Category: relationships

Book Review

BOOK LINKS
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DRY1N9MV
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/223127560-secret-guard
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/secret-guard-rise-of-the-loti-book-1-by-cait-marie

CAIT’S LINKS
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/c8_marie/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cait.marie.h
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cait.marie.h

BLURB
Eighteen years ago, the Great War ended and magic was outlawed to create a more peaceful world.
But it’s still in ruins, and the people need a new hero.
Per the rules set forth at the reformation of their country, Princess Emmalyn must choose a betrothed by her eighteenth birthday in order to claim her place as heir. The problem is, her heart belongs to her best friend, Cayden, and he’s not on the list of approved suitors.
But that turns out to be the least of her troubles.
Before she can make her announcement, a violent rebel faction invades. Barely managing to escape with Cayden’s help, the princess is forced to leave her family in the hands of their biggest enemy—Charles Lamden, former friend of her parents and war hero-named traitor.
Emma will do whatever it takes to save her family, even if that means working with the very people she’s been taught to fear. Those with magic who’ve gone into hiding because of the laws
her parents helped put in place.
However, in doing so, she starts to see that the world isn’t what she once thought. And as she learns one painful truth after another, she struggles to know what to do or believe.
Because there’s a reason Lamden took the royals hostage beyond his need for revenge, and Emma’s at the very center of it.
After all, that’s why a group of secret guards has sworn to protect her above all others.

My Review:

This one is a delightful read. I honestly couldn’t put it down until it was done. the characters are richly written and the world building is top shelf. The plot twists will keep you engaged. I plan to reread this one often.

Tuesday Tunes

Lyrics –

We were three little girls from school.
One was pretty, one was smart
And one was a borderline fool.
Well she’s still good lookin’
That woman hadn’t slipped a bit.
The smart one used her head
She made her fortune.
And me, I cross the border every chance I get.
We were the girls of the 50’s.
Stoned rock and rollers in the 60’s.
And more than our names got changed
As the 70’s slipped on by.
Now we’re 80’s ladies.
There ain’t been much these ladies ain’t tried.
We’ve been educated.
We got liberated.
And had complicating matters with men.
Oh, we’ve said “I do”
And we’ve signed “I don’t”
And we’ve sworn we’d never do that again.
Oh, we burned our bras,
And we burned our dinners
And we burned our candles at both ends.
And we’ve had some children
Who look just like the way we did back then.
Oh, but we’re all grown up now.
All grown up,
But none of us could tell you quite how.
We were the girls of the 50’s.
Stoned rock and rollers in the 60’s.
Hunny, more than our names got changed,
As the 70’s slipped on by.
Now we’re 80’s ladies.
There ain’t been much these ladies ain’t tried.
A- my name is Alice.
I’m gonna marry Artie.
We’re gonna sell apples
And live in Arkansas.
B- my name is Betty.
I’m gonna marry Bobby.
We’re gonna sell beans
And live in Brazil.
C- my name is Connie.
I’m gonna marry Charlie.
We’re gonna sell cars
And live in California.

My 2 cents –

it’s March. I am going to be 50 next week and it’s making me feel strange. I never believed that I would see 30…now I am somehow 50? I have lived a full life and it is not even close to being over.  I am going nostalgic for the music choice today but I kinda feel the song as well. There’s not much I have not tried – but I am still enjoying the possibility.

Tuesday Tunes

Lyrics –

Cut me open and you’ll find
A brain, heart, liver, lungs
And a knife in the spine

It’s chilling to know that the last place you go
Might be where the fat lady sings
Does it hurt? I don’t know, and where do we go?
We don’t tease fragile minds with such things

So sell me down the river
First help me sell my soul
It’s something I know I can deliver
I think we’ve finally broke the mold

It’s getting harder to know if I’m sane
My issues are leaking outside of my veins
Somebody save me or end me
I haven’t yet made up my mind

If it leads to paranoia, boy, you might want to hit the floor
Before exposure leads to a metamorphosis we can’t ignore
Lost in the whisper and hung on a prayer
If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there

So sell me down the river
First help me sell my soul
It’s something I know I can deliver
I think we’ve finally broke the mold

Will I be an end to someone’s destiny?
Who’s to know?
And will I give right in to my aggression?
Who’s to know?
Will I fall apart all alone
Who’s to know?
Or will I shine right through
And lay this hate to rest with all of you?

So sell me down the river (down the river)
First help me sell my soul
It’s something I know I can deliver (I can deliver)
I think we’ve finally broke the mold

My 2 cents –

today I have an mri. I will try to explain in my Thursday post ….but I am trying to keep the panic away right now .

Thursday Thoughts

okay  Tomorrow is Valentines day.

The history is interesting, but I have issues with the implementation.

Dates don’t have to be expensive. the best dates I have had were sitting down by the creek and talking.

the pressure to buying gifts for each other is really uncomfortable.

I enjoy buying gifts and getting gifts without the strings attached.

I would rather capitalism not control my life.

