A – Z Reading Challenge » Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book

Special Guest – Christina Schwarz – Author of The Edge of the Earth (Giveaway too!)

A - Z Reading Challenge, Giveaways, Guest Posts, Read - A - Latte 150 Challenge, Reviews 2013, Wisconsin Author, Wisconsin Setting 28 Responses »

Apr 182013

Christina grew up in rural Wisconsin so I am thrilled to have her visit today. She has a new book out, The Edge of the Earth, was released April 2. Check out my review after Christina’s post and be sure to enter the giveaway.

In An American Childhood, Annie Dillard writes about how the books she read as a girl led her away from the Midwest that had nourished her and that she loved with its “big hardwood trees outside the windows, and the terrible Midwest summers, and the terrible Midwest winters.” She says that the Midwest lovingly wills its children to “stay and find a place among its familiar possibilities.” In the end, though, she sorrowfully left it, “having grown strong and restless” in the very act of opposing that will. The theme in The Edge of the Earth that feels most tightly tied to my real life is the idea of feeling compelled to leave a loving world of familiar possibilities for who knows what. When I decided that my character was going to travel to a strange and isolated lighthouse in California, I knew instantly that the other side of that story—the known and civilized world that she would leave—would be Milwaukee.

However long I live in California—or elsewhere (I’ve flitted back and forth across the country several times)—I will forever identify myself first as a Midwesterner. Perhaps distinctions of geography are less powerful than they once were, but to me there’s still a detectable difference. The Easterner has a degree of sophistication and the Westerner conveys an uncomplicated self-confidence that I will forever lack. Instead, I possess the down-to-earth quality of the Midwesterner, a trait I’m convinced is not unrelated to a matter-of-factness that comes from thinking that it’s perfectly normal to move through air chilled to 40 below and then superheated to 97 humid degrees within a six month period.

Wisconsin settings are key elements in three of my four novels, and even in the book that has no scene in the literal Midwest—All Is Vanity —I deliberately incorporated a California town, Glendale, that has for me a Midwestern flavor. The Midwest is where I learned to see and appreciate the world. That its beauties are often subtle, softened by rolling hills and dense layers of green, has made me a careful observer, alert to fine detail. That drama in the Midwest is often understated, cloaked by polite cheerfulness, gives me a keen understanding of the complexity of people’s motives and behavior.

In The Great Gatsby, Nick Carroway finds himself unable to fully enter into the excesses of the east coast, but because he has the perspective of a Midwesterner, which in his case might boil down to a clear sense of who he is, he’s able to clearly perceive and tell the story of Gatsby, Daisy and Tom (other Midwesterners who lose their way). For me, too, the Midwest is the grounding place, the essence of home.

~Christina

About This Author
Christina Schwarz, author of three previous novels, including Oprah Book Club pick Drowning Ruth, grew up in rural Wisconsin. She has lived in Washington D.C., New York City, England and New Hampshire, and now lives in Pasadena, California. To capture the atmosphere of the central California coast for The Edge of the Earth, she dragged her husband and son (along with a passel of dogs and a cat) to Big Sur for months at a time.

Amazon.com Widgets

The Edge of the Earth: A Novel
Historical Fiction
Atria Books (April 2, 2013)
A Division of Simon & Schuster
Hardcover: 288 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1451683677
E-Book File Size: 741 KB
ASIN: B008J2BZVY

In 1898, a woman forsakes the comfort of home and family for a love that takes her to a remote lighthouse on the wild coast of California. What she finds at the edge of the earth, hidden between the sea and the fog, will change her life irrevocably.

Trudy has been raised to marry her childhood sweetheart and make her home in Milwaukee but she yearns for a more adventurous life and she falls in love with Oskar. He plans to travel far away from the Midwest and she believes she has found an escape to her preordained life.

But she never imagined a life like this. Alienated from friends and family the couple moves to Point Lucia, California. A desolate outcropping between the ocean and inaccessible wilderness. Oskar is the new assistant lighthouse keeper and the only other inhabitants of the area are the Crawleys who are very set in their ways. Trudy will find that nothing is as she might have predicted, especially as she discovers what hides among the rocks.

Dollycas’s Thoughts
Schwarz is a truly gifted storyteller. Her descriptive style of writing gives this poignant story a life that was pure pleasure to read.

She has created rich and realistic characters and placed them in an extraordinary place. Imagine days filled with talking with 4 other adults and 4 children for months and months on end. The tender only brings supplies every few months.

Trudy goes from a life where practically everything was done for her to taking care of herself and her husband and even teaching the children. Oskar is a stubborn, selfish man. He has dreams for a great invention but he loses interest before any come to fruition. Euphemia Crawley is a woman hardened by her isolated life. She tries to keep rein on 4 wild, rambunctious children who have frequent “mermaid sightings”.

The story takes some unexpected turns and this reader was surprised by the ending. I enjoyed The Edge of the Earth. It is a story that will stick with you.

Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent

I am giving my gently read review copy to one lucky winner.

U.S. and CANADIAN RESIDENTS
You do not have to be a follower to enter but I hope you will find
something you like here and become a follower.

Followers Will Receive 2 Bonus Entries For Each Way They Follow.
Plus 2 Bonus Entries For Liking My Facebook Fan Page.

Leave a comment for Christina for 5 Bonus Entries !

If you publicize the giveaway on Twitter or Facebook or anywhere you will receive
5 Bonus Entries For Each Link.

