NEVER KNOWING by Chevy Stevens

ISBN 978-0-312-59568-5
At the request of St. Martin’s Press, an ARC TPB was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.

Synopsis (borrowed from B&N): All her life, Sara Gallagher has wondered about her birth parents. As an adopted child with two sisters who were born naturally to her parents, Sara did not have an ideal home life. The question of why she was given up for adoption has always haunted her. Finally, she is ready to take steps and to find closure.
  But some questions are better left unanswered.
  After months of research, Sara locates her birth mother — only to be met with horror and rejection. Then she discovers the devastating truth: Her mother was the only victim ever to escape a killer who has been hunting women every summer for decades. But Sara soon realizes the only thing worse than finding out about her father is him finding out about her.
  What if murder is in your blood?
 Never Knowing is a complex and compelling portrayal of one woman’s quest to understand herself, her origins, and her family. That is, if she can survive….

  My Thoughts and Opinion: For those bloggers who were around, right around this time last year, you may remember there was a lot of buzz about debut author Chevy Stevens and her chilling novel Still Missing. A few months ago I was approached to read and review her newest book and since I was one of the bloggers blown away by her debut novel, I accepted. However, I tend to have a bit of apprehension when the first book is outstanding. Can the second book compare? Or was the author and first book a “one hit wonder”? My opinion…..Chevy Stevens is pure talent…..brilliant!!!!

As in her first novel, the main character Sara, starts each chapter with a session with her psychiatrist but I found in this book that there was much more dialogue and interaction between the characters. Her writing style is fluid and so descriptive, which allowed me to visualize and create vivid imagery. I felt that I was easily transported into the story line. (Vague….due to not wanting to include spoilers) Example: when Sara’s cell phone kept ringing, I realized I was holding my breath waiting for her to answer the phone. Engrossing! A definite page turner! The characters came to life whereas even their emotions were felt. At times terrifying!! The ending, just when I thought it ended, another surprise!! Sara learns “be careful what you wish for”. Am hoping that this time next year, I will be reading her third novel!!! Chevy Stevens delivers again!!

If you have followed my blog, you know my favorite reads are mystery, suspense, crime and thrillers that hold the previous three elements.  You may have also noticed, that lately I have been assisting some indie authors to have a platform for their books, however, it was just on my blog.  Well…………………………………………………………..
I have wanted this for a very, very long time.   Doing what I love!!!!!!

I am now a partner, along with Molly, from Reviews By Molly, and April, from Cafe of Dreams Book Reviews, in a ** NEW ** Tour Publicity Company, PARTNERS IN CRIME TOURS

Our goal is to assist authors with the PR for their books of crime, suspense and mystery only, so that they can put their time into what they do best, and that is writing and creating more books for us to read.

Authors:  please visit us at our new sites: 
Website, Facebook, Twitter

or if you have any questions feel free to contact:
  Cheryl  cmash@Partnersincrimetours.net
  Molly   molly@Partnersincrimetours.net
  April    april@Partnersincrimetours.net
 
And bloggers, please visit us too.  If you are a fan of this genre and would like to be a tour host in the future, please email me with the following information:
  *Name
  *Blog Name
  *Blog URL
  *EMail Address
  *FB & Twitter Accounts Name/Links (approx # of followers)
  *Any other comments

P.S.  This blog will still remain for reviews, memes, blog hopping, giveaways, Sunday’s Shining Stars, and fun!!!

NEVER KNOWING by Chevy Stevens

ISBN 978-0-312-59568-5
At the request of St. Martin’s Press, an ARC TPB was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.

Synopsis (borrowed from B&N): All her life, Sara Gallagher has wondered about her birth parents. As an adopted child with two sisters who were born naturally to her parents, Sara did not have an ideal home life. The question of why she was given up for adoption has always haunted her. Finally, she is ready to take steps and to find closure.
  But some questions are better left unanswered.
  After months of research, Sara locates her birth mother — only to be met with horror and rejection. Then she discovers the devastating truth: Her mother was the only victim ever to escape a killer who has been hunting women every summer for decades. But Sara soon realizes the only thing worse than finding out about her father is him finding out about her.
  What if murder is in your blood?
 Never Knowing is a complex and compelling portrayal of one woman’s quest to understand herself, her origins, and her family. That is, if she can survive….

