BOOK REVIEWS

It is January. Cold outside in most places. And in some there is ice on the roads and sidewalks--(Oregon where I live) Can't get to work? There is always zoom, unless you are in retail or your internet went down. And if that's the case, what better time to read?

A few suggestions from my latest list:

STARLING HOUSE by Alix Harrow--she is the author of THE TEN THOUSAND DOORS OF JANUARY and THE ONCE AND FUTURE WITCHES. Whenever I see a new book of hers I grab it. And this one does not disappoint. I'm not that far in yet, but if you like tales about houses that may or may not be sentient, magic and strange characters, you will like this one. And she's a really good writer.

Anything by V.E. Schwab--fantasy at its best and good writing and very unusual stories that you wish would never end.

THE FOUR WINDS by Kristin Hannah. And any other books by her. Literary love story that takes place in 1921--good good writing.

And of course I have to add my latest novel: THE LIBRARY OF TIME. If you are a Dr. Who fan, think Tardis. It is a time-travel/mystery/romance that takes place in 2323. (at least for part of it)

Winter is coming...

Is that a line from The Game of Thrones? I stopped reading after the characters I fell in love with were all killed off. What author does that? He does, I guess. Not me. I've had characters die but then they are resurrected...guess killing them off was a success, but I grow too attached to them to do it. (even the bad ones)

I just published The Library of Time. If you are so inclined it will be .99 thru the holidays. I have had good success with it so far due to the BookBub ad I used to launch. I highly recommend doing the 'new release for less'. Expensive but worth it.

The title relates to the darkness as a good time to snuggle in and read. A fire, a cup of tea, mulled wine or a hot toddy and a good book. There are so many out there! For me it means working on the sequel to 'Library'...not sure of the title yet.

Today is the new moon in Scorpio and what I've read about it says it's a time of profound emotional transformation--a time to restart something you may have been putting off...and a need for revision. I restarted this 2nd book, beginning with a door. I have yet to know where this book is heading other than into the 14th century...Celtic history related to the time of Robert the Bruce and the battles to take Scotland. And of course Romance with a large R. A lot of research is needed to continue with the storyline which has barely touched on what life was like back then. I enjoy research as long as it doesn't get tedious.

The reason I've been so remiss on this blog is that I am writing on Medium and on Substack these days--political mostly. But if you're interested I'm including the urls where you can reach me.

https://nikkibroadwell.substack.com/publish/posts

https://nikkibroadwell.medium.com/

Enjoy the hibernating time and try not to get too caught up in the frenzy of gift giving and the feelings of guilt and exhaustion that accompany this cultures response to the 'Holy Days'. I say this because I tend to do just that...this year we are living in a place where we might have snow! I look forward to the cold and a real fire in our fireplace! (and a good book)

thanks for reading...

REVIEW OF MY NEW STORY

The Library of Time is finished. I have not yet published it. When I began the book I expected another story, but as often happens the characters decided to go in a different direction. Do you like fantasy? Time travel? Other worlds of the future, a mystery and a good love story? A library that is sentient? Then you will like this book.

I tend to write crossover genre--it's hard for me to stick with one theme. this one combines a mystery from the past with a world of the future and has many twists and turns in between. The story takes p[lace in 2323, after the world has gone belly up and is beginning to regenerate. It is not the world we know.

There are no more cars, money has been replaced with barter. People live together in community, each person contributing to what the community might need. I want to live there. The first twist happens right away when a woman appears on the stoop of the library. She is from 1891 and looks just like Annie, one of the main characters in the book. The story grows more complicated, the past intruding on the present in destructive ways. What is The Library of Time? If you've watched 'Doctor Who' think Tardis. If any of this sounds interesting to you I hope you will search the book out. I will post it on my website when I publish and offer it at a discounted price! Stay tuned!