“Ahh September.. .. you are the doorway to the season that awakens my soul.” -Peggy Toney Horton
READING UPDATE
Book #1
An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
“The worst of humanity comes out in the shadows.”
Last month, I read The Golden Couple by Green Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen, which you can read the review of here. I really enjoyed it because it was a thriller full of suspense and mystery without being gory or explicit. Thrillers like that are hard to come by so I was anxious to get my hands on another one of their books! Unfortunately An Anonymous Girl definitely included more adult content than The Golden Couple, which was harder to skip over and ignore.
The book follows Jessica Farris, a twenty something makeup artist looking to earn some easy cash to help support her family who are overwhelmed with her younger sisters medical bills. She agrees to be a test subject in a psychological study about ethics and morality, completed by University professor, Dr. Shields. The money she receives for her participation seems too good to be true, and as the book progresses we understand why as the sessions with Dr. Shields become more intense and invasive.
The chapters alternate between Jessica’s point of view and Dr. Shields point of view. Dr. Shields chapters are written in the same way a psychiatrist might write their notes after a session with a client, which give it a very eerie, calculated and clinical feel.
Because of the writers talent and creativity, I still would give this book a solid 3/5 stars. I breezed through it in a couple days, just as I did with the Golden Couple. Just be warned that some dark content befits this dark and twisted tale.
Book #2
Titan by Brian McBride
“I’ve learned to tell the difference between an evil man and a broken man.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You just make sure you learn to tell the difference too.”
I had the absolute privilege of being on the beta team for Brian McBrides newest book, Titan, which is available for pre-order now! This book is a sequel to his Hardy Boys meets Indiana Jones adventure novel, Mammoth, which follows the Jailbirds- a band of misfit friends turned family as they uncover the secrets that lurk beneath the surface of their small pacific northwest town.
For readers of Mammoth, if you thought Brian’s first novel was an adventure- then buckle up! Titan will have you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end!
“A city plagued by a decades long war between the rich and the poor… A rainforest that harbors family secrets and deadly curses… A quest for a legend that just may be more fact than fiction… Adventure comes at a cost, and everyone will pay the price.”
I can’t recommend this series enough! Brian is a Christian indie author who does not skimp away from the hard subjects while also crafting a story full of suspense, mystery, friendship and fun! I will be reading these books for years to come as well as rooting for Brian as Titan makes it’s entrance into the world this Winter, just in time for Christmas might I add! The perfect present for the book lovers in your life (or something to add to YOUR wish list)!
For more information, be sure to check out Brian’s socials where he is always posting graphics, videos and posters that will immerse you even more into the world of Mammoth and it’s diverse cast of characters! @brianmcbrideauthor
WRITING UPDATE
When I am going through something emotionally or mentally challenging, one of the main things that helps me process the situation is writing. This month I was able to “channel my challenges” if you will, by writing SOOOO much poetry, which was incredibly healing for me.
Some of the poetry was written in free-verse fashion, but a lot of what I worked on were limericks and haikus. Having a structure to guide my creativity actually helped me be more creative.
If you are in a writing rut, or going through something draining in your personal life, I would definitely recommend trying this out- whether you write poetry, are working on a book or maybe struggling in your journaling.
Finding some writing prompts or using specific poetic forms to craft your poetry can be an incredibly helpful way to guide your creativity and shape your thoughts!
Comment down below a method you use to spark your creativity when you’re facing writers block!
