Author: tamaramorning

How I Did in 2016…and Goals for 2017

happy-2017

Happy New Year!  I hope everyone had/is having a good holiday weekend.

This is, of course, the obligatory re-hash of my 2016 goals, as well as a public declaration of my goals for 2017.

In 2016, my goals were:

Writing:

1) Finish Witches HTRYN. Didn’t happen. I started work on it, and realized that I have to re-write the story from scratch (mostly).

2) Finish 1st draft of Siren Song. Done! (More or less.)

3) Finish 1st draft of The Fall.   Nope. I did write some of it, but not much.

4) Start Camelot  Done! (To the tune of 1 chapter, a sort-of prologue, and some brainstorming.

5) Revise Casting Shadows. Didn’t even look at it.

6) Finish copyediting classes and make X dollars at it per month. Also no, although I did work on the classes some.

7) Have 500 followers on this blog. Only up to 314.

8) Have 200 followers on my personal blog. Only up to 199.

Reading:

1) Read Gone with the Wind. Done!

2) Read 1 book per month from my TBR shelf. Done!

3) Read all books on the reading list for my American Women Writers class (8 total). Done!

4) Read one classic per month. Done!

5) Read one book of poetry. Done!

6) Read 2 books per month to review. Done!

7) Read one inspirational book per month. Done!

8) Read 75 books total. Done! Actually, I read 128 books—WAY over my goal—which I’m pretty happy about. You can check out my books on the 2016 Goodreads challenge here.

Goals for 2017

Writing:

1) Finish draft of The Fall.

2)  Finish draft of Camelot.

3)  Finish Witches revision.

4)  Self-pub something or find agent.

5)  Revise Chasing Shadows.

6)  Publish/sub Chasing Shadows.

7) Do/win NaNo (with the Southern Fic story).

Reading

1)  Read one book per month set in a different culture or by an author from a different culture.

2)  Read 100 books.

3)  Read one classic per month.

4) Read one spiritual book per month.

5) Review 5 books per month.

6) Read one book from TBR pile every other month.

7)  Read Battlefield Earth.

Clay Tongue, by Nicholas Conley

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This image belongs to Nicholas Conley.

Nicholas Conley is the award-winning author of Pale Highway. Fueled by coffee, he’s fascinated by science fiction novels, comic books, and horror movies. Clay Tongue is his new novelette.

Katie Mirowitz isn’t very big, but her love for her grandfather is. After suffering a stroke, he can no longer talk, but Katie’s relationship with him is still a bright spot in her life, as her family struggles to keep things together. Then Katie finds her grandfather’s old journal, full of tales of a creature from myth. She also finds a key. So Katie sets off into the woods in search of the creature, desperate to have her wish granted, a wish that will save her family.

Clay Tongue isn’t very long, but has plenty of room to draw the reader into Katie’s tale. Katie’s just a kid, but her view of the world is bigger—and far more clear—than the adults in her life. Her love for her grandfather is fierce, as is his for her. There is magic in the pages of this story; magic both large and small, as well as love, hope, and vision.

(Galley provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.)

Murky Pond, by T.L. Haddix

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Image belongs to Streetlight Graphics Publishing.

 

T.L. Haddix is the author of the I. Ronik series, the Sunset Motel series, the Shadows collection, and the Firefly Hollow series. Murky Pond is the 12th book in the Firefly Hollow series.

Lily Campbell does not want to go home. Months ago, she spent one night with Warren Sullivan, and a years-long friendship ended as Lily ran away to travel the world. Now her job is over, and it’s time to return to Dragonfly Creek Farm. And Warren.

Warren has lost more than most people can imagine, but he found home at Dragonfly Creek Farm. When his best friend ran away from him after their night together, he was wounded to the core. Now Lily is back on the farm, and Warren is determined to ignore her—and what happened between them. If only it were that easy.

I did not realize ahead of time that Murky Pond (and the Firefly Hollows series) is “romance with light, folklore-paranormal elements,” so when, about halfway through the book, there was an offhand reference to some of the family members being shapeshifters…I had to re-read the sentence and re-evaluate in my mind. I love paranormal, so I didn’t mind, but nothing else had indicated this aspect, so it caught me off-guard. Also, this is the 12th book in a series, and the first of the series I’ve read, so there’s that. This actually made me more interested in reading the series, as I love a good group of interconnected stories and characters like this. This was a very enjoyable book, and I love the cover!

(Galley provided by Streetlight Graphics Publishing via NetGalley.)

Lone Wolf, by Sara Driscoll

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Image belongs to Kensington Books.

