Jessica Samuelsen's Blog, page 25
November 8, 2016
ARC Book Review- Accidentally in Love: A Talyton St George Novel by Cathy Woodman
Accidentally in Love: A Talyton St George Novel by Cathy Woodman Published by Pegasus Books on November 8th 2016
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 448
Format: Paperback
Source: Author
I received this book for free from Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
GoodreadsAmazon
Accidentally in Love is the latest in the Talyton St George series, and change is underway at Otter House clinic when a new vet moves in. Motorbike-riding, leather-clad Ross looks like a bad boy, but underneath the leathers he's a good-looking charmer, and he soon wins the hearts of everyone in the village.
Even vet nurse Shannon warms to him. So when she needs a place to live, it makes sense to move in with Ross. Just as a friend, of course. As they grapple with escaped snakes and feral cats, their friendship deepens, until they can't deny their feelings for each other any longer.
But when a terrible accident leave Shannon's life in tatters, it changes their relationship forever. Because how will she ever know whether Ross is staying with her out of love or out of pity?
Shannon is a vet nurse for the Otter house in Talyton St. George. She mistakes the new vet for a currier and is embarrassed. Little does she know that is the beginning of her friendship with Ross. They tackle vet problems together like feral cats and loose snakes. They end up moving in together as roommates. Just as they are getting somewhere in their relationship a terrible accident happens. Will their relationship survive?
In an Oyster Shell – A beautiful romance with lots of animals, great if your an animal lover like me.
The Pearls – The title was appropriate for the book. The cover is beautiful. The concept of a vet nurse and a vet striking an unlikely friendship worked really well.
The characters were really great. They were distinctive and well-defined. This was very much a character driven novel and the characters were amazing. They were easy to empathize with and they had plenty of adventures you could follow.
The story ended up being easy to follow. The author made it so you felt like you were in the story. You really got that small town feel and the passion that Shannon and Ross had fo the animals.
The Sand – It took me a little bit to get into the book. The author took a lot of time to setting the foundation of the story.
4 Pearls!
About Cathy Woodman
I began my working life as a small-animal vet. Like turning the pages in a book, I was never quite sure what was going to happen at the surgery next. From the sausage dog who swallowed a sewing needle to the telly addict of a rabbit who lost an eye to infection, there was never a dull moment.
I have always loved to read, escaping into all kinds of novels during those long nights on call, but I didn’t have much time to pursue writing until after my children were born and I gave up full-time work to look after them. I joined a creative writing group and entered all the writing competitions I could find.
My break into becoming a published author came in 2002 when I was joint winner of the Harry Bowling First Novel Award. At the award ceremony, I met Laura Longrigg of MBA Literary Agents who signed me up on delivery of a finished manuscript.
In April 2003, Laura rang to say that Headline were offering me a two book deal. I had to dial 1471 to check she really had called me and I wasn’t dreaming.
My first novel, Under The Bonnet, was published in November 2004. My second, Our House, was published in 2005, the third, Family Matters in 2006, and the fourth, The Boy Next Door in 2007.
Since then, I’ve been working on an exciting new project, a series of novels about The Otter House Vets, a fictional practice set in a quiet Devonshire market town. Trust Me, I’m a Vet, which will be published in paperback by Arrow Books in April 2010, closely followed by the second book in September 2010.
Since I last updated my website, my menagerie of animals has grown, much to my family’s delight. We now share our lives with two cats, three mad Border Terriers, two ponies and two pet rats which we found abandoned to starve in a cage in the woods nearby. You should have heard my husband’s sigh of resignation when I told him we were bringing them home!
November 7, 2016
Blog Tour with Review – Forget Me Always by Sara Wolf
Forget Me Always by Sara Wolf Series: Lovely Vicious #2
on November 1st 2016
Genres: YA, Romance
Pages: 250
I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
GoodreadsAmazon
All warfare is deception. Even in high school.
