My Favorite (?) Character Deaths Calling them my favorite is both very true and completely misleading. That sensation of a heart being yanked out, stomped on, and smushed back in still smarting is one every bookworm knows. And alhough ‘like’ is a strong word for that feeling . . . it’s definitely something I’d recommend. Just so you can suffer with me. Okay. If we’re going to do this, let us get in the properly devastated mindset first: Now that…
AKA my favorite summer reads Also I may have been misleading you a tad with the ‘little’ in the title. Buckle up, bookworms. Tis the season for some hot, hot stuff. Please be advised that every single series on this list would be classified in the erotic romance genre, and carries the accompanying level of spicy scenes. This is the perfect weather to sit sipping a cold drink and reading all about abductions, mail-order brides, cute hybrid babies, forced proximity,…
It’s the first Wednesday of the month, which means we are all insecure! Get down with your bad self and accept the fragility. We’re all here to support you. To sign up for the group, go here. We are, if not legion, then at least myriad. There’s plenty of support to be had. And we are also on Twitter @TheIWSG hashtag #IWSG. A lot of the support today is coming from our volunteer co-hosts J Lenni Dorner, Janet Alcorn, PJ Colando, Jenni Enzor, and Diane…
Matilda, (Roald Dahl) Matilda inspires me to believe that my habit of disappearing into my room for hours at a time to read and emerging only after my family has forgotten I exist is a worthy, nay, even noble life decision. Fitzwilliam Darcy, (Jane Austen) As a fellow socially awkward introvert, Mr. Darcy is honestly my #partygoals. We can triumph over large groups, we can survive a village assembly with resting bitch face intact, and we can become enduring romantic literary…
Isn’t it the best when those mischievous feelings sneak up and, WHAM, catch our protagonist upside the head? It’s the literary equivalent to the ‘suddenly; squirrel!’ humor trick and I can’t get enough of watching it play out. Our characters are happily spatting [this is a theme I really like so I read a lot of enemies to lovers, get used to that trope showing up everywhere in my rec posts ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ] all while one of them is insistent…
Today I’m making a half-and-half list. Five bookish worlds I would move to in one second, no questions asked, YES my bags are already packed; and five bookish worlds where I’d last long enough for one good Hollywood scream. First, the top five worlds I would disappear to in an instant if it were somehow possible: 1. Narnia If you tell me you never wanted to live in a world where the animals could wish you ‘good morning’, I will…
I have a suuuper soft spot for these six lovelies. Some of them are older and therefore mostly forgotten, what with all the shiny new stuff coming out every year. A few are newer, but might not have had the best marketing. Whatever the reason, they’re the underdog and we all know I’m a complete sucker for the underdog. (Book descriptions come from Goodreads and let’s face it; I’m totally trying to suck you into reading them) Beauty Robin McKinley –Of…
This is all about the trip down memory lane. It sounds strange at first to think a book, dead leaves stuffed full of inky imprints of soul, could come with a strong sensory memory attached to anything other than your eyes. But if you think about it, a lot of different things combine to be part of the reading experience. Where you were, what you were going through at the time, your environment, even what you were eating. Most of…
This post was part of the author toolbox blog hop, created and hosted by Raimey Gallant. It has gone on hiatus, but there are still plenty of great posts in Raimey’s archives to help you out! Do you know how to tell, at a glance, that you’re dealing with a new, inexperienced author? Telling. When the writing is chock-a-block full of telling, it’s a gargantuan, neon clue blaring out: This author is still learning. This author is hacking out the…
This month’s group is being co-hosted by Joylene Nowell Butler, Jacqui Murray, Sandra Cox, and Lee Lowery! As always, we are grateful for the gift of their time. The IWSG is all about connections, so stop by, skip from blog to blog, and leave a trail of comments behind you. Like Hansel & Gretel, with less murdery confectionary and more digital breadcrumbs. February’s optional question goes: is there someone who supported or influenced you that perhaps isn’t around anymore? Anyone you miss? At first I…