Month: May 2016

She’s a smokejumper afraid of fire…

Kate Burns is a legendary smoke jumper, known for her courage and willingness to risk everything to get the job done. Only she has a secret, one she won’t admit to anyone.

He can’t forget the love they once shared…

Supervisor Jed Ransom commands the Jude County Smoke Jumpers with a reputation as a calm, level-headed leader. Kate is the only one who’s ever gotten under his skin.

They must face the flames together…

A raging wildfire in the mountains of Montana brings Kate and Jed together to train up a new team of jumpers. Suddenly, they must face the past they’ve been running from and the secrets that keep them apart. When an arsonist goes after their team, Kate and Jed must face their deepest fears—and learn to rely on each other as they fight a blaze that could destroy them all.

In this first book of the Montana Fire: Summer of Fire trilogy, Kate and Jed are about to discover that where there’s smoke, there just might be a chance to start again.

This came out today! What are you reading this week?

Thank you for being willing to be interviewed on my blog!

Thank YOU! I love being a part of the reading and writing world and I so appreciate opportunities to meet new friends.

1. What made you first interested in writing a book?

I’ve always wanted to, and known I would eventually, write books-fiction and nonfiction. It’s kind of funny, but from my earliest days, I thought of myself as a writer. My writing path didn’t materialize until I went through a difficult personal loss, and found myself wandering through the grieving process. I discovered that there is a lot of real estate between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., and I filled my sleepless nights with short stories. As so often happens, my short stories took on a life of their own and surprised me by growing in a series of thriller novels!

2. Why mystery/suspense?

Simply put: I LOVE SUSPENSE! And I find myself writing the kind of book I’d love to read.

3. Which authors would you say have influenced your writing the most?

Gosh, there are so many! I love, love, LOVE C.S. Lewis, and hope to add a sliver of spiritual insight into my adventures in a way he’d appreciate. I am in love with the ‘classics’ of my genre, including (but certainly not limited to!) Agatha Christie tops my list, and I would have to say my life has not been the same since reading Chandler’s The Long Goodbye. John Macdonald’s books delight and influence me, as do the three contemporary grande dames of my genre: J.D. Robb; Sara Peretsky; and Janet Ivanovich. I preorder, and read everything by Steven James; and the same is true with most of the Kay Scarpetta series. I loved Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse series and am already hooked on her new Midnight series.

Oh dear, now I’m cranked up! This list is incomplete without Stephen King—even though he scares me I LOVE his work—and I have to add that in addition to C.S. Lewis, Watchman Nee is one of my favorite theologians. I reread Anne Lamott’s “Bird by Bird” annually, and I just finished “A Man Called Ove” by Fredick Backman—not at all my genre—yet I find myself missing his beautiful prose. And if we’re being honest, I might have a relationship book or two on my shelf…Oh, and did I mention I have a slight addiction to ZOMBIE lit?

4. On my blog, I focus a lot on romance. So, fun question: of all the books you have read, which book had the best kiss/most romantic moment? Wow—great question! One of my all time favorites immediately came to mind: A Severe Mercy, by Sheldon Vanauken. He describes a ‘Shining Barrier’ that he and his wife constructed around themselves that allowed them to lavish love and attention upon each other—keeping the world and it’s distractions at bay. He has some beautiful, passionate descriptions of their intimacies, starting from the heart and extending out to the physical. Love that stuff!

5. What are you working on now?

I’m happy to say that I’m editing the third book in my Jo Oliver Thriller series. I have another book in the works, and it might just be the beginning of a YA series… I am also very slowly working on a (non-fiction) leadership book.

Want to find out more about the lovely Catherine Finger? Go to:

Romulus White has tried for years to hire illustrator Stella West for his renowned scientific magazine. She is the missing piece he needs to propel his magazine to the forefront of the industry.

But Stella abruptly quit the art world and moved to Boston with a single purpose: to solve the mysterious death of her beloved sister. Romulus, a man with connections to high society and every important power circle in the city, could be her most valuable ally.

Sparks fly the instant Stella and Romulus join forces, and Romulus soon realizes the strong-willed and charismatic Stella could disrupt his hard-won independence. Can they continue to help each other when their efforts draw the wrong kind of attention from the powers-that-be and put all they’ve worked for at risk?

Review

I always look forward to anything Elizabeth Camden writes. Here’s why:

What I liked:

Stella. Camden writes smart, intelligent women who are usually a bit older, but know exactly what they want without coming across as being from another time period. Ms. Camden does her research and puts together some sharp heroines. Stella is no different.

Romulus. In fact, I think I usually love Elizabeth Camden’s heroes more than her heroines. That would be the case here. I understood Romulus more…most of the time. I loved that he was flamboyant and out there and yet managed to be so utterly masculine. I love heroes that are not cookie-cutters.

