I finally received my first review from The Romance Studio. It was sure worth the wait! Five hearts and a beautiful write-up by Brenda Talley! Thanks so much, Brenda, and I’m thrilled you enjoyed Free Falling so much!

Here’s what she had to say:

****

Dr. Laurie Miller was a psychologist in a free clinic. Her partner, Andrew, was a great friend. He had been the love interest of her roommate, emergency room doctor Deepika Sen for five years. They were so overworked that Laurie decided to escape for a period of recuperation to the family farm. The snowstorm was so intense that the power was out, the land-line phone was out, and there were no cell phone towers in the area. She was isolated which suited her perfectly.
Also overworked was attorney Ross Kennedy. Since losing his love, Katie, to the rich guy, Seth Remington, in the first book of this series, Ross worked excessive hours and usually seven days a week. He was pressured to go to the Miller home in River Bend, Montana to get Laurence Miller to sign the paperwork and take over running The Miller Foundation. No one bothered to tell him that Laurence was a woman’s name in French. This task was assigned to him by his boss who forced him to leave the office for a break.

This book was an amazing sequel to Murphy’s Law. This second book in the Damaged Heroes series was fast-paced and almost impossible to put down. The action was varied and followed a different format than other Sandy James’ books. I enjoyed following the main characters as they became involved with each other. Their relationship met with a myriad of problems. The book absolutely grabbed me from the first and intrigued me throughout the entire manuscript.

The supporting characters were diverse and so essential to the story. The non-stop action fascinated me. I’m not a big fan of mysteries, but the conflict was so intertwined it was thrilling to read. The romance was subtle at times, but beautifully written. The parts of the storyline which linked the varied parts of the book were amazing. There was never a dull moment—some tense ones, but never boring.

The ending was such a surprise. This is definitely another winner. I highly recommend this book for a place on your keeper list.

Overall rating: 5 Hearts
Sensuality rating: Very sensual

I can’t tell you how pleased I am with the reviews for All the Right Reasons! So far, it has been a Romance Junkies Blue Ribbon Favorite, a Night Owl Reviewer’s Top Pick, and a CoffeeTime Romance CTRR Award Winner. Now, it’s also a Two Lips Recommended Read! My thanks to Tina for her wonderful review. She also reviewed the rest of my Damaged Heroes, and I’ll be posting those soon.

Here’s what Tina had to say:

****
Lucas Mitchell sees Joy Kovacs in a craft bazaar. When he sees a painting of his home there he discovers she is not only a talented artist but a snoop too! He doesn’t tell her he recognizes his home though, he is too intrigued by the lady herself to do that. He commissions her to draw his niece, mostly to get to know her better. His past demons tell him to run from her but his heart is telling him she might just be the one to save him.

Joy is a Gypsy. She has many family obligations that keep her trapped in a world she doesn’t want. She wants to go to art school but she stays with her family and does what they want her to do first. When Lucas challenges everything in her life will she choose love or family? Will Lucas let his past rule him? Or let go enough to fight for the woman he loves? Can true love conquer all?

That’s the question that comes to mind when I read All the Right Reasons by Sandy James. Is love really enough when the things holding you back seem insurmountable? Joy is an artist. She is forgetful of time, space, and her shoes. But she knows what matters love and family. And your soul mate above all. Lucas has seen the ravages of war. He has watched his best friend die, while he lives on. The nightmares plague him. He thinks he is not fit to be with anyone. Then he meets Joy, the one person to bring the light back into his life. Can he bring his baggage into her life? Should he?

This is book three in the Damaged Heroes series and by far one of the best. You don’t have to read them in order to get the scope of the story. I really loved how this is a stand alone story. When you want to believe in true love you really want to pick up All the Right Reasons it is truly a beautiful sweet read to remember.

I’m the guest blogger on The Pen and Muse today. I’d love to have you stop by for a visit!

I figured Turning Thirty-Twelve had already been reviewed by most sites. I was pleasantly surprised to find out I was wrong. I received a new 5 Cup review from Maura at CoffeeTime Romance. Thanks so much, Maura!

*****
Jackie Delgado just turned forty two, or thirty twelve. She is a divorced mother of two college aged boys and a high school science teacher. Her husband left her for his cliché, a pregnant secretary, a few years back and she is very low on self esteem.

Mark Brennan is a widowed father of two girls and a detective in the local police department. He loves Jackie’s personality at their first meeting in Office Max and has the strength to overcome her issues.