  My Thoughts and Opinion: For those bloggers who were around, right around this time last year, you may remember there was a lot of buzz about debut author Chevy Stevens and her chilling novel Still Missing. A few months ago I was approached to read and review her newest book and since I was one of the bloggers blown away by her debut novel, I accepted. However, I tend to have a bit of apprehension when the first book is outstanding. Can the second book compare? Or was the author and first book a “one hit wonder”? My opinion…..Chevy Stevens is pure talent…..brilliant!!!!

As in her first novel, the main character Sara, starts each chapter with a session with her psychiatrist but I found in this book that there was much more dialogue and interaction between the characters. Her writing style is fluid and so descriptive, which allowed me to visualize and create vivid imagery. I felt that I was easily transported into the story line. (Vague….due to not wanting to include spoilers) Example: when Sara’s cell phone kept ringing, I realized I was holding my breath waiting for her to answer the phone. Engrossing! A definite page turner! The characters came to life whereas even their emotions were felt. At times terrifying!! The ending, just when I thought it ended, another surprise!! Sara learns “be careful what you wish for”. Am hoping that this time next year, I will be reading her third novel!!! Chevy Stevens delivers again!!

From Danielle’s blog:
We all leave our “footprint” on the world, in one way or another. We each, individually, do something or are someone that makes the world a little better just by being here. I created this weekly meme to get to know the blogging community I love just a bit better. To know what makes them tick, outside of books, that is. Each week I will post a question to be answered in the following week’s “A Bit of Me(Me)”. Check back each Saturday to get the info for next week’s post and link up with your current post right here.
This week’s question:  Name one (or two or three) things you miss about being a child.
Read more: http://www.theresabook.com/category/a-bit-of-meme/#ixzz1QHhARKNY

Danielle has asked the perfect question, at least for me at this time of my life, which makes it so very easy to answer.  And I am sure I am not the only one who feels this way.  What do I miss most?  The carefree, innocence, worry free, no responsibility, no stress and feeling and knowing that you are unconditionally loved and cared for each and every day. 

When I think back, I guess there were some of the above, but if only we knew how minor they would be compared to being an adult.  Cleaning our rooms, doing school work, staying up a little later than normal, wishing we could play outside longer than when the street lights came on or even if in the summer if we could get ice cream from the Mr. Softee Ice Cream Truck.  I know…I’m showing my age…but wouldn’t it be fun to have those feelings again?  What about you?  What do you miss?

From Danielle’s blog:
We all leave our “footprint” on the world, in one way or another. We each, individually, do something or are someone that makes the world a little better just by being here. I created this weekly meme to get to know the blogging community I love just a bit better. To know what makes them tick, outside of books, that is. Each week I will post a question to be answered in the following week’s “A Bit of Me(Me)”. Check back each Saturday to get the info for next week’s post and link up with your current post right here.
This week’s question:  Name one (or two or three) things you miss about being a child.
Read more: http://www.theresabook.com/category/a-bit-of-meme/#ixzz1QHhARKNY

Danielle has asked the perfect question, at least for me at this time of my life, which makes it so very easy to answer.  And I am sure I am not the only one who feels this way.  What do I miss most?  The carefree, innocence, worry free, no responsibility, no stress and feeling and knowing that you are unconditionally loved and cared for each and every day. 

When I think back, I guess there were some of the above, but if only we knew how minor they would be compared to being an adult.  Cleaning our rooms, doing school work, staying up a little later than normal, wishing we could play outside longer than when the street lights came on or even if in the summer if we could get ice cream from the Mr. Softee Ice Cream Truck.  I know…I’m showing my age…but wouldn’t it be fun to have those feelings again?  What about you?  What do you miss?

What a great way to start July off!!   Special thanks to Jodi and Robyn from WOW-Women On Writing, for giving me the opportunity to be be one of the hosts for this awesome writer, while she is on her virtual book tour.  Please help me give a very big and warm welcome to today’s guest.  I have the honor and pleasure to introduce you to the very busy, amazing and talented author, Melissa Foster!! 

Megan’s Way have both been nominated for Dan Poynter’s Global eBook Awards

You can visit Melissa at her website, follow her on Facebook, twitter, FB Fanpage.  Chat with her on  The Women’s Nest.

1. Do you have a favorite type of book? What are you reading right now?
I gravitate toward books that are very close to real life—or at least that I can fathom happening in real life. I like strong, complex, female heroines who have something big to lose. I prefer fiction, and to read books that have bigger purposes than just to entertain, although I do like those, too.

Right now I’m reading Raven Stole The Moon, by Garth Stein.

