A. Renee Hunt's Blog, page 77

Searching for Darkness by Leah Ward

     Searching for Darkness, by Leah Ward, is a story of discovery.  Literally.Edwin is special:  He's part of a legacy but he's totally and utterly oblivious to it.  That is, until he's attacked by things no-one else can see and has to hid behind shelter that literally wasn't there before.    He is told, by his caregiver that he has a gift, making him a Seer.  He's told the truth on where and why his parents died and an explanation to the gift he now has.  

     His parents were on a mission: to locate the Darkness, a book of unspeakable evil.  In the wrong hands, the world could be destroyed- the universe even!  So as most silly boys will, Edwin decides to run away from his adoptive home to go out and find the book too.  He has no skills in sword play and since he just obtained hisSeer power, he's pretty much on a quest with nothing.

     At first, I was irritated with Edwin.  His actions were rather impetuous- with him sneaking away the following morning after learning why his parents vanished.  To take up the mantle and run off in search of Darkness alone was insane!  I also thought his actions a bit accelerated, but it didn't ruin the story- more so, it made the story.  He started the journey ignorant and full of blind hope and ended with a bit of maturity that allowed me to grow to enjoy him.  Speaking of characters, Lena was the cute, hilarious sidekick that made the tale.  She turned out to be my favorite!  I have to admit, I loved the world Ward created and look forward to reading more from her.

Limbo, a Short Story by S. H. Livernois

     So here's a short, short story that's actually pretty good!  The way it reads is actually perfect; there's a loop for the reader that you have to follow.

       It's about a guy who wakes up, unsure of where and who he is for the briefest of moments.  Things eventually come back to him and he remembers why he's where he is... Only to learn a lesson.

​     It's a short story by S. H. Livernois, that's about 9 pages long, but this author did pretty well.  Check it out if you want a brief taste in terror.

Steam Panic by John Robert Mills

     Steam Panic, by John Robert Mills, is an ebook I found in the Kindle library.  It too was FREE and sadly, a bit of an upset.
Overview:  
In an unnamed gaslit city, awash with corruption and vice, the citizens submit to banality and acceptance of their lacklustre lives. A seemingly innocuous event marks the beginning of a long period of terror. A series of bloody incidents which follow, create a perfect climate in which fear can thrive. 

Journalist Alfred Hertzfeld, a man dedicated to the truth, is determined to uncover the real reason behind the bizarre hallucinations and subsequent carnage. But as he goes in search of the truth, he begins to wonder whether forces beyond the control of man might be responsible for the horror.

    The story is interesting, but it was a steampunk inspired, short story that read like The New Yorker.  I found myself bored and skipping paragraphs.  IN A Short Story!  That's bad.  Then the action that took place was pretty cool, but not enough for me.  

     I read this book in bed, before going to sleep.  According to my Kindle's read timer, I should have finished it in about thirty minutes, but it took me almost 90.  That's how I didn't find myself enjoying the story.  Some stories are great, well-put together reads, but this one was way too formal for what was taking place.  
On to the next read! 

Bulkhead Dead by Deborah Malone

     I looked up Deborah Malone and this lady comes highly accomplished. Along with being an American, Christian Fiction author, she's a winner of numerous awards, a freelance writer and photographer for a historic magazine.  When I received Bulkhead Dead, I thought- well the name is definitely misleading- being a horror lover and all.  I thought to myself, this sounds like it could be about killer fish in the backwoods of Louisiana!  Nah, but the mystery and action given in this tale will slay you!

​      So this  book is like Golden Girls meets  a Down South rendition of Friends!  There's a charm to the girls of Buckhead.  There's Honey (married into money & widowed twice) who thrives in non-stop gossiping and flaming red lipstick application.  And Ginger, the reformed exotic dancer with her... way with words and child-like behavior.  Skye has her hands full!

