A. Renee Hunt's Blog, page 6
June 25, 2019
Overlord
The Sam Aston Investigations, Book #2
Written by David Woods and Alan Baxter
Narrated by Jeff Kafer
What do you do when your name is practically a death sentence? You fake your own death and dive into hiding. The deepest of hiding, of course.(Ha! Dive...) So you take a job that puts you in just as much danger, if not more. Sadly, the new job has you going up against an enormous creature no one believes exists. All you can do is stay under the radar, with your neck above water.
This is Overlord, by David Wood and Alan Baxter. #element-32afcf9c-a9d0-45a5-8221-6df946d86296 .waddons-blog-image.hideImage { display: none;}
Overlord is book two of the Sam Aston Investigations. Sam, nearly eaten by a lake monster/god that had been worshipped by a secret, jungle cult is on the go again. Offered a job that will not only pay off his debts, but get him back in the black, he accepts. The job reunites him with someone from his past, but it also puts him thousands of miles below the earth's surface.
And there's something waiting.
This novel is a continuation to Primordial, a follow-up to Sam's extraordinary life. In Overlord, there's something much bigger than some over-sized, underwater lizard. It's about greed, betrayal and of course, a monster! When the team hired discovers they're not the first to have ventured into the cave system, Sam and the crew realize their predecessors never made it out. Will they?
I enjoyed the story- it's high octane and full of exciting action. Aston is a likable character, and more than brave. He's one of those guy's you'd definitely want on your team. And though I didn't like how Slater behaved after her initial shock, she was just as memorable. Everyone's intelligent and not one time did I find myself fussing, calling them idiots! That doesn't happen often. But I still had an issue with the novel.
Overlord was released in 2018. An author, by the name of Scott Sigler, released a audiobook titled Earthcore in 2001. To me, these stories are terribly similar. Searching underground for money (not exact, but still), missing teams, and gruesome deaths. Not saying Woods and Baxter copied anything, just that they're alike. I can't give the similarities without giving away some of the plot, but I can say that both books are good. Overlord is good, though I kept thinking of the other book. Thankfully, the ending is nowhere near the previously mentioned book, leaving me very happy and content.
It's a great read and you can fly through it without knowing what took place in Primordial. It's mentioned a few times, but it doesn't take away. Check out Overlord, for yourself, and see if you enjoy it. If you've not read or listened to Earthcore, then you'll not suffer the issue I did. I'm on to the next read. Cheers!
#wsite-video-container-798923834788452634{ background: url(//www.weebly.com/uploads/b/14113447-183... } #video-iframe-798923834788452634{ background: url(//cdn2.editmysite.com/images/util/video... } #wsite-video-container-798923834788452634, #video-iframe-798923834788452634{ background-repeat: no-repeat; background-position:center; } @media only screen and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2), only screen and ( min-device-pixel-ratio: 2), only screen and ( min-resolution: 192dpi), only screen and ( min-resolution: 2dppx) { #video-iframe-798923834788452634{ background: url(//cdn2.editmysite.com/images/util/video... background-repeat: no-repeat; background-position:center; background-size: 70px 70px; } } Overlord
Book 2 in the Sam Aston Investigations
Written by David Wood and Alan Baxter
Adrenaline Press
Released July 2018
Tantor Audio
Runtime: 7 hours 9 mins
Written by David Woods and Alan Baxter
Narrated by Jeff Kafer
What do you do when your name is practically a death sentence? You fake your own death and dive into hiding. The deepest of hiding, of course.(Ha! Dive...) So you take a job that puts you in just as much danger, if not more. Sadly, the new job has you going up against an enormous creature no one believes exists. All you can do is stay under the radar, with your neck above water.This is Overlord, by David Wood and Alan Baxter. #element-32afcf9c-a9d0-45a5-8221-6df946d86296 .waddons-blog-image.hideImage { display: none;}
Overlord is book two of the Sam Aston Investigations. Sam, nearly eaten by a lake monster/god that had been worshipped by a secret, jungle cult is on the go again. Offered a job that will not only pay off his debts, but get him back in the black, he accepts. The job reunites him with someone from his past, but it also puts him thousands of miles below the earth's surface.And there's something waiting.
This novel is a continuation to Primordial, a follow-up to Sam's extraordinary life. In Overlord, there's something much bigger than some over-sized, underwater lizard. It's about greed, betrayal and of course, a monster! When the team hired discovers they're not the first to have ventured into the cave system, Sam and the crew realize their predecessors never made it out. Will they?
I enjoyed the story- it's high octane and full of exciting action. Aston is a likable character, and more than brave. He's one of those guy's you'd definitely want on your team. And though I didn't like how Slater behaved after her initial shock, she was just as memorable. Everyone's intelligent and not one time did I find myself fussing, calling them idiots! That doesn't happen often. But I still had an issue with the novel.
Overlord was released in 2018. An author, by the name of Scott Sigler, released a audiobook titled Earthcore in 2001. To me, these stories are terribly similar. Searching underground for money (not exact, but still), missing teams, and gruesome deaths. Not saying Woods and Baxter copied anything, just that they're alike. I can't give the similarities without giving away some of the plot, but I can say that both books are good. Overlord is good, though I kept thinking of the other book. Thankfully, the ending is nowhere near the previously mentioned book, leaving me very happy and content.
It's a great read and you can fly through it without knowing what took place in Primordial. It's mentioned a few times, but it doesn't take away. Check out Overlord, for yourself, and see if you enjoy it. If you've not read or listened to Earthcore, then you'll not suffer the issue I did. I'm on to the next read. Cheers!
#wsite-video-container-798923834788452634{ background: url(//www.weebly.com/uploads/b/14113447-183... } #video-iframe-798923834788452634{ background: url(//cdn2.editmysite.com/images/util/video... } #wsite-video-container-798923834788452634, #video-iframe-798923834788452634{ background-repeat: no-repeat; background-position:center; } @media only screen and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2), only screen and ( min-device-pixel-ratio: 2), only screen and ( min-resolution: 192dpi), only screen and ( min-resolution: 2dppx) { #video-iframe-798923834788452634{ background: url(//cdn2.editmysite.com/images/util/video... background-repeat: no-repeat; background-position:center; background-size: 70px 70px; } } Overlord
Book 2 in the Sam Aston Investigations
Written by David Wood and Alan Baxter
Adrenaline Press
Released July 2018
Tantor Audio
Runtime: 7 hours 9 mins
June 24, 2019
The Hard Goodbye
An audio novel by Chris Miller
& narrated by Daniel Caravetta
I normally don't do crime novels. Not that I don't like them, I just watch them more than read/listen to them. I spotted the author, Chris Miller, on FB Pages and thought, "What the heck? Can't hurt." I went for it; This is The Hard Goodbye.
