Posted in 4 paws, Book Release, coming of age, Southern, Young Adult on May 10, 2022

 

 

Synopsis

 

Seventeen-year-old Maggie Warshauer wants is to leave her stifled life in Filliyaw Creek behind and head to college. An outsider at school and uncertain of her own sexual identity, Maggie longs to start again somewhere new. Inspired by a long-dead biologist’s journals, scientific-minded Maggie spends her days sailing, exploring, and categorizing life around her. But when her beautiful cousin Charisse disappears on prom night and is found dead at the marina where Maggie lives, Maggie’s plans begin to unravel. A mysterious stranger begins stalking her and a local detective on the case leaves her struggling to hold on to her secrets—her father’s alcoholism, her mother’s abandonment, a boyfriend who may or may not exist, and her own actions on prom night. As the detective gets closer to finding the truth, and Maggie’s stalker is closing in, she is forced to come to terms with the one person who might hold the answers—herself.

 

 

Regal House * Amazon * Powells

 

 

Excerpt

 

From Chapter 9

 

“What did you tell him?” Nat’s voice, never much of an instrument anyway, nearly disappeared in the slap of backwash against the dock. Out here at the end of B dock, I thought it would be quieter, but it’s never altogether quiet around water. I pressed the phone up tight against my ear.

“The same stuff.” I watched a heron lift one foot slowly and set it down slowly. “We were at OT, she showed up drunk. I said something about her dress being ripped.”

“He already knew about that. Hulky told him.”

Huh. “Well, Hulky couldn’t hardly keep inside his skin, looking at her.” I heard my own voice say that, like some of Dad’s old hillbilly talk.

The heron had its head pulled back as though it was going to stab something, then eased down and shook its neck-feathers. Nat didn’t say anything. I watched the bird and waited on him. First one to speak loses, so says Dad.

I waited some more, but I must have had more questions than Nat. “So what did you tell him?”

“Yeah, well, all that,” he said. “She was crying and messed up.”

“Did you tell him about what she did?”

“No.”

“Well, he must have known something, cause he was asking me about if we were close.”

“I told him Charisse followed you.” Nat was almost whining. “That’s all.”

“Oh, great.” I could see Vann putting that down in his little book.

“I just told him the truth. You took off and after a while she went the same direction, toward the lake. I never said anything before.”

“Why’d you now?”

“He was saying we looked good for it, Hulky and me. We were the last ones with her, the last ones to see her.” He was talking so fast I could hardly understand him. “We didn’t do anything to her. You know that. We shouldn’t look good for it. Anyway, Hulky probably told him too.”

I remember Vann asking, had I seen anyone when I was walking home.

Clouds underlit by lightning. Wisteria smell. Below the old plantation house, down by the fallen-in cabins, something white had come out of the woods and flashed past me. Big. I heard the leaves scatter, the drumbeat of hooves. It was one of the albino deer that show up around the lake—I realized that, even though my heart was hammering and I stopped on the path and listened before moving as quickly as I could down the hill to the lake, the wind banshee-howling in the shrouds of the sailboats.

“Anyway, they found her in your backyard.”

The great blue had stalked deeper into the water off the point. Now he was cocked like a gun—one foot up—then fast-fast he struck and brought up a good-sized fish.

“Some friend you are,” I said.

 

 

Review

 

This coming-of-age novel is coupled with an unreliable narrator, Maggie. Maggie is trying to figure out who she is in this small town with few friends and an obsession with nature fueled by a book by Carl Linaeus that details botany and insects and other parts of nature. Her living situation isn’t the best as her mother ran off when she was younger and she lives with her father on a houseboat. While this sounds like a wonderful life, plus it is a plus if she wants to study marine biology, things aren’t well as they could be with a father that tends to drink and become maudlin pining for his wife. But despite the dysfunctional family, it seems to work for them.

There is a mystery as to who killed Maggie’s cousin Charisse. The search and anticipation of waiting for the killer to be revealed is actually a twist in the tale at the very end and what you thought you knew to be true is not. While I may not have come to the same conclusion, I had my suspicions about how the story might end. There were multiple suspects, known and unknown, and the final revelation was not quite what I expected.

Maggie has a lot of angst for a teenager, but perhaps that is not surprising because she is a teenager and her actions and reactions were typical for someone of her age. She didn’t mind being alone but at the same time, she longed for friendships and perhaps even a boyfriend. Hopefully, things will change once she gets to college and into a larger town with more people. She is the kind of character that you want to see good things happen to in the future.

