Monday Book Review: LIttle White Lies by Sara Ackerman

Little White Lies, by Sara Ackerman
Published April 2016 by The Wild Rose Press

About the Book:

After a lie triggers a series of terrible events, Amelia Westby is cursed and must tell the truth no matter how unpleasant that truth may be. For years, she has been shunned by society for her blunt honesty, and she despairs of ever finding someone who can accept her for who she is. A chance encounter with a mysterious stranger offers her an escape from her black and white existence of life amidst London's jaded ton, but when a secret threatens to destroy her happiness she must break her curse or lose the man she loves.

Upon learning of his brother's death, Tavis McGuire returns from the continent to inherit the Earldom of Stanton. Problems abound for the new earl after he inherits and soon he finds himself quickly embroiled in a dangerous game of espionage to clear his family name and to save his estate. But when he runs into a beautiful woman who could be the key to unmasking known traitors, Tavis must decide if he will choose to honor his duty to his country or to follow his heart.

My Take:

Little White Lies gives the reader a little bit of fairy tale intrigue for a premise, mixed into a historical setting that uses the animosities  between England and France during the early 1800s as a backdrop for espionage and real life intrigue. Throw in a roguishly handsome Scottish lord, an elopement, a whole lot of sexual tension and a cast of characters who all seem to know more than they are telling... and you've got a debut novel that is an interesting read, despite its flaws.

Amelia Westby and her two sisters are cursed by a gypsy. Amelia can only tell the truth, her elder sister can only lie, and her younger sister can't speak to anyone outside of her own family. It seems an odd curse, and the circumstances are never fully explained. For all the flashbacks and backstory, that is the one scene I think would truly add depth and explanation since the curse is a major part of the story.

Travis McGuire, or Lord Stanton, also has a complicated but non-fairy tale backstory but his is more fully fleshed out. We understand his motivations, as well as his reluctance to let anyone get close. The best parts of the book are from his point of view, and watching him change and open himself to love.

While I enjoyed reading this story, the breakneck pace and liberal use of backstory to explain certain things made me wish the author had slowed it all down and taken the time to more fully explore some of the characters, motivations and situations, rather than giving thumbnail sketches.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed reading this story and would totally add Travis McGuire to my growing list of book boyfriends. And I look forward to reading more from this author as she flexes her writing muscles. 4 stars for an enjoyable debut novel.

Get your copy on AMAZON

Friday Feature: 15 authors bring you "A Heartwarming Holiday"

Christmas books already???

You betcha!

This holiday season, warm your heart with 15 connected sweet, clean & wholesome holiday romances set in Christmas Town from 15 Harlequin Heartwarming authors who are USA Today, national bestselling, and award-winning authors. 

As a special treat for this Friday Feature, I've got a guest post from one of the featured authors, Cheryl Harper, who also shares an excerpt from her story.

Love the Second Time Around, by Cheryl Harper

When we reach a *cough* certain age *cough*, it’s easy to decide what we have is all we need. Sometimes dreams haven’t panned out. That’s the heroine’s reality in Never Say Never on New Year’s so she’s coming home. But sometimes life has gone exactly as you planned it…until it takes a terrible turn. My hero? He married his high school sweetheart, built the pet store they dreamed of, and then lost his wife way too soon. Now, he’s got to find a new path.

Living with a teenage daughter means that Chris Atkins never has to wonder where he stands. Is he an awesome dad? Yes. Does he have terrible taste in sweaters? According to Sydney, yes with all the exclamation points. It’s so easy to see his wife in his daughter but every day, she’s changing, growing, starting to plan her life without him. Any man facing that needs his fuzzy sweater with the leather elbow patches. His life will be over when she leaves; he’s just preparing himself.

Ren Monroe and her shaky confidence are just what he needs to take a long, hard look at himself and what he wants out of this life. Nowhere on that list is moldering away in his old man sweaters. She shakes things up, just as she always has. Together, with a little nudge from a teenage matchmaker, they have a chance to find a new dream.

Starting over is never easy. I’ve lost track of which fresh start I’m on. Have you ever had a chance to do it? What’s your best piece of advice?

About the Author:

Whether she’s writing, reading, or just checking the items off of her daily to-do list, small-town girl Cheryl Harper loves her romance mixed with a little laughter. When she’s not working, you will find her ignoring housework, cursing yard work, and spending way too much time with a television remote in her hand.