And now, you're wondering what I thought, yeah?
Let me tell you about this monkey... #element-aab008df-78dc-4bdb-bad3-aaaa0468875b .waddons-blog-image.hideImage { display: none;}
The Hard Goodbye is all about habit, greed and getting what you give. Honestly, it's really about a man doing his best to get back what was taken from him. Sadly, it's all in the method.
Savage, his girlfriend, a lawyer who manipulates the law, a terribly crooked cop and a junkie... No, this isn't the opening to a bad joke, they're the main characters of The Hard Goodbye, by Chris Miller. They have pulled off the heist of their lives- an unnecessary job, if not for the fact that a few in the crew can't handle their spending habits. Unlucky for them all, the owner knows who they are and wants his money back.
The opening of The Hard Goodbye has one of the crew meeting the title of this tale. Hard. But the story isn't about how the owner retrieves his ends, it's all on how pulling off such a job doesn't mean you've gotten away. It's like when you step into a steaming pile of poo. It stick to you, even when you've wiped it off. The stench remains. That's what takes place here, but worse. They don't fall apart under the pressure; they crumble. And it doesn't help that, one by one, their crew seems to be literally coming to pieces.
The Hard Goodbye is brutal; if you can not take the opening chapter then it's not for you. But if you love a good, suspenseful, thrilling, back-stabbing book of betrayal and trying to get away clean, you'll want to read this book. I normally don't read these (I usually wait for the movie), but I'm telling you its good. Very good. The ending had me thinking of John Wick - but with an insane monkey. LOL I can't explain that part; you'll have to check it out for yourself, while I move on to the next read.
Cheers!
The Hard Goodbye
Chris Miller
Narrated by Daniel Caravetta
Published by Deaths Head Press
Released April 2019
Runtime: 4h 53mins
& narrated by Daniel Caravetta
I normally don't do crime novels. Not that I don't like them, I just watch them more than read/listen to them. I spotted the author, Chris Miller, on FB Pages and thought, "What the heck? Can't hurt." I went for it; This is The Hard Goodbye.And now, you're wondering what I thought, yeah?
Let me tell you about this monkey... #element-aab008df-78dc-4bdb-bad3-aaaa0468875b .waddons-blog-image.hideImage { display: none;}
The Hard Goodbye is all about habit, greed and getting what you give. Honestly, it's really about a man doing his best to get back what was taken from him. Sadly, it's all in the method. Savage, his girlfriend, a lawyer who manipulates the law, a terribly crooked cop and a junkie... No, this isn't the opening to a bad joke, they're the main characters of The Hard Goodbye, by Chris Miller. They have pulled off the heist of their lives- an unnecessary job, if not for the fact that a few in the crew can't handle their spending habits. Unlucky for them all, the owner knows who they are and wants his money back.
The opening of The Hard Goodbye has one of the crew meeting the title of this tale. Hard. But the story isn't about how the owner retrieves his ends, it's all on how pulling off such a job doesn't mean you've gotten away. It's like when you step into a steaming pile of poo. It stick to you, even when you've wiped it off. The stench remains. That's what takes place here, but worse. They don't fall apart under the pressure; they crumble. And it doesn't help that, one by one, their crew seems to be literally coming to pieces.
The Hard Goodbye is brutal; if you can not take the opening chapter then it's not for you. But if you love a good, suspenseful, thrilling, back-stabbing book of betrayal and trying to get away clean, you'll want to read this book. I normally don't read these (I usually wait for the movie), but I'm telling you its good. Very good. The ending had me thinking of John Wick - but with an insane monkey. LOL I can't explain that part; you'll have to check it out for yourself, while I move on to the next read.
Cheers!
The Hard Goodbye
Chris Miller
Narrated by Daniel Caravetta
Published by Deaths Head Press
Released April 2019
Runtime: 4h 53mins
June 19, 2019
Poohlicious Look At Me
A Children's Book Written by
Mary Elizabeth Jackson & Thornton Cline
Illustrations by Alice Antimie
I am a true lover of children's books, so when I spotted Poohlicious Look At Me, by Mary Elizabeth Jackson and Thornton Cline, on my IG thread, I thought I'd give it a go. It's free on Amazon's Kindle Unlimited and a fast read, of 22-pages. Check out why this is a positive book to read to your toddler. #element-51f38b29-8819-42d4-834e-21218b066632 .waddons-blog-image.hideImage { display: none;}
If you're looking for a sweet book to share with a little one about doing things on their own, this is the one for your family. Poohlicious Look At Me is all about your son or daughter, neice or nephew- little loved one- doing things independently. It begins with the youngest age and moves up.
Filled with illustrations, your little one will be filled with smiles, independence and even a few chuckles on how they can become their own person. The pictures are colorful, the scenes loving and the theme is all positive. A sweet book too enjoy.
The only thing I can say negatively, and it's not really negative, concerns the title. First, I kept looking for a comma after Poohlicious. Then I was like, is that really somebody's nickname? LOL I know, none of my business. But seriously, this book has no negatives. Check it out for yourself and see. I'm moving on to the next read.
Cheers!
Poohlicious Look At Me
by Mary Elizabeth Jackson &
Thornton Cline
Illustrations by Alice Antimie
Published by Black Rose Writing
Released December 2017
22-pages
Mary Elizabeth Jackson & Thornton Cline
Illustrations by Alice Antimie
I am a true lover of children's books, so when I spotted Poohlicious Look At Me, by Mary Elizabeth Jackson and Thornton Cline, on my IG thread, I thought I'd give it a go. It's free on Amazon's Kindle Unlimited and a fast read, of 22-pages. Check out why this is a positive book to read to your toddler. #element-51f38b29-8819-42d4-834e-21218b066632 .waddons-blog-image.hideImage { display: none;}
If you're looking for a sweet book to share with a little one about doing things on their own, this is the one for your family. Poohlicious Look At Me is all about your son or daughter, neice or nephew- little loved one- doing things independently. It begins with the youngest age and moves up.
