Monday, September 30, 2013

Beautiful Whispers by Alice Ayden


Release Date: June 4, 2013
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Sharing a name with a famous author is tough, especially when you're a direct descendent living on the author's estate. Combine that with unexplained memory losses and conflicting stories from everyone around, one can understand why Jane Eva Austen had such a hard time trying to find her place in the world.

Despite the forgotten periods of time, she manages to live a fairly uneventful life until someone from the past returns to the estate. Unanswered questions, unending feuds and a nagging sense of deja vu makes the return all the more interesting and painful for Jane. Will she discover the missing memories in time to save herself? Will she forgo knowing everything to keep up appearances for the family or choose her heart?

Review:
This book was a prize sent to me from a Goodreads.com giveaway. Honestly, I'm torn about this book for several reasons. The premise behind the story and the way the plot reveals itself is well done. The reader is given enough information to answer some of their questions but not enough to ensure that he/she turns the page. The author did a great job in describing the estate and created a lot of colorful characters that brought a bit of levity after some of the more serious or darker parts of the story.

However, I was constantly thrown off by the fact that the main character, Jane, was to be 21 years-old. To me, she acted much younger than that. My first impression of the character was that she was in her early teens and her behavior does little to change that image until I nearly reached the end of the book. There is a sense of growth within the character during the book but to me, it wasn't believable from the start. Maybe if her actions were given a bit of explanation such as being caused by the trauma or memory loss, it would have been different for me.

I was also distracted by quite a few typos, grammar errors and punctuation mistakes. I realize that no manuscript is ever perfect. Even some of the best-selling authors have problems with their books. For me, the mistakes took me out of the story for a moment and that made it difficult to get back into the groove, so to speak. I wholeheartedly believe that will a little more polish, this could be a great read.

Overall, I thought the idea, the plot and many of the characters really made the book worth reading. The way the point-of-view switches between chapters does take a little getting used to, but it was interesting play on our generation being caught up with that of the past. If you're looking for a book filled with love, choices, unexplained time loss and intrigue, then this is one you should check out.

Beautiful Whispers by Alice Ayden is available at Amazon.com in both paperback and Kindle forms. Click the link below for purchasing details.
Beautiful Whispers by Alice Ayden

Friday, September 27, 2013

Paranormal State: My Journey into the Unknown by Ryan Buell, Stefan Petrucha


Release Date: September 21, 2010
Publisher: It Books

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Go behind the scenes of the founding of the Paranormal Research Society (PRS) and the television show that followed with this book written by Ryan Buell and Stefan Petrucha. Ryan takes through much of the thought process in developing PRS while a student at Penn State. He introduces us to the other founding members and reveals some of the first cases that the group investigated before receiving the call to do the show, Paranormal State on the A&E network.

Not only does he explain the way in which PRS does their investigations, Ryan also goes in depth on the cases in the first few seasons. Research the cases and feel the investigations through his words while learning the reasons behind their actions. Cases gone over include many from the first season as well as the most intense, demonic-laced cases they encountered during their investigations.

Review:
I had seen the show several times before a friend of mine let me borrow this book. Always a fan of the paranormal, I did find the way that the group investigated and helped the clients to be a refreshing change with all the paranormal investigation shows on the various channels. Intrigued by the show, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book.

The thing that stuck with me was the level of honesty in which the book is written. When there were missteps and mistakes made by either PRS or the production crew, it was noted in the book. Even the times when Ryan was full of doubt and wanted to step away from the show forever were talked about in several chapters. It's refreshing to see accept responsibility for the negative things as much as they accept praise for the positive things. All of the investigators showed different levels of growth as the show progressed and this was also documented in the book.

Whether a person has watched the show or not, there is enough information given in all of the chapters to help lead the reader along at a fairly good pace. The way in which the book is written helps to give each member of the PRS family more depth than the television show was able to do. It was really neat to see them as fun-loving, smiling, open-minded people in place of the completely serious, never smiling group that is often shown in the shows.

It doesn't matter if you truly believe the same things as Ryan or anyone in the group nor does being a skeptic take anything away from the book. All possible explanations are ruled out until there's simply one question left. Is it possible that there's something out there? For those who enjoy the television show or behind-the-scenes accounts, this book is definitely one to be picked up.

Paranormal State: My Journey into the Unknown by Ryan Buell and Stefan Petrucha is available for purchase at many major retailers including Amazon and others. It can be bought in either paperback or Kindle form. You can purchase a copy by clicking the link to Amazon.com below.
Paranormal State: My Journey into the Unknown by Ryan Buell, Stefan Petrucha

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Currently Reading

As I sit here, I have no idea as to where I should begin to recap the past week. So many things happened that it has made my head spin. Even through all the excitement, I was able to finish a couple of books and get their reviews ready. Budgeting my time wisely is becoming a more crucial skill that I need to hone. To be honest, I didn't read much over the weekend. Those days were spent trying to finish up the community project items. The minimum goal has almost been met so anything above that will be created at a more leisurely pace.

Exciting news on the writing/book front! I had a deadline to enter a submission for an anthology of stories and poetry to be published in October/November of this year. Though my stomach felt as though it had been put through ten rounds of Mike Tyson punches, I sent off a short story for consideration. Yesterday, I received news that my story was accepted! All I needed to do was approve the minor edits and send in a short author bio for the anthology. Let me tell you, the bio was harder to write than the story! I'm so excited!

On top of all this, I also received an email asking me to take part in a book blog tour for an unreleased book. I agreed to read and review the book without a second thought - mostly because I was interested in the story to begin with. This means that I will be having a special blog post on an upcoming Wednesday to let you, my wonderful readers, know about the book!


The books I'm set to devour this week include;
The Kill List by Frederick Forsyth
The Grave Artist by Paula Lynn Johnson
Buck: A Memoir by M.K. Asante
The Greenland Breach by Bernard Besson


So far, I'm finished with the following;
A Promise to Remember (Tomorrow's Promise Collection Book #1) by Kathryn Cushman
DiSemblance by Shanae Branham


More information about the anthology and special blog post will be given as soon as I have them. Taking these steps out of my comfort zone has definitely been scary. Yet, they're also rewarding. What dream are you chasing, readers?

Until next time,
Kay

Monday, September 23, 2013

Her Last Breath (Kate Burkholder #5) by Linda Castillo


Release Date: June 18, 2013
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Series: Kate Burkholder #5

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Synopsis:
Making their way home on a rainy night, an Amish father and his children are blindsided by a speeding car. Chief Kate Burkholder is first on scene when she is shocked to see a familiar face among those injured. Pushing her emotions aside, she puts herself on auto-pilot to ensure a proper investigation to find the person responsible for so much destruction and pain.

Kate begins to put the pieces of the puzzle together when more faces from her past come back to haunt her in the present. The codes that the Amish follow contradict the laws that Kate swears to uphold. Despite the backlash, she will push herself to finish the job, no matter the resistance she encounters or those who stand in her way. Can her personal life handle the trials of her job? Will she allow herself a moment to breathe or continue to force herself into the job?

Review:
Normally, I don't enter giveaways at Goodreads.com that aren't the first of a series unless I'm already familiar with the previous books. It's kind of like setting down to watch a movie after it's been on for an hour already. But the blurb was really intriguing to me. I'm happy to say that I entered and won the book.

The action in the book starts right away as we meet the family. Shortly after we get a glimpse of their lives, the accident happens and leaves us with questions that the main character goes on the hunt for. The author does a great job of inserting events of the previous books into the story to help the plot instead of hindering. It kept the story moving at a steady pace. Characters that had been introduced in previous books slipped into this book without causing a ripple in the current story.

Both the English and Amish worlds were represented well within the book. Rules and codes were explained in a way that seemed logical and not just tossed aside. I loved how the characters in both worlds embodied their ways of life without apologizing for them. Secrets abide in any society and they come to light in their own time. The characters were real, flawed and had me rooting for them - even as they admitted their own sins. Combined with an ending that I didn't see coming, I really liked this series. The book is great as a standalone read but I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

Her Last Breath (Kate Burkholder #5)  by Linda Castillo is available in several forms including Kindle, hardback, paperback and audiobook. It can be purchased at Amazon.com by choosing the link below.
Her Last Breath (Kate Burkholder #5) by Linda Castillo

Friday, September 20, 2013

The Haunted Hikikomori by Lawrence Pearce


Release Date: August 8, 2013
Publisher: Juju Books

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Hidden away from the world outside his apartment, Jared lives in a world of his own creation. He has everything he needs brought to him through online orders with the odd delivery of pizza to link him to humanity. While in his apartment, he does his best to avoid the pain and memories of losing someone close to him. His imagination provides him a companion when he needs it. Life is good.

Or so it was until strange things begin to happen throughout his apartment that make him question his grasp on reality as well as his past behavior. Seeing glimpses of the one lost starts Jared down a downhill spiral of self-loathing and judgement that leads him to make a pivotal decision.

Review:
Oh, how I wanted to give this book a higher rating. It truly made me sad that I couldn't justify one in the smallest degree. The story is so intriguing and compelling that it did keep me turning the pages. Not only do we, the readers, see the aftermath of a tragic event but we're witnesses to several other events that we can do nothing to change. At certain points in the story, we know more than the characters. I found myself wanting to direct the characters away from areas or to do different things in order to keep them from harm.

The steady pace of the story did a great deal to keep my interest alive. I felt the author did a good job of drawing you into the story through the character's emotions and the reasoning behind their decisions seemed logical in their situations. At one point it seemed that the story was a vicious cycle, never to end as person after person found their way into that apartment.

My only reason for not rating this work higher was the many grammar/editorial mistakes that I found as I was reading. Even reading for pleasure, my brain picks up on places where commas should have been, a word is misspelled or quotation marks out of place. Unfortunately, there were a bunch of places where commas were needed as well as an instance where the author had written "And I am sat ...." which I presume he meant "am sitting." Between those and part of the book being formatted with paragraph indented while the other wasn't, I got distracted from the story. If these issues were corrected, I have absolutely no doubt that this book would be a great one because the story is haunting and chilling in so many aspects.

The Haunted Hikikomori by Lawrence Pearce is available in Kindle form and can be purchased from Amazon.com by clicking the link below.
The Haunted Hikikomori by Lawrence Pearce

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Currently Reading

I can't believe it's Wednesday. Sorry, that sounded like a lame butter substitute tagline. I honestly think time is speeding up on me. Oh, I know it's not really speeding up but seems that way at times. My childhood days were full of wanting time to hurry up so that I could be old enough to drive, be considered an adult and do the things I wanted to do. Now as an adult, I wish I could slow it down.

This past week has been filled with a lot of work on my community project and writing submissions. The number of hats and scarf sets is nearing the minimum goal number and we're all very happy that each of the child at the Behavioral Center will have his or her own. As far as writing, I'm starting to feel the heat of the deadline set at the end of the month. Something just feels off with the work but I'm positive that work it out soon.  


Books on the docket this week are;
The Kill List by Frederick Forsyth
DiSemblance by Shanae Branham
A Promise to Remember (Tomorrow's Promise Collection Book #1) by Kathryn Cushman


Novels that are among the finished pile are;
My Dead Friend Sarah: A Novel by Peter Rosch
Where We Belong by Catherine Ryan Hyde


My Kindle app has been a lifesaver in helping me to fit in some reading time at night when everyone else is asleep. My goal for the next few weeks remains the same - try to fit as much into seven days as I possibly can. Let's just hope the weather changing doesn't bring me down further.

Until next time,
Kay

Monday, September 16, 2013

A History of Stone and Steel by Christopher Fisher


Release Date: April 1, 2013
Publisher: Resurgent Books

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Paul Keppel's life had been sailing down a comfortable path until a perfect storm of mid-life crisis, powerful migraines and a recurring nightmare drives him to the edge of sanity. His marriage is tested as secrets from his past come bubbling to the surface, forcing Paul to face the truth of the past or risk losing everything. The pain, anxiety and uncertainty ripple through every aspect of his life from his marriage to the workplace to church.

When he receives word that his grandfather, Reverend Todd, has a health crisis, Paul's life deteriorates rapidly. He soon finds himself reliving the decisions of his past that set him down the path he's been walking. Throwing caution to the wind, he does whatever he feels he needs to without restraint. Can his marriage and family survive the secrets he's been carrying? Will Paul be able to come to terms with his grandfather and the ghosts haunting him before he loses everything?  

Review:
Having won this book from a Goodreads.com giveaway, I was intrigued by the blurb used in the description of the giveaway. It mentioned the bare essentials of the plot such as a man dealing with his own set of problems finding out his grandfather was dying and coming to term with secrets long buried. When I actually opened the book, I was instantly hooked on the road Paul, the main character, was taking. There was no alternative but to hang on until the end.

A History of Stone and Steel is the debut novel for Christopher Fisher, but it certainly does not read like one. The path that the story takes winds its way through Paul's adolescence and adulthood with little effort, bringing the reader along as a witness to the unraveling that is taking place in Paul's life. With each revelation and decision, the reader is given a front row seat to the madness that takes over as he begins to lose control, driving his loved ones to the edge of desertion.

The theme of what it means to truly be a Christian also presents itself throughout the story. For some of the characters, it is the driving force behind each and every one of their decisions. Others are reluctant to acknowledge the depth in which they do believe, whether out of fear or they simply cannot bring themselves to believe completely. The author lays out thoughts, theories and feelings along the way that allow the reader to decide for him/herself what the meaning behind the events could be.

Overall, I liked how frank the book was when it came to Paul's indecision. He was as messed up as anyone on this planet could be and yet he still had a sense of right and wrong at his very core. In a way, I was both rooting for and against the character, something not usually done in my case. It's a thought-provoking, profanity-laced, theology-questioning book that kept me turning page after page to find out what happened next. I would definitely recommend this book.

A History of Stone and Steel by Christopher Fisher can be purchased in either Kindle or paperback form. It can be purchased from Amazon.com by clicking the link below.
A History of Stone and Steel by Christopher Fisher

Friday, September 13, 2013

Blood Flats by Edward Trimnell


Release Date: November 18, 2011
Publisher: Beechmont Crest Publishing

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
All he wanted to do was to come home and make a peaceful life for himself in his hometown in Kentucky. Unfortunately for Lee McCabe, fate has other plans for him. After becoming a Marine and serving his country, Lee returned to the place he had always known. Shortly after he settled in, a brutal crime is committed next door to his trailer prompting him to go into defensive mode and check things out. Things go from bad to worse as other residents see him leaving the scene of the crime, falsely believing him to be responsible.

Instead of staying to answer any questions, Lee goes on the run. His history with the local law enforcement isn't one of the best, especially since his parents slighted the sheriff, Steven Phelps, by falling in love. Not only does Lee have the law on his tail but the men behind the initial crime are also after him to clean up their mess. All this weaves in and out of the many layers hidden within small town Kentucky and the underlying crime and meth problems found therein. Will he make it out alive? Who can he trust?

Review:
This book took me a while to get through due to the large ground that the book covers and personal obligations on my end. However, the story is definitely one that a person can get lost in. Right away the reader is shown the main character's life and then the action begins. With barely time to breathe, we're on the run and introduced to many unsavory characters lurking in the dark shadows of Hawkins County, Kentucky. I was almost afraid that the book would only have bad guy after bad guy popping up. Thankfully there are many shining lights scattered throughout the book that reflect the goodness in people as well.

With a large cast of characters, it's sometimes difficult to make sure that each of the important ones gets enough screen time. I think the author did a great job and achieved a good balance of keeping the reader informed on the lead character while giving a glimpse of what was going on behind the scenes, so to speak. Each of the characters did have their own flaws, distinct personalities. While a lot of the unsavory ones were showing off their bad sides, at times they did have their softer moments as well. I thought that was a great contrast and gave them dimension.

As I mentioned, there is a lot of ground that is covered within the books 300+ pages. There were a few times when my interest waned a bit only to find myself glued to the book the next minute. This is one of those stories that really rewards the reader for making it to the very end. Overall, it's an action packed, thrill ride that takes you from the hills and hollers of the backwoods into the sprawling cities and back.

Blood Flats by Edward Trimnell is currently available in both paperback and Kindle forms. Each can be purchased at Amazon.com by clicking the following link.
Blood Flats by Edward Trimnell

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Currently Reading

Summer has decided it wanted to go out with a bang and has been heating up our area the past few days. I was really enjoying the unseasonably cool days during July but had a sneaky suspicion that the heat wasn't done with us. Weather is definitely being tricksy with us. What a perfect reason to scoop up a book or two and enjoy an air-conditioned room.

I wish I could say that I've been more productive in the reading department over the past week. These hats and scarves are beginning to overrun my workspace. I don't mind - too much. It's for a great cause so I'm working around them. Writing's been steady but not at a good quality everyday. There's been a lot of off days to be sure. The only thing that works for me is back away and come back a little later.

I'm reading through these this week;
The Kill List by Frederick Forsyth
Where We Belong by Catherine Ryan Hyde
My Dead Friend Sarah: A Novel by Peter Rosch
DiSemblance by Shanae Branham


So far, I've finished the following;
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
Shadow of the Piper by L.P. Hoffman


Pretty soon, Autumn will be upon us. Are there any special events that you're looking forward to this season? I know it won't be too much longer and we'll have NaNoWriMo on our hands.

Until next time,
Kay

Monday, September 9, 2013

A Familiar Fate by Hope McLaren


Release Date:  June 19, 2013
Publisher:  Hope McLaren (Kindle), CreateSpace Independent Publishing (Paperback)

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Violet Evans is not the typical sixteen year-old girl. She's an orphan who lives with a foster mom who rarely gives the poor girl a second thought. As questions about her past begin to swirl within her own mind, Violet also experiences strange, lifelike dreams that often leave her with questionable tastes in her mouth and many more questions about herself than before.

A series of events leads Violet to discover that the past she had been told by her foster mom was all a lie. One by one, she finds out the truths of who she is, where she belongs and what is expected of her. Will she buckle under the pressure? Will she be able to free herself from the ties of her past?

Review:
Although I'm still new to the realm of Paranormal YA books, I found myself enjoying this one from the start. Immediately I was drawn into Violet's world and experiencing her emotions. All the confusion and anger at the foster mom for the treatment and then betrayal when secrets were discovered. There were a few times that I forgot Violet was only a teenager because she acted more like an adult than some of the adults in the story. However, I feel that the way in which she grew up made her more adult-like than a regular teen should be.

The story moved in a very comfortable pace. It wasn't so slow that my interest was lost nor was it too fast that I had to backtrack to figure out what was happening. I again felt what the character was feeling when things did get overwhelming for her in a short span of time. With the way the story moved, it seemed as a natural progression of events. I could honestly believe that those things took place as they did.

This book is the author's debut novel, setting things up for an eventual series of books involving the characters and world created. I am looking forward to the next book as I want to see how a few of the characters have dealt with the way things unfolded within the present book. Overall, I truly liked this story and would very much love to give it 4.5 stars.

A Familiar Fate by Hope McLaren is currently available in both paperback and Kindle forms. They can be purchased at Amazon.com at the link below.
A Familiar Fate by Hope McLaren

Friday, September 6, 2013

The First Rule of Swimming by Courtney Angela Brkic


Release Date:  May 28, 2013
Publisher:  Little, Brown and Company

Rating: 3 out 5 stars.

Synopsis:
For some, the island of Rosmarina is a heaven and forever calling to their spirits. For others, the island is a prison, unable or unwilling to change or adapt. Two sisters were born on the island and called it home for many years through political upheaval, wars and a dangerous time to believe anything other than what was feed to them.

Stories about a traumatic event in their family history propel the younger of the sisters to leave Rosmarina for the United States. The closeness of the sisters' bond is tested when the younger sister goes missing. Hellbent on finding her, the oldest follows the path to the United States where dark truths are unearthed and mysteries unraveled. Will either of them survive the unmasking? Or are they lost to the island forever?

Review:
This book was another that I was fortunate to win from a free giveaway at Goodreads.com. The blurb on the book's page intrigued me and I couldn't wait to dive into the world of Rosmarina. The cover is brilliantly beautiful. As I delved deeper into the book, I understood why the author chose the title.

It is a multi-generational story that takes the reader back and forth in time as the story progress. We're made privy to the war that destroyed so many Croatian family as well as the aftermath of being labeled an informer. The first part of the book was a little difficult for me to follow bits of the timeline. At times little warning was given before leaving a present day scene and entering something from the past. It was easy for me to become a little lost, go back and read the previous paragraphs to regain my footing.

Further parts of the story were arranged differently and flowed really well. I didn't have any trouble with these sections of the book. In fact, I thought these were the most intriguing parts of the book. Of course, they laid bare all of the secrets and what-ifs that had been following both of the sisters for the entire lives. I truly didn't expect some of the twists that the author threw into the story.

All in all, the story of the two Croatian sisters was captivating. I really felt for them as the world they knew tilted and they had to find themselves once again. This is a book that you will have to pay attention to what you read. Otherwise, you will get lost and have to backtrack. Maybe that's another moral taught by the book.

The First Rule of Swimming by Courtney Angela Brkic is now available in hardback or Kindle versions at Amazon.com and other retailers. It can be purchased by clicking the link below.
The First Rule of Swimming by Courtney Angela Brkic

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Currently Reading

I know that I said it before, but I really can't believe that September's here already. It doesn't seem possible that the year is nearly over to me. There are so many things that I both need and want to have accomplished before the start of another year. I guess it would be wise to kick things into high gear to get them all done.

This past week I found myself still contending with a sprained wrist. Absolute no clue how it happened. All I do know is that it's annoying the crap out of me because I'm not able to work on the remaining pieces for the community project I have to finish in October. Yes, I've been able to zoom through quite a few books but I don't want to fail the kids. Not to mention the fact that I need to finish my submission piece for consideration into an anthology.

On the docket this week are:
The Kill List by Frederick Forsyth
Shadow of the Piper by L.P. Hoffman
Where We Belong by Catherine Ryan Hyde
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
My Dead Friend Sarah: A Novel by Peter Rosch


Finished reading these so far:
Paranormal State: My Journey into the Unknown by Ryan Beull, Stefan Petrucha
Beautiful Whispers by Alice Ayden
Plastic Tulips in the Winter by Denice Vickers

What's been checked off your TBR list? Let me know in the comments. I'm always looking for recommendations.

Until next time,
Kay

Monday, September 2, 2013

Cemetery Lake: A Thriller by Paul Cleave


Release Date: June 2013 (first published in 2008)
Publisher: Atria Books

Rating:  4 out of 5 stars

Synopsis:
Theodore Tate's world turned upside two years earlier, sending him into a downward spiral that hadn't stopped. No longer a cop in Christchurch, he's become a private investigator to capitalize on his skills to maintain his facade of being a reputable citizen. On the day he's set to witness a routine exhumation of his client's father, the gates of hell appear to open and unleash the secrets within the cemetery lake's serene surface.

Unable to leave things alone, Tate pursues the series of odd events until the path brings him full circle to face the demons he's been running from the entire time. Tate and the few friends that he has left on the force must hurry to catch those responsible for the evil being done in Christchurch. But will they be too late to save more innocent women? Will Tate be able to save himself?

Review:
One of the things I love about winning books through the giveaways at Goodreads.com is the ability to find authors that I may never have known about otherwise. I'll be honest. I wasn't familiar with any of Paul Cleave's work but that will definitely change. Cemetery Lake is one of those books that pulls the rug out from under you time and time again. As you read and feel you have things figured out, there goes the rug and everything you thought you knew with it.

The main goal of any author is to suck you into a book so deeply that you find it hard to leave. I'd have to say that Cemetery Lake is very effective in this department. The descriptions, the actions and the characters all provide the reader with plenty of reasons to become lost within the covers. Being set in Christchurch also allows the reader to experience an unknown, yet familiar land and brings its own flavor to the story. Also, I liked how the weather played a key role in the story as well. It was as if the weather was a main character alongside Tate.

I think Theodore Tate has to be one of the most messed up characters that I have read in a long time. The fact that he has any luck at all despite the number of times he screwed up makes him all the more believable to me. I can't believe some of the things he gets himself into all because he's too stubborn to let things alone. The other characters' interactions with Tate are pretty realistic and the number of those believing in him dwindles as the novel progresses akin to how life works in reality.

The pacing of the story is constant from the first chapter. Though there are a few time jumps to move the story along, the action taking places does a great job of keeping the reader invested. At different times, I thought the action had peaked, only to see it climbing once again as another series of events leads to another bombshell. One thing after another happens until you think that there couldn't possibly be anything else. Then the twist gets you.

Overall, I really liked this book. My emotions were all over the place as I read it. From being disgusted to sympathizing to wanting to give the guy a Gibbs smack, I was strapped in and willing to go along for the ride. I look forward to picking up some of Paul Cleave's other books as soon as I can. If you're looking for a suspenseful, crime-filled book that will keep you guessing until that last chapter, you need to take a chance on this book.

Cemetery Lake: A Thriller by Paul Cleave is currently available for purchase in both paperback and Kindle forms. You can pick up a copy at Amazon.com by clicking the link below.
Cemetery Lake: A Thriller by Paul Cleave

Sunday, September 1, 2013

September's Hopes and Dreams

Whoa. This year is flying by so fast! There's hardly been enough time to really step back and enjoy everything that's happened. I wouldn't trade it for anything though. Let's just say, I'm really happy that I'm finally doing something with the things that I love most - reading and writing.

I have always been a reader but never really set goals for myself. I figured that the days would come when things would just fall into place. Now, I realize that I have to put some effort into achieving anything and have been doing exactly that. Still very much a newbie in a lot of areas, but I love the fact that I'm learning new things as I take these baby steps to reaching my dream. So far, my goal for the year is to have read 100 books. That's the most I've ever read in a year that I can remember keeping track of and it's been a long time since I've done it. If everything stays on target, I'll reach that goal before the end of the year with extra to spare. But we all know how life works. I'll have to have a cushion, just in case.

As for the second item on my list, I have been pushing myself to write something every day that I'm able. Last week I sprained my wrist so I wasn't able to do much more than sitting and pouting for a few days. With the repeated practice, I feel that I've become more comfortable with the process of getting my ideas or stories on the page. A local literary magazine may publish an article that I wrote. I'm nervous because I wasn't sure it was exactly what they were looking for but it's an attempt that I wouldn't have taken a year ago. The next item on my agenda is finishing a submission piece for consideration into an anthology of work by the people of the Kindle users' forums. It's an open submission so I'm going to go for it.

The only other project on the list is the charity project for our local behavioral center. We've nearly finished the minimum amount needed of hats and scarves. I'm confident that we'll reach the goal and then some. No matter how much time it takes, the items will be finished for those children. Work's already started in the planning phase of the next project so I'll be doing more crocheting next year as well.

I hope this month is a great one for all of you. Lots of pages read and things accomplished in all your futures. Do you have anything specific that you're wanting to cross off your list this month? If so, feel free to discuss it in the comments. Lots of luck - no matter what you're doing!

Until next time,
Kay