Miss Match, by Lindzee Armstrong

Lindzee has some great offers to introduce her new book. Check it out.

MISS MATCH is finally here! I'm so excited to share the rest of Brooke and Luke's story with the world. To celebrate, it's on sale for $0.99 this week only. Sale ends May 10th!

  About MISS MATCH Billionaire CEO Luke Ryder doesn’t want to hire his best friend, Brooke, as his matchmaker. Not when he’s been in love with her for eight years. Too bad she doesn’t see him as relationship material and is engaged to another man. If the matchmaking company she works for closes, Brooke is out of a job, and Luke is out a best friend. There will be nothing stopping her from moving to Italy with her fiancé. And Luke isn’t about to let that happen. Brooke’s dream career may be crumbling, and she will do anything to keep Toujour in the black. Even recruit Luke, America’s favorite bachelor, as her next client. Surely his perfect smile and swollen bank account will send clients swarming to their doors. But when matching up Luke works a little too well, Brooke wonders if she’s with the right man. Maybe she should finally forget Luke’s playboy image and admit he’s changed. All Brooke has to decide is if she’s willing to risk her heart. Excerpt from MISS MATCH Brooke focused on her laptop screen. “I already filled in all the basics for you—name, age, occupation, that sort of thing. Hope you don’t mind.” Luke put a hand to his chest in mock horror. “I thought only a client could fill out this questionnaire. Isn’t that what you told me last night?” She rolled her eyes. “I can delete it all and we can start over.” “No, no.” He sniffed dramatically. “I can tell you’re trying to get rid of me as quickly as possible.” And there he was—a glimpse of the old Luke. Brooke grinned. Maybe this matchmaking thing would be good for him after all. “Okay, first question. What qualities are you looking for in a partner?” “Oh, that’s easy. Someone hot.” Brooke burst out laughing. “And what exactly is your definition of ‘hot?’” “I’m looking at it.” Brooke’s laughter died. Her cheeks heated, and she looked away. “Be serious.” “I am.” “Luke, you can’t tell me I’m hot.” “Why not? It’s true.” “Well, because . . .” Because Antonio would hate it. Because I’m glad you find me attractive. “Because I’m engaged.” Luke raised an eyebrow. “Being engaged doesn’t diminish your hotness. It’s not like there’s a rule against complimenting you.” “Maybe there should be.” Her heart pounded. “We don’t want to mess up our lucky number fourteen by adding another rule.” “Fourteen isn’t a lucky number.” “Relax, Brooke.” Luke motioned to her laptop. “Honestly, I want someone compassionate. Someone loyal. I want a girl who cares more about others than she cares about herself. Someone who likes me for me and not for my money.” “That’s a pretty generic answer.” He shrugged. “I could make up something better.”  


 Because I'm so excited about this book--and to celebrate Mother's Day--the short prequel novella, Meet Your Match, will be FREE on kindle from May 6th - May 10th. So you can get both the novella and novel for less than a dollar, this week only! Get your copies before the prices go up! And I hope you enjoy Brooke and Luke's story. To find out about future releases in the No Match for Love series, sign up for my newsletter on my website! website | Facebook | Amazon Author Central | Goodreads | Pinterest

Norma's Review:

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

Brook and Luke are best friends and that is all Brook will allow. She set the rules back in high school and has kept them ever since. Besides, she could never trust him, especially now that his dad has died and he's let himself become rather a mess. Too much drinking and women, and too little attention to business.

Brook is doing well in her chosen profession of matchmaker for a world based matchmaking service. In fact she has even found herself the perfect match. Antonio is the one for her.
Luke, however, has never given up loving Brooke and once he gets his life back on track he makes his play to win her over. Brook, the top matchmaker, now has to decide if she is truly supposed to marry Antonio or if she mismatched.