The story does flip around a lot and there are some chapters that were focused on nature or her adventures but didn’t do much to move the plot along. Perhaps they were designed to give us more insight into Maggie? I did find myself skipping through those chapters since I didn’t feel it added to the story but detracted it in a way. I also don’t think I would consider this a thriller. I do think it might be more literary fiction delving into symbolism for Maggie and her life.

Overall, it was an interesting read and we give it 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Valerie Nieman’s In the Lonely Backwater is being called “not only a page-turning thriller but also a complex psychological portrait of a young woman dealing with guilt, betrayal, and secrecy.” To the Bones, her folk horror/mystery about coal country, was a finalist for the 2020 Manly Wade Wellman Award, joining three earlier novels, a short fiction collection, and three poetry books. She has published widely in journals and has held state and NEA fellowships. She graduated from West Virginia University and Queens University of Charlotte and retired as a creative writing professor at NC A&T State University.

 

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Posted in excerpt, Giveaway, romance, Romantic Suspense on October 2, 2020

 

 

Beyond Power

 

by Connie Mann

 

Publication Date: 9/1/2020

 

Synopsis

 

If you dare venture beyond Disney’s magic and Miami’s high-rises, you’ll find yourself in Florida’s untamed wilderness…

 

When your heart’s involved…

A bush pilot and officer for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Josh Tanner is one of the tough cops needed to manage the rugged areas of Florida. And the minute he finds Delilah Atwood deep in the woods without a good explanation, he knows something is very wrong…

 

All the stakes are raised…

Delilah barely escaped her ultra-fundamental militia family years ago. Now she’s back to save her sixteen-year-old sister, and no government man is going to stop her. Josh isn’t going to stand by and watch Delilah risk her life, but unless he can get her to trust him, she may end up being the militia’s next victim.

 

 

Amazon * B&NApple

 

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Excerpt

 

I think I’m nearby. Shine a flashlight, call my name, I’ll find you.

 

Josh’s text sent a surge of relief through Delilah, and she sagged against the tree, eyes closed. “Oh thank God.” Seconds later, panic hit. Worried he would give up and leave before he found her, she scrambled to her feet, wincing as she accidentally put weight on her left foot. One hand braced against the tree trunk, she shouted his name, waving her flashlight over her head like a shipwreck survivor who’d finally spotted a Coast Guard vessel.

When he raced into the clearing, Delilah launched herself into his arms. He stumbled back a few steps before he caught his balance, wrapping her tightly in his arms, murmuring, “I’ve got you. I’ve got you.”

She pulled back to see his face, and suddenly, her lips met his—or his met hers, she couldn’t tell which—and they were kissing with the kind of desperation reserved for real shipwreck survivors. The kiss went on and on, sensations rushing over her faster than she could sort them out. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer still, nuzzling his neck, sighing as he murmured in her hair and placed soft kisses along her jaw. His grip shifted, and she realized her legs were wrapped around his waist after she’d climbed him like a tree. His hands cupped her bottom, and when she crossed her ankles to get closer still, she winced in pain.

The moment shattered, and he slowly pulled back. She blinked, dazed and not at all sure she wanted the kiss to end. His eyes said he felt the same, but even so, reason had reasserted itself. He brushed her lips once more, then steadied her as she unwrapped her legs and lowered them to the ground. She winced again when her injured ankle touched down. His grip on her waist tightened. “Easy. Go slow.”

With infinite care, he maneuvered her down against the tree, then crouched beside her. He ran his flashlight over her with crisp efficiency before he set it off to the side so it wouldn’t blind them. His touch was gentle as he tipped her head up so he could see her face. “Are you okay? Which ankle?”

She met his concerned gaze. “Left one. And I’m fine. Nothing much injured except my pride.” She couldn’t believe she’d launched herself at him. “Sorry I, ah, overreacted.”

One side of his mouth curved upward. “The forest can be unsettling at night.” Then his grin widened. “But feel free to overreact anytime you want.”

They grinned at each other like idiots for a minute before she remembered she had to keep her distance. But dang, the man could kiss. He removed her boot, and the sharp pain jerked her back to the present. He ran his big hands from her calf all the way to her toes, then carefully rotated her ankle, and she bit her lip to keep from crying out. When he was done, he gently slid her foot back into the boot, tucking the laces inside rather than tying them, since it was already starting to swell.

“The good news is I don’t think it’s broken.” He sent her the lopsided smile that turned her insides to mush. “The bad news is that I don’t think you’re going to be able to walk on it.”

