Books are food for my soul! Pull up a beach chair and stick your toes in the sand as the Jersey surf rolls in and out, now open your book and let your imagination take you away.

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Author Guest Post: Lauren Clark, Author of Dancing Naked In Dixie

In association with Virtual Book Tour Cafe, Jersey Girl Book Reviews welcomes back Lauren Clark, author of  Dancing Naked In Dixie!



If you love reading about the Deep South and adore the sweet accents of those charming Southern gentlemen, what exactly would you need to know if you'd like to strike up a conversation, keep him interested, and land yourself a date?

For Julia Sullivan's love interest, Shug Jordan, in Dancing Naked In Dixie, it was all about family, preserving his hometown's historical landmarks, and celebrating the annual Eufaula Pilgrimage.

For anyone who's set her sights on 'catching' her own Southern gentleman, here are the Top Ten Must - Know Topics:

1. Cheerin' - Find out his favorite SEC Football team, that team's biggest rivals, the mascot, and the record from the last ten or twenty seasons.

2. Huntin' - Does he hunt? Deer? Turkey? Does he bow hunt or take his dog? Does he expect you to cook any of it?

3. Fishin' - Saltwater? Fresh water? What's his favorite catch? Bait?

4. Cookin' & Bakin' - The way to any Southern Man's heart is through his stomach! Be sure to get his mama's recipe for fried chicken, banana puddin', and chicken salad! He'll love it!

5. Golfin' - Many Southern men love to get in 18 holes before noon on a Saturday. Read up on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail and research his favorite places to tee off.

6. Church Goin' - Often takes place Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and Wednesday evening. Wear comfortable shoes!

7. Socializin' - Learn his favorite phrases, which likely include y'all, holler, fixin, ma'am, sir, get up with, and many others.

8. Sunnin' - Bring the sunscreen, plenty of water, and a wide-brimmed hat! The sun is brutal on the Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, and Carolina Coasts!

9. Eatin' - Prepare to dine on oysters, shrimp, BBQ, okra, greens, congealed salad, cheese straws, pimento cheese, gumbo, red velvet cake, and banana puddin'.

10. Visitin' - The Deep South is all about family and friends, so put on a big smile, your best dress, and prepare to meet his siblings, parents, cousins, aunts, uncles, and buddies.

Of course, there are many techniques useful in 'catching' a Southern man. Any more you'd like to share? 




About The Author: 


Lauren Clark writes contemporary women's fiction set in the Deep South; stories sprinkled with love, family and friendship, and the challenges that life unexpectedly throws at all of us!

Her characters are real women; smart and sassy, who tackle complicated issues with tenacity and intelligence. Readers will empathize and relate to her flawed yet likable heroines. A former TV anchor and journalist at WWNY and WTVY, Lauren's stories allow us an insight into the excitement, drama and fast-paced world of media.

Laura is a reformed news junkie, a non-reformed coffee drinker, and an official library geek. Her big loves are family, paying it forward, eight hours of sleep a night, and homemade macaroni and cheese. She lives near the Florida Gulf Coast where she is surrounded by family and true-blue friends that inspire her writing and keep her sane.

Stayed Tune is Lauren's debut novel. her second book, Dancing Naked In Dixie was released in May 2012.



AUTHOR WEBSITE
FACEBOOK
TWITTER
GOODREADS
Lauren Clark's Dancing Naked In Dixie Virtual Book Tour Page On Virtual Book Tour Cafe


BUY THE BOOK: Dancing Naked In Dixie


Book Description: Dancing Naked In Dixie

Travel writer Julia Sullivan lives life in fast-forward. She jet sets to Europe and the Caribbean with barely a moment to blink or sleep. But too many mishaps and missed deadlines have Julia on the verge of being fired.

With a stern warning, and unemployment looming, she's offered one last chance to rescue her career. Julia embarks on an unlikely journey to the 'Heart of Dixie' - Eufaula, Alabama - home to magnificent mansions, sweet tea, and the annual Pilgrimage.

Julia arrives, soon charmed by the lovely city and her handsome host, but her stay is marred by a shocking discovery. Can Julia's story save her career, Eufaula, and the annual Pilgrimage?


Book Excerpt:

I'm a travel writer at Getaways magazine. Paid for the glorious task of gathering up fascinating snippets of culture and piecing them into quirky little stories. Jet-setting to the Riviera, exploring the Great Barrier Reef, basking on Bermuda beaches. It's as glamorous and exhilarating as I imagined.

Okay, it is a tad lonely, from time to time.

And quite exhausting.

Which is precisely why I have to get organized.

Today.

I sink into my chair and try to concentrate. What to tackle first? Think, think.


"Julia Sullivan!" 

Third reminder. Uh-oh.

Marietta rolls her eyes and jerks a thumb toward the inevitable. "Guess you better walk the plank," she teases. "New guy's waiting. Haven't met him yet, but I've heard he's the 'take no prisoners' sort. Hope you come back alive."

 I grope for something witty and casual to say, but all of a sudden, my head feels light and hollow.

I've been dying to find out about the new editor.

Every last gory detail.

Until now.

"I'm still in another time zone," I offer up to Marietta with a weak smile. My insides toss from side to side as I slide out of my chair.

Marietta tosses me a wry look. "Nice try. Get going already, sport."

I tilt my head toward the hallway and pretend to pout. When I look back, Marietta's already disappeared. Smart girl.

"Fine, fine." I tug a piece of rebellious auburn hair into place, smooth my wool suit, and begin to march toward the inevitable.

Our new editor.

My neck prickles.

I'm not going to worry. Not much anyway.

My pulse thuds.

Not going to worry about change. Or re-organization. Or pink slips.


Focus Julia.





Virtual Book Tour Giveaway: Enter to win a grand prize of a signed copy of Stayed Tuned, Lauren's first novel, and two (2) $15 gift cards. Post a comment below with your name and address, and follow the other virtual tour dates to have a chance to win!



Dancing Naked In Dixie By Lauren Clark

Dancing Naked In Dixie by Lauren Clark
Published By: Monterey Press
Release Date: May 9, 2012
Format: Paperback - 322 pages / Kindle - 663 KB / 1MB
ISBN: 0984725040
ASIN: B0082205JY
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Chick Lit / Women's Fiction / Southern Fiction


About The Author:






Lauren Clark writes contemporary women's fiction set in the Deep South; stories sprinkled with love, family and friendship, and the challenges that life unexpectedly throws at all of us!

Her characters are real women; smart and sassy, who tackle complicated issues with tenacity and intelligence. Readers will empathize and relate to her flawed yet likable heroines. A former TV anchor and journalist at WWNY and WTVY, Lauren's stories allow us an insight into the excitement, drama and fast-paced world of media.

Laura is a reformed news junkie, a non-reformed coffee drinker, and an official library geek. Her big loves are family, paying it forward, eight hours of sleep a night, and homemade macaroni and cheese. She lives near the Florida Gulf Coast where she is surrounded by family and true-blue friends that inspire her writing and keep her sane.

Stayed Tune is Lauren's debut novel. her second book, Dancing Naked In Dixie was released in May 2012.


AUTHOR WEBSITE
FACEBOOK
TWITTER
GOODREADS
Lauren Clark's Dancing Naked In Dixie Virtual Book Tour Page on Virtual Book Tour Cafe


BUY THE BOOK: Dancing Naked In Dixie
AMAZON
BARNES & NOBLE


Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event.

