Lucidity

Hello Again!

2015-03-08T15:50:00.001-07:00

Hi Everyone,

I've been away for some time, but I'm back again. Now accepting new review/ beta read requests. If you're intrested please check my review policy and send an email with the details.

Happy writing,

April

Let's Read it: Wicked Wives by Gus Pelagatti

2013-04-29T14:09:00.002-07:00

Teaser: An evil mastermind plays the role of a ladies man and uses his harem of black widows to turn murder into money in the affluent hills of Philadelphia in the late 1930s. Driven by love, lust and greed, more than a dozen wives conspire with their playboy lover to murder their husbands and collect hefty insurance payouts. The women are ruthless, unemphatic and unapologetic in their conquests for money and sex and they all share a common thread. Their love and admiration for a man named Giorgio Disipio. Cold, calculating and ultimately cowardly Giorgio secretly despises the women who worship him and has no regrets for facilitating the deaths of more than a dozen men. When the police begin closing in on him, he's more than content to give up his co-conspirators, many of which are women who truly loved him, to save his own skin. Unfortunately for him the scorned women he manipulated are more than willing to do the same. Long time lover and deadly black widow, Eva, can't accept her demise. She's murdered two husband with the help of Giorgio, but like many of the other women, she believes herself to be Giorgio's one true love and secretly resents him for never genuinely returning her affection. She won't sit by while he or any of the others get away with their crimes. When she starts talking the deadly pyramid plot and the lives of all those involved begins to crumble to the ground. District attorney Tom Rossi has slam dunk if he can wade through this intricate web of deceit, affairs and murders. But he'll find out just how close his personal life is intertwined with this band of devious killers.

Did I like it: I'm an absolute sucker for most types of crime novels and true stories are even more enthralling. Accordingly, I very much in enjoyed this book. I generally find it a good sign when you can't stop reading until the end, and this definitely gave me the "just one more page" feeling I like when reading. The characters are very well developed, and I say this having had a general dislike for most of them. They are awful people and this really shines through, particularly their lack of empathy and their desperation when their scam unravels. The female characters are exceptionally well written. They manage to be incredibly strong forces but at the same time very weak. Three of the main women, Eva, Joanna and Lillian have a deep love for Giorgio. A man that treats them like nothing more than slabs of meat, will not and cannot commit to any of them and constantly betrays their trust.

But they are tireless in their efforts to secure him as their own, and just as much so to live their lives the way the want even in they have to lie and kill to do it. The women are wild, some murdering multiple husbands with no regard for the consequences. They are certainly "evil" but in my opinion their willingness to become killers steams from their flaws as human beings. They are either in loveless or unfulfilling marriages for which murder seems like the only way out with the bonus of a hefty sum of cash each time. Giorgio's character preys on this weakness, on their need for a passionate man who loves them. They are pawns, but he is the true master and truly befitting of the word evil. He feels no remorse for his lovers or the people he's killed, and even lies to the very last moment when faced with the responsibility for his deeds. But these despicable characters are what enjoyed most about this novel.

The dialogue is excellent and fitting for the times. Their are some instances of racial slurs but they fit into the world of the story, being that it takes place in the 1930s. I would recommend this for anyone who enjoys, crime, suspense novels or "based on a true story" type novels. It's an entertaining, medium sized read. However due to adult language and sexual situations I would not suggest this for younger readers.

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

Get it here:

http://www.amazon.com/Wicked-Wives-gus-pelagatti/dp/0615674364/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1367269159&sr=8-1&keywords=wicked+wives

http://www.guspelagatti.com/

Spotlight: Gemini Rising Ethereal Fury by Jessica O' Gorek

2013-04-03T15:59:00.002-07:00

Synopsis:

Mother Earth, wounded by the human race and its disregard for her resources, will recruit human souls to serve Her and turn against humanity. A rising force festers; Gemini, a clan of paranormal beings will systematically possess and destroy towns, cities, and states. Amidst the chaos, a forbidden relationship between Onyx, a lead Gemini, and Violette, a human, begins. They will both find themselves in the middle of a revolutionary war that will either save, or destroy our world.

A Word with the Author:

What inspired you to write this novel?

We aren't taking care of the earth and in case anyone hasn’t noticed, things are changing! (Polar ice caps, see level rising, super storms) I hope to create awareness that global warming is real and that we have to rapidly change our ways or suffer the consequences. I don’t think we are doing enough and I think the damage we have done is atrocious.

