Today we get to learn more about the Fabulous MK Schiller's book A Girl By Any Other Name. Now I have read some of her other work and it was great, so I have no doubt this one will be great to. I sadly did not get to review this one myself but the great Jennifer Ballam who is on our review team did. She seemed to love it but if you wait a few, you can see what she had to say.
Title: A Girl By Any Other Name
Author: MK Schiller
Publisher: Totally Bound
Genre: Romantic suspense
Publication Date: 12th January 2014
Synopsis:
Everyone tells him he needs to move on, but how can a man function without his heart?
Ten-year-old Caleb Tanner wants nothing to do with Sylvie Cranston, the annoying weird girl who moves next door to him and gets him in trouble for swearing. But at twelve, they become friends when he teaches her how to hook a fishing line and she shows him the value of a selfless act. At fourteen, he falls in love with her.
At sixteen, she dies.
Or so he’s told. But Cal never believes it. Sylvie has become part of his soul. He knows her like the steady beating of his own heart. He’d know if she was dead. Cal looks for her, prays for her and finally he just waits for her.
Nine years later, she walks into the community college English class Cal is teaching. Only this girl claims her name is Sophie Becker and she doesn’t know him. Cal knows better. He’s determined to get the girl he loves back—and protect her from the danger that took her away all those years ago.
Book Links:
EXCERPT
I hesitated, finally looking at it,
knowing it would piss me off no end to see her naked body on display. I blinked
in confusion, perplexed by the large canvas. She had told me it was abstract,
but I wasn’t prepared for this. It looked more like a landscape scene than the
gorgeous girl beside me. I had just thought about how a woman’s body was all
peaks, valleys and curves, and that was literally what Rome had painted without
any clear perspective. Well, at least I didn’t have to worry about anyone else
seeing this.
“How many hours did she pose for you,
Rome?” I asked him.
“About six in total,” he replied, not
taking his eyes off Sylvie.
“It’s very…interpretational, isn’t it?”
“It’s modern abstract, so yes.” He
turned his attention back to Sylvie. “I have to walk around, but have a drink
with me later, okay?”
“’Kay. Congratulations, Rome.” She
smiled at him and somehow this jackass took that as a sign to hug her. My hands
twitched, but I let it pass. She was a beautiful girl and if I went around
punching every guy who developed a crush on her, I’d be a pretty busy man.
I stared back at the painting, putting
my arm around her. “So, what do you think?” she asked.
“Six hours, eh?”
“Yeah, it would have been less, but he
kept getting the lines wrong and had to start over a few times.”
I felt the grin tugging at the corners
of my mouth. I bit my lip to keep her from seeing it, but I failed miserably.
“What’s so funny?” she demanded. I
choked on a laugh. She narrowed her eyes at me, “What?”
I couldn’t control it anymore. I
full-out laughed so hard, people turned to look.
“I’m glad I bent down to whisper in her
ear so we wouldn’t be overheard. “Baby, isn’t it obvious to you? That guy just
wanted an excuse to see you naked.”
She released my hold. “No, that’s not
true. This is his interpretation of me. Jesus, Tex, that’s very petty of you to
say.” She hissed the words in my direction, managing to keep her voice to a
very low level, although she was shaking mad.
I pulled her back against my chest and
put my arms around her so I could have full access to her ear and she could
clearly see the painting while I explained myself. “I know you’re an artist,
and you know art much better than I do, but I’m a guy, and I know the male
head—both of them—much better than you. Right now, I’m struggling whether to
kick Florence’s ass or pat him on the back.”
“His name is Rome,” she replied, trying
to keep her composure.
“Whatever.
I’m not trying to be a jerk here. In fact, I think the idea was fucking genius
as hell and very creative, but then again, he is an artist. I’m just being
honest with you when I tell you that this”—I gestured to the painting—“has no
resemblance to this.” I ran my hand down her neck, over the swell of her
breasts and down her trim waist. We were in a corner and the way I was hovering
I knew we wouldn’t be seen, not that I cared, but she would. Her breath hitched
with my touch. “I know I’m way too possessive of you, but it’s not something
I’ll ever apologise for because I love you so damn much. And the fact is, you
are too free-spirited and look at the good in all people. It’s the thing I’ve
always loved most about you and the very thing that scares the hell out of me
too. Do you understand?” Her body was melting into mine, and I knew from the
way she shivered it wasn’t from the cold.
Review by Jennifer Ballam
Stars: 5...
I took I while to connect with this story but when I did, oh my goodness!!! I adored it.
The story began slowly with references at the beginning of the 'in the past' chapters to a book called The Raven, I wondered what this was referring to and was worried that I may have missed part of the story with there being a previous book!! I will put your mind at ease and tell you that you have not missed a book and that all will be revealed in due course, just keep reading the story!
The chapters in the book that referred to the childhood relationship between Caleb and Sylvie were lovely and reading about how their relationship had grown during those years I loved. The scene where they end up parting and the aftermath of that were really well written. You could feel the pain that Caleb was going through. That I suppose should be something that I should mention, the majority of the book, right up until the end of the book, is written completely from Caleb's perspective.
It's going to be hard to try and sell the book to you by recapping some of the plot as beyond saying that it is the romance of a man who was convinced that the girl he loved from his childhood was not dead and searched for her for 10 years, and finding her obviously, I would be letting too much of the plot away. All I can hint to is that she is indeed running from a person and that when the details of that persons crimes were revealed in the book I was so appalled that I read that passage aloud to my partner who also winced.
The love that these two characters share for one another in a love that will get through anything. The twist towards the end like others have said I really did not see coming, in fact the clue was there but I thought it was a missed typo and overlooked it!! The clues were there but well hidden obviously!
I book different to a lot of books I have read lately and one I would not hesitate to read again. You'll love the characters and you'll love the story. You'll definitely fall in love with Caleb even more when he quotes Mr Darcy (well I did as it's one of my all time favourite novels) and laugh at the Optimus Prime quote. You'll also love that this has an ending and all loose ends 'killed off'!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/838495220
Author Bio – MK Schiller
I am a hopeless romantic in a hopelessly pragmatic world. I have a full time life and two busy teenagers, but by night, I sit by the warm glow of my computer monitor, and attempt to conjure up passionate heartwarming stories with plenty of humor.
I started imagining stories in my head at a very young age. In fact, I got so good at it that my best friend asked me to make up stories featuring her as the heroine and the boy she currently liked as the hero. We'd spend hours on the phone while I came up with a series of unrealistic, yet tender events led the object of her desire to finally profess his love. You've heard of fan fiction... this was friend fiction.
Even with that, it took many years to realize I could produce an actual full length book that readers would enjoy. I try to make my stories humorous, realistic, with characters who are flawed but redeeming. I hope you enjoy my stories and never stop searching for your happily ever after.
Author Links:
Author Links:
Also by MK Schiller:
The Other C-Word:
The Do-Over:
I hope you all enjoyed learning about MK. Schiller's book A Girl By Any Other Name! Come back tomorrow where we Have the Six Month's Cover Reveal by Dannik Dark (squeeeee)!!
As always please be sure to leave review for everything that you read and don't forget to subscribe to our blog email so you can keep up to date on what's going on here at IHB.
Until tomorrow!! <3 MB
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