Loretta Marchize's Blog, page 7

The Phantom Thief: Reivew

The Phantom Thief, AKA Simon Lee book 1: P.D. Atkerson

This book falls under the action/spy genre, which isn’t what I usually read. Honestly, I’m starting to think I should broaden my horizons a little because every time I read a book outside of my usual genres I usually really like it.

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Anyway, this book was really enthralling and I honestly just really enjoyed reading it!

Five stars

Prose: 4/5

Romance: –

Characters: 5/5

Plot: 5/5

Prose:

There were definitely a few instances were things felt a little choppy, or I noticed a grammar mistake, but it wasn’t a huge deal and didn’t pull me out of the story or anything.

Romance:

So there wasn’t really any romance in this book, but I just want to talk about the non-romantic relationships here for a few minutes. I absolutely LOVED the family dynamics in this, and I really liked the friendships too! Everything seemed super realistic and I really liked how everything was woven together.

Characters:

Really well done. Since this is a spy type novel, there was a lot of good/bad/which-side-are-you-on stuff. I think how everyone reacted to Lee was pretty cool. I really want to know more about him, maybe more about his backstory, and why he’s so smart. There were a lot of little clues through the story. Also, like I said above, the relationships are great!

Plot:

Okay so this was all over the place! Because Lee is a criminal before the story even begins, there was a lot of him kind of trying to figure out which side he was on/etc. But I really thought it was well carried out. I was never confused, and it moved along pretty quickly.

Overall:

I really enjoyed this novel! Hopefully I can read the rest of the series sometime! It was very fast-paced and engaging. I am a little curious about the cover, because on the cover the boy has glasses but I don’t think Lee has glasses? Maybe they’re sunglasses?

Content:

Okay so it is a spy book so…. there’s definitely mentions of guns/people getting killed etc. There’s also some bombs, they do break into a building, mentions of jail/being locked up. Mentions of crime leaders, the usual things you would expect from a spy novel. Nothing gory or over-described, no foul language. All-in-all fairly clean.

Blurb

Lee is known as many things. A con artist, master thief and most times smarter than anyone else in the room. One thing he’ll never be, is normal. He never has been, nor will he ever be. That’s why the agency needs his help, and that’s why he’ll give it to them, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have his own plans too.

Joining up with the team that arrested him won’t be easy, but he’ll do anything to bring down the man who ruined his life. After he’s worn so many faces, how does he really know who he is underneath?

Most teenagers have hobbies, his is crime.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53007718-phantom-thief

Don’t forget, if you want me to read your novel and then review it and feature it on my blog, just visit my review policy!

As always, remember to like, comment, or share, whatever floats your boat! Until next time!

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Apple Pie Release!

We’re taking a break from the regular Wednesday posting to celebrate Apple Pie‘s release! I’m really pumped about it. This is my first full novel I’ve ever published, and my first contemporary novel.

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The goodreads link and the blurb:

Crown Prince Andrew is tired. Tired of his role as Prince, tired of not having any choices, and tired of the pressure to marry. His father is ill, and Andrew knows he’ll be taking over the throne before too long. But economic failure is on the tongues of every person in Whittenberg and Earl Barton is leading parliament in circles trying to solve the problem.
Claiy Bowen came from America a year ago but still hasn’t found a job as a pastry chef. Andrew is easy to be around, but she thinks he’s selfish and denies any chance of a relationship between them. It doesn’t help that his mother is set on him marrying Lady Growbeth, not some foreigner.
Can Andrew learn to accept his fate as Crown Prince, and can Claiy learn to accept Andrew?

You can purchase the e-book version here, and the paperback version should come out by tomorrow morning!

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If you’re still not sure what to think about it, watch the video trailer!

Please spread the word and tell your friends!

As always, please like, share, or comment, whatever floats your boat!

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Free Book Reviews!

Hey everyone! I decided since I have some free time on my hands and not much to read, I’m going to open up my blog for review requests. I’ll have more information and a review policy page coming sometime today.

So, if you’re an author and want to get a few more reviews on your novel, or even if you are looking for another ARC, Beta, or Alpha reader, fill out this form and be sure to read my review policy!

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My Writing Process

Hey, everyone! It’s not that long until Apple Pie releases, so if you want to participate in a small blog tour/giveaway, you can sign up or view more information here.

