#WOTR25 #EventHosts #HBIC #EventSponsors- Jillian Jacobs, Angie Johnson, Melinda Bones, Bree Young

Jillian – I am so grateful to be on year 10 hosting this event with three of my favorite people. I am an author and a daily romance reader. I also spend a lot of money on books, flavored coffee, and wine. Thistle Farms is one of my fav places to shop! My fav color is green.

Angie – I am Angie Johnson.  I own TwinsieTalk Book Reviews. I am a “retired” Pre-K Special Education teacher.  I work as a Parent Educator in my full time job.  I have lots of crazy spoiled rescue dogs, a stray cat we took in that I am obsessed with, a kid in college, and an amazing trophy husband who lets me boss him around event weekend.  Also, I love the color pink.

Melinda – Hello I’m Melinda and I am married to a wonderful guy that puts up with my book addiction. I have a teenage daughter who is usually floating around the event seeing if the authors need anything. We also have two dogs a one year old golden doodle and a 11 year old Chihuahua.

Bree – I love horror everything, reading, being outdoors (hiking, camping, etc), spending time with my family, and cats

 

Tickets will be available November 4th at 6PM Central.

Writersontheriver.com

#Review #WOTR25 #AttendingAuthor #MMRomance #PartOfASeries #AgeGap Peaches & Cream (The Men of Haven Grove book 1) by: A.D. Ellis

Peaches & Cream is a steamy, age-gap, friends-to-lovers M/M romance between a jack-of-all-trades and his dad’s best friend. This is Book 1 in The Men of Haven Grove.

Hudson’s past left him with some baggage, but he’s happy in the small town of Haven Grove with his family and a variety of jobs to keep him busy. Not willing to touch a relationship with a ten-foot pole, Hudson sticks to quick, easy hookups.

Lance left his hometown eight years ago to take care of unavoidable responsibilities. He’s back home now and he knows himself a lot better than when he left. Hookups aren’t really his thing, but sometimes a guy has to do what he has to do.

Hudson and Lance have a long history together. Can they overcome the messy obstacles and look forward to a long future together as well? Or will they be forced to give up on the unexpected spark smoldering between them and stick with being just friends?

Goodreads

Amazon

Review by Twinsie Tenise

I can’t stop smiling. Lance is so poetic. I love him. He’s just perfect.
He’s gentle, kind, and patient. He’s prepared to do whatever it takes to sweep Hudson off of his feet.
Hudson is anti relationships and there is nothing his teenage crush can do to change his mind. Things are perfectly fine how they are. Lance worked hard to try and earn Hudson’s trust and hopefully his heart. It was adorable.

The way A.d. creates a world where you want to know more about book after book is beyond me. I’m excited to see what happens next in this series.

#Review – Secret Southern Promises (Magnolia Grove Book 10) by: Winter Travers

Dolly Hanes has a secret no one knows but the whole town of Magnolia is about to find out. Boone West included

Goodreads

Amazon

Review by Twinsie Dee

i was given this book by the author for an honest review

15 years of keeping a secret Dolly thought she was in the clear with keeping the town thinking her son was the result of a one-night stand and not really her high school sweetheart’s son. Until the only man who can make her heart do summersaults walked back into her life when he walked into her store. Dolly pushed Boone away 15 years ago to go chase his rodeo dream and leave her behind, he didn’t know she was pregnant, and she didn’t want him to give up his dream and possibly one day resent her, so she let go of the future she could have and broke his heart. Now that he was back in Magnolia Grove her secret to who her son’s father actually might come out, and she’s not sure how she will be able to handle that or how her son and Boone will both handle this secret. Small town drama and secrets come out at some point in life just might be a while. omg this was so cute I couldn’t stop reading it, Boone and Dolly’s love story is timeless.

Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling author Winter Travers is a devoted wife, mother, and aunt turned author who was born and raised in Wisconsin. After a brief stint in South Carolina following her heart to chase the man who is now her hubby, they retreated back up North to the changing seasons and to the place they now call home.

Winter spends her days caring for her family and her nights writing happily-ever-afters. She also has an addiction to anything MC related, her dogs and cooking/baking!

#MysterySuspense #Standalone –The Silent Patient by: Alex Michaelides

“The perfect binge listen.”—Yahoo Lifestyle

Instant #1 New York Times bestseller.

The Silent Patient is a shocking psychological thriller of a woman’s act of violence against her husband—and of the therapist obsessed with uncovering her motive.

Alicia Berenson’s life is seemingly perfect. A famous painter married to an in-demand fashion photographer, she lives in a grand house with big windows overlooking a park in one of London’s most desirable areas. One evening her husband Gabriel returns home late from a fashion shoot, and Alicia shoots him five times in the face, and then never speaks another word.

Alicia’s refusal to talk, or give any kind of explanation, turns a domestic tragedy into something far grander, a mystery that captures the public imagination and casts Alicia into notoriety. The price of her art skyrockets, and she, the silent patient, is hidden away from the tabloids and spotlight at the Grove, a secure forensic unit in North London.

Theo Faber is a criminal psychotherapist who has waited a long time for the opportunity to work with Alicia. His determination to get her to talk and unravel the mystery of why she shot her husband takes him down a twisting path into his own motivations—a search for the truth that threatens to consume him….

More praise for The Silent Patient:

“Absolutely brilliant… I read it in a state of intense, breathless excitement.”—Stephen Fry

“Smart, sophisticated storytelling freighted with real suspense—a very fine novel by any standard.”—Lee Child

The Silent Patient sneaks up on you like a slash of intimidating shadow on a badly lit street. Michaelides has crafted a totally original, spellbinding psychological mystery so quirky, so unique that it should have its own genre.”—David Baldacci

Goodreads

Amazon

Review by Twinsie Tenise

Whoa! I will keep this short and sweet as I feel this book needs to be experienced by the reader without much information to go on. There were so many plot twists. I didn’t see them coming. I love a good mystery; one that makes you think and this one freaking delivered! I couldn’t tell you how many times I was just like what the $&%@ did that just say?! I’m still sitting here processing The Silent Patient, 8 days later. I’m sure I will eventually be able to pick up another book.

Alex Michaelides was born and raised in Cyprus. He has an M.A. in English literature from Trinity College, Cambridge University, and an M.A. in screenwriting from the American Film Institute in Los Angeles. The Silent Patient was his first novel and was the biggest-selling debut in the world in 2019. It spent more than a year on the New York Times bestseller list and sold in a record-breaking forty-nine countries. Alex lives in London.

#WOTR #attendingauthor #shortstory #ya A Snap of Magic (Snap of Magic 1) by Danielle Keil

Meet Cecilia Chevalier, teen witch. Well, she doesn’t know she’s a witch. But when her powers develop on Halloween night, she does what any teenager who just discovered she has magic would her History grade, because that C- just can’t happen. Get revenge on her cheating ex. Make a table in the cafe disappear Okay, maybe that last one wasn’t on purpose. And the ones before it don’t exactly go according to plan. But learning to control magic is hard! When it’s only a snap snap away, Cecilia’s impulses are harder to control than ever.

Her life gets even more complicated when her best friend Ezra does some research on his family tree, and finds out that his and Cecilia’s families are oddly connected through witch ancestors.

With Ezra looking into the past, especially Cecilia’s mother who left her when she was born, and her magic malfunctioning, what else will go wrong?

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/219632347-a-snap-of-magic

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Snap-Magic-Danielle-Keil-ebook/dp/B0DJ1SFGRT?ref_=ast_author_dp&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.YcQRtHta-Cof0yI18HquSpzgiv5kecT3QG5W81q2BPpqrAY8E7ib5EQnQ8XC8h5OH6ts1t1YOyUXTePYY6GYa2UQTq-ks6Px55XGX_QPzS35H_Yeul_kBGn7kAz2P-0xLZsPUurCzet1eBCs6jQeYeiL_gT5uDeweQwLTvwNEl0-ztbJirR9U8kfdFtk4V_0fP-jvT_6yzKKvYimgxQr3TDsJNsF6Zj9Mo6Fozp6XYA.xMYkabBXxJ5iUt9vtJqT0MU_gYDrtVGeavQCDtERS2A&dib_tag=AUTHOR

Review by Twinsie Dee

i bought this book and here is my honest review

Oh Snap, CC was just your normal high school girl, and loved everything Halloween, the whole town did actually think of it as Halloweentown they went all out carnival the school put on and so much more. Just when she thought it was a normal night CC was having some strange things happening her pool for the duck pond at the carnival one minute it was empty because it fell over and the next its full, she wanted to raise her grade and one snap and the toughest teacher made a mistake on the classes’ grades, and much more. CC was just wanting her bad luck to stop but she got so much more with the help of her bestie Erza, CC was going to get a snap snap reality check. ugh this was so cute and perfect cozy read for spooky season.

