The King Book Review

Title:  The King
Series:  Black Dagger Brotherhood #12
Author:  J.R. Ward
My rating:  5 Gorgeous ♥'s

First Thoughts:  Intense, powerful, beautiful read!

Synopsis:

J.R. Ward's # 1 New York Times bestselling Black Dagger Brotherhood continues as a royal bloodline is compromised by a grave threat to the throne.

Long live the King... 

After turning his back on the throne for centuries, Wrath, son of Wrath, finally assumed his father’s mantle—with the help of his beloved mate. But the crown sets heavily on his head. As the war with the Lessening Society rages on, and the threat from the Band of Bastards truly hits home, he is forced to make choices that put everything—and everyone—at risk.

Beth Randall thought she knew what she was getting into when she mated the last pure blooded vampire on the planet: An easy ride was not it. But when she decides she wants a child, she’s unprepared for Wrath’s response—or the distance it creates between them.

The question is, will true love win out... or tortured legacy take over? 

My Review:

Another masterpiece by J.R. Ward...loved it! So much going on in The King but, as always, Ward weaves the storylines flawlessly. I loved the duo storyline of Wrath & Beth and his parents, Wrath & Anha. It opened my eyes to the things that are at the root of who Wrath is today. And speaking of Wrath - Wow...what a fierce, powerful & yet loving & protective male! Fell in love with him all over again. I won't give any spoilers but I will mention a few things I loved: 

♥Wrath & Beth's conflict & the way it plays out - very intense, very emotional, very painful & yet always full of love, dreams, & hope for the future of not only their family, but for the race. In additional to personal conflicts, the whole battle for the throne story line plays out in this one...enjoyed it immensely.

♥Assail & Sola - Intriguing storyline that is developing between these two. Sola surprised me with her will to survive, her strength & character. Loved some scenes in which her grandma bosses some very bad dudes around! Assail fights his attraction to Sola but can't deny his instinct to protect her. He is a force to behold when he doles out his version of justice.

♥Trez & Selena - Heart-touching to watch...their desires cannot be denied and yet how do you escape Fate?  And how do you accept it?

♥IAm - I'm getting to know this Shadow better and love what I'm learning. Intensely loyal to his brother. I hope he finds his "Real" soon.

♥Xcor & Layla - Really want to shake some sense into Layla. She reveals too much unintentionally. I'm not sure how I feel about this attraction going on between her & Xcor but I know it's trouble. I'm left with the feeling she should be focusing on her unborn child more & stop slipping out to meet him. It's hard to come to an understanding of Xcor when he can be so evil on one hand & yet vulnerable enough to buy new, regular clothes to impress Layla on the other. Mixed messages.

♥Lassiter - LOL! What can I say about "I'm a Hound Dog!"???? Love Lassiter!

♥The rest of the Brotherhood - Awesome, loyal, & fierce as always. Great scenes involving these guys.

Overall, I found The King to be everything I could ask for and more. Loved it! A Page Burner! A Must Read! Looking forward to more.

My Rating:  5 Gorgeous ♥'s . . .And that's the truth!

Cross My Heart . . .xxx

Happy Reading!
Sandra

IWSG: Calling DIBS!

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

Calling DIBS:

Dibs npl (sl) money, esp in small amounts; a claim; a right to something

I think most people are familiar with the slang term Dibs . . . as in "I'm calling dibs on the window seat"  thereby staking a claim to sit by the window on a trip.  In the book world, thousands of readers (including myself) lay claim to their favorite fictional book characters (esp. those sexy alpha males) by calling Dibs.  Readers are passionate & tenaciously loyal to their favorites and often verbally spar over them, as can be witnessed in many Goodreads groups.   I personally called Dibs on Max Savoie, Nancy Gideon's swoon-worthy hero of the By Moonlight series. He remains my #1 book hero to this day.

DIBS!

What does calling Dibs have to do with my writing?  My characters are personal to me.  I feel an ownership, a possessiveness for each of my characters.  I gave life to them - first in my mind & then on paper as they developed within my stories.  I assume this is the same with most writers.  A very specific female character has lived within me for a very long time.  For years, I've visualized her, heard her voice, saw her walk through very distinct settings in my mind, & at times, I'd swear I caught a whiff of her scent.  I've written scenes, fleshed out her story, and gotten to know her intimately.  I've researched her heritage, know her strengths & special skills, feel her desires.  I understand her anguish, the tears trailing down her face & what motivates her.  I'm now writing her story.  So what's the issue?

