Some of My Favorites

There are just those books that you read over and over (and over) again. I have a few authors and/or series that stick in my brain and I have to go back to again and again. It's the characters. They draw me in and I want to spend more time with them. The Sinner's Series by Rhys Ford is one of those series. In particular, I loved (loved!) Sinner's Gin and Tequila Mockingbird. I quite enjoyed Whiskey and Wry and Sloe Ride as well.

Recently, Ford released the 5th book in the series...Absinthe of Malice. It's the book every romance reader wants. It's the story of what happens next, what happens after "the end." I loved it. We got to revisit every couple from the first 4 books and it moved the story along. I can highly recommend the whole series. And I'm pretty freakin' excited there will be a book 6!

       

Enjoy!
(the covers are my Amazon Associate links and will take you right to the book page.)

Do you listen to audio books?

I've long resisted picking up audio books. I don't particularly like someone to read to me. I read faster than most narrators and for most books, I just want to get to the story. I like fast and fun.

While exploring the idea of possibly turning some of my books into audio books, I decided I should know what was out there, what the appeal is.

The jury is still out. I think for certain books, I'll like it. I picked up a free audible membership.


And so far I've chosen 2 books.

and 

Now, I love Sinner's Gin. It's one of my favorite books and I've read it easily 10 times. Hearing someone else read it and put accents on the characters is a little different. I disagree with the narrator's portrayal of a couple of characters, probably because I've read the book so many times, they are like friends to me.

For The Girl On The Train, I'm only a short way into it but I'm intrigued. I think if I were "reading" the book, I would be rushing through it. Listening to it, I'm forced to slow down.  So far, I'm enjoying it. We'll see what happens at the end of the free trial membership.

Alpha Untried Available for Pre-Order!!

Book 4 of the Lone Wolves series will be here soon...Alpha Untried!

I'm very excited about this book. When I started Unexpected Alpha, I didn't know it would be a series.  By the time I was finished, I knew Random and Kia needed their own books.

Part way through writing Beta Undone (Kia and Madge's story), I realized Josiah would make a great hero.  He's a bit young but he knows he's got a big responsibility ahead of him so he's growing up fast.

Alpha Untried not only tells Josiah's story but for those who felt Betas Unraveled ended a bit abruptly, we get to see Random and Cledwyn again.

Here is the back cover blurb for Alpha Untried.

Josiah knew training to become the new Alpha would be difficult.  He didn’t know it would leave him a desperate virgin. The rest of the Pack won’t come near him and humans just don’t do it for him. He needs a strong wolf…who doesn’t recognize him.

Kal’s days—and nights—are rigidly controlled as he works for the High Council. But sometimes, sometimes, it just gets to be too much and he needs a release.  When he meets a young wolf in a human bar, he knows the perfect way to burn off that excess energy.

Finding out the kid is his friend Rowan’s successor doesn’t make his day.

When wolves attack Rowan’s Pack, Josiah and Kal have to put aside their brief—steamy—history and stop the destruction or Josiah won’t have a Pack to take over.

Pre-order Alpha Untried now on Amazon!

My Reading List...Going back to some old favorites

So I've been desperate for something to read but nothing appeals. If you're like me, you go back to your standbys, those fav books you read over and over again.  Here are a few of my go-to books...which yes, I've re-read this past week.

Muscling Through


I was a bit surprised at how much I liked (and later loved) this book. The point of view hero is pretty low-brow, common, not well educated really. He doesn't fit the typical romance hero, even in a M/M book, but you know, I love the story. I love the characters. My heart ached when there was tension between the two men.  I wasn't expecting to like it but it has become one of my favs when I just need a good solid read. Highly recommend it.

Pricks and Pragmatism


This is another book I wasn't expecting to enjoy. The main hero becomes "friends with benefits" to have a comfortable place to sleep while he finishes school. I fully intended to dislike him but again the author manages to tug on my heart strings so I'm aching when he thinks all is lost.  Another fav.

Snow Balls and Fire Balls
 

I enjoyed all of the "balls" series but these two are my favorites. For Snow Balls, I don't always re-read the whole book but I go back, time and again to the last half. The break up and the rescue. So wonderful, so fun.  Love it!

Fire Balls is another book I re-read every couple of months. A scene will spark in my memory and I need to go back and read it one more time. Great characters, some tension but not too much. Again, a solid, wonderful go-to read.

The photos are links to Amazon if you're interested in checking out these books.

Tielle

My Current Reading List

I always have multiple books going. Some of them take more brain concentration than others. I like to keep a good mix so I can focus during parts of my week and just have fun for the other parts.

Here is what I've been reading and indulging in for the past week.

I'm still reading Fire Up Your Writing Brain: How to Use Proven Neuroscience to Become a More Creative, Productive, and Successful Writer. I've been enjoying it but I'm moving slowly through it.

My next book (at least when we're talking about the craft of writing) is

Boone Brux recommended it to me so it will be my next craft writing book.

As for fun reading...  I recently read Risk Everything on It by K.A. Mitchell.

I enjoyed it quite a lot and I think I'm going to go back and read the first in the series.

I also went back and re-read one of my favorite books...Temporary Mark. I pretty much love everything Kim Dare writes but this is one of my go to books, something when I just need to connect with the characters. It does have a BDSM element to it but it's not overwhelming and the emotion in this book is amazing.  Love it!

Baby steps...

So at the beginning of the year I wrote about taking small steps to make some changes. I’ve called them New Year’s Initiatives.

Well, we’re just a month into the New Year so I decided to report on my progress. 

