Monday, October 19, 2015

Novel Book Tours ~ Touched By Midnight Series Blog Tour



Welcome to my stop on the Touched By Midnight Series Blog Tour hosted by Novel Book Tours!  I've read all nine of the Midnight books so I can say with authority, "You need to read these books!"  While you're here, feast your eyes on the tantalizing new covers, read my review of Midnight Kiss, enjoy excerpts from the first three books, enter the giveaway, and check out other blog stops on the tour.

The Touched by Midnight Series by Author Nancy Gideon is being re-released with new covers & a bit of updating.  The first 3 books are out now, and I must say Looking Good!  The re-release will continue with books 4-9 scheduled for release at one a month.  Lovers of PNR, especially vampires, grab this series now and sink your teeth in for a taste of some sinfully sexy men of the night with a side order of kickass heroines who stand up to them & for them.  You're in for a tantalizing, mesmerizing adventure as you progress through the series.  I'll give you a hint of things to come with my review of Midnight Kiss, book 1.  

My Review of Midnight Kiss:
Midnight Kiss is a hauntingly beautiful romance that aims straight for the heart.  This book has all the elements of a historical romance with one big added plus - the hero, Louis Radman, is a vampire and the heroine, Arabella Howland, is a very enticing mortal that Louis desires.

 Louis Radman is a tormented, lonely shell of a man who has roamed the earth for 300 years as a vampire.  He is desperate to regain the life that was cruelly taken from him so many years ago.  Louis seeks the help of a physician, Stuart Howland, to cure his blood malady in hopes of reclaiming his mortal life and a shot at claiming the heart of the good doctor's daughter, Arabella.  When a blood transfusion seems to work, Louis takes Arabella as his wife, and they begin living the dream of a long, blissful life together.  But Louis's secrets, nightmares from his past, surface to reclaim Louis and threaten the life of his new mortal bride.  Louis finds himself in a battle for everything he holds dear, including his wife.  

Arabella Howland works as her father's physician assistant.  She is smart, curious, outspoken, pretty, and in love with her father's strange but gorgeous patient.  She can't solve the mystery of Louis's ailment or learn the reason her father is treating him, but she knows he is hypnotic, and she is drawn to him like a moth to a flame as he stirs before unknown desires in her.  Her greatest wish is realized when Louis asks her to marry him.  Little does she know that her dream will soon turn into a devastating, endless nightmare that doesn't disappear when the sun rises.  Arabella's life, as well as the lives of everyone she loves, is in mortal danger as she learns the horrifying truth about the man she has married.  Will she stand beside him to help him fight the past he can't escape?  Or will she run for her life?

I was quickly drawn into the plot of Midnight Kiss and the lives of Louis & Arabella as they battle the ultimate evil for a chance at eternal love.  The supporting cast of secondary characters is strong, adding intrigue and intensity to the story.  I'm especially intrigued by Gerard & am looking forward to more of his story.  Midnight Kiss is mesmerizing, hauntingly addictive, and beautifully written.  The historical setting sets the mood & atmosphere to the point that it almost becomes another character in this book.  Fans of paranormal and historical romance should give this book a read.  It comes in as one of my all time favorites.  A great start to the series!  A must read!

Rating:  5 Mysterious ♥♥♥♥♥'s  And that's the truth!...
Cross My Heart...xxx ~ Sandra

