Olga Núñez Miret's Blog: Author Translator Olga, page 76

#Bookreviews ‘Unexpected Gifts’ by S.R. Mallery (@SarahMallery1) and ‘Women on the Brink’ by G. Elizabeth Kretchmer (@gekretchmer). Women’s stories and histories. #TuesdayBookBlog

Hi all:

With Christmas just a few days away, I’m trying to share as many of the reviews I have pending before the end of the year as I can, to make sure you have enough to read over the holidays. Also, I have to warn you I’m planning on having some reshuffling, maintenance and hopefully improvements (and a bit of a move) in the blog over the next few days. I hope I won’t disappear completely, but one never knows… If I do it’s most likely a technical problem rather than anything else… (she said, holding on tight).

After all that, time to share reviews. Today I’m revisiting two writers whose work I really enjoyed the first time around, so I repeated. Here they are.

First, S. R. Mallery with Unexpected Gifts:

Unexpected Gifts by S.R. Mallery

First, the description:

A TRUE AMERICAN FAMILY SAGA: Can we learn from our ancestors? Do our relatives’ behaviors help shape our own?

In “Unexpected Gifts” that is precisely what happens to Sonia, a confused college student, heading for addictions and forever choosing the wrong man. Searching for answers, she begins to read her family’s diaries and journals from America’s past: the Vietnam War, Woodstock, and Timothy Leary era; Tupperware parties, McCarthyism, and Black Power; the Great Depression, dance marathons, and Eleanor Roosevelt; the immigrant experience and the Suffragists. Back and forth the book journeys, linking yesteryear with modern life until finally, by understanding her ancestors’ hardships and faults, she gains enough clarity to make some right choices.

Here, my review:

Unexpected Gifts by Sarah Mallery. The power of stories and the value of remembering the past.

Having read Mallery’s book of stories Sewing Can Be Dangerous and Other Small Threads I was looking forward to reading her novel. And although not unexpected, it definitely was a gift. The story of Sonia, a young woman studying psychology, in a complicated relationship with the lead singer of a band, and plagued by rituals and other symptoms of OCD, her story frames the novel and provides a conduit for telling many other stories. Through her we get to know her parents, and when her mother suggests she might find direction and some useful ideas by checking the attic and the family boxes that have accumulated there, each box goes on to reveal something about her family members and helps her discover more about herself.

The book is beautifully written, with vivid descriptions of places and people, that in a few sentences transport the reader to the recent (and less recent) past) and to locations and situations that spread from the new to the old world and from America to Bulgaria, via Vietnam. The structure of the novel is clever and works well in progressively unveiling Sonia’s heritage. Every time she reaches a conclusion about one of her ancestors, the next bit of information or evidence contained in the box corresponding to that person makes her reconsider and reach a better understanding (if not always a kinder opinion) about their lives. The box within a box or the Russian wooden dolls that must be opened up or peeled back to discover what hides inside (that are also mentioned in the novel) work well as a metaphor or visual representation for the structure of the novel.

The stories will affect or touch people differently, but they are all interesting and revisit crucial historical events and periods, adding a personal perspective. We have Vietnam War veterans, the hippy movement, European emigrants arriving in Ellis Island, American Suffragettes, Racial Conflict and Race Riots, the McCarthy era Communist witch hunt, Dance Marathons and the Depression Era, and romances that seem to be fated to end up badly. By exploring the past, Sonia seeks a way of understanding her behaviour and of breaking up patterns that result in sadness and unhappiness. I don’t want to reveal too much, but can add I enjoyed the ending that brought closure and a nice conclusion to the novel.

I recommend Unexpected Gifts to anybody who enjoys a good novel, with a solid historical background and strong characters, especially to people who prefer variety and many different stories. As the book is structured I think it will also appeal to readers of short stories and of anthologies of different styles of writing, as it provides multiple voices and many narrations in one single volume. Another great achievement for the author.

Links:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YWGATTU/

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00YWGATTU/

Here the link to her author page (and don’t forget to follow her):

http://www.amazon.com/S.-R.-Mallery/e/B00CIUW3W8/

And G. Elizabeth Kretchmer’s Women on the Brink.

Women on the Brink by G. Elizabeth Kretchmer

The description:

Women on the Brink is a stunning collection of loosely linked stories in which women aged thirteen to ninety must face the unwelcome realities of their lives. Sometimes gritty, sometimes humorous, and always compassionate, G. Elizabeth Kretchmer’s prose takes the reader on a compelling ride alongside these ordinary women as they wrestle with family relationships, self-esteem, socioeconomic status, maternal obligations, and need for independence.

In “Skydancer,” a young mother resents her newborn baby. In “Float Away,” an at-risk teen is desperate to find a new home. A minister’s wife struggles with secrets in “Liar’s Game.” A despondent housewife longs for purpose in “Alligator Poetry.” The protagonist in “Tasting Freedom” wrestles with decisions about her aging mother’s care. And in “From Here to Cafayate,” a woman refuses to give up on the perpetually flawed relationship she has shared with her sister for nearly ninety years.

Each story is enhanced by one of fourteen original poems contributed by talented poets specifically for this collection and its themes. Although the stories stand alone, they are further strengthened by the relationships among the various characters throughout the collection. Readers of Ms. Kretchmer’s first novel, The Damnable Legacy, will also delight to find that some of the characters from that novel have reappeared here.

The women in this collection may or may not be the type you’d invite over for lunch. Some of them are tough. Some aren’t all that likeable. Some might not see the world the way you do. But they’re compelling in their own right as they reflect women in today’s world—women who have come along a difficult path—and as they courageously take control of their lives.

My review:

Women on the Brink by G. Elizabeth Kretchmer. The World if Full of Possibilities if you Dare.

I was offered a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I read and reviewed Kretchmer’s novel ‘The Damnable Legacy of a Minister’s Wife’ this summer and was fascinated not only by the story (the Alaskan setting also helped) but also by the complex characterisation and the psychological insights. When I was offered a copy of ‘Women on the Brink’ I didn’t hesitate.

The book combines short stories by Kretchmer with poems that are interpretations of themes, feelings or sensations related to the stories that follow. The title perfectly reflects the nature of those stories. The women in them are at different stages of their lives, from teenagers trying to find themselves, to elderly women escaping a retirement home, but they all find themselves at a point when they question their lives as they are and what they are going to do next.

I enjoyed the different settings and characters, the writing style, easy to read and varied, adapting well to the different stories —some more introspective, some more comedic— and also the open-endedness of them. In ‘Bridge Out’ the main character, who after retirement decides to become a trucker, mentions ‘Thelma and Louise’ and like that movie, the stories show women going their own way, and these are many different ways. Perhaps piloting their own plane, going away to help in a disaster zone, confronting their past… And we never see them crash. Because one of the messages of this collection is that the world is full of possibilities if you only dare.

For those who have read the author’s previous novel there are some familiar characters, and there are also characters mentioned in several stories and who appear in more than one, hinting at the interconnectedness between all of our lives.

Although I wouldn’t say my circumstances are exactly those of any of the women in the stories, I identified with the feelings and the emotions described, I cheered (worriedly) for the ‘Girls Against Perfection’, and I thoroughly enjoyed the transformation of Margee in ‘Coco Palms’, from obedient wife to avenging warrior.

