Shadow Heart (Broken Bottle #1) by Pamela Taeuffer

Release Date: February 26, 2014
Publisher: Open Heart Press
Series: Broken Bottle series, Book 1
Author Website: www.pamelataeuffer.com/

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Dark secrets were found in many families, and Nicky's family was no different. Adapting to her father's condition, she and her sister adapted to the volatile ways of their home. Nicky became obsessed with her job of leaving home and attending Stanford, pushing aside all other distractions - especially boys. To help her application to Stanford look more enticing, she put together a business plan for the local baseball team to have a cheer squad. She worked hard to perfect the cheers, connect with the fans and hit each of the goals she'd put into the plan.

What she didn't count on was a popular player, Ryan Tilton. He kept his distance from her, guarding his own dark secrets and his feelings for her as much as she hid her own awakened desires. As they struggled with their respective demons, life kept bringing them into the path of the other. Nicky must make several decisions despite her confusion. Can she maintain a relationship with anyone and achieve her goal of attending Stanford? Will letting go destroy everything including her level of control on her life?

Review:
To be honest I might not have given this book a second glance if I hadn't received a promotional email from NetGalley. The romance genre wasn't always one I delved into, but I decided to take a chance to step out of my reading comfort zone and give them a chance when I read that the books were inspired by actual events from the author's life. From the very beginning scene, there was a raw grittiness to the memories of what the main character, Nicky, and her sister, Jenise, went through as children living in a home where alcohol reigned supreme. Not every scene was filled with the turbulence of home life as Nicky navigated the world while carrying the weight of her father's "condition" and wanting to achieve her lifelong goal of leaving the town behind by attending Stanford.

Written in first person point-of-view, the book followed Nicky through the strange, double-sided childhood that she and her sister endured before her junior year of high school. It was easy to understand how she could be such a conflicted character when it came to the way in which the world really worked. Her father was a severe alcoholic that didn't think twice about enforcing his version of discipline when he was drunk. Her mother struggled to work in order to provide for the family, protect her daughters when she was home, and find a way to endure her own hell with the man she married. Since you can't have a romance novel without romance, in walked Ryan Tilton, the ruggedly handsome baseball player, and Jerry, the boy she'd known for her entire childhood. Each of these guys made a dent in her walled-off heart, but Nicky struggled to choose between them. I think that stemmed from the duality of her home life as well because she tried to push them away whenever they attempted to break through the walls she put up around her heart.

A steady pace pushed the story from event to event, making this novel a fairly quick read. Though this was a romance novel, there wasn't an overabundance of sexual scenes. Many times the characters found themselves in compromising positions, but the author didn't cross the boundary into a sex scene. That allowed Nicky to retain her steadfast control on when, where and to whom she would delve into that world. Due to the father's battle with alcohol, or liquid candy as Nicky referred to it, domestic violence was commonplace in their home. Some of these scenes were very hard to read and I wanted to get through them as soon as I possibly could. Not only did these moments make the story darker, but they left lasting marks on the lives of everyone involved and led some down a dark path.

Overall, the book was pretty enjoyable despite the darker scenes that were sprinkled throughout it. The author did a good job balancing the cold, dark truth about growing up with a parent who fought with alcoholism and keeping comedic, light moments in between to lighten the book. At some points the dialogue between Nicky and Ryan seemed a little off to me, mostly from Ryan's side. I could understand why Nicky said and did the things she did, but things he said sometimes distracted me from the story itself. I was glad to read the book and definitely glad I stepped out of my comfort zone. If you're looking for coming of age story with a dash of romance or a book which explores how someone with a dysfunctial childhood finds her footing in the world, this is one series that does those two things and more.

Shadow Heart (Broken Bottle #1) by Pamela Taeuffer is currently available in either paperback or digital (Kindle) formats. It can be found at many online retailers including Barnes & Noble as well as Amazon. Below is a link to the book's page at Amazon.
Shadow Heart (Broken Bottle #1) by Pamela Taeuffer

Currently Reading

Let me begin this week by thanking the many authors who have graciously given me patience and understanding. With all the various health problems so far this year, I haven't been able to get the job done as fast as I'd hoped. Hopefully, this is the last of the surprises in that area for the year. At least, that's what I'm believing!