Excerpt from Never Say Never on New Year's:

“I needed you.” He shook his head. “Not as another person to take care of, but as a friend who could help me ensure that Sydney knew she was safe and loved after Amanda died.”

Ren licked her lips. “And I did the best I could.”

“From half a world away,” Chris said and did his best to unclench his fists. This was it, the thing that had made it nearly impossible to pretend they were the same old friends. “I needed you here.”

“And when did you tell me that?” Ren snapped.

Chris stepped back. Her anger was easy to see and he understood it or thought he did.

“Good point. I expected you to know.” Any reasonable person would see and know that he’d needed help with a grieving little girl. Why hadn’t she? “We were all mourning.” Ren had lost her best friend, too. Maybe he’d expected too much.

“I did what was best for me, for us. You did so much better without me, Chris. And now that I’m here to correct any misconceptions about the wonders of life in the big city, Sydney’s safety is certain. She has you. In the unlikely event that something gets past you, I’ll be here. I promise.” Ren shook her head. “Not that Superdad is going to need much help.”

Superdad. Why did that feel like an insult? On a starry night when a beautiful blonde stood next to him in the silence, a situation ripe for a sweet good-night kiss, it did.

***

There are five connected books in A Heartwarming Holiday. That means each set of three novellas shares characters and storylines! This collection of PG-rated holiday romances are all set in Christmas Town, Maine, a location introduced in the 2014 Harlequin Heartwarming release Christmas, Actually.

 A Heartwarming Holiday will bring you laughter, tears, and happily-ever-afters.

Book 1: Once Upon a Holiday by Anna Adams, Anna J Stewart & Melinda Curtis: Three former college roommates start a business to bring the magic of the holidays to everyone in Christmas Town.  

Once Upon a Thanksgiving by Anna Adams, award-winning, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author.

Once Upon a Christmas by Anna J Stewart, award-winning, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author.

Once Upon a New Year’s Eve by Melinda Curtis, award-winning, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author.

Book 2: Holiday Heroes by Leigh Riker, Tara Randel & Cari Lynn Webb: Three former Navy SEALs come together to restore an outdated resort.

Thankfully Yours by Leigh Riker, award-winning, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author.

Cooking Up Christmas by Tara Randel, Barnes and Noble bestselling, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author.

Countdown to Romance by Cari Lynn Webb, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author.

Book 3: 24 North Pole Lane by Carol Ross, Amy Vastine & Cheryl Harper: Romance is being delivered to 24 North Pole Lane this holiday season.

Hers by Thanksgiving by Carol Ross, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author.

Peace, Love, and Baby Joy by Amy Vastine, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author.

Never Say Never on New Year’s by Cheryl Harper, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author.

Book 4: Magic Moments by Tara Taylor Quinn, Shirley Hailstock & Liz Flaherty: Three different times, three different stories. They all bring magic to Christmas Town.

Christmas Past by Tara Taylor Quinn, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author.

It Only Happens in Christmas Town by Shirley Hailstock, Harlequin Heartwarming author.

The Magic Stocking by Liz Flaherty, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author.

Book 5: Nutcracker Sweethearts by Dana Mentink, Roz Denny Fox, & Amie Denman: As the stage production of the Nutcracker unfolds in Christmas Town, three couples find love with the help of a little holiday magic!

Thanksgiving Duet by Dana Mentink, Harlequin Heartwarming author.

Christmas Curtain Call by Roz Denny Fox, Harlequin Heartwarming author.

Set for New Year’s by Amie Denman, Harlequin Heartwarming author.

If this boxed set appeals to you, look for our previous holiday anthology: A Heartwarming Christmas.

Amazon http://ow.ly/nXVO302pwTe

Kobo http://ow.ly/5S0Y302pwOE

Google http://ow.ly/Ki7b302pwJH

iTunes http://ow.ly/sajU302pwWP

And don't forget, included in A HEARTWARMING HOLIDAY is an exclusive coupon worth $1.00 off any Heartwarming title from Harlequin.com. Who doesn't love heartwarming romances?

***

Writing Wednesday: The thing about adverbs...

