This is my little place in cyberspace, I love to read and write, so here I write about what I read. I'm not a professional, just blog about what I am reading at the moment!
Book Description: Bounty Hunter Agent Jenna St. James has one mission—find Sarandon Silver and bring him in. He’s up for trial in Colorado Springs for identity theft. But she soon learns he’s all wolf and isn’t going anywhere, not without the support of his whole Silver Town pack!
Sarandon Silver has one goal—come up with a new adventure for his clients. He hadn’t expected his vacation to involve a beautiful she-wolf who had only one thought in mind: arresting him for identity theft. All he should be thinking of is clearing his name, but Jenna appears to be just the adventure he needs in his life. And he aims not only to prove he isn’t the con artist she believes him to be, but the wolf she needs in her life. That means taking down the real identity thief before he steals their chance at a happily ever after. My Thoughts: I completely loved this couple's first meeting. Jenna is a recovery specialist...or a bounty hunter. It is a family gig since her mother is the bondswoman she, her father, and her two sisters hunt people down for. Her current fugitive to locate and bring back is Sarandon Silver. Sarandon is surprised when a female he has never met before pulls a gun on him. It gets even more confusing when each realizes the other is a wolf and neither want to back down. In a case of what could be mistaken identity, or realistically identity theft, these two characters get together to track down the person who truly started the chain of events that brought Jenna into Sarandon's life. It was a 3/5 for me. It was a good book. Thank you to the publisher for the review copy of this book. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.
She's ready to start a warJustice Parish takes down bad guys. Rescued from the streets by the world renowned Parish family, she joined their covert sisterhood of vigilante assassins. Her next target: a sex-trafficking ring in the war-torn Middle East. She just needs to get close enough to take them down…
He just wants peaceSandesh Ross left Special Forces to found a humanitarian group to aid war-torn countries. But saving the world isn't cheap. Enter Parish Industriesand limitless funding, with one catch—their hot, prickly ‘PR specialist', Justice Parish.
Their chemistry is instant and off-the-charts. But when Justice is injured and her cover blown, Sandesh has to figure out if he can reconcile their missions. With danger dogging their every move, their white-hot passion can change the world—if it doesn't destroy them first.
My Thoughts: This was a good read. Justice is determined to bring 'justice' to the men who killed her sister. Now her family is extensive and she is an assassin, but she remembers when her biological sister was murdered. Sandesh is a good man. He did his time as a soldier and now needs to keep busy to feel useful. The two of them together bring lots of fireworks. I felt so bad for Justice that she was being betrayed. I will admit that the author threw me on who the bad guys used to furhter their agenda. I also liked how the author did a great job of shedding light on human trafficking. Overall, this was a good book and I will read more from this author! It was a 4/5 for me. Thank you to the publisher for the review copy of this book. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.
She gave him a daughter. Eighteen months ago, Colt McCloud experienced an unforgettable night of passion. Now his onetime lover is at his door, pleading for help to save the daughter they conceived. Lola Dayton knows Colt is her only hope to infiltrate the kidnapper’s compound and save their baby. His military—and father—instincts kick in. And Colt secretly vows…if they survive, he’ll make this threesome a forever family.
My Thoughts: I liked this book. Colt isn't settling down on the ranch. He is only staying there for a bit because of a provision in his father's will. Lola and Colt only spent one night together a year ago but it left both of them with something that neither expected. A daughter. At least that is what Lola is telling Colt. There is a lot she didn't tell him on that night, like who she was running from or why they wanted her. Colt wants to believe Lola and is determined that if she is telling the truth, he will make sure she and their daughter iare taken care of. There was plenty of action. The love wasn't really there for me but it was ok. It was a 3/5 for me. Entertaining read.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy of this book. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.
Mind Game takes Jane MacGuire back to Scotland where she continues her search for the treasure she’s been chasing for years. But now she’s being plagued by dreams of a girl in danger. Who is this girl, and what is she trying to tell Jane? And will Jane figure it out before it’s too late—for her and the mysterious young woman? Things are further complicated when Seth Caleb comes back into Jane’s life. This time he’s the one in trouble, and Jane will find herself pulled unexpectedly into his world as she fights to save him.
