Maria Savva's Blog, page 21
June 23, 2015
Cupid's Way, by Joanne Phillips
One of my favourite writers, Joanne Phillips, is celebrating the first birthday of her novel Cupid's Way: A Heart-Warming Romantic Comedy.
The book is available at a special price, just 99p at the moment. You can grab a copy for your Kindle on Amazon worldwide:
UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...
US: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00L...
Book description:
Greedy housing developers and clueless grandparents don’t mix well. It’s up to bored, single Evie to save the day – but she never expects to fall for the evil corporation’s CEO in the process. Fans of romantic comedies, let us welcome you to one crazy neighbourhood.
Cupid’s Way is a heart-warming contemporary romance from the author of Amazon bestsellers Can’t Live Without and The Family Trap.
Joanne is a talented writer. I always enjoy reading her books. If you're looking for your next read, this could be the book for you.
Keep up with Joanne's writing at the following links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joannephilli...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/joannegphillips
Blog/Website: https://joannegphillips.wordpress.com/
The book is available at a special price, just 99p at the moment. You can grab a copy for your Kindle on Amazon worldwide:
UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...
US: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00L...
Book description:
Greedy housing developers and clueless grandparents don’t mix well. It’s up to bored, single Evie to save the day – but she never expects to fall for the evil corporation’s CEO in the process. Fans of romantic comedies, let us welcome you to one crazy neighbourhood.
Cupid’s Way is a heart-warming contemporary romance from the author of Amazon bestsellers Can’t Live Without and The Family Trap.
Joanne is a talented writer. I always enjoy reading her books. If you're looking for your next read, this could be the book for you.
Keep up with Joanne's writing at the following links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joannephilli...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/joannegphillips
Blog/Website: https://joannegphillips.wordpress.com/
June 21, 2015
Book Review: Dark Voices - A Short Story Collection, by Darren Sant
Dark Voices - A Short Story Collection by Darren SantMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
A good collection of short stories. Some of the stories are brilliant. There are a couple of stories in this collection that really gripped me and one in particular left me wishing the outcome had been different and that one really highlighted for me this writer's talent to engage the reader with the story and character.
All the stories have some great things about them, and I would definitely recommend it as a good fast-paced read. There are all sorts of themes, but the first half of the book deals with revenge and there are some wonderfully dark tales there.
I'll be seeking out more books from this writer.
View all my reviews
June 16, 2015
Kickstarter campaign: Elflord REBORN
One of my favourite writers, Mat Nastos is part of a team who have just launched a Kickstarter campaign to bring back a series of comics from the '70s/'80s.
If you're a fan of epic fantasy with a lot of action, this series will be for you.
Check out all the details on the Kickstarter page and find out how you can support the project and what rewards you can get for your donation: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...
June 11, 2015
Favourite reads of 2015, so far...
It's already June. Oh well, they say time flies when you're having fun, so I must have been having a lot of fun :)
I thought I would take the opportunity for a mid-year look back at some of my favourite reads of 2015.
In no particular order, here are a few I'd recommend if you're currently searching for your next read.
Eli's Coming by Darcia Helle
Excerpt from my review: "...a supernatural thriller with elements of fantasy and suspense. [...] When we meet Eli he is at a kind of crossroads in his life because he has found love but there is a dark secret that he is keeping and something that could threaten his new love and also his own life. The secret is slowly and steadily revealed as the story unfolds and his past comes back to find him.
I really enjoyed Eli's Coming. The dark fantasy element is fascinating. I'm pleased that this is the first in the series and am looking forward to the next book!"
Amazon links:
US: http://www.amazon.com/Elis-Coming-Cha...
UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Elis-Coming-C...
Living the Dream by Tim Baker
Excerpt from my review: "This book had me hooked from the start and kept me interested throughout. It's a fun and fast-paced read with lots of surprising twists and turns. [...] The book revolves around a series of strange recurring dreams that many of the characters have been having. [...] It's a complex tale involving many different characters and the author did a fantastic job with it. This would make a great movie!"
