The Fault in Our Stars review

I'm sure my review will get lost in the thousands already left before me. I will admit, while I'm a follower on Twitter and familiar with the author, I've never read anything by him. He's on my TBR list. Anyway, when my MIL shared her unread copy, I stole away in a quiet room and dived in.
OMG!

Usually, I'm not a fan of a male author portraying a female MC but in this case, Mr. Green did it. I never once felt like a guy was talking to me but I have to wonder if he ever felt embarrassed or weird writing how "hot" Gus was.

I cannot even begin to imagine what it is like to have a friend, let alone, someone you love deeply, suffer and die from anything. I watched my grandmother quickly deal with her liver cancer and I don't think it compared to what was revealed in this book. I laughed, I cried and I even had to set it aside for a day to recollect my thoughts. As a parent, I couldn't help but picture my own child suffering and how either of them would feel losing the love of their life when they themselves were on the brink of death.

The touches of humor made this story feel real. We often do that. Find a bright, if not ugly, spot within the mess.

This was a lovely, touching story and I'm a little ashamed to say that I can't wait to watch the movie. I'm sure that was a motivating factor when I finally grabbed a copy. This story almost reminds me, in a self sacrificing way but in a more real, hard language, A Walk to Remember. Well done and thank you.

Assuming

You've probably heard the saying, "When you assume, you make an ass of you and me." No? Well, now you have.

Your welcome!

When people hear I'm a writer, I think they assume that I'm amazing at grammar and I should be well spoken. My husband and editor can attest that neither statement is true. I have a mashing of dialects from living in New Jersey, California, Texas and Missouri. I often have to refer back in my kids' grammar books just to grade their homework. I find myself wanting to take back most of what I say. And, for some reason, I think my husband is on the same wave length as me when I ask a random question about something I've just seen. "Um, hello. You should know what I'm thinking. We've been together for 20 years."

This last statement is more true when I think about my kids. The other day, my daughter asked me what "that" building is for. Assuming I knew which one she meant, I told her it stored electrical parts. The very next day, my son asks me what that building is for. I shook my head and told him his sister asked the same question the day before and why wasn't he listening. "No. Not that one. That one." I need to remind you that I'm driving, so seeing them point or knowing which window they are looking at is silly. I explained to them that they need to use descriptive words when asking a question when I'm driving and it was like a light bulb went off.

*click*

The same happens in writing. I can't assume my reader knows what's going on in my head no more than my husband knows when I blurt out, "Did you see that?" As a writer, I have to show my readers what's in my head; describe how my character feels and what she sees (my main characters are always female). Proper descriptive words will keep you, as the writer, from making an ass of you and your reader.

Happy Writing!

Free Book!

Who doesn't love a deal? Better yet, who doesn't love a free book. No one, that's who.

Well, you are in luck. My dear friend Maggie Wells is at is again. The Art Lover is free on Amazon March 3-7!

Previously published as Portrait of Passion in the Passionate Exhibitions anthology.

Starving artist Kelsey Tecato takes being The Templeton Museum's artist in residence a little too literally. By day, she puts on a show of painting for the crowds that shuffle through the galleries, but at night, her muse runs wild.

Mitch Jameson is a guy's guy. A cop moonlighting as a security guard, he has little use for the artsy-fartsy stuff, but the mysterious Ms. Tecato's sexy portraits call to him.

So does an interior alarm.

When Officer Jameson goes to investigate, he finds a paint-splattered goddess working on a self-portrait--in the nude.

A couple tubes of paint and a roll in the drop cloths later, free-spirited Kelsey helps Officer Jameson discover his passion for art.

I'm a huge fan of Maggie's and I recommend everything by her, especially if its free!

Squat Challenge for March

I'll admit. I didn't do as great with the plank challenge. A bailed the last few days and never made it to a 4 minutes plank. Heck, I barely made it to a 2 minute plank.

Well, it's a new month and a new challenge. Good luck and share your success!