“How far away is your truck?” she asked.

“Not too far if you have two good legs.” He stood and held out his hands to help her to her feet. The moment she was upright, he pulled her into his arms and wrapped her securely against his hard chest again. “I’m so glad you weren’t hurt worse.”

He kissed her again, gently this time, and Delilah slid into the kiss like a warm bath. She absorbed the strength of his arms around her and the beat of his heart thundering against her chest, feeling cherished and protected in a way she never had before. Slowly, reluctantly, she pulled back, and their eyes met and held, awareness buzzing between them like an electrical current. The heat in his eyes sent a low hum through her body. It buzzed through her a split second before he slapped at a mosquito on her cheek. She yelped in surprise, and he grinned. “Sorry. Bloodthirsty little buggers. Let’s get out of here.”

Keeping one of her hands in his, he turned his back and crouched. “Climb on. I’ll carry you back to my truck.”

Delilah was shaking her head no before he finished speaking. “You can’t carry me. I’m way too heavy.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Are you doubting my manly strength?”

The absurdity surprised a laugh out of her. “I would never doubt your manly strength, Officer Tanner.”

“Then climb on, and let’s get out of here already.” He crouched lower. “And stop calling me Officer Tanner.”

Since she didn’t have much choice at this point, Delilah gingerly climbed on. He scooped her up, piggyback style, and set off into the forest. He spun her around a few times as he walked, singing an off-key version of the seven dwarves song. “Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, it’s through the woods we go,” then he whistled the rest, making up words here and there.

Delilah laughed and attempted, badly, to sing along, appreciating his attempt to distract her from her throbbing ankle. She took her cue from him and decided to enjoy the ride, the feel of her arms wrapped around his neck, his rock-hard arms supporting her as he strolled through the forest as though she weighed nothing. She was used to thinking her way through life, but with Josh, she was learning to simply enjoy the moment.

***

Excerpted from Beyond Power by Connie Mann. © 2020 by Connie Mann. Used with permission of the publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. All rights reserved.

 

 

About the Author

Connie Mann is a licensed boat captain and loves writing romantic suspense stories set in Florida’s small towns and unspoiled wilderness. She is the author of Beyond Risk, (Florida Wildlife Warriors #1), the Safe Harbor series (Tangled Lies, Hidden Threat, Deadly Melody), as well as Angel Falls and Trapped! She has lived in seven different states but this weather wimp has happily called the Ocala area home for more than twenty years.

When she’s not dreaming up plotlines, you’ll find “Captain Connie” on the Silver River, introducing boats full of schoolchildren to their first alligator. She is also passionate about helping women and children in developing countries break the poverty cycle and build a better future for themselves and their families. Besides boating, she and her husband enjoy hanging out with their grown children and extended family and planning their next adventure.

 

Website * Twitter * Facebook

 

 

Giveaway

 

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Posted in excerpt, Giveaway, Romantic Suspense on January 30, 2019

 

Beyond Risk 

By Connie Mann 

Publication date: 1/29/19 

Synopsis

 

The river runs wild 

Former Fish & Wildlife Officer Charlotte “Charlee” Tanner still carries the guilt of a tragic drowning accident that occurred on her watch. She hoped moving back home to the wilds of central Florida would provide a safe haven-until she learns the death was no accident, and she’s the intended target. 

But no wilder than their passion 

Tough and decisive, Lieutenant Hunter Boudreau loves his new job as a law enforcement officer with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission. Charlee is his best friend, so when she comes under fire, he’s not letting her out of his sight until the killer is caught. But Charlee won’t sit by and let anyone else die for her. 

As danger closes in and Charlee and Hunter’s attraction threatens to consume them, Charlee has to decide if she can trust Hunter. And to save Charlee, Hunter will have to trust her, too. 

“Heart-pounding excitement…left me sitting on the edge of my seat.”—#1 New York Times bestselling author DEBBIE MACOMBER for Angel Falls 

 

 

Amazon * B&N * iBooks * Indie Bound * Walmart

 

 

Excerpt

 

While Hunter checked outside, Charlee popped the second batch of cupcakes in the oven, his words echoing in her mind. Her heart ached for him over the loss of his brother. She would have wrapped him in her arms and told him how sorry she was if she thought he’d allow it.

She, better than most, understood the kind of guilt that gnawed at your heart, the sense of failure when things went wrong that never really went away. She also knew responsibility and the need to protect those you cared about. In that way, she and Hunter were exactly the same.