Which is you favorite character?

Onyx. He is so full of angst over what he does and his loyalty to killing humans is fierce. I love the way he protects Violette like a rabid animal and I love that he struggles with his own conscience. He discovers he doesn't like killing and changes completely.

Do you relate to any of the characters or do you feel that your audience will be able to connect with any of the character?

I relate to all of my characters in one form or another, even the nasty ones. I guess there is a part of me in all of them. People will find Violette the most relate-able. I believe her innocence and her spunkiness will appeal to the younger readers, while her wisdom will appeal to the older readers. Poor Slate, he always gets the short end of the stick and I think most will pity him.

What makes your novel unique?

Well, a new paranormal force has been born. No vamps, no wolves, no zombies, no ghosts, the ultimate and elite form of predator, the Gemini is a new concept. More dangerous that all the others combined and recruited by mother earth for the sole purpose of taking back her lands. They are like evil superheros with limitless powers. Ironically, there only weakness is getting trapped in a human by fabric.

What do you think your novel adds to it genre?

A new message for our youth. I hope to scare them into taking care of the earth, or at least to think very hard about how they treat it. Most young adult novels these days are focused on love triangles, (which I have in mine too) and shallow concepts that barely scratch the surface of their true analytical power. I attempt to go deeper and pull on heart strings and future actions.

What do you think your novel adds to it genre?
A new message for our youth. I hope to scare them into taking care of the earth, or at least to think very hard about how they treat it. Most young adult novels these days are focused on love triangles, (which I have in mine too) and shallow concepts that barely scratch the surface of their true analytical power. I attempt to go deeper and pull on heart strings and future actions.

Author Bio:

I was born in Chesapeake, Virginia on April 19th, 1979. I was raised within the American Indian religion and was taught great respect for the earth and all its living beings. Powwows, sweat lodges, vision quests, you name it, I’ve done it. I was the weird kid who would confront kids on the playground in elementary school when they squished a bug. I would very sincerely tell them what they were doing was morally wrong and then I would pray for the bug to come back as a butterfly in its next life.

I grew up admiring my father, Barry Weinstock, as an author. When I was twelve I started hand writing novels. My first one was two thousand pages. My daughter, who is thirteen, is currently working on her first novel. I hope to continue the legacy.

Preview Gemini Rising

Everyone Has Spare Humans... Excerpt Chapter 5

“Give me my brother! I know you have him!” The shy little girl was now screaming at him, her fists pumping the air, but he paid her no mind.

It was always easier to leave out the details. Tork always said there was nothing worse than a room full of hysterical captives. Bad enough to be human, but add in the adrenaline and the fear of the unknown, they became that much more insufferable. He ignored their pleas and timid curses, pulling the door shut with a thud, cutting off their curious stares. Someone yelled out they were hungry and he hesitated a little, trying to remember what hunger was. Ah yes, the need for food. The youngest of his clan, Sapphire, usually fed them three meals a day: canned food, all stolen from the local country store. He had no need for food and didn’t keep any around.

Find Jessica on the web:

http://1geminirising.wix.com/geminirising

http://geminirising1.blogspot.com

https://twitter.com/GeminiRising1

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jessica-OGorek/306913389429972

Upcoming Reviews

2013-02-28T10:57:00.002-08:00

Hey readers, fellow bloggers and review seekers. Here are some novels I'll be reading and reviewing over the next few weeks. If you've sent me an inquiry prior to Feb 15th and you are not listed here please send me an email. I will not be accepting any new review requests until late March or I finish "Wicked Wives", which ever comes first. Happy reading everyone!

Jesse James and the Dragon's Egg By Edward Woodward
The Wizard's Sword by Paul Vanderloos
The Wicked Wives by Gus Pelagatti

Follow and Feature Friday!

2013-02-01T08:05:00.002-08:00

This week's question:

What would you do if you woke up and found yourself in your favorite book?

Answer:

As reading junkie I have no one favorite book, but considering the types of books I read, I would be in some trouble if I woke up in any one of them. A war has probably broken out or I'm being stalked by a killer. I'm grabbing the nearest weapon and getting the heck out of there.

