Sheila's Books Read

Sheila's bookshelf: read

The Best Intentions
Scotland's Melody
The Secret Society of Salzburg
Secret of the Sonnets
20-40-60-Minute Dinners: Meals to Match the Time You Have
Through the Wilderness: My Journey of Redemption and Healing in the American Wild
Secret Santa Claus Club: A Tool to Help Parents Unwrap the Secret of Santa
Mr. Pudgins
Revenge Never Rests
The Best Mistake
Meriden Park
More Inspirational Stories for Young Women
The Great Tree: A Christmas Fable
To Capture His Heart
The Call of the Sea
Esperance
Livvy and the Enchanted Woodland
Come, Gentle Night
The Bad Boy Theory
Guide To Smart Wedding Planning: What You want to know and everything you haven't thought of yet.


Sheila's favorite books »

2024 Goodreads Reading Challenge

2024 Reading Challenge

2024 Reading Challenge
Sheila has read 4 books toward her goal of 100 books.
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Friday, December 12, 2014

Forbidden by Kimberley Griffiths Little-Blog Tour Review and Giveaway


Forbidden
 

Forbidden KimberleyProduct Details

  • Title:  Forbidden
  • Author: Kimberley Griffiths Little
  • Hardcover: 400 pages
  • Publisher: HarperCollins (November 4, 2014)
  • Genre: Romance/Historical Fiction
  • ISBN-10: 0062194976
  • FTC, FYI: Received an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.








Book Description:
In the unforgiving Mesopotamian desert where Jayden’s tribe lives, betrothal celebrations abound, and tonight it is Jayden’s turn to be honored. But while this union with Horeb, the son of her tribe’s leader, will bring a life of riches and restore her family’s position within the tribe, it will come at the price of Jayden’s heart. Then a shadowy boy from the Southern Lands appears. Handsome and mysterious, Kadesh fills Jayden’s heart with a passion she never knew possible. But with Horeb’s increasingly violent threats haunting Jayden’s every move, she knows she must find a way to escape—or die trying. With a forbidden romance blossoming in her heart and her family’s survival on the line, Jayden must embark on a deadly journey to save the ones she loves—and find a true love for herself. Set against the brilliant backdrop of the sprawling desert, the story of Jayden and Kadesh will leave readers absolutely breathless as they defy the odds and risk it all to be together.

Book Trailer for Forbidden!!


My Review:
I must admit right off, I love everything that Kimberley writes. She has a way of making her characters seem so real. You become so absorbed into the story, you forget you are actually reading and not living the experience. The main character is Jayden, who lives in the early Mesopotamian area before Christ. Her people were the Nomad Tribes that wandered the desert areas. It is a rich and beautiful time period of adventure, danger, hardships and survival. These people wandered through the deserts to look for food and water. They form bonds with other wandering tribes. This is where the story begins at Jayden's betrothal ceremony. Soon we find out that this marriage is not one that Jayden wants because frankly, her betrothed, Horeb, is a rich, but mean man. Then of course a very young, handsome man, Kadesh, comes along that does steal Jayden's heart. This may seem to you that this book is a typical romance, but you'd be so wrong. There is a rich story woven into this romance with plenty of strife and intrigue. Nothing is ever easy in life, and Jayden finds this out too. Though she wants Kadesh in her life, she knows it's Forbidden because he is not part of her tribe. At this time, and with this people, you really had no choice when a marriage when arranged for you. Oh, it hurt to read about Jayden and the choices she had to make and work through.

Another thing that really pleased me was the fabulous historical research that was done for this book. You can always tell when an author digs deep to make the story accurate for the time period, the people and country of the characters. Kimberley did exactly that: of writing a novel that was realistic and true. This is another reason that this novel is not just another romance, but a story of depth because of it's historical accuracies. 

Schedule some good time this winter/Christmas to just sit and read this novel. You will be pulled in and not want to leave. Unfortunately there is a cliff hanger that will make you beg for more in this series. I can't wait to read more about what will happen in Jayden's life. I love Kimberley's writing style and I know I'll always read a great story that will be remembered way after I've finished it. 