Danielle Keil grew up and spent the majority of her life in the Chicagoland area. A recent transplant, she is enjoying the Mississippi life, especially the pool in her backyard.
Danielle is happily married for over 10 years, and has two young children, a daughter and a son, who are exact replicas of her and her husband.

Danielle’s love language is gifts, her Ennegram is a 9w1, and she loves everything purple.
The way to her heart is through coffee, chocolate and tacos (extra guac).

#StudentTeacher #SecondChance #MMRomance #AllTheFeels –Kismet by: Ashley James

Cash DeMarco

Five years ago, I gave my heart and soul to my professor. He made me fall for him, only to destroy me with his silence. I’ve never been the same. I finally have the chance to leave this town, start over, and try to move on with my life. But what happens when fate insists the chapter of your life that haunts you isn’t over?

Stone Philips

He was the temptation I shouldn’t have divulged in. The secret that ruined everything. He was the beginning to my end, and when I left, I left as the shell of the man I once was. Just like with the angriest of storms, when he walks back into my life, destruction and chaos are never far behind. The universe has a funny way of bringing everything full circle, opening old wounds, and forcing you to face your destiny.

*Kismet is a full-length, standalone, MM romance novel about missed opportunity, right person/wrong time, heartbreak, and second chances.

Goodreads

Amazon

Review by Twinsie Tenise

I’m pretty sure I just finished my favorite book of the year. This one may have even made my top 10 ever list. Every once in a while I read a book and think 5 stars just don’t do it justice. A whole lot of boxes have to be checked in order to meet those requirements.

I want to start by saying I’ve never been drawn to student/teacher romance. I’ve read a couple of good ones but they aren’t my go to. I happened upon this book when I was looking for something to read and it took like 2 days to find something.  From the beginning, this story just “felt” different. I was intrigued with the plot and the 2 men, Cash and Stone, had me slowly becoming obsessed. Speaking of slow, it took me 12 days to read this book. Some days I would only read 1 or 2 chapters. Not because I didn’t like the book, quite the opposite actually, I honestly just wanted to savor every page. Without giving too much away, let’s dig into the boxes it checked…
• I didn’t want it to end. When I feel that way the book is at least rating a high 4 for me.
• My heart freaking hurt on more than one occasion for these characters. By end end of Part 1, I was bawling!
• Nothing about this was easy or instant. There was angst and I love me some angst. The character development was superb. The raw emotion displayed by these 2 men had me invested in their relationship and hoping for a positive ending to their story.
• I laughed, I felt and I cried. But most importantly, I ugly cried. I know I’m not with the majority but if someone tells me a book made them ugly cry I’m like- tell me more. Lol

I know above I mentioned student/teacher but it was also a 2nd chance at romance and I’ve got a bit of a soft spot for them if they are well written. And I believe this one was very well written. This was my first read by Ashley but certainly not my last. I’m looking forward to exploring their backlist.

About the author

Ashley James is a queer romance author who enjoys writing stories that will equally make you swoon and blush. Ashley calls upstate South Carolina home with her two daughters and two kitties. When she is not writing, Ashley can be found singing and dancing to music with her kids, thinking up new stories in her head, or with her nose in her kindle.

#twinsiefortheday – Dark Reflections (Dark Reflections #1) by Kelsey Ketch

Being possessed by a vampire sucks!

Alana Jones’s world has been completely turned upside-down after being bitten by a vampire’s reflection in a cursed mirror. Now she’s forced to stay in an abandoned Victorian inn on an isolated island off the west coast of Florida, where Alana lives a double life: one as herself and one as a vicious murderer. Over the past year, she has spilt and drunk the blood of sixteen victims. The guilt of their deaths slowly eating away her sanity.

Sixteen dead . . .

However, things become even more complicated when Alana finds Cole, a surfer she felt a connection with the moment they met on the mainland, locked up in the island’s shed. Knowing his death is inevitable, she attempts to distant herself from him, continually reminding herself of the monster residing underneath her skin. Unfortunately, it’s a small island, and the more she interacts with Cole, the more her feelings grow for him.

