Sunshine Blogger Award

I was shocked when BiBi’s Book Blog nominated me for the Sunshine Blogger Award. I am the worst blogger in the history of bloggers. But alas, someone see’s right through my worst blogger traits and nominates me. Thank you Bibi’s!!!

 

RULES: 

• Thank the blogger who nominated you and link their blog so others can find them
• Answer the 11 questions which the blogger who nominated you asked
• Nominate 11 bloggers and ask them 11 different questions
• List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award logo on your site

 

KEYBOARD FINGERS READY, STEADY, TYPE! 

What made you start blogging?

I really won’t go into that story, but I like to talk books. Its like pillow talk, but with a different character every night. Plus a different plot and scenery. I also am an aspiring writer. I thought the more I got my introverted self out there, even if on social media, I would gain more confidence in myself and my ability to produce weird stories or characters.

What’s your all time favourite quote? 

It isn’t a book, its movie.

If you could go anywhere in the world for 3 days, where would you go? 

It wouldn’t be one place, it would be three places in three days. And probably wouldn’t be possible. I’d visit my beefer in Canada, then I’d go see someone I love in Georgia. And lastly, I’d visit my other friend in AU. I’d feed her a burrito and we’d talk about writing, and all things Vegemite.

Do you have a bucket list?

My bucket list consists of seeing my children graduate high school. See them follow their dreams, whether it’d be college or just a job. I’d like to watch them pursue their own happiness in this world, whatever that may be.

If you and I could hang out for 1 day, where would we go and what would we do? (Let’s pretend distance and money isn’t an issue).

Road trip, of course! In a car for twenty-four hours, taking turns driving and talking. Whenever the time is up, we stop, and go back to our lives.

What’s the top 3 things I should know about you?

Snails are effing awesome. My life is complicated and messy, but its also beautiful and heartfelt. A lot of people wouldn’t believe this, but I’m really a passive, emotional person. Some people led with their heads, I lead with my heart until my head catches up.

Do you suffer from any phobias?

Yes! Bathroom door phobia. I can’t sleep if the bathroom door in our bedroom is open. It drives my husband bonkers when I ask him to close it.

Do you have any pets? If so, I’d love to see a picture.

Three dogs. Penny the Pencil, Cash Wooderson, and Hulk-o-rino.

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Other than books, magnets. My guilty pleasure is magnets. I love collecting them and people I’ve met online have sent me some from their hometowns.

Do you prefer dark, white or milk chocolate?

Dark chocolate. I can’t stand white chocolate. I moderately tolerate milk chocolate.

What’s the worst question someone could ask you? And no, you cannot pick this one 😀

My kids ask me this question daily and a couple of strangers and coworkers as well: “Mom when are you going to have another baby? I want a sibling.”Yeah… no…. look around kiddos, you have three siblings already. NO MORE BABIES!!!!

 

NOMINATING: 

Alicia Reads | Therapy with Books | The Caffeinated Chapter  | Torn Pages and Roses |

Berries and Books Blog | OMG Kacie Reads | Page After Page Book Blog |    Kalina’s Book Blog

My One Thousand Lives Blog | Odd and Bookish | Clarissa Reads All

 

My Style: My Writing Process

Every writer has a certain way of writing. Whether they journal, sketch, take notes on the back of receipts. We all make a connection with our thoughts and put them onto something.Here is the thing, I don’t journal. I know the pros and cons. I’ve tried it a million times, and it isn’t for me. But occasionally, I do it. A fellow author asked me on IG, about my writing process. 

My answer: I’m a panster. 

Clear cut, straight to the point. I am an unorganized panster writer, who oddly writes in a way that feels comfortable to me. And I wanted to share my oddly writing steps with you, just like I did with a fellow author. 

I sit down to write a chapter. That chapter is a rough draft. Very rough. Mostly dialogue, because I am a sucker for dialogue. Then comes the weird part. I can only write at night when my kids are in bed. I used to be able to write on my phone in Google Docs, but I can’t do it anymore. One, my kids don’t let me. And two, this next step is something I can’t live without. 

It’s dark outside, so my room has to be equally as dark. I close my laptop, lay in the dark, and the scene plays like a movie in my head. Then I open up my laptop, write and close it again. It’s an odd weird process, but it works for me. I LOVE the dark. Along with the dark, comes quiet, where my characters take over my mind, and talk out their differences. Or a plot twists takes place, or my main character has all these thoughts and wants to talk to my brain. 

I’m a writer, who outlines, thinks in the dark, then writes. I’m an in the dark panster! LOL, that sounds like I pants people in the dark. Or mostly pants myself in the dark… Eh, whatever. Both are equally weird. 

You’re going to see writers explain their own ways of writing. No one’s way is right or wrong. IT’S ALL ABOUT FEELING COMFORTABLE WHEN YOU WRITE. Whatever process or steps you take to write, go with it. Love it. Embrace it. Your characters will thank you in the long run. 

I know mine do. I can hear them crying each time I close my laptop in the middle of a scene.

 

 

 

The Literary Dinner Party Tag

I love this tag! After seeing FICTIONNOCHASER Molly Weasley’s character who likes to cook, I absolutely loved their choice. The tag is like a game of book characters and enough spaces to make the dinner party odd, fun, and fresh.

 

THE RULES:

You can invite any character you want, but there are 10 different categories you need to fill, and there is only room for 11 people…

 

THE GUEST LIST:

 

One Character Who Can Cook/Likes to Cook

Zachary Ryan from K.K. Allen’s Under the Bleachers. He also feeds Monica chocolate covered strawberries. Move over Monica, a new host is in town!

 

One Character Who Has Money to Fund the Party

Carlise Cullen, come on in and spend lots of that hard earned money you’ve made for yourself over the centuries. Oh, of course I’d like a chocolate fountain with the most expensive chocolate. Hm, what’s that? Money is no object. I heart you.

 

One Character Who Might Cause a Scene

Tatum O’Shea, I hate to break it to you, I’ve read all the Kane Trilogy. You’re fun, but you’re also a deal breaker. Try not to go all crazy on my guests and become an attention whore. Keep it cool, k?

One Character Who is Funny/Amusing

I can’t throw a dinner party without bringing Sandra from Love Hacked. She’s funny, southern, and loves fixing people’s problems. Oh, and she has information about all kinds of vibrators. Just vibrate with it.

One Character Who is Super Social/Popular

Hermoine Granger is definitely up there on the popular list. She’s everyone’s favorite! Especially after that time she punched Malfroy in the face.

One Villain

Count Olaf from A Series of Unfortunate Events. I can’t imagine what mind fuckery he would bring.

 

One Couple – Doesn’t Have to be Romantic

Of course, I am inviting a romantic couple! The choice was difficult, but Brecks and Jamie from A Love Letter to Whiskey would bring angst and romance. Maybe, they might provide some of the best whiskey… hmmm.. sounds magical. I feel drunk off their romance and booze already.

One Hero/Heroine

Inviting a female heroine to me means inviting a female bad ass. One with skill and determination. Katniss from The Hunger Games would be perfect. If she brings her bow and arrow, instead of board games, we’d all learn target practice in my backyard. You know, pre-dinner shenanigans.

One Underappreciated Character

LUNA LOVEGOOD!!!!! I can’t believe J.K. Rowling didn’t utilize her character enough in the Harry Potter series. All the wonderful between the lines parts where she is missing hurts my book heart. She would make a wonderful addition to my already eclectic guest list. *Sigh* Luna is lovely and wonderful.

One Character of Your Own Choosing

I can’t have a dinner party without inviting Cletus Winston. He could bring his famous sausage…. or both (LOL!) Jenn’s banana cake, and his witty and smart personality. But watch out dinner guests, he always is plotting something…. *dun,dun,dun!*

 

I enjoyed this tag! Don’t forget to join in and tag me so I can see!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can I Be Both?

Over the last few months, I have been questioning if I can be a book blogger and an author. I have talked to other book bloggers who have become Indie authors, and some of them have stopped blogging altogether. Or they only review books with four to five star ratings. Plagued with the question, can I be both? I could, but I don’t want authors to think I am trying to come between their money or business. That isn’t my intention at all, especially being a book blogger who has posted three star ratings. I pride myself on honesty, its apart of who I am. Just like any reviewer who picks up a book, they want to leave their mark and honest opinion. Not just because of the time spent reading, but to influence another person to read that author’s work.

