Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Writing Tip- You are What You Read

I am sure you have hear the saying, "You are what you eat". Well I am here to tell you that you also are what you read. There are studies that have shown the mind reacts to things in novels as though we lived them. That means we learn their lessons, feel their pains, and celebrate their triumphs. The stories become a part of us and who we are.

This makes it extremely important to chose our reading material wisely. It will have an affect on our morals and our lives. And as writers, it affects our craft as well.

Imagine my bafflement when my sister, after two months of reader regularly, used the word "parched" and did so correctly. This was the sister who before stared at me with a glazed look in her eye anytime I used a "big word". When we read, we take on the vocabulary of the books we read. Because I want my books to have good vocabulary, I eliminate books that show the opposite from my TBR pile.

We pick up any number of things from the novels we read. Style, beliefs, theme, even characters. So if we want to write well, we have to read well. Surround yourself with books by authors you wish to be like and you will become better for it.

Also, I had to look this up to write this post:

 I need to remember this in my writing as well.

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

The Hero's Lot- Patrick Carr- Tour

heros lot tour

My Thoughts: This is a great book. I admit that I have not finished it yet, but I had to force myself to put it down so I could write this. The mystery around Errol and Liam just keeps building and I am waiting for the answers. Who will be the King? Who will be their Savior? It is killing me to not know... And now, I will leave you to get this awesome book so that I can finish reading mine.

The Hero's Lot Riveting Sequel from Christian Fantasy's Most Talented New Voice. When Sarin Valon, the corrupt secondus of the conclave, flees Erinon and the kingdom, Errol Stone believes his troubles have at last ended. But other forces bent on the destruction of the kingdom remain and conspire to accuse Errol and his friends of a conspiracy to usurp the throne. In a bid to keep the three of them from the axe, Archbenefice Canon sends Martin and Luis to Errol's home village, Callowford, to discover what makes him so important to the kingdom. But Errol is also accused of consorting with spirits. Convicted, his punishment is a journey to the enemy kingdom of Merakh, where he must find Sarin Valon, and kill him. To enforce their sentence, Errol is placed under a compulsion, and he is driven to accomplish his task or die resisting.




Hero's Lot is the Sequel to A Cast of Stones
A Cast of Stones An Epic Medieval Saga Fantasy Readers Will Love. In the backwater village of Callowford, Errol Stone's search for a drink is interrupted by a church messenger who arrives with urgent missives for the hermit priest in the hills. Desperate for coin, Errol volunteers to deliver them but soon finds himself hunted by deadly assassins. Forced to flee with the priest and a small band of travelers, Errol soon learns he's joined a quest that could change the fate of his kingdom. Protected for millennia by the heirs of the first king, the kingdom's dynasty is near an end and a new king must be selected. As tension and danger mount, Errol must leave behind his drunkenness and grief, learn to fight, and come to know his God in order to survive a journey to discover his destiny.
 
Author Patrick W. Carr Patrick Carr was born on an Air Force base in West Germany at the height of the cold war. He has been told this was not his fault. As an Air Force brat, he experienced a change in locale every three years until his father retired to Tennessee. Patrick saw more of the world on his own through a varied and somewhat eclectic education and work history. He graduated from Georgia Tech in 1984 and has worked as a draftsman at a nuclear plant, did design work for the Air Force, worked for a printing company, and consulted as an engineer. Patrick’s day gig for the last five years has been teaching high school math in Nashville, TN. He currently makes his home in Nashville with his wonderfully patient wife, Mary, and four sons he thinks are amazing: Patrick, Connor, Daniel, and Ethan. Sometime in the future he would like to be a jazz pianist. Patrick thinks writing about himself in the third person is kind of weird.
    Blog Tour Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 8/14/13 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, July 26, 2013

The Champion- Carla Capshaw

 So, did anyone try last weeks bingo? If you don't remember, it was dog. This week was weapon, and this was the book I chose:

My Rating: 3 Stars

Description: A Warrior without Equal, a Woman without Options.
Triumphs in the Coliseum--and society bedchambers-- made gladiator Alexius of Iolcos famous for his brutal skill and womanizing ways. Yet the only woman who intrigues him is Tiberia the Younger, who now needs his help. Protecting Tiberia places Alexius in the greatest danger he has ever known--from her vengeful father and his own heart...

