Tag: writing

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THE REHABILITATION OF ANGEL SINCLAIR by @Nancee_Cain #newrelease #romance #5starreview

Jennifer Lane
Title: The Rehabilitation of Angel Sinclair
Series: A Pine Bluff Novel
Author: Nancee Cain
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: April 27, 2018

Angel Sinclair arrives in Pine Bluff, Alabama with one goal: make amends and move on. But his chance meeting with the beautiful owner of Sleep Inn on the Lake lands him a job, a place to stay, and something else he hasn’t had for years in his life: love and trust.
Still reeling from a bitter divorce, Maggie Robertson is determined to start over as proprietress of a new bed and breakfast. Getting involved with anyone in this gossipy small town is not on her to-do list–especially someone closer to her son’s age than her own.
When she opens the door to find the dreadlocked and tattooed Angel on her porch, her quiet life and preconceived notions are turned upside down. Maggie’s self-confidence soars under his undivided attention. Angel is drawn by Maggie’s quiet acceptance…and he can’t stop staring at her ass.
But Angel’s fondness for Maggie’s company is topped only by his penchant for keeping secrets, which leads Maggie to wonder if she has it wrong. Perhaps age differences do matter, opposites should not be allowed to attract, and love does not conquer all–even if it’s written on the wall.

Here’s my 5-star review!

The Rehabilitation of Angel Sinclair (A Pine Bluff Novel, #3)The Rehabilitation of Angel Sinclair by Nancee Cain
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Homeless Addict Woos Insecure Divorcee: Who’s Rehabilitating Who?

Recovering heroin addict, Angel, walks into Pine Bluff, Alabama to meet up with an old friend. But what he finds on his journey is a new romantic partner, Maggie. In this lovely addition to the Pine Bluff series, Angel and Maggie rehabilitate each other.

Nancee Cain’s experience in the addiction field shines through in this story. Angel’s family problems and resulting low self-worth are heartbreaking. His mother’s eating disorder and his father’s cold criticism contributed to his risk for addiction. When Angel first meets Maggie and she questions if he has stolen from her, his hangdog resignation made me cry. But Maggie looks beneath his hopeless, scruffy facade to see his inner strength and talent.

I have trouble understanding the attraction young women have for much older men, but I find the age difference between Angel and Maggie to be refreshing. Fourteen years older than Angel, Maggie dances to Rick James’ “Super Freak” and bakes delicious goodies as she tries to get her bed and breakfast off the ground. Angel helps her mission by becoming her handyman, and boy is he ever handy. Although Angel is wise beyond his years, he enjoys professing himself as her boy toy.

At first, Maggie believes that Angel’s friend, Emma, is his girlfriend, turning her green with envy:

Maybe she’d break one of her long, Barbie legs. Maggie didn’t wish her anything too serious or harmful, just a fracture that would leave her totally immobilized. She’d even make her a cake and wish her a speedy recovery. Then, with luck, this Emma would gain thirty pounds.

Angel is a masterful artist and his guestbook full of sketches of scenes from around the inn is quite the thoughtful gift he gives to Maggie. I’m such a rule follower that Angel’s secret habit of spray-painting graffiti made me uncomfortable, but his “writing” has realistic consequences.

Like most women, Maggie has negative body image, which frustrates Angel.

“Maggie, when will you believe me when I say you’re beautiful?”

“I’m not twenty-five,” she replied. “I need to lose ten pounds–“

“Hush.”

He placed a hand over her mouth. “Don’t talk about the woman I’m crazy about like that. It pisses me off, because she’s perfect as is.”

It’s like Angel is the first man to really see Maggie, as a smart, competent, sexy woman. Maybe Maggie can grow to see herself that way as well?

“Maggie? Who takes care of you?”

“Me?” She pulled away. “I don’t understand what you mean.”

“I bet you took care of your dad. I know you catered to Brian and Phillip. Who has ever taken care of you?”

“I’m f-fine. I can take care of myself.”

“I know you can. But what if I want to take care of you? Would you trust me enough to let me?”

Wow, every woman needs an Angel in her life. Maggie is drawn to caring for Angel’s wounded soul, and Angel is drawn to building Maggie’s faltering confidence, but both realize that they have to be whole in their own right to make this romance work.

