A Great Suspense Story ... In Your Sights

In Your Sights Book Description: Caroline Bready is trying to rebuild her life after the unsolved death of her husband has left her struggling to pick up the pieces. With the help of her sister-in-law, Caroline becomes involved with photography including a photography class and assignments. She shares her photos on line with her blog and follows the blogs of other enthusiasts.

While taking pictures late at night, Caroline discovers a victim of a serial rapist who has begun to attack women in Sydney. Working with Detective McGraw, also a photography enthusiast, they discover Caroline in a picture in a mysterious blog. When an on-line photo appears a second time, they question whether it's a coincidence or something more. Is she being stalked and by whom?

As the police search for the rapist and her potential stalker, Caroline drifts into an affair with a colleague. The relationship begins casually, but quickly becomes intense and disturbing. As she starts to loose control over her life, Caroline finds that if she cannot discover friend from foe, it could cost her life.



My 4.0 Star Review: I received this book as an ARC from the author for an honest review. 

Story Length: 280 Pages

Publication Date: December 10, 2014

Published by: Amazon Digital Services

Cost:  $3.99  

I really enjoyed the suspense plot that Ms. Krall created in her latest novel, In Your Sights. The lead female in this novel is Caroline Bready who while taking photographs of the moon at night discovers the latest rape victim of the “Redback Rapist”. This draws her into this case as the police work hard to capture this serial rapist. Caroline brings a lot to the plot with the unsolved hit and run of her husband, a less than honorable affair with a married co-worker and Caroline’s very real relationship with her deceased husband’s family. I enjoyed Ms. Krall’s use of photography (classes, students and websites) to propel the plot and subplots further.

In addition to having a well thought out plot, Ms. Krall has developed great cast of characters which are very well fleshed out. My favorite character is detective McGraw, but I also really appreciated how Johnny was developed. There were numerous times when I was disappointed with Caroline herself as she was shallow and involved with a married man. But she also possessed really positive traits: she was truly in love and missed her deceased husband, loved her in-laws and grew and matured as a person through the book. The person she was at the end of the novel was much more admirable and her development worked very well as part of the story.

I like having the components of a book tied out and Ms Krall did a really good job of pulling all the pieces together in the ending. I was really pulled into this book and would recommend it to those who love suspense novels. Although part of a Triptych, this is a stand alone novel.

Meet the author: Elizabeth Krall

Author Bio: Elizabeth Krall is the author of a psychological thrillers and contemporary romance novels. She grew up in Canada, and after 15 years in London, England, settled in Sydney, Australia.  Her interests include travel, tall ship sailing and photography.  You can find her author blog here.

She also has a Goodreads page where her other books can be discovered.

Author Blog Tour: A Winter Wedding by Tracey Smith

Reviews: A Winter Wedding by Tracey Smith 

Via Goodreads I was introduced to the The Devereaux Manor Mystery Series that is written by Tracey Smith.  I belong to a group that helps authors find reviewers and reviewers find authors. (Someday I hope to be on the author side, but until then that's for another blog post.) Where was I? Oh yes, The Devereauz Manor Mystery Series. 

I'm pretty selective about what I choose to read and support. As anyone who knows me knows, my favorite genre is romantic suspense and when I saw Ms Smith's blog tour, I was intrigued. This is my first blog tour and I'm grateful that Tracey provided me an ARC of not just the second book which is on tour, but the first book as well.  And I have to say I've been sucked right into this story and will be begging for the opportunity for an ARC for the 3rd story when it becomes available. 

A Winter Wedding Book Description: Despite her dark past Kate Benson was looking forward to a very bright future. She was going to be a wedding planner and she was going to be the best. When a mysterious letter arrived offering her the opportunity to realize her dreams, it was too good to pass up. But Kate had no idea what was waiting for her at Devereaux Manor and nothing could prepare her for what she found. It had been five years since Aaron and Maggie left Devereaux Manor. Maggie hoped that returning for the wedding would give her the opportunity to get the answers she needed. But for Aaron, allowing Ms. Devereaux’s involvement in their lives again felt like making a deal with the devil. He was plagued with a growing fear that the day of reckoning was coming, the day when Ms. Devereaux’s true motives would come to light. Discover the secrets that lie within Devereaux Manor.

