Reyna Hawk's Blog, page 5

Rico my Rico~~~ Janie’s diary

So I finally met the men Daniel works for. It was kind of weird to finally meet those that I knew basically held our life in their hands. If not for them we’d probably still be stuck in Louisiana, living in misery. Phil seems like a nice guy, I couldn’t pick up much on him. He just seemed ok and nothing vivid popped out at me about him. Now Anthony on the other hand; this isn’t a man to be messed with. I can tell he can be very dangerous. His business isn’t exactly what he makes it out to be. But it is what it is and Daniel got into this; I sure hope if he ever wants out that he can get out alive.

Now let me talk about Rico! All I can say is wow! He is so fine! He’s a bit older than me, but wow he literally took my breath away and gave me a hot flash. I know we’ll someday be together; I saw it in one of my visions. I don’t know when or for how long we will be together, but I know it’s soon and our relationship will be quite intense. It’ll be nothing like Scott and mine’s relationship. Ugh, speaking of Scott; I’ve got to completely break up with him. I’ve got to end things with him for good before moving on with Rico. Ahhh Rico, wow. The thought of him makes my head spin.

The meeting is upon us~~ Daniel’s diary

I know Janie is hiding Scott’s abuse and with good reason. I will make his life hell! He is lucky he is on the road right now. What I should do is hunt him down and show him what happens when he puts his hands on my sister. Oh, but he’ll be back and when he is, me and him are going to have a man to man talk. I won’t put up with this! My father beat my mother and I’ll be damned if I watch some jerk do the same to my sister.

This will be the week Janie finally meets the boys. I surely hope everything goes well. These are not the type of men to be fooled with; they mean business. This family may be dangerous but it is my life and it’s what got us out of the mess we were in. They are what brought us the freedom we have now, so I can only hope she makes a good impression.

There are so many things that I should be telling Janie. I’m just not sure she will understand all of it. She’s not a kid anymore, but lies have been told for so long I’m not sure how she will handle it. All I want is for her to be happy and to find the one man that can help her to settle down and start a family. I know Rico very well and he truly would be a great match for her. I know one thing for certain Scott is not the man for her.

4 stars for Shattered Visions Haunted Memories

Here is an awesome review by Erin at Bookluvr’s Haven

Shattered Visions Haunted Memories gets 4 stars and I, the author get two thumbs up!!

Click image to purchase

SYNOPSIS

Just when Janie thought she had all she ever dreamt, the powers that be would suddenly change her course; throwing Janie head long into a world of uncertainty and casting a puzzling shadow on all this life she’d grown to love. Janie would soon discover nothing in her world was what it appeared. Leaving her confused, broken, and determined to find the answers in a new but familiar realm filled with secrets and deception.

Memories and turbulence lead Janie on her quest to discover the truth concerning herself, her past, the Petrilo crime family, and her brother’s murder. Is Rico’s unfinished business in Cherokee to finish the hit the Petrilos put on her? Is Malachi willing to take a bullet for his new love; or will he walk away from the danger and free himself of the drama Janie has brought to his once peaceful life? Love and deceit will lead them all to the truth.

Shattered Visions Haunted Memories is the third book of the Valentine/Petrilo series.

Book one is Looking Through Blind Eyes; book two is Reflection of Secrets.

 

“The twists and turns within this book were incredible.  The author had you guessing from beginning to end…in fact it was like that throughout the entire series, in my opinion…… All in all a fantastic series, which I highly recommend reading. Two thumbs up for author Reyna Hawk!!!”~~ Erin

Click here to read the full review

 

Not so great now ~~ Janie’s diary

Well I should of known things would go downhill. I should of trusted my instincts! Scott has become a thorn in my side…. I terrifying thorn in my side. He’s so possessive and jealous. Over some of the smallest of things. I swear I think he’s even jealous over mine and Daniel’s relationship. He bitches when he’s town that Daniel occupies too much of my time and his exact words “you two’s relationship is not normal”. What the hell does that mean? We are the typical brother and sister. Wow, I seriously need to get rid of him. But he scares me to death sometimes. He’s become violent and it’s getting harder to cover the bruises. I’ve lied to Daniel cuz I know what will happen. He’ll have a couple of guys from “work” take care of Scott. I don’t want anyone getting in trouble or going to jail over Scott. He’s not worth it!

