Where the Lost Wander by @AmyHarmon #Historical #BookReview @aharmon_author

In this epic and haunting love story set on the Oregon Trail, a family and their unlikely protector find their way through peril, uncertainty, and loss.

The Overland Trail, 1853: Naomi May never expected to be widowed at twenty. Eager to leave her grief behind, she sets off with her family for a life out West. On the trail, she forms an instant connection with John Lowry, a half-Pawnee man straddling two worlds and a stranger in both.

But life in a wagon train is fraught with hardship, fear, and death. Even as John and Naomi are drawn to each other, the trials of the journey and their disparate pasts work to keep them apart. John’s heritage gains them safe passage through hostile territory only to come between them as they seek to build a life together.

When a horrific tragedy strikes, decimating Naomi’s family and separating her from John, the promises they made are all they have left. Ripped apart, they can’t turn back, they can’t go on, and they can’t let go. Both will have to make terrible sacrifices to find each other, save each other, and eventually…make peace with who they are.

Attribution- Amazon

Biography
Amy Harmon is a Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and New York Times Bestselling author. Her books have been published in eighteen languages, truly a dream come true for a little country girl from Utah.
Amy Harmon has written thirteen novels, including the USA Today Bestsellers, The Smallest Part, Making Faces, and Running Barefoot, and the #1 Amazon bestselling historical, From Sand and Ash. Her novel, A Different Blue, is a New York Times Bestseller. Her USA Today bestselling fantasy, The Bird and the Sword, was a Goodreads Best Book of 2016 finalist. For updates on upcoming book releases, author posts and more, join Amy at http://www.authoramyharmon.com.

My Review

Seeking a better life, widow Naomi May joins a wagon train with her family heading across the country to California. She knows it will be a tough journey but faces it with enthusiasm and a touch of trepidation.

When John Lowry agrees to help his uncle guide a wagon train as far as a fort where he is to deliver his father’s mules, he doesn’t expect to be instantly attracted to the beautiful Naomi. But their relationship is doomed to fail. He is half Pawnee, a man straddling two worlds. She is everything he wants but cannot have.

The trail is a hard taskmaster. Soon, the wagon train is faced with challenges they could never have imagined; hostile territories, lack of drinking water, dangerous river crossings, dysentery, and racial prejudice.

It’s been a long time since I was so caught up in a story. The author does a wonderful job drawing the reader into the hearts and heads of our two protagonists, John Lowry and Naomi May. We get real insights into the pride of indigenous people, the clash of two cultures, and those caught in the middle.

Favorite Lines

That’s what hope feels like: the best air you’ve ever breathed after the worst fall you’ve ever taken. It hurts.
Harmon, Amy. Where the Lost Wander: A Novel

This kiss is slow and languid like the Platte, hardly moving, while beneath the surface the silt shifts and settles. His arms snake around me, and my palms flatten over his heart, needing and kneading, and heat grows in my belly and in my heart and where our mouths are moving together.
Harmon, Amy. Where the Lost Wander: A Novel

…eventually, time thinks for us. It cuts through the fog of emotion and delivers a big bowl of reality, and feelings don’t stand a chance,” John says with bleak finality.
Harmon, Amy. Where the Lost Wander: A Novel

Where the Lost Wander is a sweeping saga of a love that knows no bounds and defies a nation at war. It’s real. It’s brutal. It’s unforgettable.
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Christmas in July- #FreeReads #Romance

I’m Celebrating Christmas in July! I almost forgot to share this, but my holiday novella, Mistletoe Inn, is available for #Free today! Mistletoe Inn International link: http://books2read.com/MistletoeInn TBR List- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42204464-mistletoe-inn BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/mistletoe-inn-by-jacquie-biggar A grieving man finds the greatest gift is love in this heartwarming holiday romance. Molly McCarty is in need of a new beginning after… Continue reading →

July 12, 2020

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Sunday Lines: In Times of Trouble

Originally posted on Word by Word:
Here are a few encouraging #SundayLines provided by our #WordbyWord authors with the theme IN TIMES OF TROUBLE Interested in learning more? Click on the pictures below to gain more insight about each author. Find solace in a good book. Vicki Batman At the end of every day, write…

July 12, 2020

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Tips To Succeed On a Video Interview

Originally posted on Story Empire:
Hello, SEers. As you can see, today we are going to talk about the best foot forward position should you get the opportunity to do a video interview or presentation on YouTube or elsewhere. Before getting into the tips, let’s set the stage. You are launching a new book, and…

July 6, 2020July 6, 2020

Check out all of my book recommendations on BookBub

I love having guests on the blog. If you have a new release, a sale or just want to chat, send me an email via the contact page and we’ll set something up. Hope to see you soon!

June 10, 2020June 10, 2020

Jacquie Biggar10 Comments

The Girl in The Love Song by Emma Scott #NewRelease #Romance @EmmaS_Writes

…

…

At Santa Cruz Central High School, they called them the misfits, the outcasts, the weirdos. But most of us knew them as the Lost Boys…

…

The Girl in the Love Song, book one in the Lost Boys, an interconnected coming-of-age series of standalones, from USA Today bestselling author Emma Scott, is live!

Miller Stratton is a survivor. After a harrowing childhood of poverty, he will do anything it takes to find security for himself and his mom. He’s putting all his hopes and dreams in the fragile frame of his guitar and the beauty he creates with its strings and his soulful voice.

Until Violet.

No one expects to meet the love of their life at age thirteen. But the spunky rich girl steals Miller’s heart and refuses to give it back.

Violet McNamara’s life hasn’t been as simple as it looks. Her picture-perfect family is not so perfect after all. Her best friend Miller is her one constant and she is determined not to ruin their friendship with romantic complications.

But the heart wants what it wants. As Miller’s star begins to rise to stratospheric heights, what will it take for Violet to realize that she’s the girl in all of his love songs?

The Girl in the Love Song features two original songs written by Emma herself.

Download today or read for free in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2UdV79C

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/TheGirlintheLoveSongES

Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2MLnYhU

About Emma:

Emma Scott is an internationally bestselling author whose books have been featured in Buzzfeed, Huffington Post, New York Daily News and USA Today’s Happy Ever After. She writes emotional, character-driven romances in which art and love intertwine to heal, and in which love always wins. If you enjoy emotionally-charged stories that rip your heart out and put it back together again, with diverse characters and heroes with a heart of gold, you will enjoy her novels.

Connect with Emma:
Amazon author link: https://amzn.to/2yUnFKJ

Webpage: emmascottwrites.com

Facebook: http://bit.ly/EmmaScottFB

Reader group: http://bit.ly/EmmaScottEntourage

Bookbub: http://bit.ly/EmmaScottBB

Instagram: http://bit.ly/EmmaScottIG

Twitter: http://bit.ly/EmmaScottTW

Stay up to date with Emma by joining her mailing list: http://bit.ly/2nTGLf6

June 8, 2020June 8, 2020

Jacquie Biggar16 Comments

Married To The Texan is #Free #amreading

💔 Free for a limited time! Available in #KindleUnlimited! 💔

Married to The Texan: Gambling Hearts Series

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XBV6D8Y

International: https://books2read.com/MarriedtotheTexan

Add to your TBR List: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48072574-married-to-the-texan

Recommend me on Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/married-to-the-texan-gambling-hearts-series-by-jacquie-biggar

Receive 3 full-length heartwarming romances plus one bonus short story from USA Today Bestselling Author Jacquie Biggar

All your favorite alpha heroes and independent heroines!

Sweet, sexy romance. The perfect reading deal for your Kindle! Grab a drink and curl up for an unforgettable boxed set of romance best sellers. Each book is a standalone contemporary story of love, honor, duty, and family dilemmas.

In the set;

Hold ‘Em

In the game of love all bets are off

When professional poker player Matthew Shaughnessy wins the pot of a lifetime, he didn’t expect to land himself a fiancée.
Cassandra Gardener is left with little choice but to play the part of a Texan’s fiancée for a week if she wants to clear her father’s gambling debt.
Can two people with so much to lose win the biggest bet of all- love?

Crazy Little Thing Called Love

Tony Morrison had been in love with the youngest Shaughnessy for almost as long as he’d been employed at her family’s ranch. Trouble was, he had secrets. Things he couldn’t tell anyone, especially the beautiful Sophia. So, he’d let her go.

But now she’d returned, bringing the winds of change to the Texas ranch, and Tony wasn’t sure he could protect her from the fallout.

My Girl

Aaron is overjoyed at the opening of his family’s guest ranch, until he learns their first guest is his ex-girlfriend, her parents–and a fiancé.

And that isn’t the only surprise.

A Magical Christmas

When a little girl goes missing, it takes faith, love, and the help of a Christmas angel to guide her to safety.

A delightful mixture of women’s fiction, chick-lit, romantic comedy, and mystery, Married to The Texan has something for every reader!

Excerpt From Crazy Little Thing

Tony eyed the temptress teasing him with sidelong smiles and pink toe nails and wondered if he’d made a critical error in judgement. If not for his belief in her ideas he may not have made the phone call that instigated her return to the ranch. She was dangerous to him. She made him want things between them to be different—but, they weren’t. She was so far out of his league they may as well be from different galaxies. He’d come a long way, thanks to her family’s generosity, but the past was a gossamer web waiting to trap those he cared about, and he couldn’t afford to take any chances. Not with Sophia.

