Book Review: Shards of Ashley by Karen Wiesner

This is a lovely story - once again Ms. Wiesner creates wounded characters who find redemption through love.

Shards of Ashley (Book 5 of Family Heirloom Series)
by Karen Weisner
Book 5 of the Family Heirlooms Series
Inspirational Contemporary Romance by Karen Wiesner
Available now from

Whiskey Creek Press
978-1-61160-017-9 (trade paperback); 
978-1-61160-016-2 (electronic)
Click here for a printable order form
The paperback may be available at a significant discount with this special order form
Paperback from Amazon.com
Download from Amazon.com
Download from BN.com

My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Five Family Heirloom: Learning trust
In order to reconcile her past, she must face the terrible truth she buried long ago...and, in doing so, she gambles with her heart and the salvation of her own soul.

Ashley Savage grew up in a troubled home with a competitive, pampered sister and an abusive, ridiculing mother who played at being a Christian when she needed to...and led Ashley to more addictions than one child could handle. As an adult, Ashley tells herself she's put the extreme fears of the past behind her, but she spends most of her time repairing the crumbling wall holding back the horrors she's not willing to face ever again. She's become a woman against the world.

The one man who has the annoying habit of getting through her defenses is Jay Samuels, a military chaplain and soon-to-be pastor. Much as Ashley wants to leave him behind like she believes she has the rest of her past, Jay is ambitious to a fault where she's concerned. He hears only what he wants to hear?and he doesn't want to hear that she doesn't love him as much as he loves her.

But even Jay doesn't realize the extent of all she's buried deep inside her own subconscious...and what keeps her from giving herself willingly to the God she knows is drawing her inexorably to Himself, to the one place she can't run, where she can no longer hide...

Review:
Ashley was abused by her mother and step-father. When they sought friendship in a church family, she knew them to be hypocrites. At the age of fourteen she escaped her household to find oblivion in drugs with an abusive boyfriend.

Ashley finally broke free and was given a chance to change her life. She was mentored by an interior designer who taught her how to dress and present herself as well as how to dress interiors. Ashley has buried her pain and insecurities and remade herself into a disciplined, tightly controlled success.  Ashley doesn’t see herself as worthy of love and holds herself apart from everyone. She thinks even God didn’t love her enough as a child to save her from the abuse she suffered so she learned to rely only on her own efforts.

Jay has cared for Ashley since they met as teens. He is the pastor’s son and once he returns from his military service he will become the pastor of the local church. Jay and Ashley have remained friends seeing each other whenever he is home but they have no contact for the months he is away. Jay wants that to change. In fact, he is ready for their relationship to become serious and permanent. He knows that Ashley had a difficult childhood and he knows of her past escape into drugs and sex. But he doesn’t know all of her painful past as Ashley has never told anyone.

Jay realizes that he loves Ashley and he determines that he will not let her push him away.  It may take work, especially since his time home is limited, but he wants to convince her that she is worthy of love and he will stand by her.

Bit by bit Ashley’s defenses begin to crumble when faced with Jay’s steadfast and unrelenting love. Jay and Ashley share thoughts through Journaling and it is through that medium that Jay is often able to plant seeds of faith that opens a dialogue between them. Ms. Wiesner shares some beautiful thoughts on the rewards that can come from trusting in God to see us through suffering and pain. 

Although she resists, it is clear that Ashley loves Jay. Their moments together are very sensual, even without complete intimacy. I really enjoy the depth of emotion that Ms. Wiesner gives her characters.  The situations are real to live and there is plenty of warmth that overcomes the sad suffering of the past. I am always reminded how much I enjoy this author when I read her books. There may be too much emotion for me to read these one after another, but they are a source of delight when I pick them up once every six weeks or so! I highly recommend this author especially if you are looking to read inspiring romance and stories of redemption from difficult circumstances. .

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I never heard the second part of  this expression but I think it is spot on:

“Your family is very traditional. The man is the head of the household and all that.”
“Maybe so. But didn’t someone say, if the man’s the head then the woman’s the neck? She moves him in the direction he should go.”  Location 1181.

Part of Ashley' fear of trusting:

They’d made her want to trust them. They’d made her want to trust God. But trust implied giving up all the protections she’d erected for herself.   Location 1966.

I received this title from the author for an honest review.

Book Review: Glass Angels by Karen Wiesner

This is a wonderful story of forgiveness and how a fragile, broken life can find healing and rebuild in strength.

Glass Angels (Family Heirlooms Series Book 4)

by Karen Wiesner
Book 4 of the Family Heirlooms Series
Inspirational Contemporary Romance
by Karen Wiesner
Available now from Whiskey Creek Press
978-1-61160-009-4 (trade paperback); 978-1-61160-008-7 (electronic)
Click here for a printable order form
The paperback may be available at a significant discount 
with this special order form
Paperback from Amazon.com
Download from Amazon.com
Download from BN.com

 Genre: Inspirational Contemporary Romance

My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description

Publication Date: February 15, 2011

A young Christian woman struggles with seeking pardon from those she's hurt when she can't seem to get past her own inability to forgive those who have wronged her.

Three years ago, Samantha Samuels had suffered under the violent hands of Ryder Feldmann, a juvenile delinquent her pastor father had been counseling. Now she's completed her psychiatry training and plans to help other victims of violent crimes at the rape counseling clinic in her hometown of Peaceful, Wisconsin. Unexpectedly, she finds herself sharing an office building and Sunday services at her new church with the older brother, a divorce counselor, of her attacker...the very man she'd been in love with before her rape.

In the time since Kyle Feldmann's brother was jailed for his crime against Samantha, he's lived with the torment of all he's lost because of his sibling. Before the tragedy that stole Samantha from him and destroyed his dreams, Kyle had begged her to risk her father's disappointment and elope with him. Seeing Samantha again after so many years, being near her, only puts him right back where he was before the rape. Kyle wants to heal Samantha, love her, and fulfill the dreams he grieved the loss of—by marrying her. But how can they be together forever when she's still so broken?

All her life, Samantha had wanted her father's approval, but his selfish part in putting her in a dangerous situation has led her to a painful place of desperately needing to forgive him and her attacker...and being unable to in all the time since the traumatic event that ripped her life in two. As she gives her heart to Kyle once more, her already fractured relationship with the Lord is tested. In the crossfire of faith, she wonders if glass angels shatter beyond recognition when they take a leap of faith, or if they can heal and become stronger than ever before.

Review:
This is Book 4 of the Family Heirloom series. Samantha is the younger sister of Peter who was the male lead in Book three, Foolish Games.  Their father is a pastor who is zealous about bringing lost souls to accept Christ. Samantha was always an obedient daughter, following her father’s instructions even against her own misgivings and intuition.  In Book three, Pastor Samuels was helping a young man, Ryder, through a Juvenile Delinquent program, and chose not to learn what Ryder was accused of.   Pastor Samuels insisted that Samantha befriend Ryder, even though she was uncomfortable with him. The pastor hoped that Samantha could lead Ryder to Christ. Instead Ryder attacked  Samantha, knocking her unconscious and raping her.

