Rock My World by Julie Shackman-Review and Interview with the Author

Rock My World by Julie Shackman-Review and Interview with the Author

Rock My World

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 14, 2014

Ruby Cameron is an ambitious reporter for a local paper where she is fed scraps of news, and lives with a man whose “idea of living dangerously is to leave the heating on when we pop out to the shops”. But after catching her squeaky clean boyfriend in flagrante delicto she ups sticks and moves into her own small home, only to discover the ghostly presence of a cheeky rock star who becomes her confidant as the dynamics of her small town, and her feelings about her dashing new boss, begin to throw up more questions than she can answer. Will Ruby discover who she really is, and perhaps more importantly, who she wants to be?

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REVIEW: ROCK MY WORLD is a contemporary, paranormal, romance, suspense storyline focusing on twenty eight year old newspaper reporter Ruby Cameron and the ghost who resides in her new home. After she finds her boyfriend having sex with a younger woman, Ruby moves into a new housing development, built upon the grounds of a former theatre, where she is immediately assaulted by the familiar tones of 80s rock anthems. To Ruby’s surprise she is the only person who hears the music and with it will come the apparition of the long deceased Stevie V-front man and singer for the former Scottish rock group Legend who died close to twenty eight years earlier-on the very spot.

The storyline focuses on Ruby’s investigation into the death of Stevie V. The rocker has not been able to move on since his demise and pleads with Ruby to investigate what he believes was not an accident but a murder. As a reporter Ruby has more connections than the average person but what Ruby uncovers will shock everyone including herself. As if investigating Stevie’s death isn’t enough, Ruby will be introduced to a new reporter whose father owns the struggling paper and her attraction to Matt Jardine is immediate and unwelcome.

Julie Shackman writes an inviting storyline about one woman’s search for the truth but what she uncovers will change her life, as well. This is a story of suspense and mystery; betrayal and jealousy; losing and second chances. Our heroine Ruby will be given a second chance at love in the guise of a fellow reporter but what ensues is a game of push and pull.

The storyline is told from alternating first person (Ruby) and close third person POV. The writing style is simple and the backstory is revealed through investigation, interviews and reflection. A good portion of the storyline goes back and forth between present day and the past but not always in the same time period-the story spans over thirty years.

Julie Shackman references many of the songs, fads and happenings of the 1980s to give the storyline a familiar edge in reality. The secondary characters are an eclectic mix of family, friends and co-workers who add a little color and entertainment to the storyline.

ROCK MY WORLD is an entertaining and spirited story with a little bit of romance, a little bit of sex, a little bit of mystery and a little bit of suspense. If you like a mystery storyline with a little bit of romance woven throughout then ROCK MY WORLD will definitely entertain.

Copy supplied by the author.

Reviewed by Sandy

Interview

TRC: Hi Julie and welcome to The Reading Café.

Julie Shackman We would like to start with some background information. Would you please tell us something about yourself?

FOLLOW Julie: Twitter/ Facebook / Blog/ Goodreads

Julie: I trained as a journalist but writing romance has always been a dream of mine. When I’ve not got my head in a book or drafting one, I write verses and captions for greetings card companies. Writing at home seems to be incredibly difficult for me – I usually require coffee, music and noise. I’m married with two sons and live in Scotland.

TRC: What or who influenced your foray into writing?

Julie: I remember reading novels by writers like Judith Krantz when I was about 13 and I thought “Wow!” The idea of sitting writing and using your ideas and your words to make readers laugh, cry and empathise with you just seemed wonderful to me. I’ve always been obsessed with writing and books from an
early age.

TRC: You once were employed as a writer for greeting cards. Please tell us the details 😉

Julie: I still write verses and captions for greetings card companies and really enjoy doing it! The idea came to me when I read about a writer in theStates who’d make a success of it and I wondered whether I should give it a try. I pulled together several different verses and started sending them off to greetings card companies. After a couple of weeks, two came back and said they wanted to purchase some of my work and that was it.

TRC: Did you have the opportunity to ‘see’ the greeting cards prior to writing the verses?

Julie: I do occasionally get sent the designs to work from. Other times, I’m provided with a description or design brief saying what they are looking for. A lot of the art work is gorgeous.

TRC: As a journalist were you able to travel the world? What do you miss most?

