Author: Marcia

#ShareAReviewDay – The Sleeping Serpent by Luna Saint Claire

/ Marcia / 10 Comments

This afternoon, our guest is Luna Saint Claire, who would like to share her favorite review of The Sleeping Serpent. I hope you enjoy reading about this one, and will pass it along far and wide. Thanks!

REVIEW:

By Nina DuBois on March 21, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase

This book completely blew my mind. The complete shock and utter disbelief left me reeling from its all too realistic storyline. Luna Saint Claire did a wonderful job writing this book with so much detail and ease. I was hooked. Even though just about all of the characters made me angry and want to slap them silly I could not put this book down. I was scared to see how it would all end.The story is based around yoga instructor Nico and his many relationships with different women. Luna did an excellent job shaping each characters personality and displaying the level of narcissism and manipulation that each women went through. It was so sad it was almost tragic. There are people out there like this and I think Luna gave a great example of it in this book. I loved every minute of it while simultaneously hating Nico and these women. This book will definitely get to you psychologically.I really enjoyed that this book was erotic, dark, and heartrending all in one. I don’t know how Luna made Nico so hot and alluring and oh so hot, but so terrible at the same time. I had so many different emotions running through me while I read this book and I guiltily loved every second of it. I have not read another book like this. I loved that it was different and something I have not read before and that it talks about a serious relationship issue. I applaud Luna Saint Claire for creating this masterpiece. She no doubt did her research. The amount of yoga information in this book totally blew me away. It made Nico seem not so bad at times because he was supposed to be this spiritual and kind person who could never do anything wrong. As much as I thought I had it all figured out, this book took me on a whirlwind of twists and one emotion to the next in a matter of seconds.

I highly recommend anyone read this book. I loved it.

BLURB:

A darker and more deeply etched Big Little Lies
 
The debut psychological thriller that dips into the dark seedy side of yoga – Author Paul DeBlassie
 
As thrilling as The Girl on the Train, and twisted as Gone Girl – a gripping account of the seductive manipulations of a sociopath. This can happen to anyone!
 
Fashion, Passion & Yoga – I had an obsessive bond with this book! – Mary Carlomagno, author
 
Whether by free will or fate, Luna’s encounter with Nico provokes a storm that shatters her perceptions of identity, duty, morality, and self-worth. The storm didn’t blow in from the outside. She was the storm. Its turbulence within her, forcing her to confront the darkness, uncovers her secrets and her pain.

Luna Saint Claire has a loving husband and an enviable career as a Hollywood costume designer. Still, something is gnawing at her. Bored with her conventional and circumscribed existence, she feels herself becoming invisible. When she meets Nico Romero, a charismatic yoga guru, his attentions awaken her passions and desires. Dangerous, but not in a way that scares her, he makes her feel as if anything is possible. Infatuated, she becomes entangled in Nico’s life as he uses his mesmerizing sexuality to manipulate everyone around him in his pursuit of women, wealth, and celebrity.

Immensely erotic and psychologically captivating, The Sleeping Serpent is the compelling story of a woman’s obsession with a spellbinding guru and the struggle to reclaim her life. At its heart, it is a painfully beautiful exposition of unconditional love that makes us question what we truly want.

“She realized in an instant that being around him awakened her, stirring the sediment that had long ago settled at the bottom of her well. He made her feel a part of him–of something larger, and somehow more alive.”

AUTHOR BIO:

Luna Saint Claire is a costume designer and author residing in Los Angeles with her husband, a philosophy professor. She loves blues rock and Indie music, often setting her Pandora station to Damien Rice. Her personal style can best be described as eclectic bohemian. Though she now enjoys running and yoga, she spent years of her youth in the ballet studio. Her part Native American heritage informs her work as a designer and influences her storytelling.

