Sassy Reviews

December 11, 2022December 13, 2022

Interview with author Dani Besnard

Q1. Hello, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.

My name is Dani Besnard, and I’m a 23 year old writer, oil painter, animal lover, and an apprentice funeral director and embalmer.

Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘Shattered Ice And Fury’ book?

Making sure that I kept writing what I wanted to write, without getting too caught up in what others might think or like. Writing what you want to read isn’t always easy when you plan on sharing it with the world.

Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?

Sarah. J. Mass and Jennifer L. Armentrout are huge influencers of mine. I also love any and all fantasy movies and animes. Narnia, Lord of the Rings, and the Last Avatar have always been big influences on my love for the themes in my writing of this series of mine.

Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?

Probably the mountains, so west Alberta and British Columbia. There’s something close to magical about the mountains for me. It’s going to be a huge influence in the later books in this series. I also love the east coast, so Nova Scotia. I’ve lived there in the past, and the ocean has always been a huge part of my life. It touches my soul. Maybe that’s why the ocean waters and its mysterious depth were a huge part of Shattered Ice and Fury.

Q5. Is there lots to do before you drive in and start writing a book?

I try and plan out my villain first, that way I can shape the world around it. It’s a lot easier to customize a character when it’s one that has to be a problem for the villain. The other way around has always seemed harder to me.

Q6. How long did it take you to write ‘Shattered Ice And Fury’ book?

I wrote it in about a year, due to life getting in the way. I took another year to edit and create the final draft.

Q7. On what all platforms readers can find ‘Shattered Ice And Fury’ book to buy?

Amazon. Google Book. Soon it will also be on Barnes and Noble.

Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Shattered Ice And Fury’?

Rage, anger, and anxiety is a theme in my novel, and they are things I have battled with personally. Ice is a more obvious part of the book once you get about a quarter of the way through or so. I would lay in bed and play with these themes in my head to come up with a good title. That one popped up and it simply stuck.

Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?

I think I would get bored of writing from a single person’s perspective for an entire book. I get bored easily, and adapt much too quickly. Giving myself the perspective of four characters to play with was a lot of fun, and I can only hope my readers enjoy it. I also have a hard time getting into books if they take too long to get going with the plot, which is why the plot goes off from the very beginning. You start off in one setting, and do a 360 by the end of the first chapter!

Q10. Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?

Well first of all, it’s only the first book of a series. It’s not obvious on the cover, so expect more to come! There isn’t much else I can say beyond that without giving too much away from the book.

December 10, 2022

A Week with Waffles

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: A Week with Waffles 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Tom Speicher ✍️
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🚀 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰:
I love reading children’s books. This time, I got my hands on the book “A week with Waffles” penned by the author Tom Speicher and illustrated by Marina Saumell.

The story features Waffles, a guinea pig. She is blessed with a lot of love and joy in her life. Waffles’ week is all planned with different activities and with different people but she spends most of her time with her best friend Tom.

Get your hands on a copy of this book and read it yourself to know what all activities Waffles do in a week.

Waffles Weekly Planner has inspired me to have my own weekly plan. It seems like a fun idea. I appreciate the storytelling skills of the author. This is a great book for bedtime reading.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

★ Book Is Available On Amazon

December 10, 2022

Are you Still in love with Who?

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Are you Still in love with Who? 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Nicole Brown ✍️
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🚀 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰:
“Are you Still in love with Who?” is a short read. It is the second installment in “Who Do You Love?” book series.

The first poem “I’m Still in Love With …. Who?” is a love story. We all imagine a happily ever after but sometimes our loved one is taken away from us and we miss him/her.

Tired of Being Alone is about a person who is tired of being alone. She wants her lover to come home.

Learn how to treat a woman, The Time of my Life, It’s Okay are some of my favorite poems from the collection. I enjoyed reading this poetry book while sitting on my front porch. The poems are short and meaningful.

