Author Guest Post
Choosing the setting for my novel presented challenges. I would have loved to use my hometown as the backdrop for the story. However, when a town is as small as mine — you run the risk of people in the community trying to “identify” the characters. Yikes! Instead, I choose to create a fictional town and to try to infuse the feel of coastal living into the story. I set out by drawing a map of where certain streets and buildings would be located. I drove around Coastal North Carolina looking places that would be depicted in my novel. I wanted to have a visual in my mind of how my fictional town would look.
I thought I’d take you on a tour. So — Welcome to Parson’s Cove!
Parson’s Cove is situated on a riverbank about one mile from the North Carolina coast.
Joe’s Bait and Tackle is located on Riverside Drive. The town’s public pier runs behind the tackle stop. Just across the street is Parson’s Cove Historical Society.
Parson’s Cove has two stop lights — both of which are located on Waterway Drive.
Waterway Drive is home to Salty Dog’s Pizza and Forget Me Not Flower Shop.
As you can see, Parson’s Cove is a quaint little town, but don’t let its appearance fool you.
Evil can hide anywhere — even in picturesque places.
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Of Dreams And Shadow: Forget Me Not
Book Trailer
Book Review
Of Dreams And Shadow: Forget Me Not by D.S. McKnight
Book 1: Forget Me Not Series
Publisher: Stone Bay Press
Publication Date: September 23, 2013
Format: Paperback - 286 pages / Kindle - 657 KB
ISBN: 0615795099
ASIN: B00FK79S1K
Genre: YA Paranormal
BUY THE BOOK: Of Dreams And Shadow: Forget Me Not
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours.
Book Description:
Book Excerpt:
Clinching her fist, she looked down at her ruined dress and blinked
back the angry tears that threatened to fall. Tears were a luxury
she couldn’t afford at the moment. Gathering what was left of her
tattered pride, she took a deep breath and walked out into the cold
winter night.
Thankfully, Chase was quiet as they drove home. Jenna wasn’t sure that she could have talked anyway. Her throat ached and her eyes burned. It was all she could do to hold herself together as she relived the events of the evening. She leaned her head against the seat and dabbed at her eyes, trying desperately to subdue the flow of tears that threatened to erupt. She could not, would not give anyone else something to talk about.
Reaching out to the stereo, Chase changed the station. As the upbeat music filled the car, Jenna pulled herself together and glanced over at him. She hadn’t known what to expect when she got in his car, perhaps a sarcastic comment or maybe even indifference. Instead, Chase seemed as lost in his thoughts as she was her own. Closing her eyes, she leaned against the seat once again. Her breathing slowed and as she relaxed, the ache in her chest eased.
The car crept to a stop as Chase flipped on the turn signal. Jenna opened her eyes to find that they were at a stoplight on Waterway Drive. In a matter of a couple minutes, she would be home and her fairytale turned nightmare would be over. Relief washed over her. As he pulled into his driveway, he spoke. “I’m sorry about your dress.”
“Look, you didn’t sabotage my evening. That would be your girlfriend. I just don’t get it. I haven’t done anything to her.”
“Ex-girlfriend and you moved here. You became the new flavor of the month.”
“The what?”
Chase chuckled. “That probably wasn’t the best way to describe the situation. Look, she’s jealous of the attention you’ve been receiving.
“Right. Like she has reason to be jealous of me.” Jenna shook her head. “She looks like a beauty queen. She drives a new sports car. I can see where she should be jealous.”
“Things aren’t always as they appear, Jenna. Her life isn’t perfect, okay? Anyway, the thing is – I’m sorry. I guess I always thought her bark was worse than her bite.”
“Tell that to my dress.” Jenna opened the door and slid out of the car. “Well, thanks for the ride.”
“No problem.” Chase said as he shut his door. “Come on, I’ll walk you to your door.”
“That’s not necessary. I think I can manage.”
“Don’t be pig headed.” Chase walked beside her and placed his hand on the small of her back. “My dad would kill me if he found out that I didn’t walk my date to her front door.”
“But, I’m not your—”
Chase cut her off. “You’re right…but I don’t see Ethan anywhere around, do you?”
“No, he’s definitely no where to be seen,” Jenna agreed as they reached her front porch.
“Here you are.”
“Here I am….” Jenna glanced up to find Chase watching her.
She wondered why she had never noticed how wonderful he smelled.
His eyes moved over her face stopping at her lips and then back up to her eyes. Jenna couldn’t breath. She was afraid that he was going to kiss her. She was more afraid that he might not.
“I don’t think I told you,” Chase’s voice lowered, “but, you looked really pretty tonight.” He didn’t wait for her to respond. He walked away, disappearing into the darkness.”
Thankfully, Chase was quiet as they drove home. Jenna wasn’t sure that she could have talked anyway. Her throat ached and her eyes burned. It was all she could do to hold herself together as she relived the events of the evening. She leaned her head against the seat and dabbed at her eyes, trying desperately to subdue the flow of tears that threatened to erupt. She could not, would not give anyone else something to talk about.
Reaching out to the stereo, Chase changed the station. As the upbeat music filled the car, Jenna pulled herself together and glanced over at him. She hadn’t known what to expect when she got in his car, perhaps a sarcastic comment or maybe even indifference. Instead, Chase seemed as lost in his thoughts as she was her own. Closing her eyes, she leaned against the seat once again. Her breathing slowed and as she relaxed, the ache in her chest eased.
