Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes
WORK TITLE: Fortitude Smashed
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: https://www.taylorbrookewrites.org/
CITY: Bend
STATE: OR
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American
Agent: Saba Sulaiman at Talcott Notch Literary Services, ssulaiman@talcottnotch.net
RESEARCHER NOTES:
LC control no.: no2017154335
LCCN Permalink: https://lccn.loc.gov/no2017154335
HEADING: Brooke, Taylor
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046 __ |f [1991,1992] |2 edtf
100 1_ |a Brooke, Taylor
370 __ |a Bend (Or.) |2 naf
370 __ |e Oregon |2 naf
374 __ |a Novelists |a Makeup artists |2 lcsh
375 __ |a Females |2 lcdgt
377 __ |a eng
670 __ |a Brooke, Taylor. Fortitude smashed, 2017: |b title page (Taylor Brooke) about the author (Taylor; female; novelist; formerly a special effects makeup professional)
670 __ |a Taylor Brooke’s web site, viewed November 27, 2017: |b home page (Taylor Brooke; story-teller; she; her; writes inclusive Queer novels for teens and adults) my story (Taylor; young woman; novelist, formerly a makeup artist; lives in central Oregon) |u https://www.taylorbrookewrites.org/
670 __ |a Ruff Drafts, blog and web site of Debbie De Louise, viewed November 27, 2017: |b Author Spotlight Taylor Brooke, posted January 26, 2016 (Taylor Brooke; from Bend, Or.; novelist; first published novel, Omen operation, being released by Limitless Publishing on January 26, 2016; 24 years old; Taylor Brooke is a pen name; currently writing urban science fiction, but doesn’t want to settle into a genre yet) |u https://debbiedelouise.com/2016/01/26/author-spotlight-taylor-brooke/
PERSONAL
Female.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Novelist; formerly worked as special effects makeup professional.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Taylor Brooke is a former stage makeup artist turned author, whose works include the novels Omen Operation, Fortitude Smashed, and Curved Horizon. “I stumbled into makeup artistry,” Brooke explained in an autobiographical blurb found on the Taylor Brooke Website, “where I fell in love with creativity in new and inspiring ways.”
Brooke’s second novel is actually the first in a series centering on characters who are destined (by technology, not by fate) to find love together. “Fortitude Smashed,” Brooke said in a My Life My Books My Escape interview, “is a contemporary romance with a little bit of science fiction flare. It’s about a reckless, young art thief named Aiden Maar, and the detective who tries to catch him, Shannon Wurther. In the reimagined modern world that I built, the Camellia Clock—a timer implanted under the thumbnail of every infant at birth—counts down to the moment someone will meet their soulmate/soulpartners. When Aiden Maar and Shannon Wurther come face to face with the startling fact that they’re fated, they have to learn how to deal with one another.”
Critics enjoyed Brooke’s take on queer romance. “More than just a clever device,” wrote a Kirkus Reviews contributor, “the Camellia Clock has a well-thought-out effect on the culture and economy of marriage: there are conventions to help singles prepare.” “The refreshingly fluid view of sexuality and Brooke’s implied, off-page steamy scenes,” asserted a Publishers Weekly reviewer, “will fuel many fantasies.” “Fortitude Smashed is a pleasant read,” concluded Alyssa Duspiva in RT Book Reviews, “that will pull on the heartstrings of readers and make them reevaluate what love truly means. Brooke paints beautiful descriptions with her superb prose.”
Brooke’s second queer romance takes the two female lovers of the protagonists of her previous novel and pairs them. “Curved Horizon is the sequel to Fortitude Smashed. It’s a quiet story about two women—Daisy Yuen and Chelsea Cavanaugh—who come together in unexpected ways,” Brooke stated in her interview with Joyce Lamb appearing in Happy Ever After. “Once your Camellia Clock hits 00:00, you meet your soul mate/soul mates. Depending on when your Clock goes off, you could be matched with … anyone. As fate would have it, Daisy and Chelsea find out they’re soul mates.” The two “are more different than any two women could be,” explained Duspiva in RT Book Reviews, “… and they often keep each other at arm’s length.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Kirkus Reviews, August 1, 2017, review of Fortitude Smashed.
