Reviews and A Plea for Kindness

TL/DR
Recently, one of my favorite authors posted the following. Please note that she's an amazing woman and award-winning author who struggles with many health issues.

What she describes is way too common. I don't understand why some people go out of their way to tear down artists.

"Had time to write this morning but haven’t managed a single word. The doubts I carry, that have only grown over the years, become really loud when people go out of their way to tell me directly that my books suck. They drown out the whispers of creativity and the desire to keep doing this, knowing it will lead to more moments of being unexpectedly on the receiving end of an unasked-for point-blank firing squad of criticism.

Be kind to authors. We are human beings with feelings who are doing our best."

An online friend said he has read some books that were so awful it would be a crime not to trash the book and encourage the author not to write anymore. And I'm sure there are a lot of people who agree. If you've ever visited the reviews on Goodreads, you'll know what I mean.

But writers grow and improve the more they write. No authors I know who've written for very long don't look back on their early works and cringe a little. Sometimes a lot. One even went so far as to purchase from her publisher all the remaining paperback copies of her first book--and she fueled a bonfire in her backyard with them.

Yet, that book had once been considered worthy of publication by a publisher.

What if someone had ragged on that first book and encouraged her not to continue writing? What if she had listened to the disheartening message that she was not now and could never be any good at writing? What if she hadn't pressed on and learned all she could and subsequently become an award-winning author beloved by her readers?   

Here's my take on reviews:

Reading is such a subjective experience. I may absolutely love a book while my best friend is bored stupid with it.

Example 1: Mockingjay (the last of The Hunger Games series). Ugh. I loathed it! And many people did too. But just as many people loved it.

Example 2: Audiobook for my award-winning book Torn Canvas. The guy who did the narration was my dream narrator. When he reads the story, it sounds just like it did in my head as I wrote it.

• One reviewer panned his performance because it was "melodramatic."
• Another reviewer dissed it because they said he was "monotone."

Melodramatic.

Monotone.

The same book but an opposite reader experience. Neither is invalid. Readers experience what they experience.

But, because I understand this, if I cannot give a book at least three stars, I won't review it.

I recognize that I may have had a "melodramatic" or "monotone" experience with a particular book, but that doesn't mean the next person who reads or listens to it won't have a 5-star experience.

If I trash it, they may pass it up and miss out. This is my personal philosophy.

And for a second witness, below is a link to author Beth Revis's humorous blog post about it and puts it in perspective--and helps wounded authors recover from hurtful reviews.

And there are always bad reviews for ANY book no matter who the author is as Beth cites in her post.

Beth Revis' Take on Review

Happy New Year!

Monday Meanderings - May 4, 2015

First Meandering ...

Today is reveal day for the trailer of a book I loved.

Here's my review of the audiobook:

WHAT IT'S ABOUT
Nine is the ninth female born in her batch of ten females and ten males. By design, her life in Freedom Province is without complications or consequences. However, such freedom comes with a price. The Prime Maker is determined to keep that price a secret from the new batches of citizens that are born, nurtured, and raised androgynously.

But Nine isn't like every other batcher. She harbors indecision and worries about her upcoming Remake Day -- her seventeenth birthday, the age when batchers fly to the Remake facility and have the freedom to choose who and what they'll be.

When Nine discovers the truth about life outside of Freedom Province, including the secret plan of the Prime Maker, she is pulled between two worlds and two lives. Her decisions will test her courage, her heart, and her beliefs. Who can she trust? Who does she love? And most importantly, who will she decide to be?

MY TAKE
I've been wanting to read this book since it first came out earlier this year, but it wasn't until I was able to get my hands on a copy of the audiobook that I was able to. The narrator did a fabulous job and really added to the experience.

As for the story, it resonated with me on a number of different levels. My heart was totally engaged in the characters--the friendship Nine has with Theron (I hope I spelled it right since I only had the audiobook and not the paper one), the family who takes her in after she's shipwrecked, and Kai. 

I loved these people.

Todd totally pulled me into the little island society. I've lived in the tropics, and I have a daughter who lives in Hawaii. Todd's writing made me feel so much like I was there with Nine; I could taste and feel it all so vividly.

***Spoiler Alert*** (you'll need to highlight the text to read it)

I may not be giving much away, and I will be careful not to say too much, but I did want to give the warning.

The thing that struck me the most was one of the themes of this story. Yes, it's another dystopian society that's just gotta be brought down (I'm so glad this is the first of a trilogy). There was a feel for me of Logan's Run and even one of Anne McCaffrey's Killashandra books. But most of all, I loved it because it made me think. There's one point where Kai is talking about the problems of the society in Freedom, that the people are offered a "false freedom".

It struck me that too often anymore people are offered "freedoms" that lack authenticity. They are shallow substitutes for more substantial things. One of those is the other theme: family. And the power of a loving one. I loved this about Remake. 

And I loved the satisfying ending. While it was obvious there's more to come in the story, I wasn't left hanging. I'll be in a hurry to pick up the next book.

And I have some hopes for a certain best friend of Nine's and a sister of Kai's ...

To celebrate the release of the trailer, the author is having a giveaway.

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Second Meandering ...

I've been so busy with other things that I've forgotten or been unable to talk about the books I'm reading. I'd been trying to keep track of them by month. Yeah. That didn't work. Here's what I'm currently reading:

What do I think?

