Books are food for my soul! Pull up a beach chair and stick your toes in the sand as the Jersey surf rolls in and out, now open your book and let your imagination take you away.

Friday, July 25, 2014

Love Me Anyway by JL Redington (Author Guest Post / Book Review / Contest Giveaway)

In association with Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours, Jersey Girl Book Reviews is pleased to host the virtual book tour event for Love Me Anyway by Author JL Redington!







Author Guest Post


I think the most often asked question I get is where do my story ideas come from. I think authors hear that a lot. For me, a basic story line pops into my head and my brain starts to build characters and plot around that thought. But the real miracle, at least to me, is when I put my fingers on that keyboard for the first time in a new book.

I type a few words and the movie in my head starts and doesn't stop. Often I'm typing as fast as I can just to keep up with it. I've learned I have to edit my chapters before my editors edit them because I'm typing so fast the sentence structure suffers, as does the grammar and spelling.

Honestly, this is the best part of writing for me...that movie that grabs me and won't let go. I'll start working around 10 a.m. and feel like I've typed for about 15 minutes, look up and it's three in the afternoon. I can't seem to wrap my head around how long I've been typing...it's a fabulous feeling.

I love what I do, and I love that there are others that love my work. It's a blessing to me, a miracle and I'm always thankful for what I get to do in life.

Another question I hear a lot is how long does it take me to write a book. In the beginning I'd give myself six weeks and then beat myself up because there was so much more I wanted to do in a book that I didn't give myself enough time to do. Lesson learned. I've just finished my 10th book, my 7th romantic suspense, called Softly She Leaves. It's a prequel to my first set, The Broken Heart Series. I finally got brave enough to tell my readers that I would be pushing the release date out for another 4 weeks so I could make this book say what I wanted it to say.

I love my readers, I love that they love what I write and I feel like I never want to let them down with a story that doesn't work. They deserve better. So, I finished this one more than a month past the original release date and it's now in final editing. Though it was a hard thing for me to do, I just felt like I needed to do this. Writing has become my life. Many of the funny situations I put in my book have actually happened in my marriage or in the lives of my children or their spouses, with their permission. It's been such a lift to my soul to put these books out there. And an even higher lift to see them sell, to know people like them and to hear those that know me say, "I just finished one of your books and I loved it!"

Many people think of writing and then dismiss it with a "I could never do that." You just had the thought pop into your head. Go sit down at your computer and give it a go. If you can conceive it, and believe it, you can achieve it. It worked for me...it can work for you, too!




About The Author



JL Redington lives Juneau, AK, with her husband Terry and puppy, Shelby. Together they are the parents of 6 grown children and 19 grandchildren. She loves to read, camp, cook and be with her friends and family. In writing this romance series, JL has found a new love in her life, and that is writing books. JL has always felt books are a way to take us out of the everyday and into a place we can relax, be entertained and enjoy a different world for a period of time. Happy reading!


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Book Review



Love Me Anyway by JL Redington
Book 1: Passions in the Park Series
Publisher: Independent Self Publishing
Publication Date: November 29, 2013
Format: Paperback - 300 pages
             Kindle - 3151 KB
             Nook - 620 KB
ISBN: 978-1494356163
ASIN: B00H0FIZAU
Genre: Romantic Suspense


BUY THE BOOK: Love Me Anyway
AMAZON
BARNES & NOBLE
iTUNES
GOODREADS


BUY THE SERIES: Passions in the Park Series
Book 1: Love Me Anyway
Book 2: Cherish Me Always
Book 3: Embrace Me Forever
AMAZON
BARNES & NOBLE
iTUNES
GOODREADS


Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours.


Book Description:

There is a serial killer loose in America’s National Parks. Greyson Beauchene, Head Ranger of Alaska’s Denali National Park is certain he will never have to deal with that because his park is too ‘out of the way.’ However, Ranger Beauchene soon finds out he is dead wrong.

Greyson and his two assistants are flown by helicopter into a remote section of the park where hikers have found a casket, one of the biggest indicators the serial killer has found Denali. Greyson’s team is joined by one incredibly irritating and extremely demanding FBI Profiler and her two Agents. Very good at what she does, Aspen O’Connell sets out to take control of the crime scene and everyone involved in it, and Greyson is having none of it.

