Books and Authors
5-Stars for “SEAL of Honor” by Tonya Burrows – Book Review
It’s a good thing Gabe Bristow lives and breathes the Navy SEAL credo, “the only easy day was yesterday,” because today, his life is unrecognizable. When his prestigious career comes to a crashing halt, he’s left with a bum leg and few prospects for employment that don’t include a desk.
That is, until he’s offered the chance to command a private hostage rescue team and free a wealthy American businessman from Colombian paramilitary rebels. It seems like a good deal—until he meets his new team: a drunk Cajun linguist, a boy-genius CIA threat analyst, an FBI negotiator with mob ties, a cowboy medic, and an EOD expert as volatile as the bombs he defuses. Oh, and who could forget the sexy, frustratingly impulsive Audrey Van Amee? She’s determined to help rescue her brother—or drive Gabe crazy. Whichever comes first.
As the death toll rises, Gabe’s team of delinquents must figure out how to work together long enough to save the day. Or, at least, not get themselves killed.Because Gabe’s finally found something worth living for, and God help him if he can’t bring her brother back alive.
My Review:
Gabriel “Gabe” Bristow met unconventional and sassy Audrey Van Amee, during Team Hornet’s attempt to save her kidnapped brother. Under the best of circumstances, their pairing would have been unlikely because they ran in different circles and lived in different countries. SEAL of Honor (Hornet) added the stress of putting together a new private hostage rescue team, in a politically volatile environment, to Gabe’s already full plate.
Audrey was an unusual leading lady, because she lived the life of a successful artist in Costa Rica and only became involved, when her brother was kidnapped. She did not have a history of dating military or ex-military men, but the chemistry between Audrey and Gabe was palpable from the moment they met. She gave Gabe no quarter, and while it may have irritated him on several occasions, it was her strength of character, conviction and love that broke down his barriers. Through Audrey, Gabe saw himself in a different light, and began to embrace his post-Navy career and new team. I only wish there had been more and longer intimate scenes between Audrey and Gabe. This did not take away from the plot of the book, however. The pacing was appropriate for a romantic suspense novel.
Tonya Burrows rounded out the cast, with the most ragtag team of strong, sexy, independent alpha men, I have seen assembled in a while – think Hogan’s Heroes for a new generation. As the first novel in her new HORNET series, Ms. Burrows gave the reader a glimpse into the relationships that began to develop among the eight men selected for this unique group. We were able to see why each man was chosen, and a tiny peek into his past. Each member of HORNET will have his place in the sun. (I was intrigued by Travis Quinn, the defacto-XO of the group, and hope Ms. Burrows plans to write his story next. Quinn had everything I love about former military men, especially a tortured past and an inflexible sense of loyalty. I see him as a future “book boyfriend.”)
I won an autographed copy of SEAL of Honor (Hornet) in a book blog contest. I have always been drawn to series about teams of men in uniform, especially after they leave active duty service. SEAL of Honor (Hornet) brought the men together and with each subsequent book, we will see them grow, as a team, and as individuals – when they find their lady loves. I look forward to spending more time with these men and the extended Hornet family. I recommend it to anyone who loves to invest time in well-developed characters, traveling to exotic and sometimes dangerous places. Great start to a new series!
Link to Amazon Review and Goodreads Review
Etiology of a Book Trailer – “Searching for Moore,” by Julie A. Richman
Summer of 2013 has been the Summer of books and reviews, where I rediscovered the joy that leisure reading brought me. My newest ventures have been writing book reviews and beta reading books for independent authors. I am still learning how to do both, but writing reviews is definitely my favorite of the two.
Earlier this year, I read and reviewed Searching for Moore by Julie A. Richman (Book 1 in the “Needing Moore” series). Julie’s book kept me up all night, deeply invested in Schooner and Mia’s story and I was emotionally drained but my mind kept spinning. That inspired my best book review to date, as words flew, organically, off my fingers, onto the keys, and onto the screen. When I hit “publish” on the blog post, the sun was rising and I knew I had to know more about the woman who wrote Searching for Moore. I had to talk to her.
I “met” Julie on Facebook. There was the initial awkwardness of the clichéd OMG-when-are-you-releasing-book-2 comment. Followed by the blubbering on of a fangirl who had too little sleep, too much coffee and not enough Schooner Moore or Mia Silver. Finally, we started to talk. Like lifelong friends. Who had never met before. The more we talked – about music, college, jobs, life experiences, relationships, etc. – Julie and I found that we had been separated at birth! Synchronous would be the best way to describe our connection.
