IWSG Wednesday AND Did You Know Thursday

 

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.

 

Twitter handle: @TheIWSG  

Hashtag: #IWSG 

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.

 

The awesome co-hosts for the October 1 posting of the IWSG are Beth Camp, Crystal Collier, and Cathrina Constantine!
Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 

Remember, the question is optional

 

October 1 question - What is the most favorite thing you have written, published or not? And why?

As far as readership, Silverhills.  As far as my personal favorite, Keeper Tyree. I like the character. He’s middle-aged, flawed, rough around the edges and a hard man. But he’s fair and he’ll go to the wall, and beyond, for anyone he cares about.

September/October Reviews in no particular order.

* Disclaimer. If I run into an occasional typo, I ignore them and don't factor them into my review.

 

MIRACLES AND GHOSTS PAST by D. L. Finn

This is a delightful collection of Christmas shorts with a twist. In each story there’s a ghost to lend a helping hand.

In THE CHRISTMAS TRAIN MYSTERY a woman’s first step to a new beginning is a murder/mystery dinner train trip.

CHRISTMAS RESCUE~*~ If you read many D.L. Finn stories, you know that somewhere in the book you are going to encounter an animal rescue. This is the story😊

IS THERE A SANTA?~*~ To my mind, of all the wonderful stories, this is the best. The characters are extraordinarily  developed and their emotions pour off the pages as a widower tries to hold his family together at Christmas.

SHE’S HOME ALONE~*~ A young girl must outwit an intruder.

AFTER A WAR COMES CHRISTMAS ~*~ This story centers on civil unrest and is timely considering the unease in America right now.

A GIFT FOR KATIE~*~A woman in need gets an unexpected inheritance and  is unsure whether she should accept it.

CHRISTMAS AFTER LOSS~*~A mysterious soldier throws light on Sheila’s  husband’s unexpected death.

ELEVATOR SANTA~*~Mindy gets stuck on the elevator with an unexpected passenger.

I highly recommend this book of shorts. It’s perfect for the Christmas season. So, grab your cocoa and cookies, put up your feet and enjoy the read.

Available at Amazon 

 

GUARDIANS OF MOTHER EARTH by Zea Perez

These are such sweet stories. And more importantly they impart information to our young people about ecology, and the importance of being a caretaker of the earth. Each story centers around a plant or tree or other forms of nature learning how important they are to the universe and that no matter how small, they can play a large part in saving their own personal piece of the universe. Among the cast of characters are Bon, the bonsai tree, Pitchy the pitcher plant and Venus the flytrap plant. All on a mission to save their homes.

A fun read and a lovely teaching tool with entertaining illustrations.

Available at Amazon 

 

FIRST FROST by Craig Johnson. Book 20 in the Longmire Series.

I love Craig Johnson's writing.  The Longmire Series is outstanding. This story for me was entertaining and had plenty of twists and turns, but it just wasn't quite as good as some of his others. Though, not quite as good, is still heads above many other reads that are out there:)

Available at Amazon 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AND

 

Did you know, the author of  Rip Van Winkle--and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow--Washington Irving, suffered from insomnia? 

 

Sources: 

100 Interesting Facts about Famous Authors – Interesting Literature 

Washington Irving, New York Writer, Sleepy Hollow | Literary Traveler 

 

 

 

IWSG Wednesday AND Did You Know

 

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.

 

Twitter handle: @TheIWSG  

Hashtag: #IWSG 

The awesome co-hosts for the April 3 posting of the IWSG are Janet Alcorn, T. Powell Coltrin, Natalie Aguirre, and Pat Garcia!

Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 

Remember, the question is optional
 

April 3 question - How long have you been blogging? (Or on Facebook/Twitter/Instagram?) What do you like about it and how has it changed?

 

Hmm. Good question. I’ve been blogging since dinosaurs roamed the earth. You?

As far as liking it, I prefer it to Facebook. I know it’s out there for everyone to see, but blogging doesn’t have the audience it once did and it feels more intimate. Almost like messaging  your friends.

AND

March/April Reviews in no particular order.

* Disclaimer. If I run into an occasional typo, I ignore them and don't factor them into my review.

