The voters were 3 to 1 in favor of reading stand alone books versus reading a book in a series. I promised to vote after the results were in...I am still torn, but I must vote for a stand alone book too. I like to have all the ends wrapped up and then start a new kind of book. Seriously the only exception would be the Mitford series. I love, love, love Jan Karon's style of story telling and fell in love with all of her characters in that small town of Mitford.
Thank you for taking the time to comment and vote on the poll. It was fun to see how it turned out.
Hmmmm...maybe I should have a poll on whether people like to vote in polls or if they just irritate readers....??
Now go have a cup of coffee/tea and read a great book. Any suggestions?
Which do you prefer to read? A book in a series or a stand alone book?
I must admit how much I loved Jan Karon's Mitford Series. I embraced the characters and couldn't wait to dive back into Mitford and into the lives of the people (yes, I felt they were real people not just characters). I also enjoyed Janet Evanovich's over-the-top mystery series with Stephanie Plum. No, I haven't gotten hooked on reading Harry Potter's adventures, but I know readers could hardly stand to wait for the next book. Joselyn Vaughn's sweet romance stories and W S Gager's noir mystery series with Mitch Malone keep me coming back for more too.
I enjoy a good book not in a series too. The Help and the Kite Runner are stand alone books. The story is told and wrapped up in the ending. I was satisfied.
To be fair, I must cast my vote since I am asking you, dear readers, to vote for one or the other. But I don't want to prejudice the vote, so I will hold my vote until the results are in next week.
Please vote in the poll at the right side of the page and leave a comment. You may want to share with us what book(s) persuaded you to vote this way.
Ever wanted to read an ebook and wished it was only 99cents? Well, here’s your chance to purchase your favorite Muse author’s book for only 99cents. Send an email to:
publisher AT museituppublishing DOT com
and make sure to include the following:
Your name
Your email
Title of ebook you’d love to buy for 99cents and your name will go into the draw.
Fourteen winners will be drawn to purchase their favorite book for only 99cents.
What a diverse group of stories for you to escape with this summer.
Many thanks to the authors who visited this month during the Beach Reading Bonanza. It was fun to read how they spend their summers. Their stories are a mix of mystery, sweet romance, romance, light horror, and paranormal genres. All are designed so the reader can get lost in another world for entertaining summertime reading.
If you missed one of these author's interviews, please check my blog posts list to catch up with them.
July 12 --Pat Dale Sleeping with the Enemy
July 14--Mike Arsuage My Life as a Dog and Subspecies
July 19--Joselyn Vaughn Sucker for a Hot Rod
July 22--Debra Shiveley Welch Cedar Woman
July 26--Marva Dasef Missing, Assumed Dead
What a privilege to welcome talented author, Marva Dasef, to the Beach Reading Bonanza. Marva's new book, Missing, Assumed Dead, will be released on Friday, July 29 from Muse It Up Publishing. Be one of the first to read it by entering our drawing. Leave a comment to be eligible to win this e-book filled with suspense, mystery, and romance.
Thanks so much, Marva, for being a guest on the J Q Rose blog. Before we find out all about your new book, please tell us what you do in the summer time.
My summers aren't what they used to be. When a kid, I trudged to the bean fields of Oregon to make money for school clothes. When I was in college, I took summer classes. When I was an adult, I worked somewhere or other. Now, I'm retired. Woo hoo! Wait a minute! I still don't have summers to myself. Vacations? Forget about it. I'm a slave to my own writing. Promos and writing continue on without a break, so no beaches for me. Staying cool is easy when you have whole house AC.
EXCEPTION: The big wonderful exception is when our granddaughters come to visit. They're young women now (14 and 16), but we take time to do fun stuff. Recent years have us taking them to the Ashland, Oregon Shakespeare Festival. We catch a play or two and always stop on the way home to ride the white water jet boats on the Rogue River. A little miniature golf (I always lose), maybe a trip to the Saturday Market (a big deal in Eugene), Yahtzee, Monopoly, and Texas Hold 'Em. But what pleases me most is that they spend their free time with noses planted firmly in books. Of course, they're obligated to read Grandma's latest writing, but they take that with good nature.
They've both already read my upcoming beach book, "Missing, Assumed Dead." And they put the stamp of approval on it. Which is neat since they live in eastern Washington, a carbon copy of my book's setting in eastern Oregon. No beaches out there, but there is a lot of sand, wind, dust, and heat.
My mystery/suspense novella, "Missing, Assumed Dead," will be released from MuseItUp Publishing on 7/29. How neat. That's right when my two favorite critics come to visit.
I can just picture you now with your granddaughters in a lively conversation about your books. What a lot of fun that would be. Tell us about your new release.
When Kameron McBride receives notice she’s the last living relative of a missing man she’s never even heard of, the last thing she wants to do is head to some half-baked Oregon town to settle his affairs. But since she’s the only one available, she grudgingly agrees.
En route, she runs afoul of a couple of hillbillies and their pickup in an accident that doesn’t seem...accidental. Especially when they keep showing up wherever she goes. Lucky for her, gorgeous Deputy Mitch Caldwell lends her a hand, among other things. Her suspicions increase when the probate Judge tries a little too hard to buy the dead man’s worthless property.