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Today I’m going to talk about my writing process. It’s a little different from some other people I know so…

Currently, I’m writing the first draft of The Runaway Princess and editing Evie’s Empire, so I’ll try to cover both writing and editing.

Every writing project/novel I’ve written starts out on pen and paper with a few scribbled ideas. Technically The Runaway Princess is actually the third draft, so it is slightly more put together than normal.

Writing: Step 1- Brainstorming



About two weeks unless I’m reluctant to start writing the project.

This is where I kind of just think about where I want to go in the novel and what characters will be needed. I usually decide who the main characters are at this point as well.

A lot of this is just done on notebook paper and is very much all over the place. It usually involves the first draft of the blurb as well, which helps me decide where I’m going.

Writing: Step 2- Outline



About two weeks

I used to be a major pantser, but the older I get the more I prefer a detailed outline. This usually involves a few sheets of paper that look like the picture below. Sometimes for this I’ll use sticky notes, and usually, there are a few blank columns left for step 3.

[image error]I blurred out all the major plot lines/spoilers, but this is the basic idea



Writing: Step 3- Characters



Usually only a week or so

At this point, I do usually begin writing a little, but I focus a lot on figuring out what the characters will be like. This involves some Meyers-Briggs personality things, and I usually try to figure out a few real-life or fictional people similar to my characters. I don’t really know how to explain this step, because a lot of it happens in my head.

The picture is my closet doors, where I do most of my initial planning. Each sticky note is a character, and in the top left is the key. They have marker marks on them denoting what country they live in, arrows for relationships (of any sort) and bullet points detailing important things like if they are married, and to whom etc. Plus at the bottom of each is a physical description.

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Writing: Step 4- Drafting



Usually at least four school months, or two summer months (unless it’s NANO)

This is by far my favorite part- but also the hardest and longest. I try to stick mainly to a notebook for this, and I do write with a pencil. This is mostly just when I write, write, write. I may make a small outline or characteristic changes, but nothing big. If I spot a problem, I’ll write it in the margins, Evernote app, or my writing binder, and leave it for later.

Editing: Step 1- Typing



Varies, somewhere between three weeks and seven weeks.

At this point, I’ll type my whole novel into a google doc and gather all notes into my writing binder/Evernote. I do edit a little while I type, but not a ton.

Editing: Step 2- Break



I aim for three weeks but maybe more like five

At this point, I’ll begin writing steps 1 or 2 for a new novel or short story. If I don’t want to write I’ll just focus on blogging and reading some novels. The goal is to forget about my draft and relax after hammering out thousands of words.

Editing: Step 3- Font Change



A few weeks

I usually write in comic sans, which is an awful font, but at this point, I’ll change the font and try to take care of the notes I’ve been gathering since I began my draft. This is a pretty straight forward thing, although I’ll point out that I try not to just read the whole thing through, and I use a lot of the find/replace function.

Editing: Step 4- Reading Out Loud



Three to four weeks

Pretty much what it sounds like. I usually make sure to keep a glass of water on hand, sometimes I read it to my sister, and other times when I start to lose my voice I’ll just use an app to read it for me, and edit as I go!

Editing: Step 5- Betas + Mom



A month or two

I may repeat the above steps several times before I send it off to betas, or I may ask my Mom to read it before the betas. Either way, one of my last steps is to make sure my google doc is somewhat formatted and then put out sign-ups and send the novel out to Betas. I try to keep up with them as they read too, but that doesn’t always happen.

Editing: Step 6- Feedback



A few weeks

Unless someone noticed a serious plot hole and I need some major revisions, at this point, I put all the feedback together and somehow wrangle it into a novel. I also make sure to figure out a release date at this point.

Editing: Step 7- Grammarly



A week

My final step before formatting, which is another category entirely, is to put the whole document (chapter by chapter) through Grammarly and double-check spelling/etc. If I’m worried I might run it through another spell checker too.

At any rate, there you have my overly complicated writing process! At some point I’ll share how I keep everything organized with my system of sticky notes and binders.

You can find the pre-order for Apple Pie here . If you missed the ARC sign-ups or can’t participate in the blog tour, but still want a chance to read a PDF copy of Apple Pie, please reach out to me on my contact page and we can work something out.

As always, please like, share, or comment, whatever floats your boat!

