Sales and Freebies!

Just popped in to let you all know of some sales and some FREEBIES!

First, ARE is having a MASSIVE October Giveaway! They are giving away loads of books, swag, gift certificates, etc, to random customers at check out. I am an official sponsor and donated several copies of Cast The First Stone and Fixing The Hole. So run over to http://allromanceebooks.com/ buy some books and see if you are one of the lucky winners!

I'm supposed to link via the picture, but I don't know how to do that, so I'll post the picture at the bottom LOL.

Also, starting October 15 and running until the end of the month, All Romance Ebooks will be offering a special 25% rebate for all Torquere titles! I got my start with them, you can get several short stories and of course my novella, Cast The First Stone! So run over there! You might win something and you'll save some money!

Now for non-promo stuff...writing is going VERY SLOWLY /o\ I almost have no energy most days, it's so weird. Maybe I'm pushing too hard at the gym, who knows, but I'm trying. A few hundred words at a time. RL is keeping me SUPER busy so there's that too.

Hope all is well.

Now go buy and SAVE!

<3333 Katherine

Tired Tuesday

Ha, so Manic Monday turned into Tornado Tuesday.

Life has gotten super busy now that school is back in. We have choir, and soccer, and job searching, and parent volunteering to coordinate. We also have pending repairs on our house (LOTS of pending repairs) and frankly, I'm exhausted.

Social Media is contributing to this exhaustion. There are some nights I just don't even feel like turning on my Mac. Which should tell you how tired I am.

I know this blog has been sporadic over the summer and it's about to get even more sporadic, because, at the suggestion of a friend, in an effort to get my writing mojo back, I'm taking a hiatus. Which means, I'm only going to post when I feel like it and it certainly won't be the regularly scheduled three posts a week, because I just can't.

I will be around on Twitter - fannish stuff you can find @Thraceadams, author stuff you can find @Katherinehalle. But I'm probably only going to do that when I feel like it as well (although more than here).

Hope everyone has a great week and a fantastic fall season!

<333
Katherine

Fun Friday...so to speak

Hey everyone,

Just a brief update.

I have finally started writing again. Attempting a short to submit for Dreamspinner. It's kind of a hot mess right now and I'm not even sure how to end it so hopefully Button can work some magic just like always. Hot mess aside, at least I wrote something, mostly, hopefully if I just keep plugging away the hot messiness will go away LOL.

Hubs is back from his two week TAD, so that's good. Everyone is thrilled. The dog wouldn't leave him alone and the kid never stopped talking LOL.

School has started and mini-minion is loving it so that is a relief.

House is still in need of repair but we are optimistic. And I'm still looking for a job and still optimistic about that as well.

And that is the state of Thrace and family.

Hope all is well with you. Have a great weekend!

<333
Katherine

Release Day!! Finding Home

Hey all!

I'm actually a day late /o\ blame it on summer vacay, ants, a house in dire need of repair, and a hubs that has just started a six week (not all in one go) round of travel.

ANYWAY! First Timers is out from Torquere! WOO HOOOOO It includes my little story, Finding Home. CHECK IT OUT!

Blurb:

Brian and Duncan are werewolf shifters who have lived their lives on the road, never settling down in any one place. They’ve been invited to celebrate Beltane with René LeClaire, the Alpha gator shifter they ran afoul of last year when they camped on his land without permission. After accepting the invitation and having lunch with both René and his second Lexa, they follow them out to join René’s pack in the Bayou for what can only be described as a Bacchanalia, complete with food, wine, naked dancing around a Maypole, and of course sex. Because a Beltane celebration wouldn’t be complete without it. Before the night is over Duncan and Brian find themselves in their first ever threesome with René and with an invitation to stay and make the Bayou their home.

Buy Link for Finding Home: At Torquere

Amazon and ARE to come later.

Blurb for First Timers Anthology:

First Timers brings you a collection of eleven stories about first experiences. From sweet and innocent to smoking hot, these stories capture the exhilarating feeling that something wonderful is about to happen.

Humor and passion blend in Rob Rosen’s “Come Hell or High Water,” Gacy Grant treats us to a heartwarming first in “The Pickup,” long-time friends become lovers in “The King’s Guard” by Evelyn Burkhardt and “One Sneeze, a Wish, Two Sneezes, a Kiss” by Jacey Mills, and revelations abound first time away from home in Andrea Dalling’s “What a Man Wants” and Helena Maeve’s “Initiation.” “Sample and Hold” by Erin McRae and Racheline Maltese, Megan McFerren’s “Just Like That,” and Val Prozorova’s “Guitar Lesson” explore the intensity of a first coming out, first time, first kiss, while love can be found where you least expect it in “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” by McKay and “Finding Home” by Katherine Halle.

Whether contemporary or fantastical, past or present, a sweet kiss on a riverbank or reveling in the Bayou, these stories are all uplifting, fun, and did we mention hot?

Buy Links:

At Torquere

At ARE

Amazon Coming Soon.

Cover Art:




Also, if you get the chance, take a look at my friend LJ Hamlin's Pale Light, her first M/M/M and it's SHIFTERS. You can find more out here: At Torquere

AND as a bonus for those of you that read this far, you can get 35% off using the code BTS2015 during checkout! GO SAVE MONEY AND BUY BOOKS!

That's all for now.

<3333
Katherine

Just Another Manic Monday

Hi!

Long time no see! We are mostly settled in, meaning, we are unpacked and have most of the stuff put away and pictures up on the walls. The hubs still has to finish 'his' wall, and the 'library' still needs things on the walls (but those have yet to be framed so....)

As some of you know, the renters & rental management company were NOT kind to our house and we have a LOT Of repairs to do. Which would be fine if they had come one at a time over the last five years? But yeah, no, so, I'm job hunting which is taking the majority of my time so my writing & editing has taken a SEVERE backseat. I'm still doing it, but yeah, I need to find a job that will be a steady paycheck so...sacrifices have been made. I do have a short story coming out this month, the 17th, I believe. More about that later this week, maybe?

I can't really tell you what I'm going to work on, because I haven't exactly figured out which story/stories to prioritize when I do, I'll let you know.

That all said, Congrats go out to my fellow author Lillian Francis who is self-publishing a novel that was originally published elsewhere, it has a GORGEOUS new cover, she's doing a blog tour and everything!!! I'm copying her info below, go check it out.

Have a great Monday and I'll hopefully see you later on in the week!

<333
Katherine

TITLE: Lovers Entwined

AUTHOR: Lillian Francis

PUBLISHER: Finally Love Press

COVER ARTIST: Meredith Russell

LENGTH: 98,950 words

RELEASE DATE: August 3, 2015

BLURB: Ewan Matthews is one of Boston’s leading genealogy experts. When a would-be bridegroom comes looking for confirmation that there are no skeletons in his ancestral closet, Ewan considers turning the job down. Trey Capell is a jerk of the highest order and yet Ewan experiences an infuriating attraction that’s easy to justify. Trey’s exactly his type—a carbon copy of the man Ewan’s been looking for his entire life.