2. Where did you get the idea for Megan’s Way?
Years ago, my mother had surgery and decided not to tell me that they thought she had cancer. Luckily, she didn’t, but she told me a year later that if she had, she had decided not to have treatments. Even though I was a mother, I instantly reverted back to being her daughter, and I was devastated. It took me years to wade through my emotions of feeling like she would have abandoned me, to understanding that there were larger issues at hand than just the selfishness of a daughter. In time, I came to understand, from a mother’s perspective, why she would have made that decision.

For this reason, it was easy for me to slip into both Megan and Olivia’s shoes when I was writing the book.

3. How long did it take you to write Megan’s Way?
I think it was about a year.

4. You’ve written two novels and are working on your third. Do all your novels have a common theme?
I really had to think about this question, because all three books are markedly different, although I believe the themes that are woven through them are similar—love, family, friendship, selflessness.

5. Have you ever considered writing any other type of book? Children’s? Non-fiction? Romance? YA?
Yes, many readers have really enjoyed the strength of teenage voice and I really enjoyed writing from that perspective. My fourth manuscript, Shades of Gray, is a YA / Women’s Fiction crossover.

6. Do you have a special writing room? Can you describe it for us?
Right now we are building a house and living in a temporary apartment. I don’t have a separate room, but my writing “area” is all windows and overlooks a gorgeous horse farm. In my new home, my office will overlook fields and will be bright and sunny, too. As long as I’m alone and have windows (or if I’m outdoors), I can write anywhere. I wouldn’t do well in a room without windows.

7. Have you ever had writer’s block? How do you escape it?
Luckily, I haven’t encountered that yet. I figure I have another ten years of stories in my head—then perhaps I’ll fall into the dreaded writer’s block black hole, but I sure hope not.

8. Are you a full-time author? If not, what is your other job(s)? If you weren’t a writer what would be your dream job?
I am a full-time author and I founded and run The Women’s Nest, a social and support community for women. Although it’s not an occupation, I like to spend my time helping women see the positive side of life. I owned and operated an HR consulting firm for many years.

My dream job is being a writer. I adore what I do and crave it on the weekends. If I weren’t a writer I would want to be a preacher of positivity. It’s a fake job that only lives in my head I’d like to spend my days helping others feel good about themselves and find the things in life that make them happy—like motivational speaking on steroids.

9. What do you do in your free time when you aren’t writing?
Free time? What’s that?

I spend my time with my family. I’m pretty boring. My days are filled with exercise, my children and husband, reading, writing, and the dreaded running of errands.

10. Tell us what you’re working on now.
Coming Soon: Come Back to Me (working title)

Tess Johnson has it all, Beau, her handsome photographer husband, a thriving business, and a newly discovered pregnancy. When Beau accepts an overseas photography assignment, Tess decides to wait to reveal her secret—only she’s never given the chance. Beau’s helicopter crashes in the desert.

As Tess struggles to put her life back together and deal with the pregnancy she can no longer hide, a new client appears, offering more than just a new project.

Meanwhile, two Iraqi women who are fleeing Honor Killings find Beau alive in the middle of the desert, his body ravaged. Suha, a doctor, and Samira, a widow and mother of three young children, nurse him back to health in a makeshift tent. Beau bonds with the women and children, and together, with the help of an underground organization, they continue their dangerous escape.

What happens next is a test of loyalties, strength, and love.

Thank you, Cheryl, for having me on your blog today. I enjoyed answering your questions and I look forward to continuing our friendship.

I love to chat with readers and book clubs, and I’m currently running a Kindle Giveaway promotion for anyone who purchases my books. You can find details on my site: www.MelissaFoster.com. If you’d like to talk about my books or writing, please email me: Thinkhappygirl (at) yahoo (dot) com

But Megan isn’t the only one struggling. Fourteen-year-old Olivia’s world is falling apart right before her eyes, and there’s nothing she can do about it. She finds herself acting in ways she cannot even begin to understand. When her internal struggles turn to dangerous behavior, even the paranormal connection she shares with her mother might not be enough to save her – her life will hang in the balance. Megan’s Way is a journey of self discovery and heartfelt emotions, exploring the depth of the mother-daughter bond, and the intricacies of friendship.

 Watch the trailer!!!

 
Melissa’s blog tour for Chasing Amanda, will be launched at the Muffin
Megan’s Way and Chasing Amanda were just nominated for Global eBook Awards

You can purchase Megan’s Way on Amazon or Smashwords.