My Teen is Reading Again! #Books for Boys #amreading #YA

My son reading one of the ASOIAF
books on the London tube during a 2016 trip

Hands down, reading is my favorite pastime, and I love books so much, I write them as well.  I've always tried to get my two sons into reading, with varying results.  My younger son, who is now 17 (!!!!) was always the bigger reader, but they both could be hooked with a really great story.  The problem is, I can't always find those really compelling novels that will pull them in immediately.  And because I'm an author, they know terms like "the hook", "the conflict", "the author's voice", etc.  It's hard to argue if they tell me they can't connect with the characters or the pacing is slow. 

So, five years ago, I started blogging about some of the books and series they really loved (links to those posts are below).  I have three posts over the years with titles they've enjoyed.  My oldest son is now in college, with a summer internship in full swing as well, so his time is limited.  But my younger son has a lot of downtime this summer, and I really wanted to get him reading again.  I say "again", because we hit a roadblock a few years ago.  In 2016, he read the A Song of Ice and Fire series (Game of Thrones), tearing through all five enormous books currently out (and I'd read them as well, so I do know there are adult scenes but my feeling has always been if my kids are reading, I'm happy, whatever it is).  The problem arose because those books are so incredible, so intricately plotted, so full of danger and battles and dragons and betrayals, so exciting and action-packed, that nothing he started reading afterwards could compare.  I tried several books that are similar in theme or genre, but he just kept saying they weren't as good and losing interest.   

I'm sad to say this went on for almost 3 years.  We tried The Dark Tower series, other Stephen King books, River God, Swan Song...all great books that I loved.  He would put them down after the first chapter.  The only novels he read were for school, and I generally don't find our school makes very compelling picks.

But this summer, I said we're going to get back into reading for pleasure.  I started with an Amazon search of books related in purchase history to the Quarantine series, which both my kids loved and couldn't put down.  I found a title called Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne.  He loved it!  This is a YA thriller revolving around a busload of kids of different ages trying to survive in a supermarket after an apocalyptic event.  Thankfully, there were two more books in the series, so we had July covered.

A few of my next picks didn't grab his attention, but another thing happened...he rented the first Lord of the Rings movie.  I was surprised he hadn't seen those movies already with his brother or his friends.  But now he's saying he'd like to read the books too (despite already seeing the movies)...yay!  That's how he got into the Game of Thrones books, so I'm hopeful.  And when a series is *his* idea, and not mine, it makes it all the more likely he'll keep reading.  And here on Cape, the kids don't go back to school until after Labor Day, so we have a few more weeks of beach reading relaxation!


Other recommendations over the years:


Books for Boys

Books for Boys 2

Books for Boys 3

Game of Thrones Characters A-Z #AtoZChallenge #GoT #GameofThrones

Game of Thrones is coming back!  To say I’m excited is an understatement.  This series of books has long been a favorite, and watching the show has become a treasured family event in a stage where convincing two teenage boys to spend time with me can be difficult.  A few years ago, I did a GoT version of “TheA-Z Blog Challenge”, something many authors participate in during the month of April.  The idea is to post a new topic every day, using the alphabet for inspiration, but instead, I made one big post highlighting one GoT character for each letter of the alphabet. It has been so popular, I decided to do it again with a new list.  I tried to find characters included in both the books and the show if possible, and if you’ve watched the show up to the latest season, you won’t find any spoilers.

A is for: Aerys II, the last Targaryen to rule the Seven Kingdoms.  He became known as the Mad King after grief and imprisonment contributed to his downward spiral of cruelty and paranoia.  When his eldest surviving son, Rhaegar, allegedly kidnapped Lyanna Stark, the eldest Stark brother, Brandon, rode to King’s Landing.  Aerys arrested Brandon for threats against the crown, and executed both Brandon and his father, Lord Rickard Stark, in a horrific manner.  When he then demanded the heads of Eddard (Ned) Stark and Robert Baratheon, Lyanna’s fiancé, the war known as Robert’s Rebellion began.  Aerys was killed by Jaime Lannister, a member of his own Kingsguard.

B is for: Balon Greyjoy, the Lord of the Iron Islands.  Shortly after Robert’s Rebellion and ascension to the throne, Balon declared Greyjoy’s Rebellion, seeking the title of King of the Iron Islands.  The revolt failed, and Balon was forced to send his only surviving son, Theon, to live as a ward of the Starks.

C is for: Catelyn Stark, wife of Eddard (Ned) Stark.  Cat grew up a Tully at Riverrun, where Petyr Baelish lived as her father’s ward.  She was betrothed to Brandon Stark but was later married to Ned when Brandon was executed.

Michael Huisman as Daario Naharas
on HBO's Game of Thrones

D is for: Daario Naharas, one of the captains of the Stormcrows, a mercenary company hired to defend Yunkai from Daenerys’ invading army.  When Daario meets Daenerys, she invites him to switch allegiance, and after killing the other captains, he brings the Stormcrows to her side.  Eventually they become lovers.

E is for: Ellaria Sand, a paramour of Prince Oberyn Martell of Dorne.  She is the father of several of his illegitimate daughters, a group known as the Sand Snakes. 

F is for: Free Folk, the term those who live north of (or “beyond”) the wall use to describe themselves, because they do not recognize the authority of a royal king.  Those in the Seven Kingdoms refer to the Free Folk as Wildlings because of their more primitive lifestyle.

