Book Review - Tragic

Happy Wednesday, good people of the blogosphere! I hope you've all had a good week so far. Mine keeps getting better and better as this cold makes its way out. Today, we're doing a book review! I know how much you love those. I also have a couple of deals to share with you at the end of the post. Stay with me! Before I get to the juicy stuff, I'm going to take a moment and pop out my reading list for 2014 once again.

This list is for the Indie Fever 2014 reading challenge. You can join in the fun here. Just add your name to the linky, grab the badge from the left sidebar, and you're in!

Here are the books in my list:
Rebecca Trogner The Last Keeper's Daughter Amazon Kindle $7.99
Scott Marlowe The Five Elements Amazon Kindle $2.99
L.K. Evans Keepers of Arden: The Brothers Volume 1 Amazon Kindle $2.99
Sarah Mäkelä The Witch Who Cried Wolf Amazon Kindle $0.99
Felicia Tatum Masked Encounters Amazon Kindle $0.99
Peprah Boasiako The Hitman Amazon Kindle $0.9
David T Griffith The Bestiarum Vocabulum Amazon Kindle $3.99
C. S. Janey Surrender To You Amazon Kindle $2.51
Thaddeus White Sir Edric's Temple REVIEW HERE
Gloria Piper Finnegan's Quest Amazon Kindle $4.99
Elle Todd The Elect Amazon Kindle $2.99
Heather Topham Wood The Memory Witch Amazon Kindle $7.99
N. L. Greene Illusions Begin (I have an ARC)
J. A. Huss Tragic REVIEW BELOW
Morgan Wylie Silent Orchids Amazon Kindle **FREE**
Laura Howard The Forgotten Ones Amazon Kindle $2.99
Pauline Creeden Sanctuary Amazon Kindle $0.99
Casey Bond Winter Shadows Amazon Kindle $7.99
Casey Bond Devil Creek REVIEW HERE
Skylar Hamilton Burris The Strange Marriage of Anne de Bourgh Amazon Kindle $2.99
Christina Marie Morales Ambience Amazon Kindle $0.99
Tamar Hela Feast Island Amazon Kindle $2.99
Molly Taggart Off Target Amazon Kindle $2.99
S. G. Daniels The Druid's Doorway Amazon Kindle $3.99

A number of these books have now been read and the review not written yet. I'll get there!

So make sure you keep coming back for more great reads in 2014.

About the book on the butcher block today:

Title: Tragic (Rook and Ronin #1)
Author: J. A. Huss
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Length (print):  282 Pages
Buy Links: Amazon Kindle $0.99 Paperback $11.69

Synopsis:
Rook Walsh is TRAGIC

Because life so far - just sucks. Some girls get parents. Rook got the foster care system. Some girls get Prince Charming. Rook got an abusive frog. Some girls get lucky...

Rook got a second chance.

And she took it. Because when fate throws you a bone - you grab it with both hands and run.

Antoine Chaput knows the minute he spies Rook in his photography studio that she's got The Look. The dark and desperate look he must have to land the exclusive TRAGIC media contract.

Rook is paired up with top model, Ronin, and he's everything her abusive ex-boyfriend wasn't. Patient, gentle, happy, attentive, and sexy! He knows exactly what to do to make Rook blush for Antoine's camera.

Rook's luck changes in an instant and suddenly she's the darling of the modeling world. It's a dream job to go with a dream guy and all she has to do is look pretty and follow directions. But there's always a price to pay - and Rook is about to get the bill.

***New Adult Contemporary Romance *Mature Content* Recommended for ages 17+ due to sexual situations and language usage.***

I picked up this book during a free promotion on Amazon because the cover was intriguing, and I'm a huge lover of great photography. While the image is striking, I think the type could use some work at the top and bottom because it gets lost in the reddish and white background. I try to review all books I pick up for free as a thank you to the author. Now that you know why I grabbed it, I'll move on with my review.

