REVIEW: The Siren, Tiffany Reisz
The Siren by Tiffany Reisz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I’ve read many books in my life. But nothing prepared me for this one. And I might just have to kiss the author for it, followed by a swift and brutal punch. (I have a feeling that Mz. Reisz will understand and smile when I say this.)
I can only hope that I will have 1/10th of the honesty she has in her writing someday.
Forever, a piece of me will be grateful for reading it. But in the same token this is a book that shall never EVER be re-read. Because of the moment that I read it. Because of the importance of the message and the characters at this ONE time in my life. All of it may never be duplicated. And I need its moment of perfect perfection.
A re-read might never be the same again and I can’t sully its beautiful hold.
The characters are so honest and so amazing that it was painful to watch everything unfold. The brilliance was terrifying. That the author never wavered, never took the easy route–NEVER let me rest through the book was only part of its power.
Books are supposed to change you.
They rarely do.
This one did.
If I could give it 6 stars–11 stars–100 stars, I would.
Thank you for writing this book.
Thank you for pushing every characters to the edge.
Simply…thank you.
Cynthia Cooke – Deadly Secrets, Loving Lies
It’s Cover Reveal time!
Cynthia Cooke’s first out of the gate for Entangled Press’s new Dead Sexy suspense line.
Family secrets must be kept, and painful wounds must be ignored.
After an all-out assault by a vicious terrorist bent on destroying her entire family, a former government agent must break the strict rules she has always lived by when she emerges from hiding to reluctantly accept the help of her all-too-sexy ex-lover. Running a deadly race against time, they rush to rescue her kidnapped sister, find her missing father, and bring the notorious villain to justice. But nothing ever goes as planned. Bullets fly, danger abounds, and their passion reignites even faster than the lies are flowing. But their stubbornly held secrets just might spell the end of their rekindled love and hopes for the future…as well as their very lives.
Buy Link
Doesn’t that sound amazing?!!
Congrats to my fellow Entangled author. What a great title to start off the new line.
If you’d like to learn more about Cynthia Cooke and her novels please visit her website.
REVIEW: The Return of Rafe MacKade, Nora Roberts
The Return of Rafe MacKade
by
Nora Roberts
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I just looked at the original copyright date on this one. 1995. Yeesh. I was twenty years old the first time I read this. Nora has always had the ability to write families that you can’t help but care about and the MacKades are no different.
“He’s hooked.” Jared grinned and lifted his beer. “And his heart looks so pretty, right there on his sleeve.”
It’s banter like this that makes me laugh right out loud and what always keeps me coming back for more.
This was a fun re-read. A few places felt rushed, but DAMN, I do love Rafe. Rough around the edges, a little wild, and a he fell in love so hard he was snarling the whole way down. Just like I like my men.
Reagan was a perfect foil for him. Buttoned up and crisp on the outside, and a volcano under all that perfection.
Combustible chemistry and a quick read.
Night Owl Top Pick!
UNCROSS YOUR HEART got a top pick review from Night Owl!
I don’t toot my own horn too much, but this one came at a particularly time so it put a big ole smile on my face so I’m sharing it! It’s nice to read a review that GETS my characters.
My girl, Miranda, has some serious issues and I knew not everyone was going to get her. I’m so glad that Chris over at Night Owl did.
Give it a look if you like. 
Six Sentence Sunday: Uncross Your Heart – Rooftop pt 5
My six comes from my novel, UNCROSS YOUR HEART. Continuing the rooftop with Nate and Miranda. Enjoy!
Leaning forward, he swiped his thumb over the worry lines between her brows. “It’s just lunch, Miranda.”
“I know.” Lost in thought, she pressed their hands together, palm to palm, her fingertips falling just shy of the last joint of each of his fingers.
His skin tingled and the urge to draw her in was overwhelming. Instead, he leaned into her, drawing in her scent mixed with sunshine
Now Available from Ellora’s Cave’s site:EC or AMZ
For More Six Sentence Sunday goodness click me.
#AtoZChallenge W: Writer
Writer
A lot of us on the AtoZ Challenge are writers in one form or another. We have to be to do this blogging thing. IMHO, it’s even more demoralizing than being an author. How many of us blog without a single response? Again and again, we put up our thoughts to the general public and hope someone out there gives a crap about what we’re writing about.
This has been the fun part of this blog challenge. Random people just might find you. Any time you open your mouth…writerly or verbally…there’s a chance someone will respond to you. But it’s this challenge that puts us out to a whole new slew of people that may have never found us. It’s been a really fun experience for me. And I’ve found quite a few blogs I’ll continue to follow after this is over.
I did miss almost an entire week because of edit hell. Hence my pic up there. LOL It was a learning experience of the highest order for me. I’ve been edited before, but nothing like what my new publisher does. It’s making me think about all sorts of different things when it comes to my work.
Structure, grammar woes, thought process, distancing myself from falling in love with my writing…all of these things have made me reevaluate a lot of things. It actually froze me up for a week during the process as well as another week following. Thank GOD I have this blog. It’s probably a big part of why I’m slowly getting myself back on my feet.
