All of my titles

As a new year is about to dawn, let's review all of my books, so you know what you have to look forward to reading in 2016.

Listed in Alphabetical Order:

Amnesie

What happens to love when life changes? Two women in love, one debilitating change...
http://www.amazon.com/Amnesie-Lauren-Shiro-ebook/dp/B007NJQZZA/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8



First Christmas

A heartwarming holiday short story - Corrine and Darryl haven't spent much time together, with Darryl away in the military. Now, Darryl is coming home. Corrine has changed... grown... become a woman he barely knows... a woman who amazes him at every turn. He's coming home to their first home for their first Christmas... together, at last.
http://www.amazon.com/First-Christmas-Holiday-Short-Story-ebook/dp/B00PPOZD2G/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8



Imperfect/Impeccable

                                                                                

Carol Mathers: born a sickly child, in a home fraught with undercurrents that threaten to sweep away any chance she might have for a normal life. Now in her mid-thirties, she's a highly sought-after IT guru in St. Louis. She has built a great life for herself with her partner, Alexandria, even though the two face prejudice as lesbians, and as an interracial couple -fighting tragedy and sometimes, finding triumph. During her tumultuous life, Carol discovers that she has acquired AIDS as a result of a childhood transfusion from the dark period of time before AIDS was widely known... or understood, not even by the medical profession. Now, the two women face even more obstacles, prejudice, and a strange, new life as AIDS patients. Carol learns just how much her chaotic past has affected her, and how she can never really escape it, even as she tries to move on with her life. An unexpected event creates even more pain and tragedy in Carol's life, and causes her to wonder about the meaning of and purpose of her own life... or if there is any purpose at all... 

(Impeccable) Carol - abandoned - waiting...for what, she couldn't know. She couldn't see that there was more life waiting for her. Carol is forced to face the demons of her past as well as begin to face life without Alex. Struggling to make sense of it all, Carol experiences her new life and all of the highs and lows that come with that life.

http://www.amazon.com/Imperfect-Lauren-Shiro-ebook/dp/B00KXHUN84/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
http://www.amazon.com/Impeccable-Lauren-Shiro-ebook/dp/B00KXNR1LA/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8



Loving Her:

The Ballerina

A southern, redheaded, pickup driving lesbian ballerina? You bet! Meet Liz: a southern belle with flair. Vivacious, eclectic and graceful, she is unique to say the least. The first in the series of Loving Her stories, Liz’s story is the kind that stays with you long after you’ve closed the book.
http://www.amazon.com/Ballerina-Loving-Her-Book-ebook/dp/B00EP01SP2/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8


The Cop

Donna White is one tough cop. Behind the badge, though, is a very sweet, sad, sensitive soul. Truly a woman alone, Donna is simply trying to navigate her way through life. Who is Donna? She is dedicated, determined, distinctive and deep. Donna’s rich and touching story is second in the Loving Her series.
http://www.amazon.com/Cop-Loving-Her-Book-ebook/dp/B00FW3VWF2/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

The Mechanic

Linda - her name means beautiful... After facing rejection from her parents because she is a lesbian, Linda didn’t feel beautiful... she felt lost and alone.
As a skilled mechanic, Linda built her business... Her love life was a different matter. Until Katie...
http://www.amazon.com/Mechanic-Loving-Her-Book-ebook/dp/B00GMPBKS8/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8


The Model

She's exotic. She's beautiful. She's talented. She's unique. She's Stephania. A young successful model who started from nothing, she has experienced all the ups and downs of life. Never one to be kept down, she persists through life's trials and reaches for the fairytale ending she has always hoped for. Stephania's emotional journey is the fourth story in the Loving Her series.
http://www.amazon.com/Model-Loving-Her-Book-ebook/dp/B00GVLL3NA/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8


