Best Books of 2014

It's been way too long since I posted, but I wanted to do something for the end of year. Hopefully I'll post a bit about my goals for the new year, soon. I'll have some quiet time the next few days to really reflect on it, and I want to make 2015 the year I start really getting done. But on to the best books (my favorite reads) of this year.

1. Breathe Annie Breathe by Miranda Kenneally 

This was just awesome. It's sad at times, the grief throughout the book is very, very real. But there is hope. I really loved this every time I read it. (Which is a lot--I love to reread books). So good, if you haven't read this, you really must.

2. Immortal Beloved series by Cate Tiernan

I picked this book up randomly at the library. And I started the book, and fifty pages in, I stopped found out it was a series, put the entire series on hold at the library. Then finished the book and drove the next morning to get the other two books because they couldn't get here fast enough. I've reread the series again, and it is great.  The books are Immortal Beloved, Darkness Falls, and Eternally Yours. It's young adult, but it feels older to me. Still, I loved, loved, loved this book. Just awesome.

3. Whatever Life Throws at You by Julie Cross

This was a book I found on sale at Amazon. And it was my first book I read put out by Entangled Publishing (which I really like everything I've read put out by them). It's a love story, and I really liked the characters and stories. I also really like Third Degree by Julie Cross.

4. Someday Maybe by Ophelia London

This is a retelling of Persuasion, and it's new adult. I really enjoyed the book, and the other in the series so far Definitely Maybe (Pride and Prejudice retelling). Also I've enjoyed everything I've read by her, and I'm finishing up the last of the books she has out right now. Great new author. She's added to my must reads list. 

5. Sweet Reckoning by Wendy Higgins

This is on here, because it is the first time in a long time where the series stayed as good as the first book. The series starts with Sweet Evil, then Sweet Peril and ends with Sweet Reckoning. You won't be disappointed finishing this one. I look forward to more books by her.

Enjoy your new year celebrations!

Books I Love: Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

Isla and the Happily Ever After 

by Stephanie Perkins

This is a book that I've been waiting to come out for a long, long time. And it was worth the wait. Such a great story, and of course it has a happy ending, because of the title. One of the things I love about Stephanie Perkins is that she brings the characters back for little appearances. It brings the entire trilogy full circle.

Isla (pronounced I-La) is a student at School of America in Paris. She has had a long-time church on Josh, another student there. When they run into each other over the summer, Isla decides that it must be fate and something needs to happen. But Josh has issues of his own, and the story goes from there.

Have you read it yet? What did you think? If you haven't read any of Stephanie Perkins yet, you simply must. You can start at the beginning with Anna and the French Kiss, or read Lola and the Boy Next Door. However, they can be read out of order. 

Books I Love: Magnolia by Kristi Cook

Magnolia by Kristi Cook

This book is set in the deep South in a small town. Jenna grew up with Ryder, and their mothers want them to get together and eventually marry. But they don't even like each other right now. The story is pitched as a reverse Romeo and Juliet. And the story is fun, quick and sweet. I think I loved the setting in this story as much as anything, and the characters were well developed. Overall, it is a fun read.

Kristi Cook also wrote  Haven,  the first in a trilogy that I also really enjoyed. The books are interesting and the pacing is good. Haven  is a vampire story with a unique twist. Have you read anything by her? What did you think?

Friday Five: Summer Vacation

1. Just got back from vacation, which is why I haven't posted. I wanted to plan ahead and do it, but then I needed to plan ahead for my jobs that actually make me money and the blog got pushed to the end of the list. We went to visit my sister in Ohio. The kids were great, and somehow we managed the eight hour drive that seemed to go on forever. But it was very pretty.

2. The weather up in Ohio is much nicer than here in North Carolina. I don't know how I'd feel in the winter. But man the summer was nice. Highs of 84. Cools down at night to 51. There is some humidity, but nothing like here. I loved it just for that. We had a lot of fun going to the pool and the zoo and just hanging with the little cousins.

3. It was nice to really take a break from all work. And I'm finding it hard to motivate myself to go back. I need to get to work today and I've managed to procrastinate it for several hours. I may still be procrastinating it in several more. Just one of those days when you want to recover.

4. The car ride did get a little rough, with some screaming that "He's touching me. Make him stop touching me."  Fortunately, no one got car sick. The kids actually did pretty well for the most part. At the six hour mark things got a little tense. But we made it without killing each other.

5. Now it's time to start back to school shopping, clothes, school supplies and everything else. Only a few more weeks left of summer vacation! Eek. But I'm ready to get back onto a solid routine!

Friday Five: Camp and Other Nonsense

1. My oldest has been away at camp all week. Of course it has poured buckets of rain all week. I'm hoping that she had a good time. It's the first time I've sent my one of my kids away for a week without it being family.

2. I was up late writing last night, pulling parts of my plot together. But I'm sure feeling it this morning. Is it my age that I can't seem to handle anything past 1:00 am anymore. Just last year I was pulling 2:00 or 3:00 without huge penalties. Now I'm exhausted!

3. I started out with an in-person critique group, and joined an online one. I did both for awhile, and then things got too busy and I left the in-person grow, which has since dissolved with people moving away. I love my online group, but I'm thinking about joining another in person group in addition to my online one. It's scary because I'm so introverted.

4. With working from home, and my introverted issues, I think I'd be a hermit if I didn't have kids. I could see days where I wouldn't talk to anyone. It's crazy to think about it honestly. I need to push myself outside of my shell a bit more.

5. I am taking the boys ice skating today, which means pulling out the jackets and winter box of gloves and hats. We discovered ice skating last fall and the boys love it. Especially Jacob. I always feel a bit silly dressing like it's the middle of winter in July, but it is very necessary.

Have a great weekend!

