A New Sweet 'n Sexy Diva

I'm thrilled to announce that I'm a new Diva writing for Sweet 'N Sexy Divas. I'll be posting at the end of each month, but I encourage you to check out all the other writers as they chat about their books, their upcoming book releases, contests and other fun topics.

Today I introduced myself to their readers, so you can check out that post here to discover some interesting info about me and my writing. See you there!

Books I Had to Read in School and Liked

Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge hosted by Long and Short Reviews.

Today's topic: Books I Had to Read in School and Liked

I've been an avid reader since I learned my ABC's while watching Sesame Street. I feel the need to confess that I was the kid who brought a book to read on the bus ride home from school. I read so many books during my school years, I don't remember which were required any more.

However, I do remember a few that I was not thrilled about being forced to read. Afterward, I was so grateful because these books were really enjoyable for me. So, I'll share those with you.

The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien

My 6th grade reading teacher, Miss Dries, was definitely a Tolkien fan. She raved about this book for days before we actually started our reading assignments. I don't remember why, but I wasn't all that thrilled about reading an adventure story about a hobbit. What was a hobbit anyway? Like a troll? A goblin? I read about goblins. I had already read The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald one my own and loved it. But, a hobbit?? I mean, I was more Sweet Valley Twins girl at that point in my reading career. I had no idea what an impact The Hobbit would bring to my life, or The Lord of the Rings trilogy which I would read later.

A great modern classic and the prelude to The Lord of the Rings. Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely traveling any farther than his pantry or cellar. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard Gandalf and a company of dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an adventure. They have launched a plot to raid the treasure hoard guarded by Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon. Bilbo reluctantly joins their quest, unaware that on his journey to the Lonely Mountain he will encounter both a magic ring and a frightening creature known as Gollum.

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

I read this in high school. It was one of those (groan) classic literature books with the really long sentences and boring descriptions and the strange dialogue that made no sense. I was so wrong. It started a little slow in the beginning, but it wasn't long before I was swept into the story and earnestly interested in what happened to the characters. I won't give away any spoilers, but if I remember correctly, I cried by the end.

After eighteen years as a political prisoner in the Bastille, the ageing Doctor Manette is finally released and reunited with his daughter in England. There the lives of two very different men, Charles Darnay, an exiled French aristocrat, and Sydney Carton, a disreputable but brilliant English lawyer, become enmeshed through their love for Lucie Manette. From the tranquil roads of London, they are drawn against their will to the vengeful, bloodstained streets of Paris at the height of the Reign of Terror, and they soon fall under the lethal shadow of La Guillotine.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

I'll add this here, too. I fell in love with this story so much that I still read it and watch the movie every year (the version with Patrick Stewart is the best in my opinion). There is something so magical about the transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge that tugs at my heart. That a person such as Scrooge can turn himself around to become a better person gives me the belief that we should keep Christmas in our hearts all year long.

Ebenezer Scrooge has no time for the poor or the wretched. And it's "Bah, humbug!" to anyone who wishes him a Merry Christmas. But when he turns in for the night one cold, fateful Christmas Eve, his past, present, and future converge. Three haunting guests are about to show him that the time has come to change his miserly ways - before it's too late. 

Hamlet by Shakespeare

This was required 12th grade reading and yes, I had to memorize and recite the To Be, or Not to Be section to pass the class. By this time in my life, I realized that volunteering to go first (or at least in the top 5) was much better than waiting with sweaty palms and sickening dread every day. I think I was the third to volunteer. I had to do it no matter what, so it was better to just do it and get it over with. For the next week of classes, I got to sit back and relax while I watched my fellow students sit at their desks paralyzed with fear of standing in front of everybody and stumbling through the lines.

