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Friday 28 February 2014

February is almost over...WTH?



OMG. I can't believe Feb is almost over and this is my second real post for the month. Yikes!

It's gone too fast.

So, what have I been doing that has kept me from blogging regularly? Well, you know that hubby was on a break during the first week. During the second week I had a bunch of bits & pieces to take care of and even stopped by the doctor's office--where I wasted about three hours waiting. I kid you not. But the good news is that I had a blood test to double check my Vitamin D percentage because...

Here's the story:

In October, I had a blood test to check everything was good. As it turned out, everything was just fine. Well, except for my Vitamin D, which was down to 31%. I know, right? I failed that test. So I had to make sure I got plenty of sun and started taking daily Vit D supplements. And the good news is that after 4 months, it's now at 72%. Yay.

The doctor reckons it might be a seasonal issue for me. So with autumn just around the corner (Booo!) I'm going to keep taking the supplements, and will have my blood checked again in the spring. Vitamin D deficiency can lead to many problems in the future, so it's something I want to keep an eye on.

Anyway, enough talk about blood and vitamins. ;)

The third and fourth weeks of this month have been super busy because I spent them finishing up Recast #4. That included finishing the third draft last week. Then doing the final revision-check on my phone (which turned into a bit of a disaster when the app decided to die on me) this week. The only thing left is the synopsis, which I intend to do today. Well, the first draft anyway. If I stay on target, I should (fingers crossed) be able to sub this to my lovely editor on Monday.

I hope.

What else is new? Oh yeah, I now have an awesome Samsung Galaxy Note 3. It's gorgeous!

Oh, and you might be interested in this awesome SALE going on at Samhain Publishing:

http://store.samhainpublishing.com/

You can actually pick up print books for half price. C'mon, you have to admit that's a bargain, right? And if you haven't checked out the gorgeous Sierra Fox print editions yet, now's an awesome time to do it: A PATCH OF DARKNESS and SPLIT AT THE SEAMS are both available from the Samhain website. Very pretty, and cheap! ;)
 
Well, that's about it for now. I really need to get myself into a blogging schedule again because I miss stopping by to chat and update what I'm working on, etc.
 
But for now, have an awesome weekend!

Sunday 23 February 2014

HEAT WAVE by Richard Castle



Heat Wave (Nikki Heat, #1)
Heat Wave by Richard Castle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'm a HUGE fan of Castle, so I've been looking forward to checking out this series. I borrowed the book from the library and instantly got caught up in the story.

Nikki Heat is a NYPD Detective trying to get on with the job while babysitting a celebrity journalist. Her latest case involves the death of a real estate tycoon plunging to his death. The deeper Heat and her team gets into the investigation, the more they realise that Matthew Starr wasn't a squeaky clean businessman. And he was surrounded by suspicious people.

I had such a blast reading this book! It's well written with interesting characters and an interesting mystery that keeps you guessing. The similarities between Heat and Beckett are obvious, yet she's very different too. Especially when it comes to how deeply and quickly she gets involved with Rook. *wink wink*

And what I like the best about this book is that it proves Richard Castle's research at the precinct is paying off. ;)

I just wish I knew who's really writing these books because he/she is doing a great job. Looking forward to reading more.

Wednesday 19 February 2014

WRITTEN IN RED by Anne Bishop


17789118
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMG. This book is fantastic! I borrowed it from the library and enjoyed it so much that I pre-ordered the paperback edition today. I must have a copy. ;)

Meg Corbyn is a blood prophet, and she's on the run. Her ability to see visions of the future via precise cuts to her skin makes her a sought-after tool. But after escaping from the Controller, she seeks shelter in a Courtyard. A place where monsters live and humans are rarely invited.

The night she arrives, Simon Wolfgard makes her an offer she can't refuse: a job and shelter. She's desperate enough to accept and her arrival turns the Courtyard upside down.

There are several words to describe this story: Wow. Amazing. Intoxicating. Yeah, I absolutely adored this book. It hooked me in from the beginning and kept me on the edge of my seat all the way through.

