Halloween Book Review: This House is Haunted

I love Halloween.  And fall.  And everything that comes in pumpkin flavor (chai lattes, caramels, pancakes, soups, etc.).

Along with this major love fest comes a love of movies and books associated with Halloween.  Which is why when I passed by This House is Haunted featured on the Spooky Table at my local library I couldn't resist.  And even though it wasn't a 5-star book for me, it was still an enjoyable read, especially when read at night with a glass of wine and the curtains thrown open to a full moon.

For those of you not familiar with author John Boyne, he's the author of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.  Beautiful but heart-wrenching novel about concentration camps in World War II.

Synopsis 

Boyne takes this novel back over 70 years from World War II to the year 1867.  The book opens up with spinster school teacher blaming Charles Dickens for the loss of her beloved father, the last member of her family.  Her father's sudden death leaves her alone in London.  That, along with the loss of her house and the realization that her only tie to the city is her work with her school, prompts her to make a change.

Enter a mysterious ad in the paper for a governess.  Eliza answers the ad and is offered the position almost immediately.  Her train ride proves uneventful, but as soon as she arrives in Norfolk she becomes the target of a chilling and unnatural force.  This is followed by the revelation that aside from her two young charges and two other servants she is the sole occupant of rambling Gaudlin Hall.  Her absent employer continues to stay away, leaving Eliza to question not only the tragedy that left Isabelle and Eustace without parents, but her sanity as accidents continue to happen that threaten her health and eventually her life.

As the accidents grow even more violent and past events come to light, Eliza becomes trapped in a supernatural fight between good and evil.  She can't leave the children behind to the madness plaguing the house.  But it won't be long before the demons of Gaudlin Hall finish her off, once and for all.

What I Liked

Style

Boyne's writing style is enjoyable.  The details he included gave me pictures of the setting, from the small but cozy home Eliza shared with her father to the slowly decaying yet still regal Gaudlin Hall.  Boyne also didn't just rely on sight to tell his story.  Authors who incorporate the other senses automatically get props.

Creepy Kiddos

Isabelle was an unexpected and welcome change to the traditional spooky housekeeper, butler, gardener, etc. (although there were several creepy  She came across as a little serial killer in the making. And yet Boyne managed to make her a sympathetic character, too, as the story progressed.

Wednesday Addams would do this character justice

Eustace, on the other hand, wrapped his way around my heart as we got deeper into the story.

Plot

I enjoyed the story. This was my first Gothic ghost book ever, so I liked the change of pace compared to the historical/cozy mysteries and Regency romance I normally read. The end was a little anti-climatic, but the build-up to the story and the suspense with the absence of adults in the house was done well.

What I Didn't Like

Boyne Isn't a Woman...

I love when writers tackle characters outside their own experiences. When done well (i.e. To Kill a Mockingbird) you've got the makings of a classic, or at the very least a book you can't put down.

Unfortunately, there were multiple scenes where I felt like Boyne just didn't have a clue how women are. Eliza's obsession with men looking at her, checking her out, responding to flirtations, etc., came across as cliche and at times frustrating.

Don't get me wrong, women notice. We fantasize. We worry about our appearance. We want love, romance, adventure, etc.

BUT...

It just got to be over-the-top and distracting from the story.

Eliza

I didn't get to know Eliza that well. I admired her tenacity in pursuing the mystery and her dedication to staying with the kids, but I didn't get to know much about her aside from her missing her father, thinking she's plain and secretly wanting a romance.

If It Were a Movie...

Kate Maberly

Kate Maberly, who I know best from The Secret Garden (1993, best version ever), could do Eliza justice and bring some depth to the character. I wouldn't describe Kate as "plain," but her turn as Mary in The Secret Garden shows her ability to fade into the background as well as wow with subtle character development.

Final Tally

I'd give this book 3 stars. Recommended for Gothic, ghost and Halloween fans. Not one I'd pay full-price for again, but still a decent read.

Writing a Romance Scene: Challenges & Tips

Once again I have failed at blogging regularly. So once again...I'm going to give this thing another shot.

Did you know writing a romance scene is the hardest thing ever?

I had gotten within a few thousand words of my 70,000 mark when it happened. My hero and heroine were in a dark room with a dying fire, hormones blazing, chests heaving...and I panicked.

Confession: I've never written a sex scene before.

I started to write it. The kissing was pretty easy; I've written that before. Even the beginning of the foreplay flowed naturally.

But then the clothes started coming off. And the panic started. The scene started to read more like a medical manual or a maintenance how-to; "Insert Thing 1 into..."

How did authors write red-hot romance scenes? And how did I avoid writing the overly long or awkward scenes that I as a reader skipped over.

My first stop: my critique group. What did they do to overcome the romance hurdle?