Virtual Book Tour Event: On Thursday, May 31, 2012, in association with Virtual Book Tour Cafe, author Lauren Clark participated in a virtual book tour event with an Author Guest Post on Jersey Girl Book Reviews.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2012/05/author-guest-post-lauren-clark-author.html


Virtual Book Tour Giveaway: Enter to win a grand prize of a signed copy of Stayed Tuned, Lauren's first novel, and two (2) $15 gift cards. Post a comment below with your name and address, and follow the other virtual tour dates to have a chance to win!


Book Description: 

Travel writer Julia Sullivan lives life in fast-forward. She jet sets to Europe and the Caribbean with barely a moment to blink or sleep. But too many mishaps and missed deadlines have Julia on the verge of being fired.

With a stern warning, and unemployment looming, she's offered one last chance to rescue her career. Julia embarks on an unlikely journey to the 'Heart of Dixie' - Eufaula, Alabama - home to magnificent mansions, sweet tea, and the annual Pilgrimage.

Julia arrives, soon charmed by the lovely city and her handsome host, but her stay is marred by a shocking discovery. Can Julia's story save her career, Eufaula, and the annual Pilgrimage?


Book Excerpt:


I'm a travel writer at Getaways magazine. Paid for the glorious task of gathering up fascinating snippets of culture and piecing them into quirky little stories. Jet-setting to the Riviera, exploring the Great Barrier Reef, basking on Bermuda beaches. It's as glamorous and exhilarating as I imagined.

Okay, it is a tad lonely, from time to time.

And quite exhausting.

Which is precisely why I have to get organized.

Today.

I sink into my chair and try to concentrate. What to tackle first? Think, think.


"Julia Sullivan!" 

Third reminder. Uh-oh.

Marietta rolls her eyes and jerks a thumb toward the inevitable. "Guess you better walk the plank," she teases. "New guy's waiting. Haven't met him yet, but I've heard he's the 'take no prisoners' sort. Hope you come back alive."

 I grope for something witty and casual to say, but all of a sudden, my head feels light and hollow.

I've been dying to find out about the new editor.

Every last gory detail.

Until now.

"I'm still in another time zone," I offer up to Marietta with a weak smile. My insides toss from side to side as I slide out of my chair.

Marietta tosses me a wry look. "Nice try. Get going already, sport."

I tilt my head toward the hallway and pretend to pout. When I look back, Marietta's already disappeared. Smart girl.

"Fine, fine." I tug a piece of rebellious auburn hair into place, smooth my wool suit, and begin to march toward the inevitable.

Our new editor.

My neck prickles.

I'm not going to worry. Not much anyway.

My pulse thuds.

Not going to worry about change. Or re-organization. Or pink slips.


Focus Julia.


My Book Review:


Julia Sullivan is a globe trotting travel writer for Getaways magazine. Upon returning to NY from her latest assignment in Italy, Julia is shocked to find that her estranged father David is the new editor at the magazine. David tells Julia that the magazine is going in a new direction: instead of jet setting around the world, their American readers want to read about "out-of-the-way" local places to visit. He promptly tells her that she is going to Eufaula, Alabama to cover the local Pilgrimage festival, and that it is a 'take it or leave' proposition that could cost her job if she refuses. Well shut my mouth! Alabama? Julia tells Michael that she'd rather 'dance naked' than take the trip down south to Dixie. Grudgingly, Julia sets off on a journey where the pace is slow, the townsfolk are friendly and engaging with their Southern hospitality, and moon pies and RC cola are king! From the start of her stay in Eufaula, Julia quickly finds herself getting in the middle of mishaps and drama: choking on "too sweet" sweet tea, fire ants, town politics, secrets, betrayals and family drama. What she takes back to NY from her stay in Eufaula is more precious than any of her worldly travels:  self-discovery, love, friendship, family, and a new way of life. So come set a spell and pass the glass of sweet tea as Julia goes on a journey of self-discovery in little ol' Eufaula, Alabama!

Dancing Naked In Dixie is a lighthearted fun Southern fiction that will keep you laughing and entertained as you turn the pages. The storyline is fun and flirty, the reader is immediately drawn into Julia's journey to Dixie, filled with a lot of humorous adventures and enough drama to keep you guessing what will happen next. With a cast of fun loving characters that will keep you in stitches, you can't help but embrace them to your heart and enjoy their company. The author does a fabulous job of providing the reader with a real flavor of small town Southern life with it's regional mannerisms, language and beautifully descriptive settings. The author's witty humor shines through with all the "hey y'alls," "bless your little hearts!," "hells bells" and other classic Southern phrases. With enough drama, mishaps, secrets, family fun and good ol' Southern hospitality, this neat little novel provides a nice balance of romance, mystery and suspense. As a fan of everything Southern, even though I am a Yankee (I must have been a Southern Belle in another lifetime), I couldn't help but be drawn into this fun story.

Dancing Naked In Dixie is an enchanting story that has a powerful message to share: that everyone needs to take the time to slow down, smell the flowers, and appreciate the little things in life. I would definitely recommend this novel, it's a fun read that will keep you laughing and satisfied long after the last page has been read.


RATING: 4 STARS ****








Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Author Guest Post: Samantha Hoffman, Author of A Contented Mind

In association with Chick Lit Plus, Jersey Girl Book Reviews welcomes Samantha Hoffman, author of A Contented Mind!




When I began writing, A Contented Mind, I had no clue I was about to write a novel. I was merely trying to release what was inside of me - knowing whatever it was, intended to suffocate me if not set free. Four weeks later, the book was written. Depression is a profoundly creative force, and yet a force that can also kick one easily and quickly over a dark edge. I find no shame in admitting that I have all too often found myself hanging emotionally, with only a finger hold around a cliffside branch. Oddly enough, thus far, I've always managed to swing myself back onto solid ground. And so it goes, the mutual journey of many a writer ...

There were only a few times when I paused briefly while writing. I hadn't a clue what Meg was doing in California and about half way through I was panic stricken as to the ending. Once I let go of my thoughts, the story flowed. As for the ending, after writing it, I thought how nice it would be to meet a man one day that would ask the same of me. That surely hasn't happened, and I can't say it ever will!

As for how I write, long gone are the romantic images of writers sitting in dark rooms with only a ray of light streaming through a window, a typewriter before them and a snifter of brandy to their side. Or are those just my romantic images ...? My writing is fueled by music, and Pepperidge Farms Goldfish crackers, and lots of coffee.

My books mirror life. It would be nice if life fell into place easily. Mine hasn't. Perhaps that's why ACM feels so real, as Meg's road is not an easy one. I think most of us haven't had an easy road. Roads are rough and people are raw, complex beings. I believe in fallible people. I'm enormously fallible, and my characters will always be as well. I don't believe in Prince Charming. And happily ever after can and does exist but within a world peppered with hardship and some rather unpleasant surprises. If your lucky or blessed, you experience more happiness than disappointment. But while alive, both are ever present.

Devon Hathaway was by far the most enjoyable character to write. He was just plain delicious. I also enjoyed Stu, as he wears his heart blatantly on his very crude yet sincere sleeve. After finishing the sequel. a certain sadness came over me. A feeling of loss. In many ways, these characters are like close friends. I'd hate to see them go.

