Blog Book Tour | “Robin’s Reward” by June McCrary Jacobs A small towne #sweetromance wherein the #library plays a central role in uniting the community!

Acquired Book By:

I was selected to be a tour stop on “Robin’s Reward” virtual book tour by the author June McCrary Jacobs. I received a complimentary copy of the book direct from the author Ms Jacobs, in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein. 

I was not influenced by finding out I was written in as a character in this novel as I had no foreknowledge of this fact only that there was a surprise hidden in the story I might enjoy finding. I blog as I am reading, therefore, as I wrote my first impression and reaction to finding “Jorie” in “Robin’s Reward”. I had already written the first half of this review (where I celebrated the connections between bloggers & writers), including the first section of the review itself prior to the reveal. The first two paragraphs reflecting my joy of a Jacobs novel was also composed. Thereby I can attest even after finding myself a character, this review is my honest impression as a ‘first time’ reader of the novel.

Celebrating the connections between book bloggers & authors:

One of the best blessings of being a book blogger are the connections I have made to the authors who have given voice and mirth to characters of whom I have fancied finding within their novels! Each time I walk away from a story writ with such a felicity of joy to read, I earmark the author in my mind to follow-up with in the future, not just to check-in on where they are on their writerly journey but to see if they have released a new story! I have even taken this to mentally writing down a note about which books I want to re-read or purchase outright if the copy I had for review was an ARC.

Some of the writers I’ve crossed paths with have kept in touch with me, updating me about what they are doing next and/or offering me to receive their next release in exchange for an honest review. When this happens, I must confess my heart bubbles over in joy! I get wicked happy getting a second chance to re-admire the work the writer is producing as I am finding such a heart-warming presence of Indie & Self Published authors, I daresay I am thankful I started book blogging!

I believe I would still have found their stories, but it might have taken me quite a bit longer to find them in the long run! This is one reason I decide to start using a new hashtag as I tweet simply called #JorieLovesIndies as I truly do celebrate the writers who are championing the book world by releasing their stories outside of Major Trade markets. I appreciate not only their dedication to quality in producing books that are professionally edited but a selection of story whose craft of creation is a top notch addition to any reader’s bookshelf.

I love celebrating these authors, and I decided the best way to do so is to thread my route of discovery through a new tag! I will expand on this idea over the weekend in a separate post, as I’m highlighting quite a few novelists who fit this category throughout May, but today, I simply wanted to draw your attention to the fact Ms Jacobs is amongst the writers I place in this category! You will also be able to find the stories indexed on my blog by opening the category: Jorie Loves Indies! (by Monday this index will be completed)

Robin's Reward

Bonita Creek’s librarian Robin Bennett is heartbroken after being abandoned by her husband, Thomas. The mysterious and handsome Jeff Clarke arrives unexpectedly and touches Robin’s life with his wit and warmth. Then, without warning, Jeff’s harsh words and abrasive actions scare her off, and Robin’s hope of finding true love withers again.

Just when it seems Robin and Jeff might have a future, Susan Stinson, whose cruel taunting has plagued Robin since they met as young teens, decides Jeff should be hers, not Robin’s. Susan’s anger and jealousy escalate dangerously. Her vindictiveness threatens the foundation of Jeff and Robin’s young relationship.

Robin’s journey through the peaks and valleys of her life meanders along the twists and turns of new challenges. Is a relationship which began with both parties harboring secrets destined to survive? Can they move past their troubles and the obstacles in their path to find love and happiness together? When their pasts rear their ugly heads, Jeff and Robin must use their faith to remain strong and true. But will it be enough for them to embrace a life of love, trials, and blessings . . . together?

Places to find the book:

Add to LibraryThing

Series: Bonita Creek Trilogy, No.1

Also in this series: Intangible, Beneath Creek Waters

on 10th March, 2015

Format: Paperback

Pages: 290

Read an Excerpt of the Novel:

(the following is permitted to be shared by the author Ms Jacobs and was left intact as she gave it to me to share with my readers. Therefore the copyright portion of the novel are as they would be seen if you picked up the novel to read.)

