Future Tour: Kiss Me, Dancer by Alicia and Roy Street
Alicia and Roy Street will be on tour April 23-30 with their novel Kiss Me, Dancer A roller coaster of a romance between a divorced…
Future Tour: A Contented Mind by Samantha Hoffman
Samantha will be on tour May 21-June 4 with her novel A Contented Mind Bestselling novelist Meg Scott thought she was content traveling no further…
Blog Tour Sign Up: In Leah’s Wake by Terri …
A Story of Love, Loss, Connection, and Grace
The Tylers have a perfect life—beautiful home, established careers, two sweet and talented daughters. Their eldest, Leah, an exceptional soccer player, is on track for a prestigious scholarship. Their youngest, Justine, more responsible than seems possible for her 12 years, just wants her sister’s approval. With Leah nearing graduation and Justine a seemingly together kid, the parents are set to enjoy a peaceful life…until Leah meets Todd, a high school dropout and former roadie for a rock band.
As Leah’s parents fight to save their daughter from a world of drugs, sex, wild parties, their divided approach drives their daughter out of their home and a wedge into their marriage. Meanwhile, 12-year-old Justine observes her sister’s rebellion from the shadows of their fragmented family – leaving her to question whether anyone loves her and if God even knows she exists.
Can this family survive in Leah’s wake? What happens when love just isn’t enough?
Newly Edited Book Club Edition, 2012
Reviewer-nominated for 2012 Global eBook award
Book Bundlz 2011 Book Pick
Book Bundlz Book Club Favorite, 2012 – First Place
Praise for In Leah’s Wake
“In Leah’s Wake is an astounding story of a family in transition.”
–Tracy Riva, Midwest Reviews
“A very moving and, at times, heartbreaking story which will be loved by many, whether they are parents or not.”
–A. Rose, Amazon UK, TOP 100 REVIEWER
“Pulled me right along as I continued to make comparisons to my own life.”
–Jennifer Donovan, 5 Minutes for Books, Top 50 Book Blog
“Easily the best read that I have enjoyed in 2011.”
–Bonnie Erina Wheeler, author of Fate Fixed: An Erris Coven Novel
“Multiple ripples of meaning contribute to the overall intensity of this deeply moving psychological drama.”
–Cynthia Harrison, author of Sister Issues
“Sometimes scary, sometimes sad, and always tender.”
— Susan Straight, National Book Award finalist, author of Take One Candle Light A Room
“In Leah’s Wake is a beautifully written and absorbing novel.”
— Margot Livesey, Award-winning author of Banishing Verona
“This is a story that will stay with you for days and weeks.”
–Radical Parenting, the award-winning parenting blog written by teens
“In Leah’s Wake is an irresistible read.”
— Holly Robinson, author of Sleeping Tigers
In My Mailbox: Week of March 11
In My Mailbox: Week of March 11
Title: Finding Felicity
Author: Monica Marlowe
Received: Via CLP Blog Tours
Synopsis: When Madeline O’Connor learns that her estranged sister is gravely ill, she leaves behind her life in Manhattan to be at her sister’s side in Italy. There, she discovers an ancient Benedictine monastery that accommodates travelers, and she decides to stay there, among the monks. Everything in her life turns upside down when she falls for Brother Anthony Lamberti, a soft-spoken Italian completely different from the men she knows in New York. Together Madeline and Anthony find love for the first time, and learn that life and love always find a way. When her sister dies, a new life for Madeline begins. A new life that she would never have imagined and yet is perfect for her in every way.
Title: Designer Dirty Laundry
Author: Diane Vallere
Received: From Diane Vallere
Synopsis: Samantha Kidd, ex-buyer turned Trend Specialist, designed her future with couture precision, but finding the Fashion Director’s corpse on day one leaves her hanging by a thread. When the killer fabricates evidence that puts the cops on her hemline, she trades high fashion for dirty laundry and reveals a cast of characters out for blood. Now this flatfoot in heels must keep pace with a diabolical designer before she gets marked down for murder.
Title: The Wedding Beat
Author: Devan Sipher
Received: From Erin @ The Penguin Group
Synopsis: Sometimes the best man isn’t even in the wedding party…
Gavin Greene is a hopeless romantic. He’s also a professional one: He writes the wedding column for a Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper, covering spectacular parties from coast to coast. But there’s a thin line between being a hotshot reporter on assignment…and being a single guy alone on a Saturday night at someone else’s wedding.