Becoming a temple priestess may be an honor, but Tibi can't bear to surrender her freedom or her newfound faith. Alexius's solution stuns her. Marriage...to a gladiator! Scorned by her noble family, Tibi always felt unworthy. But with her champion by her side, can she accept--and give--a love strong enough to vanquish their enemies?


My Thoughts: Alexius is amazing. Just saying... While I did not really experience the unsavory side of him, I still saw the fallout of his past actions in a way to make his struggles believable. That he was willing to take in Tibi even though it could cost him his fortune made him a hero in my eyes. He did everything to protect her and to encourage her to be herself.

Tibi was a bit more confusing to me. She had a brutally abusive father yet was uncowed and was beautiful yet did not know it (as many heroines are). I guess I would have preferred that she had been more unique.

The tension and struggle through the first half of the book kept me staying up late to read as much as I could. This was where I loved Alexius the most and enjoyed the Greek side of him. However, toward the end, I began to loose interest. It seemed to mirror the end of The Gladiator too much. I wish that Capshaw could have come up with a better way to end the conflict than them to end up in the arena as in the other novella.


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Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Writing Tip- "ing" Words

This has nothing to do with the subject, but I thought it was funny.


I have this really bad habit when it comes to writing my first draft- I fill it with "ing" words. I don't know why, but things always happen in the progressive tense. While sometimes it is ok, it occurs far too often in my first draft.

Once the second draft comes, I go through my manuscript with an ink pen I use specifically to circle every "ing" verb. I do this whether or not it needs to be changed, just so that I know it is there. It helps me to see how many are actually there. I just corrected one paragraph that contained six of them.

Remember, "ing" verbs imply that everything happens at the same time. This often is not the truth.

Ex: Putting toothpaste on his toothbrush, John brushed his teeth.

While it is the tendency to write the above sentence like that, one can not brush their teeth while putting toothpaste on the brush (unless one is just odd). It should read more like:

John out toothpaste on his toothbrush and then brushed his teeth.

"Ing" verbs also can make your manuscript seem to rhyme (even if it doesn't) which will put off readers. Take out as many as you can and often you will find that you have written something much better.


Cool News: I love How to Train Your Dragon. It inspired the dragons in my story, Bonded Souls (I will explain this at a further date). So I am excited to see that there will be a How to Train Your Dragon 2. If you have not seen the teaser trailer, here it is (And I have one word- HICCUP!):



Monday, July 22, 2013

Hero's Lot Book Blast!

 
The Hero's Lot Riveting Sequel from Christian Fantasy's Most Talented New Voice. When Sarin Valon, the corrupt secondus of the conclave, flees Erinon and the kingdom, Errol Stone believes his troubles have at last ended. But other forces bent on the destruction of the kingdom remain and conspire to accuse Errol and his friends of a conspiracy to usurp the throne. In a bid to keep the three of them from the axe, Archbenefice Canon sends Martin and Luis to Errol's home village, Callowford, to discover what makes him so important to the kingdom. But Errol is also accused of consorting with spirits. Convicted, his punishment is a journey to the enemy kingdom of Merakh, where he must find Sarin Valon, and kill him. To enforce their sentence, Errol is placed under a compulsion, and he is driven to accomplish his task or die resisting.




Hero's Lot is the Sequel to A Cast of Stones
A Cast of Stones An Epic Medieval Saga Fantasy Readers Will Love. In the backwater village of Callowford, Errol Stone's search for a drink is interrupted by a church messenger who arrives with urgent missives for the hermit priest in the hills. Desperate for coin, Errol volunteers to deliver them but soon finds himself hunted by deadly assassins. Forced to flee with the priest and a small band of travelers, Errol soon learns he's joined a quest that could change the fate of his kingdom. Protected for millennia by the heirs of the first king, the kingdom's dynasty is near an end and a new king must be selected. As tension and danger mount, Errol must leave behind his drunkenness and grief, learn to fight, and come to know his God in order to survive a journey to discover his destiny.
 