A Few Unforgettable Quotes:
She laughed softly.  "There is no logic in love, Louis.  Love is like the beauty of the heavens.  It needs no reason to exist.  Do not deny me the glimpse of paradise we've made between us.
♥    ♥     ♥     ♥     ♥     ♥     ♥     ♥
"Louis?"
"Yes, Little One?"
"Promise me I will have you forever and always."
When she was met with silence, Arabella looked up to him.  The somber set of her features demanding a reply.  "Promise me."
He cupped her face with a gentle touch, his gaze delving into hers with a soul-snatching intensity.  "I promise that I will never leave you unless it's best for you that I be gone."
♥     ♥     ♥     ♥     ♥     ♥     ♥     ♥
"All I know is the name of what you are and some superstitious folly that's supposed to protect me from you.  I do not know what to believe, Louis."
"Believe that I love you, Little One."
♥     ♥     ♥     ♥     ♥     ♥     ♥     ♥
"All love is madness.  But I will suffer it gladly."
♥      ♥      ♥      ♥      ♥      ♥      ♥
Midnight Kiss (Touched by Midnight - Book 1)
by Nancy Gideon
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | All Romance | Kobo Books
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Published by: Imajinn Books
Release Date: July 12, 2015
Length: 262 Pages
“Dark and compelling, Gideon's novel will appeal to those who enjoy the vampire novels of Anne Rice.” — Library Journal

“A colorful and hauntingly beautiful tale of otherworldly love . . . destined to become a classic!”— Affaire de Coeur 
“Incredible, spellbinding reading!” — Rendezvous 

Hunt or be hunted . . . A centuries old obsession stalks a noble family fighting to hide their dark secret from an ever-changing world. Sink your teeth into Nancy Gideon's Touched by Midnight series.

A DARK CURSE
Miss Arabella Howland is content to forgo the London marriage mill to assist her father in his research, especially when it comes to his intriguing patient, Louis Radman. But it’s not long before Bella’s curiosity alerts her to the danger of her father’s work . . . and to the fact that Louis is not who or whathe seems.

A BRIGHT PROMISE
After centuries struggling with his vile existence, Louis Radman will soon be free of his affliction, thanks to his very capable physician. Unfortunately, his heart is less secure around the man’s tempting daughter. His yearning to walk in the light once more is complicated by his desire for the delightful Bella, who is as intelligent as she is fearless. But if history has taught him anything, it’s not to tempt fate. 

AN UNFORGIVING PAST
Still, happiness has a price and Louis is soon reminded that mortality comes with unfortunate limitations. To protect his new bride, he must face the demons from his past who wish to pull him back into their vampiric fold.

Yet, if he’s forced to return to his midnight world, will he lose his beloved Bella forever? 

Midnight Temptation (Touched by Midnight - Book 2)
by Nancy Gideon
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Published by: Imajinn Books
Release Date: August 14, 2015
Length: 256 Pages
“A treasure trove of unearthly delights! Readers will want to induct Ms. Gideon into the vampire storyteller’s Hall of Fame!”— Romantic Times

“An extraordinary, moving and sensual tale of supernatural love powerful enough to defy death. Nancy Gideon is a bright artistic star of epic proportion in the supernatural galaxy. Five Star!”— Affaire de Coeur

"A fast-paced, surprisingly believable look into a dark and mysterious world where only the greatest of loves can flourish!”— The Literary Times

Hunt or be hunted . . . A centuries old obsession stalks a noble family fighting to hide their dark secret from an ever-changing world. Sink your teeth into Nancy Gideon's Touched by Midnight series.

A WICKED LEGACY
Terrified by her unusual strength and frightening urges, Nicole Radouix’s sheltered country life is shattered when she discovers her family’s secret— she’s the daughter of a mortal mother and vampire father. Stricken, she flees to the seductive lure of the city to discover the truth about who and what she is. But the turmoil of post-revolution Paris is no place for an innocent.

A WILD DESIRE 
Finding herself under the protection of noble ex-patriot Marchand La Valois, Nicole is pulled into deadly underworld struggles, both political and vampiric. As their passions ignite, Marchand soon realizes the lovely Nicole is more predator than prey and may be more of a threat than the unruly streets outside.

AN UNTHINKABLE DILEMMA 
Desperate to control her dark desires, Nicole accepts an offer of guidance from a hypnotic enemy, ensnaring both her and Marchand in a dangerous web of centuries’ old revenge. To escape their deadly nighttime games, Nicole must embrace her immortality. But will it cost her Marchand’s eternal love?

