My Review of FATAL JUDGMENT by Irene Hannon

The back cover blurb:

U.S. Marshal Jake Taylor has seen plenty of action during his years in law enforcement. But he'd rather go back to Iraq than face his next assignment: protection detail for federal judge Liz Michaels. His feelings toward the coldhearted workaholic haven't warmed in the five years since she drove her husband--and Jake's best friend--to despair . . . and possible suicide.

As the danger mounts and Jake gets to know Liz better, he's forced to revise his opinion of her. And when it becomes clear that an unknown enemy may want her dead, the stakes are raised. Because now both her life--and his heart--are in danger.

My review:

Wow! What’s not to like about Fatal Judgment? I enjoyed every aspect of this book…the characters, the dialogue, the plot, the ending. Jake’s initial dislike of Liz progressed naturally, not forced or rushed, creating the perfect blend of romance and suspense for me. A plausible plot, likeable characters, and an organic faith thread made this book a real-page turning combination.

Although I downloaded a free version of Fatal Judgment, I will purchase the next book in the series, Deadly Pursuit, which is available now. Five stars, Ms. Hannon!

Purchase Link for Fatal Judgment

How do you feel about this “free download” marketing strategy?

Do you read a free download, and then immediately purchase the next book by that author? On every occasion except one, I have purchased successive books by authors after reading a free kindle download. I’m convinced that this marketing strategy works. What about you? Do you buy into this marketing strategy? Do you find new authors this way?

Meet Lexi from Shattered Identity by K. Dawn Byrd

K. Dawn Byrd is back with her latest YA inspirational romance, Shattered Identity. Let's meet Lexi, the leading lady.

Tell us about yourself, Lexi.
I've been told I'm beautiful, especially by the guys. Oh, I'm great in math. I'm so good that my teacher has asked me to tutor other students who aren't getting it. I only tutor hot guys though.

What do you like to do in your spare time? And what things do you avoid?
I hang out with my new boyfriend, Zack. My mom wouldn't exactly approve because I'm 19 and he's 25, so I haven't told her about him. Maybe one day.

Eden used to ask me to go to church with her. I went a couple of times, but it wasn't my thing. Now, Jeremy is bugging me about church. We can't even have a conversation without him bringing it up. Just give it a rest, people!

What's your biggest fear?
Rejection. I guess it goes back to when my dad left Mom and me. I felt rejected and still do since I never get to see him. I can't stand feeling that way. That's why I tried to take Eden's boyfriend away from her. I knew he wanted her instead of me and I couldn't take the rejection.

What's your dream life, Lexi?
I want to go to college, get married, and have a couple of kids one day. Right now, I can't trust my mom to stay sober, so I have no immediate plans for college. I feel like my life is on hold.

Any regrets?
I would change the fact that sometimes I do things without thinking about the consequences and people I care about get hurt. If I'd really thought it through, I never would have gone after Eden's boyfriend. That cost us our friendship and I miss her.

Blurb for Shattered Identity:
Lexi Branson thinks she's found the guy of her dreams. So what if he's older? Her new motto is, "Love knows no boundaries or age limits." Zack Bane loves her and treats her like a princess and that's all that matters.

Lexi soons discovers that she doesn't know Zack as well as she thought. He has secrets, the kind that shatter the lives of those who love him. When faced with the truth, Lexi tries to hang onto him because she has a secret of her own.

When Lexi ends up in danger, she discovers she has no one to turn to except her ex-boyfriend, Jeremy. Can Jeremey, who is still in love with her, keep her safe from Zack? When faced with a choice will Lexi choose to stay with the guy who has become a stranger or will she choose Jeremy, the guy who loves her with all his heart?

K. Dawn Byrd is an author of inspirational romance and avid blogger who gives away several books per week on her blog at www.kdawnbyrd.blogspot.com, most of which are signed by the authors. She's also the moderator of the popular facebook Christian Fiction Gathering group at http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=128209963444. 

When not reading or writing, K. Dawn Byrd enjoys spending time with her husband of 16 years while walking their dogs beside a gorgeous lake near her home and plotting the next story waiting to be told.

Purchase Shattered Identity

Sales and Use Tax

Are writers responsible for remitting Sales & Use Tax on booksigning revenues or not?
Ouch! I can hear your groan. "Noooo!"

Hmmm...that's a good question and one not many writers think about. Or should I say, that's not a question writers want to consider.

