The Magnolia Blossom Review

DA Boyter, The Helix Incident

noreply@blogger.com (L Avery Brown) — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 19:07:00 +0000

I enjoyed this story ... Without giving anything away, I was left wondering exactly what was discovered that resulted in such drastic action being taken ... I think the overall quality of the writing here is quite good. I also like the idea of this being a series. And I would hope to see the main character developed and fleshed out a bit more. -- Preston Randall

Meet Osiris Swift, an Arbiter of the Systems League serving under Justice Ann Cone. Our inaugural issue finds Swift running a quick errand for his boss: finding Justice Cone's missing college buddy. But what should be a quick side trip for an agent of Swift's skills and resources pulls Swift into an unexpected investigation into a breach of the Leagues most fundamental laws.

The Osiris Swift Serial is a series of 5 short stories featuring Osiris Swift. Check back next month for the next installment: The Icarus Affair.

Available exclusively via

Amazon's Kindle

for $1.00!

Asa Ingram, Tallyho in the Squat

noreply@blogger.com (L Avery Brown) — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 14:01:00 +0000

I would highly recommend this read to anyone wanting a solid afternoon of side-splitting, down-home humor and debauchery. As I said in the review, I am acquainted with (and related to) people in this story. When we can't laugh at our own surroundings and actions, what's left for our entertainment? -- Glen Marcus

After nearly 3 weeks of major technical difficulties (A bit of advice, you don't always have to update a program you already have through Microsoft because sometimes when you do it's next to impossible to get back what you lost!) - I am pleased to say we have another awesome Vidview Book Review ready for you!

Tallyho in the Squat
The Blurb (as taken from Amazon.com)

Smuggling wild rabbits. Late night sasquatch hunting. A bar fight with a donkey. This wasn’t the post-graduate life Bill Gulledge bargained for.

But in a terrible economy, Bill’s English degree doesn’t pack much punch, and his wealthy redneck father enlists him to bring back illegal shipments of wild rabbits from Kentucky to their hometown in South Carolina. His good ole boy cousin, Jimbo, joins the party after he loses his beer truck driving job due to a heart condition.

With cash in their pockets, plenty of beer in the coolers, and lots of time to kill, Bill and Jimbo set out for their wild adventures while sneaking their contraband bunnies past the cops. Life is simple for Bill—until he falls for the rabbit supplier’s off-limits daughter, Rye Cotton.

Now committing a federal wildlife crime is the least of Bill’s worries.

The transcript of this review will be available in about 1 week and may be found at Amazon.com. It will also be made available via Goodreads and various other review sites, too.

Jean-Pierre Weill, The Well of Being: A Children's Book for Adults

noreply@blogger.com (L Avery Brown) — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 23:26:00 +0000

This book is just what it claims to be: a children's book for adults. The illustrations and simple structure of the text make it an adventure to read. I felt like I was reading a childhood favorite! … And because the words and illustrations of Weill's book have inspired me, I would recommend Weill's book to any adult looking for a thought provoking manuscript full of soothing illustrations — Kellie Podsednik

About the Book…

The official blurb

The Well of Being is an illustrated inquiry into the pursuit of happiness, and what it means to be radically alive in our daily moments. It opens with an account of life's ultimate purpose as taught by Ramchal, an 18th Century Italian mystic.

It concludes with a unique retelling of the puzzle we call growing up, and offers a refreshing and empowering way to rethink it.

Christine Amsden, Mind Games

noreply@blogger.com (L Avery Brown) — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 19:18:00 +0000

I've been lucky enough to read each of the books in the now 3 book long series, Cassie Scot, by Christine Amsden and I have to say, this one is my favorite by far. It kept me entertained from the first paragraph to the last sentence and when it was over, I knew it wasn't really over! I'm hoping to be one of the first reviewers Christine Amsden contacts when she puts out book 4! -- L. Avery Brown.

About the Book...

Beware your heart and soul…

Evan broke Cassie’s heart two months ago, and she still doesn’t know why. She throws herself into family, friends and her new job at the sheriff’s department, but nothing helps. The only thing that finally allows her heal and move on is the love of a new man, mind mage Matthew Blair. Cassie finds him…irresistible.

Matthew may also be the only one who can help keep the non-magical residents of Eagle Rock from going crazy over the murder of a beloved pastor’s wife. It looks like a sorcerer is to blame, but while Cassie tries to figure out who, others take matters into their own hands. With tensions running so hot, a single spark might set Eagle Rock ablaze. Book 3 in the Cassie Scot series.

To read the 1st chapter please click here to visit Christine's site.

(Warning: Contains series spoilers. New readers to the series would be better off checking out the preview of book one below.)

About the Author...

Christine Amsden has been writing science fiction and fantasy for as long as she can remember. She loves to write and it is her dream that others will be inspired by this love and by her stories. Speculative fiction is fun, magical, and imaginative but great speculative fiction is about real people defining themselves through extraordinary situations. Christine writes primarily about people and it is in this way that she strives to make science fiction and fantasy meaningful for everyone.

At the age of 16, Christine was diagnosed with Stargardt’s Disease, a condition that effects the retina and causes a loss of central vision. She is now legally blind, but has not let this slow her down or get in the way of her dreams.

In addition to writing, Christine teaches workshops on writing at Savvy Authors. She also does some freelance editing work.

Christine currently lives in the Kansas City area with her husband, Austin, who has been her biggest fan and the key to her success. They have two beautiful children, Drake and Celeste.

Christine has now been at The MBR 3 times - so we've pretty much run out of interview questions! Which is why she's agreed to do something special. And it's really cool. But you have to watch the review ... then you can have the dessert of coolness!

And Now for the Review...

Please note: The transcript of this review will be available in about 2 weeks and will be posted on various sites like Amazon, Goodreads, etc.

Interested in purchasing the book(s)? Please visit the hyperlinks below and you'll be redirected!

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Mind Games - BONUS SCENE -

Could this be the beginning of a new series?

YES, that's right - this is the really cool thing I was talking about! If you're a fan of the Cassie Scot series, you're going to really be sucked in to this one! And for you newbies - you might just find a hint of a spark with Elena and her story!

It was finally time. After years of waiting and working, Harriet Scot could leave this purgatory between the worlds of the living and the dead, knowing her granddaughter would be okay – eventually. If this goodbye didn't kill her.

Nine-year-old Elena lay on her bed, looking around for the spirit friends who usually kept her company in the privacy of her room. They wouldn't come. Not anymore. It had cost Harriet nine years and her own life to protect this child of her heart from the ghosts who haunted her, but she'd done it. The dead would stay away, finally allowing Elena to live.

“Grandma?” Elena asked. Her voice sounded thin and weak – ethereal, like the rest of her.

Wispy didn't begin to describe the child who only remembered to eat when Harriet reminded her. And Harriet was dead. Eating wasn't her top priority.

“Grandma? Grandpa?” Elena asked. “Where has everyone gone?”

“Grandpa has already gone,” Harriet said. She wished he hadn't had to go, but once she'd finally tuned the vortex properly none of the other ghosts had been able to hold on to this reality. Harriet wouldn't last long. She felt the vortex pulling even now. She didn't have long, but she needed to say goodbye. She needed Elena to understand. Only the force of that desperate need kept some part of her here.

“I can't see you,” Elena said. “Where are you?”

“I have to go. We all have to go. We can't talk to you anymore.”

Elena sat straight up, the terror written all over her face disrupting her usual ethereal calm. “What? No!”

“You can't live your life with the dead,” Harriet said, wondering if a nine-year-old could possibly understand. Elena had always struck her as being more mature than most, but she remained a child. “You need to spend more time with the living.”

“I don't like the living! They're mean to me and I can't make them go away when I want to!” Elena's lower lip began to tremble. “Please. They tease me at school all the time. You're all I have. You can't go.”

Harriet felt a stabbing pain strong enough to make her forget she no longer had a beating heart. The vortex tugged, demanding her soul.

“I love you, Elena,” Harriet said. What else was there to say? She hadn't prepared Elena for this moment; hadn't known when it would come until that very afternoon when years of effort and sacrifice had finally paid off.

“I love you, Grandma.” Elena's voice shook. “Stay. I need you.”

“You have a big family to love you.”

“They don't see me.”

Harriet wanted to deny the truth of that, but she'd seen it herself almost from the start. Maybe because Harriet was the middle child in a large family too, she understood how Elena felt. It didn't help that the girl's next-youngest brother had the gift of charisma and could tie hie parents around his little finger. Harriet knew that her son and his wife loved Elena, but with seven children it was easy to let one fade into the background.

“Make them see you,” Harriet said, finally.

“How?”

Elena looked so forlorn that for the first time, Harriet wondered if she had made the right decision all those years ago when she'd started down this path. They said a gift was tied to the soul. But this gift was killing Elena, even if she could walk and talk.

Harriet started to say something else, but the tug from the vortex was suddenly too much. “Live!” Harriet cried. “Go and live!”

Her last glimpse of Elena, before the vortex sucked her away, was of a girl whose face had gone white as death and whose eyes shown with fear and betrayal.

