Friday, September 30, 2016

Net Galley Reviews

Hello, all here is my review for Net Galley. So, let jump in shall we?

Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd: A Flavia de Luce Novel
I absolutely love this series. I will be purchasing this hardback for my collection. Flavia de Luce. and Alan Bradley never disappoints. Hope Mr. Bradley continues writing this series. Christmas is coming so buy it for the mystery lover in your life. here is the synopsis: In spite of being ejected from Miss Bodycote’s Female Academy in Canada, twelve-year-old Flavia de Luce is excited to be sailing home to England. But instead of a joyous homecoming, she is greeted on the docks with unfortunate news: Her father has fallen ill, and a hospital visit will have to wait while he rests. But with Flavia’s blasted sisters and insufferable cousin underfoot, Buckshaw now seems both too empty—and not empty enough. Only too eager to run an errand for the vicar’s wife, Flavia hops on her trusty bicycle, Gladys, to deliver a message to a reclusive wood-carver. Finding the front door ajar, Flavia enters and stumbles upon the poor man’s body hanging upside down on the back of his bedroom door. The only living creature in the house is a feline that shows little interest in the disturbing scene. Curiosity may not kill this cat, but Flavia is energized at the prospect of a new investigation. It’s amazing what the discovery of a corpse can do for one’s spirits. But what awaits Flavia will shake her to the very core.


  Choose Your Own Misery: Mike MacDonald The Holidays Here is another great Christmas gift. I loved the uniqueness of this book. I loved the choose your own adventure book as a kid, so this didn't disappoint. I will be picking this up in print form.  I did notice Mr. MacDonald  has another book in this format called The Office I hope he continues writing this format.  Here is the synopsis: This is the year you’re going to do it: you’re going to avoid Christmas completely!

...or you were, until your island getaway got washed out by a hurricane. Now you have to choose: should you spend the holiday with your shrewish sister and her Europhile husband, or endure your new girlfriend’s family for a week? Help chop down a tree even though it might throw out your back, or endure the icy judgment of a woman who thinks only children and pussies help bake cookies? Jet off to the glamorous slums of Kingston, Jamaica, or accept the offer of a ride from a man who never stops smiling...and is probably going to turn you into a skin suit?

From the writers who brought you the hilarious parody Choose Your Own Misery: The Office comes a second helping of misery with a festive twist. Christmas is full of fun surprises for kids, but for adults, it’s just an endless series of aggressive crowds, overwhelming credit card debt, and pretending to like the people you’re forced to spend it with.

Once you unwrap all the holiday misery hiding in these pages, the blackness of your heart will rival any lump of coal.

Just Life Neil Abramson     
  America is full of strays: dogs, cats, people. It seems far too easy for beings to “fall through the cracks.” Yet there are people who care, who reach out to these lost creatures, and try to make them whole. Sometimes, it’s difficult to tell who’s the rescuer, and who’s the rescued, as the act can heal both. “Just Life” delves into several such stories -- a woman estranged from her scientist father; a priest losing his faith and more; a young man damaged by foster care. In each case, saving a canine life saves them.

At the same time, America is full of people who deeply love their pets, thinking of them as one of the family. “Just Life” poses the question: How far would you go, to protect your animal from a government looking for easy answers?  
Veterinarian Samantha Lewis and her team are dedicated to providing a sanctuary for unwanted, abused, and abandoned dogs in New York City. But every day it gets harder to operate her no-kill shelter. Sam is already at her breaking point when she learns of an unidentified, dangerous virus spreading through their neighborhood. The medical community can only determine that animals are the carriers. Amid growing panic and a demand for immediate answers, suspicion abruptly falls on dogs as the source. Soon the governor is calling in the National Guard to enforce a quarantine--no dog may leave the area.

Samantha knows from her own painful history that, despite the lack of real evidence against the dogs, a quarantine may only be the beginning. As questions about the source of the virus mount and clash with the pressure for a politically expedient resolution, Sam is forced to make life-altering choices. She finds allies in a motley crew of New Yorkers--a local priest, a troubled teen, a smart-mouthed former psychologist, and a cop desperate to do the right thing--all looking for sanctuary from their own personal demons. But the person Sam needs the most to unravel the mystery of the virus and save the dogs is the last one she'd ever want to call on--because contacting him will mean confronting the traumatic past she has fought so hard to escape.

Thank You  Net Galley

A Ferret's Novel Tale
                     

Thursday, September 22, 2016

Net Galley Reviews

Listen Like A Dog Jeff Lazarus was fun and a great book on listening. Listen Like a Dog is not just for dog lovers. It's my new listening handbook for business and personal life. I've always believed we humans could definitely take a page out of animals book. If we acted more like animals the world would be a better place. https://www.amazon.com/Listen-Like-Dog-Make-World/dp/0757318983/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

War Orphans Lizzie Lane  Joanna is a determined little girl, who is abominably treated by her stepmother, and finds comfort in an equally determined puppy. Despite her deprivations and the very poor conduct of her stepmother, she keeps her strength and spirit to help her puppy survive – making new friends along the way. On the subject of the writing, I think that Lizzie Lane is a fantastic author. She captures you in every moment of the story and you really feel that you are with Joanna every step of the way and as a reader you really go into the book. I loved Lizzie’s writing style as it was really easy to follow and the story flowed beautifully. This is a great read for anyone, especially preteens. I know my niece is gonna love it that is why I like to reviewing for Net Galley I find great books to buy for friends, family and me. https://www.amazon.com/War-Orphans-Lizzie-Lane-ebook/dp/B01CHNX9OG/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1474578248&sr=1-3&keywords=war+orphans

The Gingerbread Girl Sheila Newberry I thought of my niece the whole time I read this because she loves American Girl books. This book gave me that vibe style I'll will be buying this for her sometime soon and I think we'll read the series together. Thank You Sheila Newberry.
Seven-year-old Cora, recovering from a serious illness in a hospital, has a secret visit from her mother. Biddy manages to pass her daughter a gift—a gingerbread man—that Cora is to always treasure. When Biddy dies, Cora and her little sister are lovingly cared for by Eliza, their mother's friend. Cora's feckless father—whom she hardly knows—is unaware of the tragedy. Just before World War II, with the children secure and enjoying a good life with Eliza, their father unexpectedly reappears wishing to make amends. And as Cora grows up, she is irresistibly drawn to a man very much like her father. Will fate repeat itself?
https://www.amazon.com/Gingerbread-Girl-Sheila-Newberry/dp/0709084528/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1474579136&sr=1-1&keywords=gingerbread+girl+sheila

Death By Pumpkin Spice Alex Erickson Bookstore cafĂ© owner Krissy Hancock would rather spend Halloween serving pumpkin goodies than wearing costumes with Pine Hills’ wealthiest at Yarborough mansion, especially when the soiree shapes up to be more trick than treat . . .
As if a run-in with an old flame and a failed marriage proposal weren’t enough to horrify Krissy for one night, a woman is found strangled to death in a room filled with ominous jack-o’-lanterns. All signs suggest a crime of passion—but when the hostess’s jewelry disappears, malevolent intentions seem way more likely . . .

With the estate on lockdown and a killer roaming the halls, Krissy must help Officer Paul Dalton investigate each nook, cranny, and guest for answers—while also confronting a few demons of her own. Someone has lots of skeletons in the closet, and Krissy better tread lightly to expose them . . .  this was what I needed #cravingfall https://www.amazon.com/Death-Pumpkin-Spice-Bookstore-Mystery/dp/1617737550/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474579919&sr=8-1&keywords=death+by+pumpkin+spice+by+alex+erickson

Thank You Net Galley and Authors I received all books for a honest review.

Monday, September 12, 2016

Hello, Everyone I know it's been a while since my post. Living where I do the weather can charge drastically from day to day. Lately, that has been the case we were in the upper 90s with heat index in the triple digits, the next day would rain and the next cool weather. As a result my sinuses went hay wire and I got a ear infection so bad my right ear drum was on the verge of rupturing. This is why I have been a way I'm still stick but slowly better. I have read Through the Mirror, Darkly from Crystal Lake Publishing. Thank You Crystal Lake for sending me this book for review. I Love the concept of this publishers they are a horror genre. I love the fact the company name is after Friday the 13th.
Through the Mirror, Darkly by Kevin Lucia is the second book in the Clifton Heights Saga . This is a anthology
 Here is the synopsis: Arcane Delights. Clifton Heights' premier rare and used bookstore. In it, new owner Kevin Ellison has inherited far more than a family legacy, for inside are tales that will amaze, astound, thrill...and terrify. An ancient evil thirsty for lost souls. A very different kind of taxi service with destinations not on any known map. Three coins that grant the bearer's fondest wish, and a father whose crippling grief gives birth to something dark and hungry. Every town harbors secrets. Kevin Ellison is about to discover those that lurk in the shadows of Clifton Heights." "Kevin Lucia writes my favorite kind of horror, the kind not enough folks are writing anymore." - Kealan Patrick Burke, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of The Turtle Boy and Kin. "THROUGH A MIRROR DARKLY serves as Kevin Lucia's early-warning system to the horror field - Brace yourselves, folks." - Gary A. Braunbeck, Bram Stoker Award-winner of To Each Their Darkness, Destinations Unknown, and the forthcoming A Cracked and Broken Path "Literate and stylish, yet fast-paced and accessible, Through a Mirror, Darkly is a thoroughly engrossing read. Kevin Lucia is a major new voice in the horror genre." - Jonathan Janz "Through a Mirror, Darkly earns Kevin Lucia a literary place alongside these enduring philosophical horror crafters." - Mort Castle "He is a skillful guide through Clifton Heights, telling tales of mystery and horror in a town where dark secrets and ancient evils lurk to prey upon those who read THROUGH A MIRROR, DARKLY." - Rena Mason, Bram Stoker Award® winning author of THE EVOLUTIONIST. "With Through a Mirror, Darkly, Kevin Lucia proves once again that it's only a matter of time before he's one of the genre's biggest names." - James Newman (author of The Wicked and Animosity. It's a collection of shared theme short stories with a thin wrapper for some dark secrets in the town of Clifton Heights. The wrapper felt underdeveloped, so the meat was in the short stories and they're decent stories. They cover some classic horror situations, although they were of varying quality.

The first story concerns an Iraq veteran Chaplain recovering from a supernatural sighting while on tour, only to have the horror seemingly follow him home. This was a predictable story with no real surprise - even for the reveal at the end, but quite well told. It did introduce me to an aspect of the authors writing that impacted my enjoyment of the stories - repetition.

Repetition can be a powerful tool in story telling, it can lull the reader into false assumptions, it can reinforce core concepts, but it needs to be used sparingly. That isn't the case here, it is used far too often and isn't just repetition of concepts, but actual repetition of the same phrase - over and over again, It really spoiled the flow of the stories, and gave them an odd pacing. It also made them longer than they needed to be.
Overall it was worth reading, but felt that it needed much tighter development to really stand out.
There is a bit too much vulgar language for my liking. You can have a horror novel with less strong language. I don't mine some language but don't use it as a dialect. I give this book 3stars because I like the concept of this book and I love the fact the authors of Crystal Lake Publishing think out side the box. I wont be going on with the series but do recommend horror lovers give it a try. It may  be the novel for them. Please check out Crystal Lake Publishing.
Happy Reading!
A Ferret's Novel Tale
http://www.crystallakepub.com/
www.kevinlucia.com