Friday, January 29, 2021
Thursday, January 28, 2021
Tuesday, January 26, 2021
It's Tuesday
Greetings, blogger buds.
This wasn't expected to arrive until early February. I took it as a good omen when it arrived January 20, 2021.
As you may know, Jon Meacham is a presidential historian. I've heard him speak several times on MSNBC and I'm anxious to read him. I was also thrilled to note this one is only around 550 pages, a couple hundred shorter than JOHN ADAMS.
And...Some garden pics.
Mr. Fox in his new home.
A garden gift from my walking bud.
I love seeing purple kale, offsetting winter brown.
AND where the heck is the gardener? She missed some weeds.
AND...
I had just written a draw down and was still deep in the old West when the HH handed me this.
For one horrified moment I thought he'd gotten me a knife, which made no sense since we are both gun control advocates and I don't like sharp objects. Then sanity returned and I realized it was a garden trowel.😆
Isn't it a beauty? Purrfect for tulips and other bulbs.
AND...
Look what arrived in the mail. This was such a lovely surprise. Thanks so much, Denise.
What about you, blogger buds? What are you reading? Have you read DOLPHIN'S CAVE or THOMAS JEFFERSON THE ART OF POWER? What's going on in the garden?
Friday, January 22, 2021
Great Reads Friday
For lovers of the Disaster Crime Series, book six is now available.
Who is Amanda?
She is a survivor of abuse.
She is Beth’s self-defense assistant.
She is the god mom to Beth and Donovan’s kids.
She is the woman who has Thorn head-over-heels.
She is traumatized by her past and deals with daily neurosis.
She has become stronger because of the hardships she’s overcome.
She has feelings for Thorn but is afraid of what that means.
She wants to help other survivors to grow and learn.
She drinks craft beer and eats medium steak.
She is a fan of romance novels.
She likes the color pink.
She loves daisies.
She’s AMANDA.
Pages: 154
Genre: Romantic-Suspense
Heat Rating: Hot
BLURB:
*A FIGHTING CHANCE is Book 6 in the Disaster Crimes series, but it’s a spin-off featuring a new couple, so it can be read as a standalone.*
Thorn has loved Amanda from afar, giving her whatever she needs as a survivor of abuse—space, protection, and stability. He yearns to give her more, though, to share his feelings, kiss her, love her, but he's worried the truth will frighten her away.
And Amanda is afraid. She’s scared of her attraction for Thorn. Most of all, she’s terrified of her ex-boyfriend, who is lurking nearby where no one can find him. When she grows closer to Thorn, Damon retaliates, jeopardizing their happy ending.
Up against an abusive ex and Mother Nature, do Thorn and Amanda have a fighting chance?
Book Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / iTunes
EXCERPT:
Amanda looked up from the current list of up-to-date payments for classes. A movement outside the glass storefront caught her eye. She tilted her head to see a man coming up the sidewalk from the side where the picnic bench sat. Through the vertical blinds, she glimpsed a square face—a short, rugged beard and long, dark hair pulled into a man bun. Her breath fled from her lungs. Her body went from icy cold to flaming hot in the span of a millisecond. She dropped to the floor and slid under the counter, beneath the ledge where they put their purses and cell phones.
“What—” Beth peeked at the windows. Then she snapped her fingers at April and pointed at the stools.
April jumped into action. She pushed the stools in so they blocked Amanda. The bell attached to the door jingled as April removed the jacket she wore and draped it across the stools, creating a curtain to shield Amanda.
From a crack, Amanda watched Beth move to stand in front of the twins, who were in their walkers playing peacefully. “I’m sorry, but we’re going to be closing.”
“I don’t give a shit. I’m here for Amanda.”
The sound of Damon’s voice had her heart beating even harder. That voice had haunted her nightmares, had come back to life in her memories.
Beth cocked her head to the side. “Who? There’s no one by that name here.”
“Don’t bullshit me. I know she works here.”
His voice was closer now.