I've picked up the pace a bit with the reading and reviewing. Okay, that's mostly due to the fact I'm under restrictions until I see the surgeon and get clearance to resume daily tasks. I'll still take what I can get at this point. The great thing about the past few weeks is that it's allowed me to read a few books just for fun and not to dissect on the blog. Since the surgery took away the most of the overall sick feeling I've had as of late, my mind's been stuffed full of ideas for stories and novels. I snagged scraps of paper to jot them down. not exactly sure where they will end up, but I'm willing to ride them out and see where they take me.


Moving my way 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
Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
Say You Will (Summerhill Book 1) by Kate Perry
Prince Lestat by Anne Rice
Woods Runner: Massacre at Schenectady 1690 by Rejean Giguere
Shadow Ritual (Antoine Marcas #2) by Eric Giacometti, Jacques Ravenne


Reached the end of the following;
What Jennifer Saw by Hal Schweig
Shadow Heart (Broken Bottle #1) by Pamela Taeuffer


Now that Spring is finally here, I've been spending more time on my screened porch. Soaking up the sunshine and breathing in the fresh air seemed to stimulate my muse. Many more pages have been edited on NaNo2012 as well as some pages written on newer ideas. Where's the best place for you to write?

Until next time,
Kay B

What Jennifer Saw by Hal Schweig

Release Date: November 7, 2013
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Author Website: http://www.halschweig.com/

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
In a time when old-fashioned families seemed to be dying out, the Harris family was a jewel of Monroeville. Jim led by example, being an honest, hard-working father while Mary Beth took care of the home and children, deferring to her husband in the event of major decisions. The children were well-behaved and very well-mannered, something out of place in many cities throughout America, but praised by the older residents of Monroeville.

The family and the community's sense of safety shattered the night Jim Harris was murdered in his home. Clues and secrets twisted the investigation every which way, but most of all, it weighed heavily on Jennifer, the only daughter of Jim and Mary Beth. Buried deep within a trauma psyche, the answer to who killed her beloved father stayed locked as she descended into madness. As her doctors sought to recover the information and help the girl repair her broken mind, the killer lurking in the shadows wanted to make sure she never revealed what she knew. Can Jennifer break through the layers protecting her fragile mind before it's too late? Will the killer continue to destroy Monroeville one person at a time?

Review:
I saw the book's blurb while looking through the offerings at NetGalley and decided to give it a try due to the dark, mysterious scenario it presented. It took a little while to settle into the rhythm of the book and to figure out which time period it took place. The setting wasn't present day but it was after the 1950s because of the various references to WWII and the clashing of cultures within the United States. I went back and reread the beginning of the book to see if I missed a sentence where it had been pointed out, but didn't find an exact time frame. That left me somewhat puzzled until I was more than halfway through the book when the stereotypes, dialogue and the fact that psychologists were in the beginning stages of understanding multiple personality disorder (MPD).

As with many books, there were a number of characters that made up the whole of the book. The spotlight was split between Jennifer, the poor daughter who found her father; Kay, an ambitious reporter stuck in a field dominated by men; Lt. Braun, a man haunted by his past which collides with the present during the investigation; and Dr. Tim Adler, once renowned child psychologist who abruptly quit when his own daughter lost her life. Each of these and the secondary characters were well-described and had their own distinct personalities and reactions to the world around them. They certainly didn't blend with on another or lose the reader in the dialogue or action.

The book began with a portrait of the Harris family as the patriarch came home from work and greeted the others who had waited for his arrival before eating dinner. When the murder occurred a short time later, its impact on the family and community appeared quickly. An undercurrent of gossip flowed through the people of Monroeville as the investigation took months to reach its conclusion. For me the book began at a steady, but slow pace. It began to build in intensity and speed after the murder, but I found some scenes slowed the pace akin tapping the brakes on one's car. With the action, mystery and even some romance, a little something for everyone was available between the cover pages. Be advised that graphic violence and sexual scenes were including within the book. While they did serve to advance the plot at times, I thought some of the others were too over-the-top to match the tone of the book as I found it.

