Love Literary Style by Karen Gillespie (4.5 stars)

About Love Literary Style

Paperback: 280 pages
Henery Press

They say opposites attract, and what could be more opposite than a stuffy literary writer falling in love with a self-published romance writer?

Meet novelist Aaron Mite. He lives in a flea-infested rented alcove, and his girlfriend Emma, a combative bookstore owner, has just dumped him. He meets Laurie Lee at a writers’ colony and mistakenly believes her to be a renowned writer of important fiction. When he discovers she’s a self-published romance author, he’s already fallen in love with her.

Aaron thinks genre fiction is an affront to the fiction-writing craft. He likes to quotes the essayist, Arthur Krystal who claims literary fiction “melts the frozen sea inside of us.” Ironically Aaron doesn’t seem to realize that, despite his lofty literary aspirations, he’s emotionally frozen, due, in part, to a childhood tragedy. The vivacious Laurie, lover of flamingo-patterned attire and all things hot pink, is the one person who might be capable of melting him.

Their relationship is initially made in literary heaven but when Aaron loses his contract with a prestigious press, and Laurie’s novel is optioned by a major film studio, the differences in their literary sensibilities and temperaments drive them apart.

In a clumsy attempt to win Laurie back, Aaron employs the tropes of romance novels. Too late. She’s already taken up with Ross, a prolific author of Nicholas Sparks-like love stories. Initially Laurie is more comfortable with the slick and superficial Ross, but circumstances force her to go deeper with her writing and confront a painful past. Maybe Aaron and Laurie have more in common than they imagined.

In the tradition of the Rosie Project, Love Literary Style is a sparkling romantic comedy which pokes fun at the divide between so-called low and high brow fiction.

“Witty and smart, entertaining and lyrical, in Love Literary Style author Karin Gillespie explores all facets of love and language through her evocative characters and charmingly delicious plot. Aaron and Laurie’s story is the intellectual’s romantic comedy, an uproariously winning tale that is sure to delight a wide range of readers, but particularly those who desire a book with heart.” —Laura Spinella, bestselling author of Ghost Gifts, #1 Kindle Bestseller 

READ an excerpt at Karin’s website, HERE.

Purchase Links 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble  

Review

Indie romance author meets literary snob. A relationship that doesn't make sense on papyrus (okay, you'll appreciate this reference once you read the book), yet they are drawn to each other. Can two such opposing forces come together to write their own love story?

Total honesty here... a few pages in, I convinced myself I wasn't going to like this book, its concept, or the main character, Aaron. But sometimes I'm just wrong, and that's why I never give up that quickly. It didn't take long before he grew on me (and Laura I liked from the get-go), and I wanted these characters to rub off on each other. 

Through charming scenes and slowly revealed internal struggles, I slipped further and further into their world, leaving behind my preconceived notions. Then, before I knew it, I loved not only the main romance, but also the unexpected emotional relationships outside of just Laura and Aaron. 

What started as a predictable romance turned into something unexpected--a deeper and more engrossing story about love and acceptance. I highly recommend.

Rating: 4.5 stars

About Karin Gillespie 

Karin Gillespie is the author of the national bestselling Bottom Dollar Girls series, 2016 Georgia Author of the Year, Co-author for Jill Connor Browne’s novel Sweet Potato Queen’s First Big Ass Novel. Her latest novel Love Literary Style was inspired by a New York Times article called “Masters in Chick Lit” that went viral and was shared by literary luminaries like Elizabeth Gilbert and Anne Rice. 

She’s written for the Washington Postand Writer Magazine and is book columnist and humor columnist for the Augusta Chronicle and Augusta Magazine respectively. She received a Georgia Author of the Year Award in 2016. 

Connect with Karin 
Website | Facebook | Twitter

Thanks to TLC for my review copy.

Note: I received a complimentary copy for review purposes. A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own. 

Please visit other stops on the Love Literary Style blog tour page.

The Surrendered by Case Maynard (4.5 stars)

THE SURRENDERED by Case Maynard is LIVE. You can find out all about this YA dystopian and Vee’s fight against the #taxonkids by following the links below to your preferred retailer. Don’t forget to come celebrate tonight on Facebook, where Case and some other amazing authors will be raffling some awesome prizes.

