Betty Jo Schuler | Author
| Betty Jo just moved to Florida
in June '06, after living in the Midwest her entire life, and the lure of
fun in the sun does call to her, but she's balancing work and play. Really..
Well, almost, and when she does give into temptation, her mind is still working. |
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Reviews of Winning Chance 3 stars Reviews of Male Wanted Even if you don't think of yourself as the "type" who reads romances, you will enjoy this book, and if you are a romance fan, you will fall head over heels for it! Taylor Gayle is the kind of woman a modern reader can admire: she's entrepreneurial, independent, creative, and no rich relatives to bail her out. She decides to "let it all hang out" and enjoy life. You laugh with her. You cry with her and you embrace the love that she and Max have. Max Stuart comes from, and has his own, money but that's not what he's about. And he's not the typical romance hero who was burned once long ago and--a million or so lovers later--is still determined to never love again. These two come together to forge a relationship that all modern women can appreciate. Betty Jo Schuler has created two totally realistic characters, an intelligent and spunky heroine and a tall, dark and sexier-than- all-get-out hero. Of course there are obstacles in the path to their shared happiness, and of course you know there will be a happy ending, but Schuler puts the pieces into place with such originality and charm that you will find yourself completely caught up in these people's lives and anxious to know how everything resolves itself. The dialogue is dead-on, the feelings and emotions the characters express are natural, and the love scenes positively sizzle. Put some love, laughter and libido in your life -- read Male Wanted!
Betty Jo Schuler has written a brilliant story that is expertly plotted from the beginning to the final page. The pace is fast forward on an emotional roller coaster that culminates in two people finding new truths about themselves. Taylor and Max are vibrant characters who bounce off the page with their lively dialogue. Both remain true to their character while undergoing major changes. I loved Male Wanted because it picked me up and carried me rapidly on a wonderful adventure with characters I would like to know. By the end of the book, readers will feel like they actually know Taylor and Max. The satisfying ending comes all too quickly. Reviewed by Linda Wellman, Inscriptions
This was one of the best books that I've read in a long time. Ms. Schuler
creates a story that grips you from the beginning. I was surprised several
times in the story line. Never think you have this one figured out! What
a refreshing change from the normal humdrum of romance. I hope that Ms Schuler
writes a sequel for Sheila Gayle! Everyone who loves a great romance needs
to read this one :)
I couldn't read Male Wanted fast enough. I loved it! The chemistry between Taylor and Max is enough to burn down a building, and the secondary characters added life and pizzazz to a story that's already hot! From the cranky landlady and two feisty dogs to Taylor's twin sister and Max's uptight uncles, Male Wanted is populated with the most bewitching (and hair-raising) characters I've met in a long time. Betty Jo Schuler has a definite knack for romantic comedy, and I'll be eagerly watching for more from this author. Sally Laturi, Ivy Quill Reviews
Male Wanted by Betty Jo Schuler is a refreshing taste of romance and comedy all wrapped in one beautiful gift of love. This is one romantic tale you won't want to miss. Taylor and Max are determined to avoid love at all costs but find themselves irresistibly drawn to one another. Warning! If you begin Male Wanted, you won't be able to put it down. It's a fabulous read! Kim's Reviews~~Reviewed by Kim Gaona
Taylor Gayle is going for her degree by living a life proving clothes make the man or woman. Fully fitting into the required look involves Taylor finding a man for social functions. Placing a personal ad seems to be her best course of action. Taylor's subsequent trip to The Town Crier leads her to the very handsome Max Stuart. Max, filling in for his sister Penny, doesn't quite have the knack of The Crier but nonetheless is eager to serve. Taylor's look doesn't have to compete with her fraternal twin Dani when it comes to catching Max's attention. Will her ad do the trick or will her priorities change? Male Wanted is humorous, sweet, and full of good fun. You'll like it. Buzzy, Buzzy's Reviews
Male Wanted is a cute read. Leanne Hinkle, Scribes World Review
Taylor Gayle is a serious-minded librarian with aspirations of a professorship. Max Stuart runs a toy company and thinks professors are two-faced old fogies. When the two meet, the result is a clash of personalities with immediate sexual tension. Taking place in a small Ohio town, Male Wanted lets mistaken identities and typos wreak havoc on hormones. Taylor and Max are meant for each other. They just don't realize it until love hits them over the head. Cupid has his work cut out for him with this pair. Author Schuler uses her funny bone and unique characters to sweep up the reader in Taylor and Max's romance. Toss in a few S & M lovers, a couple of lovesick dogs, and sisters with matchmaking on their mind and you have a great book to read this winter. Enjoy Male Wanted and be ready to laugh. Reviewed by Denise Keller, Writing Club Romance Group on AOL Reviews of Love in a Small Town Love in a Small Town is one of those lighthearted
sweet romances that
allow the reader to get to know the characters so
much they find a way
into your heart. Lily is very refreshing and Sam
is the charming,
irresistible neighbor that one wants to stay
around forever. I enjoyed
the banter between the two as they squabbled over
their differences.