Publishers Weekly, September 11, 2017, review of Fortitude Smashed.
ONLINE
Happy Ever After, https://happyeverafter.usatoday.com/ (March 8, 2018), Joyce Lamb, “Interview: Taylor Brooke, Author of ‘Curved Horizon.’”
My Life My Books My Escape, https://mylifemybooksmyescape.wordpress.com/ (August 30, 2017), author interview.
RT Book Reviews, https://www.rtbookreviews.com/ (September 21, 2017), Alyssa Duspiva, review of Fortitude Smashed; (May 16, 2018), Alyssa Duspiva, review of Curved Horizon.
Taylor Brooke Website, https://www.taylorbrookewrites.org (May 16, 2018), author profile.
Taylor who?
Honestly , I'm just a young woman who wasn't much good at anything besides using her imagination. After my love-hate relationship with school deepened into an unsuccessful (but valiant) attempt at getting through junior college - I stumbled into makeup artistry, where I fell in love with creativity in new and inspiring ways. I spent my days making monsters and honed my writing skills by night. It didn't take long before my voice manifested and my love affair with novel-writing turned into a life-long dedication.
I live in Central Oregon with a cat I love more than most people, an overweight dog, and two parents who are my best friends.
When I'm not writing, I'm probably planning a less-than-glamorous adventure to another country, volunteering at wildlife sanctuaries, or stalking the New Release section at my local bookstore. When I'm not doing any of that, I'm most certainly reading, eating a bunch of plants, and thinking about writing. Or I'm at Pride. Or a comic convention. Or Laguna Beach. Who knows.
Interview: Taylor Brooke, author of ‘Curved Horizon’
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By: Joyce Lamb | March 8, 2018 12:01 am
Taylor Brooke
Joyce: Welcome to HEA, Taylor! Please tell us a bit about your new release, Curved Horizon.
Taylor: Curved Horizon is the sequel to Fortitude Smashed. It’s a quiet story about two women — Daisy Yuen and Chelsea Cavanaugh — who come together in unexpected ways. In the alternate universe where I set the story, everyone has an implant with a timer counting down under their thumbnail called a Camellia Clock. Once your Camellia Clock hits 00:00, you meet your soul mate/soul mates. Depending on when your Clock goes off, you could be matched with your best friend, your neighbor, a stranger, your boss, anyone. As fate would have it, Daisy and Chelsea find out they’re soul mates. It’s an opposites-attract story with a lot of heart. These two women have both been through trauma, and they help each other heal while slowly falling in love. The romance is the heartbeat of the story, but mental health, survival and navigating the ins and outs of complex queer friendships are the bones of it.
Joyce: What do you do when you get stuck?
Taylor: Getting stuck is a part of the process. I’ve never had a project that didn’t challenge me in some way, and by challenge I definitely mean bare its teeth and snarl at me. I’ve written myself into corners, gotten attached to scenes that were scrapped, rewritten chapters twice or three times. When this happens I move on to a new project, read a new book or take a break altogether. There’s nothing worse than pushing myself creatively and putting words on the page that won’t feel authentic to the reader. I’d rather write a few poems, start something in a completely different vein or pick up a difficult book. Since I’ve been working on revisions for my YA, I’ve recently cracked open the Southern Read trilogy by Vandermeer, books that are worlds away from my voice and style, and it’s helping me stay focused on my work. Vandermeer is also an absolute genius, so that helps.
Joyce: Do you write by the seat of your pants, or do you carefully plot your stories?
Taylor: It depends on the project. I’ve written books by the seat of my pants before and I’ve also plotted out a few books. I’m working on a quartet that has a complex magical system and alternates between multiple POVs, so those books are being completely outlined. I’ve finished the first book in that series, but I’m breaking the next three books down chapter by chapter before I draft the rest of the story. I’ll probably re-outline in revisions, too. Sometimes I start a project and see where it takes me, then I’ll fit the written bits into an established outline later.