Content: (Keep in mind that I am prudishly strict in my ratings.) There are no sex scenes but it is implied that she sleeps with her fiance and that that is normal and acceptable.There is also lot of drinking and it makes it seem that Luke can just go from being an alcoholic to sober with out any problem, which I find unrealistic.
The book is well written, so laying these things aside, I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Coming Soon: The Haunting of Springett Hall, by E. B. Wheeler

This week I'm announcing the debut of a new book that comes out July 14, 2015. The Haunting of Springett Hall, by E. B. Wheeler. The newly released cover looks great.

The description on Amazon reads: "Eighteen-year-old Lucy doesn't know how she became a ghost, but the more she remembers of her life in Victorian England, the more she wants to forget. Her only hope of changing the mistakes of her past is to enlist the help of a servant named Philip- the one living person who can see her. This impossible romance story is filled with delightful period detail and plenty of mystery."

I'm looking forward to reading this book. I love a good ghostly mystery/romance. In the mean time I've asked Emily a few questions that might help you get to know her and her writing quirks.

1. Tell me a little about yourself. Anything fun or goofy that we should know?

I'm a total history geek. I love stories about how people lived in the past, and I love discovering the ways they were like us as well as the ways they were different. As for goofy, I'm not a great singer or dancer, but that doesn't stop me from doing both at home or in the car. The crazy lady singing to herself in the car next to you? That might be me. :) At least when I have my kids in the car with me, I look a little less nuts, but sometimes they complain.

2. Where do you live and what is it like to live there?

I live in the mountains of Utah. It's beautiful in the summer, but bitter cold in the winter, and winter lasts about six months of the year. Luckily, that gives me lots of excuses to curl up on the couch with hot chocolate and good book.

3. Tell me a bit about your family/home life (if you don't mind).

My husband and I will celebrate our ten-year anniversary this May! It's hard to believe how fast time goes by. We have two wonderful, energetic daughters who keep me on my toes. My family is super patient and supportive of my writing habit: all the frozen dinners, critique group meetings, and "Hold on just a minute while I write this idea down!"

4. Why do you write? What do you write? Do you have any weird writing habits? (I know that's 3 questions; just tell me about your writing.)

I've been writing nonfiction for about ten years, mostly about history and historic preservation. I had story ideas that wouldn't leave me alone, though, so I started writing them down. THE HAUNTING OF SPRINGETT HALL is a YA Victorian paranormal mystery, and I'm working on some other historical fantasy as well as realistic historical fiction. I love the process of getting to know my characters and working through plot problems within the bounds of history. I get a thrill from diving into historical research and finding some little detail that just clicks with the story and brings it all together. I think I'm addicted. :)

Learn more about Emily Wheeler and her new book at these links:

Facebook
Twitter @EB_Wheeler
Official Web Site
Pre Order: THofSH on Amazon

Review: White Plume by Niki Gamm

White Plume is a little different than the normal books I read. It’s a young adult historical thriller set in the Ottoman Empire during the 1716.

Twelve year old Charles Henby and his father are sent on an errand by the “real” king of England to take a letter to the sultan enlisting his help in regaining the throne.
His father is killed and Charles is caught up in the battle between the Ottomans and the Austrians for control of the Balkans. He is taken to the sultan’s court where he becomes a favorite. However, he is still determined that the sultan receive the letter that he and his father were commissioned to deliver. Can he survive this strange culture with it’s strict and deadly rules long enough to fulfill his commission?

Reading White Plume gave me insight into a part of history that I was not familiar with. I think it has merit, not only as a story but as an enjoyable history lesson. The Author, Niki Gamm, has obviously done a great deal of research into the Ottoman cultures of the time. The only complaint might be that it is a little too heavy on the history, but that is more a personal opinion.

The writing is easy to read, though it seems a little stilted at times. It could be that, as it was actually written in Turkey, the differences in language have influenced the meter. It was annoying at first but as it went on it rather added to the feel of the story. The boy had to learn to speak the language at court. Intentional or not, the formal, chopped, sentences worked okay. There were however some awkward sentences that didn’t work and a few things that the editors missed. These however did not distract all that much from the story.

