STATUS REPORT # 95 - 2016 YEAR END POST

I can’t believe it’s been over a month since my last status report; but, here I go, doing it again by not posting the way I would like to; on a more regular basis. It’s the holiday season and you know how hectic that can be. But it’s New Year’s Eve and for the coming year I’m making a New Year’s Resolution to keep to some sort of a regular schedule in the kind of postings I do each week.

 

One of the things I would like to do interviewing authors, especially those who had to write in my genre of romance, hopefully once a week regarding their writing endeavors on both of my blog sites [BlogSpot.com and WordPress.com] provided I can find authors who are interested in being interviewed by me.  So if you would care to be interviewed please let me know as it’s going to be on a first come/first served basis.

 

I looking at posting more marketing ideas some of which might only be useful to certain individuals, along with one/two new weekly items.

 

This year I’ve completed the 2016 Reading Challenge on GoodReads.com again. I’d set a goal of reading/reviewing 200 books and now at the year of this year I’ve read/reviewed 231 books. As a reminder I don’t accept requests for book reviews. I only read/review books I’ve won through giveaways for books I’m interested in reading, want to read on my own, and if I should receive free download of a book for having subscribed to a newsletter, etc., I read/reviewed them as well provided I’m interested in reading them. Being a Book Reviewer as you probably can tell has become quite a serious endeavor for my 2^nd second career since retiring back in the middle of February 2010, and is now doing better than my desire to become a bestselling romance author. Since making my decision to be become a Book Reviewer back in August 2014 I’ve reviewed 461 books on Amazon, GoodReads and LibraryThing. My goal for 2017 will once again be 200 books, and as soon as GoodReads posts their challenge I accept it.

 

So far I didn’t win one of the two writing contests I’ve entered and I’m still waiting to hear from the second one.

 

In regards to my writing endeavors I’ve got three WIPs I’m set on completing before July 2017: an adult Contemporary romance novella entitled “His Darkest Secret,” a MG/YA Urban Fantasy novella entitled “The Secret of the Well,” and an GLBT Erotic Shape-Shifting novella entitled “The Transformation.”

 

I also in the midst of deciding whether I should go with a reediting of my debut romance novel, a MG/YA Paranormal entitled “I Kissed a Ghost” which if I do will result in a good period of time for the book being not available in either the paperback or KINDLE version.

 

I would love to read your comments so I know what you think or how you feel about my posts and activities; so don’t be shy or bashful.

 

Lastly, I want to wish all of my followers on this blog and your families a Very Happy and Prosperous New Year.

 

O X O X O X

 

Robin Leigh Morgan

 

BOOK REVIEW # 2016-111 - HOLIDAY SPICE AND EVERYTHING NICE

A BAKER’S DOZEN OF DELIGHTS

I’d brought this book on December 22, 2016 with the intention of reading one story a night for each of the 12 days of Christmas, but as it often said: “The best laid plans of mice and men often go astray” is what would best described what happened to me. It started with my inability to access my computer [I read my KINDLES on my computer] starting on Christmas Eve which I didn’t resolve until the 26^th. And with surprises [distractions] coming up for the next two days, when I got home with my dear OH [other half] on the 28^th I decided to lock myself up in our spare bedroom with orders not to be disturbed unless it was a dire emergency. So yesterday [December 29^th], I again locked myself up in the spare bedroom until I finished reading this wonderful anthology of 13 stories written by some of the bestselling authors from the New York Times and USA Today. This collection is a wonderful opportunity to read something new from your favorite authors or discover authors you’ve never read before.

 

The assortment of hot steamy yet sweet delights contained in this book is sure to please any aficionado of this genre like myself. I became tickled being about to fantasize stepping into the shoes of the female protagonists in each of these stories. Imagine if you will, being able to be in the arms of a hot alpha male or an unbelievable sexy Billionaire; or even better yet, being in bed with one of them doing whatever; something you might not worry about if doing it winds putting you on Santa’s naughty list for next year so soon.

 

And even though Christmas might be over this collection is guaranteed to turn up the heat on any cold night or day for the weeks to come, which is why I’ve given this collection and each of its authors 5 STARS.

