A Novel Obsession

by Jeff Joseph

What could be more peaceful than a small town nestled in the plush and picturesque Appalachian foothills along the Ohio River? Seemingly nothing unless you actually live in such a place and experience the incestuous nature of the meddling, gossip, and desire that can fester there.

Abby Lane has cornered the market on virtue in her small town, yet there are forces that want to take that innocence away from her. Unfortunately, the depths of deception, often undetected by the pure of heart can be harmful to the unsuspecting soul.

As an English teacher, dreamer and hopeless idealist Abby immerses herself in romantic fiction to fill the void in her reality. There is one author in particular who speaks directly to her heart and she foolishly makes him the model lover by whom all suitors are to be judged. When others try to bridge that gap, idyllic small town America becomes a mysterious place to be.

A Novel Obsession is a great mix of Mystery, Suspense, Intrigue, and romance. It will answer the question:

Is it possible for two people to fall in love having never met?

Genres: Romance, Romantic Suspense, Suspense, Contemporary Romance, Adult, Fiction, Mystery Thriller

215 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 2012

About the author

Jeff’s love for romantic fiction, especially when laced with mystery and suspense, has led him to write books that contain all and not merely some of the elements he believes should be included in the best of such novels.
They must be about love on a deep, ordained level that cannot be denied regardless of obstacles that might be in the way. There must be an epic struggle to consummate that love, making it all the more glorious when it is realized…if it is realized. There must be sacrifices made and villains along the journey attempting to thwart love at every turn. It must be right versus wrong, good versus evil, life versus death, and in the end love or nothing. Jeff has experienced many of the above in his life and wants to share what he has learned with you.
Currently working on his fourth novel, he was born, raised, and still resides in semi-rural Ohio. He was an all sport athlete in his youth and has been a fitness enthusiast ever since. Jeff also enjoys hiking and everything outdoors, traveling, cooking, and providing a good home and heaps of love to one of the several dogs he’s rescued over the years. His ideal pastime though is to snuggle on the couch with his wife in front of a fire and sip their favorite Cabernet while watching a romantic movie.

For more information

Follow Jeff on twitter
https://twitter.com/author_jeff

Like Jeff’s Author page on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jeff-J...

Follow Jeff’s Blog
http://jeffjosephauthor.wordpress.com/

Find Jeff’s books on Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B006WAFHVO

Reviews

[Carol (StarAngel's Reviews) Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book - A Novel Obsession (Novel Series #1)
Author - Jeff Joseph
Publication Date - December 1, 2012
Type - Series (Not sure if a continuation)
Genre - Romance, Thriller
Rating - 4 1/2 out of 5 Stars

Book provided by Author in exchange for an honest review



Review
I take back everything I ever thought about men not being able to write a good romance. This book broke every prejudice I had about men not being able to connect with the innermost thoughts of the feminine mind.

This book hooked me and it hooked me good. I was upset that it was on my kindle so I had to stop reading it from 9-5 while at my job - but as soon as my ass hit home, shit I was right back to reading it. I had to know what happened next and how the hell were these two love crazed people going to finally meet. And normally I have a bit of a hard time reading a story in 3rd person, but it worked for this story.

Jeff, I salute you in writing not just a "Searching for Romance" book, but also a thriller wrapped up around it.

Abby is in love with Daniel who is the author of a set of romance books she connects to. Abby believes that Daniel writes from his heart and lives by standards he writes about. Because of this, Abby shuns all the eligible bachelors in her small town. Abby writes one letter to Daniel praising his writing and asking if he could come and speak to her high-school students.

Daniel on the other side of the States is falling apart. He is tired of the book tours and the women throwing themselves at him. He has just about to give up on ever finding a woman who isn't after his money or fame. That is until he reads a letter from Abigail and instantly he connects with the words pouring out of her heart. Has Daniel finally found a reason to keep going?

Abby and Daniel must go through so many obstacles in order to find love. This includes a new eligible bachelor who is coaching the football team and has his eyes on Abby. Also, they must endure skeptical agents, friends, exes, murderers and so much more.

And that ending??? Just for that Jeff, I shot half the star off!! And I'm telling you - there best be a follow up to this story!



Wrap Up
I'm still amazed this love story came from a man....(sorry Jeff) ---- I know I'm gonna go wash my mouth out with soap.

This is such a cute story about finding "the one" along with a bit of suspense to keep the reader attuned to the story.

[✿kawehi.reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy Amazeballs, I LOVED THIS!! And it's written by a dude! ;)



And the beginning, WOW!! It made me do this....



So on to my review!

To be honest, this book kind of reminded me of Ultimate Betrayal by AM Hargrove (which was released 2013 whereas this book had been released in 2012) where the main girl, Abby, is a virgin and worships her favorite author which happens to be a male.

HOWEVER, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO IS THAT...