Contest Will End May 2, 2013 at 11:59 PM CST
Winners Will Be Chosen By Random.org
Winners Will Be Notified By Email
and Will Be Posted Here In The Sidebar.

CLICK HERE FOR ENTRY FORM

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Review: Raveled by Anne McAneny

A - Z Reading Challenge, Mystery & Suspense Challenge, Read - A - Latte 150 Challenge, Reviews 2013 2 Responses »

Mar 282013

Raveled
Mystery
Published by Farrington Press (January 28, 2013)
Trade Paperback: 332 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0988846906
E-Book File Size: 629 KB
ASIN: B00B1SRBHK

Allison Fennimore has tried to put her life in Lavitte behind her. Sixteen years ago her father was accused of killing two teenagers. He committed suicide in jail. Now Allison’s brother reaches out from rehab to beg her to dig into her father’s conviction. She knows she will not be welcomed with open arms in Lavitte bit agrees to review the case. Once she starts digging she can’t stop. One lie leads to another and then a key source of information turns up dead and the revelations start to get ugly. Alison may wish she never started down this path but she can’t stop until she knows the truth.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

When I read the Ibsen quote at the start of the book, It was then that I began to look into the seams of your doctrine. I wanted only to pick at a single knot; but when I had got that undone, the whole thing Raveled out, I knew I was headed for a suspenseful journey.

This small town is an epitome of everything that go can wrong when secrets roll out of control. Allison’s quest for the truth puts herself in danger along with those that try to help help her. All the secrets and lies are Raveled together and as she works to untangle them she starts to wish she never would have opened this can of worms.

Anne McAneny brings a unique writing style to this complex mystery. She has a very descriptive way of telling a story that gives readers a vivid picture of time and place. It could be a very dark tale but she drops little tidbits of humor in the dialogue and characterization that refreshes the scenes.

I enjoyed my first McAneny experience. This is an author I will be watching.

Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent

About This Author
As often as possible, Anne McAneny uses her writing as an excuse not to cook dinner. Her children learned the words bland and flavorless as soon as they graduated from Cheerios, so they were thrilled when Anne decided to follow her passion and write.

Anne also got certified as a Personal Trainer recently, but is not actually training anyone in a personal manner. No dummy, however, she knows that exercise serves as a perfectly valid reason to avoid that pesky dinner thing. Anne lives in Virginia with her husband and three hungry boys, a well-fed cat, and a newly adopted puggle whose energy dwarfs hers. When she’s not at her laptop, you will find her on her bike, pounding the pavement, or eating Goobers in front of the TV—but rarely in the kitchen. To read more of Anne’s slightly askew thoughts, check out her blog at www.AnneMcAneny.blogspot.com.
Follow her on:

Amazon.com Widgets

Review: Right Where I Belong by Krista McGee

A - Z Reading Challenge, E-Book Challenge, Read - A - Latte 150 Challenge, Reviews 2013 Comments Off

Mar 222013

Right Where I Belong
Young Adult Christian Fiction
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (December 11, 2012)
Paperback: 320 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1401684907
E-Book File Size: 502 KB
ASIN: B008GVYWJU

Natalia’s about to discover her place in the world . . . and it’s not following in her father’s footsteps.

Natalia’s father is about to get divorced again. His business is his top priority and plans for her to take over his business. Her mother is more concerned with her career and doesn’t have much time for her daughter. Natalia has really bonded with her current stepmother. Maureen has introduced Natalia to Christ and Natalia wants to learn more. When Maureen tells Natalia she will be moving home to Florida after the divorce she is devastated. She needs Maureen and actually decides to move from Spain to Florida too. Her parents think living in the States would be wonderful for her college prospects so they put no obstacles in her way. It is not long before Natalia realizes Maureen needs her too. Together they embark on a journey following the paths set by a higher power.

Dollycas’s Thoughts
This was a beautiful story of a woman’s continuing journey with Christ and a young woman’s awakening in the awesomeness of the Lord. The behavior of her parents seriously marred her outlook on life. She never wanted to date or fall in love because she has a bird’s eye view of the heartbreak that occurs when someone falls out of love. Her father treated woman as things not humans with feelings. Moving away was just what she needed to open her eyes and her heart to the joy the world can provide.

Perfect way for today’s teens, Right Where I Belong is loosely based on the Bible’s story of Ruth. Her stepmother brought her the Good News of Christ and Natalia is still learning about her faith. She does want to share her awakening with everyone.

In Florida, she attends a Christian High School that is so different from her school in Spain. There were few Christians in Spain and they rarely discussed their faith. But the real adjustment was the language. Natalia spoke English well but she didn’t speak American teenage slang. It was a treat to learn the ways of American teens from the way they dress to the way the speak including the phases that roll so easily off our tongues but are truly confusing when words are dissected.

The story is brilliantly written with rich, warm, real characters. It is a Christian novel but it doesn’t preach. It is a perfect book for teenagers and those of us who are young at heart. It was an amazing fast read and I recommend it highly. I found JOY within the pages of Right Where I Belong. and think you will too.

Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent

About This Author
Krista writes for teens, teaches teens, and more often than not, acts like a teen. She and her family have lived and ministered in Texas, Costa Rica, and Spain. Her current hometown is Tampa, FL.

Find out more on her webpage here.

Be her Fan on GoodReads here.

Like her Author Page on Facebook here.

