Book I Have Read

Okay this is not going to be an assigned thing. I may decide to do it instead of a normal weekday post, as I am this week…or I might drop it in randomly as I feel the desire. The Fae Corps Blog Does a Saturday TBR and they are not always books that we have read, but ones that look good amongst the recommendations we get. These are all going to be ones I have read, and This will be my clear thoughts on them. Now as I sometimes sign up to be an ARC reader, I will not always have the link for you to buy the book…but I will try to post when any I do miss the link on are live.

I have always been a voracious reader. I go through a trade paperback in about 4 hours. Since I have started publishing, finding time to read seems like a bit of a luxury. Not because I don’t read now…on the contrary. I am always reading things that people send me to publish, to edit, just to get opinions on. So reading for fun just seems like something I really don’t get to do as often as I would like. I have thousands of books on my kindle. And enough paperback and hardback books that it often causes fights. (My boyfriend’s of the opinion that if I am not reading them I should donate them). I keep the ones that I am willing to re-read. That means that eventually I will pick them back up.
But the last few books I have indulged in…Ones I sought out for personal pleasure that had nothing to do with publishing…I found myself taking a couple of days to read. Simply because I was enjoying them, so I would put them down and stop for a couple of hours to do other things before coming back to them. So I realized that maybe beyond the Goodreads/amazon/and the like reviews…maybe I should take the time to tell you guys about these books.

I see hundreds of ARC opportunities. I have so limited time. I sign up for the ones that Really catch my mind. The latest one was a group of books that were all interesting looking mostly because one of my favorite authors was a part of the group. I will be getting a new book once a week until Halloween (as I understand it.) The second one finally got to be read . I forced the issue of being able to get to read….something that is such a luxury anymore.

This one is Cursed by a Sirens Kiss by Riley Hunt and LS Embers.

I saw the idea of this being a little mermaid retelling with pirates and I have to admit that I was expecting something lighter. This was a sexy and dark tale which kept me on my toes the whole time. I find myself wanting more of these characters. the story hits the happy ending without a sappy drag. I love it .

I have the next one – Cursed by Fur. I will try to post about it when I get it read.

Book I Have Read

Okay this is not going to be an assigned thing. I may decide to do it instead of a normal weekday post, as I am this week…or I might drop it in randomly as I feel the desire. The Fae Corps Blog Does a Saturday TBR and they are not always books that we have read, but ones that look good amongst the recommendations we get. These are all going to be ones I have read, and This will be my clear thoughts on them. Now as I sometimes sign up to be an ARC reader, I will not always have the link for you to buy the book…but I will try to post when any I do miss the link on are live.

I have always been a voracious reader. I go through a trade paperback in about 4 hours. Since I have started publishing, finding time to read seems like a bit of a luxury. Not because I don’t read now…on the contrary. I am always reading things that people send me to publish, to edit, just to get opinions on. So reading for fun just seems like something I really don’t get to do as often as I would like. I have thousands of books on my kindle. And enough paperback and hardback books that it often causes fights. (My boyfriend’s of the opinion that if I am not reading them I should donate them). I keep the ones that I am willing to re-read. That means that eventually I will pick them back up.
But the last few books I have indulged in…Ones I sought out for personal pleasure that had nothing to do with publishing…I found myself taking a couple of days to read. Simply because I was enjoying them, so I would put them down and stop for a couple of hours to do other things before coming back to them. So I realized that maybe beyond the Goodreads/amazon/and the like reviews…maybe I should take the time to tell you guys about these books.

I see hundreds of ARC opportunities. I have so limited time. I sign up for the ones that Really catch my mind. The latest one was a group of books that were all interesting looking mostly because one of my favorite authors was a part of the group. I will be getting a new book once a week until Halloween (as I understand it.) The first one came in a few days ago. I forced the issue of being able to get to read….something that is such a luxury anymore.

The first one is a Cinderella meets King Midas retelling titled Cursed by Gold by Jamie Dalton . Cinderella is named Scarlett. Midas is King Remme. The characters are strong. The imagery is immersive. The romance is there without being borderline erotica. I found this one to be a nice action packed tale. I did feel like the timing could have been a bit better, some of the story dragged while others felt rushed…but it could be a personal issue based on the interruptions at the moment I was in each place. I really do recommend it. I enjoyed the story.

I will probably be doing the next one in a few days as I just got the ARC today.

Book I Have Read

The Fae Corps Blog Does a Saturday TBR and they are not always books that we have read, but ones that look good amongst the recommendations we get. These are all going to be ones I have read, and This will be my clear thoughts on them. Now as I sometimes sign up to be an ARC reader, I will not always have the link for you to buy the book…but I will try to post when any I do miss the link on are live.

