Tricia's Favorite Things to Do in Spring #LongandShortReviews #BlogChallenge

Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge hosted by Long and Short Reviews.

This week's topic: Favorite things to do in the spring

I always, always look forward to spring. Don't get me wrong, I love winter, too. Well, I love snow. But that only lasts for so long. Basically, once Christmas and New Year's is over, then I'm counting the days until spring!

The first thing I do on the first warm day is open all of the windows in my house. It's a simple thing. But, I love the smell of fresh air and the warm breeze blowing away the stale air of the winter months.

After that, I look forward to spring cleaning. I know. Crazy, right? Who loves cleaning? Well, with four kids stuck in the house for so many winter months, my home often looks like a tornado has blown through it. Toys are scattered everywhere, the house is in disarray, and I'll admit, I contribute to the mess with my papers, notebooks, and piles of books. There's often a pile of boxes or bags of out-grown clothes at the bottom of my attic steps that I set there thinking, "I'll get to that later."

Well, later typically translates to spring. I do a massive attic to basement cleaning and organizing that often takes weeks and weeks, but when it's done, I feel so much better. I've discovered that clutter and mess in the house only aggravates my anxiety. The energy in the house flows much better when everything is in its proper place.

My son at last year's school art show
with his Minecraft drawing.

Also, some fun spring activities involve Easter, baseball, school concerts and art shows. For the last ten years, I've been involved in fun community activities for my kids. Since we're involved with Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, sports, school chorus and band, as well as churches and other local community groups, we usually have a full calendar of activities to keep us busy. 



This year our calendar is disturbingly empty. Baseball and the spring concerts at school have all been cancelled due to the Coronavirus. This is the first year that my kids will not have an Easter egg hunt at the church. Of course, that won't stop us! I've already decided that we'll have an egg hunt in our own backyard. I'm lucky enough to have a huge backyard with plenty of places to search for eggs! Plus, I'm getting the kids to draw and paint pictures so we can have our own art show! I have a large fence surrounding most of my yard, so I think it'll be easy enough to hang the artwork there on a nice, warm spring day.

My daughter and son getting ready for spring planting last year.

Getting ready for spring also involves plants! Now... I try this every year. I refuse to give up. But, I'm sad to tell you that I have no green thumb. My houseplants hate me. Nothing lives long. Whether its because the plant has too much sun, not enough sun or because my cat, Harley, has gotten a hold of it and chewed it to bits, for whatever reason, plants don't have a long shelf life in my home. Not only inside! The flowers that I plant outside are usually eaten by the large family of rabbits that use my yard as a kitchen. I also have a groundhog and a skunk who like to call my yard home on occasion.

This year, I'm calling on the assistance of my family. My 14 year-old son and I were walking through the yard one sunny day last week, planning our attack on our yard. He loves flowers. Especially, sunflowers. So, I've put him in charge of the planting season this year. We've got sunflowers, morning glories, daisies and an herb garden on our wish list. My 12 year-old wants a vegetable garden, so he's in charge of that. I did plant two blueberry bushes last year. I'm not sure if they survived the winter, yet. 

Hopefully, between the three of us, we might be able to keep these plants alive long enough to make it through the summer. We'll see. I'll report back and let you know how it all goes.

My daughter and son standing beside the graves of their
great-great-great-great-great-grandparents,
Abraham and Elisabeth Bartolet

One other thing that I love to start in the spring is graveyard photography. I'm an amateur genealogist and a volunteer graveyard photographer for Findagrave.com and Ancestry.com. For the last few years, I've been periodically working through the cemeteries and graveyards in my local area, photographing and transcribing the gravestones. This helps people who are researching their family tree and searching for deceased family members or ancestors who are not nearby. This is also a great way to involve my kids in learning about their family history. We've made it a game as they help me hunt for gravestones. Taking pictures in the spring and summer is obviously easier than the winter months. And we get lots of exercise, fresh air and sunshine!

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!

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Love mermaids and all creatures aquatic? This limited time anthology is just for you! With more than 1500 pages of captivating fiction, you'll be enchanted by sirens, dive the depths with a mermaid, and fear whether the sea witch is friend or foe.

AMAZON

Hidden Magic #BookFair #EpicFantasy #UrbanFantasy #ParanormalFantasy

Magic is dangerous.

But there are brave souls who will forge ahead on the adventure of a lifetime using it.

Will you be one of them?

With books that are...

Fantasy, Action-Adventure, Epic, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal

Including authors...