T.W. Malpass, Fallen Gods-Sanctuary 12

noreply@blogger.com (L Avery Brown) — Thu, 24 Apr 2014 12:00:00 +0000

No one will ever be able to accuse Mr. Malpass of lacking imagination. This is a classic tale of "good vs. evil". The first installment of what should be an epic saga. The Charles Cradleworth character is as sinister and diabolical a person as you could want; a good stand-in for Satan. Nine other characters, each with their own back-story and unique talents, are eventually joined together in their journeys by the inner voice of a mysterious young girl--joined together in an effort to thwart Cradleworth and the forces of evil bent on destroying the universe... A slow start as the various threads of the characters and their involvement are developed, but a fast acceleration as they come together in their journeys. If you enjoy a complicated and mind-engaging epic, then you'll enjoy this one.-- John C. Laird

About the Book...
From the Official Blurb
FOLLOW HER VOICE
Nine strangers, linked by the inner whisperings of a mysterious little girl. Each must piece together the origins of their other-worldly abilities and the location of the white manor, where they will be reunited, and the questions that have plagued their existence will finally be answered. But someone else marks their every step. The sinister Mr Cradleworth has other plans for them, plans that could bring about catastrophic consequences, not just for earth, but the whole universe.

This epic tale covers half the globe, as it follows each character into the darkest recesses of their soul. Combining eighties-style horror with science fiction, this dark fantasy will take you on a journey you will never forget.

http://youtu.be/50sooGb5DnU

Read more »

The Transition is Happening!

noreply@blogger.com (L Avery Brown) — Mon, 21 Apr 2014 21:22:00 +0000

Slowly but surely everything here (TheMagnoliaBlossomReview.com) is getting shifted over to TheMBR.com. One of the exciting new elements of the site is The MBR Blog which will be filled with all sorts of writing advice for writers of all levels - newbies and oldies alike!

So, not only will we have awesome reviews of great Indie Authored books but we'll also be sharing ideas!

At present, a call has been put out to some of my dearest writing pals to brush up their best bit o'advice and sum it up into an article of about 1,000 to 1,500 words. Some of the guest authors will be reviewers at the site while others will simply be authors I've come to know and love who have some great tips to help us all grow in our craft.

This was the 1st Article 'The Truth About Fiction'

And here's the latest post 'How to Avoid - The Fog'

Please, check them out if you get the chance!

Patria Dunn, Goldilocks

noreply@blogger.com (L Avery Brown) — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 14:13:00 +0000

Everyone has problems. Even in fairy tales. "...I loved this book. ...I was enamored by the characters of Hannah and Jake. ...a good book boils down to this…I loved her plot. It worked. Cap it all off with an ending that…well, read it for yourself. I closed the book satisfied.-- Patrick Sean Lee

About the Book...

There are three bears, a girl with honey gold blonde hair, and a secret lair, but this story is far from the children’s fairytale our parents used to read to us when we were kids.
At seventeen years old, Hannah Adler has already lost her mother to a brutal murder, and her father to a job that keeps him away more often than not. It couldn’t get any worse for this depressed teen, except it does when she is abruptly uprooted from the city and only home she’s ever known and deposited in the gold rich mountains of Hinsdale Colorado. Never one to make friends easily, the only thing that keeps Hannah grounded is her star quality cross country talent. While running through the woods behind the cabin, that is now her home, gives her solace, Hannah quickly discovers that this seemingly enchanted forest is hiding something that no one is willing to talk about.
Being eaten by one of the many mutant wolves, that keep escaping through the underground tunnels of the Golden Wonder mine, is the least of her worries. When Hannah stumbles upon a hidden cave deep in the woods, the bear that saves her life only adds more mystery to the sable eyed boy she’s come to know as Jake. But there is something that Jake isn’t telling her, and Hannah is determined to find out what.
What she uncovers has not only been a secret for over a millennia, but a truth that forces the fate of an endangered human race into a young Hannah’s hands. Unknowingly born of a strange primal lineage, she finds herself fighting to save the only family she has left, the love that she’d never expected, and ultimately the entire world. What begins as a simple curiosity will lead her into a legacy that no one will soon forget.

About the Author...

Patria L. Dunn hails from the small town of Louisa Virginia. Born in 1981, a true child of the 80's; her interests range from classic to unimaginable. A young woman with many talents and many titles such as: Pianist, Author, Poet and most importantly Mother, if you ask her about her accomplishments she will tell you: "The best is yet to come."

And Now for the Review...

Review by Patrick Sean Lee

Book Title - 10 of 101. Goldilocks by Patria Dunn
I’m going to give this one a 10. A single word, one that nearly everyone is familiar with that brings an immediate image to mind. We’re all familiar with the fairytale…what’s the connection to the character within, you wonder? Or IS there even a connection? “Bear” in mind, I haven’t read the blurb yet.

2. Book Cover - 10 of 10Again, I have to give this a 10. Maybe a 9.5. No, a 10. It’s striking with the deep green background of a dense forest; a bear peering out at Goldilocks. Okay, the connection is being made. But HOW will the author update the fairytale? It’s obviously set in our era because of the next nice aspect…the image of a beautiful young girl dominating. Something about her bangs? The almost-detached look on her face? Whatever, it does its job marvelously. The complimentary colors add to the impressiveness of the entire image, especially the text of the title, blending the greens and golds, and the author name at the bottom that mirrors the title, less pronounced. Excellent.

3. The First 500... 10 of 10

No doubt here. You must captivate the potential reader in those first few opening pages, and Dunn does it extremely well. We have immediate scene-setting, and the introduction of Paul Adler, father of Hannah, aka Goldilocks. He has a problem. He has terrible memories of a slain wife, and on top of that, an unhappy daughter with whom he can’t/hasn’t spent enough time with lately. But perhaps more importantly, we are set into a definite place with him, with movement; an apartment in D.C., and we’re immediately grounded. I like that. I want to continue reading.

4. Age Recommendation/Genre - - 10 of 10

Definitely no problem here. With one addendum: I don’t see either genre or age recommendation listed anywhere. I assume, however, that it’s YA, meant for ages 15 and over.

5. Presentation/format - 8 of 10

It’s hard to beat Amazon’s digital services. We’re all quite used to their great book interior designs these days. I would only have wanted to see a bit more care taken inside to separate chapters; start a new page for each transition. Even so, it’s a minor thing and really didn’t distract. Note: I’ll clarify this at the end of my review…

6. Theme and originality 10 of 10

It’s quite common for writers to take hold of mythological or fairy tale themes, and then give them a new twist. The key to success is in the re-creation of an entire world, or a microcosm world, utilizing characters with whom the reading public is familiar. Again, though, the reader approaches the book with a certain degree of skepticism. I certainly did. Are Goldilocks and the Three Bears cliché in this telling? Not in Dunn’s book. They are light years different than Southey’s creations.

Theme? It isn’t new—Love blossoms, is endangered, but in the end it conquers in the face of great odds. It’s a tried and true theme, and Dunn succeeds.

7. Description and Enhancement - 9 of 10

I’m tempted to give Goldilocks a solid 10, but there are flaws in places that I’ll cover later. Patria Dunn has something unique to talented writers; the ability to move characters through situations smoothly, and nearly flawlessly. Example of her narrative skill:

“Golden hair swirled around the figure that was reaching for her. That smile, those eyes, she’d almost forgotten how beautiful they were in person. There was so much she wanted to say, so much that belched up from her belly and lodged in the back of her throat. Her hand lifted to close the gap and then drew back in surprise at the trickle of blood trailing from an inch long slit, down her arm.

Hannah flinched as the pain suddenly became real, her fingers suddenly intertwined with Jake’s as he pulled her away from what she’d just found again. She wanted to fight him, to grab hold of her mother and never let go, but she couldn’t. She was weightless and floating despite the heaviness that suddenly consumed her. Blackness threatened to suck her under once more, her eyes straining to focus on the fading figure.”

There is plot, the most important part of any novel, but supporting that plot a writer must have the indefinable instinct to pull extremely colorful descriptions, seemingly out of thin air. It isn’t easy. I think it’s a gift. The book is loaded with this kind of excellence. Particularly moving is the second paragraph in the above example.

8. Intrigue 10 of 10

I must add tension to this category. They’re soul mates in novel-writing. Without any qualms, a 10.

What will happen to a girl uprooted from a large city and flung into a backwater Colorado mining town? And worse, not even IN the town itself; stuck in a cabin miles away in the mountains? How will Lindsey disrupt Hannah’s life because of her jealousy? Can Hannah survive those attacks out in the wilds? Will Jake’s father go ballistic when he is forced to meet Hannah halfway through the story? In what way will the Kind resolve the growing dilemma? Can they? And more, and more.

So, it’s all there, cleverly set up, and each time resolved. Yes, 10.

9. Mechanics and Grammar 5 of 10

This is the one area in which Patria Dunn fell. It might be fine for a teen or sub-teen to read (I even question that), but conscientious readers MUST stumble time and again at the plethora of oopses…all of which could have been addressed before publication by utilizing the talents of a good line editor. Even a thorough self-edit would have caught most of the misspells and other mistakes. I began making a list early on. From that list:

Page 14-tree tops overheard,…”overhead”.

Page 17-her feet carrying her further…a common error by writers. “farther” (a distance).

Page 18-halted his full on run…what happened to hyphens? “Full-on”

Chapter 11-soft sighs ever so often,…”every”.

Chapter 13, page 77-There scent…Our eyes, as writers, gloss over the obvious. “Their eyes”.

“ “, Page 79-its sharp teeth barred at the sound of another howl…”teeth bared”.

Chapter 18, Page 101--ran his fingers threw his tangled locks…”through”.

Chapter 21, Page 117--there had been no incidences at the mine today. “incidents”.

