just a little buzz...

How to make an author happy: leave a review! I know...it can be a bit intimidating, but a book review doesn't need to be complicated - just a few words will do the trick. You'll make an author smile by letting them know someone is out there, reading their work. Even more important, your review will help other readers find books that you've enjoyed. 

Here are just a few things readers have said after reading Sparks Fly, Fast Focus, and Rock Solid.

About Sparks Fly:

"I highly recommend this story to anyone who loves a sweet romantic story filled with lovable family members, adventures in the sky and on the ground, and that age old feeling of falling in love."  - Amazon.com review

"The setting is so vibrantly real one can smell the pines and feel the icy stab of cold water as well as the warmth of the sun on chilled flesh. - Amazon.com review

"Lovely setting, sweet story with some exciting moments." - Amazon.com review

"I very much enjoyed this story and couldn't put it down, particularly in the end, when everything reached a climax. The characters are totally lovable and the scenery is described so well that you can hear the roaring of the fire. I recommend this book!" - Goodreads review

"Her description of flying through a forest fire was riveting. I am so glad I found this book." - Amazon.com review

Find Sparks Fly in paperback, hardcover, or for your Kindle (free for Kindle Unlimited subscribers!) 

About Rock Solid: 

"An excellent read! It's well written, with a well-paced storyline that sucks you in from the beginning and keeps you turning pages. The characters are likeable and believable. Thoroughly recommended!" - Amazon.co.uk review

"A sweet, fun read. 5 stars!" - Amazon.com review

"A great summer read. 5 stars!" - Amazon.co.uk review

"Totally delightful! - Goodreads review

"What a brilliant book, I just had to read it from cover to cover, I just could not put it down." - Amazon.co.uk review

Find Rock Solid in paperback, hardcover, or for your Kindle (free for Kindle Unlimited subscribers!) 

About Fast Focus:

"Entertaining! This is a fun and enjoyable read." - Amazon.com review

"This story is a light, humourous, romantic, silly tale. It's pretty corny but cute. It would make a perfect Hallmark romantic movie as it's exactly that style." Amazon.com review

"Another wonderful read with lots of mystery, action, suspense and romance. These two authors should investigate having both their books turned into a movie for either the big screen or television. Look forward to their next book as I enjoy their writing." Amazon.com review

"This book is an easy read. With interesting/quirky characters, great dialogue to move the story forward, and a less than predictable plot line, it's time well spent." - Amazon.com review

"A fun read with great three-dimensional characters." - Goodreads review

Find Fast Focus in paperback, hardcover, or for your Kindle (free for Kindle Unlimited subscribers!) 

Thanks for reading ... and a special thank you for leaving reviews!

Permalink: just a little buzz...

stillpoint... blog of Canadian author Cheryl Cooke Harrington

photos of 2015

Since retiring from The Day Job in May of 2015, I've tried to make a habit of carrying my camera wherever I go. As you might imagine, this has resulted in an ever-expanding photo library and plenty of story inspiration. Over the holidays, I took some time to look through all those images of people, places and beautiful things, and chose a few favourites to share. (Click to enlarge.)

Apple blossoms at Colonel Samuel Smith Park on Lake Ontario in Toronto. I love the way the focus "pops" on this one. And the colours of spring!

This male Mallard duck, kept a close eye on me as he paddled. I realized later that his mate was sleeping nearby, perfectly camouflaged by beach pebbles. I can't help but smile when I see those little orange feet and the reflected sparkle of sun-warmed water on his breast.  

Old man turtle found a sunny spot to lounge by the pond in the conservatory at Centennial Park in Toronto. Just look at that smug expression. Turtles play an important part in Rock Solid, so I'm a real sucker for a guy in a handsome shell.

This gorgeous blue heron was fishing in the Grand River in Cambridge, Ontario while I lunched with a friend at a riverside restaurant. He did eventually catch a little fish and gobble it down. Not far away, this fisher woman kept him company. She didn't seem to be having much luck, though. 