The Peace Officer

Brynn Racanelli is a daughter, a sister, a friend, a partner, a police officer, and so much more. Devoted to serving others through her police work, and to helping her sister who battles chronic Lyme Disease, she is the the poster child of selflessness. But she does have wants, needs, hopes, and dreams. After the sad ending of a long term relationship, she wonders if she will ever be able to get what she wants. Will fate finally bring her the life and love she’s always dreamed of?
http://www.amazon.com/Peace-Officer-Loving-Her-Book-ebook/dp/B00ICQWXCW/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8


The Shelter Director

Shy, quiet, humble – Jen is the kind of person that would give you the shirt off her back and then ask you what else you need. She may not be a movie star, but she’ll treat you like one. She works diligently to help save cats. She sacrifices her life and stability to accommodate her partner. She gives until it hurts, and her reward is a devastating diagnosis. What will her life become?
http://www.amazon.com/Shelter-Director-Loving-Her-Book-ebook/dp/B00JCI6CXA/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8


The Vet Student

One night changed everything for Katie. From that moment on, her life was propelled forward like a rocket. Determined to escape the small town and her religious, stifling parents, Katie works hard to get into veterinary school... in Philadelphia.

Katie refused to let anything – or anyone – destroy her dream. Not even her own parents. Even in the face of danger, Katie held true to herself and her beliefs. She suffered many losses along the way, but she gained so much more. Tumultuous and tender, Katie’s story closes the Loving Her series... for now.
http://www.amazon.com/Vet-Student-Loving-Her-Book-ebook/dp/B00L5WJXCS/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8


The Writer

Everyone has that one friend; the mother of the group. Maria is that one friend; nurturing, wise, and with a spicy streak, Maria is the matriarch of the clan. An emotionally challenging family relationship that threatens to interfere with the love she'd given up ever finding again...with Stephania. Cerebral, emotional, and even sometimes comical, Maria’s story is the seventh in the Loving Her series.
http://www.amazon.com/Writer-Loving-Her-Book-ebook/dp/B00K6ZEAAU/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8



Pianissimo

Darryl and Corinne Richards purchase their first house. With Darryl’s army career coming to a close, they feel ready to settle down in Louisville, Kentucky. With impeccable timing, Darryl is sent on one final tour, leaving Corinne to live in this new house and new city alone. Overwhelmed, Corinne becomes reclusive, living a quiet, boring life with her cats as she adjusts to her new surroundings. The problem is: someone or some thing does not want her life to be either quiet or boring. And then there’s the creepy piano in the basement… There is more to that creepy, dilapidated piano and her new home than Corinne could ever imagine. Through highs and lows, twists and turns, she begins to understand that even the most softly played music is powerful – and that even soft realizations and quietly subtle changes can have a profound effect.
http://www.amazon.com/Pianissimo-Lauren-Shiro/dp/0692310819/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8



Trajectory

Joe Davis has spent the last four years of his life behind a turrent scope as a sniper for the Detroit PD's SWAT Team. A fateful call sends Joe and his team deep into the Detroit ghetto; and reminds him that there is more to life than what's on the other end of his gun.

Albeit short, this story is chock full of details and insights
into the life of a police SWAT officer.
http://www.amazon.com/Trajectory-Lauren-Shiro-ebook/dp/B004VS2GP4/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8



Unbreakable Hostage

Lareina Oliveira; she wants to share her passion for math. So it is back to school for Lareina… a tough Ph.D. program. A classmate is captivated by Lareina’s beauty and intelligence, and despite her repeated refusals to his attentions, he kidnaps her! Only her determination and wits can save her…
http://www.amazon.com/Unbreakable-Hostage-Lauren-Shiro/dp/0615902456/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Happy reading and happy new year!

Last WeWriWa of 2015!

It's Saturday night, which can mean only one thing: WeWriWa! This month, to celebrate the holidays, we will be reading excerpts from my short story, First Christmas. First Christmas is a follow up to Pianissimo. Darryl has finally returned home, and he and Corinne are celebrating their first Christmas as a civilian couple. Unbeknownst to Darryl, Corinne is still very fixated on the story of Agnes and Margaret, so we get to see how they celebrate Christmas as well. So, without further ado, let's WeWriWa!

