V.Walker's Views & Reviews

I'm moving...

2015-02-28T00:00:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone!

I come bearing some news...I'm moving my blog to WordPress! It was a difficult decision to come to, and one that I've been considering for quite some time. I ultimately made the decision because I felt that Blogger was putting too many restrictions on my content, and I'm just not a fan of that. I want to be able to create posts that my readers will enjoy, and Blogger got a little too "big for their britches" with their latest content policy change.

SO...with that being said, please go check out my new site: vwalkerviewsandreviews.wordpress.com (one of these days I promise I'll go self-hosted, but for now...that's the site). If you could follow me over there, that would be AMAZING. I won't be posting on Blogger anymore & this will become a re-direct site for that blog.

Thank you for your support!

xo

PS - I'll be posting a new "Adventures of a Writing Blogger" post soon, so be sure to head over to the new site & sign up so that you don't miss it! <3

Review: Hard Target (The Campbells of Creek Bend Book 3) by Barb Han

2015-02-20T09:00:00.000-05:00

I finished this book last week & just haven't had time to post the review. But let me tell you, this book is awesome. If you haven't picked it up yet -- the links to buy it are at the bottom.

Book Blurb: (taken from Barb's website)
She was trouble the size of Texas, but he'd cross every line to keep her safe.

Border patrol agent Reed Campbell knew when he found a blonde beauty hiding out in a crate of guns smuggled into Texas she'd be nothing but trouble. Emily Baker claims she was kidnapped, beaten and held hostage by Mexico's most elusive drug lord, a man Reed's desperate to bring down. But the sexy cowboy has been betrayed before, so trusting a stranger—no matter how strong their attraction—isn't easy. Still, determined to protect her, he takes her on the run, risking his life time after time. Suddenly, the man who doesn't do feelings is in big trouble. Keeping Emily alive is a problem. Keeping his hands to himself becomes nearly impossible.

Rating: ***** (5/5)

Review: I have adored every single one of the Campbell boys, and Reed was no exception. I'm actually really sad that there won't be more of these brothers! I loved watching the relationship between Reed and Emily grow, and I was biting my fingers quite a bit with this one! If you've read the other books, you'll be thrilled to find out that Nick & Luke both make an appearance in this one, and it was awesome to see the brothers together again.

I really do fall hard for a guy with a painful past when it comes to love. I don't know what it is, but their vulnerability just makes me fall hard and fast. And I absolutely adore a heroine who fights for what she wants, and let me tell you, Emily fights for what she wants. She's stronger than she realizes; I'm not sure I would have survived what she went through. Insane.

If you haven't read these books and are a fan of Harlequin Intrigue (or just romantic suspense/intrigue at all), go read all of these books.

Kindle
B&N (Nook is on the same page)

You can also connect with Barb on Facebook & Twitter! She's really sweet :)

COVER REVEAL: GET LUCKY Anthology!

2015-02-13T00:00:00.000-05:00

Hi all! Today I have the pleasure of revealing the cover of the GET LUCKY Anthology, which features a story by the fabulous Sara Humphreys! I reviewed her novella UNBOUND earlier this year...

Now, onto the main event:

Get Lucky Anthology

What happens when six romance authors get together and write half a dozen brand-new, steamy, Irish-themed novellas? Everyone gets lucky! This 99-cent box set crosses genres and includes contemporary romance, new adult romance and paranormal romance novellas that will give Get Lucky a whole new meaning. Pre-order your copy today!

(Now that's what I call a beautiful cover!)

The Get Lucky Anthology features:

From USA Today bestselling author Nicola Marsh - Walking the Line

Finn Ahearn’s Irish luck is about to run out…

Reformed Aussie bad girl Ellie is a decade older than Finn but that doesn’t stop the charming Irishman from wooing her. Ellie doesn’t believe in the happily-ever-after dream any longer, not since hers imploded a long time ago. But can a smooth-talking Irishman sway a hard-hearted cynic to believe in love again?

From reader favorite Kelsey Browning - Amazed by You

Falling again for your first love...this time for keeps.

Author’s assistant Olivia McLaughlin must pull off an extravagant St. Patrick’s Day garden party to win a coveted promotion, but her success hinges on landscape designer Cody Kavanaugh, her old high school boyfriend. Now, Olivia must decide which she can’t live without—the job that will make her a success or the man offering her a second chance at love.

From sizzling hot and bestselling Robin Covington - One Little Kiss

The best things start with one little kiss.

Trapped by a snowstorm in the same place at the same time, Leighton and Jonas must decide if their hot night together was the end of their story or if they started forever with just one little kiss…

From RT Book Review Award nominee Avery Flynn - Big, Bad Red

She always gets her wolf...

There’s nothing little or naive about this Red Riding Hood. Red runs the biggest fencing operation for fairytale treasures out of the back of Granny’s Pub. But when she comes into possession of the Caladbolg sword things get hairy–as in hot, sexy Liam MacTíre the werewolf hairy.

From paranormal darling Sara Humphreys - Luck of the Irish

A leprechaun is powerless without his gold….

Banished to the mirrored realm for hundreds of years, Declan Aherne had nothing but time to plot his revenge and mourn the loss of his beloved wife. But when a beautiful human woman, with a familiar amulet, stares into the mirror....Declan's luck was about to change.

From the sexy sweet Kimberly Kincaid - Something Borrowed

Her best friend is the best man for the job…

When her successful brother announces his plans for an impromptu wedding in Ireland, unlucky-in-love chef Sasha Arrington is stuck between the Blarney Stone and a hard place. Sasha needs a wingman for her brother’s wedding, and the romantic destination could be just what James Sullivan needs to tempt Sasha out of the friend zone.

Are you ready to Get Lucky? Pre-order today!

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1usuH3k

B&N: coming soon

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1DRzkUy

iBooks: http://bit.ly/1vbd2rY

Review: Seeker by Arwen Elys Dayton

2015-02-10T00:00:00.000-05:00

Today I'm reviewing the YA fantasy novel Seeker by Arwen Elys Dayton. The cover of this book caught my eye & I was able to receive an ARC from NetGalley. Thank you to Random House Kids for the opportunity to read this fantastic novel!

Book Blurb (Taken from the Amazon page):

The night Quin Kincaid takes her Oath, she will become what she has trained to be her entire life. She will become a Seeker. This is her legacy, and it is an honor.

   As a Seeker, Quin will fight beside her two closest companions, Shinobu and John, to protect the weak and the wronged. Together they will stand for light in a shadowy world.
   And she'll be with the boy she loves--who's also her best friend.
   But the night Quin takes her Oath, everything changes.
   Being a Seeker is not what she thought. Her family is not what she thought. Even the boy she loves is not who she thought.

And now it's too late to walk away.