Joyce: Who are three romance authors who turn you into a mega-fan?
Taylor: Jude Sierra. She wrote a fantastic book called Idlewild and has a new book releasing in May called A Tiny Piece of Something Greater. I had the privilege of reading Tiny before it started the editorial process, and let me tell you, that story and those characters stuck to my ribs.
Michelle Osgood. If you like paranormal romance, Michelle’s ongoing series about werewolves will suck you right in. Tight, lovely writing and complex, relatable characters that jump off the page. The world is super fun to get lost in, and the sex scenes are intimate and delicious. I’m reading Moon Illusion right now and it’s fabulous!
Roan Parrish. Her breathtaking The Remaking of Corbin Wale made me fall in love with writing all over again. I’ll read anything she publishes.
Joyce: Is there a TV show that you’ve recently binge-watched?
Taylor: I watch a lot of different shows, but recently it was Black Mirror and The Walking Dead. I’ve been meaning to do a rewatch of True Blood, so that’s next on the list.
Joyce: What’s your favorite snack and/or beverage while you’re writing?
Taylor: I drink a lot of hot tea. I was a manager at two different loose leaf tea shops years ago and since then I’ve been a huge tea drinker. Rooibos, Oolong, Earl Grey — I like all different kinds. If I’m writing at night, I’ll usually have a beer. Boneyard IPA or something from Deschutes Brewery. Being an Oregon native means I drink good beer and only good beer.
Joyce: Do you have a pet that hangs out with you while you’re working?
Taylor’s writing buddy, Raven.
Taylor: I have a cat named Raven who loves to hang out with me while I’m writing. I adopted her 14 years ago and we’ve been inseparable ever since.
Joyce: Do you listen to music while you write? What are some tunes on your playlist?
Taylor: Yes! I almost always listen to music while I write. I like to make playlists for my books and characters. I listened to a lot of The 1975 when I wrote Fortitude Smashed and I recycled that playlist for Curved Horizon, but I added some new artists — Halsey, Arizona, Shallou, Mako. I went between music I listened to a lot in high school like Owl City, The Used, 30 Seconds to Mars and added in newer artists like Troye Sivan. The mood of the music adds to whatever scene I’m writing. Like, right now I’m working on a super emotional Young Adult project and I’ve listened to Looking Too Closely by Fink on repeat while I wrote one 1,000-word scene. I’ll find a song that makes me feel something deeply and give it to the characters who need it most in that moment.
Joyce: What’s coming next?
Taylor: I’m getting ready to release a New Adult trilogy. It’s about humans losing their humanity, using love as a weapon and the importance of resistance in trying times. It’s much different than my romance books — fast, gritty, urban science-fiction with a large ensemble, and I’m really excited about it. I’m also working on a Young Adult project that I can’t talk about just yet, but I will say that it’s whimsical and dreamy, and it’ll probably make you cry.
Joyce: Thanks, Taylor!
About Curved Horizon:
In the sequel to Fortitude Smashed, navigating the ins and outs of love is hard enough as strangers, but now Daisy and Chelsea must find a way to transform their friendship into something more. Meanwhile, Shannon and Aiden’s year-long relationship is put to the test when a horrific accident puts Shannon’s life at risk.
About Taylor
After working in Los Angeles as a special effects makeup artist, Taylor Brooke (she/they) turned her imagination back to her true love — books. When she’s not nestled in a blanket typing away on her laptop, she’s traveling, hiking or reading. She writes #ownvoices queer books for teens and adults. Connect with her on Twitter at @taysalion.
Find out more at www.taylorbrookewrites.org.
AUG 30 2017
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INTERVIEW
AUTHOR INTERVIEW: TAYLOR BROOKE
Today I am interviewing Taylor Brooke, author of the new Contemporary Romance, Fortitude Smashed.
◊ ◊ ◊
DJ: Hey Brooke! Thanks for agreeing to do this interview!