Harder to explain is the sense of recognition that leaves Ewan speechless the moment Trey steps into his office. Or the stomach-churning sensation at the thought of casting the job aside. Trey gets more appealing by the day, leaving Ewan struggling with forbidden desire for his client. Desire not helped by strange voyeuristic dreams that have started to haunt his sleep. Dreams that appear to be an echo of the past.

Purchase links for Lovers Entwined. 

Amazon US 
Amazon UK 
ARe 

The price will be going back up to $3.99 at some point today it just depends on how quick each of the particular sites are, at the moment they all still stand at $2.99.

Quickie Update

Hi all,

Just wanted to check in and let you know I'm still alive!

We are moved in, mostly settled, still have some work to do, still getting used to the new/old place. My kitchen is smaller so there's that :( And after five years of renters our townhouse is in desperate need of some TLC which we can't really do right now (too much all at once) so we'll have to take one thing at a time. Including me getting a job O__O - prayers, well wishes, whatnot for that would be appreciated.

I do have another short story/anthology coming out in August with Torquere. It's the First Timer's Anthology and my story is called Finding Home - my first time writing a M/M/M story O__O. Also, it's shifters :D

I really need to update my what I'm reading list because there's a lot, but that'll be for another week.

Hope all is well.

<333
Katherine

Release Day! Life Happens!

It's here! It totally snuck up on me and I apologize for that. I didn't even have time to organize a mini-blog tour OR a giveaway :((( I apologize for that as well because I LOVE this story, it's fluffy and happy and all things good. And I am in FANTASTIC company in this anthology!

Without further ado - I give you - the Family Time Anthology out from Torquere today. You can also purchase my story Life Happens separately.

Here's the blurb:

Dominic Antonelli and his boyfriend Kit Thomas have been together for over four years, and Dominic thinks it's time to make things official. He plans for an elaborate proposal, including a quiet dinner for two and a romantic evening at Kit's favorite place, the local aquarium. When the weather refuses to cooperate and his car breaks down, Dominic knows the night can't get any worse. That is, until his fourteen-year-old daughter, supposedly at a friend's house to study, calls distraught and drunk.

With his night in shambles, Dominic considers throwing in the towel. After all that has happened, surely Kit wouldn't want to tie himself to their messy little family unit. But caught up in his grand plan, Dominic has forgotten there is more to being a family than a piece of paper and a circle of gold.

Here is the ADORABLE cover:


And here is a special release day Excerpt for all of you <3333
The timer dinged startling Dominic out of his thoughts. He plated the paella and went back out to the dining room to join Kyla and Kit. Kyla had her head down but Dominic could see the red hue to her skin. Concerned, he glanced at Kit who winked at him and something inside him settled.

"So." He looked at Kyla, who turned her brown eyes to his. "Tell us about school."

"Dad," she said, rolling her eyes in exasperation. "School was fine. Same old same old. You should ask Kit about his day." Her eyes lit up in excitement. "He said someone came in with an axe in his chest! He said they had to take about five different x-rays because he just couldn't see how the guy was still alive. It was the most amazing thing, right, Kit?" She turned, giving Kit her brightest smile.

Kit laughed, the rich sound filling the room and Dominic catalogued every aspect about the man in front of him. His light brown colored skin, dark brown eyes, bright white teeth spreading into a wide smile that showed the dimples in his cheeks. The cream-colored Henley he wore clung to his chest and biceps leaving little to the imagination.

"Ahem," Kit cleared his throat, quirking an eyebrow at Dominic.

"Gross," Kyla said, rolling her eyes. "Dad, do you have to drool over Kit at the table? Come on, yuck." She grimaced but then ruined the effect when she obviously couldn't help cracking a smile at their affection for each other.

"Hmm, I don't know." Dominic set his fork down and waggled his eyes at Kit. "I could go drool ON him. Would that be better?"

Kyla mimed gagging and pushed her empty plate away. She slumped in her chair and rubbed her belly. "Ugh, Dad, don't make me sick. That paella was yummo and I would hate to lose it." She shot him a steely eyed glare.

Laughing, Dominic held his hands up in surrender. "Okay. You win. Take your plate into the kitchen and go finish your homework. And don't--" He pointed at her. "Don't tell me you already did because I know you have a paper due at the end of the week and a math test on Monday. I expect to see a rough draft before you go to bed and hear that you spent at least thirty minutes studying your math. Or no phone."



And all the obligatory buy links:

Torquere Full Anthology

Torquere Life Happens

Amazon Full Anthology

Amazon Life Happens

ARE Full Anthology


So, go buy some fluff! And have a great rest of your week.

<3333
Katherine

Surprise Saturday

SURPRISE! I'm here on a Saturday. Need to catch all of you up on a few things!

First, move is going and stressful. One more week until packout /o\ (hence my lack of presence here, trying to get things squared away here and at our destination so the move goes smoothly)

Second, Fixing the Hole is now available on AUDIO!! How cool is that?? A few weeks ago Dreamspinner contacted me about auditions, I listened to them, chose my favorite, and now it's OUT! And it's AMAZING!!! You can find it here: Fixing the Hole

Third: Just signed a contract with Torquere for Finding Home, it will be part of their First Timers Anthology and also sold on its own (I believe, more on that later). It's a sequel of sorts to the free read included in Please Don't Feed The Alligators which came out a year or so ago. Let me tease you with - not only is it the characters' first time threesome - it's my first time writing one! More to come :D

Fourth: I have a RELEASE NEXT WEEK! How did this happen? How did it sneak up on my like that? No blog tour, no fanfare, just little ole' me trying to get the word out. *sigh* It's called Life Happens and it's part of the Family Time Anthology from Torquere that comes out on the 17th!

Here's a quick blurb:

After a night of mishaps, Dominic Antonelli doubts his boyfriend Kit Thomas would want to tie himself to their messy family. But Dominic has forgotten there is more to being a family than a piece of paper and a circle of gold.

Just a fun little romp about how life often throws a wrench into the best laid plans. It's definitely more on the sweet side (with all the stress in RL rn it had to be). I hope you give it a shot. There's some great stories in the anthology and look at the cover!



And that's all from me for now! Hope everyone has a great weekend. I'll be around next week doing some promo!

<333
Katherine

What I'm Reading Wednesday

EPIC FAIL /o\ It has been OVER A MONTH AGAIN *sigh*. I honestly intended to post last week but RL got the better of me. With baseball coming to a close, school coming to a close, and a move looming ever closer, not to mention deadlines /o\, I'm running around like a chicken with my head cut off /o\

Okay, it's not REALLY that bad. This is not our first rodeo *coughmovecough* and it WILL be our shortest move, but still stressful. And you're not here to read abt my complaints so ON WITH THE BOOKS!