Krystal Pena, Paul J Bennett, C Gold, Gracen Miller,

K.M. Jenkins, Chris Coleman, David Fuentes,

Tricia Schneider, Misty Hayes, Lisa Blackwood,

Michael DeSousa and many more!

Go to BookFair!

   

The Weirdest Thing I Learned Reading Fiction #LongandShortReviews #BlogChallenge

Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge hosted by Long and Short Reviews.

This week's topic: The Weirdest Thing I Learned Reading Fiction

I may not think this is weird, but others might. I learned to speak a Native American Indian language from a historical romance novel. Well, not completely! But it started the hunger for knowledge that compelled me to check out libraries and historical societies where I researched about the languages and cultures of the Native people in my area.

I'm not certain which novel I read that began my obsession with learning Native languages, but I've been interested in Native American Indians since I was a kid. As a teenager, I began reading romances and devoured many of historical romances set during the American Colonial days, the French and Indian Wars and the American Revolution. This is still one of my favorite time periods to read and research!

While I still read any romance featuring a Native American Indian hero or heroine, I did gravitate toward the Eastern Tribes being that I live in Pennsylvania and was immensely interested in the history of my own backyard. Plus, I learned from my grandmother at some point that both she and my grandfather had Lenape and Cherokee ancestors. My research soon turned into a family history project.

If memory serves, when I was a teenager, I wrote a fan letter to Judith E. French asking her about the research she did on the Native cultures. She was nice enough to respond with some reading suggestions!

Here's a little about what I learned:

The Lenape people, also known as the Delaware Indians, inhabited most of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey and lower New York. They became known as Delaware Indians because of those members living along the Delaware river; a river named after Lord de la Warr in the 17th century.

The language of the Lenape was a form of Algonquian. The Algonquian language family consists of around 30 languages including those used by Mi'kmaq, Abenaki, Mahican, Powhatan, Nanticoke, and also among the Cree, Cheyenne, Blackfoot, Ojibwa, Shawnee and others.

Within the Lenape sub-tribes there were three distinct dialects called Munsee, Unami and Unalactigo. By the year 1700, Unalactigo had been greatly absorbed by the Unami. In many ways, Munsee had become a separate tribe, closely related to the Mahican people.

In 1600, the Lenape may have numbered as many as 20,000. With several wars and epidemics throughout the region, their population was reduced to around 4,000 by 1700. By 1845, it had dropped to about 2,000. According to more recent information, there are about 16,000 today, most living in Oklahoma with some in Wisconsin and Ontario.

Sometimes called Lenni Lenape, the meaning of the word Lenape is "original man" or "true people." Their homeland was called Lenapehoking, "Land of the Lenape."

Some of these words I discovered in romance novels (I wrote them in a notebook when I found them in the novel, then later did more research on them.):

Suckachgook - Black Snake

Wulisso - Beautiful

Tscholentit - Little Bird

Mamalnunschetto - Spotted Doe

Mashelameek - Spotted Fish

K'dahoalell - I love you.

N'dockqueum - my wife

Suckahokus - Black Fox

Lintukseat - Wild Wolf

Sukameek - Black Fish

gelennil - hold me

hopokan - pipe for smoking

Lenape n'hackey - I am a Lenape

N'dochquewi - I am a woman.

I could keep talking about this forever! I'm passionate about history, especially the history of the area where I live, but I'll leave this for now. I hope this was entertaining and you learned something different and perhaps a little weird. A piece of history to carry with you.

Other suggested reading I highly recommend:





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!

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Beth-Ann Miller returns to her Tennessee mountain home to find chaos erupting between her family and their shape-shifting neighbors. Her father is convinced the were-cougar clan is responsible for the murders occurring in their area and interrogates one of the shifters, Boone Evans, her childhood sweetheart. When Boone declares several members of his shifter family have gone missing including his little brother, Beth-Ann suspects someone else is behind both the murders and abductions.

Boone never expected to see Beth-Ann again. When she frees him from her father's cabin and promises to help find his brother, Boone doesn't plan on rekindling their passionate love affair or facing the pain of past mistakes. Nor does he plan on coming face to face with the man responsible for altering his family's life forever.

With men hunting the were-cougars, can Beth-Ann and Boone risk all to have a future together? Or is loving Boone too high a price to pay? 

AMAZON

The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance #BookReview #pnr #romance

Fall in love with someone out of this world.

If love transcends all boundaries then paranormal romance is its logical conclusion. From the biggest names around, here are 24 tales to take you to another time and place.

