Currently Reading

Today is a special one here at CoWA! Some time ago I was asked to be a part of a blog tour for Bernard Besson's ecological thriller, The Greenland Breach. From October 28 to today, various book blogs have been taking part in this tour. Today is our turn! The full review will follow this post. For more information about the tour and to enter giveaways for the book, please visit http://francebooktours.com/2013/07/15/bernard-besson-on-tour-the-greenland-breach/ and click on the highlighted links.

It's been a very busy week. Unfortunately, that limited my reading time quite a bit. I wasn't able to get anywhere near the amount of reading done that I wanted to, but I was able to get a few things scratched off that big to-do list of mine. The hat/scarf project has been completed. All the items have been finished and will be washed and packaged in the next few days. It's a huge relief to have it finished. So proud of the the BB Project.


I'm in the middle of these books;
Night Film by Marisha Pessl
Mama Rose's Turn: The True Story of America's Notorious Stage Mother by Carolyn Quinn
The Saeshell Book of Time, Part 1: The Death of Innocents by Rusty Biesele


Finally finished the following;
Pandemic: A Novel (Infected #3) by Scott Sigler


NaNoWriMo for this year has been underway for a few days and I will admit to being very, very behind. The story idea I had for this year isn't flowing from my fingers as smoothly as last year's. I'm not sure right now if I should continue to plod along to gain some words for the ending word count or start completely over with a new idea. I'm going to try carving out some serious writing time this coming weekend. Hopefully that will give me some clear direction. Wishing you all tons of wordy days and nights if you're in the thick of this with me!
 
Until next time,
Kay

Angels in the Fire: The Dramatic True Story of an Impossible Rescue by Dann Stadler

Release Date: July 1, 2013
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
On an early September night in 1989, what should have been a night of celebration became a night of terror for Dann and Tracey Stadler. After leaving dinner with family, they made their way to the home of Tracey's parents. That's where they were staying during their anniversary vacation. A split second later, they were fighting for their lives.

A drunk driver hit their vehicle head-on, going nearly 70 mph and leaving little chance for anyone to survive. It would take a miracle, and one was given. Not only did the couple survive the crash, but they were left with questions of life, faith and forgiveness. Follow both Dan and Tracey as they make their journey from the events of that night to all the experiences that awaited them during their healing.

Review:
I'll be honest. When I entered the Goodreads giveaway for this book, I thought it was going to be about firefighters and their jobs as community servants because I didn't read the descriptive blurb closely. After winning and receiving the book, I quickly found the real story to be just as intriguing and quite a journey. I was glad that I was given a chance to read and review this book.

Right from the beginning, the reader is made aware of two things. One, a horrific accident took place on that September evening in 1989. Two, the couple's faith in God is a major driving force in both their rescue and recovery journey that followed. Their faith is exemplified from the first paragraph where they give the other driver a false name in order to spare his family anymore grief or hurt. That takes a large amount of compassion and forgiveness and isn't often seen in the world today.

This book draws information from many sources including news media, eye witness accounts and the accounts of both Dann and Tracey as well as their family members. If you are a tender-hearted person, I would recommend having a box of tissues nearby as the story of their recovery will give plenty of awe inspiring and praiseworthy moments.

Because the book is written by Dann, one of the survivors of the crash, we're given a lot of glimpses of their lives. I think the open and honest way in which everything is presented allows the reader to feel as though they are there alongside the couple and experiencing everything at the same time. The way the journey is arranged is straightforward, beginning directly before the accident and continuing through their immediate recovery before finishing to present day. While the not stymied in medial jargon or filled with every detail, the record Dann has crafted moves along at a comfortable pace that really allows the reader to absorb everything. From the desperation felt during the frightful moments just after the crash to the triumph of overcoming the adversities through strong wills, gritty determination and a fire-hardened faith, everything is laid out for the reader in a way that is easy to understand.

In the end, I truly enjoyed reading this book. Dann and Tracey Stadler's faith goes beyond words. They live it, breathe it and practice it without hesitation. It was so before the accident and was reaffirmed through their trials and tribulations. Yes, many parts were difficult to read through but I imagine the difficulty was many times worse for those who lived through it. If you are looking for an uplifting, inspiring read, then I suggest you pick up this book.

Angels in the Fire: The Dramatic True Story of an Impossible Rescue by Dann Stadler is currently available at many online retailers in both paperback and Kindle forms. It can be purchased at Amazon by following the link below.
Angels in the Fire: The Dramatic True Story of an Impossible Rescue by Dann Stadler

November's Hopes and Dreams

November, what a bittersweet month you are.