Some of the best pieces of advice I got:

1. Create a sexy playlist. The author who suggested this reminded me to keep in mind what kind of scene it was when finding songs. Was it hot and heavy? Erotic? Or more sensual?
2. Watch sexy movies. Some suggestions: Pretty Woman, TheNotebook, Phantom of the Opera (the Gerard Butler version), An Affair to Remember, Shakespeare in Love, Romancing the Stone and Dirty Dancing.
3. Wine. Drink it.
4. Read your favorite authors. The other three suggestions worked well, but this one worked the best. Just reading some of my favorite authors and their romance scenes, noting the language that was appropriate for the time period and how they led up to the main event, was a huge help. Just maintain an awareness when you go to write that you're not letting some of your muse's work bleed into yours.

These suggestions helped quite a bit. But I still struggled when I went back to add in detail or expand on some of the scenes.

Enter Laurel Clarke, my saving grace when it came to synonyms and suggestions. Her first thesaurus included synonyms for anatomical parts of both the hero and the heroine, and the second thesaurus provided an excellent overview of words to use for lovemaking:

The Lady Parts & Man Bits Thesaurus: https://laurelclarke.wordpress.com/2014/08/18/sexy-thesaurus-romance-erotica-words/

The Doing It Dictionary & Thesaurus: https://laurelclarke.wordpress.com/2015/07/18/the-sexy-thesaurus-list-action-words-to-use-in-your-romance-novel/

The "Twenty Steps to Writing Great Love Scenes" from Karen Wiesner was also a huge help: http://www.writing-world.com/romance/love.shtml. Not only does she give great advice based on what you're comfortable with as an author, but she also constantly reminds you to keep the details of your story in mind, from what your characters would be comfortable with to what type of language you'd use. The two best pieces of advice I took from her article?

Sometimes a very short scene can sum up an erotic encounter better than two to five pages of graphic detail can.

Your book won't be seamless if you don't chronologically. It'll sound like the author (the characters, too?) is on acid. Keep in mind that each sensual scene should be an outreach, a layering of the characters, showing their growth towards each other.

The last one resonated with me because I desperately wanted to skip the sex scenes and come back to them. For some this may work great, but powering through it I was able to hang on to the anger, the disappointment, the hopelessness that brought the characters to that moment. If I would have come back to it later, I don't know if I could have captured that same emotion.

The romance scene is still in progress. My first draft made me want throw down my pen and give up. The second draft made me feel a smidgen better. It will probably be another five to six drafts and countless edits from my critique group before I feel confident enough to submit.

But it's there. On paper. And I'm 5,000 words from typing...

THE END

ENOUGH: Exclusive Excerpt & Interview with Debut Erotica Author Jade Chandler

ENOUGH

Jade Chandler, erotica author of Enough, joins me today to share an exclusive excerpt and a behind-the-scenes look at her inspiration for the sexy male protagonist of her debut novel.

Synopsis

     She wanted nothing to do with me. Well, that's too f*cking bad.

     My MC brothers call me Dare for a reason. I never back down from a challenge. And Lila was the sweetest challenge I ever faced. 

     From the moment she walked into my tattoo shop, she was going to end up in my bed. Tied up, moaning my name and begging for more.

     Her past was a nightmare and I couldn't guarantee her a future. But I could promise her a good time.

     I didn't know what we would turn into, let alone how hard it'd be to stay away after my selfish ass sent her packing.

     Problem is, my girl is hot, so the same men I call brothers tried to claim her.

     There's not enough bourbon in the world to help me forget the love we shared. But to get her back, to prove she's more to me then a quick lay, I'll have to tell her the secret I've been hiding from everyone.

     Before she's gone forever.

Exclusive Excerpt

Lila

     I bit my lip. "I'm, uh, sorry..."

     In two huge strides he moved into my space, bent his head and captured my lips. Hard. Bruising. The kiss demanded surrender.

     I released the pent-up sexual need, feeding it into my kiss. He stepped back before he wrapped his arms around me, dragging me into him. I tangled my fingers in his long hair. I sucked his lower lip, worrying it between my teeth.

     His lips left mine but I held onto his hair.

     "We're not done here." He squeezed my hands. "But I gotta jet. Be back in two hours. Then we talk."

    His scent surrounded me, and ripples of desire ran down my spine. I released his hair when he stepped away, the corn silk-soft strands slipping through my fingers.

     his gaze bore into me for a long moment, and I read an entire love story in mere seconds. The fiery attraction, all-consuming lust and eventual heartbreak-always my love story.

Speed Date with Jade Chandler

1. Who would play Dare in the movie version of Enough?

Chris Hemsworth. He has the look of Dare in mind. Plus can we say oh-so-sexy.

