Book Review: Just After Midnight by Catherine Ryan Hyde

Just After Midnight

Catherine Ryan Hyde

Book Description:

No longer tolerating her husband’s borderline abuse, Faith escapes to her parents’ California beach house to plan her next move. She never dreamed her new chapter would involve befriending Sarah, a fourteen-year-old on the run from her father and reeling from her mother’s sudden and suspicious death.

While Sarah’s grandmother scrambles to get custody, Faith is charged with spiriting the girl away on a journey that will restore her hope: Sarah implores Faith to take her to Falkner’s Midnight Sun, the prized black mare that her father sold out from under her. Sarah shares an unbreakable bond with Midnight and can’t bear to be apart from her. Throughout the sweltering summer, as they follow Midnight from show to show, Sarah comes to terms with what she witnessed on the terrible night her mother died.

But the journey is far from over. Faith must learn the value of trusting her instincts—and realize that the key to her future, and Sarah’s, is in her hands.

Buy Now:

Amazon Kindle: https://amzn.to/2Ph5gwJ

Paperback: https://amzn.to/2zIni65

Audiobook: https://amzn.to/2St55Am

My 5-Star Review:

A young girl is coming to terms with a tragedy. A grown woman is running from her husband. A grandmother is fighting desperately to get custody of her granddaughter. When these three people meet, their lives are forever changed, surprisingly by a beautiful horse.

Author Catherine Ryan Hyde creates magic again in her latest novel, Just After Midnight. Hyde is a master at creating down-to-earth stories with characters that you feel you know immediately and want to root for from the get-go. She uses emotion and sometimes humor to keep a story flowing steadily along and knows how to make a reader connect to the real-life characters. Life isn’t glossed over in her stories, and that’s why they are so heartfelt. True, raw emotion comes through and that’s just one of the reasons her stories capture readers.

I enjoyed reading Just After Midnight and recommend it to anyone looking for a story that will touch your heart.

About the Author:

Catherine Ryan Hyde is the author of more than 35 published and forthcoming books, including JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT, HEAVEN ADJACENT, THE WAKE UP, ALLIE AND BEA, SAY GOODBYE FOR NOW, LEAVING BLYTHE RIVER, ASK HIM WHY, WORTHY, THE LANGUAGE OF HOOFBEATS, TAKE ME WITH YOU, WHEN I FOUND YOU, WALK ME HOME, and DON'T LET ME GO. 

An avid hiker, traveler, equestrian, and amateur photographer, she has released her first book of photos, 365 DAYS OF GRATITUDE: PHOTOS FROM A BEAUTIFUL WORLD.

She is co-author, with fellow author and publishing industry blogger Anne R. Allen, of HOW TO BE A WRITER IN THE E-AGE: A SELF-HELP GUIDE.

Her novel PAY IT FORWARD was adapted into a major motion picture, chosen by the American Library Association for its Best Books for Young Adults list, and translated into more than 23 languages for distribution in over 30 countries. The paperback was released in October 2000 by Pocket Books and quickly became a national bestseller. Simon & Schuster released PAY IT FORWARD: YOUNG READERS' EDITION in August of '14. It is suitable for kids as young as eight. A special Fifteenth Anniversary Edition of the original PAY IT FORWARD was released in December of '14

LOVE IN THE PRESENT TENSE enjoyed bestseller status in the UK, where it broke the top ten, spent five weeks on the bestseller lists, was reviewed on a major TV book club, and shortlisted for a Best Read of the Year award at the British Book Awards. Both BECOMING CHLOE and JUMPSTART THE WORLD were included on the ALA's Rainbow List, and JUMPSTART THE WORLD was a finalist for two Lambda Literary Awards. WHERE WE BELONG won two Rainbow Awards in 2013 and THE LANGUAGE OF HOOFBEATS won a Rainbow Award in 2015.

New Kindle editions of her backlist titles FUNERALS FOR HORSES, EARTHQUAKE WEATHER AND OTHER STORIES, ELECTRIC GOD, and WALTER'S PURPLE HEART are now available. Also available is THE LONG, STEEP PATH: EVERYDAY INSPIRATION FROM THE AUTHOR OF PAY IT FORWARD, her first book-length creative nonfiction. 

More than 50 of her short stories have been published in The Antioch Review, Michigan Quarterly Review, The Virginia Quarterly Review, Ploughshares, Glimmer Train and many other journals, and in the anthologies Santa Barbara Stories and California Shorts and the bestselling anthology Dog is my Co-Pilot. Her stories have been honored in the Raymond Carver Short Story Contest and the Tobias Wolff Award and nominated for Best American Short Stories, the O'Henry Award, and the Pushcart Prize. Three have been cited in Best American Short Stories.

She is founder and former president (2000-2009) of the Pay It Forward Foundation, and still serves on its board of directors. As a professional public speaker she has addressed the National Conference on Education, twice spoken at Cornell University, met with Americorps members at the White House and shared a dais with Bill Clinton. 