It’s been nineteen days since Isis Blake forgot about him. The boy she can't quite remember. She's stuck in the hospital with a turban-size bandage on her head, more Jell-o than a human being should ever face, and a tiny bit of localized amnesia. Her only goal? To get out of this place before she becomes a complete nutjob herself.
But as Isis’s memories start to return, she realizes there’s something important there at the edges of her mind. Something that may mean the difference between life and death. Something about Sophia, Jack’s girlfriend.
Jack Hunter—the “Ice Prince”—remembers everything. Remembers Isis's purple hair and her smart-ass mouth. Remembers that for a little while, Isis made him feel human. She made him feel. She burned a hole in the ice…and it's time to freeze back up. Boys like him don't deserve girls like her. Because Jack is dangerous. And that danger might be the only thing protecting her from something far more threatening.
Her past.
Previously published as Savage Delight, this fully revised and updated edition is full of hilarity, drama, and heartbreak.
Isis Blake is stuck in a hospital with a big bandage on her head. Having survived the attack from her mom’s boyfriend. She has forgotten about Jack who is the one that saved her. Jack is beyond disappointed that Isis can’t remember him. She makes him feel for the first time in a long time. He needs her to remember. Will Isis get her memory back?
In an Oyster Shell – It was a good book with some interesting twists that keep you turning pages.
The Pearls – What I liked most about this book was the interesting twists and turns. There was a thick plot that was very interesting. It was more than just about the romance. There were some really serious things going on. I appreciated the tension.
The romance kept you on your toes. With other factors playing in the romance was more complicated. Made for an interesting read.
The characters were strong. They were well developed and had lots of room for growth. The main characters may have taken center stage but the supporting characters really rounded out the story well.
The Sand – As part of Isis’s charm, she is a smart mouth. Which turns her into having a foul mouth. I didn’t like it.
4 Pearls
Follow the tour
About Sara Wolf
Sara Wolf is a twenty-something author who adores baking, screaming at her cats, and screaming at herself while she types hilarious things. When she was a kid, she was too busy eating dirt to write her first terrible book. Twenty years later, she picked up a keyboard and started mashing her fists on it and created the monster known as the Lovely Vicious series. She lives in San Diego with two cats, a crippling-yet-refreshing sense of self-doubt, and not enough fruit tarts ever.
November 5, 2016
Sunday Post November 6th
The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted at the Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme
Happy November everyone. I am excited for the holiday season to be upon us! I’m decorating my house for fall. Though I had to buy my decorations weeks ago and even then it was almost too late. You have to buy fall stuff in August because now all the Christmas stuff is out. I learned this lesson the hard way a couple years ago when I was looking for fall stuff the week before Thanksgiving. Who knew it would all be on clearance! Don’t you worry I’m set this year, I learned my lesson.
In Review –
On Tour –
This week’s discussion was a guest post from Chelsey Krause talking about building a strong love connection between characters.
Coming Up –
Review –
On Tour –
Question of the Week – Will you be doing the HOHOHO Readathon? I will! I am so excited I think I am going to get a head start on my holiday reading!
Have a great week!
November 3, 2016
Friday Feature – Guest Post with Chelsey Krause More than Just Banging: How to Build A Really Strong Love Connection Between Characters
by Chelsey Krause
Welcome to Writing Pearls Chelsey Krause. We are glad to have her with us today.
More than Just Banging: How to Build A Really Strong Love Connection Between Characters
By Chelsey Krause
Question from Writing Pearls Blog:
So I was thinking your love interests built a really strong connection in your book All Shook Up. Could you talk about that process? Building a love connection between characters?
Chelsey:
Thank you! What a fun question to delve into. “All Shook Up” was released this August, and I’ve noticed that readers often comment on what great friends Natalie and Casey are. I love the friends to lovers theme; some of my favorite books ever (like “A Girl Like You” by Gemma Burgess or “The Rosie Project” by Graeme Simsion) have similar themes.