  Praise for Forbidden
 *STARRED* Review, ALA BOOKLIST ". . . At its core, this is a romance, with all the push and pull that goes along with impossible love, and Little elevates the story by creating a perilous landscape, both outward and inward, as Jayden must deal with the hardship of desert life as well as her own desires." 

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL "This is a fast-paced, entertaining choice which will appeal to fans of historical fiction and romance." 

"Lush, lyrical, romantic. Forbidden transports readers into a vividly imagined place and time." -
 -Claudia Gray, New York Times bestselling author 

 "The harsh beauty of the deserts of ancient Mesopotamia come to life in Forbidden, with beautiful descriptions that will make you crave water and check for sand in your clothes. Your heart will break as you root for Jayden to triumph over the many struggles that threaten to tear her world apart, and the ending will leave you thirsting for more!" --Sara B. Larson, author of Defy    

EXCERPT:  
The night was starkly beautiful under a canopy of jeweled stars. I savored my moments of freedom, which were marred by the realization that it was dripping away day by day. The sizzle of coffee beans roasting in the skillet floated across the still air. Cups clinked on a tray as my father passed them around the circle. The aroma of roasted brew spiced with cardamom seeped into the night. As I tried to slip past, Horeb’s eyes caught mine. Firelight flickered over his face, outlining his jaw and wind-tangled black hair. He was devastatingly handsome just as all the girls said, but his lips curled into a smile that sent shudders down my spine. Horeb’s glance lingered on my body, settling not on my face, but lower, as if he was undressing me right there on the dirt path. His eyes locking onto mine, Horeb rose from the circle of men. I jerked around, breaking off his stare. Walking faster, I turned the corner of the tent just as his arm reached out to stop me. “So, little cousin,” Horeb said. “Have you been enjoying the betrothal ceremony? Tell me, are the women telling stories of marital relations?” My breath caught like a thorn in my throat. The women’s ceremonies were not discussed with any male—only inside the privacy of a marriage bed. “You shouldn’t be saying these things to me,” I said. Running his fingers down my arm, Horeb continued to study me. “There are many things I’d like to say to you, Jayden. Do to you.” There used to be a time when my throat pounded every time Horeb turned my direction. A time when he was growing into those big, dark eyes and that hard, muscular body. Moments when I wanted to touch his thick, black hair, or run my finger along his jaw to discover what a boy’s skin felt like with a newly growing beard. But now that I was sixteen, and he twenty, his stares made me uneasy. My heart still pounded, but not from love. And I wasn’t sure what it was or what to call it.  

Author Kimberley Griffiths Little
Award-winning author Kimberley Griffiths Little was born in San Francisco, but now lives in New Mexico on the banks of the Rio Grande with her husband and their three sons. Her middle-grade novels, When the Butterflies Came, The Last Snake Runner, The Healing Spell, and Circle of Secrets, have been praised as “fast-paced and dramatic,” with “beautifully realized settings.” Kimberley adores anything old and musty with a secret story to tell. She’s stayed in the haunted tower room at Borthwick Castle in Scotland; sailed the Seine in Paris; ridden a camel in Petra, Jordan; shopped the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul; and spent the night in an old Communist hotel in Bulgaria.
 
25_Amazon_PaypalBlog Tour Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 1/4/15 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, November 17, 2014

Online EBook Sale! 4 Days Only!






 Don't miss out on this great online ebook sale! Most of the titles are only 99 cents and some are free! They are also having a Rafflecopter drawing for a Reader Party Pack which is a $160 value!! 

Some of the books I'm nabbing are...

Elias of Elderberry
Theresa Sneed
Sale Price $.99

Regular Price $4.99

Elias Rey, a fifteen year old student at Penquis Valley High School, is skinny, has a chipped tooth, and a bad case of acne. His favorite pastime is drawing dragons, and his room is plastered with his renditions. Tested out as a genius, he should be in college instead of high school, but he chooses to be with the only family he has ever known, his foster sister Lizzie, and his best friend Jaron. 