With the adventure, intrigue, and explosive energy that Iris Johansen fans love, Mind Game is a high-octane thriller that readers won’t be able to put down. My Thoughts: I will start with, you need to read the previous books in this series to really 'get' the whole book. If you've read the previous books, this is a no brainer because you will want to revisit these characters! Jane is in Scotland searching for 'her' treasure. This book focuses on her but does bring in a lot of the characters from the other books so you can catch up a bit with them. There is a lot going on in this book and I really enjoyed the way it pulled me in and didn't let go. Jane and Seth both have different issues going on and there is action in all of it. There is a lot of paranormal/psychic throughout and it just intrigues me! It was a 4/5. I still enjoy this series. Thank you to the publisher for the review copy of this book. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.
***Don’t miss this prequel novella to the best-selling Angelbound, told from Prince Lincoln’s point of view!***
As the High Prince of the demon-fighting thrax, Lincoln knows he must marry for political gain. Not that he minds. For all of his eighteen years, Lincoln’s been bound to his duty. Fighting demons is his life, and he’s never given romance a second thought. Instead, the High Prince lives for the days when he leaves his hidden realm to fight demons on Earth.
Then, everything changes.
Lincoln and his nobles become forced to visit Purgatory, the home of quasi-demons (who are mostly human with a bit of demonic DNA). Here Lincoln spies Myla Lewis, a lady warrior who enflames his heart, ignites his interest, and inspires his respect. Trouble is, Myla’s also a quasi. By thrax law, Lincoln must kill anything demonic—not date them. For the first time in his life, Lincoln wonders if he’ll follow his duty…or heed the demands of his heart.
My Thoughts: I loved this look through Lincoln's eyes. It is a short novella but so great. He is duty bound to do what is right for the thrax. He is also compelled to because he is a good guy. He is kind and loving to his mother. He respects his father, though he is unhappy with how he handles some things. Then there is the intrigue when he sees the 'demon girl'. I have grown to love these characters through the series and seeing them in a new way just makes it better. I still dislike Aldred and maybe more now seeing how horrid he was from the start. It was fun to see how indifferent Lincoln really was to his 'future bride' and then to be so enamored with Myla just on sight. I loved it. It was a 5/5 for me. I would love to see the whole series from his perspective.
Thank you to the author/publisher for the review copy of this book. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.
WHITE WITCH by Larry D. Thompson, Thriller, 291 pp., $14.95 (Paperback) $5.95
(Kindle edition)
Title: WHITE WITCH
Author: Larry D. Thompson Publisher: Story Merchant Books Pages: 291 Genre: Thriller
Jamaica is a place where the surreal is simply everyday reality. When
a ruthless American aluminum company plans to strip mine the Jamaican
rainforest, they send former Navy SEAL Will Taylor to Montego Bay to
deal with local resistance on their behalf. But he’s unaware that the
British had signed a treaty deeding the rainforest to the Jamaican
Maroons, descendants of escaped slaves, over 300 years ago. The Maroons
fought and died for their land then, and are more than willing to do so
now, whether it’s the British or the Americans who threaten them this
time around.
Upon Will’s arrival, a series of inexplicable murders begin, some
carried out with deadly snake daggers that were owned and used by Annie
Palmer, a voodoo priestess better known as the White Witch. She was
killed 200 years prior, but is said to still haunt the island at night,
and the local Jamaicans are certain she’s responsible for the gruesome
murders, her form of retaliation against the new turmoil taking place in
the rainforest.
And Will has been forced directly into the middle of it. After a few
close calls, he’s finally convinced to leave his company and join forces
with the Maroons, headed by Vertise Broderick, a Maroon who resigned
from her position at the New York Times to return to Jamaica to
stop the mining. Together they hire a Jamaican attorney to prove that
the Maroon/British treaty is still valid to stop the mining, and they
take it upon themselves to solve the White Witch murders, because the
legend of the White Witch can’t possibly be true…
My Thoughts:
I was excited to read this book because I've been to Jamacia a few times now and the setting intrigued me. I enjoyed the back and forth of time periods, weaving facts and legends into a story that pulled me in and entertained me. I liked the White Witch's story and the dagger, that was just interesting to me.
