DIVINE FALL recommended for fans of #TheMortalInstruments! #YA #99c

Every once and a while, I google my books, to see if any new reviews show up.  A wonderful surprise popped up the other day...my YA Paranormal Romance, DIVINE FALL, received a fantastic review from BTS Book Reviews, with a prominent spot in the Young Adult/New Adult section of their e-magazine!  While I'm linking the entire review below, I'll pull my two favorite quotes from reviewer Sasha Hibbs:

"This delicious YA novel was filled with love, rich in history, suspense, and enough twists to keep the reader turning the pages."

Forbidden Love and Supernatural Secrets
in Divine Fall

I love that!  While my novels are considered Romance in terms of genre, I always try to mix in plenty of conflict, tension, and mystery, as well as enough details about the setting to make the reader feel like he or she is right there.  This novel is set in a fictional town, Huntsville, Maryland, close to where I grew up.  The rural town is located in the very real Frederick County, near the very real Monocacy National Battlefield, site of the Civil War Battle that "saved Washington, D.C.".  As a kid, I spent a great deal of time at the huge farm owned by good friends of the family, and their little girl and I whiled away countless hours riding the horses, playing with the barn cats up in the hayloft, throwing sticks for all the dogs that roamed the property, and exploring the surrounding woods.  These wonderful memories inspired "Fox Run", the barn where Jamie boards her horse Beau, and where the mysterious Dothan Reed works as a new stable hand.

At the end of the review comes a comparison that thrilled me: "If you're a fan of The Mortal Instruments, Divine Fall certainly satisfies the cravings for Angels, Nephilim, and a wonderful love story".  Wow!  Jace is great, and I hope fans of the series will give Divine Fall a try...Dothan is worth it, I promise!

A reader left me this fantastic
comment on FB...made my day!

Right now, this is a stand-alone novel, although I've had requests for sequels and prequels, and I've left the door open to return to Jamie and Dothan's story someday.  At only 99 cents right now on Kindle and Nook, there's very little risk and a potential reward of hours of reading enjoyment!  And please drop me a line if you're reading, I LOVE to hear from readers.  I'm on Facebook and Twitter, so connect with me any time.  And check out the storyboard on Pinterest...get a look at Dothan :) All the links are in colored font.  Happy reading!

Read the full review here!

Revenge, Romance, and a Rogue Fallen Angel...

AVAILABLE FOR 99c ON KINDLE, click here!

#Fashion Inspired by My Passions - #amwriting & #Fitness

I'm the first one to admit I'm no trendsetter, although I do enjoy attempting to be fashionable.  It gets a little challenging, though, since my work attire does not usually include a sharp business suit and killer heels.  In the morning, I go teach classes at the gym.  I do try to look put together, since I'm representing my place of business, not to mention standing in front of a large crowd of women.  Still, I don't bother showering before teaching a fitness class, so the hair usually leaves a lot to be desired.

After I do get a shower in, it's time to get to the computer to write until the kids get home...and since my workstation is located on my kitchen island, there's really no one to impress except the pets.  But autumn brings soccer season, back-to-school events, author presentations clustered around Halloween, and a class in Fiction I'm teaching at the local community college.  I'm going to have to look varying degrees of presentable for these engagements.  And when I can, I like to add some personality to my wardrobe with a little hint of my passions - writing and fitness.

Me modeling my favorite hoodie!
Lots of great workout clothes at
Strong Girl Clothing

This one's my favorite because it actually brings both those passions together - I found this "And though she be but little, she is fierce" hoodie on etsy.  If it's chilly and I want to wear a cover up to class, it has to be something with a front zip, because I wear a mic on my head and I can't pull anything over it once I'm warm.  Usually I only require a few in nice colors at reasonable prices, but this one is so original because it has a Shakespeare quote!  Specifically, it's said by Helena in A Midsummer Night's Dream.  Not only is the quote fitting for me, since I'm a little under 5'2", but obviously the author of the quote is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language.  He's well known for his tragic romantic couples, and coined the phrase "star-crossed lovers".  For me, this was a bargain at $27.99.  You can find this hoodie at Strong Girl Clothing on Etsy.

This shirt is available for only
$19.95...see the link

My teenage son loves American Eagle, and we go to the mall once every few months (he's growing fast!) and stock up.  On our last trip a few weeks ago, I saw this shirt, with "ROMANCE" written across the front.  How could I not buy that?  Perfect for the soccer field with a jean jacket or open sweater.  I bought an AE gray cotton open pullover to go with it.




