Sandy Appleyard's Blog, page 17
October 8, 2013
Book Feature: Valley of Thracians
Image Courtesy of Goodreads
A Peace Corps volunteer has gone missing in Bulgaria and everyone assumes he is dead, everyone except his grandfather, who refuses to give up hope. Retired literature professor Simon Matthews launches a desperate search only to be lured into a bizarre quest to retrieve a stolen Thracian artifact—a unique object of immense value others will stop at nothing to recover.
Matthews travels through a Balkan landscape dotted with ancient tombs and fortresses, unaware that hi...
October 7, 2013
How Praying Can Help-Even if Your Only Faith is in Yourself
Image courtesy of Inmagine.com
I suffered a miscarriage about eight years ago after trying to become pregnant for quite some time. My husband and I were devastated. As luck would have it, I became pregnant very quickly afterward. The night I found out I was pregnant again was the first time I really started praying.
Praying before that moment was kind of spontaneous, “Please God, let me do well on this test.” And so on. But when I learned I had a new life inside me again, and that I had lost on...
October 4, 2013
The Wife of a Lesser Man is FREE!
I haven’t done a promotion in such a long time I figured it’s long overdue.
Since I’ve been busy helping my fellow authors promote their work over the summer, I felt it’s time to work on my own promotion for a change…..just for the weekend 
So if you’ll all spread the word about my book being offered for free this Friday to Sunday (Oct. 4, 5 & 6) I would greatly appreciate it.
The Wife of a Lesser Man was released last April and it’s had some good reviews, but on my wish list, of course, is mor...
October 3, 2013
Book Review: Kinsey and Me
After being on a very long waiting list from my local library, I was so proud to finally hold a copy of Sue Grafton’s Kinsey and Me.
Sue has been among one of my top favourite authors since I read ‘A is for Alibi’ probably ten years ago now. I’ve read all of her A-V mystery novels (on a wait list for ‘W is for Wasted’) and loved every one. Kinsey and Me is no exception.
It was such a treat to read all the short stories contained in this book; having the opportunity to finish a Sue Grafton myste...
October 2, 2013
Book Feature: Fateful Night
I’m happy to feature this wonderfully written historical fiction novel that I have read and reviewed.
Did Marilyn Monroe commit suicide?
Did someone get away with an elaborate plot to murder the famous sex goddess?
On that “Fateful Night” in August 1962 find out what may have happened to her and why she was killed.
Many argue that she was involved in way too many secrets from different factions of the world. She was a smart woman who could play the dumb blonde to attain her stardom yet she unwitt...
October 1, 2013
Book Feature: Outernet
Following the determination of the media tycoon Roland Bouverie to take down the Internet..for ever, is this ‘just’ a work of fiction? or could this ever happen?
A really thought provoking piece of work, and yes, it did make me realise how we as a society are so reliant on this fairly new technology. This is well written and kept my attention all the way through. A big thumbs up for D.P.Nicholls and this fascinating, and thrilling book.
Barbara Levy
Wow! This may be a work of fiction, but how sc...
September 30, 2013
Book Review: The Suit
If I could describe ‘The Suit’ to you in one sentence, I would say it’s a modern day ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’.
John T. Sonne begins his story talking about the career issues that Alan Sorenson is battling. He’s driven by his ego and his pride, which proves to be the kiss of death for him. Living above his means, raising two children that are spoiled more by material things than by fatherly love; Alan’s life is typical of too many North Americans.
Things change when he suddenly loses his work-six...
September 26, 2013
Book Review: Hungry Ghosts
This follow up to John Dolan’s first novel ‘Everyone Burns’ has just as many plot twists, surprises and wit as the last one, only this one will leave you hungry for even more.
Hungry Ghosts is a continuation of the story of private investigator David Braddock, who works in Thailand on the island of Koh Samui. He’s intelligent, but he’s also a smartass, which is one of my favourite parts of this series. David Braddock is the type of character who can size anyone up in a matter of seconds, which...
September 25, 2013
Book Feature: Don’t Go Home Tonight and other Stories
Don’t Go Home Tonight and Other Stories features five short stories that take you on a journey that will never end, to meet a woman who hides behind a mask and a ghost hunter who fears the dark. Read a familiar tale that is stranger than it seems and face a spirit that has murder in its heart.
Here are a few excerpts….if you dare…..
This hideous cadaver had once been a living woman. Patches of the skull gleamed with the transparent smoothness of porcelain through a tangled mass of hair. The hai...
September 24, 2013
Book Feature: Overcoming Adversity & Attracting Success
“It was the gentle voice of my wife that saved my life When her voice first came through the darkness it was nothing more than a soft, distant light. It was barely distinguishable – but it was there.
It began as more of a feeling than anything else – absent of form or shape. The soft light and subtle corners of her voice surrounded me, struggling to carry me out of the shadows. Her words burst through the wall of unconsciousness and jolted me into consciousness. She was inches from me, crying....