Those who have been in a relationship would be able to relate well to these poems. I enjoyed reading this anthology. I strongly recommend this book for adult readers. Go for it without any second thoughts.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

★ Book Is Available On Amazon

December 10, 2022

God’s Calling You To Live A Life That’s True

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: God’s Calling You To Live A Life That’s True 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Nicole Brown ✍️
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🚀 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰:
“God’s Calling You To Live A Life That’s True” is a poetry journal about God’s call for a lost soul. The Man you Sent, Help my Honey, We Won’t Give up, etc are some of the interesting poems from the collection.

Below lines from the poem “A Real Woman” is something I really loved.

A real woman loves,
Her man with the love of God.
A real woman knows,
That pleasing her man is her job.
A real woman prays,
For her man when he’s doing wrong. A real woman lays, It’s down in the kitchen.
A real woman takes,
Good care of that man’s children.

One could connect very well to the emotions expressed in this book. A real woman stays by her man’s side in difficult situations too. This book strengthens my faith in God. If you are also lost, then read this book. You will realize that God is there to help us. The author has mentioned that God’s help will give a green light to our true calling and I strongly believe that.

I am glad to get my hands on this book. The title is suitable. Once I started reading these poems, I couldn’t put this book down. I appreciate the poetic language that the author has used in this book. Looking forward to reading more books by Nicole soon.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4/5

★ Book Is Available On Amazon

December 10, 2022

Wet Dreams

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Wet Dreams 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Nicole Brown ✍️
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🚀 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰:
Wet Dreams is a poetry journal written by the author Nicole Brown. It is a collection of a few mature poems. A few months ago, I wasn’t even aware about the term wet dreams. I heard it in some web series and then I explored the topic.

In the poem Wet Dreams, the author has explained what it is. Shy Girl (Not So Shy) is about a girl who is shy and quiet in public but behind closed doors, she loves playing with her special one.

The poem lollipop suggests only sucking it and not biting it. This lollipop is offered to her by him. So, she deserves it.

Since it’s an erotic read, you would come across many adult words in this book. The language used in the book is simple and adult. The cover photo of the book is nice and the title is suitable according to the contents of the book.

Since this book involves mature content, it is for mature readers only. If you are comfortable reading poems that involves erotic thoughts then go ahead with this one. Whether your fantasies have been acted upon or not, this book is for you.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

★ Book Is Available On Amazon

December 9, 2022

A Compromising Position

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: A Compromising Position 📚

𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Diane Merrill Wigginton ✍️..🚀

𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰:

A Compromising Position is the first book by Diane Merrill Wigginton that I have read. It is a romance novel.

The main characters of the story are Jake Ryan and Catherine Lawrence. Jake is from Australia. He has just moved to Florida and is a next-door neighbor of Catherine now. Catherine was raised by her grandmother and father. Before her death, Catherine’s grandmother laid a fifteen year plan for her and Catherine focussed on it entirely. She followed a strict schedule with no distractions.

When she met Jake for the first time, she was offended by a few of his manners, mainly because of the cultural differences. Jake knew that he had to work more on Catherine to bridge the gap between them.

This book is according to my reading taste. I enjoyed every bit of it. The writing style of the author is amazing. The story is fast paced and I wasn’t bored anytime while reading it. The narration is smooth. I would be interested in reading more of Diane’s work.

• 𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

★ Book Is Available On Amazon

December 9, 2022

Falling Home

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Falling Home 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Libby Kay ✍️
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🚀 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰:
Falling Home by Libby Kay is a contemporary romance novel with which you will fall in love the moment you start reading it. Since I love reading romantic stories, I got my hands on this book.

It is the first installment in the Buckeye Falls book series. Ginny Meyer and Max Sanchez will capture all your attention in this book. The cover photo looks lovely. It shows Max in an apron as he loves his diner too.

This book inspired me to visit Buckeye Falls, Ohio. I appreciate the author’s choice of location for the backdrop setting.

It is the debut book of the author and Libby has done wonderful work in her debut book. Those who are fans of holiday romance stories would be delighted to read this one. I enjoyed this book so much that I forgot the real world around me for a while. I wish to read many more books by the author in the future.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

★ Book Is Available On Amazon

December 9, 2022December 10, 2022

Interview with author Diane Merrill Wigginton

Q1. Hello, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.

