Tag Archive | book

Fast Five for  the 42nd

Feb11

Today is the 42nd day of 2026. I also completed reading my 42nd book of the year, Maya Alden’s new release, Love is in the Air. Here’s my fast Five take on it:

  1. I really appreciate that while Alden writes a grovel novel, they aren’t all the same formula. There are some authors that you know when you hix X percentage, Y will happen. Sometimes the betrayal is early, sometimes late.
  2. A perfect Valentine snack of a book. Even opens on Valentine’s Day in Paris!  Although I’m single, this fit the romance of the holiday perfectly. (I’ll be off to a Gal-entines day with my sister on the day)
  3. OW drama without cheating! Not even the hint of it in this one. The OW drama all came from his ex wife.
  4. I didn’t like how the translations of French and Spanish terms was handled. There was a little list at the end of the chapter. In a previous book, with the Italian language, it was easier to tell what was being said through context clues. I ended up using the Kindle to translate what I needed to.
  5. Even though her books are available on KU, I started pre-ordering them. Why? Because I get them much quicker. Release day was today, but it was in my Kindle at 11pm last night (oh the struggle was real!). The last one I waited for KU on, I didn’t see available until 2 or 3 am (I was awake because of something else).

I really wish there was a way to get on a list to beta read for an author. In Truth and Tinsel there were two inconsistencies, and in this one there was one.l regarding where the heroine, Tara lived. I’d have to reread it to pinpoint why, but at first I thought she was from and lived in Los Angeles. Them it comes to light that she was living in Philadelphia. That kind of threw me… And then even more when she went home to LA and her family, got fired from her job in Philly and NEVER WENT TO GET HER STUFF. Where did it go? She thought she was going back. Was it in storage? Subletting her place? Where’d her stuff go? Tiny detail, but with the confusion before, it starts that thread that I keep pulling at. I’m done with ARC reading, they just want sound bites for promotion on platforms I won’t use. But Beta reading? For Maya Alden? Oh my gosh, I’d love that. But I am not going to win any points by bringing up the little things that bug me with an author. Sigh

What have you been reading? Have any favorite new authors?

Bookish Fast 5: Emotional Triggers

Jan20

I am currently in my hurt/comfort/grovel era of romance books.. Currently, the author I’ve been reading and re-reading is Maya Alden. Sometimes I have to walk sideways into her books. They can be very emotional. Sometimes I skip them entirely.

Ienn Bullard is another author who I read that hurts my feelings on purpose. She, as well as Alden, is very vocal about telling the reader that our mental health matters more than page reads for them. Here’s his w they protect us from walking into a reading situation that might affect that me tap health

  1. Social Media. Jenn is vocal on when her books might push a person over the edge. Her Unhinged-verse is extremely unhinged. Based on the trigger warnings, I skipped the last book. I just couldn’t.
  2. Most authors now have Trigger Warnings listed at the beginning of the book. Make sure you read them. You may need to check on their website, some authors tell readers at start of book to go to website for full list of triggers– I firmly believe this is a copout. If you’re
  3. Newsletters. Sometimes, like with Alden, in the newsletter they mention not only trigger warnings, but include an excerpt that will give you an idea of what goes on around the trigger. The feel of the book, if you will.
  4. In book warnings. I am reading Maya Alden’s newest Wildflower Canyon book, and just came to the end of a chapter. Instead of the next chapter, there is a page detailing the trigger warning. It tells the reader to either skip the chapter, or close the book, because our mental health matters.
  5. The last line of defense for readers is our brethren. Check out the reviews on Amazon and Goodreads or wherever you go to get info on books.

Authors– please keep your reader in mind. While it may be necessary for the story, some things should never be thrown on a reader without knowledge before hand.

Readers- take care of yourself. I’m still staring at that chapter break for the trigger warning, deciding if I should continue on. I probably will. It’s not on page, is being talked of in the past.

But it is my decision, as the reader, whether or not to read it thanks to an author taking care of her readers.

Fast Five Goal Catch Up

Sep29

Oh my goodness! It’s been a minute!  But summer is well and truly over, and it’s time to knuckle under again 😳 Heres a really quick update on the goals I had for this year:

  1. Reading goal has been crushed three months early according to Good Reads. I don’t know why this irritates me– but it does. I have days of re-reading old favorites, but I don’t count them. So I think the goal was appropriate, just… I feel let down that the goal was accomplished early instead of closer to the end time.
  2. ARCs are still a thing I love. I’m happy to report that I’ll have 2 upcoming for you. One, I’ve already read and am just collecting my thoughts. The other I’m awaiting with bated breath.
  3. Writing has been different (see below). I haven’t been writing as much, as my writing buddy and I seem to have taken the summer off. The poem a day is so far behind and I’m not sure if I want to resume it or not.
  4. I still doodle around with my fiction. I say I have several stories that I keep hopping around in, but they are all built in the same world so I’m not sure how good or bad that is. I’m having fun and that counts..
  5. I have been keeping up with writing for the Ladies of Horror Picture Prompt. You should go and read some of these amazing stories and poems! If you’re more of an audio type person, there are reading in YouTube done by the lovely Elaine Pascale, The Godmother of Horror here

Ta for now, my lovelies! Let me know if I got the links wrong and I’ll get them long form lol

Getting the word out

Jul28

Ari Wright’s Once Upon A Pack

Ari Wright is releasing the Audio Book for Once Upon a pack, and it has me wondering: what methods do you find work best for getting the word out on new releases (E-book, print or audio)?