Anyway, I had heard a lot about Hamlet and our 12th grade English teacher, Mr. Jones, by this point in my school career. None of it was good. To my surprise, I really enjoyed this class. Mr. Jones was an old fashioned professor type, but he was extremely knowledgeable about literature and made me think about the stories we read in the class. And Hamlet was such a story! So much was involved, all those little details that led up to the tragic ending. It was an interesting reading experience and one I'm glad to have had.

One of the greatest plays of all time, the compelling tragedy of the tormented young prince of Denmark continues to capture the imaginations of modern audiences worldwide. Confronted with evidence that his uncle murdered his father, and with his mother's infidelity, Hamlet must find a means of reconciling his longing for oblivion with his duty as avenger. The ghost, Hamlet's feigned madness, Ophelia's death and burial, the play within a play, the "closet scene" in which Hamlet accuses his mother of complicity in murder, and breathtaking swordplay are just some of the elements that make Hamlet an enduring masterpiece of the theater.

The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas

Okay, okay. This was not exactly required reading. I'll admit it. I chose this to read during my 9th grade English class. Mr. Palamar gave us time to read a book of our choosing and we had to pick out several words that we didn't recognize in each book and then look up the definition of each word. I chose The Three Musketeers because the movie was being released that year and I wanted to read the book before I watched the movie.

The book was so much better than the movie. I had no idea what I had been missing by reading classic literature. This was a bit of a turning point for me. Up until then, I dreaded most of our required reading lists, but if the teachers would just choose books like this, I'd be thoroughly entertained. And, although this exact title wasn't required, I had already learned the names of those authors that kids were forced to read. Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, Oscar Wilde, Jane Austen, etc. These were names I dreaded, until I read Alexandre Dumas. After reading this book, I decided to give classic literature a more open mind. Maybe my teachers were onto something and I might actually enjoy the books they forced us to read.

Young nobleman d'Artagnan has arrived in Paris intent on joining the guardians of King Louis XIII. He befriends the regiment's most formidable musketeers, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, and together they unite in their commitment to uphold justice. Soon, a royal indiscretion thrusts them into an audacious escapade of courtly intrigue, thwarted romance, and daring rescue. But it's the Machiavellian schemes of a powerful enemy and the wicked seductions of an ingenious female spy that will be their greatest challenges.

Be sure to check out the other blogger's suggestions at ...

I write sensual paranormal and historical romances. Interested in learning more about my stories? Sign-up for my newsletter where you'll learn about my new book releases, updates on my works-in-progress, writing tips, book reviews, contests, and other fun book-related info!

FIRE & ICE

Fire and Ice...they are two of the most powerful elements known to man.

From the tiniest sparks to a blazing inferno, fire is an intense energy that can consume anything in its path.

Ice is it's unrelenting and frigid counterpart that can startle your senses and make you shiver. When put together, you'll find a force that is stronger than anything you'll ever encounter.

If you love the paranormal and can't get enough of romance, then this set is exactly what you need in your library.

You can Follow me on ...

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What I Read When I'm Not Feeling Well #books #amreading

Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge hosted by Long and Short Reviews.

Today's topic: What I Read When I'm Not Feeling Well

There are always two authors that I turn to whenever I'm feeling down in the dumps or if I'm sick and in dire need of some cheering up. If I'm caught up with all of their books, then I'll go back and reread them. But, these two authors are guaranteed to make me smile and laugh which is a definite cure for whatever is ailing me at the time.

Janet Evanovich

Her Stephanie Plum books are hilarious. The cast of characters outrageously funny. Each book is guaranteed to make me laugh. Stephanie is a bounty hunter usually in need of money to pay her rent. In order to do that, she has to bring in the skips who've jumped bail for her cousin, Vinnie. There are a variety available from those committing petty theft to more violent crimes. With her on her quest is Lula, who adds a unique flavor to every book installment. I love Lula! She takes no nonsense from anyone. She's also a woman who knows what she wants and goes for it! Then there's Grandma Mazur, who is well known for wanting to see an open casket at the local funeral parlour and if there isn't one, she'll find a way to take a peek anyway. Another reason to keep reading these is to find out just who will Stephanie finally settle down with, Joe Morelli, the sexy cop who she has an on again, off again relationship with, or Ranger, the drop-dead gorgeous man of mystery who often sweeps in to save the day. It's also fun to see how many cars Stephanie accidentally destroys in each book.

