My Review of Never Settle, part of the J.C. Clarke Review Tour

AUTHOR OF 3 BOOKS AND 1 NOVELLA.
GENRES RANGE FROM FANTASY TO ROMANTIC COMEDY.
5 STAR RATING ON AMAZON
4.9 RATING ON GOODREADS


MY REVIEW OF NEVER SETTLE:
Never Settle is a recent short story release by the multi-talented J.C. Clarke. I have been familiar with Ms. Clark’s work for several years and have had the privilege of working with her in the past. One way in which she always impresses me is with the depth of the characters she brings to life. In this particular story, she introduces us to Johanna Nicholls, known to old friends and family as Jo. Johanna is a married stay-at-home mother in a rut. We follow Johanna through her normal routine caring for her two daughters and trying endlessly to please her critical husband, Mark.
When Johanna starts to remember the girl she once was, it opens her eyes to the reality of what her life has become. This shift in her perception is very relatable, as many women find themselves in similar positions.  Mark’s emotional distance is also realistic, making Johanna’s feelings and motivations both natural and understandable. Likewise, the daughters’ relationship with their father is completely true to the circumstances. Even Johanna’s interactions with her parents and old friends lend themselves to the believability of the story as a whole. As I read this book, I was struck again and again by how it reflected both my own experiences and those of my close friends and family. Without revealing the plot too much, I can say that both Johanna’s mistakes and revelations echo real-life experiences, and I think that many readers will have a similar response.

Ms. Clarke continues to show her depth of understanding of how people’s emotions prompt them to behave and determine the choices they make. Her clear vision is reflected by the host of interrelationships that work together to bring Johanna’s world to life for the reader. Both her life as a housewife and her past in the country are made real by the characters that appear in each setting. My one complaint is that this story deserves more time and length. I found that certain moments were glossed over that could have benefitted from more exploration, and that interactions of the type that Ms. Clarke excels at bringing to life could have been given more depth and detail. Were Ms. Clarke ever to decide to expand this story into a full-length novel, I think that it would showcase her talents and give Johanna’s story the attention it deserves. However, even in this shorter format, the three-dimensional quality of the people in her world shines through.


Original Publication Date: Dec 4, 2013

According to the Bible, God created the world in seven days, but what if the beginning happened before Humankind documented it for posterity? 
Humans didn’t see everything clearly, because they didn’t understand. They turned away in fear, forgot the beings that had come to Earth and, over time, the Seraphim became nothing but a legend, a bedtime story. Corruption and greed, bred from hatred and evil, spread across the face of the earth as Humans evolved and developed. It was in this filth, and amongst the seven deadly sins, that Tabitha Morgan was born and kept alive, hidden in plain sight from the darkness. 
For seventeen years, Tabitha thrived under her grandmother’s guardianship, living a normal life and not knowing the truth about her heritage or the roots from which she came. 
That all changes the day a handsome stranger named Nathan walks into her life. Will the ancient secrets he holds be enough to earn her trust? Is it the Light, or does Darkness await them beyond The Northern Gate?

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Original Publication Date: Jan 13, 2015
Deep down I enjoyed this life, it was fun seeing the different towns. Seven months on the road, five months back at the yard. Day in, day out. Nothing changed except the weather and the accents of the fair-goers. 
Until tonight. That’s when I see you standing there, looking back at me when my eyes find you. Even in the dimming light of the day and the harsh flashing bulbs, I see you blush before you look down, looking anywhere except back at me. A smirk creeps onto my face with my thoughts: you look beautiful in your baggy jeans and vest top. 
The light captures your black hair shielding your face. I know I need to grab a shower before I head into the pay box, but I can't seem to tear myself away from watching you. 
*Previously online as All the Fun of the Fair*

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Original Publication Date: April 27, 2015
Once upon a time, Johanna Nicolls was a wild teenager with a fiery spirit and a wide open future. When adulthood and life reel her in, she finds herself simply surviving day to day, until a moment of cathartic realization. 
Advice from her past whispers through her mind, encouraging her to find the strength to step back and revaluate her life, making her see that it is time to take a stand. Reminding her that she’d promised to never settle.

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Original Publication Date: June 23, 2015
His Princess was a little bit eclectic, a lot of eccentric, and a big time potty mouth. She was outgoing and loud, but held her friends and family close to her heart. She ranted about everything wrong in the world, yet her wild passion made him fall hard and fast. Life gave him the middle finger when she opened his eyes to the beauty around him—and right in front of him.
Her Prick-a-Doodle-Do was an uptight businessman through and through. He never saw the fun in anything and she knew right from the start she could have fun with this man and get him to see things differently. He made her see she didn’t have to always be alone, even when surrounded by people. A knack of bringing out the best in her made her fall for him, even if she didn’t want to admit it to herself.
Both were raised in ‘high society’, but where one was guided by the rules, the other had fun going against them. Though he was her new boss, she didn’t give two hoots about it so when she was given an opportunity to express her views about a certain subject, she readily agreed.
It’s now her personal mission to make Bossman’s life a little harder, while experiencing a little fun along the way, of course.
Because . . . if it’s a pain in the ass, then you’re doing it wrong.

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An author? Yeah, well I'm getting there, hopefully. 
I’m not really one for blabbing about myself, but I can give you a few starters, if you’re interested.
I’m a mum of four kids, two girls and two boys and I’m married to a wonderful man who puts up with my crap.
We live in an area near Southampton (UK) called the New Forest, which is very beautiful. There’s ponies, donkeys and wild deer and cattle all over the place, so it makes it very interesting living here at times.
I design for a living, but I am self taught, so I have a long way to go.
I’m a very down to earth thirty year old and yeah, I dabble with writing.
Looking for ways to stalk me...hehe...


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