Month: April 2020

A New Look and a Few Changes

/ kellyfbarr / 2 Comments

I hope that those of you who have been following my blog are still here and aren’t having any problems finding my posts. I have decided to change some things to transform it from a simple blog to a full website. That is why there are tabs at the top of the page that you can click on to navigate to what it is you are interested in, whether it is reading my blog posts, finding out “About” me, seeking my “Editing Services” or interested in having me read your book and write a review, or finding out more about writings I have published. It should all be easier to navigate.

In addition, I am working on cleaning up my categories as well. When I finish that, there will be no more than ten category choices for you to find particular posts you are interested in.

I also hope you noticed the change in the subtitle or quote of my website, which is now “A Story Without Love is Empty”. I came up with this quote and decided it fits my website and my writing very well, as I cannot seem to write any story, whether my novel-in-progress, or my flash fiction stories without including love in the story, whether it is a romantic love or love of another kind.

The one change I have decided to make as far as blog posts go, is that I will no longer be posting Tea and Poetry posts on Tuesdays. I really want my posts to be things my readers will look forward to seeing, and I want them to be relevant to the things I do: writing, editing, reading and reviewing books, and poetry is not something I believe I do well or am really comfortable writing. Therefore, beginning this coming Tuesday, the new Tuesday posts will be titled and under the category “Timeless Tuesdays” as the novel I am currently working on and those that will follow in the, hopefully near future, are historical romance stories. My “Timeless Tuesday” posts will be tidbits about the historical period, places, and other tidbits in regard to my upcoming novel. Monday posts will continue to be Book Reviews, Wednesdays will continue to be “Wordless Wednesdays” that feature my photographs of things that capture my eye when I get to be out and about, and Fridays will continue to feature my Flash Fictions stories which are usually more Contemporary Romance or Women’s Fiction, but in which I may also occasionally explore the YA Romance and Fantasy genres.

The last thing I want to mention, and hope you will look forward to, is that I will soon be creating an e-newsletter that you will be able to sign up for in order to receive special news, updates on my upcoming novel(s), Flash Fiction stories not posted on the blog, and occasional freebies.

 

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

/ kellyfbarr / Leave a comment

The Hate U Give

Before reading this book, I had heard a lot about it and then it became a movie and I saw previews. Based on what I heard and saw, I formed a presupposition and was afraid this book was going to be a book about race that was going to “bash white people”.

However, being a white woman with adopted black children, I have seen some of the prejudice, heard some of the racist comments, and gotten the “looks”. In all honesty, I also have fears and concerns in regard to the safety and welfare of my children depending on where they go. Also, being one who always does my best to keep an open mind and educates myself on cultural and world issues, I chose to read this book.

The Hate U Give is the debut novel of Angie Thomas and I have to say, it is an amazing story! She obviously knows what it’s like living in a black community as well as a mixed community.

She created such realistic characters and she did an excellent job of showing the struggles they face. She showed the family relationships and dysfunction.

But it wasn’t just a book about “blacks vs. whites”. She also showed how blacks and whites can get along and care about one another. She showed that not ALL people of any one race hate ALL people of another race. She also showed the prejudice some people don’t even realize they have.

Yes, this book is about a horrible issue in our communities — an issue that needs to be resolved. She shows the trauma this issue causes — the heartache and pain, both emotionally and mentally.

This book is powerful and I think it should be read, studied, and discussed. This story broke my heart, but it also showed the love and enjoyment in family and friend relationships in addition to the disagreements and struggles.

This story shows why we need to STOP the HATE and why EVERY LIFE MATTERS!

If you are reading this review, I encourage and challenge you to read this book and take a hard look at how you view the lives of ALL PEOPLE in this world.

Tea and Poetry Tuesday

/ kellyfbarr / 2 Comments

Today’s Tea Tidbit:
you-can-never-get-a-cup-of-tea-large-enough-or-a-book-long-enough-to-suit-me-quote-1

Living Through Covid-19

by Kelly F. Barr

The sun shines in my window

Setting my bleak world aglow,

Motivating me to face the day

Until my mood begins to sway.

So hard to stay cheery—

This confinement makes me weary

And I long for it to come to an end.

I need face-to-face time with friends.

King’s City by Jessica Marinos

/ kellyfbarr / Leave a comment

   

King’s City is the long-awaited and highly anticipated second book of the “Trimont Trilogy” by Jessica Marinos. I first read the first book of this series, Traiven’s Pass, and wrote a review for it in March of 2019. You can read my review of that book here. I reread Traiven’s Pass before reading King’s City.

This is a debut series for Jessica Marinos and, in my opinion, Jessica is destined to become a great writer. The quality of the writing of both Traiven’s Pass and King’s City is outstanding. The descriptions are rich and the character’s very well developed. In addition, she draws you into the story and keeps you there.

King’s City is the continuing story of the Tavish family who live in Traiven’s Pass and the reign of the Steward King, Lord Breemore, who began his rule when King Cordell vanished twenty-six years ago. Lord Breemore resides in King’s City. Lord Breemore appears to rule with kindness and peace, but rumors of war begin to increase throughout the kingdom.

Lydia Tavish’s father was loyal to King Cordell continued to search for King Cordell throughout the first book of this trilogy. He attempted to turn the people in the kingdom back to the Book of Truth.

As King’s City begins, Lydia is a penniless outcast and is sought after as many in the kingdom seek her punishment for her recent choice. However, Lydia is bold and strong and believes what her father taught her. She faces many challenges and dangers but finds her strength in the truth.

Galen, who left his home in Dresden to participate in a tournament in the King’s City becomes renowned in his sword skills. Then a long kept secret is revealed and it turns Galen’s life upside down. He has much to consider in deciding the course of his life.

King’s City, the second book in the “Trimont Trilogy” by Jessica Marinos was just as good, if not better, than Traiven’s Pass. These two books are part of my “Favorites” list and Jessica is at the top of my list of “Favorite New Authors”. I excitedly await the third and final book of the series.

If you’d like to learn more about Jessica — her life and her writing, I had the honor of interviewing her last month. You can read that interview here.

If you enjoy books that grab you from the start and keep you turning pages; books with rich descriptions, well-developed characters, and a story line filled with tension, shocking surprises, and a bit of romance, you will not want to miss the “Trimont Trilogy” by Jessica Marinos. If you haven’t read Traiven’s Pass, I suggest you get your copy today, and if you have read it, don’t miss “King’s City”.

Taming Julia by Jodie Wolfe

/ kellyfbarr / Leave a comment

TamingJulia_w12704_680

I just finished reading “Taming Julia” by Jodie Wolfe and I read it in just two days.

Drew needs a wife as soon as possible if he wants to keep his job. He places an ad, but Julia isn’t what he expected.

Julia wears breeches and a stetson, and she totes more than one gun. She is unfamiliar with most things women do and wear, when she arrives in Burrton Springs to move in with a man she married by proxie.

Things don’t go as either Drew or Julia thought they would, and in the beginning, that makes for some laugh-out-loud reading. But as time passes, things grow more serious and the trouble becomes downright dangerous. Soon the reader is on the edge of their seat wondering how things will turn out for Drew and Julia and hoping for the best.

This is a sweet romance story with a message of faith, love, and perseverance. It is an easy read, and it grabbed my attention from the very first page to the last page. It was very enjoyable.

So, if you need something to cheer you up while you’re housebound due to the coronavirus, or you love Christian Romance stories or stories set in the Old West, this book is sure to please.

This is the second book I’ve read by Jodie Wolfe and I will continue reading her books because they are simply delightful. You can see my review of “To Claim Her Heart” by Jodie Wolfe here, and if you’d like to know more about Jodie, you can read my author interview with her here.