Taking Charge By: Mandy Baggot *Guest Post & Review*

Hello everyone! I just want to thank Reading Addiction Blog Tours for letting me participate in this Tour and Author Mandy Baggot, who wrote an awesome Guest Post, and you will see that right below this commentary. I also wrote a Review and that can be seen below as well. Be sure to check out a Link at the bottom of this Post where you will be directed to the Blog Tour Schedule. From there you will see a whole month of Reviews/Interviews/Guest Posts/Excerpts & Giveaways, so be sure to check out that page! :)

*Guest Post*

(Again, thank you Mandy for writing a wonderful & Inspirational Post!!) 

Starting out as a writer – 5 things you should know!

Mandy Baggot starring in from Maternity to Here!

Although I’d written lots of stories in my pre-teen years my writing journey really started after the birth of my first daughter. Having done the labor, I learnt how to change a diaper and wipe up vomit, but what no one had told me was although babies don’t do much sleeping at night time they do a great deal during the day! I found I had two hours during the day when I probably should have been cleaning the house, where I could escape to a fictional world and rediscover my love of writing. So, during my maternity leave from my job as a Wills and Probate paralegal, I wrote my first novel Excess All Areas. But even then, I didn’t really think about trying to get the novel published, it had just been my escape from diaper changing and ironing. So, my first tip is:-

1. Enjoy!

Writing should be all about the enjoyment of creating a world and characters to live in it. You don’t have to think about the bigger picture to begin with, just revel in getting words down on the page.

Then, two years after I’d written my first novel, Youwriteon.com in association with the Arts Council of England was offering to publish novels for free. It seemed to good a chance to turn down. So, tip number two is:- 

2. Take every opportunity

Try different avenues for your writing. Perhaps enter a short story into a competition or try writing for a magazine. No one says you have to start off with a 100,000 tome.

Excess All Areas was published, I had my second daughter and wrote my next novel, Breaking the Ice. This time I was brave enough to send it off to some agents/publishers. Therefore tip number three is:-

3. Don’t be afraid of rejection

The likelihood is you will receive rejections from agents and publishers. But, don’t let the idea of rejection put you off from submitting in the first place. Unless they have been extremely lucky, most novelists have received rejections in their writing lives. I’ve had loads! Some people keep them to look back on when they receive their acceptances, I rip mine into little bits and feed them to the shredder.

Rejections received, I published Breaking the Ice myself, followed by Knowing Me Knowing You and then, Strings Attached. By this time I had lots of friends and contacts in social media, had joined writer/reader group Loveahappyending.com and readers were enjoying my work. Tip four is:-

4. Get social media savvy!

Make time for Twitter and Facebook. They are both great places to join groups and connect with likeminded people. Share ideas and inspiration about writing, offer help, support your friends and communities. Writing doesn’t have to be a reclusive occupation – we might be on our own a lot of the time but we’re never alone.

And then it happened! US publishing house Sapphire Star Publishing signed my fifth novel, Taking Charge. Making tip number 5:-

5. Never give up on a passion

If you really want to make writing your profession then never give up. If you have the passion, the enthusiasm, the drive and determination - anything is possible! 

Book Description

Is going back Robyn’s only way forward?

American-born Robyn Matthers is going home. With her dad in hospital, his roadhouse in ruins and the ice hockey team slipping down the league, she needs to take charge. But does she have the strength to do it?

Cole Ryan is a hockey player on a personal mission. He’s tall, dark, hot and Robyn’s noticed! But can she trust her feelings - or his? And what will Cole do when he finds out the truth about her?

With an ill father, a trailer trash step-mom and ex-boyfriend Brad desperate for another chance, does Robyn have time to contemplate a relationship? Can she start again? Does she really want to? And can two people really fall in love in three days? 


Review

Wow, this was a wonderful read! 

The story itself was pretty intriguing. Going back to a place where there was hurt in the past can be absolutely tough, but Robyn is determined to do what she needs to do and that is to 'Take Charge' of her Father's business affairs, while he's in the hospital. She's in charge of a Restaurant Business and Hockey Team, yes a hockey team, and that is what occupies Robyn's time but...she manages to still have these new feelings for hockey player, Cole, who has another profession up his sleeve. Something just electrifies between them, ever since the moment they first met, and it's a Romance not to miss! Apart from this, there is a mysterious aspect, something or someone from the past that made Robyn run to England in the first place, when she was 15/16, comes back to Robyn, coincidentally, when she comes back home, but is this a good or bad thing? Well, you just have to read for yourself, and I promise it is very good!

The writing was just wonderful, there was a good pace and flow, and I will definitely read more novels from Mandy Baggot! I felt that all the characters were well developed, even the ones that do not have a good outcome in this story. Robyn was a great character, who did have unfortunate things happen to her as a young teen, through her adult life, and I thought they were described and written very well, and they seemed believable to me, and I love that in a story; not just the situations, but the character(s) as to me it is then seen as realistic and they may connect with readers that makes this reading experience even better, so that was a big plus for me. I definitely could understand and connect with Robyn through some of her heartbreaking moments. Cole, another major character, was...a delight to read, and I just thought that he was a good guy and really perfect for Robyn. He too has been in his own fair share of tragedies, but the way Baggot connects these two characters is just something, you have to read this story, really! :) 

My Rating: 4.2/5

I say a Mild R Rating (Some Language & Sexual Situations)

Author Bio

Mandy Baggot is a self-confessed Twitter addict who likes to sing on You Tube. She regularly guests on book blogs and is a featured author on the innovative website loveahappyending.com. She is also a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association.
Taking Charge is her fifth novel. Mandy lives near Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK with her husband and two daughters.

Website/Twitter/Facebook/Publisher Author Page



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*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*