Gillian's Heart book review

Gillian’s Heart 

BJ Bassett

Desert Breeze

c. October 2015

ISBN 978-1612525358

$3.99

$8.99

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About the Book

Abandoned as a child by her alcoholic parents, Gillian Grant was raised by her grandmother in a beach house in California. As an adult, in tribute to Gram’s memory, Gillian wishes to restore the house to its former splendor. But she can't do it alone, and hires Dusty Bradshaw to help her.

Gillian and Dusty have nothing in common, except the restoration of the house. Gillian suffers from anorexia and is in denial. While she has a strong faith in God, Dusty is an unbeliever. Add to the complicated mess Gillian's confusing feelings for Josh and the sudden, unwanted appearance of Gillian's mother Betsy, who claims the house is hers. And she intends to sell it.

Gillian always dreamed of her wedding in her grandmother’s garden overlooking the Pacific. Will there be a wedding? Who will capture Gillian’s heart -- her stable, longtime friend Josh -- or Dusty, a new Christian, who has kept secrets from her? And who holds the deed to the house?

My Review

A young woman feeling abandoned with the death of her beloved grandmother is estranged from her alcoholic mother. Gillian, a school teacher, lives in her grandmother’s once-safe haven of a California beach house, surviving by holding to her deep Christian faith and gift of music, and by renting a bedroom and the apartment over the garage to friends Samantha, Josh and his new friend. Josh notices her predilection toward extreme thinness, and his friend, the surfer/handyman Dusty, who matches her loss for loss, reluctantly agrees to help watch over her while Josh is away on business.

Dusty challenges her prejudices in ways that make Gillian take stock of her soul. She is unaware of her friend Josh’s lifelong love and hopes to marry her, instead turning away from him, her close friend, toward Dusty who she is determined to introduce to matters of faith, and inadvertently creates a tangled romantic web. A quick, pressure-filled engagement reveals their need to trust before their mutual leap.

Told in multiple viewpoints, Gillian’s Heart is a lesson in overcoming life skirmishes that threaten our identity and relationships with others and with God. The author takes a lighter touch with the troubling illness of anorexia nervosa than a more realistic approach which would normally include lots of hard work and therapy to deal with, but other than that I found the characters compelling and the story entertaining and well told. A sweet romantic read with the sweetest happily ever after.

About the Author

B. J. Bassett encourages others as an author, teacher and speaker. Her books include a historical novel Lily, iUniverse; A Touch of Grace—The G.R.A.C.E. Ministries Story, Xulon; and coauthor of My Time with God, Focus on the Family, Heritage Builders, with over 55,000 copies sold. She teaches writing workshops at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon and at writer’s conferences. As a speaker for Stonecroft Ministries, she tells her story of rejection and acceptance, not only in life, but as a writer as well. She also offers book talks, including discussion questions and shares the journey -- from the seed of an idea to a published book. She enjoys reading, jigsaw puzzles, knitting, munching warm scones oozing with butter and strawberry jam and sipping earl grey tea. A native Californian, she now lives with her husband of 57 years in Roseburg, Oregon, where she wrote Gillian’s Heart. Her current work-in-progress is Sweet Charity.

Something Beautiful, with K Dawn Byrd

Welcome back to K Dawn Byrd, who talks about her new book, SomethingBeautiful

 

About the author:

K. Dawn Byrd is an author of inspirational novels in several genres, including historical, suspense, romance, and young adult. Some of her favorite things are chocolate, cars, and her pets. Her hobbies include reading, writing, and riding down country roads in the passenger seat of her husband's Corvette Stingray. When asked why she writes, her response is, "For the simple joy of placing words on the page!"

 

About the book:

Lauren Milton discovers SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL in the arms of Antony Marcos, a Hispanic bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks, who saves her from a gang that accosts her on campus. She can't help herself even though no one approves of their relationship and Antony is rumored to have gang connections.

Lauren Milton has always followed the rules, but when she meets Antony Marcos, she discovers just how much fun it is to do her own thing. When Antony, the bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks, professes his love for her, her life is complete. He's her soul mate, but when she finds that he's harboring secrets, can she forgive him?