Rating: **** (4/5)

Review:

I'll be honest, it took me about two chapters to get into this book, but as soon as I did - I was hooked. It took me longer than I wanted to finish it, but sometimes life gets in the way. This book was awesome. I'm a huge fan of fantasy novels (& I tend to have a natural willingness to suspend belief in order to enjoy the fantasy aspect of such books) and this has been added to the list of favorites.

I know it's been getting mixed reviews, but I'm not sure why - I haven't looked; I didn't want my opinion clouded while I was still reading it. After I finished I could have gone to look, but I'm still enjoying the high of finishing a really great book, so I'm going to ignore anyone who says this isn't a great read.

The world-building is skillfully done, with the fantastic elements woven into reality with skill and a minimum of necessary explanation. There are awesome fight scenes (the book actually opens with a fight scene involving Quin). I was emotionally invested with the characters & found myself rooting for a character that I didn't think I would (because the character development is just so wonderfully executed). That's how great this book is -- it changed my mind about the characters. Do you know how rare that is? Let me tell you - it's pretty rare.

This is billed as a YA book, but I think that older teens would do better with some of the topics in this novel. Seeker explores loss, PTSD, self-exploration, self-discovery, what it means to be a good person, suicidal thoughts, prostitution, and more. There are so many different points of view on each of these topics that it really gives the reader multiple perspectives & allows the reader to explore these (sometimes taboo) topics in a few different ways, rather than showing a narrow-minded view. That's something I really love; you see the character motivations and being to understand the choices they made.

I was disappointed when it was over; I want there to be more. Thankfully, there will be. The second book in the series, Traveler will be out Spring 2016.

As it so happens...Seeker is released TODAY (2/10/15) & is available at the following stores:

Amazon (Kindle)

Barnes & Noble

Check out her beautiful website (there's a note on there about Seeker maybe turning into a movie!) & follow her on Twitter!

xoxo

Adventures of a Writing Blogger #1

2015-02-01T00:30:00.000-05:00

At the end of last month I went into NYC with my mom and my aunt to see Cabaret on Broadway, starring Alan Cumming & Emma Stone. If you can manage it, try to catch the show before it ends (the run ends soon)! Alan really made the show...I'm a little sad that he wasn't able to come out to sign autographs after the show. I can't blame the guy though, because we saw a 2pm show and the actors and actresses need to rest, eat, get out of make up and then back in, and just relax! I can't begrudge any of them the chance to relax!

Before the show we went to lunch at a nearby diner (the diner shall remain nameless - my panini wasn't quite to my taste, but the chocolate cake was delicious), and after the show we caught a cab back to Penn Station. Luckily the driver took us through Times Square - my aunt was visiting from Michigan & we wanted her to see Times Square in person (even if it was too cold outside to walk around).

All in all it was a really great day - coincidentally it was also the five year anniversary of the very start of my relationship with the mister. We were "seeing each other" before, but the relationship became official on January 28, 2010. Holy wow batman, five years already? Time flies when you're having fun!

Talk more soon...

xo

Where It All Started...

2015-01-30T00:15:00.000-05:00

I've said that I'll write a post about my writing journey & I've put it off for a little while - mainly because I wasn't sure how to explain it.

I guess I'll start at the beginning: I took a Creative Writing class my sophomore year of high school & fell in love with poetry. I have a bunch of pieces that I'll post over time (once I can convince myself that they're okay to share with the world; it's hard, okay??).

I took the class again during my junior year of high school, and one of the assignments for the class was to submit a poem for Teen Ink. I'm not sure if the publication is still around, but they published original writing from high school (and maybe middle school?) students. It was awesome. Anyway, the poem I submitted was chosen & published in that year's Winter Poetry Journal. The day I got that letter was one of the best days of my life. I still have the copy of it somewhere; once I dig it out, I'll share it. I promise. =)

After I graduated high school I took another Creative Writing course during my time at Farmingdale State (where I earned an Associates in Liberal Arts), and my professor published one of my poems on his website (allll the way back in 2007; you'll have to scroll down to 2007 Winter Collisions; or you can search "Symphony of the Moon, Wind, and Sea" and see it -- I've also pasted it at the end of this post).

I stopped writing after that...for years. I was blocked mentally and emotionally. And then...

Last July I had the opportunity to go to the RWA 2014 Conference in San Antonio, TX. It was a week of hanging out with published & aspiring authors in a very supportive atmosphere. I felt at home among the masses and was inspired to create this blog (even though I didn't really have too much of a vision for it at the time). I officially joined RWA in October, after attending the conference, and am now also a proud member of the LIRW Chapter (full of fabulous ladies & Harris)!

I've taken a couple of courses through the RWA University to help hone some skills, and am working on my first novel. It's a contemporary romance, and I've finally figured out the character motivations & sketched out a plot. Now I just have to sit my butt in the chair & write. I'll keep you updated on the story, and might even post some snippets (once I can convince myself that they're worth posting).

Okay...so, here is the poem I mentioned earlier:

Symphony of the Moon, Wind, and Sea

In a quiet whisper of a moment flowers wake
to the symphony of moon, wind, and sea.

A thousand diamonds
dimly shine in mists of time
lost in wood's woven shade.

Shadows dance
beside fallen rose
petals swim on a serene silver lake.

The rhythm of the stars listens
to heaven-fed white lilac
glazed with the kiss of rain.

Dawn's fire flames and dulls
hysterical water,
craves a drunken rest.

Yellow sunsets blossom --
embroidered thoughts thick as eternity
keep time with angels' silken wingbeats.

Copyright, Voule Walker.

Okay..so...can you give me some feedback on the poem? What did you guys think? I know that poetry isn't for everyone and that it's very subjective, but I'd still like to hear what you guys think. :)

xo

Busy Bee...

2015-01-21T00:00:00.000-05:00

I know that I haven't posted in a little while (a week feels like a lot to me, okay?), and I just wanted to let everyone know that you'll be seeing more posts soon. I want to get a few posts ready (not to mention a few "if things get slow" posts to keep in my pocket for emergencies). Also, it feels like I haven't stopped moving long enough to sit down and write a post!
Honest, it feels like I've barely been home (which is a little sad because I do love my apartment, when I'm not complaining about the small kitchen). Right after New Year's I helped two different couples move (not into the same apartment), attended my first ever (and first of many) Long Island Romance Writer's Chapter meeting (they are the LI Chapter of the RWA), enjoyed a crazy BOC Book Club meeting, celebrated my mister's birthday...oh, and worked my usual day job.
I tend to do most of my reading & writing on the weekends because I'm always so tired/drained after a day at the office, and I feel like I've been remiss due to not being home. BUT...
I DO have some exciting features I'll be rolling out over the next month or so (mostly February), and I'm working hard on getting them ready. Since they're all works-in-progress, I'm going to keep them a hush-hush, but only for a little while longer.

And...here are some pictures from the birthday celebration for the mister, for your enjoyment!

We had dinner at the local On the Border Mexican Restaurant, with my cousin & her fiancé (who is the mister's best friend), followed by dessert at The Cheesecake Factory (where I had a non-dairy apple crisp...all lactose-free).

See you guys soon!

xoxo

Review, Excerpt, and GIVEAWAY of: The Calum (The Calum Series Book 1) by Xio Axelrod

2015-01-14T00:00:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone! There is a lot packed into today's post, so I hope you're ready!

I’m reviewing THE CALUM, which is the phenomenal debut novel of Xio Axelrod. (I was provided a copy of this novel for an honest review.) Xio provided an excerpt from Chapter One for your enjoyment, and: Xio is giving away a Kindle copy of THE CALUM -- giveaway details below.

While this is a novel that I read for a review, it also meets one of the 2015 Reading Challenge (#29 - A book set somewhere you've always wanted to visit), so...I'm checking that box off the list. Only 49 left to go!

A quick note about how I came to read and review this novel. I met Xio last July at the RWA 2014 Conference in San Antonio. We ended up having breakfast at a table of about seven wonderful authors (or aspiring authors, such as myself). We exchanged cards and I ended up following her blog & recently followed her on Twitter (I finally gave in and set up a Twitter account for myself, okay?)

Anyway - I saw her post a tweet about having difficulty finding blogs to post reviews for her debut novel. I got in touch & offered my (very small) blog, which in turn lead to this very blog post that you're reading.

Book Blurb (provided by Xio):

Calum, The (Noun)

1. fictional hero of best-selling romance novel, A Laird to Love
2. the perfect man
Twenty-six is too old to believe in fairytales, but tell that to Lovie’s roommate. Convinced she’ll find a real life version of her ultimate book boyfriend, Calum MacKenzie, Jo drags Lovie to the Scottish Highlands. Lovie’s no cynic *ahem* but she knows The Calum is a myth. A construct. A freaking unicorn! And there are warmer places to spend a winter vacation.
If Duff had his way, he’d never step foot in Inverness again. Only his best friend’s wedding, and his ailing grandmother, could bring him home. Duff’s plan is keep his head down and stay out of trouble. Hard to do when the groom targets a pretty blond tourist for one last conquest.
When Duff and Lovie meet, stones, sparks and insults fly. He’s instantly attracted to the sexy, sharp-tongued American. She’s just glad to have someone to hang out with, especially the bad boy with a mysterious past. Lovie is determined to learn his secrets, but as they grow closer, Duff is forced to choose between his best friend and his heart.

Rating:

***** (5/5)

Review: You know that feeling you get when you put a book down and wish it had been longer? Well, that’s how I felt after I read this book. I absolutely adored Lovie; she’s intelligent, supportive, funny as all hell, and I want her to be my best friend. (I love finding characters that I want to meet in real life. Xio delivers on that, fabulously.)

Duff gives off the aura of someone who is dark and mysterious. But his point of view shows that even though he has his demons; he also has a vulnerable side. That’s basically my weakness: the bad-ass with a soft side (see: my love of Dean Winchester from Supernatural). (And just a little note about Jo -- I was quite surprised by her, in the best way possible.)

The interaction between Lovie & Duff was entertaining, and the story moved at a great pace. I finished the book in less than two days. And the ending will leave your jaw on the floor.

You can order your copy of THE CALUM at:
Amazon (Kindle)
Barnes & Noble (Nook)
iTunes
Kobo
All Romance

GIVEAWAY!!

Xio is giving away a Kindle copy of THE CALUM!
The winner will receive a Kindle code for a free copy of the book.

The giveaway begins on Wednesday, 1.14.15 @ 12am (midnight) EST, and ends Monday, 1.19.15 @ 12:00pm (noon) EST.

Once again, Blogger & I had a disagreement about putting the actual Rafflecopter widget on the blog, but here is the link to the Giveaway, courtesy of the generous author herself, Xio.

Excerpt from Chapter One (provided by Xio)

Lovie Grant wished like hell that she had paid the five dollars for the airline headphones. But that balloon had popped, and now she was stuck listening – again – to Joana’s latest “brilliant” plan. She hunched her shoulders and buried her face in the in-flight magazine. Anything to avoid one more word about their freaking trip.

“Are you even listening to me?” Her shrill tone bounced off the airplane window and directly into the oh-my-God-let-me-off-this-sky-bus-before-I-kill-her section of Lovie’s brain.

“What is it now, Jo?”

“You’re not paying attention. And you keep sighing like you’ve been left home on prom night.”

“I’m just tired, and I can’t sleep on planes.” And I should be relaxing on a beach instead of chasing after you.

Flip. Flip. Flip.

Page after page taunted her with one photo of crystal blue waters and palm trees after another. There would be no palm trees where they were headed.

Which asshole decided to put that magazine in her seat-back pocket?

“You’re upset.”

How very astute. “It’s a scientific fact that a lack of sleep causes a decrease in the neurotransmitters that regulate mood.” Flip. “Otherwise, I’m fine, Jo. Let it go.”

“I call bull. You’ve already convinced yourself that this is going to suck.” Jo’s bottom lip poked out in her signature pout. With her blonde locks twisted into two braids, and her bright pink Juicy sweatpants, the picture of a bratty twelve-year-old was nearly complete.

Lovie’s best friend, roommate and constant damsel-in-distress had a plan. A good plan, she’d said. A sound plan, if you dared to believe her. Lovie didn’t, but the plan was this:

● Go to Scotland

● Find “The Calum”

● Marry him

Jo had been saving up for this particular trip for three years – ever since Lovie picked up a dog-eared copy of A Laird to Love at a used book store. It was a great read, sure, but why the hell did that one have to fall out of the stack?

Like millions of other women around the globe, Jo had fallen in love with its hero, Calum MacKenzie.

Unlike most of those other women, Jo believed that someone like him was just across the ocean, waiting for her.

“The Calum,” Jo explained to anyone that stopped long enough to listen, was the perfect man. A lover and a fighter, he was a chivalrous, six-foot-four redhead with a six-pack and a penchant for languages. You could find variations of him in the pages of Jo’s vast collection of romance novels.

Campbell. Covington. Cage. Colton.

She had shelves filled with ideal men, but somehow The Calum stood out to her from the rest. Enough to convince Jo that she needed to go to Scotland and find him.

Each year since college, they’d flipped a coin to see who would pick their Christmas vacation destination. This year, Lovie lost. So there they were, thirty-five thousand feet above the Atlantic, on their way from Philadelphia to Brigadoon…er…Inverness.

