We are very excited to be participating in this Blog Tour for The Light in the Wound by Christine Brae. Check out our author interview and review and then head over to our FB Page to participate in our eBook Giveaway!
Book Title: The Light in the Wound
Author: Christine Brae
Genre: Contemporary Romance Fiction
Release date: July 23, 2013
RATING: 4 Stars ****
LINKS:
BLURB:
Affected by her parents’ highly publicized divorce, Isabel grows up isolated and alone, with a resolve to never fall in love and repeat their mistakes.
When Jesse Cain enters her life, she falls hopelessly in love with him, and every sadness she’s ever felt is washed away by his intensity and passion. But people change as they grow up. Things can never stay the same forever.
Jesse and Isabel fight to stay together, determined to hold on to what they once had. Isabel wonders if a second love can ever be enough to make her forget her first.
AUTHOR INTERVIEW:
1.) Hi Christine, tell us a little bit about yourself and your background?
Hi! Thank you so much for joining this blog tour and for taking the time to read my book.
I’m a mother of three, and a career executive with a degree in Economics and a CPA license. I live and work in Chicago. I’ve always loved to write but it was only until last year when I decided to take a stab at self publishing a book.
2.) I know that The Light in the Wound is your debut novel, do you plan to write full-time in the future?
When I decided to write this book, my original plan was to get this story out there and then run away and hide Since then, I have had a million other ideas swimming in my head for future books, but I haven’t decided yet what to do going forward. I guess I am waiting to see what the reader reaction will be to this book and whether my writing is something that can make an impact through future works.
3.) What is your writing process? Do you put yourself on a strict timeline with word goals per day, or are you less structured?
I have a very demanding full time career so although I don’t have a structured process, every free moment, whether on the train or on the plane or in the airport or from 10 pm to 2 am was spent writing. I had a goal to finish before the end of this year and found myself ready way before that.
The words and thoughts just kept coming.
4.) How long did it take you to write your novel?
The entire process took me about six months, from writing to reviewing a million times, to beta reading and rehashing to editing to publishing. Six months of my life that I will always remember.
5.) Did you ever get writer's block... and if so what did you do to get through it?
I normally listen to music to inspire me and then take a little break by spending time with my family before going back to the computer and starting all over again.
6.) In your opinion what is the hardest thing about writing?
I think that the hardest thing about writing is being satisfied about how your words have conveyed what you really want to put out there. Everyone has a story to tell and everyone has a way of telling it. I wanted to make sure that everything I felt in my heart could be translated into words properly and eloquently. That’s why to me, writing is such a lonely process. No one can make that happen except you. You can get the best advice from people and friends but in the end, your words are you.
7.) What inspired your story in The Light in the Wound? Do you pull from your own life experiences or those of people close to you?
Short of divulging too much, I will say that TLITW is very close to me. The characters and experiences are based on real life people and experiences. I thought that I had a great story to tell and wanted to share it with everyone.
8.) Can you give us some extra insight into your main characters, Isabel and Jesse?
Hmmm. I think Isabel is an introspective and responsible young girl who grew up in a trouble family. She finds solace in her relationship with Jesse, who may not love her the right way but who loves her so much just the same. They grow up together, have a history together. As years pass they both mature and develop into two people with different priorities. They fight to stay together despite everything changing around them.
9.) Your cover is beautiful, how did it come about?
When my close friend, Tosha Khoury, offered to help me with the book cover months ago, I knew that I wanted her to be the one to take this journey with me. Tosha was one of the first people who read the book, even in draft form, and she and I worked together to find the perfect picture to depict the story. The front cover is actually a scene from my book. We spent a long time looking for that image. When we found it, it was love at first sight.
10.) Are you an avid reader? Which authors/books do you admire?
I am a voracious reader. I actually manage my own blog and write reviews which will probably change after this book is published. Like most readers, FSOG was the first book that introduced me to the Indie World. But Tarryn Fisher blew my heart right open with her book and I just kept going every since. As of today, there are too many authors that I love but Tarryn, Willow, Jenn, CJ, Katja, Rebecca, Melissa, Andrea and of course, Tiffanie De Bartolo – they all own me.
11.) What advice would you give to an aspiring author?
I was hoping you would ask me this question because I really want to impart this message to all aspiring authors – tell your story, tell it well and don’t get too hung up on sales or reviews. Live your life knowing that you have made a huge accomplishment.
12.) Just between us... are you working on anything new right now?
