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

Character of the Week: Tony from Unbreakable Hostage

How does one describe Tony Covelli? Odd? Controlling? Unstable? Confused? Desperate? Angry? Wounded? He's all of the above, and then some.

He's not the kind of character you'd really want to get to know. He's dark, unsocial, angry, peculiar, and even a bit creepy. Yet, there is so much more to him than what you'd initially expect.

Tony grew up in Fresno, California. He and his brother had fairly normal lives. Except when the family would vacation. His grandfather had built a small cabin in the woods by the Merced River. When they had reunions or take vacations, the entire family would stay in the cabin: Tony, Dominck, their parents, their aunts, uncles, and cousins. It was very confining to say the least. The real monster was Tony's Uncle Sal.

Uncle Sal was a very sick man who had his way with all of the children in the family. His illness became an illness for Dominick, Tony's brother. To some extent, it becomes Tony's illness as well, though his manifests differently.


Tony is an aimless person. He's very smart - perhaps too smart. Despite his IQ, he is unable to find a purpose or calling in life. He takes class after class, searching for an occupation. It is in such a class that he meets Lareina Oliveira.

Lareina is a small, feisty, beautiful Hispanic woman. From the first time he sees her, he is completely smitten.


Unfortunately, Tony's "illness" causes him to not respect boundaries. His smittenness becomes an infatuation which becomes an obsession, which leads to him kidnapping her.

Tony is unable to control his emotions. He can become violent, but he can also be as gentle as a lamb. He is unpredictable to say the least. Even he doesn't know what he's going to do next.

He takes Lareina to the family cabin. It's the only place he knows of that could possibly be safe, and that was secluded enough to keep the police at bay.

Unbeknownst to him, his brother Nick assaulted yet another little girl in the cabin. What he thought was a safe refuge was a target for the police.


Tony's intention was never to hurt Lareina. He just needed to have her. She was an object - perhaps even a trophy of sorts. He didn't understand - he couldn't understand that she was not a thing to be had.

He attempts to control her, he attempts to love her. Ultimately, he learns that she was never his in the first place.

It may seem odd to have some sympathy or to extend kindness to someone as sick and abusive as Tony Covelli. He is certainly no hero. He is, however, human. Sick and twisted, but human nonetheless.

Favorite quote from Tony: “That's your bed for tonight. Get some sleep. You're going to need it.”

Come decide for yourself!
http://www.amazon.com/Unbreakable-Hostage-Lauren-Shiro/dp/0615902456/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&qid=1427674225&sr=8-17&keywords=lauren+shiro

2015 A to Z Challenge: Pianissimo - Day 26 (Z)

 For the third consecutive year, I am participating in the A to Z blog challenge.
http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/

This year, we're going to go through my latest full-length novel, Pianissimo.

Today's the final day, kids. Day 26. The letter Z. Z is for Zoetic.

Zoetic means living or vital. Pianissimo is very much a living story.

The truth of the matter is, Pianissimo is more than just words on a page. It's a story about people - real people. It's a story about real history. It's a story about a real house, and a real piano. It's the kind of story that burrows deeply into your heart and lives on with you.

There is such depth and such emotion here. It's impossible not to take this story and these characters with you.

It is a very vivid, palpable, deep, vivacious story.

This is one book that truly is alive.

Thank you for going through the ABCs with me. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!

Thanks, and happy reading! 

http://www.amazon.com/Pianissimo-Lauren-Shiro-ebook/dp/B00OEOTZMC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1420832795&sr=8-2&keywords=lauren+shiro