G is for: Gilly, one of women held at Craster’s Keep.  Craster, a Wildling who married his daughters and granddaughters, sacrificed all his male babies to the White Walkers (The “Others”).  When the Night’s Watch sheltered at the Keep, Gilly begged one of the brothers, Samwell Tarly, to help her escape in order to protect her male child.

H is for: High Sparrow, the name taken by the current High Septon, or head, of The Faith of the Seven, the religion followed by the majority of the Westeros (the exceptions being the north and the Iron Islands).  The term “new gods” refers to the “Seven Who Are One” worshiped in The Faith: Father, Mother, Warrior, Maiden, Smith, Crone, Stranger.

I is for: Ilyn Payne, whose tongue was removed with hot pincers by the Mad King when he repeated a rumor that Tywin Lannister, the King’s Hand at the time, was really running the Seven Kingdoms.  He was later named the King’s Justice, or the royal executioner, under King Robert Baratheon.

J is for: Jaqen H’ghar, one of the Faceless Men who worship a god of death known as the Many-Faced God.  He was imprisoned in a cage on a trip north to join the Night’s Watch, and when Arya Stark saved his life, he gave her a coin and a phrase to give to any man of Braavos should she need help in the future.

K is for: King Tommen, the young, newly crowned ruler who became king when King Joffrey was poisoned at his own wedding.  While Tommen inherited the Iron Throne through his Baratheon name, his claim is disputed since he appears to be the son of Cersei and Jaime Lannister and thus both illegitimate and the child of an incestuous relationship.  He married Margaery Tyrell, the bride of his deceased brother.

Dean-Charles Chapman and Natalie Dormer as King Tommen
and Queen Margaery on HBO's Game of Thrones

L is for: Loras Tyrell, the Knight of the Flowers and Queen Margaery’s brother.  He is a handsome and skilled knight and the former lover of Renly Baratheon, one of the three claimants of the Iron Throne during the War of the Five Kings.  The two other “kings” involved were the leaders of separatist groups, Robb Stark as the King of the North and Balon Greyjoy as the King of the Iron Islands.

M is for: Missandei, a handmaid and confidant of Daenerys Targaryen.  Originally from Naath, or the Isle of Butterflies in the Summer Sea, she was captured and sold into slavery in Astapor.  She serves as a translator when Daenerys buys the Unsullied, and is then offered employment once Daenerys sets all the slaves free.

N is for: Nissa Nissa, the wife of the hero Azor Ahai in legends.  According to followers of R’hollor (the Red God, the Lord of Light), Azor Ahai was chosen to fight the darkness blanketing the world, and in order to create the sword he needed, he sacrificed his wife Nissa Nissa, driving the blade through her heart so her soul melded with the steel.  Followers of R’hollor believe Azor Ahai will return to stand against the Others.

O is for: Osha, a wildling woman captured by the Starks during an assault on young Bran.  Although forced into servitude in exchange for her life, she formed a strong bond with the Stark children remaining in Winterfell, and along with Hodor and the direwolves, helped them escape a siege.

P is for: Podrick Payne.  Pod is a distant cousin of Ser Ilyn Payne and served as Tyrion Lannister’s squire.  At the Battle of the Blackwater, he intervened when a member of the Kingsguard attacked Tyrion.  As a result, Tyrion survived the assassination attempt, although he suffered a terrible wound to his face.

Q is for: Qyburn, a former maester stripped of his chains and title for performing unethical experiments on live patients.  He attends to Jaime Lannister’s severed limb at Harrenhal and then returns to King’s Landing with him.  After Ser Gregor Clegane, The Mountain, is gravely wounded fighting Prince Oberyn Martell, Qyburn conducts extensive experiments and possibly dark magic on the poisoned knight.

R is for: Ramsay Bolton, a former bastard of Roose Bolton known as Ramsay Snow.  He is a cruel sadist who enjoys hunting humans and the Bolton tradition of flaying enemies alive.  When the Boltons attack Winterfell, Ramsay takes Theon as his prisoner, renames him “Reek” after a former servant, and tortures him extensively.  After Ramsay’s wedding, which gives him a claim to Winterfell, King Tommen I grants a decree of legitimization to make Ramsay a Bolton.

S is for: Samwell Tarly, a member of the Night’s Watch and Jon Snow’s best friend.  He was forced to “take the black” by his father, who felt his timid oldest son did not deserve the position of inheritance.  With Jon’s support, Sam grows braver, and eventually earns the nickname Sam the Slayer after killing an Other with a piece of dragonglass.  Sam’s dream is to become a maester, and after Jon is made Lord Commander, he allows Sam—with Gilly and her baby—to leave for Oldtown to begin his studies.     

T is for: Tysha, a peasant girl saved from a group of men by Jaime and Tyrion Lannister.  A 13-year-old Tyrion fell in love with her and quickly married her.  When his father Tywin found out his son had married a crofter’s daughter, he instructed Jaime to lie to his brother, telling Tyrion she was a whore, paid to sleep with him; he then forced Tyrion to watch the guards gang rape her.  

  

U is for: the Unsullied, slaves chosen at a young age to train as soldiers in Astapor.  The Unsullied are treated brutally, castrated, and stripped of any individuality.  Those who survive become disciplined and highly skilled fighters.  While Daenerys is in Astapor, she buys every Unsullied from the slaver and then orders her new army to kill all the Good Masters and other supporters of the slave trade.

