Sandra Cox's Blog, page 24

Weekend Wishes

 

IWSG Wednesday AND Did You Know

 

The firstWednesday of every month is officially IWSG day. IWSG was formed by NinjaCaptain Alex Cavanaugh. Members post about their doubts and fears, discussstruggles 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 experienceor story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let itinspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 

Remember,the question is optional
 

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

 

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

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

AND

March/April Reviews in noparticular order.

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

 

FINDINGME, THE DEFIANT SISTERS: Book 2 by Jacquie Biggar

Reneeand Izzy were as close as sibs could be till their father killed himself andRenee took off, leaving Izzy to take care of their younger brother and dealwith the heartbreak of desertion from the person she trusted most in the entireworld. 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 runher off with hurtful words and lack of trust.

FINDINGME touches on the raw subjects of suicide and abandonment with the delicacy offeeling we have come to expect from the author. Ms. Biggar is a master atputting her finger on the pulse of acerbated emotion and she tips the scaleswith this tale. Her worldbuilding adds another layer to the rich fabric of thisstory. Once again Ms. Biggar has delivered.

Herfans 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 mustread for those that love new adult romance.

Available at Amazon

 

ZODIACACADEMY, THE AWAKENING: Book 1 by Caroline Peckman and Susan Valenti

Twingirls who have practically raised themselves find out they are not only fae butof royal blood.  They are taken to ZodiacAcademy Where they must prove themselves to werewolves, vampires, dragons and ahost of other magical creatures.

ZODIACACADEMY, RUTHLESS FEY: Book 2 by Caroline Peckman and Susan Valenti

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

ZODIACACADEMY, THE RECKONING: Book 3 by Caroline Peckman and Susan Valenti

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

Available at Amazon

 

THEKEEPING PLACE by Mae Clair

NicoleSeabrooke is riddled with guilt about the death of her sister and the part sheplayed in it. Ten years later when her sister’s body is found, she goes home toface the devils that drive her and solve the mystery surrounding her sister’sdeath.

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

Available at Amazon

 

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

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

Available at Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HELLAND BACK by Craig Johnson

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

DAUGHTEROF THE MORNING STAR by Craig Johnson

InBook #17, Walt is trying to discover what happened to a missing Cheyenne girlwhile making sure her sister doesn’t meet the same fate. The story line continuesin 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 elseout 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:) Ifyou like regency, I highly recommend her. Just don’t pick them up, if you’relooking 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

 

 

 

 

Ketch-up Day

 

Did you have a wondrous Easter?  Ours was quiet. Yes, we still exchange Easter baskets:)

Did you make it safely through April Fool's Day?

The sun is shining and the flowers are trying to bloom.

AND

From Colorado

Thank you, Julie.

 From Florida

Thank you, Shane and Sonya 

 That's all, blogger buds.

Weekend Wishes

 

AND

Writerly Wednesday AND Did You Know

What's your synonym, sentence or description for: 

Example: My grandmother was such a gadabout. Always ready to go:) 

AND by the way, I'm going to try combining Writerly Wednesdays and Did You Know Thursdays. We'll see how it goes.

Did you know, that in the 1700 and 1800s pineapples were considered a luxury in Britain (and the colonies) and that rental shops were eventually opened so that the middle class could rent them to use as centerpieces or to take to parties? If bought outright they could cost in the thousands.

For more information:The History of Pineapples—And Why They Used to Cost $8000 (mentalfloss.com)

Your Weekend Read: THE DEFIANT SISTERS DUET - BOOK 2 by Jacquie Biggar

 

Finding Me: The Defiant Sisters Duet- Book 2

Jacquie Biggar

Thank you for sharing my new release on your blog today, Sandra. It’s deeply appreciated!
A few years ago, a regular customer of my restaurant lost her husband to suicide. It shocked
our small community and devastated her family. They seemed like a happy, loving couple, so
what happened?
The same occurred to a famous, well-loved dancer called tWitch. He and his wife had three
children, the youngest only two years old. And yet, he, too, is gone.
This led me to wonder (and worry) about the children left behind. How do they handle the
loss of their father? Do they blame themselves? Each other?
The Defiant Sisters Duet is an exploration of two sisters, Renée and Izzy, affected differently
by the loss and how it eats at the family’s dynamics.

Finding Me
Izzy

My life is not like I dreamed it would be. I had the foolish fantasy of finishing high school,
going to college, making something of myself- maybe even becoming famous.
Instead, I'm the infamous kid of the father who killed himself in the family's backyard.
How's that for a legacy?

Renée

I came home for my mother's funeral, but I'm staying to mend bridges with my sister. We have
another chance, and whatever it takes, we need to come together as a family or live the rest of
our lives knowing we let our brother down.
They say pride goes before a fall, but it doesn't tell us how to avoid the scrapes along the way.

Excerpt:
“Mrs. O’Brian is getting around much better now. She’ll only need my help for another
week or two at most. I was thinking—”
“What?” Izzy swings around, eyes flashing fire. “That it’s time for you to head back to the
big city? I agree. We were doing just fine until you showed up. You’ve barely been in town a
month and already you’ve managed to hit a pedestrian, break up an engagement, and ruin my
relationship with Ben. All in a day’s work, right, Renée?”
“Don’t forget the swim in a swollen river,” I say, cringing at the venom in her voice, even
though I know it’s mostly the pain talking. Simon mentioned hearing she had split up with her
boyfriend who was coincidentally her boss. It must make for a tense workspace. I want to
console her but know she would just shut me down. We don’t have that kind of relationship
anymore. We haven’t in a long time.
Instead, I chuckle and take a seat at the table. “Wow, I feel like the evil witch in those fairy
tales we read as kids.”
“If the shoe fits…” she mumbles.

