Author Jodi Thomas: One True Heart

It’s always a pleasure to have author Jodi Thomas visit Thoughts in Progress because that means we readers get another visit to the charming town of Harmony and get to see what its residents are up to.

Today Jodi joins us to talk about her new release, ONE TRUE HEART, which will hit bookstands April 7. You can pre-order the book on Jodi’s website.

Here’s a brief description of ONE TRUE HEART:

      Millanie McAllen is always logical. But after returning to her childhood home, she learns that some things are beyond explanation—like her undeniable passion for Drew Cunningham…
      After finding success as a singer on the road, Beau Yates returns to Harmony to make peace with his dying father—only to find the woman he’s been dreaming of for years. But the secrets they discover might be too much for him to bear…
      When Johnny Wheeler is charged with his wife’s murder, he turns to the only person who believes he’s innocent. Fortune teller Kare Cunningham’s life has always danced around reality—but Johnny is able to ground her like no other…
      As their paths cross in new, captivating directions, the townspeople of Harmony need to learn to love and let go in order to live together in their little slice of heaven.

Please join me in giving a warm welcome to Jodi. Welcome, Jodi.

ONE TRUE HEART is a book I’ve been waiting to write for several years. Sometimes characters sat around the kitchen in my mind waiting for their story to be pulled off the back burner and come to life. For those of you who have followed me through Harmony you’re going to see one of my favorite couples Beau and Trouble. And of those who are new, you’ll meet new characters that I think you’ll fall in love with.

I think I’ve wanted to write this story since I wrote TWISTED CREEK. After all, someone had to move into Luke’s cabin after he moved out and what better than a broken hero.

Millanie McAllen is falling apart. She’s wounded and lost. Drew is an expert at blending in. They have nothing in common except an attraction neither believes they are ready to deal with. When Millie takes an undercover assignment, she needs Drew’s help but his hesitation to talk about himself leaves her wondering how much she can trust him.

Flowing through the stories like soft music is Beau and Trouble’s love story. He’s become a star, worth millions in the music industry, but he never forgets his roots in Harmony. When he returns for his father’s death, he has to find the one girl who believed in him from the beginning. She was his midnight love who picked him up at the back of the bar after he’d played all evening for a hundred dollars. They’d race the moon in her sports car, but he never knew her last name. When he finds her, Beau knows that to win her back he’ll have to go back to being that young kid who loved music so much he’d play for free.

I love it when new readers find me for the first time. It’s like I’m brand new, and they just discovered a Jodi Thomas book. Then after they read one, they check my website or Amazon and discover they have many more to read. I get a real shot of sunshine when they write or call. It is kind of like the feeling you get when an old friend from the past calls. For a moment, you’re sixteen again and giggling.

So, whether you’re a first time reader of a Jodi Thomas book or you’ve been with me through them all, I want you to know that you are the reason I write.

With love, Jodi Thomas

Jodi, thanks so much for visiting with us today and sharing this look at the new story. It’s always fun to find a series where you can revisit with old friends and find new ones.

For those who aren’t familiar with Jodi, here’s a bit of background on her.

A fifth generation Texan who taught family living, Jodi Thomas chooses to set the majority of her novels in her home state, where her grandmother was born in a covered wagon. A former teacher, Jodi traces the beginning of her storytelling career to the days when her twin sisters were young and impressionable.  

The stories Jodi has committed to paper have earned her an impressive list of distinguished awards:

· Her first book, Beneath the Texas Sky (1988), won the National Press Women’s Novel of the Year in its category.
· Book two, Northern Star (1990), was named best novel by the (Texas) Panhandle Professional Writers and the Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc., an organization of writers’ groups from several states.
· Book three, The Tender Texan (1991), was Thomas’s first national bestseller and won her the first Romance Writers of America’s RITA, the $1.5 billion romance publishing industry’s equivalent of an "Oscar."
· In 1995, To Tame A Texan’s Heart (1994) received the second RITA for Jodi.
· Book twelve, To Kiss a Texan (1999), was her first novel to score on the USA TODAY Best-selling Books list.
· For The Texan’s Wager (2002), sixteen was the magic number. As Thomas’s sixteenth novel, the book scored number sixteen on the NEW YORK TIMES extended bestseller list.
· Her second contemporary, Finding Mary Blaine (2004), won the National Readers’ Choice Award.
· In July 2006, Jodi was the 11th woman to be inducted into the RWA Hall of Fame for winning her third RITA in the category of short historical romance for The Texan’s Reward (2005).
· In 2009, Jodi received the National Readers’ Choice Award for two of her books: Twisted Creek (2008) and Tall, Dark and Texan (2008).
· In 2010, The Lone Texan won the Reader’s Choice 2009 Best Western Romance from Love Western Romances.com.
· In 2011, Jodi won a RITA for Welcome to Harmony (2010) and the Booksellers’ Best Award for Somewhere Along the Way (2010), Romantic Times’ Romance Pioneer Award, Reviewers’ Choice Award and Best Western Romance for Texas Blue (2011)
· In 2013, Jodi won a Holt Medallion for Wild Texas Rose (2012) and the West Texas Books Festival’s A.C. Green Award
· In 2014, Jodi Thomas won the National Readers’ Choice Award’s Contemporary Single Title for Can’t Stop Believing (2013)

With a degree in Family Studies, Jodi is a marriage and family counselor by education, a background that enables her to write about family dynamics. Honored in 2002 as a Distinguished Alumni by Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Jodi enjoys interacting with students on the West Texas A & M University campus, where she currently serves as Writer In Residence.

Commenting on her contribution to the arts, Jodi said, "When I was teaching classes full time, I thought I was making the world a better place. Now I think of a teacher, or nurse, or mother settling back and relaxing with one of my books. I want to take her away on an adventure that will entertain her. Maybe, in a small way, I’m still making the world a better place."

For more on Jodi and her writing, visit her website and connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.

Now for my thoughts on this fun new installment….

ONE TRUE HEART is a charming romance that will have you believing love will find a way.

Author Jodi Thomas does a wonderful job bringing the small town setting to life. Through her vivid descriptions, Thomas pulls the reader into the comfortable atmosphere where friends and family pull together.

The story follows three couples as they find their way to one another. The twists and turns, along with the highs and lows of relationships, makes the storylines plausible and realistic. The characters are likable and well-developed.

Even though ONE TRUE HEART is the eighth installment in the Harmony series, new readers can jump right in without feeling they’re missing pieces of the story. However, they may find themselves wanting to read prior stories to learn more about some of the secondary characters.

This is a delightful, entertaining story that is a must read for the romantic in you.

One True Heart by Jodi Thomas, Harmony Book #8, Berkley, @2015, ISBN: 978-0425268414, Paperback, 336 Pages 

FTC Full Disclosure – A copy of this book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review. The thoughts are completely my own and given honestly and freely.

Thanks so much for stopping by today during Jodi’s visit. I hope we’ve enticed you to pre-order ONE TRUE HEART today. Are you a romantic at heart?

Jodi Thomas: A Place Called Harmony

I’m always delighted to welcome New York Times bestselling author Jodi Thomas back to Thoughts in Progress because it means fans get a chance to return to the charming small town of Harmony.

Jodi joins us today to talk about her newest book, A PLACE CALLED HARMONY, which is scheduled for release Tuesday, Oct. 7. This time the story features the three hard-luck men who first settled Harmony, a place where last chances and long-awaited dreams collide. The book can be pre-order through Jodi’s website HERE.

Here’s a brief description of the story:

        Desperate to escape his overbearing father, Patrick McAllen disappears with his bride, heading north to build a new town—discovering strength, honor and true love along the way.
        After drinking away the grief from his family’s death, Clint Truman avoids jail by taking a job in North Texas and settling down with a woman he vows to protect but never love—until her quiet compassion slowly breaks his hardened heart wide open.
        All Gillian Matheson has ever known is Army life, leaving his true love to be a part-time spouse. But when a wounded Gillian returns home to find her desperately fighting to save their marriage, he’s determined to become the husband she deserves.
        Amidst storms, outlaws, and unwelcome relatives, the three couples band together to build a town—and form a bond that breathes life into the place that will forever be called Harmony.

Now please join me in giving a warm Thoughts welcome to Jodi. Welcome, Jodi.

I’m excited about the release of A PLACE CALLED HARMONY. The story has been in the back of my mind since I started writing the Harmony series. Often I thought about how my people in the present were affected by the past. To have a town where people care about each other and understand one another, the roots needed to run deep. I felt like I knew the three men who settled the town long before I wrote their story.

Many times during the writing of this story I felt all three men standing behind me telling me their lives. Patrick McAllen, young and full of dreams, thought of it as an adventure and believed love came easy. Clint Truman felt old at thirty and didn’t believe in love. When he heard he had to have a wife to get the job, he went to the prison gate and picked the first woman walking out. And then there was Captain Gillian Matheson who loved his wife but also loved adventure.

All three men were prepared for the challenge of building a town but unprepared for the depth of love they found as they build their families. I loved writing these men and I hope the readers will follow me into this historical romance. 

If you’ve read a Harmony book, you’ll feel like you already know the characters. If you’ve never read one this book would be a great place to start. So, step into Harmony for the first time as the three families build a town while they form bonds and loves that last a lifetime.

Enjoy the adventure, Jodi.

Jodi, thanks for stopping by today and sharing this behind the scenes look at how the town of Harmony got its start. Three intriguing men (and three completely intriguing women) are a great foundation for this charming town.

Now let me share a bit of background on Jodi for those who aren’t familiar with her or her writing.

A fifth generation Texan, Jodi Thomas chooses to set the majority of her novels in her home state. 

With a degree in Family Studies, Jodi is a marriage and family counselor by education, a background that enables her to write about family dynamics. Honored in 2002 as a Distinguished Alumni by Texas Tech University in Lubbock, she enjoys interacting with students on the West Texas A & M University campus, where she currently serves as Writer In Residence.

When not working on a novel or inspiring students to pursue a writing career, Jodi enjoys traveling with her husband, Tom, renovating a historic home they bought in Amarillo, and "checking up" on their two grown sons.

For more on Jodi and her writing, please visit her website and connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.

Thanks so much for stopping by today during Jodi’s visit. Do you enjoy a small town atmosphere woven into books?

Returning to Harmony (Texas) with Author Jodi Thomas

I’m delighted to welcome author Jodi Thomas back to Thoughts in Progress today as we make a return visit to Harmony, Texas, to discover three great loves stories in BETTING THE RAINBOW, which is slated for release April 1.

Here’s a brief synopsis of this intriguing story set on a small lake just a few miles from Harmony:

       Sisters Abby and Dusti Delaney have spent their entire lives on Rainbow Lane, but they dream of something bigger. So when a poker tournament comes to town, Dusti is determined to win enough money to leave. Enlisting expert Kieron O’Brian to teach her the game, sparks begin to fly as they play their hands. But Kieron refuses to stand in the way of her dream, even if it means losing her forever...
        After a year of traveling, Ronny Logan is settling into a home on Rainbow Lane, but that’s all the settling she’ll be doing. Ronny refuses to fall for anyone, regardless of the chemistry she has with her neighbor Austin Hawk. Yet something undeniable begins to grow between the two loners—if only they can let their barriers fall and open their hearts...

Readers can pre-order BETTING THE RAINBOW at www.jodithomas.com. 

Jodi joins us now to talk about writing this charming story. Welcome, Jodi.

Part of the great fun of being a writer is that I go new places and meet new people all the time. Sometimes I cry, sometimes I fall in love and sometimes bullets fly. 

Probably the hardest question a writer tries to answer is, “Where do your stories come from?” I’ve written 40 books and I have to say, “I don’t know.” They just come. It’s like I meet someone new in my mind and they tell me their story.

In my new book released April 1, 2014, I first walked into a place I’d never been in my mind. A little lake, too small to be a community, just three houses tucked away in the trees. One a cabin leased by Ronny Logan who simply wants to be alone to grieve. A huge old two story that looks out of place called Hawk House occupied by a man whose spirit is broken. And a small pecan farm run by two sisters who dream of what might have been. 

As each one began to tell me their story, I wove together their dreams and fears in a small town called Harmony, Texas. A charity event at the Truman Farm to raise money for the library draws everyone, carrying their hopes with them. 

Reagan Truman runs the huge event while in the middle of her own crisis. The one man she’s ever loved has come home, but she’s not sure she can accept him and all the baggage he brings. Noah has to do something far braver than riding bulls if he wants to win her back. 

The term “betting the rainbow” is used in poker and means shoving all your chips in on one bet. I did that once in my life when I quit teaching and decided to be a writer. I’d love to know from any of you if there’s been a time when you’ve bet it all for one dream?

Jodi, thanks for joining us today and sharing this look at how Harmony and some of its residents came to be. As a reader, I have to say I’m glad you made that bet to quit teaching and become a writer.

Now for those who aren’t familiar with Jodi, here’s a bit of background on her.

A fifth generation Texan who taught family living, Jodi Thomas chooses to set the majority of her novels in her home state, where her grandmother was born in a covered wagon. A former teacher, Jodi traces the beginning of her storytelling career to the days when her twin sisters were young and impressionable.  

The stories Jodi has committed to paper have earned her an impressive list of distinguished awards. With a degree in Family Studies, Jodi is a marriage and family counselor by education, a background that enables her to write about family dynamics. Honored in 2002 as a Distinguished Alumni by Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Jodi enjoys interacting with students on the West Texas A & M University campus, where she currently serves as Writer In Residence.

Commenting on her contribution to the arts, Jodi said, "When I was teaching classes full time, I thought I was making the world a better place. Now I think of a teacher, or nurse, or mother settling back and relaxing with one of my books. I want to take her away on an adventure that will entertain her. Maybe, in a small way, I'm still making the world a better place."

While the author toured the country speaking to Desk and Derrick clubs about her 2003 novel, THE WIDOWS OF WICHITA COUNTY, the members of various chapters formed a Jodi Thomas Fan Club. The group enthusiastically promotes her novels and public appearances and even volunteers to provide drivers for her out-of-town engagements.

When not working on a novel or inspiring students to pursue a writing career, Jodi enjoys traveling with her husband, Tom; renovating a historic home they bought in Amarillo; and "checking up" on their two grown sons.

For more on Jodi and her writing, visit her website and connect with her on Twitter and Facebook. 

Here are a couple of reviews for BETTING THE RAINBOW…….

Publishers Weekly Review of Betting the Rainbow - Jodi Thomas. Berkley, $7.99 mass market (304p) ISBN 978-0-425-26840-7

        Thomas knocks it out of the park again with her seventh contemporary set in Harmony, Tex. (after Can’t Stop Believing). Ronny Logan and Austin Hawk are looking for peace out by Rainbow Lane. They both have reasons to crave solitude—he’s recovering from injury, she from grief and a year’s travel—so they’re surprised to enjoy each other’s company. Ronny also becomes friends with neighbors Dusti and Abby Delaney, sisters who are counting on a poker tournament to make their dreams come true. As Dusti gets poker lessons from flirtatious Kieran O’Toole, tournament organizer Reagan Truman waits for rodeo rider Noah McAllen, her longtime love interest, to “grow up and man up.” Thomas is a master at creating damaged yet appealing characters, and their expressions of love—as siblings, as friends, as partners—are intense and beautiful. Their paths to happiness are interwoven in an intricate tapestry with the tournament as backdrop, combining in an epic tale of the kind of love that lasts forever. (Apr.)

Review by Vickie Denney at Reader To Reader of Betting the Rainbow (Harmony) by Jodi Thomas.

        Ronny Logan has returned to Harmony after traveling the world for a year. This was one of the things that her late friend, Marty Winslow, wanted her to do with some of the money he bequeathed her. Ronny will always love Marty, but must start a new life; however, she doesn’t know what to do since she has enough money to last her for forever. Marty’s butler and friend, Mr. Carleon, has stayed in Harmony to help Ronny with any and every thing. While she was away, he leased a cottage for her on Rainbow Lane and it sits on a small lake. There are only three houses in that area. Across the lake the Delaney sisters, Abby and Dusti, have a small farm and raise chickens. Hawk House is on Ronny’s side of the lake and currently is housing Austin Hawk.
        Abby had to quit nursing school with only a year to go due to finances after parent’s illnesses. Dusti has entered a local fund raising poker game that sends the winner to Las Vegas to play for a million dollar jack pot. Dusti asks Kiernan O’Toole to teach her the finer points of the game. She hopes to win locally and then win enough in Los Vegas to send Abby back to school. Kiernan will help her but warns her he is also a competitor and he will be hard to beat. The Irishman has loved Dusti forever, it seems, and she is totally unaware…but not for long.
        Austin Hawk is also back in Harmony rehabbing from burns and injuries suffered during a fire. He just wants to be left alone, but Fate has other plans for him. The first night that Austin and Ronny meet had this reviewer hee-hawing. A connection is made between these two lost, wounded, and very sad souls, which evolves into a magnificent relationship.
       Reagan Truman gives Noah McAllen an ultimatum – her or the rodeo. Noah can’t always run from his responsibilities.
      Betting The Rainbow visits so many of the core characters and updates their status. Jodi Thomas has truly outdone herself with this fine, fine story. I know, personally, each and every character in Harmony, Texas and hope to meet many more. They are wonderful, kind, generous, real people with real problems. Be warned that having a box of tissues close by will come in handy. Beautiful stories like Betting The Rainbow don’t come around too often, and reading this tale is like finding a pot of gold.

Thanks so much for joining us today. Have you thought about Jodi’s question? What’s your answer? Here’s her question again: I’d love to know from any of you if there’s been a time when you’ve bet it all for one dream?

Going Back To Harmony With Author Jodi Thomas

It’s my pleasure to welcome New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jodi Thomas back to Thoughts in Progress today. 

Jodi’s here to take us back to Harmony, Texas, in CAN’T STOP BELIEVING, which debuts today.
Congratulations Jodi on the new release!!

The sixth book in her popular Harmony series presents a story where big dreams are brewing—and anything and everything is possible…
    Cord McMillan gave up his freedom at eighteen when he went to jail for a crime he didn't commit. Now, ten years later, he's about to give it up again for a piece of land. Nevada Britain, his neighbor, has just made him an offer he can't refuse: If he'll marry her, she'll sign over a section of property that their families have been fighting over for a hundred years. Nevada refuses to ex-plain why, but Cord knows the bargain is in his favor.
    He just has one condition--she has to sleep in his bed every night as long as their doomed marriage lasts. Nevada only wants to maintain her family's legacy--and redeem herself for a wrong she did Cord years ago. But as she spends more time with her husband by necessity, she discovers something unexpected--a love so deep it takes her breath away.

CAN’T STOP BELIEVING (Berkley, ISBN: 978-0425250679) has already received great praise:
    “Another winner...Fans will be delighted.” - Publishers Weekly (starred review)
    “Compelling and beautifully written.” - Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times Bestselling author

Jodi talks about writing this latest release.

When I began writing CAN’T STOP BELIEVING, I wanted to write a story about second chances. Like they always do, characters began to dance in my head, jumping up and down wanting to tell their stories.
Some authors develop characters with long outlines and background studies. I pretty much just wait around for them to drop by, sit down and tell me their stories. 

Cord McMillan did just that. He’d completely destroyed his life one night just before he turned eighteen. Seven years later no one in Harmony wanted to talk to him, much less be his friend. If he hadn’t inherited his parents little farm, he’d have had nothing and the farm was in so much trouble he had to work in town to keep from losing it. 

Nevada Britain had rich land and money, but her reputation was worse than Cord’s. Neither trusted anyone but a need to survive brought them together and they formed a bond no one could break. 

I’m over my ‘after the book’ blues that always hits when a book is finished. I’ve moved on to another story, but these characters will always be in the back of my mind like old friends. I hope for all of you they will be that as well. 
 
Enjoy the journey, Jodi.

Jodi, thanks for visiting with us again and taking us back to Harmony. That place is filled with such interesting people. Can’t wait to see what happens there next. Maybe Cord and Nevada will resurface again (just to say hi).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jodi is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of 37 novels and 11 short story collections. In June 2011, WELCOME TO HARMONY, the first book in the Harmony series, won a RITA, the highest award for women’s fiction. Jodi currently serves as the Writer in Residence at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas.

For more on Jodi and her writing, visit her website or find her on Facebook and Twitter.

Thanks for dropping by today. Hope you’ve enjoyed your side trip to Harmony and return for a longer stay by reading CAN’T STOP BELIEVING. Aren’t second chances a wonderful thing?

Returning To Harmony with Author Jodi Thomas

It’s always a pleasure to welcome author Jodi Thomas back to Thoughts in Progress as it means she has a new installment in her Harmony series. CHANCE OF A LIFETIME is her latest release.

The fifth book in her popular Harmony series, CHANCE OF A LIFETIME presents a story where big dreams are brewing - and anything and everything is possible. Here’s a brief synopsis:
     Emily, the local librarian, has started a writing group, but as the group stumbles through both the fiction and reality of their lives, they’re learning much more than how to write. But Emily suddenly has other things on her mind when a friend from her past shows up in Harmony’s library. Now she must deal with a secret she’s kept for fifteen years—a secret that changed her life and threatens to shatter her future.
     Meanwhile, new lawyer Rick Matheson thinks he’s in charge of his world until accidents start happening all around him. Just when he realizes someone is trying to kill him, he meets a beautiful U.S. Marshal named Trace Adam. Now that the marshal has given him an even stronger reason to go on living, he must learn to take a chance on life to dream bigger—and love better—than he ever has before.

Publishers Weekly has given CHANCE OF A LIFETIME a starred review and had this to say about it: “Another winner...Fans will be delighted.” 

Jodi joins us today to talk about her intriguing town and the people that call it home. 

As the holidays wind down and we cuddle into the cool nights, I’d love to take you along on a journey with me to a small town in Texas called Harmony. 

When I began CHANCE OF A LIFETIME, I started with Emily, a librarian. She’s kind and caring with a secret that keeps her fears compartmentalized in her mind. When a friend from her past asks a favor, she agrees not knowing how far into an adventure they’ll stumble while discovering each other and a secret of the town. 

If you are looking for a book that will let you step out of daily life into a world of mystery, laughs and falling in love, you’ll enjoy CHANCE OF A LIFETIME.

So, come along with me to Harmony.

Jodi, thanks for visiting with us again and giving us another look at Harmony and its residents. The idea of a librarian with a secret makes for a fun adventure.

Jodi is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of 36 novels and 11 short story collections. In June 2011, WELCOME TO HARMONY, the first book in the Harmony series, won a RITA, the highest award for women’s fiction. Jodi currently serves as the Writer in Residence at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas. 

For more on Jodi, her writing and her Harmony series you can check out her website, visit her on Facebook and find her on Twitter.

As a special treat I’d like to share a review of CHANCE OF A LIFETIME from Fresh Fiction written by Sandra Wurman.  

     First let me let you in on a secret -- I've never met a Jodi Thomas book that wasn't absolutely dog eared from being read so many times. They are all like warm cozy friends that just beg to be taken back down from the book shelves and revisited. When given the opportunity to read or review a Thomas book I grab it with gusto. CHANCE OF A LIFETIME is destined to become one of my favorites and I'll wager that it will be yours as well. Thomas managed to interweave a host of stories and characters in this wonderful contemporary tale infused with humor and mystery. The pages come alive as you are invited into the world of people who live in small town Harmony.
     Who would have thought a library could hold not only a wealth of knowledge but secrets as well. As a centerpiece of a community the library is a place people go to for many reasons and it would appear that the Harmony library has its share of stories to tell -- no pun intended.
     The librarian Emily Tomlinson's life appears to be an open book with the inhabitants fully aware of the tragic and violent attack fifteen years ago when she was just a teenager. A teenager who happened to be in the wrong place at the absolute wrong time. In her memories of the event all she recollects is that her best friend Tannon Parker wasn't there for her, such a breach of faith it would form a chasm between the two that was impossible to bridge. Tannon it appears harbors his own nightmares of that evening. He remembers getting there too late to stop the attack but his memories go even further. As time goes on he realizes that Emily didn't fully realize the events of that night and no one should reopen those barely healed wounds.
     Tannon has unfulfilled dreams of his own -- those dreams and wishes included Emily and a desire to get back a normal, fulfilled life hopefully with someone who cares for and about him. Emily still has an aversion to being out past dark. And her life has definitely stalled into a comfortable nonthreatening routine that borders on loveless and downright boring. Well that's all about to change and change is supposed to be good for the soul.
     There's someone in this quiet little town that has a grudge against the towns lawyer Rick Matheson. Rick thinks of his practice as barely existent and yet he is continually being put in harm's way with no clues as to motive or person of interest. These accidents are not minor in any way. Luck has been on Rick's side as he has survived life threatening injuries. He barely recuperates from one "accident" when there is another attack. Law officials are taking note of these attacks and have decided Rick needs protection. Moving into the local bed and breakfast seems a logical and hopefully safe place where Rick won't be alone and at the same time hopefully not put others in jeopardy. The Matheson's are lifelong residents of this little town and they are working behind the scenes to guard Rick even if he is reluctant to admit to the danger.
     There's something about small town living that is very compelling. Knowing all your neighbors should make you feel safe and yet in CHANCE OF A LIFETIME, Thomas effectively casts doubt on that belief. There's a huge cast of characters in her latest book too numerous to mention much less give any insight into but heed my words this is a masterfully written story about a group of people who will grab hold from beginning to end. You almost dread finding out if any of them is the culprit.