Julie: I didn’t travel the world no, but I did cover some very diverse stories and met some really interesting characters. I probably miss some of them the most!

Rock My WorldTRC: ROCK MY WORLD is your February 2014 release. Would you please tell us something about the premise?

Julie: Ruby Cameron is an ambitious reporter for a local paper where she is fed scraps of news, and lives with a man whose “idea of living dangerously is to leave the heating on when we pop out to the shops”. But after catching her squeaky clean boyfriend in flagrante delicto she ups sticks and movesinto her own small home, only to discover the ghostly presence of a cheeky rock star who becomes her confidant as the dynamics of her small town, and her feelings about her dashing new boss, begin to throw up more questions than she can answer. Will Ruby discover who she really is, and perhaps more importantly, who she wants to be?

TRC: Is this a standalone novel or do you have plans for a series?

Julie: “Rock My World” is a stand-alone novel. I don’t have any plans to make it into a series. I think Ruby, Stevie and Matt (my three main characters) would agree that their story has been told. I did love writing it though and got a bit emotional when I’d typed “The End.”

TRC: Are any of the characters or the storyline premise based in reality?

Julie: No, they’re not wholly based on people I’ve met. There’s elements there of people I know…!

TRC: What are your thoughts on writing a series and ending an instalment with a major cliff hanger?

Julie: I think writing like that is a great idea and really helps to hook readers. However, I think as a writer you have to follow your heart. It’s probably just a case of finding the type of writing style, story and genre that suits you and that you love and then just going with it.

TRC: When writing a storyline, do the characters direct the writing or do you direct the characters?

Julie: There’s definitely a bit of both of these elements going on at times! Usually though, my characters seem to do their own thing and I try to give them freedom.

TRC: The mark of a good writer is to pull the reader into the storyline so that they experience the emotions along with the characters. What do you believe a writer must do to make this happen? Where do you believe writer’s fail in this endeavor?

Julie: I often read “Write what you know” and “If you enjoy writing your novel, it comes through and the reader will enjoy it too.” So if you can put some of your own genuine feelings and emotions into your characters and into the story generally (whilst loving doing it!) I think you’ll hook the reader.

TRC: Writer’s Block is a very real phenomenon. How do you handle the pressures and anxiety of writer’s block?

Julie: I’ll go out for a walk; read a book or listen to some music. Sometimes though, I’ll try to push through it and even if I seem to write a lot of rubbish, I’ll leave it and go back and try to improve it the next day.

TRC: What challenges or difficulties (research, logistics, background) did you encounter writing this particular story and series?

Julie: I didn’t really find any difficulties writing “Rock My World.” I did quite a bit of research on the internet, just checking facts on 80s rock music and lifestyle/politics of the time. That brought back a few memories!

TRC: Many authors bounce ideas and information with other authors or friends and family. With whom do you bounce ideas?

Julie: I bounce ideas off my Husband and friends and family mainly. I can usually see on their faces what they make of my ideas!

TRC: On what are you currently working?

Julie: I have just finished writing my second novel (a rom-com) and am polishing that at the moment. I’m also pulling together research and ideas for my third novel (also a rom-com) which has a well-known historical figure as its main character.

TRC: What three things would you like to accomplish in the next five years?

Julie: I just want to keep writing romances that make people laugh and cry.

Secondly, like most writers, I would love for one of my books to be turned into a TV drama.

Lastly, I wouldn’t mind getting involved in writing a mini-series for TV.

TRC: What is something that few, if any people, know about you?

Julie: I learnt Russian at secondary school and got an O Level in it.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Julie: Just to say thank you so much to The Reading Cafe for this great interview!

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food – Anything Italian!

Favorite Dessert – Sticky Toffee Pudding

Favorite TV Show – Strictly Come Dancing and The Musketeers

Last Movie You SawThe Hobbit – The Desolation of Smaug – I’m a huge
Richard Armitage fan and have been for a few years now.

Dark or Milk Chocolate – Milk Chocolate – preferably with nuts!

Secret Celebrity Crush – Richard Armitage (again!) I also think Bradley
Cooper is a honey.

Last Vacation Destination – Malta – It was beautiful.