About The Surrendered

After a financial collapse devastates the United States, the new government imposes a tax on the nation’s most valuable resource—the children.

Surrendered at age ten—after her parents could no longer afford her exorbitant fees—Vee Delancourt has spent six hard years at the Mills, alongside her twin, Oliver. With just a year to freedom, they do what they can to stay off the Master’s radar. But when Vee discovers unspeakable things happening to the younger girls in service, she has no choice but to take a stand—a decision that lands her on the run and outside the fence for the first time since the System robbed her of her liberty.

Vee knows the Master will stop at nothing to prove he holds ultimate authority over the Surrendered. But when he makes a threat that goes beyond what even she considers possible, she accepts the aid of an unlikely group of allies. Problem is, with opposing factions gunning for the one thing that might save them all, Vee must find a way to turn oppression and desperation into hope and determination—or risk failing all the children and the brother she left behind.

Now available!

Amazon - iBooks - Barnes & Noble - Kobo - Signed Copies - Goodreads

Review

Vee Delancourt has a burning desire to be more, to do more. Unfortunately, the world operates under a new set of rules since a devastating financial collapse. Parents are forced to pay fees or turn over their children. Vee and her twin brother, Oliver, are surrendered.

Vee and Oliver live a life of servitude, a fate Vee struggles to accept. When she can't take it anymore, Vee decides to take action... and nothing will ever be the same, especially as unsettling secrets are revealed. 

Nothing makes me happier than reading a strong female character who doesn't have all the answers but trusts her gut to fight for what she knows is right. Vee fits this description perfectly. Twists and turns abound as Vee unearths one secret after another, leading to a captivating conclusion sure to leave you wanting more.

If you love strong characters, fast-moving action, and great storytelling, then take a chance on The Surrendered. You'll be hooked.

Rating: 4.5 stars

About the author:

With over 20 years’ experience in the legal and medical fields, Case Maynard decided to trade in her briefs and reports to write the stories that have been floating around in her head since childhood. She lives with her two teenagers and husband in South Georgia, while maintaining a long-distance liaison with her oldest daughter and partner in crime in Alaska. When not writing, she enjoys reading as often as possible, binge watching anything good on Netflix, and all things NCAA football (Go Noles!). 

You can learn more about Case and her stories on her website.

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Note: I served as Editor through Indie Books Gone Wild. A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own.

Remember My Beauties by Lynne Hugo (4.5 stars)

About Remember My Beauties

Paperback: 194 pages 
Publisher: Switchgrass Books; 1 edition (April 18, 2016)

Imagine a hawk’s view of the magnificent bluegrass pastures of Kentucky horse country. Circle around the remnants of a breeding farm, four beautiful horses grazing just beyond the paddock. Inside the ramshackle house, a family is falling apart.

Hack, the patriarch breeder and trainer, is aged and blind, and his wife, Louetta, is confined by rheumatoid arthritis. Their daughter, Jewel, struggles to care for them and the horses while dealing with her own home and job—not to mention her lackluster second husband, Eddie, and Carley, her drug-addicted daughter. Many days, Jewel is only sure she loves the horses. But she holds it all together. Until her brother, Cal, shows up again. Jewel already has reason to hate Cal, and when he meets up with Carley, he throws the family into crisis—and gives Jewel reason to pick up a gun.

Every family has heartbreaks, failures, a black sheep or two. And some families end in tatters. But some stumble on the secret of survival: if the leader breaks down, others step up and step in. In this lyrical novel, when the inept, the addict, and the ex-con join to weave the family story back together, either the barn will burn to the ground or something bigger than any of them will emerge, shining with hope. Remember My Beauties grows large and wide as it reveals what may save us.

For more information on this and other Switchgrass titles, be sure to visit their website HERE.

“In vibrant prose, Lynne Hugo tells a gritty, psychologically astute story of three generations in turmoil and the power of nature to heal even the most troubled hearts. Her characters are brave, flawed, real—at times disturbingly so—but she never gives up on any of them, and by the end of this inspiring novel, I shared her empathetic vision. A spare, commanding novel by a master storyteller.”—Patry Francis, author of The Orphans of Race Point

“A character in Remember My Beauties is fond of saying, ‘Lotsa ways to be blind,’ but this wonderful novel also shows us there are many ways to see—many ways to see love, for instance, or family or forgiveness. I’ll be remembering the beauty of this novel for a long time to come.”—Katrina Kittle, author of The Blessings of the Animals

“Lynne Hugo’s writing is beautiful and evocative, earthy and strong. The characters, the setting, and the way she handles tough issues with honesty, grit, and understanding all make for a wonderful read.”—Laura Harrington, author of Alice Bliss

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

Review

Normally I summarize the book and then detail my feelings about it. but since the summary above is as beautifully written as the story, I figured I'd jump right into my review. 