Writing is one of the most isolated careers one can pursue - with that said, things can get a bit dicey at times! But it is a career that suits me well. I tend to never be the one elbowing my way to the front of the line or straining my neck so that the spotlight falls on me; this hurts me a bit when it comes to self promotion. I often look at the boisterous, gregarious individuals and wish I were a bit more like them. But I never do well when trying to be something I'm not. But I will say this, and its the subtle message imbued within my novel - we are who we are - claim it, own it and feel good about it. Who I am is a quiet and contemplative person - always have been, always will be. And that's okay.

Thank you for asking me to do this guest blog. I enjoy every chance given to me to babble about my books.

~ Samantha


About The Author:


Samantha Hoffman started writing books as a child. Although those roughly hewed books are kept under lock and key, they possess the same need to understand life as her current novels. In the past, Samantha has written numerous columns on health and spirituality for a local newspaper. Currently, she writes the popular blog: Insanity - A Writer's Commentary On All Things, as well as two novels: A Contented Mind, it's sequel, Chasing Nirvana, and the children's chapter book series: Dainty Delaney. Currently she is at work on her third novel.

Life can get rough at times, loving oneself shouldn't be. That, in a nutshell, is the message that is imbued within the books Samantha writes.


AUTHOR WEBSITE
FACEBOOK
TWITTER
GOODREADS
Samantha Hoffman's A Contented Mind Virtual Book Tour Page On Chick Lit Plus



BUY THE BOOK: A Contented Mind
AMAZON
BARNES & NOBLE
AUTHOR WEBSITE - BOOK STORE


Book Description: A Contented Mind


Sometimes it takes seeing the dream before we find the courage to face the nightmare.

When young, our greatest fears are of the shadow figures that live within our sleeping mind. As we age, we discover what's most frightening is a life not fully lived, desires left unfulfilled and a past that keeps us tethered in darkness.

Without realizing it, bestselling author Meg Scott, stepped into the life of her dreams. A new beachfront home on the West Coast; a far cry from her secluded home shared only with her faithful Irish setter on Martha's Vineyard. A gig playing violin with a world renowned rock band about to depart on a European acoustic tour; friends that easily became the family she lost when young. And upon shaking hands with the band's drummer, Jadon Hastings, love and desire she'd never known beyond the stories she wrote.

All too often, shadow figures arrive camouflaged as friends, and those who profess love are worse than those that once haunted our childhood nights.

Under a hazy California sun, Meg's dream sits in clear view. To make it her own, she'll have to confront not only her past, but her future. In doing so, she discovers - those you trust - can't always be trusted.



A Contented Mind by Samantha Hoffman



A Contented Mind by Samantha Hoffman
Published By: Two Dog Press
Release Date: November 22, 2011
Format: Paperback - 277 pages / Kindle - 735 KB / Nook - 554 KB
ISBN: 0984825819
ASIN: B006H6TXQS
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Chick Lit / Women's Fiction


About The Author:





Samantha Hoffman started writing books as a child. Although those roughly hewed books are kept under lock and key, they possess the same need to understand life as her current novels. In the past, Samantha has written numerous columns on health and spirituality for a local newspaper. Currently, she writes the popular blog: Insanity - A Writer's Commentary On All Things, as well as two novels: A Contented Mind, it's sequel, Chasing Nirvana, and the children's chapter book series: Dainty Delaney. Currently she is at work on her third novel.

Life can get rough at times, loving oneself shouldn't be. That, in a nutshell, is the message that is imbued within the books Samantha writes.



AUTHOR WEBSITE
FACEBOOK
TWITTER
GOODREADS
Samantha Hoffman's A Contented Mind Virtual Book Tour Page On Chick Lit Plus


BUY THE BOOK: A Contented Mind
AMAZON
BARNES & NOBLE
AUTHOR WEBSITE - BOOK STORE


Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event.

Virtual Book Tour Event: On Wednesday, May 30, 2012, in association with Chick Lit Plus, author Samantha Hoffman participated in a virtual book tour event with an Author Guest Post on Jersey Girl Book Reviews.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2012/05/author-guest-post-samantha-hoffman.html


Book Description:

Sometimes it takes seeing the dream before we find the courage to face the nightmare.

When young, our greatest fears are of the shadow figures that live within our sleeping mind. As we age, we discover what's most frightening is a life not fully lived, desires left unfulfilled and a past that keeps us tethered in darkness.

Without realizing it, bestselling author Meg Scott, stepped into the life of her dreams. A new beachfront home on the West Coast; a far cry from her secluded home shared only with her faithful Irish setter on Martha's Vineyard. A gig playing violin with a world renowned rock band about to depart on a European acoustic tour; friends that easily became the family she lost when young. And upon shaking hands with the band's drummer, Jadon Hastings, love and desire she'd never known beyond the stories she wrote.

All too often, shadow figures arrive camouflaged as friends, and those who profess love are worse than those that once haunted our childhood nights.

Under a hazy California sun, Meg's dream sits in clear view. To make it her own, she'll have to confront not only her past, but her future. In doing so, she discovers - those you trust - can't always be trusted.



My Book Review:


Meg Scott is a best selling author who uses a pen name to maintain her anonymity while living in seclusion in Martha's Vineyard with her best friend and constant companion, Bob, her Irish Setter. Her quiet private life comes to a frightening halt when an obsessed fan finds out her true identity and breaks into her house and assaults her. Feeling no longer safe in her home; unable to eat, sleep, think or work on her latest novel, Meg escapes Martha's Vineyard with Bob for a new seaside home in the Southern California town of Mandalay Bay. Hoping to start a new chapter in her life, Meg seeks to regain her writer's creative fire that has been blocked since the incident in Massachusetts. She takes to her balcony and plays hauntingly beautiful music from her violin, a prized possession that has special meaning, as it was given to her by her parents on their last Christmas together when she was ten years old. The violin holds a special meaning for her, after her parents death, she used the violin to help help heal her soul.

Jadon Hastings is a drummer in the world renowned rock band Equinox. Like Meg, he too enjoys living a private life, but when he hears a hauntingly beautiful violin playing next door, he has to know who is playing the music. He catches a glimpse of Meg while crouching in the bushes and is taken with her beauty, but he mistakenly believes her to be married to a guy named Bob. Even still, he can't help but accompany the violinist on his piano, which unwittingly draws them together in a passionate nightly ritual.

Meg's publisher, Devon, hoping to get her out of her funk, sets up an audition for Meg to play with Equinox on an acoustical tour. Needless to say, Jadon is shocked when he finds out that his neighbor is the violinist. Their mutual attraction is palpable, but he gives off mixed signals that creates a love-hate relationship. And so begins the emotional odyssey of Meg and Jadon's love story.

A Contented Mind is a hauntingly beautiful novel that runs the gamut of emotions and will leave the reader wanting more. The storyline is well written and has so much palpable emotional intensity that it leaps off the pages. The story is narrated in alternating point of views by Meg, Jadon, Devon and Chick. I felt that the alternating narration flowed smoothly from one chapter to another, it made the story that much more engaging and interesting. There are a lot of characters in the story, they were all realistic and fun to get to know. I was intrigued by the complexity of Meg and Jadon's characters. I found it fascinating to see how their interactions with each other intertwined to form a powerful and compelling story. I couldn't help but be drawn into their lives, as both struggled with their own inner demons while also trying to deal with their mutual attraction for each other.

A Contented Mind is a powerfully emotional and realistic love story that deals with issues found in life: confronting inner demons, friendship, passion, love and betrayal. This is a story that will keep you engaged and guessing how it will end. I recommend this novel to anyone who is interested in reading a realistic romance story that will stay with you long after the last page is read.


