tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59298854622933440932024-03-18T02:47:37.806-07:00Margo KellyAuthor of thrillers for the young adult audienceMargo Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474612650116392270noreply@blogger.comBlogger1119125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929885462293344093.post-36124387206659324852022-10-05T00:30:00.001-07:002022-10-05T00:30:00.225-07:00IWSG: Best Characteristics of My Favorite Genre<p>October is here! I love the change of seasons, and I especially love going into autumn with the vibrant colors, knowing that nature is prepping for a period of rest and restoration.</p><p>It's also the first Wednesday of the month, which means it's time for another installment of Insecure Writer's Support Group. If you haven't yet, be sure to check out their website: <a href="http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com" target="_blank">www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com</a></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI3OG62Z8TJ6PQ28PvQXzh1cZ0z280-Ci5-XI18me9TseI-hKyFfwv95U55_T3kFczQcDLhODnSZiPkbkr3lZ0Hgh4b8uYgDn6kbdNyPe33ksoYRPNFxYI0CuMGcHF9L4BvyTq5EsGd4tt4muHynQdKdnaDmxfWKZhq8VLqtla-5qbvWUFq6eULHfl0w/s320/InsecureWritersSupportGroup_Badge.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;">This Month's Question: </span></b>What do you consider the best characteristics of your favorite genre?</p><p><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;">My Answer: </span></b>The thriller genre is my favorite to read and write. I love the embedded tension and the need to read faster in order to find out what is going to happen next. I love feeling like I can't set the book down, being compelled to keep turning the pages. Plus, the thriller genre has so many sub-genres and companion genres, which add variety and a change of pace while still being fast-paced page-turners.</p><p><i style="font-size: x-large;">How about you? What are the best characteristics of your favorite genre?</i></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></p>Margo Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474612650116392270noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929885462293344093.post-2980989734238634492022-08-03T00:30:00.001-07:002022-08-03T00:30:00.217-07:00Insecure Writer's Support Group<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Vd3FzkVqjImJ9AfBC7aGSM1-a1f_HrGjcT0hifMZZZ3oz9wN2a8KwMJ2LcNScQ0eLzINB9wbhT3WSASd-V_nIgmUU_3gXQcaEQLT2IdOc2tO-X8UEqqycsJNC32MaXJHluDqCOtufLHU-zsjHpFnPtrJf1eh1SIhOgnGp8sQB8VaTUql6eE6ldwGtQ/s932/InsecureWritersSupportGroup_Badge.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Vd3FzkVqjImJ9AfBC7aGSM1-a1f_HrGjcT0hifMZZZ3oz9wN2a8KwMJ2LcNScQ0eLzINB9wbhT3WSASd-V_nIgmUU_3gXQcaEQLT2IdOc2tO-X8UEqqycsJNC32MaXJHluDqCOtufLHU-zsjHpFnPtrJf1eh1SIhOgnGp8sQB8VaTUql6eE6ldwGtQ/s320/InsecureWritersSupportGroup_Badge.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138;"><b>Purpose:</b> </span>To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">Posting: </span></b>The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling.</div></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbR4Onf5cBIofKqwDW2qWeJmGSEheIp_LqaNwJr1_-Qhpj7a_NZkCk7PZ1Z866RgSxEu5PZ1kGpRXvNpXsPLci6HqtLHUHQMR8OYY4cYJWHHFe1e22uFQVF6rzgrZTbnFyMN3zsrivxHPNSUqKD3NoOiV9yf09dmHEKVNui4k9RmbuBHXCHR2rxtCEMQ/s2048/quotes-002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbR4Onf5cBIofKqwDW2qWeJmGSEheIp_LqaNwJr1_-Qhpj7a_NZkCk7PZ1Z866RgSxEu5PZ1kGpRXvNpXsPLci6HqtLHUHQMR8OYY4cYJWHHFe1e22uFQVF6rzgrZTbnFyMN3zsrivxHPNSUqKD3NoOiV9yf09dmHEKVNui4k9RmbuBHXCHR2rxtCEMQ/s320/quotes-002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Honesty . . . well the truth is: I've been struggling with the whole publishing industry lately. It is hard. On so many varied levels, it is hard. No, I don't want to quit, but the traditional publishing industry and its many gate keepers have contributed to my need to see a therapist. And yet, I'm not ready to delve into the self-publishing world. It's scary to me. "Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom" . . . according to Thomas Jefferson. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSMUnQGIAbsRo44E_GK7OFbRezpd4LLe3cjtdNWP7Wv0LOKv6xEOT7jr6EO0eq36PYtXyVq-WBfePMoVTFHSzUSj2ATTtwKZj5Z_9dA322S_oKyX0eAg5J3tAY3YYC-G_P0B2dpnN1RPuuU59QMVEPbyupUimJEYODq_waOftiZS0fBsuaJzBYU_5LMg/s625/WRITING.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="469" data-original-width="625" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSMUnQGIAbsRo44E_GK7OFbRezpd4LLe3cjtdNWP7Wv0LOKv6xEOT7jr6EO0eq36PYtXyVq-WBfePMoVTFHSzUSj2ATTtwKZj5Z_9dA322S_oKyX0eAg5J3tAY3YYC-G_P0B2dpnN1RPuuU59QMVEPbyupUimJEYODq_waOftiZS0fBsuaJzBYU_5LMg/s320/WRITING.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"When is your next book coming out?" people often ask me. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwHsO-ZO2lERVNI9TL_xKNufCi-61ToBOqjr3VUua557dkqCtuY6bFJHb-fHAlYXNcxQUHGu3lDlCpJPJ_evbHvAO-Eo0I61K6j_bXu9vdAZRFVU3UG0lrjtHjfwK0rLNS6wkXjzqxZxl6cHpmPQ4k4MCAxZxcODnmJUQDHPGe-HFcpSpwVfe6m8FaVg/s180/eeyore.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="180" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwHsO-ZO2lERVNI9TL_xKNufCi-61ToBOqjr3VUua557dkqCtuY6bFJHb-fHAlYXNcxQUHGu3lDlCpJPJ_evbHvAO-Eo0I61K6j_bXu9vdAZRFVU3UG0lrjtHjfwK0rLNS6wkXjzqxZxl6cHpmPQ4k4MCAxZxcODnmJUQDHPGe-HFcpSpwVfe6m8FaVg/s1600/eeyore.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Right now. I'm doing the best I can with so many different aspects of the industry. The next book will come out when the universe decides it is time. Until then, I'm working on my mental health, physical health, spiritual health, and . . . I am really enjoying doing freelance editing. If you ever have a need for another set of eyes on your project, I'd love to take a look. Editing brings me great joy. Click <a href="http://www.margokelly.net/2019/05/coaching-editorial-prices.html" target="_blank">here</a> for more information about <a href="http://www.margokelly.net/2019/05/coaching-editorial-prices.html" target="_blank">my editorial services</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b>How are you doing on your journey? Feel free to share and connect in the comments.</b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b><br /></b></i></div><br /><p><br /></p>Margo Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474612650116392270noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929885462293344093.post-74826784673805120432022-07-25T11:38:00.001-07:002022-07-25T11:38:05.910-07:00Book Review: POINT LAST SEEN by Christina Dodd<p> Scroll down for my complete review . . . </p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhU_pbTkypxnwOrfzrxVwVEOkCOI1q-00pZKN8qareYNXxY9fgasBLQtCmCDZSfyREfT-mbY2GzvRCgKmJVHiry38eAWbq9tSSd3BcieVM-6Hn4BwDIWgyiFNGyyajx59MqRe9UCYsYFgUvwUYHvVP1VkSIqxzl6Vldw7yTHJSuEOdcT4hJySUACrfubA" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="267" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhU_pbTkypxnwOrfzrxVwVEOkCOI1q-00pZKN8qareYNXxY9fgasBLQtCmCDZSfyREfT-mbY2GzvRCgKmJVHiry38eAWbq9tSSd3BcieVM-6Hn4BwDIWgyiFNGyyajx59MqRe9UCYsYFgUvwUYHvVP1VkSIqxzl6Vldw7yTHJSuEOdcT4hJySUACrfubA" width="160" /></a></div><br /><b><span style="color: #f4cccc; font-size: medium;">POINT LAST SEEN</span></b><p></p><p>by Christina Dodd</p><p>Published by: Harlequin</p><p>Publication Date: July 26, 2022</p><p>ISBN: 9781335623973</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">Description from the Publisher: </span></b><span style="color: #cccccc;">LIFE LAST SEEN: When you’ve already died, there should be nothing left to fear… When Adam Ramsdell pulls Elle’s half-frozen body from the surf on a lonely California beach, she has no memory of what her full name is and how she got those bruises ringing her throat. GIRL LAST SEEN: Elle finds refuge in Adam’s home on the edge of Gothic, a remote village located between the steep lonely mountains and the raging Pacific Ocean. As flashes of her memory return, Elle faces a terrible truth—buried in her mind lurks a secret so dark it could get her killed. POINT LAST SEEN: Everyone in Gothic seems to hide a dark past. Even Adam knows more than he will admit. Until Elle can unravel the truth, she doesn’t know who to trust, when to run and who else might be hurt when the killer who stalks her nightmares appears to finish what he started…<span> </span></span></p><p><b><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">About the Author: </span></b><span style="color: #cccccc;">Christina Dodd builds worlds filled with suspense, romance, and adventure and creates some of the most distinctive characters in fiction today. The bestselling author of more than fifty novels, her works have been translated into twenty-five languages, won the Romance Writers of America's Golden Heart and RITA awards, and been on Library Journal's Best Books of the Year list.