Buy The Sleeping Serpent HERE

Available on Amazon Worldwide: myBook.to/SleepingSerpentBooks2Read Universal Link:  http://www.books2read.com/u/478WLjAmazon Author Link: Author.to/LunaSaintClaire

Luna Saint Claire:
Email: compelledbooks@gmail.com
Website:   www.compelledbooks.com

 

#ShareAReviewDay – Andorra Pett and the Oort Cloud Café by Richard Dee

/ Marcia / 13 Comments

Good Morning, Everyone! Today, I’d like to welcome Richard Dee to #ShareAReviewDay at The Write Stuff. Richard is sharing his favorite review for his book, Andorra Pett and the Oort Cloud Café. I think you’ll enjoy hearing about this one, and I’m sure you pass it along via all the usual social media routes. THANKS!

REVIEW:
Great fun, cosy mystery. Loved this book.
By Yvonne Me and My Books TOP 1000 REVIEWER on 12 February 2018

Andorra and Cyril, (Andi & Cy) decide to relocate to a mining station. The station is responsible for mining the rocks that make up the rings of Saturn, it has the basics on site that the inhabitants need. Andi and Cy take over the abandoned “ucky Strike Cafe” (the ‘L’ fell off ). It’s when they start checking round the premises that they realise it holds a secret, too late to back out now as their customers are arriving.

Oh this is a wonderful cosy mystery. Andi and Cy have a brilliant dynamic and the author has explored and developed this really well, they are by far my favourite characters. The others that you meet along the way are in themselves quirky and fun but also there is an underlying feeling of who can be trusted. Many of them have a secret or two and are not completely honest when confronted about their involvement. Richard has given really good description of the station, going as far as to explain how it works. It has a farm, observatory, diner, shops, but he has gone into a bit more detail how the mining and the farm work in unison. This is not over the top technical detail, but enough that I could follow what he meant. These sections of the story are a great reminder of the setting and it helps to reinforce that feeling. The plot was one that had me guessing right through, there are things that caught me by surprise with the red herrings and blind alleys that Richard has expertly lead this reader down. It has a great amateur sleuthing feel to it with a grand exposing finale that I love.

Described as ‘Agatha Raisin in space’ story, after reading I am in agreement with this statement. This is a great cosy mystery read with surprising twists, a fun read that I thoroughly enjoyed. I had a smile on my face when I had finished, a ‘feel good’ read. This is a book I would highly recommend to other readers.

BLURB:

Meet Andorra Pett; with her trusty sidekick, she’s taken over a derelict café. On a mining station. It just happens to be orbiting Saturn!
She’s hoping for a fresh start, away from all the drama of her old life. It’s a chance to relax and start again in a place where nobody knows anything about her or her past.

But the café holds a secret, and secrets have a habit of coming out; whether you want them to or not. And being accident prone doesn’t help. The more you try to pretend that you know what’s going on, the worse it gets.
Andorra’s plans for peace and quiet get lost amid the revelations and skulduggery and she soon realises that the fate of the whole station lies in her hapless hands.
In space, you can still trip over your feet; the question is, will you land upright?


Author Richard Dee

A native of Brixham in Devon, Richard Dee’s family left Devon when he was in his teens and settled in Kent. Leaving school at 16 he briefly worked in a supermarket, then went to sea and travelled the world in the Merchant Navy, qualifying as a Master Mariner in 1986. Coming ashore to be with his growing family, he used his sea-going knowledge in several jobs, including Marine Insurance Surveyor and Dockmaster at Tilbury, before becoming a Port Control Officer in Sheerness and then at the Thames Barrier in Woolwich. In 1994 he was head-hunted and offered a job as a Thames Estuary Pilot. In 1999 he transferred to the Thames River Pilots, where he regularly took vessels of all sizes through the Thames Barrier and upriver as far as H.M.S. Belfast and through Tower Bridge. In all, he piloted over 3,500 vessels in a 22-year career with the Port of London Authority. Richard was offered part time working in 2010, which allowed him to return to live in Brixham, where he took up writing and blogging. During this time, he also set up and ran a successful Organic bakery, supplying local shops and cafés. The urge to write eventually overtook the urge to bake but Richard still makes bread for friends and family. Richard is married with three adult children and three grandchildren. 