I would quite happily have read more about any of the characters in the stories, and confess I could see quite a few of them turned into much longer works (I loved the light touch in ‘Accelerant’ and Maureen, the perhaps not-as-confused-as-she-seems grandmother, is a fabulous character). Despite their length, the author creates fully-fledged characters and situations in each one of the stories, condensing descriptions and sharpening her prose, with not a word spare.

The poems complement beautifully the book and provide an effective and lyrical link between them.

I recommend it to all readers, those who enjoy short fiction and poetry, and also those who don’t read short stories, because we should challenge ourselves and they might be pleasantly surprised.

Links:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1513702351/

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1513702351/

The link to the Author’s page (and don’t forget to follow!)

http://www.amazon.com/G.-Elizabeth-Kretchmer/e/B00L2T253I/

Thanks to S.R. Mallery and to G. Elizabeth Kretchmer for their novels, thanks to all of you for reading, and you know what to do, like, share, comment and CLICK!

‘The Dark Dozen’ #CharityBookBlitz for a very good cause. We need a heart! (@BPICPromos)

 

The Dark Dozen: Stories for Scarborough
by  Travis Luedke, C.N. Lesley, Danielle DeVor, Maer Wilson, Steven Ramirez, Jody A. Kessler, Louann Carroll, Ross G. Homer, M. Joseph Murphy, Robert P. Wills, Karenne Griffin, and Allan B. Anderson
Genre: Horror, Science Fiction
Release Date: December 2, 2015

 

 

 

***SPECIAL NOTE: SAVE A LIFE, BUY A BOOK*** 

This fund-raising anthology of Horror and Sci-Fi short stories was created to benefit Altoine Scarborough, a man in desperate need of a heart transplant. The stories, cover art, formatting, editing and compilation were all donated. Every penny of the royalties we receive will go to Al’s GOFUNDME project. (MW)

Vampires to ghosts to monsters—and futures we won’t want to see come true—fill this collection of dark stories that are sure to give you chills. This stellar, fan-favorite group, which includes award-winning and best-selling authors, brings a unique voice to some familiar and not-so-familiar creatures. Join Travis Luedke, C.N. Lesley, Danielle DeVor, Maer Wilson, Steven Ramirez, Jody A. Kessler, Louann Carroll, Ross G, Homer, M. Joseph Murphy, Robert P. Wills, Karenne Griffin, and Allan B. Anderson for a trip into the Darkness.

BROWN THE RECLUSE by Steven Ramirez – Ted Brown is a man slipping away from reality. Long estranged from his family and living in Seattle, he works at a job he no longer values and lately appears to be losing his memory. But when he discovers a spider in his apartment, that’s when things get really interesting.

THE RAID by Maer Wilson – Gamers are often loyal to their teammates. When Aelan and her friends tackle an evil dragon, that loyalty goes far beyond what anyone expects.

THE BONES by Danielle DeVor – Sometimes, things leave a residue, like the smell left behind when toast is burned. When a medical student brings a skeleton home to study, her child’s life will never be the same.

THE WHISPERING by Karenne Griffin – The small village of Gorland is horrified as their children kill themselves in what appear to be suicide pacts. But there is much more going on and only one child has the key.

THE DIARY OF A MADMAN by Robert P. Wills – Just because others don’t see the ghosts, doesn’t mean they aren’t real.

THE CALL: AN ANGEL FALLS NOVELLA by Jody A. Kessler – Professional shaman and cranky, anti-social ghost hunter, Chris Abeyta, finds spirits and helps them cross over to the afterlife. In his latest case, he and Juliana Crowson find the ghost of a girl trapped by time and a heart-wrenching tale of a camping trip gone terribly wrong.

THE FOUNDLINGS: JENNY’S TALE by Louann Carroll – Technology meets morality when Jenny loses her only friend. Terrified and alone she must choose between reentering the world or living the rest of her life in the dark.

MUMANS by Ross G. Homer – He found love in the most unlikely place. But could he keep the love he found?

A TALE OF TWO QUEENS AND A FROZEN HEART by Allan B. Anderson – Reily, an experienced troubleshooter, is hired to find two teams who have gone missing in a frozen wasteland. But even his skills may not be enough to survive what he discovers.

THE VAMPIRE AND THE VALIANT WARRIOR by M. Joseph Murphy – A noble thief in search of ancient treasure stumbles upon the den of a sadistic vampire.

HELL IS NEVER FULL by C.N. Lesley – When the seed of hate is sown it puts forth shoots of malice that bear flowers of evil. Time has no meaning for revenge.

DREAMS OF NIGHTLIFE LAS VEGAS by Travis Luedke – An author has an unexpected encounter with one of his most dangerous – and sexy – creations.

For more information about Al’s situation or to donate directly to his GoFundMe project, please check out these links below:

Any support to help save Al’s life will be deeply appreciated.

Al’s GOFUNDME Page – https://www.gofundme.com/l1911s

Al’s Facebook Page – WE HEART AL – https://www.facebook.com/We-Heart-Al-611995988938764/

Amazon – THE DARK DOZEN – http://goo.gl/H8lsPo

To read more about Al’s story and how this anthology came about, visit Maer Wilson’s website.

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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#Novedadesliterarias. Os gustan las novelas y las series intrigantes? No os perdáis ‘Bienvenidos a Clayton Lake’ de Mario Escobar (@escobargolderos) y ‘Libélulas azules’ de Enrique Laso (@enriquelaso)

Hola a todos:

Como sabéis, los viernes os traigo nuevos libros y/o autores invitados. Hoy los dos autores que me visitan son asiduos al blog, y os traigo nuevos entregas de sus thrillers (los dos escriben en una gran variedad de géneros también). Como a mí siempre me apetece leer otro tipo de cosas en Navidades, aparte de temas navideños, os traigo estas novelas tan intrigantes. La primera acaban de publicarla, y la segunda está disponible en pre-venta en una gran oferta, así que os las recomiendo.

Bienvenidos a Clayton Lake de Mario Escobar

Bienvenidos a Clayton Lake de Mario Escobar

Nº1 EN USA, ESPAÑA, MEXICO, ALEMANIA Y REINO UNIDO.

Mario Escobar ha sido el autor más leído en Amazon en los últimos doce meses, su libro El Círculo fue el más descargado en todas las plataformas de Amazon durante el último año.

Una obra de suspense, una historia de ternura y amistad profunda.

Citas Prensa:

“Mario Escobar viene a sumarse a la revitalización del suspense…por parte de firmas anglosajonas como las de Alan Furst, John Lawton o Robert Wilson”.

Que Leer

“Escobar ha dado con una de las claves de este mercado editorial online”.

ABC Cultural, Laura Revuelta.

Citas lectores:

“I have never been a big fan of mystery books, but still decided to give this one a chance. And it turned out great! I really enjoyed reading it, it was so enigmatic, really absorbing and intricate. Plan buying other books by this author”. Irina

“Me mantuvo en vilo! Ciertamente una novela inquietante, que mantiene al lector a la expectativa de qué va a suceder.

Sencillamente me encanto!”. Nora Santana

“Impresionante, creativa, te atrapa desde el inicio y te mantiene con dudas hasta el final… Un final realmente impresionante e inesperado”. Sebastián Ospina

Sinopsis:

Un grupo de amigos deciden tomarse unas cortas vacaciones al norte del estado de Maine, en las inmediaciones de Clayton Lake. La región es una de las más deshabitadas de los Estados Unidos, pero el grupo necesita relajarse y reencontrarse después de varios años sin mantener el contacto.