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Five Inspiring Quotes + Apple Pie Updates

Hey everyone! It’s kind of a slow Wednesday, so I thought I’d share some of my favorite inspiring quotes with you.

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“When thinking about life, remember this:

no amount of guilt can change the past

and no amount of anxiety can change the future.”

-unknown

That’s a pretty interesting one, isn’t it? I have some quotes and verses that I put up on my wall and on the bathroom mirror, and this is a good one for that.

If the whole quarentine thing is wearing down on you, remember that:

“The most courageous decision that you can make each day is to be in a good mood.”

Voltaire

I have a whole pinterest board of quotes like this, and sometimes when my day isn’t going so well I just like to scroll through it.

“Though my soul may set in darkness, it will rise up in perfect light; I have loved the stars to fondly to be fearful of the night.”

Sarah Williams

Though this one is a little less simply inspiring and a little more poetic, I still think it’s a good reminder.

I do believe something very magical can happen when you read a book.

J.K. Rowling

I’d have to agree with J.K. Rowling here!

This last one is kind of close to my heart, and I have actually used it in the beginning of one of my novels. I ended up taking it out, but it’s still a good quote.

Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again

C.S. Lewis

Now for those of you who are curious about Apple Pie, I just closed the ARC sign-ups a few minutes ago and I’ll be sending out the PDFs this afternoon. The goal is still to publish it on May 2nd, but if you can’t wait that long it’s actually available for pre-order!

You can find the pre-order here and if you missed the ARC sign-ups and still want a chance to read a PDF copy of Apple Pie, please reach out to me on my contact page and we can work something out.

As always, please like, share, or comment, whatever floats your boat!

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Apple Pie release date

My first release since August 9th, 2018. My first full-fledged novel.

Apple Pie is near and dear to my heart, both the novel and the dessert. I’m excited to finally release this novel and I’m offering ARC copies in the form of PDFs (or if you need something else we can work it out). Sign-ups are open for a week.

Sign up HERE

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Crown Prince Andrew is tired. Tired of his role as Prince, tired of not having any choices, and tired of the pressure to marry. His father is ill, and Andrew knows he’ll be taking over the throne before too long. But economic failure is on the tongues of every person in Whittenberg and Earl Barton is leading parliament in circles trying to solve the problem.
Claiy Bowen came from America seven years ago but still hasn’t found a job as a pastry chef. Andrew is easy to be around, but she thinks he’s selfish and denies any chance of a relationship between them. It doesn’t help that his mother is set on him marrying Lady Growbeth, not some foreigner.
Can Andrew learn to accept his fate as Crown Prince, and can Claiy learn to accept Andrew?

Apple Pie blurb

This novel has been in the works for a while, and it’s the first time I’ve seriously written anything contemporary.

I plan to release it on May second, so

2020-05-02T10:00:00

  days

  hours  minutes  seconds

until

Apple Pie Releases

Hopefully both paperback and kindle editions are up and running on May 2nd, but because of some problems I’ve had in the past, paperback may be released May 3rd.

And remember: sign up here for a free ARC copy!

As always, please like, share, or comment, whatever floats your boat!

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New Releases + Life Update

Hey y’all! I don’t know if any of you remember, but back in the winter after I went on hiatus I let you know about a new novel I had planned- Apple Pie. I also (even longer ago) had plans for something called Evie’s Empire. Well, I promise both of them are still going to be released, editing has just been taking me a LOT longer than I previously thought.

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I will be releasing Apple Pie this spring. I originally thought that Evie’s Empire would be the first, but I just read it through again and it needs a MAJOR re haul. Apple Pie, however, is in the publishing stage! *finally…*

I suspect, also, that I will soon be officially back online and no longer in hiatus, as my high school has been switched to online because of the corona virus.

There is one project that I’ve been hinting at recently and how excited I was to share it with you. It’s switched names over the past few months, and I’m currently referring to it as PC. It’s a four-book + prequel series, I have outlines for books .5-2, covers for .5-4, and about 60% of the first draft for book 1 done.

I think I’m finally ready to reveal the book titles and those are….

