About

This blog is a celebration of novel, novel characters!

I love reading novels, and as an artist I know a great exercise to stretch one's illustration skills is to portray characters from a description in a book. This blog is a challenge to myself to do just that so I'll be posting illustrations from whatever book I'm currently reading. Feel free to add comments and send me your fan art for these great titles too!

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Landon & Piper from Submerged by Dani Pettrey

Having just read Dani’s first book, “Submerged,” I immediately started in on her next book, “Shattered” which continues with the lives of the McKenna clan and their friends just a few months later. I thoroughly enjoyed, “Submerged” and am happy to share that I liked “Shattered” even better!

It was great to have Cole and Bailey, stars of the first book, also have an active role in this one, with the relationship for the characters that will star in the third book (Gage & Darcy) getting a kick start as well. I absolutely love how Dani has built up the lives of her characters in this way. Their overlapping stories, weaving together as it is in real in life. By the time I finished “Submerged” I was chopping at the bit for Piper & Landon’s story, thankfully Dani had kindly sent me copies of both so I already had it on hand. Dani, you’ve got me hooked! I can’t wait to read your next book, “Stranded.”


So, back to “Shattered,” the story takes place in the winter over the holidays so it would be a great one for a cold winter’s night, or if you need to cool off, one for a little “Christmas in July.”  But don’t let me give you the impression that it’s all candy canes and sugar plumbs, once again there’s a mystery surrounding a murder with a cold-blooded killer at large.  Not to mention, the wrong man behind bars.  It’s up to Piper and Landon to discover the truth in order to absolve Piper’s somewhat estranged brother Reef, of the murder charges.  Will they be able to find the proof they need in time?  Dun-dun-dun!



Piper’s problem is Landon, and Landon’s problem is, he wants to kiss Piper.



Piper & Landon’s story is great.  It’s always fun to have a couple characters who think they have each other figured out suddenly realizing they don’t.  Before the start of the book Landon has already recognized his changing feelings towards Piper, but true to life, it isn’t easy for him to express himself.  While Landon struggles with fear and doubt, Piper remains happily clueless at first to the depth of her own feelings towards him.  Landon’s inner struggle makes him exceptionally likeable, but right from the get-go Piper is one of the most likeable characters you’ll find in any story.  She’s perky, spunky, bright, athletic, but also tender-hearted and loyal.  Definitely the kind of girl you’d want for a best friend.  I won’t add too much more about Landon, but I did find a great spotlight on his character on the Fiction Hero blog, so if you’re so inclined, check it out.

Fiction Hero spotlight- Landon Grainger

“Shattered,” was a hard story to put down and I finished it pretty quickly.  There was a good balance of action vs. romance.  The great plot to keep the story moving and true depth of character to keep you emotionally invested.  I highly recommend it.


There's quiet a bit about snowboarding in the book, so here's Piper ready to hit the slopes!


If you haven't visited it, Dani has a fun pinterest page up with photos to go along with “Shattered.”

4 comments:

  1. Monica, I LOVED your sketch. And thanks for the mention. I would LOVE to see you sketch Michael and Angel from Redeeming Love.

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    1. Thanks Nancy! I meant to give you a head's up that I was linking to your blog, but since I was negligent I'm glad you noticed it anyway! I love the concept for yours. Glad you have Carl Richards on there! I love the kind of heroes that may not seem like the heroic type at first, but rise to the occasion. I'll put Redeeming Love on my reading list so I can post about it! So far I've only read Francine's Mark of the Lion series, which was amazing, I want to post on that sometime in the future too.

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    2. Sweet! I really enjoyed that series. Not too surprisingly book 3 was my fave. When you run across a great hero, PLEASE let me know. I've got a nominate button on my site. I like seeing your art. I've learned to appreciate book blogs that are a little "different" in a good way like ours so I'm thrilled to have found you.
      Best,

      NK

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    3. Will definitely let you know when I come across a great hero. ;) I read all 3 of the Mark of the Lion series straight through. After such a satisfying end to the first story arch in book 2 I was thinking things might pewter out by the 3rd, boy was I wrong! I still find myself thinking about Atretes' story.

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