 

US:   https://www.amazon.com/review/R19QT4NEB0ANA8

 

UK:   https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R2UTVM2N5N8P9Z

BOOK REVIEW # 2016-110 - SOUL MUSIC

I won a PDF.file for this book from the author through the giveaway she recently had on LibraryThing, and the following is my honest opinion.

Ever since we’ve been a child [I’m a child of the 1950’s] we’ve been listening to music; first that of our parents while we were still in a crib, as we grew old we gravitated to our own music and our own taste for songs we simply loved listening.

 
In this book Ms. Awen Finn attempts to interpret the significance of over 50 songs for individuals who had contact her for a “reading” of a song to be able to something about their inner being. And surprisingly when these individuals responded back, she seems to have been intuitively correct in what she wrote.

As a book reviewer I learned it is important, whenever you can, to impart something of yourself in the writing of a review; as it gives a potential reader a personal insight of what a book is about which they might be able to relate to as well. My own intuitiveness have been appreciate several times as I’ve heard back from readers who have bought a copy of the book I’d review saying that they have been able to relate to the book as well. For some reason I have the ability to have a song pop up in the jukebox of my mind only when I’m reading a romance story, perhaps this is because it is the genre I love to write in.

While this book is definitely not one in the romance genre, a song started to play in my mind, it is a song that tells us why singers write the songs they do which make us feel the way they do. The song is “I Write the Songs” by Barry Manilow.

I've been alive forever

And I wrote the very first song
I put the words and the melodies together
I am music and I write the songs

[CHORUS]

I write the songs that make the whole world sing

I write the songs of love and special things
I write the songs that make the young girls cry
I write the songs, I write the songs

My home lies deep within you

And I've got my own place in your soul
Now, when I look out through your eyes
I'm young again, even though I'm very old

[CHORUS]

Oh my music makes you dance

And gives you spirit to take a chance
And I wrote some rock 'n' roll so you can move
Music fills your heart
Well, that's a real fine place to start
It's from me it's for you
It's from you, it's for me
It's a worldwide symphony

[CHORUS 2x]

For having shared the insights for the songs as they relate to the individuals this author has done song readings for, which many of us might be able to see ourselves in as well, I’m happy to give Ms. Finn the 5 STARS I’ve given her here.

US:   https://www.amazon.com/review/R1YKJW0YGX55FG

UK:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/RR6YXU7O9BM1A

BOOK REVIEW # 2016-109 - THE RUSSIAN'S ACQUISITION

I received a print copy of this book from the author through an internet giveaway she had been involved with and the following is my honest opinion.
 
Image if you will you’re a seemingly hot sensuous blond-haired woman, by the name of Clair Daniels, who when she desires something would do anything she needs to do to get it: and one day you receive the following email:

To: ClairDaniels@BrighterDaysChildrensFund.org

From: Aleksy.D@DmitrievHoldings.com
Subject: Contractual Offer

You will find $100 000 in your charity's account today, provided I find you in my bed tonight.

 

Of course, you’d bend over backwards to get it. But one of the problems is that the guy who sent it to you is, Aleksy Dmitriev, a disreputable billionaire, whose only real interest in you is to seek revenge on the man who had destroyed his family years ago; and it doesn’t matter that your former boss is now dead. In his depraved mind obtaining the acquisition of the woman, who had been his business rival’s mistress, would still mean having acquired one of that man’s treasured possessions.

However there’s a fly in the ointment in Aleksy’s plan; to begin with, you’ve never been your boss’s lover but more importantly, you’re a virgin. Upon learning this he allows you to become his non-mistress lover, giving you all the perks which go along with it: apartment, credit cards, choice of wonderful jobs another woman would die to have. You decide to play along until you can get what he had promised you.

But as time goes along you’re unintentionally growing on him, there’s one misunderstanding after another, until the day you decide to finally leave him; after all, you’ve gotten the money he’s promised you at the start of your relationship with him. Yet, at the same time he has grown on you and not wanting to have another major rejection in your life, after not getting adopted at the orphanage you grew up in, you return there to give them the money you’ve received and to help out anyway necessary.

But what happens when he discovers where you’ve disappeared to, that you’re not a gold-digger as he had envisioned, and there’s actually a charity you’re doing things for. Will he seek you out? Will there be a HEA for the both of you? But more important, will there be another misunderstanding along the way before this will actually happen?

