Posted Saturday, 29 August, 2015 by jorielov (Editor) Scott M. Sandridge, (Illustrator) Anne Rosario, Blue Spirit: A Tipsy Fairy Tale, E. Chris Garrison, Seventh Star Press, Tipsy Fairy Tale trilogy 0 Comments
Acquired Book By: I was selected to be a stop on the “Blue Spirit” genre-bending fairy-tale fantasy release tour from Seventh Star Press. The tour is hosted by Tomorrow Comes Media who does the publicity and blog tours for Seventh Star Press and other Indie and/or Self Published authors. I am a regular blog tour host with Tomorrow Comes Media, however, the author and I have continued our friendship since we first interacted via The Star Chamber Show (which I’ll expand on in a moment). Ms Chris asked if I would be keen on being involved in her blog tour for “Blue Spirit” after I had happily read about Skye & Minnie’s adventure in the anthology release “A Chimerical World: Tales of the Seelie Court” wherein I positively expressed my joy in reading “Seelie Goose”. I was happy to be notified in time to participate as I love her quirky style of comedic fantasy!
I received a complimentary copy of “Blue Spirit” direct from the publisher Seventh Star Press in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.
On my connection to E. Chris Garrison:
I first discovered Garrison’s style of story-telling when we both appeared on the Star Chamber Show, which is a weekly podcast on BlogTalkRadio sponsored by the publisher Seventh Star Press. Since our first encounter with each other, we’ve developed a friendship I am blessed to have and I appreciate getting to know a bit more about an author whose not only developing a unique style in the world of Fantasy but is receptive to the thoughts readers have as they gain impression by reading the stories themselves.
I am disclosing this, to assure you that I can formulate an honest opinion, even though I have interacted with Garrison through our respective blogs, the twitterverse, the podcast world, and privately. I treat each book as a ‘new experience’, whether I personally know the author OR whether I am reading a book by them for the first time. For more information, I disclosed a bit more on my first 10 Bookish, Not Bookish Thoughts (read No.7!).
Why I love Skye MacLeod | whilst finding her writ two different ways:
I am familiar with Garrison’s character Skye from my previous reading of Virtual Blue, however, at that particular point in time I had not realised the full scope of Skye’s character! You see, Skye was ‘lent on loan’ to Sullivan in order to create the Urban Fantasy story in which I reviewed on a previous blog tour! I remember reading about the ‘Seelie Goose’, as regular readers of Jorie Loves A Story will recognise that I also hosted a Cover Reveal for Garrison and around that point in time or thereabouts I became familiar with the short story I now have happily read! For one thing, the comic brilliance of the anarchy of the fairy-tale world spun into reckless flight of an attempt to stop a wedding was most keen indeed! – quoted from my review of A Chimerical World: Tales of the Seelie Court
Going into reading Seelie Goose was a bit unique because I had this strong impression about Skye from Virtual Blue and coincidentally, it’s that original impression that led to my further curiosity in wanting to read Darkness with a Chance of Whimsy wherein the connections continue! (especially in regards to Rebecca Burton!) You could say, two authors have bewitched me with one character whose attributes and mannerisms switch-up a bit per each writerly voice whose narrating her individual stories! It’s quite the journey for me as a reader and a happy challenge as a book blogger – as each time Skye appears in a story, she’s not quite as she was from one installment to the next! Two sides of a coin and individualistically unique!