<span> </span></span></p><p><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></p><p><b><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">My Review:</span></b></p><p>I loved WRONG ALIBI by Christina Dodd, so when I was given the opportunity to read an early copy of her newest book, I was excited. </p><p>I loved the fictional town that Dodd created in POINT LAST SEEN. And I loved the variety of characters. But too many elements of this story were forced, especially the romance between the main characters. There were multiple instances where the romance was vulgar and other spots where it was too immaturely described. I also found myself extremely frustrated trying to guess how old the characters were. The first mention of Elle's age was literally halfway through the book, and she was identified as 24, but then later in the book, she's 28. Elle only ever guesses at Adam's age - somewhere in his thirties.</p><p>I seriously tried so hard to love this book, because I loved the last one I read by Dodd, but the plot here dragged on and on. Maybe my opinion is in the minority. Maybe my expectations were too high. But this story didn't quite live up to its potential. </p><p><br /></p><p>[I received an early copy from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my opinion.]</p>Margo Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474612650116392270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929885462293344093.post-59165183189479953942022-06-01T00:30:00.001-07:002022-06-01T00:30:00.226-07:00Insecure Writer's Support Group: When the Going Gets Tough<p>The first Wednesday of the month is <a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html" target="_blank">Insecure Writer's Support Group</a>! YAY us!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6EG-iwAc6ceDjflCcilo1JYjPg7ZvAGgx4l3RyesuamS0UEzyFL5jCRg7AaJoRB2Wuxm2J06Hq7Hb4EMeGLY2Q5dpYPEx7xylOZH9m6-0JIFb4ukdVuI7hX0O6G9WPBbgkvYEGaEsGfAxPq62d41NyJKxytTDo-SstdcukULK1Lc9dCbuBe_6_79v2w/s932/InsecureWritersSupportGroup_Badge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6EG-iwAc6ceDjflCcilo1JYjPg7ZvAGgx4l3RyesuamS0UEzyFL5jCRg7AaJoRB2Wuxm2J06Hq7Hb4EMeGLY2Q5dpYPEx7xylOZH9m6-0JIFb4ukdVuI7hX0O6G9WPBbgkvYEGaEsGfAxPq62d41NyJKxytTDo-SstdcukULK1Lc9dCbuBe_6_79v2w/s320/InsecureWritersSupportGroup_Badge.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;">June Question:</span></b> When the going get gets tough writing a story, how do you keep yourself writing to the end?</p><p><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;">My Answer:</span></b> Ah. What a great question!! I've been in that spot many, many times. The best trick I have is to open one of my favorite books on the craft of writing, randomly flip to a page, and then whatever concept is explored on that page, I apply it to the passage/chapter/scene that I'm struggling with at the moment. So for example, if the challenging scene is about two characters walking through a park and the random concept from the writing book is about second-person point of view . . . I'll rewrite the challenging scene in second-person POV. The exercise gives my brain a different way to process the writing, the story, the characters, and stepping out of my typical method gives me more insight and hopefully some new excitement for the story. I don't need to keep the changes I make during the exercise; I just need to remotivate myself to move forward in the story. Detours exist for a reason. They help us navigate around the hazards and construction sites. Give it a try. Take a detour. It may just open up a whole new landscape you hadn't considered before or even known existed.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVc_zwl89QoXCxleTh3YAixVG-gU-eemfvQd5w7It3byeDivUWIDGMYOAtVyFSk3WtAQ5B2t287EHg0ikANFmsVfs1IWe8pOFA52Hh9Y4v93bwocNhOWRy5SsJFknyAc5lRzMu91K0r9TvzNTvfjFGME6zbsWaXOrtwusGFdJoAp8Rmwu_vbz6TEWCUw/s2048/quotes-008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVc_zwl89QoXCxleTh3YAixVG-gU-eemfvQd5w7It3byeDivUWIDGMYOAtVyFSk3WtAQ5B2t287EHg0ikANFmsVfs1IWe8pOFA52Hh9Y4v93bwocNhOWRy5SsJFknyAc5lRzMu91K0r9TvzNTvfjFGME6zbsWaXOrtwusGFdJoAp8Rmwu_vbz6TEWCUw/s320/quotes-008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnjwke35s-T6iOwD2HuR-h8b8p0Gh1Jx8Q5G4mz3lSNGUgQPN8V6X3TcrtKu42Hy44hmj-a08SqrUenpbbV8gwwKCQD3eTZM_tEaBdcD532rMqSZ0MgVHBkYX5jmaguSmzQmRycx9D99HqiICzd_S28_nA0dyBrqA4JDajr960c5aeksb99nfLnbMyxw/s636/sharpen_axe_abe_lincoln.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="636" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnjwke35s-T6iOwD2HuR-h8b8p0Gh1Jx8Q5G4mz3lSNGUgQPN8V6X3TcrtKu42Hy44hmj-a08SqrUenpbbV8gwwKCQD3eTZM_tEaBdcD532rMqSZ0MgVHBkYX5jmaguSmzQmRycx9D99HqiICzd_S28_nA0dyBrqA4JDajr960c5aeksb99nfLnbMyxw/s320/sharpen_axe_abe_lincoln.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv5izejjV3xIWCJ1Rz1gSm91xwoWG0dvWMP2OSaCXEVpqrK2FJQveNb9z70yJZ8xN_EcI4S5S97hpDjGY14PJFKrcNFLjhtGQtEJmZWVcF2WNPTyMBIdu34hv2CWF5OE9AKGdI8Qszo8-7MlT9Q6POEVi1jP9h09rKm7a9FCdyLGrzr7HdYtKWST3SYA/s1439/revising_books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="812" data-original-width="1439" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv5izejjV3xIWCJ1Rz1gSm91xwoWG0dvWMP2OSaCXEVpqrK2FJQveNb9z70yJZ8xN_EcI4S5S97hpDjGY14PJFKrcNFLjhtGQtEJmZWVcF2WNPTyMBIdu34hv2CWF5OE9AKGdI8Qszo8-7MlT9Q6POEVi1jP9h09rKm7a9FCdyLGrzr7HdYtKWST3SYA/s320/revising_books.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-size: large;"><i>What are your thoughts? How do you move past the bumps in the road in your writing?</i></span></p><p><br /></p>Margo Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474612650116392270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929885462293344093.post-35760065461519930062022-05-20T15:01:00.001-07:002022-05-20T15:01:30.397-07:00Book Review: THE BODY KEEPS THE SCORE by Bessel van der Kolk<p> <img alt="The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1594559067l/18693771._SX98_.jpg" /></p><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18693771-the-body-keeps-the-score">The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21280926.Bessel_van_der_Kolk">Bessel van der Kolk</a></p>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4731911593">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Oh. Boy. This was a challenging book to read, but so worth the effort and time! I highly recommend it.<br /><br />Trigger warning: this book goes into explicit detail when relating examples of trauma. I tried to skim some of those examples, because I didn't want to internalize it all, and sometimes I had to set the book down for a while after reading the heartbreaking details of other people's trauma. <br /><br />This book explains so much valuable information. Now that I've finished reading, I will go back and review the highlights, bookmarks, and notes I made throughout it. I'll journal about those points and discuss them with my therapist. <br /><br />While I dread the idea of working through my own trauma, I am excited at the idea of healing my broken bits. This book has left me feeling hopeful for a brighter tomorrow.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1848451-margo-kelly">View all my reviews</a>
Margo Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474612650116392270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929885462293344093.post-10034812327744191652022-05-18T15:22:00.000-07:002022-05-18T15:22:05.144-07:00Book Review: INTUITIVE EATING by Tribole & Resch<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51291382-intuitive-eating" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Intuitive Eating: A Revolutionary Anti-Diet Approach" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1581779509l/51291382._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51291382-intuitive-eating">Intuitive Eating: A Revolutionary Anti-Diet Approach</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/137980.Evelyn_Tribole">Evelyn Tribole</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4731978995">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This book broke me. Seriously.<br /><br />I've always known I had issues with food, but I had no idea my issues ran so deeply. This book was a huge eye opener for me. After reading it, I realized I had to seek help from a professional therapist--someone to go through the book with me chapter by chapter to discuss what issues were triggered for me and how I could resolve them. So I researched therapists who specialize in disordered eating, and I met with four to try to find a good fit for me. Interestingly enough, all four therapists told me that I do not have disordered eating and I do not need a therapist who specializes in that. They all told me I have unresolved trauma and I need a therapist who specializes in PTSD and trauma work. Huh. Imagine that. So now I'm meeting weekly with a therapist who assures me that once I've dealt with the trauma from my past and once I learn new coping mechanisms, the food issues will be resolved. I'm dreading having to face all that old junk, but I am excited to heal my broken bits. Wish me luck. ...
