Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Currently Reading

Just not enough hours in the day to do what I need and read as well. I was able to get a couple of books finished that were among those I'd won from giveaways. Fulfilling the requirement of reading and reviewing these makes me feel as though they're a bit of a higher priority than the others that have languished on the reading list for long periods of time.

Eventually I will have the charity project near completion. Of course, then it will be right in the middle of NanNoWriMo time and I'll have to get those all important words in for the day before I can think of reading. It looks like this last half of the year is going to be filled with a lot more activity than I'm used to! But we'll find a way to make it work.

I've been in the middle of:
A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin
Blood Flats by Edward Trimnell
Ghosts of Rosewood Asylum by Stephen Prosapio
Anonymous Sources by Mary Louise Kelly

I'm finished with:
Tantra (The Anu Files #1) by Adi
The Conditions of Love by Dale M. Kushner

Summer vacation is nearing its end here for the kids. They're about ready to start back to school in a week or so. Will that increase or decrease your reading time out there? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time,
Kay

Monday, July 29, 2013

Moon Dance (Vampire for Hire #1) by J.R. Rain



Rating:  4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Six years after being attacked, Samantha Moon's life has seen its fair share of changes. Going from marital bliss to barely knowing herself in relation to her family would make anyone cranky. So would the intense cravings for blood that she could had to contend with alongside PTA meetings, after school activities and laundry. She may be a vampire but she is also a wife and mother.

No longer able to maintain her day job, Samantha became a private investigator. Her latest client is a mysterious defense attorney who wants her to find the person responsible for nearly assassinating him in broad daylight. Accepting the assignment leads her down the path of discovery - both for her client and herself. Are the answers worth her life? Samantha has no choice other than to find out. It's the private investigator in her.

Review:
Not only did I find this book to be enjoyable, it was a quick read that never lost my attention. So many books have explored the vampire genre that I am often times reluctant to pick them up. Not only did this book break out of the usual vampire mold, but it did so while maintaining and paying homage to some of the beloved aspects of the old school vampire mythology such as the blood drinking, daylight issues and possible death on various levels. The author's take on a fledgling vampire's "coming of age" was really refreshing as much as it was entertaining.

Given the life changing aspect of becoming a vampire, the author explores the various what-if questions that come with the transformation. Does one stop living their usual life the instant the change takes place? How does the change affect family and friends? These questions and more are asked and pondered throughout the novel. And while the answers are readily given, the main character is able to do a lot of internal reflection to find the answers which feel right within herself. That's something that anyone in this day and age can relate to on many levels.

With plenty of action, the story takes the reader from high to low and back again. To me, it was definitely a fun ride and possibly a guilty pleasure. If you're looking for something a little bit out of the ordinary in terms of the vampire mythology without crossing completely over, this is the book for you!

Moon Dance (Vampire for Hire #1) by J.R. Rain is available in either paperback or Kindle form. The paperback was originally released in April 2011 by Lulu.com publishing. Both forms are available for purchase at Amazon.com at the link below.
Moon Dance (Vampire for Hire #1) by J.R. Rain

Friday, July 26, 2013

Needle by Craig Jordan Goodman


Rating:  3 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Being born and raised in New York, Craig Jordan Goodman had an advantage on all those dreamers who flocked to the city during the 1990s and early 2000s to make their dreams of stardom come true. He had the musical talent to make his music career dream a definitely reality until he began down the path of becoming heroin junky.

Alongside his good friend, Perry, Goodman follows the dope-bricked road as it leads him further and further into a world of desperation, sacrifice and near-deadly consequences. In his honest and brashly descriptive memoir, he admits his faults, insecurities, and poor decisions. As it was his friend who introduced him to the drug, Perry also helped to lead him away from an almost certain death.

Review:
I fined memoirs to be interesting, moving and often times, truly inspiring. This book fulfilled those qualities and then some as I dove into the world of a city and drug that I had absolutely no idea about. To me, the most refreshing quality of the book was the brash honesty that Goodman puts forth as he writes about everything in his life from his own hypocrisy in drug use, the rise and downfall of his music career and the levels at which he went in order to obtain his fix.

