If you live in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania or will be in town next week, you can attend this event on Saturday, June 19th from 11:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. You will be able to meet local Christian authors and purchase autographed books from them! I will be one of them, so if you want to meet me or get a copy of my book, Love by Pony Express, come on out! I’d love to meet you! If I already know you, I’d love to see you! It will be lots of fun!
I love stories with dragons, so when I was at a Bookfest last October, I couldn’t pass by this trilogy. It’s taken me a while to get to it, but it certainly didn’t take me long to read these books. I think I had them all read in ten to twelve days. Now I want to share with you what I liked, and what I didn’t. This Dorothea and Browen Trilogy was written by J. K. Weyant.
Dragon’s Pick — Book One
This story grabbed my attention from the start as Dorothea’s family prepared to go to town to see the Dragon eggs. The village of Villa Ovo would care for the eggs until they hatched and the dragon would choose its rider. This story is about dragons and their riders and their training. The story is exciting and fast paced.
There were only two things I didn’t like about this book: 1) there was some profanity in it. I felt it was unnecessary, and it didn’t do anything to add to the story. Some of it wasn’t even used in proper context. Fortunately, the profanity was kept to a minimum. 2) As an editor, I’m very aware of grammar and spelling, and unfortunately there were a lot of grammatical errors in this book, and there were also words that should have been in sentences that weren’t. Fortunately, I was invested enough in the characters and the story line that the errors didn’t distract me as much as they ordinarily would.
Dorothea is the first female dragon rider in a long time because most of the dragons hatched were female, and female dragons chose male riders. Only male dragons chose female riders, and it had been many years since a male dragon had hatched. But Dorothea, age almost eighteen, left her village with three boys, all in their teens, and their dragons.
The things that happen to these four characters during their training held my interest throughout the book. The competition between the riders and their relationships created tension and action that kept me turning pages at a fast pace.
Dragon’s Loss — Book Two
In this book, it’s time for the riders’ graduation ceremony, but there have been some things going on that have Thea and one of the boys suspicious of the head of Castle Draco. The graduation ceremony turns into a disaster.
This book is full of adventure, danger, and tension. War may be coming and Thea must win over the dragon-hating Mutes of Kings Guard and convince The Golden Edge to form an alliance with the Dragon Riders and Mutes, the rebel army who helped Thea and her group of riders escape from Castle Draco.
Unfortunately, this book had the same editorial issues as the first book, though it has less profanity. The thing I liked least in this book is the fact that it includes sex outside of marriage. The scene is not overly explicit, but it is definitely clear that the characters engage in sex.
This book is full of tension and action, danger and fighting. There was enough suspense to keep me turning pages, and this book ends with a cliff hanger that made me glad I already had the next book, even though I didn’t pick it up until the next day.
Dragon’s Fall — Book Three
This book, again, held my attention and kept me turning pages. Just like the first two books in the series, it included lots of action, tension, danger, and fighting. In the beginning, there is an unexpected reunion.
Things I disliked about this book: 1) just like the first two books, this one had the same editorial issues; 2) even after being betrothed, a couple still participates in sexual activity before their wedding; 3) I felt like Thea was very self-centered in the first part of this book; 4) though this book is deemed a “trilogy” and this is book three, something is hinted at very near the end that is not fully disclosed or revealed by the end of the book that leaves the reader dissatisfied. I wonder why the author chose to do this in a book meant to be the end of a series. This was a disappointment to this reader. It’s been three years since this trilogy has been published. Therefore, I have to reiterate, why would the author hint at something she doesn’t intend to fully expose or resolve?
All in all, this book had me engaged from start to finish, just like the first two books. I also was happy with the growth and change in the characters. I would recommend these books to people eighteen and older who like stories with dragons and lots of action and suspense.
I would not recommend these books to those younger than eighteen because there is a lot of adult content. Things dealt with in these books are: violence and killing, torture, the effects of torture — both physical and psychological, though the psychological healing really isn’t exhibited, and as already mentioned, sex outside of marriage, and pregnancy outside of marriage.
If you haven’t noticed all the tabs at the top of this website, today I would like to draw your attention to the one labeled “Great Resources for Writers and Authors”.
I am a firm believer in being a lifelong learner in the writing world. This helps you to always be on top of things in the publishing world. It also helps you continually improve your craft. Therefore, I include this page on my website and occasionally add to it to help all writers and authors who also want to continually improve their craft.
Today I have added a website that I couldn’t believe I didn’t already have on the list, “Writers Helping Writers”. It’s a great website with so many helpful tools, workshops, and software, as well as FREE worksheets and blog articles to help you improve your writing.