Books I Love: Breathe Annie Breathe by Miranda Kenneally

Breathe Annie Breathe by Miranda Kenneally

I have been a big Miranda Kenneally fan since I read her first book, Catching Jordan, a few years ago. I was looking forward to reading this book. And I wasn't disappointed, in fact I think this is my favorite out of all of the books that she's written. It's the kind of book that when I finished, I wanted to pick it up and start reading it over again. I think she did a great job capturing how Annie was feeling, and I really identified with Annie and her grief.

Annie has decided to run a marathon in honor of her boyfriend who passed away. The story is about her training, and learning to move forward after the boy she planned to spend the rest of her life with passes away. Another great part of this book is the number of characters we get to see again, and how it made me want to go read their stories again. Definitely worth reading this summer, if you haven't picked it up.

Have you read it? What did you think?

Writing Wednesday: Hearing Voices--snatches of dialogue

I know I've hit the groove of a story when I'm planning out dialogue between characters as I complete my other tasks throughout the day. Sometimes that can be frustrating, because I know I'm going to lose whatever I'm thinking about. I've seriously thought about finding a way to record it. (I don't have a smart phone) And eventually I'm going to have to get some sort of voice recording software for when my typing skills disappear. (But that's a story for another time).

My biggest problem with that is computers and smart devices, tablets, etc seem to think I don't exist. My husband says the voice thing is because I mumble, but I don't think I mumble. But also they don't respond about fifty percent of the time when I swipe or press buttons or whatever. I think I am a technology ghost and soon I will stop existing.

I read a great book yesterday that just came out, and I will post about it on Monday. It had several similar elements to my Steve and Aimee book, but it's different enough that I should be okay still writing. When I finished reading, I just wanted to start working on my story even more. It's not often that I can say that about a book.

How do you deal with ideas that come to you while you are out and about or doing other things? I'd love to hear your strategies.

Books I Love: The Summer I Became a Nerd by Leah Rae Miller

The Summer I Became a Nerd by Leah Rae Miller

Maddie is a cheerleader, and a closet comic book fan. She hides everything about her love of comic books because she is afraid her friends will find out and stop wanting to hang out with her. Her world begins to change when she goes into the local comic shop to get the last edition of her favorite comic. She meets a cute boy and is slowly sucked into his world of comics, role playing and video games. Along the way Maddie finds herself lying to those that she cares about the most, and she has to learn how to balance both parts of herself.

This was a great read. It was endearing. One of my favorite parts of this book is that most of the judging came from Maddie herself, not her friends or other people. I love books that point out the fact that people don't usually fit into just one mold or the other. It was a fun read. Great for a summer day.

Have you read it? What did you think?

Friday Five: Reading and Summer Fun

1.  I have a twelve-year-old daughter who has just got the reading bug. She's always been a discriminate reader. If she loves something, she reads the series super fast and then doesn't read for awhile. Because of her friends she read Twilight over the last few weeks of school. And I just got her started on Ally Carter. It's so exciting to me, because she is venturing into the world of YA, which has some of my favorite books and series I've wanted to introduce her too for ages.

2. My boys on the other hand have completely sworn off reading. It is summer and they will not do anything related to school, no matter how much I try to convince them otherwise. It can be frustrating, especially because I know how much reading can help them. However, they are well-versed in Minecraft, YouTube and silly prank videos.

3. We've had bad luck with car door handles in the last month, with one on my van, and one in my husband's car. Fortunately, the fixes don't look too hard, so it is just going to be the cost of parts. But it is still a bit crazy that they both broke.

4. When I'm working, I sit at my desk which faces an open window. I love to pull up the blinds and stare at the trees just outside of the window. On one of the trunks, there is a face in the trees. It's where some branches were either timed back or fell off, but it looks exactly like two eyes and a mouth. It's funny to see the face staring back at me. I also love to see the blue birds and cardinals that fly around back there.

5. It's funny because when I was a bit younger, I always wanted my kids to sleep in, so I could. I wanted desperately to sleep much later then they would let me, but now that they've started to sleep in I'm waking up all on my own between 6:00 and 7:00 each morning. I don't understand this. I'm still staying up late. It's making me exhausted.

Have a great week!

Writing Wednesday

Last week, I was reading a blog post that recommended reading 2k to 10K: Writing Faster, Writing Better and Writing More of What You Love by Rachel Aaron. The book was only 99 cents, so I decide to go ahead an purchase it. It was a quick read and I really liked the ideas she offered to help you boost your productivity. Great ideas, that mostly involved planning before you write.  Another thing she did was track her productivity with words per session and words per hour. She figured out her most productive times to write.

I really liked the advice that she gave in the book, and I'm going to try implementing over the next few weeks. I'll give a report back about what worked for me and what didn't. Maybe you should check out the books and see if her suggestions work with your writing style.

What do you do to increase your word count?

Books I Love: How (Not) to Find a Boyfriend by Allyson Valentine

How (Not) to Find a Boyfriend by Allyson Valentine

This is a totally fun book about Nora who is determined to leave behind her geeky smart image and focus on being popular. She makes the cheerleading squad, and the hottest guy in school is interested in her. She couldn't be happier until Adam moves to town. Adam doesn't seem impressed by her popularity, but he is smart. Nora sets out to win him over by proving how smart she is.

I really enjoyed this book when I first read it in the fall, and I enjoyed it again on my second read through. It's fun, while sharing the message that it's okay to be smart and not everyone is judging you in the ways that you think. A totally fun read. Have you read it? What did you think?

Books I Love: Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst

Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst

I've been a fan of Sarah Beth Durst since I read Ice, and when I realized I hadn't featured one of her books yet, i really had to stop and think about which one I wanted to choose. Honestly, it was a tough decision. She creates these haunting stories set against the best worlds. These are books that sweep you up into them, and you honestly feel like you are a part of the world that you are reading about. So honestly, read any of them and you won't be disappointed, plus it looks like three new books this year. Exciting.