Abby is in love with Daniel, her book author, and connects to him through his writing and decided to write him a letter.

This is where things all change.

SO DANIEL...

Daniel, is a popular romance novelist who's life is falling apart. He's sick of the fame, he's sick of the groupie women, and has ultimately fallen into a slump.

He comes across a fan letter from Abby and decided that he absolutely has to meet her and so he does.

It is not an easy romance as both characters still have many bumps and roadblocks along the way but it is definitely worth investing your time in!!

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!!! I CAN'T WAIT FOR BOOK TWO!! THANK YOU JEFF FOR GIFTING ME A COPY OF YOUR BOOK AND INTRODUCING ME TO YOUR WORK! :)

["Avonna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Novel Obsession (Novel Series, #1) by Jeff Joseph is the first book in a new series that has mystery, suspense and romance all interwoven in a well written story. A small town setting that is believable with all its inhabitants’ public and private agendas kept me turning the pages.

Abby Lane is a beautiful romantic idealist, who teaches English in her small town high school. She has come to believe that one famous romance author, Dan Sheppard, is the perfect example of romance and her ideal man. Dan is looking for his one and only that will see beyond his fame and fortune. When he receives a letter from Abby, it gets him out of his slump and he has to meet her to see if she is real, but her letter and personal information are destroyed in his apartment fire.

The plot seems to have these two characters forever missing their chances to meet, but not in a repetitive way that would make the story annoying instead I had to keep turning the pages hoping for romance to win. The secondary characters are very well written and bring about the suspense and mystery in the plot. My only complaint was I felt the ending was a little rushed. It does lead into the second book in this series without being a complete cliffhanger.

I want to thank the author for gifting me this ebook. It was a very entertaining read. On to the next book for me!

[Lisa N · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an okay book all around. It was really well written almost to the point of being to well written. The author is obviously well versed. I prefer novels that make the reader feel they are really in someones head. Most likely people do not think in such perfect grammar. Maybe chopping it up a little would make me connect with the characters better.

Abby was super sweet and likeable. She was surrounded by nut jobs though. I would have liked to get to know her better as a character. By the end of the book I could not remember if there was any physical decription of her. I had no idea what she looked like. That is importanat to me when picturing a heroine. Also Am I to guess she is a little psychic?? That should have been introduced at some point.

Beau Rick and Bill must have known something I dont because they were all pretty smitten. I found myself getting frustrated about how long it took Dan to find her.

I will definitely be reading the next book because I feel the need to know how their stories end. I guess that is what makes a successful book.

[Linda Strong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abby Lane, 32, single much to her parents' distress, is madly in love with her book-boyfriend. Actually, it's the author of romantic novels, Dan Sheppard, that she fantasizes over. He is her idea of the perfect man and she is not lowering her standards for anyone.

Tall, dark and handsome, Dan is facing his own crisis. Although a very popular romance novelist, he's still single, unable to find that one woman who will see him beyond the fame and riches.

Starting the book, I got the feeling that these were two star-crossed lovers... doomed to just miss each other by the blink of an eye. I was thinking this was a typical love story ... boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy finds girl again for a happy ending.

Nope ... not by a long shot!

Meet Julia ... Abby's best friend since they were babies. And Rick .. Julia's husband who has a 'thing' for Abby. And there's Beau ... Abby's principal at the school where she teaches. They've dated off and on for years. He wants much more than she's willing to give .. and he's not her fantasy man. And along comes Bill ... brand new Coach for the football team, who also has secrets of his own.

This book has it all! Humor, sex, love, jealousy, murder,and mayhem with an ending that may take your breath away. Be prepared for a cliffhanger of sorts ... which is why I'm already reading PURSUED .... the sequel.

I gave it 5 stars .... loved the characters, the story line was not what I had expected, and I can't wait to see what happens next.

My thanks to the author, Jeff Joseph, who furnished a digital copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

[E.D. Brady · Rating 5 out of 5]

A novel obsession combines romance with intrigue and suspense.
Abby, a small town high school teacher, only has eyes for famous celebrity author, Daniel Sheppard. Assuming that her attraction is purely fantasy-driven, she is unaware that a letter she sent to Sheppard changed his life. The obsession becomes mutual between two people who have never met. As forces drive them together, maliciousness will intervene to keep them apart.
This book kept me up late waiting to see what would happen. There was one major ‘oh, no, if only she had said this’ moment that added to the suspense and had my heart racing. The ending led me to believe that we haven’t heard the last of this story. I recommend this book highly and would gladly read more novels by Mr. Joseph.

[Melanie Douglas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book might have one of the steamiest prologues.. And I can only hope book two has more ;) The heroine Abby isn't your average chick. She's in her early thirties and the gem of her small Ohio community. Most every guy is psychotically in love with her. However she only has eyes for one man.. Whom she's never met.. I think every avid reader can relate to her fixation on one level or another; after all, isn't that why we read romantic novels?





