Top Ten Books of 2016 + An Epic Giveaway

It's been a while since I did a top ten. Are you ready for this?

2016 was a decent reading year for me: 80 or 90 titles. As always, it's very difficult to chop my list down to JUST ten books. Are you ready for this? (And I warn you, this is an eclectic list.)

10

Very interesting book...somewhat morbid. Was it for middle graders (as labeled)? For teens? Adults? (Yes, I was that confused.) The plot, while short, presents great suspense and it was a fun read...after I got over the initial shock of some very unexpected content.

Get it on Amazon.

9

I have absolutely no idea how this one ended up on my eReader, but I consumed it over Christmas. I don't want to give anything away, but people who enjoy NA and fantasy elements will appreciate this one.

Get it on Amazon.

8

A fantastic book that paints a time period in full color--the brutality, the gender roles, the lifestyle. Meet a protagonist well worth rooting for. This book is for adults.

Get it on Amazon.

7

I love, love, LOVE, Odd Thomas. Koontz paints a rich, word-lovers world with suspense, fun twists, and the injustices. Without spoilers or saying anything more, this has been one of my favorite Odd Thomas books. This is an adult book. Very adult.

Get it on Amazon.

6

Aliens, dystopian society, strange things happening in the main characters head... I was taken right away with this story. An awesome YA book. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

Get it on Amazon.

5

THE ONLY mermaid book that comfortably/realistically bridges the world between land and ocean. Although I could see how the story was going to resolve, I enjoyed every moment getting there. A wonderful NA book.

Get it on Amazon.

4

From the first chapter, I wasn't so sure. I'm pleased to say that by the end, I was 100% sold. Cute characters, a fun conflict, and a happy conclusion. Highly recommended.

Get it on Amazon.

3

It's rare I read a book where I just want to linger (because of the author's beautiful language/writing), and can't stop myself from burning through it. This CLEAN regency romance has all the fun of a historical setting, suppressed attraction, and societal expectations, PLUS an actual plot. And beautiful prose.

If you love regency romance, read this book.

Get it on Amazon.

2

When I read the concept of this YA book on a blog, I immediately bought it. (That's rare for me. SUPER rare.) I looked forward to mentally living in that world--but little did I know it would end up being a SINGLE reading session. An AWESOME read. I want to read it again already.

Get it on Amazon.

1

I have never read such a cast of well developed, believable, three-dimensional, DIFFERENT characters. And the plot... I was sitting comfy, thinking status quo when BAM! Whiplash. So I thought, the author got lucky. Hah! It wasn't luck, and just wow! Superb story. SO much fun to read. The only caveat: while labeled YA, this book is TRUE TO LIFE. The characters use language you might hear in a high school hallway. Very authentic.

This one of the best books you've NEVER heard of, but you should definitely read.

Get it on Amazon.

At the beginning of the month, Tracy Clark shared SCINTILLATE along with two truths and one lie. Anyone who guessed the lie correctly was entered to an eBook.

The game:

1. I eat all sandwiches and burgers in a circle, around and around until I get to the middle.

2. I was once crowned Miss Burbank, CA. 

3. I was an extra in the condom commercial in Lethal Weapon 2.

The lie: #2.  

From Tracy: I was 2nd runner up in 1988. Hah!

Way to guess everyone! And the winner is:

...DRUM ROLL...

Hilary Melton-Butcher!

Congrats, Hilary!

And now, for an AWESOME middle grade book:

WELCOME BACK TO THE FOREST!

Gabe the goblin just saved his town Broken Branch Falls from splitting apart. He also revealed that humans--horrible creatures of myth and legend--may actually be part of their history! But seriously? Nah!

Now Ona, Gabe’s girlfriend, is headed thousands of miles away to Camp Cradle Rock for Spring Break seeking evidence of humans. Gabe knows better than to tell a stubborn ogress she’s crazy, so he’s letting her go and spending the break at the beach like a normal teenage beast. And he’s determined to have a good time without her, whether he likes it or not.

But when Gabe hears Ona went missing, he and his friends set out for the wilds of the west to find her, no matter what dangerous creatures get in his way. Not even humans.

