The Power of Choice by Chiron O'Keefe

“Never give up, never surrender!” ---Commander Peter Taggart (lead character in “Galaxy Quest”)

Whenever I’m feeling down, I love to put up my feet and sink my mind into an old favorite movie. The reason is obvious. A good story, whether silly or profound, lifts us out of our ordinary life and into a new perspective. And within each story is a kernel of truth that some reader (or viewer) takes to heart. Perhaps that is the essential ingredient we strive to discover in each of our own stories. That kernel of truth. This is what sets each story apart. For me, this new week, I’m quoting one of my favorite fictional heroes. And I want to urge each of us to Never Give Up, NEVER Surrender!

“Part of the issue of achievement is to be able to set realistic goals, but that's one of the hardest things to do because you don't always know exactly where you're going, and you shouldn't.” ~~ George Lucas

Ah yes, the challenge of balancing the need for realistic goals and the reality that because each story is an independent creation there are quirks and inevitable diversions. Not to mention the unavoidable distractions that daily living often presents. Like Lennon said, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.”

We writers also face another challenge in our careers:

“You have to put in many, many, many tiny efforts that nobody sees or appreciates before you achieve anything worthwhile.” --Brian Tracy

Time. Yikes. So many little revisions, hours spent on research or even just staring into space while searching for the exact right word. How many here have sweated over picking the Perfect Name for a character?

Obviously, these precious moments invested are worthwhile. We love being writers, which is why we write. Yet too often we spend just as much time chiding ourselves over the hours wasted or bemoaning the lack of substantial feedback. We all have end goals in sight. A beginning writer hopes to get a positive response from a query. A published writer yearns for a stellar review. A multi-published author strives to reach a particular sales level. And it’s almost certain that every writer will judge herself at each stage, certain that she SHOULD be doing better.

Let us remember, and remind each other as often as we can, that while we should damn well strive to reach whatever far-reaching goal we set our hearts on, We Are Successful. Reaching for the highest, becoming all we can be… That is the best goal we can hope for. Would we sneer at our best friend for her efforts, or judge her for not reaching her goals quickly enough? Of course not! We’d point out that the strongest trees grow slowly, sinking roots deep into the ground. A spindly sapling that shoots up too quickly might snap in a heavy wind.

“Trust, have faith, and keep doing the work,” we’d murmur with an encouraging smile. Part of the process of staying motivated is keeping your spirits high! As the marathon runners stumble past, the onlookers cheer and shout their support. Imagine if they offered up the kind of words we’ve been known to toss at ourselves when no one is listening. We’ve all done it. My personal favorite is to shout, “I’m a hack! My writing sucks!” while pacing around the room. *rolls eyes* Not very best-friendish, eh?

“Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes." - Oscar Wilde

The truth is, everyone must strive to reach heights that are unfamiliar. We need to keep in mind that even those blessed writers who do get published immediately have issues or personal struggles of their own. We all share the need to better ourselves, to reach our personal heights, to become the Best We Can Be.

Part of what makes the difference with writing is perspective. The more we put the pressure on, the more it seems like WORK (the dreaded four letter word) and less like PLAY. Yet this is what we want more than anything, right? We’re not digging ditches or scrubbing toilets. This is our life’s dream, our greatest joy. Sometimes I find that my whole attitude shifts when I make a few changes in perspective. Rather than saying “I HAVE to finish this book” or “I have to meet this deadline,” how about “I GET to finish my book!” “I get to meet a deadline!” How lucky am I? *grin*

“The more I want to get something done, the less I call it work." --Richard Bach.

And when you get right down to it, there’s nothing you HAVE to do. Really. Everything is a choice. Even breathing. Sure, the alternative is I’d suffocate *cough* but again, it’s what I choose to do. Sometimes we Choose to take on obligations. It’s easy then to believe we HAVE TO do this or that. But the simple truth is, we Choose. Each and every time. To be responsible. To be kind. To be mature (sometimes *wink*). To write our books.