The baby dragons in a scene
from HBO's Game of Thrones

V is for: Viserion, one of the three dragons born from the eggs gifted to Daenerys for her wedding to Khal Drogo.  They hatch when Daenerys burns the eggs in Drogo’s funeral pyre in the Dothraki Sea.  Viserion is named for Viserys Targaryen, Daenerys’s older brother.  The ancient connection between House Targaryen and dragons dates back to the Doom of Valyria, which left only five dragons in existence—the five House Targaryen had brought to Dragonstone when they went into exile. 

W is for: Walder Frey, Lord of the Twins (also called the Crossing)—identical towers on either side of the Trident river connected by a stone bridge.  He is almost 90 years old and has many offspring, both legitimate and illegitimate.  A deal is struck to marry two Freys to Robb and Arya Stark when Robb Stark’s host requires the bridge during the War of the Five Kings, but Robb breaks his promise and marries another.  “The Red Wedding” is Frey’s revenge.  

  

X is for: Xanda Qo, a female warrior and princess who lived on the Summer Isles.  Once a slave herself, she put an end to the “Years of Shame” by uniting the islands under her rule and eventually ending slavery there.  Current lords from the Summer Isles attended Daenerys and Khal Drogo’s wedding, and dancers from the Summer Isles performed at the royal wedding of King Joffrey and Queen Margaery.

Y is for: the Yunkai’i, citizens of the city of Yunkai in Essos.  Yunkai sits on the coast of Slaver’s Bay and the Wise Masters participate in slave trade.  After Daenerys attacks and defeats Yunkai, she sets all the slaves free before continuing on to Meereen.

Z is for: Zamettar, a ruined city on the coast of Sothoryos, which is one of the four known continents in the A Song of Ice and Fire world (the others being Westeros, Essos, and Ulthos).  Nymeria, a Princess of the Rhoynar, led her people into exile after defeat by the Valyrian Freehold and settled briefly on Zamettar before continuing on to Dorne, where she married a Martell.  Their allied forces conquered the remainder of Dorne, and previous kings were sent to the wall.

There you have it, my A-Z wrap-up--hope you enjoyed!  See my first A-Z Game of Thrones Characters here for more.  And if you’re a fan of spooky suspense and steamy romance, grab one of my books to help pass the time to premier day!

SILVER LAKE – A haunting, an old flame, and secrets from the past…

GULL HARBOR – A dangerous ghost and an ex-boyfriend await Claire…

DIVINE FALL – (Young Adult) Revenge, Romance, and a Rogue Fallen Angel…

Sources: A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin and A Wiki of Ice and Fire. 

My Favorite #Books #AtoZChallenge #amreading

Welcome to my own version of April’s “A to Z Blog Challenge” – a list of 26 of my favorite books, connected as well as possible to the letters of the alphabet.  This is not really the way the blogging challenge is supposed to work, but I simply don’t have the time or stamina to post every day for 26 days.  So I’ve done similar posts in the past instead, focusing the past two years on A to Z Game of Thrones characters and places in anticipation of the spring premiers of the television show, but this year, much to my dismay, it won’t return until summer (plus, I’ve done it twice already—if you’re a fan of the shows or books, the links are here and here).  So here are some books that truly pulled me in and gave me hours of enjoyment—which is why I read, for pleasure.  Most genres are represented, since I read a fairly wide variety, but my preferences will probably be apparent to anyone perusing the list.  Hope you find a new book to try!

A is for:  A Song Of Ice And Fire series by George R. R. Martin (A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast for Crows, and A Dance with Dragons). The epic fantasy saga that inspired the television show, these novels are full of plot twists and turns, shocking developments, rich characters, medieval fantasy, and exotic places. The world-building alone is a staggering feat, and I anxiously await the next in the series.

B is for:  Belle Cora by Phillip Margulies.  I can't believe more people don't know about this book - I thought it was fantastic.  I'd never heard of it, either, so I found it by chance--I happened to walk by it propped up on a shelf as a recommendation at the library.  The cover grabbed my attention and the blurb did the rest.  This is the story of Arabella Godwin, a/k/a Belle Cora, a good girl who, through a series of misfortunes, falls from grace.  Set in the 1800s and loosely based on the life of a real madam, this book has everything: history, romance, secrets, suspense, betrayal, triumph, and tragedy.  It is long, which only makes it more epic in scope...I felt like I knew Belle intimately by the end.  And the research and attention to historical detail is evident throughout.  I learned quite a bit in the best way possible--immersed in an unputdownable book.  

C is for:  Chase, Eve – Black Rabbit Hall. This book, like The Lost Girls (also on the list) melds two stories: the lives, and tragedies, of the four Alton children as they spend a summer in the late 1960s at their Cornwall estate, nicknamed Black Rabbit Hall, and the implications of these past events on an engaged couple 30 years later.  Black Rabbit Hall is itself a compelling character, Gothic and atmospheric, a place where time seems suspended.  The prose is beautiful, the writer's voice unique, and the comparisons to Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier and several of Kate Morton's books are well-deserved in my opinion.

D is for:  The Drowning People by Richard Mason.  I read this years and years ago, and never forgot it. It was one of the few books that I could absolutely not put down. The spooky, atmospheric narrative mixed with psychological suspense and the history of an angst-ridden love affair keep me turning pages and ignoring my responsibilities until I was finished.

