#426 ~ Bonded

Bonded by Nicky Charles

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Prequel book in Law of the Lycans Series



There was nothing not to like about this one.

Fairly well written, and with a little tweak in the werewolf description and telling.

I featured on my Blog in April 2013 as a DSOA, and at the time of writing this it's still available free as a Kindle download.

If you like vamps and werewolf fiction then give it a go.


Product Details:

Featured on the Blog back in April 2013 this is still available HERE as a free Kindle Download.

416 pages
Indie Writer (Self-published)
Fiction, Paranormal, Romance, Werewolves


Errors/Bug-Bears:

Loc 979:  There was a hint of panic her voice - panic in her voice.

Loc 2146:  Then go do your job and I'll do mine - not particularly attractive use of language and punctuation, but that's me being fussy.

Loc 2559:  The way he was fixated on the two of them - I just think "fixated" is a horrible word.

Loc 5615:  Go check - there it is again, a partial sentence.

Loc 6351:  gotten - uck!!!


Happy reading

Hugs

Kay

#425 ~ Monsters of Templeton

The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I took advantage of being able to listen to music etc. at work, and so decided to go for another audio book. My thinking behind this was that I might not be able to actually read something whilst garnering some pennies to spend, but I could at least indulge my appetite for literature.

I happened across this one, which was borrowed from the local library, and what serendipity it was.

The world of Willie Upton was perfectly shown to me ... note, the "shown" not told. It's an endlessly perfect piece of literature that weaves a magic around the story of both Willie and her ancestors.

Having listened to it, I now want to get an actual copy of the book, so that I don't loose any of the nuances that Lauren Groff puts into her work.  This is all really impressive, as apparently this is Lauren's debut novel. 

Highly recommended, and 5 stars from me, for this, in places, laugh out loud, piece of finely-meshed writing with such depth of texture and structure.  Truly magical writing.



Product Details:

As mentioned above, I picked this up from the local library as an audio book, which I played on my Kindle Fire HD using OverDrive App (click HERE to go to the post on getting it to work for UK Libraries).  Obviously, as it was borrowed from the Library, it was free.

However, it's available on Amazon HERE as Kindle (£5.99), Hardback (£11.52); Paperback (£4.01) or Audiobook (£19.61).

480 pages
Cornerstone (2012)
Fiction, Family Saga, Hybrid (mix of contemporary and historical content)


Errors/Bug Bears:

Not applicable.


Happy reading.

Hugs

Kay

#434 ~ Short Story: From First Draft to Final Product

Short Story: From First Draft to Final Product by Michael Milton

My rating: 5 of 5 stars







It started off with the bare, and potentially beautiful, bones of The Bathhouse story, which helped to win Michael Milton a place on a Masters Creative Writing Degree Programme.

It then went on to show the various line by line edits, and helpful tips from other authors with a second draft.

Then a few words of wisdom from the man himself.

BAM then we're hit with the the final draft of The Bathhouse, which is truly beautiful by the way.

For anybody looking to improve their creative writing this is a must have book, no wonder it was an Amazon Best seller.

I can see this as being an essential go to book, for a top up on the creative process, or simply to lift my spirits.



Product Details:

I purchased this recently HERE.  It's listed at £2.99 - a phenomenal value for money product.

111 pages
Indie Writer (Self-published)



Errors/Bug Bears:

Loc 1555:  Ultimately, you should stick to stick to your gut feelings and ...


Happy reading.

Hugs

#433 ~ The Kingdom of Tamarack

The Kingdom of Tamarack by Ross Turner

My rating: 1 of 5 stars








Please bear in mind if you read the following, the fact that I have marked this as 1 star and DNF (Did Not Finish) should not be a damming indictment of this particular authors ability.

I gave it a go, but quickly decided that it just wan't going to ding my dong. I couldn't get a clear sense of the author's voice, and it was a little confusing. Most definitely an example of telling, not showing.

I can't even say that there were huge mistakes in grammar. It wasn't riddled with typos, there didn't even seem to be many punctuation errors (except Loc 31 and the incorrect use of a comma splice) - it just wasn't for me.

I have a whole mountain of books, in Kindle and of the old-fashioned book variety, to keep me going for well over a year; more are joining the book-lift queue to join that mountain, so I just thought "thank you, but I will give this a miss".

Please give the thing a try, you might love it - what is one reader's turn off is sure to be just the thing for a.n.other.