***FREE FOR A LIMITED TIME***
THE DISASTER CURSE
Book Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / iTunes
Author’s Note: I wrote The Disaster Curse to answer a few lingering questions readers may have after reading A Fighting Chance, and to tie the whole series together with a neat, shiny, perfect little bow. Plus, there was one disaster that I hadn’t written about yet. *wink*
The Disaster Crimes Series:
*The Crime Before the Storm (prequel)
Hurricane Crimes (novella, #1)
Seismic Crimes (#2)
Lightning Crimes (free short, #2.5)
Tsunami Crimes (#3)
Flaming Crimes (#4)
Frozen Crimes (#5)
A Fighting Chance (spin-off, #6)
The Disaster Curse (short story, #7)
*Free exclusive story to newsletter subscribers.
***LAUNCHING A WEBSITE***
TheFightingChance.org is a website dedicated to domestic violence and sexual assault awareness. Inspired by the Disaster Crimes series.
***GIVEAWAY***
Prizes: Hurricane Crimes (Disaster Crimes 1) and Seismic Crimes (Disaster Crimes 2) eBooks (mobi or epub), Hurricane Crimes Playing Cards, Girl Boss Sign, and a Volcanic Blast Scented Candle
Link: https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/23d974a92670/
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Chrys Fey is author of the Disaster Crimes Series, a unique concept that blends disasters, crimes, and romance. She runs the Insecure Writer’s Support Group Book Club on Goodreads and edits for Dancing Lemur Press. https://www.chrysfey.com
Author Links:
Newsletter / Website / Facebook Group /Blog / BookBub
Instagram / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Amazon
Thursday, January 21, 2021
Did You Know
Did you know that on July 4 ( a day so important to these two men), 1826 both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died. The people surrounding Adams' bedside said as he lay dying thunder boomed and sullen clouds hung low. The moment his spirit passed the sun came out and shone in all its glory.
Tuesday, January 19, 2021
It's Tuesday
Greetings Blogger Buds. Per usual Tuesday is a mishmash, beginning with these beauties I received Saturday from my daughter and SIL for my birthday.
AND...From the boy and family.
AND...Thank you for the well wishes in emails, comments and e cards, friends. Much appreciated.
AND... My coffee calendar:) Thanks, HH.
AND...Here's Frank, helping us unload the groceries. Like I said, Tuesday's a mishmash.
OKAY, I found this one a tad bit weird. My guess is that somewhere along the food chain, when I had the plaques made for the kitties' grave sites, my marketing info was sold.
What about you, buds? Was your weekend a good one? Got any weird mail? Do your critters help with the groceries? If you had a birthday, was it wondrous?
Friday, January 15, 2021
Weekend Wishes
Thursday, January 14, 2021
Did You Know
Wednesday, January 13, 2021
Tuesday, January 12, 2021
It's Tuesday
*Spoiler alert. There is nothing uplifting about this post. If you are saturated in sadness, feel free to skip today and come back tomorrow. Believe me, I understand.
January 6, 2021. America's Nightmare.
For months, I've been expecting something like this.If you connect the dots, you know where you are going to end up. But I expected it in the abstract. Expecting something to happen isn't like witnessing it. Seeing a policeman being crushed by a mob. A noose hanging. The confederate flag waving. A policeman being beaten with the American flag. Our capitol, our house, desecrated. Windows smashed. Congress members' offices ransacked.Insurgents wearing sweatshirts with January 6, 2021 Civil War on them and others with antisemitic slogans.
Worst of all, five people were killed, one a policeman. Why? To overthrow our election, our government. To turn democracy into an autocracy. Over the months votes have been counted and recounted then recounted again. The results were taken to court over sixty times and found to be legitimate. But just like 'Fake News', if 'rigged elections' is repeated often enough, people begin to believe it.
For years, congress men and women were willing to reach across the table, willing to put aside their differences and compromise for the good of the country. It was healthy. It insured democracy survived. And sprinkled amongst congress were heroes, on both sides of the aisle. Then we lost John McCain and John Lewis and the last of our heroes were gone.
