Category Archives: Reviews

Stepping into a new role: Stories from Stepmoms #review

Becoming a stepmom is like walking into a minefield. One wrong move and everything could explode. Stepping into a New Role: Stories from Stepmoms explores the situation in stories by women who have navigated the stormy seas of stepmothering.

Stories from Stepmoms

Stories from Stepmoms

Book Blurb:

Author Shawn Simon thought being a stepmom would be easy until her stepdaughter spit on her dog. That’s when she knew a long road lay ahead. So she decided to make it her mission to meet other stepmoms and hear their stories. Once she did, she felt supported and no longer alone, and she decided to write a book. This collection of stories from stepmoms contains tales of inspiration, triumph, tribulations, and joys of being a stepmom. It’s like a stepmom support group in writing.

My Review:

Would you want to walk into the minefield of stepmothering without some kind of guide to help you? Not clinical but from people who have been there.

Author, Shawn Simon, shares her voyage into uncharted waters and when she couldn’t find a self-help book out there set out to write her own. She interviewed other women who found themselves in the same situation and I’m sure speaking out about their experiences was cathartic for them.

The book is well-written. I breezed through it in a couple of days (life and day job interrupted me). Some of the stories were heartbreaking while others were amusing. Overall it was an enjoyable read.

I highly recommend it for any woman who is about to take on the role of stepmom.

About the author:

Stories from Stepmoms

Shawn Simon, MA, is a Board Certified Educational Therapist who works with children. Therefore, when she met the man of her dreams, who just happened to come with a couple of kids, she thought being a stepmom would be a breeze. She was wrong. However, as someone born with only one arm, she’s learned to overcome obstacles. Thus, she knew she could face the challenges of step-mothering. Shawn is published in the Association of Educational Therapists’ Journal and is an award-winning inspirational speaker in her field. She lives in Southern California with her husband, two step-kids, two rescue dogs, and one sixteen-year-old cat. Shawn is currently at work on more books for stepfamilies.

You can follow Shawn on:

Facebook: Stepmom Shawn Simon Says 
Twitter: @shawnsimon44
 

And you can buy her book here:

e-book launch party + giveaway for A SHADOW IN THE PAST

Welcome to the e-book Launch Party for A SHADOW IN THE PAST + GIVEAWAY

blog party button

The big day is finally here! I’m so excited. Today, I’m hosting the e-book launch party for my debut novel, A Shadow in the Past. I know I’ve been urging you not to download my novel and there’s been a really good reason behind this. If everyone waits until launch day – today – then my book will soar up the ratings at amazon, especially if everyone buys the kindle version… hint, hint… The Classic Wink Smiley

 

 

ebook cover on readerWhen a contemporary teen is transported back through time to the Victorian era, she becomes A Shadow in the Past…

Nineteen-year-old Sarah Shand finds herself thrust back into the past. There she struggles to keep her real identity from a society that finds her comments and ideas strange and her speech and actions forward, unlike Victorian women. When Sarah verbally confronts confining social practices, including arranged marriages; powerful enemies commit her to a lunatic asylum. After falling in love with the handsome Laird of Weetshill, Robert Robertson, she must decide whether to find her way back to her own time or to remain in the past with him.

confetti burstNow that you know what the book is about – let’s PARTY!

Since A Shadow in the Past takes place in Scotland, I thought we’d start out with some Scottish music to get things started.

How about a little Old Blind Dogs to start things off with their song Bennachie.

The hill of Bennachie is in Aberdeenshire and not all that far from the fictitional village of Kendonald where A Shadow of the Past takes place.

I suppose you’re starting to get hungry. I know it’s not Scottish fayre, but let’s order in pizza. I know not everyone likes the same toppings, so you can all choose your own by clicking on this link.

While we’re waiting for our pizzas to arrive, I’ll put on some more music. Runrig is another one of my favourite Scottish bands, and when I’m listening to CDs when I’m driving, I love to crank the volume up for this song – Alba.

Pizza’s here! Too bad real delivery wasn’t this fast. I’ll just fetch us some bubbly that I’ve had chilling to celebrate with.

champagne

champagne flutes

While we’re recharging our batteries with a bite to eat and a glass or two of bubbly, I’ll pop on 500 Miles by the Proclaimers. Every time I hear this song, I think of the movie Benny and Joon.

Anyone for dessert? It’s a hot day so I thought ice cream would be fitting. I’ve got it and frozen yogurt in case you prefer that along with waffle and sugar cones, dishes, and loads of toppings. I’ll set everything out on the kitchen island and we can make our own – sundaes or cones!

As my e-book launch party winds down, I must give you the most important links of all – the where to buy links!

amazon.com logo
amazon.co.uk logo


My GIVEAWAY:

You could win one of two A Shadow in the Past swag packs.

a shadow in the past postcard fronta shadow in the past postcard backa shadow in the past ebook postcard fronta shadow in the past postcard backa shadow in the past bookmarkor

 A Shadow in the Past 2014 wall calendar with photographs taken by me depicting the area(s) where the book was set.

a shadow in the past 2014 calendarTo enter the draw, leave your answer to this question “If you could go back in time, what era would you like visit?” in the comments. A winner will be chosen randomly.

Good luck!

I hoped you enjoyed my launch party today but even more importantly, I hope you enjoy reading A Shadow in the Past as much as I enjoyed writing it.

REVIEWS – authors love to get them

There’s nothing like basking in the glory of a 5-star review of your novel. Even if it’s a 1-star stinker, at least you’ve moved someone to write why they didn’t care for your book. I’ve been told, too, you haven’t arrived until you’ve received one of these unpleasantly aromatic odorous reviews.

I’ve been approached by people in the supermarket who have bought my book and told me in the middle of the canned veg aisle how much they loved it, how I twisted the plot and kept them turning the pages so they couldn’t put the book down.

As authors these are the things we truly love to hear or read. It reinforces our belief that we’ve written a quality piece of work that resonated with that particular reader.

But when you don’t get that feedback – whether it be a written review, or a reader makes a point of telling you face-to-face how much they enjoyed your book – you don’t know.

When you read a book (especially if it’s a new-to-you author), do you take the time to write a review and post it on amazon, Goodreads or other sites?

 

My First 5* Review for A Shadow in the Past!

Cover by Aidana WillowRaven

I’m so excited right now. I’ve got my first 5* review! I admit that from the time my book was a real “physical” thing and out in the world, I didn’t know if people would like it or not. As a matter of fact, I was terrified people would hate it. And admittedly there will be people out there who won’t.

You can read my 5* review at goodreads and a slightly more condensed version over at amazon.com.

Will these reviews entice you buy A Shadow in the Past? I certainly hope so. If you’re feeling so inclined to purchase your own copy, you can buy it from the following links:


In Canada:

Amazon.ca: http://www.amazon.ca/Shadow-Past-Melanie-Robertson-King/dp/0983801886/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1346607916&sr=1-1

ChaptersIndigo: http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/A-Shadow-In-The-Past-Melanie-Robertson-king/9780983801887-item.html?ikwid=a+shadow+in+the+past&ikwsec=Home

and if you’re local to Brockville, you can buy it from Leeds County Books, 73 King Street West.

In the US:

4RV Publishing: http://4rvpublishingcatalog.yolasite.com/robertson-king.php

Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Past-Melanie-Robertson-King/dp/0983801886/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1344434406&sr=1-1

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-shadow-in-the-past-melanie-robertson-king/1112348992?ean=9780983801887

And in the UK:

Amazon.co.uk:http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shadow-Past-Melanie-Robertson-King/dp/0983801886/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1344434484&sr=1-1

A Shadow in the Past International Blog Tour Day 15 – the last stop and what a ride it’s been!!!

Today I’m being roasted by the lovely ladies and Oliver over at Author Roast & Toast. Setting my novel in Scotland and loving all things Scottish, it seemed fitting my roast takes place at a ceilidh.

One lucky person will win a signed copy of my novel A Shadow in the Past. Just drop by and leave a comment and the winner will be chosen at random. Who knows it might be you!

