Monthly Archives: November 2011
Book Review: Into The Unknown by Jocelyn Adams, J.A. Belfield and Aimee Laine
Into The Unknown by Jocelyn Adams
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I was quite looking forward to getting a chance to read this collection being I had read the three debut novels associated with the characters in each of the tales. Curious to get a feel for what the common thread would be, I dove in. The tales were short enough, that I managed to complete the collection in one evening of reading, which was actually nice with the hectic schedule I seem to have going of late.
In an effort to be fair to each of the included shorts, I thought it best to visit each individually.
Marked by J. A. Belfield:
In this short, we get a chance to see the relationship between Darkness and Light main characters, Sean and Jem from Sean’s perspective. The story finds them at the conclusion of the novel with Sean trying in his werewolf chic way to propose to Jem. I really enjoyed getting a deeper look into Sean’s psyche in this short and I found the plot issues really believable in an urban fairy tale sort of way, which only added to the authenticity of the storytelling. This was a sweet and romantic winner for me.
Misguided by Aimee Laine:
This tale gives us a chance to check in with Wyatt Moreland and Charley Randall where Ms. Laine’s novel, Little White Lies leaves off. While the novel is written from Charley’s perspective, here we get a chance to sit inside Wyatt’s head. All of the other characters who brought the novel to life are also present in Misguided. A bonus for me, as it was one of the high points of the book for me. The story reads as a precursor to the second book in the Mimics of Rune series by giving the reader a glimpse at the troubles to come for the shape shifters and their FBI cohorts. Once again, I just loved the interplay between all the characters, and focus on the friendships in this story. Ms. Laine left enough teasers to get me drooling for the next book, which looks to focus on two of the shape shifters in their clan, Lily and Cael. Looking forward to that one for sure.
Tempted by Jocelyn Adams
I absolutely loved The Glass Man, so was anxiously looking forward to another visit with Lily and Liam. I wasn’t the least bit disappointed. Like the other two tales, the story picks up the main characters of the authors novel at the close, and comes from the perspective of the leading man in the romantic relationship. Since Tempted is presented from Liam’s perspective, the story gives us a nice deep glimpse into the Unseelie side of the fae. Liam has to deal with some internal strife that summons forth his darker nature. Everyone knows I love a leading man with a dark side, and like in the novel, Liam delivers. Suffice to say I’d let him stare me down any day. I found myself disappointed when this short came to an end.
Six Sentence Sunday: The Dragon and the Raven #sixsunday
I’ve been spending time going through the old notebooks, and grabbed this weeks six sentence from a historical romance I had started writing when I was a senior in high school and addicted to bodice rippers. I got a giggle out of reading some of it…yanno, before I knew what an active voice was, or that adverbs were a sign of the devil 😛 I made a point not to make and edits to it, it sits as it did the day I wrote it (somewhere around 1987).
Apparently I had a darker side, even way back then.
Enjoy!
All eyes turned to see what was going on when Brutus announced that he had a special treat for them. “Excuse me gentlemen,” he called out to the crowd, his vise like grip still attached to Shelby’s arm to keep her in place. “Give me your attention for a bit.” Brutus waited for quiet before he continued. “You will all be happy to hear that my newest addition here is ready to start working for me in the upstairs rooms. With her still being a virgin, I’ve decided to give the first shot at her to the highest bidder.”
Be sure to hit the banner at the top to return to the main site and visit some of the other participants this week. Thanks for spending some of your Sunday with me.
Six Sentence Sunday: The Pirate and the Selkie (WT) #sixsunday
Welcome to another Six Sentence Sunday. In sticking with my ongoing #sixsunday theme of posting from my current WIP, here is this week’s six.
As always, I would love to hear what you think, and welcome all comments.
Be sure to hit the banner at the top or visit www.sixsunday when you have finished and it will take you back to the list, so you can check out some of the other great sites in the list.
Happy Sunday! Enjoy 🙂
Ellie held tight to her anger. “I await your clarification with bated breath.”
He blew out a huff. “Your sarcasm is showing.”
She kicked at the hem of her skirt, pasted to her legs by the wind. “Better than these blasted petticoats, I guess.”