For having given her readers a romance story fraught with misunderstandings, I’m giving Ms. Collins 5 STARS.

 

US:   https://www.amazon.com/review/R30VV4MODGTI3I

UK:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/REW1MRUMYH4O7

 

 

BOOK REVIEW # 2016-108 - ROMANCING CHRISTMAS: VOLUME 2

It’s the Christmas Holiday time again, a wonderful time to have wishes to come true, especially if they’re of a romantic nature: a time to finally have that HEA you’ve been hoping for such a long time become a reality.

This wondrous collection of romance novellas written by seven of the nation’s bestselling romance authors on USA Today and the New York Times allows you to read another story written by an author you love to read; as well as discovering new ones you might wind up wanting to read more from. And for a price of 99 cents how can you go wrong.

This collection also allows you to experience a romance genre you might have never read before, such as a Military Romance. I also love having read a variety of writing styles from an endearing lovable one to one which is sizzling hot, with characters ranging from mere acquaintances to those who are in loving relationship with each other; all of whom have a Christmas desire regarding romance which they’d love to come true. It didn’t hurt having a Scrooge or a fairytale type godmother thrown into the mix, or even a sexy military hunk becoming the whipped cream of a hot cocoa to warm your heart and soul on a wintry day.

For having given their readers a romantic Christmassy collection of novellas I’m glad to these authors 5 STARS for their efforts here.

 

US:    https://www.amazon.com/review/R245J2NEKBKZVC

 

UK:   https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/RUR57FIAO4YQS

BOOK REVIEW # 2016-107 - AMISH LOVE OF A LIFETIME

For those of you who have read my reviews you know I’m a relatively voracious reader/reviewer of books of various genres. And while I especially love reading romances, even those hot steamy romances where I can truly fantasize about being in the shoes of the female protagonists, I love sitting down in a recliner, nuzzling up with a sweet love story without any sex scenes in my hands, and simply reading it to my heart’s enjoyment.

In “Amish Love of a Lifetime” the author, Sadie Palmer, gives us precisely that, a love story of two endearing individuals, Rebecca Bieler and Isaac Schuster, which spans the 73 years of their lives. It starts with a puppy love kind of a close relationship when they were 3 and 4 years old; where she accepted him despite and didn’t tease him because of his having a lisp, which he appreciated.

All this had been too good for these two as Isaac’s parents moved miles away to Ohio from Lancaster, PA, because his uncle got sick, leaving him depressed. When he got old enough he made the decision to move back in the hopes of courting Rebecca, a decision which winds up distressingd his parents no end.

The thing is Rebecca had always hoped their relationship even at a young age would turn out to be something more substantial, like marriage. And was quite pleased when she saw his return; hoping he’d start the courting process, starting with the simplistic buggy rides alone with each other; a courting process which the rest of the population here had until the beginning of the 20^th century, a courting process which is far more beautiful and simplistic than the haphazard, harried ones we have today.

If Isaac does what she hopes he will, her dreams of having a HEA with him will become a pleasing reality; if he doesn’t their relationship could easily turn into something else, and during this time her faith will be continuously tested.

In the end, the author’s experience living close to the Amish community in Holmes County, Ohio, gives her readers a beautiful, realistic inside glimpse of what the lives of Rebecca and Isaac had become with their marriage, having children and grandchildren, along with all the trials and tribulations the Amish lifestyle might give a typical married couple.

I’m glad and sadden that Ms. Palmer decided to take us through their lives, until the day Rebecca dies and Isaac is left sadly left alone, without the love of his lifetime by his side. An ending which we a seldom, if ever allow to see, once the couple in the HEA stories we love to read, get married and we’re left wondering what happens next in their lives.

For having given me, and her readers, a sweet love story without a single sex scene we’re usually accustomed in reading in many HEA stories I’m giving Ms. Palmer and “Amish Love of a Lifetime” 5 STARS.

I read this book via a KINDLE Unlimited download to the KINDLE device on my computer.

US:    https://www.amazon.com/review/RWJCZ09CPKKGB

UK:   https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R31GZYBH93CJ8