“You just going to stand there, cowboy?”

Her sultry voice reached deep inside and tugged on dreams and wishes he’d worked hard to stifle. It made him angry, resentful of the power she wielded over him. It been five years, when would this attraction fade?

“We should go. Your brothers will be wondering where you are.” His fidgeting with the reins transmitted to the horses, they danced sideways, sending water up in a wide arc that covered his jeans. He cursed and jumped out of the way. “Look what you made me do now,” he said, swiping at the wet stains.

“Me?” She giggled. “Cleo obviously thought you needed cooling down, too.”

He got a mental picture of the horse picking him up by the scruff of the neck and dumping him in the pond, and grinned. “I guess it could have been worse.” He dropped the reins to ground-tie the troublemakers and joined Sophia on the bank. “Guess we have to wait awhile, I don’t want to explain this to the crew.” He waved at his wet crotch.

She glanced down, then slowly lifted her gaze to his, the smile dying from her lips. “No,” she murmured. “We wouldn’t want that.”

Great. Now the pants weren’t only wet, they were tight.

What Readers are Saying

Romance designed to thrill and entertain!
An old song says you can gamble for gold but never for love.
Well, these cowboys will prove you wrong!
Enough spice to hold you spellbound.
Good story lines with strong characters.
Evonne Hutton

A collection of compassionate love stories, one could call it an epic. You will laugh, get aggravated, tear up, maybe openly cry. You will definitely feel like you are part of the character’s lives.
My favorite – A Magical Christmas. A little girl gets lost and magical angels help her out. I highly recommend Married to the Texan box set by Jacquie Biggar.
SpecialAngel

Also Free

Virtually Yummy: Recipes that Inspire

The recipes in this book come from different sources: some of them are treasured family recipes, some were garnered from our travels around the world, and others—inspired by the adventures of our characters and by their culinary feats.

Join us for a taste of hearty Rutabega soup, Mexican delicacies such as Mole Source, Berry Salsa and Mexican Omelet, French pastries such as Tart Tatin, and Indian deserts such as Mango Phirni. No matter where these recipes come from, we find them not only delicious but also inspiring. We hope you will too.

Our characters love eating and they love to cook. Often, they do it together. They come from our multi-author series, High-Tech Crime Solvers, centered around the fantastic new promise of high technology and the endless possibilities for crime that technology offers, in a world where getting away with murder can be not only plausible, but easy…if you just know how.

To enjoy Virtually Yummy, no high-tech skills are needed. Whip it up and be inspired!

May 21, 2020May 20, 2020

Jacquie Biggar31 Comments

#BookReview- Forever Right Now by @EmmaS-Writes #Romance

***STANDALONE new adult romance from the author of The Butterfly Project and the Full Tilt Duet***

Darlene Montgomery has been to hell and back…more than once. After a stint in jail for drug possession, she is finally clean and ready to start over. Yet another failed relationship is just the motivation she needs to move from New York to San Francisco with the hopes of resurrecting her dance career and discovering that she is more than the sum of her rap sheet. As Darlene struggles in her new city, the last thing she wants is to become entangled with her handsome—but cranky—neighbor and his adorable little girl…

Sawyer Haas is weeks away from finishing law school, but exhaustion, dwindling finances, and the pressure to provide for himself and his daughter, Olivia, are wearing him down. A federal clerkship–a job he desperately needs–awaits him after graduation, but only if he passes the Bar Exam. Sawyer doesn’t have the time or patience for the capricious—if beautiful—dancer who moves into the apartment above his. But Darlene’s easy laugh and cheerful spirit seep into the cracks of his hardened heart, and slowly break down the walls he’s resurrected to keep from being betrayed ever again.

When the parents of Olivia’s absentee mother come to fight for custody, Sawyer could lose everything. To have any chance at happiness, he must trust Darlene, the woman who has somehow found her way past his brittle barbs, and Darlene must decide how much of her own bruised heart she is willing to give to Sawyer and Olivia, especially when the ghosts of her troubled past refuse to stay buried.

Biography

Emma Scott is a USA Today and Wall St. Journal bestselling author whose books have been translated in five languages and featured in Buzzfeed, Huffington Post, New York Daily News and USA Today’s Happy Ever After. She writes emotional, character-driven romances in which art and love intertwine to heal, and in which love always wins. If you enjoy emotionally-charged stories that rip your heart out and put it back together again, with diverse characters and kind-hearted heroes, you will enjoy her novels. Visit http://www.emmascottwrites.com

RECENT RELEASES

Someday, Someday (M/M standalone)

A Five-Minute Life (standalone)

Bring Down the Stars (Beautiful Hearts #1)

Long Live the Beautiful Hearts (Beautiful Hearts #2)

COMING SOON:
A new YA/NA series of interconnected standalones, coming in 2020

“At Santa Cruz Central High, we called them the misfits, the outcasts, the weirdos. But most of us knew them as the Lost Boys.”

The Girl in the Love Song (Lost Boys #1) : http://bit.ly/2MLnYhU
The Shadows of Yesterday (Lost Boys #2) : http://bit.ly/37BsCHh
The Last Piece of his Heart (Lost Boys #3) : http://bit.ly/2QeVlfa

You can follow me at all the places…

Super-cute NON SPAMMY newsletter: http://bit.ly/2nTGLf6

Author page: https://www.facebook.com/EmmaScottwrites/

Reader group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/906742879369651/

My Review

Darlene Montgomery moves from New York to San Francisco in search of a fresh start on her messed up life. She knows what rock bottom feels like and is determined never to go there again.

Sawyer Haas dreamed of becoming a prosecuting attorney ever since he was eight and lost his mother to a drunk driver. He’s close, so close when a woman shows up at his door with a baby and news that he’s a father. As if that’s not crazy enough, she runs away and leaves him holding the diaper bag. But one look at Olivia’s sweet face and he’s a goner. Now he just has to figure out how to study for the bar, care for his tiny daughter, and wait out the year until his name can go onto her birth certificate making her officially his baby girl- no pressure.

Darlene finds a loft apartment in an old victorian and is immediately drawn to the taciturn man on the second floor and his adorable little girl. She knows she’s supposed to be working on getting herself healthy, but Sawyer calls to her on an elemental level. He needs her help, whether he wants to admit it or not, and her nurturing heart is falling hard.

This is a wonderful story about overcoming life’s storms and finding the rainbow at the other side.

I love all of Emma Scott’s books and highly recommend them- she’s an incredible, emotional writer that knows how to draw on a reader’s emotions in all the best ways.

doing a breakdance move called the freeze with boombox in background

Check out all of my book recommendations on BookBub

I love having guests on the blog. If you have a new release, a sale or just want to chat, send me an email via the contact page and we’ll set something up. Hope to see you soon!

April 23, 2020April 22, 2020

Jacquie Biggar15 Comments

Choosing a Genre- #HenLit #Reading @JoanneGuidoccio

All About Fantasy Hen Lit

Guest Post by Joanne Guidoccio

I never intended to write fantasy. I avoided books that featured werewolves, vampires, witches, and other dark creatures. I’m probably one of the few people on this planet who couldn’t read past Chapter 1 of the first Harry Potter novel. But after participating in a series of science fiction workshops, I decided to try my hand at light, breezy fantasy with inspirational elements.

So, I sat at my computer and came up with a contemporary version of my favorite fairy tale: The Little Mermaid. While the original version by Hans Christian Anderson always fascinated me, I struggled with the ending. I wanted a happily-ever-after ending for the little mermaid and the prince and couldn’t wrap my mind around this depressing prediction:

You, poor little mermaid, have tried with your heart to do as we are doing; you have suffered and endured and raised yourself to the spirit-world by your good deeds, and now, by striving for three hundred years in the same way, you may obtain an immortal soul.(Hans Christian Anderson,1836 )

When the Disney version was released, I still wasn’t satisfied. I realize now that I wanted to read about a different kind of mermaid, one who could enjoy a happy and successful life, with or without the prince. And maybe one who wasn’t quite so young or so beautiful.

Keeping this vision of an older and wiser mermaid firmly in mind, I wrote Between Land and Sea, the first book in the Mediterranean trilogy. Later, I added Book 2, The Coming of Arabella.

In early query letters, I described Between Land and Sea as urban fantasy. That did not sit well with one agent who commented that my novel was too light to be considered urban fantasy. Her suggestion: Use “contemporary women’s fiction with fantasy elements” in future queries. I used that mouthful several times and was relieved when senior editor Debby Gibson of Soul Mate Publishing classified Between Land and Sea as a paranormal romance.

Confusion followed when the book was released on Amazon. One friend confided: “When I heard it was a paranormal romance, I assumed you were writing about witches or werewolves. I’m so glad to hear you’re writing about mermaids.”

Still wondering about the “right” descriptor, I started reading articles about literary genres and sub-genres and came across an interview with literary agent Jenny Bent. Asked about the future of chick-lit, Ms. Bent replied, “I think if there’s any future for chick lit, it will be in paranormal chick lit or multicultural chick lit or in mom lit or hen lit.”

I zeroed in on hen lit.

I discovered that these books focus on older female characters (aged 40 to 65) as protagonists and address such themes as giving birth after age forty, dealing with three generations living in the same house, dating after divorce or widowhood, and launching second (third or fourth) careers. To address the mermaid element, I added fantasy.

My new sub-genre: Fantasy Hen Lit.