Daughter is YA fantasy about the daughter of a king who was forced to abdicate so he could marry her mother (a mage). The daughter is placed in a similar position (choosing position/love or the magic inside her). I love Mansfield's books.

Match is a prequel novella to Miss Match which comes out later this month. Armstrong is fabulous with voice, and her characters are so real.

Dragon is one I'm reading to hubby. Alex has grown so much as a writer; this is his best yet. The story is a wonderful mix of character growth and action. We're loving it.

Shadows is a collection of short stories from the Mercy Thompson world. I'm listening to the audiobook. This first story is how Samuel Cornick (a very old werewolf) and Ariana (a fae) fell in love a very long time ago. They meet again in Brigg's Silverborne, so I know this does not end well. Briggs said she only wrote because her fans asked for it so much.

For the Goodreads 2015 Reading Challenge, I've read 29 of my 75 books. Here's what I've read so far this year:

What have you been reading?

Anyone see the new Avenger's movie this weekend? We're hoping to go in the next week or two, when the crowds thin out a bit.

A Big "Ripple" Day Today!

I have been looking forward to this day for a long time now. It has to do with the Ripple Effect Romance Novella Series.

So, what is this Ripple thing anyway?

"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."

What's fun about this series is that each book is complete in itself--except that a minor character in Book 1 will become the main character in Book 2. A minor character in Book 2 will become the main character in Book 3 and so forth. 

While each story could be a stand alone, we do recommend reading them in order so you aren't spoiled, since they are linked.

So what's the big deal today?

The first book launches!

Book 1 - Home Matters by Julie N. Ford 

According to her mother, Olivia Pembroke was born to be a star. But how is she supposed to be famous

when she can't even get a decent acting gig? Her lucky break comes when she lands an audition for a wildly popular home improvement show. Even though she has no design training and has never even held a power tool, she refuses to let that stop her. She's confident that her destiny is finally within reach. 

When her affections are torn between her heartthrob co-host and the irritating, yet somehow endearing lead contractor, does she continue to reach for the stars? Or does she design a new happily ever after? One that leads not to the fading lights of fame and fortune, but to a love that will burn forever. 

MY TAKE:
I read the book aloud to my hubby, and we LOVED it! There is so much heart to this story. And humor! I love to read to my husband because he's such an audio listener, and he doesn't hold anything back. In fact, I have to shush him in the theater.

We loved experiencing Olivia's journey with her. We sympathized with her, ached for her, laughed with her and at her sometimes. I wanted to smack her upside the head on occasion.

The chemistry between Olivia and Pete is fast--not in a good way either in the beginning. Pete totally cracked us up. In real life I'd probably kill someone like him but, you know, maybe not. His humorous snark and sometimes too-brutal honesty made his serious moments that much more profound.

For a romance to work for me, I have to fall in love too. I did, and my husband cried. This book is a total winner, and I will for sure read it again.

GOODREADS | AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | KOBO

The rest of the books will release as follows:

Book 2 - Silver Linings by Kaylee Baldwin - March 24

Book 3 - Righting a Wrong by Rachael Anderson- April 7

Book 4 - Lost and Found by Karey White - April 21

Book 5 - Second Chances 101 by Donna K. Weaver (moi!)- May 5

Book 6 - Immersed by Jennifer Griffith - May 19

You can find out more about these books by clicking here.

Stolen Luck and Giving Books for Christmas

Sixteen year old Megan Crenshaw has everything going for her until the day a leprechaun shows up on her doorstep and steals all her luck. Not only that, he follows her around and wreaks havoc in her life. With the help of her friends, Megan must get her luck back before he manages to destroy her life and the lives of all those around her.

I had an opportunity to read this book before Jaclyn's publisher picked it up. My thought at the time was this just had to picked up. And it was. The story is charming and imaginative. The idea of a leprechaun stealing a girl's luck sucked me right in.

My father used to joke with me when I was a little girl that I was an accident waiting to happen, so I sympathized with Megan. I loved how determined she was in the face of her adversity. No way was Megan going to be kept down (literally since she kept tripping and falling). Who knew luck could play such a part in one's life?

To celebrate the launch of Stolen Luck, three ebook copies will be given away.

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Jaclyn is an Idaho farm girl who grew up loving to read. She developed a love for writing as a senior in high school, when her dad jokingly said she was the next Dr. Seuss (not even close but very sweet). She met her husband, Steve at BYU and they have six happy, crazy children that encourage her writing. After owning a bookstore and running away to have adventures in Australia, they settled back down in their home in Utah. Jaclyn now spends her days herding her kids to various activities and trying to remember what she was supposed to do next.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Don't forget the "Give Books for Christmas" bloghop. I'm giving away TWO ebooks!

For details about the giveaway and other participating blogs and the books they're giving away, click here.

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Waiting Fate by W.B. Kinnette

WHAT IT'S ABOUT:
Sometimes Fate hides in plain sight while you stumble through darkness.

Ivy escapes from an abusive husband, finding peace with her daughter in her childhood home. She’s determined to keep her past a secret to protect those she loves.

Archer has been in love with the same girl since seventh grade. When Ivy comes back into his life—bruised, broken, and haunted by secrets—he knows he can’t lose her again.

But Ivy made a promise to her daughter. No one would hurt them again. She’s afraid to trust, afraid to be wrong again, and afraid that the one man she’s loved forever will break her heart.