Our friendship brought three other women into my life. All fans of Searching for Moore who had similar reactions to the story. As, we began “hanging out” together on Facebook, the bond became stronger. Sure we talked about our favorite parts of the book, but we talked about ourselves. If someone had a bad day, there were four other women to help her through it. If we needed a laugh or bawdy comment, we were there.
Together.
Together, we decided to create the following book trailer. Kristen was our computer guru, taking all the pieces and creating something that represented all of us, even after the infamous crash of “Video Version 1” (shudder). Cleida brought us Mia and Schooner and had the uncanny eye to spot the right photos of them. Samantha was our cheerleader, keeping everyone in good spirits. I suggested “If I Should Fall Behind,” by Bruce Springsteen as the accompanying song and critiqued the final product. We accomplished this in about two days and presented it to Julie, on Sunday, just past midnight.
As we waited, impatiently, for Julie to view the video, so many thoughts went through our heads. “What if Julie doesn’t like it?” “What if the fans don’t like it?” “What if it’s not good enough?” “What if it doesn’t capture the essence of Schooner and Mia?” These were the longest three minutes of the entire process!
Julie loved it!
She immediately posted it on her Facebook page. It was received warmly by other fans, who then shared it with their friends and family. Now, I share it with you. Please share, reblog, buy the book and fall in love with Schooner and Mia. (Book 2, “Moore to Lose,” will be released in September 2013.) Amazon Barnes and Noble
After reading Searching for Moore please visit Julie’s author website for additional scenes, written in the point of view of other characters, and find her on Facebook.
Here is our labor of love for Searching for Moore .
Talk Me Off My Beta Reading Ledge
“A beta reader is someone who agrees to look over a piece of fiction for spelling, grammar, characterization, and continuity errors. Unlike a true editor, a beta reader is typically unpaid, and he or she sees the work at a very rough state. Many authors like to use beta readers to improve the quality of their work before they submit it for professional editing and critique, and beta readers are usually profusely thanked in acknowledgments, in recognition of the time and energy which they invested in the work.” (wiseGEEK, 2013. What is a Beta Reader?)
I have been asked to beta read several books for independent authors. They contacted me after receiving a personal email from me about how their book impacted me, read a review I wrote for another book, or as a favor. When I read, my life and work experience become part of the process. I have held more than one professional job and several career changes, so I am able to pull from an “eclectic” background. Authors will receive honest, in-the-moment feelings about a passage or plot twist, in addition to continuity and writing errors. I want them to see through my eyes. I prefer to keep chapter notes, rather than editing notes on the document. It is a personal choice.
Once I send my reading notes and summary comments to the author, I move on to the next thing. After all, it is not my work. I am not responsible for ensuring the errors and corrected and facts are double-checked. I am merely providing an opinion, based on what I read.
What happens when I see the published book has the same errors I flagged as I was reading four months ago? These were not spelling, punctuation, grammar or even usage errors. No, these were poorly researched “facts” that may have added “drama” to the story, but were simply untrue and easily verified with a Google search. Unfortunately for me, the errors were glaringly blatant because I had first-hand knowledge of the material, having worked in the field.
My first reaction was, “WHAT?!! I TOLD you that was wrong, why didn’t you change it?!,” followed by “Well, it’s not my book so…oh, well <shrugs shoulders>,” to “once this gets into the readers’ hands, they will tear it apart.” (In this case, “readers” are the general public – people who did not receive ARC copies, are not book bloggers or other authors.)
Now, I feel ambivalent because I have been asked to “recommend” the book to people. I cannot, and will not, do it in good conscience. I used the excuse that I was a beta reader and my recommendation would be “biased.” Then, quickly walked away from the discussion.
Author and Author/Reviewer Friends, I know you use beta readers, or at least hope you do. (If you don’t, we need to talk. Right. Now. Seriously.) What happens when the beta readers find something in your plot that is wrong – not something they disagree with – but just plain wrong? Do you rewrite that part? What if is a major plot twist? What if it is something you are counting on, to draw your reader in? Tell me what you would do.
Disclaimer: I am not a professional beta reader and do not receive compensation for pre-reading any material. Beta/ Draft and advance reader copies are sent to me by authors who want my opinions.