My writerly friends, my bestie, and all the other people in my life have been awesome, but in the end it’s me that has to pick myself up and get back to the keyboard. I have to trust in my own work, my own writing, and my own art again. Obviously it was good enough to get published in the first place.
Anyone else know how this feels?
Don’t forget your blog addy when you leave a message.
#AtoZChallenge V: The V
The V
It’s a shameless post. Seriously, I know this…but my LORD. There’s nothing so delicious on the male body as that little notch below the abs that arrows down into a pair of low slung pair of jeans.
Heck, for me…it’s even hotter than naked. Because personally, the male bits, not so beautiful. Now, don’t get me wrong, they TOTALLY serve a purpose in sooooo many ways. And just ask my friends, I’m as boy crazy as they come. In fact, my friend’s daughter actually told me I was more boy crazy than all of her friends put together. They’re 16-17 year olds. Seriously.
Sad state of affairs, but beyond true.
That little notch makes my damn teeth itch. And obviously I’m not the only one since men actually go into the gym to MAKE that happen nowadays. And believe me.
I’m eternally grateful.
Anything you like on the male or female of the species that makes your temperature rise?
don’t forget your blog address in your reply!
#AtoZChallenge U: Unsaid
Unsaid
Ahhh. My claim to fame. Sometimes my mouth gets me into trouble. There’s this whole censor thing missing in my brain sometimes. I’m getting better, but I still have to work at it everyday.
Sometimes it’s just a little something funny. Sometimes it’s a little crass and crude. Sometimes I hurt people’s feelings unintentionally. That girl in the picture up there. She’s definitely me more times than I’d care to admit.
Now, some people enjoy my blunt-speak and actually prefer it, but man…there are so many out there that do NOT.
Have you ever needed to take a pair of scissors to your tongue like me?
If you comment leave your blog addy too please!
#AtoZChallenge T : Tattoo
Tattoo
They’re fascinating as well as individual. My tat means something to me. Both a time in my life wrapped in relationships. At 19 I got my first tat with my best friend, Laurie. It was a first for both of us and it was another form of bonding besides the friendship we’d created. Hers was a Celtic knot and mine line art that focused on the colors of creativity.
Years later I got it touched up and added to. It was another bonding moment, but with my brother this time. They are both very important people in my life. When people look at my tattoo, they don’t know those things. And people that don’t have ink don’t really understand the significance of the time and the pain as well as the art left behind.
Some simply look at it as marking the flesh unnecessarily, or look at the future when our skin is older and will change, some simply think it’s silly. But those of us that have been inked know it’s something else. Something personal and something sacred. It might have been pure fun, marking a time and place, or even a way to remember someone that’s passed.
So, the next time you sneer at someone with ink…think about that. There might be much more to the ink than what shows on the surface.
REVIEW: The Witness, Nora Roberts
The Witness by Nora Roberts
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Okay…I’m mildly biased about LaNora books. She is my all time fave author. (Yes, I know some will roll their eyes. Seriously, between work ethic and pure talent this woman deserves every success she’s had.)
Brooks and Abigail will stay with me for a long time.
Abigail made me laugh, cry, want to fight, and ultimately made me just sigh in pure happiness. This character has been so much and still had a core of goodness and openness that is astounding. The one thing she wanted was someone to love her–she’d pushed the idea of it away from her for so many years she simply had no idea what she needed until Brooks Gleason walked into her life.
Brooks.
*sigh* Fun loving, fierce, loyal, brave, honest and a host of other things that makes a woman swoon. Not too perfect. Not so that you were sickened. He knew how to compromise. He knew how to love. His family is and will always be the most important thing in his life. He’s a cop, but he’s not a black and white one. His shades of grey made him even more appealing and real to me.
The line of suspense shook you from the beginning and always lingered in the back of the story. The overlapping plot and parallel storyline based in the little town highlighted all the things she was running from and made for one more satisfying layer to the story.
It never slowed down for me. Even in the peaceful moments, it drew me in and seemed to spotlight the ever fascinating way that Abigail’s mind worked.
As an aside, her social awkwardness reminded me a lot the Bones character from the Fox tv show, but it was definitely a different level. Just that logical mind that had to learn to bend and grow and maybe even learn just a little bit more to let love in. Because man…Brooks was SO worth it.
A must read for the Nora fans and a brilliant way to draw new readers as well.
Six Sentence Sunday – UNCROSS YOUR HEART: Rooftop pt4
My six comes from my novel, UNCROSS YOUR HEART. Continuing the rooftop with Nate and Miranda. Enjoy!
“The design world is pretty cutthroat lately. But I invested in the building and wanted a space of my own. The bottom three floors, including mine, are offices and the fourth floor and rooftop are part of my private home.”
Impressed, he tried to relax. He wanted to press her for details, to learn everything he could about her. Most women needed only a gentle prompt to unload, but not Miranda.
Now Available from Ellora’s Cave’s site:EC or AMZ
For More Six Sentence Sunday goodness click me.
Six Sentence Sunday – UNCROSS YOUR HEART: Rooftop pt3
My six comes from my brand new novel, UNCROSS YOUR HEART. Continuing the rooftop with Nate and Miranda. Enjoy!