In ones and twos, these errors can be forgiven, but unfortunately, the entire book’s merit is diminished when we continually stumble over them.

Maybe nit-picky, but this one struck me hard. “Chapter 27, Pg. 146--Good, but you’re watching my face when you should be watching my body. Which way will I move next?“ I red-highlighted, ‘you’re watching my face when you should be watching my body.’ Oh Lord, no. ANY combatant is trained to watch the eyes of an opponent! Jake is a trained fighter. Powerful and cagey. I don’t think Rone would have taught him to watch a fierce opponent’s body. The eyes always give away the next move. Okay, yes, that was nit-picky, but it displayed an error in research (or experience). A distraction from an otherwise moving scene.

Commas missing in many sentences where a pause is needed, but these days that little beast is used differently—sometimes TOO often, and at other times, not enough. Note A.S. Byatt’s punctuation (Mann/Booker winner) compared to McCourt’s or McCarthy’s (Pulitzer winners). Go fish.

10. Overall Impression 10 of 10

DESPITE the low rating I felt compelled to give for “mechanics and grammar”, regarding the lack of basic editing needed, I loved this book. The reasons are manifold; a few I mentioned above…great cover, great title…but mainly I was enamored by the characters of Hannah and Jake. How Dunn presented their vastly different worlds and personalities. Hannah is real, thanks to Dunn’s ability to begin with a girl in her teens, troubled, but who grows continuously throughout the course of the book, in an environment that would sink most citified teens. Jake, who has the same teenage angsts, although initiated under vastly different circumstances, and manifested in ways unique to his character. Not strangely, I was taken by the romantic scenes between Jake the human/bear and Hannah, the teenage girl. VERY well done. The secondary characters throughout were rendered well, if perhaps not developed entirely—to the extent I would like to have seen. But seriously…and a good book boils down to this…I loved her plot. It worked. Cap it all off with an ending that…well, read it for yourself. I closed the book satisfied.

A note: Patrick read the book in Word doc. format. He assumes this was the final edition as presented at Amazon Books. He did go to the 'Look Inside' feature at Amazon in order to view actual formatting, and to see if the grammar/punctuation errors were there confirming what he had assumed.

The Bestowing of the Blossoms...

After all the points are tallied, we're pleased to say that Patria Dunn's Goldilocks has earned 91 out of 100 points giving it 5 BIG BEAUTIFUL BLOSSOMS! Way to go. We wish all the best to Ms. Dunn and hope to be reading more from her soon!

And now for the ridiculously long interview!

Your Name: Patria L. Dunn Book Title: Goldilocks

1. You probably get asked this a lot, but for my readers, please tell us…was there a ‘moment’ in your life where you decided ‘I am going to be a writer!’

My first book started off as my own personal diary. One day I decided to have fun and pretend I was someone else and created this whole story that kept growing longer and longer until finally I typed it all into my computer. Two years after I finished it, I happen to mention it to a coworker, she read it, and declared me a writer. And that was that.

2. Was there any one person in your life who inspired you to write?

My children! What better way to leave them a legacy and a piece of me, than by writing books. They will be able to go back and read my stuff, and share with their own children. Just that thought, keeps me wanting to write more. Kids are great, aren't they?!

3. If you were stuck on a deserted island and you could bring 3 of your favorite books, what would they be and why?

Memoirs Aren’t Fairytales by Marni Mann, The adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, To kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

4. In today's hectic world, it seems like people just don't have enough hours in the day to do the things they want to do because of all the things they need to do. If you had 72 hours of uninterrupted ‘me time' what would you do? Would you write? Would you learn how to do underwater basket weaving? (Inquiring minds want to know!)

I would WRITE!!!! Writing is a side passion for me right now. I am a wife, and full time working mother first. ME time?!?!?!? What is that?! LOL Right now my writing hours are from 11pm to 2 am and then it’s back up at 6:00am to get the kids ready and myself off to work, from there, my day doesn’t calm down until the kids are in bed at 9 every night.

5. How did you come up with the title of your book? Was it something you’d always had in the back of your mind and the story was built around it – or did it come to you in a flash of brilliance somewhere in the middle of writing the story? Or were you one of those poor souls who wrote the whole book calling it one thing and then, after you were done – you said, ‘No, that just isn’t right’

For my most recent release, Goldilocks, I was sitting on the bed brainstorming about what I wanted to write next, secretly wishing that I could write a fairytale that was geared more toward young adults and adults. In the back of my mind, I didn’t think it would be widely accepted, but the more I thought about it the more I decided…Hey! Who doesn’t love a good fairytale right? Especially a grown up one. Goldilocks was always my favorite as a kid, and so the idea was born, mapped out and written into a book. (Pat, the reviewer thought it was a pretty good idea!)

6. If you were to remove the actual title – so that only the ‘cover’ was visible to readers – what do you think would make your book stand out from other in the genre?

The ominous looking bear in the background is most definitely an eye catcher, even though he’s in the shadows. What stands out about Goldilocks, is that everyone will see the cover and title and immediately think of the children’s fairytale, but absolutely know that there are some not so childlike things going on in this book!

7. Who designed your cover? Did you play a major role in how it came out looking? Or did you say ‘I really don’t know what I want on it – but when I see it…I’ll know’?

Steven Novak designed my cover. I pitched my basic idea to him, which main consisted of ‘scary bear’, ‘blonde girl’, and ‘creepy woods’ and two days later he sent me back the cover of Goldilocks that you see now. No changes were needed, he’d brought my six little words to life, and I fell in love with it the moment I saw it. The paperback cover, in your hands, looks even better than the cover on screen does.

8. Thinking of the First 500 words to your book, what was the main idea you wanted your readers to walk away with?

Everyone has problems. Even in fairytales.

9. If possible – please write ‘the hook’ of your story in 25 words or less.

Three bears, a girl with honey blonde hair, a secret lair, but a story far from the children’s fairytale our parents read us as kids.

10. Does your book fit into more than one genre? If so, what is the ‘main’ genre?

Young Adult Paranormal Fiction

Young Adult Fantasy Fiction

Is there really a difference? (To those who are Young Adult, yes - to those of us who wouldn't want to be YA again for a zillion dollars -- no! HA!)

11. What is the age demographic you are shooting for with your book?

Ages 12 to 100! Everyone loves a fairytale right? And I have found that my other young adult books usually have a pretty good older adult following.

12. If you had to compare your book to another book in the same genre … what would it be and why?

I’d have to compare it to one of my other young adult books, Zerrin. The same basics that move the story forward are there, but they both travel very different paths getting through to the end.

13. Are there any parallels between the characters, the setting, the plot to thing you’ve experienced in your own life?

Maybe some of the character’s emotions, and passions about certain things, but no scenarios in particular from the book are my from my own experience in life.

14. How long did it take you to go from 'the idea of writing your book’ to the 'finished product'?

This book has been my longest project by far. Total writing time was about 8 weeks (2 months) But I started on it in February 2013. Wrote for 2 weeks straight and then took a break from writing until December 2013. I had a lot going on in my life, with my kids and family. I got to the point where I couldn’t make myself sit down and get much done, so I put it aside for a while. I started working on it again just before Christmas and finished it the second week in January J

15. If you go back and ‘undo’ something in your book what would it be?

I couldn’t undo anything in the book, but I have rather, thought of a few things I wish I would have added! Like a few more fight scenes or a death.

16. If a Hollywood agent came to you today and asked you to choose your dream cast to be in the movie version – who would you want to play the leads?

Ellen Paige & Chris Hemsworth (Fabulous choices!)

17. What is next on the horizon for you?

A Goldilocks Sequel. But I won’t start working on it until probably April of 2014. I wasn’t originally planning for a sequel, but I had so many more places that I wanted the book to go that I decided to end the first book where I did, and let a sequel come out of it.

18. Please, indulge the readers of this review – Do you have any sort of ‘ritual’ you go through when you’re working? Perhaps you must always have a cup of coffee and a cheese Danish before you can even consider writing? Maybe you only write after you’ve had your morning walk? Mayhap you wait until it’s completely quiet to gather your thoughts – or – you like to ‘rock out’?

No ritual. Just getting to the computer without any interruptions is good enough for me. I write in the bed, at the kitchen table, or on the sofa. Anywhere where I can find a quiet place. I don’t really snack, or drink while I’m writing, because it interrupts my flow, that’s what breaks are for. I also don’t listen to music while I’m actually writing because it’s distracting.

19. What book sits on your nightstand? Or are you so tired of looking at words by the time you are ready to rest your head – the last thing you want to do is read?

I am ashamed to say that I have kind of given up on reading print books. I love the feel of them in my hands, and the smell of them when you crack them open. I am the girl that used to visit the library with an empty backpack on my back every week, anticipating filling it up with new books. Technology is my friend, and while I certainly love print books, I prefer all my books in one place and that’s on my kindle. Right now I am reading Catch A Falling Star by Cristine M. Butler. (It's okay to love your Kindle, really!)

20. Seeking a review that is not by friends or family can be a risky sort of thing because for the most part writers feel pretty secure in asking people close to them to read their work and put down a few words. But when you step away from those closest to you and ask for an outside review, you never know what the person or persons who review your work may say. With that in mind, please tell us, what led you to The Magnolia Blossom Review?