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Check out the Book Trailer!

Ready to meet the author?

Tara Tyler

I love to use poetry and songs in my writing, there are a couple of examples of me singing on my YouTube channel. And in my fantasy books, I always seem to find a reason to add a poem or song, like this human bedtime rhyme to warn children about beasts from CRADLE ROCK:

Close your eyes and go to sleep

Not a whisper, not a peep

Else beyond the border creep

Giant monsters, make you weep

When fathers scold

And mothers hold

Dark tales of old

Are often told

From the history of time

Beware the Mist above the line

Across our fences, danger find

Stay safe within or fate unkind

Big, bad, hairy

Monsters scary

Pray for fairy

Sweet dreams carry

Close your eyes and go to sleep

Not a whisper, not a peep

Else beyond the border creep

Giant monsters, make you weep.

Since I love to sing, I have performed in front of a few audiences - but I often screw up from stage fright! It's tough!

Tara Tyler started out as a math teacher. After having a hand in everything from waitressing to rocket engineering and living up and down the Eastern US, she now writes and teaches in Ohio with her three active boys and Coach Husband. In addition to her novels, she has published short stories and poetry in Science Fiction, Fantasy, Thriller, and Humor. So many stories to tell!

Tara gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. Those who figure out the lie will go into my magic hat for the chance to win their choice of an eBook, signed PRINT book, OR swag item (bracelet, t-shirt, or tervis tumbler). (Open internationally.)

You have until Tuesday, January 31 at 2 p.m. EDT to guess. Be sure to come back for the answer on February 1, 8 a.m. EDT.

TRUTH OR LIE

1. I sang at a friend's wedding, but didn't practice nearly enough so I mixed up two of the verses. I don't think anyone knew... it was from an opera.
2. I sang at the funeral of a friend's mother - hardest thing I've ever done, was shaking and tearing up, barely made it through.
3. In college I had a solo for our "Spring Sing" - was young and fearless and hit that high note with a vengeance, the video is priceless.

So sleuths, which is the lie? Have you met Tara? Do you like middle grade stories? Do you have a favorite book or two from 2016? Share, please!

Top 10 Dragon Movies...and a Book...with Cheese

Are you a fantasy fan?

I grew up on dragons, unicorns, and elves. They lived in my head and danced across the pages I read or drew. They fed my imagination and kept me from dwelling on the sour, depressing, or down moments of life. Ten of the best dragons movies ever in no particular order (most of which you've probably not heard about):

And because we need a little cheese...

Source

Source

Source

 

Now how about a DRAGON giveaway?

Last week Anna Simpson shared with us WHITE LIGHT, along with two truths and a lie. Those who guessed the lie correctly were entered into a random drawing for the chance to win signed bookmarks and a charm bracelet.

The Game:

1. I had over 50,000 movies on videotape in my basement. Due to mold and obsolete equipment, my wife and I recently rented a huge dumpster just to haul the tapes away.
2. Fifteen years ago I was in an alternative/rock/country-funk/performance art/comedy band. I wore pajamas and slippers for every show. My character was a sort of demented hillbilly who toted around a saxophone, but rarely played it.
3. I have webbed toes. But it's a bonus, because in high school gym, I was a championship swimmer. Shoes are hard to fit, though. I have to have them special ordered from WebsRUs.

The lie: #3.

Way to guess everyone! And the winner is:

...DRUM ROLL...

S.P. Bowers!

Congrats!

And now for this week's feature... 

Allyson fights acne, not trolls. As an inhaler-carrying member of the asthma society, she just wants to meet the father who turned her mother into a paranoid, move-across-the-nation freak. Now she’s trying to fit in at yet another school, but for the first time in her life, she has a best friend, Beth. When Allyson accidentally spits fire at kidnappers in the mall, she realizes why her father isn’t in the picture: she’s half dragon. Her acne? Emerging scales. Her asthma? The side effects of her dragon's fire breath. Instead of freaking out, unflappable Beth reveals her own troll heritage and explains how things work with the supernatural creatures hiding within the modern world of smartphones and skyscrapers. 

When trolls kidnap a unicorn, Beth gets blamed. Allyson is determined to prove Beth’s innocence and keep her friend off the unicorn chopping block. When they start looking for the kidnappers, they get a call from the last person they expect: Allyson’s father. He tries to warn them off, but he's been put under a spell by the kidnappers to keep the victims from escaping. Nothing short of death can stop him. Now Allyson must choose between killing the father she’s always dreamed of, or letting her best friend die for a crime she didn’t commit.

Get your copy HERE.

Ready to meet the author?

Living as a muggle has brought Rena some levels of success, such as procuring a master’s degree from a well vetted university, but always the stories returned, calling her to the keyboard in the dark of night. Now, having built armies from words, Rena has set her sights on world domination, one book at a time.

From her secret base in the wine country, Rena has enlisted the help of her cats, her loyal dogs, and her family―who can be relied upon to hide the launch codes at a moment’s notice. You can find Rena at her blog, follow her on Twitter, or find her on Facebook. Her debut novel, Acne, Asthma, And Other Signs You Might Be Half Dragon just released with Curiosity Quills. You can find it here on Goodreads, or buy it here!

Rena gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. Those who figure out the lie will go into my magic hat for the chance to an eBook! (Open Internationally.)

You have until Monday, February 1 at 1 a.m. EDT to guess. Be sure to come back for the answers on February 1, 8 a.m EDT.

TRUTH OR LIE

1. I once wore the Hope Diamond. I was working at the Smithsonian for my master's degree, and the Hope Diamond was just being put back into its setting after being scanned for a documentary to see if it was possible to get the Hope and another diamond from the Cul de Mar. They were about to shine up the diamond and they were letting the resident scientists wear the diamond. It was surreal.
2. One time, a person fell out of the sky into the middle of a field trip I was leading. Then, he flew away.
3. I once pulled a matched pair of black pearls from an oyster at a pick'a'pearl. But first, I told the guy running the kiosk that I couldn't buy one because I would pull a pair of matched, black pearls, and that would blow his mind. He said he didn't believe me, and the rest is history.

So sleuths, which is the lie? Do you love dragons? What's your favorite dragon movie? Book? Have you seen any of these?

Top 10 Books of 2015

How about a reading year in review? What did you read that was epic?

It wasn't as big a reading year for me as normal. With the sleep deprivation and baby, I set my sights low thinking 30 books was a reasonable goal. And doubled that. Not too shabby, eh? So, of those 60 books, I proudly present my top 10 of the year:



#10 THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL: While I had reservations about this one as far as content, appropriateness, and plot for MG, the characters are so solid that I can still hear their voices in my head.



#9 POLAR NIGHTS: I never read murder mysteries. Never. But when you've got a vampire involved? This isn't your sparkly crush variety, but a nasty, age-warped creature. What I adored most about this book was being transported to the arctic tundra of Alaska. I tell you, even while living in Florida, I felt cold while reading this one. (Adult novel.)




#8 SCHISM: This was a fun concept with character arcs that really stretch. (YA to NA.)




#7 QUEST OF THE HART: A sweet fantasy featuring a Disney-like princess who has to get her "hero on" or say goodbye to the kingdom. A fun YA.



#6 ILLUSIONS OF FATE: I ADORED Kiersten White's debut novel, Paranormalcy, so I thought I'd give this one a try. I wasn't disappointed to be sure. It felt almost like Sarah J. Maas's Throne of Glass type world, but definitely with a softer tone. (No crazy assassin business.) A fun read.


#5 BEING HUMAN: This book may not appeal to everyone, but it won me over by its uniqueness and true-to-reality (alternate reality) voice. The underlying themes grabbed my heart and I adore the characters and the struggles they face. This is contemporary meets vampires in a world that's been through a vampire apocalypse. Probably the best thinking book of the year.




#4 THE EIGHTH DAY: Epicness wrapped in bacon. This MG book series is rapidly becoming a favorite in my household. The concept is epic, the characters are loveable, and the plot? We're fans.




#3 PEACHVILLE HIGH: This is an entire series. I read the first book in 2009 and have been itching to get back to it ever since. (Doesn't that speak volumes?) I binge read 4 books in the series over Christmas break (and I usually abhor witches).