Tuesday Tunes

Lyrics –

‘Thou shalt not kill.
Thou shalt not die.’
Cry!
Last fire will rise
Behind those eyes.
Black house will rock,
Blind boys don’t lie.
Immortal fear,
That voice so clear.
Through broken walls,
That scream I hear.
Cry, little sister! (Thou shalt not fall)
Come, come to your brother! (Thou shalt not die)
Unchain me, sister! (Thou shalt not fear)
Love is with your brother! (Thou shalt not kill)
Blue masquerade,
Strangers look on.
When will they learn
This loneliness?
Temptation heat
Beats like a drum.
Deep in your veins,
I will not lie,
Little sister! (Thou shalt not fall)
Come, come to your brother! (Thou shalt not die)
Unchain me, sister! (Thou shalt not fear)
Love is with your brother! (Thou shalt not kill)
My Shangri-Las,
I can’t forget
Why you were mine.
I need you now!
Cry, little sister! (Thou shalt not fall)
Come, come to your brother! (Thou shalt not die)
Unchain me, sister! (Thou shalt not fear)
Love is with your brother! (Thou shalt not kill)
Cry, little sister! (Thou shalt not fall)
Come, come to your brother! (Thou shalt not die)
Unchain me, sister! (Thou shalt not fear)
Love is with your brother! (Thou shalt not kill)

My 2 cents –

This week should be a love song due to valentine’s day. I just don’t feel it. My veiw of love is not something that is easily commercialized. So I went with a movie song redone to be more potent.

Tuesday Tunes

Lyrics –

They just want your head
Moving up and down
Up and down
Up and down
They got inside your head
Flip it upside down
Upside down
Upside down
We can feel an order
Getting in our way
We don’t need the rule of yesterday
Breaking down the borders
Tearing down the sides
Hear this one last time
They just want your head
Moving up and down
Up and down
Up and down
They got inside your head
Flip it upside down
Upside down
Upside down
They just want your head
Moving up and down
Up and down
Up and down
They’ve got inside your head
Flip it upside down
Upside down
Upside down
Up, up and down
Up, up and down
Up, up and down
Up, up and down
Up, up and down
Up, up and down
Up, up and down
Up and down
They just want your head
Moving up and down
Up and down
Up and down
They got inside your head
Flip it upside down
Upside down
Upside down
We can feel an order
Getting in our way
We don’t need the rule of yesterday
Breaking down the borders
Tearing down the sides
Hear this one last time, time, time, time, time, time, time, time
They just want your head
Moving up and down
Up and down
Up and down
They got inside your head
Flip it upside down
Upside down
Up and down
They just want your head
Moving up and down
Up and down
Up and down
They got inside your head
Flip it upside down
Upside down
Upside down
We can feel an order
Getting in our way
We don’t need the rule of yesterday
Breaking down the borders
Tearing down the sides
Hear this one last time

My 2 cents –

21 years ago today I gave birth to my youngest son, though at the time I thought he was my only daughter. He has introduced me to a good bit of the music that I listen to now, though I have always been one with broad taste in music. This song keeps getting stuck in his father’s head….and I am amused by it.

Happy birthday Jason Angel Terrell. I Love you.

choices and changes

The majority of the votes were for this volume.

I then realized that I didn’t have a line that I always put on my volumes.

so I decided to update it…and I added some whimsy at the same time.

the other thing is that several people pointed out that My Causality was better suited for Serena Mossgraves than for me.

so it will be her volume instead of mine.

In the vein of announcements….

This year for kids week Serena Mossgraves will be releasing one .

My favorite kiddo reader asked Serena to write him a scary story. Now he is only four/five years so how can she resist ?

She never planned to do any kids books and I have my doubts about her writing any more but it is such a fun story..

Covers, for Days….

So I have said that I enjoy making covers…and Especially poetry covers for future books – whether I ever get them written or not…I just enjoy the creation of the idea.

I am, at least where my files are concerned, Very organized. So I have a folder of future Poetry volumes and then each is organized alphabetically.

That gives me an idea of when I have two many of any one letter starting the titles. So I can choose titles from letters I have less of. If I have 3 or more then I feel like it is time to pick a different folder to add an idea to.

Do I realize that with over 70 future volume covers I will never get them all written? Yeah. This is an art form that relaxes me. And it means when I finish a volume I have choices. So less anxiety there.

My child thinks I am overwhelming myself. Planning for things that will never be, I see it as dreaming gently about possibilities.

Tuesday Tunes

Lyrics –

Lacey things, the wife is missing.
Didn’t ask, for her permission
I’m wearing her clothes,
her silk panty hose.
Walking around in women’s underwear.

In the store, there’s a teddy.
With little straps, like spaghetti.
It holds me so tight,
like handcuffs at night.
Walking around in womens underwear

In the office there’s a guy named Melvin.
He pretends that I am Murphy Brown.
He’ll say “Are you ready?”
I’ll say, “Woah man! Let’s wait until the wife is out of town.”
Later on, if you wanna,
We can dress, like Madonna.
Put on some eye shade, and join the parade.
Walking around in women’s underwear.

Lacey things, missing.
Didn’t ask, permission.
Wearing her clothes, silk panty hose.
Walking around in women’s underwear.
Walking around in women’s underwear.
Walking around in women’s underwear……”

My 2 cents –

I wanted something funny to use for this week….

The votes are in plus updates

I ended up with votes each for burning the soul within, Ghosts of Gehenna, and Illumination. So I asked my boyfriend to be the tie breaker. He chose this one.

Serena’s thoughts are that it is appropriate. One should always illuminate after the darkness.

On that note, my volume Dream Drops is scheduled for release April 4th(link should be available soon …)  her Darkness Within is already available in some places for pre-order.

Ars Poetica will be finished being written in April so we will have to see when we can get it on the schedule for publication. Lost Notes is dragging a bit but I am expecting to publish it in 2025 as well .

Of the two children’s books I have planned for kids week 2025 one is written and illustrated.(I just have to put it all together. ) The other one is in the idea stage.

Serena’s Heavens Forgotten Tales was scheduled for release in February but due to a small snafu, I believe it is going to be a delayed to March thing.

I am hoping Serena will be able to get farther into Sea Wytch this year. I would like to see it publishing by 2026 if possible.