P.A. Wilson's Blog, page 10

Wolf By The Ears by Lexi Revellian | Book Review

Recommendations do work! Her first book was recommended by my sister, and I’ve been hooked on Lexi’s stories since. This is the 4th of her books and it’s an interesting tale of a young woman who learns trust in the oddest places, and also finds out how far she will go to protect her friends.

Rebel is struggling to make ends meet and get a degree so she can get a better job. She saves the day for a Russian mogul and gets her first break. But can she trust him not to be the evil pretender that others say he is? She finds out that loyalty isn’t always blind and if people aren’t what they seem, it doesn’t mean they are the bad guy.

I recommend this if you like to follow a character as they are faced with surprising challenges in their search for independence.

Rating:

Sign up for my newsletter to receive announcements of new releases. I promise no spam.

* indicates required
Email Address *

First Name *

});
}
function mce_success_cb(resp){
$('#mce-success-response').hide();
$('#mce-error-response').hide();
if (resp.result=="success"){
$('#mce-'+resp.result+'-response').show();
$('#mce-'+resp.result+'-response').html(resp.msg);
$('#mc-embedded-subscribe-form').each(function(){
this.reset();
});
} else {
var index = -1;
var msg;
try {
var parts = resp.msg.split(' - ',2);
if (parts[1]==undefined){
msg = resp.msg;
} else {
i = parseInt(parts[0]);
if (i.toString() == parts[0]){
index = parts[0];
msg = parts[1];
} else {
index = -1;
msg = resp.msg;
}
}
} catch(e){
index = -1;
msg = resp.msg;
}
try{
if (index== -1){
$('#mce-'+resp.result+'-response').show();
$('#mce-'+resp.result+'-response').html(msg);
} else {
err_id = 'mce_tmp_error_msg';
html = '

'+msg+'

';

The post Wolf By The Ears by Lexi Revellian | Book Review appeared first on P. A. Wilson.

View more on P.A. Wilson's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on August 04, 2014 11:00

Nearly Departed In Deadwood by Anne Charles | Book Review

I was seeing this book come up on my recommended readings for a while and I ignored it because I thought it was zombie romance. It turns out it’s not. It’s a fun read that had me chuckling along while I tried to figure out the mystery.

Moving back into her aunt’s house and getting a job as a real estate agent, wasn’t in Violet’s master plan. But it had to be done. The first problem is her lack of sales, she’s facing the deadline for making a sale or losing her job. She’s dealing with two hot men and one crotchety old one. Her kids are digging up bones, and the one house she’s listed might be haunted.

What’s a girl to do?

I recommend it if you like a little comedy with your romance.

Rating:

Sign up for my newsletter to receive announcements of new releases. I promise no spam.

* indicates required
Email Address *

First Name *

});
}
function mce_success_cb(resp){
$('#mce-success-response').hide();
$('#mce-error-response').hide();
if (resp.result=="success"){
$('#mce-'+resp.result+'-response').show();
$('#mce-'+resp.result+'-response').html(resp.msg);
$('#mc-embedded-subscribe-form').each(function(){
this.reset();
});
} else {
var index = -1;
var msg;
try {
var parts = resp.msg.split(' - ',2);
if (parts[1]==undefined){
msg = resp.msg;
} else {
i = parseInt(parts[0]);
if (i.toString() == parts[0]){
index = parts[0];
msg = parts[1];
} else {
index = -1;
msg = resp.msg;
}
}
} catch(e){
index = -1;
msg = resp.msg;
}
try{
if (index== -1){
$('#mce-'+resp.result+'-response').show();
$('#mce-'+resp.result+'-response').html(msg);
} else {
err_id = 'mce_tmp_error_msg';
html = '

'+msg+'

';

The post Nearly Departed In Deadwood by Anne Charles | Book Review appeared first on P. A. Wilson.

