Review of Breaking Möbius by T.R. Horne with Giveaway

Breaking Möbius

by T. R. Horne

Title: Breaking Möbius

Author: T.R. Horne

Genre: African American / Contemporary Women’s Fiction

Synopsis:

ONE GOOD DECISION…

Leaving behind an abusive father and emotionally scarred mother, Mali Struthers catches a bus to freedom. Atlanta University is the perfect place to discover her inner strength and special talents that lead her to a future she never imagined outside her father’s walls. Still learning to love herself, Mali must push past her own doubts to realize she deserves everything she’s worked for, even the love of a man seemingly out of reach.

…CAN CREATE A BAD DECISION

 As a star football player, Justice Bradford juggles his high profile relationship and aggressive groupies but with his best friend’s constant lure of temptation, he struggles to remain focused. He has the world at his fingertips until his plans are shattered by deception. Fighting depression, he’s re-routed on a dangerous path of self-destruction until, by chance, he finds a light in the darkness that makes him second guess his vow. When Justice is faced with his new reality, will he get his life back on track before he loses it all?

…AND INCITE REVENGE.

 One of the hottest video models on the scene, Nicole Bunn is the epitome of a strong, focused businesswoman. Concentrating only on her money and the men that can supply her expensive lifestyle, Nicole runs from her own hurts scared to love anyone other than herself. Tired of waiting to marry into fortune, Nicole turns a chance meeting into a whirlwind of sex, lies and obsession that is bound to threaten her livelihood. Through a trail of lies and addiction, Nicole sees her love of money fracture so many lives, including her own. When Nicole is forced to choose between her love of money or a chance at true love, what will she decide?

Author Bio:

T.R. Horne is a freelance relationship columnist, entrepreneur and author. She graduated with a Bachelor’s in Communication Studies and Master’s in Education with honors. Normally, she calls Atlanta, Georgia home but travels around the world with her family. She hopes to finish her doctorate degree in the next few years. She fancies murder mysteries, thrillers, and romantic suspense and erotica stories but is addicted to bad reality television. T.R. Horne lives near Yokohama, Japan with her husband, son and dog.

Links:

Amazon:http://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Mobius-T-R-Horne/dp/099110630X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1384162444&sr=8-1&keywords=breaking+mobius

Author Website: www.trhorne.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/authortrhorne

Twitter: www.twitter.com/authortrhorne

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7351597.T_R_Horne

My thoughts:

Breaking Möbius follows the independent and intertwined stories of three characters as they navigate life and reveal in each character the best and worst of human nature. 

Horne gives her reader each character in first person.  Mali is the first to emerge and the reader learns of her survival of childhood abuse and neglect and ready to begin a new chapter in her life at college.  She meets another student, Justice, a star football player, who Mali is instantly attracted to.  Unfortunately, he is nursing a broken heart and isn’t ready to pursue anything more serious than friendship; at least at the moment.

Nicole, Justice’s ex-girlfriend, is the final main character the reader encounters.  Nicole is a complex character; beautiful, driven, self-absorbed, manipulative, but conflicted.  As she is caught in the midst of a life decision so is the reader who Horne skillfully keeps in the dark as to what Nicole’s ultimate fate will be. 

Breaking Möbius was a well-written novel with something for everyone; suspense, romance, sexy and was truly skillfully character driven.  I enjoyed following the characters as they lived and as those lives crossed and intertwined.  I often found myself cheering them on or cringing, as I feared they might make a fatal misstep.  The novel was definitely much like life; a ride of the highest ups and the lowest lows, but a ride and a read worth the effort.

Tour-wide Giveaway

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Release day celebration for The Druid's Doorway by S.G. Daniels with Giveaway

We’re celebrating the release for YA urban fantasy novel “The Druid’s Doorway” today!

You can now buy your copy here:  http://www.sgdaniels.com/

About The Druid’s Doorway

Title: The Druid’s Doorway

Author: S.G. Daniels

Genre: YA Urban Fantasy

Jake Reese thinks he’s just a screwed-up high school kid living in a small town isolated in the Arizona desert. Traumatized at an early age by his mother’s sudden death—and believing he might have had something to do with it—he’s allowed his guilt and lack of self-confidence to rule his life.

