Marcia Meara

Alert the Media!

/ Marcia / 86 Comments

Fair Warning: I have returned from my very first blogging break, and am rarin’ to go, as we say down here. I was busy every minute of the three weeks I was away, though didn’t get nearly as much writing done as I’d hoped. I think I’ll be factoring in the occasional week off from the blog now and then, if just for the purpose of finishing my WIP.

I did get a lot done around the house and garden, all of which were long overdue things that I’m delighted to cross off the To Do List. It’s nice to finally be planting some new things out back, instead of digging up, and cutting down, and hauling off stuff that was killed during the hurricane. (Yeah, I know that was a couple of years ago, but we are MUCH slower these days, it seems.)

I will be gradually returning to normal around here with all my old standby features, and perhaps some new ones. And with that in mind, I’m offering guests a chance to share something a bit different here on The Write Stuff. Even if you aren’t promoting a new release or promotion, you can still visit the blog now and then to introduce yourself to new readers. How?  Like this: 

10 Things You May Not Know About Me

  1. I’m pretty tall. Almost 5’11” in my younger days, and still about 5’10”.
  2. I’m a Florida native. (There’s me and some guy up in the Panhandle, I’ve been told, though that could be just a rumor.)
  3. I have a decided Southern drawl. (See #2.)
  4. My favorite movie in all the world is The Wizard of Oz.
  5. My favorite book of all time is Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca.
  6. I’m an ardent gardener and birder, and I love learning Latin names.
  7. Crossword Puzzles are one of my favorite pastimes, and I can work most Jumbles in less than two minutes, usually getting the answer before I unscramble any of the words.
  8. My middle name is Christine.
  9. I was a painter long before I decided to write.
  10. I have canoed hundreds of miles (literally!) on Florida rivers, and hiked nearly as many miles through our wild areas.

SEE? Hiking in Ocala National Forest.
(And yes. That’s me, a mere FORTY years ago!)

Now, wouldn’t you enjoy sharing a bit about yourself, maybe even an old picture or two, as a different type of guest post? If so, let me know, and I’ll get you set up. (We’ll still be doing the more traditional #GuestDayTuesday posts, too, of course.) Hope this sounds like fun to some of you. 

And with that, I’ll let you get back to what you were doing before I so rudely popped up to interrupt you. And oh, yeah … it’s good to be back! 😀

#ShareAReviewDay Tuesday – Wake-Robin Ridge Book 1 by Marcia Meara

/ Marcia / 45 Comments

I had a bit of a mix-up with another author’s post, and ended up rescheduling her review for next Tuesday. That left me with an opening this morning, and I decided to indulge myself by sharing a wonderful review I found posted on Deborah Jay’s website this week. With Wake-Robin Ridge being my first book, new reviews come in at a much slower pace, so this one thrilled me! Thanks to Debby from the bottom of my heart.

And let me add, she prefaced her review with the following words, which I loved:

“Today, I’m taking the briefest of breaks from reading Book #2 of this series to review Book #1. This might tell you how much I’m enjoying this series: I’m already disappointed there are only four books so far, there must be more – please make it so!”

REVIEW:

Deborah Jay a/k/a Debby Lush
Wake-Robin Ridge by Marcia Meara
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sarah leaves her dead-end library job for a remote cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains where she plans to write a book.

Ruth runs away from her abusive husband, taking his illicitly-gained money and his car, and hides out in a remote cabin…yes, you’ve guessed it – the same cabin, only 50 years apart.

The stories of these two women are told in parallel, along with that of Mac, Sarah’s gorgeous but brooding and private neighbour. Both are love stories that will eventually collide in a shocking, macabre manner, involving a ghost and a long-held secret, the unravelling of which brings Sarah and Mac finally together.

It’s hard to define this book: romance, yes. Supernatural, a little. But entertaining, engrossing and delightful, very definitely.

The author has a charming style, with beautiful descriptions, natural dialogue, and fully developed characters you would like to know in real life. Be warned, once you start this book, you will likely be late for every upcoming appointment, and prone to yawning your way through the day because you just had to stay up and finish that chapter. And then the next. And the next.

And then you have to go straight on and buy the next one…

View all my reviews

Take a look at WAKE-ROBIN RIDGE HERE – and don’t blame me if you get hooked!

