Friday Fiction

The hardest thing for me to do has been to review someone else's work. I've always loved to read and being a writer has deterred that passion. However I have a greater appreciation for what a writer goes through to go from idea to publication and then sending the work to receive someone's opinion.
This is my opinion. It doesn't mean I'm right, but it is how I felt after I read the story. So here are two reviews for authors whom I believe are very talented. You should definitely give them a try if you like a little steam with your plot.

First up is Fool Me Once by Lacey Wolfe. I believe this is Book One in the Hot Bods Series. Available from Beachwalk Press

Here's the Blurb

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice…

Drew is the last person Skylar wanted to see across from her at a local bar. A month ago he’d wined and dined her all weekend, leaving her feeling fully in love, but then she awoke alone in an empty hotel room and she hadn’t heard from him since.

The weekend Drew spent with Skylar was phenomenal. There had never been anyone who made him feel as complete as she did. He shouldn’t have disappeared, he should have called, but his feelings for her scared him, so he distanced himself. But when he saw her again, he knew he couldn’t stay away any longer. 

Skylar’s determined not to give Drew another chance to hurt her, but he’s just as determined to win her back. Although it won’t be easy, he’s up to the challenge, and he’s willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish his goal. 

Content Warning: Explicit Sex

The conflict between Drew and Skylar definitely kept me hooked to my Kindle. I wanted to see how they were going to resolve their issues. I may have cheered a little after the alley scene. Mean aren’t I? But from that moment I knew there was going to be some great chemistry and bad feelings the couple needed to work through.

As you can guess I was really rooting for Drew. I sympathized with the guy, he had to face fear of his feelings, fear of commitment before he could admit the truth. I wanted him to overcome and get the girl in the end. And there were a couple of times I found myself going “awwwww.”

Skylar was a little different, she was cool, but I wanted to tell her a couple of times to “man up.” Especially toward the end, but that’s just me. Keep in mind I live in a houseful of men and they’ve corrupted me over the years. :-) Do I think she was wrong for the way she reacted? A little overdramatic, maybe. Was Drew wrong for his actions? That’s just bad form. Now whether or not he made things right, well you’ll have to find out for yourself.

Also, I loved the dialogue between the characters, it kept things moving. The story read a little slow in some areas and one word in particular sent me running for my dictionary. But, all in all Fool Me Once was a decent read and I can’t wait to see more from this author.

I had the pleasure of meeting Tara via Facebook. I didn't expect to finish her story so soon, but I'm glad I did.

A Facebook Affair by Tara Chevrestt and available through Breathless Press

Here's the Blurb.

When Kelly and Brandon rediscover each other on Facebook after twenty years apart, it sparks an attraction that even distance can't extinguish. Do they truly have a future, or is this just a Facebook affair?

Kelly Littleton takes the plunge and finally joins Facebook to socialize without the limits that her hearing impairment gives her. On a whim, she looks up a childhood friend. In sending him that first message, she ignites the memories of a crush from twenty years ago. But will they turn into the flames of romance, or end up the ashes of a Facebook affair?

Brandon Hopkins has a lot on his plate. A recent divorce, a pregnant sister, and now, he realizes he's in love with a woman who lives states away. Can he overcome the boundaries of internet romance to make this desire turn into something real, or will adversity and distance be their undoing?

I LOVED this story. Once I started reading it was hard to put down. Kelly is hearing impaired. She relies on hearing aids and reading lips to navigate in the world. She’s not your average heroine and I adored her.

She didn’t make excuses, she didn’t hide who she was, but embraced what she could and couldn’t do. Kelly lived an active and full life. She had a job, an apartment, friends and getting a glimpse into her life and the prejudices she faced on a daily basis was priceless.

There was one point in the story when Brandon asked Kelly what she liked to do. Going to a movie theater wasn’t high on her list, one because not all theaters offer closed captioning, and snuggled on the couch is the best way to view a movie. I totally agree. I’m visually impaired and only see maybe 50% of any movie I view in the theater and I only go because it makes my family happy.

I loved the flashbacks. Without them I don’t think the story would’ve been as rich and in-depth as it was. Reading the glimpses into her childhood days allowed the reader to see the three people who impacted her the most. Brandon, Lindsay and Caitlin.

Lindsay and Caitlin. Give me a moment because there were a few times I found myself fussing at my Kindle. Nope I did not like those two little girls. They were mean and selfish and I lumped then in the same category as the Evil Queen from Once Upon a Time. Those two little girls were the epitome of children can be so cruel. How dare these girls tease and torture Kelly. Yeah I know these were just characters in a book, but I’ve met children AND adults just like them. More than likely you have too.

There was a saving grace. Brandon. *sigh* Even as a little boy he was sweet to Kelly. He would eat with her, play games and made her school life a bit more bearable. He accepted her for who she was.

Reading how the romance unfolded between these two, beginning with Facebook messages, was so romantic. Thinking about the story and the love, just makes me melt. There’s one scene in particular that just brings tears to my eyes. Kelly and Brandon have their first physical date. The restaurant is dimly lit and candles are at every table, it’s too dark for her to read Brandon’s lips. He moves the candle closer so she can see him. If I wasn’t in love with the character before I was at that moment.

This was a truly enjoyable story. I just loved the characters and I couldn’t read fast enough to get to the end. Actually I hated to see the story end. The mix of what it’s like to have a physical disability, the struggles one can face and people who are willing to treat the individual as a person was great.

Reading this evoked a lot of emotions because I could relate. I’m visually impaired and it’s amazing to see how many people are uncomfortable with someone who is different, like the condition is contagious or something. Go figure.

So if you haven’t picked up your copy of A Facebook Affair, go ahead buy a copy. This is a wonderful steamy story full of passion and romance.