Reader Reviews for Carrie Brock’s ‘Heart of the Diamond,’ a regency romance you won’t forget!

Four and a half stars! An excellent story. – Susan Preston

Enchanting and often amusing . . . I would highly recommend to anyone. – Rachel Emily Ellis

 

An endearing and intriguing fast-paced romance . . . A sweet Regency romance with a cast of entertaining characters. -Tina Williams

Blake Dylan, The Earl of Diamond, has a heart of ice. The time has come for him to return to England and enact his plan of vengeance, even if it means wedding the daughter of his sworn enemy.

Lady Nicole Langley has vowed she will not marry unless for true love. When she is lured into a compromising situation with a handsome stranger her worst nightmare begins.

Now, to save them both, Nicki must wage a campaign to win the heart of the Diamond.

Full of intrigue, secrecy, twists and turns, and ,of course, a love triangle–but not your average, run-of-the-mill, you-know-what’s-coming saga. No, Carrie Brock brings you on an adventure that will keep you immersed in this 1800’s romance novel till the very end . . . Heart of the Diamond was riveting . . .This is definitely one for the book clubs and a must share with your friends.

-Jolene Cecil

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AVAILABLE AT THE FOLLOWING eBOOK RETAILERS!

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Don’t miss out on Carol McConkie’s debut novel! Reader Reviews for ‘Fat Girl Fairy Boy’

Frieda Kunkelheimer knew she wasn’t welcome in the world from her earliest stirrings. She also knew she was big and ugly, as proclaimed by her grandmother on the day of her birth. Though Frieda Kunkelheimer later blossoms into a beautiful and successful Hollywood film star, it had been determined, even before birth, that she was unwanted and unloved.

En route to a film shoot, the embittered, aging actress known as Frie, and Robin, her phobic, gay makeup artist, survive a plane crash in the jungles of Central America only to be held hostage by El Salvadoran guerrillas. Their self-absorbed lives take a backseat to the events of their capture as a bizarre set of circumstances unfold and kindle courage, compassion, and forgiveness they never thought possible.

‘Fat Girl Fairy Boy’ is written in masterful prose, and filled with rich characters, McConkie mixes irony, humor, and pathos while weaving multifaceted storylines into a wildly entertaining adventure. Few experienced novelists fare as well as McConkie in this debut literary event.

ISBN-13 (eBook):  978-1-938568-19-0

Price: $4.99

Publisher:  Blue Star Books

Publication Date:  4/1/2013

See what readers are saying about the novel:

Wow, just wow! In a little over 200 pages, McConkie created not just one, but two, enormously well-developed and multi-dimensional characters . . . . Self-discovery, character growth, adventure, and survival . . . McConkie’s writing is one of the best I’ve read. She’s eloquent and descriptive in a slightly off-beat manner, but is at the same time succinct and straightforward.

– Kayla Sanchez, Thousand Lives Book Reviews

A book you can’t put down . . . The characters are very compelling and relatable,  you get attached to them within a few chapters into the book. You want to watch them succeed and triumph through their hardships. The book plays almost like a movie. . . . McConkie’s writing has humor mixed with darker undertones, keeping the read interesting and dramatic. . . . It is worth every second you put into it.

– Lauren Simonis

Fascinating characters. . . . very well written with realistic dialog and enticing descriptions.

– Nicole Poweleit

I was drawn into it. . . .The personal histories were very fun to live through, and I loved the cultural nuances. . . .What surprised me most was the character progression by the end. There was a lot of character development, and all of it was believable.

– Katie Cross

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AVAILABLE AT THE FOLLOWING eBOOK RETAILERS!

(click on the logo to view product page and purchase)

   
   
   

   

Review for Exciting Regency Romance, ‘Heart of the Diamond’ by Carrie Brock

Blake Dylan, The Earl of Diamond, has a heart of ice. The time has come for him to return to England and enact his plan of vengeance, even if it means wedding the daughter of his sworn enemy.

Lady Nicole Langley has vowed she will not marry unless for true love. When she is lured into a compromising situation with a handsome stranger her worst nightmare begins.

Now, to save them both, Nicki must wage a campaign to win the heart of the Diamond.

From the minute I started reading it I did not want to put it down. Carrie Brock draws you into the book with the vivid descriptions of the characters and the setting that takes you down the road and into the old South…There is action, drama and of course romance all wrapped around Nicole’s family and Blake’s past.   You will not know how everything is resolved until the very end of the book – a must read!

-Jan Harris

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AVAILABLE AT THE FOLLOWING eBOOK RETAILERS!

(click on the logo to view product page and purchase)

   
   
   

   

Get lost in Carol McConkie’s darkly humorous novel, “Fat Girl Fairy Boy”

Frieda Kunkelheimer knew she wasn’t welcome in the world from her earliest stirrings. She also knew she was big and ugly, as proclaimed by her grandmother on the day of her birth. Though Frieda Kunkelheimer later blossoms into a beautiful and successful Hollywood film star, it had been determined, even before birth, that she was unwanted and unloved.

En route to a film shoot, the embittered, aging actress known as Frie, and Robin, her phobic, gay makeup artist, survive a plane crash in the jungles of Central America only to be held hostage by El Salvadoran guerrillas. Their self-absorbed lives take a backseat to the events of their capture as a bizarre set of circumstances unfold and kindle courage, compassion, and forgiveness they never thought possible.

