Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Currently Reading

My hopes to devour some lovely books this past week were dashed by so many things. I feel lucky to have gotten the few hours of reading in between all the other things going on last week. While my reading may have suffered, I was able to do a lot of writing on some short stories and a bit of editing done on NaNo2012. The other projects are sitting here, staring at me with evil intent and longing in their eyes. They don't think I see it, but I do.

Of course, the weather's been a big factor in things getting done around here. We've had some hot, humid and stormy weather. Some days it's too much to sit and read in a room without air conditioning. Rain, thunder and lightning have all conspired to keep me from working a lot, especially when the power goes out. That's why I love my printed books. I read anything in print or e-book format. No electricity means no e-books after a while!


This week I'm reading;
The Saeshell Book of Time, Part 1: The Death of Innocents (Children of Sophista #1) by Rusty Biesele
Jackfish Reborn by Rejean Giguere
Bones of My Brother by L. Frank Dunkin
Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
The Sentinel: The Sundering, Book V by Troy Denning


I've been able to finish the following;
Wool (Silo #1a) by Hugh Howey


Unfortunately, there is a family situation here which requires some of my devoted attention. Combining that with the Independence Day holiday coming up and it's just time to take a vacation. I will not be posting until next Wednesday in order to get things in order here. Sometimes life reorganizes itself when you think you've got it all figured out.

Until next time,
Kay B

Monday, June 23, 2014

Acting My Face: A Memoir by Anthony James


Release Date: March 14, 2014
Publisher: University Press of Mississippi

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
After retiring from acting in 1994, Anthony James toyed with the idea of writing a memoir and finally set pen to paper in this unusual, revealing book. It spans his life from before his career began in 1967 with a part in the movie, "In the Heat of the Night" and ended nearly three decades later. He gives the reader glimpses into his thoughts, dreams and worries during the entire length of his career as well as the life he lead after acting.

Filled with memories and anecdotes, Anthony James introduces his mother to the world and shares the knowledge, love and strength that she imparted to him throughout his life. The memoir reveals much about the kind, gentle person behind some of film and television's most psychotic and insane characters. Come and enjoy the world of Hollywood through his eyes.

Review:
Looking for something out of my mystery/thriller box, I stumbled across this offering at NetGalley. Nonfiction has always been a second favorite of mine, no matter what subject it covered. Now I must admit, I have seen many of the films and television shows in which Mr. James has appeared. I shared those times with beloved family members. Now they're precious memories for me. From the outset of the memoir, it was clear that the book wasn't going to cover the acting career alone.

The memoir covered not only Anthony's life but the life of his mother as well. Both their lives were so intertwined from his birth, it wasn't unexpected to see her beginning included in the book. The story of their lives was more of a rich to rags to rich type of story. Marika, his mother, met his father, George, in Greece when she was a young girl. George waited for more than a decade for her family to give their blessing for them to marry. After their marriage was complete, he whisked her away to South Carolina and showered her with all that being a successful businessman could offer. The addition of James a few years later helped to complete the picture until George's untimely death. Years after being left penniless and without security, both James and his mother took a gamble on his dream to become an actor and moved to Los Angeles in order to make it happen.

Filled with stories from both the happy and sad ends of the spectrum, this memoir gave me a glimpse into how Hollywood worked through Anthony's eyes. It was a quick read, peppered with his experiences with all types of celebrities whether on-set or off. Honestly, this memoir was refreshing for a couple of reasons. It wasn't a scandalous, tell-all filled with tabloid fodder. The pages were filled with his honest reflections and experiences while maintaining a level of positivity. His approach to telling his story was also very easy to relate to, even if the reader wasn't a fellow actor. A blue-collar, hardworking mentality helped him to achieve his dreams in each avenue of art that he chose to pursue including film, television and paintings.