He sat down beside her at the large octagonal table, his butt sinking into the plush green cushions of the swivel-based chair. “This is amazing, Miranda.”
She smiled, digging into the bag for a grape. “Business is doing pretty well.” She slipped a fat green grape between her lips, and chewed thoughtfully. “Well, it had been doing well until recently.”
Now Available from Ellora’s Cave’s site:EC or AMZ
For More Six Sentence Sunday goodness click me.
#AtoZChallenge K : Kiss Kakes
Kiss Kakes
My crit partner and I have this idea for a 4bk series about a cake shop set in Salem, MA. We have a deep and abiding love for the area and keep returning there again and again to soak up the atmosphere and the beautiful community. It’s more than just witches and lore. The place is crawling with amazing little shops and quirky side streets and pulls together the new and the old in a way that begs for a story. And not a paranormal story either.
Three friends pulling together to make a business work with all the pitfalls of retail, the seasonal business that does NOT include Christmas for once, and the mayhem of falling in love. Even better, I get to work with moi girl, Cari Quinn, and build a world with her. Of course our lives are complete madness and we’ll have to wait a little while to get our schedules to line up, but we’ll get there.
Not to mention the first hand experience of friendship, collaboration, and compromise. Should make for some interesting writing me thinks.
Anyone have any experience with collaborations?
Don’t forget your blog addys with comments!
#AtoZchallenge J : Jewelry
Jewelry
I’ve always been fascinated with it, but don’t tend to wear it all that often. In fact, I loved designing it more than wearing it for a long time. Taking a class in college got me involved with the metal craftsmanship and gave me even more of an appreciation for all the work that goes into each piece.
I love the sparkles, the leather-work (the pic I posted today reminds me of a scene in my current novel. I saw this and had to use it for my little book store owner), metals, and even tiny craft type rings like this one. 
They’re all fascinating to me. It’s pretty much wearable art.
Even though I’ve moved more into the world of word-art, I’ll forever be moved and enamored with what people create. And with the lovely internet world we live in there’s even more ways to get your work out there. I gotta say, ETSY is an evil place created to take my money. All these artists have a new home to sell their wares and a host of clients to sell to.
Sometimes it’s a great time to be alive.
Do you have a little gypsy in your soul? Let me know.
Don’t forget to leave your blog addy with your comments. =)
#AtoZchallenge H : Happy Place & I : Inspiration
Whoops. Had to double up again. Things got crazy yesterday and I didn’t get on in time to do a blog post. It would have been nice and easy too. It was my birthday! LOL But I also felt bad just gratuitously talking about myself. LOL So…here we go!
Happy Place
The beach…any beach…will always be associated with happiness for me. Some of my fondest memories as a child are associated with our yearly trips down to Wildwood, NJ or New Hampshire. As I got older I was drawn there on my own. Whether with family trips or ones on my own. Even as an author, I’m drawn there and do some of my best writing when the roar of the ocean is part of my soundtrack.
A few years ago a bunch of my girlfriends got the opportunity to use a family home that was on Long Beach Island, NJ. I don’t think I’ve ever had more fun with a bunch of girls in my life. We laughed, talked, stayed up, watched videos, wrote, drank a lot of damn wine, and just soaked up the atmosphere. It wasn’t even beach season, but we had the very best time and ALL of us wrote like CRAZY! It was a slice of awesome that has never quite been recreated. We keep trying, but it’s a rare thing to get all the stars to line up, schedules to cooperate, and spouses to take over the children. But damn, we will always have those memories.
Inspiration
So…if you hadn’t figured out, I’m a romance author. LOL Pretty obvious, but if not…there you go. As a female, sexy has a lot to do with the brain more than just the slapping flesh of p0rn. Now, it has it’s place, I’m not going to lie. But in the end it’s a picture like this that will get my imagination flowing more than anything I can find in a video.
Inspiration can come from all different places and Pinterest has been a HUGE source of visual help. From clothes, to hair, to settings, to the characters I build in my stories. A little bit will go a long way in that regard. Even if the final version doesn’t have anything to do with my original inspirational picture, it put me on the path. And I gotta say, it’s usually a damn entertaining path.
Just don’t ask me about edits.
Six Sentence Sunday – UNCROSS YOUR HEART Rooftop pt 2
My six comes from my brand new novel, UNCROSS YOUR HEART. Continuing the rooftop with Nate and Miranda. Enjoy!
The wrought iron was sturdy, but obviously old. She climbed with sure-footed grace, making him wonder just how many times she took that route.
A lot, he decided when his head cleared the final set of steps. The entire perimeter of the roof was framed in wide boxes filled with greens and flowers. His mother would die for this sort of space. In front of the stark black boxes was low, bench-style seating and a partitioned-off section with an umbrella and table in sturdy redwood.
Now Available from Ellora’s Cave’s site: EC or AMZ
For More Six Sentence Sunday goodness click me.
#AtoZChallenge G: Gratuitous #Gandygasm
The Gratuitous Gandygasm
This ones for the girls. Okay, and the boys that like boys. But hot damn that fine man right up there? Holy freaking hell. He’s been the highlight of Pinterest and Twitter and Tumblr for quite some time. He’s the principle model over at Dolce and Gabana. Now, normally I could give two craps about fashion–this girl wears jeans and t-shirts every day that I can get away with it–but him? MERCY. The first time I saw him I was a little stunned. You don’t usually get a touch of rugged with your airbrushed models.
