The Innocent Sleep: A Novel by Karen Perry

Release Date: February 18, 2014
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
After experiencing the devastating loss of a child in the midst of an earthquake in Tangier, Harry and Robin moved back to her native Dublin in order to rebuild their lives. Five years later their lives were turned upside down as Harry uncovered clues that their son might still be alive. He kept these secret until he could be absolutely certain it was the truth.

In the midst of Harry's plight, Robin found herself struggling with her own unexpected discovery. Soon each began to crack under the weight of their secrets and lies, leading to explosive revelations being laid bare. Can their marriage survive the layers of hurt, betrayal and deceit? Will they know the truth once and for all about the earthquake?

Review:
This title was available for review at NetGalley. Upon reading the description, I requested the book and was approved. I was intrigued by the description but the book itself turned out to be so much more than the sample hinted. The book wasn't one of those where the story began slow, gearing up to a climax and then dropped off into a neat conclusion, complete with a bow. No, this story kept its quick, steady pace from the end of the very first paragraph. I admit, it took a little getting used to the way the story would flip between Harry's and Robin's perspectives but having their names at the beginning of their chapters helped a great deal.

As mentioned above, the story was centered around a married couple which must deal with the horrible reality of losing a child and the unimaginable task of rebuilding their lives afterward. Neither of the main characters were completely honest with the other from the beginning. Instead, they began weaving such a web of lies and betrayal that leads the reader to wonder what else will be revealed at the end of each chapter. There was a sharpness, barely disguised angry edge, to many of the couple's interactions. At times I felt like an awkward bystander witnessing the disintegration of their marriage. These flaws and realistic reactions helped to make the characters seem real to me.

Even a revelation that should have been met with happiness, joy and wonder was tarnished by their past. I was sincerely worried for both of the main characters at different points in the story. One was slowly coming unhinged as the other was left alone to stew in their own thoughts and worries. As I read a third of the book, I was completely engrossed in their lives, both past and present paths, and couldn't put the book down. I had to know what was going to happen next. As the truth became clearer, I grew hungrier for the next grain of truth, the next revelation.

The ending was not what I expected. I have read plenty of books with flawed characters, mysteries and twisted endings. But this was one that I hadn't seen coming. It was most definitely a pleasure to read though my heart was hurting for the ones dealing with everything in the end. Overall, I found the book to be very engaging and quite good at keeping my attention throughout the course of the story. If you're looking for a wild, emotional ride and an in-depth look at the destruction lies, grief and betrayal are capable of, I would recommend this book.

The Innocent Sleep: A Novel by Karen Perry is available at many online retailers in either hardcover or Kindle formats. You can purchase a copy by clicking the link provided below.
The Innocent Sleep: A Novel by Karen Perry

Currently Reading

I'll be honest. This past week wasn't the best for me. I've been sick with bronchitis and then the flu. Now the temps outside seem to be riding The Beast from King's Island or something. So, this will be a short post today. Back to the regularly scheduled nutiness next week.


This week's TBR pile includes;
The Saeshell Book of Time, Part 1: The Death of Innocents (Children of Sophista #1) by Rusty Biesele
Doctor Sleep (The Shining #2) by Stephen King
The Adversary: The Sundering, Book III by Erin M. Evans


Finally finished these;
The Deepest Secret by Carla Buckley
Asylum (Birch Harbor #1) by Kristen Selleck
Bonyo Bonyo: The Story of a Brave Boy from Kenya by Vanita Oelschlager 

Hope you all have a fantastic week.

Until next time,
Kay

House of Bathory by Linda Lafferty

Release Date: January 14, 2014
Publisher: Amazon Publishing

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Dr. Betsy Path has her hands full with her latest patient, sullen teen and Goth extraordinaire, Daisy Hart. Despite her best efforts, Dr. Path was unable to have any type of breakthrough until she was in the midst of her own personal crisis. The two lives became entwined as a series of unexpected events led them halfway around the world and explored the ramifications of history 400 years earlier.

