Saturday, February 15, 2014

Latest Reads Jan/Feb 2014, Team Ava Urrea, and Breaking Bad

It seems unfathomable that it has been a month and half since I’ve posted a blog. Goodness! We all know the drill (excuse/reason/explanation): BUSY. The days just fly by and I swear every day goes faster! While things are been super busy and productive as of late, I have had limited reading time. I wish I had more peace and quiet to kick back and read. However these days I feel guilty, because there is something else I COULD be doing: grading, planning, writing, cleaning, marketing, planning, revising, reflecting, working out, doing something. As of late when I afford myself a bit of mindless relaxation time, I have two words: Breaking Bad. Halfway through the season, I am utterly and hopelessly addicted! I don’t know how people waited weeks or months to watch it, when it was televised. I can barely stand it a day goes by and I don’t get my fix. The writing is absolutely phenomenal; most episodes I’m on the edge of my seat! (In all honestly, it would be an enormous help if the world would pause long enough for me to sit down, uninterrupted, and just finish the series, BITCH! It wasn’t meant to offend. I have an affection for Jessie.)

Lately, the writing has been going well. I’m currently working on the next in the Precious Gems Series. I am so pleased to be working with Jennifer Paquette (my 2Muses east coast counterpart, business partner and co-author) on the next book. For Sapphires, we are weaving in a touch of King Arthur, Merlin and Lancelot (okay, she is weaving it in…my story takes place in a school in Vegas)! It’s already proving to be another interesting and exciting 2Muses project. This time the stories will be told in alternate chapters between the two inter-woven tales. 


We also started dabbling in fundraising. As the west coast half of 2Muses, I am thrilled to announce we are currently donating all of the proceeds from our first novella in the Precious Gems Series, If the Silver Slippers Fit… to Team Ava Urrea in the 11th annual ‘Walk with the Heart of a Child’ in Las Vegas, NV. Ava is a darling spunky three year born and her heart needs some help. Let’s show her some love! 

****Fundraising Promo FOR A GREAT CAUSE: TEAM  AVA URREA***


Read for the HEART of a Child
"If the Silver Slippers Fit..."
A 2Muses Project

HAVE A HEART!  Starting on Valentine's Day and through Friday, February 21st, all proceeds for “If the Silver Slippers Fitt…” will go to The Children's Heart Foundation.  The west coast half of 2Muses, Stephanie Greenhalgh, will be walking in the 11th Annual Walk With The Heart of A Child, to benefit children with heart "aches".  ALL proceeds will go to Team Ava Urrea: http://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1074625&lis=1&kntae1074625=711895EE36ED47798E86E5F10F56C17B&supId=0&team=5804693&cj=Y


Click for links: KINDLE or PAPERBACK

~Thank you from the bottom of our HEARTS, Stephanie Greenhalgh and Jennifer Paquette (a.k.a. 2Muses)!

****End promo and resume Latest Reads Jan/Feb****


Regardless of what I’ve got going on, nothing will ever get in the way of my love of books. The entire reason I purchased a kindle was to read in the dark. Many a night, I stay up way too late, but some nights, I can barely make it through a paragraph until sheer exhaustion takes hold. Truth be told, I love being busy everyday and having a purpose. But when it’s all done for the day, it’s a MUST to shut the brain off with a book. Here’s a glimpse into my ‘Latest Reads’…

Little Red Riding Hood: The Ultimate Collection (Collection prepared and published by Damian Stevenson)

It’s no secret I have an affection for fairy tales, specifically ‘Little Red Riding Hood’, so when I stumbled across this amazing collection for $.99, it seemed like a no-brainer. I LOVED this compellation of stories. In fact, I enjoyed it some much, I purchased the Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty versions.
Final thought: Thirteen ‘Little Red Riding Hoods’ for $.99…a total bargain!

Allegiant by Veronica Roth
It’s fantastic! As a writer, I loved it! As a reader, I still have some reservations, because I became very attached to certain characters. The relationship between Tris and Four is so eloquently written and it keeps the reader captivated from the first page to the last page. Veronica Roth does an incredible job of creating a realistic civilization in this futuristic dystopian series.
Final Thought: It was a fitting end to an incredibly trilogy.

Persephone’s Orchard by Molly Ringle
I liked this story. I am a huge mythology fan and enjoy new twists on old classics. The story of Hades and Persephone has always been a favorite of mine, so when it was on sale, it seemed like a no brainer. I wasn’t disappointed. Sophia and Adrian (aka Persephone and Hades) souls continue to find each other year after year, life after life and here they are again in the modern world as two young adults. We also see many of our favorite gods and goddesses. My only complaint: the ending felt rushed and anticlimactic. Will I read the next one? Yes, I need to know what happens to these two!
Final Thought: I enjoyed the modern twist on some ancient myths and characters!


Thank you for stopping by! Be sure to stop by and support TEAM AVA URREA!

On the current reading list for the next edition of ‘Latest Reads’:
The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling)
Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell
Something Random from the ‘To Be Read’ list by ???????



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