Amazon.com Widgets

Special Guest – Peter Leonard – Back From The Dead Virtual Book Tour (Giveaway)

A - Z Reading Challenge, Giveaways, Guest Posts, Mystery & Suspense Challenge, Read - A - Latte 150 Challenge 21 Responses »

Mar 072013

This is the 3rd Peter Leonard novel I have had the pleasure to review.
I am thrilled to have him here today as my guest.

Lori thought you would like to hear about how I research a book so here’s a bit of my process.

Research

I do most of my own research. For Voices of the Dead I visited Dachau concentration camp, which is a depressing experience, and walked the streets of Munich, trying to get a feel for this city I was going to use to stage parts of my story. I also spent three weeks at the Holocaust museum in Farmington Hills, Michigan, reading about the extermination of six million people from different points of view: survivors, Nazi top brass, camp guards and ordinary Germans.

Online I found maps and photographs of pre-World War II Munich. I researched Jewish neighborhoods, and found out where people bought their eggs and milk and where they bought their meat and vegetables, the names of the stores and the streets they were on. I found out where the Munich Jews worked and where they went to school, and what they thought as Hitler emerged on the political scene,initially as a curiosity and later as a threat to their very existence.

I finished Voices, and a week later I thought of an idea for a sequel. I wrote one-hundred and forty-three pages of Back from the Dead, and put it aside because I had a chance to hang out with Detroit Police Homicide. It was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. For about a month I talked to homicide investigators, visited crime scenes and read old cases that had been solved. Based on those experiences I came up with another idea for a book called Eyes Closed Tight. The main character is a retired homicide detective named O’Clair from my second novel Trust Me. O’Clair buys a motel in Florida, and one morning finds the body of an attractive young girl on the beach in front of his property. The girl was killed in a way that reminds him of a murder case he had solved years before. I wrote one-hundred and fifty pages and my editor e-mailed and asked how I was coming on the sequel to Voices of the Dead. So I put Eyes Closed Tight down and finished Back from the Dead.

To research All He Saw Was The Girl, I rented an apartment in Rome two blocks from the Spanish Steps. I brought my son Alex along and we walked around the city looking for locations. Alex took photos and I made notes. We would stop for lunch and have pasta or grilled fish and a glass of wine. At some point it occured to me that what I was doing was work and I was getting paid for it.

Most of what I’m looking for I find online. Things like how to steal a car, how to get out of handcuffs, the Arizona prison system, bow-hunting, white supremacists, the U.S. Secret Service, firearms and more.If you write about guns make sure you get it right, or some gun expert will tell you about it.

~Peter Leonard

To find out more about Peter Leonard and his books visit his webpage here.

Back from the Dead
Sequel to Voices of the Dead
Suspense Thriller
Published by The Story Plant (January 22, 2013)
Trade Paperback: 282 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1611880632
E-Book File Size: 594 KB
ASIN: B00AJVIXB8

Holocaust survivor Harry Levin and Nazi death angel Ernst Hess are back in this conclusion to the story that started in Voices of the Dead. We travel from the Bahamas to Florida, Michigan and Germany as Levin learns that Ness is still alive it is up to him to make sure this time Ness does not come Back from the Dead.

Dollycas’s Thoughts
I must say I was surprised that this sequel was written because Voices of the Dead was a great stand alone but this book is jammed back with the action and suspense that I expect from this author and it was totally believable the Hess was back. I did feel bad for Harry as it seems he still has not been able to grieve the loss of his daughter. This story picks up shorty after the last one finished in 1971.

The characters again came alive on the page and traveled the world at top speed. Quite a game of cat and mouse with the players constantly changing places. The pages kept turning through some mind-boggling incidents. Leonard writes those edge of your seat moments that suspense readers enjoy so much with ease.

I recommend you read Voices of the Dead before reading Back from the Dead. I did like the first installment just a bit better than the second.

Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent

I have 1 copy to giveaway!!

U.S. and CANADIAN RESIDENTS
You do not have to be a follower to enter but I hope you will find
something you like here and become a follower.

Followers Will Receive 2 Bonus Entries For Each Way They Follow.
Plus 2 Bonus Entries For Liking My Facebook Fan Page.

Leave a comment for Peter for 5 Bonus Entries !

If you publicize the giveaway on Twitter or Facebook or anywhere you will receive
5 Bonus Entries For Each Link.

Contest Will End March 21, 2013 at 11:59 PM CST
Winner Will Be Chosen By Random.org
Winner Will Be Notified By Email
and Will Be Posted Here In The Sidebar.

CLICK HERE FOR ENTRY FORM

Special Guest – Author Carol K. Carr (Giveaway too!)

A - Z Reading Challenge, Giveaways, Guest Posts, Mystery & Suspense Challenge, Read - A - Latte 150 Challenge, Reviews 2013 40 Responses »

Feb 212013

Carol has just added 3 signed copies to the giveaway and her publicist is providing another copy too!

THAT’S A TOTAL OF 6 COPIES OF

Just scroll down and click the link for the entry form!!!

Carol writes the Madam of Espionage Mysteries featuring India Black.
This series has me hooked. The previous book in this series India Black and the Widow of Windsor made by Best Reads of 2011 list.

I am thrilled to Welcome Carol back to Escape With Dollycas!

Thanks for the opportunity to do this guest post, Lori. India Black and the Shadows of Anarchy is the third book in the “India Black, Madam of Espionage” series, published by Berkley Prime Crime. I’ve just submitted the manuscript of the fourth novel to my editor. Publication is planned for February, 2014.