Lovie couldn’t believe she’d agreed to spend her measly handful of vacation days tailing Jo through the Scottish Highlands. It was going to be cold and damp.

And damp.

And fucking cold.

There was a beach somewhere with her name on it, and that name was getting washed out to sea. Or sat upon by German tourists. Her lungs deflated in a heavy sigh as her dream of endless mojitos drifted away on the clouds below.

“You didn’t have to come with me, you know.”

Yeah right. Lovie laughed. “You get lost in Chinatown. I can’t even imagine you on your own in another country. Of course, I had to come with you.”

“Your confidence is inspiring,” Jo deadpanned. “I am perfectly capable of looking after myself.” She drew her tiny feet up into the seat and hugged her knees to her chest. “I don’t need a babysitter.”

“Okay, how about a bodyguard?”

Jo snorted. “You’re not much of one.”

Lovie turned, her brow arched. “I’ve got four inches and twenty-five pounds on you. Put on your seatbelt.”

“Yes mom,” Jo said. “I’ve got it all worked out.” She fumbled with her seatbelt. “When I meet The Calum, and I will meet him, I’ll just play it cool and casual. Like I’m not into him at all. Show just enough of the girls to make him pant after me.” Jo smacked the ends together like she was trying to force a size ten foot into a size six shoe. “What’s wrong with this thing?”

“Oh, for the love of…” Lovie reached over and untwisted the contraption, closing it with a snap.

“I had it.”

“Sure.”

“Anyway, as I was saying, I’ll be like a piece of candy that he can’t wait to unwrap.” Throwing her blonde locks over her shoulder, she batted her eyelashes in demonstration.

“So your plan is to lustrate him until he falls in love with you?”

“Good word, lustrate.” Jo grinned. “I’ll have him eating out of my hand. You’ll see.”

Author Bio

Philadelphia native and global citizen, Xio Axelrod writes love stories, sexy romance and what she likes to call “strange, twisted tales.” Bitten by the literary bug in 2003, she has self-published two volumes of poetry.

Her short stories have also appeared in e-magazines such as Oysters and Chocolate. After a five year hiatus from writing, Xio returned with the fiery web serial, Starstruck: a story about finding the right person at the wrong time that became a viral hit. The Calum is book one in a series.

Xio is a vocalist and songwriter by day and lives in Philadelphia with her husband, Mr. X, and their on-again/off-again cat, BB.

Author Links:

Website  Facebook  Twitter
Goodreads  Google+  Pinterest
Instagram  Ello  tsū

Release (& Review) Day: UNBOUND by Sara Humphreys

2015-01-06T09:00:00.000-05:00

Hi all!

Today is the official release day of Unbound, a novella in the Amoveo Legends series by Sara Humphreys!

Book Blurb:
The forces that bind them can also tear them apart…

Zachary McKenna is a warrior shapeshifter from the Lion Clan, trying to catch a break in the sun and surf of Mexico. Mai Tais and scantily clad beach bodies are just what he needs after his last battle. But the fun doesn’t last long before a beautiful young woman is mugged on his doorstep and Zach is pulled right back into the fray.

Zach has no idea of the danger Annabelle has unwittingly brought to his doorstep, until he discovers that losing her will almost certainly destroy him…

Rating: ***** (5/5)

Review:
Okay, so I’m coming into this series with this book (which is book #7 in the Amoveo Legend series). I’m hooked. Seriously. Just like that…hooked. I need to get the first six books and get busy reading them; I found the Amoveo abilities incredibly intriguing & this book makes me want o go back and read the rest of them so that I can learn more about this amazing world that Sara created.

The chemistry between Zachary and Annabelle leaps off the page, and the characters have depth. I was in love with Zachary before I was even halfway through the book; Annabelle is strong and fierce…my favorite kind of heroine. She’s vulnerable and makes mistakes, but she doesn’t back down from what she knows she wants.

*I was provided an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

You can order your copy for just $0.99!
Amazon
BN
iBooks
Google Books

(Psst...when you order UNBOUND for just $0.99, you get FOUR chapters of Sara's upcoming novel Vampires Never Cry Wolf!)

Author Bio:

Sara is a graduate of Marist College, with a B.A. Degree in English Literature & Theater. Her initial career path after college was as a professional actress. Some of her television credits include, A&E Biography, Guiding Light, Another World, As the World Turns, and Rescue Me.

In 2013 Sara’s novel UNTAMED won two PRISM awards – Dark Paranormal and Best of the Best. Sara has been a lover of both the paranormal and romance novels for years. Her sci-fi/fantasy/romance obsession began years ago with the TV Series STAR TREK and an enormous crush on Captain Kirk. That sci-fi obsession soon evolved into the love of all types of fantasy/paranormal; vampires, ghosts, werewolves, and of course shape shifters.

Sara is married to her college sweetheart, Will. They live in New York with their 4 boys. For a full list of Sara’s books and reading order, please visit her website.

She's also a bit of a social media butterfly & you can find her on any of the below sites (the links take you to her pages!)

Website

Facebook

Amazon Author Page

Twitter (@authorsara)

Tsu

Goodreads

Instagram (username: fabfitfortyplus)

Review of: Gut Instinct, by Barb Han

2015-01-03T10:00:00.000-05:00

Hi all! Today I’m reviewing Gut Instinct, the second book in the Campbells of Creek Bend series by Barb Han.

Book Blurb (taken from Barb Han's website, because she says it better than I can!):

Reunited… by a murderer

FBI agent Luke Campbell has never been more determined to catch the serial killer who’s eluded him for two years. Because this time the monster is after Julie, the ex he walked out on when he returned from Iraq, emotionally scarred and burdened by a secret. Now Luke will do anything-even risk his life-to protect Julie and regain her trust.

But it’s a tense race against time. Defying FBI rules, Luke keeps Julie by his side throughout a harrowing chase. Once they’re finally at a safe house, it’s clear to him that the passion they once shared hasn’t cooled. Can Luke redeem himself and keep evil away from the woman he refuses to let go of again?

Rating: ***** (5/5)

Review: Luke & Julie have a romantic history that’s full of both happiness and pain… so Luke is even more determined to catch the deranged serial killer that has Julie next on his list of victims.

I absolutely adore Barb Han’s writing. Her characters are realistic, relatable, loveable, and there are the villains that are super easy to be disgusted by. This novel had me on the edge of my seat & I couldn’t put this book down; the stakes felt higher in this novel – I’m going to attribute that to the history between Julie and Luke. They were “the one that got away” for each other…can they reconnect while trying to capture a serial killer?

Also – be on the lookout for the last novel in the Campbells of Creek Bend series, Hard Target, to hit stores on 01/20/15 in paperback & will release on e-book on 02/01/15. It’s available for pre-order on Amazon (also on Kindle), B&N, (also Nook), and a few other retailers. Mark your calendars!

