Thursday night I saw my author interview was posted at Romance Junkies. Brooke asked me some fun questions, like what my favorite comfort food is, favorite spice, and what I would do if someone left me $5,000 in an envelope on my doorstep. And I wish that would happen! Click here if you should want to read this interview.

Another thing happened this week, Sherry reviewed my book, NEVER THE SAME, for My Book Cravings review site. Sherry happens to also live in Ohio. Here is a snippet of her review and link for the whole review:

LINK

“Ms. Craver has written a very poignant, emotional story. This story is bittersweet as Tori and Kim try to come to grips with being survivors of a plane crash where so many others died. Both wonder why God spared their lives. They know he must have a special plan for them and both vow to make changes in their lives for the better. This is a book filled with struggle, pain, tears and happiness. This story builds to an emotional climax that will leave you breathless, as you realize second chances are God’s way of making us realize what is really important in our lives. And sometimes things are “never the same”.

Rating: 4 Roses

Work in Progress Update:

I’m probably not going to meet my goal of finishing the first 100 pages of my new book by July 4th. I’m on page 75. I had to devote time to promo stuff plus laundry, shopping and cleaning. Also I revised my ebook, How To Have A Profitable Preschool Without The Hassle, since Angela, my publisher, wants to put this book in print. I’m excited! Oh well, I’m hoping to at least finish Chapter Six. I’m having lots of fun writing this chapter.

If you leave a comment here at my blog during the month of July, I’m going to do a book giveaway. More about that soon.

Today visit Rachelle’s blog, Stifled Squeal. She’s featuring me and posting an interview, blurb, reviews and excerpt of No Greater Loss. If you leave a comment, you have a chance to win a free download of my inspirational romance. Rachelle has a lot of other giveaways. If you post a comment anytime, you’ll be entered into her monthly drawing for all kinds of prizes!

Hope to see you at her blog and click here!

Yesterday another review was posted for one of my books. I was happy to see I received 4 Kisses from Two Lips Reviews for my mainstream, NEVER THE SAME. Here is a snippet of it:

“Diane Craver tells an emotionally charged story that describes what many survivors go through and it just melted my heart as I was so involved with the characters and wondered how it would end. Never The Same is an excellent novel and it made me think what I would do in their place as each person has to make life altering decisions. While it is light on the sexual content, Never The Same is an excellent read and I highly recommend it as we all need to remember what life is all about!”

By Alisha, Reviewer

If you want to read the whole review, here is the link.

This week I joined an author and reader group geared to the sweeter heat and style of writing. Their name is SWEETER ROMANTIC NOTIONS. Here is their philosophy,”This means you WILL find writers here who can wrap a plot tight enough to keep you reading until 3am. Stories that give you that final sigh of enjoyment when the guy gets the girl- or the girl gets the guy! Books that give you passion and love and energy without being graphic. Sex is a great point in many stories, but is not the point of this group.” Diana Castilleja is the Author/Owner/Moderator of this group. And I’m thankful that Dayna Hart, fellow Samhain author, mentioned it at our Samhain’s Author Chat loop because I like having a place where people think graphic language is not necessary in a romance. Dayna does the website and it is gorgeous.

Here are some links for this group:

SWEETER ROMANTIC NOTIONS NEWS BLOG
SWEETER ROMANTIC NOTIONS AUTHOR BLOG

I did get some writing done today on my new WIP so I’m pleased about it. My goal is to have 100 pages done by July 4th. I just started page 67. Do you think I’ll meet my goal?

Yesterday turned out to be an awesome day. My friend, Stacia Wolf, emailed me about a review for my inspirational romance, NO GREATER LOSS, on the Samhain cafe. She included the link to the review site. At first I was afraid to click on it to read the review. My fears quickly disappeared when I did and saw the reviewer gave my book 5 hearts. Of course, I didn’t waste any time emailing my poor family. I email them all the time about my reviews and just about everything pertaining to my writing career. That’s just the way I am. I can’t keep it bottled up inside of me but want to share good news immediately. Then I emailed other author friends. They are also so supportive. I’m definitely blessed!

I did have to settle down and cook dinner. Oh well, life does go on. But in case, you want to read my review, here it is and if you’re a skimmer like me, don’t you dare skip over the last paragraph. I think I’ll memorize it. I know. I need to get a life. Or work on my new book.

No Greater Loss
Diane Craver
Inspirational romance
Available from Samhain Publishing

Dr. Jennifer Hunter at 33 has already lived one lifetime. Fifteen years ago, her husband was killed in a motorcycle accident and their 8-month-old son died following his second heart surgery. Although she had moved on with her life, she had never forgiven herself for their deaths, blaming herself, and refusing to even consider marrying again.
Luke Brunsman was a contractor who, among other projects, specialized in remodeling old homes. His late wife was a super model who died with breast cancer after aborting their baby to keep from messing up her body. This was an anguishing problem that Luke was dealing with. He met Jennifer in a little country store near their houses and together they delivered a baby boy. When the owner, Harry, tried to encourage them getting together, Jennifer was not only uninterested, but borderline rude about it. However, Luke was very interested.

Even when Jennifer agrees to hire Luke to restore her home, she fought the powerful attraction she had to him. Their friendship evolved into dinner each night while he was working on her house, occasional trips (dates) to sports events and movies and a few kisses. She fought her attraction, even told Luke about her late husband and son, and told him that she could never remarry. God meant her to be alone. Luke didn’t believe that but backed off, in the beginning, enough to keep from scaring her anymore.

Ms. Diane Craver presents a fascinating story about a couple who have secrets needing to be revealed, a passion that needs to be explored, and an incredible ending that is not expected. The end result may be anticipated, but the myriad of circumstances which the couple encounter, together and alone, just adds to the incredibility of this couple finding each other. I heartedly recommend this book to anyone. Don’t allow the “inspirational” category to mark this off your list; there is plenty of loving interaction to hold your interest! This is definitely a keeper!

Overall rating: 5 Hearts (their little hearts are cute but I can’t get them to transfer to this page)

Sensuality rating: Mildly sensual

Reviewer: Brenda Talley, The Romance Studio
June 18, 2007

I have a pet peeve about book covers. I still read books where the hair color of the main character is not accurate on the cover. Several months ago I read a book published by a big New York publisher and the artist gave the girl black hair. It should have been blonde. The only thing I could figure is they didn’t want both characters on the cover to have the same color of hair. The guy in the book is also blond.

I just finished reading a Harlequin Presents book by Carole Mortimer. I love her books but the same thing. The color is wrong for the guy on the cover. The artist has the guy’s hair black when the description in the book is “golden blond and molasses.” The heroine’s red hair color is accurate.

Why don’t they get the hair color right on the book covers? I know I had to fill out physical descriptions of my main characters on my art forms to the artists at Samhain Publishing. Fortunately, my characters have the right color of hair on my covers.