Review: Attorney-Client Privilege by Pamela Samuels Young

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Genre:   Fiction, Mystery/Suspense

Release Date:  June, 2012

Series:  Vernetta Henderson Mysteries, Book 4

Publisher: Goldman House

Author's Website:  http:// www.pamelasamuelsyoung.com

Pages:  382

Source:  ARC From Author, Pump Up Your Book Tours

Rating:  Four flowers of love

Book Blurb

A brutal murder, missing documents, and an unscrupulous opposing counsel lead attorney Vernetta Henderson on a quest for justice-and ultimately-revenge.

Review: Justice Rules by Thomas White

Series:  None

Genre:  Crime Drama, Mystery, Suspense

Release Date:  March 2010

Publisher: CreateSpace

Author Website:  http://www.justice-rules.com

Format I Read:  Paperback

Pages:  298

Source:  Pump Up Your Book Tours

Read an excerpt

Book Blurb

FBI Special Agent Brian Wylie investigates the murder of an ex-con in Eastern Washington. This single murder leads to a vigilante coalition that wreaks its own brand of justice. Wylie's investigation unravels an intricate and complex plot that involves a victims help group, a best friend's treachery and his teenaged daughter's well-being. 

Awesomeness:

“You leave them out of this.  They had nothing to do with it,” she snapped.

Brian had hit a nerve.  “Care to tell me how you helped them?  If not, I can always run a little investigation into your dope group.  I’m sure that we’d find something worthwhile there.”

“You son of a bitch.  You stay away from these people.  They haven’t done anything; they just want to manage their pain.  You’re a damn fascist, that’s all you are.”

My Thoughts

An eye for an eye…

What would you do if a crime was committed against you or someone you loved and the justice you thought was deserved never came? 

Two words for this book:  Loved it!  I am a fan of mystery and suspense novels and Justice Rules does not disappoint.  Thomas White created characters and scenarios that had me totally engrossed in the story. 

The story is not about one particular person, but multiple people who have been raped, murdered, or kidnapped and even though their attackers were caught and tried, for some reason or mistake, they always got off with slaps on the wrists.  But as the victims or family members become feed up with the justice system, they start to dish out their own twisted brands of justice.

Brian Wylie is an FBI agent with issues of his own, that has been assigned to a gruesome murder case.  As he begins to investigate, he ties the murder to an old rape case and then to a unique, but suspicious victims support group.   From there, Brian begins to uncover similar cases proving that payback is a bitch you don’t want to mess with.

The plot of this book had so much action and drama that it could easily be an episode of CSI, Bones or Law and Order (which I absolutely love).  Thomas White did an excellent job of telling the victims stories of pain and humiliation and their need for closure.

Brian was a very likable character.  He was a pretty good agent and a devoted father.  At one point the dangers of his job bleeds into his personal life and he becomes one the victims in need of support.  How he chooses to handle his anger puts him in the same situation as the victims he currently investigates.

Although, I liked the book, there were a few things that I didn’t like.  I got the whole victims fighting back and being strong part, but how they found their closure was a little disturbing.   These parts were written so well that you could easily step into the characters shoes, but some parts got really brutal and graphic.  The persons inflicting the pain, in my book, are certified crazies and strait jacket worthy for being able to go through with such violent acts.

Overall the book is a very good read, which I decided very early.  The other thing I didn’t like was the back cover blurb.  Usually, I am swayed to pick a book because the blurb is juicy or interesting, but Justice Rules had no back cover blurb.  Instead it had praises of the book.  So if I were to have run across this book in the bookstore, I would never have bought it.  I also found quite a few other errors that a general proofing should have caught.  It was nothing major, just a few things that stuck out.

 

Rating

I give Justice Rules four and a half flowers of love.  Thomas White is an author to watch.  If you love crime drama or mystery and suspense books, this book is a must read.

1/2

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Review: Let's Eat by Denise Burroughs

Series:  None

Genre:  Cookbook

Release Date:  May 2010

Publisher:  Authorhouse

Author Website:  http://www.deniseburroughs.com/

Format I Read:  Paperback

Pages:  51

Source:  Pump Up Your Book Tours

Book Blurb

Denise Burroughs combines her rich Italian heritage with years of southern tradition in Let’s Eat!, her debut cookbook.  Her love for cooking shines through in this comprehensive book, suitable for all levels of cooking experience.  Let’s Eat! provides readers with simple, inexpensive dishes.  Recipes range from “Potato Flake Chicken” to “Chocolate Italian Cookies.”