Everything changes on New Year’s when Gavin meets Melinda, a travel writer with an adventurous spirit. A moonlit stroll across a Manhattan rooftop seems to seal the deal. But then she slips away.
Gavin crisscrosses New York City to find her again, navigating stressed-out brides, gossip blogs, a budget-cutting boss and his daft but well-meaning parents. Along the way, he learns that there’s something worse than losing the woman of his dreams — having to write an article about her wedding.
On Tour: Death on Heels by Ellen Byerrum
Ellen will be on tour March 12-April 2 with her novel Death on Heels When fashion reporter Lacey Smithsonian moved to Washington, D.C., from rugged,…
On Tour: Amber Eyes by Jolyn Palliata
Jolyn will be on tour March 12-April 2 with her novel Amber Eyes After an accident, one she shouldn’t have walked away from, Lexi’s life…
On Tour: Binding Arbitration by Elizabeth Marx
Elizabeth will be on tour March 12-April 2 with her novel Binding Arbitration Through the corridors of the Windy City’s criminal courts, single mother, Libby…
Interview with Dina Silver
CLP Q&A with Dina Silver:
When did you know writing was for you?
By the time I went away to college, I knew I wanted to write professionally. I studied Journalism and thought I would be a news reporter one day. Could still happen?
One Pink Line is such an emotional story, and I’ve read that it’s based on
true events in your life. What was it like creating these characters and
their journey?
One Pink Line was actually inspired by my girlfriend’s life story. And while the book is pure fiction, many of the instances throughout the book closely parallel her life and her wonderful little family. Woven into the novel are also many of my own life experiences, including stories from high school and college. It was really a lot of fun to create characters based on people from my past.
What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?
Probably feeling the need to fill a number quotient. I don’t mean daily, more like overall. Sometimes my stories are better told with fewer words, but I feel the need to ‘fill space’ so to speak. A habit I’m trying to break.
What are your favorite genres to read?
My tastes are all over the board. Anything from murder mysteries to historical romance. I also consider myself a ‘bestseller reader.’ I like to read what’s popular and stay current with what other readers are chatting about.
What do you want readers to take away from your story?
Great question. There are so many different emotions, as you mentioned, that the story touches on, but ultimately what initially drew me to it was the underlying love story between Ethan and Sydney. My hope would be that people truly enjoy it for that reason. I, myself, am a sucker for a great love story and I really wanted to do justice to that part of the theme.
How important do you think social media is for authors these days?
Unfortunately, very important. People who like to read also tend to like to chat about it, blog about it, and connect with other readers and writers. Can you be successful in reaching an audience without social media? Sure, but it will be much more of a challenge.
What would be your advice to aspiring writers?
• If people you trust give you criticism, take it.
• Get a killer cover for your book. Don’t just have your brother-in-law design one for you because he knows how to use Photoshop.
• Don’t just get involved in social media, engage in it
• Stay active on Goodreads.
• Reach out to book bloggers.
• Once your book is out there being read, ask people to leave reviews for it on Amazon. You’ll be surprised how many people don’t even realize that it’s an option.
Forged in Fire by Trish McCallan
Trish McCallan is on tour with CLP Blog Tours. Forged in Fire starts with Beth Brown having a premonition. She dreams of a plane hijacking and many brutal murders. Unsure if she is losing her mind or if her dream means something, she heads to the airport – and finds the sexy stranger from her dream that she saw get killed. Lieutenant Commander Zane Winters is a man with true psychic abilities. Zane sees the dead bodies of his two friends and platoon buddies while they are waiting for their flight, and knows something is about to go horribly wrong on the plane. Beth and Zane soon team up to get the flight grounded, and that sets off a series of breath-taking events to try to find out who is involved in the elaborate plan.
I flew through Forged in Fire like it was nobody’s business. It’s a good mystery, good love story, and a fun twist with the psychic abilities thrown in there. Beth and Zane’s romance is insanely hot and I really enjoyed McCallan’s writing style. The only real downfall I found was that there were still so many questions after I closed the book. This is the first in a series so I know those questions will eventually be answered, but I still felt like I needed a little bit more before I read the final page. Other than that, I definitely recommend this book, and will be looking forward to the next book, Forged in Ice.
[Rating: 4]