EXCERPT FROM ‘ROBIN’S REWARD’, BONITA CREEK TRILOGY, BOOK 1:
© June McCrary Jacobs, 2015.
Copyright 2015 June McCrary Jacobs
Front Cover Design: Sherry Gammon copyright 2015
Interior Design: Cindy C Bennett
Images copyright via DepositPhotos.com
Elet_1 (Anna Bogush)
Pakhnyushchyy (Vitalik Pakhnyushchyy)
daseaford (David Seaford)

All rights reserved. No parts of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Exceptions are reviewers who may quote short excerpts for review. Please write to junemccraryjacobs@gmail.com for permission. This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. The characters are products of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously. All Rights Reserved USA

~ DEDICATION ~
Robin’s Reward is dedicated to my dear friend, Nancy. Thank you for your kindness, guidance, encouragement, and support over the past three decades. Your friendship has been a blessing in my life.

Chapter One

I’m as hot and sticky as the center of a freshly-roasted campfire marshmallow, Miss Praise.” Perspiration trickled past Robin’s sunburned neck, under her collar, and down her back. Her blouse was plastered to her skin.

“I’m not feeling very feminine or lady-like in this condition, if you catch my drift. This brings us to my next question. What was I thinking starting up with this garden renovation project on the hottest March afternoon ever recorded in Bonita Creek? Am I nuts? Wait—don’t answer that.”

Some sympathy from Miss Praise, like purring or even winding herself around Robin’s legs, would’ve been comforting. Instead, the elderly tabby was dozing comfortably in her cozy quilt-lined basket on the shaded porch. Robin was drained from tangling with her vintage hydrangea bush for the past four hours.

She’d read gardening was great exercise, but it gave Robin’s thoughts too many chances to wander. She dreaded those dark, dreary spaces in her mind permanently occupied by unhappy memories and heart-wrenching regrets. Since she wasn’t accomplishing much anyway, she released her shovel to take a break with a refreshing glass or two of her favorite iced tea. She straightened up and stretched her aching arms over her head.

“I’m parched, how about you? Want something cold to drink?” She spoke in the direction of the faded gray cat. Apparently, Miss Praise had heard enough of Robin’s whining. The cat yawned, stretched, flicked her tail, and hopped daintily out of her basket. She lumbered down the brick path to seek refuge in the peaceful back garden. Naturally, Robin hadn’t expected Miss Praise to respond, but talking to the cat helped her feel connected to her Grandma Estelle. The older woman had passed on a few years ago and Robin still ached for her grandmother’s presence. She kneaded her fatigued lower back with her knuckles and sighed deeply.

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As she untied the ribbon of her straw hat and shook out her damp curly hair, Robin sensed someone’s gaze. A prickly feeling caused her to rotate her body where she came face-to-face with an unfamiliar—but attractive—man. A hint of amusement lit up his clean-shaven face as he stood on the walkway in front of her garden gate. When the stranger chuckled, Robin’s damp cheeks flamed scarlet. She wondered how long he’d been standing there listening to her grunt and groan and, well, whine.

Since he couldn’t possibly have seen Miss Praise, he probably assumed Robin had been talking to herself. Swell. Just another example of the truckload of awkward moments in life when Robin wished she could vanish on demand. Speaking through clenched teeth, she attempted to use humor to cover up her self-consciousness.

“Instead of breaking your neck staring at me, how about making yourself useful by helping me dig up this stubborn hydrangea?” Her embarrassment grew when the stranger’s sole response was a chorus of boisterous laughter. Lord, please get me out of here—now! Robin’s humiliation took over her common sense, and her sole goal was to flee. Grabbing her garden hat, she slammed it onto the gate post as she wrenched off her work gloves and tossed them on the ground near her birdbath. The sound of the man’s hearty laughter echoing in her ears brought her lifelong dislike of being the object of teasing and taunting racing to the surface.

Like most school children, she’d suffered through her share of teasing and even some bullying. Truth be told, she was still occasionally bullied by a former classmate, Susan Stinson, almost ten years after they’d graduated. Robin had expected—and hoped—in her current stage of life, halfway between twenty-five and thirty, she would’ve overcome this affliction. The scorching feeling in her cheeks told her otherwise. I so do not want to deal with this guy.

Attempting to give the illusion of self-confidence, Robin lengthened her spine and held her chin high as she stalked toward her cottage. In the safety of her cottage’s interior she’d find the solace and peace she was seeking. Far too often in the past she’d allowed her pride and confidence to be battered by a male. Okay, one male in particular. She vowed to handle her reaction in the current situation differently. She was determined to spare herself one more millisecond of humiliation. Today I’m going to stand up to my tormentors. All right, so maybe this stranger isn’t exactly tormenting me. Still, everyone knows laughing at a lady isn’t polite.