I have always been a voracious reader. I go through a trade paperback in about 4 hours. Since I have started publishing, finding time to read seems like a bit of a luxury. Not because I don’t read now…on the contrary. I am always reading things that people send me to publish, to edit, just to get opinions on. So reading for fun just seems like something I really don’t get to do as often as I would like. I have thousands of books on my kindle. And enough paperback and hardback books that it often causes fights. (My boyfriend’s of the opinion that if I am not reading them I should donate them). I keep the ones that I am willing to re-read. That means that eventually I will pick them back up.
But the last few books I have indulged in…Ones I sought out for personal pleasure that had nothing to do with publishing…I found myself taking a couple of days to read. Simply because I was enjoying them, so I would put them down and stop for a couple of hours to do other things before coming back to them. So I realized that maybe beyond the Goodreads/amazon/and the like reviews…maybe I should take the time to tell you guys about these books.

I love random book recommendations. I will always go look up the book for to make up my mind whether I want to read it or not. Death Whispers by Tamara Rose Blodgett was one of those. I am now 7 books into the series.

It’s a young adult series set in a futuristic world. The human genome has been mapped and they figured out how to give us paranormal abilities… Like the ability to raise the dead. The problem is that the abilities appear to pubescent children. The main character is a teen boy – Caleb. And he is the strongest corpse raising type.  The government has a habit of making those disappear. He is also the son of the scientist who mapped the genome. Him, his family, and his amazing friends, all try to survive the adventure of life and still keep Caleb out of the government’s clutches.

I like the series so far, but it has some minor problems. I feel like some things are not explained. By book 7 the author seems to decide to tired of the characters and skips to the next generation. The first books are all in Caleb’s pov so the unexplained stuff can be written off as his not seeing it… But when you get up where I am… The author starts perspective hopping. And I am so confused. The characters are really good. You want to know what happens. And the story is good enough to keep you reading. But I don’t know if I recommend going past the 6th book. I will have to get back to you later about it.

Book I Have Read

The Fae Corps Blog Does a Saturday TBR and they are not always books that we have read, but ones that look good amongst the recommendations we get. These are all going to be ones I have read, and This will be my clear thoughts on them. Now as I sometimes sign up to be an ARC reader, I will not always have the link for you to buy the book…but I will try to post when any I do miss the link on are live.

I have always been a voracious reader. I go through a trade paperback in about 4 hours. Since I have started publishing, finding time to read seems like a bit of a luxury. Not because I don’t read now…on the contrary. I am always reading things that people send me to publish, to edit, just to get opinions on. So reading for fun just seems like something I really don’t get to do as often as I would like. I have thousands of books on my kindle. And enough paperback and hardback books that it often causes fights. (My boyfriend’s of the opinion that if I am not reading them I should donate them). I keep the ones that I am willing to re-read. That means that eventually I will pick them back up.
But the last few books I have indulged in…Ones I sought out for personal pleasure that had nothing to do with publishing…I found myself taking a couple of days to read. Simply because I was enjoying them, so I would put them down and stop for a couple of hours to do other things before coming back to them. So I realized that maybe beyond the Goodreads/amazon/and the like reviews…maybe I should take the time to tell you guys about these books.

This one is about a book that I have gone back to multiple times. This book is a coming of age story that I found when I was nearly the same age as the main character. Up a Road Slowly by Irene Hunt is a story of a young woman coming to womanhood… It’s set in an earlier era. I got the impression that it was the fifties or something similar. The book has several different poems woven in the story and it blends into the narrative really well.

The story deals with grief and growing up realizing that your actions affect others. I have reread this one so many times that it feels like going home.

Monday Poetry

Poetry

Perspective

By

Patricia Harris

Every person has a unique way
To say the truth as they see it,
Somehow it always seems to be
The same thing said differently.

Perhaps the world is all using
The same vocabulary
And only the perspective
Has changed.

Book I Have Read

Okay this is not going to be an assigned thing. I may decide to do it instead of a normal weekday post, as I am this week…or I might drop it in randomly as I feel the desire. The Fae Corps Blog Does a Saturday TBR and they are not always books that we have read, but ones that look good amongst the recommendations we get. These are all going to be ones I have read, and This will be my clear thoughts on them. Now as I sometimes sign up to be an ARC reader, I will not always have the link for you to buy the book…but I will try to post when any I do miss the link on are live.

I have always been a voracious reader. I go through a trade paperback in about 4 hours. Since I have started publishing, finding time to read seems like a bit of a luxury. Not because I don’t read now…on the contrary. I am always reading things that people send me to publish, to edit, just to get opinions on. So reading for fun just seems like something I really don’t get to do as often as I would like. I have thousands of books on my kindle. And enough paperback and hardback books that it often causes fights. (My boyfriend’s of the opinion that if I am not reading them I should donate them). I keep the ones that I am willing to re-read. That means that eventually I will pick them back up.
But the last few books I have indulged in…Ones I sought out for personal pleasure that had nothing to do with publishing…I found myself taking a couple of days to read. Simply because I was enjoying them, so I would put them down and stop for a couple of hours to do other things before coming back to them. So I realized that maybe beyond the Goodreads/amazon/and the like reviews…maybe I should take the time to tell you guys about these books.

