Here by Denise Grover Swank
Denise Grover Swank is on tour with CLP Blog Tours. I was so excited to host Denise again – for the third time – because…
In My Mailbox: Week of December 11
In My Mailbox: Week of December 11
Title: Chasing China
Author: Kay Bratt
Received: Via CLP Blog Tours
Synopsis: After an episode of prejudice rocks her usually secure world, Mia hops a plane back to the country of her birth to search for details about her birth parents, and confront the feelings of abandonment she has kept buried throughout her life. What begins as a simple tour of the Chinese orphanage where she spent her first few years quickly becomes complicated as Mia fights to untangle the web of lies that is her finding details. As she follows the red thread back through her motherland, she is enamored by the history and culture of her heritage—strengthening her resolve to find the truth, even as Chinese officials struggle to keep it buried. With her unwavering spirit of determination, Mia battles the forces stacked against her and faces mystery, danger, a dash of romance, and finally a conclusion that will change her life.
Title: Liar’s Guide to True Love
Author: Wendy Chen
Received: From Wendy Chen
Synopsis: Wedding planner Cassandra Hanley is in the business of making other people’s dreams come true. But for some reason, whenever she meets a potential mate of her own, she finds herself telling little (and not so little) white lies. She’s not trying to sabotage her relationships on purpose: as a people pleaser, she just naturally tells men what she thinks they want to hear.
When Cassandra meets Nick, she’s determined to be herself this time—until she learns he abhors weddings. So she recasts herself as an advertising exec, and now she’s scrambling to cover up the lie…with more lies.
Into the tangled web wanders Cassandra’s college sweetheart, Kevin. Kevin, the one man who knows the real Cassandra, and loves her anyway. Could he have been The One all along?
Torn between the past and the present, Cassandra is about to learn that you can’t plan the perfect life the way you can plan the perfect wedding.
Title: So Damn Lucky
Author: Deborah Coonts
Received: From Leyane/FSB Associates
Synopsis: Lucky O’Toole—Head of Customer Relations at The Babylon, premier mega-resort on the Vegas Strip—thinks it’s just another night in Las Vegas. But then a magician pulls a disappearing act, right under Lucky’s nose. Is it a stunt? Or something worse?
While Lucky chases leads, someone is trying to put her off the scent. As if this wasn’t enough to ruin her day, Lucky’s relationship with The Big Boss is coming to a head—past hurts can no longer be denied. Of course, she is already on shaky emotional ground: Teddie, her live-in, has been touring with a young and lovely pop star. Paxton Dane, former coworker and would-be suitor, is still circling, hoping to find a chink in the armor of Lucky’s resolve. And then, there’s this French chef, who is proving to be too hot to handle….
Las Vegas expert Deborah Coonts thrills again with this third installment in her dazzling series focused on casino “fixer” Lucky O’Toole.
Blog Tour Sign Up: Forged in Fire by Trish McCallan
Trish will be on tour in February/March with her romantic suspense novel Forged in Fire. Please use the form below if you would like to…
Future Tour: Princess of Park Avenue by Daniella Brodsky
Daniella will be on tour January 16- February 6 with her novel Princess of Park Avenue Anyone can see Lorraine Machuchi is no ordinary Brooklyn…
On Tour : Here by Denise Grover Swank
Denise will be on tour December 12- January 2 with her novel Here Sixteen year old Julia Phillips buries herself in guilt after killing her…
Eighteen Acres by Nicolle Wallace
While I can’t say politics are my niche, I was looking forward to reading the debut by Nicolle Wallace, Eighteen Acres. A story about the first female president and all the adversities she must face, I knew I wanted to get this on my list. Charlotte Kramer, forty-fifth president of the United States, is up for reelection and it is up to her and friend/White House chief of staff Melanie Kingston to ensure she stays in office for a second term. Melanie, who has spent fifteen years working in the White House, has no outside social life and begins to wonder if it might her time to step down. Charlotte, hot in pursuit of a reelection, gets her world torn apart as her marriage crumbles, her husband’s affair can no longer be ignored, and her closest advisor and dear friend makes a decision to which Charlotte will never be able to forgive him for––and puts national security at risk. Dale Smith, a reporter who is the one Charlotte’s husband is having an affair with, tries valiantly to keep her conscience in check while she tries to climb the ropes of her career. All three women struggle with their personal journeys while fighting to stay in control.