I have to say that I loved the writing, it was very strong.. The story isn't long, but this is only book one in this series.


Everything starts off in a normal developmental pace, but quickly turns crazyyy. The character introductions took up a good chunk of this novel, but that's probably because each character had to describe their connection to the golden girl, Abby.. Every chance encounter between Abby and her man made me so crazy! The ending for once was NOT predictable, which I appreciated. The conclusion is definitely not conclusive and leaves you WANTING more.. And I can't wait to see where Abby's story takes her..

I'd recommend this book if your looking for a little steamy, mostly contemporary and a lot of suspense ;)




Thanks to the author Jeff Joseph for gifting me a copy of this story for my enjoyment>/i> :)

[Eryn LaPlant · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't even put into word how much I liked this book! It drew me in at the very beginning and didn't let go until the very last word. I loved Abby - I felt like I was her. I don't know how many times I "fell in love" with a fictional character or an unreachable actor. Julie was her ever-present friend, funny and always trying to do the best for her friend. Daniel - ahh Daniel, he was so down to earth and lovable. Beau was the sweet, kind hearted dork and Bill the not-so-typical jock. I've known people like each and every one of Jeff's characters, which made it all the better to get into the story. But like I needed help getting into the story. Jeff just set the baits the hook and lures you into his very own little world, but you don't get comfortable because the second you do - BAM! Twist! I flew through this story and loved every single word! I can't wait for anything else Jeff writes!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It has a couple genres mixed together. Although, I would say it was more suspense than romance. I'm sure we all, at some point, have fantasized about a hero/heroine in a book that we've read. I think escapism is one of the main reasons people read, especially romance. This book is different because the lead female, Abby is obsessed with a romance novel author, Daniel Sheppard. She fantasizes about him to the point where her best friend and family are concerned she will never settle down with anyone because she has set her standards so high because of this author.
Daniel Sheppard is in a slump and is taking a break from writing and touring the country doing book signings and TV interviews. As he reads his fan mail he finds a letter that Abby sent to him, asking if he would come to her school and speak to the students. He gains renewed strength from her letter, but loses her contact information due to a fire in his apartment. He decides to tour again, to become public again and perhaps somehow find her.
Meanwhile, a hunky ex-Pro NFL player has been hired as the new football coach for the high school team, which has the Principal up in arms for several reasons. Mainly, he doesn't want him near Abby, because he wants Abby for himself. He also is suspicious as to why someone from the NFL would want to come to a small Ohio town.
I didn't really capture was what was so interesting about Abby that so many men would be interested in her, one of which is her best friend's husband. Not sure why that's in the story. Abby & Julie are like sisters and it would crush Julie if she knew her husband married her to be close to Abby - just weird.
So, the question is, who gets the girl? Will it be the ever persistent Principal, the hunky ex-NFL football coach or will she finally meet the man of her dreams, Daniel Sheppard? Is the Principal justified in being suspicious of the new coach? You'll have to read the book to find out.
I loved the small town setting with it's quirky characters. I liked how, as the reader, you know things that are going on and you want to know how the characters in the book are going to react in different situations. There are humorous moments, as well as, moments of suspense. Overall an enjoyable read. I am looking forward to the sequel because people know and can identify the "bad guy" and I'm interested to see what happens with Abby.
**Please note, the author gave me a copy of this book. In return, I'm providing my honest opinion.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmmm...

Well... This book was interesting. I really don't think it was for me... I had some issues with it...
I didn't like how the author described certain things.
It just didn't work for me.

The book starts off pretty hot & heavy. I was getting really into it.. Then... Bam!!

"Her nipples were so hard and protruding, he could have hung coffee mugs from them"

I read this & I'm thinking to myself... Wtf!!...lol
That does not sound sexy at all!! Why would anybody be thinking about coffee mugs right at that moment!!...lol

Ok... So it gets better...
Then it goes on to this.

"She held his fully upright, thick, and throbbing manhood in her right hand, as she would have the stick shift of a Maserati, squeezing it firmly, leaving no doubt who was doing the driving now."

Call me crazy... But I do not think any guy would want a girl to move his manhood like a stick shift!!...lol

Those two things were mood killers for me...instead of thinking about them having good sex...
All I thought about was having coffee & driving a car!! (Stick shift...lol)

I haven't read many male authors books before.. But, you could totally tell the difference between a male & female author. With this book anyway.

This book was kind of all over the place... Romance, mystery suspense, thriller.
I thought I was reading a romance book... But as you read on... It changes to a whole new genre.

This book starts off a little slow. Took me awhile to get into the characters. Once I started getting further into the book. I still really didn't feel connected to characters.

