Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Currently Reading

Today is the day that I planned to back on track after my recent mishap. Thankfully I didn't do any serious damage to myself when I fell, so reading and reviewing weren't put on the back burner too long. I'm slowly getting back into my groove. My hope is to be near last year's level soon, but we'll have to take each day as it comes.

Everything that I had lined up has been shifted. Quite a number of them are behind schedule with approaching deadlines. I remain hopeful that I can get a few of the items finished within the upcoming month, but again, we'll have to see what happens. I don't like uncertainty. It makes me anxious to the point of not wanting to take chances. So I have to fight through it.


On the list are;
The Saeshell Book of Time, Part 1: The Death of Innocents (Children of Sophista #1) by Rusty Biesele
Jackfish Reborn by Rejean Giguere
Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
The Sentinel: The Sundering, Book V by Troy Denning


Finished these books;
Sworn (Book #1 of the Vampire Legends) by Emma Knight
Wool 2 - Proper Gauge (Silo #1b) by Hugh Howey


Here's to a better second half of the year! May your reading continue!

Until next time,
Kay B

Monday, July 21, 2014

Unfortunate news

Due to some setbacks in my health, I have not been able to concentrate on my TBR pile. In order to do fair and honest reviews, I feel that I have to take some extra time to focus on the books I'm reading and not just give some fluff piece to the author. I respect them too much to simply throw something together. Because of that, I am going to forgo posting reviews today and Friday. I will be putting all my energy into finishing one book at a time instead of the several I have had going as of late.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Until next time,
Kay B

Friday, July 18, 2014

Plan Overboard (Toronto #14) by Heather Wardell


Release Date: May 28, 2014
Publisher: Holly Leaf Press
Series: Toronto series, Book 14

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
After failing to achieve her lifelong dream, Corinne took some time to create a new, deeply detailed life plan for herself before putting it into action. Nearly three months later she was enjoying a long overdue time of relaxtion on a cruise. Her intention to study her books and go over her future plans vanished the moment she laid eyes on Austin. His easy-on-the-eyes looks and carefree attitude excited her, but also sent shivers of terror through her. His presence threatened to derail every bit of her plans.

Warm, sunny days and beautiful, star-filled nights made it too easy for Corinne to drop her guard around Austin. The more time they spent together, the more she questioned her decisions. As they neared the end of the cruise, a heavily hidden truth revealed itself and sent Corinne reeling for a second time in her life. Months of changes followed the cruise. So did the lingering questions. Should she give up her methodically planned life for something more exciting? Will she ever let go of the past enough to have a future?

Review:
I was offered the chance to read this title by the author herself in exchange for a fair and honest review. This book followed the last two books by Heather Wardell that I reviewed (Everybody's Got a Story and Fifty Million Reasons). It's also the long-awaited sequel to All at Sea which chronicled the events between a portion of the key characters which frequently appeared throughout this novel. This story stood well on its own, but the author did a wonderful job weaving in the events of the previous one without shifting the focus away from the main character of this story, Corinne.

Oh, Corinne. The poor woman's world crumbled the moment she failed to achieve a dream that had been the driving force of her life for over a decade, maybe longer. The weight of that failure drove her to the other extreme and led to what many would consider to be a life-altering decision. I was a little taken aback by what she did because her behavior at the start of the novel didn't lead me to believe that she'd do something like that. Then again, I could understand it as the story progressed. Most of the characters in this novel had easygoing natures which made a lot of the book a fun read. Each of them kept their individuality while blending well when grouped together, especially during the cruise segments of the book.

As I mentioned before, some of the characters were introduced in an earlier book. Nick, Mel and Austin all had their histories and reasons explored in more depth in it, but the author was able to weave in the important events during conversations and other small ways. Not only did it help to me understand the reasons why they said or did something, each instance helped to advance the plot in a way that kept me interested. The pace of the story was fairly consistent from beginning to end, allowing me to enjoy the story but also helped keep those pages turning.

In the end I found myself enjoying this book for a couple of reasons. The main reason was the fact I could relate to Corinne in the way she perceived herself for not achieving what was her lifelong dream. I've been there myself. I've also met a man similar to Austin in a lot of ways. Though he's not as well off as the character, it was a treat to read a book and see similarities in one's own life. Now, I will admit that I found a couple of the plot devices as easy to guess. However, the chapters before the ending really hit the nail on the head in regards to realizing what life was all about. It made the ride worthwhile for me. If you're looking for a book about an instant connection, dealing with the shards of broken dreams, or coming to terms with life and its scorn of plans, then this is the book you'll want to add to your collection.