Greyson, Aspen and their teams must work together to find this killer before he kills again. Events move quickly as the group pieces together clues from the crime scene and a profile is established. As they work through abduction attempts and visible threats, Greyson and Aspen struggle to put their growing feelings for each other in a place that will keep them focused on finding an evil, evil man and bringing justice to innocent victims.


Book Excerpt:


The woman came off of the helicopter spouting orders like a sergeant at arms. She had two agents with her and they worked at unloading the luggage as she shouted instructions at them, not to them, but at them. Luggage. That was it. All that came off the helicopter was luggage.

Greyson’s grin kept getting bigger and bigger as he watched her moving away from the landing pad, the men lugging her belongings along behind her. He folded his arms across his chest, stood on both feet and though he tried not to grin, he just couldn’t help himself. At least she had the good sense to dress for the out of doors, but what did she think she was going to sleep in?

“Oh, good,” she said as she approached him, “you’ve already set up our tent.”

“No, ma’am, I have not,” he said, smiling cordially. “If you’ll point me in the direction of your tent, my men and I will be happy to set it up for you. That tent over there would be for my men and I.”

“Not anymore. You’ll have to figure something else out.” She stood in front of him, as solid and unmoving as the mountains surrounding his meadow.

“I believe you’ve not understood what I said,” he smiled, his amusement beginning to show.

“Oh, I understand you just fine,” she smiled up at him cynically. “You think that’s your tent, but as you can see, I don’t have one, so that one is mine.”

“Ah, I see, you work for the FBI. That’s what the problem is. However, in Alaska,” he said, with no small amount of enjoyment, “we work for what we have. You Washington D.C. types…well, you’re used to just taking what you need, even when it’s not yours to take. I’m afraid that won’t work around here. Sorry.” Then walking away from the stunned woman, he called over his shoulder, “Good luck with those sleeping arrangements. There’s probably room in the enclosure next to the casket, but those wood chips could be a problem.”

If he’d had his hat on he would have tipped it at her, but as it was, he simply strolled casually to the tent and went inside.



My Book Review:

A serial killer has been on the loose in America's National Parks ... now he has his sights on Alaska's scenic Denali National Park. Can Denali Head Ranger Greyson Beauchene and FBI Profiler Aspen O'Connell work together to bring the evil killer to justice while danger lurks and they struggle to handle their growing feelings for each other?

In Love Me Anyway, the first book of the Passions in the Park series, author JL Redington weaves an exciting romantic suspense tale that transports the reader to the rugged beauty of Alaska in search of a serial killer who has been leaving his calling card at various American National Parks, with his latest evil adventure set in Denali National Park.

With a perfect balance of mystery, suspense, humor, and romance, the reader can't help but become engrossed in Park Ranger Greyson Beauchene and FBI Profiler Aspen O'Connell's desperate search to bring the serial killer to justice before his evil killing spree can strike again. And if tracking down a serial killer isn't enough for Greyson and Aspen, add in an undeniable spark of mutual attraction and chemistry into the mix, and there's bound to be a struggle to handle the danger and romance that binds them together.

Love Me Anyway is a fast paced, richly descriptive and riveting story that easily draws the reader in with the drama, suspense, intensity, and danger of hunting down a serial killer, while providing a sensual romance mixed with witty humor that keeps the reader engaged and turning the pages. The intriguing twists and turns that unfold in the story is like a thrilling roller coaster ride that has the reader holding their breath while trying to guess what will happen next. But alas, the author teases her readers with a surprising cliff hanger conclusion that leaves them in suspense and wanting more. The story continues in Cherish Me Always, the second book in the series.


RATING: 4 STARS 
                                





Contest Giveaway

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Virtual Book Tour Schedule



Tour Schedule:

July 14 – Chick Lit Plus – Review
July 15 – Two Children and a Migraine - Excerpt
July 15 – Two Children and a Migraine – Guest Post
July 16 – Two Children and a Migraine – Review
July 17 – Storm Goddess Book Reviews – Review & Excerpt
July 18 – Musings From an Addicted Reader – Review & Excerpt 
July 21 – Relatively Yours – Guest Post
July 25 – Jersey Girl Book Reviews – Review, Guest Post & Excerpt
July 30 – Curling Up With a Good Book – Review
July 31 – Ski-Wee’s Book Corner – Review
August 1 – Reading in Black and White – Review
August 1 – The Phantom Paragrapher – Review
August 4 – Fiction Dreams – Q&A



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