#2 THE INQUISITOR'S MARK: Love. Love. LOVE! MG at its finest. Break out your imagination and follow characters who are the embodiment of epic sauce. (Second book in the series.)




#1 CHIMERA: OH. MY. GOODNESS. This was my absolute my #1 read. Absolute. One of the authors contacted me and asked if I'd be willing to review the book. I tolerate Sci-fi (and occasionally like it), so I shrugged and decided to go for it. Best. YA. All. Year. The characters are so rich, so real, and their struggles keep you pinned to the pages. Please, go read this. Now!

 

Now how about a giveaway?

Last week Eric Price shared with us UNVEILING THE WIZARDS' SHROUD and THE SQUIRE AND THE SLAVE MASTER, along with two truths and a lie. Those who guessed the lie correctly were entered into a random drawing for the chance to win a print book and eBook.

The Game:

1. I know some guys in a local St. Louis band called Earl. Back stage at one of their shows at the Pageant, they asked me to go out after the break and play bass, which I did.

2. I've met Rob Zombie. In a strange sort of creepy, quazi-ironic way, I met him on Easter Sunday.
3. I have a tendency to win front row seats to concerts. I've seen Billy Joel, Elton John, and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers all from the front row.

The lie: #1. Eric met the guys in Earl through a friend who's a DJ for an independent radio station in St. Louis. He had been back stage at the Pageant with them, but the event he's talking about took place at a small club located above a restaurant. During a break, they had people go on stage and play. They tried to get him to take the bass, but he refused as he has negative musical talent.

Way to guess everyone! And the winner is:

...DRUM ROLL...

Susan Flett Swiderski!

Congrats, Susan! 

And now for this week's feature... 

Emma never dreamed of being a super-sleuth. In her mind, she’s more Scooby Doo than Nancy Drew and when her nosy neighbor, Mrs. Perkins, drags her to an anniversary party to solve a mystery, she rolls her eyes, buys a box of chocolates and hops in the car.

What’s a party without an attack on its host—or more accurately on the host’s grandson, sparking an allergic reaction and moving the party to the hospital waiting room. Suddenly, everyone is a suspect. Emma and Mrs. Perkins, along with Great Aunt Alice (a spirit with boundary issues who keeps stepping into Emma’s body like a new dress and playing matchmaker), dive into an investigation that almost gets Emma killed along with the man they are trying to protect. With so many reasons to kill him and so much to be gained if he died, Emma and Mrs. Perkins must unravel the tenuous ties that point to every member of his family as potential killers.

Even if it means going back to the psych ward, Emma will protect her friend and this innocent man. What good is freedom if it’s haunted with guilt?

Get your copy HERE.

Ready to meet the author?

Anna Simpson lives near the Canadian-US border with her family. Even though she’s lived in several places in British Columbia, her free spirit wasn’t able to settle down until she moved back to her hometown.

She is easy to find though, if you know the magic word — emaginette. Do an internet search using it and you’ll see what I mean. :-)

You might find her with brie and a nice merlot when friends drop by. (It seems to set the perfect mood.)

Anna gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. Those who figure out the lie will go into my magic hat for the chance to win signed bookmarks and a charm bracelet! (Open Internationally.)

You have until Tuesday, January 19 at 1 p.m. EDT to guess. Be sure to come back for the answers on January 20.

TRUTH OR LIE

1. I have stood exactly where I was born and it is in the middle of the produce section of our local grocery store.
2. I was given a tarot deck from a complete stranger.
3. I overcame my fear of spiders when my son mimicked my jumping around like a lunatic when he was two years old.

So sleuths, which is the lie? What are your favorite books from 2015? Have you read any of these? Do you like mystery novels?

10 Secrets to a Happy Marriage: Anniversary Edition

Wedding Day, Jan. 2000

Have you ever read about star-crossed love and wondered if it's real? 

It is.

One of my reviewers for SOULLESS suggested it's highly possible I am very happily married. She's right. Today is my 15 year anniversary. We started out epically in love, and are still epically in love. 