Steve, un escritor que tras un éxito fulgurante está en sus horas más bajas, acaba de perder a toda su familia y no quiere asistir al encuentro, pero al final decidirá presentarse a la cita.

Tras la primera cena en la cabaña, Steve pide a sus amigos que le describan, en caso de ser asesinados, cómo piensan que sería su muerte, con el fin de documentarse para un nuevo libro. A la mañana siguiente, una niña ensangrentada llama a su puerta pidiendo ayuda.

Steve y sus amigos descubrirán que sus miedos pueden hacerse muy reales y terminar con sus vidas. Deberán enfrentarse a sus peores pesadillas o morir en medio del lugar más bello y solitario de América.

¿Lograrán enfrentarse a sus temores más ocultos? ¿Su amistad será capaz de superar todos los obstáculos?

Mario Escobar es escritor e historiador. Uno de los autores más leídos en Amazon y que ya ha conquistado a cientos de miles de lectores en todo el mundo. Sus libros han sido traducidos a 15 idiomas. www.marioescobar.es

relinks.me/B015SRKQIA

Y una reseña muy reciente (de 5 estrellas), por si acaso queréis saber más:

Lo que podían ser unas vacaciones entre amigos, una reunión de un grupo que hacía tiempo que no se veían, se convierte en una serie de acontecimientos anómalos que ponen a prueba su amistad. Después de esa estancia en Clayton Lake ya nada será como antes y lo que parecía un sueño pasa a ser una pesadilla, los mayores temores se vuelven realidad, todo ello reforzado por un halo de misterio, de antiguas leyendas y maldiciones que estaban escritas y podían llegar a suceder.

La capacidad de Mario Escobar para crear historias me sorprende cada día más y, en este caso, encima consigue que el lector no pueda parar hasta que llega al final. Yo, la verdad, es que me leí el libro en menos de tres días, tan ensimismada estaba con la narración que me sentía, en cierto modo, “obligada” a continuar leyendo cada momento que podía. Necesitaba saber qué es lo que iba a pasar.

Me parece muy original y en muchos momentos aterradora e impactante. Pero engancha y hace pensar sobre las relaciones humanas, sobre las injusticias pasadas y sobre los futuros inciertos. En cualquier momento puede suceder algo que haga que la vida gire ciento ochenta grados, así que es mejor no hacer planes y vivirla intensamente. Lo que ya no se ha hecho no puede realizarse, sólo se debe intentar que vuelva a pasar de otro modo y arreglar el mañana con actos renovados.

La recomiendo a todos los que le gusten las historias estilo Stephen King envueltas en un entorno misterioso.

Y no os olvidéis de visitar su página de autor y seguirle.

http://www.amazon.com/Mario-Escobar/e/B002IU5K82/

Libélulas azules de Enrique Laso

LIBÉLULAS AZULES (Ethan Bush nº 3) by Enrique Laso (pre-venta)

>>>PRECIO ESPECIAL EN PRE-VENTA PARA LAS RESERVAS<<<



¿QUIÉN MATÓ A SHARON NICHOLS?

Ethan Bush regresa a Kansas, escenario de ‘Los Crímenes Azules’, para zanjar un asunto que había quedado pendiente y que le atormentaba desde hacía meses. Pronto descubrirá que intentar resolver un crimen acaecido en 1998 no es precisamente una tarea sencilla.



UN NUEVO CASO PARA ETHAN BUSH, PROTAGONISTA DE ‘LOS CRÍMENES AZULES’ y ‘LOS CADÁVERES NO SUEÑAN’



Miles de lectores en todo el mundo esperaban la respuesta a una pregunta que había quedado en el aire y que por fin tendrá contestación: ¿quién acabó con la vida de Sharon Nichols? Una novela emocionante en la que el agente especial de la BAU del FBI tendrá que enfrentarse a sus propios monstruos mientras levanta ampollas en un condado en el que los secretos ya estaban sepultados bajo toneladas de tierra.

Si te apasionaste con ‘Los Crímenes Azules’, si disfrutaste con ‘Los Cadáveres No Sueñan’,LIBÉLULAS AZULES te hará pasar momentos de trepidante emoción.

ENRIQUE LASO, autor que ha vendido más de 400.000 libros en todo el mundo, regresa con su tercera novela negra, impulsado por el éxito sin precedentes tanto de ventas como de crítica de ‘Los Crímenes Azules’ (traducida al inglés, francés e italiano y uno de los grandes éxitos literarios de 2015) y los récords históricos batidos por ‘Los Cadáveres No Sueñan’ (traducida al inglés).

SI TE GUSTA LA NOVELA NEGRA Y POLICÍACA ESTA ES TU NUEVA LECTURA

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0174Z1RQO/

http://www.amazon.es/dp/B0174Z1RQO/

http://www.amazon.mx/dp/B0174Z1RQO/

Yo estoy muy intrigada ya que en este momento estoy acabando la traducción de la segunda novela de esta serie y como me leí la primera, me quedé con las ganas de saber quién había matado a Sharon Nichols…

Y no os olvidéis de visitar su página de autor y seguirle para no perderos nada.

http://www.amazon.com/Enrique-Laso/e/B004KCULSA/

Gracias a Mario Escobar y a Enrique Laso por sus novelas y por ponernos el ay! en el corazón, gracias a todos vosotros por leer, y ya sabéis, dadle al me gusta, comentad, compartid y haced CLIC!

#Newbooks. ‘The Dolan Girls’ by S.R. Mallery (@SarahMallery1) and ‘Ludwika’ by Christoph Fischer (@CFFBooks). Strong women in fiction and history.

Hi all:

As you know Fridays is time to share new books and/or authors. Today, both of the authors who are visiting with new books have graced my blog before, and I’m pleased to say I’ve read some of their books (next Tuesday I’ll be sharing a review for one of Sarah Mallery’s novels) and they more than deserve to be featured here. They are fairly different, but I wanted to give you a chance to catch up with both before the holiday season.

First:’The Dolan Girls by S. R. Mallery

The Dolan Girls, by S. R. Mallery

Set in Nebraska during the 1800s, whorehouse madams, ladies of the night, a schoolmarm, a Pinkerton detective, a Shakespeare-quoting old coot, brutal outlaws, and a horse-wrangler fill out the cast of characters. Add to the mix are colorful descriptions of an 1856 land rush, Buffalo Bill and his Wild West Show, Annie Oakley, bank/train robberies, small town local politics, and of course, romance. Two, in fact!

Links

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B018Y063XA/

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B018Y063XA/

And a couple of reviews (both 5 stars):

S.R. Mallery has done it again and in her usual style, she has done it well. I love historical fiction (and the books of S.R. Mallery) because I learn from them and they echo truth. The Dolan Girls is a story about three strong, resilient and very different women and their difficult and ardulous journey through life in the old West. Set in Nebraska after the California Gold Rush, the Dolan Girls is brimming with realism, history, vivid description and amazing characters designed and developed so well I wanted to know more about them.. If you’re a fan of the old west, strong women and enjoy a great read, this book is for you. Recommend highly!

