Favorite Novels from 2012

My Goodreads bookshelf shows that I read 126 books in 2012. That’s up 19 from the previous year, which surprised me since I’d assumed, at the beginning of 2012, that I’d read less. But, with all those books, only (7) were marked FAVORITE. To receive *Favorite* status, they must combine captivating story, rich prose, complex-authentic-believable characters, and true-to-life dialogue. In addition, all …

A Christmas Smorgasbord of Novels, Part Two

Hopefully, in Part One you found a title or two that satisfied your taste. And today I’m offering a taste of more excellent novels from even more genres. Make sure you stop by next Tuesday, December 4, for additional recommendations. Romance: MY STUBBORN HEART by Becky Wade – Not your typical romance. I love the authentic characters in this novel! …

Fabulous Fall Fiction – Plus Book Giveaway!

*For Book Giveaway – Read post then see details below* It’s no secret that I’m a picky reader. For me to completely enjoy a novel, it has to have the perfect storm of intelligent prose, believable dialogue, intriguing story, authentic characters, and a satisfying–does not equate to happy–ending. So far in 2012 I’ve read 111 books and of those only …

My ACFW Conference To-Do List

It’s hard to believe in just two days I’ll be heading to Dallas. It’s an exciting time and a nerve-wracking time. I can’t wait to see all my friends again: my fellow bloggers from Inkspirational Messages, my critique partners, Shannon Vannatter and Lorna Seilstad, and all the other authors I’ve friended thanks to the Internet. And, of course, I’ll make …

Novel Recommendation – September 2012, Part 1

September is typically a crazy month for me. The kids go back to school, my husband has two conferences, I have one conference, we celebrate a handful of birthdays and anniversaries… Somewhere in there, I have to find time to read as so many good books are coming out. So many, in fact, that I need two weeks to talk …