Filled with illustrations, your little one will be filled with smiles, independence and even a few chuckles on how they can become their own person. The pictures are colorful, the scenes loving and the theme is all positive. A sweet book too enjoy.
The only thing I can say negatively, and it's not really negative, concerns the title. First, I kept looking for a comma after Poohlicious. Then I was like, is that really somebody's nickname? LOL I know, none of my business. But seriously, this book has no negatives. Check it out for yourself and see. I'm moving on to the next read.
Cheers!
Poohlicious Look At Me
by Mary Elizabeth Jackson &
Thornton Cline
Illustrations by Alice Antimie
Published by Black Rose Writing
Released December 2017
22-pages
June 17, 2019
The Whispers of the Fallen
from the series with the same name
by J. D. Netto
This book released in 2013, kicking off a series that seemed to strike home with many followers and fans. I wanted to purchase the books and dive in, but I decided to go with the Kindle versions instead. I don’t remember when I got them, but I held on to them for a while before finally downloading to my device.
The story is all about Isaac, a young man, in the land of Agalmath. After discovering his family and the family of his closest friend have gone missing, they decide to go find them, thinking their working in the fields. Sadly, they were not, thus kicking off an adventure that drops both men dead center into a battle of biblical proportions. Here’s my take on The Whispers of the Fallen by J. D. Netto . #element-dc56c1af-ed51-4f44-959e-ffd960181c94 .waddons-blog-image.hideImage { display: none;}
The Whispers of the Fallen is Netto’s take on Lucifer’s fall from Heaven, during the days of creation by God (The Creator) himself. Supposedly there was a diary, written by the fallen angel, himself, that was hidden from all of creation - including humans - but hidden amongst them. The novel tells of Isaac’s realizations and how the world really works. He finds out there are demons, and other terrible creatures that are nothing but puppets in the wrong hands, set to destroy anything that has life.
He’s given a choice that will set his feet upon a path that will help those figured to have given up on humanity and any sort of good, but against those who’ve always known hate and evil towards those who oppose them. Oh, and humans alike. Can Isaac develop hidden skills and do his part to save the world, and any sort of life left on the face of the earth or in Heaven? I mean Elysium or Tristar...
Okay, first off, no matter how its spun, it’s a take on God against The Devil, Good -v- Evil, Heaven and Earth against Lucifer and his minions from down below. It’s just set in a different time and the story’s been enhanced to sound really cool and interesting. But it didn’t work for me.
I have a couple reasons I wasn't happy with The Whispers of The Fallen, but I will only share a few: (1) This book is not written in a way that feels natural. It's overly proper and unlike any people I've listened to. (2) It’s missing a great deal of detail. Much of the action simply happened. (Share, Don’t Say), and (3) It was so fast-paced that it missed the mark- refer to reasons 1 & 2.
To begin, The Whispers of the Fallen is simply written, yet felt forced. Netto wrote with the characters speaking so formal. They used no contractions, slang or farmer’s terminology. Isaac was best friends with Demetre- they grew up together, yet they were emotionless with one another; they didn’t even laugh or joke about! They were so without familiarity, snark or bluntness, honestly, I felt they were made of cardboard. Unreal.
Secondly, is an issue many author’s suffer through, but with a great editor and Beta Readers, it can be prevented. All of the characters were without detailed activity, here were barely any shared thought, so the book was filled, cover to cover, with actionless action! How is that in a book about demon attacks and sword play? Even the battles were off!
For example, there’s a scene early on where Isaac and two companions are battling against flying, carnivorous beasts. Everything happened with such an abruptness, I was left confused. I reread the scene, and found the actual battle missing! I coudln’t imagine what was happening because there was no description! Everything was told in a dead narrative. If I no sword parry or leg swipes to envision, I can’t see the fight. And to prove I’m not being mean, I added an image. That’s not the only time either- it’s like this throughout the entire book!
Lastly, the book missed the mark due to lack of realism 'in a fictional world', with overly formal dialogue and inadequate information in order to see the world through the author’s eyes. I’m probably going to give this one two or three stars, I don’t know yet. I’m going to use some contractions to share how I ended up feeling: I couldn’t connect with the characters; I couldn’t see the world I was plunged in to. I didn’t like the flow of the story or it’s lack of pronouns. And because of my difficulty in reading, I won’t continue with this series.
There you have it, and there you are, ladies and gentlemen. The Whispers of the Fallen shall remain silent, as far as I’m concerned. Moving on to the next read. Cheers, mates!
The Whispers of the Fallen
Book 1 of 4 in the The Whispers of the Fallen series
Written by J. D. Netto
Published by Untreed Reads Publishing
Kindle Edition
Released August 2013
333-pages
by J. D. Netto
This book released in 2013, kicking off a series that seemed to strike home with many followers and fans. I wanted to purchase the books and dive in, but I decided to go with the Kindle versions instead. I don’t remember when I got them, but I held on to them for a while before finally downloading to my device. The story is all about Isaac, a young man, in the land of Agalmath. After discovering his family and the family of his closest friend have gone missing, they decide to go find them, thinking their working in the fields. Sadly, they were not, thus kicking off an adventure that drops both men dead center into a battle of biblical proportions. Here’s my take on The Whispers of the Fallen by J. D. Netto . #element-dc56c1af-ed51-4f44-959e-ffd960181c94 .waddons-blog-image.hideImage { display: none;}
The Whispers of the Fallen is Netto’s take on Lucifer’s fall from Heaven, during the days of creation by God (The Creator) himself. Supposedly there was a diary, written by the fallen angel, himself, that was hidden from all of creation - including humans - but hidden amongst them. The novel tells of Isaac’s realizations and how the world really works. He finds out there are demons, and other terrible creatures that are nothing but puppets in the wrong hands, set to destroy anything that has life. He’s given a choice that will set his feet upon a path that will help those figured to have given up on humanity and any sort of good, but against those who’ve always known hate and evil towards those who oppose them. Oh, and humans alike. Can Isaac develop hidden skills and do his part to save the world, and any sort of life left on the face of the earth or in Heaven? I mean Elysium or Tristar...
