Best Books To Read Now: March 2016

Reminder/ Caveat/ Disclaimer: This is my (hopefully) monthly list of books I’ve read and enjoyed. These are not reviews, I do not include books I didn’t enjoy because life is too short to speak badly of books!

Another interesting mix of stories this month,but these are all by authors I am a major fangirl for. Shall we get started??

Wife for the Weekend by Ophelia London

wftw

If you know me on social media or have followed this blog, you'll recognize the name Ophelia London. The first time I met her in person at a DARA meeting, I kind of (yes, I did) freaked out on her, and gushed about her (then) latest release, Definitely, Maybe In Love (If you love Pride & Prejudice, and you want a modern retelling, check it out). We've become good friends since, and I'm still a fangirl of her personally and of her books. In fact, I was lucky enough to get an early ARC of this book because that dear sweet girl asked me to write a blurb for her.  See it there? In tiny letters on the top of the cover? That's how I feel about this funny, sweet book about how two opposites can attract.

Be Not Afraid by Alyssa Cole

be not afraid

I think I've only met Alyssa Cole once in person, at last year's RWA, but it feels like I've *known* her for longer, in that way that you do when you tweet and podcast with someone.  When we met, she gave me the biggest, warmest hug and well, I'm just a huge fan. We guested on the same episode of First Draught  last year and we shared that we both (coincidentally?) had books where someone gets killed in the first scene; this was the book she was discussing. Yes, it's a romance, lol.  It's a short novella set during the American Revolution and if you're obsessed with Hamilton, like I am (Hey Universe, still waiting on those tickets, thx) you will love this story.

Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn

julia grey

And I am officially obsessed with this author and series now. My darling friend Erika had been telling me to get on this for a long, long time and I finally did and OMG.

whoa

I'm trying to savor the Lady Julia Grey series and not rip through them like I am known to do.  If you like modern women in historical times, mystery and dark, forbidding heroes, you will love this book.  And Ms. Raybourn seems like a peach so I'm fangirling hard for her, as well.

The Bourbon Kings  by JR Ward

bourbon

Someone who doesn't need another fangirl is J.R. Ward. The woman is worshipped by millions for her Black Dagger Brotherhood series and I've read them all. Here's the deal about the BDB; they're badass, supernatural vampires who live like Jay Z and look like, I don't know, hot wrestlers. Then J.R. Ward starts this series, about a Kentucky bourbon dynasty and I was like...

rashida straw

But somehow a privileged Southern family is just as insane as rap-star vampires. This book is a total throwback to 1980's Jackie Collins/ Dynasty/ soap opera gloriousness. It's ludicrous and no one is a nice person and you see the plot twists from a mile away and you just want to gobble it up like a one pound bag of peanut M&Ms.  My advice? Wait for this summer, when the sequel comes out and you'll have two cracktastic sagas to enjoy by the pool

So what else is new?

MEAN SISTERS, (the UK version of Sisterhood is Deadly (which is on sale for $.99! for a limited time!)), releases in the UK on March 17, 2016 and is currently for sale via pre-order for .99!

I had such an amazing response to my last Goodreads giveaway, that I'm doing another one and giving away another 2 books to celebrate the print release of RUSHING TO DIE.  Check it out!

We're headed to the mountains for Spring Break so I'm going to fill up my Kindle with something amazing to read in the lodge while everyone else skis... Any suggestions?

Howdy United Kingdom!!

I'm so thrilled to welcome new readers from the United Kingdom!  My book, SISTERHOOD IS DEADLY, is releasing as MEAN SISTERS in the U.K. on 17 March 2016. In fact, it's an entirely new version for a new country!

I would like to welcome all British readers to my crazy world.  Yes, I'm American. Please don't let that stop you from buying my book.  I know, Americans have a bit of a reputation abroad, like we just go in and force everyone to do things our way.

But I want to start off with my new British readers on the right foot, so that's why I have attempted to educate myself about the United Kingdom. I've studied your history...

Your political system...

*Yes, I know this is the Canadian Prime Minister. But he's cute so we're going with him.*

Your native wildlife...

Your athletic pursuits...

Your cultural dances...

Your Sexiest Man Alive (c)...

I must admit, some things have been harder to understand than others.

After all this study, I'm fairly confident that MEAN SISTERS will find fans in your country.

Now, I know there's a possibility that not everyone will love my book.