Midnight Surrender (Touched by Midnight - Book 3)
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Published by: Imajinn Books
Release Date: October 1, 2015
Length: 266 Pages
“Gripping! Readers are pulled into a whirlwind while surrendering their souls!”— Gothic Journal

“Darkly sensual and suspenseful Midnight Surrender is nothing short of special! Lovers of vampire romances take notice!”— The Literary Times

“Gideon mesmerizes with this chilling tale. You’ll read it and read it again. Superb!”— Rendezvous



Hunt or be hunted . . . A centuries old obsession stalks a noble family fighting to hide their dark secret from an ever-changing world. Sink your teeth into Nancy Gideon's Touched by Midnight series.

A RECKLESS QUEST 
A savage killer stalks the dark streets of turn-of-the-century New York. To keep her father’s newspaper afloat, publisher Cassie Alexander chases the story. But what she catches is a madman’s attention.

 A DARK DECEPTION
When her reclusive neighbor Louis Radcliffe rescues her from an attack, Cassie finds her vow of independence shaken by the strong attraction between them. It’s an attraction Louis denies, even as the invalid grandmother he cares for pushes to bring them together—for reasons that will break both their hearts.

 AN INEVITABLE SACRIFICE
Determined to hide his secrets from her, Louis soon becomes the cornerstone of Cassie’s investigation. He can’t allow her stubbornness to place her life—and his immortal soul—in danger. But as much as he tries to keep her safe in his arms, it soon becomes evident that Cassie’s become a target. And Louis has no choice but to find out if their love is strong enough to withstand the truth . . .

Nancy Gideon is the author of over 55 novels ranging from Regencies, historicals and contemporary suspense to dark paranormal romance, with a couple of horror screenplays thrown into the mix.
​When not at the keyboard or working full time as a legal assistant in Southwest Michigan, she can be found feeding her addictions for Netflix and all things fur, feather and fin, enjoying Grammy time (usually watching The Avengers), and meeting new friends and readers through her GoodReads “Nancy Gideon by Moonlight” group. Her books can also be found under the pen names Dana Ransom, Rosalyn West and Lauren Giddings.

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Google+ | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page
- Midnight Kiss: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | All Romance | Kobo Books
- Midnight Temptation: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | All Romance | Kobo Books
- Midnight Surrender: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books
​- Genre: Paranormal Romance  

 Enter our Rafflecopter giveaway for a $10 Amazon Gift Certificate!

Posted by at 6 comments:

Slow Ride Book Review

Title:  Slow Ride
Series:  Playing For Keeps #1
Author:  Cathryn Fox
Release Date:  Sept. 28, 2015
My Rating:  4 Flaming ♥'s

 First Thoughts:  It's never too late to chase your dreams . . . especially if he is a sinfully sexy part-time cowboy.

 *Many thanks to Entangled Publishing for this ARC via Netgally.

 Synopsis:

He's looking for love. She's looking for trouble...

As a successful doctor and weekend cowboy, Chase Cooper enjoys a full life with plenty of female company. But lately, something hasn't felt right. He's been distracted. Antsy. Damn it, he's been lonely. With an eye on settling down with a nice girl, Coop invites his high school best friend down to his ranch to see if maybe she's the one for him...

Instead, her twin sister shows up. The one who loathes him.

Julia Blair is already halfway to Coop's ranch when she learns the invitation wasn't for her, but her vivacious twin sister. She has two choices: slink back home, or see just how far this farce will go. One glance at hotter-than-sin Coop, and she knows she's playing a dangerously hot game. Because what this cowboy wants, this cowboy gets...

(Previously released on Entangled's Flaunt imprint as Cowboy's Way - November 2013 and has been enhanced with new material.)

