Breath of Scandal by Sandra Brown - Review & Giveaway

Breath of Scandal

Sandra Brown

Suspense/Thriller
Grand Central Publishing
February 26, 2013

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On a rainy Southern night, Jade Sperry endured a young woman’s worst nightmare at the hands of three local hell-raisers. Robbed of her youthful ideals and at the center of scandal and tragedy, Jade ran as far and as fast as she could. But she never forgot the sleepy “company town” where every man, woman, and child was dependent on one wealthy family. And she never forgot their spoiled son, who with his two friends changed her life forever. Someday, somehow, she’d return . . . exacting a just revenge, freeing herself from her enemies’ grasp, and, perhaps, fulfilling a lost promise of love.

My Review: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Breath of Scandal is one heck of a gut-wrenching story. Definitely not one you want to take on vacation or to the local pool. Also be sure to have tissues on hand-- if you're anything like me, you'll need them. Thank goodness this story had an uplifting side to it, because after reading about what happened to Jade in Palmetto, it was sorely needed.

Jade was an amazing character. After her rape by three well-to-do local boys, she was shunned, disbelieved, and left pregnant. Yep, basically run out of town. She made a promise to herself that one day, those responsible would pay. After becoming a successful business woman, she decided to hit those responsible financially.

I really liked the characters, both the protags and the villains. Those good-old-boys in Palmetto made my blood boil. The scenes between Jade and romantic interest Dillon were hot and spicy-- I really enjoyed them because Jade was finally finding happiness with a man. Fast-paced and full of intrigue, the novel was really hard to put down.

My only caveat: I wasn't kidding when I said the story was gut-wrenching. I really felt for Jade, which is a testament to great character development. But it made me heart-sick at times, and I could see some readers finding the subject matter disturbing.

About the Author

Sandra Brown is the author of more than sixty New York Times bestsellers, including DEADLINE(2013), LOW PRESSURE (2012), LETHAL (2011), TOUGH CUSTOMER (2010), SMASH CUT (2009), SMOKE SCREEN (2008), PLAY DIRTY (2007), RICOCHET (2006), CHILL FACTOR (2005), WHITE HOT (2004), & HELLO, DARKNESS (2003).

Brown began her writing career in 1981 and since then has published over seventy novels, bringing the number of copies of her books in print worldwide to upwards of eighty million. Her work has been translated into over thirty languages.

A lifelong Texan, Sandra Brown was born in Waco, grew up in Fort Worth and attended Texas Christian University, majoring in English. Before embarking on her writing career, she worked as a model at the Dallas Apparel Mart, and in television, including weathercasting for WFAA-TV in Dallas, and feature reporting on the nationally syndicated program “PM Magazine.”

In 2009 Brown detoured from her thrillers to write, Rainwater, a much acclaimed, powerfully moving story about honor and sacrifice during the Great Depression.

Brown recently was given an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Texas Christian University. She was named Thriller Master for 2008, the top award given by the International Thriller Writer’s Association. Other awards and commendations include the 2007 Texas Medal of Arts Award for Literature and the Romance Writers of America’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Author links:

sandrabrown.net/books/mean-streak/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6218.Sandra_Brown

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSandraBrown

https://twitter.com/sandrabrown_NYT

Tour-Wide Giveaway

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Encore: Top Ten Silly Holiday Things

Because I just can't get enough of Joey dancing
with a turkey on his head.



I'm So Thankful for These Top Ten
Silly Holiday Things
(In no particular order-- they are all equally silly)

Hershey Kisses/Miniatures/Reeses Peanut Butter Cups in holiday wrapping
Because they just don't taste quite as good in their normal wrappers

Black Friday shopping starting at the beginning of November
Christmas in July is seriously only a few years away

Another semi-formal office Christmas party
Because the holidays are always the time when one wants to slip into that skintight, slinky dress that fit fine before Thanksgiving

My holiday ribbon cookies that everyone seems to love so much that they always ask me to bring them to every party I attend
I love nothing more than the three+ hours it takes to make these little devils... well maybe the five minutes it takes everyone to scarf them down. If anyone else says "you should have made more" I'll be the one dancing with a turkey on my head

My husband's special holiday punch-- the alcoholic variety
Nothing livens up a dull party like my husband's holiday punch made with Bacardi 151. That ho-hum Christmas block party suddenly generates delicious book plots for me to use in the coming year

The friends/family who love to experiment with holiday dinners
You know the ones-- it looked great on TV or in a magazine so they have to try it when twenty people are coming for dinner. It's invariably a disaster worth talking about for weeks to come

Holiday shopping with friends
Watching them whip together the perfect decor along with the perfect gifts for everyone makes me feel all warm and cozy... it's happiness, not envy-- I swear

Unofficial holiday home decoration contests
By the time Christmas rolls around, my entire neighborhood is lit up bright as day since everyone keeps adding to their decorations in an attempt to outshine everyone else

Beautiful blown glass ornaments
Whether they are heirloom or not, these tree ornaments are gorgeous and so special... until the cat picks the glass ornament out of fifty (non-breakable) others and knocks it to the floor creating a rather spectacular mess. It's also fun finding the cat nesting in the top branches of the tree and all of the ornaments on the floor

Endless holiday emails
Nothing makes one feel more special than the amount of email received. It's so glorious to open my email in the morning to find it tripled due to the holiday season. I feel like a celebrity

Happy Holidays, Everyone!!

Melodramatic Musings: My Muse & Other Disasters

How many of you out there have a muse controlling your creative output?