My brain works think in formulas and breaking processes down into steps. So, the best way I can answer your question is to break it down into categories / steps. I’ve broken it down into “Friendship First” and “Sex Second.”
Friendship First
For me, building a strong love connection between characters begins by building friendship. But how did I do that, exactly?
Give Them a Common Goal:
Give your characters a project that they work on together. The thing that initially brings Natalie and Casey together is finding Natalie’s birth mother. There are smaller goals along the way. For example, Natalie feels overwhelmed with hosting an over the top dinner party, and Casey steps in and helps her clean up the beet massacre (btw, that scene is based on something that really happened to me, and was SO fun to write).
Contrast Their Personalities:
Casey’s flirty, scalawag personality contrasts and highlights Natalie’s more grounded, serious qualities. The scene where they impersonate police officer comes to mind.
Lots of Humor:
I love books that make me laugh, and I purposefully made sure that Casey and Natalie share a lot of funny, awkward moments. Humor is a natural friendship builder. People generally want to be around others who make them feel good, who can make them laugh. This ties in with the point above. Contrasting personalities naturally leads to humor, as it creates tension, and humor is largely based on tension.
Spend Lots of Time Together
When you are best friends with someone, you want to spend a lot of time together. Sometimes it’s exciting (ex. going out dancing, running for your life) and other times it’s more mundane, like watching tv together. Scenes like this allow characters to develop inside jokes & shared experiences, to bond over mutual interests, etc.
Emotional Intimacy
Natalie and Casey build emotional intimacy by complimenting each other often (ex. you look nice, I like you, etc), being willing to talk to each other about the deep stuff, the things that hurt, the things that keep you awake at night.
Sex Second
My favorite romances are the ones that slowly build sexual tension throughout the entire story. It’s a gratifying slow burn, one that makes you root for the characters to be together and just DO IT ALREADY! (And cue my hilarious outburst of laughter)
The Slow Burn
To achieve this, intersperse friendship scenes with hints of chemistry, small flashes of attraction that grew more and more obvious over time.
Use All of the Senses
Like anything in writing, scenes are enhanced by describing what the character sees, tastes, touches, smells. How does it feel when his hand brushes up against yours? How does he look when he’s al dressed up? How does it feel to taste his kiss? Etc.
Describe what your character thinks and feels.
Does her heart flutter when he walks by? Does she dream about him? Does she feel confused by her emotions?
Build Tension
Writing is all about tension. Tension to build humor, conflict, sexual attraction, etc. You can build sexual tension into your story in a number of ways. They can become more and more physically involved over time. They kiss, and are interrupted by someone. Just before she reveals how she feels about him, he announces that he has a new girlfriend. There are all sorts of ways to do this. In “All Shook Up,” Natalie is very attracted to Casey, but the tension and conflict come from her belief that he isn’t capable of commitment.
So that’s about it! Thank you Writing Pearls Blog for your great question, and for allowing this guest post. I hope you enjoyed this little explanation and insight into my writer brain.
I love hearing from readers, especially if you’re a writer and want to talk about the process of writing. I’m happy to help answer questions! Feel free to message me anytime.
About Chelsey Krause
Chelsey Krause has a thing for thrift stores and used bookshops. A nurse, wife, Starbucks addict, and mom to two children, she can often be found repurposing other people’s junk or considering whether the library would let her move in. The rest of the time, she’s reviewing for Chicklit Club or writing. All Shook Up is her second novel.
November 2, 2016
ARC Review – A Whole Latte Murder by Caroline Fardig
A Whole Latte Murder by Caroline Fardig Series: Java Jive Mystery #3
Published by Alibi on November 8th 2016
Genres: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 272
Source: Netgalley
I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
GoodreadsAmazon
Coffeehouse manager and reluctant sleuth Juliet Langley returns in a gripping novel from the bestselling author of Death Before Decaf and Mug Shot. Just as things are perking up in Nashville, a serial killer sends tensions foaming over.