View more on P.A. Wilson's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on July 28, 2014 11:00

Molly Fyde and the Parsona Rescue by Hugh Howey | book review

I’ve been reading a few YA novels recently. I think it’s because I like stories that start with someone who doesn’t fit in and then follows their journey to understanding that fitting in isn’t the goal, being you is the goal.

This book fits into that mold well. Molly wants desperately to be a space navy pilot. But she’s a girl and something happened long ago that changed things. Girls don’t do the same jobs as boys. The problem is that she’s really good at it.

When she gets a chance to recover her father’s space ship, she jumps at it as chance to fulfill her dreams. That’s when everything goes wrong.

As the first book in a series, this one does a great job of introducing the characters, the stakes, and making us want more.

Rating:

Sign up for my newsletter to receive announcements of new releases. I promise no spam.

* indicates required
Email Address *

First Name *

var mce_preload_checks = 0;
function mce_preload_check(){
if (mce_preload_checks>40) return;
mce_preload_checks++;
try {
var jqueryLoaded=jQuery;
} catch(err) {
setTimeout('mce_preload_check();', 250);
return;
}
var script = document.createElement('script');
script.type = 'text/javascript';
script.src = 'http://downloads.mailchimp.com/js/jqu...
head.appendChild(script);
try {
var validatorLoaded=jQuery("#fake-form").validate({});
} catch(err) {
setTimeout('mce_preload_check();', 250);
return;
}
mce_init_form();
}
function mce_init_form(){
jQuery(document).ready( function($) {
var options = { errorClass: 'mce_inline_error', errorElement: 'div', onkeyup: function(){}, onfocusout:function(){}, onblur:function(){} };
var mce_validator = $("#mc-embedded-subscribe-form").validate(options);
$("#mc-embedded-subscribe-form").unbind('submit');//remove the validator so we can get into beforeSubmit on the ajaxform, which then calls the validator
options = { url: 'http://pawilson.us3.list-manage.com/s...?', type: 'GET', dataType: 'json', contentType: "application/json; charset=utf-8",
beforeSubmit: function(){
$('#mce_tmp_error_msg').remove();
$('.datefield','#mc_embed_signup').each(
function(){
var txt = 'filled';
var fields = new Array();
var i = 0;
$(':text', this).each(
function(){
fields[i] = this;
i++;
});
$(':hidden', this).each(
function(){
var bday = false;
if (fields.length == 2){
bday = true;
fields[2] = {'value':1970};//trick birthdays into having years
}
if ( fields[0].value=='MM' && fields[1].value=='DD' && (fields[2].value=='YYYY' || (bday && fields[2].value==1970) ) ){
this.value = '';
} else if ( fields[0].value=='' && fields[1].value=='' && (fields[2].value=='' || (bday && fields[2].value==1970) ) ){
this.value = '';
} else {
if (/\[day\]/.test(fields[0].name)){
this.value = fields[1].value+'/'+fields[0].value+'/'+fields[2].value;
} else {
this.value = fields[0].value+'/'+fields[1].value+'/'+fields[2].value;
}
}
});
});
$('.phonefield-us','#mc_embed_signup').each(
function(){
var fields = new Array();
var i = 0;
$(':text', this).each(
function(){
fields[i] = this;
i++;
});
$(':hidden', this).each(
function(){
if ( fields[0].value.length != 3 || fields[1].value.length!=3 || fields[2].value.length!=4 ){
this.value = '';
} else {
this.value = 'filled';
}
});
});
return mce_validator.form();
},
success: mce_success_cb
};
$('#mc-embedded-subscribe-form').ajaxForm(options);