I expected great things from this novel since I really enjoyed Lynne Hugo's A Matter of Mercy (see review here) and appreciated her ability to portray very emotional material. And I was not disappointed. 

Remember My Beauties is heartbreaking but life affirming. The reader is transported into the trenches of this family's life--drug through their disappointments, failures, and struggles--and then brought full circle back to the beauty of life and hope.

At times, I'd cringe while reading, broken by my emotional reaction to these characters' lives. When Jewel, the one family member who is managing to hold the rest of the family together, breaks, it paves the path for the others to pick up the pieces and see what they can put back together. A glimmer of hope begins and, along with it, a belief that life has taken a turn. 

Gritty, emotional, and beautifully written, Remember My Beauties is a story that will stay with you. I highly recommend it.

Oh, and if you love horses, you'll connect with this story even more!

Rating: 4.5 stars

About Lynne Hugo

Lynne Hugo has published ten previous books, including poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Her memoir, Where the Trail Grows Faint, won the River Teeth Literary Nonfiction Book Prize in 2004, and her sixth novel, A Matter of Mercy, was awarded an Independent Publisher silver medal for best regional fiction in 2014. The recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship, she lives in Ohio with her husband and their yellow Labrador retriever.

Connect with Lynne 
Website | Facebook | Twitter

Thanks to TLC for my review copy.

Note: I received a complimentary copy for review purposes. A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own. 

Please visit other stops on Remember My Beauties blog tour page.

Drops of Sunshine (Spellbound YA Anthology) by Tricia Copeland (4.5 stars)

About Drops of Sunshine
by Tricia Copeland
(a story within Spellbound)

Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth. -Buddha 

Working as lifeguard at a camp for the blind seems like the perfect escape for Nina. But a few perceptive kids can hear her thoughts. Can embracing her truth help her heal and reveal possibilities she never imagined? 

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Review

Although I'm just reviewing one novella, Drops of Sunshine, within the collection, Spellbound made up of five complete never-before-seen YA novellas.

If Drops of Sunshine is any indication, this should be a stellar YA Anthology read. I picked up my copy on pre-order and plan to read more, so keep an eye peeled for more reviews.

In Drops, Nina is working at a camp for the blind, wanting a little escape from her life and all the changes. Then, she starts to notice strange abilities amongst the campers. Innocent, sweet kids seem to have a lot of insight into her family life--very personal issues she hasn't shared with anyone.

At first, she's not sure what to do about these odd happenings. But she quickly gains insight into her own life through some very special children. 

Novellas are always tough to judge, because if it's good, I want more. So it says a lot about Drops that I really wanted more story. Pick up a copy and dive in... a sweet summer read!

Rating: 4.5 stars

About the Author

Tricia Copeland grew up in Georgia but now lives outside the mile-high city of Denver, Colorado with her husband, three kids, and multiple four legged and finned friends. An avid runner and paranormal fan, she also enjoys hiking, trivia, and Scrabble. 

You can connect with Tricia and other readers on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and on her website, www.triciacopeland.com.

Note: I was the Editor on this novella through Indie Books Gone Wild. A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own.

Think You Know Me by Tricia Copeland (4.5 stars)

About Think You Know Me
(Being Me, Book 3)

March 20 
This isn’t fair! I see his face every time I close my eyes, hear his mother’s words echo in my dreams. And he’s a headline again? How do I move past the rage and guilt when he won’t go away? I need him gone. He doesn’t get to win like this. I won’t let him. 
–Amanda 

Amanda’s first year of college is fraught with drama and parental scrutiny. With her relationship secure and a clean break from her parents, all she wants is a normal term. But fate steps in and deals a shattering blow. Think You Know Me will keep you guessing from the first chapter. 

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Review

After a rough start to college, Amanda was finally on the mend and very much in love. But then another challenge is thrown her way, and it cripples her at first, leaving her in her most fragile state. Can even Doug, the love of her life, help her find her way?