Let’s recap the particulars, shall we? Skye was a supporting character in Virtual Blue whereas she takes the lead in Garrison’s stories; on the other hand, Garrison is borrowing Phil and Rebecca Burton for the sequel to Blue Spirit! (further tidbit: the Transit King (he’s with Skye on the bus!) was spotlighted as a cameo in Haunting Obsession!) Meanwhile, I get the pleasure of reading more of Burton myself when I pick up Whimsy! Except it doesn’t stop there – no! Skye was originally introduced in Sinking Down where Garrison found a way to merge her between the Road Ghosts + Tipsy Fairy Tale series by offering to cross-over the characters/story-lines. *whew!*
A short note from Ms Chris:
TK also appears in 3 stories in a self published Christmas anthology of speculative fiction that RJ, John F. Allen, and I put together last year called Gifts of the Magi. He’s in my own Christmas Special, RJ’s Blue Christmas, and John’s An Ivory Christmas. I guess the little fairy godfather just lends himself to stories about giving gifts! :)
Note on Cover Art Design:
This is my first cover attached to a SSP release by the works of Ms Rosario, and I must say, what I loved the most about it is the EPIC way in which the neon bits remind me of black light art designs! I love how the whole of this piece truly *pops!* on a blog post, and how in person, it translates differently altogether! I love cover art that leaves an impression inasmuch as represents characters and stories. This one brings a bit of the forest and the fairy to the center of who Skye is and why Minnie is important to her whilst giving you a bit of a whimsy touch of ‘ah so that’s why it’s tipsy’!
Biography of the Illustrator:
Anne is a self-taught Filipino visual artist specializing in both digital and traditional mediums. Her style is a unique mix of the naturalistic and the whimsical, combining the elegance of fine art with the edgy grit of contemporary Manga. She has worked as a 2D artist in the game development industry since 2006, and has recently branched into creating illustrations and exhibiting her traditional artworks in group exhibits.
The little creature hugged by the E in BLUE and SP in SPIRIT held my eye!
It’s like he’s trying to tell you something!
Blue Spirit
Subtitle: A Tipsy Fairy Tale
by Ms Chris (E. Chris Garrison)
Illustrator/Cover Designer: Anne Rosario
Source: Publisher via Tomorrow Comes Media
Gamer girl Skye MacLeod can see fairies, but only when she's tipsy. More Grimm than enchanting, some of these fairies are out to ruin her life, wreaking havoc with her job, her home, and her relationships.
With the help of her tiny fairy friend Minnie, Skye has to protect her vampire wannabe gamer friends from all-too-real supernatural threats only she can see. Can she keep it together and hold fast against a wicked fairy Queen's plot?
Blue Spirit is the first book of A Tipsy Fairy Tale series!
+ For a preview of Skye and Minnie,
be sure to scope out Jorie's review for A Chimerical World: Tales of the Seelie Court!
Genres: Fantasy Fiction, Fairy-Tale Re-Telling, Stories of the FAE, Urban Fantasy, Genre-bender Places to find the book:
Add to LibraryThing
ISBN: 9781941706824
Also by this author: Guest Post (Restless Spirit), Restless Spirit, Gifts of the Magi, Road Ghosts : Omnibus Edition, Road Ghosts : Omnibus Edition
Series: Tipsy Fairy Tale
Also in this series: Mean Spirit
Published by Seventh Star Press
on 12th May 2015
Format: Paperback Edition
Pages: 238
Published By: Seventh Star Press (@7thStarPress)
Available Formats: Softcover and Ebook
(Illustrator) Anne Rosario | Facebook | Portfolio | Tumblr | Instagram
Converse on Twitter: #TipsyFairyTaleSeries & #7thStar
About Ms Chris (E. Chris Garrison)
E. Chris Garrison writes Fantasy and Science Fiction novels and short stories. She used to publish as Eric Garrison, but has since upgraded.
Her latest series is Trans-Continental, a Steampunk adventure with a transgender woman as its protagonist. The series is set in one of the worlds in Chris’s dimension-hopping science fiction adventure, Reality Check, both of these series are published through Silly Hat Books. Silly Hat Books released Alien Beer and Other Stories, a collection of her short stories, in 2017.
Chris’s supernatural fantasy stories include the Road Ghosts trilogy and it's companion series the Tipsy Fairy Tales are published by Seventh Star Press. These Urban Fantasy novels are humorous supernatural fantasies, dealing with ghosts, demonic possession, and sinister fairy folk delivered with a “lightly dark” side of humor.
Her novel, Reality Check, is a Science Fiction adventure released by Hydra Publications. Reality Check reached #1 in Science Fiction on Amazon.com during a promotion in July 2013. Chris lives in Indianapolis, Indiana, with her wife, step-daughter and cats. She also enjoys gaming, home brewing beer, and finding innovative uses for duct tape.
