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

First Monday Check in of 2025

Last week..

Writing Related:  I met with my nephew who is a firefighter for our city as I mentioned in my last post. Now that I have enough (I hope) information regarding firefighting and life in the firehouse in hand, I'll start plotting the first book in my new series. I don't have a title in mind yet, so for now I'll refer to it as Garrett's book as he is the main male character in the book. I have some minor formatting issues to work out on Coming Home, the last book in the Echo Company series. That should be available for purchase by the end of January at the latest. 

Motivational Quote:  "Begin with the most terrifying thing of all: a clean slate. Then look, every day, at the choices you are making and when you ask yourself why you are making them...find this answer within you: for me, for me." ~ Anna Quindlen.  I've used this quote before but thought it was very appropriate given the newness of the year.

What I'm Reading: I'll be starting Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune. A friend recommended it to me with the caveat that it's written in the present tense. I have a hard time enjoying books written in this tense, but am going to give it a try. 

Random Thoughts:  Wednesday of this week is National Bagel Day. I didn't find this out until after I'd written up our meal menu for the week and ironically had put bagels and yogurt down for breakfast on Wednesday. We usually have bagels at least once a week as they're a quick and easy breakfast especially if you're running late. 

Random Photo:

                                          Happy National Bagel Day

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  I hit the 200 page mark in the current book I'm working on. I settled on a title - Coming Home. This is the last book in the Echo Company series and is Jimmy and Callie's reunion story so the title seemed very fitting. I think I should be able to wrap the book up in about 100 to 125 more pages. I'll have to see how things go.

Motivational Quote: "Life is changing every day, things come and go, but always be yourself and stay focused on your dreams." ~ Tilda Moyo-Karizamimba

What I'm Reading: I started reading Catch Her Death by Melinda Leigh yesterday afternoon. This is the 7th book in the Bree Taggert series. 

Random Things:  We did go to the pumpkin farm last Friday. I bought a pumpkin to carve and two smaller, almost gourd like, ones. We also bought a few acorn squash. I'll probably carve the pumpkin next weekend and bake the seeds at the same time. I don't want to carve it too early. I'm not so worried that it'll be moldy or rotting by Halloween as I am that the squirrels in the neighborhood will have it half eaten by then. 

Random Photo:

Here's a picture of the pumpkin I bought. It's pretty good sized, not that you can tell from the picture. The farm we went to doesn't charge for their pumpkins by weight. Every pumpkin is $5.00 or less depending on the size. I paid $4.00 for this one.
 

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  I started writing the last book in the Echo Company series. It's a little slow going. I usually struggle to get the first few chapters written and then it gets easier. I also did more plotting this time than I usually do. I'm hoping it'll help me write the book faster as I would really love to get it out before the end of the year. 

Motivational Quote:  "You have to take risks and make mistakes in order to really get into the good work. In theory YES!  But in practice...oh the misery! ~ Liv Aanrud

What I'm Reading:  I started reading Identity by Nora Roberts over the weekend. I haven't read any of Ms. Roberts's books in a couple of years. My sister lent me her copy of Identity insisting that I had to read it, so I am. 😄

Random Things:  Now that we're in September I thought I'd be able to do some baking. I want to make some bread, cinnamon swirl bread in particular, but it's been in the mid 70's and 80's so still a bit too hot to put the oven on and heat up the house even more than it already is. I make bread quite a bit during the fall and winter months. I like the kneading process of making bread. I find it to be relaxing and a great stress reliever, not to mention the fact that I end up with all this great bread to eat. 

Random Photo: 

                                 Starting the last book in the Echo Company series.

 

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  One Last Chance was published in ebook on 08/31 and the paperback was published on 09/01/24. I ended up getting it submitted and released thru Amazon a couple of days earlier than I expected. I've put a picture of the cover and the story summary/blurb below under the Random Things category. You can click on the cover on the upper right side of this blog to be taken directly to Amazon to purchase it. It is also available in Kindle Unlimited.

Motivational Quote: "The most meaningful goals are usually slow to achieve." ~ Atul Gawande

What I'm Reading: I started reading Liar's Point by Laura Griffin yesterday afternoon. This is the 5th book in the Texas Murder Files series. 

Random Things: As I mentioned above One Last Chance (Caine's book) is finally available for purchase. The cover is below. Here's the story summary/blurb:

You know what they say about Karma…

Supermodel Tabitha Mayne had it all - fame, fortune, and a willingness to do anything to stay on top. But one fateful night, her world is shattered. Tortured and left for dead, she now bears physical and emotional scars that she can't bear to show the world. Desperate to escape the constant scrutiny of the paparazzi, she flees to a small town in Virginia.