BLURB:

“A PHONE RINGING AT 2:00 A.M. never means anything good. Calls at 2:00 A.M. are bad news. Someone has died. Someone is hurt. Or someone needs help.”

On a bitter cold January night in 1965, death came calling at an isolated little cabin on Wake-Robin Ridge. Now, nearly 50 years later, librarian Sarah Gray has quit her job and moved into the same cabin, hoping the peace and quiet of her woodland retreat will allow her to concentrate on writing her first novel. Instead she finds herself distracted by her only neighbor, the enigmatic and reclusive MacKenzie Cole, who lives on top of the mountain with his Irish wolfhound as his sole companion.

As their tentative friendship grows, Sarah learns the truth about the heartbreaking secret causing Mac to hide from the world. But before the two can sort out their feelings for each other, they find themselves plunged into a night of terror neither could have anticipated. Now they must unravel the horrifying events of a murder committed decades earlier. In doing so, they discover that the only thing stronger than a hatred that will not die is a heart willing to sacrifice everything for another.

~~~

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#ShareAReviewDay Tuesday – That Darkest Place by Marcia Meara

/ Marcia / 32 Comments

I’m sure you’ve all noticed that when I have an afternoon opening in my #ShareAReviewDay schedule, I fill the spot with a review of one of my own books. Guess what? Yep, it happened again today, so I’m sharing a wonderful review of my 3rd Riverbend novel, That Darkest Place. Hope you’ll enjoy it and will pass it  along to  all your friends on social media. The Painter brothers will thank you for it, and so will I. ❤

REVIEW:

Alex Craigie rated a book 5 Stars
Goodreads Review

That Darkest Place is the third of Marcia Meara’s books in the Riverbend series.  I recommend reading them in published order so as not to come across spoilers – and I’m pretty confident that once you’ve read one, like me you’ll want to read the others!

This book picked up from where the second left off and tells the story of the two older Painter brothers, Jackson and Forrest. There’s intrigue and danger running through it but the biggest and greatest part of the plotline for me concerns the relationships between the characters. Marcia has a special talent for revealing the uncertainties and inner feelings of her protagonists in a way with which her readers can readily identify.

At the heart of the book is the subject of how people move on after tragedy strikes and the often dangerous, ill-considered assumptions made by those around them. Two of the characters have suffered severe physical and emotional damage that has left them feeling unable to interact socially. Their powerful portrayal creates such real and believable personas that you’re swept along with them, feeling their suffering and praying that they’ll overcome the obstacles before them.

Marcia has done her homework and the medical and psychological backgrounds feel real and grounded; there’s no instant solution. However, the book isn’t doom and gloom at all. As always, there’s plenty of wit and humour running through the plotline – even in the tender love scenes which capture the spark of passion, the fear of rejection and the joy in finding a soulmate.

This book has all you need for a captivating read. Buy it! Continue reading →

#ShareAReviewDay Tuesday – Finding Hunter by Marcia Meara

/ Marcia / 35 Comments

I hope you’ll indulge me this afternoon, folks. I decided I was overdue in sharing one of my own reviews, so I’ve chosen a great one for my 2nd Riverbend novel, Finding Hunter. Hunter, the youngest of the Painter brothers, has a very special place in my heart. Hope you enjoy reading this one, and will pass it along where you can. Thanks!

REVIEW:

writester
5.0 out of 5 stars Gut-Wrenching, Heartbreaking, and Soul-Warming
Format: Kindle Edition

I was looking forward to this book because I enjoyed the first one in the series so much. And now I’m eager to read book three. Marcia Meara has found her groove in the complex-character/Florida-fiction niche.

I love character-driven fiction, and this is the epitome of a character-driven piece. Hunter Painter puts a smile on your face and a tear in your eye from the first page. His story arc had me an emotional wreck, so you can imagine what he and Willow went through. And Willow… so strong, so understanding, so amazing. She is a force to be reckoned with.

These characters and the supporting cast kept me on the edge of my seat. This book depicts the horrors of PTSD from not just the person plagued by it, but also from the POV of the family and friends who so often feel helpless and are relegated to watching their loved one suffer. Meara explored this condition thoroughly and without restraint. It was an eye-opening and heart-wrenching take on the topic.

As I said, I really enjoyed this novel and can’t wait to read the next installment.

