Author Leslie Hachtel Talks About Why She Chose to Write About Romance

I invited romance author Leslie Hachtel for a visit to the DIY Mom Blog. Leslie is the author of over a dozen novels and I was curious about what made her choose to write in the romance genre. What she had to say was absolutely lovely! 

WHY ROMANCE?

Books offer us a way to explore anything we choose. We can time-travel or visit outer space. We can spend time with people who lived long before us or those that will be here long after. We can experience other cultures and learn just about anything. Books are a door to the universe.

I’ve often heard it said that romance is the “redheaded stepchild” of literature. I vehemently disagree.

Have you watched the news lately? It's full of one atrocity after another, of people being hurt in so many terrible ways, while stories of love and kindness are too rare.

In a world full of so much negativity, don't we all have a desire for better? Wouldn't we all like to have that "happily ever after"?

The everyday is sometimes so difficult and enervating and romance novels offer a special respite. They let us discover men and women who face hardship and come out on the other side, stronger and strengthened by love. They lift us higher and give us the one thing we need: Hope.

I think we need romance novels most of all now, which is why I keep writing, and reading, them.

                     



Leslie is the author of over a dozen romance novels. Her genres include historical, contemporary, romantic suspense and historical/paranormal since she loves them all. She lives in Florida with her fabulously supportive husband, Bob, and, of course, with Jakita, the terrier. 

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston is a Beautiful, Important and Timeless Classic

Finally, my Great American Read slump is over! I was able to grab a copy of Zora Neale Hurston's "Their Eyes Were Watching God" at my local library's sale for just $1... what a find this was. 

I loved this book and can't say enough wonderful things about it. Have you read it? Feel free to comment below. I'd love to hear your thoughts! 

It’s early 1900s in rural West Florida and Janie Crawford is a light-skinned African American sixteen year old when we first meet her. She lives with her grandmother, who has some very definite ideas about how Janie should live her life, and this includes whom Janie should marry. Over the years, and over the course of two marriages, we see Janie grow up and struggle to come into her own. It’s only during her third marriage to the charismatic, adventurous Tea Cake that we see Janie finally grow and thrive as an active participant in her own life.

I finished this book several days ago and decided to let the story marinate in my mind before I wrote my thoughts. I knew I loved Their Eyes Were Watching God, but I just wanted to be sure that I understood why I loved it.

At the heart of this beautiful, tender, gripping novel is the story of a young woman who is not at all content living someone else’s life, yet readers are given small glimpses of the strong, intelligent woman Janie truly is. To me, Janie’s life mirrors some of the struggles that so many women face in life. The author’s use of symbolism in her prose to describe the differences and similarities between men and women is nothing short of poetry.

I know that many readers have found the vernacular dialect in Their Eyes difficult, if not almost impossible, to read and understand. While it did slow me down somewhat, I do think it was a brilliant way for the author to tell the story in two distinctly separate voices. I urge anyone who has given up on the book for this reason to try again. It really doesn’t take long to begin to understand the slang and regional dialect and it is so worth the little added effort.

The story begins shortly after Emancipation and the author doesn’t shy away from broaching the topic of race and equality. The author is an expert at subtly weaving the topic of racism within the book’s passages. Mrs. Turner’s racism against darker skinned blacks and Nanny’s rape are just two examples. Yet race is not the main topic in Their Eyes. The book focuses much more on gender inequality, Janie, and her life as an African-American woman living in the South during that time. This is an important, timeless classic. I’d encourage anyone to read it.

5 of 5 Stars, Review by Susan Barton, DIY Mom Blog

First Impressions by Debra White Smith Book Review

First Impressions is described as a “Contemporary Retelling of Pride and Prejudice” – A Jane Austen classic. In this version, lawyer Eddi Boswick joins a local theater production of Pride and Prejudice because she’s bored with her life outside of work in small town London, Texas. She’s given the leading role, opposite the town’s most popular, yet pompous bachelor Dave Davidson. Off to a rocky start during an initial stormy (literally) meeting, the two would-be actors skirt around the heart of the matter – their genuine attraction for one another.

I love Jane Austen. I love Pride and Prejudice. I also love most retellings of Austen’s classic novels. This one? Not so much. I found it wordy, cheesy and difficult to get into. I struggled to connect with any of the characters and was not at all a fan of the author’s overly descriptive writing. It was highly predictable, which isn’t necessarily a deal breaker for me – especially when it comes to romance novels.

I’m confused about the duplicate editions of this book. I noticed there is an earlier version of this book – same title and author – that was released in 2004. Nothing about this version says it’s an updated, revised or re-edited edition. I can only assume it’s the same book, released by two different publishers.

There is a clear Christian, faith-based message within this book, which I don’t have a problem with, but some people might. Particularly since there’s no mention of this anywhere in the book description.

I really wanted to like this book, but I honestly could not. Other readers might appreciate it more than I did, but I just didn’t enjoy it. I received a complimentary copy from Bethany House Publishers.