Personally, I love a good series. There’s the delight of discovering the first book and the pleasurable anticipation in waiting for the next one, and (dare I mention this?) the crushing disappointment when the author fails to meet your expectations. So how does a writer keep things fresh for readers? How does she keep things fresh for herself? Because (and do I really dare mention this?) sometimes the author can become bored, too.

The most famous example of a writer growing tired of his creation is no doubt Arthur Conan Doyle, who grew so weary of Sherlock Holmes that he sent him over the Reichenbach Falls. Even dense Dr. Watson could have detected that Doyle needed a change when that happened. However, Doyle had to resurrect his hero when the public demanded more Holmes.

You can definitely carry on a series for too long. Somewhere, on a site that shall remain nameless, I stumbled across a page called “Authors Who Should Have Quit By Now.” Yep, it’s about series which have continued past their sell-by dates. (By the way, when I was trying to find that page, I typed in “writers who” and up popped “smoke weed.” People are weird.) Anyway, back to the question at hand – how to avoid becoming an AWSHQBN. Four books into my series and I’m giving that issue some serious thought. As always, I turn to the experts: writers I enjoy who have written successful series over a period of years. Here are some of the methods they use, some of which I’m considering for use in my series.

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: I know, that seems obvious. Who wants to read about a character that remains static over twenty years, no change in marital status, drinking habits, or hairstyles? But hang on a minute. The familiarity of a character is quite frequently what attracts a reader to a series. They don’t want their hero to change. They’d be disappointed if Stephanie Plum became a nun or Kay Scarpetta picked up a golf club, unless she’s going to wield it against a serial killer. The trick is to introduce just enough change in the character’s life to keep things interesting for the reader. And it goes without saying that that change has to be consistent with the character’s, er, character. I don’t think any readers expect India Black to settle down and become a housewife, obsessing over flower arrangements and doing needlepoint. But she does need a few changes in her life from time to time, just to keep her on her toes. Some big changes will be coming her way in the fourth book next year.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION: Some authors keep boredom away by dropping their heroines into new locales. It doesn’t have to be exotic, although that’s fun. Just depositing your character into a place that is unfamiliar provides an opportunity for your character to stretch a bit, in terms of how she deals with a new environment. Think of Mary Russell in Palestine, or Jack Reacher wandering the backroads of America. I’m going to use this tactic myself, if the publisher wants a fifth India Black. It is time for her to get out of London and head for the Dark Continent, which offers me the chance to write about one of my favorite historical subjects (British colonial history), countries (South Africa) and incidents (the Battle of Rorke’s Drift).

SEX (OR NOT): This one is problematic. Writers use sex for lots of reasons. It moves the relationship along between characters. It can be a mistake the character has to confront. It can be an affirmative, life-changing experience for the character. It may also increase book sales. (Ten points for you if Shades of Grey just popped into your head). But beware if you have included a romantic aspect to your series. You have entered a minefield. Tread carefully. Especially if you’ve made your heroine a prickly, proud and independent woman. My character India Black has a thing for the prim and proper French. They spar and flirt and strike sparks off each other. Will they ever do it? Yes. No. Maybe. I like the tease and the sexual tension. Lots of readers do. But at some point the tease goes on too long, and then you become exasperated with those two dolts who should just get it over with and clear the air. And then what? Where’s the sexual tension? Can you keep it alive? Do you want to? I doff my hat to Elizabeth Peters, who handled this subject perfectly. Even after her heroine Amelia Peabody married Radcliffe Emerson, the two continued to generate heat. It’s a rare accomplishment. Not being Ms. Peters, I shudder every time I think about how to handle this issue in my series.

These are just a few of the things I’ve been mulling over as I try to deliver a series that retains its essential characters and characteristics, yet remains lively and creative. If any of you have any ideas about how to do this, I’d appreciate your comments. Thanks again, Lori, for the opportunity to speak to your readers.

India Black and the Shadows of Anarchy
(A Madam of Espionage Mystery)
3rd in Series
Historical Mystery
A Berkley Prime Crime Mystery
The Berkley Publishing Company (February 5, 2013)
Published by The Penguin Group
Cover Illustration by Alan Ayers
Cover Design by Rita Frangie
Trade Paperback: 320 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0425255957
E-Book File Size: 679 KB
ASIN: B0099CGJHI

In Victorian London, India Black has all the attributes a high-class madam needs to run a successful brothel–wit, beauty, and an ability to lie with a smile. Luckily for Her Majesty’s Government, all these talents also make her a first-rate spy…

Revolt has spread across Europe and has now reached England. Anarchists have begun assassinating lords and earls. Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli (Dizzy) has sent for India Black. He believes she is ready to handle an assignment on her own. He wants her to infiltrate the underground group he believes is responsible for the attacks. To stop their deadly plot she will travel from the poorest regions of London to the highest levels of society. All in attempt to uncover the secrets that threaten her very existence.

Dollycas’s Thoughts
Carol K. Carr is an amazing storyteller, just Amazing! She takes us back to the Victorian Era and immerses us in the political and social cultures and wraps it with mystery, intrigue, and humor in her own unique writing style.

India Black is a strong, savvy, cheeky protagonist. French appears later in this story and some of the secrets of his life are starting to be revealed as are the secrets to India’s past. Their romantic tension is slowly building with hopes of a real romance. Vincent is a very colorful character. The anarchists are quite an unconventional group. One is just downright strange.

The main mystery is carefully plotted and full of surprises. India places herself in some very dangerous situations and more than once I thought she might be meeting her maker.

