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Leather Horizons

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Misty Briscoe is ready to gracefully bow out of her successful career and bow in to an uncertain future. But her choices may result in a turning, twisting leap of faith.

Strength is one thing, courage another. Just ask Misty Briscoe. Her dignity has taken a beating the last couple of month’s She’d found herself at a crossroads of staying put in her career or returning home where her family needs her.

If only the choice wasn’t so complex.

Her workplace predicament with her married boss and her successful job in Chicago are anything but stress free. Yet, back home in southwestern Michigan, her beloved grandmother has recently passed, and now her grandfather has disappeared. Add to that, Misty’s best friend needs her support in the most unlikely of circumstances.

In the end, will she remain in the big city where she’s worked hard to attain a career or give it up and begin again at home where she has a sense of belonging?

From the spectrum of executive boardrooms to shadowy blue collar bars, secluded beaches, and dense woods, follow Misty on her challenging journey to find peace of mind, contentment, and a place among loved ones.

The saga takes a hard look at life from the classified agendas of friends, lovers, families, and enemies to the ultimatums behind closed doors. Come along for the ride through the avenues of indiscretion, loneliness, hope, secrets, courage, love, deceit, and integrity into LEATHER HORIZONS.

219 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 1, 2018

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About the author

Laverty Sparks

5 books5 followers
a/k/a Laurel Sparks-Sellers

SHE’S THE GAL YOU WANT TO TELL YOUR SECRETS TO. SHE’S JUST THAT TRUSTWORTHY. LAUREL’S THE KIND OF WOMAN THE OTHER’S HAVE A HARD TIME FIGURING OUT. SHE’S THAT MYSTERIOUS. LAUREL’S THE SENSITIVE BEST FRIEND, LOVER, NEIGHBOR, SIBLING, DAUGHTER, AUNT, COUSIN, WHO SYMPATHIZES, AND EMPATHIZES. AND SHE WRITES ABOUT IT. YOU CAN’T HELP BUT LIKE HER. ALTHOUGH SHE STUDIES THE STYLES OF JACKIE COLLINS, NICHOLAS SPARKS, AND JANE GREEN, HER OWN COLORFUL VOICE CAN BE HEARD THROUGH THE STRONG MESSAGES SHE BRINGS TO THE PRINTED WORD.

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
Profile Image for Literary Redhead.
1,951 reviews544 followers
July 17, 2019
I love LEATHER HORIZONS by Laurel Sparks-Sellers (pen name: Laverty Sparks)! This compelling telling of the lives of two very modern women, Misty and her best friend Rebyl, combusts to an addictive pace as they burn through men, work, sexy motorcycle rides, life, loss, death, and rebirth.

The author is an exquisite writer, who elegantly paints each character and scene with such descriptive flair that you feel you KNOW these women, their lives, their deepest joys, sorrows and secrets. Left me crying for a sequel! More please, Laurel! 5/5

The author adds:
“Misty Briscoe is ready to gracefully bow out of her successful career and bow in to an uncertain future. But her choices may result in a turning, twisting leap of faith. Strength is one thing, courage another. Just ask Misty. Her dignity has taken a beating the last couple of months as she’s found herself at a crossroads of staying put in her career or returning home where her family needs her. If only the choice weren’t so complex.

“Her workplace predicament with her married boss and her successful job in Chicago are anything but stress free. Yet, back home in southwestern Michigan, her beloved grandmother has recently passed, and now her grandfather has disappeared. Add to that, Misty’s best friend needs her support in the most unlikely of circumstances. In the end, will she remain in the big city where she’s worked hard to attain a career or give it up and begin again at home where she has a sense of belonging?“



Thank you, Laurel, for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. I loved reading and reviewing LEATHER HORIZONS, which is available for purchase on Amazon.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Laurel Sparks-Sellers (pen name: Laverty Sparks) resides in Indiana and returned to the writing world after completing a career in radio advertising copywriting. She is a Communications major, child free, and has a great support network of family and friends, especially her husband.