From a Reader's Perspective:
Rook is one of those girls. You never know what she's gonna do next. One minute she's shaking with memories of her past, the next, she's diving headlong into a situation you're wanting to slap her for even considering. Money is a huge motivator for a lot of people and Rook is no different. If you've never been completely broke and wondering where your next meal might come from, you probably wouldn't connect with the character in general. I think J. A. Huss did a fantastic job of showing exactly what someone in Rook's situation might think/do when an opportunity to never have to worry about money again presents itself. That being said, I could identify with Rook and her situation (all but the abusive husband).

Writing the story from both Rook and Ronin's POV was a smart move. If I'd just seen Ronin through Rook's eyes, I might have thought him a complete cad. He still wasn't my favorite character, but I could tell he wasn't out to destroy her. He's just really confused. Language is strong but the scenes aren't pornographic in the bedroom. Leadups are tastefully written and everything beyond is left to the imagination. It was well done. Kudos to the author for not falling into the trap of laying out the entire scene blow by blow. Does the author go into detail when it's not about the sex, but about the emotions and reactions Rook has to touches during the photo shoots? Yes. But that's when it matters.

My problem with the story was: I kept waiting for something to happen. It never did. I don't know if that was done purposely because it's book one of a trilogy, but it irritated me to no end. Give me something to keep me reading.

From an Editor's Perspective:
This book needs a major overhaul. Sentence construction issues, punctuation problems, and incorrect details run amok. While I usually limit the editing to one star, it bled over into the storyline and will be given a heavier weight. Example: He grabs two lime wedges from a little silver bucket in the ice, and shoves down the neck of each beer. Errors like that could be eradicated with a good editor. As an aside, Corona caps don't twist off. A long time lover of that particular brand, I caught that oops where others may not have.

Rating:
1 Star for giving me a believably naive character in Rook
1 Star for showing what some will do when truly down and out
1 Star for not feeling the need to go into every bedroom detail
-.5 Star for not giving me anything in the way of Rook's career
-1.5 Stars for editing
Overall: 3 out of 5 stars. A book with a great plot and wonderful characters that's lacking in the editing department. Recommended to those who don't mind a couple of errors and like romance that's left to the imagination.

Now it's time to tell you all about those deals I promised!
For a limited time, you can pick up The Druid's Doorway by S. G. Daniels for just $0.99 over on Amazon.
Through the 17th, you can grab a copy of Devil Creek by Casey Bond totally free on Amazon.

So get out there and click, click, click! Don't forget to share your purchase with the world! Amazon makes it easy and the authors will love you for it.

I hope you enjoyed this review. Have you read Tragic? What were your thoughts?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Safer Outside by Kristina Renee

Happy Tuesday, good people of the blogosphere! I'm finally on the path to recovery from the cold that descended upon me nine days ago. This past weekend, it finally caught up with me and I had to take time off to let myself get over it. If you know anything about me, you'll know staying in bed and being "sick" is like pulling teeth for me. I'm a workaholic and a bit of a "go, go, go until you run yourself into the ground" kind of person. It was terrible timing, yes. I had my free promotion of I, Zombie going and could barely lift my head enough to click the button to share it by Saturday. But, I'm rambling. You wanna know about the title of today's post, huh? Without further ado, I give you: Safer Outside

Mature YA Romance by Kristina Renee

Safer Outside, Book One of the Outside Series


When Liz moves to a new high school, she hopes for a fresh start. School is her escape from the violence at home and her only hope for breaking the cycle of poverty she was born into. Trying to shield her siblings from her stepfather's fury gets harder each day so when she meets Logan, she thinks it will be a harmless distraction from the fear. 


She's Wrong. 


Logan has the resources to change her life but at what cost? Her relationship is the best thing that ever happened to her but it could also be the worst. If she's not careful, she may lose everyone that's important to her. But it's hard to be careful when you're fifteen and in love. 