Although there were moments of clarity and amusement, the overall journey with heroin was an intensely dark one for the author. Most disturbing to me was the level of detachment that I felt the author had toward the end of the book. He was not only detached from the severity of his situation in any regard, but he appeared to be detached from any and all human interaction unless it was absolutely necessary. This was a complete 180 degree turn from the beginning of the book where he was closely tied to a wide circle of people. A harrowing portrait of how isolating drug use can become, the story of the author's life serves as a wake-up call to those who are ready to listen.

While I couldn't relate to much of what the author had been through in terms of the drug use and related consequences, the emotions stemming from the isolation and despair came across in such a way that anyone could have empathized with him. It's truly a remarkable turnaround to see that the author is now living the type of life is meant to life and doing something positive with his time and energy by giving abused and abandoned dogs a second chance. The proceeds from his book sales go to help fund programs to help eliminate animal cruelty and homelessness among animals. If you're looking for an honest depiction of life in the midst of addiction, this book gives a truly honest portrayal.

Needle by Craig Jordan Goodman is currently available in both paperback and Kindle form at Amazon.com. A portion of the proceeds does go to help end animal cruelty and homelessness. A sequel to the novel, Needle, is set to be released toward the end of the year. The book can be purchased at Amazon by clicking the link below.
Needle by Craig Jordan Goodman

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Currently Reading

Oh, this past week and upcoming week are going to be pitiful in the books read department. I have to set aside more time to get more accomplished on the crochet project or else the kids at the local behavioral center won't have their hats and scarves on time. It pains me not to read a little bit each day so I have only been allowing myself a couple of hours to read during daylight hours. Most of the day has been spent turning balls of yarn into warm hats or scarves.

I can't really read the actual, physical books during the night as the light often disturbs my husband's sleep. But what's sleep when you're knee deep into a paranormal romance book? I mean, really! Unfortunately he brings home the paychecks so I have to be good and let him get some sleep. That's when I tend to read the ebooks. However, I've not been able to do that much either. So this week has only one read book in it. Next week doesn't look too promising unless I'm able to speed through the crochet. We'll just have to wait and see.

This week, I'm working my way through:
A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin
Blood Flats by Edward Trimnell
Tantra by Adi
The Conditions of Love by Dale M. Kushner

The books on the completed shelf are:
The Suburban Abyss by Cathryn Grant


One of these days, I'm going to finish the top two on my list. I feel so bad for taking so long with them but I have to get the giveaway wins read and reviewed as well. So many books, so little time!!

What are you exciting to read this summer?

Until next time,
Kay

Monday, July 22, 2013

The Next Time You See Me by Holly Goddard Jones



Rating:  4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
While life in a small, rural town is often thought of as quiet and a pleasant way to spend one's last years, it is very often buried in complexity as one moment or event can impact others. The town of Roma, Kentucky is no different in that regard. When an eighth grade girl stumbles upon a dark, terrifying secret, she becomes fascinated with the find enough to keep it hidden from the townspeople.

But those kinds of secrets have a way of coming to light no matter how hard people try to keep them buried. After a series of seemingly unrelated events draws the attention of the authorities to the body, a whole set of characters are touched by the secret. With their beliefs challenged, each of them soon realize that their lives will never be the same. They have choices that must be made. 

Review:
Having won this book in a Goodreads.com giveaway, I could not wait to crack the book open once I got my hands on it. I have to say that it is definitely an engaging book, full of twists and turns that lead the reader right up to a conclusion that I honestly didn't see happening until it actually happened. I very much enjoyed the way the author introduced the cast of characters in the book. There were quite a lot of them that played major roles at different points in the story and minor, almost supporting roles in other areas.

It was interesting to see something as simple as a missing person story bloom into a rather intricate and scarily accurate depiction of small town life in certain parts of the book. That alone made me want to turn to the next page in order to see what other secrets were going to come out in the wake of all the upheaval as neighbor began to turn on neighbor.