Now, if I could only persuade editors, publishers, Amazon, Barnes & Noble…

Blurb – Between Land and Sea

After giving up her tail for an international banker, Isabella of the Mediterranean kingdom is aged, weathered, and abandoned on the fog-drenched shores of southwest England. She faces her human journey as a plain and practically destitute fifty-three-year-old woman.

With the help of a magic tablet and online mermaid support, she reinvents herself as a career counselor, motivational speaker, and writer of self-help books. Along the way, she encounters a cast of unforgettable characters, among them former mermaids, supportive and not-so-supportive women, deserving and undeserving men, and several New Agers. As Isabella evolves into Barbara Davies, she embraces her middle-aged body, heals her bruised heart, and learns to love again.

This contemporary version of The Little Mermaid offers hope and inspiration to anyone who has been dumped, deceived, or demoted. It will also appeal to mermaid enthusiasts.

On sale for 99 cents – March 29 to April 4

Amazon (US) – https://www.amazon.com/Between-Land-Sea-Joanne-Guidoccio-ebook/dp/B00F9U5Q50

Amazon (UK) – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Between-Land-Sea-Joanne-Guidoccio-ebook/dp/B00F9U5Q50

Blurb – The Coming of Arabella

On the day of her engagement party, an ex-mermaid’s life is disrupted by the unexpected arrival of another mermaid—a sister she has never known. Under normal circumstances, Barbara Davies would be overjoyed, but her special day is already wrought with tension. While Barbara is not the first mermaid from the Mediterranean kingdom to settle in small town Ontario, she has yet to reveal her origins to her fiancé. So, when Arabella, the gorgeous sister whose disturbing black eyes banished her to the island of Crete, saunters into her life, clutching the arm of Barbara’s discarded lover, a powder keg of emotion is released.

Relationships falter and careers stall as envy stirs in the hearts of the sisters. On the verge of meltdown after her fiancé leaves Canada for a teaching job in Vermont, Barbara flees to Arizona hoping for a reprieve. There, she finds solace at a retreat for ex-mermaids and a second chance at love with a charismatic preacher. As she contemplates a new life in the desert paradise of Sedona, shocking secrets emerge and tragedy strikes. A stronger and wiser Barbara rises up to face these new challenges and embrace the best parts of her mermaid heritage.

On sale for 99 cents – March 29 to April 4

Amazon (US) – https://www.amazon.com/Coming-Arabella-Mediterrean-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B0147VXEPU

Amazon (UK) – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Coming-Arabella-Mediterranean-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B0147VXEPU/

Bio

A member of Crime Writers of Canada and Sisters in Crime, Joanne Guidoccio writes paranormal romance, cozy mysteries, and inspirational literature from her home base of Guelph, Ontario.

Website – https://joanneguidoccio.com

Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/Joanne-Guidoccio/e/B00FAWJGCG/

March 31, 2020March 30, 2020

Jacquie Biggar14 Comments

#TuesdayBookReview- The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton #YANovels

No one ever said life was easy. But Ponyboy is pretty sure that he’s got things figured out. He knows that he can count on his brothers, Darry and Sodapop. And he knows that he can count on his friends—true friends who would do anything for him, like Johnny and Two-Bit. But not on much else besides trouble with the Socs, a vicious gang of rich kids whose idea of a good time is beating up on “greasers” like Ponyboy. At least he knows what to expect—until the night someone takes things too far.

The Outsiders is a dramatic and enduring work of fiction that laid the groundwork for the YA genre. S. E. Hinton’s classic story of a boy who finds himself on the outskirts of regular society remains as powerful today as it was the day it was first published.

“The Outsiders transformed young-adult fiction from a genre mostly about prom queens, football players and high school crushes to one that portrayed a darker, truer world.” —The New York Times

Biography

Susan Eloise Hinton’s career as an author began while she was still a student at Will Rogers High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Disturbed by the divisions among her schoolmates into two groups–the Greasers and the Socs–Hinton wrote The Outsiders, an honest, sometimes shocking novel told from the point of view of an orphaned 14-year-old Greaser named Ponyboy Curtis. Since her narrator was male, it was decided that Hinton use only her first initials so as not to put off boys who would not normally read books written by women. The Outsiders was published during Hinton’s freshman year at the University of Tulsa, and was an immediate sensation.Today, with more than eight million copies in print, the book is the best-selling young adult novel of all time, and one of the most hauntingly powerful views into the thoughts and feelings of teenagers. The book was also made into a film, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and featuring such future stars as Emilio Estevez, Patrick Swayze, Matt Dillon, and Tom Cruise.Once published, The Outsiders gave her a lot of publicity and fame, and also a lot of pressure. S.E. Hinton was becoming known as “The Voice of the Youth” among other titles. This kind of pressure and publicity resulted in a three year long writer’s block.Her boyfriend (and now, her husband), who had gotten sick of her being depressed all the time, eventually broke this block. He made her write two pages a day if she wanted to go anywhere. This eventually led to That Was Then, This Is Now.In the years since, Ms. Hinton has married and now has a teenaged son, Nick. She continues to write, with such smash successes as That Was Then, This Is Now, Rumble Fish and Tex, almost as well known as The Outsiders. She still lives in Tulsa with her husband and son, where she enjoys writing, riding horses, and taking courses at the university.In a wonderful tribute to Hinton’s distinguished 30-year writing career, the American Library Association and School Library Journal bestowed upon her their first annual Margaret A. Edwards Award, which honors authors whose “book or books, over a period of time, have been accepted by young people as an authentic voice that continues to illuminate their experiences and emotions, giving insight into their lives.”

My Review

An incredibly intimate portrayal into the lives of teenagers from ‘both sides of the track.’

I was hooked from the opening line:

WHEN I STEPPED out into the bright sunlight from the darkness of the movie house, I had only two things on my mind: Paul Newman and a ride home.
The Outsiders- S.E. Hinton

Ponyboy Curtis and his brothers, Darry and Sodapop, are getting by after the deaths of their parents, but life isn’t easy. Darry had to quit school in order to care for his younger brothers, determined to keep his family together even though money is tight and trouble never far away.

The boys and their friends are known as greasers, often preyed upon by the rich socs who take pleasure in taunting them with all that they don’t have.

They had me down in a second. They had my arms and legs pinned down and one of them was sitting on my chest with his knees on my elbows, and if you don’t think that hurts, you’re crazy.
The Outsiders- S.E. Hinton

Life on the streets is brutal. Either you protect one another, or perish. The author does an incredible job of drawing the reader into Ponyboy’s life. It’s impossible not to have empathy for these tough, loyal, misunderstood young men.

“Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold . . .” The pillow seemed to sink a little, and Johnny died. You read about people looking peacefully asleep when they’re dead, but they don’t. Johnny just looked dead. Like a candle with the flame gone.
The Outsiders- S.E. Hinton

I first read this book as an English assignment way back in grade eight and it has stayed with me all of these years. This is a timeless story of disparity and inequality, never more important than in these uncertain times.

A must-read!

March 24, 2020March 23, 2020

Jacquie Biggar20 Comments

Spring Equinox Deals and Steals- #amreading #Romance

It’s Spring!

I know many of us are dealing with uncertainty and fear with the Covid19 Pandemic, which makes it even more important to enjoy the things we can- blue skies, cherry blossoms, longer days and warmer nights.

It’s my birthday tomorrow, so I decided to run a week of sales and share my new release, Sunset Beach! https://books2read.com/SunsetBeach

Click the covers to be taken to sale sites.

First the Freebie

The premise for The Guardian is that a couple of free living movie stars have their lives changed forever when they are involved in a horrific car accident. One dies, Lucas Carmichael, and seeks redemption for his carelessness by vowing to help those he left behind.
Scott Anderson is lost and bitter without his best friend and blames himself for the accident. When the ME charged with investigating the case is harassed, Scott tries to help and finds himself caught up in a dangerous web of lies and deceit.
Cook County Medical Examiner, Tracy York, has seen the extreme violence humans can inflict on one another. Her sister was murdered when she was a teenager and it has made her wary of the male population. When she is tasked with the investigation into a suspicious crash that killed one mega-star, and injured the other, Tracy must put aside her reservations and accept the hand of a stranger.
Can two lost souls come together to stop a madman and find love and peace with the help of a sarcastic angel, or will fate deal them a losing hand?
I really enjoyed creating these characters. Lucas is sarcastic and irreverent, great qualities for an angel, and Scott is bitter and antagonistic. It takes a special woman and a near death experience to help all three to see the light and maybe get a chance at a happy ending.