Juliet's personal and professional lives have recently received an extra jolt of energy. Her romance with the hunky detective Ryder Hamilton continues to simmer, and business at Java Jive has never been better. But her good mood quickly turns as stale as day-old espresso when she finds out that Ryder has been promoted to his precinct's homicide division. With him risking his life to catch the worst kind of criminals, Juliet's growing sense of unease ignites when a local college student goes missing.
Suddenly every Nashville resident is on high alert, especially Juliet's neighbor Chelsea. Juliet does her best to calm the girl's nerves, but her worst fears are confirmed when she finds Chelsea dead. Even though she tries her best to stay out of it, Juliet's involvement puts a strain on Ryder's first homicide case. The situation soon becomes even more personal for Juliet and her best friend Pete Bennett when one of their employees disappears during her shift. As a killer lurks in the shadows, Juliet, Pete, and Ryder seek out a double shot of justice.
Juliet Langley is a manager for a coffeehouse named Java Jive. She occasionally gets sucked into the occasional murder investigation. This time it’s her neighbor Chelsea who dies under suspicious circumstances. The mystery goes further when local college girls start to go missing like her employee Kira. With help from her best friend Pete, they try to find the murderer before anyone else gets hurt.
In an Oyster Shell – It was edgy for a cozy mystery but was satisfying in the end.
The Pearls – I love a good mystery, and this book offered that in abundance. I liked the twists and turns this story had to offer. In the end, I was stumped at what was going on, which is unusual. Usually, I have a pretty good idea what’s going on, not this time.
The characters were lively. I especially liked Pete’s grandma. She was feisty. The character’s had strong traits. Though Juliet was a little edgy at times down right even bitchy, I appreciated her tenacity.
The romance kept you on your toes. There is a little bit of a love triangle going on. I would dare even say almost a square. That’s right three love interests in one book. I can’t wait to see how it plays out in the other books.
The Sand – There was rough language and sexual innuendos that you don’t usually see in a cozy. I didn’t like this aspect of this book.
3.5 Pearls!
About Caroline Fardig
CAROLINE FARDIG is the USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR of the Java Jive Mysteries series and the Lizzie Hart Mysteries series. Fardig’s BAD MEDICINE was named one of the “Best Books of 2015” by Suspense Magazine. She worked as a schoolteacher, church organist, insurance agent, funeral parlor associate, and stay-at-home mom before she realized that she wanted to be a writer when she grew up. Born and raised in a small town in Indiana, Fardig still lives in that same town with an understanding husband, two sweet kids, two energetic dogs, and one malevolent cat.
November 1, 2016
Blog Tour – Forever Blue by Abby Wilder
Forever Blue
Abby Wilder
Publication date: June 17th 2016
Genres: Mystery, Romance, Young Adult
I never thought it would end like this.
I never thought it would end at all.
But not all stories get a happy ending.
When Lennon Donnelly moves back to the quiet town of Puruwai, she never dreams that a chance meeting with a boy sitting at the cemetery will change her life. Her best friend warns her about Judah Mitchell. There are rumours that he killed his brother. But as Lennon is drawn deeper into the mysterious boy’s life, the events of his past unravel until she finds herself driving over the edge of a cliff and into the depths of the lake below.
Spanning over two years and starting at the end, this compelling novel tells of the intertwining relationships of Lennon, Ruben, Judah, and Cara. Told from the different perspectives of before and after, the story unfolds like a puzzle and reveals secrets that will haunt you long after you turn the final page.
“Devourable” – YA Books Central
“An unforgettable experience” – Readers’ Favorite
This story contains mild use of strong language and references to underage drinking and smoking.
