My Book excerpts & Reviews

Excerpt
The Heart of a Warrior

“Now don’t you look a pretty picture,” a hoarse voice called from the
darkness.
Belinda tensed. As she stood slowly upright, her eyes searched for
her towel. She saw it lying several feet away and groaned. The moon
was waning and the shadows seemed much darker and closer now. She
glanced behind her at Aponi, who sat on her stone throne oblivious to
the impending danger.
“Aponi, get into the water—quickly,” she shouted, relieved to see the
young girl immediately slide into the water. Belinda forced her voice to
remain calm as she edged towards her towel. “What do you want, Jez?”
“I think you and me need to have a little talk,” he said, as he stepped
from the concealment of the rocks.
Belinda’s eyes widened when she saw the rifle in his hand. Why had
he come armed? Did he expect her to have a gun hidden in her sponge
bag? She tilted her chin in defiance as his eyes devoured her body and
returned his stare with a withering one of her own. “I think I made
myself perfectly clear earlier. Don’t you?” She groaned inwardly when
Jez’s booted foot stepped on the edge of her towel.
“That outfit you’re wearing says something else,” he said, wiping his
mouth on the same dirty sleeve as earlier. “Don’t pretend you didn’t
know I’d follow you. I’ve figured you out. You’re a woman who likes to
be chased.”

REVIEWS

The Heart of a Warrior
Reviewed by Ginger Simpson
www.examiner.com

Beliefs and backgrounds collide in Margaret West’s The Heart of a Warrior. A staunch nurse from England arrives to visit her father, a storekeeper who depends on customers from the adjoining Indian reservation.
Belinda is in the middle of a nasty divorce and needs some time away, but instead of the vacation she expected, she discovers her father in the hospital and his business being run by some scummy dude named Jez. His wife can compete for the title, “wicked witch of the west” and probably win.
With Jez and his wife living above the store, the only place left for Belinda is a rundown storage shed out back. The Ritz it isn’t. Not even close. And the pleasant greeting she hoped her surprised visit would bring is anything but. The plot thickens when she meets the handsome Navajo chief, Yuma, who isn’t quite sure how to take this spicy British woman. Off course, there’s romantic interest, but his mother isn’t happy with the prospect of him taking a wife outside the tribe. There are cultural traditions to honor, and Belinda doesn’t fit in despite her growing feelings for Yuma and his apparent attraction to her.

Ms. West’s writing style is crisp, fresh and interesting. There isn’t one spot in this novel you can find where you’ll want to put it down and take a break. Although the romance and suspense of what is looming in the pages ahead are enough to keep your interest, you might even find yourself chuckling at some of her clever exchanges between Belinda and Yuma.

Especially funny is the part where she gives him a carved horse, thinking it a befitting gift, and he takes it as an insult. She then tells him she should have given him a donkey because he’s being an ass. Kudos to Ms. West for a novel well written and for gaining a definite fan.



http://paulazone.blogdrive.com
Review of "The Heart of a Warrior".
When Belinda arrives to Arizona from England , wanting some TLC from her father she arrives at the airport with a shock that seems to follow one after another. Informed that her father has had a heart-attack and is in hospital , all she wants to do is make sure her father is well and check up on the Shop . When arriving at the shop, she is in for another shock as the Lansdowne's couple whom are looking after the shop as let it run to the ground-it's definitley not the same shop her father had made his prized possession-his soul and joy. In Arizona, Belinda meets Yuma -the American Indian Chief. At first - neither of them like each other very much , but is it just a front ? As they get to know each other along the novel , it shows they are meant to be together , however it wouldn't be very much of a great story if their wasn't some obstacle that they have to overcome . As Chief of the Reservation Yuma is supposed to marry somebody with American Indian blood and it is to be an arranged marriage and when Belinda's ex-husband Ray ends up in Arizona -Yuma gets the wrong idea. Will Belinda and Yuma end up together or when Belinda flies back to England , will Yuma be a Spring/Winter Fling ? A great novel that portrays the American Indian culture in a realistic way right down to their living situations, values and rituals.

