Rewrites of the Heart - Terry Newman

JJ Spritely, romance author, writes characters that jump off the page. Figuratively, that is. She never expects them to make a literal leap off the page and smack dab into her world. But Alex Zurich and Blake Teesdale do just that. And they’re on a mission to help JJ write her own personal love story with a man she recently met, Kennedy King Cooper.

A history professor, Cooper doesn’t see the value of romance novels and he has even less regard for those who write them. Until he meets a woman who haunts his thoughts.

There’s only one small snag in Alex’s and Blake’s plan…okay…two rather large snags. JJ wants nothing to do with Cooper. The other snag? Alex and Blake aren’t able to return to the pages of their own book.

Will JJ ever write her own love story? And will it be with Cooper? Will Alex and Blake return to the pages of their own book?

My Review

Rewrites of the Heart is the first book in the Whimsical Hearts series. I read the second book Hearts on the Rocks first. It doesn't really matter as both books work well as stand-alone books. I do think that this first one has a little bit more background on how this world works and that probably helps explain what is going on and why.

As an author myself, I can't resist the idea of characters coming to life and meeting their author. There is a lovely innocence about Alex and Blake, who are JJ's characters who come to visit her. Mostly because their only experiences are those that JJ has given them as part of their back story.

This book is brilliantly quirky and entertaining. Even the side characters are blessed with entertaining names. (I hummed the Chipmunks theme every time they went to the Physics Cafe.)

The real story is JJ and Kenn's romance. JJ has lost her first husband at a very young age and since his untimely death has been struggling to actually get out there and live. She and Kenn make a great couple and while their path to their happily ever after might be a little complicated it was lots of fun following them on their journey.

I do hope that Alex and Blake are set to make another journey to the 'real' world of JJ and her friends in the near future.

Social Media Links

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Buy links

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Rewrites-Heart-Terry-Newman-ebook/dp/B0BQGP7Y7X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=16V3W4YPSLZOL&keywords=rewrites+of+the+heart+terry+newman&qid=1671466657&sprefix=%2Caps%2C114&sr=8-1  

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rewrites-of-the-heart-terry-newman/1142841043?ean=9781509246533 

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/rewrites-of-the-heart   

Google Play Books: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Terry_Newman_Rewrites_of_the_Heart?id=9FmqEAAAQBAJ&hl=en_US&gl=US

 

Bio

Terry Newman is the award-winning author of several paranormal novels and novellas, including Rewrites of the Heart, Heartquake, and The Wizard of her Heart.

She enjoys writing humor and creating off-beat characters, each with their own quirks. She’s spent most of her life in northeast Ohio, where she sets all of her fictional towns.

Terry has spent most of her adult life writing in some fashion, from small-town reporter to editor-in-chief and ghostwriter for a national natural health publishing firm. The last decade and half she’s worked a freelance writer, penning ebooks that range from Native Americans to starting a doula services business.

She has a daughter, a son-in-law, and a grandpuppy. Terry lives in North Lima, a real town in northeast Ohio with all of her characters. Yes, it does get crowded at times.

 

Excerpt

 

JJ nodded. “Exactly. If no one else can talk to you, then I can be pretty comfortable that I’m the one going through this, well, whatever it is. But, if everyone can talk to you and see you, then I’m not entirely sure what’s going on here. Up until now, you were my personal, private hallucinations. I’m just not sure what to call you now.”

“Try calling us real,” Alex said, one hand on her hip.

“But real is impossible. It defies all the currently known scientific laws. What if everyone could see you, not just me, as I just naturally assumed so far?”

Alex sat on the arm of the couch, near JJ. “I’m still confused. I don’t get what the big deal is.”

Blake paced the room, his head down, hands behind his back. “Aside from your conversation with JJ’s sister, love, we haven’t had an occasion to have contact with anyone.”

“Right,” JJ agreed. “I assumed you couldn’t interact with others. Now, I wonder if others could see you, too.” She rubbed the back of her neck.

Blake rose and padded to the front door. Alex watched as he unlocked and opened the door. Then he turned. “Alex, let’s test out my theory.”

“Me? What are we going to do?”

“You’ll see.”

Alex shot a quick glance at JJ, who only looked amused by her perplexity. She figured she had little choice and met Blake at the door. He took her hand and they stepped on onto the small porch. She scanned the neighborhood. Everyone had at least a little patch of yard.

One house sported the stereotypical white picket fence. The house directly to the right wore a shiny metal flowerpot of purple petunias, yellow and purple pansies, and a few tall dark pink snapdragons. A few houses down she saw that one house had a wraparound porch with baskets of red geraniums adorning it.

Finally, she saw an older gentleman who lived directly across the street. He was out with his golden Labrador retriever.

“Good afternoon,” Blake called out to him, waving as if he were the proverbial friendly neighbor.