Carr keeps us on the edge of seats one minute to laughing out loud the next. I feel like I am watching a movie rather than reading a book. In my review of India Black and the Widow of Windsor I said ”her words are like a thousand pictures” and that is even more true with these story. You can hear the door creaks, the rats running through the alleys, the thump as India hits the ground and the splash of the water. Pictures are painted in your mind vividly. You see the squalor of Seven Dials, the bints favorite yellow dress and all of India’s finery. You can smell the stench being emitted from Vincent and almost taste what Mrs. Drinkwater tries to pass off as edible food.

The author also leaves us a bit of a cliffhanger to tempt us as we wait for the next India Black adventure. I can’t wait foe the next Madam of Espionage Mystery.

Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent

Find out all about Carol K. Carr and her books here.

Would you like to win a copy of this wonderful book?

Thanks to the people at Penguin
I have 2 copies to giveaway!!

U.S. and CANADIAN RESIDENTS
You do not have to be a follower to enter but I hope you will find
something you like here and become a follower.

Followers Will Receive 2 Bonus Entries For Each Way They Follow.
Plus 2 Bonus Entries For Liking My Facebook Fan Page.

Leave a comment for Carol for 5 Bonus Entries !

If you publicize the giveaway on Twitter or Facebook or anywhere you will receive
5 Bonus Entries For Each Link.

Contest Will End March 7, 2013 at 11:59 PM CST
Winners Will Be Chosen By Random.org
Winners Will Be Notified By Email
and Will Be Posted Here In The Sidebar.

CLICK HERE FOR ENTRY FORM

Review: Three Graves Full by Jamie Mason

A - Z Reading Challenge, Mystery & Suspense Challenge, Read - A - Latte 150 Challenge, Reviews 2013 3 Responses »

Feb 152013

Three Graves Full
Suspense/Mystery
Gallery Books (February 12, 2013)
A Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc
Hardcover: 320 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1451685039
E-Book File Size: 1130 KB
ASIN: B008J2AEQG

There is very little peace for a man with a body buried in his backyard.

But it could always be worse. . . .

More than a year ago, mild-mannered Jason Getty killed a man he wished he’d never met. Then he planted the problem a little too close to home. But just as he’s learning to live with the undeniable reality of what he’s done, police unearth two bodies on his property—neither of which is the one Jason buried.

Dollycas’s Thoughts
In Jamie Mason’s debut novel she has come up with a very unique plot. Seriously 3 bodies in the same yard left by at least 2 different killers. With elements of dark humor she serves up a complicated mystery with many twists and turns.

The story is told from multiple points of view and I will admit sometimes the timeline and all the characters got a bit confusing but as the story continues and relationships play out it gets easier to follow. The main character Jason Getty was a lost soul and easy prey for Gary Harris. The other characters did not really stand out for me with the exception of the very talented dog that ended up playing a major role.

Remembering this is the author’s first book they are several excellent elements to build on. The premise of the story was fantastic. She has a very descriptive way of writing which I enjoyed. The dialogue between characters and the comedic content was almost there but not quite. I encourage her to work on her character development so the reader is drawn to more than the main character. Something that makes the supporting characters memorable. Jamie Mason shows great promise and she is definitely an author I will be expecting big things from.

Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent

About This Author

Jamie Mason was born in Oklahoma City, but grew up in Washington, D.C. She’s most often reading and writing, but in the life left over, she enjoys films, Formula 1 racing, football, traveling, and, conversely, staying at home. Jamie lives with her husband and two daughters in the mountains of western North Carolina. Check out her webpage here.

Special Guest Dan Chabot Author of GodSpeed – A Love Story (Giveaway too!)

A - Z Reading Challenge, Giveaways, Guest Posts, Read - A - Latte 150 Challenge, Reviews 2013, Wisconsin Setting 28 Responses »

Feb 142013

Happy Valentine’s Day!!

When I “met” Dan and we discussed his book we both thought today was the perfect day to share his book with you. I was excited when he agreed to stop by today too.

Writing A Novel
by Dan Chabot

The best thing about writing a novel is that you actually get to create people — a privilege normally reserved to a much higher power. You can create nice people, evil people, funny people, unhappy people, regular people, irregular people.

The second best thing about writing a novel is picking names for them. What should they be called?

One of the characters in Godspeed: a love story, is named Harold Dunser. A fairly common, solid name, you might think, except that Harold Dunser was the name of my imaginary childhood friend. He lives again!

Another character is named Ossie Puddo. An unusual name, with an unusual pedigree: He was the imaginary friend of my older brother. I often wonder if Harold and Ossie ever met. After all, they lived in the same house…

Every author has his or her own favorite method for picking character names. Mine is to reach into my past and retrieve names that meant something to me. Sometimes I combine familiar names. And sometimes I just see a name in a newspaper or on the web that has a nice ring to it and borrow it for my story.

But possible character names can pop up just about anywhere. Out on the freeway, for example, I like to watch for the signs that tell the names of the towns coming up at the next exit. Some of them when used together have a distinctive ring. That’s how Dawson Steele became a character in my book.

My wife and I had three boys. We wanted a girl, too, but it was not to be. We even had a name picked out — Amedee. Our Amedee never arrived, but a fictional one did…

And if you’re a vindictive sort, you can get even with old adversaries. A very disagreeable character in the book has the same name of somebody who tormented me in the second grade. Take that, John!

Like characters, story ideas themselves can come from unlikely places. For example, the words funeral and love story are not often found together in the same sentence, but the idea behind Godspeed: a love story is based on a tragic real-life incident that had troubled me for years.