The modern element stems from the past and the Maroons. I enjoyed the characters and the author does a great job of keeping you interested throughout. There is murder, vudoo, actual history, legends, and more all mixed in.
It was a 4/5 for me. I really enjoyed the author's writing style.
Thank you to the author for the review copy of this book (via PUYB). I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.
Order Your Copy!
Will returned to his room, too wound up
to sleep. He stripped to his
underwear and flipped channels on a
large screen HD television until he ran
across First Blood with
Sylvester Stallone. Having lived that life for a few years,
he never passed up the opportunity to
watch it again. He settled back and had
drifted off to sleep when his cell
chimed. He glanced at the television to make
sure it was not coming from there and
found Fred Astaire waltzing Ginger
Rogers around a ballroom. He turned off the
television and reached for his
phone.
“Taylor.”
“Will, Alexa here.” It was nearly three
in the morning and Alexa was still at
her desk. Smoke drifted from a
cigarette in her ash tray while she sucked on a
Tootsie Pop. She was on the speaker
phone. When Will answered, she walked to
her window and stared at the lights of Baltimore.
Will turned on the nightstand light,
glanced at the clock, and swung his feet
into a sitting position on the side of
the bed. “Yes, ma’am. Little late for a booty
call.”
“Cut the crap. Kaven was just found at
Rose Hall. He’s dead.”
“What? Are you sure? I just saw him a
few hours ago.” Will got to his feet
and began pacing the room. “Shit.”
“Must be those goddamn Maroons. He
called me last night once he got
back from Accompong. He told me about
what happened up there. By the way,
they let the pilot go. They said they
had no beef with him.”
“So I heard. What was Kaven doing at
Rose Hall? When I saw him, he was
going to his room.”
“How the hell should I know? I got a
call from some local detective. They
found his employee identification in
his wallet. When the detective called here,
the operator knew I was still in my
office and put the call through to me. You need to get to Rose Hall now.
“Yes, ma’am,” Will agreed.
“And I’m flying down there tomorrow
before this gets any more out of
hand. See if you can keep anybody else
from being killed until I get there.”
Will’s cell went dead. He put it on the
nightstand and picked up the hotel
phone. Pleased to find it working, he
punched the key for valet parking.
“Good evening, Mr. Taylor. How can I be
of assistance?”
“Bring my company Land Rover to the
front as quickly as possible.”
Getting assurance that it would be
there when he got downstairs, Will hung
up and walked to the bathroom. Five
minutes later he was met at the hotel
entrance by a valet.
“Can I give you directions, Mr. Taylor?
It’s a little late at night.”
“No thanks. I know exactly where I’m
going.” Will got in the car, fastened
his seat belt, and left the hotel.
When Will got to Rose Hall, he turned
onto the road they had just come
down the evening before. At the top of
the hill he could see the mansion, now
well lighted. He dodged tree limbs and
utility wires and parked among several
other vehicles. Police cars were
positioned so that their headlights focused on the
steps of the mansion where Will could
see the yellow police crime scene tape. He
walked up a path from the parking lot
between the police cars that faced the
mansion to the yellow tape where an
officer stood watch. The officer came to
attention as Will approached.
“Sorry, mon. I can’t let you past here.
We’re investigating a murder.”
Will kept his voice even but
controlling. “I know, officer. That’s why I’m
here. Name’s William Taylor. I’m head
of security for Global American Metals.
Here’s my identification.” Will tried
to hand him an ID. The officer just shook
his head. “Officer, the dead man is one
of Global’s employees. Can you get
someone in authority to let me up
there?”
Before the officer could reply, Miles
Harper, the St. James Parish Chief of
Detectives, approached. Harper was a
lean, fit man with a shaved head and a no
nonsense manner. He was dressed in a
brown suit, yellow shirt, and matching
tie. He looked like he just stepped out
of GQ Magazine, even at three in the
morning.