Plan Overboard (Toronto #14) by Heather Wardell is currently available for purchase at many online retailers including Amazon as well as Barnes and Noble. It can be found in either paperback and Kindle formats. Below is the book's Amazon page.
Plan Overboard (Toronto #14) by Heather Wardell

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Currently Reading

Not a long post today. I took a tumble over the weekend and I'm still not feeling anywhere near my usual self. Since I'm less mobile than my normal couch-sitting self, I have managed to get a few books worked through and their reviews posted. Here's to a better seven days!


Reading through these books this week;
The Saeshell Book of Time, Part 1: The Death of Innocents (Children of Sophista #1) by Rusty Biesele
Jackfish Reborn by Rejean Giguere
Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
The Sentinel: The Sundering, Book V by Troy Denning


Done and put away are;
Horns: A Novel by Joe Hill
Plan Overboard (Toronto #14) by Heather Wardell


Yesterday I saw the movie trailer for the book, Horns: A Novel by Joe Hill. I'm sort of excited to see how different or close to the book the movie actually is. What are you looking forward to when it comes to book-related movies this year?

Until next time,
Kay B

Monday, July 14, 2014

Horns: A Novel by Joe Hill


Release Date: February 18, 2010
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishing

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Ignatius "Ig" Perrish came from a very well-to-do family but often found himself on the fringes of acceptance, both at home and everywhere else. The youngest child who spent many of his days fighting his asthma, Ig wasn't able to continue the family's musical legacy as his father and older did. There seemed nothing special in his life until the day he met Merrin. Inseparable from their first meeting, the young couple appeared to have everything planned with nothing but good futures ahead of them.

So it was until the night Merrin was found dead beneath a tree where everyone used to play as children. With fingers pointed at him, Ig weathered the brutal storm of accusations and prejudice as he struggled to find his way in life without the goodness Merrin brought to his life. After having a horrible hangover on the anniversary of his beloved's death, Ig discovered something about him was different and it directed his feet on the path to discover the truth behind Merrin's death and his new lease on life.

Review:
I have wanted to read Hill's books for some time now, but I wasn't able to afford them for a period of time. When I discovered this book on sale, I wasted no time in picking up a copy for my Kindle. The book's description intrigued me from the first paragraph, so I was excited when I entered Ig's part of the world. There's a sense of something stolen from Ig in the beginning of the book as the foundation of the story was being built. With each passing page it became clear how deeply he felt the absence of Merrin and how much of a toll the loss had taken on Ig and their circle of loved ones.

In the first part of the novel, a small cast of characters were introduced, but the spotlight shone brighter on a trio which included Ig, Merrin and Lee. The story followed the blossoming friendship between the three of them as well as the romance between Ig and Merrin. Even as their lives progressed into adulthood, the ties between the three of them wove their paths in and around one another until the night Merrin was killed. Ig's world shattered in more ways than one. What was good inside him died the night Merrin was murdered. Every day after was one day closer to revealing his true nature and helped prepare him for his biggest test. While not all of the characters were given a lot of time in the spotlight, they did feel real to me. Their emotional reactions to the events in the story made it easy to empathize with them, cheering some along while despising others.

With a steady pace, the story easily carried me along its tracks. Although I did expect it, I found the beginning a little slow until I reached the middle of the first chapter. That's when the first of many, many weird things began to take place and the story had its hooks in me. Each passing chapter introduced another level of either weirdness or background. Around the middle of the book, I thought I had everything figured out and tried to guess what was going to happen in the next chapter. Boy, was I ever wrong to try and do that. Nothing I guessed came to pass how I envisioned it. I'll just sit in the ride and follow along with the next book of Hill's that I read.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. There were a lot of little jokes, cliches and interesting twists that I didn't find myself bored for a moment. I so wanted an ending that wasn't really feasible, but the one given wrapped up all the ends neatly and very creatively. I am looking forward to reading more of Joe Hill's books in the future. If you are a lover of the strange, the slightly outside-the-box or a time-defying love, this book is one you need to look into reading.

Horns: A Novel by Joe Hill is available at many online retailers and local bookstores. It can be purchased in hardcover, paperback, Kindle/e-book and audio book formats. Below is a link to the book's Amazon page.
Horns: A Novel by Joe Hill

Sunday, July 13, 2014

July's Hopes and Dreams

Stupid life has a way of interfering with my reading goals! It's beginning to look like I won't reach my overall reading goal for the year this time around. One thing after another has distracted me from my print books or my little Kindle. I think I'm going to just go with the flow for the rest of the year and see where that leads me instead of pushing myself to go to the extreme to finish things without truly reading them.

With the year more than half over, I'm surprised to see how much I still have left on my TBR pile. I didn't realize I'd added so many new books to the pile. Guess I will be doubling down on the pages I read for the next few weeks. Between this backlog and the current craft projects, I have a feeling that I will be quite busy for some time. My writing has suffered a little but not as much as the reading. That's the shining light in the past couple of weeks.

I finished editing some more chapters of NaNo2012. Some of the story is missing bits and pieces that could make it better but I'm just not exactly sure what it needs right now. There's a short story contest in my local area. If there are a lot of entries, then the collection may be published. I've got a few ideas for a couple of stories. Seems like I need my mind to figure out one direction for the stories instead of the 30 I normally get in my brain.

Since we're in the middle of summer, what has been your favorite book of the season so far? Have you read anything new that's captured your heart? Or was it an old favorite keeping you company on these warm nights?

Until next time,
Kay B

Friday, July 11, 2014

Wool (Silo #1a) by Hugh Howey


Release Date: July 30, 2011
Publisher: Broad Reach
Series: Wool series

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
The world suffered a catastrophic event that left thousands of people living underground in a buried silo. Generations later, strict rules oversee the day-to-day life of those living in the silo. After several uprisings, those who simply utter a wish to see outside the silo are sent to the holding cell and prepared for their turn at "cleaning," a job that sends the person outside to clean the camera lenses and never return.

Holston was the sheriff, enforcing the rules of the silo for as long as he could remember. He was one of a handful of people who sent the condemned on their way to cleaning. Now, as the anniversary of the loss of his wife approaches, the walls of the silo are closing in around Holston. Will he weather the day without succumbing to his main wish? Or will he do the unthinkable?

Review:
I saw this book on a list from Onehundredfreebooks at a discounted price. The synopsis intrigued me and I snagged it without a second thought. A quick read, I would have been able to devour this story within a few hours if I had been able to simply sit down and read it straight through. Despite the low page-count there are many questions that the story left unanswered. It's worthy to note that each of the books in this series has an increased page-count. I'm excited to see what the next one will hold for the people within the silo.

With this story being so short, it was a little difficult to feel connected to the characters introduced. The only exception for me was the main character. The story centered around him and his decision, so I found it easy to connect with him as his history unfolded. Supporting characters were in and out of the story too quickly to connect, but there was definitely a lot left unsaid by them.

As mentioned above, this book was a quick read for me. Much of the book took place within the story's present day, but there were a few chapters that were flashbacks used to give some insight and history of the main character. The pace of the story was steady most of the way through the book. A few times I felt that it slowed a bit, particularly in flashback chapters, but it began to move again once set in the present day again.

Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot and I look forward to the second installment in the series. Many unanswered questions about how they came to live in the silo, what the uprisings were about and what really happens to the cleaners are lingering in my mind. There are also questions about what was uncovered by one of the supporting characters during a flashback. Quick, intriguing and easy-to-read, this book was definitely a good buy. If you're looking for a something a little different and leaves you scratching your head, this is one series you need to read.

Wool (Silo #1a) by Hugh Howey is currently available at online retailers in Kindle format. The series can be purchased separately or in a single volume. Clicking the link below will bring up the book's Amazon page.
Wool (Silo #1a) by Hugh Howey

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Currently Reading

 Welcome back!

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend. Things were a bit more exciting here than I had initially hoped. The major excitement came from the fact this blog was considered a spam blog and temporarily deleted! My anxiety went through the roof when I logged in to do some work and I discovered that my blog was nowhere to be found. I'm very grateful and thankful that the appeal was quickly processed. So here we are once again!

Over the time off from the blog, progress was made on a few non-literary projects that I've had on the back burner lately. I still have quite a ways to go until the major projects are finished, but I'm happy with where I am on them. A little progress each day will get me closer to that goal I've set for myself. As far as my writing goes, I've been working on a few short stories. There's currently a contest being offered in my area for short stories and I'm leaning toward sending in one or two. I'm still not sure that they'll be good enough. I'm often my own worst critic.


Up for extermination 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
Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
The Sentinel: The Sundering, Book V by Troy Denning
Horns: A Novel by Joe Hill


Banished by the Daleks were;
Bones of My Brother by L. Frank Dunkin


With the excitement of the holiday over, I'm buckling down and working over this TBR pile of mine. I have quite a few coming up that I'm excited to read. Many more books are being released that I want to read but it's book security, right?

Until next time,
Kay B

Friday, July 4, 2014

Happy Fourth of July!!

I want to wish everyone a safe, happy and fun Fourth of July!

No matter how you celebrate, please take a moment to give thanks to the men and women who keep us safe and allow us to have our cook-outs and time with family and friends. I know many who are missing their families to do their jobs.

May your holiday be a wonderful and safe one.

Until next time,
Kay B