Some tough days for me to get through in the later part of the month. With some hope and luck, I may busy myself to keep the depression down to a minimum. Though it's been quite a few years, my brother's passing always gets me down during this month. He was definitely one of my best friends and probably the only person to really get how I feel some days when the pain and illness gets to be too much.

In order to keep myself moving forward, I have given myself several tasks to complete this month. At the very top of the list is finishing up the community project for the year. The Brown-Brooks Project was able to make 63 hats and scarves to give to the children of the local behavioral center. I'm so very proud of everyone for reaching the minimum goal. Every child will receive a set this year. Delivery is going to be in a week or so. Can't wait!

NaNoWriMo is another great distraction for me. I just wish this blog post counted! I'm trying my best to get as many words in as I can during my free moments. With the reading and reviewing, craft projects to finish, and a surprise visitor, it's been a little challenging but still doable. Not too sure where the story's going right now, but the beauty of NaNoWriMo is just letting the story flow from your fingertips and revising later. Let's hope there's something salvageable when the month is over!

There's still a ton of books on my TBR list. I can't help but add to it nearly every day because I find a different one, or ten, that sounds like it's up my alley. Is there really enough time in the world to read everything? Sitting and reading for 16 hours a day would probably never be enough. Ah, well. Can't find out whether something works or not without trying, can you? So, that's what I'm going to do!

Until next time,
Kay

Murder at Pride Lodge (Kyle Callahan Mystery #1) by Mark McNease

Release Date: September 21, 2012
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Series: Kyle Callahan Mystery #1

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Nestled in the outskirts of New Hope, Pride Lodge has been home to many in the LGBT community who want to get away for a weekend. It's been a place for rest and relaxation for decades until the annual Halloween weekend festivities are overshadowed by the death of the handyman, Teddy.

As patrons of the Lodge try to make the best of their weekend, Kyle Callahan tries to figure out what was causing his friend, Teddy, so much anxiety. He follows the leads one by one, leading him and those he loves into danger before the weekend is over. What other dangers linger behind closed doors? Will the killer be unmasked before the weekend is ruined? Can Kyle make sense of it all before he loses everything - including his life?

Review:
Winning this book from a giveaway at Goodreads, I was really looking forward to a good murder mystery. The book was quick to deliver what I was looking for. An idyllic setting, suspense, intrigue and people pretending to be someone they're not - it all adds up to a roller coaster ride for the reader. The book does involve characters within the LGBT community. In all honesty, I don't believe it makes an impact on the story itself.

The start of the book is a little slow as there is a lot of ground to cover to set up the history of the Lodge and some of the occupants, but author's humor does break up some of the long paragraphs. Once the setting is complete, the pacing of the story begins to pick up and stays moving at a steady rate until the very end. I have to say that the author gave us just enough clues to keep me wondering, even as I began piecing things together.

Each of the characters brought their own uniqueness to the story. Glimpses into their lives were intermingled with reactions to the horrors of the Halloween weekend at the Lodge. It helped to understand the reasons why the characters did or said certain things. One of my favorite scenes was the pumpkin carving night, when the majority of the Lodge patrons were able to interact with one another and take be carefree for a few moments. Throughout the story, there was a sense of family and unity underneath everything else. It helped to make the characters come alive, in my opinion.

Overall, I thought the story to be engaging and filled with a good amount of ups and downs as the characters grew close to finding the source of all their dark times at the Lodge. I really felt bad for some of the characters as their worlds crumbled. This book is the start of a series involving Kyle Callahan and others that were met during the course of the story. Personally, I can't wait to see what they get into next. If you're looking for a mystery with a bit of flair, I recommend picking this book up!

Murder at Pride Lodge (Kyle Callahan Mystery #1) by Mark McNease is currently available in paperback and Kindle forms at various online retailers including Barnes and Noble, Amazon and others. To buy a copy from Amazon.com, please click the link below.
Murder at Pride Lodge (Kyle Callahan Mystery #1) by Mark McNease

Currently Reading

Wow! What a week!

These past seven days have been jam-packed with all kinds of things going on that I'm surprised to have finished any books! Firstly, my Marine Corp kiddo returned home from Japan. He'll be here for another week or so before he goes back. It's been over a year since I've laid eyes on him and I'm very grateful to have him around.

Secondly, the Brown-Brooks Project finished their first every handmade gift project last Friday. We were able to collect 63 hat/scarf sets to pass out to the children of our local behavioral center. I'm so glad to be a part of that project and am really looking forward to next year's collection project!

Lastly, preparations for my family's annual Halloween Remembrance dinner and NaNoWriMo always coincide. Each year my family has a dinner where we take time to remember those who have left us while we give thanks for the harvest of the year. Kind of like an early Thanksgiving, in a way. After all the food's put away and the door's locked up tight, my work on NaNo begins at the stroke of midnight. I was able to complete the challenge last year. I'm hoping to repeat this year.


