Hello dear reader. We're back at it again with a new review, and I want to prep you for this one. Any consist reader of my blog will know by now that I don't like reading series out of order, and I appreciate it when someone tells me when I can read something out of order. 

Well reader. It's my turn to tell you that you'd be doing yourself a disservice by not checking out book one of the The Traceverse Sage, The Shattered Gate. In fact, bookmark this review, go read both books and see me back again. 

All kidding aside, please be kind to yourself and read book one before getting to book two - it will be well worth your time. 

You'd think with the amount of books I've read that I'd be used to science fiction writing, but it actually took me some time to get into The Two Gates by Eric R. Swanson. Once I stuck with it though, I found that the writing and the story began to move more smoothly. I come into this book not having read book one (I did read a detailed description of it that got me through thankfully!), and I attribute some of that beginning hesitation tothat. 

Swanson's writing really had me once I got into the story, however. I felt that the components of science fiction that I'm not used to were nicely balanced with what I was used to. I felt this the most when it came to action sequences and detailed descriptions of characters' personalities and traits. I will forever be a character-driven reader, that is for sure. The important thing for me was that Swanson took something that I've placed roots in (characters) and then dropped me in a story that drew me in because of it's newness and otherworldliness (science fiction). 

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CLICK TO VISIT THE LONE STAR LITERARY LIFE TOUR PAGE
FOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH POST ON THIS TOUR, UPDATED DAILY, 
or visit the blogs directly:
 
3/22/22
Kick-Off Promo
Sybrina's Book Blog

3/22/22
Review Book 1
Shelf Life Blog

3/22/22
BONUS promo
Hall Ways Blog

3/23/22
Book Trailer 1
The Page Unbound

3/23/22
Review Book 1
Chapter Break Book Blog

3/23/22
BONUS promo
LSBBT Blog

3/24/22
Review Book 2
Forgotten Winds

3/25/22
Bonus Story
It's Not All Gravy

3/26/22
Review Book 2
Rox Burkey Blog

3/27/22
Book Trailer 2
StoreyBook Reviews

3/28/22
Review Book 1
The Plain-Spoken Pen

3/29/22
Review Book 2
Missus Gonzo

3/30/22
Bonus Story
All the Ups and Downs

3/30/22
Review Book 1
Writing and Music

3/31/22
Review Book 2
Book Fidelity

3/31/22
Review Book 2
Reading by Moonlight

04/01/22
Review Book 1
Jennifer Silverwood
​

CLICK TO VISIT THE LONE STAR LITERARY LIFE TOUR PAGE
FOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH POST ON THIS TOUR, UPDATED DAILY, 
or visit the blogs directly:


3/8/22
Excerpt
Chapter Break Book Blog

3/8/22
BONUS Promo
Hall Ways Blog

3/9/22
Review
It's Not All Gravy

3/9/22
BONUS Promo
LSBBT Blog

3/10/22
Guest Post
StoreyBook Reviews

3/11/22
Review
Jennie Reads

3/12/22
Author Interview
Book Fidelity

3/13/22
Excerpt
All the Ups and Downs

3/14/22
Review
Carpe Diem Chronicles

3/15/22
Bonus Scene
Rox Burkey Blog

3/15/22
BONUS Review
The Book's Delight

3/16/22
Review
The Plain-Spoken Pen

3/17/22
Review
Reading by Moonlight
​

​Life Rolls Along 
by Linda Nielsen
Genre:Contemporary Romance/ Humor/Suspense
 
About the Book

Memorable characters move swiftly through a well-crafted plot. Punctuated with sharp humor, twenty-first-century romances blossom in spite of well-heeled parental attempts to manipulate others to do their bidding.

Terri Sue Ellen, nonsensical and faux refined, and Charles Covington, wealthy executive, have a prickly daughter, Delaney Mae Anne, who wants a husband . . . so they buy one using their wealth and prestige to seal the deal.

But after a four-week honeymoon, Skye Topple grasps the fact that he’s made a blunder in marrying the boss’s daughter.  

Life’s hilarious complications follow him as he embarks on a journey to sort through the shambles of his life’s choices when he returns to his humble beginnings in Big Sur where he tries to reunite with his family.
Blending truth with hyperbole, wicked humor ensues as scheming business partners and arrogant in-laws attempt to destroy Skye’s bold plans for his future.

When the bizarre son of a new business partner covets his wife, Skye realizes he’s ready to move on but not before he gets what he’s been promised.

He joins forces with RB, the unwanted step-brother of his wacky mother-in-law, and the men take part in an eccentric ruse, hoping the final cards fall in their favor.  How dangerous are they, and how far will they go?

Find out in the dramatic story that takes a humorous approach on classiness, opulence, family, and romance. 

About the Author
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Former business woman and entrepreneur, Linda Nielsen, is involved in community work, actively supporting animal rights, no kill facilities, and finding home for senior pets. 
Her mother was a writer, her maternal grandmother wrote poetry and her paternal grandmother was an artist.  She jokes that artistic ability runs in her veins, but she has yet to discover her hidden ability to pain anything other than the bathroom walls. 
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She and her husband have traveled through Eastern Europe, Asia, South America, Russia. Australia and the Baltic with backpacks, catching any flights that were available. But now that the world has changed, she admits to discovering more at home activities.
Linda enjoys wine tasting and credits the lesser known areas such as Calaveras County and the Lodi area in San Joaquin County as having some of the finest wines in California. 
She escapes from her computer by spending sunny mornings in her garden and has fun cooking but admits that not everything in the kitchen is a success.
She thanks her fans and their ongoing support for keeping her focused when she’s writing and offering their feedback on both the story lines and her characters.
 
Excerpt
Delaney looked puzzled. “Mother, what will you do when you get a pool? I thought you didn’t like to swim.”
“It’s an exhaustin’ exercise, and a person can get very wet, but it is a part of mah new physical fitness program, honey.  As one ages, one must step up to the challenges.  Ah even sought out our favorite hairstylist for advice.  The secret is that due to mah larger derriere, well, Mr. Freddie pointed out that ah needed me a hairstyle that would call attention to mah head and not mah bottom.” She sighed wearily, “Even though he is a toad, he does know hair.”
“I had no idea that could be done.”  Basking in her own emotional incompetence, Delaney, smiled her support.
“Why, maintainin’ mahself a good hair-do whilst swimmin’ about is essential. Ah read an article online that pointed out splashin’ around in an expensive pool was best as it produced more cool bubbles, and they could swim faster toward me so mah hot flashes would disappear quicker. To complete the picture, a pool boy is a mandatory accessory.  So, ah gotta get me one. Pronto!” 
“I understand now.” Delaney placed her head in her hands. “Anyhoo, what qualities are you looking for in the new hire?”
“Nice physique, good bone structure, tall fellah, pleasant manner, a bright smile . . . a young man who fills out his swimmin’ shorts.”
“Oh, my! That sound very physical.”
“Indeed it is!” She looked at her daughter in shock. “Delaney Mae Anne, ya got to learn to think before ya speak.  Just how could an unphysical person instruct me on physical activities?  A man with a good package is a healthy man and will have the stamina to keep up with me as ah bustle along in mah swimmin’ accomplishments.”
 
On Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B07CTZCK6W
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