As a baby writer (nothing huge published, mostly short stories and a couple of poems) I will send information to those I think might like the story. I use either email or text as I don’t post on social media.

As a consumer, I have 4 main ways of finding books.

  1. Recommendations. Friends, family or even KU. I actually found Ari Wright through a Based on your other books…. Recommendation. She’s one of my favorite authors and an auto read for me. Goodreads– i use it to log my books but don’t really get recs there.
  2. Newsletter. Author newsletters are awesome. I especially like the ones where they share this it’s of what’s going on with them. Maybe a photo of their work desk, or what they’ve been up to. And of course the new releases! As an author, you have to walk a line with the newsletters. Readers want to know about your upcoming and new releases, but not to be inundated by a sales pitch constantly.
  3. Social Media Ads. For me, mainly TikTok and Instagram as those are the two I scroll most. I will say as a reader I prefer Instagram as the link goes directly to the ebook link. I don’t know what’s going on with people, but the amount of TikTok ads for books that FORGET to give the title and/or  author name is ridiculous. I’m also not going to buy off the Tok shop.
  4. Social Media Groups. I belong to a few groups for readers of an author, but also some for specific types of romance. This is where you cannot only get a rec, but also find out what that book you read three months ago with this particular scene was. Life-saving! Or sanity saving.

So– how do you advertise for your writing? If you’re mostly a reader, how do you find the books you read?

No Kings

Jun14

A poem in progress

No Kings

Our military does not vow
To protect Kings nor Queens
Instead their vow belongs
To the Constitution
Which exists to blanket
(US) us in safety.

And should an enemy come
Forward and make complaint
Against the words,
The very page and ink, that
Forged a nation under God
Then shall they raise
Sword and shield to defend.

Lady Liberty will keep watch,
Her flame burning bright
Watching as her sons and daughters
Defend the rights
Laid down by our forefathers.

Angry Readers: Fast 5

Jun11

OR: How to anger your readers before even writing a word

  1. Constantly shifting publishing dates. Let’s be honest, we as readers don’t care if the date comes quicker. But if you leave us hanging? And then do it repeatedly? Some readers might lose their desire to read your work. Some might even, gasp, forget about it. Give yourself a cushion. We love happy surprises like a fav author publishing a book ahead of time
  2. Having a release coming up and then…. The title and you disappear. Now we all know, stuff happens. But as an author, you should at least apologize on your socials, or somewhere your fans can find it. If you’re ok, that is. At this point, some fans are wondering if you are ok.
  3. Stop writing in the middle of a series that has to be read in order. Looking at the fantasy genre here. I wait now, until all books are done and able to be bought. I do the same with duologues. If there’s a hint of a cliff hanger, well. I’ll wait, thank you.
  4. Don’t change the way you send out ARCs without letting the readers who get them know. It’s a wonderfully quick way to sow discontent around your new release. Wanting to send to only people who hype the pre-release on socials? Go for it. But make sure you let the people who you told reviews on blogs, Amazon and Goodreads were great that they aren’t getting said release. You are a writer. That kind of stuff should have been clearly communicated via email (since you have their emails).
  5. Don’t write a book you don’t love. Trust me. We the readers know when you are writing something and you don’t love it. We might not be able to say exactly what’s wrong with the story, but for your fans? It’ll be an irritant at the least. And when it’s really bad? We, the readers, will DNF.

That’s my fast five for pissing off your readers. While authors who committed the above have come across my TBR pile, and may still remain… Those things do impact how your work is seen when it does, finally, come out

What do authors do to annoy you,, other than the actual writing?

Fast Stats

May23

Ah, we’ve almost made it to the midpoint of the year. Hooray! I’ve been doing pretty good with keeping up on my reading and writing goals.

Ready? Set? Here we go!

  1. Since changing up my prose writing away from trying to do a novel I’ve not only written but have also submitted a few short (flash) pieces. I think I’m up to 4 submissions, with 2 more in the wings. One I’m waiting to open up and the other I still need to write.
  2. I’m still (mostly) writing a poem a day. There’s maybe a  few days when that didn’t happen, but there are also days when I wrote more than 1. I’m pretty sure that it will even out in the end.
  3. On my reading goal, so far I’ve read 194 new books. This is not counting all the re-reads I do. I enjoy reading 😃. Most of the time, the television is background noise.
  4. This is just an odd stat: I’ve DNF’d almost as many books as I finished. 132 to be exact. I just thought it was funny.
  5. I have been participating in the Ladies of Horror flash challenge and loving it. My most recent submission can be found HERE

That’s it for today, my Lovelies! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Mays Fast Five Catch Up

May15

May, and spring, seems to be slipping through my fingers. Soon, summer will be here. Hopefully I can get over my anxiety about going places and have a few adventures.