Author Patrick W. Carr Patrick Carr was born on an Air Force base in West Germany at the height of the cold war. He has been told this was not his fault. As an Air Force brat, he experienced a change in locale every three years until his father retired to Tennessee. Patrick saw more of the world on his own through a varied and somewhat eclectic education and work history. He graduated from Georgia Tech in 1984 and has worked as a draftsman at a nuclear plant, did design work for the Air Force, worked for a printing company, and consulted as an engineer. Patrick’s day gig for the last five years has been teaching high school math in Nashville, TN. He currently makes his home in Nashville with his wonderfully patient wife, Mary, and four sons he thinks are amazing: Patrick, Connor, Daniel, and Ethan. Sometime in the future he would like to be a jazz pianist. Patrick thinks writing about himself in the third person is kind of weird.
    Book Blast Giveaway $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 8/11/13 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunday, July 21, 2013

King- Prism Tour Launch

Launching the Map Puzzle Tour 
for King by RJ Larson...

On Tour with Prism Book Tours...

King
King (Books of the Infinite, # 3)by RJ Larson
Paperback, 352 pages
Published July 1, 2013 by Bethany House

Akabe of Siphra is certain his people are insane. 

Why have they made him a king? 
What, in the name of peacetime boredom do kings do?

Frustrated by a lengthy silence from his Creator, the Infinite, Akabe decides to prove himself as king by undertaking a monumental task, his own lifelong dream: Rebuild the Infinite’s temple in Siphra. 

But Akabe’s impulsive decision sweeps him into a storm of controversy. The Infinite’s enemies join forces in Siphra, and beyond, conspiring to destroy the emerging temple—and to kill their king and his mysterious new queen.







R.J. Larson


R.J. Larson is the author of numerous devotionals featured in publications such as Women's Devotional Bible and Seasons of a Woman's Heart. She lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with her husband and their two sons. Prophet marks her debut in the fantasy genre.






Map Puzzle Tour...

22 - Launch!

Kien (Judge cover) is the original owner of the map... the scrolling mimics his sword...

Follow the tour to reveal the entire map!

23ADDLibrarian 
-          Rose & Beps Blog 

-          Christy’s Cozy Corner 
-          JL Mbewe
1Worthy 2Read 

4 –  Backing Books 
-          Mel’s Shelves 
-          A Tiffyfit’s Reading Corner 

9 – Grand Finale

Giveaway:

July 22 - August 16
Print copy of Prophet, Judge & King.  USA, Canada, UK only.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, July 19, 2013

Honor Redeemed- Loree Lough

Last month I signed up for Book Cover Bingo on one of my goodreads groups that began last Friday. The element called was 'dog' and I searched all over, though my TBR and recommended pile, for a book with a dog on the cover. At last, I found Honor Redeemed on my kindle. If you want to try the challenge, you can start with 'dog' and next week I will tell you the next element.


My Rating: 3 Stars

Description:Highly skilled Search and Rescue (SAR) team leader, Honor Mackenzie, works almost as hard at guarding the dark secrets of her past as she does when training SAR dogs. As for widowed Sun reporter Matt Phillips, not even his former SAR work is as important as protecting his ten-year-old twin boys. When a jumbo jet crashes outside Baltimore one cold night, their respective jobs put them face-to-face at the grisly scene--and force Matt and Honor to reconsider the difficult decisions that resulted in their long-standing "single forever" status. As Matt tries to come to terms with his feelings for Honor, he gets word that she hasn't reported in since starting the search for a missing child. Reverting to his SAR training, Matt leads the search team as a vicious winter storm bears down on the area. Will he find her in time? And if he does, will they find their way back to each other or go back to living life alone

My Thoughts: Ahhhhh! The ending of the books in this series break my heart. I am going to need time to recover...

What upsets me about this book is that there was little plot. Most everything that happened was only conversation. I understand that this book was more about working through the mental and emotional issues of being a first responder, but I wish there had been more responding. If there had been, I definitely would have rated it higher.

Lough has this way of making her characters real, like I could sit down and have coffee with them or bump into them at the grocery store. I liked that and it kept me reading even though I often wanted the characters to stop talking and do something.

Also, there was something (I wont tell you what) that was finally resolved from the first book. It was a nice turn of events. Still, I have yet to decide if I am going to read the next book. I might.

*New* Buy on Deeper Shopping, connected with TCBN.
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You might also enjoy books from Deeper Shopping's Contemporary fiction page.

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

King- R. J. Larson- Tour and Giveaway

My Thoughts: Can we follow God in faith even when he seems silent to our prayers? This is something that we often struggle with and that Larson approaches in her newest novel, King. For me, the lessons of this novel are much more applicable to my life and I enjoyed that aspect.

