Something new

Hello fair friends and readers! I've finally got my brain back (praise Jesus for babies who figure out they can sleep on their stomach and snooze so much better at night!). My new fantasy story is well under way. It's been in my head for ages, and gosh, I'm dying to get it out of my brain and onto paper for crying out loud.

The outline is done (and I never do outlines before I write), and after weeks of struggling, I finally got the 2nd chapter under wraps. This story is definitely going slower than my others have.(babies disrupt ease of writing novels, that's for sure - specially when you still have a part time job). It'll be a while before it's written, but I wanted to give you all a little taste of what it's about.

The title: DEVIATIONS

I came up with the idea one day reading Colossians 2:13-15
"And you, who were dead in you trespasses...God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by cancelling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands."

I started thinking about those words; about a list of all our sins existing with its demands for punishment. And as I was mulling that over, I thought: What if there was a world where there was a literal list of your sins? And you had to stand trial for them?

And thus, the book was born.

The story is based on themes like these:

My main character is Lennan. 

(courtesy of)

17.

Smart.

Loyal.

Dabbles in trading things.

Really good at reading people.

Can't seem to stop lying.

Fiercely protective of her baby brother.

Another main character is Blythe.

17.
Anything but gentle.
Impulsive.
Brash.
Brutally honest (and thrives on it)
Pent on vengeance

Then there's Amos:

(courtesy of)

19.

Passionate.

Zealous.

May be hiding a thing. Or two. Or ten.

Annoys the crap out of Lennan.

Then there's Griffin:

(courtesy of)

19.

Riddled with tattoos of those he's hurt.

Gentle soul.

Makes a living by hurting people, oddly enough.

I love this story (even though it's not written yet). It has lots of things.

Prophets.

Magic.

A city where the laws are engraved in the walls.

Visions.

Enslaved people.

Romance.

Broken characters.

The hope of redemption for each of them.

If this book were published, and you were to pick it up, here's what it would say on the back:

Before Lennan Eastley was born, her trial date was set. Everyone gets one in their seventeenth year. Lennan’s is set for two weeks after her birthday. Her Deviation List will be read. From the biggest offense, to the smallest thing - everything she will ever do wrong is on that list. Her trial will determine her punishment.

But when Lennan gets to trial, her deviation list is missing. Now her government is accusing her of treason, and wants to try her for leading a rebellion in a future she hasn’t lived yet. Lennan knows there’s no way she can be who they say; she’d never compromise her life and those she loves to betray her government. But without her list, proving her innocence is impossible.

Determined to find the truth, Lennan begins making choices she never thought she’d make and doing things she always swore she’d never do. Maybe her government is right. Maybe she really will lead a rebellion and murder thousands. Now Lennan doesn’t know what’s true. About her country. About herself.

She’s going to be guilty of something. She just doesn’t know what yet. 

Stay tuned for more!

On My Bookshelf

I told myself that in January once all my final line edits were done on my current Work In Progress, that I would go on a book binge. And I have, and ya'll, it has been wonderful. Here's a sampling of what I've been reading.

(via)

Stitching Snow: by RC Lewis

This I loved. It's a Sci-Fi retelling of Snow White, and it is so well done. Essie lives on the planet Thanda, making money by beating up boys in boxing matches and tinkering (aka 'stitching' up) machinery. She has seven little robots (there's the dwarves!) with names like Cusser because, well, he has a cussing malfunction. Essie is smart and lovable, and I adored her from page one.

The storyline here was really well done. Essie's not a damsel in distress but she isn't all She-warrior either (a theme totally overdone in YA right now in my opinion). She's brave but vulnerable and ends up confronting some horrible things from her past and some truths she can't keep pretending don't exist. Really well done, and it's a stand alone (AKA, no trilogy, which is nice sometimes). Definitely recommend!

You can read the blurb here.  

(buy it!)

A Mad, Wicked Folly: by Sharon Biggs Walter

Ah, I love good historical fiction that shows the history through the fiction (and not the other way around!) This was good. It's set in Victorian era London and focuses on Vicky, an upper class girl who gets kicked out of school and has her reputation tarnished because she poses nude for the art class she attends in secret (scandal!). This sheds great light on Victorian times and as Vicky tries to get back in her parent's good graces and attend art school at the same time, she gets caught up in the women's suffrage movement. This was great because of it's historical accuracy and because Vicky is such a believable character. She doesn't blow off her family in a gung ho "I shall be who I want to be!" crusade, and she has to walk that fine line between keeping important relationships and following her dreams. Really well done, and I adore this cover! 

(buy it!)

The Future of Us: Jay Asher

Ya'll, you need to read this.