My goal for January was more tea/less soda. I’ve done pretty well. I still love diet soda. That desire hans’t gone away but I'm doing better (pats herself on the back).  I’ve been drinking 1-2 cups of tea a day and my soda consumption has gone down (a wee bit). I typically drink four to five 20-oz bottles (not kidding).  I’m down to about two to three. I figure that’s got to be progress. I’m keeping this initiative going to see if I can improve.

My writing improvement plan for the year is to read a different book about the craft of writing every month.

In January, I read  Save The Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need by Blake Snyder.

I know it’s been around for a while but the principles remained true (even if some of the examples were from older movies). I think the author offers a lot of good plotting advice. Based on the book, I’ve put a list of items I want to remember as I get deeper into a story.

I’ve picked up a different kind of writing book for February…Fire Up Your Writing Brain: How to Use Proven Neuroscience to Become a More Creative, Productive, and Successful Writer. It’s about writing and neuroscience and how you can train your brain to be more creative and more productive. Sounded interesting. I’ll let you know what I think.

For February, I have one new health initiative: I’m going to work out every day. Now, this may seem huge but I was already working out 4-5 times per week. Then I felt myself slipping back into 3-4 times and then it would be good if I made it to the gym 3 times a week. So, back to it, I work out every day. I figured out for me, I just say to myself “when am I working out tomorrow?” There’s no “if” involved.  

Have fun and happy reading!

My Reading List

So, I'm taking the day off from life. I'm reading. I woke up this morning and finished the book I started last night then stared another one. Here's my current reading list. (These are Amazon Associate Links and will take you right to the Amazon page for that book.)

Finished Lollipop by Amy Lane this morning. I've loved all the books in this series. This one dragged in places but I was cheering for them in the end.



Then I read Red River by Cardeno C. Really enjoyed this one too. Was a pretty fast read but quite enjoyable.


I'm feeling like sticking the werewolf world for a while so, up next... My Boss is a Grumpy Werewolf and I Think He Wants to Eat Me by Jane Wallace-Knight.  The title is catchy so I'm going to give it a try.

Already? Really?

Arrgh! Last Sunday was “Ditch New Year’s Resolutions Day.”  That’s so sad that we’re willing to give up on resolutions 2 weeks into the New Year.  As I said in the last post, I think it’s because resolution is such a finite word. If you fail a resolution…YOU FAIL.  How dreadful.

Having said that…

Confessional:  Even after just a short amount of time, I’ve started wavering on my “less soda/more tea” initiative. I found myself saying, “screw it, I’ll just have another soda,” but then decided to cut myself some slack and take it a day at a time.  I didn't beat myself up about the extra soda I drank. Just decided today, I'll make sure I have more tea. Seriously, there’s a reason that saying works.

When I looked forward to 2016 and asked myself what I wanted out of the year, it was to take my writing to the next level. I’ve been kind of hovering for the past couple of years and I’d like to improve—sales, recognition, options.

Obviously something has to change.  To paraphrase a popular quote—insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.  (Note: from what I can find, this actually goes back to a 1981 Narcotics Anonymous text. It’s also not really a definition of insanity.  If you’re looking for one, here’s an interesting link.)

No, I don’t think I’m insane but certainly doing the same thing isn’t going to change the results. I need to do something different, something better. The same thing, only different.

As part of that initiative, I’ve decided to read a book on the craft of writing each month. It’s a manageable goal. Most craft books are under 300 pages. That’s less than 10 pages a day or about 10 minutes.  I can do that.

My first book is Save the Cat by Blake Snyder (link below).  It’s a well-known screenwriting book. I’ve learned some good things about beats and ways to boost the sagging middle (my own personal challenge). I might not be able to use every element in the book but it’s got my mind spinning with ideas to fix points in my working stories.

And you’ve got to love when new ideas pop up, yes?

Here is a link to Amazon for Save The Cat. It's the paperback copy because I like to be able to write in my "craft" books. Note: I'm an Amazon Affiliate, so if you click the link and decide to buy the book (no pressure), I get a bit of a finder's fee. 

Ch-ch-ch-changes (Gotta do a tribute to the great David Bowie, yeah?)

Yes, it's crazy we're almost 2 weeks into the New Year.  Are you keeping your resolutions?

Did you know that January 17th is "Ditch New Year's Resolutions" Day? Argh! We give up so easily but I get it. We've made resolutions in the past and they have been wicked hard to keep.  

That's why this year I've decided on "New Year's Initiatives." It's a very business-like term, eh? But it's working for me.

Resolutions sound so finite. "I resolve I'm never drinking soda again!"  Yeah, from someone who drinks 4+ sodas a day? That's a hard habit to break.

Initiatives mean I'm beginning something. I don't know the outcome but I'm making a start.  So I've made several initiatives for the New Year and over the next few weeks I'm going to share them with you. 

Also, with initiatives, they don't have to start at the New Year. So, #1 initiative for 2016...every month I'm going to try I new healthy idea. I'm not going to go crazy (learned that lesson). I'm going to do some small changes.

So for January...more tea, less soda. I wasn't kidding when I said I drink 4 large (20 oz) sodas each day.  Since the beginning of the year, I've managed to eliminate at least 1 sometimes 2 sodas by drinking tea instead. Yes, I put sugar in my tea but studies have shown drinking diet soda doesn't really help you lose weight. For my overall health, a little extra sugar each day will be better than 80+ oz. of diet soda.

And that's the good news. I'm hoping this will stick and if it does, maybe later in the year I'll wean myself off sugar in my tea. But I'm tellin' you now...I can't go from artificial sweetener to no sugar. It won't last and I'll be back drinking soda in no time. 

I'm going for long term changes here.   

Coming up...I'm making changes in my professional life as well. Little things that could make a big difference. 

Have a great day!

Tielle

And looking for something fun to read for the New Year? Check out Unexpected Alpha, Book 1 of the Lone Wolves.