   

Julia Quinn

Oh, the Bridgertons! I fell in love with this family since I first picked up Colin's story. I had to go back and read from the beginning, although Colin remains my favorite. The entire Bridgerton clan has a book each. She also branches off to continue other stories for some of the characters populating the world she created in Regency England. These books are humorous and sweet and so emotional that I can go from laughing to crying within a page. The stories are compelling and addicting. I will read these again and again. They're guaranteed to make me smile and help make me believe that there is always love and hope in this world.

   

Be sure to check out the other blogger's suggestions at ...

I write sensual paranormal and historical romances. Interested in learning more about my stories? Sign-up for my newsletter where you'll learn about my new book releases, updates on my works-in-progress, writing tips, book reviews, contests, and other fun book-related info!

FIRE & ICE

Fire and Ice...they are two of the most powerful elements known to man.

From the tiniest sparks to a blazing inferno, fire is an intense energy that can consume anything in its path.

Ice is it's unrelenting and frigid counterpart that can startle your senses and make you shiver. When put together, you'll find a force that is stronger than anything you'll ever encounter.

If you love the paranormal and can't get enough of romance, then this set is exactly what you need in your library.

You can Follow me on ...

BookBub | Amazon | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest 

Not a Fan #Books #IDoNotLike

Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge hosted by Long and Short Reviews.

Today's topic: Books I Had to Read in School and Didn't Like

Trying a new-to-you author is always a gamble, isn't it? You might like the writing, the story, or some other elements to the book. Or you might not. Enjoying everything you read is never guaranteed. Even your favorite author might take a story in one direction that you just didn't care for in the end.

And that's okay. We're all unique individuals with different likes and dislikes. We all come from different backgrounds and bring our own personalities to the stories that we read. The writing will touch us in some way, whether good or bad. That's as it should be. That's what makes finding that wonderful-to-me gem of a book all the more precious.

Our schools have exposed us to a variety of tastes in reading. As a teenager, I wasn't all too thrilled with some of the books forced upon me. By the end of my school career, however, I was grateful for the experience. I did get to read some interesting books that I enjoyed and opened me up to new worlds.

Here's a list of some of those worlds that just weren't for me. WARNING! This will contain spoilers, so if you want to read any of these books and haven't done so, then maybe you should skip this post.

Still with me? Okay, let's move on...

Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare

In Romoe and Juliet, Shakespeare creates a violent world, in which two young people fall in love. It is not simply that their families disapprove; the Montagues and the Capulets are engaged in a blood feud. 

In this death-filled setting, the movement from love at first sight to the lovers' final union in death seems almost inevitable. And yet, this play set in an extraordinary world has become the quintessential story of young love. In part because of its exquisite language, it is easy to respond as if it were about all young lovers.

This book is FREE at the moment, in case you're interested.

Okay, don't throw things at me. There are a lot of Shakespeare's plays that I really do enjoy. And it's not so much that I didn't like the story. The characters are all well written and the story is sound. I just hate the ending. This isn't a romance, as some readers claim. It's a tragedy.

Spoilers! Again, I'm giving you a second chance to look away.

They die at the end. I mean, what?? I hate the ending. Dislike. Despise. Do. Not. Want.

I'm a Happily-Ever-After girl. I want to see characters go through hell and fire and pain (that sounds bad, but hear me out), so that when they get to the end of their story, all is well. They've journeyed through a trying experience they didn't think they would survive, only to make it to the end and become a better person/people for it.

When the characters die at the end, the main characters!, I'm just...ugh.... No.

I wish my teacher had given me a heads-up about this one. I might have skipped class that last day.