Pet Peeve – I can’t stand it when people jump queues or don’t say please
and thank you. If they happen to do both, it sets my teeth on edge!

TRC: Thank you Julie for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations on the release of ROCK MY WORLD. We wish you all the best.

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Black Falcon Series by Michelle A.Valentine-a combined review

Black Falcon Series by Michelle A. Valentine-a combined series review

Black Falcon Series

Click HERE for our review of ROCK THE HEART (Book 1)

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Rock The BandROCK THE BAND (Black Falcon 1.5) by Michelle A. Valentine

=>Rock The Band ebook is .99cents or less at the time of posting<=

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ABOUT THE BOOK: January 29, 2013

After Noel Falcon professed his love to the one girl who truly holds his heart in the palm of her hand, he decides to try his damndest to keep Lane Vance in his life forever this time. There’s no way he’ll let her slip through his fingers again without a fight.

The instant they are together Noel begins to plot a way to ask his headstrong lady-love to be his wife, but every attempt to pop the question is foiled by a string of mishaps that prevents him from the perfect moment to get the job done before he goes back on tour with Black Falcon.

Distance is a bigger challenge than Noel expects, and the one-eyed beast of jealous raises its ugly head when Lane takes on a job working on an ad campaign for Embrace the Darkness. With Striker—a man that’s made it clear in the past he’s very interested in more then her business sense—lurking around her constantly, Noel wants to claim Lane now, more than ever.

REVIEW: ROCK THE BAND is a short novella in Michelle A. Valentine’s new adult, contemporary Black Falcon series focusing on the lives and loves of the member of the rock band Black Falcon. Rock the Band is a short story told from Noel’s POV and takes place immediately after Rock the Heart (book 1).

In the first storyline our couple reconnected after several years apart when Lanie was assigned by her employer to follow and get the inside scoop on Noel Falcon and his connection to the children’s foundation for Dyslexia. As with any romance storyline, our couple traversed the minefield of misunderstandings, broken hearts and secrets, but in the end, welcomed a HEA.

Rock the Band furthers Lanie and Noel’s storyline as Noel prepares to take Lanie on the road with the Black Falcons. But an emergency will force Lanie back home and it is during her absence that Noel realizes that he wants Lanie in his life forever and his knows just how he is going to ask the woman that he loves to be his wife.

Rock the Band is a quick read; a short story that adds a new dimension to the couple and what lies in store for their future. There is none of the first storyline’s angst and hidden agendas; there are no secrets and no broken promises; only two people whose lives are about to change in more ways than one.

If you found yourself a fan of Rock the Heart, you will welcome this addition to the Black Falcon series. And as with any series, Lanie and Noel’s story will continue as the Black Falcons take their music and their stories-on the road.

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Rock My BedROCK MY BED (Black Falcon #2) by Michelle A Valentine

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ABOUT THE BOOK: April 22, 2013

Everything always seems to fall into place for twenty-four year-old Aubrey Jenson, except for when it comes to her luck with men. Bad boys always draw her in and crush her heart, and Black Falcon’s lead guitarist, Riff, is no exception. After sharing a few wild nights together, she leaves him behind knowing a guy like Riff isn’t the relationship type, merely just a play thing.

When she returns to New York, she tries to get the passion she felt in Riff’s arms out of her head by dating Isaac, a successful representative at Center Stage Marketing. Just when she thinks she’s forgotten Riff, she’s forced to see him again when her best friend, Lanie, ropes her into being a bridesmaid for her upcoming wedding to Black Falcon front man, Noel.

Sparks fly instantly between Aubrey and Riff when they’re forced to reunite, and suddenly she finds herself caught between the man that’s good for her and the one who completely rocks her in every way.

REVIEW: ROCK MY BED is the second novel but third storyline in Michelle A. Valentine’s New Adult, contemporary Black Falcon series focusing on the lives and loves of the members of the rock band Black Falcon. Rock My Bed is Aubrey and Riff’s storyline and it runs parallel to the events in Rock the Heart (Noel and Lanie’s story) and some of the premise overlaps. What the reader experiences is Riff’s take on the betrayal by Noel and finding Aubrey Jenson as the woman to ‘rock his world’. The storyline is told from two distinct POVs-Aubrey and Riff’s.