It's 1996, and Emma and Josh are neighbors, and used to be best friends before Josh confessed his more-than-friend feelings, which Emma did not reciprocate. Awwwwkkkward.

So, now Emma's dad gives her a computer with good old dial up and AOL. And somehow Emma and Josh end up having access to Facebook and their future selves on it.

What?!

Yes. Imagine being 16 and seeing what your 30ish year old self is putting on Facebook. Oh, and then seeing how the decisions you make today can change your Facebook...aka, your future.

Great concept, and this is so well done. Especially if like me, you are in your 30's, and remember dial-up and all the things circa 1996. (some teens reading this now probably have no idea what some of these things are. A Discman? What the heck is that??!)

What I particularly loved was the reactions of these two teens to the things their older selves are putting on Facebook. 

"Why would someone put that online where everyone could see it?" they ask.

*Cue good dose of "Please stop being so melodramatic on Facebook".

This one was great. An easy read, but thought provoking. If I taught High School, I would have my students read this and use it as a catalyst for conversation on social media and living life versus broadcasting it. 

Go read it!!  It's charming and sweet, and will make you think. Triple Win!

On my bookshelf

I am so behind with my reading. And then the library sends me an email that a book I had placed on hold a month ago is now available. Seems I can either read a lot or write a lot, and not both at the same time. Reading has definitely taken a back seat lately. But, I did read this little gem recently and wanted to tell you about it.

(via)

Sleeping in Eden, by Nicole Baart

Here's the first line of this book:

"On the first day the leaves began to fall, Jim Sparks hung himself from a rafter in his condemned barn."

ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME??!!

Ok, so there's this general rule in the writing world that you have to have a hook for a first sentence. Something that is so good it pulls the reader immediately in. I agree with this rule somewhat, but not entirely, because who reads just one line of a book and then stops reading because it's not 'gripping enough'? Psychopaths, that's who. A first line does not, in the opinion of anyone sane, make or break a book. That being said, this is probably the best first line of a book I have ever read. And it stunned me so much when I read it, that I stopped, and read that line again and again. (*insert goosebumps or writing awe here*)

I don't even know to classify this book. It had a pink "Inspirational" sticker on it when I picked it up from the library. I guess it gets that stamp even though there are only a couple of vague references to God in the book.

*sidenote: I love Jesus, and pretty much hate all Christian fiction. It's so squeaky clean and portrays the idea that oh, if you just trust Jesus, life will clean itself up for you. What gospel are Christian publishers reading? It's not real. This book defies that mold (fist pump!) and is one reason why I love it. And I love that it's tagged Inspirational, but don't let that fool you. It's also adult contemporary and YA and a million other things. It defies genre.

You can read the blurb about the book on Nicole Baart's website.

The book is so much more than the blurb conveys. It's gripping....haunting...so authentic to human life and emotion and the incredible complexities of it. I've never read anything more 'real'. Does that make sense?

Meg's story and Lucas' story are both so raw and moving, but not in big, showy, earth-shattering ways. It's a quiet book but a great book. It just hits you, because it's so real. It feels like hearing a story of someone's life. Not someone great. Just normal people. You and me. A story of how decisions can lead to mess and how sometimes we don't say what we need to. A story of how assumptions can be our worst enemy, and honesty with ourselves can lead to the greatest healing.

Read it. You may not love it. But I guarantee you part of it will resonate within you. Five stars from me (and those are rare).

What I've Been Reading

How is it almost October?!

September just flew by. I think it went by so quickly because I did an intensive rewrite of Book One (in ten days), finished an (oh so very crappy) draft one of my fantasy piece, and you know, had life thrown in there. Not much time for reading. And I had books from the library I had to finish because they were on hold with someone else, which means I couldn't renew them, so I was plowing my way through things. Mostly because I want to get to this little gem that was delivered to my doorstep last week that I have not opened yet. 

Sarah Maas is a goddess of storytelling. This is epic, but so close and personal. LOVE this series!

All because when I do, I will not emerge to eat/sleep/work/etc until the thing is done. Dying to get into this. Ah, but had to get through a few others first.

So, here's what I've been reading.

Let's Get Lost, by Adi Alsaid

Love that cover

This was good. Nothing awe inspiring or make you want to laugh/dance/cry. Just solidly good. It tells the story of 17 year old Leila and her cross country trip on her way from Louisiana to see the Northern Lights in Alaska. The story is broken into 5 sections. The first four are from the point of view of different people Leila meets on her journey and how she impacts them/their day. Why Leila is on the trip remains a mystery throughout the stories. You start to speculate, but the reason stays hidden, which is fine, because you're so wrapped up in the other stories. The last section is from Leila's point of view, where the mystery of her road trip comes to light. I wasn't expecting the reason (I was thinking she was dying **spoiler!** she's not!).

