Review: The Rock Season by R.L. Merrill

Get The Rock Season by R.L. Merrill here.

Stevie is a soon-to-be mother. But that doesn't stop her from rocking out! As a popular blogger, she and her concert buddy frequent the local venue to see all the great shows. When Stevie's careful plan start on a tumultuous slide, she has to find a way to deal with her broken heart. Her whole life, music has been her companion, and once again she turns to it for solace.

Aaron McShane comes from a melting pot of a family. He's given up the rat race to open a vintage vinyl store with his best friend. Everyone thinks he's crazy that he works at an amphitheater during concerts as security for pleasure in his spare time. As the oldest son in a tight-knit extended family, he takes on a lot of responsibility which has taken a toll on his previous relationships. One look at Stevie at a concert, and he's dumbstruck by the redhead blooming with motherhood.

As Stevie works on picking up the pieces of her life, she and Aaron run across each other more and more. There's a sudden vacancy when her concert buddy goes on an extended trip, and Aaron is more than happy to step in. They have music in common, Aaron's family adores Stevie, and it seems as though they might have what it takes to have real love. The tenuous bond they've forged is suddenly tested by life's unexpected smack-downs and Stevie and Aaron have to decide if they can work through the storm together, or be torn apart by it.

'It sounds stupid, but I was kind of grateful, maybe like someone who’d seen the Taj Mahal or the Grand Canyon would think, “I am better for having seen this place.” For me, I was better for having seen her face. I was fucking mental, but I was grateful.'

Quick on the heels of her first release, R.L. Merrill's The Rock Season easily sidesteps the "Sophomore Slump" many authors fall into. This story runs the spectrum of emotion very well. From the first stirrings of attraction, to deep heartbreak, to fear and love - all are painted in the relationships of the main characters whether it be family or with each other. They are seamless and flow with the speed of real life.

Stevie is that quiet, tough soul that soldiers on. She isn't dreary, but her personal sadness is sharp and clear. Rather than telling the reader how much Stevie loves music, Merrill conveys it in her habits, her hobbies, and her dialogue.

Aaron is a big sweetie that only looks intimidating. He's a poet at heart, and a deep thinker. Fiercely devoted to his family, he feels especially responsible for his two younger brothers, who seem to find trouble quite easily.

The story is told in first person, switching back and forth between Stevie and Aaron. Merrill handles this well. Instead of causing the reader confusion, it allows for a deeper understanding of the main characters' feelings and actions. The plot covers a decent span of time, with the emphasis on the busiest time of year at the venue. Despite its length, it doesn't stagnate, but offers new peaks and valleys in the roller-coaster of the relationship.

All of the supporting characters have wonderful depth, and there are quite a few here. Stevie's friend, Maryland is lively and amusing. Aaron's whole family and even his friends are all different and memorable. But, of all the supporting characters, music plays the biggest supporting role. Its presence is felt in every chapter, woven in with a deft hand.

If you love a hero with a sensitive soul and a heroine with enough strength to face down life's challenges, The Rock Season will become one of your favorites. I highly recommend this book for anyone that loves a good romance.

Cover Reveal And Author Spotlight: Unexpecting by Cynthia St. Aubin, out December 19th.

In honor of the beautiful cover reveal for the final chapter of The Case Files of Dr. Mathilda Schmidt, Paranormal Psychologist: Unexpecting, I've featured Cynthia St. Aubin as my first author spotlight post.  (The orange links in the post are direct to the referenced material but, the blue are advertisements not placed by me.)

Unexpecting by Cynthia St. Aubin:
coming December 19th!

Cynthia St. Aubin has had one hell of a year as a debut author.

In less than twelve short months, she's completed seven novellas in The Case Files of Dr. Mathilda Schmidt, Paranormal Psychologist.  The first three of the series are available in a paperback collection called Dysfunctional.  Each of the six chapters are also available separately, in a rainbow of paperbacks with fresh, original covers.  The last of which is due (pun intended) on December 19th.

In October, she and three other writers released a tightly written collaboration called Which Witch is Which?  "Anthology" is not a term that applies to this book. Hours upon hours must have been spent with her fellow writers to create such a seamless flow from one author's portion of the book to the next.