Aubrey is Lanie’s BFF and co-worker at Center Stage Marketing and she will soon discover that her position with CSM and friendship with Lanie are at odds due to a conflict of interest between work and friend. When Aubrey is sent to ‘spy’ on Lanie she will discover Riff (aka Zach), the lead guitarist for Black Falcon and the man who is about to change the rules. When opportunity presents itself for a quick fling and a one night stand, neither one thought they would lose their hearts and fall in love.

Michelle Valentine invites the reader into the back stage world of rock gods and groupies. Rock My Bed follows Aubrey and Riff as they enter into a long distance relationship-first through texting; phone calls; cross country flights and weekend get togethers until Riff wants to make sure Aubrey becomes a permanent part of his life.

We learn that life is not all fun and games on the road especially when many of the characters are hiding secret pasts, heartbreaking family history and a reluctance to get involved knowing that the life of a rock star is not conducive to a permanent relationship. And Aubrey has a decision to make when opportunity presents itself-a future with CSM or a future with Riff.

The relationship between Riff and Aubrey is hot, sexual and real. Aubrey is from a well to do, connected family and her experience in the bedroom is about to be explored. Riff is the ultimate bad boy; not only by reputation and history, but by appearance as well. He is tattooed, pierced and sports a two toned Mohawk and although he is the epitome of a rock and rock lifestyle, he is also a parent’s worse nightmare where their daughter may be concerned.

The storyline is fast paced. Riff and Aubrey are both likeable characters who could break your heart. The reader learns more about Riff as he opens up to the woman that he loves: and both of their issues with family, trust and betrayal.

If you like a storyline of rock gods and bad boy sexy musicians, the Black Falcon series by Michelle A Valentine is the perfect series. She brings just the right amount of sex, romance and heartbreak. And in the end, even the bad boy can be tamed by a wild cat.

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Rock My WorldROCK MY WORLD (Black Falcon 2.5) by Michelle A Valentine

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 26, 2013

After Aubrey Jenson is wrongly dismissed from her job at Center Stage Marketing, she seeks legal advice from her father, The Judge, to see what grounds she has to get her position reinstated. Her surprise visit to her family doesn’t go as smoothly as she hopes when she brings home her new boyfriend, Zach, Black Falcon’s lead guitarist. She soon discovers that father doesn’t always know best when it comes to matters of the heart.

When Zach meets Aubrey’s family, he’s immediately faced with his deepest fear: The love he so desperately wants, he doesn’t deserve. The Judge makes no attempt to hide his disdain for Zach, and will stop at nothing to keep him away from his daughter. But an unexpected twist turns everyone’s plans upside down and no one’s world will ever be the same.

Outside forces attempting to pull them apart are strong and it’s going to take every bit of Zach and Aubrey’s love for one another to withstand the fall-out. Soon, they discover making love last is harder than finding it to begin with and sometimes you pay the ultimate price for true love.

REVIEW: ROCK MY WORLD is the fourth storyline (second novella) in Michelle A Valentine’s New Adult genre Black Falcon contemporary romance series focusing on the lives and loves of the members of the rock band Black Falcon. This particular novella continues Aubrey and Riff’s storyline and takes place immediately following Rock My Bed.

The relationship between Riff and Aubrey has already been established. They are a perfect pair; they are in love; the romance is sensual and hot but….there is always a but and in this particular case… it is family. Not only does Riff’s father continue to harass and threaten Riff but Aubrey’s family makes it known that they will not tolerate her relationship with Riff. And to complicate matters, Aubrey’s father is a judge and he is willing to open up old wounds and sealed files to insure Riff is no longer in Aubrey’s life.

The storyline is once again fast paced. There is pain of family betrayal; the threats against Riff and his bandmates and, a near fatal accident will put everything into perspective. Riff and Aubrey belong together. Their story is emotional as well as heartbreaking; and it also proves, that just because one is related by blood, doesn’t give them the right to control your life. Sometimes family is the one sitting beside you, singing a song and supporting you when life reaches its’ lowest point.

READING ORDER
1. Rock The Heart (Nov 2012)
1.5 Rock The Band (Jan 2013)
2. Rock My Bed (April 2013)
2.5 Rock My World (June 2013)
3. Rock The Beat (Sept 2013)

Reviews by Sandy

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