Click www.wewriwa.com for more information and to see other 8 Sentence Sunday posts.

This post is part of an ongoing blog hop hosted by Weekend Writing Warriors. Every Sunday, participating authors post eight to ten sentences from a published work or even a WIP (work in progress). Then we hop to our fellow warriors’ blogs and check out all the fabulous fiction that’s happening! It's a great way to meet readers, writers, and your next favorite book!  :)

Background on the excerpt: We are reading Agnes' diary as she sums up Christmas, and the meaning of the holiday. Snippet in 10:

So many people struggle and try to find joy in their material possessions. For them, this purpose of this day is for them to acquire more things, and yet still feel empty inside. I am so fortunate to know better than that. It is wonderful to not be wrapped up in the intangible concepts of money and belongings. I should rather live in a full dairy barn with Margaret than to not have her but have an exorbitant amount of money and things. Holidays aren’t about things. They’re about people. The people we all know and love. The people in our lives whom we should celebrate. And I shall celebrate Margaret every day that I am alive.

Hope you liked it!

Happy reading, happy holidays, and have a happy and blessed new year!

Unbreakable Hostage for the Holidays

I cannot believe it's December 24th already! Where has the time gone?

It's crazy to think we're at the end of 2015, isn't it?! Time goes by WAY too quickly!

Since the holidays are officially upon us, I thought it might be a good idea to look at my books as gifts for the readers on your list...or even yourself! ;)

This week, we'll look at my suspense novel, Unbreakable Hostage.

Unbreakable Hostage isn't a "who dunnit" type of suspense novel. Instead, it puts you right in the middle of the action. You wonder what is going to happen next, and if any of us are going to make it out alive.

Lareina Oliveira is a small, gorgeous, tenacious Hispanic woman. She is as smart as she is beautiful. She's an educator, but she finds her students' apathy depressing. So she decides to pursue her doctorate in math so that she can teach at the university level. In her class, she meets Tony Covelli, a rather awkward and somewhat creepy man. He clearly has an interest in her. Though she gently rejects him time and again, he clearly doesn't get the hint. In an act of desperation, he kidnaps her.

In Unbreakable Hostage, we are able to experience this story from Lareina's perspective, Tony's perspective, Lareina's roommate's and family's perspective, and Marc's, the missing persons detective assigned to her case.

This story will certainly keep you guessing as to what is going to happen next. Unbreakable Hostage is a dark and intense story sure to sweep up anyone who dares to open it and turn the page.

    Get your copy here

5 Stars

"I read this awhile ago and it sit fondly in my kindle awaiting my turn to read it one more time. It is a suspense story about a heroine who stays alive through wit, math and out smarting her kidnapper...as she sends clues and ends up saving herself and taking the books to a happy ending. I have read nearly all of Lauren's books and I always look forward to more books in the future. I highly recommend Lauren's book...it is a thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout your read." - L. Boritz

Lareina Oliveira; she wants to share her passion for math. So it is back to school for Lareina… a tough Ph.D. program. A classmate is captivated by Lareina’s beauty and intelligence, and despite her repeated refusals to his attentions, he kidnaps her! Only her determination and wits can save her…

More Holiday WeWriWas!

It's Saturday night, which can mean only one thing: WeWriWa! This month, to celebrate the holidays, we will be reading excerpts from my short story, First Christmas. First Christmas is a follow up to Pianissimo. Darryl has finally returned home, and he and Corinne are celebrating their first Christmas as a civilian couple. Unbeknownst to Darryl, Corinne is still very fixated on the story of Agnes and Margaret, so we get to see how they celebrate Christmas as well. So, without further ado, let's WeWriWa!

Click www.wewriwa.com for more information and to see other 8 Sentence Sunday posts.