Life is good, except for one thing - Brute, the meanest student at PVHS. Elias considers moving to be rid of Brute's constant bullying, until one fated day, when a strange boy pushes a leather pouch into his hands, and then mysteriously disappears, leaving Elias to wonder who he is.
 
Shortly thereafter, Elias discovers that the pouch contains Ilesar, an ancient papyrus that can give him anything his heart desires. He isn't going to be pushed around. Ever. Again. At least, not by the school bully.



Purchase Links:
Amazon


Adrenaline Rush

Cindy M. Hogan

Sale Price $.99

Regular Price $3.99

A madman with a mission is kidnapping groups of thrill-seeking high school seniors across the country, and it’s up to Christy to stop him. 

To do so, she must take on a fearless alter ego and infiltrate a group of adrenaline junkies bent on pushing life to the limit. Death-defying stunts are only the beginning: two groups fit the profile, and Christy must discover the real target before it’s too late. 

If she chooses the wrong group, more people will disappear. But choosing right puts her as the prime target—with no guarantee that she’ll get out alive.



Purchase Link:
 Amazon




Prejudice Meets Pride

Rachael Anderson



SALE PRICE $ .99 

Regular Price $3.99 

After years of pinching pennies and struggling to get through art school, Emma Makie’s hard work finally pays off with the offer of a dream job. But when tragedy strikes, she has no choice but to make a cross-country move to Colorado Springs to take temporary custody of her two nieces. She has no money, no job prospects, and no idea how to be a mother to two little girls, but she isn’t about to let that stop her. Nor is she about to accept the help of Kevin Grantham, her handsome neighbor, who seems to think she’s incapable of doing anything on her own.

Prejudice Meets Pride is the story of a guy who thinks he has it all figured out and a girl who isn't afraid to show him that he doesn't. It’s about learning what it means to trust, figuring out how to give and to take, and realizing that not everyone gets to pick the person they fall in love with. Sometimes, love picks them.
Purchase link:

AMAZON 

Temporary Bridesmaid

LuAnn Staheli


SALE PRICE $.99

Regular Price $3.99



Jenny Grant has given up on men, and therefore her dream of ever getting married. But when James Cox comes to work in her building as a temp, she has to convince herself to stay true to her new conviction. All around her, everything is falling apart in her life. She’s been asked to be the Maid of Honor for her best friend’s wedding—leaving Jenny the last single in her group—her mother’s forgetfulness has progressed to a level that might prove dangerous, and the raise and promotion Jenny longs for may not be within her reach. When a man who looks like James steals her wallet her distrust of men rests on his shoulders. 

James Cox has no idea why he has given up his position as a California CEO to move to Salt Lake City, but he’s certain it isn’t to find a bride. When the call comes for a temp position at a computer programming company, he figures this must be why. But his co-workers are not always easy to get along with, especially the fiery-tempered woman named Jenny Grant. If he didn’t find her so beautiful and interesting, it might not matter. Except that it does. 


Purchase Link:


Amazon

Ring on Her Finger

Lisa Swinton



SALE PRICE $.99

Regular Price $3.99

What happened in Vegas should stay there, not follow Amanda home wedded to the man who broke her heart. After celebrating college graduation with her friends in Las Vegas, Amanda St. Claire wakes up with a terrible hangover and a ring on her finger. Her day gets worse when she finds out she's married to rich playboy Blake Worthington---the guy she has loathed the past four years. Amanda convinces Blake to legally terminate the marriage and they both return home like nothing ever happened. That is, until Blake shows up on her doorstep and Amanda has to come clean with her family. Together for better or worse while the legalities are cleared, Amanda reluctantly plays along, but then the unthinkable happens---she finds herself falling in love with Blake. Can they overcome the past? Or will it end their future before it even starts? Fans of the films What Happens in Vegas and The Prince and Me will find this an enjoyable read.