Okay, first off, no matter how its spun, it’s a take on God against The Devil, Good -v- Evil, Heaven and Earth against Lucifer and his minions from down below. It’s just set in a different time and the story’s been enhanced to sound really cool and interesting. But it didn’t work for me.
I have a couple reasons I wasn't happy with The Whispers of The Fallen, but I will only share a few: (1) This book is not written in a way that feels natural. It's overly proper and unlike any people I've listened to. (2) It’s missing a great deal of detail. Much of the action simply happened. (Share, Don’t Say), and (3) It was so fast-paced that it missed the mark- refer to reasons 1 & 2.
To begin, The Whispers of the Fallen is simply written, yet felt forced. Netto wrote with the characters speaking so formal. They used no contractions, slang or farmer’s terminology. Isaac was best friends with Demetre- they grew up together, yet they were emotionless with one another; they didn’t even laugh or joke about! They were so without familiarity, snark or bluntness, honestly, I felt they were made of cardboard. Unreal.
Secondly, is an issue many author’s suffer through, but with a great editor and Beta Readers, it can be prevented. All of the characters were without detailed activity, here were barely any shared thought, so the book was filled, cover to cover, with actionless action! How is that in a book about demon attacks and sword play? Even the battles were off!
For example, there’s a scene early on where Isaac and two companions are battling against flying, carnivorous beasts. Everything happened with such an abruptness, I was left confused. I reread the scene, and found the actual battle missing! I coudln’t imagine what was happening because there was no description! Everything was told in a dead narrative. If I no sword parry or leg swipes to envision, I can’t see the fight. And to prove I’m not being mean, I added an image. That’s not the only time either- it’s like this throughout the entire book! Lastly, the book missed the mark due to lack of realism 'in a fictional world', with overly formal dialogue and inadequate information in order to see the world through the author’s eyes. I’m probably going to give this one two or three stars, I don’t know yet. I’m going to use some contractions to share how I ended up feeling: I couldn’t connect with the characters; I couldn’t see the world I was plunged in to. I didn’t like the flow of the story or it’s lack of pronouns. And because of my difficulty in reading, I won’t continue with this series.
There you have it, and there you are, ladies and gentlemen. The Whispers of the Fallen shall remain silent, as far as I’m concerned. Moving on to the next read. Cheers, mates!
The Whispers of the Fallen
Book 1 of 4 in the The Whispers of the Fallen series
Written by J. D. Netto
Published by Untreed Reads Publishing
Kindle Edition
Released August 2013
333-pages
June 12, 2019
The Ruin of Kings
A Book/Audiobook Review written by
Jenn Lyons
Narrated by Feador Chin, Vikas Adam and Soneela Nankani
Because I'm on the listing of so many publishers, I constantly receive emails sharing upcoming books and their amazing covers. When I spotted The Ruin of Kings, by Jennifer Lyons, I knew I wanted to own it. I had to have it on my bookshelf. Sadly, they only gave away paperbacks, so the true treasure is lost, but the fantasy, the adventure, it is mine in both paper and audio form.
The best part: it's not only eye candy. This book is filled with a few lifetimes of mystery, revenge and royal pains and conspiracies. See what I thought of this epic tale. #element-fdd5a0ba-5388-4a85-80ee-9b64248a318b .waddons-blog-image.hideImage { display: none;}
The Ruin of Kings is a saga of exploration, spanning a running time of 27 hours and 15 minutes! The book tells of a story passed between a prisoner and a jailer. They reminisce past events that brought about the Burning of the Capital. This event was life changing for the entire world, and though Kihrin, the prisoner, doesn't wish to go back through the events, he does, with his own chapters. Now the jailer, Talon, gives her side, during story time, but what's even crazier is there's another who's telling the story of the telling the jailer and the prisoner are telling! His name is Thurvishar. Sound crazy? It is, but it's excellent, even with its bits of confusion intermingled.
The Ruin of Kings grabbed me the moment I received the book in the mail. If I recall correctly, I got it through a lottery- I win a lot through publisher lotteries. Lyons knows how to tell a story. She created a fantasy world, races, magic, dragons, and the ability to live lives in new bodies, over and over. What's even better is that this is Jenn Lyons's first fantasy; I'd love to create this great!
Now my review is based on the audiobook, but I have both. I got the book free, but it's a biggin, so I figured I'd grab the audio to listen to while driving and house chores. I'm glad I did because the book is literally a day long! LOL Seriously, but I'm glad I did. The characters, with whom (or is it who?) I developed close relationships, came to life. They were all either likable, disgusting and upsetting, which means Lyons did her job well. I found I couldn't stop listening, so I ended up having to be honest and make it an audiobook review instead of book.
I can't say enough how much fun this book was. It carried everything I love in fantasy, especially dragons! But because I'm a simple gal, I can't deny that I did become confused a time or two. I can't exactly say why, because I'm thinking it was supposed to be that way. But if you grab The Ruin of Kings, you'll love and understand why this is the ONLY negative of the book's entirety. It's an excellent adventure.
So check it out if you can. Oh- below is a clip of the introduction to the story, in the voice of Thurvishar himself. Check it out while I move on to the next read. Cheers!