 

Though I am not normally a reader of historical fiction, I do enjoy movies about the Old West. Films like ‘The Outlaw Josey Wales,’ ‘Unforgiven’ and ‘True Grit’ (the Coen Brothers’ version, not the original). There’s something very appealing about these desperate, iconic characters struggling to survive in a desolate setting, with the promise of Progress—usually in the form of a new railroad—looming somewhere on the horizon. When I read THE DOLAN GIRLS, I found many of the things I love—strong women, villains cut from the cloth of a harsh adherence to tradition, and some other pretty colorful characters, both real and fictional.

THE DOLAN GIRLS is western fiction as you’ve never read it. S.R. Mallery’s words thunder off the page like a cattle stampede. And her sharply written characters demonstrate that truly it was WOMEN who tamed the American West.

Don’t forget to check the author page in Amazon and follow her for news about her books.

http://www.amazon.com/S.-R.-Mallery/e/B00CIUW3W8/

And now,  Christoph Fischer, who has visited my blog a few times, has a new book out (just out on the 14th of December). The book goes back to history, one of his favourite subjects, and the story behind the writing of the book is fascinating too.

Ludwika by Christoph Fischer

Ludwika: A Polish Woman’s Struggle To Survive In Nazi Germany by Christoph Fischer

It’s World War II and Ludwika Gierz, a young Polish woman, is forced to leave her family and go to Nazi Germany to work for an SS officer. There, she must walk a tightrope, learning to live as a second-class citizen in a world where one wrong word could spell disaster and every day could be her last. Based on real events, this is a story of hope amid despair, of love amid loss . . . ultimately, it’s one woman’s story of survival.

Editorial Review:

“This is the best kind of fiction—it’s based on the real life. Ludwika’s story highlights the magnitude of human suffering caused by WWII, transcending multiple generations and many nations.

WWII left no one unscarred, and Ludwika’s life illustrates this tragic fact. But she also reminds us how bright the human spirit can shine when darkness falls in that unrelenting way it does during wartime.

This book was a rollercoaster ride of action and emotion, skilfully told by Mr. Fischer, who brought something fresh and new to a topic about which thousands of stories have already been told.”

Links:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B018UTHX7A/

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B018UTHX7A/

Paper:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1519539118/

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1519539118/

Don’t forget to check his author page in Amazon, and follow for news of his books:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Christoph-Fischer/e/B00CLO9VMQ/

I share a couple of the posts Christoph has written about the book in his own blog, that include excerpts. There are others, so don’t be shy and wander around a bit.

https://writerchristophfischer.wordpress.com/2015/12/04/ludwika-a-polish-womans-struggle-to-survive-in-nazi-germany-is-available-for-pre-order/

https://writerchristophfischer.wordpress.com/2015/12/10/displaced-polish-people-after-ww2-and-a-first-excerpt-from-ludwika-a-polish-womans-struggle-to-survive-in-nazi-germany/

And a couple of five star reviews:

Ludwika: A Polish Woman’s Struggle To Survive In Nazi Germany by Christoph Fischer starts with an introduction to the story’s protagonist, Ludwika Gierz, a 4 foot-ten inches, 22 year-old, beautiful Polish woman with piercing blue eyes. Children like her because of her friendly disposition. She has a 5 year-old daughter Irena from a non-marital relationship she had years ago, after which the father of the child left town. The well-written prose starts with undertones interjected on the horizon and we know there will be danger: the German invasion and fleeing of the townspeople, including Ludwika’s father, who disappeared with the retreat of troops; and the fact that Ludwika’s looks, her beauty, was once an asset but now is a liability as it attracts brutish German soldiers. It is a time of war with Hitler’s regime moving in and taking over, which establishes the story’s tension and conflict. In her town in Poland, Ludwika works her farm with her younger sister and mother. Siblings are mentioned, including her brother Franz who drowned in a river 2 years earlier, the memory still raw and painful. The story is off to a good start as we care about the protagonist and sense the danger that’s been alluded to. The story progresses and Ludwika encounters a Nazi soldier on the road who becomes attracted to her and protective of her, granting her rights others do not have. As Jews are being hauled off and the elderly assassinated, Ludwika is learning German from the translator that her “Nazi friend” has enlisted to help him. There’s now enough conflict in the story to propel it forward in this horrific time in history where madness prevailed. Without retelling this page turner suffice it to say that it goes deep and does not hold back as the plot moves through Ludwika’s drive to survive, and all the emotional turmoil, good and bad, that goes along with it. I’ve read several other books by this author and have to say that next to The Luck of the Weissensteiner’s this is my favorite.

And a brief one but it says it all:

Great to see Christoph Fischer, author of The Three Nations trilogy, back with another classic world war 2 story. This is probably his tightest, best work yet. It’s intense and cinematic. Fans of world war two dramas will eat this one up. Well done!

Thanks so much to S. R. Mallery and Christoph Fischer for their books, thanks to you for reading, and you know what to do, like, share, comment and CLICK!

 

#Reseñadelibro. ‘Carta a Charo’ de Estrella Cardona Gamio (@ccgediciones). Epístolas, nostalgia e inolvidables personajes.

Hola a todos:

Este martes os traigo la reseña de un libro que, como muchos, llevaba un tiempo en mi Kindle. Aunque no participo como debiera, estoy en un grupo en Goodreads, Café Literario, y Concha y Estrella Cardona Gamio, las administradoras, me recordaron que este mes estarían leyendo la novela Carta a Charo y la discutiríamos el mes que viene. Así que, la leí. Es muy corta, y me encantó. Pero bueno, aquí os dejo la reseña…

Carta a Charo de Estrella Cardona Gamio

Carta a Charo de Estrella Cardona Gamio. Lo bueno si breve….

Ésta es una novela epistolar compuesta por las cartas que se intercambian dos amigas que se conocen desde la juventud pero llevan años viviendo en países distintos (una en Barcelona y la otra en Londres), y otras cartas de sus allegados (a veces protagonistas importantes en la historia, como el marido de Charo, Antonio, otros muy secundarios, como Francesc, el hijo de su amiga), e incluso de personajes cuya relación con ellas es mucho más tangencial (como la última carta, que añade una perspectiva completamente externa a la situación). Hoy en día, cuando las cartas están cayendo en desuso, es una maravilla recuperarlas y darse cuenta de la de cosas que se pueden decir (y no decir) usando esta forma de interacción social.

En la descripción de esta novela la autora nos desvela su proceso de creación. La fecha de la primera carta es la fecha en que empezó a escribirla y quizás eso explica en parte lo vívidas y lo auténticas que resultan estas cartas. Aunque la novela es corta, llegamos a conocer a los personajes (por más que a veces las expectativas que tenemos resulten erróneas), a través de sus intercambios con los demás, de lo que nos dicen, y de lo que no. Historias de amor, de desamor, sueños, errores, malentendidos y el día a día de la convivencia, y como a veces lo que creemos compartir con otros (memorias, momentos, sentimientos) no son más que un producto de nuestra imaginación. Experiencias que tuvimos con alguien y que cada persona ha asimilado de forma diversa. Amistades que no lo son, y rutinas que no se sabe bien porqué se mantienen.

Me encantaron los personajes que resultan familiares y reconocibles pero no por convencionales. Las cartas y el estilo de cada una reflejan perfectamente las personalidades de los personajes y las diferencias entre ellos. Y las referencias a otras épocas y situaciones nos hacen partícipes de la atmósfera y de las experiencias de los protagonistas. La autora demuestra que no hacen falta largas exposiciones ni páginas y páginas para desarrollar no ya una historia, sino unas vidas.