Product Details

One of my DSOA picks from April 2013.  Please download a copy and give it a go, prove me wrong.  It's available HERE.  Listed at £1.99 for the Kindle file and £5.37.


Errors/Bug Bears

Loc 31:  incorrect comma splice

#432 ~ The XXX Files: Episode 1

The XXX Files Episode 1 by Lexi Maxxwell

My rating: 4 of 5 stars







I downloaded this Kindle file, as Lexi Maxxwell was mentioned in the book I was reading (Write, Publish, Repeat).

Yes, it's certainly smut, but it was smut for the intelligent woman.

Usually, any erotica I read is full to the stocking tops with poor grammar, typos and the thinnest of plots.

Lexi's work is different. There was a decent plot, it seemed well planned and executed. The writing was of a decent standard. Nice little bits of humour in there too - tongue in cheek!

If you like erotica, then give this girl a go.


Product Details

Downloaded on Amazon in March 2014 HERE, and it's free too.

55 pages
Indie Published


Errors/Bug Bears:

Given the content, not a one.  Fabulous, this is so rare in that particular genre.


Hugs

Kay

#005 ~ Write Pracetice ~ Weasel

Today’s prompt is weasel words. These are words that you will use frequently in a piece of writing. They are quite often not needed.

The practice is to set the timer for the usual 15 minutes, using a weasels as the prompt - the actual furry, bitty kind, not the weasel words - and then identify what are your particular words. The consider how to re-construct your writing without using them.

Here goes:

Something caught Freya’s eye at the edge of the paddock. It, what or whomever it was, seemed to be behaving in a furtive manner.

As if they sensed they were being observed, the figure slunk along the tree line for a little way, and then dashed back into the tree cover, emerging a some way further along and then scurrying down the edge of the paddock, and weaving in and out of the shadows. It struck Freya that the not too small figure was just like a weasel.

Freya’s maid, Maria was slumped atop the mounting block, innocently chewing a small piece of straw, and trying to give off not only the air of patiently waiting, but being patently innocent. No doubt the cheeky minx had been taking the opportunity to talk to Damien the stable hand whilst they had been riding.

Gathering the skirt of her green riding habit in one hand, and shooing Maria along before, her she made for home. Tea time was approaching, and she needed to change.

Glancing back, Freya couldn't see the figure any more. Maria started to chatter about the ball next week, and so the curious incident was put to the back of her mind.

* * *

Sometime later, Freya joined her aunt in the blue drawing room for tea.

As she entered, a stranger was standing by the window with her cousin.

“Ah, Freya my dear,” Geoffrey said as he turned towards her “let me introduce you. This is Lord Rickardson.”

“Neil, my cousin, Lady Freya. She attended Miss Bloomestone’s Academy with your affianced.”

Coming forward from the light of the window, Freya was struck by the man. He wasn't too tall, had sandy hair and a moustache. Smallish eyes, that were so dark, and had a tendency to dart around, rather than fixing a direct gaze on you. He moved with a quick daring gait. The thing that struck Freya most of all, when he smiled as he spoke “So delighted to meet you Lady Freya. Elizabeth charged me with sending you her best wishes,” was that he had small, and somewhat pointed incisors. In all he reminded her of, a weasel.

I ran my text through Wordle, and it created a cool word map

and it's plain to see that I used 'Freya' a lot, so in this particular piece of writing I need to change that. 

From just generally writing, I know that the following a definitely weasel words for me:

• although
• however
• anything
• somewhat
• indeed
• safe
• fairly certain

I am fairly certain, that I have fairly standard phrase weasels too.

10,000 words targets - 15 minutes off and 434 words = 9,998 and 3/4 hour left

Happy reading.

Hugs

Kay

#431 ~ Write, Publish, Repeat

Write. Publish. Repeat. by Sean Platt

My rating: 5 of 5 stars








Really helpful, and I suspect a "go to" book many times in the future, informational book for those hoping to self-publish for the first time, or looking to do it quicker, better and with more results in the future.

It's got the same voice as the Self Publishing Podcasts, which are brought to us by the tremendous trio of Sean, Johhny and Dave.

There are also additional, and very helpful input, from people like Joanna Penn and Lexi Maxxwell.

For motivation alone you should read this book.


Product Details

I am a new listener to the Self-Publishing Podcast, and Sean is one of the broadcasters, so this seemed like a good idea to accompany them.

I picked it us as a Kindle download HERE for £3.49 - in my opinion that's fair value for money for the information and motivation.


Errors/Bug Bears:

If one looks hard enough, errors can be found, and I'm pretty sure they will fix them.

Loc 2332:  Any question a to exactly what that one's about?

Loc 4265:  She said we could we could include that language here:

#004 ~ Write Practice ~ End Game Prompt

My Write Practice today is working to the Prompt What's your End Game?

So, here's my 15 minutes of mind and finger vomit ... no words were harmed by editing in the following piece, although some grammar was bludgeoned to death:


My End Game

1.  What’s your purpose that your writing will serve?

I don't dream about being a hugely successful author, like Amanda Hocking, but I do dream that I will eventually publish something that isn't totally crap, that people will laugh at, and point to me in the street.   I also hope that when I do, and that day is not too far off now, I won't fall into the trap of leaving a trail of poor grammar, punctuation and typos in my wake, for the collective reviewing hoard to jump up and down on me.  After all, that would be stupidity beyond belief wouldn't it?  Haven't I just spent the last couple of years criticising others for doing that.  I want to be out there, but not just out there in a quiet way, oh no, out there and proud of my endeavours.

If I'm honest, and I do try to be most of the time ... I want a tribe.  A tribe, that will like what I do, recognise my voice and want to buy into it.  I don't specifically want to be genre specific.  The reasoning behind that is, pure and simple, I'm a Sagittarius (the butterflies of the cosmic world); I get bored easily.

I want to hone what I've learnt, and do it well.  Get better at it - thus why I'm totalling buying into the 10,000 hours to strengthen my writing muscles.

2. Who do you want to talk to?

I could totally stand in front of a group, back the Sagittarius thing, we like an audience, but I would much rather be something that is picked up on an ebook and read, and then the next thing I write is read because of merit.  My tribe, not necessarily all the same as me, would like variety and also a bit of spice.

I naturally gravitate to romance, it's what I love.  I am an incurable romantic.  I am proud of that fact.  I would love to try a bit on monster porn, or fantasy world building too.  Unlike my men, I like non-exclusivity in writing, and reading, habits.

I don't really do children (not even my own *boom tish!*), so I can't imagine ever writing a kids story.  Never say never though.

3. What about the money part?

Money buys shoes and handbags, and Marks & Spencer's Blackcurrant Sundaes.  I would be a fibber if I denied it wasn't important.  You can only buy lots of M&S cakes with lots of money (would I then be a big fab fibber?), so I would like to make money.

I would like money to help my dreams come true.  One day I would love a small, but successful ebook publishing company, that will take money, money, and even more money.  I would love a trip to New Zealand, that will take lots of pennies too.

I am not the next Amanda Hocking, but I am going to be an Indie Writer this year.  For the moment, that will be good enough for me.

I'm doing well towards the whole 10,000 hours thing - 4 x 15 minutes = 1 hour.  I have 9,999 hours to go.

© Kay Bolton

Happy reading, writing, or whatever floats your boat.

Hugs

Kay

#430 ~ Love Me Always

Love Me Always by Marie Higgins

My rating: 2 of 5 stars





Book #1 of the Field Brothers Series




The cover is absolutely beautiful, and this is what tempted me to feature it as a DSOA pick in April 2013.

Unfortunately, I was deceived by the beauty of the outside, and found something less than beautiful inside the covers.

It was reasonably well conceived with regards to the plot, but was badly let down by the research, or apparent lack of it by the author. There were more holes in it than a Swiss cheese.

The author seriously needs to go back to the drawing board, undertake some research, and fix the errors.

The grammar and punctuation was also poor. In fact, there was so much wrong with it that I struggled to finish, and completely gave up on my list of errors/bug bears. I would say that 30% was affected.

I awarded 1 star for the actual content, and 1 star for the cover - thank goodness they picked that cover!

I won't be reading any more of the series, and I won't be adding it to my Review by Series list either.


Product Details

I featured this as a DSOA pick on the Blog in April 2013.  It's available HERE for £2.56.  If a decent edit was undertaken, then this would be a fair price.


Errors/Bug Bears

There were so many that I gave up counting them.  


Happy reading.

Hugs

Kay

#003 - Write Practice - Paris Prompt

"Paris is the City of Light, the city where the great modernists writers lived and met each other, like James Joyce, Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, F. Scott Fitzgerald and more. It’s the city where Ben Franklin did diplomacy and wrote for more than a decade. It’s the city of Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables and Charles Dickens A Tale of Two Cities."

Timer set for 15 minutes, ready, steady, go:

Every week, on a Monday, at precisely 10 a.m, I come to this café.  It's not the best café in Monmarte, and it does't serve the best coffee, but I just love to be here.  The comfortable atmosphere, the smell of cafe au lait and croissant, the spotted tableclothes and iron tables and chairs.  It's all typically Parisienne, and quite compelling.  The most compelling thing though, is him.

I imagine that he would be like the first bite of buttery soft croissant with a dark pinch of chocolate right at the heart.

Short, darkly, curling hair and blue, blue eyes like the sky on a June day.  A patrician nose and the most full, and I have to say darkly tempting lips.  Oh, and did I mention that behind.  Very smart, very tight, very attractive pulling over that peach, that I would just love to run my hands over.

I'm not some oddball, weirdo creep, really I'm not.  I just love him.  He makes my heart trip and bump along like a brook, and the worst thing about all of this is that he has no idea.  No idea at all that I feel that way.

As I stutter my way through a sentence asking for order, he smiles ... those baby blues all crinkly at the corners, and I'm rewarded with a brief glimpse of perfect white teeth.  Oh, what it must feel like to have those bite down on me like the croissants I love so much, and scrap their way along my arm, and then nibble right back up again.

I sometimes like to imagine that he keeps that smile just for me, and then pops into a jar when I'm not around.

Poor delusional old woman that I am, I know that's not really the case.  I duck down my head, and carry on reading my book.

He places my cup carefully in front of me, and next to it the croissant.  Today though, it's not the usual one, it's a heart.  Maybe, just maybe he's trying to tell me something too.

© Kay Bolton

Perfect timing, 3 seconds left on the clock - I enjoyed that.  I know that it needs editing, but as a start it's quite nice.  

If you get time, have a go at The Write Practice, it's great fun.

Hugs

Kay

#002 ~ Novel Experience & #002 ~ Write Practice

Yesterday's Write Practice talked about Conflicts, and how ideally there should be three:

• External - World
• External - Personal
• Internal Conflict

This actually ties in quite nicely with the character development sheet I've been working on for my male protagonist, so I thought I would try and flesh out some of the conflicts that he has, or do affect him:

External - World

J's upbringing in a quiet coastal town, with happy and loving parents.  His father died, which is one conflict in his life, but the biggest, and most telling, was that he was unaware that he was the grandson of a Duke.  His grandfather died when was 11, and he inherits the dukedom.  He's taken away from everything secure, happy and certain, to a life of misery and loneliness.


External - Personal

Plunged into a totally different world he has to learn to navigate and find himself.  He is bullied at school, but does manage to find a few close friends, who are able to accept him, and look past his unconventional childhood.

He desperately misses his mother and close family servant, and is never allowed to see them.  He is allowed to correspond with home infrequently.


Internal Conflict

Partly because of his nature, but fuelled in the greater extent by what has happened to him since his grandfather's death, he has become obsessive about controlling his environment - the ultimate neat freak.  In actual fact, he could be considered to have mild Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.  Everything needs to be in its place and run to time.   This causes amusement, and some frustration with his friends, but has prevented him from forming strong emotional attachments/relationships with females.  He is a virgin, but has become adept at covering it up.

However, he harks back to his happy live with both of his parents, and feels that there is something missing - he has no idea how to go about letting go enough to allow some woman into his life. 

© Kay Bolton

This exercised has proved really useful, I just need to work them into the actual novel now.

Obviously, I have allowed for 2 pinch points as well, but don't see them as conflict areas necessarily.


Hugs

Kay

#001 ~ Novel Experience

It has been lovely and quiet this morning, and so I have taken advantage of this and started on the outline of my novel.

The situation has reached ridiculous proportions:  whenever I have any contact with at least 5 friends, my English Tutor and my Aunt, they ask the same thing ... have you started yet?

It's driving me mad, and therefore the best course of action was to actually stop resisting, and get going.

From my notes, which incidentally I write, or rather dictate, when walking the dog, I've put down the bare bones of the Prologue, Acts, Epilogue and Extras.

When I write anything, even a short story, I do this.  On Word and it gets messy and difficult to control.  So, yesterday, Guy downloaded Srivener for me ... and it makes life easier.

The really scary bit, was when I worked out the word count, and added the approximate number of words per block in each Act - I am now bricking it.  That is a serious amount of wordage!

As Biddy, my English tutor always complains I write too much when I get going, hopefully it will seem less like looking up at Mount Kilimanjaro when I'm just in bedroom slippers instead of full on climbing gear.

Wish me luck I'm going in....


Hugs

Kay

#001 - The Write Practice

I stumbled across a site yesterday that encourages 15 minutes a day of writing, using prompts and re-creations as the inspiration.  I recently had to do a controlled assessment for my English exam based on exactly that.

Therefore, it seems like a good idea to continue.  Following my other controlled assessment for just plain old creative writing, my English Tutor, Biddy, told me to get off my butt and start exercising my writing muscles - over and above the usual blog post and review writing - and submit some of my work for publication.  It is something that I have thought about for the longest time, and now I've decided to shift my large behind into gear and get on with it.

This is my first piece, and I just started the timer and hit the keypad - I know that I have a harsh reputation for talking about mistakes, but this is not edited, re-worked or checked for spelling/grammar, it is just my first Write Practice piece (it goes without saying that it's copyright and all rights reserved to me, Kym Bolton):

“What did I know best that I had not written about and lost? What did I know about truly and care for the most?” ~ Ernest Hemmingway

Ernest Hemmingway said “What did I know best that I had not written about and Lost? What did I know about truly and care for the most?”

In my case one of those things would be my mother, and it's a story that is tragically simple, or simply tragic, depending on which side of the coin you view it.

From my side it is tragic, and funny I guess because of the things I will do to not talk, or indeed, write about my feelings, and I admit it, some of the things I have done.

For instance, I would rather wash up a whole load of dirty dishes; mop the floor; clean a bathroom after a slobbering 20 year old male – who, by the way has the worst aim in the history of man. I could walk the dog, clean up dog poop in the garden, rod the bloody drains … anything, but have to talk about her.

Explain just why I feel so angry, disappointed, furious, and {taking a deep breath and heaving a big sigh} JEALOUS. There, I've said it; it's out in the open for all to know now. Of course, I would never actually admit that to the old cow.

Actually, I would never admit anything to her, just because Mr Ernest Hemmingway has prompted me to write about it, and admit in some small way that word “jealous”, still doesn't make it easy to explain to you the reason.

I suppose the time is now ripe to explain a short portion of why my mother and I don't speak, let alone communicate. Did I mention that we live next door to one another?

Bloody hell, there are still 6 minutes remaining on this bloody timer that was set for The Write Practice. How the hell, can I prevaricate a bit more to stall explaining the whole sorry story. Especially, when I know for certain – like the kind of certainty that England is crap at football, and will never win the World Cup again certain, that it will, and does, make me look bad. Never mind that if viewed from my side, it also makes her look pretty bloody shitty too.

Can I just put it out there, in case you were wondering, I really am not a horrible person. She, my grey haired 76 year old mother, and her 60 year old creepy toy boy lover make me behave like a truly horrible, disgusting and vengeful person.

So, let me explain why our 50 year old loving (in the most part) mother/daughter relationship has gone from happy, or happy'ish, to I could kill you, and be happy to spend the next 17 years in jail celebrating the fact.

Why, oh why Mother dear, did we choose to move to this village of the damned?

On the outside it seems a perfectly normal, middle class, exceedingly polite, friendly even … in the case of my neighbour, too bloody friendly ….

THANK THE LORD, THE TIMER HAS GONE OFF … MY 15 MINUTES HAS ENDED!

Feel free to rip it apart, or be kind, just let me know what you think.

Hugs

Kay

#429 ~ Ebook Publishing Success

Secrets to Ebook Publishing Success by Mark Coker

My rating: 5 of 5 stars






It's not the first time that I've read a Mark Coker's publication, I quite often refer to my Smashwords Style Guide (don't be fooled it's not just relevant to Smashwords), and therefore I was quite excited to find the time to read this one.

Not just one off reads, they are useful over and over again to bone up. Full of words of wisdom, tips and tricks and examples of how his information has been successfully applied by others, his work is a must for anyone looking to publish, market and sell ebooks.

As the Founder of Smashwords, he has proved he knows what he's talking about.

I was particularly interested to see that he mentioned Shayne Parkinson, who has successfully managed to increase sales by offering the first in the series (Sentence of Marriage) as a free download in hooking the reader in to buy the remainder of the series. That is in fact what happened when I read it.

He also mentioned Ruth Ann Nordin as somebody who offered An Inconvenient Marriage for free download, and the fact that some reads didn't like it, but others liked her work enough to actively seek out and pay for other titles she'd written. It's a long time ago now, but I think I was particularly kind about her book, but saw something in her that has made me purchase some of here other titles.

After reading his book, I now feel totally vindicated about banging on endlessly about cover images ..... get a good one and it will help to generate interest from somebody who has never read anything by you before!!

On the basis that I started it quite late in the evening and then couldn't put it down until the early hours - always hard to believe for a non-fiction book - plus the wisdom and insight to be gained I gave it a the full big Five-O ... it can be useful even if you don't use, or never intend to use Smashwords. Highly recommended.



Product Details

It was featured as a DSOA on 17th April 2013.  It's available HERE, and at the time of writing this it's still a free Kindle download.

178 pages
Published via Mark Coker Smashwords (2013)



Errors/Bug Bears:

None noted.


Happy reading/publishing folks.


Hugs


Kay

#428 ~ Almost Perfect

Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher

My rating: 5 of 5 stars






I chose this book, in audio version, with no fore-thought. It was simply available at the time on the limited selection of audio books that East Sussex Library has to offer.

It was purely meant to be an auditory vehicle for getting through the working day.

I am delighted to give it 5 stars though, it was simply a beautiful story; told in a beautiful and simple way.

This book was "Almost Perfect" ... it was perfect.

The narration was also outstandingly done. All credit to Kirby Heyborne he did a magical job, and has the most lovely voice.

I realise that the subject matter might not be for everybody. However, try to let go of any prejudice, and see it for the lovely piece of literature that lies beyond the plot.

Actually, it managed to up root one of my own prejudices, in that I haven't truly believed until this moment that a man can write anything but shoot 'em up or spy tales. I am wrong, and will not make that mistake again.


Product Details

I borrowed the Audio Book Version from the local library, via my OverDrive app (click here to see my post about getting it to work on Kindle Fire in the UK).  Perfect for a bit of easy listening on the train @RailBookClub Members.

10 hours and 40 minutes
MP3 Audiobook Format
Narrated by Kirby Heyborne

I think I will get myself a Kindle copy of this, as it is definitely a book that I would read again and again.

You can pick up a copy HERE for £3.71 - now, that is an excellent price in my opinion.

370 pages
Delacorte Books for Young Readers; 1 edition (13 Oct 2009)



Errors/Bug Bears

NONE - have you any idea how happy that makes me?


Happy reading.

#427 ~ The Absence of Harry

The Absence Of Harry, Sex Without Love, Love Without Sex by Zander Zink

My rating: 3 of 5 stars







This was another one of my DSOA picks from around April last year.

If I'm honest, I would say it wasn't awesome. Some humorous moments; some sad.

It didn't set the world on fire, and the best I can say is it was an okay read, and even better I picked it up for free.


Product Details

I picked this us as a DSOA on 17th April 2014, but at the time of writing this post it is available HERE for £1.53 - on okay price for an okay read.


Errors/Bug Bears

Just three, which is quite good going.

Loc 304: as if under dong hypnosis - not sure if this is an error, or I am just a little bit ignorant.  Can someone enlighten me if 'dong' actually a real form of hypnosis?

Loc 1056: Night time at Kevin's flat, where he is on the floor the main room ... - floor of the 

Loc 1090: She was so fine sigh, ... - it should have been expressed as "She was so fine," he sighed.

Happy reading.


Hugs

Kay

#426 ~ Dying to Get Published

Dying to Get Published by Judy Fitzwater

My rating: 4 of 5 stars







I really rather enjoyed this, although I have to admit that I don't generally read crime fiction.

Nice written, good characters, plot and pace. It was amusing and interesting, in places just plain laugh out loud funny.

I will definitely read by Judy Fitzwater in the future.

Even better for me, it didn't cost me a bean as it was one of my DSOA picks from the Blog in April 2013. Full Blog Post #426 in March 2014.


Product Details:

As I mention above, this was a DSOA pick (freebie Kindle download at the time).  It's available HERE, and hold on to your ha'penny, it's still available for free ... RUN and grab a copy before somebody notices.


Errors/Bug Bears:

Loc 1087:  Teri grinned up at her, bringing her back leg around front and the pulling her forehead down to her knees - to the front.

Loc 1961:  ...the bathroom before I got sick - was sick.


Just to annoying things, that's amazingly good.  We all know how nit-picking I can be!

Happy reading.

Hugs


Kay


PS:  I need to pick up the pace with my Reviews.  I am really, really lagging.  They may not be coming out in the order read, for a little, as I just need to do a new one, and follow it up with one from the Review Mountain.

#425 - Cats Have Staff - Ingrid Hooper

Cats Have Staff - The Saffi & Misa Diaries by Ingrid Hooper

My rating: 2 of 5 stars





For me this was just a little too simply written, with poor grammar and punctuation.

Unfortunately, the author did have a very clear 'voice' with her writing, and it left me cold. The shame of it was that it's a nice idea that just needed work.

I can see as charming letters/emails to a friend it worked well, just not well enough for me. Thank goodness I managed to get it as a freebie download.

Advice to the author, go to some Creative Writing classes and re-work it.


Product Details:

A DSOA pick from 23rd April 2013, which meant it was featured on the blog due to being a free Kindle download at Amazon at that time.  If you wish to read this it can be purchased HERE at £3.94 for the Kindle download.


Errors/Bug Bears

Nothing specific, but then I didn't invest too much in analysing it, as it was just not that great a read.

#424 ~ Xandria Drake: Ancient Rising

Xandria Drake: Ancient Rising by Laura Cantu

My rating: 3 of 5 stars







Another one of my DSOA picks, that I've finally found time to read.

Fundamentally, the plot was okay, but it lost a star mark by virtue of the fact that I found it a little convoluted and effort heavy. By that I mean that it felt as if the author forced a bit too much out in the way of details, names, races and twists and turns - there is a fine line between over egging the pudding and getting it spot on. In this case there was an egg yolk to many.

I haven't made up my mind if I will read any more of the series.

Going completely against my usual practice, I decided to get my thoughts down down for this one right away, and so it is #424 on my Blog in March 2014 (I will play catch up with the books read, but yet to be reviewed).



Product Details:

As mentioned above this was a DSOA pick from April last year, it can be obtained HERE for £6.43 for the Kindle download.  Ouch, that's a bit on the steep side.



Errors/Bug Bears:

Just a few, it was a completely clean offering.  Sorry, it's late and these are a bit rushed, I will come back in tomorrow and tidy them up a little.

Loc 2547:  I struggled to my hands and knees, not sure I could to stand

Loc 4760:  Had Aydin also mention that gifts could seem like a curse?

Loc5258:  ... is a least 100 acres ...

Author goes on to state that portal is 'few miles away'.  Needs to learn how far 100 acres would stretch, and it's not a few miles.

Loc 5649:  Shaine was bit at the carnival - bitten.

Loc 6338:  Kevin's expression grew dimly - expression dimmed.

Loc 6338: go look - go and look.

Loc 6354:  go look - ditto.

#423 ~ Blind Ambition

Blind Ambition by Grace Harwood

My rating: 5 of 5 stars







I don't usually like to write reviews out of order, but I am making an exception with this one. The full review can be found on my Blog #423 (March 2014).

I received a free copy via the First Reads Scheme on GoodReads, and it's an example of just why the scheme is so good. Ordinarily, even though I have ridden (and competed myself) all of my life, I would not, most definitely not, have chosen this book to read under my own steam. How very wrong I would have been too.

It was breath-holding-ly, heart-stopping-ly brilliant from the very first word Grace Harwood placed on the page. A work of total genius. Funny, pathetic, moving, funny, exhilarating, in a never ending and ever increasing circle, with a magical ending.

I am not going to give any plot spoilers, you will have to trust me, and read it.

With characterisation beyond belief, this is a book that will take you for the ride of your life.

Well done Grace Harwood, you are quite simply a FABULOUS writer. I applaud you, and thank you for this hulking literary diamond.

So from me a 5+++++++ rating, and I can imagine reaching for this book when I need a boost.


Product Details:

I was provided with a free copy via the First Reads Scheme on GoodReads, but you can pick up a copy HERE at the unbelievable price of 77p for the Kindle download and £3.19 for the paperback.  I would advise that you pull on your running shoes and dash over there.  It was an amazing read, and I've less books that aren't worthy of kissing its feet for far, far more.  Run before they realise the mistake.


Errors/Bug Bears:

Are you kidding?  None, nothing, not a one.  The only error I can see is the price being too cheap.


Hugs

Kay