2. Interesting writing quirk?

Interesting writing quirk is a hard one. I don't write naked or anything, and I generally write in order. I have to listen to music and I write fast in the first draft. Even if I try and slow down my writing it doesn't improve the writing; I just end up distracted. My favorite writing spot is a recliner in the living room. My kids are watching TV and I have in earphones writing away. Is that quirky?

3. Inspiration for those sexy love scenes?

Imagination! And a kick ass sex scene playlist. Since I write erotic romance sometimes I have to do research for the kinkier scenes. I am very grateful for Google incognito. But I have already had several people ask if I've tried all the scenes in the book...uh, nope. But I love writing them.

4. Strangest thing you had to research for this book?

C*ck piercing was the strangest thing I researched since my hero has a very sexy and useful apadravya piercing. However, I will warn you the pics are graphic and not always something you want to see. :)

5. Favorite motorcycle?

Harley Dyna Wide Glide. Also the one that Dare rides.

Find Jade online:

http://jadechandler.com/

https://twitter.com/jadechandlerrom

https://www.facebook.com/JadeChandlerAuthor

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15158928.Jade_Chandler

Want to buy the book?

https://www.amazon.com/Enough-Motorcycle-Romance-Jericho-Brotherhood-ebook/dp/B01EEXM9KW

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29833324-enough

Chalk on the Dance Floor: A Regency Tradition

The Regency era. The words inspire thoughts of elegant gowns modeled after Grecian goddesses, elegant balls, and of course the historical romances we can't get enough of.

But one thing I didn't hear about until I started researching balls and soirees for The Earl's Scandalous Lady was the use of chalk on dance floors.

Side note: did anyone else try eating chalk as a kid?

Okay, so it didn't quite look like this. But according to Historical Hussies (http://historicalhussies.blogspot.com/2013/08/regency-ballrooms.html), the wealthiest ton hostesses would have elaborate chalk drawings done on their dance floors.  Not only did this provide traction for dancing slippers, but it spoke to the wealth and prestige of the house. Historical Hussies' article also provides an excellent summary of the types of dance floors and how ballrooms were laid out for big events.

The Queluz National Palace Ballroom, located in Queluz, Portugal

Thanks to Cheri Champagne for the photo!

Fast Facts for Writers

Unfortunately images of this practice were hard to come by.  But for those historical writers out there, a couple fast facts in case you want to use this for future projects:

• This was a practice done most commonly between 1808 and 1821.
• Not a standard practice for just any ball. Events had to be special, and usually only the wealthiest families did this.
• Artists were hired to do the drawings.
• Designs could be anything: nymphs, symbols, flowers, or even people.
• Dancers would rub chalk on the bottom of their slippers to prevent slipping, especially during the more vigorous dances.
• Hostesses with more worn floors could use the chalk to their advantage: wow their guests with their beautiful designs, ensure the safety of dancers and cover up their home's flaws.

Did I Step On His Nose?

The best, and perhaps unique, drawing example I found was courtesy of Donna Hatch and Allison Thompson, who shared that at the annual hunt ball in Warwick in 1813 "...the floor of the ballroom sported a colored-chalk full-length figure of Guy, Earl of Warwick, 'in complete armor,' as well as another gentleman 'in the uniform of a Member of the hunt,' taking a flying leap over a barred fence."

I personally would find it a little odd to look down and be happily dancing across someone's face. 

But maybe that's just me...

Thank You

The articles below, especially the one by Kathryn Kane, were very helpful in researching this practice. While I only make a brief reference to it during a scene where my hero and heroine end up out in the garden together at a ball (scandalous!), I love slipping in those unique details that make the past come alive.

Resources

• Historical Hussies: http://historicalhussies.blogspot.com/2013/08/regency-ballrooms.html
• Cheri Champagne: http://cherichampagneauthor.blogspot.com/2012/10/something-british-monday-in-drawing-room.html
• Donna Hatch: http://donnahatch.com/regency-ballrooms/
• Kathryn Kane: https://regencyredingote.wordpress.com/2011/07/22/the-now-vanished-ephemeral-art-chalking-the-regency-ballroom-floor/
• Allison Thompson: http://www.jasna.org/persuasions/on-line/vol31no1/thompson.html

Book Review: Murphy's Law (Historical Suspense with a Dash of Romance)

I recently took a lovely vacation to Florida for a mini girls' reunion. 6 days away from home meant I needed to pack at least book per day. Thank God for Southwest, where I can take a suitcase of books and not pay extra.

On my trip from Kansas City to the coast I happened to crack open the pages of my now new favorite mystery series...

Quick synopsis, courtesy of Goodreads:

Molly Murphy always knew she'd end up in trouble, just as her mother predicted. So, when she commits murder in self-defense, she flees her cherished Ireland, under cover of a false identity, for the anonymous shores of late nineteenth-century America. When she arrives in New York and sees the welcoming promise of freedom in the Statue of Liberty, Molly begins to breathe easier. But when a man is murdered on Ellis Island, a man Molly was seen arguing with, she becomes a prime suspect in the crime.

