Miranda Atchley's Blog, page 27

Lately 12.13.2016

Hello readers and friends. I hope your December is going well so far. Mine hasn’t been too crazy yet. The weather has been much more seasonable lately; chilly grey days. It got pretty cold the other day and I really thought it was going to snow. I think it did on the other side of town, but not at my house. I’m still put out that we didn’t have a real fall in my area. Not many trees turned (some are just now beginning to turn!) and it was so hot for most of October. Oh well, sometimes that’s simply the way things go. Now I’m all ready for Christmas, with my trees decorated, string lights and garland trimming my room. I love it!
Reading
I’ve had so much to read this month. At the beginning of the month, I finished Unblemishedand read One Enchanted Christmas . I also read The Sound of Emeralds , the last book in the Steadfast Loveseries, and it was a good conclusion (review here). I started reading The Portrait of a Lady , but it might have to wait until I finish some of the other books I have going this month. Currently I’m reading Glamorous Illusions , which is good. Books I’m planning to read include Meghan M. Gorecki’s new Christmas novella, Wrapped in Red , which comes out Dec. 17, and a few books I have checked out from the library.
Writing
I’ve made quite a bit of progress on my sequel. For a while I was really scared that this book would be super short, but it’s starting to bulk up. It is going to be shorter than A Castle in the Sky , but not terribly so. It still doesn’t have a title, which really bugs me, but I have some ideas I’m tossing around to try and figure out for one. I’m also trying to get my end-of-the-year blog posts ready in hopes that I’ll meet my goal of 200 posts for the year.
So that’s life lately for this writer. Are all of you ready for the holidays? And for friends afar, have you had any snow yet?

-Miranda Atchley

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Books I Want To Read in 2017

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and The Bookish .
I am terrible at keeping up with what books are coming out. I'm usually one of the last people to know when a book is being released. It isn't that I don't like to read new releases, there are just so many of them to keep up with! I'm still trying to work my way through the classics, and that takes up a great deal of my reading time. Seeing that The Broke and The Bookish asked us to list ten books we're looking forward to in 2017, I decided to do something a little different. On my list today, I've added five classics that I hope to read next year, as well as five new releases that I'm looking forward to.
Classics


10: Anna Karenina by Leo TolstoyIt’s going to happen one of these days.


9: Persuasion by Jane AustenI began reading this book as a part of a read along more than a year ago, but was unable to finish it at the time. I’d really like to finish it next year.


8: Doctor Thorne by Anthony TrollopeI loved the mini-series Julian Fellowes did of Doctor Thorne, so now I’m itching to read the book.


7: Mansfield Park by Jane AustenIn my quest to read all of Jane Austen’s novels, this and Persuasion are the only two of her full-length novels I have yet to read.                           

6: Villette by Charlotte BrontëI loved Jane Eyre, so I really want to read Charlotte’s other novels. This one is next on my list.
New Releases


5: Talking As Fast As I Can by Lauren GrahamThis book has already released, but it hasn’t been out for that long. So ready to read this book!


4:Unraveling by Sara EllaUnblemished was such a good book. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next in the trilogy. 


3: The Illusionist's Apprentice by Kristy CambronI read a book by Kristy Cambron for the first time this year, The Ringmaster's Wife, and thoroughly enjoyed it. The Illusionist’s Apprentice, which centers around a woman who worked for Harry Houdini, sounds like a winner, and I'm definitely looking forward to reading it next year.


2: Conductor of Light by Rachel McMillanI've heard that this novella is going to be a vaudeville inspired comedy. It sounds like a lot of fun. And, you can pre-order it for free on Amazon!


1: The White Feather Murders by Rachel McMillanI'm excited to read more Herringford and Watts Mysteries; it has been such a lovely series. But I'm sad that this is to be its last book.
What books are you excited to read in 2017? Are there some new releases that have you reaching for your pocket book? Or are you like me and trying to work your way through some of the classics in 2017? Let me know in the comments!
-Miranda Atchley

Book of the Week #70 "The Sound of Emeralds"

The Sound of Emeralds by Rachelle Rea Cobb
After the turmoil that brought them together and an emotional betrothal, Lady Gwyneth and Lord Dirk Godfrey are now married. The two are deliriously happy as they begin their new life among family and friends at Godfrey Estate. Yet not everyone is full of joy for the happy new couple, and Gwyn’s old friend Anders continues to linger. Dirk continues to try and clear his name of crimes he didn’t commit, though it is a struggle. When Gwyn and Dirk receive some good news, their minds are preoccupied with their happiness. Yet when tragedy strikes, they fear it could be the end of this romance that was seemingly doomed from the start.
What a ride this series has been! From Gwyn hating Dirk in the beginning, to now not being able to fathom life without him, Dirk’s undying devotion to Gwyn all the while, we’ve seen a lot happen. And The Sound of Emeralds offers no lack of twists and turns. As the book begins, Gwyn and Dirk are so happy, yet toward the middle, we see them struggle over their loss. I felt bad for them and all they had to deal with, on top of Dirk trying to clear his name. It was tough! But after a time, both came to lean on the Lord and slowly started to heal. Things were not perfect, as few things in this world ever are, yet in the end, Dirk and Gwyn got their happily ever after.
This series has been a realistic one. I’ll admit, one could be skeptical to find that Gwyn and Dirk have fallen in love so quickly in the face of what they’ve been through, though stranger things have certainly happened. But things have never been easy for them, though they have grown up in pampered families. They’ve faced more than their fair share of hardship, but with the Lord’s help have pulled through.
Another thing I like about this series is the covers. I think all of the covers for the Steadfast Love series are pretty, but I think this one is my favorite. It just makes you feel like you could step into the 16th century and I love Gwyn’s gown.
All in all, The Sound of Emeralds was a great conclusion to a charming series that I’d recommend to any fan of historical romance.
I give this book a 4 out of 5.

Top Ten Tuesday: New To Me Authors

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and Bookish .
I can't believe it's December already. This year has really flown by. It’s been a year full of great reads, both by well-loved authors, and authors I have recently discovered.  Today The Broke and The Bookish have asked us to list ten authors that are new to us. I was able to compile a list of authors I had never heard of before, yet have loved reading their books, as well as a special bonus author.

Sara EllaSara’s debut, Unblemished, was such a fun book! The perfect mix of contemporary and fairytale.
 Meghan M. GoreckiThis year I was introduced to Meghan through blogging. I finally read her debut novel, God's Will, this November and really enjoyed it.
Rachelle Rea CobbRachelle's Steadfast Love is a charming series. It has given me a look into an era that I haven't been terribly familiar with, but am definitely interested in now.
Kara IsaacI read Kara's debut, Close To You, this fall and enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to reading her latest, Can't Help Falling, which has a C.S. Lewis theme, as soon as I can.
Kiera CassI flew through The Selection series this summer. It may not have been an all-time favorite series of mine, but the books were nice quick reads. And those covers are the best!
Kristy CambronI read The Ringmaster's Wife this year and loved it. It was such a fun, whimsical, and poignant novel that I really enjoyed. I'm definitely looking forward to her novels to come!
Grace MullinsI became acquainted with Grace through blogging. Earlier in the year I was thrilled to hear that her story, The Ghost of Briardale, was going to be a part of the Five Magic Spindles collection. It was a delightful tale that made me laugh.
Marissa MeyerAfter hearing everyone rave about The Lunar Chronicles, I decided to give Marissa Meyer's Y/A Sci-Fi series a try. I loved the books, Cress being my favorite. I haven't gotten around to reading Winter yet, but I will someday.
Rachel McMillanI first read A Singular and Whimsical Problem this spring and instantly became a big fan of Rachel's. Her books are witty, heartfelt and fast paced, set in one of my favorite time periods, the Edwardian era. All of the books in the Herringford and Watts Mysteries have been a joy to read. Sadly, the series will end next year, but I'm looking forward to seeing what else Rachel has up her sleeve.
Bonus Author
Charlotte BrontëI’ve known Charlotte Brontë forever, but until this year, I had never read any of her books. I loved Jane Eyre, and am looking forward to reading her other classic novels.
Have any of you found new authors that you love this year? Tell me about them in the comments!
-Miranda Atchley

Book of the Week #69 "Unblemished"

Unblemished by Sara Ella
Eliyana Ember isn’t a big fan of her life. Her face is marred with an unsightly birthmark, which has caused her much ridicule over the years, leaving her without a friend at school. Her only friends are her mom, who has always been there for her, and her neighbor Joshua, who she has developed a crush on over the years. As the story begins, Eliyana’s mother Elizabeth has passed away and she finds herself wrapped in grief. This also leads to the discovery that Joshua is her guardian, making things awkward between them. When her “frenemy” Quinn invites her to a party to get her mind off of things, she meets a guy who follows her to Central Park. There, she finds that there is a whole other realm where kings and queens still live in castles, merpeople swim alongside boats, and almost nothing is what it seems. Even Eliyana herself can possess powers she never imagined possible in this world; a world that very well could depend on her.
This book was so good. If you’re a fan of the show Once Upon A Time, you will LOVE this book. It is so reminiscent of the show with how every character is connected in some way, and people transform, but Unblemished is a phenomenon all its own. It’s the perfect balance of contemporary, dystopian, and classic fairytale. I love the different settings between modern day New York, to the other realms where there’s a touch of 16th century. So many twists and turns continually keep you guessing as you fly through the pages.
I felt so sorry for Eliyana. She seemed so lonely and so hard on herself in this book. Yet slowly she is coming to realize her worth and her focus shifts from negativity and the positive things in life.
There is a symbolism throughout the book that isn’t blatant, but if one reads closely, one can see what the author is alluding to. It’s very reminiscent of The Chronicles of Narnia, which adds even more charm to this book.
All in all, Unblemished was a charming fairytale style Y/A that I really enjoyed. If you love fantasy and fairytales, you must read this book.
I give this book a 5 out of 5.

Book of the Week #68 "Jane Eyre"

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
In this classic tale by one of the most beloved authors of the past 200 years, Jane Eyre is an orphan whom lives with her aunt and cousins at Gateshed Hall. There, she is mistreated by her late mother’s in-law’s, who have only taken her in according to her late uncle’s will. She goes to school at Lowood, where she remains to finish her education, and becomes a teacher. As she turns eighteen, she feels the need for a change in her life, and so she looks for a new situation. Upon advertising, she finds an opening as governess at Thornfield Hall, which, she comes to find, is owned by a mysterious master by the name of Mr. Rochester. Jane soon finds herself in love with her master, and for the first time feels almost happy, or at least content. Yet there is something off about Thornfield Hall and one hears odd things at night.
What can I say that hasn’t already been said of Jane Eyre?  It is a wonderful book that has been read by several generations now. There’s romance, suspense, but there’s more to it than that. Jane Eyre has been mistreated for most of her life, but she isn’t bitter about it, and she doesn’t let it bring her down. She doesn’t think herself to be something terribly special, yet she respects herself and refuses to settle. That makes her even more special.
My views on Mr. Rochester are a little more complicated. When Jane first went to Thornfield Hall, he seemed awfully haughty and rather full of himself; he was almost like a playboy the way he flirted with other women. Yet towards the middle, we see that he really loves Jane, but he lies to her. After their wedding is called off, and Jane leaves, Mr. Rochester nearly dies in when Bertha sets Thornfield on fire, yet he survives, losing an eye as well as a hand. When Jane comes back, he seems more humble. Mr. Rochester isn’t one of my favorite heroes, but I don’t hate him; I just don’t like some of the things he did.
All in all, Jane Eyre is a wonderful classic that every bibliophile should at least try to read.

I give this book a 5 out of 5.

November in Review

Another month is gone, readers and friends. It's so hard to believe that there is only one month left in 2016! It’s just amazing.
I didn't read as much as I would have liked to this month. One of the books I read was longer and had bulkier language, so I'm using that as my excuse, plus I worked more on my novel, which took up some of my reading time. Yet I still got in an okay number of books with hopes to read more in December.
Books Read in NovemberGod's Will by Meghan GoreckiThe Sound of Silver by Rachelle Rea CobbJane Eyre by Charlotte BrontëLock, Stock, and Over a Barrel by Melody Carlson
After planning to read it forever and listing it on almost every Top Ten Tuesday TBR post I’ve done, I finally read Jane Eyre. Let me tell you, it was worth the wait. It’s a new favorite, for sure. After reading The Sound of Diamonds, I really wanted to know how Dirk and Gwyn’s story would continue. I really liked The Sound of Silver, and am looking forward to The Sound of Emeralds. I finally read Meghan’s debut after wanting to for a long time, and it was a good book. I’d definitely recommend it to readers that love inspirational fiction. Lock, Stock, and Over a Barrel isn’t my typical read, but it was a nice lighthearted read.
Again, I didn't get quite as much blogging done as I would have liked, but I made progress, and am getting oh-so-close to my goal of 200 posts for the year.
Favorite Blog Posts in NovemberBook of the Week #65 "God's Will"Lately 11.13.2016Update: The 50 Best Indie Books of 2016Gilmore Girls Book Tag
I want to thank you all for reading A Real Writer’s Life another month. I appreciate it so, and am looking forward to many more months of writing this blog.
-Miranda Atchley

Gilmore Girls Book Tag

I'm a huge Gilmore Girls fan. I really got into the show a couple of years ago when I received season one on DVD for Christmas. I just instantly loved the show with its quirky cast, rapid dialogue and hilarious pop-culture references. I don't do Netflix, so I haven't watched A Year in the Life  yet, but I'm really looking forward to it (someone please put it on DVD)! When I saw this tag on Rissi's blog, I knew I wanted to participate. So below are my answers; hope you enjoy!