There were many central characters in the story. I believe the author did a wonderful job of giving each one their own unique voice and distinct character flaws. They ranged from eighth grade adolescents trying to find themselves to middle aged married couples with doubts to old-time factory workers looking back at their lost youth. I believe it's the convincing mixture of the characters as they wove in and out of the central story that makes this book a really good read.

The air of mystery is maintained throughout the book although we're given glimpses of what happened or what could have happened through the thoughts of a few key players. At the same time, we're shown how the weight of everything begins to drag down family members, causing cracks in an otherwise strong foundation.

By the end of the book, we know the answers that we had been pondering all the way through. The consequences of the actions for each of the characters are also shown to us. The ripple effect upon the town continues long after all the t's have been crossed and i's have been dotted. If you're looking for a really good down home kind of mystery, this is definitely the book for you!

The Next Time You See Me by Holly Goddard Jones is published by Touchstone Publishers and was released in February 2013. It's available everywhere in hardback, paperback, Kindle and audiobook forms wherever books are sold. The book can be purchased at Amazon.com at the link below.
The Next Time You See Me by Holly Goddard Jones

Friday, July 19, 2013

Trapped: A Novel of Terror by Jack Kilborn



Rating:  4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
In a last-ditch effort to create good memories before the closing of their behavioral center, Sara and Martin Randhurst packed up their latest charges and take them to a secluded, alledgedly uninhabited island for an overnight camping trip. Since the teens all come from the city's streets, a night in the country will be a huge change for them.

It also happens to be a last chance for Sara and Martin to work through their own marital problems that have been compounded by the center's loss of federal funding. What starts off as a fun-filled day begins to turn into something much more sinister as long buried secrets and monsters in the dark are forced out of their hiding places. It's a tale so full of horror and craziness that it's hard to be believed when told by the survivors - if there are any.

Review:
I literally could not stop reading this book after I began with the author's note. It intrigued me that the author chose to include both the edited and first draft versions of the story in the ebook or Kindle form. For a word nerd like me, that's kind of like getting two books for the price of one. I did end up reading both versions of the story but I am limiting my review to the edited version as it's the one most readers will encounter.

Right off the bat we're introduced to the horror of the story. The story only builds in the horror and creepy departments from that moment onward. I love the fact that the author included a variety of character backgrounds into the story. The author did a good job in differentiating the way the teens acted and the way the adults acted in the various scenarios in which they found themselves. Each one of the teens were giving a realistic backstory that wouldn't be hard to find within the population today so it made it believable in that aspect as well. The story moved like a well-oiled machine.

Once it picked up steam, there was no way to stop the ride until the very last sentence. I was kept guessing all the way through with all the sub-plots and interestingly connected layers that the author brought together. I honestly didn't see the end coming to a lot of the characters' journeys and that made me want to keep turning the page. In a way, everyone gets what they deserve in this book. Despite the sometimes gory descriptions, I wholeheartedly recommend this book if you're looking for a good what the *bleep* kind of book to get you through the night. Just remember to lock all of your doors before starting.

Trapped: A Novel of Terror by Jack Kilborn was first published in November 2010. It now is available in paperback, audio book and Kindle form and can be purchased at Amazon.com at the link below.
Trapped: A Novel of Terror by Jack Kilborn

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Currently Reading

How come it's easier to whip through ebooks than real books? Oh, I know! Because I'm up all hours of the night and can't turn on the bedside lamp without waking up the hubby. Still, I manage to get through a few books, including two of the books I won through Goodreads giveaways. Plenty more to be read are sitting beside me, however. I need to get my read on!

This week I'm reading:
A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin
Blood Flats by Edward Trimnell
The Suburban Abyss: A Novel by Cathryn Grant
Tantra by Adi

Books that I've finished include:
Last Train to Omaha by Ann Whitely-Gillen
Unseen by John Michael Hileman
A Season of Mysteries by Rusty Whitener

If you're staying indoors due to the heat (or cold depending on where you in the world you are), what books are you hoping to tackle this coming week?