“Mr. Taylor, I’m Miles Harper, Chief of
Detectives in this parish. I was
told by your company to expect you.”
Will extended his right hand. Harper
ignored it. Instead, he nodded at the
officer and motioned for Will to follow
him. Harper went up a dozen steps and
turned to Will as he stood beside
Kaven’s body, sprawled on his back with dagger in his chest. Will bent over for
a closer look and found that the handle of
the dagger was in the shape of a snake.
At the top of the handle was the snake’s
head. The snake’s eyes were two bright
rubies.
“Shit,” Will muttered, “He was almost
killed because of one snake on the
road today and now someone finished the
job with a, what would you call this, a
snake dagger?”
“That’s as good a name as any, Mr.
Taylor. My officers reported what went
on up in Accompong and the incident
with the boa.”
Will continued to study the body.
“Looks like he’s been dead a couple of
hours. I last saw him about ten last
night. Who found him?”
“The hotel has a security guard that
roams the mansion grounds and up to
the club house in a golf cart. He
spotted the body.”
“Where’s your coroner?”
“He’s a local Justice of the Peace, not
a medical doctor. He won’t set foot on
these steps until morning. My men here
won’t go past the tape either. They
believe the White Witch did it.”
Will shook his head in disbelief. “Come
on, Chief, this is the twenty-first
century.”
“Old beliefs die hard, Mr. Taylor. Come
on. Let me show you something.”
Harper stepped around the body and
climbed the steps with Will behind
him. Entering the ballroom, Will said,
“I was just in this room yesterday evening during the storm.”
Harper turned to study Will. “Would you
care to explain?”
Will covered the details of the
previous day and their time in the mansion
while they waited out the storm. “You
know a woman named Vertise?”
Harper nodded his head. “She’s a local.
Works for the paper and tends bar
for the hotel. Since you were in this
room a few hours ago, come over here.”
Harper led Will to a glass display
against one wall with pictures of two snake
daggers above it along with the history
of the daggers. The glass had been
broken and the daggers were gone.
“You see this case when you were up
here?”
Will studied it and thought back to the
day before. “Can’t say I did, Chief.
It was pretty dark in here, lit only by
candles since the storm knocked out
power. I wandered around the room but
never glanced toward this case. And I
don’t believe anyone else mentioned it.
Now that I think about it, Vertise told
us the legend of Annie Palmer and her
using a snake dagger to kill an overseer.
evening during the storm.”
Harper turned to study Will. “Would you
care to explain?”
Will covered the details of the
previous day and their time in the mansion
while they waited out the storm. “You
know a woman named Vertise?”
Harper nodded his head. “She’s a local.
Works for the paper and tends bar
for the hotel. Since you were in this
room a few hours ago, come over here.”
Harper led Will to a glass display
against one wall with pictures of two snake
daggers above it along with the history
of the daggers. The glass had been
broken and the daggers were gone.
“You see this case when you were up
here?”
Will studied it and thought back to the
day before. “Can’t say I did, Chief.
It was pretty dark in here, lit only by
candles since the storm knocked out
power. I wandered around the room but
never glanced toward this case. And I
don’t believe anyone else mentioned it.
Now that I think about it, Vertise told
us the legend of Annie Palmer and her
using a snake dagger to kill an overseer. Surprising that she didn’t show us
these daggers when she was telling the story.”
“Interesting,” mused Harper. “You have
any idea why your man would
come up here in the middle of the
night?”
“Not a clue. Have you checked his cell phone?
He always carried it.”
“Yeah. The last calls were with you
yesterday afternoon and one with Ms.
Pritchard later in the evening.”
Will nodded. “He called me from
Accompong, warning me of trouble up
there. I should have gone with him.”
Harper shook his head. “Whether you
were there or not wouldn’t have
made any difference. Just would have
been one more person that was in my
police car that rolled, assuming, of
course, you didn’t take a bullet up on the
mountain.”
“Understood.”
“How did you get in the mansion?”
“Vertise said she knew where a key was
hidden and let us in.”
