RRR presents... HOW TO SAVE A LIFE by Clare Swatman - REVIEW!

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

It's been a heavy reading week for me, and yesterday, I managed to get through TWO books PLUS start a new one! *whew* I wish I could say I simply made the time for it, but alas...I was waiting for an update on my grand pup (if you follow me on social media, you know the scoop). Be that as it may, it WAS a good reading day, and now I get to share the spoils with you...of at least one of the titles.  Today's bookish delight is a story that will touch readers from the very start with its frank ways and emotional tides, but will carry you safely through life's ups and downs to an ending long overdue.  Please welcome back Rachel's Random Resources and today's heartfelt title in the review spotlight...

How To Save A Life

by

Clare Swatman

About the book...

One night in December, twenty-two year old Ted Green makes his way to Waterloo Bridge determined to end his life. Lonely, despairing and utterly hopeless, it seems the only choice to make.

That same night in December, Marianne Cooper is running away from a party. Having found her boyfriend in a passionate clinch with someone else, Marianne can’t get away fast enough. But as she makes her way along London’s South Bank, a figure catches her eye on top of the bridge.

Then she sees him, a man ready to jump.

When Marianne saves Ted’s life, this night in December becomes one they’ll never forget, but as Ted watches Marianne leave in a black taxi, all he can think is he should have asked her name.

In a story spanning twenty years, join Ted and Marianne as they navigate life’s twists and turns, joys and heartbreaks, while all the time wondering - will fate ever bring them together again…

AMAZON

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We begin at the end, or rather someone's potential end, only to find...a new beginning.

Ted is just a man at the end of his rope. He can no longer see his place in this world or how he positively impacts anyone's life, so he's decided to disappear in the most unobtrusive way possible. Unfortunately for him, bidding the world adieu is not in the cards, at least without an audience, and he'd never do that to another person. So, thanks to the arrival of Marianne (aka Fairy Girl), he's set upon a new path, with a second chance at life, so he best make the most of it. Too bad he didn't make the most of the opportunity, awkward though it was, and grab some information from his well-timed heroine...but then again, what's meant to be in life will be, eventually.

Marianne is just a woman suffering from a bad choice in beaus, an unfulfilling job, and a severe dash to her confidence. Upon making her escape, she stumbles upon Ted (aka Bridge Man), and though 2.5 sheets to the wind, simply can't stand by while someone takes that final step. Mission accomplished, she hightails it out of there, so fast that all that's left behind is the glitter from her party costume. Too bad she didn't make the most of the opportunity, awkward though it was, and grab some information from her well-timed wake up call...but then again...

Okay, here's the thing. The story takes you into its heart and doesn't let go. We have the initial less-than-meet-cute, a whole lot of missed opportunities and bad timing, leading to an eventually meeting that sets things to rights, at least in this readers heart. There's nary a moment that we aren't up to speed on what's happening in either of their lives, and that sort of detail takes time, as well as skill, to keep readers fully involved. There is but one catch...small though it may be...when their lives overlap and they share scenes for any given lenght of time, due to the alternating chapters in the story, you get a full view of the situation from the other person. For example, the intro sequence....he leaves the flat setting out to find his end, she leaves a party to find a new beginning, and then their lives collide. In the overlapping parts, you get the same dialogue, just from behind the other person's eyes, which adds significant length to the story, so if you're one in it only for the page count, be aware!

All in all, I feel like I really know these two, and all the struggles they survived. We're made a part of their inner circle, and though their connection is something written in the stars, we also get to see the downside of that as it affects their current relationships and interactions. I guess what I'm saying is that while these two hearts seemed to beat to different drummers, in the end, they heard the same melody which drove them forward throughout their lives, and eventually to the truth they knew all along. A great read for Women's Fiction fans, as well as those that love a good Contemporary Fiction story.

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About the author...

Clare Swatman is the author of three women’s fiction novels, published by Macmillan, which have been translated into over 20 languages. She has been a journalist for over twenty years, writing for Bella and Woman & Home amongst many other magazines. She lives in Hertfordshire. Before We Grow Old, was published in January 2022.

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Special thanks to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for the chance to bring this tour to you. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, this promotion, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now, so click on over to your favorite online retailer to snag your copy today and be sure to check out the rest of the tour for more bookish fun!

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

Death Grip by Tracy Sherwood

Hi guys!

Welcome back to another BUSY week here at Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

That's right.  You read that correctly.  We're kicking off another JAM PACKED week of reading and posts with a military themed Women's Fiction title that packs quite a punch into its 128 page count.  No lie!  So if you're ready for a little genre crossing adventure, please join me in welcoming today's ebook of choice...