Working on a hunch and trying to avoid the Judge’s henchmen, Kam probes deeper into the town’s secrets and finds almost no one she can trust. With Mitch’s help, she peels away the layers of prejudice, suicide, murder, and insanity. But someone in town doesn’t like her poking around, and when they show their intentions by shooting her through the police chief’s office window, the stakes are raised. Kam must find out what really happened to her dead relative before someone in this backward little town sends her to join him.
And she thought Oregon was going to be boring.
Book Trailer
Where can we learn more about you and purchase the book?
A big welcome today to Debra Shiveley Welch, award-winning author of a perfect-for-the-beach read, Cedar Woman available in print or e-book.
Thank you for being my guest today, Debra, and for generously offering the e-book copy of Cedar Woman to one of our lucky commenters. Readers, please leave a comment to be eligible to win this prize. Don't forget to leave your contact email addy.
Before we learn more about your book, please tell us how you spend your summers?
When summer arrives, my son and I like to go to powwows. For us, it is a family reunion. My sister, Julie Spotted Eagle Horse Martineau, often coordinates the events, and it's fun to meet up with her, her husband, son and our sisters, to enjoy great dancing, fantastic food and just an all out fun time.
My son, Chris, received his first regalia this summer. Your regalia is decided by the type of dancing you wish to honor. In my son's case, it is Men's Traditional. So he wears a ribbon shirt, rawhide trousers, or chaps, and a "bustle" made of feathers. His regalia is quite beautiful, and he is very proud of it.
The powwows take us to Iowa and Illinois, but we hope to begin attending events in Ohio and other states.
This sounds like an exciting interesting summer with lots of travel, fun, and family get-togethers. Now tell us about your story of romance.
Lena Cedar Woman Young Bear, a daughter of the Lakota Sioux, opens the first high-end Native American restaurant in Central Ohio.
This is her story.
Born in May Hill, Ohio, Lena Cedar Woman travels to Columbus at age 12 after tragedy befalls her family. Here, in the capital city, a chance encounter leads her to her destiny.
Walk with her as she changes the lives and fortunes of those she loves.
Follow her to powwow where she meets her half-side.
Rejoice with her at the grand opening of her restaurant.
Cedar Woman allows the reader to learn the ways, and some of the language of The People, while also offering romance and discovery.
Excerpt:
Slowly, slowly, Mary walked to where a tight knot of people were grouped together in what would be the living room, but, in fact, was merely part of one room which served as kitchen, dining room and parlor.
She felt as if in a dream – as if she were walking in slow motion, or wading through deep water. Her heart was pounding against her rib cage as she slowly advanced toward a single man standing apart from the others, a wild flower tucked in the button-hole of his plaid shirt, his pony tail neat and freshly groomed, and a sage wreath, identical to hers, adorning his head as well.
She did not hear the words spoken, or her own replies. The Medicine Man/Justice of the Peace performing the ceremony, raised the Pipe and murmured some words. Peter turned and tied an eagle plume to Mary’s hair, and still avoiding his eyes, Mary tied one to his. The medicine man picked up a star quilt, and wrapped it about the couple. Slowly, the newly weds turned to face their guests, and the reality of what had just occurred hit Mary with full force. She had obeyed her mother and married. Now was the time, now she must look into the face of her husband.
Hesitantly, oh so hesitantly, she turned toward him, and at last gazed into his eyes.
Where do we learn more about you and where to purchase your book?
The Debra Shiveley Welch Website is the link where all of my books can be purchased through multiple sources: Amazon, B&N, Nook, Kindle and there are links to the UK, France Amazon and link to a cyber store in India on there.
Readers, leave a comment to be eligible for the drawing to win Cedar Woman, the story of a Native American woman and her family.
Welcome to my friend and sweet romance author, Joselyn Vaughn. Joselyn's beach read is Sucker for a Hot Rod in e-book and paperback from Astraea Press.
Thanks, Joselyn, for being my guest today for the beach reading bonanza.
What do you like to do in the summer?
One of my favorite things to do in the summer is to sit in the backyard and read a book. Not that that ever happens, but I can dream right?
Yes, it probably is a dream since you are the mother of three active kids under three years old!
Joselyn's latest review...one of many excellent ones... "If you’re looking for a sweet romance, with depth, well developed characters and a ton of humor this one is for you." Romancing the Book
Tell us about your book, Sucker for a Hot Rod
Bryce Halloway only dates a woman once. No exceptions.
It gives him the reputation of a heart-breaker, but he can handle that as long as it keeps his mother, Dinah, from trying to marry him off. Judi Montgomery and her tempting ponytail finagle their way around official dates with car problems and driving lessons. She worms her way into his heart and entices him to want more from his life.
When health issues causes his father to retire, Bryce inherits the family-owned tractor repair shop. Can Judi’s love and encouragement give him the courage to break tradition and pursue his dreams of owning a custom hot rod shop?
Book Trailer:
Where can we find out more about you and your books?