Robin wasn’t going to stand there and let some stranger, however handsome he might be—and this guy was definitely above-average in the looks department—laugh at her in her own garden. Hot, briny tears stung her eyes. Time seemed to slow down, and she couldn’t make it to the front door fast enough. Embarrassing incidents from her not so distant past charged to the forefront of her mind as she made her way up the front porch steps.

~*~

At the front gate, Jeff froze. He’d offended her. His body felt as if he’d just finished running five miles at a training pace, as it had been since he’d first happened upon the woman. His heart thundered in his ears when he’d first seen her, his vision honed in on a lovely brunette. She was hard at work in her garden on such an oppressive afternoon. He’d never seen anyone so focused on one task. She appeared to be in a frenzy, trying to free the roots of a bush from the sun-dried, hardened soil.

He had to admit, she looked as if she were accustomed to hard work. Strong, fit arms and legs peeked out from her short-sleeved blouse and khaki shorts. She sported a wide-brimmed hat and appeared unafraid of hard work if the sweaty sheen covering her neck and face were any kind of evidence. Smudges of dirt adorned her elbows, knees, and—he couldn’t help but notice—shapely calves.

He’d been walking through the streets surrounding his rental home. Historical architecture was one of his hobbies, and he was checking out the architectural styles located on the streets in this older section of Bonita Creek, California. He’d already identified Craftsman, Victorian, Italianate, Tudor, cottage, ranch, and bungalow style homes. His mind, locked on his thoughts, was jarred when he heard a frustrated voice asking why she was trying to renovate her garden on this hot afternoon. The voice held such conviction he stopped to see if the speaker was seeking his personal opinion. When he realized the sun-kissed gardener was alone in the garden, he became enthralled by her movements and the timbre of her voice.

Unsure of how long he’d been staring, Jeff was jerked out of his trance when the woman turned around and challenged him to come into the garden to help her dig up the bush. Embarrassed he’d been caught staring, his natural reaction was to laugh. Now the woman rushed away from him toward the door of the cottage dominating the center of the property.

This scenario was not unfolding as he wanted. He blamed his complete lack of understanding of women and their mysterious ways for this latest gaffe. Now you’ve done it. You are clueless, Clarke. He needed to come up with something witty and wise to redeem himself. Otherwise, he’d lose a chance to meet this fascinating gardener who had his curiosity.

~*~

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Author Biography:

Award-winning author, June McCrary Jacobs, was the winner of Cedar Fort Publishing’s 2013 Holiday Tale Contest for her debut novella, ‘A Holiday Miracle in Apple Blossom’. ‘Robin’s Reward’ is her first full-length novel, and is set in her favorite location in California—the Mendocino coastal region. This book is the first installment of the ‘Bonita Creek Trilogy’.

June’s original sewing, quilting, and stitchery designs have been published in over one hundred books, magazines, and blogs in the past few years. When she’s not writing, reading, or sewing, June enjoys cooking, walking, and visiting art and history museums. She also enjoys touring historic homes and gardens and strolling around the many historic Gold Rush towns in the Sierra Nevada foothills. In the summertime you can find June at a variety of county fairs and the California State Fair admiring the sewing projects, quilts, and handiwork other inspired seamstresses, quilters, craftspeople, and artists have created.

CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR:
June enjoys connecting with readers, authors, aspiring writers, bloggers, designers, sewers, quilters, and crafters. Please connect with June:

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Love and Happiness knit together in unexpected moments:

For all the singletons out there, this is definitely a wicked sweet novel to soak inside especially if your looking for a story you can relate too. I love the gentle approach to gathering the two characters together, as it’s as heart-warming as one of my favourites on Hallmark Channel (The Christmas Card, Daniel’s Daughter, All of My Heart, Straight from the Heart, amongst others!) wherein you can simply dissolve inside a tender spoken Romance. The best bit too is how serendipitous the meeting between Jeff and Robin take place, to how coincidental they hadn’t yet met given the closeness of their homes are located to each other. It has the full charm of small towne fiction which I simply adore reading with the relationship being built out of an ordinary moment settling inside your life when you least expect anything to happen at all.

It’s the kind of story that tugs at your heart because you like celebrating the gentler moments of living whilst finding that there is still a bit of unexpectedness to greet you after all. And, who wouldn’t love reading a Romance like this?! I find the best Romances are truly the ones where the writers know exactly what a contemporary reader is seeking and gives them a story set within our own timespace but still harkens back to a few traditional dreams that most of us are hoping to see fulfilled in our realities.