 My Review:

 This is my first read by Cathryn Fox, and I must say while this may be a novella, it sizzles with action, sex, and romance.  The depth of the plot line is surprising given the short length of the story.  And yet, I was left completely satisfied with the character development and couldn't help falling in love with Coop and Julia as they stumbled their way into love.

 After a night of drinking, three friends - Coop, Jag, & Mac - decide it would be a good idea to invite the ones that got away down to their dude ranch for a week to see if sparks would fly or sizzle out.  Chase Cooper sent an invitation to his gal friend from high school - a girl named Mia whose twin sister was Coop's secret crush.  When the invitation arrives, it's Julia who receives it.  Having no idea who it's from, she decides on a whim to show up in her sister's place.  As she walks off the plane, she is shocked to see Coop waiting.  The truth is - she's always had a crush on him too.  And so their story begins.

 The next week is spent getting to know each other - both in and out of bed.  It's obvious they are sexually compatible, but Julia wants someone to want HER, not her sister.  Coop is looking for a permanent relationship, and he believes he's found it in Julia.  But mishaps, misunderstandings, and secrets threatened to destroy the relationship before it gets off the ground.  Can Coop convince Julia that she's the one he wants in only a week?  Is it too late to catch the one that got away?

 Slow Ride is a sweet, sinfully sexy story about second chance romances.  It's well written and flows beautifully.  If you like your cowboys smokin' hot & all kinds of trouble and your sex all over the place, this is the book for you!  Sweet, erotic, sizzlin' hot . . . A Must Read!

 *Many thanks to Entangled Publishing for this ARC via Netgally.

 My Rating:  4 Flaming ♥'s . . . And that's the truth!

 Cross My Heart . . . xxx
Sandra


Posted by at No comments:

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Unleashed By Shadows Book Review


Cale ~ Terriot King aka Gunslinger
Title:  Unleashed by Shadows
Series:  By Moonlight, book 10
Author:  Nancy Gideon
Release Date:  Print: Oct. 17, 2015
                         Ebook - Oct. 26, 2015
My Rating:  5 Searing, Soul Searching ♥'s
First Thoughts:  Sometimes, the greatest danger to man comes from secrets hidden within . . . the ones lurking in the dark shadows of one's own soul. They hold the power to destroy us - they are the opponent we must conquer if we are to survive with our sanity and life intact.  Even a King is vulnerable to the darkness . . . he just has farther to fall when he loses.

 Synopsis:

He feared no man, no foe, no obstacle or challenge . . . 

Burdened by the weight of his secrets and his father’s sins, the need for redemption pulls Cale Terriot from his duty to his clan and the arms of his new mate into deadly intrigues in a rival territory. His dangerous masquerade in a high-stakes Shifter fight club is about to be exposed to those who would show no mercy – if he can survive in the ring.

How to protect a prince turned king made pawn? 

Fearing she’ll lose her soulmate to the darkness he carries inside, Kendra Terriot, newly made queen in the Shape-shifter House of Terriot, must provide him with an heir in order to save his life . . . and his soul. But first she must risk all to coax him back from the edge of violence inherited with his crown.

Can her love tear him from an unbreakable vow that can only end in death?

My Review:

 Burdened by a dark past ripe with blood, death, & enough guilt and regrets to last several lifetimes, Cale Terriot is on a mission to make amends and atone for the sins of his father and so when  Silas MacCreedy calls in a debt, Cale reluctantly agrees to help him.  When he learns what is expected of him, Cale knows he should refuse but it's the only way to satisfy his debt and ease his guilt.  The King of the Terriot clan of Shapeshifters goes underground to fight in an illegal fight ring in an effort to discover the names of the men at the top - the powers that be who pose a real threat to his people, family, & all of New Orleans.  Cale knows he's walking on dangerous ground, flirting with the devil as he falls under the spell and into the hands of Casper Lee.  He's walking a high wire without a safety net and dangerously close to falling off.  I won't go into more details on the story to avoid spoilers, but Unleashed is a riveting read, one intimately woven to include a large cast of characters in a plot with more twists and turns than a curvy mountain road.

