Fresh FIction Box Not To Miss
Fresh Fiction Reviewer Spotlight: Teresa Cross
Author Guest / January 28, 2021

We’re joined by one of our long time reviewers, Teresa Cross, for today’s Reviewer Spotlight!  Your Name Teresa Cross How long have you been a Fresh Fiction reviewer? 6 years What are your favorite genres to read and review? Mystery/thrillers What are your TOP 3-5 Books of 2020? He Started It by Samantha Downing Devolution by Max Brooks The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James It Will Just Be Us by Jo Kaplan Confessions on the 7:45 by Lisa Unger What do you like to do outside of reading? Actually, if I’m not reading a thriller, I do love to watch them. I like to write some too though I’m still finding it hard to do at times because I have so many great books I still want to read! What are some of your holiday traditions? When my parents were alive, we would meet over at their house for Christmas. My children would always open one gift the night before from each other. Then Christmas morning the rest! What are your reading resolutions/intentions/goals for 2021? Well, I set for 50 this year and really exceeded it, (I wonder why) so I say 60 books next year! What do…

Fresh Fiction Reviewer Spotlight: Rosie Bindra
Author Guest / January 21, 2021

We are joined today by one of our long-time reviewers, Rosie Bindra, who has been sharing her book opinions with Fresh Fiction since 2005!  Your Name Rosie Bindra How long have you been a Fresh Fiction reviewer?  Since 2005 What are your favorite genres to read and review? Fantasy, Cozy, Paranormal, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Romance, Historical Romance What are your TOP 3-5 Books of 2020? Killer Chardonnay by Kate Lansing Hunting for a Highlander by Lynsay Sands How to Love Your Elf by Kerrelyn Sparks What do you like to do outside of reading? Traveling is a huge passion. One of the neatest places I’ve been is Utqiaġvik, Alaska (formerly known as Barrow) which is the northernmost city in the United States and in the Arctic Circle. What are some of your holiday traditions? No tree until Dec. 1st. I’m not sure how this came about (probably my fault for always wanting the tree up for my birthday) but I have banned from putting the Christmas tree up any earlier. What are your reading resolutions/intentions/goals for 2021? Get more reading for reviews done What do you love about being a Fresh Fiction Book Reviewer? Getting to sample authors/genres that I…

Fresh Fiction Reviewer Spotlight: Annetta Sweetko
Author Guest / January 15, 2021

Today, we are celebrating one of our long-time reviewers, Anneta Sweetko! Check out the reviewer spotlights on the FF blog all month long to get to know our lovely reviewers and find out their favorite book recs of the last year!  Your Name Annetta Sweetko How long have you been a Fresh Fiction reviewer? July 2012 What are your favorite genres to read and review? Paranormal, suspense, erotic, romance – really anything that is well written and takes me away from my everyday life. What are your TOP 3-5 Books of 2020? This is like asking which child is your favorite, but I will try! Shadows In Death by J.D. Robb (anything in that series and by Nora Roberts herself)  Dark Song by Christine Feehan (all her series are great) Deadlock by Catherine Coulter The Jackal by J.R. Ward Joy to the Wolves by Terry Spear What do you like to do outside of reading? I do crafts! I like to make Christmas gifts for co-workers, jigsaw puzzles are relaxing, and baking –nothing fancy and mostly box items. What are some of your holiday traditions? My daughter and I try to pick a day to go Christmas shopping together and…

Fresh Fiction Reviewer Spotlight: Miranda Owen
Author Guest / January 13, 2021

All month long, we’re showcasing some of our favorite people — our reviewers! They read books day in and day out to give you, our readers, informed and exciting book recommendations! Today, one of our reviewers and regular interviewers, Miranda Owen! Your Name Miranda Owen How long have you been a Fresh Fiction reviewer? 7 years What are your favorite genres to read and review? Romance and cozy mysteries What are your TOP 3-5 Books of 2020? Sucker Punch by Laurell K. Hamilton The Kissing Game by Marie Harte Wicked Bite by Jeaniene Frost Crossing the Line by Cynthia Eden By the Book by Amanda Sellet What do you like to do outside of reading? Shopping and writing What are some of your holiday traditions? Writing and mailing Christmas cards What are your reading resolutions/intentions/goals for 2021? To try new authors and take a chance on different subgenres What do you love about being a Fresh Fiction Book Reviewer? Getting to interview favorite authors If you’re comfortable, please share a photo so our readers can see your face! Where else can readers find you online? https://twitter.com/mirandaowen1

Fresh Fiction Reviewer Spotlight: Courtney Blanton
Author Guest / December 14, 2020

Have you ever wondered who writes all of the reviews posted on Fresh Fiction? You’re in luck! Throughout December and January, we’re introducing you to some of our favorite people: OUR REVIEWERS! We may be biased, but we think they’re the best.  Your Name Courtney Blanton How long have you been a Fresh Fiction reviewer?  A few months What are your favorite genres to read and review? Memoirs, thrillers, true-crime What are your TOP 3-5 Books of 2020? The Night Swim by Megan Megan Goldin The Wife Who Knew Too Much by Michele Campbell Bright Side by Kim Holden This Is How I Lied by Heather Gudenkauf What do you like to do outside of reading? Listen to music, stream television shows/movies, and play my Switch Lite What are some of your holiday traditions?  Decorating the Christmas tree, opening a present a few days before Christmas, opening all the presents late Christmas Eve night, having big dinners with the family (this year, my birthday falls on Thanksgiving!). What are your reading resolutions/intentions/goals for 2021?  Read books from different genres more What do you love about being a Fresh Fiction Book Reviewer? I love being able to share my opinions on books on a…