RATING: 4 STARS ****





Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Author Interview: David Freed, Author of Flat Spin

Jersey Girl Book Review welcomes David Freed, author of Flat Spin!





Welcome to Jersey Girl Book Reviews David! Before we get to the interview, can you tell our readers a little bit about yourself?

I am a screenwriter and former investigative journalist for The Los Angeles Times where I served as the paper's lead police reporter. I was an individual finalist for the Pulitzer Prize's Gold Medal for Public Service, the highest award in American journalism, and later shared in a Pulitzer Prize for The Times' coverage of the 1992 Rodney King riots. I also reported from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq during Operation Desert Storm.


After leaving The Times, I worked as an investigator for the Los Angeles bureau of CBS News, helping cover the OJ Simpson murder case. That same year, I sold my first feature-length screenplay, the action-thriller Stealth, to 20th Century Fox.


In addition to my work in the entertainment industry, I'm a contributor to a handful of magazines, including The Atlantic, the Smithsonian's Air & Space, and Pacific Standard. I've also worked with the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, the Army's Battle Command Battle Lab, and other entities within the federal intelligence community. 


I am the author of a humor book, Dear Ernest and Julio: The Ordinary Guy's Search for the Extraordinary Job (St. Martin's Press, 1977). My first novel, the mystery-thriller, Flat Spin (The Permanent Press) was published this month.


I'm an instrument-rated private pilot and aircraft owner. I live in Santa Barbara, California, with my wife, Elizabeth, a clinical psychologist. We have two adult children.




How long have you been a writer?

I've earned a living scribbling words for more than three decades. I started out as a newspaper journalist, morphed into a Hollywood screenwriter, became a magazine contributor, and, with the release of Flat Spin, I guess you could say I'm now a published novelist.


Do you have a "day job," or being an author your career?

I spend about half my time these days being an author (geez, I hope that doesn't sound too pretentious), and the remainder doing journalism work. There's a part of me that wishes I could afford to devote myself full-time to writing novels, but there's another part of me that truly enjoys the nuts and bolts of news reporting. The latter actually benefits the former in that much of what I learn on nonfiction writing assignments finds its way into my fiction projects.


What inspired you to become a writer? Describe your journey as a writer.

I started out with ambitions of becoming a heart surgeon. That goal was shelved fairly early on in college when I realized that my paltry GPA would never get me into medical school. A high school teacher, Aurelia Valley, had taken me aside one day after class and encouraged me to think about being a writer. She was convinced, for whatever reason, that I had an aptitude when it came to the written word. When I was debating changing majors, it was Miss Valley's voice that resonated with clarity in my head and helped persuade me to study journalism.


Please give a brief description/storyline about Flat Spin.

A former fighter pilot-turned-government assassin-turned down-on-his-luck flight instructor is asked by his ex-wife to help investigate the murder of of the man she dumped him for.


What was the inspiration for this story?

I guess you could say I found my greatest inspiration in that cliche, "Write what you know." The protagonist of Flat Spin, Cordell Logan, is a flight instructor. I'm an instrument-rated pilot and aircraft owner. Logan's got a military background; I spent many years writing about the military as a journalist. Logan gets sucked into murder investigations; I covered more than my share of homicides as an investigative reporter for the Los Angeles Times. Logan worked in the intelligence community; so have I. Don't get me wrong. I am hardly my own hero. But I can say with some degree of comfort that I'm somewhat familiar with his world. 


How did it feel to have your first book published?

Fantastic and more than a little surreal. A few days ago, the UPS guy dropped off a boxful of copies - the first time I'd seen the hardback version of the book or held it in my hands. It's beautiful and humbling given the odds these days of any publisher agreeing to take on a new novelist. I feel very fortunate to be published by The Permanent Press, a small, highly selective house that promotes the heck out of those few books it does accept. 


Do you write books for a specific genre?

Flat Spin is billed as a "Cordell Logan mystery," so I suppose my genre is just that - mysteries. That being said, I'm not sure whether Flat Spin falls squarely in any defined sub-genre of crime fiction. If anything, I'd say it's a funny whodunit. Author Bruce DeSilva, whose terrific Rogue Island won an Edgar Award for best first novel in 2011, describes Flat Spin as a "literary thriller." That's high praise coming from a scribe like him. 


What genres are your favorites? What are some of your favorite books that you have read and why?

I'm very eclectic in my reading tastes. I like a lot of nonfiction, especially biographies, political exposes, military history, and modern adventure, in particular the work of John Krakhauer and Sebastian Junger. I love reading about historic places, then visiting them, whether it be Omaha Beach (Cornelius Ryan's The Longest Day), the site of the Chicago World's Fair (Erik Larson's Devil in the White City), or Gettysburg (Michael Shaara's The Killer Angels, which may be fiction, but it read real!). As for classic American fiction, East of Eden may be the best novel I've ever read. Among more modern authors, James Salter has to be among the most brilliant American wordsmiths alive today for my money. I read City of Thieves not long ago by David Benioff and thought it exceptional. I just finished Matterhorn, a very ambitious novel about Marines fighting in Vietnam written by Karl Marlantes, himself a former grunt. It took Marlantes more than 30 years before he got the book published. I tend not to read many mystery-thrillers these days because I don't want to subconsciously imprint their work on mine. But there are certainly more a few great ones out there - the aforementioned Bruce DeSilva, Lee Child, and Michael Connelly, who I used to work with at the LA Times. First-time novelist Len Rosen wrote a phenomenally good thriller called All Cry Chaos, as did Beth Terrell with her Jaden McKean series.


Do you have a special "spot/area" where you like to do your writing?

At my desk in Santa Barbara, with my two Australian shepherds snoozing on or near my feet. I have a nice view of the Pacific for inspiration (and, ugg, my neighbors' newly constructed chimney).


How do you come up with the ideas that become the storyline for your books?

I don't really come up with them. They just sort of come to me. Sometimes, I'll get really terrific ideas in the shower. Don't ask me why.


When you write, do you adhere to a strict work schedule, or do you work whenever the inspiration strikes?

Writing in my opinion must be the very embodiment of discipline. You have to adhere to a schedule and try to produce a certain amount of words on any given day if you expect to ever see a project to fruition. So yes, absolutely, I have a schedule. Typically, I get up early, have breakfast while reading the newspaper, then work out, go walking or hiking with the dogs, and try to be at my computer by 9am. I'll write until lunch, break for half an hour or so, then return to work until about 5:30pm when it's time for a glass of red wine. 


What aspects of storytelling do you like best, and what aspects do you struggle with the most?

I absolutely love writing action stuff. I seriously hate writing love scenes.


What are your favorite things to do when you are not writing?

Flying my airplane, throwing the Frisbee for my dogs, working on my house (I'm a pretty decent carpenter and tile-setter, but I suck at plumbing), and trying to keep my wife and kids happy.


What is/was the best piece of writing advice that you have received?

Writing is rewriting. Never be satisfied with your prose. It can always stand improvement.


What is the most gratifying thing you feel or get as a writer?

The notion that I'm creating something which will bring a smile to readers' faces and allow them to escape, at least for a few hours, the stresses of daily life that we all endure. 


How do you usually communicate with your readers/fans?

I'm online a lot and welcome emails via my website: http://david-freed.com/.