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1848451-margo-kelly">View all my reviews</a>
<p> </p>Margo Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474612650116392270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929885462293344093.post-43810043016258619992022-04-28T19:34:00.000-07:002022-04-28T19:34:57.721-07:00Off to My Happy Place<p style="text-align: center;">Well, if you need me . . . feel free to knock on my tent door:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzHn1yhTRfgXyxVrl7pgtlGtskgeDR8UDa0TyvcWRYdYpJKYLDAUKwYWs3yU9OT88UdXYtaMDwZbeh-omO6NTqnnmnGP5UBGp2tx_x9nUF-28fDT9aG_QqXuZMVMQl8VbrMmaaURk9EQxb/s2578/20200919_075429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2578" data-original-width="1220" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzHn1yhTRfgXyxVrl7pgtlGtskgeDR8UDa0TyvcWRYdYpJKYLDAUKwYWs3yU9OT88UdXYtaMDwZbeh-omO6NTqnnmnGP5UBGp2tx_x9nUF-28fDT9aG_QqXuZMVMQl8VbrMmaaURk9EQxb/w189-h400/20200919_075429.jpg" width="189" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm off in the boonies for a while, loving life and loving the peace only found in nature.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgyXxxK2Zftzvdr2dxYZFMb2tTc-EE69Ju7xo-WM698tORWObKDzZOAJVcMIPhD6aN_DmYxde-h7VidY0BTG_gMdtbrC7P9KMbdNfxPy_HeVkONFS40hVZhrOU1WuWOkudeuGk_gY8WZ5z/s2578/20200930_114251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1220" data-original-width="2578" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgyXxxK2Zftzvdr2dxYZFMb2tTc-EE69Ju7xo-WM698tORWObKDzZOAJVcMIPhD6aN_DmYxde-h7VidY0BTG_gMdtbrC7P9KMbdNfxPy_HeVkONFS40hVZhrOU1WuWOkudeuGk_gY8WZ5z/w640-h302/20200930_114251.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbmiQLU7RVMIUDzfxq95Vd-Od0di4nhYX8Ux77d3iZ8LB_8KAHXadtIER744zlq-KgSHumSkiPF46p7YvOA_xaQwm2ZplaZaKzAHKJprbeHJimC0LLCORinSoz9AniUsUUI0ckBPuRUmLA/s2578/20200930_114305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2578" data-original-width="1220" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbmiQLU7RVMIUDzfxq95Vd-Od0di4nhYX8Ux77d3iZ8LB_8KAHXadtIER744zlq-KgSHumSkiPF46p7YvOA_xaQwm2ZplaZaKzAHKJprbeHJimC0LLCORinSoz9AniUsUUI0ckBPuRUmLA/w302-h640/20200930_114305.jpg" width="302" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><br /></p>Margo Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474612650116392270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929885462293344093.post-57376747887335854532022-04-26T17:53:00.001-07:002022-04-26T17:54:00.048-07:00Book Review: Long Story Short by Serena Kaylor<p><span style="font-family: arial;">When I was offered a chance to read this cute summertime rom-com, I jumped at it. Scroll down for my complete review.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhzrk23MGYNkMqxcBO5tl9I7R3G4eMRoX5oBSJ6TgR51vyjL0VWjXydj2voyVx_jViLqSRzlUY86_BI4scd43qzTWnBrFIUX-WurEg-iL7C1KuKodbpo_heKcemQfVIjDsAIPYk3WorQTNoK7Z_u_aU3yyIRrn7VB8iEoR8M2uSqkEaJhRuH_hUWroEow" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="324" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhzrk23MGYNkMqxcBO5tl9I7R3G4eMRoX5oBSJ6TgR51vyjL0VWjXydj2voyVx_jViLqSRzlUY86_BI4scd43qzTWnBrFIUX-WurEg-iL7C1KuKodbpo_heKcemQfVIjDsAIPYk3WorQTNoK7Z_u_aU3yyIRrn7VB8iEoR8M2uSqkEaJhRuH_hUWroEow=w208-h320" width="208" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: arial;"><b><i>Long Story Short</i></b></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: arial;"><b>by Serena Kaylor</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Published by: Wednesday Books</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Publication date: July 26, 2022</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">ISBN: 978-1250818416</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Description from the Publisher:</span></b> Beatrice Quinn knows that she belongs at Oxford University and has spent sixteen very serious years studying to get in. Homeschooled and a whiz at statistics, she thought the hardest part would be getting accepted, not convincing her parents to let her go. To get their permission and prove that she can conquer her social anxiety, Beatrice will have to attend a Shakespearean theater camp and complete a detailed checklist of teenage milestones. With Oxford on the line and a new enemy in the form of the camp founders’ popular son, it’s too bad there’s no textbook for being a “normal teenager.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">About the Author:</span></b> Serena Kaylor likes to write about that first flush of summer love, whispered conversations at midnight, and endings happy enough to make your toes curl. She grew up running wild as a changeling through North Carolina swamps, and as an adult, has wandered from libraries into medicine. When she’s not writing, she can be found experimenting in her kitchen, wallpapering any blank surface, and hugging every dog that will let her. <i>Long Story Short</i> is her debut novel.</span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: arial;"><b>My Review:</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">This was a fun read!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Serena Kaylor's debut, <i>Long Story Short</i>, offers up a terrific summertime adventure for all of us who are nervous to step outside our comfort zones. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Yes, this story is promoted as a rom-com, but it's not only that. It's a fun adventure about a socially awkward girl trying to learn more about people and the world around her while discovering more about who she truly is and what she likes in life. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">And yes, it is funny. There were several laugh-out-loud moments for me. For example: "I imagined that like most skills, there would be a learning curve to kissing, and I could anticipate poor performance until given the opportunity to receive some instruction."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">While overall, I loved the book, there were a few hard to believe moments: when her finger "slipped" and she accidentally applied to Oxford; when her parents, who are therapists, discussed clients by name and issue (huge violation of HIPPA laws and gives therapists a bad rep), and when the physical touching aspect of her new-found relationship happened too fast. But none of these criticisms overshadowed my enjoyment of the book.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">If you're looking for a fun, light, summer read, pick up a copy of <i>Long Story Short </i>by Serena Kaylor.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Some of my Favorite Lines:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">"I nodded , always a beat behind as the conversation moved forward before I could organize my thoughts enough to contribute."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">“It’s easy not to care what other people think of you, when you obviously don’t care either.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">[I received an early copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my opinion.]</span></p>Margo Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474612650116392270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929885462293344093.post-48531263825418041102022-04-06T00:30:00.006-07:002022-04-06T00:30:00.211-07:00Insecure Writer's Support Group: Challenges Associated with Audiobooks<p>Happy April everyone! I love seeing the spring flowers blooming and the never-ending blue skies of Idaho. It's the first Wednesday of the month, which means it's time for another installment of the Insecure Writer's Support Group.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRY7GBm5X3mQvrpgwMpqglUbQxWAb2CAeXnYin6nKfCuXculOJCth7MzkBnvVOhL4LbTn4JU94RXT8Z90z41k0apxsVHyADmHQQIwZOPYMqRXT_913yD-U8AVCc0v8G87JxUhH-wfHa3YZWHokAIIbtQd3qTMQapgdtcgOxepHoNzVs3zA7HH2fXn5Qw/s320/InsecureWritersSupportGroup_Badge.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;">This month's question: </span></b>Have any of your books been made into audio books? If so, what is the main challenge in producing an audiobook?</p><p><br /></p><p><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;">My answer: </span></b>My first book, <i>Who R U Really?</i>, was made into an audiobook, but I did not produce it. My agent sold the audio rights to Audible. They produced it. They chose the narrator. They oversaw all the production responsibilities. The only part I played in the process was to speak with narrator prior to the recording to review pronounciation of certain words, like Skadi and Thea. Other than that, I had no input. And that was the biggest challenge for me. Letting go of the control and hoping for the best. I was super nervous to listen to it the first time, because it was already post production and no changes could be made. Thankfully, the narrator did a terrific job, and I was thrilled with the final product.</p><p><br /></p><p><i>For more information about the Insecure Writer's Support Group visit their <a href="http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com" target="_blank">website.</a> </i></p>Margo Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474612650116392270noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929885462293344093.post-44060650194918252732022-03-02T00:30:00.001-08:002022-03-02T00:30:00.212-08:00Insecure Writer's Support Group: Writing Hard Scenes<p>Oh, it's the first Wednesday of the month, and that means it's time for another installment of <a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/" target="_blank">Insecure Writer's Support Group</a>. I always find the questions SO thought provoking.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBOnqSHVUp1kXDaVrfhhBVA4yDFNatUQ5SAgQZfUrVk3it_gFzYw1rPFlKcdz6_0UIFvT4i0RkyJVRIY8OPEia0P-NemGPRylBt-hZkkQp_s5RdxPugXgJVhbePIVP4cwOQla_ffwXNz-t4p8tW7-rV_sAjC6ftsWrzlVJTw7ujro6yJ5h46cuUUk6VA=s932" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBOnqSHVUp1kXDaVrfhhBVA4yDFNatUQ5SAgQZfUrVk3it_gFzYw1rPFlKcdz6_0UIFvT4i0RkyJVRIY8OPEia0P-NemGPRylBt-hZkkQp_s5RdxPugXgJVhbePIVP4cwOQla_ffwXNz-t4p8tW7-rV_sAjC6ftsWrzlVJTw7ujro6yJ5h46cuUUk6VA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><b><span style="color: #e69138;">This Month's Question:</span></b> Have you ever been conflicted about writing a story or adding a scene to a story? How did you decide to write it or not?</p><p><br /></p><p><b><span style="color: #e69138;">My Answer: </span></b>There are quite a few scenes in WHO R U REALLY? that actually happened in real life. The hardest part about writing the story was making those real-life scenes translate into a believable fictional tale … because sometimes real-life events are too hard to believe. For those of you who've read the story, the scene where the mother and daughter played Scrabble was the hardest scene for me to write, because not only did that game happen in real life but the devastating events that immediately followed the game also happened. As I wrote the scene, I got very emotional. It was hard, but if the story was going to be shared, the scene had to be written. To make it tougher, I had to write it from my daughter’s perspective rather than my own since it's a book for young adults.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgd5IBz0KHeHfiAweb-NMxe8LECZstt1ZUvQzItuW5e4m6O8xarVrew9zMz92iTNLuXeKl1rlwJBD0cUx0YTxaOMd0Jia2gJGWXXglkppVy-dWjRopWe66A__gcjCzRluiinjqzMF5ook-5kTtATNVbnMOSLmAtJQQbMTZqVGtOAHSU5HV0KRbofo8Atw=s2400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2400" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgd5IBz0KHeHfiAweb-NMxe8LECZstt1ZUvQzItuW5e4m6O8xarVrew9zMz92iTNLuXeKl1rlwJBD0cUx0YTxaOMd0Jia2gJGWXXglkppVy-dWjRopWe66A__gcjCzRluiinjqzMF5ook-5kTtATNVbnMOSLmAtJQQbMTZqVGtOAHSU5HV0KRbofo8Atw=w400-h250" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Margo Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474612650116392270noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929885462293344093.post-86465317198063413712022-01-05T03:05:00.002-08:002022-01-05T03:05:59.742-08:00IWSG: Writing Career Regrets?<div>"The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling."</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgAsO4kXSqlAPJOu_3royQES7mXFUZsNPW7KO1SIygwPkEDYsfanDn1x7IOs0C9Y3l_i6N9EKWzSASIxAi9NeeNqbh3NZ-qEKyDJIWyMzBXYoJ8l1aQzbAOApnAJ5tsv7bW4A3z8nTHqgyHSpRa14ElxtCebev5vYHHz7r14ZQoABSmdnTnjBH8IQO8QQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /> </div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;">This Month's Question:</span></b> What's the one thing about your writing career you regret the most? Were you able to overcome it?</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;">My Answer:</span></b> Oh. Boy. This question made me stop and scroll back through my memories. As a general rule, I resist dwelling on regrets, because I cannot go back and change the past. However, I can move forward and make different decisions if I choose. But. To answer the question, my one writing career regret is that I waited until later in life to start. I wish I'd began pursuing this goal back in college. I knew as a young child that I wanted to be a writer, but various life pressures pushed my feet down a different path, and I pursued a business degree instead of an English degree. The second part of the question, "Were you able to overcome it?" Hmm. To a point, relatively speaking I was. I am a published author. But sometimes I wonder where my "career" would be if I had started all those years back in college. As I mentioned, instead of dwelling on the past and what could have been, I prefer to keep my eyes forward and make decisions to enhance my life now.</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>What about you? What are your thoughts on the topic?</i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>Margo Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474612650116392270noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929885462293344093.post-21403953831212058292021-11-20T09:33:00.000-08:002021-11-20T09:33:40.280-08:00Book Review: THREADS OF YOGA by Pamela Seelig<p>As an occasional yoga participant, I was thrilled to be offered a copy of this book to read and review, hoping it would reignite my passion and commitment to practicing yoga regularly. Scroll down for my complete review.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOg27g7jMzYU-NXwKmX796roQrxt6VxmLVl7TByZZKFkSZv30h1nJMlzcogPT6It-nN-YrY3GywyMwoFa9XOWM4atPLeADtqwGjhomK94Q8HV38hAwjEMxrHy4_q3nv6dv-II-6mgu962d/s475/yoga.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="307" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOg27g7jMzYU-NXwKmX796roQrxt6VxmLVl7TByZZKFkSZv30h1nJMlzcogPT6It-nN-YrY3GywyMwoFa9XOWM4atPLeADtqwGjhomK94Q8HV38hAwjEMxrHy4_q3nv6dv-II-6mgu962d/s320/yoga.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><b><span style="color: #fce5cd;">THREADS OF YOGA</span></b><div>by Pamela Seelig</div><div>Published by Shambhala</div><div>Publication Date: September 28, 2021</div><div>ISBN: 978-1611808797</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: #fce5cd;">Description from Publisher: </span></b>Deepen and enliven your yoga practice with 30 themes based on Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras that can inspire on and off the mat. Yoga draws many practitioners because of its physical benefits, but it is often the experience of peace that people return for. Threads of Yoga supports those seeking to learn more about yoga’s deeper spiritual teachings. Each short chapter introduces a foundational yogic theme, such as letting go, the breath, the yamas and the niyamas, and the chakra system. Each theme is accompanied by practices, including meditation, complementary poses, breath work, or quotes to contemplate. It is an ideal guide for both practitioners and teachers who want to connect with the spiritual wisdom of yoga, deepen their personal practice, or develop and support a theme for yoga class.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: #fce5cd;">About the Author:</span></b> Pamela Seelig is a yoga teacher based in New Jersey. She began her yoga and meditation journey in 1991 when an illness interrupted her Wall Street career. Along with helping recovery, the impact of her meditation led to a lifelong pursuit of perceiving and sharing yogic wisdom through practice, teaching, and writing.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: #fce5cd;">My Review:</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>During the pandemic, at a time when I most needed yoga, I neglected my practice. When I heard of this book, I selfishly hoped that something within the pages would reignite my desire to hit the mat again. It did, and I am so thankful.<br /><p>I loved reading this book. I devoured every chapter, page, paragraph, sentence, and word. </p><p>THREADS OF YOGA by Pamela Seelig is packed full of ancient wisdom and presented in a digestible manner for today’s average person. To quote from page two: “Threads of Yoga relies on ancient texts, such as Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, but it isn’t religious or scholarly.”</p><p>As with every nonfiction book I read, I started this one by scanning the table of contents, flipping through the pages, and reading the author’s credentials. The table of contents is concise and easy to process. It gives a clear picture of what to expect within the pages of the book. I love that. Flipping through the pages, I noticed there were no pictures or diagrams, but the end of each chapter consistently features practices to explore and consider during your own daily rituals. These contain tips for meditation, physical practice, relaxation, and quotes to contemplate. I look forward to returning to these pages to explore in depth the suggested practices. Regarding the author’s credentials, at first I was concerned, wondering what a former Wall Street career woman could sincerely offer on this topic of yoga, especially when she writes in the introduction: “the present-day perception of yoga is often of a purely physical practice with its associated clothing and accessories.” That rubbed me a bit wrong, thinking that is a mindset for the rich and affluent but not your average yoga practitioner. Who knows? Maybe I’m wrong. But the fact of the matter is that regardless of Seelig’s background and former career on Wall Street, she has put in the time (many years) studying and researching “ancient yogic wisdom.” She is a talented writer, and her knowledge is evident on every page. </p><p>This is definitely a book I will read again, and again, utilizing it as a resource manual, a daily meditative guide, and reminder to check myself. Where am I on my path? I’m I heading intentionally in the direction I want? Am I being kind to myself? Do I need to realign and balance myself?</p><p>My only criticism of the book is I wish it had pictures and diagrams. I am not an expert at yoga, and so pictures of poses would have been helpful. Likewise, pictures of the mudras would make it easier to practice them. While I am familiar with chakras, diagrams would help drive home the relevance of the content.</p><p>There are so many valuable nuggets within this book, I suggest buying your own personal copy and mark it up as you read – mark it with Post-it flags, highlighters, and penciled-in notes. Then read it again.</p><p>If you have friends you practice yoga (on any level) this book would make a perfect Christmas present.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>[I received a copy of this book from FSB Associates in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my opinion.]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Margo Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474612650116392270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929885462293344093.post-91559142738672154812021-11-18T09:07:00.001-08:002021-11-20T09:53:51.792-08:00Book Review: GREAT AMERICAN ROAD TRIPS - NATIONAL PARKS<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Reader's Digest has outdone themselves, again! Last time, it was Scenic Drives. This time, they're featuring National Parks. Scroll down for my complete review.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ixp6sXBTRyseGttsFaDFznRAsw4Obdw13vW0X03YFFQz41eih_gDtzHQDQfN9UiTX-qAkTKb3rsEn-pRX2-ZL2c9F8dgVr6iAL7JJqU6nTXIoygVPR23GwXCKdXAscp03y9fxfmzwPXs/s398/roadtrips.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ixp6sXBTRyseGttsFaDFznRAsw4Obdw13vW0X03YFFQz41eih_gDtzHQDQfN9UiTX-qAkTKb3rsEn-pRX2-ZL2c9F8dgVr6iAL7JJqU6nTXIoygVPR23GwXCKdXAscp03y9fxfmzwPXs/s320/roadtrips.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br /><p>GREAT AMERICAN ROAD TRIPS - NATIONAL PARKS</p><p><br /></p><p>Compiled & Published by: Reader's Digest</p><p>Publication Date: 10/19/21</p><p>ISBN: 978-1621457305</p><p><br /></p><p><b><span style="color: #f4cccc;">Description from Publisher: </span></b></p><p>First-person accounts and gorgeous landscape photos paired with practical information and tips to help travelers make the most of their journeys through more than 40 national parks.</p><p>National parks are America’s most-beloved treasures. The editors of Reader’s Digest magazine reveal first-person accounts and gorgeous landscape photos paired with practical information and tips to help travelers make the most of their journeys through these unique areas.</p><p>Included you’ll find information on more than 40 national parks and incredible images from readers. Plus:</p><p>• A historical introduction along with a national park timeline.</p><p>• An illustrated map of each state for each national park story, pointing out the location of the park within the state with a marker.</p><p>• Inspirational and gorgeous photos in gallery sections for each region to make this a terrific coffee table book or gift for travelers.</p><p>• Then and now comparison photos of national parks.</p><p>• Helpful added information, including possible rest stops, can’t-miss area hot spots, fun facts, handy advice for planning ahead, possible side trips and nearby attractions.</p><p>Whether you’re an armchair traveler or ready to pack and roll, Great American Road Trips: National Parks has everything that you are looking for.</p><div><br /></div><p><br /></p><p><b><span style="color: #f4cccc;">My Review:</span></b></p><p>Christmas is just around the corner, and this book would make an excellent gift for anyone and everyone on your list! The photos are amazing, the descriptions and narratives are intriguing, and the history is fascinating.</p><p>My only complaint is the book seems to favor some states over others. I would have loved to see a more balanced representation of the entire nation. According to www.nationalparks.org "The National Park System encompasses 423 national park sites in the United States. They span across more than 84 million acres, with parks in each state and extending into the territories, including parks in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and Guam." This reinforces my criticism that while California garners coverage of six National Parks, Idaho is not featured at all in the book. But that is my only complaint. Otherwise, it's a terrific book, deserving space on everyone's shelves.</p><p>The editors have also included throughout the book interesting nuggets of information about the various locations, including "Not to be Missed" features, "Words to the Wise" advice, and "Nearby Attractions."</p><p>I highly recommend this book as another addition to your personal library.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>[I received a copy from FSB Associates in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my opinion.]</p><div><br /></div>Margo Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474612650116392270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929885462293344093.post-63914599568356760642021-11-03T00:30:00.001-07:002021-11-03T00:30:00.227-07:00IWSG: Blurb or Title - Which is Harder to Create?<p>What is the <a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/" target="_blank">Insecure Writer's Support Group</a>? </p><p>"On September 7, 2011, Alex J. Cavanaugh launched the monthly blog posting of the IWSG and it has been going strong ever since. On the first Wednesday of every month we share of thoughts about writing on our blogs. We also have an optional monthly question to assist with member's posts, which can be found on the <a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html" target="_blank">Sign-Up page</a>."