As to the story itself, the beginning seemed slow. It was a good portion of the book before the action began. While somethings happened in the part that I had been waiting for since book one, they seemed either too drawn out or too rushed.

Once passed the beginning, I enjoyed the story, lost once again in the escapades of Ela the Prophet. The ending was by far my favorite of the trilogy. I wish that there were more to the store. Maybe she can write a follow up series. *Crosses fingers.*

My Rating: 3.5 Stars


King by R.J. Larson Fantasy Meets the Old Testament in a Novel That Will Reach Readers of All Ages. Against his wishes and desires, Akabe of Siphra has been chosen by his people to be King. But what does a warrior know of ruling during peacetime? Guided by the Infinite, Akabe seeks to rebuild the Temple in the city of Munra to give the sacred books of Parne a home. But dangerous factions are forming in the background. To gain the land he needs, Akabe must forsake the yearnings of his heart and instead align himself through marriage to the Thaenfall family. Meanwhile, Kien Lantec and Ela Roeh are drawn still closer together...while becoming pawns in a quest to gain power over the region. As questions of love and faith become tangled with lies and murderous plots, each must seek the Infinite to guide them through an ever more tangled web of intrigue and danger.  
Author R. J. Larson R. J. Larson is the author of numerous devotionals featured in publications such as Women's Devotional Bible and Seasons of a Woman's Heart. She lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with her husband and their two sons. Prophet marks her debut in the fantasy genre.
  Giveaway Details $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 7/23/13 a Rafflecopter giveaway

 
Tour Schedule 
July 8th
I Am A Reader, Not A Writer – Interview
Recent Reads – Review
Tribute Books Reviews & Giveaway – Excerpt

July 9th
LDS & Lovin’ It – Review
MK McClintock Blog – Interview
Sweeping Me – Spotlight

July 10th
Buried in Books – Review
Colorimetry – Tens List
Bookworm Lisa – Review
Spellbindings – Review

July 11th
Juliababyjen’s Reading Room – Review
Laurie’s Thoughts and Review – Interview
Scrap Blog – Guest Post

July 12th
Frankie Bloodings Bookshelf – Review
Bunny’s Review – Tens List
Nazish Reads – Review
Taking Time for Mommy – Interview

July 13th
Cuzinlogic – Interview
Buried in Books – Review

July 15th
A Book Lover’s Library – Review & Guest Post
Scribbler’s Sojourn – Review
Curling Up with A Good Book – Interview

July 16th
Seeking With All Yur Heart – Review
Good Choice Reading – Interview
Moon Shine Art Spot – Review

July 17th
Baking Books – Review
Books, Books the Magical Fruit – Guest Post
Aimee Lane – Interview

July 18th
Gobs and Gobs of Books – Guest Post & Review
Inside the mind of a Bibliophile – Review
Peace From Pieces – Interview

July 19th
Blkosiner’s Book Blog – Interview
Rogue Mission – Review

Monday, July 15, 2013

Kindle Giveaway!

Kindle Summer
 
This is a joint AUTHOR & BLOGGER GIVEAWAY EVENT! Bloggers & Authors have joined together and each chipped in a little money towards a Kindle Fire HD 7".
Kindle Fire HD 7" Giveaway
The winner will have the option of receiving a 7" Kindle Fire HD (US Only)
  Or $199 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)
  Or $199 in Paypal Cash (International)
 