Fate might take its time, but it won’t wait forever.

MY TAKE:
This is a hopeful story set in a dismal place. It seems particularly poignant in light of some comments I heard recently by actor Patrick Stewart and the abusive home he was raised in. Chilling. Click here to watch the video.

Yet, it's not the story of an abusive marriage, though that is certainly part of it. It's a love story. The old group of friends is hilarious, and I loved the way they took Ivy and brought her back in the group. She kept mentioning that in high school she'd been a jerk to a lot of people, and she could see some hesitation. But real life had taught Ivy some things, and she's not the person she used to be.

Archer. I loved Archer, from his sympathy for Ivy when he found out what she'd escaped from to his loving patience with Ivy's adorable little girl. I confess that this story did not bring out very Christian thoughts. I seriously wanted to see the abusive spouse get some of his own medicine. I'm glad I didn't take my blood pressure while I was reading it.

AUTHOR BIO:
W.B. Kinnette was born and raised in Utah, the baby of the family and spoiled rotten. She lived briefly in Texas and Alaska before coming back to raise her family only a few miles from her childhood home. She’s loved writing since she was small, because daydreams demand to be written down. She believes that dreams must be chased, if only so she can tell her children honestly that dreams do come true if you work hard enough – and never give up!

AMAZON | GOODREADS

Links: https://www.facebook.com/WbKinnette

Twitter: @wbkinnette

Website: www.wbkinnette.wordpress.com

Feudlings by Wendy Knight

WHAT IT'S ABOUT:
Nothing makes a new school suck worse than discovering the guy you’re in love with is your prophesied nemesis.

Ari is the most powerful flame-throwing sorceress ever, and her people’s last hope in an ancient war. But she’s also a seventeen-year-old girl, and in her free, not-hunting-nemesis times, she jumps from school to school, trying to figure out regular people her own age and pretending she’ll get the chance to graduate.

Shane lives a double life. He goes to school and masters the art of popularity, hiding the fact that he has a fate with a slim chance of his survival. He’s destined to end a 300-year-old war by killing or being killed. He knows he’s hunted by a powerful enemy who’s not afraid to die. Only problem? He has no idea who that enemy is.

When Ari shows up at Shane’s school, angry and sullen and determined to keep him at arm’s reach, neither of them realize they are supposed to be killing each other, not falling in love. Until Ari does realize it, and she almost dies – by Shane’s hand.

MY TAKE:
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Ari's loneliness was palpable and I loved how so many of the kids at the school--including the normal, human kids--welcomed her and made her a part of their group, even as she resisted their overtures of friendship. There are so many books about horrible, mean high school kids--and real life has plenty of them--but it's nice to get a taste of teens being kind and friendly as well. Because there are plenty of decent kids, too.

I liked how Knight slowly built up the relationship between Ari and Shane while letting the reader know (and agonize) over the inevitable showdown. I felt bad for them both, but Shane especially since Ari's trained as an assassin and been working at it since she was a child (can I just say there are seriously sick problems with her people's culture?) while Shane's been sheltered, protected, and kept from gaining important skills he'll need just to keep himself alive (I should note that his culture also has issues).

I won't spoil anything, but the showdown is awesome and there is resolution at the end--but it's obviously the beginning of a series (yay!) because there's a major plot line left hanging.

ABOUT WENDY KNIGHT

Wendy Knight was born and raised in Utah by a wonderful family who spoiled her rotten because she was the baby. Now she spends her time driving her husband crazy with her many eccentricities (no water after five, terror when faced with a live phone call, etc., etc.). She also enjoys chasing her three adorable kids, playing tennis, watching football, reading, and hiking. Camping is also big: her family is slowly working toward a goal of seeing all the National Parks in the U.S. You can usually find her with at least one Pepsi nearby, wearing ridiculously high heels for whatever the occasion may be. And if everything works out just right, she will also be writing.

AMAZON

Review of "Created" by Cindy M. Hogan

BOOK DESCRIPTION of Created by Cindy M. Hogan

Ari and her friends find themselves in an independent spy school in Belgium, Bresen Academy. Test scores reveal her true abilities and the director wants to send her onto to more advanced training school immediately. She is given a two week reprieve to explore the school's training program and hopefully make amends with both Reese and Marybeth. Despite her lack of advanced training, the director convinces Ari she would be the best fit for a mission that surfaces in Prague with a group calling themselves Division 57. Uncertain, but wanting to please, she agrees. She quickly discovers there is nothing easy about being a spy and finds her very life on the line.

MY TAKE
In this third and last book in the series, Christy aka Ari is finally not on the run anymore. Kinda. She's still running but it's for a different reason. My thought at the end of "Protected" was that she was being given survival skills that would make her great spy material. It seems someone else thought so, too.

In Belgium, you follow her through training and testing in the field as she tries to mend bridges with former friends all while figuring out her feelings for guys from her past and decisions about her future. There's plenty of action and some nice twists at the end. A satisfying conclusion.

Books 1 and 2

"Dark Days of Promise" by Shaunna Gonzales

Book Description
Thirty-four year old Vicki Laramie must learn to trust before she can love, but she might die trying.