2 of 5 Stars

Book Review of The Little French Bistro by Nina George

Sixty-year-old Marianne Messmann has had enough of her loveless, one-sided marriage of forty plus years. Lothar Messman is an overbearing oaf who has no idea how to show Marianne the love and affection she so desperately wants. For far too long, Marianne has blamed herself and when she becomes overwhelmingly despondent during their Paris vacation, she wanders off to end it all. When her suicide doesn’t go as planned, Marianne uses the near death experience to embark on an adventure of self-discovery and reinvention.

I read Nina George’s “The Little Paris Bookshop” and was less than enthusiastic about it. In it, George writes from the male perspective and I couldn’t find it convincing or compelling. The Little French Bistro, by comparison, was fabulous. Writing from the female perspective, to me, makes the author’s voice so much more believable and enjoyable.

The Little French Bistro brings a lovely cast of characters together. The 60+ crowd has great deal of experience with life, love and loss to teach younger generations and this theme shines through beautifully in this book. I loved every single character here. The author does a wonderful job of creating believable, likable characters that peel away layers to reveal their genuine hopes, dreams, thoughts, feelings and faults.

I can’t say enough good things about The Little French Bistro. It’s definitely worth reading and the characters will stay with you long after you’ve finished. Thanks to the publisher and the now defunct Blogging for Books for a complimentary copy.

5 of 5 Stars, Review by Susan Barton, DIY Mom Blog

Free Christian Romance Novel - Dream with Me, Cowboy by Debra Clopton

Here's another FREE Amazon book. This one is a fun Christian romance by Debra Clopton. Definitely worth the download!

DIY Mom Review:

Lacy Brown drives from Dallas and arrives in Mule Hollow, Texas after reading a “wives wanted” newspaper ad. Lacy thinks she’s going to be the town’s new matchmaker, but God has other plans for her.

This was a sweet and fun Christian romance novel. It’s fewer than three hundred pages, and the author’s engaging, fast-paced writing keeps the story moving nicely. I breezed through it in an afternoon.

The characters are genuine and likable. I enjoyed the storyline even if it was a tiny bit predictable in spots. There were plenty of additional subplots and supporting characters within the story to keep readers interested.

If you like fun, clean romance novels, then you’ll love this one.

5 of 5 Stars, Review by Susan Barton

FREE on Amazon.com Here

Spotlight on Accidental Arrangements Romance Novel by Alexandra Warren

Publication Date: December 20, 2016

Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Language: English

ASIN: B01N4GE312

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Not all arrangements are truly by design. Some happen by chance, by fate, by… accident.

Jules Tyler is in desperate need of a roommate. Levi Graham is in desperate need of a room. And while it may seem like the perfect match from the outside, it doesn’t take long for egos, expectations, and experiences to say otherwise.

But what happens when the proximity builds a chemistry between them that neither is prepared to handle? Will living as roommates become too much to bear? Or will it be the perfect jumpstart to a happily ever after?

*Note: While it can be read as a standalone, this book does contain major spoilers for the Spite Series.

PURCHASE ACCIDENTAL ARRANGEMENTS ON AMAZON.COM

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Alexandra Warren is a twenty-something year old Nebraska girl who enjoys teaching, blogging, traveling, and of course, writing. Contemporary Romance novellas are her absolute favorite to write as well as to read. With thirteen books under her belt, and more on the way, she is excited to see what 2017 will bring!

Readers can learn more about Alexandra on her website.

Quirky, Cute and Funny - Book Review of "Finding Fraser" by K C Dyer

Are you looking for a cute contemporary romance novel? I just finished "Finding Fraser" by K C Dyer and I loved it! It's a quick read and filled with likable characters. My book review is below.

Emma Sheridan is on the cusp of her 30th birthday and she’s decided to do something daring. After selling everything she owns, she books a flight to Scotland in search of her very own Jamie Fraser – heroic hunk and star of the Diana Gabaldon's “Outlander” book series. Emma has been woefully unlucky in love and although she’s clearly venturing out of her comfort zone she’s determined to see her plan through.

Who doesn’t remember being almost thirty and trying to find ourselves? To a certain degree, I could relate to Emma’s end-of-twenties-crisis. Although my cusp of 30 included a knucklehead (ex) husband and three children, which leads me to my only real “criticism” of Finding Fraser. I found Emma’s character to be quite immature for twenty-nine. She was also overly naïve and slightly neurotic. Yet, Emma’s “quirky” personality made the story work so well that I was quickly able to go with it.

Yes, Finding Fraser was a little silly at times and the coincidences were a tad unrealistic, but it’s fiction and I honestly enjoyed it. There were a number of laugh out loud moments that managed to avoid being cheesy or slapstick. The author’s writing is wonderfully suited to this genre. The book flows nicely and the characters are well-developed. My favorite character was Jack. I found him absolutely charming and vulnerable. Morag was a likable, tough broad and Ash was a sweetheart. I wanted to slap Hamish and Sophia…Hamish for being such a big jerk and Sophia for being such a nagging shrew. So all in all I’d say I had no trouble at all connecting with the characters.

I would recommend this book even if you haven’t read any of the Outlander books. Finding Fraser doesn’t rely heavily on Diana Gabaldon’s books. In fact you don’t really have to know much at all about them. Ms. Dyer’s descriptive passages paint a beautiful picture of Scotland so that made it easier to understand the history and landscape. Worth the read!

5 of 5 Stars, Review by Susan Barton

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.