She shook out her fingers to get the blood flowing after clenching the wooden spoon so tightly. She knew every bit of the frustration churning inside him. But even though she knew things were different with Hunter, he still sounded just like her brothers. Or Rick. She wouldn’t tolerate a man telling her what to do “for her own protection.”

She snorted. Please. Capable woman here. Former cop. No pats on the head or macho swagger, thank you very much.

Hadn’t she followed her instincts and done what needed doing today? It had been exactly the right thing—no matter what he thought—and had shored up her battered confidence.

She allowed herself a little smile at that, then let out a breath. Enough. She had far more important things to think about than her muddled feelings for her maddening, altogether tempting best friend.

A bowl of chocolate fudge frosting sat on the table, and she was using her pastry tube to decorate the first batch of cupcakes when Hunter strode back in, his face void of all expression. She glanced up and went back to what she was doing. She didn’t have time to decipher what he was thinking. She didn’t care, either. At least that’s what she told herself.

He walked up behind her, and she could smell his woodsy scent and the heat that emanated from him. “Look, cher, I know you don’t like it, but I’m trying to protect you—”

He didn’t get any further than that. Without conscious thought, Charlee whirled around and shot half the tube of chocolate frosting right in his face, then calmly went back to her cupcakes. “Spare me the macho crap, Lieutenant. I don’t want to hear it.”

The silence went on for several beats, and Charlee had a moment to wonder if she’d gone too far. But then she heard him start to laugh. She looked up through her lashes and saw him tip his head back and laugh like she’d never heard him laugh, with his whole body.

She tried to keep from smiling, but finally gave up and joined in.

She was so distracted by the pull his laughter stirred in her belly that she yelped in surprise when a big glob of frosting landed on her nose. Followed immediately by another blob on her right check. And then her left. She tried to fight back with her pastry tube, but his assault was relentless, swiping frosting off his own face and transferring it to hers.

“Two can play this game, cher, and I’m betting I’ll win,” he warned, adding another layer to her chin.

“Oh yeah?” She went on the offensive, and they went back and forth, smearing frosting on each other.

Laughing and breathless, Charlee took a step back, stunned at the playfulness from such a serious man. She opened her mouth, trying to decide what to say, when his eyes met hers. Their laughter stilled as they studied each other. Behind the frosting and the laughter still dancing in his eyes, Charlee saw something more. Attraction, certainly. But something that went much deeper, that reached beyond friendship and caring and connected them in ways she was almost afraid to examine too closely.

Almost.

Charlee read the clear invitation in his eyes, and suddenly, her arms were around his neck, his wrapped around her back, and his hard mouth came down on hers. But where she expected aggression, he gave her featherlight kisses and licked the frosting from her lips, a smile on his own.

A shiver shot straight to her core, and she clutched his shoulders as he pulled her flush against him. The bands of muscle under her hands tightened, and she could feel the effect she had on him, but his arms didn’t feel like a cage, the way Rick’s had. No, Hunter was different. Danger clung to him like a second skin, but it was never directed at her. He growled low in his throat as he nuzzled her neck, and Charlee shivered, burrowing closer.

She shifted, giving him access to her neck, and ran her hands over his shoulders, down his arms, loving the way his hard grip made her feel safe even as his roaming hands and woodsy scent tempted her, invited her to move closer, to explore the fire that erupted whenever their skin touched.

When he nudged her lips open, she opened her mouth, welcomed his tongue in to dance with hers, hearts pounding, the kiss sparking and bursting to life until all Charlee felt was heat—his,
hers, theirs. Being in his arms was like nothing she’d ever experienced before.

It felt…right.

 

About the Author

 

Connie Mann is a licensed boat captain and loves writing romantic suspense stories set in Florida’s small towns and unspoiled wilderness. She is the author of Beyond Risk, (Florida Wildlife Warriors #1), the Safe Harbor series (Tangled Lies, Hidden Threat, Deadly Melody), as well as Angel Falls and Trapped! She has lived in seven different states but this weather wimp has happily called the Ocala area home for more than twenty years.

When she’s not dreaming up plotlines, you’ll find “Captain Connie” on the Silver River, introducing boats full of schoolchildren to their first alligator. She is also passionate about helping women and children in developing countries break the poverty cycle and build a better future for themselves and their families. Besides boating, she and her husband enjoy hanging out with their grown children and extended family and planning their next adventure.