I was a young newspaperman when a good friend wound up in the situation that confronts Derry in my novel. My friend was engaged to a lovely young woman who was struck down without warning by ovarian cancer. She had no family to speak of, so it was left to him to make funeral arrangements. In his grief and the daze induced by tranquilizers, he watched helplessly as a shabby funeral home staged an embarrassing service. The rent-a-minister mispronounced her name, fumbled her biographical details, and in general presided over an ignominious travesty. Another friend, on leaving the humiliating ceremony, hissed in his wife’s ear, “Don’t ever let this happen to me.”

As I thought about my friend’s experience, turning it over in my mind and speculating on what I would have done in that situation, the idea for a novel began to take shape. I embellished and embroidered it considerably, added some interesting characters patterned after people I knew in the newspaper business, came up with some surprising twists, and created what I hope is an inspirational, sentimental story about the resilience of the human spirit, love beyond the grave, and a faith in tomorrow.

Because of the serious theme, I had to leaven the story with some doses of humor. Much of it was provided by Derry’s stable of eccentric newspaper colleagues. One of them relates how as a little girl she asked her father why people like Charlie Chaplin walked so jerkily in those old movies, and he told her it was because that’s the way people walked in those days. In another incident, when Derry invites Amedee up to his apartment, she makes friends immediately with his dog, who is scratching furiously at an ear. “Oh, now I get it,” she says impishly. “You lured me up here, an innocent maiden, to see your itchings.” And Derry’s encounter with an earthy, profane, inner-city minister also adds some counterbalance to the overall message

But writing the book took a while. I dabbled at it here and there, writing a chapter now and then, revising it, rewriting it, but the progress was pretty slow. Then one day I read a quotation that got my attention. It said, “Most people die with their music still inside.”

That comment inspired me to finally finish the book. I certainly don’t pretend to have written a symphony, but at least I whistled a little tune! And if any of you have an idea for a book, or a poem, or a song, or any kind of a project, my advice to you is: Get going! Go do it! Sing your song!

In this era of self-publishing it’s not difficult to turn your manuscript into a finished product. The hard part is getting it noticed, because you don’t have a big publishing house and its promotional resources behind you. After you tell your friends and family about your new adventure, you’re on your own to promote it.

That’s why a lot of authors turn to reviewers like Lori. You ask them to take a look at your book, and in a perfect world maybe they’ll like it and tell others about it. A lot of authors have been ignored by agents and the big publishing houses, and yet went on to write best-sellers because bloggers like Lori noticed their work and spread the word.

So thank you, Lori, for the chance to put my book out there before your many followers. I hope they come away from it with both a smile and a tear.

~Dan

Dan, you are so welcome!! Now let me tell you more about this book!

Godspeed: A love story
Self Published (June 20, 2012)
Contemporary Fiction/Romance
Paperback: 306 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1477435366
E-Book File Size: 469 KB
ASIN: B009JLYDDQ

Derry and Amedee meet during her first day on the job at the Milwaukee Ledger. Their love affair is intense and pure and should last forever. Life throws us curves and Derry receives a big one. Will he survive?

Dollycas’s Thoughts
I purposely gave you a very short synopsis. I think the reason I such a powerful reaction to the story was because I read it cold, with only scant details of where the story would lead.

It is a love story of an enduring love, told in a ingenious way that really leaves the reader solving a bit of a mystery. A rich tender story filled with emotion but tempered with humor and uplifting moments that balance out what could have turned this into a very heavy story. There is a message - an inspirational one - but this really is a story about life and how one man deals with the cards he is dealt.

Beautifully written, clever characters and the stories within the story, the testimonials, really moved me. My only criticism was when the author tried to take this old fashioned love story to a steamy place for a few paragraphs. The story is so strong he really didn’t need to go there at all.

Have some tissues handy, pour a nice glass wine and curl up with Godspeed. It is a love story you will truly love.

Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent

About This Author
Chabot spent 35 years in the newspaper business as a writer, editor and columnist, so he is comfortable writing about big-city newsrooms, the primary setting for his inspirational tale of love and loss, despair and redemption.

He grew up in Ontonagon, Michigan, and worked for several newspapers before joining the staff of the Milwaukee Journal. For many years he was the editor of the Journal’s popular and beloved Green Sheet feature section.

Chabot and his wife, Mary Ellen, now reside in Florida. They are the parents of three grown sons and just recently welcomed a fifth grandchild.

For more information check out his webpage www.godspeed-lovestory.com

Would you like to win a copy of Godspeed?

I am giving away my review copy!!!

U.S. and CANADIAN RESIDENTS

Leave a comment for Dan for 5 Bonus Entries !

If you publicize the giveaway on Twitter or Facebook or anywhere you will receive
5 Bonus Entries For Each Link.

Contest Will End February 28, 2013 at 11:59 PM CST
Winners Will Be Chosen By Random.org
Winners Will Be Notified By Email
and Will Be Posted Here In The Sidebar.

CLICK HERE FOR ENTRY FORM

Review: My One Square Inch Of Alaska by Sharon Short

A - Z Reading Challenge, E-Book Challenge, Read - A - Latte 150 Challenge, Reviews 2013, Where Are You Reading Challenge 3 Responses »

Feb 092013

My One Square Inch of Alaska: A Novel
A Plume Book (January 29, 2013)
Published by The Penguin Group
Paperback: 336 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0452298767
E-Book File Size: 542 KB
ASIN: B008JHXSM8

A pair of siblings escape—along with a Siberian Husky—the strictures of their 1950s industrial Ohio town on the adventure of a lifetime.