Hailey is the fiery little redhead that sees Jake as more than a just a good friend. When she invites him as her date to a school function, it brings down the walls he's built to protect his heart, and sets off a series of events that threaten not only Jake’s life, but that of everyone around him.

The discovery of a portal on the outskirts of town brings Jake face-to-face with death and reveals a closely guarded secret about his mother. No longer is his memory of her the only thing that haunts him. Something evil from her past has escaped through the portal and nothing will prevent it from trying to steal Jake’s future.

Can Jake overcome his fears to keep Hailey safe? Will the decisions he's forced to make destroy everyone he knows and loves? And ultimately...is he strong enough to live with those choices?

Author Bio

S.G. Daniels lives in rural Central Illinois with her husband of thirty-one years, and two spoiled cats, Payne and Jenks. She works full-time in a local medical facility as a patient accounting refund specialist. Most of her evenings she can be found in front of her computer, working on story ideas, or learning the ins and outs of the writing world. On the weekends, if she’s not spending time outside, she’s usually found nose-deep in a book. When S.G. unleashes her inner daredevil, she usually takes off through winding timber trails or country roads on the ATV. Her weaknesses are iced tea and pretzels, especially when she’s working on a story.

Links

Website: www.sgdaniels.com
Twitter: @SGDanielsAuthor
Facebook: www.facebook.com/s.g.daniels.author
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/sgdanielsbooks

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7515006.S_G_Daniels

Giveaway

There’s also a giveaway where you can win Kindle copies of the book. Giveaway is international. To participate, simply fill in the Rafflecopter form below!

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For more information on The Druid's Doorway and the upcoming blog tour, click on the banner below:

BR: Tainted Waters by Maggie Thom

Tainted Waters

by Maggie Thom

BLURB:

He didn’t commit suicide but who’s going to believe her...

Frustrated at being fired from her latest job and overwhelmed by her consolatory family, Sam decides to move to the family’s cabin at the lake. A place she hasn’t been since her dad committed suicide there, twenty years before. Or did he? Snooping is something she’s good at but someone seems to be taking offense to her looking too closely at what has been happening at the lake. What she discovers is shocking. Now she must uncover what’s real and what’s not. All that she learned growing up, may be false.

Keegan, who has recently moved to the area to finish his latest book, is also trying to find out if his grandfather, who’d passed away ten years before, died of natural causes or was murdered? The descendants of the four families, who own the land around the lagoon, are dying off.

Since Sam and Keegan are the only ones questioning the deaths, they find themselves working together to seek the truth. Are people being murdered? Who would benefit from their deaths? Why would there be barricades and armed guards at the north end of the lake? To stay alive, Sam and Keegan must find the answers and convince others, before more people are killed... including them.

"This is a book that will have you on the edge of your seat. Just when you think the story is over, think again." Read Your Writes Book Reviews

EXCERPT:

“You’re fired!”

Sam’s hands slammed down on the arms of the office chair as she jerked forward. “Because some dude stole a necklace from his wife, pawned it and got the insurance for it? And I had the nerve to tell the story?”

“You’re fired!”

There was so much more she wanted to say to him. To tell him. It wasn’t fair that she was getting kicked to the curb for other people’s lies and secrets. It wasn’t her fault that she felt truth should win out at all costs. Climbing to her feet, she stared hard at her boss, debating about telling him again why she’d written that story. The blue vein bulging from his forehead and the deep crimson color of his puffy cheeks told her it was pointless and might just cause a heart attack.

“The story didn’t run, so what’s the big deal?”

His mottled face started to shake with fury. Sam picked up her coffee which she was glad she’d set down when she came in and took a step back. The last man she’d seen that angry had thrown a punch.

“Only because I caught it. Nothing and I mean nothing, gets printed in this paper without my say so. Very sneaky Samantha. Not acceptable. You’re done here. And don’t worry you won’t ever work in this industry again.”

She shook her head hoping something would fall into place and this would all make sense. It wasn’t like it was any different than any of the other stories the newspaper wrote – they got details, or as many as they could and then skewed them sideways if that’s what made the tale sensational. Only she hadn’t needed to do that. The facts themselves had been enough to make the story astounding. For once the paper might have been able to print the truth and nothing but the truth. The informant who’d put her on to this situation had been right, it had been unbelievable. She wished she’d been able to thank him but that was part of the agreement – no names, no thank yous, no mention of where the story started. And she couldn’t tell anyone because it wasn’t actually supposed to have been hers to tell.