Heart of the Sea by Nora Roberts M/F - the final installment in The Gallagher Brothers Trilogy. I enjoyed this a great deal, mostly because the heroine was definitely NOT your typical "swoon and fall at the feet of the hero" type woman. She was strong-willed (almost to the point of me wanting to slap her AND him upside the head) and independent. Believe me, I was almost finished and had NO idea how this was gonna end up HEA, but ...SPOILERS :D

What Wendy Wants by Nikki Sex M/F - Author's name aside, I LOVED the premise of this book. Husband finds out wife's secret fantasies when he accidentally takes her Kindle to work instead of his and then proceeds to make them come true. I mean, COME ON, who WOULDN'T want this to happen? IN the end they had some massively hot sex and it strengthened their marriage - because COMMUNICATION!!!

Once In A Blue Moon by Delilah Devlin M/F - This is the first in a series I think? The Beux something Coven series. It's about a coven of witches that are in hiding because if found demons can enslave them. The leader falls for a local construction worker who turns out to be a troll (the lowest on the supernatural food chain) her coven and his 'group' must band together to save the witches from the demon they escaped from years ago. Being a Charmed fan, I LOVED this book and I'm planning on buying the next book in the series. The sex happened fast and was a little rushed, but I still enjoyed the chemistry and the plot.

Kink by Nikki Sex M/F - This was actually mentioned in the previous Nikki Sex book so I thought I would give it a shot. This was almost a DNF for me, but I pushed through. I had some issues with the consent in this book. And also some of the BDSM is definitely not to my taste, but mostly for me it seems the consent, although given freely, seemed IDK...not necessarily forced but it just made me uncomfortable. I bought a third book by her, it will probably be a long while before I attempt to read it, if ever :(((

Cupcakes by Sean Michael M/M - Cute, short novella. Chef owns a cupcake shop and falls for a customer, cupcake shop gets swindled out from under him >:( (that really made me angry tbh) but I still enjoyed the book. It was a quick fun read and ended satisfactorily :D

Cut and Run Series by Madeline Urban and Abigail Roux M/M - I'm not going to go through ALL the books here outside of listing them - or at least the ones I've read so far...nope I didn't finish it yet...I needed a breather before tackling the end of the series /o\ as Button calls it, a palate cleanser before the final course :D

Cut and Run, Sticks and Stones, Fish & Chips, Divide and Conquer, Armed and Dangerous, Stars & Stripes (and I also read a few of the oneshots Abigail has on her Tumblr). I had forgotten JUST HOW GOOD THIS SERIES WAS. I was immediately sucked back in. I LOVED that Ty and Zane started out hating each other, I always find that is such an interesting dynamic, how such a volatile relationship can be volatile in the completely opposite direction. They are both such interesting characters, Ty with his Force Recon background along with PTSD and secrets galore and Zane with his dead wife, guilt, and addictions. Neither of these men are perfect and they don't pretend to be and yet somehow they are perfect together. I love that theirs is a SLOW BURN and that the relationship is realistic and they aren't spouting "I love yous' immediately. It makes it so much more believable. I'm almost ready to go back and finish the series off :((((

I needed some light-hearted stuff after that run...

A Piece of Cake by TM Franklin M/F - really cute novella about a matchmaker who refuses to use her talents to match people and instead uses a computer. But her talents cannot be denied when they recognize her own match. I loved the touch of supernatural and just the hint of Gypsy touch to this pairing. I plan on reading more of TM's work in the future.

Laying Down the Law by Delilah Devlin M/F - Woman flees her cop boyfriend when it's clear he's framing her for the bank robberies he's been committing and runs right to her ex, the man she hasn't seen in 16 years and is now the Sheriff of her hometown. There's a hint of D/s to their sexual relationship and the first time it happens it's a little shocking but overall, it made their sex SPICY and definitely added another layer to why she ends up trusting him with saving her life. I enjoyed it and will probably read more in this series in the future.

Sea Change by Darlene Marshall M/F - I don't normally read historical fiction, but apparently I've found my niche? This is the second Woman disguises herself as a male physician on a ship book that I've read. I REALLY enjoyed this one. Although several people found out throughout the book, her identity is kept a secret from the male lead for almost 2/3 to 3/4 of the book. Which enabled some interesting sexual tension and some rather funny situations. I love the social implications of her trying to do a man's job as a woman, and how it's important to her that the crew accept her even after her identity is revealed. This is one I'll probably read again. And if you have any more like this? Send them my way.

Next up - Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead - M/F? - Yes, I know this became a movie and apparently the movie sucked, but given how much I enjoyed the Morganville Vampires by Rachel Caine (and she and Richelle seem to be Twitter buddies) I thought I would give this one a try. It was made into a movie for a reason. I've read the first three books so far - Vampire Academy, Frostbite, Shadow Kiss, and I'm reading the fourth right now, Blood Promise.

The premise is that vampires are real and there are different kinds. The Moiroi who are actually alive and the Strigoi who are dead. The Moiroi blend in with humans and fear becoming a Strigoi - who are dead and without souls. The Moiroi are protected by Dhampirs (Half Moiroi Half Human) called Guardians. Vampire Academy is the story of Rose Hathaway, a guardian in training who has bonded with her best friend Lissa, a Moiroi. Rose is impulsive, reckless, and a complete and total BADASS. She ends up falling in love with her mentor, Dimitri, another guardian who is seven years older than her. Because of their society, their love is forbidden, because Dhampirs are destined to guard Moiroi and cannot have children together anyway. So, take living and dead vampires, half vampires that are either Blood Whores or Guardians, mix in politics (because ofc the vampires have royalty and a Queen that has a secret agenda) and Hogwarts style high school, throw in a little elemental control ability, the ability to heal and walk in dreams and super strength and speed, and mix it all up with a little star-crossed love...and yeah, there's so much to these books, way more than meets the eye. It's been an enjoyable read so far and I'm anxious and dreading finishing the series. (Although there is a spinoff series called Bloodlines that I will probably start at some point). Also, it's making me want to REREAD The Morganville Vampires - but that series is like 16 books long so....

But when I finish, I'm going back to Cut and Run and read the final adventures of Ty and Zane.

And THAT is What I'm Reading :D

<333
Katherine

Guest Authors: Erin McRae and Racheline Maltese on Midsummer

The May/December trope is one that Racheline and I keep coming back to. Sometimes, it happens almost accidentally; as cowriters, we are sixteen years apart in age, and having characters with a large age gap between them lets there be a character we each relate to. Sometimes, we do it more deliberately: We’re interested in how people navigate power dynamics within relationships, and how a couple navigates disparities in age, experience, and expectations.

In Midsummer, the May/December relationship between John and Michael is a little different than other age-difference stories we’ve written, because it is also a gay-for-you romance. Michael -- who is twenty-five -- has been out and proud since he was in high school. Forty-two-year-old John, on the other hand, has never found himself attracted to men until he falls in love and lust with Michael. He insists that his attraction for Michael isn’t some sort of mid-life crisis; although he totally gets why his friends accuse them of that.

As much as we enjoy writing May/December for the fun of watching a character teach another something awesome in bed, we also enjoy the negotiation and conflict that arise when two characters are so far apart in age. And in Midsummer, the gay-for-you dynamic interacts with the May/December dynamic in ways we really enjoy. On the one hand, John is seventeen years older than Michael, and has a great deal of experience with life, the world, and relationships. On the other hand, John is very new to being a part of the gay community, and has to learn how to navigate questions of his own outness.