Continue reading →

#ShareAReviewDay Tuesday – “The Emissary 2: To Love Somebody” by Marcia Meara

/ Marcia / 30 Comments

This afternoon, I’m sharing one of my own reviews, and I hope you‘ll enjoy it. This is D. L. Finn’s terrific review of The Emissary 2: To Love Somebody. The Emissary books are spinoff novellas from my Riverbend series, and so much fun to write. They are currently available as eBooks, and when I get the third one written, I will combine them into a 3-book set for print. In the meantime, it’s ready and waiting for you Kindle fans for a mere $1.99. Hope you’ll download your copy today. (But read the first Emissary book before you read this one, so you’ll have a better understanding of Jake, Dodger, and Azrael. A LOT happens in that one that you’ll want to know before reading To Love Somebody.) And thanks for passing this review along, if you can. I appreciate it.

REVIEW:

5.0 out of 5 starsI can’t wait to see where the story goes next!
Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This is the second novella in the series with the Emissaries, Jake and Dodger, working for Archangel Azrael. There’s the same depth and humor in this heartfelt tale that I enjoyed in “The Emissary”. I loved the developing relationship between Jake and Dodger as they work to save people from themselves. Dodger’s regret adds a new layer to this story. I can’t wait to see how that works out…and how Azrael plays into that. This is a perfect Christmas read, but would be great any time of the year. There was an amazing ending and I can’t wait to see where the story goes next. If you haven’t read the first novella–you should–then you can fully enjoy this highly recommended sequel!

BLURB:

In Marcia Meara’s second installment of The Emissary Trilogy, a Riverbend spinoff series of novellas, we find our three heroes at it again. Beautiful new places, exciting new adventures, and a whole assortment of new problems await them, bringing tears, laughter, and an extraordinary amount of love along with them. 

They’re back!

Jake and Dodger, the first (and so far, only) Emissaries to the Angels, are on the road again.

They’re looking for mortals about to take a wrong turn. You know the ones—the kid thinking about stealing from a corner market or the man planning to lie about a coworker and destroy her career. Yeah, them. People on the brink of making a mistake that could send them down that wrong road and jeopardize their mortal souls.

Of course, there are rules by which the emissaries must play, and the archangel Azrael stands ready to enforce them. First and foremost, a person’s free will must never be compromised. Emissaries are allowed to use only the smallest of mental nudges. Thankfully, a whispered suggestion here or images of a better course of action there is often all it takes. The potential mugger walks on by. The thief drops the wallet back into the unattended purse. But whether the results are obvious or not, Jake and Dodger are fully committed to making a positive difference, even as they struggle with issues of their own.

Will Dodger get over losing his chance to learn what true love is all about? Will Jake survive the grueling angelic equivalent of Boot Camp? Will Azrael ever finish the Official Emissarial Guidebook—including the chapter titled Do Not Even Think About It?

One thing’s for sure—Jake’s and Dodger’s strengths are growing daily, as they help more and more people make better choices. But is the price for so much power higher than they’re willing to pay?

Buy The Emissary HERE
Buy The Emissary 2: To Love Somebody HERE

Marcia Meara, Author

Marcia Meara lives in central Florida, just north of Orlando, with her husband of over thirty years, four big cats, and one small dachshund.

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. And she enjoys nature.  Really enjoys it. Almost all of it. From birds, to furry critters, to her favorites of all, snakes. She does, however, consider squirrels to be minions of Satan, sent to drive her mad. And she truly loathes spiders, convinced that anything with eight (count ’em, EIGHT) hairy legs is surely up to no good. She does not, however, kill spiders anymore, since she knows they have their place in the world. Besides, her husband now handles her catch and release program, and she’s good with that.

Spiders aside, one thing Marcia thinks you should always remember is that it’s never too late to make your dreams come true. If, at the age of 69, she could write and publish a book (and thus fulfill 64 years of longing to do just that), you can make your own dreams a reality, too. Go for it! What have you got to lose?

Today, Marcia has published six novels, two novellas, and one book of poetry to date, all of which are available on Amazon. Her belief in the redemptive power of love is a unifying factor in both of her popular series and her poetry.  At 75, she’s still following her heart, 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!