Is there anything in your book based on real life experiences, or are they purely all from your imagination?

Good fiction resonates with authenticity. That is not to say that a novel must be wholly true-to-life. But for a reader to suspend disbelief, the author must infuse credible reality in a novel to a sufficient degree that the story and characters feel real. Many of the critical elements in Flat Spin are based on things I've done and seen; some are not. The author's task is to keep the reader guessing as to which is which, which is half the fun for all of us.


What authors have been your inspiration or influenced you to become a writer?

Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner, John Steinbeck, Mark Twain, Shelby Foote, Bruce Catton, James Jones, and Clive Cussler. I could go on ...


What is your definition of success as a writer?

Simply to be able to write. So many talented aspiring writers never get the chance. They're so busy holding down day jobs, paying the bills and feeding their families, that there's precious little time and mental energy left to do what I get to do all day. I am grateful to have the opportunity.


Are you currently writing a new book? If yes, would you care to share a bit with us?

I'm currently working on the next Cordell Logan mystery, a sequel to Flat Spin. If all goes well, it should be available in 2013. 




Thank you David for allowing me the opportunity to interview you on Jersey Girl Book Reviews, and for taking the time to share some things about you and your writing career with us!


About The Author:


David Freed is a screenwriter, author and former award-winning investigative journalist for The Los Angeles Times. He served as The Times' lead police reporter, was an individual finalist for the Pulitzer Prize's Gold Medal for Public Service, the highest award in American journalism, and later shared in a Pulitzer Prize for the newspaper's coverage of the 1992 Rodney King riots. He reported from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq during Operation Desert Storm. He has an extensive knowledge of law enforcement, aviation and military affairs.

After leaving The Times, Freed worked as an investigator and associate field producer for the Los Angeles bureau of CBS News, helping cover the OJ Simpson murder case. That same year, he sold his first feature-length screenplay, the action-thriller Stealth, to 20th Century Fox.

Other script sales and/or screenwriting assignments have included: City Held Hostage (NBC Productions); Down Range (Nu-Image); Behind Enemy Lines (CBS Productions); Road Rage (Fox Television Studios); A Glimpse of Hell (F/X Networks); Breaking the Code (F/X Networks); The Shiva Club (William Shatner's Melis Productions); Syncopation, the Davey Yarborough Story (Showtime); Crescent Moon (MGM/United Artists and Trilogy Entertainment); and Rules of War (Court TV). His last film project was The Devil Came on Horseback, a feature film for the independent production company, 72 Productions.

In addition to his work in Hollywood, Freed writes for national publications. his 8,600-word expose in The Atlantic, detailing how the FBI pursued the wrong suspect in a string of anthrax murders following 9/11, was named one of 10 best stories of 2010 by longform.com and givemesomethingtoread.com, among other websites, and short-listed as a 2011 finalist in Feature Writing by the American Society of Magazine Editors. (please see http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2010/05/the-wrong-man/8019/).

Freed has also scripted interactive training simulations for the defense Intelligence Agency, the U.S. Army's Battle Command Battle Lab, and other entities within the federal intelligence community. He holds an active security clearance from the US Department of Defense.

He is the author of a humor book, Dear Ernest and Julio: the Ordinary Guy's Search for the Extraordinary Job (St. Martin's Press, 1997). His first novel, the mystery-thriller, Flat Spin (The Permanent Press) was published in May 2012.

The son of a Denver police officer and a graduate of Colorado State University, Freed began his journalism career at the Colorado Springs Sun and later worked as a staff writer for the Rocky Mountain News.

An instrument-rated private pilot and aircraft owner, he lives today in Santa Barbara, California, with his wife. Elizabeth, a psychologist. They have two adult children.


AUTHOR WEBSITE
FACEBOOK
TWITTER
GOODREADS




BUY THE BOOK: Flat Spin
AMAZON
BARNES & NOBLE


Book Description: Flat Spin

Based in sunny Rancho Bonita - "California's Monaco" as the city's moneyed minions like to call it - Cordell Logan is a literate, sardonic flight instructor and aspiring Buddhist with dwindling savings and a shadowy past. When his beautiful ex-wife, Savannah, shows up out of the blue to tell him that her husband has been murdered in Los Angeles, Logan is quietly pleased. Savannah's late husband is, after all, Arlo Echevarria, the man she left Logan for.

Logan and Echevarria were once comrades-in-arms assigned to a top-secret military assassination team known simply as "Alpha." Though Savannah was never privy to the gritty details of their assignment, she suspects that Echevarria's death must be related to the work he did for the government. The only problem is, the LAPD can find no record of Echevarria ever having toiled for Uncle Sam. Savannah wants Logan to tell the police what he knows. At first he refuses, but then, relying on his small, aging airplane, the Ruptured Duck, and on the skills he honed working for the government, Logan doggedly hunts Echevarria's killer.

His trail takes him from the glitzy Las Vegas Strip to the most dangerous ghettos of inner-city Oakland, from darkened, Russian mafia haunts in West Los Angeles to the deserts of Arizona. Along the way, Logan is stalked by a mysterious motorist who repeatedly tried to kill him. But that's the least of his problems. It is his love-hate relationship with Savannah, a woman Logan continues to pine for in spite of himself, that threatens to consume him.

Transcending the worlds of murder, aviation and international counterterrorism, Flat Spin resonates with a veracity that only an author who knows his subject firsthand can deliver.



Flat Spin by David Freed



Flat Spin by David Freed
Published By: Permanent Press
Release Date: May 15, 2012
Format: Hardcover - 300 pages / Kindle - 599 KB / Nook - 474 KB
ISBN: 1579622720
ASIN: B007PNT5W4
Genre: Mystery / Suspense / Thriller - Fiction


About The Author:





David Freed is a screenwriter, author and former award-winning investigative journalist for The Los Angeles Times. He served as The Times' lead police reporter, was an individual finalist for the Pulitzer Prize's Gold Medal for Public Service, the highest award in American journalism, and later shared in a Pulitzer Prize for the newspaper's coverage of the 1992 Rodney King riots. He reported from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq during Operation Desert Storm. He has an extensive knowledge of law enforcement, aviation and military affairs.

After leaving The Times, Freed worked as an investigator and associate field producer for the Los Angeles bureau of CBS News, helping cover the OJ Simpson murder case. That same year, he sold his first feature-length screenplay, the action-thriller Stealth, to 20th Century Fox.

Other script sales and/or screenwriting assignments have included: City Held Hostage (NBC Productions); Down Range (Nu-Image); Behind Enemy Lines (CBS Productions); Road Rage (Fox Television Studios); A Glimpse of Hell (F/X Networks); Breaking the Code (F/X Networks); The Shiva Club (William Shatner's Melis Productions); Syncopation, the Davey Yarborough Story (Showtime); Crescent Moon (MGM/United Artists and Trilogy Entertainment); and Rules of War (Court TV). His last film project was The Devil Came on Horseback, a feature film for the independent production company, 72 Productions.

In addition to his work in Hollywood, Freed writes for national publications. his 8,600-word expose in The Atlantic, detailing how the FBI pursued the wrong suspect in a string of anthrax murders following 9/11, was named one of 10 best stories of 2010 by longform.com and givemesomethingtoread.com, among other websites, and short-listed as a 2011 finalist in Feature Writing by the American Society of Magazine Editors. (please see http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2010/05/the-wrong-man/8019/).

