Book Tour: Simplicity by Valia Lind (Interview/Review/Giveaway)

Simplicity
by Valia Lind
Re-release Date: February 10th, 2010
Review Format: eBook
Publisher: A-Argus Better Book Publishers, LLC
Genre: YA Christian Contemporary Romance  

SUMMARY 

"Driven, beautiful Alexis Sinclair lives her life to the fullest, following her dreams of running a big company. But when her world is torn apart by a storm, everything she has ever known disappears. Now, marooned on an island with a group of men, Alexis must learn to live in a world made up of simple things. Letting go of every known convenience, she realizes how insignificant her life has become. Filled with unrequited love for her rescuer she must battle the demons buried deep inside and she must look within herself and to her faith to find the strength needed to survive. 
Strong and influential, Jacob Peterson, has done all he can to survive. When the fate turned its tables on him, he learned to cope with the inevitable. Plagued by his past and secrets buried there, Jacob exerts a rigid control, refusing to succumb to the joys, and torturous pain, of strong emotions. Without considering love a gift he may never receive, he believes--he chooses to live by strict set of rules. But when a strange beautiful woman washes up on his beach, the walls that he has put up long ago begin to crumble. Is she a punishment sent from God to torment his weary soul? Or is she a gift, sent from above, there to teach him how to trust? Who is this woman? And how will he stop himself from losing his heart?
Will he learn to forgive the past in order to save the woman he loves?"

MY REVIEW 

Alexis is a strong minded woman who is driven to succeed at her job. And when she receives the highest promotion that you could ever get, she is ecstatic and just dives in head first and flies off to her first overseas meeting. And then disaster strikes, and she finds herself on a deserted island that already houses a few other survivors from a previous plane crash.  Adapting to island life is a struggle for Alexis who is used to being independent and in charge. But with help from the others, her beliefs in God and her growing love for Jacob, she learns to adapt, slow down and discover her true self. 

This book took me by surprise, in such a good way - and this rarely happens to me. It's eye-opening and thoughtful. Simplicity will touch your heart and make you think about the important things that matter to you. A definite must read for those who need a spiritual uplift.

INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR - Valia Lind

1. Describe Simplicity in 3 words. 

            Friendship. Romance. Self-discovery.

2. What was your inspiration for Simplicity?

            I get asked this question a lot and I feel like every time I give a different answer.  I think the biggest inspiration behind Simplicity is the need to tell the story. I feel like a lot of us struggle with the same problems Alexis came across (besides the whole island thing) and we as readers needed a book that didn’t only entertain but help us see things a bit differently. Sure, every book teaches us something, and there are those books that are pure lessons. Simplicity was a story and a lesson that I felt I had to share from my own life and my own personal experiences, from the way I see things. So I did and I threw in some romance. Really, what’s a book without romance in it? :)

3. How did you come up with the title? 

            The title was a long journey for me. The whole point of the book is to rediscover what is important in life and how to love the simple things. Alexis and Jake had to learn how to let go of every convenience and live a simple life. I just couldn’t get away from that word and that aspect. For me, Simplicity is the precious beauty that we overlook everyday. I felt like I needed that reminder, thus I shared that reminder with the world.

4. What is your favorite sentence or paragraph in Simplicity?

            Oh this is a hard one. I love the emotional banter between Jake and Alexis. I love the random words of wisdom from John. I love the precious truth from Brendan’s simple questions. I honestly can’t pick just one!

5. Can you please tell us what you are working on now?

            Right now I’m in the early early stages of a YA contemporary. Basically, I named my kids and that’s it. I’m also going back to the companion novel (to Simplicity) revisions because people keep asking questions about it!

6. Fun question! What is your favorite fairy-tale (or fairy-tale character)?

            That is a fun questions and a hard one! I love fairy tales to pieces, but if I had to pick...are we talking Disney or overall? Because Disney wise my favorite is Little Mermaid. But if we’re talking a general fairy tale its The Scarlett Flower, Russian take on Beauty and the Beast. Its a beautiful story written in 1858! You guys should read it! Oh, and I do enjoy Baba Yaga as a villain! :-) 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR- Valia Lind

Author. Photographer. Artist. 

Born and raised in St. Petersburg, Russia, Valia always had a love for the written word. She wrote her first full book on the bathroom floor of her dormitory, while procrastinating to study for her college classes. Upon graduation, she has moved her writing to more respectable places, and have found her voice in YA fiction. 

Her first adult book Simplicity is being republished, 

while her YA science fiction is on submission to find a home. 

Goodreads, Blog, Facebook, Twitter

Find Simplicity on Amazon and Barnes & Noble 

a Rafflecopter giveaway