 

FINDING ME, THE DEFIANT SISTERS: Book 2 by Jacquie Biggar

Renee and Izzy were as close as sibs could be till their father killed himself and Renee took off, leaving Izzy to take care of their younger brother and deal with the heartbreak of desertion from the person she trusted most in the entire world. Now Renee has come home to heal the breach. She’s determined to stay, and make a life for her and her family, even if Izzy is trying her best to run her off with hurtful words and lack of trust.

FINDING ME touches on the raw subjects of suicide and abandonment with the delicacy of feeling we have come to expect from the author. Ms. Biggar is a master at putting her finger on the pulse of acerbated emotion and she tips the scales with this tale. Her worldbuilding adds another layer to the rich fabric of this story. Once again Ms. Biggar has delivered.

Her fans will devour this latest offering. And for those who have never read her, I’m sure they too will be polishing off this story at breakneck speed. A must read for those that love new adult romance.

Available at Amazon

 

ZODIAC ACADEMY, THE AWAKENING: Book 1 by Caroline Peckman and Susanne Valenti

Twin girls who have practically raised themselves find out they are not only fae but of royal blood.  They are taken to Zodiac Academy Where they must prove themselves to werewolves, vampires, dragons and a host of other magical creatures.

ZODIAC ACADEMY, RUTHLESS FEY: Book 2 by Caroline Peckman and Susanne Valenti

The Celestial Heirs fight back against the powers that are trying to destroy them, specifically four male students that want to rule the fae kingdom.

ZODIAC ACADEMY, THE RECKONING: Book 3 by Caroline Peckman and Susanne Valenti

 In this series, the girls take on their magical form. Keeping the reader, and the twins, guessing as to what they’ll become to the very end.  I’ve got to admit, I didn’t see what creature they’d turn into coming. AND if that’s not enough, Darius’s evil father uses them for his own twisted ends.

Available at Amazon

 

THE KEEPING PLACE by Mae Clair

Nicole Seabrooke is riddled with guilt about the death of her sister and the part she played in it. Ten years later when her sister’s body is found, she goes home to face the devils that drive her and solve the mystery surrounding her sister’s death.

Of the many books of Ms. Clair’s that I’ve read, this is my hands-down favorite. I was enthralled with this story and found it hard to put down.  The book keeps the tension building as it travels seamlessly back and forth from past to present, keeping the reader on edge, caught up in one era and wondering what’s happening in the other. The world building is well done, painting a backdrop that allows the reader to glide onto the page and join the characters. Characters that are flawed but relatable. And with all these threads to pull together, the pacing never falters. All in all, this is a read I highly recommend, particularly for those that love a good mystery or just an enjoyable, well-crafted tale. 

Available at Amazon

 

JUBAL STONE: U. S. MARSHAL: BLOOD TRAIL TO HELL by Casey Nash

This is the first book in a series of fifty so you can see it’s quite popular with Western readers.  In this book we meet a very young Jubal and find out how he became a U.S. Marshal. The storyline is interesting and the language authentic. My only minor grumble with the book: I would have liked to have seen more showing and less telling.

Available at Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HELL AND BACK by Craig Johnson

Book #18 takes a deep paranormal turn when Walt wanders in a different time dimension while his body lies battered and broken.

DAUGHTER OF THE MORNING STAR by Craig Johnson

In Book #17, Walt is trying to discover what happened to a missing Cheyenne girl while making sure her sister doesn’t meet the same fate. The story line continues in book 18. Like many in the series, this book contains mystical overtones.

Available at Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’ve gone back and started rereading Joan Smith’s Regency Romances. Has anybody else out there read her? I love her books. They are sweet, sparkling and witty. I read both e and paper, but I have Joan's books in paper and they are a gazillion years old. In fact, SWEET AND TWENTY is literally falling apart. I was going to read it, trash it and order a new copy, then I realized the only way I could get another one was too get it in e, so I hauled out the packing tape and taped it back together:) If you like regency, I highly recommend her. Just don’t pick them up, if you’re looking for steam. They’re gentle romances. 

With all the divisiveness in our world today, sometimes you just need the sweet. 

Available at Amazon

 

 

AND

Did you know, Louisa Mae Alcott, among others, wanted Mark Twain's THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN banned?

For more info:

'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' | Top 10 Censored Books | TIME.com