Birthdays: Joseph P. Lash (1909), Dan Jenkins (1929), Leon Litwack (1929), David H. Fisher (1935), David Macaulay (1946), Elizabeth Berg (1948), T.C. Boyle (1948), George Saunders (1958), Ann Patchett (1963)

Joseph Lash won the National Book Award and Pulitzer for Biography for his works on Eleanor Roosevelt.

Leon Litwack won an American Book Award and Pulitzer Prize for History for “Been in the Storm So Long: The Aftermath of Slavery”

David H. Fisher won the 2005 Pulitzer for History for “Washington’s Crossing”

Quotes: “I’ve loved books and reading from the time my mother began reading to me, and I’ve loved writing ever since I could hold a pencil.” – Elizabeth Berg

“I think people become consumed with selling a book when they need to be consumed with writing it.” – Ann Patchett

“Making books is hard work. Some books are, of course, more demanding than others.” – David Macaulay

“But then, that’s the beauty of writing stories—each one is an exploratory journey in search of a reason and a shape. And when you find that reason and that shape, there’s no feeling like it.” – T.C. Boyle

“Fiction is a kind of compassion-generating machine that saves us from sloth. Is life kind or cruel? Yes, Literature answers. Are people good or bad? You bet, says Literature.” – George Saunders

Tip: A rejection is not personal. As in The Godfather, “It’s not personal, Sonny. It’s strictly business.” And that’s what a rejection is. It’s a business decision by a publisher who doesn’t think they can work with your manuscript. It’s not you.

Jumpstart: If someone had asked her to predict what would happen that day, she probably wouldn’t have guessed that it involved the destruction of the world by strange supernatural forces, and that she was now on her way to fight them. How had this happened to her?

BUCK ME by Andrew Grey

Fiction, Gay Contemporary Romance, 251 pages

4****

Blurb: Emmett McElroy is the cowboy horses hate. When his heir apparent brother dies and his father has a heart attack, he does his duty and steps up as head of the family ranch, but he wishes things were different and his life choices were his own. Just when he begins to get his legs under him, he arrives home to find his high school crush has been hired as ranch foreman. Ex-rodeo cowboy Nathaniel Zachary desperately needs work. When Mrs. McElroy offers him a job while her husband recovers, he jumps at it. The only issue is Emmett… because Nathaniel has never been able to get his best friend’s brother out of his mind. Tensions only increase when, after drowning his sorrows, Emmett foolishly agrees to enter a bucking bronc contest at the local rodeo. The attraction that grows as Nathaniel helps prepare Emmett for the contest is something neither of them expected, but as Emmett’s father’s health improves, the happiness they’ve built may break faster than a cowboy thrown from the meanest bronc.

Thoughts: This was a good read. There are numerous moments (the horses constantly biting Emmet), tense ones, romantic ones, and more. The setting is well-done and the characters realistic. The author puts me right there, on the ranch, with Emmet. His frustration with his family comes across perfectly and I love the way he finally sends a very strong message to his mother that he is gay and will not have her continue to throw women at him. The relationship between Emmet and Nate grows through their continued working together and blossoms into real romance. There is some heat, but not over the top for this story.

Recommendation: Recommended.

Disclaimer: Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

SECRET GUNKLE by Andrew Grey

Fiction, Contemporary Holiday Romance, LGBTQ, 78 pages

4****

Blurb: Veterinary student Dutton Glenroth isn’t on speaking terms with his sister, Mary, but he isn’t about to let his niece and nephew suffer because of it. He knows they have very little, so for the holidays, he makes up a basket of gifts for them and leaves it outside their door.   But the kids are getting older, and this year Dutton finds it difficult to pick out their gifts. When he asks for help at Foster’s Toys, he runs into Randy Grant, his high school crush, who even volunteers to wrap and deliver the gifts with Dutton. Suddenly Dutton’s normally lonely holiday has a spark of Christmas cheer. Will this be the year he gets the holiday he’s always longed for?

Thoughts: This was a cute short novella centered around Christmas. Dutton is a sweet character who helps out at a veterinary office and shelter. He’s always been a shy type and when Randy, his high school crush, comes into his life, he’s not sure why such a hunk would be bothering with him. But Randy has always liked quiet Dutton. The two get together and turn Dutton’s lonely holiday into one he’ll always remember. 

The only thing I wish? That this had been a longer story so that something got resolved with Dutton’s sister. But that’s a minor issue. The romance was sweet, and gave you a feel-good ending that satisfied.

