Taylor Fenner's Blog, page 173
January 15, 2016
Confessions of a Book Addict
It's no secret that most writers are also avid readers. Some stick to the genre they write in while others read all kinds of books. I myself can read any kind of book as long as it has a love story somewhere in the book.
The worst part of being addicted to books, like I am, is that whenever I'm not writing something I'm thinking about books I want to buy. This created my downfall a couple months back when I saw a tweet from one of my favorite authors talking about an event called Apollycon, in this instance the tweet was to inform anyone that couldn't attend the event in February that you could still buy signed copies of books by your favorite authors through the event website.
I quickly followed the link and saw that unfortunately the event, to celebrate the release of Jennifer L. Armentrout's latest book The Power, was being held in Savannah, Georgia. Not exactly nearby my location of Shawano, Wisconsin.
Not a problem! I told myself, I'll simply buy a couple books from the website. (And you can too, the book sale/virtual signing runs until January 22, 2016: here) So I started compiling a list...
That's where the problem began. I started out wanting a couple books by Wendy Higgins, including her upcoming release, The Great Hunt, but then I saw that there were also books by Jay Crownover, K.A. Tucker, Katie McGarry... not to mention I got hooked on Jennifer L. Armentrout's Lux series lately; and there were a few other books that grabbed my interest.
Nearly $200 later you would have thought my book binge was over, right? Wrong! I then decided to add another book to my order a couple weeks later. In between that time I took a trip to Half Price Books, placed one big order for books from Barnes and Noble, 2 orders for books from Amazon (One just yesterday as a matter of fact), added free books from Ripley's Booklist to my Kindle, received a free copy of a book in exchange for an honest review, and placed an order for a signed copy of Meg Cabot's upcoming book Remembrance: A Mediator Novel from an independent bookstore in Michigan. (Read more about that here)
This is my confession... I think about books more than I think about anything else. Well, almost anything else. Story ideas and my boyfriend take up a huge chunk of my thoughts as well, but that's normal. Not only do I spend most of my time thinking about books, I also buy my fair share of books, as you can see. I try to keep my addiction under control, but deep inside I'm one step shy of Rebecca Bloomwood in Confessions of a Shopaholic when Suze realizes that Rebecca packed all of her clothes into those vacuum bags and they come bursting out of the wardrobe. Oh, what a nightmare that could be... books zooming out of my dresser at my head.
Are you a book addict too? How often do you give in to your addiction? Are you able to walk past a bookstore without going inside and buying books?
Are you going to Apollycon in February? I recommend it if you live near Savannah, I hear the one in Philadelphia last year was a lot of fun. And psst... you're more than welcome to send me pictures of some of my favorite authors signing books!
January 13, 2016
"What I'm Reading" Wednesday #5
This week on "WIR"- Wednesday I'm reading an exceptionally good book...
The House by Christina Lauren
Blurb:
He's always dressed in black, his head down, and shaggy black hair falls into his eyes. But when Gavin looks up at Delilah, his dark eyes shadowed with bluish circles seem to flicker to life. Her lifelong fascination with him has been a mixture of longing and bearlike protectiveness, because he lives in that house, the one at the edge of town. Spooky and maybe haunted. Delilah thinks it might be something worse than haunted. Gavin tells Delilah he's hers- completely- but whatever lives with him inside that house disagrees.
Why I Chose This Book / What I think of it so far:
I chose this book because the description interested me and Gavin reminded me of Varen Nethers in the Nevermore Trilogy by Kelly Creagh.I was right, this book is a perfect read for fans of the Nevermore Trilogy, but where Varen and Isobel's story was laced with Poe-ish nightmares that became reality, this book is about a house that is alive. And the house will do anything to keep Gavin, even if it means hurting Delilah to keep them apart. I love how everything in the house is called by its name... instead of saying Gavin was lying in bed, it goes "Gavin lay on Bed that night..." like each inanimate object is a character. I've never read a book quite like this before and even though I'm not even halfway through I can tell you this book is going to be one of my favorites. Sometimes you just know.
Here's what else I read in the past week...
Daughters Unto Devils by Amy Lukavics:
Blurb:
When sixteen-year-old Amanda Verner's family decides to move from their small mountain cabin to the vast prairie, she hopes it is her chance for a fresh start. She can leave behind the memory of the past winter; of her sickly ma giving birth to a baby sister who cries endlessly; of the terrifying visions she saw as her sanity began to slip, the victim of cabin fever; and most of all, the memories of the boy she has been secretly meeting with as a distraction from her pain. The boy whose baby she now carries.When the Verners arrive at their new home, a large cabin abandoned by its previous owners, they discover the inside covered in blood. And as the days pass, it is obvious to Amanda that something isn't right on the prairie. She's heard stories of lands being tainted by evil, of men losing their minds and killing their families, and there is something strange about the doctor and his son who live in the woods on the edge of the prairie. But with the guilt and shame of her sins weighing on her, Amanda can't be sure if the true evil lies in the land, or deep within her soul.
What I thought of this Book: This book wasn't at all what I thought it would be. Oh, the horror scenes are in there, you can be sure of that. I was interested in reading this book because it's rare for YA books to have any mention of sex in them, let alone teen pregnancy, and I wanted to see how the author would play it out. Disappointingly the author goes the religious-guilt route. Amanda feels she has sinned (not that it stopped her from lying with the post boy 8+ times) and hates that she's now pregnant. She wishes the baby would disappear. Amanda also wishes her baby sister Hannah, born deaf and blind after a difficult breach birth, would die. Those reasons alone make Amanda a very unlikeable main character. It's hard to feel any sympathy for her. If you're a hardcore horror fanatic the terrifying scenes of horror will please you. The plot is reminiscent of The Amityville Horror meets Motel Hell (a strange horror movie I watched once where the owner of the hotel buries people in the garden like human produce for his meat products - this reminds me of the man-eating-pigs scene) meets... I don't even know... Children of the Corn? And a certain scarecrow scene at the end would make the likes of Ed Gein (a killer from here in Wisconsin that made people into furniture and inspired movies such as Psycho and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre) proud. Mostly the horror scenes in this book made me nauseous, which must mean they were scary. Without the horror scenes, the book is mainly about whiny Amanda and her rotten, horrible life. A bit of a snore. The end of the book leads me to think this won't be Amanda's last encounter with the demon/devil from the prairie. I'm putting this book away where I don't have to look at it. My rating 3 1/2 of 5 Stars
The House by Christina Lauren
Blurb:
He's always dressed in black, his head down, and shaggy black hair falls into his eyes. But when Gavin looks up at Delilah, his dark eyes shadowed with bluish circles seem to flicker to life. Her lifelong fascination with him has been a mixture of longing and bearlike protectiveness, because he lives in that house, the one at the edge of town. Spooky and maybe haunted. Delilah thinks it might be something worse than haunted. Gavin tells Delilah he's hers- completely- but whatever lives with him inside that house disagrees.