So let’s make that choice and recognize the beauty and absolute pleasure it is to Have that choice. YAY!! We Are WRITERS!!

My choice this week is to…

Continue on with first draft of suspense. I'm so close to the end I can taste it!

Weekly essay.

How about you?

Have a fabulous week, everyone!! Go-go-GO!!

Smiles,

Chiron O'Keefe

The Write Soul: www.chironokeefe.blogspot.com

Read an excerpt! eirelanderpublishing.com/sidekicksexcerpt.aspx

Title: The Winds of Fall

Author: Sandy Wickersham-McWhorter

The Wild Rose Press

Fantasy Faery Rose

348 pages Spicy

ISBN 1-60154-400-6

 Blurb:

Unknown to Skye Worthington, the people most important to her are keeping unearthly secrets from her. If not revealed and faced, these secrets will cause death for untold billions of people, Skye included. Rebelling against his family and their deadly, but necessary, secrets that kept him a recluse in a Caribbean paradise, Joe Allen meets Skye. They fall into a love forbidden to Joe until now. Can two people with unimaginable secrets—and more in common than either know—overcome a force capable of entering dreams and taking humans through outer space without life support to other planets? This is the dilemma facing Skye and Joe as she fights to keep her sanity, and her identity as a human being.

Review:

Imaginative, endearing characters and an intriguing storyline kept me interested through every page. I thoroughly enjoyed this fantastic story and look forward to more from this author. The only thing about this story that was a huge turn off was how everyone was lying to everyone else. Although with complete honesty, Skye and Joe would probably not have had such an interesting love story.

Reviewed By Breia Brickey

WRDF Review

Title: The Trouble With Playboys

Author: Margaret Tanner

The Wild Rose Press

Recent Historical Vintage Rose

Rated spicy Pages 228

Print ISBN: 1-60154-476-6

Release Date: April 24 2009

$6.00

Blurb:

When a wealthy Englishman, Paul Ashfield travels to Australia in search of the birth mother he thinks deserted him, he never expects to meet and fall in love with Daphne Clarke. Upon meeting her parents, Paul is horrified by the possibility that they may have the same mother. He beats a hasty retreat, leaving Daphne heartbroken. Amidst the turmoil of WW2 they meet again in Singapore, just before the Japanese pour into Malaya, and in the chaotic aftermath each believes the other is dead.

REVIEW:

Paul is a young boy when he finds out that the woman he thought was his mother told him his real mother lives in Australia. Paul sets out to find his real mother and meets Daphne in Australia. A series of events leads him to believe that the woman he is falling in love with may be his sister. Terrified by the possibility, he leaves leaving her heartbroken.

Margaret Tanner is an amazing writer. I am not a fan of the historical genre but found this one thrilling. The characters are three dimensional, and exciting to follow as each one takes on new responsibilities. The historical descriptions were as accurate as one could except from this talented author. 

I particularly grew fond of Daphne, her strength to move forward and her dedication to help those who were touched by the war. Margaret Tanner delivers true romance in an era of chaos.

Reviewed By Annie Alvarez

WRDF Review

Title: Lethal Lasagna

Author: Rhonda Gibson

White Rose Publishing

Inspirational White Rose

Rating: Sweet Page Count: 240

ISBN: 1-60154-632-7

Digital Price: 6.00

Blurb:

When Claire Parker’s best friend Mitzi is found dead, and Claire turns out to be the prime suspect, she takes matters into her own hands to find the murderer. Tracing Mitzi's steps, Claire meets new friends and a handsome man who may turn out to be the love of her life or Mitzi's murderer.

As the evidence piles up, Claire discovers the murderer is willing to strike again.

Can she find the killer before she becomes the next victim?