“Strange that she could get into the
locked mansion. It was my
understanding that only the manager of
Rose Hall had a key. He locked it and
left when the storm was hitting. The hotel
spent a fortune on period pieces to
recreate how it looked two hundred
years ago. One of his jobs is to make sure
they are not stolen.”
“Any signs of a break-in?” Will asked.
“This is not for publication, you
understand, but when I got here the
mansion was locked and the lights were
off.”
“So, you’re saying that someone got
into the mansion, stole two daggers, let
themselves back out, killed Kaven, and
left no trace.” Will paused to absorb all
that he had just said. “Wait a minute.
If someone wanted to kill Kaven, why not
just use a gun? Why go to all the
trouble of getting that dagger to do it?”
“I’ve been wrestling with that very
question,” Harper said. “It’s illegal for a
private citizen to own a gun in Jamaica, but that doesn’t mean they are not
available if you know the right people.
My working hypothesis is that the killer
or killers wanted the public to think
voodoo was involved, or maybe even the
White Witch. The only other possibility
that comes to mind is that the Maroons
are trying to send a message to Global.
They tried to kill Tillman in Accompong
and failed. Maybe the message is that
they finish what they start. Either way,
someone is trying to make trouble for
your company. I have another problem
that may not be apparent.”
Will looked quizzically at the
detective.
“As you can see, there were two snake
daggers in this case. One’s accounted
for out on the steps. The other is
gone. Nearly everyone around here thinks that
they are voodoo daggers with magical
powers. They were found in an overseer’s
grave during the restoration of the
mansion thirty years ago.”
“Does ‘everyone’ include you? Looks to
me like the killer or killers are just
trying to mess with the minds of my
co-workers, maybe keep some locals from
hiring on with us.”
Harper stuck his hands in his pockets.
“Not up to me to decide if they’re
magic or not. I’ve got a murder with
one of those daggers. My job is to solve the
murder and along the way, find that
other dagger before someone uses it.”
Will’s eyes searched the room in a
futile effort to see any clues to the crime.
Then he focused on the chief. “Look,
I’m going to need a gun. My company is
obviously under attack. I’m licensed to
carry back home.”
“No way, Mr. Taylor,” Harper exploded.
“Foreigners are not permitted to
have guns in Jamaica. For that matter, as I just told you,
neither are Jamaicans.
And I want you to stay the hell out of
my investigation. We don’t need your
help. Understand?”
“Yeah, I understand. You know that each
of our mines on this island is
permitted a certain number of guns for
our guards. I’ll just get one of those.”
“The hell you will. Don’t you dare go
behind my back. Those guns never
leave mine property. I have an officer
that inventories them. If one turns up
missing, I’ll confiscate every damn
weapon that Global has and put you under
house arrest. Clear, Mr. Taylor?”
Will clinched his fists and tried to
hold back the anger that was apparent in
his face. Without another word, he
turned and stormed out of the mansion,
pausing only to gaze at Kaven and say a
prayer for him and his family. At the
bottom of the steps, he got in his car
and glanced toward the mansion. The
lights from his car somehow caught the
ruby eyes of the snake, making them
appear briefly to be alive. Will shook
his head, put the car in reverse, and
returned to the hotel.
Book Trailer:
After graduating from the University of Texas School of Law, Larry
spent the first half of his professional life as a trial lawyer. He
tried well over 300 cases and won more than 95% of them. Although he had
not taken a writing class since freshman English (back when they wrote
on stone tablets), he figured that he had read enough novels and knew
enough about trials, lawyers, judges, and courtrooms that he could do
it. Besides, his late, older brother, Thomas Thompson, was one of the
best true crime writers to ever set a pen to paper; so, just maybe,
there was something in the T hompson gene pool that would be guide him
into this new career. He started writing his first novel about a dozen
years ago and published it a couple of years thereafter. He has now
written five highly acclaimed legal thrillers. White Witch is number six with many more to come.
