Things to Look Forward to This Year

I recently got the rights back to my contemporary romance novel, Irish Squeeze. I love the characters in this story but I wanted to do something more with it. I mean, since when do I write romance with no extra element to add some flavor? And Melissa is such a spunky chick, she could definitely use some extra umph.
Then it hit me: rewrite it as a fantasy. An urban fantasy romance. Boom, just like that the characters suddenly had more depth to them. Irish now had secrets. Melissa's family were now a rare breed of fantasy creature in their world. And the world itself now had its own story of civil unrest and an "Us vs Them" mentality between humans and "other" creatures. 
Isn't it funny how that works out sometimes? This story was already a sexy fun time but now it has even more going for it. Not to mention possible sequels because I definitely see a series in the making here.
I plan to republish this story this year through Hollow Hills. Now I just need to think of a new name that will fit this new and improved tale...

Meanwhile, I am touching up my short story for the next Hollow Hills anthology coming later this year. If you haven't read Still Standing, I suggest checking it out. My short story titled "The Brave Blacksmith" is a fantasy romance at heart, but deals with some dark issues. Blacksmith's wife was murdered, but though he got his revenge and executed the evil king, ensuring the rightful queen was returned to her throne, he now feels he has no purpose in life. Until the queen sends him on a quest in an unfamiliar country. This story deals with mental health, bullying, and ends on a cliffhanger. Part Two promises to be just as magical and action packed. I do hope you stick around to read "The Blacksmith's Quest" coming in the next anthology.

It looks like this is shaping up to be a busy year so far. Stick around to hear more about amazing indie books I read and releases of my own novels in 2019.
Happy reading!

May, June, and July Reads & Reviews

Hello, all!
It has been a little while since I did a post about the indie books I have read and reviewed. Let's go ahead and do three months at once, shall we?

To Hate and to Hold
by Dakota Rebel

Rating: 5 Stars

Review:
Loved it.
Whoa, this was a hot read from the start. I thoroughly enjoyed delving into this paranormal world that felt so natural and not over-explained. Every scene left me wanting more.
Sexy and sweet!

Teddy Bear Revolution
by T. E. Hodden

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:
 
This was a great story that kids and adults can both enjoy. I loved the non-stop action and humor. The bears were adorable yet full of life and personality. Each short story was well-written and full of intrigue and suspense. Can't wait to read more from this author!

Gems of Strength
by The Sisterhood

Rating: 5 Stars

Review:
A wonderful collection of varying short stories by various indie authors. Romance, action, science fiction, fantasy, and even a thriller, this anthology has it all.
Though there were one or two stories that didn't resonate with me, on the whole, I thought the stories were brilliant and certainly kept with the theme of strong women characters. Well edited and engaging, I highly recommend this one.

Ascension Within
by Julie Nicholls

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:
A wonderful conclusion to a sexy and action-packed trilogy. Mysteries, steamy moments, and suspense kept me turning pages. The characters are diverse and lovable and the happy ending was delicious. Another great read from Julie Nicholls!

Clover
by Moxie Darling

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:
A quick, hot read!
Though the sex may be taboo to some, Moxie Darling makes it feel perfectly natural in this steamy short story. A nice mix of sexy and sweet.

Beyond the Reach of Judgement
by Jo Bissell

Rating: 3 Stars

Review:
This was a pretty decent vampire read. Though parts were drawn out and Julien was kind of a whiney protagonist, the story itself was good. The ending was heartbreaking and left me wondering, though it could have come a hundred pages earlier.

Hannah: A Bride for Cowboy Warren
by Jenny Creek Tanner

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:
This was a sweet short story with a vivid setting and relatable characters. A quick read that leaves you with warm feelings.

Heart of the Gladiator
by Lydia Pax

Rating: 5 Stars

Review:
An intriguing story.
This was a great read that truly brought the entire world of the Roman gladiator to life. The setting details, interesting characters, and steamy romance made this hard to put down. I definitely recommend it!

Mark of the Beast
by Trevor L. Wooten

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:
A real page-turner!
Though the sheer amount of characters was a bit confusing at times, the story was fast-paced and exciting. The main characters had unique personalities that made them easy to relate to and the villains were intimidating but cheesy in ways even the protagonists could joke about. All in all, an enjoyable story.


I read some good ones these past few months. That Goodreads Reading Challenge is pretty much in the bag. If you aren't reading books by these indie authors, you are missing out. 
As usual, have a great week and happy reading!

A Giveaway!

Hello my fellow readers. Today is a pretty exciting day for me for a few reasons.

Tomorrow is the 4th of July, and like every good American, I look forward to a day of relaxation while showing thanks for those that fought for our freedom as a country. Of course, most of that message has been lost over the years and fireworks and barbecues are the topic of the day now, but still, people need a reason to celebrate and make merry in trying times such as these.

Another reason I'm pretty stoked today is that I finally have 500 followers on Twitter! I have been on Twitter for seven years now, pumping out tweets about books, life, writing, and other random things. It simultaneously seems like forever and yet only yesterday that I first created an account there. I want to thank everyone who follows me there and reads my strange rants and book promos. It's been a blast so far!

Now for some really exciting news. The APC group on Facebook, better known as Author-Professional Co-op, will be doing monthly giveaways of indie books! This first month, one of my books will be featured along with books from five other amazing indie authors. This Book Bundle Giveaway is through Rafflecopter and requires NO purchasing or subscribing to newsletters. All you have to do to enter is Like the author's Facebook pages and follower them on Twitter. That's it! Pretty simple, huh?

I hope your week is fabulous and, as always, happy reading!

Writing and Editing

Being a published author does not mean my writing is perfect. I am by no means a master of the English language and flawless when it comes to editing my work. Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone.
Luckily, I have great friends who look out for me and let me know when I've make a boo-boo with my published works. I even have a few awesome beta readers who rip my story apart (in the best of ways) before I put it out there for the world to enjoy. I do the same for my author friends.
But sometimes things are missed (Because everyone makes mistakes, right?) and I have to go back over my work to do some rewrites or further editing of the story. This year I plan on returning to my older works and fixing them up. It will take some time, but I want to reread everything with fresh eyes and try to catch all the typos or plot holes I can. 
I honestly think every writer should do this from time to time. My writing style has evolved a lot over the past few years and though I may not want to change story lines or characters themselves, I may want to change how I present them in my stories. I'm also a bit wiser when it comes to editing issues. Yes, only a bit wiser. I still throw quite a few "rules" out the window.

Hopefully, by the end of the year, I will have a collection of improved works to show off and some peace of mind that I did my very best in presenting them to you, readers. 
Hope you pick up one of my books to entertain you this year. Happy reading!

Don't Forget to Vote!

The Summer Indie Book Awards are in full swing and ending soon! You guys should really come by and check out this awesome event. There are so many amazing indie books in each category that I am having a hard time choosing what to vote for!
Voting started on the 1st and ends on the 11th of this month. Please consider voting for my published works that made it in. I have two books in two different categories. A Naughty New Year's Eve is nominated in the Holiday category. Here is the link to vote.

Box of Chocolates is nominated in the Fantasy category. Here is the link to vote.

Before you leave, though, check out the other categories for some great reads. Some really talented authors are featured here. You might find a new book or two to fall in love with. 
Happy reading!

August Reads & Reviews

Last month was really busy for me. I published one book for both of my pen names and read lots of great books! Let's take a look at the indie books I enjoyed in August.

The Ever-Burning Light
by K. L. Cottrell

Rating: 5 Stars

Review:
Spellbinding! I absolutely loved this book. A perfect conclusion to a beautiful trilogy. The writing style was fun, humorous, and beautiful. The story was powerful and inspiring. I'll be thinking about this one for a while, I'm still completely immersed in that world of Light and Dark, of humans and monsters, and love and hate. A wonderful urban fantasy

To purchase this title, find it on Amazon here.

This is Me.
by C. E. Wilson

Rating: 5 Stars

Review:
Wow! What a wonderful sci-fi romance! The question of what's real and what's not, what's alive and what isn't, is explored in this beautiful story about a woman, her robot companion, and her jealous love interest. Can a machine learn to love?
I had a hard time putting this down!

To purchase this title, find it on Amazon here.

Never Kiss Me Goodbye
by Ranay James

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:
Though it started off slow and repetitive, once the story got going, it was hard to put down. The constant twists, action, and sexual tension between the main characters kept me on my toes. And that ending was certainly not what I expected. Can't wait to read the next installment! 

To purchase this title, find it on Amazon here.

Point of No Return
by Ranay James

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:

Fasted paced fun! More twists and turns and great action in this second book in the series. I had a hard time putting it down! 

To purchase this title, find it on Amazon here.

What Once Went Wrong
by T. E. Hodden

Rating: 5 Stars

Review:
A tragic but heartwarming tale of love and friendship. This story flowed like poetry of the sweetest kind. George's story of finding Happy Ever Afters for his friends was well written and inspiring. I couldn't put it down.

To purchase this title, find it on Amazon here.

Illusional Reality
by Karina Kantas

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:
Grabbed me in the first chapter! Though this started out as your typical, "Oh by the way, you are unique and have to save our people" fantasy, it quickly became a more interesting tale. Thya discovers her true identity and though she tries to take it all in stride, it's obviously still really hard for her to let go of her life on Earth.
Though the Tsinians strike me as pretty naive (They have been constantly attacked by their enemy for decades and all of a sudden decide he is trustworthy? Really?) Thya isn't and doesn't play around when it comes to people she doesn't trust. She basically tells the guy who killed her parents, and now wants to marry her as part of a peace treaty, to stick it where the sun doesn't shine. We see her character grow stronger of mind and more confident as the story progresses.
Full of action, a budding romance, betrayal, and some really cool yet terrifying magic, Illusional Reality was a fun read that I just had to finish in one sitting.

To purchase this title, find it on Amazon here.


I also caught up on the most recent issues of I Hate Fairyland. Yes, it's crazy and bloody but I still love it.
Happy reading, everyone!

Summer Indie Book Awards

What's up, readers!
I wanted to tell you about this cool event coming up that I will have a part in. Metamorph Publishing, an indie publisher, is hosting an awards event next month. Two of my books have been nominated! Yay! Here is some info about the event from their site:

The cold of winter is setting in, at least for those of us in the northern Hemisphere of the world. But we at Metamorph Publishing aren’t letting that get us down! We’re already looking forward to a sizzling summer, and we’re here to announce our first annual Indie Book Awards! You heard that right, a summer book awards! The event officially begins on January 1^st of each year, and nominations will be accepted through midnight CST on August 31^st each year. Voting will begin on September 1^st and end on September 10^th each year.

“What’s the big deal?” you ask. “There are all kinds of contests out there.” And you’re right, there are hundreds, probably thousands of book awards. But many of them are only for unpublished authors, or authors who only write in certain narrow genres, or for authors who have never published before in a particular genre. Plus, there are plenty of them that charge an entry fee, some of which are prohibitive to authors who publish independently, without the backing of a large and powerful publishing house.

So, we’re hoping to do something different with the Summer Indie Book Awards! Entry is free, and nominations will be accepted from any indie or small-press author, regardless of their current published or non-published state, or what genre they write in.  We’re taking nominations from authors as well as from readers, and authors can nominate their own books; we only ask that authors who do so also nominate a fellow indie author. Nominations can be made using this form: http://goo.gl/forms/T1L8sQJGVx, while donations can be made at: http://goo.gl/forms/6DkAK4MeqI.

Feel free to join up with the event on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/events/1099924726693772, and like the official Facebook page of the Summer Indie Book Awards at https://www.facebook.com/summerindiebookawards. You can also sign up for the newsletter at: http://eepurl.com/bL43cf so you can stay up to date with all the latest news! In the pinned post of the Facebook event, you’ll find these links, along with links to a Google Drive folder where you can look and see who’s already been nominated! And any author who is nominated will have access to an official contest nominee badge, that they can use on their book covers or any promotional media, if they so desire.

Winners in each genre will receive a prize, beginning with the 1^st place winners. If we get enough prizes donated, we’ll go next to 2^nd place winners, and then to 3^rd place. Regardless of the prizes, winners will get a high-quality winner badge, stating their place and the genre of the book. These will be of high enough resolution for authors to use on their print books, if they want to!

But it’s not only the winners that will benefit from the Summer Indie Book Awards! All nominated authors will have the potential to reach hundreds, if not more, of new readers, and reach a huge new audience through the social media forums! And best of all, it’s meant for you to have fun, to reach out and network with other authors, potentially forming long-lasting relationships. And readers will benefit from having a wealth of new books in front of them, as well as a vast amount of new stories to immerse themselves in.

Though we’re using Facebook and other social media as a platform to reach more authors and readers, none of these social media outlets are affiliated with the awards. They are hosted strictly by Metamorph Publishing.

For more information, please visit Metamorph Publishing at https://metamorphpublishing.com.

It's going to be a fun event! Come by, find some great new reads, and vote for your favorite books!

July Reads & Reviews

Hello everyone!
Tis I, your indie author and avid reader, Marie! Last month I read lots of books and four of those were by indie authors. Let me share those books, and my reviews, with you guys so you can update your reading list with some goodies.

Fight
by K. L. Cottrell

Rating: 5 Stars

Review:
Each book of this series just keeps getting better! We get to know these characters so intimately, so completely, that they become absolutely real. I laughed with them, cried with them, and triumphed with them. This series has possessed me now and I can't wait to read the final book!

To purchase this title, find it on Amazon here.
 

Angel Within
by Julie Nicholls

Rating: 5 Stars

Review:
An amazing sequel to Demon Within! New friendships and new enemies. Love, betrayal, heartache. And some steamy sex scenes too! This beautifully written tale of friendship, loyalty, and the lengths one will go to protect those you love is my new favorite of Julie's. 

To purchase this title, find it on Amazon here.

Norma Jean's School of Witchery: Book Two: Ghost School 
by Rose Montague

Rating: 5 Stars

Review:
Another exciting adventure of Jewel the witch! Things become more complicated and the action is non-stop in this sequel to the first addictive book of the Norma Jean's School of Witchery series. Though very few scenes actually take place in the school, following Jewel as she becomes more powerful and endures new quests is more entertaining than ever. I had a hard time putting it down and can't wait for the third book!

To purchase this title, find it on Amazon here.

The Promise
by C. E. Wilson

Rating: 5 Stars

Review:
This is the most beautiful, most tragic story that brought me to tears over and over again. Once I started reading this tale of Lily and her shrinking situation, I just couldn't stop. Sometimes loving someone just isn't enough and though letting them go is painful, it can be for the best. It's a hard lesson to learn for Erik and Lily but one that leads to happiness later on.

To purchase this title, find it on Amazon here.


Rarely do I give so many five star reviews in one month but these books were fabulous reads! I also read some more volumes of the Kamisama Hajimemashita manga, Batman: The Killing Joke, and a few of those side Harry Potter books: The Tales of Beedle the Bard, Quidditch Through the Ages, and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. I had to get myself ready for the new Harry Potter book, after all! 
Happy reading, everyone.

Stuck

You know how you get a great story idea and you start writing and everything is flowing great. Then it just stops. It happens to the best of us. Usually you can go and reread a few chapters back or even from the beginning of the story and that will get you back in that mindset to continue. This usually works for me.
Well lately, I have been stuck with every project I go back to. I have reread numerous short story and novel starts in the past couple of weeks and managed to only do some light editing or add a few sentences. That's it. 

Some call this writer's block. I like to think of it as being stuck. Nothing is really blocking my way. It is more like I stepped in some gum and my shoes are stuck to the pavement below. I need to struggle some, pull and fight, but eventually I will get free and back into my groove. Being blocked is different. Blocked is when something in the story itself isn't working out. I have this growling dog standing in my way on that road I'm walking and I have to find a way around. I have to rethink things. Make plans. Find an alternative route. Once I have found my way around the dog, one way or the other, I can get back to my story.

I have been reading a lot lately, which usually helps, but not this time. I am pretty frustrated about it. My own personal goals are falling behind. My continuing story on my other blog has suffered. My sequel to Threads of A Web, that is only about a quarter of the way done, is not going to be published when I was hoping I could. I had another collection of short stories that I need to wrap up and was planning to have out next month. Not sure about it now.

At any rate, hoping I can get out of this writing funk pretty soon. Meanwhile, I am catching up on editing, beta reading, and reading for fun. Really hoping I can surpass my goal of reading a hundred books this year. I have read fifty-three so far so it's looking good!

Fellow readers and writers, good luck to you and have a great summer!

May Reads and Reviews

Hello everyone! I haven't been on this blog much of late but I'm back to give my monthly update on what I have been reading. Indie Books!

Once Bitten
by Trina M. Lee

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:
A great start to a series! Action packed and full of drama, this story was an interesting take on paranormal creatures in a modern setting.

To purchase this title, find it on Amazon here.

Once Upon a Western Way
by Markie Madden

Rating: 3 Stars

Review:
A sweet fantasy story. I enjoyed the story itself but I felt like I could have related to the characters better if more time had been taken to flesh them out. I wasn't upset at Kelly's passing since I knew very little about her as an individual and saw very little interaction with her and her mother.
Overall, good story with a cliff hanger ending that had me looking for the sequel! 

To purchase this title, find it on Amazon here.

Celestia is Falling
by Morgan Kelley

Rating: 3 Stars

Review:
Though the story was a good one, there were some issues that kept me from truly enjoying it. The constant head hopping was distracting and had me backtracking to see whose head I was in. The pace was a bit slow for my taste but I think the real issue was that the same information was given to the reader over and over. The twist ending was good and it was nice to see the girl save the guy for once. Overall, okay story. 

To purchase this title, find it on Amazon here. 

Princess
by Ariel Marie

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:
A great vampire romance! Though riddled with editing issues, the story itself shines through and makes this a quite enjoyable read. It also sets up a magical world and dangerous situation for other forthcoming books in the series. Quick, sexy read that will have you reaching for the sequels.

To purchase this title, find it on Barnes & Noble here.

Shimmer
by Claudette Melanson

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:
A short, sweet story of destiny and sorrow and how love transverses all.

To purchase this title, find it on Amazon here.


I also read Cinder by Marissa Meyer and loved it. Can't wait to rad the sequels in that series. Hopefully this month I will have more time for some great indie reads. Later, guys!

February Book Reviews & Other News

February is finally over, including the loneliest holiday of the year.

Binge eating chocolates aside, I had a lot of personal stuff going on this month including deaths and health issues so I was not able to read half as many books as I had originally planned. But let us take a look at the one I did sit down and enjoy.

DEATH LOVE LUST Anthology
by Various Authors

Rating: 5 Stars

Review:
An assortment of delicious stories and poems that are sure to please!
As the title suggests, each piece of this collection involves a gruesome death, undying love, or a passionate sexual need. Some contain all three. Each author brought their own voice, their own style to this anthology and though every story contained the same central themes, they were each unique. Some brought tears, some brought a sense of longing, some brought terror, and some brought lust. Every work contained in this collection grasped me firmly and held me, riveted, to the page.
I was captivated from the start, each story and poem leaving me in a dreamy daze of contemplation. I recommend reading it in the dark. 

To purchase this title, find it on Amazon here.


I was able to read Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. I found this to be an excellent book that I easily give five stars. I plan on starting the next installment soon.



I also launched my new author website last week! Yay!
This site will have all my author info, including buy links for my books, reviews, videos, and a short bio. What I am looking forward to the most is the new blog. Don't worry, this blog isn't going anywhere, the new blog is completely different. That one will be a writing blog. I will be posting a new chapter to an ongoing story called Fur & Feathers each week. Fur & Feathers is a fantasy romance with some action and drama mixed in. 
Come by and check out the new site here.