Book 4 is Samantha’s story of struggling to reach a place of restoration and forgiveness, not only for her attacker, but also for her father who’s zeal placed her in a position of danger.  Samantha has completed her Master’s Degree in psychology and has returned to her home town to join her friend in their clinic for rape victims, Glass Angels.

Before Samantha was attacked she had developed a secret romance with Ryder’s older brother, Kyle. Kyle wanted to marry Samantha but Samantha knew her father wouldn’t approve of her dating or marrying a divorced, older man.  Their relationship and all of Samantha’s dreams of marriage and a future with Kyle were shattered by the rape.

As soon as Kyle runs into Samantha he begins to hope that they can renew their romance. Can he convince her that she is still worthy of love? Can Samantha find a way through her pain and growing anger to forgive her attacker and her father before her bitterness destroys her own chance for renewed happiness?

The characters are really well developed so you share their anguish and confusion.
The romance scenes are a very warm and real blend of sweet and sensual.  Ms. Wiesner does a great job handling the issues of struggling with forgiveness.  The story also raises interesting questions about family reactions to a young rapist and enabling bad behavior.  This was a very engaging and sweet read. There is sufficient background so this can be read without reading the prior book but I encourage you to read that charming story too.

This opening quote is a great statement!

“Forgiveness is the name of love practiced among people who love poorly. The hard truth is that all of us love poorly. We need to forgive and be forgiven every day, every hour– unceasingly. That is the great work of love among the fellowship of the weak that is the human family.” Henri Nouwen. Location 27.

How will Samantha answer these questions?

How can I forgive him when I don’t believe he deserves it? And if I take that step and forgive him, how can I stop the cancer from growing even more because of my resentment? Location 2507.

I received this book for review from the Author.  

Book Review: Foolish Games by Karen Wiesner

This is another beautiful, inspirational story from Karen Wiesner.

Foolish Games

by Karen Wiesner

Book 3 of the Family Heirlooms Series

Reissue available now from Whiskey Creek Press
978-1-61160-015-5 (trade paperback); 978-1-61160-014-8 (electronic)
Click here for a printable order form
The paperback may be available at a significant discount with this special order form
Paperback from Amazon.com
Download from Amazon.com
Download from BN.com

Genre: Inspirational Contemporary Romance

My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

(Book Description from Amazon)

Publication Date: April 6, 2010

Falling in love will take letting go of their fears. That, or a miracle…

Nuggets of faith can be passed down as family heirlooms from parent to child, sibling to sibling, spouse to spouse.

Family Heirloom, Book Three – Healing

A year after he lost his beloved wife, Peter Samuels still struggles with overwhelming grief. As the sole caretaker of growing children, the first anniversary of her death hits especially hard as he faces the world without a partner.

There is only one man for Kimberly Wolfe. Her boss, Peter. But he’s taken. First, by a marriage she envied from afar. Now by his grief. However, she’s used to the idea that happily-ever-after may never happen, not with a childhood haunted by a domineering father who used the Bible to justify his God-given place as the head of their household. A father who still refuses to repent for the wrong he’s done. Kim has tried, but forgiveness comes hard when trust is in short supply.

An innocent kiss on New Year’s leads to a growing awareness—of each other, and of the gaping holes in their lives that only love can fill. But before they can take the first steps on the road to healing, first they have to build a bridge…

Review:

Kimberly is a beautiful, caring and giving young woman. She is loved by many in her community. She was raised in a troubled household with a father who used the Bible and scripture to brow beat her mother under the description of “submission.” After her mother died and Kimberly had a violent altercation with her domineering father she found the courage to move out on her own. Although Kimberly would love to have a family of her own she is not sure she can ever find a man who will not use his position as “protector” to make decisions for her and ‘keep her in line’ as her father did to her mother and tried to do to her.

Peter is Kimberly’s boss and she has had a crush on him for years. But she had always honored his happy marriage. Now Peter has been a widower for a year and Kimberly is wondering if it might be possible for him to care for her. Peter recognizes that his children and his family all care for Kimberly. Suddenly he is seeing her in a new way. Is it possible that it would be all right for him to love a second time?

There are several secondary story-lines running along with Kimberly and Peter’s sweet romance.
Peter’s younger sister, Samantha, is ready to go to college and begin to move apart from her family. Yet her father, the local Pastor, wants her to help him witness to a young man being counseled under a delinquency program. Samantha is frightened of the boy but she continues to honor her father’s demands rather than disobey him.

Ms. Wiesner weaves some excellent Christian dilemmas and good responses and truths through the story-lines. The characters’ deal with issues including submission, forgiveness, the fine line of honoring parents and exercising personal discernment.

As usual Karen Wiesner writes wonderfully real and warm characters with real life scenarios. I love how both characters trusted God and were willing to let Him lead to get things right. Kimberly’s fear was almost unreasonable but that is easy for me to say never having been in such an abusive situation. I found it difficult and sad that Kimberly had such trouble forgiving her father and that caused only more pain and bondage for her.

I recommend this story for enjoyment and for sound biblical solutions in difficult life issues. I have enjoyed many stories now by Ms. Wiesner. If you enjoy christian romance I hope you will try her books.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Some of Peter's thoughts:

Kimberly helped him refocus. She accepted that the Lord was God, and His reasons weren’t humanly understandable to them.  Location 488.

Either he accepted the bad with the good in life, or he didn’t. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t leave the Lord behind because he’d trusted Him as long as he could remember. That was that. Location 496

Kimberly’s wise advice to Samantha:

You need to decide what the Lord wants you to do. He’s leading you. Even with the best of intentions, someone else could steer you wrong. Location 1069.

Thank you to Karen Wiesner for providing this for review.

Book Review: Home by Karen Wiesner

This story has an emotionally struggling protagonist.

Home
by Karen Wiesner
Inspirational Romantic Fiction
978-1-921636-76-9 (electronic);
978-1-105-20118-9 (trade paperback)
Available now in electronic formats by
Writers Exchange E-Publishing
and trade paperback by http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/karenwiesner
Download from Smashwords
Download from Amazon.com

Genre: Inspirational Romance
My Rating:  4.0 of 5.0

Description:

Small-town girl Ayodele "Della" Flynn lives in a city she abhors, where danger seems to be lurking around every corner. When her husband dies very unexpectedly, she's confronted with figuring out where her home is with her young son River and trying to come to terms with the loose ends her husband left their lives in.

Review: If you like emotional drama, this book has some to share.
Della was born in small town, Peaceful, Wisconsin and she wasn’t happy about moving to Chicago when her husband, Declan, pushed her to do so for his business.  She always hoped the move would be temporary. When she became pregnant with their son, River, he became the focus of her love. The family lives in a ramshackle apartment in an area that is unsafe.  The money that Declan and his partner, Hannah, made from the sale of the business was reinvested in a new business that is failing. Della has to walk to a nearby waitress job just to have money to keep food in the house. All of this leads to resentment and a deterioration of Della and Declan’s relationship.

