The first Wednesday of every month is officially IWSG day. IWSG was formed by Ninja Captain Alex Cavanaugh. Members post about their doubts and fears, discuss struggles and triumphs, and offer words of encouragement to others who are struggling.
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.
The awesome co-hosts for the May 3 posting of the IWSG are Joylene Nowell Butler, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Meka James, Diane Burton, Victoria Marie Lees, and M Louise Barbour!
May 3 question - When you are working on a story, what inspires you?
Since my muse is regularly flitting off on vacay, I don't have an answer.
April/May Reviews in no particular order.
* Disclaimer. If I run into an occasional typo, I ignore them and don't factor them into my review.
This is the fourth in the Razzman Series and every bit as good as the first three. Once again Razz and his partner are working with the police pro bono to solve a high-profile murder of a Charlotte Wildcats ball player. Adding to the drama, the M.O. is the same as another unsolved high-profile murder and a third with even less of a connection.
The mystery between the murders deepens as the story progresses.
The author has done a wonderful job of developing relatable, likeable characters. The Razzman is a gumshoe with a bit of an ego and a heart of gold, in love with one woman and loyal to his friends. My favorite secondary character is Vinnie with his Brooklyn accent, questionable dealings and love of pizza. He is also another character who is loyal to his friends.
The world building is spot on, making it easy to lose yourself on the streets of Charlotte, North Carolina.
The story line held my interest from beginning to end.
A well-rounded enjoyable read, that I can highly recommend. Mr. Congel, when can we expect number five?
Available at Amazon
In this collection of paranormal shorts, the author shows her versatility as she weaves through a variety of subjects with ease. Her stories include humans, creatures and aliens; encompass Christmas gifts and monsters and many what ifs, including tales of civil war. A scary subject given today’s environment.
Out of the many offerings, I had several favorites: The Bike. The Dolphin. This Journey. The Bench. AND End of the Road had a surprise ending that made me chuckle.
One of my favorite descriptive sentences was in It’s Only a Dream: ‘Dark blood flowed out in all directions on the beige carpet like a malicious flower.’
If you are ready to be entertained and awed, as I was, I suggest you put the coffee on, your feet up, kick back and enjoy
Available at Amazon
An alpha male and a sassy female.
Sophia left the ranch behind, for a degree and the big city, to prove to her brothers and the man she loved she could stand on her own two feet. Now she’s back and determined to save the ranch, which the family is in jeopardy of losing.
Told with her usual warmth and style, Ms. Biggar once again explores human relationships and gives us a heartwarming tale in the process. Another winning Biggar romance.
This is the second in the Gambling Hearts series but can be read as a stand alone.
Available at Amazon
A psychological thriller
A psychological thriller, this story centers around a sister and brother trying to discover who murdered their father and why. As layers are peeled away, they make shocking discoveries about him and learn heartbreaking secrets about their mother. But above all they learn about redemption.
With no unnecessary verbiage to slow it down, the author keeps the story moving at a brisk pace. Her characters are well-developed. And her world building is spot on.
REDEMPTION is told in third-person, present-tense.
Available at Amazon
This is the first book in the Seven Sisters Series.
Carrie Jo has a unique talent, or curse. She revisits history in her dreams. And now that she is working in a Southern antebellum mansion, the nightmarish dreams of a missing heiress are coming hard and fast.
I found the book to have an interesting premise and the way that the protagonist falls back in time in the dreams is well handled. My only complaint is that it ends on a cliff-hanger with no closure. If you want the answer, you have to buy the next book. This is just a personal nit of mine. I know a lot of authors set up their series this way. I just prefer closure with something intriguing enough to pique my interest for the next story, but that aside it’s a good read with over five thousand ratings.
Available at Amazon
Life needs the dark to balance the light. Angels and devils sit on our shoulders and influence our decisions.
When Kemuel sacrifices his angelic powers to go to earth and check on the influencers, he soon realizes that maybe not all demons are bad and that just maybe the angels are out of touch.
A fun, whimsical read. Recommended.
Available at Amazon
Three best friends, a princess, a fae and a vampire, leave safety and home to fulfill a prophecy and save their world. The first three books are: Discipline, Bravery and Courage. This has been a well-received YA fantasy series. My only complaint, and complaint is too strong a word, I would have liked just a little more showing and less telling, but nonetheless an enjoyable read. Recommended.
Available at Amazon
TRADS:
When it comes to thrillers Tami Hoag is a master. Some of the scenes are a little more graphic than I’d like but she certainly holds my attention and makes for a read that’s hard to put down.
A former police officer who is working as a groom and fighting her own demons, finds herself in the middle of a murder that takes places in the luxurious Palm Beach horse world. The story builds to an exciting climax as the reader and heroine try to discover the killer.
