C.J. Burright's Blog, page 9
August 5, 2016
Stranger Things – Netflix Awesomeness
I feel it’s my duty to gush about amazing things I happen to stumble upon (or am guided to, in this particular case), and this. THIS!
One of my fellow Supernatural-loving friends told me about this show, and then one of my author friends mentioned it too, so I thought why not check it out? My friend (Brian, I’m not sure if I should curse you or bless you) had sent me the link to the first 8 minutes of the first episode, and you know, I can spare 8 minutes in my zero free time, right? And this happened…
People, I never TV binge. NEVER. Like I said, zero free time. But you know what I did? Instead of wisely using my precious time like a good writer (I mean, I work full-time, I have a novel to finish, another novella with a deadline, and a blog tour at the end of the month, so nope. I’ve got nothing to do!), instead I stayed up until the wee hours of night, watching until my eyes burned. Then I got up in the morning and binged until the final episode.
IT WAS GLORIOUS.
Stranger Things is a combination of Goonies, Supernatural, and the Bourne movies. There is the totally loveable, geeky middle school tribe of D&D lovers who are into science and think girls are gross. The older, straight-laced sister on the verge of acceptance by dating the “popular” guy. The outcast, sensitive boy who adores the girl from afar…until danger draws them together. The emotionally-scarred sheriff who doesn’t care until some serious stuff drags him back into life. The crackpot mom (played by Winona Ryder) who works all the time just to provide for her boys and isn’t about to sit around when one of them goes missing. The fenced-off government lab where a no-morals scientist conducts experiments…and the girl who escapes. Then there’s the scary THING that ties everyone together.
I’ll just leave it at that because I don’t want to spoil anything for you. Every episode is epic, the perfect mixture of laughs and nostalgia, heartache and triumph, terror and friendship, mystery and mild romance. It’s television at its finest…but be warned. Don’t start watching until you have the eight or so hours to keep watching until the final episode. It’s that good, and in case you don’t believe me, here’s the first eight minutes that HOOKED ME LIKE A FREAKIN’ HAPPY FISH. And if you don’t have Netflix, guess what? First month’s free.
Now you have something to do this weekend. You’re welcome.
On a side note, there’s a Goodreads giveaway going on for a signed paperback of Wonderfully Wicked, so if you haven’t snagged yourself a copy, enter to win!
And in case you hadn’t heard, Beautifully Burned is up for pre-order – coming August 23!
July 24, 2016
Beautifully Burned – #2 in the Dreamcaster Series
Hey, hey, hey…look what’s up for pre-order! It took longer than I wanted, with more sweat and swearing than I expected, but at last Daxen’s story is polished up and ready to roll. Lydon, Kalila, and the rest of the gang from Wonderfully Wicked make an appearance, so there are some familiar faces, but Beautifully Burned can be read as a stand alone too. Either way, it’s a win-win. 
July 9, 2016
Freebie!
In case you missed the memo, Wonderfully Wicked, the first in my Dreamcaster Series is free for two days…today and tomorrow (ebook only). Grab a copy!
July 1, 2016
Review: Jasmine Moon by Celia Breslin – Black Hills Wolves #49
Tech mogul and workaholic wolf Evan Luparell has little time for distractions but takes a break for his brother’s wedding in South Dakota. When asked to escort another wedding attendee from the airport to Los Lobos, he agrees. Then he meets the curvy spitfire, and she ignores him.
Designer and wolf Mina Carver didn’t mean to be rude to the handsome, glowering man claiming to be her ride, but she was busy working. Now she must endure a ride to the Black Hills with the cranky but sexy dominant wolf. Unexpected mating energy sparks between them, but still—should she dismiss, or kiss him?
Kisses win and they agree upon a no-strings fling. But with each wedding activity throwing them together, and their powerful chemistry and mate compatibility complicating matters, can two workaholics truly have their fun then walk away?
If you’ve followed along with me for awhile, you’ll probably remember I love me some Celia Breslin stories. So when I found out Celia was writing another Black Hills Wolves tale I was psyched, and then when she asked me to review Jasmine Moon, I pretty much did this…
And, of course, I was not disappointed. I oscillated between giggling out loud and fanning myself. If you read Diamond Moon or Under a Mating Moon, I’m sure you’ll remember Darci and Ross. Well, Jasmine Moon happens during their wedding, so you get to reunite with all the gang. Woohoo! Not only that, you get to meet Evan, Ross’s older and very growly brother…but I’ll get to him in a bit.
