News & Reviews for the Self & Small Published Reader in all of us!
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Summer is in full swing with our RONE awards competition coming down to the wire! While the judges determine which of the finalists will win this coveted award, we can read the the books ourselves and take a guess at which fabulous story will win the prize - or just relax and enjoy some awesome summer reading! Since our giant double issue has published, there''s also amazing interviews, articles just waiting to be discovered. Check it out below!
*Don''t forget to scroll all the way to the bottom to see our suggested crowned heart reviews and remember, you can click the books to find out more!
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A Conversation with Tosca Lee!
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Award winning Tosca Lee is a NYT Bestselling author and our latest feature interviewee! Wow! When we sat down to visit with Tosca, we had NO idea how incredibly rich and interesting her life and journey is! From her unique and interesting formative years, to her stints in the Mrs America Pageants to modeling, marrying a hunky farmer father, to writing truly riveting fiction - this is one woman you will really want to get to know better! Luckily she is super friendly, fun and a sincerely lovely person to know!
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"Authors Acts of Kindness" - Beth Carter
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"Beach Reads. What... and Why?" -
Andy Peloquin
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Writers can wordsmith just about anything, but a pandemic? That posed a challenge, if not a full on screeching of keyboard strokes. In dumbstruck horror, many of us watched in disbelief as the country shut down—literally. Businesses, schools, libraries, bookstores, restaurants, bars, sports arenas, churches, and beaches were closed. What? Was the world ending? What were we supposed to do? You’d think with months of unexpected time on our hands, authors would jump at the chance of having seemingly unending hours of writing time. But not so fast. Come see just how much influence a few amazing authors can have in times of crises!
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The term “beach read” gets thrown around a lot every year, but how many of us actually know what it means? Is it a book about the beach? A book to read at the beach? A beach to book for a read? There are a few definitions that help to make it (mostly) clear what qualifies as a beach read. Come along with Andy as he explores this fun concept in reading pleasure!
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Tracy Brogan decided early on she would write a book, but after years of starting but never completing a manuscript, she put herself on a timeline and after a lot of work gave us "Crazy Little Thing", a contemporary romance with eccentric characters, a hunky modern-day knight, and a slightly neurotic heroine with perfectionism issues and an obsessive need to label her refrigerator shelves''. Much to her shock and delight, it became a bestselling book that has sold over a million and a half copies!! We sat down with Tracy to learn how all this amazingness happens and found a person just as delightful as the books she writes. Don''t miss the entertaining and enlightening conversation!
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Don''t miss Our Brand New Serial Story!
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It''s the very first month in our FABULOUS new episodic story!!
This year, the award winning historical romance author, Meara Platt has written an absolutely delightful and fun tale that will keep you laughing, sighing and coming back for more!
Enjoy the first chapter of "The Dream of Love" in the July/Aug issue!
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"Audio book Self-Narrating" -
Kevin G. Chapman
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"Remember When...."-
S.L. Carpenter
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"The Truth About Bad Book Reviews"-Rachael Tamayo
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Last month, Kevin shared with you my narrating tips for those of you thinking about self-narrating your own audio book. This month, he’ll focus on the technical and editing aspects of the process, which are just as important as being able to read your masterpiece into the microphone. In the spirit of paying it forward and helping other novice audio book narrators/ producers embark on their journey without making all the mistakes Kevin made, he is back to give us quick tips that will help you do better!
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"Gar sat on his rock in the damp cave, warming his weary hands. The fire burned nicely and he had a fresh rabbit cooking with a strange cave-made marinade that made it taste absolutely wonderful. He took pride in his cooking as well as his artistic accomplishments, which he’d created with rocks, charcoal, and mammoth droppings on his cave wall..." Come take a humorous look at the history of writing - and romance in writing with our own crazy but fun S.L. Carpenter!
