A Very Mysterious Christmas

My short story, "An 80 Degree Christmas" is a part of the Very Mysterious Christmas short story bundle available for $2.99 at BundleRabbit. Check it out at https://bundlerabbit.com/b/very-mysterious-christmas

Origin, by Dan Brown

Origin by Dan Brown
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I generally like Dan Brown's writing, even when I profoundly disagree with the views espoused in his work. I have found his books to be page-turners that I race through to the end.

Origin was not up to that standard. After reading the blurb for it, I was concerned that I wouldn't like this particular outing, so I checked it out of my library. It took me up til the time came to return it to finish - for the most part, I lacked the urgency to get to the end that I had with his other novels.

I do like Robert Langdon and he's back in this one, which explores our beginnings as humans. One of Langdon's former students is brutally murdered just before he gives what he claims is the answer to the question of how life began. Langdon gets caught up in trying to find out what his student discovered and reveal it to the world before he himself is the killer's next victim.

As a Christian, I feared I would once again be dealing with bad theology. The book has a strong anti-religious thread through it - Langdon's murdered student is an atheist - and if you're looking for a last minute conversion from him, you will be disappointed.

One big disappointment I found with the book was the big reveal of what Langdon's student discovered. It was built up to be something world-altering, exciting, profound - and it was BORING. Nor was it anything that I felt would destroy people's religious faith. The whole thing was anticlimactic for me - I found certain subplots that were threaded through the novel far more interesting.

The book is okay. But unlike Brown's other novels, I'm probably not buying this one.

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The Whistler, by John Grisham

The Whistler by John Grisham
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A fast read. Grisham makes you care about the characters he writes about. In fact, I cared so much that (view spoiler)[ when Hugo is killed off I got upset. (hide spoiler)] As a Floridian I recognized some of the setting and the history was interesting.

My one gripe is that the ending felt rushed. As if he realized he had to wrap things up and fell into "And this happened, and this happened, and this happened..." Would have liked to have had some things fleshed out more. But all in all, an entertaining novel.

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Feel the Fear and Nanowrimo

I am going to blame Hurricane Irma for the current lapse in blogging. The storm (I live in Florida) messed up September and some of it carried over into October. But I want to share good news. My story, "High Places," is a part of Fiction River's Feel the Fear anthology, which came out last month. If you like to be scared, it's a great anthology. My story deals with a woman afraid of heights, and as one who has this fear in spades, it was great therapy to write. Hopefully you will "feel the fear" when you read it. You can buy the anthology at the usual sites, and I will post an Amazon link in the Bibliography section of this blog. And if you're interested, I am doing Nanowrimo again this year. Unfortunately, my word count is currently abysmal as I work on things. But hopefully it will grow as the month progresses. If you are doing Nano and want to friend me, I'm Bookwormlady there. Hope you are all having a wonderful month of reading!

I'm in a Book Bundle!

Just letting you all know that my novel DEAD HYPOCRITES is part of the "Killing Spree" book bundle put out by BundleRabbit. This collection of books all deal with serial killers. A thrilling ride for those who want one. Click on the picture below for more information. I hope you check it out!

New Short Story Published!

My short story, "Choices," is now published and available where ebooks are sold (check my ebooks link on this page for links to Amazon, Nook, Kobo, and other versions).

This story was originally published in "Fiction River: Past Crimes (Special Kobo Edition)."  It was my first sale to Fiction River, but not my last.

Hope you get a chance to check it out!

Not one, but TWO short stories out...

Lots of news from yesterday.  My short story, "No Farther," is included in Fiction River: Editor's Choice.  It came out yesterday and is available as an ebook and paperback.

While I don't really have a favorite story that I've written (that's like asking which child is your favorite) this is a story I am glad is getting out there.  There are some people I hope it touches in a special way.  Anyway, it's one I hope you check out.

And then I got a surprise in my email box.  My story, "The Flare," was selected to be included in Fiction River: Reader's Choice.  This particular volume has stories that readers voted for.

I admit when I got the email my first thought was, "this is a mistake."  I had to read the Table of Contents to be convinced.  And I am thrilled.

My thanks to readers who voted for the story.  And I hope you check THAT volume out as well.