Book Review: THE STRANGER by Anna del Mar

When a mysterious stranger is your only hope...

The scars of the past have left their mark, both physical and emotional, on former military pilot Seth Erickson. Off-grid in the far reaches of the bitter Alaskan wilderness, he wants only to be left alone with his ghosts. But he can’t ignore a woman in need—beautiful, stranded and nearly frozen with fear.

Summer Silva never imagined that the search for her missing sister would leave her abandoned on a wintry back road, barely escaping with her life from a cold-blooded killer for hire. Now, hiding out in the isolated cabin of the secretive wounded warrior who saved her, Summer knows she must do what she fears most. Putting her trust in a stranger is all she has left.

All defenses are down

After a fiery first night together, Seth and Summer are bound by a need as powerful as a Bering Sea superstorm—and vulnerable to enemies just as fierce. For Seth, reawakened by desire, there is no sacrifice too great, no memory too dark, to keep Summer safe. But murder and treason lurk everywhere and Summer may not survive Alaska’s ruthless winter.

A Wounded Warrior Novel. This book is approximately 110,000 words

Buy Links

Amazon           Carina Press            Barnes and Noble         Kobo Books        Google Play

Linzé's Review

Meet Summer and Seth - polar opposites just looking for a fight to happen. The story starts with animosity, distrust, and opposing goals when they meet.

But the reader soon learns why these feelings are there and why both the main characters are reacting like that and you want to root for them to get some common ground.

Seth is a likeable character and even from the start you cannot help but warm up to him, grouchiness notwithstanding. Burdened with the responsibility of his company and the threat of a take-over, he still comes across as a man of honour, and integrity. And being hot and sexy does help even if a pang of sympathy will creep into the fray. The character shows more depth as the story develops and make for a believable and very likeable hero.

Summer appears to be a flighty empty head, walking around in the Alaskan winter with high heels and a power suit does give that impression. Yet, you soon realise that there is much more to this caring woman who would literally go to the ends of the earth for her family. She lives with a difficult disorder that leaves her vulnerable to certain situations. But she doesn't let her weaknesses determine her life. A strong character that takes the challenges thrown her way and deals with them the best she can, always following her heart.

Thrown together the difficulties of their respective families and friends create a storyline that moves at a fast pace, yet slows down when their relationship intensifies. Trust takes time to build and the author explored this initial rift between them with sensitivity and guts at the same time.

It is a book laden with action, suspense, hot and steamy romance, yet touching on the base human fragility of having to survive against the odds. Trust, compassion, even forgiveness and understanding is portrayed in this very likeable story. It is more than a romance novel, it is a rollercoaster ride that will play with your emotions and yet leave you with a satisfied sigh at the end.

Linzé gives The Stranger:

Author Interview: Melissa Adendorff

Today I welcome Melissa Adendorff to the Broomstick. Melissa joined us at a late date, and still managed to complete her story ahead of time. Impressive!

1. What made you decide to take part in the JOURNEY project?

My friend Andrea told me that she was embarking on a new creative writing project, and I blurted out that I’d love to join. I have been writing my doctoral thesis for the last three years, so my creative juices desperately needed an outlet.

2. How did you come up with the title of your story?
The title of my story is “I was just hungry.” It came about after a fight with my partner – I was feeling frustrated and overwhelmed, and a myriad of emotions, but all I could say was that I was hungry. That excuse stuck in my mind, and it matched my initial story concept.

3. What inspired your story?

I didn’t write out of inspiration, to be honest. I sat down in front of the computer, typed “I was just hungry”, and just let the words flow. I needed to get something off of my chest, and that’s what ended up on the page.

4. What other things, besides writing, do you like to do?

I do Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Karambit knife fighting, ballet, and indoor climbing. I love to bake, and I can embroider … I am also in the final stages of my PhD, which, while not necessarily a thing I like to do, is a thing that I’ve been immersed in to the point where separation is difficult.

5. What did you learn about yourself or your journey as a writer during this project?

I gained some insight into my behaviour, in terms of the passive aggressive slips which arise from not just addressing a problem in the moment. I was reminded of the therapeutic value of writing down the thing that hurts, writing down my truth, in order to gain some distance from it.