When Della discovers that Declan has betrayed their seventeen year marriage it is the last straw.  Della announces that she is taking River and moving back “home”.  As Della prepares to leave town, she gets a call from Hannah advising that Declan is dead! Hannah is understandably distraught and she keeps harping about having a share of the insurance.  Della is less than sympathetic to Hannah’s situation and has to cope with her own, and River’s, shock and grief.

Declan’s parents and a nephew, Cade, drive in to bring Della and River home to Peaceful. Cade has always been interested in Della, but Declan got to her first. He quickly bonds with River and is a huge help but Della is too injured to consider a new relationship.

There are some interesting details regarding Declan’s death that add intrigue and vengeful actions by Hannah bring a bit of suspense. Primarily though the story is focused on Della’s emotional turmoil. Some of her thoughts made me contemplate. For example, which comes first: the husband’s loss of self-esteem or the wife’s loss of respect when he doesn’t do more to support the family?  Either way it is a downhill spiral unless someone takes steps to stop the disastrous cycle.

I liked Della’s fierce love for her son and her steadfastness. However, I thought she had been too weak for so many years and part of the decline in the relationship has to lay on her shoulders. She eventually recognizes she needs to be less self absorbed and she needs to rely more on God than in her own strengths.  Particularly she has to allow God to heal her issues of extreme distrust and fear if she is ever to be able to love again.

This story is told in first person by Della.  Although technically well written, I thought this presentation resulted in a bit of  “telling” rather than showing. I honestly prefer stories with less drama and more action.  Ms. Wiesner has the ability to create real to life characters and situations but the protagonist here is not my favorite. Although Della’s emotional trauma is very real, I was annoyed that she had such a struggle to get beyond the past betrayal and pain of loss.  This is an easy enough read but the pace was less motivated due to the weight of the unhappy emotions. Readers who enjoy emotional drama might well like this story a bit more than I did. Ms. Wiesner is a wonderful author with many stories to choose from and enjoy and I look forward to reading more of her works.

 Thank you to the author for this book to read and review.

I will add this to Chicago for my Where Are you Reading Challenge and to my ARC challenge.

Book Review: Shadow Boxing by Karen Wiesner

This engaging story has real characters with an interesting 'empty nest' story.

Shadow Boxing [Family Heirlooms Series Book 2]

by Karen Wiesner

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 279 KB
• Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press LLC (May 1, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0058UNY82

     Genre:  Contemporary, Christian Fiction
     My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Product Description 

WRDF Top Read of Excellence!

1st Place winner in the contemporary romance category of the 2010 Love Romances & More Golden Rose Award!

5 Hearts Award - The Romance Studio

Joined before God and family out of a sense of responsibility? Or love?

As a teenager, Justine Morris’s escape from the pressures of caring for her dying father was stolen moments with Joshua Samuels. But their tender, desperate liaison found them facing teen pregnancy. Afraid of their Christian families’ responses to the situation, they married quickly and built a life for their child.

But now that their daughter is ready to fly the nest, Justine can no longer ignore the truth: She and Joshua haven’t had a real marriage for a long time. Maybe they never had one at all.

Joshua is only too aware that his busy, professional attorney wife is an independent woman who never really needed him. After nearly two decades of marriage, he’s quit trying to get more than a piece of her at a time. Without their daughter holding them together, he knows the chasm between them will grow to epic proportions.

Their empty nest looming, they face the hard questions. Had they married in love…or out of a hasty sense of responsibility? Was it God’s will for them to be together? And now, is it worth the effort to learn to become one as the Lord intends for a man and a woman…or better to simply let go?

Review:
This is an interesting story of a couple facing their upcoming empty nest as distant companions instead of supportive mates. After 18 years of marriage Justine still believes that Joshua only accepted their marriage out of duty as he has never really expressed his love for her. She has allowed guilt for her youthful sin to smolder, diminishing her own self worth.  She feels she is a burden to Joshua.

Joshua works with his hands building unique and beautiful furniture. He believes his smart and professional wife is self sufficient and doesn’t need him.  It seems they have nothing in common except their daughter, Vashti, whom they adore. Now that Vashti will be going away to college there will be nothing to hold them together.

Neither Justine nor Joshua have learned to communicate in their marriage. Joshua has always been quiet and cautious and reluctant to impose himself. Justine has always been a care giver, and has never learned to accept help much less express her own needs or desires. Also, Justine is too afraid of being hurt to risk opening up. The couple have allowed a wall of distance which is only breached during their passionate lovemaking. Even then, as soon as they finish they separate and the wall returns.

As her best friend, Kimberly, tells her - they have been “shadow boxing” with one another and never facing their issues headon. Even their daughter recognizes that she has been the glue to hold them together. Fearing that they will separate when she goes to college, Vashti arranges for all three of them to go on a missions trip to Mexico. I like the trick that Vashti uses to get her parents to begin to open up to each other.

Joshua clearly represents the man in the counseling session who says: “I told her I loved her when we married and I’ve never changed my mind.” Justine has never truly forgiven herself nor allowed herself to risk being fully loved.

I loved the quotes about love at the beginning of each chapter and have to say that the book would be worth getting just for those. As a bonus the book brings a well developed story too.
I enjoyed the details from the mission trip – the poverty and the struggles in the hot Mexico sun.
I appreciate the author’s wonderful ability to create real characters, even if I wanted to give the characters a good shaking.  I enjoyed the depth of the characters and the presentation of the emotional issues.  This story is good reading for those who enjoy real-to-life family issues.

Justine and Joshua have difficulty defining love. Joshua thought about examples he saw around him but realized:

None of those things could be love. Christ-like love didn't bear the slightest resemblance to what people in this day and age considered love. Location 1605. 

Vashti's wise insight:

...but I think you fell in love, did things out of order and you and Dad kind of lost yourselves and each other along the way of parenting, repentance and responsibility. Location 1732.

Thank you to the author, Karen Wiesner, for this book to read and review.

I will add this to my ARC challenge list.

Book Review: Baby, Baby by Karen Wiesner

Once again Ms. Wiesner has crafted real to life characters in a warm, believable story.

Baby, Baby [Family Heirlooms Series Book 1]  
by Karen Wiesner

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 377 KB
• Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press LLC (April 1, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0056HP6QK

     Genre:  Christian Fiction, Inspirational Romance
     My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Product Description Book One Family Heirloom: Accepting God’s will A Proverbs 31 wife wonders, does “submissive” mean giving up having anything of her own?

Thirty-seven-year-old Tamara Wolfe married her childhood sweetheart, Robert, right out of high school and proceeded to have a passel of children who fill her life to capacity. With the last of her children in preschool, Tamara decides to make a business out of her long-time love of creating designer gift baskets. She doesn’t expect Robert to be against it from her first word.

Robert has always prided himself on giving Tamara the option of staying home to raise the children, just as his father did before him. Since birth, it’s been drilled into him that a man who doesn’t provide for his family is the worst kind of loser. What will happen if her business takes off? She won’t have time to take care of the family. Worse, maybe she won’t need him anymore.

