An Under-Appreciated Novel #OpenBook Blog Hop

June 17, 2024

What’s your favorite under-appreciated novel?

You’d think this would be an easy topic to write.

I could pick any random book and no one would know the difference. There are many books out there that are deserving of additional attention. But me, being the occasional perfectionist, put way too much thought into the answer. Which book should I choose? Assuming, of course, that picking one of mine is out of the question.

I didn’t want to choose anything from a well-known author, even if it was one of their lesser-known works. Classics are out of the running, of course, or they wouldn’t be a classic. Ten years ago, Craig Johnson of Longmire fame might have fit the requirement, but after the TV series gained him fame, and his writing went downhill, he no longer makes the grade.

But I don’t want to ignore any of the friends I’ve made through writing.

Including ones who have taken part in this hop. That list is long and varied. How can I choose only one? I’m going to take the easy way out and highlight two. I suspect I’ve mentioned both of them on this blog previously.

Cornelia Amiri: A Moonless Night Note: Cornelia and I have traded beta reads and critiques. When I read the first draft chapter of this story, my response was this was the best damn writing she’d ever done. Many of her books draw heavily from Celtic myths, and this was no exception. But she used the story of Dylan, a sea god, to highlight the issue of child abuse, while writing following her normal plot of a romance between a god and a human.

You can check out the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Moonless-Night-Hope-Swims-Darkest-ebook/dp/B07GCPG23Z

Angela Pryce: The Devil’s Caress  I don’t remember how I was introduced to this book. Angela and I were both scheduled at a book signing, (along with lots of other authors) but due to car problems, she didn’t make it. But we started chatting on-line, and I bought the book. At least, I think that’s what happened.

Anyway, I loved the story. It blurs the lines between good and evil in the name of love. I loved it enough that when Angela started to do line editing, I hired her. She’s edited each of my books since then. You can find the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Devils-Caress-Angela-Pryce-ebook/dp/B07QHZ5H6Z

I look forward to seeing what books the other authors on this hop post. You can check them out by following the links below. (Most of them will show up throughout the day on Monday.)

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

June 17, 2024

What’s your favorite under-appreciated novel?

My Newest Favorite Book #OpenBook Blog Hop

Sept 11, 2023

It’s been a long time since we’ve done this – what is your favorite book (not your own.) Has it changed in the last few years?

You would think, being retired, that I would have more time for reading. That’s what I thought. I was wrong.

Oh, I have the time. But not the habit. Shoot, I haven’t visited the library in the past few months. There’s always something to do in the yard, or the house, or for my WIP. I feel guilty about it.

My next project is painting my front steps (purple) . I bought the paint, but then found out I need to scrape off all the old stuff. But we’re in the middle of a rainy spell, so that has to wait.

And then there’s the project to divert some of the ground and rainwater water flow to different parts of my yard, and eliminate the soggy places. I need to go buy more gravel.

I have accomplished a few things. I dug out all the mulch and gravel from the spot in my yard where there used to be a swing set. I don’t know if I’ll put in a firepit or a flower garden there. And we planted an apple tree and a lilac. I couldn’t get my hands on a mountain laurel, so I’ll settle for a rhododendron to be put in this fall.

But back to reading. I have read a few books in the last year, but none of them were memorable. Certainly, no new favorite. I have failed miserably in my goal to read at least one book from each author in this hop. (Maybe this winter!) And I don’t remember what I mentioned as my favorite the last time we talked about this, so this will be fresh to me.

My old favorites are the Anne McCaffrey Dragonrider books, specifically the Harper Hall series. If I had to pick one, it would be the first, Dragonsong. I love the twist that book brought to the ongoing Pern series. I think I’ve read all of McCaffrey’s books, although I stopped reading the Pern books when her son started writing them.

A more contemporary book I fell in love with is The Devil’s Caress by Angela Pryce. I love the way the story deals with fudging the lines between good and evil. But there are lots of authors I admire even if their books don’t rise to my personal favorite. I won’t list them here, because I’d leave someone out and it would make me (and them) sad.

I’ll bet when I read the favorite books of the other authors on this hop, I’ll be adding to my ‘To Be Read’ list. Find out by following the links below.

Until next time, please stay safe.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Sept 11, 2023

It’s been a long time since we’ve done this – what is your favorite book (not your own.) Has it changed in the last few years?

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.