“I’m fired.” It didn’t compute.

“Of course. I don’t say things I don’t mean. Now get out.”

She eyed Mr. Donner, the man that she’d thought she was going to have a lot of respect for, the man she’d envisioned thanking in the future for all he’d taught her. For taking her under his wing and making her the exceptional journalist that she was. Okay she knew that was crap but she had hoped that her initial ‘feeling’ about him had been wrong. Besides she figured that even if he wasn’t more than a pompous figurehead, there had to be some people at the paper that she could learn from. To date, unfortunately, she’d only been patted on the head and given the lame jobs. Still, she’d actually started to believe that this work might be her calling. Well, until she’d taken it into her head to run with a tip she’d been given. It hadn’t really been meant for her but since Tom hadn’t been at his desk when his phone kept ringing and ringing, she’d figured it had been hers to run with since she’d been the one to answer it. She had planned to show them what she could do and that would have been the start to her amazing career.

Another damn dream dashed.

Without stopping to think about what she was doing or even taking the time to rationalize that this wouldn’t be in her best interest, she tossed her almost full cup of lukewarm coffee across the expansive cherry wood desk, into the face of the man who had been her supervisor for a few short months.

PURCHASE Links:

  

    

  

AUTHOR Bio:

 

Maggie Thom, who grew up in rural Alberta, took the challenge and leapt off, leaving a full time, twenty year career in management, to write full time. After publishing her first book Captured Lies, October 2012, her second novel, Tainted Waters, April, 2013, she is looking forward to publishing her third book, Deceitful Truths, available late 2013. An avid reader and writer her whole life, she decided to break the monotony of wishing to be an author by making it happen. Married to her best friend, she is learning that humor, love and patience help her navigate her way through her twins’ teen years. Her motto: Escape to read and Read to escape. "Maggie Thom writes a fast paced thriller laced with romance that keeps the reader interested and on edge!" InDtale Magazine

AUTHOR Links:

Website: www.maggiethom.com

Blog: http://maggiethom.wordpress.com/the-write-to-read/

My thoughts:

Maggie Thom is a new author to me and so when I opened Tainted Waters I had no idea I was in for the ride of my life.  Tainted Waters is full of corruption, drugs, lies and murder - the book will truly keep you on the edge of your seat unable to pry yourself from it.  As the characters, Sam and Keegan, investigate the near abduction of Sam followed by a stream of threats against both their lives I found myself emotionally right in there with them.  As I reader I felt very much a part of the story, Sam, Keegan and I became a team who wouldn't give up.   

Maggie brilliantly creates suspense and the atmosphere of unease and creepiness.  Her characters inspire the reader to join them in their hunt to solve the mystery which makes them likeable, approachable and very human rather than super human.  Sam is a driven, spirited woman and Keegan a protective, but not repressively so, man.  There is some chemistry between the two but the story is driven by the mystery and the relationship of the characters is secondary to the storyline.  If you are looking for a fast paced, suspenseful and engaging read with all the twists and turns of a mystery that keeps you thinking you've figured it out only to find yourself back at square one, then Tainted Waters is for you.

I am so happy that I have been introduced to Maggi Thom, whom I hope to read again, and I would recommend Tainted Waters without hesitation.  

GIVEAWAY:

Maggie will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes & Noble GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour, and an eBook copy of her upcoming book, Deceitful Truths, will be awarded to a randomly drawn host.  As with all Goddess Fish Promotions Tours the more you follow the tour and comment; the better their chances of winning. The tour schedule can be found by clicking the banner below: 

BB: Love by Deception by Debra Elizabeth (Book 2, Age of Innocence)

LOVE BY DECEPTION

Book 2, Age of Innocence

by Debra Elizabeth

BLURB:

Content with her life as a lady's maid, Isabel Knott learns the father she never knew has left her a fortune. The news comes with one restriction—she can never reveal his name. Isabel falls in love with Colby Tisbury, but with her nonexistent pedigree his father, Lord Tisbury, will never accept her as his daughter-in-law.