For readers who aren’t familiar with you, could you tell us a little about yourself?
Taylor Brooke: Thank you for having me! Well, I’m a Queer author and I write for teens as well as adults. I grew up in Southern California, but I currently live in Central Oregon. I’m a Special Effects Makeup Artist, a tea lover, and a traveler. If I’m not scheduled at the little metaphysical shop I work at, I’m usually planning my next adventure. I’ll be in Cambodia in January which is super exciting.
DJ: What is Fortitude Smashed about?
Taylor : Fortitude Smashed is a Contemporary Romance with a little bit of science fiction flare. It’s about a reckless, young art thief named Aiden Maar, and the Detective who tries to catch him, Shannon Wurther. In the reimagined modern world that I built, the Camellia Clock – a timer implanted under the thumbnail of every infant at birth – counts down to the moment someone will meet their soulmate/soulpartners. When Aiden Maar and Shannon Wurther come face to face with the startling fact that they’re fated, they have to learn how to deal with one another.
The story is extremely character driven and unpacks some heavy issues, but is tender at heart. High emotional stakes, introspective conflict and lots of kissing.
DJ: What were some of your influences for Fortitude Smashed?
Taylor : I wanted to write an original take on the soulmate trope for a long time, but I hadn’t fleshed anything out. After I moved to Central Oregon, I really, really missed Laguna Beach. That’s what started Fortitude Smashed. I put Aiden and Shannon together in the right setting and the story poured out of me.
I also wanted to write a Contemporary Romance that featured a m/m couple without the oversaturated conflict or love triangles. A sweet, raw, real romance that would feel authentic to the reader. I hope I pulled it off.
DJ: Could you briefly tell us a little about your main characters? Do they have any cool quirks or habits, or any reason why readers with sympathize with them? (aka What makes them compelling?)
Taylor : Both the main characters, Aiden and Shannon, have their own issues that they handle in the book. Aiden deals with a chronic form of depression called dysthymia. He has anxiety and dissociative episodes that make life, love and growth a bit harder for him than he’d like. Shannon is stubborn and complex – he constantly finds himself in the middle of change without meaning to and is regularly shocked by it. Bringing two characters who are complete opposites to life on the page was exciting and super fun. I can’t wait for readers to meet these guys.
DJ: What is your reimagined Laguna Beach in Fortitude Smashed like?
Taylor : Laguna Beach will always have such a huge piece of my heart. I grew up about fifteen minutes from the beach, and I spent an entire summer bouncing around Laguna when I was eighteen. I think those memories are to thank for Laguna’s heartbeat in Fortitude Smashed. It’s a lovely little beach city with boutiques and art galleries, theaters and cafes. Time seems to slow down there, somehow. The sunsets are breathtaking, the water is warm and the vibe is free.
DJ: What was your favorite part about writing Fortitude Smashed?
Taylor : I wrote the book scene by scene, but I think my favorite part of the process was writing the heavy, intense emotional scenes. The spaces where Aiden and Shannon are learning each other, and how they fall in love backward so to speak. These two men suddenly find out that they’re each other’s futures and that exposes pieces of themselves that they aren’t ready to see or deal with. Giving them the time and breathing room to deconstruct love was an amazing experience as a writer.
DJ: What do you think readers will be talking about most once they finish it?
Taylor : I can’t say for sure. I think they’ll talk about Aiden. He’s quite a character. And I think they’ll hope. That’s what I wanted more than anything – to inspire hope in those who feel hopeless. I want readers to come away believing in something, whether it’s themselves or someone else, love or fate. The characters are raw. They’re open and expressive, and I think readers will see a lot of themselves in the cast.
DJ: Did you have a goal when you began writing Fortitude Smashed? Is there a particular message or meaning you are hoping to get across when readers finish it? Or is there perhaps a certain theme to the story?
