‘Rules’ for Writers: Anne Rice’s Quote and My Take on it.

The Wayside

If you couldn’t tell. I love writing and writers. I love everything to do with the creative process.

It’s an addiction to me. I love watching it happen and I love it when I’m part of that process.

So whenever I see something about writing, I tend to glom onto it. I save it, read it, and let it feed the fire. So to speak.

Gonna get to a point here soon?

Yeah, yeah. By the way here’s your Coke.

Well, that only took a week! Glad I didn’t ask for a pizza!

Anyways, in my file I have a quote by Anne Rice:

“MOST HARMFUL ADVICE I was ever given by others. 1) Write what you know. 2)You’ll have to polish every sentence you write three or four times. 3)Genius is one tenth talent and nine tenths hard work and 4) You’re not a real writer if you…

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Cruisin’ through books cause books make life worth living with Aly 2/10/2018

More wonderful reviews from Aly. Be sure to check out her site, too. She’s always looking to make new friends!

Missing by Roger Rapel

I thought this book was interesting to read.  The illegal sex trafficking circle was something I have read about in other books.  This book kept me wanting to find out what would happen next. Jim Broadbent investigates and this character was entertaining to me.  This was a bit graphic but I would expect that because of the story being told.  I enjoyed it.  *This book was given to me for free at my request from a LibraryThing Giveaway and I provided this voluntary review.*  4/5 Stars

Always Here by S.L. Mauldin

I enjoyed this book.  Another great book by this author.  I think this could be a lifetime movie.  I loved to sing in school myself so I related to these characters.   The story was great!  *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*  4/5 Stars

Life Sliding by S.L. Mauldin

I think this is a great book.  A real coming of age book in my opinion.  The story deals with many things that high school is all about and still happens in every school liking bulling, hate and more.  This makes me glad I am not still in high school but it was a good book.  *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*  5/5 Stars

Farewell Keystone by Cory Clement

This book was not really what I thought it would be.  It was good but it was also a bit slow for me.  I understand what the author was doing but I just think I did not connect as much as I wanted to with this book. *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*  3/5 Stars

Magic Calls (Echoes Book 1) by Miriam Greystone

This book was awesome!  I can’t wait to read more in this series.  This is my first book by this author and I think she has caught me in her web!  The characters were great in this book and the world was exciting and fresh new ideas.  The twists in the story line were great.  I loved it what more can I say!  *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*  5/5 Stars

How to Save an Undead Life (Book 1) by Hailey Edwards

I really enjoyed this book.  I think my favorite character was “Wolly” the house.  But I loved the banter Grier and Boaz have through this book.  I loved the comic relief and I could see this series making a cut movie series of TV series.  I think this series has great potential to be pick up either way.   Great book and I will be glad to read the next book in the series!  4/5 Stars

Ghost Slayer by Majanka Verstraete   ARC—Publication Date 4/24/2018

I was very excited to read this book.  I loved the cover and it caught me and pulled me in to look closer at this book. I liked that the main character, Kaelyn, likes to kill ghosts but I was confused a little in the beginning of the book because the author didn’t tell me enough about the characters or pull me into their lives the way I was hoping.  All in all, this book was not bad but I was hoping for more.  “This book was given to me for free at my request by NetGalley and I provided this voluntary review.”  3/5 Stars

Fated Loss by Claudia Caren

This book was very good and hooked me right away.  Rose Kristal is a normal girl until her 16th birthday and everything changes.  Oh wow does everything change.  Rose doesn’t remember much about her life until her birthday.  This book was exciting and I can’t wait to see what the author comes up with next!  *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*  4/5 Stars

The Blade Witch by Nygel Oglesby

I really enjoyed this book. Estra was a interesting character and a bit spunky.  I think this was a great book and I can’t wait to see what the author has for us next.  I also think the book ended much better than I thought, at first, I wondered if the author would be me hanging on. *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*  5/5 Stars

Soul of Stone by Leo Romero

I have really enjoyed this series.  Draxil and Gabriel are great characters. the twists in this book were great.  I loved every moment!  *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*  5/5 Stars

Scarlett by Elle Klass

This book caught my attention right away.  Scarlett did not have an easy life but I who has? The book was easy for me to relate too.  I have not read much from this author before but I like the style of this book.  I will see what else Elle Klass writes and keep her in mind for the future.  I like the part of Scarlett seeing ghosts and I like the many new things this author bring to this book.  there were many characters and I enjoyed the book.  *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*  4/5 Stars

Cruisin’ through books cause books make life worth living with Aly, 2/2/2018

More great book reviews from Aly! Be sure to check out her site for more!

