Ruin Falls by Jenny Milchman

Release Date: April 22, 2014
Publisher: Ballantine Books

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Liz Daniels knew her family as well as she knew the farm she worked every day to provide for their homegrown company, Roots. Living a wholesome life in a preservative-laced world wasn't easy, but she and her husband, Paul, made it work. When he suggested a family vacation to visit his parents in a city miles away from their home, Liz thought the idea odd but went along with him wishes anyway.

Before she knew it, her world was torn upside. Her worst fears came alive and taunted her every second of every day. Nowhere to turn, Liz grasped at small clues and looked for the one thing that would make all the pieces fall into place. The moment the big picture became clear, she realized that was up against something much bigger than even she expected. Can she recover what had been taken from her? What will she sacrifice to get it?


Review:
Offered by NetGalley, I requested this book because I thought the synopsis on the description page intriguing. I have always thought that losing one's children, in any fashion, was a parent's worst nightmare. However, I was drawn in by the lengths in which the main character, Liz, went through in order to find out the answers to why her children where taken and where they were hidden.

There was a great deal of tension in the atmosphere of the book from the very beginning. Liz's family rarely left the safety of their home in the mountains for a myriad of reasons. The weight of uncertainty and worry mixed with a series of events created an even greater level of paranoia and uneasiness within Liz. For me, this related well with the age-old theory that a mother knows when something isn't right. Even at a base level, there were signals that something sinister lurked around the darkened corners. As I delved deeper into the book, it was quite clear that Liz wasn't the only mother being put to the test. Others were wading through their own situations and clearly felt they were in over their heads.

Liz was one of a few well-defined characters in this story. Because of a jarring incident near the beginning of the book, the pacing felt frantic to me at times and left little time to really get to know a lot about some of the fringe characters. The reader was set up to be alongside Liz as she uncovered the truth behind her husband and a few of her closest friends. As a result, the story seemed to bounce from one place to another. There were a few moments when I really didn't understand the necessity of certain scenes or what they really brought to the story. One that stood out the most was an intimate moment between Liz and another character that seemed somewhat out of place. Although I can understand the notion that people do weird things in an overwhelming moment of crisis, the scene didn't advance the story at all or helped to clarify anything. It felt as though it was there as a filler.

Overall, the story was a good one and highlighted the determination and perseverance a parent, especially a mother, can have when faced with such a frightening situation. Though I expected a show-down at the end of the book, the one that took place wasn't really the one I had thought would happen. At least, the people involved with it weren't the ones I had picked. It was good to see Liz come into her own and gain a sense of confidence throughout the process even as I wished for a different resolution. If you're looking for a who-done-it with a brisk pace and can face the situation a parent never wants to happen, then this is the book you're looking for.

Ruin Falls by Jenny Milchman is available at many online retailers. It can be purchased in a variety of forms including hardcover, Kindle and audio-book. Pick up a copy today by clicking the link below.
Ruin Falls by Jenny Milchman

Currently Reading

Due to some health issues and the holiday weekend, I've been able to read through a few books the past seven days. I'm still not feeling up to par, but I'm on the med. At least I hope that I am. I've spent a majority of the year feeling behind on things. I'll be glad to get ahead once again.

It's warming up there. Humidity and mugginess have joined forces to keep me indoors. I have taken the opportunity to work through the TBR list and do some massive work on a couple of other projects. Hopefully I will be able to share more about those soon.


I'm working through these books;
The Saeshell Book of Time, Part 1: The Death of Innocents (Children of Sophista #1) by Rusty Biesele
Jackfish Reborn by Rejean Giguere
Bones of My Brother by L. Frank Dunkin
Fifty Million Reasons by Heather Wardell
Wrecker by Dave Conifer


No longer on the list are;
Ruin Falls by Jenny Milchman
We Are the Goldens by Dana Reinhardt 


Short and sweet, that's the post for this week. When I feel more like myself, I'll be rambling. Hope you all have a pleasant week.

Until next time,
Kay B

Contest Reminder

No, this isn't the regularly scheduled post for today. I haven't been able to finish the books on my TBR list as quickly as I would like to. Instead, I am using this time to wish you all a happy and safe Memorial Day weekend.


Whether you're spending it with family or friends, please take a moment to remember those who gave their lives in order that we might have the freedoms to enjoy the weekend. Please keep the current men and women of our armed forces in your thoughts.


The second anniversary contest is still running! From now until the end of May, you have a chance to win a $25 (USD) Amazon giftcard. Entering is easy for this contest. All you need to do is to comment below with your favorite book or send me an email to kaybrooks1977@gmail.com. Winner will be announced on June 1st.


Until next time,
Kay B

Currently Reading

With so much going on this week, I haven't been able to read as much as I wanted to. In fact, I'm so far behind in my reading goal for the year that I'm afraid I won't be able to catch up at all. Not going to give up that easy though. I'm stubborn that way.

There's still so many books coming up on my TBR list that I'm excited to read. I can't wait to dive into these and so many more. New books are always exciting to me, especially new authors because I am striving for that goal myself. We'll have to wait and see how that plays out but I'm staying positive with the many avenues now open to new authors.


On the chopping block 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
Bones of My Brother by L. Frank Dunkin
Fifty Million Reasons by Heather Wardell
Ruin Falls by Jenny Milchman
Wrecker by Dave Conifer



Finished off these books;
Scraps of Evidence: Quilts of Love Series (Quilts of Love #14) by Barbara Cameron


Friday will be the first time that I've missed a post outside of a regular vacation period. It makes me really sad, but it couldn't be helped. I've not had as much time to read as I'd like. However, there's still a contest going on here. A $25 (USD) Amazon giftcard can be yours simply by commenting to this post or emailing me at kaybrooks1977@gmail.com.

Until next time,
Kay B

Scraps of Evidence: Quilts of Love Series (Quilts of Love #14) by Barbara Cameron

Release Date: January 21, 2014
Publisher: Abingdon Press
Series: Quilts of Love series, #14

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
A new promotion. New responsibilities. A new partner. All these things added up to a whirlwind of change for Tess. She was a professional at handling the duties that came with being a detective in St. Augustine, Florida. It was the mixture of emotions she felt when looking at her new partner and the return of a long-dreaded killer that turned her world upside down.

While juggling the stress from all sides, Tess found a small bit of peace within her quilting and her faith. As she and her new partner poured over the old case files, new clues came to light and lead in a direction no one thought possible. Can she keep those she loves safe from the killer in her past?

Review:
This book was a fun, quick read to fill a pleasant afternoon while sitting on my porch and enjoying the sunshine. I purchased it from Amazon during a promotional period but that doesn't take away from the story in any way, shape or form. This story had a bit of everything in it - faith, romance, mystery and even a bit of action. Added all up, the book was a treat to read.

Much of the story was centered around the leading woman, Tess, and her experiences while being a police detective in St. Augustine, Florida. The core group of supporting characters in the story were known to her intimately as she was born and raised in the small city. Many were family or friends who as close to her as family. The only outsider to have any sort of impact on her world was her new partner, Logan, who arrived from Chicago. I enjoyed seeing how uncomfortable Logan was when put in situations where Tess felt at home.

With the pacing steady from the first word, there wasn't a sense of increased anxiety in the beginning as the story builds up. The reader is already in the middle of an overwhelming situation by the end of the first chapter and will be there until the matter was resolved. I liked the amount of twists and turns as well as the emotional situations that were heaped upon the characters. I did wonder a time or two how things were going to come to a close when my predictions were proved wrong. That made the book a good one for me, the not always knowing despite reading dozens in similar genres.

Overall, I did enjoy the book more than I anticipated. Not only was the element of creating woven into the story, but the basic story was well-written and layered with details to keep me interested. Though this book was in the Christian genre, I was pleased to see that it didn't overwhelm the story. In fact, the moments where their faith was mentioned helped to shape the story and the characters themselves. The only drawback was the quickness in a certain situation. I can't reveal anything else without spoiling the story completely. I know it can happen that way. I just see it happening that often. If you're looking for a great, interesting way to spend an afternoon (or any other time), this book needs to be on your list!

Scraps of Evidence: Quilts of Love Series (Quilts of Love #14) by Barbara Cameron is currently available online at many retailers in either paperback or Kindle form. Click the link provided below to get your copy from Amazon today.
Scraps of Evidence: Quilts of Love Series (Quilts of Love #14) by Barbara Cameron

And the winner is...

Yesterday was the end of Anniversary Contest #1 here at CoWA! A huge thank you goes out to everyone who entered. I have the winner's name right here.


So, congratulations goes to...Aaronette!


I will be contacting you shortly to ensure you get your prize! The second contest begins today and runs to the end of the month. You still have a chance to win a $25 (USD) Amazon giftcard. There are two simple ways to enter below:

1. Leave me a comment listing your favorite book or books.

or

2. Send an email to kaybrooks1977@gmail.com.


Easy peasy! I really can't believe the months is almost over. Thanks to all of you for making this month a great one so far. Let's keep it up until the last second ticks away!

Until next time,
Kay B

Suffer the Children by Craig DiLouie

Release Date: May 20, 2014
Publisher: Permuted Press

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
The days leading up to Christmas are always hectic for adults. For children, it's a magical time and full of wonder and amusement. There always seemed to be time to put off playing with kids because there was always tomorrow. That was until Herod's Syndrome came upon the world.

The syndrome swept across the world, taking each and every child in its path. Families grieved, overwhelmed with the sudden, shocking losses. As they tried to pick up the pieces and find a way to move on, another horror washes over them. The children came back but they came back changed.  How long will the parents have with their children now? How far would they go in order to keep them?

Review:
I was invited to read this title from NetGalley. Right away, I knew it was going to be up my alley. It was creepy and filled with subjects that many wouldn't want to even contemplate. While the subject was a familiar one, there enough twists and turns to keep me reading until the very last page to see what happened. I'll admit, I wasn't sure how this was going to play out and was leery because of the saturation of vampire-like stories as of late. In the end I was glad to have given it a chance.

The story was told from the point-of-view of the adult characters. Most were parents but there was also a doctor and nurse who played big roles throughout the book. I felt that much of the dialogue between adults and children were appropriate for the ages of the children. None of the little ones sounded like miniature adults. There were the typical parent/child interactions that made me laugh but also made me feel the deepness of the pain when the children began their journey to become something other. As the world devolved from community into self-preservation, the behavior exhibited by the adults met my expectations and left me shaking my head at many points.

With shifting points-of-view by at least four characters, I feared getting lost or the story losing its momentum after the action began. The fear was unfounded for a large portion of the book as the world lost so many in such a short amount of time and then had a second wave of terror wash over it. In the middle was a sense of calm that left me feeling uneasy. When last act began, I knew there was no turning back for the adults, or the children for that matter. It was all much too late for anything to change the course.

Overall, I was drawn into the book's world and entertained. It was a quick read for me because I kept wanting to know how things were going to end. Although a lot of the information given and some of the actions were predictable, it all worked together to create a story that takes a parent's worst fear and turns it into the mother of all "what if" questions. The themes and ethical questions brought up by author leaving a person wondering what they might do if they found themselves in a similar situation. This book is definitely one of the creepiest ones I have read so far this year. If you're looking for something with a great creep and ick factor, then this is the book for you.

Suffer the Children by Craig DiLouie will be available at retailers on May 20, 2014. It can currently be pre-ordered in various formats including paperback, Kindle, and audiobook. Click the link below to reserve your copy from Amazon today.
Suffer the Children by Craig DiLouie