I was impressed with Eighteen Acres, and it was easy to see that Wallace clearly has an insider point of view. Her bio states she, “is a political strategist and former political analyst for CBS Evening News whose recent posts include White House Communications Director under George W. Bush and campaign advisor for John McCain and Sarah Palin.” Well, hello. Not only is the political finesse there, but the writing was pretty smooth throughout and held my attention. All three women stood out to me for different reasons, and I was invested in their stories. While the beginning was a little slow and it took me a while to get used to all the political jargon, the second half of the book kept me on my toes and pushed me to the end. The big decision Charlotte’s advisor makes is quite the doozy, and her reaction and the series of events that happens afterwards were read with breathless abandon. Overall, a good start for Wallace and I hope to read more from her.
[Rating: 4]
Guest Post by Samantha March: My Characters Did What?
I am in the process of writing book number two. Like I mentioned in my previous post, I didn’t give myself a lot of details before I started writing. I planned on the main character and a few of the supporting characters, I knew what I wanted to happen with my plot and some key scenes I felt needed to be included, but otherwise, I was just gone with the wind. Seeing where my writing takes me. And oh boy, has it taken me places.
Now, I’m about to where I think the halfway point should be, and my characters are getting themselves into some rather large messes that I didn’t see coming. How is this possible? I wondered the same thing when I was just starting out, and authors would tell me that they could type without even thinking. That the story was coming from somewhere inside of them. Crazy? I thought so. Now? Not even close. I’m starting to slowly plan for my third book, and just last week as I was leaving my job, a scene came at me with full force, uncurling slowly in my mind. I saw the characters, I saw the opening scene, and I saw a new character that I hadn’t yet thought of enter the picture. I ran the rest of the way to my car so I could dig out a napkin and write everything down.
Then just yesterday, I was typing Chapter 11 for book number two. I had a set scene that I wanted to get written. Planned it in my head, knew how to approach it. All of sudden, something had taken over my fingers and what was being typed was not what I had envisioned. A whole new scene popped out of nowhere and found its way into my story. After I finished the scene and was rereading the chapter, I found I was in love with this version of Chapter 11, which was completely not what I had expected when I started my writing.
When I first realized that I could type scene after scene without really thinking, that I was just letting that inner voice do all the work, was a thrilling moment. Do I have to go back and heavily edit and make some revisions? Of course. Do I cut some of the scenes that came so naturally to me? Yep. But that’s all part of the writing process and one that I have come to accept. Now, I don’t feel so confused when someone talks about the voices in their head or says one of their characters is giving them a hard time. I’m right there with them––and I wouldn’t want it any other way!
Future Tour: Mad About the Boy by Suzan Battah
Suzan will be on tour February 13- March 5 with her novel Mad About the Boy Julia Mendoza is driven by the success of her…
High-Heels and Slippers by Ella Slayne
Ella Slayne is on tour with CLP Blog Tours. Protagonist Josie Jenkins is in a bit of a rough spell. A Brit living in Texas, she is starting to feel homesick from her family, and she and her boyfriend just broke up. To make it worse, she has to work with the ex-boyfriend, who also happens to be her boss. Oh, and married. After being the mistress for two years, Josie is alone and trying to not only move on from Bob, but also keep her job as manager. When Callum Doherty, office hottie, shows an interest in Josie, she is shocked. Could he really be interested in her? Suddenly, her once man-devoid world is overpopulated, with Bob trying to get back in her good graces, Callum asking her on dates, and a high school sweetheart making contact with Josie through Facebook. How will Josie choose the right man? And is she only setting herself up for heartbreak?
I thought High-Heels and Slippers by Ella Slayne was a fun and entertaining read. Even though Josie was “the other women” for so long, I couldn’t really get mad at her. It was easy to see that she thought she loved Bob, and that she believed him when he said he was going to leave his wife. The plot points surrounding the high school sweetheart are unbelievably sad, but Slayne wrote the scene with a careful hand and made sure to put hope and inspiration between the lines as well. Something that could have dragged down this light-hearted read just made it better. I did enjoy Callum and the mystery surrounding him––sort of a ‘player, not a player’ question, but I think parts needed to be expanded on a bit. I won’t lie, I honestly thought for awhile there that he was married too, and his frequent “Mom needs me” excuses were so he could run home to his family. But it did keep me interested in him and the story, and that is never a bad thing. Overall, a solid debut from Slayne, and one to get on your list!
[Rating: 4]