BUY ALL OF MARCIA’S BOOKS HERE:
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
The Emissary 2: To Love Somebody 

Summer Magic: Poems of Life & Love 

Marcia’s Amazon Author Page

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

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

The Write Stuff
Facebook
Pinterest
Twitter: @marciameara

 

 

#ShareAReviewDay Tuesday – The Emissary 2: To Love Somebody by Marcia Meara

/ Marcia / 24 Comments

Here it is #ShareAReviewDay again, and I’m welcoming . . . er . . . MYSELF to The Write Stuff this afternoon. Had an opening, figured I’d use it. Hope you’ll enjoy this lovely review of The Emissary 2: To Love Somebody, and will pass it along on your favorite social media sites. Thanks!

REVIEW:

Mae Clair
5.0 out of 5 starsAn uplifting tale!

October 27, 2018
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This urban fantasy is a delightful and heartwarming read that combines paranormal elements with the bonds of friendship, loyalty and family. Jake and Dodger are “emissaries” who have been recruited by the Angel Azrael to intercede on Earth when someone is about to do something, well…catastrophic, terrible or dumb. Jake and Dodger have certain rules to follow as they’ve died, yet physically remain on Earth, and can still suffer pain, just not death. They’ve already been there/done that. Now they get to travel around in a big semi rig and help others.

What makes this series (I highly recommend the first Emissary novella if you’ve haven’t already read it) so engaging is the emotional elements the author layers in her plot. Jake and Dodger are on the learning curve this time around, getting accustomed to their powers (under Azrael’s tutelage) while still learning about each other and how they fit into the world. The latter is a particularly rough spot for Dodger given the age at which he died.

As usual for a Marcia Meara story there is angst and hardship, but also plenty of triumph and heartwarming moments that result in misty-eyed reading. The bond between Jake and Dodger is wonderfully portrayed, the writing is polished, and the story flows beautifully. All three of these characters, Azrael included, will capture your heart. I love seeing the Archangel tread the line between his extraordinary power, humanity, and his attachment to his emissaries. A fabulous tale!

Continue reading →

Bonus #ShareAReviewDay Post – That Darkest Place by Marcia Meara

/ Marcia / 15 Comments

Here it is Sunday, again, and time for me to share one of my own favorite reviews with you good folks. Hope you’ll enjoy reading it and will pass it along. THANKS!

REVIEW:

5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling Evolution of the Painter Brothers
By writester on June 19, 2017

I was so glad to read this third installment of the Riverbend series. It picks up right where the second book left off, so I never missed a beat. And those Painter brothers aren’t men you want to turn your back on. I was on the edge of my seat for every detail.

The author’s use of multiple POVs let us delve into the very different worlds of the Painter boys. Jackson, the eldest, is used to being the strongest. Watching him become dependent on others and how he responds to the challenges his situation presents is powerful. Meanwhile, Forrest, the quintessential middle child who feels lost and inconsequential, really comes into his own in this novel. His character arc was a joy to watch.

We’d left book two with a lot of negative feelings toward Jackson. It was nice to finally understand the motivations behind his actions and to get to know the real Jackson Painter. It was also refreshing to see strong female leads in the story rather than damsels-in-distress. That doesn’t mean these ladies don’t feel pain or need support. It just means they can give as good as–actually, much more than–they get.

This novel is a frank and realistic portrayal of a family who has had more than their share of tragedies and has come out on the other side better, stronger, and closer for it all. The best part is there’s no candy-coating or false happily-ever-after. These types of problems don’t go away in a few weeks, and Meara shows that reality in a compassionate and unidealized manner.

I loved this book, I loved this series, and I love having the opportunity to recommend this author to you.

BLURB:

In Book 3 of her popular Riverbend series, Marcia Meara, author of Wake-Robin Ridge, A Boy Named Rabbit,and Harbinger, takes another look at the lives of the Painter brothers—Jackson, Forrest, and Hunter. While Hunter is home again and on the mend, the same isn’t true for his oldest brother. Jackson’s battle has just begun.

“There are dark places in every heart, in every head. Some you turn away from. Some you light a candle within. But there is one place so black, it consumes all light. It will pull you in and swallow you whole. You don’t leave your brother stranded in that darkest place.”