Fresh Fiction Reviewer Spotlight: Jessica Grogan
Author Guest / December 2, 2020

Throughout December and January, we are featuring the people who read the Fresh Fiction book reviews you love to read: our FABULOUS Reviewers! A few times a week you’ll be able to get to know our reviewer team, what they love about reviewing, and their holiday traditions. All things considered, 2020 was a wonderful year for books–Cheers to 2021 for more books to read and review! Your Name Jessica Grogan How long have you been a Fresh Fiction reviewer?  One year and 4 months What are your favorite genres to read and review?  Historical Romance What are your TOP 3-5 Books of 2020? Lord Holt Takes a Bride by Vivienne Lorret Chasing Cassandra by Lisa Kleypas First Comes Scandal by Julia Quinn What do you like to do outside of reading?  Spend time with my husband and daughter, watch movies, and travel. What are some of your holiday traditions? My husband, daughter, and I watch A Christmas Story every Christmas. But never all at once: we watch it in segments at the different family homes we visit throughout the day. And my mother’s side of the family always plays “dirty” bingo. Whoever wins can take a prize away from anyone….

Danielle Dresser | Writing Advice from My Five-Year-Old (or How to Actually Deal with the #RWAShitShow)
Author Guest / January 13, 2020

Back in November, I explained the concept of NaNoWriMo to my five-year-old daughter, who stared blankly at me for a moment and then declared, “I can do that!” and started drawing pictures on paper, begging me to staple them together, and then dictating the words to me. Readers, she has written no less than 50 short books about two characters named Stick and Pinecone (TM to come) in a little over two months. The best part is, however, after all of her dictation, as well as her growing comfort with reading and writing sentences on her own, she now writes her own books start to finish, and we are both so proud. Now, while I barely wrote 20,000 words during the month of November – and not very much since then – I can’t help but be inspired by my daughter’s tenacity, drive, and creativity. But cut to the recent events surrounding RWA, it’s questionable current and former leadership, the unfair takedown of Courtney Milan, and the countless writers who have come forward with their own unjust and malicious treatment by the organization, it’s HARD out here for aspiring authors to find the motivation to continue. And for marginalized writers…

Teresa Cross | Fresh Fiction Reviewer Top Reads of 2019
Author Guest / December 23, 2019

Today, senior reviewer Teresa Cross is sharing her top reads of 2019!  As a first-grade teacher in North Carolina Public Schools, my favorite past time is to read. After reading children books all day I love to snug up under a blanket with a great author and I have exceeded my goal of 50 novels this year. I love reading mysteries and thrillers with a lot of suspense. Even cozy mysteries are fun to read. This year started out with a lot of great novels and is ending with some that are just as amazing! After reviewing for Fresh Fiction since 2014, I have to say this year had the best novels. I will run down some of my favorite that I have reviewed.  I will start with my favorites first. BREWED AWAKENING written by Cleo Coyle is the top of all my novels that I read this year! Coyle has the greatest series, The Coffeehouse Mysteries and this is the 18th one. I started reading this author years ago when I picked up her fourth one in the series not realizing it was not the beginning of the story. Before I could read anymore, I had to get the…

Fresh Fiction Favorite Historical Fiction of 2018
Author Guest / December 19, 2018

Every day from now through the end of the year, we’ll be sharing our reviewers’ favorite reads of 2018. A different genre will be featured every day! We’ll share why these books were some of our favorites and what made them so special. We hope you’ll share yours in the comments, too! Today, we are discussing our favorite historical fiction novels of the year. What were some of yours? CARNEGIE’S MAID by Marie Benedict Reviewer: Clare O’Beara Carnegie’s Maid contrasts the Irish people who come to America with the Scots who came one generation earlier and are now wealthy industrialists, so lots to see. We find out how Carnegie got his love of libraries. Women’s Fiction Historical [Sourcebooks, On Sale: January 16, 2018, Hardcover / e-Book, ISBN: 9781492646617 / ] A self-made man takes lessons from his Irish maid A TOUCH OF DOWNTOWN ABBEY AND AN AMERICAN DYNASTY Buy CARNEGIE’S MAID: Amazon.com | Kindle | BN.com | Powell’s Books | Books-A-Million | Indiebound | Ripped Bodice | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon DE | Amazon FR *** NEXT YEAR IN HAVANA by Chanel Cleeton Reviewer: Danielle This book captured the spirit and turmoil of Cuba during a major…

Fresh Fiction Favorite Contemporary Romances of 2018!
Author Guest / December 18, 2018

Every day from now through the end of the year, we’ll be sharing our reviewers’ favorite reads of 2018. A different genre will be featured every day! We’ll share why these books were some of our favorites and what made them so special. We hope you’ll share yours in the comments, too! Today, we have our favorite contemporary romances of the year. Let us know what you think of our picks… HOME ON HUCKLEBERRY HILL by Jennifer Beckstrand Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill #9 Reviewer: Clare O’Beara I enjoyed this lighthearted Amish romance greatly, with its points about what a wife can expect from her husband and how she can support herself even in traditional households. Romance | Christian | Amish [Zebra, On Sale: June 26, 2018, Mass Market Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9781420144154 / eISBN: 9781420144161] When a marriage breakup is imminent, the matchmakers get to work Buy HOME ON HUCKLEBERRY HILL: Amazon.com | Kindle | BN.com | Apple Books | Kobo | Google Play | Powell’s Books | Books-A-Million | Indiebound | Ripped Bodice | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon DE | Amazon FR  *** JOSH AND HAZEL’S GUIDE TO NOT DATING by Christina Lauren Reviewer: Svetlana…