Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  I worked on Garrett's book last week. I didn't get as much written as I'd hoped, but I should have at least 12k words written by the end of this week. 

Motivational Quote:  "Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence." ~ Calvin Coolidge

What I'm Reading:  I started reading The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren yesterday afternoon. I'm also reading Now or Never by Janet Evanovich. This is the 31st book in the Stephanie Plum series. I'll write more about why I'm reading two books at once, which I very rarely do in the Random Thoughts section below.

Random Thoughts:  Regarding Now or Never, I keep picking it up, then putting it down after a couple of chapters and either going to do something else or reading something else because I'm having issues with the main character. I loved this series in the past, but the last few books have dimmed my enthusiasm for it. I just don't like how the Stephanie Plum character doesn't ever seem to learn from her mistakes or show any character growth, not to mention cheating on her boyfriend then excuses it because the guy she's cheating with is so hot that she can't help it.

Random Photo:

                                      How I've been feeling about writing lately. 😉
 

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  I started writing the first book in the Eden's Crossing series. I'm going to refer to it as Garrett's book going forward because I rarely come up with a title until after the first draft is written. I didn't set a word count goal for last week but wrote a decent amount considering I had a lot of other stuff going on and the first few chapters usually take me longer to write than the rest of the book. 

Motivational Quote: "Do what you can do." ~ Mary Oliver, American Poet  This is good advice in general and for anyone feeling overwhelmed.

What I'm Reading:  I'm reading Track Her Down by Melinda Leigh. This is the 9th book in the Bree Taggert series. If you like suspense with a little bit of romance, I highly recommend this series. 

Random Thoughts:  Last week I mentioned getting a bread cookbook. I made the Vermont Cheddar Bread recipe yesterday. I didn't have high expectations because I've tried a number of different cheddar bread recipes and have always been disappointed. Either the cheese melts into the bread and can't even be seen, much less tasted, or the bread itself is really dense. This recipe came out well. I've posted a picture of it below.

Random Photo:

                                          The Vermont Cheddar Bread I made

Monday Check In

Writing Related:  I'll start writing the first book in the Eden's Crossing series this morning. I'm using the same plotting method that I used when writing Coming Home. Prior to that book, I didn't really do a lot of plotting, just a couple of sentences for each chapter but the new plotting method worked really well so I'm going to use it for this next book too.

Motivational Quote:  "I mean, I'm human, I have moments. But...when gratitude is an option, I'm going to choose that every time." ~ Anne Hathaway

What I'm Reading:  I started reading Better Than Friends by Jill Shalvis yesterday afternoon. This is the 7th book in the Sunrise Cove series.

Random Thoughts:  I received a copy of Artisan Bread in Five Minutes A Day by Jeff Hertzberg and Zoe Francois from a friend because I like baking bread. I'm looking forward to trying the master recipe and a number of the other recipes that were included. Luckily, I have a big freezer to store the extra loaves in.

Random Photo:  

       This is outside at my house. I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to spring.

Finally!!!

 Coming Home, the sixth and final book in the Echo Company series, is finally available for purchase in both eBook and paperback formats. It's also available in Kindle Unlimited. The buy link and blurb are listed below the cover art.  (For those of you who have been waiting for it - this is Jimmy and Callie's reunion story.)

Blurb:

Former soldier, Jimmy Hawkins, has been to hell and somehow made it back alive, though he's no longer the man he was. Haunted by memories of the brutal torture he endured and the destruction he caused in his marriage, Jimmy’s guilt and shame are constant companions he could do without. He spends his days numbing his feelings with alcohol, drowning in a cycle of anger, self-loathing, and isolation.

When his wife, Callie Hawkins, moves back to town, Jimmy is determined to get his life under control, starting with his drinking. He’s ready to fight for her—whether she’ll accept him back or not. Even if she only wants friendship, he’s willing to take it, but the road to rebuilding their relationship is anything but easy.

As Jimmy struggles to face his demons and stay sober, his past keeps resurfacing, sabotaging his every attempt at redemption. With each setback, the possibility of a future with Callie seems more and more unlikely. As he works through his trauma with the help of a therapist, he learns that his physical wounds aren’t the only ones that need healing.

Will Jimmy find the strength to let go of his painful past and rebuild a future with Callie? Or will the demons that haunt him finally drive her away once and for all? 

Buy Link: Coming Home - Amazon