For those writers like me who supply their own books for booksignings/sales, the ideal scenario would be to pay sales tax directly to the vendor when you purchase your books. In my case, that's not possible. So...

The North Carolina Department Of Revenue website states that if a writer...on two or more occasions within a 12-month period, either makes taxable sales to users, consumers, or non-registered merchants or makes purchases subject to use tax is not engaged exclusively in the business of making wholesale sales and must begin filing sales and use tax returns.

Does this mean you? 
I knew I would conduct more than 2 booksignings within a 12-month period, so I filed for a Sales & Use Tax identification number. Filing online was relatively painless and didn't take long. Not long after you file for the id number, you will receive coupons by mail.

How often do I file?
Because I anticipate a tax liability less than $100 per month, I can file quarterly, either online or by coupon/mail. Also, something to keep in mind, for NC, sales should be broken down by county. If I conduct a booksigning in Rowan County, I must charge the rate for that county, not my county of residence. Again, I found that to be fairly straightforward online, it's just a matter of knowing the rate for the county you're visiting.

Here are some other items to consider:
Consignment sales: 
Currently, I have books on consignment with an independent bookstore. They collect the sales revenue, remit the tax, and then send me a profit check. I am not liable for tax in this instance, because the bookstore remitted the tax.

Out of state sales: 
OK, this is where it gets a little tricky. Each state has different requirements. For instance, I'm scheduled for a booksigning in TN and another in VA, both with varying laws. According to a TN rep, I'm only required to file a Sales & Use Tax form after I reach $4800 sales per year. Since that's not the case, they instructed me to file a simple Consumer Return. VA is even better. Since I only plan to do 2 booksignings in VA, I'm not required to file. Yay!


Requirements vary by state, so make sure you check with your state for tax guidelines.

If you're a writer who supplies your own books for signings, how do you handle Sales & Use Tax?

My review of MONDAY'S CHILD by Clare Revell

The Blurb

Monday’s Child must Hide for Protection...
This was not the assignment Luke Nemec expected when he came to the UK—babysitting a beautiful widow. It wouldn’t be so bad if Sara wasn’t such a hostile witness. Despite her complaints and continued jibes, Luke finds himself falling for her. 

When, Sara Barnes is thrown into the witness protection programme, she becomes the “wife” of Lt. Luke Nemec, an American cop on temporary assignment with the British police. Despite Luke’s American bravado, she finds he’s kind and considerate in ways her late husband never was. 

But things aren’t always what they seem, and Luke soon realizes he’s fighting a battle of two fronts to keep Sara safe. Loyalties are called into question, and he’s no longer certain who he can trust. Luke is way out of his depth. As the threats against Sara escalate, it’s a race against time to find her husband’s killer before Sara is silenced forever.

My Review
Clare Revell does it again!

Monday’s Child begins with a bang, literally. After Sara Barnes witnesses the death of her husband on their honeymoon, she’s swallowed into the witness protection program. Newly widowed and recovering from her wounds, Sara Barnes doesn’t like being caged and lashes out at her protectors. Lt. Luke Nemec, Sara’s protector, doesn’t take her barbs personally. Instead, he provides ways for her not to feel so cooped up and showers Sara with kindness and attentiveness, so the romance progresses naturally. Ms. Revell introduced some friends with a Scottish brogue, which I was initially nervous about, but after a bit, I hardly noticed.

From the beautiful cover, you can tell that the story is set on a coast. Ms. Revell crafted scenes in such a way that I could almost feel the salty ocean breeze against my face. Packed with action and laced with faith, this romance builds excitement for the next book in the series of seven romantic suspense novels based on a rewrite of the popular nursery rhyme, Monday’s Child.

Monday’s Child releases on April 27 with WhiteRose Publishing. I’ve also enjoyed several other books by Ms. Revell, such as Saving Christmas, Cassie’s Wedding Dress, Kisses from Heaven, and After the Fire. Congratulations, Clare Revell. 

Live in the Sevierville, TN, area?

Join us at the King Family Library 

from 1-3 pm on Thursday, 4/19 

for an interactive discussion on 

Inspirational Romance & Publishing.  

Signed copies of Journey's End & Journey's Edge will be available.

King Family Library

Sevier County Public Library System

Sevierville, TN 37862

Phone: 865.365.1418

Book Reviews

Do you find book reviews difficult to write?

When I attempted my first book review, 

I spent hours working on it. 

Since then, I've adopted an easy template to use. 

I'll even share. ;-)

First, if you're blogging, it's a good idea to 
insert a copy of the book cover 
for your visual viewers. 