You should follow Barb on Twitter & Facebook – she’s awesome & she interacts with her fans!

2015 Challenges & Events!

2015-01-02T09:30:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I gave a little hint about some blog Events that I'm going to be participating in this year. Well, here is where you'll read alllllllllll about them.

I'm participating in a couple of Reading Challenges, a Blog Organization Challenge, & participating in ARC Tours. Whaaaaat?! So excited!

2015 Reading Challenge

I found this on Pinterest, but it was originally posted (to my knowledge) on Popsugar. The purpose of this challenge is to get me to explore books outside of my usual bubble, and to read as much as I can. I'm super excited about a few of these!

(PS - Here is the banned books list!)

Also, PopSugar has a printable for you! I tried to include one here, but Blogger & I had a disagreement about how that should work. Go to this page, and the article has a "Download our Printable" link. That will open up a file for you & all you have to do is hit Print. I already have mine hanging on my wall! (Pro tip: it's easier to read if printed in B&W)

Alexa <3’s Books Flights of Fantasy Challenge

I found this challenge through another book blogger (on Twitter too!), and am really excited about it! In case you didn't know, I'm a huge fan of fantasy (I'm going to consider paranormal & fantasy sub genres of each other for this challenge, just fyi).

Here is the gist of how the challenge works & how to participate (literally copied from the page on her blog, which you should visit because it's awesome & beautiful):

HOW TO PARTICIPATE:

Challenge yourself to read a certain number of fantasy books. Share your challenge number in a comment below, a post on your blog or even a tweet!
On the last Sunday of each month, we'll be sharing our personal updates on the challenge. We'll be including a Linky, just in case you decide to do the same. (This is optional!)
As mentioned, we will have giveaways! If you want to gain bonus entries for the giveaways, read any (or even all!) of our favorite fantasy books listed below:

Joint Favorites: Throne of Glass, Harry Potter, Fire and Thorns, Snow Like Ashes, Queen of the Tearling
Alexa's Favorites: Eon, Daughter of the Forest, The Elemental Trilogy, Song of the Lioness, The Hobbit
Rachel's Favorites: The Grisha Trilogy, Harper Hall Trilogy, The Fever series, The Winner's Curse, Graveling

I am challenging myself to 15 fantasy reads this year. I don't think I'll be able to do a post on the last Sunday of each month like on their blog, BUT I definitely be posting and updating on my personal progress.

I will be posting about it on Twitter, under the tag: #flightsoffantasy. Feel free to follow me on there (@VWalkerViews)

Note: I'm going to be doubling up on challenges for both of the above events (i.e.: a book I read might meet more than one requirement for the Reading Challenge & could work as one of my 15 fantasy reads).

The Book Addict's Guide: Blog Organization Challenge

I found this challenge, hosted by The Book Addict's Guide, the other night while scrolling through Twitter (I recently started following her on Twitter & she's awesome). I had just finished putting together my own Blog Binder & was posting a picture of the binder to Twitter and then her post about her Blog Organization Challenge popped up. Talk about fate.
You can read about the Challenge here; I hope will help me really get this Blog organized!
I'm going to post about the Challenge at least once a month (as my schedule allows - I can't say it will be the same week or weekend every month), and will write up a short note about how the Challenge is coming along.

Here is the V.Walker's Views & Reviews Blog Binder that I made the other night! I'll be updating it & my first Blog Organization Challenge post will be about the binder! Look for it soon!

And the last event (for now), but certainly not the least...

The Book Addict’s Guide ARC Tour(s)!

(ARC = advanced reader copy)

This is a really great blog, and I found them through Twitter (~~and to think, I used to hate Twitter~~) and was able to sign up for the ARC Tour just in time.

As one Brittany (one of the awesome bloggers) was kind enough to clarify for me, the ARC Tour is a way for authors to share their books with readers. The readers can then post a review on Amazon or Goodreads or their own blogs, but a review isn't necessary.

They just want to spread the love, which I think is awesome. Keep checking their blog for new ARC Tours - you don't have to be a blogger to participate!!

The first Tour that I’m participating in is for The Start of Me and You, by Emery Lord, which is going to be released on 03/31/15. Since the book is physically mailed from one person to the next, I'm not sure when I'll be posting my review, but I'm really excited to read this book! I really do love YA novels, even if people think I'm crazy. To quote Suzanne "Crazy Eyes" Warren from Orange is the New Black, "I'm not crazy, I'm unique!"

I hope that you guys participate in the Reading Challenge(s) of your choice this year! Make a promise to do more reading...it opens up worlds that you never even dreamed of. And I want to hear all about your reading experiences, so feel free to comment on this post or on future posts!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2015-01-01T10:00:00.000-05:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

I hope that you all had wonderful celebrations that were safe and full of fun! The mister & I spent the evening at home, not doing much. We made some appetizers, did a mini-marathon & watched the Times Square Ball drop. And then promptly went to sleep, haha!

Anyway, due to my recent decision to try to be more positive and to do away with negative/toxic influences, I’m not going to do a list of resolutions this year. I want to do and be better on a daily basis, and I don’t believe that making a list of promises to myself will work in quite the same way as starting each day off with a positive perspective (~~besides, my “go to the gym more” resolution never sticks, haha~~).

Instead, I’m going to do something else. I’m going to focus a bunch of my energy on this blog & on writing my very first novel.

There are a few very exciting new things that I’m going to do with the blog in 2015, which I will detail in my next post (tomorrow - ~~I won't keep you waiting too long!~~) because this was supposed to be a short post to say Happy New Year & get everyone excited about 2015!

xo

PS - Remember to come back on Saturday (01/03/15) also, because the review of Barb Han's Gut Instinct will go live. The book is FANTASTIC (just like the first one, Witness Protection -- there's a review of that one on my blog, posted on 12/09/14).

2014 - A Year in Review

2014-12-29T09:30:00.000-05:00

This has been a crazy year, and the approach of 2015 has me taking a look back and doing some reflecting on the ups and downs of 2014, and on the major changes I’ve made to my life.

2014 was the year that I decided to not tolerate toxic & negative people in my life. Granted, sometimes it seems like there’s no shortage of negativity surrounding me, but then I take a moment and try to remember that I have a fantastic husband who loves me, and a group of amazing friends and family who support me. Those bad days don’t last all that long, even though they’re usually the days that seem to move the slowest.

It took a while, but I’ve learned that it’s okay to have those bad days, as long as I remember that there is a little bit of sunshine in every day. And with my husband around, there’s going to be laughter sometime soon. It’s like that really famous quote that we see everywhere: “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain.” Dance around and splash, baby.

