Interview with Vickie McKeehan and Review of Promise Cove

Welcome! Today is quite an exciting day :) First of all, I had the privilege of sitting down with Vickie McKeehan and giving my very first interview!! Secondly, Vickie latest book, Dancing Tides, is being released today from her Pelican Pointe series. Naturally I had to do a review of the very first novel in the series, Promise Cove. Let's start with the interview!

Interview with Vickie

Thank you Vickie for taking the time to answer a few of my questions. I know you've been busy getting ready for the release of Dancing Tides. I first fell in love with your books when I discovered the Evil Trilogy so I'm just so thrilled to be able to find out more about you!

So tell me, when did you know you wanted to be a writer?

Early. My mom liked to tell stories, any kind really, but her favorite were ghost stories. I loved that about her so I tried to emulate that, I think.


What has been the most difficult part about being a writer?

Deadlines. It was the same in a corporate setting. Anytime deadlines are involved I think it takes the fun out of it for me.


Do you like to plan your scenes in advance or do you just wing it?

Some of both. I see a scene, but how the characters behave in that scene is something I can’t predict.


Oh trust me, I know how you feel. Deadlines are definitely hard for me as well, but unfortunately also necessary. Why did you choose to write romance?

I love the genre. There’s something about getting two people together, traveling that road toward attraction and commitment that draws me in. If you give them challenges and quirky personalities, so much the better.


I feel just the same. Now your Evil Trilogy was romantic suspense, while the Pelican Pointe series is more contemporary romance. What, if anything, made you change sub-genres?

I don’t like labels. If you can do whatever it takes to try and stretch your talents as a writer, challenge yourself in some way, you’re ahead of the game.


I couldn't agree more. And may I say that your talents definitely shine through in both sub-genres. I loved Promise Cove as much as your Evil trilogy! How did you come up with your ideas for your Pelican Pointe series?

From life and people who were hurting from their war experiences tugged at my heartstrings. 


My best friend was stationed over in Afghanistan so stories of soldiers returned from war hold an even more special place in my heart. How many books will there be in the Pelican Pointe series?

I could keep writing about the town forever if the readers respond. That’s how much I loved creating this place.


You just made me so happy saying that. I truly loved this book and really must read more! Do you have any favorite characters from your books?

I love all the main characters, even came to care for Trevor in my own way. 


What type of books do you like to read in your free time?

Romance of course, mysteries, true crime.


It's funny, those are some of my favorite genres too! You're one of my favorite authors so tell me, who are some of yours?

Oh. Wow. If I start listing, I’m sure to leave someone out. I think here though is where I need to say that I didn’t start reading romance until around 2003. I was going through a bit of tough time and needed an escape. I discovered Lavyrle Spencer, who no longer writes by the way, in this little used bookstore near my house. Then I got hooked on Nora Roberts, Kat Martin, Robyn Carr, Catherine Anderson, Susan Wiggs. Karen Robards. I mean you don’t have enough space here for me to list all the people I read back then.


Those are all fantastic authors, many of whom I've read before! I have a hard time answering that question too because there are just too many great writers out there! What authors inspire you?

All of the ones I listed above. But Lavyrle Spencer has to stand out. She wrote a book called Morning Glory that is my all-time favorite love story between Will Parker and Ellie Dinsmore. Two total misfits that I related to from page one. Spencer wrote about pre-World War II and did such a fantastic job, I actually thought I 

was back in that time period. Now that’s writing!


I've never read that book, but wow now I'm really interested. It's so rare to find a book that transports you so perfectly! Let's switch gears a little bit. Where is your favorite place to vacation?

Big Sur.


I don't think I've ever been there, but I've heard it's beautiful. What do you like to do in your free time?

Love the outdoors. Love playing games. Love trying to garden. Here I emphasize the word trying.


Haha you don't even want to know how bad I am at gardening ;) Well we're almost out of time. Give us a little hint about what's next for you please.

I have a new series coming out hopefully in November.


Oh now I'm intrigued! I can't wait to see what it is :) Thank you so much again Vickie for taking the time to answer my questions! Is there anything else you'd like your readers to know before you leave?

Every time they trust me enough to buy one of my books, I’d like to give each one of them a hug.