The history. I always manage to learn so much about some small aspect of history without feeling like the author is beating me over the head with facts. And by small, I mean some event or invention that I didn’t realize happened then.

The suspense. I thought they mystery of who killed Stella’s sisters was good. Even though I guessed the bad guy kind of quickly, parts of the story still managed to catch me off guard.

What I didn’t like:

The romance. I know. If I don’t like the romance, than I’m not usually a fan of the book. I will admit that this book wasn’t my favorite especially. So…the problem was that Stella came across as super self-absorbed. She wanted Romulus’ help and she wanted it now. It didn’t matter what was going on in his life. She fully expected this man to drop everything and be there for her….even though they had no past history of friendship. It just made me look at Stella in a negative way, which made me question why Romulus would want to be with her, etc., etc., etc. I do understand that her boldness is what made her her. But she could have been more kind (I know, I know, as always I’m so harsh on heroines).

Romantic scale: 7.8

Overall, not my favorite of Elizabeth Camden, but still a very enjoyable novel.

**I received a copy from Netgalley. My opinion was not affected in anyway.**

 

I promised that Through the Waters was the first in a new series….and it is. Through the Rivers is coming along.

It usually takes me two years to write a new book. But I’ve actually written most of this book in less than 8 months. So…fast for me…slow in the publishing world. Nevertheless, Through the Rivers is coming out this year. I just can’t say when.

What is it about?

Katie Tate. Truitt Tate’s younger, more impulsive sister and that’s all I want to say about her.

Any focused historical moments?

Actually no. That said, research has taken place. I’ve been studying lynchings and their affects on communities as well as sharecropping.

How long will this series be?

Three books: Through the Waters, Through the Rivers, and Through the Fire. Tentatively, very tentatively, Through the Fire will be about the brilliant Ivy Tate and her story about being the first woman of color in a doctoral program in the late 1950s.

And then?

And then, that’s it for the Tate’s. I’ve already started mentally planning my next series, but let me get through these next two first.

So, thoughts?

The Fight for the Cimarron Ranch Has Just Begun!

When Cimarron ranch patriarch Chance Boden is caught in an avalanche, only the quick actions of hired hand Heath Kincaid save him. Before leaving by train to receive treatment to save his leg–and possibly his life–Chance demands that Heath read the patriarch’s will and see its conditions enforced immediately. If Chance’s three bickering adult children, Justin, Sadie, and Cole, don’t live and work at the home for an entire year, ownership of the ranch will pass to a despised distant relative.

Before long, however, Heath discovers that the avalanche may have been intentionally set–and that more danger lurks ominously. Finding his own future–and a desired future with Sadie–locked up in saving the Cimarron Ranch, Heath and the Boden siblings must work together against outside forces that threaten them all.

Secrets and Lies. Danger That Will Never Go Away.
Join Three Beloved Masters of Romantic Suspense for Novellas Where the Past Will Not Stay Buried.

Dee Henderson – “Missing”
A Wyoming sheriff is called to Chicago when his elderly mother goes missing from her retirement community. Paired with a savvy Chicago cop, the two soon launch into a race against the clock when they realize something dark may lie at the heart of the disappearance.

Dani Pettrey – “Shadowed”
Adventure, romance, and danger collide when a young Alaskan fisherman nets the body of a Russian open water swimming competitor. Another swimmer, who’d been the dead woman’s roommate years ago, is pulled into the search for answers as it grows more and more clear that something sinister is at play.

Lynette Eason – “Blackout”
A young woman once implicated in a robbery gone wrong finds herself at risk years later when the real culprit is up for parole. The loot taken that night has never been found and he believes she knows where it’s hidden–only her memory of that night has always been unreliable. Can she remember enough to find her way to safety?

What are you reading this week?

I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking, Em, you disappeared and said nothing.

I should have said something. But guys I was here last week (BEA Expo):

and here:

Doing a lot of this:

Getting a lot of ARCs like this:

and this

And meeting bucket loads of amazing people!

Guys! It was amazing. If you ever have the chance to go. Go!

May is having a ton of releases. Here’s a few:

Go forth and read!

Hearts are Divided
Loyalties Will Be Tested
The Fates of Two Families Hang in the Balance

Twenty years past, in 1757, a young Redcoat, Reginald Aubrey stole a newborn boy—the lighter-skinned of Oneida twins— during the devastating fall of Fort William Henry and raised him as his own.

No one connected to Reginald escaped unscathed from this crime. Not his adopted daughter Anna. Not Stone Thrower, the Native American father determined to get his son back. Not Two Hawks, William’s twin brother separated since birth, living in the shadow of his absence and hoping to build a future with Anna. Nor Lydia, who longs for Reginald to be free from his self-imposed emotional prison and embrace God’s forgiveness— and her love.