Some may have set their expectations too high.

Generally, I think...

Wait. What was I saying?

Oh yes.  MEAN SISTERS. It's a mystery.

With a whole lot of girl power...

And laughs.

The reviews have been amazing

And many influential voices are giving it two thumbs up.

I can't wait to hear what you think of Margot Blythe and the sisters of Delta Beta. I just know this is the beginning of a long, meaningful relationship.

Best Books to Read Now: February 2016

Reminder/ Caveat/ Disclaimer: This is my (hopefully) monthly list of books I’ve read and enjoyed. These are not reviews, I do not include books I didn’t enjoy because life is too short to speak badly of books!

So this last month has been a hard reading month. You'll notice that I'm not including four books and that's not because I didn't read four (or more) books, it's just I can't talk about all of them (*cough* RITA *cough*).

Hopefully next month I'll be right back to devouring my 2016 TBR pile, which will include diverse authors and genres to talk about! Yay!

But actually, this month's reads were pretty diverse. In fact, they're so diverse, I'm finding it hard to find a theme that will hold all of them. I have a memoir by an Indian-American actress/writer/producer, a paranormal about the Grim Reaper and an Italian literary novel translated into English.

Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling

mindy kaling

I've been a HYUGE (say in a Donald Trump voice) fan of Mindy Kaling since WAY back in the day. I even used to follow her shopping blog back before shopping blogs were a thing (like, circa 2004). I love her voice in her television shows (The Office and The Mindy Project) and I loved her voice in this memoir, as well. It was seriously LOL funny. I know, lots of people say that but trust me. I've also decided that one day Mindy and I will develop a project together. This is a serious Bucket List item, along with

1. *meet Dolly Parton,*

2. *see Hamilton on Broadway* and

3. *get my eyebrows on fleek.*

Eighth Grave After Dark by Darynda Jones

eighth grave

I feel kind of dumb talking about this book, when apparently book #9 in this series was just released?  I don't know how I got behind, because I usually jump on new releases in series I love.  This is another book / series where I just love the voice (Wait....

I now know the theme for this entry. VOICE.  All of these books have great VOICE. Carry on.

Charley Davidson (the main character in this series, also known as the Grim Reaper) is one of those voices that can inspire me, make me laugh and make me feel immediacy.  It took me a little longer to get into this book, probably because I waited so damn long between books, but the cliffhanger and the way Ms. Jones wrapped up on plot point and jumped into a new direction has me so excited to pick up #9, The Dirt on Ninth Grave ASAP.

My Brilliant Friend, by Elena Ferrante

elena

Last month I mentioned that I had been invited to a real, grown-ass, booky book club. I was so excited! All of my other book clubs have dissolved like:

[embed]http://https://youtu.be/qkTzDh8IKNU[/embed]

This month's selection was MY BRILLIANT FRIEND and I'm still trying to process it. The voice is incredibly intimate yet distant, with a beautiful musical quality.  It's a story of a complicated friendship between two girls in post-War Naples and I flipped through the pages trying to figure out what was going to happen next, who was good, who was a psychopath, who was maybe a mentally ill murderer.  I'd love to discuss this one with more of you!

rushing cover

In case you aren't a digital reader, RUSHING TO DIE came out in paperback yesterday!  If you've read it (or any of my books), please consider leaving a review wherever you bought it.  I'm also giving away two copies on Goodreads and you have until February 14th to enter there!

As always, I'd love to hear what you've been reading and what you thought about it!  Leave a comment or hit me up on Facebook to discuss books, #mancrushmonday and more.

Best Books to Read Now: January 2016

Reminder/ Caveat/ Disclaimer: This is my (hopefully) monthly list of books I’ve read and enjoyed. These are not reviews, I do not include books I didn’t enjoy because life is too short to speak badly of books!

I can't believe I actually read books in December.  All I remember of the month is unpacking boxes from Amazon and frantically driving around the county.  I swear, one Saturday I used a whole tank of gas, shuttling children (and myself) here and there.  No wonder I collapsed in a great heap after Christmas.

Anyway, I tried coming up with a theme for the month and it hit me: RETURN.

Let's see how that flows:

Love Me Sweet, by Tracy Brogan

love me sweet

This is the third of her Bell Harbor series, but it could easily be read on its own.  Unlike the first two, it's in alternating his/her POV's and it's about a reality show cameraman who

returns

to his hometown of Bell Harbor, Michigan and finds that his mom has rented his house to a (unbeknownst to him) reality show star runaway.  There's lots of snow (perfect for this time of year) and as always, plenty of Tracy Brogan humor.