Blurb:

John Lyonel, a long-time theater professional and teacher, heads to Virginia to play Oberon in the Theater in the Woods’s production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, intending to focus on his work. John is recovering from the tragic loss of his family and needs a break. The last thing he expects is to become captivated by Michael Hilliard, the professional actor playing Puck, especially since John has never been attracted to men, let alone one so much younger.

They rush headlong into an affair which falls apart dramatically over secrets that John and Michael are keeping from each other. A steep learning curve, the gossipy cast of the show, and the sometimes sinister magic of the woods conspire to keep them apart. But stage lights and stars might work their magic and help them define a new future.

Bio:

Erin McRae is a queer writer and blogger based in Washington, D.C. She has a master’s degree in International Affairs from American University, and delights in applying her knowledge of international relations theory to her fiction and screen-based projects, because conflict drives narrative.

Racheline Maltese lives a big life from a small space. She flies planes, sails boats, and rides horses, but as a native New Yorker, has no idea how to drive a car. A long-time entertainment and media industry professional, she lives in Brooklyn with her partner and their two cats.

Together, they are co-authors of the gay romance series Love in Los Angeles, set in the film and television industry -- Starling (September 10, 2014), Doves (January 21, 2015), and Phoenix (June 10, 2015) -- from Torquere Press. Their gay romance novella series Love’s Labours, set in the theater world -- Midsummer (May 2015), and Twelfth Night (Fall 2015), is from Dreamspinner Press. They also have a story in Best Gay Romance 2015 from Cleis Press and edited by Felice Picano. You can find them on the web at http://www.Avian30.com.

Connect with Erin & Racheline online:

Blog | Facebook Page | Erin's Twitter | Racheline's Twitter | Erin's Goodreads | Racheline's Goodreads | Erin's Amazon Author Page | Racheline's Amazon Author Page

Buy Links:

Amazon | AllRomance | B&N | Dreamspinner

Excerpt:

Costume fittings and dress rehearsals means that John finally gets to see Michael costumed as Puck. The human characters are dressed contemporarily, in suits and cocktail dresses that become increasingly disheveled as the show goes on. The fairies, though, are dressed in greens and browns with crowns of strange wildness -- thistles, cornsilk, and Queen Ann’s lace. Michael as Puck looks deeply inhuman, covered in leaves as if dragged in from the wooded grounds. For their first dress rehearsal, it takes all of John’s considerable experience and willpower to actually focus on the play and not Michael. As taken as Oberon is meant to be with Puck, he should actually be able to remember and deliver his lines.

“Whose idea was this?” he asks Michael afterward, catching him before he can change. Michael blinks at him with eyes done up in silver and green. John wants to devour him.

“Do you like it?” Michael asks, more distant and coy than usual, sliding his hands up John’s chest which, like his own, is bare.

All John can do is groan when Michael looks up at him from under his lashes. He stands on his tiptoes to kiss John briefly, and then vanishes. When he reappears he’s Michael again, in t-shirt and shorts, but John can’t forget the image of him transformed.

Fun Friday

WOW. Haven't done one of these in a while /o\ Sorry for that. I'm going to go ahead and warn everyone now that from now until about August - posts will not be regular. I'll try to stick to the M-W-F schedule in terms of DAYS that I post but I'm saying right now I won't be posting every single M-W-F because we are gearing up for the end of the baseball season, the end of school, and our move. Throw in some writing deadlines on top of that and I'm going to be SUPER busy. I solemnly swear I will try to post at least once a week on one of those days. I know I'm overdue for a Reading Wed so that will probably be next.

In terms of fun, we took the kid (and the grandparents who were visiting) to see the Avengers Double Feature. Had a blast, the movie was awesome, and except for the fact that I worried that a particular character was going to die after a secret was revealed, I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. Went to see it a second time and enjoyed it more :D

Also took the kid to see Home - HILARIOUS. So funny.

Hoping this weekend to pull of a double feature of Mad Max and Pitch Perfect 2...we'll see.

For those of you wondering, I met my two deadlines \o/ - thanks for all the encouragement & cheerleading. I have more coming up. I'll keep you posted. I have a guest post coming up on May 21 so be sure and stop by for that!

For now...have a GREAT weekend. Enjoy the weather.

<333
Katherine

Just Another Manic Monday

Gonna be brief today - sorry long time no post, but baseball, parents, deadlines OI!

Two deadlines this Friday - one for the GoodReads thing and another for both the edits and the marketing info for Life Happens for Torquere.

That will pretty much be what I'm working on all week. If I have time, I'll try to write on the next Torquere project or get back into editing my novels /o\

Hope everyone is doing well!

<333
Katherine

What I'm Reading Wednesday

First, sorry it's been a month AGAIN /o\ I blame Spring Break and travel :D

Second, I have GOOD NEWS - actually TWO pieces of good news. First - I'm listening to audiobook auditions for Fixing the Hole! I can't believe it! I'm so thrilled I cannot even express it. Second, I signed a contract with Torquere for Life Happens, my contribution to the Family Time Anthology. There will be more about this particular story in upcoming posts. Now, onto what I've read in the past month!

Jewels of the Sun by Nora Roberts (M/F) I did finally finish it. It did move slower then the other two trilogies, BUT, it picked up by the end and I actually really enjoyed the book. Lots of Irish folklore and mythology to keep me entertained.

Next up - The Long Shot Series by Christine D'Abo Double Shot is the first of the series and focuses on Sadie (the middle sibling if I remember correctly) and how she finally hooks up with her best friend Paul and ends up having a steamy threesome with his boss Josh (who owns Mavericks, a BDSM club). The second book is A Shot In The Dark and focuses on Paige, the oldest sibling, and how she falls for Carter, a firefighter who also happens to be a Dom. Sex was hot & it was nice to see Paige get her HEA. Pulled Long is the third book and focuses on Ian, Paige and Sadie's younger brother. Ian has fantasized about a customer named "Blue Eyes" except when he gets his chance, he finds out Blue Eyes is in the process of getting divorced. Ian has no desire to be Blue Eye's rebound, first gay relationship and shuts him out. But when circumstances force Ian to return Jeff's briefcase, Ian may get his HEA as well. The first one was M/F +M, the second strictly M/F, and the third M/M. All were great reads and I just found out today there are two more books in the series, so expect to see them show up soon.

Tears of the Moon by Nora Roberts (M/F) - second book in the Gallahger Trilogy. I enjoyed this one much more than the first, so I'm glad I didn't give up on the first, because this one was a gem. The heroine was Brenna O'Toole and she was a joy to read about. More mythology and Irish folklore, and stubborn MCs abound.

Remarkable Restraint by Devon Rhodes (M/M) - Friends to lovers and OH was it good. Just the right amount of angst and pining to make it enjoyable but not overly emotional. Chaz is attracted to his straight roommate, and after an explosive encounter, Justin (his roommate) takes off for an already planned trip to Central America. The lack of communication was VERY believable and ramped up the tension. Will be rereading this one in the future.