Just as an attractive plate of food stirs your taste buds, a well-designed book cover draws a reader in and prompts them to take a deeper look. Generally, you don't need to ask permission to use the cover. Most authors I know would LOVE the free advertising.

Secondly, I usually 
plug the back cover copy into the top of a Word document 
as a working copy. Although I don't always use it in my review, doing this keeps the names and general story idea handy, saving time later.

Journey's Edge back cover copy:

A Routine Audit? Hardly. 

Red flags—including some goon who's following her—raise McKinley Frasier's suspicions that numbers don't add up at the insurance firm. When someone tries to snatch McKinley's daughter from school, she turns to police officer and ex-fiance, Renner Crossman—the cop who walked out on her a month before their wedding. But Renner's not the same guy who broke her heart ten years ago. He calls himself a "new man." She trusts the new Renner with her daughter's safety...but what about her heart?

As I'm reading the book, I 
use the following template 
to type notes in the Word document.

• What I liked.
• What I didn't like. Was I confused about something?
• Characters ~ were they 3-dimensional? Did I like them?
• Setting ~ was it real enough that I felt like I was there? 
• For romantic suspense novels, was there an appropriate balance?
• Is there a message for the reader to take away? A faith thread?
• How would I rate the book?

Answering these questions as you read the book allows your review to flow fairly quickly and painlessly. 

Your readers may also appreciate purchase links. ;-)

And lastly, due to 2009 FTC regulations, you're obligated to indicate whether you received any compensation 
for the review. 

Want to see an awesome example? Check out Susan Tuttle's Bookshelf Friday. 

Do you have a method for writing book reviews?
What works for you?

Inspiration at the RT Booklovers Convention?

Chicago, gear up for romance lovers to storm your city for the RT Booklovers Convention! 
And, yes, you will meet inspirational authors as this segment of the convention blossoms and expands every year. Read the full line-up here. 
Check out this reader's workshop in particular...

Wednesday, 4/11 

from 2:15-3:15 pm

Beyond the Bodice...Lacing Together Faith and Romance

Inspirational romance has come a long way, baby. Real people … real-life issues … real romance … and messages that remain long after the last page is turned. What is inspirational romance today, and what does it have to offer you, the reader?

Join inspirational authors Marianne Evans, Dorothy Love, Mary Manners and Dora Hiers
for this reader's workshop.

Thursday, 4/12 

from 4-6:00 pm

I will be signing copies of Journey's Edge and Journey's End  at the E-Book & Graphic Novel Bookfair

Interested in attending? Check out the full schedule.

Stop by and say "hi." I'd love to meet you.

Good Friday Promise & My Review of DEADLY CHASE by Wendy Davy

Why was the Friday before Easter labeled Good Friday? Our Lord was mocked, whipped, crucified! How could the day be considered good?

"...Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy." (Jn 16:22 NIV) 

Thank you, Lord! For your selfless, willing steps to the cross. For bearing our sins, for giving us complete, uninhibited access to the Father. For your enormous love which knows no boundaries.

Deadly Chase~

The Blurb:

Sierra Malone trusted the wrong man and now he's trying to kill her. After narrowly escaping Kevin Eason's brutal attack, Sierra leaves her home, her family, and everything familiar. She finds temporary shelter, but it provides little relief from her constant fear. Desperate and alone, she considers an offer of protection from a stranger--but she soon learns he's harboring a potentially deadly secret. Chase Price wants Eason behind bars, and he's willing to do anything to get him there, even if it means waiting for Eason to strike again. With an innocent life on the line, Chase sets out to finish this battle once and for all--but he soon learns guarding Eason's beautiful victim leaves him wanting much more than he anticipated.

My Review:

You won’t want to put this one down!

Meet Chase Price, a detective on a mission to catch a killer. His sister’s killer. And Sierra Malone. Afraid and alone, Sierra’s determined to stay far away from her dangerous ex-boyfriend, Kevin Eason. That doesn’t fit into Chase’s plans. He hopes to capture his sister’s killer by luring Eason to Sierra. Quite the setup for an explosive story, and Ms. Davy delivers.

Ms. Davy crafted 232 pages of perfectly balanced action, spine-tingling suspense, and heart-tugging romance in Deadly Chase. A word of caution, though. Once you start reading, you won’t want to put it down until you read the last word!

Wendy Davy is a new author to me. I can’t wait to snatch up some of her previous books! I’m excited to read more from this author. Five stars!

