#402 ~ Script Kiddie

Script Kiddie by Michael F. Stewart

My rating: 5 of 5 stars





Book #2 in Assured Destruction Series



I was very kindly sent a copy of the second book in Michael's Assured Destruction Series in return for an honest Review.

I was pleased to see that this second book kept up the same high quality of writing, in particular the characterisation and plot pace were done really well. Jan's character has more added depth and texture, which is pleasing - girl power is always a good read!

I am still worried about Peter, and fear that he will prove to be a down and dirty villain, but am clinging to some hope that all will be well, as Jan and her Mother clearly deserve a break within the story line ... see that's what I mean about characterisation, they seem real, which is always the sign of decent literary ability.

Very few errors found (I will as usual add a list of them in the full Blog Post), kudos to Michael for a good quality product.

From me 5 Stars, and I am eagerly looking forward to finding out how this all pans out.


Product Details:

As mentioned above, I was very kindly sent a copy by Michael, the Author, but you can pick a copy HERE.  At the time of writing this post the Kindle version was listed at £1.91 and the paperback at £5.72.


Errors/Bug Bears:

Loc 60: ... Haines peerss at each of us.....

Should be:  peers

Loc 293: Bank machines laugh at me when I near them.

Should be corrected to:  Bank machines laugh at me when I am near them.

Loc 1113: The drab brick and corrugate siding makes ....

Bug bear for me, I think it should be: corrugated


* * * * *

I am so behind with my Reviews' at the moment, but will try to at least get the outstanding "Read" books written up before the New Year.

Happy reading.

Hugs

Kay

#400 ~ Kalorama Shakedown

Kalorama Shakedown by Robert Bruce Stewart

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Harry Reese Mysteries #3



I was very kindly sent a Kindle copy of this book by Robert Stewart in return for an honest Review.

The Novel was so redolent of an old black and white "gum shoe" movie, and it really bought back memories of Saturday afternoon snuggled up watching films based on plots like these when I was a kid. I really think that it would translate to a TV programme so well.

I loved the characterisations, in particular Emmie - her lines of dialogue were precious. The plot went along at a healthy clip too .... on the whole the work was funny, in places actually laugh out loud so ...... a big 4 Stars.

I will definitely be seeking out more in this series, the Harry Reese Mysteries. EDITED TO ADD:  Interestingly, upon updating the Review by Series list, I discovered that there is an Emmie Reese Series, I need some of those!


Product Details

As mentioned above, I was very kindly sent a copy by Bob Stewart in return for an honest review.

You can purchase a copy HERE.  The Kindle file is currently listed at £1.92 and the paperback copy at £5.42, both of which represent fairly decent value for money. 

Published by:              Street Car Mysteries
Number of pages:        274 pages
Genre:                       Fiction, Historical, Crime and Suspense
Reading Age:              Adult (contains no real sexual content)


Errors/Bug Bears

I know that I harp on about it endlessly, but I really hate "gotten", it's lazy so that was my main bug bear on this book.

There were in fact only two other errors, one of which is more punctuation:

Loc 275:  I saw a woman wrapped in furs leave the room where we had stopped.

I think it should be punctuated:   I saw a woman, wrapped in furs, leave the room where we had stopped.

Loc 3692:  Then she place her own bottle on the table.

Correct to:  Then she placed her own bottle on the table.


Happy reading.

Hugs

Kay

Stacking the Shelves Saturday (In My Mailbox)

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE CAROUSELS TAKE A FEW SECONDS TO LOAD: Ignore the fact that it's called "My Picks" too.

From the last week, the books on My Kindle: which are Ebooks chosen as me as Daily Selections on Amazon:



Books Received last week from the Author/Publisher or as part of the First Reads Scheme at Good Reads:




There you have it, that was my week in books, now I'm off to post this on Tyngas Reviews Stacking the Shelves Saturday linkythingymabob.

Happy reading.

Hugs

Kay

Stacking Shelves Saturday (In My Mailbox)

It's that time again .... here's what's arrived on my Want To Read shelf this week.


First Read Books from Good Reads or Received from the Author/Publisher for Review:

Ebooks (either my Daily Selections or sent in by Author/Publisher for Review:

Sadly this is no longer for free download at Amazon unless you are a Prime Member.

Sadly this is no longer for free download at Amazon unless you are a Prime Member.

At the time of writing this post it's still available for free download HERE.

At the time of writing this post it's still available for free download HERE.

At the time of writing this post it's still available for free download HERE.

There you have it, that was my week in books, now I'm off to post this on Tyngas Reviews Stacking the Shelves Saturday linkythingymabob.

Happy reading.

Hugs

Kay

Stacking the Shelves Saturday

As I mentioned in the week, I'm going to be taking part in Stacking the Shelves on Saturday at Tynga's Reviews.

This isn't a complete list, just the ones that I have got time to add to the post tonight.  Here's a selection of what's arrived:

Very kindly sent to me by the lovely Hazel Statham herself ... I am a huge fan, and have looked forward to reading this one for a long time.

Robert sent me a copy for Review

Received as part of the First Reads Scheme on Good Read.

Received as part of the First Reads Scheme on Good Read.

Happy Reading.

Hugs

Kay

Stacking the Shelves Saturday Meme

One of my Friends on Good Reads, Pamela(Slytherpuff) , mentioned on her Blog recently that there is now going to be a Saturday meme for the Bloggers/Reviewers to mention the books received for Review that week.

So instead of me writing my In My Mailbox individual posts, I'll add them on a post and link it at Tynga's Reviews on Saturdays.  That way I can prepare it through the week, and then just hit the Publish button.

Happy Reading.

Hugs

Kay

In My Mailbox

Stormbird

(War of the Roses Series:  Book 1)

Conn Iggulden

First Reads > Good Read > Fiction > Historical > War of the Roses

*Introducing a New Author to the Blog*

I recently received a copy of this book from Good Reads to Review, and I have to say it couldn't have come at a more convenient time, as the adaptation of The White Queen by Philippa Gregory is currently showing on BBC 1.

It has taken me a little while to dig through the "To Review Pile" to get to this, and squeeeeee I've done it.

As it's the Prologue to the series it won't take me long to get through.

So why not pop over to Conn Iggulden's site to have a browse around as you wait?

#375 ~ The Hardest-Easiest Story Ever Told

The Hardest-Easiest Story Ever Told

Matthew Treya

Kindle Store > Books > Fiction > Contemporary

Indie Writer (Self-published)

*Introducting a New Author to the Blog*

Description:

A modern-day Dantean pilgrimage in short novella form.

Product Details:

I was really lucky enough to be sent a paperback copy of this under the First Reads Scheme at Good Reads.

Short story - 44 pages long.

You can download it HERE at Amazon.  The listed price is 77p currently for the Kindle version, or the Paperback is £2.85.

* * * * *

Summary/thoughts:

This is a really short review, for a short story.

The cover is beautiful image that wraps around both sides.

As far as the story is concerned, it was written in quite a flowery style.  I found it a little hard to keep track of what was going on the first time I read it, and then re-read it a few hours later and it fell into place.

Taking into account the whole product, i.e. plot and cover, and the fact that there were no Errors/Bug Bears, I would award it:

4 stars

It was a good read, but it didn't blow my mind.  It does, however, look pretty on the coffee table .... and creates the impression that I am a far deeper thinker than in reality!.

Happy Reading.

Hugs

Kay

In My Mailbox

Crypto-Punk

George Traikovich

*NEW AUTHOR

Kindle Store > Books > Fiction > Fantasy

I was a lucky girl the other day to receive a paperback copy of this new book by Geroge Traikovich, via the Good Reads First Read/Giveaway Scheme:

Summer school wasn't supposed to end with a bang—but when the Zero Avenue kids bring Bixby Elementary’s water tower down during a class experiment gone wrong, they find their troubles are just beginning. Join Drew, Clementine, Grady, Newton, and Spider as they unravel the threads of an arcane conspiracy that blurs the line between science and magic, between friends and enemies, and draws them into an adventure that tests their character, and their loyalties to each other. Fight along side them as they defend their school, and their neighbourhood, from the growing menace of the Crypto-Punks.

Super cool cover, which I am eagerly looking forward to getting to on my reading list.  Books are coming in thick and fast from Authors and Publishers at the moment.

If you are interested you can purchase at Amazon HERE.

Hugs

Kay

In My Mailbox

Cold Courage 

Pekka Hiltunen

*NEW AUTHOR

Amazon > Books > Fiction > Contemporary > Crime

I was a lucky girl the other day to receive a hardback copy of this new book by Pekka Hiltunen, via the Good Reads First Read/Giveaway Scheme:

When Lia witnesses a disturbing scene on the way to work, she, like the rest of the city of London, is captivated and horrified. As details unfurl in the media the brutal truth transpires - a Latvian prostitute has been killed, her body run over by a bulldozer and then placed in the trunk of a car to be found. As the weeks pass and no leads are found, the story quickly disintegrates but Lia can't easily forget. So when she meets Mari in a late night bar one night she feels fate might have brought them together. Like her, Mari is a Finnish woman in London finding her way, somewhat of an outsider, very independent. But there is much more to Mari than meets the eye: she is a psychologist who possesses an unnatural way of being able to 'read' people, see into their inner most thoughts and pre-empt their actions. She uses her 'gift' to try to help people and has formed a close unit she calls the Studio, a kind of team of investigators, who are not beyond breaking the law to put the worlds to rights. Mari and Lia strike up a firm friendship and when Lia shares her plaguing thoughts about the murder, Mari thinks she and the members of the Studio can help where the police have failed. But Mari and Lia are about to step foot into extremely dangerous territory, especially as Mari has a will to control others, take vengeance on those she deems deserve it and use the Studio to unscrupulous ends.

I absolutely love the cover image, and can't wait to start reading it .... there are a huge amount of books ahead of it, but I like to try and bring books received for review ahead of Daily Kindle Selection, etc.  Maybe I will start it after my current read.

If you are interested you can purchase at Amazon HERE.

Hugs

Kay

#358 - Too Close for Comfort

Too Close for Comfort

Heidi Rice

*NEW AUTHOR

Kindle Store > Books > Fiction > Contemporary > Romance

Mills & Boon (Modern)

Description:

Rescued by a bone-meltingly handsome stranger! After a run-in with a Californian con-man, Scottish Iona MacCabe has no money and nowhere to go. She quickly discovers LA can be a very unfriendly city without tons of hard cash… Millionaire security expert Zane Montoya can hardly leave a pretty Scottish tourist at a dodgy motel to fend for herself. His long-lost chivalrous side takes over: he turns on the legendary Montoya charm and whisks Iona away to upscale Monterey. Independent, wilful Iona might be spitting daggers at being rescued, but that doesn’t stop the sexual heat between them reaching scorching point! Zane’s used to keeping all his women at arm’s length, and Iona’s way too close for comfort – but Zane only realises his long-held emotional detachment is at risk once it’s too late

Product Details:

I was very kindly sent a paperback copy of the book by Heidi, the Author, via the Good Reads Giveaway/First Reads system.

However, it is available on Amazon as a Kindle download HERE.  Actually, at the moment it's a bargain at £2.30 (usual listed price £3.49).

Published by Mills & Boon (Modern) on 7th June 2013.

192 pages (998 KB)

* * * * *

Summary/thoughts:

As I mentioned above, I was kindly sent a copy of this in paperback form my Heidi (the Author) under the Good Reads Giveaway/First Reads Scheme.  Lucky me, she also signed it and enclosed just about one of the coolest business cards ever.

To be honest, it wasn't the longest book in the world, more a novella, but it made up for it in decent writing and a lovely story. Very definitely in the Mills & Boon tradition, and I've loved Mills & Boon since I was a teenager.

I thorough enjoyed it, and have added Heidi to my list of favourite authors' as consequence. 

Zane Montoya by the way was a yummy full on Alpha Male Hero, with a cute and vulnerable side, who definitely met his match with the fiery lass from Scotland.


Rating:

4 stars from me, I just wish it had been a little bit longer.  Still, the story was more than adequately told within the length.

Errors/Bug Bears:

A well delivered product.  My only slight criticism was that Iona was a redhead, but on the cover looks more like a brunette to me ...... maybe it's just that the publisher felt a Red Head wouldn't help it sell.

Hugs

Kay

In My Mail Box

Too Close for Comfort

Heidi Rice

*NEW AUTHOR

I forgot to mention earlier last week that I received another book from an Author ..... so thank you
Heidi for sending me a "first read" copy via Goodreads for review.

Paperback > Fiction > Contemporary > Romance

I started it this morning, and I have to say that it's a great little read .... but, you'll get a fuller review in the next day or so - for now I will say that Zane Montoya is a sexy hunk of PI that makes me just melt!

The large title at the top of this post will take you to the book's Amazon page if you'd like to download a copy, or pick it up in your local book store.

If you want to find out more about Heidi Rice, then click HERE to go to her site.

Hugs

Kay

In My Mailbox

I've just received an email to advise that a copy of this book is on its way to me for Review.  How exciting, I can't wait to receive it and get going.

Hugs

Kay