Buy Andorra Pett and the Oort Cloud Café at the links below:
Amazon UK HERE
Amazon US HERE

My website is at richarddeescifi.co.uk. Head over there to see what I get up to, while you’re there, make sure you click the FREE STUFF tab or the PORTFOLIO tab to get all the details about my work and pick up a free novel or short story.

I’m on Facebook at RichardDeeAuthor and Twitter at Richard Dee Sci-Fi

 

Offline For A Week or So

/ Marcia / 9 Comments

Just a reminder that I’ll be offline for a week to ten days, and won’t be able to respond to your posts or questions. Thanks for your understanding, and I’ll be back before you know it! 🙂 BTW, you regular contributors may feel free to post at any time, except for Tuesday, when I’ve already scheduled our #ShareAReviewDay posts for this week.

See you soon! 🙂

BONUS #ShareAReviewDay Post – The Emissary by Marcia Meara

/ Marcia / 42 Comments


I’m going to be offline for a week or so, and since I had planned to share a few of my own reviews here and there, I figured today would be a perfect chance to do so without cluttering up our Tuesday posts. Hope you’ll enjoy this one, and perhaps check out this spinoff novella. It can be read as a stand-alone, but it does have a slight spoiler going back to the book it originated from. (Finding Hunter). I don’t think it’s enough to bother most readers, but thought I should let you know. In the meantime, hope you’ll enjoy what one (familiar) reader though of it.  🙂

REVIEW:

Mae Clair
5.0 out of 5 stars Everything you want a book to be . . .

June 14, 2018 Verified Purchase

This book is so ridiculously entertaining, I couldn’t put it down. It plays on ALL the emotions—humor (in spades), sadness, heartfelt joy, anger, frustration, and a wonderful ending. WOW! The author knows how to tell a phenomenal tale and craft a good story. This is a relatively short read, but it’s a rich read with fully developed characters and plot lines. I especially loved the relationship (and witty dialogue) between Jake and angel Azrael.

After experiencing death, Jake is sent to Earth as an “emissary.” His job is to help others who are in trouble, or who might be on the verge of tossing in the towel. He’s not an angel, has some limited powers, but can still experience pain and emotions. He can also be snarky when he wants to be, especially when dealing with his “boss” Azrael. The scenes between these two are pure gold, and had me laughing out loud. The author has an amazing gift for sly humor. Yet, at other parts in the novella, she had me sniffling with numerous emotional scenes that expertly tug heartstrings. I’ve read other work by Marcia Meara and never come away disappointed. I’m hoping there will be more “Emissary” novels and novellas to follow this one. I HIGHLY recommend it!

BLURB:

Was Gabe Angelino, the mysterious truck driver in Finding Hunter: Riverbend Book 2, really an angel, as Willow Green believes? Or was he simply a good man, determined to help a stranger in need? Find out, as author Marcia Meara reveals the truth in the first Riverbend spinoff novella, The Emissary.

An angel’s work is never done—that’s part of the gig. But angels hadn’t been created to deal with such a vastly over-populated planet, rife with misery, suffering, and general chaos. Helping souls in peril has become a nearly impossible job, and even angelic tempers are frayed.

The archangel Azrael has had enough. He believes he’s found a way to ease their burden while saving jeopardized humans, too—hired help.

When Jake Daughtry lost his life rescuing a total stranger from certain death, he was on the fast track to Heaven. But that was before Azrael pulled him right out of line at the Pearly Gates. Now, as an Emissary to the Angels, Jake is taking to the highway in a quest to help souls in trouble. But the innate stubbornness of human beings bent on self-destruction is a challenge unlike any he’s ever faced.

It’s up to Jake and Azrael to bridge the gap between humans and angels. Will they ever convince the Council of Angels this endeavor is worthwhile? Can Jake figure out how to play by Azrael’s complicated rules? Will Azrael ever master the use of contractions in general conversation?