Amazon links:
US: http://www.amazon.com/Living-Dream-Ti...
UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Living-Dream-...
Easy Target by Jenny Hilborne
Excerpt from my review: "This is book two in a series, but I had not read book one and still enjoyed it immensely. I like the fast-paced style of the author's writing. [...] In this novel, Lucinda Fitchett or "Fitch" as she is known, has no recollection of events one evening after waking up in her own flat not sure how she got there after a night out. She has a very troubled past and is wary when contacted by someone who says he knows what happened to her. Fitch is determined to find out the truth [...] an action packed crime thriller that will keep you guessing until the end."
Amazon links:
UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Easy-Target-I...
US: http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Target-Ins...
Weird: A Henry Ian Darling Oddity Missive One
Excerpt from my review: "First in a series, in this 'weird' story, we're introduced to Henry Darling and follow him on his first adventure. [...] It kept me hooked from the start and it's wonderfully imaginative. Henry has been through an experience that changed him and now he collects oddities. His wife and his unlikely friend Brett are his companions and helpers. This is a truly unique story from a talented writer. [...] If you haven't read any of this author's work, 'Weird' would be a great place to start."
Amazon links:
US: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00R...
UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...
The Cestus Concern by Mat Nastos
Excerpt from my review: "This is a fantastic book. It kept me hooked from the start. I loved the humourous interaction between Mal and his best friend Zuz.
Mal wakes up to find he's a cyborg and has no memory of the past 11 months of his life. In his quest to find out the truth he has to battle many government agents and man-made adversaries. It's a rollercoaster ride from page 1 with scene after scene of action packed adventure."
Amazon links:
UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Cestus-Co...
US: http://www.amazon.com/The-Cestus-Conc...
Dreams of a Calico Mouse: The Poems of Dorien Grey
Excerpt from my review: "Dorien Grey's "Dreams of a Calico Mouse" is the perfect example of the type of modern poetry that I enjoy. It's almost storytelling but in verse, and it contains heartfelt messages. The themes in this collection include: love, old age, regret, and dreams. A couple of the poems made me chuckle, and then there were a couple of them that nearly made me cry. All of them kept me interested and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole book. This is an accomplished collection of all types of poetry including some haiku."
Amazon links:
UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...
US: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J...
Odin's Eye
Excerpt from my review: "Maria Haskins' writing definitely fits into the literary fiction genre. These are stories that are to be savoured. There is a depth to the tales that can only be fully appreciated by taking time to really read and digest every sentence, every nuance. Each sentence is skillfully crafted. [...] All the stories are science fiction and are set in the near or distant future. They are set on different planets, different worlds. The characters are so well depicted and seem like real people telling their tale. We see things through their eyes, we feel their fear and sense their concerns. [...] The stand out story for me was 'Lost and Found', a tale about an astronaut, who is the only survivor after a crash, waiting to be rescued. That one is just perfect, in my opinion. It would make a great movie or short film."
Amazon links:
US: http://www.amazon.com/Odins-Eye-Maria...
UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Odins-Eye-Mar...
I thought I would take the opportunity for a mid-year look back at some of my favourite reads of 2015.
In no particular order, here are a few I'd recommend if you're currently searching for your next read.
Eli's Coming by Darcia Helle
Excerpt from my review: "...a supernatural thriller with elements of fantasy and suspense. [...] When we meet Eli he is at a kind of crossroads in his life because he has found love but there is a dark secret that he is keeping and something that could threaten his new love and also his own life. The secret is slowly and steadily revealed as the story unfolds and his past comes back to find him.
I really enjoyed Eli's Coming. The dark fantasy element is fascinating. I'm pleased that this is the first in the series and am looking forward to the next book!"
Amazon links:
US: http://www.amazon.com/Elis-Coming-Cha...
UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Elis-Coming-C...