If she can't clear her name, Molly will be sent back to Ireland where the gallows await, so using her Irish charm and sharp wit, she escapes Ellis Island and sets out to find the wily killer on her own. Pounding the notorious streets of Hell's Kitchen and the Lower East Side, Molly undertakes a desperate mission to clear her name before her deadly past comes back to haunt her new future.

Bowen pulled me in right from the beginning with her vivid descriptions, from Molly's frantic train ride from the scene of her crime to the elegant streets and shops just a few streets away from poverty-stricken burrows in London to the bowels of a ship stuffed with immigrants on it's Atlantic crossing.  I cared not just for Molly but for all the immigrants; little details were used to great advantage, and it definitely provided me with a fresh perspective on this time period.  The scene where the immigrants disembark see Lady Liberty for the first time was especially moving.

The mystery itself, as some on Goodreads have pointed out, was a little too convenient at times, but I didn't guess the bad guy 'til it was revealed at the end, and it was still a fun ride.  I am a romance junkie (gasp! Who knew?), so the developing relationship between Molly and handsome Detective Sullivan was an added treat.

The best way to demonstrate my love for this series is that I went out to three bookstores and tried to find the next one...

That face when you can't find your book 

and you want it NOOOOOW...

But alas, it was not to be. Which resulted in a mad dash to Amazon to promptly order the next three...

If It Was a Movie...

Something new I'm trying for my book review posts: picking out actors and actresses who would play the lead roles if the book were made into a movie. For Murphy's Law:

Karen Gillan as Molly Murphy

Aside from hailing from the same region as Molly (Karen is from Scotland), this girl kicks butt as Amy Pond, companion to the Eleventh Doctor in the rebooted Doctor Who, and as Nebula, the devilish blue fiend in Guardians of the Galaxy. Perfect for feisty, independent Molly Murphy.

Peter Mooney as Detective Daniel Sullivan

Peter Mooney hails from the other side of the pond, namely Canada, and served as Officer Nick Collins in the series Rookie Blue. Aside from being boyishly handsome it wasn't hard to picture Peter in the role of Detective Daniel Sullivan, an intelligent and charismatic member of the police force who doesn't quite know how to handle the relentless Irish immigrant he knows is hiding something. His attraction to a potential murder suspect doesn't make it easy, and even more so when she keeps showing up wherever there's trouble.

Final Tally: 

4.5 stars and highly recommend!

Book Links:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15793189-murphy-s-law

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Murphys-Law-Murphy-Mystery-Mysteries/dp/1250014085/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

So It's Been Awhile...Life & Updates

The Last Time You Saw Me...

So the last time I blogged I had made a commitment to be a regular blogger.  But life has a funny way of upsetting even the most carefully laid plans...

WARNING: Personal details ahead.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

Some strange occurrences with my body prompted me to seek out a new nurse practitioner.  I was diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), a not uncommon hormonal disorder that can cause fertility complications...and acne that reminded me of the good 'ole days of high school.

My nurse practitioner, Linda* (an amazing woman who I consider a miracle in disguise), was very positive about my chances for being able to control my symptoms and go on to have a family.

Ladies, if you've got the following symptoms consider talking to your doctor, nurse practitioner or health care provider:

• Irregular monthly cycle
• Obesity/weight gain/overweight
• Acne or oily skin
• Infertility
• Type 2 diabetes
• Depression
• Loss of scalp hair
• Excessive body hair (back, face, etc.)

Learn more from this amazing website that's been a valuable resource and support network for me: http://pcosdiva.com/.

Of course these symptoms can represent other things.  But I'm so glad I spoke with Linda and got some answers as well as a healthcare plan for my future.  It's been a gradual adjustment, but I'm excited to move forward and overcome my challenges (with some amazing support from friends and family).

A New Beginning & Silver Linings

I also unexpectedly moved to a new apartment, and while the move was hard it's turned out to have a number of silver linings.  I recently accepted a new job that I'll start in August.  Not only will I love the work, but the schedule will be more flexible for my writing (and reading!).  I'm also closer to my family, including my mom, dad and stepfather, as well as numerous friends...

Not gonna lie, the Barnes & Noble and Half-Priced Books 15 minutes from my apartment versus over an hour from my old house is an extra bonus!




Writing Updates

Despite all the crazy changes in my life I've been slowly but surely plugging away at my book.  I recently entered the Royal Ascot contest and will hear back on finals by the end of May.  I'm actually remembering to show, not tell, and the character development process has grown much easier thanks to the constant feedback and support from my family, friends, critique group and Heartland Romance Authors.

Moving Forward

So here it is...another commitment to blog at least once a month starting now.  Otherwise, I'll see you all in another few months!