December 2014 by The Book Breeze

Turn the page ...

IN THIS ISSUE

Vol 4 Issue 11

Delia Latham

Heaven’s Touch in Earthly Tales ...

DELIA LATHAM is a born-and-bred California gal, raised in a place called Weedpatch and currently living in the lovely mountain town of Tehachapi with her husband, Johnny. She enjoys multiple roles as Christian wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend, but especially loves being a princess daughter to the King of Kings. She also has a "thing" for Dr. Pepper.

You have a couple of new books out, DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE? (book 1 in the A Smoky Mountain Christmas series) and JINGLE BELLE (the December offering from Pelican Book Group’s Pure Amore Book Club). Kindly tell us about the settings and why they’re important. With pleasure! I kinda love talking about my books... ☺

DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE? is a short story (eight chapters), set in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. The very name automatically brings to mind family ties, down-home values, deeply held traditions…you get the picture. What better place for a cozy Christmas series?

for real.

I enjoyed my online research trip through the area so much! Now I can’t wait to visit

JINGLE BELLE is set in the fictional town of Pohono, Oklahoma, where my heroine is a highly respected jingle writer for an advertising firm. She’s a born-and-bred Oklahoma girl. The hero, raised in Boston, is a stubborn Italian who owns a chain of restaurants—uhm, Italian, of course.

A mid-sized Oklahoma town is the perfect backdrop for this story because the town’s mentality is one of the obstacles the hero and heroine must overcome in order to accomplish their common goal. Here’s why. It’s populated mostly by dyed-in-the-wool Pohanans who still adhere to a lifestyle anchored firmly in the past, and steadfastly resist progress. Belle’s challenge is to come up with a fun little tune and lyrics catchy enough to make those old-school Oklahomans want to try a Tuscan-themed restaurant when they could get a perfectly good meal in “the Pohono Platters eatin’ place, right

December 2014

Reviews Barefoot Reviews - Mysteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Roberta’s Ramblings - Mysteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Shannon’s Space - YA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 The Book Breeze - A Little Bit of Everything. . . . . . 9 Interviews Delia Latham. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Eva Gordon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Rachel Brimble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 New Releases. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2, 3, 7, 8

thar on Main Street,” and it wouldn’t put as big a hole in their pocketbooks.

Have you ever met a dyed-in-the-wool “Pohonan”? Yeah. You know what I’m talkin’ about. Good people. Firm opinions. Stubborn as ten mules. (Hey, y’all, don’t shoot! Some of my favorite people in the world live in the great state of Oklahoma—and so did I, for a few years. I love the place, and its salt-of-the-earth citizens. But truth’s truth. ☺) What about the characters in your books, what can you tell us about them?

DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE? Laramie (Lari) Buchanan is a sweet Tennessee girl with a bad case of bitter. Not that anyone could blame her…it doesn’t make a gal feel all warm and fuzzy when she finds the man she’s supposed to marry makin’ out with another woman… on the day of the wedding, no less!

Evan Lassiter is the dirty dog who broke her heart. Completely unaware of what Lari saw that day three years ago, Evan is still trying to figure out why the woman he loves jilted him at the altar, without a word of explanation before or since.

Then there’s Lari’s family: Granddaddy and Granny Buchanan. (Granddaddy’s having an 80th birthday bash on Christmas Eve. His request to have all of his grandchildren present is the only reason Lari braved the memories—and the risk of running into Evan—and returned home for Christmas.) Her parents. Her little sister Keni. Her best friend Syd. And three cousins, who show up as heroines in the other three books in the series. (They’re a fun crew!) JINGLE BELLE - I had so much fun writing this one! Continued next page

Page 1

Belle Knowles writes jingles. When her company gets the contract to market Santini’s Italiano, a fancy, Tuscan-themed Italian restaurant, Belle is expected to come up with her best little ditty ever. The Santini brothers need to pull all those busy, harried Christmas shoppers off the streets, out of the shops and into their upscale restaurant—smack in the middle of the holiday season. Sounds like fun to Belle…until Nick Santini makes no secret of the fact that he doesn’t much care for her work—or her, for that matter. Thing is, she’s not too enamored with him either. Definite fireworks. Right from the start. But they’re both Christian adults. Surely they can get the job done without a major crisis. Or maybe not…

Other characters include Belle’s boss and Nick’s best friend, Cameron Hilliard; Nick’s brother Alex and his wife Elena; and Belle’s mom, although her role is mostly handled through phone calls, since they live at a distance. Writing JINGLE BELLE was a fun journey, and I’m seriously thinking of returning to Pohono next Christmas. ☺

Do you have a favorite fictional character you’d like to be friends with in real life? Hmmm…at least one in every book I read. ☺

Oh…sorry…you meant one of my own characters, didn’t you? Now that makes for a hard decision. I mean, I created them…this is like asking me to choose a favorite child. But I am brave and strong…I’ll give it a try.

Maybe Hannah, from YESTERDAY’S PROMISE. She’s beautiful, talented, sweet—and she has an adorable little boy I’d love to hug.

But then, there’s also jaded Gypsy…and self-critical Kylie…and loyal Destiny. Those ladies are all from my Solomon’s Gate series, and I love each one of them. Oh, and Lea! Yes, I choose Lea. She’s the heroine in LEA’S GIFT, a Christmas novella I co-wrote with Tanya Stowe for Pelican Book Group’s Christmas Extravaganza 2013. It’s a Solomon’s Gate bonus story. Lea was a (very special) child in Kylie’s Kiss (Solomon’s Gate Series, Book 2). In Lea’s Gift, she’s a (very special) young woman in love.

’nuff…there they were, wings spread and swords drawn.

Then came the Heart’s Haven collections. These novellas are written by me and three other authors. (Each collection includes four books, each book written by one of the four of us.) The whole line-up of collections was built around the concept of angelic activity right from the beginning. I’m not sure why God chose to place His special messengers in my books, but I welcome them. What social media do you participate in?

Living the Write Life (blog) Facebook Twitter To see all of my books in one easy location, visit my Amazon Author Page. What’s next for you?