The Girl Who Became Queen, .5

The Runaway Princess, 1

The Mountain Princess, 2

The Servant Princess, 3

The Ambassador Princess, 4

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Sound familiar? Almost two years ago I released a novella called The Lost Princess, the first book in the Fairy Tale Chronicles. When I released and wrote the series I was only fourteen, and my writing has greatly improved. Recently I made the decision to completely re-write the series. What was once the Fairy Tale Chronicles is now Princess Chronicles.

In addition to rewriting, and adding novels/reordering them, I have also lengthened them. I’m aiming for at least 65,000 words per novel, and currently draft 1 is at 48,000 words 19/35 expected chapters.

I have no release date, but I do know that The Runaway Princess won’t be finished until at least summer 2021. So, expect some updates concerning the new novels, and be aware that the Fairy Tale Chronicles are going to be unpublished and unavailable for purchase within a week!

I also have some big information: I’m formally coming back off of my hiatus! Look forward to a continuation of my WWW!

As always, don’t forget to like, share, or comment, whatever floats your boat!

p.s. my friend Ellie Loretta (yes her middle name is my first name) recently made a fashion website, which I helped her set up, and an Instagram. Visit fashionellieloretta.wordpress.com to support her, or visit her Instagram: @lorettaellie

New Novel- Apple Pie!

Hey guys! Just a brief explanation, yes I’m taking a hiatus. However, I am coming back for a few weeks since it’s Christmas break. And I’ve got a brand-new novel for you guys!

The novel is called Apple Pie. It’s set in the contemporary world (rare for me, I know) and I wrote it at the beginning of this summer. I’m hoping to publish February 12th 2020.

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Blurb:

Crown Prince Andrew is tired. Tired of his role as Prince, tired of not having any choices, and tired of the pressure to marry. His father is ill, and Andrew knows he’ll be taking over the throne before too long. But economic failure is on the tongues of every person in Whittenberg and Earl Barton is leading parliament in circles trying to solve the problem.

Claiy Bowen came from America seven years ago but still hasn’t found a job as a pastry chef. Andrew is easy to be around, but she thinks he’s selfish and denies any chance of a relationship between them. It doesn’t help that his mother is set on him marrying Lady Growbeth, not some foreigner.

Can Andrew learn to accept his fate as Crown Prince, and can Claiy learn to accept Andrew?

It will be available in both paperback and e-book on Amazon. I’m releasing the cover/title today (I honestly LOVE the cover!! *squeals*). It can also be found on Goodreads here:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49848580-apple-pie

I’m going to make you wait a few more minutes on the cover while I cover some other important information.

The blog tour is going to be just four days long, February 12th-15th (Wednesday-Saturday). You can sing up for that here!

And now what you all really want to see…. the cover!

*drumroll*

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Isn’t it just cute???

Anyways, don’t forget to sign up for the blog tour here: https://forms.gle/GsGBBWt9FjaooukbA

As always, please like, share, or comment, whatever floats your boat!

Review: Project Scrooge (A. M. Heath)

Hello everyone! Yes, I’m still on hiatus. I had signed up for a blog tour previously and I’m just doing my job. And note to all of you: this is a really good book!

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A.M. Heath’s Bio

Besides being an Indie Author, I’m a wife, mother of four, children’s Sunday School teacher, sweet tea drinker, history fanatic, romantic, bubbly, lover of broccoli, and a retired cake decorator who has a soft spot for Christmas trees, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and a sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. What I’m not is a laundress (or at least not one who keeps up very well), a duster, tall, or patient in a doctor’s office.

Book Description

Can Scrooge find love from a friendship gone cold?Sanford Stone cut ties with his best friend, Natalie, in favor of the love of his life … a woman who ended up walking out on him just before Christmas. Six years later, Sanford can’t bring himself to celebrate Christ’s birth with any joy. Little does he know, his grandmother and her companions have dubbed him the Scrooge and intend to help him overcome his bitterness and find happiness again.The only thing that has hurt Natalie Dunivan more than Sanford cutting her out of his life has been watching his long-held grudges slowly destroy the man she has always loved. When Ms. Carol devises a plan to reach out to Sanford, Natalie eagerly agrees.Sanford accepts his grandmother’s challenge to celebrate Christmas for 31 straight days, but he didn’t count on her plan involving Natalie. Can his family and friends help their Scrooge see the error of his ways, or will Natalie’s presence only make things worse?