So how does that work? Well, here are a few secrets (in no particular order):

1. Don't live together first. "What?" you ask. But that's what people do! That's how you're supposed to do it. 

No. No, it's not. 

Think about this on a subconscious level. Choosing to live together before marriage is like saying, "Here, let's give this a trial run to see if it works out."

Wow. That's romance for you. NOT.

When you start a relationship, start with the deepest commitment: I'm in this for forever. Think about what that does on a base level. Your commitment is 100%. Your partner's commitment is 100%. It's not a "let's see if this works" kind of arrangement. You're both ALL IN.

Start with that basis, and your chances of success multiply exponentially. (Don't believe me? Check out source 1 and source 2. There are hundreds of others, but the facts are actually quite astonishing.)

2. Talk, all the time. And listen too. For a school project (before I was married), I interviewed my grandmother about what was most important in marriage. Her answer: Communication. 

My hubby and I were apart for 2 years before we were able to get married, and our only means of communication was letters. We got to know one another pretty well through the written word. In fact, call us silly, but we still text, call or chat every single day while we're at work. It may be a simple issue involving the kids, or a quick, "I'm thinking about you." It doesn't matter what it is, but we're in touch.

Remember, listening is part of that equation. That means turning off the phone, the internet, the TV, everything. Nothing says, "You're just not a priority", like a spouse scrolling down their smart phone while you're trying to talk. 

3. Go to bed together. What happens when your schedules fall out of sync, is then your lives fall out of sync. Suddenly you develop different priorities. There are also studies that say couples who cuddle or touch while sleeping, have stronger relationships.

4. Do something that shows you love your spouse every day. This should be obvious, right? Here's the key: learning how to tell someone you love them.

What? You just say it, right?

Possibly.

For some people, an act of service is really the way you say, "I love you." For some it's physical touch. For others it's receiving gifts. Others need regular verbal reinforcement (compliments etc). For ALL, it's quality time.

5. Willingly make sacrifices. When you say, "I do", you promise to think always of the other person in your decisions. There is no room for selfishness. 

I've watch marriages crumble because although a husband may say, "I love you", he won't make the sacrifice to get or hold down a steady job. On the reverse, some marriages crumble because a woman won't learn how to curb her spending.

Real love requires a willingness to change our behaviors.

6. DATE. Yes, even after marriage. I once heard a very wise man say, "Love is actually spelled T-I-M-E." Dates don't have to cost money. They can be a simple walk in the park together, viewing Christmas lights, playing board games. Whatever you do, make it a priority and be sure to plan something regularly. Once a week is awesome. Once a month is MANDATORY. WITHOUT KIDS. 

7. Common interests or hobbies. My mom likes to remodel her house. Crazy, right? But each project is something she and her husband can do together. They enjoy creating as a team.

Some people enjoy playing sports, running or exercising, giving service to charities, gardening, or theater... Whatever it is, build some common ground--something that belongs to both of you.

8. Positive Mental Dialog. It's so easy to forget why you fell in love with someone to begin with, but focusing on the good in a person is one way to keep love alive. If you allow yourself to focus on the bad or annoying, you will start seeing your spouse in a degraded light. Look for the good--just like you hope they are doing for you. In fact, when you focus on the positive, they are very likely to reciprocate the kindness. 

9. Religion. We live in a world where people want to say this aspect doesn't matter. 

It does. 

Religious beliefs are at the core of a person's soul. I suppose that's why I hesitate to share mine, even when I should, because they are so sacred to me. For instance, because of our beliefs, when my husband and I married, we married for eternity--not just until death-do-you-part. Marriage is a priority as part of our religion. God comes first, then one another, then kids, then church, then work and school...

15 Happy Years

10. Forgiveness. Conflicts will come, even for those who are completely grounded. We all do and say stupid things. We all blame one another for problems, validated or not. True love is one that doesn't hold a grudge. Forgiveness frees a person to love deeper because they're not busy clinging to pain. If we want successful marriages, we have to let those walls down and extend our spouse the same courtesy we give ourselves when we do or say something stupid. 

Because it's my anniversary, I'm taking the week off, but first let's announce the latest winner!

