Guest Post and Giveaway by Suzanne Barrett

I have read eight titles by Suzanne and I have been impressed by the unique plots in each. I asked her to share how she comes up with such different ideas.

 Coming Up With New Romance Plots: What Moves Me
by Suzanne Barrett

Why do I write the stories I do?  Each of my books is set in a different location with a protagonist engaged in an unusual activity.  My interest in England and Ireland fueled several stories:  TAMING ROWAN is set in England’s Cumbria; IN LOVE AND WAR is set in County Waterford.  SIERRA BRIDE is a historical with an Irish immigrant heroine, set in Eastern California near where I lived as a girl.

AN IRISH ROGUE is set in my home town of Santa Cruz, California.  LATE HARVEST explores the Mendocino wine country.  I’m currently working on another wine country story, INDECENT PROPOSAL, again set in my home town.  (Wine country, wine-making, and the Santa Cruz Mountains are of particular interest to me.)
 

I love the tortured hero.  It is satisfying to watch him stumble and pick himself up again and again until he finally has his light-bulb moment and realizes that what holds him back from achieving his goal is … himself.  I empathize with a heroine who also has baggage but is, underneath it all, an honorable person.
 
For me, reading fiction is an escape.  I want my protagonists to struggle to achieve their happy ending.  I want to see character growth that makes them worthy of their goals.
 
A character may have a less-than-honorable beginning, but to satisfy the romantic in me, he or she must have a moment of truth that changes everything once thought correct and sets him/her on a new path.  One of the ways I work to achieve reader empathy with a less-than-wholesome character is to show the mental push-pull going on.  If my heroine acts like a twit, she’d better have an inner voice questioning her behavior.  I think this helps a reader relate to someone who behaves badly because she then knows that character is acting “out of character.”

Settings and character traits do not make a story new, but if an author can fully engage her reader with likable protagonists and also create a unique setting, that story can be a classic and still feel fresh and exciting.
 
I used this technique in TAMING ROWAN, a story about a project engineer, an alpha male who lays down a “no women on site” rule, and a youthful, talented heroine who fights for acceptance.  Pretty standard fare?   However, I made it unique by making the heroine a structural engineer with just the right qualifications for the project.  Then I set the story at a remote antenna installation in northern England.  The dishy but rude British project officer is then forced by circumstances beyond his control to accept the young American.  Add the remote beauty of the Fells, cozy English pubs, wild storms, and an unwanted but undeniable attraction between the hero and heroine and you have the recipe for a romance that isn’t the norm.
 
In LOVING LUKE I have created a wounded warrior, a reclusive photographer who was badly burned in a car crash and now struggles to revive his career and heal emotionally, and a social worker with a tender heart.  Add a high-achieving family to whom she’s the square peg, a quirky gal pal, and a torrential storm that strands the heroine overnight at the hero’s cabin and… well, I’ll let you be the judge.
 
One reviewer said:  “This book hits all my love buttons!  I love the characters, from Jo, the conflicted heroine with the ritzy family, to the even more conflicted hero, Luke Falconer, who’s got demons and guilt and tremendous talent for photography and great heart, which he keeps hidden until it comes to Jo.”
 
I’d like to read your comments on what type of stories hit your love buttons.


About the Author:

Suzanne Barrett
Following a career in engineering, Suzanne has returned to her first love of writing and literature. Born in Southern California, Suzanne, along with her husband and an elderly cat make their home in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Suzanne is also a jewelry designer, and her wirework is shown at various arts and wine events throughout the county. (Visit her jewelry website at www.bellerustique.com.) In addition, she has an Irish travel website with articles, recipes and an extensive photo gallery. When she's not writing or designing jewelry, Suzanne loves to garden.

First published by Kensington Books, Suzanne's first novel for Turquoise Morning Press was Late Harvest a Mendocino California wine country story, followed by her two-time Golden Heart finalist book In Love and War a story set in County Waterford, Ireland.  Taming Rowan is set in England's Cumbria district and one borne of her work in aerospace. She has also released over the past year or so: Gift of the Heart, Sierra Bride, An Irish Rogue, Risking it All, Loving Luke and her most recent release, The Prodigal Lover

Visit Suzanne at:
www.irelandforvisitors.com
www.bellerustique.com
www.suzannebarrett.com
Twitter @suzanneb1441

Giveaway 

of Herringbone Green Jasper Earrings hand made by Suzanne 

and a digital copy of Loving Luke

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for earrings and digital copy:

1. MANDATORY FOR ENTRY: Leave a comment here for Suzanne answering "What type of stories hit your love buttons?"
2. For two additional entries visit the author's website or blog and tell me something you find of interest.
3. For an additional entry comment on my review of Loving Luke or one of my reviews of Suzanne's other titles found through this link. 