I am the type of writer that would rather hear a well thought out bad critique than a good critique. I don’t ask close friends and family to review my work for that reason. If they choose too, that’s fine, but when seeking out review, I only contact people that I don’t know. You can’t grow from twenty ‘It Was AWESOME!’ reviews. But you can from one ‘Started off a bit slow, writing was repetitive in places, you dropped the ball at the end, and never got it back…’ review. Just an example, but I’m more apt to want to sit down with that bad reviewer with a ink pen and paper and beg them to tell me more. With every book I write, I want to grow. And I’m happy that there are readers out there who love my stuff flaws and all, but perfection is what I’m striving towards.

21. What sort of advice would you give someone considering becoming an Indie Author? (As, in truth, that’s how most all writers start out since agents don’t typically run up to us and go ‘YOU! YOU! You have the look of a bestselling author … please, for the love of all that is good – let me be your agent!’

Be prepared to do the work! There is so much more to being an Indie Author than just writing a book. It’s a full time job that you have to be dedicated to if you plan on getting anywhere. Set a plan and stick to it.

22. Have you ever experienced ‘Writer’s Block’? If so, what do you do to get over it? (Or, are you a writer who feels there’s no such thing as ‘Writer’s Block? If so, please explain your thoughts)

This is how I avoid writers block. I write SOMETHING, Anything! I have always told my fellow writers, it’s easier to go back and correct pure crap, than it is to correct a blank page.

23. As for your thought process … Do you brainstorm, outline, storyboard, or write short (meaning write a short story from beginning to end then start filling in where you think it needs more ‘oomph’ until it’s so full it’s done)? Or do you just sit down and write and what comes to you comes to you?

I usually write down how I was the beginning to start, how I want it to end, and then a few things I would like to see happen in the middle. I fill in the rest as I go. I don’t do extensive outline. A couple notes on paper, and I’m good to go.

24. What question do you wish that someone would ask about your book, but nobody has? Write it out here, then answer it!

Q. If offered a chance to have Goldilocks traditionally published, would you take it?

A. No! Well not exactly. I would sell the paperback rights and movie rights to any of my books, but never the ebook rights. My ultimate goal as a writer, would be to see one of my books turned into a movie. It’s a dream, I’ll keep wishing on until it happens.

25. Please take a moment to list all the places where people can learn more about you and your books…

www.facebook.com/thegiftstrilogy http://patriadunn.moonlitdreams.com patria.dunn@moonlitdreams.org

26. Last, but certainly NOT least – if your book is for sale please list all the venues where it may be found. AND THE PRICE. Please be aware that even though, for example, you may set a price your book at $1.49US its cost will be different outside of the US. Also, if you’re listed at iTunes, too – the book is typically about $.50 to $1 more expensive.

Goldilocks is exclusively on Amazon.com through July 2014, and is listed at $4.99

CAWittchen, Behind Locked Doors

noreply@blogger.com (L Avery Brown) — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 18:34:00 +0000

"...Behind Locked Doors makes my top ten Indie book list. To keep my interest all the way to the very end is very hard to do, and Ms. Wittchen did it. Well done! This is a suspenseful, fast-paced, thriller of a fantasy novel great for everyone above the age of, at the very least, 14. Keep an eye out for C. A. Wittchen. She just might be the next big thing" - Hannah George

About the Book ...

With the memory of a hallway taken by fire and a closed door at its end, seventeen year old Tempest Laurier unwittingly discovers that danger reaches close to home when she decides to search for her birth father, bringing more than demons out of the shadows. Finding herself caught in the middle of a conflict among two worlds of the Species, the faeries and demons, this sets her on a crumbling road of physical and psychological pain, along with loses as relationships are tried and truths are discovered. And the one thing Tempest never saw coming is an ugly secret straight into the heart of what should be her normal human life.

Coming April 14 - A WHOLE NEW MBR

noreply@blogger.com (L Avery Brown) — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 15:56:00 +0000

That's right folks. On April 14 The Magnolia Blossom Review will be moving to its brand-spanking new location at www.thembr.com

It's a much more user friendly site with all the things that Indie Authors and the readers of Indie Authored books love!

At the new Magnolia Blossom Review you'll find:

A new Request for Reviews form with the terms of the review.
Reviews - presented in video format! (Written reviews will still be sent to other venues like Amazon/B&N/etc...)
Easy access to the Review Crew profiles
A Bounty of Reviews - all of which will now be neatly categorized under their main genre -- the reviews which are currently on The Magnolia Blossom Review WILL be transferred over to the new site so don't worry - if your book was reviewed here - it'll go there, too!
A Blog Site dedicated to helping Indie Authors grow in their craft. It'll be filled with great information/short essays written by not only the reviewers at the site but also by other guest reviewers.
A Forum section called 'Let's Talk About It!'
And as always you'll be able to leave comments about the reviews.
Hopefully, we'll be growing the site in the months to come and we plan to add much more to this list!

We do hope you'll be joining us soon at our new site. www.thembr.com (Check it out now, if you'd like - but remember, it's not quite 'ready for its closeup!'

Cheers to you all,
Avery
Owner, The Magnolia Blossom Review

C H MacLean, One Is Come

noreply@blogger.com (L Avery Brown) — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 22:52:00 +0000

This book is a fun and magical opener to the author's future book series... those at younger ages might find the book quite interesting and connect with the two children protagonist's internal and physical struggles, as the author does touch on topics that those in the Young Adults category would have faced or might be facing in the present. So if you're looking for a simple book filled with magic and mystical persons and beings, this book would be for you. -- Kellie Podsednik

About the Book...

Haylwen doesn’t care who actually blew up the wall of the school library. With a chance to finally have real friends, all she cares about is if her suspension will make her parents move again. Her parents, forced to keep their own magical past silent, are shocked to learn that she is indeed a magic user. She tested negative. Twice! Desperate to hide Haylwen from the King of magic users, they flee, but their efforts thrust them all into mortal danger.

Haylwen’s parents don’t know about the prophesy of “The One,” or that the only one who doesn't know Haylwen is a powerful magic user is Haylwen herself. The King and the dragon clans’ plans to remake the world are already in motion. As Haylwen struggles with her feelings of loneliness and unworthiness due to her inability to make a friend, she is completely unaware that the fate of the entire world rests on her choices. Will she learn about her magic and true friendship in time to save her life and hopefully the rest of the world?

Mary Dawson, The River Way Home

noreply@blogger.com (L Avery Brown) — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 00:57:00 +0000

I enjoyed reading about this time in Florida's history. While the characters made the book come alive, I gleaned more than just an adolescent thrill ride or a 'coming of age' story. I almost felt as if at times I was there amidst the characters, soaking up the lush surroundings. By far, one of the best history lessons I have ever had the privilege of taking. -- Glen Marcus

About the Book…

Best Florida YA Book of 2013!
Best Florida Adult Fiction of 2013!
(The Florida Authors and Publishers Association)

ALLIGATORS, OUTLAWS, AND TOURISTS?
It's 1914, and Florida's last frontier is coming of age. A young Cracker who yearns to become a Florida cow hunter, a Seminole who sees his way of life disappearing, and an educated African-American girl who is looking for a better future lose their boat on Lake Okeechobee and are stranded in the wild and mysterious Florida Jungle. When outlaws block the only road back, they have to find a new way home. How will they survive and who will they be when they get there?

With a section of old photos and short historical essays at the end, "The River Way Home" is historical fiction full of action, humor, and conflicts that remain contemporary today. It's a classic tale of friendship and coming-of-age that will take you back in time to your childhood favorites.

Keep your eyes open for the changeover!

noreply@blogger.com (L Avery Brown) — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 20:40:00 +0000

Greetings!

This message is to let you know that the site www.thembr.com has been officially purchased and, in the next week or so, I hope to start posting exclusively to it.

Right now, it's pretty bare bones - but please - drop by every so often to see what changes have taken place.

Right now the Home page and the Blog page are up and running - but the 'Reviews' has only the subheadings - I've got to transfer all the archived reviews over to it! And eventually, we'll be putting a redirect to TheMBR.com for visitors to this site and the sister site 'TheMBRcrew'

Thanks for keeping up with us as we go through this transition!

Joe Walker, Ethriel Blood Bonds

noreply@blogger.com (L Avery Brown) — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 00:07:00 +0000

This is the first book of a trilogy. If you enjoy a fast-paced fantasy/adventure with an abundance of descriptive fights and battles, and only superficial development of characters and settings, then you might enjoy this one. If you are looking for a more detailed treatment of those areas, you might find the story lacking. -- John C. Laird

About the Book…

This may not be the book
cover that appears at
Amazon as the author is in the
process of generating a
new, exciting cover!

From the official blurb

Prepare yourself for an epic adventure following four unlikely companions as they embark upon a journey which will change their lives forever, and shake the foundations of Thundous, the world upon which they live.

Blood Bonds is the first enticing installment of the Ethriel trilogy, a three part story set within a magical land shrouded in darkness where the forces of good have only one choice, to ally together and fight against the evil which plagues the land.

From the deepest depths to the highest peaks, Blood Bonds will take you on a whirlwind adventure that will leave you eager for more...

)

J Aleksandr Wootton, Her Unwelcome Inheritance

noreply@blogger.com (L Avery Brown) — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 06:16:00 +0000

Her Unwelcome Inheritance by J. Aleksandr Wootton is an interesting book I would recommend especially for readers who like highly involved stories and have a strong background in literature because they'll probably really enjoy the narrative. It does take a bit of time to get through the book but in the end, I feel it’s worth it. So I would happily suggest it to those readers. – L. Avery Brown

Mr. Wootton, if possible – please tell us ‘the hook’ of your story in 25 words or less.

