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