Diane Rapp's Blog: She's a Mystery and Science Fiction Writer! - Posts Tagged "romance"

I can’t believe it! I’ve been tagged by four people for this blog. It’s lots of fun and here are the links to the four great authors who tagged me.

Jaq Hawkins: http://indiewritenet.com/jaqdhawkins/
Allison Bruce: http://alisonebruce.blogspot.ca/2012/...
C.J. Sullivan: http://cjsullivanauthor.blogspot.com/...
Charles Dougherty: www.clrdougherty.com

Other talented authors who agreed to participate in this:
Regina Puckett: http://reginapuckettsbooks.weebly.com...
Kathleen Patel: http://anirishpatel.blogspot.com/

Here are my answers about my next book. I’ve started writing, and it’s coming along (I’m on chapter 4 so far.)

What is the title of your next book?

I recently published Dragon Defense, the third book in my Heirs to the Throne sci-fi/fantasy trilogy. Now I’ve shifted focus back to my High Seas Mystery series, working on Murder For Glacier Blue.

Where did the idea come from for the book?

I always planned to take my characters cruising up the Alaska Inside Passage. A wedding is planned for the main characters and I hope events don’t mess with their plans too much.

What genre does your book fall under?

The book is a “cozy” mystery with a female sleuth (but it’s also a romance).

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie
rendition?

I’d like Piper Parabo to play Kayla and Matt Bomer to play Steven. (What a sexy combo.) Of course Matt would need to learn a saucy British accent (be still my heart).

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Kayla and Steven encounter rough seas as an art heist, murder, and an ex-wife generate "wedding turbulence" in the icy waters along Alaska’s coastline.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

I will self-publish. I’ve been down the agency route and have greater success on my own.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

I’m in the planning stages right now, working on an outline and doing research on landscape artists of the Northwest. I never look at the “how long” just concentrate on the “get it finished.”

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

I read other authors who write cruise ship mysteries but we’re all different. My books are light and romantic, like Romancing the Stone combined with The Love Boat.

Who or What inspired you to write this book?

My daughter Laura gave me the idea for the first book in the series. After we wrote a guidebook to the Caribbean together, Laura started to write a mystery novel. She hated writing fiction so she gave the idea to me. Now I've completed two books and have plenty of places to send my characters. I recently cruised Alaska for "research"—it's the part of the job that I love!

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

I live in a small subdivision in East Texas where retirees play golf every day. I decided to add a crazy bunch of golfers decide to take the Alaska cruise so they can play golf at midnight in Denali National Park. There really is a golf course where people can do just that. I expect my golfers to have lots of fun on the ship—maybe a rich Texan will be one of the murder suspects? When I took my recent cruise, various people volunteered to be the victim in the book--one offered to be the womanizer playboy but my husband steered me clear of that one.

The Books-a-Fire authors will be posting excerpts on their blogs during the next couple of weeks. I'll add an excerpt for each of my books so check back. Go to www.booksafire.com to find the special deals.

The Aurora is docked on Dominica:

At the bottom of the gangway, Kayla paused to gaze at the escarpment above the dock. Fort Shirley sat atop the bluff, an irregular black outline silhouetted against a cloudless blue sky. She checked her watch and decided to take an easy morning walk through the ruins. Once on top she wandered through the lonely stone skeleton, a solitary tourist taking photos of the ship and Portsmouth Bay.

From her lofty perch on top of the dungeon walls, Kayla surveyed the vast expanse of Dominica’s high country. In contrast to relatively flat coral islands, Dominica resembled a collection of craggy mountains plucked from the heart of the Alps and dumped into the ocean by some mischievous giant. Kayla felt a pang of homesickness for the snow-covered mountains of Colorado.

Rusty cannons stood sentinel along Fort Shirley’s moss-covered skeleton of chiseled rock. Ghostly breezes whispered eerie tales of slavery and revolt, of soldiers marching through a jungle filled with twisting ravines, and of hostile Carib Indians stalking their prey through dense foliage. A twig snapped. Leaves chattered over cobblestones as a gust of wind whipped them into a miniature tornado, and a tree branch tapped an eerie warning overhead. Kayla suddenly felt sure someone was watching.

Glancing around, she felt vulnerable, wandering alone through the ruins. Trying to walk with a normal pace, Kayla headed back down the deserted path, but her pace quickened into a near run as she yearned to reach the safety of the cruise ship pier. A man stepped from behind a tree and blocked her path.

Be sure to visit the following links to read excerpts from other authors in Books-a-Fire.

Calinda B http://blog.calindab.com/?p=1421

J. Heather Leigh http://jheatherleigh.blogspot.com/p/b...

Charles Dougherty http://www.clrdougherty.com/p/excerpt...

Tami Kidd http://www.tamikidd.com/?page_id=5

Jennifer Donohoe http://wp.me/p2zxAX-4Q

Reb MacRath www.rebmacrath.blogspot.com

Kayla experiences a vision from the Lady:

Taking the stairs two at a time, Kayla nearly tripped. The world tilted on its axis, her vision blurred, and her stomach lurched. She grabbed the handrail. Icy coldness stung her fingers and she jerked free. A miasma enveloped her senses. The smell of lavender and kelp drifted like a heavy mist through the open glass doors from the moonlit deck outside. Light fixtures shaped like seashells flickered, illuminating gold carpet and avocado green walls. She clutched a folded note between gloved fingers…

I’m not wearing gloves! Kayla thought and shuddered. A loud “ding” announced the arrival of the elevator. Expecting to see the Lady standing inside, Kayla tried to run but stood frozen in place. The doors slid open and her mouth felt too dry to swallow. Her vision blurred—and cheerful passengers walked lazily from the elevator to the sunny deck outside. A balmy breeze filled the corridor and a shaft of golden sunshine gleamed across salmon-colored carpet and coral walls.

Kayla’s knees buckled. She gripped the solid wood handrail to steady wobbly legs and gulped deep breaths. What happened to me? Glancing at her shaking bare hands, Kayla wished she’d read the note before it disappeared.



Be sure to visit the following links to read excerpts from other authors in Books-a-Fire and visit our website to find bargains www.booksafire.com

Calinda B http://blog.calindab.com/?p=1421

J. Heather Leigh http://jheatherleigh.blogspot.com/p/b...

Charles Dougherty http://www.clrdougherty.com/p/excerpt...

Tami Kidd http://www.tamikidd.com/?page_id=5

Jennifer Donohoe http://wp.me/p2zxAX-4Q

Reb MacRath www.rebmacrath.blogspot.com

The Forever Stone by Gloria Repp

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Mystery mixed with pathos and bravery

This evocative story explores the growth of its heroine from a victim to a victor. She forces herself to face her demons, strike out on a new path, and face fear. It's evocative and spiritual. I knew Gloria Repp was a talented writer, having really enjoyed her children’s stories, and she proves she can write a compelling adult novel with this story.

This suspenseful novel is grown up but it doesn’t smack the writer with explicit scenes or gratuitous violence. There is danger and tension enough for anyone who enjoys a suspense novel. There is also psychological growth of the character through her faith in God. Don't be afraid of the spiritual nature of the story, it helps the character to mature and face the pain from her past. Highly recommended.




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Stutter Creek by Ann Swann

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Romance and suspense that packs a punch

Hoping to recover from the stress of losing her father, getting divorced, and having her daughter move to another country, Beth retreats to the peace and quiet of her cabin in Stutter Creek. Little does she know that her safety is in jeopardy. A serial killer is roaming the woods near her cabin and intends to make her victim number three on his growing list.

John and Beth fell in love as teenagers but they lost track of each other. After John retired from the military, he returned to Stutter Creek and started restoring his cabin. He never married and still holds fond memories of Beth, but he's sure it's too late for him. Destroyed by her husband's infidelity, Beth dreams of John and wishes she could see him again. Just when Beth reconnects with John, she's targeted by a sadistic serial killer.

Beth is also mourning her father and thinks she might be going crazy when she starts receiving messages from the beyond. This is a thriller combined with a poignant story of lost love. It will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last pages. I'm a fan of Ann Swann's writing and she doesn't let us down in this tale. Grab a bowl of popcorn while you're reading so you don't chew your fingernails.




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Knowing Vera by Rachelle Ayala

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Drama, mystery, and sizzling romance...