To find out the answers, hop on board Jake’s big red-and-white semi and travel the roads from the Florida Keys to north Georgia on an adventure that will make you laugh hard and cry even harder.


Author Marcia Meara & “Happy”

 

Marcia Meara lives in central Florida, just north of Orlando, with her husband of over thirty years, four big cats, and two small dachshunds. When not writing or blogging, she spends her time gardening, and enjoying the surprising amount of wildlife that manages to make a home in her suburban yard. At the age of five, Marcia declared she wanted to be an author, and is ecstatic that at age 69, she finally began pursuing that dream. Her belief in the redemptive power of love is a unifying factor in both of her popular series and her poetry. Today, she’s still going strong, and plans to keep on writing until she falls face down on the keyboard, which she figures would be a pretty good way to go!

Marcia has published six novels, one novella, and one book of poetry to date, all of which are available on Amazon: 

Wake-Robin Ridge
A Boy Named Rabbit: Wake-Robin Ridge Book 2
Harbinger: Wake-Robin Ridge Book 3

Swamp Ghosts: A Riverbend Novel
Finding Hunter: Riverbend Book 2
That Darkest Place: Riverbend Book 3 

The Emissary: A Riverbend Spinoff Novella 

Summer Magic: Poems of Life & Love 

Marcia’s Amazon Author Page

You can reach Marcia via email at marciameara16@gmail.com or on the following social media sites:

The Write Stuff: https://marciamearawrites.com/
Twitter: @marciameara
Facebook: www.facebook.com/marcia.meara.writer
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/marciameara/

 

#ShareAReviewDay – Vampyrie by Tina Frisco

/ Marcia / 75 Comments

This morning, I’d like to welcome Tina Frisco, who is sharing a review of her book, Vampyrie. I hope you enjoy checking out the review, and sharing on social media. Thanks so much!

5-Star Amazon Review
By Colleen M. Chesebro on January 14, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase

I never participated in the vampire reading craze that took over the fantasy genre after the successes of the famous books, “Twilight” or “Interview with the Vampire.” There was always too much blood and lust for my taste. Now upon deeper reflection, I may have missed out on some fascinating stories.

I also never considered the intriguing literary possibilities behind the disease of vampirism. Yet, that is exactly what attracted me to Tina Frisco’s hit novel, Vampyrie.

The protagonist, Phoebe Angelina Delaney is portrayed as a strong compassionate woman with a reputation for facing peril head-on. She is a fierce defender of her friends and loved ones. I immediately connected with Phoebe’s character and loved that she was written like a real person, filled with flaws and fears just like the rest of us.

Why did Phoebe’s father keep their family history a secret? Why did her mother disappear when Phoebe was a child? The story unravels, bit by bit, guiding the reader along on Phoebe’s journey where she must confront the secrets of her past and come to grips with the reality of her true identity. It’s not easy to face the real world when it turns upside down, but Phoebe shows us what’s she made of.

I was pleasantly surprised to see the character, W’Hyani, from one of the author’s prior novels, “Plateau, Beyond the Trees,” play an important role in this novel. The tie-in of characters was a brilliant addition by the author. What W’Hyani brings to this novel is the same thing she brought to the first novel – a sense of hope for the future of humanity; even though the characters find themselves embroiled in the midst of a war that must be won.

“Vampyrie” stands out from other supernatural tales because the vampire theory we have all come to expect has been rewritten with a twist where medical science skillfully revises the history of vampirism. This hypothesis holds a credibility that lends a sense of realism to the story I didn’t expect. It was a great divergence that kept me totally engaged in the mystery.

Yes, there was blood, and fangs, and some gore; but it wouldn’t be a vampire novel without those elements. I can only say I found myself pleasantly surprised when I discovered the fundamental theme of the book bestowed a philosophical message of growth, strength, and change.

If you think you know vampire novels, think again. “Vampyrie” rewrites the stereotypes and character archetypes you’ve come to expect into something fresh and new. I bet even the vampires approve!

