Review of Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

From the book:

Weird as it is working for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, Evie's always thought of herself as normal. Sure, her best friend is a mermaid, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she's falling for a shape-shifter, and she's the only person who can see through paranormals' glamours, but still. Normal.

Only now paranormals are dying, and Evie's dreams are filled with haunting voices and mysterious prophecies. She soon realizes that there may be a link between her abilities and the sudden rash of deaths. Not only that, but she may bery well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

So much for normal.

My Thoughts:

OMG I loved this book. Mrs. White's idea was unbelievably original and Evie is super awesome. I loved her wit and her fashion sense and her friends. All amazing. The story is so well written, I actually believe the IPCA could exist!

I went in this story with low expectations. Sure, I had heard reviews, but I guess I was expecting it to be just like every other book with vampires, werewolves and whatever else. Totally and absolutely wrong! Evie is the perfect story teller. She is so witty and innocent. What she sees and how she sees it is amazing. I love that she vies for a life that we find mundane while the world we wish existed is her idea of boring. Its fantastic.

I loved loved loved Lend. He is just so perfect for Evie and his cryptic speak and all that. Loved him. And then there was Reth. The way he is described is great, and the way the whole faerie race was fantastic, but I just couldn't help being a little wary of him. Of course, I think that was the idea. ;)

Rating: PG. It's a great YA novel, perfect for any young adult of any age. Of course, there were a few violent parts, but very tastefully done.

Recommended for: Anyone that loves the fantasy genre and would like something fresh and different.

Not Recommended for: Someone against violence (even the kind that isn't real)

Stars: 5/5 (Oh bleep!)

Review of Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

 From the Book:

Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduatin from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything--including her own life. Is forbidden love worththe ultimate sacrifice?

My Thoughts:

The first thing that hit me about this book, just looking at it was that the cover is beautiful. We've all heard the old saying, "Don't judge a book by its cover" but I can't help it here. Wow. Also, I love the pages dedicated for the chapters. Phases of the moon, rock on! Then there are those weird little triangle symbols at the corners of each first page of the chapters. It all wraps into the story and really helped pull me in.

The first chapter of this story was amazing. It sucked me right in and took me for the ride. It isn't really surprising what Calla turns out to be, but it is a very original twist on a very classic tale. The chapters are somewhat short, but its such a relief to find that stopping point to go find a bag of chips or turn on some music without having to stop in the middle of the action.

Calla has an awesome personality. I love her for it. She has some outstanding morals in a very fast paced world, and I enjoyed her view on us lowly humans. The balance between her duties and her desires gives her fabulous depth and I really enjoyed following her around on her journey.

Right away, I saw the conflict in this story and while it wasn't a big surprise how the story ended, it was still fantastic writing. Mrs. Cremer did a great job and I can't wait until July to read Wolfsbane.

Rating: G. This is a perfect paranormal/fantasy story for a teen or young adult, but I think that even those of us that are a little older than that would love this book.

Recommended for: Anyone that loves a good twist off the usual fantasy story, anyone that loves history

Not Recommended for: People that don't appreciate the fantasy genre

Rating: 5/5

Those Pesky -ly words

Did you know the -ly words (also known as empty adverbs) are listed as one of the top ten most avoidable mistakes that will get your manuscript thrown out by a prospective editor or agent? The reason I bring this up is because I've been noticing A LOT of them in my current WIP. I realize I'm still only on edit #1, but holy cow (and no, holy does not count!) there are a ton of them suckers. Quietly, softly, quickly, blah blah blah. It really amazes me how fast they suck the enjoyment out of a scene. She touched his face softly. Really? I think I may go throw up loudly. Do you mind? No? Good.

I want to fix them right now! There's a small problem with that, though. I'm over half way done with my edit. It will take all of the motivation I have (which is a complete surprise, so I'm not willing to do anything to comprimise it) and toss it out the window to start from square one here.

So, I have a plan, and you may want to do this with your own WIP. That is, assuming you are at the edit phase of the story. WHEN I finish with what I'm trying to do (which is clean the story up in general and fill plot holes) I'm going to go back to the beginning and I'm going to hunt down every last one of those little plot parasites. Because that's exactly what they are. They're worse than weeds, and the only way to fix the problem is to kill them. You can call me Haley Jo, -ly Hunter! Well... maybe I could use a little more work on the title.