1: I Just Got Hit By A Deer!- Character Having The Worst Day EverCinder. Seriously, people from all over the universe are out to get her.
2: Stars Hollow- Wildly Eccentric CastA Tangled Web. There are so many characters in this book with all sorts of quirks. A lot like Stars Hollow!
3: Coffee- Book You're Addicted to/ Character w/ an AddictionGo Set A Watchman. I've read it twice since it released last year. It's one of the few books that I wanted to immediately re-read.
4: Someone Devil Egged My Car?!- Great Act of RevengeI really can't think of a great act of revenge. Except maybe The Terrible Awful Thing in The Help.
5: Mr. Medina- An Illicit AffairJane Eyre and Mr. Rochester. Who goes to the altar knowing they're already married to someone else?!
6: Kim's Antiques- A World You're Afraid to EnterEchoing Rissi on this one and going with The Hunger Games. So scary!
7: Harvard vs Yale- Character Who Needs to Make a Life-Changing DecisionI'm going to go with Dirk and Gwyn in The Steadfast Love series. So much at stake!
8: Luke's Diner- A Comfort ReadProbably some of the books I read when I was a teenager; like Melody Carlson and Jenny B. Jones' young adult books. Simpler times!
9: Am I Crying or Laughing? A Book That Messed With Your EmotionsI didn't laugh or cry while reading this book, but Divergent seriously gave me anxiety.
10: Emily Gilmore- The HBIC (Head B*tch in Charge)Hilly Holbrook from The Help. She's so mean!
11: Lorelai and Rory- Favorite Family DynamicThe March sisters
12: I Pushed Him In The Lake!- A Book You'd Throw In the LakeSee my answer for #14.
13: 1,000 Yellow Daisies- Favorite RomanceAnne and Gilbert. There is none better!


14: Jess- An Unpopular OpinionTwilight. I will never understand the appeal of this series.
15: First Snow- Snowy or Holiday ReadI remember reading The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe for the first time during the winter. It's a great book for a snowy day.
16: Hep Alien- Book Centered Around MusicMy Name is Chloe. I loved Melody Carlson's Diary of a Teenage Girlseries when I was a teenager, and Chloe (punk rocker with rainbow hair who formed an all-girl band) was my favorite portion of the series.
17: He'd Better Have A Motorcycle!  Book CrushRay DeLuca, Herringford and Watts Mysteries
18: It's Repetitive and Redundant- A Book That Could Have Been ShorterI really can't think of a book I've read that fits this description.
19: Kirk- The Weirdest Book You've Ever ReadAnother one I can't think of an answer for.
20: It's a Lifestyle. It's a Religion- That One Book That Means More Than Anything to YouToo many for me to list!
This was a really fun tag! Anyone who wants to participate, feel free to answer the questions and leave a link to your post in the comments.
-Miranda Atchley

Update: The Top 50 Indie Books of 2016

Hello readers and friends! I'm popping in with some good news; A Castle in the Sky was shortlisted for Read Freely's The 50 Best Indie Books of 2016! They've compiled a list of the top 100 nominated indie books and from that list, readers will vote for their favorites to be chosen for the top 50 books of the year. All you have to do is go to their website and vote for your favorite book. You will be able to vote twice in each genre and voting is open until December 16, 2016. And, when you vote, your name will be entered in a drawing to win a $50 Amazon gift card!
Thank you all so much for nominating A Castle in the Sky. I'm honored and appreciate it so much. Have a wonderful weekend!
-Miranda Atchley

Book of the Week #67 "The Sound of Silver"

The Sound of Silver by Rachelle Rea Cobb
After a tumultuous meeting and getting to know one another as they traveled through the Netherlands in order to escape the riots, Gwyn and Dirk are now betrothed. They travel from the Netherlands to Dirk's family's home, Godfrey Estate in England. He believes that there, Gwyn can grieve with his mother; Gwyn grieving for her parents and uncle, Lady Rohesia for her eldest son. Yet the rumors that Dirk murdered Gwyn's mother and father are bound to fly and Dirk does not want his reputation to affect Gwyn. She feels responsible because she is the one who accused him of murder months prior. Dirk leaves, thinking it will be best for everyone involved, only to find that it takes its toll on them all.
This was a really good book. It's very emotional, lots of ups and downs. Gwyn is still grieving for her parents who died only a few months prior, and now she is dealing with the fact that her uncle is dead after just finding out that he was responsible for her mother and father's deaths. That is a whole lot to deal with. And then add the fact that she and Dirk were betrothed, and he breaks it off thinking she'll be better off without him; and she has to stay with his family, who she had never met before. Poor Gwyn! I felt so sorry for her throughout this book. It would be so hard to deal with all of that while staying with virtual strangers. And I felt pretty bad for Dirk, too, because he had also been through a lot. But, they had hope in the Lord, and that is what got them through it all. And then (spoiler!) we get a happy ending- with a twist.
I have to make a comment on the setting of this series. The Netherlands and England in the mid-1500s? It's just so cool! I love picturing all the outfits and the large, grand homes, and cobble stone streets as they go through town, and the forests and fields surrounding Godfrey Estate. It's just a delight.
All in all, The Sound of Silver was a great sequel to its predecessor that made me curious as to how it will all end.
I give this book a 4 out of 5.