All in all, I felt the story was interesting and pretty good. There was a solid foundation to the story, but I felt it went away from the heart of the novel. The build-up to the reveal of the killer focused on a couple of suspects, one a little more obvious than the others. Before the end I guessed what happened, but I still enjoyed the ride and being proved right. If you're looking for a book that's one part dark, one part mystery or simply something a little different, this book is one you should consider.

What Jennifer Saw by Hal Schweig is currently available at many online retailers as well as the publisher's website ( http://www.blackrosewriting.com/ ). It can be purchased in either paperback or Kindle format. The link below will open the book's page at Amazon.
What Jennifer Saw by Hal Schweig

Mr. Mercedes (Bill Hodges Trilogy #1) by Stephen King

Release Date: January 6, 2015
Publisher: Gallery Books
Series: Bill Hodges Trilogy, Book 1
Author Website: http://www.stephenking.com

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Before his retirement, Detective Bill Hodges and his partner caught the case of a lifetime. Early one morning someone decided it would be an awesome idea to drive a Mercedes through the foggy streets and into a crowd of people waiting for a job fair. As difficult as investigating such a case was, there was little evidence to lead them to the person responsible. Thus, the case remained open and active when Bill was handed his retirement award.

It wasn't until a special message arrived in the mail months after the party that Bill woke from the afternoon tv-induced coma. The person responsible for the live lost at the job fair wanted to clear his conscience to Bill, but the message also hinted that more tragedy might be in store for the people in Bill's town. That's something he couldn't have on his own conscience. Alongside two unlikely helpers Bill followed the bits of clues left by the killer until they reached the ultimate showdown with thousands of lives in the balance.

Review:
Many of my friends and relatives know of my love for books. Certain authors became my favorite over the years. Stephen King has always been one of them, a constant from an early age. There were only a few books of his that I can't read more than a handful of times. I didn't know what this book was about before it was given to me. Once I read the blurb on the back, I was hooked by a few things. Why would the killer want to mess around with a cop from his past when the killer had gotten away with murder? In reality the killer didn't escape punishment for a small number of murders, but also escaped punishment for a massive trauma to the city through the people injured and the psychological repercussions to the citizens after the event.

I was also intrigued by some of the characters themselves because the monster I needed to fear was an ordinary schmuck that could be anyone around us. They and their reactions carried this story forward without any supernatural interference or otherworldly poking and prodding. Bill Hodges remained old-school throughout the book, preferring to use pen and paper when thinking through the case or following up leads on foot when the need arose. When it came time for him to venture further into the technological world, he called upon the teenager who helped him around the house from time to time. Jerome was able to navigate the cyber world with less effort than Bill as well as help the older guy understand this generation's way of thinking. Then there was Mr. Mercedes himself, both an evil phantom and a regular guy. He was an odd blend of Bill and Jerome in the fact that he was young enough to employ the resources of today well and old enough to know that you have to put some muscle into things if they're going to work as well. In true King form, there were a number of fringe characters who provided necessary information, comedic relief and even became the voice of reason when it all became too much.

The characters weren't solidly within the good or bad guy columns either and this sort of grey area played as much a part in the book's events as the characters did. In a sense that's how people in the world are today. They had moments of goodness that made me want to cheer. Within a page, sometimes less, their actions placed them in the bad column. Whether it was morally or legally ethical, Bill and all the other characters did what needed to be done. Even when it caused further pain or distress, they didn't shy away from plans already put in place. Some of these plans pushed the story forward at a decent pace. As much as I like a lot of King's work, there were some moments that seemed to drag out the action. Thankfully, I didn't find too many of the slower passages and was pretty happy at how rapid the pace became once the ball truly began rolling.

Overall, I really liked this first step into the world of Bill Hodges. Action, a bit of romance and a lot of crazy combined quite well to make a good read. For me, that's a pretty decent recipe that I hope continues throughout the rest of the trilogy. A few doors were kept open a crack toward the end of the book which gave me chills because I had hoped things would settle. Underdogs and morally-ambiguous characters kept me intrigued in this installment. I can't wait to see what they get into during the next book. If you're looking for a thrill ride into the world of crazy with average looks or simply want to enjoy a creepy story without the supernatural flair, take a drive into Mr. Hodges' neighborhood.