I think I understood Daniel right this morning, I think he said I’m meeting the “guys” this week. It might be next week. Hell I know… it is soon!! I’m so excited to finally meet them. And hopefully get a reading off of them! Damn, but as excited as I am about that, I’m more excited that Scott left this morning to be on tour for like six months! Six whole months of freedom and peace!

I have to tell Daniel, just not yet. Not while his “co-workers” are in town. Eeeeekkk, that wouldn’t be the smartest thing to do.

Review for Reflection of Secrets

I love reading reviews for any of my books. Some reviewers more than others. Bookluvr’s Haven holds nothing back and I love it! Here is an awesome review for the second book of the Valentine/Petrilo Series.

Click image to read review

“The storyline was great, it was action packed and kept me on my toes…… I do highly recommend reading this series, but definitely do so from the first book. ”

 

 

Been worried too much lately~~ from Daniel’s diary

Janie seems to be doing pretty good in L.A. She loves her work at the club; which is good beings I am gone so much. It keeps her busy.  I don’t like this new guy she’s been seeing, Scott. He is so demanding of her and I just have a gut feeling that things are going to get worse. He constantly needs to know what she’s doing and where she’s at. He has absolutely no trust of her. I can see something in him that reminds me of our father. It would be a huge mistake for Scott to lay his hands on her. If he doesn’t know who I work for, he will as soon as he hits her. I will bring down three kinds of hell on him. I’ve warned her that I don’t like him and don’t trust him. But she says everything is fine and she can handle it. We’ll see about that.

My work is getting a little touchy. Me and Rico have been doing some things underhanded and right now no one is aware of it. I worry though what will happen should they ever find out. Anthony has been asking questions and I think he is getting wise to our dealings. This could end pretty badly for me should he find out the truth about some of the money that went “missing”. I’ve got to make sure Janie is taken care of and I talked to Rico about it. I know he really likes Janie. He’d be a much better match for her than this Scott character. I’m going to set up a meeting so she can meet Anthony and the boys. I think it’s time. I hope all goes well.

3 ebooks for only $4

So I received many requests to put the entire Valentine/Petrilo Series into one eBook….. and it is finally here!!

click image to purchase from Amazon

Book one: Looking Through Blind Eyes- Did the love of her life kill her beloved brother? Janie and Daniel were not only brother and sister, they were the best of friends. Coming from a troubled past to a new location; they thought their lives would finally be worth living. However, Daniel’s new work took them into the dark world of organized crime and essentially cost Daniel his life. Filled with grief over the loss of her brother and new love for Rico, the “boss’s” assistant. Janie realizes there’s more to Daniel’s death than him simply disappearing and being found dead. Soon Janie finds herself knocking at death’s door with the man she loves more than life itself the doorman.

Book two: Reflection of Secrets- Janie had high hopes of getting her life on the right path and freedom from the Petrilo Crime Family, but more tragedies and startling revelations send her plans right out the window. Janie’s past trouble and sadness lurk back from the shadows. The beautiful life Janie has come to love takes a turn leading her right back to where she started in the clutches of the Petrilos. Will Janie survive another go around with the organized crime family?

Book three: Shattered Visions Haunted Memories- Just when Janie thought she had all she ever dreamed, the powers that be would suddenly change her course; throwing Janie head long into a world of uncertainty and casting a puzzling shadow on all this life she’d grown to love. Janie would soon discover nothing in her world was what it appeared. Leaving her confused, broken, and determined to find the answers in a new but familiar realm filled with secrets and deception. Memories and turbulence lead Janie on her quest to discover the truth concerning herself, her past, the Petrilo crime family, and her brother’s murder. Is Malachi willing to take a bullet for his new love; or will he walk away from the danger and free himself of the drama Janie has brought to his once peaceful life? Love and deceit will lead them all to the truth.