Hello to everyone,

I am an Author/Publisher who started writing late in life.

I was nearly 50 when I wrote my first novel, Angelina’s Secret. A mix of romance, suspense, and adventure. That of course led to Isabella’s Heart, and Olivia’s Promise, the three books in my Jeweled Dagger Series.

I was born in Riverside, California but moved to San Diego, California when I was seven. I moved to Sacramento with my husband and kids in 2001 where we spent seventeen years on a 5 ½ acre ranch.

In 2018 my husband and I moved to Kalispell, Montana when we retired from our full-time jobs.

I love it here and it feels like a vacation every day. A really great vacation with a view.

My husband and I have a his-mine-and-ours blended family thing going on. I had 2 kids, a daughter, and a son when we met, he had 3 sons and then we had 1 son together. It was kismet.

I have written 5 novels, the 5th one is being released on December 6th. It is a contemporary romance called, “A Compromising Position.” I am also working on a 6th novel and a 7th simultaneously because I’m a little nuts like that, and I have been working to get my children’s book illustrated, and hope to release it next year in 2023. It will be released in English and Spanish.

I moved my 82-year-old mother in with us 2 1/2 years ago, because of some health issues she has. She recently fell and broke her hip. So, she needs a lot of hand-holding as we get past this hurdle, but I only have one mother and she’s worth it.

That is just a small glimpse into my busy, crazy life. I hope you reach out to me and follow me on Goodreads.

Here is my shameless promotion, I am looking for readers who are interested in reviewing my new book, A Compromising Position, and any of the other wonderful novels in my collection.

Universal link https://books2read.com/u/md1yQWAmazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BMJSCP4J

Book-Blip https://www.book-blip.com/product-page/a-compromising-position-pre-order

I really look forward to hearing from you and building a wonderful, lasting friendship. These are just a few links I can be found at;

https://www.bookbub.com/profile/diane-merrill-wigginton?follow=true

Bookfunnel landing page https://BookHip.com/FFJRKAT

https://dl.bookfunnel.com/or6i6xwf99

https://www.amazon.com/author/dianemerrillwigginton

https://www.facebook.com/AngelinasSecretBook/

Tweets by wiggintondiane

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8355606.Diane_Merrill_Wigginton

https://www.linkedin.com/in/diane-merrill-wigginton

Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing your book ‘A Compromising Position’?

I think the most challenging thing was to write a book that reflected the story I wanted to write. I had multiple edits and even up to the end I had the manuscript edited three more times to check for any last-minute mistakes. You know how that goes. There are always missed corrections and I hate it when I read my own books and find a mistake. So, I went the extra mile with this one and I hope no one finds any mistakes.

Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?

I think that everyone is influenced by what they read. The reason I began to write is that every romance I read started to seem, like the same storyline. I was bored and wanted an epic romance with adventure, suspense and something unexpected. That was my first book, Angelina’s Secret. I won a Benjamin Franklin Award for that book. And an International Writers Inspiring Change Award for the 3 book Series, Jeweled Dagger Series.

Q4. What’s your favorite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?

I love where I live because I can look out my office window at home and see deer or elk walking through my backyard. I also like to go to Glacier National Forest and hike around to see the amazing scenery and views of waterfalls and lakes.

Q5. Is there a lot to do before you dive in and start writing a book?

There is always research, but sometimes I just start writing down an idea and come back to it later when I’m ready to get serious about that particular project.

Q6. How long did it take you to write ‘A Compromising Position’ book?

Well it took me longer than usual because I began to write the story then I had to go down to Sacramento to pack up my mother’s house and sell the property. It took me 6 weeks to clean everything up and get it ready to sell. Then I moved her into my house, and there were so many doctor’s appointments. Then life stepped into the middle of everything and well, to tell you the truth, I would say that it took a year and a half to write the manuscript. then another year’s worth of editing and design. It’s really hard to say.

Q7. On what platforms can readers buy your book ?

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BMJSCP4J Book-blip https://www.book-blip.com/product-page/a-compromising-position-pre-orderBookfunnel https://read.bookfunnel.com/read/go3mpbhfce

This is a universal link https://books2read.com/u/md1yQW

Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘A Compromising Position’?

I hire people that give me several options and then we go back and forth until it looks like what I have in my head. It really is a fun process. Then I will ask several close friends their opinions. I like to see what others think too.

Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?

I don’t outline, I write from the seat of my pants so that I am just as surprised at times and hope that that will translate to an exciting read for others as well.

Q10. Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?

Well, I could but then it would take the fun out of the surprise ending for everyone. I hope that you get the book and enjoy how the book ends. Sometimes it is hard not to be a cliche when ending a book so I always try to come up with something that is fun, and happy. I just love a Happily Every After, don’t you?

December 9, 2022

Interview with author Tom Speicher

Q1. Please introduce yourself so that the readers will get to know you.

I’m an award-winning writer and video producer at Pennsylvania College of Technology, a special-mission affiliate of Penn State located in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. In addition to “A Week with Waffles,” I’m the co-author of the 2021 young adult novel “Bucky Deacon’s Dilemma,” which chronicles the experiences of a young man and his eighth-grade football team in a small Pennsylvania town. I’ve written for publications and websites devoted to the Minnesota Vikings and have served as “The Man in the Crowd” for the Little League Baseball World Series Radio Network since 1998. Besides world peace, my greatest wish is for the Vikings to win a Super Bowl!

Q2. What is your inspiration behind your book “A Week with Waffles”?

Waffles, my real guinea pig, was the inspiration for “A Week with Waffles.” The idea came to me after I wrote a press release/feature story on a Pennsylvania College of Technology employee who authored an illustrated children’s book about her courageous son who is blind. Her work inspired me to create a book for young children. Everybody loved Waffles (Sadly, she passed away a few months after the book’s release.), so I decided to make her the focus. I wanted to use Waffles and her adventures to serve as a tool to teach kids the days of the week and encourage creative thought. I wrote the manuscript and contacted the illustrator my work colleague used, Marina Saumell. Marina, who lives in Argentina, loved the content and did a great job with the illustrations based on the photos I sent her of Waffles and all the people (and pets) featured in the book. The book has proven to be a hit with kids and parents!

Q3. When did you realize you want to be an author of Children’s Book?

A couple years ago, I got the idea to finish the unpublished manuscript of a story geared to middle-school readers that one of my mentors, Bill Byham, wrote in the 1980s. Bill had passed away, and it always bugged him that “Bucky Deacon’s Dilemma” was never published. I contacted the family who turned over to me the original type-written manuscript. I spent over a year rewriting and updating the story before finally publishing it in 2021. That experience hooked me on writing children’s books. I should point out that a portion of proceeds from both of my books benefit the Emergency Scholarship Fund at Pennsylvania College of Technology.

Q4. Are you planning to release your next book soon?

I can’t provide specific details at this time, but the plan is for there to be at least another “Waffles” book within the year. Marina will once again be the illustrator.

Q5. For which age group your book is suitable?

“A Week with Waffles” is perfect for preschoolers through early elementary readers. “Bucky Deacon’s Dilemma” targets middle school readers.

Q6. What is your favorite Quote?

“You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.” Wayne Gretzky, or if you prefer, Michael Scott.

Q7. What do you like the most about your country?

The rich diversity of people, cultures and traditions.

Q8. What suggestion do you want to give to parents of little readers regarding a reading habit?

Consistency is key. Set aside a dedicated time for reading (bedtime is great for this) and then follow through day after day.

Q9. What does literary success look like to you?

A child smiling while reading one of my books.

Q10. Lastly, who is your inspiration in life and why?

I can’t narrow my “inspiration” to one individual. I can say that I’ve always been inspired by folks who accept their inherent flaws and strive to do their best no matter the circumstances.

Tom Speicher on Amazon