Larry is married to his wife, Vicki. He has three children scattered
from Colorado to Austin to Boca Raton, and four grandchildren. He has
been trying to retire from the law practice to devote full time to
writing. Hopefully, that will occur by the end of 2018. He still lives
in Houston, but spends his summers in Vail CO, high on a mountain where
he is inspired by the beauty of the Rocky Mountains.
His latest book is the captivating thriller, WHITE WITCH.
Everything Aaron has worked so hard to build in Quill has crumbled. Fallen from the height of power and influence and left for dead in a foreign place, Aaron has lost everything, and now he must humbly beg for food from those who saved his life.
Desperate to stop her, Alex embarks on a risky mission to enlist help from an unlikely ally, and along the way he’s determined to rescue a lone sailor from monstrous beasts with mysterious origins—a sailor who just might show Alex a different world. As he prepares for an epic war with all of Quill and Artime hanging in the balance, Alex must place his faith in a reckless plan...and hope that he and all of his friends make it through alive. My Thoughts: We are still enjoying this series and have actually already started the next book. Watching all the characters grow and change is wonderful. I am still heartbroken about some of the losses that Artime has had but they keep going. The changes in Aaron are startling and I'm with Alex in that I wonder how long they will last. Watching Aaron's transformation was great. I also liked how even when he is scared, he jumps right in and helps now. The two brothers are still wildly different just not as drastically different. Seeing that someone can change and not put themselves first all the time was a nice change in the story. I still love all the characters and cannot wait to see what happens to them next. It was a 5/5 for us!
Book Description: In Wicked Path: Book Two of the Daath Chronicles brother and sister are forced to opposite sides of Tarrtainya on a fast-paced adventure where the wildlife isn’t the only thing trying to kill them.
Three months have passed since Avikar defeated the Reptilian Prince, and he still can’t remember his battle with Lucino. On the hunt for answers, he returns to the scene of the fight and discovers a strange connection between his family’s dagger and the mysterious kingdom of Daath, and it seems only his distant father can reveal the truth behind it all.
Before Avikar can travel back home, Lucy assaults him in the market and forces him to flee to Nod Mountains—a place few dare to enter, and even less return from. With Raven and her childhood friend by his side, they must survive the treacherous journey through the pass with a vengeful Lucy hunting them. If they don’t, they’ll never see home again.
Jeslyn’s new life in Luna Harbor is the perfect remedy for her confused and broken heart. But when a group of mercenaries kidnap her beloved Grandfather, interrupting her daily routine as his jewelry apprentice, she's forced to join forces with the one person from her past she tried to forget.
And his assistance comes with a price. My Thoughts: I loved this continuation of the Daath Chronicles. After reading Broken Forest, this one just naturally follows a few months later. Lucucino isn't dead as Avikar believes. He is very much alive and in his home world. There he plots and plans on how to get Jeslyn back. I like how he is confused about his feelings for her and if he really can follow through with his plan. Avikar and his friends have a different saga all together. He and Raven are having to outrun Lucy and her spells. I liked watching their relationship grow, and even if he was annoying to Avikar, I liked Cael. He was a good guy, just in love with a girl he couldn't have. I enjoyed switching between storylines. It was great to follow each of them and see how different each of the stories are but happening at the same time! It was a 4/5 for me. I'm off to read the next book now :) Thank you to the author for the review copy of this book. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.
Freedom costs more than Portia wants to pay, but revolutions run on sacrifice … and blood.
Three months a satellite prisoner, Portia wonders if the Brotherhood has left her to die—until she plunges into the domain of an underground smuggler contacted by her brother. But her rescue comes with a price tag only she can pay, and now, she must forfeit her identity to act as a spy back in the dizzying politics of Crystal. There, she learns that her enemies want the Dome to approve mass satellite executions. No one knows why. Worse, they’re using her friend Luther, now a Court Citizen intern, to sign the short-term orders. She desperately wants to confide in Luther, but can she still trust him with the company he keeps?
Plagued by shadows and guilt for leaving her protector Gath behind on the satellite, Portia must find a way not only to rescue him and the other prisoners, but also to destroy the slave camps once and for all.