Overall, I truly enjoyed this memoir because it was different than some of the other celebrity memoirs I read in the past. It was nice to have him start off the book by saying that he respected the people in his personal life enough to not include the details of their relationships with him. The tone of the memoir never strayed from that standard, even when it covered instances where he believed that he failed others or himself. Peeking behind the curtain of Hollywood and seeing hints of life backstage was a true treat for me. If you're a lover of memoir or simply enjoy an authentic true life story, this book is one that you must put on your TBR list.

Acting My Face: A Memoir by Anthony James is currently available at all online retailers and local bookstores. It can be purchased in either hardcover or Kindle versions. Below is a link to the book's page at Amazon.
Acting My Face: A Memoir by Anthony James

Friday, June 20, 2014

The Butcher by Jennifer Hillier


Release Date: July 15, 2014
Publisher: Gallery Books

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
The Beacon Hill Butcher terrorized the Seattle area for decades until the Chief of Police, Edward Shank, confronted and killed Rufus Wedge back in the 1980s. It seemed the city released a collective sigh of relief. But even deeply buried secrets find a way to come back to the surface. The next generation usually pays the price for what others do before them.

Matt, grandson of Edward, is a talented chef with a meteoric career and caring girlfriend, Sam. In the middle of their personal struggles, both find out answers to long-held questions and it twists the way in which each of them view life. Combine that with new and disturbing murders taking place in their own backyard, each finds their homes aren't as safe as they first thought. Will they be able to keep their relationship intact? What kind of peace will the answers bring?


Review:
This book was one of three previews that NetGalley sent my way in their mystery newsletter. Let me preface this review by saying that it is NOT your typical murder mystery or thriller. The action began in the first chapter and let the reader know right away what was going to be happening. I admit that I scratched my head a little in the beginning chapters because I wasn't expecting so many bombshells in the first five chapters. With that kind of reveal, I was worried about the rest of the book and whether it was worth finishing.

Some of the characters were truly fleshed out. I will warn you. When two of the characters say they are "dicks," they truly mean that they are jerks on the extreme end of the spectrum. They are the living example of the definition of jerk and then some. In addition to these guys, there are a couple "positive" characters who aren't as bad, but they also have some faults. It's these small flaws that made them a bit more believable to me. The only thing that bothered me was the amount of coincidences within this book. So many threads tied a few of these characters together. I'm not sure if the author intended them to be this tightly woven together or if the story naturally took that turn and didn't look back.

The story did start off with a bang. Literally. From there, the pace was more of a roller coaster. Some chapters were a breeze to read through due to the action or conversations taking place. Others seemed to drag the story along. At one point I was struggling to get through a couple of the early chapters because it felt like the characters were being forced into a situation they might have ended up in later. There were some very good chapters that I didn't want to end and kept the story moving toward the climax.

All in all, I did enjoy the story despite the many coincidences and sometimes slow-moving pace. The author gave an unique approach to the story. That did help me keep reading whenever I began to struggle. She laid out an evil killer and what havoc he wreaked on those around him had repercussions for generations beyond his. And truthfully, that ended was a good one. No, I won't spoil it. However, if you're looking for a bit of a different take on the murder/thriller genre, this book would be a great place to start.

The Butcher by Jennifer Hillier will be available at many online retailers on July 15, 2014. You can pre-order a copy in harcover, Kindle or audio-book editions. Clicking the link below will take you to the book's Amazon page.
The Butcher by Jennifer Hillier

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Currently Reading

And another week bites the dust!

Sorry. Queen moment there. It's settling into to summer heat in my part of the woods. Of course, it means more excuses to stay indoors and read. I may not get to do that as much as I'd like, but don't you think it's a great plan to have. Just in case, of course!

Looks like I've been able to kick most of those sinus troubles out the door. I have been able to work through a couple of books this past week and make great strides in the several projects I have going on as well. It definitely feels good to be back in the command seat of things instead of playing fourth in command. Hope this next week brings more progress!