Review

 This story, although about a cold-hearted murder, was very sweet. Claire Parker is a sweet, innocent retired woman, who seemed to be enjoying life as a widow, when her friend, Mitzi; who appeared to be nicer than home-made apple pie, was poisoned by lasagna for no apparent reason than what seems to be her abundance of niceness. Claire is drawn into sleuthing when she appears to be the main suspect, so determined to clear her name and find the real killer of her best friend (about whom she appears to know very little). She jumps into her friend's life as she gets to know Mitzi posthumously, with many surprises for Claire along the way!

The story moved along at a nice pace with compelling plot and nicely engaging dialogue. Brandon, the love-interest, was a little over-sensitive and protective towards a complete stranger; Claire, when the rest of his panting classroom of love-struck students is left in the dust for this new amateur-sleuth. For church groups, the other social circles she joins, the ladies seem to be cut-throat competitors on a different level, and a little incongruous for their setting. While painting a colorful landscape of picket fences and flowering gardens, dog walks and every item of clothing Claire wore, and morsel of food she ate, we are never given a good description of the heroine; except the turmoil she felt emotionally about falling in love after passing the big five Oh, which made her sound like she had one foot in the grave.

Nice twists and turns of plot, interspersed with prayer and visits to church, with an implausible murder motive involving a seriously deranged family. The super-sweet ending was a little too fairy-tale-like, but gives readers a moist moment to contemplate the delights of true romance at an adult age. Definitely effortless escapism from the humdrum of reality, and a page-turner for the murder mystery plot between tea and cakes at the church socials.

Reviewed by Sally Vanessa Hearne

WRDF Review

Title: Legend Of The Fourth Moon: The Mark Of Goren

Author: Donna Michaels

Fantasy Faery Rose

The Wild Rose Press

Rating Hot Pages 384

ISBN: 1-60154-452-9

$6.00

Blurb:

 In the Andromeda Galaxy, XANDRA MONOCERROS, Princess of Lacerta, dreads the coming of the Fourth Moon. Every five years it appears, drawing death to someone dear. First her mother then her husband. Will this cycle take another loved one? Even worse, Lacerta is heading for the same implosion disaster as their ancestral planet Earth. Seeking a solution, Xandra crosses paths with DARIUS VAN LAARS—the dangerous outlaw from her visions. Will their intense attraction dissuade Darius from carrying out personal revenge on the man key to saving Xandra’s planet? Can she save Lacerta or will she fall victim to the Legend of the Fourth Moon?

 Review:

As a Science Fiction/Fantasy this story was intriguing and satisfying with several sub-plots keeping the pages turning to find out what happens next. The heroine, Xandra Monocerros, is a beautiful headstrong princess in true fairytale style, and she has powers which come in handy. I enjoyed the fact that everyone seemed to have different powers or gifts, it made for a nice variety. The outlaw hero was also dashingly handsome with a dark presence and a mysterious past. He has a delicious bad guy/good guy persona which teases the reader along.

Her landscapes were a little sketchy on all the different planets, however, the storyline about evil lords trying to kill off the planets with poisons ties the whole tale together. The main thread gives a strong plot to hang everything else on. Excellent!

The Fourth Moon period sounded a little like Mercury in retrograde, anything can happen, so I was not clear on why everyone was celebrating this phase. However, the writer did an excellent job of leading the reader along and giving a rising tension as that time approached in the story. The Mark of Goren had some well-described and surprising enhancements which were truly science fiction and excellent story telling.

The story and characters were well described and developed with a wonderful variety of good and despicably evil. A very nice job with a happily ever after finish, which Donna keeps us guessing about right to the very end.

Reviewed by Sally Vanessa Hearne

WRDF Review

Title: Chance's Return

Author: Lucy Naylor Kubash

White Rose Publishing

Inspirational White Rosebud

Rating: Sweet Page Count: 208

ISBN: 1-60154-521-5

Release Date: 5-1-2009

$4.50

Blurb:

When prodigal son Chance McCord returns home to the North Star ranch, he faces a tragic past and a family divided. When young widow Casey Girard decides to spend the summer working on the North Star near the Grand Tetons of Wyoming, she doesn't expect to meet such a man as Chance, nor to fall so completely in love with him. They both must learn to trust in each other. Can Casey's faith and love truly bring Chance home?

