All I Desire by Andrea Goodson

Title:  All I Desire

Author:  Andrea Goodson

Published:  May 31/13

Page Count:  4209 words

Genre:  Historical Romance

Shelf:  Books I Bought

Rating:  ★★★★★

Synopsis:

Adam Parsons thinks he knows exactly what he wants out of life. Working as a farrier in 18th century England does little to satisfy him. A dark ship comes into port and a sudden opportunity arises to change life for himself and his love, Selena. Will Adam find what he truly desires or will he lose all that he already has?

What will it take for Adam to find all that he desires?

My Review:

Goodson definitely doesn`t disappoint with this short story. She definitely keeps her writing at the top with the very well written short story.

I absolutely love Goodson`s descriptions and the flow of her writing. Everything is so well written and pieced together in such a natural way that you can`t help but immerse yourself in the world that she creates. This short story also has such real possibilities in events that have occurred in human history that the realism is unmistakable.

The characters in this novel are such real entities that you can`t help but love (or hate) them. Although character development in short stories is, by definition, minimal, Goodson presents everyone in such a manner that you can see where they are coming from and what sparks their actions. She also presents them in such a light that your imagination easily fills in any blanks that may be left.
As a whole, this is definitely one of the best short singles that I`ve read in a very long while. With it, Goodson remains at the top of my favourite authors pile, outshining many mass produced authors on today`s market.

Buy your copy online here today!

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The Riverbend Trilogy Blog Tour ~*~Guest Post~*~

Thank you for visiting The Riverbend Trilogy's Blog Tour! Here you will find an interesting article about Andrea's inspiration to self-publish, see The Riverbend Trilogy's new book trailer, and learn a bit about the author, Andrea Goodson! Don't forget to enter the giveaway at the end of the post and see where you can visit Andrea tomorrow!

My Inspiration to Self-Publish

First, let me start with saying that I have discussed with and gained permission from my child to talk about this issue. My novel, Riverbend, which is part one in The Riverbend Trilogy started out as something much different. I began writing it about 2 years ago as a sort of journal entry. The emotions and thoughts that occured during this process quickly turned into fictional characters in my imagination and I had to get it all out onto the paper. The process was so invigorating, so inspiring, I don't quite know how to describe it. Ideas just flowed out of my mind through my hands and onto the paper. Yes, paper. The first 5000+ words of my novel were handwritten in a notebook. I still write in a notebook. Somehow I feel more creative when I do it that way. I like to go outside and sit under the large Tulip Tree in my back yard with my pencil and notebook and just imagine. I almost envision myself as Anne Shirley sitting on the sandy banks of Avonlea with her pen and unbound manuscripts! Riverbend began as a single novel and I thought for a long time it would stay that way. I decided to turn it into a Trilogy after careful thought because I feel it will better impact my readers that way. It was not due to traditional publication rules, as the first book is fairly short. I just felt that at certain places in the novel there needed to be a definitive resolution, and "end" so to speak, so that the reader might better absorb the enormity of the character's realization and plight. Book one was completed in late summer of last year and inquiries were sent out to various literary agents. Needless to say, the rejections started piling in and I began to think that it just was not as good as I thought it was. The book is wonderful, to me, but maybe others didn't see it that way. Although, the majority of the rejections I received were due to not being an established author. Either way, I continued to furiously write, but was losing faith in myself as a writer. During this same year, my 9 year old daughter had been diagnosed with Dyslexia. She had been having an enormous amount of trouble with reading, writing, spelling, and being bullied at school for those difficulties. She ended up transfering schools and receiving the specialized instruction she so desparately needed. She is very smart, testing in the above average range for full scale IQ, so she has experienced much frustration with herself, not understanding why she couldn't achieve what other children were in school. One night, very late for her, about 10:00pm, we were working on homework and studying. This had become a normal rountine for her to be up so late trying to finish homework and staying focused had been so hard that I would allow her large breaks between tasks, to "freshen" her mind. Thankfully, these late nights don't happen anymore! Anyway, on this particular night her frustration was ruling over her, there were many tears and questions like "Why am I so dumb?" "Why can't I remember this?" "Why do I have to have Dyslexia?" Of course, while my heart was breaking for my frustrated child, I comforted her and explained that she absolutely was not "dumb", and that she has gifts that others don't, and that we all have different weaknesses and strengths. My final words to her on the subject were (I can't remember exactly, but something along the lines of...) "You can achieve anything you set your mind to, YOU are in control of your life. It may be hard at times, but you will only fail if you give up." Her response floored me. "Then why don't you publish your book yourself?" Why? Why? I didn't know what to answer! Why don't I? Because I don't believe I can? Because I am lacking the same faith in myself that I am telling you to have? How could I preach to my child to follow her dreams and to always try hard if I was going to give up myself?! And that's what did it. That's when I made the instantaneous decision to self-publish. I no longer cared what any literary agent thought, I even stopped searching in my email hourly for responses! I was going to do this myself and NOBODY could tell me I couldn't, not even me! So, here I am. A brand new, indie, self-published author navigating my way through this whole new world! Everytime I look at my child I feel thankful for her wise advice.

Take a look at the NEW Riverbend Trilogy Book Trailer!

Author Bio

Andrea Goodson was born in 1982 and had a love of and fascination with writing since she was very young. Always imagining ways in which the world could be different, she began to write short stories when she was very young. It wasn't until many years later that she put pen to paper and began to work on what has become her first novel, Riverbend, part one in a trilogy. Upon completion of that work she found that writing was something she felt meant to do and would never be able to give up. Using her own experiences with hardship and tragedy Andrea uses her writing to reach others in an effort to show the world that we need not be victims of circumstance. Her main characters endure many conflicts yet find the courage and strength to better themselves.

Click here to follow Andrea on Facebook and Twitter!

You can view the first book in Andrea's series, Riverbend, here on Kindle

All books are also available on Amazon as Paperbacks and ebooks on Nook, iBooks, and Smashwords!

For a complete listing of all books and venues, CLICK HERE!

You can also check out my reviews for 

Riverbend

Rapid Water

Waking Tide


A note from me:

Andrea will be donating the proceeds from all sales of Riverbend (ecopy or print copy) throughout the month of May to Oklahoma Relief.  

Click on any of the above links and buy yourself a copy of the book, gift it, pick up a spare in case you wear it out.  Just go buy it.  Not only are you getting yourself an awesome book, but you're also helping those affected in Oklahoma.

Don't forget to enter the giveaway!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/NjczOTBiODQyMTI0YzkyNWZiZjgxNjc4ZjQzMzM4OjU=/

Thank you for visiting! You can see Andrea again tomorrow on Kat's Read!

www.katsread.blogspot.com

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Waking Tide by Andrea Goodson

Title: Waking Tide

Author:  Andrea Goodson

Series:  Riverbend Trilogy #3

Published:   April 16th 2013 by Andrea Goodson

Page Count:  161

Shelf:  Review Copy

Rating:  ★★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Third Book in The Riverbend Trilogy

Lena's heart is empty with apathy after the tragic death of her mother. Unfeeling and cold, she doesn't know where to turn.

Will attempts to help Lena as he always has, but will her coldness and rejection finally push him to the brink?

The final resolution to The Riverbend Trilogy is another fast-paced novel full of grief, discovery, and love.

Lena must ultimately decide what matters most- her comfort and security or the chance of happiness?

My Review:

This is another phenomenal story from Andrea Goodson. Yet again she captivated me from the first page and kept me going throughout. I couldn’t put this novel down for a second. It was a brilliant novel and a phenomenal conclusion to the Riverbend trilogy.

I love how Goodson uses history to base her novel on. Although in essence this story is about love and loss, it is also about the history of an interaction between the Western world and a Native American nation. This novel is, in essence, a work of fiction, however there is real history behind it. Goodson stays true to that history as well as the practices of said nation.

I really appreciate how smoothly and clearly Goodson switches perspective from character to character. It really adds depth and mystery to the story, knowing what different characters are thinking and how they are feeling. Goodson also changes the tone and colour of her writing with certain characters to increase the feeling of suspense and possible doom that some of the characters are facing. Goodson’s descriptions continue to amaze me, putting everything into perspective while letting you see what the characters are seeing and experience what they are experiencing. Goodson also plays on the reader’s emotions, pulling them further into the conflicts of the story, both those experienced by characters individually or as a group. More than once she brought tears to my eyes, but also had times where she made me laugh out loud.

I love how Goodson’s characters continue to grow as individuals. They keep finding out new things about each other and about themselves. She really takes the time to let you get to know the characters without ever dwelling on them. I am sad to see these characters go, but I am very glad to see that our star-crossed lovers now seem to be on the same path, even though that means I can’t keep Will for myself any longer.

And the rest, they say, is history.

Buy your copy online here today!

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Rapid Water by Andrea Goodson

Title:  Rapid Water

Author: Andrea Goodson

Series:  The Riverbend Trilogy #2

Published: December 12th 2012 by Amazon Digital Services

Page Count:  196

Genre:  Young Adult Contemporary Romance

Shelf:  Review Copy

Rating:  ★★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

While on an extended visit to the quiet community of Kennerdell in this second volume of The Riverbend Trilogy, Lena Woodruff continues to battle with the conflicts both around and within her. Will is recovering quickly from his injury and is unrelenting in his overwhelming attempts to win over Lena’s heart which quickly puts her on an emotional rollercoaster ride full of uncertainty and guilt. Still attempting to continue Carl Woodruff’s work and discover more information regarding the mysterious items related to the historical Penn family of Early America, Lena and Will unknowingly place themselves in jeopardy as they dive deeper into the mysterious newfound connection between William Penn and the Lenape Indians, travelling to Canada together in search for clues possibly held by the Moravian First Nation. Striving to prove that she had been followed is more difficult than Lena could have imagined and her mind begins to rapidly bend with confusion. She realizes that safety is a luxury she no longer possesses. Grief darkens her thoughts while insecurity and self-doubt cause the lines between reality and imagination to blur. Assured that being home is the cause of her pain and disbelief, she is desperate to quickly leave Kennerdell and return to her secluded life in Georgia. A small glimmer of hope arises inside of Lena which begins a conflict between her own self-doubt and the promise of something better. Where strength is weakness and vulnerability is an asset, the greatest danger that threatens Lena in Kennerdell may just be herself.


My Review:



Holy intrigue with the scumbag – and now I think I know who the scum bag is. And no, I’m not telling.

I love how the archaeological and anthropological aspect of the first story continues on to this installment. You learn more and more about the histories of these Native American peoples while on a grand adventure. This is augmented by the way that it is placed within Goodson’s very well written story. She has a way of bringing the world to life with her words that doesn’t compare to anything.

The characters come to life with a vengeance in this novel. I thought that I was getting to know them before, but now I feel like I grew up with the main characters. Goodson keeps feeding you details about the characters, building on past experiences that allow you to get to know them better and better. All the while, she continues progressing with the storyline. You also get to know some of the minor characters much better in this novel. This adds an extra element of depth to the story, drawing you further into the world that these individuals inhabit.

Goodson grabbed me with the first installment in this series and has kept me going with this one. I can’t stop thinking about the characters and their plight. Although my heart broke at the end of this novel, I still hold a great deal of hope for the characters and their future.

Buy your copy online here today!





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Riverbend by Andrea Goodson

Title:  Riverbend

Author:  Andrea Goodson

Series:  The Riverbend Trilogy #1

Published:  October 5th 2012 by Andrea Goodson Books

Page Count:  100

Genre:  Romantic Suspense

Rating:  ★★★★★

Syopsis from Goodreads:

Nestled deep in Northwest Pennsylvania, amongst the thick forest of the Allegheny Mountains, is a quiet community named Kennerdell. The area is rich in Native American and European settlement history with few inhabitants and a charming culture. Growing up there was simple for 22 year old Lena Woodruff, full of happy memories and long, playful summer days spent by the nearby Allegheny River. Being the daughter of an Archaeology Professor, she was enamored with the beauty, peace, and history that surrounded her. Lena could have grown up to be an average, well-adjusted woman. But there has been a darkness within her for the past seven years, since her father’s tragic death. After managing to escape far away to Thomasville, Georgia for the past two years, Lena is forced to return home to visit her family. Upon her arrival, Lena had hoped to come clean to her mother, have a short visit and return to her secluded life, apart from her family, in Georgia. However, she is greeted by much more than she expects. She is haunted by the memories of her father's death as well as her self-destructive behavior in the years following. She struggles with guilt and regret for the pain she feels she has caused her family and loved ones. Her mother is loving and supportive and, although Lena appreciates those qualities, the pressure of living up to a standard and the recollections of her previous life prove unsettling and are too much for her to bear. Lena is quickly thrown into a web of mystery, inner conflict, grief, self-worth, love, and trust. Riverbend, book one in the three part series, exposes the beginning of a shocking mystery for Lena that could ultimately change written history. She teams up with one of her neighbors, longtime friend Will Sundback, and they begin an adventure together. But someone else is lurking about, following Lena, and keeping tabs on her every move. Who is this person and what do they know? Will Lena be able to allow herself happiness, solve the mystery surrounding her father’s work, and be able to free herself from the pain that plagues her?


My Review:

Ok, so I definitely did not leave my chair once while reading this novel. It was brilliant. I fully admit that I spent the 1st chapter wondering “what the hell happened in the past” but the rest of the book kept me captivated within its pages. Goodson has a way with words and manages to work mystery and intrigue into her work without it becoming apparent.

The descriptions and settings in this novel are great. They are real places that you feel like you could visit, or have visited. She uses her descriptions in a way that you can picture the setting for the novel very clearly. At the same time, she never gets longwinded or boring.

I think what really got me with this novel was the fact that the historical, anthropological, and archaeological facts present in the book are based in reality. Goodson took the time to research this before writing. It is not simply made up information that she tries to pass off as fact. She weaves an amazing tale around these facts, but what they are is still fact (with a twist or two, of course).

The characters are also heartwarming. You have a main character that is afraid to love because she lost her father coupled with her high school sweetheart who will still do anything for her. You can’t beat that, especially when Goodson takes the time to develop her characters into real people. I was, of course, left with the question “what is Richard’s deal?” Is he up to something or is he simply a skeazebag?

Buy your copy online here today!!!



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