What if you were falsely accused of murder?
In this Edition:
Quote.
Update.
Motivate: First thoughts when looking at people.
Book review: LIE TO ME by J.T. Ellison
Valentine recipe: Elevated chocolate covered strawberries.
Final thoughts.
Update:
Happy Monday. I hope you had a lovely weekend!
This is a quiet period in my writing life. I’ve got my head down, editing my psychological thriller/suspense (still going well) and a ton going on as I head into this week as a solo parent, which means cereal for dinner tonight (requested), Firehouse subs another night, and I think I’m going to treat myself to a coke. I gave them up a while ago, and now they’re extra special as the occasional treat.
Motivate:
Some weeks, there just seems to be a theme to my life. This past week, I finished reading LIE TO ME by J.T. Ellison. (My review is below.) The quote on the cover of the book says, “They appeared to be the perfect couple.”
My novel is very much about appearances too. Everything can look great on the surface, but what’s happening underneath?
Finally, I listened to a sermon yesterday about what a person’s first thought is when they see someone else, say at a coffee shop. And it stuck with me, this idea of people judging other people. Sometimes we see what we want to see.
When you’re at a coffee shop or out in public and you watch other people moving around you, what are your first thoughts? I try my hardest to not judge other people, but I occasionally slip.
For example, several weeks ago, I was at a Starbucks, writing. A few teenage girls were a couple tables over from me. One teen decided she was going to talk extremely loudly to her friends. Aside from my desire to punch her in the face (I’m not perfect, but, rest assured, I don’t have violent tendencies often), I started thinking that she was a spoiled brat who had no consideration for the people around her.
Maybe she was a spoiled brat. I mean, her actions were obnoxious, but when I look back on that, many other things could’ve potentially been going on. Maybe she was hard of hearing. Maybe she was insecure about herself and had a habit of exhibiting attention-seeking behavior for confirmation of her worth. Maybe she was just so excited about something going on in her life that she couldn’t help herself.
My point is, we do this all the time, we look at people and scenarios and we judge them, sometimes not even meaning to. It makes for juicy fiction. But in real life, how do I want people to react when they look at me, especially if I’m having an off day and act out of character?
I want mercy. I want someone to try to understand what’s going on in my life instead of assuming. And I want kindness.
I should probably give what I want.
(But then there’s this other part of me that says: “If you were acting like that, you’d need a lesson!)
Book Review:
Back to the email subject line: What would you do if you were falsely accused of murder?
So this is an interesting review. I’m in a “book club” with another author. We read and critique books together. A lot of the time, we agree or have similar thoughts, but occasionally, we completely disagree. I tried to read FIX HER UP by Tessa Bailey, recommended by my book buddy, and I was out within the first couple of pages. Knew it wasn’t for me.
That’s what happened for her with LIE TO ME.
However, this book hooked me from the beginning, but when my book friend started it, she immediately said it wasn’t for her. So I finished it on my own. Some things aren’t for everyone. This one was for me.
I thoroughly enjoyed it. Like I said, it hooked me from the start, and I looked forward to getting back to it every time I put it down. Bottom line, it’s fiction, and I had fun with it. It was well done and held my attention. J.T. did a great job fleshing out the characters. They were layered and complicated.
This book is full of conflicting emotions, consequences of bad decisions, and is a cat-and-mouse thriller that keeps you guessing—Was it him? Was it her? Exactly what happened here?—until you’re dizzy.
I recommend it! The good thing is, I think you’ll know right away if it’s not for you because the first few pages set the tone for the rest of the novel.
Goodreads summary:
They built a life on lies
Sutton and Ethan Montclair's idyllic life is not as it appears. They seem made for each other, but the truth is ugly. Consumed by professional and personal betrayals and financial woes, the two both love and hate each other. As tensions mount, Sutton disappears, leaving behind a note saying not to look for her.
Ethan finds himself the target of vicious gossip as friends, family and the media speculate on what really happened to Sutton Montclair. As the police investigate, the lies the couple have been spinning for years quickly unravel. Is Ethan a killer? Is he being set up? Did Sutton hate him enough to kill the child she never wanted and then herself? The path to the answers is full of twists that will leave the reader breathless.
Valentine’s Day Ideas:
Chocolate Covered Strawberries: Elevated
When I think of Valentine’s day food, I always think of chocolate covered strawberries. You can get fancy ones at the grocery store, but they are pricey. They’re super easy to make at home, and they’re so decadent.
Wash and completely dry the strawberries. Melt chocolate chips (dark is even more decadent) in microwave or double boiler. Grab the green tops, dip, swirl, let rest on parchment.
Some recipes say a “secret” is to add crisco or oil to the chocolate. But I’m not sure why I’d add a horrible oil to my delicious chocolate. It takes the health down a notch! (unless it’s coconut oil)
Now, the real fun comes when you add that extra something…
Elevate your berries for your love:
While the chocolate is still wet: add festive sprinkles, chopped nuts, crushed cookie bits, crushed candy, chocolate shavings, edible gold leaf, crushed cereal, mini marshmallows, coconut flakes. The possibilities are endless. But that extra sprinkle is like extra love.
When the chocolate has dried: melt more chocolate and place in a piping bag for decorations: stripes, swirls, polka dots, etc.
If you use white chocolate, you can color it.
Edible luster dust is another option.
If you’re really wild, you can melt white chocolate, separate it into 3 bowls, dye one chocolate bowl red, one pink, leave one white and do a multicolored dip.
Final thoughts:
This week, I hope you’re not wrongfully accused of murder. I also hope you’re not rightfully accused of murder.
I hope murder doesn’t touch any part of your week…unless you read a murder mystery, and then, the more murder, the merrier. ( I think I need to go to bed.)
Much glitter,
Melissa
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