E is for:  Jane-Emily by Patricia Clapp.  One of my all-time favorites, this YA book is both a sweet romance and a spooky ghost story.  In fact, I would call this book a huge inspiration for my writing, as it's that combination of ghost story/love story that I find addictive.  My father brought Jane-Emily home from the library when I was around 8 years old, and I read it over and over, then requested it regularly when I needed my Jane-Emily fix.  A few years back, I purchased my own copy (finally!) from ebay and read it to my kids.  The ghost of 12-year-old Emily still delivers chills even after all these years as she unleashes her wrath on 9-year-old Jane--but of course the romance piece was there as well between the hunky Doctor and Jane's young aunt Louisa.

F is for:  Forever Amber by Kathleen Winsor.  As a fan of historical fiction and historical romance, I’m always on the lookout for new titles, and this one popped up as a Goodreads recommendation for me.  It was published in the 1940s, and actually banned in Boston due to some of the risqué subjects and scenes!  Set in 17^th century Restoration England, this is the story of a penniless and pregnant young girl who uses anything and everything she has at her disposal to climb the rungs of society and to pursue the man she wants.  Fascinating history and a flawed character add to the intrigue of the plot.  Often compared to Gone with the Wind, which is right below.

G is for:  Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell.  A classic.  Scarlett and Rhett are one of my favorite fictional couples.  I love Scarlett for being the anti-"Mary Sue": she's not very sympathetic, and she's certainly no saint (much like Amber, above).  She's feisty, selfish, and ruthless, but also strong, driven, and fearless.  Rhett can't help but love her.  Rhett can easily admit that he's no gentleman according to Southern society standards, but it soon becomes clear that he is a hero when it counts.  Their powerful story is set amongst the unraveling of a way of life in the south and the Civil War, as well as the aftermath.

H is for:  The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons.  It's difficult to put into words how much I loved this historical romance novel, as well as the second in the trilogy, Tatiana and Alexander.  I admit I had a few doubts when I began the first book--WWII-era Leningrad does not seem like the most romantic setting, and in fact, the things that happened once the Soviet Union entered the war were downright horrific.  But throughout the years, the struggle, and the horror, Tatiana and Alexander hold on to their love, even when separated.  My heart ached for what these characters went through, and Simons captures the brutal history with amazing accuracy while still delivering a poignant--and often steamy--love story. 

I is for:  Into the Wilderness by Sara Donati.  Historical romance recommended for fans of Outlander and The Tea Rose, two of my favorites.  The many and sometimes omniscient points-of-view keep the reader a little separated from the characters, but the descriptive language made me feel as though I could see every part of Paradise, Hidden Wolf, the brush, and Lake in the Clouds. A forbidden romance between an Englishwoman and a frontiersman raised by Native Americans, and great adventure in a New York settlement located in the rural wilderness of New York in the 1700s.

J is for:  JoAnn Ross -- Blue Bayou.  Bad boy Jack returns to his hometown to find his teenage love, Danielle, has also decided to make a life for herself back in Blue Bayou after the death of her husband.  The young lovers were torn apart once by tragedy, and past and present collide as secrets are revealed and connections are discovered, and this romantic suspense/contemporary romance is an entertaining beach read with a hot alpha hero who whispers Cajun terms of endearment.  I’m a big fan of reunion romances, a common element in many of my own novels, and this is one of my favorites.

K is for:  Katherine by Anya Seton.  Originally published in 1954, this is the historical account of the unlikely and forbidden love affair between Katherine Swynford and John of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster, in 14^th century England.  Their romance persisted through wars and uprisings, arranged marriages, and deadly plagues, despite not only these obstacles but also their vastly different stations in society.  An excellent account of a true story that impacted the royal lines of England forever.

L is for:  Landry, William – Defending Jacob.  Legal thrillers aren't always a go-to genre for me, but this one was an out-and-out page-turner that I literally could not put down.  I brought my Kindle to my son's baseball games so I could read a few pages between innings.  The story revolves around a lawyer defending his son against murder while not entirely convinced of his innocence.  The level of tension and uncertainty reminded me of Gone Girl.

M is for:  Madeleine’s Ghost by Robert Girardi.  One of my all-time favorites. The ultimate combination (for me) of ghost story, love story, mystery, and history, this novel moves between the gritty streets of a run-down neighborhood in Brooklyn and the steamy bayous of New Orleans.  A captivating mix of romance, history, and the paranormal, this book has it all: intrigue, mystery, secrets, star-crossed lovers, and a haunting.  Another title that served as inspiration for my own writing.

N is for:  Nora Roberts – Midnight Bayou.  Another mix of romance and ghosts, set in Louisiana.  I could not put this book down...literally.  I loved the New Orleans bayou setting and intertwining of past and present.  A sassy Cajun heroine and a hunky ex-lawyer-turned-carpenter embark on a passionate journey to uncover the dark secrets of Manet Hall. 

O is for:  Outlander by Diana Gabaldon.  The first book in the series that inspired the television show, this is one of my absolute favorites, with a mix of romance, history, and paranormal elements.  Time travel sweeps the heroine Claire Randall from 1945 to the Scottish Highlands of 1743, where she encounters Jamie Fraser, a young, fierce warrior with a sweet and innocent side.  When fate throws the Highlander into a more permanent relationships with Claire, a strong and competent combat nurse from the future, he nicknames her "Sassenach" - Outlander in his Celtic tongue.  I love everything about Jamie - his speech, his insight, his courage, and his protectiveness.  Claire is already married...but in another time and place.  The couple must face this conflict and many more in the dangerous and uncertain times of warring clans, political upheaval, and the Jacobite rebellions.