Roped by Eliza Gayle - (M/F/M) Short quick read about a woman into Shibari who finally gets a turn with the two men who do the Shibari at her local club. I enjoyed this a great deal, the scene was hot, and the way they made her feel (she's plus-sized) like a Queen? Was A++ in my book. However, I should not have read the "Coming Soon" because it showed a scene from a later book where she has become the slave to their Master and alluded to them sharing her with strangers. Which is fine, just not something I'm interested in, at all. So that was kind of a let down. I would recommend the book, but yeah, don't read past the ending if you're like me.

Discipline Down Under by Patricia Green (M/F) I ALMOST didn't continue reading this one. The start was slow, the heroine was a brat, and IDK, she just annoyed me so much. The story did improve but I probably will not be rereading this.

Coming Home by April Zyon (M/F) This was a okay read. The male MC has just been discharged from the Marines (there were several military terminology mistakes along with several medical mistakes) and the female MC is a doctor. (So the mistakes bothered me a great deal and severely detracted from the story - for me) Once I got past the mistakes, the story was decent and enjoyable. But yes, the mistakes were early and pulled me out of the story so...

Complicated by Megan Slayer (M/M) This was a decent read. The typical superstar spots movie extra and they fall for each other. I'm glad I read it.

Hard to Be Good: A Hard Ink Story by Laura Kaye (M/M) - I honestly don't know when/why I pre-ordered this one. It was obviously NOT the first one in the series and that made it difficult for me to follow the storyline. That aside, the characters were likable, I rooted for them, and the side characters were entertaining.

A Civilized Mating by Maria Harte (M/F with some M/M and M/F/M) This was a complete AU and I would recommend it strictly for the world-building because it was really well done. The let down came when the female MC finally hooked up with the two Male MCs - before she was tough, strong, independent, then she seemed to get lost and making her the sole female warrior of the tribe, kind of only paid lipservice to who she was before the 'mating' so that was a bit of a disappointment. Still a good read though.

Hidden Prey by Cheyenne McCray - (M/F) Woman witnesses a drug cartel murder and ends up running into a Fed who protects her until she is kidnapped to Mexico and then of course he has to rescue her. The storyline was entertaining, I didn't give too much thought to the details or what might be wrong because honestly, I just wanted to enjoy the story, and I did. The ending was slightly unbelievable, but it was still a really entertaining read.

And now...I'm reading, the final book in the Gallagher Trilogy by Nora Roberts and no, I can't remember the name right this second LOL.

But that's all for now, I may not be around next week because the parents will be in town, but the next week I will :D

<333
Katherine

Spring Blog Fest Hop

Normally, I would do What I'm Reading Wednesday but today is special. SPRING IS HERE!!

Go visit my post over on Long and Short Reviews for a chance to win a free copy of Cast The First Stone AND be entered in the GRAND PRIZE DRAWING for a GC or one of four book packs or one of four swag packs!

Spring Has Sprung!!! *tosses flowers*

Post is Here: http://www.longandshortreviews.com/guest-blogs/spring-blogfest-katherine-halle/

Just Another Manic Monday

It's been tough getting back into the writing thing, I'm not going to lie about that. Seems studying and the stress of that exam kinda chilled my mojo /o\ I'm slowly getting back into the groove.

Keeping that in mind, I'm going to keep the goals reasonable. 1K a day along with some editing. With the thought process of increasing it to 1.5K a day next week and 2K the week after that (which would put me back up to speed).

My top priority right now is the GoodReads Love Is An Open Road - which reminds me OMG I have to have a title by April 1st O__O titles are ALWAYS super hard for me to come up with and usually the LAST thing I do. Great, something else to stress over LOL. I'm just over 5K and the two most crucial scenes are written, along with 1.5 more. So I need to get on it and get it done.

Second priority is my planned submission for the Torquere's First Timer's Anthology.

Editing priorities - the sequel to A Watched Demon and my NaNo from 2008.

And that's what I'm working on :D

Hope you all have a good week.

<333
Katherine

What I'm Reading Wednesday

Wow, it's been a MONTH since I did this O___O. Oops. So sorry, this will be a longish one. BTW, just fyi, I still read fanfic, but I don't list it here and don't intend to, but just so you know, some of my reading time is spent on fanfic.

So let's get started.

Wood, Screws, and Nails by Piper Vaughn and Kade Boehme. (M/M) I enjoyed this SO MUCH. The romance, the jealousy, the sexual tension, the ANGST, oh the angst was delicious. This one will definitely be on my reread list and I'll definitely at least look at what else the authors have written.

Wolf Fight & Wolf Games by Marian Tee. The first one was free and ended on a cliffie, I bought the second one because of that, but I REALLY don't like the whole bait and switch so I will not be buying anymore. The story wasn't that good.

The Coach's Discipline by Katherine Deane - (M/F) I, um, *blushes* bought this kind of because the model on the front cover looks like Gideon Emory. It's about a 30's something woman who is a recovering from an eating disorder and is getting back into training for a marathon. It does have domestic discipline but really what I liked about this story was her empowerment and how it wasn't just her, but the whole team she trained with.

The Perfect Gift by Dani-Lyn Alexander - (M/F) I will be reading this every Christmas from now on. Really cute little story about two single parents after the same Christmas gift for their little girls. Definitely makes me want to check out more of her writing.

Choosing You by Jenny Trout - (M/F) This was a decent read. I enjoyed it, although the heroine made some dumb choices in my opinion but it wouldn't have been a story without those mistakes so...I thought the end was a bit rushed, but it was still a good read.

Borderline by T.A. Chase - (M/M) SO GOOD. Texas Ranger, F.B.I. agent on the track of a serial killer, both with secrets in their backgrounds that could get them killed or off the case. This one made me wonder just why I have not read more of T.A. Chase's stuff, you can believe I'm going to be looking for more.

Passing Through by Jay Northcote - (M/M) A lovely story about love and loss and inheritance and acceptance.

Dark Witch by Nora Roberts - (M/F) The first in the Dark Witch trilogy, reminded me of Charmed and OH how I loved it!!! Oh and also The Secret Circle! Already bought the second book and will be starting it soon.

The Moon by Sean Michael - (M/M) Quick short read, typical Sean Michael stuff about shifters.

The Cougar's Timid Little Lynx by Jenika Snow - (M/F), yes I know, should have learned my lesson before, but honestly? I should have read this one first. It was actually fairly decent, although I thought a bit rushed. At least this one had a well-thought out plot.

Caution To The Wind by Mary Jean Adams - (M/F) SO GOOD. A woman disguises herself as an older brother to her younger brother when he accepts work on an American Privateer's ship during the Revolutionary War time period. She finds herself falling for the Captain (who also finds himself strangely attracted to the young boy who is his new steward). My only disappointment was I thought the ruse was up too short and when it was it felt like she backslid into normally 'accepted' roles. Other than that? SO GOOD.