BK Walker, http://bkwalkerbooks.weebly.com
BK Walker Books Services:
Book Reviews and Book Features
The Heart of a Warrior by Margaret West was "OMG" phenomenal! Becoming enthralled from the first sentence I couldn't put this book down until I finished it!

Belinda Carter escapes to Arizona looking for some comfort from her father as she is going through a nasty divorce. Upon her arrival, she finds a distaste for several people who claim to be helping her father and that her dad is actually in the hospital recovering from a heart attack.

Though her dad has told her much about the Navajo that live on a Res nearby her fathers home, Belinda seems to keep putting her foot in her mouth when she meets Yuma, the Navajo Chief.

She is worried about her father and wanting at the same time for the Navajo Clan to like her for her, not because she is her Harry's daughter. She finally gets to see her dad after a fight about visiting hours, where she was going to sleep, and apologizing for making the Chief angry.

While trying to keep the peace with Yuma, Belinda is also worried about her fathers store, which she is sure that is on its downfall and that the current caretakers are running it, and her fathers good name into the desert ground. She doesn't trust Jez Landsdowne any farther than she can throw him and he continually proves his actions to be dishonest.

When Aponi, (Yuma's niece) and Belinda go for a night swim, Jez once again proves his ill intentions and Yuma must come to the rescue. This is when their relationship begins to flourish, even though they are continually butting heads.

West did a fantastic job with The Heart of a Warrior. The plot was perfect, with added humor I found myself laughing at times, angry at others while rooting for Belinda to come out on the winning side. I really liked Yuma's stubborness and Belinda's feistiness, West did a great job mixing the chemistry between these two.

The only thing I was left with was wanting more at the end of this title.
West did a superb job capturing the essence of Native Americans and it will definitely capture your heart! I give it ***** (5) Stars,


Excerpt
Two Faces One Life

Sarah had screamed in horror after seeing her reflection in the window opposite her bed. The cruel irony was that the right side of her face had been left untouched. A lopsided eye stared mockingly back at her from a burnt and distorted cheek. An eye that saw nothing and, like her, was useless. When she had finally healed enough to go home a different Sarah walked through the front door of her parents house. This girl would never laugh, go to parties, or have any friends. She didn’t care what she wore or ate. What did it matter now? This new Sarah no longer wanted to exist in a world that would never accept her.

REVIEW
TWO FACES ONE LIFE.
Reviewed by by Lanie Shanzyra P. Rebancos
http://geocities.com/shanzyra/
http://cobwebsandmemories.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1408728289

Inspiring. Honest.

Ms. West’s Two Faces One Life is a short story about a girl who have burn marks on her face and had lost her once waist length hair and a man who lost his eyesight from a motorcycle accident. Though they both have physical deficiencies, these differences will lead them both on the right path of love and understanding. One small talk in the park and everything turned out just the way they want it.
Ms. West writes from her heart and truly knows how to make other people feel important and beautiful inspite of their differences both physically and emotionally. After you’ve read her story, you will surely ask for more.

Two Faces One Life
Reviewed by Diana Coyle of Night Owl Romance

Ms. West’s Two Faces One Life is a short story about a girl who have burn marks on her face and had lost her once waist length hair and a man who lost his eyesight from a motorcycle accident. Though they both have physical deficiencies, these differences will lead them both on the right path of love and understanding. One small talk in the park and everything turned out just the way they want it.

Ms. West writes from her heart and truly knows how to make other people feel important and beautiful inspite of their differences both physically and emotionally. After you’ve read her story, you will surely ask for more.

Welcome everyone to this week’s reviewer showcase. I picked a short story this week to discuss and I felt it contained a very powerful message even though it was only a few pages in length.

Ms. West wrote with such emotion I felt as if I was looking at the world through Sarah and Ted’s eyes. Each one was carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders, but both handled their feelings and emotions quite differently. This story made me walk away analyzing things differently in my own life and all the people that are near and dear to me.

Because of Sarah and Ted, you realize that no matter how hard life’s struggles may be for you, there is always someone out there willing to listen and shed some light onto what might be the dimmest of circumstances for you. You can’t give up because you just never know who is depending on you to get them through their difficult time. I’m new to Ms. West’s writing, but after reading this story I eagerly look forward to seeing what other stories she may have available.