Why I Chose This Book / What I think of it so far:
I chose this book because the description interested me and Gavin reminded me of Varen Nethers in the Nevermore Trilogy by Kelly Creagh.I was right, this book is a perfect read for fans of the Nevermore Trilogy, but where Varen and Isobel's story was laced with Poe-ish nightmares that became reality, this book is about a house that is alive. And the house will do anything to keep Gavin, even if it means hurting Delilah to keep them apart. I love how everything in the house is called by its name... instead of saying Gavin was lying in bed, it goes "Gavin lay on Bed that night..." like each inanimate object is a character. I've never read a book quite like this before and even though I'm not even halfway through I can tell you this book is going to be one of my favorites. Sometimes you just know. Here's what else I read in the past week...
Daughters Unto Devils by Amy Lukavics:
Blurb:
When sixteen-year-old Amanda Verner's family decides to move from their small mountain cabin to the vast prairie, she hopes it is her chance for a fresh start. She can leave behind the memory of the past winter; of her sickly ma giving birth to a baby sister who cries endlessly; of the terrifying visions she saw as her sanity began to slip, the victim of cabin fever; and most of all, the memories of the boy she has been secretly meeting with as a distraction from her pain. The boy whose baby she now carries.When the Verners arrive at their new home, a large cabin abandoned by its previous owners, they discover the inside covered in blood. And as the days pass, it is obvious to Amanda that something isn't right on the prairie. She's heard stories of lands being tainted by evil, of men losing their minds and killing their families, and there is something strange about the doctor and his son who live in the woods on the edge of the prairie. But with the guilt and shame of her sins weighing on her, Amanda can't be sure if the true evil lies in the land, or deep within her soul.What I thought of this Book: This book wasn't at all what I thought it would be. Oh, the horror scenes are in there, you can be sure of that. I was interested in reading this book because it's rare for YA books to have any mention of sex in them, let alone teen pregnancy, and I wanted to see how the author would play it out. Disappointingly the author goes the religious-guilt route. Amanda feels she has sinned (not that it stopped her from lying with the post boy 8+ times) and hates that she's now pregnant. She wishes the baby would disappear. Amanda also wishes her baby sister Hannah, born deaf and blind after a difficult breach birth, would die. Those reasons alone make Amanda a very unlikeable main character. It's hard to feel any sympathy for her. If you're a hardcore horror fanatic the terrifying scenes of horror will please you. The plot is reminiscent of The Amityville Horror meets Motel Hell (a strange horror movie I watched once where the owner of the hotel buries people in the garden like human produce for his meat products - this reminds me of the man-eating-pigs scene) meets... I don't even know... Children of the Corn? And a certain scarecrow scene at the end would make the likes of Ed Gein (a killer from here in Wisconsin that made people into furniture and inspired movies such as Psycho and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre) proud. Mostly the horror scenes in this book made me nauseous, which must mean they were scary. Without the horror scenes, the book is mainly about whiny Amanda and her rotten, horrible life. A bit of a snore. The end of the book leads me to think this won't be Amanda's last encounter with the demon/devil from the prairie. I'm putting this book away where I don't have to look at it. My rating 3 1/2 of 5 Stars
January 8, 2016
New Release Tuesday & More New in 2016
There are a lot of changes coming to my blog in 2016.
Already I've started doing my new "What I'm Reading" Wednesday blogs, featuring what I'm reading and what I've read in the past week. These posts also include why I've chosen the books I'm reading and my thoughts on the ones that I've finished. One of my past "WIR"-Wednesday blogs can be found here: "WIR"- Wednesday #3
I've also added new widgets to my sidebars, a "What I'm Reading" Widget for what I'm reading now and my progress, and a "2016 Reading Challenge" Widget to track the progress of how many books I read this year.
Starting this year on Tuesdays I'll be blogging about New Releases. Are you an author looking for more exposure for your new book? I'd love to feature you on "New Release Tuesdays"! More info on how to sign up and what I'm looking for can be found here: New Release Tuesdays
I'm also thinking of expanding past book writing and blogging to do book cover designing for others. I've been doing photomanipulations for the past 3 or 4 years and its something I really enjoy. I took the stock photo for Finding Elizabeth's cover and enhanced it and I am doing the cover of my upcoming novel Out of Darkness and that I entend to make my show piece to show everyone what I'm capable of. I will probably be best suited for authors of Fantasy, Paranormal, of Science Fiction novels based on my previous work. Some examples of photomanipulations I've done are:
Apart from the new features on my blog I'm busily editing Out of Darkness to have the first book in the Eternals Trilogy ready for publication and also writing Through the Fog, the final book in the trilogy.
What is 2016 looking like for you? What are you working on?
Already I've started doing my new "What I'm Reading" Wednesday blogs, featuring what I'm reading and what I've read in the past week. These posts also include why I've chosen the books I'm reading and my thoughts on the ones that I've finished. One of my past "WIR"-Wednesday blogs can be found here: "WIR"- Wednesday #3
I've also added new widgets to my sidebars, a "What I'm Reading" Widget for what I'm reading now and my progress, and a "2016 Reading Challenge" Widget to track the progress of how many books I read this year.
Starting this year on Tuesdays I'll be blogging about New Releases. Are you an author looking for more exposure for your new book? I'd love to feature you on "New Release Tuesdays"! More info on how to sign up and what I'm looking for can be found here: New Release Tuesdays
I'm also thinking of expanding past book writing and blogging to do book cover designing for others. I've been doing photomanipulations for the past 3 or 4 years and its something I really enjoy. I took the stock photo for Finding Elizabeth's cover and enhanced it and I am doing the cover of my upcoming novel Out of Darkness and that I entend to make my show piece to show everyone what I'm capable of. I will probably be best suited for authors of Fantasy, Paranormal, of Science Fiction novels based on my previous work. Some examples of photomanipulations I've done are:
Apart from the new features on my blog I'm busily editing Out of Darkness to have the first book in the Eternals Trilogy ready for publication and also writing Through the Fog, the final book in the trilogy.
What is 2016 looking like for you? What are you working on?
January 6, 2016
"What I'm Reading" Wednesday #4
I didn't get in as much reading time as I'd like since New Year's Day. I'm starting the beginning of a new novel so writing has taken up a bulk of my time. This week for "WIR"-Wednesday I'm reading:
Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore
Blurb:
Amy Goodnight knows that the world isn't as simple as it seems. She also understands that "normal" doesn't mix with magic, and she's worked hard to build a wall between the two worlds. Not only to protect her family, who are all practicing witches, but to protect any hope of ever having a normal life herself.Ranch-sitting for her aunt in Texas should be exactly that: good old ordinary, uneventful hard work. Only, Amy and her sister, Phin, aren't alone. There's someone else in the house with them--and it's not the living, breathing, amazingly hot cowboy from the ranch next door.It's a ghost, and it's more powerful than the Goodnights and all their protective spells combined. It wants something from Amy, and none of her carefully built defenses can hold it back.This is the summer when the wall between Amy's worlds is going to come crashing down.
Why I love this book / Why I Picked It: I always try to read this book around the new year. It's one of my favourite books of all time and I love it.Amy Goodnight always tries to project that she is the normal one in her family of witches. She and her sister Phin are spending the summer at their Aunt's ranch while she is away on vacation. Things start going awry when someone discovers a set of remains on the neighbor's land and Amy's sister wants to try out her new invention the "Kirlianometer"* (I can't remember the exact name) and Amy finds herself bound to a ghost that seems to want to freeze her to death. To make matters worse Amy can never seem to act normal around her sexy but grumpy neighbor Ben. I love this book (I know I've said that already); as usual Rosemary Clement-Moore has the ability of making witty, hilarious, relatable characters.
