Kim Cox's Blog, page 494
June 22, 2015
Review: "The Place We Went To Yesterday" by Lisa Mauro
About the Author:Lisa Mauro is a novelist and blogger. When she’s not breaking pivot tables during her day job in the
pharmaceutical industry, you can find her watching The Office on repeat. She lives near Boston, MA with her better half, Brian Sfinas.
Lisa is a Corporate Cubicle Girl, perpetually crunching lines of data like a kid with an endless supply of rock candy. When she's not breaking pivot tables, she writes. And she draws. And she takes and edit photos. She's even been known to sing along.
She's a Jane of all trades and a Mistress of some.
She appreciates tattoos and collects them as souvenirs. She provides gut-wrenching brutal honesty, but she’ll smile when she's delivering it so you won’t feel as bad hearing it. She's a narcissistic muse. Flattery will get you everywhere, as will red velvet cupcakes.
You can visit her at www.lisa-mauro.com
About the Book:
Surrounded by abject poverty in Manhattan's housing projects, Ella Santia is abused and manipulated by her family until she is placed into foster care. When that experience also sours, she makes the decision to move into a group home.
On her walks along the High Line with fellow resident Lara, she begins to open herself up to new experiences. When things come to a head at the group home, Ella realizes that it is time for her to fend for herself.
The Place We Went to Yesterday chronicles Ella's journey from passive punching bag to assertive young woman.
Kim's Musing Review:Sad but Good. I loved the story line and Ella's character; although, I couldn't understand why Ella turned a blind eye to some of the things she felt were happening to others. I've never been in her situation so I can't judge, understanding the saying "until you walk in my shoes." I don't know how I would react in a similar situation.
This is such a sad story. If I hadn't read that it was fiction, I would've thought it was a true story. I still believe it's based on someone's life. It is so detailed and true to life. All of the characters were well-drawn and lifelike. Working with people who work with teens in similar situations, I know how hard the teens lives can be and how hard it can be for those who try to help to get through to them due to trust issues. I have recommended this book to those who work in this field.
The reason I'm giving this book four stars rather than five stars. It moved a bit slow for me in a few places although the writing was mostly flawless. The flow became bogged down in the details. Then there's the ending which I felt should've taken us a bit further into Ella's life for a more satisfying end.
Get your copy of The Place We Went to Yesterday here. You will be glad you did.
Next up on my TBR list is Silent Night Violent Night (A Cory Goodwin Mystery) by C J Verberg.
pharmaceutical industry, you can find her watching The Office on repeat. She lives near Boston, MA with her better half, Brian Sfinas. Lisa is a Corporate Cubicle Girl, perpetually crunching lines of data like a kid with an endless supply of rock candy. When she's not breaking pivot tables, she writes. And she draws. And she takes and edit photos. She's even been known to sing along.
She's a Jane of all trades and a Mistress of some.
She appreciates tattoos and collects them as souvenirs. She provides gut-wrenching brutal honesty, but she’ll smile when she's delivering it so you won’t feel as bad hearing it. She's a narcissistic muse. Flattery will get you everywhere, as will red velvet cupcakes.
You can visit her at www.lisa-mauro.com
About the Book:
Surrounded by abject poverty in Manhattan's housing projects, Ella Santia is abused and manipulated by her family until she is placed into foster care. When that experience also sours, she makes the decision to move into a group home. On her walks along the High Line with fellow resident Lara, she begins to open herself up to new experiences. When things come to a head at the group home, Ella realizes that it is time for her to fend for herself.
The Place We Went to Yesterday chronicles Ella's journey from passive punching bag to assertive young woman.
Kim's Musing Review:Sad but Good. I loved the story line and Ella's character; although, I couldn't understand why Ella turned a blind eye to some of the things she felt were happening to others. I've never been in her situation so I can't judge, understanding the saying "until you walk in my shoes." I don't know how I would react in a similar situation.
This is such a sad story. If I hadn't read that it was fiction, I would've thought it was a true story. I still believe it's based on someone's life. It is so detailed and true to life. All of the characters were well-drawn and lifelike. Working with people who work with teens in similar situations, I know how hard the teens lives can be and how hard it can be for those who try to help to get through to them due to trust issues. I have recommended this book to those who work in this field.
The reason I'm giving this book four stars rather than five stars. It moved a bit slow for me in a few places although the writing was mostly flawless. The flow became bogged down in the details. Then there's the ending which I felt should've taken us a bit further into Ella's life for a more satisfying end.
Get your copy of The Place We Went to Yesterday here. You will be glad you did.
Next up on my TBR list is Silent Night Violent Night (A Cory Goodwin Mystery) by C J Verberg.
June 11, 2015
Review: "Finding Liam: Prossers Bay Series" by Cheryl Phipps
About the Author:
As a young mother with three small children, Cheryl Phipps escaped the daily chaos of motherhood through her beloved romance novels. She loved being whisked away from nappies and wiping noses to exotic locations filled with suave heroes and feisty heroines, and wonderful small towns with heart-warming tales of strong family ties and life-affirming true love.
Her bookshelves still hold those favorite authors - Nora Roberts, Marian Keyes and Cathy Kelly - plus new-found favorites who write stories that echo Cheryl's own values: family always comes first and life's struggles and challenges are always surmountable through love.
Cheryl's three children have now grown up and have families of their own, leaving her free to pursue her dreams of writing novels. She lives in a quiet suburb of New Zealand's largest city, Auckland, with her wonderful husband, who she married the moment she left school (yes, they were high school sweethearts), and their turtles Rose and Jade. She enjoys taking walks with her husband, dinner out with friends, and, of course, weaving sensual stories that celebrate the joy of love, family and resilience.
About the Book:
Driven apart by tragedy
Max has been in love with Abby forever and marrying his childhood sweetheart was a dream come true. But a series of devastating life events have driven a wedge between them and their marriage has gone from passionate togetherness, to leading separate lives.
Rekindling their romance
Abby fears her she can never be the wife that Max deserves, but when a Christmas miracle happens, she’s offered the chance at creating the family she’s always wanted. Is it too late for their marriage, or will these two wounded souls have a second chance at happily ever after?
Kim's Musing Review:A wonderfully touching story that was at times heart-wrenching about a couple who lost their closeness but found their way back to love and intimacy again. The need of one small boy brought them back together causing them to re-evaluate their feelings. I really enjoyed this story about a love that was almost lost being found again before it was too late. I laughed and I cried, but overall I loved this story and can hardly wait to read the next story in this series
Get your copy of Finding Liam: Prossers Bay Series here. You will be glad you did.
Next up my TBR list is The Place We Went to Yesterday by Lisa Mauro.
As a young mother with three small children, Cheryl Phipps escaped the daily chaos of motherhood through her beloved romance novels. She loved being whisked away from nappies and wiping noses to exotic locations filled with suave heroes and feisty heroines, and wonderful small towns with heart-warming tales of strong family ties and life-affirming true love.Her bookshelves still hold those favorite authors - Nora Roberts, Marian Keyes and Cathy Kelly - plus new-found favorites who write stories that echo Cheryl's own values: family always comes first and life's struggles and challenges are always surmountable through love.
Cheryl's three children have now grown up and have families of their own, leaving her free to pursue her dreams of writing novels. She lives in a quiet suburb of New Zealand's largest city, Auckland, with her wonderful husband, who she married the moment she left school (yes, they were high school sweethearts), and their turtles Rose and Jade. She enjoys taking walks with her husband, dinner out with friends, and, of course, weaving sensual stories that celebrate the joy of love, family and resilience.
About the Book:
Driven apart by tragedy Max has been in love with Abby forever and marrying his childhood sweetheart was a dream come true. But a series of devastating life events have driven a wedge between them and their marriage has gone from passionate togetherness, to leading separate lives.
Rekindling their romance
Abby fears her she can never be the wife that Max deserves, but when a Christmas miracle happens, she’s offered the chance at creating the family she’s always wanted. Is it too late for their marriage, or will these two wounded souls have a second chance at happily ever after?
Kim's Musing Review:A wonderfully touching story that was at times heart-wrenching about a couple who lost their closeness but found their way back to love and intimacy again. The need of one small boy brought them back together causing them to re-evaluate their feelings. I really enjoyed this story about a love that was almost lost being found again before it was too late. I laughed and I cried, but overall I loved this story and can hardly wait to read the next story in this series
Get your copy of Finding Liam: Prossers Bay Series here. You will be glad you did.
Next up my TBR list is The Place We Went to Yesterday by Lisa Mauro.
June 6, 2015
Review: "The Adventures of Joe Joe Nut and Biscuit Bill 3: The Case of the Missing Arch" by Renee Hand
About the Author:
Renee Hand is a multi award-winning author and requested speaker on the topic of using fun fiction to teach science, geography and history. Let her show librarians, educators, and parents how using her books can not only challenge readers and the way they think about problems in real life, but she creates high interest topics that suck the reader into her stories encouraging them into wanting to know more about the settings, science, history, culture and people. Skills like reading comprehension, reasoning, deduction and observation come together in a myriad of ways.
In her Crypto-Caper Series children get to solve puzzles and cryptograms that are woven strategically inside of the story for the reader to find and solve inside of the books. Each book provides the reader with what they will need to solve the case, providing them with the knowledge and new skills that will help them succeed.
About the Book:
The elementary school at Acorn Valley holds an art fundraiser to help local animals whose homes were lost due to natural disasters. Four famous local artists--Claude Monet Mongoose, Georgia O'Giraffe, Vincent Van Goat and Pablo Picasso Peacock--have generously donated their weather-themed paintings for a charity auction. But a monkey wrench is thrown into the proceedings when distinguished Gila monster Dr. Ced E. Meant discovers, in a presentation at the Metropolitan Museum before the event, that his invaluable research has been stolen! His findings are so important that they cannot be leaked to the world at large! Meanwhile, more mysterious and fishy things are going on at the art auction, which Detectives Nut and Bill are determined to unravel. Geared for older children (and appealing enough for adults), this third entry in the series once again paints a delightful world of animal protagonists--teachers, scientists, etc.--using colorful illustrations with the lively black-and-white cartoons of Karwoski. Each of the animals--garbed like humans--has personality to spare, and they make amusing references to bills, hooves and tails. A genuinely crafty, complex mystery (including secret panels, art theft and characters who aren't as they appear) combines seamlessly with info about weather and art.
Kim's Musings Review:Entertaining As Well As Educational
While mixing the subjects of science, art, history and weather, this story also entices the reader with a mystery and wonderful animal characters. It begins a theft of important research, and then another theft that ties into the first one.
I found this to be a very entertaining and educational read not only for children but for adults as well. Ms. Hand has done an excellent job of creating fun and lively characters. I loved the way she mixed up the different subjects that teaches the reader as well as entertains them. The end of the chapter information was a happy and welcoming surprise.
This is a well-written book with well-rounded characters and mysteriously suspenseful.
Get your copy of The Adventures of Joe Joe Nut and Biscuit Bill 3: The Case of the Missing Arch here. Your children will love you for it.
Next up my TBR list is Finding Liam by Cheryl A. Phillips and The Place We Went to Yesterday by Lisa Mauro.
Renee Hand is a multi award-winning author and requested speaker on the topic of using fun fiction to teach science, geography and history. Let her show librarians, educators, and parents how using her books can not only challenge readers and the way they think about problems in real life, but she creates high interest topics that suck the reader into her stories encouraging them into wanting to know more about the settings, science, history, culture and people. Skills like reading comprehension, reasoning, deduction and observation come together in a myriad of ways. In her Crypto-Caper Series children get to solve puzzles and cryptograms that are woven strategically inside of the story for the reader to find and solve inside of the books. Each book provides the reader with what they will need to solve the case, providing them with the knowledge and new skills that will help them succeed.
About the Book:
The elementary school at Acorn Valley holds an art fundraiser to help local animals whose homes were lost due to natural disasters. Four famous local artists--Claude Monet Mongoose, Georgia O'Giraffe, Vincent Van Goat and Pablo Picasso Peacock--have generously donated their weather-themed paintings for a charity auction. But a monkey wrench is thrown into the proceedings when distinguished Gila monster Dr. Ced E. Meant discovers, in a presentation at the Metropolitan Museum before the event, that his invaluable research has been stolen! His findings are so important that they cannot be leaked to the world at large! Meanwhile, more mysterious and fishy things are going on at the art auction, which Detectives Nut and Bill are determined to unravel. Geared for older children (and appealing enough for adults), this third entry in the series once again paints a delightful world of animal protagonists--teachers, scientists, etc.--using colorful illustrations with the lively black-and-white cartoons of Karwoski. Each of the animals--garbed like humans--has personality to spare, and they make amusing references to bills, hooves and tails. A genuinely crafty, complex mystery (including secret panels, art theft and characters who aren't as they appear) combines seamlessly with info about weather and art.Kim's Musings Review:Entertaining As Well As Educational
While mixing the subjects of science, art, history and weather, this story also entices the reader with a mystery and wonderful animal characters. It begins a theft of important research, and then another theft that ties into the first one.
I found this to be a very entertaining and educational read not only for children but for adults as well. Ms. Hand has done an excellent job of creating fun and lively characters. I loved the way she mixed up the different subjects that teaches the reader as well as entertains them. The end of the chapter information was a happy and welcoming surprise.
This is a well-written book with well-rounded characters and mysteriously suspenseful.
Get your copy of The Adventures of Joe Joe Nut and Biscuit Bill 3: The Case of the Missing Arch here. Your children will love you for it.
Next up my TBR list is Finding Liam by Cheryl A. Phillips and The Place We Went to Yesterday by Lisa Mauro.
"The Adventures of Joe Joe Nut and Biscuit Bill 3: The Case of the Missing Arch" by Renee Hand
About the Author:
Renee Hand is a multi award-winning author and requested speaker on the topic of using fun fiction to teach science, geography and history. Let her show librarians, educators, and parents how using her books can not only challenge readers and the way they think about problems in real life, but she creates high interest topics that suck the reader into her stories encouraging them into wanting to know more about the settings, science, history, culture and people. Skills like reading comprehension, reasoning, deduction and observation come together in a myriad of ways.
In her Crypto-Caper Series children get to solve puzzles and cryptograms that are woven strategically inside of the story for the reader to find and solve inside of the books. Each book provides the reader with what they will need to solve the case, providing them with the knowledge and new skills that will help them succeed.
About the Book:
The elementary school at Acorn Valley holds an art fundraiser to help local animals whose homes were lost due to natural disasters. Four famous local artists--Claude Monet Mongoose, Georgia O'Giraffe, Vincent Van Goat and Pablo Picasso Peacock--have generously donated their weather-themed paintings for a charity auction. But a monkey wrench is thrown into the proceedings when distinguished Gila monster Dr. Ced E. Meant discovers, in a presentation at the Metropolitan Museum before the event, that his invaluable research has been stolen! His findings are so important that they cannot be leaked to the world at large! Meanwhile, more mysterious and fishy things are going on at the art auction, which Detectives Nut and Bill are determined to unravel. Geared for older children (and appealing enough for adults), this third entry in the series once again paints a delightful world of animal protagonists--teachers, scientists, etc.--using colorful illustrations with the lively black-and-white cartoons of Karwoski. Each of the animals--garbed like humans--has personality to spare, and they make amusing references to bills, hooves and tails. A genuinely crafty, complex mystery (including secret panels, art theft and characters who aren't as they appear) combines seamlessly with info about weather and art.
Kim's Musings Review:Entertaining As Well As Educational
While mixing the subjects of science, art, history and weather, this story also entices the reader with a mystery and wonderful animal characters. It begins a theft of important research, and then another theft that ties into the first one.
I found this to be a very entertaining and educational read not only for children but for adults as well. Ms. Hand has done an excellent job of creating fun and lively characters. I loved the way she mixed up the different subjects that teaches the reader as well as entertains them. The end of the chapter information was a happy and welcoming surprise.
This is a well-written book with well-rounded characters and mysteriously suspenseful.
Get your copy of The Adventures of Joe Joe Nut and Biscuit Bill 3: The Case of the Missing Arch here. Your children will love you for it.
Next up my TBR list is Finding Liam by Cheryl A. Phillips and The Place We Went to Yesterday by Lisa Mauro.
Renee Hand is a multi award-winning author and requested speaker on the topic of using fun fiction to teach science, geography and history. Let her show librarians, educators, and parents how using her books can not only challenge readers and the way they think about problems in real life, but she creates high interest topics that suck the reader into her stories encouraging them into wanting to know more about the settings, science, history, culture and people. Skills like reading comprehension, reasoning, deduction and observation come together in a myriad of ways. In her Crypto-Caper Series children get to solve puzzles and cryptograms that are woven strategically inside of the story for the reader to find and solve inside of the books. Each book provides the reader with what they will need to solve the case, providing them with the knowledge and new skills that will help them succeed.
About the Book:
The elementary school at Acorn Valley holds an art fundraiser to help local animals whose homes were lost due to natural disasters. Four famous local artists--Claude Monet Mongoose, Georgia O'Giraffe, Vincent Van Goat and Pablo Picasso Peacock--have generously donated their weather-themed paintings for a charity auction. But a monkey wrench is thrown into the proceedings when distinguished Gila monster Dr. Ced E. Meant discovers, in a presentation at the Metropolitan Museum before the event, that his invaluable research has been stolen! His findings are so important that they cannot be leaked to the world at large! Meanwhile, more mysterious and fishy things are going on at the art auction, which Detectives Nut and Bill are determined to unravel. Geared for older children (and appealing enough for adults), this third entry in the series once again paints a delightful world of animal protagonists--teachers, scientists, etc.--using colorful illustrations with the lively black-and-white cartoons of Karwoski. Each of the animals--garbed like humans--has personality to spare, and they make amusing references to bills, hooves and tails. A genuinely crafty, complex mystery (including secret panels, art theft and characters who aren't as they appear) combines seamlessly with info about weather and art.Kim's Musings Review:Entertaining As Well As Educational
While mixing the subjects of science, art, history and weather, this story also entices the reader with a mystery and wonderful animal characters. It begins a theft of important research, and then another theft that ties into the first one.
I found this to be a very entertaining and educational read not only for children but for adults as well. Ms. Hand has done an excellent job of creating fun and lively characters. I loved the way she mixed up the different subjects that teaches the reader as well as entertains them. The end of the chapter information was a happy and welcoming surprise.
This is a well-written book with well-rounded characters and mysteriously suspenseful.
Get your copy of The Adventures of Joe Joe Nut and Biscuit Bill 3: The Case of the Missing Arch here. Your children will love you for it.
Next up my TBR list is Finding Liam by Cheryl A. Phillips and The Place We Went to Yesterday by Lisa Mauro.
June 4, 2015
Review: "Think Murder" by Cassidy Salem
About the Author:
Cassidy Salem has always been an avid reader. She is especially fond of mysteries (both cozy and traditional). Over the years, her favorite mystery authors have included Agatha Christie, Kathy Reichs, Mary Higgins Clark, and John Grisham. Cassidy also enjoys reading historical fiction focused on American and world history, as well as the classics.
Cassidy has never met a dog she didn't like - a fact that influenced her decision to have the protagonist in "Think Murder" volunteer at a dog rescue center. When she's not reading, Cassidy enjoys singing in an a cappella ensemble. Most of all, Cassidy enjoys spending time with family and friends, and travels with her husband and son whenever possible. Her travels have taken her to destinations throughout the United States and Europe, as well as Scandinavia and the Middle East.
About the Book:
Adina Donati came to Washington D.C. to find excitement, not a dead body. When a friend is murdered, Adina is drawn into the middle of the police investigation. Tensions rise as the suspect list expands to include Adina, her friends, and colleagues at the prestigious think tank where she works. But every cloud has a silver lining. Between the nice detective, the hot new volunteer at the dog rescue center, and the newly available preppy ex-boyfriend, Adina’s dating dry spell appears near its end. That is, if she doesn’t become the next victim.
Kim's Musings Review:5 Stars: I enjoyed “Think Murder” immensely. The Washington, DC setting was well done, so much I felt I was actually there. I recognized many of the places mentioned from when I visited during a work conference last August.
The characters were well described. I loved them all, even the bad guys. As for Adina’s love interests, I was pulling for Jonathan but thought she might choose Bruce. Not that he wasn’t a nice guy, but I don’t know, I just liked Jonathan best. I hope there is a sequel to this story. I would love to read it or anything else written by this author. Great first book.
Get your copy here.
Cassidy Salem has always been an avid reader. She is especially fond of mysteries (both cozy and traditional). Over the years, her favorite mystery authors have included Agatha Christie, Kathy Reichs, Mary Higgins Clark, and John Grisham. Cassidy also enjoys reading historical fiction focused on American and world history, as well as the classics. Cassidy has never met a dog she didn't like - a fact that influenced her decision to have the protagonist in "Think Murder" volunteer at a dog rescue center. When she's not reading, Cassidy enjoys singing in an a cappella ensemble. Most of all, Cassidy enjoys spending time with family and friends, and travels with her husband and son whenever possible. Her travels have taken her to destinations throughout the United States and Europe, as well as Scandinavia and the Middle East.
About the Book:
Adina Donati came to Washington D.C. to find excitement, not a dead body. When a friend is murdered, Adina is drawn into the middle of the police investigation. Tensions rise as the suspect list expands to include Adina, her friends, and colleagues at the prestigious think tank where she works. But every cloud has a silver lining. Between the nice detective, the hot new volunteer at the dog rescue center, and the newly available preppy ex-boyfriend, Adina’s dating dry spell appears near its end. That is, if she doesn’t become the next victim.Kim's Musings Review:5 Stars: I enjoyed “Think Murder” immensely. The Washington, DC setting was well done, so much I felt I was actually there. I recognized many of the places mentioned from when I visited during a work conference last August.
The characters were well described. I loved them all, even the bad guys. As for Adina’s love interests, I was pulling for Jonathan but thought she might choose Bruce. Not that he wasn’t a nice guy, but I don’t know, I just liked Jonathan best. I hope there is a sequel to this story. I would love to read it or anything else written by this author. Great first book.
Get your copy here.
May 30, 2015
Writing the Paranormal Mystery Series
I was just thinking about this the other day and decided to write it down. Why did I want to write this series—what attracted me to writing a mystery series about a psychic female private investigator who could communicate with ghosts? What contributed to my interest? I get ideas for writing from everywhere and everyone but never actually use specifics from the instances and persons all around me. However, it sparks ideas for totally unrelated subjects.
Just last week my husband and I were talking about cloning. Not sure where the conversation started, but we were wondering about how a soul comes into play in the overall scheme of this process. Does the cloned person even have a soul? Well, the what-ifs started and I have a futuristic, science fiction book on the back burner, meaning that I have an idea about one that I want to write. So, I added some thoughts about cloning to that file, and I’ve downloaded some books about cloning for research. Anyway, this is insight into how my mind works and where such ideas can come from during a simple conversation.
My reading passion has always been all types of mysteries and since I started writing, I wanted to write a series about a woman sleuth, private investigator. As far as psychics and mediums, I’ve always been fascinated by them and with the ghosts they are able to communicate. I’ve heard numerous stories about ghosts from family and friends. I’ve come to believe that the state of Ohio is full of them. By the way, I would to love hear from others who live or have lived in Ohio about this.
As a teenager, I had a friend who swore they had a ghost named Oscar (not sure if this was the name he gave them or a name they gave him, although, I believe it was the later) living in their house. He would do odd things—move objects around or write on a steam-covered mirror in the bathroom but he was never mean or scary. Once, I remember hearing them say that Oscar may not be a man after all because one night the entity climbed into bed with her brother. This friend did not live in Ohio but a small town in eastern North Carolina. However, they said Oscar followed or hopped a ride with them back from a place in Ohio where they had moved during the summer. I don’t remember the name of the town or anything else about it.
Then there’s my husband’s aunt who has told me numerous ghost stories about houses she’s lived in in Dayton. She has seen many entities over the years and for the life of me, I can’t remember the specific stories except of her just seeing the filmy, translucence apparitions that seemed to me were more of residual hauntings where the ghosts go about their normal routine as if they were still alive.
I guess all of these stories have fascinated me over time and that fascination manifested itself into the stories in the Lana Malloy Paranormal Mystery series, although not their stories specifically but portions of things in them has sparked ideas. I can only think of one specific thing and that’s the writing on the mirror in Get Out or Die. I believe all of the stories I’ve heard over the years have contributed in part to me wanting to write about ghosts, psychics, mediums, etc.
After my first story, Haunted Hearts was first published in an anthology, television shows such as Ghost Whisperer and Medium started to air and my fascination only grew. I loved those shows and hated it when they left the air.
As with most books and television shows about the supernatural, the Lana Malloy Paranormal Mystery series gets a bit darker with each story. Haunted Hearts, set in Charleston, South Carolina, is pretty light with a little comic relief from Lana’s Great Aunt Lucy and their nosy neighbor who is fashioned similar to a Bewitched’s Gladys Kravitz type character. I grew up watching Bewitched.
Get Out or Die is also set in Charleston, and it’s a bit darker. It has to do with an angry ghost who is haunting the new residents of his house because he blames them, in part, for his death. Many things come out during Lana’s dealings with Adam but eventually she learns the foundation of his problem and is able to help him in a way she didn’t know was possible. The next two stories that are scheduled to be released in September and November grow darker yet with The Wedding Crasher and Christmas Cruise.
The Wedding Crasher is set in the Tennessee Mountains. After a man’s fiancé breaks up with him he becomes obsessed by the memory of his dead mother's kindness. His breakup triggers memories of his sad past. He later meets and becomes obsessed with a woman who reminds him of the loving woman his mother used to be before her untimely death. And in Christmas Cruise Lana boards a cruise ship haunted by ten years of dead women who were brutally raped and then murdered.
Up until a couple of months ago, I thought this would be an end to the series but I recently had two more book ideas for the series and hope to write those books sometime in early 2016. The tentative titles for these are Demi’s Serial Case and Haunted by Her Past.
Both of these will most likely take place in Lana’s home town of Charleston—the first one definitely will since Demi is a police detective in Charleston. It could lead to other locations in South Carolina as well. The second book has a background story in another town but the haunted person will be living in Charleston during her haunting.
In Demi’s Serial Case, the town has a serial killer and Demi requests her best friend Lana’s assistance. Lana helps Demi with a profile of the killer who is also a copy-cat killer (copying another serial killer’s modus operandi). In Haunted by Her Past, Lana helps a young woman whose dead, abusive ex-boyfriend is haunting her and trying to kill her.
May 27, 2015
Review: "Crazy! Hot! And Living on the Edge!!" by Shirley Harris-Laughter
About the Author:Shirley Harris-Slaughter’s first book highlights her passion for history which led to her first
published work, Our Lady of Victory, the Saga of an African American Catholic Community. But she wouldn’t have been able to write that book had she not had the presence of mind to conquer the health crisis she found herself in. She is an advocate for natural health and healing. Any problem that she had to face, she found her way out of it through sheer determination and a miracle. This led to her second book CRAZY! HOT! AND LIVING ON THE EDGE!!
Harris-Slaughter saw a void that needed to be filled; and so she decided to share her experience. Harris-Slaughter has been active in her community by supporting candidates for elected office, and voting in every election. She served on the Oak Park School Board. She is an advocate for children and mentored four freshmen girls in the Winning Futures program. She is an active member in her church and she belongs to the Rave Reviews (Virtual) Book Club. She married her best friend Langston and they share a blended family. “We are as different as night and day and yet we are so much alike in many ways. We made it through thirty-two years!” Shirley Harris-Slaughter is available for speaking engagements.
About the Book:
Imagine experiencing emotions that have you questioning your sanity. Your body gets overheated at the least bit of excitement and you scramble to find a fan or some air. Or you find yourself in the throes of a panic attack and can’t understand how to shut it off, so you are filled with anxiety wondering when the next one is coming. What if every time you take a drug you experience side-affects that you are warned about on the label?
The title was conceived in my mind after I thought over all the situations I had found myself in, getting out of them, and the affect all of this had on my overall physical and mental well-being.
Crazy! Hot! And Living On the Edge!! Is the True Story of My Upside Down Life!
My Musings Review:Shirley Harris-Slaughter tells it like it is in Crazy! Hot! And Living on the Edge!! Shirley is another Rave Reviews Book Club member.
I applaud Shirley for having the courage to "tell it how it is" and to tell her story. This was a heartfelt journey about one woman's struggle with illness and the courage and fortitude to overcome and learn from it. Keep on "Telling it like it is!" There's a lot of food for thought here. It's a must read for every woman.
Get your copy at Amazon today.
published work, Our Lady of Victory, the Saga of an African American Catholic Community. But she wouldn’t have been able to write that book had she not had the presence of mind to conquer the health crisis she found herself in. She is an advocate for natural health and healing. Any problem that she had to face, she found her way out of it through sheer determination and a miracle. This led to her second book CRAZY! HOT! AND LIVING ON THE EDGE!!Harris-Slaughter saw a void that needed to be filled; and so she decided to share her experience. Harris-Slaughter has been active in her community by supporting candidates for elected office, and voting in every election. She served on the Oak Park School Board. She is an advocate for children and mentored four freshmen girls in the Winning Futures program. She is an active member in her church and she belongs to the Rave Reviews (Virtual) Book Club. She married her best friend Langston and they share a blended family. “We are as different as night and day and yet we are so much alike in many ways. We made it through thirty-two years!” Shirley Harris-Slaughter is available for speaking engagements.
About the Book:
Imagine experiencing emotions that have you questioning your sanity. Your body gets overheated at the least bit of excitement and you scramble to find a fan or some air. Or you find yourself in the throes of a panic attack and can’t understand how to shut it off, so you are filled with anxiety wondering when the next one is coming. What if every time you take a drug you experience side-affects that you are warned about on the label?The title was conceived in my mind after I thought over all the situations I had found myself in, getting out of them, and the affect all of this had on my overall physical and mental well-being.
Crazy! Hot! And Living On the Edge!! Is the True Story of My Upside Down Life!
My Musings Review:Shirley Harris-Slaughter tells it like it is in Crazy! Hot! And Living on the Edge!! Shirley is another Rave Reviews Book Club member.
I applaud Shirley for having the courage to "tell it how it is" and to tell her story. This was a heartfelt journey about one woman's struggle with illness and the courage and fortitude to overcome and learn from it. Keep on "Telling it like it is!" There's a lot of food for thought here. It's a must read for every woman.
Get your copy at Amazon today.
Review: Crazy! Hot! And Living on the Edge!! by Shirley Harris-Laughter
About the Author:Shirley Harris-Slaughter’s first book highlights her passion for history which led to her first
published work, Our Lady of Victory, the Saga of an African American Catholic Community. But she wouldn’t have been able to write that book had she not had the presence of mind to conquer the health crisis she found herself in. She is an advocate for natural health and healing. Any problem that she had to face, she found her way out of it through sheer determination and a miracle. This led to her second book CRAZY! HOT! AND LIVING ON THE EDGE!!
Harris-Slaughter saw a void that needed to be filled; and so she decided to share her experience. Harris-Slaughter has been active in her community by supporting candidates for elected office, and voting in every election. She served on the Oak Park School Board. She is an advocate for children and mentored four freshmen girls in the Winning Futures program. She is an active member in her church and she belongs to the Rave Reviews (Virtual) Book Club. She married her best friend Langston and they share a blended family. “We are as different as night and day and yet we are so much alike in many ways. We made it through thirty-two years!” Shirley Harris-Slaughter is available for speaking engagements.
About the Book:
Imagine experiencing emotions that have you questioning your sanity. Your body gets overheated at the least bit of excitement and you scramble to find a fan or some air. Or you find yourself in the throes of a panic attack and can’t understand how to shut it off, so you are filled with anxiety wondering when the next one is coming. What if every time you take a drug you experience side-affects that you are warned about on the label?
The title was conceived in my mind after I thought over all the situations I had found myself in, getting out of them, and the affect all of this had on my overall physical and mental well-being.
Crazy! Hot! And Living On the Edge!! Is the True Story of My Upside Down Life!
My Musings Review:Shirley Harris-Slaughter tells it like it is in Crazy! Hot! And Living on the Edge!! Shirley is another Rave Reviews Book Club member.
I applaud Shirley for having the courage to "tell it how it is" and to tell her story. This was a heartfelt journey about one woman's struggle with illness and the courage and fortitude to overcome and learn from it. Keep on "Telling it like it is!" There's a lot of food for thought here. It's a must read for every woman.
Get your copy at Amazon today.
published work, Our Lady of Victory, the Saga of an African American Catholic Community. But she wouldn’t have been able to write that book had she not had the presence of mind to conquer the health crisis she found herself in. She is an advocate for natural health and healing. Any problem that she had to face, she found her way out of it through sheer determination and a miracle. This led to her second book CRAZY! HOT! AND LIVING ON THE EDGE!!Harris-Slaughter saw a void that needed to be filled; and so she decided to share her experience. Harris-Slaughter has been active in her community by supporting candidates for elected office, and voting in every election. She served on the Oak Park School Board. She is an advocate for children and mentored four freshmen girls in the Winning Futures program. She is an active member in her church and she belongs to the Rave Reviews (Virtual) Book Club. She married her best friend Langston and they share a blended family. “We are as different as night and day and yet we are so much alike in many ways. We made it through thirty-two years!” Shirley Harris-Slaughter is available for speaking engagements.
About the Book:
Imagine experiencing emotions that have you questioning your sanity. Your body gets overheated at the least bit of excitement and you scramble to find a fan or some air. Or you find yourself in the throes of a panic attack and can’t understand how to shut it off, so you are filled with anxiety wondering when the next one is coming. What if every time you take a drug you experience side-affects that you are warned about on the label?The title was conceived in my mind after I thought over all the situations I had found myself in, getting out of them, and the affect all of this had on my overall physical and mental well-being.
Crazy! Hot! And Living On the Edge!! Is the True Story of My Upside Down Life!
My Musings Review:Shirley Harris-Slaughter tells it like it is in Crazy! Hot! And Living on the Edge!! Shirley is another Rave Reviews Book Club member.
I applaud Shirley for having the courage to "tell it how it is" and to tell her story. This was a heartfelt journey about one woman's struggle with illness and the courage and fortitude to overcome and learn from it. Keep on "Telling it like it is!" There's a lot of food for thought here. It's a must read for every woman.
Get your copy at Amazon today.
THE BEST BOOK CLUB ONLINE
RAVE REVIEW BOOK CLUB
JOIN US NOWI have been a member of many authors/aspiring authors/members book clubs. I've worked as treasurer, contest creator and coordinator, mentor, etc. for years, and I've only been a member Rave Review Book Club (RRBC) for about a month. I tell you this to let you know that I've found more support from my fellow authors at RRBC in a short month than I did for years in other agencies/clubs. If you're an Indie author you need support more than any other author. This is where you can find it. I am now experiencing more support than I believe I ever have as author. They're a kind, amazing, fantastic authors and readers who will support you through your trials and tribulations in publishing.Don't walk ... Run to JOIN now. You will not be disappointed. If I didn't believe that I would NOT say it. Go now! Don't wait! Tell them that Kim Cox sent you. Just click the image below.
May 23, 2015
Spotlight Reviews This Month
This month I have read and reviewed three new books of which two were new authors (to me), and I would like to give you my musings about them. After all, this is Kim's Musings. All of these reviews have already been posted on Amazon.com and GoodReads. I am listing them below in the order that I read and reviewed them.
Through indie authors, I have found a lot of good books. One is the Mary O'Reilly Paranormal Mystery series by Terri Reid. The latest book I read was Veiled Passages, and the review is posted below.
About Terri Reid:
Terri Reid has been telling ghost stories since she was a toddler. Her mother tells of a time when two-year old Terri would sit in her highchair, look past her mother into the dark porch and say, "Look. Man." When her mother would turn in horror, Terri would laugh delightedly.
Terri lives in the same are of the United States as her Mary O'Reilly character, Northwest Illinois. She lives on five acres of rolling land in a 100 year-old farmhouse, with her husband, children, dogs, cats and several dozen chickens (well, the chickens live in the barn).
Her background is in marketing and public relations, but she has always enjoyed telling stories. For a while, she worked as a freelance journalist for the local paper and wrote the Halloween feature for many years, collecting as many local ghost stories as she could. She gave her collection of local ghost stories to the local historical society to use as a fundraiser, they are now in their third printing.
About the Book:
Veiled Passages (A Mary O'Reilly Paranormal Mystery Book 10) by Terri Reid
A famous mystery writer drowns in a hotel bathtub... an accident or foul play? His ghost thinks it was murder. His mystery writer colleagues want to help Mary solve the case. Gary Cooper is still on the loose and gunning for both Bradley and Mary. And, in between all the murder and mayhem, Mary and Bradley are desperate to finally walk up the aisle. Will they ever become husband and wife?
My Review:
Loved it. Loved everything about it. Ms. Reid has a way of pulling you into the story and keeping you there until the very end with many twists and turns along the way. It's seldom that I don't guess who the murderer is before the author lets it be known, but this is one of the times I didn't. I loved all the characters. They were believable and well-fleshed out. Thank you for another great read!
Get your copy at of Veiled Passages at Amazon.com.
I recently joined a group of authors and readers who are the most supportive group I've had the pleasure of being a part of in a long time. The next two books I read and reviewed are books by a couple of the authors I met through this group.
About the middle of May, I started reading Souls: A Novel by Jennifer Hinsman as a way of supporting my fellow authors at this new group who have shown me so much support. I wasn't disappointed as I've also found excellent novels in the process. Souls: A Novel is Jennifer's debut novel and she's gotten off to a great start with this book.
About Jennifer Hinsman:
Jenny graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a degree in business. She currently resides in Michigan with her husband, two sons, a furry son (pet dog) and furry daughter (pet cat). Jenny is an avid reader and loves to escape with a great book. She is a huge animal lover and supports rescue organizations that help save all kinds of four-legged family members and more. All of her family pets have been rescues.
About The Book:
Souls: A Novel by J. Hinsman
Souls is the unforgettable story of Ann, and the painful death of her twin sister, Celeste. Ann sets out on a quest to find the killer of her womb-mate following the subsequent death of her parents and after depression nearly kills her.
Ann finds herself in California seeking out a Hollywood producer as the perpetrator and while there finds her soul coming back to life when she meets a young actor, Tyler Peters. She cringes at the idea of dating someone younger and becoming a ‘cougar’, but she may be able to use him for his Hollywood connections. An astonishing electricity between the two turns to a passionate and deep love that is tested by an unpredictable twist that comes when Ann figures out who is behind her sister’s death.
My Review:
Twists, Turns and Great Characters! What more could you want, right? This is a wonderful story line, very touching about sibling love and what happens if someone harms one of them. It was also about letting go of the hate and letting yourself live again after a loss. I loved all the characters, especially Ann and Tyler and their romance, but I think Ed was my favorite. All the characters were well-crafted and detailed.
I could relate with Ann as a person who has lost a sibling and both parents, and of marrying a man seven years younger. I know how it feels to be the only one left in your immediate family. So we had a lot in common. I also love a great mystery and this one didn't disappoint me. There were just enough twists and turns to keep me guessing. I did find a few missing words and typos but they didn't take away from the enjoyment of the story. I believe with a little more editing this book could be on the best seller list. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.
Get your copy of Souls: A Novel by J Hinsman today at Amazon.com. You won't be disappointed. Ms. Hinsman has a second novel also that I added to my TBR (To be read) list. I picked up a copy of Angel of Death by Jennifer Hinsman and you can too.
I finished up the month of May with a short novella, Before Another Sunset (Book 1, The Sunset Series), the prequel to the full novel, Another Sunset (Book 2, The Sunset Series) by Jason Zandri.
About Jason Zandri:
Jason has been working in the information technology field in one form or the other since 1996. He is currently employed full time at Bloomberg LP as a Systems Engineer in the R&D group. Jason lives in Wallingford Connecticut, with his wife Renata. He is the father to four children, three boys and 1 girl - 11 years (Andrew), 9 years (Angela), 7 years (Adam) and 6 years old (Alex).
You can keep up with Jason on Facebook via his author page at https://www.facebook.com/jzandri
You can FOLLOW Jason on Twitter via https://twitter.com/gunderstone
You can ADD Jason to your circles on Google+ via https://plus.google.com/+JasonZandri/
About the Book:
Before Another Sunset (Book 1, The Sunset Series)
Westville, Texas. A small town with friendly people; families that have stayed and endured life's ups and downs. Many have left as the town no longer can fully support its own. An old woman maintains one of the remaining small businesses at the center of town, helped by Maria, her second floor tenant. Maria's daughter Caroline starts to question her father's absence. She also dreams up an idea to help the local library. Friends uncover true feelings and a kind drifter's travels bring him closer to the town. - PREQUEL NOVELLA TO "ANOTHER SUNSET"
My Review:
Excellent Writing! I really enjoyed this story and my only complaint is I wish there had been more. There was the beginning of a romance and I was really pulling for Henry, hoping Caroline got a daddy, etc. The writing and characterization were excellent with a Texan/Southern flair. As a small town, southern girl, although not a Texan, I really appreciated the dialogue used that wasn't over the top like many stories you find about southerners. I felt like I was right there in the small town of Westville, Texas as I read. All in all, if you’d like a short and pleasant read about a small town, don’t pass up Before Another Sunset.
This book wet my appetite for the characters of Westville, Texas so I picked up book 2, Another Sunset and added it to my TBR list. You can too! But first read Before Another Sunset .
What I'm reading now: Crazy! Hot! And Living on the Edge!! by Sheryl Harris-Slaughter and The Adventures of Joe Joe Nut and Biscuit Bill 3: The Case of the Missing Arch (The Adventures of Joe-Joe Nut and Biscuit Bill) by Renee Hand Have you read any good books lately? Kim's Musings wants to know.
Through indie authors, I have found a lot of good books. One is the Mary O'Reilly Paranormal Mystery series by Terri Reid. The latest book I read was Veiled Passages, and the review is posted below.
About Terri Reid:Terri Reid has been telling ghost stories since she was a toddler. Her mother tells of a time when two-year old Terri would sit in her highchair, look past her mother into the dark porch and say, "Look. Man." When her mother would turn in horror, Terri would laugh delightedly.
Terri lives in the same are of the United States as her Mary O'Reilly character, Northwest Illinois. She lives on five acres of rolling land in a 100 year-old farmhouse, with her husband, children, dogs, cats and several dozen chickens (well, the chickens live in the barn).
Her background is in marketing and public relations, but she has always enjoyed telling stories. For a while, she worked as a freelance journalist for the local paper and wrote the Halloween feature for many years, collecting as many local ghost stories as she could. She gave her collection of local ghost stories to the local historical society to use as a fundraiser, they are now in their third printing.
About the Book:Veiled Passages (A Mary O'Reilly Paranormal Mystery Book 10) by Terri Reid
A famous mystery writer drowns in a hotel bathtub... an accident or foul play? His ghost thinks it was murder. His mystery writer colleagues want to help Mary solve the case. Gary Cooper is still on the loose and gunning for both Bradley and Mary. And, in between all the murder and mayhem, Mary and Bradley are desperate to finally walk up the aisle. Will they ever become husband and wife?
My Review:
Loved it. Loved everything about it. Ms. Reid has a way of pulling you into the story and keeping you there until the very end with many twists and turns along the way. It's seldom that I don't guess who the murderer is before the author lets it be known, but this is one of the times I didn't. I loved all the characters. They were believable and well-fleshed out. Thank you for another great read!
Get your copy at of Veiled Passages at Amazon.com.
I recently joined a group of authors and readers who are the most supportive group I've had the pleasure of being a part of in a long time. The next two books I read and reviewed are books by a couple of the authors I met through this group.
About the middle of May, I started reading Souls: A Novel by Jennifer Hinsman as a way of supporting my fellow authors at this new group who have shown me so much support. I wasn't disappointed as I've also found excellent novels in the process. Souls: A Novel is Jennifer's debut novel and she's gotten off to a great start with this book.
About Jennifer Hinsman:
Jenny graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a degree in business. She currently resides in Michigan with her husband, two sons, a furry son (pet dog) and furry daughter (pet cat). Jenny is an avid reader and loves to escape with a great book. She is a huge animal lover and supports rescue organizations that help save all kinds of four-legged family members and more. All of her family pets have been rescues.
About The Book:Souls: A Novel by J. Hinsman
Souls is the unforgettable story of Ann, and the painful death of her twin sister, Celeste. Ann sets out on a quest to find the killer of her womb-mate following the subsequent death of her parents and after depression nearly kills her.
Ann finds herself in California seeking out a Hollywood producer as the perpetrator and while there finds her soul coming back to life when she meets a young actor, Tyler Peters. She cringes at the idea of dating someone younger and becoming a ‘cougar’, but she may be able to use him for his Hollywood connections. An astonishing electricity between the two turns to a passionate and deep love that is tested by an unpredictable twist that comes when Ann figures out who is behind her sister’s death.
My Review:
Twists, Turns and Great Characters! What more could you want, right? This is a wonderful story line, very touching about sibling love and what happens if someone harms one of them. It was also about letting go of the hate and letting yourself live again after a loss. I loved all the characters, especially Ann and Tyler and their romance, but I think Ed was my favorite. All the characters were well-crafted and detailed.
I could relate with Ann as a person who has lost a sibling and both parents, and of marrying a man seven years younger. I know how it feels to be the only one left in your immediate family. So we had a lot in common. I also love a great mystery and this one didn't disappoint me. There were just enough twists and turns to keep me guessing. I did find a few missing words and typos but they didn't take away from the enjoyment of the story. I believe with a little more editing this book could be on the best seller list. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.
Get your copy of Souls: A Novel by J Hinsman today at Amazon.com. You won't be disappointed. Ms. Hinsman has a second novel also that I added to my TBR (To be read) list. I picked up a copy of Angel of Death by Jennifer Hinsman and you can too.
I finished up the month of May with a short novella, Before Another Sunset (Book 1, The Sunset Series), the prequel to the full novel, Another Sunset (Book 2, The Sunset Series) by Jason Zandri.
About Jason Zandri:
Jason has been working in the information technology field in one form or the other since 1996. He is currently employed full time at Bloomberg LP as a Systems Engineer in the R&D group. Jason lives in Wallingford Connecticut, with his wife Renata. He is the father to four children, three boys and 1 girl - 11 years (Andrew), 9 years (Angela), 7 years (Adam) and 6 years old (Alex).
You can keep up with Jason on Facebook via his author page at https://www.facebook.com/jzandri
You can FOLLOW Jason on Twitter via https://twitter.com/gunderstone
You can ADD Jason to your circles on Google+ via https://plus.google.com/+JasonZandri/
About the Book:Before Another Sunset (Book 1, The Sunset Series)
Westville, Texas. A small town with friendly people; families that have stayed and endured life's ups and downs. Many have left as the town no longer can fully support its own. An old woman maintains one of the remaining small businesses at the center of town, helped by Maria, her second floor tenant. Maria's daughter Caroline starts to question her father's absence. She also dreams up an idea to help the local library. Friends uncover true feelings and a kind drifter's travels bring him closer to the town. - PREQUEL NOVELLA TO "ANOTHER SUNSET"
My Review:
Excellent Writing! I really enjoyed this story and my only complaint is I wish there had been more. There was the beginning of a romance and I was really pulling for Henry, hoping Caroline got a daddy, etc. The writing and characterization were excellent with a Texan/Southern flair. As a small town, southern girl, although not a Texan, I really appreciated the dialogue used that wasn't over the top like many stories you find about southerners. I felt like I was right there in the small town of Westville, Texas as I read. All in all, if you’d like a short and pleasant read about a small town, don’t pass up Before Another Sunset.
This book wet my appetite for the characters of Westville, Texas so I picked up book 2, Another Sunset and added it to my TBR list. You can too! But first read Before Another Sunset .
What I'm reading now: Crazy! Hot! And Living on the Edge!! by Sheryl Harris-Slaughter and The Adventures of Joe Joe Nut and Biscuit Bill 3: The Case of the Missing Arch (The Adventures of Joe-Joe Nut and Biscuit Bill) by Renee Hand Have you read any good books lately? Kim's Musings wants to know.