</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1W7JO-EWNvlF7bxLOeLyHDubWrX2pRDhHu1a_EmIuVR_wvC_fxBWO2VGjN5w13A6FXMTGNpPbfhe668z-r5h34E8J0gtLpN5XGbWo_SgV5KTVkt3IkUi1Bry5yj-0kzxdpEcomGrYsmj0/s932/InsecureWritersSupportGroup_Badge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1W7JO-EWNvlF7bxLOeLyHDubWrX2pRDhHu1a_EmIuVR_wvC_fxBWO2VGjN5w13A6FXMTGNpPbfhe668z-r5h34E8J0gtLpN5XGbWo_SgV5KTVkt3IkUi1Bry5yj-0kzxdpEcomGrYsmj0/s320/InsecureWritersSupportGroup_Badge.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><b><span style="color: #e69138;">November's Question: </span></b>What's harder, coming up with your book title or writing the blurb?</p><p><b><span style="color: #e69138;">My Answer:</span></b> At first glance, I thought the answer was definitely the blurb! However, after a minute of consideration, I realized it depends upon the book. With <i>Who R U Really?</i>, the blurb was simple to write, but the title took years and countless variations before the final one was decided. I had changed it myself multiple times during the writing process. Then while querying it, prospective agents suggested changes. Once I secured an agent, she, too, thought it needed a change yet again. Finally, the editor at the publishing house said the title would not work. She and I brainstormed via emails for quite a while before landing on the final title. On the flip side, with <i>Unlocked</i>, the title came to me instantly when I was developing the story idea. The blurb, however, was nearly impossible to write because the story is so complicated. I have since learned to write the blurb before I begin working on the first draft of the story. It can always be revised later, but by writing the blurb first, it gives me a sense of direction throughout drafting, and it makes the process of blurb-writing so much easier.</p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i>How about you? Do you think one is harder to come up with than the other?</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></p>Margo Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474612650116392270noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929885462293344093.post-3453319193666289072021-09-07T00:30:00.001-07:002021-09-07T00:30:00.202-07:00Book Review: GREAT AMERICAN ROAD TRIPS - SCENIC DRIVES by Reader's Digest<p> This is beautiful book - both in pictures and prose. Scroll down for my complete review.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgc4P0xEYEC07wbyZIx72LFG_G37XUEAx55YTOcb2L1iYVmtvepA7VDRsvP6CawauUXc8lqkLoyUfjgSMFdZ3N8Jf4uSwTzDu8-pTNalzlCtMkyEbKPTvUQiSPk9Mqimdc2zovQ2JFwIlb/s397/roadtrips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="397" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgc4P0xEYEC07wbyZIx72LFG_G37XUEAx55YTOcb2L1iYVmtvepA7VDRsvP6CawauUXc8lqkLoyUfjgSMFdZ3N8Jf4uSwTzDu8-pTNalzlCtMkyEbKPTvUQiSPk9Mqimdc2zovQ2JFwIlb/s320/roadtrips.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">GREAT AMERICAN ROAD TRIPS - SCENIC DRIVES</span></b><div><br /></div><div>Compiled & Published by: Reader's Digest</div><div>Publication Date: 2/2/21</div><div>ISBN: 978-1621455240</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Description from Publisher: </span></b></div><div>Let the natural beauty of America’s most scenic drives inspire the travel bug within you and get you exploring the wide-open spaces and breathtaking vistas in our country. Absorb the best America has to offer from the slow lane! This collection of scenic drives, broken out by region, features breathtaking road trips, both long and short. Highlighted by over 140 gorgeous photos, each trip also includes helpful info to help you plan your trip. Inspirational photos showcase why these well known drives are worth the drive. Many of the drives are described in the first person by people who have made the trip, taken the photos and visited the cool places along the way.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">My Review:</span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><br /></span></b></div><div>If you're looking to plot your next trip or if you're needing a gift for the adventure seekers in your life - this is the book for you!</div><div><br /></div><div>GREAT AMERICAN ROAD TRIPS - SCENIC DRIVES offers up amazing photos and fascinating narratives from a variety of photographers and travel writers.</div><div><br /></div><div>At first, I enjoyed scanning through the entire book, looking for destinations and scenic drives I was familiar with. Then, I started back at the beginning of the book and enjoyed reading the descriptions for each of the trips in the book. Much of the writing is colorful and engaging, but there are a few passages that are dryer and a bit boring to read. One of my favorite passages, written by Cathy and Gordon Illg, describes part of Mount Evans Scenic Byway in Colorado: "At the edge of the timberline, the road passes through a grove of bristlecone pines. They are the oldest living things in the state. One of the patriarchs of the grove sprouted as the Roman Empire was falling into decline, and their gnarled branches seem to wave goodbye as you leave the trees behind" (page 24).</div><div><br /></div><div>In addition to the first-hand accounts of the drives, the editors have also included interesting nuggets of information about the various drives, and they've sprinkled terrific quotes throughout the book, such as, "Another glorious day, the air as delicious to the lungs as nectar to the tongue -- John Muir" (page 55).</div><div><br /></div><div>Whether you enjoy taking road trips or not, I highly recommend this book. It makes a great guide for adventurers, a great coffee table book, and a great book for waiting rooms at doctor's offices.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><p>[I received an early copy from FSB Associates in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my opinion.]</p></div>Margo Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474612650116392270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929885462293344093.post-84511425425401764852021-09-06T17:55:00.000-07:002021-09-06T17:55:50.584-07:00Book Review: NEVER SAW ME COMING by Vera Kurian<p> </p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56383038-never-saw-me-coming" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Never Saw Me Coming" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1615329440l/56383038._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56383038-never-saw-me-coming">Never Saw Me Coming</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14369049.Vera_Kurian">Vera Kurian</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4222938691">3 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Oh, the premise! What a great plot for a murder mystery/thriller! Vera Kurian's storytelling in NEVER SAW ME COMING had me intrigued from page one.<br /><br />I've noticed many reviewers on Goodreads have commented that this book reads like it was intended for young adults (YA). To be clear, this book is not for the young adult audience. There are certain rules that apply to books written for a young adult audience, and this book steps outside those rules. This is definitely an adult book. Just because a narrative voice sounds similar to those you may find in young adult books does not make it one. <br /><br /><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">A few of the things I loved about this book:</span></b><br />1. The first chapter sucked me right into the story.<br />2. The internal exploration of psychopaths was fascinating.<br />3. The reunion (no spoilers) of a character and his family at the end actually choked me up with tears! Nice surprise there.<br /><br /><b><br />While I loved the premise of this book, there were multiple elements that kept me from giving it a five-star review:</b><br />1. I was overwhelmed by the large cast of characters. At first I thought this was a storytelling device to keep the reader guessing about the serial killer, and who knows, maybe it was, but when the killer was revealed, no spoilers here, I was disappointed. Instead of having such a large cast of characters, I wish Kurian would have developed the three main characters more.<br />2. Personal pet peeves: lots of crude language and unnecessary sex scenes <br />3. The changes in points-of-view were constant and confusing.<br />4. The referrals to pop-culture, including social-media hashtags and brand names, were tiring.<br /><br /><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">My favorite passage from the story:</span></b><br /><br />"Charles was too curious about meeting another psychopath to be annoyed. But Emma didn't fit the bill of what he thought they were supposed to be. He thought psychopaths were supposed to be ... well, like him. Charming and charismatic and able to get what they wanted from people. She seemed more like someone had taken a mouse and dipped it into warm water to make tea."<br /><br /><span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br />NEVER SAW ME COMING by Vera Kurian was a fascinating page-turner with an insightful exploration of psychopathy. </span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />[I received an advance copy of this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way influenced my opinion.]
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Margo Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474612650116392270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929885462293344093.post-43543621889641126972021-09-01T00:30:00.002-07:002021-09-01T00:30:00.212-07:00IWSG: Defining Success<p> The first Wednesday of the month is <a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html" target="_blank">Insecure Writer’s Support Group</a> day!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrD4e02aJrOR1_Ak-aPWjQnc3JlE2w8u-YDNrIcAYtTT5ZJbXb-vB8avqXJif2h8yJVK5e8AJQVAqZS7FK5jZviTLkUOoR1PeV6j6ak9gxmUP0Rw5KjaG_0dFaejdbR7VY9f_Pp9QmpIGm/s320/InsecureWritersSupportGroup_Badge.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><b><span style="color: #e69138;">This Month's Question: </span></b>How do you define success as a writer? Is it holding your book in your hand? Having a short story published? Making a certain amount of income from your writing?</p><p><br /></p><p><b><span style="color: #e69138;">My Answer:</span></b> I have different definitions of success for different things in my life. For the publication of WHO R U REALLY?, I had defined success as helping at least one teenager stay safer online. I’m thrilled to say I’ve received multiple emails from teenagers telling me that after reading the book they cleaned out their “friends” lists online. That’s a huge success. For other aspects of my writing life, I set different goals or "success" identifiers such as meeting a deadline, hitting a word count, and/or reading a certain number of books. Since there are so many aspects of publishing that are beyond my control, I have found that utilizing the tools from <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2797660390" target="_blank">THE ARTIST'S WAY</a>, I am able to strive for a satisfying sense of success within my control. If you haven't read THE ARTIST'S WAY, I highly recommend it.</p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i>What about you? How do you define success as a writer?</i></span></p><p><br /></p>Margo Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474612650116392270noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929885462293344093.post-769828345870800292021-08-17T00:30:00.001-07:002021-08-17T00:30:00.205-07:00Book Review: WHERE I LEFT HER by Amber Garza<p> As a fan of Amber Garza, I jumped at the opportunity to read her newest book, WHERE I LEFT HER. Scroll down for my complete review.