Just a Few Random Thoughts

So, a lot’s been going on the last few days. First, I posted my review of tfc Parks’ Rhythm in Blue from My Two Cents on my Goodreads page. Imagine my surprise when I get a notice that both tfc Parks and her alter-ego Brandie Buckwine (her pen name) enjoyed reading my review! I thought that was pretty cool. And I think it’s interesting that she’s most known for her erotic stories under the Brandie Buckwine name but, I came to her through her first romantic novel under the tfc Parks name. Well, however I learned about her, I’m just glad I did. I think I’ve found a new favorite and I’ll have to read more of her stuff sometime.

Another cool thing that I stumbled upon is the A to Z blogging challenge. Apparently, it began in 2010 with almost 100 bloggers and has been growing in participation each year since. Last year, there were around 1700 participants! The premise of the challenge is to post a blog entry each day of the month of April (excluding Sundays), and each post must correspond to the assigned letter for that day – day 1 = A, day 2 = B, day 3 = C, etc. Sounds simple enough, right? Well, I also thought it sounded like tremendous fun so, I think I’m going to sign up to participate! Only, if I do … I think I’ll add the extra challenge of keeping my topics related to romance in some way. I’m actually sort of excited about it.

Another thing I’m excited about is a blog tour for Pierced By Danger. I know, exciting, right? I’m really anxious to release book 2 of the Pierced trilogy but, I really feel like I need to give book 1 a little more time to find its footing first. So my hope is that a blog book tour will help it do just that. I’ve contacted a company called Bewitching Book Tours that specializes in this sort of thing and Roxanne, the owner, is currently in the process of helping to set up a tour for me!

I told you a lot has been going on! I’ll keep you posted on everything as it happens.

My Two Cents

So, I don’t often write reviews of the books I read. Not sure why exactly, I just don’t take the time unless it’s a book that’s really touched me in some way. But I’ve got this shiny new blog and not exactly sure what to fill it up with. Surely my random thoughts alone would certainly bore most of you. So, I thought I’d shake it up a bit and toss a review into the mix. Plus, I just finished a book that my heart and mind don’t seem to want to let go of yet. I can’t stop thinking about it so I thought, why not put my two cents out there? And don’t worry, it’s spoiler free! Here we go…

Rhythm in Blue by tfc Parks – 5/5

Ok, let me just start by saying, wow!

Typically, when I read a romance novel, I want to fall in love with the main characters. I especially want to fall in love with the hero. But while I did not fall in love Rick Rowland in this book (sometimes he can be a little unlovable), I sure did come away from this story caring about him a great deal. Lurking behind the haze of sex, drugs and rock and roll that Rick is constantly lost in, is a good and decent man. Flawed, like the rest of us, and constantly tormented by his demons. But a good man nonetheless. I worried about the consequences of the choices he was making and I felt myself really pulling for him as if he were a close personal friend of mine. I wanted his life to work out.

Shelby, on the other hand, I just wanted to throttle! I realize that she was very young and immature when they first met but, I spent most of the book wanting to shake her and ask her what her problem was! At first, I just couldn’t understand how she could misinterpret Rick’s actions and intentions so badly. Then, of course, we finally learn that she didn’t misinterpret anything, she was just young and stupid at the time (who hasn’t been) and made a huge mistake. A mistake that she allowed Rick to carry around with him for years. And the resulting pain Rick felt each time he saw her was palpable.

But don’t misunderstand me. I loved this book! In fact, to say that I enjoyed this book would be a huge understatement. I was OBSESSED with this story. From the moment Rick and Shelby met, I was completely obsessed. I could not put this book down. And when I was forced to stop reading in order to deal with “real life,” I wasn’t just be disappointed, I was fighting mad! I just wanted to keep reading!

There were a few editing/proofreading missteps in this one but, not enough to hinder my enjoyment of this story. Also, I really wish there had been an epilogue. I sort of felt left hanging at the end. Yes, they do get their HEA but, it would have been nice to see a glimpse of their future, and also to find out what happened with the band.