of the Fiction – Fantasy – Epic book “Sentinals Across Time” by Helen Garraway, currently available at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/173993444X.

Readers’ Favorite is one of the largest book review and award contest sites on the Internet. They have earned the respect of renowned publishers like Random House, Simon & Schuster, and Harper Collins, and have received the “Best Websites for Authors” and “Honoring Excellence” awards from the Association of Independent Authors. They are also fully accredited by the BBB (A+ rating), which is a rarity among Book Review and Book Award Contest companies.

“Reviewed By K.C. Finn for Readers’ Favorite

Sentinals Across Time is a work of fiction penned by author Helen Garraway in the epic fantasy, action, and adventure subgenres, and it forms the fourth novel in the Sentinal Series. The work is best suited to the general adult reading audience. We find ourselves immersed in the vibrant, ancient world of Remargaren, a realm saturated with magic and filled with high-fantasy adventures. Jerrol, torn between duty and family, becomes stranded across land and time due to a conspiracy involving Lady Leyandrii and the Oath, threatening the Birtolian Empire. As he navigates the unfamiliar landscapes and cultures, Jerrol is faced with the challenge of preventing the impending devastation of the gentle Birtolian people.

Author Helen Garraway has crafted a captivating fantasy experience, immersing me in a richly detailed world filled with intricate characters and a finely woven tapestry of magic and lore. Garraway’s storytelling is tender and emotive in all the right places, allowing the reader to empathize with Jerrol’s predicament and root for the preservation of the Birtolian Empire. I was impressed by the different angles of culture, lore, politics, and social structures, which allowed Jerrol to tackle themes like duty, sacrifice, and the consequences of wielding magic, creating a compelling and immersive read. The pacing was also well crafted to intersperse these explorations with lots of actions and interesting twists, which leaves plenty of space for these poignant moments to shine but keeps us captivated for the next big action shift. Overall, for an intricate and imaginative novel that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish, I would highly recommend Sentinals Across Time and the series in general to fantasy readers everywhere.”

You can learn more about Helen Garraway and “Sentinals Across Time” at https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/sentinals-across-time where you can read reviews and the author’s biography, as well as connect with the author directly or through their website and social media pages.

Readers’ Favorite LLC 
Media Relations
Louisville, KY 40202 
800-RF-REVIEW 
support@readersfavorite.com
https://readersfavorite.com

Download Press Release

You can find the complete Sentinal Series in ebook or on Kindle Unlimited or purchase the print copies from a vendor of choice:

Book One: Sentinals Awaken

Book Two: Sentinals Rising

Book Three: Sentinals Justice

Book 3.5: Sentinals Recovery

Boook Four: Sentinals Across Time

Book Five: Sentinals Banished

Book Six: Sentinals Destiny

If you enjoy fantasy books then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series or the Romantic Fantasy SoulMist series. As a new threat against Remargaren is discovered, only one man can wake the ancient guards who can protect them, only he doesn’t know how. Start the adventure and stay for the journey. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and get notified when my next books are published.

Sign up to my newsletter and download Sentinals Stirring for free

By clicking the sign up button above, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and the newsletter platform provider to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.

By signing up to my newsletter, you agree to receive commercial information from Helen Garraway, located at 61 Bridge St, Kingston, Hertfordshire, UK (Data Administrator

Book Review Alert: Death Before Dragons by Lindsay Buroker

Reviewed: December 29th, 2023
Released: March 10th, 2021
Genre: Urban Fantasy

I’m Val Thorvald, and I kill bad guys for a living.

My half-elven blood, magical sword, and telepathic tiger give me an edge, at least against most villains. But when dragons show up in Seattle, the city is in serious trouble—and so am I. Dragons are bigger, stronger, and more powerful than anything I’ve battled, and they don’t appreciate it when you sass them.

Just ask Lord Zavryd’nokquetal. That’s a name, not a cat hacking up a hairball, and if you mispronounce it, he’ll either insult you, incinerate you, or throw your Jeep up in a tree. Trust me, I know.

Unfortunately, he’s taken an interest in me. Not in the “half-elves are sexy and appealing and I need a new girlfriend” kind of way. Nope, he wants to use me. He’s on a mission, and he’s decided I’ll make the perfect bait to lure his enemies to him.

That’s about as good for your longevity as it sounds, and I’d love to decline the gig, but dragons can magically coerce people into doing their bidding. If I can’t figure out how to get him to leave me alone, I’ll either end up his servant for the rest of my life… or dead. And who’s going to protect Seattle then?

This bundle includes the first three novels in the Death Before Dragons urban fantasy series:

Sinister Magic
Battle Bond
Tangled Truths

Death Before Dragons features adventure, snark, and even a little romance. The series is now complete and perfect for those who enjoy binge reading! Read My Thoughts …

Book Review Alert: Dead Serious Case #3: Mr Bruce Reyes by Vawn Cassidy

Reviewed: December 24th, 2023
Released: July 21st, 2023
Genre: MM Paranormal Fantasy 

Tristan Everett was finally getting used to the strangeness that was his life. Being able to see the dead and helping them solve their unfinished business and cross into the light wasn’t so bad after all, especially when he was accompanied by his best friend, dead drag queen Dusty Le Frey. His boyfriend, sexy Scotland Yard detective Danny Hayes, now knew the truth about Tristan’s “gift,” and they were about to move in together officially.

Life was good.

That is until Death—honest to god, Death (aka The Grim Reaper)—pitches up in Tristan’s kitchen with an unusual request: stop Dusty’s ghostly hookup Bruce from crossing into the light, which may result in dire consequences. i.e. an accidental apocalypse.

Determined to do the exact opposite, and avoid potentially the end of the world, Tristan and Danny assemble their own ragtag gang of one prickly witch, one snarky psychic private investigator, one living drag queen with an affinity for feathers, and one dead one with an affinity for a deceased rugby player in tiny shorts. Together they must solve a forty-year old cold case, while juggling a dose of the flu, a broken leg, a supernatural storm, and an immortal death deity with the looks and temperament of a sexy but grouchy CEO.

Seriously… what could possibly go wrong? Read My Thoughts…