In recent months, I started reading a new-to-me series.  It didn't take me long to recognize my special female character as the heroine in the first book.  (What?  Somebody call 911!  I'm feeling ill.)  How could someone else write about a girl so unique, so special to me?  As it turns out, this author has an amazing series that features a heroine that could be my girl's twin - with the same heritage, same physical features, similar skills and many of the same sights, scents, & sounds as those I've dreamed and written about.  Things so eerily similar that I recognized her right away.  The settings are also close with both set in my area of the South.  The plot & other characters in her books are very different than mine - no similarities there.  But, I immediately found myself wanting to holler DIBS on my character.  She's my heart - the character that I've always known I would write one day.  Now I'm wondering if people will read my book and think I copied this author's character.  I know I haven't.  I don't think this author was even born yet when this girl first walked through my visions.  Has this happened to anyone else?  Have any of you ever had similar concerns about one of your characters?

I'll finish writing my character's story, of course.  I simply have no other choice.  But now, I'm struggling with second guessing myself, conscious of making sure that I don't take anything from the other author's character.  I guess one of the dangers for writers who also read a lot is the risk of meeting one of your own characters in someone else's book one day. Has this ever happened to you? Have you ever recognized one of your own special characters in someone else's book?  I think we should be able to call DIBS!  How about you?

One of my favorite Dibs to call is ice cream.  These are small so the calories don't count!

Another one is -  as Sheldon would say, That's my spot!  Dibs!

What things have you calling Dibs?

Ride Steady Book Review

Title:  Ride Steady
Series:  Chaos
Author:  Kristen Ashley
Release Date:  June 30, 2015
My Rating:  4.5 Sinfully Sexy ♥'s

First Thoughts:  Loved the sense of family in this one - the kind that's got your back no matter what.

Warning:  Prepare to fall in love with Joker - especially when you see him with a baby in his arms!


♥Many thanks to the publisher for providing me this ARC via Netgally.


Synopsis:

The ride of her life . . . 

Once upon a time, Carissa Teodoro believed in happy endings. Money, marriage, motherhood: everything came easy---until she woke up to the ugly truth about her Prince Charming. Now a struggling, single mom and stranded by a flat tire, Carissa's pondering her mistakes when a vaguely familiar knight rides to her rescue on a ton of horsepower.

Climb on and hold tight . . . 

In high school, Carson Steele was a bad boy loner who put Carissa on a pedestal where she stayed far beyond his reach. Today, he's the hard-bodied biker known only as Joker, and from the way Carissa's acting, it's clear she's falling fast. While catching her is irresistible, knowing what to do with her is a different story. A good girl like Carissa is the least likely fit with the Chaos Motorcycle Club. Too bad holding back is so damned hard. Now, as Joker's secrets are revealed and an outside threat endangers the club, Joker must decide whether to ride steady with Carissa---or ride away forever . . .

My Review:

Carrisa Teodoro - High School cheerleader, member of the in-crowd, dating the high school golden boy.  On track for a beautiful fairytale life, right?  So how did she end up a single mom with a baby on her hip standing by the side of the freeway, with an Ex that not only refuses to come help her, but threatens to get full custody if she doesn't get their baby dropped off on time??  What happened to her white picket fence & Happy Ever After?

Carson Steele - A boy on the outside looking in at everything he knows he'll never have - the cheerleader, the friends, the life, a father who gives a shit.  Carson is an abused child with a burning rage, eating him alive.  He's living for the day he turns 18 & graduates high school to claim his own life & get the hell out of Dodge.  But the clock's ticking and one night, time runs out...