Now William, whose identity has been shattered after discovering the truth of his birth, hides in the ranks of an increasingly aggressive British army. The Redcoats prepare to attack frontier New York and the Continentals, aided by Oneida warriors including Two Hawks, rally to defend it. As the Revolutionary War penetrates the Mohawk Valley, two families separated by culture, united by love and faith, must find a way to reclaim the son marching toward them in the ranks of their enemies.

Review

I think it’s fair to say that this book was one of my most desired of 2016. My thoughts:

What I liked

The romance

I loved every moment of Anna and Two Hawks.

The history

It was effortlessly interwoven into the narrative.

But…

I wanted so badly for a certain event to happen that I found myself skimming just to get there….in my opinion, it took too long to get there.

And I savored every moment of the book after the event happened and then…

So, in conclusion

 

 

 

 

Guys…I’ve been blogging for four years! Four! Incroyable!

The blog has changed a lot since the beginning. I’ve changed a lot. Especially as a reader. In many ways I have grown more demanding which has meant that I actually read less books than I used to and I don’t try debut authors as much. But I like to think that I can recognize gold when it comes across my kindle. I’m excited for this year and all it will bring. I’ve had a bit of a slow start, but here’s to being on top!

 

She’s a smokejumper afraid of fire…

Kate Burns is a legendary smoke jumper, known for her courage and willingness to risk everything to get the job done. Only she has a secret, one she won’t admit to anyone.

He can’t forget the love they once shared…

Supervisor Jed Ransom commands the Jude County Smoke Jumpers with a reputation as a calm, level-headed leader. Kate is the only one who’s ever gotten under his skin.

They must face the flames together…

A raging wildfire in the mountains of Montana brings Kate and Jed together to train up a new team of jumpers. Suddenly, they must face the past they’ve been running from and the secrets that keep them apart. When an arsonist goes after their team, Kate and Jed must face their deepest fears—and learn to rely on each other as they fight a blaze that could destroy them all.

In this first book of the Montana Fire: Summer of Fire trilogy, Kate and Jed are about to discover that where there’s smoke, there just might be a chance to start again.

It’s been five years since Avery Truitt and Prince Colin of Brighton Kingdom fell in love. But he broke her heart with no explanation.

 

Fast forward to present day, and Colin is Brighton’s most eligible bachelor now that cousin Stephen has married. When Avery’s father dies of a heart attack, she puts her life on hold and returns home to St. Simons Island, Georgia, to help Mama with the family restaurant. But Mama misses Avery’s sister Susanna, who lives four thousand miles away in Brighton Kingdom—and is expecting her first child! So Mama insists she and Avery spend the Christmas season in Brighton.

 

Colin and Avery are going to see each other a lot while she’s visiting. But she can’t forget the way he hurt her, and he didn’t expect his feelings to still be so strong.

 

Avery is torn between considering a future in Brighton and taking a coaching job in Georgia, and Colin is finally pushed to pursue what he really wants. Is it too late to convince Avery that she is his true love? And even if he does, will she make it to the chapel on Christmas Day to give him her heart?

You Can’t Hurry Love is the second enovella in Beth K. Vogt’s Destination Wedding series. Elisabeth Straker has embraced her “always the bridesmaid, never the bride” role in life. But when she runs into the man who broke her heart years ago, Elisabeth questions her past—and future—choices.

Is love enough to help us face our mistakes—and the challenges of a long distance relationship?

When Elisabeth arrives in Denver to be the maid of honor at her friend’s wedding, the last thing she expects is to run into Jamie Travers, her high school boyfriend, who is also the groom’s best man. A bitter breakup when they were in college destroyed their hopes for a future together. Seven years later, is it possible for Elisabeth and Jamie to forgive one another and have a second chance at love?

Read all of the Destination Wedding series—Almost Like Being in Love, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, and Can’t Buy Me Love—and fall in love with Beth Vogt’s charming and irresistible characters.

Single mom Julia Dare has a lot on her plate. A brand new Christian, she’s busy trying to run her own business, spend time with her widowed mother, and raise her young son, Max, despite his father’s less-than-ideal influence on him. When a big account from her event-planning business sends her to the Caliente Springs resort, she’s shocked to come face-to-face with Zeke Monroe, the resort’s general manager and her college sweetheart.

With his faith in tatters, Zeke Monroe is determined to keep the historic Caliente Springs resort running despite financial difficulties. But when Julia walks back into his life, he can’t ignore the feelings she stirs up. As they work together on an important client’s dream wedding, the fate of the resort soon depends on their success. When Zeke and Julia are pushed to their limits both personally and professionally, will their history put up walls between them or bring them together?

Lots to look forward to!