6. What do you see as your biggest challenge as a writer?

I do not always trust in my own creative process. I have become so accustomed to writing in a formal, academic style, with references in order to justify my every thought; and I often feel “naked” without other experts to hide behind in my creative writing. I often write the first, visceral, honest draft, only to discard it in favour of something more remote and detached, because I am not really used to the emotive language anymore, and that hurts my process, because I can only write from a place of honest emotion.

7. What tool/software/technique/process do you find the most valuable to you as a writer?

I suppose my process is to have a “study buddy.” When I am working with another person, I am more motivated to complete a goal, and I have a resource right next to me for feedback if I need it. I struggle to work in isolation.

Thank you, Melissa!
Note from Linzé - Since doing the interview, Melissa has completed her PhD. Well done!

You can follow Melissa online:

LinkedIn

Instagram

Linzé's Mischief: 18 September 2016

I think I might have mentioned this before - I use a bullet journal as my to-do list these days. On days like today, I love and curse it at the same time! When things go well, I am happy, but it just seems that the list keeps getting longer despite the tasks I manage to complete.

Nah, I still love it - ignore my whining, it's my own lazy procrastinating self that is bitching about it.

Waiting for Adrian is coming along...slowly, but I am getting there. Seven chapters edited, and I am about to tackle chapter 8.

The last story for the JOURNEY anthology is still with the editor, and then I can start compiling the ebook for publication. Watch this space for the cover reveal and news about the launch of the print book.

I interviewed my fellow JOURNEY authors and you can meet the first one this week. She is one smart and interesting lady!

The Billionaire Baritone is also approaching its ending soon. I haven't started on a new story yet, although there might be an idea or two brewing for next year.

There is also a book review on Wednesday for romance lovers.

Stick around there is always more mischief brewing on my Broomstick!

Have a great week!
💜
Linzé

THE BILLIONAIRE BARITONE

Amethyst loves music and enjoys hip-hop dancing to spice up her dull and dreary life. But one evening on her way home from dance class, she hears a voice that drew her away from her route.

Caught in the act of eavesdropping, her life is about to change in a way she has never foreseen.

David didn't quite know what to do with the beautiful trespasser, but when he learned that she was injured, taking care of her was the only solution.

Little did he suspect that she was about to take care of his lonely heart in return.

CHAPTER 14

I couldn't decide which hurt more: my hand or my foot. Both were throbbing with each heartbeat. I had no idea what time it was, but unless I find those painkillers the doctor prescribed, I won't be getting any more sleep tonight.
“Great, now where did she put them?”
Before I could swear at the poor nurse, a swirling light caught my attention.
It was a mobile phone's screen changing colour every few seconds.
If it wasn't for the pain, the light show on the walls would have been soothing. It looked really pretty.
The phone was connected to a cable. charger probably.
“Crap,” I muttered. What the hell was David doing sleeping in the chair?
Probably thinking that I was incapable of doing anything for myself. It reminded me that I still haven't found those meds.
At least I knew my handbag was in the closet in the room. Phyllis was kind enough to put it there when we arrived.
I looked back at his sleeping form. It might be the soft light from his phone, but he looked relaxed and at peace when he slept. Good thing my hand hurt, and he was too far away to reach, otherwise I would have been more than tempted to push that stray lock of hair off his forehead.
I shook my head. “Idiot,” I hissed under my breath and turned to the other side. Relief shot like an arrow through me when I spotted the jug of water, a glass and the bag from the hospital.
I reached over with my left hand and carefully unfolded the top of the paper bag not to wake him. Inside there were three boxes.
I sighed. It was too dark to see which one I had to take and how many was recommended.
I eyeballed the distance to the bathroom door. I could hop over there, then he won't wake up from the light.
Settling on my plan of action, I shifted to the edge of the bed. At least my butt was fine, or maybe it recovered faster.
Carefully putting both feet on the floor, I slowly got up. My ankle hurt, but it wasn't worse than before.
I grabbed the bag in my good hand and slowly made my way to the bathroom. It was painful to put my weight on the foot, but I managed. At least I was not damaging it further because it wasn't broken.
One last look at his sleeping face I gently closed the door, before switching on the light. I press my elbow against the wall for additional support until I could sit down on the edge of the bath.
I took a moment to catch my breath.
Lifting my aching foot onto the lid of the toilet, I put the bag down and reached inside. The first box seemed to be the right one. I pressed two tablets out onto the edge of the bath.
I couldn't bring the glass from the bedside table with me.
Damn, there wasn't another in the bathroom.
Now, what? Two maybe three options popped into my head. Either swallow the tablets dry...yuck.
Or take them trying to drink from the tap with only one hand to use for balance and to drink from. That seemed a bit of a nightmare to figure out. My head ached just considering this choice.
The best was to put the tablets back into the bag, go back into the room, and use the glass on the bedside table to take them.
“Can't just one thing be easy?” I muttered in frustration.
“Amethyst?”
His voice startled me, and I could feel my butt slipping from the edge of my tub.
“Oh oh, oh!”

