Tuesday, March 29, 2022

Just My Imagination Release Day: *lizzie starr

New book in the Aspen Gold Series available now!


Can his magic save her reality?

Owner of the Keltic Ranch gift shop in Olde Town, Konnor MacDhuibh is skilled in forging fantasy blades and keeping his Faerie heritage and magical abilities a secret. But when Bonnie Zhang and her two doxies need a place to stay, the empty apartment above his store is the perfect solution. Being so close to the cautious woman with haunted eyes tosses his good intentions to the wind.

Bonnie brings secrets of her own to Spencer. Leaving her broken past behind, she’s ready for a new beginning. But if her secret is exposed too soon, she could lose any hope for acceptance--and a family.

Will their truths lead to love or destroy any hope they’ve forged?


This book is also part of *lizzie starr's Keltic Multiverse:
Children of the Triad 2



Writing Book Reviews: Cheryl St.John

 It can be intimidating to write a review, and the process doesn't come naturally to everyone. Readers even say it's irritating when the seller immediately sends an email asking for a review, and they haven't had time to finish the book yet.


Don't be rushed

Enjoy the story and take notes as you're reading. The author doesn't expect you to be a professional writer--that's their job. The author loves it that you take the time to express how you felt about their story.


Read reviews on other books

What sort of reviews help you select a book to buy? Do you like quotes pulled from the book? Do you like fair warning about emotional triggers? What do others say that you can appreciate about their review style?


Hook the reader

Why did you pick up this book? Why do you think another reader should or shouldn’t? What was your takeaway? Explain what caught your attention.

 

A brief review is as effective and counts as much as a detailed one

I loved this story!

I’ll be buying more from this author.

Kept me reading until way too late.

It felt like these characters were real people.

Don’t stress over a lengthy review. Even a couple of sentences are helpful to the author. Simply telling other readers why you liked a book is helpful.


Don’t write a synopsis of the book
Authors spend a lot of time on their story blurbs on the sales pages where readers can learn the premise. Focus on elements that you feel particularly strongly about or you think that your readers will want to be aware of. If you liked a character, explain why. If you didn’t like a character, make it clear why you felt that way. Did you appreciate the author’s writing style? How did the story make you feel?

 

Avoid spoilers
Please don't give away spoilers about secrets. Writers take special care to reveal plot points and secrets at appropriate times in a story. Reviews giving away the big moments are disappointing the the author, and readers don’t appreciate knowing what’s going to happen ahead of time. If you’ve done this in the past, please be kind and revise.

 

What matters is how you felt about the characters and their story
What worked or didn’t work? Was the story satisfying? Did you appreciate character development? Did the story end the way you hoped or was the conclusion better or worse than expected?


Always proofread

Did you use correct character names? Do you have typos? Did you give away a spoiler?

 

Where to leave reviews

There are places to leave reviews that help the author with visibility and sales. Familiarize yourself with them.

        Your blog

        Amazon

        Goodreads

        BookBub

You love books, so have fun
Readers read reviews to make buying choices. Everyone appreciates a well thought out commentary on a book. Be creative with your remarks and write as though you’re speaking to the next reader trying to decide what to buy. You are.


                                            __________________________


Cheryl St.John is the author of over fifty novels, both historical and contemporary, print and indie published. Her stories have earned numerous RITA nominations, Romantic Times awards and are published in over a dozen languages. One thing all reviewers and readers agree on regarding Cheryl’s work is the degree of emotion and believability. Words like ‘heart-warming, emotional depth, touches your soul, tugs your heart, endearing characters and on my keeper shelf’ are commonly used to describe her work.


In describing Cheryl’s stories of second chances and redemption, readers and reviewers use words like, “emotional punch, hometown feel, core values, believable characters and real-life situations.” Amazon and Goodreads reviews show her popularity with readers.


MAYBE I'M THE ONE

Nashville fans will enjoy this story of a beloved country singer who returns to her roots and encounters the cowboy whose song she unknowingly stole.

Audrey Knox sacrificed to make a successful career in Nashville, but the bigger her star shines, the smaller her world has become. After an eye--opening incident on tour, she wants her daughter to experience small-town life as she knew it, so she takes a break from touring to reconnect with her roots and introduce the eight-year-old to life on Big Pines Ranch. Facing the past might be her biggest challenge yet.

Jericho Tanner has loved Audrey since they were children on adjoining ranches, their families entwined. He fills the void of intimacy, love and belonging with ranch work and his deputy position in Rockwell County, with aspirations of taking over as sheriff. Emotional vulnerability is frightening, and his walls are sturdy and tall. When Audrey and her young daughter show up in Spencer, he’s forced to see his wounds in a new light.

Sweet romance from a USAToday award-winning author


Monday, March 28, 2022

Chocolate Rhubarb Cake

I'm just getting to last summer's crop of rhubarb at the bottom of my freezer. I have it chopped and bagged into 8 cup portions. So today is chocolate rhubarb cake day.