Vessel is the story of Liyana, a girl who has been training her entire life to become the vessel of the goddess. She will give up her body and life so that the goddess can posses her, and it will bless her village and her tribe. She dances and performs the ceremony, but it doesn't happen. The story goes from there. It's exciting, and romantic and poignant. So worth reading. 

Have you read anything by Sarah Beth Durst? What did you think?

Writing Wednesday: Writing Consistently

One of the things that helps my writing the most is writing consistently. My best writing is usually done in the evening. For some reason, my ideas flow and I'm able to get a lot more done if I'm not utterly exhausted. But with my kids growing up, a set schedule is something that I can only dream about happening. Even my evenings aren't what they used to be as my kids stay up later, but still need to be tucked in at night.

By consistency, I mean taking the time to write each day on a regular basis. When I am consistent, I am able to accomplish more when I do sit down. It's like exercising. If I am running three miles a day, then it is easier to get up and run, no matter when I do it. While if I haven't exercised in awhile, the idea of running three miles is daunting, and my body fights me every step of the way.

For me consistency or writing every day is the key to being successful at writing. I'm not always perfect at this, but I am trying. What about you?

Books I Love: Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann

Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann

I am a big fan of Lisa McMann. Her books are engaging, and they are quick reads. She's written a middle school seres, which I haven't read, and two young adult trilogies and a few stand alone novels. The young adult novels are horror/thriller type stuff, and really good. There aren't really gruesome, more creepy. I enjoyed the Wake trilogy a lot, and the Visions trilogy, but the book where scenes will randomly pop up in mind is Cryer's Cross.

This story is set in a very small town, that has experienced a number of disappearances. Kendell, the main character, has just lost her boyfriend, who disappeared, and is struggling to get over it when a new  boy moves into town. Then her best friend disappears. The tension is high throughout the novel.

I don't normally do creepy books, and I want to put the disclaimer out there that if you get scared when you are alone at night, then you might want to read this in broad daylight surrounded by people. Have you read it? What did you think?

Friday Five: First Week of Summer

1. One week down, and a lot more to go. This week hasn't been bad. We hit the pool, rented a movie, and hung out. The worst part of the week has been the temperature. It's been close to 100 degrees every day, and when we wake up it's over 80. Yikes. We won't make it, because this is August weather, and if it is like this now what will it be like in August?

2. Chores. For some reason I am failing epically as a parent when it comes to chores. I did chores from the time I was quite small at home. The dishes, the bathrooms, the living room, mopping. And I remember thinking my parents were slave drivers. Somehow I haven't established a good chore routine with my kids, and now I desperately want to. I really, really could use some advice on how to set it up and get it going.

3. My plan was to start exercising this week, and stay on the schedule I wash on with sending my daughter off to middle school. It didn't happen. I think because I was staying up too late, because my night owl kids and husband were all staying up too late as well. My daughter would stay up until 1:00 or 2:00 and then sleep late, but not quite late enough and she's been a bit cranky. I think we are instituting bedtimes again next week. 10:00 pm for the summer.

4. Since we've been to the pool twice this week, I've managed to get sunburned. When I don't put sunscreen only face, I usually manage to avoid a sunburn, but when I do I always end up red and peeling. I don't understand why or how that works.

5. I have been craving donuts all week. We may go on a donut run this weekend.

Have a great day!

Writing Wednesday: Studying Craft

If you are serious about writing (which I like to think I am), then it is important to study craft. There are lots of way to do this. You can go to conferences and attend some classes on craft. You can do more intense workshops where they work on your novel and really pick it apart. There is the MFA option. Or you can read books on craft.

Most writers do a combination of the above. One of my favorite books about writing is On Writing by Stephen King. I love it because it is by someone that has written a lot of very successful books. he is living the life of the writer, and I think his advice is really good. One of the things he talks about doing every day is reading.

I love to read, and I learn a little bit from every book I read. Sometimes if I can't stand a book, I'll go back and read it to find out what went wrong. It helps to see what isn't working.

And there are times when I'll reread a book to figure out what makes it work so well.

Sometimes I read a book where the writing isn't the greatest, but it still pulls me in, and keeps me turning the pages, and I try to pin down what works and why.

How do you study craft?

Books I Love: When in Doubt, Add Butter by Beth Harbison

When in Doubt, Add Butter by Beth Harbison

This is the story of Gemma, who is 37, single and struggling as a small business owner. She works as a personal chef and the story follows her as she visits different families. And of course there is some romance.

I really liked this. It is definitely chick lit and totally fun when you read it. I finished the book in about two hours, and it was the perfect escape that I needed. 

Have you read it? What did you think?

Friday Five: Summer!

1. Eek! It's summer. I danced around the house after I put the kids on the bus this morning. My husband looked at me like I was an idiot. I'm torn on summer--lots less free time vs no more fighting about getting up and doing homework. Plus bedtimes are pretty lax in the summer. Today I'm celebrating.

2. Randomly, I just used up my first entire tube of Chapstick in my life. I've always lost the tube before it ran out, and I'm wondering how I managed not to do that this time. Very random fact.

3. With the shift in the schedule, it means it is a great time to look at my goals and my time and take the time to get my priorities in line. Although I really want to sleep later every day, I figure my body is used to getting up early, and I plan on taking advantage of that. I'm going to exercise every morning before the kids get up. Hopefully, this will mean a healthier me.

4. This weekend is Father's Day. I'm so grateful for my dad who's a great example to me. He is kind and patient and a great supporter. He introduced me to books and genres that I love, and taught me to think critically. I'm also so grateful for my husband, Rob, who is a great dad to my kids. He teaches by example, and he's super fun and goofy.

