THE YEAR IN REVIEW

The year had begun very promising. My dear OH retired at the end of last year and I had looked forward to us doing a lot of stuff together once winter would end. I had so hoped to have finished my two WIPs; a Contemporary Romance which would have been my first romance novel but had been put aside because of my inability to finish writing it due to my never being satisfied enough to get it published despite numerous re-writes. This endeavor is now about 85% – 90% complete and has a new working from what I’d originally planned; it is now called “His Darkest Secret.”

With my first romance novel, a MG/YA Paranormal, “I Kissed a Ghost” receiving decent reviews [currently 4.1 stars from 24 reviews] I wanted to branch out and write a MG/YA Urban Fantasy novella. By the time I wrote three chapters, I received a review in which the reviewer hoped there would be a sequel. This caused me to totally rewrite the first chapter. This WIP is also about the same percentage of completion and has a working title of “The Secret of the Well.”

Unfortunately in March of this year my dear OH took ill and got hospitalized until the end of April, followed by several weeks in REHAB; came home for two months then broke a hip needing a partial hip replacement followed by more REHAB, and coming home in the beginning of September and is now FINALLY on the mend with the home attendant we’ve constantly have to aid with whatever needs to be done.

With all this going on, it’s no wonder I haven’t made any progress with my writing endeavors. It’s a good thing I decided to become a Book Reviewer last August, as it has been a way of escaping, at least for a while, all the negativity I’ve had to deal with this year in my life. Right now I’ve got 227 reviews on Amazon, with 163 of them being done this year; I’ve got an approval rating of 96% for my reviews, with an Amazon ranking of 5,625. If anyone is interested in checking out my reviews here is the link:

http://www.amazon.com/Robin-Leigh-Morgan/e/B00BWXT4VU

With everything beginning to fall into place with our lives I’ve decided to step out of my comfort zone and write a GLBT erotic novelette which currently has no working title.

In the coming year I’m looking to expand the topics I currently have on my blogs, which for the most part have been limited to my book reviews and status reports. I’m looking at possibly doing some interviews, going back to writing Flash Fictions, etc. I’ve self-published an anthology of 100 of my Flash Fictions. If you’re interested in checking out my two books, here’s a direct link:

http://www.amazon.com/Robin-Leigh-Morgan/e/B00BWXT4VU

I’d love to hear from my dear followers. THANKS for being here. Here’s wishing everyone to have a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR with your families. !!!  🙂  🙂  🙂

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR !!!  😀  😀  😀

LOVE

Robin Leigh Morgan

 

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STATUS REPORT # 68 – HAPPY ANNIVERSARY AND MORE !!!

I know I’m late in posting this but I’ve been EXTREMELY business trying to clear up the backlog of books on my TBReviewed pile before Christmas. Right now I only have 1 left from that pile.

Since my last Status Report I’ve read a total of about 16 books and have posted my reviews for each of these books on Amazon / GoodReads / LibraryThing and Shelfari as well as my blogs on Blogspot/Wordpress. I’ve also written 4 reviews for books I’ve won/received from The Romance Review, either from their Year End Splash Party or their website in return for my honest reviews.

So far this year, as you can by blog entries, I’ve read and reviewed 163 books from a wide variety on genres.

On my birthday next month [January 15] I will become eligible for Medicare [Yes, I’m that YOUNG 😀 😀 :-D].

Having worked for the City of New York the time came for me to change my hospital/health insurance so both me and my dear OH can each have our own polices the last week in November.

In December while I’d received my new insurance cards my OH didn’t receive any. For some reason an error had occurred which forced me to go back to the office which handles the hospital insurance for EVERY retired NYCity Employees to correct the problem. Yesterday I checked the interactive response and verified my OH’s insurance is now active but since the office was closed I couldn’t obtain a policy #. Once I call office for the insurance tomorrow I can finally obtain a policy and start calling the doctor’s visits we went for; and reschedule appoints which got cancelled because of the lack of insurance.

Feeling plumb exhausted I decided to merely rest for a few days, but this caused me to realize today the I forgot to do an entry for the following:

 

December 20th was the 3rd anniversary of my fulfilling my dream of becoming a romance author, so to celebrate both of my books are in KINDLE Countdown mode until 12/26:

http://www.amazon.com/Robin-Leigh-Morgan/e/B00BWXT4VU

 

BOOK REVIEW # 2015-163 – TRAPPED IN TIMELESSNESS: FALLEN ANGELS

This book is another one of the five books I had won in Marie Lavender’s Halloween Giveaway and the following is my honest opinion.