Again My Lord 

and

My Lady, My Lord

both by Katharine Ashe

again my lord

my lady my lord

This author has really become one of my favorite historical authors and these two books are in her Twist series. I didn't know what to expect of this series or what differentiated it from other series but OH MY GRAVY (to borrow an expression from my friend

Alexandra Haughton

).  These are...different.  In a good way!  They are not your normal historicals, they each have a twist, perhaps sort of supernatural? wherein a goddess plays a little prank on the main characters.  Anyway, I don't want to give too much away (and when you read them, you'll see how my

RETURN

theme fits in here), but I thoroughly enjoyed these books and whenever the next one comes out, it will be a insta-one-click from me.

The Rogue Not Taken by Sarah Maclean 

rogue not taken

It's the

return

of Sarah Maclean! This is the first book in her new highly anticipated new historical romance series, which is being promoted as TMZ in Regency period.  This was a break from her last series, it was lighter and funnier and actually, I kept drawing comparisons between this and LOVE ME SWEET, above, which also has the hero and heroine on a madcap road trip.

RUSHING TO DIE by Lindsay Emory 

rushing cover

The

return

of

MARGOT BLYTHE

!    My latest was released on 12/29 and I'm so pleased by the response from people!  Yes, it's the second in the Sorority Sisters Mystery series, but it can be read on its own.  This time, the sorority ladies of Sutton College are preparing for Rush and when another dead body is found in the Delta Beta yard, lots of caffeine is needed to deal with the resulting craziness.

 Let me know what you've read and enjoyed lately and if you have any book reading resolution for 2016!  I'm pretty stoked that I've been invited to join a proper book club so who know what I'll be posting around here in the future? It could be this

baby book

Or this:

book chandler

See y'all next month to find out!

Balance and the Rock Star

I love the new year and the retrospectives and the planning and the beauty of a blank calendar. This year is no exception.  I've taken some time to go over 2015, thanks to these lovely printables at The Happiness Planner.  My answers to some of the questions were a little shocking, to tell the truth.

Without going into too much gory detail, I overdid 2015. Some of it couldn't be helped, some of it was all my fault. I've been battling a Cold from Hell (which would make a great band name, btw) for over a week and all signs point to the fact that my body has completely given out, surrendered, thrown out the white flag, etc. No matter how many supplements, vitamins and amino acids I choke down, they cannot undo the damage that 12 months of stress has done to my body.

Ironically (?), this was my goal for the year.  I was going to Dream Bigger. I still love that mantra. Looking back at my awesome writing spreadsheet, I estimate that I wrote approximately 325,000 words in 2015. That doesn't count words produced during edits, blogging, etc.   That doesn't count words that I produce in a very stressful full time day job.   This is a metric shit-ton of words, of hours spent at laptops, huddled over the ipad mini on the train, scribbling on notebooks.

As much as I love it, and while I now know I am completely capable of it,  I can't do this in 2016.

Not unless I'm having fun doing it.

That's what my reflections have shown me, in a striking black-and-white clarity.  I love having fun.  If I'm having fun, late nights and tendonitis and the strange looks of parents on the soccer field as I balance 300 pages of a manuscript-in-edits on my lap while sitting on the sidelines are all 100% worth it.

If I'm not having fun, well. It's just not worth it.  Pretty simple, right?

So for 2015, I am going to be a rock star. That's going to be me, up there on the amp, head banging and singing my heart out.  I'm having fun for the sheer fun of it. I'm going out with my girls, I'm supporting my tribe, I'm drinking wine, I'm writing the stories that make me feel like Mick Jagger, Beyonce and Taylor Swift all rolled up into one. I'm going on more roadtrips, seeing the ocean, basking in Broadway lights.  And in this, I believe I will find the balance that eluded me in 2015.

That said, I'm SO FREAKING EXCITED about some of the projects that are in the works and/or germinating right now. I wish I could tell you all about them, but until I get official go-aheads, please follow me on social media, or sign up for my newsletter so you can get the updates for 2016.  

I'm wishing all of you a very balanced and fun 2016.

P.S. Have you checked out RUSHING TO DIE yet? It came out this week!