I'm set to work through these;
The Saeshell Book of Time, Part 1: The Death of Innocents (Children of Sophista #1) by Rusty Biesele
Jackfish Reborn by Rejean Giguere
Bones of My Brother by L. Frank Dunkin



Yay! Finished the following;
The Butcher by Jennifer Hillier
Acting My Face by Anthony James


With summer vacations well under way here, I hope each and everyone of  you have a great time making some wonderful memories. Of course, I'm always wondering so I'll go ahead and ask anyway. What's on your summer reading list this year?

Until next time,
Kay B

Monday, June 16, 2014

Off the Kuf Volume 1: Short Fiction from the Kindle Users Forum (Off the KUF #1)by Various Authors, David Wailing (Editor)


Release Date: February 11, 2013
Publisher: Kuf Publishing
Series: Off the Kuf, Book #1
Editor: David Wailing

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Bringing together several genres of fiction, this collection also covers a range of subjects. Length of the stories vary from drabbles (stories containing 100 words) to several pages, readers are sure to find something within this volume to enjoy. Romance, mystery, adventure - this collection of short stories has it all!

Edited by David Wailing, the first volume in the series brings together established and debut authors alike. Over 30 well-written stories by 25 different authors fill the pages of this collection. Each volume of fiction is brought to the readers by the Kindle Users Forum, or KUF ( www.kuforum.co.uk ), and proceeds from the ebook sales help maintain the forums. Come on in and enjoy the fiction!

Review:
I became aware of the Kindle Users Forum through a blog post by David Wailing on his Goodreads page some time in early 2013. When the opportunity for the collection went out, the response was so overwhelming that three volumes of stories were produced for the forums. In the interest of honesty, I was among the many authors to send something in and was accepted. My story was published in Volume 2, which I will review all other stories excluding mine.

When the description stated that there was something for everyone in its pages, it wasn't lying! There were stories of romance, adventure, mystery, afterlife situations and so much more. Some of the stories covered serious subjects while others were filled with humor. I had never heard of "drabbles" before so reading them in this collection was a new experience. For those who also haven't heard of them, drabbles are stories of exactly 100 words. How in the world an author can fit a full story into that small amount of words, I'll never know because I haven't been able to do it. Yet, these drabbles were as entertaining as the longer pieces of fiction.

I really enjoyed each of the stories for different reasons. I laughed out loud with "The Glass Eye Caper" and "Cerberus" before being swept away by the events in "An Installment from My Life." So many more simply made me smile and kept me turning the pages long past my bedtime. There were many authors unknown to me in this collection and some are now on my watch list. As I mentioned above, there were 25 different authors for this collection alone.They are (in alphabetical order): H.K. Abell, Andrew Barrett, Helena Hann-Basquiat, Jessica B. Bell, Nigel Bird, Michael Brookes, Anna Faversham, George Hamilton, John Gregory Hancock, Jennifer Hanning, David Haynes, Rick Haynes, Jonathan Hill, Sibel Hodge, K.M. Knight, Ken Magee, Kath Middleton, Cecilia Peartree, Lexi Revellian, Rosen Trevithick, David Wailing, Louise Warman, Lynda Wilcox, Andrew Craig Williams and Anne Wrightwell. 

All together, this collection of short stories was very enjoyable and worth the price to support the Kindle Users Forums. Though I was happy to support them, I was very happy to have such a good book full of quality stories to enjoy again and again as well as new authors to look for in the future. With such a variety of genres, subjects and lengths, the odds of enjoying the works within are greatly increased. If you're a lover of short fiction or love to support independent authors, this volume of stories is a must for your kindle!

Off the Kuf, Volume 1: Short Fiction from the Kindle Users Forum (Off the KUF #1) by Various Authors, David Wailing (Editor) is currently available at various online retailers in Kindle or ebook format. The link below will take you to the book's Amazon page.
Off the Kuf Volume 1: Short Fiction from the Kindle Users Forum (Off the KUF #1) by Various Authors, David Wailing (Editor) 

Friday, June 13, 2014

Before I Wake by C.L. Taylor


Release Date: June 1, 2014
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.