Her published writing projects include LEATHER HORIZONS and PRIVATE PURSUITS, both contemporary romance novels. Under the name of Laurie Sparks-Sellers, she authored POLKA DOT PROMISES: TAKING BACK TIME and BEYOND GINGHAM: REFLECTIONS OF 1965, two short story nostalgic collections.

Away from the keyboard, she enjoys traveling, decorating, working out, and casino gambling. Her motto: “When all the words have slipped way, nothing will remain.”
Profile Image for Crystal.
73 reviews
February 21, 2019
Quite the surprise - no storyline spoilers

To be honest I have never heard of this author so when the book, "Leather Horizons," showed up on my suggested list I was as leery as I was curious. So I figured why not. This is how I've discovered some of my most beloved authors/reads.

There was a refreshing love story in every character encounter involved. Each varying in the degree, reasoning, seriousness, type and probability. A mixture of long term, short term, painful, and joyful loves in characters developed just enough for their personal stories to make sense and invoke this readers intrigue.

While the writing style in this book was much different than my usual picks, it held me captivated more than it irked me. See, at first it read disjointedly in my head. Almost mimicking partial thoughts or maybe a hurried students class notes.
>>>BUT<<<
the storyline sucked me into its darkening beautiful abyss so I simply forgot about the "flow" I was not experiencing.

By the 20% mark I was invested. The story had just the right amount of fairytale and true life happenings to keep the plot riveting.

As I turned the page to begin the last chapter I realized the writing style was irking me because it hit close to home on how life just is. How life goes. Random details pointed out (clothing being noticed and the internal dialogue about it), noticing a tone or hitch in a loved ones voice but thinking "I'll ask about it later because right now "this" in MY life is consuming too much of my mind, etc.

Take a chance and read Leather Horizons whether you know this author previously, think it doesnt seem 100% "your" preference read, or never heard the authors name. It's well worth the risk.



Profile Image for Janell Madison.
330 reviews12 followers
January 12, 2020
“Leather Horizons” by Laverty Sparks

“Our paths and our decisions take us to different places in life…”Leather Horizons” by Laverty Sparks makes you think about the “what if’s.”- Green Gables Book Reviews

I really enjoyed this book by Laverty Sparks. I liked the main characters, even though I didn’t like a couple of the decisions they made. A quick read and a book that will make you think about life’s choices.

Misty and Rebyl are best friends. Because of work and jobs, they don’t get as much time together as they would like. They try to make the most of it when they are together. Misty is disappointed when Rebyl isn’t at the bar where they agreed to meet and catch up. But, at the same time, she isn’t surprised.

Misty has been dealing with something she isn’t proud of. She really should stop what she has started. But how? Should she leave her job and move back home?

Rebyl has been keeping a list for years. She’s hoping to reach her goal soon. It might not be the best goal to have, but she set it a long time ago.

Misty’s grandfather is missing. The family is frantic. Her Grandmother passed away recently and he has not been himself. Now, no one can find him.

Rebyl is not feeling well. She thought she could ignore these symptoms, but things are getting worse. What is wrong with her?

Misty and Rebyl need each other’s friendship now more than ever. Will Misty’s Grandfather be found safe and will Rebyl get a diagnosis?

A story of friendship, family, courage and love. But, also a story of pain, deceit, and loss. Easy read. Great characters that you can see in your mind as you read.

File Size: 1781 KB
Print Length: 219 pages
Publisher: Laurel Sparks-Sellers (April 27, 2018)
Publication Date: April 27, 2018
Sold by: Amazon.com Services LLC
Language: English
Profile Image for Badass Lioness.
375 reviews14 followers
November 19, 2019
4.5 stars! Misty is 42 and her life in Chicago is less than satisfactory with her "friendship" with her boss and her career stalling. She has a chance to rethink where her priorities lie when she returns home to a scary situation as they search for her grandfather. As she starts to re-establish ties with her hometown, her friend Rebyl who is keeping a secret, as well as finding out that someone is very interested in her, she gets called back to her old life and has to decide which one fits her now.

Misty nor Rebyl were perfect. Both had made mistakes and made some choices that were not necessarily in their best interest. That made them seem believable and relatable to me. Rebyl had been nursing a wounded heart for many years with her many one night stands. She follows horoscopes and looks to the others for guidance, but her secret finally forces her to face reality and make a decision that only she can make.

I admit I cried hard while reading this as both Misty and Rebyl find that there are some hard choices to make. Some readers may not like some of the choices they make, but I found myself rooting for both of them. Both got a chance to find peace, home, and love in their own way.

There is an HEA, and there is heartwrenching decision too. Both worked for me. Both stories made me think about my own life choices and what I might do in their situations. This is one that I enjoyed and was touched by.
6 reviews2 followers
September 9, 2019
I like reading novels that combine elements of romance with women’s fiction, and when you throw in a realistic portrayal of longtime female friendship, you’ve got my attention. Leather Horizons tells the emotional journey of Misty, a 40-something toiling in the corporate media world of Chicago. After she’s passed over for a promotion in favor of a much younger colleague (who’s sleeping with the boss), she quits her job to return to her small hometown to re-start her life and be close to her elderly parents.
The move also reunites her with bestie Rebyl, a woman who’s lived life on her own terms without apologies. Spoiler alert: Rebyl carries a secret that will impact the other characters in a tragic way. I thought she was the most interesting character in the book and I hated to see her go.
Misty also meets Austin, a local entrepreneur, and they begin a tentative relationship. From my perspective, I didn’t find Austin very sexy or appealing, and I thought his relationship with Misty lacked passion. I needed to feel that they couldn’t live without each other, and although Austin was a nice man who loved her, he didn’t do it for me. Still, I enjoyed the book and I applaud the author for not choosing the most conventional ending. How about a prequel featuring Rebyl?
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Karen.
1,231 reviews8 followers
July 7, 2018
The description of this book peeked my interest to read this book when I was contacted by Ms. Sparks. It looked like a good read so I agreed to read the book and do a review. I am very glad that I did. This book is about life, love, loss, and friendships. It was a story of a woman (Rebyl Miles) who is trying to find herself and in the process living life to it’s fullest and not let anyone tie her down. She lives life on her own terms and makes no apologies for it to anyone. She will encourage her best friend, Misty to do the same.

Misty will realize that her life is more than she thought it was and that she should be valued more than she is in her life in Chicago. She will find that there is someone who will cherish her and treat her the way she should be treated, as if she is the most important woman in the world. I really enjoyed this story and I look forward to reading more by Ms. Sparks in the future. Thank you for contacting and asking me. I give this book a 4 star review and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys contemporary romance, a story about life and all that there is to enjoy of it.
Profile Image for Melissa Alexia.
Author 2 books6 followers
Want to read
September 14, 2020
4 STARS!

A well written book worth reading, if you have the time. Full to the brim with well versed lines, and a love story to boot.

Misty is a girl with many dilemmas. She's having an affair with a man she works closely with, while debating if the big city is really what will make her happy in the long run. Enter Austin, a business owner and proprietor who has a thing for Misty, but can never seem to find the right moment to express his affections.

Rebyl, Misty's best friend and aptly named, is dealing with a few critical life choices of her own. She and Misty's brother have never been an item in that sense of the word, but after being diagnosed, and wanting to get the number 100, she decides to take a chance with Derrick and see where it might lead.

Lots of dilemmas and life choices are made in this book, and I won't give anything more away, but let's just say that some could have been better.

