Free Kindle Download: Love You, Always by Cristin Cooper

Love You, Always: 

Always Series Book 1

by Cristin Cooper

About the book:

This is the first book in the series but can be read as a stand alone. No cliffhangers and has a HEA. 

Caring for her three children had been Anna’s only priority in the aftermath of losing the man she’d loved since they were seventeen years old. Forced to move forward with her life, Anna was reeling as she enrolled in college. There she made a friend who had been there and done that, hired a sexy younger man to tutor her in math, who also taught her how to have fun again, and she met a man to love her, whether she wanted him to or not. The lessons in life Anna received over her first year of college gave her the strength to live again.

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Guest Author: Barbara Venkataraman

NOTHING TO SNEEZE ABOUT

Remember the last time you sneezed? There was that little itch that sent your nose into high alert. This could be the big one, you think, a real head-bobber, or it could be a tiny little nothing sneeze. Or it could be a false alarm. You just never know what to expect. There's the build-up, then the sneeze and, finally, the feeling of relief. And then it's over, or at least you hope so. I always sneeze three times in a row, but that's just my thing, a little author trivia.

So, how is a sneeze like reading a mystery? Well, I'm glad you asked.  Like a sneeze, the plot of a mystery starts out slowly, the tension gradually builds while the reader wonders, is something about to happen? Is this a clue? Is this a major plot development? Or is it a fake-out?  For every build-up of tension in a mystery, there must be a release afterwards, a resolution to the problem and then a period of low-tension. In most books, this pattern will happen many times before the final resolution (the big sneeze!) which signals the end of the story.

Without conflict, there is no story, of course, so the writer wants to keep putting the characters in dangerous or stressful situations. A good writer keeps the reader on edge by dangling the prize in front of the protagonist and then snatching it away at the last minute, or by throwing roadblocks in the way. The author has to be subtle about it, so the obstacles vary constantly. Maybe the protagonist loses faith in herself, or is physically detained. Maybe someone she cares about has a crisis and she has to stop what she's doing to offer help. Or maybe she's sent on a wild goose chase or follows the wrong lead. She may wind up in physical danger, or some other kind of trouble.  

Here's an example of a best-selling mystery plot. The novel begins with the murder of a beautiful prosecutor in her apartment. The protagonist, also a prosecutor, was her co-worker, and is assigned the case. Nobody knows that the victim was the protagonist's former lover (raising the stakes). The protagonist's boss is up for re-election and the murder of one of his people is embarrassing. If he loses the election, the protagonist loses his job (raising the stakes some more). The election is lost and suddenly the protagonist finds himself accused of the murder. There's lots of evidence to implicate him: calls made from his home to hers the night of the murder, a glass with his fingerprints on it, carpet fibers, etc. The courtroom drama raises the tension even further; taking many turns along the way. But the expert testimony proves unreliable. The protagonist learns the judge had a relationship with the victim and also that the judge, the victim and his former boss all took bribes from suspects. A crucial piece of evidence for the prosecution disappears and the judge dismisses the case for lack of evidence. 

But the reader still doesn't know who killed the prosecutor! Was it the protagonist? He's the narrator, but is he reliable? Yes, he is, and he figures out who murdered his former lover…dun dun dun! It was his angry, betrayed wife who tried to frame him. Recognize the plot? It's Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow.

The challenge for the mystery writer is how to build the tension to a crescendo and timing is everything. Think about that horror movie trick where the girl (and the audience) is terrified because we know something bad is about to happen. We're on the edge of our seats, our hearts are racing, and, suddenly, something scary jumps out at the girl--and it's just a cat. Everyone lets down their guard, shakes off the nervous tension and--WHAM--the bad guy/monster/psycho/alien then attacks the girl. That twist worked great the first time we saw it, but now we've come to expect it. 

In my Jamie Quinn mystery series, Jamie is a reluctant family lawyer who keeps finding herself involved in murder cases. In Death by Didgeridoo, her disabled cousin is accused of murdering his music teacher; in The Case of the Killer Divorce, Jamie's client is accused of murdering her husband, and in Peril in the Park, Jamie and her boyfriend are in danger from an evil jester who has already murdered one person. The tension rises and falls in each book while Jamie tries to figure out what's really going on, while, at the same time, there are mysteries to solve in her personal life. Because these books are part of a series, the tension isn't completely resolved at the end of each book. Certain story lines continue through to the next book and, in fact, each book ends with the first chapter of the next book as a teaser. 

Now, I think you understand how a good mystery can be just like a sneeze. And who doesn't like a good sneeze? It can be energizing and unexpected. But, at all costs, you want to avoid books which don't have tension; the kind that go on and on, the ones you wish would hurry up and end already. They are like having the hiccups and nobody wants those! 

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Recommended Holy Week Destinations - Padre Pio / Regina RICA

Blogger is still on vacation leave. Been busy with kids' school-related stuff and just being a full time mom and wifey, reading and blogging definitely had to take a back seat. 

We've also been visiting churches these days. I think it is now time for my kids (10 and 6 yo) to join me and my husband in practicing our Catholic faith. Although we're praying as a family and I read them Bible stories on a daily basis, I believe seeing these sacred places would give them the opportunity to explore their own faith.

Padre Pio Church - Libis, Quezon City

Eulogio Rodriguez Jr. Ave, Quezon City

This is the nearest Padre Pio church to us so this is where we usually go to hear Sunday mass. 

Mass - Daily

Padre Pio Church - Rizal

Sitio Balimbing, Tanay, Rizal

Tanay is only an hour drive from our place (Angono). If you want to hear mass, visit this chapel only on Thursdays (not sure about the time, sorry). 

They're usually closed on Sundays (see closed chapel door!).  During Holy Week, chapel is open the whole week.

View from the souvenir shop.

Regina Rosarii Institute for Contemplation in Asia (RICA)

Marikina-Infanta Highway, Tanay, Rizal

Another place recommended to visit while in Tanay is the Regina RICA pilgrim site. 

Our Lady on Top of the Hill. 

The (Sacred) trail going up from the parking lot, well it will take you about thirty minutes (or more if you have small kids with you). If you don't want to go up on foot, you may take the shuttle - but you have to wait as there is only one going up and down the hill.

Dress code - you cannot be allowed to go up and inside Our Lady if you are wearing shorts, short skirts, sleeveless, etc. 

Church at the foot of the hill. Closed every Tuesday.

Padre Pio Shrine - Batangas

Lipa Road, Sto. Tomas, Batangas

The farthest, three to four hours from Manila. We were not able to take enough pictures as the place was under construction during our visit in December 2015. 

We might be in Pangasinan to visit my brother's family this weekend. If everyone's okay to go, we plan to explore Manaoag and probably some more places north. How about you? What are your plans this week?