Jackie is detemined not to succumb to middle age yet, despite her recent birthday and dropping her youngest off at college. The last thing she needs is another blind date, but her friends are determined to make her happy and the date is a pleasant surprise; Mr. Yummy from Office Max and he seems as interested in her as she is in him. Her insecurities, children, and ex husband all seem determined to keep them apart, but she has never felt this way before.

This story is full of the emotions, courage, insecurity and humor of a real woman. Jackie is not a perky young ingenue and is definitely more likeable and sympathetic because of it. Her marriage and divorce have really killed her self esteem and I loved how Mark makes her see herself differently. He is a wonderful and sexy man with the patience to see just how great Jackie is. Their romance is by no means an easy one and both of them have issues that are addressed and very well. This story is a real gem. The characters are wonderfully drawn and real, the plot is riveting, and the love scenes are very hot, showing the reader that love lives do not end at thirty.

Maura
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More

I was thrilled to have another of my Damaged Heroes as the Long and Short Review’s Book of the Week! I really want to thank my family, friends, and students for always being willing to “turn out the vote” when I need their help.

Here’s the “5 Book” review of Faith of the Heart that made it eligible for this honor. My thanks to Fennel for such a beautiful write-up!!

*****
If you enjoy a book at bedtime make sure when you take this one upstairs with you, you don’t have to go to work the following day, because, with few exceptions, Ms. James’ smooth writing style will grab hold of you and not let you go until you’ve read the final page.

Joshua Miller’s wife died off cancer after trying many variations of healing, including a faith healer, who, in Joshua’s opinion, falsely raised his late wife’s hopes of recovery. So when attorney Ross Kennedy contacts him with a request to investigate faith healer Sarah Reid, he grabs the chance to expose her for fraudulent practice and demanding money from her clients under false pretenses.

Sarah Reid is driven by the need to atone for her past misdeeds and the death of her dearest friend, so when under extraordinary circumstances she discovers the ability to heal the sick she ignores the devastating physical impact the healings are having on her own health. On the contrary, she accepts that the after-effects will eventually take her life.

When the healer and the still-grieving cynical journalist meet nothing is as it seems.

Her characters will lure you into their world of conflict, grief, pain, laughter strength and humour, but most of all the strength of love. The love of one family, friends and new acquaintances, that is strong enough to overcome another family’s betrayal.

Misunderstandings, good intentions that backfire and kidnapping are a few of the ingredients that make this book such a good read. And, of course, the knowledge that Sarah and Joshua will finally achieve their own ‘happy ever after’.

Ms. James takes her readers on an emotional journey that will capture their hearts. Her smooth switches of point of view often lead you right into the heart of her characters, and there are plenty of supporting characters who all manage to inveigle their way into your heart without overpowering the heroine and hero.

Last week, I posted a beautiful review from Matilda at CoffeeTime Romance for All the Right Reasons. I was so tickled she loved the story so much, but I sure didn’t expect her to take the review a step farther.

Matilda awarded All the Right Reasons with a CTRR Award – The CoffeeTime Romance Recommended Read Award! That means she believed my book rated “above and beyond” the top 5 cup rating. In her write-up, it’s obvious that she took some time to get to know about me personally — about my horses, my teaching, and my illness.

My thanks to Matilda! I really appreciate this honor.

Here’s the write-up:
*****

Sandy James wears many hats, besides being an author she is also a teacher and an owner of a small racing stable. She loves her life with her husband and her two grown children. Horse racing and writing have become her passions in life. She feels her life is truly blessed and even though she has been diagnosed with Lupus she is a strong believer that even with a chronic illness you can go out and enjoy your life to the fullest.

What an emotional story, filled with anger and bitterness, love and joy, heartache and pain, acceptance and trust. Lucas and Joy’s story is all that. Ms. James takes you into the most intimate parts of her characters and shows you the real essence that makes them come to life. In turn capturing the reader’s attention and holding on till the last word. This is a book that you will want to add to your bookshelf. This reader is ready to explore the other stories in the Damaged Hero Series.

I am very proud that Free Falling not only received a 5 Book rating from Long and Short Reviews, but my story was also voted to be Book of the Week! Thanks to all of you who took the time to vote for me, and a huge thanks to Violet for the beautiful review!