But how do you fix this problem? What can you do to get rid of all those pesky -ly empty adverb words? Here's an example of how you can do it:

He pulled her into his arms and kissed her hungrily.

That's the sentence I wrote the first time around. I have to be able to say the same thing without telling, using passive voice, or that (bleh) -ly word hanging there at the end, poisoning the whole thing.

First of all, how is someone kissed hungrily? What exactly does it mean? Better yet, what does it look like? Feel like? It could look something like:

He pulled her into his arms, his full lips crashing down onto hers, molding them against his as he tasted her sweetness on his tongue.

Too corny?

On the bright side, that nasty -ly word is gone and this sentence gives you so much more than the last. Getting rid of 90% of those words, might get me to my 70k goal alone. I just have to be careful. If I get rid of too many of them, the story might become a little wordy. (EEK!) And no one (me) wants that.

An exerpt

If you've been following me, you know how bad I've been dreading the romance novel thing. Well, I finished the novel and am in the process of editing. I am happy to announce that I have finished with what I call "steamy scene #1." And I am so proud that I managed it, that I feel like sharing. *READER BE WARNED* 1: This scene is naughty, so if you aren't for that thing, you shouldn't continue reading, and 2: This is my first and I just did my first edit, so it may be a little rough around the edges yet. If you feel the need to comment or critique, please be gentle.
That is all...

So, here it is-an exerpt from my new novel, "Beginning Near the End"



They stopped at a light and Amelia smiled at him. Jeremy gazed at her and his blood came to a flash point watching her play with a strand of her thick, dark hair. He reached over and touched her face; the shock of that small touch almost taking his breath away. He leaned over the center counsel and pressed his mouth to hers, reveling in the softness of her lush lips.


She gasped and his tongue found hers, caressing it, tasting the sweetness of the champagne she had at the reception.

Her response was automatic. She threw her arms around his neck and tangled her fingers into his hair, her heart pounding so loudly she was sure he could hear it, too. Desire coiled tight inside her and she wanted nothing more than to press herself closer to him.

A car honking behind them broke them apart, and Amelia couldn’t believe how fast he pulled away from it, speeding toward the house.

He was quick to cut the engine when they reached the house and rapidly picked up where they left off in the car. His mouth left a burning trail on her jaw, ear, all the way down to her neck.

Amelia didn’t see the yard passing her, or hear the front door opening or closing. All she was aware of was his large, calloused hands rubbing gently up and down her arms, the way his lips were like satin on her shoulder.

He picked her up and cradled her in his arms, claiming her lips again. Her fingers dug into his back as he carried her up the stairs. When he reached his bedroom he sat her back on her feet and pulled away for a moment. “Is it too soon?”

She shook her head and closed the gap between them, pressing herself fully against him. She gasped at the bulge of his manhood straining against his pants.

After a moment, she stepped away and turned around. “Help me with this, will you?”

He hefted her thick brown hair over her shoulder and tugged the zipper down to her waist and leaned in to plant a kiss at the nape of her neck. She turned around and slipped the dress from her arms revealing lacy black lingerie that clung to her every curve.

“You are so beautiful,” he whispered as she eased the dress down over her hips. He lifted his hand and let his fingers graze her arm. Gooseflesh rose where their skin met and her breath quickened.

She stepped up to him and grabbed the hem of his shirt. “Let me help you with that.”

He smiled softly and lifted his arms as she pulled the shirt up, watching her throw it aside after it was over his head. He pulled her into his arms and cupped her face in his hands, kissing her deeply.

He released her mouth and moved to her shoulder, sliding the straps down to her arms with his thumbs while he tasted her soft skin. His entire body throbbed with her so near.

Amelia reached down between them and unbuttoned his pants, releasing the pressure and his manhood. She stroked the length of his erection and her eyes widened. She turned away from him and climbed onto the bed. Jeremy pushed his pants down and followed after her.

Lying beside her, he pushed the black lace slowly up her stomach, tracing the contours with his mouth. As he neared the top, he lifted her up and pulled the scanty fabric over her head. Her chest heaved with every shallow, erratic breath.