My 4.0 Star Review for Book 2 only: I received this book as an ARC from the author for an honest review. 

Story Length: 211 Pages

Publication Date: December 10, 2014

Published by: Amazon Digital Services

Cost:  $2.99  

We are back at Devereauz Manor and the town of Sweetwater - nothing like a small southern town with lots of secrets. Ms. Smith is unwinding the threads that bring these characters together and this really pulls you into the novel. And yes you can see some of the answers coming, but there is still a mystery to be solved. And in a good book it is the way the plot unfolds that brings the enjoyment. The more I read, the more I was pulled into this story.

Ms. Smith has developed a really nice group of characters and provided us with a back ground of what happens when families are torn apart. Her first book in this series introduced us to Maggie and Aaron and how they found their love for each other when something more than chance brought them to the Devereaux Manor. Book two has them planning their HEA with a winter wedding and introduces us to Kate and Jason. Kate is the wedding planner and Jason is the brother of Maggie's best friend, Addie (Addie was also a great character in A Summer Romance, Book 1 in the series). Jason is more than slightly on the surly side to Kate due to a painful past, but Kate can't help herself from being drawn to him. (I was very intrigued with him as well!). We have a really nasty bad guy (or gal) making attempts on Aaron's life and our main characters are trying to stay safe and determine who the guilty party is and what the real motive is. Ms. Smith does a good job of pacing the events in the story which keeps you wanting more.

I enjoyed this book and would read more from this author and more in this series. I did like her writing style. If you like an on-going series, this would be a good read. I think this series does a really good effort in balancing the romance with the suspense. Without the final book and the main plot resolution you don't have all your answers, but the series does give a nice balance of providing the relationship subplots a Happily For Now and a Happily Ever After that provides romance readers with that nice warm fuzzy feeling that we look for. Of course, we still have one more couple to read about...  If you like a serious and well though out suspense plot, this series is delivering that.

Available at Amazon and other retailers.


If you haven't read Book 1 A Summer Romance, now's your chance:

A Summer Romance Book Description: Maggie had her entire life planned out since the age of twelve, looks like the joke was on her. As all of her carefully laid plans begin to fall apart she jumps at the opportunity to get away and spend a carefree summer down south. 

When she arrives at Devereux Manor it all seems too good to be true. The home is beautiful, the town is inviting, and the sexy gardener promises to make this a summer she won’t soon forget.

However the more she learns about the elusive Ms. Devereaux she begins to realize that the conveniently placed ad in front of her dorm room may not have been the happy coincidence that it once seemed. Maggie isn’t the only one who Ms. Devereaux has lured to the plantation, and Ms. Devereaux isn’t the only one with secrets to hide.

Read It For $.99 Now on Amazon

Meet the author: Tracey Smith

Quote from the author: Writing is my passion, my escape, and my vice. It allows me to dream with my eyes open and live many lives. I hope you enjoy reading my books as much as I've loved writing them!

Author Bio:  Tracey Smith grew up in Southern California, but as a teenager moved with her family to a small town in Arkansas. It was in Arkansas that she met and fell in love with the man of her dreams, who had also recently moved to the state. Fate brought them both to that small town and into each other’s lives and that is where they continue to live today raising their two children and living out their happily 

ever after.

See Tracy on Goodreads.

Reviews: Gone to Her Grave by Melinda Leigh

See it on Goodreads

Via Net Galley I was introduce to the Rogue River Novellas that are written by Melinda Leigh and Kendra Elliot.  Gone to Her Grave is Book 2 of the Rogue River Series. It can be read as a stand alone, but you can get more immersed in all the characters if you read them all and in order.  Book 1 and Book 2 are complete and Books 3 and 4 are scheduled to be released in November. Each book costs $2.99 (approx 100 pages for each book) for a total cost of $11.96 for a final page count of 392 pages. I did think the price tag was a little high compared to other full length novels which sell for 3.99 to 5.99.