Let's Read it: Water Harvest

2013-01-31T17:54:00.001-08:00

“Water Harvest”

Teaser: A science fiction world of high technology, political unrest, and war, Water Harvest reads like a classic novel from its genre. Protagonist Carin, heir to the house of Alar, is a headstrong and reliable young man. But his home world, Kas’tar is a fragile planet with limited resources, and when a warlord threatens total domination it is up to him to unite the houses of Kas’tar and fight for their survival.

Did I like it?: Overall yes, I thought the story was concise and well written, although I have to admit that as only an occasional science fiction reader I did have some difficulty keeping up with all the names and places. I liked the back drop story of a fight for water resources among the houses. However I felt like this avenue isn’t explored very much and only occasionally mentioned, it takes a backseat to the overlord threat. I thought the book had fairly well written action scenes, though they do tend to drag on here and there. There are also some places in the story where I wished the author would have used more dialogue, rather than simply telling the story but the places where there is dialogue work well.

As a protagonist Carin plays the hero motif well. He loses his home, his father, and his love but still manages to preserve through the hardship. Regardless of what obstacle is in front of him, he seems to just charge ahead not even taking a moment to complain about his unfortunate circumstances. I will say that I found the personalities of the antagonists to be a bit too formula in nature for my liking though they are not awful characters by any means. I think I was looking for a “bad guy” that was more clever than forceful. The warlord is so sure of himself that he underestimates the Carin and his father Lord Gar, which is a grave mistake on his part. At one point I wondered why he does not just kill Carin rather than allow him to return as a nuisance later in the story.

The supporting characters in the story are all written well and I didn’t feel like any were there for the sake of filler; however I did find it difficult to keep track of them all. In fact one of the things I like best about the story is the lack of filler; each part connects smoothly to the next. The female characters are strong as well, Cairn’s love interest, Neilai, in particular is enjoyable as character. She spends most of the story away from Cairn, and she is forced to survive on her own merits after losing her home and family. So while she is not physically strong she possesses a mental capacity that others can rely on and she isn’t by any means a damsel in distress.

This story ended pretty much how I expected it to and depending on the type of reader you are it may or may not be satisfying to you. The situation between the houses of Kas’tar is very similar to how it was when the story begins. The main characters have gained quite a bit. Their freedom, peace, and new found power in their realm of influence, however as it stands the issue which in part caused the initial conflict still remains. It leaves me wondering if perhaps Kas’tar will succumb to infighting again, or if they will be able to prevent future tragedy. But I think any book that leaves you with something contemplate is worth reading. And I think any beginning science fiction reader would enjoy this story.

Overall Rating: 3.5/5

Get it here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005MYLBS4/ref=cm_cr_mts_prod_img

Not accepting new review requests for awhile.

2013-01-31T13:14:00.002-08:00

Hello all,

I am currently backlogged on reviews. Until I finish I will not be accepting any requests.

Feature and Follow Friday!

2012-12-21T04:38:00.000-08:00

This week's question

Q: What have you learned from book blogging that you didn't know before about the publishing industry?

I haven't been book blogging very long. At first I thought that no one would request me to review their book, especially since I don't have that many followers. But since I started this blog I've had a decent follow of requests (even though sometimes I'd bad and don't get through the review in a timely manner).

Before blogging and before I started writing myself, I had no idea how hard it is to market a book yourself. My first book Lucidity is currently on amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008KB0L64 and the purpose of this blog was to generate readers. But I actually enjoy talking about other writer's books more,I feel like I might generate that one reader who will tip the scales for them. There are a lot of good indie books out there that get passed over for what's selling right now.

Feature and Follow Friday!

2012-12-14T07:00:00.003-08:00

Today's Topic:

What's the last book that made you cry?

For me that's "Life Without Summer" by Lynne Griffin

Synopsis:

Tessa Gray's life changes forever when she loses her four-year-old daughter Abby in a hit-and-run accident outside her preschool. As she grapples with a terrible grief, made worse by the police's insistence that the case is unsolvable, she finds her only solace in Celia Reed, the grief counselor her husband's pushed her to see, and in the journal she's begun keeping, where she compulsively counts the "days without Abby" and maps out her plan for catching the driver who tore her family apart.

Celia struggles to keep Tessa from getting caught up in a bleak crusade for answers, but she finds that their sessions open the door to emotions she's spent years ignoring, forcing her to face the rising tensions in her own life-- her troubled teenage son, her alcoholic ex-husband, and her fragile new marriage. Celia soon begins to realize that she must come to terms with the tragic mistakes of her own past and the choices that have led her family to the brink of destruction.