****
Free Falling: Damaged Heroes Book 2 by Sandy James
Publisher: BookStrand
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full
Heat: Spicy
Rating: 5 Books
Reviewed by Violet

Workaholic Ross Kennedy never learned to enjoy life until he meets the woman of his dreams. If only Laurie Miller can convince him that’s exactly who she is.

A psychologist with empathic abilities, Laurie rescues Ross, who has been stranded in the middle of a Montana blizzard. The two strangers are completely snowed in and out of contact. In just a few days, their attraction to each other is overwhelming, but Laurie is troubled. Her empathic gift seems to have vanished. Fascinated by his pretty rescuer, Ross struggles to open up his heart enough to let this woman in.

When the two return home to Chicago, they try to solve a mystery revolving around a Prohibition Era journal they discovered in Montana. Will they find the missing treasure the journal points to? And as a former boyfriend begins to stalk Laurie, how will Ross be able to protect her?
Ross Kennedy had always been so wrapped up in his work that he didn’t have time for a real social life. When he finds himself trapped in a Montana Blizzard and having just been rescued by a complete and very sexy stranger, he is forced to take a few days off from life. No phones, no TV, no outside interference. Laurie Miller, who just happens to be a psychologist and an empath, is taking a break from her very emotionally taxing occupation. As the relationship between Ross and Laurie intensifies, so does the mystery that is whirling around them both. Will secrets, an ex boyfriend and not to mention being complete opposites hinder a relationship between the Ross and Laurie?

Free Falling is the second book in the Damaged Heroes Series and is centered around Ross, the Type A, controlling attorney who never has time for fun or anything outside of work. Ross is a complicated man who is figuring out that he has missed out on so much of life and love when he meets Laurie, the psychologist. From the beginning Ross and Laurie are attracted to each other. With her smart mouth and his need to control, the dialogue between the two is hilarious at times. Being an empath, Laurie is able to sense emotions of those that she is near, however, the one person she can’t read is Ross. This leads to some very interesting scenes in the book.

The gripping plot of Free Falling fully captured my attention from the beginning and certainly made this book a page turner. I enjoyed the mysterious scenes which included Laurie having feelings around certain people and not really knowing what to do about them. The one element that set this book apart from a lot of others I have read lately is this book contained a dual romantic story line. Clues are left throughout the book which gave this book a very climactic ending.

Although Free Falling is the second book in the series, it can certainly stand on it’s own. You don’t have to read Murphy’s Law first but it does give some hints as to Ross’ character. If you would like to read all the books in this series, they are as follows: Murphy’s Law (book 1), Free Falling (book 2) and All the Right Reasons (book 3). This has become a series that I will continue to read several times over. This is the third book that I have read by Sandy James and I must say that she is a favorite author of mine. Her writing and research is always well thought out and reaches out to the reader. She is certainly an author who has the reader and their interests in mind and I expect to see more exceptional work from Ms. James in the future.

Faith of the Heart received its first review today from BookWenches. Thank you so much for the beautiful review, Bobby!

Rating: 4.5

Reviewed by: BD Whitney

Sarah Reid grew up a wild child, partying, drinking to excess, and living her life the way she wanted. That all ended abruptly when her best friend died because Sarah was too drunk to save him from his impulsive behavior, and she has lived since then steeped in guilt. When she survives a lightning strike just to develop the power to heal, Sarah figures that this is God’s way of giving her chance to redeem her sins. Even though each healing leaves her on the verge of coma and makes her progressively weaker, Sarah turns nobody away.

Reporter Joshua Miller lost his wife to cancer a year ago in spite of the efforts of a charlatan faith healer. He is bitter and deeply suspicious of those who claim to heal by touch, so when he hears about Sarah and her claims, he sets out to prove her to be a fraud and a con artist. Fully armed for an encounter with a snake oil salesman, Josh certainly doesn’t expect to find Sarah to be a sensitive, fragile woman who is as genuine as others declare her to be. And who without a doubt has the power to heal. Instead of crucifying her, Josh wants to protect her, and that means getting her away from her mortally ill clients as well as her manipulative sister and greedy brother-in-law.

The last thing that Sarah wants is another exposé on her abilities. Not when it brings the religious fanatics and the haters to her door along with the people who genuinely need her help. But Josh seems to truly care for her, and it doesn’t take long for him and his teen-aged daughter to win a permanent position in Sarah’s heart. Can Josh convince Sarah that she is worth being loved? Her abilities are incredible, but the one thing that Sarah is not capable of healing is her own heart.