Nowhere in the author’s description for this book is there any mention of it actually being a collection of three short stories, that is unless you consider the placement of two sets of three asterisks [***] between what appears to be a mini synopsis for each one of these stories serving that purpose. It’s not until you search the end of each of the first and second story, which ends in a “cliffhanger” that you realize the next story is a continuation of the previous one.

Mr. Schenna’s writing in each of these short stories is quite vivid and has just enough suspense to make it interesting enough to keep you wanting to read more. Which is why I’m giving this book 4 STARS.

US: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1625262469

UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1625262469

BOOK REVIEW # 2015-162 – THE CURSE OF GRUNGY GULLEY

The following is my honest opinion for the PDF.file copy of this book which I’d received through Marie Lavender’s Halloween Giveaway.

While the premise of this book, good vs evil, has been done numerous times across several genres I enjoyed reading this one as it had been written for the teen and young audience which is the same audience my first book had been written for.

Random A Ransom, a Bewitcher, thought his immortality would go one forever. He also thought he’ll have no problem defeating Mary Barron’s young assistants: Tuck Barrons, Earl Lee Farley, and Sue Anne Edwards. Little could he envision that these three would be able to infiltrate the ranks of his brethren; and attack him from within.

Ms. K.C. Sprayberry writing is quite visual and adds to the enjoyment of reading this book, which I’m giving 5 STARS.

US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1625261365

UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1625261365

 

 

BOOK REVIEW # 2015-161 – HERBERT MULLIN – THE TRUE STORY OF THE PSYCHOPATH OF SANTA CRUZ

As I read more and more of Jack Rosewood’s endeavors in this genre of True Crimes, the more can I see how his writing style is continuing to improve. The reason I’m saying this because for several years I wrote items for a community newspaper and as I look back to what I’d written I can see the same kind of improvement. I believe that the astuteness in our selection of words as continues increase the effectiveness and impact of what we’d like to communicate to our readers.

In this outing Mr. Rosewood has chosen to write about Herbert Mullin, a psychopath who wound up murdering several individuals in California in the early 1970s. Once again in order to paint an entire picture of this individual we are given information regarding what had occurred in his life which had lead up to the beginning of his killing spree.

Mullin was diagnosed has suffering from paranoid schizophrenia which caused him to believed that killing these individuals would help prevent earthquakes in California. Since he admitted to his crimes, the trial focused in on whether he had been sane and responsible for his actions. While the defense had attempted to show Mullin’s insanity at the time, the fact he made sure he had covered his tracks proved the opposite to be true.

For once again presenting a story regarding another infamous serial killer in an enjoyable format, I’m giving this book 5 STARS.

US: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019CTWH2I

UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B019CTWH2I

 

BOOK REVIEW # 2015-160 – RUNAWAY SMILE

I found this book to be a delightful story of a young boy’s fantasized predicament when he realizes he’s lost his smile. His eyeglass-wearing book-reading talking dog has no interest in what his owner was saying.

Readers follow the boy as he continuously fantasizes about everything he does as he gets already to go to school and trying to find his missing smile; his lack of luck continues on his way there with all the people he meets, especially when he asks them if he could have their smiles.

You would think he would get help at school from his teacher, but he struck out there as well.

I loved the melodic flow of words which Mr. Rossis has used in the writing of this book as it added to the enjoyable reading experience not only for its young readers, but for the adults who can have their inner-child come alive again. Not only did this boy find his smile again [what kind of story would this have been if he didn’t], he learned the important life lesson of sharing; you can never lose something if you’re willing to share it.

For rekindling my inner-child as I read this book, I’m giving it 5 STARS.

I received a mobi.file copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.

US:  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QQC2YLY

UK:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00QQC2YLY

BOOK REVIEW # 2015-159 – THE DANE’S BRIDE

This is the first erotic, in fact any romance novel, set in this time period; that I’ve read/reviewed and am looking to read more of.

I loved the author’s slow, methodical pacing, starting at the beginning of the first scene which truly had set the mood of what’s taking place as well as showing her reader’s the all the fear, emotions and uncertainty of her main character, Aetherlin had.