One Wrong Turn Release Day!

 

It's here...

 

 

 

 

The day has finally come!

 

 

ONE WRONG TURN

 

 

Release day!

 

I just loved writing Jess and Clay's heartfelt story of love, loss, and redemption. I hope you'll love it too.

 

Be sure to grab your copy.

 

Amazon Kindle

 

Paperback

 

Audiobook

 

Amazon UK

 

Amazon Australia

 

Amazon Canada

 

or you can order from your favorite bookstore.

 

Book Description:

 

“I’m her husband.”

 The words roll off Clay Connors’s tongue, but with his estranged wife lying in a coma—with no assurance that she’ll awaken—he knows that he is perilously close to losing everything. A singular, terrifying accident has left Jess Connors suspended between life and death. Now Clay is reunited with the family he hasn’t seen for two years, including the daughters he left behind.

Clay should have been there for his family. Never should have stayed away so long. The alcohol that took over his life destroyed everything but a shred of his self-preservation. Sober and haunted, Clay revisits the memory of love, marriage, and how his life unraveled. He hopes that by trying to reconnect with the daughter who blames him and the daughter who barely knew him, he can find a light of hope in this darkest hour. As his family faces its most grueling, emotional test yet, Clay must summon the courage to make right what was wrong—and find forgiveness from his harshest judge: himself.

 

 

 

What readers are saying about One Wrong Turn:

Reader's Favorite ~ "Poignant and heartfelt."  http://ow.ly/iZ9N30aQSDV

 

Book Review by Novel Deelights - "A truly beautifully written story." http://ow.ly/CFFu30cJllo

 

Books and Bindings Book Review Blog ~ "A poignant, thought-provoking, and engaging story." http://ow.ly/TKDp30cCSpv

 

Bibliotica Book Review Blog  ~ "Vivid settings and vibrant characters."  http://ow.ly/s6D530cDuak

 

Please leave a review after you've read it. Thank you.

 

Enjoy!

 

 



Book Review: Allie and Bea by Catherine Ryan Hyde

Hi all,

 

Over the past couple of years I have become a fan of books by Catherine Ryan Hyde. Although I had known her name, I hadn’t yet had a chance to read her books. I’m making up for that big-time. Each book is unique, with characters taken right out of real life and thrust into difficult situations. Catherine knows how to pull on the reader’s heartstrings, while making worthwhile points with her fiction. I’m honored to share the same publisher as her, and thrilled to be able to share my thoughts of her novels with readers. Here is my review of her latest novel, Allie and Bea.

 

 

Allie and Bea

Catherine Ryan Hyde

 

Book Description:

Bea has barely been scraping by since her husband died. After falling for a telephone scam, she loses everything and is forced to abandon her trailer. With only two-thirds of a tank in her old van, she heads toward the Pacific Ocean with her cat—on a mission to reclaim what’s rightfully hers, even if it means making others pay for what she lost.

When fifteen-year-old Allie’s parents are jailed for tax fraud, she’s sent to a group home. But when her life is threatened by another resident, she knows she has to get out. She escapes only to find she has nowhere to go—until fate throws Allie in Bea’s path.

Reluctant to trust each other, much less become friends, the two warily make their way up the Pacific Coast. Yet as their hearts open to friendship and love from the strangers they meet on their journey, they find the courage to forge their own unique family—and begin to see an imperfect world with new eyes.

 

Publish Date: May 23, 2017

Lake Union Publishing

 

Pre-Order on Amazon:

Kindle

Paperback

Audiobook

 

My 5-Star Review:

Bea is an elderly woman living month-to-month on her Social Security check and barely able to make ends meet. When she is scammed out of the last of her money, she devises a plan: she’ll pack up her van and live as best she can on the road. But she’s decided that the world owes her now, and as far as she’s concerned, anything goes.

Allie’s parents are arrested and she is left to fend for herself in a group home. Allie isn’t street-wise, so living within the system is difficult for her to understand. She has a great sense of right and wrong, and has trouble when others cross that line. When her life is put in danger, she runs, and circumstances bring her right in Bea’s path.

Allie and Bea is a heartwarming story of two strangers being thrust together and trying to make the best of it. Author Catherine Ryan Hyde is an expert at creating real-life characters and putting them into extraordinary circumstances and then seeing how they cope. Bea is tired of being pushed around by society after working for years and being left with nothing. Allie has never thought twice about her upper-class upbringing until it all comes crashing down around her. Together, the two learn what is most important in life as they build a bond of friendship between them.

This story is a definite must-read.