So I was on a writing forum last night, and the guest speaker was an editor. Okay, actually, she was an editor who I've worked with several times in the past and totally respect, which is why I carved out the time to show up and pay attention to the discussion.

She said one of her biggest pet peeves in editing is ADVERBS. And that at conference panels, she's heard other editors and publishers describe them as "the tool of lazy writers."

Ouch.

I mean, I guess I have to agree. Adverbs are there to modify or intensify verbs, so a writer should work harder to find the strongest verb they can for a situation. A character shouldn't just run quickly if they could dash. They shouldn't just talk loudly if they could yell.

And yes. I've been dinged by this editor for using adverbs myself. I've also dinged other writers I work with, both as a critique partner and as a paid editor, insisting they make stronger word choices too.

But lazy?

I don't think it's "lazy" so much as not having enough practice. Writing is like anything else that requires time and effort. The more you work at it, the stronger your word choices will be. Finding more powerful words takes skill, but to call adverbs "lazy" belittles that skill.

What do you think? Am I splitting hairs, since I ultimately agree that stronger verbs make more satisfying reading? Someone talk me down from this soapbox...

Monday Book Review: RED CURTAINS, by Leanne Sain

About the Book:

Dead bodies, fake money and falling in love were NOT part of the assignment.

Cleo Davis must find a model for her senior art project or she won’t graduate. When she discovers Lily Telfair-Gordon, she gets more than just an eccentric old woman who spouts famous quotes, talks to ghosts, and wears a weird hat. Lily has unwittingly stumbled upon a counterfeiting ring, and Cleo gets dragged right into the middle of it.

Jonas Holmes, an investigative reporter for the local paper, is asking the question: why do bodies of homeless men keep showing up in the river? But the homeless are scared and won’t talk to him. When he finds Cleo and Lily, he thinks his problems are solved; he doesn’t realize that they’re just

beginning.

While romance blossoms between Cleo and Jonas, they work together to see how the two things are connected, but will they find out before it’s too late?

My Take:

This romantic suspense is also a ghost story, set in Savannah, Georgia, one of the most haunted cities in America. The author does a truly fabulous job of introducing the reader to one of my favorite places, painting the scenes so you can feel the winter breeze blowing through the Spanish moss in the park squares that make Savannah such a unique place.

She also does a wonderful job of adding the ghosts as real characters to the story, not scary or for shock value, but woven right into the story line as integral parts of forwarding the plot. The novel is told in three unique points of view: Cleo, a painfully shy art student with a painful past; Jonas, a transplant from Charlotte striking out from his rich family to make his own way as an investigative reporter; and Lily, the homeless woman Cleo befriends, who sees and interacts with ghosts. I know I've ranted recently about too many points of view in a story, but the author sticks to these three, and although each chapter is labeled with the narrator's name, each character has a different voice and unique perspective on their surroundings and situation.

The suspense part begins when Lily witnesses a murder one night through her window. Through her red curtains. Which is where the title comes from, I think. Okay, I have to put in my two cents right here and now to say I think this book should have a different title. And maybe a different cover, too. The current title tells you little to nothing about what to expect, about the story, the genre, or the ghosts. Maybe there was some significant part of the story that was lost in the editing process, but personally I want a more compelling title for this pretty compelling story. And since the ghosts are such important characters, the word ghost should almost definitely be in the title.


Rant over. Back to the review.

I absolutely loved the character development with Lily. Her story was so much more complicated and intriguing than I first thought, and kept unfolding like a Chinese puzzle until the end. Alternatively sweet, funny, sassy and brave, I was impressed by the heart the author showed in writing a homeless character with such compassion and depth. The actual heroine of the story, Cleo, was fun to read, quirky in all the right ways, and it was good to see her character grow and become stronger but it happened in fits and starts and I would've enjoyed more uncertainty. I have only good things to say about Jonas the hot reporter who makes Cleo want to be stronger, but has his own issues to overcome in addition to trying to investigate the corruption in Savannah's seedy underbelly.

This is a well written, engaging tale that  kept me reading way past my bedtime because I just needed to finish and find out what happens to each of the main characters, how they reach their happily ever afters. Which they do, eventually, and some in unexpected ways. I totally recommend curling up with this unique take on a ghost story - pick a night when the wind is howling and you're cozy and warm inside. I dare you.



Grab a copy on AMAZON.