BLURB:

What if vampires were not the undead, but rather the dying? What if there were two factions among vampires: the sustained and the unsustainable? And what if those factions were at war with one another over the life of a young woman who promised them a future? Vampyrie brings the myth of the vampire into the realm of possibility.

Phoebe Angelina Delaney is a reluctant genius and compassionate hothead. She finds herself in a pitch-dark underground and doesn’t remember how she got there. Did she drink too much alcohol and wander off in a stupor, or was she kidnapped by a malicious element determined to make her life a living hell?

Sir Michael Alan David is a vampire – an enigma, charismatic and mysterious, who weaves in and out of Phoebe’s life. Does he intend to use his title as a ruse to draw her closer to an unearthly fate, or is he a cloak-and-dagger knight in shining armor?

Too many secrets have been kept for too long. Phoebe must unravel the mystery in order to survive. Two major characters from the author’s first novel, Plateau, join forces with Phoebe to battle the demons in Vampyrie.


Author Tina Frisco

Tina Frisco is an author, singer-songwriter, RN, activist, and student of shamanism. Born in the U.S., she has lived most of her adult life in sunny California. She began writing as soon as she was introduced to a pencil, and has enjoyed performing her music publicly in many different venues. Her publishing history includes book reviews; essays; articles in the field of medicine; short stories; inspirational articles; her children’s book, GABBY AND THE QUADS; and her two novels, PLATEAU and VAMPYRIE. She enjoys writing, reading, music, dancing, arts and crafts, exploring nature, and frequently getting lost in working crossword puzzles.

Buy Vampyrie  HERE

Reach Tina on Social Media here:

Website/Blog ~ https://tinafrisco.com
Amazon ~ https://amzn.to/2JDwjAK
Twitter ~ http://bit.ly/2qtizQB
Facebook ~ http://bit.ly/2bMVUpI
Goodreads ~ http://bit.ly/2qtsuoX
LinkedIn ~ http://bit.ly/2EGIEAK
Google+ ~ http://bit.ly/1Fc1Uzn

 

 

#ShareAReviewDay – The Right Wrong Man by Pamela S. Wight

/ Marcia / 45 Comments

This afternoon, our guest is Pam Wight, who is sharing a lovely review of her novel The Right Wrong Man. I’m sure you’re going to enjoy reading this one, and thanks so much for sharing it throughout your social media links.

REVIEW:
5.0 out of 5 Stars: A Gripping Romantic Thriller
By Annika on February 16, 2018

Wow!! The Right Wrong Man is a rollercoaster of a novel and manages to combine my two favourite genres into one book! The genteel calm beginning lulled me into a false sense of security before the tension and drama quickly escalated into a thriller interwoven with romance.

At the centre of the story is Meredith, a feisty woman torn between two men. The juxtaposition of the title hooked me before I’d even started to read the book. Is the right man wrong for Meredith or is the wrong man right for her? Many exciting adventures later, set in two wonderfully different locations of Boston and the Caribbean, the reader finally discovers the answer to this question. At the same time the secret behind the notes of the letters the TRMFY, which are pervasive throughout the book, is revealed. Wonderful!

The two men in her life are Parker and Gregory. The former she broke up with 12 months earlier but he suddenly resurfaces in her life, with warnings before he disappears again. The is not an uncommon occurrence and part and parcel of his crazy nomadic lifestyle as an undercover agent for Drug Enforcement Agency. Gregory, her current boyfriend, is an accountant. The latter is dependable, thoughtful … and we quickly gather rather boring.

But does she really know either of these men?

Throughout the tension is taut and palpable, even more so since the reader directly identifies with Meredith and her dramas as the book is written from her point of view. Her confusion mirrors ours, we feel her fear, disbelief, incredulity. Her familiar tone reveals her thoughts and feelings consistently and constantly.

The intense pace of the story, the terrific characterisation and the personal and bigger dramas ensured this was a book I did not want to put down. And often I didn’t – reading late into the night to finish it.