I just signed a contract for a four-book series set in and around Cambria, California. Each book will take place in a different season, with the common thread being Paradise Pines Lodge, which is “kinda-sorta” operated by a sweet, mysterious lady named Angelina Love. Visitors at the lodge don’t stay for only a couple of nights or a week…it’s all season or nothing, and Miss Angie chooses the tenants very carefully. The heroine in each book will be that season’s guest at Paradise Pines, and of course, she’ll find much more than sand and surf during her stay in this lovely little seaside community. Seashore romance. Love in the pines. And a little touch of the divine tucked in for good measure. In the words of country music star Ricky Skaggs, “Love can’t ever get better than this.”

Of course, I’ll be forced to visit Cambria a few more times to really get a real feel for it. Oh, well. It’s a dirty job but… ☺ Delia loves to hear from her readers. Contact her through her website or send an e-mail to delia@delialatham.net.

h Sweet & Mild New Releases

ALWAYS ON CHRISTMAS By Jackie Marilla

Sweet Contemporary Romance Released Nov 9 by Books to Go Now in print and ebook

Do you write other genres?

Well, I have a children’s book. Mine! is a rhymed story about a little girl who’s not very good at sharing, but learns something important from a sweet friend.

I also have a “vintage romance.” Goldeneyes starts in 1936 and ends in 1959. It’s set in the little farming community where I grew up—Weedpatch, California. Yep, right amongst the grape vineyards, cotton fields, and—in 1936—farm labor camps.

Romance is what I love to write, but I’m not a big history buff, so “vintage” is about as far as I’m comfortable venturing into the past. That said, I’ve promised someone special a Christian western, so I’m going to have to stick my neck out and give it a try.

What makes your books uniquely yours?

God has inserted an angel into almost every one of my books. I did not plan it that way—seriously, the first one showed up in Goldeneyes, and I was as surprised as anyone else. Then I wrote the Solomon’s Gate books, and sure

GOLDEN DAYS By Lynn Lovegreen Mild YA Historical Romance Released 11/12 by Prism Book Group Now in print and ebook

FIRST COWBOY KISS By Danita Cahill Mild Contemporary Romance Released Nov 19 by Ridge Publishing in ebook

LEATH’S LEGACY By Anne Ashby Mild Contemporary Romance Released Dec 15 by The Wild Rose Press in print and ebook Page 2

Spicy Historical New Releases

Sci-Fi/Fantasy New Release

THE GATE’S OF ASGARD – Book Three of The Zeke Proper Chronicles By Brad Cameron YA Fantasy Released by World Tree Fantasy in print and ebook Ragnarok, the destruction of the Norse gods, quickly approaches as Zeke Proper finds himself caught in a struggle to prevent the inevitable. Fighting against time and a powerful evil, Zeke discovers that he must seek his own strength in order to finally challenge the darkness at the Gates of Asgard. Don’t forget ODIN’A LIGHT – Book One of the Zeke Proper Chronicles and THE SERPENT’S SHIP – Book Two of The Zeke Proper Chronicles. FOR RICHER, FOR POORER By Heidi Wessman Kneale Mild Sci-Fi/Fantasy Romance Released Dec 22 by The Wild Rose Press in ebook

OF LOVE AND VENGEANCE By Louise Lyndon Spicy Historical Romance Released Dec 19 by The Wild Rose Press in print and ebook

Forced to marry Lord Aymon to ensure her nephews survival, English Lady Laila vows undying hatred for the Norman she holds responsible for the deaths of so many innocents. But will Laila seek her vengeance once she learns of Aymon’s treasonous acts? Or will she let him live? TRIUMPH AND TREASURE (Highland Heather Romancing a Scot Series) By Collette Cameron

Spicy Scottish Regency Released Dec 3 by Soul Mate Publishing in ebook (print will follow)

MUST LOVE BREECHES By Angela Quarles Spicy Time Travel Romance Released Sept 3 by Unsealed Room Press in print and ebook

ONE WINTER’S NIGHT: A Regency Yuletide Collection By Sharon Sobel, Karen Frisch, Jo Ann Ferguson, Shereen Vedam

S h a n n o n ’s S p a c e YA Reviews by Shannon Kennedy

I’ve enjoyed a lot of really good Young Adult, New Adult and Middle Grade fiction this year. I can’t wait to see what 2015 brings. For now here’s a 5-Star round-up to kick-start your holiday shopping for that favorite reader. WATCHER OF WORLDS by Brinda Berry, Renegade YA ~ December 2013 – 5 Stars

Senior year should bring fun, friends, and happiness. Not portals, treachery, and murder.

Seventeen-year-old Mia Taylor, gatekeeper to an inter-dimensional portal, wants nothing more than to heal from her romance gone wrong. Illegally falling for her coworker Regulus had been a huge mistake. But when Regulus goes rogue to hunt down a murderer, Mia must forget her broken heart and use her unique abilities to save him. Traveling across dimensions, she enters a strange and hostile world where a rebel faction holds the key to their escape. Her gift of synesthesia is in high demand, and a secret organization of the otherworldly kind has her in their sights. But sabotage and murder may be the least of her worries. Her ex-boyfriend wants a relationship. Her dad wants her to act normal. Her friends want her to stop moping. Who knew faking happy would be the easiest part of senior year?

Spicy Regency Historical Romance Released Oct 28 by ImaJinn Books in print and ebook

ELPHAME’S CHOICE and BRIGID’S QUEST by P.C. Cast, Luna Books, 5 Stars each

Okay, between ghosts and Arthurian legends, it was time to revisit old fantasy favorites. Both of these stories are 5-Star Reads, big books when you have the time to enjoy a reading journey that will last a while and they are also still in print. P.C. Cast writes the House of Night series with her daughter, Kristin. If you haven’t had the opportunity to enjoy P.C. Cast’s Elphame’s Choice and Brigid’s Quest, do some online shopping and find these New Adult fantasy romances published by Luna, a Harlequin imprint. Both books take place in Partholon, a magical realm ruled by the Goddess Epona.

