What I Read in the Past Week

Got one book read. Yikes. Deadlines really DO take up more time!

Feb 26: "Silenced" by Allison Brennan. Book 4 of the Lucy Kincaid series. Blurb: It has been seven years since Lucy was attacked – and almost killed – by an online predator. Today, she is well on her way toward a new life. While waiting to begin her training at the FBI Academy, Lucy is tireless in her fight against cyber sex crime. Her current mission: to find out who killed a high-priced call girl linked to a powerful Congressman. A number of known prostitutes – with scores of high-profile clients – are turning up dead all over D.C. Is this the work of a depraved killer? Or the result of an inside job? Lucy's investigation will take her into an underground network of prostitutes, the chambers of the country's most powerful players, and her own dark past to confront an unknown enemy who's always one step ahead of her. With the help of her P.I boyfriend Sean Rogan, Lucy must find and protect the only witness who can identify the killer and end the consipiracy, but can the witness be trusted? Lucy will risk everything to expose the truth and ensure justice is served, even if that means putting herself in the line of fire… Suspenseful? You bet! Romantic? Lucy and Sean are still getting to know one another, so not a typical romance, but highly enjoyable. It's still got me hooked, anyway. I gave this book 5 stars on Goodreads and I will be reading Book 5 next!

I did go out to the movies last night (a nice break). Saw "Beautiful Creatures" with my daughter. I haven't read the book, she has. She said if she hadn't have read the book, she would have enjoyed the movie, but that the movie wasn't anything like the book. I liked the movie, but didn't care for the end. But after talking with my daughter, I am a tiny bit interested in reading the book now. Maybe someday.

 

Crunch Time

My pre edits are due Friday. A short story I want to submit is due Friday. I'm going to beg off on the blog until I'm finished. However, if I finish the book I'm reading by Wednesday (and it's possible – I have a doctor appointment on Tuesday), I'll post the book. Otherwise, I'll return when I'm finished. I know you all understand.

Here's to a productive week!

 

Motivation

I have to say – having a deadline makes a HUGE difference in the way I treat my writing.

Used to be if I got tired, I'd stop and read or watch TV. Writing was only for me and I wasn't in any hurry to get a project done. In other words: I didn't push myself.

Now?

I get tired, but know I HAVE to get it done. Someone is WAITING on me. There's no later, there's only now. So I push myself.

I find that rather invigorating.

My writing has purpose!

I don't think I've ever enjoyed it more.

In other news, I have this picture…

Proof I was on a panel (I have no idea what that expression on my face is!).

From left: Melissa Landers( w/a Macy Beckett), Lori Langdon,
Kristen Bailey (w/a Jess Granger), Jennette Marie Powell, and me

And lastly…

Yesterday was my husband's 60th birthday. We went out to dinner (after his class), but will celebrate with the kids on Sunday and then with our friend later, in March. But I didn't want the big day not to go unnoticed (especially since he made sure no one at work knew!) so I'm here to say…

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SWEETIE!!

Now I'll find out if he reads my blog – ha ha ha!

Have a nice Friday, all!

 

What I Read the Past Week

Life has definitely gotten hectic – the writing side anyway. I'll be lucky to get one book read a week, I think (but I won't quit – can't do that – besides, there's always time to read). At least I got those judged books read and out of the way (until the next contest…oops!). Anyway, here is what I read in the past week:

Feb 13: "Unbridled and Untangled" by Elle Saint James. This book is an erotic romance and is the eighth book in a series dubbed "The Double Rider Men's Club." Menage, anyone? Blurb: Olivia Stanton, the new CEO of the family business, steps out for a wild weekend at the annual Stadium event for the DRMC and falls for both Dalton and Wade. However, she has important responsibilities and leaves them for her job. Dalton Rourke and Wade Granger haven't been members of the DRMC for long and haven't found a special woman to share until they meet Olivia. After the wicked weekend spent together, they want to keep her forever. Olivia considers meeting her two men in secret, but her new position is threatened by another family member wanting to take over. Dalton and Wade discover her wealthy socialite lifestyle and wonder if she truly loves them beyond the sexy weekend they shared. Will she be able to keep her job safe and mend her shaky relationship with the two men she loves, or will she lose everything she's ever wanted? This is definitely one HOT book. I liked the characters except for one whose POV was a little distracting (and not really needed), but he's probably in all the books. Yeah, you don't really have to read these in order. I think the only thing in common is the club. I enjoyed this book though (another one I judged) and gave it 4 stars on Goodreads.

Feb 19: "Dangerous Shift" by Jill James. This book is a paranormal romance. Blurb: Shapeshifters live among us but remain unknown to most people except for the highest echelons of law enforcement, the military, science, and medical fields – until now. When a fatal virus strikes Shapeshifters all over the west coast, including members of the Shapeshifter Task Force in San Laura, California, reinforcements are called in from around the United States. Lt. Nikki Hill of Missouri comes to San Laura and is partnered up with Lt. Sean Evans. They quickly butt heads on everything from proper police procedures to the moral ethics of euthanasia. They can't seem to get a lead on the serial killer even as members of their own families are stricken with the virus. In their grief they turn to each other and hope they have time to discover if their relationship stands a chance or if they might just be the next victims of the species extinction disease. The story and premise were interesting, but I don't like books when it takes over 100 pages for the couple to finally LIKE each other. It also dragged in parts (particularly the ending). I gave this 3 stars on Goodreads.

 

Sorry if I don't visit your blogs as much, but I definitely do NOT want to be late for my first deadline, you know? Still, I can't edit all the time, my mind would turn to MUSH. Maybe it already has.

See you around!

 

 

Great News - I'm Going to be Published!

For those of you who don't know (since I put it out on Facebook on Friday), MY SUNNY VAMPIRE will be published by Lyrical Press. Yay! Happy Dance!

Yeah, I'm still in shock.

Guess I don't have to worry about what my next project will be for awhile, since I now have a – gasp! – deadline! The first of many, I'm sure. And you know what? That makes me sooooo happy!

Okay, and a little freaked out.

It's strange going from doing whatever to oh-my-God-I-have-to-get-this-done-in-two-weeks! And then to find out the short story I want to submit to my chapter's anthology is also due in two weeks.

Did I mention I was a little freaked out?

Okay, so much for reading. So much for blog hopping. I've got some work to do!

Oh, and before I forget, I learned one thing this weekend. I was so excited about my news, I never got a chance to be nervous for being on the romance panel (which went very well, by the way). Who knew? Not me!

I thought 2013 would be my year. I just never realized how BIG!