Today, I also added two books I recently purchased because they were recommended by a speaker at a writers’ conference I attended earlier this year. I recently purchased them and am excited to dive into them because I love character driven stories. Therefore, I am always looking for ways to improve on creating my characters and making them complex, realistic, and believable.
The two books I added are:
What Type Am I? by Renee Baron. This is a book based on the Classic Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. This book can help you create strengths and weaknesses for your characters as well as for their personal growth.
The Complete Writer’s Guide to Heroes & Heroines: Sixteen Master Archetypes by Tami D. Cowden, Caro LaFever, and Sue Viders. I am most excited about this one! This book promises to help the writer create extraordinarily memorable characters and elevate their writing to a higher level.
I encourage you to check out these resources as well as my “Great Resources for Writers and Authors” page for more helpful resources. You can begin with one or two, then come back to my “Great Resources for Writers and Authors” page to find more.
Let me know if you visit any of the websites I have listed or read any of the great books and what you think of them.
Today is the first full day of summer here in the U.S.! Are you planning a trip or some relaxation time? Are you choosing your summer reads? Do you like to have some good books to dive into while you bask by the pool or on the beach, or just relax on a mountainside or in an air conditioned cafe? If so, I’d love for you to make my book, Love by Pony Express part of your summer reading list. It is on sale now in celebration of the beginning of summer!
It’s a Historical Romance with lots of action and adventure as it follows the life of a Pony Express Rider who faces many dangers on the trail. It also includes two ladies who are interested in finding the right man for them. Could that man be Johnny, the handsome Pony Express Rider? Johnny’s faced many challenges in his life and isn’t comfortable around beautiful women. Will one of these woman make him comfortable and win his heart?
If you like stories with danger, action, troublesome family members, clean romance, a positive message, and more, you’ll like Love by Pony Express! So, don’t wait! This sale ends Monday morning, and it’s my biggest sale — only $2.99 for the ebook (that’s a $2 savings!) and $10.49 for the paperback (that’s a $5.46 savings!) ONLY ON AMAZON! And it’s available on Kindle Unlimited too! If you read it, I’d appreciate if you’d also write a brief review on Amazon because reviews are very important to me as in indie author. You can also stop by here and share some thoughts with me. I’m always happy to connect with my readers!
In January 2025, I joined a “25 Classics in 2025” reading challenge with every intention of successfully completing the challenge.
Sadly, I finished reading Silas Marner by George Eliot on Friday night and decided I was done with this challenge. Here’s why:
Does this mean I will never read another Classic or that I don’t believe that there are any Classics that have value? Absolutely not. I believe Classics are very valuable and have lessons we can learn. In the past I have read classics I absolutely love and reread: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and Les Miserables by Victor Hugo.
I believe the problem lies in how the books are written. Every good book grabs the reader’s attention at the beginning and holds their attention until the end. A good book has characters the reader cares about and is willing to take their journey with them. I believe it’s more difficult to find Classics that do this, but they do exist, and not only are the good ones worth finding and reading, but they all have important lessons we can learn. At least all the ones I love and reread do.
So, though I have decided to drop out of the “25 Classics in 2025” reading challenge, I intend to continue reading Classics. My plan, from here on out, is to read 3 or 4 Classics each year, in between reading books that are on my neverending TBR pile. I have also decided to not feel guilty, if I decide not to finish a Classic that I’m not really enjoying.
I completed all the books above because I was trying to reach a goal. I have decided that I don’t have enough time to read, and, therefore, I will dedicate my reading time to books I truly enjoy.
How about you? Do you read Classics? Which ones have you really enjoyed?
(This image is from umiteasets.com)
The above photo is a Japanese cast iron tea pot and induction cooker. It is decorated with Japanese plum blossoms. Isn’t it beautiful? The lid is made of copper and is rustproof. You can find out more about this set here.
In addition to their teapots, Umi also sells tea leaves, tea sets, tea cups, tea accessories, and tea trays and tables.
I wanted to get this post written and posted yesterday for the actual “Tuesday’s Tea Time” post, but unfortunately didn’t have enough time in my day, so you’ll just have to pretend you’re reading this on a Tuesday. (Ha, ha!)
I got four different kinds of Umi teas, and not long after receiving them, I tried the Aged Puerh tea. I have had Puerh chai here in the U.S. and it is my favorite looseleaf chai, so I was excited to try anything with the word “Puerh” attached to it. However, in my limited knowledge of teas from other countries, I expected the Aged Puerh to be a chai.
Umi teas are from China, and Puerh tea is a special tea. Since tasting Umi’s Aged Puerh tea and finding it less than I expected because I was expecting it to have some spice flavor like the chai tea I love so much, I have done a bit of research on Puerh teas. My research led me to the fact that there are two kinds of Puerh teas: Aged and Raw. The Aged Puerh teas undergo a unique microbial fermentation process. This process enhances the tea’s flavor. I found it to be a robust black tea.
According to Umi, their Aged Puerh tea comes from the Yunnan province. This tea has dark and reddish black leaves. It is popular in the Cantonese community due to its effectiveness in ridding the body of toxins and aiding in digestion.
After trying the Aged Puerh, life became too busy for me to take the time at home to have a cup of tea and relax, until yesterday, when I decided to heat a kettle of water and do my own private “tea tasting” with my remaining Umi teas so that I could write this post.
The other three Umi teas I tried were:
If you are a tea drinker and you enjoy looseleaf teas or tea balls, I recommend you check out the Umi website and see, not only all the teas they offer, but their lovely tea sets and other tea related items.
Today it is my honor and pleasure to share my interview with author, Kathryn Amurra. Kathryn is an award winning author. She has four previously published novels, one in progress, and one that just came out on March 12th. See my post about her new release here.
Q: You won the Georgia Romance Authors’ 2020 Maggie Award for Excellence in the Unpublished Historical Romance category. I’m guessing the book that won that accolade has since been published. Will you please share which book that is? Also, please share what it felt like or meant to you to win that award.
A: The book that won the award was the second book I published in my Ancient Rome historical romance series Soothsayer’s Path, and that book is called Admonition. It is about a young widow named Sabina who believes she caused her husband’s untimely death with her careless words, so she takes a vow of silence, letting everyone around her think she has been cursed. The hero, Lucius, seems to understand her, even with her self-imposed silence, but when he becomes the target of a political plot, Sabina must decide whether breaking her silence will save his life or merely seal his fate. It was a dream come true to win the Maggie for that book. It happened during Covid, so there was no awards ceremony, and I didn’t even know I’d won until someone from the Georgia Romance Writers emailed me to congratulate me!
Q: According to your Amazon Bio, you have a day job as an intellectual property attorney. Could you tell us what an intellectual property attorney is? Then, please tell us when you knew you wanted to be an author and why?
A: Intellectual property includes patents (protection for new inventions such as new products, methods of making things, etc.); trademarks (source identifiers, which could be words like AMAZON, designs like the Golden Arches, colors like UPS’s brown color—really anything that conveys a brand); and copyrights (like the rights you have in a book you wrote!). After high school I received a degree in mechanical engineering, worked as an engineer for a few years (where I met my husband), then quit job and went to law school with my husband. When I graduated from law school, I began working as a patent attorney and gradually moved into other areas of intellectual property law. But I’ve always loved to write and have been writing stories since grade school. It has always been my passion. I was just never courageous enough to pursue it formally until about ten years ago.
Kelly: Wow! You’ve done some amazing things. I, for one, am so glad you found your courage to pursue your passion for writing.
Q: Soothsayer, your first published novel and first book in the “Soothsayers Path Series, was published May 2, 2020. How long was the process of writing to published?
A: I started writing Soothsayer in May of 2017, so it took me a full three years to get that one ready to publish! I entered Soothsayer into several writing contests to get critiques and feedback on it, which were very helpful, but the turning point for me was when I won a critique from best-selling romance author Haywood Smith on the first 50 pages of Soothsayer. She gave me extremely good advice, and then after I revised the book she was kind enough to read the first 100 pages and give me even more advice. I learned a lot from her, and her feedback really improved my writing.
Kelly: Yes, as a writer, I, too, know how important it is to have another writer or an editor who can help you along the writing journey.
Q: According to your Amazon Bio, there is another book in the “Soothsayers Path Series” in the works. Any idea how long your fans will have to wait for this book, and will it be the final book in this series?
A: I started writing the fourth book in the Soothsayer’s Path series soon after publishing Birthright (Book 3), but then I got a wild idea to re-write the first two books I’d written and shelved (which would become Amulet and Timeless), so I put Book 4 on hold. Although it’s still on hold because I’m currently working on a Young Adult Romance based on all the crazy stories my 17-year-old comes home with, I have a very clear idea of Book 4 (called Guardian) and I’m hoping to pick it back up by the end of this year. I’ll be self-publishing that one, so let’s say it’ll be out by September of 2026, maybe?
Kelly: Oh, how exciting! A YA Romance. Yes, the creative mind of a writer can sometimes cause us to take an unexpected turn to write something we hadn’t planned on in the middle of something else. Also, sometimes things in life cause us to take a break from writing, releasing a book later than we first planned. I hope our readers understand that and will keep watching for these upcoming books. I know I will!
Q: On April 3, 2024, the first book in your latest series, “Heart’s True Desire” was published. It is titled, Amulet. According to Amazon, your first three books don’t have a publisher listed, but Amulet is listed as being published by The Wild Rose Press, Inc. So tell us, did you begin as an indie published author? If so, what made you to decide to switch to traditional publishing?
A: I tried to publish through a publisher with the Soothsayer’s Path series, but my submissions were rejected by agents and publishers because, I was told, Ancient Rome doesn’t sell. So, I decided to publish those on my own because I’d gotten enough feedback, from people not related to me, that the stories were of publishable quality. When I re-wrote the books that became Amulet and Timeless, I decided to try the publisher route again, and this time I was offered a contract from The Wild Rose Press. Having a publisher is nice because you don’t have to deal with formatting the books and there is someone to help with editing. For me, having a publisher—a third party judge of what readers will buy—offer me a contract was also a validation. It meant that I had something that someone in the business thought was worth publishing. But the publisher gets a cut of the profits, as they well should, so I end up making much less per book on the ones with The Wild Rose Press than those I’ve published on my own. With my work-in-progress, the YA, I would like to see if I can get an agent and get a bigger publishing company to buy that book. We’ll see. It’s just nice to have something to work toward, especially since I love the work!
Q: Your latest series, “Heart’s True Desire”, is a duology, is that right?
The first book, already released, Amulet, and the soon to be released, Timeless.
I hope you don’t mind my sharing this, but in our communication in regard to me reading and reviewing an ARC of Timeless, you mentioned that this was actually the first book you had written some time ago, when you decided you wanted to write a publishable book. So, would you please tell us why it ended up being published after four other books you wrote?
A: Heart’s True Desire is actually a trilogy, and the next book, called Unholy, will also be published by The Wild Rose Press, probably in early 2026. Unholy will involve the amulet from the first book and is a vampire story that takes place on a college campus. It does not have your typical vampire-human romance ending, but hopefully readers will enjoy it.
Because Timeless was the first book I wrote, it wasn’t very well written. I learned that after submitting the book to agents and editors unsuccessfully. So, I set the manuscript aside and wrote Amulet. Amulet was better (I had learned a few things in that time), but it still had a lot of problems. My storytelling skills really improved with the next book I wrote, Soothsayer, and after getting a lot of feedback and encouragement, I self-published that one. I then wrote and published the next two books in the series, Admonition and Birthright, and I had started writing the fourth (Guardian) when I had the idea to go back and rewrite my first two books Timeless and Amulet, so I set Guardian aside. After more feedback on those re-written books, I went back and re-wrote Timeless (again), adding the story of the ring to relate it to the amulet in Amulet so that the two books could be part of a series. Because Amulet had the more thorough story of the magical amulet and ring’s origin, I thought it made more sense to have Amulet be Book 1 of the series.
Q: After all this, is Timeless nearer and dearer to your heart than your previously published books, or has one of the other books taken that place? Also, of all your published books and Timeless, which is your favorite character from your books and why?
A: There are things I love about all my books, but the book that is closest to my heart really is Timeless. Timeless has a lot of me in it—I began writing it a few years after my mother passed away, so Erin’s grief in the story is mine, too. As for favorite characters, there is something about the hero in Admonition, Lucius, that I absolutely adore. He is confident, almost cocky, but sensitive and sweet at the same time. He is exactly what Sabina needs, and he knows it, but he gives her the space to discover it for herself (for the most part). And he is willing to die for her honor, which, to me, is absolutely swoon worthy.
Kelly: I’m sorry for your loss. Yes, we often put a lot of ourselves in at least one of our books, and sometimes writing a story is therapeutic and helps us heal.
Q: Do readers need to read Amulet before reading Timeless? Also, is there anything else you’d like to share about Timeless before this interview ends?
A: There is a prologue in Timeless that explains the history of the ring and the amulet, so readers will have no problem picking up Timeless without having read Amulet. But if they want a little more about the history of the magical stones, they might want to go back and read Amulet, too!
Q: Thank you so much for your time and for answering these questions, Kathryn. I hope this interview will get a lot of notice and send more readers to your books. Before, we wrap it all up, what else would you like readers to know about you or your books? And, where can readers find you?
A: Thanks so much for talking with me, Kelly, and for all your great questions. It’s a pleasure to have this opportunity to share my story (and the story of my stories) with you! I hope your readers will enjoy my books and will visit my website at https://www.kathrynamurra.com. I have a newsletter that comes out once a month where I share my thoughts on various topics (both romantic and philosophical) and provide updates on what I’m reading and writing. Anyone can subscribe by using the contact form on my website or emailing me directly at kathrynamurra@gmail.com.
My books can be purchased through the links on my website or at the following locations:
Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DRYWP6SW/
Nook – https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/timeless-kathryn-amurra/1146795420
Apple – https://books.apple.com/us/book/timeless/id6740036208
Thanks again for this opportunity!
A new book by Kathryn Amurra is available to purchase today! You can find it on Amazon in paperback and ebook, and I’m sure it’s available other places as well. It is the second book in her “Heart’s True Desire” series. You won’t want to miss this book!
I received a free Advanced Reader Copy to write a review. Here is my honest review:
Timeless by Kathryn Amurra is the second book in her “Heart’s True Desire” series. It is a unique story. The male main character, William Abbott, has lived a very long life. He believes his unusually long life is a curse because of something that happened in his past.
The female main character, Erin Dovetree, has no interest in a romantic relationship, until she meets the landlord of the building her grandmother lives in, William Abbot. Not only is Will extremely good-looking, but Erin notices a sadness about him. She finds him mysterious and intriguing.
The story switches back and forth between a past century and the modern day. Ms. Amurra does an excellent job of moving the reader seamlessly back and forth between the two time frames in a way that flows well and is never jolting.
Both William and Erin have their struggles, and this reader couldn’t stop turning pages in hopes that both characters would find love and true happiness. Along their journeys, there were times this reader smiled, laughed out loud, and gasped. Timeless by Kathryn Amurra kept me up past my bedtime more than one night.
One of my favorite things about Timeless is that Ms. Amurra kept at least one of her characters consistent to the very end, which I found quite pleasing and fulfilling, making the end that much more satisfying. Timeless is one of those books I was sad to see end, but I’m sure I will re-read it multiple times over future years, which is something I rarely do. Timeless isn’t just a good romance story. In my opinion, it is a wonderful love story. The kind I don’t find often in today’s world. Both the story and the characters will forever hold a special place in my heart.
Thank you, Kathryn Amurra for Timeless, for wonderful, engaging lovable characters, and a story that resonates with the reader long after the last page. Thank you for a book that includes some important life lessons, and a book that will remain on my Top 10 Favorites list for all time
I have been reading Kathryn Amurra’s books ever since her first release in 2020. There is one I haven’t read yet, but will soon! But, today I want you to know about Kathryn Amurra’s upcoming release, Timeless! It is the second book in the “Heart’s True Desire” series, and you can preorder your copy today!
I guarantee you won’t want to miss this book, and while you wait for it’s release, which will happen on March 12, 2025, if you haven’t read the first book in the “Heart’s True Desire” series, Amulet, I suggest you get it and read it while you wait for your copy of Timeless.
Here are the links to preorder Timeless NOW:
Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DRYWP6SW/
Nook – https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/timeless-kathryn-amurra/1146795420
Apple – https://books.apple.com/us/book/timeless/id6740036208
Here’s the book blurb for Timeless:
Erin Dovetree cannot forgive her father for cheating on her mother years ago and has sworn off men altogether. That is until destiny leads her to her grandmother’s incredibly attractive and mysterious landlord.
William Abbott has lived for over a hundred years, cursed with a static and unnatural existence as punishment for his past sins. Although drawn to the lovely and intelligent Erin, he refuses to subject her to the fate that is his alone to bear.
As Erin pieces together the story of Will’s past and discovers the true cause of his timeless existence, she must reconsider the judgments she has made in her own life. And to have any chance at a life together, she and Will must find answers to the questions that have plagued them both.
I finished reading Timeless last night, and let me just say, “I LOVE IT!” Watch for my upcoming Book Review of Timeless, as the release date gets a little closer.
In the meantime, I encourage you to read Amulet, the first book in Ms. Amurra’s “Heart’s True Desire” series. Though both Amulet and Timeless can be read as stand alones, Amulet does have a bit of background for and a connection to Timeless.
For sensitive readers, I will mention that Amulet has profanity in the first chapter or two, as well as in a later chapter, during a telephone conversations between two characters. I, too, am not a fan of profanity, but I was able to skim over the words and keep reading because I was invested in the characters and the story, and thankfully, the profanity was not excessive.
Kelly F Barr 