Purchase Link:

Amazon

HERE are books that I recommend that I have already read! 
A Change of Plans, Safe Harbors #1

Donna K. Weaver


Sale Price $.99

REGULAR PRICE $3.99


Lyn wanted to move on. She just didn't realize it would take pirates, shipwreck, and an intriguing surgeon to do it.






Imperfect Love
Rebecca Talley
SALE PRICE $.99
Regular Price $3.99

Lauren Wilson is well on her way to her happily-ever-after. She’s passionate about her career as a middle school English teacher, she adores her handsome, hard-working husband, and with a baby finally on the way, her perfect life is within her grasp.

But then a devastating test result changes everything.

Forced to choose between her baby and her husband, Lauren makes the only decision she can live with, and she returns to her small hometown in hopes of rebuilding her shattered life.

Ethan Campbell is a gifted photographer who travels the world and has no desire to settle down. When his mother dies, he must go home to settle her estate. Then it’s back to exciting adventures across the globe.

When Lauren crosses paths with Ethan, her teenage crush, old feelings resurface—feelings she’s not prepared to face. Will Lauren have the courage to trust again or will she spend her life alone?

Imperfect Love is a story about sacrifice, healing, second chances, and discovering that although love isn’t always perfect, sometimes it’s the imperfect love that’s the sweetest of all.


Purchase Link:

The Complete Aliso Creek Series Box Set

Heather B. Moore



SALE PRICE $.99

Regular Price $4.99

Liz, Gemma, Arie, Jess, and Drew have been best friends since creating the “Five” at Aliso Creek High School. But that was over ten years ago, and each is still trying to find that perfect someone . . . if perfect is even possible.

Purchase Links:

Kindle
Nook


 

 
 Inevitable

Tamara Hart Heiner



Sale Price $.99

Regular Price $4.99

When Jayne has a vision of a serial killer stalking her town, she realizes her gift just might be the death of her.

Purchase Link:



Just One Wish

Janette Rallison

Sale Price $.99

Regular Price $2.99

Annika Truman will do anything to fulfill her little brother's only wish before his cancer surgery. The trouble is, he wants  superstar actor, Steve Raleigh, (teen Robin Hood) to pay him a visit. 

Annika has only a few days to drive to California and convince Steve to come home with her. 

On a seemingly impossible adventure that includes paparazzi, bows and arrows, and one enormous snake, Annika learns a few lessons about family, love, and having her own wishes granted.

Purchase Link:

Amazon

There are SO many other wonderful authors and books there! I promise, you DO NOT want to miss out on this great sale! Here is the link to go and check out the many books that are part of the sale. Enjoy!!
http://bookmarkedbargains.blogspot.com



 












http://bookmarkedbargains.blogspot.com/p/ya-fantasy.html

Friday, November 14, 2014

Gratitude Giveaway Hop!


Welcome to the Gratitude Giveaway Hop!
This is the hop I get to thank all of 
my loyal followers who show up, and give
me a reason to blog.

The only thing that you need to do is follow
my blog through GFC (Google Friend Connect).

The winner will receive a...
Gratitude Giveaway Blog Hop

Beam n' Read Personal Light: Anywhere, Anytime: Product Review and Tour Giveaway

  Beam n Read  
  Beam N Read Hands Free Travel and Reading Light  
New edition Beam n Read Hands-Free Light delivers a wide and bright light that lights up 2 book pages and doesn't disturb others. It's a true reading light that works with all printed books, Kindles and other eReaders (whether naked, skinned, or covered), PLUS newspapers, magazines, newsletters, loose documents, and other items that can't support a clip-on light. Worn around the neck, there's no need to shift it when reading paperbacks. Included are two 2 special Relaxation Filters: BNR Orange for a softer, warmer light that blocks energizing blue light (especially useful when reading to relax in bed); BNR Red to block blue light and reduce ambient light for sensitive bed partners. Standard alkaline AA batteries (not included) last an extra long 100 hours, far longer than flashlights and clip-on lights resulting in a lower cost to use (and fewer batteries in the trash). This light is still bright when others have gone dim. Save batteries for when you're on the go with the optional USB/AC Power Kit with 12 ft of cable that lets you plug into the included USB/AC adapter. Or plug into a USB car adapter/charger, or a computer USB port, or a USB adapter/charger for cell phones, etc. In addition to reading, this 3 LED hands-free light is great for crafts, travel, and walking in dim or dark places such as an attic, basement, or around the house during a power outage. Use it for writing journals, working, camping, changing diapers at night, and a lot more.  
 