While Vicki’s children grapple with the death of their father -- a man whom she’s successfully fabricated as loving, a lie her rebellious teenager recognizes -- she must find a way to support her family and find a role model for her boys. She never intends to fall for Staff Sergeant Chase, her best friend’s son, who suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). She’d much rather choose a safer man to love, but her children have a voice in the decision she makes. With two deaths to deal with, a suitor after her money, a rebellious son, and Sergeant Chase’s repeated attacks, she can only hope to survive the danger she faces. If she doesn’t, her children will be left without either parent.

Excerpt

"Do you trust me?"

"Do I have a choice?" I whispered.

With the mistletoe still in hand, he placed it at the back of my head. His fingers entwined in my hair. My heart accelerated its beating dance, knowing a much more euphoric rush would accompany his kiss. More than his first visit, more than his peck on my cheek, more...A warm quiver of anticipation settled over me, fixing me to the spot. The music from the movie in the next room swelled, intensifying the moment. His lips brushed mine, hinting of gingerbread and milk. I wondered if I'd ever experienced such a kiss. The gentle, warm, sweet pressure, invited me to live in the moment. An experience I'd never known in all my years with another...I couldn't even remember his name. My adrenalin roller coaster revved its engine in my stomach before climbing with massive force in an upward motion before dropping to my deepest core. Yet it didn't last long enough. He no sooner released me than I had the distinct feeling of his reclaiming every intimate emotion he'd shared with me.

"I shouldn't stay. It's not safe for you." He withheld his smile, his eyes hinting at something I didn't understand.

My take
I could relate to Vicki's circumstances. While my two oldest children were younger than hers when my first husband died, I can relate to the loneliness of being a single parent ever responsible for the children. I remember too well my concerns for my son, knowing that try as I might I could not teach him some things. I could tell him stuff, but I could never understand what it is to be a guy. I don't care how many babies a male obstetrician delivers, he still doesn't really get what it's like--from the woman's view--to give birth. So, try as I might, I couldn't show my son how to be a man.

Sometimes I wanted to smack Vicki, though. lol But we all do stupid things when we're trying to do what we think is best for our children. I can forgive her for being human. One thing I appreciated about her was that she never quite gave up on Kelly who needed a chance to heal. And he needed help to do it.

Trust is a big issue in Dark Days of Promise. My husband is a Vietnam vet, and when we first married, I learned very early not to stand within the reach of his fist if I had to wake him up. He never hit me, but he scared both of us a couple of times. Fortunately, it's rare for the PTSD to show itself now, but it seems still to lurk in that stage between sleeping and waking.

Of course, I'm a black belt now. I think I can take him. ;)

Britney Gulbrandsen interviewed Shaunna on her blog here.

Wow. All I can say is Wow.

I just finished Regina Sirois’ book On Little Wings. I’ve been hearing hype on this book for a long time now and had actually purchased the ebook months ago. It moved up high enough on my to-read list. I'm SO glad.

I’ll say right now that I don’t give many five-star reviews. I love a lot of books. A three-star review means I liked the book. Four stars mean I really liked a book and would own it and read it again. Giving a book five stars means it touched me in some way.

Sometimes a story struck a chord because of real-life experiences that made me relate to the characters (such as the I Am Not a Serial Killer series by Dan Wells—and no, I’m not serial killer material).

It might be that the five-star story captured my imagination with its world building, and I couldn’t stop thinking about the fabulous places and desperately wanted to go there and meet these characters.

It could be that the weaving of words and the story haunted my sleep and followed me around even when I wasn’t reading. Like a delectable dessert whose lingering taste keeps me wanting more.

On Little Wings is one of those books for me.

So, what’s it about?

Jennifer's mother is not an only child.
Jennifer's aunt has thirty seven freckles.
And life just stopped making sense for this sixteen-year-old girl from Nebraska.
It will take one forbidden journey, an octogenarian movie star, three old pirates, and one scarred genius to put all the pieces back together.
If that is even possible.

When Jennifer finds a dog-eared photograph of a freckled girl, she never dreams the innocent picture will tear open a gaping wound to her mother's secret past.

Jennifer must leave her home, parents, and best friend in the wheat fields of Nebraska and travel to the rocky shores of Maine to find the aunt she never knew she had. Her search for the truth is distracted by the strange and hilarious characters in the tight-knit town of Smithport. From the 88 year old movie star who likes to show off her tattoo, to the fishermen who have a passion for rockets, to the aunt who recites poetry in the long, Maine nights, Jennifer is intrigued by the lives swirling around her.

In the midst of madness she meets Nathan, the tight-lipped, reluctant prodigy who is surrounded by women who need him to be brother, father, protector, provider, and now, first love. With a restrained, mature, and uncertain voice, Jennifer shares her tale of family, love, loss, truth and beauty.

As Jennifer seeks to piece together her mother's shattered story, she inadvertently writes one for herself.


Sirois uses beautiful language to paint this tale. I’m not in to too much description and will skip over a lot of flowery language. That’s not what Sirois does as she crafts this story. But she made me feel like I was there. Made me want to go to Smithport so I can meet these quirky, fun people. There's a certain showdown that we anticipate, and I loved the circumstances when it finally happened.

On Little Wings is up for the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award for Young Adult Fiction. I’m not the least bit surprised.

You can download a sample of the first fourteen pages from Kindle here.

What do the star ratings mean to you? We often see books with extremes--5s or 1s. How come we see so few 3s?

Tristi Pinkston's Women of Strength

This has been some month for book releases.