Eventually, she has to make a decision. Either accept his fate or find a way to expel the vampire’s spirit from within herself before she murders him as well.

Goodreads

Amazon

Review by Brandy

I received this book for an honest review.

this book has an unusual twist to it. Alana’s body is possessed by a vampire every night, and she has no
control and no memory of what happens. She is allowed one day off the island every so often to get
food and supplies, and she must pawn things off and try and sell her art for money. Charissa, the
vampire, doesn’t get why she wants things, but lets her do it.
Alana’s guilt over what the vampire has been doing is eating her up and she sees the ghosts of the
“donors” that have been killed at the island when Charissa tires of them. When she wakes up to find
Cole trapped with her on the island, the ghosts start to actively harass her. Between the ghosts and the
growing feelings for Cole, Alana gets desperate to save Cole. In her desperation she decides to take a
chance that may kill her or worse.
I really enjoyed the vampire’s pet cat. He’s cute with plenty of catitude lol. I also like the interaction
between Alana and the people in town. With Charissa you start by hating her, then you hear her back
story and start to fill a little bad for her, and then bam she really makes you hate her. There is lots of
gore and violence. Alana wakes up to bloody messes all the time. I would recommend older teen and up.

Kelsey Ketch is a young-adult/new-adult author, who works as a Wildlife Biologist and Data Analyst. During her free time, she can often be found working on her latest work in progress. She also enjoys history, mythology, traveling, and reading.

#WOTR25 Reader Spotlight on Amy Schaffer

Hey friends! We, The Twinsie Girls (Angie, Melinda, JM, Kelly, Tenise, and Dee) talked to some of the readers attending Writers on the River to see what they had to say about the event.  As we come down from our book signing highs from July and start to prepare for 2025, YEAR 10, we wanted to see what some of the attendees are saying about Writers on the River.

Today we are chatting with the one and only Amy Schaffer.  You can find her where ever Kate Hawthorne is as Amy is The Kate Keeper.  I just made that up but we are going with it.

Was this your first WOTR? If not how many have you attended?
This was my fourth year
How far did you travel to get to the event?
I traveled from Kansas City so it’s a just under 6 hour drive for me
Did you go to the event with anyone? 
Oh yes! My author bestie, Kate Hawthorne.
How many new books did you bring home?
9 books total. 8 novels and one GIGANTIC antho
Did you participate in the raffle? If yes, did you take any baskets home this year?
Not this year but I did manage to sneak over to take a peek at all the baskets. They all looked so good. I wouldn’t have known which to choose.
Did you get a chance to hear the Dorris talk? If yes, what are your thoughts?
I’ve been to this even 4 times and I’ve gone to hear Doris talk at every single one of them. Doris is such a strong woman and her story is heartbreaking, yet untimately a hopeful one. It’s a reminder that this is more than just a book signing, it’s a chance to support a cause I think we all feel passionately about.
Do you have a highlight or special memory from the event you would like to share?
Just watching everyone come together every year and seeing them get excited to see their signing friends again. It really is like one big family. And it’s not just a readers/authors thing. People even get excited to me… a mere PA
Anything else you would like to add?
❤️ Keep up the good work everyone and I’ll see you for year 10!
Well that is all for today. Check back all month long for more reader and volunteer spotlights.
SAVE THE DATE
Tickets for for the 10th annual Writers on the River go on sale November 4, 2024!
For event location, dates, times, list of 2025 attending authors, and other important information, please follow the link below to the event web page.

#Twinsieoftheday – Vikings Conquest (Viking Ancestors Rise of the Dragon Book 5) by Sky Purington

An alpha Viking dragon shifter and his destined mate face their demons in a scorching medieval romance about second chances.

Tormented by her past, Tess hits the open road, and never looks back until she’s forced through time to medieval Scandinavia. Caught in an unraveling prophecy, the only way she can defeat the enemy is to take a mate. But first, she must work through heart-wrenching memories. What she doesn’t expect is navigating her rocky history alongside a man as broken as her. A Viking who offers not just solace but sparks fierce desire.

Though determined to end his rival without becoming mated, Viking Rokar Sigdir begins thinking differently when Tess joins him on his quest and awakens feelings he thought long dormant. Yet with passion and a chance to start anew come dark flashbacks of losing his kin and the unimaginable pain it caused. A misery he fears repeating.