Last week Stacey Nash shared FORGET ME NOT with us, along with two lies and one truth. Those who guessed the truth correctly were entered into a random drawing for the chance to win an eBook.  

Stacey's game: 

1. Stacey is somehow linked with identical twins. There's always been at least one set playing a major role in her life at any given time.

2. She was once stark naked in the DMV.

3. She has more ribs than most people, and that's what makes her a mutant (or if you prefer, meta-human). It's not her super power though. That's being able to hear her name whispered from across a crowded room.

And the lie is:

#2. In Stacey's own words: "The DMV (or RTA as we call it on Australia) was crowded and my then three year old and I had been waiting for over an hour for our turn to speak with an employee. He's a good kid, but he was getting rather agitated, hungry, and like me just wanted to get out of there. Finally, our number was called so I moved up to the counter to renew our car's registration. Mr three was terribly frustrated by this, because if we were moving we should have been moving toward the exit. So as I was talking to the DMV lady, he tried to get my attention. When I asked him to wait, he just grew more frustrated, until finally he tugged on my dress really, REALLY, hard. It was one of those maxi dresses that are fitted around the bust then flow out. Well, he'd tugged so hard it slipped right down to my waist together with my strapless bra. (I have trouble holding them up cause I'm tiny.)  I don't think the poor lady knew where to look and thankfully the massive queue behind us could only see my back."

What a story, right?

Way to guess everyone! And the winner is:

...DRUM ROLL...

Jenni Enzor!

Congrats Jenni! 

What are some secrets you've learned for a healthy relationship? Are you celebrating anything this week? Have you ever written or read about a relationship that made you want to do better? 

15 AMAZING Villain Quotes

15. "You have to win every week, He-man, I only have to win once!" = Skeletor

14. Sherlock: People have died.

Moriarty: That's what people DO.

13. "Falling is just like flying except it has a more permanent destination." - Moriarty

12. "You sly dog! You caught me monologuing!" -Syndrome

11. "Ah, how shall I do it? Oh, I know. I'll turn him into a flea, a harmless, little flea, and then I'll put that flea in a box, and then I'll put that box inside of another box, and then I'll mail that box to myself, and when it arrives... ...I'll smash it with a hammer! It's brilliant, brilliant, brilliant, I tell you! Genius, I say!" - Yzma from the Emperor's New Groove

10. "The world is a mess and I just need to rule it." - Dr. Horrible

9. "I'm not going to live there. There's no place for me there... any more than there is for you. Malcolm... I'm a monster.What I do is evil. I have no illusions about it, but it must be done." --The Operative from Serenity. (BEST MOVIE EVER.)

8. "Loxley! I'm gonna cut your heart out with a SPOON!" --Sheriff of Nottingham, Robinhood Prince of Thieves

7. "And every last inch of me's covered in hair." --Gaston, Beauty and the Beast

6. "Is he from heaven or from hell?

And does he know

By granting me my life today

This man has killed me even so." -Javert, Les Miserables

5. "You fool! You fell victim to one of the classic blunders! The most famous is never to get involved in a land war in Asia, and only slightly less well known is this: never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line!" -Vizzini, The Princess Bride

4. "So, Lone Star, now you see that evil will always triumph ... because good is dumb." --Spaceballs

3. "If I had a nickel for every time I've been doomed by a puppet, I would have two nickels. That's not a lot, but it's funny that it happened twice." -- Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz

2. "Remember when the platform was sliding into the fire pit, and I was like 'GOODBYE' and you were like 'NO WAYYY' and then I was all 'We pretended we were going to murder you.' That was great."--GLaDOS, Portal

1. And a personal favorite:

   

Today's fabulous stops:

Suzy Turner with Canterbury Tales, musicals, and ignorance

Lyndsay Johnson shares an excerpt I label as Temptation and Danger

And be sure to enter the 

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for your chance to win some amazing prizes!

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Eternal optimism below! And guess where he gets it from? That's right! Following the blog tour. Get in on that action and access some of this amazing happiness. (Or wallow in your own misery. It's your choice.)

Do you have a favorite villain or quote? How do you feel about live readings of books?