Then all of a sudden everything was just on fast forward. The whole Bill thing was just out of left field. There really was no build up to his craziness or obsession. Just little hints here & there... But nothing concrete. Her best friends husband Rick... Having a thing for Abby. Was just another thing coming out of left field. There was a lot of skipping around too.

Besides the semi hot sex scene in the beginning of the book... Which turns out to be a dream!!...there's nothing else.

This book seems a bit old fashion too language wise. The way some of these characters talk...
Just doesn't seem to realistic to me.

Overall...I just don't think this book was for me.

**The author gifted a copy to me for an honest review**

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Abby, an English teacher and hopeless romantic with old-fashioned values, reads romance-laced fiction as that is the only love life she has, at present. There is her favorite author, Daniel Sheppard, whose words mesmerize her heart. He writes about true love, the hope of it, and the real possibilities of happily-ever-afters. She sets the almost unattainable bar of future romantic interests by the standards of Daniel Sheppard's words.

The prologue was steamy as hell, but I felt it was an odd way to start this book. I only understood what the author was getting at when I began the next chapter. LOVED the dialogue between all the characters in the story as it was superbly written. (I also was thrilled that I only found one word misspelled and that was at 91% through the book.) The character of Beau, the Principal, had me seeing him in my mind's eye as more of a Sheriff-type for some reason. My emotions toward this man were that I wanted to gut punch the sweaty, nosy dirt bag. Bill was great! Wow, he sure fooled me! Daniel was awesome and I love his back story. Abby was cool and I could picture Katherine Heigl playing her in my mind movie while reading. Julie was a great best friend/sister. Her husband, Rick, is kind of a dirt bag too. Yeah, I want to kick him in the shin.

While I was duly notified by the author that this was first in his series and that more was to come, I hate waiting and really wished for closure as well as some more steamy and saucy in the book. I guess good things come to those who wait, so I'm going to be like Abby and be patient.

This was an e-book given to me by the author. (Thanks, Jeff!) I give this unsolicited review of my own and have not been (nor do I ask to be) compensated for it...ever. Hurry up with the next book, Jeff!

[A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm really glad I accepted the gift from the author and gave this book a try. It was really refreshing to take a break from all those biker and rock star romances that are becoming popular these days. I love small town romances with quirky characters and twists and turns. Throw a little suspense into the story and I'm hooked! I'm not a fan of the third person narrative, but the prologue sucked me in right away and I read this book in one sitting.

A Novel Obsession is a story about Abby and Daniel, two romantic souls who are searching for their true soul mates. It is a story about hope, fate and never giving up.
The writing style is amazing, the author certainly has a way with words (though there are too many descriptions for my liking). Sometimes it felt like the author jumped too fast from one character to the other. I wish the story had been told only from Abby and Daniel's points of view.

Abby is a likeable heroine but I somehow wish we got the chance to get to know her better. Now, Daniel is such a beautiful soul. We get a few glimpses into his past and his life full of loneliness and unhappiness. He is misunderstood and has been desperately searching for true love and real connection all his life.

I'm so happy that Abby and Daniel finally found each other, although the ending felt a little too abrupt. I really wanted to see how they reacted, what they said to each other, what they were feeling. I would love to read more about their chemistry and true love. I guess I should start with the next book for that.

Overall this was a great read and I would highly recommend it to anyone who likes romantic suspense with a small town setting.

[Ann Dobby-Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author gifted this book to me so I want to say Thank You :)

This storyline has potential and the writing is good but it needs depth and clarity. A school teacher obsessed with a famous author(that's interesting)so let's start here because was she obsessed or wasn't she? At first she comes across as delusional about their relationship(which is the direction I thought this was going)but then she's not....she's normal...she just admires his writing...well, wait - which is it?? Then every man in town is in love her - but why?? Then evil plots start being formed and the characters turn seedy - wait, what?? Then the heroine has psychic abilities - when did that happen??

Different plots kept popping up so the story didn't flow - and I could not connect with any of the characters. Their conversations felt forced and almost mechanical - people don't think in proper grammar or have casual talks using proper grammar and they don't say the other person's name in every sentence. These were surface characters that really need to be fleshed out so the reader can experience their feelings and not just be told how they felt. Lastly, there was zero romance and that being my favorite genre - just bummed me out!

I hope the next book fleshes out the characters and is told in first person more than third - and I definitely hope the main characters get a whole lot more face time :))

[Gela · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well written, grammar wise. The tremors being mentioned way to much annoyed me. I think the over use of "big words" or "over analyzing" could be toned down a bit. I don't want to read a smut novel and close my eyes and Ben Stein pops up in my head because of the narrator, I want David Gandy or someone sexy. Also the mug/nipple thing was corny as hell. I didn't want to get it on a wanted to put the kindle done and get a macchiato.