We get to meet the hero of the next book in the series: Angel’s estranged older brother, Damien. Damien is a ruthless attorney who likes to play violin on the roof (in particular, one of my favorite songs–“Meditation” from Thais). Damien tries to dissuade Maggie from loving his addict brother, but Maggie tells him off. I look forward to learning more about this complex character and his future love interest!

Each unique story in this series gets stronger and deeper. Highly recommended!

View all my reviews

During the day, Nancee works as a counselor/nurse in the field of addiction to support her coffee and reading habit. Nights are spent writing paranormal and contemporary romances with a serrated edge. Authors are her rock stars, and she’s been known to stalk a few for an autograph, but not in a scary, Stephen King way. Her husband swears her To-Be-Read list on her e-reader qualifies her as a certifiable book hoarder. Always looking to try something new, she dreams of being an extra in a Bollywood film, or a tattoo artist. (Her lack of rhythm and artistic ability may put a damper on both of these dreams.)
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#IWSG Set Fire to the Rain

Jennifer Lane

Happy spring, writers! Join us as we vent and cheer at the monthly Insecure Writers Support Group, hosted by Alex J Cavanaugh.


Thank you to this month’s co-hosts:


IWSG Day Question: 


When your writing life is a bit cloudy or filled with rain, what do you do to dig down and keep on writing?

This is a timely question for me because it feels like fog has rolled into my writing life. I haven’t written since December of 2017. I’m not upset about it–I just don’t have ideas for new stories whispering in my ear. So I’m not digging down deep for now, but that’s okay with me.

Instead of writing, I’ve enjoyed hanging with my friends and family on the weekends. I visited one sister (along with my 4-month-old niece) in South Carolina in March, and I’ll visit my other sister (and three nephews) in Chicago in April. 

I also found time to assemble Pinterest recipes for Easter, each with only 3 ingredients:

Butterfinger Eggs




I look forward to learning how you respond to the rain.
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#IWSG Celebrate Writing Goals…Take a Break?

Jennifer Lane

Happy March, Writers! Thank you to Alex J Cavanaugh for starting the Insecure Writers Support Group, where we air our hopes and fears.


Make sure to visit this month’s cohosts:

 Mary Aalgaard, Bish Denham,Jennifer Hawes, Diane Burton, and Gwen Gardner!

IWSG Day Question: How do you celebrate when you achieve a writing goal / finish a story?

I haven’t paid enough attention to celebrating in the past, maybe due to my worried brain and achiever personality. Instead of basking in the glory, I often jump to the next goal.

But my psychologist friend, Karen, insists on taking me out to dinner when I finish a novel, and it is important to revel in satisfaction after a completed goal.

Upon finishing a novel, I typically have a sequel or new story hopping in my brain. Since I finished Twin Sacrifice, though, it’s been pretty quiet up in hearrre. 

I pushed hard at marketing my latest release and have felt bummed by sales, although the reviews have been very kind. Maybe my overall lack of plot ideas and return on marketing investment are a sign to take a break from writing for a while.

Have you taken a lengthy break from writing? How’d it go?




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#IWSG Genres We Love to Write #Marketing #NewRelease

Jennifer Lane

Happy February, writers! Join us for our monthly group therapy, hosted by Alex Cavanaugh.

Hop over to visit this month’s kick-butt co-hosts!



IWSG Question: What do you love about the genre you write in most often?

I write multiple genres so I’ll mention one aspect I love about each:

Romance — A spark of attraction that deepens into intimacy provides emotional depth in the story.

Suspense — Torturing my characters by imprisoning them or sicking the Mafia on their tail creates needed plot conflict and hopefully keeps readers turning the pages.

Sports — The pursuit of excellence, against mighty odds, reveals character.

Psychology — Throwing characters into therapy is an ideal mechanism for character development and healing.


I’m gearing up for the release of psychological thriller (with suspense and romance) TWIN SACRIFICE on 2-28-18.

Thank you to all who shared my cover reveal, including IWSGers Shannon from The Warrior Muse, Jacqui from Word Dreams, Miranda Burski, Cathrina Constantine, and Nicki Elson’s Not So Deep Thoughts. Your support is awesome.

