Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Currently Reading

Ah, the last week of April. We've had some wild weather across the United States in the past few days. The old saying "April showers bring May flowers" may never be more appropriate. However, I wish that the storms weren't so severe. Many lives have been lost and changed forever by this latest weather system. My thoughts and prayers go out to each person affected.

The end of the month also brings closer too many deadlines for some of my various projects. I never really thought that I was a busy person until I began trying to accomplish a number of things at the same time. Learning how to correctly juggle my time has been the biggest hurdle with the various illnesses and bad days that have zapped my strength in the previous months. I've wrangled myself into some sort of disciplined state of making a list and going through one thing at a time. 


Sneaking to the upper part of my TBR pile;
The Saeshell Book of Time, Part 1: The Death of Innocents (Children of Sophista #1) by Rusty Biesele
Jackfish Reborn by Rejean Giguere
Hush by Stacey S. Campbell
Bones of My Brother by L. Frank Dunkin 
The Terminals: Spark (The Terminals #1) by Michael F. Stewart


Read and gone are these; 
The Here and Now by Ann Brashares


Well, now comes the fun part of today! Starting tomorrow, Confessions of a Word Addict will be celebrating its one year anniversary for the whole month of May! I will be posting the rules for not one, but two contests for the month tomorrow, May 1st. Each has a prize of a $25 Amazon giftcard.

I'm super excited that the blog has reached its first year! It's been a really cool, amazing journey so far. I cannot wait to see what books and adventures the future holds for the blog and you, my awesome readers!

Until next time,
Kay B

Monday, April 28, 2014

Dying for Murder: A Cordi O'Callaghan Mystery by Suzanne F. Kingsmill


Release Date: June 3, 2014
Publisher: Dundurn
Series: A Cordi O'Callaghan Mystery (Book 3)

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Zoologist Cordi O'Callaghan is at it again, tracking a murderer on her own turf - a biology research station on a barrier island off the eastern coast of the United States. Having traveled to the station to record some birdsong for her latest zoological studies, Cordi finds herself in the midst of a nightmare when the director of the station is found dead. Meanwhile, a hurricane is raging on the coast, stranding all the researchers on the island.

Cordi sets out to investigate the troubling circumstances of the death, and while doing so gets a crash course on the life habits of bats, sea turtles, and rattlesnakes - not to mention how to survive a murderer's wrath. But she never sees the surprising solution to the mystery until she nearly dies solving it.


Review:
Granted permission to read an advance copy through NetGalley, I was introduced to the Cordi O'Callaghan series. The author does an excellent job of creating a series out of the books and yet keeps the stories as stand-alone books as well. The events of the prior books are alluded to throughout the book but they're not necessary to read in order to enjoy this particular book.

From the beginning it is apparent that the main character is a forced to be reckoned with as she chases down a would-be car thief in order to obtain her research material. The reader is then reintroduced to Cordi and her core group of friends as well as their occupations within the scientific community. What should have been an easy, enjoy answer to her dilemma comes around to bite her in the bum - big time.

Quite suddenly the small cast of characters expands to include a whole host of other scientists and researchers as a research facility off the eastern coast of the United States. Cordi hopes to find replacement data and lands smack dab in the middle of a turf war between the islanders and the scientists. Making matters worse, there's a level of animosity between the scientists themselves that puts Cordi and her small cast of supporters on edge.

Though there are a lot of characters and motives to keep straight, the author does a brilliant job of weaving together past and current transgressions as the fingers are pointed at possible suspects. When the reader feels that he or she has a handle on the case, another clue is dropped into their lap. Everything learned to that point is questioned. Nearly everyone on the island is a suspect - with good reasons.

I truly enjoyed the various lines of investigation and felt the author did a wonderful job of including the reader into the research fold. The science parts were explained in layman's terms though felt less overwhelming or preachy. It was more of a teaching type of feeling that I felt as I read what the many scientists did and their explanations for certain actions. Speaking of action, once the pace began to pick up, there was no stopping until the very last page of the book. Ups and downs, twists and turns - all were present in this story.

Overall, the book was a fairly quick and thoroughly enjoyable read. The characters definitely had their quirks which paid off toward the end of the book. If you are looking for mystery-filled thrill read with a surprise ending, this book needs to be on your TBR list.

Dying for Murder: A Cordi O'Callaghan Mystery by Suzanne F. Kingsmill is available for purchase in paperback form. By clicking the link below, you can purchase your copy from Amazon.
Dying for Murder: A Cordi O'Callaghan Mystery by Suzanne F. Kingsmill

Friday, April 25, 2014

The Reaver: The Sundering, Book IV by Richard Lee Byers


Release Date: February 4, 2014
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast
Series: The Sundering, Book IV

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Anton Marivaldi was a reaper of dubious reputation. Stedd Whitestone was a boy of a faith for a long dead god. When Anton was dispatched to find and abduct the boy, he never imagined that the mission would be one to change his life. Thrown together in the worst of moments, the two scrambled to find a way to fulfill Stedd's mission while staying alive.

The Chosen of the Sea Goddess also wanted Stedd for his own purposes. When he failed to recover the boy after a few futile attempts, Evendur had no choice but to do as his goddess commanded. His companions and followers prepared to wage war on the towns which could be helped the most by Stedd. Will the boy survive to fulfill his mission? Or will the darkness win again?


Review:
Thanks to NetGalley, I've been able to enjoy the series of books in The Sundering series offered by the publisher, Wizards of the Coast. Being the fourth book in the series, I had a lot of questions and a few expectations. All the previous books were packed with action, adventure and prophecy. This book was a perfect addition to the series because all those things and more were written in its pages. In the opening chapter, Anton Marivaldi battled his way through a village in order to apprehend Stedd Whitestone for the highest bidder. Unfortunately for Anton, Lathandar had bigger and better plans for his Chosen.

Not only were there plenty of fighting between those protecting Stedd and those wanting him for darker purposes, but other gods were after the poor boy as well. Pirates, demi-gods, elves, vampires and so man more are swept up in the battle of light and dark. There were several points in the book where those who started as bad guys became good and the good guys betrayed their own. Without giving a lot of the surprises away, I will say that the characters were complicated and yet I was able to connect with them. Their inner battles often mirrored the ones waged upon the seas or land to achieve their goal.

Because this was the fourth book in the series, I kept my eyes open for any threads tying the books together. I was happy to find word of previous deeds reaching the lands featured in this book. I also noticed that the previous books had an underlying elemental theme to them. Earth, Air, Fire and now Water for book #4. Since these were covered, I'm wondering what the next two books in the series will revolve around. Legends and myths played a huge part of the previous books. It was the same for this one as well. With each book, the day of Judgement grows closer and I'm worried about these characters we're come to know.

All throughout the book the action kept a steady pace. There were moments of reflection and pondering about the next step each of the characters needed to take. For the most part, a sense of urgency came through the pages as the characters moved into position for the final battle. Not just the characters within The Reaver, but many characters from the previous books were mentioned as well. I'm excited to see how it all comes together in the end and how the Morninglord is going to reclaim his proper place.

Overall, the book was a great read. I found there to be as many touching moments between the characters as there were battle scenes. With the way things are shaping up, the final two books of the series look to be an exciting, well-informed thrill ride. If you love action, adventure and heart, this book is definitely one that you should pick up (and the rest of the series as well).

The Reaver: The Sundering, Book IV by Richard Lee Byers is currently available for purchase at many retailers. You can choose between hardcover, paperback and Kindle formats. Click the link below to purchase from Amazon.
The Reaver: The Sundering, Book IV by Richard Lee Byers

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Currently Reading

We're getting closer to the end of April. Days are warmer. Nights are still cool enough to warrant using my fleece blankets, but still good for cuddling. It makes me happy to be reading and creating again. I have felt the craving to do something creative for quite a long while now. Since most of my health issues are starting to even themselves out, my time can be spent doing things instead of sleeping and healing.

I'm slowly resuming my stride when it comes to reading/reviewing and my other projects. Being able to complete one book last week is a big step in the right direction. Of course, I've also added a few more books to the TBR pile but hey, I have always said that it was a never-ending goal. Besides, I don't believe I'll ever read all the books in existence. I'm going to keep trying though.


On the top of the TBR are;
The Saeshell Book of Time, Part 1: The Death of Innocents (Children of Sophista #1) by Rusty Biesele
Jackfish Reborn by Rejean Giguere
Hush by Stacey S. Campbell
The Terminal Spark by Michael F. Stewart
The Here and Now by Ann Brashares


I've knocked off the following;
The Reaver: The Sundering, Book IV by Richard Lee Byers


Next week, I'll have a brief message about the upcoming contests. There will be a complete rundown of the rules on May 1st, so be sure to keep an eye out. I'm really excited for my one year anniversary as this is something that I love doing. Hope everyone has a wonderful week.

Until next time,
Kay B

Monday, April 21, 2014

Fire-Heart (Tales of Alterra, The World That Is #2) by C.S. Marks


Release Date: October 16, 2013
Publisher: Parthian Press
Series: Tales of Alterra, The World That Is, Book 2

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Not long after the battle, the Elfhunter went into darkness in order to heal, but vowed that he would one day enact vengeance upon the one who hurt him most - Gaelen of the Greatwood. The Company found themselves upon a different path filled with trepidation and new adversities as they follow Rogond in his quest to find more information about his past. The quest sent them into the far southern regions of Alterra, where the land itself can be an enemy.

Vast areas of dry sand, little or no greenery for miles, and a culture that places restrictions on freedoms people enjoy, Gaelen and her fellow Elves were hard-pressed to find joy in their latest venture. Adversity came in the guise of friendship and the group found themselves betrayed, not once, but twice as they continued their southern course. In the midst of arduous travel, unexpected trials and an impossible battle, an old evil trailed behind them and was determined to put right the many wrongs committed. Will The Company survive, much less find the information they seek?

Review:
Having completed the first book in the Alterra series, I was worried for the cast of characters which make up The Company. It wasn't a difficult decision to purchase this book in order to find out what happened since the great battle between the Elfhunter and the army of elves who call the Greatwood home. As with the first book, there was a core group of characters and many of them were introduced in the first book. Yet, this book did a wonderful job of reintroducing those familiar characters without dumping a lot of information into the story at hand. Though this book is the second within the series, the story within helped the book stand on its own so that you needn't have read the first to enjoy it. I would recommend reading the first one as it was a really good read as well.

The story built upon much of what occurred in the previous one but went a different direction than I expected. I was fully prepared for Gaelen and her merry band of companions to pick up the hunt for the Elfhunter in order to end the sense of doom hanging over them. I felt surprised when the story took the group on a quest centered around Rogond and his thirst for knowledge of his family. This quest led them to a region of the world of Alterra that I didn't know existed. It was exciting to experience the new realm alongside the elves who had never been out of the northern lands either. There were many things in the southern lands that the reader may recognize in the world today. I thought it was an interesting twist to combine the real world with Alterra, bringing more life to the world and the characters themselves by doing so.

Action took a little while to get into, but stayed steady until the very last word. There was a steady build-up of excitement as one thing after another befell The Company. Much of the trouble they experienced was forced upon them instead of the usual bringing it upon themselves. For me, this made some of what happened hard to read and at a couple of points, I really had to muster through. My perseverance paid off when the climax of the book happened and much of the resolution gladdened my heart. I say much because there was a door left open that left me wanting more. I will find the answers!

There's so much going on in this book that it was hard to review without giving a lot away. However, I very much enjoyed this book. It was a great continuation of events that took place within Elfhunter, the first book of the series, but it stood on its own two pages as well. Seeing familiar faces and meeting new ones that played important roles helped to give the book an engaging atmosphere. I feel like many of them are my old friends by now, including the horses which never failed to make me laugh with their antics. They were very much part of the story in both of the books. If you love a good, action-packed, fantasy tale with various species and unexplored lands, I'd say this is the book for you.

Fire-Heart (Tales of Alterra, The World That Is #2) by C.S. Marks is currently available at many online retailers. It can be purchased in either paperback or Kindle versions. Click the link below to buy a copy from Amazon.
Fire-Heart (Tales of Alterra, The World That Is #2) by C.S. Marks

Friday, April 18, 2014

Fractal Standard Time (Chronopticus Chronicles #1) by Michael Galloway


Release Date: August 2013
Publisher: Candlepower Publishing House
Series: Chronopticus Chronicles, Book 1

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Inspired by a childhood experience, Steven Entner puts everything on the line in order to lay the groundwork for a thriving, sustainable colony on Mars. Through his own life's work and that of his descendents, far-reaching and important advances are made in technology. It allows for the first of many settlements to be built upon Martian soil.

But with unrestrained progress brings its own set of consequences. The inhabitants of the settlements have long forgotten what Earth felt, looked, tasted and smelled like. Can they beat back the power of the machines in order to keep their Eden on Mars? Will they succumb to the thirst of more power?

Review:
I won this book from a free giveaway at GoodReads. Despite the thinness of the book, the pages were filled with lots of information and key situations or clues that were easily missed if one skimmed over the story. I found myself going back a paragraph or two in order to find the piece I'd missed while moving too fast within the story. There wasn't a lot of deep technological discussion within the book, but there was enough to explain the theories or procedures for the layperson. I was grateful that the author used the characters, as well as the story itself, to explain them.

Each of the chapters were akin to short stories and contained a branch of the main character's family within them. Beginning with Steven Entner as a child, we're shown his first experience with the possibility of traveling from Earth and the rise of his desire to do that very thing. Over the course of the book, the decisions he made directly affected the outcome of the next chapter. This was repeated with Steven's descendents in the chapters that followed. Many of the characters, both main and supporting, were fleshed out and felt real to me because of their doubts, questions, and actions.

Because a majority of the story took place on Mars, I can't say that I was able to feel an attachment to the surroundings. However, the author did a great job creating a vision of what we might expect from the red planet. Whether it was a home, a workplace or deep in the Martian mines, it was easy to imagine what the inhabitants faced. I think the choice of placing most of the action on Mars also helped to keep the story moving at a steady, even pace throughout the book. Once the story unfolded, there was no stopping until the last page.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and what might happen to us should we get ahead of ourselves in terms of technology and lose our humanity. Only a couple of things kept this from being rated higher. First, I found many places that could use some editing. Not only were there missing punctuation, but the author used "and" to connect things instead of finding a smoother transition. Secondly, I was confused on the timing in the book while the people were still on Earth. I knew time would be affected on Mars. In the end of one chapter, it was implied that Steven's son was young. Only a couple of years later, he acted like a teen. Two more years later, he was leading a crew onto Mars. I got the feeling he was more of a young man in his 20s from that chapter. It was all a bit confusing. Otherwise, I really liked the ideas brought forth by the story as well as the what-if questions it presented.

Fractal Standard Time (Chronopticus Chronicles #1) by Michael Galloway is currently available for purchase at many online retailers and the author's site ( http://www.michaelgalloway.net/ ). You can purchase a copy in either Kindle or paperback format. Click the link below to get your copy from Amazon or the above link for either format.
Fractal Standard Time (Chronopticus Chronicles #1) by Michael Galloway

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Currently Reading

Okay, I'll be honest. During the months that I've been ill, I lost the thirst for reading. I have still been reading, but not at the amount that I once had. I fell behind in a lot of projects. Trying to catch up on all of them at one time has finally proven to be a bad thing. I'm not getting anything accomplished other than small bits here and there. Unfortunately, I have some self-imposed deadlines coming up very soon. I have to find a way to concentrate on one or two things at a time instead of ten.

So, I'm dusting myself off and starting anew. I do have two projects going on that I can work on slowly. My reading will pick up as I plan to start from the top of my list and work my way down. I am determined to meet my deadlines. I'm setting aside my small writing projects until I have whittled down the TBR list - especially for those who have been waiting a long while for reviews.


In the next week, I'm working on;
The Saeshell Book of Time, Part 1: The Death of Innocents (Children of Sophista #1) by Rusty Biesele
The Reaver: The Sundering, Book IV by Richard Lee Byers
Jackfish Reborn by Rejean Giguere
Hush by Stacey S. Campbell



Last week, I've finished reading;
None


Now, we're creeping closer to May. Soon, the giveaways will begin. Hope you all have a wonderful, productive and safe week.

Until next time,
Kay B

Monday, April 14, 2014

Doctor Sleep (The Shining #2) by Stephen King


Release Date: September 24, 2013
Publisher: Scribner
Series: The Shining series, Book 2

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Dan Torrance witnessed many horrors as a child, but the worst took place at the Overlook Hotel. The memories and ghosts from that traumatic experience haunted Dan throughout his adolescence.Though his closest friend, Doc, taught him how to cope with some of the monsters, there were many left which drove him straight into becoming an alcoholic. After reaching his "rock bottom," Dan found himself in a small town where he battled his demons and came to terms with some of his past.

A young girl with an impressive "shining" stumbled into Dan's life and into the path of the True Knot, a group of wanderers who seek out those children with the shine and take it from them. Dan did his best to pass down the knowledge given to him by Doc, but when her own life was threatened by the True Knot members, Dan must face down everything from his past in order to keep her and others like her safe.

Review:
Books by Stephen King were among the first books I ever read on my own and will continue to find places upon my shelves. Many of his books are among those I consider my favorites. This book was definitely a treat to read. Not only did it answer many of the questions surrounding the fate of Danny and his mom after the events of The Shining, but it also maintained its own edge and relation to the current generation while visiting the past.

It was a bit difficult to get close to a few of the characters in this book. Some were written with sharp edges like many of the True Knot members. Others were decent people in the core of their being but had made so many bad decisions that the consequences wrapped around them like a thick, prickly skin of sorts. Most of the time, I was rooting for Dan despite the erratic behavior and the dumb decisions. Over the course of the novel, he proved time and time again that he was much more than a guy with a little something extra.

I think a lot of the True Knot members were interesting as well. There's no telling what they would have been if their natures hadn't been destroyed by their "turning" and assimilation into the wandering gang. Many of the members had unique gifts of their own. Rose was the most powerful and possessed many gifts including telepathy, locating others with her mind, invading a person's mind and charming others into doing what she wanted. Snakebite Andi was able to put people into a deep sleep whenever she wanted. Like a traveling carnival of horror, they possessed nicknames and gifts to suit their needs.

For much of the book, there was the typical back and forth between characters in different locations that I've come to expect with King's work. Within one chapter, there might be four or five mini-chapters and the actions of the characters in one affecting the characters in another. It was a little confusing during the middle of the book when there was a lot going on both with the characters and in the world itself. But things became much clearer as the story continued to unfold. The action and steady pace of the novel kept me turning the pages even when I needed to stop!

Overall, this was a really good book. It held many answers for lingering questions as well as new questions for the future generation to answer. I truly hope that we might see one more appearance from Dan Torrance before it's all said and done. If you love a story that's a little more out there than usual or filled with weirdness one expects of Stephen King, don't hesitate to pick up a copy of this book.

Doctor Sleep (The Shining #2) by Stephen King is currently available for purchase at many retailers, both in-store and online. It can be purchased in a variety of formats including hardcover, paperback and Kindle. Click the link below to visit the book's page at Amazon.
Doctor Sleep (The Shining #2) by Stephen King

Sunday, April 13, 2014

April's Hopes and Dreams

Once again we have transitional weather. It's not hot enough to warrant using the air conditioner, yet not cold enough to keep the furnace working. Extra blankets heaped upon my bed keep me comfortable during the dips in temperature and a fan to keep the air circulating. All the joys of moving from winter into spring!

Despite the ups and downs in weather or the allergies, spring means a better chance of getting many things crossed off my to-do list. I fell behind on a lot of projects while fighting two bouts of the flu and colds galore. I hope to get caught up in several areas including reading/reviewing, my community project and a few secret craft projects.

I had to set aside my editing on NaNo12 for a while. It was frustrating me because I noticed many scenes that weren't exactly how I pictured them in my mind as I wrote them. My attempts to correct them weren't helping at all. Before I threw the whole thing away, I put it aside. After a few months of working on a few short stories and a couple of poems, I felt ready to pick NaNo12 back up.

The biggest of all news is the upcoming one year anniversary of CoWA! I've been mentioning a couple of giveaways. The prizes of those will be a $25 Amazon giftcard! More information and rules will come in the last Currently Reading post of this month (last Wednesday of the month). I might have a couple of other things up my sleeve but you'll have to wait and see.

Okay, back to work! Wishing all of you a wonderful month full of progress, positivity and fun times.
Until next time,
Kay B

Friday, April 11, 2014

Cold Mourning: A Stonechild and Rouleau Mystery by Brenda Chapman


Release Date: March 1, 2014
Publisher: Dundurn
Series: Stonechild and Rouleau Mystery, Book I

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Kala Stonechild accepted the new position within the specialized Ottawa crime unit because she needed a change of pace from her life up north. Besides being the new recruit, she was the only woman and aboriginal on the force, drawing snickers and hushed remarks along the way. Determined to prove her worth, she buckled down when the unit was handed a murder case involving one of the city's rich and more prominent businessmen.

Her boss, Jacques Rouleau has his own personal struggles that he pushed to the side in order to keep the unit running as long as he can. With Stonechild's help, the cases on their docket took an interesting turn and left them with more questions than answers. Will they be able to pinpoint the killer before it's too late?

Review:
I was granted permission to read a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for a honest, fair review. The book began with a terrifying image, a parent's worst nightmare. I thought for a moment that I was reading the wrong book, but forced myself to keep going. That preliminary chapter, though horrible, played a role later in the story and was actually a really interesting plot twist to the entire story.

As a reader, I rode along with Kala Stonechild as she made her transition from working in a small time police department in Northern Canada to the faster-paced, larger Ottawa police department. Not everyone in the unit is as welcoming as one would expect, but it became clear that their small unit was much like a family in many ways. I enjoyed how the author allowed us to peek into the characters' lives without dumping a lot of information on us all at once. I believe that helped me to empathize with a couple of the characters and the massively hard decisions they were forced to make.

There was plenty of action throughout the entire novel. From the first page, the pace was steady. Time was given to allow the reader to absorb all the details and small clues sprinkled throughout the pages, but there were so many possibilities. Even I had trouble trying to pinpoint exactly who I thought was the killer because there were always two people who fit at any one time - even after new details emerged! In the end I was only half right about the ending. Truthfully, it was a little refreshing not to have it all figured out by the middle of the book.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The many suspects, the layers of secrets and the other cases being investigated at the same time made for a quick, entertaining and engaging read. I'm glad to see that this is set as the first book of a possible series. I'd love to see what else Stonechild and Rouleau get themselves into. If you're looking for a book to keep you up late into the night as you try to weave through the webs of lies, deceits and betrayals of the rich, this is the book to help you along the way.

Cold Mourning: A Stonechild and Rouleau Mystery by Brenda Chapman is currently available at many online retailers in either paperback or Kindle formats. You can order a copy from Amazon by clicking the link provided below.
Cold Mourning: A Stonechild and Rouleau Mystery by Brenda Chapman

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Currently Reading

Another week, another sinus infection. I am beginning to really dislike transitional weather periods. I'm trying my best to read whenever my medications don't put me to sleep. However, that means I wasn't able to finish a book this week. Between this and trying to finish my other projects, I've been spread a little thin. Let's focus on finishing over the next seven days.

The only good point in the week is the continuation of editing NaNo2012. I'm nearly at the halfway mark. It is clear that I need to do a bit of expanding in a few scenes and give a couple of characters more of a reason to do the things they plan. Otherwise, the story's flow will be choppy. I'd rather not have that if I can help it. Here's hoping for a few more chapters done this week as well!


Working on these this week;
The Saeshell Book of Time, Part 1: The Death of Innocents (Children of Sophista #1) by Rusty Biesele
The Reaver: The Sundering, Book IV by Richard Lee Byers
Jackfish Reborn by Rejean Giguere
Hush by Stacey S. Campbell


Worrying me no more are;
None.


Still planning my giveaways for next month. Be watching for the last Currently Reading post of this month. It will have all the details for the the two giveaways. Might even be a third if all the pieces fall into place. I sincerely hope your week is a great one.

Until next time,
Kay B

Monday, April 7, 2014

The Adversary: The Sundering, Book III by Erin M. Evans


Release Date: December 3, 2013
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast
Series: The Sundering, Book III

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Farideh had one mission in life - keep her twin, Havilar, safe from whatever life threw their way. Of course, this included making pacts with devils and working for a wizard who was trying to discover a way to single out the Chosen among ordinary folk. No matter how rough or narrow the path became, Farideh walked further down to ensure Havi's safety. She'd walk straight into the Hells if necessary.

After disappearing for a number of years per one of her pacts, Farideh found herself in the middle of a much larger scheme between devils that could cost her way more than her simple soul. As her family and friends rally to rescue her, a sudden turn of events launched them all into a battle where the lines separating good and bad were blurred. Can she continue to protect her sister without damning herself? Will she be able to stop the madness of a wizard once the full truth is revealed?

Review:
Book III of the six-part Sundering arc began with a bang - literally and in several ways. Within the first couple of chapters, the main characters are introduced and immediately thrown into action. The story captured my attention quickly with the early action and the use of twins as the main characters. It was interesting to see the strength of the bonds between Farideh and Havilar as well as the affects of those bonds in both positive and negative manners.

As with the previous two books of the Sundering arc, the events of this book were able to affect the world of Toril while examining the current happenings contained within one part of the world. While the story stood well on its own, there were several noticeable threads connecting it to the other novels in the series. Nearing the end of this book, I wondered exactly how the entire arc was going to end and whether any of the characters I've met along the way would survive. I must admit, I felt close to the characters in this book because the author did a wonderful job in creating in-depth characters with the capacity to make mistakes, seek redemption and change their paths as we often do in real life.

There were quite a few fight scenes, each with some brilliant moves made by the characters involved. While I enjoyed the energy and story movement they provided, I really found the lingering consequences of the scenes more important to the overall story. It was in the precious seconds during the fighting that snap decisions were made. Often they led to repercussions with devastating results. However, the unique mix kept me turning pages to find out what else was in store for everyone! And yes, there were a number of moments when my heart broke. I felt especially bad for Farideh because she continually tried to do the right thing and yet it kept turning out wrong. I began to believe she was being haunted by Murphy's Law!

All in all, I really liked this book and I was glad that my request to view it at NetGalley had been granted. It held a bunch of surprises throughout the story and not only in the usual places. I was swept up in Farideh and Havilar's world, coming to think of them both as long-lost friends. I can't wait to find out what will happen in their next set of adventures. There were quite a few open doors in the story that I'm interested in searching as well. If you love action, fantasy and some good-natured sibling rivalry tiefling-style, then you must put this book on your TBR list!

The Adversary: The Sundering, Book III by Erin M. Evans is currently available at many retailers in hardcover, mass market paperback and Kindle formats. You can click the link below to purchase a copy of your own at Amazon.
The Adversary: The Sundering, Book III by Erin M. Evans

Friday, April 4, 2014

Bonyo Bonyo: The True Story of a Brave Boy from Kenya by Vanita Oelschlager


Release Date: April 1, 2010
Publisher: Vanita Books
Illustrators: Kristin Blackwood, Mike Blanc

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Bonyo Bonyo was born into a small village in the land of Kenya. As poor as his family was, Bonyo still had a happy childhood with the other children in the village. When tragedy strikes his family, Bonyo was determined to go to school in order to become a doctor. He wanted to help others.

He began on the road toward his goal only to discover that his parents weren't able to pay for his education. With the kindness of strangers and a courage from deep within, Bonyo makes the dangerous trek miles away to attend school in a neighboring village. But is it enough to achieve his dream of becoming a doctor? Will he be able to help those in his village and beyond?

Review:
Because I'm a sucker for true stories, I requested this book from NetGalley. I was able to read through it very quickly as it's a fairly short book. The book was geared toward children, specifically those eight years-old and younger. That didn't stop me from enjoying the inspirational message of the Bonyo's story. I would encourage sharing the message of hard work and determination with everyone and especially children.

Since the book presented the life of Bonyo to the reader, it was told from his point of view. His childhood and family life were spoken of as well the catalyst for his desire to become a doctor. I felt sad that Bonyo had to go through so much in order to go to school. The truth of how little they had hit me and I realized just how lucky many children in thriving First World countries were. As the story progressed, the underlying messages of perseverance and determination shown through the passages.

The story was told in such a way that children would be able to understand and yet kept true to the essence of the overall story. Both good and bad days were shown as well how Bonyo decided to handle the situations. I thought the illustrations were beautifully drawn and on point with the story. Each turn of the page revealed another fantastic illustration to emphasize the point the author was trying to convey. So many colors, bright and dark, could easily capture the child's attention and allow the words to sink into their minds.

Overall, the story's message is one of hope, determination and the courage to chase after one's dreams. I think everyone needs a reminder of that now and again - especially adults. Though book is geared toward children, I honestly enjoyed its simplicity and the message that hard work pays off in the end. If you're looking for a wonderful teaching tool that is a fabulous story as well, I would recommend you add this book to your child's collection or even to your own collection. 

Bonyo Bonyo: The True Story of a Brave Boy from Kenya by Vanita Oelschlager is available at many retaliers including Amazon. You can purchase a copy in hardcover, paperback or Kindle forms. Clicking the link below will take you to the book's Amazon page.
Bonyo Bonyo: The True Story of a Brave Boy from Kenya by Vanita Oelschlager

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Currently Reading

Another month begins. Another season takes hold. Now that it's April, the weather should stay on the warm side. Knowing this region, however, I believe we may get a surprise cold snap a time or two before Winter officially leaves the building. It's this transitional period where it's not hot enough to warrant using the air conditioners but not cold enough to use the heat any longer. Time to pile on the blankets, just in case.

I've been battling various illnesses for the better part of the last three months. For whatever reason, my system has decided to host any sinus, flu or cold bug that came to visit and offered hospitality for an extended stay. Finally feeling more like myself, I'm hoping to push through the tired feeling in order to get caught up on a number of things - especially reading. My goal for the year is 120 and so far, I'm behind by 5 books. Time to kick it into high gear!


I've got my eyes on these books;
The Saeshell Book of Time, Part 1: The Death of Innocents (Children of Sophista #1) by Rusty Biesele
The Reaver: The Sundering, Book IV by Richard Lee Byers
Jackfish Reborn by Rejean Giguere


No longer on the list;
Fractal Standard Time (Chronopticus Chronicles #1) by Michael Galloway
Fire-Heart (Tales of Alterra, The World That Is #2) by C.S. Marks


There are some exciting things coming for the blog. May brings the one year anniversary and I'm planning to do at least two giveaways. So you'll have come back often to find out how to enter and what's up for grabs. In the meantime, I wish you pleasant days and nights filled with many wordy delights. Do you have a favorite season? If so, which one is it and why? Let me know in the comments.

Until next time,
Kay B