About Me

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I am an avid reader, animal lover, devourer of guacamole, storyteller and the author of An Unexpected Obsession, A Dose of Reality, Witch Way, A Coven by Christmas, Love Spells, Summer Solstice (coming soon), Flirting With Death, Flirting With Murder and the rest of the upcoming Assassins Anonymous series. I attended Arizona State University (go Sun Devils!) and make my home in the Valley of the Sun with my husband and three pampered pets. I like to discuss everything funny, sexy, sassy and absurd. But mostly I like to talk about books... and shoes... and outrageously expensive purses... and Chanel sunglasses ...oooh, and anything sparkly... or fluffy! So, come on in and let's chat!

Friday, March 25, 2011

Fools Rush In by Janice Thompson...Hmmm

Fools Rush In (Weddings by Bella Series #1)... I'm not sure how to rate this book. The story was cute and the writing was well-done, but this was once again a case of reading the description and being misled. There was so much praying and repetition of wondering about what the Lord would want the main character to do, that I ended up missing large portions of the story in my attempt not be preached to.

I don't mind the mention of religion or faith as a defining characteristic, but please--PLEASE--let me know ahead of time. And I must associate with heathens, because even the most devout people I know do not constantly stop in the middle of a conversation to pray. I've never had this happen and a member of my family is a retired priest!

Anyway, I could have LOVED this book. It has a fun premise and the characters are likable and interesting. If you don't mind a HEAVY dose of bible thumping, then I would definitely recommend (in fact, I have recommended this book to someone who is very religious, and she loved it). But, unfortunately, for me it was simply too much.

Personally, I could have done without reading it, but it is free and part of a series, so that is a definite plus. If you don't mind, or even enjoy, a more secular reading experience... download a free copy and see for yourself. Me, I'll be shopping in the sinner's section.

Happy Reading!

**Disclaimer: I am not a professional literary reviewer. I do not know this author and I am not being paid or otherwise compensated for this review. The opinions stated here are mine alone.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

We Interupt This Date by L.C. Evans

Cute! I really enjoyed this book. There wasn't as much "spice" as I normally read(in fact, there was none), but that is a preference, not a necessity. I loved the meddling mother and the quaint Southern phrases tossed about ("bless her heart" has always seemed like such a nice way of putting someone down). Well-written and entertaining, We Interrupt This Date is definitely a must-have for romance lovers who like their reading sweet and sensible.


The ending seemed a bit rushed, but that was probably because I really got into the characters and would have enjoyed finding out what happens next... maybe a sequel? *hint-hint*

Currently $0.99, there is absolutely no reason not to download this book right now! Happy Reading!

**Disclaimer: I am not a professional literary reviewer. I do not know this author and I am not being paid or otherwise compensated for this review. The opinions stated here are mine alone.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Her Secret Bodyguard by Mischa Crews: An Unsolicited Review

I enjoyed reading this book. The writing kept me turning the pages and the plot was interesting and original. The only issue I had was that the editing was spot-on through the first half of the book, but then got a bit sloppier as the story wound to a close. it wasn't excessive, but with a word missing here or there, or an obvious edit that didn't catch an extra word, I found myself slowing down to figure out what was being said and it took me a bit longer than usual to finish. I hope that this is helpful to the author, because all it would take is a few tweaks to make Her Secret Bodyguard perfect.

Like I said before, the plot was original and intriguing. But...this was not a thriller as categorized. It is solidly romantic suspense (and is also listed in that genre), which I love.

**SPOILER ALERT**
The ending is rewarding and definitely a happily ever after. I would have liked to see a bit more depth revealed about the characters, especially the hero, as I never really understood why he became so smitten with the main character other than her beauty. But I also like light entertainment, so this hit the mark.

If you enjoy romantic suspense, then this is a must read. Currently only $0.99 on Amazon, it was easy to buy and well worth the investment of my time (the price is basically free, so not much investment there).

Happy Reading!

**Disclaimer: I am not a professional literary reviewer. I do not know this author and I am not being paid or otherwise compensated for this review. The opinions stated here are mine alone.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

The E-Book Pricing Debate...

Six months in and I am seeing a steady rise in readership...thank you, so very much to all of you who have purchased An Unexpected Obsession! I have been waiting for years to see my books in print, but have guarded each manuscript as if it was my first-born child, refusing to sell to a publishing house that would take my vision, the flavor of my writing and twist and tweak it to fill a void in their catalog. So, when digital publishing became available I jumped at the chance to exercise my need for autonomy.

The result? Much better than I expected, even if I am still plodding away at the day-job in the interim. What does this have to do with pricing? Well, with two new books coming out in the next few weeks *fingers crossed*, I am finally giving in and lowering my price to $0.99! Why would I do such a thing? At $2.99, An Unexpected Obsession was still less than a cup of coffee, but as an unknown entity I want to get my books into the hands of every reader willing to try me out and hopefully build a faithful following who enjoys my style, characters and story lines every bit as much as I enjoy writing them.

It has been a tough sell for me because I routinely spend $5.00 + on fiction (paperback & ebooks) without batting an eye and have never wanted to give my readers the impression that they are getting a sub-standard novel because the price is too low. But without the backing of a publisher who would take care of marketing and distribution, I'm willing to try anything to make sure the people who want to read what I'm putting out there get that chance without hesitating over the price. And I have even seen several best-selling authors putting their works up for a fraction of what I have paid in the past, further justifying the reduction.

So, even though I have been scoffed at by friends, family and even a few of my fans for already selling at such a low cost, I am tucking my pride away and lowering the price. Am I caving to the pressure of instant gratification in the form of (hopefully) a larger readership? Maybe, but the target is to give my readers a great escape from the drudgery of daily life at a cost that won't tax the already tight budgets of so many during this horrible recession.

I hope you'll take a look, take a risk, and take a break to enjoy a little romance!

Happy Reading!