Pen Pal and The Talented Mr. Joe Abercrombie

I recently decided that I was gonna start writing pen pal letters again. I still have three people that I have been writing since 2001. For a little over 14 years now. I didn’t realize that it had been that long since I started the first time. I posted an add on several pen pal sites and so far I have had good results. I am hoping to get at least ten solid regular pen pals. I suppose time will tell.

I have been in a funk lately. Been having trouble sleeping at night and I never have been good at taking naps during the day. Once I am wake I am up for the day. Add the sleepless nights with being uncomfortable and I am the biggest grouch I know. I even get on my own nerves. So, its been a tense few days around here.

I recently read Half the World by Joe Abercrombie. It was an amazing book. I loved it. I have yet to read a book by the talented Mr. Abercrombie that I have not liked. One of his books is my all time favorites, Best Served Cold. I think I am going to have to put Half the World in my top five books.

That's it for today.. until next time.. Take care and smile.

An update

Sometimes when we are confronted with our mortality, we become lost in the moment. We forget that even though at that exact moment we feel as though our whole world has crashed around us, we still have many more moments ahead of us. Even though we may feel like we are drowning in a pit of despair. Or at least that is how I feel here lately.

  I feel like I am being stretched too thin. Too many people want me to be something for them, a mother, sister, aunt, spouse, friend and etc. I have gotten lost in the shuffle and do not know my way back.  I feel like at times I do know how to be just Jeannie. I rarely have even twenty minutes of being alone. I think that is the thing that is bothering the most here lately. I am  not allowed to just be me. To not be responsible for someone else or deal with someone else’s drama, issues or problems.I just want twenty minutes of absolute quietness. The only problem with that is my mind is going in several different directions at the same time and nothing seems to calm my mind enough to be quiet. I just want to scream, but I am afraid that if I start screaming I won’t stop.

Enough of all that depressing thoughts. I never did finish High School. I got pregnant with Matt and ended up not being able to continue going to school. I have been saying every year that I will get my diploma/GED and never follow through with it. Well, I signed up yesterday. I finally found a program I could do from home, since I am unable at the current time to leave the house. I start next week and yes, I am nervous. As soon as I get my HS Diploma I am going to go to college. Yah me! We will see how it works out though.

  I have got two more books to beta read and a long list waiting on reviews. So, this weekend I am gonna spend my nose buried in books. Or at least that is the plan.

Till Next Time… Take care of yourself and smile..

Wanna a free book?

 On the 13th, 14th, and 15th, Shiv Crew is going to be free! Awesome, right? I am a HUGE Laken Cane fan. If you have not discovered the awesome that is Laken Cane then now is the time. All you gotta do 
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A very boring post

 It's another year already. Where has the time gone? It seems the older I get, the quicker time flies by. I decided not to make any resolutions this year. I never actually follow through with them anyway. I decided to stop making goals that I know that I will never get around to completing. So, I guess in a way I did in fact make a resolution. 

  I have had the flu. It's been horrid. I finally feel a little better. I still feel fairly bad, but I am getting better. Hopefully I will be back  to normal soon. I really don't like being sick at all. I get exhausted at nothing it seems. 

  The weather is suppose to turn cold this week. It is going to be 9° tomorrow. That is fracking cold! Good thing I won't be out in it huh? I feel for those that are gonna be outside. At least it's not gonna snow. 

  I got several reviews to do and post so look for those. I will also be having a contest coming up for a 25 dollar Amazon gift card.

Until then, take care of yourself and Smile. 

Indebted By Khai Bayne

Indebted By  Khai Bayne 

Indebted is a book for mature readers. There is violence and sex.
Artisyn Daniels is an ex-special operative agent that was in a self imposed exile for the last two years due to an assignment gone terrible wrong. Her former boss calls in a favor she is indebted to him to come work an assignment to find a killer that is brutalizing his victims before killing them.
   When Artishn reports in she finds that she is expected to work uncover with four men in the BDSM scene, which she knows all too well. She has a month to train the men and infiltrate themselves into the club where some of the victims were last seen. Sounds like it should be simple and straight forth. It was anything but simple. Not to mention that the wall that Artisyn has put up to keep  from getting close to people is slowly coming down with her "team"
   Sound interesting, so far? Add in a heaping spoonful of betrayal, violence, very steamy sex, heartbreaking loss, mythical and legendary creatures  and an emotional roller coaster ride and you have Indebted.

The writing was good, scenes flowed smoothly. I either liked or hated most of the characters. Although at times I wanted to shake Artisyn!  Overall its a well written and  interesting read.

Review Unseen by Stephanie Erickson

Book Title: Unseen Book 1

Author: Stephanie Erickson

Length: 222 pages

Series: The Unseen Triolgy

★★★

Blurb:

Mackenzie Day constantly struggles to silence the voices in her head. The inner thoughts of those around her intrude upon every aspect of her life, threatening to turn it into chaos. All her life, she thought she was alone as a mind reader--a freak. Then a member of a secret organization called The Unseen suddenly introduces himself, and she's immersed in a world she never knew existed. They teach her to hone her skills as a reader, but to what end? Secrets surround her, humming just out of reach, filling her with questions. Who are they? What do they do with their mind-reading abilities? In the end, just how far will Mackenzie go to be part of The Unseen?

My Review:
 <Sigh>, I really, really wanted to like this book. Mackenzie Day is a mind reader. She thinks she is the only mind reader until she meets Owen. He introduces her to the Unseen, a group of mind readers that fights the bad guys. There are several things that I did like about this book. I like the idea of a group of mind readers. I like the concept of music therapy. I liked Owen and the other characters introduced. My main problem was Mackenzie Day. She complained the entire book about being alone and having no one like her and etc. Yet when she was introduced to others like her she balks at joining them even when they make exceptions for her. She complains, a lot. That is one of my personal pet peeves in a book. Other than that it was an okay book. For me the last quarter of the book was the best. If Mac keeps the same mindset in the next book I will be first in line to buy it.

Review of Prowl By Amy Shannon

Book: Prowl
Author: Amy Shannon
Series: Profilers Book 1
★★★
Blurb:
Andrea Wallace cannot go anywhere without her shadow, Keith Leonard Fontana … a man obsessed with her. Stalking her for years, his behavior escalates. When she starts dating a police officer, Fontana becomes unhinged, killing or attacking anyone she encounters. 
Andrea meets local FBI profiler, Special Agent John Marshall, who is assigned to her case. He helps her realize her natural talents of observation and perception. 
After he finally catches her, the story is not over. Andrea reaches inside herself for inner strength and turns the tables on her stalker. As the search for Fontana increases, she retreats to the comfort of her own home, and new pet, a retired police dog, Ralph. 
Fontana is on the prowl, but is he alone in his stalking?

My review does contain spoilers. When I read the blurb I had to read this book. I do tend to read darker books. I did have a hard time with this book. Why? I just could not seem to care what happened to Andi, because I could not connect with her. The storyline was good. I was really wanting to see where Ms. Shannon would take this book. Stalking is one of those crimes the police can not do anything about until sadly it is too late.
One of my many problems with this book was when Andi was tortured and raped, she went willingly in the bed with another man within a couple weeks of the traumatic event. So much trauma that she had damage done to her cervix and had to undergo surgery. To me that just seemed a little too soon. She also had a rich, almost step father that shelled out money whenever there was a need.
Now for the good things I liked in this book. I liked how Andi's friends reacted during the whole ordeal. I liked that Andi did not allow herself to become a victim. She used everything she had to stay alive another day. The writing was good.
With all that being said I will more than likely get the next in the series. Maybe Andi will grow on me.