“I’m Bob Higley, and this is Moses.” The man gave the dog a good rub.

“I’m Blake Teesdale and my fiancé, Alex Zurich. She’s JJ’s cousin from Kansas and we’re here on vacation.” Alex smiled meekly and gave the man a tentative finger wave. She was amazed at his ability to create an entire backstory on the spot.

Mr. Higley took off his baseball cap and scratched his head. “You don’t sound like you’re from Kansas.”

“No, no sir. You are right. Mine is definitely not a Midwest accent. British.”

“I’ve always loved England.”

“Thanks, I love your country too.” And then Blake gave Mr. Higley a friendly good-bye wave and he and Alex went back into the house.

Once inside, he rolled on the balls of his feet, a small, smug smile slowly forming on his lips, hands in his pockets.

“We just passed the can-they-see-you test with flying colors. And yes, they can see you—I mean, us.”

“Yes, you two did and I’m amazed.”

 

 

 

 

 

Hearts on the Rocks - Terry Newman

Fake dating wasn’t part of Cagney Adler’s plan to earn her PhD before she’s thirty. But neither was a rash of blind dates. When fictional characters, Alex Zurich and Blake Teesdale, leap out of the romance novel she’s reading into her world, they’re determined Mr. Rock Nerd would not only make a great fake boyfriend, but her happily ever after. The only way to get them to leave her alone is to accept the offer. But she draws the line at happily ever after.

Brad Townsend, geology doctoral student, knows Cagney Adler is the perfect fake girlfriend to help him avoid blind dates. Sure, they have nothing in common, but that’s what makes her ideal. There’s no way they’ll fall in love.

But the pretend stuff begins to look real, with double dates to the movies, and apartment warming parties. And wait, Cagney’s apartment becomes unlivable…and they find themselves roommates.

The fake relationship feels more real with every day.

My Review

I think that this must be one of the most fun romance books I have ever read. That's a big claim to make, I realise, but I'm not going to take it back. The concept itself is great, our couple Brad and Cagney meet on a blind date, but don't hit it off. Or at least don't think that they've hit it off. They decide to pretend that they are a couple, to put a stop to their friends setting them up with other people. Of course, we all know that a fake romance in a romance novel always turns into the real thing. To help them on the way, characters from the romance novel that Cagney is reading come to life and do their best to help them on the way. 

Blake and Cagney are great characters. They are highly intellegent, academic types and as is often the case, don't really have much understanding about real life or people. They seem to think that because they are studying different areas (science and humanities) then they have nothing in common. Is it any wonder they've had no luck in love when they think that 'their' person is going to be exactly like them?

Blake goes out of his way to make himself appear like someone that Cagney would want to date. All with the idea of making their relationship seem more real to other people. Or maybe he just wants her to like him, but can't admit that to himself. I loved the scenes of him trying tennis and yoga.

This was a lovely, feel good read and one that I highly recommend. It doesn't take itself too seriously, which just adds to the joy of the whole thing.

Bio

Terry Newman is the award-winning author of several paranormal novels and novellas, including Rewrites of the Heart, Heartquake, and The Wizard of her Heart.

She enjoys writing humor and creating off-beat characters, each with their own quirks. She’s spent most of her life in northeast Ohio, where she sets all of her fictional towns.

Terry has spent most of her adult life writing in some fashion, from small-town reporter to editor-in-chief and ghostwriter for a national natural health publishing firm. The last decade and half she’s worked a freelance writer, penning ebooks that range from Native Americans to starting a doula services business.

She has a daughter, a son-in-law, and a grandpuppy. Terry lives in North Lima, a real town in northeast Ohio with all of her characters. Yes, it does get crowded at times.

 

Social Media Links

Website: https://terrynewmanauthor.com/

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Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60574351-heartquake?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=99H2V7dnWm&rank=1

Bookbub: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60574351-heartquake?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=99H2V7dnWm&rank=1

 

Excerpt

 

“Casey. Casey. Wait up.”

Cagney heard hurried footsteps behind her; each one sounded closer. With her office hours done, she looked forward to her yoga class. A class she needed after the blind date disaster and the weekend of grading papers. And that damn book of her advisor’s that seemed to pop up everywhere. She had spent too much time reading it.

“Casey, please stop.”

Brian, no, Bradley Townsend, appeared at her side. She stopped and looked at him. His eyes were every bit as blue as they were Friday night. “What is your problem?”

“Why didn’t you answer me? Didn’t you hear me calling your name?” Brad’s brow furrowed and he ran a hand through his curls.

“I heard someone call a Casey. My name is Cagney.”

She met this man once. They mutually decided they had nothing in common. Why was he chasing after her? Was he stalking her? Was she in danger?

She took a step back and tightened her grip on the backpack hanging off her right shoulder. She’d use it if she had to. She’d swing it as hard as she could into his balls. That should be enough to give her a head start. Then she’d scream as loud as she could. No way he’d touch her after that.