Available at Amazon
ALIBI MAN by Tami Hoag
Protagonist Elena Estes story picks up where Dark Horse left off. Once again there’s a murder to solve and in the process, as usual, she manages to alienate friends and foes alike. As she did in Dark Horse, Hoag stomps down on the excitement pedal and doesn’t let up until the story’s end. Another edge-of-the seat read that kept me reading into the wee hours of the morning.
Available at Amazon
This is the first in a series of twenty some-odd books centered around Chief of Police Jesse Stone, who cares too much and sometimes drinks too much. He’s got two addictions, alcohol and his ex-wife.
Jesse has been fired from his position on the LA police force for drinking. He applies for a position as Chief of Police in Paradise, MA. He shows up drunk for the interview and still gets the position and begins to wonder why. Instead of the easy gig—at least compared to LA—that he’d anticipated, he’s suddenly embroiled in mystery and murder and the murderer is coming next for him.
This is the first book I’ve read by Mr. Parker. As soon as I finished it, I ordered the second in the series. He’s developed an excellent character that we can root for, a flawed human with heart, courage and a backbone of steel.
Available at Amazon
TROUBLE IN PARADISE by Robert B. Parker
This is the second in the Jesse Stone Series and another winner. On to book three.
Available at Amazon
DEATH IN PARADISE by Robert B. Parker
Every bit as good as the first two.
Available at Amazon
What have you been reading (or writing)? See anything that appeals?
22 comments:
Thanks for the reviews. I loathe cliff hangers and will even cut my nose off to spite my face and refuse to buy the next in the series.
Love the RB Parker, Jesse Stone series!
hugs
Donna
My muse went on vacay about the end of April. Not loving it at all.
Great book reviews. I have read all three of those Jesse Stone stories and at least three more. Parker was a great writer.
Hi Sandra - my ideas are in my head ... and not getting out to write - back soon no doubt. I enjoy watching the Jesse Stone programmes ... and no doubt the books are good. I've recently read the latest Louise Penney - 'interesting in the light of recent events' - I enjoyed it - cheers Hilary
So many interesting books, the day needs more reading and hearing hours! Hugs, Valerie
Sorry that your muse is leaving you regularly. That must be hard. Thanks for all the book recommendations. Like Hilary, I just finished the lastest Louise Penny book and really enjoyed it.
Until last summer, my muse was on a very long vacation.
No answers here, either!
Wow, you read a lot of books!
Thanks for sharing, hope you get your muse back. Spring fever?
Great selection of books!
Ronel visiting for IWSG day Joining the Creator Economy
EC, Right there with ya, including cutting off the nose.
Donna, The series is great, isn't it?
Elizabeth, Hmm. Do you think our muses went on vacay together?
Hils, As long as those ideas are floating in your head, you're in good shape. Cheers,
Val, An extra reading hour would be grand indeed:) Hugs
'Lo Natalie, Thanks. The muse comes home eventually:) I wasn't familiar with Louise Penney so went and looked her up. I might have to check her out.
You may not have had an answer to the IWSG question, but your list of books is inspirational. Robert Parker--I'm just reading his latest (written by Mike Lupica) about Spenser. A huge winner. I may go back and read the Jesse Stone series. You probably know many of them are movies on... Netflix maybe? Prime? Can't remember.
Muses are unreliable, so it's best yours flits off. You seem to do well without her. :-)
Di, And now she's working overtime;)
Jeanie, Is your muse frolicking somewhere with mine?
Alex, It's right up there with writing and breathing;)
Christine, Spring fever. Hmmm. Yes, that's it;)
Thanks, Ronel. A lot of excellent reads.
Hi Sandra. Thank you for including my book, Best Served Cold, in your review section. I appreciate it and you! Robert B Parker was my inspiration for becoming a mystery/ PI writer. Started reading his work years ago. I have read all the books he’s written and most of the ones penned by the authors chosen to carry on his different series. By the way, he also has a great western series with fantastic characters. His Coke and Hitch series is right up your alley. :)
I know my muse didn't go on a vacation. I suspect it escaped for some fun. Thanks for the reviews. Always nice to get other's perspective. Happy IWSG Day, Sandra.
Thanks, Jac:) I'm going to have to check out the Spencer series. You probably know he has a Western series as well that I want to check out. Yes, I've seen part of the series on Prime. Love it.
Thank you, Lee. What a lovely thing to say:)
Joe, You know I love the Razzman. That is fascinating about Parker being your inspiration. His Western series is on my TBR list.
Joylene, 'Escaped for fun':) I like it:) Happy IWSG Day to you too.
Geniales libros. Te mando un beso.
Great books indeed, J.P.:) Sending you a hug
Nice collection of books you've presented. Most of my reading of late has been non-fiction and I read really slow. Think maybe I'll slip some fiction into my reading schedule over the next few weeks.
My muse hangs right over my shoulder continually. My lack of ambition has been stifling any action as far as writing goes.
Hopefully you and your muse will spark a fire in the summer.
Lee
Hi Lee,
I read nonfiction too and it does seem to be slower going than most fiction.
I hear ya on the lack of action.
Thanks for stopping by.
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