A Soldier's Reunion Giveaway
One more giveaway for this month, and it's for Cheryl Wyatt's most recent military romance A Soldier's Reunion.
As soon as I began reading this story, I was struck by the plot and its similarities to my manuscript The Bridegroom's Revenge. The main characters were childhood friends, high school sweethearts (like mine). Our heroines deal with abandonment issues. There's interfering parents and of course, both stories are reunion romances.
So I studied this one closely because I figured I could learn some stuff. And I did. Wyatt did an awesome job of SHOWING how the characters had never forgotten each other. The hero (AKA Mr. Buff Pararescue Jumper) remembers how the heroine takes her coffee. Isn't that romantic? And the heroine hasn't removed the necklace Mr. Buff PJ gave her in high school.
Despite the strong conflicts, it's more than believable that these two characters belong together. Not only did Wyatt filter in backstory and show the characters' connection, but there's no sagging middle in her story. I got there and my jaw dropped. I wasn't sure how the story would move forward with the decisions these two characters had made, but I still had half the book to go, so I knew something good had to happen.
That's called a hook. :-)
A Soldier's Reunion came out in June so you might still be able to catch it in Wal-Mart before the July batch of books hit. Otherwise, you can buy this book on Amazon, christianbook.com or eharlequin.com. Or, you can leave a comment and be entered into the drawing to win it.
If you want to learn some more great writing tips, you can catch Wyatt all over the internet. She posts on the Seekers, talks about books at Squirrel's Treehouse and can be friended on MySpace and Facebook.
Have you ever found a book similar to yours in plot? (I know you have, MeganR) Did you study the strengths and weakness of the story?
As soon as I began reading this story, I was struck by the plot and its similarities to my manuscript The Bridegroom's Revenge. The main characters were childhood friends, high school sweethearts (like mine). Our heroines deal with abandonment issues. There's interfering parents and of course, both stories are reunion romances.
So I studied this one closely because I figured I could learn some stuff. And I did. Wyatt did an awesome job of SHOWING how the characters had never forgotten each other. The hero (AKA Mr. Buff Pararescue Jumper) remembers how the heroine takes her coffee. Isn't that romantic? And the heroine hasn't removed the necklace Mr. Buff PJ gave her in high school.
Despite the strong conflicts, it's more than believable that these two characters belong together. Not only did Wyatt filter in backstory and show the characters' connection, but there's no sagging middle in her story. I got there and my jaw dropped. I wasn't sure how the story would move forward with the decisions these two characters had made, but I still had half the book to go, so I knew something good had to happen.
That's called a hook. :-)
A Soldier's Reunion came out in June so you might still be able to catch it in Wal-Mart before the July batch of books hit. Otherwise, you can buy this book on Amazon, christianbook.com or eharlequin.com. Or, you can leave a comment and be entered into the drawing to win it.
If you want to learn some more great writing tips, you can catch Wyatt all over the internet. She posts on the Seekers, talks about books at Squirrel's Treehouse and can be friended on MySpace and Facebook.
Have you ever found a book similar to yours in plot? (I know you have, MeganR) Did you study the strengths and weakness of the story?
Comments
Happy Sunday.
Will check out the book you recommended.
Thanks for reviewing my book. Love your blog.
I'm sure there's plenty to pick apart in my writing, but I'm glad you found it beneficial to yours. LOL!
I once wrote a single title length book that won first place in the Mystery, Suspense, Thriller category of ACFW's Genesis contest. So the month I was going to pitch it, a movie came out with almost the same title and that contained similar plot elements. I was like, "Grrr!" LOL!
Ya know, it's been several years since the movie released so maybe I can pitch the book now. LOLOL!
Cheryl
LOL I have my criticisms with almost every book I read too. I just don't post them. :-)
Sometimes it's better to try to focus on what the author did right, esp. if that particular thing is missing in your own work. LIke the backstory filtering. I noticed hers because I'm afraid mine might lack that.
Happy Sunday to you too! :-) It's so bad, but I've never read those. I don't even think I could write multiple characters, so I would def. study those for help.
Thanks for naming some good (that I've heard) books.
You guys are sweet to think I'm not critical. I very much am. It's something I try to control though. Besides, every book has something worth studying, I think.
Hope you're having a great day!
That's so smart of you. I need to study characterization more. Reading in other genres is a good idea. I mean, we should definitely know the parameters of the genre we're writing in, but I think reading diversely is good for our language usage and just adds a freshness to how we see things.
I understand the grrrr... though. Yours isn't the only book that has been similar to my manuscript. And then another manuscript has some other books that are similar too. LOL
I'm glad it eased your mind and that you were able to find what that author did successfully. You have a great attitude about it!
That's such a good comment, and a relief too! When plots are similar to mine, I feel a little sad but you're so, so, so right! Style and voice really do make the book, and set it apart.
I haven't read yours but it is on my To Buy list. :-)
Thanks for another excellent review. I read someplace there are a set number of plotlines. Our individual personalities, details on setting and character all work toward a unique story.
I've heard a lot of buzz about this book. Please enter me in the drawing.
susanjreinhardt (at) gmail (dot) com
Thanks,
Susan :)
Sounds like an interesting book. :)
I read this one, too. The interfering parent at first seemed too cliche for me, but Wyatt sure knows how to spin things to make them fresh, doesn't she? I think she did a great job.
Sounds like a great book.
Sometimes, I get so caught up in studying the strengths and weaknesses of books that I forget to enjoy the story! LOL.
Have a great day!
That's a really good way to look at it.
Thanks everyone for your comments! You're all entered. :-) I'm behind on blog post reading so I'm just leaving this little comment. Hope you all don't mind.
Your book sounds fun! I'd love to get more into romance. It's something I've neglected. Like sci-fi and fantasy. I know I'm missing out!