P is for:  The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett.  An epic historical fiction set in 12^th century feudal England.  The building of a cathedral is central to the plot, but there is drama, intrigue, betrayal, romance, war, religion, and royal affairs woven throughout, resulting in a suspenseful tale with characters that come to life.  Descendants of those characters populate the sequel, World Without End, which is set in the same town two centuries later and was also one of my favorites…and in doing this post, I discovered a third book in the series, titled A Column of Fire, will be coming out in the fall of 2017!

Q is for: the Quarantine series by Lex Thomas—The Loners, The Saints, The Burnouts, and The Giant—a YA dystopian thriller series described as "Lord of the Flies in a 21st century high school setting".  When a high school devolves into chaos following a military quarantine, survival becomes a desperate challenge.  With no adults left inside to fill the vacuum of authority, violent gangs form as social cliques band together to maintain strength in numbers.  But protagonist David Thorpe and his younger brother, Will, have been always been loners...and now, it's just the two of them against the rest of the students.  These young adult books had the added bonus of grabbing the attention of my two teenage boys and not letting go, and that’s saying something.  Both my kids could NOT put these books down, even my older reluctant reader.  In fact, when I packed the second in the series for him for our trip to London, he finished it in a few days and I had to download the next one and share my Kindle!  

R is for:  The Winter Rose by Jennifer Donnelly, the second book in The Tea Rose trilogy.  All three books are fantastic works of historical romance, and they can be read as stand-alones, although there are character connections that join them together.  The Winter Rose is my favorite, as I adored the main characters, India Selwyn-Jones and Sid Malone.  India, a naive but fearless young female doctor in 1900 England, encounters East London's crime lord Sid Malone as she tries to improve the lives of her poorest patients.  The obvious clash in their social stations is just one of many conflicts that work against these two damaged souls.  This amazing story takes the reader on an incredible journey as the characters fight to find their way back to each other.

S is for:  Smith, Wilbur – River God.  This is an older book, published in 1995, set in an even older time--Ancient Egypt, circa 2,000 BC.  This is the first book in Wilbur Smith's Ancient Egypt series, and I'm so glad a friend told me about it.  While I had my misgivings when I realized the entire story would be told in the first person Point of View by a eunuch slave, it worked really well, and the engaging narrator Taita was even able to bring the forbidden romance between Tanus and Lostris alive for me.  And while Taita is a literary "Mary Sue", the author knew what he was creating and he had fun with it.  Fair warning to animal lovers like myself—I almost put the book down because it begins with a graphic hippo hunt.  But I'm very glad I didn't. This novel really brought Ancient Egypt alive, and while I wouldn't call it "romance", there are several wonderful love stories woven into all the history, intrigue, and adventure.

T is for: the Twilight saga by Stephenie Meyer.  Yes, I admit it, I enjoyed these books.  Paranormal romance is one of my favorite genres, and I think Meyer is a gifted storyteller.  She created perfect conflict between the two main characters and wove in mystery, angst, and danger.  Edward is mysterious, witty, intelligent, but also a dangerous predator.  Already striving to be a "good" vampire, his love for Bella allows him to overcome his primal instincts.  Protective, polite, and ridiculously handsome, it's obvious why Bella falls for Edward.  It’s less obvious why Edward would fall for Bella, since her character is definitely a Mary Sue.  But Midnight Sun, the unpublished version of Twilight written from Edward's viewpoint, helps reveal the qualities in Bella that Edward treasures: selflessness, kindness, and loyalty. 

U is for:  Coal Run by Tawni O’Dell.  I love everything O’Dell writes, and this was the follow-up second novel to her breakout debut Back Roads.  Her stories usually offer a dark and gritty setting that becomes a character itself: a rural Pennsylvania coal mining town with little left to offer the families who gave their lives to the mines that sustained them for generations.  Against this backdrop, her stories weave past secrets, family drama, compelling characters, suspenseful mysteries, and the reverberations of local tragedies into beautifully written page-turners set against the struggling, and often dying, mining towns of Pennsylvania.  

V is for:  Valley of Bones by Michael Gruber, the second in the Jimmy Paz trilogy.  These books are so much more than typical police procedurals, and I was absolutely blown away by the first novel, Tropic of Night.  Valley of Bones didn’t disappoint, in fact, I think I tore through it even faster.  This thriller follows the Voodoo Murders case of Tropic of Night, and as Paz investigated a new death, the backstory of the main suspect—her “confession”—takes the reader on a compelling, exciting, and gut-wrenching journey.  There are touches of the paranormal in these books, but obviously, I embrace that, and it’s done very well.  Night of the Jaguar is the third in the series, and I enjoyed that one a great deal as well. 

W is for:  Whitney My Love by Judith McNaught.  A very well-known historical romance that became the second in the Westmoreland series, although this one was published first.  The arrogant and dashing Duke of Claymore wants Whitney for himself...yet she wants Paul, her childhood love.  For me, this story paralleled some of the relationship conflicts in Gone with the Wind, but this novel is set in 1800s England.  Certain scenes in the story are controversial, but that is part of what made these characters feel so real - they are flawed.  They make terrible mistakes.  And the emotions I felt throughout the story - my heart actually hurt at some points.  The sexual tension had me turning pages well into the night, desperately hoping Whitney and Clayton would get their happy ending.

