Friday, February 20, 2015

Monday's Lie by Jamie Mason

Release Date: February 3, 2015
Publisher: Gallery Books
Author Website: 

Rating: 3 out 5 stars.

Synopsis:
When your childhood was far from ordinary, the one thing you'd want in your life is normal, unremarkable normal. Dee Aldrich knew her mother was something other than the cookie-cutter version of a suburban mom. All the games she and her brother, Simon, played as children taught them much more than their alphabet and numbers. After an unexpected event in her teen years, Dee wanted no more of the surprises and did the most normal thing she could think of at the time. She got married and played house with her college sweetheart, Patrick.

But as the years went by, some things began adding up in all the wrong columns. When the illusion of normal, boring marriage came crashing down around her, Dee used each of the tools she'd been taught to discover her husband's dark secrets. If he was simply having an affair, she'd be overjoyed, but something nagged at her. Can she uncover the truth before it's too late?

Review:
Offered at NetGalley, I requested the title because the description intrigued me by how much of an opposite it was to the usual way life went. The fact that Dee, the main character of the book, wanted nothing more than the "normal" life after all she went through in her childhood seemed different, unusual and exciting. The lengths she went to in order keep everything to her degree of normal was more than expected. Honestly, I thought it bordered on crazy when I first began reading the book, but as the story continued, I began to understand why she wanted the Ozzie and Harriett style of marriage.

The book was written in first person point-of-view through Dee's eyes. Privy to her reasons and thoughts, it became easier to understand her decisions that looked out of place or strange to others. Other major players in the book included her mother, Annette; her brother, Simon; her husband, Patrick; and her mother's unusual co-worker, Paul Rowland. There are a few others that play important roles in the action toward the end of the book, but revealing them at this point would spoil the story. Each of them were well fleshed out and interacted well with one another. In the beginning of the book, it was a bit difficult to figure out how Dee kept much of her emotional reactions under such tight control. Once that was explained, the rest of the pieces fell into place. By the end of the book, I was wanting to know more about Dee, Annette and even her smarmy handler, Paul.

At the beginning of the book, Dee recounted an event in her childhood that left her and her brother traumatized for many years later. It was a little difficult to get into the groove of reading the book after that because traveled up and down a chronological timeline little warning. Lots of flashbacks to her childhood and the night their lives changed added weight to their decisions as well as substance to their characters. The only drawback was that the transition between the past and the present was always seamless. Although bumpy at times, the transitions weren't always so distracting. By the middle of the book, the story had its teeth into me and I had to read until the end to see whether I was right or wrong in what I thought of Paul, Patrick and Dee.

Overall, this book was pretty entertaining. Definitely not your average, marriage in midlife crisis type of story by any stretch, the work Dee's mother did flavored the story from the beginning. I had a little trouble believing some of Patrick's reactions until the final few chapters of the book. The very last chapter of the book had me intrigued for whatever may come next for the likes of Dee and her brother, Simon. Lots of unanswered questions were poised in those few pages. The door was definitely left open for another look at the Vess family. If you're looking for book that's different with a cloak-and-dagger bent, then this is the book to be on your list!

Monday's Lie by Jamie Mason is currently available in hardcover, Kindle and audio-book formats. It can be purchased from various online retailers as well as local bookstores. The following link will bring up the book's page at Amazon.
Monday's Lie by Jamie Mason

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Currently Reading

After a week of coughing, sneezing and not much more than sleeping, it felt so good to sit and read through a book without stopping every four or five minutes. Finishing one book was a major accomplishment for the week. That seems sad to me because I want to do so much more and I know I can if I was able. I hope this means that I can get back on track.

With one step forward, I've had to take ten steps back. So many health issues between myself and several loved ones that have made the beginning of this year a very rocky and unhappy time so far. All of my projects are behind schedule to a certain extent. Bit by bit I'm gaining ground on all of them, but it's been a struggle in the time management department.


Next on the chopping block are;
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
She's Not Herself by Linda Appleman Shapiro
Seeker by Arwen Elys Dayton


Whittled from the pile are;
Monday's Lie by Jamie Mason


Because it's so cold, I'm almost always huddled down in my blankets. Right now I'm thankful for Kindle books as it's the only kind that I can hold at this moment. Is it warm where you are? Or have you been dealing with the bone-chilling cold as well?

Until next time,
Kay B

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

February's Hopes and Dreams

Ah, February. Cold, but mild. Month starting with predictions made by a groundhog.