White Plume is newly released in the United States and I’m pleased to be a part in it’s unveiling.

A little bit about the author:

1. Tell me a little about yourself; anything fun or goofy that we should know? 

What a challenge! Tell me a little about yourself. How do I shorten 72 years in a paragraph? I’m a rebel, but of the old school. My first act of rebellion was apparently staged at age 2.5 or 3 when I slipped out the front gate of our home in Seattle and was found half a block away watching a mother bird feeding her young in a tree. The family I was adopted into thought men went to college and women became were store clerks or stayed at home so I got a Ph.D. Tourist traveling was for retirement years in the family so as soon as I got a driver’s license and my own car at age 18 I took off to see friends in L.A. and four years later went on the “Grand Tour” of Europe by myself.  Somewhere along the line I fell in love with Turkey and in particular, Istanbul. Now I’ve spent more than half my life there, nearly 35 years as a journalist, although I’ve maintained contact with friends in Seattle. As you can probably discern, I love challenges (time limits, new and different subjects for example) and change for better or worse.

2. Where do you live and what is it like to live there?

As for where I live, I have an apartment in the center of Istanbul in an area called Cihangir, not on the historic peninsula with its “Old City” Byzantine and Ottoman buildings. Cihangir was full of gardens and orchards and wooden mansions in the 19th century but now is covered with apartment buildings along a hill from which you can see the Bosphorus Straits, Sea of Marmara and the Old City.  Although Istanbul has shopping malls and large supermarkets, my area has lots of small mom-and-pop stores, fast food outlets, butcher shops, pharmacies, repair shops and the like with all of them willing to do home deliveries without an extra charge. Even the veterinarians will send someone to pick up one of my cats if necessary. If a delivery isn’t too heavy, you just lower a basket from your window.  We even have garbage pickup five or six times a day.

3. Tell me bit about your family/home life (if you don’t mind).

These days I write a column once a week for the daily newspaper where I’ve worked for more than 30 years and that’s quite different from the 24/7 life as a news reporter for a daily paper.  I’m single and I share my third floor apartment with nine cats – there used to be more. It’s quite large so I’m rarely bothered by them unless they need cuddling or are hungry and what’s available doesn’t suit them.  There’s a green area in back without cars or dogs so they’re free to roam there. Two or three of them have figured out how to get down to the street in front of our building and will sit there crying very loudly until someone lets them in and I find them pawing at my door. When they let me, I monitor news reports, keep up on my e-mail correspondence, translate from Turkish to English for friends, write articles for the paper in addition to my column and work on / think about the several writing projects I have in mind, including a second and third follow-up to White Plume, which will shortly be up on Amazon. I also, with a Turkish friend, write a website (www.theottomanfiles.com) click here for link which is a blend of information and a blog.

4. Why do you write? What do you write? Do you have any weird writing habits? (I know that's three questions; just tell me about your writing.)

When I was young, I used to write little scenarios or mostly dream them up without committing them to paper.  Since those were the days before television, I used comic books to stimulate my imagination or novels. Then my rebellion took me into academia with its quite different style of writing and eventually journalism. I kept my imagination to myself for the most part until a serious health scare made me aware of the passing time.  So I felt I should commit some of the more recent scenarios to paper and see about sharing them with others. I first wrote a trilogy, set in southwestern Wyoming about half way between Cody and Rock Springs which is still hibernating on my computer and then White Plume.  If there’s anything peculiar about my writing, it’s that I do my first draft by hand in spite of my arthritis – blank, unlined white paper and a fine-point pen, one page a day regardless of other commitments.  I don’t prepare an outline for my story but they’re fiction set in historical periods so the frame is already there.


(A note of interest to me here was that Niki has written a trilogy set between Cody and Rock Springs WY as I live in Cody and my newly released book is set in the badlands of WY. What a small world we live in to have such a connection to someone half way across the globe.) I've enjoyed meeting Niki online. What an interesting person, a true free spirit.