Freed has also scripted interactive training simulations for the defense Intelligence Agency, the U.S. Army's Battle Command Battle Lab, and other entities within the federal intelligence community. He holds an active security clearance from the US Department of Defense.

He is the author of a humor book, Dear Ernest and Julio: the Ordinary Guy's Search for the Extraordinary Job (St. Martin's Press, 1997). His first novel, the mystery-thriller, Flat Spin (The Permanent Press) was published in May 2012.

The son of a Denver police officer and a graduate of Colorado State University, Freed began his journalism career at the Colorado Springs Sun and later worked as a staff writer for the Rocky Mountain News.

An instrument-rated private pilot and aircraft owner, he lives today in Santa Barbara, California, with his wife. Elizabeth, a psychologist. They have two adult children.


AUTHOR WEBSITE
FACEBOOK
TWITTER
GOODREADS


BUY THE BOOK: Flat Spin
AMAZON
BARNES & NOBLE


Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and for hosting a virtual book event on my book review blog site.

Virtual Book Event: On Tuesday, May 29, 2012, author David Freed participated in a virtual book event with an Author Interview on Jersey Girl Book Reviews.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2012/05/author-interview-david-freed-author-of.html


Book Description:

Based in sunny Rancho Bonita - "California's Monaco" as the city's moneyed minions like to call it - Cordell Logan is a literate, sardonic flight instructor and aspiring Buddhist with dwindling savings and a shadowy past. When his beautiful ex-wife, Savannah, shows up out of the blue to tell him that her husband has been murdered in Los Angeles, Logan is quietly pleased. Savannah's late husband is, after all, Arlo Echevarria, the man she left Logan for.

Logan and Echevarria were once comrades-in-arms assigned to a top-secret military assassination team known simply as "Alpha." Though Savannah was never privy to the gritty details of their assignment, she suspects that Echevarria's death must be related to the work he did for the government. The only problem is, the LAPD can find no record of Echevarria ever having toiled for Uncle Sam. Savannah wants Logan to tell the police what he knows. At first he refuses, but then, relying on his small, aging airplane, the Ruptured Duck, and on the skills he honed working for the government, Logan doggedly hunts Echevarria's killer.

His trail takes him from the glitzy Las Vegas Strip to the most dangerous ghettos of inner-city Oakland, from darkened, Russian mafia haunts in West Los Angeles to the deserts of Arizona. Along the way, Logan is stalked by a mysterious motorist who repeatedly tried to kill him. But that's the least of his problems. It is his love-hate relationship with Savannah, a woman Logan continues to pine for in spite of himself, that threatens to consume him.

Transcending the worlds of murder, aviation and international counterterrorism, Flat Spin resonates with a veracity that only an author who knows his subject firsthand can deliver.



My Book Review:


Cordell Logan was a former covert operative for the classified governmental agency, Tier One Ultra, code-named Alpha. He's now a down on his luck owner of a flight school, Above The Clouds Aviation in Rancho Bonita, California. Living in a rented converted 2-car garage, barely staying one step ahead of the bill collectors, the only asset he has is an aging 1973 Cessna 172, aptly named the Ruptured Duck, and a fat cat named Kiddiot. His life is in a flat spin ... can it get any worse? Apparently so when his beautiful ex-wife Savannah, who he still has feelings for, seeks him out and requests that he help the LAPD find the killer of her husband, Arlo Echevarria, Cordell's ex-boss and friend who had stole Savannah from him six years ago. Arlo and Cordell were both in the Alpha unit together, with the cover of running a marketing business. Cordell doesn't want to assist in the murder case, but when his ex-father-in-law, Gil Carlisle, a Texas oil tycoon offers $25,000 for his assistance, Cordell takes the money and finds himself back in the covert operations business while tracking down Arlo's killer, but there are people who don't want him to solve the murder case. In a true whodunit mystery style, Flat Spin will involve you in Cordell's journey to solve the murder case, are you ready for the ride of your life?

Flat Spin is a fast-paced whodunit mystery novel that will keep the reader sitting on the edge of their seat. The intriguing storyline is told from the first person narrative of the protagonist, Cordell Logan. The reader is drawn into coming along for the ride as Cordell goes back into the covert operations business to solve his ex-compatriot's murder. With a caustic wit and wicked sense of humor, Cordell is an engaging character that makes it fun to follow along on his quest. The author uses his extensive knowledge of flying, military covert intelligence operations and reporting to keep the reader enthralled with fascinating descriptions that only a person in-the-know could only provide. This dramatic and suspense-filled story has enough action, thrills, chills, twists and turns to keep the reader on the edge while trying to piece together all the clues and guess who the murderer is. With a supporting cast of characters that are fun and realistic, this story has it all: a beautiful ex-wife; a good ol' boy ex-father-in-law; an NFL loving, brisket making, hysterical Jewish landlady; LAPD police detectives; an old intelligence friend named Buzz;  international counter intelligence agents and organized crime bad guys. The author does a wonderful job of intertwining all of the characters' involvement in the story, it makes for a more powerful, entertaining and compelling read. And just to add more fun to the story, the love-hate relationship between Cordell and Savannah is an intriguing subplot that reveals the emotional inner turmoil that has plagued Cordell for over six years.

Flat Spin is one hell of a barn burner of a story! With it's intriguing and intricate plot, the author keeps the reader in palpable suspense until the very surprising conclusion. This is one stunning mystery thriller that should be on every mystery fan's book list!


RATING: 5 STARS *****





Sunday, May 27, 2012

Author Interview: Rebecca Bryan, Author of The Sand Bar

Jersey Girl Book Reviews welcomes Rebecca Bryan, author of The Sand Bar!





Welcome to Jersey Girl Book Reviews Rebecca!


How long have you been a writer?

Officially, I have been writing for about four years, but when I was young I wrote short stories that I would read aloud to my parents - so I guess I could say I've been writing my whole life. In fact, a few months ago I was reading from my journal I kept as a kid and found two separate entries where I mentioned how I wished to be a writer some day. It confirmed this secret desire I have long had. 


Do you have a "day job," or is being an author your career?

My "day job" is being a wife and mother to five busy, active, and wonderful children. Did you hear that kids? I think you're wonderful. I also dabble in acting here and there and recently wrote a short screenplay that I starred in and directed.


What inspired you to become a writer? Describe your journey as a writer.

I'd say Anne Shirley or rather Lucy M. Montgomery was my inspiration to become a writer. I loved the Anne of Green Gables series and adored Anne like a real best friend. So much, that I began writing my own love letters to my own pretend Gilbert. My sister would find them and then threaten to read them at my wedding someday. I was sort of obsessed (maybe I shouldn't admit these things). Then I grew up and started a family and secretly wished I could write, but I just didn't have time and couldn't get past the first page. One day, I had the idea for a scene in a story and I started writing it long hand in a tablet. I haven't been able to stop since. I've since purchased a computer - much easier on the hands! By the way, my sister didn't read the letters at my wedding, but she did present them in a box to my new husband, who wondered what kind of woman he had just married. Yes, sisters can be embarrassing like that.


Please give a brief description / storyline about The Sand Bar.


