What I'm Reading Wednesday--Chasing Fireflies

This week I've been reading Chasing Fireflies by Taylor Dean. Ms. Dean is a new author to me and I only picked up this book because it's part of the Power of the Matchmaker series, but there was a lot to like!

The book is set in China, which in itself gives the story another dimension. Our heroine, Savannah, was told at a young age by the matchmaker that she would marry a man named Paul and she's been searching for the right Paul ever since. Her search takes her to China where she will teach English, but her main goal is to meet a famous entrepreneur named Paul that she read about in a magazine. (Her quirky colleagues give a nice secondary cast to the entire China trip and I hope some of them get their own story!)

While she's experiencing China and all it's exotic flair, she meets an American cook at a restaurant called Burger, Burger. Julian seems to have a thing for her, but she's finally met Paul and things are going well between them. Things come to a head when she's torn between following the matchmaker's prediction she would marry a Paul or pursuing what she feels for someone not named Paul. She has a difficult choice to make.

I had a hard time getting into the story at first, and getting used to the first person narrative, but about a third of the way in I really started to identify with our heroine and the pacing picked up for me. I was a bit annoyed about the references to the Red Bird Incident that we aren't given any idea about until near the end, but I loved the setting of China and thought the author did an outstanding job with that. I loved the way the romance was developed and our hero was definitely sigh-worthy. I will definitely look for other titles by Ms. Dean.

Here's the back copy:

My sisters think I’m crazy.

But, I’ve never forgotten the mysterious woman from my childhood who told me Paul is the name of my one true love.
She told me to search far and wide for him.
I haven’t stopped looking ever since.

When I stumble across an article about a successful American entrepreneur named Paul who lives and works in China, I’m intrigued. When the opportunity to teach English in China presents itself on the same day, I know it’s not a coincidence.

It’s destiny.

My sisters say I’m chasing a dream.

Just like the fireflies we tried to catch on the warm summer evenings of our youth, the dream seems beyond my grasp. Will my quest for the elusive Paul always be just short of fulfillment?

My sisters tell me it’s a fool’s errand.

Until I remind them of the day we saw the Red Bird.
The memory silences them.
The Red Bird Incident remains inarguable—and proves my search for Paul is not a silly fantasy.

I will find Paul . . . I will.

You can download your Kindle copy here

The Captain Is On Elite Reviews!

Remember when my novel, The Captain, received a five star review AND a Crowned Heart for Excellence? Well, it's now been included in the Elite Reviews video the magazine puts out! I'm so excited. (The Captain comes up at 1:23 if you want to skip ahead).

I really do love this story and I'm so glad other people are enjoying The Captain, too! *watches the video again*

Book Review: The Captive Heart

The Captive Heart by Michelle Griep is a lush historical romance set during colonial times in America. Our heroine, Eleanor, is an English governess who is sent there to escape a lecherous employer. Eleanor has a letter of reference for when she arrives, and a bit of money, but both of those things are stolen. Eleanor has no choice but to be sold into indenture. A trapper, Samuel Heath, who is full of secrets and a past that won't leave him alone, decides to marry Eleanor in a marriage of convenience so he can have a mother for his young daughter. Yet, Eleanor and Samuel come from such different worlds, can they ever find common ground and truly be a family?

I really enjoyed the expertly drawn characters of Samuel and Eleanor. They both had quite a bit of emotional baggage going into the marriage and their efforts to overcome it all and understand each other is what makes this book so intriguing. The mystery of Samuel's past teases us throughout the book, but once revealed, gives us a three dimensional picture of this character and what drives him. Eleanor is trying to find her place in a new world---almost the opposite of the one she was brought up in. She is a fish out of water, but works hard to belong, which makes her relatable and likable since we all have that drive to be part of something. The setting is well done and the prejudices against Native Americans is poignant and realistic. And if that wasn't enough to draw in the reader, there is a little spy story on the side that will keep you turning pages.

Michelle Griep is a new author to me and I will definitely be looking for more from this author.

Here's the back copy:

Proper English governess Eleanor Morgan flees to the colonies to escape the wrath of a brute of an employer. When the Charles Town family she’s to work for never arrives to collect her from the dock, she is forced to settle for the only reputable choice remaining to her—marriage to a man she’s never met. Trapper and tracker Samuel Heath is a hardened survivor used to getting his own way by brain or by brawn, and he’s determined to find a mother for his young daughter. But finding a wife proves to be impossible. No upstanding woman wants to marry a murderer.

You can preorder your copy here

Freebie Friday!

Today's Freebie Friday is a romantic comedy by Janette Rallison called Masquerade that I can't wait to read! It sounds funny and I love that.