Synopsis:
Sue Jackson's world was turned upside down the moment her fifteen year-old daughter, Charlotte, walked in front of bus. In a desparate attempt to understand the reason behind the accident, she searched her daughter's room and soon realized Charlotte carried a secret so powerful it drove her into her current comatose state. Sue knew the truth would help her daughter. There wasn't anything that she wouldn't do to bring her baby back to health.

As she delved deeper into the darkness of her daughter's secrets, flashes of her own past threatened to engulf Sue. She saw danger hidden within the shadows all around, mysterious gifts began arriving that only she would understand and no one believed the stress and previous mental issues weren't playing a part in her present behavior. Can Sue discover the well-hidden secret before it's too late for Charlotte? Will she be able to do so before she loses herself?


Review:
This title intrigued me from the moment I read the description at NetGalley. How in the world could a secret be so awful that it would drive a young teen to walk into the path of a bus rather than go to someone for help? I also wondered why the mother would be so worried about her past being a reason for her daughter's despair. It was clear from the very first chapter that there were much deeper issues within the lives of the Jackson family. The past and present collided as Sue tried her best to discover the truth and created a reality so terrifying that no one imagined the outcome.

From the first paragraph, I was immersed into the life of Sue and Brian as they try to understand their current situation. While Brian refused to see anything other than an unfortunate accident to blame, Sue feared a more dangerous enemy was lurking within the shadows. Not very many people were privy to the horror she faced in a previous relationship. Therefore, they didn't understand the level of worry and paranoia that coursed through her at times. Mixed into this state of mind a high level of stress were obligations and the overwhelming need to know the truth behind the accident. Any one of the above were enough to cause Sue to doubt herself at many points in the story.

The author did an excellent job of depicting how very easy it can be to slip into an abusive relationship as well as how difficult it can be to break free. I could almost feel the lingering touches of the trauma within everything that Sue did. Not only was Sue a wonderful depiction of a survivor, her determination to fight for her child against all odds showed how strong she'd become. The other characters in the story were realistic to me and added their own layers of confusion and revelation whenever they appeared. I became frustrated at a few points because I knew some of them were holding back information vital to Sue's quest for truth.

All in all, this was a story that stayed with me for quite a while after I finished the book. The pacing of the book was such that once I began, there was no stopping until everything was out in the open. Just when I believed I knew what was coming, the author shifted gears and wandered down another avenue that I hadn't considered. I will say that some of the scenes within Sue's diary were graphic and hard to read as they did describe abusive situations. If you're wanting an real thrill ride of a book that won't let you sleep until it's over, then this is your book!

Before I Wake by C.L. Taylor is available at retailers in paperback or Kindle formats. By clicking the link below, you can purchase a copy from Amazon.
Before I Wake by C.L. Taylor

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Currently Reading

A little bit behind this week, I have been putting more time into doing some writing exercises and editing on NaNo2012. It's been a struggle since I've also been fighting another sinus infection. I can't kick these stupid infections this season. However, I will survive them and find a way to get through all the things I want to accomplish.

So many new books are coming out that I want to read! Anne Rice is adding a new book to the Vampire Chronicles. Stephen King is releasing a book that makes me cringe (in a good way). C.S. Marks has finally put out the last book in her Alterra, The World That Is trilogy. I've been waiting for that book for a while now! I am so looking forward to many others. This blog has helped me to find some new authors to enjoy as well such as Heather Wardell, Michael F. Stewart and many more.


Daring me to read them are;
The Saeshell Book of Time, Part 1: The Death of Innocents (Children of Sophista #1) by Rusty Biesele
Jackfish Reborn by Rejean Giguere
Bones of My Brother by L. Frank Dunkin
The Butcher by Jennifer Hillier
Acting My Face by Anthony James


Completed books this week include;
Off the Kuf, Volume 1: Short Fiction from the Kindle Users Forum (Off the KUF #1) by Various Authors, David Wailing (Editor)


Okay, on to the next book! I can't wait to delve deeper into my TBR pile, but I'm going to have to pace myself. What's on your summertime reading list? Any recommendations?