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You received a bad review. Or maybe you received a review that wasn’t necessarily “bad,” but it sure wasn’t the glowing paragraph you were hoping for. You’re disappointed, sad, and questioning everything, aren’t you? We’ve all been here. Everyone who ever put words on paper and presented it for the world to see has had this happen. Maybe we just suck. Maybe everyone else is lying. Let''s break down the what, why and how to''s navigating the world of book reviews!
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Meet our Rising Star: Rebecca Heflin
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Rebecca Heflin is the author of almost a dozen Contemporary Romance novels and novellas, an award winning author, she splits her time between her day-job at a large state university, a non profit cancer organization she founded with her husband and her writing! A big fan of Kathleen Woodiwiss'' Shanna she was inspired to write a book early on and has since made her dream a reality. With so many fabulous books under her belt and hopefully many more to come, you won''t want to miss this chance to learn more about this fabulous author and her current projects!
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InD''tale Suggests these RONE Finalists!
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Evie
Pendleton Petticoats Book 10
Shanna Hatfield
Historical
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Flynn Elliot has always been more interested in botany than anything else. When his sister drags him to a ball, Flynn knows he is going to be bored and not have fun. As Flynn is wandering out to the moonlit garden, he spies Evie, a beautiful woman who is dancing in the moonlight. Flynn is entranced and can’t help but dance with the beguiling lady. Evie, a nanny, is equally besotted with Flynn and falls under his spell, learning Flynn will be transforming her employer’s yard into a natural paradise. As Flynn gets to know Evie, his feelings for her threaten his business. Can he ever tell her how he really feels, or will he lose her altogether because he is too afraid of his love for her?
This is a wonderfully charming, sweet historical romance that readers will instantly love! In the beginning, the narrative moves a bit slowly, but when it does pick up speed, it moves quite captivatingly and deftly. “Evie” is a nicely told romantic tale that will make readers fall for not only the storyline but everything in it! There aren’t too many complications, but the town of Pendleton sounds like the perfect place to visit and stay a while. Evie the adorable, plucky, beauteous heroine not only wins the heart of Flynn but everyone else too! Flynn, the quiet, intelligent, and poetic hero is the furthest thing from an alpha male but is nonetheless a gentleman personified! Shanna Hatfield has written a wonderful book, which, despite being part of a series, stands marvelously all on its own!
Roslynn Ernst
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Will Rise From Ashes
Jean M. Grant
Contemporary Romance
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WOMEN''S FICTION: AJ anxiously awaits news of her brother and youngest son’s flight home from Yellowstone, but the information she receives is the last she ever expected to hear. Yellowstone volcano is erupting, wiping complete states off the map in the process, and AJ cannot get in touch with her brother. Deciding she isn’t able to simply sit around and wait, she packs herself and her autistic son, along with an arsenal of supplies, in the car to start the long journey from Maine to Colorado. Misfortune is their constant companion, until Reid joins their foray—causing her to question her reluctance to move forward. This adventure brings many things to AJ’s attention, forcing her to do things drastically out of her comfort zone which makes her heal and let go of the past and face current events.
A fascinating read which lingers in the mind and heart, begging to be reread as soon as it’s finished. The concept and writing style are in a world of their own, although it does take about half the book for the reader to be fully immersed in the story and give it the adoration it deserves. The characters are not only personable and incredibly realistic, they also display stunning growth throughout; the level of healing the protagonist reaches by the end is truly awe-inspiring, making the title of the book really pop out. Unobtrusively, the story weaves together quirks of autism, an overwhelmed mom, and the ghastly aftermath of a large-scale crisis into a beautiful tapestry of hope, vision, and strength. The set-backs cause upset, the wins give joy, but nothing causes more sorrow than finishing the story!