Jasmine is awesome. She’s Darci’s BFF, a clothing designer, and a straight-talking sequin wearer. She’s not afraid to verbalize what she wants, and it just so happens she wants some fun time with Evan, who, well, has some problems with the definition of fun because he hasn’t had it in so long. But because Jasmine’s a workaholic too and lives states away, she proposes a weekend fling (fun and done), even though there’s some serious wolfy chemistry between them.
Now, Evan. He’s growly (which I love), resistant (also love), and has some serious difficulty getting that stick out of his…yeah, you know. I wanted to shove it back up there a time or two, but the moments he surrendered to his chemistry with Jasmine? Hotness. Like I said, bouts of giggling and fanning.
My only complaint, which is one I’ve had with the others in this series…too short! I wanted more time with the characters, but even that can’t take away the sexy fun Jasmine Moon offers. Add in a bit of rogue wolf danger, and it’s a quick read that leaves a smile on your face.
Writer, urban fantasy and paranormal romance. Mega Joss Whedon fan. Lover of dark chocolate and exercise (no kidding). I write about the sexy and mysterious creatures of the Otherworld. Vampires, werewolves and all manner of Fae hold an extra special place in my heart.
Writes for Champagne Books & Decadent Publishing.
June 24, 2016
Spotlight: Tangled Sin – Fallen Guardians’ World #5 by Georgia Lyn Hunter
I’m so psyched to spotlight the latest release in Georgia Lyn Hunter’s Fallen Guardians’ World! Love tormented heroes, kick-ass heroines, and lots of action, both in and out of the bedroom (or wherever)? Right here, these books. Aren’t the covers delicious?
In a world of encroaching darkness and carnal hunger, a deadly sin awakens…
Bound to a legacy he cannot escape, Riley is a demon unlike any other. With each passing century, his soul grows darker until the seductive trouble-magnet, Saia Sen-Grayson, stumbles into his path and throws his entire world off kilter. But danger has a way of finding him and destroying anything worthwhile in his life.
The biggest challenge in Saia’s life is evading her matchmaking socialite mother. Then she crashes into the sexiest man in her aunt’s building. One look into his striking green eyes and her fleeing days skid to a halt, except she gets more than she bargains in the sexy, tattooed bartender.
And neither can deny the burning attraction between them.
When his tainted past closes in on him, Riley’s forced to make the toughest decision ever to keep her safe. Then Saia is hauled by a deadly adversary into his dark and treacherous world of Stygia—a place of old betrayals. Now Riley must face his past and accept his future in order to save the woman who belongs to him. And nothing will stop him from claiming her, least of all Saia herself.
But danger comes in many forms and the one least expected might be the sin that seals their fates once and for all…
Available: AMAZON | NOOK| iBOOKS | KOBO | SMASH
A HEAD’S UP TO THOSE FAINT OF HEART…THIS EXCERPT IS RATED R, FOR READERS 18+…YOU’VE BEEN WARNED!
June 17, 2016
Review: A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
Feyre survived Amarantha’s clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can’t forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin’s people.
Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two.
With more than a million copies sold of her beloved Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas’s masterful storytelling brings this second book in her seductive and action-packed series to new heights.
So, you know when you come across one of those rare books you don’t want to put down, and when you finally finish it, you wish it was still going? The kind of book you wish you could give ten stars to, not five? That was A Court of Mist and Fury. I liked the first book in the series (A Court of Thorns and Roses), but there was something missing, something not quite perfect, and I now have the answer.
Rhysand.
The second Rhysand showed up in book one, I was hooked…and now I have to reread A Court of Thorns and Roses to see all the little hints Rhysand dropped and I missed. Sure, I’m always a sucker for the antihero, and I love some snarky banter, but since he wasn’t Feyre’s love interest…it was a bummer. And I have to admit I was psyched when he finagled his bargain with her so she’d have to visit the Night Court once a month. That, my friends, is what had me super-stoked for book 2. And if you want to avoid any mild spoilers, stop here!! If you haven’t read this series, go. Get. Read. And come back later to gush with me.
Rhysand. My new book boyfriend…not that I don’t have little crushes on the guys in his inner circle too. But I’m getting ahead of myself. One of my all-time favorite authors is Anne Bishop, and A Court of Mist and Fury had a definite Anne Bishop Black Jewels taste to it (more must read books for you. You’re welcome). It’s romantic fantasy at it’s finest, people. There are fey and ancient magic. Politics and betrayal. Secrets and super-villains. Tortured characters and true love. It does start out a little meh with Feyre moping for a couple more chapters than necessary (and that might because I was anxiously awaiting Rhysand), and then BAM! Could. Not. Stop. Reading. Eyes burning. Work tomorrow. Don’t care. Must finish. And now I have to wait for the next one…GAH!