Add in the fact that he’s sweet as hell, has a british accent, is a huge car-nut, and blogs about interesting and well thought out posts on Vogue’s blog…well. Hell. He’s got it all. And he’s the prototype for one of my characters. If you want more, just type in David Gandy or click on that little link on the side…heck…I’ll make it easy. After you click the link, click the beachy pic of him and behold, the Gandygasm.
CLICK ME
Oh and if that wasn’t enough…he’s the posterboy for Battersea. DOGS and HOT guy? SWOON.
Don’t forget your links in the comments!
#AtoZChallenge F: Frenzy
Frenzy
One of the best and worst things to have happen is a frenzy when you’re writing. While you’re in it you feel a little out of control, a lot like you might be on a narcotic, and sleep is pretty much a non-entity. At least when I get in one. I’ll lose like 8hrs of a day and get wrist cramps from writing via notebook as well as keyboard work. For me it usually happens when a particularly intense idea takes hold.
Now, that looks like it would be awesome if your world revolved around writing like mine does. And believe me, it’s pretty awesome when it happens. But the letdown when you get out of the frenzy? Whew. It’s like a damn hangover. The kind of hangover that you forgot to drink water for three days so you feel like you slammed into a wall at 90mph.
Sometimes the frenzy gives you a great story. And sometimes it gives you the teaser of a great story then pitters out to a ho-hum story you may or may not go back to. (I hate that 2nd one) As a pantster that’s just the way of things. And a lot of the excitement of writing for me.
So, anyone else know of this phenomenon? Had experience with it themselves?
Don’t forget to put your blog in the comments so I can find you!
#AtoZChallenge D: Downtime
Downtime
is essential to keep a writer moving. I used to think that I had to just keep working. Keep going even when the words were crap. And you do have to do that…to a point. But what writers REALLY need to do is walk away from the story and find other outlets for themselves.
In the end it only makes us stronger writers. Even if it’s just watching TV like above. Hi. Um, I want to dive into that theater pit with about nineteen pillows and watch a Dr. Who marathon on my Netflix streaming. Sad, but true. I love immersing myself in a genre outside of what I write. In the end, the storytelling is the same. The goals are similar, just the way of telling the story is the difference.
It also helps me get out of my own way. Self doubt is an evil and insidious thing. It sneaks in just as you think you’re really doing all right on a story. I just destressed with a few mindless action movies and now I’m going to go back and see if I can put my characters back to rights.
How do you destress? What’s your favorite thing to do in your downtime?
REVIEW: Heart Signs, Cari Quinn
Heart Signs
by
Cari Quinn
My rating:
5 of 5 stars
Okay, you’ll see from the quote-a-palooza on GR that I loved this story. (See them here.) Sam Miller is one of those characters that climbs into your brain and burrows in for a good long stay. He’s emotional, rough around the edges, sad, guilt ridden, hopeless, hopeful, and a host of other adjectives. You know why I can keep listing off things to tell you about Sam?
Because Cari showed me again and again just what Sam was thinking, feeling, and doing all through this novel. And man…I felt for him every inch of the way.
Then you have Rory Fowler. She’s never trusted her own instincts when it comes to relationships. Instead, she hid behind friends with benefits relationships that she knew would never move beyond that level. She liked the uncomplicated. She may have even needed the uncomplicated. Watching her come to terms with the emotions that Sam brings out in her is messy, funny, and sometimes sad. And through it all you couldn’t help but root for these guys.
The sigh factor is about as huge as you can get.
Read this.
NOW.
Even if you’re worried about the ‘sad’ factor because of Sam’s circumstances. It’s worth the journey.
#AtoZchallenge : C is for Creativity
Creativity with a bonus topic, Crit Partner
Pinterest became an inadvertent star of this little challenge. And since I’m such a visual writer it’s really no surprise. The storyboards and inspirational pics have really sparked my writing lately. It always amazes me the creativity that others have. Case in point. That crazy room with the circular library.
One of my long-term dreams was a tower room to work in. A huge circular desk and bookcases that would hold my favorite novels and craft books. (I’m addicted to writing how to’s.) This room took my little dream and folded it on its ear and came up with something even more amazing.
For me, this happens all the damn time when I’m working with my critique partner, Cari Quinn. (She’s amazing. SERIOUSLY. Not just because I’m biased! If you like sexy, sexy romance then give her a try.) She can take a mundane idea and twist it all around until I’m staring at my screen like this: o_O
And not for a bad reason. Just because I’d never think of things her way. Well, I’d never HAVE thought that way. A lot has changed since we became writing partners and best friends. Not only does she know me inside and out, but she makes me work harder on my stories. Push for more, take more risks with my characters and plot.
And she does it without tearing down my work. Without even uttering a word sometimes. We’re slowly learning to call each other on stories that are taking the easy way out…pushing each other for more than just the support aspect that we needed when we first met. This is exactly what a crit partner should do. I got damn lucky when I found mine.