Tristi Pinkston is quite the genre hopper--which means she's my hero. She's written cozy mysteries (her hilarious Secret Sisters series), a book on women and finances, a cookbook, romantic suspense, and historical fiction to name a few. You can click here for a complete list.

Today I'm talking about her new book Women of Strength, a book for spiritual book targeted to LDS women.


The need for courageous, faithful women has never been greater than it is today. As we draw nearer to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, we are faced with temptations on every side. But we can prevail as we gain true strength from living the gospel.

In Women of Strength, Tristi Pinkston shares inspiring stories, as well as insightful quotes from Church leaders, to demonstrate the power and influence of righteous women. This book invites women everywhere to deepen their relationship with the Savior, rely on the guidance of the Holy Ghost, and learn what it really means to be strong.

I found this book to be encouraging even as it warned women of the challenges that can come to us as women today. Women have always expected a lot of themselves, but it seems that society has added to that burden. You have to be smart. You have to be beautiful. You have to be clever. You have to be talented. It's easy to see, in today's fast paced world, women who appear to be able to do it all.

And you can't. You're tired. You're cranky. You're overwhelmed. You wonder why you're such a failure.

Quotes from Women of Strength:

"Think about it for a minute. When a woman feels bad about herself, she finds it hard to reach out to others, and she doesn't dream she has the power to change lives. But once she catches a glimmer of the phenomenal celestial being she truly is, she goes out and shares her love with others, and that's something the adversary can't have at any cost."

". . . Be strong for yourself and your family. Just making it through today is enough, and then tomorrow, do it again. Your diligence and faith make you a heroine, even when you may doubt it. But our Heavenly  Father has no doubt. He knows who you are, and He knows you can do it."

Ebook Giveaway - "The Most Important Catch" by Jaclyn M. Hawkes

Book Description:
Run or die!

She knew too much, and she'd seen too much.

And the police refused to help.

Knowing that she was to be the next scheduled death, Kelly Campbell hid under head to toe black leather and a tinted motorcycle helmet and ran for her life. When the weather turned cold, she turned south. She ended up in North Carolina, home to one of the most famed and eligible NFL football stars in the whole league; only she didn't know that. She thought he was a businessman. Not being a huge fan, all she knew was that he was incredibly attractive, kind, generous, and that she was safe with him.

Or was she? His brand of fame proved to be all but deadly, but his fame wasn't nearly as lethal as his attraction. He kept her safe and protected. All except for her heart.
This book is definitely targeted for the LDS market, so there are religious references. If they don't bother you, I think you'll enjoy it.

I loved the development of the two characters, Kelly and Robby, as they got to know each other. My favorite parts were the scenes where they just worked together fixing up his house and learned to care for each other. I loved how comfortable they were together and how comfortable that made me feel. Their similar senses of humor made me smile, and I felt like I would like to know both of them--even if they were both gorgeous. Hawkes kept giving me enough references to how much Kelly missed her family so it was believable and the snippets about the bad guys still hunting her maintained the suspense.

There's a point where my heart just broke for both Kelly and Robby. We're told as writers to hurt our characters and then hurt them some more. And then some more. If you want them to have a happily ever after, they're going to have to earn it.

I've read three of Hawkes' books now, and each one gets better than the last.

So, I'm going to be giving away an ebook copy. It's simple and painless. All you have to do is (1) note in the comment section that you're interested; and (2) include your email address.  I'll let random.org choose the winner first thing on Friday morning.

• Amazon 
• Barnes & Noble
• Book Depository

A to Z - CassaFirE

Seems appropriate, since Alex Cavanaugh is one of A to Z hosts, to review his new book CassaFirE for "C".

Book Description:
The Vindicarn War is a distant memory and Byron’s days of piloting Cosbolt fighters are over. He has kept the promise he made to his fallen mentor and friend - to probe space on an exploration vessel. Shuttle work is dull, but it’s a free and solitary existence. The senior officer is content with his life aboard the Rennather. The detection of alien ruins sends the exploration ship to the distant planet of Tgren. If their scientists can decipher the language, they can unlock the secrets of this device. Is it a key to the Tgren’s civilization or a weapon of unimaginable power? Tensions mount as their new allies are suspicious of the Cassan’s technology and strange mental abilities. To complicate matters, the Tgrens are showing signs of mental powers themselves; the strongest of which belongs to a pilot named Athee, a woman whose skills rival Byron’s unique abilities. Forced to train her mind and further develop her flying aptitude, he finds his patience strained. Add a reluctant friendship with a young scientist, and he feels invaded on every level. All Byron wanted was his privacy…


What did we think?

I read this book aloud to hubby, as I did Alex's first book CassaStaR, which we both very much enjoyed. It was fun as I'd be reading it aloud when hubby would laugh out loud, or the first comment from his mouth when he woke up was a question about the story.

We wondered how the tale would work out because the main character Byron is a very private man, living in a controlled way that keeps him distant from most meaningful connections with other people. Even from the first book I've wondered what happened to him in his youth that make it so difficult for him to trust people with his private thoughts--because the Cassan people are telepathic.

I love the way Alex wrote Athee, the young, energetic, and not-to-be-held-back Tgren woman whom Byron discovers is also telepathic. Her vibrant personality just showed through the dialogue and descriptions. It was a delight to see Byron falling for her even as he fought it.

We really enjoyed this book.

Have you read it yet? What'd you think? If not, have you read anything good lately?