PLEASE LEAVE YOUR EMAIL OR WAY TO CONTACT YOU.
Four total entries possible; separate comments not required.

* This contest is open Worldwide.
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on November 2, 2012.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED on November 3, 2012.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.  

Book Review: Loving Luke by Suzanne Barrett

 A solid, entertaining romance with a tortured hero.

Loving Luke
by Suzanne Barrett

• File Size: 726 KB
• Print Length: 250 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1622370112
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Turquoise Morning Press (July 1, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.

Genre: Contemporary Romance
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: July 1, 2012
Jo McGuigan’s job is on the line. She needs a photographer to teach her rehab class, but the only one available is an angry recluse who wants nothing to do with the hospital or its outreach program.
Luke Falconer’s photo career ends in a fiery auto crash that leaves him badly burned and crippled. Hating the world, he retreats to his cabin. But when an encounter with the intriguing social worker ends in a night of passion, their lives are changed forever. Jo is a spark to Luke’s flame, and where there’s smoke, there is often a raging inferno.

Review:
Jo is a maverick in her family. Her socially minded mother and sister frown on Jo’s choice of career as a social worker. They frown on her disregard for fashion and her lack of a suitable mate.  But Jo sticks with her independent nature and loves her job.

Jo’s soft heart has gotten her transferred to a trial position as director of a rehab class for the disabled patients.  Jo decides that a photography program would be something worthwhile for these rehab students struggling to find new meaning in their lives. The problem is the local photography expert, Luke Falconer, has retreated from the world.

Luke was a renowned mountain climbing photojournalist until a fiery car accident took the life of his pregnant wife and left him with more than just severe skin scars.  Luke blames himself for the accident and questions whether he can find a suitable replacement for his athletic career.  He has retreated to his secluded cabin.  He has also retreated emotionally to protect himself because he feels he failed in his marriage. Although he is beginning to find enthusiasm for his wild bird photography he has little interest in engaging with humans.

Jo and Luke meet when stuck in an elevator at the burn center. He is standoffish and rude even as he feels a pull toward the feisty young woman.  After Luke fails to return several phone calls Jo seeks out the lion in his den to ask him to work with her program.  He is still hostile but when a storm strands Jo at the cabin passion flairs between them.  The heat of their night together turns into a cold morning when Luke rejects his feelings and pushes Jo away.

Jo continues to struggle trying to teach the photography class herself. When Luke runs into her a few months later he realizes that other problems have developed from their reckless encounter.  Luke proposes a solution but can Jo trust Luke to provide all the support a family will need or is she facing the risk of greater heartache?  The passion between them is combustible but the communication is a bust. Can Luke rise above his past pain to create a life with Jo before he loses the opportunity?

Once again Suzanne Barrett has created a romance with real, vibrant characters and realistic conflict. Luke is a wonderfully tortured soul who needs a lot of patience. His gentle caring is beautiful even as his silence is frustrating. Jo is a nurturer with her own vulnerabilities.  The chemistry between the two sizzles as they try to come to terms with their preconceptions and misunderstandings. The story includes beautiful scenery and a few surprises.

I love that each of Suzanne’s books have unique characters and plots. They are reliably engaging with conflict and sensual romance. If you love sensual romance you need to try one of Suzanne's lovely stories.

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

Luke feels but doesn't express his loneliness:

Lonely? She didn't know the meaning of the word. His loneliness wasn't something you talked about. It was a gut-wrenching emptiness that ate at him like a cancer. Location 680.

And Luke fears his emotions:

But they'd argued, and he'd retreated. It was what he always did when he felt control of a situation slipping away from him.  Location 3956.

I received this ebook from the Author for an honest review.  See Author Guest Post for Giveaway of earrings and ebook.

This story is set in Muir Woods, California for my Where Are You Reading Challenge.

Book Review and Giveaways: Risking It All by Suzanne Barrett

This is a delightful contemporary romance.
Risking it All
by Suzanne Barrett

• File Size: 676 KB
• Print Length: 218 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1622370007
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Turquoise Morning Press (March 12, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B007JQTEU0

Genre:  Contemporary Romance
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

A GARDEN OF EARTHLY DELIGHTS

Pushed out of his own start-up company, Tom McKittrick is ready to lick his wounds in private at the rural family estate he’s inherited. But he isn’t prepared for his Garden of Eden to have a built-in Eve—a reclusive naturalist with a long-term lease on the caretaker’s cottage, a knack for gardening, and an incredibly beautiful face.