Let Alyssa Day, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Cheyenne McCray, Jeaniene Frost, Ilona Andrews, Kelley Armstrong, Maria V. Snyder, Carrie Vaughn, Allyson James and others show you powers beyond your wildest imaginings.

Within these pages mythical beasts, magical creatures of all shapes and sizes, heart-stoppingly handsome ghosts, angels, and mortals with extra-sensitive sensory perception play out the themes of extraordinary desires.



Includes:
The Temptation of Robin Green by Carrie Vaughn
Succubus Seduction by Cheyenne McCray
Paranormal Romance Blues by Kelley Armstrong
John Doe by Anna Windsor
Taking Hold by Anya Bast
How to Date a Superhero by Jean Johnson
Daniel by C.T. Adams and Cathy Clamp
Light Through Fog by Holly Lisle
The Tuesday Enchantress by Mary Jo Putney
Trinity Blue by Eve Silver
Grace of Small Magics by Ilona Andrews
Once a Demon by Dina James
Night Vision by Maria V. Snyder
Pele's Tears by Catherine Mulvany
Pack by Jeaniene Frost
When Gargoyles Fly by Lori Devoti
The Lighthouse Keeper and His Wife by Sara Mackenzie
Blood Song by Lynda Hilburn
The Princess and the Peas by Alyssa Day
At Second Bite by Michelle Rowen
Blue Crush by Rachel Caine
The Wager by Sherrilyn Kenyon
In Sheep's Clothing by Meljean Brook
The Dream Catcher by Allyson James


The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance Edited by Trisha Telep
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It took me a while to read this anthology. I carried it around and read here and there, which is what I really enjoy. Lately, I'm more interested in short stories while I'm waiting in line to pick up my son from preschool.

For the most part, I really enjoyed these stories. They're all written by bestselling authors who've already made a name for themselves with readers. Some authors I've read before, but for the majority were new to me, as in I've heard of them but I've never read any of their stories. There were a few stories that I questioned, since at least two of them didn't really have a happily-ever-after or an even happy-for-now endings. They were interesting stories, but not what I'd label as romance. Not that I found them disappointing, but the just didn't seem to fit in this collection.

The rest, of course, fit the genre perfectly. Here we find a slew of paranormal creatures that are sure to satisfy, such as vampires, werewolves, selkies, gargoyles, djinn, superheroes and so much more.

I thought about reviewing each, but thought that might take up too much time, so I'll just highlight the stories that really struck me as good!

Paranormal Romance Blues by Kelley Armstrong. When it comes to paranormal stories, you just can't go wrong with Ms. Armstrong. I've loved her writing since the first book I read written by her, Dime Store Magic. The only problem I saw with this particular story is that I wished it was longer. But, that could just be my natural hunger for her writing.

How to Date a Superhero by Jean Johnson. This is the first superhero romance that I've ever read, and I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I am a superhero fan (give me Marvel or DC hero any day!) but I've never read a romance featuring this type of hero. I loved it! It made me want to read more superhero romances. And really, with all the women I know who go crazy over the Avengers, why haven't I seen more superhero romances out there? We need more people!

Night Vision by Maria V. Snyder. Oh, I loved this one! Maybe it was the setting, maybe it's just me with my insatiable hunger for certain stories, but with a few tweaks, this one could have easily been a paranormal MacGyver story. For whatever reason, MacGyver spoke to me through this story, and I realize the author probably had no intention of that. It's probably just my obsession. But I enjoyed the story so much! I loved the characters and the thrill of running for their lives, the danger and suspense and the connection between the hero and heroine. It was a fun ride! I'll read this one again in the future, just because I love this kind of story.

The Princess and the Peas by Alyssa Day. This one was way different for me! I loved it! Just when I thought I knew what was going to happen, the author diverted direction and I ended up reading a story I had no idea how it would unfold. Which, I'm sad to say, is mostly unusual for me. Maybe its because I'm a writer, with some stories, I can predict which direction the characters are going. Not this time. This was interesting! I especially loved the humor. I just wish it was longer! I'd love to read more!

At Second Bite by Michelle Rowen. Another fun, fast-paced story with a snarky heroine. It was an incredibly quick read with a lot of danger, suspense and humor. I loved the characters and the struggles they were facing. The author painted a very thorough picture in such a short story that made it feel much longer. It tied up neatly (maybe a little too neatly), but for a short story this was fine. I feel the author could have made this a longer story and it would be just as enjoyable.

Blue Crush by Rachel Caine. Alright. I'll say this now. I can't tell you how many times I placed Ms. Caine's books on the bookshelves in the bookstore where I worked for so many years. I'm disappointed with myself that I never picked up one of her books to read. Are they all like this? I'm going to have to find out. This story was probably the best short story in the entire collection. Yes, I said it. That's how much I loved it! Now, granted, the characters were already established, the hero and heroine were already together, and I know nothing of them. This is part of her Weather Warden series, which, like I said, I've heard about, but never read. Well, now I have to start reading them because of this story.

In Sheep's Clothing by Meljean Brook. Oh, this was another fun one that takes the reader on a full journey with just a few short pages. We get an entire backstory within the action that propels the story forward. It was like reading a full novel in a few minutes. I really enjoyed this one!


View all my reviews

AMAZON

Lucky in Love #BookFair #Steamy #Sweet and Everything In Between!

Are you looking for books that are lucky in love?

The books in this book fair are all sweet, steamy and everything in between!

Including authors...

Gracen Miller, Kathryn Knight, NJ Adel,

Tricia Schneider, Pearl Tate, Katie Carver

and many, many more!

Go to Bookfair!

   

March Madness #BookFair! Every Flavor of Fiction! #romance #mystery #scifi #KindleUnlimited

It's March Madness!

Here's a book fair with every flavor of fiction genre you like on Kindle Unlimited!

Find authors such as...

Liberty Parker, Caleb Fast, Joanna White, Rachel M. Storm, 

Tricia Schneider, Elizabeth Noble, LC Owen, Autumn Winters, 

Meka James and so many more!

Go to Book Fair!

The Mermaid #Excerpt from Mermaidia #mermaids #fantasyromance #pnr

My most recent release is a novella in Mermaidia: A Limited Edition Anthology. I had so much fun writing this story about Oscar and Cassandra. 

My story is called The Mermaid which is about Oscar Green who's looking to capture some video footage to boost his career by going to an island to film a haunted mansion. Once there, he finds more than he expects!

Mermaidia

Love mermaids and all creatures aquatic? This limited time anthology is just for you! With more than 1500 pages of captivating fiction, you'll be enchanted by sirens, dive the depths with a mermaid, and fear whether the sea witch is friend or foe.

The Mermaid by Tricia Schneider Excerpt:

She hadn’t gotten too far. I could see the long brown strands of her hair floating across the surface of the water. What did she think she was doing swimming out so far in a storm? 

She would get herself killed.

Saving her was all I could think of as I plunged into the water.

“Ozzy!” Zak shouted behind me. “What are you doing?”

Good question.

It was stupid. 

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

I wasn’t that great a swimmer. But I couldn’t let the woman kill herself. She’d been frightened. I saw that clearly enough when I gazed into her fathomless brown eyes.

Had she been so scared that she thought her only escape was to swim for it?

The nearest island was too far to see with the naked eye. And during a storm like this, she’d never make it even halfway.

I relied often on instinct and my gut told me this woman needed help.

But with each wave crashing over my head, I realized the futility of my actions, noble as they were. Sure, I wanted to save her. But I began to suspect that I might be the one who needed saving.

I kicked to the surface every time a wave drove me under. Again and again. The last time I struggled to the surface, gasping for air, I had already lost sight of the woman and panic set in. 

Had she already drowned? Was I too late?

My next thought was equally grim.

Was I going to drown, too?

I took in a huge lungful of air as another wave hit me and I tumbled down. This time, instead of kicking to the surface, I relaxed the straining muscles in my body.

I was exhausted. I just needed a moment before I continued to battle the ocean for breath. But the waves pummeled me, pushing me farther under.

I didn’t think I was going to escape this watery grave. Just as my lungs began to burn with the need for air, I felt slim arms slip around my chest, then a delicate hand on my cheek. Lips pressed against mine, forcing them open as precious air blew into my lungs.

I shivered at the sensation of her lips on mine. Her hair drifted around my face, caressing me with silky strands. My hands instinctively grabbed her arms, clinging to her at first for dear life, but as her kiss of air turned into something more sensuous, my shock shifted to wonder and desire.

We kissed beneath the ocean, her hands wrapping more securely around me, pulling me closer to her. Her breasts pressed against my chest, separated by our wet shirts and yet it felt like there was nothing at all between us. My hands slid along her shoulders, down her back until I felt the rough fabric of her jeans. 


My panic-filled brain had a moment of confusion as I realized what I felt along my fingertips was not denim, but something else entirely. Something rough and scaly.

AMAZON

Also, check out the Mermaidia Book Fair!