How To Howl At the Moon by Eli Easton - (M/M) SO GOOD. This is the second book I've read by Eli and oh man, she is quickly moving up my list of auto buy authors. This was funny and angsty and romantic. Young man stumbles onto a town with a secret, Sheriff in trying to protect town falls for said young man and of course makes ALL the mistakes. So much fun! I heard there might be a sequel, I really hope so.

Cupcakes by Sean Michael - (M/M) I enjoyed this one a great deal. Cute story, some great angst (that really made ma angry LOL) and of course hot sex.

Red Dirt Heart 1 by N.R. Walker - (M/M) First of the Red Dirt Heart Trilogy. WHY have I never read N.R. Walker before? This story took me right to Down Under, had me right there on their station working with all the characters. Charlie runs it, Travis is interning and with his father's hatred in his ears, Charlie ends up falling for Travis and attempting to sabotage their relationship because of the memory of his father's bigotry. Such a great read. I have already bought the second and will start reading soon.

Blue Dahlia by Nora Roberts - (M/F) First of the In The Garden trilogy and man oh man did I love this one. So much! Ghosts, flowers, single moms, surly gardeners, a huge mansion, and ELVIS. Srsly, what is not to love? Again, bought the second book and will be reading soon.

And finally, Jewels in the Sun by Nora Roberts - (M/F) First of The Gallagher Brothers trilogy. This one is still in progress, it's not moving quite as fast as the other two, but I'm still enjoying it. More when I finish.

*PHEW* And I'm done. Hopefully it won't be a month before I do the next one. *fingers crossed*

Happy Reading!

<333
Katherine

Just Another Manic Monday

Hi everyone! *waves*

I'M BACK!!!!!

And wow, it feels good!!! First things first, obviously, I passed my certification exam so that is a HUGE load off my shoulders \0/ WOOOO HOOOOOO

Second, I sent off "Life Happens" a short story for the Torquere Family Time Anthology *fingers crossed* they accept it.

So what am I working on? HA HA HA HA HA My plate is so full /o\ I signed up for the GoodReads Love Is An Open Road Event - you can find the prompt I chose here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/2236841-dear-author-ruthie#comment_form Obviously, it is top priority right now seeing as how the deadline is May 1, 2015 O__O

Next up is a submission for the Torquere First Times Anthology - still very much a work in progress.

Still continuing to edit my Navy NP/Ortho Doc novel from NaNo way back when. Also editing, A Pinch Of Salt - the sequel to A Watched Demon Always Boils. When those two finish I'm thinking about pulling out the NaNo I did AFTER the Navy NP/Ortho Doc and edit it and see about subbing it someplace.

Then along with all of that, I'm contemplating something for the Torquere Exchange of Power Anthology, the Sleigh Ride Dreamspinner Advent Calendar, and the Torquere Love in Uniform Anthology.

I'm still working on a sequel to Cast The First Stone and I'm starting to have thoughts about a sequel to Fixing The Hole. And yes, that het novel is still poking at me...

So there you have it, all that I'm working on O__O. If you have anything you'd like to see in either the sequel to Cast The First Stone or Fixing The Hole - drop me a comment, I cannot make ANY guarantees, but it's always nice to hear what people want.

Until Wednesday, have a great couple of days!

<333
Katherine

Fun Friday

Well, it's been what, two and half weeks? Three weeks? Thank you Prometric, ANCC, and Dominion Power.

As most of you know, I was scheduled to take my Adult NP certification exam last week in order to renew my certification (since I'm a stay-at-home-mom). Dominion Power came in and said they had to cut power to the entire building and I was in the MIDDLE OF MY EXAM, I literally was on question 130 out of 175 :((((

Long story short, it took a WEEK to get Prometric and ANCC to talk to each other and approve me to resit for the exam, which I did yesterday and PASSED! As my kid would say, "You punched that test in the face, Mommy!"

Somehow, I managed to do this WHILE BEING SICK, because of course I got sick on Tuesday *sigh*.

I am still congested & achy but nowhere near what I was on Wednesday so that is good.

Now that the exam is over, I'm recertified, etc, life can hopefully get back to what resembles normal around here, meaning more posts once I unbury myself from everything I put off in order to study.

Monday I'll update you on the writing front, Wednesday on the reading front and TODAY - I hope to see Cinderella this weekend :D And I sincerely hope to somehow miraculously pull off a double feature AND dinner with the hubs on date night tomorrow night. I will let you know.

Now, I'm going to try to get some editing done before I need to collapse from exhaustion.

Have a great weekend!

<333
Katherine

Just Another Manic Monday

Hello Monday...we meet again. *sigh*

The kid finally went back to school \0/ - not as much complaining as I thought there would be. I'm going to attempt to be productive today, but DAMN my workout on Friday kicked my ASS and I was still feeling it a little bit this morning when I went to workout - so I expect a nap will be happening sometime this afternoon.

Not much got done last week, almost zero editing and only 2.5K - because the kid had not one, not two but FOUR snow days. So the kid has not been in school for TEN DAYS in a row O__O. Needless to say, what little free time I had, I had to use to focus on studying. So there you go.

With that in mind, my exam is in one week, so I'm dialing everything down except for studying. I'm dropping my writing goal to 10K by Friday 6 March. My editing goal (to do a little bit each day) will remain the same. I won't be posting anymore until after the exam either, so my next post will not be until Friday 6 March. Then you'll get a Fun Friday :D

Hope everyone has a great two weeks!

<333
Katherine

Fun Friday

I DID IT! Three posts in ONE WEEK! WOO HOOOOO \0/

Except this will be short LOL. Kid has been out of school ALL WEEK due to the cold and the snow...so it has not been a very productive week because I've had to put all my focus on studying for my certification with what little time I had *sigh* Oh well, hopefully it will warm up this weekend and we'll be back to normal on Monday.

Baseball evals are this weekend, first time, since we've always done soccer, so that should be interesting. DATE NIGHT tonight! We're going for Indian (it seems to be a favorite for us LOL) and probably to see Project Almanac - I'd rather see Jupiter Ascending, but PA has been out longer & hubs really wants to see it so...Jupiter will have to wait until next weekend I guess. Also, I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to see Kingsman again because that movie was AWESOME. Colin Firth is still SMOKIN' HOT and he KICKS ASS! And the new kid, Tarton? is a great match for Colin. If you like spies, action, and humor? Yeah, def go see it.

And that's it. I'm over at the Torquere Social LJ today blogging about weather, and what I'm currently editing and writing. Stop on by and have a chat.

Have a great weekend.

<333
Katherine

What I'm Reading Wednesday

Wow, the 28th of January was the last time I did this /o\ So many books since then *hides*

Ok let's start.

First, When Love Flue In by Lillian Francis - SO MUCH LOVE FOR THIS ONE. Granted, I might be a teensy bit biased because I'm friends with Lillian, BUT, this was just a sweet romance, perfect little read for the holidays and having read the original version AND the new updated version (and also having been one of her beta readers) I would be hard pressed to point out which scenes were added, very seamlessly done. You should check it out if you're in the mood for a lovely little romance.