Until next time,
Kay

Monday, July 15, 2013

Once Upon a Time is Now by Stephen Carpenter



Rating:  3 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Jacob Grimm discovers that his life as the boy known as Cruise Crubbel has all been a lie. He soon finds out that he had been sent away from his birthplace in order to keep his identity secret from all the things in the world that would seek him out and do him harm. After feeling compelled to return to his birthplace, Jacob is immediately thrust into a world that he only knew to exist between the covers of a book. He has to make a choice to accept the responsibilities placed upon him by his birth family, run from everything for the rest of his life or face the possibility of never seeing a year past his fifteenth.

Review:
When I began reading this book, I had no idea that the television show, Grimm, had been based upon the book. I had gotten the book based on the blurb from ereaderlove.com and thought it would be an interesting and opposite view on the Grimm fairy tales from the book, UnEnchanted that I had read a few months prior. While I like the show a lot, the book differs from the show in a number of ways. My review will be based upon the book only.

The book is written from the point of view of Jacob, the last living Grimm descendent and typical fifteen year-old. With a quick pace set fairly early, the action revs up as Jacob arrives in town and stays constant until he and his companions deal with the first set of obstacles thrown his way. The sense of urgency is felt within the descriptions of the scenes and character movements so it is easy to get lost within the action of the story.

Honestly, it felt as though the poor characters barely had a moment to catch their breath before the next thing happened. I quite liked the fact that it drove me to keep turning the page long after I knew I needed to put the book away for the night. As this is the first in a series, I can't wait to give the others a look. If you're in the mood for something a bit out of the ordinary or a different take on an familiar tale, consider this at the top of your list!

Once Upon a Time is Now by Stephen Carpenter is available in Kindle form. It can be bought from Amazon.com by clicking on the link below.
Once Upon a Time is Now by Stephen Carpenter

Friday, July 12, 2013

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum



Rating:  4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
The enduring children's tale of Dorothy and her little dog who were swept away from their home in Kansas and placed within a magical realm. After the house lands on the Wicked Witch of the East, Dorothy is informed that her only way of getting home resides in the hands of the Great Wizard of Oz who is ruling over the people of the Emerald City. She and Toto set off on their journey to the city of green and meet three companions along the way who help her in times of trouble. Throughout her walk to the Emerald City and her secondary journey home, Dorothy is faced with the many challenges, twists and turns.

Review:
Okay, I admit it. I loved this story as a child and as an adult, the story is still one of my all-time favorites to read. Every now and again, I pick up the book and remind myself of the way things used to be in times now long past. The writing style is easy, descriptive and engaging enough to keep a child's attention and yet delight an adult at the same time. While the film a beloved classic, the original story has a lot more action and adventure within its covers that entices the child (and adult) to use their imagination. The dialogue is written in such a way that the child can understand without much explanation. This book is a must-read on many nighttime story lists.

Rereading this classic brought back many memories from my childhood. My grandmother used to have me curl up in her lap with my head on her shoulder as she would read to me. It's more than likely the very reason why I am so attached to words, stories, and books! This is just the first in a series of books about Oz so there are many more adventures to be enjoyed. If you are looking for a great addition to your child's bedtime reading list, consider this for ages 6 and up.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum can be found in hardback, paperback, audiobook and Kindle forms in many major retailers both online and off. It can be purchased from Amazon.com at the link below.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Currently Reading

The summer heat is making it so easy to sit inside. Unfortunately, I've not been able to enjoy as many books as I'd love to devour. Prior committments and health issues are still keeping my daylight hours fairly full. That means ebooks when I can't sleep at night. Love the ebooks for their companionship during those night hours. 

Reading these lucky selections this week:
A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin
Blood Flats by Edward Trimnell
A Season of Mysteries by Rusty Whitener
Last Train to Omaha by Ann Whitely-Gillen
Unseen by John Michael Hileman


I've finished the following books:
Needle by Craig Jordan Goodman
Moon Dance (Vampire for Hire #1) by J.R. Rain
I Kill Me: Tales of a Jilted Hypochondriac by Tracy H Tucker


Until next time,
Kim

Monday, July 8, 2013

Seven-X by Mike Wech



Rating:  4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Eddie Hansen is a reporter who has focused his mind on one thing - scoring the biggest story, the biggest payday. He receives hints and vague insinuations about something drastic going on with the prisoners in Texas but does nothing with it until the husband of a convicted child murderer, Annette Dobson, begs Eddie to find out the truth behind her sudden wish to be cremated. We, the readers, are along for the ride as Eddie discovers the truth about Annette and others like her as well as truths about himself that he had buried deep down inside.

