This short story very much needs the context of pretty much all of the novels in the Chronicles of St. Mary's series so far to understand the detail of what's going on. But otherwise, it's a "typical" St. Mary's lark, full of the usual shenanigans and mayhem (#disastermagnets). And as an added bonus, it's from … Continue reading Review: “The Steam Pump Jump” (Chronicles of St. Mary’s short) by Jodi Taylor
Review: Urban Dragon: Volume 1 by J.W. Troemner
Disclaimer: I received a hardcopy of this novel through a book trade with the author. I was sold on this book based on two things: The absolutely gorgeous cover art, and when I heard the author read from it during Cleveland ConCoction 2018. I'm a sucker for urban fantasy, but this is urban fantasy done … Continue reading Review: Urban Dragon: Volume 1 by J.W. Troemner
Review: Mastering Suspense, Structure & Plot by Jane K. Cleland
To continue preparing to write the next book in my series, I chose a craft book dedicated to plot structure with an emphasis on suspense and twists. Rather than being targeted to one genre, the book ensures that all of the writing advice can be applied to any genre, from political thrillers to nonfiction memoirs. … Continue reading Review: Mastering Suspense, Structure & Plot by Jane K. Cleland
Review: Invincible Volumes 7-9
It's getting more and more tempting to binge-read the whole series (and my husband is actively supporting this plan, which is NO HELP). But I'm holding steady to a trade paperback at a time to really appreciate the intricate story line and excellent artwork. Invincible Vol. 7: Three's Company Robert Kirkman (writer) Ryan Ottley (penciler, … Continue reading Review: Invincible Volumes 7-9
Review: Writing Mysteries edited by Sue Grafton
So far I've written a female coming-of-age novel, a retelling of Romeo and Juliet, a time-travel book...and those are all in the same series. What's next? I think a murder mystery is on the horizon, and as a newcomer to this genre, I needed to get back to basics. Writing Mysteries is a solid book … Continue reading Review: Writing Mysteries edited by Sue Grafton
Review: The Boogeyman’s Intern by Matt Betts
Disclaimer: The author is a friend, and I reviewed this novel as part of the publication process. I look forward to purchasing a hardcopy version of my own. This was a weird book set in an even weirder landscape. Betts proves that the supernatural creatures created as part of all human cultures are very similar … Continue reading Review: The Boogeyman’s Intern by Matt Betts
Review: “CTRL Me” by Anna Zabo
Disclaimer: I consider the author a friend; however, I purchased this ebook short story for full price. While I continue my trend of reading everything Anna Zabo writes, I appreciate that they've taught me a lot about my romance genre preferences. I enjoyed this particular short tremendously, but I think I prefer my romance in … Continue reading Review: “CTRL Me” by Anna Zabo
Review: Dead Indian Wars (Damnation #2) by Clark Casey
Disclaimer: I received a free ebook from the author via Netgalley. This fast-paced sequel to Dawn in Damnation picks up mere moments after the first book ends. Like the first installment, it's an easy read that flows well; every chapter brings a new character, a new incident, or a new puzzle. The narrator Tom continues to … Continue reading Review: Dead Indian Wars (Damnation #2) by Clark Casey
Review: A Wind in the Door (Time Quintet #2) by Madeleine L’Engle
My 2018 Resolution Project for Speculative Chic was to read and review both the novel and film versions of A Wrinkle in Time. But I’m a completionist, so it should come as no surprise that I’d have to continue on this magical journey I somehow missed when I was a teenager. My full review is at Speculative Chic, but here's a short … Continue reading Review: A Wind in the Door (Time Quintet #2) by Madeleine L’Engle
In Your Write Mind 2018 Schedule
This weekend, I'll be returning to Hogwarts Seton Hill University for the annual writers retreat hosted by the Writing Popular Fiction graduate program alumni, of which I am one. Mostly, we just wanted an excuse to come back to our favorite place in the world and meet up with our tribe. But because everyone should … Continue reading In Your Write Mind 2018 Schedule
Review: “The Unexpected Infatuation” by Sara Dobie Bauer