Can someone say YUM?! ~~~ from Janie’s diary

I’m loving LA! It is awesome. I’ve been working at the club for a while now and really loving it. Sure, Daniel is gone a lot but our life here is great!! I’m making my own money and doing my own thing. I still don’t care for his secretiveness but I understand that’s part of his job. He can deny all he wants; but I know he’s involved with the mafia…. Ugh hate that word…. Organized crime sounds more sophisticated.

Oh, and I have met someone! His name is Scott. He’s a rockstar! And so freakin good looking!! I really like him, but there’s something about him. The visions I got from him worry me a bit. Those visions showed me he could be possessive and had a terrible temper. But we’ll see what happens. Daniel doesn’t like him or trust him. Me and Scott only been on a couple of dates, but he’s been really nice to me and never said or done anything out of line, so I wish Daniel would give his nagging a rest. I understand he’s my big brother and feels responsible for me, but damn I have to start living my life for me. Besides, it’s only been a couple of dates…. Yes, I like him and yes he definitely likes me… hell he tells me all the time… but I’m not real serious about him.  Sometimes, he comes on a bit strong and I don’t like that…  but I can handle it.

Sydney’s Song by Ia Uaro

Let me first say I normally do not post information or guest blogs about an author or a book, unless the book or author are what I call “genuinely good”.  In this case, both the book and the author fall under that category. I met Ia through social media and she truly is a great person. She is always there to root on others while standing in the shadows never tooting her own horn.

She should be screaming to the rooftops about her book Sydney’s Song. I had the pleasure of reading this before its’ release and I love it!!

You can click here to read the review for it. 

Anyway here is a small post about Ia and her wonderful book Sydney’s Song.

 

Ia Uaro is an Australian author.

She was born in the beautiful and remote, world’s widest tea plantation by Mount Kerinci in Sumatra where her dad was the plantation’s accountant, her mum a teacher. Her dad died when Ia was 13, and Ia moved across the ocean. She proceeded to become the busiest teen ever: playing in a drum band, tutoring maths, learning languages including English as the fifth language, and, at 17, a teen magazine published Ia’s first fiction as a serial. Inundated by her fans’ letters, the publisher printed it as a book, which was subsequently bought by the Indonesian Department of Education for high-school libraries.

Ia used the proceeds to help fund her university studies, during which time she was active in aero-modelling, martial arts, mountaineering, speleology… and studied petroleum seismology among her music-playing friends. After her graduation Ia worked with French, Norwegian and American geophysical companies, besides being a volunteer translator. In Sydney since 1995, Ia is a mum who does several kinds of volunteer work for the community, assesses manuscripts, and writes real-life socio-fiction. Her husband, who suffers permanent partial brain damage, says Ia now sleep-talks in English. Part of SYDNEY’S SONG’s proceeds will be donated to the Brain Foundation.

Ia’s website: sydneyssong.net

Twitter: @sydneyssong

FICTIONALIZED TRUE STORIES Set in Sydney and Boston where heartbreaks are juxtaposed with humour, SYDNEY’S SONG is a young girl’s courageous journey to adulthood and a love story. A work of fiction based on real events, this novel with an Australian accent also shows the world that living with disabilities does not prevent a person from attaining happiness.