For readers 16+

Kristina Renee was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. She married her high school sweetheart after college and they have two sweet and adventurous sons. She spends her time chauffeuring her kids around and doing technical marketing but when she can escape, she loves reading, writing and editing. Learn more at www.KristinaReneeBooks.com follow @authorkristinar like facebook visit goodreads

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Well, what are you waiting for? Get to entering!

That's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

A Guest Post by Casey L. Bond

Happy Monday once again, good people of the blogosphere! I'm pleased to welcome you all back for a guest post by my featured author, Casey L. Bond. She's whipped up some alien goodness for you all to dive into today. I do hope you enjoy the tale. In case you missed it, her author interview was pretty stinkin' awesome, too. Check that out here. Casey is one of the ladies who'll be attending UtopYA Con 2014. It's coming up mid-June, so if you don't have your tickets yet, I urge you to get out there and buy them! Price goes up in February. Enough of my rambling, enjoy the show!

Gravity

by Casey L. Bond

The candy-sweet scent of the Red Bull I just cracked open fills the air. I chug it for dear life. No sleep for three days makes a chick a little psycho, and paranoid. Every sound makes me jump. Of course, it could be the energy drink my insides are currently bathing in. This is my fourth can in the past hour. Gotta keep moving. I’m almost there.

I know they’ll find me the second I step out onto the sand. It’s too open. Nothing to hide behind there. But, I’m gonna get caught eventually, and I have to see the ocean once before I die. I chug the rest of my drink and throw the can over my shoulder. Maybe if we pollute the planet more, they’ll leave. I sling my backpack on again and take off into the night, crouching around trees, abandoned cars and houses, inching my way to the coast. I’ve made it this far on foot. The days have blurred together, but I think I’ve been off the grid for three weeks now. They think their technology is flawless. Well, think again jerks! I found a loophole and climbed through that mother feet first, slipped away in the night and never looked back. I’m gonna freaking make it!

Blood pumps fast through my veins and my heart is thumping with excitement. I can see the last row of houses that sit perched against the dunes. It’s almost dawn. The bastards can’t see so well at night. But, I am going to see the sunrise if it kills me—if they kill me. Maybe I can drink the rest of the case of Red Bull and see if my heart will explode before giving them the satisfaction of catching up with me again. Death by energy drink? Doesn’t sound like such a bad way to go. Death by alien a-hole? Much worse.

I run across the deserted street, ducking around the abandoned house. My fingertips graze the peeling white paint on the clapboards at my back. When I ran for it, I had nothing and had gained little along the way. I’d found a few energy bars and plucked a few apples off a tree that was rooted next to an abandoned swing set. The swings moved to and fro by the wind in lieu of children. No innocent laughter would be heard there again.

A chill runs down my arms, pebbling my skin. Most everyone left alive from the initial attacks had been rounded up and put in ‘containment’. In only a matter of hours, humans had moved down a notch on the proverbial food chain. It was from a containment facility, that I discovered a section of fencing that was dead. The section was small and a portion of the grid-like fencing had been peeled back. It was just large enough that I could squeeze through.

I wish there was something else I could do, somewhere else to go. But, when aliens land on your planet, they pretty much destroy everything in their path. We’d learned that the hard way. When the attacks started, everyone went crazy. Many were killed, others looted the stores and homes in an effort to survive. Now, nothing was left. I couldn’t live without food and fresh water. After the Red Bull was gone, I would have neither. All of the stores and homes that I’d stopped at along the way had been ransacked, looted or just destroyed completely. So, the cockroaches can find me and do whatever they do with people who escape from their prisons. But, I’m at least gonna walk in the surf, maybe even swim for a bit.
The sky is streaked with vibrant yellows, purples and blues. Billowy white clouds dot the sky, illuminated by the sun that is almost breaching the horizon. Show time. I kick off my Chuck’s and throw my socks over my shoulders one at a time as I rip them off my feet. All but skipping, I drop the backpack and then my shorts and tug my shirt over my head. Screw breadcrumbs, I’ve left a trail of clothing from the houses to the shore. Come and get me, douches!