Twelve years later, fate intervenes in Carissa & Carson's (now know as Joker) life.  As Joker stops to help a stranded Carissa, recognition flares in his eyes & heart but he says nothing. He knew he wasn't good enough for her in high school, just as he knows she deserves better than him now.  MC guys don't have white picket fences . . . Or do they?  Carissa takes a step back from the big, badass motorcyclist who stops to help her.  She doesn't recognize him as the boy from HS but can't deny the sizzling connection that flames within when his eyes drift over her.  Thus begins  the journey of Joker & Carissa . . .Two damaged people wary of trusting anyone with their heart, both determined to make it on their own . . . and yet, powerless to stop the intense, magnetic force between them.   

Ride Steady is a heart-touching story of two people from opposite sides of the track, each learning to face their ghosts and let go, each daring to reach out and accept one another just as they are.  It is poignant & heart-touching, a sinfully sexy love story that is beautiful to see develop.  There is such a sense of family in this one - both traditional & non-traditional.  I loved the way Ashley brought in characters (2 neighbors & 1 teacher) from Joker's childhood who had given him a safe haven, a place to recover from his father's wrath, and made them part of his life now.  I also enjoyed Ashley's use of characters from other series & their involvement in Ride Steady.  At times, it's like a multi-series family reunion.  It was awesome to see Hawk, Mitch, Knight, Lee,  & others working along side the Chaos guys to help keep everyone safe.  As always, loved Shy, Hop, Tack...especially Tack, as he reaches out to Joker, emboding what true friendship & love is all about...a shining example of what being a brother means, what being part of a real family means.

"Fuck, Tack, she was a cheerleader."
Tack again lost his hilarity and speared Joker with his eyes.
"Now, brother, if you don't think you're good enough, the life you lead is good enough, the family you can give her is good enough, then we got a much bigger probem."
"Don't read that shit into it, because you know it isn't there. You also get me. There are women built for the life. There are women who take it on. But she deserves a white picket fence, Tack.
"Then give her one. No law says a biker can't live behind a white picket fence."
*(excerpt from Ride Steady - between Joker & Tack)

Carissa is a strong, kickass heroine - no TSTL girl here . . .she may be down in the beginning of this one but she is definitely not out.  Once she recognizes what she wants, she goes after it (him) like a dog on a bone.  Joker tries to discourage her but let's face it, he never really had a chance - especially not after the Chaos women, Tyra, Tabby, & yes, Elvira, not only adopt Carissa as one of their own, but join her campaign & cheer her on.  There are some great, funny scenes involving this crew in Ride Steady.  Like Joker, Carissa learns the true meaning of love, friendship, & family.

The suspense ramps up as Carissa's Ex begins a campaign to gain full custody of their child, Travis.  At the same time, danger invades the Chaos territory as a message is sent to the Club, Joker specifically, via a dead prostitute informant.  The plot development intensifies but for me, Ride Steady is carried on the shoulders of the characters - the badass, sinfully sexy MC guys with hearts of gold & their women who are just as tenacious & willing to fight for their men & families.  This is a beautiful ride - an awesome read!  Smokin' Hot!  Well done, KA!  A Must Read!  Loved it!!

My Rating:  4.5 Sinfully Sexy ♥'s . . .And that's the truth!

Cross My Heart . . .xxx

Sandra

Cross My Heart Writings & Reviews

IWSG: Unwind & Rewind With Me Time . . .

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

Unwind & Rewind With Me Time:

Anyone following my writing journey knows I've worked diligently on a time management plan, setting priorities and establishing a regular writing routine.  I've been pleased with my progress until recently.  It's amazing how you can be sailing along, feeling really great about things, only to be blown out of the water by things beyond your control.  I'm experiencing that now as recent family illnesses have wreaked havoc with my writing & time management plan, demanding most of my time & energy.  I've bemoaned the fact, beaten myself up over it, & almost given up a time or two - and then, did what I needed to do.  Fortunately, this isn't my first turn at bat - I realize that life often throws curveballs . . . You can stand there & watch it go by or swing for the fence . . . either quit or find a way to make things work.  

Thankfully, my mama didn't raise a quitter.  You'll find me swinging for the fence. So once again, I have to revisit, review & revise my plan, including time needed to care for & fulfill additional family obligations, along with my normal daily work schedule, while still finding blocks of uninterrupted time in which to write.  Stress and worry over the health of loved ones add pressure, as does misguided guilt each time I miss my scheduled writing time. Combined, they drain my creative energy, as I find it difficult to clear my head and quickly revert to my book world within little stolen slots of time.  So the question is: How do I utilize less free time in the best, most productive way possible to accomplish my writing goals?

After giving it some thought, I have come to the conclusion that the answer lies in finding some unwind & rewind me time . . . a few stolen minutes here & there to clear my head - a quiet walk enjoying Mother Nature, a few minutes snuggled in the porch swing with my beverage of choice, an occasional soothing soak in the tub instead of a quick shower at night - in other words, my first priority needs to be taking time to renew & rejuvenate my mind, body & soul - pamper myself with a little TLC.  On one hand, it seems like one more thing to add to an already overcrowded schedule, but on the other hand, mental & physical therapy is imperative to nourish a happy, positive person.   If I enjoy a few Me Minutes  each day to unwind & rewind, then I know I'll be more productive & creative when I sit down to write, in whatever time frame I'm able to schedule.  

It's important to me to continue writing every day.  As Mama said, "Where there's a will, there's a way."  I've discovered it's really no big deal to rise a little earlier to either write or grab a few quiet minutes with my coffee, while the world is still sleeping & dawn is just beginning to blush.  The silent solitude of early morn balances my mind and gifts me with a peacefulness that carries me through my busy days as both caregiver & writer.  A little Me Time goes a long way.  

Are you taking time to unwind & rewind your body, mind, & soul?  How do you manage to steal moments for yourself in spite of the insanity of your busy day?  What's your favorite way to unwind?

IWSG: Will Just Any Name Do?

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


Will Just Any Name Do?

I've heard it said it's easier to name your own babies than it is to name your book characters.  Sometimes, I think that might be true.  My husband & I easily narrowed name choices down to one before the birth of our son (good thing it wasn't a girl).  The name we chose just seemed right, seemed to fit even before his birth.  On the other hand, I always struggle with naming my book characters.  I can spend hours running name choices through my mind, trying them on a character, only to disregard them as not quite right.  Sometimes, I ask myself if it really matters what name I choose for my characters?  A name is a name is a name, right?  One's just as good as the next?  What difference does the name make as long as he/she comes when I call?  

Okay, I know it matters.  Even a writer with less experience choosing names, such as myself, realizes a character's name is important. I know some of the reasons why, some of the dos & don'ts.  But now, I'm calling on more experienced writers, many of you with successfully named book characters (or maybe in your own eyes, unsuccessfully) to share some of your hints, tips, dos & don'ts with the rest of us. What do you absolutely have to know before naming your book characters?  What do you consider a big No-No when naming characters?

Here are a few things most writer's seem to agree on:

Do:

• Look at the Era, Location, Ethnicity, Ancestry & Age of your character
• Have a good visualization of your character
• Reflect your character's personality
• Consider the Root meaning of names
• Consider the Initials & what they may spell
• For me personally, genre plays a part in my character name choices.  

Don't:

• Copy famous names
• Use hard to pronounce names
• Use a name inappropriate to the cultural & ethnic background
• Use a name uncommon to the time period
• Use names that sound the same

What are some things you consider when naming your characters?  Do you choose names before you begin writing your book or are names something that you figure out later, once you've gotten into the story and have a better understanding of your characters & their roles?  Have you ever started with a name & then later found the character it belonged to?  Or do you always start with an in-depth visualization of a character before searching for the right name?  What do you need to know in order to name your babies?

There are many places to look for name ideas...baby name books/lists, phone book, movie credits, obituaries (yes, even there), online name generators, & even character naming books.  The easy part is finding lots of names to choose from, the hard part is choosing the perfect name that nails the essence of your character...one that will become memorable to readers.  

So, how do you choose the perfect character name each time?  Do you follow certain guidelines for naming your babies?  Have you developed a secret works every time formula?  Or will just any name do?  

Lover Reborn Review

Title: Lover Reborn
Series: Black Dagger Brotherhood
Author: J.R. Ward
My Rating: 5 Sizzlin' ♥'s

First Thoughts:  A beautiful transformation & love story...

#1 New York Times bestselling author J. R. Ward’s “different, creative, dark, violent, and flat-out amazing” Black Dagger Brotherhood series continues as a vampire warrior crosses the line between life and death…into a world of dark dreams and darker desires.