My review of Robin’s Reward:

I shouldn’t have chuckled. No. I truly shouldn’t have, but there was something about the opening sequence inside Robin’s Reward which simply tickled my funny bone! A sleeping cat, a frustrated gardener, and an ill-timed stranger have the perfect set-up for a dramatic entrance of the key players of any story, but when you add-in the fact the lead character Robin has a history of being misunderstood and bullied by her peers, it adds a layer of depth to recognise that the bloke outside her garden’s gate is given her attention that is not as readily receptive to be received.

One of the happy discoveries is the age of the characters — Jeff is twenty-nine to Robin’s twenty-seven, and I have found I enjoy reading stories of Romance featuring characters between their mid-to-late twenties straight through their thirties to forties. This isn’t just because I’m a thirty-something reader as I’ve oft found myself curling inside Romances for this age group even before I hit twenty-five myself! There is something to be said for people who are discovering themselves — they have reached the years of their lives where part of their life has evolved and sorted itself out, but only by half, not as a whole. They still have a bit to see happen as life has ebbed forward towards where they’re hoping to be but hasn’t quite delivered them all the same to where they want to be at the same time.

The shifting points of view between Robin and Jeff’s perspectives on their ‘first encounter’ was a delight, because it gave you a good measure of how each of them were approaching the other; both had a bit of baggage with them, but both had good hearts. They truly wanted to hope for the best despite the odds against it and entered into this unexpected meeting with a quirky sense of finding a butterfly wing of joy alighting on their path.

The fact that Robin is a traditionalist in a neo-tech world warmed my heart, because I oft find myself at odds with how my own age group (GenX) allows their lives to be over run by tech rather than appreciating the simpler graces of a life off-line will afford them. Mind you, I love being a book blogger and joyful tweeter, but I do not let tech run my life outside this realm. How refreshing is it then to step inside a story where the female lead is anguished over revealing the inner bits of her soul aching to make a connection to a bloke who would accept her on her terms without the backlash of opposition or judgment on her character for being old-fashioned? I was celebrating the laurels of her dedication to her garden; it is a dream of my own to one day cultivate an active garden, where fresh cut flowers are only a short walk from a vase!

Stop the presses! Did I just spy my name in ‘Robin’s Reward’!? Yes, I did! I just re-read the opening paragraph of Chapter Four! I’m a character in a novel! This is why I had a feeling Ms Jacobs was smirking at me because she only gave me this as a clue: Within the pages of ‘Robin’s Reward’ you will find a surprise which will be meaningful to you. No–I’m not going to tell you anything more. You’ll have to wait to read the book to find out what I’m referring to when I say the word ‘surprise’. Well, she wasn’t kidding! What a happy sweet surprise it was indeed! (expressed by this tweet!)

Small townes tell tales as secrets are hard to keep once the cat’s out of the bag! A lesson I am sure Jeff will not soon forget once his date with Susan (the local over achieving model who sways and swishes her way into a door!) at the local Mexican Eatery where my namesake Jorie works is definitely going to knock him down a peg or more when Robin finds out! He’s definitely not used to the interconnections a small towne community has especially in regards to your friends’ friends are closer than you think! Why when I saw overly eager Susie carrying that pie I just wanted to roll my eyes! The cad! How could Jeff be swayed by her? Oy. Men!

Oh! I *did!* roll my eyes at Susan! Well of course I did! Who wouldn’t!? Ms Jacobs knows me well!

I think my heart stilled listening to Jorie talk about the benefits of supporting your local library’s efforts to help instill the joy of reading to the community (it’s as if the words I speak myself were inked onto the page directly!) and giving a nice chat up about Robin’s efforts to organise the Storybook Fair! Having Robin being a librarian is wicked because I do not think librarians are showcased too often. They are generally painted by the stigma everyone presumes a librarian would be like but not oft honestly portrayed as independent and interesting women.

What a bombshell of a plot twist arriving on page 40! I never would have guessed why Jeff Clarke was in Bonita Springs and this surely has my insides set on pins! My goodness! Now if that’s not going to be a tricky slope to navigate! Talk about getting further intrigued and filled with such nervous anxiety for your lead character! Jacobs has a way of getting you attached to her characters and then, allows you to walk through their life as an observer without being able to intercede or wave a flag of warning.

Robin’s injured heart was wrecked by a jarring first marriage by a man who never truly loved her and left her in a sea of despair due to his inability to honour their union with trust, love, and commitment. The sad truth of that ill-fated marriage started to re-ignite her fear of not being able to properly tell the difference between a good catch and a bad one when Jeff made the mistake of not trusting his own instincts to confide in Robin the truth behind what brought him to Bonita Springs. Clearly this is a novel about how communication and owning up to what is weighing on your heart and mind is a cleansing act to not only keep your spirit healthy but to live consciously through your faith.

Jacobs brings up realistic issues facing singletons who have led a complicated life before meeting a man who would accept them where they are on their lifepath. For Robin it’s the pain of truth she learnt from her first marriage and the gutting reality of losing a parent through cancer. On the other hand, Jeff had his own anguish, as he felt responsible for a cousin’s death he honestly couldn’t have prevented from happening. By interlacing both her lead character’s battle of faith-led guidance and acceptance of guilt leftover from the past, she grounds us in the reality of where Robin was not yet ready to embrace a new relationship whereas Jeff had an ‘extra’ learning curve to choose the kind of man he wanted to be known for in the towne.

The issues facing adults who are still being bullied by childhood bullies is also explored inside Robin’s Reward which I was thankful to see, as it is not oft a thread of narrative where adults are being harassed as much as a child. Similar to Brenda S. Anderson (of Chain of Mercy & Pieces of Granite) who writes realistic INSPY fiction, I was happy to find another INSPY writer exploring topical subjects that are important in today’s modern world. I even appreciated seeing Robin’s main hobby is gardening, because tending the earth and encouraging seeds to bloom yearly is a spirit-filling act of joy. It was a nice feast for the eyes throughout the novel to watch Robin’s heart reflect the innermost happiness gardening provides for her well-being.

Robin’s Reward definitely has a little bit of everything you hope to find inside of a Romance novel, whose engaging characters have charmed you by their presence. I definitely am eager to see where this trilogy seeks to move next in the second novel!

On why I appreciate reading a Jacobs novel:

Jacobs has a keen sense about how INSPY readers like to read Romances where the budding relationship and the ‘clean’ environment of the stories are a soothing balm to our spirits. Although I read a fair amount of Romance novels per year, including those which are published in the mainstream (as I will celebrate any writer of Romance that knits together a story where the relationship is center focus; such as my wicked joy in finding ChocLitUK!), I must admit, my ‘guilty pleasure’ has always been the INSPY market of Romances. I can snuggle up inside a sweet romance novel (the terms are new to me, so bear with me as I’ve seen them referred to as ‘clean romance’ or ‘sweet romance’ almost interchangeably!) knowing that I’m going to be showered in the warm delight of a light-hearted story where two characters who may or may not be burnt out on love will find a bit of happiness alight in their lives.

I love reading romantic dramas and suspense, as they tend to be the ones I read the most since I became a book blogger, but the lighter stories whose essence is woven together out of light and the charisma of a vibe that makes me want to tune in on Saturdays to see When Calls the Heart (via Hallmark Channel) are the type of unexpected surprises I love discovering! When I first found Ms Jacobs through Apple Blossom, I couldn’t wait for a new release by her, and now that I’ve read Robin’s Reward you can consider me a life-long reader! Her style reminds me of Sandra Leesmith as found inside Love’s Promises where the Contemporary world is explored in a small towne setting.

The sisterhood friendship between cousins Robin and Penny whilst including Jorie into their fold, started whilst they were growing up in the same school district. They were each individually bullied by their classmates and they all grew up in Bonita Springs, whilst embracing where their lives went past graduation. Each of them is on a different track of where they want to be next, but what I liked about the circle they have together is the same reason I keep digging back inside Sherryl Wood’s series set in Serenity, South Carolina. (full list of the titles in sequence)

It was interesting because a segue of our #ChocLitSaturday convo today mentioned how Ms Harris appreciates following the lives of women in series, and I had to concur with her on that! I like seeing the strength of their bond explored over different installments but also the growth of each individual woman along the journey of the three as a whole. In Woods novels, there are four or five women knitted together, as I am forgetting the exact details as six years ago I started reading this series through my local library and kept up with the purchase requests til Honeysuckle Summer! It’s a goal of mine to re-borrow them and one day purchase the series for my own personal library.

Jacobs is setting up a nice friendship circle between Robin, Penny, and Jorie; it’s my hope that the three girlfriends will continue to unite in both the second and third novel of the trilogy for Bonita Springs!

Happily finding a cause to rally the need for libraries in Robin’s Reward:

From the moment I realised Jeff Clarke’s job is in-part the role of an auditor and that of an accountant who looks deeply into the financials of different businesses or entities, I knew I was going to appreciate seeing how his actions in Bonita Creek would be received. The fact that his work in this small towne was to undermine the positive benefits of why a public library is so very vital and important to communities (of either small, medium, or large populations) by the insistence of a clueless city manager brought back into focus a conversation I had on Twitter last week.

This conversation was brought to the attention of Speak Up for Libraries (@SpeakUp4Libs) an organisation attempting to prove the legitimacy and benefits of public libraries in the UK, as Britons are facing the real possibility of losing their libraries as a whole. I, myself, hadn’t realised there is a bit of an inbalance between the United States and the UK, in regards to finding our libraries stateside are thriving and the ones across the Pond are barely able to remain open. We do have a heap of budget cuts to our public library systems, which can affect ILL’ing materials through WorldCat (as my library uses WorldCat to request materials from their consortium as well as from libraries within the United States who are willing to loan out books, audiobooks, musical cds, and either film or tv serial dvds); however, this cut back only reduced our requests from 15 to 5 whilst keeping the requests free of charge. In many counties and cities this is not the case, where there are fee-based ILLs.

I oft find even through my new journey as a book blogger and a joyful tweeter since August & November 2013 respectively, there is not as large of a shout-out of love for public libraries as I would have thought there would be. I regularly ILL books in sequence for series I am reading for blog tours, as much as I regularly request ILL materials outside the scope of my blog directly. This is how I was able to develop a healthy knowledge of the BBC and the serials they have produced through the decades of the 20th and 21st Centuries; the least of which was how I was able to become a Whovian during Sci Fi November 2013.

It was something I had pitched during the Twitter conversation as I was surprised others are not regularly tweeting out joyful notes about what they are borrowing and/or finding through their own local libraries!? Why isn’t there more interactive chatter amongst the bookish!? I even happily tweet about new book releases that are being bought by my local library and/or are becoming my own purchase requests! Even if I am not sure if a new release is being acquired, I will still tweet the author or publisher directly and say I cannot wait to borrow the book! I think it’s beneficial for authors and publishers to know that not every reader (or book blogger) has a budget where they can purchase every book they wish to read but they are using their public library as a method to read more stories throughout any given year.

I, do admit I am finding some book bloggers are openly talking about using their public libraries, but I oft find there is a bit of a discourse about it as well. I am not sure if it’s just the blogs I am visiting or if I haven’t found the bloggers who are as wicked happy about their library as I am about mine, but sometimes I gather a sense most book bloggers would rather ‘own the book outright’ before they read it and wouldn’t borrow it from their library!? To me this seems a bit silly!? I’ve been a library patron since before I could carry a stack of books without blocking my vision field as much as I’ve been a regular at brick and mortar Indie book shoppes; the two worlds walk hand in hand.

For instance, just within the past two months, four books have been bought on my behalf which are as follows: The Bookseller by Cynthia Swanson; When Mercy Rains by Kim Vogel Sawyer; A Murder at Rosamund’s Gate and From the Charred Remains by Susanna Calkins. I had requested From the Charred Remains but only had mentioned that the copy of Rosamund’s Gate was missing from the card catalogue, thus I had ILL’d it. My request is still inbound as I was hoping it might come a bit early as I reviewed the third novel in Calkins series The Masque of a Murderer. I am still wicked happy I get to read book two, even if it is out of sequence because Calkins is a strong story-teller.

In previous years, I helped inspire my library to acquire Downton Abbey before it was a phenom of Masterpiece Theater as well as collecting more serials from the BBC such as Rosemary & Thyme, As Time Goes By, Cranford and The Paradise to name a few. Purchase requests from patrons help to actively keep the collections vibrant and diverse for a library community whose interests are varied.

Therefore I do hold an interest in the fate and restoration of public libraries as their vitality to communities is so very far reaching that it’s hard to purport into a single word or sentence. They allow the freedom for self-seeking lifetime learners to have free access to a wealth of knowledge as much as they encourage the joy of reading, researching, interacting, and yearning to explore topics, subjects, and fields of interest across the gambit of what is available and known today. They allow people to access technology and multimedia as much as dig into their family’s ancestral past with the aide of Ancestry.com.

The benefits of the children’s programs, literacy outreach, and an extension of a public meeting place where knitters can knit, teenagers can hungrily devour YALit with gusto or to gain help with their homework, and youngsters can gather around a Wii game system for tournaments or crafts, is the type of community mecca of intersecting lives with creative thought we should all celebrate having in our backyard. A library card is one card no one should be without because the worlds in which they allow you to gain access to is infinite.