Death Grip

by

Tracy Sherwood

Schlimmer Publishing

About the book...

War hero Kat Hartley is home from the Middle East, struggling to return to her life as a wife and mother. But Kat is locked in a battle with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder that threatens to destroy her and her family. Imprisoned by shame after helplessly watching her fellow soldier die in a fiery Humvee explosion, Kat can’t escape his terrified eyes. They haunt her daylight hours and torment her sleep at night. However, Kat is held in the clutches of a darker secret. The doomed soldier was also her lover…and the husband of her now-widowed sister.

Kat will never truly be free until she confronts the guilt over her past. But can she conquer the enemy within that holds her in its death grip? It’s a fight she must win at any cost. Or lose what matters the most.

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First things first...I'm not a big fan of the cover.

I know it's shallow but for those that don't know the author's work or anything about the title, something has to speak to them.    Now having READ the work, I can see where the author was coming from in its choice.  To me, the title character is depicted as she's assaulted by yet another moment from her past aka in "death's grip".  It makes sense, but at first glance, it's a harder fit.  So, the title...definitely; the cover...not so much.  Moving forward to that ever important story...

We're introduced to Kat in the most significant way we can be in order to understand what she's going through throughout the book.  It sets the stage for all those duck-and-cover events to follow as well as the secret keeping, truth avoidance, and lashing out that comes from unwarranted amounts of stress.  She's one tightly wound ball just waiting to burst and the fact that she doesn't seek out assistance to deal with her PTSD makes things THAT much worse.  Things come to a head, trusts are broken, and just when all seems lost, a nano sized glimmer of hope appears through the haze.  Can it be reached?  Well now, that all depends upon the strength of our characters and I don't just mean Kat.  They've got their work cut out for them and fate is about to throw a curve ball no one can see coming.  If they survive, they'll be stronger for it...but that "if" is nano sized as well.

I was actually quite surprised by this one to be honest.  Usually when an adult fiction read is just over the hundred page mark (almost novella length), it tends to either lack in story development or gloss over the important things.  Here, neither is the case...in fact, it packs a one two punch!  It's toted as a Contemporary Fiction novel and that certainly fits, but it also has grit, military threads, psychological terrors, familial ties, and love.  It's as complex as its characters with a story line that many can relate to in one way or another, especially the PTSD angle; something that is hard to imagine but the author really put you behind the eyes of Kat when things came tumbling down.  I found it refreshing that a female lead was used in this case, definitely lending to the contemporary edge of the writing.  It allowed us to explore wartime exposure from another viewpoint as well as the return back home.  It's not always as seamless as we would like to think and the twists and turns presented here, only add to the intrigue.

In the end, a read that stands on its own two feet while reminding us that the sacrifices made by our men and women in the armed forces don't necessarily end when they arrive home.  Sometimes the unseen scars are even worse than those on display.  What they saw, did, and lived through.  They fester in the dark recesses of the mind and unless drawn out in a safe environment for dissection and understanding, can erupt when least expected.  A case in point here shared with enough finesse to let us see behind the hardship and struggle to the people, the families underneath.

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About the author...

Tracy Sherwood had two great aspirations--to be a screenwriter and to become an author. When Tracy was five, she worked at creating her first book, "Ragmop the Mischievous Dog" (based on the misadventures of her sheepdog, Gulliver). Even then, she considered writing a serious business. Her heroes at the time were characters who pushed the boundaries to discover what was on the other side.

But her real inspirations have been her mother, a college lecturer in English, and her father, a former Marine and internationally renowned cartoonist. They both instilled a passion for the arts and the fighting spirit to pursue a writing career.

Tracy's debut novel, DEATH GRIP, is influenced by the plight of returning military women expected to resume their demanding roles as wives and mothers while struggling with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. However, DEATH GRIP, is for the survivors of any tragic event and their loved ones who suffer along with them.

Tracy is a Pushcart Award nominated writer whose work has appeared in literary magazines and book anthologies. She is also a prize-winning screenwriter.

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Ebook for review received courtesy of author Tracy Sherwood.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, or her works in progress, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now, so seek thee out a copy at a virtual retailer of your choosing.

Until next time...happy reading!