Leí una reseña en que comentaban que al lector le había recordado ‘Cinco horas con Mario’ y es cierto que algunas de las cartas tienen un aspecto confesional, ya sea porque no se envían realmente al destinatario (y acaban siendo una carta a uno mismo) o porque el autor explica cosas a un lector que quizás solo existe en su imaginación (ya que el destinatario no es la persona que ellos han creado en su mente).

Se la recomiendo a los que gusten de una lectura fresca, breve, y de calidad, con personajes que les harán pensar. Y estoy segura de que a partir de ahora recordaré esta novela cada vez que vea una película de Marcello Mastroianni.

Enlaces:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QOE1FPK/

http://www.amazon.es/dp/B00QOE1FPK/

http://www.amazon.mx/dp/B00QOE1FPK/

Y no os olvidéis de visitar la página de la autora en Amazon, y seguirla para enteraros de todas sus novedades:

http://www.amazon.com/Estrella-Cardona-Gamio/e/B007ZT0JWS/

Muchas gracias a la autora por su fabulosa novela, gracias a todos vosotros por leer, y ya sabéis, dadle al me gusta, comentad, compartid y haced CLIC!

#BookReviews Two magical books: ‘Alchemy’ by Ailsa Abraham (@ailsaabraham) and ‘Bad Moon’ by Anita Dawes #TuesdayBookBlog

Hi all:

I know I’ve been telling you for a while that I had reviews pending to share, and I thought as you might have a bit of time to read over the holidays (ha!) I’d bring you some before the year ends. (Doesn’t time fly!)

Here two books that although very different share fabulous plots, strong female characters and a good deal of ‘magic’, ‘secrets’ and very unexpected things. Both writers are also great bloggers and I’m sure will keep coming back.

First:

Alchemy by Ailsa Abraham

Alchemy by Ailsa Abraham. Sometimes perfect solutions bring unexpected problems.

Ailsa Abraham’s novel Alchemy starts with a premise that would be the perfect ending for many novels, in appearance promising an idyllic utopian future for all. With a mysterious thriller-like beginning, a discovery that for once falls in the right hands, and a deal too good for all governments to ignore, one wonders where the story will go from there. Fascinating and enlightened characters appear and then quickly get to work, and new characters, whose relationship to the previous ones is not always evident at first, make an entry.

There is magic related to Pagan religious practice, and we follow two young children, a boy and a girl, as they discover their faith and are trained to reach the highest ranks. Do not worry if you’re not very versed in the different pagan practices and groups, as Adrian, a Professor in Ancient Religious Studies and once born (not magical) and his girlfriend, Helen, a thriller writer, serve as a point of contact and questioning guides into the ins and outs of the new world religious order. And if you thought everything seemed too nice to be true, there’s evil at work and dangerous alliances that put humanity at risk. A pair of unlikely hero and heroine will have to step forward and pay the price.

If you think fights over fuel and religious wars are responsible for all that’s wrong in our world, read this book and you might think again. Alchemy is a novel that combines a plot interesting from an ethical and philosophical point of view, with a good story and fascinating characters that I hope will be further developed in other books in the series. And if you like a good romantic story of impossible love, Riga and Iamo are far more interesting than Romeo and Juliette. (And two of the most intriguing characters I’ve met in recent times).

If you have an open mind and like to explore big questions whilst being transported to worlds both familiar and completely alien to ours, you should read this book. If you love adventures that go beyond the usual, don’t miss it. If you love beautifully written books with great characters, this one is for you too. In summary, if you have a bit of imagination and enjoy reading, give it a go. I am looking forward to reviewing Shaman’s Drum soon.

Links:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I3A4HCQ/

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00I3A4HCQ/

Paper:

http://www.amazon.com/Alchemy-Ailsa-Abraham/dp/1909841501/

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alchemy-Ailsa-Abraham/dp/1909841501/

Here, her Amazon page so you can keep up with her news. And don’t forget to follow!

http://www.amazon.com/Ailsa-Abraham/e/B00AYKUBQ4/

And her blog:

http://ailsaabraham.com/

And:

Bad Moon by Anita Dawes (and Jaye Marie, her sister, as they are a team)

Bad Moon by Anita Dawes. Blood Ties and an Unforgiving Fate.

Bad Moon is narrated in the first person by Annie, a young girl who lives happily with her family: mother (Ruby), father (Jed), and older brother (Nathan). She adores her father, although her mother’s behaviour is far from exemplary (she regularly invites other men to her home and that results in incidents with her husband, who takes it out on the men and seem remarkably tolerant of his wife’s behaviour). At first, Annie is worried that she might end up becoming a woman like her mother when she grows up and thinks it is all due to her mother’s family (her father says that her mother was born under a ‘bad moon’ and she comes from ‘the Hills’ where people seem to have their own morality and rules of behaviour). The inhabitants of the Hills seem to be directly related to those of The Hills Have Eyes or the banjo players in Deliverance. What Annie doesn’t know is that things are worse than she ever could imagine. She has lived all her life in a world of lies and secrets. She is convinced she must learn the truth to avoid history repeating itself and is prepared to go to any lengths to achieve that. The costs are high indeed.

Annie does not have much formal schooling (she decides to leave school when she realises things aren’t as they should) but she is extremely articulate, and some of the descriptions of the landscape surrounding her home, of her experiences and dreams, her mystical feelings on visiting the caves previously inhabited by a Native-American tribe, and her reflections are beautiful and lyrical. We might disagree with some of her decisions but it is difficult not to admire her determination. She never tries to be liked or makes excuses for her own behaviour (she might blame others at times, but despite not being a believer or having much in the way of role models, she does question her actions and tries to make things better), and she is neither all good nor all bad. It’s a testimony to the skill of the author that although Annie’s head is not a pleasant place to be in, we can’t help but wish she’ll succeed and live to see another day.

With themes including incest, rape, infanticide, murder, cannibalism, paedophilia and plenty of violence, this is not a gentle novel or an easy read. There is sex and violence, although these are not graphically rendered, but anybody with a modicum of imagination will be left with many powerful images difficult to forget. The strong intuition of the main character, the roles of fate, blood and family history and the communities portrayed turn this book into a tragedy where instead of kings and gods we have as protagonists a family in the outskirts of society and outside of history. (The historical period of the story and the outside society are not described in detail and this adds to the sense of claustrophobia an entrapment.)

If Annie is a heroine, a tragic hero or an anti-hero is open to interpretation and I haven’t decided yet. I’m not sure I’d like to meet her in real life, but I know I’d like to read more about her.

Links:

http://www.amazon.com/Bad-Moon-Anita-Dawes-ebook/dp/B009BK3AYS/

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bad-Moon-Anita-Dawes-ebook/dp/B009BK3AYS/

Paper:

http://www.amazon.com/Bad-Moon-Anita-Dawes/dp/1326330179/

 

Here is her Amazon page to keep up with her news. And don’t forget to follow!:

http://www.amazon.com/Anita-Dawes/e/B0034NUE10/

And her (and sister Jaye Marie’s) blogs:

http://jenanita01.com/

http://anitajaydawes.blogspot.co.uk/

Thanks to the authors for two great books, thanks to you all for reading, and don’t forget to share, like, comment, and CLICK! And Keep Reading!