“I’m sorry. You’re right. Your name is Cagney. I did it again, didn’t I?” He looked at his shoes. “I’m not good with names.”

He looked like a little boy. The threat of a stalker dissipated.

“I wanted to talk to you before your office hours ended.”

“You knew when my office hours were?” She scanned Brad from head to toe. Suddenly, he did look dangerous. “What kind of stalker are you?”

“I’m not a stalker, I promise.” He held up one hand. His blue eyes bore into her. “I asked Logan to ask Molly what your hours were, so I could talk to you. I have an idea about us.”

That was it. That’s all she had to hear. “There is no us. We both agreed to that Friday night.”  She walked. It shouldn’t have surprised her that he followed along beside her. “We decided we have nothing in common. Nothing.”

“I know. But I’ve got this idea.”

“Yeah, you’ve said that before.” She hurried her pace. Why? It’s not like she could out-walk him. Now that she saw him standing in the bright light, she knew him to be at least six feet tall—to her meager five four. He probably slowed his pace so not to get ahead of her.

Luckily, Alexander Hall was close. She stood at the door to the building. “I’m going to do yoga to calm my nerves.” She looked up at his blue eyes. That beard. “You claim not to be a stalker, but you’re acting very much like one.”

He gave her the hint of a smile. Her initial anxiety he would try something had faded a while ago. She wasn’t sure when. But she didn’t want him to know that. Now he was just an annoyance. Granted, a good-looking annoyance.

“Goodbye, Brad. Maybe we’ll see each other around the Physics Café.”

She reached for the door, but he beat her by several seconds and opened it for her. Very stalker-like. She ignored it and entered the building and headed straight for the room. He followed her.

“You’ll want to hear my idea,” he said enthusiastically. What could he possibly be enthusiastic about?

She entered the classroom, dumped her backpack at the door, and tore off her jacket, revealing a loose T-shirt. 

Brad watched her. She took her place in the middle of the floor and sat. He sat beside her. “I’ve got a foolproof way—”

“Sir, do you plan on taking the class today? This is not a university-sponsored class. You’ll need to pay the twenty-dollar fee if you intend to participate.”

She stifled a giggle. That should do it. That would get him out of the room. Out of her business. Out of her life, if she had any type of luck.

“Sure, I’ll take it.” He stood and pulled a wallet out of his jeans pocket. It appeared she had little to no luck.

The instructor, Harmony McKenzie, immediately started class once Brad sat next to her. “We’ll begin, as usual, sitting legs crossed. Keep your back nice and tall.” He had no chance to broach his idea, however absurd she was sure it would be.

Brad crossed his long legs and rested his hands on his knees. His eyes focused on the instructor.

“Listen, you’re tired of blind dates, right?”

“Now, we’re going to slowly roll ourselves onto our backs.”

Cagney leaned back and glanced toward Brad. He was already down and staring at her.

“I’m tired of blind dates, too.”

“Draw your right knee toward your chest.”

As she raised her leg, she watched Brad complete the task. Once he was done, he looked her way. “What if we hang out together in public, so people think we’re dating?”

“Extend the leg toward the ceiling.”

“What?” Cagney held on to her leg. “You mean you want me to pretend to date you?”

The instructor gave instructions to get back into the cross-legged position.

“Why would I want to do that?” The man had some nerve.

“So Molly won’t try to set you up with another man.” 

Harmony gave commands for the downward facing dog pose. He raised his butt off the floor. Once again, she noticed how tight and cute it was.

He glanced at her from the full pose, not looking the least bit comfortable. “Look, Logan already has me scheduled to meet someone Friday. And I’m sure—”

“A week from Friday for me.” Cagney watched his unsteady legs from her own downward facing dog pose. “But we don’t have anything in common. I wouldn’t know what to talk about.”

“But that’s the beauty of it. We don’t have to talk. We’re just two people together, working on our separate dissertations.”

She noticed his legs quivered even more. And he sounded out of breath.

“There’s no way we can develop any type of relat…friendship that would take time away from our studies.” It looked as if his legs had had enough of the downward facing dog.

He sucked in a breath. She wasn’t sure that was proper yoga form. “But the best part is that neither Logan nor Molly will try to set us up on blind dates again.” He paused. She prayed he didn’t faint.

“At least not for a long time.” He turned his head in her direction and smiled. “It’s a win-win.”

“Relax, class.”

Brad plopped full force on the floor. “Do you do this often?” He rolled over.

The man looked pitiful, lying on his back, his arms extended out, breathing heavily.

“Yup, three times a week.” Cagney did a few leg stretches.

He shook his head. The small, dark curls moved ever so slightly. “Do you like this torture? This, by the way, is called upward facing dead dog.”