Another November has rolled around and with it another NaNoWriMo. I'm not participating this year since I'll be spending a week in Orlando. But truth be told, I've never been very successful when it comes to NaNoWriMo. You see, I have a muse inside me, and she doesn't particularly like to be told what to do. Sometimes I feel like my rational mind has very little control over my creative output. I always have several projects going at once because she is flighty and tends to flit from one project to the next.

Telling my muse that she must work on the same manuscript for one month is like telling my dog not to bark at the UPS truck.

My muse hiding after I tell her to do something.

In August I was going full-steam ahead on Crimson Reflections, book two in The Orion Circle series. It was going so well that I ordered my cover with the intention to publish by October 31. Needless to say, my muse was distracted by something rather vile on the internet-- well three vile somethings. In fact she went on strike for the entire months of September and October. It's a rather long story dealing with online trolls and a writer's inherent sensitivity. There is no rationale for overcoming matters of the heart. In her devastation, my muse took an extended vacation. I suppose it happens to all writers at one point or another. We all wonder if it's worth the heartache and pain when nameless, spineless trolls can attack so viciously, without any regard for the individual.

Yes, my muse can be rather melodramatic.

Now it's November. I haven't heard from my trolls in a couple months. With any luck they've moved on to more fertile pastures. But best of all, my muse has come out of her slumber and wants to write again. Yay! Only she doesn't want to work on the same thing I do. She has soared from her hiding place like Tinkerbell on steroids, pushing to write a novel that I had no intention of starting until next year. So here I am, trying to corral my muse like she's an unruly toddler, while begging her to settle down and finish what needs to be done. I'm trying to work on final revisions for my YA urban fantasy, Bitter Envy. It needed a major overhaul, and I'm close to finished with it. I really want to get that novel out on submission by January. My muse, however, has her own ideas.

Yes, that is my muse in her excitement about Silver Storm, book 1.5 in the Light Chronicles series. At the rate she's going, I may end up with a novel by the end of November after all. She always did have a soft spot for the character Taranis in the Light Chronicles novels. Silver Storm tells the story of how Taranis and Alexa meet. Personally, I like this story, it features lots of Taranis. I haven't decided if lots of Taranis is too much of a good thing... yet. Only time will tell on that front. Poor guy has his work cut out for him in this novel. Alexa is a fun character to write. She has a backbone and doesn't back down from a challenge... or what she wants (hmm, reminds me of my muse).

Me after a few hours of dealing with my muse.

So my muse is happy about Silver Storm, and I really don't mind all that much. Writing is ultimately a creative art form. I learned a long time ago that if I try to force my creativity, I end up with nothing but drivel. So I guess for now at least, Bitter Envy & Crimson Reflections will have to take a backseat to the new sparkly plot that has captivated my muse. Thank goodness I don't have a long string of unfinished novels lying in my wake, or I'd be concerned. How could this be, you ask? Sure my muse is frivolous and flighty, but lucky for me she absolutely loves revisions and despises leaving anything unfinished. She can have her fun for now because deep down I know we'll be back to revising Bitter Envy in no time.

Teaser Tour: Fractured by Leanne Pearson - Giveaway

 

To celebrate the release of Fractured we have a teaser tour for you all to go along with a great giveaway! Fractured is a New Adult Contemporary Romance by Leanne Pearson.  It just released June 1st, 2014.

Fractured by Leanne Pearson

For twenty three year old Katrina Smith, the events of one day irrevocably changed her life. Life in Christchurch, New Zealand, couldn't have been better. She was in love with a wonderful man, had a job she enjoyed, and had her life mapped out before her... What dawned as a typical summer’s day, changed into a day of devastation and overwhelming loss. An insidious danger lay beneath the benign land surface, seismic tension, like a ticking time-bomb, was counting down to a catastrophe. And Kate and her boyfriend, Daniel, were in its path. It took mere seconds for the world to be ripped out from under her. Suddenly, Kate was deluged by a vortex of Post Traumatic Stress, guilt and crippling anguish. Dominic Dell’Antonio, an American marine working in New Zealand, was a man hiding from his own demons which lurked behind depthless blue eyes that read so much, yet yielded so little. He kept himself aloof and isolated. Nightmares regularly plagued him. As Kate slipped under a suffocating wave of heartache, she blocks out the world behind self imposed walls, drowning in the torrents of grief. Quiet, yet commanding, Dominic connects with Kate on some inexplicably deeper level. He wants to protect her. He wants to make her his. Two damaged and guarded souls drawn together through tragic circumstances. Two lonely hearts drawn to one another to find comfort.

Goodreads | Amazon | iTunes

TEASER 1:

I have to take a deep breath. Having this fragile, yet exquisite woman lying in my bed two feet away is pure torture. She's facing me, legs tucked up towards her chest; eyes closed. The moonlight streaming through the window is casting a muted light over her delicate features. Her blonde hair is fanned across my pillow in soft waves. Forcing myself to focus on her face, I dare not let my eyes roam south. Her sweet musky scent hits my nostrils, and I have to clench my fists, talking myself down from the really stupid impulse I have to reach down and run my hand through those golden locks. Despite the outdoor temperature, this woman has set my body on slow burn. I feel drawn to her. From that first moment our eyes met, I felt it. An inexplicable pull.

TEASER 2:

 He leans across the table and moves the hair out of my face to touch my cheek. I inwardly cringe; my ugly scar now fully exposed.

"So easy to coax a blush outta this gorgeous face, ain’t it?" he murmurs.