Hiding from her old life proves to be a challenge when she unexpectedly finds herself sharing a cabin with Sebastian Caine, a former elite military operative with extraordinary abilities. Wounded and on the run from a powerful adversary, Caine has no choice but to take refuge in his isolated cabin. When he discovers Tabitha, he wants nothing to do with her. The last thing he needs is the complication of a woman running from her troubles. He has enough of his own.

As circumstances force them to stay together, an unlikely bond begins to form between them. When Caine’s enemies close in, threatening to destroy them both, Tabitha and Caine must put their trust in each other but their troubled pasts may be their undoing. Can they overcome their demons and find true love, or will their secrets tear them apart forever?

Random Photo: Here's the cover for One Last Chance

 

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related: I started writing the next book in the Echo Company series. This will be Caine's book. I've got the first 30 pages written. While I'm not officially participating in NaNoWriMo this year, I do have a personal goal to have 120 pages of this book written by December 2nd.

Motivational Quote: "Find your dream. It's the pursuit of the dream that heals you." ~ Billie Mills (Tamakoce Te'Hila)

What I'm Reading:  I'm reading Fatal Fudge Swirl by Meri Allen. It's the third book in the Ice Cream Shop mystery series. I think I should finish it either tonight or tomorrow night.

Random Thoughts:  It's only November so I'm trying not to talk about (complain) about the weather especially since we've been lucky enough not to have any snow yet. We've been having quite a bit of rain. I don't mind the rain though, it doesn't pile up like snow does and I don't have to brush off my car when it rains. It has been colder than usual for this time of the year. I guess as much I do like the crisp, cool air of fall, I'm just not ready for temperatures in the low 30's and high 20's during the day.

No "Random Photo" this week.

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related: As I posted in the prior week, Finding Hope (Mississippi's story) is finally available for purchase and thru Kindle Unlimited. I worked on plotting out the next book in the series. I actually already have a title which is very rare for me. It came to me out of the blue. I don't usually come up with the title until after the first draft is written.

Motivational Quote: "If you're lying awake imagining the art you want to make, get out of bed and make it." ~ Hallie Bateman

What I'm Reading:  I'm reading Death Overdue by Allison Brook. It's the first book in the Haunted Library mystery series. I've been looking for a new cozy mystery series to read and stumbled across this one at the library so I thought I'd give it a try. .

Random Thoughts:  I thought the motivational quote above was appropriate since we turned the clocks Saturday night/Sunday morning (depending on what time you went to bed). Despite looking forward to the extra hour of sleep, I still found myself awake at 5:30am. I tried to go back to sleep but then my brain started running story scenarios in my head. As much as I wanted to stay in my nice comfy bed, I decided it was better to get up and get all those ideas down on paper before they vanished into the ether.

Random Photo:

In all the excitement of getting Finding Hope out into the world, I don't think I posted the new cover for Broken Trust, the 3rd book in the series. 

The cover artist did an amazing job. She was even able to include the scar on his neck which is a significant factor in the book.
               

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related: Mississippi's story, titled Finding Hope, will be released next week. I can't believe it's finally done and will be published in a few days. It took much longer than it should have to write his story. 

Motivational Quote: "Never, ever quit on yourself if it's something you believe in." ~ Uzo Aduba

What I'm Reading: I'm reading Talulah's Back In Town by Brenda Novak. This is the first book in the Coyote Canyon contemporary romance series. 

Random Things: Honor Bound, the first book in my Echo Company series, has a new cover. I've put a picture of the new cover below. I'm having the covers for Promises to Keep and Broken Trust,  books two and three in the series, redone as well. I'll post them here when I get them. 

Random Photo: 

                                            The new cover for Honor Bound.

Celebrating!

I apologize for the late post this morning. Time got away from me. (Good thing I have the day off from the day job. 😀)

I'm celebrating the release of Broken Trust (Ivan's story). Finally!

It's the third book in my Echo Company series. The Kindle edition is available now. The paperback will be available on Friday (10/15). You can purchase the eBook here - Broken Trust   

As part of the celebration, the first book in the series, Honor Bound is on sale for a short time for 99 cents. Honor Bound

I posted the cover for Broken Trust before, but I'm posting it again below.

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related: Aargh! I had a less than stellar writing week this past week. I'm still working hard to hit my self imposed deadline to finish the second book in the Echo Company series, but it may be the following week before it's done.

Motivational Quote: "Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts. You need to start somewhere." ~ Anne Lamott

What I'm Reading: I'm currently reading Crust No One by Winnie Archer. This is the second book in the Bread Shop mystery series.

Random Things: My mom received a new kindle. Who knew it would be such a headache to transfer the apps and games she plays on her old kindle to the new one without losing her progress in the games. Unfortunately, she did have to start over in a couple of them. You would think anything on one kindle could just be transferred to another without an issue considering it's the same device (except for a different version/edition) and is made by the same company.