Free Kindle Books :)
Thank you to Jessy’s Book Blog for compiling this list! Get your 1-clicks ready.
Click on the covers to get the book from amazon.com
Disclaimer #1: I’m using amazon.com the international site, I can’t guarantee that these books are free on all amazon country sites. Kindly note that these books are free at the time of posting, not guaranteed free any time after that.
Disclaimer #2: I haven’t read most of the books so I can’t guarantee their awesomeness 
My criteria was cover, synopsis, reviews. But if you do happen to read any and want to write a review, I have a Guest Reviewer spot just for you!
For Nook owners please click here.
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EROTICA/EROTIC ROMANCE
Evan Arden is a hit man for a Chicago mob boss. He lives his life day to day with not much more than the company of his dog, Odin. He’s been in trouble, and has to work hard to get back into his boss’s good graces, but…
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The Slippery Slope Between Fanfiction and Plagiarizing an Author’s Work
Fan fiction has existed alongside storytelling, throughout history. My undergraduate Shakespeare courses featured heated discussions on whether or not The Bard’s plays were homages to, or plagiarized copies of “Plutarch’s Lives of Noble Grecians and Romans.” The similarities were uncanny, to say the least. Another infamous case involved a college student who had a “photographic” memory and plagiarized a popular, “darling” series about six or seven years ago. Authors are influenced by stories they read or hear, but most acknowledge their sources of inspiration, either in their writing or in interviews about their books. 
Recently, one of the biggest fan fiction “success stories” rose out of anonymity and became a household name. She re-wrote an incredibly popular Young Adult (YA) series, based in Washington State, into one of the best-selling trilogies of the past decade. By changing her story substantially, the fan fiction author ensured it would not be confused with the original. She further set the right example, by explaining that the YA series was her inspiration. She went on to self-publish her series, and continues to profit from it.
I read both series. I am not a fan of YA (or its older, sexed up cousin, New Adult (NA)) novels, but the original was a sweet, well-written set of stories. The author captured the angst and irrational emotions of hormonal teens, experiencing their first loves. My twelve-year-old self would have LOVED this series. My 45-year-old self thought it was “cute” and perfect for its tween/pre-teen/teenage demographics. It was spun-off into movie series juggernaut that propelled the actors into the stratosphere of stardom, and brought more attention to the book series.
The fan fiction series, however, left a lot to be desired. This author kept the location as Washington State, only moving the action to the city of Seattle. The characters are chronologically older, but less mature. The stories are entirely too wordy and should have been condensed into one book. The action is decidedly more “adult,” in that the characters engage in sexual activities that incorporate an alternative lifestyle. Sadly, the author did not research this lifestyle thoroughly. She failed miserably in conveying the three key tenets of this lifestyle in her work: safe, sane and consensual. Be that as it may, this series has provided a venue for adults to discuss sex in a more open, provocative way. That is a good thing. This series has been greenlighted and could be in theaters next Summer (according to Perez Hilton’s website FSOG Movie Deal). No comment. (It’s already been done. Just watch the movie Secretary, starring James Spader and Maggie Gyllenhaal, then come back and tell me about it…you’re welcome).
With all that off my chest, I arrive at the reason for my post today.
Plagiarizing another person’s work, is STEALING.
I am not accusing the above unnamed authors of stealing, because clearly they did not. Unfortunately, not every writer of fan fiction is honest, and the number of plagiarized works is growing at an alarming rate. Perhaps the plagiarists were always there (i.e., Shakespeare, etc.), but the Internet seems to bring out the worst in people. The lure of fame, money and/or greed by taking someone else’s hard work, changing the title and a few names, adding your name as “author,” and releasing it to an unsuspecting public, is magnetic. And illegal.
In the past two weeks, some super sleuth book bloggers/reviewers uncovered at least five plagiarized books being sold as “original works.” These people were not professionals who worked for publishing companies, simply fans of books, who noticed uncanny similarities to books they had already read. Furthermore, several had hosted the thieves on their blogs to PROMOTE the plagiarized works. Not only were the bloggers/reviewers duped, they knew they inadvertently “helped” hurt other authors they cared for. I believe they, along with the wronged authors were innocent victims of liars and thieves.