The water is perfect. Early July is hot and it feels like I’ve just stepped into a freaking bath! So amazing! The waves crash into my knees, thighs and then stomach. I’ve never been a swimmer, so when a couple crash over my head, I reel myself in a bit. The salt water stings my eyes and nose, but it’s the most glorious feeling in the world. Reveling in the feeling of freedom, I wash out my greasy hair and forget all about time.

Unfortunately, I forgot to watch my back, too.

A throat clears behind me. Right behind me. I whip around as a wave crests over my shoulders. Oh, crap. That was fast. I’ll never get over how much they look human. Everything but the eyes. The eyes are like molten gold. His are no exception, and they are beautifully set within thick, black lashes that no man should have. “Come with me,” he orders.

“Nah. I think I’ll stay in for a bit. I’m on vacation.” He’s at least a foot taller than me and I’m five foot five, and beneath the fitted white t-shirt and jeans that are now soaked through, rippled muscles sculpt his arms, chest and stomach. Yummy alien. 

“Vacation?” He ticks his head to the side and stares at me unblinking. Weird. 

“Yep. Enjoying a nice day at the beach. You know, vacation.” I go back to washing my hair out with sand. It’s all I’ve got and the grit should take away the dirt, right. Clean dirt with dirt?

“You are number 2278950.” He looks me over and I realize I’m in only my dirty hot pink bra and panties. Covering what I can, I splash at him. I’m sure that my face and chest are flushed after that ogling. Diversion!

“Hey, eyes up here, E.T.”

“E.T.?”

“Yeah. Extra. Terrestrial. Never seen the movie? Well, you should really do more research on your subjects. Anywho, my name is Ashlynn. Not 22—whatever. Got it.”

He moves fast. Without even disturbing the water, he’s in front of me. “Ashlynn.” My name sounds strange on his tongue, it’s as if he’s tasting it. “You must exit the water, dress and come with me. I’ve been sent to collect you. You will return to containment immediately.”

“Um, no. I really didn’t like it there. No offense. It was…No. It really wasn’t nice at all. I don’t think I’ll go back again.” Before my smart mouth can even close, I’m on the shore. His hands are on my upper arms. “How?” That’s all I can squeeze out.

“Do not test me, Ashlynn. I am offering to take you without using force.”

“Maybe I like the use of force. Hmmm? Ever thought of that?”

His eyebrows knit together. “Hey, why do you look like us? Why not look like you? What do you really look like, anyway?”

A crooked smile stretches over his face. My freaking weakness. Seriously? They’ve sent in the big guns to drag me back to hell. “I can show you.” His voice is like butter and before I even realize he’s moved, his lips are pressed hard against mine and he’s pushing me hard against him. Softness and mint glides over my mouth and moves ever so slowly and deliciously until I sigh and open up for him. His tongue and mine collide and my brain pretty much turns to mush, like the rest of my body that’s collapsing into him. He pulls back, breaking the kiss. It must be their secret weapon. Compliance by hot alien kisses. He didn’t even need cuffs, or whatever they use.

“See. This is what I really look like. We come from a planet much like your Earth. We look very much like you on the outside, although our brains function at a much higher level.”

“Why did you kiss me, then?”

“Your lips looked delicious. I couldn’t resist.” His lips claim mine again and I realize that I’m so screwed. I pull away and run toward my backpack. He doesn’t chase after me, of course, when you’re alien-fast you don’t have to worry about keeping up, I guess. Riffling around in my bag, I pull out another can of Red Bull. Within a blink of an eye, he’s five feet away from me. “Your weapons will not hurt us. Not for long, anyway.”

“What’s that?” I point toward the waves again. He turns his head to look and I launch the can at him. It pegs him in the side of the head and he turns around. Anger flashes in his golden eyes. Oh, crap. Now I’m really in trouble. He’s become the bull and I’m the red. I take off running away from the shore. I can see the house in sight, but don’t make it. I land in a heap, gritty sand all over my skin. Something heavy lands on top of me, squeezing out my breath.