5. The last few weeks my husband and I have been debating back and forth about what to do with our youngest son Jacob. The school system we are in will let kids skip a grade in one subject, and his teacher suggested he skip second grade math and go up to third grade. In order to qualify he had to take a test and score well on it. Jacob did that, and I signed the papers. He is super excited about it, and I know he's mastered the things taught in second grade math, but he's so small physically. (He's about the size of a four year old) And he has a high pitched voice. And my hubby and I are worried that he'll be picked on or that he'll miss time with his class doing fun things. But Jacob is excited and super proud of himself. Super proud. So we did it, but we are still nervous.

Have a great week!

Writing Wednesday: Creating a Writing Plan

School is letting out this week, which means a major change of plans for schedule. But I think it is good to change things up a bit. It gives me a chance to recommit to my priorities and work out things that aren't currently working in my schedule. With my kids home, and trying to fit in extra hours on top of that, we are looking at a tricky schedule.

I'm a planner, and I like to create little schedules that I follow and lists where i mark things off. And then life happens and I don't accomplish anything that I intended. I find that life (with kids) works better when I'm a lot more flexible, and so my writing plan for the summer is going to be a bit more flexible in the hopes that it actually works.

Editing time is going to be pool time. My kids are finally big enough that they can swim by themselves in the pool. (We go to a pool with multiple life guards, so I can focus on reading, and just check on them from time to time). I don't want to take my laptop, and I could take my kindle (my hubby got me the must wonderful waterproof case), but I really want to run through edits on my manuscripts and not waste the free time that is granted by pool trips, so editing will fit in there. We'll likely go two times a week, so it should be between four to six hours to edit a week.

Writing time, I find that I'm still most productive at night. Even when the kids are at school and it's quiet. There is something about it being dark out, taking my shower so my hair's wet (weird I know) and putting my headphones one and writing. Unless I'm tired. So I'm planning on writing then, and maybe other times when I squeeze it in. It'd be great if I could become an early morning writer, but I honestly don't think that's going to happen.

So those are my plans what are yours?

Books I Love: Immortal Beloved by Cate Tiernan

Immortal Beloved by Cate Tiernan

For some strange reason I hadn't heard of this book. I say that it is strange because it was so good, and I really try to keep up with the young adult books, especially fantasy. We went to the library as a family on Monday, and I found it randomly scouting the YA section, which I haven't done in awhile. I usually just request the new releases and put books on hold so I can zip in pick them up and leave. It helps that I'm within walking distance of our library.

Anyway, I picked it up on Monday, and I thought about it, but it wasn't until Friday that I picked it up. I had time to kill, while I waited for the technician who was installing cable for the summer. And I started reading. I didn't get any work done on Friday, and I realized that I didn't want to wait for the holds to come through to read the rest of the series, so I zipped by another (farther away) library and picked up the remaining two books in the trilogy. That's an advantage of finding out about a book after it's been out for awhile. And I finished the trilogy on Saturday. (Plus I squeezed in another book I'll blog about next week.)

This is fantasy more than anything, but contemporary and about immortals and magic. The main character is Nastasya, who is an immortal, and she's old, like 451, but she realizes that she's not happy, and she's trapped in the adolescence phase of her life. While this is classified as YA, and is sort of a coming of age story, it also felt older to me, like it would fit just fine in the adult section of fantasy. 

I liked the world building. I like the philosophy introduced. I like the main character and the secondary characters. I just really, really liked the trilogy. And I'm getting her other books to read as well.

Have you read it? What did you think?

Writing Wednesday: A Day Late

My new work in progress is set in a small town in Idaho. I'm basing some of the location on memories I had as a kid visiting my grandparents, but some of it is made up. Still I find myself researching the town and neighboring towns so that the things that I'm writing about are plausible. Every time I have a question, I pull up Google maps, look at the layout, see the pictures, and think about the things we used to do. It's been close to 25 years since i visited on a regular basis, but I can still remember certain parts of the town, like the pool and the park.

Other parts are a bit blurry, but still there, like shopping downtown or the very small "mall."  The town itself isn't really a character, but it does affect how one of my characters grew up, and it influences some of the decisions that they make now.

How does your setting play into your story?

Books I Love: Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

I first heard about this book because of a blog that I was following. Robin LaFevers was one of the contributors and when I saw it at the library, I decided to check it out. I fell in love with the world building and the historical fantasy, and the characters. The book is really well written, with images coming to life on the page.  The story is about Ismae, who is the daughter of death. She ends up at a nunnery that worships death and is trained to be an assassin. There is a beautiful love story, and the second in the series, Dark Triumph  is just as good. The third Mortal Heart will come out in November.

Have you read this book? What did you think of it?

Friday Five

1. It feels so good to be writing on a consistent basis again. I write so much better when I have a plot outline to follow. I never stick to the outlines perfectly, but it helps to give me a purpose in each of my scenes and I am loving the reworking that I'm getting done. I'm getting more words down on paper each night, and it is just getting better and better.

2. I can't believe that summer is almost here. Nine days until summer vacation, and three kids that will want to be entertained. I need a plan. Spring break and the winter breaks proved that to me, and I'm still struggling with what to do. We have some plans, which include pool passes, but other than that I'm pretty stumped.

3.

This happened on Tuesday. My husband called and told me this happened after a bad storm blew through. At first I didn't believe him. You never want to believe that a tree fell on your car, even a big branch, but there it is. Luckily there wasn't any real damage to the car.

4. The last few weeks have been super busy with band concerts, school activities and work projects. It's been crazy, and I know the load is ramping up (work wise) for the summer. It's why I need a summer plan so badly. However, it's always nice to get to the end of the month and look back at what I've accomplished. It makes me realize that I can do anything.

