~Choosing My Next WIP~

As I have mentioned a few times already I finished the first draft of one of my WIP's. And while it sits I need to start working on something new. I cannot go a month without writing. I've already gone two days and it's weird not to be thinking about character traits and plotting. My problem is I have several ideas and I'm torn. I don't know which one to start working on.

When you have three ideas and have already outlined each of them and in addition are excited about all three, how do you choose? The funny thing is all three other than being YA are very different from each other and anything I have attempted before. All require research and I know will take me longer than my usual three months to complete the first draft. That's also been holding me up as well. Knowing it's not going to be as easy as my past projects where little research was required. But like my mom said to me today, "Not everything can be easy," and she's right. Not saying that completing a manuscript is easy because that is far from the truth, just meaning that my past projects I was comfortable with and these new ideas I have reservations about my ability to transfer my ideas from my mind onto paper.

To give you a sense of how different the three ideas are; one is a mystery about a boy who was framed for murder, another about witchcraft and the other one will take part in not only present day but the 1920's as well. So as you can see all three are worlds apart from one another.

So how do I choose? Has anyone else been torn between two or three ideas? If so how did you choose?

~Titles~

Over the weekend I finished the first draft of my WIP. I've been working on it for about three months now, so when the last word went down on the page I was ecstatic. It's not done yet, of course, but there is something gratifying in knowing that I was able to take an idea I wrote on a post-it note one day and turn it into a 60,000 word story.

I'm letting it sit before I start my revisions that way I can go back with a fresh eye. I'm finding it difficult to stay away though. For three months these characters have been on my mind, visiting me in my dreams and for now I have to put them away. It's bittersweet.

And even though I am restricting myself from making any revisions for the time being I am still going through the process of creating a title. Sometimes I think coming up with a title can actually be harder than writing the actual book. You want it to encompass the essence of the story and at the same time be something that is intriguing. I've been racking my brain and coming up empty.

Last night I went out to dinner with my parents and when I told them about my dilemma I was expecting my mom to chime in with a brilliant idea. She's an avid reader, has dabbled in writing and is creative. So when my dad came out and asked me what my book was about and then out of left field came up with a title I nearly fell off my chair. It's funny how you get answers from the least expected places. I might not use the title my dad came up with but it is definitely a top contender.

How about you guys? How do you come up with titles for your WIP's? Do you know the title before you even start writing?

Sizzling by Susan Mallery

The books in Susan Mallery's Buchanan series just get better and better. Sizzling is the third book in the series and follows the story of Reid Buchanan and Lori Johnson.

A quick overview from Susan Mallery's website: Reid Buchanan was always a fan favorite on the baseball diamond. A spiteful article about the former pitcher and current playboy questions his talent in the bedroom. And the newspaper's just the first bad news. Reid's grandmother Gloria's broken hip means she needs constant care--but Reid hired Nurses 1 and 2 for their bedside manner with him. So for Number 3 he chooses Lori Johnson, the first candidate who seems immune to his brand of charm.
Lori's never wasted her time with amoebas like Reid Buchanan. So why are her well-fortified defenses starting to crumble under the force of his sexy smile--and the kindness he shows her at every turn? There's only one explanation for the feelings flaring between them--chemistry. Chemistry so hot, it's sizzling!

When Reid was introduced in the first book of the series, Delicious, I couldn't wait to get to this book. I liked Reid from the very beginning. Granted he is a ladies man but through the first and second book you were able to see the way he interacted with his family as well as his brother's wife and his best friend Penny. You could see that there was more to him than just the label he had acquired.

After moving into his grandmother's house to avoid the paparazzi he is reunited with the nurse he chose for his grandmother, Lori Johnson. From the minute these two are on a page together the tension is thick. Lori might fall for Reid's charm but unlike the rest of the population she doesn't show it. On the outside Lori is tough with great one-liners that really help put Reid in his place. On the inside she is completely self conscious and constantly compares herself to others especially her "perfect" sister.

At first I thought it was a little annoying how Lori constantly questioned her ability to attract a man like Reid and how she compared herself to other woman. But then I realized that is what goes on in some girls heads. The constant criticism of themselves and the feeling that they just aren't good enough.

Reid and Lori are a perfect match because they balance each other out. He takes her up a notch while she takes him down a few. 

Gloria, The Buchanan's matriarch, is back in this installment but this time around Lori helps her see the light and she slowly starts to shed her harsh personality. I loved reading as she made amends with all the characters that she trashed in previous books. I also loved that she had a soft spot where Lori was concerned.

This book made me laugh and cry. The ending is harsh, but it was the perfect combination for a great book. I just ordered the fourth in the series, Tempting, and can't wait to see how it wraps up.

Currently Reading:

Irresistible by Susan Mallery

Irresistible by Susan Mallery is the second installment in The Buchanans series and even better than the first.

A quick overview from Susan Mallery's website:
When ex-Marine Walker Buchanan stops to help Elissa Towers change a tire, he tells himself it's just the neighborly thing to do. And when Elissa finds herself baking him a thank-you pie, she's just returning the favor…right?
Both of them have sworn off dating—Elissa's determined to protect her little girl, and that means ditching her taste for dangerous men…especially former Marines with dark secrets. Walker knows that he's not cut out for hearth and home…his own crazy family made sure of that. But the sparks won't stop flying between them.
Now the two are struggling to keep their relationship "just friends," but with every kiss, their rules fly out the window…

Walker is Cal's younger brother and was first introduced in Delicious, when he returns home from the Marines after years of being away. I fell in love with Walker. Being a former Marine he struggles with what he had seen and done while he was fighting for his country. I felt for him as the visions haunted his dreams and even his conscious mind. It is something he keeps to himself and what I loved is when he meets Elissa he slowly starts opening up.

