Sandy's Spotlight
Author Spotlight - Jaye Frances
BOOK REVIEW
The Beach
Jaye Frances
I first became aware of books by Jaye Frances through the Paranormal Romance Guild. I saw a review they did of her book, The Kure, and it sounded so good, I wanted the opportunity to learn more about Ms. Frances and her work.
Jaye Frances has been kind enough to offer an international giveaway of one Kindle copy of her book, The Beach, to a lucky commenter. I will be picking the winner via random.org on February 20th and provide the winner's e-mail address directly to Ms. Frances for her to contact you.
More information about this book is below as well as my 5 Star review for it. Don't miss out on your opportunity to win a Kindle copy of this book. It is a must read. All you have to do is leave a comment. Make sure when you complete the comment form, you leave a valid e-mail address. There is no need to put your e-mail address in the comment itself.
Please welcome Jaye Frances:
Thank you, Sandy, for featuring me today on Sandy’s Spotlight. I really appreciate the opportunity to visit with your readers and followers.
There’s nothing I enjoy more than meeting new people. Sometimes it happens while I’m waiting in the checkout line at the supermarket. Other times I find a friendly face—and a willing ear–at the gym. I’ve even started up a conversation with the people at the next table while having dinner at my favorite restaurant. Depending on the circumstances and the situation, the subject can vary from the superficial to the serious. During these impromptu exchanges, the question is often asked, “What do you do for a living?” My answer usually spurs another in the form of a challenge. “What would you write about me?”
I suppose it’s a common fantasy, wanting to cast ourselves in the imaginary role of hero or heroine. And why not? I do it all the time, often jumping headlong into the lives of my characters, vicariously enjoying a rush of joy and passion one moment, then resigning myself to wallow in the self-pity of disappointment in the next.
So how do I answer them? I try to encourage a bit of introspection by asking who they would like to trade places with or, if that stumps them, what’s the first thing they would want to change about their lives. After they’ve had a moment to think about it, I follow up with, “Based on what you would have to give up, is it a change you could live with?”
Some of the most interesting answers have inspired me, surprised me, and occasionally kept me awake at night . . .
Author Bio: Jaye Frances is the author of The Kure, a paranormal-occult romance novel, The Possibilities of Amy, a coming-of-age romance novella, The Cruise-All That Glitters, an adult satire, The Beach, a sci-fi supernatural tale about a man who is given the opportunity to receive his ultimate wish, and Love Travels Forever, a collection of poignant short stories and essays. She is also a featured columnist for the NUSA SUN magazine. Born in the Midwest, Jaye readily admits that her life’s destination has been the result of an open mind and a curiosity about all things irreverent. When she’s not consumed by her writing, Jaye enjoys cooking, traveling to all places tropical and “beachy” and taking pictures—lots of pictures—many of which find their way to her website. Jaye lives on the central gulf coast of Florida, sharing her home with one husband, six computers, four cameras, and several hundred pairs of shoes. For more information, visit Jaye’s website at www.jayefrances.com, or Jaye’s Blog at http://blog.jayefrances.com.
Jaye Frances has been kind enough to offer an international giveaway of one Kindle copy of her book, The Beach, to a lucky commenter. I will be picking the winner via random.org on February 20th and provide the winner's e-mail address directly to Ms. Frances for her to contact you.
More information about this book is below as well as my 5 Star review for it. Don't miss out on your opportunity to win a Kindle copy of this book. It is a must read. All you have to do is leave a comment. Make sure when you complete the comment form, you leave a valid e-mail address. There is no need to put your e-mail address in the comment itself.
Please welcome Jaye Frances:
Thank you, Sandy, for featuring me today on Sandy’s Spotlight. I really appreciate the opportunity to visit with your readers and followers.
There’s nothing I enjoy more than meeting new people. Sometimes it happens while I’m waiting in the checkout line at the supermarket. Other times I find a friendly face—and a willing ear–at the gym. I’ve even started up a conversation with the people at the next table while having dinner at my favorite restaurant. Depending on the circumstances and the situation, the subject can vary from the superficial to the serious. During these impromptu exchanges, the question is often asked, “What do you do for a living?” My answer usually spurs another in the form of a challenge. “What would you write about me?”
I suppose it’s a common fantasy, wanting to cast ourselves in the imaginary role of hero or heroine. And why not? I do it all the time, often jumping headlong into the lives of my characters, vicariously enjoying a rush of joy and passion one moment, then resigning myself to wallow in the self-pity of disappointment in the next.