 I was known as the Kraft Macaroni and Cheese queen before we bought our restaurant in 2001, and I got a crash course in cooking for crowds, lol

My family likes to tease me for setting off the fire alarm one year while cooking Christmas morning breakfast. Not my fault; the bacon did it.
My favorite comfort food is homemade soup. Cream of potato, seafood chowder, and hamburger soup are the top three, but I like almost all of them except pickle soup- yuck! 

Jacquie Biggar is an award-winning author of romance who has been listed on USA
Today's bestseller list. Her writing is centered around tough, alpha male characters who fall for
strong and independent contemporary women. She resides on Vancouver Island with her husband
and would love to hear from readers worldwide!

In her own words: "My name is Jacquie Biggar. When I'm not being a klutz, I'm a wife, a
mother of one, a grandmother, and a butler to my calico cat. Watching reality TV shows such as
The Voice and Amazing Race is one of my guilty pleasures. Every Monday night, you can find

me laughing at the judges shenanigans as I'm plastered to my armchair. I love hanging out with
my husband at the beach, taking pictures, and reading romance novels (what else?). I have a
slight obsession with Tim Hortons, enjoy gardening, everything pink, and talking to my friends"

Subscribe to her Newsletter and follow her on these sites:
Amazon | Website | Facebook | Newsletter
 Twitter | Pinterest | GoodReads | Bookbub

LINKS:

Amazon 

Universal Link 

TBR List 

BookBub

 

 

 

 

Did You Know

 Did you know, Former President Jimmy Carter was once attacked by a swamp rabbit.

More information at: Jimmy Carter rabbit incident - Wikipedia

 

Writerly Wednesday

 

 What's your definition, synonym or example for:

Example: Instead of getting my writing done, I futzed on the computer.

AND

 

Ketch-up Day

 

March is famous for the Ides of March and Spring. Here's what it looks like in some of the states.

 

March in North Carolina

 

 

March in California

Thanks, Denise

March in Florida

Thanks Sonya and Shane

 

March in Illinois

Thanks, Allison

 
 AND

March in Colorado

Thanks, Julie.

What's March look like in your neck of the woods?

Your Weekend Read: MYTH STALKER

 

Coming March 26th

Myth Stalker: Wendigo Nights, byShannon Lawrence

Warrior Muse Press

 

A latenight call from her mentor sends Selina Moonstone on a mission to Canada,determined to track down a Wendigo and exterminate it.

Accustomed to facing off with the all too realcreatures of Native American lore, Selina discovers the Wendigo is someoneclose to her, forcing her to change gears from destruction to frantic searchfor a cure. There's no known way to rid a person of the Wendigo spirit once ithas begun the consumption of the victim's soul, a lesson she learned the hardway in her youth.

With her loved one's transition to Wendigoimminent, Selina must fight her own lifelong training as a Myth Stalker andfind another way. She gathers a mismatched group of allies, including acharming Sin Eater and a conceited mercenary Cryptid hunter from her past, andembarks on a mission to find a solution before it's too late.

 

Link:

Availablein paperback and e-book, from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and more. Findthe book at your favorite store using the universal link: https://books2read.com/u/4AaOJd

 

 Bio:

A fan of all things fantastical andfrightening, Shannon Lawrence writes primarily horror and fantasy. Her storiescan be found in over fifty anthologies and magazines in addition to hercollections. Her nonfiction title, The Business of Short Stories, isavailable now and her debut urban fantasy novel is releasing March 2024. Youcan also find her as a co-host of the podcast Mysteries, Monsters, &Mayhem. When she's not writing, she's hiking through the wilds of Coloradoand photographing her magnificent surroundings, where, coincidentally, there'salways a place to hide a body or birth a monster. Find her at www.thewarriormuse.com.

 

 

1. Nachos arebest when bought from a food stand. Bonus points if it’s the middle of thenight.

Selina and afriend grab nachos from a local food stand here in Colorado Springs after a

strenuousassignment. While I don’t name it in the book, it’s inspired by a real standnear my

house that hasTHE BEST Mexican food we’ve found in our city. And it’s open 24 hours! Greatfor

an insomniac (ornot great, depending upon how you look at it).

2. Just likehumans, fish need a certain amount of protein in their diet, which they usuallyget from

a wide array ofsources, depending upon their size, from worms and insects all the way up to

mammals.Fresh-caught fish is good for you and tasty, too! Selina’s mentor likes tocatch his

own fish at alake near his house. He even catches one each time for a friendly localmountain

lion named Rocky.Selina herself is not a big fan of fishing, but she’s happy to sup with her

mentor when hedoes the work.

3. Did you knowthe U.S. Department of Agriculture has a rule about sandwiches that they canonly

be 50% bread andmust have at least 35% meat? Selina has sandwiches (somewhat reluctantly)

with a certainfellow in the book. They’re portable and convenient! But I’m pretty sure someof

my sandwicheshave not been within the rules.