Who this book is for / My Rating:This book is for teens and anyone that loves a good story. I've read this book at least 5 or 6 times and I keep coming back. If you're a fan of Rosemary Clement-Moore and if you like her Maggie Quinn series or the Splendor Falls, then you will enjoy this book! Haven't read anything by this author before? Give her a try! She's wonderful and her writing style is sort of similar to Meg Cabot, plus her writing is full of humor.
My rating: 5 of 5 Stars!
Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore
Blurb:
Amy Goodnight knows that the world isn't as simple as it seems. She also understands that "normal" doesn't mix with magic, and she's worked hard to build a wall between the two worlds. Not only to protect her family, who are all practicing witches, but to protect any hope of ever having a normal life herself.Ranch-sitting for her aunt in Texas should be exactly that: good old ordinary, uneventful hard work. Only, Amy and her sister, Phin, aren't alone. There's someone else in the house with them--and it's not the living, breathing, amazingly hot cowboy from the ranch next door.It's a ghost, and it's more powerful than the Goodnights and all their protective spells combined. It wants something from Amy, and none of her carefully built defenses can hold it back.This is the summer when the wall between Amy's worlds is going to come crashing down.Why I love this book / Why I Picked It: I always try to read this book around the new year. It's one of my favourite books of all time and I love it.Amy Goodnight always tries to project that she is the normal one in her family of witches. She and her sister Phin are spending the summer at their Aunt's ranch while she is away on vacation. Things start going awry when someone discovers a set of remains on the neighbor's land and Amy's sister wants to try out her new invention the "Kirlianometer"* (I can't remember the exact name) and Amy finds herself bound to a ghost that seems to want to freeze her to death. To make matters worse Amy can never seem to act normal around her sexy but grumpy neighbor Ben. I love this book (I know I've said that already); as usual Rosemary Clement-Moore has the ability of making witty, hilarious, relatable characters.
Who this book is for / My Rating:This book is for teens and anyone that loves a good story. I've read this book at least 5 or 6 times and I keep coming back. If you're a fan of Rosemary Clement-Moore and if you like her Maggie Quinn series or the Splendor Falls, then you will enjoy this book! Haven't read anything by this author before? Give her a try! She's wonderful and her writing style is sort of similar to Meg Cabot, plus her writing is full of humor.
My rating: 5 of 5 Stars!
December 31, 2015
BIG New Year's Eve Book Blog
In terms of my favorite books of 2015 I'm calling this year "The Year of the Indie", because out of my top 12 favorite books 42% are written by Indie Authors and of the 13 authors I discovered and loved this year 62% are Indie or Semi-Indie Authors. Note: Not all of these books were published in 2015 - they are just books that I read and enjoyed in 2015!
My Top 12 Favorite Books for 2015:
12. Finding Cinderlla by Colleen HooverThis is a novella I picked up for free on my Nook. I've heard of Colleen Hoover before but I hadn't read anything by her before. Her writing does remind me of a number of other authors like Abbi Glines and K.A. Tucker. Finding Cinderella is a really great story and I devoured it within hours. Daniel and Six's story is romantic and bittersweet all at the same time. If you like Sky and Holder's story in Hopeless and Losing Hope you'll love this novella.
11. Just A Little Crush by Renita PizzitolaJust A Little Crush is a great book. Another one of those quick reads I couldn't put this book down. Brinley Dawson doesn't want to like Ryder Briggs, but the more she gets to know him the less she can resist... until she learns she was part of a cruel game. Is falling for Ryder a huge mistake or could Ryder be someone to hang onto?
10. Chasing River by K.A. TuckerThis book makes me want to buy a ticket to Dublin and fall for a sexy Irish Bartender. Enough said. K.A. Tucker continues to be an amazing author, one of my favorites!
9. Anew (Archers of Avalon #1) by Chelsea Fine
Three curses. Two brothers. One love triangle. Sometimes love is meant to be. But sometimes...love is the death of you. This book and the following two books in the trilogy are soooo good! I can read this trilogy over and over again.
8. Ghost Hand (PSS Chronicles #1) by Ripley PattonThis book is a whole other level of paranormal. What do you do when you're born with a phantom limb and people are out to get you? Ripley Patton is a great author and I'm happy I discovered this series.
7. The Haunting of Springett Hall by E.B. WheelerWhat happens when you wake up as a ghost with no memory of how you died or your life before you died? This book reminded me of the movie The Haunting with a love story added in.
6. Oblivion (Nevermore #3) by Kelly CreaghThe perfect conclussion to Kelly Creagh's Nevermore trilogy and one more trip into the world of Poe's imagination. Will Isobel and Varen get a happy ending?
5. Blur (Night Roamers #1) by Kristen MiddletonA sexy vampire - paranormal romance novel for older teens. This book draws you in from the first page and will have you downloading the rest of the series the minute you finish.
4. Second Hearts (Wishes #2) by GJ Walker-SmithFollow Charli as she heads to New York to find her wonder boy Adam. But life in New York won't be easy.. and Adam hasn't told her everything he left behind in New York when he arrived in Australia. I love all of the books in this series by GJ Walker-Smith. They're addictive and you feel like you're part of Charli and Adam's world.
3. Obsidian (Lux #1) by Jennifer L. ArmentroutI can't gush enough about this book. One of my absolute favorites this year and quite unlike anything I've read before.
2. Play (Stage Dive #2) by Kylie ScottMal Erikson will forever be my favorite guy in the Stage Dive series. He's just plain awesome. Read this book about how bookish Anne and rockstar Mal fall in love.
1. The Hotter You Burn (Original Heartbreakers #2) by Gena ShowalterWho wouldn't have a soft spot for resident bad girl Harlow Glass after reading even a little bit of this book? Beck Ockley is just plain dreamy, so prepare to fall in love with your new book boyfriend.
Authors I Discovered and Love in 2015: 1. Kristen Middleton (Author of the Night Roamer books)2. Gena Showalter (Author of the Original Heartbreakers series and more)3. Kylie Scott (Author of the Stage Dive series)4. Ripley Patton (Author of the PSS Chronicles)5. E.B. Wheeler (Author of The Haunting of Springett Hall)6. Kelly Creagh (Author of the Nevermore Trilogy)7. GJ Walker-Smith (Author of the Wishes Series)8. Chelsea Fine (Author of the Archers of Avalon Trilogy & the 'Best Kind of" trilogy)9. Susan Vaught (Author of Insanity)10. Kim Liggett (Author of Blood and Salt)11. K.E. O'Connor (Author of the School of Exorcists Series)12. K.A. Robinson (Author of Toxic & it's series)
13. Kimberly Loth (Author of the Thorn Chronicles)
Series / Trilogies That Ended in 2015: The Marked Men Series by Jay Crownover (6 books)Stage Dive Series by Kylie Scott (4 books)The Nevermore Trilogy by Kelly Creagh (3 books)Dark Elements Trilogy by Jennifer L. Armentrout (3 books)Original Heartbreakers Trilogy by Gena Showalter (3 books)
That's a wrap! I read a ton of amazing books in 2015, unfortunately if I listed them all this blog would never end. What were some of your favorite books that you read in 2015? Did one of my novels make the list? Let me know in the comments!Happy New Year! See you in 2016!