I really loved this. I loved that it was about loss and healing but not in an overt way. That it focused on how Leila's healing affected others more than her. 

Say What You Will, by Cammie McGovern 

Don't you just love the name Cammie? So pretty.

Ok. Time for truth. The publishing industry can make you want to scream. There is a big call right now in YA for books on diversity. Which is fantastic. What I hate is when there's a call/demand for something and people write it just to write it, and there's no heart behind it (These things sell, too, which is frustrating for writers like myself who can't get their stories published but stories that are less than stellar are published simply because of demands and trends).

Anywho...this book deals with a girl with a disability. And it is so, so, well done.

Amy has cerebral palsy. She's trying to make the best of her last year in high school. She uses a walker and a device that speaks for her when she types into it. Her mom hires peer helpers in attempts to help Amy make more friends. One of her peer helpers is Matthew, a boy who suffers from severe OCD. Amy and Matthew begin a friendship that blossoms into more (of course) but things don't go well, because they tell each other everything, except what's most important.

What I really love about this is that it focused on a girl with a disability, but not the disability itself. It focused on Amy as a person and not 'a girl with CP'. I loved the matchup between she and Matthew (because he has his own issues to hash out and work through). Great story.

Then, there was this:
The Ring and the Crown, by Melissa De La Cruz

Ring and the Crown

Ah, so remember by bit above about how books that aren't very good sell because of trends? Case in point. This book is historical fantasy (I swear, you throw magic and a ballgown together in YA and you can about get published) This I did not enjoy. Way too many characters that did not connect,not a big enough plot arc. Lots of girls 16 and younger having lots of sex, in ways that did not add to the story. Nothing happened in this book, really. And man, it could have (I mean, did you hear the part where I mentioned it is fantasy? Hello, magic and spells, you were in here but didn't do anything). Hate to bash books online (and almost didn't write this). But, well, it wasn't good. And sadly, other really great writers with really, really good stories, aren't getting published. But this is. That makes me sad. 

One more book to read from the library and then Heir of Fire is mine to devour (hey, that rhymes). Meanwhile, my "To Read" shelf on Goodreads just keeps growing, and growing, and growing...

National Read a Book Day

So evidently Saturday was National Read a Book Day. (Isn't every day supposed to be that? Why yes, I agree.)

In honor, I thought I'd make a list of my top 10 favorite books. In all fairness, I am probably missing a good number that I love. But, nevertheless, here are 10 ones that I reread over and over and over and over and over and...

1. Divergent (Veronica Roth)

Buy it!

I almost feel guilty and shallow mentioning this one, since it's become such a franchise. (The movie was meh. Didn't love it. They changed the story way too much)

I read this book cover to cover half a dozen times when I first got it from the library. I love this series. Veronica Roth is a skillful storyteller, because she nailed not only a first rate, high stakes story (subsequently making all other dystopian stories fall flat on their face), but the inner workings of a main character that all the reader's loved so much it resulted in people sending the woman death threats after the third book came out. I love Tris. I identify with her wanting to be brave.

2. Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Laini Taylor)

Isn't this cover gorgeous?

This book is breathtaking. No one can write like Laini Taylor can. Artist student with a secret life ends up in a save-her-world, battle of good versus evil that, as all battles tend to be, is not what it seems. I reread sentences in this book because they were just so beautiful and right. The characters are perfection, the premise out of this world (literally). This book is fantasy, but not fantasy...the plot was so beautifully orchestrated and done in a way that makes you care. I almost wanted Brimstone to be real. Read this. Thank me later.

3. Throne of Glass (Sarah Maas)

This is the new cover, which is so much better than the first

My stars, I love this series. Celeana is an assassin (I know, those are so overdone right now in YA). But oh, you will love her. She is wounded, and I love how Sarah Maas unfolds Celeana's brokenness over the course of not only the first book but the ones that follow. You will root for her more than you will root for any other heroine. Love, love, love these books.

4. Shadow and Bone (Leigh Bardugo)

Love this cover-the book has Russian influences and you can tell by this!

Another great series. I heard rumor that someone bought the movie rights to this which I HATE. Why must everything be turned into a movie? As a general rule, I hate it. The beauty of books is that they are personal. You, the reader, get to imagine the story your own way. And this is fantasy. How would they bring this world to life in a way that brings the story justice? Anywho, if you love romances that stem from friendship (and then go horribly, horribly wrong because of well, those reasons) read this!

5. Defiance (CJ Redwine)

Just bought this one!

A post-apocalypse series that you wouldn't know when you first read it (cause it's  not the usual type, which is awesome). Rachel is such a great heroine. Feisty yet with a vulnerable heart and oh my stars, I love love love her. Logan is tender hearted and fights for her, as of course, they try to do good and battle evil and love each other through exposed secrets and horrible, horrible things. I love stories that show love being built on ruins and thriving.