Life Without Summer is a haunting portrait of two women whose lives converge unexpectedly when the answers one needs turn out to be the other's only chance for peace.

The scene that got me is when Tessa visits the kindergarten teacher who is in part responsible for her daughter's death. She failed to make sure that Abby stayed with class and that is how she ends up the victim of a hit and run. The teacher gives Tessa a tiny broken egg, the one Abby was holding when she died. It's very touching moment. Tessa is able to connect with the teacher through their shared pain even though Tessa is angry with her for her role in Abby's death.

It's a Hop Thing! Add your link so we can find your blog.

2012-12-12T12:04:00.001-08:00

This is a blog hop. The purpose of which is to promote your blog and find new followers. Simply click the link below to add your blog. Then go through the list and become a follower of each blog. Leave comment on any post to let the owner know you're a new follower so they can return the favor. You can use the code post the hop on your blog as well.

Spot Light: Red Sand By Ronan Cray

2012-12-08T20:27:00.003-08:00

Teaser: Your cruise ship has sunk into cold unforgiving depths of the ocean. Nearly everyone on board has perished. But you are one of the lucky survivors moving slowly toward a nearby island. Or so you think. This is no ordinary island, and it is not the salvation you were hoping for as you drifted away from the wreckage of the Princess Anne. The inhabitants are far less than friendly and surviving your encounter with them will be far more daunting than escaping a watery grave. What you do now will determine your fate, but you'll have to hurry the fragile society around you is crumbling and a devastating hurricane is on the horizon.

Did I Like it: Yes! I think this an excellent adventure story, complete with betrayal, murder, and suspense. The story is carefully constructed with thrilling action scenes. This wasn't the first time a novel took me to a wayward island, but I enjoyed the author's spin on this theme. What I liked best about this story is the action from start to finish. There are very few stagnant moments, and I think that works well this type of story. The characters are in danger, they face life threatening situations, and their decisions are crucial. There is a sense of urgency but the situations the characters are in leave them few options and this creates a constant tension between them. They won't all survive their ordeal, some will perish, others will be captives, but no one is going home. I admit that I'm sucker for books with flowery detail. But I found the author's clear and concise writing style refreshing. In place of length description the author does a fantastic job of using dialogue to tell this story. Because of some of the language I recommend this book for teens or adults.

Caveats: None

Overall Rating: 5/5

Who's it for?:

Adventure/action lovers
Suspense/ Thriller readers
General readers
Adult fiction readers.

Get Red Sand Click Here

Hiatus

2012-11-16T11:03:00.002-08:00

Reviews and blog hops will resume at the end of the month.

For All the Hoppers and Shakers!

2012-10-11T20:48:00.004-07:00

This Week's Question:

Q: What book do you think would make a great Halloween movie? Please explain in graphic detail of goriness...

I'd have to go with "The Mephisto Club" by Tess Gerritsen provided it wasn't done by the same people who made the show "Rizzoli and Isles". This novel is one of her typical medical thrillers, but it has a fantastical undertone with demons and the supernatural. This gave the book an air of creepiness that some her other thrillers didn't have. A mysterious organization and ritualistic murders. I don't want to go into graphic detail but I'll post the synopsis here

Via Amazon:

Evil exists. Evil walks the streets. And evil has spawned a diabolical new disciple in this white-knuckle thriller from New York Times bestselling author Tess Gerritsen.

PECCAVI
The Latin word is scrawled in blood at the scene of a young woman’s brutal murder: I HAVE SINNED. It’s a chilling Christmas greeting for Boston medical examiner Maura Isles and Detective Jane Rizzoli, who swiftly link the victim to controversial celebrity psychiatrist Joyce O’Donnell–Jane’s professional nemesis and member of a sinister cabal called the Mephisto Club.

On top of Beacon Hill, the club’s acolytes devote themselves to the analysis of evil: Can it be explained by science? Does it have a physical presence? Do demons walk the earth? Drawing on a wealth of dark historical data and mysterious religious symbolism, the Mephisto scholars aim to prove a startling theory: that Satan himself exists among us.

