It is
difficult to imagine that this is only A J Andersen’s second book. As with Finding
Faye, Andersen knows how to hit all the right notes.
The
relationship between Ana and X is sizzling. At first, I had a little difficulty
with the way she left him but getting into the story, it all falls into place.
Neither Analise nor Xavier had a traditional upbringing. Both carry a lot of
baggage from the parents. The fact that they are such strong, caring people
despite the monsters that raised them is an awesome testament to their
character.
Family isn’t
just blood, it is the people you choose to be in your corner. The people who
have your back when all hell is breaking loose. Travis and Blake, and the men
and women of K and S Securities are finding a home in Vegas with Xavier
Cerelli, and his chosen people. Faye and Ana are bringing together a group of
women who will be the strength and backbone of this new family. Bonded together
by their desire to take down the older Cerelli gang, these men and women prove
they are not only survivors, but they will thrive even in the shadow of evil.
The relationships, passion and action keep this story moving and leaves the reader wanting to know what happens next. A J Andersen is a new author on the rise. Y’all will want to put her books at the top of your TBR pile.
Finding Faye is A J’s debut novel. YES, her very
first novel. I debated whether it deserved a four or five-star rating. I mean, if
I give her a five, what does she have to look forward to? If I give her a four,
does that mean I didn’t like the story? No, actually, I believe anything three
and above is decent. Three meaning, it’s average. It was good but not
memorable. Four means it was really good but not perfect, not exactly what I as
a reader was looking for. Hmm, so how do you judge a book that is different than
you expected but not in a bad way.
I thoroughly
enjoyed this story. There were a couple of things that brought me out of the
fiction world briefly, but it was brief, and I soon found myself back with
Travis and Faye.
A J did
something I feel is very difficult for a writer to do, she wrote the whole book
in two-part first-person point of view with very little narrative. I felt it
could have used more dialogue and less in the character’s head but in first
person, that is what you get. She kept me on the edge of my seat and in the
moment. I cannot believe this is her first book, it was very well done.
The
relationship between Travis and Faye was believable but at times a bit too
sweet. He seemed to forget she wasn’t a child. I think that’s understandable
given their past, but it would pull me out of the story a bit. Then there were
things that A J did so well, that I easily forgave anything else. The strength
and courage of Faye’s character is so real, we see her fear and the little
things she does to protect herself. From the things Faye does without because
she is in hiding to her strength of character as she tries to keep from having
to sell her body to survive. You cannot help but root for this character and
hope that she and Travis find their happy ever after.
As a writer,
what I felt was missing was dialogue and narrative voice. As a reader, I had no
real complaints. A J Andersen’s debut novel Finding Faye was a
fast-paced read and if she’s this good now I cannot wait to see what’s in store
for the rest of her series. If you are looking for a new romantic suspense
author, check out A J Andersen’s K and S Securities Series, I know I’ll be
reading more!
A J Andersen, author, happy wife, firefighter mom, book reviewer
Current release: Finding Faye
Upcoming release: Acquiring Analise
I met A J through a Romance Loop on Instagram. I meet
the coolest people online. A J is a debut author of romantic suspense.
Welcome to my Creekside Café. You describe yourself as
a happy wife and firefighter mom…How many years married and tell me who is a
firefighter?
I’m also a firefighter mom, my youngest son is a
volunteer firefighter and first responder, as well as on the water search and
rescue, and land search and rescue teams. We live in a rural area. He’s also a
diver for underwater recovery.
AJ: My husband and
I have been together for 21 years. Married for 16. We have one son and he is
both a volunteer firefighter and first responder with our rural fire department
and a wildland firefighter for the US Forest Service.
Sherri: Your son
is probably like mine, living in a rural community, they have to wear a lot of
hats. Whenever anyone asks for volunteers for more training, my son is one of
the first to step forward. He recently spoke at our local writers’ group and he
is the muse for my upcoming novel, Red Steel.
I just started reading Finding Faye, it is a
fabulous story. I can’t believe this is your debut novel. Tell our readers
about it?