Here’s my marketing plan:

* Goodreads giveaway

* Facebook release party

* Netgalley listing for 6 months

* Pre-order Blitz and Release Tour by Book Partners in Crime Productions

* I made the ebook available on Amazon for pre-order and I’ll do author takeovers at a few friends’ Facebook pages

If you have additional marketing ideas that have worked for you, please let me know. Happy writing!

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#IWSG Writing Schedule New Release TWIN SACRIFICE

Jennifer Lane

Welcome to 2018’s first Insecure Writer’s Support Group! We’re a “safe space” to share our hopes and fears, created by our intrepid leader, Alex Cavanaugh. I’m excited to be your co-host today, along with these witty writers:






*This month’s question: What steps have you taken or plan to take to put a schedule in place for your writing and publishing?

At first, writing consumed me so much that I wrote every day. Now, I only write on weekends (unless I’m traveling). I’m okay with that schedule because I’m too wiped out from the day job to write on weeknights, and no way in hell am I waking up early to write!

I also aim for publishing one new release a year. On February 28, 2018, I’m launching my first psychological thriller, Twin Sacrifice.


Do you have a little time to help spread the word for my new release? 

You can add Twin Sacrifice to Goodreads HERE. 

A larger time investment is signing up for the cover reveal, pre-order blitz, and/or review tour HERE. Book Partners in Crime will send you super easy HTML for your blog.


Here’s to an amazing 2018! May you strive for and reach your writing goals.
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#IWSG Looking Back, Looking Forward #NewRelease

Jennifer Lane

Happy December to all Writers! Join us for the Insecure Writers Support Group, developed by Alex Cavanaugh and maintained by lovely writers everywhere.


Visit today’s co-hosts:


Co-Hosts: Julie Flanders,Shannon Lawrence, Fundy Blue, Heather Gardner!

IWSG Question: As you look back on 2017, with all its successes and failures, if you could backtrack, what would you do differently?

After just getting weighed at the doctor’s *gulps*, I would have set up the standing desk I bought. Amazon delivered it months ago and it sits still neatly packed in its box while I sit my life away as a therapist and author. One hour of exercise doesn’t counteract fifteen of sitting. Sitting is the new smoking, they say, *coughs*

How’s your writing?

I’m in the exciting phase of writing: preparing for publication! My editor is polishing and my book designer is creating a cover for the launch of TWIN SACRIFICE. Inspired by a dream, I started this novel in 2009 and kept diverting to other projects before finishing it in 2017. It’s my first psychological thriller and I’m psyched for reader feedback.

Twin Sacrifice is up on Goodreads and I’ll post signups soon for the cover reveal on 1/10/18 and the release tour on 2/28/18.

Happy holidays!

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#IWSG: Good luck #NaNoWriMo !

Jennifer Lane

Happy November, writers! Once again I almost forgot to post on the first Wednesday of the month for Insecure Writers Support Group, but I saw a post on my lovely critique partner’s blog and got busy writing this at work! (Thanks, Nicki Elson.)

How’s your writing? I’m hustling to finish my WIP by the end of this month to squeeze into my editor’s schedule. I only have two chapters left to write, but one is rather pivotal to the plot and I haven’t figured out the details yet. I also am writing what I DON’T know by deciding to include chemistry in this story. Not the romantic kind, but the lab chemicals kind. If you’re a chemist and want to take a stab at an aspect of my plot that’s vexing me, please let me know!

IWSG question of the month:

Win or not, do you usually finish your NaNo project? 
 
I’ve never tried NaNo. Combine my busy fall schedule at the day job with my anxious tendencies and I think it would feel like way too much pressure. I like writing to be fun and refreshing, so a daily goal might not work for my style.

But I wish much productivity for those writers undertaking this November adventure!


This post is part of the monthly blog hop/therapy session known as Insecure Writer’s Support Group, founded by the one and clonely Alex J. Cavanaugh. Click below to join the group!


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New Release: EMOTIONAL WOUND THESAURUS #writerspersevere

Jennifer Lane

Hi everyone! Today I have a special post as part of the Writers Persevere event that authors Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi are running for the next few days to celebrate their newest book, The Emotional Wound Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Psychological Trauma. This book explores the difficult experiences embedded in our characters’ backstory which will shape their motivation and behavior afterward. Check out my 5-star review HERE.