Until next time,
Kay B

Monday, June 9, 2014

Wrecker by Dave Conifer


Release Date: January 4, 2011
Publisher: Self-published

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Jane knew she had a pretty good life. Both she and her husband had good jobs, a beautiful home, top-of-the-line cars and a child to complete the blissful picture. But something was missing for Jane. She spent much of her time feeling unfulfilled.

When her husband, Steve, hired a contractor to do manual labor around the house, Jane was intrigued by the man's unnatural physique. Innocent questions soon turned into something more than either Jane or Steve could handle. They were face to face with unexpected truths and accusations. Can they unravel the past before it's too late?


Review:
Okay, I admitted it once before and I'll do it again. I have a thing for mysteries. It has to be my favorite genre, so whenever I see a book with a bit of a mystery in it, I have to read it. I stumbled across this book while looking for a different title. Of course, I had to find out what happened to Jane and her family. When I started reading this book, it didn't seem like it would be a mystery of any kind. Truthfully, I thought I had been duped into buying a romance. Pushing myself to keep reading, I finally reached a point where the road turned back toward Mysteryville and I wasn't expecting the ending.

Jane and Steve were the typical modern family, complete with their own set of problems and flaws that impacted their relationship with each other. Though the story went back and forth between Jane's and Steve's point-of-views, the bulk of the story centered around Jane. It was easy to identify with her, especially with the way her husband was treating her a lot of the time. I could see why she felt intrigued about the contractor's history. Something so innocent as getting to know someone went downhill very fast for her and her family. I almost felt sorry for a few of the other characters when their histories were laid out, but my sympathy was tempered by their recent actions.

I felt the book started off slowly and didn't reach a steady pace until I reach the third or four chapter. Setting the scene took time, which I began to suspect as I continued turning the pages. The more I read, the quicker the pace became. By the two-thirds mark of the book, the action had propelled the pace toward resolution with a strong grip on the reader, aka me. The resolution was a little tidy for me but I feel it was a good way to leave the story. Some of the characters were never going to be the same after what they experienced. I do wonder what will become of them.

Overall, I have to say that I liked the story more than I anticipated at the beginning. It became much more involved as I kept reading. There were plenty of layers and questions that needed answering to keep me turning the pages. I'm happy I kept going until the end. More than likely, I will add some more of the author's books to my TBR pile. A great way to fill a sleepless night, I would recommend this book to anyone who loves mysteries and putting together the pieces as they read.

Wrecker by Dave Conifer is available for purchase at many online retailers in either paperback or Kindle format. Clicking the link below will allow you to visit the book's page at Amazon.
Wrecker by Dave Conifer
 

Friday, June 6, 2014

Fifty Million Reasons (Toronto #13) by Heather Wardell


Release Date: November 28, 2013
Publisher: Holly Leaf Press
Series: Toronto series, Book #13

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Who hasn't dreamed about hitting the big jackpot of a lottery drawing and what he or she would do with the winnings? Angela played the same numbers for years, never winning more than a few bucks here or there. When she least expected her life to change, she became the winner of Toronto's largest jackpot - fifty million dollars.

From the moment her winning ticket was confirmed, her life changed. People she didn't know and others she trusted were among those with their hands out. It was clear from the beginning that the plans she'd always dreamed of weren't the best in reality. Would she be able to whether the storm of such an affluent life? What would she be willing to sacrifice in the process?


Review:
After reading a previous title offered at NetGalley (Everybody's Got a Story: Toronto #12) by the same author, I was really happy to see this title available as well and eagerly put it on my TBR list. Because I enjoyed the previous book, my expectations for this title were a little higher than usual. However, I'm happy to report that this book fulfilled those expectations with ease. Though the book was part of a larger collection concerning the city of Toronto, it stood well on its own while including a bit of the history from the previous titles.