Teresa Mummert provides a great chronology on her blog, for those who like to follow the bouncing ball “Plagiarism” from Author Teresa Mummert’s Blog
I started this post as a cautionary tale, but it is not. If you choose to steal another person’s work you are a THIEF, and deserve the world of hurt that accompanies legal action against plagiarists. It is a fantastic way to destroy your life and credibility, immediately, so HAVE AT IT. Just know that the Internet is forever. Fans of books are a smart, resourceful, loyal community who protects its own (authors and books) and we will find you.
My advice: write the stories that live within you. Place your characters in worlds of your own creation, but write what you know. Then, give credit where credit is due, for your inspiration. Thank the authors who write the stories that move you, by buying, reading and promoting their work. Not by copying and pasting it into a new file, and calling it yours.
You are more interesting than you think you are, and your story has not been told…by you. So write it.
Should Authors Write Bad Book Reviews?
Reviewing books may be hazardous to your health, especially if you are an author. Kristen Lamb discusses her experiences and how they shaped her reviewing style.
In the interest of full disclosure, I have not published any books. I have learned not to publish reviews on any books I did not like. If I strongly disliked, or worse, did not finish the book, I will not write a review. Period. To this day, I have only posted one negative review for a book. I purchased the book, at full price, and expected to get a “full-price experience,” based on the glowing and outstanding reviews. I did not. I got something far less enjoyable and felt gypped. My negative review is still “live,” and will remain so, because my feelings were honest. If I receive any negative feedback I will immediately delete the review.
The “anonymous bravado” of some people on the internet, is not pretty and not something I wished to engage in. Seeing the vitriolic backlash towards reviewers and authors, has helped me determine when, and if, to post a review. I will continue to give a book a low rating, if I feel it deserves it. Amazon and Goodreads like to “recommend” future books, based on what I have already read. This not been a successful “system” for me. I prefer to have books recommended to me via word-of-mouth or after reading remarks by reviewers who provide enough information about the author’s character development and mechanics of the story, rather than a marketing algorithm.
No review from me means “I did not have time to write a review, and none was requested,” the book was “fine,” or “the book was so poorly written that ‘silence is golden.'” If an author, or other reviewer, requests my thoughts, I will provide my honest thoughts. If I rate a book as an “A,” “B,” or “C” (outstanding, very good or good), the review will go “live” without input from the author. Anything lower, like a “D” (fair), “F” (poor), or “DNF” (did not finish because…why bother?) will not be reviewed. I will give my opinion of the book , along with an explanation as to what worked and did not work for me, to the author/reviewer, privately.
Okay, yesterday we had a little bit of a debate about leaving book reviews. First of all, the post is to warn you of the dangers of posting bad reviews as an author. Does it mean you can’t? No. Can you tweet while drinking and listening to LinkinPark? Yes, but you do so at your own risk. Same here. I am not the social media gestapo, but I am here to warn you of the hazards that are REAL.
We Never Know Who People Know
I once commented offhandedly to an acquaintance about a book I was reading. I wasn’t nasty, I just mentioned that I found it confusing and the dream sequences were messing me up. I also added that it could be me. I WAS seven-months pregnant, so I added the caveat that it could just be Baby Brain.
Little did I know the acquaintance was BEST…
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…on Plagiarism and Disgust
The lesson to be learned here is simple: DO NOT STEAL OTHER PEOPLE’S WORK. The internet is forever.
I am angry,
I am very angry.
I am blowing a gasket, a fuse or any of the other metaphors you can come up with for red with anger. I chuckle at this as I can’t technically turn red since I’m black but you get the point.
This evening started off pretty well. I’m still working on my practice writing in an attempt to propel my Muse from her awkward teenage, acne-filled, bracing wearing years to a more mature young adult when Laurell K Hamilton retweeted a tweet that stopped me dead in my tracks. The original tweet was made by Lorelei James who complained of someone , Alison Gilmore, passing off one of her books published in 2009 as their own. Alison used a website to upload the book one chapter at a time. She was originally a member of http://www.fanfiction.net where she stated she was writing One…
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Put on your cowboy boots, it’s time to kick some plagiarizing ass…
Followers,
Posting the intellectual property of authors, without their expressed approval, is STEALING. It is illegal, immoral and cowardly. Please, please, please share this information with your followers.
Plagiarizing another person’s work is wrong.
Help spread the word. On all your Social Media Platforms.