I don’t know what the total answer is but perhaps by stories like Robin’s Reward broaching the topic outright and conversations like the ones I’ve had on Twitter, as well as my own personal way of giving shout-out joys about a library find or a library request coming through for me on Twitter; perhaps I will help inspire tags like #library, #libraries, #librarylove, and other such inspiring tags to become a bit more popular and commonplace on the social network the bookish love to reside on.

All library patrons, supporters, and advocates would love reading about the ‘Storybook Fair’ Robin coordinates inside this novel, because it’s such a clever theme-based event for both children and adults! The best explanation of the event itself is inside Chapter Eleven! The details Jacobs put into this event and how she cleverly had everything balanced between the theme and what each individual booth would represent is simply inspiring!

One voice and one conversation can change more than we can think possible.

Let us all attempt to be the one voice that inspires the change!

.@Childtastic small pebbles effectively cause tidalwaves; plant seed to grow into a living reality; encourage convos & sharing @SpeakUp4Libs

— Jorie Loves A Story (@joriestory) April 21, 2015

On finding my character inside a Romance novel:

I was so gobsmacked by such an unexpected surprise inside the first paragraph of Chapter 4 I could barely read the words off the page! I did a proper double-take, naturally! Surely, no, but oh, didn’t I just see a character named Jorie being introduced?! And, didn’t Penny sound like a close second for Ms Jacobs? And, isn’t Penny and Jorie best friends with Robin? Did I just get written into a small towne Romance novel? When the glow of surprise stopped warming my cheeks with fond reflection of this revelation, I read the whole page and continued onto the next one until I read my way to the next segue! Wow. What a way to surprise your reader! I literally had NO IDEA I’d inspire a writer to write me into their novel!

I couldn’t be happier too! I loved reading this from the first Chapter forward, and then, discovering I had a place inside the world of Bonita Creek!? Wow. All I can say is W O W! I have a heart full of gratitude that Ms Jacobs felt so moved by meeting me on the Apple Blossom tour to include me in her first full-length novel! And, what is truly incredible, the fictional Jorie is a good composite! She’s definitely intuitive about writing a reader’s personality into a novel! Especially if you consider Jorie in the story works at a Mexican café and I recently blogged about my passion for Mexican foods! Full name is Jorie Woodstone which I immediately loved because I love earthy elements and I ache to have a ‘woodstove’ which generally have stone underneath them! What a lovely character to have inspired!

As I was still in the throes of reading Robin’s Reward overnight from 1st of May to the 2nd of May, I couldn’t contain my excited joy of discovering Jorie Woodstone, which is why I revealled this special experience with my fellow ChocLitSaturdayers who have become a close circle of writerly and readerly friends of mine over the past year we’ve been meeting up for a wicked good chat and a sisterhood convo on Saturday mornings/afternoons (depending on your time zone!). Nurph happily saves a transcript of the convos since I’ve moved us over to their platform, and you can see the merriment from hours earlier where they happily celebrated with me! (#ChocLitSaturday | 2nd of May, @Nurph)

I love this beautiful circle between writers and readers; you simply never know whose life your going to touch and how the circle spun out of stories will unite the two together in such a beautifully lovely way!

Thank you, Ms Jacobs!

You truly gave me a periwinkle wink of joy!

This book review is courtesy of the author: June McCrary Jacobs

{ click-through to visit the rest of the tour }

A special note from the author as I do not host giveaways on my blog, however, there are times where authors whose books I am featuring have taken it upon themselves to host a giveaway on their own websites whilst I am participating in a blog tour which highlights their stories.

LINK TO GIVEAWAY FOR A SIGNED PAPERBACK COPY OF ‘ROBIN’S REWARD’:
June is giving away two signed copies of ‘Robin’s Reward’ on her website. (United States residents only. No purchase necessary.) The Rafflecopter contest will end on May 31st, and June would like to invite readers to enter for a chance to win one of these paperbacks. Here’s the link to the entry form.

If you are curious about Apple Blossom, the story which introduced me to Ms Jacobs, kindly click through the blog tour hosted by Cedar Fort for the title after visiting my book review!

Reader Interactive Question:

What makes your heart go giddy about soaking inside a small towne Romance where the characters knit inside your heart and the setting is as refreshing as fresh cut flowers? What do you appreciate about realistic characters who strive to make better choices yet are flawed and endeavouring to improve their lives through redemptive choices of change!?