X is for:  Lexicon by Max Barry.  This novel was recommended by several people I trust--otherwise, I'm not sure I would have tried it, based on the blurb describing a school that teaches the 'art of persuasion'.  But, these readers share my passion for certain other books, and their excitement had me interested.  And then the first page of Lexicon had me hooked.  This book is so much more than the description can even attempt to cover.  It's a page-turning thriller with dark humor, crisp dialog, powerful romance, ancient mystery, and a frightening look at the possibilities that arise from a dependence on technology and the ease of data collection.

Y is for:  Young, Heather – The Lost Girls.  Parallel stories unfold in this beautiful blend of historical fiction, literary fiction, and suspense.  A little girl's disappearance from the family's summer lake house in 1935 is never solved.  But in her final year of life, one of the girl's older sisters records the story in a journal, which she leaves, along with the house, to her grandniece, Justine.  As Justine fights her own demons by seeking refuge in the remote house on a Minnesota lake, we slowly learn the details of that fateful summer.  This haunting novel captured my attention immediately and kept me turning the pages.  A poignant and captivating debut.

Z is for:  Wizard and Glass by Stephen King (Book #4 in The Dark Tower series).  First off, I should say many SK books rank as my favorites, and this one is representing the group because it’s my favorite one in King’s The Dark Tower series, which begins with The Gunslinger.  This epic high fantasy series portrays a memorable cast of characters on a quest to find The Dark Tower, complete with touches of the spine-tingling horror King is known for.  The journey through this world, which has "moved on", takes readers through bleak landscapes, deserted cities, desolate beaches, and magical spots that connect to our own world.  Wizard and Glass carries us back to Roland’s past and offers key insight into his motivation, but it also tells the story of his lost love, Susan Delgado.  There were so many exciting scenes and shocking twists in Wizard and Glass, and although the first book in the series can be a little challenging to get into, it’s worth taking the time to go on this journey.    

A #Supernatural Binge - How was I not watching this?

Admittedly, I don't watch all that much TV, because I often just don't have the time (or patience) to get into a new show.  Reading is my #1 favorite pastime, and then I have to find time to write, then there are the other part-time jobs and of course family members and pets who want attention.  But I do have some favorite shows that I always make time for (or at least time to DVR episodes for later), and they usually involve the things I like best: some romance, hot heroes, some paranormal elements or magic, and plenty of conflict and tension.  I've blogged about several that fit the bill:  Outlander, Vikings, Game of Thrones, The Vampire Diaries, Reign, etc.  In addition, I'm a big fan of spooky movies.

So when a friend recently found out I didn't watch Supernatural, she couldn't believe it.  She had just recently begun watching it, and she suggested I do the same, but I resisted at first.  Too busy to try another show, I decided.  But she convinced me (and made me laugh) by telling me that it was like a "show designed specifically for me".  She went on to say that if a group of writers got together and said, "Okay, how can make the perfect show for this woman who loves hot guys, ghosts, Nephilim, demons, and other paranormal mysteries?", the result would be something like this show.  How could I resist that pitch?

Jensen Ackles as Dean Winchester

Well, she was right.  I love it.  I'm only on the first season, but Dean Winchester already has my heart.  (I also enjoyed the actor, Jensen Ackles, on Days of Our Lives, but Dean is a much better character than Eric, even if he was a Brady!)  Don't get me wrong, Sam's cute as well...but I'm definitely Team Dean.  Aside from just looks, I absolutely love the actor's facial expressions and the character's personality.

So far the early part of the show has been heavy on ghosts and spirits, which is absolutely my thing, and I'm enjoying the chemistry between the brothers as they begin to work together to find their father.  There's some strong motivation for what they're doing (which is important to me as a writer), since their mother and then Jessica were killed by an evil entity.  In addition, they want to find their father and battle any evil they encounter along the way (take up the family business of "hunting").

Two hot hunters!  Dean and Sam Winchester

I especially enjoyed the "Dead in the Water" episode, as the entire premise followed a theme I often use in my novels: a desperate spirit, unable to rest, seeking...something.  I won't say what here, to avoid spoilers.  But the ghost has motivation as well, as opposed to just haunting/killing for no reason beyond a creepy plot device.

In a few other funny coincidences, the hero of my current manuscript is named Dean.  And I also remembered another tie I have to the show when I began watching...when writing Divine Fall, my Young Adult paranormal romance, I had to come up with some rules about angels and Nephilim (half-angels, half-humans), and my "research" led me to a post about an episode of Supernatural. That post led me to seek more information on an ancient perfume used by Egyptians that supposedly could kill an angel, and eventually the substance, qeres, became part of my plot.  So I look forward to a future episode where Dean and Sam tackle some bad angels (I think it's S4), and to 11 more seasons of my new favorite show!

#Books for Boys~ Teen Version Upper #YA #amreading

My younger son, attempting
to read while standing up
on the crowded tube in
London (the A Song of Ice
and Fire series)

Hands down, my absolute favorite pastime is reading...even more so than writing.  I've literally never been bored in my life, thanks to my love of reading, and things like waits in airports and doctors' offices make me happy, because it's an excuse to read.  I've done my best to instill my love of reading in my kids, but it hasn't always been easy.  It requires a bit of work on my part, in terms of searching out the type of books that capture their attention fast, and that can actually compete with all the technology available to kids today.  But I'm up for the challenge!