No filters on this photo - that's exactly how the river looked. Fast water and lots of reflection. I love the effect!

Lake Ontario at the Village of Wellington in Prince Edward County. A storm blew through the night before and remnant winds and waves made walking a bit wild. My favourite beach weather!

Purple mystery flowers. That's not botanical, it really is a mystery. If anyone can identify this lovely plant, please let me know in the comments. Not native to my part of the world, this was taken in the tropical house at Toronto's Centennial Park Conservatory. UPDATE, January 8, 2016: Thanks to blog visitor Bec and Facebook commenter Ian who identified this lovely plant as Duranta Sapphire Showers.

I snapped several photos of this handsome Ring-billed Gull at Long Branch Park in Toronto. I like the movement in this shot and call it "on patrol". He seems to be marching to his own drummer.

No collection of favourites would be complete without a portrait of himself, Sam the Cat. Here, he's intently focussed on something only he can see. Fierce concentration. (Spooky.)

Lake Ontario on a sunny winter day. I marvel at how swans, ducks and other water fowl seem so unruffled by cold. This photo captured a drop of water just as it fell from the swan's beak. Elegant profile.

Back to Centennial Park Conservatory for this last image from 2015. The Christmas flower show featured spectacular displays of poinsettias but my eye was drawn to this glorious candy cane amaryllis.

My photo goals for 2016 are (1) to seek the unusual and (2) to cultivate patience. The patience part will, I hope, result in a few more successful bird photos. Thus far, I've been mostly foiled by their tendency to watch me point and focus, then flit away (laughing) just as I click the shutter. Maybe I'll have more luck if I pick my spot and settle in quietly to wait and watch. Well... worth a try.

Wishing you a 2016 full of beautiful things.

Permalink to this post: photos of 2015

stillpoint is the blog of Canadian author Cheryl Cooke Harrington

  

all that and more...

I recently had the pleasure of doing an in-depth interview about my life and travels, how my writing journey began, and, of course, books, books, books. 

Please join me over at Clean Romance Reviews for everything you (n)ever wanted to know about Cheryl Cooke Harrington. 


And, once you've discovered all my secrets, I hope you'll stay to browse the Clean Romance Reviews site. If you enjoy reading "romances that curl your toes but won't make you blush", it's a great place to discover your next favourite book.

Cheers!

    

walking between the pages

On my travels this fall, I wandered into the small Ontario town of St. Marys. Even though I was positive I'd never visited before, the feeling of homecoming as I drove down the main street was strong enough to raise goosebumps. 

Crossing the Thames River bridge, into St. Marys, Ontario

I stopped to explore "The Stonetown" - so called because of its many lovely old buildings made of limestone from a local quarry - and suddenly I knew. This was the real-world version of Riverdale, the small quarry town Anne Norman and I had created for our novel, Rock Solid. And there came the goosebumps again. It was like walking into the pages of our book.





"Main Street, Riverdale" - Rock Solid







"She craned her neck to see around the horribly overgrown hedge of Chinese elm
that hid his house from the street. Good. No sign of the shiny black car." - Rock Solid
 





"Wandering leisurely through Street's backyard and along the riverbank, Rachel was charmed by the peaceful setting. Vivid images of its eventual transformation crowded her mind as she carefully measured distances and scribbled notes on important features and interesting plants. This would someday be a very special place, she thought, anxious to begin her sketches and see the project under way." - Rock Solid
 





"Riverdale Place" - Rock Solid
 





Town Hall in The Stonetown, St. Marys
 



My unexpected ramble through St. Marys is a pleasure to remember - it's a town I'll forever imagine as the face of Riverdale. For more information about the real-life Stonetown, visit their web site at townofstmarys.com.

Rock Solid by Cheryl Cooke Harrington and Anne Norman is available from Montlake Romance in hardcover, paperback, and for your Kindle.