Castle and Hawaii Five-O--So Sweet & Christmas-y!

I loved Castle last night.  His child-like excitement for the holidays is so SWEET!  And now that his family is changing, it's hard to let go of the traditions you've had forever.  I can totally relate to this as the older three of my children have left the house and moved away to college.  We've had to be a little more flexible with our traditions and in doing so, have acquired a few new ones.  But I loved that Martha and Alexis saw how important it was to him and compromised in the end.

The case of the dead Santa was so clever and had some really great twists and turns.  I have to admit Esposito was my favorite with the captain catching him modeling the Christmas teddy and muttering about her in-laws, and Castle sure that the poor Santa was thrown from his sleigh.  Man, I love his speculations on how the murders happened.  The look on the team's face is always so priceless.

Esposito's little ending with Mrs. Cabot made me go hmmmm....  It could be interesting if he gets involved with her and she has a delinquent son.  Where's he's a cop and all.  And Ryan would make a cute daddy.  (Can I get a collective awwww)

But while there was a lot of Castle goodness, I have to admit I was sort of annoyed that Beckett did that duck and cover routine to him again, instead of being up front and honest about her tradition, she let him believe she would be joining him, then ducked out and made excuses.  It seems so beneath her and their relationship at this point.  But Castle always understands and always accepts her for where she's at.  I loved the little swirls (heart?) he did in her cup.  He really is a thoughtful man.  Although the preview of his ex-wife showing up did make me smile.  That is going to be goooooood.


Hawaii Five-O started out with adorkable Max hitting on the bank teller before the bank is robbed and she's shot right in front of him.  We also had the B story of the Victoria's Secret models having a stalker and I am SO grateful they didn't make Steve stay there with that story.  Because then we wouldn't have had the incredible jumping from building to building scene.  I mean, seriously, that was an incredible foot chase, like out of the movies or something.

Here it is in case you want to watch it too

Doesn't that remind you of a Spiderman-type thing? C. Thomas Howell still has some moves and Steve McGarrett is always in hot pursuit.  *fans self*  The funniest moment was probably the McGarrett flying takedown of the naked guy.  The look on Kono's face was hilarious!  And when the guy gives Steve his gun back and practically order him to kill him, for just a split second I wondered if he would.  Great suspense.  And Max's final scenes were sweet.  Great show overall (I could have done without the Victoria's Secret thing, but oh well.  Steve's story made up for it.)

No new Castle for a few weeks, but we get at least one more new Hawaii Five-O.  I guess I'll have to watch some Christmas shows or something to fill the void of Castle.  Does anyone love Elf (with Will Ferrell) as much as I do?  Here's some clips of funny Elf moments.  Jus 'cuz.  :)

Book Lover's Holiday Giveaway Hop Dec. 4-10

I'm participating in the Book Lover's Holiday Giveaway Hop because I am a book lover and love to share the joy.  As part of it, I am offering one of my famous book lover's packages which includes:

• one soft, flannel-y lap blanket to keep you warm while you read

• gourmet hot chocolate mixes to add atmosphere, warmth, and something yummy while you read

• a copy of any one of my seven international suspense novels, your choice.

What a great Christmas gift for you or a book lover on your list! 

Here's how you can win:

Become a follower of this blog and tell me in the comment trail.  (I could check but I'm too busy this time of year.)  :)


For extra entries you can:

Like my Facebook page

Follow me on Twitter

Tweet about the giveaway


Be sure to tell me what you did in the comment trail so I can give you all the entries you've earned and give me an email addy to contact you in case you are the winner.

(Giveaway is limited to continental U.S. addresses only.)

And if you want to see all the rest of the blogs that are participating, and enter their giveaways, here is the list:

Book Review: Brownies & Betrayal & Miss Braithwaite's Secret

Double review for you today. Score!  But you know what else makes me happy?  I achieved my half-nano goal of 25,000 words.  It took me until close to ten p.m. on Friday, but I did it and I'm proud of myself.  November was a crazy month!

Brownies and Betrayal by Heather Justesen is a combination of delicious romantic options, baked goods, and a suspenseful mystery.  We're introduced to Tess Crawford, a pastry chef who's moved from Chicago to small town Silver Springs after she's caught her fiance cheating on her.  She's opening her own bakery and  doing refreshments for a wedding when one of the wedding guests gets into a petty argument with her over her brownies.  Tess later finds that guest murdered and she becomes a suspect when the police find out about the argument and her fingerprints are found on the murder weapon.  In trying to clear her name, Tess finds herself in several dangerous situations as she zeroes in on the killer.

The thing I like about Heather Justesen's books is that she writes romance really well.  Family by Design had some really great romantic moments that made me sigh, and I was hoping for that with Brownies and Betrayal.  Heather does a good job of balancing the mystery with a "love triangle" of sorts, but there's not a lot of romantic resolution, instead there's more of a romantic set-up for the next book (this is the start of a new series from what I gather).  The mystery was good, although I called the killer early on, but I liked the twists and turns the story took.  The recipes sounded yummy and I'd definitely like to try a few of them.  This is a great curl-up-on-your-couch afternoon read.

