I just want to say thanks to everyone who dropped by here yesterday to check out my review of More and to participate in the giveaway. We have a winner. Representatives of the publisher will be in touch with the winner regarding their book. Congratulations! i hope you all will get a copy of this excellent book as soon as you can. You won’t be sorry.

Here I am with another new book blog tour, and what a book this is! I reviewed this already, but I’m reposting my review. Also, as I’ve done previously, if you’d like the chance to win a copy of this fantastic book, this time, you have two ways to have a chance. Read on, and after the review, check out the details.

MORE, BY T M FRANKLIN
Book review

A book that drew me in, captivated me and left me breathless, that’s how I’d describe this book.
When I received the book I literally could not stop reading. It’s fairly cliché to say I couldn’t put this down, but I couldn’t. I carried my kindle around the house with me, while I did laundry, took care of my dogs, did other household chores and then just sat on my couch reading till I reached the end. Utterly spellbound and lost in the story.
Ava is a normal college girl, worried about possibly failing physics and living a normal college girl life. Or is she? She has recurring nightmares of a large man coming after her. What happens when her nighttime world and her daytime world collide, and the nightmare becomes all too frighteningly real?
Caleb is a seemingly mild physics tutor. Or is he? He always seems to be exactly where Ava needs him when she needs him.
Due to circumstances I won’t detail, the two set off on a wild ride to escape something that is coming for Ava. That portion of the story reminded me a bit of Firestarter, by Stephen King, when Andy is desperately running with his daughter trying to keep her out of the hands of the people chasing them. My heart raced during these scenes, and I wanted to rush through to see what would happen. And I wasn’t disappointed. Ava showed she’s no wimp, and made a choice that took the story in an unexpected direction, and I was delighted beyond words.
More is filled with well-drawn characters, people I loved, people I distrusted. Ava had me cheering for her from the beginning. Caleb is a good guy, willing to go against the trend to do what he believes is right, in my mind, exactly what makes a hero. There are others, good and bad, and each character we met was exactly who they should be, the good guys making me want to know them, the bad guys making me want to run, or slug them, and even some whose motives and feelings leave me questioning and wondering who they really are. Characters make a story for me, and Franklin made me love hers.
The book has a great blend of action and calm, suspense and answers. The romance was toned down, not the focus, and I loved that. I was far too interested in all the other aspects of the story. In some ways, this reminded me of some of the best Barbara Michaels or Elisabeth Ogilvie, that great mix of romance and suspense that keeps you hoping and thinking. Yet, T. M. Franklin has a completely new and unique voice, and honestly, I can’t wait to read anything else she may write in the future.
And in the end, as I sat still and speechless at the last word, I was filled with one overwhelming thought,
“No, it can’t be over. I want more!”

And I still can’t say enough about this great book. So, now, on to winning.

First of all, if you send an email to me at

[email protected]

put More in the subject line and in the body of the message, put your name and email address. Don’t worry, I’m too busy to spam you back with mail! At the end of the day, one winner will be chosen.

And T.M. Franklin is having a big prize giveaway on her site. Check it out! Here are the links.

Franklin web site:

http://t.co/uaouvKMF

specific post re the blog tour:

http://t.co/QfEdCp4a

Come along for the ride, and run to read this book to meet some great new characters and go on one hell of a journey with them.

Damaged Goods by Alexandra Allred

Hilarious Girl Power and then some.
That’s how I’d describe this book. From Joanna, who upon divorcing her husband takes an old house in a small Texas town in the divorce settlement, a house which turns out to be a money pit, to Suzette, who has her leg mauled and removed, thanks to a tiger—one of the wild animals she’d rescued—to the women who meet regularly at a local café, these women are people you don’t want to miss. Diverse, seemingly not a group of women you’d picture together as friends, they come to know each other and to help each other. Eventually, they take on the town’s main business, the one that provides the majority of the jobs, while it poisons everything around. Worthy of plots like Erin Brokovich and A civil action. And all the while I laughed and groaned and rooted for these women with all my heart. And I came to care deeply for them.
My initial reaction to Joanna and Suzette on first meeting them was that I wasn’t sure I liked them. I admit, I was tired and burned out when I started reading, having just finished a major project of my own, but when Joanna saw her money pit and yet determined to stay and make it work, I loved her and was on her side. When Suzette first mentioned the way she lost her leg, the animal rights person in me felt my hackles rise. But then the character threw it right back in my face, starting with something about “before you get up in arms about me having this tiger” and I realized she was rescuing animals that other idiots had tried to keep as pets, I was on her side all the way. Allred makes you laugh, even at how Suzette lost her leg, because of the amusing way the character tells the story. Later, as Suzette experienced tragedy, I grieved for her, and as Joanna didn’t give up, I applauded. I felt like I left this book with a group of new friends, friends I hope to revisit someday in future reads of this book.
I love that this isn’t the usual book, it’s not about seduction, and romance and things like that. It’s about friends, about women coming together to fight something wrong, something that on the surface, you’d think they can’t beat. Corporate greed, illegal immigrants, animals and the bonds of women, and all this brings this story to a very special place. I can’t wait to read more by this author in the future.

Yes, I read Lessons Learned by the amazing Sydney Logan a while back, after I first read it. But the book is officially released this week, September 6, so I want to post the review again. I also had the chance to interview Sydney, and you can read her a little about her as you go on.