Sponsoring Bloggers & Authors

  1. I Am A Reader, Not A Writer
  2. Feed Your Reader
  3. New Adult Addiction
  4. Jessabella Reads
  5. The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Somthing Year Old Girl
  6. Books Unhinged by StacyHgg
  7. S.A. Larsen - Writer's Ally
  8. Author Inger Iverson
  9. The Geeky Gamers
  10. annakyss
  11. Everyday Word Magic
  12. Candance's Book Blog
  13. Page Flipperz
  14. SMI Book Club
  15. Laurie Here
  16. Feed Your Fiction Addiction
  17. Phantasmic Reads
  18. The Book Bellas
  19. Please Don't Remove MarGreat's Glasses
  20. Author Jennifer Laurens
  21. J.C. Valentine
  22. Holly Hood
  23. Young Adult Novel Reader
  24. Author Heather Bixler
  25. Literary Meanderings
  26. Suspense Author Kim Cresswell
  27. Mother Daughter & Son Book Review
  28. Meredith's Musings
  29. Auggie Talk
  30. Author Camelia Miron Skiba
  31. Author Lena Sledge
  32. LoriTheAuthor
  33. Author Dianne Venetta
  34. Curling Up with A Good Book
  35. MyLadyWeb
  36. Fae Books
  37. Bea's Book Nook
  38. Girls with Books
  39. Ketch's Book Nook
  40. Turning Pages
  41. Bookhounds
  42. Karey White
  43. My Devotional Thoughts
  44. Author Talia Jager
  45. Author Helen Smith
  46. Sher A Hart: Written Art
  47. Author MK McClintock
  48. Word to Dreams
  49. Buku-Buku Didi
  50. Tasty Book Tours
  51. Readerlicious
  52. Romance Bookworm's Reviews
  Giveaway Details 1 winner will receive their choice of a Kindle Fire 7" HD (US Only), $199 Amazon Gift Card or $199 in Paypal Cash (International). There is a second separate giveaway for bloggers who post this giveaway on their blog. See details in the rafflecopter on how to enter to win the 2nd Kindle Fire. Sponsor a future Kindle Fire Giveaway by signing up HERE. Ends 8/15/13 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the participating authors & bloggers. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.   a Rafflecopter giveaway

Writing Tips- Research

First, let me say that I am sorry I did not have a review up on Friday. I was on vacation and did not have time to read anything. Also, this writing tip (while usually on Wed.) is today because I will have a tour post on Wed. Come back for that, it will be awesome!


So, research. It is so very important. Some people might think it is not needed, that you can just write about things you don't know, and no one will notice. I tell you, they will.

Here are some examples in books I have read where it was obvious that the author had not researched things.

Chosen by Ginger Garrett: Now, I love this author. She writes some amazing stories, but it this novel she messed up. In this novel about Esther, the heroine eats a dish containing tomatoes. Now, you might wonder how that is wrong, but no history buff does.

Tomatoes are native to the Americas and did not show up in the Old World until after Columbus, meaning that Esther could never have eaten tomatoes. It turned off a lot of people to ever read anymore of Garrett's books that she got something like that wrong, as can be seen by reading the reviews of it.


Forevermore by Cathy Marie Hake: In this novel, Hake mentions Cinderella. A character reads the tale to a child and mentions the mice in the story. As a historical, this is wrong. Disney's version is the only one with mice in it (that I know of) and so they never should have been mentioned because they would not have been in the story at that time.


So, even if you think you know something, research it. Research foods and clothes and names. Anything and most everything. Believe me, it is hard and often annoying (I wrote a whole story once, only to then learn my hero's name was really a last name). You just have to press through and remember that readers will notice if you don't take the time to research.

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Writing Tips- Pixar Advice

I found this image on pinterest the other day (If you wish to follow me, go here). Now, this is not the first time I have seen this list, but they are still relevant, so I thought I would share them.



Number nine is one I have mention before in these tips.

 Eleven is one that I always have to remind myself of. I just want to keep the story in my head where it is perfect and never needs to be proven wrong. It is not a good idea, it has to be put down or it does nothing but feed your pride (which might need to go on a diet). Just write it down.

Third from the bottom is my favorite. So many books I have read fail at this. Remember, your readers know when something is a coincidence and they will feel cheated.

Hope you liked these Pixar Tips

Monday, July 8, 2013

Rugged and Relentless- Cathy Marie Hake

Rugged and Relentless (Husbands For Hire #1)My Rating: 3.5 Stars

Description: Roll into Hope Falls, Colorado, where three women are seeking mates to help them establish a sawmill. Evelyn Thompson never dreamed their husbands-for-hire ad would bring so many bachelors to their tiny town. How will she ever figure out which feller to choose? Jacob Granger, a logger-turned-bounty hunter, is hot on the trail of his brother’s killer. When a clue leads him to Hope Falls, he has no choice but to pretend to court Miss Thompson while waiting for the killer to show his hand. Will Jacob’s unexpected adoration of this sweet cook prompt him to speak vows before getting vengeance?

My Thoughts: This book was funny through out most parts. The characters were amusing and likable. For everything, I would have given this book a four if not for the fact that the characters were often re-discussing things that I already knew. There were also arguments that lasted through out multiple chapters, which bothered me.

Still, I loved Jake and Evie and their interactions. I will probably read the next books to find out who the other girls marry. Plus those should (hopefully) have everyone on the same page and not need the discussions.