 My Review:
I'm one of those readers that like to read into the wee hours of the night. I've tried using other book lights before, but they have always been a real fail for me. The batteries go dead quickly and the light is not what I need to do some good reading. I was very excited to try the  Beam N' Read Personal Light. It met all of my expectations and more! 

One of my favorite things about this product were the "Relaxation Filters". They come with an orange one that is a softer light that is perfect to help me fall asleep faster. With my lamp on, I usually keep reading and reading because the bright light keeps me awake. It's great to keep reading, except on the mornings I have to get up and teach the next day. So, this product allows me to enjoy some reading(Which I have to do or I can't fall asleep. This habit started when I was six years old.) and fall asleep sooner than I normally do. I also liked the hands free quality of the Beam n' Read because you wear it around your neck. The product is so light and small that you forget that it's even there. The addition of it having a Flip-Up Light was great, because you could change the direction of the light according to if you were sitting up or lying down in bed.
 
This product is highly recommended for all readers and crafters. I like the Beam n' Read so much, that I'm buying one for my mom for Christmas. She's an avid reader like me and also crochets a lot. So this will be the perfect gift! Thank goodness she doesn't have the internet so she won't be reading this blog post. ;)
 
 
  Testimonials 
 "I've never liked clip-on book lights because they add weight to the book, sometimes fall off, make it awkward to hold the book, and interfere with page turning. The Beam N Read has none of these problems, making them a pleasure to use" - BethFishReads.com 
"The red filter is my favorite. My hubby doesn't like when I turn on a bright reading light in the dark...It cuts down ambient light, making everyone happy." - Momwitha.com 
"The Beam N Read is by far the best personal reading light we have ever come across," - Scott Carmichael, Executive Editor, Gadling.com    
Features
  • For hands free personal light anywhere; extra bright light is easy on the eyes; doesn’t disturb others
  • Wide light from 3 LEDs in a row lights up 2 book pages; works with ALL Kindles, eReaders
  • BNR Orange Relaxation Filter softens and warms the cool LED light and blocks energizing blue light
  • BNR Red Relaxation Filter blocks blue light, reduces ambient light, & helps maintains night vision
  • Alkaline AA batteries (not incl) last Extra Long 100 hours, 3-10x longer than most clip-on lights
 
   
Also Available
Beam N Read USB/AC Power Kit Beam n Read USB Adapter
  Save batteries for when you're on the go or the next power outage with the Beam n Read Accessory USB Power Kit. It works with all Beam n Read LED Hands-Free lights (3 and 6 LED lights). In addition to the adapter's 6 foot BnR to USB cable, this kit includes an additional 6 foot USB extension cord letting you work up to 12 feet from a USB-A socket. Need a longer cable? - just add a standard USB extension cable. Use the included USB/AC adapter or a USB DC car adapter/charger, or a computer's USB port, or the USB adapter/charger for your cell phone, e-reader, etc. You may leave batteries in the Beam n Read or take them out to make a super lightweight light. Please note this kit is for external power adapter and will not recharge batteries.
Purchase your Adapter from Amazon
Beam n Read (1)
November 10th to December 10th
  
$25 Tour Giveaway
Enter to win an Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 12/15/14 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by readinglight.com. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.   a Rafflecopter giveaway -- ~Inspired Kathy~ I Am A Reader Book Blasts & Blog Tours Feed Your Reader - Kindle Ebook Freebies & Deals

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

The No-Stress Holiday Organizer: An All-In-One Guide to Planning and Recording Your Holidays -Review







Product Details

  • The No-Stress Holiday Organizer: An All-In-One Guide to Planning and Recording Your Holidays
  • Authors: Angela Baxter, Rod Fife, and Whitney Lindsley
  • Paperback: 144 pages
  • Publisher: Plain Sight Publishing (August 12, 2014)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1462114911
  • FTC, FYI: I received a review e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
 




Book Details
Get organized this holiday season! Make your plans for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's as enjoyable for you as it is for your guests. From calendars and checklists to budget sheets and journal pages, this book saves you the time and money to enjoy family traditions old and new-year after year!

