eARC REVIEW + AUTHOR INTERVIEW : Saving London by: Taylor Dawn

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review and all opinions within this review are my own.*

Author: Taylor Dawn
Publisher: Booktrope Publishing 
Release Date: June 9, 2015
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Synopsis: 

The List. That Signified Finality.
The Journey. That Would Span The Globe.
The Sacrifice. That Would Decide The Outcome. 
The Choice. That Could Unleash Evil On Earth. 
The End Is Only The Beginning...

“You have terminal cancer.”
London Patterson, a seemingly healthy young woman, had her entire life ahead of her. That was until four little words brought everything to a screeching halt. As the shock and grief begin to fade, London decides to map out her last year and embark on an epic journey to complete a bucket list. She wants to do the things she’s been afraid to do in her life, step out of her self-contained box, and see the world. What she didn’t expect was for a mysterious stranger named Adam to breeze into her life like a breath of fresh air. 
Adam offers to help London complete her list on one condition…that she sees it through to the end. Agreeing on those terms, the two set out on an adventure of a lifetime. But London soon realizes that Adam isn’t quite…human. Along their journey odd occurrences happen that cause London to question who or what Adam is and why he’s helping her. 


Follow London as she checks off her bucket list in this inspiring new Urban Fantasy novel from Taylor Dawn.




Review:


London Patterson has just been told by her doctor that she has a terminal form of cancer and with no treatment options available she has about a year to live. As soon as London leaves the doctors office she decides to take what limited time she has left to make and complete a bucket list instead of sitting at home and letting the cancer run her life.

 In the process of starting her bucket list, London runs into a man named Adam who offers to help her with her list, but only if she agrees to follow through with everything and completes it. Adam pretty well takes over her list but seems to have connections everywhere and unlimited funds. A few times she questions his sanity, where he talks about angels and is very cryptic about who he really is, but she always feel calm and very safe with him so she tries to forget about that. Although London and Adam face a few obstacles along the way they are taken on an epic journey to amazing places but also on a journey of self discovery at epic proportions.

I honestly wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading Saving London and found it was a pleasantly refreshing read. Taylor Dawn has spun a story filled with humor, adventure, compassion, and growth. 

London is a spunky and snarky young woman who has been dealt a bad hand in her young life. Not only has she just learned that she is dying with cancer but she's had it rough her whole life growing up in the foster care system. She has a very sarcastic attitude that she uses to keep people from getting too close to her. 

Adam is a very courteous and patient guy, and he kind of needs to be with London's personality. He shows up in London's life at the exact moment he's needed. I really liked Adam's character and personality. I found him easy to like even if he was holding out about his life. 

Caine is the epitome of creepy stalker dude. He gave off bad vibes from the moment he's first introduced into the story. He seems to try and get in the way and cause constant troubles as London tries to complete her list. 

  Taylor Dawn will take you on an adventure full of personal discovery and growth, humor, and compassion that travels the world. I was so wrapped up and invested in what happened with London's story that I didn't want to put it down. I feel this is a book that everyone from middle school age and up would enjoy and highly recommend giving Saving London a try.

About the Author

  Taylor Dawn began writing as an item to check off her bucket list. After putting words on paper, she decided that being an author was where she needed to be. She resides on a farm in southern Illinois with her husband, son and a plethora of animals. Taylor is a huge kid at heart. She loves playing practical jokes, challenging her son to a game of Super Mario and rarely rolls out of bed before noon. She enjoys dancing, is perpetually clumsy and has a horrible green thumb. Taylor believes that if you work hard, you must play even harder. 

To learn more visit her at:

Blog

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Goodreads

Amazon Author Page

Find the Book

Goodreads

Amazon 

Author Interview

Hello Taylor, and Welcome to Mountain Rhinestones. I appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to answer a few questions.

1. London is a very spunky and snarky character, did you fashion her personality after anyone?

If ever there was a character that was a direct reflection of myself, London would be her. At least half of her bucket list is actually my bucket list, her quick wit, sassy comments and determination are all a huge part of who I am. I’ve never allowed myself to open up and be used to this extent as a character in my own work. Sure, characters have shared traits of mine, just bits and pieces really. But London, she’s special. London is me. It wouldn’t have been fair to give her only part of who I am, she needed all of it to be who she is.

2. At times I found myself getting emotional while reading Saving London, did you get emotional while writing it?

Getting emotional is something I find myself doing with most of my projects. But this one, even more so. There were several personal factors involved while I wrote this book, things that I cannot discuss. But they helped shape everything. There’s always a war waging in the background of an author’s life. We use that as inspiration to create vulnerability in the story. So many times I had to step away from the pages and literally cry. I found there were times when I cried so hard while writing, that I couldn’t see the screen in front of me. I laughed at the funny parts, became aggravated when London was being a brat, and genuinely fell in love with my own story. I can honestly say I’ve never loved a story as much as this one. It even made me take a step back and think about not waking up in the morning. Would my life have been complete? Did I do my job on this earth the way I was supposed to? Was I happy? My own book taught me a lesson. Each and every day is precious. Spend those days loving, laughing and living.

3. Will there be a chance to learn more about Adam's background or future?

This question makes me giggle and here’s why…Saving London is a stand alone book. Or should I say it was a stand alone book. Before Saving London was even completely written, the follow-up book was being started. Adam is an amazing character with secrets. There were tiny clues left behind in Saving London that some will pick up on, and some won’t. But when you find out where Adam’s road has taken him, you might find yourself saying “No way!” I chose to write a second book because there was more story to tell, more that needed to be revealed. Not for the purpose of lining my pockets. So yes, Adam’s story will be out later this year.

4. How would you describe an average writing day?

An average writing day is one of the most chaotic things you will ever see. I don’t sit at a desk and write, I have a recliner that is my ‘throne’ if you will. I am easily distracted. Most times that I sit down with a solid plan to write, it all goes to hell in a matter of minutes. I write mostly at night, after midnight. No rhyme or reason, it just suits me best. As for structure to my writing routine, I don’t have one. I like the chaos and un-organization, it fits my personality best.

5. Do you have any weird or quirky writing habits or rituals?

This is going to sound super weird but I can’t write with pants on. And no, I’m not sitting around in my undies. I have to be wearing shorts for some strange reason. I complain that pants stifle creativity. I’m more than likely being bratty and crazy about the pants situation, but it seems to be working.

6. What advice would you give an aspiring author?

For all aspiring authors out there…go outside, find a brick wall and bang your head against it about 3,000 times. Once you’re bloody and bruised, come back inside and begin to write. If there is still more blood on your head than the pages of your book, delete everything and repeat said process again.

There was a famous quote somewhere that said “if you want to be a writer, then write”. I couldn’t agree more. But if you want to be a writer and you aren’t willing to slice yourself open and show people your heart, you will never be a writer.

Accept criticism. It won’t kill you. It won’t break you unless you give it the power to. Listen to what people are saying. My first books were complete crap. Dreadful things that didn’t deserve to see the light of day. But I took my beatings, learned some valuable lessons along the way and now I have something I’m so very proud of. But the sweetest thing is, I’ll never be an expert. I will always have something to learn and that is perfectly fine by me. I have a huge motto in my life “Do something for the sheer love of doing it”. And for me, I love writing.

Thanks Taylor for taking the time to chat with me and for stopping by Mountain Rhinestones.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review and all opinions within this review are my own.*

(c) 2015 Andrea Hatfield All Rights Reserved