Those of you who have followed my blog for a while remember my talking about taking a course Fiction Expedition. One of the others in the class finally got around to releasing her book. It was important to me to sign up to be an ARC reader for her. She and another Friend are opening a Publishing company Memento Vivevre (Links to them at the bottom of the post) . Since both are such amazing people I have no doubt they will succeed.

The Book Beautiful Serpent, Restless Embers by Ynes Freeman is gorgeous. Right now it is in Pre0rder. It has a wonderful world built around it. A gothic setting with magic, and mystery…Assassination and politics. The main character is relatable and badass. You grow to have sympathy for her, and the struggles she faces. Her adventures are definitely not the normal fare. When I am able I will be posting a five star review that is well earned on Amazon. (Amazon will not let you post a review before the book is live. This is the only down side to being a fast reader and an ARC reader.) I made this last of the three because this book will not officially release until July 28th. However I thoroughly recommend preordering this. It is a delightful read.

Places to find Memento Vivevre:
Facebook
Instagram
X/Twitter
Blusky
Threads

They have a website…but it is not fully up yet…Though I am sure in time it will be glorious.

Monday Poetry

Poetry

Closed Minded

By

Patricia Harris

The problem with humanity is
not everyone has a mind open
to ideas of compassion and kindness…

the mind is not is not fitted with a door
meant to close in the things that don’t
fit the whole world seen within…
instead we have eyes and ears
that are supposed to be used to observe
all that the world is prepared to
throw at the unobservant kind.

Book I Have Read

Okay this is not going to be an assigned thing. I may decide to do it instead of a normal weekday post, as I am this week…or I might drop it in randomly as I feel the desire. The Fae Corps Blog Does a Saturday TBR and they are not always books that we have read, but ones that look good amongst the recommendations we get. These are all going to be ones I have read, and This will be my clear thoughts on them. Now as I sometimes sign up to be an ARC reader, I will not always have the link for you to buy the book…but I will try to post when any I do miss the link on are live.

I have always been a voracious reader. I go through a trade paperback in about 4 hours. Since I have started publishing, finding time to read seems like a bit of a luxury. Not because I don’t read now…on the contrary. I am always reading things that people send me to publish, to edit, just to get opinions on. So reading for fun just seems like something I really don’t get to do as often as I would like. I have thousands of books on my kindle. And enough paperback and hardback books that it often causes fights. (My boyfriend’s of the opinion that if I am not reading them I should donate them). I keep the ones that I am willing to re-read. That means that eventually I will pick them back up.
But the last few books I have indulged in…Ones I sought out for personal pleasure that had nothing to do with publishing…I found myself taking a couple of days to read. Simply because I was enjoying them, so I would put them down and stop for a couple of hours to do other things before coming back to them. So I realized that maybe beyond the Goodreads/amazon/and the like reviews…maybe I should take the time to tell you guys about these books.

Okay with this one… My friend Jenny said that I just had to read it. So she sent me a gift on Kindle. I am so fond of seeing real representation in books of people who are often not seen.

The main character in this story is Gender fluid. There’s gay side characters. It’s a why Choose, which is not a thing for everyone. I rather enjoyed the way the world was set up. I enjoyed the fact that each of the romances were different.

Beauty’s beasts by Alex Hanson is a personal favorite… And it’s only book one of the series.

I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

Monday Poetry

Poetry

Human Shaped Verse

By Patricia Harris

Humanity is but another
Unknown thing
Making the poets speak.
All about the possibility
Never understanding the truth.

Someday I will speak instead about
How much I understand
All the things that make humans
Poetry.
Even then I will be wrong,
Definition is impossible.

Vaguely unreal is as close in
English as I might be capable.
Referring to the entire race
Somehow as having any voice
Even though they don’t understand themselves.

Monday Poetry

Monday Poetry
Poetry

Kids say the Strangest Stuff

By Patricia Harris

Why do we grow out
Of saying the most fun
Things that can come to mind?

Hurry up and save the toothbrush,
Avoid the trip to the planet
Made of stench and stinky feet…
Be made of turtles if you need to.
Why did you stop talking to
The monsters in the closet anyway?

Kids understand the world,
The wonders that keep it alive…
So though they say some of
The strangest things,
I think the kids see more than
Anyone else does in a lifetime.

*Poet’s note. This is absolutely inspired by my friend Jenny’s Dante. She messaged me three things that he said and it reminded me of the moments when my kids were little…and I realized that kids have a magic that we tend to forget by the time adulthood comes.