Stein on Writing

By Kelly Bridgewater

Stein on Writing is one of my favorite writing instruction books. I first checked it out at the library, but I found I wanted to highlight a lot of things, so I had to purchase the book for myself. This book is different from a lot of writing instruction books because it is actually written by an editor. (I know; it has become a trend lately for editors to write instruction books, but in 1995, it wasn’t. I believe.) I really enjoyed getting down and paying attention to what Sol Stein had to instill in me. I want to become a better writer, so this book does exactly that.

From Amazon

From the first page in the first paragraph, Stein grips my attention. He says, “This is not a book of theory. It is a book of usable solutions—how to fix writing that is flawed, how to improve writing that is good, how to create interesting writing in the first place” (3). His book does exactly that. It teaches how to make the basic writer better and keep teaching those who have been published or who have been reading book after book for a while on how to be a better writer. The book doesn’t discriminate. There is something for everyone.

Stein has a huge chapter on creating interesting characters. You want to give a character a background that makes them interesting. Who really wants to read a story about a character that is good all the time and nothing bad happens to them? They don’t make bad choices. They marry the perfect guy and have the best behaved children. BORING!! So not real. Life has a bunch of bumps and bruises to it. So should your character. He breaks down tricks on how to breathe life into your character. What makes them stand out? What made Sherlock Holmes a household name? He solved crimes, but that isn’t the most rememberable characteristic of him. He was quirky and had social issues, but he was smart and saw things others didn’t see. Even the trained Scotland Yard officers. I want to create characters like that.

I really enjoyed the chapter entitled “How to Use All Six of Your Senses.” It is short, but there is a lot of information in those few pages that really help you draws the reader into the pages of your story. I’m still working on how to incorporate all six senses into my story. I have been studying Susan May Warren’s books to help improve my techniques on using my six senses since she is good at inviting her readers into their surroundings.

In conclusion, there is a lot of important information in Stein on Writing, that this blog post doesn’t do the book justice. Take my advice. It is a good book to have and read over a period of time to improve your writing.

Denise Hunter: Just a Kiss

By Kelly Bridgewater



Riley Callahan’s plans to reveal his secret feelings for his best friend are ruined when his life is drastically altered in Afghanistan.

Watching the love of his life falling for his brother was enough to send Riley straight to boot camp. But over a year later, he’s officially a marine, and Beau and Paige are no longer an item. When Riley’s tour in Afghanistan is up, he intends to confess his feelings to Paige and win his best friend’s heart once and for all.

But all that changes when an IED takes the life of a comrade and leaves Riley an amputee. Now he’s heading home, injured and troubled. His plans to win Paige are a distant dream. She deserves so much more than the man that’s left. All he can do now is put some healthy distance between them. But upon his return he discovers his family has arranged for him to stay with Paige.

Paige is a nurturer at heart and happy to take care of her best buddy. By all appearances he’s adjusting miraculously well to his disability. But as the days pass, Paige begins to see that the smiles and laughter are just a mask for the pain he’s hiding. He has nightmares and mood swings, and his unwavering independence keeps him from accepting help from anyone, including her. To make matters worse, her job is in serious jeopardy. The animal shelter that she’s poured her heart into has lost its funding, and she has three months to come up the money needed to save it.

As the weeks wear on with the two in such close proximity, Paige’s feelings for Riley begin to shift into unchartered territory. Why is she suddenly noticing his corded arm muscles and the way his lips curl at the corners? Will she be able to deny her feelings for another Callahan brother? And will Riley let his heart heal so he can let Paige in?

From Amazon

My Review:

I started reading Denise Hunter with her Chapel Springs series. I was introduced to Hunter's writing in The Wishing Season, and I really enjoyed her novels. Even though contemporary romance isn't usually the genre that I pick up, I feel drawn to her characters. Hunter has a great ability to create characters that jump off the page and tension that keeps me drawn to the page. With her last book in the Summer Harbor series Just a Kiss, Hunter didn't let me down.

Hunter does a good job at inviting me into the character's lives. From the first chapter, I am thrown into Paige and Riley's lives. Through their internal struggles and personal dilemmas, I feel empathy for both of them. Hunter writes so well that I feel like I'm one of Paige's friends who is listening to her tell her love story. I watch as Paige and Riley interact, then watch as they both fight back and forth between being together versus fighting against each other.

