Five out of five stars for this book! Hmmm, wish I knew how to put stars up on this site. read the review below.

MORE, BY T M FRANKLIN
Book review

A book that drew me in, captivated me and left me breathless, that’s how I’d describe this book. I received the ARC yesterday, and I literally could not stop reading. It’s fairly cliché to say I couldn’t put this down, but I couldn’t. I carried my book reading device around the house with me, while I did laundry, took care of my dogs, did other household chores and then just sat on my couch reading till I reached the end. Utterly spellbound and lost in the story.
Ava is a normal college girl, worried about possibly failing physics and living a normal college girl life. Or is she? She has recurring nightmares of a large man coming after her. What happens when her nighttime world and her daytime world collide, and the nightmare becomes all too frighteningly real?
Caleb is a seemingly mild physics tutor. Or is he? He always seems to be exactly where Ava needs him when she needs him.
Due to circumstances I won’t detail, the two set off on a wild ride to escape something that is coming for Ava. That portion of the story reminded me a bit of Firestarter, by Stephen King, when Andy is desperately running with his daughter trying to keep her out of the hands of the people chasing them. My heart raced during these scenes, and I wanted to rush through to see what would happen. And I wasn’t disappointed. Ava showed she’s no wimp, and made a choice that took the story in an unexpected direction, and I was delighted beyond words.
More is filled with well-drawn characters, people I loved, people I distrusted. Ava had me cheering for her from the beginning. Caleb is a good guy, willing to go against the trend to do what he believes is right, in my mind, exactly what makes a hero. There are others, good and bad, and each character we met was exactly who they should be, the good guys making me want to know them, the bad guys making me want to run, or slug them, and even some whose motives and feelings leave me questioning and wondering who they really are. Characters make a story for me, and Franklin made me love hers.
The book has a great blend of action and calm, suspense and answers. The romance was toned down, not the focus, and I loved that. I was far too interested in all the other aspects of the story. In some ways, this reminded me of some of the best Barbara Michaels or Elisabeth Ogilvie, that great mix of romance and suspense that keeps you hoping and thinking. Yet, T. M. Franklin has a completely new and unique voice, and honestly, I can’t wait to read anything else she may write in the future.
And in the end, as I sat still and speechless at the last word, I was filled with one overwhelming thought,
“No, it can’t be over. I want more!”

i live in Colorado, and today, a man entered a movie theater showing the new Batman movie premier, used tear gas and then opened fire, killing 12 and injuring at least 38, at this time. This is a devastating tragedy for all of us here in this state and throughout the country and world. If you’re reading, stop to say a prayer, send a good thought or vibe, and spare a moment of sorrow for the victims and their families.

I’ve been so busy doing book reviews. i haven’t really talked about the real world of Sherry lately. So, here goes.

I live in Colorado, and for anyone reading, you’ve probably heard about the terrible fires we’ve been having in my state. I do not live near any of the danger areas, still the whole state has been having record breaking high temps,a nd even with air conditioning in my place, it’s been miserable. But yesterday, the wonder of rain came to us, and it’s been cool and lovely. i opened up my place, to hear and smell the rain. Nothing like the sound of rain. it seems to make everyone happy.

I’ve been having wierd issues with my laptop. it gets very hot on the left side, far more hot than it should be. i like to leave my computer running overnight. it’s when all my anti-virus and antispyware scans run. and outlook is a bitch when you first open it after booting up! But I’m so nervous about how hot the laptop is getting, so I’m shutting it down every night, instead of once or twice a week. It also gets very sluggish as the day progresses,a nd sometimes i have to reboot multiple times a day to keep it acting smoothly. Coincidentally, I got an email from the Geek squad, saying they are offering home visits for only $50. so I made an appointment. Tuesday after work, a nice geek squader will come to my door and hopefully fix my little Pensieve. Yes, I call my computer Pensieve, which you have to have read Harry Potter to understand. I store my thoughts and memories in my computer after all.