Look for White Plume at:
The White Plume on Amazon

Book Review: Book Of Immortals: Canidate by Kassandra Lynn

Candidate, is the second in a series. To read my review of the first book see: My review of Book of Immortals Disciple for Online Book Club

I really enjoy a book where the bad girl is seeking redemption. Preserving her soul in a crystal pendant, Shann lies dead for almost one hundred years in an apparatus that has preserved her mortal remains.
She is not the only thing that has been preserved however, her child, still in the womb is still alive. Her former master, not knowing he is the father of the baby girl removes the child and takes it as his own. He hangs Shann's pendant on the baby's neck.
This allows Shann to go out among others, to find a suitable body that she can take over.
Her spirit watches over her daughter, Eadon, for a time and she has a connection with her. Her daughter would be a candidate for her soul to intrude but she would never do that. However, through the connection that her daughter has with her the master becomes aware that she is trapped in the pendant.
He sends the pendant out to find its way to others. Eventually it comes in contact with someone that is suitable, who is also evil enough that she has no qualms about taking over his body, changing it to suit her own needs and then, because the body belongs to a devil cult leader, she has to escape and find her way back to the immortals she cares for.
She later joins a quest to find the Book of Immortals. The devils also want the book, and war ensues when it is found. Shann, who has not been able to completely annihilate the devil she shares a body with is sometimes taken over by him. In the end, well, no spoilers from me. Read the book if you want to know how it ends.
I give the book four out of five stars, you know I'm stingy with stars so that's a good score. It's reasonably clean though not squeaky, the magics are sound and well thought out. I recommend this book to fantasy readers from older young adults and up.


A bit about the Author: (this is always my favorite part)


1. Tell me a little about yourself. Anything fun or goofy that we should know?

I grew up reading stories in both English and Chinese.  The structure behind fiction and the roles each characters play had intrigued me since I was a child.  Somehow, I like many of the antagonists and minor characters more than some of the protagonists—perhaps because the antagonists are the ones with the more interesting traits and strong personality?  In my writing, I want to incorporate some of the things I like about minor characters into my protagonists.  My protagonists are not always good in the traditional perspectives—some of them might be downright evil and selfish—but they're the ones I like to read about.  I hope you find them interesting too.

2. Where do you live and what is it like to live there?

I live in Vallejo, CA where the weather is always nice.  The town is not huge, but it's close to major cities and recreational areas.

3. Tell me a bit about your family/home life (if you don't mind).

I live with my husband and a sister who is my first beta reader.


4. Why do you write? What do you write? Do you have any weird writing habits? (I know that's 3 questions; just tell me about your writing.)

I like to make up stories in my head when I lie on my bed at night—it's like telling myself a bedtime story.  But thinking about something in my mind can be very disorganized and illusive.  I want to put them down in writing to make them more concrete and to share my fantasy with others.

I like to read and write fantasy and romance.  My finished books include "Book of Immortals: Disciple" and "Book of Immortals: Candidate."  I'm currently working on the third book in the series.

I have so many new concepts I want to write about after finishing the Book of Immortals series.  It's hard to choose which one to do first!

I don't think I have any weird writing habits unless if you consider the fact that I never know where the plot is going to turn until it does.

Kassandra Lynn's Web Page

Book of Immortals: Disciple

Book of Immortals: Candidate

the Whisper of Albion by J S Watts

It's poem or short story week:
I'm pleased that J S Watts has agreed to shared a poem with you. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

She says, "The poem I’ve chosen to share with you is “A Whisper of Albion” which comes from “Cats and Other Myths”. Where I live now, and in my previous home in St. Albans in the UK, there are lots of old things buried in the soil which get dug up every time you do any gardening or a farmer ploughs a field. This prompted me to write the following poem."

A Whisper of Albion

The earth was whispering

As I dug you up.

It has secrets it frets to share.