********

Faith of the Heart is Book Four of Sandy James’s Damaged Heroes series. In this story, we revisit a few old friends as well as make some new ones. It is not necessary to have read the previous novels in this series to enjoy this story, but it may enhance the reading experience somewhat. I found this to be well-written and involving, a mixture of both sweet and sensual romance. Along with the interesting paranormal aspect of this novel, Faith of the Heart is a novel about a woman who must learn to love herself before she can move on with her life and accept the love of others.

In this story, Ms. James addresses the painful issue of life in the aftermath of losing a loved one. Both Sarah and Josh have suffered losses that have left them emotionally scarred – Sarah with a soul-deep sense of guilt and Josh with anger and resentment. Each clings to the past and needs the intervention of something earth-shattering in order to move on. Sarah has punished her body almost beyond its limits by healing people; Josh holds on to both a stone from his wife’s graveside as well as his anger at the faith healer who fleeced her. It is only through these two coming together that they realize that they still have a future in spite of the tragedy they have suffered.

As I have noted in the past, one of Ms. James’s great strengths lies in her character development. This story is filled to the brim with vivid and believable characters, from our two main characters all the way down to the small supporting roles. Josh is overall a sympathetic character. He’s a loving father, a thorough journalist, and is obviously bowled over by Sarah. Sure, he makes a few missteps and is sometimes clueless in a way that only a man can be, but there is no malice in his heart. Sarah believes whole-heartedly that she has been given her gift in order to make up for her past. Even though she pushes herself to the point of disaster, she doesn’t give the impression of being a martyr. She’s just someone who refuses to forgive herself. Yet even through her grey haze of sadness, she shows the occasional spark, and this keeps her from being a maudlin figure.

Sarah’s sister Hannah and her brother-in-law Doug fill the role of villain in this story, although calling them such may be a bit of a stretch. They are more annoyances than “bad guys.” They are quintessential ne’er-do-wells and freeloaders, and the character Doug is almost comically so. Ms. James does an excellent job of making them individuals that readers can revile and boo and hiss at.

This story is for the most part sweet and emotional. I certainly found myself sniffing a time or two, and then looking around to see if anyone on the bus noticed. The lovemaking scenes are sensual without being overtly graphic, and they fit comfortably into the rest of the narrative. While I had to suspend my disbelief a tiny bit in order to accept the fact that a thirty-year-old woman could be a virgin, the reasoning behind this is actually quite plausible, and while the contortions that Josh goes through in order to reconcile with Sarah may have felt like a little bit of a stretch, they were still entertaining. Any man who is willing to admit his errors in public like he does is definitely worth hanging on to.

In all, I found Faith of the Heart to be involving and agreeable. I truly enjoyed the characters and their story, and I thought that the faith healing aspect was both unique and well done. Ms. James has definitely given us a treat with this story. Those who enjoy romance are bound to be pleased by this book.

A lot can happen in a year.

I know most people use New Year’s Eve to do their reflections on the past twelve months and to make resolutions about what they plan for the coming year. I’ve decided to do my reflections and resolutions in the middle of the year instead. That’s because one of the most wonderful things in my life happened a year ago. Let’s flash back to the fourth of July 2008. That was the day I received an email that started out with…

Dear Sandy,
Thank you for sending your wonderful book, Turning Thirty-Twelve (also, what a great title!). We would love to publish your book at BookStrand!

So a year later, where is that book? Turning Thirty-Twelve currently sits at #2 on the BookStrand Mainstream Bestsellers List. It was a finalist in the Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence Contest. And it has received several beautiful reviews.

What else has happened in that year? BookStrand contracted and released all four of the books in my Damaged Heroes series. If someone would have told me on that very warm fourth of July that a year later I would have released five books, I would have laughed. But that was exactly what happened. I survived an intense school year while simultaneously editing five books. I’m amazed I lived to tell the tale.

Publishing in ebook and trade paperback has been a great experience I wouldn’t trade for the world. I’ve learned so much about how to handle anything from cover art to rewrites. I’m very grateful to BookStrand for all they’ve done for me.

That being said, there is one other event I consider the highlight of this last year. I found a person who I know will take my writing to the next level. I signed to be represented by the fantabulous Maureen Walters. With her help — and the help of her equally fantabulous assistant Katie Arathoon — I’m ready to make this year as productive as the last.

I’m looking forward to what the next twelve months will bring because I plan to make each and every day count.