A girl discovers she's being hunted – and protected – by people who believe in fairies... who think she can save them from exile.

Video Review --

Here's the very first video review for The Magnolia Blossom Review -

Hope you enjoy.

And feel free to leave a comment.

(But please be kind - it's all a work in progress!)

Want to know more about the author and the book Her Unwelcome Inheritance? Keep reading! There's an extensive interview with J. Aleksandr Wootton that follows!

About the Book…

From the Official Blurb

Once, there was civil war in Faerie...

But that was a long time ago – so long ago that even the few Fayborn who know who they are can't be sure what really happened, or what it was all about. They pursue a dream, piecing together their history from whatever scraps of distorted truth they can find here on earth, in Exile. Although no accurate record of Faerie or the Fay can be made in the mortal realm, a number of the Fayborn believe in the Restoration, the chance of returning to an unbroken Faerie, a Faerie made new.

Petra Godfellow – descendent of Robin Goodfellow, legendary Advisor and Royal Jester to Oberon, the Fairy-King – is the key. If James Oberon, Faerie's true-blooded heir, can convince her to bow the knee, he can use her homage to forge a spell restoring his kingdom. There's just one catch: if she does, she becomes James Oberon's sworn servant. Forever.

Petra doesn't know any of this. She doesn't want to know. And no matter who tries to warn her about it – her aunt, her godfather, her university professor – all she wants is to have a good start to her four years at Lightfoot College. She's sure there's a more rational explanation for James Oberon's ongoing harassment of her family, convinced that the increasingly... uncanny... abduction attempts her friends have so far defended her from are not as extraordinary as they seem. James Oberon and his right-hand man, Wormsworth, might be crazy, but they certainly aren't fairies. And neither is she. The very idea is ridiculous, impossible.

...Right?

About the Author…

Mr. Wootton is a Virginian and a bookworm, in the Tolkienish sense of 'worm' as 'dragon' - he hoards books in shelves and spare rooms and likes to sleep surrounded by them.

In his spare time he chairs the folklore department at Lightfoot College. His research focuses on post-war Faerie.

He enjoys cooking, gardening, and long conversations accompanied by a well-brewed pint.

Getting to know J. Aleksandr Wootton

with the help of…

The Ridiculously Long Magnolia Blossom Review interview!

Author’s Name: J. Aleksandr Wootton Book Title: Her Unwelcome Inheritance

You probably get asked this a lot, but for my readers, please tell us…was there a ‘moment’ in your life where you decided ‘I am going to be a writer!’

Yes. I was eight years old, visiting Williamsburg, Virginia, when I first decided to write a book. I've been writing ever since.

(The owner of The MBR is a HUGE fan of Williamsburg and remembers crafting many a mental tale after visiting the historic site!)

Was there any one person in your life who inspired you to write?

No, not really. I had encouragement from parents and friends, and as I got a little older I occasionally met authors, but I had no aspiration-forming relationships with other writers or storytellers. I loved reading, and wanted to go on having adventures with my favorite characters.

If you were stuck on a deserted island and you could bring 3 of your favorite books, what would they be and why?

I would probably bring C.S. Lewis' Til We Have Faces, his best and probably least-well-known novel, as well as Les Miserables and LOTR. But, if I had time for intellectual pursuit amidst the daily struggle for survival, I'd probably go crazy with wanting to write and knowing that what I wrote would likely never be read.

In today's hectic world, it seems like people just don't have enough hours in the day to do the things they want to do because of all the things they need to do. If you had 72 hours of uninterrupted ‘me time' what would you do? Would you write? Would you learn how to do underwater basket weaving? (Inquiring minds want to know!)

Having done basket weaving, and having been underwater, I suspect the combination isn't all it's hyped up to be.

Assuming I didn't need to sleep during those 72 hours, and would function at my peak the whole time, yes, I would write... I would generally try to get ahead of my ever-growing to-do list. I'm trying to realize a substantial body of work, and it always feels like time is against me.

How did you come up with the title of your book? Was it something you’d always had in the back of your mind and the story was built around it – or did it come to you in a flash of brilliance somewhere in the middle of writing the story? Or were you one of those poor souls who wrote the whole book calling it one thing and then, after you were done – you said, ‘No, that just isn’t right’?

The title came to me while I was outlining. I've always liked the cadence of 'His Dark Materials', the phrase from Paradise Lost that Phillip Pullman uses as the title of his fantasy trilogy. Her Unwelcome Inheritance was thematically appropriate for my book, and a fitting counterpart to his.

If you were to remove the actual title – so that only the ‘cover’ was visible to readers – what do you think would make your book stand out from others in the genre?

Fortunately, the artwork is really stunning, and intriguing. There's a girl standing in a clearing in the woods by a campfire with a gigantic bear tending a kettle and a pipe-smoking, jacket-wearing rabbit sitting on his shoulder? What??

The scene screams “fairy tale” and if you're into that kind of fantasy, you're probably going to pause for a few seconds to find out more.

Who designed your cover? Did you play a major role in how it came out looking? Or did you say ‘I really don’t know what I want on it – but when I see it…I’ll know’?

Gordon Napier did the cover for me. It's based on a scene from the book, so I simply sent him the chapter and told him more details about the characters, how they looked in my head, but I tried to give him as much free reign as possible. He nailed it first try.

Thinking of the First 500 words to your book, what was the main idea you wanted your readers to walk away with?

Honestly, I've never thought about it quite in those terms. Her Unwelcome Inheritance has a rather dramatic beginning – we see two women dress a pair of stolen cadavers in their own clothes, prop them up in their living room, and then rig the house to burn in an 'accidental' gas explosion – and we aren't told why.

I started the story there because it was a fun place to begin – conveying desperation, resourcefulness, and creating a reason to be interested in exposition. But I wasn't thinking about takeaway – I was thinking about convincing readers to keep reading!

Does your book fit into more than one genre? If so, what is the ‘main’ genre?

Yes. It's been called “contemporary real-world fantasy”, “urban fantasy”, “threshold fantasy”, “magical realism” (by some definitions), and so on. It's based heavily on classic folktales and literature – you don't have to be well-read to enjoy Her Unwelcome Inheritance, but if you are, you may be pleasantly surprised to re-meet characters beloved and infamous from your favorite books.

All that really means is that Her Unwelcome Inheritancehas a lot behind it. The main genre is the common one – fantasy.

(Threshold fantasy - what an interesting classification - The MBR must remember that one!)

What is the age demographic you are shooting for with your book?

Well, the protagonist has just turned 17 and is headed off to college, so I suppose the book is technically “New Adult.” But really it's for anyone who loves fantasy and fairy tales, high school and up.

If you had to compare your book to another book in the same genre … what would it be and why?

Readers have made several comparisons that seem appropriate. The names & titles that come up most often are Alice in Wonderland, Narnia, Neil Gaiman, and Diana Wynne Jones. It's pretty great company!

Are there any parallels between the characters, the setting, the plot to things you’ve experienced in your own life?

Oh, definitely. Especially the dialogue – there are conversations in the book that mirror real-life conversations I've actually had.

That's the danger of being friends with a writer – you never know if something you said will find its way into one of his or her books!

(All the folks at The MBR will agree with that!)

How long did it take you to go from 'the idea of writing your book’ to the 'finished product'?

This book was a particularly long time coming. When I first had the idea for it, I knew I wasn't ready to write it yet – that I wouldn't be able to do the idea justice. So I left it alone to root and grow in the back of my mind for four years.

Then, I needed about eight months for outlining and research, about eleven months of writing part-time, and three months of writing full-time, to finish the first draft. Add another two months for editing and incorporating beta reader feedback, and there you have it.

If you had to go back and ‘undo’ something in your book what would it be?

Ooh. Unfair! There are a couple of other ways I could work out the beginning of the story, but I can't explain them without giving Spoilers. Still, who knows. It's possible we could see a retelling of the story in another format.

If a Hollywood agent came to you today and asked you to choose your dream cast to be in the movie version – who would you want to play the leads?

Honestly, I'd have no idea. I don't watch movies featuring actresses young enough to play Petra, so most of my ideas would be for supporting cast.

Rather than name specific actors and actresses, I'd ask to be part of the casting panel – evaluating auditions and so on. I think that would be really fun!

What is next on the horizon for you?

A First or Final Mischief will conclude the Fayborn trilogy, so I'll be writing that next. (Her Unwelcome Inheritance's sequel, The Eighth Square, is already out).

Please, indulge the readers of this review – Do you have any sort of ‘ritual’ you go through when you’re working? Perhaps you must always have a cup of coffee and a cheese Danish before you can even consider writing? Maybe you only write after you’ve had your morning walk? Mayhap you wait until it’s completely quiet to gather your thoughts – or – you like to ‘rock out’?

In my ideal day, I wake up early, make some tea or coffee – whatever I'm in the mood for that morning (but it's usually tea) – and have a small, protein-rich breakfast. I read a chapter or so from whatever's on top of my TBR stack, and then I get to writing.

But to quote Jayne from Firefly, “Well, what you plan and what takes place ain't ever exactly been similar!”

What book sits on your nightstand? Or are you so tired of looking at words by the time you are ready to rest your head – the last thing you want to do is read?

At the moment it's What's Wrong with the World, by G.K. Chesterton.