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Friday, July 5, 2013

The Cadet Tildor- Alex Lidell

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

Description: There is a new king on the throne of Tildor. Currents of political unrest sweep the country as two warring crime families seek power, angling to exploit the young Crown's inexperience. At the Academy of Tildor, the training ground for elite soldiers, Cadet Renee de Winter struggles to keep up with her male peers. But when her mentor, a notorious commander recalled from active duty to teach at the Academy, is kidnapped to fight in illegal gladiator games, Renee and her best friend Alec find themselves thrust into a world rife with crime, sorting through a maze of political intrigue, and struggling to resolve what they want, what is legal, and what is right.

My Thoughts:  When I first picked this up, I thought is was something else. I still enjoyed it, and would like to read the next (if there is one). It was a great adventure. So lets get into my thoughts about certain things.

The characters and I have a love hate relationship. Sometimes they were awesome and I could not get enough them, other times I wanted them to fall on their own swords. I would have to say that this was one reason I liked this book. The characters were not the typical ones that we always love and can find no true faults in. The theme of the novel is that the world is not so black and white, and they demonstrated this perfectly.

The setting what I really had a problem with. It was a fantasy world with mafias. Through out the book, I could not decide if I liked this or not. I still haven't.

Let's just say that my thoughts are not black and white on this book.

Note: There is some crude language that readers may not like. No cussing (well, real cussing), but it is definitely crude toward the end.

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Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Writing Tips- Battle Wounds and Achievements

I once read an interview with Robert Liparulo where he explained the reason for his characters having so many wounds. He said that in real life, we get injured. We get paper cuts, stub our toes, bang our heads on things, so it is unrealistic for our characters to come out of life, let alone a battle, without some scrapes. This is something that I have always strove to remember when I write. My characters will be hurt, and it is important to our faith in them that they are.

Running for the Medicine.
Not only this, but they have to stay hurt. Have you ever seen a movie where in one shot, the actor has a gash on their face and the next it is gone? I have, and I have also read books like this. Your characters will need to heal (unless they have healing powers like in many of Bryan Davis' novels, or special medicines like in The Hunger Games). To not give them that time, and make their injuries take part in how they react to things, will make your story feel false.


Also, you have to remember the correct way for a character to feel their injuries. Most you will not have felt (hopefully) like a gun wound or the bite of a sword. This page gives some ways to treat injuries in your writing. I found in on the author page of Alex Lidell, who's book, The Cadet of Tildor, I will be reviewing on Friday. Hope this lists helps you, I know I will be using it.


Also, to any of you who are interested, I added a short Bio page. It will tell you a little about me and has a way for you to contact me if you want to chat.

And, as a personal update, yesterday I completed the first draft of my book that I have titled Souls of Thyne.  It is 82,433 words and 321 pages on Microsoft. My second drafts usually add 20,000 words, so this book will pass the 100,000 word mark! I am supper excited and plan to share editing tips in the future (with examples) as I work on my next draft. Do any of you have any writing mile stones to share? I would love to hear them.
What I feel like.

Monday, July 1, 2013

The Heiress's Homecoming- Regina Scott

My Rating: 4 Stars

Description:To keep her cherished childhood home, Samantha Everard must marry by her twenty-fifth birthday. Yet she refuses to marry on a whim, not even to save her fortune. When she returns to Dallsten Manor to say goodbye, the last person she expects to see is her handsome, disapproving neighbor William Wentworth, Earl of Kendrick.

Will is certain the scandalous Everard family is nothing but trouble. He shouldn't care about Samantha's predicament, but her feistiness and kindheartedness intrigue him—as does her refusal to wed. He wants to help, especially when he perceives the threat that surrounds her. Soon his greatest wish is to persuade Samantha that her true home is with him.


My Thoughts: This was by far my favorite of the The Everard Legacy books. The Earl of Kenrick was a great hero was consistent through out the story. It the past books I felt like some of the heroes tried to pretend they were something that they were not. Samantha was also the most relatable of the heroines. I felt her pain in searching for love.

My one drawback was Jamie. I did not understand his character. He is supposed to be seventeen yet he acted more like a thirteen year old with an attitude problem. Sometimes I liked him, but most of the time he was definitely not my cup of tea.

I hope to read more by Regina Scott in the future. More reads like this are perfect for the weekend.


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