Although they’d agreed years before their family was complete, Robert considers that perhaps the cure for Tamara’s restlessness is another baby.

Tamara prays for wisdom. All she wants is a small space of time for herself. Is she being selfish? Or is God leading her to continue being an outdated model of the Proverbs 31 wife--submissive, but never equal?

Review:

Tamara and Robert have had a nice marriage raising several children together. They have shared their ups and downs and most importantly have shared their faith. As their youngest child enters pre-school, Tamara is encouraged by a stranger to market the gift baskets that have been a labor of love for her to make special and give as gifts. Before she even realizes it Tamara is buying the materials and passing out flyers through her friends and sister-in-law who think this is a grand idea.

Unfortunately, when Tamara presents the idea to Robert he is angered and threatened. Robert’s father had always insisted that it was the husband’s responsibility to provide for the family and his wife had no business going out to work. Robert had no idea how limiting this was for his mother and he has managed to forget his mother’s unhappiness at the restrictions placed on her.

Robert argues that setting up the basket business will effect Tamara’s household and family life. Also he insists that they don’t need the extra money that she could bring in. Even if it would help with upcoming college expenses which will stress their  budget if he doesn’t get the promotion he is fighting for at work.

Robert is a worrier and has had times of depression that Tamara has patiently worked through. Now he gets more tense as the promotion looks like it will go to a less qualified co-worker. He also wonders if Tamara might be attracted to another man at their church who has had a secret crush on her for years. Tamara is concerned that Robert may even be trying to force her to get pregnant to keep her with young ones so she can’t develop this side interest.  His behavior causes pain and hurt for Tamara and frightens his sister who thinks that he will be unreasonably dictatorial like their father.

Tamara is a beautiful, loving and supportive character - I’d love a friend like her. Robert’s work stresses are very vivid to me as my husband had to deal with a similar situation. The tension builds and secrets are revealed. The couple experiences much stress and some estrangement before they can talk clearly and hear each other’s concerns and desires. This communication problem is so real in life, as are the problem of worrying too much and the issue of submission being improperly used as a tool of control in some Christian households.

The writing flows well and kept me engaged in the interesting problems. I was anxious to learn how the matters were resolved.  I highly recommend reading Ms. Wiesner’s works if you enjoy life-like stories that deal with real Christian issues.

Interesting quotes:
Tamara's thoughts:
Has she been so giving that her own husband felt no compunction about being selfish and insensitive to her?  Location 1533

Tamara to a friend whose husband isn’t a believer:
“Ed doesn’t own your soul. The Lord does, and He wants to be the source of your reliance.”  Location 2033

Thank you to the Author for this book to enjoy and review.

Book Review of Souls on (B)oring Street [Denim Blues Mysteries Book 3]

This mystery story includes warm characters, realistic scenarios and interesting life issues.

Souls on (B)oring Street [Denim Blues Mysteries Book 3]  

by Karen Wiesner 

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 483 KB
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press LLC (June 15, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0058OCJZC

    Genre:  Inspirational Romance, Mystery
    My Rating:  4.0 of 5.0

 

Product Description
Erin Shanley, a hospice nurse, turns amateur sleuth when she realizes that some of her patients are being swindled out of their life savings by the new “psychic” fortunetellers in Briar’s Point. She confides in her neighbor, Detective Tyler Shaw, whom she grew up alongside and considers her best friend.

Tough guy Ty has been in love with Erin since their disastrous first attempt at a romantic relationship when they were teenagers. Erin has been skittish about love since she discovered her father was cheating on her mother—and Ty is so much like her father. How can she risk loving a reckless, restless adventurer when her mother’s loyalty to a man like that brought her so much pain? But when Erin’s bumbling sleuthing attempts arouse someone’s wrath, she realizes her heart isn’t the only thing in danger.

Review:

Erin is a caring, nurturing person both at home and in her work. She is a homemaker who cans fruits and vegetables from her own garden, cooks wonderful meals and stays close to home with her two younger sisters. At work she is a warm compassionate hospice nurse.

Erin and her neighbor, Ty, were sweethearts in high school. But she felt betrayed because Ty and his family knew of her father’s infidelities but they didn’t tell Erin or her mother. Erin hasn’t forgiven her father and doesn’t trust any man, including Ty.

Ty grew up with restless parents who were eager to go off to the woods to hunt. Ty does enjoy hunting but he loves to be home and views Erin as the perfect homemaker.  Although Ty made a mistake getting involved with the wrong woman when in his early twenties, he has since realized that the only woman he wants is Erin.  He is a steady and reliable police detective and a good neighbor who helps Erin and her sisters whenever he can.  He wants to do whatever is necessary to prove to Erin that he is not like her father.

Erin allows her life to be controlled, almost consumed, by worry and fear. She is distressed when a couple move into a vacant house on the block and put out a sign that they are spiritualists and fortunetellers.  One of Erin’s patients thinks that her jewelry has been stolen. When Erin and Ty discuss the investigation they realize that the spiritualists are visiting the elderly patients and getting them to sign over assets.

I really liked Ty’s strong and reliable character.  I also liked Erin’s warm personality but her worry and distrust were too much. The book is full of interesting discussions. There are arguments on the pros and cons of recreational hunting, the pros and cons of celebrating Halloween and how to react to spiritualists. Also the story reveals difficulties in proving criminal cases of coercion.

Unfortunately I feel that the first part is bogged down with repetition of Erin’s distrust and worry. This became frustrating for me.  I think the story would have been improved by shortening that portion and still could get across the valid point that worry can cause us to live in cocoons instead of living a full life. Once the story moved into the mystery it was on more solid footing, was very engaging and moved quickly. I appreciate Ms. Wiesner’s smoothly descriptive writing that reveals realistic characters in real life mystery scenarios.  I also enjoy the faith based messages that are not preached but are woven into the story.

I liked that the characters from Retired and on the Rocks and Love is Blind...And It Don't Pay the Bills Either, books 1 and 2 in the Denim Blues series, were included in this story. This was a nice addition to the series but I would recommend reading them in order.

Find more wonderful and award winning books at Karen's Website.

Book Review: Love is Blind...And It Don't Pay the Bills Either by Karen Wiesner

Real characters, mystery with suspense and sweet romance are a good combination.

My Rating:  4.25 of 5.0

LOVE IS BLIND...AND IT DON'T PAY THE BILLS EITHER
Book 2 of the Denim Blues Mysteries Trilogy
Inspirational Romantic Mystery (Police Procedural)
by Karen Wiesner
978-1-61160-001-8 (trade paperback); 978-1-61160-000-1 (electronic) Available now from Whiskey Creek Press
Click here for a printable order form
The paperback may be available at a significant discount with this special order form
Download from Fictionwise
Paperback from Amazon.com
Download from Amazon.com

2010 CAPA Award winner (inspirational romance category)!
5 hearts and winner of the Award from The Romance Studio!
2nd Place winner in the Mainstream/Single Title/Romantic Suspense category of the 2010 Lories Best Published contest!