Antony is terrified that his secrets will destroy their relationship when Lauren finds out the truth. Does he tell the truth and face losing her or continue his activities, possibly placing her in danger? Can they make things work even though her family and friends are against him?

Lauren has PTSD from the car accident that killed her boyfriend and her mother. Can she face her greatest fears while risking everything for the guy she loves? Can they overcome the obstacles facing them to find their happily ever after?

 

Tell us a little more about yourself , with three things not many people know about you.

a)     I have a masters degree in professional counseling from Liberty University.

b)     I'm an animal lover. I have two hairless Chinese Crested dogs, an African Gray parrot, three ferrets, and several aquariums in my home, and somehow recently my niece ended up with a tiny fancy mouse who has found a home at my house.

c)      I love sour foods. I'd rather have olives, pickles, or dilly beans than something sweet sometimes.

 

Why did you choose to write this book?
I thought it would be fun to explore what it would be like to have a guy and gal fall in love who are from very different backgrounds. She's a wealthy young woman who has always had everything she's ever wanted. He's a Hispanic bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks. Her friends and family don't approve, which adds tension to the story.

What did you learn while writing this book?
I learned that I really do love writing romance, especially romance that contains suspense passages.

 

What would you like readers to take away from your book?

God is with us and we need to learn to trust our hearts.

 

What is the toughest test you've faced as a writer?
Finding time to write. I work a full-time job and also a lot of weekends, which means that I have to be really devoted to my writing time. I set aside at least an hour every night, six days a week if possible. The fact that I start with a well-developed plot makes things move faster.

 

What kind of planning do you do before writing a novel?

I fill out character sketches in order to get to know my characters better. I ask myself what their goals are, what motivates them, and what's keeping them from reaching their goals. Sometimes, I start by writing a synopsis. This gives me information about the plot as it develops. I usually have a pretty strong plot before I actually begin the story.

 

What are you working on right now?
I'm working on a thriller about a serial killer. It's a difficult story because there are several twists and turns and I have to be careful how I write it for everything to fall into place correctly.

What's next for you?

The Hot Line Girl in June. Luck of the Draw in November. 

How can readers get in contact with you?

Email: kdawnbyrd-at-yahoo.com

Blog: www.kdawnbyrd.blogspot.com

Twitter: kdawnbyrd

Pinterist: kdawnbyrd

Facebook: kdawnbyrd

  

Enjoy a brief excerpt from Something Beautiful:

He placed his hand in the small of my back, steering me around a puddle of saltwater, and I shivered even though the night air was warm. I closed my eyes. I must be dreaming. I couldn't possibly be walking down the beach with Antony Marcos.

I didn't want the moment to end, the night to end. Something deep inside of him communicated with something deep inside of me, leaving me with a feeling of safety and love that I hadn't felt in a long time. I savored the moment, taking in the moon, the stars, and the cool feel of the wet sand beneath my feet.

A woman in a dark sweat suit jogged by, her German shepherd close at her side. A toddler squealed in delight somewhere close by, but as far as I was concerned, we were the only two people in the universe.

I turned my attention back to the hunk beside me. I loved everything about Antony. I was falling fast and terrified of the damage he could do to my heart.

He paused and looked out over the water. "I love it here. I'm just so at peace near the ocean."

He pulled me into his arms, and a shiver of delight surged through me. Our eyes locked, and I wondered if he'd read my mind and somehow knew I'd give everything I owned for just one kiss. He paused as if uncertain.

I was lost in the moment. I wasn't sure how to encourage him to kiss me without seeming easy. He didn't move, merely stood there, his body rigid against mine.

When he finally moved, it wasn't as I'd planned. Antony's lips kissed my forehead and my cheeks, still denying me what I longed for, which was a kiss passionate enough to take my breath away.

I threw caution to the wind. Reaching up, I ran my fingers through his hair and pulled his head down. Once our lips met, Antony quickly took the lead. I melted into him, our heartbeats blending as his lips whispered across mine in a dance as old as eternity.

He pulled away first, leaving me breathless, but longing for more.

 

 

 

 

http://www.amazon.com/Something-Beautiful-ebook/dp/B00B3KYZAC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1358790993&sr=8-1&keywords=Something+Beautiful+by+K+Dawn+Byrd