The Ruin of Kings
A Chorus of Dragons, Book 1
Written by Jean Lyons
Narrated by Feodor Chin, Vikas Adam and Soneela Nankani
Published by Tor Books
and MacMillan Audio
Released February 2019
Jenn Lyons
Narrated by Feador Chin, Vikas Adam and Soneela Nankani
Because I'm on the listing of so many publishers, I constantly receive emails sharing upcoming books and their amazing covers. When I spotted The Ruin of Kings, by Jennifer Lyons, I knew I wanted to own it. I had to have it on my bookshelf. Sadly, they only gave away paperbacks, so the true treasure is lost, but the fantasy, the adventure, it is mine in both paper and audio form. The best part: it's not only eye candy. This book is filled with a few lifetimes of mystery, revenge and royal pains and conspiracies. See what I thought of this epic tale. #element-fdd5a0ba-5388-4a85-80ee-9b64248a318b .waddons-blog-image.hideImage { display: none;}
The Ruin of Kings is a saga of exploration, spanning a running time of 27 hours and 15 minutes! The book tells of a story passed between a prisoner and a jailer. They reminisce past events that brought about the Burning of the Capital. This event was life changing for the entire world, and though Kihrin, the prisoner, doesn't wish to go back through the events, he does, with his own chapters. Now the jailer, Talon, gives her side, during story time, but what's even crazier is there's another who's telling the story of the telling the jailer and the prisoner are telling! His name is Thurvishar. Sound crazy? It is, but it's excellent, even with its bits of confusion intermingled. The Ruin of Kings grabbed me the moment I received the book in the mail. If I recall correctly, I got it through a lottery- I win a lot through publisher lotteries. Lyons knows how to tell a story. She created a fantasy world, races, magic, dragons, and the ability to live lives in new bodies, over and over. What's even better is that this is Jenn Lyons's first fantasy; I'd love to create this great!
Now my review is based on the audiobook, but I have both. I got the book free, but it's a biggin, so I figured I'd grab the audio to listen to while driving and house chores. I'm glad I did because the book is literally a day long! LOL Seriously, but I'm glad I did. The characters, with whom (or is it who?) I developed close relationships, came to life. They were all either likable, disgusting and upsetting, which means Lyons did her job well. I found I couldn't stop listening, so I ended up having to be honest and make it an audiobook review instead of book.
I can't say enough how much fun this book was. It carried everything I love in fantasy, especially dragons! But because I'm a simple gal, I can't deny that I did become confused a time or two. I can't exactly say why, because I'm thinking it was supposed to be that way. But if you grab The Ruin of Kings, you'll love and understand why this is the ONLY negative of the book's entirety. It's an excellent adventure.
So check it out if you can. Oh- below is a clip of the introduction to the story, in the voice of Thurvishar himself. Check it out while I move on to the next read. Cheers!
The Ruin of Kings
A Chorus of Dragons, Book 1
Written by Jean Lyons
Narrated by Feodor Chin, Vikas Adam and Soneela Nankani
Published by Tor Books
and MacMillan Audio
Released February 2019
June 11, 2019
Atomic Marriage
An Audible Original written by
Curtis Sittenfeld &
Narrated by Diane Lane
Anyone who wants a happy marriage has to know it’s not something to casually slip into. It takes responsibility, dedication, and- honestly, I can't go through what a marriage takes to survive, because it’s different for every couple. There's a base covenant, but values differ and that's what can make two worlds colliding difficult.
Atomic Marriage, by Curtis Sittenfeld, shares how Brock Lewis’s ideas on how to sustain a productive, rooted in Christ, 12-point plan of marriage strikes Hollywood broker, Heather Thiesen. Can she prove Lewis is a bigoted fake, while still convincing him to allow her company to make his movie in to a huge production, while saving her own marriage? #element-722c3232-8bbd-416e-9403-441a3555ea79 .waddons-blog-image.hideImage { display: none;}
Atomic Marriage is about sixty minutes of somewhat childish, adult humor on married life. It’s not a comedy or even out-right, “Ha-ha” funny, but it’s definitely one where you'll find yourself chuckling. I liked the story, but I did not like the protagonist.
To me, Hatcher was projecting her pretentiousness onto Lewis. And she was so freaking full of herself that I'd hoped she wound up humiliated. And then in the end... Oops! I can’t say what happened, because that would be giving away SPOILERS! Even though she irritated me, I loved how things began to change about her and her views on her marriage, as well as herself. That’s what a good story is all about, even if the main character doesn’t realize it.
Because the story is less than an hour long, I can’t make a long review for Atomic Marriage. The story covers a few issues that may or may not be sensitive to PC people. Heck, it may not offend, but know that with Lewis carrying a strict, religious view, the story may cause you to want to develop a callous. I don't think you will, because it's not long enough, but I'm just saying: be warned. Leave preconceived notions at the book's cover, you won't be able to figure this one out, unless you're reading it. And that’s all I've got to say about that. You'll like it, though there were a few untied ends that I'd have loved to have seen concluded. Lol
So grab Atomic Marriage- see if Sittenfeld is an author you could get with. I’m off to the next read. Cheers!
Atomic Marriage
Written by Curtis Sittenfeld
Narrated by Diane Lane
An Audible Original
Released January 2019
Runtime 58 minutes
Curtis Sittenfeld &
Narrated by Diane Lane
Anyone who wants a happy marriage has to know it’s not something to casually slip into. It takes responsibility, dedication, and- honestly, I can't go through what a marriage takes to survive, because it’s different for every couple. There's a base covenant, but values differ and that's what can make two worlds colliding difficult.Atomic Marriage, by Curtis Sittenfeld, shares how Brock Lewis’s ideas on how to sustain a productive, rooted in Christ, 12-point plan of marriage strikes Hollywood broker, Heather Thiesen. Can she prove Lewis is a bigoted fake, while still convincing him to allow her company to make his movie in to a huge production, while saving her own marriage? #element-722c3232-8bbd-416e-9403-441a3555ea79 .waddons-blog-image.hideImage { display: none;}
Atomic Marriage is about sixty minutes of somewhat childish, adult humor on married life. It’s not a comedy or even out-right, “Ha-ha” funny, but it’s definitely one where you'll find yourself chuckling. I liked the story, but I did not like the protagonist. To me, Hatcher was projecting her pretentiousness onto Lewis. And she was so freaking full of herself that I'd hoped she wound up humiliated. And then in the end... Oops! I can’t say what happened, because that would be giving away SPOILERS! Even though she irritated me, I loved how things began to change about her and her views on her marriage, as well as herself. That’s what a good story is all about, even if the main character doesn’t realize it.
Because the story is less than an hour long, I can’t make a long review for Atomic Marriage. The story covers a few issues that may or may not be sensitive to PC people. Heck, it may not offend, but know that with Lewis carrying a strict, religious view, the story may cause you to want to develop a callous. I don't think you will, because it's not long enough, but I'm just saying: be warned. Leave preconceived notions at the book's cover, you won't be able to figure this one out, unless you're reading it. And that’s all I've got to say about that. You'll like it, though there were a few untied ends that I'd have loved to have seen concluded. Lol
So grab Atomic Marriage- see if Sittenfeld is an author you could get with. I’m off to the next read. Cheers!