To help them celebrate this release, many of us are posting stories about some of the obstacles we’ve overcome as writers. As we all know, this isn’t an easy path. Writing is hard and as writers we tend to struggle with doubt. Sometimes too, we don’t always get the support we need to follow our passion, or we have added challenges that make writing more difficult. Because people are sharing their stories this week about how they worked through these challenges to keep writing, I wanted to post about it, too.

~*~


I never intended to become a writer, but life is what happens when we’re making our plans.

I was lucky to land my psychologist dream job in 2000. Too bad it turned into a nightmare by 2007. My bosses didn’t value my work and made threats to my livelihood. At that time, I became hooked on the TV show, Prison Break. Its dark themes and conspiracy theories matched my workplace misery. Through connecting with rabid Prison Break fans across the world, I learned about fan fiction. What? Hacks writing stories about TV stories?

You guessed it–I became one of those hacks and started writing my own fan fiction. At first my writing stunk but my TV show buddies encouraged me to keep going. When reality sucked, I turned to fiction. I left my bitter job and started a new job at a friendly, supportive clinic that taught me a useful specialty. Inspired by fan fiction, I wrote thousands of words and then found a publisher to launch those words into the universe.

I’m now working on my eighth novel. In a strange twist of events, I returned to the old job in 2013 and version 2.0 is going swimmingly.

My emotional wound is a great example of how pain can lead to beauty and strength. Write on, friends!


~*~

Do you have a story to share, or some advice for others? You can join Becca and Angela at Writers Helping Writers from October 25-27th, where we are celebrating writers and their stories of perseverance. Stop in, and tell them about a challenge or struggle your faced, or if you like, write a post on your own blog and share it using the hashtag #writerspersevere.  Let’s fill social media with yourstrength and let other writers know that it’s okay to question and have doubts but we shouldn’t let that stop us. 

GIVEAWAY ALERT! 

There’s a prize vault filled with items that can give your writing career a boost at Writers Helping Writers. 

I would love for one of you to win something that will help you get closer to your goal! 
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#IWSG Inserting Yourself into Your Characters #amwriting

Jennifer Lane

Doh! I almost forgot IWSG two months in a row (busy fall at my day job). Thanks to Alex Cavanaugh for creating this supportive group.


October’s Question: Have you ever slipped any of your personal information into your characters, either by accident or on purpose?

Oh, yes, in multiple books, on purpose. (That sounds narcissistic!) As a psychologist/author (psycho author), I throw all of my characters into therapy, and the therapist character often channels me in some way. And in my swimming novel, Streamline, the heroine’s friend was a backstroker who struggled with her body image–also autobiographical.

I look forward to hearing how other authors have inserted themselves into their characters.

How is your writing? I’m 80% done with my romantic suspense and I’m really excited about releasing it into the world maybe January or February of 2018. I keep changing the title (my original idea was Twin Sacrifice) and my latest brainstorm is My Life For My Brother. How does that title sound to you?

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#IWSG Reading Pet Peeves

Jennifer Lane


Crap, where did June and July go? It’s time for the August edition of Insecure Writers Support Group where we share our fears and successes.

Thanks to Alex Cavanaugh and this month’s co-hosts!
Co-Hosts:


IWSG Question: What are your pet peeves when reading / writing / editing?


After working with professional editors for seven novels, I’ve become a stickler for grammar and spelling. One word I see consistently misspelled (even in traditionally published novels) is BLOND.

My editor taught me that the only time to use the spelling BLONDE is describing a female as a noun. 

The sassy blonde approached me.

When using blond as an adjective (or as a noun for a blond man), THERE IS NO E!!!

The sassy, blond woman approached me.

I fell for the blond dude in a heartbeat.

Holy Leo DeCaprio, he’s hot! I fell for that blond in a heartbeat.


Speaking of pet peeves, do you ever read an early work of yours and cringe? Adverb abuse was rampant in my debut novel, romantic suspense With Good Behavior. So I edited the hell out of it and we re-launch it on 8/14/17.

If you have a moment to share my re-release the week of 8/14, signups are HERE. Thanks!