Marta's Meanderings

Forbidden Passion
by Rita Herron

Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Forever; Original edition (April 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0446199494
ISBN-13: 978-0446199490

Description (Publisher Website)
SHE SEES HIM IN HER DREAMS...
Fueled by her family's murder years ago, Dr. Marlena Bender has devoted her life to understanding violent criminals. But when a serial killer in this small Southern town starts taking the lives of women in diabolical ways--leaving trophies of his kills on Marlena's doorstep--it all hits too close to home. Terrified, Marlena turns to the only man she can trust...the man who saved her life.

BUT HIS SECRET IS HER WORST NIGHTMARE.
Sheriff Dante Valtrez would move heaven and earth to keep Marlena safe, but he's not the savior she thinks he is. A dark legacy runs through his blood and a dangerous secret lies within him. Now a fierce, hot, ruthless desire draws Dante and Marlena together--as a demonic force from his past threatens to rip them apart, destroying everything they hold dear.

About the Author
It was a dark and stormy night when Rita Herron penned her first book--at age twelve. A dark and stormy night because she didn't think real people grew up to be writers, so she put her dreams aside and earned a teaching degree instead. Ten years later, she traded her chalkboards for a computer and now she writes so she doesn't have to get a real job. Having written over fifty books to date, this multi-award winning author and mother of three spins spine-tingling, paranormal romantic suspense stories that she hopes keep you up at night.


Review
This book was definitely HOT!  Even though it was a paranormal romance, it wasn't over the top and unbelievable.  This was a great escape and wonderful read.  I'd highly recommend you get your hands on this one ladies...it was great!

I know that a lot of you own your own domain names and that means that you're working with a web hosting site. I found this great site that I wanted to pass along to you all. The site is called WebhostingFan.com and has web hosting industry news, discusses the latest trends going on in the industry, and also has reviews of the best web hosting providers.

This site is great! It's full of great articles with topics like "Beginning Your SEO Efforts by Setting up FTP Account" and "A Look at Web Hosting Control Panels" and also has a listing of the Top 10 Web Hosting sites.

If you already have your own domain name and are working with a web hosting company, or if you're considering it, this website has invaluable information. I'm so glad that I stumbled on it because it has really educated me on any number of topics. I don't think you'll be disappointed once you start exploring their site.




Add to Technorati Favorites

Join Kaylin McFarren, author of the women’s contemporary fiction, Flaherty’s Crossing (Champagne Books), as she virtually tours the blogosphere on her first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion!

About Kaylin McFarren
Linda Yoshida, aka Kaylin McFarren, is a rare bird indeed. Not a migratory sort, she prefers to hug the West Coast and keep family within visiting range. Although she has virtually been around the world, she was born in California, relocated with her family to Washington, and nested with her husband in Oregon. In addition to playing an active role in his business endeavors, she has been involved in all aspects of their three daughters’ lives – taxi duties, cheerleading coaching, script rehearsals, and relationship counseling, to name but a few. Now she enjoys spending undisciplined time with her two young grandsons and hopes to have many more.

Although Kaylin wasn’t born with a pen in hand like so many of her talented fellow authors, she has been actively involved in both business and personal writing projects for many years. As the director of a fine art gallery, she assisted in furthering the careers of numerous visual artists who under her guidance gained recognition through promotional opportunities and in national publications. Eager to spread her own creative wings, she has since steered her energy toward writing novels. As a result, she has earned more than a dozen literary awards and was a 2008 finalist in the prestigious RWA® Golden Heart contest.

Kaylin is a member of RWA, Rose City Romance Writers, and Willamette Writers. She received her AA in Literature at Highline Community College, which originally sparked her passion for writing. In her free time, she also enjoys giving back to the community through participation and support of various charitable and educational organizations in the Pacific Northwest.

You can visit Kaylin online at www.kaylinmcfarren.com or visit her book’s website at www.flahertyscrossing.com.

About Flaherty’s Crossing
From Pacific Northwest’s award-winning author Kaylin McFarren comes a powerful novel about love, loss, and the power of forgiveness…

Successful yet emotionally stifled artist Kate Flaherty stands at the deathbed of her estranged father, conflicted by his morphine-induced confession exposing his part in her mother’s death. While racing home, Kate’s car mishap leads her to a soul-searching discussion with a lone diner employee, prompting Kate to confront the true reasons her marriage hangs in the balance. When her night takes an unexpected turn, however, she flees for her life, a life desperate for faith that can only be found through her ability to forgive.

