Tag Archives: traci hunter abramson

Lockdown by Traci Hunter Abramson – Review

So this book has been on my TBR pile for the longest (well, of the books I was really going to read, anyway). I bought it right after it came out, since I’ve read everything by Traci, and since she was going to be in town for a book signing. So I’ve had it since April.

Hooray for car trips for TBR-busting! I was excited to finally read this book, since I like Traci’s books (obviously), and since it meets one of my July challenge goals to knock out one of my Summer Reading Thing books.

As with all of Traci’s books, Lockdown is full of suspense and tension with a big dose of romance (or is it the other way around?). She always researches her situations, and there’s always something new in her books. Lockdown is no exception, showcasing everything from school-shooting crises (real and fake, as part of a training course), to water rescues to medical interventions.

Plus, it was set half an hour north of my hometown. And most of the details weren’t too bad, though I could get nitpicky if you want me to (but nobody wants to hear about LDS wards in Durham, Durham hospitals, or the “correct” name of Kerr Lake to Virginians currently living in North Carolina).

As always, I note anything that I pulled me out of the book. With the blog series this month, I might have been a little more sensitive to this than normal, but a few times I felt that the POV wasn’t as deep as I’d like it—especially in some tough-to-convey emotions (shock, for example) and the instances where the narration suddenly told me about something the POV character had not noticed. There were also a few instances of passive voice or general wordiness. However, I was involved enough in the plot that I wanted to keep reading. It was a pretty fast read, like the rest of her books, and I enjoyed joining her characters for this adventure.

In all, Lockdown is a fun read, and a solid addition to Traci’s “stable.”

Why I love blogging

The wonderful Annette Lyon is out to give me a heart attack. First, she goes and in the middle of celebrating the release of her new grammar book, There, Their, They’re, she up and links to me and goes on and on about my Word Nerdiness (and yes, that’s a compliment). And then last week, she does it again, this time passing along an award to boot.

And before I get off on that tangent, I pull up her blog this week and see a freaking huge picture of ME on the top post. If ever you want to know how and why we became friends (and/or are secretly separated at birth), Annette lays it all out there. Plus, she wrote a wonderful guest post this week on verbs in dialogue tags—the exact topic I was just about to suggest to her when she told me that was what she was thinking of writing about. Yep, separated at birth.

So, anyway, she gave me an award, too. As if the whole “This is your life” game wasn’t enough 😉 .

Here’s the purpose and instructions for the NENO’S Award:

*a dedication for those who love blogging and love to encourage friendships through blogging.
* to seek the reasons why we all love blogging.
* put the award in one post as soon as you receive it.
* don’t forget to mention the person who gives you the award.
* answer the award’s question by writing the reason why you love blogging.
* tag and distribute the award to as many people as you like.
* don’t forget to notify the award recipients and put their links in your post.

Thank you, Annette! I’m flattered 😀 . (Despite the repeated attempts on my life. How come you save Tristi but try to kill me??)

Why I love blogging
There are a lot of things I love about blogging. At my work blog, Marketing Pilgrim, I like the opportunity to analyze the Internet marketing industry from time to time, as well as the chance to keep my editing skills sharp. At my blog about fulfillment in motherhood, MamaBlogga, I love building friendships with other moms, and taking the time to pause and appreciate being a mother, but most of all I love it when someone tells me I’ve made a difference for them that day.

Here on my writing blog, I like developing friendships with other writers and the chance to air my thoughts instead of sitting here fuming over yet another book/website/blog post that claims any use of “was [verb]ing” is passive voice. I’m looking forward to being able to discuss mechanics and technique and books and hearing your insightful comments.

Sharing the love
Kaye Dacus, whose blog was one of the first writing craft blogs I’d ever come across—and I love it as much today as I did then.

My Romance with Romance by my critique partner, Marnee, who (no matter what she may modestly claim) has taught me so much about writing romance. Just look how great Marnee is!

Tristi Pinkston, whom I got to meet last weekend at the launch for her newest book, Agent in Old Lace (read my review), and who is just the kindest, most inspiring mother, writer and mother-writer. Plus she has the best book promo/blog scavenger hunt ever.

Traci Hunter Abramson, who was awesome and really encouraging to me. Plus, I’ve read all of her books (though Lockdown is still waiting for me on my counter).

Thanks again, Annette!