This post is part of an ongoing blog hop hosted by Weekend Writing Warriors. Every Sunday, participating authors post eight sentences from a published work or even a WIP (work in progress). Then we hop to our fellow warriors’ blogs and check out all the fabulous fiction that’s happening! It's a great way to meet readers, writers, and your next favorite book!  :)

Background on the excerpt:
We are now watching Margaret and Agnes celebrate Christmas. They have just celebrated the holiday with Margaret's family. The two are having this discussion while heading off to bed.
Snippet in 9:

Margaret swished in place; her dress spun and twirled around her. “I love Christmas. I love our Christmases together."
     “As do I,” Agnes quietly replied. “You know, the holiday is so much more than gifts. It reminds us to love, appreciate and care for those we hold dear. It reminds us to not think of self, but rather to focus on those around us. Every day, I thank God for you. Every Christmas, I am reminded of how wonderful you really are.”


Hope you liked it!

Happy reading and happy holidays!

Imperfect and Impeccable for the holidays

I cannot believe it's December 17th!

It's crazy to think we're at the end of 2015 already, isn't it?! Time goes by WAY too quickly!

Since the holidays are officially upon us, I thought it might be a good idea to look at my books as gifts for the readers on your list...or even yourself! ;)

This week, we'll look at my powerhouse duo: Imperfect and Impeccable.

These two books tell the life story of a woman named Carol Mathers. We meet Carol on her twenty first birthday, when she's in college. We watch her grow, and blossom. We learn about her past, and walk with her through the present and future.

These books tell not only her story, but the story of her relationships. The severed relationship she has with her mother. The close relationship she shared with her father before he died suddenly and tragically. The relationship she forges with her partner, Alex. Her relationships with all of Alex's family members. We see everyone's humanness, and how that affects their relationships with each other.

Imperfect is Carol's perception of herself. Impeccable is her as her own final masterpiece.

Through ups and downs, thick and thin, we are with Carol every step of the way. It's like being with your best friend on a daily basis.

Imperfect and Impeccable are a set of powerful, life-changing books for readers looking for a story to touch their heart and change their mind.

Get your copies here

5 Stars

"I read this book from beginning to end in one sitting. It the sequel to 'Imperfect.' This book had many turns and surprises. I watched the characters grown and lived each page. I kept hoping for a positive ending for Carol in the book. I received a surprise ending that gave the book an added sense that life was moving on. I highly recommend the first book 'Imperfect,' and the book 'Impeccable,' by L E. Harvey. All books are autobiographical because you are present in your the words you write. Thank you Lauren for a very compelling and sad story that showed that life can go on in other ways and down new roads. I recommend both 'Imperfect and Impeccable.'" 

- L. Boritz

Still lots of holiday WeWriWa fun!

It's Saturday night, which can mean only one thing: WeWriWa! This month, to celebrate the holidays, we will be reading excerpts from my short story, First Christmas. First Christmas is a follow up to Pianissimo. Darryl has finally returned home, and he and Corinne are celebrating their first Christmas as a civilian couple. Unbeknownst to Darryl, Corinne is still very fixated on the story of Agnes and Margaret, so we get to see how they celebrate Christmas as well. So, without further ado, let's WeWriWa!

Click www.wewriwa.com for more information and to see other 8 Sentence Sunday posts.

This post is part of an ongoing blog hop hosted by Weekend Writing Warriors. Every Sunday, participating authors post eight sentences from a published work or even a WIP (work in progress). Then we hop to our fellow warriors’ blogs and check out all the fabulous fiction that’s happening! It's a great way to meet readers, writers, and your next favorite book!  :)

Background on the excerpt:
It's still early in the day, Corinne and Darryl just sat down for breakfast. The reality of his presence, but the absence of the rest of their families is hitting Corinne.
Snippet in 9:

Darryl sat across from Corinne. It was strange celebrating the holiday without their families. She felt a pang of sadness and solitude, but she loved the fact that Darryl was home, and he always would be.

“You alright, babe?” He interrupted her thoughts.