*Biography updated: March, 2018
Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon | Instagram | LibraryThing | Smashwords | YouTube
Posted Saturday, 29 August, 2015 by jorielov in #JorieLovesIndies, Bits & Bobbles of Jorie, Blog Tour Host, BlogTalkRadio, Book Cover | Notation on Design, Book Cover | Original Illustration & Design, Book Trailer, Bookish Discussions, Bookish Films, Dating & Humour Therein, Doctor Who, Dreams & Dreamscapes, Earthen Magic, Earthen Spirituality, Faeries & the Fey, Fairy Tale Fiction, Fantasy Fiction, Fantasy Romance, Flashbacks & Recollective Memories, Folklore and Mythology, Gaming, Genre-bender, Good vs. Evil, Horror-Lite, Illustration for Books & Publishing, Indie Author, Jorie Loves A Story Cuppa Book Love Awards, Kidnapping or Unexplained Disappearances, LGBTTQPlus Fiction | Non-Fiction, Murdoch Mysteriers, Parapsychological Gifts, Parapsychological Suspense, Premonition-Precognitive Visions, Role Playing Games, Science Fiction, Shapeshifters, Singletons & Commitment, Speculative Fiction, Supernatural Creatures & Beings, Supernatural Fiction, The Star Chamber Show, Time Shift, Tomorrow Comes Media, Urban Fantasy, Urban Life, Vampires, Virtual Reality, Vulgarity in Literature, Werewolves
Posted Friday, 28 August, 2015 by jorielov (Illustrator) Rebecca J. Greenwood, Cedar Fort Inc, CFI (imprint) Cedar Fort Inc, Rebecca J. Greenwood, Scripture Princesses 0 Comments
From the moment I originally learnt of this illustrated book, I knew I wanted to dig a bit deeper behind the collection of stories based on our Biblical past and get inside the head of the writer who illustrated it! Originally, I misunderstood this to be a picture book rather than a chapter book – the beauty of it being the latter is that it’s a starting point for children to become engaged with reading a fuller length novel whilst discovering a bit about their religious heritage and the women who lived through the strength of their faith.
The problems they faced are counter-point and relatable to their contemporary peers, and the way in which Ms Greenwood has approached the stories as a whole is right in line with younger readers who are growing through their curiosities to reach into literature to seek not only more knowledge on what implores them to read but to seek a way to understand more of history through the craft of stories.
Stories have such an enriched way of illuminating what we cannot yet fathom to imagine, and in this particular case, the illustrations and the context of the short stories walk hand in hand to beautifully bring the Biblical past to vibrant life! Thus, it was my happy delight to converse with Ms Greenwood about what inspired her towards creating this collection of shorts and the process in which she gave the project!
Be faithful, like Sarah
Be prayerful, like Hannah
Be brave, like Esther
This easy-to-read chapter book shares beautifully illustrated stories, including those of:
Eve,
Rebekah,
Ruth and Naomi,
Sariah,
Abish and the Queen,
Mary Magdalene,
Lucy Mack Smith,
and Emma Hale Smith
Full of examples of integrity and courage, this book is the perfect way to reinforce lessons learned in Primary and share scripture stories that will become a gospel foundation to last a lifetime.
How did you put the idea of ‘Scripture Princesses’ together to create an illustrated novel for children and young adults who are seeking more information about the strong women of the Biblical past? It’s such an impressive display of artistry and biographical sketching to inspire young minds to seek more information after they read this edition.
Greenwood responds: Thank you! I work for publisher Cedar Fort as a graphic designer, and Cedar Fort is very supportive of their employees creating books and products. I had been thinking about what type of book I could create for Cedar Fort that would combine my interests and artistic skills with their market strengths for several years, when this one jelled in my mind. I created a one chapter book proposal, and Cedar Fort accepted it.