Sara Driscoll is the pseudonym of writers Jen J. Danna and Ann Vanderlaan. They write the Abbott and Lowell Forensic Mysteries, and their new series, FBI K-9s. The first book in the series is Lone Wolf.

Meg and Hawk, a black lab, are part of the FBI’s K-9 unit, called out to disasters to search and rescue anything from a missing person, a criminal, or a body. When they’re called to bombing site at a government building on the National Mall, they find themselves searching for victims in the rubble of a mad bomber’s first target.

Their actions earn them the name “heroes,” and, as the bomber escalates, they are called to more disaster scenes in a desperate search for clues to the bomber’s identity. Because the attacks are spiraling out of control, and they’re sure the bomber has an even bigger target in mind, one that will tear the country apart with fear. It’s up to Meg and Hawk, and the rest of their team, to stop the disaster before it happens.

Lone Wolf contains some scenes that are hard to read, especially for those who can still picture the devastating scenes of 9-11. Meg is a great character, with a tenacious will that makes her fun to read, and the action in this novel never lets up. This series is sure to be a must-read.

(Galley provided by Kensington Books via NetGalley.)

Tamer of Horses, by Amalia Carosella

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Image belongs to Thorskona Books.

Amalia Carosella is a former Biology major who fell in love with Classical Studies. Her newest novel is Tamer of Horses.

Hippodamia was abandoned as a baby, and would have died, were it not for Centaurus, the king of the centaurs who adopted her. Raised among the centaurs, Hippodamia thinks of them as her people, and is glad to do the one thing Centaurus asks of her:  marry future king of the Lapiths, Pirithous, son of Zeus, and produce an heir to cement their peace treaty.

But not everyone wants peace. Some of the centaurs feel that the price is too high. The King of the Myrmidons wants Pirithous’s land and his wealth of horses, and is willing to go far to get them. Meanwhile, strong-willed Hippodamia and prideful Pirithous must come to terms with each other if their marriage is to succeed, and if unexpected love is to grow.

But neither of them expected their wedding day to be the start of a war.

Tamer of Horses appealed to me because I’ve always loved reading the old myths and legends, but the more well-known ones have been “done” to death. Tamer of Horses takes an obscure bit of lore and turns it into a vibrant, breathing story, with characters that dance across the page. I was more than a little disappointed when the story ended and I had to leave the magical setting behind.

(Galley provided by Thorskona Books.)

To Capture What We Cannot Keep, by Beatrice Colin

 

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Image belongs to Flatiron Books.

Beatrice Colin is a former journalist turned author. Her newest novel is To Capture What We Cannot Keep.

In February 1887, Caitriona Wallace is a down-on-her-luck widow tasked with keeping two wealthy Scottish teenagers out of trouble in Paris. Emile Nouguier is building the Eiffel tower. The two meet in a hot air balloon, where magic seems possible. But back on the ground, their different social classes and societal expectations interfere.

Cait must either re-marry or find a permanent position if she is to survive. Emile, heir to his father’s company, is expected to take a suitable bride along with his place in the family business. As the Eiffel Tower rises above Paris, Cait and Emile must decide just how much their love is worth.

To Capture What We Cannot Keep is a vividly rendered picture of the conflicted Paris of the late 1800s. Social strata dominates everything, and the characters face the conflict of their different social stations, as well as their own conflicts over love.

(Galley provided by Flatiron Books via NetGalley.)

Enveloping Shadows, by Lauren D.M. Smith

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Image belongs to Carina Press.

Lauren D.M. Smith is the author of The Emperor’s Arrow, winner of Harlequin’s 2015 So You think You Can Write contest. Her newest novel is Enveloping Shadows.

Terrwyn is a knight and the chief bodyguard of the princess. Her sword skills are all she needs. Until a stranger cloaked in darkness snatches the princess right in front of Terrwyn before she can even move. Now Terrwyn can no longer ignore the rumors of monsters and dark monsters as she sets out to rescue the princess.

All alone and in an unfamiliar land, Terrwyn cannot afford to refuse help from the mysterious stranger who steps from the shadows. Zelek, full of secrets and after the same man who kidnapped the princess, is a shadow-whisperer intent on avenging his family. Together, he and Terrwyn must face Zelek’s old enemy and a sorceress with a demon at her side if they are to save the princess and repay a debt from Zelek’s past,

I loved the premise of this book, and Zelek’s power was intriguing—he can talk to shadows! I also loved the idea of Terrwyn being a female knight, and that being no big deal at all in this world, even if slightly unusual. Zelek on the whole was a far more interesting character than Terrwyn, whom I found to be somewhat inconsistent:  experienced with men yet super shy with Zelek (this was more on the “Ah, how cute!” level than anything.), a stellar warrior who runs into situations without thought, super focused yet oblivious to the obvious at times. I liked the world itself a lot, and would be interested in reading more set in it, but the character inconsistencies and the caricature villains were troublesome for me.