“Yeah,” she smiled. “Happy that you’re home.”

He reached across the table and gently caressed her hand. “Me too.”

Hope you liked it!

Happy reading and happy holidays!

Loving Her for the holidays

It's December 10th already!

It's crazy to think we're at the end of 2015 already, isn't it?! Time goes by WAY too quickly!

Since the holidays are officially upon us, I thought it might be a good idea to look at my books as gifts for the readers on your list...or even yourself! ;)

This week, we'll look at the Loving Her series.

The Loving Her series is a very unique series. Unlike Harry Potter or Twilight, the books can be read in any order. Each story is linear, and the series as a whole paints one giant, beautiful picture. However, each story is still unique, is able to stand on its own, and thus can be read in any order.

This series is about love and romance, but it's also about friendship, family, identity, and life. These stories and these characters are complex, as are their relationships. Just like we do in real life, these women wear many hats, and play many different roles.

The Loving Her series is a series of short stories unlike anything you've ever read before. You'll get to experience certain situations from different perspectives. You'll see just how tightly woven our lives are with those around us.

Love, laughter, loathing, lamentation, and life are what the Loving Her series is all about.

These books are for readers who want a more meaningful, more rich, deeper story, with true-to-life characters.

Get your copies here

5 Stars

In this series of stories, we meet a group of loving friends and couples. Each member of this group is diverse in personalities and abilities, but they are tied together by the common denominator - love.

WeWriWa: First Christmas

It's Saturday night, which can mean only one thing: WeWriWa! This month, to celebrate the holidays, we will be reading excerpts from my short story, First Christmas. First Christmas is a follow up to Pianissimo. Darryl has finally returned home, and he and Corinne are celebrating their first Christmas as a civilian couple. Unbeknownst to Darryl, Corinne is still very fixated on the story of Agnes and Margaret, so we get to see how they celebrate Christmas as well. So, without further ado, let's WeWriWa!

Click www.wewriwa.com for more information and to see other 8 Sentence Sunday posts.

This post is part of an ongoing blog hop hosted by Weekend Writing Warriors. Every Sunday, participating authors post eight sentences from a published work or even a WIP (work in progress). Then we hop to our fellow warriors’ blogs and check out all the fabulous fiction that’s happening! It's a great way to meet readers, writers, and your next favorite book!  :)

Background on the excerpt:
This is the opening of the story. It is early Christmas morning. Corinne is awake, enjoying the start of the day in solitude. Snippet in 8:

Corinne tightly held her coffee mug. It was forty two degrees out. Not cold enough for her. She pulled back the curtain and looked out the window. No white Christmas here. Not today, anyway. Corinne couldn’t help but to feel bummed by seeing green grass. It wasn’t anything like her childhood Christmases in Indiana. 


Hope you liked it!

Happy reading and happy holidays!

Pianissimo for the holidays

It's December!

It's crazy to think we're at the end of 2015 already, isn't it?! Time goes by WAY too quickly!

Since the holidays are officially upon us, I thought it might be a good idea to look at my books as gifts for the readers on your list...or even yourself! ;)

This week, we'll look at Pianissimo.

Pianissimo is multi-facited. First you have the story of Corinne, a lonely military wife. Just when she thinks she is done worrying about her husband being sent off, he goes on one final deployment. She finds herself lonely and depressed. She needs to discover herself, and to find peace in her solitude.

There is the paranormal aspect of Corinne's house. She and her husband, Darryl, bought the house right before that final deployment. It's an old house, chock full of stories and secrets. For as lonely as Corinne feels, she soon discovers that she's actually not alone.

Finally, there's the story of Agnes and Margaret. A love story. A life story. These two women lead extraordinary lives, and they leave a glorious trail of letters, photographs, and even a diary, so their legacy can live on.

Pianissimo is a story about women. It is a story about the strength of women, the resiliency of women, the determination of women, the capability of women, the enduring spirit of women. It is much a human story as it is a paranormal story and/or a love story.