Her strong Italian background shines through in many recipes, combining her love of tradition and her passion for rich flavors.

My Thoughts

First of all, I’d like it to be known that I love to eat and I love to try new dishes.  I’m not the best cook in the world, so I rely on good recipes to disguise my lack of culinary skills.  So, I was excited to get Let’s Eat because the author is Italian and who doesn’t love Italian food? I was really anxious to see what recipes she had to offer.

When I got the book, I was a little disappointed.  I was expecting a nice sized cookbook (for the price it’s going for) with some tasty dishes that would make me eager to try.  That was not the case. 

Let’s Eat is a simple cookbook with dishes that do not require a lot of preparation.  It even features general cooking tips like preparing, measuring and substituting.  So, if you are not ready for the Rachel Ray or Paula Dean cooking level, you could still whip up a nice meal in no time.

The book did not have a table of content so I had to flip through the book to find out where everything was.  Usually cookbooks are organized with chicken dishes here, desserts there,  etc, but this book seemed to have no particular order.  I found that to be odd because most cookbooks that I own or have leafed through always have some type of organization to let you know what area to thumb through to find what you are looking for.

After sifting through the recipes, I did find some favorites like Lasagna, Manicotti, and Swedish Meatballs and Macaroni and Cheese.  I already know how to make these dishes off the top of my head, but for someone that doesn’t, the instructions are simple and easy to follow.

None of the recipes were complicated, but a lot of them just did not appeal to me like Marshmallow Potatoes, Mayonnaise Cake, and Zucchini Cake.  Not to say that they may not be tasty dishes, but those were just not high on my list to try.

Another thing that I noticed was a lack of pictures.  There are a few pictures, but not enough.  With me, if a dish looks good, it makes me want to try it.  If I can’t see it, nine times out of ten, I won’t try it.

Rating

I give Let’s Eat two flowers of love.  Although the book had easy to prepare recipes, it just didn’t have any dishes that stood out enough to recommend.

Other Reviews Of This Book:

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Author Spotlight: Guest Post by Amanda Wolfe

Today I welcome Amanda Wolfe to the blog.  Amanda is the author of Secrets Of The Black Box (read my review here).

In the beginning, the whole purpose of this book, well, journal really, was to allow me to come face to face with and rid myself of what I had stored up in my black box. It is what I call the place in the pit of your stomach where you hide all your secrets; good, bad or ugly. My box was filled with ugly: quilt, embarrassment and a lot of shame and confusion. In short, it was just to painful to face head on.

It all started when my husband and I were having one of our ” OK, it’s time to bare your soul” conversations. He is the only one person who could ever make me do that, because I knew he would never use what I say against me in any way. He has always given me the space to get angry, cry, rant and rave like a lunatic when I needed to. Believe me, it has happened more than once!

It took a lot of years of his patience and understanding to get me this far, allowing me to face and rid myself of all these bad feelings I carried around with me always. They made me hard on the outside. He called it my wall and little by little it has crumbled. I’m not saying I don’t feel things from my past anymore, I do, but now they don’t paralyze me. I still have trust issue from time to time! but they no longer rule my life.

During this conversation I laughed and said I should write a book about all of this, but who the heck would believe it? He told me he thought that is exactly what I should do. I should start writing it all down, because writing was a great way to release feelings that you have difficulty talking about. We both agreed it would be a great outlet.

So I began writing it all down and, once started , I had a difficult time stopping. The emotions started pouring out of me. Sometimes I would come out of my office so angry I could spit.The memories that came flooding back were unbelievable. The sky in my world was not as rosy as I had made it out to be. My siblings’ annoyance with me remembering my past through rose- colored glasses was finally realized and understood.

My husband was right there for all of it, lending his understanding and support.I don’t think I could have done this without him. I’m very grateful to him for being there in all the craziness I went through.

After reading some of what I had written, he told me I should make it into a book, because it could really help other girls and women to know that they can go through bad things and still come out on top. I decided that if I was going to make it into a book that I wanted to bring the reader right along with me on the journey that I was going through in my emptying out process. I wanted them to come out the other side with me feeling a little inspired and wanting more. More importantly, I wanted them to know that if they themselves have been or are being abused that they are not alone.

There are options out there for everyone, even though you may think there are none for you. Trust me, I’ve been there. There are many, many forums out there with people who are willing and want to help you get the help you need. Even if it is just an anonymous voice at the other end of the phone.

A friendly voice can go a long way.

Amanda Wolfe was born in Ottawa, Canada in the mid ‘60s. She matured at a very young age out of necessity growing up in unusual circumstances. She has always been a happy-go-lucky, carefree spirit and a very strong-willed person. She has done everything from waitressing to owning her own restaurant and selling things from Mary Kay cosmetics to real estate.

She is married to a wonderful man. They currently reside in the great state of Texas with their horses. When she is not at home writing her latest novel, you will find her and her husband flying in their plane and traveling the world together.

For more information or to contact Amanda Wolfe, visit her website http://beneaththesilverlining.com

Review: Secrets Of The Black Box by Amanda Wolfe

Series:  Beneath The Silver Lining, Book #1

Genre: NonFiction

Published:  August 2010

Publisher: Xlibris

Author Website: http://beneaththesilverlining.com

Format I Read:  Paperback

Pages:  380

Source:  Pump Up Your Book Tours

Read an except

Book Summary

On the outside, her family appeared to be one big, happy family. Their house, with her parents, three sisters, and two brothers, was the epitome of a simple yet fulfilling life lived in a small town. But as the author would soon discover, her childhood was in fact a nightmarish phase of her life she would always be running from. Growing up as a carefree girl, Wolfe struggled to comprehend why she was reared in a family where children are deprived of their right to know the truth, adults are always right, and smoothing out a misunderstanding is never an option.

At the young age of nine, she started experiencing cruelty at the hands of her father, who not only abused her emotionally, but physically and sexually as well. Her mother, whose love she sought, was a stern woman who refused to see her husband's mistakes. As if her deeply troubled relationship with her parents was not enough, Wolfe also had to deal with inner secrets involving creepy characters from the afterlife. Feeling tormented, confused, solitary, and even filthy, this naïve girl had yet to be transformed into a strong-willed woman who would become cynical about love and learn to depend on no one but herself while facing more of life's bitterness.

My Thoughts

Oh my gosh.  What to say about this book?  Secrets Of The Black Box is one of those books that leaves a stain on your brain.  It was no easy book to read.  I originally decided to read it because I thought it was a paranormal story.  While it did have some paranormal happenings, it retold the life of author Amanda Wolfe and ugly parts of her life that most people would not have to courage to talk about.

The book deals with physical, sexual, and emotional abuse that an entire family has to endure.  Little Amanda doesn’t understand what’s going on so she tries her best to make sense at an age where a child should be happy and safe, not fearful of what abuse she will suffer next.

Her parents are the worst parents ever.  Her dad is a total sleeze.  He’s supposed to be taking care of the family but he’s the one destroying it.  Rape and beatings are his preferred methods of dealing with his daughters.

The mother is a shell of a woman.  She’s ignorant and weak.   She continues to stay with her scumbag husband and is very aware of all the abuse he is subjecting their children to.  When she’s not dealing her own cruel form of punishment, she fuels her husband’s sick shenanigans and looks the other way as if nothing is happening.

Secrets Of The Black Box was a train wreck to read, but I couldn’t put it down.  It made me sad and angry to know that this was a real life story and this could also be the story of someone else’s life

There were a few happy spots in the book and I’m glad that Amanda Wolfe had the courage and determination to stay sane and get her story out.

My  Rating

I give Secrets Of The Black Box four stars.  It’s not my normal read and I can’t say that I enjoyed it, but it was a very good book.

Review: The Portrait by Hazel Statham

Genre:  Historical Romance 

Published: August 2010

Publisher: Avalon Books

Author Website: www.hazel-statham.co.uk

Format I Read:  Hardcover

Pages:  185

Source:  reviewed for Pump Up Your Books

Read an excerpt

Book Summary

England 1812

Severely injured at the battle of Salamanca, Edward Thurston, the new Earl of Sinclair, returns home to his beloved Fly Hall. Determined not to present his prospective bride with the wreck he believes himself to have become, he decides to end his betrothal, unaware that Lady Jennifer, for vastly differing reasons, has reached the selfsame decision.

Throughout the campaigns, Edward was often seen relying greatly on a miniature he carried, and it is to this token he clings upon his return. Will he eventually find happiness with the girl in the portrait, or will he remain firm in his resolve not to wed? Reason dictates one course, his heart another.