#AtoZChallenge : Art and Beauty
Soo…I’m going to do this AtoZ Blog challenge thingie. Yep. Probably a dumb move with my killer April, but Roni Loren posted about it and how it might just push her out of her comfort zone and help with the writing. I think she’s right. And I haven’t done any writing exercises in a long time. What the hell…I’ll give it a go. I’m behind a day, so I’m going to combine A and B today.
A
Art has been as central to me as writing. When I went to college I thought for sure that I’d end up illustrating children’s books. I love the look and the feel of a really well done book. My only problem? I’m not really a kid at heart. Even as a kid I wasn’t. So I started moving into a more graphic design based program. The nerd in me was incredibly attracted to the design of menus and logos. The deeper I got into the curriculum, the more I wondered if it was actually for me. Being the superstar of your HS is much different than actually going away and being dropped into the general population of amazing artists. And one place that I saw that I was severely lacking was my 2 dimensional design classes. I caught this picture on Pinterest and it dragged me right back to those days. The lust I have for creating wants to do something like this. The reality of what I got on the page…yep. Not so much. It doesn’t make my love for art any less, it was just a wake up call that my original plan might not be the one for me. Thankfully it seems that words have never failed me. Not as an innocent teen, and not as a life-can-beat-you-down adult.
B
As a writer beauty takes on a lot of different forms in my mind. I like to twist it around and bend it to suit me and sometimes I’m the one that gets educated by my characters. Traditional beauty is fine. I’m as susceptible to it as anyone out there. But when I see a picture like this, it’s the striking dynamics of the subject that make it beautiful. Some people would only see the tats and wonder why someone would do that to their body. Me? I know there has to be a story there. And the story sometimes comes out of me. This is very much like my character, December, from Vintage December. She’s vulnerable and beautiful, distant and hard sometimes. But one thing she never is…boring.
The Romance Man
Okay, so I got a notice that @TheRomanceMan3 was following me. And this is the icon:
After I stopped snickering I went through his tweet stream quickly and decided, what the hell… Followback.
First thing…thanks to Twitter I find out he’s actually got a blog and reads romance novels and actually likes them! WOOT! Way to go! #2 He’s married with a kid. Even better! #3 He’s freaking HIGHlarious! BONUS! Anyone who reads my work knows that I adore men. Seriously…ADORE them. I live with two guys, love hanging out with guys, and they are so much less complicated than women. (This is why I love hanging with them) Now, don’t get me wrong, I love my girlfriends, but men are endlessly fascinating and sometimes brutally honest in ways that women simply never will be. Not to mention the interaction with them makes for better writing when I’m diving into the male POV.
But the reason for this post is this little quote from one of his reviews:
Jen has orgasms faster than any woman alive. As soon as Shane touches her she explodes. I don’t need to tell you that this is not realistic. Most men need a copy of Grays Anatomy and Ron Jeremy on speaker phone giving instructions in order to get a woman off.
Yep. I’m officially in love. I’m so following him. And I’ll probably end up buying half his recc’s. He tells it like it is and he’s irreverent as hell. MY kind of guy!
You gotta check him out!
Six Sentence Sunday: UNCROSS YOUR HEART Rooftop pt1
My first six comes from my brand new novel, UNCROSS YOUR HEART. I thought it might be fun to pluck a scene out of the middle of the book. One of my favorite settings of this book is the rooftop. This is Nate and Miranda talking. Enjoy!
“It’s a nice afternoon, do you mind eating up on my roof?”
“Alone?”
She looked over her shoulder and stepped through the open window. “Is that a problem?” she asked, her gaze meeting his for a moment before she disappeared.
He peeked out the window, forcing himself to ignore the very hard pavement that showed between the slats of the stairs.
Now Available from Ellora’s Cave’s site: EC or AMZ
For More Six Sentence Sunday goodness click me.
REVIEW: Everything You’ve Got, Erin Nicholas
Everything You’ve Got by Erin Nicholas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Oh Luke and Kat…I’ve been waiting for you. I horked down the companion book to this one, and here’s my review if you care: Anything You Want. GOD, I just loved the characters. I felt really bad for Luke. Not bad enough to have Marc screw up the AWESOME thing he had with Sabrina…but bad. Because obviously he’s a great guy. And I hate how the world perpetuates that nice guys finish last.
Okay, so I love a bad boy. I DOOOOOOOOOO. But man, someone like Luke? He deserves his happily ever after and Kat was perfect for him. I’m so glad he had to fight for it though. Luke’s been the golden boy of their small town for far too long. So long, that he’s forgotten how to really have to work for something. And believe me, Kat requires some work!!
She’s a great character. I have to admit I wanted to swipe her upside the head a few times because she wouldn’t confide in Luke, but when she did. Whoa boy. Talk about a wild ride of awesome, and conflict and the best kind of love. In the end, I got my HEA and the character growth made me sit there and cheer. (And possibly a booty dance. Just sayin’.)
Thanks so much, Mz. Nicholas, for letting these guys have such a perfectly perfect happy ending.
I can’t wait to see what else you have up your sleeve.
Lucky Seven: ASHES AND WINE
Cindi Madsen tagged me in this fun little thing making the rounds on the writing circuit.
Here are the rules:
1. Go to page 77 of your current MS
2. Go to line 7
3. Copy down the next 7 lines – sentences or paragraphs – and post them as they’re written. No cheating.
4. Tag 7 authors
5. Let them know
This is from my ASHES AND WINE novella from Entangled. I’m just into the first pass edits. So, God knows what this bad boy looks like. It’s a scene between Tessa and her friend Mercy and there is much tequila involved.
She needed to get some water in her or she was going to be absolutely useless by morning. Did tequila draw every last bit of moisture out of your mouth? “Tell me how you really feel.”
“Alaric, who names their kid Alaric? That’s just asking for their kid to be an overbearing, arrogant piece of overbearing—”
“You said overbearing.”
Mercy stabbed a finger at her. “It bears repeating!”
Tessa forced a wide plastic cup into her hand, half full of water. “Drink this.”
“What is it? More tequila?”
“Water.”
Mercy made a raspberry noise with her lips, but glugged back the contents anyway. “It should be tequila,” she said sadly. “I think I might be in love with Alaric. Stupid name.”
And now…tagging.
*rubs hands*
Cari Quinn
Faye Roberts
Ros Clark
Kiersten Krum
Leigh James
Alice Keezer
Joshua Keezer
RELEASE WEEK!
Oh my freaking SQUEE!
Okay, that’s out of my system. LOL I’ve been waiting for a long damn time for this particular book to come out. And honestly, being the impatient sort, this has been a bit of a trial for me. I sold the book last summer and it’s just FINALLY coming out now. You work so damn hard to get your book together and then pop Tums like Pez after you’ve pushed your chick out of the nest.
And man, you think that takes time?
Nope.
That’s nothing compared to the time it takes to get from contract to cover and release date. I was one of the lucky ones. I got the call back really quickly on my book. Ellora’s Cave got back to me in less than ten days with a YES! And believe me, there was a lot of booty dancing…but then the waiting sets in.
You wonder if the book will ever come out. You stare at your inbox hoping to hear from someone about the next step. You get twisted up about edits and what your cover is going to look like, then comes the NEXT round of edits and the more staring at your email.
Personally, I know my editor has about 40+ (probably more now) authors in her stable and she’s got to work with each and every one of us to create the best possible story to send out to those virtual shelves. But man, it’s REALLY hard to remember that when you’re holding your butt for that release date.
Believe me when I say…don’t pester your editor. As hard as it is to keep your fingers off the trigger finger, they know what they’re doing and they have a schedule that most of the time we’re not going to be privy to. But man, when you do get that notification of release day….
Booty Dance reigns supreme once again!
Anyone out there as impatient as I am? Doesn’t have to be the writerly kind of waiting either.
REVIEW: The Marriage Bargain, Jennifer Probst
The Marriage Bargain by Jennifer Probst
I really enjoyed this book. The strong, unloved hero and the open, loving foil to all his best laid plans. Nick doesn’t want to love anyone. Doesn’t want to open himself up to the hurt he felt as a child when his cold and selfish parents were more worried about themselves than their children. But throughout the story we learn, as Nick does, that your past doesn’t have to control your future.
Alexa’s got a lot of pride to go with that open heart, but a past with Nick as a teen girl colors the way she deals with him. And again, we have a character that has to learn to let go of her past to embrace a man and love that will outweigh her fears.
It was a lovely ride, rich in texture and emotion. And man alive can Mz. Probst write a love scene! Whew! But it suits the couple and moves the story through a few bits that might have started to drag. Add in the most mangy and sad dog and the damn author got me tearing up through the ending with a sigh at my HEA.
I can’t wait for her friend–and Nick’s sister–Maggie’s story. It’s going to be a real trip.
Avoidance = Twitter
Yep. I’m in the end stages of first pass edits with my book ASHES AND WINE. And seriously…It’s heavy stuff. So heavy that I keep avoiding it and it’s taking WAY too long to finish. So instead I went on Twitter and lost…oh, roughly 3hrs to mancandy, book recs, new release squeeing, and tv lusting. Now part of it is good social play. As an author they tell you to go play with people and don’t mention your book. Just let people enjoy you and the reading will probably follow.
So part of a twitter frenzy is good for my social media side of things. But it’s no less of an avoidance technique. One that I used WAY too much in the last 2 weeks. Another one was an ungodly string of Scarecrow and Mrs. King episodes. (Shh. Don’t judge. Bruce was WAY hot in the 80′s) Amazon Prime has a level of evil that I have to get under control. Oh and Pinterest. That’s just in league with the devil. Period. But since I’m a visual writer it’s also another tool that I love.
But in the end the avoidance is just fear. This is my 2nd book with a bigger house. And there’s a lot of good press going on with Entangled. I don’t want to fuck it up. That’s the bottom line. I want this book to be filled with awesome and it’s making me a little crazy. And as my editor told me, it’s already great…it sold, right? But the pressure to make this story awesome is all on me.
Because the other part of the avoidance factor is the subject matter of this novella. Death and family and coping. It brings back a lot of personal crap that’s still very fresh. It helps with the writing because I know first hand what it’s like to watch a parent die, but it also feels very invasive.
Hopefully that equates to good writing.
*crosses fingers*
*steps away from Twitter*
Time to finish, dammit.
Editing, Writing & Friends
Most of my weekend was spent with this guy in mind. Royal Andreas from my first Entangled Publishing novella under their Ever After line. I’m in the first pass phase of edits for ASHES AND WINE. This is probably the last time I’ll have complete control over the ins and outs of this story. My editor is pretty fabulous and I’m looking forward to working with him on the nuances that will come up when we get deeper into the editing process. But for now I have a list of wants and needs that he feels I should be adding to my manuscript.
I think they will add a lot to the story, but man…it’s hard to slash. And I will, and have been, slashing whole passages from my 1st version of the story. Already, I know he was right in some of the choices. I had to tone down some of my sexier passages and beef up Tessa’s story so it wasn’t Royal with a side of Tessa.
I spent most of the weekend with some writer pals and we laughed, bitched, moaned, ate a lot of bad-for-you food and spent a little too much time on twitter as we worked. I wouldn’t want it any other way…well, except for 12 more hours in the day sometimes.
If you’re reading and would like to share…I’d love to hear your side of the story on 1st round edits.
REVIEW: Angel’s Blood, Nalini Singh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
While there were times I thought the story was a little overwrought and that the pace needed to pick up and not be about Ellie and Raphael’s lusty gazes, I can’t possibly give this anything less than 5 stars.
Intense–amazing–overwhelming–brilliant–frustrating–sensual.
These are just a few words to describe this tale. This story is not for the faint of heart. There is a lot of violence in the story, but the arc of change in Raphael from his Elena was complete and delicious.
I’m onto book 2.
ASIDE: The narrator was rather delicious as well. Differentiating voices and tones, even sarcasm and the cutting dry wit…Justine Eyre was quite simply astounding.
Can you tell I loved the story?
REVIEW: Table for One, Ros Clarke
What a delightful read. I’m not a foodie, but by the end of this story I was starving for everything that Ward put on the table. Sexy, sensual flavors and textures heightened the experience and they began a journey of self-awareness.
Of course we can’t have the road go too smooth. All those overwhelming passions make for high emotions and Mz Clarke uses them beautifully. I love the backstory and the reasons why Ward is so wary about journalists. It suits the story and isn’t too over the top. It also gives really good background as to why he doesn’t trust easily.
Claudia has her own problems with falling in love, but she realizes that Ward is different. And holding back isn’t something she wants to do. The little twist was great and made me love the story even more. Taking the plunge in a relationship isn’t easy, but I think these two make a great study in how compromise and trust is the true basis for a relationship. And while they found each other through passion, they stayed together because of so much more.
Edits…
So…I thought I was a decent writer until I dived into my 2nd round of edits. Sweet MARY, I’m getting way too picky and the red-lines of Track Changes are following me into my dreams. Doesn’t help that I’m sleeping at the wrong time of day.
O_O <—what my eyes feel like.
>_< <—what they look like.
I’ve got the word doc up at 130% on what’s already 12pt type and man…it might go up to 140 by the end of the day. *sigh* Okay…enough bitching. This is the holy grail…what all of us writers live for and WANT with everything inside them.
I just wish edits weren’t so hard.
Maybe with a few books under my belt I’ll feel differently.
The Danger of Reviews
“The artist doesn’t have time to listen to the critics. The ones who want to be writers read the reviews, the ones who want to write don’t have the time to read reviews. ”
~William Faulkner
I’ve been a reader longer than I’ve been a writer…just barely. But nonetheless that’s a truth that I sometimes forget. And when you enter into the actual business of being an author all of a sudden the comments you’d normally let fly off your tongue–or fingers as it were–can hurt an author you’ve become friends with or could become friends with in the future.
Places like Goodreads have taken on a new role in my life. For awhile it’s been a place that readers and authors alike have been adapting as homebase to keep track of books we want to read, have read, or are currently reading. I admit I go on there a lot and follow a heck of a lot of reviewers and fellow authors. It’s fun to see what people are reading…even informative to read a review. I know it can help influence me when I buy a book, whether it’s to try a new author or steer away from a story that wouldn’t be my cup of tea.
But what happens if you’re the author on the receiving end of a not so glowing review? When you’re an author and a reviewer there’s a murky area in there. I want want to give an honest review, but I don’t want to hurt an author’s feelings either. *sigh* Did I mention murky area?
My idea of a great book is 4stars because I’m REALLY stingy on my 5star ratings, but another author might not feel the same way. And while we tell ourselves that we need a thick skin in this business we have to worry about review sites and the general public as it is, do we really have to nitpick at a fellow author as well?
Now that I’m part of two different networks of authors I have to think about what I say from a professional standpoint, not just me spouting out my opinions. To be fair to my friends and fellow authors, and as a compromise, I think I’m going to have to move myself to a no-rating system and just post what I like about a story and leave it at that.
Edits…Edits…and DOUBLE Edits.
