Book Review for: Purple Knot

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Byrnes crafts an edge of your seat romantic thriller with "Purple Knot." A contemporary inspirational, Reyna Cruz is a private investigator who has left Seattle to establish a life in California. When her childhood friend, Summer Evans, dies from injuries received in an assault, Reyna puts herself on the case, but solving it will take all her wits and faith in God.

Reyna is working when she receives a phone call from her former fianc?, Jimmy Carbeau, Summer's twin brother. Jimmy is frantic. Summer has been assaulted and she's eight months pregnant. Reyna rushes from San Francisco to Seattle. When she arrives at the hospital, she discovers Summer has left her a medical power of attorney. Making the best decision she can with the doctor's advice and assessment, Reyna elects to save the baby and Summer dies.

Despite the pain from Summer's loss, Reyna reconnects with Jimmy, who is just as passionate about finding Summer's killer. Jimmy, however, doesn't necessarily approve of Reyna's methods, but he can't deny his heart. He loves Reyna and he's willing to give their love another chance.

The case heats up when Reyna is attacked in her office and her house is ransacked. The danger doesn't deter her. When a drug angle is introduced as a motive, Reyna is appalled. Summer did not do drugs.

Reyna calls in all her favors to get answers, but will those answers destroy the rekindled love she's found with Jimmy?

Byrnes infuses the story with just the right mix of suspense and romance. The story is told in the first person from Reyna's perspective and Byrnes does a fine job giving Reyna her own unique and distinctive voice. The descriptions are balanced and nuanced, never lingering, yet painting vivid pictures of the setting.

I enjoyed how Byrnes handled the inspirational message of the story, making it feel like a natural, organic element and not forcing the religious overtones.

Reyna and Jimmy are compelling characters. Both have to overcome the pain of loss, but each do it in their own way. What allows Reyna to really grow as a character is a scene in which she reaches for Jimmy's hand and asks him to pray. It's a very somber, yet poignant moment for them and defines them as a couple.

The story is sweet for romance readers with Reyna and Jimmy sharing a kiss or two. "Purple Knot" draws the reader in effortlessly and doesn't let go until the last page.

Written by: Raquel Byrnes
White Rose Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-61116-089-5
Avail: print & ebook
4 Stars

Reviewed by: S. Burkhart

StephB is an author who likes to read many books and a variety of different genres. StephB is an author at http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Creative Writing.

A Little Bit of Magic Goes a Long Way - Magic Of Making Up Review

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We live in a time when books are being written about any subject your mind can think of, from how the universe was created to mowing machines and setting up a website. So why not come up with a book subject on the magic of making up? There is always room for improvement when it comes to interpersonal relationships as long as we keep an open mind and an eye out for the details.

T.W. Jackson must have been truly inspired when he decided to write about all the unconventional ways to help you get your partner back. The message he is trying to send to all the broken hearted persons out there is that even though relationships don't always run smoothly, there is still hope when we refer to solving all the issues that seem to have taken the two of you to different places. In his famous book entitled "The Magic of Making Up", the author reveals a number of very effective techniques to mend a broken heart. This book is really useful for those who are experiencing the excruciating pain of a break up and the lack of clear judgment under such stressful situations. It prevents people from doing even more harm to their chances of reconciliation, and it also steps in and acts like a helpful damage control system.

The paper underlines the necessity of a different mentality when approaching the delicate matter and a change in attitude. The same behavior won't bring much of a change between your ex and you. It teaches us how to reinvent ourselves and how to reinvent the concept of a successful long-term relationship. "The magic of making up" is all about guiding you step by step through the do's and don'ts on the way to getting your ex back. Things you should never do after a break up: call your ex too many times in one day, spy on them, try convincing them that you are the best thing that ever happened to them, freak out when you accidentally bump into them, beg for forgiveness or act defensive.

The author offers his readers precious advice on what exactly should they be apologizing for and the proper way to do so, how to reignite the flame and bring the passion back where it belongs, how to use the magic of making up techniques figure out the best things to do and say to get that other chance from your ex lover, how to create a strong bond and how to consolidate your relationship once again. Another secret is to appreciate your ex and don't be afraid to express yourself freely. The book teaches you to let go of your troubled past and start a whole new journey with the person you feel like spending the rest of your life with.

Mend the broken heart of your ex and get your love life back on track by simply going through the 62 pages of "The Magic of Making Up". Follow the guiding advices and learn to apply the general rule that actions speak louder than words. Give yourself and your partner the chance to a new beginning and a happily ever after end to that own little miracle your love life is.

Do you want more info? You can check my magic of making up review and see if this book is right for you. To visit my website, simply go here: http://www.magicofmakingupreviewhq.com/