6. Counting by 7's (Holly Goldberg Sloan)

Such a quiet cover for such a powerful book

One of the best Middle Grade books I will ever read. If you have ever wanted family, or family different from what you had, or worried that you don't have family, you need to read this. It's about loss of family and the beauty of finding it again, in unexpected places.

7. Eleanor and Park (Rainbow Rowell)

Oh, this book....such a beautiful love story (set in the 80's!  Hello!) but woven in it is a girl held captive by fear, and longing for freedom. Definitely an R rated book (to me at least) because of language and some heavy subjects, but man, I loved this. Who can't get behind a love story that starts on a school bus?  Sigh...I want me boy babies to be like Park. And heavens, finally a female protagonist who isn't rail thin and short. Geez, all I want is a normal sized woman!

8. Snicker of Magic  (Natalie Lloyd)

A book about magic, mountains, and ice cream? Yes, please!

If you live in East TN, read this. You will fall in love with Felicity as she finds home in our beloved mountains. I love this story. Natalie Lloyd spins words like cotton candy, fluffy and sweet and full of magic. Love this story about waiting, and wanting to find home, and the words that define us. And hope. Gosh, hope! I want to get a tattoo of a bird on my wrist because of this book.

9. My Life in France (Julia Child)

I heart Julia!

Threw you for a loop didn't I? My only non-YA/MG book. I love Julia Child. I love that she found her passion so late in life. I love that she devoted herself to practicing her craft. I loved that she had fun while doing it. She lost herself in cooking, without losing who she was. This book portrays how all of that came to be. Dave bought it for me for Christmas a few years ago and I've probably read it 6 or 7 times through.

10.Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins)

Love this cover too-it matches the story. A lot of covers don't actually do that.

Another franchise, but man, so good. (I actually liked these movies). The premise is chilling and so captivating (mad props to Suzanne Collins for that). I love the characters...how we break with Katniss over her decisions, and love her with Peeta and want her to love us with Gale. Such a great series, and worth rereading.

On my bookshelf

My latest read was "My Life Next Door", by Huntley Fitzpatrick.

My Life Next Door

I am not the biggest contemporary YA fan, but holy smokes, did I love this.

The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, numerous, messy, affectionate. And every day from her balcony perch, seventeen-year-old Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them…until one summer evening Jase Garrett climbs her trellis and changes everything. As the two fall fiercely in love and stumble through the awkwardness and awesomeness of first romance, Jase's family makes Samantha one of their own—even as she keeps him a secret from her disapproving mother and critical best friend. Then the unthinkable happens, and the bottom drops out of Samantha's world. She's suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?

A debut novel about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another.

Ya'll, I cannot even....sigh...this was so good.

I was on page number four reading this in my car on my lunch break one day when I stopped, clutched the book to myself, and said out loud "This is so freaking good." (Yes, I realize I have a touch for the melodramatic. But really, as a newbie writer learning about things like voice and pacing, holy heck, Huntley just nailed it. I mean, wow. This is a great story, but also a well written one. And let me tell you, there are a LOT of poorly written YA stories out there.)

The voice in this book was fantastic. Samantha is wonderful - not mini-adult-in-teen's-body, not whiny, not all knowing. She is seventeen, and self aware and confident and vulnerable all at the same time. Her romance with Jase is believable and real. And her issues with her mom? Glory, spot on.This book deals with tough family issues, with crisis, with friends and the, well, ickiness that can be them. It deals with jobs and real life and first love and first kisses, and most of all it deals with learning to trust who you are. I felt empowered after reading it. Isn't that crazy? This seventeen year old character and her honesty and how she learns to deal with mess, made me feel like I could be myself and take on the world.

I realize books are subjective things (that's one of the things I love most about them) and sometimes a reader will connect in a way that another reader won't. This was one of those books for me. I connected to Samantha in a lot of ways, and this book just resonated. I read it four times cover to cover before turning it back to the library (Divergent sets the record with five read-throughs), then promptly went and ordered a copy off Amazon. (And I rarely buy books because of budget reasons, so a purchase is like a Oscar or Emmy book wise from me).

Hands down, one of the best YA books I have ever read. That's right. Right up there with Divergent, and Daughter of Smoke and Bone, and Throne of Glass, this little book will rest on my bookshelf  ('cause I own all those books, too).

Go forth, read it, and love. *there is a fantastic line about cougar lust that is to die for. read it, love it, thank me later. *

On my bookshelf

I keep finding the most wonderful Middle Grade gems. My latest treasure was "The Junction of Sunshine and Lucky" by Holly Schindler.

