Five-Star Review of Leaving Lukens From "Readers Favorite"

I am honored once again with another five-star review. I love reading comments such as these--so gratifying to see my books touch readers in this way. Leaving Lukens  is a story I just had to share, and I'm so glad I did. Just wait to see what I have in store for you next, dear readers!

Book Review

Reviewed by Alice D. for Readers Favorite

Laura S. Wharton has created in "Leaving Lukens" a delightful romantic thriller of the World War II era. Set on the island of Lukens, which is near New Bern on the Carolina mainlands, "Leaving Lukens" is more than a story of the islanders leaving their homes for the mainland where school age children will be educated. It is about how close the horrors of World War II, Nazi submarines and Nazi naval warriors, came to our coastlines, threatening life in small seaside villages like New Bern, Oriental and the island of Lukens. The story's main character is 17 year old Ella Marie Hutchins, who is moving with her mother Louise to the mainland and the home of her mother's fiance. We read about Ella's romance with local Jarrett Migette fizzles, especially when Ella is rescued from invasive Nazis by mysterious stranger Griff who is posing as a local family's nephew. Actually, Griff is a Navy officer working undercover but he shares his love of diving to investigate old ship wrecks with Ella. Will Ella find a lasting future with Griff or will the winds of war separate them?

"Leaving Lukens" is a highly well-written and well-edited story of World War II that brings home to the post-war generations how our country's coastlines were touched by the awfulness of war. Characters such as Ella, Griff, Jessica and Jack, Ella's mother and grandmother are totally believable and in keeping with those long ago times. Ella and Griff's attraction to each other is beautifully portrayed and obeys the social mores of those years of the early 1940s. The plot flows to the ending which will more than satisfy the reader. Laura Wharton is an author to follow. Put "Leaving Lukens" on reading lists everywhere.

The Pirate's Bastard is getting a facelift

We should all be so lucky. 

I mean about getting facelifts of the non-surgical kind. The Pirate's Bastard, my debut novel, is going to get a new cover and a new look (plus a thorough editing) when it is reprinted in May. Originally released in 2010, the book has garnered award nominations and wonderful reviews; but still, I wasn't entirely pleased with the presentation of a story that took me six years to research and write. It also has international distribution now, something that was unavailable by the first publisher of the book. If you're looking for something fun to read this summer, I invite you to look for the new-and-improved version of The Pirate's Bastard coming out in May. It will still be available for e-readers of every kind as well as in paperback version from my new publisher, Broad Creek Press.

Debut Novel, released October, 2010:The Pirate’s Bastard

Reading lists aren’t complete without one good pirate story. This book fits the bill perfectly. It’s titled The Pirate’s Bastard, and it is the debut novel by North Carolina writer Laura S. Wharton.

Set primarily in coastal North Carolina in the 1700s, this story follows Edward Marshall on his mission to free himself of his past while weaving fact and fiction about the coast’s rich boat-building heritage and social mores of colonial life. When Edward sets sail for the Caribbean islands, a high-stakes battle at sea changes his life’s course, and forces him to confront his heritage – and his dead father’s choices.

Exciting: First Review of Children's Book is Positive

There's a certain nervousness I feel when I hunt for reviews of books -- maybe all authors feel that sense of insecurity.

I was especially nervous, because Mystery at the Lake House was my first children's book. I co-wrote it with my son, making an impression on him at least. He now wants to write one all by himself. (His summer project, he assures me. Good thing, because school, karate, and homework tend to take up most weeknights, and now that it's warmer, I have the anywhere-but-here syndrome on the weekends. I truly need to live at the coast, given the ever increasing cost of gas!)

Fortunately, I shouldn't have worried with this first one that's out now. The review is positive, so I guess that means we're off to a good start with the series. You can read it here, if you like.

Ahoy, sailors: Children's Mystery about to be released!

In just two weeks, I'll have entered the realm of children's book author. My first book for readers ages 8-12 is Mystery at the Lake House #1: Monsters Below, and I wrote the book with my 10-year-old son to encourage his writing skills. He is a natural at telling stories. I suppose all kids are. Oh, dear. What have I gotten myself into, I wonder?

My goal with this series is to encourage young readers to think about adventures (and mysteries) in a new way. Adventures don't have to be BIG, and mysteries don't have to be SCARY. In each book, the three characters solve a simple mystery without gadgets, but by using their own abilities (the minds of children can be so much more advanced in these matters if we adults let them find the answers). They each grow in little ways through the course of the story, and most of all, they have fun.

The first book involves a sailboat. Hey, I'm a sailor. To me, enjoying childhood is about being OUTSIDE and exploring ... at least it used to be safe to do that. Today, for some children, it may not be so. I learned to sail as a child, and I'm sure there are lots of you sailors will concur that the excitement, joy, and rush of sailing is an adventure all unto itself. For those of you sailors who have a passion for encouraging the sport among children, this might be a good title to try. I'd appreciate feedback, too. As soon as I have a link to Amazon (it's available on all e-readers and in paperback form, and will be available for the asking at any brick-and-mortar store, too), I'll post it and twitter it and release it wide and far.

We have another story, the second in the series titled, The Mermaid's Tail. A professional mermaid is helping me build a background for her character, and we're going to have a lot of fun with the book's play on words (and title). More on that one in another post.

Happy reading, happy sailing.

Literary R&R Reviewed Leaving Lukens - Nice Review!

Wonderful review from Literary R&R! Thank you, Charlene and Mandy!

http://literaryrr.blogspot.com/2012/02/charlene-reviews-leaving-lukens-by.html

Whispering Winds Book Reviews gives Leaving Lukens 5 stars!

I have read Ms Wharton's first book, “The Pirate’s Bastard.” I did enjoy it a lot. Yet as I began to read this book, I found she was not just a onetime author. In fact I enjoyed this book even more than the first.

I loved the characters in this book and the way, Ms. Wharton has created them. The flow of the story is excellent and l did not find even one page or paragraph that was boring. You are captured from the start.

The book starts on May 2000 at a reunion and then goes back to WWII. There we find adventure, love and intrigue. The ending blew me away. I had to read it twice and then it hit me. (It was a slap me silly moment for me.) Just one sentence told me what I longed to hear. I did not want this story to end. Nor do I think you will either, and that is why I am giving this book a five star rating.

Posted by Whispering Winds Book Reviews at 5:01 PM

Wonderful Review by Miss Lynn's Book Reviews!

I'm thrilled to read this review by Miss Lynn's Book Reviews. She adored the book, Leaving Lukens, she said in her email to me. If you would like to review the book (and post your thoughts on Amazon, Good Reads, or other book-related blogs), just let me know. Thanks!