REVIEW:

Chance comes home to the family he ran away from to meet Casey and her son. Chance's younger brother Kyle, took over the responsibility of running the family ranch and has no intentions of letting Chance mend his ways. Can Chance earn the trust and the respect he lost? Will Casey, change Chance?

Lucy Naylor Kubash offers a real cowboy story; her intentional use of dialect is true to form and sets you on ranch with galloping horses and cowboys working alongside you. She takes you to campsites with wagons, trails rides and a beautifully descriptive view of the mountains and terrain.

The characters were fleshed out and three-dimensional. She incorporates intricate characters forming different relationships to bring a one of a kind book to the readers. From the very beginning, she promises action, suspense and the possibility of finding love among the hard working ranch and she delivers!

Reviewed By Annie Alvarez

WRDF Review

Title: KNIGHTSTALKER

Author: Linda Ciletti

Genre: Contemporary Time Travel

Page extent: 340

Publisher: Wings ePress

ISBN: 978-1-59088-295-5

Release date: June 2008

Heat rating: Sensual

Blurb:  

Rachael Cicconi, a flutist with the local symphony, is raising her five-year-old son, Timmy, alone after her verbally abusive boyfriend, Timmy's father, left them without a word and without support. Rachael has made some mistakes, but now her only desire is to take care of Timmy the best that she can. Lately, however, Timmy has been waking from nightmares about a killer knight. Rachael believes it may be a combination of his favorite story, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, and early memories of his father's abusive nature that trigger these dreams. Though she would like to meet someone and give Timmy the father he deserves, she's not sure she can ever trust again.

Michel of Banesford finds himself in a world he knows nothing about. This present day is nothing like 1376. But he did what he had vowed to do, he followed a killer into the future. Sir Ruford, better known as Moonslayer, must be stopped whatever the cost, and it had cost Michel all that he knew. The only light in Michel's life now is Rachael, the woman he had protected from a pair of attackers. After hearing of Timmy's nightmares, Michel is convinced that Rachael's son holds the key to finding and stopping Ruford. Timmy, Michel discovers, is a seer. Michel just needs to find what it is that triggers the boy's dreams—or rather, prophecies. His presence, however, has placed Rachael and Timmy in danger. Now he must protect his newfound family as the hunter becomes the hunted

Review:

This gripping tale from Linda Ciletti took my breath away and will take yours too. Michel, the French speaking chivalrous knight  is a dreamboat of a hero and little Timmy a seer in the making is a delight too.

The life of single-mum Rachael Cicconi is turned upside down when she is rescued from a mugging by a real Knight. Michel’s quest to stop the murderous Rudford leads him to the twenty-first century and Rachel. His quest is sweetened by his newfound love and family in Rachel and Timmy. This sweetness is threatened not only by his old nemesis but also by Timmy’s father’s reappearance in their life.

In a cliffhanger of a finale, good triumphs evil and Michel keeps his Knight’s vow to return to the fold of his new family for a wonderful happily ever after. A superb tale that shouldn’t be missed. I recommend it whole-heartedly…well done Linda Ciletti. I look forward to other fantasy adventures from this author.

Reviewed by Raakhee Suryaprakash

WRDF Review

During a recession, good news always seems hard to find, but this month I’ve discovered something that should make both writers and readers smile. It’s the launch of Ravenous Romance www.ravenousromance.com. It’s the brainchild of New York agent Lori Perkins and the owners of book packager, Hollan Publishing, Holly Schmidt and Allan Penn. Together they’ve teamed up to create a new type of publishing company. Readers can buy great stories at affordable prices and writers find a home where they can grow their careers. Ravenous Romance sells short stories, e-books and audio books. Here, Holly Schmidt tells us all about their books and what it takes to sell a manuscript to them.