Atomic Marriage
Written by Curtis Sittenfeld
Narrated by Diane Lane
An Audible Original
Released January 2019
Runtime 58 minutes
June 10, 2019
Abandon
Novel by Blake Crouch 
I'd recently reconsidered joining Kindle Unlimited, thanks to many authors using the service themselves. I'm one where, when I get a book, if I wish to keep it, I don't want to have to worry about whether it will be taken back or not. I'm a buyer, not a borrower. So when I found Abandon, by Blake Crouch, and found I could also have the audiobook, via KU, so I downloaded it.
Abandon is my second review by Crouch. Did I like it enough to keep the KU benefits...? #element-bb61c4cb-45f2-453c-a48e-e2f4830b3e4c .waddons-blog-image.hideImage { display: none;}
Well, unfortunately for me, KU didn't work out so well and I left them high and dry... again. I couldn't get the audiobook to during the times when I was housekeeping or driving about. I felt duped, so I got rid of the service, but I finished Abandon first.
This wasn't my first Crouch rodeo, as previously stated. A while back I won a free ARC of Dark Matter - an EXCELLENT read without exaggeration! The book was fast-paced and full of fun action and sci-fi. So when I nabbed Abandon, I was looking for something of the same magnitude by the author.
Abandon was previously named Hope, by prospectors and miners during the 1800's, but on a blistering, winter night, every man, woman, and child vanished without a trace. No one ever found a clue, thus the area was 'abandoned'. It was left alone to crumble, even protected, allowing visitors only by way of a license or permit. But in 2008, Abigail, along with her father and a few ghost hunters decided to climb up and down mountains and through wooded area, into the town, to see what they can find. Unknowing to them, a game of cat and mouse was afoot, placing lives in danger and secrets to rise to the surface from both the past and current day.
Because I loved my first Crouch read, I don't want to be too harsh, but Abandon sucked. Don't get me wrong, the writing was great and the characters in both past and present were crafted well done, I just didn't like the story. I felt I was cheated out of a good mystery and haunt. I can't tell you why, but this book is not what it presents itself to be.
Also, unless it really brings the reader closer to the reasoning behind it all, the jumping back and forth in time is really a pain in the butt! I was left with nothing. That's just me though- maybe someone else loved it completely, rating it five stars all the way. But for me, I was left unhappy. This doesn't turn me off of Blake Crouch, just this book.
What I can say is that I totally love the cover. It's in the image itself- it's like it's real but it isn't, you know. I made a book video to go along with my review on social media, so I've studied the image for a while. It's 3D or something, I don't know, but it's perfect for the book. It carries the story's story, it represents and it makes you hunger for what's taking place. Too bad I didn't get my fill.
Check it out for yourself. Maybe you'll like it. Maybe you won't. Let me know what you think of Abandon, either way, on my media. Cheers!
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Abandon
Written by Blake Crouch
Published by Thomas & Mercer
521-pages
Released September 2015
I'd recently reconsidered joining Kindle Unlimited, thanks to many authors using the service themselves. I'm one where, when I get a book, if I wish to keep it, I don't want to have to worry about whether it will be taken back or not. I'm a buyer, not a borrower. So when I found Abandon, by Blake Crouch, and found I could also have the audiobook, via KU, so I downloaded it.Abandon is my second review by Crouch. Did I like it enough to keep the KU benefits...? #element-bb61c4cb-45f2-453c-a48e-e2f4830b3e4c .waddons-blog-image.hideImage { display: none;}
Well, unfortunately for me, KU didn't work out so well and I left them high and dry... again. I couldn't get the audiobook to during the times when I was housekeeping or driving about. I felt duped, so I got rid of the service, but I finished Abandon first.This wasn't my first Crouch rodeo, as previously stated. A while back I won a free ARC of Dark Matter - an EXCELLENT read without exaggeration! The book was fast-paced and full of fun action and sci-fi. So when I nabbed Abandon, I was looking for something of the same magnitude by the author.
Abandon was previously named Hope, by prospectors and miners during the 1800's, but on a blistering, winter night, every man, woman, and child vanished without a trace. No one ever found a clue, thus the area was 'abandoned'. It was left alone to crumble, even protected, allowing visitors only by way of a license or permit. But in 2008, Abigail, along with her father and a few ghost hunters decided to climb up and down mountains and through wooded area, into the town, to see what they can find. Unknowing to them, a game of cat and mouse was afoot, placing lives in danger and secrets to rise to the surface from both the past and current day.
Because I loved my first Crouch read, I don't want to be too harsh, but Abandon sucked. Don't get me wrong, the writing was great and the characters in both past and present were crafted well done, I just didn't like the story. I felt I was cheated out of a good mystery and haunt. I can't tell you why, but this book is not what it presents itself to be.
Also, unless it really brings the reader closer to the reasoning behind it all, the jumping back and forth in time is really a pain in the butt! I was left with nothing. That's just me though- maybe someone else loved it completely, rating it five stars all the way. But for me, I was left unhappy. This doesn't turn me off of Blake Crouch, just this book.
What I can say is that I totally love the cover. It's in the image itself- it's like it's real but it isn't, you know. I made a book video to go along with my review on social media, so I've studied the image for a while. It's 3D or something, I don't know, but it's perfect for the book. It carries the story's story, it represents and it makes you hunger for what's taking place. Too bad I didn't get my fill.
Check it out for yourself. Maybe you'll like it. Maybe you won't. Let me know what you think of Abandon, either way, on my media. Cheers!