Amanda is a character I've come to really care about through the series. She's vulnerable, yet strong. Determined, yet fragile. I don't want to give anything away, but her encounter early in the book pushes her to the brink... and the reader is left wondering if she'll recover. And, even if she does, how much it will change her.

This installment is more raw and emotional than the previous two... a natural progression for the character and the story. We get to experience a very intimate breakdown in Amanda's psyche while still seeing glimpses of the fighter underneath.

A truly captivating read.

Rating: 4.5 stars

About the Author

Tricia Copeland grew up in Georgia but now lives outside the mile-high city of Denver, Colorado with her husband, three kids, and multiple four legged and finned friends. An avid runner and paranormal fan, she also enjoys hiking, trivia, and Scrabble. 

You can connect with Tricia and other readers on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and on her website, www.triciacopeland.com.

Note: I was the Editor on this book through Indie Books Gone Wild. A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own.

Asleep by Krystal Wade (4.5 stars)

About Asleep

"To cure fear, you must use fear." 

Rose Briar claims no responsibility for the act that led to her imprisonment in an asylum. She wants to escape, until terrifying nightmares make her question her sanity and reach out to her doctor. He’s understanding and caring in ways her parents never have been, but as her walls tumble down and Rose admits fault, a fellow patient warns her to stop the medications. Phillip believes the doctor is evil and they’ll never make it out of the facility alive. Trusting him might be just the thing to save her. Or it might prove the asylum is exactly where she needs to be. 

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Review

Rose Briar's parents don't know what to do with their daughter. In desperation, they send her to a mental institute. Once she's there, she spirals into a nightmare of confusion and fear, and she's not sure who to trust... the doctor who swears he can help her or the male friend who warns her about the facility.

Wow. Just wow. This book grabbed me from the first page where Rose's parents are taking her to the institute to the last page where... oh, you know I can't tell you that part. Rose is my favorite kind of character: determined, strong, and flawed. She's made mistakes and has doubts, but she refuses to give in to others' suggestions without doing everything in her power to figure it out.

As intense as it is, there's still time for excellent character development and even a love interest, although not in a conventional way by any means. Plus, the story will leave you guessing on which characters to trust to have Rose's best interests at heart... from her parents, to her doctor, to her boyfriend. It's intense and captivating. Once you start, be committed to a stretch of time, because you aren't going to want to put it down.

I recently saw this book compared to Sleeping Beauty meets Nightmare on Elm Street. So true! If you love twisty fairy tales, or just love a unique book with kick-butt characters and intense story, then grab Asleep today!

Rating: 4.5 stars

About the Author

I’m happily married to the love of my life (don’t gag) and raising three beautiful children in the gorgeous state of Virginia. We live just outside Washington, D.C., and every day I wake up to find myself stuck in traffic trying to get there.

The horrid commute gives me plenty of time to zone out and think about my characters in full, brilliant details (I’m a safe driver; don’t worry). Stories give me a way to forget about the sometimes smelly strangers sitting next to me on the fifty mile trek into town (I pick up hitchhikers every day. True story. Check out www.slug-lines.com if you don’t believe me).

I’ve been a part of organized hitchhiking for nearly fifteen years, but that’s just one small aspect of my oh-so-large life. When I’m not working, commuting, or chasing after my three children (four if you count the man), you can usually find me outside talking to my chickens like they’re the cutest things in the world (they are), or training my amazing dogs how to herd said chickens (which they love), or curled up on the sofa with a good book (why can’t that be 100% of the time?).

I hope you love my stories (or just like them a little; that would be okay, too). And I hope that one day you find your passion, because there’s nothing in life better than doing what you love while surrounded by people you love.

Connect with Krystal: Website, Blaze Publishing, Facebook page, and Twitter.

Note: I served as proofreader on this book through Indie Books Gone Wild. A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own.

Flesh and Stone by PM Hernandez (4.5 stars)

About Flesh and Stone

Seventeen-year-old Ellie Whitewood dreams of being a doctor and giving back to the grandfather who raised her after the death of her parents. When she receives an inheritance from a reclusive aunt, she becomes the mistress of a sprawling manor.

Selling the property to pay for college seems like the answer to her prayers, but each day she grows more and more attached to the stone gargoyles adorning the manor rooftop. 