2014 was about becoming more positive and about learning exactly who I am and what type of person I want to become, and taking the steps to get there. It seems absolutely crazy that at the age of 26 I still wasn’t sure who I was, but it’s the truth. I was always trying to please others and make sure that everyone around me was happy, even at the expense of my own happiness. And the worst part is that most of the time I didn’t even realize that I was doing it. Weird, yes, but also true.

I’m a people-pleaser, and that’s not a bad thing. It’s only a problem when I focus on everyone else for too long and completely forget about myself & my own needs. Thankfully, I have a wonderful husband who doesn’t let me forget about myself.

I’ve learned to make sure that I take time to myself, to do what I love and what makes me happy. And 99% of the time, he joins me – and that just makes everything better. I know exactly how lucky I am to have him, and I’m grateful every day that he’s my husband. (Yes, I know…that’s super sappy and so sweet it’ll make your teeth hurt, but…tough, it’s the truth & I’m not in the habit of lying about how awesome he is).

This last year I was able to meet some really awesome new people (you all know who you are!), and I decided to start this blog (~~even though it took me a couple of months to figure out exactly what I wanted to do with it~~).

I also made the decision (thanks mostly to NaNoWriMo) to write my own novel (which is not even close to being finished, shh). It’s a big step & a lofty goal, but I’m starting to gain more confidence in my ability. It helps to have really great people in my corner cheering me on. You all rock!

So, what are my hopes for the coming year? Well, I would really love to finish that novel I started. I would love to see this blog grow…into what, I’m not sure, but that’s half the fun, right?

I want to keep growing into the person I want to be, and finally take that honeymoon with that husband I keep raving about. I hope to keep meeting new amazing people who inspire me to chase after my dreams, and I want to spend more time with my mom learning her delicious recipes. She makes the best apple pies, you don’t even know.

That was my year. How was yours? (I would love to hear about something you accomplished this year or about a fear you overcame, or anything else you would like to share! I love hearing from everyone!) <3

xoxo

Happy Holidays!

2014-12-23T20:31:00.004-05:00

I would like to extend my warmest wishes for a happy and healthy Holiday season to everyone!

It's a GIVEAWAY!!

2014-12-15T09:10:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone! I’m super excited to announce my first GIVEAWAY!!! Last Thursday night (12/10) I went to the CHRISTMAS IN NEW YORK Book Launch Party and Signing at the Book Revue bookstore on LI.

And I got some goodies to give away!!! Check them out below:

The winner will receive:

2 Christmas Pens!

2 Christmas in New York bookmarks!
1 snowflake cookie cutter (with recipe inside the card)!

1 green lighthouse ornament!

An autographed copy of Christmas in New York (signed by all 4 authors)!!!!!!

Okay, so…Christmas in New York is an anthology of four novellas that intertwines the stories of four best friends: Sabrina, Cassandra, Jade, and Elena. Below are the descriptions/ blurbs for each novella, taken directly from the back of the book.

This Christmas, by Jeannie Moon: “Jake Killen is shocked to discover that he didn’t just walk away from Sabrina Gervais ten years ago, he walked away from their unborn child. Struggling with anger, guild, and all the old chemistry, Sabrina and Jake wonder if this Christmas all their wishes can come true.”

All I Want for Christmas, by Jennifer Gracen: “Sean McKinnon blew it big-time with Cassandra Baines seven years ago, but when she happens to walk into his bar, can some New York Christmas magic help these two take a second chance on love?

A Light in the Window, by Jolyse Barnett: “When Jade Engel comes home to upstate New York to recharge, her brand-new friends-with-benefits arrangement with old friend and local celebrity Ben Stephens soon blows up in their faces. Can they possibly forge a future together?”

Goodness and Light, by Patty Blount: “Elena Larsen and Lucas Adair both lost their mothers when the towers came down on 9/11. Elena hasn’t set foot in New York since, while Lucas thinks of the city as hallowed ground. But what if he and Elena are meant to be?”

Okay, now…onto the Giveaway Rules & Regulations:

You have a few ways to earn entries (3 ways, if I’m being precise). If you subscribe to my blog, that will earn you more entries, thus increasing your chances of being chosen as the winner!

At the end of the contest (12/18) I’ll choose a random winner. I’ll announce the winner at the bottom of this post, in the comments, and on my Facebook Page. As soon as the winner contacts me & gives me his/her mailing address, the prizes will be mailed out the next day. Just in time for Christmas!

Okay, so...here are the pictures of the prizes!

Click the following link to enter the contest: RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
~~(I had a Rafflecopter widget ON this page, but then I tried to change something and it disappeared and won't come back).~~

If you're not selected as the winner of this contest, you can always head on over to Amazon! It's nice to have a backup, right?

Ravens of War (Books 1-3) Review AND Interview with the Author

2014-12-13T12:00:00.000-05:00

I have a special treat for you guys… I’m reviewing the first three (count ‘em…one…two…three) books in the Ravens of War series, AND the super awesome author (Elle Boon) has agreed to an interview (which is posted beneath the reviews). Go big or go home, right guys? Right??

There will be links at the bottom for the different retailers/places to find the books. :)

Quick synopsis of the series:

The author of this erotic ménage series is the super lovely Elle Boon, whose website and Facebook you should check out; she also has a Twitter account that you should follow (@ElleBoon1).

So, the Ravens of War series is about a group of Elite warriors created by Zeus to help fight their battles. When the Ravens were no longer needed, Zeus sent them to Earth in the hope that the warriors would find true happiness.

Each installment of the series focuses on a different duo of Ravens (oh yea…by the way, this is a ménage series!) and their Fated, the one woman in the world who could bring them true happiness and a sense of completion.

Okay, time for reviews.

First up: Selena’s Men, by Elle Boon

Book Blurb (from the Selena’s Men Amazon Page):
Max and Malcolm King had been part of an Elite group of twelve men created by Zeus, called the Ravens of War. When they were no longer needed they were sent to Earth in hopes they'd find happiness. After hundreds of years, they'd given up hope of finding their Fated, until they met Selena Ramos.
But the Gods aren't done with them. Zeus needs them to find his lost daughter and time is running out for all of them.
As the three lovers are consumed with passion, they find themselves thrust in a fight for their lives. Cronus the dethroned King of the Gods has found the missing Goddess and plans to use her as the ultimate weapon for revenge. He'll use her to regain the throne on Mount Olympus, killing his son Zeus at the same time. Max and Malcolm are willing to do anything, even share Selena, but they will die before they give her up. ** A Siren Erotic Romance

Review Rating: **** (4/5 stars)

Review: I finished this book in less than two days; it’s paced very quickly but there’s never a dull moment and the action doesn’t let up (a very good thing). I almost had a hard time believing how quickly Selena fell for Max and Malcolm, but the way they cared for her and would do anything to protect her (not to mention pleasure her), it became easy to see how quickly a girl could fall for these two hot warriors. The sex is hot and I really couldn’t put this book down. I couldn’t wait for the next one!

