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This Writer’s Journey…Stephanie Morrill
Writing is a journey, one I truly love and enjoy, but it can sometimes feel rather lonely. Hour after hour, alone, at the computer, pouring your heart and soul into each word. But I’ve learned I’m not alone, in fact, I’ve been blessed to be in contact with some amazing people, both writers and non-writers.I want to share a bit of that with you. Each week I’ll be spotlighting someone I’ve come in contact with during my journey. Thanks for stepping along side of me-all of you-during this exciting time!
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I “met” Stephanie online during that first year I started writing when I belonged to ACFW. I was lucky enough to meet her in person in 2009 when I’d attended a national writing conference, too. And yep, she was as nice in person as she was on line.
That’s actually what struck me about Stephanie. Just a very nice, honest and encouraging person. Very talented writer, and I was so touched by her genuine interest in how things were going with me and my writing. I was young, unrepresented and just learning the ropes.
Thanks to her, I learned a lot.
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So Over It, by Stephanie Morrill
***Update 10/25/10: The WINNER IS. . . . Lholloway!
Send me your mailing address and I’ll zip these books off to you: [email protected]***
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Book Review & CONTEST
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Synopsis from Barnes and Noble:
Senior year is over and Skylar Hoyt is ready to forgive and forget. Or at least forget. She wants a fresh start where people don’t know about her partying past or her younger sister and her baby. A place where she won’t run in to her ex-boyfriend every time she leaves the house. When she gets the chance to spend the summer in Hawaii with her grandparents, Skylar jumps at the chance to get out of town. But when her sister needs her, Skylar has to swallow her pride and come back home. Will she be strong enough to rise above the gossip and live the life God wants for her?
My Review:
This is the third and final book of the series, and I liked how Stephanie closed the series out. Again, she has great characters, except one-more on that later. Stephanie paints a very accurate picture, I think, of what happens in high school and just after. Worrying about what they should do for a living, figuring out where they fit in life, and of course, searching for true love.
One character I didn’t like much was Justin. He was a new addition, and I didn’t like him. Just seemed too rough/harsh. There was some closure eventually that made me soften up a bit, but not much. He just didn’t seem real to me.
But then again, I haven’t been a teenager-let alone a Christian teenager-in a zillion years, so maybe they really act like that. . . but I’m doubtful.
Overall, I loved this series. Great writing. Her words just flow. I read each book in one or two sittings each. She had me laughing and crying a few times, and I love that about the novels I read. Now, I’m a paranormal romance reader by nature, so for me to read a YA–non-paranormal book–that says a lot!
Way to go, Stephanie. Great job on this series. What do you have next for us??
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ON TO THE CONTEST!
Okay, so, I have ALL THREE Books sitting here…And if you want ALL three, this is the contest for you! So, here are the “rules”
–You get ONE entry into the drawing just for leaving a comment.
–You get ONE entry for EVERY person you refer to this post. They must leave a comment and say who referred them, though.
–Contest is open until Midnight (Pacific time) Sunday October 24th, 2010. US residents only (sorry.)
I’ll be back to THIS POST and put who the winner is on Monday the 25th, 2010, so stay tuned.
Easy as that!
So, tell your friends to come here, comment, and you’ll have more chances to win!!
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Oh, and the legal stuff about the book: I was given these books by the publisher, free of charge. I received no compensation for these reviews posted and am under no obligation to post a positive review.
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Stephanie Morrill
Out With The In Crowd, by Stephanie Morrill
Synopsis from Barnes and Noble:
Skylar Hoyt may have vowed to change her partying ways, but it’s not so easy to change her friends. She’s trying hard to live a new life, but her old one is constantly staring her in the face. Add to that two parents battling for her loyalty, a younger sister struggling with a crisis pregnancy, and a new boyfriend wishing for more of her time, and Skylar feels like she can’t win. After all, how do you choose favorites among the people you love most?
My Review:
Stephanie Morrill hits another one out of the ballpark with “Out with the In Crowd.” Skylar Hoyt is a fantastic character. Many teens face a lot of what Skylar goes through, and Stephanie paints a compelling picture of it all. Her writing is so smooth, and each chapter left me hanging enough to want to read more and more.
Several surprises caught me off guard. Some I liked, some I didn’t, but all of them were realistic and well plotted, that’s for sure. I can’t wait to see where Stephanie Morrill takes Skylar in the next book, but I’m sure it’ll be worth the wait!
Pub. Date: January 2010
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group -
Me, Just Different, by Stephanie Morrill
Me, Just Different, by Stephanie Morrill
Quick look:
Welcome to the world of Skylar Hoyt, a high school senior whose exotic Hawaiian looks have propelled her to the height of the “in” crowd, but who’s no longer sure that’s where she really fits. New friends, old friends, a reluctant romance, and a family crisis swirl around Skylar as she tries to keep it together and figure out who she really wants to be.My review:
This is my first taste of Stephanie Morrill‘s writing, and I’m anxiously awaiting book two. I love how she showed, with devastating honesty and clarity, how tough peer pressure can be. I turned page after page and before I knew it, I’d read the entire book in one sitting.Stephanie does a fantastic job showing me Skylar’s struggle to find herself while trying to fit in with her friends. It’s real. Brought me back to my high school years. Same old struggle, which doesn’t necessarily ONLY exist in high school either.
Her writing is tight and drew me in from the first page. Each chapter ended with such a hook that it propelled me forward as I had to know what happened next.
Run out and buy this, you’ll be glad you did!
* Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
* Pub. Date: July 2009
* Series: The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt, #1