Believe me when I say, I'm sure we'd all like to hug you back for crafting such beautiful stories! Thank you again Vickie and I hope you'll stick around to read my review of your book, Promise Cove!

Promise Cove Review

About the Book:

Length: 268 pages

Price: $3.79

Description (from Amazon.com's product description):

Stuck in backwater Pelican Pointe, California, Jordan Phillips is still trying to recover from the loss of her husband, Scott, who died in Iraq. She’s left with a baby daughter to support and Scott’s dream of turning the old Victorian family home into The Cove Bed and Breakfast, something he’d wanted to do before leaving for Iraq. But Jordan faces formidable odds at every turn. Facing foreclosure is the least of her problems. Pelican Pointe, Scott’s hometown, has never really accepted her. The hostile town treats her like an outsider. Feeling isolated and lonely, the odds of success are heavily stacked against her until a stranger arrives. 
Nick Harris is battling survivor’s guilt, leftover from the war. Haunted by an unwitting promise he made during the heat of battle, Nick has come to Pelican Pointe in hopes of simply unburdening his guilt to Scott’s widow and moving on. But that all changes when he realizes Jordan is in way over her head. Facing an uphill battle, the two of them try to overcome every obstacle the townspeople throw at them. 
As Nick and Jordan struggle to come to terms with the loss of Scott, each in their own way, they discover a promise kept, sometimes changes lives.

What I liked:

This was a contemporary romance, which is one of the genres I don't typically read very much. All too often authors focus solely on the relationship forming between two people in a contemporary romance. Now there's absolutely nothing wrong with that, I just prefer more action in my stories or else I get bored. Believe me when I say this book is as far from boring as you can get.

It starts with a heartbreaking, and far too common I'm sure, scene where an IED forever changes the lives of several soldiers. First Lieutenant Nick Harris watches as his best friend, Captain Scott Phillips, dies and makes a promise to go to Pelican Pointe and visit Scott's wife and baby. Having suffered horrific wounds, both physically and emotionally, it takes Nick a while to follow through with his promise but eventually he does go to meet Jordan and her daughter Hutton. Despite Scott's descriptions of a wonderfully supportive town, Nick discovers Jordan has been on her own struggling to bring Scott's dream of a Bed & Breakfast to life. Through his time helping her work on the B&B, Nick finds himself falling for Jordan and torn by his loyalty to his best friend. When they first met, Nick didn't tell Jordan that he had served with her husband and it leaves him struggling to figure out a way to do what's right.

Overall I adored this story so much. Vickie tells her stories from multiple perspectives, a style I've always particularly enjoyed when done properly. The emotions she conveys are so strong and made me cry at parts. This is definitely a tear jerker! If you read my review of In My Dreams, you'll remember I said I don't typically cry when reading. Well Promise Cove made me eat my words yet again. 

The characters really came to life for me and I loved the portrayal of Hutton. I have two young nieces and Hutton reminded me so much of them. I even was drawn in by the townspeople, even if I did want to smack some sense into them.

What I didn't like:

There really wasn't anything I didn't like. My one issue I had was some revelations at the end. I wished they had come a little bit sooner and perhaps explored a bit more. I still feel the ending is quite strong, I just wanted more because I'm greedy like that :) Editing was great and very consistent throughout, something I always look for. All in all, the worst I can say about this book is yet again, I ran out of tissues lol.

Overall Verdict: 5 Blue Duckies!!

This and all books by Vickie McKeehan are a must read!

Giveaway!

Click here to join Vickie McKeehan's fantastic Rafflecopter giveaway! Prizes include:

• $10 Amazon Gift Card
• 25 Bookmarks
• 2 Signed copies of Just Evil
• 2 Signed copies of Deeper Evil

Pelican Pointe Series

 Trust me when I tell you, you won't want to stop at the first book! Be sure to check out all of the novels in the Pelican Pointe Series!

Promise Cove

Hidden Moon Bay

Dancing Tides

Free Book!!

In honor of the release of Dancing Tides, Vickie is offering the first book of her Evil Trilogy for FREE!! Don't miss Just Evil and the rest of the Evil Trilogy!

Just Evil

Author Info:

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