Page 3

S h a n n o n ’s S p a c e YA Reviews by Shannon Kennedy

RIVER OF DREAMS – Book 8 of the 9 Kingdoms by Lynn Kurland ~ Berkley, January 2014 ~ 5 Stars

Aisling of Bruadair is frantic to find both the truth about her future and a mercenary to save her country. When an offer of aid comes from an unexpected direction, she is relieved her quest is almost complete. But she soon realizes her task is far from over . . . and will include perils she never dreamed she would ever face.

Rùnach of Ceangail has offered to help Aisling with her quest, then he fully intends to take up his life as a simple swordsman far from magic and evil mages. Unfortunately, a chance finding of a book of indecipherable spells tells him that an ordinary life is never going to be his--especially when he realizes that the book he has in his hands belongs to a black mage who will stop at nothing to have it back. With time running out, Rùnach and Aisling must solve what seem to be unrelated mysteries before others find those answers first and plunge the Nine Kingdoms into a darkness it will never recover from. STAINED GLASS SUMMER ~ by Mindy Hardwick ~ Musa Publishing - December 2011 ~ 5 Stars

Twelve-year-old Jasmine wants to be an artist. But, can she escape the shadow of her artistic father to discover her own path as a glass artist? Jasmine adores her photographer father and wants to be an award-winning artist like him. But when Dad abandons the family to pursue his photography, Jasmine is devastated. Jasmine is determined to get out of Chicago and convinces Uncle Jasper to allow her to spend the summer on an island in the Pacific Northwest. On the island, Jasmine participates in the art mentor program and learns stained glass from glass artist, Opal. Everything seems to be going well, especially when Jasmine meets Cole and gets her first kiss. But, Dad’s shadow continues to follow Jasmine and if she wants to stay on the island, Jasmine will have to learn to call herself an artist by her own terms. SCHOOL OF DEATHS ~ by Christopher Mannino ~ MuseItUp Publishing, May 2014 ~ 5 Stars

Thirteen-year-old Suzie Sarnio always believed the Grim Reaper was a fairy tale image of a skeleton with a scythe. Now, forced to enter the College of Deaths, she finds herself training to bring souls from the Living World to the Hereafter. The task is demanding enough, but as the only female in the all-male College, she quickly becomes a target. Attacked by both classmates and strangers, Suzie is alone in a world where even her teachers want her to fail. Caught in the middle of a plot to overthrow the World of Deaths, Suzie must uncover the reason she’s been brought there: the first female Death in a million years.

care to support herself, dating's the last thing on her mind. Then she moves into a new apartment and meets the taciturn yet irresistible guy in 1B…. Daniel Tyler has grown up too fast. Becoming a single dad at twenty turned his life upside down—and brought him heartache he can't risk again. Now, as he raises his fouryear-old son while balancing a full-time construction management job and night classes, the last thing he wants is noisy students living in the apartment upstairs. But one night, Nadia's and Ty's paths cross, and soon they can't stay away from each other.

The timing is all wrong—but love happens when it happens. And you can't know what you truly need until you stand to lose it. THIS CASE IS GONNA KILL ME, by Phillipa Bornikova ~ Tor Books, July 2013 – 5 Stars

What happens when The Firm meets Anita Blake? You get the Halls of Power—our modern world, but twisted. Law, finance, the military, and politics are under the sway of long-lived vampires, werewolves, and the elven Alfar. Humans make the best of rule by “the Spooks,” and contend among themselves to affiliate with the powers-that-be, in order to avoid becoming their prey. Very loyal humans are rewarded with power over other women and men. Very lucky humans are selected to join the vampires, werewolves, and elves—or, on occasion, to live at the Seelie Court. Linnet Ellery is the offspring of an affluent Connecticut family dating back to Colonial times. Fresh out of law school, she’s beginning her career in a powerful New York “white fang” law firm. She has high hopes of eventually making partner.

But strange things keep happening to her. In a workplace where some humans will eventually achieve immense power and centuries of extra lifespan, office politics can be vicious beyond belief. After some initial missteps, she finds herself sidelined and assigned to unpromising cases. Then, for no reason she can see, she becomes the target of repeated, apparently random violent attacks, escaping injury each time through increasingly improbable circumstances. However, there’s apparently more to Linnet Ellery than a little oldmoney human privilege. More than even she knows. And as she comes to understand this, she’s going to shake up the system like you wouldn’t believe…. Shannon lives on the family farm, a riding stable in the Cascade foothills, where she organizes most of the riding programs and teaches horsemanship around her day-job as a substitute teacher.

She writes books in her spare time, mainstream western romance as Josie Malone for SirenBookStrand and young adult novels for Black Opal Books and Fire & Ice YA. She’s a member of RWA, YARWA, the Greater Seattle RWA and Evergreen RWA chapters.

I WANT IT THAT WAY by Ann Aguirre, Harlequin, August 2014 – 5 Stars

Nadia Conrad has big dreams, and she's determined to make them come true. But between maintaining her college scholarship and working at the local day

HEARTS UNDER SIEGE By Kathryn Kelly Mild Historical Romance Released Nov 2014 by Smashwords in ebook

Forced to travel through war strewn land, Southern belle Alexandra is protected by her Yankee savior. As Thomas struggles to protect her, his own life is put in danger. As they fight to keep each other alive long enough to survive the war, they find themselves hopelessly in love. Page 4

Secrets, avarice, relentless foreboding, jealousy, and fear play key roles in the shocking conclusion. Do not skip a page of this thriller. It has been a pleasure to share my reviews with The Book Breeze readers this year. I hope you have enjoyed some new books, discovered new authors, and remembered an old favorite through these reviews written especially for voracious readers like myself. I’ve included some of my favorites for the year in this column. As always, the list reflects my eclectic interest in the written word. I wish you the happiest of holidays and a bright new year. Happy Reading! Mahala Church THE TIME BETWEEN Karen White New American Library Trade Contemporary Fiction

Karen White’s books explore the complicated relationships within families, within friendships, within encounters with strangers. The Time Between, explores all of these with the assurance that there is hope. The primary setting of this particular book is in one of my favorite places on Earth, a barrier island off the South Carolina coast—Edisto Island—where the sand and sea beckon peace of mind. White isn’t squeamish in her topics and absolutely is not saccharine in her resolutions. This book doesn’t disappoint as she weaves an intricate maze of secrets and possibility through her fully developed characters and always intriguing settings (Sea Change). My favorite character in this book is the ancient Helena, who lives and plans to die on Edisto. Full of grit and old time spit-andvinegar, she keeps everyone on their toes.