~Hunter Painter~

The new year is a chance for new beginnings—usually hopeful, positive ones. But when Jackson Painter plows his car into a tree shortly after midnight on January 1, his new beginnings are tragic. His brothers, Forrest and Hunter, take up a grim bedside vigil at the hospital, waiting for Jackson to regain consciousness and anxious over how he’ll take the news that he’s lost a leg and his fiancée is dead. After all, the accident was all his fault.

As the shocking truth emerges, one thing becomes obvious—Jackson will need unconditional love and support from both of his brothers if he is to survive.

Just as he begins the long road to recovery, danger, in the form of a sinister, unsigned note, plunges him back into bleak despair. Scrawled in blood red letters, the accusation—and the threat—is clear. “MURDERER!”

Will the long, harrowing ordeal that lies ahead draw the Painter brothers closer together, or drive them apart forever?

Suspenseful and often heartbreaking, this small-town tale is a testimonial to the redemptive power of love and paints a story filled with humor, romance, and fierce family loyalty.


Author Marcia Meara

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!

Buy That Darkest Place HERE

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/
Bookin’ It: http://marciameara.wordpress.com
Twitter: @marciameara
Facebook: www.facebook.com/marcia.meara.writer
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/marciameara/

Bonus #ShareAReviewDay Post – Finding Hunter by Marcia Meara

/ Marcia / 16 Comments

It’s Sunday again, and time for me to share one of my own favorite reviews, this time for the second book in my Riverbend series, Finding Hunter. Hope you enjoy it, and will consider sharing it all over the place. (Go ahead. Make my day! 😀 ) THANKS!

REVIEW:

4.0 out of 5 stars Emotional and moving
By CathyR on March 27, 2016

4.5*
Following on from Swamp Ghosts, this story brings to life the lives of Willow Greene, close friend of Maggie Devlin, now Maggie Wolfe, and Hunter Painter, best friend of Maggie’s husband, Gunn.

Ever since he could remember Hunter has felt different, separate from his peers. He’s quiet and introspective, enjoying reading and writing, not at all like his older brothers, Forrest and Jackson, who have always been outgoing, taking whatever life offers. Hunter’s sensitivity to people and his surroundings have impacted on his life and psyche steadily over the years.

Willow has been in love with Hunter ever since high school. When she has a surprise phone call from Hunter the day after Maggie and Gunn’s wedding party, she invites him over. Realising, after all these years, they feel the same for each other Willow and Hunter spend as much time together as possible. But Hunter believes happiness is not meant for him. His lot was to look out for his parents since his dad was turning a blind eye to a serious problem, which was obvious to Hunter. His overriding fear that he would take after his mother meant, to his mind, he could never have a lasting relationship.

The insecurities and secret dread Hunter has lived with all his life prove too much for him to cope with as events spiral, his worst fears culminating in a terrible tragedy which shatters him and shocks everyone close to him. Hunter is lost in a desolation and pain so deep it overtakes him totally.

This story has a completely different atmosphere to Swamp Ghosts, in that it’s not as suspenseful or tense in a thriller kind of way. Rather, this focuses quite a bit on mental health issues and how, if left unrecognised, ignored or untreated, can cause untold damage. It’s also about the struggle to find a way back from hopelessness and despair. Willow and Hunter both have a battle on their hands.

In addition, the emphasis is also on relationships and family. And the power of love. Marcia Meara represents all of this extremely well from the perspective of the well defined and sympathetic characters. There’s an impressive depth and interpretation in the vivid portrayals which will stay with me for a while, I think.

The short passages at the start of the chapters are intriguing and add a sense of anticipation, wanting to know who the travelling man is and his role in the story. It makes sense when all is revealed, and it was a surprise.

BLURB:

Before, I never thought about taking a life. Not once.
Now, the thought fills my mind day and night, and
I wonder how I’ll hide that terrible need,
As an old car swings to the shoulder,
And stops.

~ Traveling Man ~

Hunter Painter’s darkest fears have shaped his offbeat personality since he was a child, crippling him in ways invisible to those unable to see past his quiet exterior. In a sleepy Florida town known for its eccentric inhabitants, he’s always been a mystery to most.