 

About the Author:

Catherine Ryan Hyde is the author of thirty-two published books. Her bestselling 1999 novel, Pay It Forward, adapted into a major Warner Bros. motion picture starring Kevin Spacey and Helen Hunt, made the American Library Association’s Best Books for Young Adults list and was translated into more than two dozen languages for distribution in more than thirty countries. Her novels Becoming Chloe and Jumpstart the World were included on the ALA’s Rainbow List; Jumpstart the World was also a finalist for two Lambda Literary Awards and won Rainbow Awards in two categories. The Language of Hoofbeats won a Rainbow Award. More than fifty of her short stories have been published in many journals, including the Antioch Review, Michigan Quarterly Review, the Virginia Quarterly Review, Ploughshares, Glimmer Train, and the Sun, and in the anthologies Santa Barbara Stories and California Shorts as well as the bestselling anthology Dog Is My Co-Pilot. Her short fiction received honorable mention in the Raymond Carver Short Story Contest, a second-place win for the Tobias Wolff Award, and nominations for Best American Short Stories, the O. Henry Award, and the Pushcart Prize. Three have also been cited in Best American Short Stories.

Hyde is the founder and former president of the Pay It Forward Foundation. As a professional public speaker, she has addressed the National Conference on Education, twice spoken at Cornell University, met with AmeriCorps members at the White House, and shared a dais with Bill Clinton.


Cheers,
Deanna

Book Review: Sisters One, Two, Three by Nancy Star

Hi all,

Sisters One, Two, Three is an Amazon First Read this month and the one I chose as my free selection as a Prime Member. The title drew me in, and the story kept me reading. Here is more about this novel and my review.


Sisters One, Two, Three

Nancy Star

Book Description:

After a tragic accident on Martha’s Vineyard, keeping secrets becomes a way of life for the Tangle family. With memories locked away, the sisters take divergent paths. Callie disappears, Mimi keeps so busy she has no time to think, and Ginger develops a lifelong aversion to risk that threatens the relationships she holds most dear.

When a whispered comment overheard by her rebellious teenage daughter forces Ginger to reveal a long-held family secret, the Tangles’ carefully constructed web of lies begins to unravel. Upon the death of Glory, the family’s colorful matriarch, and the return of long-estranged Callie, Ginger resolves to return to Martha’s Vineyard and piece together what really happened on that calamitous day when a shadow fell over four sun-kissed siblings playing at the shore. Along with Ginger’s newfound understanding come the keys to reconciliation: with her mother, with her sisters, and with her daughter.

At turns heartbreaking, humorous, and hopeful, Sisters One, Two, Three explores not only the consequences of secrets—even secrets kept out of love—but also the courage it takes to speak the truth, to forgive, and to let go.

Publish Date: January 1, 2017

Lake Union Publishing

Pre-Order Now:

Amazon Kindle

Paperback

 

My 5-Star Review:

All families have secrets, some more than others. But keeping family secrets as a child can shape you as an adult, and not in a positive way. Sisters Ginger and Mimi find that a childhood filled with loss and secrets has made them who they are today, and causes them to push away the very people they love.

In Sisters One, Two, Three, author Nancy Star expertly weaves us through the past and the present, following the family as they once were and are today. The characters are colorful and flawed: the erratic, dramatic mother, Glory, the four children, and the father, trying but unable to hold it all together. As tragedy strikes, the losses gnaw away at the family, and unable to deal with them, they simply never speak of them. But as the years go by, the two sisters develop personalities that counter their upbringing, and life isn’t any easier because of it.

Sisters One, Two, Three is a unique, compelling story that you will not soon forget. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading a family drama novel.

 

 

About the Author:

Novelist, essayist, and former movie exec, Nancy Star is so happy her new novel, SISTERS ONE, TWO, THREE, will be launched soon! Her previous books include CARPOOL DIEM, a spot-on comic novel about a downsized consultant with a fierce determination to navigate and win in the cut-throat world of competitive child-rearing; UP NEXT and its sequel, NOW THIS, two funny and satisfying mysteries featuring a TV talk-show producer turned detective; and BURIED LIVES, a psychological suspense novel that still gives her nightmares.

In total, Nancy’s novels have been translated into French, Dutch, German and Japanese, optioned for television, chosen as a Literary Guild alternate and Mystery Guild Signature Series Selection. In addition to her novels, her writing has appeared in the New York Times, Family Circle, and Diversion Magazine.

Before turning full-time to her fiction writing addiction, Nancy worked for over a decade as an executive in the movie business. At the Samuel Goldwyn Company she was charged with scouting New York and London for original material from books, plays, and pitches, as well as acquiring finished independent films for release. Prior to her stint at Goldwyn, Nancy was Story Editor at The Ladd Company where she got to work on many great films including some of her all-time favorites, Blade Runner, Body Heat and the Right Stuff. Her years spent working with writers and directors helping to bring their stories to the screen was her great privilege and pleasure.

But after being spotted in meetings agreeing with writers far too often, she realized it was time to leave the movie business and turn to her own writing. She did this even after over-hearing a well-known screenwriter tell a publicist who was quitting to take up writing full time, “My condolences.” She has never looked back.