 What starts out as Aetherlin and Hrald being almost adversaries to each to each other, slowly changes as the passion they begin to share keeps growing. Readers, I feel will get thrown into her shoes as they begin to feel the almost raw emotions these two have for each other, until a crescendo is reached.

 The dialogue, the character’s actions and descriptions of the scenes are apparently quite accurate as far as I’ve found for this time period.

 For giving her readers a sizzling hot read as they drink their morning cup of their favorite Joe, I’m giving Ms. Ashworth 5 STARS.

 NOTE: I had requested a copy this book from The Romance Reviews website and I’ve been selected to receive a PDF.file copy of it in return for a honest review.

 US:  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00WT0GP8A

 UK:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00WT0GP8A

 

DIRECT LINKS TO MY LAST 9 REVIEWS

Hi All Fellow TWEETERS

 I’ve been SUPER BUSY reading/reviewing a total of NINE books In the past 11 days that I didn’t have time to tweet each of my reviews after I’d posted them on my usual sites.

 So instead of sending out all these tweets, I decided to have all of my recent links listed in one location

 DANIEL NANAVATI –  3 STARS

“A Brief History of Lies”  

https://www.amazon.com/review/R2QY71ZMHPNYNS

 

K.A. DAVIS  –  5 STARS

“Windward Secrets”  

https://www.amazon.com/review/R1HKDQ6O8IUA5Z

 

JACK ROSEWOOD – 5 STARS

“William Bonin: The True Story of the Freeway Killer”

https://www.amazon.com/review/R1SIE0MTMS0G2A

 

JOE SCHWARTZ  – 5 STARS

“The 7 Policemen and the Troublesome Time Machine”

https://www.amazon.com/review/R2R2YFQCVGNGPA

 

MATHIYA ADAMS  – 5 STARS

“The Avid Angler: The Hot Dog Detective”

https://www.amazon.com/review/R1X56QSTEQK7TI

 

LINDA CROWDER – 5 STARS

“Too Cute to Kill”

https://www.amazon.com/review/R2SM4GC8TCUQBI

 

JANELLE JALPERT  – 4 STARS

“Flash 40: Life’s Moments”

https://www.amazon.com/review/R2SYYTGWIPO7F8

 

 SIMON CORNISH  – 5 STARS

“Rosetta”

http://www.amazon.com/review/R1M0APLNL8D0Q

 

ROZ MARSHALL – 5 STARS

“Skiing With Santa”

http://www.amazon.com/review/RI0PK47ELFYG2

BOOK REVIEW # 2015-158 – SKIING WITH SANTA

I found this book a delight in getting in the holiday mood as I drank my mid-day mug of black hazelnut coffee, sweet. 

Sandy, like some people, hates how everyone participates in the commercialization the holiday season has become and have forgotten what the holiday is all about. He even resents being reminded about it by his wife; but she’s doing it more for their grandkids than anyone else.

Sandy’s boss, Jude, at the ski school where he works comes up with the wonderful idea of having all their instructors dress up as Santa so they can hear the Christmas wishes their patrons have. While there no three spirits in this story to help with Scrooge’s transformation. As he hears the students assigned to him talk about the holiday and their wishes, Sandy slowly begins to realizes he’s the one who been brainwashed by the overly commercialization and that there are still others who hold to the true meaning of the holiday and its value the way he remembers them to be.

For having been GOOD in writing this story, this Santa’s Helper is giving this author, 5 STARS.

US:  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HG1JKYS

UK:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00HG1JKYS

BOOK REVIEW # 2015-157 – ROSETTA

I found it quite interesting that the author has decided to name the main character in his book Rosetta.

While Rosetta is mysterious, beautiful young woman who has several unusual disabilities, she performed a strange ritual at the funeral for Professor Alan Hargreaves using an ancient language only a small handful of individuals can understand.  When Graham Chandlers learns she’s the late professor’s adopted he’s quite surprised.

The mystery begins later when he receives the professor’s journals and upon examination believes something had been going at the dig which hasn’t been reported. And just like famed Rosetta Stone from around 196 BC helped to provide the key to the modern understanding of Egyptian hieroglyph, Chandler is the key to resolving the mystery which has been presented with.

While the storyline presented in this intriguing and holds the reader’s attention, I feel parts of it could have been fleshed out somewhat to make it more readable, and would have provided the abrupt end to the book, which is why I’m giving this book 4 STARS.

 

US:  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00THOCEXG

 

UK:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00THOCEXG