Colby Tisbury must marry, and soon. If he doesn’t find a bride before the end of the Season, his father will supply one. Then Colby meets sassy Isabel Knott, and everything changes—but can he go against his father’s wishes and marry a girl utterly lacking in family and connections? Isabel is forced to make an impossible choice - reveal her secret identity and bring shame to her true father or lose Colby forever.

EXCERPT:

“Of course, why wouldn’t you? You’re beautiful and smart, and perhaps with a few lessons, the perfect young lady for any gentleman to be happy to have as his wife.”

Isabel beamed at her sister. She always knew the right things to say to make her feel loved. A husband? Wouldn’t that be something? She closed her eyes and wondered what it would be like to be kissed, really kissed by a man. The only man she’d been around for most of her life was Mr. Condiff and half the time, he had ignored her.

“Isabel, are you listening?”

Isabel’s eyes popped open and she felt a blush rise up her neck. “Sorry, I was merely thinking about the possibility of attracting a husband.”

Georgette nodded. “I understand, but please pay attention. A lady’s most important accessory is her fan. Use it to give yourself a few moments to think of an appropriate response should a gentlemen come over and speak with you. It would not do well for you to blurt out the first thing that comes to mind.”

“Are you saying I’m too bold?”

“Maybe a little,” Georgette said.

Isabel stood and placed her teacup on the tray and hurried up the stairs. “I’ll be right back,” she said over her shoulder.

When Isabel came back into the parlor with a white lace fan, she saw her sister was frowning.

“Isabel, what are you doing?”

“I’m following your advice. Shall I practice for you?”

Georgette couldn’t help but smile. “Yes.”

Isabel set out to practice every scenario she could think of. “Miss Knott, it is a pleasure to meet you,” she said in her best imitation of a low, manly voice. Fanning herself, she batted her eyes and replied, “Thank you, sir. And who are you again? I’m so busy fanning myself that I completely forgot your name.”

Her sister’s laughter filled the front parlor. “Isabel, you’re shameless.”

“I know. Shall I demonstrate more?”

Before Georgette could answer, Isabel played out scene after scene entertaining her. She was laughing so much that tears rolled down her cheeks. “Stop, you must stop. I can’t breathe anymore,” Georgette begged.

PURCHASE Links:

AUTHOR Bio:  

Debra Elizabeth is the romance pen name for fantasy author Debra L Martin. Together with her co-author and brother, they enjoy writing epic fantasy. They have published 4 books to date, THE SILVER CROSS, ASSASSIN'S CURSE, THE QUEST FOR NOBILITY AND THE CRYSTAL FACADE. They are currently working on WITCH'S CURSE, Book 2 in the Witchstone Prophecies.

LOVE BY DECEPTION is Book 2 in the Age of Innocence series. Book 1 is LOVE BY SECRETS. She is currently working on Book 3, DARE TO LOVE A SPY.

Debra also blogs at Two Ends of the Pen where she writes about everything writing as well as hosting author interviews and posting book reviews.

AUTHOR Links:

      

Blog: http://twoendsofthepen.blogspot.com/

Giveaway:

The author will be giving away digital copies of Love by Secrets and Love by Deception to two randomly drawn commenters during the tour.  As with all Goddess Fish Promotions Tours you are encouraged to follow the tour and comment on the hosting blogs; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour schedule can be found by clicking the banner below:  

Books on France Reading Challenge Wrap-Up for 2013

Books on France Reading Challenge Wrap-Up

Books on France Reading Challenge hosted by Words and Peace

I met my goal for the Books on France Reading Challenge (going for 12) and I guess it's about that time when we start recapping our activities for the year.  At least I will be early at or for something, though at this moment I'm already running late.  Anyhoo, this challenge was open to any books set in France or any which contained any French themes.  Pretty cool, huh?

Challenge LEVELS:

LEVEL 1, “un peu” = 3 books (one per quarter for instance)

LEVEL 2, “beaucoup”= 6 books

LEVEL 3, “passionnément” = 12 books (one/month, for instance) My pick… I didn't want Henry Tudor to get jealous!!