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMyccNecKaRBFztnd_UTxswd4-177tEUDfSSV15_8WSsK66KbhSUpd-WYLEmADoynI6D-ihs-EtS5itfHNSQfz-GOCGNwpEl8Bq2TBSXm6Eb8E2Ol-Zia6FtBox-BoBSdUIJHYYuQGsbdP/s400/whereileft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMyccNecKaRBFztnd_UTxswd4-177tEUDfSSV15_8WSsK66KbhSUpd-WYLEmADoynI6D-ihs-EtS5itfHNSQfz-GOCGNwpEl8Bq2TBSXm6Eb8E2Ol-Zia6FtBox-BoBSdUIJHYYuQGsbdP/s320/whereileft.jpg" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b>Where I Left Her</b></span></p><p>by Amber Garza</p><p>Published by MIRA</p><p>Publication Date: August 24, 2021</p><p>ISBN: 9780778332060</p><p><br /></p><p><b><span style="color: #ffd966;">Description from the Publisher: </span></b></p><p>From the author of <i>When I Was You</i> comes a spine-tingling new thriller about a mother’s worst nightmare come true, when her teenage daughter goes to a sleepover and doesn’t come back.</p><p>Whitney had some misgivings when she dropped her increasingly moody teenage daughter, Amelia, off at Lauren’s house. She’d never met the parents, and usually she’d go in, but Amelia clearly wasn’t going to let something so humiliating happen, so instead Whitney waved to her daughter before pulling away from the little house with the roses in front.</p><p>But when she goes back the next day, an elderly couple answers the door—Amelia and Lauren aren’t there, and this couple swears they never were, that she’s at the wrong house. As Whitney searches for Amelia, she uncovers a trail of lies her daughter has told her—from the Finsta account to rumors of a secret relationship. Does she really even know this girl she’s raised? And Amelia’s not the only one with secrets. Could Whitney’s own demons have something to do with her daughter’s disappearance, and can Whitney find her before it’s too late?</p><p><br /></p><p><b><span style="color: #ffd966;">About the Author:</span></b> </p><p>Amber Garza has had a passion for the written word since she was a child making books out of notebook paper and staples. Her hobbies include reading and singing. Coffee and wine are her drinks of choice (not necessarily in that order). She writes while blaring music, and talks about her characters like they're real people. </p><p><br /></p><p><b><span style="color: #ffd966;">My Review:</span></b></p><p>Without even reading the description, I knew I wanted to read this book, because I LOVED Garza’s previous book, <i>When I Was You.</i></p><p><b><span style="color: white;">Filled with twists and turns, creepy subtext, and multiple points-of-view, <i>Where I Left Her</i> by Amber Garza does the thriller genre proud.</span></b> Garza’s writing and storytelling certainly exceeded my expectations.</p><p>Admittedly, I was concerned when I discovered the story would be told in a non-linear timeline, because that is always a challenge for me personally, but I trusted the author would guide me through it all. There are a lot of flashbacks told in italics, which can be hard to read in excess, but the story is worth the effort.</p><p>I wanted to read the entire book in one sitting, but had to pause halfway through because of life responsibilities, but I eagerly finished the second half without stopping once, because I needed to find out how the story was going to end. </p><p><i>Where I Left Her</i> was a terrific mystery with plenty of clues to help solve the mystery and uncover the true villain along with the characters in the story.</p><p>I look forward to reading more from Garza -- a great storyteller.</p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">[I received an early copy of this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my opinion.]</span></p><div><br /></div>Margo Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474612650116392270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929885462293344093.post-39235372973211318562021-07-13T09:46:00.000-07:002021-07-13T09:46:22.945-07:00Book Review: STEEL FEAR by Webb & Mann<p> </p>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56123374-steel-fear" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Steel Fear" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1620709405l/56123374._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56123374-steel-fear">Steel Fear</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4095865.Brandon_Webb">Brandon Webb</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4112050715">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
<br /><br /><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"><b>I loved this book! </b></span><br /><br /><br /><br />BUT there were several things that confused me:<div><br />1. The story opened with a female character, when I'd thought the book was about a male Navy SEAL. So I did a quick switch in my brain, thinking: Okay, cool, multiple main characters. But no. Finn, the SEAL, was the main character, and the majority of the chapters were told from his point-of-view.</div><div><br />2. And there was a lot of head hopping with the story constantly switching to different characters and their perspectives. It was a challenge to keep track of all the characters.<br /><br /></div><div>3. The reason a lone SEAL would be sent home on an aircraft carrier instead of flown directly to the states was never justified. A reader needs to buy into that concept, otherwise, it's a story problem that is hard to overlook.<br /><br />Those were the only reasons I gave the story 4 stars instead of 5. Otherwise, I loved it. <br /><br /><br /><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"><b>I loved the writing, the character development, the setting, and the mystery. Usually, I'm pretty good at solving the mystery before it's revealed, but not this time. The story was well told and well executed.<br /></b></span><br />This was the first time I've read a novel by these authors, and I look forward to reading more.<br /><br /><br /><b>Some of my favorite lines from the story:<br /></b><br />"But Papa Doc frowned on too much chatter. On his watch, flights tended to be less like sitting around a campfire and more like going to church."<br /><br />"A carrier flight deck was one gigantic blot-action sniper rifle, three and a half football fields long, only instead of firing steel-tipped 10-gram rounds it shot 25-ton fighter jets, firing and reloading at the rate of one every twenty-five seconds. Finn thought about the jet pilots strapped into their multimillion-dollar machines, being shot off the deck into the dark like bullets."<br /><br />"When he roamed the Abe's passageways Jackson moved like an Abrams tank that had taken a few semesters of ballet."<br /><br /><br /><br />[I received an early copy for free from the publisher via NetGalley, which in no way influenced my opinion.]
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1848451-margo-kelly">View all my reviews</a>
</div>Margo Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474612650116392270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929885462293344093.post-54298892145841373222021-07-07T00:30:00.005-07:002021-07-07T00:30:00.170-07:00IWSG: Quit Writing?!<p>The purpose of the Insecure Writer's Support Group is to "share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!"<br /><br /></p><p>For more information visit: <a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/" target="_blank">https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1W7JO-EWNvlF7bxLOeLyHDubWrX2pRDhHu1a_EmIuVR_wvC_fxBWO2VGjN5w13A6FXMTGNpPbfhe668z-r5h34E8J0gtLpN5XGbWo_SgV5KTVkt3IkUi1Bry5yj-0kzxdpEcomGrYsmj0/s932/InsecureWritersSupportGroup_Badge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1W7JO-EWNvlF7bxLOeLyHDubWrX2pRDhHu1a_EmIuVR_wvC_fxBWO2VGjN5w13A6FXMTGNpPbfhe668z-r5h34E8J0gtLpN5XGbWo_SgV5KTVkt3IkUi1Bry5yj-0kzxdpEcomGrYsmj0/s320/InsecureWritersSupportGroup_Badge.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;">This Month's Question:</span></b> What would make you quit writing?</p><p><br /></p><p><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;">My Answer:</span></b> I've thought about this topic often during my time as a published author. Interestingly, the question never occurred to me before I was published. Before then, I was determined and confident and tenacious. Once published, my perspective changed. I saw behind the curtain of the publishing world and was surprised by how it all works . . . and doesn't work. Now, I'm more of a realist, and I know the publishing world won't always work in my favor, won't always greet me with open arms, won't always pave the road before me. And yet, I still want to create stories, imagine worlds, and develop characters. I've decided I will never quit writing, because <b><i><span style="color: #b45f06;">I am a writer</span></i>.</b> </p><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-size: medium;"><i>How about you? Is there anything that would make you quit writing?</i></span></p><p><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p>Margo Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474612650116392270noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929885462293344093.post-18494849838332522572021-07-06T08:51:00.001-07:002021-07-06T08:51:10.244-07:00Book Review: Did I Say You Could Go by Melanie Gideon<p>Oh, boy. When I first saw this cover and read the title, I KNEW I needed to read this one! Scroll down for my complete review.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK8l7WYhzomwt33u9yOKmbLWUXn0Qb8FfBhOrt0cUA_K4Jmnw1LebvCL47pTK23pk-3eYqgR8Ezml2cNq0fv8csXEMhHf_-qH_6kIV0O_H5ay4vXrWLzgMgvLJMEIjHogJLUlqRaCs4RSW/s2048/didisay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1345" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK8l7WYhzomwt33u9yOKmbLWUXn0Qb8FfBhOrt0cUA_K4Jmnw1LebvCL47pTK23pk-3eYqgR8Ezml2cNq0fv8csXEMhHf_-qH_6kIV0O_H5ay4vXrWLzgMgvLJMEIjHogJLUlqRaCs4RSW/s320/didisay.jpg" /></a></div><p><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Did I Say You Could Go</span></b></p><p>by Melanie Gideon</p><p>Published by Simon & Schuster</p><p>Publication Date: August 3, 2021</p><p>ISBN: 978-1982142124</p><p><br /></p><p><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Description from the Publisher:</span></b> </p><p>A suspenseful, gripping novel about families and friendships torn apart at the seams by obsession, secrets, and betrayal with relentless twists and turns that hurtle forward to a shocking confrontation.</p><p>When Ruth, a wealthy divorcée, offers to host the Hillside Academy kindergarten meet-and-greet, she hopes this will be a fresh start for her and her introverted daughter, Marley. Finally, they’ll be accepted into a tribe. Marley will make friends and Ruth will be welcomed by the mothers. Instead, the parents are turned off by Ruth’s ostentatious wealth and before kindergarten even begins, Ruth and Marley are outcasts.</p><p>The last guest to arrive at the meet-and-greet is Gemma, a widow and a single mother to her daughter, Bee. Ruth sets her sights on the mother-daughter duo, and soon the two families are inseparable. Ruth takes Gemma and Bee on Aspen vacations, offers VIP passes to Cirque du Soleil, and pays for dinners at Michelin-starred restaurants. For Gemma, who lives paycheck to paycheck, Ruth’s largesse is seductive, but as the years go by, she can’t shake the feeling that she’s accruing an increasingly unpayable debt. When Ruth’s affair with a married Hillside dad is exposed, and she’s publicly shunned, Gemma uses it to sever ties with Ruth.</p><p>Six years later, when Gemma finds herself embroiled in a scandal of her own—Ruth comes to her defense. Their renewed friendship rehabilitates their reputations, but once again, Gemma starts to feel trapped as Ruth grows more and more obsessed with their relationship.</p><p>A relentless page-turner, <i>Did I Say You Could Go</i> is the story of friendships steeped in lies and duplicity. It’s about two families who, when pushed to extremes, cross the line with devastating results.