Pre-Pub Party for...Gooseberry Island by Steven Manchester

Hi guys and gals!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we are exploring a soon to be released title (IN STORES 01/06/15!) from one of my favorite authors.  No, really!  Every work of his that I've read thus far has been memorable, moving, and touched my heart....and yes, I've read more than one.  Let's see there was Twelve Months, Goodnight Brian, The Rockin' Chair, Pressed Pennies....need I go on?  Every one was a jewel in its own right and now, we're adding another one to the crown.  Ladies and gents, please join me in a pre-pub celebration for today's book of choice....

Gooseberry Island

by

Steven Manchester

9781611881806

The Story Plant

About the book....

They met at the worst possible moment…or maybe it was just in time. David McClain was about to go to war and Lindsey Wood was there at his going-away party, capturing his heart when falling for a woman was the last thing on his mind. While David was serving his country, he stayed in close contact with Lindsey. But war changes a person, and when he came home very little had the same meaning that it had before – including the romance that had sustained him. Was love truly unconquerable, or would it prove to be just another battlefield casualty?

AMAZON    |    BARNES & NOBLE    |    iBOOKS    |    KOBO    |    INDIEBOUND 

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I stick to my previous assessment of this author's work....pure genius.

Here we have another touching story that is sure to move many readers.  The lead characters are beyond relatable, in fact you may even recognize your friends, family, or yourself in THEM.  This time around, we have two star crossed potential lovers who meet at a crossroads in both their lives.  She has pretty much given up the search for love and he is shipping out soon for a year long tour with the Rangers (also jilted by love).  They are both looking for something more than a coupling or a few good nights.  They are looking for forever...and little do they know that it is also looking for them.  The thing about dreams come true though is that often times it's not as imagined; saying this story is a case in point would be an understatement.  They are given just one night before the distance between them would be measured in miles followed by heartbeats.  One night to forge a connection worth sustaining.  Does it work?  Sure...in the sweetest way possible but also the most tragic.  The connection that's made will carry them in each other's hearts for many moons to come but whether or not they actually end up together is something that only the stars know for now....

I can't say enough of this story.  It really hits a nerve with the war time stories and the reality of what goes on can be overwhelming....both during and after.  One issue given suitable coverage is PTSD....or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.  It's a condition the many war vets suffer from and can be just as debilitating as a flesh wound.  The fact of the matter is that it's nothing to be ashamed of and asking for help in dealing with it is a sign of courage in my eyes from what I've read.  I'm not the only one either.  Keep reading, there's a special promotion from both the author and publisher in relation to this towards the end of the post....

In conclusion (because if I don't draw one, I'll keep going and going and going), if you like reads with heart, have a sense of something bigger than yourself, and love stories you can step right into for better or worse, THIS is the book for you.  It's a feast for the heart and mind as well as a call to those suffering the effects of PTSD to seek the help they need.  Recommended read for older teens and beyond...

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About the author...

After returning home from a difficult tour of duty in Operation Desert Storm in 1991, I stepped back behind the walls of a Massachusetts penitentiary where I battled each day as a prison investigator. Needless to say, there was great negativity in my life at that time, and very little opportunity to heal from my wartime demons (or pursue my dreams of being published). I finally decided to return to college to finish my degree in Criminal Justice. During one of the classes, my professor, Barry McKee, detailed police work, but barely touched on other topics. I finally raised his hand and asked, “As the criminal justice system is so vast, what about the courts, probation, parole – corrections?” Barry smiled and told me to see him after class. I thought I’d done it! In his office, Barry explained, “Except from the slanted perspectives of inmates, there’s no real written material out there on corrections, or prisons.” Barry smiled again and then dropped the bomb that would change my life forever. “If you’re so smart,” he said, “why don’t you write it?” It was the last push I needed to get writing. Nine months later, I placed the first draft of 6-5; A Different Shade of Blue (under the pen name, Steven Herberts) on Barry’s desk. From then on, I was hooked. I was a writer.

When not spending time with my kids and wife, I’m either writing, teaching, or promoting my published books/films.

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Special thanks to author Steven Manchester for the chance to feature his work yet again as well as the review copy.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, the publisher, or anything else that may have crossed your mind in relation to this post, feel free to click the links included above.  This title is set to release TOMORROW, January 6th, 2015 via The Story Plant, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.  Oh, and one more thing....

The Story Plant is running a special promotion that they are hoping to send VIRAL...and trust me, you'll want to help.  

From now until January 31, 2015, we will donate $1 to the Wounded Warrior Project for every copy of Gooseberry Island that is pre-ordered and sold. All you have to do is email us a copy of your receipt and we will make the donation. In addition to that, we will also donate a copy of the e-book to returning soldiers, one donation for each copy sold.

Until next time...happy reading!