Coldwater by Diana Gould

Release Date: January 15, 2013
Publisher: Vireo Book, A

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Brett Tanager was among the elite in Hollywood, thanks to her work as writer/producer on a hit television show and her relationship with Jonathon Weissman. With an instant family and unbridled success at her fingertips, Brett made a fateful decision that ultimately cost her everything. It was at her lowest point that she was entrusted with Julia Weissman's darkest secret.

Now, with the girl she once called daughter missing and another teenage girl murdered, Brett makes it her mission to become sober and save Julia. She follows the clues as they lead her further and further into the dark side of Hollywood. As the darkness surrounds her, Brett must fight her demons if she wants to see Julia alive. Will she be able to maneuver through the underworld without succumbing to the temptations?

Review:
Having won this book from a Goodreads giveaway, I was looking forward to reading this book the moment it arrived. The mystery/suspense genre has always been one of my favorites. The author promised an intriguing, dark and fast-paced book. I think it's safe to say that she definitely delivered.

The book began in the midst of Brett's downward spiral. For all of her success, she couldn't see that her addictions were taking away everything that she held dear. A stupid decision was all it took for her to reach rock bottom. We, the readers, see it happen right before our eyes. Through Brett we experience her deepening spiral until she's shocked out of it by something more terrible than she could imagine.

Packed with action, the author takes us for a ride through some dark, rough spots of the Hollywood lifestyle. There's barely time to breathe before the next lead takes Brett (and us) into a situation where the chance of danger is quite high. Along the way, we are introduced to other characters who help or hinder her progress. I really enjoyed the distinctly celebrity vibe that most of the characters had. It fit within the book's world really well and made the story seem more realistic.

Because it is a mystery/suspense thriller, one expects twists and turns. There are plenty in the book that kept me turning the page. Of course, there were a few I guessed before they were revealed (an unfortunate side effect of reading so many books in the genre). But a few were surprising to me which made it more fun to read. There was one moment where Brett's past came to haunt her and I thought the result may be the same. Let's just say that the resolution takes a few pages, drawing out the anxiety and making it palpable.

Overall, I liked this book. It was familiar yet different enough to keep me wanting more. I loved that we have an extremely flawed character from the start. Seeing her fight the urges of addiction while battling real life adversaries was an interesting mix. If a down and dirty romp through the seedy underbelly of Hollywood sounds like fun way to spend the night, pick up a copy of this book. Just be sure to bring protection.

Coldwater by Diana Gould is currently available at many online retailers in paperbook or Kindle forms. You can buy either version from the link below.
Coldwater by Diana Gould

Currently Reading

Two big announcements for this week's blog post!

I'm so very pleased to announce that the anthology I am a part of has officially been released at Amazon! Off the Kuf: Volume 2 is available for purchase in Kindle format and is really a great value. Over 30 stories by 25 different authors, the anthology was graciously put together by David Wailing, author of Fake Kate and Bang: Memoirs of a Relationship Assassin ( Amazon page ) and it has a wide variety of genres to read. Everything from romance to horror can be found in this anthology. So click this link -> http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H5S2K9E/  and get a copy for under $5! Just in time for Christmas break!!


This week, I'm working through
The Saeshell Book of Time, Part 1: The Death of Innocents (Children of Sophista #1) by Rusty Biesele
Elfhunter (Tales of Alterra, The World That Is #1) by C.S. Marks
Aimless Love: New and Selected Poems by Billy Collins
Ten Tiny Breaths: A Novel (Ten Tiny Breaths #1) by K.A. Tucker


I've finished these in the past week;
Blood Wine: A Quin and Morgan Mystery by John Moss 
Catching Fire (The Hunger Games #2) by Suzanne Collins
Mockingjay (The Hunger Games #3) by Suzanne Collins

The second big announcement is that I will not be posting a reviews from 12/26 to 12/31. Due to family commitments made before I started the blog, I won't be able to spend much time at the computer. I will be picking up on the first day of 2014 with a Currently Reading as well as some special blog posts.

Now go pick up a copy of the anthology!

Until next time,
Kay

What's Left Behind - Poetry Collection by Michal Mahgerefteh

Release Date: October 1, 2013 (First published March 2012)
Publisher: Poetica Publishing Company

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
In an attempt to come to terms with the passing of her mother, Michal Mahgerefteh pours her heart and soul into the poetry which makes up What's Left Behind. As her grieving process continued, the depth of her pain is felt within each of the lines. The poems also reflect the level of devotion and love that both the author and her father felt as the dark days overtook them. Touching upon a subject that many can relate to, Michal Mahgerefteh allows the reader into the emotional, spiritual and sometimes physical journey that she and her family underwent.

Review:
I won this collection of poems from a free giveaway at Goodreads.com and grew somewhat anxious waiting for it to arrive. The subject matter of the book hits fairly close to home for me. Whereas the author lost her mother while witnessing her father's struggle, my family went through a similar situation with the passing of my brother. So in a way, I was excited to read these poems and at the same time, I was dreading it.