I wanted to create a book for girls that explores women in the scriptures, because when you are a girl reading the scriptures, it can sometimes feel like there are lots of men doing things, and not very many women. I wanted to show girls that there ARE women in the scriptures, and that those women had lives we can be inspired by. Read More
Posted Friday, 28 August, 2015 by jorielov in #JorieLovesIndies, After the Canon, Ancient Civilisation, Anthology Collection of Stories, Balance of Faith whilst Living, Biblical Fiction, Biblical History, Biographical Fiction & Non-Fiction, Bits & Bobbles of Jorie, Blog Tour Host, Cedar Fort Publishing & Media, Children's Literature, Christianity, Compassion & Acceptance of Differences, Equality In Literature, Graphic Novel, Historical Fiction, Illustration for Books & Publishing, Illustrations for Stories, Indie Art, Indie Author, Inspirational Fiction & Non-Fiction, Inspired by Stories, Judiasm, Lessons from Scripture, Re-Told Tales, Reader Submitted Q&A, Religious History, Short Stories or Essays, Spirituality & Metaphysics, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Posted Thursday, 27 August, 2015 by jorielov (Illustrator) Rebecca J. Greenwood, Cedar Fort Inc, CFI (imprint) Cedar Fort Inc, Rebecca J. Greenwood, Scripture Princesses 0 Comments
Acquired Book By: I am a regular tour hostess for blog tours via Cedar Fort whereupon I am thankful to have such a diverse amount of novels and non-fiction titles to choose amongst to host. I received a complimentary copy of “Scripture Princesses” direct from the publisher CFI (imprint of Cedar Fort, Inc) in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.
Why I believe we need more Early Reader | Chapter Books such as this:
I have held an appreciation and curiosity about the women of the Bible for the full of my life; mostly because the women of Biblical times were not regularly spoken about from a biographical approach. Most of the stories shared when I was growing up in Sunday School were a bit on the boring side of the ledger to be honest – my teachers had limited knowledge, lacked curiosity of their own, and did not visually bring the women of the Bible to life for me.
I was a seeker of stories from a very young age – and the incredible thing for me growing up was how the stories of who lived during Biblical times was not as represented as the facts. Sunday School and regular education outlets held one commonality that frustrated me: the preference of knowledge and learning was about fact remembering rather than developing a knowledge of history through the perspectives of those who lived and held within their lives a well of stories waiting to be told.
I have found as I grew older, there are certain Biblical fiction authors who either take a Contemporary or Historical point-of-view to help guide us as lay readers to better understand the women (and yes, the men too!) who walked before us. They re-envision their stories through the grace of living through a character’s shoes as told through novels, allowing the breadth of their lives to be explored. The reason this particular release tipped my curiosity to engage with it directly right now, is because I was oft-times curious if there were authors of today penning stories for younger readers who like me were struggling to find quality stories about the women nearly forgotten by time.
Ms Greenwood is an encouraging presence for parents who are seeking illustrated stories who illuminate the women who are strong role models for young girls inasmuch as for young men who are wanting to have a proper balance of knowing who came before us all and how their lives are relevant to today’s world. This is a good start to getting a footing on the Biblical fiction which is happily becoming a more popular genre within the world of INSPY for readers seeking stories about the men and women we barely get to know through their entries in the Bible.
A way to seek out a story behind the scriptures, if you will!
Scripture Princesses
Subtitle: Stories of Righteous Daughters of God
by Rebecca J. Greenwood
Illustrator/Cover Designer: Rebecca J. Greenwood
Source: Direct from Publisher
Be faithful, like Sarah
Be prayerful, like Hannah
Be brave, like Esther
This easy-to-read chapter book shares beautifully illustrated stories, including those of:
Eve,
Rebekah,
Ruth and Naomi,
Sariah,
Abish and the Queen,
Mary Magdalene,
Lucy Mack Smith,
and Emma Hale Smith
Full of examples of integrity and courage, this book is the perfect way to reinforce lessons learned in Primary and share scripture stories that will become a gospel foundation to last a lifetime.