(buy it here!)

Here's the blurb:

August “Auggie” Jones lives with her Grandpa Gus, a trash hauler, in a poor part of town. So when her wealthy classmate’s father starts the House Beautification Committee, it’s homes like Auggie’s that are deemed “in violation.” Auggie is determined to prove that she is not as run-down as the outside of her house might suggest. Using the kind of items Gus usually hauls to the scrap heap, a broken toaster becomes a flower; church windows turn into a rainbow walkway; and an old car gets new life as spinning whirligigs. What starts out as a home renovation project becomes much more as Auggie and her grandpa discover a talent they never knew they had—and redefine a whole town’s perception of beauty, one recycled sculpture at a time. Auggie’s talent for creating found art will remind readers that one girl’s trash really is another girl’s treasure.

"One man's trash is another man's treasure." I loved this story. Auggie is one spunky girl (I'd want to have her around in either a debate or a fist fight-I think she'd win both). She shows a lot of courage in proving that she and Gus -and the rest of her neighbors- are not trashy people. I loved how much Gus loved her and how they worked together to create 'company' as they call their sculpture people. 

Auggie has a rough time at her new school when one of her friends leaves her for the new girl. I love that Holly Schindler put that storyline in here, because great skies above, have we not all gone through that? Especially girls. But Auggie was a trooper (and way more gracious than I would have been). She rides it out and eventually her friend comes back to her.

This book is full of possibility. I love how Auggie goes from admiring everyone else's skills and talents to coming to see her own 'shine' as she calls it. Everybody's got shine, and Auggie finding hers and making company with Gus makes this story the best junk story I've ever read!

If you love trash, treasure, spunk, or shine, you need to read this! Two hearty recycled thumbs up!

On my bookshelf

On my bookshelf lately:

What Alice Forgot, by Liane Moriarity

Buy this! Read it!

Here's the blurb:

Alice Love is twenty-nine, crazy about her husband, and pregnant with her first child. 

So imagine Alice’s surprise when she comes to on the floor of a gym (a gym! She HATES the gym) and is whisked off to the hospital where she discovers the honeymoon is truly over — she’s getting divorced, , she has three kids, and she’s actually 39 years old. Alice must reconstruct the events of a lost decade, and find out whether it’s possible to reconstruct her life at the same time. She has to figure out why her sister hardly talks to her, and how is it that she’s become one of those super skinny moms with really expensive clothes. Ultimately, Alice must discover whether forgetting is a blessing or a curse, and whether it’s possible to start over.

I cannot tell you how much I loved this book. It stuck with me for so long. The story itself is riveting but cheery, despite the down-in-the-dumps events. Alice is endearing and lovable. She recognizes who she has evidently become and decides she doesn't want to be that person anymore. (love that gumption!)

I love this book because not only was the story really well done, it was a message that clung to me. How do we get to where we are, and become the person we are? There's a Pinterest quote I saw once that said something to the effect of "If who you were as a child could see adult-you, would they be happy with who you are?" (I butchered that, but you get the idea) This book speaks to that idea. What if who you find yourself to be is ugly and not at all who you thought you'd become? Can you change it, or is it too late? 

A fantastic read. GO GET IT and be transformed!

Ok, moving along to Defy, by Sara Larson

via Barnes and Noble

First of all, is that not a gorgeous cover?
Here's the blurb for this:

Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king's army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince's guard. But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night, even Alex, who is virtually unbeatable, can't prevent him from abducting her, her fellow guard and friend Rylan, and Prince Damian, taking them through the treacherous wilds of the jungle and deep into enemy territory.

The longer Alex is held captive with both Rylan and the prince, the more she realizes that she is not the only one who has been keeping dangerous secrets. And suddenly, after her own secret is revealed, Alex finds herself confronted with two men vying for her heart: the safe and steady Rylan, who has always cared for her, and the dark, intriguing Damian. With hidden foes lurking around every corner, is Alex strong enough to save herself and the kingdom she's sworn to protect?

Ok, so I was a little hesitant about this one. The girl warrior profile is a bit overdone in YA in my opinion. But this was good. Best love triangle I think I've read in YA. It felt very authentic (and heavens, there is a sequel so all sorts of mess will happen with that I am sure.)

The girl warrior thing is interesting to me. You have some girls who are more warrior than girl (Katniss, Tris). Some girls who are more girl than warrior (I think Alexa qualifies for this; she never felt not-girlish to me). And some that are half and half (Celeana from Throne of Glass best shows this--and heavens, if you haven't read that book, run and redeem yourself and shred your heart by doing so.)

Anywho, this was good. I didn't fall head over heels in love with it. (I don't think I would buy it, which is the "This book is too fantastic for words" standard for me). But it was good. I liked the jungle setting, because that was different, and I like that at first Alexa has to hide the fact that she's a girl.