});
}
function mce_success_cb(resp){
$('#mce-success-response').hide();
$('#mce-error-response').hide();
if (resp.result=="success"){
$('#mce-'+resp.result+'-response').show();
$('#mce-'+resp.result+'-response').html(resp.msg);
$('#mc-embedded-subscribe-form').each(function(){
this.reset();
});
} else {
var index = -1;
var msg;
try {
var parts = resp.msg.split(' - ',2);
if (parts[1]==undefined){
msg = resp.msg;
} else {
i = parseInt(parts[0]);
if (i.toString() == parts[0]){
index = parts[0];
msg = parts[1];
} else {
index = -1;
msg = resp.msg;
}
}
} catch(e){
index = -1;
msg = resp.msg;
}
try{
if (index== -1){
$('#mce-'+resp.result+'-response').show();
$('#mce-'+resp.result+'-response').html(msg);
} else {
err_id = 'mce_tmp_error_msg';
html = '

'+msg+'

';

The post Molly Fyde and the Parsona Rescue by Hugh Howey | book review appeared first on P. A. Wilson.

View more on P.A. Wilson's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on July 21, 2014 11:00

International Author’s Day: Is reading important?

reading, international author's day

I’m participating in a blog hop this week. What does that mean for you? Well two things, if you check out my post, you’ll see a coupon at the end that you can use to purchase an ebook version of The Dragon At The Edge of The Map from Smashwords. If you follow this link to Debdatta’s site, you’ll find some great reviews and recommendations of other author’s books. Happy reading.

That’s the business done, now to the reason why I think reading is important.

I’m one of those… reading, international author's day

Yes, my parents made sure I could read early on – possibly in an attempt to stop me from talking incessantly.

I grew up in Wales and at a time when there weren’t 57 channels with nothing on. I’m not super old, but we didn’t have a television until I was seven or eight. And then you needed to drop a coin in the box to buy time. Nothing like having the end of your program cut off for want of a shilling.

What that meant was I needed to find my own entertainment. Books were easy to get, and the library was very close, so reading was the easy choice.

The stories that hooked me on reading

I had the normal British children’s books of the time. When got past the primers, I fell in love with Enid Blyton’s adventure series.

Children much like me, who went on adventures and solved mysteries. No Hunger Games for us, we were living in a pre-apocalyptic nirvana.

When we emigrated to Canada, I accidentally left my half read book on the plane. I still feel the loss.

Canada the land of reading opportunity

Okay, maybe that’s pushing it a bit, but I learned about science fiction and fantasy books in an English Lit class. I’d finished the exercise set, and the teacher needed me to sit quietly – I could be quite a distraction when I was bored. He handed me what must have been the catalog of books for the course. I flipped through and found Stranger in a Strange Land. I was captivated.

I had no idea that people could imagine worlds like these. Stories unconstrained by the rules of society as we knew it? From then forward, reading became more of a passion than a pastime. I burned through science fiction, fantasy, romance, a little horror, and mysteries.

What turned reading to writing?

I think that there was a tipping point in my late teens. I realized that I had stories to tell that weren’t already told. So I started writing. If you have the urge, but don’t know where to start, look for the second free coupon for my writing book at the end of the post.

When I started writing stories, the way I read changed. I no longer just went along for the ride that the author had created. I looked for the craft of writing in the stories I loved reading. I found all kinds of help in books like The Dragonriders of Pern. I found all kinds of help in creating characters from British mystery authors.

Now that I write my own stories, I’m surprised to find that I still enjoy reading the work of others. I can’t turn off the analysis view, but I can still enjoy a good book.

Coupon code for The Dragon at The Edge of The Map QT29U.

Thinking of becoming an author here’s a coupon for Write The Book Inside You BF83J

reading, international author's day

Happy International Author’s day

The post International Author’s Day: Is reading important? appeared first on P. A. Wilson.

View more on P.A. Wilson's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on July 14, 2014 11:10

Class Reunion of Murder by Vanessa Gray Bartal | book review

Another in the series of Lacy Steele mysteries. This time murder comes to town along with multiple grads classes of her high school. Dealing with the cool kids, the band nerds, brings back all the insecurities of her teenage years.