And to celebrate the release, if you’d like to try to win a copy of the book, please email me at:

[email protected]

Put lessons learned in the subject line and your name and email address in the body of the message.

Now, read on, for my review and interview with Sydney Logan, the author of this very special book.

Review
This is the story of two teachers, Sarah and Lucas, who find themselves in Sycamore Falls. Sarah returns to the place where she grew up after a tragedy in her life; Lucas accepts a teaching offer after his own crisis. They both teach at the local high school, involving themselves in the life of the kids they teach and the goings on in this small town. They find love, laughter, friendship prejudice and sorrow along the way. I don’t want to say more so as not to spoil the story.
Sydney Logan captures the best and the worst of a small town in this delightful book. I felt like I knew the people the main characters encounter. I fell in love with the students in Sarah’s class, cheered for their successes and wept for their pain. Both Sarah and Lucas were the kind of teachers I’d have wanted to have in high school, and in fact, Sarah reminded me of a French Teacher I had, who cared deeply about each of her students and kept my high school experience from being even more miserable than it was. Being a person with a disability, who was never really accepted in my public high school, I related to the students in this story who went against the norm and had to face the lack of acceptance and tolerance.
This is a story of love overall, love between a woman and man, love between friends, the love of teaching and love of the students. In particular, Sarah’s memories and love of her grandmother touched me and made me cry, remembering my own Granny. I felt like I knew Sarah’s grandmother, and I wanted to know her.
The story made me experience the range of emotions, laughter, tears, fear, worry, love, anger. I cheered for Sarah and Lucas, for Matt, one of their students. I wanted to hug them all, kick some butt, and had moments when I thought my heart would literally stop.
Reading Lessons Learned made me feel warm and happy. And isn’t that the experience a truly great book should give? What more could anyone want in a book, but lovely well-developed characters you care about, a plot that is contemporary in theme and in the best way old-fashioned at the same time, a setting that almost becomes a character in itself?
I didn’t always agree with the main characters opinions, but I agreed with their actions all the way. One thing I love about the author’s writing is that the drama isn’t in the relationship between Sarah and Lucas. Lucas is the kind of guy we’d all hope to find, loving and supportive. There are no misunderstandings or running away from each other. The relationship grows and builds, their love and trust is something special. The drama is external in their pasts and the issues they face in the people around them, but not between Sarah and Lucas.
I loved reading this. I read at work, read every free minute and never wanted it to end. When it was finished though, I was satisfied in the way only a terrific book can do. It was one of the best things I’d read in a very long time.

Interview with Sydney Logan

1. I found myself smiling at the description of Sarah‘s music collection, particularly the records. I grew up with records and still miss them. Do you have a similar collection, such as CCR and Michael Jackson? And on records?
I am very much Sarah in that I preferred records to dolls when I was a girl. I bought my first record when I was four years old. I had a massive vinyl collection, and so did my father, so the CCR mentions were his. I loved, loved, loved Michael Jackson. My bedroom was like a shrine. Sadly, we moved a few times, and I neglected my records for cassettes, and eventually CDs. Now, I have no idea where my records are, and that makes me so sad. It was a fantastic collection.

2. Is Sycamore Falls based on a real place? Did you grow up in a small town like it or live in one now?
Sycamore Falls is completely fictional, but I do live in a small town. It’s not as small as Sycamore Falls. We have about 5,000 people. It’s definitely a small town in that everyone knows your business.

3. Though I’ve followed your writing for several years now, I really don’t know much about you outside writing. Are you a teacher, and if so, what do you teach and what grade level?
I do teach, but I’d prefer not to be too specific when it comes to what I teach and grade levels. I will say I teach elementary school.

The next two questions are based on you saying yes to are you a teacher, which I believe is true from email and twitter stuff.
4. Your opening scene, the prologue, it is so powerful and haunted me for days after I first read it. Sarah’s reactions to it, her anxiety, her compassion for her students in Sycamore Falls is so powerful and genuine. Have you ever experienced a school shooting?
Thank you for the compliment. As for experiencing a shooting, thankfully, I have not. We had one in a neighboring city a few years ago, but I am grateful to have not experienced that myself.

5. Sarah’s rapport with her students, particularly Matt, is one of the strengths of the story for me. I had a teacher I swear is the only reason I graduated high school. As a teacher, what is it like to watch the students blossom and spread their wings or find confidence, particularly if you were a part in helping them achieve that confidence?
There’s truly nothing like it. I have a good rapport with my students, and it’s an amazing feeling to know that I may have played a small role in their lives.

6. Did you ever actually go t.p.ing? And did you get caught at the pastor’s house? I t.p.ed my pastor’s house in high school too. He thought it was hilarious. We had quite the crazy high school group.
Good for you! I’ve never gone TP’ing lol. I was never that brave!
7. What is your favorite or top couple favorite books?
I’m never good at answering this question, because I love so many books. My favorite children’s book is The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. My favorite fiction book is probably A Time to Kill by John Grisham.
8. I can’t write the way my favorite author did, though I wish I could. Who is your favorite author? Does that author inspire your writing or influence the type of writing you do?
My favorite romance author is Nicholas Sparks, because he makes me cry with every single book. That style of writing does influence me because I like writers who evoke emotion. I don’t want to just write a romance. I want to write a romance with a message, even if that message is painfully realistic

Thanks, Sydney for answering these questions. I’m honored to be a part of your first book release!
Thank you for having me!