My first Books for Boys post (written in 2014, when my boys were 12 and 15), was so popular, in terms of hits, that I followed it with More Books for Boys a few months later.  Now, my kids are 15 and 18 (how did that happen?), so I thought I'd write about a few other series that have been favorites of my sons in the past few years.  Both boys are very picky, one because he's a reluctant reader, and the other because he's such an avid reader, with an author for a mother, that he's able to quickly vocalize things he doesn't like...i.e., he'll tell me there's no hook, the pace is too slow, etc. -- what can I say to that?  Those are all valid complaints, and I can't argue that he's at least picked up some of the topics I teach in my writing classes.  So hopefully these suggestions will work for other teenage boys looking for page-turning entertainment!  Fair warning, though...like me, my boys appreciate some pulse-pounding, life-or-death action, as well as some scary scenes that up the stakes for the characters.  Younger teens or those who don't like that sort of thing might want to avoid the scarier titles.

The Loners (Book 1 of The Quarantine series) by Lex Thomas: a YA dystopian thriller series described as "Lord of the Flies in a 21st century high school setting".  When a high school devolves into chaos following a military quarantine, survival becomes a desperate challenge.  With no adults left inside to fill the vacuum of authority, violent gangs form as social cliques band together to maintain strength in numbers.  But protagonist David Thorpe and his younger brother, Will, have been always been loners...and now, it's just the two of them against the rest of the students.

My kids could NOT put these books down, even my older reluctant reader.  In fact, when I packed the second in the series for him for our trip to London, he finished it in a few days and I had to download the next one and share my Kindle!  Comparisons have been made to popular YA novels The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner, and Gone, so any fans of those books might want to give this series a try!  The books are: The Loners, The Saints, The Burnouts, and the latest release, The Giant.

These covers alone are super creepy!

Lockdown (Book 1 of Escape from Furnace series) by Alexander Gordon Smith: another survival-type thriller, this time set in a hellish prison for teen offenders called Furnace.  There are many terrors lurking in the prison, and when the protagonist Alex realizes justice will not help save him from this nightmare, he devises an escape plan--but the secrets he learns about the Furnace soon put him in even more danger.  Fast-paced action and enough scares to keep readers engaged.  Books in the series include Lockdown, Solitary, Death Sentence, Fugitives, and Execution.  

There have been a few different covers
for these amazing books

A Game of Thrones (Book 1 in the A Song of Ice and Fire series) by George R.R. Martin: *not* a YA series, but the inspiration for the very popular HBO show featuring the dark high fantasy series filled with amazing characters, dramatic plot twists, epic battles, and unrelenting action in the quest not just for power and control, but for human survival as well.  

As I mentioned, this is not a YA series, and there is heavy subject matter and scenes with sex and violence.  Unfortunately, actual history is filled with similar incidents, so we use these topics as a springboard for conversation (for example, the main plot is loosely based on The Wars of the Roses in England). So, yes, I let my teens watch the show, which certainly employs some racy scenes.  But there are only a few things my two teen boys want to do with me, and watching the show based on books I raved about is one of them.  The show veered away from the books in a number of very significant ways, so I mentioned they might want to read the novels to not only see what happens in the books, but to discover plot points, backstories, and characters that never made it into the show.  This worked on my younger son, and he tore through all five huge novels, and now we both anxiously await the sixth.  The books are: A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast for Crows, and A Dance with Dragons.  These books were also part of my annual "Favorites Books" post for 2012.

The Gunslinger (Book 1 in The Dark Tower series) by Stephen King: Another epic high fantasy series with a memorable cast of characters on a quest to find The Dark Tower, complete with touches of the spine-tingling horror King is known for.  The journey through this world, which has "moved on", takes readers through bleak landscapes, deserted cities, desolate beaches, and magical spots that connect to our own world.  While my kids haven't read these yet, almost everyone I know who has liked Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire has also enjoyed The Dark Tower.  It's now being made into a movie, so I've purchased the first book to get them started before it comes out.

So there you have it, what my teens have been reading this past year.  Feel free to add your own suggestions in comments below!
  

A Bit of Zombie History - Zombies #TWD #TheWalkingDead

My books, while romance, almost always also deal with a ghost--the spirit of a being who has passed away, yet can appear or communicate in ways similar to a living person.  In essence, an incorporeal (without a physical body) version of the undead.  But in fiction and legend, there are also many examples of physical manifestations of the undead: vampires, mummies, wights, and of course, zombies.

These zombies want a piece of Rick Grimes
The Walking Dead

I'm a fan of all things paranormal, and I've been watching The Walking Dead since the very first episode aired on October 31, 2010 - Halloween.  Fans of the show (or the comic series, on which the show is based) know the zombies on TWD are referred to as "walkers".  There are also zombie-like creatures on another show I love, Game of Thrones.  This show is of course based on the amazing novels in the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin.  In Westeros, beyond the Wall, a zombie-like race known as wights wait to attack those with warm blood.  The wights are dead humans or animals who have been raised back up by the Others, an inhuman race also lurking beyond the Wall.  The Others, or White Walkers, are ancient humanoid beings associated with cold whose only weakness appears to be dragonglass.