My Top 12 Favorite Books for 2015:
12. Finding Cinderlla by Colleen HooverThis is a novella I picked up for free on my Nook. I've heard of Colleen Hoover before but I hadn't read anything by her before. Her writing does remind me of a number of other authors like Abbi Glines and K.A. Tucker. Finding Cinderella is a really great story and I devoured it within hours. Daniel and Six's story is romantic and bittersweet all at the same time. If you like Sky and Holder's story in Hopeless and Losing Hope you'll love this novella.
11. Just A Little Crush by Renita PizzitolaJust A Little Crush is a great book. Another one of those quick reads I couldn't put this book down. Brinley Dawson doesn't want to like Ryder Briggs, but the more she gets to know him the less she can resist... until she learns she was part of a cruel game. Is falling for Ryder a huge mistake or could Ryder be someone to hang onto?
10. Chasing River by K.A. TuckerThis book makes me want to buy a ticket to Dublin and fall for a sexy Irish Bartender. Enough said. K.A. Tucker continues to be an amazing author, one of my favorites!
9. Anew (Archers of Avalon #1) by Chelsea FineThree curses. Two brothers. One love triangle. Sometimes love is meant to be. But sometimes...love is the death of you. This book and the following two books in the trilogy are soooo good! I can read this trilogy over and over again.
8. Ghost Hand (PSS Chronicles #1) by Ripley PattonThis book is a whole other level of paranormal. What do you do when you're born with a phantom limb and people are out to get you? Ripley Patton is a great author and I'm happy I discovered this series. 
7. The Haunting of Springett Hall by E.B. WheelerWhat happens when you wake up as a ghost with no memory of how you died or your life before you died? This book reminded me of the movie The Haunting with a love story added in. 
6. Oblivion (Nevermore #3) by Kelly CreaghThe perfect conclussion to Kelly Creagh's Nevermore trilogy and one more trip into the world of Poe's imagination. Will Isobel and Varen get a happy ending?
5. Blur (Night Roamers #1) by Kristen MiddletonA sexy vampire - paranormal romance novel for older teens. This book draws you in from the first page and will have you downloading the rest of the series the minute you finish. 
4. Second Hearts (Wishes #2) by GJ Walker-SmithFollow Charli as she heads to New York to find her wonder boy Adam. But life in New York won't be easy.. and Adam hasn't told her everything he left behind in New York when he arrived in Australia. I love all of the books in this series by GJ Walker-Smith. They're addictive and you feel like you're part of Charli and Adam's world. 
3. Obsidian (Lux #1) by Jennifer L. ArmentroutI can't gush enough about this book. One of my absolute favorites this year and quite unlike anything I've read before.
2. Play (Stage Dive #2) by Kylie ScottMal Erikson will forever be my favorite guy in the Stage Dive series. He's just plain awesome. Read this book about how bookish Anne and rockstar Mal fall in love. 
1. The Hotter You Burn (Original Heartbreakers #2) by Gena ShowalterWho wouldn't have a soft spot for resident bad girl Harlow Glass after reading even a little bit of this book? Beck Ockley is just plain dreamy, so prepare to fall in love with your new book boyfriend. Authors I Discovered and Love in 2015: 1. Kristen Middleton (Author of the Night Roamer books)2. Gena Showalter (Author of the Original Heartbreakers series and more)3. Kylie Scott (Author of the Stage Dive series)4. Ripley Patton (Author of the PSS Chronicles)5. E.B. Wheeler (Author of The Haunting of Springett Hall)6. Kelly Creagh (Author of the Nevermore Trilogy)7. GJ Walker-Smith (Author of the Wishes Series)8. Chelsea Fine (Author of the Archers of Avalon Trilogy & the 'Best Kind of" trilogy)9. Susan Vaught (Author of Insanity)10. Kim Liggett (Author of Blood and Salt)11. K.E. O'Connor (Author of the School of Exorcists Series)12. K.A. Robinson (Author of Toxic & it's series)
13. Kimberly Loth (Author of the Thorn Chronicles)
Series / Trilogies That Ended in 2015: The Marked Men Series by Jay Crownover (6 books)Stage Dive Series by Kylie Scott (4 books)The Nevermore Trilogy by Kelly Creagh (3 books)Dark Elements Trilogy by Jennifer L. Armentrout (3 books)Original Heartbreakers Trilogy by Gena Showalter (3 books)
That's a wrap! I read a ton of amazing books in 2015, unfortunately if I listed them all this blog would never end. What were some of your favorite books that you read in 2015? Did one of my novels make the list? Let me know in the comments!Happy New Year! See you in 2016!
December 30, 2015
"What I'm Reading" Wednesday #3
This week on "WIR" Wednesday I'm reading...
Crystal Magic (Clearwater Witches #1) by Madeline Freeman
Blurb:
Nothing is safe around Kristyl Barnette. Windows break. Books rocket across the room. Lights flicker. Strange occurrences follow the sixteen-year-old everywhere. She’s an outcast at her school, but everything changes in the blink of an eye. When tragedy forces her to move to the small town of Clearwater, Michigan, with her estranged aunt Jodi, Kristyl tries to leave her past behind. She makes friends and catches the attention of Owen Marsh, who accepts her without question and who may be able to understand her better than anyone. But Owen isn’t the only one who notices her. The mysteriously alluring Fox Holloway draws Kristyl’s eye whenever he’s around. And Clearwater High’s chief mean-girl, Crystal Jamison, has her sights set on Kristyl and will stop at nothing to prove what Kristyl really is. A witch. Magic can be as dangerous as fire, and Aunt Jodi wants Kristyl to have nothing to do with it. But when a mysterious illness threatens her aunt’s life, Kristyl will do anything to cure her. Enlisting the help of witches could save Jodi, but is dealing in magic worth the consequences?
Why I Chose This Book: This is another one of my Ripley's Booklist Newsletter freebie books and I've come to trust their recommendations completely. I love paranormal books involving witches and so far I'm liking Crystal Magic. I've just gotten to the part where Kristyl encounters the mysterious Fox Holloway for the first time. I always go for the sexy, mysterious guys but I already like the Owen character.
Who this book is for: So far I think this book is best for all fans of YA, especially those that like books about witches. I sense a love interest coming for Kristyl so I dare to say this book is Paranormal Romance. If that interests you go for it! I like it so far and I think you will too!
Here's what else I've read in the past week...