LEVEL 4, “à la folie”= 52 books (one/week, for instance)

My reads for 2013:

1. Seduction, M.J. Rose, Review
2. Promise of Provence, Patricia Sands, Review
3. Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette, Carolly Erickson, Review
4. Wolf Wood, Book One, Mike Dixon, Review
5. Confessions of Marie Antoinette, Juliet Grey, Review
6. A Spear of Summer Grass, Deanna Raybourn, Review
7. Paris Was the Place, Susan Conley, Review
8. Wolfsangel, Liza Perrat, Review
9. Taking Root in Provence, Anne-Marie Simmons, Review
10. Anvil of God, J. Boyce Gleason, Review
11. Grape Expectations, Caro Feely, Review
12. The Paris Lawyer, Sylvie Granotier, Review

Je suis fini avec ce défi, jusqu'à l'année prochaine mes amis...

BB: Taming a Gentleman Spy, Book Two of the Spies of Mayfair Series byMaggi Andersen

Taming a Gentleman Spy

The Spies of Mayfair Book #2

by Maggi Andersen

BLURB

John Haldane, Earl of Strathairn, is on an urgent mission to find the killer of his fellow spy. After visiting the young widow of one of his agents, Strathairn strengthens his resolve. A spy should never marry, and most certainly not to Lady Sibella Winborne, with her romantic ideas of love and marriage. Unable to give Sibella up entirely, he has kept her close as a friend. Then, weak fool that he is, he kissed her.

Lady Sibella Winborne has refused several offers of marriage since she first set eyes on the handsome Earl of Strathairn. Sibella’s many siblings always rush to her aid to discourage an ardent suitor, but not this time. Her elder brother, Chaloner, Marquess of Brandreth, has approved Lord Coombe’s suit.  Sibella yearns to set up her own household. She is known to be the sensible member of the family, but she doesn’t feel at all sensible about Lord Strathairn. If only she could forget that kiss.

EXCERPT

Beneath glistening chandeliers, the dancers spun to the strains of a Handel waltz. Strathairn smiled down at his partner, her slim waist beneath his hand as they danced. Lady Sibella Winborne looked like a delicate flower in a gauzy pale gown covered in amber blossom. White ostrich feather plumes adorned her luxuriant dark locks. He enjoyed looking at her. Her serene oval face lifted and she smiled at him, her mouth wide and full. Too wide for beauty some might say, but made for kissing. She had inherited her mother’s famous eyes, a delectable mix of blue and green, but her nature was quieter, lacking the vivacity of her mother in her youth, who was said to have had men falling at her feet. He admired Sibella’s calm beauty, but she was oh, so much more: practical, poised and intelligent. Yet still unmarried, which surprised him.

               

“You arrived late tonight. I wasn’t sure you’d come,” she said.

               

“I was tied up with business.”

               

“Not parliament?”

               

“No.”

               

She tilted her head. “Your horses, then?”

               

He grinned at her blatant curiosity. “No.”

               

“You won’t tell me.”

               

“No.”

               

Sibella laughed with good humor. “Very well. Might I find you riding in Hyde Park tomorrow?”

               

“I hope to.”

               

Her delicate brows rose. “If business doesn’t keep you.”

               

He laughed. “Precisely.”

               

The music faded away. Strathairn escorted her back to her chair where her mother, the Dowager Marchioness of Brandreth, sat fanning herself among the other dowagers. He bowed, planning to slip into the rooms set aside for gambling. As much as he might wish to dance with Sibella again, it would place them under scrutiny, and faro was an effective release from the tension he always carried with him.

               

“Don’t rush off, Strathairn,” her sharp-eyed mother said. “We have seen little of you of late. You rarely frequent these affairs.” She waved her fan in an arc to encompass the ballroom. “Where have you been hiding?”

               

“Not hiding, my lady, merely visiting my estates.”

Lady Brandreth adjusted the silk shawl over her shoulders. “Did you include that pile of yours in Yorkshire? I enjoyed the hunt ball, but it’s cold as charity in winter up in those parts.”

               

“Not this time, but I miss it. There’s a wild beauty to the dales in winter, quite unlike southern England.”

               

“I daresay.” Her purple turban wobbled as she nodded. “You are a fine figure of a man, Strathairn. What are you now? Six and thirty? You should marry. You should be setting up your nursery.” She gestured toward her daughter sitting beside her. “Sibella will bear you healthy children. The Brandreths come of good stock, and the Wederells even better.”

               

“Mama, please!” He caught Sibella’s apologetic gaze and suppressed a wry smile. Her plea would have little effect; the marchioness was known to be one of the most colorful and outspoken members of the ton.

               

The dowager batted her daughter’s protest away with her fan. “I am merely speaking the truth, Sibella.”

               

“Your daughter is a credit to you, my lady,” he said with a smile. “She has inherited both your beauty and intelligence.”

               

“Now you are toad eating.” A roguish smile lit Lady Brandreth’s face. “You always were a charmer. Sibella is intelligent. Walk with her on the terrace to discover it for yourself.”

               

“I should be delighted.”

PURCHASE LINKS

  

Publisher: Knox Robinson Publishing Ltd. 

AUTHOR BIO

 

Maggi Andersen fell in love with the Georgian and Regency worlds after reading the books of Georgette Heyer. Victoria Holt's Gothic Victorian novels were also great favorites.

She has raised three children and gained a BA and an MA in Creative Writing. After husband David retired from the law, they moved to the beautiful Southern Highlands of Australia.

Maggi's free time is spent enjoying her garden and the local wildlife, reading, movies and the theatre. She keeps fit swimming and visiting the gym.

Maggi is a multi-published author, and writes mysteries and young adult novels as well as her Georgian, Regency and Victorian romances.

AUTHOR LINKS

Website: http://www.maggiandersenauthor.com

Blog: http://www.maggiandersen.blogspot.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/maggiandersen

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Maggi-Andersen-Author/372854959805

GIVEAWAY

Maggi will award a $50 Amazon GC plus an e-book copy of A Baron in Her Bed – The Spies of Mayfair, Book #1 to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

As with all Goddess Fish Promotions tours the more you comment, the better your chances of winning! To follow the tour click on the banner below for the entire schedule:

Interview with T. R. Horne, author of Breaking Mobius

Breaking Möbius

T.R. Horne

Book Blurb

ONE GOOD DECISION…

Leaving behind an abusive father and emotionally scarred mother, Mali Struthers catches a bus to freedom. Atlanta University is the perfect place to discover her inner strength and special talents that lead her to a future she never imagined outside her father’s walls. Still learning to love herself, Mali must push past her own doubts to realize she deserves everything she’s worked for, even the love of a man seemingly out of reach.

…CAN CREATE A BAD DECISION

As a star football player, Justice Bradford juggles his high profile relationship and aggressive groupies but with his best friend’s constant lure of temptation, he struggles to remain focused. He has the world at his fingertips until his plans are shattered by deception. Fighting depression, he’s re-routed on a dangerous path of self-destruction until, by chance, he finds a light in the darkness that makes him second guess his vow. When Justice is faced with his new reality, will he get his life back on track before he loses it all?

…AND INCITE REVENGE.

 One of the hottest video models on the scene, Nicole Bunn is the epitome of a strong, focused business woman. Concentrating only on her money and the men that can supply her expensive lifestyle, Nicole runs from her own hurts scared to love anyone other than herself. Tired of waiting to marry into fortune, Nicole turns a chance meeting into a whirlwind of sex, lies and obsession that is bound to threaten her livelihood. Through a trail of lies and addiction, Nicole sees her love of money fracture so many lives, including her own. When Nicole is forced to choose between her love of money or a chance at true love, what will she decide?

T. R. Horne interviews with The Most Happy Reader

MHR:  Tell us about yourself and background...

TRH:  Well, wow, let’s see what’s interesting about me? I started writing poetry when I was only 9 or 10 years old. Then I started writing a journal about my daily thoughts about life when I was around age twelve. My poems were a lot like short stories, so I started writing my own little stories (in poetic form mostly) in my journal. I started really writing more when I shared it with friends and they were really interested. My first short story was an email story to my family, chapter by chapter. I never finished it to this day. (laughs) And trust me, my family doesn’t let me forget it because I tapped out after the climax and left it without an ending. When I was young, I didn’t realize that the ending was just as important as the climax. Now, I write because it’s a way for me to live in a fantasy world and escape from the mundane. I read because I love being swept into someone’s world and walking away with some type of emotional connection. Weird, huh?

MHR:  Do you write to an idea or plot? Or do you prefer to see where the idea takes you?