Genres: Children's Literature, Artistic Adaptations &/or Picture Books Places to find the book:
Add to LibraryThing
Also by this author: Author Q&A with Rebecca J. Greenwood, The Darkest Summer
Published by CFI (imprint) Cedar Fort Inc
on 11th August, 2015
Pages: 144
Published By: CFI (imprint) of Cedar Fort Inc (@CedarFortBooks),
an imprint of Cedar Fort, Inc (@CedarFortBooks)
Available Formats: Paperback, Ebook, and compliment Colouring Book
Converse via: #illustratednovel, #KidsLit, #EarlyReader OR #ChapterBooks + #WomenOfTheBible
Also: #INSPY (for Inspirational Fiction readers) + #LDSFiction + #LDSKids
About Rebecca J. Greenwood
Rebecca J. Greenwood studied visual art with a music minor at Brigham Young University. She is a multimedia artist, illustrator, comic creator, and designer with a love of stories. She has worked in publishing for the last six years. Rebecca lives in Utah with her husband, where she listens to audiobooks, cooks experimentally, has an interest in alternative health, and constantly has a new project in mind.
Website | Twitter | Pinterest
Read More
Posted Thursday, 27 August, 2015 by jorielov in #JorieLovesIndies, After the Canon, Ancient Civilisation, Anthology Collection of Stories, Balance of Faith whilst Living, Biblical Fiction, Biblical History, Biographical Fiction & Non-Fiction, Bits & Bobbles of Jorie, Blog Tour Host, Cedar Fort Publishing & Media, Children's Literature, Christianity, Compassion & Acceptance of Differences, Equality In Literature, Graphic Novel, Historical Fiction, Illustration for Books & Publishing, Illustrations for Stories, Indie Art, Indie Author, Inspirational Fiction & Non-Fiction, Inspired by Stories, Judiasm, Lessons from Scripture, Re-Told Tales, Religious History, Short Stories or Essays, Spirituality & Metaphysics, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Posted Wednesday, 26 August, 2015 by jorielov Butternut Lake Series, Butternut Lake Trilogy, HarperCollins Publishers, Mary McNear, Moonlight on Butternut Lake, P.S. Edition, William Morrow 0 Comments
Acquired Book By:
Curious story: I participated on the “Butternut Summer” virtual book tour through TLC Book Tours in 2014; wherein I was able to request reading “Up at Butternut Lake” which I received outside of the blog tour and posted my ruminations for my own edification and a review of “Butternut Summer” as part of the blog tour itself. When “Moonlight on Butternut Summer” went on tour this Spring with TLC Book Tours I missed jumping on board the blog tour by mere days, and took it upon myself to contact William Morrow directly.
Unlike other book bloggers, I tend to rely on the touring companies to bring authors and their stories to me rather than contacting publishers directly for books in exchange for honest reviews. I have become a bit more bold in requesting books directly from publishers over the past year, as I have several reviews upcoming this September where I made the enquiry myself rather than as a blogger with a touring company. When it came to the next installment of Butternut Lake, I felt it in my bones it was the right choice to extend a note to William Morrow because I have believed in this series since I first read “Up at Butternut Lake”.
Due to health reasons and severe lightning storms, the past several months have been a bit unique and my blog’s schedule has been adjusted to where most of my reviews for Spring and Summer are shifting into September or Autumn directly. During these months, as I sought to re-schedule this review, JKS Communications approached me about reviewing or interviewing the author attached to “Moonlight on Butternut Lake” which I took as a positive sign I had an extended delay! Therefore, not only can I post my review but I was able to coordinate an author Q&A about the Butternut Lake series!
I received a complimentary copy of “Moonlight on Butternut Lake” direct from the publisher William Morrow in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein. I received the Press Kit Materials direct from JKS Communications to use on my review and the interview which posts in conjunction with it.
Inspired to Read:
I originally posted this explanation on my review of “Butternut Summer” and it still is a good summary of why I fell in love with the series as a whole and why I was itching to read the then unknown title of this novel which is it’s third installment. I can add that I was hoping against hope Butternut Lake might find wings to expand past the original trilogy – especially as I hadn’t known about the novella Butternut Lake: The Night Before Christmas. I found the novella has been released in print and it is a current request through my local library’s ILL (inter-library loan) services.