Sorry, Mr. McCormick.

Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham

The first and most autobiographical of Maugham's masterpieces. It is the story of Philip Carey, an orphan eager for life, love and adventure. After a few months studying in Heidelberg, and a brief spell in Paris as a would-be artist, he settles in London to train as a doctor where he meets Mildred, the loud but irresistible waitress with whom he plunges into a tortured and masochistic affair.

Here's another one where the writing style was wonderful. It was an easy story to read. The descriptions were outstanding. Oh, but the characters. I was not a fan of the characters. The author did a wonderful job telling the story. I really didn't like Mildred. Really, really. And Philip annoyed me. 

Again, this is not a romance. I favor romances. Anyone who knows me knows this. Not that I read romances exclusively, but I like knowing what I'm in for when I read a book and this story was not what I was prepared for. It annoyed me. The author most likely wrote the characters with that intention, but I'm not a fan of this type of book. Just not for me. 

Find out what other writers posted about this week's topic at Long and Short Reviews!

FIRE & ICE

Fire and Ice...they are two of the most powerful elements known to man.

From the tiniest sparks to a blazing inferno, fire is an intense energy that can consume anything in its path.

Ice is it's unrelenting and frigid counterpart that can startle your senses and make you shiver. When put together, you'll find a force that is stronger than anything you'll ever encounter.

If you love the paranormal and can't get enough of romance, then this set is exactly what you need in your library.

I write sensual paranormal and historical romances. Interested in learning more about my stories? Sign-up for my newsletter where you'll learn about my new book releases, updates on my works-in-progress, writing tips, book reviews, contests, and other fun book-related info!

You can Follow me on ...

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Life Beyond Writing #MFRWAuthor #writinglife

Blogging is an opportunity for authors to connect with readers. Despite being writers, blogging is an entirely different style of writing and often stumps us. To help our authors blog consistently, thoughtfully and with purpose, Marketing for Romance Writers is announcing the 2019 Blog Challenge. Each week, authors use our writing prompt to create a meaningful blog post. We'll be posting every Friday... join us as often as possible.

Week 32: "For an author, does life exist outside of writing?"

Writing is a reflection of life. And life is why I write. When I was a teenager, I turned to writing to sort through the trauma of losing my mother at a young age. Although I didn't realize it at the time, all of the heroines in my stories during those years lost their mothers, too. Many of the stories that I wrote dealt with those characters trying to find their way through life after such a life-altering experience.

Even as an adult, I find that many of my stories reflect certain issues that I might be dealing with at that certain moment in my life. Sometimes I don't even realize I'm writing it. My subconscious often weaves those things in without my notice. I usually don't see it until later.

Also, there are some characters, settings and details that are inspired by real life. In The Witch's Thief, the hero, Basil Merriweather, breaks into a wealthy estate to use the vast amount of ornate mirrors inside to cast a spell. That setting was inspired by the beautifully decorated castles and manor houses that I toured while on visiting Germany one year.

A Whisper from the Grave, that is due to be published this fall, takes place in New Orleans, Louisiana. Again, I was inspired by the sights of St. Jackson's Square to describe my characters and that setting.

In Cupid's Arrow, a short story included in A Wink and a Smile, the main characters meet at a wedding. This particular story was inspired by one of my Waldenbooks co-worker's wedding. As I sat at the round table, observing the guests with my writer's mind, the story started and evolved. I might not have even created these characters or this story if I hadn't gone to this wedding.

For me, life feeds my writing.

Happy Writing!

~Tricia

Be sure to visit the posts for the MFRW's Blog Challenge!

I write sensual paranormal and historical romances. Interested in learning more about my stories? Sign-up for my newsletter where you'll learn about my new book releases, updates on my works-in-progress, writing tips, book reviews, contests, and other fun book-related info!

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Books I Need to Review #booklovers #bookreviews

Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge hosted by Long and Short Reviews.