Speaking of the next one…

Two for Tamara, by Elle Boon

Book Blurb (from the Two for Tamara Amazon Page):

Rafe Blackstone and Vin Thorn had been best friends for thousands of years. They were part of an elite group called the Ravens of War, and were made up of twelve men created by Zeus. When they were no longer needed on Olympus, they'd been sent to Earth to find happiness, and hopefully their Fated.

For Tamara Mejia, she'd given up finding that one man meant just for her. Having the ability to see the future ran in her family. So when she saw her own death, she set out to enjoy what she had left. That didn't include two larger than life men who claimed she was their one. Cronus pulled Tamara to Hell, and planned to use her as leverage to get his granddaughter, Selena, who's Tamara's best friend, to bargain for her life. Rafe, Vin and all the Ravens need the help of the gods and goddesses from Olympus to save not only Tamara, but Earth itself.

Review Rating: **** (4/5 stars)

Review:

This story is fast paced, hot, and fun. Tamara is a kickass heroine with a quick wit and a passionate love for her two men. Vin and Rafe are strong heroes who would go to Hell and back (literally) to save the woman they love. There are some wickedly fun characters introduced in this book that I hope will make future appearances!

I adore all three of these characters; I live for strong female characters and Tamara is nothing if not strong. Vin and Rafe endeared themselves to me when they were awed by and fell in love with Tamara’s inner strength. There’s nothing sexier than a man who loves a strong woman…except when there are two men who love a strong woman.

And onto #3…

Jaklyn’s Saviors, by Elle Boon

Book Blurb (from the Jaklyn’s Saviors Amazon Page):
Jaklyn Marx learned at a young age what pain was at the hands of her father. For seventeen years she'd lived with the physical scars, and the knowledge that she was a latent wolf. When she meets two men who claimed she was meant to be theirs, she ran.
Gray and Colt had been searching for their Fated for thousands of years. When she ran they were prepared to do anything to find her and keep her, even call on a goddess for help.

Just when the trio finds happiness a demon from their past threatens to destroy them. Jaklyn refuses to allow her father to take anything else, especially her newfound love for the two men who save her past, present, and future. They will need more than just love to defeat Seamus and his tainted pack. They'll need the help of all the Ravens and a god or two in order to destroy something Cronus created.

Review Rating: **** (4/5 stars)

Review: Jaklyn’s story caught me off-guard, I’m not going to lie. I was not expecting the story of Jaklyn’s father, or her mother, and…let’s just say it moved to me to tears near the end. Colt and Gray were hot and sexy and tender and…well, down right yummy.

This book introduces werewolves into the world of the Ravens, and I really loved reading the way Colt and Gray struggle with adjusting to some wolfy-changes. Not to mention Jaklyn’s best friends, and werewolves, Abe and Link, who love Jaklyn like a sister and are an incredibly goofy duo; I immediately fell in love with them.

I will admit that some of my favorite moments from this book were all of the nerdy/geeky references. (::insert eye squint here::) I see you, Elle. Keep it up, lady!

Okay...so far, the first three Ravens of War books get 4/5 stars from me. I will admit that these were my first erotic romance novels, as well as my first ménage novels. My decision to read these books has been making me happier and happier. They keep me up nights…which is a testament to the story (and the “amazeballs” sex scenes – to quote Abe and Link).

And below is a (quick) interview that Elle was gracious enough to make time for out of what is probably a very busy schedule. Did I mention she’s awesome? (Feel free to leave questions in the comments & I'm sure that Elle will answer them for you! I'll make sure she gets the questions!)

Interview with the (super fabulous) Elle Boon

(1) So, let’s start with the obvious question…how/when did you decide you wanted to be a writer?

I’ve always written in a journal. I became a beta/crit partner a few years ago for several authors. After working with them, they encouraged me to submit my first manuscript.

(2) If you had to pick one of the Ravens to live with on a deserted island, whom would you choose? Why?

OY, that is a hard one since my guys come in pairs lol. I’m going to go with Max because where he goes, Malcolm has to go “winning “ hehehe.

(3) When you’re not writing, how do you spend your time?

If I’m not writing I am plotting, reading, or spending time with my family…or chatting online with friends. However, I’m writing a lot and I love it, don’t see that changing anytime soon. My daughter and I have recently started watching Sons of Anarchy. OHHHH MYYY GAWD, I am soo in love with Jax.

(4) Which of the three lead women in the Ravens of War series would you want at your back in an all-out brawl?

I’m going to choose my demon women cause I love them. Akra and Bakra totally kick-ass and are funny as all get out. I think they are a real representation of me lol.

(5) And let’s go with a Holiday themed question: If you could invite one author, living or deceased, to your holiday festivities, who would you invite? Why?

Sherrilyn Kenyon, because I love her sooo damn hard, but not in a creepy, Steven King novel that I want to like keep her forever, break her ankles or anything, kind of way. I think it would be awesome to have her come over and discuss books, and what she plans next, maybe get her to sign every book I have of hers (I have them all, 2 already signed) Of course I do need counseling after reading Styxx “sigh” soo much trauma.

Isn’t she wonderful, folks? Okay, now go check out her Facebook (and give her a “like”!) and if you’re interested in buying the books, they are available at the below locations ~~(don't ask me why some of them are blue and some of them look like they've been clicked. I tried to fix it and it didn't agree with me)~~.

Selena’s Men Two for Tamara Jaklyn’s Saviors
Amazon Amazon Amazon
Amazon UK Amazon UK   Amazon UK
iTunes iTunes B&N (Nook)
B&N    B&N   Google Play
  Google Play Google Play
      Siren

Review of: Witness Protection, by Barb Han

2014-12-09T09:30:00.001-05:00

Hi all! I’m super excited to post my first book review, for the novel Witness Protection by Barb Han.

Book Blurb (taken from Barb's website, because she says it better than I can!):

How far will U.S. Marshall Nick Campbell go to protect his innocent witness?

US Marshall Nick Campbell’s life is a lie. But when a devastating explosion nearly kills Sadie Brooks, the one woman who can put away a murder, only the truth will keep her alive. Revealing his secrets connects Nick to Sadie in ways he never expected…and unleashes an attraction he can’t ignore.

Minute by minute, they race closer to justice but sink deeper into the crosshairs of a deadly criminal ring. To protect his witness, Nick has to gain her trust. But once he tastes the temptation of Sadie, he’s torn between breaking every boundary for a life with her…or breaking her heart and letting her go.