My Thoughts

After being injured in war, Lord Edward is determined to spare Lady Jennifer the pain of being married to a less than whole man.  Although he is secretly in love with her, he doesn’t want her to pity him.

Jennifer is upset that Edward has never given her a chance to get to know him, but she more than agrees when he proposes that they call off their engagement and just remain friends. 

After I picked up this book, I couldn’t put it down.  I loved Jennifer and Edward.  Although I could tell that the two were already in love with each other, I enjoyed their friendship and all the shenanigans the two managed to get themselves in. 

I loved that their relationship was not rushed.  After they got to know each other, the romance blossomed. I think that’s what made me like story more because I had a forced romance.  It kills the whole story.

The Portrait is historical romance at its best.  The book was short but the story is unforgettable.  Hazel Statham did an excellent job with the plot and the characters. 

My Rating

I give The Portrait four flowers of love.  This is definitely a great romantic read.

  

Author Spotlight: Guest post by Hazel Statham

Today I welcome author Hazel Statham, author of the historical romance The Portrait, to the blog.  A review of the book will be posted later today.

About three years ago, Regency Romance went into decline and many publishers dropped the line altogether.  However, the good news for readers of the genre is that it is making a strong comeback and publishing houses are now opening up new lines.  Several are offering to take previously published books to enable their readers to find out of print works.

Despite the temporary downturn, I resisted the pressure to write in other genres and remained true to the period I know and love.  I love the romance and elegance of the Georgian and Regency eras and wish nothing more than to re-create them in my work.

My books remain ‘sweet’ and the bedroom door is firmly closed, but this does not mean they lack in romance.  On the contrary.  Remaining true to the period when innocence was prized, my heroines remain pure and my heroes strong.  There is chemistry between the two and despite all that fate may throw in their way, they are destined to be together.  There is often humor and pathos in their lives, but throughout it all, remains love.  Sometimes they do not realize that their fate is to be together and they often fight the thought but, nonetheless, the fact remains irrefutable.  Add to this the elegance of a bygone era and you have the perfect mix for a romance.

Although many readers will not admit to reading romance novels, they nevertheless remain one of the most popular genres with very respectable sales figures.  Where else can you find the recipe for a happy life than between the covers of a good romantic book?  You live the highs and lows of the characters’ lives and rejoice with them at the book’s conclusion.

 As with everything else, reading trends run in cycles.  Fortunately, romance in one form or another, remains throughout.

Hazel Statham lives in England and has been writing on and off since she was fifteen. Initially she was influenced by Austen, the Brontës, and Sabatini but when she turned seventeen, Georgette Heyer opened up the romance and elegance of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. She immediately knew she had found her eras and wanted nothing more than to re-create them in her work.

Her latest book is the Regency romance novel, The Portrait, released by Avalon Books in August 2010.

Hazel lives with her husband, Terry, and a beautiful Labrador named Mollie. Apart from writing, her other ruling passion is animals, and until recently she acted as treasurer for an organization that raised money for animal charities.

You can visit her online at www.hazel-statham.co.uk and her blog at http://hazelstatham.blogspot.com/

Review: When Harry Met Molly by Kieran Kramer

Series:  The Impossible Bachelors, Book #1

Genre:  Historical Romance

Published:  November 2, 2010

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Author Website: http://www.kierankramerbooks.com

Format I Read:  Paperback

Pages:  411

Source:  reviewed for Pump Up Your Book Tours

Read an except

Book Summary:

He’s always been a player.

Dashing Lord Harry Traemore is perfectly content to live out his days in the pursuit of pleasure. But when he’s named by the Prince Regent as one of society’s “Impossible Bachelors,” Harry is drafted into a ribald romantic wager. The rules of engagement are scandalously simple: The bachelor whose mistress wins the title of “Most Delectable Companion” gets to remain unmarried. Harry is utterly unconcerned about his status…until his latest lightskirt abandons him.

Who will win this game of love?

Enter Lady Molly Fairbanks. Harry’s childhood friend—actually, “foe” is more like it—is the most unlikely companion of all. She’s attractive but hot-headed, and in no mood for games. Besides, what could the self-indulgent Harry possibly know about what makes a woman delectable? It’s time for Molly to teach him a lesson once and for all…but will it lead to “happily ever after?”

My Thoughts

Molly and Harry have been enemies since childhood.  After one of Molly’s childhood pranks seriously back fires, it causes both to be outcast and sent away.

Eight years later, their hatred for each other is still as strong as ever, but seeing that they are both in scandalous situations, they make peace long enough to avoid scandal.

Molly is prim and proper, but very inexperienced in love and romance.  She has decided to elope with her father’s associate, but gets left in a seedy inn as her intended runs off with the first pretty face he sees.  Although she didn’t love the guy and could care less, she’s been left in the middle of nowhere with no one to escort her home.

Harry is a very experienced bachelor and arrogant playboy who just happen to be at the same inn with one of his many lady companions.  This particular companion is his sure ticket to win the title of Impossible Bachelor, a wager that will allow him to be off limits to anyone seeking a husband for one peaceful year.

When his companion runs off with Molly’s “fiancé”, Harry sees no reason why Molly couldn’t pose as his mistress.  With all the trouble she has caused him over the years, Harry sees this as the perfect way to pay Molly back for everything that stupid prank has cost him.

Molly is reluctant to agree, but realizes that Harry is the only person she can depend on right now, so why not  have a little fun as well as get help on a personal matter.

When Harry Met Molly had me hooked from the first few pages.  Kieran Kramer did a fantastic job on the story and made me laugh constantly. 

She also did a great job creating fun and likable characters.  Molly is the worst mistress ever, while Harry is the biggest rake, but the friendship and romance that develops between the two is what really made me enjoy this story.

My  Rating
I give When Harry Met Molly four and a half flowers of love and look forward to the other three books from this series.

1/2

Review: The Mermaid's Pendant by LeAnn Neal Reilly

Genre:  Fantasy, Romance, Fiction

Published:  March 2010

Publisher:  Zephon Books

Format I Read:  Paperback

Pages:  572

Author Website:  www.nealreilly.com

How I Got It: reviewed for Pump Up Your Book Tours

Book Summary:

Inspired by the beloved classic The Little Mermaid, THE MERMAID’S PENDANT is a modern fairy tale about growing up and discovering who you are—and what you believe in. At times lyrical, this novel is a fantastic journey filled with magic, myth, romance, and adventure.

Four years after John Wilkerson claims the mermaid Tamarind for his wife, they have an idyllic marriage that depends on a talisman that she crafted on their island paradise. But Tamarind learns a painful truth: it takes more than legs to live on land and more than magic to sustain a bond. When the talisman breaks, she and John are forced to rely on themselves instead of magic.

Three wise women play key roles in the young lovers’ journey to mature love. Ana, Tamarind’s aging mentor, casts spells and performs seductions to keep the lovers apart. Valerie, an expat jewelry maker cum fairy godmother, works her own magic to bring them together. Lucy, their widowed neighbor, grounds the couple in the realities of marriage, parenting, and family.

THE MERMAID’S PENDANT is a story for anyone who has ever believed in the transforming power of love.

My Thoughts

The Mermaid’s Pendant is like the adult version of The Little Mermaid. It still has the magic of the fairy tale, but Leann Neal Reilly takes the classic tale and tests the happy ever after

romance.  

Tamarind is the naive mermaid that gives up everything she knows to live a human life with John.  With the help of Ana, a local witch, Tamarind goes through the motions of winning John’s heart from two other women that he is already involved with.  Yeah, when the two meet, John already has a girlfriend and has just started a fling with someone else.

Although John is already juggling two women, he’s still drawn to Tamarind and after much drama, they finally get together.  That’s where the real story begins.

I was seriously intimidated by the size of this book when I first got it. As I read it, there was so much going on in the lives of Tamarind and John that I felt the book actually should have been longer. 

Their relationship made my head hurt.  It started out strong with them knowing each other’s mind and mood, but became so strained because they didn’t trust each other.  At times, their daughter could sense that something was seriously wrong when they couldn’t.  I was confused about that part, but it kept the story interesting.

The ex girlfriend and the witch created the most the strain with Tamarind and John’s relationship.  I kept waiting for a knock down drag out session with the ex and a magical showdown with the witch, but the events that got rid of them were unexpected twists.  

My  Rating

I give The Mermaid’s Pendant four flowers of love.  The book was very well written and easy to follow.  The characters development was good.  At times, parts of the story did get a little wordy and drawn out, but overall I enjoyed the story.

 

Author Spotlight: LeAnn Neal Reilly

Today I welcome new to me author LeAnn Neal Reilly to the blog.  Be sure to stop by tomorrow for my review of her book,  The Mermaid's Pendant.  

Some of the Jobs I Held Prior to Publishing My Debut Novel

Earlier this year, I came up with a funny, tongue-in-cheek list of ten random things about me as an alternative to the usual author bio. I can’t claim to have thought of this technique (I borrowed it from YA author Beth Fantaskey), but I immediately adopted it because it allowed me to poke fun at myself, which I find natural and understandable. One of the things I mentioned was that I’d waited tables, something that I think everyone should have to do at some time in their lives. I fervently believe this. Of course, when I think about waiting tables, I can’t help but think about struggling writers and actors. It seems to be the job of choice for artists of all kinds. Diane, the wacky waitress who drives Sam Malone crazy on Cheers, was a literature major struggling to write the Great American Novel.

But waiting tables isn’t the only job that I’ve held on my way to becoming a novelist. I wish I could say I had some really interesting or unusual ones, but the truth is I never pursued low-paying jobs as a way to support myself while living true to my artistic vision. No, my low-paying jobs had more to do with my status as a student or my lack of desire to work in what I thought of as an oppressive environment. In college, I worked two part-time jobs for a full-time schedule. During the week, I answered phones in the mall management office, sometimes running errands to various stores to collect rent. One Christmas, I worked in a jewelry store. On the weekends, I worked as a hostess at a local steakhouse, a job I’d held since the summer before my senior year in high school. I also waited tables and tended the salad bar. Once in a while, I covered for the cook, the dishwasher, and the line girl. Luckily, I never had to learn to butcher meat. The jobs I held on the college newspaper didn’t pay, but they were jobs nevertheless.

In grad school, I began to dream of a professional writing career that would appease my love of learning new things and writing about them—a career that would actually pay enough to live on while satisfying my artistic impulses. I got what I thought was my dream job: an internship at an international design firm where I could name products, write packaging copy and manuals, and help research everything related to buying and using all kinds of consumer products. But they didn’t offer me a permanent position, so after graduation I was faced with putting on business wear, creating a resume, and padding a portfolio. I considered freelancing, but I didn’t take on more than a few projects out of fear of getting in over my head. By the time I’d gotten desperate and tired of eating macaroni, I met someone trying to get a multimedia software company off the ground. That lasted about a year before I moved on as a Girl Friday for a research lab at a university, where the benefits of working on a campus seemed to more than make up for the dismal salary.

After a year as an assistant who created a Web site, edited research papers and slide presentations, and worked on conference posters along with a host of other random things, I got married and had a baby. By then, I’d finished with a regular day job. It was time to pursue my childhood dream of writing a book. All those jobs gave me a lot of useful, if indirect, experience that enriched my writing. I just wish they’d given me a few more good stories, preferably from trips overseas.  And more money in my retirement account.

What kinds of jobs have you held on the way to your dream career?

LeAnn Neal Reilly grew up in St. Joseph, Missouri, near the Missouri River, in that fertile land where corn, children, and daydreams take root and thrive. She spent countless hours reading and typing chapters on an old Smith-Corona in her closet, which luckily for her didn’t have doors. Then she put away her daydreams and her stories and headed off, first to graduate magna cum laude from Missouri Western State University, and later to Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh for a master’s degree in professional writing. Along the way, she majored briefly in chemistry, served as opinion editor and then editor of her college newspaper, and interned for the international design firm Fitch RichardsonSmith in Columbus, Ohio. The highlight of her internship came when she generated the product name renata for a Copco teakettle (although designing the merchandising copy for ceramic tile adhesive and insulation packaging surely runs a close second).

After graduate school, LeAnn worked first for a small multimedia startup and then a research group in the Carnegie Mellon School of Computer Science. At the startup, she spent her time writing user manuals and multimedia scripts for software to train CSX railroad engineers. While working among geeks, LeAnn became enamored and decided to take one home for herself. After getting married and starting a family, she returned to her adolescent daydreams of writing novels. Never one to shirk from lofty goals, she added home schooling her three children as her day job.

After years of working in an office not much better than an unfinished closet, LeAnn has finished The Mermaid’s Pendant and is currently working on her next novel. LeAnn joined GoodReads three years ago where she writes reviews regularly.

LeAnn lives outside Boston with one husband, three children, a dog named Hobbes (after Calvin &), and a cat named Attila.

LeAnn’s Web site is www.nealreilly.com.