ON A PERSONAL NOTE

Kaylin sat before her computer writing FLAHERTY’S CROSSING as a source of personal therapy after losing her beloved father to colon cancer. You might say she was angry at him, at God, at the world in general. However, after writing this story, she had the opportunity to really look into her soul and consider the fact that so many other sons and daughters have had to deal with similar and even worse situations. Rather than a memoir, her novel evolved into a fictional journey which brought about the resolution she needed to find. She never expected this exercise in writing to go to press, touch lives, or win literary awards. But as a result of her good fortune, she has arranged for proceeds from the sale of this book to go directly to the Providence Medical Foundation’s colon cancer research department in her father’s name. She’s now convinced and proudly shares her belief that good things can grow out of the worst times in our lives if you just take the time to open your heart.

Read the Excerpt!

The last grain of sand was about to drop in her father’s invisible hourglass and there was nothing Kate Flaherty could do to stop it. The realization launched a shudder up her spine.
She’d known this day was inevitable. Yet it still came as a shock when she’d learned only hours ago that his final days had arrived. She should have come back sooner.

No–it was his fault, not hers. She’d had every right to stay away after discovering the truth. So why did she feel remorse encroaching on her anger, his gurgling breaths draining strength from her limbs?

In his curtain-drawn bedroom, she perched on the edge of the mattress, a few inches away from what had become a mere sketch of a man. The lamp’s amber glow cast shadows across his features, accentuating how much he’d deteriorated in just under a month.

Surgery, chemo, radiation therapy. For two years, she’d watched his heavyset frame shrink with every trip to the hospital, his sixty-three year old body blast through a time warp. But never ravaged to this extent. She barely recognized the sheeted man beside her. Mussed strands of thin, ghost-white hair, matching jagged mustache, and stubbly chin were all that remained of the father she knew. He was more of a stranger than ever before.

Slowly, he lifted his eyelids and turned his face. When their gazes met, a spark of recognition flickered. “You’re here,” he rasped as he reached for her hand.
She accepted reluctantly. His palm was cold and clammy, his skin sallow and tissue-thin. She swallowed hard, wanting to pull away, but the child in her resisted, the part of her that had never stopped longing for his affection.

“Where’ve you been?” He inhaled a labored breath. “I was waiting for ya.”
“I…” A lump of guilt formed in her throat, blocking any answer.
“Is the baby ready?”
She stared at him, shocked. His words made no sense. “What, Dad?”
“We gotta go. Don’t wanna hit traffic, Iris.”

Kate’s heart plummeted before she could remind herself of what he’d done. She slipped her hand away and clenched her fists, her nails biting into her palms. She tried to reignite the rage she was entitled to, but he appeared so defenseless, she summoned only the foreboding of imminent loss.

She leaned toward him. His gaze fixed on the ceiling. All she had to do was say good-bye, just as she’d done countless times throughout her youth. It would be a relief– for both of them.

Watch the Trailer!




Read what reviewers are saying about Flaherty’s Crossing!

“Be warned: do not start this novel if you anticipate any pressing obligations – a need to sleep, say – or without a handful of tissues within arms reach. Flaherty’s Crossing is a compelling and imaginative story, not just about death but about life and emotional growth, a broken woman’s journey towards learning to trust again. Beautifully written, heart wrenching yet inspirational, this is a ‘must read’ for anyone who has loved and lost.”
–ELIZABETH JOY ARNOLD, USA Today bestselling author of Pieces of My Sister’s Life

“A skillfully wrought tale.”
–Kirkus Discoveries

“Sometimes, the deepest darkest moments allow us to finally recognize the light in our lives. Only when we face our pain can we move onto something better. So it seems for Kate Flaherty. Kate was at a crossroads. From the moment her mother died, everything changed. Her father became distant. As she watches her father succumb to cancer, Kate realizes that she was very much her father’s daughter. She’d lost her mother, would soon lose her father, and if she wasn’t careful her husband would give up on their marriage. She had to make some changes and fast. Flaherty’s Crossing is an inspirational story about learning to let go and love fully for the sake of love. Who are we under our masks of pain? How would it feel to have those burdens lifted?”
–Tami Brady, TCM Reviews

“Flaherty’s Crossing captivates readers with a moving story about the complexities of loss and love with unexpected turns and revelations. Kaylin’s writing is heartbreaking, funny, and tender. For anyone who has loved immensely and faced a painful loss, this book is a bridge to healing, forgiveness and an open heart.”
Regina Ellis, Founder, CEO The Children’s Cancer Association