Susan Palmquist (SP) When did Ravenous Romance launch?

Holly Schmidt-(HS)December 1, 2008.

SP-You emphasize low cost, affordable reads. Have you seen a surge in sales because of the recession?

HS-Well, we launched in the depths of the recession, so it’s hard to know what our sales would have been like had we launched during a time of economic prosperity. But we have been pleased so far.

SP-Your Website mentions you sell books by bestselling and award winning authors. Do you care to share some of their names?

HS- Sure. In the romance genre, we have several RITA and Golden Heart nominees and winners, including Skye Alexander and Lexi Ryan. We also publish Cecilia Tan and Rachel Kramer Bussel, who are award-winning erotica authors. We have several best-selling authors from other genres who are writing under pseudonyms, including NYT best-selling horror writer John Skipp who’s writing as Gina McQueen. And we publish many authors who have been published in print by Harlequin, Avon, Dorchester, Sourcebooks, Random House, and other major houses.

SP-Can you tell me more about your Book a Day Program and The Reader’s Club?

HS-We feature a different book every day, and our Readers’ Club is a membership discount program that enables readers to save 15% on everything they buy for a low annual fee of $19.99.

SP-You also offer audio books. Are these growing in popularity? Do you see them outselling e-books or vice versa?

HS-The audio book market is ten times the size of the e-book market, and with the ease and affordability of digital formats I anticipate it will only grow in size.  Romance is the top-selling category in audio books, and there is a lot of untapped content out there that should be presented in audio format. We feel as though we’re ahead of the curve in this respect.

SP-I know lots of writers…myself included, will want to know if you consider e-books published by other houses for your audio book program? Or is it just Ravenous Romance books that are turned into audio books?

HS-We only publish our own books in audio, but we are launching an initiative to help other publishers (and self-published authors) create and distribute high-quality audio versions of their books. I’d be happy to talk to any publisher or author about this if they email me directly at holly at ravenousromance dot com.

SP-Your Web site mentions you work with your writers to develop their careers. What’s the advantage of publishing with Ravenous Romance?

HS-At Ravenous, we have decades of traditional publishing experience. So we use that to guide our writers’ careers, whether that means licensing the print, foreign, or film rights to their work or helping them to develop new ideas for series. Lori and I have been working with authors for our entire careers, so we bring a lot of experience and industry knowledge to the process.

SP-Anything particular type of story you’re looking for but have yet to find?

HS-I have an idea for a book called “Succubusters,” which would be a romantic comedy a la “Ghostbusters,” but with succubuses. I have yet to see it. I’m also always looking for great, innovative, sexy vampire books and really hot historicals.

SP-What common mistakes are you seeing in the manuscripts you’re receiving?

HS-Underpolished writing and personal fantasies presented as fiction are my two pet peeves.

SP-You have lots of categories, romantic suspense, Second Chance at Love etc., are any easier to break into, any that aren’t getting so many submissions?

HS- Historical is a bit easier than say, paranormal, where we get a ton of submissions.

SP-You also publish short stories? What makes a great Rendezvous read?

HS- It has to be really hot, and there has to be a fully-developed romance, which isn’t easy in a few thousand words! We reject 90% of what is submitted to us.

SP-On the heat scale, do all stories have to be spicy/hot or does it depend on the plot and characters?

HS- It really depends on the plot and characters—and the author and her comfort level and ability to write good sex scenes.

SP-What book/books would you recommend us buying so we can get a better understanding of what makes a Ravenous Romance and sets them apart from other books?

HS- Well, I feel like you’re asking me to make Sophie’s Choice here! I love all of our books, and think they each bring a unique emotional experience to their readers. However, one thing we do that I think is pretty interesting is we do m/m retellings of classic romantic movies—An Officer and His Gentleman, Marrakesh (an erotic m/m “Casablanca”), and Pretty Man are all top sellers. For more traditional romance, I would recommend Nashville Heat by Bethany Michaels or Ripping the Bodice by Inara Lavey, which is a romantic comedy.