Elissa is struggling with her own past. All she has is her daughter and her ninety year old neighbor Mrs. Ford who has more spunk than a teenager. I really liked Elissa. Her back story goes back to when she was a teenager and maybe it's because I'm a fan of YA books but I loved learning about her younger years and where it all went wrong.

I read this book in less than a day. I couldn't put it down. I highly recommend it but don't you dare read it without reading Delicious first. Starting from the beginning gives you a better perspective and understanding of all of the characters.

Happy Reading.

Currently Reading

Delicious by Susan Mallery

As I'm sure you already know I love YA books. I love to read them and I also write them. What you might not know is I am a sucker for Romance novels as well. One of my new favorite romance writers is Susan Mallery. After reading her Lone Star Sister Series I knew I had to read more of her work. I continued with Delicious the first book in The Buchanans Series and just like the other series it starts off with a bang.

Quick overview from Susan Mallery's Website:

Menu

Appetizer

Cal Buchanan needs a top-flight chef to take over his failing Seattle restaurant, The Waterfront. He can afford to hire the best in town--the only problem is that the best happens to be his ex-wife, Penny Jackson.
Entree
Penny really needs this opportunity, but she doesn't need the distraction of working with her ex. She's sworn off romance--she's even having a baby on her own. But before she knows it, the heat is on...and the attraction between her and Cal moves from a low simmer to a full boil!
Dessert
The rest should be easy as pie, but a secret from Dessert Cal's past could spoil everything. Maybe it's true that too many cooks spoil the broth--or maybe two is enough to make it irresistible.

Right off the bat you know there is going to be tension and sexual chemistry since the two main characters were once married. I loved how she took that direction. It was different because it wasn't the initial love story that brought them together but a love story about bringing them back together. What made it interesting was the fact that Penny is pregnant and the whole concept of pregnancy was the factor in their relationships demise in the first place.

I like how Penny is a take no BS from anyone type of character yet she still has a soft edge to her. I loved how she remained best friends with Reid a notorious playboy and Cal's younger brother, through the years.

I like Cal. Not as much as I wanted to but he is a good match for Penny. The secret that he was holding on to for so long was what ultimately allowed him to let Penny walk away but it was something I thought he should have been able to share with her from the beginning. They were married after all. Then again without it there would be no story to tell.

I hated Cal's grandmother Gloria. The things that she said had my mouth dropping to the floor and my eyes bulging, though Penny can hold her own and I loved when she finally did.

Susan Mallery focuses the book on Penny and Cal but at the same time gives you insight to the other characters that will eventually have their own time in the spotlight. So of course I couldn't wait to pick up the next book in the series. I'll be posting the review for Irresistible tomorrow and the review for Sizzling on Monday.

Are there any other romance fans out there? If so who are your favorite romance writers? Leave your comments below and if Blogger allows me I'll comment back.

Currently Reading

Betrayal by Lee Nichols.

I finished Betrayal by Lee Nichols last week and haven't had a chance to post my review. Betrayal is the second installment in the Haunting Emma series. I'll start off by saying that I liked this book much better than the first book. I had a really hard time getting past the fact that Emma so willingly went with Bennett in the first book and didn't have a million questions and reservations. It annoyed me so much I couldn't get past it. I pushed those thoughts away before jumping into this book and I actually liked Emma this time around.

A quick overview from Lee Nichols website:

Emma Vaile is the most powerful ghostkeeper in centuries. Which is great for battling the wraith-master Neos and horrible for her social life. Emma knows fellow ghostkeeper Bennett Stern is her soul mate, but when ghostkeepers fall in love, the weaker one loses all power. And until Neos is defeated, Bennett and Emma can't risk it.
When the temptation of being with Emma gets to be too much, Bennett disappears, pursuing a dangerous path to increase his powers. Heartbroken and alone, Emma tries to lose herself in school. But when the Knell, a secret ghostkeeping society, sends two new ghostkeepers to Echo Point—one a snarky teen guy, the other a British scholar—Emma throws herself into training to battle Neos. But as the team grows stronger, so do the ghosts. And worse, one of their own will betray them. One Emma never suspected. . . .

I really liked the new characters that were brought into the story. Lukas and Simon mix things up. Lukas is your typical teenage boy while Simon is older and the one who watches over the group. They add to the story rather than distract and I especially liked the relationship between Lukas and Natalie. I hope there is more of them to come in the next installment.

Now I don't know if it's me but this book reminded me of two other books. Emma and Bennett cannot be together because if they are the weaker ghostkeeper will lose their power. Reminiscent of Alyson Noel's Immortal series where Ever and Damen cannot be together or it will kill him. In Betrayal Bennett's answer to this problem is leaving. He leaves her just like Edward did in New Moon. Now again it might be me but it had so many similarities to other books and I was just hoping for something fresh.

However, with that said the ending had a nice twist. A twist I was not expecting. Someone was leaking information to Neos about Emma and her friends and Nichols has you guessing right up to the dramatic reveal. She is definitely good with keeping the reader guessing and this is only one example of many.

If you read the first book Deception and liked it you will most likely love Betrayal. If you read Deception and didn't like it so much then Betrayal will surprise you.

Have you read either of the books in the Haunting Emma Series? What are your thoughts?

Currently Reading:

~August Wrap-Up~

Books Read:

I almost made my goal. I'm 44 pages away from my goal of 8 books. Unexpected houseguest and a writing session kept me from completing it. So close.  

 

Favorite Book Read in August:

Best Second Book in a Series: Tie between:

Favorite Mystery:

Most Interesting, Informative and a Book I Would Recommend to Any Writer:

Goal for September: