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… I would go into all the details of where I have been and what I have been doing for the last 2 months, but it’s really rather boring and does not make a good story!
May your 2016 be filled with wonderful stories that take you on great adventures!
A young man, Michael, has had a less than ideal childhood. The only thing he is aware of in his short 19 years of life, is that his mother abandoned him, his foster mother died when he was 5 years old, and his foster father, Rob, was so absorbed in his own grief that Michael was basically on his own from that very young age.
A dream that seemed too real to be ignored started Michael on a journey that would change his life. Although he would have some questions answered, many more would come to mind as he learned things about a world he had no idea existed. A world that he was taken out of, and where he finally managed to find his way back.
Going back to the world he came from is just as difficult as you would expect it to be. He knew no one, he did not understand their traditions, some of the things they said, and many of the things they did. While he made a couple friends, there were others who were still wary of him, and questioned why he just suddenly showed up in their land.
A journey of epic proportions is in store for Michael. It is his chance to find out about his mother, as well as how he may have come to be in such a strange and wondrous land. Although others seemed to understand, would Michael come to terms with who he really is, and why he is needed in this new land?
With brilliant writing, well-developed characters, and a fantastic storyline, I could not put this story down. I tend to avoid Dystopian type novels as of late, but this was a great surprise and a breath of fresh air for finding a whole new world that you want to know everything about.
Sorry, but you know my policy (at least 99% of the time); no spoilers.
To find out more about Jeffrey Collyer, please visit his website here: www.jeffreycollyer.com
Megan Scott and Conner Reed are both in less than stellar moods when they happen to bump into each other at a bar in Las Vegas. Both recently out of relationships, and swearing off love and everything it brings with it, they are married before morning hits. Megan remembers none of it, and Conner remembers every minute of it.
Asking for a 3-month trial before she files for divorce, they both try to begin to trust again, especially in such a difficult situation as they find themselves in.
This was a really fun read for me, and I enjoying it a lot. I am not usually a reader of romance books in general, but I am glad I gave this one a try.
It was a light read, filled in a few hours for me this weekend, and I did not want to put it down, or reach the end of it. There is some steamy scenes to this story, but nothing overly graphic or just ridiculous in how it is written. Mira has a great style of writing and this will not be the last book of hers I pick up.
I have read more books than I could ever count (and would not even want to guess) but amongst all of those books, there were some that stood out.
The hardest book To read:
The Bible. Yes, it is hard to understand, at least the Old Testament is for me. I read it from front to back last year, and I try to read it every day. In my own personal opinion, everyone needs to read this book! 🙂
A book I haven’t read yet but should have:
The Importance of Being Earnest – Oscar Wilde (This will be read before summer is done).
Books I hated having to read in school, but I loved once I grew up:
1984 – George Orwell, Lord of the Flies – William Golding, The Scarlet Letter – Nathaniel Hawthorne, Macbeth – William Shakespeare (Okay, I have to be honest here, I still do not like Macbeth, or anything else by Shakespeare; it’s just not my thing!)
A book I should have read sooner:
Of Mice and Men – John Steinbeck. The first time I read this book was about 4 years ago. I loved it!
Books I read at least once a year:
To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee, The Shack – William P. Young, At least one of the 7 Chronicles of Narnia books – CS Lewis
Books I should never have read:
50 Shades of Grey, 50 Shades Darker, 50 Shades Freed – EL James. Okay, they weren’t horrible, but I honestly skipped over all of the so-called steamy sex scenes, they were too ridiculous to even get through.
My favorite books as a child:
Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators – Robert Arthur, Jr. I read these books over and again, and will still grab a few from the library on occasion to read them again!
Series that should have went further:
Inkheart, Inkspell, and Inkdeath – Cornelia Funke. I loved these stories. My daughter will kill me for not saying Harry Potter, but honestly, it was a perfect series of 7 books that I do not think anyone else will ever be able to do again.
Books that should not have been made into movies:
The Hunger Games – Suzanne Collins. I liked the stories a lot. But by the time I saw the first part of Mockingjay in the theater, I found it to be beyond cheesy. Yes; I said it was cheesy!
Books that sucked me in:
The Twilight Series – Stephenie Meyer. These books sucked me in and I could not put them down. I read them over and over while I waited for the next one, and I read the whole series twice in a row after I had all 4 books. Should I be embarrassed to admit this? Probably. Am I? Not in the least. I loved these books 🙂
How about you? Did you have a book that was hard to read, or one you read over-and-over again? I would love to hear what your book facts are. Let me know!
Yesterday I visited the Abraham Lincoln Tomb, and I was as moved as I thought I would be. Today I am visiting the Presidential Library, so I will have a lengthy post on that tonight or tomorrow!
Some of the sights from yesterday:
Daughter #2 has her prom tonight, and I know she is going to have a great time!
Daughter #1 is graduating from college tomorrow; Grand Valley State University, anyone? So another busy day.
And daughter #3 was supposed to be getting confirmed at our church on Sunday, but that seemed to have fell through (much of the fault is mine and my daughter’s), but the lack of communication has me really, REALLY upset.
So, as I get through this weekend, and then 2 and a 1/2 days of work next week, I am packing up 3 of my 4 girls, and heading to the land of Lincoln! So beyond excited to get to be a part of the Lincoln Funeral Train, and I will definitely be keeping you all updated. (If it bores you, just ignore me for a few days!)
I have 2 dinner tickets for next Saturday night to meet the man who has been building this train for several years, and be one of the first people to actually go inside the train!
This was another great installment in Mr. Taylor’s Irish series of books. This one takes place after Fingal’s marriage to Kitty, and there are lots of changes going on in not only Fingal’s life, but everyone around him as well.
Barry has done specialty but is ready to return to the practice with Fingal. Kinky is getting married herself, and the town is not being very accepting of Jenny, the new “lady” doctor who is helping Fingal while Barry is specializing.
The residents of Ballybucklebo are up to their usual antics and good times, and this story takes you back to another time when things were easier.
This story is set in 1965 Ireland, but also goes back thirty years to when Fingal first met Kitty, and how she got away from him the first time. Every other chapter goes back 30 years, but it is written in a way that makes it a smooth, easy read.
I think this story could easily be read without having read any previous books in this series. I am pretty sure I have not read the very first book in the series yet, but have read about 5 or 6 of the others. But with that being said, you should read them all; they are that good 🙂
If Ireland interests you, especially Ireland in the early 20th century, these stories are full of factual information about the history of Ireland. As Mr. Taylor is a licensed medical doctor, the medical information that is included in the book is also spot on, and gives the back story on how diseases were so very devastating in this time of history, as well as how antibiotics and cures were found and developed.
Looking forward to picking this new release up this week!
Below is an excerpt from my book, “Murder Off the Beaten Path,” published by Penguin Random House under their Berkley Prime Crime label, and releasing Tuesday, October 7, 2014.
Lenny’s yell split the darkness. He fell backward onto the slope, yanking Gracie forward off her feet. She landed on the litter with her shoulder in the basket. Ribs knocked against the raised metal railing. Pain snatched the breath from her lungs.
The litter pendulumed below Lenny, dragging Gracie along with it. She dug her knees and feet into the rocky soil. “Stop!” she bellowed into the radio.
A long whistle blast sounded faintly from above.
The litter stopped moving. A scrabble of pebbles rolled down the hill. No sound, but two rescuers breathing heavily.
“Litter, sitrep,” Ralph said over the radio.
Grunting against the pain, Gracie pushed herself up off the litter and crouched on the steep hillside, propping herself…
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