I’ve read a handful of titles written by Jacquie Biggar in a few different genres, and one thing remains the same throughout—she doesn’t disappoint.
The Guardian absolutely doesn’t.
This novel plays the “what if” game and asks, “What if you’re the only survivor of a car crash that claims your sister and best friend—and your best friend comes back?”
No, this isn’t a weird Pet Sematary kind of thing. Lucas (the dead best friend) comes back in supernatural form. As an angel.
Oh, how I wish it were true and we could all see our loved ones again. (Not that life as an angel is all it’s cracked up to be for poor Lucas.)
This is a beautifully written tale of grief and hope. But before you write it off as too speculative or sappy, let me tell you about the murder mystery. And the red-hot romance.
Yes, Ms. Biggar has managed to wrap all that and more into a read-in-one-sitting novel. I tore through the pages, desperate to know if Scott and Tracy would lower their guards or harden their hearts. I needed to know if Lucas and Mike could put aside their differences to move on. I was desperate to find out who was behind it all and why.
Sorry; I’m not going to tell you. I highly recommend you read the book yourself for the answers to these questions and more. I enjoyed every word and eagerly began reading the second installment of the series the second I was done with this one.
Amazon Reviewer

Next the Deal

Captivating chance encounters, sizzling second chances, unforgettable attraction

3 full-length heartwarming romances plus one bonus short story from USA Today Bestselling Author Jacquie Biggar
All your favorite alpha heroes and independant heroines!
Sweet, sexy romance. The perfect reading deal for your Kindle! Grab a cool drink and curl up for an unforgettable boxed set of romance best sellers. Each book is a standalone contemporary story of love, honor, duty, and family dilemmas.

Romance designed to thrill and entertain!
An old song says you can gamble for gold but never for love.
Well, these cowboys will prove you wrong!
Enough spice to hold you spellbound.
Good story lines with strong characters.
Amazon Reviewer

And the New Release!

An explosive secret threatens the peace and tranquility of Sweetheart Cove

Single father Trace Michaels hands are full coping with a rebellious teenage daughter, troublesome ex-wife, and campaigning for the mayor’s election. He doesn’t have time to get distracted by an old flame from his past– one he’s never forgotten.

When an unknown source leaks surprising news that could damage his career, Trace turns to the one person he trusts for the truth.

Single mother Mona Samuels knows how difficult it can be to raise a daughter. She empathizes with Trace, but when he comes to her for advice she’s conflicted. They say the truth will set you free, but unburying the past could destroy everything she’s worked so hard to build.

Just about everyone can understand the turmoil of Mona in this story. A teenage Mona finding herself pregnant and then breaking up with the boyfriend, the hard decisions she must make and then many years later the old flame is back. Must read this well written story that will make you laugh, smile and cry in places. Sunset Beach by Jacquie Biggar.
Bookbub Reviewer

Stay safe everyone and breathe ❤

March 19, 2020March 18, 2020

Jacquie Biggar22 Comments

#BookReview- Lawless by @TM_Frazier #MCRomance

Ruined. BROKEN. LOST.

Thia’s lost it all. With no options left she turns to the biker she met as a kid to cash in the favor he swore to return all those years ago.

Bear’s best friend is dead. His old man wants to put him to ground.
He has bigger things on his mind than the pink-haired girl from the
gas station he never thought he’d see again.

Until her battered body is tossed onto his doorstep.

Keeping his promise to Thia means Bear has to be willing to risk everything, including his life…and what’s left of his heart.

Thia’s bruised and battered.
Bear’s leather and lawless.
It will never work between them.
It’s a lie they ALMOST believe

LAWLESS is book THREE in the King Series and meant to be read after KING & TYRANT.

Biography

T.M. Frazier lives in sunny Southwest Florida with her husband and daughter. She dreamed of being a writer since the day she learned how to read. After spending many years working in real estate she decided could no longer ignore that dream.

She published her first book, The Dark Light of Day, in 2013 and has since become a USA Today bestselling author several times over. Her books have been translated into numerous languages and published all around the world.

T.M. enjoys writing what she calls ‘wrong side of the tracks romance’ with morally corrupt anti-heroes and ballsy heroines.

Her books have been described as raw, dark and gritty. Basically, what that means, is while some authors are great at describing a flower as it blooms, T.M. is better at describing it in the final stages of decay.

She loves meeting her readers, but if you see her at an event please don’t pinch her because she’s not ready to wake up from this amazing dream.

Join T.M. in Frazierland! http://www.facebook.com/groups/tmfrazierland

My Review

When young Thea is given a promise ring in exchange for silence, she doesn’t expect to use it as protection many years later.

Thea returns home one day to her worst nightmare. Her mother has shot her father and intends to turn the gun on both of them, so they can all go to Heaven to be with Thea’s brother. Problem is, Thea’s not ready to die. Left with no choice, she shoots and kills her mother. Panic-stricken, she turns to the only help she can think of- the tall, handsome biker who’d given her a ring to cash in if she ever needed anything in exchange for silence in a botched robbery by one of his brothers-at-arms.

Unfortunately, Bear isn’t part of the MC gang anymore, but his father is happy to leave him a message at Thea’s expense. Hurt and abused, she is rescued from rape by an unlikely source and ends up in Bear’s hands, but he’s not the kind, funny man she remembered.

Bear lives one day at a time. He’s seen, and done, horrible things in his life and now his only goal is revenge against the man who raised him and subsequently turned on him- his father- leader of the MC.

That becomes more complicated when a beautiful young woman turns up on his doorstep, frightened and beaten by his dear old dad, spouting a tale of him owing her a favor from years ago. He’d only given her his ring at the time to keep her quiet, and was surprised she’d taken him seriously. He should get rid of her, but the broken look in her eyes and the undeniable chemistry between them keeps him from letting her go.

Driven by a need to protect Ti at all costs, Bear soon finds himself fighting the MC, the law, and Thea herself while battling feelings he’s never had before- love and tenderness for someone he doesn’t deserve.

This is a raw, emotional story of biker life and an unlikely hero who will engrave himself on your heart.

Favorite Lines:

Silence. Scarier than any gun blast or cannon fire. Louder than thunder and ten times more terrifying.
Lawless- T.M. Frazier

He cupped his hands around my face and kissed me like he was screaming at me, punishing me for disobeying him, for being in his life, for not being in his life.
Lawless- T.M. Frazier

I give Lawless 4 lovely kisses- Heart-wrenching!

Check out all of my book recommendations on BookBub

I love having guests on the blog. If you have a new release, a sale or just want to chat, send me an email via the contact page and we’ll set something up. Hope to see you soon!

March 4, 2020March 2, 2020

Jacquie Biggar20 Comments

Sam’s Folly by Carmen Desousa #NewRelease #RomSuspense @Author_Carmen

Sam’s Folly Book Description:

When a bigwig fight promoter needs someone to search for his missing fiancée, he hires expert tracker Sam Belgarde and his search dogs. Sam is more than a little reluctant. His family’s company, Search and Rescue Alaska, is in financial trouble, though, so if searching for a spoiled socialite will save it, then he’s willing to break the rules–just this once.

After witnessing a murder, Nora Molina needs to get away–fast–and her best hope to escape without her passport is Alaska. A native of Argentina, Nora’s accustomed to harsh winters and high elevation, so she gets more than a little irritated when some tracker thinks she needs rescuing. Even if he is get-out sexy. And even if he’s the guy she stood up before leaving town. It’s going to be a long few days.

When an unexpected storm rolls in, Sam and Nora find themselves in each other’s arms–to keep warm. Things get a little too hot when it’s clear someone wants the two of them to stay lost–permanently.

Series Description:

Five brothers risk their lives to rescue those caught in the death grip of the Alaskan wilderness…and find their hearts in danger of falling for women as tough as the Land of the Midnight Sun.

Short Book Description:

The last thing Sam Belgarde has time for is to tramp through the Alaskan wilderness chasing a spoiled socialite, especially when he discovers she’s the mystery woman who stole his heart then stood him up. But the $100,000 reward her fiancée offered will save his family’s struggling search & rescue company, so he’ll bend the rules just this once. Once he finds Nora Molina, however, things get tricky. They’re both keeping secrets, she’s obviously running from something—or someone—and they’re having trouble fighting the heat between them. And making matters worse, someone wants them to stay lost in the wilderness…permanently.

One Liners:

The Midnight Sons ~ Men as Wild and Rugged as The Last Frontier Itself

Links:

Amazon:

B&N:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sams-folly-carmen-desousa/1134089451

iBooks:

https://books.apple.com/us/book/sams-folly/id1483563173

Play:

https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Carmen_DeSousa_Sam_s_Folly?id=ODW2DwAAQBAJ

Kobo:

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/sam-s-folly

Biography

Carmen DeSousa’s stories overflow with romance, suspense, a hint of humor and, of course, a few Kleenex moments. After all, what would a great story be without an emotional event setting the stage? All of her novels are sensual but not erotic, gripping but not graphic, and will make you cry, laugh, love, and hope. Although some of her books include supernatural or ghostly beings, her stories dance on the edge of make believe.

As most authors, Carmen blames her leap into a full-time career as a professional writer on her love of reading. She states that reading has always been an escape for her. When life was rough as a child, she could always disappear into a book. But she found something else too… She discovered that writing out her thoughts was therapeutic. Not only could she create hope for her protagonists, but she could also do away with her antagonists—legally.

Carmen currently lives in “The Heart of Arizona” with her husband of twenty-nine years and a very spoiled “rescued” calico they lovingly refer to as “Baby Kitty,” even though she’s twelve years old. Carmen and her husband love to experience different areas, so they move a lot. They’ve lived on both of Florida’s coasts: Cocoa Beach and Tampa Bay; Charlotte, North Carolina; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Chicago, Illinois; Bullhead City, Arizona, the Northern Central Valley of California, and now Arizona’s high desert. They’re always looking for their next adventure, so they travel every chance they get. If you’ve read about a place in one of Carmen’s stories, she’s been there!

Most of her novels share her favorite hobbies, mostly, anything to do with the great outdoors. Both Carmen and her husband not only write, but also love to read outside—or a coffee shop if it’s raining. And if the weather is really nice, they enjoy kayaking and hiking. Carmen says they rarely spend their days off at a movie theater or the mall. In fact, she hates shopping, and her husband would rather do anything than take her to a movie when she’s already read the book.

February 11, 2020March 19, 2020

Jacquie Biggar10 Comments

#BookReview- Connections in Death by J. D. Robb #Mystery

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER (February 2019)

Lieutenant Eve Dallas fights to save the innocent—and serve justice to the guilty—on the streets of New York in Connections in Death, the gritty and gripping new In Death novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author J.D. Robb.

Homicide cop Eve Dallas and her billionaire husband, Roarke, are building a brand-new school and youth shelter. They know that the hard life can lead kids toward dangerous crossroads—and with this new project, they hope to nudge a few more of them onto the right path. For expert help, they hire child psychologist Dr. Rochelle Pickering—whose own brother pulled himself out of a spiral of addiction and crime with Rochelle’s support.

Lyle is living with Rochelle while he gets his life together, and he’s thrilled to hear about his sister’s new job offer. But within hours, triumph is followed by tragedy. Returning from a celebratory dinner with her boyfriend, she finds Lyle dead with a syringe in his lap, and Eve’s investigation confirms that this wasn’t just another OD. After all his work to get clean, Lyle’s been pumped full of poison—and a neighbor with a peephole reports seeing a scruffy, pink-haired girl fleeing the scene.

Now Eve and Roarke must venture into the gang territory where Lyle used to run, and the ugly underground world of tattoo parlors and strip joints where everyone has taken a wrong turn somewhere. They both believe in giving people a second chance. Maybe even a third or fourth. But as far as they’re concerned, whoever gave the order on Lyle Pickering’s murder has run out of chances…

Biography

J.D. ROBB is the pseudonym for #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts. She is the author of over 200 novels, including the futuristic suspense In Death series. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.

My Review

Vengeance is murder in J.D. Robb’s police procedural, Connections in Death.
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When the brother of child psychologist Rochelle Pickering dies of a seeming overdose, it becomes immediately apparent the poorly enacted suicide is in fact murder.

Lieutenant Eve Dallas can’t figure out why the killers would stage such a sloppy setup and then steal traceable items from the home. Her investigation places her and Roarke in the middle of a gang where the only law is loyalty to the gang.

When the murders begin to pile up, Dallas is in a race against an unknown enemy bent on creating a war between the gangs and endangering innocent civilians.

This is a sad story of a young man who had done all the right things to turn his life around and yet still paid the ultimate price for his past. It begs the question, why bother?

The author answers this by showing us the joy and pride his family had for him and the strength of will it took for him to turn his back on the lifestyle- not an easy decision.

I guessed where the story was headed fairly quickly, but it in no way detracted from my enjoyment of the book. Roarke, Eve, and the rest of the NYPD are relatable characters who get hurt, make mistakes, and love ferociously. Fifty books in and this series just grows stronger and stronger!

I give Connections in Death 5+ lovely kisses- Excellent!

February 4, 2020February 3, 2020

Jacquie Biggar13 Comments

Meet the Author- @jacqbiggar #Romance #Writer

Meet the Author

You’ve probably heard it said that writing is a lonesome job, but I haven’t found it to be true. My head is filled with the characters I’m creating, the fictional places I’m traveling to and the adventures… ooh-la-la!

Here is part of an interview I recently did with book promoters Itsy Bitsy Book Bits:

Author Interview With Jacquie Biggar by Itsy Bitsy Book Bits

How Did You Get Into Writing?

I’ve been a romance reader since my pre-teen years and developed a dream of writing my own novel then. I didn’t make the fantasy a reality until I was semi-retired and had time on my hands. Now I wish I’d started much sooner!

What’s Your Favorite Genre to Write?

Romantic suspense- I like the action-adventure thrill of suspense novels.

Is there a genre you’ve always wanted to write in that you haven’t yet?

Historical. I’m intimidated by the research it would take, though.

Who are some of your inspirations?

My biggest inspiration is my daughter. She’s a single mother with a Type 1 Diabetic son who is making her way through a masters degree for biology. She’s hands down the strongest person I know.

Do any of your stories have personal experiences in them?

Most of them incorporate some part of my life, whether it’s a cafe (I owned and operated one for years), dealing with disabilities (my grandson’s T1D, dementia, cancer), or small town life.

Who are some of your favorite authors to read?

Loreth Anne White, Emma Scott, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Jennifer Crusie, Jill Shalvis, Kristan Higgins.

What’s your writing process look like? (Outline or go with the flow of your character)

I’m what is termed a linear pantser; meaning I have a general idea for the story and a character in mind, after that it’s one line at a time 🙂

What are some of your hobbies?

Gardening tops the list, reading, bird watching, walking my cat (yes, you read that right!)

Have you attended any signings? If so, what was your favorite thing about it?

I’ve been to one signing at our local library, and while the crowd was small, it was a good learning experience for this introvert.

When reading reviews, what is something you love to see written?

Someone who really gets my characters and has empathy for their story. It means I’ve connected with my reader, which is the ultimate thrill!

If you could spend the day with one of your characters, who would it be and what would you do?

Tough question: Jared Martin from The Rebel’s Redemption. He’s a tough guy with a heart of gold. I’d love to spend an afternoon fishing with him 🙂

What are you currently working on?

A romantic suspense set around a female stalker of a NHL hockey player.

What’s your writing routine?

I do my blog and promo work through the morning and afternoon, then spend the evening writing- approx 4-6 hours a night.

Do you have any superstitions when it comes to writing? If so, what?

Does three circles around my chair before I start writing count? Jk! No, I don’t have any superstitions.

You can read more of this interview here: https://itsybitsybookbits.com/2020/01/the-sister-pact-home-is-where-the-heart-is-by-jacquie-biggar/

The Sister Pact

Two sisters lose sight of what’s most important- family bonds.

Holly Tremaine is living on borrowed time. A life-threatening illness ends her promising musical career and sends her home in the hope of making amends for the past.

Levi Anderson is on the fast track to a successful year within his profession- the last thing he has time for is his twin brother’s shenanigans. But when it includes the one woman Levi hasn’t been able to forget, his conscience won’t let him avoid the temptation to see her again.

Can remorse heal all wounds? Or will past betrayals continue to ruin family ties, one thread at a time?

Early Reviews:

I seem to gravitate toward the deep family stories lately and the emotions that go with them, this was an amazingly written book and as I said above, not sure why this is my first read by this author, but I can guarantee I have already looked at what else is available and my tbr has grown and I’ll be watching for any and everything from this point on.
AMAZON REVIEWER

This is a story that had my emotions going up and down the entire time I was reading it. Holly and Levi are likable characters and I found myself wanting them to find happiness. There are moments that tug at your heart and others that had me wondering if the past could be overcome. I highly recommend reading this story.
AMAZON REVIEWER

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081L4SWDB/

International: https://books2read.com/TheSisterPact

Add to TBR List: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48920512-the-sister-pact

Recommend on Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-sister-pact-home-is-where-the-heart-is-by-jacquie-biggar

Also Available

Everyone Has Secrets; Some More Devastating Than Others…

Presenting a brand new collection of page turning romance and suspense from NINE International USA Today Bestselling, Award-Winning Authors.

Nine stories, nine heart-wrenching soon to be revealed secrets. Can the truth really set them all free?

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082GH6X62

International: https://books2read.com/InvincibleSecrets

TBR List: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49803837-invincible-secrets

Recommend us on Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/invincible-secrets-invincible-women-s-fiction-book-2-by-jen-talty-and-suzanne-jenkins

January 27, 2020January 25, 2020

Jacquie Biggar27 Comments

Almost Just Friends by @JillShalvis #NewRelease #Romance

New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis returns to Wildstone with the touching story of finding your place in the world—and the people who make it home.

Almost Just Friends, an all-new standalone contemporary romance by Jill Shalvis, is LIVE!

Piper Manning’s about as tough as they come, she’s had to be. She raised her siblings and they’ve thankfully flown the coop. All she has to do is finish fixing up the lake house her grandparents left her, sell it, and then she’s free.

When a massive storm hits, she runs into a tall, dark and brooding stranger, Camden Reid. There’s a spark there, one that shocks her. Surprising her further, her sister and brother return, each of them holding their own secrets. The smart move would be for Piper to ignore them all but Cam unleashes emotions deep inside of her that she can’t deny, making her yearn for something she doesn’t understand. And her siblings…well, they need each other.

Only when the secrets come out, it changes everything Piper thinks she knows about her family, herself…and Cam. Can she find a way to outrun the demons? The answer is closer than she thinks—just as the new life she craves may have already begun.

Download your copy today!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2OtvsWN

Amazon Worldwide: mybook.to/AlmostJustFriendsJS

Apple Books: https://apple.co/2lOamrb

Nook: http://bit.ly/2kENTg5

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2kDLaDM

Google Play: http://bit.ly/2lMr9v6

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/334gMmi

About Jill:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s sexy contemporary and award-winning books wherever romances are sold and click on the blog button above for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.

Connect with Jill:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JillShalvis/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JillShalvis/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jillshalvis/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jillshalvis/

Tumblr: http://jillshalvis.tumblr.com

Newsletter: http://jillshalvis.com/contact/

Website: http://jillshalvis.com

January 21, 2020January 19, 2020

Jacquie Biggar5 Comments

#BookReview- A Better Man by Louise Penny #Mystery

Catastrophic spring flooding, blistering attacks in the media, and a mysterious disappearance greet Chief Inspector Armand Gamache as he returns to the Sûreté du Québec in the latest novel by #1 New York Times bestselling author Louise Penny.

It’s Gamache’s first day back as head of the homicide department, a job he temporarily shares with his previous second-in-command, Jean-Guy Beauvoir. Flood waters are rising across the province. In the middle of the turmoil a father approaches Gamache, pleading for help in finding his daughter.

As crisis piles upon crisis, Gamache tries to hold off the encroaching chaos, and realizes the search for Vivienne Godin should be abandoned. But with a daughter of his own, he finds himself developing a profound, and perhaps unwise, empathy for her distraught father.

Increasingly hounded by the question, how would you feel…, he resumes the search.

As the rivers rise, and the social media onslaught against Gamache becomes crueler, a body is discovered. And in the tumult, mistakes are made.

In the next novel in this “constantly surprising series that deepens and darkens as it evolves” (New York Times Book Review), Gamache must face a horrific possibility, and a burning question.

What would you do if your child’s killer walked free?

Biography

LOUISE PENNY is the #1 New York Times and Globe and Mail bestselling author of the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache novels. She has won numerous awards, including a CWA Dagger and the Agatha Award (five times) and was a finalist for the Edgar Award for Best Novel. She lives in a small village south of Montréal.

My Review

Chief Inspector Armand Gamache returns to duty on the eve of his son-in-law’s resignation amid internal upheavals, catastrophic spring flooding, and the murder of the young, pregnant goddaughter of one of his agents.

As Montreal, and most of Quebec, is threatened by bursting dams and rivers ready to burst their banks, Armand is thwarted at every turn by those who had him removed as head of the Sôreté. Adding to the stress, he’s pulled between his concern for the province and the distraught father of the missing woman.

While the investigation seems to lead in an obvious direction, evidence is hard to find. The closer the agents come to making an arrest, the more questions arise, making this case one of the hardest Gamache and Beauvoir have been faced with.

Louise Penny is a master of suspense!

Within the first few pages, the reader is fully invested in the characters. The love and trust between Jean-Guy and Armand is so strong we hurt when they hurt, and cheer when they succeed against impossible odds. Their relationship is complex, with Beauvoir now sharing his mentor’s office as head of the Sôreté, as well as being the husband and father to Armand’s daughter and grandson.

Three Pines, the Gamaches adopted village, is a key part of each book, with its cast of eclectic characters. I adore grouchy old Ruth and her swearing duck (really!), the gay couple who run the inn, Clara and her strange but talented paintings, and many more. The village is so realistically written, I feel as though I could drive there myself!

Each book in this series is easily read as a standalone, though it does have an overarching storyline.

I give A Better Man 5+ lovely kisses- recommended reading!

Check out all of my book recommendations on BookBub

I love having guests on the blog. If you have a new release, a sale or just want to chat, send me an email via the contact page and we’ll set something up. Hope to see you soon!

January 7, 2020January 6, 2020

Jacquie Biggar23 Comments

#BookReview- Good Luck with That by @Kristan_Higgins #WomensFic

New York Times bestselling author Kristan Higgins is beloved for her heartfelt novels filled with humor and wisdom. Now, she tackles an issue every woman deals with: body image and self-acceptance.

Emerson, Georgia, and Marley have been best friends ever since they met at a weight-loss camp as teens. When Emerson tragically passes away, she leaves one final wish for her best friends: to conquer the fears they still carry as adults.

For each of them, that means something different. For Marley, it’s coming to terms with the survivor’s guilt she’s carried around since her twin sister’s death, which has left her blind to the real chance for romance in her life. For Georgia, it’s about learning to stop trying to live up to her mother’s and brother’s ridiculous standards, and learning to accept the love her ex-husband has tried to give her.

But as Marley and Georgia grow stronger, the real meaning of Emerson’s dying wish becomes truly clear: more than anything, she wanted her friends to love themselves.

A novel of compassion and insight, Good Luck With That tells the story of two women who learn to embrace themselves just the way they are.

Biography

Kristan Higgins is the New York Times, USA TODAY, Wall Street Journal and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of 19 novels, which have been translated into more than two dozen languages and sold millions of copies worldwide. Her books have received dozens of awards and accolades, including starred reviews from Kirkus, The New York Journal of Books, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal , People and Booklist. If you want to keep up with Kristan’s new releases and get a free short story, sign up for her mailing list at http://www.kristanhiggins.com.

Her books regularly appear on the lists for best novels of the year. Kristan is also a cohost of the Crappy Friends podcast, which discusses the often complex dynamics of female friendships, with her friend and fellow writer, Joss Dey.

The proud descendant of a butcher and a laundress, Kristan lives in Connecticut with her heroic firefighter husband. They own several badly behaved pets and are often visited by their entertaining and long-lashed children.

My Review

Good Luck with That is a heart-wrenching story about learning the hardest lesson of all- self-love.
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When best friends, Georgia and Marley, are called to their summer camp buddy’s deathbed it is a catalyst for change in their lives. All three girls had varying issues with weight loss, family acceptance, and ostracization and attacked the problem in different ways.

Emerson comes from an abusive background and uses food as a crutch, and later an addiction that ends her life.

Marley has a loving supportive Italian family, but feels unfulfilled both through lack of a meaningful relationship and the death of her twin at a young age.

When Georgia’s parents divorced she was left in the care of an cold, vindictive mother and brother with anger-management issues. She never felt good enough (read thin enough) in the eyes of her mother and the self-hatred carried into her marriage and caused her divorce.

This book hit home in so many ways. The dream as a child/teenager is to be accepted and liked by your peers. If you’re different in ANY way, the hyenas will rip you apart. It takes a strong family unit and a competitive spirit to survive those years- a friend you can trust helps, too.

I was one of the lucky ones. I kept my head down, did my work, and had a good support network. But, those years of doubt and anxiety carried into my adult life and contributed to the introverted person I’ve become.

It’s hard to admit that out loud. Overweight kids/adults would sooner be invisible than thrust into the spotlight. For some, like Emerson, it even means death.

Diversity comes in many forms; race, religion, sexuality. I believe body image should be included. Now is the time to change attitudes. Be the person who looks beyond the obvious to the essence of those who are afraid to speak and reach out to them.

It matters more than you know.

December 30, 2019December 29, 2019

Jacquie Biggar3 Comments

#BookReview- A Bad Day for Sunshine by Darynda Jones #Suspense @Darynda

New York Times bestselling author Darynda Jones is back with the first novel in the brand-new snarky, sassy, wickedly fun Sunshine Vicram series—A Bad Day for Sunshine!

Sheriff Sunshine Vicram finds her cup o’ joe more than half full when the small village of Del Sol, New Mexico, becomes the center of national attention for a kidnapper on the loose.

Del Sol, New Mexico is known for three things: its fry-an-egg-on-the-cement summers, its strong cups of coffee—and a nationwide manhunt? Del Sol native Sunshine Vicram has returned to town as the elected sheriff—an election her adorably meddlesome parents entered her in—and she expects her biggest crime wave to involve an elderly flasher named Doug. But a teenage girl is missing, a kidnapper is on the loose, and all of it’s reminding Sunny why she left Del Sol in the first place. Add to that trouble at her daughter’s new school and a kidnapped prized rooster named Puff Daddy, and Sunshine has her hands full.

Enter sexy almost-old-flame Levi Ravinder and a hunky US Marshal, both elevens on a scale of one to blazing inferno, and the normally savvy sheriff is quickly in over her head. Now it’s up to Sunshine to juggle a few good hunky men, a not-so-nice kidnapping miscreant, and Doug the ever-pesky flasher. And they said coming home would be drama-free.

Get your copy here

Biography

NYTimes and USA Today Bestselling Author Darynda Jones has won numerous awards for her work, including a prestigious RITA, a Golden Heart, and a Daphne du Maurier, and her books have been translated into 18 languages. As a born storyteller, Darynda grew up spinning tales of dashing damsels and heroes in distress for any unfortunate soul who happened by, and she is ever so grateful for the opportunity to carry on that legacy. She currently has two series with St. Martin’s Press: The Charley Davidson Series and the Darklight Trilogy. She lives in the Land of Enchantment, also known as New Mexico, with her husband and two beautiful sons, the Mighty, Mighty Jones Boys.

Click here to read one of the more popular short stories by Darynda called The Monster:
https://theneverneath.com/2018/02/02/the-monster-part-1/

She can be found at http://www.daryndajones.com

My Review

Fun and chaos in equal measure!

When Sunshine Vicram’s well-meaning parents get her elected as sheriff of small town Del Sol, she doesn’t expect her first day to include a child abduction, a runaway rooster, a car barreling into the sheriff’s station and almost running her down, and a run-in with her first crush, Levi Ravinder.

And the fun has just begun!

This is a fast-paced read with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments interspersed with touching scenes between Sunshine and her daughter, Auri.

Levi is swoon-worthy- the bad boy done good. Handsome as sin, moody as hell, and a soft touch when it comes to those he cares about.

This is my first Darynda Jones book and I loved it! I can’t wait for the next one in the series to come out now, lol.

I give A Bad Day for Sunshine 5+ lovely kisses- Unputdownable!

“I voluntarily read an ARC of this book which was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.”

Check out all of my book recommendations on BookBub

I love having guests on the blog. If you have a new release, a sale or just want to chat, send me an email via the contact page and we’ll set something up. Hope to see you soon!

December 20, 2019December 19, 2019

Jacquie Biggar21 Comments

The Cowboy’s Christmas Baby by @CathyMcDavid #HolidayRomance #amreading @HarlequinBooks @PrismBookTours

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

The Cowboy’s Christmas Baby (The Sweetheart Ranch #3) By Cathy McDavid Contemporary Romance Paperback & ebook, 384 Pages November 1st 2019 by Harlequin Heartwarming

She gifted him with a daughter

He stunned her with the truth

When Tanner Bridwell discovers he’s a father, he gains some much needed hope. A year ago, Tanner lost his livelihood as a champion bull rider, and—more important—Jewel Saunders, the love of his life. Now this cowboy wants to do right by his family. But first he must reveal a stunning secret that will send Jewel and his beloved daughter either packing…or into his arms forever!

(Affiliate links included.) Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Harlequin | iBooks

Excerpt

Teddy Bear lived up to his reputation, causing an enormous commotion as he scrambled backward from the trailer. Once on solid ground, the big horse came to a stop and surveyed his new surroundings, head held high and ears pricked forward. Jewel’s hand on the halter shook as he whinnied loudly, announcing his presence to the other horses.

Her friend Ronnie grinned and gave the horse’s head a scratch. “I think even the brood mares in the back pasture heard you.”

“Do you mind?” Jewel held out the lead rope.

“Come on, big fellow.”

Ronnie led the horse to the stall. With her daughter Ava re-swaddled in the baby wrap, Jewel followed a few minutes later.

After Teddy Bear had spent several minutes inspecting every inch of his new accommodations, Ronnie returned with a flake of hay, which she dropped in the feed bin. Teddy Bear’s head disappeared, only to pop up a moment later, his mouth full of hay and his jaw working.

He’d eaten earlier that morning at the horse-friendly inn where Jewel and Ava had spent the night after arriving in town yesterday. But Jewel allowed the horse a second breakfast, knowing eating would help settle him. Kind of like it did Ava.

“I’ve got to run,” Ronnie said. “I have a wedding cake sampling at Sweetheart Ranch in an hour.”

“That’s right. Your cousin’s getting married. When’s the big day?”

“A week from Saturday. I’m the matron of honor. We’re hoping you’ll take the photographs.”

“I’d be thrilled.”

The two hugged again, and Ronnie left. Jewel stayed behind. She didn’t have to be at Sweetheart Ranch for a while yet, and she much preferred the horse barn over sitting in her stuffy hotel room. She’d feed and change Ava soon and, fingers crossed, the baby would nap through Jewel’s appointment.

Hmm. Maybe she’d run into Ronnie again when she got there.

Ava cooed and flailed her arms and legs. She probably wanted out of the wrap.

Jewel patted the baby’s bottom. “Not much longer, my sweet little girl.”

Hearing a noise, she glanced over to see a man half hidden by the shadows and pushing a wheelbarrow into the horse barn from the opposite end of the aisle. She didn’t pay much attention, not until he drew closer.

She sensed more than saw him come to a stop, and she slowly turned to face him. The hairs on the back of her neck inexplicably rose.

Whatever words she’d been about to utter lodged in her throat as the man emerged from the shadows and his features took shape beneath the weathered cowboy hat he wore. A wild rush of shock and then alarm coursed through Jewel, and she involuntarily tightened her grip on Ava.

She couldn’t have been more stunned if she’d seen a ghost. Then again, she supposed she had, for Tanner Bridwell stood before her.

He looked different. The beard was gone, but she’d have known him and those arresting steel gray eyes anywhere. How could she not, when she’d spent endless hours gazing into them and countless nights dreaming about them?

“What are you doing here?” she blurted.

His stare hardened, and he replied with a question of his own. “Is the baby mine?”

Other Books in the Series

About the Author

As a sophomore in high school, NY Times, USA Today, and Amazon bestselling author Cathy McDavid won a local writing competition with her self-illustrated children’s book. Who knew that small triumph would eventually lead to a career writing contemporary romances with over 1.3 million books sold? With forty-seven titles to date, Cathy is also a member of the prestigious Romance Writers of America’s Honor Roll. This “almost” Arizona native and mother of grown twins recently married her own real-life sweetheart. After leaving the corporate world four years ago, she now spends her days penning stories about good looking men who ride the range or fight fires or hunt creatures all while sweeping the girl off her feet. It’s a tough job but she’s willing to make the sacrifice.

Tour Schedule

Tour Giveaway

– One winner will receive a $10 Amazon gift card and one of Cathy’s backlisted titles, winner’s choice of print (US only) or ebook – Three winners will each receive one of Cathy’s backlisted titles, winner’s choice of print (US only) or ebook – Open internationally – Ends November 20, 2019

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I love having guests on the blog. If you have a new release, a sale or just want to chat, send me an email via the contact page and we’ll set something up. Hope to see you soon!

November 11, 2019November 11, 2019

Jacquie Biggar19 Comments

Between the sexy Greek chef and adorable puppies, you can’t go wrong with this new #romance by @RoxanneStClaire- Three Dog Night #amreading @InkSlingerPR

New York Times bestselling author Roxanne St. Claire is back with THREE DOG NIGHT, the next book in her bestselling Dogmothers series. Between the sexy Greek chef and adorable puppies, you can’t go wrong with this new romance. Be sure to grab your copy today!

About THREE DOG NIGHT

Alex Santorini puts his family first and foremost, and that’s going to keep him behind the grill at the family restaurant for the rest of his life, especially if his Greek grandmother has anything to say about it. But when a local winery needs a chef to step in to cook for a celebrity wedding, Alex jumps at the opportunity to showcase his culinary skills…and a chance to get closer to the winery owner who has captivated – and refused – his attention.

Grace Donovan is in a bind and knows that the answer to all her problems is one sexy Greek chef who has everything she needs…and everything that scares the hell out of her. Raised in a series of ever-changing foster homes, Grace has spent her life using science and logic to surround herself with protective walls. With all his passion and intensity, Alex could burn those walls down and, like everyone else in her life, leave her broken and alone.

As Alex and Grace join forces to land the wedding of the year, they also launch a search for the mother of a three puppies abandoned at the winery…only to discover a shocking connection to Grace’s own mother and her shadowy past. When the truth comes out, their romance faces its greatest test. Will Grace choose the family she’s wanted her whole life…or the love she may never find again?

Add THREE DOG NIGHT to your Goodreads TBR!

Get your copy of THREE DOG NIGHT today! Amazon | Apple | Nook | Kobo | Google Play

About ROXANNE ST. CLAIRE

Published since 2003, Roxanne St. Claire is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than fifty romance and suspense novels. She has written several popular series, including The Dogfather, Barefoot Bay, the Guardian Angelinos, and the Bullet Catchers. In addition to being an ten-time nominee and one-time winner of the prestigious RITA™ Award for the best in romance writing, Roxanne has won the National Reader’s Choice Award for best romantic suspense four times, as well as the Maggie, the Daphne du Maurier Award, the HOLT Medallion, Booksellers Best, Book Buyers Best, the Award of Excellence, and many others. A mother of two but recent empty-nester, Roxanne lives in Florida with her husband. She loves dogs, books, chocolate, and wine, especially all at the same time. Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | BookBub

November 8, 2019November 8, 2019

Jacquie Biggar7 Comments

Leave Me Breathless by @JodiEllenMalpas #Romance #Read @jennw23

Leave Me Breathless by Jodi Ellen Malpas

Release Date: November 5, 2019

Leave Me Breathless, an all-new standalone contemporary romance by #1 New York Times bestselling author, Jodi Ellen Malpas.

Ryan Willis has spent years in the protection business, a job that requires constant vigilance and quick thinking. His only chance to truly relax is at his secluded cabin in a small town where there are never any surprises. So when Ryan returns after an assignment and encounters a beautiful stranger, he isn’t only surprised, he’s also instantly intrigued.

Hannah Bright is a breath of fresh air, and Ryan is soon completely consumed, unable to stop from falling for her. As the two grow closer, his instinct tells him something is amiss. Yet nothing could prepare him for what he discovers when he starts digging into her past.

Hannah spends her days painting, running her arts and crafts store…and hiding too many secrets. It’s why she won’t let the ruggedly handsome bodyguard get too close. But their chemistry is undeniable, and Hannah quickly finds herself caught up in a whirlwind romance with Ryan. He is peace personified, a balm to her battered soul. Yet the gorgeous, captivating man who has swept Hannah off her feet doesn’t even know who she really is. And the moment he finds out, both their lives are at risk.

Download your copy today!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/33uDx3f

Amazon Universal: mybook.to/LeaveMeBreathlessJEMAU

Nook: http://bit.ly/2FrXSfo

IndieBound: http://bit.ly/2WgCUGW

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2YeCoeq

Google Play: http://bit.ly/2Ojuf3B

Apple Books: https://apple.co/2TshDZ4

Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2ld9xIR

Excerpt:

His pace doesn’t falter, and he enters the store, leaving the door open behind him. He grabs me with a gentle but possessive force, one hand on my nape, the other on my hip. And he looks me straight in the eye, breathes deeply.

Then he drops his mouth to mine and gives me the tenderest of kisses. No tongue. No moans. No movement anywhere, except for his lips gently traveling across mine. My useless hands remain by my sides. I forget my name, who I am. The world as I know it ceases to exist, and it is so welcomed. So . . . unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. It’s the smallest of gestures, yet it’s also colossal. Does Ryan know that? Does he realize what he’s doing? He’s making no attempt to deepen the kiss; his hands aren’t moving or exploring. He’s just dotting my lips with his, over and over, lazily and softly. It’s dizzying. And despite his apparent lack of desire to push it to the next level, there is passion pouring from him, the air surrounding us electric.

My mind blanks and I remain still in his hold, my eyes closed, my senses hijacked, as I savor the light pressure moving across my mouth. I can only ever remember my heart racing with fear and apprehension, yet since I’ve met Ryan it’s pounded with life and anticipation. Every near kiss we’ve had. Every moment of silence when we’re looking into each other’s eyes and the sexual tension between us ramps up another level.

Every time we’re in physical contact.

Every reason to avoid him is suddenly negated by my hunger for him. And then he breaks our kiss, breathing shallowly, as he keeps me in his hold. I stare at him, lost for words, and he drops one final, lingering peck on the corner of my mouth before he moves back. I quickly feel so very lost. His fingertip draws a delicate line down the bridge of my nose, slowing when he passes over the small bump. Then he turns on an inhale and leaves, pulling the door closed behind him. And I stare forward at nothing for a long time. I’ve been kissed into a trance. I move across my store to sit in the wicker chair in the corner, the pads of my fingers resting on my lips as I stare at the door. I hear his truck start. I hear it pull away. And then . . . silence.

He just kissed me, and then he just left. Seriously, what the fucking hell?

He said nothing.

But everything I needed to hear.

And now I’m left alone with just my screaming thoughts. Stay away from him. Run to him. I know what I want to do, but should I? Can I? I stand up and start to pace my shop, wringing my hands. I stop, feeling my lips, and then my nose. I look at the door. I hear his words.

I don’t ever want to scare you.

I’m not scared of him, not like that. I’m scared because he leaves me completely breathless.

About Jodi Ellen:

Jodi Ellen Malpas was born and raised in the Midlands town of Northampton, England, where she lives with her husband, boys, and a beagle. She is a self-professed daydreamer, a Converse and mojito addict, and she has a terrible weak spot for alpha males. Writing powerful love stories and creating addictive characters has become her passion—a passion she now shares with her devoted readers.

Her novels have hit bestseller lists for the New York Times, USA Today, Sunday Times, and various other international publications and can be read in more than twenty-four languages around the world.

Connect with Jodi:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JodiEllenMalpas/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JodiEllenMalpas

YouTube: https://goo.gl/2kGLbt

Instagram: http://www.jodiellenmalpas.co.uk/instagram/

Website: http://www.jodiellenmalpas.co.uk/home/

November 6, 2019November 6, 2019

Jacquie Biggar7 Comments

Twist of Fate by @JillShalvis #1001DarkNights #Romance @InkSlingerPR

We are beyond excited to be sharing this release from Jill Shalvis with you today! TWIST OF FATE is part of her Heartbreaker Bay series and it is releasing as part of 1001 Dark Nights. It just went live today! Check out an excerpt and book trailer from the title below. Click here to grab your copy now.

Purchase your copy of TWIST OF FATE today!

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU

About TWIST OF FATE:

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jill Shalvis comes a new story in her Heartbreaker Bay series…

When the one you want …

Daisy doesn’t believe love is ever-lasting, so it’s ironic as hell that she parlayed a business degree into a wedding planning business. More ironic still is her latest job bringing her back into contact with the man who’d taught her that love can’t last.

Is the one you can’t have…

To say Diego has been taught the hard way to bury emotions is an understatement. But when he’s called home to help the brother he hasn’t seen or spoken to in years, that’s one thing. It’s another entirely to also come face to face with the first woman he ever loved. First and only…

Can love conquer all?

Daisy’s learned to depend only on herself, and Diego is and always has been an island of one. And yet when they’re together, even when they’re bickering, still wary and haunted by memories of what was … it’s magic. The question is, how to find their way back to each other…?

**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you’ll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

Add TWIST OF FATE to your Goodreads TBR here!

Purchase your copy of TWIST OF FATE today!

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU

Excerpt:

Wearing nothing but a pair of jeans and a bad ‘tude, Diego Stone lay on the sky bridge of his boat and stared up at the San Francisco sky. It was butt-ass cold, turbulent and moody, all of which suited him just fine.

He had no idea why he’d left sunny, warm, sexy San Diego.

Oh, wait, he did.

He’d received a text asking him to show up for his brother’s important, all-hands-on-deck wedding planning lunch that, as Rocco’s best man, Diego was required to attend. A text. And not from Rocco, but from his fiancé, Tyler.

Hands behind his head, feet crossed, Diego purposely relaxed his body one inch at a time. It was a technique he’d learned early on during a childhood as tempestuous and unstable as the sky above him. A childhood he’d spent right here in San Francisco.

When he cleared his head the best he could, he rose to get things over with. Being back in town for the next week was going to suck hard, but he knew of only one way to get through shit, and that was to plow straight ahead.

As far as command performances went, he could’ve tried a little harder to muster up some enthusiasm, but after ten years of being an island of one, he was out of practice at the whole family thing.

The French House at one p.m., the text had said. And, apparently, his presence was both needed and required. Funny, because once upon a time when Diego had desperately needed and required Rocco’s presence, he hadn’t gotten it.

Damn. And here he’d told himself that he was over the past.

REVIEW QUOTES FOR JILL’S NOVELS:

“Readers will enjoy this return to the small-town-in-the-big-city atmosphere that Shalvis has honed to perfection.” – Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Red-hot passion that promises to last longer than the holidays. Bringing readers a tough outsider heroine and a hero whose wounds run deep, Shalvis (Playing for Keeps) knows how to write characters readers adore and keep them coming back for more.” – Library Journal starred review

“Shalvis serves up another rewarding addition to her Heartbreaker Bay series with a contemporary romance that deftly pivots between snarky humor and sexy romance without missing a beat, while also celebrating the power of forgiveness, family, and friendship.” – Booklist

“Another amazing installment in an already fabulous series by Jill Shalvis. Great read at any time in the series. Each story reintroduces some fan-favorite characters but absolutely stands on its own merit. Never too late to join the band wagon of Jill Shalvis fans and Wrapped Up In You guarantees membership.” – Fresh Fiction

“An uplifting tale of two emotionally wounded and like-minded souls helping each other heal.” – Romance Junkies

About JILL SHALVIS:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and visit her website for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.

Connect With Her:

November 5, 2019November 5, 2019

Jacquie Biggar11 Comments

A Haunted House Tale and #NewRelease News #Romance

Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay

I Lived in a Haunted House

I shared this TRUE haunted house story with my newsletter subscribers last week and decided you might like to hear it, as well.

With Halloween just around the corner, I thought I’d share my true haunted house story with you.

I was fourteen when my parents moved away from my childhood home to the country. Dad was a truck driver and owned a White Western Star. Understandably, the town changed its rules about parking a semi on residential streets, so we had no choice.

The house sat on an acre lot across from the golf course and was a ranch-style on a full basement—sounds nice, right?

And it was, at first.

We were in the house a few months before little things began to occur. A milk bottle sitting on the floor in the kitchen fell over while we were eating dinner in the dining room. Birds hitting the bay window and falling to their death, even though we had a colorful ribbon strung from side-to-side. Doors closing of their own volition. All could be explained away, but they left us with an uncomfortable feeling in our guts.

To clarify, my dad was on the road for long hours, so it was Mom, my two younger brothers and I living in the house and bearing witness to these events. Maybe, if Dad were there it would have been different—I don’t know.

Mom had a workroom at the back of the house, next to her bedroom, where she would do sewing and crafts like eggery and paper toile that she sold at our local Farmer’s Market. She often complained it was chilly in there but put it down to poor air circulation. Then, she started feeling like she was being watched, even though no one was there. One day, she swore she saw a shadow of a person in her bedroom mirror—again, no one was near.

My bedroom took up most of the basement, other than a room set aside for my brother who is two years younger than me. My youngest brother slept upstairs. I loved my room, it ran the length of the house and had a phone (a big deal for a teenager!), a pool table, and a library. The yard light filled the room with a golden glow at night making it easy to move around without turning on the lights since the switch was on the far wall near the phone.

One night, I woke up with my heart pounding from a bad nightmare. When I opened my eyes, it was pitch-black. So dark I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face. Terrified, I climbed out of bed and inched my way across the room, trying to find the stairs. I called my brother’s name several times, but he didn’t answer. It was like all the air had been sucked out of the room. I was drowning in fear.

Finally, I found the steps and half-crawled, half-ran up them to the main floor and guess what? The yard light was on! I woke Mom up from my crying and she went to check on my brother. He was sound asleep and said the next morning he never heard a thing.

After that, I slept on the couch upstairs. Nothing could persuade me to go back to my room. A year or so later, Mom talked Dad into selling the house, even though they took a loss. We found out later, there had been a fire in the attic and always wondered if someone had died.

All these years later, I still can’t stand anything near my face without it inducing a panic attack.