A PARADISE FOR TWO

April Fairchild is not about to let Tom McKittrick order her out of the home that has been her cozy retreat from the world. But she has to feel sorry for him—the corporate bigwig is clearly out of his element in, well, the elements. April knows she can teach this hunky guy a thing or two about how to relax. All she has to do is sow the seeds of romance…and let nature take its course.

Review:
This is a delightful contemporary romance.
Lovely and natural April is definitely a country, hands on woman.  She is the gardener/caretaker for the Creggan estate where she has lived since her estranged, celebrity husband died in a car crash. April is determined to keep her independence and even if she lives a bit remotely, she’s satisfied with her work and friends. Her residence at the cottage allows April the resources to make soaps and sachets which she sells at market.  She has a lease that assures her occupancy for a number of years so she is surprised to get a letter demanding that she vacate.

Tom McKittrick is a city slicker, a sharp corporate take-over specialists, has come to the country estate he inherited. He is seeking solitude and quiet since his doctor says he needs time off to reduce stress on his heart. Tom expected the estate house to be ready for him to occupy. But he arrives to find the place locked up tight with no utilities on and serving as a cozy home to the spiders and rats. Tom also thought the caretaker cottage would be empty so he isn’t happy to find a strikingly beautiful young woman stubbornly ensconced.

Tom is going to have to ‘crash’ in April’s guest room while she tries to talk him into letting her stay.  Neither is looking for a romantic involvement but slowly their chemistry pulls them together. But can either stubborn character change from their routines and comfort zones to find a meeting place in the middle?

There is a lot of low key humor in the troubles that Tom faces when he arrives which made me smile. Both characters are likeable and though it’s easy to see where the story may go, it is a delightful journey. I enjoyed the give and take and the trade offs that the pair negotiate. There is a last minute twist that has them both evaluating what they really want. There are lovely gardening details too that give an extra lush richness to the settings.

Suzanne’s smooth writing style reads easily and is always a pleasurable experience. The characters have real features, including flaws and the setting and plot are realistic.  If you like warm contemporary romances, I recommend that you try one of Suzanne’s stories.

A warm, cozy description:

The kettle shut itself off. She poured boiling water over and Earl Grey tea bag, settled onto a green painted ladder-back chair at the round kitchen table, and stared at the row of potted herbs on the sunny windowsill. Sage and thyme, root cuttings of lemon verbena, lavender, and purple-blooming hyssop.  Location 103.

Tom begins to see a dilemma:

How could he live next door to her, see her day after day, work with her and not be affected? She was a capital D distraction.  Location 2043.

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

This is set in Sonoma, CA for my Where Are You Reading Challenge. 

Thank you to Suzanne Barrett for providing the book for Giveaway!
TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for (1) a Print Copy for US winner 
AND (2) eBook copy for International winner:

(1) ENTRY FORM HERE FOR Print Copy - US Only

(2) ENTRY FORM HERE FOR eBook - CANADA/INTERNATIONAL

For 3 Extra Bonus entries Visit the author's website or blog and tell me something you find of interest.

* This contest is only open WORLDWIDE BUT OFFERS DIFFERENT Format for winners.
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on October 12, 2012.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED on October 13, 2012.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.  

Book Review: An Irish Rogue by Suzanne Barrett

What might a charming rogue do to get a green card?

An Irish Rogue
by Suzanne Barrett

• File Size: 662 KB
• Print Length: 232 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Turquoise Morning Press (December 27, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B006QZJ8SS

(Also available in print format)
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Product Description

Justine Farris would do anything for her dotty old aunt, but marrying Declan Walsh seems just plain crazy. Although the handsome handyman might be sent back to Ireland unless they pretend to tie the knot, how can Justine possibly say “I do” when they can’t agree on anything.

Declan would never have proposed to an independent, unconventional woman like Justine, but this is an emergency. Then, suddenly, he begins to wish that his temporary fiancée could stay in his arms forever. And where there’s a will, there’s a way…

Review:

This is a fun, engaging romance with very likable characters.
Declan is laying low until he can get a new job and renew his visa. He needs to hide from a vindictive ICE (immigration) agent.  Declan’s cousin helps him get a job at an out of the way house doing carpentry renovations. That’s not his field but he figures he can handle it.

Justine lives in the “fixer-upper” property with her eccentric aunt, Laverne,  and her new age, vegan sister, Willow. Justine is the business mind of the family, running her bookstore in town and managing the household. She is practical, down to earth and comfortably looking forward to marrying her teacher boyfriend. At least she was comfortable until her aunt hired this distracting, handsome, Irish rogue to work on the house. Now she can’t seem to stop ogling those flexing muscles while he’s working.

Justine can’t seem to stop herself from comparing the rugged, intense Irishman to her easygoing, poetry reading, sort of average, James. But she and James have many things in common, don’t they?  Irrepressibly she is drawn by the passion she experiences whenever she is near Declan.

Declan is intrigued by Justine but he is woman shy since he was feels he was betrayed by his ex-wife, Maura. He can’t stop thinking about Justine yet he struggles to tell her how he feels. 

When the ICE agent locates Declan the only way to keep him in the States is if he gets a green card through marriage. Justine impulsively tells the agent they are married and they have to begin a pretense for the spying eyes. But when it comes time for the hearing will Justine step away from her well ordered life and risk her heart with Declan? Can Declan respond to Justine’s willingness to love and can he learn to express his feelings in order to keep her by his side?

The writing is smooth making this a quick and easy read. The characters are strong, independent and flawed; very real. The secondary characters are quirky and further the fun elements of the story. The Irish brogue and words adds a flair that I really like.  The chemistry is immediate and visual but the romance builds slowly in a very nice progression of draw and resistance. Once again Ms. Barrett has provided a fine, entertaining romance.

~~~~~~~

Here are a few quotes showing the reactions of the protagonists when they first meet.
Justine watching Declan:

Something about the set of his shoulders, the easy way he moved, disturbed her. Deep inside a little flutter of unease rippled and then flared to a dazzling warmth. Location 116.

Declan following Justine:

He’d never given much thought to how women walked, but Justine Farris made him take notice. Her stride reminded him of a racehorse, each movement precise, yet fluid. Location 133.

Declan's second thoughts:

He offered her a wicked grin. Discovering the woman behind that cool business facade might prove the most intriguing challenge of all. Location 142.

Thank you Ms. Barrett for providing this book to read and review.

This story is set in California for my Where Are You Reading Challenge. I will also add it to my ARC challenge list.

Book Review and eBook Giveaway: Gift of the Heart by Suzanne Barrett

This author writes reliably heartwarming stories.
Gift of the Heart

by Suzanne Barrett

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 295 KB
• Print Length: 65 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Turquoise Morning Press (October 8, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005U53DKE

    Genre: Novella, Contemporary Romance
    My Rating:  4.25 of 5.0

Product Description
Amy Wilson struggles to make a home for herself and her small son in the Northern California town of Riverton. Widowed and alone, and saddled with debt from her husband’s failed business, she vows to pay off his creditors herself and remain independent from her overbearing in-laws.

Shay McHugh is dissatisfied with his life. At thirty-three, he has a home on the river which he has just remodeled, a white Porsche, a powerboat, and a position as manager of Riverton’s ValuKing Supermarket. But lately he finds life doesn’t offer the fulfillment he craves. Something is lacking. When he meets Amy, he has an overwhelming desire to protect her, which is exactly the thing Amy has been escaping. Can the two set aside their differences and make room for love?

Review: This is a sweet romance for a Christmas treat.
Amy is a loving and caring mother. She escaped her family to marry a man who charmed her until they were married. Then he revealed his true abusive and overbearing nature. Jonathan died three years before leaving her a pile of debt. At least she has her wonderful son, Josh. She has left her home town to get away from her critical and controlling parents and in-laws. On her way to start a new life with a friend her car gives out and she is stranded in the small town of Riverton.
Amy is lucky enough to find a friendly welcome in town with a waitress job and a small cabin.

 As she tries to settle in she meets
Shay McHugh is a well established business man who has a lovely but empty house. As he watches friends enjoying their families he begins to think something is missing in his own life. His attention is caught by the beautiful Amy and sweet little Josh.  It is apparent that Amy is struggling but she refuses to swallow her pride and accept help.

Slowly Shay charms his way into Amy and Josh’s lives.  Amy continues to resist having her independence and decisions controlled by anyone, even this wonderfully handsome and nice man.  Will Amy’s fear from her past prevent her from realizing a full loving relationship with Shay? Or will she be able to realize all that he is willing to share with her if she can give the ‘gift of her heart’?

These characters come alive as you root for them to get together. Josh is a sweet addition as a well behaved little boy with lots of little boy wishes.  The community is charming and quaint as small towns can be. The author adds in some traditions regarding Saint Lucia which added interest. Once again Ms. Barrett's smoothl writing portrays warm characters in a realistic and engaging situation. This novella makes a perfect quick read to slip in during the holiday season or anytime you want a heart lift.  

Thank you to Ms. Barrett for the book to read and review. She has graciously offered to give away an eBook copy to a lucky commenter.

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:

1.   Visit the author's website and tell me something you note of interest. Please leave your email address.

2.  For an extra entry, become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower.

3. For two entries, blog, facebook, tweet (any of those networks!) about this giveaway and tell me where you did.

It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.
(Four total entries possible.) MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE YOUR E-MAIL!

* This contest  is Open Worldwide.

* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on December 23, 2011.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.

The WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED on December 24. 
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.

Book Review and eBook Giveaway: Sierra Bride by Suzanne Barrett

 This is a warm, lush historical western.

Sierra Bride 

by  Suzanne Barrett

Release Date: November 6, 2011
Publisher: Turquoise Morning Press
ARC pdf pages: 207

Genre: Historical Romance, Western
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Description:

Sierra County, California - 1883

Widowed rancher Wade Guthrie needs help raising his unruly young daughter and advertises for a housekeeper. Instead, he finds himself saddled with a mail order bride.

Irish immigrant Corrie Kiernan needs a place to hide. Witness to a brutal murder at the mill where she worked, she’ll do anything to escape the killer who now threatens her life, even if it means marrying a stranger and weaving a web of deception. Falling in love with the handsome rancher is easy, but can a man who values honesty above everything else love a woman whose life is a lie?

Review: I have come to really enjoy Ms. Barrett’s rich and warm writing.

Corrie is brave and industrious. After she witnesses a murder at her mill job in Massachusetts she flees to California. When she arrives in Sierra, Corrie learns that the rancher she is supposed to wed doesn’t want a wife.

Wade is upset to learn his friend has tried to arrange a mail order bride instead of a housekeeper. The girl is a redheaded beauty but he isn’t interested as he knows he won’t love another women.  He intends to ship her back until he discovers her singing at the local saloon.  Then he insists on marrying her only to protect her.

Wade brings her home to a dirty, untended cabin and introduces her to his young daughter, Charity, who resents a new woman in the house. Corrie lied in her reply to the bride ad. She can’t cook, she is not from a wealthy home with all the social manners to teach Charity and it appears that Charity has more education already than Corrie has.  But Corrie is willing to work hard. She’ll chop wood, scrub floors, wash windows, sew clothes, even work with the horses if Wade would let her. She is intent on making herself useful so that Wade will appreciate her.

Wade is concentrating on his struggles to keep his mustang ranch and tries to ignore Corrie and keep her at a distance.  Slowly Wade begins to recognize the fresh life that Corrie brings to the household. Then the killer shows up claiming to have authority to arrest Corrie for murder.  Since everything she has told Wade is a lie, who will he believe? Even if she can escape the killer can she win Wade’s love?

The characters are well written and likeable and the setting is beautifully described. The relationship between Corrie and Wade builds slowly to a sensual union.  Although the plot is not so new I was interested to see where the story went - when and how the killer would show up and how Wade would react when he discovered all the lies.  That presentation was fine. Although I appreciated that the town folk would support Wade when he ran into trouble I felt  part of the ending was unrealistic and it was too “pat” a conclusion.

I like that this author is consistent with strong characters, vibrant descriptions and natural emotions.  It is interesting to see these strengths applied well in varied settings and genres. I am looking forward to reading a Christmas Novella by Suzanne in the next week or so.

 Thank you to Suzanne for the ARC to read and review. Suzanne is generously offering an eBook copy to one lucky commenter.


OPEN WORLDWIDE.
TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY FOR an eBook Copy of Sierra Bride:
1. Visit the author's website and tell me something of interest you found there. This is required for entry.

2.  For an extra entry, become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower.

3.  For two entries, blog, facebook, tweet (any of those networks!) about this giveaway and tell me where you did.

It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.
(Four total entries possible.)

* Open Worldwide.
* This contest will close 10:00 PM (Central) on November 18, 2011.
The WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED on November 19. 
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.

MBS Blogoversary SPOTLIGHT #14 Author Suzanne Barrett

SPOTLIGHT: AUTHOR SUZANNE BARRETT

I met Suzanne this year when asked to review one of her books. I first read and reviewed In Love and War which posted with an author interview.  Then I was pleased to read and review Late Harvest. Today I have posted a review for Suzanne's current release, Taming Rowan.  Suzanne also makes jewelry and the link to her work is below.

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: I write books that I like to read, where likable characters--and sometimes tortured heroes--find their happily ever afters, but not without a character-building struggle.

Question #2: How do my characters achieve their goals?

A:  Each must step out of his or her comfort zone. In the case of the damaged hero, by doing this, he becomes whole.

Please visit Suzanne here or her links below.
For extra credit you can comment at her blog link or email her to say "Hi" and "Thank you" for the support and giveaway.
Author Website

Suzanne's jewelry site
(hand-crafted, wire wrap creations)

Suzanne's Irish Travel site

Blog

Giveaway donated by Suzanne:
Print copy of Late Harvest.

OPEN US or CANADA.
If you have trouble viewing or submitting this form, you can fill it out online:
https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEdvd0p6amNoRVBiUzhsZzZFclcwQ2c6MAPLEASE ENTER WITH THIS FORM:

Book Review: Taming Rowan by Suzanne Barrett

A very engaging romance.

Taming Rowan by Suzanne Barrett

• Paperback: 252 pages
• Publisher: Turquoise Morning Press (May 25, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1935817922
• ISBN-13: 978-1935817925

     Genre: Contemporary Romance
     My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Product Description

“A keeper! A winner! A deliciously sexy romance!" —Gloria Miller, The Literary Times Karin Williams' devastatingly handsome project officer has a boulder-sized chip on his shoulder. Rowan Marsden expected a male engineer and he's not giving Karin an inch. Working conditions are...tense. Even...worse, she must share on-site accommodations with the sexy Brit who she fears will break her heart. What's a girl to do? If Rowan had his way, he'd never work with a woman. Yet as Karin demonstrates her expertise on the job, he cannot deny his growing respect for her--or his desire. He wants the passion she offers, but not the commitment. Until a horrendous accident at the project site threatens Karin's life, and proves that even a wounded man is destined to love....

Review:  This is a story with wonderful characters, a good plot, and fine writing.  Once again Ms. Barnett has written a superbly crafted, entertaining story.

Karin is a skilled engineer who has established herself in a man’s career. She doesn’t use her feminine attributes to get ahead and only asks for respect for her competent work the same as any other professional engineer.

Rowan Marsden is an arrogant, stubborn chauvinist. He is a wounded man whose past experience with betrayal by a beautiful woman has set him against women in general. And for sure he doesn’t need a female on his remote, barren work site. He is prepared to put her on the next plane out until his boss overrides that plan.

Karen has been busy with her career and has not spent time dating, especially considering she hadn’t been drawn to any male. Now she is drawn to a man who may be sensually compelling but who has little softness for women. Needless to say the sparks and antagonism fly between these two as their sizzling attraction smolders beneath their best intentions to remain aloof and apart. There is plenty of tug of war and dancing on the edges before they finally succumb to the chemistry. The problem remains that Karin is ready for a serious relationship and Rowan is only interested in a hot, limited affair.

There is good detail in the scenery and the project work site which I found interesting and gave good plot support. The project crew are a warm group and the protagonists’ parents are unique characters as well.

The author’s writing style is clean, emotional and engaging. There is plenty of conflict and sexual tension, then engagement with fairly explicit scenes although in no way vulgar. Ms. Barrett provides a rich, strong romance to please any true contemporary romance fan.

xxx

Please  visit Suzanne's Blogoversary Spotlight!

Book Review: Last Harvest by Suzanne Barrett

This is an engaging romance with an interesting setting and plot.
Late Harvest by Suzanne Barrett

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 615 KB
• Page Numbers 220 pages
  
• Source ISBN: 1935817175
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Turquoise Morning Press (November 5, 2010)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004AYDC0M

     Genre: Contemporary Romance
     My Rating:  4.5

Product Description
Kurt von Daniken wants only one thing from Glenna Ryan: The key to making Eiswein - Ice Wine. Five years ago, while working at his family's California winery, she'd begun developing the method to simulate wine made from grapes gathered after a freeze. Now, when the winery desperately needs it, the only person who might be able to duplicate Glenna's process, Kurt's tyrannical Uncle Otto, lies paralyzed by a stroke and near death. Glenna wants only one thing from the von Danikens: To be left in peace to raise her son, Robbie, who suffers from a birth defect and needs an expensive surgery to repair it. When Kurt suddenly appears at her home, demanding she return to Cresthaven and complete the process, Glenna knows the money she'll earn by doing so will provide Robbie the treatment he needs. She also knows she'll risk having her heart broken, again, by Kurt, the only man she's ever loved. But, what if he discovers the real reason she left Cresthaven?

Review: This is a very smooth and enjoyable read.
Glenna was raised at Cresthaven vinery.  She wasn’t treated as a family member but as the orphan child she was after her mother’s death.  As a young girl she developed a crush on Kurt, the nephew and heir apparent of the tyrant head of the vinery, Otto.  During her teen years she has learned the business and helped Uncle Otto as they test for developing a late wine known as an Ice Wine After returning from college an incident shows Glenna that she has no future at the vinery and she runs away.  She has scrapped to make a small home for herself and her son but she continues to struggle to save enough money for her son’s surgery.
Now five years later her first love, Kurt von Daniken, shows up to coerce her to come back to the vinery to make the Ice Wine. She fears being around him and having him discover her secrets. However she will agree to work with the devil, and face the tyrant Otto even if he is ill, if it means she will be able to get the surgery for her son.