My Review:
With my first glance at this book it blew me away! Could it be possible to have everything to help me get organized...like EVERY detail, for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years in one book? Yes it is! I love everything in here from the calendars, to the check-lists, to the spaces for you to write down your guest lists. I also really liked where you could list the presents you've already bought and those still needed to buy. 

Another great thing you'll find in this book are tips and details to help you budget and stick to it, make detailed lists of items you have stored for the holidays and inventory of what may need to be fixed or replaced, and also a place for recipes used and how to carve a turkey.

If you are looking for some help to get organized for the holidays, this is the perfect gift for yourself. This book will truly take the stress factor out of this years celebrations. 

You can purchase your copy of The No-Stress Holiday Organizer HERE at Amazon.

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Broken Smiles by Tara Mayoros-Review and Author Interview


Product Description
  • Title: Broken Smiles
  • Author:
  • File Size: 584 KB
  • Print Length: 319 pages
  • Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
  • Publisher: Astraea Press Publishing, LLC (September 22, 2014)
  • Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B00NU69UMU
  • FTC, FYI: I received a review e-copy in exchange for an honest review.




Book Description
One fateful night while performing at the Grammys, the pressure from the music industry becomes too much for Laidan. She is quickly carried off the stage, leaving the world audience stunned and amazed by her emotional performance. Accompanying her are a trusted bodyguard and a close childhood friend. Together they make for the jungles of China where she meets Doctor Rafe Watkins, a humanitarian who has reasons of his own for why he has chosen to live deep within the bamboo forests. The handsome doctor is building an orphanage and runs a clinic that fixes children’s broken smiles or cleft palets. Watching him perform his many acts of kind service, Laidan’s “broken smile” is also healing and she begins to fall deeply in love with him. She has finally found a place where she belongs. One problem – because of Rafe’s intentional seclusion from society for the past seven years, he does not know Laidan’s true identity. What will he do when he finds out? Can love conquer all, or is Laidan’s rock star fame too big for his quiet life?

My Review
Broken Smiles has many wonderful things going on in this novel. The beautiful descriptive settings in places like China and Morocco, sweep you away as if you were there. Not only do you "see" what it would look like there, but you also learn many things about the culture. You can clearly see the large amount of research that Author Tara Mayoros has done in the writing of this book.

I also love the characters in this novel. Main character Laidan is bold, beautiful, honest and kind. She is very different from many heroines in a romance novel that are weak and whiny. She is always trying to find ways to help her family and friends. Laidan's musical talents bring both happiness and heartache to her life. In the book, we read many of the lyrics that Laidan writes and makes into #1 hits. I have to say, I was very impressed with the lyrics that Tara wrote for her character. I also really liked the male lead character, Dr. Rafe, with his life mission to help the orphan children in China, especially those that needed to have cleft-palet surgeries. Both Laidan and Rafe have many things to overcome from their past, but they really click and their love story is real and melts your heart. This is a book written for adults, so some of the scenes have a little heat, but no sex. I also loved the way that Laidan sticks to her morals and comes right out to tell Rafe that she is waiting for marriage before sex. The side characters are also some of my favorites with Laidan's quirky best friend Andi and her devoted, Tongan bodyguard, Kort. They both brought much needed humor and support for Laidan. In fact, I'd have to say that they are some of my favorite supporting characters that I've read in a long time. 