Nancy is a member of the Author’s Guild, Mystery Writers of America and Women’s Media Group. Once upon a time—as a film executive—she was a member of The Groucho Club in London and would very much like to be invited back.

You can visit Nancy online at: http://nancystarauthor.com
https://www.facebook.com/Nancy.Star.Author
https://twitter.com/NancyStarAuthor
https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/189596.Nancy_Star
https://www.instagram.com/nancystarauthor/

 

Book Review: Broken Pieces by Kathleen Long

Hi all,

I’ve read several of Kathleen Long’s novels and have enjoyed them very much, so when the opportunity to read her latest, Broken Pieces, came up, I jumped at it. Here is more about her novel and my review.

 

Broken Pieces

Kathleen Long

 

Book Description:

Destiny Jones is doing just fine on her own, thanks. From her thriving one-woman carpentry business to the loving support of her small-town community, Destiny has constructed a life as sturdy and polished as her best cabinets. Twenty years ago, Destiny’s world collapsed when her mother died and her father, Albert, abandoned his daughter to pursue acting in New York. His devastating exit taught Destiny a lesson in self-reliance that has kept her safe—and alone—ever since.

Now Albert Jones is back, begging for a second chance. Destiny suspects he’s simply staging another performance, starring himself as the prodigal father. Should she act on her misgivings? Or listen to her inner child, who still yearns for a family? When Albert divulges a shocking secret, Destiny’s life will again be turned upside down.

Kathleen Long’s warm, wise novel reveals the armor that has protected us in the past is often the very thing we must shed to fully live and love.

 

 

Buy now:

 

Amazon Kindle

 

Paperback

 

Audiobook

 

My 5 Star Review:

I’ll just say it: Broken Pieces is Kathleen Long’s best novel to date! I have read several of her other novels, and this one is my favorite. The author takes us on a journey of family, broken promises, secrets, and redemption, and drops a surprise in our laps when we least suspect it. Brilliant!

I liked the main character, Destiny Jones, immediately. She has learned the hard way not to depend on or get close to others, and has succeeded in her life despite a sad childhood. Yet, she isn’t bitter. She lives in a small town and has close friends who she cares about. You can’t blame her when her absentee father arrives one day and she’s not thrilled about it. From there, the story flourishes and stretches, pushing limits and warming the reader’s heart. An absolute must read if you love a great family drama.

 

(I received an advance copy of Broken Pieces from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.)

 

About the Author:

 

A long time ago, in an elementary school far, far away, a very young Kathleen scribbled a story idea in her journal. Then she wrote another, and another. She added several poems, the lyrics to a song or two, a love letter to David Cassidy, and so on and so on.

While her early writings never saw the light of day, many of her later works did. And while she did not marry David Cassidy, Kathleen did marry her own Prince Charming. Together, they are raising one drama queen and one obedience-challenged border collie mix in a kingdom divided between suburban Philadelphia and the Jersey shore.

Kathleen is the RITA® nominated, RIO Award and two-time Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence winning author of fourteen novels of contemporary romance, suspense and women's fiction. Her additional honors include National Readers Choice, Holt Medallion, and Booksellers Best award nominations.

She divides her time between plotting her next book, bribing her little one to pick up her toys, and begging the dog to heel. Life is good. Very, very good.

 

See my review of Kathleen Long’s novel Counting Stars

 

Cheers,

Deanna

Book Review: In Twenty Years by Allison Winn Scotch

In Twenty Years

Allison Winn Scotch

 

Book Description:

 

Twenty years ago, six Penn students shared a house, naively certain that their friendships would endure—until the death of their ringleader and dear friend Bea splintered the group for good. Now, mostly estranged from one another, the remaining five reluctantly gather at that same house on the eve of what would have been Bea’s fortieth birthday.

But along with the return of the friends come old grudges, unrequited feelings, and buried secrets. Catherine, the CEO of a domestic empire, and Owen, a stay-at-home dad, were picture-perfect college sweethearts—but now teeter on the brink of disaster. Lindy, a well-known musician, is pushing middle age in an industry that’s all about youth and slowly self-destructing as she grapples with her own identity. Behind his smile, handsome plastic surgeon Colin harbors the heartbreaking truth about his own history with Bea. And Annie carefully curates her life on Instagram and Facebook, keeping up appearances so she doesn’t have to face the truth about her own empty reality.

Reunited in the place where so many dreams began, and bolstered by the hope of healing, each of them is forced to confront the past.

 

Buy now on Amazon in Kindle, Paperback and Audio Book formats

 

 

My 5 Star Review

 

Five college friends reunite years later on the eve of what would have been their dear friend’s, Bea’s, 40^th birthday in the same house they lived in at the university. Bea is no longer with them, and this, among other things, has put a strain on their relationship with each other. Each person, Lindy, Colin, Catherine, Owen, and Annie, are successful in their own way, but each one is at a crossroads in their lives. Will going back to where it all started heal them, or will it tear them even further apart?