Only one person sees beyond Hunter’s quirky facade. Willow Greene, the new age herbalist who owns the local candle and potpourri shop, has secretly loved him since they were in high school. When, sixteen years later, she discovers Hunter has loved her just as long, Willow hopes her dreams are finally coming true.

Soon, Willow learns that Hunter fears happiness at her side isn’t in the cards for him. With her natural optimism and courage, she almost convinces him he’s wrong—that they can really have that life together they both long for—but even Willow can’t stop what Hunter knows is coming.

One by one, his worst nightmares become reality, culminating in an unthinkable tragedy, which devastates everyone it touches. Willow’s battle begins in earnest as Hunter is plunged into a bleak, guilt-ridden despair, threatening to destroy not only their love, but Hunter, himself.

Finding Hunter is the story of a lost man’s desperate struggle to make his way home again, and one woman’s unshakeable faith in him and the power of their love.


Author Marcia Meara

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!

Buy Finding Hunter: Riverbend Book 2 HERE

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/

Bonus #ShareAReviewDay Post – Swamp Ghosts by Marcia Meara

/ Marcia / 28 Comments

I’d like to continue to share a few of my own reviews, but I don’t want to detract from our Tuesday guest authors, so I’m probably going to do mine as Sunday bonus posts. And today, I’d like to share one of my favorite reviews of my first Riverbend book, Swamp Ghosts. This was my second novel, and in spite of the eerie-sounding title, the ghosts are purely metaphorical. Unlike my Wake-Robin Ridge books, there’s nothing supernatural going on in the little town of Riverbend, because the people who live there are weird enough all by themselves!  🙂 Hope you enjoy this one, and will have a moment to pass it along. THANKS!

5.0 out of 5 stars
 A perfect blend of setting, characters and plot resulting in a brilliant novel.
By MacTrish on February 13, 2018

I came across the author Marcia Meara when I read her Wake-Robin Ridge books. I really enjoyed her first one and so I took a punt on the second in the series which introduces a boy called ‘Rabbit’ and, in my opinion, the second and third books managed to surpass the first one. I’ve subsequently discovered that there’s more ‘Rabbit’ to come but in the meanwhile I thought I’d give the first of her Riverbend books a go.

Swamp Ghosts, despite the title, has nothing to do with ghostly hauntings. It’s a romantic thriller and so the development of a tender love between feisty, suspicious Maggie and Gunnar (a wildlife photographer who needs her boating skills to navigate the wetlands) is set against the sadistic appetite of a serial killer in their midst.

As with her other books, Marcia Meara excels at painting the scenes so uniquely and vividly yet without spoiling the flow of the narrative. I live thousands of miles from Florida but I’ve been in those wetlands in my head now. The brooding menace is another of her strengths and some of this is real edge of the seat stuff!

I’m not going to say any more about the beautifully crafted plot because there’s a twist there I didn’t see coming and I don’t want to inadvertently give away any spoilers.

This book didn’t disappoint and I’m now going to buy the next one in the Riverbend series. Keep ’em coming, Marcia!

BLURB:

Wildlife photographer Gunnar Wolfe looked like the kind of guy every man wanted to be and every woman just plain wanted, and the St. Johns River of central Florida drew him like a magnet. EcoTour boat owner Maggie Devlin knew all the river’s secrets, including the deadliest ones found in the swamps. But neither Maggie nor Gunn was prepared for the danger that would come after them on two legs.

On a quest to make history photographing the rarest birds of them all, Gunn hires the fiery, no-nonsense Maggie to canoe him into the most remote wetland areas of the state. He was unprepared for how much he would enjoy both the trips and Maggie’s company. He soon realizes he wants more than she’s prepared to give, but before he can win her over, they make a grisly discovery that changes everything, and turns the quiet little town of Riverbend upside down. A serial killer is on the prowl among them.


Author Marcia Meara

Buy Swamp Ghosts HERE

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. Her belief in the redemptive power of love is a unifying factor in both her haunting Blue Ridge Mountain series, and her Riverbend, Florida one.

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/

 

 

#NotesFromTheRiver – Catching Up is Hard To Do (My Apologies to Neil Sedaka)

/ Marcia / 4 Comments

Photograph by Doug Little

Doing my best to dig myself out of the hole Hurricane Irma threw us in, and I think I just might be able to see the light of day above me. At last! Hope some of you will stop by to check out today’s post on the St. Johns River Eco Tours blog. With any luck, I’ll be posting there weekly again. Workin’ on it! 😀 Enjoy!

#NotesFromTheRiver