Disclaimer: Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

MURDEROUS MEANS by Lida Sideris

Fiction, Mystery, 315 pages

4****

Blurb: Corrie Locke may not be the best rookie lawyer in town, but when it comes to catching a killer, let’s just say, she’s got enough skills to bring a band of shifty-eyed suspects to their knees. When the wealthy matriarch of the dysfunctional Means family dies in her sleep, Corrie’s hired to prove the death was anything but peaceful. Problem is, the only evidence she has to go on is a half-baked psychic vision that the matriarch was murdered. To put the matter to rest, Corrie sets her sights on proving the psychic’s a fraud. After all, everyone knows psychics are crack-pots. But what should be a simple investigation morphs into something deadly. The deeper Corrie digs, the more bizarre truths are revealed. Tempers rise as she trails a cunning killer who will do whatever it takes to shut the investigation down before the real truth comes to light. It’s up to Corrie to catch a killer… who’s about to strike again.

Thoughts: There is a lot going on in this murder mystery. At first, P.I. Corrie Locke isn’t even sure there was a murder, but as she delves deeper into the death of the oldest member of the Means family—a family I certainly do not want to be a member of! Talk about sibling rivalry! I loved how Corrie gets her partner Michael to come across as a psychic through subterfuge and logic. There are so many twists and turns—and suspects to this story, I was kept guessing until the very end. Unlike most cozy mysteries, the sleuth in this one is actually a P.I. And she has a good relationship with the cops. 

Recommendation: Recommended. This one will keep you guessing until the end. Nicely done.

Disclaimer: Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Recently I was asked why I’m closing down the Sparkling Book Reviews blog site. That’s a very good question. I mean, I have several hundred followers and subscribers, and I get requests all the time from authors who want reviews and/or spotlights. So why close down a seemingly successful site? The easy answer is time. The harder answer is…time.

You see, I have two blogs: the Sparkling site and my personal author website where I have a blog about all things author-ish. Coming up with two daily blogs along with double Facebook pages, double email accounts, double postings, double the money spent on the sites, and more has become onerous. Plus, I have all those books to read and review. Plus, my own writing. Plus, life outside… It all boils down to time. 

I am not quitting blogging. I’m just condensing and moving things around. I will continue to blog on my personal site and pages and continue to review and spotlight authors there, but having just one site will offer me the opportunity to maybe breathe a little. I don’t often get the chance to check out other author sites and maybe I can now. Or maybe I can finish that crochet project that’s been sitting on my table staring at me. Or write my next book. Or just watch the world go by. I haven’t done that in a long time. 

Some people may call it burnout, and maybe that’s what it is. There is so much to take care of when you’re an author—you need to tweet, FaceBook, BlueSky, Instagram, InstaBook, etc. Sometimes it all just becomes overwhelming. Plus, I’m not getting any younger! (Who is, besides Dorian Grey?) I am into my seventh decade and want time to enjoy friends and family more. I recently had a health scare (I’m okay) and took a hard look at my life as it is now. My husband and I moved into a retirement community and other residents are often inviting me to join them in this or that activity, and maybe now I can.

So why am I closing down a popular site? To give myself time. Something that is slipping away faster than I want. I will still be around, just at a different spot. I’m not quitting completely, just stepping back to take a breath – something we all need to do once in a while. Meanwhile, it’s a beautiful fall day outside. Think I’ll go take a walk. How ‘bout you? 

(Note: this article first appeared on the WordWrangler’s site on October 30)

Birthdays: Eugene Ionesco (1909), Frederik Pohl (1919), Charles Schulz (1922), Marilynne Robinson (1943), David Poyer (1949), Jonathan Weiner (1953), Vicki Petterson (1971), James Dashner (1972)

Frederik Pohl is best known for his science fiction novels. He won four Hugo and three Nebula Awards.

Charles Schulz is best known for his “Peanuts” cartoons

Marilynne Robinson won the 1995 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for “Gilead”

Jonathan Weinger won the 1995 Pulitzer Prize for Nonfiction for “The Beak of the Finch”

Quote: “If you grit your teeth and show real determination, you’ll always have a chance.” – Charles Schultz

“A writer never has a vacation. For a writer, life consists of either writing or thinking about writing.” – Eugene Ionesco

Tip: Surprise the reader. If you find yourself bogged down in a scene, figure out something that would not only surprise (and upset) your character, but your reader as well.