Book Description: In Solitude, Oregon, everyone has secrets…and some will kill to keep them. When she believes a teen is falsely accused of drug dealing, social worker Carly Taylor takes on a high-risk case and her estranged husband—the detective in charge of the investigation—to prove the boy innocent. A deadly new designer drug has taken hold of her small rural hometown of Solitude, Oregon, and Carly is determined to find the real dealer and clear the teen’s name. But the deeper she digs into the case, the more danger she unearths, until someone decides it’s time for Carly to move on…permanently. Investigator Seth Harding knows he can’t stop his wife when she has a child to protect. But he risks any chance of reconciliation with Carly if he can’t learn to accept her dangerous job. When a drug dealer decides Carly is getting too close, will Seth lose her altogether?


My 3.5 Star Review for Book 2 only: I received this book from Net Galley for an honest review. This was a little under 100 pages and was a pretty quick afternoon read. I enjoyed the characters and the story and wished I had read the 1st book in the series (although it wasn't necessary). I think as you get to Book 3 and Book 4 it is going to be more important that you read the books in sequence.  I am not a fan of cliffhanger series and am pleased that that the subplot for this novella was resolved. There are still open relationship issues and there is still an open underlying major plot, but the thread of this novella was completed and gave you the feeling that some questions were answered. However, there is still a lot left unanswered. The top of the drug chain dealers is still an unknown and will be part of the continuing plot. 

I like the development of Solitude, Oregon and I like the characters that the authors are developing. It is hard to develop a full range of plots and characters in a novella, but the authors are doing a good job and the cast of secondary characters is impressive. I like the underlying major plot line and the fight against drugs. It's a real life fight in lots of small towns across America and it feels real in the book. I do think the novella format holds the story back and it could have played out really well as a full book versus divided up into four novellas. This novella took the drug problem and showed how it impacted children that Carly, our heroine, is trying to protect in her job as a social worker. The story around the children she is trying to protect was better developed than the relationship subplot of Carly and her estranged husband, Seth. Seth didn't seem like he got the attention and development that a true H, or hero, would get.

I enjoyed this book and would read more from this author and more in this series. I did like her writing style. If you like an on-going series, this would be a good read (plus all four novellas are either written or scheduled for release). If you like romance, this novella didn't focus on the romance and left the relationship sub plot open. Without reading all four books, it is difficult to tell how the romance will be handled. If you like a serious and well though out suspense plot, this series looks like it will deliver that.

When I give a 1/2 star, I round up when I really enjoy the read and round down when I have too many conflicting feelings. I did really enjoy this read and therefore rounded up.

Summary: 
Setting: A
Plot and Subplots: A
Character Development: B+
Relationships: Overall B
Romance: B-

Lisa Clark O'Neill

Lisa Clark O'Neill is one of the authors I found by electing to read a free book offered on Amazon. I have since found myself working through all of her past books. Still have a couple to go, but I am definitely enjoying the backlog. Lisa has found an excellent niche in romantic suspense by creating small towns that have a good dose of problems that need to be solved and characters that heat up the page.

Her most recent book, Mr. Write, is at the top of my "to be read" book list.

Mr. Write Book Description: They say you can’t go home again… When Tucker Pettigrew returns to Sweetwater, South Carolina after a thirty year absence, he knows that his reappearance will stir the town pot. The sole grandson of the most powerful man in town, Tucker wants to understand why his recently deceased mother fled Sweetwater all those years ago with little more than the clothes on their backs. What he discovers will rock not only his own foundation, but that of the town itself. Sarah Barnwell is a woman with her own ghosts to face, and they’re there to greet her on her first night back in town. The bully who made her already rocky childhood a kind of living hell is all grown up now, but he still has Sarah in his sites. At first antagonistic, Sarah and Tucker eventually realize that a shared property line isn’t all they have in common. And that roots, whether the plant be beautiful or deadly, run deeper than you think...