Kissed (Thorn Chronicles #1) by Kimberly Toth
Blurb:
Trapped in a dark cult, sixteen-year-old Naomi Aren has lived a quiet, albeit unhappy, life nestled deep in the hills of the Ozarks. With uncut hair, denim skirts, and only roses for friends, Naomi seldom questions why her life is different from other kids at school. Until the day her abusive father, who is also the cult’s leader, announces her wedding. Naomi must marry Dwayne Yerdin, a bully who reeks of sweat and manure and is the only one person who scares her worse than her father. Then she meets Kai, the mysterious boy who brings her exotic new roses and stolen midnight kisses. Kisses that bring her a supernatural strength she never knew she had. As the big day approaches, Naomi unearths more secrets of about her father’s cult. She learns she has power of her own and while Kai may have awakened that power, Naomi must find a way to use it to escape Dwayne and her father—without destroying herself.
What I Thought of This Book: Kissed is a keep-you-up-all-night-reading kind of book. I started this book and before I knew it 3 1/2 hours had passed and I was more than halfway through it. Naomi's love and knowledge of roses is really unique and you like her from the first page. Her parents reminded me of the Duggar parents so I could easily envision them. You're rooting for Naomi's escape after the cruel treatment she receives from her parents and Dwayne (the puke she's supposed to marry) and you find relief when she makes it to Las Vegas. I loved all of the characters Naomi meets in Vegas. Ginny is great and Ricki grows on you. Puck is naturally my favorite character. Anyway, read this book, you're going to love it! And don't blame me if you lose sleep staying up all night to finish it! I can't wait to read the next book!My rating: ***** (5 Stars)
Crystal Magic (Clearwater Witches #1) by Madeline Freeman
Blurb:
Nothing is safe around Kristyl Barnette. Windows break. Books rocket across the room. Lights flicker. Strange occurrences follow the sixteen-year-old everywhere. She’s an outcast at her school, but everything changes in the blink of an eye. When tragedy forces her to move to the small town of Clearwater, Michigan, with her estranged aunt Jodi, Kristyl tries to leave her past behind. She makes friends and catches the attention of Owen Marsh, who accepts her without question and who may be able to understand her better than anyone. But Owen isn’t the only one who notices her. The mysteriously alluring Fox Holloway draws Kristyl’s eye whenever he’s around. And Clearwater High’s chief mean-girl, Crystal Jamison, has her sights set on Kristyl and will stop at nothing to prove what Kristyl really is. A witch. Magic can be as dangerous as fire, and Aunt Jodi wants Kristyl to have nothing to do with it. But when a mysterious illness threatens her aunt’s life, Kristyl will do anything to cure her. Enlisting the help of witches could save Jodi, but is dealing in magic worth the consequences?Why I Chose This Book: This is another one of my Ripley's Booklist Newsletter freebie books and I've come to trust their recommendations completely. I love paranormal books involving witches and so far I'm liking Crystal Magic. I've just gotten to the part where Kristyl encounters the mysterious Fox Holloway for the first time. I always go for the sexy, mysterious guys but I already like the Owen character.
Who this book is for: So far I think this book is best for all fans of YA, especially those that like books about witches. I sense a love interest coming for Kristyl so I dare to say this book is Paranormal Romance. If that interests you go for it! I like it so far and I think you will too!
Here's what else I've read in the past week...
Kissed (Thorn Chronicles #1) by Kimberly Toth
Blurb:
Trapped in a dark cult, sixteen-year-old Naomi Aren has lived a quiet, albeit unhappy, life nestled deep in the hills of the Ozarks. With uncut hair, denim skirts, and only roses for friends, Naomi seldom questions why her life is different from other kids at school. Until the day her abusive father, who is also the cult’s leader, announces her wedding. Naomi must marry Dwayne Yerdin, a bully who reeks of sweat and manure and is the only one person who scares her worse than her father. Then she meets Kai, the mysterious boy who brings her exotic new roses and stolen midnight kisses. Kisses that bring her a supernatural strength she never knew she had. As the big day approaches, Naomi unearths more secrets of about her father’s cult. She learns she has power of her own and while Kai may have awakened that power, Naomi must find a way to use it to escape Dwayne and her father—without destroying herself.What I Thought of This Book: Kissed is a keep-you-up-all-night-reading kind of book. I started this book and before I knew it 3 1/2 hours had passed and I was more than halfway through it. Naomi's love and knowledge of roses is really unique and you like her from the first page. Her parents reminded me of the Duggar parents so I could easily envision them. You're rooting for Naomi's escape after the cruel treatment she receives from her parents and Dwayne (the puke she's supposed to marry) and you find relief when she makes it to Las Vegas. I loved all of the characters Naomi meets in Vegas. Ginny is great and Ricki grows on you. Puck is naturally my favorite character. Anyway, read this book, you're going to love it! And don't blame me if you lose sleep staying up all night to finish it! I can't wait to read the next book!My rating: ***** (5 Stars)
December 25, 2015
Christmas Excerpt: FINDING ELIZABETH
The days came and went, Christmas passed almost unnoticeably in my house. My mom took an extra shift at the bar and my dad tried his best to appear happy.
Nate came over later in the evening to give me the gift he had gotten me. “It’s a guidebook of Paris,” he explains as I unwrap the book. “It has a lot of places that are more ‘off-the-beaten-path’ listed in it. I figured that since we’ll probably have a lot of free time on the trip that maybe we could check some of them out.” He shrugs as his face turns pink.
“I love it,” I tell him as I clutch the book to my chest.
“Really?” Nate looks at me in happy surprise.
I nod; then go to grab his present. I framed the drawing I had done of him. When he unwraps the drawing he looks at it, then up at me, then back down at the drawing.
“You don’t like it,” I guess.
“No, it’s just; wow it’s like living that memory - the one of you drawing me - all over again. The drawing is amazing.” Nate smiles honestly, then leans in and kisses me. Hesitantly at first, then when he realizes that I’m kissing him back instead of pushing him away he deepens the kiss.
“I’m glad you like it,” I say shakily as I try to regain normal breathing after the kiss ends.
“So why aren’t you busy spending Christmas with your family?” Nate asks as he plops down onto my bed.
“My mom had to go to work and my dad is busy working on the new exhibit for the museum. He’s in the kitchen.” I explain.
“Where’s the kitchen?”
“It’s in the basement. Why?” I ask. A devilish grin spreads across Nate’s face and I know exactly what he’s thinking. I feel my eyes widening as I say, “We are not doing that.”
“That? Whatever could you possibly mean? Can you elaborate a little?” Nate replies teasingly.
I roll my eyes. “You don’t do coy well.” I tell him as I cross my arms over my chest.
“It’s not like we’ve never done it before,” he insists.
“Not in this life and I don’t really remember the last time.” I remind him.
“Have you ever done it?” Nate asks quietly as he leans against my pillows “In this life I mean, with your ex or someone else?”
“Nope,” I say. “Have you?”
“Slept with your ex-boyfriend? Definitely not,” Nate jokes.
I sit down next to him and hit him playfully on the shoulder. “Seriously though, have you?”
Nate shakes his head, “I don’t want to with anyone other than you.”
“What if I’m not ready?” I ask as I look into his eyes.
“I’ll wait however long it takes.”
I swallow hard at Nate’s intensity, I need to change the subject; fast. “So why aren’t you celebrating with your family?”
Now it’s Nate’s turn to roll his eyes, “my house is so jam packed with relatives, and when I say relatives I mean immediate family, extended family, and all of my parents partners and employees; that they won’t notices I’m gone for years to come.”