MINIMUM SKILL REQUIRED

 Prepare sauce ahead:
  • 6-8 cups chopped rhubarb
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1/4 cup water
Place in heavy saucepan and bring to a boil. Turn down heat; simmer and stir while mixture bubbles about 20 minutes or until foamy. Cool, cover and refrigerate.
Preheat oven to 350. Grease and spray Bundt pan well.
  • 1 package chocolate cake mix
  • 1/4 cup light olive oil
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 cups cooked rhubarb
Combine first three ingredients; beat well until mixture is smooth.
Add 2 cups rhubarb sauce, reserving remainder for topping.
Pour into greased pan and bake about 40 minutes (depending on your pan)

Cool in pan 20 minutes, then invert onto plate to cool

Warm the remaining sauce and spoon over slices to serve
Refrigerate leftovers.


This recipe and more in Cheryl St.John's Bundt cake book, All About the Bundt

CLICK HERE TO ORDER

Tuesday, March 08, 2022

Release Day: Maybe I'm the One

 



I create a playlist for each book while I'm writing it, and it goes through a metamorphous before the book is finished and ready to share with the world. The songs must convey a mood or portray how a character was feeling during a scene. In Maybe I'm the One I'd have been remiss if I hadn't used a Maybelle Carter song, since Maybelle was Audrey's idol, and Audrey owns something really special of hers.
If you have amazon music, you can enjoy listening here

If not, create your own Spotify or other list with these songs:


MAYBE I’M THE ONE PLAYLIST 

  • You Are the Reason – Calum ScottAdore 
  • You – Harry Styles
  • To Love Somebody – Beyries
  • Have I Told You Lately – Rod Stewart
  • Good as You – Kane Brown
  • To Fight is to Lose – Mia Dyson
  • This Time – Connie Britton
  • Changes – Langhorne Slim
  • Fade Into You – Sam Palladio & Clare Bowen
  • This Little Bird -- Marianne Faithful
  • Wildwood Flower – Maybelle Carter
  • Fearless – Cyndi Lauper
  • Landslide – Liam Titcomb
  • Time After Time – Eva Cassidy
  • When the Right One Comes Along – Sam Palladio & Clare Bowen
  • A Groovy Kind of Love – Phil Collins




Nashville fans will enjoy this story of a beloved country singer who returns to her roots and encounters the cowboy whose song she unknowingly stole.


Audrey Knox sacrificed to make a successful career in Nashville, but the bigger her star shines, the smaller her world has become. After an eye--opening incident on tour, she wants her daughter to experience small-town life as she knew it, so she takes a break from touring to reconnect with her roots and introduce the eight-year-old to life on Big Pines Ranch. Facing the past might be her biggest challenge yet.

Jericho Tanner has loved Audrey since they were children on adjoining ranches, their families entwined. He fills the void of intimacy, love and belonging with ranch work and his deputy position in Rockwell County, with aspirations of taking over as sheriff. Emotional vulnerability is frightening, and his walls are sturdy and tall. When Audrey and her young daughter show up in Spencer, he’s forced to see his wounds in a new light.

Sweet romance from a USAToday award-winning author


CLICK HERE TO ORDER FROM AMAZON


OTHER RETAILERS

NEW RELEASE: Maybe I'm the One Playlist

Nashville fans will enjoy this story of a beloved country singer who returns to her roots and encounters the cowboy whose song she unknowingly stole.

Audrey Knox sacrificed to make a successful career in Nashville, but the bigger her star shines, the smaller her world has become. After an eye--opening incident on tour, she wants her daughter to experience small-town life as she knew it, so she takes a break from touring to reconnect with her roots and introduce the eight-year-old to life on Big Pines Ranch. Facing the past might be her biggest challenge yet.

Jericho Tanner has loved Audrey since they were children on adjoining ranches, their families entwined. He fills the void of intimacy, love and belonging with ranch work and his deputy position in Rockwell County, with aspirations of taking over as sheriff. Emotional vulnerability is frightening, and his walls are sturdy and tall. When Audrey and her young daughter show up in Spencer, he’s forced to see his wounds in a new light.

Sweet romance from a USAToday award-winning author



I create a playlist for each book while I'm writing it, and it goes through a metamorphous before the book is finished and ready to share with the world. The songs must convey a mood or portray how a character was feeling during a scene. In Maybe I'm the One I'd have been remiss if I hadn't used a Maybelle Carter song, since Maybelle was Audrey's idol, and Audrey owns something really special of hers.






MAYBE I’M THE ONE PLAYLIST

 

You Are the Reason – Calum Scott

Adore You – Harry Styles

To Love Somebody – Beyries

Have I Told You Lately – Rod Stewart

Good as You – Kane Brown

To Fight is to Lose – Mia Dyson

This Time – Connie Britton

Changes – Langhorne Slim

Fade Into You – Sam Palladio & Clare Bowen

This Little Bird Marianne Faithful

Wildwood Flower – Maybelle Carter

Fearless – Cyndi Lauper

Landslide – Liam Titcomb

Time After Time – Eva Cassidy

When the Right One Comes Along – Sam Palladio & Clare Bowen

A Groovy Kind of Love – Phil Collins


If you have Amazon Music, you can enjoy listening here.