As with most of Karen White’s books, the story involves a continuum of ages and invokes childhood memories, incorporating lost dreams and new strengths. It reminds us who we were, who we are, and who we can be. It reveals that families strangled by the past can untie the knots and achieve a new life.

THE DARKLING R. B. Chesterton Pegasus Books / Psychological Thriller

R. B. Chesterton, a pseudonym for award winning writer Carolyn Haines, enjoys looking at the dark side of human nature and has found an exciting niche for her powerful skill as a writer—Southern Gothic with shades of Stephen King. The Darkling plots and strangles the Henderson family’s acts of kindness when they befriend Annie, a troubled teen with amnesia, a beautiful child who is clearly more than she seems.

The isolated house of the wealthy Hendersons is the perfect setting to stage this dystopian tale of Southern horror. Located in fictional Coden, Alabama, a small town where glamourous movie stars sought pleasure and debauchery in the 1940s, the story reveals a downtrodden place with only a hint of its glory days. The town’s shabby shades of gray are the perfect location for shadowy figures amidst the inhabitants. The characters are spot-on, dripping Southern charm and secrets among the moss-laden oaks.

Chesterton’s crisp prose drew me in and kept me immersed in this nefarious story from beginning to end. Every time I took a breath, it grabbed me by the throat again. This book will haunt you every time you dive into a slice of pie or other delightful sweet treat crammed with calories—the inspired symbolism Chesterton juxtaposed against the fright the story infuses. A different ending would have made me feel safer, but it queues up the next book, The Seeker, brilliantly. Keep reading ...

The Time Between will make you laugh out loud, burn with anger, shout with frustration, feel the rip in your heart, long to be a part of the developing romance, and fill you with hope for the future. The pain of chronic loss, chronic injury, and chronic illness are portrayed with acute intimacy and juxtaposed against a circle of warmth and love. Damaged people who long for redemption and forgiveness can be an exhausting and dark read, but White’s story rises above that. It encourages you to turn the page to experience where she will take you next. LEARNING TO SWIM Sara J. Henry Crown Publishing / Mystery

How many of us would dive into a frigid lake and swim a long distance to rescue an ominous package that looks more like garbage than a human being? Sara J. Henry sets the stage for a successful career as an author with her chilling thriller, Learning to Swim. The first line artfully opens the plot: “If I’d blinked, I would have missed it.”

Troy Chance would have missed saving a child tossed into Lake Champlain, missed delving into her personal beliefs, and missed evaluating what she truly wants out of life. Troy faces a long list of challenges, not the least of which is why no one is looking for a lost child, a child who only speaks French.

Tension fills every page of Henry’s fast-paced novel with welldeveloped characters and settings and artfully-crafted prose. A sense of humor in a protagonist always appeals to me, especially in a mystery or thriller.

Page 5

HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG Andre Dubus III W. W. Norton and Company (reprint) Literary Fiction - Suspense

The depth of this book’s plot and the engaging and annoying characters are clearly the reasons House of Sand and Fog was a finalist for the National Book Award, Oprah Book Club pick, #1 New York Times bestseller, and the basis for the Oscar-nominated motion picture. Shakespearean in the pathos of the characters, this story of ethnic differences and two families struggling to keep the house they both want far exceeds that basic premise. The book explores the lives of a former colonel in the Iranian Air Force, Behrani, a man who believes he can manipulate the world to bring him back to his former glory before he and his family escaped war-torn Iran.

Through the eyes of its characters in their warped settings and disenfranchised lives, the expansive diversity of cultures and traditions that tragically threatens to diminish the American dream in the twenty-first century is exposed. The similarities in the cultures that forged the new America from the 1600s through the 1900s—diverse and at times violent— were more compatible and eventually built a world power. Through this book, Dubus clearly establishes that America’s environment is now more global, erratic, and convoluted than at any time in the history of the United States. Told from multiple points of view, the lives of these tragic people create more confusion than they resolve. I found myself philosophically vacillating between each of the three main characters as events unrolled. Tension is high throughout the book, revealing what each character experienced and lost in their past as well as what each believes is their path to a bright future.

Creating universal characters served Dubus well in this tale of everyday people facing suicidal tension for no rationale reason. To add insult to injury, they all blame everyone but themselves for the choices they’ve made—brilliant in its simplicity, complex in its passion. IN THE BLOOD by Lisa Unger Touchstone (2014) / Mystery/Suspense

Terrifying. Terrific. Twisted. The tension never takes a break in the convoluted plot in Unger’s new book. It is virtually impossible to differentiate truth from lie. Lana Granger, the young protagonist, is as confused a character as you will ever meet. With her father in jail for killing her mother, police doubting her every word, the death of her roommate looming, memories loosely strung together, and a tormenting part-time job, Lana takes you on a mind-churning ride. Guided by her psych professor, she looks after eleven-year-old Luke, an evil little bugger housed at Langdon Hewes, a school for troubled children.

Unger’s addition of the deviously peculiar Luke is perfectly designed to keep you on the edge of your seat and then she throws in an anonymous diary to darken the plot. Don’t look for plot resolutions until the last quarter of the book when the twists and turns drench the pages leading to a climax that I never saw coming. It's one of those books you ruminate about for days after you read the last page, trying to figure out where the clues were.

BURY YOUR DEAD by Louise Penny Minotaur Books Literary Mystery (Chief Inspector Gamache series)

Louise Penny’s mysteries are momentous achievements of challenging mystery, exciting thriller, and intricate character

studies. Bury Your Dead is no exception. The setting is beautiful, historical Quebec City in the dead of a frigid winter during Winter Carnival. Penny’s famous Chief Inspector Armand Gamache is visiting an old friend and mentor and working to heal emotionally and physically from an investigation that left him scarred deeply. He buries himself in the books in the Literary and Historical Society, an ancient English establishment that few know exists within the walls of the famous French city.