Donna Lane has been saving her money and working hard so that when she graduates she can head to New York to study fashion design. Her younger brother Will is obsessed with the with the television show Sergeant Striker and the Alaskan Wild. The show is running a contest with a very special prize that Will intends to win. He just needs 10 cereal box tops to get his own square inch of the Alaskan Territory. Then he is going to travel there with a beat up and abused Siberian Husky from the local junkyard to stake his claim.

Then Will gets sick and Donna decides to put her dreams on hold so she can fulfill her brother’s dream instead. They are soon packed up in her mother’s old yellow convertible, pulling a small camper, with Trusty the husky in the backseat, and a road atlas to guide their way. They are off on the adventure of a lifetime.

Dollycas’s Thoughts
I first became acquainted with this author through her cozy mysteries. I saw on Facebook awhile ago that she had a new book in the works in a totally different genre. That story was finally released last week. It is a beautifully written inspiring story.

Donna Lane has strength and courage way beyond her years. Taking care of her dysfunctional father and her brother was hard enough, but then to pack up a car and travel thousands of miles to make her little brother’s dream come true leaves me awestruck. So many things could and did happen on their travels.

My heart was warmed by the hope that both Donna and Will had but also by the hope MayJune and Miss Bettina had as well. None of them had an easy life. They just took the lemons of their life and made lemonade. They kept pushing forward trying to make each day better than the last.

My emotions ran wild while reading this book. Laughing, crying and panicking too at a few harrowing incidents. Sharon Short takes us on an incredible journey with Donna and Will. Readers from young adults to senior citizens will enjoy this tender story.

Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent

Find out more about Sharon Short on her blog here.

Review: Spare Change by Bette Lee Crosby (Giveaway too!)

A - Z Reading Challenge, E-Book Challenge, Giveaways, Not Enough Books Cozy Mystery Challenge, Read - A - Latte 150 Challenge, Reviews 2013 3 Responses »

Feb 072013

Spare Change
Women’s Fiction/Historical Fiction
Bent Pine Publishing (September 27, 2011)
Paperback: 280 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0983887911
E-Book File Size: 455 KB
ASIN: B005SHN43A

“The Good Lord don’t do things that way- when He sees a person’s flat out of hope and feeling dead broke, He slips a bit of spare change into the bottom of their pocket; not a lot maybe, but enough for them to get by.”

Olivia Westerly disowned by her father when she bucks tradition and holds down a job and decides not to marry and have children. She was 26 years old and considered a spinster and that was just fine with her. Olivia is very superstitious as well – Eleven is the unluckiness number ever and opals mean a disaster is about to strike. Then forty years later she meets Charlie Doyle and he sweeps her off her feet. Then life takes an unexpected turn. Olivia is alone again and there is n eleven year boy at her door in search of his grandfather.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

What a moving story!!! Full of emotion and heartwarming!!

Told from several points of view Bette Lee Crosby has written a story that will stay with you long after you reach the final word. What starts as two stories slowly merges into one. Olivia is a woman very set in her ways with absolutely no desire to have children “weigh her down”. Then Ethan Allen, a young boy who has fought and survived everything that was thrown at him including seeing something no child should have to witness, enters her life and turns her world inside out. An 11 year old, with a very foul mouth and no trouble slipping whatever he wants in his pockets could easily send Olivia over the edge.

Woven into this story is also a crime to be solved. It is not really a mystery because the reader knows the criminal but it takes the courage of a character to come forward all the while knowing their life is in danger.

With a definite Southern voice – dark at times, a bit of humor, a touch of religion, fantastic characters for the reader to love and hate, and an unexpected twist, this book gets my highest recommendation. The book has won several awards and readers will know why. This one is a keeper, a story you will want to read again and share with your friends.

Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent

About This Author

Award-winning novelist Bette Lee Crosby brings the wit and wisdom of her Southern Mama to works of fiction–the result is a delightful blend of humor, mystery and romance along with a cast of quirky charters who will steal your heart away.

Crosby’s work was first recognized in 2006 when she received The National League of American Pen Women Award for a then unpublished manuscript. Since that time, she has gone on to win several more awards, including another NLAPW award, three Royal Palm Literary Awards, both the 2011 and 2012FPA President’s Book Award Gold Medal and most recently the 2010 Reader’s View General Fiction Literary Award, Southeast Regional Fiction Award and the Jack Eadon Best Contemporary Drama Book Award.

Born in Detroit and raised in a plethora of states scattered across the South and Northeast, Crosby originally studied art and began her career as a packaging designer. When asked to write a few lines of copy for the back of a pantyhose package, she discovered a love for words that was irrepressible. After years of writing for business, she turned to works of fiction and never looked back. “Storytelling is in my blood,” Crosby laughingly admits, “My mom was not a writer, but she was a captivating storyteller, so I find myself using bits and pieces of her voice in most everything I write.”

Find out more on Bette’s webpage here.

Would you like to win a copy of this wonderful book?

The author is giving away 1 E-BOOK COPY!

You do not have to be a follower to enter but I hope you will find something you like here and become a follower.

Plus 2 Bonus Entries For Liking My Facebook Fan Page.