So how do I answer them? I try to encourage a bit of introspection by asking who they would like to trade places with or, if that stumps them, what’s the first thing they would want to change about their lives. After they’ve had a moment to think about it, I follow up with, “Based on what you would have to give up, is it a change you could live with?”
Some of the most interesting answers have inspired me, surprised me, and occasionally kept me awake at night . . .
Author Bio: Jaye Frances is the author of The Kure, a paranormal-occult romance novel, The Possibilities of Amy, a coming-of-age romance novella, The Cruise-All That Glitters, an adult satire, The Beach, a sci-fi supernatural tale about a man who is given the opportunity to receive his ultimate wish, and Love Travels Forever, a collection of poignant short stories and essays. She is also a featured columnist for the NUSA SUN magazine. Born in the Midwest, Jaye readily admits that her life’s destination has been the result of an open mind and a curiosity about all things irreverent. When she’s not consumed by her writing, Jaye enjoys cooking, traveling to all places tropical and “beachy” and taking pictures—lots of pictures—many of which find their way to her website. Jaye lives on the central gulf coast of Florida, sharing her home with one husband, six computers, four cameras, and several hundred pairs of shoes. For more information, visit Jaye’s website at www.jayefrances.com, or Jaye’s Blog at http://blog.jayefrances.com.
Click on book cover above to be directed to the US Amazon purchase link. Other purchase links listed below each book blurb.
The Beach
Genre: Supernatural Suspense Thriller
Length: 108 pgs
The following is my February 14, 2013, 5 Star Review:
Note: This book contains two short stories
Wow! I'm completely exhausted after reading these two stories in THE BEACH by JAYE FRANCES. These are both stories about someone being enticed by an outside influence with a huge life choice. Is this a gift, or is it a curse? Do the characters make the right decisions? No.
This is the first work that I've read by Jaye Frances and it's not going to be the last. It has been quite some time since an author made me physically cringe while reading. I agree with the supernatural suspense thriller genre for this book, but I would also add horror to the mix.
These two short stories were written beautifully. Visually I could see everything that Ms. Frances was describing. I could feel the storm coming in, smell the beach. It was a fun read because the author did something very risky. She created very unlikeable characters. I had a deep dislike for the main characters and their sense of right and wrong. Ms. Frances was able to write about horrible character flaws in people, things that make most of us extremely uncomfortable (this is where I literally squirmed in my seat) and move the story to a thought provoking ending.
The two stories in THE BEACH by JAYE FRANCES are must reads.
The Beach Book Blurb:
Alan loves the beach. More than a weekend respite, it is his home, his refuge, his sanctuary. And for most of the year, he strolls the sand in blissful solitude, letting nature—and no one else—touch him. But spring has given way to summer, and soon, the annual invasion of vacationers and tourists will subdivide the beach with blankets, umbrellas, and chairs, depriving Alan of his privacy and seclusion—the fundamental touchstones of his life.
Resigned to endure another seasonal onslaught of beach-goers, Alan believes there is nothing he can do but prepare for the worst.
But fate has other plans. Delivered to him on the crest of a rogue wave, the strange object appears to have no purpose, no practical use—until Alan accidentally discovers what waits inside. Now he must attempt to unravel an ageless mystery, unaware that the final outcome will change his life, and the beach, forever.
In the companion novella Short Time, you’ll meet a respectable but bored middle-class executive, who exchanges his future for six months of excess and extravagance, only to find out the price he must pay for his hedonistic indulgence is beyond anything he could have imagined.
Amazon UK Purchase Link
The Beach
Genre: Supernatural Suspense Thriller
Length: 108 pgs
The following is my February 14, 2013, 5 Star Review:
Note: This book contains two short stories
Wow! I'm completely exhausted after reading these two stories in THE BEACH by JAYE FRANCES. These are both stories about someone being enticed by an outside influence with a huge life choice. Is this a gift, or is it a curse? Do the characters make the right decisions? No.
This is the first work that I've read by Jaye Frances and it's not going to be the last. It has been quite some time since an author made me physically cringe while reading. I agree with the supernatural suspense thriller genre for this book, but I would also add horror to the mix.
These two short stories were written beautifully. Visually I could see everything that Ms. Frances was describing. I could feel the storm coming in, smell the beach. It was a fun read because the author did something very risky. She created very unlikeable characters. I had a deep dislike for the main characters and their sense of right and wrong. Ms. Frances was able to write about horrible character flaws in people, things that make most of us extremely uncomfortable (this is where I literally squirmed in my seat) and move the story to a thought provoking ending.