This was gifted to me, thank you. Well written. I hope I don't offend but rather encourage to write a best seller.

[Sivutha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haven't put the book down which means it's a good thing!! 5 stars read for a small town teacher Abby who has a crush on Author Daniel. The author Daniel life is spiral out of control and is ready to call it quit until he read a fan letter from Abby. Those have to go through a few obstacle before they get to meet one another. Suspense, romance and a bit mystery mixed altogether. I can't wait for the next book. Def a recommend book :)

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was gifted to me by the author so I'd like to say thank you Jeff

I loved the story line, however the writing style of this book was very different to most of the books I've read, I don't no if this was because the author is male but I found it hard to connect with the characters, some of the scenes made me cringe from the way they were wrote, and the ending seemed rushed to me, having said all that I am going to try the next book but only because it was gifted to me also

[Home Is Where the Wine Is Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

Wow not what I was expecting.  A Novel Obsession is beautifully written.   Based around a women who becomes obsessed with her favorite author, Daniel Sheppard.  I know I know.  At first thought was like "This bitch is crazy!" The movie Misery is playing in the back of my mind.

I loved how the book switched to each characters POV.  If you know me and my reviews then you know that I typically write spoiler free reviews.  Well that being said this is going to be a very hard one to review.  So many twists and turns.  Obsession. Lies. Deceit.  

Abby is a beautiful, young, English teacher from a small rural town, obsessed with romance author Daniel Sheppard, she keeps a framed picture by her bed and watches his TV appearances regularly on DVR.

Jules is Abby's best friend and married to Rick  She is also obsessed with getting Abby a real man.  Always trying to fix her up.  She thinks her obsession with Daniel is not healthy.

Rick was furious.  His ever-practical wife love to clip coupons. Although he appreciated her frivolity and the money she saved them, the fact that the last part of the article he was reading in the sports page was missing, cut out made him yell, "Shit" out loud before looking around to see if he was overheard by his control freak Jules.

Beau is principal at the school where Abby works and also happens to be her ex boyfriend.  Sadly he is still madly in love with her.  Abby knows his feelings but she sees him only as a good friend.  When a new football coach comes to town he immediately tries to warn her.  He doesn't trust him and thinks he is hiding something.

Bill Thompson  is an ex-pro football player that played for the 49ers.  When he takes a job as head football coach in a small hick town he was not prepared to meet someone like Abby.  She was smart, timid and beautiful.  He becomes obsessed himself and will stop at nothing to have her.

Daniel Sheppard.  Once a famous romance novelist he know finds him self a recluse.  Depressed he rarely leaves his apartment, eating stale food and has no desire to write again until one day he stumbles upon a letter from a very intelligent English teacher named Abby.  She captivated him by those few words.  Asking for him to come to her town and speak to her English students. He is revitalized and immediately speaks to his agent about his plans.  Upon returning to his apartment something tragic happens where he loses Abby's letter.

He is devastated but determined.  He immediately starts writing and touring again.  Hoping that one day a beautiful woman named Abby will want one of his books signed. He knows it's a long shot but the irony in this story is he becomes obsessed with her. 

A chance encounter brings them together but before they can meet the story takes a drastic surprising turn.  And OMG you will never see this one coming…

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

A huge thank you to Jeff Joseph for advancing me a free copy of his novel in exchange for my honest review.

When I started this novel I wasn't sure what to expect. I had only read a couple of chapters and was already thinking the heroine, Abby, was a complete nut-case. That and so were a few others living in the small town of Shadyhill. I honestly didn’t think I was going to enjoy reading this novel. I was wrong. It got better and better as I read on. Talk about an engaging and intriguing story that was unfolding right before my eyes. I couldn't get enough. I kept wanting to know what was going to happen next. With an eclectic array of characters, the author weaves a well-written tale full of romance and suspense that definitely captures your attention. Or in my case keeping me engaged right up to the end as I read “Obsession” in one sitting.

While I enjoyed reading "Obsession," there was one thing that irked me a bit and that was Abby, the female protagonist of the story. Intelligent, educated, and beautiful on one hand, but also a total nut-job who's totally enamored with an author she's never met but loves because of the romance novels he writes. She lays her book upright against her lamp, his picture facing her so she sees him when she wakes up, goes to bed, and walks into her room. She even has conversations with him in her head. Yet, she tells her best friend that she’s not in love with him but in love with what he’s written.

““Jules, to begin with, I’m not in love with Daniel, although I have no doubt I could be if I did know him. I am in love with his work.””

Are you sure???

““Maybe I am overstating the situation a little, but why won’t you be even a little intrigued about this new guy who’s coming to town? My guess is every eligible girl within twenty miles can’t wait to sink her hooks into him. I know you’re not the meat-market type, but aren’t you the least bit curious?”

“Julie, what would Daniel think if I went chasing after every jock who walked into town, Hmm?”