#Novedadesliterarias. ‘Nunca dejes de bailar’ de Carmen Grau y ‘Carta a Charo’ de Estrella Cardona

Hola a todos:

Es viernes, y tocan novedades literarias. Hoy tengo el placer de traeros nuevas obras de dos escritoras que ya han visitado mi blog. No s�� exactamente por qu�� he decidio presentar estas dos novela juntas, aparte de que desde que las vi anunciadas, me intrigaron, y las portadas me gustaron mucho y me parecen muy afines. Pero ah�� van:

Nunca dejes de bailar de Carmen Grau

Nunca dejes de bailar de Carmen Grau

Enya creci�� al amparo de su madre soltera hasta que el c��ncer se la arrebat��. Desapegada de su padre y sus abuelos, e incapaz de soportar el vac��o que le dej�� la muerte de su madre, decidi�� emprender otra vida en Boston y perseguir a la vez el sue��o de convertirse en editora literaria. En Boston encontr�� el amor, la amistad, el fracaso y, de nuevo, el amargo sabor de la p��rdida.

Alberto es un escritor consagrado, creador de novelas polic��acas y felizmente casado con Mar��a. Pero despu��s de m��s de dos d��cadas cosechando ��xitos, est�� aburrido y decide contar una historia diferente a todo lo anterior. Escribe una novela para Mar��a que, sin embargo, har�� tambalear la estabilidad de su matrimonio y cambiar�� el curso de su existencia.

Escrita a dos voces y dos tiempos,��Nunca dejes de bailar��es una historia de amor que nos lleva desde Boston y C��rdoba a Barcelona, una novela que habla de las relaciones entre un hombre y una mujer, del sexo, la literatura, el destino, la religi��n, la muerte y la esperanza, y en la que ficci��n y realidad constituyen las dos caras del mismo papel.

Aqu�� el enlace en Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/NUNCA-DEJES-BAILAR-Spanish-Carmen-ebook/dp/B00TBC9D4C/

http://www.amazon.es/NUNCA-DEJES-BAILAR-Spanish-Carmen-ebook/dp/B00TBC9D4C/

Y no os perd��is la p��gina de Carmen:

http://www.amazon.com/Carmen-Grau/e/B00840MEYS/

Y la segunda:

Carta a Charo de Estrella Cardona

Carta a Charo de Estrella Cardona Gamio

CARTA A CHARO no es una novela como las dem��s en su exposici��n, empezando porque se trata de una novela epistolar, g��nero que estuvo de moda en otras ��pocas y que ha dejado obras como LAS AMISTADES PELIGROSAS por no citar m��s que una entre muchas. Es un buen g��nero muy interesante ya que en ��l, y en primera persona, se relatan historias ��ntimas que van desvelando los secretos m��s inconfesables de sus personajes.

En CARTA A CHARO encontrar�� el lector la historia de dos amigas que lo fueron en su infancia y han continuado si��ndolo a trav��s del tiempo y la distancia cuando el marido de una de ellas, por motivos laborales, tiene que marchar con su familia a Londres. Durante a��os intercambian correspondencia, hasta que cierto d��a un acontecimiento por completo ajeno a ellas, la muerte de un famoso actor de cine, Marcello Mastroianni, abre el ba��l de los recuerdos de ambas revelando unas confidencias ocultas durante d��cadas que descubren a dos personas por completo desconocidas la una para la otra.

Otra peculiaridad de esta novela es que las cartas que se cruzan est��n redactadas empezando con la fecha del primer d��a en que yo me puse a escribir CARTA A CHARO, es decir, que los intervalos de tiempo que median de una a otra misiva, son aut��nticos. En realidad la novela fue saliendo como si sus protagonistas me la dictaran.

En esta obra, rom��ntica y sentimental, encontrar��is los diversos grados del amor revelados in extenso: la ternura, la nostalgia, la rivalidad, el ego��smo, la envidia, los celos y la pasi��n incontrolada y salvaje. No pod��is dejar de leerla, es un buen consejo.

Aqu�� el enlace:

http://www.amazon.com/Carta-Charo-Spanish-Estrella-Cardona-ebook/dp/B00QOE1FPK/

http://www.amazon.es/Carta-Charo-Spanish-Estrella-Cardona-ebook/dp/B00QOE1FPK/

Y no os olvid��is de seguir la p��gina de Estrella:

http://www.amazon.com/Estrella-Cardona-Gamio/e/B007ZT0JWS/

Muchas gracias a Carmen Grau y a Estrella Cardona Gamio por sus dos nuevas novelas, gracias a vosotros por leer, y si os ha interesado, dadle al me gusta, comentad, compartid, y haced CLIC!

#Guestauthor. Nicholas Rossis. Great blogger, sci-fi, fantasy and children’s author.

Hi all:

As you know on Fridays I try and bring you new authors that haven’t visited yet my blog. Sometimes I keep reading about some authors, I enjoy their blogs, and they become such familiar faces for me, that I’m surprised when I check back and realise they’ve never visited my blog yet.

That is the case with my guest today.

Nicholas Rossis��is a writer I’ve known for a while and whose blog����I thoroughly enjoy and I’ve mentioned before. (It’s full of useful information, don’t miss it!). How I hadn’t featured his books here before, is anybody’s guess, but finally, today is the day.

First, a bit about Nicholas:

Author Nicholas Rossis

Avid reader. Web developer. Architect by training, holder of a PhD in Digital Architecture from the University of Edinburgh. Now, author.

Nicholas loves to write. Except for his epic fantasy series, Pearseus, he has also published The Power of Six, a collection of short sci-fi stories. These have all become Amazon best-sellers. His latest book is Runaway Smile, a children’s book.

He lives in Athens, Greece, in the middle of a forest, with his wife, dog and two very silly cats, one of whom is always sitting on his lap, so please excuse any typos in his blog posts: typing with one hand can be hard. Mercifully, all his books are professionally edited!

Amazon author page:

http://www.amazon.com/Nicholas-C.-Rossis/e/B00FXXIBZA/

Now, his��books:

Pearseus: Rise of the Prince

Pearseus, Rise of the Prince (Book 1 of the Pearseus epic fantasy series)

Justice without compassion is but tyranny

The series that has reached #1 on Amazon!

The handful of humans that crash-landed on Pearseus three hundred years ago have by now colonized a large part of the planet, rebuilding their civilization from scratch. In the process, they have created a dystopia for themselves, splitting into three competing factions: the Capital, the Loyalists and the Democracies, all embroiled in endless intrigue and constant warfare.

An uneasy truce between the three parties still holds – barely. While man turns against man, the First, Pearseus’ indigenous people, wage their own war against a shadowy enemy; an ancient conflict that threatens to engulf and destroy all of humanity.

Following an unspeakable crime, the men and women of Pearseus struggle to live and love as their world crumbles all around them. But can love be found in the ruins of humanity’s civilization?

http://www.amazon.com/Pearseus-Rise-Prince-Book-fantasy-ebook/dp/B00FYRKLPI/

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pearseus-Rise-Prince-Book-fantasy-ebook/dp/B00FYRKLPI/

 

Pearseus: Mad Water

Pearseus: Mad Water (book 2 of the Pearseus epic fantasy series)

The Amazon best-selling series continues!