Where others see rubbish

It shows treasures:

Flints and porcelain,

Broken pots and bottles

And today a pebble;

Small round stone with no centre,

Just a hole running

All the way through it,

A tiny passageway to eternity

Through which the winds

Of lost centuries blow.

Maybe a bead, a children’s toy,

The lost link to a necklet

Worn by a princess.

Maybe just a small round stone

With a hole through its middle

Amusing my fingers

As I peer through

In search of lost lands

And the hidden whisper

Of Albion’s soil.

A little about the author:

1. Tell me a little about yourself. Anything fun or goofy that we should know?

I’m a British writer and I write poetry, novels and short stories. Much, but not all, of my work, has elements of speculative fiction within it, but I’ll tell you a bit more about that later. I’m a keen amateur photographer, which I find fun and I’m also a French Horn player, which I thoroughly enjoy, but others seem to find a little goofy. I think it’s all the brass tubing that goes to make up a French Horn.


2. Where do you live and what is it like to live there?

I live in the UK. I was originally born and grew up in London, but now I live in the large-skied, flat-lands of East Anglia, in the countryside near the city of Cambridge. It is a very beautiful and open part of the countryside to live in and, as a former Londoner, I love the fact that I can walk out of my house and straight into fields and woodland. There are deer, foxes, squirrels and badgers just meandering about on their business and the bird life is extensively wonderful. In summer the fields are filled with a colourful array of butterflies, bees and dragonflies.

3. Tell me a bit about your family/home life (if you don't mind).

These days it's just me and the cat and that’s great for writing, because when the words are flowing I don’t like being disturbed. The cat, however, doesn’t fully appreciate this and still yowls for food, attention and general human-slave functions at regular intervals.


4. Why do you write? What do you write? Do you have any weird writing habits?

As noted above, I write poetry, novels and short stories primarily for adults, but some of my short stories have appeared in magazines for young adults. I have published two books of poetry, “Cats and Other Myths” and “Songs of Steelyard Sue”, and a dark fiction novel, “A Darker Moon”. A second novel, “Witchlight”, is due out this Spring. I am hoping that a third poetry book will follow later this year or beginning of next. My short stories and individual poems are published in varied magazines, in print and online, and I also write book reviews for magazines and e-zines. Much of my work has speculative elements to it: “Songs of Steelyard Sue” combines Science Fiction with a more literary poetic style and tone (the hero of the poetry sequence is a female robot living on an Earth turned into a rubbish heap by mankind), and I like writing which crosses and mixes genre boundaries. The books I enjoy reading most are equally diverse and genre fluid. You can find out more about me and my writing at www.jswatts.co.uk



Out in 2015 from Vagabondage Press, Witchlight, a novel by J.S.Watts. Other books by J.S.Watts: A Darker Moon (novel), Vagabondage Press 2012 - ISBN 978-0615706528; Cats and Other Myths (poetry collection), Lapwing Publications 2011 - ISBN 9781907276644; Songs of Steelyard Sue (poetry pamphlet), Lapwing Publications 2012 - ISBN 9781909252028: NOMINATED for BOTH SFPA and Saboteur Awards Best Poetry Pamphlet 2013.
Website: http://www.jswatts.co.uk/
Find the writer J.S.Watts on Facebook: www.facebook.com/J.S.Watts.page


Book links (US):

Cats and Other Myths http://www.amazon.com/Cats-Other-Myths-J-S-Watts/dp/1907276645/ref=la_B005FFWEZE_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1422561666&sr=1-2


Songs of Steelyard Sue http://www.amazon.com/Song-Steelyard-Sue-J-S-Watts/dp/1909252026/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1422561630&sr=1-1&keywords=Songs+of+Steelyard+Sue


A Darker Moon http://www.amazon.com/Darker-Moon-J-S-Watts/dp/0615706525/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1422561575&sr=1-5&keywords=A+Darker+Moon




Book links (UK): (the prices for my poetry books are more sensible in the UK)