What are we left with? A man whose first and last concern is himself, and his enablers. There are rumblings about another uprising the seventeenth and the twentieth. I hope we aren't on the verge of civil war.
Arnold states it much better than I ever could.
AND...
I hate ending on such a negative note, so let me add, an innkeeper was once fined and jailed for making uncomplimentary remarks about John Adams' posterior. 😂 And while it smacks of autocracy, I still got a chuckle out of it.
Friday, January 8, 2021
Thursday, January 7, 2021
Did You Know
Did you know, after John Adams retired from the presidency he took to reading (and enjoyed) romantic poems and novels, of the day, such as Lady of the Lake, by Walter Scott and Scottish Chiefs by Jane Porter
.
Wednesday, January 6, 2021
IWSG Wednesday
The first Wednesday of every month is officially IWSG day. Members post about their doubts and fears, discuss struggles and triumphs, and offer words of encouragement to others who are struggling.
Thanks, as always, to Alex Cavanaugh, founder and Ninja Captain extraordinaire and our awesome co-hosts.
The IWSG monthly question can be found under the IWSG Sign-up tab on the Insecure Writer's Support Group Blog. Remember it’s optional.
January 6 question - Being a writer, when you're reading someone else's work, what
stops you from finishing a book/throws you out of the story/frustrates you the
most about other people's books?
For the most part, if my interest wanes. I like a
book to grab me from the beginning and keep me turning pages. And while good
descriptions and backstory are necessary to pull a reader in, I want them tight.
A couple of sentences usually does it for me then I want action. I like a succinct
story without wasted verbiage and want each word to count. Do I always practice what I preach? Uh, no.
AND…
December/January Reviews in no particular order.
I don’t normally read memoirs but I had the privilege of reading the author’s ARC and loved it. It held my attention the entire way through. Knowing the author and being fascinated by the flower industry kept me turning pages. She was even kind enough to throw in free information about floral arrangements including ‘flower water buckets are always cleaned and bleached between each use’. Who knew? ARRANGING A DREAM is a fascinating true story of a young couple on a journey to find and realize their dreams.
This book is filled with fascinating short stories, each one based around the named character of the book. Each story is different and might revolve around a child, an adult--young to old--or even a ghost. What they all have in common is the emotion they bring to the story. The scenery is detailed and pulls you into the location and the characters are relatable. I enjoyed these stories and think you will too. So, grab a cup of coffee or tea, put your feet up, relax and sink into these stories.
I’m a D.L. Finn fan and try to read everything she publishes. This is her best story yet.
The storyline is strong. It hooked and held my attention from the beginning.
The characters are wonderful. I found myself rooting for Coral, hoping she would find her parents.
The romance is subtle, just the way I like it. And her love interest is, well, lovable😊
This is a YA fantasy based around a young woman who, on the death of her parents, has a reoccurring dream that she always wakes from before she can find them. DOLPHIN’S CAVE is a YA that will appeal to adults as well. I really enjoyed this story and think you will too.
I thoroughly enjoyed these shorts. They were intertwined and where one left off, the other picked up. Two young brothers, William and Graham, help the good witches --the treasurer fairy, the blind fairy, the good fairy and the tooth fairy--in their travails with the wicked witch. Now the wicked witch might be ugly and mean spirited, but she's always thinking, especially when it comes to cooking up mischief, and keeps the good fairies and the boys hopping.
These short stories are a delight. The perfect length for several nights of bedtime reading. This little book will be enjoyed by children and adults alike.
TRAD
LONG ROAD TO MERCY by David Baldacci
This is the first in the Atlee Pine thriller series. I enjoyed it. Baldacci's characters are good, moral people that carry emotional baggage. In this story, Atlee's twin was kidnapped when she was six and Atlee never completely recovered. Now she's with the FBI and getting the bad guys. This story was scary, because it dealt with political corruptness and how peoples lives hang in the balance. If you like thrillers, I recommend this one.
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