In the second book of the best-selling Pearseus series, the incessant scheming of the various players and their nebulous puppet-masters has brought about major change. Cyrus is now the new ruler of the Capital, struggling to fight Jonia’s revolt along with his own demons. Gella strives to keep abreast of Teo’s devious plans in order to end the war with Jonia. David returns to the First in an effort to overcome his loss of the Voice. Lehmor’s struggle to reunite with Moirah brings him to uncharted territories, where the enigmatic Iota play with minds, senses and the future of the entire planet.

Old foes and unlikely new friends appear as invisible forces continue to tear humanity apart. Masks drop to reveal the ultimate truth: on Pearseus, everyone has their own agenda. And they’ll stop at nothing to achieve it.

http://www.amazon.com/Pearseus-Water-book-epic-fantasy-ebook/dp/B00LPJWGGQ/

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pearseus-Water-book-epic-fantasy-ebook/dp/B00LPJWGGQ/

 

Pearseus: Vigi

Pearseus: Vigil (book 3 of the Pearseus epic fantasy series)

It���s a difficult time on Pearseus. Teo Altman has assumed control of the Capital and has his eye on Parad���s children. Pratin and his monsters have laid siege on Malekshei. The Old Woman has forsaken Lehmor and the First. And Sol is preparing for the Capital���s inevitable invasion.

As Malekshei���s defenders fight for their lives, they realize they need an army to stop Pratin. To raise that army, they must do the unthinkable: wake up those who have been sleeping under Pearseus for the last hundred thousand years.

http://www.amazon.com/Pearseus-Vigil-book-epic-fantasy-ebook/dp/B00TT0LN30/

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pearseus-Vigil-book-epic-fantasy-ebook/dp/B00TT0LN30/

This three books are also available as a box-set:

Pearseus Bundle

Box set

http://www.amazon.com/Pearseus-Bundle-books-epic-fantasy-ebook/dp/B00LX9UUIY/

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pearseus-Bundle-books-epic-fantasy-ebook/dp/B00LX9UUIY/

 

And the prequel to the series:

Pearseus: Schism

Pearseus: Schism

Humanity starts over. Again.

The prequel to the Amazon best-selling series, Pearseus.

If you like dark epic fantasy with a sci-fi twist, then you’ll love Pearseus: Schism, the novelette that lays the back story to the series that has reached #1 on Amazon.

It’s New Year’s Eve, the year of 2099, but the distinguished guests aboard the Pearseus won’t get to countdown seconds; soon they’ll be counting bodies and survivors after the spaceship’s crash landing on another planet.

The good news? The planet is seemingly hospitable both in resources and in terms of the natives’ attitude towards earthlings.

The bad news? They might have come on this planet bare of possessions, but what they haven’t been able to shed are the shortcomings of their human nature. Will that be the sole threat to a unified future, or is the new land and its first inhabitants not as innocent as they look?

http://www.amazon.com/Pearseus-Schism-prequel-epic-fantasy-ebook/dp/B00FXOJQA8/

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pearseus-Schism-prequel-epic-fantasy-ebook/dp/B00FXOJQA8/

The Power of Six

The Power of Six: Six (plus one) Science Fiction Short Stories��[Kindle Edition]

Nicholas C. Rossis��(Author),��Amos M. Carpenter��(Author)

Six science fiction short stories written by the author of Pearseus, the epic fantasy series that has reached #1 on Amazon. This edition includes one extra story, written by Amos M. Carpenter.

The Power of Six reached #1 on Amazon in October 2014.

Although they seem to be concerned with various themes, there are certain passions that run through them. What is the nature of reality; digital and corporeal? Is there more to the world than we can see? How far can we trust our senses? What are the consequences of our actions, and is it possible to change them? And if so, would we simply repeat same mistakes, or make new ones?

The anthology includes the following stories:

“Simulation Over”: How far can we trust our senses?

“For the Last Time”: The law of unintended consequences meets Murphy’s law during a man’s unexpected time travel.

“The Hand of God”: What do the game characters do when we stop playing?

“I Come in Peace”: an award-winning short story that poses the question: how far would man go to alleviate his loneliness?

“A Fresh Start”: If we were free to go anywhere in time and space, where would we choose to go?

“The Sentry”: What is a Sentry to do when the monster that steals away his family’s most precious possessions reappears?

“Big Bang”: A friendly game turns into much more in this short story written by Amos M. Carpenter.

Humorous and poignant, these short stories are exciting, intriguing and imaginative.

http://www.amazon.com/Power-Six-Science-Fiction-Stories-ebook/dp/B00K57JTAA/

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Power-Six-Science-Fiction-Stories-ebook/dp/B00K57JTAA/

And his illustrated children’s book:

Runaway Smile

 

Runaway Smile: An unshared smile is a wasted smile��[Kindle Edition]

Nicholas Rossis��(Author),��Lorelei Logsdon��(Editor),��Dimitris Fousekis��(Illustrator)

“I woke up this morning and I had lost my smile and it wasn���t my fault and I looked everywhere and it was gone. Then I met a workman and a king and the best salesman in the world and a clown and no-one wanted to give me theirs. At school, I asked Miss to give me hers, but she gave us a pop quiz instead, and then no-one was smiling and…”

A little boy wakes up in the morning and realizes he has lost his smile. After spending the entire day trying to find it, he learns the truth behind smiles: the only real smiles are the shared ones.

http://www.amazon.com/Runaway-Smile-unshared-smile-wasted-ebook/dp/B00QQC2YLY/

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Runaway-Smile-unshared-smile-wasted-ebook/dp/B00QQC2YLY/

Thanks so much to Nicholas Rossi for his books, thanks to all of you for reading, and you know what to do, like, share, comment, and CLICK!

PS: Nicholas kindly left a comment sharing more information about his work, and I thought it was only right to add it to the main post.

Here is Nicholas himself, generous to a fault:

For anyone wanting a risk-free taste of my work, you can read my children���s book, Runaway Smile, for free on:

http://nicholasrossis.me/childrens-books/

You can also read a couple of my short stories from the Power of Six:

http://nicholasrossis.me/2014/05/08/the-power-of-six-on-pre-release-sale-and-free-story/
and
http://nicholasrossis.me/2014/04/28/cover-reveal-the-power-of-six/

Thanks Nicholas!

Y ahora algo agradable. #Rese��a de libro. ‘La librer��a de los finales felices’ de Katarina Bivald

Hola a todos:

Como sab��is me encanta leer y a veces hay momentos en que lo que nos apetece es algo que nos haga suspirar, relajarnos, y que nos deje con la sonrisa en los labios, y no algo que nos haga subir la presi��n arterial o nos haga conmiserarnos por vivir en el mundo vivimos.

A trav��s de Net Galley tengo la suerte de poder leer algunos libros antes de que est��n a la venta al p��blico. Eso me pas�� con el libro del que os voy a hablar. Aunque me he le��do la versi��n en ingl��s (el original es sueco), al preparar la rese��a me di cuenta de que tambi��n est�� ya publicado en espa��ol, as�� que, aunque no s�� c��mo ser�� la traducci��n (la inglesa me pareci�� muy buena, pero por supuesto no puedo compararla con el original, que fue un best-seller en Suecia), pens�� que os traer��a mi rese��a. Pero primero, la descripci��n y el enlace al libro.