The two stories in THE BEACH by JAYE FRANCES are must reads.
The Beach Book Blurb:
Alan loves the beach. More than a weekend respite, it is his home, his refuge, his sanctuary. And for most of the year, he strolls the sand in blissful solitude, letting nature—and no one else—touch him. But spring has given way to summer, and soon, the annual invasion of vacationers and tourists will subdivide the beach with blankets, umbrellas, and chairs, depriving Alan of his privacy and seclusion—the fundamental touchstones of his life.
Resigned to endure another seasonal onslaught of beach-goers, Alan believes there is nothing he can do but prepare for the worst.
But fate has other plans. Delivered to him on the crest of a rogue wave, the strange object appears to have no purpose, no practical use—until Alan accidentally discovers what waits inside. Now he must attempt to unravel an ageless mystery, unaware that the final outcome will change his life, and the beach, forever.
In the companion novella Short Time, you’ll meet a respectable but bored middle-class executive, who exchanges his future for six months of excess and extravagance, only to find out the price he must pay for his hedonistic indulgence is beyond anything he could have imagined.
Amazon UK Purchase Link
The KURE Book Blurb:
Genre: Paranormal-Occult Romance (Best suited for a mature reader)
Length: 316 pgs
John Tyler, a young man in his early twenties, awakens to find a ghastly affliction taking over his body. When the village doctor offers the conventional, and potentially disfiguring, treatment as the only cure, John tenaciously convinces the doctor to reveal an alternative remedy—a forbidden ritual contained within an ancient manuscript called the Kure.
Although initially rejecting the vile and sinister rite, John realizes, too late, that the ritual is more than a faded promise scrawled on a page of crumbling paper. And as cure quickly becomes curse, the demonic text unleashes a dark power that drives him to consider the unthinkable—a depraved and wicked act requiring the corruption of an innocent soul.
Amazon UK Purchase Link
Barnes and Noble Print Purchase Link
Genre: Paranormal-Occult Romance (Best suited for a mature reader)
Length: 316 pgs
John Tyler, a young man in his early twenties, awakens to find a ghastly affliction taking over his body. When the village doctor offers the conventional, and potentially disfiguring, treatment as the only cure, John tenaciously convinces the doctor to reveal an alternative remedy—a forbidden ritual contained within an ancient manuscript called the Kure.
Although initially rejecting the vile and sinister rite, John realizes, too late, that the ritual is more than a faded promise scrawled on a page of crumbling paper. And as cure quickly becomes curse, the demonic text unleashes a dark power that drives him to consider the unthinkable—a depraved and wicked act requiring the corruption of an innocent soul.
Amazon UK Purchase Link
Barnes and Noble Print Purchase Link
The Possibilities of Amy Book Blurb:
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Chick Lit (Best suited for a mature reader)
Length: 101 pgs
Amy is the ultimate trophy girl—gorgeous face, killer body, and a vivacious personality. But there’s something else about her, something that makes her even more special. Amy is new. A transfer student from out of state, she’s starting her senior year without knowing a soul. And that means she’s up for grabs, available.
Infatuated from the moment he sees her, David is determined to meet Amy, and if the fates are willing, to spend the rest of his life with her. But his shyness prevents him from approaching her—until his friends devise a contest to determine who will be the first to prove their manhood by seducing her.
Amazon UK Purchase Link
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Chick Lit (Best suited for a mature reader)
Length: 101 pgs
Amy is the ultimate trophy girl—gorgeous face, killer body, and a vivacious personality. But there’s something else about her, something that makes her even more special. Amy is new. A transfer student from out of state, she’s starting her senior year without knowing a soul. And that means she’s up for grabs, available.
Infatuated from the moment he sees her, David is determined to meet Amy, and if the fates are willing, to spend the rest of his life with her. But his shyness prevents him from approaching her—until his friends devise a contest to determine who will be the first to prove their manhood by seducing her.
Amazon UK Purchase Link
Love Travels Forever Book Blurb:
Genre: Short Stories, Romance, Chick Lit, Inspirational
Length: 76 pgs
In Love Travels Forever, Jaye Frances captures the reader’s heart with an inspiring collection of seventeen stories filled with romance and passion, the hopeful innocence of youth, and a love so strong that it transcends the mortality of life. Here are just a few of the people you’ll meet:
Evan and Frankie, a loving couple traveling through life hand-in-hand, are unaware that the shadow of fate is about to tear them apart. Helpless to change their shortened future together, one of them makes a promise—a promise of devotion and courage, honoring a love that surpasses the boundaries of time.