Cats and Other Myths http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cats-Other-Myths-J-S-Watts/dp/1907276645/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1422567324&sr=1-4&keywords=Cats+and+Other+Myths


Songs of Steelyard Sue http://www.amazon.co.uk/Song-Steelyard-Sue-J-S-Watts/dp/1909252026/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1422567268&sr=1-1&keywords=Songs+of+Steelyard+Sue


A Darker Moon http://www.amazon.co.uk/Darker-Moon-J-S-Watts/dp/0615706525/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1422567163&sr=1-1&keywords=A+Darker+Moon

Spotlight on Aften Szymansky

I've had so much fun since I started doing these spotlights and book reviews. I've gotten to know some wonderful fellow writers.

Today I'd like to tell you about Aften Szymanski.

Aften and I have traded manuscripts in the past and she has encouraged me in my writing. Although I have never physically met her, I feel like we have become friends.

She writes stories for young people that help them to deal with some of the crazy stuff that they have to face growing up. I read one called Liar Lindy Brant that brought back some of those awful feelings I had when I was in middle school and there were misunderstandings and mean kids who made the most of them.

Here are her answers to my four questions.

1. Tell me a little about yourself. Anything fun or goofy that we should know?
When I make ramen noodles I add tomato sauce, sriracha, lemon juice, and a little soy sauce. Sometimes I’ll add thin sliced onion, capers, or green olives to the cooking process, or green peppers. However, if I have any kimchi in the house- it’s all about kimchi in my ramen.  I love ramen noodles.

I love to travel and have been to Germany, Haiti, Ecuador, and Mexico. I want to travel more, but since I’ve been married and had kids it’s been more difficult to find the time and money.

I startle easily. If you’ve been standing in front of me for three minutes, but I was looking down—as soon as I look up I will freak out at you. Also, don’t approach me in silence, from around a corner, or at night without first making your presence known well in advance.

When I was thirteen I purchased the script for Return of the Jedi so I could study writing from my favorite movie. I also bought Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade as a script. (I loved George Lucas works until Jar Jar Binks came to be).
After reading the scripts I bought I wrote a Christmas play and somehow convinced my siblings to play parts in it. I made them rehearse for a month and a half so they could perform for our parents. It was a tragic comedy about three self-absorbed elves who scheme to overthrow Santa, who they believe gets all the credit and does none of the work. They’re later tricked into believing Santa choked to death on a tainted cookie, and then have regrets when they realize they aren’t prepared for the social skills demands of Santa’s job requirements as well as coordinating the drops worldwide. Santa later laughs at them because he ‘totally played them’. They learn that everyone has a valued role in the production of Christmas joy and Santa tries harder to show his appreciation and recognition for the elves effort.

2. Where do you live and what is it like to live there?
I live in Star Valley, WY where there is snow a minimum of five months out of the year. My first year here it snowed on September first and we hid Easter eggs in three feet of snow when spring came. We invest in quality hot chocolates because it takes the drab edge off of winter. I own a lot of sweaters. I own no tan lines…

3. Tell me a bit about your family/home life (if you don't mind).
I’m a mom first, writer second, and part time educator third. Day starts with getting kids up and ready for school all except my youngest who gets to hang with me most days. Up at 6am, read scriptures as a family, breakfast, hair and out the door. I double check my list with things to get done and then drag around for another hour debating getting myself out of jammies.
It generally takes me until 10am to think straight. I’ll sometimes get a workout in before 10am, but not always. At 10 I get to work going over any revisions or writing done the previous day and from there plunge into the new days work. I tend to my three year old the whole time so it’s a very broken day’s effort, but I love that.
When kids get off the bus it’s homework, dinner, and reading time. We read every night. My husband’s reading The Hobbit to our kids for a second time now—it’s their favorite.