Synopsis:

Ever since the death of his shellan, Tohrment has been a heartbroken shadow of the vampire leader he once was. Brought back to the Brotherhood by a self-serving fallen angel, he fights again with ruthless vengeance, unprepared for a new tragedy. Seeing his beloved in dreams—trapped in a cold, isolated netherworld—Tohr turns to the angel Lassiter to save his former mate. The only way to rescue her is for Tohr to love another. As war with the lessers rages, and a new clan of vampires vie for the Blind King’s throne, Tohr struggles between an unforgettable past and a hot, passion-filled future. But can his heart let go and set all of them free?

Review:

As I slowly make my way through the series, I am both blessed and cursed to have the opinion of many former readers shared with me.  It's truly amazing how varied likes & dislikes are on these books as the series progresses.  I started Lover Reborn with the disappointment of some readers weighing heavy in my mind & heart.  Would this be the BDB book that finally disappointed me?  Would it make me fall out of favor with the series?  I am so freakin' happy to shout NO from the rooftops!  I loved this book just as I have each one that proceeded it!  5 stars is not enough!  I laughed, cried, cursed, & stopped breathing a time or two while reading it. The romance is perfect, the love-making singed the pages, the suspense is off the charts, the relationships complicated, and as always, the many plot lines flawlessly woven into another magnificent, un*freakin'*believable story. Once again, I bow to you, J.R. Ward!

Lover Reborn is rich in character, relationship, & plot development.  As always, Ward weaves characters & plotlines flawlessly, mingling backstories & the present.  I won't try to rehash the story as it needs to be experienced without spoilers.  I will say that Tohr has a long, hard road to recover from & accept the loss of his mate & unborn son.  Watching his transformation unfold was painful & yet beautiful to see.  Ward does an amazing job of peeling back the layers in such a way that I experienced Tohr's agony, heartache, & then guilt over "feeling" something for someone else in such a way that I swear I lived & breathed his pain.  At the same time, we watch love bloom in No'One/Autumn - love that she never thought possible for her.  We see her dare to reach out in love & compassion, dare to hope & dream, and finally, dare to stand up for herself and demand more.  What a beautiful story to witness.

As always, many other storylines are advanced.  There are some truly magnificent, touching scenes...Tohr & John, John & Xhex, Qhuinn & Blay...always pain, sometimes love.  I'd be amiss to end without mentioning the angel, Lassiter.  What an awesome addition as he plays counselor, motivator, ass-kicker, & brings some delightful, much needed humor to the story.  Lover Reborn is a Page Burner...immediately upon finishing, I added it to my Favorites Shelf.  A Must Read!  And now, finally, on to Lover At Last!!

My Rating:  5 Intense, Heart-Stopping ♥'s...And that's the truth!

Cross My Heart...xxx

Sandra

IWSG: Never Give Up!

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

Never Give Up:

It's hard to believe it's April 1st today!  This year is flying by so quickly.  I'm scrambling to meet goals and deadlines, continuing to move ahead with my writing goals, marching forward with the dream/goal of having my first book published in 2015 or early 2016.  I won't lie - it's not easy.  Like everyone else, my life is busy.  I often feel like a hamster on a wheel, continuously running in circles and wishing for more time.  Does anyone else ever feel this way? 

It's a constant battle to maintain a regular, protected writing schedule, but I made a commitment in January to set weekly writing goals and a writing schedule and see them through. I'm happy to report that while it's a challenge, it is working.  I can't say every day is productive, but I can say I'm making the effort...putting the words on the page.  I hope the end results is a book I can be proud of and that readers will enjoy, but either way, I'll be able to say, "I never gave up."  And in the end, that's what's important - whether you're talking about writing a book, meeting other goals and commitments, or just traveling on down life's road.  

I learned life lessons at the knee of my Southern Baptist mother where honesty and true grit & determination meant everything.  "I can't" was not allowed in our vocabulary.  Many years later, I can still hear my mother's voice saying, "Can't never could do anything...you'll never know if you don't try."  Well, Mom, I still don't know where my story will end but nowhere in it does it say, "I gave up."  

Best of luck to all those participating in the A-Z Challenge!

Cross My Heart...xxx
Sandra