Then finally, I read The Tragedy Paper, by Elizabeth LaBan.

Nice cover

One of the blurbs online said that this was perfect for fans of Looking for Alaska and 13 Reasons Why, and that's so true. This book is a great blend of those two. 

It follows the story of Tim Macbeth, a seventeen-year-old albino and a recent transfer to the prestigious Irving School, where the motto is “Enter here to be and find a friend.” A friend is the last thing Tim expects or wants—he just hopes to get through his senior year unnoticed. Yet, despite his efforts to blend into the background, he finds himself falling for the quintessential “It” girl, Vanessa Sheller, girlfriend of Irving’s most popular boy. To Tim's surprise, Vanessa is into him, too, but she can kiss her social status goodbye if anyone ever finds out. Tim and Vanessa begin a clandestine romance, but looming over them is the Tragedy Paper, Irving’s version of a senior year thesis, assigned by the school’s least forgiving teacher.

 

Jumping between viewpoints of the love-struck Tim and Duncan, a current senior about to uncover the truth of Tim and Vanessa, The Tragedy Paper is a compelling tale of forbidden love and the lengths people will go to keep their secrets.

This was interesting. Very "Dead Poet's Society." I think it would be a great book to discuss in a high school class. It brings up a lot of themes that I think could lead to some amazing discussion about life and choices and what happens when we become too fixated on things.

Reading has been hard to fit in this month. We've been traveling and busy with new dogs and I have writing projects coming out of my ears (most get better at not having writer ADD and FOCUS!!). Hopefully I can get around to reading more as the summer continues. 

Book review: Ghosts of Tupelo Landing

Some books put a smile on your face. Some put a smile deep down in your heart. This is one of them.

Buy this book!

Ghosts of Tupelo Landing (by Sheila Turnage) is the sequel to Three Times Lucky, which is hands down, one of the BEST middle grade books I will ever read. We're talking top 3 and it shall never be removed from that spot. Here's the blurb for Ghosts: (I realize I don't give my own summary of a book and here's why: I find it redundant. When I read a book review, all I want is the blurb, and for the reviewer to answer the question "Was this good? Why or why not?" I don't want to know what happens in the book (that's why I read it!). I just want to know if it's worth picking up and starting. That's why mine are short and sweet; it's just my preference)

Small towns have rules. One is, you got to stay who you are -- no matter how many murders you solve.

When Miss Lana makes an Accidental Bid at the Tupelo auction and winds up the mortified owner of an old inn, she doesn't realize there's a ghost in the fine print. Naturally, Desperado Detective Agency (aka Mo and Dale) opens a paranormal division to solve the mystery of the ghost's identity. They've got to figure out who the ghost is so they can interview it for their history assignment (extra credit). But Mo and Dale start to realize that the Inn isn't the only haunted place in Tupelo Landing. People can also be haunted by their own past. As Mo and Dale handily track down the truth about the ghost (with some help from the new kid in town), they discover the truth about a great many other people, too.

A laugh out loud, ghostly, Southern mystery that can be enjoyed by readers visiting Tupelo Landing for the first time, as well as those who are old friends of Mo and Dale


I adore Mo and Dale. Mo's voice is one of the best narrative voice's in fiction. Scout Finch hangs out in my top seat in that category, and I'm not gonna lie, she hasn't had anyone close to a contender. But Mo LoBeau?  She's getting pretty friendly with Scout up on the rung. Mo is delightfully self aware and searching. Someone you would want to have journey with you through life because she has a way of finding truth and hope in any situation. And Dale??  Glory. I love him to pieces. He is honest and real and always trying, and bless his heart, you can't help but love him.

This story is sweet and hilarious and all things southern. I reread lines over and over and wanted to memorize them because they were so perfectly right. Fantastic story. Amazing, loveable characters. If you like middle grade fiction, small town stories, or unexpected heroes, you need to read this.

Book Review: Dark Triumph

From Goodreads

My latest read has been "Dark Triumph" by Robin LaFevers. This is the second in her "His Fair Assassin" Series. The first book, Grave Mercy, I really liked. These books are dark, and about girls who are nuns of St. Mortain (the god of death) and assassins who do his will. Which sounds uber creepy but these are done so, so well and in a way that is unexpected. 

St. Mortain sounds a lot like Satan but death is presented here as both justice and mercy. "Grave Mercy" dealt with the mercy part. "Dark Triumph" deals with the justice part. Sybella is trained to kill and wants to because of her past and what she's had to suffer through and endure.