 

Website * Twitter * Facebook

 

Giveaway

 

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Posted in Giveaway, Interview, Spotlight, Young Adult on September 16, 2016

THE GREENLEE PROJECT
by
Amanda M. Thrasher

Genre: Young Adult / Contemporary / Cyber-bullying
Publisher: Progressive Rising Phoenix Press
Date of Publication: October 31, 2015
Number of Pages: 206

Scroll down for Giveaway!

synopsis

Social media, cruel jokes, and bitter betrayal – watch your teens!

Greenlee Lynn Granger is about to find out how easily social media can be used as a malicious tool: a normal teen one day and ruined the next. Who knew a boy’s affections would turn her life into such a nightmare? Becoming a designated ‘project,’ a joke in front of the whole school, turns Greenlee’s life upside down. Relationships with her family and friends strained, she is forced to make mature decisions. Greenlee knows her choices will determine the future of her abusers.

An emotional glimpse into the reality of cyber-bullying, The Greenlee Project showcases the all-too-common anonymous and cruel betrayals of others through social media, of such magnitude that it devastates a young teen, her friends, family, and the community. Cyber-bullying affects not just the victims, but everyone around them. After being the target of cyber-bullying, what Greenlee does next is shocking.

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Praise for The Greenlee Project

The Greenlee Project is a touching and chilling cautionary tale that every teen should read. Amanda Thrasher gives us interesting and compelling characters, a well-crafted plot, and a breathless pace. Her teens are so real that you will feel you know them personally. Teens will find The Greenlee Project a compelling read and a helpful guide, while adults will see the challenges today’s teens face. This is a grand and important story.”  — David A. Bedford, Ph.D. Instructor of Spanish at TCU

“The Greenlee Project is a captivating fictional story addressing critical real-life issues that tweens and teens face today. Bullying and cyber-bullying are part of our society today that has had tragic consequences for many.  Amanda Thrasher, is a talented author, who has delivered a story that is both compelling and also thought-provoking.  You can feel the emotions of each of the characters as the story unfolds along this journey. It will leave you with the desire to change the world around you and to talk to others about the increasing severity of bullying and cyber-bullying. With the discussion questions included, this is an excellent choice for  book-clubs and middle school language arts classes. Such a critical and important story.  – Lisa Robinson – NSC

“The Greenlee Project is a wonderful book about a terrible subject. It’s hard to read this book without feeling sad, then angry, then empathetic, then proud.”  – Sherry Leigh Rummel

“I was blown away by The Greenlee Project. You hear so much about bullying and things that teenagers deal with online these days. It’s been a few week since I finished the book, and I’m still thinking about how real the characters are. You feel like you could meet any of them at any high school any where. This book is great for any age group, but teens and their parents should definitely read The Greenlee Project.”  – E. Nieman

AuthorInterview

Why did you choose to write in your particular field or genre?

I think it chose me, not that I wouldn’t write other things. But I felt kids need beautiful endings, despite the adventure (The Ghost of Whispering Willow or The Mischief Series), the endings are good or beautiful, because they see or read enough garbage. (That’s my personal opinion. The theory if they’re reading, it’s ok, wasn’t enough for me. I write YA because I believe there’s a HUGE difference, mentally, between a fourteen-year-old and an eighteen-year-old, yet they’re categorized the same way (reading YA age 13-18). I felt that messages such as found in The Greenlee Project could be delivered without spelling everything out.

Where did your love of reading/writing come from?

Started as a child. Creative writing was always my favorite class. But I was reading by the time I was four years old. I love to read and I love to write. I loved poetry first, creative writing after that; but I love to create worlds that other people can enjoy.

What was the hardest part of writing this The Greenlee Project

Oh my goodness, great question, where to start. Everything. The topic. The fact that it could happen to anyone’s kid, yours, the neighbors, or mine, being the victim or the bully. Good kids from great families could end up being bullied or being the bully. At times not even realizing how much damage they’re doing. Scary.

What did you find most useful in learning to write?  What was least useful or most destructive?

I’m going to receive a lot of slack for this statement, I’m sure of it. This is my personal opinion, mine alone, and does not reflect the opinion of Progressive Rising Phoenix Press. I have seen many writers, MS, from educated professionals that have majored in literature. They can string sentences together, form a story line and plot. The grammar is often perfect. But what they lack is emotion, the words that will pull a reader into the book and force them to have no choice but to turn a page. I do not believe everyone can write. I believe they can write a story, yes, but not everyone can write a book worth reading and after all that is the objective of a writer. The most useful information or valuable thing that I’ve learned came from my mentor, editor, and friend. She loved the way I wrote when she didn’t even have to. She said, “Narrate your story, be the tour guide.” I had the emotion and the words that seemed to touch my audience. But without the proper narration, the words could not unfold properly. This was valuable advice. The worst advice I’ve ever heard was to focus on grammatical content. Terrible advice. Writers have editors for a reason but shouldn’t accept everything their editors suggest. Some content, such as dialog, the grammar at times will never be correct.

