Sunday, March 30, 2008

Review For The Violin by CoffeeTime Romance

Hey everybody, look. I have a 4 cup review from CoffeeTime Romance. I am so happy!
Sarah Stats




THE VIOLIN SARAH J. MCNEAL ISBN # 978-1-934475-22-5 January 2008 Amira Press, LLC2721 N. Rosedale Street, Baltimore, MD 21216E-Book/Print6.00 E-Book/12.99 Print141 PagesHistorical RomanceRating 4 Cups
Genevieve grew up an orphan, and so she has always been alone, but she longs for a family. She is plagued by strange dreams of a man she has never met. The dreams vary in one she is drowning in another she sees an old violin. She wants to believe that these dreams are nothing more than harmless products of her subconscious but she cannot shake the deep emotions the dreams stir in her.
Genevieve has a long list of fears. She rarely leaves her comfort zone but after she wakes from one of her dreams she sees an advertisement for an auction where an old violin is up for sale. Although, she knows that it cannot be the violin of her dreams she feels inexplicably compelled to buy the violin no matter what it takes.
When Genevieve sees the violin she has no doubt that it is the same one she has been dreaming of. Inside the violin she finds personal items belonging to a man named John Douglas. She is intrigued by him and soon finds herself obsessed with a man who died long before she was born. She sets out on a journey to uncover the mystery surrounding John Douglas that takes her further than she every imagined.
I loved this story so much that I do not want to give anything away. The Violin by Sarah J. McNeal is a sweet and compelling romance. The plot felt very real to me. From the first page I was drawn into the story and I was as intrigued by the mystery of John as Genevieve was. The author does a wonderful job of describing the characters. I identified with Genevieve’s fears and her loneliness. I found myself cheering her on. I highly recommend this novel.
ChrissieReviewer for Coffee Time RomanceReviewer for Karen Find Out About New Books

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Four and a Half Star Review for THE VIOLIN

Just in case you missed it, THE VIOLIN got a 4.5 out of 5 review at Romance Junkies by reviewer Kathleen Rowland. Thank you, Kathleen.
Sarah McNeal


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Former foster child Genevieve longs for warm family ties and fills her apartment with furnishings from yesteryear. She is haunted by dreams about a man who plays the violin beguilingly. When she finds a violin with photos and his 1927 death certificate in an antique shop, she has enough information to research the life of John Douglas. Locating the abandoned Pennsylvania cottage where he once lived, she enters it. Overcome from the shock of its familiarity, she faints to the floor. When she awakens, she is doted upon by the enticing rogue and his entire family.
John’s mother, Matilda, worries over Genevieve, the pretty young woman who somehow wandered into their home. Matilda convinces her to stay by asking for her help with making pies, a cake, and baked beans for the church picnic. As the Douglas family guest, Genevieve learns that John is considered a wild, bad boy and is sometimes with Ruby, a femme fatale. He also has a tender side. Genevieve falls in love. Does Ruby cause him so much anguish that he drowns himself in two feet of water? Can Genevieve save him? Will she have to leave this wonderful man and era?
Author Sarah McNeal writes a sweet romance of a man and woman across time. Tears welled in my eyes when John comforted Genevieve about her past. His family doesn’t always approve of him, but they love him. I adored Genevieve, an appreciative and strong woman who has a positive impact on others. I highly recommend THE VIOLIN to my friends who would like to experience life true to the 1920s, a time gifted author McNeal knows well.
By Romance Junkies Reviewer: Kathleen R

Monday, March 10, 2008

March Is Birthday Month

March is the month that means the most to me. First of all, Saint Patrick's Day is March 17th and, being Scot-Irish, that makes it an important day for me. But even more than that, the day following Saint Patrick's Day, March the 18th, is a day my dad and I shared from the moment I was born until the day my father died. It was our mutual birthday. He was once the rudder of my ship until the day I had to sail it on my own, rough seas or quiet harbor. I miss that I can't call him when I need reassurance or a dose of wisdom any more.
Back when everyone used to have to renew their driver's license every four years, my dad and I happen to renew it on the same year. We used to dress in costumes to have our pictures on our new license. We had a good time thinking of new costumes each time. I remember being a cowgirl once and wearing a lavender Nehru jacket for another one.
For one very special birthday, the first year after my mother died, my dad, who worked as a meteorologists for a TV station, wore a kilt complete with a skindu (little knife). He wore it against the adversity of friends and family and he did it for me. I loved him even more for that. It's a good thing that they didn't have metal detectors and weapon scanners then because Jimmy Carter, who later became president, was on the show that day and Pop had that skindu in the top of his stocking (you know, the knee socks). There was no fuss what-so-ever about the little knife. My how things have changed.
I wrote THE VIOLIN for my dad. His brother, John, died at age 21 in 1927 while he was fly fishing with his friends. Pop talked about him with such love and admiration and so I felt compelled to bring John back to life and give him the life and love he deserved to have but didn't get the chance to have.
To my dad, wherever his spirit may reside, I wish him happy birthday and for the rest of you, a Gaelic blessing: Slan's beannachd! (Health and a blessing!)
Sarah McNeal