Seeking a review that is not by friends or family can be a risky sort of thing because for the most part writers feel pretty secure in asking people close to them to read their work and put down a few words. But when you step away from those closest to you and ask for an outside review, you never know what the person or persons who review your work may say. With that in mind, please tell us, what led you to The Magnolia Blossom Review?

I actually have very few reviews from friends & family. I feel as if I'm always pestering them to take 60 seconds and write a sentence or two for Amazon, etc. Digital publishing isn't their world, so they'll happily give me feedback in person or by email but they don't understand how important online reviews can be for authors.

As for the risk, frankly, I've spent enough time in writing and publishing to receive a decent share of less-than-positive feedback, and most feedback proves useful one way or another.

When it comes to The MBR, let's say (hypothetically) that your reviewer doesn't like my book. That would probably indicate there's a problem with my pitch – that the expectations raised by my description of the book aren't met within its pages. So then I would know to revise my pitch for next time.

At the end of the day, no matter whether the review comes from your mother or a complete stranger, it is only as helpful as the reviewer is honest. When it comes to public feedback, undeserved glowing praise is, ultimately, just as bad as (if not worse than) malicious lies. Both I and my readers are well-served by honesty, and nothing else.

(Honesty is our middle name - well, technically, I suppose it's 'Blossom' ...)

What sort of advice would you give someone considering becoming an Indie Author? (As, in truth, that’s how most all writers start out since agents don’t typically run up to us and go ‘YOU! YOU! You have the look of a bestselling author … please, for the love of all that is good – let me be your agent!’

Quite! Haha. If that ever happens to you, my first advice is: don't let that person be your agent!

Next bit of advice: Craft is Job #1. Write often, and learn to write well. Critically evaluate your favorite books until you understand what makes them good, why they resonate with you. Critically evaluate books that you “almost like” - where did the author/editor go wrong with an otherwise great story? And don't waste your time reading stuff that isn't excellent. You'll write like the writers you read, and if you read bad writing you'll tend to write badly.

After Craft comes Diligence – excellence over time. Learn to pace your writing and stick to it; avoid binge-writing. If your desire to edit what you've written impedes or threatens your overall progress, learn to control that desire. Completion matters more than polishing. After all, you're going to re-write half of those pages anyway as you work through successive drafts. Get the book done FIRST. It doesn't matter if the partial book you've written is beautiful; almost nobody but you will ever read it unless you finish writing the rest.

Once you've written a very good book indeed, you can think begin to think about publishing options, marketing, building your audience, etc. But that's a whole new topic.

Have you ever experienced ‘Writer’s Block’? If so, what do you do to get over it? (Or, are you a writer who feels there’s no such thing as ‘Writer’s Block? If so, please explain your thoughts)

There's no such thing as Writers' Block. There's Writers' Distraction, and Writers' Long Unrelated To-Do List, and Writers' Cabin Fever, and Writers' Cluttered Workspace, and many other conditions, all of which can cause Writers' Block-like symptoms. But there is no Writers' Block.

When you're having trouble writing, stop trying to write. Instead, identify what's causing the mental hang-up and deal with that instead. Organize your desk. Clean your kitchen. Go out for a walk, run an errand, exercise. Eat a reasonable meal, if you forgot/skipped (never trust caffeine alone to “wake you up” mentally). Work through your outline again; maybe it needs revising. Knock some things off of your to-do list, or write a to-do list of everything you're trying to keep in active memory, or journal about what's bothering you if it's not something you can take care of right then. Read somebody else's book.

DON'T stay at your computer, don't get online, don't start watching cat videos, or playing games. If you do, the time you've got for writing will vanish into the aether, and tomorrow will start all over again exactly the same way.

As for your thought process … Do you brainstorm, outline, storyboard, or write short (meaning write a short story from beginning to end then start filling in where you think it needs more ‘oomph’ until it’s so full it’s done)? Or do you just sit down and write and what comes to you comes to you?

For books, I outline extensively – first, I try describing the whole story in about 5 paragraphs. Then I expand the outline, writing 1-3 pages per paragraph, sometimes jotting down scenes or scraps of dialogue wherever they fit. For the best results, I expand a third time – writing 3-5 pages per page of the previous phase.

By the time I'm done, I've got whole sections of the book written and (hopefully) the entire plot mapped. In theory I will have already encountered, and solved, any plot snarls or character-arc problems while outlining, before having invest months of time and thousands of words on a draft . The outline frees me up to implement the best solutions and strategies without being emotionally attached to lots of “sunk cost” writing.

What question do you wish that someone would ask about your book, but nobody has? Write it out here, then answer it!

Q: It may seem strange, but nobody has asked me flat-out,

Why should I buy your book?

A: There are lots of reasons that people buy Her Unwelcome Inheritance. I can't say which reason is the right one for you personally, but I can guess:

1. Maybe because you like fantasy that takes place in the real world, like Harry Potter.

2. Maybe because you love fairy tale retellings, like Robin McKinley's, or Bill Willingham's Fables graphic novels, or the TV series Once Upon a Time.

3. Maybe because you're a fan of the Inklings, like C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, and the writers who influenced them, like G.K. Chesterton and George MacDonald, or of whimsical fantasy classics like Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, The Wind in the Willows, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Rudyard Kipling's Just-So Stories.

4. Maybe because – like me – you miss your friends from great books after the covers close, and you want to go on having adventures with them. (What good is literary immortality if nobody gets to find out what they did next?)

5. And maybe – just maybe – it's because you're looking for a book you won't want to set down, that won't let youdown.

If any of that sounds like you, you should grab a copy of Her Unwelcome Inheritance.

Please take a moment to list all the places where people can learn more about you and your books…

www.JackWootton.com is your one-stop shop.

There are links to all of my social media (Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, deviantART, Wattpad), my blog, other reviews and interviews, online bookstores that you can order my books from, emailing list, bio, contact, etc. etc.!

eBook versions retail for $3.74 USD ($3.99 on iTunes)

Paperback for $9.99 USD

*Please check with individual retailers as the price may be lower!

Both versions are internationally available and ship from local servers/printers – check your favorite online bookseller for prices. So far, there's only one book titled Her Unwelcome Inheritance, and only one author called J. Aleksandr Wootton.

The Review -

(The responses in this section may not be exactly as they are in the video. But they are very close!)

Book read and reviewed by L. Avery Brown

1. Book Title – 5 of 5 Points

For the Reviewer: Did it grab your attention right away? (5) Was it ho hum? (3) Would you glance at it and then forget it? (1) What do you think the author might consider for future book titles?

It's definitely a unique sort of title because for me - I cannot help but read it and think something is odd about the wording. The something is the word 'unwelcome' - my mind keeps telling there should be a 'd' at the end. Grammatically, it is correct - it just sort of sticks out - and, therefore, sticks in my head. Which is actually a good thing because if you can come up with a title likes to hang around in a person's head the way a few bars of music play on a loop in your head - that little bit of quirkiness could be the perfect thing to convince them to actually read the book!

2. Book Cover – 4 of 10 Points

For the Reviewer: Did it grab your attention? (5) Was it ho hum? (3) Did it look like it was haphazardly thrown together? (1) What do you think the author might consider for future book covers? Did it help make the title more effective?

It did grab my attention - but not in the way it should have. Yes, it's colorful and very well drawn which is always a good thing - however, my immediate thought was it didn't convey anything at all about the contents of the book. It's got an almost fairy tale sort of air about it. So my immediate reaction to the cover is that it's around the 4 range for effectiveness in being as a 'hey, look at this cool book cover - you know you want to read it' draw. Because it looks a little too young for the target audience. (If I were to grade it including my knowledge of what the book is about - I'd have to give it a 2 because it's way off the mark since you have to get quite a way into the book before it makes any kind of sense. Luckily - I only base my points on my immediate reaction)

3. First 500... – 6 out of 10 Points

For the Reviewer: Thinking of the first 500 (usually about 2 pages) words of the book, do you think the author provided enough incentive to urge the reader to continue? What stood out to you the most? Were you captivated after a couple of paragraphs? Did the 1st sentence grab you? Did you get to around the 500 word mark and didn't have a clue where the story was going?

Now this was really difficult because I wasn't exactly sure WHERE the First 500... (which would be around 2 pages of the actual narrative) started. Why? First, there's a long Acknowledgement page. Then there's an odd sort of Editor's Note) After which there's a Prelude which is actually a long history-type poem – (At least I think it's a poem because of the structure it follows) So when I finally made my way to Part 1 of the book/Chapter 1 and was able to read it, I found it really interesting. But because I had to sort of work my way through ‘other’ things it wasn’t as interesting as it could have been – I feel – if the other stuff had been left out.

4. Blurb Effectiveness – 10 of 10 Points

For the Reviewer: Now that you've finished the book, please take a moment to look back over the blurb. How effective do you think the blurb will be to potential readers? Did the author write a blurb that was enticing and went along with the story? (10) Was the blurb lacking? (5) Was it entirely too long or too short? (1) Do you have any suggestions for the author to make it more effective?

Okay - it is a GREAT blurb. It does a fabulous job of pointing out the setting(s) - both the 'real' world and 'Faerie'. It also mentions the protagonist (Petra) as well as the antagonist (James Oberon). And to wrap it all up - Wootton does a great job of giving a potential reader a good bit of bait to get them to open the book - the notion that Petra Godfellow is in (im)mortal danger if she is captured by Oberon. So I have to give strong props to this blurb.