 

Allison Winn Scotch writes a realistic, touching, and sometimes funny yet heartbreaking story of this group that once was so connected and now are more like strangers. The old saying goes, ‘you can’t go home again,’ but is that really true? Can these five people find what they’d lost so long ago in the place where they felt they were at their very best? Life moves on, people change as circumstances change, and sometimes we become the worst version of ourselves. These five people feel they are all moving in the wrong direction with their lives when they return to their youth for one weekend. Can they give up old grudges, forgive past transgressions, and finally feel free to be their true selves again?

 

I enjoyed this novel by a talented writer and look forward to reading more novels by Allison Winn Scotch.

 

(I received an advanced copy of this novel from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.)

 

About the Author

 

Allison Winn Scotch is the bestselling author of five novels, including THE THEORY OF OPPOSITES, TIME OF MY LIFE, and THE DEPARTMENT OF LOST AND FOUND. Her sixth novel, IN TWENTY YEARS, will be released on July 1st, 2016. In addition to fiction, she pens celebrity profiles for a variety of magazines, which justifies her pop culture obsession and occasionally lends to awesome Facebook status updates. She lives in Los Angeles with her family. For more about her and her books, go to allisonwinn.com or follow her on Twitter at @aswinn.


I hope you will give this novel a try.

Cheers,
Deanna

Book Review: Take Me To Your Heart Again (Redcliffe Sisters Series, Book 2) by Marius Gabriel

Hi all,

 

I read the first book in this series, Wish Me Luck As You Wave Me Goodbye, and absolutely loved it. So, of course, when the second book in the series became available, I just had to read it. Here is more about the book and my 5-Star review.

 

Take Me To Your Heart Again

Marius Gabriel

 

Book Description:

Tensions between three sisters, divided by life and love, are about to spill over into all-out conflict.

It is 1942 and the world is at war. The eldest of the Redcliffe sisters, Isobel, impulsive and ideological, strives to make herself heard in a world distracted by violence. But her ambitious new path is strewn with obstacles, not least a private scandal that threatens to become public. Optimist Chiara has had to grow up fast, to set aside teenage dreams and make way for the unexpected realities of adulthood—but who can she count on for help? Meanwhile Felicity has challenges of a more spiritual nature: will her journey of self-discovery lead her away from the convent she thought was her calling?

Separated by distance and war, Isobel, Chiara and Felicity must learn to confront life’s challenges with passion, strength—and unity. Because family is the tie that binds tightest of all.

This is the second title in the Redcliffe Sisters series and follows on from Wish Me Luck As You Wave Me Goodbye.

Buy now:

Amazon Kindle

Paperback

 

My 5-Star Review:

This novel continues on where we left the Redcliffe sisters. It’s 1942 and Isobel has changed course again – politically and romantically. Chiara has lost the love of her life to Isobel, and is determined to make it on her own except there is a “bump” in the road. And former nun Felicity has taken life by the horns and is expecting all the life she missed in her youth in the convent. The sisters find a few surprises along the way – and new loves come their way. But who are they?

I truly enjoyed the second book in this series about these three very different sisters who have all gone their own way in life. Plenty of action, love, and drama amidst the horror of war. If you love novels from this time period, then this is the perfect series for you.

(I received a complimentary copy of this novel from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.)

 

About the Author:

Marius Gabriel served his author apprenticeship as a student at Newcastle University, where, to finance his postgraduate research, he wrote thirty-three Mills & Boon romances under a pseudonym. His identity as a man had to be kept secret until he turned to longer fiction under his own name. Gabriel is the author of eight sagas and historical novels, including the bestsellers The Mask of Time, The Original Sin and The Seventh Moon, and was once accused by Cosmopolitan magazine of ‘keeping you reading while your dinner burns’. He very seldom burns his own, however, being an enthusiastic cook, as well as an artist and a musician. Born in South Africa in 1954, he has lived and worked in many countries, and now divides his time between London and Cairo. He has three grown-up children.

 

Cheers,

Deanna

Book Review: Sister of Mine by Sabra Waldfogel

Hi all,

I'm a bit of a history buff so I am always thrilled to find an interesting novel about the Civil War. Sister of Mine by Sabra Waldfogel mixes fiction with historical fact - which I love. Here is more about the book and my thoughts.

 

 

Sister of Mine: A Novel

Sabra Waldfogel

 

Book Description:

When two Union soldiers stumble onto a plantation in northern Georgia on a warm May day in 1864, the last thing they expect is to see the Union flag flying high—or to be greeted by a group of freed slaves and their Jewish mistress. Little do they know that this place has an unusual history.

Twelve years prior, Adelaide Mannheim—daughter of Mordecai, the only Jewish planter in the county—was given her own maid, a young slave named Rachel. The two became friends, and soon they discovered a secret: Mordecai was Rachel’s father, too.

