Author 2 Author Review by Sherri Hayes

Title: Once & Always

Author: Grace Brannigan

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Source: Amazon

 

A sweet and easy read.

 

Once and Always is the first book I’ve read by Grace Brannigan. I was looking for a cowboy read, and this one story fit the bill. Tyler and Anna have a history. They haven’t seen each other for six years, and over that time a lot has changed…for both of them.

 

I thought for the most part the author did a good job with the story. Tyler was easy to love from the beginning. He was easy to relate to, and there were times when he spoke that I was close to swooning.

 

Anna was a little more difficult. She had a lot of issues, and even more than Tyler sometimes, she didn’t seem to be able to let go of the past. It was frustrating.

 

Overall, I liked the book, and I will probably read more from this author in the future. There were a few editing issues, though nothing too major. My big pet peeve with the book was that there were a couple times when Anna was explaining something to Tyler, but because it was something that his character should have already known, it felt more as if the author was trying to force feed the information to the reader. I felt the author could have got her point across by either having Anna explain the information to someone not familiar with ranching, or she could have left it out altogether as I didn’t feel the terminology really added to the story.       

Amazon
B&N

About the Author

I have been a writer of some variation most of my life. I enjoy writing contemporary romance and paranormal/time travel romance. I have previously written for Harlequin/Silhouette Romance.

I am a self styled artist and writer who enjoys creating the written word and working in various visual mediums.

I live in the scenic Catskill Mountains of New York.

My characters are quirky, independent and family oriented. Strong women dealing with every day life problems, always maintaining their style of integrity. Clearly imperfect, they are doing the best they can in a world that sometimes throws them curve balls.

Contemporary series is Women of Character, stand alone books set in today's world. Echoes from the Past, Once and Always, Heartstealer and Wishing on a Rodeo Moon.

Time travel series is Women of Strength Trilogy, paranormal time travels from modern times to the middle ages to eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Once Upon a Remembrance, Soulmates Through Time and Treasure So Rare.

Romantic Shorts series, approximately 100 pages, Two Babies, A Cowboy and Sara, and also Deception. I will be offering these stories in an additional format, utilizing the Open Dyslexic Typeface for those with dyslexia or reading difficulties.

In 2013 look for new series Faeries Lost, where the faerie world and the human world come together and sometimes collide, all in the name of love and relationships. Find Me, Whisper Me and Hear Me.

Come along for the ride.

 

Sunday Sneak Peek - To Be Loved

 