Taylor : I already mentioned that I hope the story inspires hope, but I think there’s more to it than that. Fortitude Smashed unpacks some heavy issues, especially concerning mental illness. I want readers to see themselves as worthy when they step onto the pages. I’m hoping that after they finish the book it’ll leave them wanting, excited, warmed, but not in disbelief. The love story is written in a way that reflects real life – two men who fall in love against their will and learn to navigate each other. That tends to be messy, but messes aren’t always a bad thing. I guess I want readers to feel accepted and understood, and to know that love may not be able to fix them, but that they deserve it nonetheless.
DJ: When I read, I love to collect quotes – whether it be because they’re funny, foodie, or have a personal meaning to me. Do you have any favorite quotes from Fortitude Smashed that you can share with us?
Taylor : I can share a little bit with you!
“All the time he’d spent wondering what it would be like to be wanted by Shannon, all the weeks he’d convinced himself it would hurt, and in the end it was this: fingertips on his face and proclamations of beauty, secrets that weren’t secrets, and fears that weren’t fears, in the hours when Laguna Beach slept, but they didn’t.”
DJ: Now that Fortitude Smashed is released, what is next for you?
Taylor : I can’t talk about it a lot, but I will say there is a f/f sequel in the works. I’m also working on a few more projects, a couple YA books and the third Camellia Clock Cycle book.
DJ: Where can readers find out more about you?
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Fortitude-Smashed-Camellia-Clock-Cycle/dp/1945053364/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14777281.Taylor_Brooke
Twitter: @taysalion
Website: www.taylorbrookewrites.org
DJ: Before we go, what is that one thing you’d like readers to know about Fortitude Smashed that we haven’t talked about yet?
Taylor: Fortitude Smashed is a book crafted for readers in search of a hopeful, raw, eclectic look into love. It came from a very deep place inside me and I sometimes think I don’t have enough distance from it to promote it properly, but if it’s anything at all, it’s lovingly written from the bottom of my heart.
DJ: Is there anything else you would like add?
Taylor: Fortitude Smashed is currently available for pre-order! If you pre-order a copy from any retailer, forward me the receipt and I’ll send you some beachy goodies!
DJ: Thank you so much for taking time out of your day to answer my questions!
◊ ◊ ◊
*** Fortitude Smashed is published by Interlude Press and is available TODAY!!! ***
Buy the Book:
Amazon | Barnes & Nobel | Goodreads | Kobo
◊ ◊ ◊
About the Book:
After scientists stumbled across an anomalous human hormone present during moments of emotional intimacy, further research created the ability to harness the direction of living energy and pinpoint when two lines will merge. Personalized chips are now implanted beneath the thumbnails of every infant, where glowing numbers count down to the moment they will meet their soul mate.
Fate is now a calculation.
But loving someone isn’t.
When Shannon Wurther, the youngest detective in Southern California, finds himself face-to-face with Aiden Maar, the reckless art thief Shannon’s precinct has been chasing for months, they are both stunned. Their Camellia Clocks have timed out, and the men are left with a choice—love one another or defy fate.
“Handcuffed by fate, this cop-and-robber duo will steal hearts; a strong start to a promising series.”
-Kirkus
“Fortitude Smashed is a pleasant read that will pull on the heartstrings of readers and make them reevaluate what love truly means.”
-RT Book Reviews
About the Author:
Taylor Brooke is a traveling story-teller, believer in magic, and a science fiction junkie.
Probably a tea snob. Definitely a beer snob. Bisexual, but pansexual, but bisexual – one of the two. Can have lengthy, in-depth conversations about an atomic lizard and his radioactive moth friend. Yearns for a life in the city, but dreams of founding an animal sanctuary. Future tiny house owner. Future tiny library owner, because her book collection won’t fit in one tiny house.
She proudly writes inclusive Queer novels for teens and adults.
4/25/2018 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1524706601636 1/1
Print Marked Items
Brooke, Taylor: FORTITUDE
SMASHED
Kirkus Reviews.
