IWSG Wednesday AND Did You Know
The firstWednesday of every month is officially IWSG day. IWSG was formed by NinjaCaptain Alex Cavanaugh. Members post about their doubts and fears, discussstruggles and triumphs, and offer words of encouragement to others who are struggling.
Twitter handle: @TheIWSG
Hashtag: #IWSG
The awesome co-hosts for the April 3 posting of the IWSG are Janet Alcorn, T. Powell Coltrin, Natalie Aguirre, and Pat Garcia!
Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post.These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experienceor story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let itinspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.
Remember,the question is optional
April 3 question - How longhave you been blogging? (Or on Facebook/Twitter/Instagram?) What do you likeabout it and how has it changed?
Hmm. Good question. I’ve been blogging sincedinosaurs roamed the earth. You?
As far as liking it, I prefer it to Facebook. Iknow it’s out there for everyone to see, but blogging doesn’t have the audienceit once did and it feels more intimate. Almost like messaging your friends.
AND
March/April Reviews in noparticular order.
*Disclaimer. If I run into an occasional typo, I ignore them and don't factorthem into my review.
FINDINGME, THE DEFIANT SISTERS: Book 2 by Jacquie BiggarReneeand Izzy were as close as sibs could be till their father killed himself andRenee took off, leaving Izzy to take care of their younger brother and dealwith the heartbreak of desertion from the person she trusted most in the entireworld. Now Renee has come home to heal the breach. She’s determined to stay,and make a life for her and her family, even if Izzy is trying her best to runher off with hurtful words and lack of trust.
FINDINGME touches on the raw subjects of suicide and abandonment with the delicacy offeeling we have come to expect from the author. Ms. Biggar is a master atputting her finger on the pulse of acerbated emotion and she tips the scaleswith this tale. Her worldbuilding adds another layer to the rich fabric of thisstory. Once again Ms. Biggar has delivered.
Herfans will devour this latest offering. And for those who have never read her,I’m sure they too will be polishing off this story at breakneck speed. A mustread for those that love new adult romance.
Available at Amazon
ZODIACACADEMY, THE AWAKENING: Book 1 by Caroline Peckman and Susan ValentiTwingirls who have practically raised themselves find out they are not only fae butof royal blood. They are taken to ZodiacAcademy Where they must prove themselves to werewolves, vampires, dragons and ahost of other magical creatures.
ZODIACACADEMY, RUTHLESS FEY: Book 2 by Caroline Peckman and Susan Valenti
TheCelestial Heirs fight back against the powers that are trying to destroy them,specifically four male students that want to rule the fae kingdom.
ZODIACACADEMY, THE RECKONING: Book 3 by Caroline Peckman and Susan Valenti
In this series, the girls take on theirmagical form. Keeping the reader, and the twins, guessing as to what they’llbecome to the very end. I’ve got toadmit, I didn’t see what creature they’d turn into coming. AND if that’s notenough, Darius’s evil father uses them for his own twisted ends.
Available at Amazon
THEKEEPING PLACE by Mae ClairNicoleSeabrooke is riddled with guilt about the death of her sister and the part sheplayed in it. Ten years later when her sister’s body is found, she goes home toface the devils that drive her and solve the mystery surrounding her sister’sdeath.
Ofthe many books of Ms. Clair’s that I’ve read, this is my hands-down favorite. Iwas enthralled with this story and found it hard to put down. The book keeps the tension building as it travelsseamlessly back and forth from past to present, keeping the reader on edge, caughtup in one era and wondering what’s happening in the other. The world building iswell done, painting a backdrop that allows the reader to glide onto the page andjoin the characters. Characters that are flawed but relatable. And with allthese threads to pull together, the pacing never falters. All in all, this is aread I highly recommend, particularly for those that love a good mystery orjust an enjoyable, well-crafted tale.
Available at Amazon
JUBALSTONE: U. S. MARSHAL: BLOOD TRAIL TO HELL by Casey NashThisis the first book in a series of fifty so you can see it’s quite popular withWestern readers. In this book we meet avery young Jubal and find out how he became a U.S. Marshal. The storyline isinteresting and the language authentic. My only minor grumble with the book: Iwould have liked to have seen more showing and less telling.
Available at Amazon
HELLAND BACK by Craig JohnsonBook#18 takes a deep paranormal turn when Walt wanders in a different timedimension while his body lies battered and broken.
DAUGHTEROF THE MORNING STAR by Craig Johnson
InBook #17, Walt is trying to discover what happened to a missing Cheyenne girlwhile making sure her sister doesn’t meet the same fate. The story line continuesin book 18. Like many in the series, this book contains mystical overtones.
Available at Amazon
I’ve gone back and started rereading Joan Smith’s Regency Romances. Has anybody elseout there read her? I love her books. They are sweet, sparkling and witty. I read both e and paper, but I have Joan's books in paper and they are a gazillion years old. In fact, SWEET AND TWENTY is literally falling apart. I was going to read it, trash it and order a new copy, then I realized the only way I could get another one was too get it in e, so I hauled out the packing tape and taped it back together:) Ifyou like regency, I highly recommend her. Just don’t pick them up, if you’relooking for steam. They’re gentle romances. With all the divisiveness in our world today, sometimes you just need the sweet.
Available at Amazon
AND
Did you know, Louisa Mae Alcott, among others, wanted Mark Twain's THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN banned?
For more info:
'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' | Top 10 Censored Books | TIME.com