The facts:

Class Reunion of Murder

Vanessa Gray Bartal

here’s the bio from Amazon

Vanessa Gray Bartal is an avid reader who also loves to write. After a few years working as a 911 dispatcher, she quit her job and began writing full time. She has written over fifty novels. While she considers herself primarily a romance author, she also likes to dabble in other genres, including mystery and fantasy. In addition to writing, Vanessa loves to bake (for which her astoundingly handsome husband is truly grateful).

During her time in college at Olivet Nazarene University, Vanessa developed a love for big cities and the cultural kaleidoscope each provides. She currently resides tucked away in the Ohio countryside, but she enjoys traveling. Vanessa is a bit of a foodie and loves searching out the hidden gems in each place she visits.

She would love to hear from you. Check out her Facebook author page for upcoming new releases, and drop her a line while you’re there!

Opinion:

If you follow the series and liked the previous 4 books, you’ll enjoy the continuation of the series. the romances progresses, unlike a lot of romance series. If you haven’t read any of the series, I recommend staring at book one, Morning Cup of Murder. A series of romantic involvements wrapped around a brutal murder.

Rating:

The post Class Reunion of Murder by Vanessa Gray Bartal | book review appeared first on P. A. Wilson.

View more on P.A. Wilson's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on July 07, 2014 11:00

Darkness Take My Hand by Dennis Lehane | book review

This story is the second in a series of books, and I didn’t read the first one. The good news is you really don’t need to have read the first to enjoy this book. There are references to the earlier book, but no spoilers. This is a dark tale of gangs, love, serial killers, and loyalty. The hero struggles to protect everyone he loves.

The Facts:

Darkness Take My Hand darkness take my hand, dennis lehane, noir, book review

Dennis Lehane

Here’s the bio from Amazon.

Dennis Lehane was born and raised in Dorchester, Massachusetts. He is the author of A Drink Before the War, which won the Shamus Award for Best First Novel; Darkness, Take My Hand; Sacred; Gone, Baby, Gone; Prayers for Rain; and the New York Times bestsellers Mystic River and Shutter Island.

Mystic River was a finalist for the PEN/Winship Award and won both the Anthony Award and the Barry Award for Best Novel, as well as the Massachusetts Book Award in Fiction given by the Massachusetts Center for the Book. Coronado, a collection of five stories and a play, was published in the fall of 2006 and includes the story “Until Gwen,” which was adapted for the stage.

Lehane’s work has been translated into 22 languages. He holds an MFA from Florida International University and is the writer-in-residence at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida, where he runs the Writers in Paradise writers’ conference. Before becoming a full-time writer, Lehane

worked as a counselor with mentally handicapped and abused children, waited tables, parked cars, drove limos, worked in bookstores, and loaded tractor-trailers. He lives in the Boston area.

Opinion:

If you like noir, you’ll like this one. It has all the criteria of noir mystery, no one is really a good guy, even the hero has a dark side and the villain a good side.

Rating:

The post Darkness Take My Hand by Dennis Lehane | book review appeared first on P. A. Wilson.

View more on P.A. Wilson's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on June 30, 2014 11:00

Buck Fever by Ben Rehder | book review

Poachers and deer hunters and love stories. This is another great episode in the life of Blanco county’s inhabitants. Marlin, the game warden, is vigilant against the poachers and protective of his friends. When his friends are threatened and some strangers come to town, Marlin is on the lookout for trouble.

The Facts:

Buck Fever

Ben Rehder

Here’s the bio from Amazon

Edgar Award-nominated author Ben Rehder’s Blanco County comic mysteries have made best-of-the-year lists in Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, and Field & Stream.

Opinion:

This is the second book I’ve read by Ben Rehder and I recommend him to anyone who enjoys a story based on odd and endearing characters.

Rating:

The post Buck Fever by Ben Rehder | book review appeared first on P. A. Wilson.

View more on P.A. Wilson's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on June 23, 2014 11:00

On the Steel Breeze by Alistair Reynolds | Book Review

This author is well known for his ability to create future societies that are based on a completely different model from ours. He uses technology, social changes, and space travel to explore the possibilities of human society. This one is a complex exploration of the relationship between humans and artificial intelligence.