 From King to the drug induced world of illegal fighters . . . what happens when a man risks everything in an effort to make amends for the past?  When is the cost of redemption too high?  If Cale survives the fight in the ring, will he be lost to the inner darkness threatening his soul?  Cale is crumpling under the weight of a heavy secret - one that haunts him, one that is destroying him, one that may cost him the love of his life.  In order to win the fight in the ring, the King of the Terriots will have to flirt with a dark mistress from his past . . . one that nearly destroyed him before his mate, Kendra, stepped in, refusing to let him go. Cale enters a battle for his life, his mate, his people, and his soul.  They say the truth will set you free - but what if it costs him everything?

 Cale Terriot is simply awesome in Unleashed By Shadows.  There's no doubt he's King of the Terriots as he struts his stuff whether working undercover as a common dock worker, getting down & bloody in a fight ring to the roar of Gunslinger, or shaking his mighty fine ass on the dance floor.  He is arrogant, cocky, and smokin' hot!  He's also protective, devoted, & actually very vulnerable.  He accepts the weight of the crown pressing heavily upon him as he fights to save all that is dear to him.  There are two sides of Cale Terriot to be experienced in this book, and the cover reflects both of them beautifully.

 Kendra Terriot surprised me in Unleashed.  Gone is the shy, meek girl who married her Prince.  Present & accounted for is a kickass woman who goes to bat for her man.  She is spunky, sassy, and a force to be reckoned with - as Cale himself soon discovers.  I loved the new, improved Kendra.  She no longer stands behind her King, she stands beside him as his Queen.

 And then, there's the Terriot Brothers - Colin, Rico, and Kip.  Gorgeous, powerful, lethal and loyal to their brother and the crown he wears.  Sensing the imminent danger surrounding their brother and king, they unite to cover his back.  Together, they are a force to be reckoned with.  One of the sexiest things I've ever seen is the Terriot brothers in action on the dance floor.  Somebody pour me a cold one!  Cale, Colin, & Rico take over a dance floor with moves that will leave you panting for more.  I am hoping for much more of the Terriot brothers in future books.

How can I talk about Moonlight #10 without mentioning Max and CeeCee?  They return from their honeymoon a little more than halfway through this book.  Max is magnificent as always! It does my heart good to see this man/shifter happy with his mate, CeeCee, by his side. There are some great scenes between Max & Cale as Max shares some of his secret abilities and powers with Cale in an effort to help him prepare for the fight of his life.

Unleashed By Shadows is an intense, riveting, explosive read that had my heart racing, my libido firing, and my laughter ringing out loud.  While Unleashed is intense, Nancy Gideon's snarky humor is always evident, and I'm happy to say that she rings the sex-o-meter bell more than once in this one!  Cale's story will grab you by the heart strings as you share the journey of a guilt ridden man seeking redemption - one who is haunted by shadows of regret and a past that will bury him alive if he doesn't open up and let the light shine in.  Unleashed By Shadows is a heart-touching, sexy, soul searching read.  A Page Burner!  A Must Read!

 My Rating:  5 Gorgeous, Soul-Touching ♥'s . . . And that's the truth!

 Cross My Heart . . . xxx
Sandra




Posted by at No comments:

Saturday, October 10, 2015

Walk Through Fire Book Review

Logan aka High - Chaos MC
Title:  Walk Through Fire
Series:  Chaos #4
Author:  Kristen Ashley
Release Date:  October 26, 2015
My Rating:  4 Fiery ♥'s

 First Thoughts:  Sometimes, love hurts.  Sometimes, the measure of love is how much you're willing to give up.  Sometimes, fairy tales turn into long nightmares.  Sometimes, you have to walk through fire to get a second chance.

 *Many thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for a review.