The car crept to a stop as Chase flipped on the turn signal. Jenna opened her eyes to find that they were at a stoplight on Waterway Drive. In a matter of a couple minutes, she would be home and her fairytale turned nightmare would be over. Relief washed over her. As he pulled into his driveway, he spoke. “I’m sorry about your dress.”
“Look, you didn’t sabotage my evening. That would be your girlfriend. I just don’t get it. I haven’t done anything to her.”
“Ex-girlfriend and you moved here. You became the new flavor of the month.”
“The what?”
Chase chuckled. “That probably wasn’t the best way to describe the situation. Look, she’s jealous of the attention you’ve been receiving.
“Right. Like she has reason to be jealous of me.” Jenna shook her head. “She looks like a beauty queen. She drives a new sports car. I can see where she should be jealous.”
“Things aren’t always as they appear, Jenna. Her life isn’t perfect, okay? Anyway, the thing is – I’m sorry. I guess I always thought her bark was worse than her bite.”
“Tell that to my dress.” Jenna opened the door and slid out of the car. “Well, thanks for the ride.”
“No problem.” Chase said as he shut his door. “Come on, I’ll walk you to your door.”
“That’s not necessary. I think I can manage.”
“Don’t be pig headed.” Chase walked beside her and placed his hand on the small of her back. “My dad would kill me if he found out that I didn’t walk my date to her front door.”
“But, I’m not your—”
Chase cut her off. “You’re right…but I don’t see Ethan anywhere around, do you?”
“No, he’s definitely no where to be seen,” Jenna agreed as they reached her front porch.
“Here you are.”
“Here I am….” Jenna glanced up to find Chase watching her.
She wondered why she had never noticed how wonderful he smelled.
His eyes moved over her face stopping at her lips and then back up to her eyes. Jenna couldn’t breath. She was afraid that he was going to kiss her. She was more afraid that he might not.
“I don’t think I told you,” Chase’s voice lowered, “but, you looked really pretty tonight.” He didn’t wait for her to respond. He walked away, disappearing into the darkness.”
My Book Review:
Have you ever had the feeling like someone is watching you? In author D.S. McKnight's debut novel, Of Dreams And Shadow: Forget Me Not, the reader is drawn into an intriguing and sinister tale that will keep them sitting on the edge of their seat.
Set in the small North Carolina coastal town of Parson's Cove, the story begins with the disappearance of four year old Sarah from her backyard. Sarah's disappearance is witnessed by Chase Williams, her four year old neighbor, but no one believes his story that a sinister shadow took the little girl. Fast forward twelve years later, sixteen year old Jenna Barton's family moved from Charlotte to Parson's Cove, unknowingly into the house that Sarah disappeared from. It isn't long before Jenna begins to feel like someone is watching her from the shadows of her backyard ... is a long dormant predator ready to strike again?
In Of Dreams And Shadow: Forget Me Not, author M.S. McKnight creates a suspenseful mystery that cleverly interweaves a haunting serial killer's evil past with the present time involving a young teenage girl. You can't help but get drawn into this dark story as the characters and small town of Parson's Cove comes alive as you delve into the long dormant mystery of Sarah's disappearance, and the present day danger that surrounds Jenna and Chase that once again threatens to disrupt this peaceful coastal North Carolina town.
With richly detailed descriptions and suspenseful twists and turns, this riveting story grabs the reader's attention and holds them captive, the creepiness and scare factor will leave you holding your breath and giving you goosebumps as you turn the pages. The story unfolds in a seamless fashion as the author interweaves the past with the present. In addition to the gripping mystery with a paranormal twist, the author adds classic teenage romance and drama into the mix, but it doesn't overshadow the overall premise of the story.
Of Dreams And Shadow: Forget Me Not is a compelling and gripping YA paranormal tale that takes the reader on one heck a thrill ride.
RATING: 4 STARS ****
Virtual Book Tour Contest Giveaway
Virtual Book Tour Schedule
Tour Schedule:
January 20 – Annabel & Alice – Review
January 22- Everything Books and Authors – Excerpt
January 23- The Gothic Ballerina – Guest Post
January 23 – Storm Goddess Book Reviews – Review, GP & Excerpt
January 23 – Authors and Readers Book Corner – Q&A
January 24- Authors and Readers Book Corner - Review
January 24 – Bookish – Review
January 24 – Avid Readers Musings – Review & Excerpt
January 27 – Jersey Girl Book Reviews – Review, Guest Post & Excerpt
January 27 – Step Into Fiction – Review
Thanks for being in the tour!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the opportunity to host the virtual book tour event.
DeleteWhat a way to start the day! I'm so glad you enjoyed the story! Thanks for participating with my tour 😊
ReplyDeleteHi Deborah! I really enjoyed reading Of Dreams and Shadow, it was an intriguing story that kept me on my toes. I especially loved the NC setting, it took me back to my 2nd home in Calabash, NC, a place that I love to escape to with its intercoastal beauty and easy Southern style. Thank you for the opportunity to host your virtual book tour event.
ReplyDeleteKathleen, You have made my evening! I'm over the moon - just knowing that someone who's familiar with the NC Coast - recognized the feeling of the place! Thanks again!
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