Today's topic: Books I Loved But Never Wrote Reviews for

This topic is appropriately timed since I was just browsing a few of my favorite books that I've read over the years. I'm thinking about re-reading a few and while I'm at it, I might as well write reviews for them. As many readers know, good reviews are one of the best ways for authors to reach new readers.

Here are a few books that I have on my keeper shelf that I've never reviewed...

Whisper His Name

Breaking the code to her heart...

Independent and stubbornly unmarried, Abbie Vayle has always been a little too smart for her own good. But she may have gone too far when she starts her own rare-book business--and accidentally acquires an antique book in Paris with a mysterious code scribbled in the margins...

Someone wants the book back--and is willing to kill to get it. The only trouble is, Abbie no longer has the book. It's locked away in the customs house in Dover. Now it's a race against time as Abbie stays one step ahead of her pursuers. The last person she wants to confide in is her best friend, Hugh Templar, whom she knows only as a formidable scholar who shares her passion for Roman antiquities.

But as Hugh keeps turning up where she least expects him, a few things begin to dawn on her... Not only is Hugh surprisingly--in fact incredibly--handsome without his glasses on, but he's strangely "professional" in how he handles her mysterious enemies.

Hugh is clearly not what he seems. And soon Abbie realizes that neither is she...as she discovers what it means to love with all her heart and soul.

The Devil's Lady

Bid by King Edward to marry one of his knights, Aisley de Laci hopes to avoid the altar by choosing Baron Montmorency. 'Tis a union she is certain none will endorse, especially the baron, who is rumored to practice the dark arts from his isolated keep.

Renowned in battle, the Red Knight has secluded himself at Dunmorrow for reasons of his own. And he does not want a wife, no matter how wealthy and beautiful she might be. But even he cannot defy the king's order, and what comes to him, he takes--and holds.

Although Aisley refuses to believe the tales that make Montmorency more myth than mortal, she begins to wonder whether he does possess mysterious powers. How else to explain her own growing feelings for her husband, a man so shrouded in shadow she has never seen his face?

Was she under a spell or truly the Devil's Lady?

Dead Girls Are Easy

There's something about almost dying that makes a girl rethink her priorities. Take Nicki Styx--she was strictly goth and vintage, until a brush with the afterlife leaves her with the ability to see dead people.

Before you can say boo, Atlanta's ghosts are knocking at Nicki's door. Now her days consist of reluctantly cleaning u messes left by the dearly departed, leading ghouls to the Light...and one-on-one anatomy lessons with Dr. Joe Bascombe, the dreamy surgeon who saved her life. All this catering to the deceased is a real drag, especially for a girl who'd rather be playing hanky-panky with her hunky new boyfriend...who's beginning to think she's totally nuts.

But things get even more complicated when a friend foolishly sells her soul to the devil, and Nicki's new gift lands her in some deep voodoo.

As it turns out for Nicki Styx, death was just the beginning.

Kiss of Fire

One kiss can change the course of destiny...

When ace accountant Sara Keegan decides to settle down and run her quirky aunt's New Age bookstore, she's not looking for adventure. She doesn't believe in fate or the magic of tarot cards, but when she's saved from a vicious attack by a man who has the ability to turn into a fire-breathing dragon, she questions whether she's losing her mind - or about to lose her heart.

Self-reliant loner Quinn Tyrrell has long been distrustful of his fellow Pyr. When he feels the firestorm that signals his destined mate, he's determined to protect and possess Sara, regardless of the cost. Then Sara's true destiny is revealed and Quinn realizes he must risk everything - even Sara's love - to fulfill their entwined fates. 

Happy Reading!

~Tricia

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 Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge!

I write sensual paranormal and historical romances. Interested in learning more about my stories? Sign-up for my newsletter where you'll learn about my new book releases, updates on my works-in-progress, writing tips, book reviews, contests, and other fun book-related info!

You can Follow me on ...

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