Secrets from the pasts of both Dr. Path and Daisy played a crucial role in the continuing legacy of Elizabeth Bathory, one of the most prolific killers in history. While in Slovakia at the very castle in which a majority of evil deeds were committed, Betsy learned the truth behind her father's cryptic messages and found that sometimes it pays for life to be a bit logical.

Review:
I was able to read a copy through NetGalley and I have to say, I really enjoyed it. This was my first time reading anything by Linda Lafferty, something that I will look into rectifying as soon as I'm able. The author did a great job weaving together events that happen 400 years apart. Though it did get a little confusing at times (especially when I forgot to read the small bit of information at the start of each chapter), I was able to find my way in the story with little difficulty.

The author had a great many layers to her novel. From the legends surrounding an actual figure in history to incorporating Carl Jung's writings and methods of psychoanalysis, they all became as threads woven in a tapestry and revealed how interconnected human life can really be - even in the modern day. I loved that the author took the time to write what life might have been like living under Countess Elizabeth Bathory's rule. It was a departure from simply taking the historical information available and interjecting it throughout the modern side of the story. Instead, the world of Bathory came alive and shared the richness of the colors, the sharpness of its smells and the lingering tang of fear in air.

After a slow start, the pacing of the story picked up and continued steadily until the end. In fact, I'd say there were a few places where it seemed a little rushed but with the events unfolding, it was plausible to be moving at a faster rate. When it came to the characters, I felt more of a connection with those in the 1600s than with the main character and others from modern times. That's not to say that I didn't enjoy the other characters. The cast as a whole were well-rounded and seemed to have enough personality differences to keep them from running together.

The only drawbacks I found with the book were small ones. As I mentioned previously, I felt like some of the moments were rushed and that left some explanations for things by the wayside. For example, there is a Bathory cousin who devotes himself entirely to Elizabeth's memory and yet there's no reason to explain why other than he's mentally ill. There was an attempted explanation within a letter left by Betsy's father, but it never conclusively mentioned a source of the obsession. Some decisions made by a few characters seemed off somehow such as Daisy and Kyle's meeting and his character not adding much to the story other than to fill a plot hole.

All in all, I enjoyed this book. It was a fairly good mixture of past and present that kept me turning pages to find out what was going to happen. Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction and this novel genuinely reflected that notion within its pages. If you're looking for a great way to spend a few night's wrapped in legend and family struggles, this is the book for you.

House of Bathory by Linda Lafferty is currently available at many retailers. It can be purchase in paperback, Kindle and audio-book formats at Amazon by clicking the link below.
House of Bathory by Linda Lafferty

A White Wind Blew: A Novel of Waverly Hills by James Markert

Release Date: February 4, 2014
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Wolfgang Pike came to Waverly Hills in order to heal the patients, both physically and spiritually. He was a priest-in-training when he fell in love with Rose, the woman who laid claim to his heart and revealed his second passion for healing others. It was in her memory that he continued tending to the many patients fighting the scourge of the time - tuberculosis.

Yet, in the midst of the fight, forces all around the sanatorium seemed to pull Wolfgang in dozens of directions. Will he be able to follow his own moral and ethical code when faced with difficult decisions? Will he be able to withstand the unrelenting pressures of living within the shadow of death and disease at Waverly Hills?

Review:
The history of Waverly Hills has always intrigued me since I first learned of it decades ago. The amount of heartache, tests of faith, and sorrow experienced within its walls must have been overwhelming to those who struggled to care for the many patients who turned to the staff for healing. Therefore, my interest was definitely piqued when I saw this novel available at NetGalley.

The events written within the novel were fiction but based upon the rich history of Waverly Hills, the surrounding areas, the city of Louisville and the current events sweeping the nation during the time period in which the novel was set. To me, the author did a wonderful job of mixing the racial tension, animosity leftover from the World War I and the trouble between Prohibition keepers and the bootleggers. I truly enjoyed the many layers of the book and especially liked the moments where the injustices were challenged. That's not to say the book was all rainbows and happiness. There were real consequences for the characters in the book whenever they began to go against the norms society held in place.