It doesn’t take long for mayhem and murder to find Gamache within the calm certainty of the historical Society. Obsessed with finding the remains of the founder of Quebec, Samuel de Champlain, Augustin Renaud, in a lifelong search for Champlain’s grave, manages to get into the Society after hours and is murdered in the basement. Penny brings to life the thought-provoking history of the city and region, while keeping readers comfortably connected to the Canadian village of Three Pines, the beloved setting of many of the Gamache novels. BURY YOUR DEAD is a delight from beginning to end with solid characters, intriguing plots, magical settings, and for good measure, a creative look at history. I LOVE YOU MORE Jennifer Murphy Doubleday Mystery

The phrase, Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, could have been the title of Murphy’s, well-written, superbly plotted, debut novel. It is an intimate look at three women, who discover they are all married to the same man, Oliver Lane, a wealthy lawyer. When he is shot to death at his summer rental with original wife, Diana, and their twelve-year-old, precocious daughter, Picasso, the secrets of this sociopath tumble from every closet and chest and wife.

Told from multiple points of view by well-developed characters, the story takes an unusual turn when Oliver— from the grave—tells his story in just one chapter of the book. Picasso and the puzzled detective, Kyle Kennedy, are the primary storytellers and keep the story moving at a nice clip. Picasso’s fascination with words gets a bit tiresome with the detail in her definitions, but she is a delightfully whimsical child who quickly masters the game of espionage, drawing Kyle into her tiny circle of confidantes. Wise far beyond her years, she watches the adults squirm under police scrutiny.

The challenge of solving the crime falls to the police on a tiny island on North Carolina’s Outer Banks. The charming setting adds to the confusion with a police force of less than five people, limited access to the mainland, and a small pool of witnesses and possible assassins. Bringing the past forward, Murphy’s backstory is never boring and adds substance as she builds her novel to a crescendo. I enjoyed her markedly different wives and the insights from Oliver towards the end of the book, each of which keeps you busy trying to solve the crime. Jennifer Murphy is a welcome addition to the writing world.

Mahala Church – Mahala is a freelance editor and writer and teaches creative writing for teens and adults through her Barefoot Writing Academy. An accomplished workshop leader and award winning author, Pushcart Prize nominee, and published editor, she enjoys all aspects of writing. The first novel in her trilogy is in “final” revision, shortly to be sent to beta readers. An avid reader of both literary and commercial fiction as well as biographies and memoirs, she particularly likes books set in Britain, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and the Deep South of the United States. You can follow her at www.lyricalpens.com.

Page 6

Fantastical Worlds, Page Turning Suspense, Steamy Romance

EVA GORDON

Your newest release is ALPHA WOLF’S PET, Hidden Book 1. Tell us about it.

It’s part of a novella series, which follows Mia’s relationship with alpha werewolf Dominic. In this new series the werewolves are born wolf and are turned human once bitten, by yes, a human.

Here is the blurb: Mia’s testimony against Russian mobsters forced her to enter the witness protection program. She is relocated to a quaint cottage in Wolf Woods, near Mt. Rainier, far from everyone and everything she loved and cared for. All is calm, until she meets Dominic, the gorgeous ruggedly handsome owner of the mysterious Wolfe Estate. He is all alpha male, domineering, and controlling. The last thing she needs is to get involved with a sexy control freak.

Alpha werewolf, Dominic Wolfe, is the packs’ enforcer. When an attractive young woman moves into a cottage near his territory; his senses are heightened to obsessive proportions. A human pet to meet his desires.

My heroes are all tormented alpha males, which makes my heroine’s independence a challenge for them. Being a stubborn independent woman I’m not sure how I would deal with an alpha male. Do you have a favorite paranormal character you’d like to be friends with in real live?

Gesher, the golem, from HAND OF MIRIAM. I’ve always loved stories about the legend of the golem. The golem character is based on the Jewish mythology that tells of a creature made of inanimate matter such as clay or mud. Golem myths date back to early Judaism and there are many versions of a golem story.

The most famous story is the Golem of Prague. In the late 16 century, Rabbi Lowe created the golem to guard the Jewish ghetto against anti-Semitic thugs. There are numerous other versions, including one in which the golem falls in love and becomes violent. My golem is based on a mixture of several versions, but I then add my own new twist into the old legend and explain who the golem really is, a handsome fallen angel with the power to shift into the golem. What social media do you participate in? Facebook, Twitter and I love blogging. I am also getting into Pinterest.

Hot New Releases for a Cold Winter’s Night

Dominic is determined to unveil Mia’s real identity while keeping his own securely hidden. Haunted by the howls and shrieks coming from Dominic’s estate, Mia wonders if she can really trust the enigmatic man she suspects of wanting a dominant-submissive relationship. A man who brings out her darker desires. Will hidden danger keep them from gratifying their burning passion?

Book 2, ALPHA WOLF’S PET, KEPT was just released and Book 3, ALPHA’S PET, HUNTED will be released Winter 2015. Then I plan a spinoff from the series. I love all things wolf and werewolf. This last summer I did a workshop on Wolf/Werewolf Lore and just love creating stories with werewolves.

From your website, you’ve got a lot brewing. Your new release is a part of the Wolf Maiden Saga. Can you give us a look ahead on that series?

Lycan Gladiator is a paranormal historical (alternative history) where werewolves live amongst us. Each book takes place in a different time period. We hope to have the next novel, which takes place during the time of King Arthur’s court in winter 2015.

THE MARRIAGE TRAP (First in the Hawaiian Heat series) by Marissa Garner Sizzling Contemporary romance Released Nov 14 by The Wild Rose Press in print and ebook LOVE AWAKENS By D.M. Sheridan Erotica Contemporary Vampire Romance Released Nov 14

You also did a steampunk book – HAND OF MIRIAM. When can we expect the next installment in that series? (See The Book Breeze Review of this book in our April 2014

I have book 2 HER MAJESTY’S WITCH ready, but since HAND OF MIRIAM is being read by a NY publisher, I’m waiting to see what happens.