As the country moved toward war, Adelaide and Rachel struggled to navigate their newfound sisterhood—from love and resentment to betrayal and, ultimately, forgiveness.

Now, facing these Union soldiers as General Sherman advances nearer, their bond is put to the ultimate test. Will the plantation be spared? Or will everything they’ve lived for be lost?

Revised edition: Previously published as Slave and Sister, this edition of Sister of Mine: A Novel includes editorial revisions.

Lake Union Publishing

Publish Date: March 22, 2016

 
Buy on Amazon:

Kindle

Paperback

 

My 5 Star Review:

In 1852, young Adelaide Mannheim is given a gift – her own slave. The two young girls bond quickly and Adelaide teaches the slave, Rachel, reading and math skills. As they grow, however, they soon learn a secret: Adelaide and Rachel are half-sisters. But while one was born into privilege, the other was born a slave.

 

As the years pass, the two girls grow into women and find their relationship with each other difficult. Adelaide sees nothing wrong in slavery because it’s been considered normal all her life. Rachel, however, craves to be free of her bonds, free to love, free to marry and have children not born into slavery. When Adelaide finds herself in a loveless marriage, she slowly becomes jealous of her sister who her husband seems to favor. And when he goes off to war, it is up to the two sisters to manage the plantation together. But can they navigate their relationship in these changing times?

 

Sister of Mine is an intriguing novel that draws the reader in and holds their interest to the end. The characters are well-developed and considering there are many, this is a great accomplishment. I was impressed with the historically accurate details and how the author so successfully managed to show Rachel’s love/hate relationship with her sister. This is a not-to-be-missed novel for those who enjoy civil war stories.

 

(I received an advance copy of this novel from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.)

 

 

About the Author:

 

Sabra Waldfogel grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, but has always been fascinated by the drama of slavery and freedom in the South, before and after the Civil War. She studied history at Harvard University and received her PhD in American history from the University of Minnesota. Since then, she has worked as a technical writer and has written about historic architecture for Old House Journal and Arts and Crafts Homes. Waldfogel’s short story “Yemaya” appeared in Sixfold’s Winter 2013 fiction issue. In her free time, she collects and sells antiques with her husband. Sister of Mine is her first novel.

 

 

 

 

Cheers,

Deanna

Cover Reveal: Finding Libbie by Deanna Lynn Sletten

Hi all,

I'm so very excited to share with you the beautiful cover of my upcoming novel Finding Libbie. Without further ado - here it is!

 

 

 

 

Book Description:

 

Poring over a dusty hatbox of photographs in her grandmother’s closet, Emily Prentice is shocked to discover her father was married to his high school sweetheart before meeting her mother.

In the summer of 1968, Jack and Libbie fall in love under the spell of their small town, untouched by the chaos of the late sixties. Though Libbie’s well-to-do parents disapprove of Jack’s humble family and his aspiration to become a mechanic, she marries Jack a year after they graduate high school. But soon their happiness crumbles as Libbie’s mental state unravels and she is drawn to alcohol and drugs. Despite his efforts to help her, Jack loses the woman he loves and is forced to move on with his life.

Now that Emily’s mother has passed away, Jack is alone again, and Emily grows obsessed with the beautiful woman who had given her father such joy. Determined to find Libbie, Emily pieces together the couple’s fragmented past. But is it too late for happy endings?

Finding Libbie is a powerful story of a love so strong that decades cannot tear it apart.

 

If you loved Sara's Promise or Memories - you will love this novel!

 

Publication Date: September 6, 2016

Lake Union Publication

Pre-order now on Amazon!

Kindle

Paperback

 

 

I'd like to thank my editor, Danielle Marshall, and the entire team at Lake Union Publishing for their patience and hard work on Finding Libbie. They have been amazing to work with.



Cheers,
Deanna

Book Review: Leaving Blythe River by Catherine Ryan Hyde

Hi all,

I’m already a big fan of Catherine Ryan Hyde and this novel solidified it. Here we go…

 

Leaving Blythe River

Catherine Ryan Hyde

 

Book Description:

Seventeen-year-old Ethan Underwood is totally unprepared to search for his father in the Blythe River National Wilderness. Not only is he small, scrawny, and skittish but he’s barely speaking to the man after a traumatic betrayal. Yet when his father vanishes from their remote cabin and rangers abandon the rescue mission, suddenly it’s up to Ethan to keep looking. Angry or not, he’s his father’s only hope.

With the help of three locals—a fearless seventy-year-old widow, a pack guide, and a former actor with limited outdoor skills—he heads into the wild. The days that follow transform Ethan’s world. Hail, punishing sun, swollen rapids, and exhausting pain leave him wondering if he’s been fooled yet again: Is his father out here at all? As the situation grows increasingly dire, Ethan realizes this quest has become about more than finding his dad.

