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Destiny, Love, Hope
A Flower from Keanu follows a guarded small-town florist whose chance at renewal and love is threatened by family wounds, development pressures, and secrets buried deep within their community. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I’ve lived in many small towns throughout my life (and throughout the world), and the dynamics are the same: unplanned, explosive growth that changes the fabric of the community, the politics of power-shifts with new money coming in, and how changes can benefit and/or break the community itself. I wanted to use that as a backdrop to Cassandra’s personal struggles, not only as a business owner, but as a woman who does not want to become a victim of her own angst, and works very hard to overcome those obstacles.
Why did you choose a flower shop as the place where Cassandra rebuilds her life?
Because flowers and plants really show the elements of life: beauty, brittleness, resilience, the clipping off of unwanted baggage, the loving, and the constant renewal. Life, death, and life, in an unending circle.
How did you balance the warmth of the romance with the suspense, conflict, and buried secrets of Hidden Glen?
Actually, it came easy because I only wanted the suspense to touch elements of her business, the town, and bits of her personal life. The romance was the focus, always. However, I did have to be careful, though, not to overwhelm the reader with too much town drama.
What does the rare Christmas flower symbolize for Cassandra and Keanu?
Symbolizes destiny, love, hope (despite the odds), and beauty renewed. That miracles, although rare, can happen.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
The town of Hidden Glen has many secrets, but none more mysterious than the Christmas flower, which blooms rarely.
Legend recounts that when the blossoms unfold to release their fragrance, fortune shifts for those whom the scent caresses.
Cassandra Finlay, owner of The Smiling Peony, has had a seven-year ordeal of caring for a mother whose dementia has taken a terrible toll. Now, after her mother’s death, she fights a constant battle not to implode from the emotional upheaval. And in this small town, Cassandra’s hopes for healing and normal are running out of fuel.
Ken Rivers, a.k.a. Keanu Rivers by birth, returns to his childhood home with big plans, hoping to kick-start, not a revision, but a complete overhaul of his past life. And thanks to his reputation as chef and owner of a famous restaurant in New York City, opening a restaurant, B&B, catering, and intimate banquet hall in his newly acquired Drummond Estate property in Hidden Glen, is the next logical step to his career ambitions.
Then Fate reconnects Cassandra and Keanu, after years apart. Can magic happen? Or will the unexpected turmoil affecting her, and their small town, break them apart?
Hanging Softly in the Night
Hanging Softly in the Night by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra is about Nick Larson, a detective for the 16th precinct of the NYPD. Despite being overburdened with work and personal issues, the detective is determined to solve a suspicious case that appears to be death by suicide, but some peculiarities can’t be ignored. During a difficult time when a flu epidemic ravages the precinct and recent trauma plagues the detective, Nick realizes there may be a serial killer on the loose. He and his partner, Victor Sacco, embark on a mission to solve a mystery.
Alonso-Sierra has crafted a story that is equally intriguing and chilling, with unexpected developments, set in New York City. As more murders crop up, appearing as suicide deaths, the plot becomes more riveting, with sharp-witted characters, backstories, and an unraveling case that keeps you turning one page after another.
I thoroughly enjoyed the complexity of Nick’s history and how his experiences contribute to the story. This book is an action-packed thriller with plenty of suspense and unexpected plot twists that make it impossible to put down. I liked the dynamic between Nick and his partner, Victor, as they raided the city, looking for answers. The book also covers many important aspects vital to the story and relatable to many, such as mental illness and past traumatic experiences, with great care and compassion.
The author’s writing style is descriptive and visual, without dragging the story while keeping a good pace throughout. Hanging Softly in the Night by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra is an exciting read, and it was impossible not to be enraptured by its riveting storyline.
Pages: 436 | ASIN : B08LQXGCFN
