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Author Archives: rachelauthorbarnard
Weekend Writing Warriors – Donuts in an Empty Field 10#WeWriWa
Here’s the link to the Weekend Writing Warriors central page, so you can visit all the participants sharing excerpts!
Donuts in an Empty Field is a contemporary, realistic fiction, and Young Adult novel about two best friends, the local food challenge, and letting go of anger.
This excerpt is from chapter one.
Vanessa is remembering her last fond memory of her father on the day he died.
“He wasn’t very good at eating donuts fast, but he made us laugh. He was covered in powdered sugar and it made me think of Christmas snow. I was proud and embarrassed for Dad at the same time. He was so fun, but he was always doing weird things.”
“I remember I could taste the powdered sugar. He was eating so fast that it was poofing everywhere. Bluster kept winding his leash under his legs as he watched us. Mom and I both laughed at Dad. He managed to swallow the first donut and was already stuffing the second one into his mouth.”
Purchase the book HERE.
Local young adult writer, Rachel Barnard, released the first novel in her young adult For the Love of Donuts series titled Donuts in an Empty Field with Life’s a Book Publishing, June 3rd, 2016 (AKA National Donut Day). Order your copy HERE.
Letting go of anger is life’s greatest challenge.
Vanessa hasn’t been the same since her father’s death. A hero until the end, he died saving a restaurant owner’s son from a burning building. Nessa blames the boy, but her best friend Nichole thinks it’s time to let go of the past. In a last ditch effort to break Nessa’s obsession, Nichole hopes signing up for the local food challenge will bust her out of her shell. A single choice defines the road ahead for Nessa. Doing the right thing isn’t easy, but living with the consequences of doing nothing might be worse.
Subscribe to Rachel’s newsletter to receive important updates and promotions, if you haven’t already. Signup HERE
Add the book to your Goodreads shelf HERE
Foodie Fridays: Best Burger Ever!
Dreams do come true!
Thanks, Paul
Book Review: Crushing on the Rock Star by Darci Doll
Crushing on the Rock Star by Darci Doll
A New Adult Romance Novel published by Amazon Digital Services LLC (06/08/16)
Summary:
“In your head, you think that you’re a conservative but in your heart, you’re a pure rebel, through and through.” (Kindle Locations 1678-1679).
Birdie Frost wants to make a difference in the world through documentaries. She only works as an intern for a production company, but when she gets the opportunity for her big break she hesitates. It’s with a rock band on the other side of the country not with the philosophical world-changer she had proposed. When her family, her best friend, even her fiancé don’t support her decision, Birdie decides to turn down the opportunity at first. Will she be able to set aside everything she’s known to jump at this chance to make a difference or will she stay with what’s familiar and comfortable?
Keywords:
Rock Star, Rock Music, Metal, Concert, Live, Band, Practice, Performance, Travel, Conservative, Family Ideals, Old-Fashioned, Sexism, Producer, Documentary, LA, Identity, Introspection
My Review:
I liked Birdie. She sticks to her guns when it comes to morals. She is dedicated to her ideals and her job. She’s unwilling to let a little failure derail her completely. She is positive and thoughtful. She is a well-rounded main character. Her fiancé, on the other hand, is a complete jerk. The author may be painting him as ‘old fashioned’ but all I see is sexist on-the-verge-of misogynist guy who won’t listen to her opinions or give them any worth. He cuts her off when she’s talking and tells her point blank what she should and shouldn’t do as well as what he expects her to do. How is that attractive?
Birdie tells us that she was attracted to Timothy for his family values and old-fashioned views, but I don’t see how she’s attracted to him at all, even from the beginning. She does not seem conservative, since at the first sign of adventure she’s willing to give it a try and enjoy every minute of it.
The issues in this book are very contemporary and interesting. Birdie’s point of view is so very dramatic and very detailed. She so completely and vividly describes her first rock concert and riding a motorcycle that I intimately know how she feels and can see the scene completely.
This novel was published by Amazon Digital Services LLC on June 8th, 2016 and is available on Amazon here.
TL;DR Star Rating: 4.00
Links for more information:
Book Review: Snow Flower: Arara’s Tale (Flower’s Fang) by Madison Keller
Snow Flower: Arara’s Tale (Flower’s Fang) by Madison Keller
A YA Fantasy Novella published by Hundeliebe Publishing (12/21/14)
Summary:
“…she wasn’t content with always being the under-dog just because she’d been born small.” (Kindle Locations 897-898).
Arara doesn’t want to go to school where she’s bullied and belittled by the confident and large alpha pup, Kerka and his followers. Arara has a special ability to hear others’ thoughts, but that won’t help her win any fights. Until she finds out she has another special power, she does everything she can to avoid going to school, but she could use a lesson or two in paying attention and following directions.
Keywords:
Dog-like people, power struggle, underdog, magic, secrets, standing up, fighting back, runt, misfit, skill, mind-power
My Review:
It’s so interesting to see a society where fighting is not only allowed, but encouraged. Since this is a society that is based on dogs/wolves, this makes sense, since alphas must establish themselves and everyone knows their place in the pack. Not so with underdog Arara. Though she is destined to be an omega, she wants to be an alpha-guard. The only hope she has to win such a high placement in the pack is through her newly discovered ability to use her mind.