     When a client is murdered, Skye has to retrieve an item borrowed from her husband's antique warehouse from the crime scene.   Both she and Honey end up becoming prime suspects in the murder instead!  And to make  matters worse, there's a map, a possible treasure map, that may be authentic... but a few are looking for it and it could put the girls in danger.  So they come up with their own version of super sleuths , seeking the murderer and motive.    The problems are, Honey can't stop drooling over the hunky Detective who looks like Magnum P. I. or taking numbers from other eligible bachelors.  THEN Ginger can't prevent the girls from falling out of overly revealing tops and too short skirts to actually help solve their case!

     This book made me laugh, irked me (mostly Ginger) and brought on a mystery that was more than entertaining!  And wow can these women eat!  Every time they went out to question a suspect, Malone dropped the name of some famous, Georgia restaurant and what they ate.  I think I gained about 10 pounds reading the book!  It was also funny that Ginger used her desire to quit stripping as a handicap to annoy Skye and pull on Honey's sympathies.  It could have easily become redundant, but the story always took a turn that had you either gasping or laughing- the characters were so silly! 
     
     Because the story is Christian fiction, it was loaded with clean wingding and mystery.  Even the murders happened in a way that left you laughing- not even thinking someone died but 'How on earth did they escape that?'  Oh and Skye prayed a lot, but mostly because Honey and Ginger were driving her insane.  Grab yourself a copy of Buckhead Dead.  It's not very long but will have you searching for Malone's next read. 
Ratings: 

The Lost Boy: An Alternative Pan Short Story by David W. Moore, III

     I'm a huge fan of originality.  If someone creates a good story, I cling to the saying: "If it's not broke, leave it the heck alone!"  I have to admit though, this story is good.  Cher's a plus to The Last Boy: An Alternative Pan Short Story, by David W. Moore, III, and there's a negative.

     First, I have to talk about this book cover.  If you've been with me for the shortest of time, you know my feelings on a good book cover.  This cover says nothing about Peter Pan, the Lost Boys or even Captain Hook.  It says nothing about their childhood island or anything else that coincides with the fantasy tale.  Had it not been for the interesting synopsis, I probably would never have touched it.

     With the negative out of the way, here's the positive.  This changed my view of Peter Pan.  I'd always seen him as the original kid who came to be Peter.  Never had I once thought of him using profanity or any of the children actually being seriously injured or even killed!  This was a story like none I've read in this genre and I LOVED IT!  I can't tell you why because I'd be giving the entire premise of the tale and SPOILERS are a No-No.  I'm telling you, when you find out who the hero and the villain is, you will be like, "Wha?"

​     Check it out!  David W. Moore, III's awesome The Last Boy: An Alternative Pan Short Story!

Devlin's Door: Forests of the Fae by K. Kibble

     Growing up, I almost never wanted to be a fairy.  I wasn't that type of girl.  I didn't walk with my head in the clouds- are you kidding?  Why would I want to when I could ride atop a dragon or sword fight... as an Elven Warrior Princess!?  I was and am still a Tomboy, can you tell?

     I love fantasy and this book has it.  It's about a girl, Anne, who's been dropped into the prickled hands of her aunt, uncle and unloving cousin, Lexie, due to her parents both being committed to missionary work.  She's trapped with a family she barely knows and a cousin who sets her up for pain and humiliation in a town with nothing to do.

     So when she gets to visit a town, Nowhere Town, that's supposed to be haunted, she's all over it.  After being 'Punked' into entering an abandoned house in Nowhere Town, she stumbles across a book, a journal, that takes her on a fantastical journey.  With a girl who's been dead over 200 years.  Literally!
​     Devlin's Door: Forests of the Fae, by K. Kibble, was a change for me.  I was looking for the adventure as soon as I'd read the summary.  I even (Shhh, I won't say this too loud), purchased the book!  Yup, I took a chance and snagged up the Kindle version.  Ever since reading Jim Butcher's The Dresden Files, I've been all over the trickery of the Fae and I was really loving that this story carried a similar feel.  Now this book isn't the same, but the concept of the Changelings lulled me in.  
     Now the characters in this book annoyed the mess outta me!  I'm sorry, but it's so true!  Anne seemed to be a normal kid.  I've been in her shoes before but thankfully, my parents never shipped my brother and I off to a family of strangers.  We had two sets of grandparents to hang with, especially if their stay was extended.  But Lexie?  Come on- she was a nightmare for no apparent reason.  She didn't seem real to me.  If you're looking for an example, sorry.  I don't give out SPOILERS!  LOL  You'll have to read the story yourself.  Even the aunt and uncle were folks I couldn't relate to, but that's okay because it made the fantasy of the story more lovable.  Every time Anne left Nowhere Town, my mind pleaded for her next return.