 Synopsis:

Millie Cross knows what it's like to burn for someone. She was young and wild and he was fierce and even wilder-a Chaos biker who made her heart pound. They fell in love at first sight and life was good, until she learned she couldn't be the woman he needed and made it so he had no choice but to walk away. Twenty years later, Millie's chance run-in with her old flame sparks a desire she just can't ignore. And this time, she won't let him ride off . . . 

Bad boy Logan "High" Judd has seen his share of troubles with the law. Yet it was a beautiful woman who broke him. After ending a loveless marriage, High is shocked when his true love walks back into his life. Millie is still gorgeous, but she's just a ghost of her former self. High's intrigued at the change, but her betrayal cut him deep-and he doesn't want to get burned again. As High sinks into meting out vengeance for Millie's betrayal, he'll break all over again when he realizes just how Millie walked through fire for her man . . . 

My Review:

All Millie wanted was a burrito . . . not the salad she should have, a burrito.  While waiting in line to get her burrito that wasn't a salad, she hears a voice from her past, a voice from 20 years ago that could still make her blood sing, a voice she'd know anywhere - Logan aka High.  She did the only thing she could - she turned and ran out without a burrito.  But it was too late as High was deep under her skin, always had been, always would be - even after 20 years apart.  Later, Millie decides it's time to face Logan/High and clear the air . . . give him the truth about why she left him.  And she knows that in order to find High, she'll have to go to Chaos MC.

Thus begins the story of the turbulent reunion of Millie & Logan - two people who fell in love at first sight 20 years ago, two people who had loved and planned for their future with a passion, two people who were both utterly destroyed when Millie walked away.  In typical KA style, the plot is intricately woven including several characters from past books and the continued threat of danger from Benito Valenzuela.  Logan, like all the badass Chaos men, is fierce, bossy, protective, and once he learns the reason Millie left him - determined to reclaim what he lost 20 years ago . . . no matter the cost.  Millie is a woman that has just gone through the motions of living since leaving Logan.  She is smart and successful but an empty shell inside - until Logan awakens the girl he fell in love with again.  But for me, the stars of this book are the fierce women of Chaos - Tyra, Lanie, Carissa, Tab, & Elvira (while not technically Chaos, she's still a member of their posse.)  This gang takes it upon themselves to get Millie & Logan back together . . . even after specific orders from their men to stay out of it!  The results are sometimes catastrophic and often hilarious.  The Chaos men don't stand a chance of controlling this posse of women as they set out to right a love gone wrong.

The road to reconnecting with lost love is often a long one, with twists and turns that can lift you up or rip you apart.  Sometimes, love hurts.  Sometimes, the measure of love is how much you're willing to give up.  Sometimes, fairy tales turn into long nightmares.  Sometimes, you have to walk through fire to get a second chance.  Untamed is the story of Millie & Logan's second chance.  It is poignant, heart-touching, & sexy as sin.  A Must Read!

My Rating:  4 Fiery ♥'s . . . And that's the truth!

Cross My Heart . . . xxx
Sandra 


Posted by at No comments:

Friday, October 9, 2015

Untamed Book Review

Griffin Hancock - Bass Player, D-Bags
Title:  Untamed
Series:  Thoughtless #4
Author:  S. C. Stephens
Release Date:  Nov. 3, 2015
Rating:  4 Sizzling ♥'s

 First Thoughts:  It's a long way down from Rock Star to Rock Bottom.  Sometimes you don't realize what you have until you lose it all . . . this is the story of  a man, a rock god, who tosses away everything for an illusive dream - one that turns into his worse nightmare.
*Many thanks to Netgally & the publisher for providing me this ARC.

 Synopsis:
The spotlight doesn't only shine. Sometimes it burns.

Being the bad-boy bassist for the world's hottest band has earned Griffin Hancock some perks: a big house, a fast car, and most importantly his incredible wife, Anna. The one thing it hasn't brought him is the spotlight. Anna tells him to be patient, that his talent will win out. But Griffin is through waiting for permission to shine.