4. Why do you write? What do you write? Do you have any weird writing habits? (I know that's three questions; just tell me about your writing.)
I write at the kitchen table. I have no office space, which works well for a mommy-writer like me. My kids constantly interrupt me with needs, questions, demands, and hugs. It’s nice to be accessible as well as let them see that I am dedicated to the thing I love—writing.
Every day I make sure to write. Even if my only time is right before I switch my lamp off and fall to sleep. I have a standing goal of writing 500 words a day. I don’t expect more of myself because I have a lot of demands throughout the day and can’t always anticipate free time. But 500 is doable for me no matter what demands are set. It’s the way I unwind.
Weird habits? I fill empty Pepsi bottles with water so while I’m writing I can reach for what looks like a soda, but it’s really water. Except that it’s clear and Pepsi is the color of bubbling manure, so it only really tricks my mind if I’m totally into a scene and reach and drink without looking too closely at the liquid inside the bottle.

Books by Aften:

 O. Potamus

Liar Lindy Brandt

Peter Holt Is A Hottie

Forever Frenemies

Coincidence, by Danette J. Hansen

I'm having fun already with my new series of book reviews. To start with I read something I would probably have never gotten around to reading otherwise. I haven't read a mystery of any sort for quite some time and I can't say I've ever read a genealogical mystery before. Following is my review as posted on Goodreads.

Coincidence by Danette J. Hansen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A historical, genealogical mystery, this book is set in Holland during World War II. Is is clear that the author did her research. I learned, in a pleasant way, about that era in Holland's history.

The book is two stories in one, a modern day romance and a family history mystery. Both stories were delightful and the transition between the two worked well. It is tied together as well by the family link of Annaliese and her great aunt. There is also a rather awkward love triangle that livens things up.

Annaliese has gone to Holland to be part of a research team that studies the hybridization of plants. When she arrives, she boards with a woman who leads her into the shadows of the past and that is where the mystery begins.

If you have ever had the genealogy bug you have probably experienced the feeling that one of your ancestors is trying to tell you something. Annaliese goes beyond that, having visions and hearing voices. Sometimes making the solving of the mystery seem a little too convenient, but I didn't mind that, the journey was fun enough that I believed it.

The only reason I didn't give the book a full five stars is that I thought the parts that were supposed to be from her aunt's diary read more like a novel. I took me out of the story a little. Nobody writes that way in their journal, at least not in my opinion. Also there was a slight problem with my believing that the journal would still be where it was found, and still readable.

Coincidence is still a really good read and I recommend it to readers from young adult up. It's squeaky clean and even a little educational.

(View all my reviews on Goodreads)

Now for a little about the author. If any of you are in the Logan UT area today. Danette Hanson is doing a book signing at Hastings in Logan.

If like me, that's too far to go you can learn a little about her on this blog. I asked her four questions. Here are the answers. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

1. Tell me a little about yourself. Anything fun or goofy that we should know?

I'm a mother of four, with a wonderful husband. My children get a kick out of my made up words. It's not like I'm 

trying to make up words, they just come out funky and weird sometimes. Like when my daughter had her learning permit,

I'd say, "Turn on your dinky donk," or "Reverse and go real slow." My children all wonder what kind of things I'll say 

when I turn 80.(My husband too I'm sure) Maybe I can create fun characters in my children's books like Dr. Suess did.

My crazy children stories usually have to do with bubblegum. I've always loved gum. One thing you should know about me is, I love to laugh

2. Where do you live and what it like to live there?

I live in Cache Valley, (Utah) in the small town of Wellsville. It's a lot like my home town of Alamosa, Colorado in where it snows too much, for too long and is much too cold. 

Even though I don't like the snow per say, my children can actually tube down the hill just in our back yard––which they love. So I guess that's not a bad deal. They can be out in the white, cold stuff while I stay warm inside and watch them out the window. I really live in a beautiful place, love the area and the people. It's a great area to raise a family.