“Wrong move, Ashlynn,” he grins again, just before covering my mouth with his. The sandy stubble along his jaw lightly and deliciously scrapes along my skin. Yummy alien. Le sigh.

 ^^^Spacey Casey ^^^

While you're all here and in the mood to follow this awesome author, why not check her out on her blog or over on Goodreads? Her book, Devil Creek, will be FREE on Amazon through the 17th! Click here to get yours now!

Don't forget! Today's the last day to grab a copy of I, Zombie free! It has 19 reviews with a 4.5* average! Folks are loving it! Get one here!

If you loved the short story above or have questions for Casey, drop a note into the comments section!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

I, Zombie Stats Thus Far

Happy Friday, good people of the blogosphere! What a wild day it was around here yesterday, huh? We had some awesome reviews for I, Zombie to check out, a giveaway, and a free book to download! Well, today there's more! I have more reviews for the book, and some early statistics for you to feast your eyes upon. Let's get going!

First up, I'm gonna share some more reviews with you! I didn't want to overwhelm you all yesterday with a billion reviews to check out, so I'm posting the rest today. Enjoy! Be sure and click the links, go leave the reviewers some love, and download your free copy!

"Trixie and Jack don't get much time together in the beginning of the book before the infection starts to spread. Jo did a wonderful job making me feel the pain and misery of having your body fail when your mind is still thoroughly intact."

~  Amber Garr 4/5 Stars!  ~

"If you love good clean books then this one is for you!  If you love Zombie books, this one is for you! If you love books with a touch of romance, and a touch of action, then this one is for you!"

~  Ohana Day Academy 5/5 Stars!  ~ 

"Overall this was a creative read and I really enjoyed getting lost in the story. I look forward to more books by Jo Michaels. I would recommend this novel to zombie lovers and zombie sympathizers lol."

~  Justine on Amazon 4/5 Stars!  ~

"I enjoyed this bit of fantasy very much. These teens have a grip on reality, and a kindness for others not often seen in today's world."

~  sweetpea on Amazon 5/5 Stars!  ~

"This story is essentially about a small southern town whose young people are infected and the various ways everyone deals with that. It's about friendship and love, heartbreak and loss. It is truly an incredible read if you're looking for something that will make you feel."

~  Tawnya @ One More Chapter on Amazon 5/5 Stars!  ~

Now for some pictures and stat updates!

As you can see, the beginning of the day had the book at #21 for YA Horror and #3,738 overall. However, by this morning, it jumped to here:

It jumped to #1 in YA Horror, #11 in Literature and Fiction Horror, and #353 overall.

I'm blown away. Not only because the book is doing so well right now; but, also because I know it's due to every single one of my fans sharing and screaming about it from the rooftops.

Thank you all SO much for helping me make the launch awesome!

Remember, it's free through Monday so keep sharing!! If you haven't picked one up, go grab it here!

Here are a few premade posts for you:

For Twitter:

Love #Zombies? Grab this #KindleFreebie today: http://bit.ly/1cYCdYi 1/9-13 Plz RT & get one #FREE. #Horror #YA

Looking 4 a #FREE #YA #Horror novel? http://bit.ly/1cYCdYi 1/9-13 only on #Kindle Please RT & get your own!

For Facebook:

If you love #zombies or #YoungAdult then you'll squeal over this free ebook - http://bit.ly/1cYCdYi

If you've read it, please be so kind as to leave a review.

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

I, Zombie Release Day Fun

Happy Thursday, everyone! Today's the big day! I've sent I, Zombie out into the world for you all to consume and enjoy. Let's get this party started right. Get your clicking finger ready!

First, be sure you've entered the Goodreads giveaway for your chance to win one of four signed, printed copies of the book.

Enter here:

I, Zombie Goodreads Giveaway

Second, read a couple of the fabulous reviews from my ARC reviewers! Just click the links to get to the whole review. And please leave these wonderful folks some love while you're there.