“McFarren’s latest novel, Flaherty’s Crossing, is about so many crossings on physical and metaphorical levels. The story delves into complex relationships between a husband and wife and a father and daughter, and explores how the past can affect the future. McFarren unravels a rich history of events that lead to the decisions that the characters make throughout the novel. She weaves in complicated topics of death and religion in a masterful manner that helps shape the plot. Told from a rotating viewpoint, the story illustrates how there can be two sides to an argument, and how both parties must set aside pride to pave the way toward forgiveness. McFarren’s writing is powerful and detail oriented, making the story come alive and creating a suspenseful atmosphere that sustains to the last page. A brilliant exploration of women’s fiction.”
–AUBRIE DIONNE, Author , SynergEbooks

“Before you start reading Flaherty’s Crossing, clear your schedule. You will not want to look up until the last page is turned. Suspenseful, poignant and ultimately soul-satisfying, this life-affirming tale of shattering secrets will keep you on the edge of your seat. Don’t miss it!”
–JOY NASH, USA Today bestselling author of Deep Magic

“FLAHERTY’S CROSSING immediately engages the reader with lyrical prose, a plot equally moving and suspenseful, and real, compelling characters. The writing is as fresh as it is evocative. From heart wrenching to heartwarming, inducing laughter and tears, this virtual roller coaster of a tale won’t let the reader go until reaching the final turn of the ride. A superb novel bearing a message not easily forgotten.”
–ANGELA FOX, Publisher of Oregon City News/Clackamas Review

My Review

When I started Flaherty's Crossing, I thought I knew where the book was heading. I'm so glad that I was proved very wrong. This book is so well titled, as this book covers so many different types of crossings in life. It covers the relationships of husbands and wives and the journeys those relationships take, as well as the relationship of fathers and daughters and the journey those relationships take. This book is so complex that it's impossible to explain it all here. But for the reader, this book is not a light fluffy, feel good romantic read, it's about life and all it's complexities and journeys. I'm so glad that I had the chance to read this book. It made me think about my own 'crossings' during my life and that's never a bad thing to contemplate. Pick this one up and you won't be disappointed at all. Kaylin McFarren is definitely someone I want to hear more from!


Wednesday, April 14
Book reviewed at Marta’s Meanderings

Friday, April 16
Book reviewed by Chaotic Book Obsession

Monday, April 19
Book reviewed at Books R Us

Tuesday, April 20
Book reviewed at Rundpinne

Wednesday, April 21
Book reviewed with Obsession with Reading

Thursday, April 22
Book reviewed at Readaholic

Friday, April 23
Book reviewed at My Reading Room

Monday, April 26
Book reviewed at Book Reviews by Buuklvr81

Tuesday, April 27
Book reviewed at What You Reading Now

Friday, April 28
Book reviewed at Reading at the Beach

Thursday, April 29
Book reviewed at Writing Daze

Friday, April 30
Featured at Reader’s At Home Conference


CONTESTS!

Until June 30th, leave a review for Flaherty’s Crossing at Amazon.com and you’ll be automatically entered to win a $100 American Express gift card. Also, if you’re a subscriber to Kaylin’s e-Newsletter, opportunities to win prizes are now featured on a monthly basis. So what are you waiting for? Sign up today! kaylin@kaylinmcfarren.com


Add to Technorati Favorites

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!


Review: I really enjoyed this book. The story was interesting and well paced. The characters were believable and I really enjoyed seeing the differences among the Amish. There was romance, intrigue and a great storyline. I also really appreciated that the author didn't wrap up everything in a pretty bow, or make the 'englisher' the saviour of all the poor Amish. Great story...looking forward to reading more!

and the book:

A Stranger's Wish (The Amish Farm Trilogy)

Harvest House Publishers; Original edition (February 1, 2010)

***Special thanks to David P. Bartlett - Print & Internet Publicist - Harvest House Publishers for sending me a review copy.***




Gayle Roper is the award-winning author of more than forty books and has been a Christy finalist three times. Gayle enjoys speaking at women’s events across the nation and loves sharing the powerful truths of Scripture with humor and practicality. She lives with her husband in southeastern Pennsylvania where Gayle enjoys reading, gardening, and her family.


Visit the author's website.



Product Details:

List Price: $10.99
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers; Original edition (February 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0736925864
ISBN-13: 978-0736925860

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:







Add to Technorati Favorites