Review:
I was very happy to receive a copy of this book in Kindle form in exchange for an honest and fair review. Reading the blurb alone drew my attention and I couldn't wait to get started. The first few chapters of the story were a little slow but once I became accustomed to the format in which the book was written, the story began to pick up in terms of action and explanations. Most of the book is laid out in a journal-entry style with additions being made by another party.

In the case of this book, it is Eddie's girlfriend who is making the additions and placing the entries in a chronological order. That does help keep the flow of the story together and swiftly sweeps the reader along with it. I was quite thrilled that some of the characters could be seen as playing both sides of the fence. There was never a defined sense of good guys and bad guys within the story. Most of the time, the characters stayed within the grey area with only a few straying into one definite side or the other.

This book was a great read with many twists and turns that I enjoyed. I don't know if the many grammatical mistakes I found along the way were intentional or not. Given the fact that the book was written in the journal style, the mistakes could very well be taken as Eddie's mistakes and not the authors. In all honesty, that was the only thing that threw me off the story whenever I would come across them. Otherwise, great plot, great action and a lot of head scratching! If you're looking for a page-turner that will leave you wondering, this is most definitely the book for you. Just leave a light on while reading at night.

Seven-X by Mike Wech was originally released in March 2012 and is currently available in both paperback and Kindle form. It can be purchased from Amazon.com by clicking the link below.
Seven-X by Mike Wech

Sunday, July 7, 2013

July's Hopes and Dreams

Happy Two Month anniversary!

So many books, so little time! I've been very lucky in the past month to be a winner of some great book giveaways at Goodreads.com and I'm slowly working my way through them. Most definitely will be posting more reviews of those as I get them finished. I'm also revisiting some of the books that I have already finished for this year's book challange from Goodreads. I've read over 50 books so far this year. Some of them I have already posted about while others will be coming in the next few weeks.

Unfortunately, my list of books to be read grows with each passing day. I doubt that I will ever run out of books to review. Based upon my time and health, I may increase the number of book reviews from two up to three times a week. I'm still working out the kinks in my reviews and finding my feet, so to speak. I am planning a few changes in the reviews going forward so don't be surprised if they are a little bit different. 

I'm hoping that life will even out a little more as I would love to concentrate on reading and reviewing a lot more this month. Because of my health problems, I will more than likely be stuck inside as the heat and humidity continues to rise. It's definitely summer here. Of course, being inside will allow me many more opportunities to feed my word addiction as well as finish up the remaining hat and scarf sets that I'm obligated to make for the children of the local behavioral center. I am hoping to have well over 40 completed by the end of the month. It's ambitious but completely doable if I stick with it.

What are your plans for the month of July? Which books are you excited to read?

Until next time,
Kay

Friday, July 5, 2013

Cemetery Girl by David J. Bell

Rating:  4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
For the past four years, Tom and Abby Stuart were living in a nightmare that no parent ever wants to experience - the disappearance of their only child, Caitlin. Tom maintained the hope that he would one day see his daughter alive. Meanwhile, Abby devoted herself to her church and began to move on with her life. As their marriage falls apart, all the bottle emotions come to a head on the day that Abby followed through with her plan for a memorial and headstone to be laid for their daughter. Within days of the memorial, new facts come to light and bring into question everything that either of the parents ever knew of their family.

Review:
This book was recommended to me by a very close friend of mine who thought I would enjoy it. I must admit, her thinking was spot on. Once I began to get into the story, I had a hard time putting the book down. It was a thrill-packed ride from start to finish. The book definitely didn't end the way that I had anticipated and I think that made it more enjoyable. The characters were clearly defined and their dialogue reaffirmed the differences. Some of the characters were quite shady yet had some redeeming qualities that made you wonder if they were truly capable of some of the things occurring in the book.