Glenna works hard in the vinery to help produce the Ice Wine. Although she tries to be stand offish with Kurt, he is still drawn to her and he is enamored by her young son. Conditions have changed at Cresthaven since she was last there. Kurt is a hard worker too and it appears that he cares for the workers and people of the vinery in a much more personal way than his Uncle.  At very least Robbie will get the surgery he needs but is it possible that Glenna could find a place at Cresthaven after all?

The chemistry and the sensual tension between Glenna and Kurt is very rich.  There is plenty of emotional conflict with misunderstandings and secrets from the past to be uncovered.  The details of the vinery are presented with interesting detail so that you understand the difficulties that the must be faced in the day to day workings. The writing is clear and moves at a good pace with the engaging plot.  I had some problem understanding Glenna’s stubborn resistance but other than that I enjoyed everything about this story.
I enjoy this author’s writing and look forward to reading more in the future.

Thank you to the author, Suzanne Barrett, who provided this ebook for a fair and impartial review.

Book Review and Giveaway: In Love and War by Suzanne Barrett

This story is rich in character, setting and romance.
In Love and War by Suzanne Barrett

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Turquoise Morning Press (January 6, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1935817418
• ISBN-13: 978-1935817413

    Price: Paperback $13.99; Kindle $4.99
    Genre: Contemporary Romance
    My Rating:  4.25 of 5.0

Product Description
Embittered war correspondent Quinn Lawlor returns to his ancestral home in Ireland where he finds solace in the arms of Waterford dairy farmer Meaghann Power.
Meaghann must separate her daytime life as farmer and daughter of Irish rebels from nights of blazing desire for the one man she shouldn't love.
Will their passion prove strong enough to overcome a decades-old bitter struggle?

Review: This story has wonderfully full characters, beautifully detailed settings and a well written story all working together to make a very enjoyable read.

Meaghann is a solitary woman struggling to maintain a dairy farm in rural Ireland.  She is nearing 40 but has not married as her fiancé had been killed 12 years earlier in an IRA related incident. Meaghann’s younger brother, Declan, wants nothing to do with the family business.

Meaghann is a “good” catholic girl in a community that stresses older time values and morals.  She helps at the church setting up flowers and pressing altar linens.  Her Aunt is encouraging her to marry a local widower but Meaghann is not attracted to him. She would rather make it on her own even if she has a sense of loneliness.

Meaghann’s Uncle has arranged for her to take on a border in the old keep on her property. Having a male border may create some moral concerns but Meaghann is determined to have the border who will bring in extra money and hopefully add an extra pair of hands to the work load. When Quinn arrives she is annoyed to discover that not only is he recovering from injuries, but he is rude and difficult.

Quinn is very bitter from all of the war he has seen as a television correspondent. Because of his injuries he no longer has that job and all he wants is to be left alone to write his book. Although he is sullen and withdrawn, Meaghann is physically attracted to Quinn. Bit by bit the two move from confrontation and contention to conciliation and consolation. Although the attraction is strong and the love affair begins to grow, they both have fears and reservations that keep them from really committing to the relationship.

Declan begins to bring around some politically inclined friends that cause concern for Meaghann.  Quinn is furious when he begins to suspect that Meaghann is somehow involved in the Irish rebellion.  As if that strife is not enough, Quinn is called back home unexpectedly and Meaghann is forced to face the likelihood that he might never return.

I really enjoyed the description of day to day living on the dairy farm.  (I was blessed to visit a cheese/dairy farm in Gouda, Holland and this book brought back wonderful memories of that visit.)  The characters are full and complex and the interaction between Meaghann and Quinn is rich with emotion. I liked how their relationship developed and grew.  The story moved along very well and the author presented some interesting insights for thought on the political issues and tangles of Irish Republicanism and stubborn Irish pride. I definitely recommend this story for its deep romance and rich warmth. I look forward to reading another book by Ms. Barrett, Late Havest, very soon.

Thank you to Ms. Barrett for the book to read and review. She has also graciously offered to giveaway an eBook copy AND an autographed trade paperback copy!

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:

PLEASE NOTE if you want to be entered for the 

A. The ebook - open internationally.

B. The print book - US and Canada only.

C. Either.

1.   Visit the author's website and tell me something you note of interest. Please leave your email address.

2.  For an extra entry comment on the Author's Interview.

3.  For another entry Answer the author's question at #12 from the Interview.

4.  For an extra entry, become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower.

5. For two entries, blog, facebook, tweet (any of those networks!) about this giveaway and tell me where you did.

It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.
(Six total entries possible.) MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE YOUR E-MAIL!

* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on February 25, 2011.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.

Q&A INTERVIEW with Suzanne Barrett Author of Love and War

Today I welcome talented author Suzanne Barrett to share at my bookshelf. 
Thanks for visiting Suzanne.