Review - "Rising, Book 1 Resistance" by Laura Josephsen

Check It Out

Book Description:
All Alphonse wants is a quiet summer at home before his final months at university. What he gets is a half-dead stranger on his doorstep and the task of delivering a package to the leader of his home country. Not long after he boards a train toward the capital, he's attacked by knights, elite soldiers of the neighboring king.

Alphonse is temporarily rescued by Mairwyn, a mechanic with a haunted past and a deep hatred of knights. Together, they attempt to carry out Alphonse's urgent errand, only to learn that if they fail, countless people will die.

And even if they succeed, they may not be able to prevent the war that lurks on the horizon.

I guess I'm a sucker for geeky guys. Not that I'm suggesting my hubby is a geek--I can almost guarantee he'd be offended. But I do embrace my inner geek (Harry Potter helped me with that), so perhaps it's a bit of kindred spirit sort of thing.

In some ways Alphonse--who is so happy to be buried in a book--reminds me of Elend in Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn series. Elend was a bit more proactive than Laura Josephsen's character, but Alphonse finally quits kicking against the pricks, so to speak, and finally accepts that he's one of few people in a position to stop something terrible from happening.

Genocide.

I found the character of Mairwyn to be endearing and intriguing. She's so stubborn and impatient, yet you can tell there's something else going on with her. As her personal history slowly unfolds, you realize why she's the way she is, and your heart breaks for her.

There's plenty of intrigue, suspense, and action in this story. I can vouch for how vile the villains are. While this is the first in a two-part series, the second book will be from the point of view of different characters as they continue to fight the psycho bad guys.

Book Review - "Venom" by K.C. Grant

Book Description: 
Samantha Evans is determined to make a name for herself in the cutthroat world of advertising. Newly hired by a prestigious ad agency, she volunteers to work on location in Mexico City as a personal assistant to the beautiful and driven creative director Katrina Edwards. At first the association seems promising. But Ms. Edwards seems preoccupied in a way that makes Samantha increasingly uneasy. In fact, many in the group seem like they are not being completely open about the project, including David Ayala, the mysterious and moody photographer for whose attention the two women find themselves competing. After several strange accidents and numerous appearances by an unknown man, Samantha discovers the truth: not everyone on the team is in Mexico to create a stellar advertising pitch. When her sleuthing leads to her abduction, she is brought to the pyramids of Teotihuacan and comes face-to-face with the venomous evil of the South American crime boss known as The Serpent. Now Samantha must not only fight for her life, but she must also discover if she can trust the man she's come to love.

Samantha learns some important things about herself in this story, including whether or not she's got the disposition (or venomous lack of scruples--pun intended) to succeed in her chosen field. Her natural curiosity and interest in people lead her to notice things going on around her, and she discovers that something's not quite right. While she struggles to find her place in the group--with a boss determined to put her down at every opportunity--she also deals with news about her father's cancer diagnosis and surgery.

If you've never traveled around the Mexico City area and wondered about some great places to visit, this book will help you make a list. Should I ever get to make a trip to Mexico, I would love to visit the sites in the book and compare them with Samantha's experiences. I would hope my trip would turn out less eventful, since Samantha's was full of mystery and intrigue, to say nothing of a fight for her life.

And a dang cute guy.

Book Review - Queen in Exile . . . Plus Awards & Querying

I've got a guest blogger today. Her name is Bobbie Staley, and she's one of my clerks at my day job. She's not an author or an aspiring author. She's one of those people we're all hoping to bring into our camps

She's a Reader.

All right. So am I. So are you. But you know what I mean.

She's highlighting Queen in Exile by Donna Hatch.

Isn't this a great cover?

Book Description:
Rumors of War hang over Princess Jeniah's peaceful country of Arden, a land that shuns both magic and warfare. Following a lifelong dream, Jeniah forms a telepahtic bond with a revered creature called a chayim, who is prophesied to save her kingdom. But when a Darborian knight comes upon Jeniah with her chayim, he sees only a vicious monster about to devour a maiden, and he slays the beast.

Devastated by the loss of her chayim, and fearing that her own magic is evil, Jeniah doubts her destiny. When an enemy invades Arden City, they slaughter the people, storm the castle, and execute the entire royal family except the princess. Rescued by the knight who slew her chayim, Jeniah is now heir to the throne of Arden and the only hope for freeing her people from tyranny.

On the run and hunted by enemy soldiers, Jeniah must place her life and the fate of her kingdom in the hands of this trained killer. Torn between embracing her destiny as queen af Arden, and her love for a mere knight, she must ultimately rely on her magic to save herself and her people from death and tyranny. 

What does Bobbie think?

As I began to read yet another book about magic I was skeptical since I have read a few lately.  I was pleasantly surprised to find this one caught my  attention right away with the bond that Jeniah has with her Sacred animal.

I was taken with the tale of trials and love and anger and tears and oh-my-gosh moments that kept me wanting to read till the weee hours of the night.  I love this book, and I would recommend it to all ages.  I am going to have my 13-year-old read it because I know she would love this book.

Awards

I want to acknowledge the kind ladies who gave me a couple of awards this week:

• Robin Weeks granted me the Kreative Blogger Award.
• April Plumber over at If This Doesn't Scare You gave me a different Versatile Blogger Award. 

 You can check out the charmers here.

