Monthly Archives: August 2013

The Witness

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Author: Nora Roberts
Publisher:  Berkley Trade                        the witness
Pages: 544
Genre:  Romance/ Suspense
Source: My friend Robyn

Goodreads:  In her stunning new novel, #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts proves why no one is better “when it comes to flawlessly fusing high-stakes suspense with red-hot romance” (Booklist). 

Daughter of a cold, controlling mother and an anonymous donor, studious, obedient Elizabeth Fitch finally let loose one night, drinking too much at a nightclub and allowing a strange man’s seductive Russian accent to lure her to a house on Lake Shore Drive. 

Twelve years later, the woman now known as Abigail Lowery lives alone on the outskirts of a small town in the Ozarks. A freelance security systems programmer, her own protection is supplemented by a fierce dog and an assortment of firearms. She keeps to herself, saying little, revealing nothing. Unfortunately, that seems to be the quickest way to get attention in a tiny southern town. 

The mystery of Abigail Lowery and her sharp mind, secretive nature, and unromantic viewpoints intrigues local police chief Brooks Gleason, on both a personal and professional level. And while he suspects that Abigail needs protection from something, Gleason is accustomed to two-bit troublemakers, not the powerful and dangerous men who are about to have him in their sights. 

And Abigail Lowery, who has built a life based on security and self-control, is at risk of losing both.

Ope’s Opinion: The central story in this book was very good.  But there were too many side stories that didn’t have anything to do with/or add anything to the main story. If the book had been shorter, it would have kept my attention so much better.
The main part of the story was repeated a few different times to different characters – it should have just been summarized.
I did like Elizabeth and I did want her to be safe and happy, but the tension in the story was lost when the story went off to other tangents.

Rating: Three Chairs – I like the book enough to suggest it to a friend or two.
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Meeting Koethi Zan

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At Politics and Pros, Kristi of Kritters Ramblings and I went to meet Koethi Zan.

the never list

Koethi was a lawyer and enjoyed crime books.  She talked about her writing process and answered several questions.  Then she read the first chapter of her book.

koethi

This is her book:  the never listEnjoy your read!

Three Sisters

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Author:  Susan Mallerythree sisters
Publisher:  Harlequin MIRA
Pages:  325
Genre:  Romance
Source:  Library

Goodreads:   After Andi Gordon is jilted at the altar, she makes the most impetuous decision of her life – buying one of the famed Three Sisters Queen Anne houses on Blackberry Island. Now the proud-ish owner of the ugly duckling of the trio, she plans to open her own pediatric office on the first floor, just as soon as her hunky contractor completes the work. Andi’s new future may be coming together, but the truth is she’s just as badly in need of a major renovation as her house.

When Deanna Phillips confronts her husband about a suspected affair, she opens up a Pandora’s Box of unhappiness. And he claims that she is the problem. The terrible thing is, he’s right. In her quest to be the perfect woman, she’s lost herself, and she’s in danger of losing her entire family if things don’t change. 

Next door, artist Boston King thought she and her college sweetheart would be married forever. Their passion for one other has always seemed indestructible. But after tragedy tears them apart, she’s not so sure. Now it’s time for them to move forward, with or without one another. 

Thrown together by fate and geography, and bound by the strongest of friendships, these three women will discover what they’re really made of: laughter, tears, love and all.

Ope’s Opinion:  Susan Mallery hit another home run!  This book read so fast!  The story of all three women were relatable and fast moving.  It was great to see each woman’s story move forward in each chapter.  It made it seem more like real time.  

The intimate details of the romance  is my least favorite part, but at least each woman was with only one man.  They were real relationships with flaws and heart felt struggles.  As you read, you will want each woman to be happy at the end.  You can’t help but route for them.

I want more of the Blackberry Island books!  This may be my favorite Susan Mallery book to date.  So keep writing!

Rating: Four Chairs – I like the book so much I know several friends to share it with.

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An Interview with Leah Konen

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Leah-Konen-author-photo-90k[12]


Leah Konen is a writer living in San Francisco. She is a graduate of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she studied journalism and creative writing. Her work has been published in Elle Decor, Good Housekeeping’s Quick & Simple, Parenting, The Fiscal Times, and several regional newspapers and magazines. The After Girls is her first novel.

I am very excited to interview Leah and to read her book The After Girls!

1.  What do you like to read?  Does it influence your writing?
Though it doesn’t have much to do with the themes of THE AFTER GIRLS, I learned pretty much everything I know about writing from obsessively reading Jane Austen. I’d like to think that, even indirectly; her work has had a big influence on me.

2. Did you have an experience like the girls in The After Girls?  Which girl do you most identify with?
Not exactly. But about halfway through writing THE AFTER GIRLS, a friend of mine passed away at a young age from cancer. Friendship and grief became incredibly real to me, and it definitely affected how I wrote THE AFTER GIRLS.

As far as characters, all my friends and family tell me that I am Ella. I don’t quite know how to feel about this, because Sydney is definitely my favorite. She plays in a cool folk band, she dies her hair, she doesn’t care what anyone thinks about her—she’s so cool!

3. What do you enjoy doing when you aren’t writing?
I feel like I’m always writing! But when I’m not, I’d say my second-favorite thing is reading. Then biking around San Francisco, going on cool trips through California, playing with puppies. The usual.

4. Do you plan on doing a tour for this book? Which city would you be most excited to visit?
I did get a chance to go to New York to do some events there around Book Expo America. But if I were going to design my own book tour, I’d say the next city I’d love to visit would be Austin.

5. What are you working on now?
 I am so excited about the book I’m working on now–I can’t reveal too much, but it’s also set in the South, and it focuses much more on romance than on friendship.

6. I used to live in Durham, NC and spent time hanging out at UNC – do you miss it?
I can’t even express how much NC impacted me. Though I’ve lived in Manhattan and Brooklyn and now San Francisco, I still set my stories in the South. I definitely miss parts of it (sweet tea and barbecue, for one), and I made some amazing friendships during my time there.

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Visit Leah at:

TWITTER
@leahkonen

FACEBOOK
facebook.com/leahkonenauthor

GOODREADS
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16225093-the-after-girls

YOUTUBE TRAILER

AMAZON
http://www.amazon.com/The-After-Girls-Leah-Konen/dp/1440561087

INDIEBOUND
http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781440561085

BN.COM
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-after-girls-leah-konen/1113491548?ean=9781440561085

J. Courtney Sullivan

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My daughter Kristi of Kritters Ramblings and I went to Politics and Pros to see J. Courtney Sullivan.

Jennifer Close, who wrote Girls in White Dresses and The Smart One introduced Courtney.  They enjoy each others books.  It was nice to see a friendship between the two authors.
It was great to hear Courtney read from her book The Engagements.
Courtney was very sweet during the signing and enjoyed chatting with each person.  She was happy to meet bloggers and signed my copy of Commencement.