Since you write “other worlds” is there something you’ve incorporated into one of your worlds that you find challenging to live with?

HOME TO STAY By Jane Leopold Quinn Erotic Contemporary Romance Released Nov 1 in ebook

READ, PONDER, REPEAT Page 7

Spice up the season with these New Releases

R o ma nc e A ut ho r

Rachel Brimble Tell us about your new release.

LOVE REDESIGNED By Sloane B. Collins Spicy Contemporary Romance Released Nov 19 by Soul Mate Publishing in ebook

CHRISTMAS AT THE COVE is my first Christmas romance and the fourth book in my ongoing series with Harlequin Superromance (although all the books can be read as stand alone). Set in the fictional UK seaside town of Templeton Cove, CHRISTMAS AT THE COVE RACHEL is a reunion romance where the heroine is BRIMBLE returning to the Cove for a brief visit to relay Christmas at the Cove some news to the hero…she might be there longer than expected! ®

MYSTIC HEARTS By Cait Jarrod Spicy Romantic Suspense Released Dec 5 by Evernight Publishing in print and ebook

Who do you feel is your target audience?

I think my target audience is women in their late teens onwards – I started reading romance a lot younger, but I tend to tackle issues that a younger audience might not be interested in. As my books run to 85,000 words, I can bring in subplots to support/enhance the romance and like to bring a flavor of realism which isn’t always of the nicest variety. Romantic suspense is my favorite romance sub-genre. What is the one question you wish an interviewer would ask you?

Why do people assume writing romance is easy? The reason I’d like to be asked this is because when I was an aspiring writer, working hard to be published, I was often met with looks of derision when I said I wanted to write romance. The consensus was, if I’m determined to write, I should be writing something worthwhile like literary fiction. Ha! Writing is HARD, regardless of the genre! Now, I’m multipublished, people assume I know a secret formula and can knock out a book in a few weeks whenever I feel like it. I wish! Writing is work…hard work. Who is your favorite romance character of all time?

Ooh, I have so many! For the classics, I still have a love/hate admiration of Scarlett O’ Hara (Gone With The Wind) and also adore Elizabeth Bennett (Pride & Prejudice). For more current authors, I love the heroines created by Nora Roberts, Jill Shalvis and Robyn Carr. Their heroes are nothing to be sniffed at either… ;) What social media do you participate in?

I am a Twitter fanatic, much to the embarrassment of my children – they moan that I Tweet too much about nothing, but I love letting people know what I’m up to throughout the day. I also enjoy Facebook. Social media is a blessing and a curse to writers. Vital hours work time can be lost…but it is so great to be able to connect so easily with our readers.

Are you doing blog tours or other promotional events and giveaways?

Follow me on Twitter for daily updates where I am appearing each day. There will be plenty of chances to win a signed copy of CHRISTMAS AT THE COVE. I also have a Facebook Street Team where I am always looking for new members and there are prizes galore to be won! Here’s the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/RachelsReaders/?fref=ts

BEAST COAST By J.C. McKenzie Spicy Paranormal Romance Released Dec 1 by The Wild Rose Press

DEMON LORE By Karilyn Bentley Urban Fantasy Released Dec 15 by The Wild Rose Press in print and ebook

Roberta’s Ramblings by Roberta Rogow

It's Christmas in HERITAGE OF DARKNESS, by Kathleen Ernst (Midnight Ink, 2013, $14.99), and curator Chloe Ellefson has finally decided to accompany her mother Marit to the annual Norwegian American festival in Vesterheim, MS, with her maybeboyfriend, Roelke McKenna. It seemed like a good idea at the time she made the deal, but she's having second thoughts, as her mother enthuses about Norwegian courting customs, folklore, and crafts. Things get worse when the body of one of the crafters is found in an old chest. The woman was cordially loathed by so many, but who would have the strength as well as the hatred to bludgeon her to death with a Norwegian cooking implement?

Chloe's psychic gift misleads her, as she realizes that there is true evil in this story-book town, and that her mother hides a dark secret in her past. Norwegian Christmas customs play a large part in the solution to the mystery. A section of photographs of Norwegian artifacts at the end of the book adds to the local color. Roberta Rogow is a retired librarian who enjoys books with characters that grab you, often set in exotic places or in other times. She reads a lot of historical mysteries, but also enjoys Alternate History, and has been known to indulge in an orgy of“cozy crafty” mysteries, set in small-town America or villages in Great Britain. Her latest release, MAYHEM In MAnATAS is the follow-up to MURDERS In MAnATAS.

Page 8

Add some mystery to your life with these New Releases FALSE ALIBI By Marguerite Sansone Mild Mystery Released Dec 25 by The Wild Rose Press in print and ebook

THE MURDER OF ADAM AND EVE By William Dietrich YA/ SciFi Fantasy Burrows Publishing/Oct 2014

A forbidden island. An abandoned fort. A deserted village. A living gargoyle. And a time wormhole that catapults teen nick Brynner and his companion Eleanor Terrell to prehistoric Africa to pass judgment on mankind.

They must find and protect – or condemn – our genetic forebears, a real-life “Adam” and “Eve” to either preserve or reset the future. nick must choose between wilderness, civilization, love, and humanity.

Dietrich masterfully weaves this tale with tough characters and even tougher questions as the worth and complexity of mankind is examined.

TEMPORARILY EMPLOYED By Vicki Batman Mild Romantic Comedy Mystery Released Oct 17 by The Wild Rose Press in print and ebook

Told in Nick’s point of view, we are presented with two teens with similar backgrounds who are thrust into prehistoric Africa. Carrying little more than a plastic water bottle, a multitool and their knowledge, they fight to survive as they seek “Adam” and “Eve.”

I enjoyed every minute of this story. I found the arguments compelling and the ending satisfying and I highly recommend it. After reading this I will definitely try other books by William Dietrich. THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JAMIE LEE COLEMAN By Michael E. Glasscock III Greenleaf Book Group Press Fiction

An act of violence compelled him to leave all he’d ever known. A promise to the woman he adored brought him home again.