     Everything that had to do with Nowhere Town, Onyx the crow and Grace was "Funderful!"  LOL  I've always wanted to use that word.  The thing, what led to the climax and off-sort of cliffhanger left me wanting.  What it did was leave me wondering if I want to move into book two or not.  I have to think about it.  The thing is, even with the ending, any reader would enjoy this tale.  All ages are welcome and nothing's too bad, scary or whatever you'd be concerned with as far as this YA.  

     So check out Devlin's Door: Forests of the Fae by K. Kibble and get in on the YA Action!  On to the next book!

Playing the Part by Jen Turano

     There's nothing better than a funny, book of romance that's not really about romance!  When I received the book, Playing the Part by Jen Turano, I examined the cover first; that's what I do. The rich red of the stage drapes, the wha- periwinkle of Lucetta's jacket- I loved.  It was easy on the eyes and held me captive.  Even her smirk, as though she knew something I didn't - the joy within the pages were for me.

     Two chapters into this book and the main character is already on the run from men.  A few men!  It's both hilarious and dangerous for Lucetta Plum's livelihood!  Her stepfather's gambled her away after trying to hand over her mother's home, while the owner of her current residence, Ms. Hart (a beloved friend) continuously tries to 'hook her up' with eligible bachelors!  All Lucetta wants is to be on stage with her fellow performers and stay a woman of her own right.  So to stay in control, she leaves New York.  

​      I am crazy about this book!  You know there's something about a story when you can sit down and before you know it, be 100 pages into the story, in one sitting!  That was me with this book Saturday morning.  From being chased by Geoffrey the goat (he hates dresses), having a cannon shot at you for trespassing, hiding out in a  supposedly haunted castle, to being proposed to just to throw another man off your trail- this book has fun written all over it.

     I also love that it carries Christian qualities without preaching to you.  Just thinking that God has a plan for you, and places obstacles in your life for another to help you overcome them is perfect.  The story is comedy, romance, mystery and more than excellent.  I finished the book in a couple days- which was easy to do since it's dimensions (5.4 X 8.4) allow the book to sit open softly without destroying the spine.  It's one of those paperbacks that's light, easy to hold and read.

     I'm telling you, you will love this book.  It's a gothically, hilarious advenventure!

F**king Through the Apocalypse by Jason Werbeloff

     Okay, so I've been honored to listen to this amazing series by Jason Werbeloff that's comprised of several short stories.  Each tale is of the apocalyptic, scientific or just plain crazy sort.  This is the second installment and I have to admit, I loved the first one more.

     I know, as a reviewer I have to deal with profanity and situations of the sexual sort, but this one carried one word that was repeated more than others... a word that's in the title.  

     To the left is the brief synopsis of the story and it's true, the world was ending in a handful of days.  Harold was trying to find a way to deal with his up-coming demise.  Alone, his wife had passed away a month prior and his son had gone long before, he had nothing to do but soak in his bitterness.  Until he decided to go outside, something he'd not done since his Fannie had died.

     Thas when he me someone who changed his last few days.  Together, he finds something in this person that causes him to say yes to a question he'd have commanded a no from before the end days.  From there, Harold ends up on an adventure, without ever leaving his home.  A weird adventure- a nasty adventure.

     I liked everything up to the part where they agreed to make the moves to use his home.  The dealings with knowing the end of the world was coming, it all seemed real.  The story is about thirty-seven (37) minutes long and not too bad.  I just wish there was more to make it a much better story.  On to the next story!