All around a great read. Great story telling throughout and a vibrant spin on words that will keep you reading until the end.
Profile Image for Mary Deal.
Author 29 books132 followers
September 6, 2019
Two Women, Closest of Friends, One with a Secret

Misty Marie Briscoe is bored with her life in Chicago, though she is accomplished in her field. She yearns for more meaning in her life. Rebyl Miles is aptly named. She’s wild and free, but not without her own accomplishments. Two very different women though they’ve been friends for longer than they’ve kept track of. Their lives are forever entwined by mutual respect. Both women go through major changes on the way to creating the lives they dream of. But Rebyl has a deep-rooted secret, something she will carry out, that will forever affect the lives of everyone they know.

This author takes the reader deep into the personalities of her characters, with emphasis on these two women. We wonder how they can be so different, yet so loyal to one another and the reader emphasizes with both. We even feel understanding for Rebyl when she carries through with her plans of revealing her secret.
Profile Image for Georgia Tingley.
Author 9 books8 followers
April 10, 2019
This was a great story about two women in their forties who faced significant life altering changes in their lives. Best friends since childhood; Rebyl, aptly named, was a wild child, breaking all the rules, and Misty, a professional business woman who chased the city lifestyle - although they both had different personalities, and different paths which they chose to follow, they remained close throughout. Searching for love and career, we saw Misty and Rebyl face these challenges with strength, determination, and above all, love. Laverty Sparks did a great job of blending dual stories into a heartfelt romance with a side order of mystery thrown in. This book would appeal to many women finding love later in their lives.
Profile Image for Ute Carbone.
Author 14 books108 followers
March 26, 2020
Some friendships are meant to last a lifetime. Misty Briscoe is lucky enough to have such a friend in Rebyl Miles. Rebyl, true to her name, has always lived life on her own terms. Misty used to be the same, but lately she’s been working for a large corporation and having a disastrous affair with a man who clearly does not love her—none of which is giving her life she wants or deserves.
When she leaves her corporate job and moves back to the small town where she grew up, Misty is hoping to reconnect with her best friend and her own soul. But Rebyl has big changes coming her way, too.
This story is a weave of characters and storylines, made into a blanket of what it means to hold onto friends and family, to have love that matters, and to live as you’ve been meaning to live it.
Profile Image for Lois Crockett.
52 reviews1 follower
January 14, 2020
Don't start this page-turner before bedtime...

...or you'll never get to sleep before the wee hours. Laverty draws you in like a lover's embrace. What I enjoyed most was really feeling as if I knew the characters. A small town in Michigan calls to a young woman disillusioned by her glittery career in Chicago. We end where we begin, the old saying goes, and there really is no place like home. Well played, Ms. Laverty.
Profile Image for Callie Carmen.
Author 12 books73 followers
August 8, 2020
Laverty is a very descriptive writer. I felt like I was almost there with the wonderfully unusual characters in Leather Horizon. My favorite line in the book was the word used to describe Misty's best friend, Rebyl. It was a hummingbird. You'll understand when you've read this wonderful story of a special friendship and a special love. I received an ARK copy of this novel for an honest review.
Callie
January 26, 2019
I really enjoyed reading this book. The characters are well developed and interesting, and the author sets the story up beautifully with great descriptions. The story is deep and involves a wide array of themes, and the relationships that Misty builds with other people are very well written. Leather Horizons is a fantastic book by a fantastic author. I highly recommend.
8 reviews
August 22, 2019
Unexpected with Great Characters

As soon as I read this synopsis I was keen to read this book and I wasn’t disappointed. It’s an interesting book with fantastic characters (LOVED that Misty is 42!).

The book was pleasantly unpredictable and the storylines were intriguing. Highly recommend!
September 4, 2018
This is a very good book. I loved the journey of the characters. Laverty Sparks is a very talented writer. I have read other books by her, under the name Laurie Sparks, and enjoyed each of those books too.
378 reviews1 follower
October 28, 2019
Laverty Sparks is a new author to me. This story was a mix of very interesting characters and storylines although the author’s writing style seemed a little different from what I usually read. I enjoyed this book and will read more of this author’s work.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews

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