The plot in Just a Kiss centers around PTSD and the idea of belonging. Both Paige and Riley have to learn to accept their place in life and roll with the punches. Paige, first, has to learn how to accept God as her father figure and truly hunt for her belonging in God's family. On the other hand, Riley has to accept that he no longer has a leg, but he still belongs in his family, even though he doesn't feel like he does. In this up and coming ideal of PTSD, Hunter digs deep into the concept and how it affects our homeward bound soldiers. The story was enjoyable, and I had a hard time putting it down. The story moved at the right pace; I didn't feel that it was rushed or slow at all.

Again, I love returning to the coastal town of Summer Harbor in Maine. In the first two books in the series, Hunter invited me into the restaurant and the coffee shop. Now, in this edition, I get to travel back to those places and visit the pet shelter. I was glad to see returning secondary characters like Aunt Trudy, who has her own personal struggle throughout all three books. She helped shape the Callahan boys, which I am grateful for.

I believe fans of a mature audience would enjoy this book. Even the male who might want to avoid romance novels, but there is important issues for the young male to learn that Riley learns. God made us to choose certain paths in our lives, and we have to be responsible for our own decisions.

With attention to detail, Denise Hunter's Just a Kiss will grip your heart as you watch Paige struggle with the idea of family and Riley understanding to cope with PTSD. With a well-paced novel, Hunter draws you into the familiar setting to visit the Callahan's and remind you why you enjoy watching this family grow and expand. I recommend this book for everyone, not just fans of contemporary romance. 

I received a complimentary copy of Denise Hunter's Just a Kiss from Thomas Nelson publishes and the opinions stated are all my own. 

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars 

What is your favorite Summer Harbor novel? Just a Kiss, The Goodbye Bride, or Falling Like Snowflakes? Why?

Janice Cantore: Catching Heat

By Kelly Bridgewater

Twenty-seven years after the deaths of Detective Abby Hart’s parents, she’s desperate to find the proof that will put the mastermind―the governor’s wife―behind bars. When she joins a newly formed task force and teams up with PI Luke Murphy, Abby is sent to San Luis Obispo to work the cold case of a murdered college student. Realizing their investigation will bring them near the town where Alyssa Rollins grew up, Abby decides to do a little digging of her own into the Triple Seven fire.

Luke is eager to help Abby close the books on a case they both have personal stakes in. But as she uncovers long-held secrets, Abby stumbles into an explosive situation, and Luke fears that her obsession may prove deadly.

From Amazon

My Review:

I have read five books by Janice Cantore including Drawing Fire and Burning Proof. I really enjoy her ability to jump right into the action in the first chapter and take me away on a mystery right away. With the third book in her Cold Case Justice series Catching Heat, I really enjoyed this one. It has what I think should be the ending to every good series. Lots of nail-biting moments that lead me staying up extra late because I couldn't possibly put the book down. Characters that I have come to know and can't wait to see if their romance will start or will it fade into regret. I believe Catching Heat was Cantore's strongest book in the series.

The writing was strong and concise. Being that there were two main point of view characters, Luke and Abby, I never once became confused whose perspective I was in. Cantore keeps me hopping along with the action. There were four different suspense subplots working against Abby and Luke in Catching Heat. Never once did Luke or Abby give up. They kept working to solve each one. The tension was kicked up a notch from the past two. I had a hard time putting the book down when I was reading it. If I put it down, then I would miss something important.

The romance had been hinted at in the previous two books. Abby and Luke both had other relationships, but they couldn't remove the idea of the other two from their thoughts. As typical in a romantic suspense novel, the couple has to end up together, but I was glad that Cantore waited for three books to make it happen. It appeared more realistic and made their budding feelings more realistic to me.

I really enjoyed returning to predictable and familiar characters. Since I have spent time with Abby and Luke in the previous two books, I knew their personalities and was pretty sure how they would interact. The storyline was original, and I really enjoyed all the twists that Cantore included in her story. It kept me on my toes. Cantore reminded me that justice will be served, even if it takes a while for it to come to a reality.

Again, as in my previous reviews of Cantore's writing, I love how realistic the police drama is. This time she included a bomb around someone's neck. It had me cringe, but glad that Cantore had done her research or maybe have seen one used in her line of work. I have never seen one before, and I enjoyed how it ratcheted up the suspenseful moment. 

My favorite thing about the complete Cold Justice Case Series is that Cantore kept an overarching mystery that still motivated Abby to move forward. Yes, there are individual mysteries in each book, but something hung over her that she needed to solve. The death of her parents. Also, I really enjoyed that it took three books for the romance to fully evolve. It didn't end by the end of the first book. 