5. I've read a lot of good books this month. Books I've been looking forward to for several months. I'll talk more about them in the Books I Love posts, but I've been happy. Now I'm just looking forward to some new releases. What books are you most excited about?

Have a great week!

Writing Wednesday: Finally Plotting

This weekend, I finally got my plot mapped out for my current WIP. It was so nice to finally get my ideas down on paper in a way that made logical sense. It helped me figure out I was starting at the wrong spot, and I can easily shift what I have written to where it needs to be in the plot.

When I sat down to write last night, it was so much easier to get the words out. My scenes now have a purpose. I know what I need to accomplish, and I know how to make it happen. It really is a good feeling. It helps that I really like my characters right now.

I love that new project feeling when you are still in love with it. Still think that it's a great idea and it's going to work.

In a few weeks, I'll be more frustrated, I'm sure. But right now I'm still basking in the glow of it.

How do you feel when you start a new project?

Book Review: Missing Lily by Annette K. Larsen

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  Missing Lily “You don’t know who I am,” I whispered. He didn’t move—either away from me, or closer—and after an interminable moment, I stepped back and hurried out of the house. He didn’t follow me as I fled into the night. Lylin was not used to being alone—much less alone, hurt, and lost. So when she is separated from her guard and forced to abandon her horse, she counts herself lucky to stumble upon a manor house. Still frightened by those who chased her into the night, she keeps her identity a secret, calling herself Lily as she accepts the help of kind servants, and the compassion of Lord Fallon. When they fall into an easy friendship, she wonders if her secrecy was too hasty. However, as she gets to know the manor and its residents, Lylin discovers that she’s not the only one hiding secrets, and it may be a very good thing that her host doesn’t know her true identity as a member of the royal family.  

My Review:

I really liked the main character Lily. She was an active character that made the best of the situation that she is in. She falls in love with Lord Fallon, but then finds out that they cannot be together. The story takes her through negotiating her relationships and her decision to accept the role as the queen. This is the second book that I've read by Annette Larsen, and both are really good.

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Author Annette K. Larsen I was born in Utah, part of a crazy, fun family of nine. I grew up in Flagstaff, AZ and St. Louis, MO before striking out on my own college adventure in Virginia. I decided to try my hand at writing novels after I was married and living in Idaho. I write clean romance because it’s my favorite genre, but often difficult to find.

I have Charlotte Brontë to thank for the courage to write novels. After being bombarded with assigned reading about women who justified abandoning either their families or their principles in the name of love, I had the great fortune of reading Jane Eyre. And that was it: finally, a heroine who understood that being moral and making the right choice was hard, and sometimes it hurt, but it was still worth it. After rereading it several years later, I realized that if I wanted more books to exist with the kinds of heroines I admired, then I might as well write a few myself. My books are about women who face hard choices, who face pain and rejection and often have to face the reality of sacrificing what they want for what is right. The consequences are often difficult or unpleasant, but in the end, doing what’s right will always be worth it. I believe there is no substitute for good writing or good chocolate. Fortunately, one often leads to the other.

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Blog Tour Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 6/15/14 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review: Immersed by Jennifer Griffith

Immersed by Jennifer Griffith

Lisette Pannebaker speaks five languages and has a brilliant business plan—personal language immersion. Clients can hire her to shadow them and speak all day in any language they need to learn for business or travel—whatever. But there’s a major hitch: she’s far too pretty. Clients with less than honorable intentions sign up just have Lisette at their side. Solution? A make-under. Way under.It works like a charm. None of her male clients show her the least bit of interest. Until… Erik. Erik Gunnarsson is charming, kind, and smart—everything she’s ever looked for. Even though he seems to have a secret and she swore she'd never date a client, Lisette is tempted to shed her disguise—even if it means jeopardizing her career.

My Review

This is the story of Lisette who is having a hard time making her business work, because she is too pretty. She defies to do a make under, and she is finally able to make a success of her business until her client Eric comes along and she's attracted to him. She doesn't quite know what to do. The premise is interesting, and there were a lot of humorous moments throughout the story. I like the play of the characters against each other. It is definitely worth reading.

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Author Jennifer Griffith Jennifer Griffith studied French, German, Japanese, and a wee bit of Spanish in her school days. Her grandmother was Norwegian, and Jennifer grew up with lots of Scandinavian traditions floating around, including fabulous cardamom laced cookies called Krumkaker, made on a fancy waffle iron. However, she’d never dream of trying to teach someone any of those languages. And she might botch the cookies. Instead, she writes novels in English, drives her five kids a million places, and laughs with her husband, who came up with the plot for Immersed because he’s just a cool muse like that.

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  Blog Tour Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 6/9/14 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Books I Love: The Selection by Kiera Cass

The Selection by Kiera Cass

This is the first book in a trilogy, and the final book was released in the last month. I am really reluctant to recommend trilogies until they finish, because I've been so disappointed in some of them lately. That said, I can confidentially recommend this entire trilogy.

The premise is great, it's a Bachelor show come to life. America is chosen to be one of the young women who is sent to the palace for the opportunity to be chosen as queen. This is a dystopian society, and a solid caste system has been put into place. The major catch is the America is already in love with someone else. I love the prince, Max, and Aspen has his finer qualities as well. Overall, this is a great series that you should check out. Particularly if you love The Bachelor series.

Friday Five: Bus Breakdowns

1. Today the bus broke down, which meant my I had to drive my kids into school. And I had to call in late to my job, which basically means I missed time and money. We have a school within walking distance of our home, but our kids go to a magnet school twenty minutes away. I love the school, and it's worth the time sacrifice even on days like today where I end up driving for nearly an hour just to get them there.