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Review

five stars

Prose 5/5

Romance: 5/5

Characters: 5/5

Plot: 5/5

Prose:

Engaging and simple. Easy to read, but I still really liked it.

Romance:

Very well carried out- with just the right amount of sweetness and tension. I loved the trope from friends/enemies to lovers too!

Characters:

Well done, especially ‘scrooge.’ The transition/character arc was smooth and seemed natural.

Plot:

For a romance novel this was up there. I didn’t want to put it down and it was pretty engaging. Unlike some romance novels, it didn’t focus solely on finding love.

Overall:

Cute, with just the right mix of romantic tension and plot! It’s a good Christmas read, perfect for the holidays.

Content:

Mentions of romance, light kissing.

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The schedule and more information about the blog tour can be found here:

https://amheathblog.wordpress.com/blog-tour/

Author Links

A.M. would love to hear from you. You can visit her online on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Bookbub, Pinterest, and her blog.

Whether you’re on social media or not, you can ensure that you never miss one of A.M.’s sales, giveaways, or new releases by signing up for her newsletter. She’ll send you a direct link to your email anytime something big happens. http://eepurl.com/dDbVNz

Blo g, Facebook, Goodreads, Pinterest, Twitter, BookBub

Amazon Book Link Two of A.M.’s books are marked down this week. Sale Link

Giveaway

The most important part of course!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b7851a9015/?

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Like always please like, share, or comment, whatever floats your boat!

The Rebellion Review

So Livy Jarmusch is having a blog tour this month for her newest release The Wedding. I reviewed thesecond book in the series, and i LOVED it!

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First a bit bout the books and Livy:

Title: The Wedding

Book Links: Amazon, Goodreads

“Vanessa Bennett is living in a real-life fairytale. Now that she’s engaged to the man of her dreams, The Palace Staff is consumed with wedding preparation. The upcoming event is no small affair, as Vanessa is bombarded with hundreds of decisions she needs to make before the wedding date arrives. Amidst the endless details concerning dresses, decorations and napkins, a greater question looms: is Vanessa truly ready to become Queen? As tensions rise within Tarsurella, the role of joining her betrothed in governing an ever-shifting nation is no small task. Will she crack under the pressure?Meanwhile, Jane Akerly is hoping to awaken from a nightmare. Her father has been missing for months. Advised to accept the harsh reality that he may never return, Jane isn’t ready to give up. She finds comfort in the one place she’s always run to for escape–her daydreams. Her imagination has the power to carry her across the ocean, stroll the streets of London, and imagine that all is well. In an unexpected turn of events, Jane is given the opportunity to create the future of her dreams–but will her pen be enough to save her? The Wedding is Book #3 in The Tales of Tarsurella Series.”

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AUTHOR: Livy Jarmusch 

YA Christian Fiction Author of The Tales of Tarsurella and Regal Hearts

www.livylynnblog.com Facebook. Instagram. Twitter. Pinterest. Good Reads. email updates 

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5 stars

Prose: 4/5
Romance: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Plot: 5/5

Prose:
It wasn’t overly special in any way, and at times a bit overdone but overall I liked it and it was easy to understand

Romance:
I love Livy’s way of including romance in her novels! It almost reminds me of a Hallmark movie but with an actual plot and non-typical romances. I love a few ships, but especially Vanessa and Addison. I just- Ahhhh!

Characters:
Lovely! We got to see several of the characters from book one grow and develop. I loved how their belief in Christ is so real and impactful to the story.

Plot:
Ahhhh! I enjoyed the mystery of the Liberty writer and who it turned out to be. I also enjoyed how Addison had to wrestle with whether or not Tarsurella should continue as a kingdom or be turned into a democracy.

Overall:
I really enjoyed this novel and I’m looking forward to The Wedding!

Content:
A few hand-holdings, no kissing, between a romantically involved couple. Mentions of having crushes on people, etc. Mentions of terrorists, a man is held hostage, mentions of criminals.

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

The Wedding and all of Livy’s books are included in The Great Review Race, a Multi Author Monthly Giveaway. Submit your reviews to the form below to be entered into the giveaway! November Winner will receive a $30 amazon gift card! Please also invite your readers to this giveaway by posting this link in your posts under the giveaway heading. http://victorialynnblog.com/the-great-review-race/

Form for your reviews

Like always please like, share, or comment, whatever floats your boat!