Without warning, Griffin makes a shocking decision and takes the gamble of a lifetime. Suddenly he's caught up in a new level of lights, cameras, and chaos. One that pushes his relationship with Anna to its limits. Anna has always found his unpredictable behavior sexy, but lately he's seen an ache in her eyes--and it has his soul in knots. Just as the recognition Griffin seeks is finally within reach, the thing he loves most in life could be slipping through his fingers...

My Review:

Life is good for Griffin Hancock - he's got it all . . . a beautiful wife & daughter, all the material things his heart desires, and he's the bass player of the famous rock band, D-Bags. Women desire him, and men want to be him.  So why isn't he ecstatically happy? Why isn't that enough?  Because Griffin wants and thinks he deserves more - he is tired of being just the bass player. He's tired of standing in the shadow of Kellan Kyle, lead singer of the D-Bags, as well as the other band mates.  He's ready to step into the limelight & let the world see his awesomeness. The old green-eyed monster is eating him alive, and Griffin reacts the only way he knows how - he's obnoxious, arrogant, insulting, & obscenely vulgar.  He pushes everyone's buttons while alienating all who love him.  When an unforeseen opportunity to shine like the star he believes himself to be presents itself, Griffin jumps without a safety net - without consulting his wife, Anna, without talking to his friends, without a backup plan.  He finds himself caught up in a web of lies and deceit that threatens to wreck his world.

Griffin is way past arrogant in the first half of Untamed.  I was a little surprised at the depth of his vulgarity, crudeness, and jealousy and quite frankly, I felt like he needed to open his eyes & ears and get over himself.  I was to the point of thinking I couldn't take anymore of his lewd behavior when the story shifted and things began to change.  How hard the mighty fall. Griffin has a hard lesson to learn, and the second half of the book deals with his new reality.

It's a long way down from Rock Star to Rock Bottom.  Griffin learns the truth the hard way - sometimes you don't know what you have until you lose it all.  What do you do when you've lost everything?  How do you claw your way back to the top? Untamed  is the story of a man who learns how fast an illusive dream can turn into your worse nightmare. He learns what happens when you let pride stand in the way of seeking redemption, and he learns what he can't live without.  Untamed is a great addition to the Thoughtless series.  A Must Read!

My Rating:  4 Forgiving ♥'s . . . And that's the truth!

Cross My Heart . . . xxx
Sandra


Posted by at No comments:

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

IWSG: Living & Writing in Color



Seasons are changing here in North Carolina.  The morning air is crisper, a bit sharper.  The sky is clearer, a little bluer.  Orange pumpkins dot the landscape, many of them wearing their Halloween faces.  Scarecrows, witches, and ghosts decorate front yards & porches, sentinels standing guard over hearth & home.  I'm surrounded by a riot of color as hardwood trees strut their stuff, putting on their yearly fashion show, their one last hurrah before old man winter moves in and blows all their colorful leaves to the ground.  



Autumn is all about color - an assault on the senses. The sights, smells, sounds, tastes, and yes, even the feel of Fall awakens so many emotions in me - many of the same emotions that I strive to share with readers through my stories.

Like life, writing should be woven with color, teasing all the senses - sight, sound, smell, touch, & taste.  It should bring characters to life, make them so real that the reader will laugh with them and cry for them.  How do you do that?  By making a strong emotional connection between the reader and your characters.  After all, emotions belong to the reader.  It is our job as writers to make the reader feel empathy for our characters - our job to elicit a reaction from the reader.  You can tell a reader that a character is unhappy or mad or glad by stating the facts, but to get a honest, heart felt reaction out of a reader, to make a reader really care, you have to write in such a way as to allow the reader to experience the emotion.  

