Tuesday, April 26, 2016

4T Olio--a Book I've Enjoyed

photo credit: book dog groucho via photopin (license)
I picked this one up from the New Releases on my local library's shelves on a whim. I'd read the author some years back and enjoyed the series but didn't keep up on it.

But this one? Gladiators on a trampoline, it was awesome.

The book is Deadly Election by Lindsey Davis, third in the Flavia Albia mystery series, with continuing characters from the Marcus Didius Falco series.

Why is it so amazing?
  • Flavia Albia is seriously hilarious. Lots of really witty observations.
  • Well written.
  • She's a 1st century detective. How cool is that?
  • I like stories that I can painlessly learn something (through the action). These stories are well researched, yet her research was represented in vivid interaction with the time and place, not dry facts.
  • A love interest who does NOT get tossed to the side or murdered.
  • I like mysteries.
  • Good editing.
  • She's widow living on her own, and an adopted Briton with no known past, so she's a mystery and a bit of outsider even though she's totally accepted by her adopting family. 
  • Her family has money but she doesn't, except what she earns. 
  • She's capable and smart and kind, but also strong mentally. She's a woman so she notices stuff like jewelry and makeup and how a home is put together from the woman's point of view and women's roles in her society.

Deadly Election: A Flavia Albia Mystery

In the first century A.D., during Domitian's reign, Flavia Albia is ready for a short break from her family. So despite the oppressive July heat, she returns to Rome, leaving them at their place on the coast. Albia, daughter of Marcus Didius Falco, the famed private informer (now retired), has taken up her father's former profession, and it's time to get back to work. The first order of business, however, is the corpse that was found in a chest sent as part of a large lot to be sold by the Falco family auction house. As the senior family representative in Rome, it falls upon Albia to identify the corpse, find out why he was killed, who killed him, and, most important, how did it end up in the chest.
At the same time, her potential young man, Faustus, comes looking for help with his friend Sextus's political campaign. Between the auction business and Roman politics, it's not quite clear which one is the more underhanded and duplicitous. Both, however, are tied together by the mysterious body in the chest, and if Albia isn't able to solve that mystery, it won't be the only body to drop.

Deadly Election is available on Kindle and Nook as well as Kindle UK. It's also available in hardcover and paperback (and audio at Amazon.com).

Frankly, doing book reports as a child was grueling. I just wanted to read the story, to experience the adventure and the emotion. But I do want to share my favorites with you. Hope you enjoyed this glimpse into a book I've enjoyed!

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

3T Writing Tidbit

Television for me is a quick way to see story techniques. So here's one I fell across recently.

Do you watch Bones? The hero, Seeley Booth, is an FBI agent and tough as nails, but he also understands people really well and connects emotionally.

Well, anyway, the point is your hero is supposed to have a "problem" and Seeley's is that he has a gambling addiction. But in the nine seasons I've been watching, Seeley is way too cool and manly to fall prey to it.

Except this last season, we saw him lose to that addiction. He fell, and he fell hard. I hated seeing Seeley brought to his knees by a stupid addiction. I mean really hated it, how he lied and how he treated his family, very unSeeley.

But here's the thing--that one thing made the addiction real.

For the first time in nine seasons,  I believed he had a gambling addiction. Which leads to the statement--

ONLY STRUGGLING WITH IT MAKES IT REAL.

For whatever IT is. So if your beta readers or crit partners are saying something's not real enough, that might mean your point-of-view character never struggles with it.

Published since 2009, over the years I've accumulated various items of writing wisdom. The Third Tuesday Writing Tidbit showcases these items in no particular order. Click here to see all 3T Tidbits.

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

4T Olio--A Day Early and $50 Long

The Cin Wikkid: April Fools For Love book tour starts today!

Follow the tour and enter to win great prizes!
  • 5 grand prize winners will receive a $10 Amazon Gift Card. 
  • 5 runner-ups will receive an eBook of choice from my backlist! 
 a Rafflecopter giveaway


Visit all the blogs participating in the tour for reviews, excerpts, guest posts and more chances to win!
03/28/2016
Keep A Readin’  - review
03/29/2016
03/30/2016
03/31/2016
04/01/2016
HEA Romances With A Little Kick - review

And a few April First extras! (not part of the Rafflecopter)

Facebook Party

USA Today HEA
04/04/2016
04/05/2016
04/06/2016
04/07/2016
04/08/2016
Also look for reviews from:


And be sure to check out these other great April Fools For Love 2016 books.


Bottled Up: April Fools For Love by Roxy Mews

A clogged drain. A pretend plumber. An April Fool’s Day to remember.

Good looks don’t last forever, and neither do modeling careers. When Nate’s time in the sun ends, he goes back to school. Trouble is, in order to pay for his last semester he’s going to need to get naked.

When a four month modeling contract took Nate Dallas on an adventure around the world, he was too young to realize he was an idiot to leave his Blue-eyed Betty behind. After one night of passion he let her love letters that fade in his pocket instead of fighting for a trip home. 

Betty Townsend never forgot about Nate. He’d sent her the world in envelopes filled with sea shells and sand. She saw stars when he kissed her under a sparkling spotlight on stage. And she felt her heart break when he never returned to her.
When Nate shows up at Betty’s door, big wrench in hand, she can’t believe her first love is the one her friend hired to fix the sink.

Once Nate recognizes Betty, stripping is out of the question. So is leaving. He can’t throw this chance away. The heat between them is undeniable, but when Betty finds out her first love is covered in glitter down to his g-string, do they stand a chance at rekindling the love that never really burned out? Or will fate make fools out of them again?
Amazon | Amazon UK

Must Love Menage: April Fools For Love by Kayleigh Malcolm

Chloe keeps a strict policy of not mixing work and play. But play is exactly what she wants with both her hotter than sin bosses.

Rumors and false accusations from an ex-girlfriend forced Ben and Sam to close their Florida restaurant and try to reopen one in Bayburgh. They’ve vowed to never date an employee again but the vivacious Chloe is temptation personified.

When a series of events cascades from a prank gone wrong, the three of them end up committed to running in a charity marathon. Training for the event throws them together outside of work and explore the attraction they’ve been fighting.

Will Ben and Sam to risk everything by inviting Chloe into their lives, not knowing if she’s willing to be shared?

Amazon | Amazon UK

Toy Story: April Fools For Love by S.L. Carpenter

This is a totally different type of buzz and woody…

There’s nothing like hosting a pleasure toy party to broaden one’s horizon. At least that’s what Dana’s experiencing every time she puts her products on the table and starts talking about them.

She’s learning from her customers as much as they’re learning from her. And when she gets the chance to put those lessons into practice? She goes for it, and discovers that she’s a lot more inventive than she ever dreamed.

But Dana may be taking a huge risk, because not everyone is in favor of a good Toy Story.



Amazon | Amazon UK



Don't forget the April Fools For Love 2015 collection!

Friday, April 1, 2016

April Fools Weekend Blog Hop PLUS April Fools Bash--No Joke!!

Hop on over to Facebook for a great blog hop from Alpha Book Club! Over 150 authors, bloggers, and book lovers involved in this hop and there are going to be a lot of prizes!!

🌟 Each page in this hop has its own prize and there is also a huge grand prize for two lucky winners 🎉 🌟

More info here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And be sure to stop by our April Fools For Love Facebook Bash TODAY!