2. It's field day today for my kids. Field day always means the end of the school year. The boys were super excited about it and wet out at the bus stop about ten minutes early, which also meant we waited for the bus for about forty minutes before I decided to drive them to school. But the end of the school year is almost here. Everyone is anxious for it to end. What am I going to do this summer?  I don't feel like I have enough time now?

3. My husband and I are coming up on our 15th wedding anniversary. It's making me feel oldish. Not as old as him. He is hitting the big 4-0 this year, but still. Wow. We got married at the end of June, so it's a ways off, but I still keep thinking, it's been a long time. I am so lucky that I married him. He is a great fit for me.

4. Social media is really important. It's not as important as writing a great book, but it can help people find that book. I've been thinking about signing up for a class or looking for a mentor. I can't afford to hire a PR person at this point, but I really need to get going when it comes to social media. Do you guys know any great classes?

5. I've got a to-do list as long as I am tall. And I need to get to work tackling it. I hope you all have a great weekend!

Book Blast: Missing Lily

  Missing Lily “You don’t know who I am,” I whispered. He didn’t move—either away from me, or closer—and after an interminable moment, I stepped back and hurried out of the house. He didn’t follow me as I fled into the night. Lylin was not used to being alone—much less alone, hurt, and lost. So when she is separated from her guard and forced to abandon her horse, she counts herself lucky to stumble upon a manor house. Still frightened by those who chased her into the night, she keeps her identity a secret, calling herself Lily as she accepts the help of kind servants, and the compassion of Lord Fallon. When they fall into an easy friendship, she wonders if her secrecy was too hasty. However, as she gets to know the manor and its residents, Lylin discovers that she’s not the only one hiding secrets, and it may be a very good thing that her host doesn’t know her true identity as a member of the royal family.  

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Author Annette K. Larsen I was born in Utah, part of a crazy, fun family of nine. I grew up in Flagstaff, AZ and St. Louis, MO before striking out on my own college adventure in Virginia. I decided to try my hand at writing novels after I was married and living in Idaho. I write clean romance because it’s my favorite genre, but often difficult to find.

I have Charlotte Brontë to thank for the courage to write novels. After being bombarded with assigned reading about women who justified abandoning either their families or their principles in the name of love, I had the great fortune of reading Jane Eyre. And that was it: finally, a heroine who understood that being moral and making the right choice was hard, and sometimes it hurt, but it was still worth it. After rereading it several years later, I realized that if I wanted more books to exist with the kinds of heroines I admired, then I might as well write a few myself. My books are about women who face hard choices, who face pain and rejection and often have to face the reality of sacrificing what they want for what is right. The consequences are often difficult or unpleasant, but in the end, doing what’s right will always be worth it. I believe there is no substitute for good writing or good chocolate. Fortunately, one often leads to the other.

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Not yet read Just Ella?

It is on sale for $3.99 for the duration of the blog tour.

Grab your copy on Amazon.

      Book Blast Giveaway $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 6/10/14 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Writing Wednesday: On Reading

Long before I knew I wanted to write books, I loved to read. When people ask what do you like to do, hands down for as long as I can remember my only real answer was read. And I love talking to other people about what I read. Some of my best friendships have formed out of a mutual love of books.

One of my very favorite books about writing is On Writing  by Stephen King. And he talks about how much he reads. And he reads a lot. Nearly as much or more than he spends on writing each day.

I think when it comes to reading, there are two different ways to read as a writer. (This is aside from reading craft books). First you read to enjoy, and see what else is out there. This is important because it exposes you to different styles, and different ways to tell stories, and different viewpoints.

And then there is reading to learn. When there are books that sing to me, that keep me turning the pages, that grab me from the beginning or that turn me inside out. I'll read them again and again. I try to figure out what's working and why.

How did the author build tension in the story?

What did she do for the pacing?  How did she start and end each chapter?

How were the relationships built?  What does the character interaction say about each character including the narrator?

What did I like about that character? What makes me hate that one?

Each author writes differently. There isn't a magic formula that makes up an automatic best seller, but there are common threads that run through great books. Every scene matters. Every interaction shows us something new. The book pulls you in through the pacing, and keeps you wanting to turn the page. No character is absolutely perfect.

How does reading improve your writing?

Review of Second Chances by Donna K Weaver

  

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Second Chances 101 by Donna K. Weaver Thirty seven year old Francie Davis, a recent widow and empty nester, gets to attend college at last. She’s sure her luck has changed when she also lands a job on campus that will pay her tuition, as administrative assistant to a history professor. When her handsome new boss yells at her on the first day of work, Francie worries she will never be good enough. For Professor Alex Diederik, life is going downhill fast. Not only is his bitter ex-wife trying to poison their only daughter against him, but now his one place of solace—his work environment—is being complicated by his attractive new administrative assistant. She drives home his feelings of failure as a husband and father, and Alex wonders if hiring her was the right thing to do. Francie will have to put aside her hurt and insecurities or risk her dreams, while Alex must look outside himself if he’s to mend the breach with his daughter. And, perhaps, find someone who can help heal his pain.

My Review:

I really enjoyed the premix of the book, and Francie, the main character is a bit older than the other main characters in this series. Overall thesis a good book with an interesting storyline. I felt like the ending was a bit rushed overall. But Francie has been my favorite character as fas as being proactive with her situation. It is a fun fast read, and of course it's clean. The perfect escape for a lazy afternoon.



  Author Donna K. Weaver Donna K. Weaver has always loved reading and creating stories, thus she’s been ever entertained. An avid cruiser, she’s sailed the Pacific five times. Wife-mother-grandmother-Army veteran-karate black belt-Harry Potter nerd.

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  Blog Tour Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 5/26/14 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Books I Love: The Last Best Kiss by Claire LaZebnik

The Last Best Kiss by Claire LaZebnik

This is a retelling of the Persuasion by Jane Austen. I've read a lot of retellings, and this does a great job on creating c contemporary retelling of the story. I really enjoyed it, and I like Anna's self reflection, and the fact that she owns her past choices and how she tries to deal with the situation.