On my review for Up at Butternut Lake, I discussed my general interest in reading a Contemporary Romance novel, but tonight what I wanted to share about my inspiration to read Butternut Summer is simply motivated by being stirred with such an evoking of narrative as to tempt me to devour the sequel without pausing for breath! The characters inside Up at Butternut Lake are incredibly inspiring due to the spirit of who they are individually and as a community at large. These are the types of stories that I cherish discovering as they not only encourage your spirit and heart as you read them, but they enliven your hours with such a beautiful expanse of fiction that your bubbling over in pure joy for having read them! I could not wait to dive into Butternut Summer, and it was a bit grieving to realise there would be a long wait until the conclusion of the trilogy; except to say, the small excerpt in the Appendix of this P.S. Edition truly helped provide a salve!
Moonlight on Butternut Lake
by Mary McNear
Mila Jones, a young woman fleeing a dark past, has accepted a job on Butternut Lake taking care of Reid Ford, who is recovering from a car accident that nearly killed him. This is Mila’s chance for a fresh start. But Reid, brooding and embittered, does everything he can to make her quit. Mila refuses to give up.
Against all odds, Mila slowly draws Reid out. Soon they form a tentative, yet increasingly deeper, bond with each other, as well as becoming part of the day-to-day fabric of Butternut Lake itself. But the world has a way of intruding, even in such a serene place…and when Mila’s violent ex-husband becomes determined to find her, she and Reid are forced to face down the past.
Perfect for lovers of Susan Wiggs, Debbie Maccomber, and Kristin Hannah, Moonlight on Butternut Lake is a novel of courage, romance, and resilience that is to be savored and shared.
Places to find the book:
Borrow from a Public Library
Add to LibraryThing
Also by this author: Up at Butternut Lake, Butternut Summer, Interview with Mary McNear
Series: Butternut Lake, Butternut Lake Trilogy
Also in this series: Up at Butternut Lake, Butternut Summer
on 12th May 2015
Pages: 384
The Butternut Lake Trilogy turns into a Series:
Up At Butternut Lake, No.1 (synopsis)
Butternut Summer, No.2 (synopsis)
Butternut Lake: The Night Before Christmas, Novella (synopsis)
Moonlight on Butternut Lake *this review!*
Book No.4 *releases 2016* | Book No.5 *releases 2017*
Read More
Posted Wednesday, 26 August, 2015 by jorielov in Blog Tour Host, Book | Novel Extract, CNAs and Home Health Aides, Contemporary Romance, Dating & Humour Therein, Disabilities & Medical Afflictions, Domestic Violence, Family Drama, Family Life, Fathers and Daughters, Flashbacks & Recollective Memories, JKS Communications: Literary Publicity Firm, Jorie Loves A Story Cuppa Book Love Awards, Life Shift, Medical Fiction, Minnesota, Modern Day, Realistic Fiction, Romance Fiction, Second Chance Love, Singletons & Commitment, Small Towne Fiction, Small Towne USA, Trauma | Abuse & Recovery, Writing Style & Voice
Posted Wednesday, 26 August, 2015 by jorielov Butternut Lake Series, Butternut Lake Trilogy, HarperCollins Publishers, Mary McNear, Moonlight on Butternut Lake, P.S. Edition, William Morrow 0 Comments
I honestly hadn’t known what to expect when I emailed William Morrow about Moonlight on Butternut Lake, as I was taking a leap of faith in contacting them. I mentioned this on my review of the novel, how I went outside my comfort zone a bit and queried the publisher directly about a book for review – how that serendipitous act on my part led to an opportunity to interview Ms McNear is a true blessing in believing in what your doing as a book blogger.
I sensed I was going to become a follower of McNear’s writerly career as soon as I finished reading Up at Butternut Lake because it had all the pieces of what I personally *love!* finding inside a contemporary novel: realistic story-lines with fully realised characters residing inside the breadth of where the novel takes the reader. I love finding myself living through the pages, following in step and by heartbeat with the main characters, and becoming absorbed into the interior of a small towne is aces for me because it’s one of my cosy comforts as a reader! I delight in the ambiance and in the aspect of community which can sometimes become muddled and lost in today’s world.