Affinity’s Window by Douglas Wilson

This book is great!  Super Creepy and scary.  I loved it! I was hoping we would get some “next generation” horror authors to come out.  I feel I have not found good horror authors in a while this author may be up with Stephen King and more.   I would read more from this author.  I can’t wait to see what else this author can do in horror! *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*  5/5 Stars

Control FreakZ by Michael Evans

I think this book was interesting.  It did keep my attention and I kept reading until the end.  I liked the characters and I think this was a great start for a new author. Teens escaping a death sentence from their government.  The book had some great action as well.  I can’t wait to see what else this author can write.  *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*  4/5 Stars

The Extraction by Steven F. Freeman

This book to me is a recipe for success.  I really liked this character ex-FBI criminal profiler Decimus Farr and I enjoy a good mystery.  I love when authors take me on a ride with books.  I feel this book was all that and more. This book is written well and full of suspense and I think you should check it out and see how much you like it too.  *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*  5/5 Stars

Paradise is Not Forever by Vera Fernandez

This is a good story of romance and being in love. I remember the whirlwind you can get caught up in.  This story was great! I enjoyed this book. I liked the characters of Lexie and Owen they seemed real to me.   *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*  4/5 Stars

Angels Cry by Tina Glasneck

This book to me was a little dark but I enjoyed that about it.  I think it fits how the author wanted us to feel about this book.  I enjoyed the up and downs and twists, I was on the edge of my seat of this book.  This book is not all roses and sunshine but does reflect things that are real about life.  I think the characters felt real to me and I was lost in this book. *This book was given to me for free at my request in LibraryThing giveaway and I provided this voluntary review.*  5/5 Stars

Diary of Anna the Girl Witch by Vic Connor

A witch book, I have to say I have not outgrown witches.  I think this book was a fun read.  Anna finds out she is from a family of witches and powerful well known ones.  Can be good and bad right?  Check this book out to see what you think.  *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*  4/5 Stars

Triorion: Awakening by L. J. Hachmeister

Wow, this was a fun read for me.  I wouldn’t say I read a lot of Sci-fi but I enjoyed this book.  The characters were great the story was suspenseful and exciting.  I enjoyed this book. *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*  4/5 Stars

Girl Fighter by Cyan Night

Aliyah is a very likable and exciting character in this book.  She feels very much like a real person to me.  I wanted to keep reading to find out more about her story. I never really enjoyed fighting but I see why Aliyah feels the way she does in this book and what made her a cage fighter. This book was a fun, intense, and has great up and downs for Aliyah.  I enjoyed it more than I first thought I would. *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*  5/5 Stars

What Haunts Me by Margaret Millmore

I was so excited to read this book.  It was everything I hoped it would be.  I am so glad I got a chance to check it out. I really enjoy ghost stories and the fact that George can kill them was a good part to this book.  It made this book stand out.  I could see this book as a TV series.  It was this good for me.  This book was great and enjoyed it from page 1 to the end.  I would read more from this author.  *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*  5/5 Stars

Stolen by Jessica Titone

A interesting look at a romance with some fantasy. Ella is a character I can relate to.  I felt the different emotions this book gave me and it was a good read.  I don’t think I could be a ballerina but I do love to tap dance.  *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*  4/5 Stars

Dark and Broken Souls by E.J. King

This book had me at vampires.   I really enjoyed this book. A new take on vampires, which I would think now days is not an easy thing to do.  I liked the characters and it reminded a little of my love for the Twilight Series.  *This book was given to me for free at my request at a LibraryThing giveaway and I provided this voluntary review.*  4/5 Stars

Hiding by Jenny Morton Potts—-ARC —-Publication Date 2/1/2018

This book had from the beginning.  I loved the cover and everything about this book.  This is a new author for me and I would read more.  As the book promises it is a very gripping psychological thriller!  I enjoyed it very much.  You should check it out.  *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*  5/5 Stars

All These Things: Maya Invictus by Mark Tiro

I liked this book better that the first book in this series.  Maya is a gifted lawyer and she has a hard case in this book.  This book kept me reading until the end. *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*  4/5 Stars

Implicit:Soul Invictus by Mark Tiro

I felt like this book was slow in the beginning but once I got passed that I liked this book.  This story took me on a journey, really many journeys with the main character, Maya.  I felt that this book was interesting and deep at the same time.  This book left me with many things to think about I my own life.  *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*  3/5 Stars