I’ve got a few ideas but I’m really waiting for the readers to let me know whether they can accept me into their world of books before I really pursue my second book. But who knows? Never say never is my motto. Alex and Jesse have their own stories to tell too!
Thank you so much for your time Christine. How can our readers discover more about you and your work?
Thank you for having me! I hope we get to talk again very soon. <3
Website: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Christine-Brae/251960864949578
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChristineBrae
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17883038-the-light-in-the-wound
Email: christinebrae@gmail.com
MY REVIEW:
We meet Isabel when she is just a little girl. She lives an idyllic life with her sisters. They are thick as thieves. Her father is a famous racecar driver and her mother a former model and socialite. She lives a life of excess with wealth, nannies, servants and not a care in the world until one Sunday afternoon when everything falls apart. Her family is ripped in two. Separated from her sisters, her father and her mother, little Isabel finds herself living with her maternal grandparents for a few years. Hurt and confused by what happened, Isabel tries to make the best of her current situation. Many years later and after being sent to boarding school aboard by her grandparents as a way to protect her from scandal, Isabel finds her way back home to her mother and sisters. That’s when she meets Jesse. He is a popular, handsome, ambitious boy who she is instantly infatuated with. They embark on a seven year love affair that spans their high school and college years. He becomes the one constant in her life and the only person she feels she can count on. She gives him everything… her heart, her soul, her identity. Her entire life becomes about pleasing Jesse. Jesse loves her but he thinks he is beneath her. He has to prove to himself and the world that he is good enough for her. He becomes obsessed with becoming successful and fitting into her world of privilege. As they face the future Jesse starts to question where they fit into each others life. Are they ready to start their forever together? Fights, jealousy, misunderstandings lead to them exploring the possibilities. If Jesse wants to walk away does she fight or let go? Can she survive the pain of him walking out of her life like every other person she has loved? Along comes Alex. Alex has been Isa's friend for years. Can he help her heal?
Okay this story is about LOVE. Unconditional Love, First Love, and Grown Up Love…
Unconditional Love… this is the love between a child and parent. Isabel loves her mother. Even when she lets her down again and again and again. Her mother is sick and weak and she is constantly chasing the love of a man. Manic in her mood swings, Isabel has to step in and be the caregiver to her most of the time. However there are times that her mother has moments of clarity and her love for her daughters is apparent and her advice is very sound. I really enjoyed her mom. She was an over the top personality who never gave up on finding her HEA. I wish she had found it.
First Love… oh everyone remembers their first love. You will never love as madly or as easily as you do that very first time. You throw your entire self into that love because you don’t know any better. Your heart has never been broken so you don’t know to guard it. So you love with abandon and you give all of yourself to that other soul. There is also no greater pain than when your heart shatters for the first time. You think you can not possibly survive. Isabel felt that the moment Jesse walked out of her life. How did she loose him when she loved him so much and gave him everything? How could he leave her? Jesse of course didn’t go through that pain until later… the one walking away is never as broken are they… it’s always the one watching you walk away that hurts the most… right?
Grown Up Love… ahhh Grown Up Love is the best love of all. Yes it is guarded and it is cautious and it is hard earned, but it is deeper than any other. You can count on grown up love. You have to fight harder for it because you have to break down the walls you have both built around your heart to protect it. You have to strip each other bare and then put each other back together. It is not as passionate and wild as first love but it is so much more. It is friendship and trust and passion all meshed together. Grown up love grounds you and allows you to spread your wings knowing that it will be there to catch you should you fall.
I really loved this story. It was full of emotion and angst and kept you on your toes. You grow up with Isa you feel her loneliness, her despair and you root for her to find the happiness that she had as a child. You also root for her mother to recover and to be healthy and happy. Jesse is someone that you love and hate. One minute you want them to have their happy ending and the next you want to castrate him. Ahhh men! I have to say that I am very shocked that this is a debut novel. The author did an excellent job telling this harrowing story. It is so very well written… the past and present are woven together flawlessly. The only thing that I thought was unresolved was the relationship between Isabel and her father. I never understood why she was singled out among her sisters and kept from him. It perplexed me and I don’t think it was ever really addressed.
Christine Brae has certainly gotten my attention and I hope we see more from her in the future!
Happy Reading ;)
FAVORITE QUOTE:
"At some point in time, she'll need to start expecting things from you. That's just how it goes. And you'll want to give her more. You'll love her enough to do that."
GIVEAWAY:
I will be giving away three (3) eBook copies on our FB Page today. Check it out here:
http://www.facebook.com/GroupTherapyBookClubOfCharlotte