TRH:  You know, I really love to write from the heart. I start a book with a single thought and let it bloom organically. I use thought bubbles later in the story to make sure I’m pacing properly (marking the characters highs/lows and timeline the events so it’s authentic). I also do a bit of research for topics I know nothing about. For instance, in Breaking Mobius, one of the main characters lived in Washington. I’d never stepped foot in Washington but I researched areas, looked at pictures and got an overall feel for the place to sell it to the readers. To be perfectly honest, my plots usually come from dreams or other people’s experiences. The things that happen in Breaking Mobius have really happened to people and it’s a little scary once you think about it!

MHR:  Are you reading at the moment? If so, what?

TRH:  I am constantly reading! I like reviewing other people’s work because I love giving props to people that put hard work into their books. I mostly read indie authors because they have a refreshing tone to their stories and it’s unpredictable whether you will like it, love it or hate it. So that gives me excitement to start reading a book from a person I’ve never heard of. Currently, I am reading and reviewing four books: Jordan’s Brains by J. Michel (zombie novel with great reviews), A Madaris Bride for Christmas by Brenda Jackson (well-known romance writer), Subfrenzy by Kimberlee Jane (BDSM – my first), The Weight of a Feather and Other Stories by Judy Croome (compilation of short stories). If you want to follow along with me, friend and follow my Goodreads page under T.R. Horne.

MHR:  For your own reading, do you prefer E-books or paperback/hardcover?

TRH:  This question has been the source of many discussions on Twitter, Facebook and with friends. I think all versions serve a particular purpose for me personally. E-books are good when I am on the go and want to read. Therefore, I don’t like reading novels on e-books and try to stick to short stories and novellas. Paperback is my all-time favorite method of reading. It’s bendable, easy to throw in a purse, doesn’t hurt my eyes and is much lighter on my wrist for lengthy reading. Now, hardcover books are for my special collection. If I loved the book, I buy the hardcover and keep it on my shelf for friends and family to ooohhh and aaahhhh over. (laughs) The hardcovers are too heavy to read and the dust jacket always jacks up while I read but I love the shelf appeal. So the easy answer is…it depends on what I’m reading and what the book is for.

MHR:  Any last thoughts?

Special thanks to The Most Happy Reader for having such a warm welcome to your blog! I enjoyed answering your questions and filtering through the site at all the cool things you have on here. And thanks to my old and new fans that venture out to read Breaking Mobius…I know you won’t be sorry you picked it up! You can always add me on Twitter and Facebook @AuthorTRHorne to keep in touch with what’s going on with me and the book. I accept everyone so don’t be shy to send a request, okay? Also, check out what I’m reading and what I’m reviewing at www.ragingbookreviews.wordpress.com and if you’re an indie author and want a review, contact yoshimabooks@gmail.com.

Thanks again, The Most Happy Reader! Remember my mantra, friends…Get the book. Read the book. Rate the book. Start all over! ;0)

Thank you for such a wonderful, engaging and revealing interview.  I am so glad you stopped by The Most Happy Reader and look forward to having you again on the 21st of December when I post my review and open the giveaway you have so graciously extended to my readers.  So, Remember to check back 12/21!

Author Bio

T.R. Horne is a freelance relationship columnist, entrepreneur and author. She graduated with a Bachelor's in Communication Studies and Master's in Education with honors. Normally, she calls Atlanta, Georgia home but travels around the world with her family. She hopes to finish her doctorate degree in the next few years. She fancies murder mysteries, thrillers, romantic suspense and erotica stories but is addicted to bad reality television. T.R. Horne lives near Yokohama, Japan with her husband, son and dog.

Links

Author Website:  www.trhorne.com

BB: Misplaced by Lee Murray with Giveaway

Misplaced

by Lee Murray

SYNOPSIS

Dream cars have no registration plate…

One evening, Adam’s mum pops out for the milk and doesn’t come back, launching a frantic nationwide search. Yet after weeks with no leads, the television crews drift away, the police start asking hairy questions, and Adam’s dad starts seeing someone else. Adam’s life is falling apart. But then he meets Skye, who it seems has misplaced a parent too, and things start to look up. That is, until a body is found…

EXCERPT

The make-up girl has a silver nose ring and hair streaked psychedelic orange.

‘Almost done,’ the girl says, puffing his face with powder. She has bony knuckles like cauliflower stalks. Holding his breath, Adam wills himself not to fidget as she deals to the fresh eruption of zits on his forehead. Right now, a few spots are the least of his worries.