I laugh, trying to picture it, and then mentally remind myself to sketch it out for real later.
“I’d rather be here anyway,” Nate says as he turns to study me further. Suddenly I get another weird flashback thing. My room fades away, replaced by another. I can’t see much of the room, but I know that I’m lying on a bed. Nate’s hovering above me, and all around us a violent storm is raging. Suddenly it’s like everything we were just talking about, all the things I couldn’t remember, are coming back to me at rapid speed.
My bedroom comes back into focus and I shake my head a bit to clear the new found memories away. Nate notices and says, “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
I try to smile, “just more memories.”
He still doesn’t look convinced. He pulls away a little, “do you want to talk about it?” He asks.
“It was just about what we were talking about before; the memories resurfaced. I think it was the way you were looking down on me, it reminded me of that.”
“So now you remember everything?” Nate asks hopefully.
“Just from that night,” I shake my head.
“And what do you feel about that memory?”
“I’m not sure,” I tell him, “I mean I hate the feeling I get when the memories begin. It’s like the rug is being ripped out from under me. As for the memories themselves, it’s a relief to know what my past was like.”
“I meant how did you feel about that specific memory?” Nate hovers over me, so much like he had in the memory.
“I think it’s going to take a little bit more than just four days and a memory resurfacing before I sleep with you.” I say firmly as I push a strand of black hair out of his eyes.
Excerpt from Finding Elizabeth Copyright © 2015 by Taylor Fenner, All Rights Reserved. This is actually one of my favorite scenes in Finding Elizabeth. I hope you enjoyed it, I thought it was fitting for my post for Christmas day. I want to wish you and all of your families a Merry Christmas!
Finding Elizabeth is available in ebook and paperback on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Createspace.
ON SALE THIS WEEK ON AMAZON for $1.99! Don't miss out!
Nate came over later in the evening to give me the gift he had gotten me. “It’s a guidebook of Paris,” he explains as I unwrap the book. “It has a lot of places that are more ‘off-the-beaten-path’ listed in it. I figured that since we’ll probably have a lot of free time on the trip that maybe we could check some of them out.” He shrugs as his face turns pink.
“I love it,” I tell him as I clutch the book to my chest.
“Really?” Nate looks at me in happy surprise.
I nod; then go to grab his present. I framed the drawing I had done of him. When he unwraps the drawing he looks at it, then up at me, then back down at the drawing.
“You don’t like it,” I guess.
“No, it’s just; wow it’s like living that memory - the one of you drawing me - all over again. The drawing is amazing.” Nate smiles honestly, then leans in and kisses me. Hesitantly at first, then when he realizes that I’m kissing him back instead of pushing him away he deepens the kiss.
“I’m glad you like it,” I say shakily as I try to regain normal breathing after the kiss ends.
“So why aren’t you busy spending Christmas with your family?” Nate asks as he plops down onto my bed.
“My mom had to go to work and my dad is busy working on the new exhibit for the museum. He’s in the kitchen.” I explain.
“Where’s the kitchen?”
“It’s in the basement. Why?” I ask. A devilish grin spreads across Nate’s face and I know exactly what he’s thinking. I feel my eyes widening as I say, “We are not doing that.”
“That? Whatever could you possibly mean? Can you elaborate a little?” Nate replies teasingly.
I roll my eyes. “You don’t do coy well.” I tell him as I cross my arms over my chest.
“It’s not like we’ve never done it before,” he insists.
“Not in this life and I don’t really remember the last time.” I remind him.
“Have you ever done it?” Nate asks quietly as he leans against my pillows “In this life I mean, with your ex or someone else?”
“Nope,” I say. “Have you?”
“Slept with your ex-boyfriend? Definitely not,” Nate jokes.
I sit down next to him and hit him playfully on the shoulder. “Seriously though, have you?”
Nate shakes his head, “I don’t want to with anyone other than you.”
“What if I’m not ready?” I ask as I look into his eyes.
“I’ll wait however long it takes.”
I swallow hard at Nate’s intensity, I need to change the subject; fast. “So why aren’t you celebrating with your family?”
Now it’s Nate’s turn to roll his eyes, “my house is so jam packed with relatives, and when I say relatives I mean immediate family, extended family, and all of my parents partners and employees; that they won’t notices I’m gone for years to come.”
I laugh, trying to picture it, and then mentally remind myself to sketch it out for real later.
“I’d rather be here anyway,” Nate says as he turns to study me further. Suddenly I get another weird flashback thing. My room fades away, replaced by another. I can’t see much of the room, but I know that I’m lying on a bed. Nate’s hovering above me, and all around us a violent storm is raging. Suddenly it’s like everything we were just talking about, all the things I couldn’t remember, are coming back to me at rapid speed.
My bedroom comes back into focus and I shake my head a bit to clear the new found memories away. Nate notices and says, “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
I try to smile, “just more memories.”
He still doesn’t look convinced. He pulls away a little, “do you want to talk about it?” He asks.
“It was just about what we were talking about before; the memories resurfaced. I think it was the way you were looking down on me, it reminded me of that.”
“So now you remember everything?” Nate asks hopefully.
“Just from that night,” I shake my head.
“And what do you feel about that memory?”
“I’m not sure,” I tell him, “I mean I hate the feeling I get when the memories begin. It’s like the rug is being ripped out from under me. As for the memories themselves, it’s a relief to know what my past was like.”
“I meant how did you feel about that specific memory?” Nate hovers over me, so much like he had in the memory.
“I think it’s going to take a little bit more than just four days and a memory resurfacing before I sleep with you.” I say firmly as I push a strand of black hair out of his eyes.
Excerpt from Finding Elizabeth Copyright © 2015 by Taylor Fenner, All Rights Reserved. This is actually one of my favorite scenes in Finding Elizabeth. I hope you enjoyed it, I thought it was fitting for my post for Christmas day. I want to wish you and all of your families a Merry Christmas!
Finding Elizabeth is available in ebook and paperback on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Createspace.
ON SALE THIS WEEK ON AMAZON for $1.99! Don't miss out!
December 23, 2015
"What I'm Reading" Wednesday #2
This Wednesday I'm beginning a new book on "WIR"-Wednesday. This week I'm starting...
Boyfriend from Hell by E. Van Lowe
Blurb:
Fifteen year-old Megan Barnett and her single mom, Suze, have a special relationship—they are friends, close friends, who do almost everything together.
“But come on, guys, she’s my mother… Can I really tell her that while we’re snuggled up on the sofa watching Spider Man Three, I’m secretly undressing James Franco with my eyes? Of course not…”
The special bond takes a turn for the worse when Suze decides to start dating again. She hasn’t had a man in her life since Megan’s father left ten years ago.
Enter two mysterious young men, Megan’s new classmate, sinfully attractive bad boy, Guy Matson, and the dangerously handsome art dealer, Armando. Before long Megan and Suze both wind up in steamy relationships. But neither of the handsome pair is quite what he seems. In fact, one of them is Satan, with his sights set on a new bride. Megan has precious little time to figure out how to stop him. If she doesn’t, either Megan or Suze are quite literally going to HELL.