‘Fat Girl Fairy Boy’ is. Written in masterful prose, and filled with rich characters, McConkie mixes irony, humor, and pathos while weaving multifaceted storylines into a wildly entertaining adventure. Few experienced novelists fare as well as McConkie in this debut literary event.

What readers are saying:

Fat Girl Fairy Boy  is well written and easy to get into. In the first half Carol McConkie creates real-life, believable characters. Alternating chapters describe protagonists Frieda and Robin’s beginnings in life, combining great story telling and well-developed relationships. McConkie has a succinct way of writing, a very readable style…On the whole this is a very enjoyable read, one that was difficult to put down. I would recommend this book and look forward to reading more by Carol McConkie.

-Belinda Wright

The back story of the main characters was relatable, and I love that! I think many can identify with eating for comfort and how much that can control your life, and being bullied growing up. Reading the transformation of both characters was not only fun, but inspiring. In this book you genuinely dislike the villains and love the heroes.

-Lacie Trinidad

 McConkie, with her expert characterisation, helps to maintain our closeness with Frieda and Robin throughout their personal journeys and struggles, as if we were part of the story…Carol McConkie achieves so much, educating us on decades of US history, through the Great Depression, WWII, 60s counter-culture and Americo-Latin American political relations…In Fat Girl Fairy Boy she has produced an absolute gem – an emotional, well-written novel of friendship and self-discovery

– Nathan Sherratt

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AVAILABLE AT THE FOLLOWING eBOOK RETAILERS!

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Get a different take on classic stories in Dame Darcy’s ‘Frightful Fairy Tales’

Sinister storytelling has never been so delightful! Legendary comic book artist Dame Darcy delves deep into the cauldron of romantic horror with five haunting fables, each certain to entice you with enchanting damsels, charming lads and cads, and other beguiling characters. Each skillfully crafted tale is adorned with Darcy’s elaborate trademark illustrations, drawn in Victorian fashion, making this collection seem authentically from another era. Detailed with alluring beauty, elegant imagination, and wicked humor, ‘Frightful Fairy Tales’ unleashes ghastly mortals from the dark closet into your subconscious. 

 

“Never have I read a fairytale as grim and delightfully horrific as those in Dame Darcy’s Frightful Fairytales. Beautiful in their simplicity, they read like any traditional child’s fairytale. However, the nine fables included in this book are far from childish. They’re stories of innocence and romance told amidst a world of supernatural brutality… Dame Darcy’s playful and tongue-in-cheek prose will have you laughing one moment, then gasping in horror the next.

Each story is short and easy to read, ideal for anyone looking to fill a spare fifteen minutes. What really makes the book come alive though are Dame Darcy’s illustrations. Fans of her other work will immediately recognize her gothic Victorianesque style, and even those who aren’t will be enthralled by the originality of her artwork.”

–Michael Ravenscroft

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Dame Darcy is an illustrator, actor, and performance artist. When she’s not on the road with her band, she might be found creating one of her handmade dolls or performing a palm reading. Her drawings and handcrafted dolls have been exhibited in galleries and magazines around the world. Dame Darcy lives in Los Angeles, California.

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AVAILABLE AT THE FOLLOWING eBOOK RETAILERS!

(click on the logo to view product page and purchase)

   
   
      

Recommended Summer Reads: ‘Fat Girl Fairy Boy’ by Debut Author Carol McConkie

     A darkly humorous tale of family, friendship, and personal discovery . . .

     Frieda Kunkelheimer knew she wasn’t welcome in the world from her earliest stirrings. She also knew she was big and ugly, as proclaimed by her grandmother on the day of her birth. Though Frieda Kunkelheimer later blossoms into a beautiful and successful Hollywood film star, it had been determined, even before birth, that she was unwanted and unloved.

En route to a film shoot, the embittered, aging actress known as Frie, and Robin, her phobic, gay makeup artist, survive a plane crash in the jungles of Central America only to be held hostage by El Salvadoran guerrillas. Their self-absorbed lives take a backseat to the events of their capture as a bizarre set of circumstances unfold and kindle courage, compassion, and forgiveness they never thought possible.

‘Fat Girl Fairy Boy’ is written in masterful prose, and filled with rich characters, McConkie mixes irony, humor, and pathos while weaving multifaceted storylines into a wildly entertaining adventure. Few experienced novelists fare as well as McConkie in this debut literary event.

“I’m no professional literary critic but I know what I like and I truly enjoyed this contemporary fiction novel. Each night I looked forward to jumping into bed to read another chapter and follow the thrilling story about the two main characters, Robin and Frie. I’d love to see a movie version soon.”     -Steve R.

“A very original book that I highly enjoyed…4 out of 5 stars.”        – Erica H.

“I wish it was longer! I wanted to continue reading on and on. Nonetheless, Carol McConkie achieves so much, educating us on decades of US history, through the Great Depression, WWII, 60s counter-culture and Americo-Latin American political relations. In ‘Fat Girl Fairy Boy’ she has produced an absolute gem.”               – Nathan S.

“An amazing portrayal of human fortitude and strength and how people can find salvation in purpose in the wake of difficulty. ‘Fat Girl, Fairy Boy’ isn’t for the faint of heart, but if you like strong storytelling, I say give it a shot.”

-Poindextrix Book Reviews