Books and Needlepoint: Julie N. Ford

About the Book: When Marlie agrees to attend a cadaver ball at Vanderbilt Medical School, she did not expect to actually see any cadavers. Or, that a strange apparition would issue her a chilling message.

Despite the cadaver’s warning, Marlie is married a year later to Tennessee State Senator, Daniel Cannon, and living in a plantation-style mansion with two step sons. Add to the mix her growing suspicion that something is amiss with the death of Daniel’s first wife, Gentry; and newlywed Marlie is definitely in over her pretty Yankee head.

What begins as an innocent inquiry into her new husband’s clouded past, ends with Marlie in the midst of a dangerous conspiracy.

A modern twist on the classic Gothic romance novels of Rebecca and Jane Eyre, Replacing Gentry follows Marlie’s precarious journey as she learns the truth about the man she married.

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My Thoughts: I did enjoy this book and read through it rather quickly. I liked Marlie, though she did sometimes seem a little more impulsive than was good for her at times. To me, Daniel didn't seem sincere and was easily manipulated by about everyone he came in contact with. He marries Marlie and then sort of abandons her at his house with his boys - without much guidance as to what she was to do with them, or with the house.

Strange things have been happening to Marlie since she met Daniel - cadavers talking to her, people giving her similar warnings and knowing things about her that they couldn't possibly know. About midway through the book the action starts to pick up and I started racing to get to the end. There were some weird twists and you really have to pay attention so that you don't miss the important clues.

If you are a fan of Gothic romance, you might want to give this one a try - it does have more of a modern feel though.

~I received a complimentary ebook of Replacing Gentry from Book Blasts and Blog Tours in exchange for my unbiased review.~

About the author: Julie N. Ford graduated from San Diego State University with a BA in Political Science and a minor in English Literature. In addition, she has a Masters in Social Work from the University of Alabama. Professionally, she has worked in teaching and as a Marriage & Family Counselor. She is the author of two women’s fiction novels, The Woman He Married and No Holly for Christmas, published in 2011. In addition, she wrote a romance/chick-lit novel, Count Down to Love, also published in 2011. Count Down to Love was a 2011 Whitney Award finalist. Her next novel, Replacing Gentry, is due for release April 9th, 2013.

Currently, she lives in Nashville, TN with her husband, two daughters and one hedgehog.

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Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Book Blast: Replacing Gentry by Julie N. Ford

Shared by Kristi

Replacing Gentry

When Marlie agrees to attend a cadaver ball at Vanderbilt Medical School, she did not expect to actually see any cadavers. Or, that a strange apparition would issue her a chilling message.

Despite the cadaver's warning, Marlie is married a year later to Tennessee State Senator, Daniel Cannon, and living in a plantation-style mansion with two step sons. Add to the mix her growing suspicion that something is amiss with the death of Daniel’s first wife, Gentry; and newlywed Marlie is definitely in over her pretty Yankee head.

What begins as an innocent inquiry into her new husband’s clouded past, ends with Marlie in the midst of a dangerous conspiracy.

A modern twist on the classic Gothic romance novels of Rebecca and Jane Eyre, Replacing Gentry follows Marlie’s precarious journey as she learns the truth about the man she married.

Grab a copy!

Replacing Gentry is just $1.99 on Amazon

Author Julie N. Ford

Julie N. Ford graduated from San Diego State University with a BA in Political Science and a minor in English Literature. In addition, she has a Masters in Social Work from the University of Alabama. Professionally, she has worked in teaching and as a Marriage & Family Counselor. She is the author of two women’s fiction novels, The Woman He Married and No Holly for Christmas, published in 2011. In addition, she wrote a romance/chick-lit novel, Count Down to Love, also published in 2011. Count Down to Love was a 2011 Whitney Award finalist. Her next novel, Replacing Gentry, is due for release April 9th, 2013.

Currently, she lives in Nashville, TN with her husband, two daughters and one hedgehog.

Website * Facebook * Twitter

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Tuesday, December 20, 2011

No Holly for Christmas by Julie N. Ford (Book Review)

Shared by Kristi

Title: No Holly for Christmas
Author: Julie N. Ford
Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press

About the book: As Brian McAlister struggles to move past being jilted not once, but twice by the only woman he's ever loved, he's all but given up on relationships. Then, on special assignment for the DA's office, he crosses paths with ex-socialite turned social worker, Holly Cavanaugh Winter-and romance blossoms.
Widowed, practically penniless, and reduced to shopping at WalMart, Holly is dreading the approaching Holiday Season. However, her angst isn't due to her husband's untimely death the previous December 25th, but because of a secret that could reveal itself unless she can find a way to avoid the coming Christmas.

Love at first sight quickly turns frigid for Brian and Holly when Holly gets pulled into a manhunt for an accused murderer who now has his sights set on her. His case unraveling, Brian finds himself tasked with keeping Holly and her two daughters safe while bringing an assassin and the powerful man who hired him to justice.

A heart-warming story of suspense, healing, giving and receiving, No Holly for Christmas is the perfect addition to everyone's holiday reading list.

My thoughts: This book starts out pretty unassuming. It had enough action to keep me interested, but not enough for me to feel like I just had to read it. That is, until I was about halfway through.

Brian gets thrown into a case that his father was handling as a D.A. when his father has to undergo heart surgery. Brian hates the D.A.'s office and all that it represents, so he goes into it with a closed mind. On his first day on the job he meets Holly, who happens to be the older sister of his assistant D.A. and a social worker who treated a suspect, under an assumed name, who showed up at her hospital with a gunshot wound.

Holly and Brian definitely had chemistry, but he was still hung up on his girlfriend from college -- which was many years ago and she was still distrustful of men because of what her husband had told her before he unexpectedly died. She was also not willing to have a casual relationship with anyone because of her two daughters.

I loved Kirby, Holly's teenage daughter. I had to laugh out loud every time Kirby would roll her eyes or those times when she would forget that she wasn't supposed to like Brian and was actually nice to him. Then there was lovable Bridget, Holly's younger daughter, who, despite Brian's restraint, managed to get under his skin and in his heart as well.

Like I said above, about half way through, things started happening that I didn't expect. The story seems to be wrapping up, but there are still 200 pages left. Plenty of time for other secrets to be revealed and a romance to begin to blossom. But whether or not that romance is actually going to come to fruition or whither and die is actually taken out of their hands -- again by the case that Brian is working on.

This really isn't a mystery or a thriller, as we know right from the beginning who is behind everything and what they are doing -- but it definitely has some of the elements of a thriller. It is suspenseful and there is plenty of action and while the romance in the beginning is low-key, it manages to take center stage toward the end.

I ended up really enjoying this book and have discovered that there is a prequel - The Woman He Married - that I will be adding to my reading list!

~I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from Tristi Pinkston Book Tours in exchange for my unbiased review.~

You can connect with Julie at her blog Julie N. Ford or on Goodreads.

No Holly for Christmas

Publisher/Publication Date: Whiskey Creek Press, 2011

ISBN: 978-1611602944

390 pages