Then I read a short by Sam Schooler, Write Your Own Ransom Note, and I got sucked in immediately and wanted more. My big complaint, it was too short and I felt the ending was a bit rushed, but OOH I'm adding Sam to my list of authors to watch out for! SO GOOD!

Natural Instincts by My Raiya - this was not at all what I expected and there were some elements that made me a bit uncomfortable. The writing was solid, the story was solid, I think this one just wasn't my thing.

Then I started The Secret Circle Series by L.J. Smith because I LOVED the tv show so much and remembered loving the books when I was younger. I powered through the first three, The Initiation, Captive Part 1, and Captive Part 2. I will say, on reading them again as an adult, I really felt the first one dragged a bit, and I was really angry with Faye taking advantage of Cassie (and Cassie letting her) in books 2 and 3 and I don't remember being that angry about it when I was younger. I remember feeling sorry for her...so I guess that's the thing that comes with age, your perspective changes LOL.

Then back to the THIRDS series. Rack and Ruin (book 3) and Rise And Fall (book 4) I read them back to back because I had been warned that book 3 ends in a terrible cliffhanger and it DID. Both books continued to deliver what the first two promised and finally answered some questions about the past and of course brought up new ones. I'm looking forward to the next books in the series, whenever they come out.

Guilty pleasure time /o\ ARE had a sale on their ALPHA series so I um *cough* bought a few. The Bearly Controlled Alpha and Lifting Tail For The Alpha by Jenika Snow. They were on sale. Enough said. The Brat, The Bodyguard, and the Bountyhunter by Loki Renard (come on man LOKI!!!) this was slightly better in that it at least had a plot and in the end the woman finally stood up for something she wanted and believed in, so there was that. But like I said, guilty pleasure /o\

Back to The Secret Circle Series with The Power, The Divide, The Hunt, and The Temptation. The final three were actually written by Aubrey Clark (there's a WHOLE story behind that, too long to go into here, Google it along with The Vampire Diaries books). Having read all of them back to back, it is easy to see the change in writing style. However, if I had not done that? I'm not sure I would have noticed it that much. The big difference was pacing. The fourth book had a faster pace then the previous three and the final three had a faster pace then the fourth. I blew through the final three because I couldn't put them down. I'm not 100% on board with Cassie's choice of "soulmate" but that's why it's her choice and not mine LOL. Still, very entertaining books, glad I have them all on Kindle and I look forward to reading them again in the future. (Although I may skim the first three LOL) I think at some point I will attempt The Vampire Diaries, but not right now.

Right now I'm reading (almost finished with) Wood, Screws, and Nails by Piper Vaughn and Kade Boheme. May-December romance (which I didn't know going in - I got this during November when DSP was doing their tweetaways) and I am LOVING IT. The angst isn't TOO MUCH, it's just enough, the sex has been super hot and delicious, and I'm anxious to see how it ends.

And *phew* I'm all caught up now!

See you on Friday for Fun Friday!

<333
Katherine

Just Another Manic Monday

Here it is again, Monday. And I realize I have been a fail for two weeks in a row now, skipping both What I'm Reading Wednesday and Fun Friday posts /o\ In my defense, something I haven't told all of you, I'm studying to retake a certification exam so that has taken up a considerable amount of time and will continue to do so until the first week of March when I'll actually take the exam (and hope I pass). I will try *fingers crossed* to get both of those posts up this week.

I did manage to meet my word goal of 10K last week, even though the last 600 I had to write on Saturday. I also managed to edit four out of the five weekdays, including some yesterday, so I count that as a win as well.

Goals for this week: I'm going to be realistic - there was no school today and with the snowmaggeddon we've got coming I highly doubt there will be school tomorrow. Which means...writing will be difficult at best /o\ So I'm going to say 6K at a minimum with 10K being the ultimate goal still. I won't beat myself up though as long as I cross the 6K mark :D

Also, editing - will continue to keep the goal at some editing everyday (obviously not today or tomorrow /o\) - I did manage to FINISH the first editing past of the short story for Torquere's Family Time Anthology and get it off to my first pre-reader - so YAY ME :D

So what I'll be working on:
Edit my Doctor/Naval Officer story from my first NaNo
Edit the sequel to the Demon story from THIS year's NaNo
Write more on the sequel to Cast The First Stone
Write short story for Torquere's First Timer's Anthology
And of course: Get back into writing what my hubby calls "The rescue story" a HET *gasp* story! (This one is actually still in the brainstorming stages so I'm not actively writing it per se - but I'm planning it...)

That's all for now.

Have a great week!

<333
Katherine

Just Another Manic Monday

Here is is, Monday again. It keeps turning up...like a bad penny. Kid again said "I wish it was still the weekend." You and me both, kid, you and me both LOL.

So, what did I get done last week?

Well, I did manage to meet my writing goal. I had set a goal of 1K on each story and I made it, writing 10K last week - well a bit over 10K because I never actually stopped right at 1000 words. With that in mind, I"m going to keep that same goal for this week - 1K on each story - altho the short story for Torquere's Family Time Anthology will probably wrap up so I'll have to shift its words to something else, either way, 2K a day is the goal.

Editing - not so good there (which is why I'm not shifting the writing goal) My goal was to edit 10 pages on each piece every day. I only managed about half that over the course of the week. So I'm changing that goal - now it's to do some significant editing each day. Either a scene, or a chapter, or something, as long as I get SOME done every day.

So what I'll be working on - ha ha same as week:

Edit my Doctor/Naval Officer story from my first NaNo
Edit the sequel to the Demon story from THIS year's NaNo
Write more on the sequel to Cast The First Stone
Continue writing on a short story I started for Torquere's Family Time Anthology (when this one finishes I will either shift the words to the CTFS sequel OR a different short story)
Get back into writing what my hubby calls "The rescue story" a HET *gasp* story! (This one is actually still in the brainstorming stages so I'm not actively writing it per se - but I'm planning it...)

And that's it for this week.

What are your goals for this week?

Have a good one!

<33
Katherine

Just Another Manic Monday

HA yup, the Bangles, that song was my jam like in junior high. It's how I felt about EVERY MONDAY and still do tbh. My kid crawled into bed with me this morning and said, "I don't like Mondays. I'm not ready to go back to school." And I couldn't agree with him more.

But here it is Monday and here's what's on tap for this week:

Edit my Doctor/Navy Officer story from my first NaNo
Edit the sequel to the Demon story from THIS year's NaNo
Write more on the sequel to Cast The First Stone
Continue writing on a short story I started for Torquere's Family Time Anthology
Get back into writing what my hubby calls "The rescue story" a HET *gasp* story!

Goals? 20 pages of editing total each day. Approx. 10 pages on each story.
I'd like to get my writing goal back up to 2K a day or more if possible, split between the three stories. We'll see how that goes.

And that's what I'm working on for this week. I'm putting it out there in hopes that the accountability of sharing my goals with all of you will actually help me achieve them. I'll try to keep track of my word count and let you all know how I fared next week.

Have a great Monday!

<33
Katherine

Fun Friday

Wow, thank goodness it's Friday!!!!