Wights in ASOIAF can be easily
recognized by their bright blue eyes
Game of Thrones

The fictional (hopefully!) nature of zombies allows an author to decide how these already-dead creatures can be destroyed.  In TWD, the walkers' reanimated brains must receive another fatal blow.  It takes fire to stop a wight in ASOIAF. 

The book credited
with introducing
"zombi" into US speech

This fictional nature also allows for various interpretations of what a zombie is, but the general definition is a reanimated corpse with an appetite for human flesh.  In Haitian folklore, the reanimation is due to some type of magic, such as witchcraft.  During the U.S. Occupation of Haiti (1915-1934), more people became aware of the idea of zombies after apparent case histories emerged.  The journalist, explorer, occultist, and cannibal William Seabrook traveled through Haiti in the late 1920s, and he recorded a sensationalistic version of his experiences involving Haitian Vodue (Voodoo).  The book, The Magic Island, was published in 1929 and is credited by Time Magazine with the introduction of the word "zombi" to Western culture. 



One of the most famous zombie movies, Night of the Living Dead (1968), did not even use the term zombie at all.  The reanimated corpses were referred to as "ghouls" in the screenplay.  One of the writers of this cult classic, George A. Romero, admits basing the screenplay on the novel I Am Legend, by Richard Matheson (a great book and a recent movie as well!)  In I Am Legend, the infected beings lurking around the last human's house are referred to as vampires, not zombies.  But the general idea of a battle for human survival in an apocalyptic scenario has become very popular, which brings us back to The Walking Dead.  This group of survivors struggles daily not just to stay alive, but to maintain their humanity after society has crumbled.

There are too many novels and films featuring zombies to discuss here, but I hope you enjoyed a little history on the undead.  If you'd like to try some undead suspense in the form of a spooky ghost story (mixed with steamy romance!), download a copy of GULL HARBOR or SILVER LAKE.  The characters face a haunted house, not a zombie apocalypse, but the plot twists, dangerous secrets, and chilling messages from desperate spirits should make your pulse pound a little faster!     

A #RosemarysBaby Remake - #paranormal postings

I'm a fan of almost everything paranormal, so I'll be interested to see the new remake of Rosemary's Baby on Sunday night.  I never saw the original movie, but I did read the book as well as the sequel, and the promo for the show brought me back to my initial reactions to the first and second Ira Levin novels about the Woodhouse family.  Warning - spoilers from the books ahead!

Somehow, the original Rosemary's Baby never made it onto my radar, despite my lifelong reading addiction.  I have always loved books dealing with the supernatural (especially ghost stories), and spooky material is fine by me (one of my all-time favorite movies is The Exorcist).  Perhaps I never discovered it because it was published before I was born. 



But a sequel, Son of Rosemary, came out in 1997.  I promptly purchased it, along with the original.  The first book, Rosemary's Baby, was an absolute page-turner for me.  When it was published in 1967, it sold over 4 million copies to become the top bestselling horror movie of the 1960s.  Rosemary's Baby is about a couple, Rosemary and Guy Woodhouse, who move into a New York City apartment building called the Bramford, despite dire warnings that suggest the Bramford has a history involving witchcraft and murder.

Their new neighbors, Minnie and Roman Castevet, appear overly welcoming, and Guy begins spending a lot of time in their apartment.  In no small coincidence, Guy's main rival at work suddenly meets with tragedy, and Guy advances to a lead role in a play.

Eventually, Rosemary comes to believe Minnie and Roman are the leaders of a Satanic Cult intent on stealing the baby growing inside her.  No one will listen to her wild theories, though--including her husband.  In the end, Rosemary discovers Guy is not even the father of her baby--she is carrying the Antichrist, implanted and nurtured by the acts of the coven.

I couldn't put this book down, but the sequel, Son of Rosemary, disappointed me--especially the ending.  In this novel, Rosemary awakens after spending 26 years in a coma, brought on by the coven when they discovered she planned to remove her baby, Andy, from their influence.  In her absence, Andy was raised by Minnie and Roman.  He's now 33, which happens to correlate to the age Jesus was said to be when he died.  In other biblical connections, Andy has 12 assistants, similar to the disciples, and a girlfriend (making the number of close supporters 13 - see this post for more info on the significance).

Andy runs a foundation, which appears to have altruistic goals but is in fact a front for Andy's plan to end the world.  The part that really got to me was the very end, when Rosemary "wakes up" back in 1965 to discover the entire saga, including the whole first novel, was only a dream.  I truly hate endings like that, and I was furious that Levin had essentially negated the original book.

However, there are a few hints that Rosemary's dream could be a warning vision of her future.  It is set up in such a way that perhaps we the readers can see she will eventually find herself living out the events of her nightmare.

But then, does the cycle repeat?  There is one anagram that is constantly repeated in Son of Rosemary: "Roast Mules".  Levin has never revealed what the answer to the puzzle is, but he has stated it is a word most 5-year-old children would know.  Guesses include "somersault", "soul master", or "almost sure"...a possible allusion to the ending.

The original movie starred Mia Farrow, and Levin dedicated the novel Son of Rosemary to the actress.  Since I never saw that one, I think I'll try the NBC series just to see what it's like.  And if it conflicts with Game of Thrones, well, thank goodness for DVRs, because I need my GoT fix on Sunday nights!

If you enjoy paranormal reads mixed with romance, try SILVER LAKE or GULL HARBOR...both are ghost stories combined with steamy romance, and I promise the ending is not "it was all a dream"!