My Thoughts:
This is a good but heavy book. Definitely not a 'lighthearted' read but worth a read none-the-less. You absolutely need to read the first book prior to reading this book so you get the full effect. A page turner, there is plenty going on to keep you intrigued. I liked Portia. It was intriguing to read about her changes and growth as a character. It happens as you read and you don't even realize it until you stop and think about it.
She doesn't know who to trust. There are stories about many and she isn't sure what to believe. Some of them are about people she thought she knew but now isn't so certain. She is torn on who to trust and who she really knows. I really enjoyed how the author wove the different threads of the story together and left plenty unanswered for the next book.
It was a 4/5 for me. Read book one and then make time to sit down and read this one too.
Thank you to the author/publisher for the review copy of this book (via Celebrate Lit). I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.
About the Author
Kristen Hogrefe is a multi-published novelist and teacher who challenges young adults and the young at heart to think truthfully and live daringly.
Her publishing journey began in 2010 with the first book in her young adult (YA) suspense trilogy Wings of the Dawn. She completed the trilogy in the fall of 2014, and in 2016, contracted with Write Integrity Press for a new YA dystopian trilogy: The Rogues.
Kristen also has the heart of an educator and mentor. She teaches secondary language arts for Alpha Omega Academy and served in youth ministry for many years. Through Word Weavers International, she encourages aspiring writers and acts as president for an online writing group. She enjoys speaking events that allow her to connect with readers and other writers.
A lifelong Florida resident, Kristen loves adventuring outdoors and running with friends. Connect with her online at KristenHogrefe.com.
Guest Post from Kristen Hogrefe
Identity, Coffee, and a Sprinkle of History in The Revolutionary
The primary purpose of fiction is to entertain, but I think good fiction goes deeper by teaching us something about human nature, something about ourselves.
The Revolutionary begins three months after Portia arrived at a satellite prison camp. She feels forgotten by her brother and friends who promised to rescue her. Deeper than the physical pain of starvation, she battles the emotional rawness from the dehumanization of her identity. A number replaces her name, and the Wasps who mistreat prisoners mockingly call them “rabbits.”
When a two-faced smuggler helps her escape, her identity struggles continue. She dons multiple aliases to survive and help the Brotherhood launch a daring plan to destroy the satellite camps and oust the ruling Friend and Dome.
The theme of identity is one I hope will resonate with teens and adult readers alike. At some point, we all ask ourselves, “What defines me?” Is it our friends, an academic program, a relationship, or a job? While those things describe our day-to-day lives, they themselves shouldn’t define us. The source of our true identity must come from somewhere deeper. That’s the question Portia has to wrestle with, and one I hope readers will consider.
A Cup of Joe
Confession: One aspect of characterization I enjoy is giving my characters a small piece of myself. One of my early readers for book one, The Revisionary, remarked, “Let me guess. You like coffee.”
I laughed and replied, “How could you tell?”
Maybe lines like this one gave the fact away: “I start a pot of coffee. At least the aroma makes life smell better” (Portia, The Revisionary).
In book two, I incorporate the memory-association of coffee for Portia as she thinks back to simpler times (like dorm life with Lydia). Coffee also serves as a catalyst for an important scene where Portia, in disguise, serves her enemies and in turn learns of their disturbing plans for the satellites.
What about you? Are you a coffee drinker? If you are, I hope you’ll enjoy a giveaway opportunity for a Starbucks gift card. After all, coffee does make life smell better.
A Sprinkle of History
Two summers ago, my brother and I had the opportunity to visit the North Bridge in Concord, Massachusetts. It’s the historical site for the “shot heard round the world” that ignited the American Revolution.
In book two, Portia and the Brotherhood launch their own threadbare revolution. Though the odds are against them, they’re determined to stop the abuses by those in power.
My own visit to this famous site helped inspire Portia’s journey of discovery and the Brotherhood’s fictional parallels to the American Revolutionary War. Writing the scene where she rediscovers this birthplace of liberty was one of my favorites, because I walked the North Bridge and poured over books researching what happened that fateful day. I hope the scene comes alive for my readers and quickens their interest in history and its relevance for us today.
Book Description:
