John Hennessy's Blog, page 10
November 2, 2013
Free Kindle copy of Dark Winter !!
24 hours only though
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dark-Winter-J...
All I ask if you get a copy is PLEASE let me know what you thought of it on GR and Amazon! Thank you!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dark-Winter-J...
All I ask if you get a copy is PLEASE let me know what you thought of it on GR and Amazon! Thank you!
October 31, 2013
October 30, 2013
October 24, 2013
October 23, 2013
Dark Winter: New Facebook Page
If you like the book, please 'like' and I will add more info to the page over time.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
Here's the facebook page:-
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dark-W...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
Here's the facebook page:-
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dark-W...
October 21, 2013
Cover Reveal: Dark Winter via Ashley of the Bookish Brunette !!
Okay, so you may have seen the cover floating around. A few other places doesn't hurt though, and Ashley's blog is one the best. And it is certainly the best if you are as crazy about zombies as team BB are!
http://www.bookish-brunette.com/cover...
You should really subscribe, unless you've done so already!
http://www.bookish-brunette.com/cover...
You should really subscribe, unless you've done so already!
October 16, 2013
Book Review: Waterfall (River of Time Series, 1) by Lisa T Bergren
Waterfall
You can't beat a great fantasy, and this series has all the makings of one. Our heroine, Gabi, is a real firebrand and yet you don't get the sense of the epicness of the story until you are some pages in.
When the story opens, we learn that Gabi's father was a much respected archeologist had died, but her mother continued with his work regardless, bringing both Gabi and her sister Lia along for the ride.
I like that the story starts with its base in Italy, a country I had the good fortune to visit in 2010. I loved the energy from the outset, with 5:00am starts being the norm for the two sisters to go out on digs with their mother.
As I was reading, I couldn't help but think of Indiana Jones or Lara Croft. That's no bad thing. I spent many enjoyable hours watching Raiders of the Lost Ark, and playing Tomb Raider for hours on end.
The great descriptions Miss Bergren uses dropped me straight over the shoulder of the trio when at an important site, and there's loads of those in a super old country like Italy.
So I felt immediately drawn in.
There is a huge MacGuffin at the start of the story and it's so big, I couldn't let on here, you'll just have to read it.
But suffice to say that Gabi's first encounter with Italy's past comes to face her, head on, literally.
We find ourselves back in time with Gabi seeing and experiencing at first hand how the ruins used to look, before they were actually ruins.
At this point I wondered where the story was going.
That's when I was happiest. This YA aimed book doesn't foist some hack handed dystopian world on you. Whilst that's no bad thing, there's been rather too much of it in YA for a while, so this acted like a breath of fresh air with its detailed historical perspective on things.
This is where the book is at its strongest, so I forgive certain things like that Gabi fights with much apparent ease. She is skilled in fencing, but that wouldn't necessarily translate to being a great swordfighter, much like practising Tai Chi forms wouldn't make you a super skilled martial artist that was ready for battle.
That wouldn't be so plausible, and yet, the story is told which such style and verve, it just carries you along.
I'm being picky of course. James Bond has had many situations where he could have been killed, but you buy it because it is 007 ! So whilst Waterfall has its flaws, I think it is leading to a much bigger story with scope I cannot yet imagine, and it is that which will make me read others in the Rivers of Time series.
Fun, fearless, cool, and different. My favourite fantasy book of 2013.
You can't beat a great fantasy, and this series has all the makings of one. Our heroine, Gabi, is a real firebrand and yet you don't get the sense of the epicness of the story until you are some pages in.
When the story opens, we learn that Gabi's father was a much respected archeologist had died, but her mother continued with his work regardless, bringing both Gabi and her sister Lia along for the ride.
I like that the story starts with its base in Italy, a country I had the good fortune to visit in 2010. I loved the energy from the outset, with 5:00am starts being the norm for the two sisters to go out on digs with their mother.
As I was reading, I couldn't help but think of Indiana Jones or Lara Croft. That's no bad thing. I spent many enjoyable hours watching Raiders of the Lost Ark, and playing Tomb Raider for hours on end.
The great descriptions Miss Bergren uses dropped me straight over the shoulder of the trio when at an important site, and there's loads of those in a super old country like Italy.
So I felt immediately drawn in.
There is a huge MacGuffin at the start of the story and it's so big, I couldn't let on here, you'll just have to read it.
But suffice to say that Gabi's first encounter with Italy's past comes to face her, head on, literally.
We find ourselves back in time with Gabi seeing and experiencing at first hand how the ruins used to look, before they were actually ruins.
At this point I wondered where the story was going.
That's when I was happiest. This YA aimed book doesn't foist some hack handed dystopian world on you. Whilst that's no bad thing, there's been rather too much of it in YA for a while, so this acted like a breath of fresh air with its detailed historical perspective on things.
This is where the book is at its strongest, so I forgive certain things like that Gabi fights with much apparent ease. She is skilled in fencing, but that wouldn't necessarily translate to being a great swordfighter, much like practising Tai Chi forms wouldn't make you a super skilled martial artist that was ready for battle.
That wouldn't be so plausible, and yet, the story is told which such style and verve, it just carries you along.
I'm being picky of course. James Bond has had many situations where he could have been killed, but you buy it because it is 007 ! So whilst Waterfall has its flaws, I think it is leading to a much bigger story with scope I cannot yet imagine, and it is that which will make me read others in the Rivers of Time series.
Fun, fearless, cool, and different. My favourite fantasy book of 2013.
October 15, 2013
Currently Reading: A Ravishing Redhead (Wedded Women, 2) by Jillian Eaton
This is a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining read. The author has a very lively writing style, and the characters are believable and well thought out.
The story revolves around Margaret (who detests being called by her title of Lady Winter, though in a very funny exchange her butler faux pas by calling her it aanyway) and Henry, her husband of rather questionable morals.
Spoiler: Henry knows that it is he who has made the Winter household a shambles. Genetics might enter into it, but at some point you have to accept that you make your own mistakes.
Margaret, for her part, does her best to keep the house going, and it's clear that whilst they didn't marry for love, there is a fondness between them.
You might think this is the kind of soppy romance that would turn some people off. I actually think it avoids that by having strong characters with a well thought out plot. If it ends the way I think it will, fine. But that's okay.
This is number two in a series. I've started on this one, because I had a former girlfriend who was a redhead. That may not be a great reason, but it's reason enough for me.
October 12, 2013
Book Review: A Bright Particular Star by Elizabeth Hanbury
This is the first book of Elizabeth Hanbury's that I've completed. I would have completed it sooner, only I started reading one of her other works, 'A Midsummer Eve at Rookery End', at the same time (yay for team ADHD!) but I'm getting more focussed now, honestly.
If you like strong heroines, this is the book for you. Sophie Deveraux is no weakling and her skillful, playful handling of Theo is a real joy to read, and to visualise.
It's much like a road trip in the Regency period. I started thinking about Thelma and Louise for a similar reason. But the story is really about what Sophie wants as opposed to what is expected of her, and it's refreshing that a woman like this would have existed in this period.
Many times a character (often male, often Theo) will say "What the deuce?" (this or that) and I find it gently funny - and refreshing, that we don't need expletives here.
Sometimes I think profanity is okay, but only in context. But it's a nice take on the frustrations the characters would have felt in this period.
To be a good writer, you have to observe other writers who are successful in their genre, and I'm taken aback - quite literally, how detailed everything is in this regency world we find ourselves in.
Sometimes, I think "too much detail, you should have left it to the reader's imagination", but in other ways, I think I should read it from the point of knowing nothing about regency romance (up until a week ago, I can say I definitely knew nothing).
As I mentioned on my 'currently reading' piece about this book, it's really quite delightful and I enjoyed every page.
Sophie is the perfect heroine and I understand this is perhaps not the only time we will see her.
I love to give five star reviews and will happily do so here. I'm still enjoying the author's other book that I have and will look forward to one more (when I've ordered it, sorry Elizabeth!).
Consider me a fan. I loved this book!