It was raining. Ever since that night, it always rained. I didn’t know if it was only in my mind, but it felt real. After another evening when sleep evaded me, I hopped in the Fairlane and drove. There was something cathartic about driving that car, a unique form of punishment that I knew I deserved. I found myself perched on the barrier, looking over the water on the corner of Stone’s Throw Road which followed the lake and ran close to the edge of the cliff. It was the only place I could think to go when repeatedly drawing the images in my head no longer worked. I didn’t look behind me at the grass, or the ditch that I knew dipped on the other side of the road. I think she wanted me there. I never used to like being alone, but ever since that night, being around other people was too much effort. I felt like I had to hide and I was tired of hiding. Watching the drops fall onto the water was comforting. They were unaware of my thoughts, unaware of the turmoil of my life. They did what they were supposed to. They fell.
Author Bio:
Abby Wilder is an author from the bottom of the South Island of New Zealand.
She loves stories in all forms; film, photography, music, but it’s the simplicity of written words that she loves the most . . . well, written words and binge watching television series.
Since a love of reading has remained constant in her life, she couldn’t imagine anything better than being a writer so she set out to achieve just that.
Abby has one husband, two children, three cats and a dog called Joss.
Girl Behind Glass is her debut novel. Boy in Uniform is a short companion story and Girl Beneath Stars is the final in the Behind Glass Series to follow Willow Stanton.
Her next book, Forever Blue is due for release June 17th 2016.
For more information visit www.abbywilder.com
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October 31, 2016
Review- The Longest Con by Michaelbrent Collings
The Longest Con by Michaelbrent Collings Published by Author Genres: Horror
Source: Author
Michaelbrent Collings is an author and happens to be a warden. A warden is someone who can see monsters from the other world. Monsters love to come to comic-con. It his job to keep them in check. This particular comic-con there is a murder and is of utmost importance that Collings solve it before there is a war.
In an Oyster Shell – A horrific tale of monsters and murder. A fun and quirky read.
The Pearls – This was an imaginative story that was unique. Having the author star in is own book, I’ve never seen that before. It really worked for this story. I thought it was going to be weird but it became par for the course.
The humor was unprecedented. It reminded me of Firefly. Sarcastic and dry but oh so funny. This was a good element or otherwise, I wouldn’t have liked the book at all. It helped me enjoy the book more.
The monsters were interesting in this book. The author had a take on monsters that was really fun.
The Sand – This wasn’t my type of book. I’m glad I read it take me out of my comfort zone, but in the end this wasn’t a book for me. It was well-written and humorous so it had it’s redeeming qualities.
3.5 Pearls!
About Michaelbrent Collings
Michaelbrent Collings is an internationally-bestselling novelist, multiple Bram Stoker Award nominee, produced screenwriter, and one of the top indie horror writers in the United States.
He hopes someday to develop superpowers, or, if that is out of the question, then at least to get a cool robot arm.
Michaelbrent has a wife and several kids, all of whom are much better looking than he is (though he admits that’s a low bar to set), and also cooler than he is.
October 29, 2016
Sunday Post – October 30
The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted at the Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme
It’s been sunny here as of late. A nice break from all the rain. Not much else going on.
In Review –
Blog Tour –
This week’s discussion is a guest post by Kelly Rose Walker.
Coming Up –
Review –
On Tour –
Question of the Week – What’s your favorite spooky story? Mine’s any good cozy mystery.
October 28, 2016
Guest Post – Kelley Rose Waller Review The Swiss Courier and Chasing Mona Lisa by Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey
Welcome to Writing Pearls Kelley Rose Waller who is our guest reviewing The Swiss Courier and Chasing Mona Lisa by Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey.
It is August 1944 and the Gestapo is mercilessly rounding up suspected enemies of the Third Reich. When Joseph Engel, a German physicist working on the atomic bomb, finds that he is actually a Jew, adopted by Christian parents, he must flee for his life to neutral Switzerland. Gabi Mueller is a young Swiss American woman working for the newly formed American Office of Strategic Services (the forerunner to the C.I.A.) close to Nazi Germany. When she is asked to risk her life to safely “courier” Engel out of Germany, the fate of the world rests in her hands. If she can lead him to safety, she can keep the Germans from developing nuclear capabilities. But in a time of traitors and uncertainty, whom can she trust along the way? This fast-paced, suspenseful novel takes readers along treacherous twists and turns during a fascinating and deadly time in history.