Because of this “Can I be both” question, I have held off on reviewing books on my blog. My reading has fallen down stream and I’m falling deeper down my writing path. When I started my blog, I always knew the day would come that I have to relinquish my duties as a book blogger and an avid reader. I do love both, a lot. And even when its hard to keep up, I still keep going like a snail. My journey to being a writer has been a LONG one. I blame self-doubt, loss of things, anxiety, and time management. I seriously suck on time management! If there was a class for it, I would probably walk out with an incomplete.

So, I still have a few more reviews to post and one more book to finish before, review less and then probably stop altogether. I haven’t decided and will have to see where it fits in. So, bare with me. I love my followers and I appreciate the messages and likes. Hopefully within the next few months, I will have this thing — whatever this thing is — down and everything will be more organized.

 

 

 

The Cake Flavored Book Tag

I have been too absent on here, but I am back! Are you ready for my cake flavored book tag!? When I found this book tag a couple of weeks ago, I said, “I love this tag! Its sooo me… cake and books!” Two of my favorite things — a good read and delicious dessert. And it reminds me of Cassie — my character — in Food vs. Men.

Cake and book tour starts here: Please have your bib ready, I don’t want you ripping pages of books out to contain your drool.

Chocolate Cake– a dark book you absolutely love: 

I never tried a nut until I was 30! Can you believe all the good fats I have been missing out on? Because of that, I didn’t try German Chocolate Cake until WAAYYYYYY late in the game. The same goes for dark reads. As I expand my love for cake and dark books, my pick is:

Releasing the Demons by L.D. Rose is my most recent dark read. Blaze is sexy and every time I hear, Five Finger Death Punches “Jekyll and Hyde” it makes me think of Blaze and I revisit this dark dystopian in my mind all over again. I still have the second book to read, but I can’t read it until the third book comes out because I am in need of a dark binge!

 

Vanilla: a light read

I don’t like vanilla cake and I don’t like my reads vanilla either. I want characters who are messed up and flawed as fuck — not floating on a fluffy cloud nine. Which is so weird, because I am writing a character who is vanilla-ish! LOL!

I finished The Thing About Love by Julie James a couple of weeks ago. It was very vanilla with a side of toasted coconuts. Coconuty in a sense that there were a little rough tasty toppings between the pages, but it was more fluffy and sweet vanilla in the middle.

 

Red Velvet: a book that gave you mixed emotions

Like the tagline for this cake, red velvet cake gives me mixed emotions… too much red food coloring and not enough chocolate can leave the cake… well, flavorless.

Even month’s after reading Penny Reid’s Marriage of Inconvenience, I am still having mixed emotions. I am a Penny Reid fan all the way, but this book left me sad. The dual point of view wasn’t like the others in the series, which took away what I liked most about the series in the first place — strong and smart female POV’s until the end of the book. A reread is definitely in order to rectify my mixed emotions and bring some clarity. Although, I know I can’t love everything my favorite author writes, at least I can try again.

 

Cheesecake: a book you would recommend to anyone

I miss cheesecake. The whole “Cheese is a food I can’t have anymore” completely sucks. But at least for the sake of this book tag, I can still recommend Key Lime cheese cake and a book.

It’s been a while since I have read a Jane Green book, but in my teens she was my favorite author. All these years later, Jemima J, is still a book I recommend to anyone. Its vanilla, but it has a powerful message. A book that resonates with me all these years later is definitely one to recommend.

 

Coffee Cake: a book you started but never finished

I always have coffee without the coffee cake. I try not to keep sweets in the house, but damn this picture makes me want to cut a slice, relax, and open a book.

This year, I have started more books only to lose interest. The most books I have DNF’d in a LONG time! I’d like to think I am being super picky or maybe I am picking up that particular book at the wrong time. At least I have my coffee and can eat coffee cake if I want to. But here’s the thing, I don’t want to eat coffee cake. At least not yet.

 

Carrot: A book with great writing

I am not a fan of carrot cake, but I do love a well written book.

Loreth Anne White is a detailed phenomenal writer. One of my favorite things about her books are the length of the stories and all the details in each chapter. It doesn’t matter if one of her books is 200 pages or over 500 pages, I get lost in the story she’s created. (The Girl in the Moss is my current audio read).