Review Rating: ***** (5/5 stars)

Review: Witness Protection, the first book in the Campbells of Creek Bend series by Barb Han, was fast-paced and exciting. It’s a captivating story that had me hooked from the beginning. The chemistry between Sadie and Nick is palpable, and it’s amazing to watch them work to solve the criminal puzzle that put Sadie in danger. Of course, Nick would rather keep Sadie tucked away somewhere safe, but Sadie is headstrong and won’t sit back while Nick risks his life for hers.

Sadie is a strong and kick-ass female lead that I admired and rooted for, and the love she has for her dog almost brought me to tears. Nick is a sweet but strong and capable man that I adored; his protectiveness and willingness to do anything to keep Sadie safe was incredibly sexy and endearing at the same time.

I couldn’t put this book down! I can’t wait to read the next book in the series, Gut Instinct, the story of Luke Campbell (available January 2015)!

If you’re interested in purchasing Witness Protection, you can find it in a few different places:

Amazon (including a Kindle edition)

B&N (including a Nook edition)

iBooks

IndieBound

BAM!

Original Poetry...

2014-12-07T21:17:00.001-05:00

So, I've posted that I'm going to share some of my original writing. Well, this is a short little poem from many moons ago...10th grade Creative Writing, with Mrs. Schneider. It's because of that class that I listen to instrumental music when I write, and it's probably the reason I feel any confidence in my writing at all.

Anyway...(be nice to me in comments, please) here goes:

"Honey Garden"

Rose petals falling delicately into

an autumn pool, deliriously worshipping

a diamond goddess of chocolate beauty, under a gorgeous

mist of a dream of a honey garden.

Things are A-Changin'

2014-12-07T00:39:00.001-05:00

The last few months have been all about making some changes to my life, mostly stuff that just makes me feel more like an adult (::gulp::). One of things I've decided to do is begin writing again. Thankfully my mister is on board and fully supportive of my decision. My family and friends are also pushing me towards my goal of becoming a published author; I have a great support system and without them I would be nothing.

I've always been drawn to reading and writing; my first creative writing experience happened in my freshman year of high school. My English teacher, Mrs. C, had the class write short stories that were to be published in a class anthology (which I still have to this day). That year (and the rest of my high school career, if I'm being totally honest) was pretty much consumed by all things Lord of the Rings (and Harry Potter and Dark Hunter). My short story was about Legolas from LotR and an original character, and was only two pages long; my first creative writing piece was fan fiction and I had no idea. Not gonna lie, I think that's awesome, given how much fan fiction I have read since I discovered it, and that one of the authors I read got her start from writing fan fiction.

Anyway...last month I joined NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) and even though I came nowhere near the goal of 50k words, I got my first novel started and that's the first step. Just over a month later I finally actually plotted out the novel, because I realized that I just can't write without an idea of what's going to happen along the way to the ending.

Wait...I'm skipping ahead. Before I get too far let me give you some background: I've been doing some assistant work for another author, Diana Marik (her work is fabulous! You should check out her website: www.dianamarik.com), and we traveled to RWA (as some of my older posts have mentioned). Also mentioned in those posts was going to the Book Obsessed Chicks dinner down in San Antonio, and meeting the amazing show runner, Kim. This chick is awesome and I adore her. A few months later I offered to do a book review for her Book Obsessed Chicks blog (http://book-obsessed-chicks.blogspot.com) and have decided that I love to read and review books for authors. It's great feeling to give feedback on the stories I love; I've never thought to post reviews until I met Kim and starting meeting other authors through her. I'll post links to her blog for any reviews I do for her; go check out her site, it's as awesome as she is! <3

So I've figured out that reviewing other books is another passion I have, and I've decided that I'm going to include some reviews on this blog, as well as updates on my own journey to becoming a published author and (::gulp::) original work.

Anywho...this was just a long-winded post that's basically to inform ya'll (my Texas husband has rubbed off on me apparently) that pretty soon you'll see book reviews posted here :) And I'm going to find a way to set up a gadget of some sort that will allow authors to submit requests directly from the blog.

<3

PS - I forgot to mention...I'm officially an RWA member!! Squeeee!!!

RWA 2014

2014-09-28T15:13:00.000-04:00

So, this blog post is really late, considering it's almost October and the Conference was at the end of July. August and September were crazy busy for me in my personal life and I'm finally getting back to my journey to becoming a published author.

RWA 2014 was an amazing experience, and I met so many wonderful authors and agents who were nothing but supportive and encouraging. The Literacy Signing was like heaven for me -- meeting authors in their element and talking to them about their books. I definitely fangirled a few times, and hope to see all of those lovely ladies again. I was very lucky to be invited to the BOC (Book Obsessed Chicks) dinner, and had the opportunity to hang out with some great ladies. I was also lucky enough to attend the FF&P Chapter party, and had such a wonderful time surrounded by great people. Dinner was delicious and the dancing lasted all hours.

I can't wait to attend the RWA Conference next year in NYC, next time as an official RWA member. Hopefully with a novel ready to be published.

Just a Taste...

2014-07-26T23:50:00.002-04:00

Okay, so it's 10:41pm & I have a flight at 8am tomorrow, so this is going to be as brief as I can make it. RWA 2014 was an amazing experience (even if the heat in San Antonio was definitely trying to kill me), and I can't wait to go to the Conference in NYC in 2015. I met so many wonderful women, all of whom were supportive & encouraging about my desire to write. That in itself was surprising (although I don't know why, when it's literally a conference about writers, for writers, attended by writers). Anyway, I'm going to write a longer post about my experience, but I just wanted to express how grateful I am for the opportunity to have even been in the company of these amazing & talented women.

I'm so excited to get back home & start writing and just delve into this exciting new career opportunity, BUT I'm definitely going to miss the amount of amazingly fluffy pillows (I requested an extra 3 for a total of 6 or 7 pillows) & the super soft bed & snuggly comforter. Hands down the most comfortable hotel bed I've ever stayed in. Maybe I can convince my mister to let me buy about 6 small fluffy pillows for my side of the bed? Keep your fingers crossed for me!

And now...sleep.

PS - I'm also definitely going to miss WhataBurger. Best.burgers.ever.

Intro I Guess

2014-07-25T16:54:00.000-04:00

I decided recently that I wanted to start writing again, and work towards making a career out of it. There will be a ton of small steps before anything major happens but I'm just thrilled I made the decision; it's incredibly nerve-wracking at the same time. Thankfully I work a regular 8-5 job M-F, so I have the evenings and weekends to write (and spend as much time as I can with my hubby, also known as "my mister.")

Anyway - this blog is going to be dedicated to my journey towards becoming an author & will feature anything I come across that's helpful to other writers and readers, and I may even be brave enough to post some of my own original work (::gulp::).