Playing catch up (again!) so here are a bunch:

Under “Mystery” (though there’s also a lot of romance in this cozy): Lost Souls ParaAgency and the Three Witches of Burberry (yes, long title!) – a 5 sparkler fun paranormal romantic cozy mystery. Lots going on in this one, but it’s all good.

In “Romance” (though it could go under mystery too!) – a 4 Sparkler “Undercover in Venice Beach” – confusing for me at first, but the ending is definitely worth the read.

In “Fantasy” – Empire of Air and Shadow by C.A. Masterson – a 4 Sparkler. I would have given it a 5, but it doesn’t have an ending. It’s a serialized book so the story continues in the next book. But very well-written.

In non-fiction: Fast Metabolism Weight Loss Diet Plan by Megan Johnson McCullough – 5 sparklers for this diet cookbook. Great tips and recipes here.

And in Teresa’s Movie/Book Tie-ins: two new ones for you to enjoy: “Love from a Stranger” and “The Incredible Theft”

Birthdays: Robert Heinlein (1907), Nikki Giovanni (1943), Harriet Ziefert (1941)

Tip: Hooks keep a reader reading, keeps them turning the pages. They answer the questions: who, what, why, when, where, how. They should pull your reader in and keep them interested. They’re especially a good way to end a chapter.

Thought for the day: “If you describe things as better than they are, you are considered to be a romantic; if you describe things as worse than they are, you will be called a realist; and if you describe things exactly as they are, you will be thought of as a satirist.” – Quentin Crisp

Jumpstart: Your character is a straight-laced good girl, but now she has to do something out of character – strip, or commit a crime, or hurt someone. What does she have to do and why? How does she react?