“I’d like to crack this bottle right over his head for the spell he’s cast on you.”

“Now, now, Jules. We must be civil. Daniel always preaches civility and control. I’ll bet you his butler is serving him this same wine at this very moment to compliment a delicious gourmet meal.””

A high school English teacher who’s a total loon?? Works for me.

Like I said, I had a hard time trying to figure her out. When she’s conversing with her best friend, Julie, Abby comes across as more mature, older and wiser than Julie - much, much older. Indirectly, I believe Abby thinks she’s more intelligent than her best friend because she reads novels.

““Being the consummate CPA, you’ve never gotten your nose out of financial statements long enough to have read any of his novels.””

A little condescending don’t you think?

It was hard to fathom that Abby and Julie were the best of friends. Maybe because Abby came across as a little too perfect. I mean we have a total of four men in this novel who are interested and/or in love with her.

In the end, I enjoyed reading “Obsession” immensely, and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading novels of the romance-suspense genre as they will not be disappointed.

[Desere · Rating 3 out of 5]

All of us fall in love a hero from a book on a regular basis! You want to meet a man just like him, fall in love and live happily ever after. Yeah right ! No man from any book is ever found in real life, you might find one that is close or a combination of some but never the exact same.

But when reading do you ever really think anything about the author, other than this writing is terrible or great or I wish the author would not have made the characters do that?

Falling in love with the authors work in one thing but falling in love with the actual person is a complete different level of weird. Yes, if you meet in real life and it is meant to be that is all good, but if not it can turn into a obsession of the stalking kind.

Abby is madly in love with the author of the books that have become her focus of hanging onto life, it is what gets her through everyday. But being in love with the author of these reads clouds her judgement of those around her that are either in love with her for years or just interested.

This to me was somewhat disturbing as life is passing her by and she is not open to possibilities. From the back blurb I was thinking that this could get good and the author has my attention, and I was looking forward to a good romantic suspense and a mind blowing mystery.

But the author only half managed to capture it all for me. The read started off with a very hot erotic and blazing sex scene then changed over to soft chick lit( which was weird as this is a male author) but then it changed into mystery and suspense. This was all very confusing , it was as if the author was trying to combine all the types of genre's into one read and this left me with confusion as to what he was really trying to get at, it was a little too all over the place for me.

At the end of the day I was yet left with a good mystery and a romance and very well written, and yes all characters personalities in all reads change, as it is the other person or a event that manages to bring lightness to their life or darkness and it is great to see what or who manges to change them.

But in this read the characters were driving me to the point of insanity and not in a good way, I wanted to shake them up and yell "Get over it and get on with it , open your eyes and see what is happening in front of you see chance for what it is ", and the author just did not really bring it to that point which is what I would have expected, but rather it left me with characters who's personalities change so much that it was as if they were unstable.

All in all the author has the talent needed to write a very good book, but I would advise him to focus on just one genre at a time or maybe just two such as romantic suspense or just mystery romance. Which I think will give the reader a chance to absorb his talent and not get too side tracked with all kinds of here and there.

I am however giving the author brownie points for the chick-lit incorporated, it is a remarkable talent to be able to be in touch with a woman on her level when your male.

3.5 star review
" Obsession turns over to the dark side"

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was gifted to me by the author.

First, this read was entertaining and overall I enjoyed it. However, I must admit that parts were a little over dramatic and sometimes confusing.

Right off the bat, the novel begins with a hot and heavy sex scene (somewhat erotic in nature), then morphs into a sweet chick-lit dialogue. After a few chick-lit pages, it changes direction again towards a suspense/thriller genre, and then totally throws a supernatural element of premonition into the mix. For me this was a little too much like"everything but the kitchen sink."

Also, the character's personalities seemed to change throughout the read. I'm used to having their personalities defined in the beginning, so it was strange to see characteristics seem to pop up out of no where. For example: Bill starts off as a nice guy, seemingly normal, then as a guy who needs to defend his honor, then as a jealous man who needs to mark his territory, then becomes somewhat paranoid, and then finally transforms into some crazy psycho serial killer. It was all just a little too surreal for me. The same can also be said for some of the other characters. I was really thrown off by Rick having a thing for Abby, and secretly fantasizing about being with. The fact that he married Jules just to be closer to Abby was a little on the stalker creepy side with a dose of ridiculous.

As a reader who loves contemporary romances, I guess I would have been happy with this being a single full-length novel that focuses most of its attention on Abby and Dan finding one another without all the extra complicated plot additions (i.e. chloroform, kidnapping, extensive planning of murder suicide, out-of-the-blue premonition ability, and finally the decision to kill the hero and the heroine of the story).

I actually loved how the story was progressing until around the 3/4 mark. This would have made a great contemporary chick-lit impressively written by a male author. Like most great love stories, it just needed a few hiccups in their search for finding true love. It really didn't need to venture into the realm of suspense/thriller stretched into a series. I don't think I'll read any follow-up novels.

Read for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. To me, sometimes a simple route is the better choice. There's no doubt this author is talented, but the writing comes across as trying too hard.

[Deanna Lynn Sletten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abby Lane is an incurable romantic who dreams of one day meeting the perfect man. She believes that romance doesn't have to wane in a relationship, and wants a man who will romance her from the first day to the last, throughout their lives. Secretly, she has a crush on bestselling romance novelist Daniel Shepperd, because she believes he is the only man who could truly understand her feelings about romance and true love. Unfortunately, her best friend, Julie, thinks that Abby lives with her head in the clouds and is always trying to set her up with men. What Abby doesn't realize is that there can be many layers to people, and sometimes, those with the most layers can be dangerous.

A Novel Obsession is a unique story with complicated characters who keep you guessing. A mixture of romance, suspense, and mystery, this novel has many layers that keep the story interesting and intriguing. I enjoyed this novel very much and I look forward to future novels by Jeff Joseph.

[Jodi Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow.. this was definitely different than what I expected but wow it was good! Its romance mixed with a darker side that really keeps you reading and wanting more! I cannot wait for the second book!!

[Kathryn Parry · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was one chapter that bored me about the town but I was glad I pushed through it because the story got better. Can't wait to read the next in this story....

[Shannon Deatherage · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jeff Joseph gifted me a copy of this book in exchange for my review. I have to say I really think he has something here with this plot. There were some twists that I definitely did not see coming and I am anxious to grab book two in the series to see where this goes. I give it 3.5 stars. I know for me saying I really liked it 3.5 doesn't seem very high but I will explain my reasoning. The plot was good and I think there is a lot to say about keeping your readers guessing, but my only hang up was the dialogue. The characters spoke way to formally and for the "average joe" reader you don't find that kind of dialogue relatable. I know I myself would never say to a friend "I had the most glorious romantic evening, I was so happy and fulfilled." It really makes the characters seem much older than they are supposed to be. I realize a lot of the grammar, dialogue and vocabulary used was due to the fact that the heroine was a English teacher and the hero was a Novelist, but I still felt slightly detached from their chemistry. That being said, once I put my dictionary down to understand some of the wording, I found the story and plot line very intriguing. If the dialogue had been a little more "youthful" I would have easily given this a 4 Star review.

Abby is a small town English teacher who has a slight obsession with well renowned novelist Daniel Shepherd. When Abby sends a well written from the heart fan letter to Daniel requesting he come speak to her English class she has little hope that Daniel will actually read it. Abby has a hard time coping with the reality that is her life and tends to live in the fantasy world found only in romance novels. Daniel has a way with words that gives Abby hope that there truly is the perfect guy out there for her, and in Abby's mind that person is Daniel.

Daniel is feeling detached from himself. He's struggling to find the inspiration to write what he is so well known for. Daniel has gone down a spiral of self pity and can't find a reason to write anymore. Secluding himself from the hustle and bustle he's grown to detest, he finds himself sifting through the ever inappropriate fan mail he's had piling up. When he comes across an eloquently written letter from a small town high school teacher Daniel instantly is inspired by her word of appreciation for his literary work. He sets out a goal to find Abby and see if there truly is that perfect someone out there.

There are so many twists and turns in this story that you really do breeze through trying to figure out where this will all lead. I'm anxious to see how Abby and Daniel's chemistry pans out in book two. There are sure to be some surprises from Bill and possibly Rick (still mind boggled by that one). Grab this one up and let me know what you think!

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happens when a beautiful and lonely English teacher finds no romantic prospects in her small town? She spends her dreams fantasizing about a best-selling romance author, Daniel Sheppard! (Aww, come on, we all have an unlikely secret fantasy or two!) With her imagination setting the bar so high, no one can compete. The school principal has been obsessed with Abby for years, but she doesn’t give him the time of day and the new football coach, although handsome, isn’t really as perfect as everyone thinks. The fates, with the help Abby’s best friend bring her face to face with her dream-guy/author. Will Abby’s dreams come true or will an evil that lurks the streets of town put an end to any chance for Abby to find out if Daniel can be her Happily Ever After?

In A Novel Obsession, Jeff Joseph’s characters are each distinctly carved out, some are frighteningly twisted, some are sweetly sad, but they all hold secrets so out of character to the face they show the public, they were genuinely believable! The plot gave just enough detail sprinkled throughout to keep me hooked, wondering what was going to happen next! The twists were great, building to a huge highpoint, yet, in the end, there is still a little mystery to wonder about! Hopefully, Mr. Joseph is busy creating more for us to enjoy!