The first book I read by Lisa was Nemesis. This discovery has made me a big fan of Lisa's.

Nemesis Book Description: What happens when your childhood nemesis turns out to be the love of your life?
That’s only one of the dilemmas Sadie Rose Mayhew must face when she returns to her childhood home. Seeking a fresh start after her broken engagement, Sadie moves into the house she left behind as a teen. Neglected since the death of her grandmother, Sadie sets about putting the place back together just as surely as she’s repairing her life – the main problem at first being her next door neighbor.
Sadie remembers Declan Murphy as the pesky little brother of her best friend Kathleen, the fly in the ointment of her childhood. And when they encounter each other again on an adult playing field, the sparks they struck against each other as kids turn to full-fledged pyrotechnics – especially when Sadie’s life is threatened on one of her first nights in town by two very aggressive burglars with an agenda.
There is something in Sadie’s grandmother’s house that her last renter left behind, something valuable enough to drive men to kill. 
And as both Sadie and Declan learn, sometimes your enemies are closer than you think.

My Four Star Review ****
I found this as a free read on Kindle and its one of my better finds. Southern suspense and great characters create a really good read. Lisa Clark O'Neill has woven together some well developed and likable characters - they have just the right mix of flaws and strengths that makes them human and likable. Even with Declan's issues (more than a little a surly) , he makes a great hero because he deals with his issues and does the right thing. It doesn't hurt that he's steeped in southern awesomeness. The author has you liking the good guys and wanting the bad guys caught. In addition to well developed main characters, the secondary characters are nicely developed but they don't overshadow the main story. The suspense plot is solid and the story moves well. I would read more from this author and would recommend this book.


Lisa has a bio and author's page on Goodreads that you might want to check out. Although she does have a BA in English she didn't put it to use immediately. All I can say is that I'm glad she is now.

Bev Petersen

Bev Pettersen writes stories that revolve around horses and although I am quite a novice horsewoman (I've ridden horses about 5 times in my life.) and I was never horse crazy, I have thoroughly enjoyed her books. I imagine that if horses are your passion, you may enjoy them even more.

She is a three-time nominee in the National Readers Choice Award as well as a two-time finalist in the Romance Writers of America's Golden Heart® Contest. She competed for five years on the Alberta Thoroughbred race circuit and is an Equine Canada certified coach. 

She lives in Nova Scotia with her family, and when she's not writing novels, she's riding. Visit her at http://www.bevpettersen.com

Currently on my list of books to read is Jockeys and Jewels.  I absolutely love this cover!

Racehorse trainer, Kurt MacKinnon, resents being yanked into undercover police work. But when his ex-partner is murdered, Kurt is determined to find the killer and moves his third-string Thoroughbreds to the backwater track where his partner was last seen alive. 

Julie West, struggling apprentice jockey, pins her dreams of an elusive win on the new trainer in town, never suspecting she’s a person of interest—and not because of her riding ability.

Kurt didn’t expect his contrary colt to flourish under Julie’s feminine touch nor for his own rusty heart to soften. However, his deceit sucks them both into the cross-hairs of a killer, and suddenly much more than their love is in danger.

Book Description: Her dreams of stardom are jeopardized by a hot trainer...and a ruthless murderer.

Emily Murphy isn't afraid to swap her fancy wardrobe for a borrowed pair of barn boots. Working on the set of a Kentucky movie might be just the ticket to landing a real acting job and proving to her sister she can accomplish something worthwhile.  

Dan Barrett knows a lot about hard work and even more about horses. And while he's drawn by Emily's beauty and pluck, he wants a stay-at-home ranch girl. But fighting their attraction is difficult, and soon they both realize what they thought they wanted isn't what they really need. 

Unfortunately, Dan isn't the only person watching Emily. And the other one is a ruthless killer determined to keep an old secret buried.

My Review: I really like Bev Pettersen's writing. There are parts that go a little slow and then there are parts that need more detail, but all in all she writes books I like to read. I thought Emily (our h) was vain and ditsy in the beginning of the book which made it hard to like her. She wanted to be an actress but didn't do any research of a movie. Then she decides she likes horses, which since she been around them all her life, seemed a little late for the discovery. As the book progressed, so did her character (thank goodness). I really appreciate when authors can show the development of a character as the story progresses. I started our not liking Emily and then that changed and I was wanting her to get her HEA. Dan ( our H) was a good guy and easy to like. And of course, he was on the yummy side. I thought the supporting cast was a good fit of characters. The story pulled me in; I liked the mix of movie making, horses and a cold case murder. Although a little predictable, it was still a very fun read. Since I didn't want to put it down until I finished it I gave it 4 stars; almost 5!




Other sites that you can find Bev's books:

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/66054

http://lavenderandwhite.co.uk/category/books/

Two pics...the steam level rises...

Writer's challenge:  Write an engaging scene for both pictures and articulate to your 

readers the obvious as well as the subtle differences between both pictures.

Although the couples in both pictures are almost in the exact same pose, the pictures evoke different emotions. At first glance, a viewer is going to see that the level of steam rises in the second picture. Don't be mislead by the obvious difference of skin and clothes. There is sweetness to the second picture just as there is desire in the first. It's the intensity and atmosphere that differ. Someone viewing the pictures with more than a quick glance will pick up on subtle differences as well as the subtle similarities.

Words also need to be able to communicate the same differences, subtle and otherwise, that the pictures convey.  There is more than a sweetness of love in the first picture and the heat of love in the second.

Heartthrobs and Heroes

...What is it about someone that pulls on our heart strings or makes the knees go weak...there is a strength of character and the way he looks, but also something more...be it a chivalrous act, a kind word, a smile...

In my page header named "Heartthrobs and Heroes" I have created a page where I capture pictures of guys that could represent or inspire male characters in a novel. As I discover pictures, I will add them to this permanent page.

One of my favorite pictures is this one of Joseph Gordon-Levitt and the late Heath Ledger. To me, this photo exudes "good friends" with a hint of mischief. I love the photo-booth style of the composition. In one of my novels (In process of course!), this picture inspired the relationship between a lead character's younger brother and the brother's best friend. (Please note: I am in search of the photographer's website to give them proper credit. If you have a link, I would appreciate the update.)

Click here for the guys that inspire our novels...

Friends: Joseph Gorden-Levitt and Heath Ledger

The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost

The Road Not Taken (photo courtesy of quotespictures.net)

The Road Not Taken

BY ROBERT FROST

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

Developing Character Traits

While it is important to provide enough character traits that make a character become more than a cardboard image, it needs to be seamless with the story. As a reader, the following are a few of my personal pet peeves:

Pet Peeve #1: You don't have to download all of the physical characteristics of a character the minute they appear in your book. Fill the character in as you go along.  The same goes for a character's emotions as well as their personality traits. Let the reader get to know your character gradually. Weave the information into the story; don't bombard them with everything in one long paragraph.

Pet Peeve #2:  Unless her closet is a pivotal plot point, don't fall into the trap of spending the entire book on your heroine's closet. This is a book, it isn't an ad, you do not need to provide a detailed description of what the character is wearing in each of the scenes she appears in. Plus, you don't need to drop designer labels for every article of clothing. You are not writing Sex in the City and your character is not Sarah Jessica Parker, aka: Carrie Bradshaw. 

Pet Peeve #3: Do not use Hollywood actors and actresses to provide your reader with what your character looks like. This is lazy writing. Don't tell me a character looks like Gwyneth Paltrow. Weave into the story that she has classic blonde looks. When you tie your character to an actor or actress, you can also have the reader identify character traits from the actor that aren't part of your characters' personality. You're a writer, show some ability to describe your own character.

Pet Peeve #4: Accents are dangerous in the hands of the unskilled.  Yes people have accents but you have to be very careful how you "write out" what they are saying. If your reader is spending too much time trying to decipher the accent you are trying to convey, they are not enjoying the story.

Pet Peeve #5: Learn when to use contractions and when not to in a character's dialogue. Most people say "I'll go to the store." versus "I will go to the store.". Of course, if are you trying to convey a very formal person, then you may not want to use contractions. In the same line of thought, I hate reading dialogue where the author constantly drops the "g" from words. It absolutely drives me crazy. An example would be waitin' versus waiting. And last, but not least, please do not use "wanna" instead of "want to", unless your character is a two year old or extremely uneducated. This may just be my #1 cringe worthy "word".

Pet Peeve #6: How many times have you read about a petite heroine with unusually long legs? This falls into my mismatched body part pet peeve. As a reader I develop an image in my mind that represents the character that the author has described. If an author makes descriptions that don't happen in the real world or changes the descriptions of their characters as you read a book, it makes it hard to visualize, personalize and connect with the characters. Odd descriptions can often pull you out of a story. I've read books where the hair or the eye color of the character has changed and its not from contacts or hair dye but from lack of attention by the author to the characteristics of their characters. I also have a hard time when the authors select a cover photo for the book which doesn't look at all like the character they describe. Above I referenced petite heroines with unusually long legs. I know we often give females long legs for the men in the book to admire. But the combination of petite and long seems diametrically opposed unless the petite woman has no torso which doesn't sound attractive at all. In this instance, I would recommend to give her shapely legs. 

There are plenty of other pet peeves, but these are some that make me cringe or roll my eyes when I am reading.

i carry your heart with me.....by e.e. cummings

In the movie, "In Her Shoes", Cameron Diaz reads the poem "i carry your heart with me" by e.e. cummings creating a touching moment during the wedding scene. Although I had read this poem in high school English classes, it was not until it was presented in this movie did I discover how moving of a poem it is. Although the poem has been a favorite reading at weddings for many years, the movie contributed a renewed interest in the poem. 

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in)

By E.E. Cummings

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in

my heart)i am never without it(anywhere

i go you go,my dear;and whatever is done

by only me is your doing,my darling)

                                                      i fear

no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want

no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)

and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows

higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

If you selected to have a poem read at your wedding, framing the poem would be one way to treasure a memory from your special day...  

Framed Wedding Vows Or Poem Picture by SARAH & BENDRIX

Photo Journalism and Images in Black and White

Free Syrian fighters run for cover as a tank shell explodes on a wall during heavy fighting in the Ain Tarma neighborhood of Damascus on January 30, 2013 (Goran Tomasevic/Reuters)

I first saw this picture as a cropped version that had been modified to a black and white exposure on Pinterest.  The pin did not tell what the picture was of or the source. The picture had such impact that I searched out additional information and found the original colored photo as part of a series of photos on the crisis in Syria as posted by The DARKROOM which explores visual journalism. The pictures both in original format and in the modified format are provoking and powerful. They both reach out and create an emotional impact; they tell a story. I do feel that in its own way, the black and white version creates an additional impact that pulls the viewer into the picture even more. (Although, I admit to being a fan of black and white photography.)  By my looking further into this picture, it tells two stories. One is the impact change when a photo is cropped and adjusted to black and white. And the second story is the impact of photo journalism which tells the story of what is happening in the world around us.

The picture cropped and modified to black and white, as I first saw it.

W.H. Auden...one of my favorites

W. H. Auden 

(Per Wikipedia: Wystan Hugh Auden, who published as W. H. Auden, was an Anglo-American poet, born in England, later an American citizen, and is regarded by many critics as one of the greatest writers of the 20th century.)

One of the poems from Twelve Songs (sometimes known as Funeral Blues) was famously featured in the film Four Weddings and a Funeral.

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message He Is Dead,
Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last for ever: I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now: put out every one;
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood.
For nothing now can ever come to any good.