Characters introduced in HIDDEN UNDER HER HEART become the main focus in this intense romantic suspense. Vera is afraid to commit to a relationship, but she's also starving for love. She's had a sizzling fling with a former triathlete, Zach Spencer, but she can't let herself love him. He thinks it's because he lost his leg in a tragic accident, but Vera's a nurse and doesn't care about his injury. Her problem is more serious. She's afraid to tell Zack that her father murdered his mother, but deep down she doesn't believe her father really did it.

Vera has been receiving messages from her father, but she witnessed him jumping from Golden Gate Bridge when she was a young girl. Did he survive? Her quest for truth leads her to Australia, where she hopes to uncover the real killer, but Zach and Cliff come along to "protect" her. Two hunky guys each wrangle to get her alone. They claim they want to keep her safe and help find her father. Can she trust either one? Who really murdered Zach's mother? Vera might have witnessed the murder but she can't remember what happened.

As Vera navigates through a maze of deceit and danger, she loses her heart and her willpower. The intense sexual attraction leads to steamy encounters with...no I'm not telling. These scenes might just melt your Kindle if you're not careful! This is a story filled with romance, lust, suspense, and heart-stopping danger. It's a highly recommended read by a talented writer!




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All For Love by Ann Swann

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Audio Version Experience

I was given the audio version of this book in exchange for an honest review. First I must say that Ann Swann's writing is captivating, making the reader care about her characters and the story catches your interest. As I listened I felt myself wishing I was reading the book rather than listening. The voice of the reader was too even and carried little emotion. My mental voice would have added much more emotion to the story as events unraveled. I was also listening on my Kindle and found I had to turn the Kindle over so the speakers were on top in order to hear. I understand that many people prefer to listen to their books, so don't hesitate to get this one. The reader's voice was clear and easy to understand. When I paused the story and came back later, the Kindle kept my place without problems. When I missed something important, I was able to skip back 30 seconds and re-listen. Audio books also give you a chance to work on a mindless project while listening to an interesting book.

This story hit a chord with me, as all the stories spun by Ms. Swann do. It followed the love, divorce, and heartaches of a family while they learned lessons from past mistakes. I'm grateful I didn't need to suffer those same heartaches to appreciate the lessons learned. Someone who experiences loss might find comfort in the outcome, although it was touch and go. Whether you buy this as a "read it yourself" or plan to listen to the audio version, I recommend the book for new readers.




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Best Dating Rules by Tamie Dearen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Light, breezy, and loads of fun

After finishing a somber piece about supernatural creatures trying to kill the hero of the novel, I chose this book to brighten my day. What a good choice! The Best girls are delightful and the guys who fall in love with them...well move over Tom Cruise! That's not to say that everything runs smoothly for these characters, heartache, misunderstanding, and near death situations add tense moments to the tale. Their mother is also dealing with a medical situation that worries the whole family until the end of the book (I don't want to give away the plot).

Emily and Charlie (sisters) are girls who are attempting to navigate the treacherous world of dating by using a list of firm rules to keep them out of trouble--the Best Dating Rules--but in modern times these old fashioned rules are very hard to enforce. Will the men in the lives get frustrated and walk away? Can the girls learn to trust again after they've been hurt? These are questions every modern young woman must face. Waiting to learn the answers keeps this story interesting, but don’t get me started on the evil girl who tries to snatch Spencer away from Emily!

This book is a really "clean" read, one that any mother could recommend to her daughter. In fact it might give that daughter insight into dating that she doesn't get from TV and movies now days. The Best girls are a breath of fresh air, refusing to fall into bed with every young man who strikes their fancy. If you're looking for a "clean" romantic comedy, I recommend this one without reserve.




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Aerenden: The Child Returns by Kristen Taber

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Epic fantasy worth reading

If you enjoy epic fantasy, you should start reading this series. Meagan is an ordinary college student preparing to become a psychologist--until her world is torn apart and magic inserts itself into her life. How would you feel if you were forced to run for your life and nothing is normal? As Meg follows Nick into a magical world full of danger, she learns the truth about her heritage and doesn't exactly like what she learns.

Telling too much about this story would be unfair to readers. You must unravel the facts about Meg's life and experience the feelings that grow as she fights for survival. Becoming a woman in a scary world means growing up fast and learning skills—the kind of skills that mean the difference between life and death.

This is the first part of an epic journey into Aerenden, a world of magic and violence, heartache and love. The story finds a satisfactory place to stop by the end of this first book, but you'll want to read the rest. I do




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