5. Age Recommendation/Genre Classification – 10 of 10 Points

For the Reviewer: Age Recommendation - If the book is entirely too young/juvenile for the intended age group? Is it entirely too mature? (Please take into account swearing/sexual scenes/drug use, etc... Genre Classification - Was the book listed as a thrill ride of a read but was more of a bumper car ride (sort of all over the place)? Was it listed as a mystery and you simply had to turn the page to find out 'who did it'?

Again - I have to say that Wootton did properly guesstimate the age group that would probably be the ones most likely to pick up this book. It's geared towards readers in the New Adult ~17-~23 range. But not because it's got racy scenes or anything like that in it. Nor is it rampant with curse words. Rather, I think it has to do with the fact that readers really need to have a strong background in literature to 'get' the underlying meanings of the characters and situations in the book. For example, if you've not read Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream (King Oberon - although technically he's the consort to Titania- but that's splitting hairs!/Puck/Fairy Land, etc...) you might not realize exactly 'who' Puck and Oberon are - (and thus, their descendants). I will say that

I do like the fact that it made me call on my knowledge of some great literature because to really understand the underpinnings of the story you need a bit of knowledge of various fantasy mythologies and other famous classical fairy stories.

6. Presentation/Format – 9 of 10 Points

For the Reviewer: Did the 'innards' of the book follow a clear, concise, standard format throughout the book? Or did you have a hard time keeping up with paragraphs or dialogue? Were multiple fonts used? Were they distracting?

It's a well put together story that reads quite nicely. It’s got a part 1 and a part 2 and the paragraphs are all ‘just the right lengths’. Likewise, the chapter breaks come at just the right time – so that the mind can sort of digest what it’s just read.

7. Theme/Originality – 7 of 10 Points

For the Reviewer: Was this book similar to something you may have read before? If it was a retelling - did the author make it feel fresh and just different enough that it kept you involved? Or was it formulaic and a 'rehash' of a popular tale/current 'pop' genre? OR - is this the first time you can recall ever reading a book with theme/setup/etc of this particular title?

This is a difficult one to answer because while the concept was, for the most part, original - the entire book is based upon foundations created by other authors. (Don't believe me? At the end of the book, there are two appendices to help readers understand the parts of the book that they might have had difficulty understanding and the other is a listing of all the other stories that were used, piecemeal, to create the story. Appendix 2 lists the 50 books/stories that were used to create 'Her Unwelcome Inheritance' 50 - and I can tell you with all honesty - I can remember reading and thinking 'wait, I've heard of this before' which was actually very detracting from what the story was supposed to be. Quite frankly, about a 1/4 of the way into the story I felt like 'Oh, so he's watched the ABC television show Once Upon a Time and has decided to do same thing' Like I said, this was very difficult to score.

8. Description/Enhancement – 7 of 10 Points

For the Reviewer: Did the author use descriptive language and 'all those extra little things' to make it the best it could be? Did you feel it was too sparse in description? Did the author go OVER board with the description?

I would have to say Wootton, in trying to capture the essence of the various works of literature that were used as a scaffold for this story to be told, tended to go a bit overboard a few times in the book oftentimes employing the tone of some of the authors from whose work he borrowed ideas. Think of someone with multiple personalities writing a book - there's the whimsical, kooky style of Lewis Carroll, the poetic styling of William Butler Yeats, and then the dark and brooding style of Bram Stoker. So again, this is a difficult one to rank on a scale of 1 - 10 because I had a hard time hearing 'Wootton's voice', if that makes sense.

9. Intrigue – 7 of 10 Points

For the Reviewer: Did you want to turn the next page because it was SO good? (10) Was it interesting but you didn't quite have an urge to keep reading? (5) Did you think 'I wonder if we have Twinkies in the pantry? Mmmmm, Twinkies' while you read? (1)

I did enjoy the book - I wouldn't say it was an 'OMG - I've got to keep reading!’ book but it wasn't like I didn't want to read it. Heck, I'd invested a lot of time into the book so I felt like I simply had to finish it! And perhaps part of that is because there were points where I felt like there were a few too many lulls in the action of the story. Sort of like it was peppered with some nice UP moments then lulls that were a bit too flat.

10. Grammar/Mechanics – 8 of 10 Points

For the Reviewer: Was the book pretty darn flawless? (10) Did you see more that 5 or 10 'jump out' at you mistakes in grammar or the actual mechanics (verb tense, noun/pronoun agreement, misused words) ? (5) Did you feel it was a chore to read because it was riddled with errors? (1)

This is the one aspect of the book where there were a few mechanical issues - mainly with quotation (') (") marks. Quotes within quotes and then sometimes there was lost a punctuation mark every now and again. And sometimes there were spaces between quotation marks and the start of dialogue.

“Petra, what’s the earliest thing you can remember?”

“ Burning our house in Carlisle.”

This was taken directly (cut and pasted) from the eBook version I was given to read.

Do you see the extra space between the (") and the word burning?

This sort of happened a few times. But it really wasn’t too bad – just something I noticed. Although the reason I chose to point out this particular point is that it's in the First 500... (and typically the one place an author never wants to have an error (no matter how trivial) is in those crucial opening pages)

Please note that the editor in me simply couldn't overlook that one.

11. Overall Impression – 8 of 10 points

For the Reviewer: When all is said in done - did you enjoy the book? Would you recommend it to others?

Her Unwelcome Inheritance by J. Aleksandr Wootton is an interesting book that I would recommend especially for readers who like highly involved stories and have a strong background in literature because they'll probably really enjoy the narrative. It does take a bit of time to get through the book but in the end, I feel it’s worth it. So I would happily suggest it to those readers. However, if a reader is not familiar with the majority of works that are mentioned in Appendix 2, some of the 'hidden' narrative - the tie-ins to classic stories - and subtle references will be lost on the reader.

Bestowing of the Blossoms –

When all the points are totaled up, we are pleased to say that J. Aleksandr Wootton’s book, Her Unwelcome Inheritance, has earned 81 points out of 100 which gives it 4 big beautiful blossoms! We wish Mr. Wootton much success as he goes forward with this book and his other literary ventures!

An Important Message from the Owner!

noreply@blogger.com (L Avery Brown) — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 21:33:00 +0000

Greetings Readers! First of all, thank you so much for visiting. It took a while but I'm happy to say that the first video review for the site is now completed and will be posted in its own unique post right after I post this one! We hope you enjoy this new addition to the format here and we hope to present even more video reviews as time goes on. Likewise, in the coming weeks we will be presenting video reviews of books in other genres as soon as the new website (which is under construction) is completed (and as soon as I find a few 'genre specific' reader/reviewers, too!)

Eventually, we hope to do all reviews as video reviews (with written transcripts which will appear on sites like Amazon/Barnes&Noble/Goodreads/Shelfari, etc...

But please understand that because preparing a video review, while it makes the review much more accessible to folks no matter where they are (sitting in their car, riding the train, chilling out at the Tastee-Freeze, etc...) it also takes a lot more time to prepare.

If you've been visiting this site for a while now, you know that the reviews done here are unlike reviews done at other sites where there isn't really a set standard for 'grading' books. This is an intense review process with strict guidelines - the kind of review intended to be read by folks who are avid readers and who are looking for quality books to purchase.

And when you factor together the understanding that the video reviews take a bit longer to prepare and that the actual review rubric is quite detailed therefore requiring a lot of time not only for the reviewer but also for the person putting everything together - we hope you'll understand that The MBR is going to have to start being much more selective in the titles it chooses to review. For more on this please see the Request for Review page in the Header.

In the end - The goal of The MBR is to offer uniquely detailed reviews for MANY genres (utilizing an entirely new site that is in the works) that will (hopefully eventually all) be in video format including video interviews (which is still a hurdle we have to cross!).

Please hang in there with us!

The first video review should be online later today!

Oh Good Grief!

noreply@blogger.com (L Avery Brown) — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 06:41:00 +0000

I know you're expecting to see a nifty 'video book review' of Aleksandr Wootton's Her Unwelcome Inheritance today...

But good grief - do you know what happens when you stick a self-proclaimed 'rambling woman' who is also a bit of a perfectionist into a small space with a video camera and tell her to review a book?

You wind up with an extremely frustrated woman who has 45 minutes of gobbledygook that must be whittled down to about 7 minutes!

However, now that I've had a few hours to try and try and try some more - I think I know what I'm doing. So - first thing tomorrow (which is actually today because I'm writing this past the midnight hour) I'm going to park my rear-end at my desk and try it once again! Only this time - I will succeed.

Yes, I am, if anything, an extremely tenacious person!

Here's to quick takes and fast edits! (And trust me, it will be done - oh yes, it WILL be done. As God is my witness - I will get that review online tomorrow! I WILL!)

Totally New Concept at The MBR!

noreply@blogger.com (L Avery Brown) — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 05:54:00 +0000

Welcome to a new and exciting concept for The Magnolia Blossom Review.

Not only will there be unique sites for specific genres like the Young Adult novel site you're at right now and the Romance Novels Site (All About Romance), Mystery site, and SciFi-Fantasy site (to name some of the genres) but every so often we'll be presenting reviews that are VIDEO reviews!

It won't be every review ... and it probably won't be every genre ... at least not yet! But we feel like this is going to be an awesome way for readers to not only go directly to the genre they like the most - but some of the reviews will be appearing in a video format, too! The goal is to offer the indie authors who ask us to do reviews the most coverage we possibly can!

So here's to a grand new MBR experiment. By the way, our first official Video Review will be March 3. It'll be for J. Alkesandr Wootten's YA novel 'Her Unwelcome Inheritance'. We hope you'll pop by soon to see it!