Mr. Mercedes (Bill Hodges Trilogy #1) by Stephen King is currently available at many online retailers and local bookstores. It can be purchased in a number of formats, including hardcover, paperback, Kindle (digital) or audio-book. The link provided below leads to the book's Amazon page.
Mr. Mercedes (Bill Hodges Trilogy #1) by Stephen King

  

Currently Reading

If anyone says that you can get right back at your usual things right after surgery, they're not being honest! Here I thought having a simple, unexpected surgery was going to be something easy to overcome since I mostly have reading, reviewing and writing on my agenda most days. Between the pain, soreness and medicine they sent me home with, I was out of it more often than not. Rereading the same sentence again and again didn't help either.

So instead of forcing myself to do poor work, I put aside the TBR list and focused on reading something for fun. Unfortunately, that was the only book I finished completely this past week. With a sense of accomplishment on my side, I feel more focused and ready to get back at this blog thing. So many awesome books need attention and I can't wait to give it to them.


Lost within these worlds;
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
Say You Will (Summerhill Book 1) by Kate Perry
Prince Lestat by Anne Rice
Woods Runner: Massacre at Schenectady 1690 by Rejean Giguere
What Jennifer Saw by Hal Schweig

Letting these books return;
The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure by William Goldman


Feeling restless is a good thing for me at this point. It will drive me forward and help me to conquer these books. Some have been lingering too long on the TBR list. That makes me feel awful. So, here's to a new week with more progress!

Until next time,
Kay B

April's Hopes and Dreams

Ah, return to normalcy. Well, at least my screwed-up version of normal at any rate.

That's what I thought was going to happen when I started to get better from all the usual breathing troubles. Then I get sidelined by emergency surgery. Oh yeah! I've spent three and a half days in the hospital and am so grateful to be home. Truly I am thankful for modern medicine. Spending weeks in the hospital was not what I was thinking of when I envisioned myself to getting back on my feet. Yet, here we are and I'm so ready to get back into the groove.

With as many pauses as I've had to take over the past six months, I've felt so bad for not living up to the promises I made for this blog. I promise that I'm working my way back to that level. Hopefully it will be sooner rather than later. Lots of wonderful books coming up on the TBR list and I am making a point to make headway on the printed books lingering at the top of that list. To be honest, it was easier to read the Kindle than hold a book many days. That was then. Today is much brighter and I'm eager to get back at it.

Still working on the writing. Community projects are still on the agenda. My main focus has shifted back to the reading and reviewing for a while. Hope this month brings much progress for your projects as well. Warmer temperatures, more sunshine and green everywhere makes a huge difference!

Until next time,
Kay B

Currently Reading

Brand new month already!! Can you even believe it? And a new season!

So excited to see the sunshine barreling through my blinds after several long weeks of grey skies and cold, cold temperatures. Though I haven't felt my best yet, there's a positive difference. I'm marking it down in the "Win" column. More of those to come, I hope.

Recently I picked up NaNo2012 again. I had begun to edit, reworking only what I'd already put down on the pages. But something didn't feel right about the story. There seemed to be something missing that put everything on the right track and would make it feel smooth as it goes from place to place. Finally the idea struck me! I knew how to fix the beginning of the story to get things rolling. That one little change had fueled the fire until other obligations forced me to set it aside. Until now. So I'm forcing myself to get back into the mode of putting words on the page. It's the only way to get the story out. I have to become disciplined once again. 



Flipping the pages in these;
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
Say You Will (Summerhill Book 1) by Kate Perry
Prince Lestat by Anne Rice
Woods Runner: Massacre at Schenectady 1690 by Rejean Giguere
What Jennifer Saw by Hal Schweig


Passing on to the next realm;
Girl in the Dark: A Memoir by Anna Lyndsey
Mr. Mercedes (Bill Hodges Trilogy #1) by Stephen King 


Some say to write for a fixed amount of time. Others say a minimum word count is more effective. I have tried both and failed each time. Which one will work? I don't know, but I have to try something if I want to reach my dream. No one's going to do the work for me. If you could achieve your dream, what would you go for?

Until next time,
Kay B