Thanks everyone for stopping by today. Do you enjoy books that featuring small towns? What is it about small towns that appeals to us and draws us in?

*****

BTW, those who guessed yesterday concerning the 'can you name it' photo were all correct. It was a clothes pin.

Thanks for playing along.
 

Can You Name It?

Do you enjoy challenges that cause you to expand your imagination?

Years ago when I first went to work for a newspaper, it was a small town weekly. The same family had owned the paper for 100 years (and still do).

Being a small town paper, it had (and has) a close relationship with the community. Like any paper, they were always trying to increase circulation. One fun promotion they had was to print a photo of an object, have readers submit their guesses, and the winner won a subscription to the paper.

The objects were always general items that people would see in their homes or around the county. It was hilarious some of the guesses that were sent in for the simplest items. It was fun to see how people looked at the same object, but say so many different things.

Did you notice the photo above? Can you name what it is? It’s a simple object, but may not be one that is found in all households these days.

Does the photo stir your imagination? Could you draft a short story just from the object? Could you use the image in a story you already have ongoing?

Sometimes when we’re stuck and can’t write, we just need to switch gears and let our imaginations flow. Looking at photos and seeing more than what’s there gives the imagination a chance to recharge.

Do you use objects to help charge your imagination? What helps you the most when you’re writing to keep your energy flowing?

Thanks for stopping by today. Please join me tomorrow when author Jodi Thomas visits to talk about the fifth installment in her Harmony series, CHANCE OF A LIFETIME.

For those wondering about the photo, at the end of tomorrow’s post I’ll show the entire object. Okay, can you name it?

Sunday Salon: Celebrity in Death by J.D. Robb

Thanks for stopping by. Pull up a comfortable chair, make sure your cup is filled to the brim with your favorite beverage and let’s discuss the wonderful world of books during another Sunday Salon.

Though I’ve been absent from the blogdom this past week (life gets crazy sometimes), I’ve had the chance to listen to several interesting thrillers. Among the audios I’ve recently finished is the newest addition to a favorite series.

CELEBRITY IN DEATH by J.D. Robb

Author J.D. Robb once again tantalizes readers and listeners with the latest release in her Eve Dallas series, CELEBRITY IN DEATH.

Lt. Eve Dallas and her team are in the spotlight, sort of. A former case is being turned into a movie. It feels odd seeing herself re-enact the case, but finding her partner Peabody’s look-alike dead is even more distributing for Dallas.

As Dallas and her team investigate the murder, they find the world of Hollywood holds many secrets and much hatred.

Robb packs a lot of intrigue and suspense in this latest release, while adding bits of humor. The story moves along at a steady pace with twists and turns and another a murder or more along the way. As the story progresses, fans also get a little closer look at the cast of familiar characters.

While a huge fan of the series, I am so because of the combined talents of Robb and narrator Susan Ericksen. Susan brings the characters to life giving each their own unique voice and emotions. Her cadence is smooth and enticing, but filled with the proper emotions when necessary. She has you believing there are several narrators instead of just one.

CELEBRITY IN DEATH is a stand alone read and new readers of the Eve Dallas series aren’t left in the dark. However, for those new to the series, The Icove Agenda refers to a cunning father-son murder mystery Dallas and her team solved in ORIGIN IN DEATH and well worth reading or listening to.

Dallas, Roarke, Peabody and the rest of the team will take you on another interesting adventure into the world of life and crime in New York in the future.

Author J.D. Robb’s website is www.jdrobb.com

Celebrity in Death by J.D. Robb, An Eve Dallas series, Read by Susan Ericksen, Brilliance Audio, @2012, ISBN: 978-1455818259, Unabridged, 11 Discs, Listening Time 14 Hours 

FTC Full Disclosure - This audio book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.

 

What was on your reading list this past week? Thanks again for stopping by. Please join me tomorrow when delightful author Jodi Thomas stops by to talk about the fourth novel in her Harmony series, JUST DOWN THE ROAD. Have a wonderful and safe Sunday.