Exclusively available with Amazon for the kindle right now. Available with White Rose and other retailers in April 2012.


Disclaimer: The author provided a review copy in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

ACFW April 2012 New Releases

Are you a blurb buyer? A cover buyer? Or do you check reviews or read first chapters before you buy a book? 

Here's a test to find out. Based on just the BLURB, no cheating and clicking on the link, which books would you choose to read? And WHY? 

The Mother Road by Jennifer AlLee — Sometimes, the end of the road is just the beginning… (Women’s Fiction from Abingdon Press).

Race Against Time by Christy Barritt — Were it not for her cop neighbor, widowed mother Madison Jacobs would be dead. Thankfully, Detective Brody Philips interrupts an attempt on her life in the nick of time. But the would-be killer hasn’t given up, and each tick of the clock brings the madman closer to finishing what he started. Brady vows to catch the serial killer plaguing the sleepy Virginia town…especially when he realizes the danger has followed him from the big city. With everyone around him at risk, it’ll take everything Brody’s got to do his duty and keep Madison and her son safe. (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired).

Always the Designer, Never the Bride by Sandra D. Bricker — It’s taken Audrey Regan years to establish herself as a wedding dress designer, and to date she’s been roped into creating dresses for nine of her girlfriends. Request #10 follows her vow to “Just say no!” and comes from her very best friend. She can hardly turn Carly down! Audrey arrives in Atlanta early to perform all of her maid-of-honor duties along with final fittings for a one-of-a-kind dress. But Carly’s wedding is nothing short of an event, complete with Prince Charming, and the festivities make Audrey question whether there’s a prince of her own anywhere in her future (Contemporary Romance from Abingdon Press).

A Love Rekindled by Margaret Daley — Zane Davidson and Kim Walters were sweethearts years ago, but he betrayed her love. Now he’s the only one who can help Kim rebuild her family. Can their love be rekindled? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired).

Cowgirl Trail by Susan Page Davis — When a rancher’s cowboys go on strike, his daughter enlists her girlfriends to help her finish the roundup and cattle drive. (Historical from River North (Moody)).

Lady Anne’s Quest by Susan Page Davis — Lady Anne must give her uncle important news–but somebody wants to stop her. (Historical from Barbour).

The Chase by DiAnn Mills — To FBI Special Agent Tigo Harris, it’s a cold case, but to writer Kariss Walker it’s a story that she has to write despite the danger. (Romantic Suspense from Zondervan).

A Wedding Transpires on Mackinac Island by Cara Putman — Mackinac Island is accessible only by ferry or small plane. Its laid back pace, sans cars, is the perfect place to recover from hurt—unless the injury occurred there. As Alanna Stone tries to reconcile past to present she discovers her future lies in learning to listen to God. (Romantic Mystery from Barbour).

Brush of Angel’s Wing by Ruth Reid — Rachel and Jordan’s feelings for each other are hostile at first, but angelic intervention helps the two discover peace . . . and perhaps love. (Contemporary Romance fromThomas Nelson).

The Quakers of New Garden byJennifer Hudson Taylor, Claire Sanders, Anne E. Shrock, Sussette Williams — Four Quaker women face challenges of the heart. Ruth hesitates to give her bridegroom a third chance at love. Underground Railroad worker Deborah meets a bounty hunter. Leah tries to turn a marriage of convenience into a marriage of love. Christian Jaidon falls for Quaker Catherine. Will love endure in their hearts and lives? (Historical Romance from Barbour).

The Discovery by Dan Walsh — The Discovery is a richly woven novel filled with romance, suspense and intrigue that explores the incredible sacrifices that must be made to forge the love of a lifetime. (Historical from Revell).

Need You Now by Beth Wiseman — Experience a family’s triumphant defeat over lies, betrayal, and loss while still clinging to the One who matters most. (Women’s Fiction from Thomas Nelson).

Her Family Wish by Betsy St. Amant — Taking pictures of other people’s happiest moments is the perfect job for Hannah Hart. Secretly fearing that she won’t ever have a family of her own, Hannah prefers to hide behind the camera. Until she meets assistant principal Jude Bradley, whose twelve-year-old daughter instantly bonds with Hannah. Jude might just be the man to give Hannah a reason to smile-if he can let go of the past. The more Hannah and Jude discover they have in common, the more Hannah wonders if there’s a family in her future after all…. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired).

Shared from http://www.acfw.com/blog/?p=3229

Congratulations on the April releases!