Why Not? Because I Said So Book Reviews and Author Interviews. : Tara Mayoros

Showing posts with label Tara Mayoros. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Christmas Countdown Blitz Day 2: The Christmas Bike by Tara Mayoros

-->Tara Mayoros teaches guitar, paints, occasionally bakes, and loves working with plants. She's an avid collector of globes and maps, as they help with her incurable case of wanderlust. The Rocky Mountains are her home and they call to her whenever she is in need of inspiration. She explores them regularly with her husband and three children.

Connect with the Author here:

~ Facebook ~ Website ~
~ Amazon ~ Instagram ~
~ Twitter ~ Pinterest ~

-->Christmas is already going to be tough for Marie and her family. When a series of events is set in motion long before a Christmas Eve tragedy, she is too occupied to notice God's grace. An emergency letter to Santa sets her on a quest for a Christmas miracle. With time running out, she prays for the first time in a long time. A miracle does happen, but it is not what she expected.

~ Amazon ~ Amazon UK ~

~ Amazon Canada ~

Top Ten List:

Here's a list of fun fact and some of my favorite things:

Fun facts:

*My husband and I have applied to to the Amazing Race 5 times, we got call-backs once. But didn't make the show. It would be our ultimate dream to travel and win!

*I love winter sports - skiing, snowshoeing, sledding.

*I love fantasy - Lord of the Rings, The Last Unicorn, Legend, Juliette Marillier is my favorite author of fantasy.

*Horse-riding is one of my favorite things! A horse is my spirit animal.

*Halloween is my favorite holiday and I usually go crazy with decorations and costumes.

Favorite things:

*Spending time with my sweet husband and awesome kids is my favorite! Our family has a Jeep and we go on many, many adventures together in it.

*Being in the mountains is my favorite place to be.

*I love having an art room and I paint and create a lot of things.

*One of my favorite things to do is to find a treasure and make it better. We've flipped many homes and are currently remodeling the one we are living in now.

*I like unusual jewelry, shoes, and music. And food - I love food from different countries!

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Saturday, November 5, 2016

The Christmas Bike by Tara Mayoros-Review

Product Details:

Title: The Christmas Bike
Author: Tara Mayoros
Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc. (October 11, 2016)
Genre: Christmas Story
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1462119328
Rating: 5 stars
FTC, FYI: I received a paperback review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Description:

Christmas is already going to be tough for Marie and her family. When a series of events is set in motion long before a Christmas Eve tragedy, she is too occupied to notice God's grace. An emergency letter to Santa sets her on a quest for a Christmas miracle. With time running out, she prays for the first time in a long time. A miracle does happen, but it is not what she expected.

My Review:

The new book by author Tara Mayoros is only 51 pages long,but it packs a powerful punch to your heart. The Christmas Bike tells the heart-warming story of a woman’s journey of remembering the true meaning of Christmas on Christmas Eve. This book is based on true events that happened to Tara and her son. In fact, this son that the story is based on, is the son that I taught in second grade a few years ago. So this story touched my heart in a huge way. Every part of the story that mentioned "Anthony" I could see this boy's face in my mind.

In The Christmas Bike, Marie and her family have recently moved away from their home state of Utah to Arizona. Their finances are tight and their lives are busy trying to make ends meet. The main thing on Marie's mind is how she's been too busy for decorations and baking like she's usually done before Christmas. In other words, the true meaning of Christmas wasn't at the forefront of her mind as things weren't going their way.

On Christmas Eve day, a quick bike ride to the store turns into a sad and shocking event when Anthony's bike is stolen. All of the anger and frustration of only being gone ten minutes and then to come out to the bike being gone is clearly felt. As a parent myself I know how I would feel if this had happened. Mayoros writes so truthfully and from the heart that you are instantly placed in her thoughts and feelings. The rest of the story is her spending the day trying to find another bike for her son. Miracles take place that day that had truly started the day before. One thing after another happens that open Marie's eyes to her remembering the true meaning of Christmas.

The story ends in such a beautiful way. I found myself crying in the back seat of the car on my vacation, while traveling around the beautiful Big Island of Hawaii. The following words from the end of the story will stay with me as I know they will you once you read the book.

"Did it matter who had stolen the bike? Did the scenario matter? Whoever had done this had a great enough motivation to potentially ruin a child's Christmas Eve. I forgave the person, whoever they were. It was actually pretty easy to do. Peace fell upon me like a warm blanket...Christmas had brought things, but we also had a home full of Christ and I made a commitment to carry more of Him throughout the new year."

**Every year I pick a Christmas book as my #1 recommendation for families to buy for their Christmas Book collection. This year of 2016, I highly recommend,The Christmas Bike, as the book I feel all families should buy and read together.This book will also make a wonderful gift for other members of your extended family and friends.**

You can buy the Christmas Bike at these locations:

-Amazon

-Barnes and Noble

-Books and Things

Add The Christmas Bike to your Goodreads List HERE!

Meet Author: Tara Mayoros

Tara Mayoros teaches guitar, paints, occasionally bakes, and loves working with plants. She's an avid collector of globes and maps, as they help with her incurable case of wanderlust. The Rocky Mountains are her home and they call to her whenever she is in need of inspiration. She explores them regularly with her husband and three children. The Christmas Bike is Tara's third published book.

You can find out more about Tara and her books...

- at her website HERE

-Facebook Page

-Twitter

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