Disappointment

     So happy to be posting an ebook review for Nadia King!  I was fortunate enough to win first prize in her IG account's successful goal of 1K followers!  Cheers- It couldn't have happened to a better gal!  Okay, so I won a digital copy of her short story, Disappointment, a Koran bookmark, Finnish notebook and an Australian postcard.  I can't wait to receive them, but on to the story.

     Man, if I were depressed, I'd be as happy as Ronald McDonald about now.  Miriam is a young lady, walking a road called Teenager.  She's got issues with a disregardful mother (SHE's an entirely separate short story!),   she's not quite sure who her father is and she's mega-crushing on a guy in class, who she's ready to make a move on.  Doesn't sound so bad?  You should hear how her mother speaks to her- I had to look up what a Drongo was [Dumbass, idiot (Aussie slang)] .

     The thing is, Miriam doesn't carry a lot of confidence.  I felt pretty bad for her, especially when she was mimicking a girl she carried a bit of jealousy for.  To want to be someone else and attempt to take on their mannerisms is sorts sad, but we've all be there, right!?  So I won't say what takes place in the story, but it's short and sweet.  It pretty much, sums up a day in Miriam's life- but with all that happened, you know the girl's life story!

     Check it out- but you can only get it by visiting her website.  Jut click on her name, up there in the first paragraph, to find out all about Nadia and her work.  You'll enjoy it and learn a lot of Australian slang and stuff!  LOL  Enjoy while I'm off to another book!

A Safe Place With You by César L. Baquerizo

     A Safe Place With You is a book that truly let's you in to a world unvisited by most.  Unless you fit into the category of LGBTQI.  I didn't even know there was an "I" to add- so it's true, you learn something new!  (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning and Intersex)  Anyway, the author, César L. Baquerizo has done his homework.  He's also an open book, sharing the most intricate of experiences in his life, as well as the perspicacity of others.  

     The story, A Safe Place with You, is about Tomás.  He is gay and recently come "Out of the closet".  He also lives in Ecuador during a time when homosexuality is viewed as a mental illness and not a way of life.  His home is distraught and no one knows what to say, so they say nothing, which is an equivalent of anything harshly spoken.  While alone one afternoon, Tomás hears about neighborhood boy who'd committed suicide after trying to cope with being gay and loved by family.  This news announcement sends Tomás to the young man's house, where he breaks into the home and finds something so precious, so resplendent, he goes on a spiritual journey.

     Leaning totally on faith and knowledge, Tomás reads bibles, articles and clings tot he words of  people like Harvey Milk, Alan Turig and even Ellen Degeneres.  People who were open and honest about who they were and how they felt about life and where they'd stand on it all.  They inspired Tomás, but just as he was prepared to make a true stand, he's sent away.  To a place that also sees homosexuality as a disease, a sin and a side affect of issues such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.  This is where the story truly takes flight.
​      First, I must say, I struggled with the reading of this book.  Not because it was poorly written or because it was initially written in another language, then translated to be shared with the world.  No, nothing so simple in the scheme of things.  It worked at my conscience and my own faith.  The story gives the perspectives of everyone in it, yet distant enough to not show any favoritism towards any one character, other than Tomás.  With this detachment, I found myself angry at characters and totally not liking others.

     My issue was the book had two personalities.  In the beginning, it felt as if I was going to read like a documentary   It gives a lot of information and felt stringent- even when dealing with the characters of the story.  Yet, at other times, it felt the story attempting to immerse me within the story.  I couldn't truly form relationships with them from the style of writing.  I even found myself irritated with Sebastian, due to the lack of emotional development I truly feel could have brought this book to near perfection!  Don't get me wrong- I found an appreciation for the tale and will share its story with those I know and media friends.  

     In a Safe Place With You, I found insight and even more understanding on the need of tolerance for those of the LGBQTI community.  No matter who and what we are, we have to be kind, we have to show love and we have to seek out understanding.  On to the next book!