If you publicize the giveaway on Twitter or Facebook plus anywhere you will receive 2 Bonus Entries For Each Link. (Limit 3 Links)

Contest Will End February 22, 2013 at 12:01 AM CST

Winners Will Be Chosen By Random.org

Winners Will Be Notified By Email and Will Be Posted Here In The Sidebar.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cozy Wednesday with Author J.J. Murphy (Giveaway too!)

A - Z Reading Challenge, Cozy Wednesday, Cruisin Thru Cozies Reading Challenge, Giveaways, Guest Posts, Read - A - Latte 150 Challenge, Reviews 2013, Where Are You Reading Challenge 68 Responses »

Jan 232013

cozy wednesday

Welcome to Cozy Wednesday!

I am thrilled to have J.J. Murphy drop by!!

Thanks, Lori, for allowing me to ESCAPE with you again.

JJMurphy-ac

Q&A with J.J. Murphy

Q. Tell us a little bit about Dorothy Parker and the Algonquin Round Table.

A. Dorothy Parker was a real-life writer and poet. She joined a group of other writers and theater people who just happed to have lunch every day at the Algonquin Hotel in New York City in the 1920s. Soon, this group—called the Algonquin Round Table—became well known for their quotable quips and comments. I’m sure you’ve heard a few of Dorothy Parker’s most famous lines, such as “Men seldom make passes at girls who wear glasses,” and “That woman speaks eighteen languages and can’t say ‘No’ in any of them.” When asked to use the word “horticulture” in a sentence, Parker fired back, “You can lead a whore to culture, but you can’t make her think.”

In the Algonquin Round Table Mysteries, Dorothy Parker becomes a very amateur sleuth—with a quip on her lip and a martini in hand—and her close friend Robert Benchley acts as her sidekick.

Algonquin2

Q. What is the game of Murder? What makes it “friendly”?

A. The members of the Algonquin Round Table loved to play games. In addition to their daily wordplay at lunches, one of their favorite games was called Murder. In this game, one player acted as the Detective, one player was the Murderer (unknown to all the other players), and everybody else was a potential Victim or Suspect. It was the Murderer’s job to get another player alone, and then announce, “You are dead.” At this, the Victim would fall to the floor and not make a sound until discovered.

Upon discovery of the Victim, the Detective was summoned. The Detective’s job was to question each player to determine “whodunit.” Although they were good friends, the Algonquins loved “one-upping” each other. So this was the ideal game for them.

557571_10151029904013281_429367907_n In my book, A Friendly Game of Murder,the group begins a game of Murder during a New Year’s Eve party. The hotel is both snowed in and quarantined due to a smallpox scare.

It’s the perfect setting for things to turn deadly—but with some thrilling and hilarious results!

~J.J.

About This Author

J.J. Murphy is an award-winning health care writer in Pennsylvania, and has been a long-time fan of Dorothy Parker and the Algonquin Round Table.

Follow the mystery at www.roundtablemysteries.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RoundTableMysteries.

557571_10151029904013281_429367907_n

A Friendly Game of Murder:
An Algonquin Round Table Mystery
3rd in Series
Cozy Mystery
Obsidian (December 31, 2012)
Published by New American Library
A Division of The Penguin Group
Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0451238993
E-Book File Size: 939 KB
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0451238990

How about a little friendly game of murder?

Dorothy and her friends gather at the Algonquin Hotel on New Year’s Eve for a swanky soiree hosted by movie stars Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford. Mary’s nose gets a little out of joint when young Broadway starlet Bibi Bibelot becomes the star of her party with her antics. But when Bibi is found later dead in the bathtub Mary is not the only suspect. No one knows who the killer is, but one thing everyone is sure of — they won’t be making any gin in that bathtub.

When even the Round Table members end up in peril, it is clear the game is afoot. Dorothy enlists the help of surprise guest Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to join the group and help track down the killer. It should be Elementary right!!

Dollycas’s Thoughts
I love, Love, LOVE this series and this one is my favorite so far!!! The Algonquin under quarantine! The cat and mouse chase around the hotel was priceless! Benchley running the switchboard had me in tears with laughter! The nuns at the party, oh my word!!

J.J. Murphy has gift of getting into these characters heads and coming up with these absolutely wonderful stories. Adding Sir Artie to mix this time was brilliant. The man behind Sherlock Holmes who really hates it when people think he can solve mysteries.

The Roaring 20′s, the hotel, the flapper dresses, the waiters, the movie stars. Reading this story was just like watching on old talkie! The author puts us there so easily. I rode up and down that elevator right along with Dorothy, ducked the flying objects in the kitchen, got chills in that icebox. J.J. Murphy I love the way you write! Don’t ever stop!!!

This story is not only fun and entertaining it is like a time machine taking us back in time!! and it is a marvelous trip!!! 10 starfish!!!

a perfect escape

5 STARFISH

Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent

Would you like to win a copy of this wonderful book?

Thanks to the people at Penguin
I have 2 copies to giveaway!!

U.S. and CANADIAN RESIDENTS
You do not have to be a follower to enter but I hope you will find
something you like here and become a follower.

Followers Will Receive 2 Bonus Entries For Each Way They Follow.
Plus 2 Bonus Entries For Liking My Facebook Fan Page.

Leave a comment for J.J. for 5 Bonus Entries !

If you publicize the giveaway on Twitter or Facebook or anywhere you will receive
5 Bonus Entries For Each Link.

Contest Will End February 6, 2013 at 11:59 PM CST
Winners Will Be Chosen By Random.org
Winners Will Be Notified By Email
and Will Be Posted Here In The Sidebar.