If you like strong heroines, this is the book for you. Sophie Deveraux is no weakling and her skillful, playful handling of Theo is a real joy to read, and to visualise.
It's much like a road trip in the Regency period. I started thinking about Thelma and Louise for a similar reason. But the story is really about what Sophie wants as opposed to what is expected of her, and it's refreshing that a woman like this would have existed in this period.
Many times a character (often male, often Theo) will say "What the deuce?" (this or that) and I find it gently funny - and refreshing, that we don't need expletives here.
Sometimes I think profanity is okay, but only in context. But it's a nice take on the frustrations the characters would have felt in this period.
To be a good writer, you have to observe other writers who are successful in their genre, and I'm taken aback - quite literally, how detailed everything is in this regency world we find ourselves in.
Sometimes, I think "too much detail, you should have left it to the reader's imagination", but in other ways, I think I should read it from the point of knowing nothing about regency romance (up until a week ago, I can say I definitely knew nothing).
As I mentioned on my 'currently reading' piece about this book, it's really quite delightful and I enjoyed every page.
Sophie is the perfect heroine and I understand this is perhaps not the only time we will see her.
I love to give five star reviews and will happily do so here. I'm still enjoying the author's other book that I have and will look forward to one more (when I've ordered it, sorry Elizabeth!).
Consider me a fan. I loved this book!
October 9, 2013
Book Review: AntiGoddess by Kendare Blake
Kendare Blake is one of the growing numbers of 'new' authors on my list. Having stuck with horror writers like Dean Koontz, Stephen King and Anne Rice, for years, it was Kendare's novel 'Anna Dressed in Blood' that grabbed me by the throat some months back. It was followed up by 'Girl of Nightmares', but to date, there is no third installment of 'Anna', so you can imagine my thoughts on approaching Antigoddess.
It was one of those books I found out about before it was out, so I pre-ordered it on Amazon, something I have never done before.
So, to the story. Well, it's about mythology, so was pretty far away from 'Anna Dressed in Blood,'. I wasn't expecting another horror story.
What we get, in fact, is a very intelligent twist on Greek legends, where the old Gods actually find they are not as immortal as they thought. The story builds up slowly, but you know something is going to kick off somewhere.
SPOILER ALERT
When the two 'goddesses' finally collide, the story shifts into high gear and the pace set in 'Anna' is kept up right until the end of the book.
END SPOILER
I can honestly say that I didn't see the ending coming in the way it did.
That's what makes a Kendare Blake book so satisfying. I kept hoping for Anna Korlov to pop up, somehow, but actually, I had to leave that world behind if I was going to enjoy this one.
I can bet that you'll enjoy it too.
This is the first book in a series, but it doesn't feel drawn out or stretched like some other stories, that may get tired quickly.
You can see the importance of the build up in the first 150 pages or so of the book, so don't expect loads of action at the start. It builds to a nice crescendo and the ending, as I said, is thunderingly satisfying.
Onto Book 2, then, when it is released.Antigoddess
It was one of those books I found out about before it was out, so I pre-ordered it on Amazon, something I have never done before.
So, to the story. Well, it's about mythology, so was pretty far away from 'Anna Dressed in Blood,'. I wasn't expecting another horror story.
What we get, in fact, is a very intelligent twist on Greek legends, where the old Gods actually find they are not as immortal as they thought. The story builds up slowly, but you know something is going to kick off somewhere.
SPOILER ALERT
When the two 'goddesses' finally collide, the story shifts into high gear and the pace set in 'Anna' is kept up right until the end of the book.
END SPOILER
I can honestly say that I didn't see the ending coming in the way it did.
That's what makes a Kendare Blake book so satisfying. I kept hoping for Anna Korlov to pop up, somehow, but actually, I had to leave that world behind if I was going to enjoy this one.
I can bet that you'll enjoy it too.
This is the first book in a series, but it doesn't feel drawn out or stretched like some other stories, that may get tired quickly.
You can see the importance of the build up in the first 150 pages or so of the book, so don't expect loads of action at the start. It builds to a nice crescendo and the ending, as I said, is thunderingly satisfying.
Onto Book 2, then, when it is released.Antigoddess