The Sand Bar is a story about a girl named Marlo, who returns home after a bitter divorce to care for her sick father. Life gets complicated when she runs into an old boyfriend, Brandon, who is in a loveless marriage and Marlo's left wondering if she is to blame. A mysterious old woman offers her the opportunity to travel in time. Marlo accepts the offer, but doesn't get the do-over she is expecting and finds herself, not in the past, but in the future, married to Brandon and living the life she ran away from 8 years earlier. Worse, she discovers Brandon's wife mysteriously died the night she reconnected with Brandon. With the help of her old classmate Luke, now a handsome police officer, she must solve the mystery and return to the present to save those she loves. 


What was the inspiration for this story?

While visiting my hometown of St. Anthony, Idaho, I went for a run along a trail that follows the Snake River. On the run, I imagined how different my life would have been had I never left home. Then I had this crazy thought, "What if I woke up one day, living in one of these houses, married to an old high school flame? How would I respond to that?" It was like I was discovering how beautiful my hometown was and I wanted to capture that in a story. And thus, The Sand Bar was born. 


How did it feel to have your first book published?

It is obviously very exciting and satisfying to know that people are reading my story and actually enjoying it. One of my biggest compliments is hearing that the reader couldn't put it down. To me that is success.


Do you write books for a specific genre?

I mainly write women's fiction with a romance tilt, though there have been many men who have enjoyed the book.


What genres are your favorites? What are some of your favorite books that you have read and why?

I love every type of genre. I love historical fiction and would have to say, These Is My Words, is my favorite. I also loved Kathryn Stockett's The Help, and I devoured the entire Twilight series. Another favorite of all time is Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. So I guess you could say I love a compelling story no matter what the genre.


Do you have a special "spot/area" where you like to do your writing?

I generally write at the kitchen table in front of a large picture window, but I can't sit still too long so sometimes I write in front of the fireplace, or at my desk or on the sofa. But I usually end up back in the kitchen. Could it have something to do with the close proximity to the pantry? No comment.


How do you come up with the ideas that become the storyline for your books?

It usually begins with a thought or a question I ask myself. I suppose you could say I'm a daydreamer. But those questions or ideas are only the beginning. For example, in a story I'm writing now, I wanted to use the idea of a man fulfilling his community service by participating in a play as my starting point. As I began to write, the story took several twists that I hadn't anticipated and I ended up with a very different novel then when I had started. 


When you write, do you adhere to a strict work schedule, or do you work whenever the inspiration strikes?

I wish I had a strict work schedule, but with five kids there isn't anything very strict about my life. I come and go like a fleeting butterfly, here a little, there a little. However, since my youngest started kindergarten this year, I have tried to get in a couple of strong hours in the early afternoon when she is gone. The problem comes when I am deep in the story and really on fire and the kids all show up and I'm not ready for them yet. "Just a minute, guys. I need to finish this chapter," I beg them. That is the hard part.


What are your favorite things to do when you are not writing?

Hmmm ... let me think. I do enjoy singing, playing the piano and acting. I also love to hike and spend time with my family, but mostly I love to write.


What is/was the best piece of writing advice that you have received?

Find little snippets of time to write. Little chunks here and there add up to chapters, and chapters add up to finished novels and finished novels add up to published novels.


What is the most gratifying thing you feel or get as a writer?

I love to entertain people. The most gratifying feeling of all is when people tell me what they think about the story long after they've finished the last page. I don't expect to change the world, but I do hope to make you laugh, cry, fall in love again, escape to a faraway place or at least far enough away that you forget about the dishes in the sink and the laundry in the basket for a few hours.


How do you usually communicate with your readers/fans?

Facebook, Twitter, and on my blog: http://rebeccabryan.blogspot.com/.


Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or are they purely from your imagination?

I don't know how any author can keep aspects of real life from creeping into their stories. While the characters are purely fictional, I do sneak in bits and pieces of my life - like the father's robe in the story matches one my dad wore when I was growing up - and the old Dodge that Marlo passes when she first gets pulled over by her old classmate, Luke, matches an old orange Dodge my family owned at one time. It's fun to see if people can find the props from real life placed in the scenes like props in a movie.


Are you currently writing a new book? If yes, would you care to share a bit with us?

My next novel titled, Escaping Bubble Land is about a girl named Cass who uses alcohol to hide the guilt she feels for the death of her younger brother Cooper. After getting clean she returns home to her farm in Wyoming and meets up with her childhood secret crush James, who is working her parents' farm for the summer before he heads off to medical school. This story is about her journey of recovery, forgiveness, and her desire to win James over, if it's not too late. It is definitely more of a romance and was a ton of fun to write! It should be available to readers by next fall. 




Thank you Rebecca for allowing me the opportunity to interview you on Jersey Girl Book Reviews, and for taking the time to share some things about you and your writing career with us!



About The Author:


Lover of books and movies and all things that leave me feeling better about this world we live in. I have five kids and a great husband who put up with all my zany ideas. I write women's fiction/romance and have recently dipped my toes into acting again after many, many years. Besides singing, hula hooping, and chopping onions, I also enjoy zumba-ing with all the other moms who think they can dance and baking things   I should not partake in. My latest adventure is self-publishing. It should be exciting.


AUTHOR BLOG SITE
FACEBOOK
TWITTER
GOODREADS


BUY THE BOOK: The Sand Bar
AMAZON
BARNES & NOBLE


Book Description: The Sand Bar

With nothing to show for the last eight years but a dusty diploma, a failed marriage, a lot of emotional baggage - Gucci, thank you - and a really great collection of designer shoes, Marlo Leavitt has come home again.

With her marriage annulled and her emotions in tatters, Marlo returns to her hometown of St. Anthony, Idaho, to care for her sick father and get back on her feet. She runs into Brandon, the boyfriend whose heart she broke before she left town, and finds him unhappy in his marriage and his life. Marlo fears she has not only ruined her own chance for happiness, but that of a man she once loved. When she meets an old woman who offers her a chance to make things right by going back in time, Marlo feels she has nothing to lose. She accepts the elixir and soon finds herself not in the past, but two years in the future, married to Brandon and living the life she had always dreaded: stuck in a tiny town with a toddler she doesn't know or love.

Things get more complicated when she begins to suspect that Brandon had a part in his first wife's mysterious death. With the help of handsome Luke Dawson, an old classmate and now a police officer, Marlo must solve the mystery of what really happened the night she took the elixir, and fix her broken relationships before she can return to the present and truly have a second chance at happiness.











The Sand Bar by Rebecca Bryan


The Sand Bar by Rebecca Bryan
Published By: Outskirts Press
Release Date: March 24, 2012
Format: Paperback - 282 pages / Kindle - 397 KB / Nook - 784 KB
ISBN: 1432788272
ASIN: B007OM82YI
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Women's Fiction / Time Travel


About The Author:





Lover of books and movies and all things that leave me feeling better about this world we live in. I have five kids and a great husband who put up with all my zany ideas. I write women's fiction/romance and have recently dipped my toes into acting again after many, many years. Besides singing, hula hooping, and chopping onions, I also enjoy zumba-ing with all the other moms who think they can dance and baking things   I should not partake in. My latest adventure is self-publishing. It should be exciting.



AUTHOR BLOG SITE
FACEBOOK
TWITTER
GOODREADS


BUY THE BOOK: The Sand Bar
AMAZON
BARNES & NOBLE


Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review, and for hosting a virtual book event on my book review blog site.

Virtual Book Event: On Sunday, May 27, 2012, author Rebecca Bryan participated in a virtual book event with an Author Interview on Jersey Girl Book Reviews.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2012/05/author-interview-rebecca-bryan-author.html


The Sand Bar Book Trailer



Book Description:

With nothing to show for the last eight years but a dusty diploma, a failed marriage, a lot of emotional baggage - Gucci, thank you - and a really great collection of designer shoes, Marlo Leavitt has come home again.

