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Showing posts from November, 2017

Bookish Ramblings # 4 - Workstation

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Hello Everyone, As most (if not all) bloggers know, you need a good desk to sit at if you want to do blogging. Until the middle of this year, I sat on my bed and did my online stuff (internet surfing); and it was comfortable. It was only a while after my sister had moved out of her room into her own place that I decided to take over her room for my new workstation.  My new workstation, whoopie! The room didn't look very neat (curtains need to be changed, walls need to be repainted, floor's carpets need to get torn out and replaced with tile), but it was fine for the time being until I could make changes to it. The changes happened very slowly.  I wanted to get curtains in July, but that unfortunately never happened. Though, I did manage to get some things in August, namely a plastic chair, a printer, a side table and a small book shelf, which has brought me a little further along in my workstation set-up. I have an idea that the other improvements that I want ...

Reveiw - Rapier by R.A. Correa

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Book Cover Year Published: 2016 Genre: Sci-Fi; Adventure Blurb: Kathy Masters never expected to journey to the stars until she was selected by the prestigious Galactic Geographic Society to photograph and get videos of the flora and fauna of a newly discovered class M planet before colonization begins. Filled with hope and enthusiasm, she boards the SS America for the trip to Beta 3 Epsilon to begin her new project. On the way, she is abducted and brought aboard the privateer Rapier, beginning her nine-year sojourn among the colonies of mankind. Going from captive to slave to induction into the infamous brotherhood, Kathy finds herself being called on to raise the adopted daughter of the crew of the Rapier. Given the responsibility to raise their princess, Cindy, with the help of Lien Lan Yi, daughter of the house of Yi and princess of the imperial court, they travel among the stars, preying on merchant ships, dodging Chinese warships, fighting pirates, visiting strange ...

Review - Splintered Reflections by Laura Kelly

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Book Cover Year Published: 2016 Genre: Contemporary; Inspirational Blurb: Shattered with the disturbing loss of both her parents, Cathy struggles with her identity asking every morning as she looks in the mirror Who Am I?  Riddled with guilt and plagued by the issues left unresolved with her mother's disappearance, she reluctantly pushes outside the box she has created for herself. Rescued from her isolation by a new friend named Jane, Cathy begins to break free of her shell through Jane's insistence that the world's adventures are to be embraced.  Further, challenged by a demanding, creative writing Professor, Cathy discovers the cathartic effects of writing as she pours her thoughts and feelings onto paper, transforming not only the blank piece of paper but also herself.  As if emerging from a fog, Cathy's recovered memories enable her to look within and begin to piece together the shards of her shattered life.Through her small network of friends and ...

My Week of Reading (20 - 25 November 2017)

Hello Everyone, It seems like I have managed to get two books finished this week. Reading still seems a little bit slow though.  Living the Good Death by Scott Baron: Amazon:  Amazon Review - Living the Good Death Goodreads:  Goodreads Review - Living the Good Death Here is my blog review of the book:  Blog Review - Living the Good Death Foolish Bride by A.S. Fenichel: Amazon:  Amazon Review - Foolish Bride Goodreads:  Goodreads Review - Foolish Bride Here is my blog review of the book:  Blog Review - Foolish Bride Monthly Reading Goals: I'm still busy with August's reading goal as well as October's; but I've managed to start this month's reading goal - though I am most likely not going to finish it by the end of November, since it also extends over the Christmas season - which means that I have decided to pick up a religious book.  Last Word: Since reading has been slightly slow; I've been trying to keep my schedule a bit quie...

Review - Foolish Bride by A.S. Fenichel

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Book Cover Year Published: 2017 Genre: Romance; Historical Fiction Blurb: Sadly ever after . . . unless some dreams really do come true? Elinor Burkenstock never believed in fairy tales. Sure, she's always been a fool for love-what woman isn't? But Elinor knows the difference between fiction and truth. Daydreams and reality. True love and false promises. . . . Until the unthinkable happens, and Elinor's engagement is suddenly terminated and no one, least of all her fiance, will tell her why. Sir Michael Rollins's war-hero days seem far behind him when, after one last hurrah before his wedding, he gets shot and his injuries leave him in dire shape. He wants nothing more than to marry Elinor, the woman of his wildest dreams. But Elinor's father forbids it . . . and soon Michael is faced with a desperate choice: Spare Elinor a life with a broken man or risk everything to win her heart-until death do they part? About the Author: A.S. Fenichel (Andre...

Review - Living the Good Death by Scott Baron

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My Copy of the Book Year Published: 2017 Genre: Contemporary with a hint of humor Blurb: Wearing nothing but psych ward pajamas and fluffy slippers, the odd girl wasn't really dressed to kill. Being the Grim Reaper, however, she felt confident she could make it work. Have you ever had one of those days? You know, the kind of day when things just don't go your way. Like when your botched suicide attempt and claims of supernatural powers get you hauled to the emergency room, placed under observation, then transferred to a locked-down psych facility. The girl who thought she was Death had failed miserably in her efforts to shed the troublesome human body in which she was trapped. The result? Finding herself surrounded by nutjobs, locked in a mental ward ruled by a humorless doctor with a Napoleon complex and a penchant for sleight of hand. Sure, she did technically bring it on herself, but how was she to know that trying to off herself in public and using her...

My Week of Reading (13 - 18 November 2017)

Hello Everyone, I thought it was going to be a quiet week; but it seems like I got two reviews out, so here they are. A Police Action by AA Freda: Amazon:  Amazon Review - A Police Action Goodreads:  Goodreads Review - A Police Action Here is my blog review of the book:  Blog Review - A Police Action Always Yell Fire by Matt Danza: Amazon:  Amazon Review - Always Yell Fire Goodreads:  Goodreads Review - Always Yell Fire Here is my blog review of the book:  Blog Review - Always Yell Fire Monthly Reading Goals: I have sort of managed to relax a little bit with reading this week - though I have made a little bit more progress here; I'm more likely to make some more progress next week. Last Word: At the moment; I'm busy reading two books: 'A Foolish Bride' by A.S. Fenichel and 'Living the Good Death' by Scott Baron, and these are two reviews that I will be getting up next week. I haven't been making a lot of progress with Nano, but I still d...

Review - A Police Action by AA Freda

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Book Cover Year Published: 2017 Genre: Military with a hint of romance Blurb: A Police Action is a gripping coming-of-age Vietnam War-era romantic novel. It is the story of two lost and confused young adults. It is love at first sight when nineteen-year-old Samantha Powers meets James Coppi at the Country Honky Tonk in Colorado Springs. There are just two problems to a storybook ending for Samantha's passion. She is pregnant with someone else's child and James, a young solider, is heading for a war in Vietnam.  Will this instant attraction be enough to form a lasting bond? What will happen after James is deployed? Will he return home safely, and, if so, will it be to Samantha? Follow along as the young lovers mature through their individual hardships and those that they share. About the Author: A. A. Freda is an award winning author who writes about life experiences he's had or people he's met along the way. His first novel, Goodbye Rudy Kazoo...

Review - Always Yell Fire by Matt Danza

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Book Cover Year Published: 2017 Genre: Horror Blurb: Three lost souls will collide as they navigate through a mysterious town saturated with ash raining endlessly from the sky. They soon discover that they are not alone and will have to work together in order to escape alive. As they uncover clues scattered through the town they will have to decide which is more horrifying, themselves or those who are hiding within the ashes. Heaven is forgetting, hell is remembering. About the Author: Matthew Danza and his best friend Adam Horeth, continue to explore the world of horror as author and editor. Their goal is to create a world of characters that their audience can become entranced with while relating to them. They have just finished their mini-series The Fin, and plan on continuing to explore the world of terror and thrills. Their newest gothic psychological horror "Always yell Fire" is out now! They got the call, but they didn't answer... Connect ...

My Week of Reading (6 - 11 November 2017)

Hello Everyone, Somehow I managed to get three reviews out this week. Meet Me at 10 by Vicky Jones and Claire Hackney: Amazon:  Amazon Review - Meet Me at 10 Goodreads:  Goodreads Review - Meet Me at 10 Here is my blog review of the book:  Blog Review - Meet Me at 10 Black Annis by Aubrey Law: Amazon:  Amazon Review - Black Annis Goodreads:  Goodreads Review - Black Annis Here is my blog review of the book:  Blog Review - Black Annis Zenka by Alison Brodie: Amazon:  Amazon Review - Zenka Goodreads:  Goodreads Review - Zenka Here is my blog review of the book:  Blog Review - Zenka Monthly Reading Goals:  I haven't started this month's reading goals - but I'll most likely get to them next week. Last Word: Since I've had a bit of a busy week with reading; I've toned it down for a day or two before I get back into the reviewing game next week. I'll probably be doing at least one review next week; ...

Review - Black Annis by Aubrey Law

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My Copy of the Book Year Published: 2017 Genre: Paranormal Blurb: An Ancient Black Witch is Resurrected I am Black Annis. Demon Hunter. Vampire Hater. Daughter of the Witch Queen Amelia. Destroyer of all who oppose me. The legendary and dreadful witch Black Annis resurfaces after she was brutally executed and snatches the body of an unsuspecting young woman in modern Los Angeles. Annis must adapt to the new world after four-hundred years of torment in the Lake of Fire and her hatred of the Priesthood with their demon allies is eternal. The hunt for her enemies has begun but the woman's body she selfishly possessed will change Annis in ways she never imagined possible. Can a Black Witch's cold empty heart ever know love? Powerful Necromancers, deadly Archdemons, and even the angels of Heaven all want to spill the blood of Black Annis. Those who seek to kill her will not rest until she is dead again and her dark soul is returned to the Lake of Fire. Abo...

Review - Meet Me at 10 by Vicky Jones and Claire Hackney

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My Copy of the Book Year Published: 2017 Genre: Drama; Women's Fiction Blurb: It’s 1958 and Shona Jackson, a twenty-something tomboy, is on the run from the neighborhood in Louisiana where her dark secret has been exposed.  Arriving in Alabama, Shona convinces the kind Jeffrey Ellis, wealthy co-owner of Ellis and Bruce Machinery, to give her a job and heads to the site with hopes of becoming invisible while she saves up the money to continue her journey to safety. There, she strikes up a bond with Cuban, who is on a similar path to her, but is racially abused on a daily basis by the workforce and by Jeffrey Ellis’s brutal business partner, Larry Bruce. Shona also meets Elbie, the elderly tool room supervisor, who has been covertly keeping a diary of all the horrific acts that have been carried out over the last five years by Bruce and his associates. As Elbie helps Shona and Cuban settle into their jobs, they are introduced to Chloe Bruce, Larry’s daughter, re...

Review - Zenka by Alison Brodie

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Book Cover Year Published: 2017 Genre: Humorous; Action Blurb: Devious, ruthless, and loyal. Zenka is a capricious Hungarian with a dark past. When cranky London mob boss, Jack Murray, saves her life she vows to become his guardian angel – whether he likes it or not. Happily, she now has easy access to pistols, knives and shotguns. Jack discovers he has a son, Nicholas, a male nurse with a heart of gold. Problem is, Nicholas is a wimp. Zenka takes charges. Using her feminine wiles and gangland contacts, she will make Nicholas into the sort of son any self-respecting crime boss would be proud of. And she succeeds! Nicholas transforms from pussycat to mad dog, falls in love with Zenka, and finds out where the bodies are buried – because he buries them. He’s learning fast that sometimes you have to kill, or be killed. As his life becomes more terrifying, questions have to be asked: How do you tell a mob boss you don’t want to be his son? And is Zenka really ...

My Week of Reading (30 October - 4 November 2017)

Hello Everyone, I have somehow managed to get two reviews done this week; as well as a 'Highlights of the Month' post!  Elsewhere by Meghan McDonnell: Amazon:  Amazon Review - Elsewhere Goodreads:  Goodreads Review - Elsewhere Genuine Jenn:  Genuine Jenn Review - Elsewhere Ewan Pendle and the White Wraith by Shaun Hume: Amazon:  Amazon Review - Ewan Pendle and the White Wraith Goodreads:  Goodreads Review - Ewan Pendle and the White Wraith Here is my blog review of the book:  Blog Review - Ewan Pendle and the White Wraith Monthly Reading Goals: I'm still attempting to finish August; and I've barely started on October, which means that I definitely haven't started on November's reading goal yet, but I'm hoping to get there soon. Last Word: It's been a bit of a tiring week; at the moment, I'm reading 'Zenka' by Alison Brodie; and I'll be putting up a review of that one sometime this week. I haven't made a lot of prog...

Review - Ewan Pendle and the White Wraith by Shaun Hume

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My Copy of the Book Year Published: 2013 Genre: Young Adult; Fantasy Blurb: Ewan Pendle was weird. Really weird. At least, that's what everyone told him. Then again, being able to see monsters that no one else could wasn't exactly normal.  Thinking he has been moved off to live with his eleventh foster family, Ewan is instead told he is a Lenitnes, one of an ancient race of peoples who can alone see the real Creatures which inhabit the earth. He is taken in by Enola, the mysterious sword carrying Grand Master of Firedrake Lyceum, a labyrinth of halls and rooms in the middle of London where other children, just like Ewan, go to learn the ways of the Creatures.  About the Author: The first story I ever wrote was entitled ‘The Stagecoach Robbery’. I was six. It was illustrated too, with colour drawings of the masked bandits with bags of loot in their hands in particular. I made it into a little book, complete with a green cardboard cover. I’m pretty sur...

Publication Day - Love, Secrets and Absolution by K.L. Loveley

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#LoveSecretsAbsolution  by  @K_L_Loveley #ReleaseBlitz    #PublicationDay #giveaway #win signed #book Title:  Love, Secrets, and Absolution: An emotional and gripping psychological, family drama. Author:  K.L. Loveley Release date:  1 November 2017 Genre:  Contemporary fiction Publisher:  Globeflower Books Buy:  Amazon USA  -  Amazon UK Add to Goodreads Book Blurb: People in the village gossip about Grace’s son, Alfie. He’s a lonely boy full of secrets, lies, and obsessive thoughts. How far can a mother’s love go? Will she ultimately sacrifice her life for his? Set in Nottinghamshire, this family drama follows the lives of Grace and Alfie as he transforms from a naïve, young boy into a teenager spiralling out of control. Love, Secrets, and Absolution is a coming of age story with a difference. Deceit, betrayal, love, and addiction, a family falling apart in the midst of teenage angst and...