Living the Dream by Tim Baker
Excerpt from my review: "This book had me hooked from the start and kept me interested throughout. It's a fun and fast-paced read with lots of surprising twists and turns. [...] The book revolves around a series of strange recurring dreams that many of the characters have been having. [...] It's a complex tale involving many different characters and the author did a fantastic job with it. This would make a great movie!"
Amazon links:
US: http://www.amazon.com/Living-Dream-Ti...
UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Living-Dream-...
Easy Target by Jenny Hilborne
Excerpt from my review: "This is book two in a series, but I had not read book one and still enjoyed it immensely. I like the fast-paced style of the author's writing. [...] In this novel, Lucinda Fitchett or "Fitch" as she is known, has no recollection of events one evening after waking up in her own flat not sure how she got there after a night out. She has a very troubled past and is wary when contacted by someone who says he knows what happened to her. Fitch is determined to find out the truth [...] an action packed crime thriller that will keep you guessing until the end."
Amazon links:
UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Easy-Target-I...
US: http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Target-Ins...
Weird: A Henry Ian Darling Oddity Missive One
Excerpt from my review: "First in a series, in this 'weird' story, we're introduced to Henry Darling and follow him on his first adventure. [...] It kept me hooked from the start and it's wonderfully imaginative. Henry has been through an experience that changed him and now he collects oddities. His wife and his unlikely friend Brett are his companions and helpers. This is a truly unique story from a talented writer. [...] If you haven't read any of this author's work, 'Weird' would be a great place to start."
Amazon links:
US: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00R...
UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...
The Cestus Concern by Mat Nastos
Excerpt from my review: "This is a fantastic book. It kept me hooked from the start. I loved the humourous interaction between Mal and his best friend Zuz.
Mal wakes up to find he's a cyborg and has no memory of the past 11 months of his life. In his quest to find out the truth he has to battle many government agents and man-made adversaries. It's a rollercoaster ride from page 1 with scene after scene of action packed adventure."
Amazon links:
UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Cestus-Co...
US: http://www.amazon.com/The-Cestus-Conc...
Dreams of a Calico Mouse: The Poems of Dorien Grey
Excerpt from my review: "Dorien Grey's "Dreams of a Calico Mouse" is the perfect example of the type of modern poetry that I enjoy. It's almost storytelling but in verse, and it contains heartfelt messages. The themes in this collection include: love, old age, regret, and dreams. A couple of the poems made me chuckle, and then there were a couple of them that nearly made me cry. All of them kept me interested and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole book. This is an accomplished collection of all types of poetry including some haiku."
Amazon links:
UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...
US: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J...
Odin's Eye
Excerpt from my review: "Maria Haskins' writing definitely fits into the literary fiction genre. These are stories that are to be savoured. There is a depth to the tales that can only be fully appreciated by taking time to really read and digest every sentence, every nuance. Each sentence is skillfully crafted. [...] All the stories are science fiction and are set in the near or distant future. They are set on different planets, different worlds. The characters are so well depicted and seem like real people telling their tale. We see things through their eyes, we feel their fear and sense their concerns. [...] The stand out story for me was 'Lost and Found', a tale about an astronaut, who is the only survivor after a crash, waiting to be rescued. That one is just perfect, in my opinion. It would make a great movie or short film."
Amazon links:
US: http://www.amazon.com/Odins-Eye-Maria...
UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Odins-Eye-Mar...
June 8, 2015
Book Review: The Quarantined City 3: Spot The Difference, by James Everington
The Quarantined City 3: Spot the Difference by James EveringtonMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is the third story in an intriguing and puzzling six-story serial. I'm really enjoying the series so far. The writing is compulsive and the characters are quite unique.
In "Spot the Difference" things become even more confusing for Fellows. He is desperate to rid his house of the ghost and will do anything, it seems, even agreeing to read another story by the mysterious writer, Boursier. After reading the story, he is told the whereabouts of the elusive writer.