With her marriage annulled and her emotions in tatters, Marlo returns to her hometown of St. Anthony, Idaho, to care for her sick father and get back on her feet. She runs into Brandon, the boyfriend whose heart she broke before she left town, and finds him unhappy in his marriage and his life. Marlo fears she has not only ruined her own chance for happiness, but that of a man she once loved. When she meets an old woman who offers her a chance to make things right by going back in time, Marlo feels she has nothing to lose. She accepts the elixir and soon finds herself not in the past, but two years in the future, married to Brandon and living the life she had always dreaded: stuck in a tiny town with a toddler she doesn't know or love.

Things get more complicated when she begins to suspect that Brandon had a part in his first wife's mysterious death. With the help of handsome Luke Dawson, an old classmate and now a police officer, Marlo must solve the mystery of what really happened the night she took the elixir, and fix her broken relationships before she can return to the present and truly have a second chance at happiness.



My Book Review:


Twenty-six year old Marlo Leavitt comes home to St. Anthony, Idaho after her four year marriage has failed, to help care for her father who is recuperating from a quadruple bypass surgery. She left her hometown eight years ago to attend Stanford, and to seek a better life in San Francisco, California. She had what she thought was a great life with her wealthy husband, until she found him in their bed with her tennis partner. Now with her life turned upside down, she feels like she doesn't belong anywhere, not in St. Anthony or San Francisco. Marlo has a chance meeting with a strange old lady, who says she can help Marlo fix everything. The old lady tells her to take a swig of an elixir that smells like black licorice and peppermints, and instead of going back to the past for a "redo," she is transported to two years into the future. Not exactly happy with what she sees as her future, Marlo begins to question what happened the night two years ago when she drank the elixir. Marlo is determined to make things right and solve the mystery. Can Marlo and Luke solve the mystery and return Marlo back to the present? Can she have a second chance at happiness?

The Sand Bar is a fast-paced romantic mystery story that draws the reader in and engages them to help Marlo and Luke solve the mystery. The author does a great job of providing a storyline that is full of mystery and intrigue. The chapters easily flow from one to the next with enough descriptions that are like puzzle pieces, encouraging the reader to guess what will happen next with every dramatic twist and turn. The author provides complex characters whose lives are intriguingly intertwined, and I really enjoyed trying to figure out each one of them. The author's detailed description of small town life in St. Anthony was fantastic, I could actually picture the one stoplight, the older buildings, the rodeo, the park, the Sand Bar and the roar of rushing water from the Snake River. The message of the story is clear: life is all about choices made, lessons learned, and knowing and accepting who you really are. When Marlo stated that she's made wrong turns in her life, Kale Brady said it best: "Sometimes wrong turns are like taking the scenic route." That's some powerful words that provides the reader with some food for thought!

I would recommend The Sand Bar to anyone who loves to read a good romantic story with a twist of mystery and suspense. You won't be disappointed!


RATING: 4 STARS ****





Saturday, May 26, 2012

Author Guest Post: Toni Aleo, Author of Taking Shots

In association with Chick Lit Plus, Jersey Girl Book Reviews welcomes Toni Aleo, author of Taking Shots!





A Day In My Writing Life 
Toni Aleo



My day starts early; midnight to be exact. I go to my job as an at home nurse and work for 8 hours. Once I am done, my day really begins.

8:00am
I come home and see the mess my family has made while I was gone or in my writing cave. Disgusted, I proceed to get my little people ready for school. Mikey is seven, hates getting ready for school, and would much rather watch Ben 10. Alyssa is four and would rather sleep than do anything Mommy wants.

8:45am
The kids are dropped off and I head back home.

9:00am 
I am face down, in my bed, passed out.

12:00pm
I ... am ... hungry ... rawr.

12:45pm
Finally having had a chance to eat, I'm ready to start my author work. I get online; check my Facebook, Twitter, blog, sales, and my reviews on Amazon, B&N, and GoodReads. After all that, I do any work that I need to do; posting or answering emails, just normal stuff.

1:25pm 
Now, the fun stuff starts. My characters have been going nuts in my head for the past 24 hours and are ready to be written. I sit down; have my phone beside me and a tall glass of water. I look at the screen and off I go.

3:25pm
"I can't stop now!"
This is what I usually scream when this time rolls around. Gotta go get the kids.

3:50pm
My house is a nut case. Everyone is looking for dance shoes, soccer cleats, ice skates, or something else that is needed for that afternoon's activity.

4:15pm
We leave for the activity. if it's Mikey's day, then Alyssa plays on his DS while I try to finish the chapter I started earlier. If it's Alyssa's, then Mike does homework while I am writing.

6:00pm
While dinner is being made, I am reading my last chapter, yelling at the kids to clean their rooms, do their homework, and stop fighting. Yes, in that order.

6:30pm
My husband comes home and everything gets louder.

7:00pm
We sit down for dinner.

8:00pm
Baths and kids go to bed. Husband and I snuggle while watching hockey or our shows.

9:00pm
Husband goes to bed and I continue to write.

10:01pm
I've usually fallen asleep on my keyboard.

11:45pm
My alarm goes off telling me to go to work and I haven't even finished what I was doing.

Then it all starts over again!



About The Author:

My name is Toni Aleo!

I am a wife, mother, and hopeless romantic.

I have been told I have anger issues, but I think it's because of my intense love for hockey!

I am the biggest Shea Weber fan ever, and can be found during hockey season with my nose pressed against the Bridgestone Arena's glass, watching my Nashville Predators play!

When my nose isn't pressed against the glass, I enjoy going to my husband and son's hockey games, my daughter's dance competition, hanging with my best friends, taking pictures, and reading the latest romance novel.

I love things that sparkle, I love the color pink, and did I mention I love hockey?

I hope to hear from you on here, my Facebook or Twitter pages! 

Thank you very much!






BUY THE BOOK: Taking Shots


Book Description: Taking Shots


Elli Fisher has never thought she was good enough. Let it be her job, her weight, her love life, nothing, she was convinced she couldn't do anything right. She had walked through life for the past six years in a daze, never thinking that life could be good again after the abuse she endured from her ex boyfriend. She is lonely, sad, and depressed, that is until she meets Shea Adler. After doing a promotional shoot for the NHL team, the Nashville Assassins, she meets the hunky hockey player who shoots a puck, shattering her world.

Shea Adler was tired of the life he was living outside the rink. The girls, the money blowing, the drinking, everything had to stop and it all did when he met Eleanor Fisher. He had never met anyone like her. She is feisty, witty, shy, and simply gorgeous. When he laid eyes on her, it was as if he was taking the hardest hit of his life into the boards, and he had to have her. 

Elli is a little skeptical of Shea, but he knows that they were meant to be together, and he needed her in his life. But Elli just doesn't understand what Shea could see in her. She is overweight, loud, and not even that pretty, so why would someone so gorgeous and so amazing want to be with her? It seemed that no matter how hard she tried to shake Shea off, he wasn't going anywhere, and for the first time Elli didn't feel alone.

But could Elli throw her insecurities out the window and love Shea with everything inside of her? Or will she let a past relationship, and her family ruin any chance of her being happy?

Would Elli miss her shot at love?