Here's the back copy:

A little white lie never hurt anyone.

When Clarissa takes a much needed job under slightly false pretenses, she doesn't think it will be such a big deal. She may have told her movie-star boss that she was married but that shouldn't matter. After all, she doesn't want anything to do with men for a long, long time.

It's hard for a woman to keep up the masquerade when her boss is as handsome as Slade Jacobson and the job takes her to Hawaii with him. In between handling his whirlwind four-year-old daughter and dealing with a whole cast of Hollywood personalities, Clarissa has to keep a tight hold on her heart.

Masquerade is romantic comedy at its best--clean and funny with lots of heart.

Download your free Kindle copy here

Creativity Survival Habits

photo credit: save me from myself via photopin (license)

For so many years I've had young children and my writing time has consisted of rushing to the computer to write in small snatches of time when Barney or Peppa Pig was on. Nowadays, however, my youngest is in kindergarten and I have several hours of uninterrupted time per day. It's strange, actually. I have noticed, however, that my habit of writing in small increments has made a groove in my brain that is hard to change.

Every morning when I sit down to write now, I have to take a break every fifteen or thirty minutes. No Facebook or social media, of course, but I have to stand, get a drink, or walk around for a minute. Then, when I sit back down again, my brain seems ready to work. It's very strange, but it's how my creative self has survived all these years. I was at the computer for three hours today, did some great revisions and wrote two new chapters on my work in progress. The only price I paid was having to move around every so often. So, it's working for me, but I'd still like to work on changing how my brain functions when I'm writing now.

I hope that once I get into a new flow, maybe I won't need those breaks as much anymore. I think they're actually more healthy for my body, of course, than just sitting at a desk for hours and hours, but just having my creativity be able to keep going for more than thirty minutes would be awesome. We will see if that changes.

Entering into this new stage of life where I have more time to myself was a little scary at first. I've had little ones for so many years I wasn't sure how I would deal with it. But so far, it's been a wonderful change. My productivity is up, my house is cleaner for a little longer, and I get to listen to all the new experiences my little one is having at school. It's a win for everyone!

Do you have creativity survival habits? How have you dealt with them when surviving wasn't the issue anymore?

What I'm Reading Wednesday

I've been reading Rachael Anderson's new book, The Fall Of Lord Drayson. I've really enjoyed her contemporary romances so I was excited to see how she'd do with an historical romance. She did not disappoint!

Colin Cavendish has been handed the earldom and he's evaluating all the properties that aren't entailed. Deciding to sell the family home of Tanglewood, he realizes he's going to have to turn out the deceased vicar's wife and daughter from the dower house. It's unpleasant, but surely they will understand his wishes.

Lucy greets the earl's news with a slam of the door. How can such an odious man turn them out like that? He obviously didn't have half the honor his father did. They have nowhere to go and Lucy can hardly think of what they will do without the house they'd come to call home.

But then Colin is found injured and unconscious and when he awakens he doesn't remember who he is or why he was anywhere near Tanglewood. Lucy decides to teach the earl a lesson and tells him he was her servant. But as she gets to know him, she realizes that maybe all isn't as she thought. But how could he ever forgive her for such a terrible lie?

I thought the background was well done and the characters full of humor and depth. The romance was sweet and I was caught up in the story and couldn't wait to see how it all turned out. Colin is such a dashing hero, and I thoroughly enjoyed how he interacted with Lucy. She was a great heroine in her own right, with sass and spunk, but a lot of uncertainty about how to tell the truth and still keep Colin's regard. A great afternoon read for anyone who loves historical romance.

Here's the back copy:

When Colin Cavendish, the new earl of Drayson, informs Lucy Beresford that she and her mother need to vacate the house they've called home for the past two years, Lucy is fit to be tied. They have no money, no relations they can turn to for help, and nowhere to go. How dare the earl break the promise his father had made to the Beresfords without so much as a twinge of conscience?

Fate plays her hand when Lucy discovers the earl unconscious and injured in the middle of the road. When he awakens with no recollection of who he is, Lucy seizes the opportunity to teach the earl a much-needed lesson in humility and tells him that he is nothing more than a mere servant. Her servant, in fact.

And thus begins the charming tale of a pompous lord and an impetuous young woman, caught together in a web so tangled that it begs the question: Will they ever get out?

You can download your Kindle copy here

Cover Reveal For My New Novel!

I'm so excited to share with you the cover of my new novel! This one is a romance and I hope that all my suspense fans will still love it.

*drum roll*

Don't you love it? I can't stop looking at it. It will be released Oct. 8th and I am anxious to share it with you all!