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    8 is the luckiest number …

    What else is there to say about Michael Phelps? Wow. Just … wow.

    I think one of the great things about his story is that it shows that hard work really does pay off. Phelps had a dream, and he worked hard for years to make it happen. And it did.

    Publishing is a tough business to be in, but I’m humbled when I think about Phelps’ training regimen. All those early mornings, long days, and late nights. All the pressure he’s been under to perform. All the people talking trash to and about him. I can’t imagine how he’s held up through all that.

    People say there’s no such thing as magic in the world. But this past week has definitely been magical for Phelps.

    For the most part, I think people make their own magic, their own luck, their own mojo. But every once in a while, I also think something else steps in. Call it magic or the gods or destiny or karma or whatever, but I think it’s there. And it was smiling down on Phelps this week.

    Wow. Just … wow.

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    Weekend plans …

    Okay, I’ve been goofing off all week reading and watching the Olympics.

    Time to get back in the saddle, read through the second draft of Assassin 2, and get to work on that. And think about where I want the story to go in Assassin 3. I also think I’m going to work on some workshop proposals for RWA Nationals next year.

    What about you guys? Anyone got big plans this weekend?

  • 896 and counting …

    Finished Kill Me Twice by Roxanne St. Claire. This is the first book in her popular Bullet Catchers romantic suspense series. I’ve heard a lot of buzz about the series so I decided to check it out. This post has some spoilers, so you might want to skip it if you haven’t read the book.

    This one’s about Cuban hottie Alex Romero, who’s sent to Miami by his BC boss, Lucy Monroe, to protect television anchorwoman Jessica Adams. But when Alex gets to Miami, he finds Jessica had vanished and that her twin, Jasmine (aka Jazz), has come to town to stand in for Jessica while the anchorwoman investigates a big story. But Alex and Jazz soon find themselves trying to find out what really happened to Jessica — without getting killed in the process.

    Overall, I thought this was a really interesting book. The Bullet Catcher premise is fun and leaves room for lots of sequels with the other BC folks (I think there are 5 or 6 books out in the series already). Plus, Lucy is an intriguing character. You want to know more about her. (I really hope Lucy turns out to be as super-tough as she seems when she gets her own book in September, instead of just pretending to be tough like Isabella in Anne Stuart’s Ice Storm).

    There’s some nice inside info about the world of television news and security consultants, and a cool action/rescue sequence at the end involving a Florida mansion, helicopters, and some fast boats. Plus, Alex and Jazz have some nice chemistry, and each one gets to show off their skills during the course of the investigation. St. Claire also has a very easy-to-read style that really moves the story along. And there’s a double-cross at the end I didn’t see coming.

    I did have one little quibble. Jazz is supposed to meet Jessica when she gets to Miami, but Jessica is nowhere to be found. Jazz just assumes Jessica is already off investigating her story. Jazz gets a couple of weird text messages from Jessica but chalks them up to Jessica pursuing her story. It takes about 150 pages for Jazz to really believe Jessica is in danger.

    I realize St. Claire is using those 150 pages to build the relationship between Alex and Jazz and introducing the reader to the players in the mystery. But if my sister disappeared like that and sent me weird messages, I’d be parked at the police station and doing everything I could to get the cops to find her — no matter what kind of story she was working on. 

    Still, I’ve been looking to read some more romantic suspense since Anne Stuart’s Ice series concluded, and I’m glad I picked up Kill Me Twice. If you’re looking for a good romantic suspense, you’ll probably enjoy the world of the Bullet Catchers. I did. Thumbs up.

    Up next: Bitten by Kelley Armstrong.

    Books in my TBR pile: About 13.

  • Recommendations, please …

    6 Comments

    I’m a little burned out reading paranormal romance and urban fantasy right now, so I’ve been thinking about picking up some romantic suspense, epic fantasy, and young adult books. I was wondering what books y’all would recommend in the genres. I’m especially interested in romantic suspense right now.

    So far I’ve read and enjoyed Anne Stuart’s Ice series, and I plan on getting more of Roxanne St. Claire’s Bullet Catchers series (my review of the first book is coming soon). What else is out there? I’m looking for more action adventure-type stories than, say, FBI procedurals or serial killer stories. 

    It’s been a while since I’ve read a really good epic fantasy. I’ve burned through most of the David Eddings and Terry Brooks’ various series, and I’ve read several books in Terry Goodkind’s Sword of Truth series.

    As far as YA goes, I’ve read and enjoyed Rick Riordan’s The Lightning Thief and want to get more of the books in that series. But I’d be interested in both fantasy and non-fantasy YA.

    Got a recommendation? Please share in the comments.