Arara is hard to like at the beginning of the story. She’s impulsive, scared, reckless and can’t get her act together. She doesn’t listen or follow directions, even from her father whom she loves. She whines and ultimately acts like a very young pup. Cue the lesson, which she ignores because of her own stubbornness. She won’t take bullying sitting down, but she knows she can’t beat the bigger, stronger, and arrogant Kerka. But will getting back at him make her feel better? Will it solve all her problems? Arara has to learn the hard way that anyone can be a bully and that it’s not best to get revenge. I loved how Arara was able to finally take the lesson of the story to heart by the end of this novella.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author and this is an honest review.
This novel was published by Hundeliebe Publishing on December 21st, 2014 and is available on Amazon here.
TL;DR Star Rating: 3.50
Links for more information:
Capital Indie Book Con Afterwards and Book Haul!!!!
Weekend Writing Warriors – Donuts in an Empty Field 9#WeWriWa
Here’s the link to the Weekend Writing Warriors central page, so you can visit all the participants sharing excerpts!
Donuts in an Empty Field is a contemporary, realistic fiction, and Young Adult novel about two best friends, the local food challenge, and letting go of anger.
This excerpt is from chapter one.
Vanessa and Nichole just found Vanessa’s late father’s bucket list where only one item was crossed out.
“The day he died.” I gulp and close my eyes for a long blink. “The day he died, he was trying to beat the world record for most donuts eaten in three minutes. I remember that day. Almost every detail. Why isn’t that on this list, why the generic food challenge?”
Nichole doesn’t answer and I continue. “He took us, Mom, Bluster and I to the dog park. He was always into getting things done. A dog and donuts on the same day, in the same place.”
Vanessa is reminiscing about her dad and the last good memory of her family together. Tune in next week as she goes into more detail about donuts in the dog park.
Purchase the book HERE.
Local young adult writer, Rachel Barnard, released the first novel in her young adult For the Love of Donuts series titled Donuts in an Empty Field with Life’s a Book Publishing, June 3rd, 2016 (AKA National Donut Day). Order your copy HERE.
Letting go of anger is life’s greatest challenge.
Vanessa hasn’t been the same since her father’s death. A hero until the end, he died saving a restaurant owner’s son from a burning building. Nessa blames the boy, but her best friend Nichole thinks it’s time to let go of the past. In a last ditch effort to break Nessa’s obsession, Nichole hopes signing up for the local food challenge will bust her out of her shell. A single choice defines the road ahead for Nessa. Doing the right thing isn’t easy, but living with the consequences of doing nothing might be worse.
Subscribe to Rachel’s newsletter to receive important updates and promotions, if you haven’t already. Signup HERE
Add the book to your Goodreads shelf HERE
Foodie Fridays: Blueberry Season in the PNW!
Looks like blueberry pie, right? Wrong! It’s a big ole’ muffin because I don’t have those muffin pans/cups! I used THIS recipe and modified it so: half the amount of sugar, half wheat and half white flour, and none of the crumble on top. So good!
Book Review: Stone Alliance by Emily Bates
Stone Alliance by Emily Bates
A YA Fantasy Novel published by Amazon Digital Services LLC (02/19/16)
Summary:
Rustav returns home with an idea of how to save his land from corruption and war. If he can unite the peoples of the land and the legends, they might have a chance to overthrow the corrupt King and the infiltration of the island demons.
Keywords:
Forest, Demons, Escape, Struggle, Legend, Country, Leader, Corrupt King, Heir, Adventure, Identity, Past, Future, Friendship, Loyalty, Love, Brave, Resistance
My Review:
I loved how this book two picked up right after where book one left off for a fluid continuation of the story.
Everything is ramped up in this book! There is more fighting, more strategy, more devious plots, more action, more fantasy, more creatures, more distress, etc.
This book featured POV changes between Dantzel, Rustav and Caleb, which I loved. Dantzel continues to grow into her role as strategist and fighter. Rustav grows much more in this book to develop into a leader, but he continues to make choices that lead to severe consequences and tension. Ayre is back and reveals what his true motives are. Caleb really has grown in this book as well, as he is now an able-bodied fighter who wants to be involved in the action.
The romance between Dantzel and Rustav continues but doesn’t overtake or sideswipe the main plot of this book.
There is much to learn and love from this series and I can’t wait to read more from Emily Bates!
This novel was published by Amazon Digital Services LLC on February 19th, 2016 and is available on Amazon here.
TL;DR Star Rating: 4.50
Links for more information:
Wildlife Wednesdays: Visiting the Setting in your Story
I submitted a short story for the upcoming Biker Chicks 2: An Anthology of Hot MC Romance and went to visit the setting of my story across the street from a small bar… It was and wasn’t how I pictured it in my mind and the story….
Do you like to visit the setting(s) of your favorite stories or the stories you’re writing or have written?
You can pre-order Biker Chicks 2 HERE!
Rachel Author Barnard 