The Facts:

On The Steel Breeze

Alistair Reynolds

Here’s the bio from Amazon.

Alastair Reynolds was born in Wales in 1966. He has a Ph.D. in astronomy. From 1991 until 2007, he lived in The Netherlands, where he was employed by The European Space Agency as an astrophysicist. He is now a full-time writer.

Opinion:

If you like exploration of potential societies set against the background of space exploration, you’ll like this one.

Rating:

The post On the Steel Breeze by Alistair Reynolds | Book Review appeared first on P. A. Wilson.

View more on P.A. Wilson's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on June 16, 2014 11:00

Olive Park by C.J. Booth | book review

I judged this for a book contest and had to admit I was leery based on the other books that were included. I was blown away by a well paced story, great characters and high tension ending. I was drawn in from the first chapter and given a whole bunch of mysteries to figure out. I’m looking forward to book 2.

FACTS:

Olive Park olive park, c.j. booth, book review

C.J. Booth

Here’s his bio from Amazon

Following his careers in broadcasting and film and video production, he has brought detectives Stan Wyld, Jake Steiner and Mallory Dimante to life in “Olive Park”, his first novel and the first novel in the series involving Sacramento’s fictional OID – Ongoing Investigation Division, the cold case division.

C. J. has studied with Judith Guest (“Ordinary People”), Rebecca Hill (“A Killing Time in St. Cloud”), Gary Braver (“Tunnel Vision”, “Skin Deep”), and David S. Freeman (“Beyond Structure”).

He is currently working on the second novel in the series, as well as the screenplay for “Olive Park”.

C.J. lives with his wife on an island near Seattle, Washington.

OPINION:

If you like your mystery with a little noir, and a lot of character, you’ll like this one.

RATING:

The post Olive Park by C.J. Booth | book review appeared first on P. A. Wilson.

View more on P.A. Wilson's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on June 09, 2014 11:00

Two Guys Detective Agency by Stephanie Bond | book review

This is a new series from Stephanie Bond, and it promises to be fun. Two sisters, so different, yet somehow stuck in similar pickles by the men they love. Now they need to get two things, a way to pay the bills and a way to get revenge.

FACTS:

Two Guys Detective Agency 51fVt0ur9wL._AA160_

Stephanie Bond

Here’s the bio from Amazon

Stephanie Bond was several years into a corporate computer programming career when an instructor in her night school MBA program remarked that she had a flair for writing and encouraged her to submit one of her projects to academic journals. “But,” Stephanie says, “all I could think was ‘I wonder if I could write a romance novel?’” Bond grew up on a farm in eastern Kentucky where the entertainment choices were few. Luckily, she had a beloved aunt who shared her passion for reading. “When she visited once a year, she brought boxes and boxes of gothic novels by Victoria Holt and Phyllis Whitney and lush historical romances–I was in heaven! So suddenly thinking about writing in the genre of the books I loved was very exciting.” After writing every spare moment for two years, Stephanie sold her first romantic comedy manuscript, IRRESISTIBLE? to Harlequin books. Two years later, she walked away from her corporate career to write commercial fiction full time. To date, she’s published over 60 romance and mystery projects with Random House, St. Martin’s Press, HarperCollins, and Mira Books, and is most well-known for her BODY MOVERS humorous mystery series. Her newest series is TWO GUYS DETECTIVE AGENCY (about two sisters whose last name is Guy). Stephanie lives in midtown Atlanta and is probably working on a story at this very moment.

OPINION:

Stephanie Bond’s romances are light and fun to read. The situations her characters find themselves in are nasty, and it’s a struggle for them to get their lives back on track.

RATING:

The post Two Guys Detective Agency by Stephanie Bond | book review appeared first on P. A. Wilson.

View more on P.A. Wilson's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on June 02, 2014 09:57