Claire LaZebnik has also written Epic Fail and The Trouble with Flirting. These are both retellings and young adult books. I enjoyed both of these books. She also has written some adult novels, which I haven't read. Have you tried any of her books? What did you think?

Writing Wednesday

So This week I thought I'd write about my current plotting issues. And man do I have them. I have tons of them.  My biggest problem is that I think I'm over complicating things. I have two narrators, and I think I have two story arcs. And I don't know if I can make it work. The two narrators are both main characters, and they fall in love--maybe, I'm not entirely sure about that, but they are both working through similar, but different feelings.

So I've been worried about plot. I like having my major plot points down before I write. It makes my revision process better, because I revise as I write. I recently got James Scott Bell's book Writing Your Novel from the Middle: A New Approach for Plotters, Pansters and Everyone in Between. Anyway, it's been enlightening. He talks about a mirror moment or of self-relfection in that moment. It's a good read, and I'm still trying to decide how to handle it.

But because I have the two stories, within one story, and the very similar story arcs. I'm still trying to figure it out, if I find the center point for those two stories, or if I find the center point and have both of them come to the mirror moment there.

What's your favorite way of handling plotting, and rising and falling action? How do you determine the low point in the story?

Books I Love: Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

Sweet Evil is the first in a trilogy about demons. Of course there is some mention of angels, but it really focuses on the demons. Anna, the main character, learns that she is the child of a demon, and that it is her job to tempt others to commit sin. The story is just great. I don't want to go into too much detail because the world building is done so well, and there are some great twists and turns. The trilogy continues with Sweet Peril,  and concludes with Sweet Reckoning,  which just came out. 

I was waiting to write about this book because lately I've loved book one and two of a trilogy and just hated the third book. I was so satisfied with the ending. It was everything I wanted in the book. So I heartily recommend this entire series. Have you read it? What did you think?

Friday Five: Jammed Fingers and Other Silliness

1.  This week has been hectic, in a way that means I've struggled to accomplish anything. One example is that my son jammed his finger playing basketball, only it didn't get better and it didn't get better, until my husband decided that he needed to be taken in for it. The way the appointment worked out, it also meant I had to pick up all of my other kids from school and take them since I'd be at the doctor when they were getting off the bus. It was a long day. And most of the days worked out that way.

2. This week I've also realized just how important it is take physically good care of myself. It is important that I'm in good shape so I can do all of the things that I need and want to do. This means making time for exercise and eating healthier. Hopefully it will pay off in the long run.

3. It's beautiful out right now. All week it's been stormy and rainy and we had to keep an eye out for tornados. I made Rob install an app on his phone that would wake us up if one came in the middle of the night. I'm terrified of night tornados. And it did go off, but we woke up and looked at the weather, we realized that the path of storms wasn't even near us. I was glad that alert worked, but I couldn't get back to sleep.

4. Back to how nice it is outside. It really is gorgeous, open your windows let the air come in, and just enjoy spring gorgeous. It makes me want to go outside and stare up at the sky and maybe take a nap out there. I don't want to be stuck inside working.

5. It's nearly time for peaches to be back in season, and for some reason this year, I've been craving them. I really, really want a good peach, and they aren't in the stores yet. I know it's still early, and it was cold a lot later than usual, but I'm still looking for a good peach.

Have a great weekend!

Book Review: Lost and Found by Karey White

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Lost and Found by Karey White Lydia was supposed to have an adventurous and exciting summer. Instead she's done nothing more than read and eat takeout. Now it's time to go home, and what does she have to show for it? A big fat nothing. Unless, of course, her trip to the airport somehow turns into something more than just a flight home. Blake feels like he's been sent on a wild goose chase. While work is piling up back in Denver, he's on the other side of the country, hunting for some mysterious box that his grandfather left him. Well, no more. Nothing inside that box could possibly be more important than the opportunity to make it as the youngest partner at his firm. So he's going home, and that's that. But that's before he discovers his flight has been cancelled. When these two strangers meet at the airport, they make a split-second decision to search for the box together. Maybe with both of them on the hunt, Lydia can have her adventure and Blake can find the box. And maybe, if they’re lucky, they’ll even find some romance.
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My Review:

This book was short and sweet. The story is about Lydia and Blake who are thrown together by chance, and then set out to solve a mystery together. The interaction between the two of them is sweet, and the book focuses on their relationship, as much as anything else. If you want a clean read, that is fun and sweet, you should try this book.

 

Author Karey White Karey is a USA Today best-selling author. She grew up in Utah, Idaho, Oregon, and Missouri. She attended Ricks College and Brigham Young University. Her first novel, Gifted, was a Whitney Award Finalist. She loves to travel, read, cook, and spend time with family and friends. She and her husband are the parents of four wonderful children.  

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The Ripple Effect Romance Novella Series Enjoy this exciting new series of clean novellas by six critically-acclaimed authors. "Like a pebble tossed into calm water, a simple act can ripple outward and have a far-reaching effect on those we meet, perhaps setting a life on a different course—one filled with excitement, adventure, and sometimes even love." Book 1: Home Matters by Julie N. Ford Book 2: Silver Linings by Kaylee Baldwin Book 3: Righting A Wrong by Rachael Anderson Book 4: Lost and Found by Karey White Book 5: Second Chances 101 by Donna K. Weaver Book 6: Immersed by Jennifer Griffith

Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 5/12/14 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Books I Love: The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley

The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley

I was first introduced to Robin McKinley by my dad. he's a huge fantasy reader, and I was bored, having read every available book that wasn't a medical terminology book on the shelves in the living room and hallway. My dad went back to the shelves in his room, and came out with Beauty and the Beast, which also happened to be Robin McKinley's first novel. I think I was most likely in fifth or sixth grade. I went on to read Deerskin and The Outlaws of Sherwood, while I was still at home. 