3. Tell me a bit about your family/home life (if you don't mind).

Let's see what is there to tell.... if I get on the computer too early, I'll get sucked in and none of my house chores get done. True story. My husband teases that he hasn't had a home cooked meal for months. My children are older now (my baby is 14) so I can get away with writing more, which can be a good or bad thing. I make jewelry out of spoons and forks. Love all things artsy. (So pinterest can eat up my time too) That's probably why my children are so creative, they've been around crafty things their whole lives. (Grandma is real creative and artistic too and they love to spend time with Grandma) I draw, some. Have always loved art. However, I do more coveting of those who draw more than anything.

4. Why do you write? What do you write? Do you have any weird writing habits? (I know that's 3 questions, just tell me about your writing.)

Well, I didn't really want to write until later in life. In fact, in school if we had to write a book report, I just watched the movie instead. But I guess I've always had a vivid imagination and I've always named anything that looked to have a personality. It's got to have personality to get a name. I did a course with Children's Literature Institute and loved it. Now I can't stop writing. In fact, I have too many ideas and not enough time. When I ask my children to listen to what I've written, they say, "Oh, I've got things to do. Maybe later." Then I duck tape them to the chair and make them listen. NOT really. They all support me (as long as I cook them dinner. That's why Katee is in our family so she can do the cooking.) I absolutely LOVE my family! And they would be lost without me––who else is going to talk like they're from another planet without even trying? 

I love to laugh, write, read, and go to the movies. I’m a foot zoner so I like to learn about holistic living.

I believe there are magical moments in life––and if there isn’t for a time, then that’s when you wish for magic. Writing is magic. I get to discover the story just like a reader. As the magical elements fall into place in a story I've learned to recognize that’s really how life is; magical when you least expect. 

To learn more about Danette J Hansen and her books, check out the links below.

Website /  Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook 
Coincidence Amazon / Barnes&Noble / Kobo
Space Gum picture book Amazon

Spotlight on Stephanie Pitman

I have recently joined a team of writers at Creative Prose Publishing. Today I would like to focus on one of those writers: Stephanie Pitman.

It's been so fun to get to know my fellow authors, and especially to know that we all share the goal of writing good clean fiction. I have long felt that there is a shortage of that. To get to know Stephanie better I asked her a couple of questions. Here are her answers:

Tell how it is to live where you live.

"I live in one of the most beautiful areas of Montana. Helena, as the state capitol, has a lot of different people here, which can be interesting at times, but it has so much to offer for the small city it is. Within fifteens minutes - or less - of our doorstep, we can be in town shopping or doing a bunch of other in town type activities, in the mountains hiking, fishing, at the lake, camping, and more. You can even go into town and hike a mountain in the middle of town, Mt Helena. It have two awesome trails, one is super killer, the power line trail and it goes straight up."

Tell me about your family.

"I'm one of the luckiest ladies in the world. I got to marry my high school sweetheart and we've been happily, if not blissfully, married for almost 17 years. We have two handsome boys, Patterson, 14 and Corbin, 10, and they keep us plenty busy with their scouts, church activities, guitar lessons, basketball practice and school to mention a few."

I know your book Honorable Disgrace came about because of some personal things that happened to you. Do you mind talking about that?

"Not at all. I knew when I decided to write Honorable Disgrace I would have to be okay with talking about what happened to me. At the age of 16, my older sister made some poor choices and because of that I found myself in a situation I could not get out of and I was raped. I was numb, felt like it hadn't really happened to me, that it was someone else, but then at the same time I felt it was my fault so I never told anyone about it. And I loved my sister. No matter what her actions, I couldn't say anything that might get her in trouble. So, I said nothing. Not to anyone, save a good friend and my husband. And years later, I had pushed it down so far, I thought I was in the clear and that I was over it. Until nightmares began to surface and I had to get it out. I began to journal about it and it helped a lot. Then I felt inspired to take my heartache and pain and put it into a book to hopefully help another victim know they don't have to deal with the pain alone."



Honorable Disgrace is available February 2, 2015. 
I am told that Stephanie handles the topic with grace and finesse and that it is totally appropriate. I'm looking forward to reading this book.

Order it today on Amazon