*****UPDATE******
As of 10:25 PM Eastern time her site is down and her Twitter feed, which we obtained from the links on her own site, is saying it’s not her. However, this author on her blog posted screenshots of Alison promoting her twitter account on the Weebly where the work was posted. HERE
**NEW** Woke Saturday morning to find her Twitter account is also disabled 🙂
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**ORIGINAL POST**
We have a serious situation.
Author Lorelei James has found her work ALL JACKED UP from the Rough Riders series (2009) being plagiarized word for word by a woman who is posting it one chapter at a time and claiming it as her own. Legal threats have not worked so now it’s time mobilize the reader community to come together and shame this woman off the web and educate all her “readers” that the work they are commenting on and so…
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Book Review – “Searching For Moore,” by Julie A. Richman
Link Posted on Updated on
My Mazel of the day goes to Julie Richman, for tearing my heart out to Bruce Springsteen, the soundtrack of my youth. I have some beautiful Mazel Shot Glasses from Andy Cohen’s Bravo Clubhouse, just for you, Missy.
I will start by publicly flogging myself for thinking this was a “New Adult” novel, featuring a bunch of entitled, horny, self-centered, shiftless college students. It is not. I will further admit that I purchased it on sale, thinking it was a New Adult novel, featuring a bunch of entitled, horny, self-centered, shiftless college students. Therefore, my Catholic girl penance is that I am writing this post at 4:45 a.m. ET, after staying up all night long to finish reading Searching for Moore Enough said.
Ok, I took a couple of cat naps last night and work from home. Don’t feel too badly for me.
Holy debut novel, Batman.
I mean, HOLY. FUCKING. DEBUT. NOVEL.
The premise is simple: what if you were only one Facebook friend request away from your true love – that one person who knew you better than you knew yourself – 24 years after you last saw each other? Would you reconnect with her/him, even if it meant uprooting the life you had been creating for yourself? If you were given that chance, would you take it?
Searching for Moore begins in the present day. Schooner Moore’s wife, CJ, is throwing a lavish party to celebrate his 43rd birthday. It is filled with “the beautiful people,” superficial individuals who only wish to be seen at this party to rub elbows with the rich and famous. Schooner Moore is both. What CJ and her “guests” fail to realize, however, is that Schooner dislikes the shallow displays of artifice that are his life and social circle. Then, his college buddy, Beau, casually mentions that he has chatted with Mia Silver, a classmate from college, via Facebook.
As Schooner reminisces, we are transported back twenty-four years into the past. He remembers their freshman year of college and the first taste of independence, of “finding himself,” meeting diverse people and learning about true love. Schooner meets and is immediately attracted to CJ, the quintessential, beautiful prom queen. They are the “perfect” All-American blonde couple, who would be featured in an ad for Ralph Lauren. He also meets Mia Silver, antithesis to CJ, sassy New Yorker, attending school in California, who marches to the beat of her own drum. CJ fits into his world, effortlessly, like a well-decorated room that lacks personality. Mia challenges his mind, steals his heart and completes his soul. Schooner and Mia are each other’s first true love. Then, Mia leaves him, without a word.
We return to the present day and Schooner sends Mia an innocuous Facebook friend request. A friend request that she is fated to accept. The story continues as the veil of time is lifted, a lifetime of betrayal by CJ is exposed, and that first true love is renewed.
Ms. Richman writes Schooner so that the reader is able to see the “real” Schooner that Mia sees. He has spent his life as a handsome shell, a chameleon who morphs into whomever he is expected to be. He has been incredibly successful in business, but we know he is so much more. Conversely, Mia is a ray of sunlight, warm, ebullient, full of life and loyal. She is successful, loved and will bring balance back into Schooner’s life. Unfortunately, not everyone is pleased with this reunion, especially CJ and Zac (CJ and Schooner’s son – who inherited his personality from CJ).
We live a lifetime through their story. There is the angst of first heart break, the ambivalence and acceptance of life’s circumstances, and the joy and hope for renewed, healing love. Then, Ms. Richman ends this rollercoaster ride of emotions with a cliffhanger the reader sees building from the middle of the story, but is incapable to stop. Searching for Moore is funny and quirky, profound, poignant and moving – all at the same time. It is the best book I have read about aging Generation-Xers, this year.
Exceptional debut for Ms. Richman! I need the second book NOW!!
The “cleaned up” versions of this review are on Amazon and Goodreads.
Reading, Drinking and Dancing with a Chaser of Snark 