Nanowrimo Check-in and Some Updates
So, as many of you know, either by participating yourselves, or through listening to the rest of us cheer and stress as the word counts dictate, we are in the throes of the annual Nanowrimo writing event. What do they call it — oh yeah– a month of literary abandon.
Since I have been so lax in my blog postings and updates while I have been trying to submerge myself in the current WIP in the hopes of having it complete before the end of this month, I thought I would dedicate a blog post to the progress and maybe toss out a few personal updates as well.
Nano progress in going fairly well. It is always hard to find the time to pump out at least 1500 words after a 10 hour day, but I have been able to stay close enough to my goals that I have been able to make up most of my lost time over the weekends with a more concentrated “marathon” session. To that end, my boyfriend Pete and my two daughters have been FANTASTIC about being supportive and quiet, especially on the weekends. Pete and Casey even take turns telling me to get my ass back to the laptop to “get writing!” Man, I love that.
I’ve scheduled with my job to take some state mandated days off next week, so I will be home working on finishing Thanksgiving week. If all goes well, and with the wonderful support of critiquers that are staying with me and going over the chapters as I pump them out, I should be able to make my goals and get the work finished, leaving me a week to get the final edits done and maybe even get a copy to a few beta readers before December rolls around.
One can only do their best 🙂 And that is the plan.
On to my good news.
I was informed that my novel, The Call of the Sea has been selected as one of 25 finalist in the Miss Snark Baker’s Dozen Agent auction. I am over the moon about that, as you can imagine. They accepted 100 entries (don’t think they got quite that many applications, but close) and mine was chosen as a finalist, meaning that about 15 literary agents will be checking out my logline and first 250 words and potentially requesting chapters, partials, etc.
While my top pick agent (shout out here to Ms. Sara Meigbow of Nelson Literary — my dream agent) is not participating in the contest, some of my other top five agencies are. Plus, I will be hopefully sending Sara a query letter on the story as well (come December), just because I can’t let go of the idea that she is “supposed” to be my agent.
It has been one heck of a year and I expect 2012 to be even better 🙂
Book Review: Little White Lies by Aimee Laine
Little White Lies by Aimee Laine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I took this one with me to Cape Cod this August and have to say that I wasn’t disappointed. I found the writer’s style easy to read and the characters three dimensional and endearing.
I have to admit, I did have some trouble in the early going with this one — I had trouble following what was happening from a backstory perspective. I felt for the first quarter of the book that I had missed something or that sunstroke had attacked me on the beach and that was why I wasn’t following the plot as easily as I would have expected. I think some of the secrets in the book were a little more vague than I would have preferred. Coupled with not understanding the mechanics of what living as a mimic is like, well, I felt a little lost.
The author’s voice and the personality of the characters I was introduced to is what kept me reading. By the time I hit the halfway point in the book, I was completely hooked. Charley is spunky and sweet, while Wyatt is just perfectly dreamy 😛 (dating myself with that reference). The secondary characters really fill the plot out nicely.
When we get to it, the romance isn’t corny, but feels genuine, and I found myself rooting for love in a way a cynic like me hasn’t for some time. The covert operations kept me reading and turning the page, and while I had an idea who the bad guy was earlier in the story, I didn’t quite have the full story. The plot twists and surprises were a nice bonus.
Six Sentence Sunday: The Pirate and the Selkie (WT) #sixsunday
As many of you know, the annual Nanowrimo madness is in full swing. Around this time, my blogging efforts always suffer, but I tell myself it will all be worth it in the end. My concentration for Nano is not a new novel, like most, but rather to add 50k words to my fantasy romance WIP.
In tribute to the madness, my Sunday Six this week comes from directly from the pages of my 4,000 new words, courtesy of Nanowrimo. (There have been absolutely no edits done before posting this six — Be gentle :P)
* * * *
Daniel lurched forward, grabbing Mama before she crashed to the floorboards, and swept her into his arms. He quirked a brow at Ellie. “That went well, don’t you think?”
Ellie tossed him a glare. “I couldn’t see her from outside, I thought she passed out.”
“She did.”
Bex Book Nook 