IF your a library patron who actively gives notes of joy on your social networks of preference, your blog, or regularly communicate inside your personal circle of friends & acquaintances about the benefits of your local library — how would you best describe in a word, sentence, or declaration the best part of having a library card and the resources it provides you!?

See what I am hosting next on my Bookish Events!

{SOURCES: Cover art of “Robin’s Reward”, book synopsis, excerpt of the novel, author photograph of June McCrary Jacobs, author biography and the tour badge were all provided by the author June McCrary Jacobs and used with permission. Blog tour badge for “A Holiday Miracle in Apple Blossom” was provided by Cedar Fort Publishing & Media for promotional purposes and is used with permission. Ruminations & Impressions Book Review Banner created by Jorie in Canva. Photo Credit: Unsplash Public Domain Photographer Sergey Zolkin. Comment Box Banner made by Jorie in Canva. Tweets embedded due to codes provided by Twitter. Post dividers by Fun Stuff for Your Blog via Pure Imagination. Fiction Writers Blog Hop badge created by Jorie in Canva. Jorie Loves A Story Cuppa Book Love Awards Badge created by Jorie in Canva. Coffee and Tea Clip Art Set purchased on Etsy; made by rachelwhitetoo.}

Copyright © Jorie Loves A Story, 2015.

I tweet as I read, I encourage you to share:

{starting using #JorieLovesIndies & #SmallTowneFiction}

I’m currently reading Robin’s Reward (Bonita Creek Trilogy Book 1) on @riffle. Have you read it? http://t.co/TaEGMEVrYq

— Jorie Loves A Story (@JLovesAStory) May 1, 2015

Soaking inside a #sweetromance such as #RobinsReward by June McCrary Jacobs is a true delight indeed! The opening sequence had me at ‘hallo’
— Jorie Loves A Story (@JLovesAStory) May 1, 2015

Robin & Jeff (key characters) of #RobinsReward; twenty-something singletons hoping to find love unexpectedly meet; <3 this #sweetromance :)

— Jorie Loves A Story (@JLovesAStory) May 1, 2015

#JorieLovesIndies such as #RobinsReward due to seeing how #smalltownefiction can sweeten an already #sweetromance w/ contemporary leads! :)
— Jorie Loves A Story (@JLovesAStory) May 1, 2015

my dear sweet wicked stars! guess what?! I’m a *character!* inside a #Romance novel! Yes! ME! ooh boy! jumped the moon! :) #RobinsReward

— Jorie Loves A Story (@JLovesAStory) May 1, 2015

I arrived at a moment where fictional Jorie did the EXACT same thing this Jorie did as she read the passage! *rolled her eyes! #RobinsReward
— Jorie Loves A Story (@JLovesAStory) May 2, 2015

.@lizharrisauthor + @ClareChase_ + @circleoflebanon + @SherylBrowne Remember “Jorie” is a character!? http://t.co/St8Jh9Ud5b #RobinsReward

— Jorie Loves A Story (@JLovesAStory) May 2, 2015

@JLovesAStory You surely are a character! ;) Congrats, that’s so fun and exciting!
— E. Chris Garrison (@ecgarrison) May 2, 2015

@ecgarrison Loved your s/o! :) It was wicked fun to read more about ‘Jorie’ in #RobinsReward http://t.co/St8Jh9Ud5b https://t.co/lC5NKRkdkE

— Jorie Loves A Story (@JLovesAStory) May 2, 2015

Comments via Twitter:

@JLovesAStory @lizharrisauthor @circleoflebanon @SherylBrowne Brilliant – thanks, Jorie – I’ll have a look! :-)
— Clare Chase (@ClareChase_) May 3, 2015

Blog Book Tour | “Robin’s Reward” by June McCrary Jacobs A small towne #sweetromance wherein the … http://t.co/oocoK1FoDv via @JLovesAStory

— Sheryl Browne (@SherylBrowne) May 3, 2015

@JLovesAStory @lizharrisauthor @ClareChase_ @circleoflebanon Fab review, Jorie. Have had a share. Love the cover. :) xx
— Sheryl Browne (@SherylBrowne) May 3, 2015

@SherylBrowne Wicked happy seeing your note! :) Thx for sharing & I agree – <3 the cover! :) @lizharrisauthor@ClareChase_@circleoflebanon

— Jorie Loves A Story (@JLovesAStory) May 3, 2015

{ shared review April 2015 }