As soon as I settled into Butternut Summer my worries about the transitions in a McNear novel fell away, because I was hugged so close to the moment of the last novel, my feet barely left Butternut Lake! I felt as comfortable in the sequel as I had the first installment and it was within that reading I realised a hidden truth of my own: I didn’t want this to be a ‘trilogy’ as it was limiting the arc which McNear had fused to the novels so inherent that it resonated as an expanding series, not a mere trifold slice of what it could be. However, as dearly as readers cast wishes into the void, I was the gobsmacked reader who rejoiced in having learnt this truly did become a bonefide series!
Finding out about Moonlight was only one half of the joy: there was a novella and it was released into print! A fact that might not surprise everyone, but for me, it was a celebration! A lot of writers are composing novellas to carry forward serial fiction or at the last trilogies – little added snippets of the series we love in shorter formats, except to say, they are rarely released into print copies! A few times I’ve been happily surprised, and this is one of those moments!
As I struggled to resolve the gap in time between when I received the novel (Moonlight) and was able to compose my review, I received a second blessing – the opportunity to converse with Ms McNear! Dear hearts, you’ll enjoy the conversation that came out of my questions, as I wanted to contain them to a few particular enquiries rather than expand them outward. It was such a pleasure to ask a few pertinent questions on behalf of the series whilst getting to know the author’s writing style, too!
Book Synopsis:
No.3 of the Butternut Lake Series
Mila Jones, a young woman fleeing a dark past, has accepted a job on Butternut Lake taking care of Reid Ford, who is recovering from a car accident that nearly killed him. This is Mila’s chance for a fresh start. But Reid, brooding and embittered, does everything he can to make her quit. Mila refuses to give up.
Against all odds, Mila slowly draws Reid out. Soon they form a tentative, yet increasingly deeper, bond with each other, as well as becoming part of the day-to-day fabric of Butternut Lake itself. But the world has a way of intruding, even in such a serene place…and when Mila’s violent ex-husband becomes determined to find her, she and Reid are forced to face down the past.
Perfect for lovers of Susan Wiggs, Debbie Maccomber, and Kristin Hannah, Moonlight on Butternut Lake is a novel of courage, romance, and resilience that is to be savored and shared.
Currently the Butternut Lake series includes three novels and a novella, what are your long-term plans for the series past the original trilogy? Will this be a series that remains open-ended where characters will come and go but the towne will remain true to itself and the community you’ve created? The reason I am asking is because Butternut Lake has become a beloved small towne I enjoy re-visiting with each new installment. May I ask what is the title of the fourth book in 2016 and the fifth book in 2017 or can you share a bit about what the focus will be in those novels?
McNear responds: Harper Collins was so happy with the success of the Butternut Lake trilogy that they gave me a contract for two more books! Both of these books will be set on Butternut Lake, and although there will be new characters who are not present in the original trilogy, the ethos of the town of Butternut will remain the same. I haven’t yet decided on the title for the fourth book. But it is the story of two very different sisters who spend a summer together on Butternut Lake for the first time in thirteen years. One sister must come to terms with a dark secret from her past and the other sister must overcome the loss of a loved one. And, of course, there is a little romance thrown in! This book is due out in Spring 2016. Read More
Posted Wednesday, 26 August, 2015 by jorielov in Blog Tour Host, CNAs and Home Health Aides, Contemporary Romance, Dating & Humour Therein, Disabilities & Medical Afflictions, Domestic Violence, Family Drama, Family Life, Fathers and Daughters, Flashbacks & Recollective Memories, JKS Communications: Literary Publicity Firm, Life Shift, Medical Fiction, Minnesota, Modern Day, Reader Submitted Q&A, Realistic Fiction, Romance Fiction, Second Chance Love, Singletons & Commitment, Small Towne Fiction, Small Towne USA, Trauma | Abuse & Recovery, Writing Style & Voice