Why I Chose this Book:
I first came across this book as a listing on Ripley's Booklist's weekly newsletter. (Every Saturday they send out a newsletter filled with free and/or low-priced ebooks for young adults and I've been addicted since I used them to list my newest release, Finding Elizabeth.) The cover of Boyfriend from Hell called to me first as did RB's recommendation, so I read the blurb and downloaded it. I haven't really gotten too far into it yet so I haven't formed an opinion. Since I'm only on the first page I can't really tell who I recommend this book for yet (stay tuned for an update). In the meantime check out what I've read since last Wednesday...
Sweet Madness by Trisha Leaver and Lindsay Currie
Blurb: Who was Lizzie Borden? A confused young woman, or a coldhearted killer? For generations, people all over the world have wondered how Andrew Borden and his second wife, Abby, met their gruesome deaths. Lizzie, Andrew's younger daughter, was charged, but a jury took only 90 minutes to find her not guilty. In this retelling, the family maid, Bridget Sullivan, shines a compassionate light on a young woman oppressed by her cheap father and her ambitious stepmother. Was Lizzie mad, or was she driven to madness?
What I thought of the book: I really liked Sweet Madness. No matter whether you believe that Lizzie Borden did her parents in or not this book shines light on other possibilities as well as the living conditions Lizzie had to endure under the thumb of her cheap, controlling father and her schemeing stepmother. Lizzie is at times pained as being mentally unstable and at points you even feel sorry for Mr. and Mrs. Borden, but don't let their sob stories fool you, there's more than meets the eye. The real victim is Bridget Sullivan (who was actually a real person) who struggled to survive the madness within the Borden house. Read this book if you like a quick, creepy read. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 stars)
Initiation (The School of Exorcists #1) by K.E. O'Connor
Blurb:
Ruby Carmichael is your typical teenage girl, trying to ignore the unusual fact she sees ghosts. After she almost kills someone, she discovers she isn't so typical and has abilities and responsibilities she's never dreamed of.
After almost ending the life of her school crush at a dance, Ruby is humiliated and confused. She isn't prepared for the revelation that she's fated to join the School of Exorcists, a mysterious school that trains young Senders in the art of crossing over the undead and protecting the world from dark magic forces.
In this fast paced teen and YA paranormal romance and adventure series, Ruby meets Andreas, an undead member of the School, who introduces her to the weird and magically freaky world of the School of Exorcists.
It's not long before Ruby also meets Zander Ford and falls in love. The road to happiness is thwarted by unstable ghosts, dark magic crazed family members and Ruby's own fears that magic and romance don't combine well.
There's also the issue of Jarrod Deveral, a handsome but dangerous magic using soul freezer, who lingers in Ruby's mind. With the romance heating up between Ruby and Zander, she can't ignore the issue that her birth parents are causing trouble by using dark magic.
But when Ruby and her new friends come under attack from dark magic, she must draw on her new found powers to save herself and the School she has grown to love.
What I Thought of the Book:
I really enjoyed this book. It's a quick read and it reminds me a little bit of Harry Potter and another trilogy I read by Lee Nichols with its school of magic users. It makes you want to get the next book and see what else is in store for Ruby and the rest of her friends.
Is it wrong of me if I say I want to see if something happens between Ruby and Andreas or Ruby and Jarrod? ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 Stars)
Boyfriend from Hell by E. Van Lowe
Blurb:
Fifteen year-old Megan Barnett and her single mom, Suze, have a special relationship—they are friends, close friends, who do almost everything together. “But come on, guys, she’s my mother… Can I really tell her that while we’re snuggled up on the sofa watching Spider Man Three, I’m secretly undressing James Franco with my eyes? Of course not…”
The special bond takes a turn for the worse when Suze decides to start dating again. She hasn’t had a man in her life since Megan’s father left ten years ago.
Enter two mysterious young men, Megan’s new classmate, sinfully attractive bad boy, Guy Matson, and the dangerously handsome art dealer, Armando. Before long Megan and Suze both wind up in steamy relationships. But neither of the handsome pair is quite what he seems. In fact, one of them is Satan, with his sights set on a new bride. Megan has precious little time to figure out how to stop him. If she doesn’t, either Megan or Suze are quite literally going to HELL.
Why I Chose this Book:
I first came across this book as a listing on Ripley's Booklist's weekly newsletter. (Every Saturday they send out a newsletter filled with free and/or low-priced ebooks for young adults and I've been addicted since I used them to list my newest release, Finding Elizabeth.) The cover of Boyfriend from Hell called to me first as did RB's recommendation, so I read the blurb and downloaded it. I haven't really gotten too far into it yet so I haven't formed an opinion. Since I'm only on the first page I can't really tell who I recommend this book for yet (stay tuned for an update). In the meantime check out what I've read since last Wednesday...
Sweet Madness by Trisha Leaver and Lindsay Currie
Blurb: Who was Lizzie Borden? A confused young woman, or a coldhearted killer? For generations, people all over the world have wondered how Andrew Borden and his second wife, Abby, met their gruesome deaths. Lizzie, Andrew's younger daughter, was charged, but a jury took only 90 minutes to find her not guilty. In this retelling, the family maid, Bridget Sullivan, shines a compassionate light on a young woman oppressed by her cheap father and her ambitious stepmother. Was Lizzie mad, or was she driven to madness?
What I thought of the book: I really liked Sweet Madness. No matter whether you believe that Lizzie Borden did her parents in or not this book shines light on other possibilities as well as the living conditions Lizzie had to endure under the thumb of her cheap, controlling father and her schemeing stepmother. Lizzie is at times pained as being mentally unstable and at points you even feel sorry for Mr. and Mrs. Borden, but don't let their sob stories fool you, there's more than meets the eye. The real victim is Bridget Sullivan (who was actually a real person) who struggled to survive the madness within the Borden house. Read this book if you like a quick, creepy read. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 stars)
Initiation (The School of Exorcists #1) by K.E. O'Connor
Blurb:
Ruby Carmichael is your typical teenage girl, trying to ignore the unusual fact she sees ghosts. After she almost kills someone, she discovers she isn't so typical and has abilities and responsibilities she's never dreamed of. After almost ending the life of her school crush at a dance, Ruby is humiliated and confused. She isn't prepared for the revelation that she's fated to join the School of Exorcists, a mysterious school that trains young Senders in the art of crossing over the undead and protecting the world from dark magic forces.
In this fast paced teen and YA paranormal romance and adventure series, Ruby meets Andreas, an undead member of the School, who introduces her to the weird and magically freaky world of the School of Exorcists.
It's not long before Ruby also meets Zander Ford and falls in love. The road to happiness is thwarted by unstable ghosts, dark magic crazed family members and Ruby's own fears that magic and romance don't combine well.
There's also the issue of Jarrod Deveral, a handsome but dangerous magic using soul freezer, who lingers in Ruby's mind. With the romance heating up between Ruby and Zander, she can't ignore the issue that her birth parents are causing trouble by using dark magic.
But when Ruby and her new friends come under attack from dark magic, she must draw on her new found powers to save herself and the School she has grown to love.