And for those of you who might have come in to my blog tour late, here is a list of the previous stops.

loveahappyending.com

Rebecca Emin’s Ramblings of a Rusty Writer blog
and fellow Ottawa Romance Writers’ Association member, author Maggie Jagger http://maggiejaggerauthor.blogspot.com/

Stephanie Keyes Fall Fantasy Authors Series

Nikki Bywater reviews A Shadow in the Past at Books4U

Rosemary Gemmell hosts me over at Ros’s Reading & Writing blog

Nicky Wells CentreStage
and fellow Ottawa Romance Writer member Maureen Fisher at Books by Maureen

Joe Mossman
Christopher D. Hanna at My adventure in becoming a writer
and Dorothy Bush at Twisting in the Wind

Peggy Stanton’s – Looking Out
Janice Horton – Writer & Novelist

Shaz reviews A Shadow in the Past at Jera’s Jamboree

Carol E. Wyer at Facing 50 with Humour

Patricia Sands at Everyone has a story…
Ashley Stoyanoff at The world of Ashley Stoyanoff and over on her Goodreads blog

Mandy Baggot’s Blog

Chris Longmuir at Chris Longmuir, Crime Writer

fellow 4RV author Penny Ehrenkranz

Lindsay Healy reviews A Shadow in the Past at Little Reader Library

Stop back here tomorrow or at Author Roast & Toast to see who the lucky winner of my signed book is!

A Shadow in the Past International Blog tour Day 13 – two more interviews today…

Two more interviews today. Since I’m already on this side of the pond, I’m going to take an EasyJet up to Scotland and visit my good friend, crime-writer Chris Longmuir. What does crime-writing have to do with the genre I write you ask? Well, we have another interest in common which is how we met. To find out what first brought us together you’ll have to visit her Chris Longmuir, Crime Writer blog.

From Bonnie Scotland, it’s back to North America where I’m visiting fellow 4RV Publishing author Penny Ehrenkranz on her blog.

Tomorrow, on the second last day of my blog tour I’m back in the UK at Lindsay Healy’s Little Reader Library blog.

A Shadow in the Past International Blog Tour Day 12 – I’m visiting the lovely Mandy Baggot!

Day 12 on my International Blog tour takes me back to England and to the home of the lovely, multi-talented Mandy Baggot, who among the ranks of loveahappyending.com we lovingly refer to as Lady Baggot!

In addition to being an excellent writer, self-promoter, and singer she’s an excellent hostess.  I just hope I don’t spill anything or otherwise embarrass myself whilst being her guest.

Psst… it’s a secret, don’t tell Mandy but I’m trying glean as many of her promotion ideas as I can.

A Shadow in the Past International Blog Tour Day 11 – Back in Canada today!!!

I’m back in Canada today and whilst not in my hometown, I am in my home province – Ontario. My first stop is at fellow loveahappyending.com Patricia Sands’ Everyone has a story… blog.

After that I hop onto the motorway and head east where I stop in for a visit with Ashley Stoyanoff at her blog The World of Ashley Stoyanoff who I met through Goodreads. I won a copy of her book in a blog giveaway and couldn’t resist asking if she would be willing to host me on my tour. She graciously accepted to host me on her blog today.

Tomorrow I’m back in England with Mandy Baggot but if you’ve missed any of my daily stops so far, here’s a recap…

loveahappyending.com

Rebecca Emin’s Ramblings of a Rusty Writer blog
and fellow Ottawa Romance Writer, Maggie Jagger

Stephanie Keyes Fall Fantasy Authors Series

Nikki Bywater reviews A Shadow in the Past at Books4U

Rosemary Gemmell hosts me over at Ros’s Reading & Writing blog

Nicky Wells CentreStage
and fellow Ottawa Romance Writer member Maureen Fisher at Books by Maureen

Joe Mossman Christopher D. Hanna at My adventure in becoming a writer and Dorothy Bush at Twisting in the Wind

Peggy Stanton’s – Looking Out
Janice Horton – Writer & Novelist

Shaz reviews A Shadow in the Past at Jera’s Jamboree

Carol E. Wyer at Facing 50 with Humour

A Shadow in the Past International Blog Tour Day 10 – humour with Carol E. Wyer!!!

Today Carol E. Wyer is hosting me on her Facing 50 with Humour Blog! I’ve seen her guest hosts and they’re sure to bring a chuckle! I just hope mine can live up to the zany humour that’s been there before me.

And while I’m hanging out over at Carol’s blog, she’s at Celtic Connexions! So please drop by both places and see what mischief the pair of us have gotten up to.