SP-If there’s anything else you’d like to add that’s not covered in the questions; feel free to add your own comments.

HS- Thank you for the opportunity to be interviewed, and thank you for your interest in Ravenous Romance.

Dig Deep to Find Your Own Vein of Gold

"The greatest explorer on this earth never takes voyages as long as those of the man who descends to the depth of his heart."  ~Julien Green

As I sifted through the comments and suggestions offered up my editor the last few months, one truth stood out. Learning to write is a lifelong process. The reason is two-fold. First is simple common sense. Just as muscles are trained to respond in sports (this is called 'muscle memory') and musicians train fingers and ears to automatically pick out the right notes, so does each writer develop a sense of how to write with clarity and skill.

This part is arduous mostly because in the beginning our eyes pass over mistakes which after a book or two become glaringly obvious. Writers need thick-skins right from the start as we discover our 'perfect prose' is not a marble sculpture but clay that needs to be shaped and molded repeatedly until our masterpiece is complete.

The second reason writing is a lifelong process of learning is much more intriguing.

Writing is a Path of Self-Discovery. Both a craft and an art. We learn to rework the words and clarify our intent with our minds. We learn to create a story with our hearts and our souls.

"The man who views the world at fifty the same as he did at twenty has wasted thirty years of his life."  ~Muhammad Ali

The first time a critique partner wrote: this isn't clear to me, I had to dig deeper. Again, back to the first step—how to clarify our intent. One tip for beginning writers I can offer is from my own experience. An author may know what the story is but the reader doesn't. We must ground the reader in our setting.

Staring at the computer monitor, the writer perched in her padded desk chair. On the wood bookcase beside her desk, the antique Victorian clock ticked off the seconds. The last remnants of cold tea in her cup, she pecked away at the keyboard, occasionally glancing out the window as sunshine warmed her front yard.

Next we must remember that while the action seems obvious to us, we truly do need to spell it out for our readers. The author knows the character's motivation and where the story is going. Because of this, we may unintentionally leave bits out because our brain has filled in the blanks. Our reader doesn't have the same crib notes, so while at first it will feel as if we're spelling out the obvious the scenes will flow much more smoothly.

Yet 'digging deeper' is not just about setting, description and action. We must take risks. We must bare our soul. We must surprise ourselves if we hope to surprise others.

"No one remains quite what he was when he recognizes himself."  ~Thomas Mann

"Life is a process of becoming, a combination of states we have to go through.  Where people fail is that they wish to elect a state and remain in it.  This is a kind of death."  ~Anaïs Nin

There are writers who compose stories without ever feeling they've 'discovered' anything new, in themselves or in their writing. There are songwriters who can whip out catchy little tunes without much reflection as well. Then there's John Lennon, a composer who dug deep into his soul and searched his heart for truth. His journey is reflected in his music, and these songs still strike chords within our hearts today. Since this week's theme is about 'digging deep', it's time to reflect on which story you wish to write. In my view, the choice is based on the stories you most enjoy reading.

I just finished a lovely book by Linda LaRoque, titled, My Heart Will Find Yours. At the end, I sighed with satisfaction and said, "Now that's a love story." Why? Because the characters I grew to love touched my heart, and their journey towards love, healing and self-awareness became my journey as well. My own upcoming release, Sidekicks, features a wanna-be 'leading lady' who believes the only way to rise above her current stature (feeling like an extra in her own movie) is to snag the ultimate leading man. While I wrote the story, I had to walk in her footsteps and dig deep to understand her world. Her quest had to resonate within my own heart in order to pen a tale that would click with my readers.