Olympic fever runs high in the Australian summer of 1999 and 17-year-old Sydney has caught it. Little does she know taking a holiday job in the beehive that is the Olympics’ public-transport call centre will be life altering. Shaken by her parents’ divorce, the sheltered Aussie is further plagued by abusive callers, obnoxious government agencies, constrictive office rules, and liberated friends. She is trying to negotiate these challenges as her own personal Olympics when Pete finds her. Pete, Boston’s former child prodigy whose soothing voice floats across her workstation, sees through Sydney’s tough outer shell. Pete knows what it takes to present a dignified front when all you want to do is howl at the moon. Treating their friendship like an art, he invests time and creative effort to pull Sydney out of her despair. Tragedy strikes when an accident leaves Pete with a major brain injury in a Boston hospital. When the going gets very, very tough, will you abandon the one who’s promised to love you until he dies? An undefeatable heroine. A hero to live for. A love no reader will ever forget…

Ia’s Interview

What advice would you like to share with other writers/authors on what has worked or not worked for you when it comes to your writing?

I never forget a writing tip I heard when I was 13 from an award-winning teen writer. After the first draft, expand the story until the original word count is doubled. This will stretch your imagination and writing skills to the utmost. When that’s done, bring the manuscript back to the original word count. This step will save your readers from tears of boredom.

How would you describe the path to publication on your first time out?  

Surprisingly delightful. I was published at 17, so in this comeback I’m a total newbie. I met a critic who liked my work, and soon after a retired über agent who praised it but advised that traditional publishers only take mainstream work. This made me look into indie publishing. From the onset people told me that today’s writers must get involved in marketing, no matter who published the work. That sounded daunting. I decided to follow the advice of experts and trial-and-error newbies who had learnt from experience. I’ve since discovered the joy of our digital era. There is so much to learn, but with friends’ guidance, and patience, the processes of technology and marketing become intriguing, irresistible challenges. Today’s self-publishing authors have full control on the final product. A friend celebrates the freedom of unrestricted word count in her epic fantasy. Another finds delights in mixing his poetry and prose. And I appreciate the freedom to illustrate my work my way. With global writerly support and camaraderie, I have enjoyed every step to publication.

Who would you say have been the three most influential authors in your reading/writing life? Why?   

My very first was Hans Christian Andersen, from when I was five. The beauty and imagination in his work fascinated me and have remained indelible. Growing up, I was forever reading suspense thrillers by Frederick Forsythe, but when years have passed I don’t remember the stories. However, I never forget the work of Pearl S Buck. Perhaps she influenced me because I write real life now.

How important is it to you to know the author on some kind of personal level? Why?   

As social beings, humans reach to connect with those they can relate to. An author at a personal level can be “read” from his/her work. Many readers love stories that are so close to their own experience, and become fascinated by authors who write about their (readers’) lives.

In your experience, what would you say is the best formula for putting yourself “out there” in front of your readers? Why?   

In my experience, my website has been the most effective tool. Many people have approached me because they love my website. Again, from the onset I was told that a website was a must for those serious about their writing. This should serve as a one-stop Press Kit that is easy to share and to tweet. Its name has to be easy to say and to remember. Because I was a total unknown, I was advised to use the name of the book I promoted. But with my drawings, sydneyssong.net can’t help but showcasing who I am as a person.

When did you first “know” you just had to be a writer/author? Please describe the circumstances/influences. 

During high school I tutored my younger cousin Oren in maths. While he was working on the problems, I browsed his teen magazine. This was a boys’ mag and its fiction section published serials and short stories. I thought, I could do this. And I did. Week after week Oren excitedly showed me my own writing, “Read this! You must read this week’s installment!”… until the week when I was describing his unique dogs and cats. Nobody else knew except my best friend Nina. She had to type the manuscript using an ancient Swedish typewriter -  and the letter “o” made a whole on the paper. I lost Nina in Sweden 15 years ago. I hope she will hear about SYDNEY’S SONG and reconnect.

Tell us a bit about you and your family. Who gives you the most encouragement/incentive? Why is that important to you? 