[Nancy Silk · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Romance, Mystery, Thriller, All In One!"

Romance stories authored by a man I've always thought could only be written by a real man. In this novel, right from the beginning, Author Jeff Joseph reflects his knowledge of women and provides warm, passionate love. Just reading the first couple of chapters, the author knows how to light your fire! Abby Lane is in love; she's in love with author Daniel Sheppard. Has she ever met him? No, she's only read his books and watched his interviews on television. But his writing connected not only with her heart, but also with her soul. Abby is in her early 30's, beautiful and sweet; a teacher at a small town high school. Her best friend is Julie Street who is married and is always hoping that Abby will soon find the love of her life. The school principal, Beau Bradford, has known Abby all his life and has much love for her but he never has the confidence to really pursue her. Then Bill Thompson, former NFL football player, arrives to be head coach at the high school. He's single, and of course Julie thinks Bill just might be the man to interest Abby. Dreams of romance take a turn in this novel which rapidly turns into a mystery, and faster yet becomes a thriller. The story became so intense that I could not stop reading it until the shocking end. Jeff Joseph's writing style is superb, the pace absolutely becomes very vigorous. The story line becomes absolutely potent and the reader becomes very engaged. I do believe this may only be a beginning of another great novel from this remarkable author, Jeff Joseph. Highly recommend.

[Kristalovesher Kindlebooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was gifted this book by the author for an honest review!
At first I didn't think I was going to like this book, the 1st scene I was like, yep a guy definitely wrote this! It just wasn't described right, let's just put it that way! The history lessons of the town and Abby's family was a little boring but in the end I understood that I needed to know all that to understand some of the story! Abby did get on my nerves a few time, really, you set your standards to what you think a man should be by a book and wouldn't let any man in just cause they aren't the perfect men in the books or Daniel! But then she lets Bill in so fast! Uh No! Beau was a little too much like a wimpy stalker, I understood he loved her but dang boy, step up and tell her or get over her! This book did drag out but about half way through it started getting interesting! Although it did turn out ok in the end, I think the author needs to stick with one genre and not try to mix so much into one story! I understand that there are more to come in this series but I really wish Abby and Daniel could have had more time together in this book! It's almost like this book was about everything and everyone else but Abby and Daniel! The epilogue did leave me wanting more so I guess you can call that a success! So here's to wanting more and hoping book 2 will be out soon!

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, the author gifted me this book, and it is not my usual genre because it is realistic fiction. I get enough of real life but it was romance which is fantasy in my life...lol!

Okay first impressions, the blurb sounded interesting, but not usually my type of book, and it had a teacher as the main character. I don't usually think of men as romance writers even though I know they do; I'm used to female authors. The prologue jumped right into adult material, so I was wondering if the whole book would be sex rather than plot. After the prologue with the exception on one date, the whole book was plot and I liked it. :) I was sucked into Abby and Daniel's world and wondering if they would ever actually meet. I loved the journey this book took me on and I will definitely read the next book to see what happens to Abby next. This book is one of those books that is refreshing to read and gives you hope, but it has its real world problems, and you see Murphy's Law at work. And this book reinforces the idea that even though it might not be the type of book you usually read, doesn't mean you can't be pleasantly surprised, I look forward to the author's next book in the series.

**gifted me to by the author

[Bing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Abby Lane would probably be the most relatable character I've ever read, in the sense that she was obsessed with a book author, the same way readers became attached to the characters they read and worshipped the ground the authors' walk on.

The story started with Abby, a sweet and charming girl, living a normal life in a small town, with friends and activities that were nothing out of the ordinary. She admired a popular author so much that she used him as sort of a yardstick of what kind of man she could fall in love with, and all the men fell short.

Daniel was experiencing the negative effects of his fame. It was difficult for him to meet a girl who genuinely liked him for him, and not due to his fame.

How long before these characters meet? What obstacles and roadblocks will they encounter before they find each other?

The story trasformed into more than just the "star-crossed lovers" plot into so much more with twists and turns that will hold your attention.

The way this book was written had a different feel, a bit formal for my taste, but the story was interesting, and I'll look for the next book to find out what happes next.

**a copy was generously provided by the author.

[Lori ~Lover of Books~ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book provided by author in exchange for a review

2.25 - 2.5 Stars
Thank you to the author for the gifted copy. I wanted to love this one. The book sounded so unique and different I was definitely intrigued. However, I had issue with the flow of the book. I also couldn't get a grasp on the heroine. She was a bit all over the place for me. My biggest issue was the conversation in the book felt forced, a bit dry, or almost mechanical. I was waiting for the point where I was so adsorbed in the story I couldn't put it down. Unfortunately, that point never came for me. I just never fully connected with this one. I am not sure why either. I wanted a bit more of a romantic element. This book has lots of high ratings. So, give it a try if it sounds interesting to you.