Mark and Janice, the perfect couple with the perfect life, are on the threshold of finally seeing their dreams come true—until an unexpected circumstance changes their lives forever.
Danny, a young soldier fresh out of boot-camp, is desperate to find a way to travel home and marry his sweetheart before being shipped overseas. Stranded in a train station on a three day pass with no hope in sight, Danny meets Wanda, an incredible woman who vows to find a way to bring Danny and his fiance together.
Nora and Georgia are two eight-year-old best friends who share giggles, dolls, and secrets. But when one of them faces sudden danger, the other responds with an unconditional act of love and forges a lifelong bond between them unaffected by fear or prejudice.
So find a quiet spot, get comfy, and grab a box of Kleenex. You’re about to take an unforgettable journey of the heart, to a place where compassion and hope have no limits, and where love continues to travel forever.
Amazon UK Purchase Link
Genre: Short Stories, Romance, Chick Lit, Inspirational
Length: 76 pgs
In Love Travels Forever, Jaye Frances captures the reader’s heart with an inspiring collection of seventeen stories filled with romance and passion, the hopeful innocence of youth, and a love so strong that it transcends the mortality of life. Here are just a few of the people you’ll meet:
Evan and Frankie, a loving couple traveling through life hand-in-hand, are unaware that the shadow of fate is about to tear them apart. Helpless to change their shortened future together, one of them makes a promise—a promise of devotion and courage, honoring a love that surpasses the boundaries of time.
Mark and Janice, the perfect couple with the perfect life, are on the threshold of finally seeing their dreams come true—until an unexpected circumstance changes their lives forever.
Danny, a young soldier fresh out of boot-camp, is desperate to find a way to travel home and marry his sweetheart before being shipped overseas. Stranded in a train station on a three day pass with no hope in sight, Danny meets Wanda, an incredible woman who vows to find a way to bring Danny and his fiance together.
Nora and Georgia are two eight-year-old best friends who share giggles, dolls, and secrets. But when one of them faces sudden danger, the other responds with an unconditional act of love and forges a lifelong bond between them unaffected by fear or prejudice.
So find a quiet spot, get comfy, and grab a box of Kleenex. You’re about to take an unforgettable journey of the heart, to a place where compassion and hope have no limits, and where love continues to travel forever.
Amazon UK Purchase Link
The Cruise-All That Glitters Book Blurb:
Genre: Romantic Satire, Parody (Best suited for an adult reader)
Length: 124 pgs
The Cruise-All That Glitters is a satire on romance, with an edge of sharp humor, as told from the perspective of Dean, a confident, self-assured single guy in search of a romantic encounter with the perfect woman. The story contains mature language and situations and is best suited for an adult reader.
Here's a brief synopsis:
It’s love on the high seas for Dean, a thirty-something bachelor taking his first cruise, hoping for a shipboard romance. On the prowl for the elusive hard-body, he quickly becomes disillusioned, wondering if his expectation of a boatload of beautiful sea nymphs is something found only in travel brochures.
Until he meets Angel.
She is the girl of his dreams, brought to life as a bewitching goddess, ready to engage in every sensual delight. Quickly lured into submission by Angel’s seductive charms, Dean is ready to surrender his heart and soul to this provocative beauty.
Until he meets Marcie . . .
Amazon UK Purchase Link
Genre: Romantic Satire, Parody (Best suited for an adult reader)
Length: 124 pgs
The Cruise-All That Glitters is a satire on romance, with an edge of sharp humor, as told from the perspective of Dean, a confident, self-assured single guy in search of a romantic encounter with the perfect woman. The story contains mature language and situations and is best suited for an adult reader.
Here's a brief synopsis:
It’s love on the high seas for Dean, a thirty-something bachelor taking his first cruise, hoping for a shipboard romance. On the prowl for the elusive hard-body, he quickly becomes disillusioned, wondering if his expectation of a boatload of beautiful sea nymphs is something found only in travel brochures.
Until he meets Angel.
She is the girl of his dreams, brought to life as a bewitching goddess, ready to engage in every sensual delight. Quickly lured into submission by Angel’s seductive charms, Dean is ready to surrender his heart and soul to this provocative beauty.
Until he meets Marcie . . .
Amazon UK Purchase Link
Author Links:
Website
Blog
Amazon Author Page
Facebook
Goodreads
Don't forget to leave a comment to be entered to win a Kindle copy of The Beach!
Website
Blog
Amazon Author Page
Goodreads
Don't forget to leave a comment to be entered to win a Kindle copy of The Beach!
RSS Feed