There'a lot of political drama and intrigue in the first book that is not as forefront as this one. This one is much more personal and the lead character, Sybella, a very, very wounded person. I really loved this book and how it chronicles her coming to grips with her past and dealing with her brokenness. (Reminds me a lot of my own main character). It also serves as a great flip side of the same coin that Grave Mercy sets up. I loved the love story in this too. The guy isn't good looking but is charismatic and endearing and is the perfect fit for our wounded girl. A great story about healing and self discovery,all within the context of adventure and high stakes.

I will be honest and say that I wouldn't recommend this book to a young reader. A lot of YA is gritty, and this is a very dark story. There is some sexual incest mentioned and alluded to that I think would disturb a younger reader. It would have disturbed me to read that at fifteen. Granted, I grew up very sheltered and what most could handle at 15 I couldn't handle until I was in my late 20's. So take that with a grain of salt. 

I love this series. The third book comes out this fall and I will definitely be begging our local library to get it. I like that these books are different. There are a lot of girl assassin books on the YA shelves right now, but these are different because of the religious element. These girls serve the god of death, but it's not all demons and satan (in fact, none of that). The author has a Catholic background which you definitely see elements of and I love the world and religions she created in these books.

Again, a dark read, so if that's not your thing steer clear. But if you can get into it and love characters who overcome and are not just stupid silly girls intent on being a damsel in distress, you should definitely check this out. 

How writing is killing my hobby

So, writing life is busy right now.  I'm editing Book One, trying to finish the first draft of Book Two, working on a synopsis for both, and a query and researching agents, etc, etc.

I love it, but it's killing me, because it's robbing me of reading.

I haven't checked a book out from the library in a month.  I got an Advanced Reader Copy of Ann Brashare's "The Here and Now" that I have not finished.  I have the Throne of Glass novellas that I have not read.  And heaven help, Laini Taylor's last installment in the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series is on its way from Barnes and Noble to my doorstep, and I am a freak in that I must reread previous books in a series before I read the new one (because my brain is fluff and I forget things and I don't want to miss something, so I must reread the others!)

Have a gazillion books that I want to read.  I need to find a better balance between reading and writing.  I don't want to ruin my writing groove when I get in it, but taking a step back from it is essential and good stories are what makes me want to write anyway, so I need to keep feeding myself them.  And oh I want to.  It's just hard finding time between a full time job, a reno house, friends, exercise, chores, and a husband who I'd rather hang out with than do anything else.

Hang in there little Goodread's To Read List....I have not forgotten about you!

Book Review-The Here and Now

The Here and Now

I was given an ARC of this for a fair review.

I was really excited about this book.  First because it's Ann Brashares (of the famous Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series, and of The Last Summer of You and Me--which was fantastic).  Second, I was excited because of the concept.

Here's the premise:

Follow the rules. Remember what happened. Never fall in love.

This is the story of seventeen-year-old Prenna James, who immigrated to New York when she was twelve. Except Prenna didn’t come from a different country. She came from a different time—a future where a mosquito-borne illness has mutated into a pandemic, killing millions and leaving the world in ruins. 

Prenna and the others who escaped to the present day must follow a strict set of rules: never reveal where they’re from, never interfere with history, and never, ever be intimate with anyone outside their community. Prenna does as she’s told, believing she can help prevent the plague that will one day ravage the earth. 

But everything changes when Prenna falls for Ethan Jarves

Interesting concept right?  I loved the idea.

(Spoilers here so if you want to read the book, don't read this)

I hate to hate on books, but this one disappointed me.  It was really short, not only in actual length but it's a huge concept that was tied up so neatly (except it wasn't because the ending wasn't an ending at all).  There were lots of pieces to the story and you think the stakes are super high, right?  The future of humans is at stake.  But I didn't feel it.

Prenna was a really flat character for me.  Huge things happen and her responses lacked depth.  I loved Ethan as a character and I liked the idea of the two of them in love, but it seemed almost forced.  I think maybe because the readers didn't see years of their friendship; we just walk into the story with that already set up.  Which could work, but, I was disappointed by how one dimensional Prenna felt.  And consistency in the story itself kindof fell apart because it bounced around with subplots and I never really got a good sense of "Oh, this is the big thing at stake," because there were lots of little subplots competing for that title.

Don't get me wrong, I liked the book.  But I didn't love it.  And the way it was pitched made me think it was going to be bigger and better.  I think honestly it flopped a little for me because YA books are supposed to be all about feelings.  This had a lot of information and description, but I didn't feel things along with Prenna and Ethan.  The POV is told first person from Prenna's perspective but it felt really distant to me.  I think that's why I had a hard time with Prenna's emotional responses because I never connected with her like I have other YA characters.  I never felt the urgency of she and Ethan wanting and not being able to sleep together which is supposed to be a big part of the book.  Prenna made a lot of stupid decisions, which is fine-characters do that--but I never understood why.  When Tris makes bad decisions in Divergent I still love her; when Prenna made dumb decisions I muttered out loud "What an idiot."