It was well written, the POV changes were perfect, the characters felt so real, and the world building was unique. This is a very dangerous world where the Others pretty much call the shots and humans can be wiped out if they anger them. These are frightening, ancient beings who crave human meat and blood, and take on the guise of wolf, bear, coyote, crow, hawk, etc. The vampires were also very interesting.

I loved Meg. She's such a fantastic, innocent character who is so selfless her kindness often puts her in harm's way. But that's just who she is. Her interaction with the Others transforms their way of thinking, and her friendship with the young wolf Sam is so cute. Let's not forget about Simon, and how their initial awkwardness towards each other becomes so much more.

Oh, and Monty. I really liked him too.

I can't wait to read the next book!

Tuesday 11 February 2014

It's been a while...


Hey! How's everyone doing?
 
After an awesome two-week break, hubby went back to work yesterday. :( We had such a great time together that I didn't want him to go back. I love hanging out with him. We can be in the same room doing completely different things and still be together. I love that!
 
I miss him during my morning walks and at home...but such is life. Anyway, that explains my absence from blogging.
 
Though I did stop by to post several book reviews and my awesome news. I'm still super excited about the fifth/last book in my Sierra Fox series being contracted with Samhain Publishing. This October, Sierra's Obscurus ordeal will come to an end. Actually, a lot of things come to an end in A STITCH ON TIME, and I can't wait to share it with everyone!
 
So, while having a cool time with hubby we managed to snag a few good deals on several stationery items: pens, post-its and notebooks. I'm a stationery addict and can't walk away from pens and notebooks. Love 'em! And since there were a bunch of Back to School sales last month, most places are now trying to clear whatever is left over. The pens featured on this post are some of my stash. Not only do they look great, but I love writing with them. I'm using the pink one at the moment.
 
Well, that's about it. I just thought I'd check in and post a little "Hey, I'm still here" post. This week is going to be all about easing myself back into the swing of work. There are several bits and pieces I need to take care of, then next week it's time to get stuck into the third draft of Recast #4. Looking forward to getting back to my robots. ;)
 
Have a good one! 

Thursday 6 February 2014

THE TWIN'S DAUGHTER by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

The Twin's Daughter
Lucy is stunned when her mother's identical twin sister shows up at the front door. Separated at birth, the twins have led dramatically different lives and Lucy's mother, Aliese, will do anything to make it up to Helen. But Lucy soon suspects that Helen enjoys being mistaken for her mother a bit too much. Then, on New Year's Day, Lucy finds her mother and aunt tied to chairs in the parlor. One has been brutally murdered--but which twin has died?
 
 
I have to admit that I'm a little fussy when it comes to books set in a historical setting, and don't actually read many of them for that reason. But the concept of this book intrigued me.

Lucy is thirteen when she answers the door one day and finds a woman who looks exactly like her mother standing there. She might be a mirror image of Aliese, but Helen is skinnier and definitely hasn't lived the same kind of life as her twin. She's lived a hard life, had to work hard for her meagre possessions, and now wants to reconnect with her long lost twin. Aliese is willing to do whatever it takes to accommodate her and convinces her husband to allow Helen to not only move in with them, but also learn how to behave in proper society.

Soon, people are confusing the twins and Helen gets the attention of many male suitors, but she turns all of them down. Lucy is still young and although she notices a series of strange things going on around the house, she doesn't get a clear picture. Not until the morning she finds both her mother and aunt tied to chairs, and one of them is clearly dead.

What follows is a dark story of betrayal and deception, one that Lucy is determined to investigate and is pretty sure she has worked out. But nothing can prepare her for the truth, because it's a lot more sinister than she expected...

I enjoyed following Lucy's story and the lonely, but prestigious life she lived with her parents. It was also nice to see her grow up with her friend Kit. The romance was subtle, but lasting and loyal. And the older she got, the more she understood about how bizarre her life really was. Having an aunt she had no idea existed wander into her life changed everything.

The Twin's Daughter is a well-written, interesting, personality switch story, which is often creepy. It's got several twists and turns, convincing the reader of one scenario but totally switching it near the end until the truth hits you. Yikes! Wasn't expecting that. LOL.

Some people are selfish enough to do whatever it takes to get their way. 
 
The Twin's Daughter, February 2014, ISBN  9781599906614, Bloomsbury Childrens USA
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