The book opened with the main character, Angela, sharing a secret with her neighbor's son, Zack, as they pay the bill for a person behind them in the drive-thru lane. This interaction revealed a lot about Angela's character and the easy-going relationship that she shared with a number of the supporting characters in the story. As events began to take place, it wasn't hard to see how easily a person's life and thoughts can change when presented with such a life-altering situation. Throughout her struggles with coming into a vast sum of money, Angela tried to not let it change who she was at her core. A lot of the incidents in the book between she and strangers, even some family members, were pretty close to what I would expect from the world in which we currently live. I was a bit surprised at how far a few people went to get at her money but not completely shocked.

It was such a wild ride from the moment Angela realized that she was a winner to the very end when many of the issues were resolved. For me this book was one that I could have read all the way through in a matter of hours if it weren't for prior obligations. I really felt for Angela who seemed to be a good-hearted person that only wanted to do right for the people in her life. There were a few moments were I was beating my head against the wall because of the stubbornness of a few characters. Without spoiling the book, let's just say that there were a time or two where a slap upside the head may have done the trick to wake him or her up a bit. Despite these feelings of mine, the book moved smoothly from chapter to the chapter and left the story at a natural conclusion.

Overall, I really liked the book. I could relate to Angela in her everyday life before the big win and often found myself doing the same type of daydreaming about spending the jackpot. The way in which she did spend the money was really a smart way to go about it and I'll have to keep it in mind if my numbers ever do win. The author did a great job of presenting strong female and male characters in this story which made it better, in my opinion. Not your usual romance, this book gives you a real world glimpse of what happens when the blue-collar struggling type suddenly becomes Ms. Multi-millionaire. If you're looking for an almost real romance with a few million tossed in for excitement, pick up a copy of this book today!

Fifty Million Reasons (Toronto #13) by Heather Wardell is now available at many online retailers and local bookstores. You can find a copy in either paperback or Kindle formats. Click the link below to visit the book's Amazon page.
Fifty Million Reasons (Toronto #13) by Heather Wardell

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Currently Reading

Yes! Back on track. Well, the reading track anyway. So many of the other things I had planned for this year are already well behind. I think they may stay that way unless I get a few more bursts of energy (and ability) to catch up. In the meantime, I will keep doing my best.

If only I could stop adding more books to my TBR, the number would drop drastically. However, I'm one to take advantage of deals whenever I see them - constantly. So I don't think the number is going to suddenly drop any time soon. Maybe maintaining my current rate is good for now. Maybe.


On my to-be-read pile this week are;
The Saeshell Book of Time, Part 1: The Death of Innocents (Children of Sophista #1) by Rusty Biesele
Jackfish Reborn by Rejean Giguere
Bones of My Brother by L. Frank Dunkin
Off the Kuf Volume 1: Short Stories by Various Authors


Finally finished the following;
Fifty Million Reasons by Heather Wardell
Wrecker by Dave Conifer


Here's to hoping the summer won't be so humid and I can get out a time or two. Of course, I will keep plugging away at that TBR if I'm stuck inside. What are your plans for the summer? Or if you're down under, what are your winter plans?

Until next time,
Kay B

Monday, June 2, 2014

We Are the Goldens by Dana Reinhardt


Release Date: May 27, 2014
Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books (Random House LLC)

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
After their parents divorced, Nell and Layla Golden only had one another for support and constant companionship in the ever-changing world. They could always count on each other to fill whatever voids in their lives. Once Nell began her freshman year at the same high school Layla attended, the bond between them was tested in ways they couldn't imagine.

Nell tried to wrap her head around the secret her sister revealed, but the weight of it all became too much. When lines were crossed, there came time for a decision to be made. Could Nell keep the secret and let Layla continue down a path towards harm? Or would she find the courage to do what she knew in her heart was right?