Always thrilling, Janice Cantore's newest release Catching Heat will draw you in with the first chapter and not let go. Her memorable characters will tug at your heart and begged to be invited in. Cantore reminds us that God will allow justice to occur even if we have to be patient and keep having faith in his Word. 

I received a complimentary copy of Janice Cantore's Catching Heat from Tyndale Publishing and the opinions stated are all my own. 

My Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

What keeps you up all night with a book? Does a chapter that end with a tense moment? Good writing? Let me know. 

Rachel McMillan: A Lesson in Love and Murder

By Kelly Bridgewater

The legacy of literary icon Sherlock Holmes is alive and well in 1912 Canada, where best friends Merinda Herringford and Jem Watts continue to develop their skills as consulting detectives.

The city of Toronto has been thrown into upheaval by the arrival of radical anarchist Emma Goldman. Amid this political chaos, Benny Citrone of the Royal North-West Mounted Police arrives at Merinda and Jem's flat, requesting assistance in locating his runaway cousin--a man with a deadly talent.

While Merinda eagerly accepts the case, she finds herself constantly butting heads--and hearts--with Benny. Meanwhile, Jem has her hands full with a husband who is determined to keep her out of harm's way.

As Merinda and Jem close in on the danger they've tracked from Toronto to Chicago, they uncover a sinister plot to assassinate presidential candidate Theodore Roosevelt. Will they be able to save the day and resolve the troubles threatening their future happiness before it's too late?

Independence, love, and lives are at stake in A Lesson in Love and Murder, the gripping second installment of the Herringford and Watts Mysteries series.

From Amazon

My Review:

After reading the first novel The Bachelor Girl's Guide to Murder by Rachel McMillan and her new novellas, I couldn't wait to see more of her stories featuring Jem and Merinda. As an avid fan of Sherlock Holmes, I enjoy reading her stories that give homage to such a great writer. McMillan wraps me in a story that is unique with characters that I was proud to return to.

The writing was concise and strong. Relying on four different perspectives, I experienced all of their fears, uncertainties, and struggles. There was no moment when McMillan jumped from Ray to Jasper to Merinda to Jem that I lost my place in the story. I knew who was talking without any issue. Once again, McMillan creates vivid, lifelike characters. I enjoy how McMillan create lifelike characters that I could totally see them existing in real life, running through the alleys and streets of Toronto and Chicago. All of the four main characters have flaws and doubts while they struggle financially and physically. As for the secondary characters, I had an easy time feeling sorry for Ray's sister but feeling no remorse for Ray's brother-in-law. I really did not like how he treated his wife or son. McMillan does a good job at using him to strengthen Ray and make him a more admirable character.

The pace and tension of A Lesson in Love and Murder was just right. Each of the scenes flowed from one to the next, allowing me to forget that I was sitting down reading a book in the twenty-first century. The strands of suspense, romance, and normal life woven together seamlessly. The story still had the same feeling of an Arthur Conan Doyle novel. Quick. Easy to read and follow. But enjoyable just the same. I had a really hard time putting the novel down. As for the romantic tension, this book featured the married Jem and Ray trying to figure out married life while Merinda has to deal with her romantic feelings.

Another great strength of McMillan is her ability to bring Toronto to life with her research. While the some of the places may be fictional, McMillan writes them with such clarity that I have a hard time remembering that I am visiting places that don't exist. I, also, enjoy reading more about the underbelly of Toronto and it's reaches into Chicago. It was nice to see Theodore Roosevelt, even if he was fictionalized. Through the setting, McMillan shines in showing her passion for her beloved city. Her passion comes through her words. It makes me want to visit Canada.

A Lesson in Love and Murder was a great page-turner for any fan of cozy mysteries or Sherlock Holmes. There is enough romantic tension and mystery to keep even the most avid fan happy. I highly recommend this book to everyone even audiences in the ABA market. There is one mention of God, but it really is not preachy at all.

Rachel McMillan continues her Herringford and Watts Mysteries with another nudge at clean and fun mysteries. Returning to Jem and Merinda, McMillan grip me with realistic characters, an original mystery, and a little bit of romance.

I received a complimentary copy of A Lesson in Love and Murder from Harvest House Publishers and the above opinions are all my own. 

My Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

If you had read Sherlock Holmes, do you think Rachel McMillan handles her stories in the same fashion? If not, what could be improved? If so, what are some similiarities that you notice?