Product Review:

Working with local private investigators Den McHart and Sylvia Price, Briar's Point Police Department Detective Orlando Bateman solves a missing person case. Keeya Nilsen, visually impaired from the plane crash that took her parents' lives, comes to him and has a justifiably bad attitude about love, since all the men she's ever loved have cheated on her and robbed her...including the last one, who absconded with her most prized possession - her grandfather's unpublished Blues compositions - when he flew the coop. As together they search for her last boyfriend and her missing legacy, Orlando reminds Keeya of the faith she'd had before the plane crash that changed her life and makes her see love as God intends.

Review: This is a lovely story of renewal of faith and virtue and the sorrow of bitterness.

Detective Orlando Bateman is more than happy to stay busy investigating cases especially to help him forget the lose of the woman he has loved for so many years.  Sylvia (see Retired and on the Rocks (Denim Blues Mysteries, Book 1) cherishes Orlando as a friend but she is soon to marry Den.  We discover as the book proceeds that Orlando has not dated as he believes that intimacy should only take place in marriage.

Orlando meets Keeya when Den brings her into the station to report the theft of money, credit cards and, more importantly, her grandfather’s unpublished music compositions. Orlando is a big Blues fans and recognizes Keeya’s grandfather’s name and music. He is immediately drawn to Keeya’s beauty even as he is mindful of her visual difficulties.

Keeya lost her full sight when she was injured in the plane crash that killed her parents. She lived with her grandfather and another crash victim, Blair.  Blair suffered severe damage to her face and in spite of reconstructive surgery her face is still disfigured. Blair has taken care of Keeya for years, being her eyes and helping to guide her. Keeya was betrayed by her first husband and a second boyfriend too. Now she has to report to the police that her latest boyfriend has stolen from her.  She is embarrassed and ashamed that she has made very bad choices with men.

Orlando and Keeya draw close as they search the clues and confront the thief.  They share their pasts and Orlando helps Keeya to see that God did not abandon her but she has stepped away from Him and His loving guidance.

The mystery includes some red herrings in suspects and some evil that Keeya didn’t recognize. I enjoyed the mystery and suspense as well as learning more about the visually impaired. I especially liked the message that the freedom that God gives comes with consequences for the choices we make. I enjoy this author who writes wonderfully real characters and life-like stories. I’ll be reading the third book in this series, Souls on (B)oring Street [Denim Blues Mysteries Book 3], soon.

MBS Blogoversary SPOTLIGHT #21 Author Karen Wiesner

SPOTLIGHT: AUTHOR KAREN WIESNER

I first met Karen through reviewing her books for YGR. I have reviewed all of the Wounded Warrior books (a wonderful series!) and Karen and I had an Interview chat  series in May 2010. Karen writes beautifully emotional inspirational romance.

Karen has too many books for me to show them all. I have included some of the covers for the 1st books in different series, some available now and some coming soon.
I have just posted a review for Retired and on the Rocks (Denim Blues Mysteries, Book 1) which starts one of her newer series, the Denim Blues Mysteries. I note she has a new Cowboy Fever series coming later this year and next year.

I asked each author to answer two questions for their spotlight.
The first I asked and the second they provided.

Question #1:  Why do you write/what do you hope your readers get from your books?

A:  The premise of my Family Heirlooms Series is how nuggets of faith can be passed down as family heirlooms from parent to child, sibling to sibling, spouse to spouse. Members of the Samuels family are the main characters in each story. I love the reality of dealing with issues that married couples and families deal with on an everyday basis, mingled with the struggle that goes along with those issues in the Christian walk. I think the realistic quality of the material is what appeal to so many women—the situations are things that you can apply to your own life.

Question #2:  Please tell us about Glass Angels, Book 4 of the Family Heirlooms Series. What do you like best about Samantha, the heroine, and why do you think readers will relate to her?

A:  Samantha and Kyle’s story has been inside me for a very long time, and when it was finally done, I couldn’t have been more thrilled. They’ve both been through so much—in their personal lives and in their romance, so working them toward a happily ever after…especially after the traumatic incidents that closed Book 3 of the series, Foolish Games, was so satisfying for me.

Samantha has one of the worst things imaginable happen to her—she’s raped by the brother of the man she loves. But she’s a fighter. Though initially it’s a situation she can’t handle, when she and her friend open the Glass Angels rape clinic, she’s become a stronger person. Glass as a material is contradictory—hard enough to be a tool or a weapon yet utterly fragile. Samantha feels she is a glass angel: fragile, transparent, broken into sharp pieces that cut her with every memory. Even though Samantha had been shattered by what happened to her, she realizes that she can be stronger than she was before—stronger despite and because of what happened to her. Samantha has to deal with an issue that so many people struggle with—forgiving someone who doesn’t deserve forgiveness. I think it’s a powerful book that hopefully can change lives.

I think both of these things are so realistic of any human being. We all struggle with overcoming the hold traumatic events hold over us and learning to forgive for them.

Please visit Karen at her links below.
For extra credit you can comment at one of her blog links or email her to say "Hi" and "Thank you" for the support and giveaway.
Website
First draft in 30 days
Falcons Bend and
Jewels of the Quill
If you would like to receive Karen’s free e-mail newsletter, Karen’s Quill, and become eligible to win her monthly book giveaways, send a blank e-mail to KarensQuill-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
http://www.angelfire.com/stars4/kswiesner/GAexcerpt.pdf


Giveaway donated by Karen:
Download of GLASS ANGELS, Book 4 of the Family Heirlooms Series

OPEN WORLDWIDE.
If you have trouble viewing or submitting this form, you can fill it out online:
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Book Review: Retired and On the Rocks by Karen Wiesner

This is a  great start to what looks to be another wonderful series.

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press; 1st edition (June 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1603137815
• ISBN-13: 978-1603137812

     Genre: Inspirational Mystery
      My Rating:  4.5 of 5.0

Product Description:

A missing engagement ring leads to murder... It's been a month since Denim McHart hung up his private investigating career after he ended up with a bullet in his leg. The injury has forced Den to re-evaluate future goals in his career, his love-life and his spiritual life. To keep himself busy in early retirement, he's been attempting to restore an antique table and he's officially bored. He can't seem to keep his mind off his investigative partner, the lovely and complicated Sylvia Price whom he's had an on-again, off-again romantic relationship with in the past. When Sylvia calls him out of the blue, he doesn't waste time getting down to their office. In this past month, Sylvia has been dealing with her own feelings for Den, her overwhelming guilt for the pivotal event that happened years ago and caused her mother to be mentally unstable, coinciding with her inability to forgive herself the way she knows the Lord has forgiven her. Before the sparks can fly between Den and Sylvia in the direction he has his heart set, she says they've got company. Jilted bride Naomi Deva tells him that her groom-Mayor Thomas Julian-dumped her at the altar. Reluctantly, she admits he'd caught her in a compromising position with the best man only minutes before the ceremony. Naomi also reveals the reason why she's sought them: The local police department hasn't been able to turn up the 6.1 carat diamond engagement ring Thomas gave her...and the groom wants it back. Immediately.

Review:  This is a story that presents wonderful characters, romance, mystery, and a forgiveness message in a clean, fun and engaging read.

Denim is sexy, charming and handy to have around in a crisis. He has recently retired from his private investigation (PI) business because of a bullet wound.  The injury and danger to himself and his partner, Sylvia, has caused him to take a look at his life and where he wants to be and who he wants to be with... specifically his ex-partner, Sylvia.

Sylvia was a police officer before she went into the PI business with Den. She really loves Den but hasn’t been able to get beyond some secret hurts and fears from her past to allow her to feel worthy of love.  Her former police partner, Orlando is another close friend who loves her too. Although the men vie for Sylvia’s heart they are mature in their behavior.

Sylvia misses Den and is sure he won’t be happy retired from the excitement of the PI business. She jumps at the chance to call Den in to help on a new case and he makes haste to get to the office to be with her in the hunt.  They have been asked to find a missing 6.1 carat engagement ring. The flashy “almost” bride, Naomi, reveals that her would be groom, the wealthy town mayor, Thomas, walked out of the wedding when he found her in the closet with the best man. Oops! Now he wants the ring back but she claims it’s lost.

The mystery unfolds while Sylvia and Den engage in sharp, snappy dialogue with lots of humor that will make you smile. Underlying the romance and mystery is Sylvia’s emotional and spiritual struggle. The faith based messages are not preachy but are clear and direct as part of the characters’ life fabric. The emotions and mystery keep you pulled into the story from start to finish as you read to discover Sylvia’s secrets, how she resolves her love choices and how they solve the mystery.

Ms. Wiesner has a great talent for writing real to life characters and issues with warmth and humor. If you enjoy inspirational stories, romance and mystery this is a story you won’t want to miss.

xxx

This book was provided by the author for an honest and unbiased review.

To learn more about Karen and enter for a chance to win one of her books see her Blogoversary author spotlight.

Winner of Waiting for An Eclipse by Karen Wiesner

CONGRATULATIONS

to the Winner of Waiting For an Eclipse: Book 2 of the Wounded Warriors Series

 The winner is:

I am awarding a copy of the first book in the series, Reluctant Hearts to Margie who commented on the review and every interview post! That deserves a reward in my book...so to speak!
I think you will both enjoy these books!

Thank you everyone who entered and commented on the interview posts and thank you Karen for graciously sharing with us and offering this giveaway.
I will e-mail Elise for her snail mail address.

I apologize for taking a few extra days to get this Winner post up.  It took my wonderful DH two days of testing EVERY phone jack in our house to find the short that had our phone and internet out over the weekend!

Concluding Interview with Author Karen Wiesner - Part Three

Thank you for coming back for the conclusion of my interview with the very talented and busy Karen Wiesner.
Part Three: A FEW PERSONAL QUESTIONS!

M:  When you are reading for pleasure, what is the one thing that will make you put down the book and quit reading?

Karen: I read a lot and in nearly every genre. There isn’t a day in my life when I haven’t read something. I read a novel every day or two. Do I actually enjoy all the books I read? No. And, the older I get, the more like an editor I become: I give most books two or three pages to wow me. If they don’t, I skim the rest of the book and consider that I’ve put forth valiant effort. I would say seventy-five percent of everything I read isn’t really something I enjoyed. Too many characters, plots and subplots, heck, too many pages (if you can’t tell a wonderful, full story in 75,000 words, believe me, you’re not helping yourself by extending it another 25,000 words or more! and, yes, my own writing does reflect that these days), and I’m generally long gone, on to the next, what-I-hope-will-be adventure.

Until It's Gone (Wounded Warriors Series, Book 5)

I’m a sucker for true horror: evil lurking in the black woods (as in, my own Woodcutter’s Grim Series {does that make me conceited?}, but Stephen King has written some amazing stories like this in the past) or menacing castles (Dracula); dinosaurs taking over an amusement park (Jurassic Park); creatures slithering out of shadowy  places (Alien); unique terrors (The Ruins). Unfortunately, I can’t find a lot of great horror to read these days. Few are writing anything that’s true, true horror. I do love werewolves and vampires, but I’m very selective about what interests me in the paranormal genre. Only the unbeatable, original vampire novel, the Underworld Series (movies), and my own writing are things I can consistently immerse myself in. When horror crosses the line into thriller and psychological suspense (which are genres that are both so {maybe too} realistic, considering the times we live in), to me you’ve lost that element of horror that comes from an evil that doesn’t really exist in our world. That’s what makes it horrifying—the fact that it doesn’t exist in real life. The evil has to be unnatural, not man-made, or it simply doesn’t grab me, make me read it word for word, and hold me enthralled, unable to put it down, until I’ve read every last page.

M:  That is interesting as horror seems so far from the romances you write! When I read Shadows in the Heart I was impressed that each story had a message and some even had happy endings!
What is the most unique thing about you?

Karen:  Should I be answering this? I’ve already crossed the line into conceit in the last question, lol. But, honestly, if an author doesn’t enjoy what she writes, then why does she bother writing? I write to entertain myself first and foremost. I am thrilled that readers enjoy what I have to offer, too, though.

To answer your question, I suppose as a writer I’m unique because I pretty much write in most all genres. My reviews and awards would testify to the fact that I write well in all of them, too. I love that I’m never writing the same thing. If you read my work, you’ll always get something new and different. How many authors can claim to write for every taste? Admittedly many more than in the past, but authors these days still generally stick to a single genre that readers expect with each new release. I can’t and won’t be pigeonholed by myself or by my publishers (not that any have ever tried). To me, that’s the greatest part of being a writer. For a breakdown of all my books based on genre, visit my website.

Maybe it also makes me unique that I can consistently write well and write fast (see my Works in Progress page for a glimpse of my annual accomplishments), but the secrets of my success are all spelled out step by step in my writing reference titles. I really do follow my own methods. Honestly, when you find out how I do it, it really doesn’t seem that amazing beyond my talent for self-discipline and organization. Read my article “The Secrets of Productivity (can be learned)” to find out just how easy it can be.

M: Obviously, with all of your works and awards, you do work hard and have found a method that is successful!
Where do you see electronic publishing in regards to regular print houses in the next ten years?

Karen: First, I want to say that I’ve been huge proponent of books in all formats for many years. In the next ten years—in the next five!—I believe electronic publishers and regular print houses will be competing side-by-side on equal footing. I think Star Trek has it right. In the future, most of us will be reading everything from a “padd.” (This will in part be due to the cost of printing, storage and “going green”, but also, sad but true, because so much in this day and age is throwaway, even books. How much easier to read something once and delete it than with e-books?) But in the future there will also be old-timers like me who love and revere the joy of holding, reading and collecting printed, bound books that are worthy to be put on a shelf for another re-read in the future.

One of my publishers sent me this link that tells us about the new iPad, which sold 300,000 devices and over 250,000 downloaded books on the first day it was released. Check it out. We’re living in interesting times.

M:  That is an interesting article.  Thanks for sharing the link. I definitely love my Kindle!
Did you have any input in getting the covers for your books?
White Rainbow - Coming Soon
Karen: Actually, for the last couple years, I’ve been designing my own covers almost exclusively for all my books. In truth, I wanted a bit more control, first, because sometimes I would be waiting endlessly to get a cover from a publisher—I needed it for an ad or something else. This way, I never have to wait. Also, I wanted more control because a lot of publishers have been using those strange “Pixar” cover art design programs that I dislike intensely. Also, I’ve always loved playing around with designs, space, colors, etc. so it was pretty natural for me to move in this direction. I love it. I’m getting better at it, too, I think. I also create all the cover designs for Jewels of the Quill anthologies and for some of my author friends. To see all my cover designs, visit http://www.angelfire.com/stars4/kswiesner/KarensCoverDesigns.html

M:  You are definitely multi-talented.  I liked all the new covers for the Wounded Warrior series and I didn't know until this interview that you had created them!
Tell us a little about your next book or WIP please!

Karen: My upcoming 2010-2011 releases include:

-White Rainbow, Book 6 of the Wounded Warriors Series {inspirational romance} (electronic release May 14, 2010 from Uncial Press; trade paperback currently available)

-Retired and on the Rocks, Book 1 of the Denim Blues Mysteries Trilogy {inspirational romantic mystery} (June 2010 release)

-“Paper Tigers”, Book 5 in my Kaleidoscope Series in Halloween Treasures, A Jewels of the Quill Halloween Anthology {romantic suspense} (September 2010 release)

-Mind Games, Book 11 of the Incognito Series {romantic suspense} (October 2010 release)

-Kaleidoscope Series collection {contemporary romance} (December 2010 release)

-Love Is Blind...and It Don’t Pay the Bills Either, Book 2 of the Denim Blues Mysteries Trilogy {inspirational romantic mystery} (January 2011)

-Dark Approach, Book 12 of the Incognito Series {romantic suspense} (March 2011 release)

-“Moonlight Becomes You”, Book 4 of the Woodcutter’s Grim Series in Tales from the Treasure Trove, Volume VII, A Jewels of the Quill Anthology {romantic paranormal  horror} (March 2011 release)

-Souls on (B)Oring Street, Book 3 of the Denim Blues Mysteries Trilogy {inspirational romantic mystery} (June 2011)

-“Wings of Love”, Book 1 of the Cowboy Fever Series in Christmas Gems, A Jewels of the Quill Christmas Anthology {contemporary romance} (September 2011)

Again, these will be submitted to critique partners as I finish them. When I get the critiques back, in between the following other work I’ll be doing, I’ll polish and submit them:

September: Writing Shards of Ashley, Book 5 of the Family Heirlooms Series {inspirational romance}

Early October: Revising Souls on (B)Oring Street

Late October: Researching and outlining “Losses and Gains”, Book 2 of the Cowboy Fever Series, which will be in Heart Gems, A Jewels of the Quill Valentine’s Day Anthology {contemporary romance} (February 2012 release)

Late October: Researching and outlining  “For Always”, Book 3 of the Cowboy Fever Series, which will be in Tales from the Treasure Trove, Volume VIII, A Jewels of the Quill Anthology {contemporary romance} (September 2012 release)

November: Revising Shards of Ashley

Early December: Polishing Souls on (B)Oring Street

Late December: Researching/outlining Worlds Collide, Book 6 of the Family Heirlooms Series {inspirational romance}

Wow! That is a lot of writing and a lot of work! For more information about Karen and her work visit her websites at:

http://www.karenwiesner.com, http://www.firstdraftin30days.com, http://www.falconsbend.com and http://www.JewelsoftheQuill.com 

If you would like to receive my free e-mail newsletter, Karen’s Quill, and become eligible to win my monthly book giveaways, send a blank e-mail to

KarensQuill-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Don't forget to enter the Giveaway of Waiting for An Eclipse - click on the title to go to the Giveaway post!

Giveaway of Waiting for an Eclipse by Karen Wiesner

Ms Wiesner is giving away an autographed trade paperback of WAITING FOR AN ECLIPSE, Book 2 of The Wounded Warrior Series. If you like emotional romance, you will like Ms. Wiesner's books!
This Link will take you to all of the reviews for Ms. Wiesner's books as posted at You Gotta Read Reviews.
Here was my review originally posted at You Gotta Read Reviews.

Title: Waiting for an Eclipse, Book 2 of the Wounded Warriors Series
Author: Karen Wiesner
Publisher: Unical Press
Buy Waiting for an Eclipse Here!

Rating: You NEED to Read

Reviewed by: MarthaE

Steve Thomas has a self-destructive wife, three kids, more guilt than one man can handle...and a chance at true love for the first time in his life--if only he can allow himself to take it.

This is the third book I have read in the Wounded Warrior Series and it is my favorite so far! Although full of trauma it is also full of hope. The title is perfect as Steve and the children, and Kristina in her own way, are in a dark place waiting to come into the light and live fully again.

Steve married Jessie for the wrong reasons 12 years ago. Right before they married he fought with Jessie’s brother, Tommie, who had also been Steve’s best friend. Tommie was killed in a car accident before they could heal the breach and Steve has always carried the guilt of Tommie’s death and the weight of agreeing to take care of Jessie. But Jessie isn’t easy to take care of. She is model gorgeous but one headstrong and messed up young woman -- partying, doping and sleeping with whomever she falls in bed with – both before the marriage and after.

Steve has served as the primary caregiver for the three children who each have their own traumas as a result of Jessie’s lack of mothering and blatantly negative behaviors. Steve has struggled for twelve years in the marriage, committed by guilt and his fear that the children would be hurt further by a custody battle with Jess.

Kristina is a counselor at the college where Steve works. She is quiet and reserved and hides her beauty. She fell in love with Steve the first time they bumped into each other six years ago. She knows that Steve is in a terrible marriage but she is willing to be there and be his friend as she doesn’t dare dream there can be anything else. But when he finally seeks some friendship with her and they spend time together, the sexual pull and energy becomes palpable.

This book presents the trauma of a family, including young children, when the mother is an irresponsible drug addict. It isn’t a pretty picture but rather heartrendingly realistic and sad. I liked that Ms. Wiesner presented real emotions in the characters without creating a soap opera overload. I especially appreciated Steve’s commitment to his children and to his marriage vows in spite of Jessie’s behavior. He honored both the institution of marriage and Kristina by his actions. I also liked Kristina’s attitude that sought the positive in the situations around her and allowed for hope to grow and flourish. Steve deserved a wonderful, caring woman like Kristina! Ms. Wiesner has woven another wonderfully emotional and beautiful romance.

***********************************************

I have read all six books in this wonderful series and am very pleased to have the chance to learn more about and share information about this talented author!