There is an intense level of raw emotion within the lines of each poem. Though they vary in length, the power is still apparent to the reader. With honesty and real emotion, the author allows us, the readers, a glimpse into her grieving process without a thought to whether we find it messy or painful. It's an interesting blend of honoring her mother's memory and dealing with the stray threads of life that remain for her father and the author herself.

I was quite taken with a few of the poems. They mirrored the emotions that I felt when watching my brother slip from this world into the next. In Things She Left Behind, the words paint the images vividly and without closing my eyes, I could picture the items that my parents packed to take home. Each item symbolizing something precious and sacred in an everyday kind of way to my brother as the items in the poem were to the author's mother. My heart grew heavy as I read By Her Resting Place. Everything I felt at my brother's graveside was summed up in these few lines.

This collection of poems has the ability to reach into the reader and touch their soul with the longing and love carried by their words. Since nearly everyone experiences the loss of a loved one at some point in their lives, they will be able to feel the author's words, not just read them. I truly loved these poems. They say the things that we sometimes cannot. If you're looking for a deeply meaningful and loving collection, I would buy this in a heartbeat.

What's Left Behind - Poetry Collection by Michal Mahgerefteh is currently available in Kindle form at Amazon.com. It is soon to be released in paperback as well. You can purchase the e-book from the following link.
What's Left Behind - Poetry Collection by Michal Mahgerefteh

Lesser Creatures by Peter Giglio

Release Date: December 3, 2013
Publisher: DarkFuse

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
The world changed within a split second. People began to rise from the dead and became known as second-lifers. They didn't attack the first-lifers. They were just there - everywhere. With first-lifers footing the bill for the ever-growing number of second-lifers, tensions began to rise and changes were quickly needed before the world descended into a deeper level of chaos.

In the midst of the turmoil, the lives of two first-lifers and an extraordinary second-lifer intersect. One first-lifer is the leader of a new religious movement whose center is the second-life revelation. The other first-lifer is a man who has seen better days and must come to terms with his past. The second-lifer, a being who shouldn't be able to think for herself, evolves into something much more than anyone expected. Their meeting leaves each with a decision to make, the fate of the world dependent upon their decisions.

Review:
I was able to read this book thanks to NetGalley and enjoyed the author's different approach to the traditional zombie novel. What begins as a tale of teenage love quickly became a nightmare for the world and its inhabitants. From the blurb given at NetGalley, I knew it wasn't going to be the usual tale of zombie woe but it was a pleasant surprise in many ways.

The story is set in modern day world. There's all the amenities one would see today within the setting of the story. Very little technological advancement has been done around the world because of the plague of zombies, or second-lifers as they're known in the book. With millions of the previously dead walking around, what could possibly go wrong?

Action within the story is fast paced with a few brief respites for the characters to catch their breath or to expand on the situations at hand. For the most part, the human characters are believable and act in realistic ways when faced with the undead. I liked the way the author maintained a sense of humanity with the second-lifers though they were barely cognizant of their own desires or even surroundings at times.

The only real issue I had with the story occurred when Eric cut his hand on a glass. According to the story, the cut was deep enough that he knew it would need stitches. Dressing the wound with a roll of gauze and forgetting about the cut didn't bother me. What bothered me about the scene is that in the next instant, Eric was hopping into the shower and washing with soap with no mention of pain from the cut. There also wasn't a mention of the wound when he went to the bar later that same night. To me, the cut/gash scene felt unnecessary as it didn't add to the story.

Overall, the story was pretty entertaining and provides some good questions about our society today. Many of the questions surrounding the influx of second-lifers could be applied to our present situation with so many people living on the planet already. It was a pretty enjoyable read to spend an evening with, in my opinion. If you like stories that are a little out of the way and decidedly different, this is one you should pick up!

Lesser Creatures by Peter Giglio is currently available in both paperback and Kindle forms. You can purchase a copy from Amazon by clicking the link provided.
Lesser Creatures by Peter Giglio

Currently Reading

Another week has passed and yet it doesn't feel like it should be so close to Christmas! Unfortunately, time is dwindling for 2013 but I still have plenty on my plate to keep me occupied and out of trouble. Okay, maybe just occupied. A girl can dream, can't she?

Moving right along, I do have reviews scheduled to post during the holidays. I know everyone may be busy with the hustle and bustle of shopping, wrapping and cooking. I'm hoping to finish a couple of projects (reindeer hats and a super secret blanket) during this month. As far as my writing goes, I'm still carving out small bits of writing time here and there when my hands need a break from crochet. There's supposed to be more information coming out about the Off the Kuf! anthology Volume 2 release (which includes my short story) sometime this month. I'm super excited!


At the top of the TBR pile this week:
The Saeshell Book of Time, Part 1: The Death of Innocents (Children of Sophista #1) by Rusty Biesele
Elfhunter (Tales of Alterra, The World That Is #1) by C.S. Marks
Aimless Love: New and Selected Poems by Billy Collins
Catching Fire (The Hunger Games #2) by Suzanne Collins


Woohoo! Finished these books:
In Broad Daylight by Seth Harwood   
The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games #1) by Suzanne Collins
The Resurrection of Mary Mabel McTavish by Allan Stratton


I'm hoping to do some serious reading during the holidays and into 2014. So many books coming out, so little time to read them all! Well, I might as well give it my best. *winks*

Until next time,
Kay

Writers Between the Covers: The Scandalous Romantic Lives of Legendary Literary Casanovas, Coquettes, and Cads by Joni Rendon, Shannon McKenna Schmidt

Release Date: October 29, 2013
Publisher: Plume

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Before reality television and social media created a demand for gossip and paparazzi, the lives of many beloved and famous writers were made into legend through speculation and rumor. Violent fights, suicide attempts, drunken brawls and tempestuous lovers both fueled some the greatest written works and tormented those who created them.

Within the covers of this book, the lives of literary greats are examined. Included within are F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Lord Byron, Virginia Woolf, Norman Mailer and many, many more. Sometimes what happens off the page is much more scandalous and bizarre than anything that was written.

Review:
When NetGalley offered this book to review, I jumped at the chance to read it. I've always been fascinated by writing and the lives of those who felt called to do it. Let's just say that I wasn't disappointed with the book in the least bit. While I know some of the tidbits for a few of the authors, most of what was written came as a surprise to me. Therefore, I really enjoyed the book.

In a time before TMZ and gossip/reality shows, the antics that many of the authors did would have put even Miley to shame. Many believed in being as free with their love as they were with their words, leading to many affairs and secret liaisons. I do think that if the gossip columns were around during those times, they would have had a field day with the information!

Despite revealing a scandalous side of the artistic endeavors, I think the book serves as a reminder of how human the authors, both male and female, within truly were during their lifetimes. They loved, fought, felt and made bad choices - as any one of us have or might have when placed in their position. Their stories were told in a way that brought them to life in way that the reader could easily empathize with the authors.

All in all, this book was a great read. Full of information and yet not overwhelmingly so, the book wets the reader's imagination about the various lives of fellow writers. If you love nonfiction or any of the various authors listed with the book's own covers, I would suggest taking a chance with this book. You never know what you might learn.

Writers Between the Covers: The Scandalous Romantic Lives of Legendary Literary Casanovas, Coquettes and Cads by Shannon McKenna Schmidt and Joni Rendon is now available through various online retailers. The book is available in paperback, Kindle and Audiobook format at Amazon. You can purchase a copy by clicking the link below.
Writers Between the Covers: The Scandalous Romantic Lives of Legendary Literary Casanovas, Coquettes and Cads by Shannon McKenna Schmidt and Joni Rendon

December's Hopes and Dreams

The year's nearly over and I'm still wishing for more time! I really want to knock a whole lot of books off of my TBR pile but I know that it'll never be enough for me. For every book I finish reading, there are two or three more jumping onto the pile and vying for my attention. In a strange way I enjoy it - this wordy addiction of mine.

December is shaping up to be a quiet month where I can get a lot of reading done. Yes, I am including the holidays in that statement as well. For now I have no other obligations that demand my time but reading, writing and the super secret projects with no deadline for completion. My poor hands do need a break. The next month and a half, I'm letting them type or turn pages only. Maybe an occasional crochet moment. Maybe.

I am sad to say that I didn't "win" NaNoWriMo 2013. With everything else going on in the first part of the month, I found only a few moments at a time to write. After things settled down, my mind blanked on the first novel I began at the beginning at the month so I began a different one. In the end, I do have a fairly large amount written on both of the novels, plus I have some research put into the novel I finished last year. I'm hopeful editing will begin in 2014 while I work on the other two as well.

November wasn't a total bust in the writing department, however. Alongside the two beginnings, I knocked out several poems. They seem to be on the darker side of things. Given the events in my personal life as of late, I think it's to be expected. My poor laptop is going to play a revolt soon, I fear. I've been busy typing up a lot of my handwritten works for safe keeping or editing at a later day. Can you hear the groaning yet?

The great thing about November? I hit my reading goal for the year. THE YEAR! I gave myself a long standing goal to read 100 books by the end of 2013. That has been my goal for several years. One thing or another kept me from achieving that goal. Not this time! I smashed through it and increased it to 105. I think I will keep it at 105 for the remainder of the year, regardless of whether I read past it. 2014 will have to top this one in a big way!

With the holidays coming up, do you sneak in some extra reading time? Are your days filled to the brims with other activities? I hope that you all have a wonderful month with awesome holiday memories. Don't forget to keep reading!

Until next time,
Kay