Since I only have boys, I'm not very attuned to what teenage girls like...but I needed a gift idea for my character Dothan to give Jamie in my Young Adult Paranormal Romance DIVINE FALL.  I put out a call for suggestions on my FaceBook page, and the overwhelming response at that time was Alex and Ani bracelets.  I wasn't entirely sure what those were, but I looked it up and they seemed perfect.  Dothan gave Jamie on with the initial "J", a horse charm, and of course an angel charm.

I love this bracelet set
created from Alex & Ani and Silpada

The white feathers
falling reflect Dothan's
Fallen angel lineage

My best friend then gave me my first one for my birthday - an antique gold one with the initial "K".  I combined it with some of my Silpada beaded bracelets so I could achieve the sort of look I saw online.  When DIVINE FALL released, I decided I deserved to treat myself to another Alex and Ani bangle.  I chose a feather, in honor of Dothan's Nephilim lineage, and to echo the feathers on the beautiful cover of the book.



I look for other fashion ideas on Pinterest, and that really helps me pull outfits together, especially for author events.  I even found a fantastic pair of shoes created by someone with a love for Romance novels...you can see them on my Pinterest Fashion Board.  I'd buy them in a heartbeat, if only they were for sale!  Maybe I can channel my crafty side (it makes brief appearances occasionally) and try my hand at making my own?  I know which three covers I'd start the collage with!  If you need some great paranormal reads to get in the Halloween mood--steamy romance mixed with spooky suspense--try my ghost story/romances GULL HARBOR or SILVER LAKE.  And my latest release is a Young Adult novel, DIVINE FALL, involving a Fallen angel, filled with forbidden love and supernatural secrets, and appropriate for ages 13 and up. 

Enjoy the fall!

"Reminded me of #Twilight" - New #YA Paranormal #Romance

I admit it, I loved Twilight.  As a paranormal romance author, I obviously have a passion for tortured heroes, love stories filled with conflict, spooky supernatural mysteries, and dangerous situations--with a Happily Ever After somewhere in the characters' future.  Back in a 2013 blog post, I listed Bella and Edward as one of my favorite fictional couples.  I read for entertainment, and I want to be sucked into a book I'm unable to put down.  Stephenie Myer, in my opinion, is an amazing storyteller (The Host was also a page-turner).

So I was thrilled to see a book review blog recently compare my Young Adult Paranormal Romance DIVINE FALL to Twilight!  Reviews are tough to come by these days, with books being published at a phenomenal rate, and this review appeared on Read for Your Future, a site dedicated to promoting reading among teens.  The reviewer begins by saying DIVINE FALL "reminded me of Twilight but in a more realistic manner...Author Kathryn Knight has written a book teenage girls everywhere will love."  And I love hearing that!

One of the things I did not particularly like about Twilight, from a writing standpoint, was the lack of character development surrounding Bella Swan, the heroine from whose viewpoint the story is told.  However, this is a method employed on occasion when authors use deep first person POV (point of view).  I can think of a few other wildly successful titles which don't define the main character very well (50 Shades comes to mind).  Whether this is intentional or not, it does allow readers to put themselves directly into the character's figurative shoes, which can intensify the connection.

I work very hard in my novels to develop characters fully.  I absolutely want readers to connect with the characters and experience their emotions; hopefully they come to care about the characters as much as I do.  Jamie Brandt, the heroine of DIVINE FALL, has a lot of issues some teenagers will relate to.  But she's also a unique individual with clearly defined characteristics.  And this particular reviewer noted that as well, referring to Jamie as "a strong young woman" and commenting that her story has a "positive message".

Yes, Dothan Reed is like Edward in some aspects: he has both a light and dark side.  He's seeking revenge, and he's prepared to do anything to achieve his deadly goal.  When he discovers Jamie is involved in his plan, he'll have to make a difficult choice.  Dothan's not a vampire, but he is a different type of supernatural creature.  He's stronger than humans, and he's able to come to Jamie's rescue when she's in trouble.  But Jamie does her share, saving Dothan in more than one way.  They provide equal support to each other, and make each other better--and happier.

The review ends with a comment about how DIVINE FALL "reads so quickly with the action and the romance", with the reviewer hoping for a future sequel.  That made my day.  Will I return to Jamie and Dothan's story?  I'm not sure yet, but I do love these characters...and I hope you will too, if you give DIVINE FALL a try!

The beautiful cover is below, and all ebook links are here.  Also check out the Pinterest board to see the pictures I used for character and setting inspiration here!