He gently pushed her back against the mattress and moved to her breasts. He cupped them for a moment, enjoying the way each perfect mound filled his hands. Taking one bud and rolling it slowly between his fingers, his lips moved to the other, grazing it with his teeth before pulling it in and sucking hard. He glanced up when she gasped and felt her hands tangle in his hair as her back arched off the bed. She let out a soft moan and he moved to the other nub, rousing it to a peak.

Returning to her mouth, he moved one hand to her flat stomach, taking his time with his exploration of her body.

When his hand dipped lower to her thigh, Amelia’s heart hammered in her chest. She wrapped her arms around him and found his mouth. Her body was ablaze with sensations she had never known before. She felt she might shatter into a million pieces at any moment.

His finger penetrated her inner folds and found her core moist and hot. He stroked her hidden nub and smiled as her back arced and she screamed his name. He slid a finger deep inside her and felt her contract around him, anticipating the moment that his shaft would be moving inside her, filling her.

With every stroke, her moans and trembling grew until she gripped him and let her nails drag down his back. He pulled away from her, sat up quickly, and pulled his boxers off before straddling her, his erection lying against her belly.

“Please,” she moaned.

He smiled and slid back, letting the tip rub against her lower lips. He fought for control, not wanting to go too quickly, but relish in every second of this moment.

He lifted her hips and slid the tip into her moist heat. She sucked in a breath and threw her head back. Again, he moved inside of her, feeling her body stretch to accommodate him, a little further than before. A low moan rumbled in her throat.

He pulled out once more and pushed back into her immediately, filling her completely. He stayed there for a moment reveling in way her muscles clenching around him before moving back and forth inside her.

Heat built inside her with each thrust he gave. With her body and mind in tempest, she saw only Jeremy, heard only his grunts and moans, felt only his mouth on hers and his manhood moving deep within her.

With every plunge, his tempo increased until both were teetering on the edge of climax. Amelia screamed as Jeremy gave one final thrust, spilling his seed in her. He rolled away, pulling her along with him, cradling her to his side where they both fell asleep.

 
 
Well, that's it! I hope you liked it!

The Final Day of NaNo

Good grief this month has been difficult. To think, when I started November, I was doing so well with the writing. Now its the last day and I've still got six chapters to write and all my time is gone. I feel like running away screaming.

I don't honestly know what happened. Last year, I felt so focused. It was honestly the first novel I ever completed. Maybe I'm in over my head with the whole romance thing. Truly, though, this novel is actually starting to feel like a novel. I've just reached that place in the story where everything starts to get interesting.

The last week has been the hardest. I've been cutting a lot of plot from my story simply to get it finished. Otherwise, I'll be sitting there trying to get in all 65,000 words that I planned, and that will most definitely take me another week at least. There have been days where I don't want to do that (ITS CHEATING!) and so I've nearly decided to quit the story altogether as I wouldn't possibly finish in time.

Amazingly, people have been very supportive. Especially people from work, oddly enough. Many of them go to school, and have taken a literary class or two, and understand exactly how much work goes into writing a novel. These are the people that have been pushing me the most to get this done. Why? They want to read it, of course. Simply put, that will not happen. I have gone to great lengths to make sure that this story will never be linked to me, because I'm actually embarrassed by some of the things I have written. Its not that I think they're bad, but they are things I would never say aloud to the people I am closest to. So, I have the pen name ready to go if I should ever get it published. More than likely, though, I will polish it up in the months to come, get a copy printed for myself and call it a done deal. And even in that case, I'll still have the cover printed with the planned pen name.

I have likened the novel writing proccess to that of raising a child before this, and this year has definitely made that analogy stronger. This child of mine has been dificult from the start, though slightly more planned. By the time I got started with it, I was ready to have it done. We fought, we walked out on each other. Even the voices wouldn't cooperate.

I intend to spend my whole day tomorrow (No work for me, YAY!) trying to get it finished. I don't think I will get all sixty thousand some words written like I wanted to in the beginning, but I will get to the point where I can write 'the end' as fast as possible, and keep writing until its time to submit.

That's the plan anyway. If you don't see me on Twitter, its because I'm avoiding the distraction. I'll try to check in before submission though, and you can all kick my butt into gear! ;D

On Nanowrimo, Writing Buddies, and other such things

Ah, November. What a wonderfully frightening month it is. Anyone who loves to write and has at least one other writer friend knows that November means NaNoWriMo.

How can I describe what NaNoWriMo means to me? As a person who's major motto is: what can be done today is better left for tomorrow, Nano is a daunting task and worthy challenge. It gets me to actually do what needs to be done here and now. Or, at least as far as writing goes. Sadly, my poor house will see the adverse effects of this month. Sure, there will be a couple days where I will wake up, look around, and scramble to make it all look presentable, but we all must hope that the house doesn't tumble to the ground in a heap of filth and dust before then.

This is my second year of NaNoWriMo. Sadly, I'm still in editing phase with last year's, "A Place Called Earth." This time around, I went a different path. Romance! *screams and moans of horror* Honestly, this is how I feel about these things. The Romance equation is such a simple one that is repeated in every story in the genre. Sadly, it is sooo much harder to write. I've been pushing over the last couple days to get ahead of schedule, because I know (its so inevitable, just like the love my characters will share.) that when I hit a certain scene (also inevitable) I am going to be so stuck. On the plus side, I may be able to skip said scene for a later time and still get well over 50,000 words for the month. Its just too bad that I think this is CHEATING! Enough of that, though. When that time comes, I am sure all my lovely followers will hear about it. Probably a few times if you follow me on Twitter.

I have this little guy that seems to be my muse for the moment. My writing buddy... my minion. Minion? Isn't that one of those short yellow guys from that movie, Dispicable Me? Why yes, yes it is. I lurves him. I think it is important to have a writing buddy. Sure, he may not be real, but his encouragment is. I'm a writer, it seriously isn't hard for me to imagine the little guy talking to me, saying, "You can do it!" and "Keep up the good work, Haley Jo!" See... now you want one too. Well, too bad! This one is mine! :D

This little guy is the only one in this house who is really giving me encouragement, and quite honestly, feeding my delusions and allowing me to continue harnessing my imagination. And without that, what am I really? Just another person that enjoys reading and wants to be famous but won't do anything about it. Of course, I have about four different pen names, though, so fame is not really coming to me no matter which way you spin it.  And I'm okay with that. I don't need hundreds of people knowing too much about me. Blogging is as much as I can handle, and really, I tend to keep the personal stuff out of it.

And on that final rambling note, I say ado and back to the Nanoing I go. Seems like it needs a catchy little tune to go along with it. Am I right?

Starting Something New

I've recently decided to try my hand at the romance genre. Honestly, I'm terrified. Plain and simple, I do not read that much romance, and the one's I do read, the romance part isn't the main genre. Usually its paranormal romance, so I feel like I'm a little out of my league. So, why do I do it? I feel like writing this story will help me grow as a writer overall. I feel like I can do the fantasy/scifi/paranormal stuff no problem, but romance? That's hard!

As, I intend to do this story for NaNoWriMo this year, mostly I'm just jotting down tidbits of things I want to remember as well as research and developing my settings and characters. In fact, I just printed off my very detailed, 7-page Chapter Synopsis. Basically, as long as I don't kill off a main character, I can't mess this up. I know the romance recipe: Man meets Woman, they fight, they argue, they fall in love; something happens in their relationship that splits them up and then something else happens that makes them realize they can't live without each other. Tada! Romance novel. Sadly, for me, this could still end terribly, terribly bad. Don't believe me? *sigh*

So, here's the dilema I'm already facing. My Female Main Character has been great. She has been wonderfully cooperative, giving me everything I need, even already interested in my Male Main Character. But (oh yes, there is a but) he is not. So, I need to vent a little bit. I have decided to write him a letter, because that's what I've been doing lately. I've been writing to get into the habit of writing. Here it is.

Dear Jeremy (that's his name),

Sir, why are you being so difficult? I understand its in your personality to be the observant one, but you need to open up to me a little, or I'm going to have to cut you from the story. I'm sure there will be someone else for Amelia. Perhaps Josh.

If you don't like hearing that, then you need to help me out a little. I need you to share some of that wit and humor with me! We already made this deal once. I'm not backing out of it. I know the next month is going to be rocky and emotional, but you have to trust me. Didn't I tell you everything would work out in the end? Didn't I promise you closure and happiness and whatnot? Why are you doing this to me?! You're driving me crazy!

That is all.
-Haley Jo