Here’s my Fast Five for May

  1. I’m finding more markets to write for– calls for specific themes in drabble and flash form. One “novelette”, which being honest I might play around with but no guarantees I’ll get anywhere close to the word count.
  2. The AC went out on my car. Now out here, it’s in the 80’s, but I’m getting reacquainted with driving with the windows down. It’s an experience that I love. Arm hanging out the window, tunes blaring, wind whipping my ponytail.
  3. I’ve decided to stop buying physical books until I’ve read them. Either as a kindle book, nook or library. I don’t have the money to be wasting on books I won’t read (I’m a picky thing) and I don’t have room in my house to keep things that don’t bring me happiness.
  4. I haven’t been writing cards because it’s a pain getting them mailed. Either I have to drive up to the post office, grab the mailman, or once I taped a letter to the mailbox that I had outgoing mail. My mailbox sucks. I think, tho, for me it sucks more not to be mailing out cards. I miss sending out little bits of sunshine.
  5. I had a meltdown because the streaming app MAX took down the Holiday and Halloween Baking Champtas well as seasons 1-8 or the spring one! I use them as the background to my life! 😜 Can work quite nicely with them on in the background, popping up for my favorites. Jason! Damiano! Fluffy! I want them back! They’re my people!

So that’s the state of me right now lol. I’ve been slacking on the journaling but think I’m gonna get back into it. Perhaps tonight I’ll write some notes to send out and play in my journals

Ta for now my Lovelies!

What would your Fast 5 be for May?

Just Write It: 5 on Just Drive

Apr4

I think I read somewhere that Devyn Sinclair wrote “Just Drive”” as a side story. A passion project, at least at first. A story she loved but wasn’t sure would sell. Was not sure it would resonate with readers.

I have reviewed maybe 2 books on Good Reads and Amazon. Possibly three. I leave a star rating but never a review. It has to hit me hard for me to leave a 5 stars and it has to hit even harder for an actual review. She got both.

Which makes a darn good argument to write what you are passionate about. The story you want. Because trends come and go, but staying true to you will bring the right readers to you.

Note: Just Drive is. RH Omegaverse Romance.

Here’s 5 things I loved about Just Drive:

5. The Formula. one racing. Do I watch racing? Nope. I’ve been known to watch it though, and it’s the only sport other than ice skating and gymnastics that I will watch. Fun fact: when I was a wee girl I wanted to race fast cars. Didn’t go further than checking out TONS of books at the wee little local library when I was younger and a little drag racing when a bit older… But. And there are specific racing details that made me SQUEEE.

4. Relationships & friendships outside the romance. A whole world was built, including both personal and professional relationships. And instead of having EVERYONE hate the new female driver, she did have professional friendships with other drivers.

3. World Building. This is set in an alternate universe. If she played with the rules Formula One racing in the story, it didn’t hit for this casual reader.  Which means short cuts were not taken. Sinclair obviously loves this subject and it shows.

2. Competition & Professionalism within the pack. Vanessa, our heroine is racing on a team with part of her pack and actively racing against another member. And while they are competitive– it’s in the right way. A way that doesn’t make it easy for either of them. They go balls to the wall racing each other, can be grumpy about losing and still celebrate a momentous win.

  1. Grandpa. I cried so hard. And we know, don’t we… That the good books, the great books, they help us. They entertain us. They teach us new things. And they give us a safe space to feel our feelings. I’m tearing up again (it would have been Pop’s 99th today) and we’ll, I’m probably gonna go back and reread so I have that safe space tonight.

That number one though, that’s why I write. While I generally work through stuff in my writing, that connection cannot be beat. It’s magic.

So what magical story have you been dying to tell? Don’t worry about markets right now– just grow your magic.

Ta, my Lovelies

Book Review: Her Knotty List

Nov19

Her Knotty List by Ari Wright comes out on Thursday, November 21. I had the pleasure of receiving an ARC for review.

This review might contain spoilers. Maybe not.

Her Knotty List is a Reverse Harem Omegaverse Christmas romance. It’s the fourth book in her MVP series and came in at a solid 3.5 stars for me. It was exactly what you want out of a Christmas romance– fun with men to swoon over.

I’m having a problem writing this review because I love this series so much. I adore the writing style and how I’m able to connect emotionally with the characters.

However

But.

I’m gonna do this how I would for my writing partner in crime. We read each other’s work all the time. And ..

For me, there was a lack of balance between what happened in the beginning and what happened in the end. The pack from Book 1 were featured secondary characters (Theo is the FMC’s brother) and I loved the Ash pack in book 1. Adored. Still liked them in books 2 & 3. This one? Hated.

I wanted to castrate the Ash Pack Alphas with a rusty spoon. If you need me to go into why I can, however… To take a reader like me who loves the series and leave me feeling like that? And while they do “make-up”… It’s not balanced. It doesn’t feel as if amends have really been made when all of the female characters are together at the end. Which in turn makes the show down with the real villains of the story feel a bit weak as well. Possibly because we’re told what’s going to happen instead of shown.

I really did enjoy this book. It is a solid read.

What’s your favorite Christmas read?