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Linzé's Mischief: 11 September 2016

I am losing it...with a smile.

This year has been nothing but roller coaster ride - up and down, up and down. The same can be said of my attempt at losing weight. With every down turn of events in my life, the invariable up occurred in my body mass. This year I have been more aware of this trend and tried hard not to get bogged down into comfort eating when things are not going well. My stress levels are stable, but still high, and that makes it more challenging to look after my health.
Yeah, that is the crux of the whole matter, my health. I have lost 7kg so far. Not much considering the road I still have ahead, but I feel more confident in the way I am tackling this problem. On the one hand it is easier than I thought, but still more challenging too.

I made an assessment of my eating habits and came to the following conclusions:

1. My meals are healthy - breakfast is muesli and soya yoghurt (I vary it with a whole grain cereal a few times a week), lunch is a banting kind of meal (no starch) and dinner usually is chicken (sometimes meat) with veggies or a salad. If necessary I will sweeten breakfast with xylitol (I have grown to dislike the taste of sugar)
2. My official snacks are healthy too - around mid-morning I have fruit, and late afternoon another fruit or a second tub of the soy yoghurt.

Note: Because of my milk allergy, I use rice milk to thin the thick soy yoghurt. I find the rice milk powder quite tasty and have come to prefer the powdered product to the pre-mixed rice milk version also available.

This left me with the unofficial snacking that I am often guilty of. I love chocolate, but because of the milk, my choices are very limited. I also tended to use this as an excuse to indulge in buying more chocolate bars than I should. I stopped doing this. Sure, I still have about one chocolate bar a week, but it is better than the quantity I consumed before I decided to lose weight.
Despite my chocolate craving, I don't much of a craving for other kinds of candy. If I have a dessert, it will also be chocolate/cocoa based.

Things I am avoiding as far as possible (mostly because of my blood sugar) but it helps with the lifestyle change too:

• white rice (in a restaurant I will have a salad, at home I will eat brown rice),
• potatoes (chips, fries - they are not just bad because of the starch but also the amount of salt; I will eat mashed potatoes but not more than once a week)
• bread (will eat rye or low GI - for lunch only)
• pap (a local corn-based starch usually served with a tomato based salsa)
• I will eat a pasta based dish once a week (love that Italian starch way too much to give it up)
• takeaways are out, unless there is some crisis at home - we might have pizza once a month, but mine has to have a lot of protein to limit the effects of the starchy base on my blood sugar. I am still looking at banting style pizzas with a suspicious eye.

Linzé's Vivofit monitor

I don't have time to go to the gym (and really don't like it anyway) but walk between 5 and 7 km each day at work - this includes climbing stairs. Weekends can be more or less depending on what we have going on.

This biggest change I have made is to stop snacking after dinner. Personally I think it has been the primary reason I am actually losing weight. After dinner I am not so active, since that is the time I am writing. If I get a craving for something, I have coffee, tea or a glass of fruit juice. If my blood sugar drops, I would normally eat something to help, but not after dinner. 
I use a low GI powder (sold as part of some fancy diet plan) and mix it with the rice milk to stabilise my blood sugar. Of course it still has calories, but that cannot be helped. Fortunately, it is not a daily problem. I keep this same powder mix at work, just in case. Some days involve a lot of running around, or stressful meetings that can drain my body's resources faster than usual.
I keep a handful of candies at home and at work, but only if it is an emergency. I have been on that scary edge of passing out, so I know when to eat them instead of drinking the diet mix.

Linzé Brandon

It may not be the best 'diet' but it is working for me and my lifestyle. Please note that my GP is monitoring my blood pressure medication combined with my weight loss. The plan is to go off the meds completely as soon as possible, but I still have some way to go before that will happen.

If you are struggling to lose weight, you are not alone on your journey.

More info about low-carb diets click here