When the elderly widow Miss Frances Washington rescued the ten-year-old Jamie Lee Coleman from his tarpaper shack in Beulah Land after the boy’s father slapped him one time too many, people told her that she was too old to raise another child—especially a Coleman. But under her tutelage, young Jamie Lee realizes that he has a prodigious talent for performing, and he takes his first steps on a journey that will lead him to perform his unique blend of Southern music in the jazz clubs of new Orleans, in the honky-tonks and bars of nashville, and on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry—and countless venues beyond.

Initially I was drawn into this book but then it became too contrived. At seventeen Jamie runs away and immediately finds success in New Oreleans. In fact, he always found success in everything he did. By 18 had a large bank account and investments. Everyone who comes into this life is nice. No one takes advantage of him. Even his father finds repentance. It just wasn’t believable for me.

Then there was the fact he came from such a horrendous background of abuse and poverty yet he was the most well adjusted, kind individual you could ever meet. People who go through traumas usually carry something with them, even if it’s only a fear of going hungry again so they stockpile food. Something lingers but not this character. The author does deliver a strong sense of time and place, which I enjoyed.

A WOMAN UNKNOWN A Kate Shackleton Mystery By Frances Brody Cozy Mystery Released Feb 10th, 2015 by Minotaur Brooks BROKEN BONDS, The Cold Creek Trilogy #3 By Karen Harper Mild Romantic Suspense Released Dec 28 by Mira Books in print and ebook

THE JOB By Janet Evanovich Random House Publishing Group Mystery/Thriller

He’s a charming con man and she’s a dedicated FBI agent, and they’re about to drive each other crazy . . . again!

The FBI had one demand when they secretly teamed up Special Agent Kate O’Hare with charming con man nicolas Fox—bring down the world’s most-wanted and untouchable felons. This time it’s the brutal leader of a global drugsmuggling empire. The FBI doesn’t know what their target looks like, where he is, or how to find him, but nick Fox has a few tricks up his sleeve to roust this particular Knipschildt chocolate–loving drug lord. Written in her usual rapid pace, Evanovich delivers another installment of her cop/con team of Kate O’Hare and Nick Fox. The plot is a bit shaky but the secondary characters are fun. Not up to the Stephanie Plum series but still an enjoyable read. Now for my top picks from my reviews in 2014...

SONG OF THE SHAMAN by Annette Vendryes Leach Mind Press Media, Aug 2013, Women’s fiction

Synopsis: What if your ten-year-old child knew

Page 9

From the urban grind of present-day Brooklyn to the shamans and rituals in the rain forests of 19th century Panama and Costa Rica, two interwoven stories collide. Sheri learns she must find the courage to trust Zig and his mystical guidance to uncover the secrets of her past...or remain lost from herself and the truth about her origins.

The pacing was flawless; the characters grabbed me from the start. There was nothing about this book I didn’t love. It was an amazing journey of self-discovery. Wonderful twist at the end. I hope this isn’t the last we see of Ms. Leach.

DEFY by Sara B Larson Scholastic Press / Jan 7, 2014 YA Fantasy/Adventure

Synopsis: Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king's army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince's guard. But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night, even Alex, who is virtually unbeatable, can't prevent him from abducting her, her fellow guard and friend Rylan, and Prince Damian, taking them through the treacherous wilds of the jungle and deep into enemy territory. This is a debut novel but you wouldn’t know it from the depth of Larson’s writing. Masterfully paced, the story never slows as Alexa contents with coming of age in a world full of secrets and danger.

The characters were well crafted to the point I mourned those lost. Prince Damian was wonderfully complex and though it appears all his secrets was revealed by the end of the book I wouldn’t believe it with this character. Larson did a superb job of introducing the reader to her world. Backstory and info only used when needed to keep the story moving forward. This is the first in a series and I anxiously await the second installment. This is an author to watch. THE TYRANT’S DAUGHTER By J.C. Carleson Random House Children’s (Feb 11, 2014) Genre: Teens & YA Score: 5!

I was immediately drawn into this book. In the author’s note she refers to this as a “big story told in small details” and it was done perfectly.

It is the story of Laila who was ripped from her country by the CIA, during the coup that killed her father, and dropped into America with little understanding of what happened. Shocked to discover the person she saw as a loving father is referred to as a tyrant and a dictator she seeks answers and understanding until she learns to everything there is a price.

Carleson humanizes a complex situation and brings to light a point of view we seldom see in this country. It’s not a book you walk away from feeling good but rather enlightened. I highly recommend this story.

THE LOST SISTERHOOD Anne Fortier Ballantine Books (March 11, 14) Pages: 608 Genre: Adventure / Women’s Fiction

Blurb: Oxford lecturer Diana Morgan is an expert on Greek mythology. Her obsession with the Amazons started in childhood when her eccentric grandmother claimed to be one herself—before vanishing without a trace.

Diana’s colleagues shake their heads at her Amazon fixation. But then a mysterious, well-financed foundation makes Diana an offer she cannot refuse.

Review: Since I’ve always had more curiosity than common sense, I had no trouble believing that Diana would leave the country with a complete stranger.

There are three storylines that weave together the present and past to tell the tale of Diana’s work to uncover proof the Amazons existed, her memories of her missing grandmother and Myrina, the first Amazon queen.

No journey would be complete without a couple of good looking men and Fortier offers us two – James Moselane, Diana’s longtime crush and Nick Barran, the secretive man she meets in North Africa. There’s danger and intrigue and I loved every page. Since I’m not a student of history, I don’t know how her story stacks up to the facts but as an avid reader I can tell you this is not a book you only read once. A very satisfying journey with twists, turns and plenty of surprises that you don’t want to end. I highly recommend this book and I've added her best selling novel JULIET to my TBR pile. CIRCUIT THEORY by Reya Starck Riptide Publishing (July 2012) Pages: 43 Genre: M/M Fantasy Romance

Book description: Dante and Byron are avatars. Driven by human beings, yet still only digital representations of their ideal selves. In reality, they live far apart, but share most of their waking and working hours together in a virtual world called Synth.