"It is a fun and beautiful story. An emotional read, with words painted to beautiful perfection. Unique and Intriguing. I loved every minute of it."

~  Casey L. Bond 5/5 stars!  ~

"This book rocks! You will fall in love with Trixie and several other characters. From page one, it's a constant thrill ride. But, more importantly, it's a story with heart and soul--a great read for action-seekers as well as those who want to connect with characters."

~  Mom in Love with Fiction 5/5 stars!  ~

"Seeing things from the infected's point of view? Different. This one pulls at the heartstrings, too - needed some tissues. I appreciate the author keeping the book fairly clean - although there were a few gory details, nothing was revolting or overdone."

~  Pauline Creeden The Book Ninja 5/5 stars!  ~

"Two-parts horror, one-part romance, this book is a great addition to any persons electronic book shelf."

~  Regan Claire 4/5 stars!  ~

"This novel was a quick and easy read that kept me turning pages –  With quirky banter between best friends, classmates hunting each other down, zombie themed chapter names, and of course a little bit of love."

~  Elyse Schramm Contagious Reads 4.5/5 stars!  ~

"Within the first few pages I found myself anticipating what was going to happen and anxious to get to the end so I could know the whole story."

~  Nichole Greene 5/5 stars!  ~ 

Last, we move on to informational type stuff; like where you can get a copy!

Title: I, Zombie
Author: Jo Michaels
Genre: YA Horror
Length (print): 262 pages
Purchase Links: Createspace $14.99 Amazon Kindle $3.99 FREE!

Synopsis:
It's the end of the world as we know it.

Trixie Collins is a normal teen making her way through high school. One night at a party, a boy comes on to her and won't take no for an answer. As she jerks her arm away, his fingernails cut into her skin.

When she finds her dog's mutilated body and realizes she's to blame, she starts to think maybe the zombie apocalypse they've been screaming about on the news isn't a hoax after all. Worse, she begins to think maybe she's one of the infected.

Now it's a fight for life as she joins together with her brethren to stop the humans intent on destroying them. Are zombies all bad, or is it just a huge misunderstanding?


What's a release day without something special to go along with it? For the next five days, you can pick up a copy of this book absolutely FREE. That's right, I said free. What are you waiting for?

My humble request is that you please leave a review after you finish the book. Easy peasy.

Thanks for popping by! And, if you'd like to share the zombie goodness with your friends, here are a few premade posts for you:

For Twitter:

Love #Zombies? Grab this #KindleFreebie today: http://bit.ly/1cYCdYi 1/9-13 Plz RT & get one #FREE. #Horror #YA

Looking 4 a #FREE #YA #Horror novel? http://bit.ly/1cYCdYi 1/9-13 only on #Kindle Please RT & get your own!

For Facebook:

If you love #zombies or #YoungAdult then you'll squeal over this free ebook - http://bit.ly/1cYCdYi

Thanks for joining me today for my release! If you've read it already, tell me your favorite part!

Don't forget to follow Trixie on Twitter while you're here. Some fun stuff coming from that account soon!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Book Review - Sir Edric's Temple

Happy Wednesday, good people of the blogosphere! Today I bring you another book review. This is the first book from my Indie Fever 2014 Reading Challenge list to be reviewed here on the blog. If you don't know about Indie Fever, feel free to check it out and join up here.

Now, a little about the book on the table for massacre uh... review:

Title: Sir Edric's Temple
Author: Thaddeus White
Genre: Fantasy and Humor
Length (print): 124 pages
Purchase Links: Amazon Kindle $2.99

Synopsis:
When Sir Edric Greenlock, the Hero of Hornska, is summoned to attend the King in the dead of night he fears imminent execution. Committing adultery is frowned upon in King Lawrence's domains, especially when it's with Lawrence's wife. The King, however, has something else in mind. Priceless royal treasures have been stolen, and the King dispatches Sir Edric to retrieve them in a mission that could optimistically be described as suicidal.