I live with the kindest, loving husband, and two growing kids. I have an adult son who lives not too far away – he and my longtime friend are neighbours. My longtime friend’s family and mine are inseparable. I also have a sister-in-law who lives 20 minutes away. Our other relatives are scattered in many countries. Hubby and kids have been very, very patient even though my activities have taken away their creature comfort. Judging by their show of love, I’m so glad that my comeback to writing is at the time when they can look after me instead of the other way round. The most encouraging backers are my sister-in-law and my longtime friend. They were my initial beta readers, and have remained tirelessly helpful in every way they can. My sister-in-law built my website, and she didn’t murder me when I kept revising the design. My longtime friend is a stout supporter. We have experienced so much through the vicissitudes of life, and she’s always stood by me. Very important though, are my old fans, because they remind me that I have something to give to the world. A few fans tracked me down, asking me to write again. I Googled my prehistoric work and Google gave me three pages of results. And these were non-English work long before PC or internet era! Several treasure my first book in their goodreads’ shelves, some advertised asking where they could get a copy, others discussed them in literary groups, and a few authors mentioned that I had inspired them. Here’s hoping that SYDNEY’S SONG will brighten and inspire more lives. It sure has more depth than a teen’s work.

What are your hobbies/passions/pastimes?   

I love to take pictures, though I’m not a photographer. My daughter says she’ll scream if I take another pic, but she still accompanies me on my jaunts. If you love photography, Sydney is the place to be. We have so many festivals dubbed the tripod festivals. I love to sing, though I’m a poor singer. I love gardening, and I’m a volunteer in a community garden. I love to stitch. I made many bridal gowns, professionally, once upon a time. Nowadays I volunteer to make pretty “dresses” for paralyzed 90-something girls, those who are so sick of hospital “uniform” and still put on lipstick and want to look dignified. I love beaches and forests. I used to climb the mountains all the time. Now hubby has disabilities, but my little son accompanies me walking in the nearby forest, provide it hasn’t been raining because he hates leeches. And I love writing. Of course.

What is especially near and dear to you – a key cause you support. Describe it for me, please. 

When it’s in my capacity, I will jump at the first chance I’m given to help others. I support Lendwithcare, where you microfinance small companies to eliminate poverty. I write how compassion for others motivates me to lend in http://lendwithcare.blogspot.co.uk/, and I’d love to invite everyone to check out this cause. I support Unicef and several other organizations involving children, because young people don’t know how to help themselves. Part of SYDNEY’S SONG proceeds will go to BRAIN FOUNDATION. I invite readers to learn about the reason from my true story in this series of unfortunate events. Time-wise, I support Indie authors, spending minimum a hundred hours each month in free manuscript assessment. Oh dear, which one is especially near and dear?  I’m pro-active and I have so much love to give. Love for all – hatred for none.

What one thing is important for your readers/audience to know about you? Why? 

I am many things, but first of all I aim to entertain. It soothes my heart to bring smiles and ease to others.

 

 

This should be interesting~~ from Daniel’s diary

Things have been moving along smoothly so far. We made it to Los Angeles and finally got the house in some kind of order. I’ve gotten Janie a job at a karaoke bar; hopefully this will keep her busy and out of trouble. I don’t want her wandering the streets. I don’t think she quite comprehends this isn’t Greenwood. This is no small town that she can run around in until 3 in the morning. There’s dangers out here she never came across in Louisiana.

Anthony owns the bar and the manager William promised me he’d keep an eye on her while I was gone on business. I am away for days, sometimes weeks and I worry about her so much. In so many ways she’s naive, yet she’s also much wiser beyond her years. I know this is because of what we went through back home. But this place is different. In this place a lot more could happen to her than what did back home.

She’s been asking some questions lately about my work and who I work for. Naturally,  I can’t say too much, but I know the time is coming for her to meet Anthony and his assistant Rico. I just know how she is and I know she’s going to try to read them. The last thing I need is for her to see something she shouldn’t see; which means I’ll have to tell them not to shake her hand. Hmm, wonder how well that’ll go over. I don’t want them thinking Janie is crazy or anything.

Anthony, Rico, and Phil are coming into town sometime in the next couple of weeks. I know they’re going to be hanging out at the club, so I guess I’ll introduce them then. As the title says: This should be interesting!