To Be Loved by Andrea Goodson

  Sneak Peek
I only talked with him for a few moments. I was tired of the same rhetoric, the same circles of conversation that never led anywhere. My father loved me, I knew he did, but our relationship had always been a consistent cycle of love and irritation. One minute I would be his favorite person on the planet and the next, he acted as if he couldn’t wait to get away from me. The second I did or said something that he didn’t agree with, that was it, he was done talking.
Mom wasn’t that different, she was much the same as my Dad, just in a different way. I quickly learned while living with her that, rather than becoming upset if she disagreed with me, she would simply act as if I hadn’t said anything at all. Where my father would fight with me, she would fake ignorance.
As I laid in my bed thinking about the strange relationships I had with both of my parents, the phone rang again. I glanced over at the sleek black handset, wondering if I should even bother answering. I knew it would be my father again. I took a deep breath, exhaled, and gave in to the loud ringing.
“What now?” I answered, sure that it was my father calling again to tell me how bad I screwed up. Surely, one time wouldn’t be enough for him.
“Okay then, Beautiful. I’ll just call you later!”
It was Graysen.
My frown quickly changed to a smile. I loved it when he called me that. Beautiful.
“Wait!” I replied. “I’m sorry, I thought you were someone else.”
“Who? Your other boyfriend?”
“No!”
Wait, had he just said boyfriend?
I thought for a few moments, silent on my end of the phone.
“You there?” he asked.
I carefully worded my response.
“Well, yeah I’m here. I mean, I would have to have one boyfriend to be able to have a second one, right?”
I leaned forward on my bed, resting my chin upon my hand as the seconds of silence slowly passed. I wondered why he hadn’t answered me yet? My ears filled with the deafening silence on the other end of the line. I bit my lip, impatiently awaiting his response. After a few more moments I was ready to ask if he was still there, perhaps we had lost connection or he had just hung up because I had put him on the spot with an uncomfortable question. But then, Graysen said something so simple and so silly that I couldn’t have possibly imagined at that point in time how much those few words would change my life. It was a point where everything was about to change for me. In hindsight, I wish I would have realized just how seriously that change would impact my life.
“Well, who am I, your cousin?”
A huge smile spread across my face. I held my hand against my mouth as the joy inside bubbled out of me. Despite all of my flaws and all of my past mistakes, this boy on the other end of the phone line wanted me. He wanted to be with me. He liked the new Avery Brooks, just as much as my past friends in Chicago liked the old Avery Brooks. He liked me for who I was becoming. Not a girl who went out all the time, not a girl who liked party and get high every chance she got. But a girl who would be dependable for him, a girl that he could count on to remain true and loyal. I wanted to be that girl, I could be that girl. Because as long as I was that girl then Graysen Bennett was my boyfriend.
“Hello?” he asked, obviously now worried that I was the one who wasn’t there.
I quickly tried to stifle the giddy girl that was coming out and replied.
“Okay.”
“Okay?” he asked.
“Yeah, okay.” I smiled and I felt sure he could feel the happiness I exuded coming through the phone.
“Well, good. Now that we have that little detail taken care of, who did you think it was when I called?”
“Oh, that. Just my Dad. We had been talking earlier and arguing. I thought you were him calling me back again.”
“Oh.” He answered. “Well, that couldn’t be me.”
“Why is that?” I asked.
“Because I could never argue with you?”
I laughed.
“Never?”
“Nope.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re too perfect.”
Perfect. He thought I was perfect. I was thankful that he couldn’t see me blushing.
“Perfect?”
“Yeah, you’re pretty. Like, really pretty. You’re fun and so smart. You’re different than the other girls around here. You act how a girl should act.”
“What do you mean how a girl should act?”
“I don’t know. I guess I mean, you don’t go showing off for attention. You’re just you and you don’t care what anyone thinks. Like at Sam’s party the other night, you didn’t let Sam intimidate you. You stuck to your guns and didn’t get all messed up like the other girls. I like that. I like a good girl.”
A good girl? I realized I had been right. A good girl is exactly what Graysen wanted. I thought for a few moments about telling him of my life in Chicago, I really did. I thought about telling him that I wasn’t some innocent princess, that I had already done my fair share of bad deeds, skipping school, drinking, and pot smoking. But why would that matter? He liked what he saw now, and it wasn’t fake. I wanted to be good. I wanted to be out of the whole party scene and how lucky was I that I met a gorgeous guy that liked a girl like that? I wanted Graysen. I wasn’t going to say a word to him that might change what he thought of me, the new me. The only question that lingered was why I had changed so rapidly. At that moment in time, I couldn’t even understand myself what it was that had made me want to change, so how could I explain it to him?
Character Depiction

Meet 17 year old Avery Brooks. New to the small town of Elkins, West Virginia and confident that her last 2 years of high school will fly by without a hitch. Fighting past troubles from her hometown of Chicago, Avery is looking for smooth sailing from here on out. Everything seems to be going exactly as planned until Graysen Bennett, the only boy who has caught her eye, suddenly notices her. Captivated by his attention, soon Avery's plans begin to fall apart. But what else does she really need than to be loved?

To Be Loved is scheduled for release in November 2013!

For more information and to learn about Andrea's other books, you can follow her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/andreagoodsonbooks , Twitter www.twitter.com/bethelightwrite , and her website at www.andreagoodson.wordpress.com

Thanks for stopping by!

   

Lissa Bryan: Ghost Story Contest!

Lissa Bryan: Ghost Story Contest!: October marks the first birthday of my paranormal romance novel Ghostwriter . In celebration, I'm hosting a ghost story contest! Sto...

Saturday Snapshot: 9/7/13

Saturday Snapshots is a picture prompt brought to you by Author to Author, meant to inspire the creative genius within you.