Cynthia St. Aubin

Since February, St. Aubin has garnered a very loyal following on Facebook. Her author page is rolling up to the 3000 likes mark.  And her street team, Cyn's Minions is an impressive ten percent of those "likers", at almost 300 members.

Three must be her lucky number. Recently, a popular blog held a reader's choice competition.  Cynthia St. Aubin's books outran one author by 300% of the votes, and came in second only to J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood® series. Even that defeat was a win...she had fully half the amount of votes that Ward did. Toe to toe with the accepted (and beloved) Queen of the Paranormal Romance Kingdom, and St. Aubin came away with more than a respectable number of votes.

Cynthia is a very reader-friendly author. Her on-line accessibility is welcoming -  exuding warmth and graciousness to her Minions and fans.  Her gratitude for their purchases and participation in events is sincere, and sparkles with true delight at readers' responses.

Cynthia has a sharp, and smart sense of humor that is couched in silliness.  She often posts about things occurring around the books, and sometimes, about her life. The overlying humor makes just about anyone giggle with the picture she paints.  Once you've stopped laughing, take a deeper look at what's written.  The verbiage, analogies, and structure of her posts reveal comedy genius at work.

At such a pace, her books should have had some lag. However, neither the writing quality, nor the plot lines suffer from any inconsistencies.  St. Aubin is deft with character arcs, mood changes, and the ability to give just enough information away to raise more questions.  All of this would be enough to solidify her name as a "must-read" in the genre, but St. Aubin gilds the lily with vivid analogies, and highlighter worthy prose.

Unexpecting is the last chapter of this wild ride.  Already, Cynthia St. Aubin's fans are lamenting the loss of Dr. Mathilda Schmidt and her adventures.  On social media sites, St. Aubin has hinted at a new writing project for 2015.

If you haven't read her books, truly, you're missing out on a ground-floor opportunity to witness the growth of an author that has enough talent and savvy to take her career to best-seller status.  

Review: The Allotter: The Threads of Destiny by Kimberlie L Faye

Click here to buy The Allotter: The Threads of Destiny by Kimberlie L. Faye

Evie has built her life around disturbing dreams and the ability to see the length of the lives of the people around her.  Recently, it's become so overwhelming that she's afraid for her mental stability.

Her fragile world is shaken when two men cross her path in bizarre and confusing events.  She doesn't know who to trust, not even her own mind.

There's a truth about herself she's been denying.  The denial runs so deep that she needs others to help her find the answers, but Evie only receives more questions.

Gods and immortals seem to bar her path at every turn.  Will she finally realize her destiny? Or will she be lost forever to the power that is awakening within her?

“You answer my questions with questions? What the hell kind of game are you playing with me?” her voice shook with anger and frustration. 

“It is not a game I play with you. I am trying to ascertain how much information your mind can safely handle right now. That is all I’m doing.” He lifted his hands in the air in a show of surrender then took her hands into his.

Evie is a very believable character. Her ability to know how long a person will live and how they will die weighs heavily on her. This ability has shaped her life, from her career, to her living situation. Although the character growth is slow, it's consistent with the denial and fear she feels. Rather than having her identity and whatever immortal powers she might have suddenly blossom in a moment of truth, her resistance lends credence to the character.

The peripheral characters are sharp and well-formed. There is an air of mystery to most of them, as Evie is discovering who and what they are, just as she is discovering herself. Evie's instincts struggle with the lack of memory quite well. Her reaction to her mother's moment of truth foreshadows an intriguing mystery.

Weaving fantasy and mythology has been done before, but this is a refreshingly original take on the "mortal that doesn't know she's more" trope. The story does end on a cliffhanger, but it's not a brutal cut to credits. Instead, it's one of those endings that lingers in the reader's mind. It makes one wonder what's next, and how long will Evie continue to fight her true nature?

If Faye doesn't drag out the wait too long for Evie to accept the truth, and as long as the story continues to titillate with just enough information, this promises to be a very strong start to Faye's writing career.