Will Rokar and Tess be able to let their pasts go and work together to end their nemesis so they can share a future? Or are some things just too hard to overcome? Find out as they journey through time and turbulent memories on a fast-paced, otherworldly adventure that becomes not just a conquest of their enemy but of their grief-stricken souls.

This book contains strong sexual content and is recommended for a mature audience.

Goodreads

Amazon

Review by Brandy

I received this book for an honest review.

This is a good addition to this series, and really brings Tess’s character to life. I’ve read a couple of the
previous books and Tess came across as the flighty, carefree sister. As the previous books directly affect
things in this book I would recommend not starting with this book if new to the series.
Both Tess and her man have been through a painful past, and neither is interested in being hurt again.
Fate, however, has different plans and they must fight through their pain or everything is doomed. Tess
has a big secret that’s she’s even kept from her sisters and it may ruin the future she’s trying to save.
Rokar can’t escape the guilt over the death of his wife and child and has shut everyone out. Trouble is
they have no idea how they are such a huge part of what is going on. When they finally figure it out it’s a
little bit of OMG! due to how their story ties a lot of things together from the entire series. This author
really is very good at slowly unraveling the mystery of the truth without it feeling like it’s a slow reveal.
I’ve really enjoyed this series as there is a lot of Norse mythology woven into the story line along with
Viking dragon shifters. This book is no exception, and if you haven’t read any of the books you may get a
bit confused as to where and when the characters are in different places as there is also time traveling.
There are some major reveals in this book, so I wouldn’t start with this one if your new to the series.
There is explicit adult content.

SKY PURINGTON is the award-winning, 4-time RONE nominee, bestselling author of over seventy novels and novellas. A New Englander born and bred who recently moved to Virginia, Purington married her hero and has an amazing son who inspires her daily. Her wolf pack, one ultra-lovable husky shepherd mix, and two Siberian huskies, rarely leave her side. Passionate for variety, Sky’s vivid imagination spans several romance genres, including historical, time travel, paranormal, and fantasy. Expect steamy stories teeming with protective alpha heroes and strong-minded heroines.

#1 in Time Travel Romance 2011-2023

#1 in Viking Historical Romance 2015-2022

#1 in Medieval Historical Romance 2016, 2019 & 2021

#1 in Ancient World Fiction 2016, 2017 and 2019

#1 in Historical Norse & Icelandic Fiction 2019

#1 in Scottish Historical Romance 2019-2021

Latest Releases→ Click +Follow

Website→ www.SkyPurington.com

Newsletter→ https://bit.ly/3hQIHka

New Release Text Alerts→ Text ‘skypurington’ (no quotes, one word, all lowercase) to 74121

Sky loves to hear from readers! Email her at Sky@SkyPurington.com.

#wotr25 Reader Spotlight on Amanda and Mr Man

Hey friends! We, The Twinsie Girls (Angie, Melinda, JM, Kelly, Tenise, and Dee) talked to some of the readers attending Writers on the River to see what they had to say about the event.  As we come down from our book signing highs from July and start to prepare for 2025, YEAR 10, we wanted to see what some of the attendees are saying about Writers on the River.

Today we are chatting with Amanda and her husband Mr. Man. If one of the names sound familiar, you must have been there for the Raffle drawings because Mr. Man cleaned house! Whoop! I was so happy for his wife. Lol We hope to see you 2 again in 2025!

Was this your first WOTR? If not how many have you attended?
No, this was our 2nd year attending.
 
How far did you travel to get to the event?
9 hours and almost 600 miles
 
Did you go to the event with anyone? 
Me and the hubby
 
How many new books did you bring home?
Almost 60 books
 
Did you participate in the raffle? If yes, did you take any baskets home this year?
Yes and Mr. Man won several.
 
Did you get a chance to hear the Dorris talk? If yes, what are your thoughts?
Yes and they do fabulous work.
 
Do you have a highlight or special memory from the event you would like to share?
I love going because it is so diverse and welcoming. Mr. Man has a blast and i think its great.
 
Anything else you would like to add?
No, just keep doing what you guys are doing and be the same wonderful people you are.
 
Well that is all for today. Check back all month long for more reader and volunteer spotlights.
 
SAVE THE DATE
Tickets for for the 10th annual Writers on the River go on sale November 4, 2024!
For event location, dates, times, list of 2025 attending authors, and other important information, please follow the link below to the event web page.