</p><p><b><span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span></b></p><p><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">About the Author:</span></b> </p><p>Melanie Gideon is the NYT bestselling author of the memoir, <i>The Slippery Year: A Meditation on Happily Ever After</i>, as well as the novels <i>Wife 22</i>, <i>Valley of the Moon</i>, and <i>Did I Say You Could Go</i>. Her books have been translated into thirty languages. She lives in the Bay Area.</p><p><b><span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span></b></p><p><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">My Review:</span></b></p><p>Without even reading the description, I knew this was a book for me. That cover. That title. SO CREEPY! This was the first book by Melanie Gideon that I’ve read, and she exceeded my expectations. </p><p><b><i>Did I Say You Could Go</i> by Melanie Gideon grabbed my attention on page one and kept me reading faster and faster to find out what was going to happen next.</b></p><p>As an avid thriller reader, many of the twists and turns did not surprise me, but I never felt disappointed with any of the reveals. Gideon masterfully weaved the web, trapped my attention, and slowly unwound the various plot elements. Before I knew it, the story was over, and I was satisfied with all of the revelations and conclusions of the mysteries and character arcs.</p><p>I expected the story to be told from the two adult women’s points-of-view, but I was taken by surprise when the narrative switched to the teenage daughters’ points-of-view also. As a frequent reader of young adult literature, the teenage POVs felt forced with lines like, “All of them have pubes, one of them has been fingered, and most of them have their periods.” Yikes. So, needless to say, it was weird, but the teenage POVs settled into their own grooves and felt less forced as the story progressed. </p><p>Additionally, there were several elements that pulled me from the world of the story. First, while it was told in a linear fashion, there were a lot of awkward flashbacks that felt forced. Second, I found it extremely hard to believe that Gemma would just let Ruth buy her a new car. Third, there were so many trendy pop culture references, such as: "'I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in Lulu,' says Madison. Actually, Ruth’s in Stella McCartney, but she isn’t about to reveal that to Madison. Labels are nothing to brag about – that’s what her mother always said."</p><p>Nonetheless, <i>Did I Say You Could Go</i> was loaded with excellent twists and jaw-dropping moments.</p><p>I won't spoil any of them for you, but trust me, there are some good ones.</p><p><br /></p><p>Some favorite lines from the story:</p><p>“Gemma’s face looks melted, like candle wax just before it hardens.”</p><p>“She is so endlessly interesting to him – it makes her heart hurt. She is endlessly interesting to her mother, too, but in a completely different way. Her father’s love is a hummingbird. Her mother’s is a hawk.”</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div><span style="font-size: x-small;">[I received an early copy of this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my opinion.]</span></div>Margo Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474612650116392270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929885462293344093.post-63398677030336602702021-05-19T00:30:00.001-07:002021-05-19T00:30:00.206-07:00Book Review: WHERE DO YOU HANG YOUR HAMMOCK? by Bella Mahaya Carter<p>It's been a while since I read a nonfiction book, so when I was offered this new one, I jumped at the opportunity. Scroll down for my complete review.</p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWloLfTHgfk0iAd5LZo8TTIaM9UXnTDMek4J8wV4-8PHW71ju05jCZC5T6GbeP0rJl2omcdxrIvv6sP9kBwYgXFYnw44ru41qGDWnyfdo6IYHcz0XqF5L3Heyw2vnCt5q6fe-SyIbdxN7P/s475/hammock.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="297" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWloLfTHgfk0iAd5LZo8TTIaM9UXnTDMek4J8wV4-8PHW71ju05jCZC5T6GbeP0rJl2omcdxrIvv6sP9kBwYgXFYnw44ru41qGDWnyfdo6IYHcz0XqF5L3Heyw2vnCt5q6fe-SyIbdxN7P/s320/hammock.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b>Where Do You Hang Your Hammock?</b></i></span><p></p><p>by Bella Mahaya Carter</p><p>Publication Date: June 1, 2021</p><p>Publisher: She Writes Press </p><p>ISBN: 9781647420659</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b><span style="color: #93c47d;">Description from the Publisher:</span></b> </p><p>In <i>Where Do You Hang Your Hammock?</i> seasoned coach and author Bella Mahaya Carter shows writers how to use their present circumstances as stepping-stones to a successful and meaningful writing life, navigated from the inside out. It encourages writers and authors to rethink their ambitions (which may be fueled by the tyrannical demands of the ego) and trust in their heartfelt purpose and values in the journey to becoming, or continuing on, as authors.</p><p>Many writers believe their self-sabotaging thoughts are trustworthy and true. They take rejection personally. They surmise that if they don’t achieve their goals they have failed, and lose sight of who they are and what matters most.</p><p>This book is for writers looking for inspiration and for authors daunted by the publishing process, who might lack the requisite author platform to get published the way they dreamed, or whose careers may not be unfolding as expected. It aims to be the friend and trusted expert writers turn to when hijacked by their own thinking. Ultimately, it reminds authors that they are infinite creators. </p><p><br /></p><p><b><span style="color: #93c47d;">About the Author:</span></b> </p><p>Bella Mahaya Carter is a creative writing teacher, empowerment coach, speaker, and author of an award-winning memoir, <i>Raw: My Journey from Anxiety to Joy</i>, and a collection of narrative poems. She has worked with hundreds of writers since 2008 and has degrees in literature, film, and spiritual psychology. Her poetry, essays, fiction, and interviews have appeared in <i>Mind, Body, Green; The Sun; Lilith; Fearless Soul; Writer’s Bone; Women Writers, Women’s Books; Chic Vegan; Bad Yogi</i> Magazine; Jane Friedman’s blog; <i>Pick The Brain</i>; the Spiritual Medial Blog; <i>Literary Mama</i>, several anthologies' and elsewhere.</p><p><br /></p><p><b><span style="color: #93c47d;">My Review:</span></b></p><p><b><i>Where Do You Hang Your Hammock?</i> by Bella Mahaya Carter is an excellent resource for writers.</b></p><p>At first, I was confused by the title. What does a hammock have to do with writing? At the very beginning of the book, Carter explains the concept with a personal story, which serves as a perfect analogy for the publishing industry. Not only did she have me hooked with that single story, but I also bought myself a hammock swing as a result. Now I just have to decide where to hang it.</p><p>Whenever I read a nonfiction book, the first thing I do is read the author's bio. What qualifies this person as an "expert" in the field, and why should I trust what she has to say? Well, Carter's bio is impressive (shown above), and it made me curious what I exciting things I'd be able to learn from her writing.</p><p>The next thing I do is flip to the table of contents, which should be easy to navigate and give an overview of the book. Carter's table of contents is clear and concise, giving a detailed roadmap of the book. This enables the reader to pick and choose topics to read in short spurts or to read the whole from beginning to end. </p><p>Then, before actually reading anything, I flip through the book and scan the pages. Sometimes a nonfiction book can feel overwhelming to me, and if there are charts, quotes boxes, divided sections--these elements help break up the narrative, making the book easier for me to digest. Carter's book is mostly narrative, but the chapters are short and the sections are divided, which helps break up the prose. Also, at the end of each chapter is a journal prompt that allows the reader to ponder the concepts presented.</p><p>The journal prompts would blend well with the "Morning Pages" concept from Julia Cameron's <i>The Artist's Way</i>. I intend to use the two books together to help me explore my creative confidence.</p><p>As I read the book, I was surprised more primary sources were not cited for stated facts. For example, in the chapter on traditional publishing Carter states, "...royalties--generally a small percentage (about, 7.5%)..." No sources cited. In the same chapter, she quotes Brooke Warner, writing, "...sobering fact: Only 2 percent of authors make their living from their writing alone." This is not a primary source. A primary source would be the study or research paper that gathered these statistics. Giving information in this manner can be misleading or worse yet, offer misinformation. I'm a big believer in seeking out primary sources rather than taking second-hand information as gospel truth. I wish Carter had cited actual primary sources so readers could read additional information for themselves, if wanted. This is my only criticism of the book. </p><p><b>This book makes a great companion book for Julia Cameron's <i>The Artist's Way </i>and Elizabeth Gilbert's <i>Big Magic</i>.</b> If you haven't yet read either of those - I highly recommend them.</p><p><b><span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: medium;"><i>Where Do You Hang Your Hammock? </i>by Bella Mahaya Carter is thought-provoking and insightful, helping readers explore their dreams about writing with interesting concepts to nourish their creativity.</span></b></p><p><br /></p><p>[I was offered an early copy from FSB Associates in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my opinion.]</p>Margo Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474612650116392270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929885462293344093.post-58612262578753335932021-05-05T00:30:00.001-07:002021-05-05T00:30:00.217-07:00IWSG: Surprising Reactions from Readers<p>"The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling." For complete details, visit the website: <a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com">https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrD4e02aJrOR1_Ak-aPWjQnc3JlE2w8u-YDNrIcAYtTT5ZJbXb-vB8avqXJif2h8yJVK5e8AJQVAqZS7FK5jZviTLkUOoR1PeV6j6ak9gxmUP0Rw5KjaG_0dFaejdbR7VY9f_Pp9QmpIGm/s320/InsecureWritersSupportGroup_Badge.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><b><span style="color: #e69138;">This Month's Question: </span></b>"Has a reader ever responded to your writing in a way that you didn't expect? If so, did it surprise you?"</p><p><b><span style="color: #e69138;">My Answer: </span></b>Yes! One of my all-time favorite responses was from a teacher who'd been reading <b><i>Who R U Really?</i></b> aloud to her class. She had previously read the book herself, and she knew the big reveal of the bad guy was coming up for her class. So, she recorded the class as she read the scene aloud, and then she sent the video to me. It was so awesome to watch the students' varied reactions as the bad guy made himself known to the main character. (I love teachers so much!)</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzCh10QtnFAy-4pW-UhiL93LLFSVMCsT1hFLc-GH7RYLRGAOqLrLmzRzS-PjBFIKMSBFu2QuXCzwUkgFVtcJK1Ssrjf84cAF58q5QSk4H6XKy-n5zq-1QY-lxkgt_o04rKO9Wc4rX5eK8U/s2048/whorureally_review_quotes-005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="2048" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzCh10QtnFAy-4pW-UhiL93LLFSVMCsT1hFLc-GH7RYLRGAOqLrLmzRzS-PjBFIKMSBFu2QuXCzwUkgFVtcJK1Ssrjf84cAF58q5QSk4H6XKy-n5zq-1QY-lxkgt_o04rKO9Wc4rX5eK8U/w400-h250/whorureally_review_quotes-005.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><i><span style="font-size: large;">How about you? If you're a writer, has a reader ever surprised you with a response? If you're a reader, have you ever contacted an author about their writing?</span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></p><p><b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></b></p>Margo Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474612650116392270noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929885462293344093.post-49925908995467054772021-05-04T08:36:00.002-07:002021-05-04T08:36:17.779-07:00Book Review: HURRICANE SUMMER by Asha Bromfield<p>Oh, this was a great book! AND that cover - GORGEOUS! Scroll on down for my complete review.