AJ: Finding Faye is the story of childhood friends (with a
large age gap) who become separated due to circumstances beyond their
control. There’s suspense and excitement, as well as love and sexy times
when they find themselves reunited.
Sherri: You write reviews,
how would you review your own story?
AJ: Oh, cheese and crackers! I have such a hard
time writing reviews.
AJ Andersen introduces her K&S
Securities Series with Travis and Faye. Childhood friends despite a significant
age gap. The pair keep in touch into Faye’s teen years when all hell breaks
loose in her world.
One short letter reaches him while
serving active duty overseas, and though he wants to be there for her he can’t
just leave… and by the time he can, he’s too late.
For several years, Finding Faye
becomes his main prerogative, even while building a life out of the military
and a successful business, he does it all with the goal of helping the girl who
he cared about like a little sister.
When they reconnect, their worlds
collide in the best, and scariest of ways. Taken by the mob, Faye needs Travis’
help and this time he swears he will not let her down
Finding Faye is AJ Andersen’s debut romantic suspense, it is a fast
paced, never let you go ride. It sets you up with great supporting characters
that you will want to take the time to get to know!
Sherri: A
very good description, and harder to write than the novel itself.
I love the cover of Finding Faye, did you
design it yourself?
AJ: Talia at Book
Cover Kingdom designed my cover! She is amazing and I highly recommend that
anyone looking for a designer check her out.
Sherri: What
are some of the things you have learned since publishing your first novel that
you had no idea about before?
AJ: Lol! This
whole process was new to me! I didn’t know anything at all! I have been
fortunate to meet some awesome people along the way who were willing to share
their knowledge and that has been everything! The funniest thing I learned is
that I never knew that the rules had changed regarding double spacing after a
period. Let me tell you, finding all those double spaces during my final
edit was a nightmare!
Sherri: You
have a great presence on social media, have you worked in marketing or in the
computer industry?
AJ: NO! I’ve literally been winging it since the day I
discovered there was this thing called bookstagram! I have worked my entire
adult life in healthcare.
Sherri: You
read a lot of books and do reviews on your blog, what are your favorite genres,
your favorite authors?
AJ: I’m pretty
much a sucker for romance. I LOVE a happily ever after, even if getting to it
is painful. I have way too many favorites to list, but I would love to meet
Meghan March and Melissa Foster!
Sherri: Who
or what has been the greatest influence on your own writing?
AJ: This is a hard
one. I would have to just say that reading has been my biggest influence. That
and my relationship with my husband. Times get tough and love is often
the only thing that holds things together.
Sherri: Have
you always been a writer?
AJ: Yep. I
neglected it for a while… years really, but I always said someday I will write
a book. So, I finally did it!
Sherri: What’s
your next creative project?
AJ: I’m currently editing the second book in my K & S Securities Series. For anyone who has read Finding Faye, it will be Ana and Xavier’s story. I have 2 more stories in the series started and notes for at least 2 more. Each story will focus on a different couple, but all / or most of the usual characters will be involved. They DO need to be read in order to get the full story.
Sherri: Where
do you see your writing career in five years?
AJ: I will still be writing. I know that much. I’m having
way too much fun with it to stop. I hope to be at least selling enough of my
books to cover my overhead, but either way I should still be around!
Sherri: Thank
you so much of joining A J and I today at the Café. Check out A J’s social
media sites and don’t forget to look for Finding Faye on Amazon.
Since she was a
teenager AJ Andersen has plotted and planned to write romance, but life got in
the way… until one day the stories in her head woke her up in the middle of the
night and she started writing them down. On her phone. For months. Until she
broke down and bought a laptop of her own.
She is a sucker for
nice guys and the women who love them! There are enough jerks out here in the
real world and she just doesn’t want to give them any space in her writing. The
bad guys get to be jerks, her heroes will always be good men who will go to any
lengths to love and protect the lovely women they give their hearts to.
When she isn’t writing, AJ is busy traveling with her husband of 21 years, caring for her menagerie of farm animals and tending her garden and a jungle of house plants in the Pacific Northwest.
sherrilhollister.com/Suspense She Writes Bookstore Dismiss
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