I wanted to like her.  I wanted to like the book.  And I think I could have; the story just wasn't fleshed out and brought to life the way it could have been.  Ann Brashares is a talented writer.  I wish she would go back and flesh this out and add some layers to it.

Book Review: A Snicker of Magic

Normally Young Adult is my preferred genre, but I have started falling in love with Middle Grade.  There is just something about that special balance of story that makes a good MG book that kind that stays with you forever.  Such is the case with this little beauty:

A Snicker of Magic

My friend Natalie Lloyd wrote this book, and it is spindiddly!  Here is the blurb from Natalie's website:

Midnight Gulch used to be a magical place, a town where people could sing up thunderstorms and dance up sunflowers. But that was long ago, before a curse drove the magic away. Twelve-year-old Felicity knows all about things like that; her nomadic mother is cursed with a wandering heart.

But when she arrives in Midnight Gulch, Felicity thinks her luck's about to change. A "word collector," Felicity sees words everywhere---shining above strangers, tucked into church eves, and tangled up her dog's floppy ears---but Midnight Gulch is the first place she's ever seen the word "home." And then there's Jonah, a mysterious, spiky-haired do-gooder who shimmers with words Felicity's never seen before, words that make Felicity's heart beat a little faster.

Felicity wants to stay in Midnight Gulch more than anything, but first, she'll need to figure out how to bring back the magic, breaking the spell that's been cast over the town . . . and her mother's broken heart.

This book is endearing and magical.  It will make you believe in hope and overcoming.  When I finished reading it, I started looking for words to flow out from the trees and to dance on top of people's heads.  I wanted to take a bite of Dr. Zook's Blackberry Sunrise ice cream and risk the memories that a taste of it would bring to life.

I must say, Three Time Lucky had won the top spot on my list of favorite MG books.  This book just took its place.  I always knew that Natalie would be a published author some day (Snicker just got a spindiddly review from the New York Times!).  I think one of the things I loved most about this book is that it is Natalie in book form.  I don't know any other authors personally (and really, I hardly know Natalie), but I love that she is there in every page: whimsical and fluttery sweet like cotton candy but completely solid like a hug from your best friend or a good meal fed to you by your granny.  If I had picked this up and not known the author I would have finished and thought to myself  "My goodness, this sounds like Natalie's words!"  Ever since I started writing myself it's been interesting to see pieces of myself manifest themselves in a story that isn't about me at all.

This book is wonderful!  Full of small town quirk and charm, unforgettable characters, and words that will stir up feeling in all of us.  A must read if you love words, stories, or ice cream!

Book Review: The Summer of Letting Go

This week I read The Summer of Letting Go by Gae Polisner.  Lucky for me, I got an Advanced Reader Copy of this little gem!

The Summer of Letting Go

From Gae Polisner's website.

Four years ago during an outing to the ocean, Francesca's little brother drowned, and she was the one who should have been watching him. Now almost 16, Francesca's used to playing second fiddle to her dead brother's memory, and to her best friend Lisette who's blossoming into a beauty and leaving Francesca behind.

Stuck at home while Lisette spends her summer days with a boy Francesca wants but can never have, Francesca begins to suspect her father of having an affair. She trails the woman to the local country club where she meets Frankie Sky, a four year old boy with a hole in his heart who bears a striking resemblance to her brother. Hope of an otherworldly connection leads Francesca to places she thought she'd abandoned, as well as to new places she never thought she'd have the heart to go – and it begins to seem possible to forgive herself and move on, whether or not she solves the riddle of Frankie Sky. 

This book was wonderful.  It tackles the issue of grief in such a real way.  I love it when an author can make a character's emotions believable and natural without making things seem forced.  (Well done Gae Polisner!)

Francesca (Frankie) is a very wounded character, which I find myself being more and more attracted to.  I guess because all of us are wounded in our own ways.  Frankie carries a lot of burden and weight on herself, most of it put there by her own assumptions and guilt.  I loved watching Frankie confront her past, and the lies she believes about herself.  I loved watching her face the things that scare her, and embrace hope against all odds.  

I love books about hope.  My own YA story that I wrote is about hope and my protagonist overcoming her past.  It's set in medieval times, but I felt like it is a mirror of The Summer of Letting Go; because it's about grief and overcoming it, and about the hope to move on.  And how no one can make us move on but ourselves.  And that sometimes, we have to break before rebuilding can happen.

Loved this story; sweet and heartbreaking but ultimately hopeful.  If you want to fall in love with a character and cheer her on, then you need to meet Francesca!  Definitely recommend!