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-iMKowP0JbpJs299ZgQ9p1cMuZt08StZpCwDYo-hGDssst5a1sRZEqlsMtq7wjLT72VAQWuquakFz1MtDcWoW1T4PR9oWsNMksTAgZx5MW7-dMgQzgYaZFEGKHw08i8UzYBDHSYaeU64c/s2047/hurricanesummer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2047" data-original-width="1324" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-iMKowP0JbpJs299ZgQ9p1cMuZt08StZpCwDYo-hGDssst5a1sRZEqlsMtq7wjLT72VAQWuquakFz1MtDcWoW1T4PR9oWsNMksTAgZx5MW7-dMgQzgYaZFEGKHw08i8UzYBDHSYaeU64c/s320/hurricanesummer.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><i><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Hurricane Summer</span></b></i></p><p>by Asha Bromfield</p><p>Date Published: May 4, 2021</p><p>Publisher: Wednesday Books</p><p>ISBN: 978-1250622235</p><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><b>Description from the Publisher:</b></span></p><p>In this sweeping debut, Asha Bromfield takes readers to the heart of Jamaica, and into the soul of a girl coming to terms with her family, and herself, set against the backdrop of a hurricane. Tilla has spent her entire life trying to make her father love her. But every six months, he leaves their family and returns to his true home: the island of Jamaica. When Tilla’s mother tells her she’ll be spending the summer on the island, Tilla dreads the idea of seeing him again, but longs to discover what life in Jamaica has always held for him. In an unexpected turn of events, Tilla is forced to face the storm that unravels in her own life as she learns about the dark secrets that lie beyond the veil of paradise―all in the midst of an impending hurricane.<i> Hurricane Summer </i>is a powerful coming of age story that deals with colorism, classism, young love, the father-daughter dynamic―and what it means to discover your own voice in the center of complete destruction.</p><p><br /></p><p><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">About the Author:</span></b></p><p>Asha Bromfield is an actress and writer of Afro-Jamaican descent. She is known for her role as Melody Jones, drummer of “Josie and the Pussycats” in CW’s Riverdale. She also stars as Zadie Wells in Netflix’s hit show, Locke and Key. She currently lives in Toronto, and her name translates to "Life" in Swahili. In her spare time, she loves studying astrology, wearing crystals, burning sage, baking vegan desserts, and taking walks to the park with her dogs Luka and Kyra. <i>Hurricane Summer</i> is her debut novel.</p><p><br /></p><p><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">My Review:</span></b></p><p><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-size: large;"><i>"Everyone has that one summer. The summer that changes your life."</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Oh, I loved this book, and I'm so glad I read it, but I must admit that I almost put it down after reading the opening pages. Why? Two reasons. One: in the opening, the author warns that this story contains sexual assault. That is a topic I don't like to read about, and I'll avoid it whenever possible. But I chose to read the story, because I appreciated the author's warning, and I hoped that once I got to that part of the story I'd be able to skim over it and not internalize it. Thankfully, the scene was short, but it was still heart wrenching. All sexual assault is heart wrenching. Two: also in the beginning of the book is a glossary of Patois words. I've never been strong with other languages, and the idea of needing to learn another language in order to read this book felt daunting. I chose to ignore the glossary and read the story as if there was none. Heavy dialect and Patois words within the book's dialogue made it a challenge to read, but it became easier as I got into the rhythm of it. "Yuh haffi go learn how fi chat Patois if yuh wan keep up. Mi ah nuh Rosetta stone." Other than these two elements, I absolutely loved the story. So good!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">As a kid with divorced parents who spent summers with my father, I could relate on so many levels with this story. Kids want to be loved and valued and protected by their parents, and Asha Bromfield does an excellent job exploring this facet of life. "This time it is me searching for the right words that will make him stay. The right words to convince him that we are his daughters and he should want to stick around. That we are fun enough. Interesting enough. Good enough."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Bromfield also does an excellent job of immersing the reader in the setting of Jamaica. Her descriptions provide great imagery of the country, and since the main character grew up in Canada, she's able to compare and contrast the two countries and cultures. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The characters of this story have a wide range of emotional flaws, habits, and traits. Their images and personalities stuck with me long after the story was over.</span></p><p><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-size: large;"><i>Hurricane Summer</i> by Asha Bromfield is a story of a young woman surviving her own personal hurricane, sustaining injuries, healing, and growing. The writing is beautiful and captivating.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><b>Some of my favorite lines from the story:</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"The air is moist and dewy from the rainfall last night, and birds sing to each other as they fly over our heads. It becomes clear that nothing compares to the birth of a new day on a crisp Jamaican morning."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"I have wanted my father's love for too long. But now, I am weary. Now, I am done. It's a strange pursuit--chasing the love of your father. When the first man who was supposed to want you, doesn't."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"We celebrate the way that the island is coming alive in a way like never before for its own destruction. We watch in reverence as it is being forced to destroy itself, to re-create itself again."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"When they ask how I weathered the storm, I will tell them I did not. I was uprooted like the palm trees and shot down like the birds form the stormy skies. I was ravished like the zinc houses and devoured like the soil as it swallowed itself whole. I was ruined. I was disaster. I was dancing in the eye of God's will."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">[I received an early copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my opinion.]</span></p><p><br /></p>Margo Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474612650116392270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929885462293344093.post-44741564593266682932021-04-06T08:26:00.003-07:002021-04-06T08:26:42.759-07:00Book Review: TELL NO LIES by Allison Brennan<p>Yes! I was super excited to see that Brennan wrote a sequel to THIRD TO DIE! Scroll down to read my complete review.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigpacnWFTc-HHzw0L0KPFIu5P_3GGIX8VtCXzC2w1nEPVKFgRnIkf6Vmw6eMz-kHJhqUED6sNXgAVCTkKssA00vfxkX9Y2XveJ7Q_QKzrkxWe0NTdxwb7YWC6UjV30Zh69Soqt4XYkkqW2/s400/tellnolies.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="264" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigpacnWFTc-HHzw0L0KPFIu5P_3GGIX8VtCXzC2w1nEPVKFgRnIkf6Vmw6eMz-kHJhqUED6sNXgAVCTkKssA00vfxkX9Y2XveJ7Q_QKzrkxWe0NTdxwb7YWC6UjV30Zh69Soqt4XYkkqW2/s320/tellnolies.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><b><i><span style="color: #ffe599;">Tell No Lies</span></i></b><div>by Allison Brennan</div><div>Date Published: March 30, 2021</div><div>Publisher: MIRA</div><div>ISBN: 9780778331469<br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b><span style="color: #ffe599;">Description from the Publisher:</span></b></p><p>Something mysterious is killing the wildlife in the mountains just south of Tucson. When a college intern turned activist sets out to collect her own evidence, she, too, ends up dead. Local law enforcement is slow to get involved. That’s when the mobile FBI unit goes undercover to infiltrate the town and its copper refinery in search of possible leads.</p><p>Quinn and Costa find themselves scouring the desolate landscape, which keeps revealing clues to something much darker—greed, child trafficking and more death. As the body count adds up, it’s clear they have stumbled onto much more than they bargained for. Now they must figure out who is at the heart of this mayhem and stop them before more innocent lives are lost. </p><p><br /></p><p><b><span style="color: #ffe599;">About the Author:</span></b></p><p><i>New York Times </i>and <i>USA Today</i> bestselling author Allison Brennan believes that life is too short to be bored, so she had five children and writes three books a year.</p><p>40 books and numerous short stories later, Allison relocated in 2019 from Northern California to Arizona with her husband and two youngest children.</p><p>She currently writes the Lucy Kincaid/Sean Rogan thriller series, and launched the Quinn & Costa thrillers this year with THE THIRD TO DIE. Catherine Coulter called it an "amazing new series" and Kirkus Reviews says Kara Quinn is "A strong and damaged protagonist as compelling as Lisbeth Salander."</p><p><br /></p><p><b><span style="color: #ffe599;">My Review:</span></b></p><p>I loved this book! </p><p>I love the team of characters that Brennan has created. I love her writing skills. I love the complicated plot of this story.</p><p><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"><b>Allison Brennan has assembled a diverse and intriguing cast of characters that work together to solve a complicated mystery in her latest book, <i>Tell No Lies</i>.</b></span></p><p>At first, I was concerned with the number of characters being introduced. How in the world would I keep track of them all? But I trusted that Brennan would help me keep them straight, and she did. With gentle reminders, Brennan made it clear who the various characters were as they came back on scene. The beginning of the story was filled with a lot of telling and information overload, but once the story got going, I was sucked in and couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. I also realized that some of my frustration with the beginning was actually because it took a while for Kara Quinn to appear in the story. She was my favorite character from the first book in the series, <i>Third to Die</i>. Once Kara was a part of this story, I felt at home with the team of characters.</p><p>If you didn't read the first book in the series, no worries. This is a stand alone novel that you can pick up and read. However, I do highly recommend you start with <i>Third to Die</i> just so you can get to know the main characters better.</p><p>My favorite series to read are the ones where each book contains a complete and finished plot -- all loose ends are tied up, and then following books continue to develop the main characters and their relationships. The characters (and writing) are what keep me coming back for more. So, I 'm thrilled that this series by Brennan will be following (I'm assuming) these lines.</p><p>A couple of my favorite lines from the book:</p><p>"Papa said that the stars were God's glitter to make the dark not as scary."</p><p>"She detested anything that slithered--criminals or reptiles."</p><p><b><span style="color: #ffd966;">Bottom line: </span></b></p><p><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"><i>Tell No Lies</i> by Allison Brennan is a fascinating mystery, where readers can try to solve the crimes right along with the FBI team in the vast Arizona landscape.</span></p><p><br /></p><p>[I received an early copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley for free in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my opinion.]</p></div>Margo Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474612650116392270noreply@blogger.com0