Land of Strength and Sorrow by Cassandra Fear

What a wonderful story.  I think this author has great ideas in this book and she made me “see” what she was writing about.  I saw it come it life in my head.  The characters and the world she built. Faeries, giants, magical creatures, and a magical world, I enjoyed it all very much.  I would read more from this author.  I have to say though with the last name of Fear, when I saw this authors name I thought of R.L. Stine’s Fear street books and I wanted Cassandra Fear to write books in the horror genre.  But I enjoyed this book so what do I know.  lol  *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*   5/5 Stars

Cruisin’ through books cause books make life worth living with Aly 1/26/2018

Lots more books perused by Aly over the past few weeks. Be sure to visit her site, as I’m sure she’d appreciate the traffic!

The Burgas Affair by Ellis Shuman

What a great thriller!  This book is based on terror attack in Bulgaria.  I was on the edge of my seat and wanted to keep reading this book.  I enjoyed the characters in this story and I felt my heart pounding with all the action in this book.  It felt also like a great movie to me.  The world building was great and the author did a great job of pulling me into the book.  *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*  5/5 Stars

Queen Moxie by Hank Quense—ARC  published February 1, 2018 

Moxie is queen and a mom.  This is a good book!  Aethelwine, Queen moxie’s daughter doesn’t want to be queen next.  What an exciting book and there are some funny things as well for me in it.  Football in Camelot time, I don’t remember reading about in history books but I love it in this book.  The book just kept me wanting to read more.  I loved the ending of this book too.  All hail Queen Moxie and this great book!  *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*  5/5 Stars

Missing Laddoos-A Diwali Adventure by Jassie S.

What a sweet children’s book! I loved it.  What a fun adventure!  *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*  5/5 Stars

Jason Cage by Akay Brothers

Jason Cage is a very complicated character.  I enjoyed this book.  There was lots of action and Jason can see things other people can not see.  The book had me wanting to read until the end.  A lot happen to Jason in this book but in my eyes it made him more “down to Earth” character for me.  There were some sub plots that made the book more interesting to me as well. *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*  4/5 Stars

Lips as Red as Blood by Phoebe Wickenden

I love Snow White and Cinderella!  This was not too long and a very cute book.  I enjoyed it. *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*  5/5 Stars

The Ghost Game by James Dixon

I enjoy short stories.  This book kept me reading the whole story and I thought it was an ok book.  I’m not sure I totally got what the author intended but I like things abstract sometimes as well.  *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*  3/5 Stars

SAW: The Return Of Jill Tuck: Fan Fiction by Erez Bailen, James Wan,‎ Leigh Whannell

For me, the story is not bad.    I enjoyed it!  I loved the Saw movies and would love for more to be made and I think this is a great start.  I have not read a lot of fan fiction but I after reading this I am a fan of fan fiction!  4/5 Stars

 

Cruisin’ Through Books Cause Books Make Life Worth Living with Aly, Riley is a slacker edition.

Okay, so I have a couple weeks worth to put up. I had set them up to release on a schedule, since I had fallen a bit behind, but the wordpress site decided they didn’t want to put it up! At least, I’m blaming it on the wordpress site, even though it was probably my fault.

Starry Messenger by Ethan Howard

I have to be honest I picky when it comes to Sci-fi books because not all of them are good.  Some just are not what I like to read.  But this book was not one of them.  I liked the characters and the story kept me reading more.  I enjoyed the author’s style of writing.  *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*  4/5 Stars

Bound by Shadow by Reily Garrett

What a great series so far!  I am glad I get to read such great books and I get to write these reviews so others can pick up great books as well.  Kaylee is trying to move on with her life after a deviating loss of her twin brother. But she runs into more trouble of a different kind.  Kaylee is a strong character I admire and I loved this book very much.  There were ups and downs for her but I loved following along to see how she dealt with everything.  Great book! *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*  5/5 Stars

Indiana Belle by John A. Heldt

I don’t read many time travel books.  This one was fun to read for me.  I am from Illinois so this book was interesting to read about the 1920s in Illinois.  Changing things in the past when you travel back can be bad or good but you never really know for sure.  This book was very romantic as well and I enjoyed it very much.  I would recommend you try out this author and this book and see if you like it too!  *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.* 4/5 Stars

Caligation by Brhi Stokes

This book was different in a good way.  Supernatural fantasy in a new way for me.  I was lost in this book and I enjoyed it very much.  I was lost in this “new” world with the characters.  I was drawn into this book from the beginning. *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*  5/5 Stars

