T.R. Graves's Blog: T. R. Graves, Author, page 18

YA Indie Carnival - Graduation

The sponsors of the YA Indie Carnival are sharing scenes of graduations or last days of school. Since none of my books or their scenes meet this criterion, I thought I would talk about the graduation drama wreaking havoc on my house as we speak. If you don't want to read about a mother who is absolutely positively proud of her daughter and her accomplishments, you probably don't want to go any further.
As a rule of thumb, people have to do amazing and spectacular things for me to consider the...

YA Indie Carnival - Mother's Day Reads

The sponsors of the YA Indie Carnival are celebrating Mother's Day by recommending great reads that can be gifted to any woman who would like to take a break from the real world and zone out in one created by phenomenal authors.
I read lots of books (and have written two and am writing three); therefore, it's simple for me to recommend several great young adult series...ones that have proven their worth by the sheer volume of their fan base.  I'm completely confident any on...

Deadlocked (Sookie Stackhouse #12) by Charlaine Harris

Deadlocked (Sookie Stackhouse #12) by Charlaine Harris
★ ★ ★ ★  (4  Stars)

It is a RARE situation when I give a book anything less than 5 stars because I don't read (and certainly don't review) books that I don't LOVE.  After finishing Deadlocked (Sookie Stackhouse #12), I decided to make an exception AND take one star away for the blatantly obvious missing component of this book.

Any Sookie Stackhouse fan will tell you, there is a dangerous lust that we absolutely...

Fifty Shades Freed (Fifty Shades #3) by E.L. James

Fifty Shades Freed (Fifty Shades #3) by E.L. James Adults Only

★★★★★

WHAT A FINALE!!  Really...I'm not sure it could have been any better! 

I loved the way E.L. James began this book.  Instead of walking us through the 'same old, same old'.  She moved us ahead and let us relive some of the not too far back memories in a way that felt refreshing and new (just like everything else with this series).

E.L. James has a way of telling a story that pre...

Fifty Shades Darker (Fifty Shades #2) by E.L. James

Fifty Shades Darker (Fifty Shades #2) by E.L. James Adults Only

★★★★★

As much as I loved Fifty Shades of Grey (Fifty Shades #1), this book is where the series hooks you.  We begin not only seeing but also becoming angry over every childhood tragedy behind the darkness plaguing Ana's beloved Christian.  Believe me, it doesn't get much darker. 

Christian was born and raised for the first four years of his life by a drug-addicted prostitute (left with her dead b...

YA Indie Carnival - Current Work In Progress

This week, the sponsors of the YA Indie Carnival are sharing an excerpt from their current work in progress.  I've been waiting for this week for months because it offers me the chance to give fans of The Warrior Series a sneak peek into Enemies of the Cross.
Enemies of the Cross will be the most exciting book of The Warrior Series. Continuing the life-threatening adventure, Allison reunites with Devin, the first person she saved – from the womb – and her mother’s murderer. After he revea...

Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James

Fifty Shades of Grey (Fifty Shades #1) by E.L. James
Adults Only

★★★★★

Fifty Shades of Grey (Fifty Shades #1) should absolutely positively NOT  to be judged by its c...(uh. um.) genre.  If you do, you will miss out on one of the best series and the most endearing, interesting, polarizing, and passionate characters I've ever encountered.  Having read many, many books, this is a profound promise. 


First, let me get my disclaimer out of the way l...

Fallen (Fallen #1) by Lauren Kate

Fallen (Fallen #1) by Lauren Kate
★★★★★
Let me start of by saying I love Fallen (Fallen #1)'s book cover AND the main character's name, Luce.  Everything about this book is a welcomed surprise (including the fact that this is a quick read despite it 452 pages).
Lauren Kate did a great job at creating a mystery around Luce and the predicament that she found herself in; Sword & Cross was the perfect setting for the reformatory; and Daniel Grigori is the kind of person e...

Summer's Crossing (Iron Fey #3.5) byJulie Kagawa

Summer's Crossing (Iron Fey #3.5) by Julie Kagawa
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ (5 Stars)

This novella is more about Ash and Puck's relationship than anything.  Making it all the more special is the fact that it is told by Puck and his point of view.  Summer's Crossing (Iron Fey #3.5) gave us a glimpse into Puck's mind and made him even more endearing. 

With this book, we were able to see the battle between Leanansidhe and Queen Titania while enjoying the latest adventure for the Princ...

YA Indie Carnival - 4/20, An Interesting Topic

This week the sponsors of the  YA Indie Carnival are supposed to share excerpts about marijuana.  Interestingly enough, I had no idea what 4/20 meant, which led me to research the subject.  For those as ignorant as me about casual drug use, I'm including the information from per Wikipedia:  April 20 has evolved into a acounterculture holidy, where people gather to celebrate and consume cannabis.
Now, I don't have even one excerpt which is remotely related to pot. ...