From the bestselling author of Pay It Forward comes a story of nature revealing human nature—the trickiest terrain. Navigating an unforgiving landscape, Ethan searches himself for the ability to forgive his father—if he finds him alive.

 

Publish Date: May 24, 2016

Lake Union Publishing

 

Buy now on:

Amazon Kindle

Paperback

 

My Five Star Review:

 

Leaving Blythe River is the third book I’ve read by author Catherine Ryan Hyde, and I have to say, I enjoyed it as much as I have her others. She writes strong stories that delve into the hearts and minds of her realistic characters. These characters aren’t perfect people—as none of us are—and that makes her stories even more intriguing.

Seventeen-year-old Ethan is not a smooth-talking, overly confident teen. Unlike his good looking, athletic father, Ethan is small in stature and not very brave. The night he discovers his father’s betrayal, he has an incident that causes him to become even more timid. But when his mother, now separated from his father, needs Ethan to stay with his father for the summer in the wilderness—far from the city life Ethan is used to—Ethan is even more anxious. He doesn’t want to spend time alone with his father or be anywhere near the bear-infested wilderness. And then his dad disappears.

Ethan musters all his courage to go into the mountains with three very colorful characters and search for his father. Along the way, he finds that he is braver and stronger than he thought.

Leaving Blythe River is an unforgettable story of courage, strength, and mending broken relationships. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I believe that readers of compelling women’s fiction will love it, too. If you aren’t already of fan of Catherine Ryan Hyde’s novels, then this book will make you one.

(I received a complimentary copy of this novel from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.)

 

 

About the Author:

 

Catherine Ryan Hyde is the author of thirty published and forthcoming books. Her bestselling 1999 novel Pay It Forward, adapted into a major Warner Bros. motion picture starring Kevin Spacey and Helen Hunt, made the American Library Association’s Best Books for Young Adults list and was translated into more than two dozen languages for distribution in more than thirty countries. Her novels Becoming Chloe and Jumpstart the World were included on the ALA’s Rainbow List; Jumpstart the World was also a finalist for two Lambda Literary Awards and won Rainbow Awards in two categories. More than fifty of her short stories have been published in many journals, including the Antioch Review, Michigan Quarterly Review, the Virginia Quarterly Review, Ploughshares, Glimmer Train, and the Sun, and in the anthologies Santa Barbara Stories and California Shorts and the bestselling anthology Dog Is My Co-Pilot. Her short fiction received honorable mention in the Raymond Carver Short Story Contest, a second-place win for the Tobias Wolff Award, and nominations for Best American Short Stories, the O. Henry Award, and the Pushcart Prize. Three have also been cited in Best American Short Stories.

Ryan Hyde is also founder and former president of the Pay It Forward Foundation. As a professional public speaker, she has addressed the National Conference on Education, twice spoken at Cornell University, met with AmeriCorps members at the White House, and shared a dais with Bill Clinton.

 

More reviews of books by Catherine Ryan Hyde:

 

Ask Him Why

 

Worthy



Cheers,

Deanna

Book Review: The Bette Davis Club by Jane Lotter

Hi all,

I can’t say enough good things about this latest book I’ve read. The Bette Davis Club by Jane Lotter was such a delight to read. It’s an absolute must-read for those who love a great women’s fiction novel. Here is more about the novel and my review.

 

The Bette Davis Club

Jane Lotter

 

Book Description:

The morning of her niece’s wedding, Margo Just drinks a double martini and contemplates the many mistakes she’s made in her fifty-odd years of life. Spending three decades in love with a wonderful but unattainable man is pretty high up on her list of missteps, as is a long line of unsuccessful love affairs accompanied by a seemingly endless supply of delicious cocktails.

When the young bride flees—taking with her a family heirloom and leaving behind six hundred bewildered guests—her mother offers Margo fifty grand to retrieve her spoiled brat of a daughter and the invaluable property she stole. So, together with the bride’s jilted and justifiably crabby fiancé, Margo sets out in a borrowed 1955 red MG on a cross-country chase. Along the way, none of what she discovers will be quite what she expected. But it might be exactly what she’s been seeking all along.

From acclaimed humor writer Jane Lotter comes this madcap, laugh-out-loud adventure, The Bette Davis Club.

 

Buy now on:

Amazon Kindle

 

Paperback

 

My Five Star Review:

 

Margo Just is near the end of her rope with no money in the bank, debt, and no income coming in. When her sister—her wealthy sister—invites her across country to California to attend her niece’s wedding, Margo decides a family celebration is just what she needs. Then, when her niece takes off before the ceremony, a wonderful opportunity comes Margo’s way. Her sister is willing to pay her loads of money to track down the runaway bride and get back the family heirloom she’s absconded with. One catch—the jilted groom will go along, too. So, off they go in Margo’s father’s old 1955 MG on a wild goose chase across country, and Margo learns much more about herself than she anticipated along the way.

