Losing Scars
Disclosure: I purchased “Losing Scars” from the author’s booth at the local Book Expo in November 2014. I have had limited communication with her about this book though we are members of the same writing group. I purchased a signed copy and as a courtesy, I contacted her regarding the below mentioned errors. The comments that follow are my own personal opinion. I received NO compensation of any kind, or from any one, to provide this review.I did not read past Page 30 of this book. In those few pages, I found multiple errors in almost every aspect of writing including but not limited to spelling, grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, verb use, clichés, echoes, dialogue formatting, logic issues. POV is first person, but the protagonist constantly refers to thoughts and feelings of other characters. She wrote in present tense, but the tense is inconsistent.
I will not be giving a rating to this book since I have not read enough to become familiar with the storyline, pace, or voice. I’m not going to continue reading at this time.
Evil Never Dies
Disclosure: I purchased this book from the publisher. I do not know the author personally but we do belong to the same writers group. The comments that follow are my own personal opinion. I received NO compensated of any kind, or from any one, to provide this review.
I truly enjoyed this book and I'm not a vampire fan. The premise of an old lady and reporter discussing 100 year old vampires was unique and provided a new platform for an old tale. The vampires were true monsters and came to life for me. Mr Ridgewell's writing seems to have matured from his first book and I'm looking forward to reading "Evil Unleashed" - the sequel to "Evil Never Dies"
The Drumbeater
Disclosure: I purchased a paperback copy of “The Drumbeater” in September 2014. I do not know the author nor have I ever had any communication with him about this book or any other subject. The comments that follow are my own personal opinion. I received NO compensation of any kind, or from any one, to provide this review.This novel was very impressive as it tracked the investigation into a murder that occurred almost seventy years prior. Neil, the investigator, led us through a maze of clues and evidence, all while under time restraints, to solve the mystery of the corpse buried on a Scottish Beach. The investigation went back to World War II. The prevalent silence of the elderly residents, he found in the nearby village, all added to the intrigue of spies and secrets that finally brought him to the startling conclusion.
The author told a unique and entertaining story and did it very well. His ability to use a very difficult timeline and walk the reader smoothly through it was very professional. His historical references were well researched and that accuracy gave the book a tight validity. I did find the story would occasionally veer off into a paragraph of excessive description. These had a tendency to bog down the pace of the book. They were quite beautiful and some were even poetic, but had little to do with the plot. As I read, I found them superfluous and unnecessary, and often skimmed over them to get back to the story.
The book provided the psychological details, and intelligent analysis of a good murder mystery. I really enjoyed this book and found it difficult to put down. I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good read. I am looking forward to the author’s next book.
The Space Between Houses
Disclosure: I purchased my signed copy of The Space Between Houses from the author. We are both members of the same writing group, but do not communicate outside that group. I have never had any communication with him about this book except at time of purchase. The comments that follow are my own personal opinion. I received NO compensation of any kind, or from any one, to provide this review.
This is one creepy book and I loved it. It incorporates ten short stories covering all kinds of situations that leave the reader looking over his shoulder and turning lights on. Henry, Old Wounds, and Trapped I really enjoyed, but Summer’s Friend was definitely my favorite. This writer leaves the finale to the reader and sometimes it’s frustrating, but overall this book is great fun.
I loved it and anyone who enjoys a good scare will find everything they want in this little package. This is the author’s first book and I’m waiting patiently for his next one. His style is unique and worth reading. I would recommend The Space Between Houses to any horror lover.
Escaping Barcelona
Disclosure: I purchased Escaping Barcelona in August 2014. I do not know the author, but I have had communication with him on the Goodreads site. The comments that follow are my own personal opinion. I received NO compensation of any kind, or from anyone, to provide this review.
I enjoyed the relaxed pace of this book. My reading was interrupted by my life about half way through. I decided I would start at the beginning again and read it through when I knew I would be able to finish it. I’m very glad I did.
Rudy is stuck in Barcelona. At nineteen, he finds himself a derelict, roaming the streets in search of food and safety. He has no money, no passport, no friends, and no way to communicate and no way to leave. This book takes you on the journey with Rudy as he attempts to survive in a foreign city and find a way to escape its dark side.
I liked Rudy and found his personality very realistic. There was not only a running account of his circumstances, a brief insight into the other characters, but also a familiarity with Rudy’s inner thoughts. He exhibits, through language and actions, both the childish emotions and mature logic, often found in young men his age. Despite horrible starvation, and the events he endures trying to stay alive, he also muses about social conditions and relationships, but with an underlying hopefulness. This viewpoint helps the reader see, despite a depressing story, a glimpse of light at the end of a dark tunnel. The other characters, settings, and scenes of the city were clear, but without excessive description. The pace increased when he reflected on the end of his time in Barcelona and the hope of an escape.
I am not a fan of first person POV and usually avoid books written in first person, but in this case, the book developed the character very well. The writer has an excellent command of this writing style and the story flowed beautifully. The pace adjusted perfectly for the story line, and I did not feel the halting jerks usually found in first person writing. The book read well and I found no spelling or grammar errors.
This book was a rare and enjoyable insight into a desperate person. I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a modern story line with a very likable character. This was Book 1 in the series Mad Days of Me. I’m excited to read the next two books.
Garden Spells
Disclosure: I purchased Garden Spells for the third time. I do not know the author nor have I ever had any communication with her about this book or any other subject. The comments that follow are my own personal opinion. I received NO compensated of any kind, or from any one, to provide this review.Wonderful fun book! I loved this story and recommend to anyone looking for an easy and different read. Precious is the only word for it. I've read it four times now and will probably read it again. It's so good, I went to lend it to someone and realized my copy was gone - again. No one has ever returned it. I ordered another one.
Really Neat Rocks: A casual introduction to the rocks & gems of Arizona and the lapidary arts
Disclosure: I purchased this e-book. I do not know the author personally but have engaged her in various online discussions. We discovered a common interest in the contents of this book. The comments that follow are my own personal opinion. I received NO compensated of any kind, or from any one, to provide this review.This little book was very interesting and provides information about the minerals in Arizona. I enjoy using rocks and gems in my jewelry making. The pictures were nicely done and the information easy to read and understand. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in rock collecting or jewelry making - good overview of natural stones. Although I normally prefer a more detailed reference, this is a very useful quick guide.
Chain Reaction
Disclosure: I purchased the e-book Chain Reaction. I do not know the author personally and have had only brief encounters with her on the Goodreads site. The comments that follow are my own personal opinion. I received NO compensated of any kind, or from any one, to provide this review.I enjoyed this book although it is not my normal type of read. The story was interesting and despite a couple spots where the pace seemed to drag a little, I found it flowed very well overall. The characters were well developed and the plot dramatic and detailed. The writer was able to add a literary quality to this book and still provide a decent plot line. I would have difficulty putting this read into a specific genre. It is quite unique and although it may not appeal to everyone. I would recommend it to avid readers. It's different and worth the effort.
Reading The Dead - The Sarah Milton Chronicles
Disclosure: I purchased the Kindle version of "Reading The Dead (The Sarah Milton Chronicles #1). I do not know the author, other than some brief interactions on the Goodreads site, nor have I ever had any communication with him about this book. The comments that follow are my own personal opinion. I received NO compensated of any kind, or from any one, to provide this review.I enjoyed this book. Although I am not normally a fan of paranormal - I am definitely a crime/thriller fan and this book did it for me in that regard. I felt the story was entertaining and the main characters Sarah and Anna were well developed and engaging.
The writing and dialogue seemed a bit stiff at times. I found the plot interesting but not as intricate as I would have hoped. There seemed to be a lot of back story initially and some places where the pace seemed to bog down. But nothing here to knock the reader out of the story.
I can definitely recommend this book and found it an easy and relaxing read.
The Thin Wall
Disclosure: I purchased the novella “The Thin Wall”. I do not know the author nor have I ever had any communication with her about this book. The comments that follow are my own personal opinion. I received no compensation of any kind, or from any one, to provide this review. This book made reference to The Marquis de Sade’s “Philosophy of the Boudoir” which chronicled sadomasochistic sex among wealthy eighteenth century aristocrats. I missed the sadomasochistic reference in the novella. The deviance in sexual behavior was minimal and nothing compared to De Sade’s work.
The characters in “The Thin Wall” came off as spoiled irresponsible brats with drug problems, and unsuccessful artistic careers. Only Julian was a successful lawyer, and understood his sexual drive. No character surprised me, as they paired off. The hook-ups were immediately obvious.
The book lacked a good plot and I found the writing had too much description. Although poetic, it was out of place and stalled the pace of the story. I found the first part of the book okay, but by the halfway point, the writing became tiresome as the writer began repeating the same phrases and echoes. The large amount of long narratives telling what’s happened, and how the characters felt, slowed the pace of the book to a crawl. She needed to show the characters and their emotional situations.
This novella was classified as “Dark Erotica” or “Dark Romance” but I found it didn’t fulfill either for me. Some passages inferred sexual activity, but no explicit sex was detailed in this book. The “romance” was boring and predictable. I read dark fiction and this book had me dozing. There was nothing disturbing or dark about it.
On Writing
Disclosure: I purchased "on Writing" on the recommendation of a friend. The comments that follow are my own personal opinion. I received NO compensated of any kind, or from any one, to provide this review.Very impressed with this book. Stephen King provided very good advice and I would definitely recommend to anyone wishing to be a writer.
That Which Lives Within
Disclosure: I received the free book "That Which Lives Within" from The Source Group for the purpose of providing an honest review. I do not know the author nor have I ever had any communication with her about this book or any other subject. The comments that follow are my own personal opinion. I received NO compensated of any kind, or from any one, to provide this review.I wish I could agree with Henry's glowing review, but as he said poetry is the most subjective of written art. This is my personal opinion and I have no doubt these poems may be wonderful to other readers.
I really did not enjoy the poetry and had a great deal of difficulty reading most of it. The majority of poems were written without consistent stanzas and a total lack of punctuation. The absence of any kind of direction left me confused, and even with constant re-reading I just couldn't seem to find the key to many of the poems.
I enjoy the flow of poetry and the almost sensuous beat of the words. I did not find these poems flowed well. Many were overly wordy or lacked continuity. There seemed to be a lot of emotion, but it seemed scattered. I would have loved to see more focus and direction in these pieces. The use of unnecessary words tended to destroy any smooth flow.
The Poepics, I managed to read, seemed simplistic and I agree they didn't seem to belong there. The art would have been better on its own.
My rating (2.2) is an average of the ratings I assigned to each poem. There were some very enjoyable poems and the tribute to the author's brother was quite moving.
I ignored the obvious formatting errors when determining my rating.
I think the effort put forth in this debut is commendable and I think there is a good deal of potential to build on. The author did not follow conventional poetry construction, which is completely acceptable and my personal preference. I would like to see her develop a stronger focus and direction, and learn to use words more efficiently.
I would also strongly suggest she consider her readers. Some kind of break point or punctuation, though technical, provides a guide that can make the work more easily accessible and produce that empathic connection between author and reader.
The Blue Room
Disclosure: I obtained the paperback book "The Blue Room" because of a shipping error. I do not know the author nor have I ever had any communication with him about this book or any other subject. The comments that follow are my own personal opinion. I received NO compensated of any kind, or from any one, to provide this review.Unfortunately I was unable to finish this book. The pace was very slow and the descriptions, although well detailed, did nothing to develop characters or move the story along. I found it difficult to follow and it simply did not hold my interest.
This book concentrates on characters and settings involved in the ongoing battles in Northern Ireland and could very well be enjoyed by someone perhaps more familiar with the settings, the expressions, and the passions of those involved. This book was very well written by an obviously very well-educated author.
I rated this book 2 stars because of the efficient writing and excellent editing. I would have given more had the story been able to hold my attention.
Locked Room: A Katla KillFile
Disclosure: I obtained the free Kindle version of "Locked Room - A Katla Killfile" today. The comments that follow are my own personal opinion. I received NO compensated of any kind, or from any one, to provide this review.
Totally enjoyed this short story. Definitely an efficient kill and enough detail to give the reader a visual of the event. Bought the first novel in the Amsterdam Assassin Series and decided to read the three "prequels" first. Very glad I did. Proceeding to the next short story and will review it as well.
The Eighth Circle of Hell
I purchased and read this book. Neither the author, Gary Dolman, nor any other person has requested this review. This review represents my honest opinion.Elizabeth Wilson, the lead character, lived horrors unimaginable. The incredible details included in the story impressed me. I felt quite uncomfortable at times because of the cruel and monstrous behavior of the Friday Club, but I still couldn’t put this book down. The author does not pull punches and provides a very vivid snapshot of a regrettable part of British social history.
The characters in the book come to life and you deeply feel their emotions and fears. The investigators gave the book an interesting storyline. Their personalities and intelligence imitated Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. The story flowed very well and the ending was perfect.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a truly great story. My only qualification would be the darker moments, but overall the book is quite memorable. It could fit into the Dark Fiction category as well as Historical Fiction.
Walk to Paradise Garden
I purchased and read this book. An honest review was requested by The Source, a Goodreads Group, involved in assessing the quality of self-published books. This book listed as historical fiction and began in 1914. It chronicled the life of fictional characters John and Evelyn Armitage. I looked forward to reading this book and unfortunately was very disappointed.
The first chapters chronicled the front lines of WWI and I enjoyed those. The research was excellent and the description of the battle was good. Once the main characters left the front lines – the book declined quickly.
I read the complete book but several times, I wanted to stop reading. I found the book overly descriptive. The point-by-point narrative of the weather conditions, clothing worn, food and drink consumed made for a long and boring read. The characters came up flat and in many cases, their actions and decisions seemed confused or just nonsense. Although I read the entire book, I never picked up a consistent sense of the lead characters, let alone the secondary characters. The writer noted the characters’ inner thoughts throughout the book, but many of those thoughts, although detailed for the reader, never materialized. There seemed to be a lot of wasted narrative on things that had no bearing on the characters or the plot.
* paragraph removed to avoid spoilers *
Much of the plot seemed contrived, and the book lacked the climatic conflict needed to hold the reader. Although I don’t think the writer intended to follow the style of literary fiction, the book was left completely flat with little basis as historical. The poor dialogue, the incorporation of a Longfellow poem in the middle of the book, and lack of plot arcs completely killed the pace.
I found only a few minor grammatical errors, several word echoes and several misused words. The formatting was a little hard to follow and more spacing would have allowed for an easier read.
This was not a book I personally enjoyed, but that doesn’t mean someone else could not enjoy this read. I would probably have been more receptive to it as literary fiction instead of historical.