Rhysand and Feyre together are just so much stinkin’ fun, even when the banter is a little on the vicious or heartbreaking side. I love how Rhysand knows exactly how to push Feyre into overcoming her obstacles when she needs it, and I love how Feyre matures into her powers, conquers her guilt, figures out what she’s worth, and goes after what she wants. And Rhysand with all the emotional scars he tries to hide from everyone…sigh. I love everything about him. Everything. He has wings, power, weapons, wit, good looks, and a secret sweet side. What’s not to love? On top of all that, there’s a ton of heart-pounding action, lots of twists, amazing world-building…a long, happy sigh pretty much sums it up. Other than the first couple chapters of moping, it’s perfection. Sarah J. Maas just made my tiny list of must buy authors.
June 1, 2016
New to Me Review: Awakened by the Wolf by Kristal Hollis
Who’s been sleeping in the Alpha’s bed?
Exiled from his pack by his father, Brice Walker has secretly come home to visit his ailing grandmother only to discover a human and very desirable female sleeping in his bed. Their attraction is instant. But his new bed buddy seems determined to resist his Southern charm and Alpha allure.
For Brice, fiercely independent Cassie not only represents a chance to build a new life in Walker’s Run but is also his one true mate. Cassie’s reluctance dissolves when a rogue shifter kidnaps her, and now she and Brice must work together to save his pack. But once she witnesses the savagery of wolfan justice, can Cassie accept Brice as man, beast and her true love?
Awakened by the Wolf – so much fun! I loved Cassidy right from the beginning. She’s not afraid to fight back, even when it’s against a werewolf…or, to be more politically correct, Wahyas. Cassidy doesn’t know most of the people surrounding her are wolf shifters, and it comes at a great shock when the future alpha of Walker’s Run sneaks home to his grandmother’s after a long absence and shows up in Cassidy’s–his–bedroom. She’s less than pleased to be woken up by a large, naked man, and the fight is on.
Cassidy’s life hasn’t been the easiest. Her alcoholic mom basically traded her body for the basics, and Cassidy is determined not to be like her mother, even if she has to handle everything on her own. She refuses handouts almost to the point of being unable to accept kindness, which is so sad, and yet I really admired her fierce independence. But her fear of relying on anyone else, needing anyone else, is a huge hindrance to her relationship with Brice and others. Still, she has a soft heart and I really liked her.
And then there’s Brice, Alpha-heir to the pack. He’s been through a lot too and has some serious soul wounds and long-term misunderstandings to overcome, but he’s not afraid to go after what he wants: Cassidy, of course. The banter between the two as they grow to know each other and while Cassidy comes to terms with the whole existence of Wahyas brought a lot of smiles. And the push-pull romance is swoon worthy. If you like shifters, sassy heroines, and alpha heroes, Awakened by the Wolf doesn’t disappoint.
Southern born and bred, Kristal Hollis grew up amid cane fields and orange groves. Books fed her imagination, providing adventurous portals to ancient civilizations, medieval fiefdoms, alternate realities and futuristic worlds. Then, a friend gave her Johanna Lindsey’s FIRES OF WINTER, a historical romance which ignited a life-long love affair with romantic fiction.
After earning a degree in psychology, Kristal has enjoyed career and volunteer endeavors that have included sales, banking, social services, and animal rescue. When a family medical situation required her to take a work sabbatical, she began penning deliciously dark paranormal romances as an escape from the real-life drama. Even though the crisis passed, her passion for writing continues.
A 2015 Golden Heart® finalist, she sold her qualifying manuscript to Harlequin Nocturne. Her debut novel, AWAKENED BY THE WOLF, is scheduled for a June 2016 release.
Currently, Kristal lives with her husband and two rescued dogs at the edge of the enchanted forest that inspires her stories.
Website * Twitter * Facebook * Pinterest * Instagram
May 13, 2016
New to Me Review: The Timeweaver’s Wager by Axel Blackwell
Since I’m doing my own blogging thing now, I’m going to have a monthly (or every other month, depending on my reading time) feature sharing a new-to-me author. Today’s my first – huzzah!
Would you give your life for a second chance?
Glen McClay sits on a fallen log by the railroad trestle, watching for his girlfriend’s ghost. Eight years ago, Connie Salvatore was savagely murdered here. Glen has spent his life seeking redemption, haunted by the knowledge that he might have been able save her. The time has come to let go of his past and move on with his life. But as he prepares to do so, an old friend offers Glen the redemption he has always sought – a chance to relive that horrible night and change the past. All he has to do… is die.