I was browsing the college bookstore, and found The Blue Sword and The Hero's Crown, and I was hooked. I began hunting down everything she's every written and devouring it. She's an author I read over and over again. My favorite book is most likely The Blue Sword, which is the story of Harry (a girl) and how she is kidnapped and what happens to her. It has magic, intrigue and of course romance. 

Have you read any Robin McKinley? What's your favorite book?

Book Review: Righting a Wrong by Rachael Anderson

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Righting a Wrong by Rachael Anderson Seven years ago, Cambri Blaine fled her small hometown of Bridger, Colorado after her senior year ended in a fiasco. Only Jace Sutton knew the real reason why—that she was a spineless coward. Now, seven years later, her father's been in an accident and needs help, and Cambr has no choice but to return home. So with trepidation, she takes a leave of absence from the landscape architecture firm where she works and boards a plane, hoping against hope that Jace is no longer around and that the past can stay where it belongs—in the past. If only life worked that way. Jace never expected to see Cambri again. After she’d led him on, bruised his heart, and left town without a backward glance, he was forced to pick up the pieces and try not to hate her for it. Eventually, he put it behind him and moved on, creating a life for himself in his beloved hometown. But now that Cambri is back and looking more beautiful and sophisticated than ever, some of those old feelings resurface, and Jake instinctively knows, for the sake of his heart, that he needs to avoid her at all costs. If only it were that easy.

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My Review:

I really enjoyed this book. It's the third in a series of interconnected stories. I really liked the interaction between Jace and Cambri and the way they have both changed over time and through the story. It's a sweet story; a perfect read when you want to relax and escape for a bit.

I am a fan of Rachel Anderson. She hasn't written a book that I haven't enjoyed and this one didn't disappoint. If you want a clean, fund read, you should definitely check out this story. 

Author Rachael Anderson A USA Today bestselling author, Rachael Anderson is the mother of four and is pretty good at breaking up fights, or at least sending guilty parties to their rooms. She can't sing, doesn't dance, and despises tragedies. But she recently figured out how yeast works and can now make homemade bread, which she is really good at eating.

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The Ripple Effect Romance Novella Series Enjoy this exciting new series of clean novellas by six critically-acclaimed authors. "Like a pebble tossed into calm water, a simple act can ripple outward and have a far-reaching effect on those we meet, perhaps setting a life on a different course—one filled with excitement, adventure, and sometimes even love."

Book 1: Home Matters by Julie N. Ford
Book 2: Silver Linings by Kaylee Baldwin
Book 3: Righting A Wrong by Rachael Anderson
Book 4: Lost and Found by Karey White
Book 5: Second Chances 101 by Donna K. Weaver
Book 6: Immersed by Jennifer Griffith

Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 4/28/14 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Books I Love: Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey

Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey

I haven't read a ton of books by Anne McCaffrey. I found this trilogy, because the first book was assigned in my capstone English class in college. It was an awesome class that focused on the fantasy genre. I got to read a lot of great books. This, some C.S. Lewis, the Lord of the Rings trilogy and other books.  Anyway I adored Dragonsong and went out and got the rest of the trilogy that same week. I also really enjoyed Dragonsinger. They are almost like one book split into two. I liked Dragondrums as well, but it doesn't feel as cohesive to the story, since a different main character finishes out the trilogy. 

From time to time, I'll go and try to pick up an Anne McCaffrey book, because I love the world she created, both the before when they first come to the planet and then the time that this trilogy takes place in. But I have a hard time getting the next book in the series, and I've read things out of order. She's a great writer, and I love the world building. Have you read any Anne McCaffrey? What did you think?

Books I Love: Summers at Castle Auburn by Sharon Shinn

Summers at Castle Auburn by Sharon Shinn

Sharon Shinn is one of my favorite fantasy readers that I have stumbled on. I have to thank Jacob for finding her, because I took him to the library with me and I was scanning the young adult shelves and he wandered over and handed me one of her books. It looked interesting and so I took it home, and then I quickly went through most of her books. I've read everything that she's written except for her angel books. She's written both young adult and adult fantasy.

My very favorite book that she's written is Summers at Castle Auburn. I love every aspect of this story. It's truly a wonderful book. I also love her latest series Troubled Waters,  and Royal Airs. There should be one more book in the trilogy, and I'm looking forward to it. She weaves a really sublet romantic story into each of these books with bigger picture items going on around it. But I just love each of these books, and I've enjoyed everything I've read by her. Have you read anything by Sharon Shinn?

Friday Five: Spring Break!

1. So this week was Spring Break. This means the kids were home all week. We went to parks, ice skating and basically stayed pretty busy all week. I'm so ready for school to start back up so I can settle down and get work done. Not to mention it feels like our third spring break since all of the week long breaks due to winter weather this year.

2. April Fool's Day is not necessarily my favorite holiday. I'm not great at pranks, and so I don't look forward to it. My husband and kids adore it. We almost made it through the whole day before they realized it was April Fool's Day. Then at about 9:00 pm the pranks started-a glass of salt water, and lots of stories and lie. Good fun!

3. I love the warm weather that is finally here. It is so nice to have sunshine and be warm instead of freezing cold. I got my first sunburn of the year at the park, which made me realize I need to start using my sunscreen again. The kids love shorts weather too.

4. This week I was trying to figure out my summer schedule and how I would fit in all of my work, exercising, writing and kids into my routine. My conclusion is that I need to go back to the drawing board to figure out just how to fit everything.

5. I really like my current project. Really like it. I hope readers will too!