**Review and Interview With Giveaway** This Piece of my Soul by Robyn M Ryan

They believe love conquers

all. Until it doesn't.

THIS PIECE OF MY SOUL

Clearing the Ice #2

Robyn M. Ryan

Releasing Jan 24th, 2017

They believe love conquers all.

One of

pro-hockey’s golden couples, Andrew and Caryn Chadwick live in the limelight

reserved for elite professional athletes. On their second anniversary, Andrew

receives an unexpected contract offer to join the Tampa Suns. As they look

forward to a new adventure, neither foresees an event that challenges their

love and threatens their marriage.

Until it doesn’t. 

A sudden

and senseless accident threatens Andrew’s life and inexplicably drives a wedge

between the couple. Shattered by the incident, paralyzed by fear that it could

happen again, Caryn finds herself at odds with her husband and unable to

provide the support he needs—at the time he is most vulnerable.

As their

perfect world crumbles, each makes choices that take Andrew and Caryn further

apart. 

Distrust, fears, and secrets construct walls. This Piece of My Soul

follows the joint and separate paths the couple navigate as each hopes to rediscover

the love that can conquer all.

Although This Piece of My Soul is

the second book in the Clearing the Ice Series, it can be read as a standalone

novel.

Review:
Since this is the second book in the series, the story line and characters have been initially developed. I am not used to reading books surrounded by sports of any sort. This story is about Caryn and Andrew Chadwick; they're married and doing their best to live their lives while in the limelight since he is a hockey player. They're living blissfully until Andrew receives an offer that he cannot refuse...playing for the Tampa Suns. Once they are comfortable in their new home, Andrew is happily playing for Tampa, Caryn is getting comfortable with her new life and friends...then one day a tragedy happens and when Andrew needs his wife the most, she isn't able to give him the support he desperately needs or wants. This begins to create quite the on their relationship and they both begin to wonder if it is repairable. Then, just as you're hoping these two can work it out, another wrench is tossed into the plot. 
I didn't think I would enjoy a book that was about sports. However I think it helped that the story line didn't revolve around sports, it was more of a backdrop. I sorta suspected the first twist in the story, but the other twist and the ending surprised me. I found myself wanting to shake some sense into Caryn and then Andrew! Their love is definitely tested in this book.Then I felt like I was left hanging! So I am hoping that the author is working on a third while I work on reading the first book in this series. I really enjoyed the authors writing style and characterizations. I think she did well with keeping the plot grounded while still keeping the reader on their toes

*Release Week Special*

$1.99 through January 31, 2017

Get This Piece of My Heart, the first book in the series 

for just .99 sale (reg. $2.99) through Jan 31, 2017.

By the

time she was an eight-year-old tomboy growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, Robyn

M. Ryan

definitely knew what she wanted to do when she grew up—play major

league baseball or write. She wrote throughout elementary and high school,

first composing novels featuring favorite TV and music personalities, and then

venturing into sports writing.

Attending

UGA’s journalism school launched her career in public relations, which included

an internship with the Atlanta Flames NHL hockey team. With the encouragement

of a writers group on twitter—WritersThatChat—This Piece of My Heart, a hockey

romance, and the first book in Robyn’s series Clearing the Ice was published

May 2016. The second book in the series, This Piece of My Soul, introduces the

Tampa Suns professional hockey team.

Besides

writing, Robyn’s passions include following the New York Rangers, NASCAR, and

the Atlanta Braves; splitting time between homes in Atlanta and Palm Coast, and

visiting Paris as often as possible. Two brilliant Westies rule both homes.

As do

many writers, Robyn chooses to write using a pseudonym—hers is a combination of

her sons’ names, a contribution from her youngest nephew.

Author Interview:
I was so excited to have the opportunity to interview Robyn! This book was fabulous! Please welcome Robyn M Ryan!!!

Thank you for inviting me to visit Rainy Day Reviews! Congratulations on joining the Readers’ Challenge for 2017—100 books in a year is impressive!

1. What gave the inspiration for this book and the characters?

I love professional hockey. When I was in college, I had a Public Relations internship with an NHL team—an eye-opening experience. As I got to know many of the players, the head coach, and the front office staff, I discovered that beyond the common bond of the same hockey team, these people were just people like everyone else. Maybe it’s because this was a new franchise in a new market for hockey, but everyone was down-to-earth, helpful, polite, and did not put themselves on a pedestal.

The idea of writing a novel featuring the day-to-day life of a fictitious hockey player grew from that experience and evolved into a romance novel featuring two people with very different backgrounds. This Piece of My Soul is the second book in the series.

2. What got you into writing?

For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a writer. I asked for a “printing press” when I was six, wrote my first full-length novel in middle school, and continued through high school and college. These were stories I wanted to read, not necessarily publish. The Clearing the Ice series was first begun in college and finally completed many years later.

In high school, I began newswriting, and during college, sportswriting. Many articles were published in the local city newspapers, featuring pro athletes from many sports. During this time, I also continued to write sports-themed novels.

3.What advise do you have for other writers just starting out?

Believe you can do this!

It’s never been easier to publish a book, but before you do, invest in an editor, a graphic designer for your book cover and promotional materials, and a web developer. With the immense number of independent authors publishing books each week, you want your book to stand out, look professional, and provide a compelling plot that is well-edited.

Don’t assume that your book will sell itself. Establish a presence on social media while you are writing your book; you’ll need to promote, promote, promote on as many platforms as possible.

Join a writers’ group, online or near your home. Fellow writers are great sources of encouragement, keep you on task, and crack the whip when necessary! You’ll also have beta readers and perhaps experts in promotion, editing, photography, and social media. “Writers supporting other writers” expands your reach and keeps you motivated!

4.Does writing energize or exhaust you?

Writing energizes me. I get excited as I watch a plot unfold through my words—and coming back the next morning the read the previous day’s work is often exhilarating!

5.What are common traps for aspiring writers?

Not purchasing your own ISBN numbers, which identify you as the writer and publisher of your book. (myidentifiers.com is part off Bowkers, the agency the maintains ISBN numbers) Keep in mind that you will need separate ISBNs for each format of a book—mobi (Kindle), epub (iBooks, Nook, Kobo), paperback (figure 3 ISBNs per title). Third-parties will sell ISBN numbers at a discount, but you are not listed as the publisher of record.

Rushing books to market (see #3 above!).

Not seeking objective critiques of the manuscript.

Not asking for advice from successful authors. Many in your genre are on Facebook and Twitter and most will answer questions you may have on any step of the writing process.

Signing on with a third-party to publish your book without researching it thoroughly. There are some legitimate companies that will assist you in formatting your book to the e-book guidelines (epub and mobi formats) and even up-load it to your vendors (Amazon, Nook, iBooks, Kobo)…BUT, some will charge very large fees and/or a portion of your royalties from the sale of the book. Ask around before choosing a company if you go that route—google the company, ask the author’s group on Goodreads, as well as other writers you know.

When publishing a paperback, steer clear of any company that requires you to purchase a minimum number of books. CreateSpace.com is a print on demand publisher and aside from proof copies and some for personal use, you don’t have to buy any additional books. The company works through Amazon and other retailers to sell the book. You receive a royalty on the net proceeds. IngramSpark is another company that prinys on demand.

Expecting your family and friends to buy your book. Some may, but you’ll need to look elsewhere for readers. (sorry!)

6.What is your writing Kryptonite?

New York Rangers’ hockey games. Okay, must confess that I am superstitious. And even though I live in Atlanta, I’ve adopted the Rangers as my home team. When a game starts, I concentrate solely on the game. You know, rally positions, certain places to watch games on TV, etc. So, no writing while the Rangers play! Yes, I do assume personal responsibility for the team’s success…

 

7.Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?

I hope the majority of my books can be read as standalones, but I will incorporate some characters in multiple books in a series. My Clearing the Ice Series will continue on in the Tampa Suns hockey series. I hope readers will come to view recurring characters are “old friends” each time they read a book in a series.

Besides hockey, baseball and NASCAR are competing for attention for future series.

Thank you so much for stopping by so I could grill you!! It was so much fun and enlightening to read your responses!! Please feel free to stop by anytime!

 

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