 

Tiramisu: a book that left you wanting more

Hands down, Tiramisu is my favorite cake. One that I miss dearly until someone can create a dairy free mascarpone cheese. This is a tough pick. A lot of books leave me wanting more.

I can’t even with Beyond Reach…. I am still in a book coma and its been a month since I finished the last book in the Grant County series. I miss Sara, Jeffrey, and Lena. Being an emotional reader — like an emotional eater — it hurts to move on.

 

Cupcakes: a series with 4+ books

I am lucky to live in a town where we have a winner from Cupcake Wars! Nadia’s Cupcakes are a HUGE hit in our town. Speaking of hits, I love series books. I love getting lost in the characters and seeing them spread through the pages of each book. I love seeing who breaks up with who, what emotional ride I am getting myself into, or who is the killer in this book. I am totally a series whore, and have no regrets saying that!

My husband always complains how George R.R. Martin is never going to finish A Song of Fire and Ice series. I complain how I am never going to finish to Outlander series. When I first read the book, the show hadn’t come out and the book was on the conveyor belt to making it big. Once the show made the book a huge success, I kind of backed off finishing the series. I don’t mind the length of the books, I minded the hype.  Someday I will finish this series. Its weird, because I haven’t read The Fiery Cross in five years, but I know the exact place I left off at (no book mark needed).

Fruit Cake: A book that wasn’t what you anticipated

Fruitcake is my least favorite cake…. um no thank you!

The hype surrounding A Thousand Boy Kisses didn’t live up to my expectations. It’s always the first book that comes to mind when someone asks me, “What book didn’t you like?” I wasn’t feeling the story or the characters. The book had too much mush and not enough nutty flavor for my taste.

 

Now it’s the end of my books and cake tour. I enjoyed doing this tag a little too much and guiltily drooled all over the keyboard missing cake way too much.

 

Review – Church by Stylo Fantome

Church

Stylo Fantome 

Releases: June 20th, 2018

Rating:

  

 

 

Church is darkness. Pure darkness. 
It’s the kind of darkness that starts on a straight path, and only gets darker as the story hits an unsuspected curve. A book that is a roller ball of emotions when the characters don’t want to feel any emotions at all. Emma and Churches pain is a tie binding them together in unimaginable ways. Their story is delusional beliefs enthralling the reader into their impulsive behaviors that unhinge their charming, cold, and calculating personalities. 

I can not recommend this story enough! The characters are dark, twisted, and complex. The story is like a documentary into the minds of two sociopaths starting out on a fucked up joy ride. 

I can’t wait for the second book coming in October! 

 

Add Church to Goodreads

Follow Stylo Fantome on Goodreads and Amazon

Purchase Church on Amazon 

*Church is also available on KU *

Mid-Year Freak Out Tag (2018)

Stephanie  passed the torch for me to do my own Mid-Year Freak Out Tag. 

My reading challenge is small (50 books) this year. I have been very picky with what I am reading. In the past, my challenges have been large and completed with a couple of books added. Last year, I didn’t even meet my challenge goal and wasn’t even bummed about it. But this year, I plan on finishing before Fall semester and will probably take a break from reading. That means… more books to be added to my TBR pile. 

Best Book You’ve Read Yet in 2018

I know Epoch is apart of the Duets series, but when Transcend didn’t completely destroy me, Epoch came in and totally did the job. I was book wrecked after reading this book. 

Best Sequel You’ve Read So Far in 2018

Finally all the answers! 

New Release You Haven’t Read Yet But Want To

I was gifted a BTOM copy and its been on my shelf for months. MONTHS! I don’t know why I haven’t read it. 

Most Anticipated Release for the Second Half of the Year.

Um, hello, Karin Slaughter. New book. Enough said. 

Biggest Disappointment

The year of Duet books and Consequence didn’t hit me like I wanted it to. But I love Rachel Higginson’s writing so I will always read anything she writes.

Biggest Surprise

I cried. It was a surprise of teary eyes and feels. 

Favorite New Author

KARIN SLAUGHTER!!! 

Newest Fictional Crush.

Jameson Kane. He’s a shitty alpha male, but damn I can’t help but love him!

Newest Favorite Character

I don’t have one. How did that happen. 

Book That Made You Cry

Rinse. Repeat. Oh, I was so fucked after finishing this book. 

Book That Made You Happy

All the happiest of feels! 

Favorite Book to Film Adaptation

None. 

Favorite Post You Have Done This Year

Rock n’ Roll Reading Challenge

Most Beautiful Book You’ve Bought This Year

What Book Do You Need to Read by the End of the Year

I have been putting off reading the last book in the rugby series. Normally, I would be all over it. But its the last book! My favorite dynamic author duo together for the last collaboration in the series.

 

 

*Cover Reveal* Church by Stylo Fantome

Church

Stylo Fantome

Release Date: July 20th, 2018

 

I am SUPER excited to announce this cover reveal. The cover is a mix of — holy hotness and Hoizer’s “Take Me to Church”  — playing over and over again in my head. Plus, Stylo took a chance on me by adding me to her beta reader list! I am really enjoying the opportunity to help an author with their book.

Let’s get to Church’s blurb! 

A broken girl.

An unusual boy.

A beautiful face that hides a dark secret and an ugly past.

Sealed lips which hide wicked words and dangerous thoughts.

She would kill for him to love her.

He just wants to kill.

Maybe, if Emma Hartley prays hard enough, Church Logan can make both their wishes come true.

Fuse, meet match.

 

Get your one click finger ready, Church awaits your presence!

 

 

Add Church to Goodreads

Follow Stylo Fantome on Goodreads and Amazon

 

Review – Beyond Reach by Karin Slaughter

Beyond Reach 

Karin Slaughter

Rating:

 

 

*Note:  ZERO spoiler alert. I intended it that way. Its the last book in the series and after reading Karin’s letter on her website, I decided to comply with writing something that doesn’t give away the plot*

Send an emotional ambulance!! I’ve been series sucker punched and I can’t cope with the wounds!! 

Beyond Reach hit me hard. Left jab. Upper cut. Right jab. Cross. Hook. Emotions flying like blood all over the pages. Then came the tears sprinkling down the crisp pages, causing the ink to blotch and blood to smear. 

I get it Karin! I don’t want to, but I understand all of this book. All of the reasons leading up to this finale. All the pages, all the words, I have never felt so rewarded in all my years of reading. Lena, Jeffrey, and Sara, it’s been a reading privilege to come into your twisted dark town and take a long not so leisurely vacation. The exit hasn’t been pleasant though, more like the hospital doesn’t cover emotional book hooked syndrome and kicked me out on my ass. 

 

Add Karin Slaughter to Goodreads and Amazon

Add Beyond Reach to Goodreads 

Buy, Buy, Buy Beyond Reach on  Amazon

 

 

Review – Faithless by Karin Slaughter

Faithless

Karin Slaughter

Rating:

 

 

When I pick up a Grant County book, I drum my fingers on the cover and think, “What am I going to learn about Sara, Jeffery and Lena in this book?” It’s a habit. Like I am waking up the characters, so I can be privileged to learn more about them and Grant County. 

Faithless ripped my heart out. The ultimate sacrifice and length people will go to protect their faith shouldn’t have shocked me, but it did. Family lies, secrets, a web of darkness unfolding right in front of me and I ate it up. This book had so many layers and themes leaving a haunting chill down my body. 

Jeffery’s character was front and center in this book. Determined for a rightful conclusion of a crime he couldn’t place his finger on. I got to see a side of him I wouldn’t normally see, caring. Not just about Sara, but the victim. His passion to solve this murder made my heart fuller than in any other book. 

Lena a lost soul. Finally coming into her own with Jeffrey guiding her. She finally realized her feelings for Ethan are as bad as an apple — that she came to terms with what she had to do — all because of the ending. Of someone else. Of a lie she couldn’t bare to strip herself of to let go and learn to be free.

The ending…. damn you Karin, brought me to tears! The protection, survival, the unwillingness to let your child go. All the agony, pain, and sacrifice a mother goes through in their final breaths brought me down. Karin had never done that before. She’s  never brought me so far into a hole of sadness quiet like this book.  Faithless was a different side, not only the characters, but the writer herself. Karin’s brilliance left me on edge, as sadness clung knowing I only have one more book left in the series.  

Follow Karin Slaughter on Goodreads and Amazon

Add Faithless on Goodreads and Amazon

Karin Slaughter’s website

Women who write thrillers are called “dark”. Male writers are called “powerful”. 

Karin Slaughter