Disclaimer: I consider the author a friend; however, I purchased this short story ebook for full price. I wasn't sure about this short story at first. I'm not keen on the idea of anyone cheating in a relationship, nor do I particularly find the "gay for you" trope appealing. The writing of this story, however, … Continue reading Review: “The Unexpected Infatuation” by Sara Dobie Bauer
Review: “Wild Type” by J.K. Ullrich
Disclaimer: I received an electronic copy of this short story as part of the full novel Syzygy from the author in exchange for an honest review. This short story acts as a great supplemental material to the novel Syzygy. I enjoyed the insight into the character of Lily's life in her youth, especially through effective use … Continue reading Review: “Wild Type” by J.K. Ullrich
Review: “The Battersea Barricades” (Chronicles of St. Mary’s short story) by Jodi Taylor
Finally, some "history" of the world of St. Mary's! Taylor's authorial voice makes pages and pages of expository narrative delightful rather than boring. Even more fascinating, this time she's not talking about something "real" -- this time the historical events are all from her imagination. I loved every intricate detail of it. The more specific … Continue reading Review: “The Battersea Barricades” (Chronicles of St. Mary’s short story) by Jodi Taylor
Review: Invincible Volumes 4-6
My husband has been reading over my shoulder so that I fully appreciate what I'm absorbing. It's fun to point out cool panels and discuss things with him. Invincible Vol. 4: Head of the Class Robert Kirkman (writer) Ryan Ottley (penciler, inker) Bill Crabtree (colorist) Rus Wooten (letterer) This collection of issues felt like a … Continue reading Review: Invincible Volumes 4-6
Review: Syzygy by J.K. Ullrich
Disclaimer: I received an electronic version of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review. Even though the majority of the characters, including the two point of view characters, in this book are teenagers, this never feels like a young adult novel. Instead, it's an intriguing look at two opposed post-apocalyptic societies … Continue reading Review: Syzygy by J.K. Ullrich
Review: Unmasked by the Marquess (Regency Impostors #1) by Cat Sebastian
The most interesting and appealing thing about this book is that it did not follow what I've come to realize is the traditional romance plot structure. I thought I knew exactly how this book was going to go. I was completely wrong, and I loved it all the more for it. Charity/Robin is not a … Continue reading Review: Unmasked by the Marquess (Regency Impostors #1) by Cat Sebastian
Review: An Argumentation of Historians (Chronicles of St. Mary’s #9) by Jodi Taylor
Call me blasphemous, because I am a huge fan of this series...but I'm getting a bit bored with fighting Clive Ronan. I still enjoyed the hell out of this book, despite the slow start. One thing I did appreciate about it is seeing the evolution of St. Mary's relationship with the Time Police. They'll never … Continue reading Review: An Argumentation of Historians (Chronicles of St. Mary’s #9) by Jodi Taylor
Balticon 52 Schedule
Here's my schedule for Balticon 52, taking place over Memorial Day weekend at Baltimore's Renaissance Harborplace hotel! Friday The Blurring of Genre Borders (panel) at 4 pm Saturday Broad Universe Rapid-Fire Reading at 1 pm Slash of Our Ancestors: A History of Fanfic (panel) at 2 pm Autograph session with J.L. Gribble & Jay Smith … Continue reading Balticon 52 Schedule
Review: Invincible Volumes 1-3
Now that the full run of the Invincible comic series is over, it's time to start reading the collection of trade paperbacks my husband has acquired over the years! I actually read the first few books years ago, but considering the depth of my to-be-read pile, I soon turned my attention to other series and … Continue reading Review: Invincible Volumes 1-3
Review: Origin (Robert Langdon #5) by Dan Brown
For all of the ridiculousness of Brown's plots and my frustration with some of his writing style, I absolutely keep coming back to his books because when you remove everything I dislike, the rest is a personal guided tour of some amazing information about art, culture, and history. That being said, this is not his … Continue reading Review: Origin (Robert Langdon #5) by Dan Brown