Although the book had a standard plot centering around a missing young girl and the family's struggle with issues, it was set apart from the usual books by the fact it was written from the father's point of view. We see his struggle with the facts that she may never be coming back, his wife has moved on and everything around him is crumbling. While I think some of the character's actions were a bit overboard, who really knows what a person would do when put in the same situation with the immense amount of pressure on their shoulders? The only drawback of the entire book was that I wanted a bit more in the ending. It seemed so much shorter than the rest of the story but many of the questions brought up in the book were answered by the last page. It still left me wondering about how deeply some of the characters were involved in the poor girl's disappearance and what happened to her throughout the book. I would definitely recommend this book if you're looking for a quickly paced, intense thriller to keep you company through a long night.

Cemetery Girl by David J. Bell is published by NAL/Penguin publishers and was originally released in October 2011. The book is available at many major retailers in hardback, paperback and Kindle form. It can be purchased from Amazon in any form at the link below.
Cemetery Girl by David J. Bell

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Happy Independence Day!!

A quick, off-schedule post to wish everyone a safe and happy Fourth of July. It will be a low-key celebration here for us but whatever you're doing today, please take a moment to remember all those who have made this day possible, past and present. Without them, a lot that we're able to do wouldn't be possible.

Be safe. Have fun. Celebrate!

Until next time,
Kay

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Currently Reading

Not as many books were completed as I had wanted during the past seven days. I had to deal with some personal health issues which took time away from my beloved books. However, I'm gaining ground with a few that have been lingering on my list for over a month. I need to make more headway with them. It's just been a very difficult period of adjustment, to say the least. Here's to more books in the future week!

This week's books include:
A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin
Blood Flats by Edward Trimnell
A Season of Mysteries by Rusty Whitener
Needle by Craig Goodman
Last Train to Omaha by Ann Whitely-Gillen


I've been able to finish:
Trapped: A Novel of Terror by Jack Kilborn
The Next Time You See Me by Holly Goddard Jones

What book or books have gotten their hooks into you so far this summer?

Until next time,
Kay

Monday, July 1, 2013

Elements of Darkness by Michael Twist

Rating:  4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
A collection of fifteen tales have been brought together in this, the fourth offering of darkness, from Michael Twist. Each of the tales shines a light on the dark side of humanity and yet, they can stand alone in the shivers they cause. Fear is the prevailing subject in this volume of tales. Fear of losing a child, fear of losing one's identity, fear of losing independence or innocence - it all comes together under one roof in the Elements of Darkness. While some tales share slightly similar subjects, no two tales are exactly alike and offers the reader a variety of thrills and chills.

Review:
I was fortunate enough to receive the Kindle version of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review of the stories. I always intrigued by short story collections because there are times when a quick fix of horror right before bed will charge up the imagination for dreamtime. The best part of this story collection for me was that each one of them had enough individuality to maintain my interest throughout the entire book. The stories prey on some of the most basic fears an individual can face in his or her lifetime -losing a child, losing one's memory, being forgotten, and making wrong choices, just to name a few. There were a couple of stories that were both frightening and comical at the same time. They drew you in with promises of a lighthearted atmosphere only to turn around and belt you a good one when you weren't looking. Sneaky stories!

Overall, I was very entertained with the collection and will be reading some of the short stories again and again. Only one story didn't grab me in any way, shape or form and I can't honestly say what the root of the problem is. The story, Moneybag, started off with a lot of promise but I didn't feel like it really went anywhere at the end. It seemed as though the story was rushed in some parts. Although complete, I wasn't really affected by it. For me, two little gems were buried within the story collection. Both Puzzled and Gary's Home sent a shiver down my spine and made me feel very glad that I was at home instead of either settings in which the stories took place. These two didn't end how I expected them too and I admit that I was very pleasantly surprised by their endings and those of the other stories as well.

Elements of Darkness by Michael Twist is currently available in Kindle form. It can be purchased at Amazon.com from the link below.
Elements of Darkness by Michael Twist