TO ENTER: This is the Giveaway post! So you MUST ENTER HERE and leave your e-mail address to be entered in the Giveaway! Extra entries at the interviews will not count unless you are entered HERE too!

Extra Entries: You will get an extra entry for each comment made at the interview posts. That is a possible 3 additional entries!

For easier entry I am including the events schedule here and I will add the links as the reviews and interviews post!!

This is the Main Giveaway Post - Must enter here.

5/4/10 -  Interview Part 1 - The Writing Process!
5/5/10 -  Interview Part 2 - The Wounded Warrior Series!
5/6/10 -  Interview Part 3 - Some Personal Questions!

Additional entries:
*For an extra entry, become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower.

*For another entry, blog, facebook, tweet (any of those networks!) about this giveaway and tell me where you did.

(Original plus 3 interview comments plus follow and spread the word equals 6 total entries possible.)
It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.

* End of the Giveaway at midnight CST May 14, 2010.

* This contest is open to residents of US and Canada for print book or eBook and OPEN Internationally for the eBook!

Please join me as we learn about another author and her good books!!

Part Two: Interview with Author Karen Wiesner

Welcome back to the interview with Karen Wiesner
Part Two:
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WOUNDED WARRIORS SERIES

M: I have really enjoyed reading all six books in this series over the past seven months. Can you summarize the Wounded Warrior Series in one (or two) sentence(s)?

Karen: The series blurb says it all:

Women who have faced pain, loss and heartache.

They know the score and never back down.

Women who aren't afraid to love

with all their passion and all their strength,

who risk everything for their own little piece of heaven...

Men who live their lives on the blade's edge.

Knights in black armor.

The only thing more dangerous than crossing these men

is loving them...

M: Yes that does sum up all six books!
Tell us a bit about the series and do you have a favorite of the six books?

Karen: A bit of background on the series: Some of your readers might not be aware that the first edition of Reluctant Hearts, Book 1 of the series, was actually published way back in July 2002. Waiting for an Eclipse came next in November 2003, followed by Mirror Mirror in September 2004, and Wayward Angels in September 2005. Things were going along fine until that point. My publisher and editor at that time were going through several personal crises, and the series lagged for the next three years. I’d written Until It’s Gone, Book 5, in the lag and submitted it, but nothing was happening. I began to believe the final two books would never be published. I finally decided to pull the whole series, although the thought of starting all over again for me is akin to ripping something apart just to put it back together again. I can’t imagine much worse for a writer than starting all over again. In any case, I didn’t feel I had any choice in this case. Uncial Press contracted all six books in the series at the end of  2008 (though I hadn’t yet started Book 6 and I’d been away from it for six long years! I barely remembered what it was I wanted to do with the final story).

Mirror Mirror, Book 3 of the Wounded Warriors Series
After revisions were done on Until It’s Gone, I got to work on White Rainbow and completed it fairly quickly before my new editor and I turned to the arduous job of revising Books 1-4. I have to admit, it was very strange, even a little embarrassed, “going back in time” to read these books that suddenly seemed as though they’d been written by another person. I began writing these books when I was a teenager and they still had that angst-ridden flavor to me. I was actually really glad to have a second opportunity to do some serious revision on them—but it was no easy process for any of them. I’m glad I came out of the editing loving Books 1-4 more than I ever had before. They’re tighter, cleaner, and even more emotional to me.

I also admit that I came to love Waiting for an Eclipse the most out of all of them. Though Steve and Kristina’s is a situation I can never imagining myself being in, I cried myself silly re-reading and editing it again. I love the characters in that book. They’re in such a complex situation where there are no easy answers.

That said, the fact is, Books 1-5 are heavy, heavy on the emotion. It was such a relief to write White Rainbow, which is about half the size of the previous ones, light (though still emotional), and captures joy for all the characters of the series. I really wanted to end this series on an optimistic note, and this book did that just as I’d hoped.

M: I agree that the books are emotionally intense. The characters are very real in all of their pain and angst. I think my favorite was White Rainbow.
Did you do any special research for any of the books in this series?

Karen:  Oh my goodness, did I! Every single story had endless things I needed to research. Just scratching the surface here...

Reluctant Hearts: endometriosis and how it affects pregnancy

Waiting for an Eclipse: tenure (the life of a college professor in general), divorce, drug addictions and counseling...

Mirror Mirror: racecar driving

Wayward Angels: bipolar

Until It’s Gone: the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, undercover work, the real estate career

White Rainbow: perfume making, corporate takeovers

I do seemingly endless research for pretty much every book I write. It’s just part of the process.

M:  You do that work well.  I thought as I read several of the books that you might have first hand experience in the issues as they were so well presented.
Did you need any help staying motivated or getting any element of your stories to cooperate?

Wayward Angels, Book 4 of the Wounded Warriors Series

Karen:  Motivating is something I have in spades most of the time. It explains how I’m able to accomplish so much. As for getting elements of my stories to cooperate... I would have to say Mirror Mirror was one of the hardest books I’ve ever written. This story continued to elude my best efforts to create something wonderful, suspenseful, and cohesive. My first draft of the book was so bad, I refused to send it to my publisher at that time, even if it meant keeping my fans waiting endlessly for the next in the series. I made a long list of notes on all that I thought was wrong with the book (believe me, it was a huge document!), then I put the book in my story cupboard for three months in order to get the story brewing on a low flame again. At that time, I came up with another unworkable outline.

Feeling increasingly desperate, I put the story aside once more, terrified I’d never finish a book that had already been promoted as coming soon. More months went by, during which I had a series of creative percolations that made me rethink the direction of the book. I reshaped all my characters, consciously trying to flesh them out in ways that related to the plot much more than they had in the past.

However, it wasn’t until I realized something so obvious, I feel silly about it now, that I finally knew why my previous drafts hadn’t worked. The heroine, Gwen, wasn’t directly involved in the resolution of the plot. How could she achieve her full potential if other characters solved her problems for her? How could the story be cohesive if this main character had nothing to do with the wrapping up of the plot?

My second realization was that I had to make the plot fit more naturally with Gwen’s struggle not to accept her gift of clairvoyance by pushing it away and feeling ashamed for it. She needed to use her gift in order to solve her problems. I also acknowledged that my little hint earlier in the book that the villain was terrified of dogs was the key to having Gwen save the day. Also, I decided that the final “glue” in making my story cohesive was to make the hero Dylan’s and Gwen’s pasts merge and intersect in ways neither of them ever dreamed. Everything fell into place then.

I wasn’t sure I’d fully succeeded in this task until the first reviewer (Huntress' Book Reviews) for the book said, “An excellent psychic thriller that will have you holding your breath until your lungs ache. The author uses her writing gift to connect both Gwen and Dylan’s pasts with a dark, menacing force and tangles a web so strong that readers will not want to stop reading.”

M:  Gwen and Dylan were both complex characters and I can see where that story might have given you difficulty. However the final result was worth the wait.

Please return tomorrow for Interview Part Three: A few personal questions!