‘There, that’s put some colour in your cheeks.’

Adam opens his eyes, stares at the mirror, and doesn’t say anything. Even with the powder, he’s as pale as Colgate. There’s fuzz on his chin and dark bags under his eyes. He looks like a druggie, a metal-head on a bender.

The Powder Puff girl selects a lipstick from a tray which, held vertically, could be a Connect Four player board.

Resolution Red.

With a practised twist, she pushes up the tube.

‘Pucker up, now,’ she coaxes. ‘Give me your sexiest pout, the one the girls love.’ But Adam clamps his mouth shut, pursing his lips in a thin line, and shakes his head. No lipstick. This isn’t an audition for American Idol.

‘But...’ The Powder Puff girl puts on a pout of her own.

‘No!’ he says, with more vehemence than is warranted.

The girl shrugs, rolls her eyes. ‘Whatever.’ She packs up her Connect Four box and leaves him there.

‘One minute, people!’ the floor manager screams. Through the scramble of movement, Adam is aware of Dad, shuffling about on the spot off to the side of the make-shift set, a man out of his comfort zone. Six days a week, Dad’s natural habitat is Creighton Cars, the yard that he runs. On Sundays he mows the lawns, then slumps in front of the telly, cold beer in hand, watching whatever sport happens to be on.

 Adam notices that Dad’s tugging his earlobe again. Dad always does that when he’s out of sorts. It’s a good thing the clients haven’t cottoned on or he’d never sell any cars. Lately, he’s pulled that lobe so often it’s a wonder he isn’t mistaken for a tribesman from Borneo.

Not that Adam isn’t uncomfortable. He wishes it hadn’t come to this. The thing is, the news people insisted a public appeal could make a difference. They said it’d made a difference in other cases. But Dad couldn’t face it, so Adam had agreed to do it instead. At this point Adam would agree to car surf down Auckland’s Queen Street in the wrong direction at rush hour, if there was a chance it would make a difference.

Anyway, it’s better Adam does it because, being younger than Dad, he’ll make the biggest impact, apparently. Adam knows this because he heard the camera crew chatting. They’d started off saying how Adam and Dad’s story was made for television, the kind of story that won awards. Then one of them said it was a bummer that Adam was seventeen. That’s when the guy holding the boom said, in these kind of cases, nothing tops a 7-year-old girl, especially a little blondie with dimples.

‘Trust our freaking luck!’ They’d laughed then, quietly amongst themselves, but one of them caught Adam looking and quickly shushed the others.

‘Hey, show a bit of compassion, will ya?’

Maybe this is how his life will be from now on. People shushing each other or looking away. Feeling sorry for him.

‘Adam? We’re ready for you.’ The floor manager speaks quietly. Adam’s grateful. Right now he feels like the entire cast of Lost, like something awful is about to happen. Maybe it already has, maybe he’s living in a parallel universe and none of this is real, but whatever it is, Adam doesn’t get any of it. He gets to his feet and allows the floor manager to direct him to the lectern. Placing both hands on either side of the lectern, Adam steadies himself.

This has to work. Please, let this work. Please.

But Adam knows that even if it does, nothing will be quite the same.

‘In 5... 4... 3...’ The floor manager holds up two fingers, then one...

The microphone makes a soft buzz as it’s switched on. Adam pauses, marvelling at how they actually do that, the holding up the finger thing.

Oh shit.

He’s on national television. His face spreads with warmth: the nasty-but-nice feeling you get when you pee in the sea. Great. His face will be red and blotchy now. He inhales deeply.

Swallows.

Stares directly at the camera lens.

What if this is the last time he ever speaks to her?

‘Mum... Mum, if you’re out there, if you can hear this, please, please call and let us know you’re all right. Whatever’s wrong, Dad and me, we’re worried. Please, Mum, just come home...’

Book Details and Links

Publication date: December 1st 2013

Genres: Mystery, New Adult

AUTHOR BIO

Lee Murray is a full-time writer and editor with master's degrees in science and management. Lee wrote Misplaced after a friend, Florence, went missing from her home in France in 2003. Sadly, Florence is still missing. Lee lives in Tauranga, New Zealand with her husband and their two teen-aged children.

Author links

www.leemurray.info

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