After finding the Whitewood journals, she learns she is the latest in a line of Caretakers who, with her Sentinels, defends the world from evil. While she is drawn to her Sentinel, Gabriel, and her new life, her future isn’t written in stone. 

Haunted by dark dreams and facing deadly enemies, is she willing to sacrifice her well-laid plans and accept her new calling...even if it comes with wings and sharp teeth?

Publication Date: 1/15/16

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Review

Ellie Whitewood has her life all planned out. Then, she receives a letter from a relative detailing an inheritance. Not long after, she's exploring a mansion, getting to know the staff, and becoming attached to the weathered gargoyles on the roof. 

She's drawn to one gargoyle in particular. Soon, she discovers her true inheritance: she's a Caretaker, the latest in a long line, and she's charged with defending the world from a dark evil. Tradition states one special gargoyle will stand beside her.

What's a young woman to do?

Ellie is a spunky girl with goals and plans. When life throws her a curveball, she faces it head on, even if she does struggle with how she's supposed to handle it. But she doesn't wither away into a sappy mess; she comes out fighting, determined to make decisions and do what she thinks is right. I so love a spunky character with flaws, especially when they fight to figure it out.

As she reads through journals from past Caretakers and gets to know the gargoyles, many questions mount. Even more perplexing, feelings start forming. And it's not as simple as the journals say it should be. I'm totally #TeamGabriel, but that's all I'm going to say on that front.

I can't wait to read more in this series and see where Ellie's heart and determination take her. 

Rating: 4.5 stars

About the Author

Paulette (PM) Hernandez is a young adult paranormal, sci-fi, and fantasy author. She is a self-proclaimed nerd. She wears a lot of black, not because she’s cool but because she’s fashion-challenged. She has been known to fangirl all over the freaking place.

Connect with Paulette
Website
Facebook
Twitter

Note: I was the Editor on this book through Indie Books Gone Wild. A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own.

If I Could Fly by Tricia Copeland (4.5 stars)

About If I Could Fly

Amanda's happily ever after is beginning, but her parents think she’s abandoned her friends, goals, even morals to be with Doug. The assessment is ludicrous, but Amanda can’t convince them otherwise. Their disapproval undermines her self-confidence and she is determined to prove them wrong. To make things worse, Doug has a huge roadblock thrown in his path. Amanda isn’t able to talk about the situation with anyone except Zack, her ex-boyfriend. 

Can she endure the strain of keeping Doug’s secret? Can her already fragile psyche survive a whole summer with parents who condemn everything she does? 

Amanda begins to doubt she can, and there’s no castle, no fairy godmother, no magic wand to rescue her.

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Book 1, Is this Me? Purchase link

Review

This is the second book in the Being Me series. I do recommend reading them in order for the full experience. 

Amanda's been through a lot, and just as she thinks she's landed the guy, everything changes. Secrets place a heavy burden on her blossoming relationship with Doug, and as if that weren't enough, her family life is crumbling. Mom and Dad don't want to see their daughter be pulled under by the drama, but they don't know the whole picture.

All the pressure is only worsening Amanda's already fragile state. She believes in Doug and their love, but outside forces are pushing... and pushing hard. Can they survive the drama? Even more concerning, will Amanda lose herself in the process?

Amanda is a character you want to root for; she gives her heart to whatever she does and believes in love. There's a richness to her emotions and her struggle to dig deep when everyone around her has an opinion on her life. At eighteen, she's facing major life choices and emotional dilemmas. And although she's a fighter, she can only take so much. 

I love that she has close friends, although one includes her ex-boyfriend, who at times I thought might be better for her. With how the book ended, there's still no clear path, and I liked that too. Life isn't easy.

If you love a good contemporary romance (that's not erotica-light) with great characters, check this one out.

Rating: 4.5 stars

About Tricia Copeland

Tricia Copeland grew up in Georgia but now lives outside the mile-high city of Denver, Colorado with her husband, three kids, and multiple four legged and finned friends. An avid runner and paranormal fan, she also enjoys hiking, trivia, and Scrabble. 

You can connect with Tricia and other readers on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and on her website, www.triciacopeland.com.

Note: I was the Editor on this book through Indie Books Gone Wild. A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own.

*****

And Happy Release Day!