"When you re-read a classic you do not see in the book more than you did before.  You see more in you than there was before."  ~Clifton Fadiman

Many a writer struggles with squeezing in precious minutes to write or struggles with fear disguised as procrastination. Ironically, though the process of digging deep may seem to require the perfect setting, the endless hours or a complete lack of fear, the opposite is true. Often times we pull away because, truth be told, writing is a heck of a lot of work. It's much easier to watch television shows that a friend of mine fondly described as "chewing gum for the mind" or play card games on the computer. Shut-up! I have to win at least ONE game before I write!! *grin*

Those writers we envy, the ones who whip out an impossible number of pages regularly (Allison Brennan, I'm talking to YOU!), do so because they're pumped about their story. They're excited because digging deep is sparking something within them. The enthusiasm carries over in their work.

So what to do when you only have an hour a day? Write. Allison did just that, carving out time between raising a family and working full-time (she's since given up her day job). She's now a NY Times best-selling author. She dug deep not only to find the stories but to find the perseverance and determination to make her dream come true.

"To the question of your life you are the answer, and to the problems of your life you are the solution."  ~Joe Cordare

As I wrap up this essay, my intention to explore this topic led to some unexpected realizations. Digging deep is about reaching down into our souls to create stories and much more. Pushing ourselves to write when we only have a few moments and persevering through the endless rewrites (those veins of gold are rarely visible with one strike of the pick-axe) or tossing out  hopeful queries is perhaps the most vital quest of all. Self-discovery is much more than a sparkling epiphany. Self-discovery is finding out who you are and exactly what you can accomplish. Today, an essay. Perhaps tomorrow, the world!

"Many people miss opportunity because it came disguised in overalls." - Henry Ford

Speaking of self-discovery… one book that I felt 'changed my life' is Demian by Herman Hesse. Yet over the years I've found that even the silliest of movies (Groundhog Day comes to mind) can trigger new understanding. What do you consider to be an avenue of self-discovery? Then there are the qualities developed as a result of becoming a writer. The big one for me is perseverance. How about you?

"Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained." --Marie Curie

Here's to a productive and inspired week. We shall persevere because We Are Writers. *grin* What do writers do? We write! Let's get to it. Go-go-GO!

Smiles,

Chiron O'Keefe

SIDEKICKS, October 2009, Eirelander Publishing.

Read an excerpt: eirelanderpublishing.com/sidekicksexcerpt.aspx

The Write Soul: www.chironokeefe.blogspot.com

Title: For The Love Of A Queen

Author: Laura Hogg

The Wild Rose Press

Fantasy Faery Rose

Rating: Sensual Page Count: 388

ISBN: 1-60154-499-5

Release Date: 4-24-2009

$6.00

Blurb:

War has destroyed four-fifths of the population. Governments have fallen. A former covert agent wanders the wilderness, lending her skills where she can. She is crowned queen for her efforts and meets the warrior who is her match. He’s handsome, courageous, and good-hearted, but at a young age was recruited by the most evil warlord walking the land. He’s sent in as a spy to bring back the beautiful queen. Shock is in store for him when he meets her. He doesn’t want to bring her back for execution, but if he doesn’t, her people will be slaughtered. For love, he chooses to save those she cherishes.

He watches while she’s taken captive, not lifting his sword in her defense; watches her suffer punishment and in agony can do nothing about it. This queen and her warrior will battle evil, but will the price be their love or their lives?

 REVIEW:

For The Love of a Queen is set in post-apocalyptic California. We join Nayda and her friend August in the first few pages, while they have a conversation which brings us all up to date. While it was a little banal and irritating to have it spelled out for me, rather than shown to me, it did allow for a quicker jump into the story.

Nayda is blessed/cursed with visions, and she sees herself marrying this man before ever meeting him. Jeff is a tough warrior, and so is Nayda, and their swordplay actually draws blood. Still, before too long into the story, they're talking about love and marriage and forever.  I did find myself missing some intimacy. After chapters of build up, the emotional love scene lasts all of a paragraph.

For the Love of a Queen is book I would recommend for a reader looking for a tough as nails heroine and PG rated love story.

Reviewed By Jade Ryan

WRDF Review