What I Thought of the Book:
I really enjoyed this book. It's a quick read and it reminds me a little bit of Harry Potter and another trilogy I read by Lee Nichols with its school of magic users. It makes you want to get the next book and see what else is in store for Ruby and the rest of her friends.
Is it wrong of me if I say I want to see if something happens between Ruby and Andreas or Ruby and Jarrod? ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 Stars)
December 18, 2015
My Writing & Publishing Goals for 2016
2015 was a big year for me. My career as a published author was officially launched, I published two novels, and I started and finished writing the second book in my Eternals Trilogy.
With those accomplishments under my belt, what do I have in store for 2016?
1.) Publish Out of Darkness (Eternals Trilogy #1)
I finished writing Out of Darkness at the end of 2014 and I'm excited to get started on the publishing process for Out of Darkness. I have a mock cover created with the stock images I want to use (yes I do my own covers with the exception of The Haunting Love, which WCP did) and I'll begin rounds of edits after January 1. Tentatively I'd like to publish Out of Darkness in either April or May 2016.
2.) Write and Complete Through the Fog (Eternals Trilogy #3)
I have started the final book in the Eternals Trilogy. I have the first chapter or two planned out and the overall storyline together, it's just a matter of putting pen to paper. Once I finish my post-NaNoWriMo relaxing I'll dive right in. Hopefully I'll be into the third chapter by the first week of January.
3.) Publish Into the Light (Eternals Trilogy #2)
At this point this is nothing but a pipe dream. If I do publish Into the Light in 2016 it will probably be toward the end of the year (November or December).
4.) Participate in NaNoWriMo 2016
I had so much fun doing NaNoWriMo this year, I can't wait to do it again and I already have a great story idea.
5.) Do a Writing Residency / Retreat or Go Somewhere to Write for a Week or so
It would be a dream to be in a cottage in New England or somewhere writing by the ocean. A girl can only dream. Maybe I can have a weekend getaway to Door County (the Cape Cod of the Midwest).
6.) Attend a Writing Conference
I'd love to attend a writing conference or book festival either here in Wisconsin or somewhere in the Midwest to meet and connect with other authors.
With those accomplishments under my belt, what do I have in store for 2016?
1.) Publish Out of Darkness (Eternals Trilogy #1)
I finished writing Out of Darkness at the end of 2014 and I'm excited to get started on the publishing process for Out of Darkness. I have a mock cover created with the stock images I want to use (yes I do my own covers with the exception of The Haunting Love, which WCP did) and I'll begin rounds of edits after January 1. Tentatively I'd like to publish Out of Darkness in either April or May 2016.
2.) Write and Complete Through the Fog (Eternals Trilogy #3)
I have started the final book in the Eternals Trilogy. I have the first chapter or two planned out and the overall storyline together, it's just a matter of putting pen to paper. Once I finish my post-NaNoWriMo relaxing I'll dive right in. Hopefully I'll be into the third chapter by the first week of January.
3.) Publish Into the Light (Eternals Trilogy #2)
At this point this is nothing but a pipe dream. If I do publish Into the Light in 2016 it will probably be toward the end of the year (November or December).
4.) Participate in NaNoWriMo 2016
I had so much fun doing NaNoWriMo this year, I can't wait to do it again and I already have a great story idea.
5.) Do a Writing Residency / Retreat or Go Somewhere to Write for a Week or so
It would be a dream to be in a cottage in New England or somewhere writing by the ocean. A girl can only dream. Maybe I can have a weekend getaway to Door County (the Cape Cod of the Midwest).
6.) Attend a Writing Conference
I'd love to attend a writing conference or book festival either here in Wisconsin or somewhere in the Midwest to meet and connect with other authors.
December 16, 2015
"What I'm Reading" Wednesday
Starting now I'll be showcasing what I'm reading through a weekly "What I'm Reading Wednesday" blog. You'll also be able to see my progress in a widget on the side of my blog.
For my first WIR-Wednesday, I'm reading: Onyx (Lux Novel Book 2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Blurb:
Being connected to Daemon Black sucks…
Thanks to his alien mojo, Daemon's determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarro connection. So I've sworn him off, even though he's running more hot than cold these days. But we've got bigger problems.
Something worse than the Arum has come to town…
The Department of Defense is here. If they ever find out what Daemon can do and that we're linked, I'm a goner. So is he. And there's this new boy in school who's got a secret of his own. He knows what's happened to me and he can help, but to do so, I have to lie to Daemon and stay away from him. Like that's possible. Against all common sense, I'm falling for Daemon. Hard.
But then everything changes…
I've seen someone who shouldn't be alive. And I have to tell Daemon, even though I know he's never going to stop searching until he gets the truth. What happened to his brother? Who betrayed him? And what does the DOD want from them—from me?
No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies…
Why I chose this book:
I am completely addicted to this series. I first read about the series on The Book Believer's blog and while I disagree with the post and really like the covers, the post got me interested in reading the books. I got the first book, Obsidian, free on my Kindle and devoured it in one night. Who knew aliens could be so sexy?
Naturally once I finished book one I needed to get my hands on Onyx (Book 2), and quickly. I needed to find out what happened next in the world of Daemon, Katy, Dee, and the gang. My nearest Barnes and Noble didn't have it so I went to the library and voila! The copy I have is a bit tattered, but I'm tearing through it almost as quickly as I did with Obsidian.
Who this book is for:
I recommend this book for young adults, new adults, and anyone who loves a love story (and a sexy alien next door), although I suggest starting with Obsidian so you know the whole story. This book has kept me going all day and I am having to fight to put it down.
For my first WIR-Wednesday, I'm reading: Onyx (Lux Novel Book 2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Blurb:
Being connected to Daemon Black sucks…
Thanks to his alien mojo, Daemon's determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarro connection. So I've sworn him off, even though he's running more hot than cold these days. But we've got bigger problems.
Something worse than the Arum has come to town…
The Department of Defense is here. If they ever find out what Daemon can do and that we're linked, I'm a goner. So is he. And there's this new boy in school who's got a secret of his own. He knows what's happened to me and he can help, but to do so, I have to lie to Daemon and stay away from him. Like that's possible. Against all common sense, I'm falling for Daemon. Hard.
But then everything changes…
I've seen someone who shouldn't be alive. And I have to tell Daemon, even though I know he's never going to stop searching until he gets the truth. What happened to his brother? Who betrayed him? And what does the DOD want from them—from me?
No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies…
Why I chose this book:
I am completely addicted to this series. I first read about the series on The Book Believer's blog and while I disagree with the post and really like the covers, the post got me interested in reading the books. I got the first book, Obsidian, free on my Kindle and devoured it in one night. Who knew aliens could be so sexy?
Naturally once I finished book one I needed to get my hands on Onyx (Book 2), and quickly. I needed to find out what happened next in the world of Daemon, Katy, Dee, and the gang. My nearest Barnes and Noble didn't have it so I went to the library and voila! The copy I have is a bit tattered, but I'm tearing through it almost as quickly as I did with Obsidian.
Who this book is for:
I recommend this book for young adults, new adults, and anyone who loves a love story (and a sexy alien next door), although I suggest starting with Obsidian so you know the whole story. This book has kept me going all day and I am having to fight to put it down.