Maybe you'll be moved to write flash fiction for it, perhaps it will kick start an old idea for a novel, or it may inspire a new short story. Whatever it does, we hope you'll enjoy these images around the web.

If inspiration does hit, we hope you'll post a snippet in the comments.

Today's image: Couple on Train Tracks

 http://1hotwallpapers.blogspot.com/2012/08/couples-on-train-tracks-best-couples-on.html

Anniversary Giveaway

September 6 marks the one year anniversary of the release of Sydney Logan's debut novel, Lessons Learned. To celebrate, Sydney is offering a fantastic giveaway! 


The Blurb: A young girl needs to spread her wings, but a young woman needs roots. English teacher Sarah Bray never thought she’d return to Sycamore Falls, but a traumatic event at her inner-city school leaves her desperate for the sanctuary of home. By returning to her roots, an older and wiser Sarah hopes to deal with the demons of her present and confront the ghosts of her past. She discovers a kindred spirit in Lucas Miller, a teacher from New York with demons of his own. As the newest faculty members at Sycamore High School, they quickly become friends – bonding through Lucas’s culture shock and their mutual desire to build new lives. When they open their wounded hearts to each other, their friendship effortlessly evolves into romance. Their love is put to the test when Matt, the quarterback of the football team, shares his deepest secret with Sarah. When the conservative community finds out, Sarah and Lucas – along with the town of Sycamore Falls – are schooled in the lessons of acceptance, tolerance, and love.

  Praise for Lessons Learned

"Lessons Learned is a book that isn’t easily forgotten. I urge you to give it a read. You won’t regret it. Also, did I mention it starts with a bang? Talk about the best prologue ever." -JM Darhower, author of Sempre

"I haven’t read a book in a long time that I can compare to my favorite author Nicholas Sparks. THIS book is that book." - Becky, Book Blogger

To thank her readers for an amazing year, Sydney is celebrating with a giveaway! You can win a signed copy of Lessons Learned and a $25 Amazon or iTunes gift card! The Rafflecopter is below.  Good luck! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway


  This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, iTunes, or Blogger. We hereby release all names listed of any liability. Winner(s) will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. Let me know if you have any questions or issues by contacting me: @SydneyALogan. - Good Luck!

The Wednesday Word

Author To Author’s Newsletter                                                September 4, 2013

Writing & Publishing Tips

Something to Say

Many people ask these questions of a writer time and time again, “Why do you write?” “Do you just like to tell stories?” “Are you writing about people you know in real life?”

The answer to the first question is actually quite simple. Simple, but with a long and complicated history behind it. The answer is I write because I have something to say.

I suppose the larger and more important question would be, as a writer, what do you have to say and why do you need to say it?

Authors around the world write their stories, books, and sagas for many different reasons. Some are so intensely creative that they can’t seem to keep all of their wonderful ideas locked inside their minds. Some just love the feeling of using their imagination and coming up with plots that are easy for readers to closely identify with, sharing thoughts, feelings, and situations that we can all easily understand. Others might use their imagination in a different way entirely. A way that transforms the world we know so well into a place that exists only in our dreams, such as the genres of supernatural and fantasy novels. Some authors, and I am sure many at that, use writing as a tool to sort out a large heap of mixed feelings and emotions of their own, as a method of therapeutic release.

I truly believe all of the above is present in some measure inside every writer, in one way or another. However, above all the multitude of possible reasons one might want to write, I believe there is one very specific yet general feeling among all of us. It is simply that we have something to say.

That is what started my journey in the world of novel writing.

I had something to say, something to share with the world from my own experience and perspective and, whether the world actually needed to hear it or not, mattered little. What mattered was that I wanted to say it, I wanted to throw it out there and just see if somehow, someday, that general message might help another person.

My books are not self-help by any means. I do not give advice to others as to how to handle specific situations. The Riverbend Trilogy is pure fiction. They are about watching a character try to figure that out for herself. Navigating her way through the darkness of grief and finding out if she will continue to sink into the trenches of her mind or resurface stronger than when she began.