(Galley provided by Carina Press.)

What I Read in November

Late again, as usual, but I had a week’s vacation in November, so I read a lot (It was great.).

The 20 books I read in November:

As I Lay Dying, by William Faulkner. (Classic book for the month.)

did-i-mention-i-miss-you

Did I Mention I Miss You? by Estelle Maskame. (Read to review)

Uncle Vanya, by Anton Chekhov. (For school.)

Tamer of Horses, by Amalia Carosella (Will review.)

To Capture What We Cannot Keep, by Beatrice Colin. (Will review.)

every-mountain-made-low

Every Mountain Made Low, by Alex White. (Read to review.)

unnatural-deeds

Unnatural Deeds, by Cyn Balog. (Read to review.)

no-witness-but-the-moon

No Witness but the Moon, by Suzanne Chazin. (Read to review.)

one-was-lost

One Was Lost, by Natalie D. Richards. (Read to review.)

the-cabin

The Cabin, by Natasha Preston. (Read to review.)

heir-of-thunder

Heir of Thunder, by Karissa Laurel. (Read to review.)

the-homecoming

The Homecoming, by Stacie Ramey. (Read to review.)

humble-roots

Humble Roots, by Hannah Anderson (Read to review.)

a-whole-latte-murder

A Whole Latte Murder, by Caroline Fardig. (Read to review.)

nutshell

Nutshell, by Ian McEwan. (Read to review.)

Cast in Flight, by Michelle Sagara. (Read because I love this series!)

unfolding

Unfolding, by Jonathan Friesen. (Read to review.)

Your Inner Fish, by Neil Shubin. (Book from the TBR pile.).

Gods at War, by Kyle Idleman. (Spiritual book for the month.)

Heavenly Help, by Sarah Bowling. (Bonus spiritual book or the month.)

 

Every Mountain Made Low, by Alex White

every-mountain-made-low
Image belongs to Solaris.

Alex White is a born-and-raised Southern writer who likes Legos, racecars, and, of course, whiskey (He is Southern, after all.). Every Mountain Made Low is his first published novel.

Loxley Fiddleback is haunted.

She inherited her ability to see spirits, but the problem is, they can see her, too. They are drawn to her, and the pain from their touch is excruciating. Seeing ghosts is cruel and painful, and none more so than the spirit of her best friend, alive only a few hours ago.

Loxley isn’t cut out to solve a murder:   she lives near the bottom of a strip-mined pit of a city called “The Hole” and suffers debilitating anxiety and fear of strangers. But Loxley swears to revenge her friend’s murder, and soon uncovers a conspiracy that leads all the way to the top of The Hole. And her enemies are looking for her, too, especially a brutal enforcer named Hiram who will follow Loxley into the strange depths of the city to protect the secrets he’s been hired to safeguard.

Every Mountain Made Low has probably the most unique setting I’ve ever read. I was almost through with the book when I realized The Hole was in the American South (not that that really matters, just an observation). And Loxley is one of the most unique characters I’ve ever read, too. Her mental differences make her viewpoint sometimes-disorienting, but always intriguing, and I found the world both discouraging (because I could see our culture headed that way) and interesting (because it’s just so different). This book is well-worth reading!

(Galley provided by Solaris.)

Don’t Tell Anyone, by Eleanor Gray

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Image belongs to Midnight Ink.

Don’t Tell Anyone is the newest novel from Eleanor Gray.

Grace Neville lost her teenage daughter, Tara, months ago in a brutal murder. Now she watches numbly as Jordan Dukes is sentenced for the crime. While Grace still struggles to adjust to her new life, Jordan’s father approaches her, claiming that his son is innocent and that justice has landed on the wrong person. Jordan’s violent history in a gang makes Grace skeptical…until someone breaks into her home and goes through Tara’s things.

Now Grace is asking questions, questions that hint at dark secrets she never imagined. And someone will do anything to keep those secrets from getting out.

Don’t Tell Anyone is a fast-paced, engrossing read. Grace is a character I truly cared about, deeply scarred and struggling to find her way to shore before hidden secrets drag her back under. I was not prepared for the revelations she uncovered.

(Galley provided by Midnight Ink via NetGalley.)