Here's the back copy:

Pastry chef Tess Crawford thought moving from Chicago to quiet Silver Springs, Arizona would simplify her life. That was before she found the body of a woman with whom she had traded heated words the previous night, left her fingerprints on the murder weapon, and came under attack for trying to clear her name. When her cheating ex-fiance shows up, intent on convincing her to come back to work for him, Tess—armed with an extra batch of éclairs—decides to take control and solve the mystery herself, with the help of friends and frenemies alike.

But will that be enough to save her when she gets too close and the killer decides it’s safer to get her out of the way?                 


Miss Braithwaite's Secret

You all know I've been on a historical kick this year and Miss Braithwaite's Secret really satisfied me.  GG Vandagriff has found her true calling as a writer in her regencies.  She has a flair in this genre that is hard to match.

In this book we see Caroline Braithwaite, who leaves her London season early to nurse a broken heart.  While she's picking up the pieces, the very man who broke it is invited to the house where she's staying for a house party, since he's recovering from a broken engagement.  The misunderstandings between the two are really well done and I particularly enjoyed the twists and turns the story took.  Ned is a worthy hero and Caro is her own woman trying to work within the restraints of society. I  loved her spunk and I liked that she wasn't perfect, just as the hero wasn't perfect.  It was believable and fun, romantic and page-turning.  For any regency lovers, this is a must-read.

Here's the back copy:

In this novel, when Caroline Braithwaite, the Incomparable, leaves her first London Season early, the ton is left wondering why. Home in Wiltshire, she does not confide in her parents or her best friend. However, when the duke of Beverley appears at a house party to which they have both been invited, she is seriously discomposed. So is he. Fresh from a broken engagement, the last thing he wants is to partner a woman he had briefly courted in London – a woman he would have offered for before the fiancée came along. Caro fights her own attraction to the compelling duke. After all, he's already broken her heart once. She is not about to give him a second chance.

As the two slowly learn more about one another, they are surprised to find that first impressions have led them astray. While their feelings are growing progressively more intimate, they are plagued by harrowing circumstances which keep them apart and lead to new misunderstandings. How many times will Caro have to forgive Ned, the Duke of Beverley? And will he, at last, be able to prove his love?  

First Page Friday

I'm so excited at all the new entries we have for First Page Friday.  If you would like your first page critiqued, just submit your double-spaced 12 pt. font page to juliecoulterbellon@gmail.com

As always, thank you to the authors who submit and to the editors who critique.  I have learned so much!  See you next week.


The Entry
Untitled
by Chas Hathaway 

What is it about sinking one's teeth deep into the sides of a number two pencil that is so satisfying? Is it the feel of the crushing wood, or the crackly sound it makes?

The recess bell rang. I scolded myself for not watching the clock more closely. Pocketing my pencil, I was out the door with a gym-ball, jacket, and a sonic-boom (I may have knocked over a desk) before my sixth-grade teacher had even turned from the whiteboard.

I was on the playground, smugly tossing my dodgeball into the air and catching it, before any other kid made it out the door. For the seventh recess in a row, I would be the first girl to be it for the Nigel Elementary Daily Dodgeball Tournament. I smiled as the second, third, and fourth kid bumbled out of the building, each looking around as if expecting a bear attack.

            I decided to be generous and wait until at least ten kids were out of the building before going in for the kill. I didn't want to lose the advantage of being first, but it was always more fun when a bunch of kids were part of the action (and of course, watching me win).

“Five. . . six. . . seven. . .” I said as each kid zipped out the door, running for cover.

THWUMP!

With a splash of white swirls, I found myself sprawling to the ground, a welt instantly rising on the back of my head, grass and stars spinning in front of me.

“Well, if it isn't Lindsey Barchopious. Guess you weren't first today!” came the words of a snorty voice I knew all too well. I turned and saw Barney Pendleton retrieving his own gym-ball. He must have left class before the recess bell to make it out before me. What a big fat cheater. Not to mention his ball must have been way overinflated.

I looked around quickly. My ball had been nabbed by a classmate who was now chasing a kid half his size.

“Looking for something?” Barney said.

I turned back at my bushy headed, freckle-faced attacker. He had his ball, but in his other hand, he held up my favorite #2 pencil. It must have fallen out of my shirt pocket when I got pegged.

“You're in so much stinking trouble, Barney.” I said, “Give it back now!”

He laughed, and put the pencil in his back pocket. “What are you going to do, cry on me? Boo-hooooo!”

Then his eyes widened as I ran at him.

Angela and Heidi's Comments

What Works Well

What a spunky character with spark. Her narrative voice is fun and energetic, and should appeal to the middle reader age group. You’ve got strong details and specific descriptions that leave a vivid impression in the reader’s mind: sonic-boom, freckle-faced attacker, bear attack, zipped, nabbed. Right from the start, you establish a light-hearted tone that conveys a great sense of humor: “I may have knocked over a desk, I decided to be generous…before going in for the kill, I smiled as the … kid bumbled out … looking as if expecting a bear attack.” Energetic and funny is the way to go. You’ve definitely got a flair for it.

Conflicting Messages and Deep Thoughts

Chewing on a pencil, especially for satisfaction, seems a bit at odds with the ball of energy that erupts as soon as the recess bell rings. Is Lindsey really the type of person who would be a pencil chewer? On top of that, she is waxing philosophical about it. Not that kids her age don’t have some pretty deep thoughts. But she strikes us as a girl of action, not one who meta-analyzes why chewing on her pencil makes her feel so great.

And why is she so attached to this particular pencil? Readers who pick up a fantasy book will have some pre-conceived ideas. They will be looking, at least subconsciously, for clues that reaffirm that they are entering a fantasy world. Even if the initial setting seems normal enough (recess, dodge ball, the school bully), readers will be searching for the point where normal intersects with the fantastical. By emphasizing the pencil, they may even assume (either correctly or erroneously) that there is something unusual about the pencil. Is it a literal good luck charm? Does it have magical properties? Like you can’t make a mistake on any test you take with this pencil? (Although if I had a pencil like that, I certainly wouldn’t be chewing on it.)

Now I haven’t read past the first page, so I don’t know if my assessment is accurate. Of course, readers won’t either, at least until they get past the first page. But I guarantee that at least some of them may think along those lines, and when they get to page two or three or ten, and it turns out the pencil was just an ordinary pencil, they will be disappointed.

No Clear Problem

Other than her dodge-ball nemesis, we have no clear sense of a problem. The importance of using the first page to hook your reader (and also your agent or your publisher) is a reality in today’s publishing world. The heart of every story is a problem, and even if you decide it doesn’t serve the story to present the main problem right out of the gate, it’s helpful to either give a hint of troubles to come or start with preliminary problem – sort of an opening act for the main act.  At first glance, this story seems like it’s going to be about Lindsey’s run-in with the dodge ball bully. Bullies are a great proxy until the main problem reveals itself. Just make sure that you intend it to lead to THE problem.  Diane Duane uses this approach very nicely in So You Want to be a Wizard. The main character in that middle-grade fantasy is running away from mean girls who want to beat her up. It isn’t the main problem of the novel, but it’s a good starter problem, and is the catalyst that leads our heroine into bigger, juicier problems. (She hides from the bullies in the library and comes across a magical book that eventually leads her to other time-space dimensions.)

Odd Names

Unusual names can be a mixed bag. Lindsey’s last name is definitely an attention-grabber, but it looks intimidating enough that younger readers may gloss over it if they don’t have an idea of how to pronounce it. If you keep it, you may look for a way to work the pronunciation into the text. You may also consider having the bully deliberately mispronounce it so Lindsey can correct him. No bully with any self-esteem would miss the fact that her name starts with the same sound as barf. Don’t let that opportunity go to waste.

In Closing

You’ve got an intriguing main character who sounds like someone you’d want on your team. If adventures, especially magical ones, are around the corner, she seems like the type to face them with spirit and maybe a little sass. No fading wall-flower, she’s sure to be in the middle of any dust-up, whether it’s with a bully or someone from the supernatural side of the fence. Details with zing and a touch of humor promise a fun story for the readers. 

The Making of A Book Lovers Basket---A Picture Journey

So, if you're just joining us, here's the recap:  my new novel All Fall Down is currently on a blog tour (it ends on Tuesday) and you can click here for all the stops if you want to.  Some of those interviews and top ten lists were FUNNY (if I do say so myself.) Also, the book is on sale for Kindle users through tomorrow.  And I'm offering seven prizes for the tour.

Two of the prizes are Book Lovers Baskets.  This consists of a hand-tied lap blanket, my favorite hot chocolate mixes, and a print copy of my book.  This is what the last one I did looked like:

 But, I thought that the drink mixes looked very far away so I tried again and put them closer to the book

But then I noticed that the flash was reflecting in the book.  So I tried again and angled the camera.

This one didn't turn out too badly.  You can't see the back of the quilt as well, (and yes, I have done "guy" ones, but I loved the ladybug one for this particular winner so that's what I did.)  I never heard back from that winner, though, so maybe she hated it. Or maybe she was so overwhelmed with basket love as soon as she set eyes on it she couldn't speak or type.  (I choose the second one.)  But I really do hope she got it and she's enjoying it this winter.  :)

And in case you were wondering what my children were doing while I was busy finishing the quilt and taking pictures, here's a hint.  My little boy loves markers.  A lot.  And he apparently wanted a fake tan.

That's not as easy to get off as you might think.  Luckily, he's normally wearing pants and you can hardly see the faded marker now.

So, if you would like to have this amazing prize that I pour my heart and soul into just for you, you can go here to enter the rafflecopter giveaway and read the latest interview about my inner writer workings.

Let's Do This!

Okay!  It's time.  Meet me back here in fifteen minutes with your word count.

Ready, set, GOOOOO!!!

We're Sprinting in Fifteen Minutes---You In?

Okay, I spent my time on the treadmill and walked a mile and a half so the creative juices are flowing.  I am SO ready to sprint at 8.  Hope to see you there!

We'll check in at the blog every fifteen minutes, like usual.

Come on.  You know you want to.