I’m thankful for the home visit of the geek squad. Last time I took my laptop in, it took a week to get it back. I have a back up laptop, but it’s an ol XP guy, and I’d rather use my windows 7. fingers crossed that it only needs a little cleaning and maybe a ram upgrade to feel better. I’m betting the insides of the laptop have lots of dog hair!

i should be writing today, doing laundry, vacuuming and other fun things-ok, the housework part is NOT fun-but it feels so good just to relax, listen to music, read and not worry about chores.

My bestest friend in the world, Doug, is coming to visit on thursday. I can’t wait!

I guess that’s about it. Thanks for reading.

Sherry posted july 7, 2012

I admit it, I have an addiction to stories that take place on islands. It started when I first read the Bennett’s Island series by Elisabeth Ogilvie, and it has continued ever since. I’m a city girl, born bred and forever, but there’s a secret place in me that longs to live on an island. So, when I read the description of My Way Home on amazon, I grabbed it to feed my addiction. I didn’t realize I’d be reading a book that would live with me for a very long time, once the last word was read.
Cammy Coleman is devastated at the beginning, when her husband of over twenty-five years asks for a divorce. She is broken and depressed for a long time. In an attempt to help her, a group of friends takes her to St. Gabriel’s Island, a place she has long wished to visit. There she meets a number of engaging characters, and she discovers and decides to buy an old inn.
The rest of the story took a surprising turn, completely unexpected and unusual for this kind of novel. And after the shocking twist, we get to spend the rest of the novel on St. Gabriel’s with interesting people, the inn that might or might not be haunted and a beautiful love story.
This book made me want to go there. It made me want to live on an island. It lives with me still, and how I wish there was a sequel!

So, anyone want to know how Haven is coming along?

i finished chapter twenty and am working on twenty-one. I am so happy with how the story is progressing and where it’s going. From time to time, my characters surprise me, but i love that about characters. I’m anticipating perhaps six to eight more chapters. i can hardly believe it!

Once it’s all written, I’ll let it sit for a week or so, and then go back over it, bit by bit, to edit more, fix things, change things. Then have my team look it over and find things i don’t catch, to fix. and then, and then, and then, yeah, then it will be off to the publisher. oh my!

Is my dream so close to coming true?

Sherry, posted 7-5-2012

Yesterday was July 4, 2012. I didn’t go out or go to a barbecue or fireworks. But I thought about it a lot.

In my childhood, the Fourth was a time for fun. We would gather at Granny’s and after a big meal, Dad would set off the fireworks. i can remember still having enough vision to see bright colors, and I loved the big bright fireworks. I think one was called a pinwheel. It would whirl in big colors, lots of different colors, and i would gaze in awe at it, because I could see it. i could still see the little sparklers, the ones kids held in their hands back then. I can even see a flashlight in front of my face these days. But that doesn’t matter.

about ten years ago, i suddenly became fascinated with the story of the American Revolution, the Founding Fathers and the signing of the Declaration of Independence. i saw a musical called 1776, read a bio of John adams and read a book called Rise to rebellion, by Jeff shaara. and I was hooked, hooked on how we became America, the United States of america, hooked on the founders of our country, men and women, hooked on independence.

What they did, had never happened before in the history of the world, so far as I know. it wasn’t perfect by any means. Women were not equals yet, overall, though I’d say Abigail adams was as equal to her husband as any modern woman. Jefferson originally included freedom for the slaves int he declaration, and john adams spoke passionately for it, but it was overruled. So, no not perfect.

But it was a beginning! And because of those men and women,a nd all those who fought and died,a nd fought and lived for our independence, I can sit here today, in my apartment. I can write what I please, and do what I please. I can read anything I want to read. I can say what’s on my mind. I can practice my religion or practice none.

I am American, I am a woman, I am free and independent,a nd I can be whoever I want to be.

Maybe, there is still room to improve. Indeed, full equality for those of us with disabilities is still a somewhat distant dream. women still struggle for equal rights, equal pay, the echoes of the disaster and horror of slavery ring down to us today.

But still I rejoice in who I am, where I am, and that because of those brave people who fought to free this country, I can fight for equality and i can still be independent.

Sherry, posted July 5, 2012