#wsite-video-container-589053308383898989{ background: url(//www.weebly.com/uploads/b/14113447-183... } #video-iframe-589053308383898989{ background: url(//cdn2.editmysite.com/images/util/video... } #wsite-video-container-589053308383898989, #video-iframe-589053308383898989{ background-repeat: no-repeat; background-position:center; } @media only screen and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2), only screen and ( min-device-pixel-ratio: 2), only screen and ( min-resolution: 192dpi), only screen and ( min-resolution: 2dppx) { #video-iframe-589053308383898989{ background: url(//cdn2.editmysite.com/images/util/video... background-repeat: no-repeat; background-position:center; background-size: 70px 70px; } }
Abandon
Written by Blake Crouch
Published by Thomas & Mercer
521-pages
Released September 2015
June 5, 2019
An Extraordinary Haunting, part 1
I've read so many books, especially if I include audiobooks. When I came across An Extraordinary Haunting, I'd been shuffling through the ebooks on my Kindle library. It's funny, I collect ebooks just as much as physical ones, like loose change in a sofa. I have a lot of change. So I said to myself, I said, "Self, it's time to choose a book from your older stash." And so I did. I came across my first Michael Christopher Carter novel. What did I think? #element-16352eb5-20eb-4564-be0c-7672fb0a3fec .waddons-blog-image.hideImage { display: none;}
An Extraordinary Haunting is the story of confusion, awkwardness and... confusion. Oh, did I say that one already? Well, I repeated because it's true. I wanted to like this book but it was most difficult, in that it comes off as Carter's very first book. EVER.I don't know about you, but I usually don't like my hauntings un-haunted. The story's about a group of people tethered by ethereal circumstances, the likes of The Sixth Sense. The book gives you three separate locations:a college house, a local pub and a residence, but the occupants don't know. Why? Well almost all is revealed by the end of Part One of the story, but there seemed to be this infinite drag... so long it's unbelievable! I think I died and came back to haunt myself into reading it to the end- and the book's not even that long!
Let me explain in a kind way. An Extraordinary Haunting is filled with characters who didn't react the way real people would have. They continuous rationalizing made a crap-load of excuses for things that could have easily brought the story to the climactic middle pages ago. People purchased and lived in a house where they were afraid to walk down a hallway! One wouldn't even go to bed unless everyone else went or was accompanied by someone. I couldn't relate to them, and they were in Swansea! You know how much I love the U.K.!
Also, I'm assuming the book was edited and published by the author himself. Again, not being cruel, but there were so many errors, repetition, and sentences that made absolutely no sense, that it was fretful. It took me around ten days to finish, but it felt for freaking ever. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't get into this book. They were the longest 354-pages I've ever read and I carry no plans to bother with part 2. I already know what's going to happen, The End.
Lastly, I'm a book cover snob. I LOVE book covers and will buy a book just for the cover if it's gorgeous enough! An Extraordinary Haunting's cover irked me for this reason: It has three covers and none carried a sense of what the story's about! When I made the images for this review, I used the most interesting one- the flowing hair, but only because I had something to manipulate. The problem with many self-published authors (and I'm not bashing), is that many don't pay for a good cover. They don't research a good font, and they don't ask people for the truth. Your cover should be eye-candy. Okay, rant over.
So, on both Amazon and Goodreads, I scored An Extraordinary Haunting with three stars, and that's being nice. I feel the entire book should receive a professional make-over, before Part Two is released. We as readers should be kind in what we share in reviews, but author's should also be kind with what they put out- present chatterer included! I've gone over my own short stories, there's no shame! Next time, I hope Carter does the same. I feel as though he's got some potential for an extraordinary story; it's just not this one.
I'm off to the next read. Cheers!
An Extraordinary Haunting
Michael Christopher Carter
Published by Createspace/Amazon Digital
Services, LLC
Released August 2015
355-pages
June 4, 2019
The Dollmaker, presented by ALTER
A Short, Horror Film 
Jenna and Rick have lost their son. Unable to let go, Rick allows Jenna to do something macabre. Something so dark and desperate, the couple begin to lose themselves.
This is The Dollmaker, presented by ALTER. #element-9c925bca-e606-4916-bedf-928e52b8629c .waddons-blog-image.hideImage { display: none;}
I came across this short film totally by mistake, on YouTube. Now I’m subscribed and I won’t miss another flick.
This dollmaker grants wishes that should never be considered. You get what you want, but there are rules. Break them and you could lose someone or yourself. Sorta like Gremlins, yeah?
Independently made but professionally expressed, The Dollmaker is a mini-nightmare. It’s both taunting and horrific, flipping the viewer into a state of wonder. The Dollmaker is about ten minutes long and worth every second.
I’ve included the link so you can see for yourself how good it is. If you like them, subscribe!
Cheers!
The Dollmaker
Presented by ALTER
A Horror Short Film
Written by Matias Caruso
Directed by Al Lougher
Produced by Richard D’Angelo and Chloe Na
Starring Perri Lauren, Sean Meehan and Dan Berkey
Jenna and Rick have lost their son. Unable to let go, Rick allows Jenna to do something macabre. Something so dark and desperate, the couple begin to lose themselves. This is The Dollmaker, presented by ALTER. #element-9c925bca-e606-4916-bedf-928e52b8629c .waddons-blog-image.hideImage { display: none;}
I came across this short film totally by mistake, on YouTube. Now I’m subscribed and I won’t miss another flick. This dollmaker grants wishes that should never be considered. You get what you want, but there are rules. Break them and you could lose someone or yourself. Sorta like Gremlins, yeah?
Independently made but professionally expressed, The Dollmaker is a mini-nightmare. It’s both taunting and horrific, flipping the viewer into a state of wonder. The Dollmaker is about ten minutes long and worth every second.
I’ve included the link so you can see for yourself how good it is. If you like them, subscribe!
Cheers!
The Dollmaker
Presented by ALTER
A Horror Short Film
Written by Matias Caruso
Directed by Al Lougher
Produced by Richard D’Angelo and Chloe Na
Starring Perri Lauren, Sean Meehan and Dan Berkey
Godzilla 2: King of the Monsters
A Monster of a Movie Review 
So the world is nothing familiar. It's changed on a grand scale, with the planet existing with the acceptance of monsters. Not people monsters, but real monsters who easily decimate cities within minutes upon arrival. But most were hidden away, settled by nature and unseen. Now they’d been hunted and found. A cryptozoology company called Monarch.