O_o <— ME
So…I was just diving into my edits for Entangled with a lovely 3 week leeway and what lands in my box? Yep, edits round 2 for Ellora’s. Yeah, slightly agog still. Not that the 2nd pass edits are tough on Uncross Your Heart, but still…sigh.
But, the good thing is I’m diving right into the deep end of the pool and getting used to working hard. I want this author thing to pan out. I want it so bad that I can taste it on the back of my tongue. And it’s only causing a deeper hunger. It’s just that sometimes my brain feels too full of ideas that I can’t seem to settled on just one.
Those are the days that I end up web designing. LOL It always helps to even me out. So, now I have a decent main page with my pretty cover and link to Ellora’s on it. And I’m closer to that release date.
REVIEW: Anything You Want, Erin Nicholas
Anything You Want by Erin Nicholas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
*Insert new fangirl squeal*
I loved this book. I’m officially in love with Marc and could only hope I’m as good at character building as Mz. Nicholas is someday.
What an awesome ride. From the hilarious and somehow sizzling way Marc renamed the place he had to rescue Sabrina from…Muddy Gap (one of his nicknames Dirty Gulch…and there were tons more. lol) to the slow and delicious build of character, I was utterly sucked in.
I loved that she was able to make me like Sabrina when the premise promised anything but a likeable character. I loved the family background and the way she showed that dreams are just as important as being responsible. I love that Mz. Nicholas managed to insert heat and awareness in such a way that it didn’t feel forced or cliched.
I simply loved everything about this book. I don’t want to give too many details because the read and the experience was where the pleasure unfolded.
Read it.
You won’t regret it.
REVIEW: Defying the Odds, Kele Moon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
(4.5 Stars)
I really enjoyed this book. I do love a big, grouchy guy that falls hard for the girl. And I really loved that Melody, our heroine, was so focused on making sure she could take care of herself. I understand that. When you’ve been dependent on a man for any length of time, I think you end up doing the exact opposite when things don’t work out. And for her, it REALLY didn’t work out.
Clay’s used to being alone and when Mel shows him a simple kindness he realizes just how dark and lonely his world has become. They both strengthen as people the more they fall in love. Mz. Moon does it so slowly and sweetly in such small ways. It’s filled with hard lessons and a love that makes this reader want to believe that’s out there for all of us.
The only thing that held this back to a 5 star was the southern slang dialogue. I understood it suited the majority of the characters, but I don’t think it needed to be used for everyone. A small qualm, but it kept nagging at me by the time I hit the end of the book.
REVIEW: Unlocked, Courtney Milan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Well then. That was my first Courtney Milan and I daresay it will NOT be my last. Everyone talks about her books, but sometimes hype falls flat for me. Yep. The hype is deserved. It was a short story, but Evan and Elaine resonate. Mz Milan knows how to rip your guts out and gives just enough detail in off subjects–in this case, mountaineering and astronomy–that you are interested, but not bored.
The characters were delightful and the love grew between the characters organically, even in a short story setting. (and being an author myself, I applaud that feat. One, I’m still attempting to figure out.)
This was a great introduction to Mz. Milan and I’ve been told to read Unraveled next. Now, all I have to do is dig out from Christmas so I can have my book budget back…
REVIEW: No Dress Required, Cari Quinn
No Dress Required by Cari Quinn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!
The friends to lovers trope is always good for me. And this one adds in friend’s brother! BONUS. This was a quick romp through past mistakes, present mishaps, and the oh so beautiful possibilities of the future. Nellie and Jake have been circling each other for ages, both too afraid to face the idea of getting together.
Jake’s a little shaky thanks to a surprise break up with his longtime girlfriend a few months before and Nellie is fed up with waiting for her shot with the man she’s loved longer than she can remember. Add in a car-jacking, fuzzy bunnies, and a snow storm and you get a ton of fun before the ball drops.
With a little convincing and a whole lot of creativity they find their way to a happily ever after that leaves you smiling and wishing your New Year’s Eve ended the same way.
Did I mention I loved it?
If not…LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!
REVIEW: Beast Behaving Badly, Shelly Laurenston
Beast Behaving Badly by Shelly Laurenston
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
(4.5 stars)
The book started off a little rocky. There were just way too many characters going on. But that was partly my fault for going in on book 5. (Which I hardly ever do) I really liked the relationships between the prides and clans and the off-kilter hybrid relationships. Blayne, the main female character, was a complete nut, but she had me laughing out loud more than once. And to see how she slowly brought Bo out of his funk and too-scheduled life and into her fun and zaniness was well worth the read.
The underlying suspense part of the book brought a lot of characters in and proved to be a little on the holy-crap-i’m-having-trouble-following-it end for me. And that’s probably why I read this one a little slower than I usually do. There was a lot to assimilate, lots of couples to figure out, and lots of violence. None of it bothered me, but it did take a bit of re-reading to get everything straight.
The world-building was fun and the cast of characters makes me want to try other stories. Also the anti-hybrid issues are thought provoking and parallel what happens to anyone that’s from a mixed race heritage. I will say that the series has little love for the ‘full-humans’ and it very much is a shifter world in these books.
All in all, I truly enjoyed it.Looks like I’ll be trying a few more of Mz. Laurenston’s books in the future.