Here in this neck of the woods, we've had a very mild winter to-date as far as snowfall is concerned. It's been more rain than snow, something odd because it's almost expected to see white stuff on the ground for a large part of the winter season here. The temperatures have been cold - almost bone-chilling cold. We finally got a decent round of the white stuff over the last few days. Unfortunately, it's also meant the next round of sicky germs have stuck around to get me down again.

I've used the opportunity to make headway on NaNo2012 once again. I am grateful that I finished the rough draft, but disappointed that I haven't been able to make it presentable yet. Because it  it wasn't making much sense at the time, I put the manuscript in a drawer and let it rest. Then a few weeks ago, my muse decided to Gibbs smack me with the right beginning to the story. It's taken off in nearly the same direction as the rough draft but seems tighter, more well-rounded. A few wonderfully honest readers have given me some good feedback with some things to work on, so I'm working my way through those bit by bit.

The only other big projects on my plate are finishing up some hooded scarves for the local nursing home residents for this year and some large scale gifts that I haven't been able to finish. I'm still not very well versed in the skill of time management. I tend to get lost within whatever it is that I'm doing. That sends me into overtime which puts me behind with everything else. The weather and pain levels determine which of the projects get priority. Ah, the life of the chronically ill. Blech!

On a positive note, I've got some wonderful books lined up for this year. Both Kindle and in print versions are going to be explored. I've got to achieve my original goal of reading through my bookshelves so that I can weed out the one-night stand books from the long-term lover books. A grueling process to be sure, but I'm up for the challenge.

Hope this month is one of accomplishment for you all, no matter what you're working on. Be safe in all you do.

Until next time,
Kay B

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Currently Reading

Another week, another round of feeling like poo. Our weather here has been up in the 50s F one minute and down into the 20s F the next. It's left me with sinus issues and some pain issues - both of which have put me behind in my reading again. I'm ready to do some serious health issue butt-kicking. I know things will be better as the season change from winter to spring. I'm just impatient.

On a brighter note, I've finally figured out how to make NaNo2012 flow better. The timeline was off in a major way between two characters before they came together in the novel. I couldn't figure it out for the longest time. Earlier this week I was up late doing some crochet work when the solution hit me like a Gibbs' smack! Now the book starts out way different than the original, but sounds much better - tighter and cleaner.


Trying to work through these lovely friends;
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 
Monday's Lie by Jamie Mason


Letting this go on to greener pastures;
Dragonholder: The Life and Dreams (So Far) of Anne McCaffrey by Todd McCaffrey


Because I am behind in my reading, I'm not going to be posting a review this Friday. Instead, I will post my hopes and dreams for the month. I'm praying I can get a few more books knocked out before the end of the weekend to resume regular posting on Monday. Stay warm!

Until next time,
Kay B

Monday, February 9, 2015

Dragonholder: The Life and Dreams (So Far) of Anne McCaffrey by Todd McCaffrey

Release Date: December 23, 2014
Publisher: Open Road Media Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Author Website: http://pernhome.com/tjm/

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Anne McCaffrey thrilled thousands with her tales of adventure and dragons through her many stories and novels. Many of them award-winning, they were her world away from the trappings of normal life - although many times her life wasn't the type of normal everyone expected. From her precocious childhood to the first book sold, the book followed her rise to fame and the thought process behind bringing her dragons to life.

Included in the book were introductions from both Anne and Todd, the most recent written in 2014. Along with highlights from the many stories and books written by Anne, her son related special moments that helped to shape the worlds and characters in her writing. 

Review:
Having grown up reading many of Anne McCaffrey's works, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to read this novel when offered at NetGalley. Nowadays there are a lot of books which delve into the world of dragons and magic, but back when Anne first began to create the world of Pern and its many inhabitants, there weren't many. Very few Science Fiction writers who created such worlds were women, putting Anne ahead of the game in many respects. This book chronicled much of Anne's life from her parents' beginnings to her childhood to nearly the end of her many mortal years.

While a great deal of the novel's focus was on Anne and her written works, there were moments when her family, friends and even pets shared the spotlight with her. It was easy to forget how small the Science Fiction community was when it first began to gain traction. Many of the big names such as Isaac Asimov, Robert Silverberg, David Gerrold, and others became a family of sorts as they met at various conventions over the years. This second family helped sustain Anne during some of the rough years when the words refused to be put on the pages. Anne's marriage and children were ever present in the book, shaping and molding many of the characters or storylines within her books.

From the first paragraph of the introduction, it was made clear that this book was more of a scrapbook of Anne's life than a cut-and-dry type of biography or memoir. There wasn't a lot of pages in the book, but each page was filled with intimate insights into her life. Pictures helped to put faces to names that were mentioned throughout the entire book. I didn't find a rise or fall to the pacing of the book because it was clear that this was one to have a steady pace from the very beginning of the book. In fact the anecdotes and revealing looks into her home life helped to keep the story moving, whether they were about Anne, her children or a number of different pets they had throughout their lives.

Throughout the entire book, it was plain to see that much of Anne's life could have mirrored that of many struggling writers in the beginning of their careers. To see her go through much of the same ups and downs made her easier to relate to in my eyes. It was also very interesting to see how the Science Fiction community grew on both sides of the pond, especially once Anne moved to Ireland. I liked the little inside jokes and special memories that were also shared in this book. No matter how much or little you know about her written books, this memoir helped to explain the origins and the journey to complete the world of Pern as it's known today. If you're a fan of Anne McCaffrey or a curious fan of Science Fiction writers, this is a delightful memoir that should be on your reading list.

Dragonholder: The Life and Dreams (So Far) of Anne McCaffrey by Todd McCaffrey is currently available at many online retailers and local bookstores. It can be purchased in hardcover, paperwork and Kindle editions. The following link is for the book's page at Amazon.
Dragonholder: The Life and Dreams (So Far) of Anne McCaffrey by Todd McCaffrey

Friday, February 6, 2015

The Resurrection Maker: A Thriller by Glenn Cooper

Release Date: November 14, 2014
Publisher: Lascaux Media
Author Website:

Rating: 3 out 5 stars.

Synopsis:
In his everyday life Arthur Mallory worked at a prestigious company as a chemist, but his passion was searching for treasure - especially the Holy Grail. His father and grandfather held the same passion as well as an extra rib, a gift descending from Thomas Malore, one of many who searched for the Holy Grail in order to protect it. A series of tragic events pushed Arthur to accept the challenge of finding the answers and maybe even the grail itself in order to keep it from the hands of those who would do otherwise.

Following his every move was a mysterious order who wanted the Grail. They occupied stately occupations and possessed a vast network of underlings who could their bidding without question. As they pursued Arthur, they relished each advance he made. Can Arthur thwart this cabal and retrieve the greatest of all treasures before they do? Will he be alive long enough to do so?

Review:
This title was one of three by the author offered through a special offer given to members of NetGalley. I was always a sucker for a good treasure adventure and quickly scooped up all three of them. This particular title dealt with Arthur Mallory and his search for the Holy Grail across Europe. Not only did the author present an exciting tale of adventure fraught with danger, but he humanized the search by using familial ties and emotions through the character of Arthur.

It was easy to root for Arthur because he seemed like the typical, everyman type of character who worked and played hard, but kept his emotions close to the vest on most occasions. Once he was on the hunt, the kid-like glee and excitement drove him further down the line and pushed until he reached the end of the line. There were his friends, The Loons, who met with him often to discuss the Grail and try to solve the puzzles surrounding it. Only one person really didn't fit until the last few chapters. I wasn't sure about her involvement at all, going back and forth on which side she truly stood. I still didn't know for certain and will have doubts. But out of all the characters, I think I liked Arthur's relative, Elizabeth, the best. She was sharp, witty and didn't let anyone or anything hold her back.

Right away the reader was introduced to Arthur and his Grail-seeking passions. From that moment the adventure began. Layer upon layer of intrigue and action moved the story along at a steady clip. What set this story apart from other such books that I've read was the chapters in which the past was explored. Those chapters brought a sense of humanity to the origin stories that people have heard over the ages. Though we really can't know for certain what occurred with those specific people, it added an interesting, enjoyable flavor to the entire book.

Overall, I enjoyed the first title by this author and look forward to the other titles that are on my TBR list. Some might see this book as predictable or run-of-the-mill, but I liked the little things that separated the book from the others. Even as it used many of the well-known clues, the story lingered over little phrases or actions that could've been overlooked. Using these to weave everything together, the author brought forth a nicely entertaining story. For those who love myths and legends from long ago or enjoy a treasure hunt, this book should be on your list to read.

The Resurrection Maker: A Thriller by Glenn Cooper is currently available in either Kindle or paperback versions. It can be found at many online retailers including Barnes & Noble and Amazon. The following link will lead you to its Amazon page.
The Resurrection Maker: A Thriller by Glenn Cooper
 

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Currently Reading

The sense of accomplishment at the end of a project is one to savor. I love how it feels to finally have all the pieces put into place. Only downside? There's always another project to take place of the previous one. In a way I'm glad that it's an endless cycle of various projects to keep me busy and my mind sharp. However, I have to remind myself to take a moment and just let the projects be done in order to work on other things.

For the past couple of weeks, I've been sneaking in some writing on a couple of different stories. Nothing too exciting at the moment to shout about, but they're all still in the beginning stages. I'm not sure where any of them are going right now. A few sentences on this one, two pages on that one - they're growing bit by bit. I know there will come a time when my muse will wake up and grab my attention. I'm just waiting on it.


Spending time with 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
Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
Say You Will (Summerhill Book 1) by Kate Perry
Prince Lestat by Anne Rice 
Dragonholder: The Life and Dreams (So Far) of Anne McCaffrey by Todd McCaffrey


Time's up for the following;
The Resurrection Maker: A Thriller by Glenn Cooper


The year has barely begun and I'm ahead of where I need to be on my reading goal. I know that may not last though, given all the bumps and roadblocks I had during last year. So I feel I better stay ahead if I want to keep on pace. What's been marked off your to-do list so far this year?

Until next time,
Kay B

Monday, February 2, 2015

Bridge to Destiny by April Marie Libs

Release Date: November 10, 2014
Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing
Author Website: http://aprilmarielibs.com 

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Avery Lawson's life was perfect in her eyes. She married her sweetheart, Mitchel, and had a smart, precious little girl, Hannah. In one fateful night her life was changed, leaving her lost and broken in so many ways. As she fought her way back from the edge, she took solace in her daughter. But life wasn't through with her and once again, Avery found herself nearly losing the last ray of sunshine in her life.

Pediatric neurologist, Dr. Nathan Banst, wasn't going to let anything happen to Hannah on his watch. As he and Avery's small support circle helped to put the broken pieces back together, Avery and Nathan grew closer than either of them anticipated. Was she really ready to love again so soon after losing Mitchel? Would she be betraying all their memories and their love by going with her heart?

Review:
Though I read a large variety of books by authors of all types, one of my favorite aspects of having this blog has always been giving a previously unknown or little-known author a platform to get their works out there. When the author of this particular book contacted me, I was happy to read the novel in exchange for an honest and fair review. Now, I did have some reservations about the book due to the women's fiction/romance aspects - only because I'm still fairly new to reading books within those genres. However, those disappeared within the first few chapters as the author made certain that this book was much more than the simple love story we've all come to expect.

Quite simply, the book described Avery's journey through some of the most horrifying events that could take place in a person's life. Her world was a typical one, full of friends and family, good times and magical moments that she thought would last forever. Within moments that life became a dream as her husband was taken from her, leaving her to struggle to find meaning in what was left. In her grief she discovered a small circle of people who became the lifelines she needed to regain control of her world. Her daughter, Hannah, and neighbors, Rebecca, Tom and Max, helped to make her life meaningful once again. Of course, life has a funny way of making you think everything's okay before it pulls the carpet from under your feet. And that's the point where Avery met Dr. Nathan Banst, pediatric neurologist at the local hospital.

Much of the first few chapters dealt with revealing Avery's world and the tragedy she overcame. I found the pace of the novel slow to start, but ramped up as the book continued. There were equal moments of sadness and comedy that kept me turning the pages. Now and then I felt that a few of the scenes were predictable in such a novel, but overall I think the author did a good job in keeping a fair balance of the ups and downs that are typical of life nowadays. For me, the meat of the story took place shortly after Avery found her spirit again right before another devastating accident threatened to break her heart once and for all. At that moment, the book took hold and I wanted to see the characters succeed instead of fail. It was easy to get caught up in the story and root for them.

In the end I have to say that I enjoyed the book a lot more than I initially thought. There were plenty of times when the sadness of the book weighed heavily, but then Hannah came in and brought her charismatic rays of sunshine with her. While a little of the book was predictable, the reactions of the characters differed from my expectation. I was pleasantly surprised by this book. While this was the author's debut novel, it didn't read that way to me. If you're looking for a novel with nearly true-to-life characters experiencing all the ups and downs that life can throw their way, this is the novel you should be reading!

Bridge to Destiny by April Marie Libs is currently available at several online retailers such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble. It can be purchased in digital format. The following link will bring up the book's page at Amazon.
Bridge to Destiny by April Marie Libs