Review:
When I was a child, my brothers and I shared a similarly strong bond as reflected by the two teens in this story. We went everywhere together and experienced a lot of the same highs and lows in life with each other for support. It made weathering the bad times much easier to have them at my side. But then life took over as it did within the story and things shifted, tearing or stretching the bonds thin enough that they've broken a time or two. So when I read the description of the book as it was offered at NetGalley, I felt that I could relate to Nell on a certain level.

The book was presented from Nell's point-of-view. It was almost as though Nell was writing a long letter or journal entry to her sister, Layla, to explain her motivation behind her decision at the end of the book. She poured her heart into the missive, including her feelings and conflicted notions of betrayal and trust, as she recounted what was to be the start of a happy year in her life. As other characters were woven into the story, simple conversations or actions became much more complex and the consequences dire. As I read to the end, I sensed the heaviness of the secrets on Nell's shoulders and felt awful that she was being placed into such a position.

I nearly devoured this book entirely in one sitting. If it weren't for other obligations, I would have finished it within a few hours. Though it was a fairly quick read, the pacing of the book wasn't so quick that it neglected situations or characters in the process. There seemed to be a natural, steady flow to the action from the first chapter to the last. At one point in the book, Nell became overwhelmed with everything happening all at once and even commented on how life seemed to always be that way. We tend to think life happens in stages when the events that happen are constantly overlapping one another. So many adults have problems coping with this fact, it was interesting to see how a young, teenage girl would react to similar burdens.

Overall, I liked this book more than I thought I would. The book was definitely geared toward the young teen demographic, especially with the ups and downs of life in high school and with siblings. While it's geared toward a younger crowd, I suspect that many adults will relate to events in the book as well. At times I thought the book was a little all over the place, but that fit with the way a young person's mind works. Without spoiling the end, I will say that I was a little disappointed that a few doors were left open but I'm also very glad that a stand was taken. Honestly, this book could be used as a discussion or teaching tool for teens and parents. I would recommend this for readers in their mid-teens and up.

We Are the Goldens by Dana Reinhardt is currently available at many online retailers and local bookstores. You can purchase a copy in formats such as hardcover, Kindle or audio-book. Click the link below to visit the book's Amazon page.
We Are the Goldens by Dana Reinhardt

Sunday, June 1, 2014

June's Hopes and Dreams

Who ordered the year on fast forward?

Seems like yesterday I was thinking that summer couldn't get here fast enough. Now that it's here, I'm glad for the air conditioner! The temperatures really need to find a compromise. Maybe somewhere around 70-ish would be a good start.

Regardless of the weather, I am very happy to continue this blog. Together we reached the one year milestone and I cannot wait for the next one! I hoped to give away two giftcards as prizes for the anniversary celebration. However, only one was awarded. The second giveaway had no participation, partially due to my being ill, so I'll have a random giveaway sometime close to the holiday season. I'm sure a free giftcard will be snatched up then.

Whether I've mentioned this or not before, I can't remember. Therefore I will mention it now. I do have a few chronic illnesses that plague me most of the time. Many days I can combat the way they make me feel and push myself to finish these books in time for a consistent posting schedule. Recently I ran into a situation where all the extra reviews I had were used up and my illness ran longer than I anticipated. If there is ever a time when it's all quiet here, please know that I'm doing my best to keep giving you honest, fair reviews.

Everything else is still in "behind schedule" land. I have so many stories and ideas that I want to write and not enough hours in the day to type them all out. I did make progress on quite a few secret projects. The granny square collection drive for the Brown-Brooks Project has collected over 250 squares so far! Those will sewn into a bunch of lovely afghans for the residents at one of our local nursing homes.

Hope this month brings you many wonders and delights. Summery weather is in full effect. Don't forget to explore the pages of some wonderful books as you go on vacations and adventures!

Until next time,
Kay B