With the grisly appearance of a corpse on their doorstep, it’s clear that someone–or something–is indeed prowling the city. The members of the club begin to fear the very subject of their study. Could this maniacal killer be one of their own–or have they inadvertently summoned an evil entity from the darkness?

Delving deep into the most baffling and unusual case of their careers, Maura and Jane embark on a terrifying journey to the very heart of evil, where they encounter a malevolent foe more dangerous than any they have ever faced . . . one whose work is only just beginning.

I'm Been Hopping All My Life!

2012-10-05T17:09:00.002-07:00

Today's Question:

Q: What do you hope to accomplish with your blog? Is it to one day become an author yourself, just for fun, maybe get some online attention, or maybe something very different?

I'd like my blog to be a popular place for indie authors and readers in general. Initially I started it to promote my own book, but over the last few weeks I've found that I like reading and reviewing other's people's work a lot more. Mainly I just want to connect with other people that have a passion for reading and writing.

It's A Hop Thing!

2012-09-27T20:31:00.000-07:00

Today's Question:

Q: What is the BIGGEST word you've seen used in a book lately - that made you stop and look it up? Might as well leave the definition & book too.

"Aztec" by Gray Jennings had me running to the dictionary and feeling like a grade school kid instead of a college student. An excellent and lengthy read featuring fun words like "promptitude" and "adjuration" and "salacious" . But learning new words has always been one of my favorite parts or reading.

So get reading:

http://www.amazon.com/Aztec-Gary-Jennings/dp/0765317508/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1348802752&sr=8-1&keywords=aztec

Carry on the hop; I always follow back, thanks for the visits.

Let's Read It: "Heaven's Fate"

2012-09-27T13:21:00.000-07:00

"Scheming Empress, Legendary Swords, A prince, sounds like an epic adventure..."

Teaser: Protagonist, Thame Elliot is an expert in a magic based martial art called “Rietsu”. He is on a journey to avenge the untimely death of his father and rebuild a mystical sword, known as the “Sword of Tundra”. He is constantly troubled by the meddlesome ways of his aunt, Empress Autumn, whose grand design will place their nation on the path to a devastating war. Thame will have to resist the manipulative ways of both his aunt and his spiritual guide, who habitually impedes his pathway to the greater good. Faced with the ever constant quandaries and the looming threat of his spiritual twin, bent on his assassination, will young Thame become the hero he is meant to be?

Did I like it? : It has a wide array of characters, with decent pacing and doesn't tend to drag between plot points. The novel has a complete concept and encompasses the proper scale of a fantasy world. The story is meant to be grand and that is exactly how it feels. The dialogue between characters is generally engaging and adds to the development of the plot.

This book has a lot of merits however at times the author’s writing style tends to make the story feel disjointed and leads exponential detail that is not always necessary. Though the story is based in a fantasy world, the use of modern terms can sometimes be slightly confusing. Some of the terminology makes the fantasy too ambiguous to place.

However, as an introduction to the fantasy genre I think readers would enjoy this book. For readers that aren’t regulars of the genre, fantasy worlds can seem cumbersome and over bearing. What I liked best about this book is that it was enjoyable for me to read as a non fantasy aficionado ( I do dabble in it though). It is an epic classic type grand story. Overall I liked this book, and with a little polish, I think this author can be a real contender in the fantasy genre.

Caveats: None

Who’s It For:

· New fantasy readers
· Casual readers
· All ages
· Heavy fantasy readers

Overall Rating: 3.5/5

Get it here: http://www.evaporent.com/

http://www.amazon.com/Heavens-Fate-Andre-Alan/product-reviews/0615634249/ref=sr_1_1_cm_cr_acr_img?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

Let's Read It: "Disemblance"

2012-09-25T22:29:00.003-07:00

“There are three worlds that we live in, fantasy, reality, and actuality, murder crosses between all three…”

Teaser: Jason and Isaac Tanner are brothers, they don’t always get along, but there is one thing they can agree on. Their father is not the murderer known as the “Comfort Killer”. The child of technological mastermind, Jason spends most of his young life living in the holographic world his father created. When their father is murdered, Jason, Isaac and their spunky next door neighbor Boston, are thrust into dire situation of life and death. Someone was trying to frame their father for murder and Jason is the next target. ..

Why You’ll Love It/Did I like it?: I’m not an advent science fiction reader, but suspense thriller is one of my absolute favorite genres. As introduction to either of these genres “Dissemblance” is an excellent addition. The novel is well written. The pace is a bit slow in the beginning, however this necessary to set up the intricate details of the scenario and gives the reader a chance to understand the respective characters. When the story does pick up the pace it transforms into a real thriller. At times I had difficulty discerning whether Jason was in the real world or in the holographic reality. At some points it seems the like the main character is simply losing his mind, but that is truly part of the fun. The author makes good use of dialogue, and gives the characters their voices rather than constantly narrating the story and I found this refreshing and enjoyable. Like most thrillers the novel has plot twists and turns, all of which work well. I liked that the author did not try to overwork the story with twists. Overall, I liked and enjoyed this novel.

Caveats: None

Who’s it for:

· Casual readers

· Advent readers

· All ages

· Suspense lovers

· Science fictions readers

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

Get it here:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1477527761/ref=cm_cr_mts_prod_img

Around The Hop! Around The Hop!

2012-09-14T18:25:00.000-07:00

Today's Question: What book did not live up to its hype

This is going to be a weird answer but I don't know. I don't read fad books, unless of course I was reading it before it become popular. That's right no "Twilight", "Game of Thrones", "Hunger Games".... I read the first two Harry Potters as a child and never went back.

Perhaps you guys could suggest some hyped books that were actually decent. I don't read young adult so don't bother with those.

Happy Hopping...I always follow back.

Blame It On The Hop!

2012-08-31T08:40:00.000-07:00

This week's question:

Q: Best cover? What is the best cover of a book that you've read and loved?.

The is a book from my brother's collection. I absolutely love this cover, there's so much action in this scene.

Some Like The Hop!

2012-08-24T13:59:00.002-07:00

The Week's Question:

What is the worst book cover for a book you love?

A good cover will make me pick up a book, but it's not a deal breaker for me, and a good story and what moves the book for the store ( or amazon) to my collection. Every now and then I see a cover change I don't care for. Here's some from two of my favorite authors.

Michelle Moran: Nefertiti

This book has more cover changes than I can count.The first one on the left is the one I have and my favorite. The last on the right is my least favorite.

Tess Gerritsen: The Sinner

Tess is one my favorite author's and I'd followed her series for years. The book covers started getting revamps after t.v. series launch. The original on the left is fantastic. The last one is lackluster.

Let's Read It: Confessions Fact or Fiction

2012-08-23T10:51:00.002-07:00

It’s a cliché to say that the truth is stranger than fiction, the truth has to work within the bonds to reality, but fiction can be anything we wish…

Teaser/Why you’ll love it: This book is an anthology of wonderfully talented writers. Each story could easily work as a standalone. You’ll find yourself wanting to know more, as each tale varies in length and some end abruptly. Many of the accounts are personal tales, and the authors do an excellent job walking the line between fantasy and reality. Even though you’re aware that not all of the stories in the anthology are real, you’ll find yourself wondering about is each one. Considering that the stories are short, this anthology that can be enjoyed over a period of weeks. It’s an excellent choice someone that likes reading a little at time but also being thoroughly entertained.

One important thing to consider when reading this book: “Does your perception of the stories and the authors vary based upon which ones seem real and which seem contrived?” Stories like the ones presented in this anthology are sent to publishers every day, most are rejected as novels. However, it is often true that same story would be accepted is submitted as memoir or true story. Consider that when reading this book.

Did I like it?: Overall yes, I found each story engaging, some of them blended together seamlessly, others ended abruptly when I was looking for more. When I was reading, it was easy to forget that many of the accounts were not all real. In fact I had a difficult time discerning which of the authors wrote factual story and which were simply spinning a tale. The use of person narration works well in this anthology, and adds to the illusion of realism. After finishing the entire collection I still have no idea which stories were true, however that is part of the fun. I would both recommend and read this book again.

Caveats: None

Who’s it for:

· Casual readers

· Advent readers

· All ages

· Anthology/short story lovers

Overall Rating: 5/5

Get It Here: http://www.amazon.com/Confessions-Fact-or-Fiction-ebook/dp/B005MKZDI2/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_i

Hip Hop!

2012-08-17T08:01:00.001-07:00

Another Hop Carry On!

Today's Question: What blogger inspires you?

Answer: I don't have a favorite blogger or one that inspires me particularly, but I love to see a blog that's work of progress. That looks as though the owner put a lot of time into building and perfecting their craft.

Let's Read It= Let's Get It

2012-08-11T23:49:00.000-07:00

Did you know that my review are not only posted on this blog, but also on amazon and goodreads? Request a review today ( review swaps for Lucidity are appreciated but not required)

Let's Read It: "Hell To Pay"

2012-08-11T13:07:00.002-07:00

In this riveting suspense thriller, the next corner you turn might just lead straight to hell…

Teaser: Detective Michael Bailey is a man haunted by the past and tormented by the present. As an officer of the law it’s his job to protect those in his city. Then why have things gone array? Failures tend to find Bailey at every turn and each crime he cannot bring to justice, each life he is unable to save, becomes another nail in his coffin. The only thing that seems to be left is the bottle, but even alcohol has long become something Bailey can’t handle. As the murders continue to pile up one man, George Graham, keeps ending up on the short list of suspects. Is he really just a middle aged shop owner living out his days in solitude after the death of his mother? Or is it more likely that George simply can’t control himself, can’t take the agony of his rejections and shortcomings? Something is lurking beneath his exterior and it’s more sinister than anyone can imagine…

Why you’ll Love it: “Hell to Pay” is a story that skips the flowery lead in and dives right in. It’s a lengthier read and well worth spending a few afternoons with. A suspense thriller intricately weaved with supernatural; the novel will have you questioning everything you think you know about reality. “Hell to Pay” is frightening, with demons, and ghosts and shadows lurking around each corner. It is heavy on all of its aspects, drama, tension, and action, which truly make this into a memorable tale.

Did I like it? : I found the novel particularly enjoyable as a suspense, thriller buff myself, “Hell to Pay” makes an excellent addition to my book collection. I felt like the author really knew where he was going with the story from beginning to end and each part left me wanting for the next. The stranger the story became the more I found myself wanting to know more. Bailey is a fantastic lead, and I felt that author made good use of the supporting characters. Antagonist, George, was perhaps my favorite; I could figure him out in the beginning, and I was completely enthralled with what he developed into.

Favorite Quotes:

“Yes. That God is dead and this is it. I‘ve heard junkies talking about how this is really Hell and that straight people are too stupid to realize it.”

“Be good boy, the devil‘s looking for you . . . and sent his hound to find you.”

Caveats: This book is for adults, contains adult situations, and violence.

Overall Rating: 5/5

Let's Read it: Deconstructing Infatuation

2012-08-10T08:17:00.003-07:00

“Deconstructing Infatuation” will have one rethinking the old phase, “love will make you do crazy things”. It is infatuation that leads us spiraling downward into the unknown, running face first with our eyes closed.

Teaser: Helene is a woman not terribly different from any other. She has a career, as a literary agent, an annoying roommate, and a steady boyfriend; her life is coming along as planned. However, when her roommate, Marleen, sublets a room in their apartment to an attractive man, Tiziano, Helene faces the ultimate test of her fidelity. Charming, good looking, and new, Tiziano quickly captures Helene’s attention. His presence further highlights the shortcomings of her with relationship with boyfriend Mark. Helene is torn between the man she has a long standing bond with, and the fiery connection that could be with Tiziano. Can Helene remain faithful? Or will she succumb to intriguing allure of the sultry stranger.

Why you’ll love it: “Deconstructing Infatuation” is a short, lightening fast read, but it gets the job done. Despite its description, the story is not too heavily bogged down in drama, and the author makes excellent use of humor. The lighthearted parts make a fantastic contrast to the main character’s trials. The story isn’t merely a tale of adultery, it examines the rush of emotion and perhaps irrationality that comes with infatuation.

Did I like it? : The short answer is yes. As a rational creature I found myself angry with Helene’s character. How could someone be so instantly fascinated with a stranger, that they are willing to sacrifice a relationship they’ve put time and effort into? Perhaps this question arose because I’ve never been infatuated in such a manner. I think other readers will be asking themselves the same thing. I found myself loathing the way, the protagonist, Helene, behaves in the story mainly because her change is so sudden. However, life is something that changes suddenly and upon further evaluation, I feel that the character’s and situation are fairly realistic. A book which forces you to ask questions or evokes feelings for a character is one certainly worth reading.

Caveats: The book is for adults, due to adult situations I would not necessarily recommend this for young teens.

Overall Rating: 3.9/5

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