Fiction is my art medium, it is how I express myself. It is how I share what I feel needs to be said to the world, to the many readers out there who might possibly gain something from a book they read by an unknown, unheard of, small-town indie author. Books have changed my life and since I was a very young child I have had a love affair with reading. Books have helped me to learn and grow as a person, which is why I so enjoy writing.

Although I write with empathy for my main character, Lena’s story in Riverbend, Rapid Water, and Waking Tide is not actually my experience. I used my own feelings and thoughts to form what I imagine she must go through after having experienced the loss that she does. I also threw in a bit of mystery and adventure because those are the things that I enjoy in a good book, as well as the budding love story.

Lena’s story is about self-discovery and how she manages to find her way through the dense fog of grief that plagues her every waking moment. It is about strength, hope, and love. The Riverbend Trilogy exposes the universal truth that we are all stronger than we know, we are all capable of deep rooted trust and love, and eventually, the darkness will disperse. The light will come back into our lives, if we only allow it to do so.

That’s what I wanted to say to the world, the message I so desperately wanted to spread that I couldn’t possibly contain myself any longer. The Riverbend Trilogy is just how I say it and that's why I write.

By Author to Author Member and Contributor, Andrea Goodson. You can learn more about Andrea and her books at www.andreagoodson.wordpress.com

Exciting News for Author to Author Group Members

Sydney Logan Celebrates the Anniversary of Lessons Learned

In case you missed last week's edition, it's been almost a year since Sydney Logan released her Amazon Best Seller, Lessons Learned. This novel has been described as "Very intense, highly emotional, and extremely raw." Well, isn't that what we all look for in books? To properly recognize the one year bash of Sydney's Amazon bestseller, she is holding a giveaway! Be sure to check Sydney's blog to enter to win and go ahead and pay her a visit now to read all about Lessons Learned! Happy book birthday! http://www.sydneylogan.com/

New Release for A2A author Angel Lawson

Mark your calendars because Odin's Murder is set to be released on September 10th! Angel has coauthored this book with Kira Gold. Check out Angel's blog for fun events and a teaser from the upcoming release! Congrats Kira and Angel! http://www.angellawson.com/teaser-tuesday-odins-murder/

Wednesday's Weird Word

Facinorous

Definition: Criminal, immoral, vile.

Origin: Latin facinorosus, criminal or wicked.  

Savvy Smashwords Savings

If you don’t have a Smashwords account, you can create one for free and download your ebooks in any format for any eReader device!




Charlie's Angel by Samanth Fury

FREE

Click HERE to download

Use Coupon Code: TE84U


     

Wraith by Angel Lawson

$3.99$1.99

Click HERE to purchase on Amazon

No coupon required!

 

Riverbend by Andrea Goodson

$2.99 $0.99

Click HERE to purchase

Use Coupon Code: EZ64N    

Thank you for reading this week's edition of Author to Author's, The Wednesday Word! Visit us again next week for more news and savings to refresh your bookish pleasures! As always, feel free to share and spread the word!

Tempting Tuesdays ~ Tasty Taco Salad

This week, we're giving you something tasty and easy to make. You can whip this up in less than half an hour for a family dinner, book club meeting, or whatever gathering you need a dish to impress.

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef
2 cups of shredded cheese
1 head of chopped lettuce or 1 bag of shredded lettuce
1 bag of Doritos TACO FLAVORED Tortilla Chips

EXTRAS:
1 package of taco seasoning
Diced Tomatoes
Sour Cream
Salsa
Green Onions
Jalapenos

Start off by browning your 1 pound of ground beef in a skillet over medium heat.


















While your meat is browning, you can dice up you vegetables. The sound of slicing into a crisp head of lettuce is so exciting!

















Drain your meat of any excess and combine with taco seasoning if you wish. 



The secret ingredient that makes this taco salad so special is the Taco Flavored Doritos. Of course you can make it with any type of tortilla chips you like, but these particular Doritos really give it an extra kick that blends well and gives your taste buds the spice they're craving.













Combine your meat, cheese, lettuce, and crushed chips to make the base of your salad. Now everyone can put on their favorite toppings. VIOLA! It even tastes great the next day as leftovers.

We hope we've tempted you into putting this on your menu!