In Synth, like in most code, the laws are infinitely more simple and infinitely more complex. navigating the system rules of virtual lovers is like steering through a minefield of deceit, suspicion, heartbreak, and half-truths. Under pressure, Dante makes a friendship that trips Byron’s warning bells, disrupting their carefully-ordered lives and calling into question the wisdom of trusting your heart to a man you can never touch in the flesh.

This is one of the most unique stories I’ve read. In very few pages the author brings us on the emotional journey of three individuals who find that even in a virtual world we can’t escape who we are. This is a must read.

FRAGIL BOND by Rhi Etzweiler Riptide Publishing (Feb 2013) Genre: M/M Sci Fi

Book description: Sniper Sergeant Marc Staille and his trusty rifle, Mat, are on bodyguard duty at a mining operation on a backwater planet. The resource-rich valley is crawling with tawnies, the native dirt-colored predators that hunt in packs and kill as well with tooth and claw as Marc ever has with Mat.

Commander Hamm Orsonna, leader of the fefa clan, is determined to chase off the invading aliens by capturing one for Intel with an unexpected weapon: pheromones. This is a story about relationships, about accepting individuals for who they are not what they are.

In the beginning the closest relationship Marc has is with his rifle. Once captured, we watch the relationship between Marc and Hamm develop. Initially with the expected emotions of Keep reading ...

Page 10

anger, distrust, fear but something else, something unexpected – lust.

As things change between Marc and Hamm it triggers tension between Hamm and his clan. Leadership is challenged. The pacing kept me turning pages, and the characters drew me into the story. I recommend this book. DUKE CITY SPLIT By Max Austin Random House Publishing Group – Alibi (April 8, 2014) Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb: Bud Knox isn’t your average bank robber. He’s happiest fixing a nice lunch for his wife on her lunch break or watching his two young daughters play soccer. He leaves the boldness and brawn to his partner, Mick Wyman. In the past fourteen years, they’ve hit nearly thirty banks all over the West—everywhere but “Duke City,” their hometown of Albuquerque, new Mexico.

So when Mick calls him about the perfect job, Bud is less than convinced, because the target is on their own turf. But with the potential to haul in millions, Bud simply can’t say no. If they do this job right, Bud may never have to work again. As it turns out, the heist was the easy part.

I loved the layers to this book. In the beginning we have a likeable characters that rob a bank, the only thing they take is money from a casino just after it’s been delivered to a bank. We have no sympathy for banks and casinos. No one gets hurt, victimless crime. Right? Wrong. Money changes things and a lot of money changes a lot of things. As new characters are introduced, layers are added, intensity builds as does the violence.

This is tightly written story, perfectly paced, with great characters. The ending surprised me yet, upon reflection, it was inevitable. This is a compelling read. THE HERE AND NOW By Ann Brashares Random House Children’s (Apr 8, 2014) Genre: YA

Blurb: This is the story of seventeen-year-old Prenna James, who immigrated to new York when she was twelve not from a different country but from a different time— a future where a mosquito-borne illness have mutated into a pandemic, killing millions and leaving the world in ruins.

Prenna and the others who escaped to the present day must follow a strict set of rules and Prenna does as she’s told, believing she can help prevent the plague that will one day day ravage the earth.  But everything changes when Prenna falls for Ethan Jarves.

This is from Ann Brashares, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series and it is a complex, thrilling mystery of two teenagers compelled to find out the truth in a world where the adults are determined to keep it a secret.

This is an excellent read with deep layers, several surprises and a bitter sweet ending. I doubt this is the last we’ll see of Prenna and Ethan. COP TOWN By Karin Slaughter Random House Publishing Group – Bantam Dell (June 24, 2014) Mystery/Thriller

Atlanta, 1974: As a brutal murder and a furious manhunt rock the city’s police department, Kate Murphy wonders if her first day on the job will also be her last. She’s determined to defy her privileged background by making her own way—wearing a badge and carrying a gun. But for a beautiful young woman, life will be anything but easy in the macho world of the Atlanta PD, where even the female cops have little mercy for rookies. It’s also the worst day possible to start given that a beloved cop has been gunned down, his brothers in blue are out for blood, and the city is on the edge of war. This book had me by the end of the second sentence. Slaughter’s prose set the stage for this gritty, non-stop mystery with descriptions such as “Dawn broke…The sun razored…The wet, ripe meat of the city lurched…”

Slaughter delivered a powerful “show, don’t tell” story. She brought us back to the ‘70’s with smoke-filled rooms, long sideburns, and a society struggling with change as women and African Americans were kicking their way into a predominately white environment – the Atlanta PD.

Perhaps some of my love for this book comes from having lived through that era. It rang true for me where is might not for a younger audience. This was my first venture into the writing world of Karin Slaughter and I will be back. THROUGH THE DOOR By Jodi McIsaac Fantasy Released April 2013 by Amazon Digital Services in print and ebook

It’s been seven years since the love of Cedar McLeod’s life left with no forwarding address. All she has left of him are heart-wrenching memories of happier times and a beautiful six-year-old daughter, Eden. Then, one day, Eden opens her bedroom door and unwittingly creates a portal that leads to anywhere she imagines. But they’re not the only ones who know of Eden’s gift, and soon the child mysteriously vanishes.

Desperate for answers, Cedar digs into the past and finds herself thrust into a magical world of Celtic myths, fantastical creatures, and bloody rivalries. Teaming up with the unlikeliest of allies, Cedar must bridge the gap between two worlds and hold tight to the love in her heart…or lose everything to an ancient evil.

I was enthralled with the story from page one. Pacing, characters, and setting are all spot on. An excellent take on Celtic lore and a great beginning to the Thin Veil series. This is one I will read to the end.

As we close out our last edition for 2014 we look forward to another year of good reads, friendships, laughter and chocolate (can’t leave out chocolate). However you celebrate the holidays may they bring you peace and joy.

As always we hope you enjoyed this edition of The Book Breeze. Contents of this emag are repeated on our blog throughout the month. For more information on how you can be a part of The Book Breeze visit our website at: http://www.thebookbreeze.com/For_Authors.php Page 11