Accompanied by his pathologically loyal manservant Dog, the prudish elf Lysandra, and a man called Colin, he must travel to the Unholy Temple to retrieve the royal treasures from a mysterious thief.


**Will not appear in review elsewhere

Thaddeus was one of the winners of a review from my 12 Days of Christmas contest at the end of last year. I do this once a year to fill my Kindle with books by authors I've never read (and some I have who've released new titles I haven't read). I ask each author to pitch their book to me in a comment and leave me a link so I can snag a sample. I have to admit, White had my attention with the pitch and once I dove into the sample, I couldn't stop reading.

And who wouldn't love this cover?**

Okay, on to the meat and potatoes!!

I grabbed a sample of Sir Edric's Temple after the author pitched the book on my blog. I have to say, I wasn't sure I was going to like it from the description; but, once I started reading, I was sucked in by the excellent writing and world-building going on. When the sample ended and I was upset there was no more to read, I knew I'd hit upon a winner. On the cover is exactly what you'd expect Sir Edric to look like (crossbow and all). Now for the review!

From a Reader's Perspective:
White now owes me a box of cleaning wipes. I can't tell you how many times I laughed while reading this book. Sir Edric's inner monologue will have you rolling on the floor while understanding this is probably what 9/10 of the male population is thinking at any given point in time. It's very true to life in that sense. You also start to actually like him by the end of the book, despite his womanizing ways. Plus, there are mystical creatures, zombies (yay!), and dragons (who doesn't love dragons?). When the end of the book came about, I was not only sad the story was over, but cracking up at the final outcome. It had the most beautiful twist!

From an Editor's Perspective:
This book was so well written, I found no errors. That's saying something. My brain is wired to find even the tiniest slip-ups, and this book had none. Kudos to the author.

Rating:
1 Star for making me laugh like a crazy person
1 Star for making Sir Edric so darned likeable
1 Star for great world building
1 Star for the fantastic ending
1 Star for editing and lack of errors
Overall, 5 out of 5 stars! Recommended to anyone who loves to laugh and finds humor in male inner-monologue.


I do hope you all check out Sir Edric's Temple. It's a fast, fun, humorous read that's well worth the $2.99 it costs.

As a little aside, I, Zombie went live and is available for purchase here. It's just $0.99 for a limited time, so I suggest you snag one! Party starts on the blog tomorrow so be sure you come on back for that!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

A Truly Magical Engagement Story

Happy Tuesday, good people of the blogosphere! Today, I'll be regaling you all with a little story of how The Best Fiance in the World proposed and showing you a few awesome photos to go along with. Tomorrow, we'll be back on our regular schedule, and I'll be posting my review of Sir Edric's Temple by Thaddeus White for the first Indie Fever Reading Challenge book of 2014. Be sure and come on back for that! Also remember, tomorrow is the official launch day for I, Zombie! I'll be posting reviews and links on Thursday! It's gonna be a fun-filled week here on the blog.

I don't usually share anything personal here on the blog, but this is a major life-changer for me, and I want to shout it from the rooftops!

Okay, I'll shut up and get to the great stuff!

So, TBBITW (The Best Boyfriend in the World) tells me we're going to Disney World for a couple of days last week. Let me tell you, I was super excited. It's one of my favorite places on the planet. So, we pack up and get on a plane Tuesday morning for a relaxing and warm few days further south.

Just in case you aren't aware, this lady hates the cold. Moving on...

Tuesday, we have an awesome afternoon roaming around Epcot (there were so many people there, I can't even begin to tell you how packed it was). This photo was when we first arrived and you can tell we're having a grand old time!

After braving the crowds, we head out to our first dinner reservation of the week. It was a Hawaiian show where they danced the hula and played with fire called the Spirit of Aloha at the Polynesian resort. Of course, we had to change!

Then, we went back to our resort (Port Orleans - Riverside) and rang in the new year at the bar. Did I mention it had begun to rain? Okay, not a big deal, at least it was kinda warm. I loved the Port Orleans resort because I grew up in Louisiana and it resembled the French Quarter. Yay! Kudos to TBBITW!

Awesome so far, right? Well, we woke up the next morning (New Year's Day) and headed off to the Magic Kingdom where we meandered around, rode some rides, and took in the sights. Now it begins to rain in earnest. Pouring. Buckets from Heaven are falling around us. No problem; we'd looked at the weather forecast and brought our umbrella! Go us! We pose for a few awesome photos and head back to the room to get dressed for that night's dinner. It's at Cinderella's Royal Table, situated in the top of that lovely castle you see in the background there.

How exciting is that?

We get all spiffed up and head back to the park for our amazing night. It, thankfully, stopped raining at this point and we look darn good. I'm stoked to meet the princesses and have an awesome dinner with TBBITW. I probably chattered way too much, but he never complained.

While strolling through the park, we happen upon a lovely place with a tiny studio. We stop and get the photographer to take a couple of shots. There's nothing quite like the Memory Maker package from Disney! The guy took our photos, scanned our magic band, and the pics were on the site in a matter of minutes.

Cool!

Our time to dine arrives and we're ushered through a line to have our photo taken with Cinderella. That was awesome. Then, we wait and someone leads us up a windy staircase into a grand dining room. We get to sit by the window where we can see the whole park spread out below us. Beautiful!

We enjoy the appetizer and our dinner with lively conversation and a lot of laughter. We're waiting on dessert. Our waiter appears carrying a lovely white plate with a cover on it. He puts it down in front of me and pulls off the cover. Here's what was inside (click on the photo and really look):

My first thought: How pretty this is! I'm pretty sure I even say that out loud.


Then, I look around the room and notice I'm the only one who got a pretty, crystal shoe. Hmmm... I leaned in and read the words down the side... Will you marry me, Sweetness? (correct punctuation and all!)

My eyes popped wide open and my heart began pounding in my chest. I look over and he's reaching for our backpack. I began to shake from head to toe as I'm pulled to my feet and he drops to one knee. Here's where the photos get a little funny. I'm betting you can see the utter bewilderment on my face, eh?

He says, "I love you so much. You've always been my Cinderella and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

I was speechless. Hey, there's a first time for everything, right?

What do I say? Well, the words yes and of course come to mind. But, no, I'm apparently neither that smooth nor suave when caught off guard.

I say, "Duh!"

Why? Because I can't imagine spending the rest of my life with anyone else, and I guess I figured he knew that without even needing to ask. *smack my head* So, he looks like a cool cat and I look like a goof. Hehe. Do I care? No. I have the best guy in the world who'll soon be my husband.

He slipped the ring on my finger and I kissed him until his teeth rattled. I have to tell you, that crowd of people went wild. TBBITW was upgraded to TBFITW, soon to be TBHITW.

On the way out, one of the ladies who worked there stopped us. She said, "I've worked here fifteen years and I've never seen a crowd go crazy the way they did tonight. Well done and congratulations!"

We thanked her, left, rode two roller coasters, posed for another photo with the castle in the background, and went through a haunted house. How frikkin perfect is that?

Night three, we took a walk through Hollywood Studios and got to see the awesome light display they had up. It rained all day, but it was warm and cleared up by the evening.

Day four was clear but freezing cold. What did you Floridians do to the weather? I could've sworn we chose your state for the warmth... But, we were having such an awesome time, and were still riding the high of getting engaged. So, who cares if it was a little chilly? I was still warm all over; I always am when I'm with him.

We headed back home that night and have been busy with wedding plans ever since. I'll be sure and share photos from that blessed event as soon as humanly possible.

I hope you all enjoyed reading our little story as much as we enjoyed living it. I'd like to take a moment to thank each and every one of you for hanging around while I was away and returning to the blog now that I'm back. Having people who love to read what you write makes it worth the time spent doing it.

What's your best proposal story?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo