Tag: author

Books, fantasy, Out of the Box Blogs, paranormal romance, Reviews, Romance, scifi, steampunk, Urban Fantasy

News about our blogging team

Karen

Book 1

First we wanted to start out by letting everyone know some sad news. Debra, one third of our blogging trio, is very ill and we will be losing her soon. Debra is the kindest of the three of us, even when she had a “harsh” criticism she would send it to me and I always would say “you’re too sweet” but that’s just her nature. She loves books, cares for people and made Les and I a little bit better. Because of this we think it’s appropriate to give someone else the gift of a book, from Debra to you. We know we have been sporadic bloggers over the years but you guys stick with us through some crazy times, hard times, and downright unthinkable times.

If this gift card goes to someone who’s been reading as long as us we say great, you get to have whatever book you want and it won’t be an ARC so there is no pressure in your review. If you are new or struggling, that’s great too, here is a chance to get a book without guilt. Believe it or not we’ve been blogging now for three years and we will miss Debra’s unique voice, but we thank you all for listening and always being kind to her. She loved blogging, so thank you for making it special.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Click the link to enter for your chance at winning. The winner will be chosen on Friday August 3,2018.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Books, funny, great reads, Mystery, paranormal romance, Reviews, Romance

“The Librarian’s Vampire Assistant” by: Mimi Jean Pamfiloff

Les

Hello Everyone!

Yes, we all know I love Mimi Jean stories. This one is no different, maybe a smidge more serious, but very entertaining none the less. Okay, here we go…

We have 400 hundred year old vampire Michael here searching for his maker’s killer. He wanders into a library for a moment and meets Miriam. She thinks he is there for a job, and he figures he has some time to spare and goes with it. There is something about her that pulls him to her. She is in trouble, and he decides to help her. By doing so he sends himself down an unfamiliar path he can’t control and isn’t sure he wants to be on.

Miriam is a Liberian. She isn’t all that likable, but then again you don’t know much about her. I feel like I should have gotten more info about her. I know more about Michael’s assistant Lula than the girl is is drawn to and trying to protect.

There is kidnapping, blackmail, and some weird old vampire. This is a mystery, but is still funny, and a little sarcastic. It’s also a bit of a cliffhanger.

I will be reading the second book in this series!

Go check it out!

Peace,

Les

Books, funny, great reads, Out of the Box Blogs, Reviews, Romance

“Mr. President” By: Katy Evans

Les

mr-president

Hey everyone! I was reading this book, and thought how fitting that I finished this book the day before we officially get a new President. *This is not a political post!*

Here we go!

Charlotte is a young girl when she meets the President of the United States and his son. Her father is a Senator. Her mother says she should write a note to thank the President for being at dinner. She instead writes a letter to his son Matt, telling him if he ever runs for President she would help him. (His dad told her one day Matt would be president) Fast forward eleven years, and Charlotte is working full-time, her father and mother are still in politics, the President she met was assassinated, and his son Matt is now running for President.

Matthew Hamilton is America’s sweetheart, they have watched him grow, lose his dad, and he has decided the country needs change and is going to run for President. He hasn’t forgotten Charlotte, and still has her letter. He plans on keeping her to her word to help him win.

And this, ladies and gentlemen is where the fun begins. Charlotte realizes that her childhood crush on Matt hasn’t gone away and is as strong as ever. Matt realizes that Charlotte has grown up into a beautiful, and smart woman.

Problem: Matthew doesn’t want a First Lady. He doesn’t think it is fair, because he watched his mother take a back seat to the country. He refuses to do that to anyone he loves.

And….. the shit gets real hot! They are sneaking around, trying not to get caught by anyone. They are campaigning and traveling together and sneaking off to remote locations, so the staff, and the press don’t find out and ruin the campaign.

You will have to read the book to find out if they get caught or not!

So, my opinion. I really liked this story. I like the characters, the story line and the idea behind it. Charlotte is an honest, smart girl, who realizes the truth in her situation. Matt is a strong man who has always been in the public eye, and who is very close to his mother. Charlotte’s parents are strange to me, however their concerns and views make sense, since they are also in the public eye.

Let me be clear, if we ever have a super hot, young smart man running for President, I will be signing up to work on that campaign. Matt is super hot! I love him. He is a guy next door type (well I wish he lived next door to me!).

What I really like about this story is that the sex, and the sneaking around is coming as a secondary thing to them working and campaigning. This book is about the entire journey, not just their relationship.

This is a series and I am going to buy the second one as soon as I am finished writing this. It ends in a cliff hanger, so I NEED to know what happens next.

Give it a chance, go read it!

Peace,

Les

 

Books, fantasy, great reads, indie author, Out of the Box Blogs, paranormal romance, Romance, scifi, steampunk, Urban Fantasy

Questions on Multiple Series

debra

How many series can an author successfully write at one time before the series start to suffer?  When do you know it is time to let a series go?

These are questions I have been pondering for some time and I am interested in opinions that you guys may offer, especially anyone who may be an author. Please understand I am not an author so I approach this only from a reader’s viewpoint.

Can an author successfully give multiple series the attention each deserves without any of them suffering?  I have been reading an author for many years, but this author is now writing five series—the fifth series just started with book one a week ago.  I really enjoyed this book and will write my review very soon.  The series I started with is now nearing release of book number 30.  Personally, I feel this series needed to be ended some time ago, but we now have new characters whom will undoubtedly have books written for them and the overall story arc is still not finished.  It is the series that will never end!!  I also have to wonder, in the author’s defense—how much of this is the author and their muse and how much of it is the publisher continually trying to capitalize on an author’s popularity.

I read several authors who have multiple series, and it is normal for those authors in my experience to release one book a year in the series.  When we are talking about  3 or more series, how can that possibly happen?  Therefore, we are probably looking at over a year between books.   One of my favorite authors generally writes one series at a time and we get a book usually every 6 months and then they start another series.  Granted, these series usually contain 4 to 5 books.  However, the series is completed and then we get to start another one.  With the author who is on book 30, I could literally be in my mid 60s before it finishes and I am already 53!! Some of the recent books have disappointed me with much repetition—hence question 2—when do you know it is time to let go?  I have many years invested in this series and I want to see the end, but I’m tired and don’t receive the level of enjoyment that I used to.

Have any of you faced a similar dilemma and how did you decide?  Looking forward to your thoughts.