It is August 1944 and Paris is on the cusp of liberation. As the soldiers of the Third Reich flee the Allied advance, they ravage the country, stealing countless pieces of art. Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring will stop at nothing to claim the most valuable one of all, the Mona Lisa, as a post-war bargaining chip to get him to South America. Can Swiss OSS agents Gabi Mueller and Eric Hofstadler rescue DaVinci’s masterpiece before it falls into German hands?
In an Oyster Shell – “For six days a week Switzerland works for Nazi Germany, while on the seventh day, it prays for an Allied victory.”
The Pearls – These books presented a perspective of WWII that I haven’t read much about previously. Few American or British characters steal the spotlight, leaving room for the heroes to be Swiss and French.
Gabi Mueller, the daughter of a pastor, helps the Allies’ undercover work in her homeland of Switzerland. Rather than an anachronistic female hero, Gabi doesn’t kick-box or shoot with pin-point accuracy. Instead, the safecracking skills she acquired working in her grandfather’s locksmith shop catch the attention of those in power, putting her in a position of equal parts danger and intrigue, but with the real ability to make a difference in the war’s outcome as Germany nears the creation of their Wonderwaffe or “wonder weapon,” the nuclear bomb.
The best scene, by far, in the books is The Swiss Courier’s finale – a harrowing flight over Nazi Germany. I got sea-sick right along with Gabi in the Junkers plane as it ran low on fuel. Without spoiling the end, do look for the Scarlet Pimpernel while you’re in France!
Chasing Mona Lisa actually takes place during The Swiss Courier, in a period of weeks not covered by the first book. So while it’s a sequel, it’s really not chronological.
If you’ve read or seen Monument’s Men, you know that Hitler wanted to acquire the art of his conquered nations, so France desperately scrambled to keep the Mona Lisa out of his clutches. Unfortunately, I started to understand that with high-ranking German officers sensing the Führer’s imminent demise and France herself divided between the French Community Party and Free France, there were many eager hands were grabbing after Da Vinci’s masterpiece. This tension creates a very fun “follow the lady” game where you just never know who has The Queen of Hearts up their sleeve.
There was also a little more happily-ever-after than I’m used to in historical fiction, particularly in a war era, but sometimes that can be refreshing.
The Sand – While these are very fun, fast-paced books, I found the use of so much foreign-language dialogue (with translation) to be a distraction and slow the action occasionally.
4 Pearls!
Kelley Rose Waller is the author of the recently released dystopian women’s fiction adventure, The Senator’s Youngest Daughter, available on Amazon. You can read her blog at www.kelleyrosewaller.com.
About Tricia Goyer
Tricia Goyer is a busy mom of six, grandmother of two, and wife to John. Somewhere around the hustle and bustle of family life, she manages to find the time to write fictional tales delighting and entertaining readers and non-fiction titles offering encouragement and hope. A bestselling author, Tricia has published thirty-three books to date and has written more than 500 articles. She is a two time Carol Award winner, as well as a Christy and ECPA Award Nominee. In 2010, she was selected as one of the Top 20 Moms to Follow on Twitter by SheKnows.com. Tricia is also on the blogging team at MomLifeToday.com, TheBetterMom.com and other homeschooling and Christian sites.In addition to her roles as mom, wife and author, Tricia volunteers around her community and mentors teen moms. She is the founder of Hope Pregnancy Ministries in Northwestern Montana, and she currently leads a Teen MOPS Group in Little Rock, AR. Tricia, along with a group of friends, recently launched www.NotQuiteAmishLiving.com, sharing ideas about simplifying life. She also hosts the weekly radio podcast, Living Inspired. Learn more about Tricia at www.triciagoyer.com.