I won The Timeweaver’s Wager in a blog giveaway, and the blurb included some of my favorite elements to drag me in. Haunted main character? Check. Ghost? Check. Redemption? Always love that. So I was super-excited to read.
Glen lost his girlfriend when he was just a teenager, and blames himself for her murder. He’s spent his years building community awareness of the need for women to protect themselves, to learn self-defense moves, and being a martial arts girl who also loves her guns, I absolutely loved that about him. While he remained steeped in his sorrows, he still devoted his life to help prevent others from being murdered like his childhood love. But he can’t let go of the past, he can’t forgive himself, and the first half of the story is mired in Glen and his despair. For me, that dragged on too long, and I almost set the story aside.
Right about the fifty-percent mark, the story got interesting. Glen is faced with the opportunity to travel back in time, to go back to a point before his girlfriend was murdered, and to try to change his own actions to prevent her death. The downfall? He has to sacrifice his life. That one moment really made me think. How many people would take that chance, not knowing if changing the future was even possible? Would you throw your current life away to try to help someone, not having any guarantees? From that point on, the story kicked into gear.
I liked Glen and his relationship with his sister. While the story question was thought-provoking and the writing excellent, just beware that the slow first half is hard to get through. I’m glad I didn’t give up on it, and the ending is definitely satisfying.
May 6, 2016
Adventures in April
So I took a month off from blogging, and it was…nice. Really nice. I definitely needed a blog vacation, and while I still haven’t decided how often I’m going to blog, I wanted to assure you I didn’t spend April sitting around on my laurels. I had some adventures, both good and not so fun.
First, a good. I spent April writing a new story, and it was exactly what I needed.
photo courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net/dan
I’d been editing and revising another story for so long, and while that story is near and dear to my heart (not to mention now finally DONE!), I’d forgotten the pure joy of writing. The characters coming to life. The thrill of writing a perfect paragraph. The satisfaction of evoking an emotion. The excitement of budding romance between characters. Writing makes me happy, and in the drudgery of all the other stuff that’s involved with publishing, I’d forgotten. I vow never to forget again! BTW, I’ll be posting a Pinterest board soon on this story (and my Dreamcaster series too), so feel free to follow me here. My muse for the newest story is amazing. Sure, he’s easy on the eyes, but his violin skills are beyond unbelievable. You must check him out. Must.
Since we have to balance the good with the bad…I also spent a fine 2+ weeks recovering from my annual bout of poison oak exposure.
photo courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net/David Castillo Dominici
Every. Freakin’. Year. I was being so careful. As soon as I came in from gardening, I washed up with Tecnu (this stuff is made in Oregon, probably inspired by a fellow PO sensitive-sufferer), but alas. Later that day, I scooped up one of my indoor/outdoor kitties, smothered him with kisses, and BAM! Poison oak all over my lips and neck, and of course it spread to all sorts of interesting places. Bad kitty, kitty.
The stuff is pure misery, people. Pure misery. I’ve never found anything that prevents the unbearable itchiness for very long, and believe me, I’ve tried everything. Tecnu comes the closest to easing the torment, with the exception of just sitting in cold water. I’m pretty sure I’m being punished for some misdeed.
But, the horrors of poison oak departed, and April ended with a bang. Bungee jumping is something I’ve always wanted to do, but no one I knew expressed an interest in doing it, so I never seriously pursued it…until I learned one of our friends wanted to do it too. His wife set up a surprise birthday group road trip for him. Score! I’m terrified of heights, but I love roller-coasters and amusement park rides, so I admit while I was excited, my palms were sweating. The guys at Bungee Masters in Amboy, Washington were awesome, so if you’re in the area and looking for something to do, look no more. They have a privately owned 20-story bungee bridge over a river, all enclosed by forestland. And lemme tell ya, that bridge is *gulp* high.
And if you jump off twice (once forward and once backward), you get a Dangerous Sports Club T-shirt. Can’t beat that, huh? A couple of jumpers before our group got out onto the teeny-tiny ledge over the bridge railing and chickened out. Really, you can’t blame them. What sort of person climbs over the railing of a bridge nearly 200 feet high and doesn’t get the jitters? Don’t answer that.
April 4, 2016
Happy Pack Winner
Since it’s Monday, I figured I’d at least make one person’s day a little brighter by announcing the winner of C.J.’s Happy Pack.
Lucky Lori H.! An email’s been sent, so check your inbox so I can send you stuff.
Thanks to everyone who participated in The Little Things Blog Hop. It was so much fun to connect with new people and talk about a few things that add rays of sunshine into our worlds. Have a great week!