To vanquish from the TBR pile;
Pandemic by Scott Sigler
Night Film by Marisha Pessl
Mama Rose's Turn by Carolyn Quinn


Conquered these titles:
Relatively Risky (The Big Uneasy Book 1) by Pauline Baird Jones
DreamWeaver by Rejean Giguere


Hope that whatever you do on Halloween, you have a safe and wonderful time. I look forward to sharing my NaNoWriMo updates with you and hope to see some from you out there as well.

Until next time,
Kay

Buck: A Memoir by M.K. Asante

Release Date: August 20, 2013
Publisher: Spiegel & Grau

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
A fast-paced, gripping memoir, Buck: A Memoir shows us the life of M.K. Asante as he knew it. Growing up on the streets of Philadelphia, he struggled to break free from the box in which his actions and society had put him. The young Malo faces adversity head on with determination and gusto but often finds himself on the wrong side of the deal.

Events push Malo and his loved ones to the breaking point and drive him to make the decision whether to accept the place society holds for him or to become his own man, free of mind and spirit. As he begins to put his plan into action, the results come in waves for both him and those around him.

Review:
I am so glad that I won this book from a Goodreads.com giveaway. It's real, honest, brutal and at the same time, it's heart-warming and endearing. This memoir was much more than just a retelling of M.K. Asante's formative years. It read like an action-packed, urban thriller with the unnerving reality that it held the truth of his life between the lines.

From the very start, the reader is sucked into his world. The reader is given everything they need to feel the experiences alongside Malo and his family, the good and the bad. With its honest portrayal of the people in the neighborhood, one can almost see the words come to life. This allows the reader to become invested in the person's outcome within the book.

As I mentioned before, the memoir reads like a frantic, action-packed thriller in parts because of the things the author experienced. There were some truly authentic and touching moments that slowed the story and delved into the deeper meanings behind some of his actions, thoughts or worries. I think the author did a wonderful job of relaying his world and laying bare his own faults and flaws instead of making himself to be something he wasn't. Very refreshing to see that he doesn't run away from the mistakes he made.

Overall, I have to say that I could not put this book down once I began reading. Each free moment I had was spent reading this book. Very open, honest and a great read for those who want to know more about cultures or people outside their own. If you're looking for all the above and more, I would definitely pick up this book.

Buck: A Memoir by M.K. Asante is now available at several retailers in Kindle, hardback and audio-book editions. It can be purchased from Amazon.com by clicking the link below.
Buck: A Memoir by M.K. Asante

DiSemblance by Shanae Branham

Release Date: August 2012
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Jason and Isaac Tanner knew how the outside world worked even though they were kept away from it for a large part of their lives. Due to their father's secretive work on technology that helped create a virtual world, Jason was a natural with computers and took it upon himself to guard his father's creation with a high degree of seriousness.

When their father fails to come home from a weekend away, the boys learn not only of his death but their father was thought to be a serial killer the police had been tracking for months. Jason Tanner does the only thing he can think of when the outside world invades their home. He goes on the run after destroying the invention in the hopes of saving himself and the ones he loves.

Review:
Not being well versed in computer or technology lingo, I was a little worried when I won this book from a Goodreads.com giveaway. Once I began reading, I felt relieved. There is a lot of discussion around the computer programs, viruses and other areas of technology. Yet, the author does a great job of blending the information with the story so that it flows as one. I was able to enjoy the book while learning new things without feeling overwhelmed.

Each of the characters had their own voice throughout the book. It would be easy for a supporting character to get lost within as much action as the author packed within the pages. For this book, they added to the story when necessary while fading into the background in order for the main characters to do what needed to be done and helped move the story forward. I truly think the reactions of the characters were realistic given the circumstances which surrounded them.

Action propelled the story from the very beginning. it barely eased up as the story neared its conclusion. I lost track of the number of times that I thought I had things figured out and the story proved me wrong. Several twists and turns kept my attention, my hands turning the pages to find out what happened. I was not prepared for all that happened in the final chapters. Definitely glad the author plans on a sequel!

Overall, I found the story to be engaging and very entertaining. The layers of intelligence - virtual and cerebral - add dimensions to the novel that keep you guessing. If you are looking for a good introduction into techno-thrillers with a YA twist, I would recommend this book.

DiSemblance by Shanae Branham can be purchased from many online retailers including Amazon.com and comes in both paperback and Kindle forms. Clicking the link below will take you to Amazon where you can purchase a copy.
DiSemblance by Shanae Branham