July Reading Summary

Total number of books read: 10 (I'm actually surprised I got through that many this month as I slacked quite a bit in July.)

Monthly reading goals:

1. 1 new-to-me author each month -- Stacey Kennedy
2. 4 genres/sub-genres each month (I'm adding to that at least one book a month must be non-fiction and/or writing related.) -- Non-fiction (No More Blank Screen: Blogging Ideas for Fiction Authors by Krista D Ball), Romance (Indian Moon by Carolyn McCray), M/M Romance (Conquest by SJ Frost), Steampunk (The Twisted Tale of Stormy Gale by Catherine Bell), Paranormal Romance (Stolen Dreams (The Lingering Spirit) by Stacey Kennedy),
3. Alternate male and female authors (I will say at least one male author per month.) -- didn't happen this month
4. Write a note to 1 author each month -- hasn't happened yet but will

May Reading Summery

Total number of books read: 11

Monthly reading goals:

1. 1 new-to-me author each month -- Carolyn McCray
2. 4 genres/sub-genres each month (I'm adding to that at least one book a month must be non-fiction and/or writing related.) -- Non-Fiction (When Love Is Not Enough by Nancy L. Thomas), Paranormal Romance (Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men (Jane Jameson, Book 2) by Molly Harper), Paranormal Historical Romance (Fated by Carolyn McCray), Historical Romance (Captive Spirit by Liz Fichera), Romantic Fantasy ( Dragon Actually (Dragon Kin, Book 1) by GA Aiken), and lots more of the same
3. Alternate male and female authors (I will say at least one male author per month.) -- Failed again, which is kinda crazy as I have quite a few male authors on my TBR list
4. Write a note to 1 author each month -- Wrote a review for Carolyn McCray

Book Review -- Fated

Torn apart by History

Bound for Eternity

I was lucky enough to get an early read of Carolyn McCray's upcoming release Fated. This was the first time I'd ever read anything by Ms. McCray and I was pleasantly surprised with a solid, well paced story.

I'll admit I likely wouldn't have picked this up for myself as I've moved away from historical, non-time-travel, romances in recent years. But this story reminded me of what I liked about them in the first place: a glimpse into history told in the non-dry arena of fiction. McCray obviously did a good amount of research and blended it well within the scope of the story. Added to that was a touch of paranormal making Fated an updated historical romance.

McCray's characters were well developed with goals and motivations. The story's intrigue alone would have been enough conflict but woven into that was the paranormal aspect...kudos for pulling that off.

The story is set in Caesar's Rome centering on Brutus and Syra. And it's hard to sum it up without giving away spoilers. We meet Brutus in the weeks leading up to Julius Caesar's assassination and are swept up in the political intrigue. Enter Syra. She complicates Brutus' life and not just by the attraction they feel for each other. I experienced a nice ahh-ha moment where Syra was concerned when clues peppered in the first half of the book coalesced in the last half...love when that happens.

Hop on over to your favorite e-book store and pick up a copy.  Carolyn McCray is just one of a large group of indie authors I'm coming to enjoy.