My cheek tingles where his fingers brushed across it and butterflies take flight in my stomach. Oddly, I have the urge to cry though, as his touch stirs memories of a forgotten longing: The yearning to be touched intimately. Held. Comforted. That must be it. I'm lonely. It's the only logical explanation for the confusing feelings I’m experiencing around this man.

"My face is scarred, Dominic. It's an ugly reminder I have to look at every day."

Dominic takes my hand in his, and my breath hitches. He pins me with his eyes.

"It's not somethin' I even notice, sweetheart. It's invisible to me. What I do see is an exquisitely beautiful woman who has experienced unimaginable loss and hurt, but she survived. Don't allow this to define you. Every time you look in the mirror, let that scar be a reminder that you've been given another chance at life."

"I can't, Dominic. Every time I look at it, it reminds me of what I've lost."

About the Author:

Leanne Pearson grew up in Durban, South Africa. She later immigrated to New Zealand, where she now lives with her husband and two children. During her down time, if she's not reading, she can be found relaxing outside, sipping on an apple cider, soaking up the sights and sounds of rural New Zealand. Leanne has had a few feature articles published in the newspaper over the years and has had a flair for creative writing from a very young age.

Connect with the Author:

 Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

Giveaway:

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This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.

Book Blast: I'm With You by Taylor Dean - Giveaway

I'm With You
Taylor Dean

Can three little words irrevocably change your life? When the doctors inform Chloe Brennan that her pregnancy is “incompatible with life,” her subsequent choices will change her path forever. She becomes one of the quiet, unsung heroes of this world, incredibly strong, yet somehow wrongly looked upon as damaged. Three people will pierce Chloe’s existence: her husband, a stranger, and a precious baby. One will say goodbye, one will say hello, and one will say both at the same time. I’m With You is a novel about selfless love and the sacredness of life.

Please note: While this book is a romance novel, it also deals with the sensitive issue of baby loss grief. The emotions are real, and sometimes dark. If you are sensitive to this issue, this may not be the book for you.





 

Praise for I'M WITH YOU:

Taylor Dean creates a beautiful story of loss, grief, and love.

~Jana (Book Reviewer)

Chloe’s story of grief, growth and healing is poignant and had me wanting to shed tears one moment, and then smiling as hope took root and bloomed in her heart.

~Charissa of Joy in the Moments

It's amazing how these tragic moments in our lives shape our futures, and this wonderful grandson of Ms. Dean's gave her the strength, courage and words to let others know about grief as well as Trisomy 18.

~Katherine (Book Reviewer)

Amazon

Excerpt from I'm With You:

Jack turned and looked at her, his eyes wet with tears. “I’m sorry you had to go through it alone.”

“If I could have, maybe I would’ve left too. I didn’t have that option. I don’t blame Mark, I really don’t. Who wouldn’t want to escape? It was a horrific experience.”

“I don’t think it was,” Jack stated quietly.

Startled by his words, Chloe said, “Excuse me?”

“I don’t believe you.”

Chloe felt surprised by his perceptiveness. Her breath caught in her throat as she said, “You’re right. Losing him was horrific. But the experience was one of the most precious times of my life. I’ve never felt so full of love for another individual. It consumed me. I loved him with an intensity I’ve never felt before. He’s the greatest blessing I’ve ever received in my life and I don’t regret a single moment. Maybe I never actually heard him speak, but he said more to me in his short life than anyone has ever said to me in my lifetime. He spoke to my heart in ways that are unfathomable. He changed me and left an imprint on my life that I will never forget. He taught me the true meaning of love and what it’s like to love someone else more than yourself.”

Jack shook his head, fighting emotion. “I can see that, I can feel that. This room is a testament to that love. I can feel your overwhelming love for your child just by glancing in here. That’s how strong it is.”

“Not everyone would agree with you. Mark hates this room. It represents loss to him.”

Jack took a step closer, his eyes blazing. “It represents love, completely unselfish love that few people in this world will ever understand or experience. I’m amazed by you, Chloe.”

A word about I'm With You:

Baby loss is a difficult subject. The accompanying grief is complicated and heartbreaking. In December of 2011, my daughter lost a baby at eight months gestation to Trisomy 18. If you don't know what that is, I didn't either, until it happened to us. (You will learn all about this devastating condition during the course of the book.) I'm With You is a romance novel that includes my daughter's Trisomy 18 story. I knew I wanted to write about the experience one day, but it took me awhile to emotionally prepare myself to actually do it. It has been highly therapeutic. My daughter granted me permission to share her Trisomy 18 story with the hope that it will help others who are dealing with baby loss grief. There is a song written for and dedicated to the families of Trisomy 18 and 13 babies. It is beautiful and deeply expresses the love parents feel for these special babies.

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep




Author Taylor Dean

Taylor Dean lives in Texas and is the mother of four grown children. Upon finding herself with an empty nest, she began to write the stories that were always wandering around in her head, quickly finding she had a passion for writing, specifically romance. Whether it's paranormal, contemporary, or suspense-you'll find all sub-genres of CLEAN Romance in her line-up.

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads

Blast Giveaway $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 5/31/14 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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Book Spotlight: Murdered by James Schannep - Guest Post

Murdered
Click Your Poison Novel

James Schannep

Murder Mystery
December 4, 2013

Kindle Deal $0.99 thru 4/27 
Amazon

Blurb from Goodreads

3 Unique Storylines. Over 50 Possible Endings. Just one question... Could YOU Solve a Murder?

MURDERED is a mystery novel unlike any other -- YOU are the main character. Follow clues, interrogate suspects, and piece together the puzzle before the killer gets away! It's up to you to solve the case in this action-packed, dark and humorous thriller. Each link represents a choice, and the story evolves based on your decisions.

You're in a dark alley, a lost tourist in Brazil, when you stumble across a woman's body and a revolver atop a grisly note which reads, "PICK ME UP." That's when you realize you're not alone....

What starts as an exotic vacation ends up as the opportunity of a lifetime when you inadvertently witness a man fleeing the scene of a murder. Work side-by-side with US Diplomatic Security agents (DSS) and Brazilian Police Officers inside the lawless slums of Rio de Janeiro -- but choose wisely, no one is who they truly seem to be.

Get MURDERED!

***Remember those "Choose Your Own Adventure" novels you loved so much as a child? "Click Your Poison" is a grown-up version from author James Schannep. And "Murdered" is available for $0.99 on Kindle until April 27.***

Guest Post by James Schannep

How do you fool yourself? 

                Every mystery writer is asked this question at some point in their career. That probably isn’t a big shocker. But every mystery writer also asked themselves this question before they started writing mysteries. After all, isn’t that the hardest part? Essentially writing a book so that it appears one set of events occurs, only to have a believable reveal to a second, third or even fourth set of events as the truth.

                My struggle, however, was another beast entirely. With my Click Your Poison series, I write interactive fiction (so-called “gamebooks”) for a mature audience. Think of it as Choose Your Own Adventure for grownups. So when I decided to set out and create an interactive mystery, one where the reader is pit against the villain directly, I wondered just how I’d fool myself. As far as I know, no one has ever attempted a literarily puzzle like this one. It felt like I tasked myself with constructing a Rubix cube from scratch. I had nowhere to look for answers, or so I felt initially.

                But the reality, is that the pieces of the puzzle were already out there, I just had to figure out where they fit. In INFECTED (my first Click Your Poison book) I’d learned many tools of the trade for interactive fiction. All I had to do was combine that knowledge with traditional mystery writing and—presto changeo—something new entered the world.

                Step one: Write the mystery backwards. The thing about a fair-play mystery (one in which the reader can solve the case themselves), is that there must be sufficient evidence and clues found within the text. So, before you do anything else, you must have the “what actually occurred” firmly planted in your mind.

                Step two: Bury the truth. A great piece of advice I came across, is that any character introduced in a mystery must be related to the plot (however tangentially). If you follow this rule, the next part is to give your main list of suspects a sufficient motivation and opportunity. Cover your “what actually occurred” with several layers of “what could have occurred” and then finally decorate it in a pretty layer of “what the story-world would have looked like if nothing had occurred.”

                Step three: Keep a map. You need to know where you buried the truth, after all, and what steps are required to find it once again. This is especially true in interactive fiction. Unless you’re reading this as a computer AI (in which case, I’m very flattered), you’ll have a hard time remembering so many parallel timelines and events. I keep detailed flowcharts in the hopes that I won’t get lost in my own mind.

                Step four: Smooth out the creases. Through editing, and peer feedback, you should know if you’ve fooled yourself. If so—then perhaps you’ll have fooled the reader as well.

If I’ve done my job, you’ll have a very difficult (but not impossible) time solving the mystery found in MURDERED. In fact, it’s my sincere hope that a few of you will think you’ve solved the mystery and will but down the book, ignore your lingering doubts, and feel satisfied. But I hope many more of you will follow your gut to the conclusion and not let me fool you for long.

About the Author


James Schannep (1984-) is an American novelist and screenwriter with a dozen competition wins and placements. His first screenplay was optioned in 2011 and the Click Your Poison series was launched September, 2012 with the flagship book INFECTED.
A United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) graduate with a degree in English, Schannep left the service honorably to write full time. He resides with his wife along California's central coast.
James has personally stopped three zombie uprisings without raising national attention.

More information, including contact details, is available at: www.jamesschannep.com

Feature & Follow Blog Hop

The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee’s View and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it’ll allow us to show off more new blogs!

How does this work? The goal is to increase blog followers and make friends. First you leave your name here on this post, (using the linky tools — keep scrolling!) then you create a post on your own blog that links back to this post (easiest way is to just grab the code at the end of the Linky and put it in your post) and then you visit as many blogs as you can and tell them “hi” in their comments (on the post that has the #FF image). You follow them, they follow you. Win. Win. Just make sure to follow back if someone follows you!

Pranks...

It's been a while since I pulled any pranks. But when I was in high school and college it was a different story. I had a friend/acquaintance in high school. She was an opinionated loud-mouth and made fun of anything paranormal. It wasn't nice because another girl in our group thought her house was haunted and she was genuinely scared. After nasty girl made fun of her in front of the entire cafeteria, my BFFs and I hatched a plan. A sleepover with a seance as the main event. We went all out... hidden people making creaks and groans, candles that extinguish themselves, and the coup de grace was the rigged table. It worked, actually scared her so much I ended up feeling guilty. My parents weren't pleased with the stunt either. I was grounded for three weeks. I think she learned a lesson, though. She was much less vocal in her criticisms from then on.

Melodramatic Musings: The Dreaded (and Inevitable) Negative Review

Negative reviews. I've been thinking about this topic for quite a while now with all the buzz flying around about negativity toward authors. My writer half is writing this while keeping my reviewer half quiet. She's more of the "can't we all just get along?" type while my writer side is much more realistic and sarcastic.

Personal Taste

I want everyone to read those two words and embrace them. Everyone doesn't like the same things. That's what makes the world interesting. Seriously, how many times have you read something people were raving about and had it fall flat? For months my entire neighborhood, coworkers, the girl at the checkout in Target, etc. were abuzz about how fantastic Fifty Shades of Grey was. I know lots of people loved it. I didn't get it beyond housewives finally getting a taste of the porn their spouses have been reading for years. Go look at the ranking stats on Goodreads. I've never seen a novel so evenly distributed among 1-5 stars. My point here isn't to pick on Fifty Shades of Grey. It's to remind you that what Sally next door likes isn't necessarily what you like. To expect nothing but glowing or even good reviews is unrealistic.

Star Ratings

After listening to some fellow authors cry about their 1 or 2 star rankings on Goodreads, I felt it necessary to point out the obvious. 1 star on Goodreads means 'I didn't like it'. Not 'it was awful' or 'the author is terrible'. If you have a hard time with this concept, return to personal taste. Amazon is a bit crueler with 1 star meaning 'I hate it'. Of course with Amazon, you can't rank something without a written review. I've noticed people rank books on Goodreads as 1 or 2 but don't leave a review. You won't have that problem on Amazon. I can't help but wonder, of the 73,000+ people who left a 1 star ranking for our example book, how many actually read it.

Negative Reviews

Statements like: "I didn't connect with the characters", "Started so slow I couldn't read past the first few chapters", "There were so many grammatical issues, it pulled me from the plot."— these are par for the course. If you get reviews like this time and again, learn from them. If they're solitary incidents, suck it up and forget it. Yeah, not easy, I know. Can someone explain how we can gloss over the glowing reviews to focus on the few negatives? They stick in the brain like little parasites, gnawing away at our sanity bit by bit until we're reduced to mindless mush playing with gifs.

The Two Types of Negative Reviews

1) Personal Taste Review: I didn't like this book and here's why. Constructive, about the book itself. Advice- It's over and done. Deal with it however you can, but put it behind you. Only let this one affect you if you're seeing the same complaint over and over again. That's a red flag that you may need to change something in your next novel.

2) Author Bashing Review: I didn't like the book, and the author should be drawn and quartered for writing such drivel. This author sucks and I hate her along with that stupid dog in her author photo. I mean who does she think she's fooling... you get the drift. Advice- I sure hope these don't happen often. Do Not Engage Reviewer. Feel the need to respond? Don't. You'll end up in a war you can't win. People like this are looking for attention, so don't play into their hands. Seriously, you don't need to say anything. The review speaks for itself. It's nasty and distasteful. Be the bigger person and ignore it.

I know all negative reviews don't fall into these categories. I've read a few recently where an industry novice (reader only) presented his/her opinion as irrefutable fact in the review. This is problematic on so many levels since most people reading the reviews aren't going to check the reviewer's profile to see if they're qualified to make such statements.

I really don't think most people write negative reviews for any reason other than to get their opinion out there. Think about it. It's well-known that people tend to write reviews when they love or hate something. How often do you write an ambivalent review?

There's also advice floating around the web to ignore the reviews for your book. I don't know about you, but I can't do that. I'll read every review. Love the good ones. Linger on the bad for months. Try not to let them destroy my self-esteem or affect my writing.

And lastly... Does it bother me when a reviewer doesn't use their real name? NO. Why should it? Lots of authors use pen names so why can't reviewers? Sure people hide behind the anonymity of the internet; they always have and will find a way around any rules you put in place to reveal them. If you don't engage these hate-mongers, they'll go find someone who does. So, no, I didn't sign the petition emailed to me numerous times about Amazon requiring real names for reviewers. I understand both sides of the argument and I chose mine.

How do you deal with negative reviews? If you're a reviewer, do you write negative reviews?

Melodramatic Musings - Why are Reviews Becoming so Hard to Come by?

I started my review blog Once Upon a YA Book almost one year ago. In that year, I've posted 194 reviews to Goodreads. That's close to four books a week. Crazy, right? That doesn't include the books I decided not to review for a variety of reasons, mostly DNF. My backlog is still astronomical even though I had to stop taking review requests. I received so many each day, it was absurd.

My debut novel was released 2/25/14 and so far getting people to review the book has been a climb up a treacherous slope. I knew it would be difficult since my book wasn't featured as an ARC. I had to wait until after publication to ask for reviews. But I didn't think it would be this hard.

Ahh, cute puppy pictures always make me feel better.

This is my papillon, Kilala, Lala for short.

Okay on with the post.

First and foremost, the number one reason reviews are hard to come by... The market is saturated, soaked, bloated. There is an endless supply of reading material out there. Reviewers are inundated with requests. Even the reviewers who don't accept Indie requests have an overflowing inbox. Reviewers can by picky. They probably won't accept a review request from an author with two Amazon reviews, even if they're glowing. I usually read the first few pages before deciding on a review request, but I'm not sure if most reviewers even bother. With the number of requests and the availability on Edelweiss and Netgalley, reviewers aren't hurting for reading material.

I spent hours sending out personalized review requests to blogs, people, writers I've worked with in the past. Two have accepted. I never received a response from anyone else. Though it can be time consuming, I always reply to review requests (there are some I ignore, but I have valid reasons for doing so). Spotlights, guest posts, and interviews - no problem booking those. But ask for a review and you'll probably be met with stony silence. Forget "Last Call", all bartenders need to yell is "Debut author in need of reviews" and the bar will be empty within seconds flat.

I host for quite a few blog tour companies. Just in the last few months, I've received lots of emails from hosts trying to fill up the blog tours. It just seems like there are fewer people out there lately wanting to review, even for a blog tour. I wish I could compare the number of tours last year with the tours this year, but I didn't keep any of the data. So all I can say is host incentives are increasing and tour companies are sometimes reduced to begging for help with tours. So if you think you'll get a ton of reviews by booking a blog tour, realize that might not be the case.

Reviews can be time consuming. A thoughtful 500 word review doesn't write itself. Sure, it's easy when you love the book and want to scream it from the rooftops. But how many books actually fall in this category? Not many for me at least. Most books I read fall into the 2-4 star Goodreads range. It can be a challenge writing a review for a 3 star book, and I don't even want to write a review for a 2 star book. My reviews tend to be positive. I focus on what I liked more than what I didn't. Writing reviews can be exhausting mentally.

So what can we do as writers? Is it all hopeless? Should we just give up? Admit we're doomed to languish in Kindle obscurity?

No. Try harder. Publish more. If a reviewer sees that you have several books out, they are more likely to try one. Why? It shows that you're a serious writer. It shows commitment. Three books with twelve 4 or 5 star reviews among them is more appealing than one book with two 5 star reviews.

Book that blog tour. So you don't get as many reviews as you would like. At least your book is getting out there in spotlights. Write some guest posts. So many book bloggers love receiving a well-written guest post. It brings a new audience to our blog.

Continue to send out your personalized review requests. Don't even bother with a boiler plate email. It seldom works except for the newest reviewers. Target newer review blogs with smaller followings. You want that review posted on Goodreads and Amazon. No one there cares how many blog followers a reviewer has.

Just don't give up.
So, do you have any suggestions? What's worked for you? What didn't?

Coming next week: When reviews turn you from this

To this

Spotlight: Breathtaking: Seven Bestselling Novels for $0.99

Breathtaking: Seven Bestselling Novels of Love and Suspense

Boxed set is only $.99 March 24th through March 29th.

 

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo * Smashwords

Breathtaking Book Trailer

Unbelievable by Sherry Gammon Deliah Dreser's in town to take care of family business. They say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, but there's more to Lilah than meets the eye. Cole's in danger of losing his heart when this firestorm throws sparks his way. Is she simply playing him for the fool in order to exact revenge for her brother's murders? Bestselling author Sherry Gammon's reviewers exclaim; "She has a gift for touching her readers with beautiful, gripping stories that you can’t put down."





Home Before Dark by Christy Barritt Nothing good ever happens after dark. Those were the words country singer Daleigh McDermott’s father always repeated. Now her father is dead, and Daleigh finds a hidden journal hinting that his death was no accident. Small town mechanic Ryan Shields is the only one who seems to believe Daleigh. As the two work to unravel the mystery, it becomes obvious that someone wants them dead. They must rely on each other—and on God—if they hope to make it home before the darkness swallows them whole. Award-Winning Suspense Novelist and Bestselling Amazon Author, touted as "scary, funny, passionate, and quirky" by USA Today.


 
Baggage Claim by Amanda Tru Rachel Saunders is looking forward to her all-expense paid weekend trip to New York. But, when her luggage is lost and she is accosted by an infuriating Homeland Security agent, events take a dangerous turn. Amanda Tru, Bestselling Amazon Author of Romance and Suspense. Discover the author who, as an Amazon reviewer raves, “continues to impress me and dominate my time with a book I can’t put down even after it’s ended.”






Cassie's Cowboy Crave by Kimberly Krey In a moment of weakness, Shane steals a kiss. In return, Cassie steals his heart… When Cassie is forced to join the witness protection program, she fears her life is over… but then she meets Shane Emerson — the hunky cowboy posing as her husband. Will this sham marriage turn into the real thing, or will a hidden danger put it all at risk? Kimberly Krey writes romance that’s clean without losing the steam. What’s Beyond Forks calls this Best-selling Western Romance author “the master of romantic tension.”





 A Perfect Fit by Heather Tullis Cami DiCarlo is not happy when her father forces her into heading up guest services at his newest five-star hotel and unveils the existence of four half-sisters at the same time, insisting they live together while they launch the new resort. When she meets Vince, the sweet, sexy landscaper her father would never have approved of, Cami can’t say no. If only she could be sure she is on the right track—and that they will be able to stop the person who is trying to destroy everything.





You Belong with Me by Shannon Guymon Layla Kendall is a burned out social worker one step away from a major depression. When she and her sisters inherit their grandmother's bakery, she doesn't know if she can trust her good fortune or not. But the chance to be with her sisters and get away from the heartache and pain she's faced day in and day out is a chance she's going to take. With Layla's new life, come new friendships, including Michael Bender, a single dad. She doesn't trust men but Michael's little girl grabs her by the heart and won't let go. Shannon Guymon is an Amazon Bestselling Author of lighthearted and clean romance who according to her many fans, has the ability to paint pictures of her characters so real that readers would know them if they saw them walking down the street.



Blog This by Cami Checketts Devastated by the loss of her brother, Natasha Senecot exposes the dangers of Matthew Chrysler's violent video games, bankrupting and humiliating him. Chrysler sends a hit man after her. In a race against time, can Natasha expose Chrysler before his assassin murders her family and shatters her world? Bestselling author Cami Checketts has been touted as, "A genius! She writes about topics that aren't widely discussed, and she does such a brilliant job of crafting these things into wonderful stories that touch your heart and remain with you for days afterwards."

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New Release Spotlight: To Catch a Creeper by Ellie Campbell

To Catch a Creeper
A Crouch End Confidential Mystery

Ellie Campbell

Chicklit Mystery
March 24, 2014

Amazon US * Amazon UK



Cathy is riding high in her brand-new job at a (surprisingly bitchy) top London advertising agency working with best friend Rosa. But when Rosa’s pregnancy goes amiss and enemies sabotage her new career, she finds herself leading a chaotic double life of lies and deception, hiding a shameful secret from all, especially husband Declan who appears in the throes of a nervous breakdown.

Meanwhile she’s agreed to unmask the notorious Crouch End Creeper, a burglar terrorizing their neighbourhood. Little does she know that her meddling, assisted by fellow mothers (the Wednesday Once Weeklies) and the Neighbourhood Watch, will lead their dangerous opponent to murder. And that it's not only the tall elegant transvestite who is placing herself at risk...

Excerpt

     ‘It must have been horrendously frightening, Cathy,’ Holly Willoughby’s sparkling white teeth are shining directly into my eyes causing me to spontaneously blink, ‘finding yourself stalked and then almost strangled to death.’
     ‘Oh yes,’ I nod and refill my water glass. ‘Terrifying.’
     Although, I squirm as three huge cameras circle closer like a cackle of hyenas moving in for the kill, nowhere near as terrifying as being on live TV. All through the interview I keep getting these uncanny impulses to indulge in a touch of Tourette’s, spouting obscenities while intermittently flashing a nipple.
     ‘And then not only did you capture the culprit but you managed to turn the situation round and through it launched the most talked about advertising campaign this decade.’
     ‘Not just me...’ I grin bashfully as Camera One’s red light gives a little wink in my direction.          ‘So as a woman who’s spent the last eight years as a mother and housewife,’ Holly continues brightly, ‘how are you finding it being back out in the workplace?’
     How am I finding it? Fantastic. Sodding-bloody-fantastic, I want to reply but for some reason, ever since the camera did that little wink, my throat simply refuses to co-operate.
     ‘It’s a...a...’ I cough and reach for the water, ‘case of...’
     ‘And balancing this brand new exciting career with taking care of two primary-school age children?’ prompts her co-presenter nicely. ‘You must be very organised...’
     ‘Well, Joseph... I mean Jason... I mean...’
     And that’s it. My mouth freezes while I rifle through my memory bank trying to recall his name. Jason or Joseph... But no, it can’t be either. Joseph was the biblical character that this guy portrayed at a West End theatre and Jason...he was the ex-Neighbours actor who also played Joseph as well as dating Kylie Minogue and picking David Guest’s nose on some reality show. So this guy, the one sitting in front of me, all mike-ed up, awaiting an answer while millions look on... God, who is he? Sweat pools under the armpits of my new Vivienne Westwood polka-dot dress with the waist-cinching corset as I scan and rescan his grey speckled hair and cute baby face. ‘The thing is...’
     A reassuring hand rests on my arm. For the fifth time this morning, Rosa steps in to save me.       ‘Oh she is, Phillip,’ she laughs lightly. ‘Super-organised, that’s our Cath. Packed lunches prepared night before. Uniforms folded neatly on chairs. Dishwasher and washing machine fully loaded. Plants watered. Fish fed. Wonderwoman has nothing on her.’
     She slaps me on the back, just as I take another gulp of water. Instead of drowning the giant South American toad now living in my larynx, a fountain shoots out from my mouth and nose.
     Holly smiles once more as she smoothly links back to the weather, before the cameras wheel away, allowing her to dab at her water-spotted jacket and mercifully ending the second most scary moment of my entire life.

Looking For La La

Ellie Campbell

Chicklit Mystery
February 21, 2013
$0.99 March 24-30 2014

Amazon US * Amazon UK



In a recent survey 65% of mothers admitted feeling undervalued, over-criticised and constantly tired.

Cathy is no exception. Her dull, uneventful days as a stay at home, mother of two, are radically transformed however with the arrival of a heavily lipsticked postcard addressed to husband, Declan. Who is the mysterious La La? Could Declan really be having an affair? And is Cathy actually being stalked?

Whatever – it will definitely prove riveting gossip for the Tuesday Twice Monthlies, Cathy’s 'Mothers Restaurant Research’ group where scandal flows as recklessly as the wine. But what starts as a light-hearted investigation with best friend Raz, soon turns into something much more sinister.

With a possible murderer on the scene, a sexy admirer igniting long-forgotten sparks, and all her friends hiding secrets, it’s not only Cathy’s marriage that’s in jeopardy. Add in the scheming antics of Declan’s new assistant, the stress of organising the school Save The Toilet’s dance and the stage is set for a dangerous showdown and some very unsettling, possibly deadly, revelations.

FREE March 26-30 US Only

Amazon

About the Authors

Ellie Campbell is a pseudonym for sisters, Pam Burks and Lorraine Campbell who collaborate across the mighty Atlantic from their respective homes in Surrey, England and Colorado, USA, finding writing together a great excuse for endless phone conversations.   Together they have written four novels How To Survive Your Sisters, When Good Friends Go Bad, Looking for La La and To Catch a Creeper.   They love any chance to connect with their readers.

Ellie Campbell is represented by the Hardman & Swainson Literary Agency (www.hardmanswainson.com). For further information and to get in contact with them please visit their website: www.chicklitsisters.com.

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ecampbellbooks 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1710882.Ellie_Campbell

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/ecampbellbooks

Book Blitz: Clarity by Loretta Lost - Excerpt & Interview

Clarity

Loretta Lost

New Adult Romance
February 23, 2014

Amazon * B&N



Fiercely independent Helen Winters was born completely blind, but she vowed never to let her disability keep her down. She did not expect a traumatic event to devastate her life and force her to drop out of college. Disillusioned by the cruelty of people, Helen retreated from society to live by herself as a reclusive writer in the woods—where no one could ever hurt her again.

When a brilliant young doctor shows up on her doorstep, promising her that his new research can give her the ability to see for the first time, Helen stubbornly refuses. She has learned not to trust anyone, and to rely only on herself. But Dr. Liam Larson will not take no for an answer. He makes it his personal mission to rescue Helen from her loneliness, and bring joy into her world once more—the joy she has denied herself for so long.

When Helen’s demons come racing back into her life, threatening to rip her apart and destroy the strength she has carefully rebuilt, Liam is the only one who might be able to save her.

Can he reach the broken girl in time, helping her to heal and see the world in a different light? Or will Helen’s grief send her spiraling out of control, lost to him forever?

Excerpt

     “I wish Owen would stop babbling so that I could actually talk to you for five minutes,” Liam muttered. “You’re such an interesting person.”

     “Me?” I ask in confusion. “I’m just your average hermit writer.”

     “Exactly,” he says. I hear a smile in his voice. “I don’t know too many of those. You’re part of a very rare species.”

     I look down to hide my embarrassment. I can feel him staring at me; the tension is beginning to grow thick in our small quarters. He is sitting very close to me, even if we are separated by the back of his seat. When Owen was in the car with us, the atmosphere was light and funny. But now, it’s dark and intense; it’s laced with something I don’t understand and don’t want to discover. I try to think of something to say to take his focus away from me and my life. “It’s just a job,” I say dumbly.

     He scoffs. “Just a job? Helen, I work with other doctors every day. We heal people, and it should be glamorous; we should feel like heroes. But in truth, it gets... mechanical. At some point, you start to question how important your work really is. I mean, you can heal a person’s body... but that doesn’t really heal the person.  We aren’t just bodies, you know? That’s where your books come into play.” He pauses, and I can feel him giving me an earnest look. “Books are medicine for the soul. They heal the eternal parts of a person.”

     “Liam,” I say in surprise.

     “You are a doctor of sorts, too,” he tells me, “except for the fact that your work persists. If a person reads a good book—they become permanently changed. They can’t even help it. They can’t unlearn what they’ve learned. It will always be with them. Our bodies all crumble and fade, and we’ll all eventually lose our eyesight near the end, along with many other basic bodily functions. But I like to think that even when we’re gone, the soul retains some of that wisdom—some of that feeling. What I do is simple science, but what you do is... magic.”

     “Stop talking,” I whisper. “Seriously, stop talking right now.”

     “Why?” he says, somewhat hurt at the interruption.

     “Because I’m pretty sure that if you keep talking like this... I’ll have to marry you, or something,” I explain nervously. “So just zip it.” 

Interview with Author Loretta Lost

#1. Why did you choose to write about a blind heroine?

Due to the first person narrative, the whole story is colored by the filter of the main character’s point of view. It can make for an excellent reading experience to have a unique personality who is special or charming in some way—maybe they’re just incredibly witty or perceptive. Maybe they’re a hilarious pessimist or self-deprecating downer. I thought it would be challenging and rewarding to allow the reader to experience the story without vision to really put us inside Helen’s world. I feel that since we get to know other characters based on who they are instead of what they look like, there is a greater potential for deep connections.

#2. The first scene of your story is very heartbreaking and difficult to read. Why did you choose to write about the subject matter of rape?

I posted on one of my Facebook fan pages about rape once, and I had several of my readers message me in private and share their experiences. It was quite shocking and disturbing, and I was simply stunned at the frequency of these horrible events. While I do believe there is little I can do to prevent this type of behavior by simply writing, I hope that I can advocate compassion and caring for the victims of abuse by showing the way it has affected Helen.

#3. It was interesting to read about Helen’s retreat deep in the woods. What made you choose this location?

The concept of a reclusive writer living peacefully tucked away in the woods has always been enchanting to me. I often dream of having a similar little writing haven someday. I think being surrounded by nature and removed from the hustle and bustle of the city, and the annoyances of people would be the ideal situation for any writer. The specific location of New Hampshire was inspired by Walt’s cabin in Breaking Bad. The winter scenery was so gorgeous; and just outside the window, the sky has been dumping heaps of magical snow on us for months. I couldn’t resist writing about such a pretty landscape and sanctuary for a girl who likes to call herself Winter.

#4. What about your male lead? Why did you choose to make him a doctor?

I briefly dated an ophthalmologist who shared plenty of interesting surgery stories with me. However, he was boastful and condescending, and simply a horrible person. It was like he used his job and helping people solely as a lure to impress chicks. Sometimes, when people disappoint me in real life, I like to reimagine them as better and more likable people and write them into stories. Liam is a man who wants to help Helen because improving someone’s life will give him joy—not because he gets something in return. (However, I did put some of the negative attributes of my doctor into Owen’s character!)

#5. What’s next for Helen?

You will simply have to read on to see where her story leads. Helen has a difficult struggle ahead of her, coming to terms with her past and trying to move forward into a brighter future. She is a clever and strong girl, and if anyone can do it, I know she can! 

About the Author

Loretta Lost knows how dark the world can be, but chooses to believe in happily-ever-afters despite all evidence to the contrary.

Author links:

http://www.lorettalost.com/

https://www.facebook.com/LorettaLost

https://twitter.com/LorettaLost