Much of the book centered around Wolfgang Pike, a doctor and student in training for the priesthood. Within the walls of Waverly, he had a small group of devoted friends among the staff and patients. Each of them played their part well in the story as it unfolded. The sweeping changes that took place, both in the characters themselves and the sanatorium, were realistic to the time in which the story was set. It was very easy to become lost within the story and feel what Wolfgang was going through at certain parts of the book. That made it much more enjoyable for me.

I was surprised that the author was able to mix some actual history into the story. The descriptions of the various floors and surrounding landscapes created a picture within my mind of a majestic, state of the art hospital in its time and not the broken down vessel often shown on TV or in pictures today. The author's use of the hospital's lore also gave the story an added dimension of realism, especially the use of Nurse Rita and the story of the Death Chute.

All in all, this book was a wonderful read that kept me up late every night that I was able to read it. I was able to see the story as a movie within my mind as I read the words, a testament to the dedication to realism that the author employed. There were some moments when I felt the pacing began to slow down, only to have it pick up again in the next moment. For anyone who enjoys historical fiction, Waverly Hills or simply a well-crafted stories that hits all the right buttons for a reader, I recommend this one highly.

A White Wind Blew: A Novel of Waverly Hills by James Markert is currently available in either paperback, hardcover or Kindle formats. You can purchase a copy from Amazon by clicking the link provided below.
A White Wind Blew: A Novel of Waverly Hills by James Markert

Currently Reading

I'm really glad that it's Wednesday. Only a few more days until the weekend and an opportunity to do some hardcore reading! I feel so bad that my TBR is so long. Not only on my Kindle, but in print books as well. I see them sitting there, waiting for me to pick them up and open their covers, and it makes me feel sad.

I'll also be glad to be done with doctor appointments for the week. It seems the flu bug decided to settle in our home. I already had an infection I was fighting and bam! Hello, flu! Hello, another doctor appointment. Being sick is no fun, but it does give me the perfect excuse to feed my word habit. When I'm not sleeping, that is.


These titles are up next;
The Saeshell Book of Time, Part 1: The Death of Innocents (Children of Sophista #1) by Rusty Biesele
The Deepest Secret by Carla Buckley
Asylum (Birch Harbor #1) by Kristen Selleck


These have been crossed off this week;
The Godborn: The Sundering, Book II by Paul S. Kemp
The Tyrant's Daughter by J.C. Carleson


Despite the sickness and everything that comes with it, I was able to edit a full chapter of my NaNo12 and work on a new story. Maybe it's the sickness making me delirious enough to work through the problems. Do you ever find being sick helps you to write? Please let me know in the comments below.

Until next time,
Kay

Elfhunter (Tales of Alterra, The World That Is #1) by C.S. Marks

Release Date: November 24, 2012
Publisher: Parthian Press
Series: Tales of Alterra, The World That Is

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
All his life Gorgon knew one mission - to wipe as many Elves as possible from the face of Alterra. He was an abomination, created by the Darkness for the very purpose, and he relished each life he took. At least, he did before the day he crossed paths with a Woodland She-Elf by the name of Gaelen Taldin and her cousin, Nelwyn.

After the Elves witnessed his destruction first-hand, they swore an oath of vengeance for the lives lost and set out to exact their revenge. Their company increases in number along the way as they encounter others who join the quest, but for reasons of their own. Will the company be able to stop Gorgon before he accomplishes his task? Will the Elven realms fall, one by one, beneath the blade of the Elfhunter?

Review:
For as long as I remember, I loved stories with elves, dwarves, men and campaigns.  When I was told about this series, I put it on my list of books to check out and I wasn't disappointed. It was a bit slow at first as the author began to build the foundations of both the story and the world of Alterra itself. In my opinion, it needed to be slow because everything within Alterra played a part in the story. The characters, the land, the animals - they all played a role in the events which came to pass.

Right away the reader was shown why Gorgon was given his nickname. From the first strike of the sword, he set into motion a series of events that spanned the world of Alterra and came back upon him. The author did a great job in conveying how devastating the deaths were for all those affected by them. Gaelen and Nelwyn reacted realistically to the knowledge of the deaths of childhood friends. Thus, they began on their journey to find the party responsible and bring him/her to justice.

Of course, they encountered several obstacles and setbacks along the way. I was relieved that the two She-elves weren't left to go through all of them alone. Along the way they began to pick up companions whose destinies became entwined with Gaelen and Nelwyn's. Each one of the characters stood out in their own way. Rogond was stalwart and loyal to a fault. Galador's past blurred his perception of the present almost to the point of turning away the very thing he wanted. There were a number of other characters which impacted the story though they weren't among the main characters.

In the depths of darker times, there were moments of comic relief which provided a welcomed contrast to the battle and death scenes. Not only between the members of the Company but from the horses themselves. Rogond's horse reminded me so much of people in my own life that I couldn't help but laugh at his antics. I loved the descriptions of the horses and the insight of how their minds worked. The descriptions of the land and various realms painted vivid pictures in such a way that I could very easily envision them for myself as I continued reading.

Once the foundation was set, the pacing of the story picked up and continued on a steady path until it reached a fevered pitch. I was caught up in the world of Alterra by the first third of the book. By the end, I was scrambling for the next book in the series. Overall, I enjoyed spending time in their world and look forward to the sequel. Familiar to other adventure or fantasy stories, the author did a wonderful job of including enough differences and unique quirks to create a world and exciting saga all her own. If you're a lover of adventure and fantasy or merely attracted to Elves and Dwarves, this is the series for you. Be sure to pick up a copy of this book and its sequel!

Elfhunter (Tales of Alterra, The World That Is #1) by C.S. Marks is currently available at various retailers in either paperback, hardcover or Kindle formats. You can pick up a copy from Amazon by clicking the link below.
Elfhunter (Tales of Alterra, The World That Is #1) by C.S. Marks

Aimless Love: New and Selected Poems by Billy Collins

Release Date: October 22, 2013
Publisher: Random House

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
After a twelve year hiatus, Billy Collins is back with a large collection of poetry covering a wide variety of topics. Aimless Love includes more than fifty new poems among a generous selection from his early poetry collections - Horoscopes for the Dead, Ballistics, The Trouble with Poetry and Nine Horses.

A two-time Poet Laureate of the United States, Billy Collins uses his poetry to explore the every day things that we so often take for granted.  He explores the infinite landscapes of love, the various types of love, betrayal, confusion, eating alone within a Chinese restaurant and so much more.

Review:
In fairness and honesty, I haven't read as much poetry as I would have liked. When I saw a Goodreads giveaway for a large collection, I entered without a second thought. I was delighted to win a free copy. Before winning this book, I wasn't familiar with much of the author's work. Aimless Love was a great introduction to his previous volumes of poetry and his latest works.

The wide variety of poetry encompassed quite a lot of subjects. There were the usual suspects - love, nature, emotions, and special occasions. Yet, there were some out of the ordinary subjects as well. The author found inspiration in common items (houses, a sculpture, a lunch in a Chinese restaurant) and explored the different ways a person could conceive of the item as in his poems "The Lanyard" and "Envoy."

"Endless Love" and "Obituaries" were among those that I felt deeper in my spirit than I anticipated. And yet "Writing in the Afterlife", "Adage", and "Ode to a Desk Lamp" made me both smile and feel sadness at different points throughout the poems. I loved how I was able to see through his point of view and feel some of the emotions coursing through his veins at the time of his writing. The collection of poetry was seamless, timeless really, and easily read from cover to cover.

Overall, I enjoyed the entire collection. I even committed the sin of dog-earing pages to mark the various poems which grabbed me for various reasons. His work also inspired me to begin writing my own poetry, something I had given up years ago when writing was difficult. If you're looking for an all-encompassing volume of poetry, this is the book for you. I truly recommend this book for any poetry lover out there.

Aimless Love: New and Selected Poems by Billy Collins is currently available at many retailers. It can be purchased in various formats including hardcover, paperback, Kindle and audio-book. Clicking the link below will take you to the book's Amazon page.
Aimless Love: New and Selected Poems by Billy Collins