 

The Bette Davis Club is one of the best books I’ve read in a very long time. Author Jane Lotter is a pro when it comes to writing a hilarious, heartwarming story. The characters are written with expertise and the storyline truly keeps you turning the pages. Such a well-written story! I loved how each and every character was flawed, but also able to win your heart. When you read The Bette Davis Club, you know you are reading a story by a talented wordsmith. Thank you, Jane Lotter, for leaving us this amazing story.

 

If you love witty, heartwarming stories, you will love this novel.

(I received this novel from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.)

 

About the Author:

Jane Lotter was a Seattle-based writer and humorist whose work has appeared in national publications. Her hilarious column, Jane Explains, ran in the Seattle Sun, winning several awards, including one from the Society of Professional Journalists. Jane’s only novel, The Bette Davis Club, won first place in the Mainstream category in the Pacific Northwest Writers Association Literary Contest.

 

I hope you will give this novel a try – you will not be disappointed.

 

Cheers,

Deanna

What I've Been Up To

Hi all,

It's been a few months since my last book release and many readers have asked me when my next book will be out. So, I thought I'd catch you all up on what I've been doing the past few months.

My husband and I moved this past month and have been crazy busy getting settled into our new home. We upsized - LOL - so we have lots of space to get lost in and we have a peaceful view of the Mississippi River. I have a new writing area in the loft overlooking the river, and am very excited about the new space. Once settled - I will go back into writing mode and get all those novels in my head written.



But don't think I haven't been writing - I've been busy working on a women's fiction novel that is finally finished and I am one-third of the way through a new romance. My exciting news - I just signed again with Lake Union Publishing to publish my next two books. The book I just finished is on the way to them and they will work their magic so it will be out in 2016. And if all goes well, I hope to finish up the romance I'm working on and publish that in early 2016. So - there are new books on the way in the upcoming year.

It has been an amazing year for me both personally and professionally. We love our new home and look forward to many wonderful years in it. My novel Maggie's Turn was re-published by Lake Union Publishing in July and has done very well, and paperback copies were also available in Walmarts across the country. I'm looking forward to working with the team at Lake Union again and feel very lucky to have their support.

Most of all, I am amazed and appreciative of all my wonderful readers who've made my success as an author possible. I can't thank you all enough for all your kind and encouraging words, positive reviews, and for getting the word out
to your friends about my books. I love writing stories, and I'm so thankful that you all love reading them. It truly is a dream job.

Looking ahead - Be on the lookout for my holiday giveaway this month. And for my latest novels in 2016.

Cheers,

Deanna

Maggie's Turn Soon to Hit Shelves at Walmart

Hi all,

I am so excited to share with you that paperback copies of my novel Maggie's Turn have been selected to be placed in 1400 Walmart stores across the country. Thanks to my amazing team at Lake Union Publishing, this next milestone has been made possible. My readers who have bought, read, and reviewed Maggie's Turn have also made this exciting new venture possible.

I would be lying if I said I wasn't excited when I heard the news. I practically screamed with delight - just ask my husband who was the first person I called to tell the exciting news to. I already felt honored that Maggie's Turn was doing so well on Amazon in Kindle format. This is just the icing on the cake.

Maggie's Turn will hit the shelves at selected Walmart stores on October 20th. At that time, I'll run a contest to see how many people can find my book at their Walmart - so keep an eye out for my contest post around that date.

I can't wait!!!

Cheers,
Deanna

Maggie's Turn is Here!

MAGGIE'S TURN is finally here! 

The new revised and re-edited edition of my women's fiction novel is now available in several formats. Many, many readers had enjoyed the original Maggie's Turn since 2012, and new readers are sure to enjoy this version as well. It is the same great story - just polished up a bit.

If you've already read Maggie's Turn, I thank you. If you haven't, I hope you'll give this novel a try.


Maggie's Turn

Deanna Lynn Sletten


Book Description:
Maggie has always put her family’s needs in front of her own, until one day—without forethought—she drives away, leaving behind her indifferent husband and two sulking teenagers.

As she begins a quest of self-exploration, she meets new people, enjoys new adventures, and rediscovers long-neglected passions. For the first time in years, Maggie contemplates what she wants from life and soon realizes that her deteriorating marriage can no longer continue as it is. Can she and Andrew repair their broken relationship, or is their marriage over?

Left to his own devices, Andrew is forced to take over the household responsibilities and bridge the growing divide between himself and his children. Slowly, he begins to understand what drove Maggie away—and how he can’t bear to live without her. But is it too late? Will Andrew lose Maggie forever?

Revised edition: This edition of Maggie's Turn includes editorial revisions.


Contemporary Women's Fiction
Family Drama

Published by: Lake Union Publishing

Buy Maggie's Turn on Amazon:

Kindle $3.99

Paperback $14.95

Audiobook $14.99

Audible.com $12.24

Cheers!

Deanna