Laird of Duncairn by Craig Comer

This book was a little steam punk and more fantasy.  I have not read many steam punk but this genre is growing on me. This book is in the long past and humans and fey are not a good terms.  Effie is half human and fey and has to overcome a lot in this book.  This book is also a little mystery as well and I enjoyed that little surprise.  Overall, a good book.  *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*  4/5 Stars

Damned if I Do (The Harker Trilogy #1) by Erin Hayes

What an exciting new trilogy!  I love Edie and Jude are both great characters.  I love the way the author gave us a little twist on vampires in this book.  Edie being a “Harker” kills vampires, she is a vamp hunter.  But Can you fall in love with one too? I even love the niece Amelia!  I imagine she is soo cute and adorable, strong like her mom and aunt but so sweet.  So far I love everything about this series!  I can’t wait to read more maybe I will try the next book as a audio book! I have read this author before I like her work! I would recommend you try this author for yourself.  5/5 Stars

Day For Night by Stacey E. Bryan

What a fun and interesting read!  This book had lots of the great in it Vampires, aliens, reality show and so much more.  This book was not what I thought but I enjoyed the surprise of how fun it was to read. * This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*  5/5 Stars

The Game by Angie West

I love this book!  This book was so exciting.  I love to play games too, like Uno and Skipbo.  So, I was very much into playing a game every week with this book.  I loved the twist to it being a vintage game and then the book got even more interesting.  I think the idea of the story and everything about this book was great! Angie had a great idea and made it a great book!  I could see this be a movie or maybe even a great Idea for a mini series for TV.  Not a long book but it was a great one!  *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*  5/5 Stars

Cold Blood by Robert Bryndza

I have read another book in this series, but this series I am reading different by not reading them in order.  I think these books can be read in any order.  So, I don’t mind on this series to jump around.  Erika Foster in this book is a character that sometimes I like and sometimes I don’t like much but I believe a strong character.  I have enjoyed the books I read from this series. *This book was given to me for free at my request from Netgalley and I provided this voluntary review.*  4/5 Stars

Run from a Shadow by Ruth Callick

This book was not what I expected it was sooo much more.  I enjoyed it very much.  Children who left Russia in search of a better life.  There are always many challenges when you try to better yourself, but I feel it is always worth it to try. *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*  5/5 Stars

Snow by Mikayla Elliot

My first thought on this book when I read the title was that it may be about Snow White.  But I was wrong.  I didn’t expect vampires which was a good surprise for me. I very imaginative story and a face paced plot.  I was drawn into this book right away.  The adventure and the twists in this book were fun to read and I enjoyed it all very much.  *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*  4/5 Stars

I was an evil Teenager by Anthony Avina

This book was very fun for me to read.  Lisa Etron is a beautiful crazy girl!  How could that go wrong?  Wow this book was a fun ride I enjoyed it.  I love creepy and scary books and movies so this book has everything I needed and so much more.  *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*  5/5 Stars

Caroline Eversole and the Gilded Gauntlet by B. B. Morgan

I enjoyed this book quite a bit.  The adventure was very fun to be a part of.  Caroline Eversole wants freedom. I think that Caroline learn she can decide her own fate.  You can be whatever you want to be in life if I want it bad enough.  I try my best at all I do so this book has inspired me and reminded me why I also try so hard.  *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*  4/5 Stars

Wake the Hollow by Gaby Triana

I thought this book would grab me like Sleepy Hallow the TV show did.  I felt it was a good book but I was not as captivated as I was with the TV show. Mica does not want to go home but return home. I was confused a bit in the beginning.  For me, the story took a while to build up.  I think I just expected more from this book and these characters.  I think the book was well written but I wanted more.  The story did not grab me right at the beginning as I thought it would when I decided to read this book.   4/5 Stars

Skeleton’s Key (Delta Crossroads Trilogy, Book 2)  by Stacy Green

This book was an ok mystery for me.  I was not blown away by this book like I wanted to be.  To me, it took a long time to build up the story.  I loved the part about helping to make an old historical house be beautiful again.  I wish I felt more caught up in this book then I did.   3/5 Stars

The Surrogate by Louise Jensen

I thought this book was a very good read.  I enjoyed the surprises through out the book.  After trying for kids a long time the Kat and Nick get once more chance.  I’m not sure I would’ve taken my friend up on it since they were once very close but people drift apart.  But it makes a great book!  I loved it!  *This book was given to me for free at my request from Netgalley and I provided this voluntary review.*  4/5 Stars

Happiness by Jonathon Pantelis

Who would ever want to lose a sister or a child?  Terry had a hard time of it in this book.  I enjoyed reading it but something in life are just hard to live through and even harder to make it out the other side.  I did enjoy this book. There were so many different emotions for me with this book as I read.  I was touched! *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*  4/5 Stars

PERMANENT HAPPINESS: The only way to find peace, joy and your life-given purpose by Iyabo Ojikutu MD

I think many people struggle to be happy in life but this book, I think, help you understand that you may be on the right path and just didn’t know it.  I felt that way as I was reading this book.  It had some great points that I also hadn’t thought of yet.  This book  was fun the read for me to see how I felt if I was doing well and how improvements in my life can be made. *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*  5/5 Stars

Cruisin’ through books cause books make life worth living with Aly! First of 2018!

Hey guys, as I’ve said before these are going up for a second time. The first time they go up is on Aly’s site, located here.

One Wish Away by Ingrid Seymour

Oh how I love Genie books!  this books was very good with some different twists I didn’t expect.  Not all genie are bad or good.  I really enjoyed Marielle and Faris’s relationship and how it grew in the book.  I am curious where the next book is going to go.  I think I will have to continue with this series.  I am glad I found it!   5/5 Stars

Special Minds by Ally K.

I think this book is very unique!  I enjoyed it! This book kept me reading more.  I wanted to see what this book was about.  I thought when I read the title it would be about a genius or something but I enjoyed the story because it was not what I expected too.  I got drawn into the story with Milly and I think book two will be great as well.  *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.* 4/5 Stars

Cruel Angels Pass by Keishi Ando

This book was a very short read but I liked it.  I think there was something I lost a little in this one though. *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*  3/5 Stars

Tales of His Words by Keishi Ando

A quick love story that can last over both time and death.  I very dreamy and romantic story for me.  I liked it. *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*  4/5 Stars

The Burning by J.P. Seewald

This book to me was a heart wrenching story but a interesting story to read.  This story has me remembering Erin Brockovich a little bit.  Another greedy company was involved in this as well and didn’t want to help anymore than it had to if at all.  The characters were something I can relate to which makes it better for me.  *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*  4/5 Stars

Trouble at Riverside Academy  by Liam Moiser

I enjoyed this quick read.  What would you do when your father shows up from out of the blue?  I liked this book and I had a great time getting to know Rachel and Ben.  This book was quite an adventure in a short story. *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*  4/5 Stars

Smiley by Michael Ezell

I love these serial killer books!  This one is great yet just as spooky too because the killer is a “nice” guy and neighbor.  I have read in other things about some of these killers can blend in but this guy is good. A home town boy and big LAPD police guy comes back home after he loses his father, and this guy, Garrett, has a killer case on his hands.  The book was great and hard to put down.  * This book was given to me for free at my request from NetGalley and I provided this voluntary review.*  5/5 Stars

Hinder by Kristin Ping

Hinder was not quite what I expected but I enjoyed the meeting and learning about Benders and Wielders.  I thought that was an interesting part of this book. I think the character were very good together.  I think this book and it’s author has some great ideas and a new look on witches.  I thought this book was ok but it did not caught me as much as I had hoped it would.  *This book was given to me for free at my request from Netgalley and I provided this voluntary review.*  3/5 Stars

The Tell All by Libby Howard

What a lovely little mystery book. I enjoyed being cozy and reading a cute,  fun book.  A interesting book I didn’t expect to like as much as I did.  This book had me from the first chapter until the end.  It made me laugh a little too.  *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*  4/5 Stars

Destiny: Book of Love by Brandon Schieckoff           

This book was ok for me.  I enjoyed reading about the new nation of Heath.  The world building was not bad for me.  I just did not connect to this book like I wanted too.  Bii is a interesting character name I liked it but this book felt to me familiar to me like I have read or watch on a movie a little like it.  I think you should try this book for yourself and see what you think. I think this author is a good writer but the story did not connect to me like I wanted it too. *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*  3/5 Stars                   

Grim by Thea Atkinson

This book was good with reapers and fallen angels and much more.  I was hoping it would pull me in more than what it did but I think the characters were fun to read along with and I enjoyed meeting Alya.  I felt by the end of this book I was missing that “it” part of the book that makes me “have to” read the next one in the series.  4/5 Stars

Suckers by Keishi Ando     

I think this one is my favorite of Keishi Ando short stories.  It was creepy and still a great fun read.  So exciting to read good short books!  *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*  5/5 Stars