(Aug. 1, 2017):
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Brooke, Taylor FORTITUDE SMASHED Interlude Press (Adult Fiction) $17.99 9, 21 ISBN: 978-1-
945053-36-8
In the first book of the Camellia Clock Cycle series, Brooke (Legacy Strain, 2017, etc.) puts a fun twist on
the proverbial biological clock with a surgical implant that counts down to the exact moment each person
will fall in love.Detective Shannon Wurther looks down at his Camellia Clock, a microchip that was planted
under his fingernail at birth, only to see it time out just as he is arresting Aiden Maar for attempting to steal
a painting called Fortitude Smashed from a gallery. To his horror, Aiden's clock hits zero as well, which
means the handsome suspect is eligible for a life sentence as Shannon's "Rose Road," or soul mate. With
nothing but their clocks in common, the two men will have to learn what makes the other tick. More than
just a clever device, the Camellia Clock has a well-thought-out effect on the culture and economy of
marriage: there are conventions to help singles prepare for the big day and support groups for teen couples
and widows. Shannon's partner, Karman, is bitter knowing that no one she will date after her late husband
will truly be "the one." Chelsea, Shannon's ex-girlfriend, can't believe the clock would pair Shannon with a
lowlife instead of her. But the belief that science can predict matters of the heart is really put to the test
when Shannon has to use his badge to cover for Aiden's bad behavior. At times, Aiden's internal struggles
with mental illness overshadow his crimes, but he never fails to get Shannon's pulse racing. Handcuffed by
fate, this cop-and-robber duo will steal hearts; a strong start to a promising series.
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Brooke, Taylor: FORTITUDE SMASHED." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Aug. 2017. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A499572750/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=cda0f018.
Accessed 25 Apr. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A499572750
HOME
ROMANCE
MYSTERY
PARANORMAL
YOUNG ADULT
INSPIRATIONAL
MAINSTREAM
SCI-FI/FANTASY
EROTICA
Paranormal / FF
Image of Curved Horizon (Camellia Clock Cycle)
RT Rating:
Genre:
Paranormal, FF
Sensuality:
Mild
Publisher:
Interlude Press
BUY NOW!
Amazon:
Buy Now
Barnes & Noble: Buy Now
*This post contains affiliate links. If you click an affiliate link and purchase an item from the vendor, we receive a percentage of the profit (even if you don't buy the item we've linked to). Thank you for supporting RT Book Reviews!
BOOK REVIEWS
All Genres
Top Picks!
Contemporary Romance
Historical Romance
Historical Fiction
Romantic Suspense
Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Paranormal
Fantasy
Urban Fantasy
Young Adult
Inspirational
Mainstream
Science Fiction
Series
Erotica
RT Review Source
RT RATINGS GUIDE
5 GOLD: Phenomenal. In a class by itself.
4 1/2: TOP PICK. Fantastic. A keeper.
4: Compelling. A page-turner.
3: Enjoyable. A pleasant read.
2: Problematic. May struggle to finish.
1: Severely Flawed. Pass on this one.
CURVED HORIZON
Author(s): Taylor Brooke
The second Camellia Clock Cycle follows a new couple, Daisy and Chelsea, as they navigate being paired together by fate. While Brooke’s excellent character writing and poetic descriptions shine, they’re dragged down by a lack of conflict that makes the book feel slow and cumbersome. It’s also sometimes jarring for the narrative to jump to a private scene between the first book’s couple, Aiden and Shannon, taking the spotlight away from Daisy and Chelsea. Despite these setbacks, this would be a pleasurable book for readers looking for a slice-of-life style story.
Chelsea left her hometown in Georgia to chase her ex-boyfriend Shannon Wurther all the way to California, only to find that he’s living happily with his Rose Road, his soulmate, Aiden. Not willing to return back home, she joins their friend group, which includes Aiden’s longtime friend Daisy. Chelsea and Daisy are more different than any two women could be — a prep and a goth, a doctor and an artist — and they often keep each other at arm’s length. But fate has other ideas as their Camellia Clocks time out, and the two women realize they may be more similar than they thought … (INTERLUDE, Mar., 324 pp., $17.99)
Reviewed by:
Alyssa Duspiva
/ Paranormal Romance / M/M
Image of Fortitude Smashed (The Camellia Clock Cycle, Book 1)
RT Rating:
Genre:
Paranormal, M/M
Sensuality:
Mild
Published:
September 21 2017
Publisher:
Interlude Press
BUY NOW!
Amazon:
Buy Now
Barnes & Noble: Buy Now
*This post contains affiliate links. If you click an affiliate link and purchase an item from the vendor, we receive a percentage of the profit (even if you don't buy the item we've linked to). Thank you for supporting RT Book Reviews!
BOOK REVIEWS
All Genres
Top Picks!
Contemporary Romance
Historical Romance
Historical Fiction
Romantic Suspense
Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Paranormal
Fantasy
Urban Fantasy
Young Adult
Inspirational
Mainstream
Science Fiction
Series
Erotica
RT Review Source
RT RATINGS GUIDE
5 GOLD: Phenomenal. In a class by itself.
4 1/2: TOP PICK. Fantastic. A keeper.
4: Compelling. A page-turner.
3: Enjoyable. A pleasant read.
2: Problematic. May struggle to finish.
1: Severely Flawed. Pass on this one.
FORTITUDE SMASHED
Author(s): Taylor Brooke
It’s challenging to write a couple that is destined to be together, and at first, the relationship between Shannon and Aiden seems to be only based on fate and their lust for each other. There are moments when the plot slows down, and it is noticeable, and the real bond between these characters is not found until later in the book — but it is satisfying as they struggle through their problems together and share sweet moments. There is a lack of worldbuilding — no explanation is given in the story for what the Camellia Clocks actually are, just vague references to their discovery and implementation. Besides those setbacks, Fortitude Smashed is a pleasant read that will pull on the heartstrings of readers and make them reevaluate what love truly means. Brooke paints beautiful descriptions with her superb prose, weaving poetic concepts with dialogue and motifs that pop up throughout the story. Aiden’s mental illness, and mourning process, is depicted realistically and will strike the heart of any reader. Please be aware there is a scene of attempted sexual assault further into the book, and readers sensitive to that kind of content should be cautious.
The Camellia Clock is supposed to count down to when you meet your soulmate, but when Detective Shannon Wurther’s Clock times out as he’s apprehending a thief in an art gallery, he’s sure there has to be a mistake. Aiden is the complete opposite of Shannon — reckless, cocky and, well, a criminal. Aiden isn’t too happy either — to be paired with the youngest detective in California, currently trying to arrest him, must be some sort of cruel irony. When Aiden gets away, Shannon doesn’t give chase — but all he can think about is his Rose Road ... a prolific art thief who may just steal his heart. (INTERLUDE, Sep., 312 pp., $17.99)
Reviewed by:
Alyssa Duspiva
Fortitude Smashed
Taylor Brooke. Interlude, $17.99 trade paper (312p) ISBN 978-1-945053-36-8
Straight-arrow Shannon Wurther, the youngest detective in Southern California, did not expect to meet his soul mate during an arrest. But his Camellia clock (a never clearly explained countdown timer embedded in everyone’s thumbnail to pinpoint the exact moment of meeting true love) times out as he’s attempting to arrest Aiden Maar, a rough around the edges but wildly successful art thief. Both men spend the bulk of the novel dithering and failing to communicate, making for a protracted and often frustrating cycle of self-doubt. Shannon’s passionate attraction teeters into possessiveness (with a dash of aggressive intimacy that is more creepy than cute) as the two men learn to combine their lives and slowly share their formative secrets, including Aiden’s depression since his parents’ death and Shannon’s frustration over living in his father’s shadow. Secondary characters—featuring Shannon’s brassy ex-girlfriend, who first clumsily attempts to sabotage the pair—encourage the men to give into fate. The refreshingly fluid view of sexuality and Brooke’s implied, off-page steamy scenes will fuel many fantasies about her two leads. Their hesitancy and constant insecurity, however, threaten to overwhelm this middling romance. (Sept.)
DETAILS
Reviewed on: 09/11/2017
Release date: 09/21/2017