Querying

I hope you all had a great weekend. On Saturday I clicked the "send" button for the second time. It was harder in some ways because this one was unsolicited. I'm surprisingly calm about everything.

Hubby and I are going to go out to dinner every time I hit 10 rejections. I got my inspiration from author James Dashner as he mentioned in LTUE last year that that's what he did. The hard part will be those unofficial rejections because the agency has a "no reply" policy. You just tick off the time, and when you haven't heard anything just assume it's a "not interested".

*Rubs hands together*

Where shall we go out to eat?

Book Review - The Ember Gods by Andrea Pearson

From the back of the book:
Jacob Clark has just returned from the world of Eklaron, where he frustrated the evil plans of the Lorkon and returned the magical Key of Kilenya to its rightful owners. His quest is far from over, though—Aloren is trapped in Maivoryl City by the Ember Gods, and Jacob can't return to save her until he receives the potion that will protect his team from the corrosive influence of the Lorkon.

Balancing between this new world and his own proves tricky. Not only has he started his first year of high school, but his magical abilities are bringing him too much attention. He feels pulled by both sides, hoping he'll figure out his special powers to save Aloren in time. 

Poor Jacob. He thought things were challenging in book 1, The Key of Kilenya.

There's only a break of a couple of weeks between the end of Key and The Ember Gods, but he's got even more to deal with. Still carrying the burden of the friend left behind at the end of the first book, he's got to juggle things he didn't in his last story, when he was able to focus all his attentions on his quest.

Now he must learn patience. He has to wait on others to put things in order for a rescue mission. Real-life obligations now that school has started must be balanced with his responsibilities in Eklaron being that he's the only one able to use the power of the Key. Amidst homework, self-defense training, trying to be noticed by the basketball coach, searching for potion ingredients, the unwanted attention of a girl at school, and staying out of the way of the creepy, power-seeking Lorkon, Jacob's getting less and less sleep. It's taking its toll.

And don't forget the secrets Jacob didn't know were being kept from him.

Book Review - Two Souls Are Better Than One

Two Souls Are Better Than One (The Misadventures of a Teenage Wizard) is a hoot!

From the back of the book:

Barely thirteen, Jeremy James Johansen has had more than his share of trouble. His father disappeared without a trace and the police believe he murdered his lab assistant, though his son knows it isn’t true. His dad can’t even handle a knife, let alone a bow and arrow.

A year later Jeremy stumbles across a portal to another world and gets pulled through—but not as himself. Somehow he swaps bodies with the man on the other side before the portal disappears.

Captured by a dragon and a man in black who insists on calling him father, he tries to escape, only to plummet to his death. He awakens in his own bed, believing it was all a bad dream. The problem is there are holes in his memory he can’t fill.

In time, he discovers that the portal holds the answers not only to his forgotten memories, but most importantly, points him down the path to finding his father. 

Poor JJ. He's already having a tough time. His father went missing after his lab assistant was murdered (shot by an arrow, no less). How's that for your social standing in school? JJ's mother is grieving while trying to cope. His twin sister is as irritating as ever while dealing with her own issues. And then the school bullies beat JJ up and when he fights back he gets suspended. Yet this is nothing compared to begin sucked through a portal and into the body of really old guy with a really long beard who has problems of his own. Like people trying to kill him.

And that's just the start.

Karen Hoover does a wonderful job with JJ's youthful sense of humor and wonder when faced with the unbelievable. I felt his grief over his father and his sympathy for his mother. He moans and groans just like a boy his age would but he also finds himself having to stretch, to do more than just look out for himself. JJ learns rather quickly that his problems could have a devastating impact on our world and things seem to spiral out of control.


The book must be the beginning of a series because things are not quite right in the world at the end.

Have you read any good middle grade or early YA books lately? What would be your favorite this year?

Book Review - Mistborn: The Alloy of Law

Brandon Sanderson's done it again. And that's why he's become one of my favorite authors. You can find an article on the Tor blog here where Brandon wonders if his 14-year-old self would approve of what he did in this fantasy book.

Well, I loved what he did.

Here's a synopsis:

Three hundred years after the events of the Mistborn trilogy, Scadrial is on the verge of modernity, with railroads to supplement the canals, electric lighting in the streets and the homes of the wealthy, and the first steel-framed skyscrapers racing for the clouds.

Kelsier, Vin, Elend, Sazed, Spook, and the rest are now part of history—or religion. Yet even as science and technology are reaching new heights, the old magics of Allomancy and Feruchemy continue to play a role in this reborn world. Out in the frontier lands known as the Roughs, they are crucial tools for the brave men and women attempting to establish order and justice.

One such is Waxillium Ladrian, a rare Twinborn who can Push on metals with his Allomancy and use Feruchemy to become lighter or heavier at will. After twenty years in the Roughs, Wax has been forced by family tragedy to return to the metropolis of Elendel. Now he must reluctantly put away his guns and assume the duties and dignity incumbent upon the head of a noble house. Or so he thinks, until he learns the hard way that the mansions and elegant tree-lined streets of the city can be even more dangerous than the dusty plains of the Roughs.

I'm good with some fight scenes in books. If they drag on too long I find myself getting bored and will skim ahead to see what the outcome is. What's surprising is how much I enjoyed the Mistborn trilogy's fight scenes using the unique magics of the world, both for the Allomancers (people who can "burn" metals and get power from it) and the Feruchemists (people who can store things like health, weight, strength, etc. into "metalminds" on their bodies).