I really enjoyed the Irish country setting in In Love and War. The setting and the plot raised several questions.
Q1.  Where did the inspiration for In Love and War  come from?

I've always had a love for and interest in England and Ireland. After an initial visit to Ireland to meet a pen pal, I began writing and studying Irish history, and my husband suggested a wintertime visit to Ireland to research the story I'd got in my head. We rented a mews cottage in the County Waterford village of Cappoquin. I'd previously decided my heroine would be a dairy farmer, so I'd scheduled an interview with a nearby dairy farmer/cheesemaker. Visits to neighboring farms taught me a lot about marketing, milk quotas and various things my heroine might face in her efforts to make a living from her land. Then one evening I watched a television program about four Irish farm women who ran their farms without extra full-time help, and, voila! I knew my heroine could do this. Add a bit of the history of the early twentieth century "Troubles", and I had conflict. A chance visit to a quiet pub and afternoon spent with a few old-timers gave me an insight into the mind-set of a small village and the proof that a war for independence was still being fought. Finally, my landlady showed me a converted castle keep on property near hers. I wrote furiously while there, and finished the book after returning home, knowing I'd truly done my research. Everything in the story is real, right down to the roadside shrine.

Q2.  Did you have to do special research for In Love and War ?

I had to be in Ireland to do my research. I could never have imagined the operation of a dairy farm or the business of making cheese without seeing it first hand. Eileen Harty spent the better part of a day showing me the operation, after which we enjoyed a delicious lunch and cheese sampling at her kitchen table.

Q3.  Did you have any personal history that made you want to write this story or your story Late Harvest?

I have always felt I had one foot planted in America and the other in Europe. From the age of twelve I had German, French, English and Irish pen pals. I studied English and Irish history, wrote articles on the history, geography and culture. In Love and War came from that desire to learn more. Late Harvest combined my interest in wineries and winemaking with my German heritage.

Q4.  Would you provide only a two or three sentence "teaser" quote from Love and War?

Irish dairy farmer, Meaghann Power, struggling to make ends meet rents her converted castle keep to an embittered war correspondent wounded in Bosnia, while Quinn Lawlor has come to his ancestral homeland to heal and to be left alone. However, pragmatic Meaghann discovers much more than just her attractive-but-surly tenant's body is in need of healing. What begins as indifference turns to fascination, and later, desire. But can their passion survive Meaghann's own dark secrets?

I know from interviews that authors have different styles, strengths and weaknesses.
Q.5  Do you have any disciplines in writing that have been particularly helpful?

I actually don't, however, I simply cannot write if my office is cluttered. I have to keep things in order for the words to flow.

Q6.  What has been the hardest part of writing and getting published for you?

If you're referring to being "New York published", I think it's that most of my stories push the envelope. No one would look at a book that had Irish politics in the plot, and my then NY publisher said of Late Harvest, "we don't like Germans." But generally speaking, my biggest struggle was crafting a story that had the elements a New York house was looking for. I'd been writing for nine years before getting the call. I'd studied, written, revised, and written some more. When I finally sold my first book, I'd completed six others. Now that I've a backlist and small presses are embracing more unusual plots, it's been a glorious ride.

Q7. What do you hope your readers will get out of your books?

I hope they find my stories interesting and informative without being preachy; I hope they fall in love with my protagonists and their stories linger after the last page is turned.

 You have a unique side business. 
Q8.  Please tell us a little about your other business. Bellerustique

Five years ago I taught myself wire wrapping and now have a small side business where I create pendants, earrings and bracelets using sterling or gold-filled wire and semi-precious gemstones. I sell on the Internet and at various arts and crafts shows in my local area.

Q9.  Have you or do you plan to work your jewelry interests into any of your writing?

I hadn't thought about that, but it's certainly a great idea!

Now I have a couple of questions to tell us a little more about you personally.
Q10. Who are some of your favorite authors to read when you are not writing?

I'm an eclectic reader, but I often look for a good romantic suspense. I read Brenda Novak and Sharon Sala. In romance it would be Robyn Carr, Lynna Banning (my critique partner). I just found Susanna Kearsley and Julie Klassen, both of whom I admire. I prefer a fast-paced book with lots of plot, strong characterization, and it must be well written.

Q11. If you could trade places with anyone, real or imagined, in any time, who would it be and why?

I don't know about trading places, but an historical figure who fascinates me is Michael Collins. I own every biography written about him.

Q12. If you could have readers finish a sentence what would it be?

Next to happiness and health, I wish for .....

Thank you again Suzanne for sharing with my blog readers and for offering a giveaway of this lovely romance.  Please see the review and Giveaway for a chance to win In Love and War.