Let me warn you now, Broken Smiles will bring out many emotions in you. One minute you will be sad, then the next laughing, then you'll be cheering someone on, then again something will bring you to tears. But in the end, you will be completely satisfied with the ending and wishing for more. Tara is an author who I know will be writing many more great novels in the future, and I'll be there cheering her on.


I hope that you'll enjoy this interview that I did with Tara!



Interview with Author Tara Mayoros

1. What inspired you to write Broken Smiles?

It is best to read my blog post http://taramayoros.com/2014/04/22/my-debut-novel-broken-smiles-coming-mid-2014/   My inspiration for the novel Broken Smiles came first from song lyrics that came to mind. They would not leave me alone. The dreams soon began and characters talked to me and the settings came to life. Then of course my living in China was fuel for the story and setting.


2.What is your favorite place to travel to?

My love for Asia is in my life blood. As a child I lived there and went back to visit many times and then lived in China as a college student. I also love Yellowstone, Moab, and the beach.


3.What are the most important things you've learned about being a writer and an author?

Have patience and determination. Those are tools that are crucial when it comes to writing. Things happen very slowly. There are times when you will wonder why this whole crazy process even matters. But there is someone out there who needs your voice and your words. What you write is important. 

4. What book/s are you working on right now?

I have a Christmas Novella releasing very soon called "Eight Birds for Christmas." It is a companion novella to Broken Smiles.
I am also working on a YA fantasy trilogy called "Vagabond." It is so different than my women's fiction, but I am loving writing fantasy with a bit of horror.

5.What is your best advice for aspiring writers?

My best advise for aspiring writers would be to not give up. Seek out critique partners and like minded people who can be your cheering section and brainstorm with you. Be a constant student of the writing craft. No matter where you are in the writing and publication process, there is always more to learn. Go to conferences, enter writing competitions, don't get discouraged. The process of creation should be fun.

6.What makes you the happiest?

Being with my family makes me the most happy. I have learned to stick to a writing schedule. I used to write whenever the muse nagged at me, even if it took away from family time. Now, I am much more strict about if I will listen to my imagination and itchy fingers when I am not at my scheduled writing time. Balance makes me happy. It is easy to get so wrapped up in your story that things begin to become off tilt. The act of creation, whether it is writing, painting, or playing my music, makes me very happy and it is a huge part of my life.
Author Bio: 
As a child, Tara Mayoros moved to Asia with her family where her love of different cultures and travel began. In college she satisfied her wanderlust by moving to China, filling her head with countless stories, and occasionally writing them down.

Years, marriage, children and many adventures later, she picked up her dusty pen and paper (or laptop) and realized that writing took her to different worlds and gave her the experiences that she yearned for. As an author, artist, baker, music teacher, gardener, and nature lover – she sees the beauty in the process, and the miracle, of creation. The Rocky Mountains are her home and they call to her whenever she finds herself in need of inspiration.
You can contact Tara here at her website: http://taramayoros.com/
or at her Facebook page HERE 
BUY LINKS: 

Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/author/taramayoros

Kobo - http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/broken-smiles

Barnes & Noble - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/broken-smiles-tara-mayoros-mayoros/1120381801?ean=2940150744295

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

Author Facebook page -  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Tara-Mayoros/510125515787576?ref=hl

Web-site - taramayoros.com

Twitter - https://twitter.com/TaraMayoros

Pinterest - http://www.pinterest.com/taramayoros/

Instagram - http://instagram.com/taramayoros - See more at: http://www.krystenlindsay.com/blog/broken-smiles-by-tara-mayoros#sthash.oqmNAzjo.dpuf
 Purchase Links:

- See more at: http://www.krystenlindsay.com/blog/broken-smiles-by-tara-mayoros#sthash.oqmNAzjo.dpuf
 Buy at Amazon,

Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/author/taramayoros

Kobo - http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/broken-smiles

Barnes & Noble - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/broken-smiles-tara-mayoros-mayoros/1120381801?ean=2940150744295 - See more at: http://www.krystenlindsay.com/blog/broken-smiles-by-tara-mayoros#sthash.oqmNAzjo.dpuf