I love what Sanderson's done in this new society where the main character can do both Allomancy and Feruchemy. Oh, my, the things he can do with it. In Brandon's article above, he spoke about the introduction of guns into this world. Adding this element to the already clever and exciting fight was brilliant. I grew up in a day when westerns were big on TV and in the movies. I remember Clint Eastwood before he became famous in the Spaghetti Westerns like The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly back when he was on Rawhide. The feel that Sanderson brought to the book matched well with my memories but, as always, with his own fascinating twist.

Brandon did a great job blending of our turn-of-the-century-type (the one before) technology with trains, horseless carriages, skyscrapers into the culture and political system we were familiar with in the earlier series. I loved what he's done with the place, so to speak.

And the characters. Brandon writes characters I love. I love their flaws (oh, my gosh, Wayne just makes me smile!), their strengths, their humor, and their interactions with each other. In the character Waxillium, you've got a brilliant mind mixed with amazing physical skills all set inside a man who's dealing with a terrible emotional burden. A man with a powerful sense of justice and a need to do something to make things better. Kind of a "saving people thing" that Harry Potter had--only Wax is no kid.

I'm glad this is the start of a new series. As always, Sanderson throws in some great twists that will keep you on your toes. I highly recommend this book.

Tomorrow is the last chance to enter to win The King's Envoy in The Give Books for Christmas Giveaway Hop. 
Click here to sign up. I'm choosing the winner at noon.

Also tomorrow, you  might want to stop over at Matt's place at The Quintessentially Questionable Query Experiment. He's going to post my query and critique it on Friday.

Book Review - Rearview Mirror by Stephanie Black

I recently finished reading Rearview Mirror by Stephanie Black. I've read one other of her books, Cold As Ice  and loved it. It made its way around my office where I'm the resident library. Rearview Mirror  is now making the rounds as well. As a disclaimer, the author provided me with a free copy of this book, but it didn't impact my review. I would definitely purchase it.

So what's it about?

On a rainy night eight years ago, Fiona Claridge lost control of her car and crashed, injuring herself and killing her roommate, Mia Hardy. Now, she strives to keep the painful past at bay by staying burrowed beneath the demands of her job as a college professor in a small New England town. But when someone starts leaving her gift-wrapped boxes containing malicious reminders of Mia’s death, Fiona’s guilt and grief come flooding back.

She assumes her stalker is Kimberly Bailey, a disgruntled student, and enlists the help of fellow professor James Hampton. But when Fiona encounters the angry wife of an old flame, it becomes clear her student isn’t the only one with an eye for revenge. Cruel messages escalate to danger, then murder. As past and present become horribly entangled, Fiona struggles to unravel the truth about a determined killer—before she becomes the next victim.

What did I think? I loved it. I really haven't been that much of a mystery/suspense reader, but I'm finding myself being pulled into this genre thanks to Stephanie. My heart went out to poor Fiona who already bears so many scars--both physically and emotionally--from the accident all those years ago.

I thoroughly enjoyed the characters that Stephanie created in this story because they were believably flawed. You're only given a part of each character's story and left to guess the rest. I found myself getting really nervous as the end of the book approached because I was emotionally invested in so many characters ... and I knew one of them was the villain. I kept thinking, "No, it can't be ***; I like *** too much." or "No, it can't be *** because if it is *** then **** will be devastated, and I don't want **** to be hurt."

Stephanie messed with my head so much that toward the end of the book, when things were getting really tense, I had a nightmare where my own romantic interest in the WIP I'm editing right now ended up turning into a villain. O_o Mine is not even a mystery/suspense!

If you're interested in reading the first chapter of Rearview Mirror, you can check it out here.

Well, it's Halloween, and tomorrow is the first day of NaNoWriMo.

I decided to be a Zombie but, man, they're sure a lot more bloodthirsty than when I was a girl. I'm going to be a Vegan Zombie.






Are you dressing up?

Book Review - The Key of Kilenya by Andrea Pearson

So what's The Key of Kilenya by Andrea Pearson about?

When two vicious wolves chase fourteen-year-old Jacob Clark down a path from our world into another, his life is forever changed. He has no idea they have been sent by the Lorkon--evil, immortal beings who are jealous of powers he doesn't know he possesses--powers they desire to control.
The inhabitants of the new world desperately need Jacob's help in recovering a magical key that was stolen by the Lorkon and is somehow linked to him. If he helps them, his life will be at risk. But if he chooses not to help them, both our world and theirs will be in danger. The Lorkon will stop at nothing to unleash the power of the key--and Jacob's special abilities.

My thoughts
Poor Jacob. He's minding his own business, practicing for what he hopes will be the start of a pathway leading to future basketball stardom and instead he ends up in an alien world with strange peoples and even stranger creatures. And no basketball!

But there is magic, and they tell him can learn to do it, too. Well, he'll need to if he hopes to survive during his quest to find the missing key. The key, he's told, only he can retrieve.

Something I particularly enjoyed was the heading at the beginning of each chapter as they were parts of a journal of someone who'd made a similar journey several years before. These little snippets from the past foretold things that Jacob and his company would also face as followed a similar path.

Not all story lines are tied up at the end, so Jacob's adventure isn't finished yet.

Have you read any good books lately? Want to share?