An excellent book and I look forward to reading more by this author.

BLURB:

Meredith Powers’ career as a medical editor seems safe enough as she searches for love with the right man. But she is pulled suddenly from her serene world in Boston to one of intrigue, kidnapping, and murder in the Caribbean. Meredith’s simple life becomes terribly complicated when she works with an author who drags her into a drug heist. The reappearance of her ex-boyfriend, the D.E.A. agent, and the stunning response from her current accountant boyfriend all lead to complications, danger, and more than a few questions.  Meredith wonders if she really knows the people who surround her in her daily life. Her parents, her best friends, her boss, and even her lover. She discovers that almost everyone holds secrets, and the unearthing of those cover-ups lead to mystery and danger that changes everything, and everyone, she thought she knew.


Author Pamela S. Wight

Pamela Wight is a successful author of romantic suspense as well as the author of the illustrated children’s book, BIRDS OF PARADISE, enjoyed by readers ages 3 to 93.

Her first book, THE RIGHT WRONG MAN, got rave reviews for taking readers “on an exciting adventure with lots of intrigue, unexpected plot twists, and romance.” A year later, Wight published her second novel, TWIN DESIRES. “Lots of suspense, plot twists, romance, and excellent character development makes this a fun read!”

The gorgeously illustrated BIRDS OF PARADISE has received many enthusiastic reviews: “This creative, compassionate story about birds will inspire children to notice the everyday adventures of backyard birds.”

Pamela earned her Master’s in English from Drew University, continued with postgraduate work at UC Berkeley in publishing, and teaches creative writing classes in Boston and San Francisco.

She lives in the Boston area with her “right man” and hikes the New England trails while concocting her next novel, As Lovely as a Lie. Wight travels frequently to the San Francisco Bay area for additional inspiration. She speaks to book clubs in both locations.

Many readers enjoy her “weekly blog on daily living” called Roughwighting. Join her there (www.roughwighting.net), or on her Roughwighting Facebook page at http://facebook.com/roughwighting

Buy The Right Wrong Man HERE.

 

 

 

Update On Our Tuesday #ShareAReviewDay Feature

/ Marcia / 23 Comments

I’d like to thank everyone who has contacted me about the newest feature here on The Write Stuff: #ShareAReviewDay Tuesdays. So far, the response has been great, and I think the posts have been a lot of fun. This is turning out to be a good way to put your hard work in front of new potential readers.

In order to make this process easier on me, and to be sure you get the most out of your posts,  I’ve put together a list of instructions as to what I’ll need from anyone who’d like to have me share their review. You can find the information in the menu at the top of the page, where it says “GENERAL BLOG RULES & #ShareAReviewDay INSTRUCTIONS.”  Please be sure to send the items requested when you email me about participation, and I’ll happily get your post scheduled for you.

Those of you who are already contributors to this blog don’t need to email me first, but you might want to double check the list to be sure you’ve included everything needed to make your post as effective as possible.

I’m really looking forward to reading more great reviews from you folks, and don’t forget, you may submit more than one review. Just spread them out over the weeks ahead, and I’ll schedule them on the next available Tuesday.

Thanks!

A Miracle Named Reya Happened Last Night!

/ Marcia / 50 Comments

Our beautiful granddaughter arrived last night, just about dinnertime. (I think she planned it that way. Erin said she came into the world hungry!) Both mother and daughter are doing great. I’m almost as besotted by this baby as her 5-year-old brother Kaelen is, and I haven’t even met her yet.

Reya (a shortened version of Mireya, which means Miracle, among other definitions) weighed in at nearly 9 pounds. (Still smaller than her 10-pound-mother was, but don’t tell Erin I mentioned that part.) Her arrival was truly a longed-for miracle! Mark and I will be driving to Charleston soon to meet Reya Love (a family name that seemed perfect for Reya’s middle name) and to spend some time with her big brother, so he knows how important he is, too. I can’t wait!