For readers who love books with tremendous depth, palpable emotions, multiple elements, and a feel good story, Pianissimo is a great book!

Get your copy here!

4.5 Stars
Darryl and Corinne Richards purchase their first house. With Darryl’s army career coming to a close, they feel ready to settle down in Louisville, Kentucky. With impeccable timing, Darryl is sent on one final tour, leaving Corinne to live in this new house and new city alone. Overwhelmed, Corinne becomes reclusive, living a quiet, boring life with her cats as she adjusts to her new surroundings. The problem is: someone or some thing does not want her life to be either quiet or boring. And then there’s the creepy piano in the basement… There is more to that creepy, dilapidated piano and her new home than Corinne could ever imagine. Through highs and lows, twists and turns, she begins to understand that even the most softly played music is powerful – and that even soft realizations and quietly subtle changes can have a profound effect

Final WIP WeWriWa!

For this month, I am doing something I've never done before: snippets of an unpublished WIP. Up to this point, I've done samples of my work that are completed and available for purchase. For the month of November, I am giving you a sneak peek into a raw, unedited, incomplete piece. To boot, this is my first jab at a fantasy story.

So without further ado, let's WeWriWa!

Click www.wewriwa.com for more information and to see other 8 Sentence Sunday posts.

This post is part of an ongoing blog hop hosted by Weekend Writing Warriors. Every Sunday, participating authors post eight sentences from a published work or even a WIP (work in progress). Then we hop to our fellow warriors’ blogs and check out all the fabulous fiction that’s happening! It's a great way to meet readers, writers, and your next favorite book!  :)

The Tale of the Good Pirate, Robert (working title) is a story about a bird named Robert who fancies himself a pirate; he lives in a land called Locreya. It is the land of infinity: infinite possibilities, infinite opportunities, infinite positivity. Just as there is darkness in our world, there is darkness in Robert's world. It is a land called Mulrad. It is the land of misery, built on the tears of children. When three of his crew men are kidnapped and sent to Mulrad, Robert must find a way to save them, and to bring peace to both lands.

Background on the snippet: Desiree has been in Mulrad for a while. Robert sent her there to be his eyes and ears as he makes the way to rescue her and his three crew members. It was another miserable day in the land of misery, until it seemed the world was falling apart. A terrible earthquake and storm are ravaging Mulrad.

Snippet in 8:

Thunder started to crash. Never in my life have I heard such loud thunder. 

Even louder, were the screams of the trees. They were horrible shrieks. They shouted, and I could feel it in the pit of my stomach. They were guttural, blood curdling, and deafeningly loud. They sounded like horrific screams from children – they broke my heart. These were the worst sound.

I hope you liked it!

NaNoWriMo: The end is just the beginning!

Happy November, everyone! For many people November equals NaNoWriMo. National Novel Writing Month. It's a challenge to write a 50,000 word novel in one month. I want to take this opportunity to go through NaNo with you, and to look at the writing process in great detail.

It's the end of the month, so it's time to look at the end of NaNo and where we go from here.

The end on NaNo is not the end of your story. In fact, it's just the beginning.

                                           

We've talked about quantity and quality, and the importance of editing and polishing your piece. The end of NaNo marks the beginning of that.

But I don't want to beat a dead horse. I'm just as sick of the repetition and redundancy as you are.

Let's look at the other beginning the end of NaNo brings us.

Having accomplished NaNo, we can say that we have written a novel. It doesn't matter if we're seasoned or not. We've done it. That's an accomplishment in and of itself. It's the beginning of feeling pride in our work and our victory.

It opens the door for us to write more. Novels, short stories, poems, whatever we want! NaNo opens up our creative channels to write and write and write.

If you discover that writing isn't your thing, it still opens up those creative channels. It encourages us to try new artistic endeavors - to begin other challenges and begin learning other art forms.

The end of NaNo is not the end. Not even close. The end of NaNo marks the beginning of many wonderful things!