Jack Croxall, Tethers

noreply@blogger.com (L Avery Brown) — Fri, 14 Feb 2014 20:36:00 +0000

Tethers by Jack Croxall is an enjoyable read. It does require that the reader pay close attention to the 'when' of events that happen in the book because there's an element of premonition to the story that, after you start to figure out exactly (well, close to exactly) what's going on THEN you have to think back to things that have already happened in the story to determine at what point (in reference to time) they happened. Confused. You won't be after you've read the book! I do recommend this book - especially for those of you who happen to enjoy story that deal with 'time' almost like it is a character. -- L. Avery Brown

About the Book...

In the wake of a cold Victorian winter, Karl Scheffer and Esther Emerson discover an anonymous journal filled with strange passages and bizarre scribblings.

The journal soon draws them into a covert and sinister conspiracy, a conspiracy centred around an otherworldly artifact with the power to change everything

Karl and Esther have spent almost every day of their thirteen years in the quiet market town of Shraye. Stifled by their rural surroundings and frustrated by their unfulfilled ambitions, they find the allure of the journal’s mysterious pages impossible to ignore. The book seems to be beckoning them away from Shraye, away from their homes and towards the coast where an unsolved disappearance has set in motion a dark chain of events.

The voyage the teenagers soon find themselves undertaking is one of desperate importance and true peril; it will change the way they see the world, and each other, forever.

The Hook, in 25 words or less!

In the wake of a cold Victorian winter, two teenagers discover an anonymous notebook filled with strange passages, scribblings and their own names …

About the book - from the author, himself! ...

FYI

noreply@blogger.com (L Avery Brown) — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 19:44:00 +0000

We are in the process of reading many of the YA books that have been sent to us and should have new reviews online ASAP.

Likewise, for those 5 or 6 authors whose books will appear on the sister site to The MBR for YA novels - the site should be up and running in a couple of weeks.

Cheers to all our Kind Readers!

NR Eccles-Smith, Kin Seeker: Book One Dragon Calling

noreply@blogger.com (L Avery Brown) — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 18:18:00 +0000

I did enjoy the book. It was a bit tedious to read at times, but I liked the main character, I liked his friends, and I even liked the villains. I'd recommend it to those who enjoy dragon books and the average fantasy book, because this one fits squarely into both categories. Did I mention the gold unicorn filly? I didn't. Gold unicorn fillies are amazingly cool. I think that this book could have been improved with a little more action that didn't seem so... meh, but I'm picky. Overall, I think the author did a lovely job.--Hannah George

About the Book...

As the last dragon left, Laeka’Draeon holds the key to finding his missing kin and restoring the magical barriers of the towers of Klonnoth Aire. The problem is he has no memory of his past, or what happened the fateful day the dragons disappeared and the towers fell silent.

With the surrounding kingdoms in disarray, and strange terrors spreading across the lands, Laeka’Draeon has no choice but to take action. If the barriers of Klonnoth Aire are not restored, the consequences could bring about the return of an ancient and devastating enemy.

Finding aid in the unlikeliest of allies, including a spirited unicorn filly, a colossal forest guardian, and an eerie-eyed phantom, Laeka’Draeon braves unknown and often dangerous realms in search of answers, and quickly finds himself swept up in an adventure far bigger than he could have ever imagined.

Kin Seeker: Dragon Calling is intended for Middle to Upper Middle Grade readers.

The hook in 25 words or less...

When Laeka’Draeon learns he is the last dragon left after the mysterious disappearance of his kin, he begins the daunting quest to find them.

NEW GENRE FORMAT IN PLAY!

noreply@blogger.com (L Avery Brown) — Sat, 01 Feb 2014 23:29:00 +0000

Welcome to the Magnolia Blossom Review's new Genre Specific site focused on Young Adult Genre Books.

In the coming days we'll be accepting books that are intended for Young Adult audiences ranging in ages from 'Tweens, Middle Grades, Standard Young Adult, and 'New' Young Adult (~17 - ~22).

If you're an author who has written a book that falls into the 'Young Adult' readership zone - now is the time to start sending in your review requests!

If you've come here looking for books from a different genre - NEVER FEAR... in the coming weeks the MBR will be starting sister sites that are genre specific! And if you're an Indie Author who has a book in one of the genres that'll be highlighted on one of the upstart sites - we'll let you know when it'll be time to submit your requests for reviews!

Starting tomorrow we should have our first genre specific review online! Hope to see you here!

Joseph Donahue, The Final Requiem

noreply@blogger.com (L Avery Brown) — Sun, 26 Jan 2014 18:09:00 +0000

(The Final Requiem) is definitely Urban Fantasy and is totally geared toward the older Young Adult crowd... I think younger readers (~15 to ~18) would enjoy it most... It was a nice read, and had an easy sort of flow with some nifty creature/characters, too. -- L. Avery Brown

About the Book...
(From the official blurb)
Michael is a normal guy that has been thrust into an overwhelming situation. An eternal war is being waged between Angels and Demons. The Angels have assigned Michael the task of going on a treacherous journey to close the gates Demons use to travel between Hell and Earth. Somehow, even though Angels have been visiting him in his dreams since childhood to tell him something was coming, Michael finds himself unprepared, and in the middle of it all.

One way or another, everything will change.

The Hook - in 25 words or less...

An eternal war between Angels and Demons. One will win or all will die.

DV Berkom, Yucatàn Dead: A Kate Jones Thriller

noreply@blogger.com (L Avery Brown) — Sun, 26 Jan 2014 15:00:00 +0000

I enjoyed the book. I liked it most starting at about the halfway point because things were less focused on Kate's past and the decisions she'd made and how she wound up where she did. Meaning when the focus shifted to Kate working to help bring down the cartel - that's when I started to like it the most.--L. Avery Brown

About the Book...

She was a dangerous man's lover...now she's his dangerous enemy. YUCATÀN DEAD... For Kate Jones, being on the run from her former lover--the vicious leader of a Mexican drug cartel--was never going to be easy. But with a new identity, a new lover, and a new life in Arizona, she was beginning to believe she'd made it through the worst.

Then, in an act of twisted revenge, Kate's kidnapped and imprisoned by her deadly enemy, his intention to force her to pay back the money she stole before he kills her. Fate intervenes and she finds herself working against the cartels deep in the Yucatan with a group of off-the-grid commandos. From peaceful northern Arizona to the steamy jungles of Mexico, Kate Jones must decide for herself if she'll continue to run...

...or turn and fight the evil that pursues her.

The Hook...In 25 Words or Less

Hunted by a ruthless cartel boss, Kate Jones finds herself deep in the Yucatán determined to turn and fight the evil that pursues her.

Petrea Burchard, Camelot & Vine

noreply@blogger.com (L Avery Brown) — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 22:21:00 +0000

Camelot & Vine is a book to pull out of a beach bag and enjoy beneath a big umbrella while sipping on drinks with tiny umbrellas...it's an utterly indulgent reading splurge; silly, charming, romantic, and filled with action... -- L. Avery Brown

About the Book...
(From the Official Blurb)

Telling lies is second nature to Casey Clemens, whether she's talking to strangers on national television or to her mother on the phone. Casey's got a cushy Hollywood condo, an efficient cleaning lady and a rich boyfriend. (Never mind that he's married.) When Casey feels dissatisfied she fantasizes: about winning an Oscar, about finding real love or about her childhood hero, King Arthur. It feels like an acting career, sort of, until the day before Casey's 40th birthday when she loses everything she never cared about, falls through a gap in time and lands in the 6th century war camp of King Arthur himself. He mistakes her for a wizard and takes her in. But as she finds her feelings warming to him she also finds enemies. War is fast approaching, and the Dark Ages are a perilous time for an actress with an honesty problem. That is, if she wants to make it back to the 21st century alive. Not that she could if she wanted to. Not that she wants to.

The Hook...in 25 words of less...

A failing Hollywood actress loses everything she never cared about, falls through a gap in time and saves King Arthur's life.

JB Brookline, Creatures of Fire: Demons Die Harder

noreply@blogger.com (L Avery Brown) — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 21:10:00 +0000

This book is a perfect example of a good idea gone wrong - riddled with clichés, packed with telling instead of showing, littered with predictable plot devices, and teeming with stock characters. It's a shame. Wrap it up with a nice cover and blurb, and you've got yourself a grade-A disappointment. - Sabrina Jade Howard

About the Book...

Click here to be redirected to Amazon.com

She is a half demon, oblivious to her true nature.
He is a demon set out to avenge murder.

Together they are hunted by the one person she thought she could trust.
Separate they may be able to save each others lives.

New York – Paris – Dschinnanya.

Excerpt:

Bloody hell, he cursed silently. He had been hoping to achieve better results; to find out more about Baldwin’s aims and motivations. As it were, all he could do was feed off the energy he had tapped into. In a matter of minutes he felt more alive than before. He might ncreatot have been able to complete his mission but at least he was stronger now. Only a little bit more and he would be able to escape from his prison.

Five minutes later he was ready to leave. It was about time; Baldwin wasn’t paying attention at the moment, but there was no telling how long this would last. Fortunately, though, he was still angry. Alexander was just about to draw back when a thought entered his head.

Why was Baldwin in a rage?

The man barely had control over himself. He was close to killing the person who had caused all the emotional turmoil. But who was it?

Sariel. The name was just a whisper in his head. And then Alexander knew.