And I don't even know what to talk about :/ Kid's bday was last weekend or rather earlier this week. Had a MASSIVE celebration on Saturday - went to Chuck E. Cheese with a friend, then out to see Paddington (which was surprisingly entertaining! I would definitely go see it again) and then home for dinner, cake and ice cream.

Friday night was date night, we went to Olive Garden and then to see Into the Woods. Not that impressed. I don't know what I was expecting, but not that. And frankly, the movie could have ended at a particular point and I would have been MUCH MUCH happier. Definitely NOT one I would see again, paid, free, or otherwise. Sad too because I adore Anna Kendrick and Christopher Pine.

Hubs was sick this week, actually took Monday and Tuesday off from work. MANFLU. And lo and behold this morning I woke up with a sore throat. And today is our Sixteenth Wedding Anniversary. Awesome. We do have dinner plans and other then a minor sore throat I'm feeling fine. *fingers crossed* I don't get as sick as he did.

Tomorrow we take the kid to fondue for the final birthday dinner LOL. I made spaghetti for him on his actual birthday.

And that's about it for Fun Friday. Hope you all have a great weekend and HOPEFULLY I won't be too sick or exhausted to post Manic Monday!

<333

Katherine

What I'm Reading Wednesday

HEY! I'm here! I missed a post on Monday but I had a sick husband at home and it was my kid's birthday, so I'm definitely giving myself a pass this week. But I hope to start posting Manic Mondays on Monday ;p

On to today's topic! Obviously, not as many books as last week as only seven days have gone by. I did not read as much as I thought I would have. I think mostly because the weekend was busy with birthday stuff and frankly, Champion, although massively entertaining was not necessarily an easy read.

So the list:

Champion by Marie Lu, the final part in the Legend Trilogy. I did finish it and although it was not an "easy" read, it was still really enjoyable and without spoiling I will say the ending was satisfying. No Deus Ex Machina, no super fast fix it, there was some angst, but overall it was a satisfying ending.

Then I started the THIRDS series by Charlie Cochet. Read the first two - Hell & High Water and Blood & Thunder. I stopped after the second one because I know book three has a MASSIVE cliffie and book four hasn't been released yet. And given my propensity to HATE CLIFFHANGERS or anything that puts one of the MCs in danger or their relationship in permanent danger (both of which are big NOPEs for me), I will probably wait until my friend *coughButtoncough* has read book 4 and pre-screened it for me :D A quick note about the series - it's very fast-paced, the sex is HOT and the world-building is A+++++. THIRDS is a multi-person taskforce/team made up of humans and Therians (genetically mutated/evolved humans that can shift into animals) and boiled down to the lowest common denominator - think of them as SWAT or a SEAL team on US soil.

Finally, I'm in the middle of When Love Flue In by Lillian Francis. Because frankly, I needed something a bit slower and with more romance LOL. More on this next week when I finish but for now? It's definitely A+++++

And that's what I'm reading so far!

Have a great Wednesday.

<333
Katherine

Fun Friday or Friday Fun? You Decide...

Wow! Look! Two posts in one week! Can you believe it? HA HA I can't either.

I thought I would start doing a Fun Friday or a Friday Fun posts - which do you think sounds better? Anyway, it's where I post about fun things we've done :D

For this one I'm going all the way back to DECEMBER! For the first time ever, we pulled our kid out of school and took him to the Hobbit Marathon. He had not seen the first two movies (as he really wasn't old enough) but with Avengers, and all the Marvel movies, we figured it was time.

He did really well. He did get a teeny bit restless at times and every once in a while would lean over and say "Mommy? Is this part scary?" SO CUTE. All in all he enjoyed the movies quite a bit and for like the entire week following he couldn't stop talking about it.

For Christmas we got him The Lego Hobbit Wii U game and boy howdy did he like that! We all did. We haven't finished it yet, but we've had fun playing it. It's a bit frustrating for me because I'm still learning the Wii U (shut up, I LOVE my PS2 and I STILL play Buffy and KICK ASS too!) but we're working it. Bought the hubs (and myself) The Walking Dead game...hubs got EASILY frustrated and I had to remind him several times how long it took us to work through the PS2 Buffy game the first time LOL. We're still working through The Walking Dead.

And that is my story for today :D

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

<333
Katherine

What I'm Reading Wednesday

Well, here we are, I think this is my first official post of the New Year /o\ I have failed LOL. It's the twenty-first of January /o\ Oh well, I will endeavor to do better. Along those lines, I am keeping a log of every book (NOT FANFIC - only BOOKS) I read during 2015. I will discuss them here (albeit briefly) every Wednesday - so you all can have some idea what I'm reading, what I like, what I didn't like. These will NOT be reviews as I don't consider myself a review type of person, just merely what I enjoyed and what I thought was just okay.

So, without further ado....*drum roll please*....

I have read fourteen books so far O__O - WHO KNEW? Well, okay, I kind of did because when I get onto a book I like, I DEVOUR it.

First up: The Brit Boys:On Boys Collection. This collection included eight books, some of which I liked, some of which were SMOKIN' hot, and at least one of which just wasn't my cup of tea. No bother, I read it, I can definitely see other people liking it, it just wasn't for me. As I bought this off Amazon for 99 cents, I would highly recommend it because there is definitely something for everyone in this collection. A lot of great authors too, including Clare London, Lucy Felthouse, and Josephine Myles.

Second up: The Light Switch Duo by Lauren Gallagher (some of you may know her as L.A. Witt) - this was a het BDSM/Polyamory duo and if you're looking for something to recommend for ppl who *cough* are reading that ~other book, I cannot recommend this one highly enough. Mind you the second half of the duo dealt with some pretty heavy themes, specifically the aftermath of a NON CONSENSUAL BDSM relationship and there were parts that were pretty tough to read, BUT Lauren handled it respectfully and very realistically. I will most assuredly be reading more of her work.

Third up: The Crewel World Trilogy by Gennifer Albin - I read all three of these in a relatively short amount of time. The first one was a bit difficult to get into because at times the world building seemed a bit too heavy handed and confusing. The idea behind it was a bit hard to wrap my brain around, but eventually I was able to just go with it and enjoy it. There was a surprise guest appearance by an historical figure during the latter part of book two that I had mixed feelings about. Part of me thought it was a bit over the top and ridiculous and the other part thought it made perfect sense in the world that had been built up. In the end, I enjoyed it, but there were other dystopian ones I enjoyed more.

Fourth up: Prodigy by Marie Lu - this is the second book in her Legend Trilogy and it was a bit difficult for me to get through. I kept stopping and starting...not because the book wasn't good or I didn't care about the characters, mostly because I just wasn't in the mood? I'd read the first one last year and I definitely wanted to see this one through to the end, but Idk, there were days I was just like "Meh, I don't feel like reading this today..." but I've finished the second and am now onto the third and racing to the finish line.

And that's it for now. Hopefully next week there won't be so many seeing as how it will only be seven days and not twenty-one O__O.

Have a good Hump Day and see on you Friday for Fun Friday!

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Katherine