When Boursier meets up with his friend Georgia, later, she confesses something that he had never known about her. The ending of this third instalment of "The Quarantined City" suggests that there is something even weirder about Boursier's stories.
I'm looking forward to the next story.
View all my reviews
June 4, 2015
New Audiobook Release: A Murderer's Heart, by Julie Elizabeth Powell
One of my favourite authors, Julie Elizabeth Powell, has just released one of her books on Audible, as an audiobook.
About the book:
Anne Blake, psychiatrist, is good at her job and believes that even the most sick at heart can be cured...or at least saved enough that they can lead a better life.
But maybe she's wrong?
Maybe within a murderer's heart, evil lurks and nothing can be done except to save yourself?
********************
I read this book a few years ago and really enjoyed it. Here's an excerpt from the review I wrote after I read it:
"... Julie is a very versatile writer, with a compulsive and easy to read style. [...] 'A Murderer's Heart' is her first murder mystery. It's excellent!
Dr. Anne Blake is a psychiatrist who is good at her job. She has a firm belief that all mentally ill people can be cured, or saved so that they can lead a better life. [...] Her busy life means that she has very little time for her friends or for a relationship.
When Dr. Blake meets Peter Armstrong, the son of a woman who needs psychiatric help, her world begins to change. A mysterious murderer is on the prowl [...] After hearing that her close friend, Jenny, may be in danger, Anne resolves to do all she can to keep her safe from the killer.
In a dramatic and entertaining story, the author does a great job in putting across the idea that sometimes things are not as they seem and we don't always see what is in front of our own eyes.
Dr. Blake is forced to face the limitations of her own knowledge and power.
A must read for anyone who enjoys a good murder/mystery.
I loved the way the tale progressed, with all the unexpected twists and turns. It kept me hooked from the start and the ending was delightful.
It's a quick, compulsive read. Highly recommended..."
********************
Buy the audiobook:
US:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/A-Murderers-Hea...
Audible: http://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-T...
UK:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/A-Murderers-H...
Audible: http://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Crime-Thr...
********************
If you're interested in a promotional code for the audiobook of "A Murderer's Heart", get in touch with the author via her social networking pages. She has a limited number of codes to give away.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/julieelizabe...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/starjewelz
Goodreads: Julie Elizabeth Powell
About the book:
Anne Blake, psychiatrist, is good at her job and believes that even the most sick at heart can be cured...or at least saved enough that they can lead a better life.
But maybe she's wrong?
Maybe within a murderer's heart, evil lurks and nothing can be done except to save yourself?
********************
I read this book a few years ago and really enjoyed it. Here's an excerpt from the review I wrote after I read it:
"... Julie is a very versatile writer, with a compulsive and easy to read style. [...] 'A Murderer's Heart' is her first murder mystery. It's excellent!
Dr. Anne Blake is a psychiatrist who is good at her job. She has a firm belief that all mentally ill people can be cured, or saved so that they can lead a better life. [...] Her busy life means that she has very little time for her friends or for a relationship.
When Dr. Blake meets Peter Armstrong, the son of a woman who needs psychiatric help, her world begins to change. A mysterious murderer is on the prowl [...] After hearing that her close friend, Jenny, may be in danger, Anne resolves to do all she can to keep her safe from the killer.
In a dramatic and entertaining story, the author does a great job in putting across the idea that sometimes things are not as they seem and we don't always see what is in front of our own eyes.
Dr. Blake is forced to face the limitations of her own knowledge and power.
A must read for anyone who enjoys a good murder/mystery.
I loved the way the tale progressed, with all the unexpected twists and turns. It kept me hooked from the start and the ending was delightful.
It's a quick, compulsive read. Highly recommended..."
********************
Buy the audiobook:
US:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/A-Murderers-Hea...
Audible: http://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-T...
UK:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/A-Murderers-H...
Audible: http://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Crime-Thr...
********************
If you're interested in a promotional code for the audiobook of "A Murderer's Heart", get in touch with the author via her social networking pages. She has a limited number of codes to give away.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/julieelizabe...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/starjewelz
Goodreads: Julie Elizabeth Powell
Book Review: Unlocking the Mystery, by Eden Baylee
Unlocking the Mystery by Eden BayleeMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Unlocking the Mystery is a well crafted short story about love, life, loss, and hope. It's a fast paced read that definitely kept me interested throughout. There is some erotic content in the book but it's mostly a romance and an enchanting mystery. I think there is always something intriguing about reading other people's letters, especially when they were written years ago. Letter writing and correspondence between lovers is a big part of this story. The couple have a unique love affair which is discovered through the letters they exchanged.
Evelyn is the main character in the story. She discovers the letters not long after moving into her new home. There are many coincidences tied up with her find and she feels compelled to visit Ireland to find out more about the man behind the letters. The trip turns out to be life-changing for Evelyn.
A compelling story that will make you think about the true meaning of love.
View all my reviews
June 2, 2015
Book Review: Into The Rain (The Quarantined City #2), by James Everington
Into The Rain by James EveringtonMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
The second in this six-story series, "Into The Rain" is wonderful because it adds to what has already happened in the first story, and the serial has really begun to take shape. I enjoyed the story-within-a-story, written by the elusive author, Boursier. Strange things happen whenever Fellows reads the stories as if they hold some mystical power... or is our protagonist suffering from a mental illness? All sorts of questions were raised in my mind as I was reading the story. The theme of fantasy versus reality seems prominent. James Everington has created some brilliant characters who were further developed in this second story: Fellows, his friend Georgia, the strange ghost, the weird bookseller. Is there something more to the bookseller that we're not being told? I'm looking forward to reading the next story to find out what happens next! An entertaining and engrossing read.
View all my reviews
May 30, 2015
Book Review: No Good Deed, by Tim Baker
No Good Deed by Tim BakerMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
When I first started reading this book I didn't know that it was the sequel to Living the Dream, but when I realised that it was I was very pleased. I enjoyed the first book in the series and all the characters were so great that it was nice to revisit them in 'No Good Deed'.
In this story, the hapless Kurt seems to have finally made something of himself. He even has a love interest. However, his luck soon runs out when he inadvertently gets involved in a dangerous chain of events.
We meet some new characters in this book who are just as charismatic as the old favourites from 'Living The Dream'. Al is homeless but he has a plan to get back on his feet in style. Unfortunately, there are a couple of gangsters who have other ideas.
It's a fun, fast-paced read, with lots of edge-of-your-seat action scenes. The only slight criticism I have is that the dream scenes didn't really add much to the novel. In 'Living The Dream' they were great because they were part and parcel of the story. In this book, however, I found that I just wanted the dreams scenes to end so I could get back to the action. I'm still giving it 5 stars, though, because it's a brilliant story and deserves to be read.
View all my reviews
May 29, 2015
Update on my writing
A Time to Tell (second edition) is with my proofreader. As soon as it's back I'll make the final adjustments and send it for formatting. It'll eventually be available in eBook and paperback.
I've made a book trailer for the new book and am looking forward to revealing that soon.
I'm also currently editing my new collection of short stories, which is called 'Lost and Found'. There are about 6 stories in the collection. One of them is a new story and the others were found after I thought they were lost (hence the title!). They were written in the '90s and were on a floppy disk. The disk became corrupted so I couldn't retrieve them, but then I found printed versions of the stories in a drawer at home! I've since edited them and updated them. I'm hoping to send them to an editor soon.
Other than that, I've written 2 new short stories inspired by photos for the Mind's Eye Series anthology - book 4. When all the writers are ready, we'll be announcing more about that.
Keep up to date with everything on my website: http://www.mariasavva.com
My Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author... and Twitter: https://twitter.com/Maria_Savva