Is there one subject you would never write about as an author? What is it?

Child murder or disappearing. I just couldn’t go there…

Who are some of your favorite authors you feel were influential in your work?  What impact have they had on your writing?

Today I read biographies, Patterson, Grisham, DeMille. Growing up my favorites, which likely influenced me the most were Jane Austen (love her still), Pride and Prejudice of course and Sense and Sensibility, Great Expectations by Charles Dickens and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. Great Expectations and The Lion, the Witch and The Wardrobe, I remember receiving for my birthday. I read them over and over again. I still have my copy of The Lion the Witch and The Wardrobe. I was eight years old. The pages are yellow, falling apart. But it came all the way from England with me.

What literary character is most like you?

Honestly, I wouldn’t even know. It would depend which day it was J work day, Progressive Rising Phoenix Press, CEO, or writing day, where I’m an author, or being mom and wife. They encompass so many different roles. My mind set is different in every one. It has to be. Business world is 100% different than the creative world.

What book do you wish you could have written?

Interesting question……um……I haven’t written it yet, and I haven’t thought about taking someone else’s work. I’ll have to keep thinking about that one.

What do your plans for future projects include?

Trade shows, social media, book cover reveals, blogs, PR, website coming soon, anything to drum up interest a head of time.

What’s your funniest flaw?

Maybe funny to some but not if you’re living with me, ha, but I’m insomniac so can work till odd hours of the evening. Eat at late hours and it’s not unusual to forget to eat and have to be reminded.

If you were a superhero, what would your name be? What costume would you wear?

I’d wear something cute, definitely, likely with heels (because I always wear heels) J unless I wear running shoes, probably superfixer. Ha! Fix things, super fast.

Where is one place you want to visit that you haven’t been before?

Colorado.

If you could speak with any accent from anywhere in the world, what would you choose?

Italian

**SPOILER ALERT!***SPOILER ALERT!***SPOILER ALERT!***SPOILER ALERT!**

For those of us who’ve read the book. . . did Clay ever really like Greenlee?

I don’t think he did. I think he felt guilt afterwards, which is the cruelest part, because the guilt came for the right reasons but his act was so cruel. I think he showed remorse, which was good character, but he broke her heart and humiliated her. He felt bad for his part, as he should. He felt the need to make it right, as he should because he recognized how brutal what he’d done was and he needed to make amends as best he could and take ownership of his part. That was the right the thing to do. But I don’t think he ever cared for her; that’s devastating for her, Greenlee. Not only was she humiliated, but also her heart was stomped on at the same time. I like that Clay took ownership of his part, but I hate that he broke her heart. It was cruel and the damage for a teen girl is often irreversible (the heartache) for many years. Add the humiliation, just brutal.

about the author

amanda-thrasherMultiple Award Winning Author Amanda M. Thrasher was born in England, moved to Texas and resides there still. Author of several children’s books including picture books, middle-grade chapter books, YA and even a reader’s theater titled “What If . . . A Story of Shattered Lives.” She conducts workshops, writes a blog and contributes to an online magazine. She’s a multiple Gold recipient of the Mom’s Choice Awards for The Greenlee Project, YA and General Fiction, and for Spider Web Scramble, a Mischief book. As Chief Executive Officer of Progressive Rising Phoenix Press, she assists authors with their work and shares her writing process and what she has learned as a publisher with people of all ages.

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ONE GRAND PRIZE WINNER WINS: $50 VISA GIFT CARD + SIGNED COPY!

FOUR RUNNERS-UP: EACH WINS A SIGNED COPY!

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September 7 – September 16, 2016 

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Check out these other blogs on the tour

9/7 Review – Byers Editing Reviews & Blog

9/8 Book Trailer – Texas Book Lover

9/9 Review – Hall Ways Blog

9/10 Excerpt – Country Girl Bookaholic

9/11 Author Interview – My Book Fix Blog

9/12 Review – The Page Unbound

9/13 Guest Post – Forgotten Winds

9/14 Excerpt – Margie’s Must Reads

9/15 Review – Kara The Redhead

9/16 Author Interview – StoreyBook Reviews

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