Using new technology, and a mother’s emotionally charged desire for revenge, Jonah Alan determines to rule the world, in a sense. Together, he and Dr. Emma Russell plot to release the Titans, the world’s greatest creatures to take out Godzilla, King of the Monsters and mankind. #element-38b0a49b-4cc5-4834-9c9e-6aee6b3fee17 .waddons-blog-image.hideImage { display: none;}
Okay, so I’m sure you’ve already read the movie’s summary, so I’m going to get down to my version of the nitty gritty. I’ve been a Godzilla fan all my life. From various monsters, to the human interaction, to whether Godzilla is a Good Guy or a Bad one. It's always one of the two and regardless, you always end up cheering for him.
So my review of Godzilla 2 is both good and bad, but let's kick off with the good first. Nobody wants to read the negatives first, do they? Let me say this: People mess everything up. The mother, the father, the daughter-I understand a bit of drama is necessary in movies like this, but Godzilla's always been about the monster more than anything else, right? With these movies, there’s never time for sex, with a maybe a spot of drama, and in that order. So when they threw in what they threw in (because I'm not telling), I was lulled into a few catnaps. Not kidding- I dozed on Godzilla. But not on the good parts.
Everything military where they had to fight or help fight was cool but, the truth is Millie Bobbie Brown was unnecessary. If I could re-watch the movie, with all of her scenes deleted, I guarantee myself and you, it would be a much better show. Straight Talk.
The monsters were on point! I loved everything about them. Were some of the battles a little too long? Yup. But they gave the movie what it needed to be a fun monster flick, but from what I gather, a box office disaster. So what does that mean?
Godzilla 2 is an "okay" movie. I'd hoped for something more, but it was nostalgic and brought back some serious memories. I was even expecting Dr. Russell to open a briefcase containing two miniature Asians, singing "Mot-su rah!" to Mothra! LOL Sadly, they did not, friends. But the movie is worth the cost of matinee. So, now that I've given you what you need, go! Enjoy as much as you can. But please- don't pay full price! Oh, and check out my video- Cheers! Godzilla 2: King of the Monsters
Starred Charles Dance, Kyle Chandler, Vera Farmiga, Ken Watanabe, Aisha Hinds, O’Shea Jackson, Jr. and Millie Bobby Brown.
Written & Directed by Michael Dougherty
Released May #wsite-video-container-977006640886252630{ background: url(//www.weebly.com/uploads/b/14113447-183718740458099994/img_3388_785.jpg); } #video-iframe-977006640886252630{ background: url(//cdn2.editmysite.com/images/util/videojs/play-icon.png?1559598369); } #wsite-video-container-977006640886252630, #video-iframe-977006640886252630{ background-repeat: no-repeat; background-position:center; } @media only screen and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2), only screen and ( min-device-pixel-ratio: 2), only screen and ( min-resolution: 192dpi), only screen and ( min-resolution: 2dppx) { #video-iframe-977006640886252630{ background: url(//cdn2.editmysite.com/images/util/videojs/@2x/play-icon.png?1559598369); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-position:center; background-size: 70px 70px; } }
So the world is nothing familiar. It's changed on a grand scale, with the planet existing with the acceptance of monsters. Not people monsters, but real monsters who easily decimate cities within minutes upon arrival. But most were hidden away, settled by nature and unseen. Now they’d been hunted and found. A cryptozoology company called Monarch.Using new technology, and a mother’s emotionally charged desire for revenge, Jonah Alan determines to rule the world, in a sense. Together, he and Dr. Emma Russell plot to release the Titans, the world’s greatest creatures to take out Godzilla, King of the Monsters and mankind. #element-38b0a49b-4cc5-4834-9c9e-6aee6b3fee17 .waddons-blog-image.hideImage { display: none;}
Okay, so I’m sure you’ve already read the movie’s summary, so I’m going to get down to my version of the nitty gritty. I’ve been a Godzilla fan all my life. From various monsters, to the human interaction, to whether Godzilla is a Good Guy or a Bad one. It's always one of the two and regardless, you always end up cheering for him.So my review of Godzilla 2 is both good and bad, but let's kick off with the good first. Nobody wants to read the negatives first, do they? Let me say this: People mess everything up. The mother, the father, the daughter-I understand a bit of drama is necessary in movies like this, but Godzilla's always been about the monster more than anything else, right? With these movies, there’s never time for sex, with a maybe a spot of drama, and in that order. So when they threw in what they threw in (because I'm not telling), I was lulled into a few catnaps. Not kidding- I dozed on Godzilla. But not on the good parts.
Everything military where they had to fight or help fight was cool but, the truth is Millie Bobbie Brown was unnecessary. If I could re-watch the movie, with all of her scenes deleted, I guarantee myself and you, it would be a much better show. Straight Talk.
The monsters were on point! I loved everything about them. Were some of the battles a little too long? Yup. But they gave the movie what it needed to be a fun monster flick, but from what I gather, a box office disaster. So what does that mean?
Godzilla 2 is an "okay" movie. I'd hoped for something more, but it was nostalgic and brought back some serious memories. I was even expecting Dr. Russell to open a briefcase containing two miniature Asians, singing "Mot-su rah!" to Mothra! LOL Sadly, they did not, friends. But the movie is worth the cost of matinee. So, now that I've given you what you need, go! Enjoy as much as you can. But please- don't pay full price! Oh, and check out my video- Cheers! Godzilla 2: King of the Monsters
Starred Charles Dance, Kyle Chandler, Vera Farmiga, Ken Watanabe, Aisha Hinds, O’Shea Jackson, Jr. and Millie Bobby Brown.
Written & Directed by Michael Dougherty
Released May #wsite-video-container-977006640886252630{ background: url(//www.weebly.com/uploads/b/14113447-183718740458099994/img_3388_785.jpg); } #video-iframe-977006640886252630{ background: url(//cdn2.editmysite.com/images/util/videojs/play-icon.png?1559598369); } #wsite-video-container-977006640886252630, #video-iframe-977006640886252630{ background-repeat: no-repeat; background-position:center; } @media only screen and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2), only screen and ( min-device-pixel-ratio: 2), only screen and ( min-resolution: 192dpi), only screen and ( min-resolution: 2dppx) { #video-iframe-977006640886252630{ background: url(//cdn2.editmysite.com/images/util/videojs/@2x/play-icon.png?1559598369); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-position:center; background-size: 70px 70px; } }