Jumpstart: “I really care about you and when you care about someone, you can’t lie…”

Birthdays: Leonard Woolf (1880), Joseph Wood Krutch (1893), Helen H. Santmeyer (1895), Ba Jin (1904), P.D. Eastman (1909), Poul Anderson (1926), William McIlvanney (1936), Shelagh Delaney (1938), Marc Brown (1945), Charlaine Harris (1951), Arturo Perez-Reverte (1951), Cresent Dragonwagon (1952), Mark Frost (1953), Jandy Nelson (1965)

Joseph Krutch won the 1955 National Book Award for Nonfiction for “The Measure of Man”

Poul Anderson won seven Hugo and three Nebula Awards for his science fiction.

Marc Brown is best known for his series “Arthur”

Quote: “Here’s to books, the cheapest vacation you can buy.” – Charlaine Harris

Tip: Do you have special abilities or interests (beyond writing)? Use those in a story. Your expertise will give your characters and setting more depth.

Jumpstart: I sat in the audience, totally amazed… (describe what you’re seeing, hearing, the audience, the auditorium, everything)

THE MYSTERY WRITER by Sulari Gentill

Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, 400 pages

4****

Blurb: There’s nothing easier to dismiss than a conspiracy theory―until it turns out to be true. 
When Theodosia Benton abandons her career path as an attorney and shows up on her brother’s doorstep with two suitcases and an unfinished novel, she expects to face a few challenges. Will her brother support her ambition or send her back to finish her degree? What will her parents say when they learn of her decision? Does she even have what it takes to be a successful writer? What Theo never expects is to be drawn into a hidden literary world in which identity is something that can be lost and remade for the sake of an audience. When her mentor, a highly successful author, is brutally murdered, Theo wants the killer to be found and justice to be served. Then the police begin looking at her brother, Gus, as their prime suspect, and Theo does the unthinkable in order to protect him. But the writer has left a trail, a thread out of the labyrinth in the form of a story. Gus finds that thread and follows it, and in his attempt to save his sister he inadvertently threatens the foundations of the labyrinth itself. To protect the carefully constructed narrative, Theo Benton, and everyone looking for her, will have to die.  USA Today bestselling author Sulari Gentill takes readers on a rollercoaster ride in The Mystery Writer, a literary thriller that turns the world of books and authors upside down and where a writer’s voice is a thing to be controlled and weaponized, to the peril of everyone who loves a good story.

Thoughts: Wow. This was definitely not what I was expecting. It was much more. First of all, it’s a thriller, not a cozy mystery. The main character, Theo, sometimes comes across as naïve and meek, but by the end, she has grown into a stronger person. I loved the character of Mac, and Gus wasn’t too bad either. And the dog, Horse, was adorable. The plot was at times a little confusing, but did work out in the end. In fact, the end surprised me a little, but in a very good way. It’s definitely not the kind of work I usually read, but I’m glad I did. It was very different and intriguing.

Recommendation: Recommended.

Disclaimer: Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

FEEL GOOD PRODUCTIVITY by Ali Abdaal

Nonfiction, Self-help, Time Management, 288 pages

4****

Blurb: The secret to productivity isn’t discipline. It’s joy. We think that productivity is all about hard work. That the road to success is lined with endless frustration and toil. But what if there’s another way? Dr Ali Abdaal – the world’s most-followed productivity expert – has uncovered an easier and happier path to success. Drawing on decades of psychological research, he has found that the secret to productivity and success isn’t grind – it’s feeling good. If you can make your work feel good, then productivity takes care of itself. In this revolutionary book, Ali reveals how the science of feel-good productivity can transform your life. He introduces the three hidden ‘energisers’ that underpin enjoyable productivity, the three ‘blockers’ we must overcome to beat procrastination, and the three ‘sustainers’ that prevent burnout and help us achieve lasting fulfillment. He recounts the inspiring stories of founders, Olympians, and Nobel-winning scientists who embody the principles of Feel-Good Productivity. And he introduces the simple, actionable changes that you can use to achieve more and live better, starting today. Armed with Ali’s insights, you won’t just accomplish more. You’ll feel happier and more fulfilled along the way.

Thoughts: This book is by a doctor who has a YouTube site that also promotes the information found here. The author has a light, easy style that keeps you engaged and entertained while providing good information. Is it all something new? No. But… he shows it with anecdotes that help put the point across without being lecturing or dry. I especially liked the one comment “Life is stressful. Play makes it fun.” Yes, a lot of us get stuck in ruts with our daily lives, but he gives us ways to maybe make the rut a little less muddy.

Recommendation: Recommended.

Disclaimer: Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”