Ms Schuler pens a well-written story with
concrete characters that
start out as friends and find something much
stronger between the two
of them. Cleverly fashioned and molded to make
one excellent read of
two people finding love and keeping it fresh
always.
Rating 4 stars!!!
Rating 4 hearts Reviews of Gracie's Holiday Hero A touching story about learning to hope again, Gracie's Holiday
Hero left me with a smile on my face. Every little girl has a special
place in her heart for her first high school crush, and through
this story she can vicariously revisit the dream of her love. Betty
Jo Schuler has created convincing and likeable characters in Gracie
and Merett, whose past experiences create realistic communication
barriers. More than once I found myself tearing up or nodding in
sympathy. Gracie's Holiday Hero is an affectionate look at small-town
life, and at how life can take away your hope-and restore it.
Gracie's Holiday Hero is the most magical and emotional holiday tale I've read in a long time. Gracie is always so optimistic and always doing her best to help everyone, never thinking of herself. Merett brings out the best in her and easily coaxes her to share her problems. Not a perfect hero, by any means, he is nonetheless someone you love because he is decidedly human. Throw in the wonderful secondary characters: Kirsten, a kitten named Spook and a puppy named Dumbbell, and you've got a book that will capture your heart. Having never read any of Ms. Schuler's work, I was blown was blown
away by the depth of emotions I experienced while reading Gracie's
Holiday Hero. I laughed, I wept, I read quickly, needing to know
that everything turned out right. Much more accustomed to spicier
romances, I was reminded how wonderful and special lighter romances
can be. I highly recommend you don't miss Gracie's Holiday Hero
and that it be placed on your keeper shelf where it belongs. Reviewed by Ayden Delacroix, In the Library Reviews Reviews of Finding Mr. Romantic Boy: Mystery author who took a bet to write a romance in 6 months in order to live rent free for a year. Major writers block...until... Girl: Widowed by cheating husband, raising her husband's 18 year-old sister on her own. Looking for a chance to be free and no longer bound by the rules she's always followed. Rents an RV and takes off for a couple weeks of R&R. Who knew that wishes made on birthday cakes really might come true? I truly enjoyed this whole book. There is so much irony going on the whole time. C.J. wants to find a way to stop her pseudo-daughter, Susan, from marrying at the young age of 18. She also wants to go back to school and spend time just being on her own without a man to rule her life. She went straight from a controlling father to a controlling husband. So now, widowed at age 29, she's ready to be on her own. So meeting Nick is perfect because he's a no-strings-attached, I don't want a commitment from a woman sort of a guy. Overall rating: 4.25
Finding Mr. Romantic starts with Celeste blowing out the candles on her 29th birthday cake. She has one wish on this birthday: I wish I'd meet a man who would turn my life into a sizzling romance novel. She has no idea that she is about to get just that. Nick Dennis is rusticating away in a rickety old trailer of his cousin's, trying to win a bet by writing a romance novel. When he meets his neighbor, who is a damsel in distress from their first meeting, he figures that she would be wonderful research material for his book. What ensues is a great romantic comedy in which I alternated between laughing and groaning out loud. Some of the things that Nick did just to get Celeste's attention were so out there, and yet they were so sweet; he could've melted a stone. He could act completely serious and sincere for one minute, and then the next, he is this quirky guy just trying to get Celeste to let her hair down. What better way to meet your soul mate than on a vacation of self-discovery?! I loved this book. It is fast paced and funny, with a very nice plot and fun lead characters. Betty Jo Schuler has written a masterpiece with Finding Mr. Romantic and made a true fan out of me. Kristal Gorman, Romance Reader at Heart Reviewer
This reviewer enjoyed the dialog and the characters' ping-pong game of falling in love. Betty Jo Schuler has written a sweet romance with just enough passion to carry it along to the very end. I look forward to more stories from her. As there were other characters in this story with budding romances and their own emotional plights, it would be fun to see how their stories turned out. I think that the author should continue and pen their stories as well. And I look forward to reading them! In the end I must let everyone know who reads this book, that you'll need a box of tissues handy for its emotional ending. Romance Junkies Reviewer, Carol
Rating 4.5 stars!!! "My life is totally boring." "If he doesn't call in five minutes, my life will be ruined." Sound like a teen you know? It's odd how unique our feelings seemed when we were teenagers. Does anyone ever feel content or confident in high school? Betty Jo Schuler recalls what it was like to be young and knows that many adults never lose these feelings and fears. She remembers teenage angst, insecurity, and discovery in her collection of short stories, No Rain, No Rainbows. Her stories run the gamut of teen experience. From a diary chronicling the changes caused by parents divorcing, to the consequences when a chat room relationship becomes a face to face relationship, to bizarre behavior that tests a friendship, these stories depict critical moments in a teenager's life. The author empathizes with her characters and their plights. Her predicaments ring true, her details paint pictures, and her endings refresh our belief in humanity. Schuler writes romances and non-fiction as well as fiction for Young Adults. Her broad range of experience and her ability to move a story forward help her tell a good story. Read her ideas and suggestions below. LG: When did you start writing? How did you decide to write short stories for teens? What is your favorite genre? BJS: I had articles published when my kids were little; then there was a long lapse while I went to college, got my degrees, and started teaching school. A part-time job as a diet counselor led to a diet book and several years of freelancing. My first published fiction book was for children (1991) and I've been writing "seriously" since then. My second print-published book was a YA romance (Bantam), and a Holt Medallion finalist. Over the last two years, I've had several books electronically published, in varying genres, and two of those have been EPPIES finalists. (You can visit my website at http://home.webworks2000.net/bschuler/bettyjo.html). I was researching a "coming of age" book for a packager who wanted a proposal and samples. They decided not to pursue the project, but I thought the stories would appeal to teens and were important enough to write. So I continued until I had enough for an anthology. Although I had fun writing my four children's books, I particularly enjoy writing romance. I have a YA romance I call "my heart transplant book," Second Chance at Love, available from DiskUs Publishing. My other romances are for grownups and two out of three are romantic comedies. One of these is Winning Chance (Treble Heart Books), a contemporary romance finalist in the 2002 EPPIES. LG: Congratulations on the EPPIES. Did you do research to help you understand today's teens or do you have some living under your roof? Are your characters fictitious or based on people you know? BJS: My four children are grown, and I have grandchildren in their teens. My characters are fictitious, but I identify easily with young people and the way they think and feel. I speak at high schools and middle schools to stay in touch with this age group. LG: Which story was easiest to write, and which was the hardest? Why? BJS: "Dear Diary" was easiest because it's written in first person with Deidre pouring out her problems, thoughts, and dreams. I kept a diary when I was growing up, and I think it's a custom that transcends time. "When is a Thief a Thief?" was hardest. Linda faces a serious dilemma when her good friend, Danielle, starts shoplifting, and tries to taunt her and some other girls into doing the same. It's difficult to choose between loyalty and honesty, as well as being intimidated by someone who tries to make you feel like "a chicken" if you don't meet their dares. Identifying with Linda's struggle made this difficult. LG: Very interesting. The first thing I had published was a series of articles written as diary entries. It's a great format for letting the character share her most hidden thoughts. You use details to move each plot forward very quickly. What are your tips for good plotting? BJS: In stories, you have to get right into the action, and know your characters well. Their mannerisms must reflect who they are and what they might do. You don't have time and space to work in much back story. It's all about who they are and how they'll react in such a situation. You want to hold the reader in suspense, and this comes about through making the antagonist unpredictable. LG: What messages do you hope teens will get from the stories? Which messages do teens most need to hear today? BJS: I hope they'll be very careful about corresponding with strangers over the Internet and never meet that person, alone, for the first time, or second or third, and that any meetings will be held in a public place. Popularity is an age-long challenge, and I hope these stories will reinforce what we know but don't always accept: that it isn't worth sacrificing your values. Real friends don't ask you to do things you don't want to do. Most of all, I want teens to know they're not alone in the problems they face, and even though they don't seem like it at the time, all problems are solvable. Seek help if you need it, and remember, there are happier days ahead. LG: How did you pick your book title? What image do you hope it will create in a teenager's mind? BJS: I heard someone on a television show use the expression one day. "No rain, no rainbows," and I thought, "that's the title I've been looking for." We wouldn't recognize joy if we hadn't experienced moments without it. The sun wouldn't look so bright if there weren't gloomy days. Picture raindrops sparkling in sunlight after a summer rain, and a rainbow popping out overhead. No matter how hard it poured or how wet you got, you feel a surge of joy at the sight. Without challenges, there would be no triumphs. LG: Who is the publisher of this book and how did you find the company? BJS: Atlantic Bridge is the publisher of No Rain, No Rainbows. I learned about Linda Eberharter's company through an author's chat line. Some fellow authors had signed with AB and were quite pleased, as am I. LG: I checked out the Atlantic Bridge website. They look like a solid e-publisher. How has the Internet helped you market your books? What marketing tips can you share? BJS: The Internet allows writers to work together on promotions--swapping promo materials for conferences and school talks, putting together discs with samples of different author's books in a particular genre, etc. I e-mail a monthly newsletter that makes it easy to reach interested parties. (E-mail bschuler@webworks2000.net, "subscribe.") Also, there are places, such as Authors Den, that offer services to authors who want to reach their reading audience. LG: What are you working on now? BJS: I'm brainstorming a new romantic comedy aimed at the adult market, although I think older teens often read and enjoy books written for grownups. LG: Where can people find copies of No Rain, No Rainbows? BJS: No Rain, No Rainbows is available from Atlantic Bridge. It's also available through eBookAd, from Handango (PalmOS site), and from Knowbetter.com. LG: Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts with us. I wondered if e-published YA books sell. Your experience with Atlantic Bridge indicates they must. Buying for a teenager? Intrigued by the teenage mind? Learn what makes the youth of middle America tick in No Rain, No Rainbows.
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