La librer��a de los finales felices

La librer��a de los finales felices (Planeta Internacional)

Katarina Bivald��(Author),��Pontus S��nchez��(Translator)

http://www.amazon.com/librer%C3%ADa-finales-felices-Planeta-Internacional-ebook/dp/B00NI10IZK/

Tras dos a��os intercambiando cartas y pasi��n por los libros, Sara decide��viajar a un pueblecito de Iowa para conocer a su anciana amiga Amy,��pero cuando llega, ��sta ha muerto, dejando una vieja casona y miles de��libros. Sola en este alejado rinc��n, se da cuenta de que gracias a las cartas��de Amy conoce bien a los habitantes del pueblo. As��, cuando se embarca��en la locura de montar una original librer��a con los ejemplares de Amy��se da cuenta de que hay un libro destinado a cambiar la vida de cada��uno de ellos. Pero al hacerlo tambi��n cambiar�� la suya.

Mi rese��a:

Un sue��o para todos los amantes de los libros

��Qu�� libro m��s maravilloso! Si como a m�� os encantan los libros, el tiempo que os pas��is leyendo es como un tesoro, y os encantar��a vivir en una biblioteca o una librer��a, ��ste es vuestro libro.

Sara, la protagonista, que siempre ha encontrado compa����a, consuelo, amistad y apoyo en los libros, se l��a la manta a la cabeza y cuando la librer��a en la que trabaja cierra, decide aceptar la invitaci��n de su amiga por correspondencia y compa��era en su pasi��n por los libros, Amy. Se va a pasar dos meses con Amy in Broken Wheel (Rueda Rota), Iowa. Desgraciadamente las cosas no salen como estaba previsto, pero cuando la adopta la poblaci��n entera, se le ocurre una idea para devolverles el favor, compartiendo la magia y el poder de los libros.

La transformaci��n de Sara y del pueblo son lo que hace avanzar la narrativa, y los variopintos personajes (algunos m��s t��picos que otros) se vuelven m��s humanos gracias a su contacto con Sara y sus libros. Tanto es as�� que no la quieren dejar marchar y deciden que har��n lo que sea para que se quede con ellos.

Me encantaron las ep��stolas de Amy, que nos ayudan a crearnos una imagen mental del personaje al que no llegamos a conocer, los personajes tristes (como George y John), los llenos de vida (Andy, Grace), la maravillosa Carolina, Tom, el romance en ciernes��� En fin, todo el mundo.

��ste no es un libro lleno de misterios e intrigas. No hay enormes sorpresas y la historia fluye amablemente invit��ndonos a participar en las aventuras de los personajes, donde no pasa nada terrible ni desastroso, solo la vida de cada d��a.

Me encant�� la librer��a, el sistema clasificatorio de Sara, y me encantar��a trabajar all�� y mudarme a Broken Wheel. Porque no puede haber demasiadas cosas mejores que un libro sobre libros.

Una lectura encantadora.

Muchas gracias a todos por leer, y ya sab��is, si os ha interesado, dadle al me gusta, comentad, ��y compartid y haced CLIC! Y de verdad, si la encontr��is por ah��, no la dej��is escapar!

And now for something gentle. #Bookreview ‘The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend’ and ‘Flipped’.

Hi all:

As you know, I love to read and review books and other things (movies, plays���). Although I read and watch things in very different genres (and I have a penchant for the unclassifiable, I must admit, both in my work and in that of others), and I love horror, and don���t flinch at gore or hard scenes or topics, sometimes one just fancies something gentle, that will leave us with a smile on our face and our heart, and a sigh of contentment, rather than making our blood pressure go up and leave us thinking about how awful the world can be.

I���m lucky enough, through Net Galley, to catch glimpses of books before they go on sale to the general public, and that was the case with this book, that will be officially published on the 18th of June but is available for pre-order.

The readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald

First, the blurb:

The readers of the Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald

Sara is 28 and has never been outside Sweden ��� except in the (many) books she reads. When her elderly penfriend Amy invites her to come and visit her in Broken Wheel, Iowa, Sara decides it���s time. But when she arrives, there���s a twist waiting for her ��� Amy has died. Finding herself utterly alone in a dead woman���s house in the middle of nowhere was not the holiday Sara had in mind.

But Sara discovers she is not exactly alone. For here in this town so broken it���s almost beyond repair are all the people she���s come to know through Amy���s letters: poor George, fierce Grace, buttoned-up Caroline and Amy���s guarded nephew Tom.

Sara quickly realises that Broken Wheel is in desperate need of some adventure, a dose of self-help and perhaps a little romance, too. In short, this is a town in need of a bookshop.

Here, my review:

A dream of a book for all book lovers

Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an advance copy of this book that was a bestseller in its original Swedish.

What a wonderful book! If like me, you love books, you find time spent reading always rewarding, and would love to live in a library or a bookshop, this is your book.

Sara, the protagonist, who has always found company, consolation, friendship and support in books, takes a leap of faith and when the bookshop where she works closes down, she accepts the invitation of her pen-pal and fellow book lover, Amy. She goes to spend two month with Amy in Broken Wheel, Iowa. Unfortunately, things don���t go according to plan, but when she is adopted by the whole village, she comes up with a scheme to repay them in kind, by sharing the magic and power of books.

The transformation of Sara and the town are what drives the narrative, and the assorted characters (some more recognisable than others) become humanised by their contact with Sara and her books. So much so that they can���t let her go and will do anything to keep her with them.

I enjoyed Amy���s epistles that help us imagine the missing character, the sad characters (like George and John), the riotous ones (Andy, Grace), wonderful Caroline, the love interest��� Well, everybody.

This isn���t a book of mysteries and intrigues. There are no major surprises and the plot meanders along gently inviting us to share in the characters��� adventures, where nothing drastic or earth shattering happens, just life as usual.

I loved the bookshop, and Sara���s classification system, and I���d like to work there and move to Broken Wheel. Because a book about books can���t be wrong.

A delightful read.

Ah, let’s not forget the links:

Kindle: $8.97

http://www.amazon.com/Readers-Broken-Wheel-Recommend-ebook/dp/B00TQDWHJO/

Paperback: $ 13.05�� http://www.amazon.com/Readers-Broken-Wheel-Recommend/dp/070118907X/

Hardback: $12. 92 http://www.amazon.com/The-Readers-Broken-Wheel-Recommend/dp/0701189061/

Through Amazon Prime��I have access to movies, TV series, etc, directly streamed to the TV (if you have it connected to the internet, that is) or to the Kindle or wherever. And I found a movie from 2010 I hadn’t seen, by Rob Reiner, called��Flipped��that had a similar effect. A gentle movie, good for family viewers, set in the late 1950s. I haven’t read the original book, but now I’m quite curious about it. The critics didn’t seem to like it very much, although viewers were kinder. OK, it’s no Stand By Me, not many movies are, but it is a kind movie, for all the family, mostly about children, their families, and I particularly enjoyed watching John Mahoney (from Frasier��fame) portrayal as the grandad, and thought Anthony Edwards played with considerable restraint a truly unsympathetic character.

Just in case you feel curious, here is the link to IMDB:

Flipped

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0817177/

Two eighth-graders start to have feelings for each other despite being total opposites. Based on the novel “Flipped” by Wendelin Van Draanen.

Director:

Writers:

��(screenplay),��(screenplay),

Stars:

,��,��y, Aidan Queen, Anthony Edwards, John Mahoney, Penelope Ann Miller

Thank you all for reading, thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the advance copy of The readers of Broken Wheel Recommend, and if you’ve enjoyed it, like, share, comment and CLICK!