Yannie Sorensen
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Typhoon Toby Forces of Nature #2
R.L. Merrill
Contemporary Romance
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LGBTQ: Toby Griffiths may appear to have it all – talent, money, a brilliant mind and model good looks, but beneath the surface he suffers the lasting effects of abuse. By insisting on anonymity with lovers, he manages to keep his tempestuous past where it belongs, but a vacation fling in Bali changes everything. Spencer Hart returned home from Bali with pneumonia and a broken heart until a chance sighting has him arranging to meet up with Toby and a New Year’s kiss washes away the last of Toby’s resistance. Can Spencer stand by his side and weather the storm as Toby’s secrets threaten to devastate his professional life, his longtime partnership with his best friend and their fledgling love affair?
This highly emotional romance pulls readers in and refuses to let them go. The story proceeds at a steady pace as the strong, captivating characters come to life and endear themselves to the readers. This story has readers experiencing the ups and downs of a whole gauntlet of emotions, including tears and laughter, alongside the characters as Toby and Spencer struggle to move forward with their relationship while standing by their friends and juggling their careers. Spencer has some social anxiety, which can be crippling, and Toby’s issues are dark and heavily emotional, which gives the story a bit of downside but as the romance progresses, it clearly shows how falling in love and friendships can help one overcome personal demons, which ensures readers can’t help but cheer for this couple’s happily ever after.
E.L. Hurley
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Charm Me Again
Tena Stetler
Paranormal/ Urban/ Fantasy
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MYSTERY: When Summer’s brother Daylan comes to see her, he brings with him an unwanted ghost. He needs her help to figure out what the ghost wants and make him disappear forever. He did not expect to meet a mortal, Josie, who could turn his life upside down. Josie does not know that Summer and her fiancé are not what they appear. Josie is surprised to find that Summer, her employer, is a witch and Daylan is a warlock. Summer has created a pretty normal life for herself by owning and running a yoga studio. Besides being distracted by the appearance of Daylan, she is focused on keeping Josie safe from a stalker. The whole group is trying to lead a normal life but will use magic to keep their loved ones safe.
This is much more than just a romance or a paranormal story. It has witches, warlocks, ghosts and faes, each of which have their own agendas. Each character is special in their own way. They are so well developed and described that the reader starts to wonder if this is real. The storyline is unique in that these characters are fighting back on a century''s long curse. The author’s writing is so descriptive that the reader feels like they are actually there during the conflicts. The chemistry between Josie and Daylan is palpable from their first meeting. The reader is drawn into this story from the first page and stays engrossed until the last word!
Stephanie Shaw
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The Girl Who Loved Caravaggio Out of Time Thriller Series Book 2
Belle Ami
Paranormal/Urban/Fantasy
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Angela Renatus, art aficionado and world-class private detective, is different — and she is not sure if being different is a curse or a blessing. Scouring the world for stolen and or lost priceless works of art, restoring collections for private collectors, investigating museum and gallery claims of theft and fraud, would be impossible without her visions. And Angela is reluctant to call them simply visions. She knows things — intimate things that only the artist himself could possibly know. Now, with the help of Alex Caine, her fiancé and former Navy Seal, she will embark on the most curious and notorious art theft in history — “Nativity” by Caravaggio. Will their investigation shed light on one of history’s oldest unsolved mysteries, or will it reveal a depth of depravity Angela never knew existed?
Belle Ami’s book, “The Girl Who Loved Caravaggio”, is second in the Out of Time series. In this newest installment, Ms. Ami takes the reader on a ridiculously entertaining, mind-bending expedition through space and time, never missing an opportunity to educate the reader in art history. She does this flawlessly, and is as much an artist as those she portrays. Ms. Ami seamlessly paints the reader into her canvas. There is the feeling of actually being in the interior of a Baroque church or tasting the ugliness of modern warfare. Never shy with her characters’ sexuality, Ms. Ami demurs in this sequel, offering the die-hard fan scintillating innuendo, and the chemistry between her characters has never been more intimate or passionate. An absolute masterpiece one does not have to be an art lover to enjoy!
Kimberly Gunvaldson
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Do you have an Eye for Detail and Good Books?
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Orcutt CA, 93455
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