If you want to get an emotional reaction from your readers, start building your case by revealing the source of the character's emotion - the reason the character says or does or feels or acts as they do.  Once you have established cause, then you raise the stakes - take the scene/situation up a notch, add color & depth by upping the stakes, revealing the emotional & physical consequences of a character's actions, ratcheting up the emotional costs - what does your character stand to lose? Everything?   

 After building your case, laying your groundwork, stand back and trust the reader to react and experience the avalanche of colorful emotions rolling off the pages, invading their mind, heart, & soul.  If you've done your job, built your emotional case strong enough,  the reader will have become emotionally vested, and they'll react with strong emotion to your characters and story.  They will both love and hate with a passion.  They will cry a river of tears for a lost or broken character and raise their voices to rejoice with one who has found their way back home.  They will experience jealousy lost in a blue haze and fury igniting in a red rage.  They will live, breathe, eat, and sleep your story in color.  They'll hear voices of characters in their head and see them meandering through their dreams at night.

As an avid reader, I know this to be true as I've experienced it time and time again at the hands of a gifted author.  As a writer, my goal is to achieve this same high level connection between my characters and my readers by carefully laying my groundwork, detailing reasons for the emotional baggage carried by each character, and then . . . by placing each of my characters on an emotional roller coaster, buckling them in, and flipping the switch to On.  If I've done my job, the readers will feel, react, and experience the collision of colorful emotions, the destruction or salvation of individual characters. 

 Again, one lesson I've learned as both a reader and a writer is that emotions belong to the reader.  If you don't elicit a strong emotional reaction from your readers, you'll lose them. You can deliver a bigger emotional punch by writing in color, not black & white.  

 Do you live life and write in color?  What do you do to help your readers experience your characters emotional journey?  Share any ideas/thoughts/tips with us.


The Insecure Writer's Support Group is a community of writers whose purpose is to share with and encourage other writers. Writers can express doubts and concerns and offer & receive encouragement and guidance.  IWSG posts the first Wednesday of every month.  Be sure to check out other IWSG writers/bloggers here:  IWSG Members

Posted by at 4 comments:

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

IWSG: Time Flies . . .

The Insecure Writer's Support Group is a community of writers whose purpose is to share with and encourage other writers. Writers can express doubts and concerns and offer & receive encouragement and guidance.  IWSG posts the first Wednesday of every month.  Be sure to check out other IWSG writers/bloggers here:  IWSG Members


Time Flies . . .And Waits For No One!

Is it really September 1st?  Four months remaining in 2015?  Are you kidding me?!  It's absolutely spooky how fast time flies.  I remember celebrating the new year, lamenting the bitter cold of winter that lingered way too long, and basking in the warmth of spring when she finally appeared.  I remember spring  turning into the long, hot, humid days of summer way too soon.  And while it's still very hot here in the South, I know the first few cool days of Fall are just around the corner.  
Can I turn back the clock?

As sure as the sun rises every morning, time is marching on.  And it's definitely not waiting on me to finish my current book in progress.  It's a bit scary when I realize how fast time slips by.  A day, a week, a month . . .it's gone in a heartbeat.  I want to scream No . . .Slow down!  But Father Time isn't listening, doesn't care.

 It's frustrating for me as I began the year with high hopes of being ready to publish my current work in progress in 2015. I feel like I should be finished and yet, I'm not.  I want to type The End but I'm not there yet.  I've tried to write consistently, and after spending way too much time stuck in the middle, I'm once again moving forward.  (Have you ever been stuck there?)  So, other than lost time trying to fight my way out of the mental middle roadblock, I'm content with having met several of my goals, including sticking with my writing schedule.  I simply need more time (there's that word again).

 I've always heard time flies when you're having fun, and I know it does.  But it also flies while you have your back turned, while you're dealing with the many trials & tribulations of day to day living, while you're finding your way around all the roadblocks (whether real or imagined).  

 Am I the only one who thinks 2015 is flying by?  Have you accomplished your writing goals this year?  One thing is certain - Time Flies!





Posted by at 5 comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)