The Blackbird Season by Kate Moretti
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received a free advanced reader's copy of The Blackbird Season by Kate Moretti, through NetGalley (thank you!). I read this book in two days because I simply could not put it down! It intrigued me from Page 1, and the suspense kept building!This was a true "whodunnit" mystery with plenty of plot twists and turns. The story is about a missing girl, Lucia, who has implicated her teacher, Nate, of having an affair with her. She then goes missing. The story is told from the points of view of: Nate (the high school teacher and accused), his wife, Alecia, their family friend and fellow teacher, Bridget, and the missing girl, Lucia. There are dark secrets looming underneath the surface that may change your mind when you feel convinced you know who caused Lucia to go missing, and why. The characters were so well-developed that you will feel a kinship with each one. There is also an element of the mystical, leaving you to wonder about the natural order of things. If you liked reads such as Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train, you will love this one even more!

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Review of What I Remember Most by Cathy Lamb

What I Remember Most by Cathy Lamb
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a fantastic read with one of my most favorite main characters to date! Grenadine Scotch Wild is multifaceted. She comes from humble beginnings, a child in the foster care system at age six. She has endured torture and has flashes of memories of what happened to her biological parents. Someone from her past is also obsessing over her. The book begins with her being homeless and awaiting prosecution because her husband has implicated her in his financial schemes. She is audacious, hardworking, bluntly comical, and takes no crap from anyone! The book details her journey to making herself a member of her new community, dealing with trauma from her past and current legal issues, making quite memorable friends (I wish they were mine! You will wish they were yours!), and navigating the waters of a potential new love. You will find yourself rooting (loudly!) for her to prevail. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more from Cathy Lamb!

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I Think I Am On To Something!

Ok, I am so excited about the book I just started writing! I have named it "Unnamed Novel 3--Third Times A Charm" because I keep starting novels and stopping after a few pages because they just aren't doing it for me. I have taken copious notes for this one, though. I have tons of ideas of how to start and where it is going--to a certain point--and then I will let the character decide ultimately what is going to happen to her. 

In another novel I tried to write, the characters would keep me up at night, almost as if their story MUST be told. I have notes for that one, too, but the luster is lost. But THIS ONE, I think may be a winner and may actually get me published. I am so excited! Because I've been writing more, I have been reading less, so I don't have any reviews or good stuff to say on that. I'm hoping to get into a pattern of writing before work and maybe on lunch, and then reading at night. But I am also working on some crochet projects so that may consume more time. I need more hours in the day. I wish writing could be the way I make my living, but at this point, that is just not feasible. 

Anyway, off I go! 

The Method to My Madness

Hi All,

Is it just me, or does anyone else read two or three books (or more!) at a time? You will notice on my book reviews that many have the same "read" dates. I normally have two actual books that I switch back and forth between, one book I am reading on my Kindle app since it is with me at all times (great for having something to read at the doctor's office), and one in the works on Audible. So currently, I am reading: What I Remember Most by Cathy Lamb in hard copy (this book drew me in immediately!), Trail of Secrets by Eileen Goudge on my Kindle (great so far!), and The River Witch by Kimberly Brock on Audible (I love this book so far but need more time to listen!). Unfortunately, I never seem to have the opportunity to listen to Audible since my commute is now only 5-ish minutes. I originally used it because I commuted approximately an hour and a half per day so it kept me from getting overly frustrated as I sat in traffic. I have soooo many books downloaded but no time to listen to them! I really wish I had them in hard copy (especially James Patterson and Maxine Paetro's Women's Murder Club series which I adore!

My reading tastes are quite eclectic. I love horror and mystery but also enjoy love stories (which I guess could also be considered horror, at times! Or mystery!). Thanks to Colleen Brock, I also love gothic tales and wish I could immerse myself in the swampy setting of River Witch. I'm dying to write more reviews because: a) it assists the authors, and b) I want to request advanced reader's copies of books through NetGalley because I now have a student loan the size of a car payment and am trying to curb what I spend on unnecessary items (although I feel books are a necessity for me for mental health reasons!).

I love to write and have always intended to write a book. This has been my dream since childhood. Unfortunately, I give up after getting very far. For example, a few weeks ago I had started a book and got six pages in and then decided to scrap it. I then started another, got one page in and punted on it. I generally decide it's not good or there is nowhere to go with it. I never have a clear direction and get frustrated. Yesterday, my husband and I drove around the beach and I came up with a story idea. I actually plotted this one out on a scrap of paper for future reference. Hoping to motivate myself to write later today.

Hope everyone has a great Sunday! I'm off to read, or crochet, or watch Flea Market Flip, or....

Review of Kerstin March's Branching Out

Third blogs a charm!


Branching Out by Kerstin March
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was thrilled when I realized that this was the sequel to Family Trees, a book I truly enjoyed. I love a good love story, and Branching Out is just that. This book details the lives of Ryan and Shelby, two individuals who come from very different walks of life. Branching Out chronicles further difficulties and a great tragedy the couple must come to terms with. One can't help but root for the characters and that they will prevail over their circumstances. I highly recommend this book!

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Review of Laura Drake's Days Made of Glass

Two posts in one day, you say? Why yes, I think I shall!


Days Made of Glass by Laura Drake
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a great read! Let's just say that I only put it down when I HAD to in order to work or sleep. Days Made of Glass is about sisters, Harlie and Angel. Harlie is the older, responsible, take-charge sister, and the main gal in the book. After their mother's and subsequently, guardian's deaths, Harlie must do what it takes to take care of Angel who is the softer of the two and suffering from issues beyond Harlie's capabilities to care for. As such, Harlie goes on the road as a bullfighter in order to pay for her sister's care. She faces many difficulties with being a woman in a man's area of expertise which causes her to keep her guard up and build more walls than she previously had. Yet, in order to be happy, she must learn to tear down these barriers. I found the characters to be realistic and the story to be very well thought out. It left me with a better understanding of bullfighting, yet kept me entertained. I look forward to reading more from Laura Drake!

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Yes, I am posting for a second day in a row. Trying to make this a habit, ya know? So what is everyone reading these days? I have been reading tons of books I have found through the tall poppies authors: tallpoppies.org/bloom/. This group of authors rocks! If you go to their facebook page, there are tons of book giveaways but more importantly, you get to know the authors and they are really fascinating! Each week, a new author takes over hosting their page. You learn about what motivated them to write and the type of writing they do. I am currently about to finish Laura Drake's Days Made of Glass (excellent book!), recently finished (while fishing!) Kerstin March's Branching Out ( a great read!), and am about to start Cathy Lamb's What I Remember Most. Reviews to come!

I am hoping to keep up on reviews both here and/or at Goodreads. I should mention, I LOVE Goodreads. I never knew about all the giveaways and deals you can get through that site. The site makes it easy to keep track of books you have read or want to read, and allows you to write reviews of books you have read. I am a starving, just graduated, about to start paying a student loan the size of a car payment, type person, and I can use any deal I can get.

Anyway, more later when I can organize my thoughts and write reviews!

Cheers!

Hey All,

Apparently, I am a broken record. Somewhere, I hear some youngster saying, "What is a record?" Oh well. I am back again, hoping to keep myself inspired to keep up this blog. A lot has happened since 2012 obvi. More catching up later. This is basically just an intro post to let everyone know I'm still alive and kicking. This blog will talk A LOT about books and reading with some random shenanigans thrown in for good measure. I hope you will continue reading. I promise I will try to do better on this blogging stuff!