Harmony Kent's Blog, page 138
November 16, 2015
RRBC Pay it Forward Week! Welcome to J Dylan Yates!
RRBC Pay it Forward Week!
Hello everyone!
I am delighted today to host the first of two authors I will spotlight, promote, and propel this week as part of the RRBC Pay it Forward Week. Where blog hosts support one author per day, and don’t promote themselves or anyone else at all for that whole day. For more information, or to sign up for future Pay it Forward weeks, please click HERE. Okay, I’m sure you’re all dying to know more about my author of the day today …
A HUGE warm welcome to J Dylan Yates! Dylan is a supportive member of RRBC, as well as a talented lady! So, lets all please give Dylan as much support as we can today! 
THE BELIEF IN Angels, Dylan’s debut novel, was written over the course of many years while she attempted a number of BFA-related jobs, including: waitressing, teaching, corporate training, real estate, nursing, interior design, directing, acting, producing, parenting, library science and reluctant housewifery.
Prior to publication, THE BELIEF IN Angels won the Alexis Masters Scholarship for Spiritual Writing at the February 2012 San Francisco Writers Conference as well as a Los Angeles Book Festival Award.
THE BELIEF IN Angels
Growing up in her parents’ crazy hippie household on a tiny island off the coast of Boston, Jules’s imaginative sense of humor is the weapon she wields to dodge household chaos. But somewhere between routine discipline with horsewhips, gun-waving gambling debt collectors, and LSD-laced breakfast cereal adventures, traged
y strikes with the death of her younger brother—a blow from which Jules may never fully recover.Jules’ story alternates with that of her Grandfather Samuel, a man with a sad story of his o
wn. Samuel, once called Szaja, is an orthodox Jew who lived through the murderous Ukranian pogroms of the 1920s and the Majdanek Death Camp—but whose survival came at a price that’s haunted him for years.Meet Dylan on her website: https://www.jdylanyates.com
and on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jdylanyates
and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Authorjdylanyates
You can find her Amazon Author page here: http://www.amazon.com/J.-Dylan-Yates/e/B00HMD2K2Y/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1
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November 13, 2015
First Five Friday 12/11
When writing a novel, authors are advised to make the first five lines pop. These are what need to catch the reader’s attention from the get go. So, each Friday, I shall share with you the first five lines from a book that caught my attention, and then I’ll do a bit of show and tell, where I make up Five First Lines on the spot. Feel free to comment, and leave Five Lines of your own! If you have read a book where the opening lines impressed you, please do share! For any books I post on First Five Friday, you will find the UK Amazon link in the title link, and the US Amazon link by clicking on the book cover.
Last time, we looked at First Five Lines from Michael Lynes. This week we have the opening lines from Diary of a Christian Woman: How I used 50 Shades of Grey to Spice up my Marriage by author Rebecca Reilly.
My name is Phoebe. I married George in 1994. It feels cliche describing him by his job as an accountant, but that’s who he is. Cliches are cliches for a reason. George is fussy about details, extremely conscientious, and he gets more excited over commercials on the golf channel than at the thought of taking an exotic vacation with me.
These opening lines lay it all out for you. The final line of the five shows the state of their marriage so succinctly with the description of George and his delight with the golf channel! I love it. The rest of the book lived up to the promise of these lines, and continued the beautiful levity. I like, too, how the first lines are short and lead into longer lines as the writer pulls the reader in. I want to know more about Phoebe and George, about their world, and how they work through their obvious difficulties.
The best books lure you inside, and then slam the door shut behind you.
Okay, time for me to write Five First Lines for today:
Why would someone unbury a dead body? More to the point, why would they bury the shovel? The shallow grave means the digger could easily have been a male or a female. The main question right now, though, is whether the burier is the same person as the exhumer. I wish I could be certain the corpse didn’t unbury itself, but I’ve learned better.
Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to come lurk in my lair next Friday, where we’ll have more Five First Lines!
Find Harmony’s books on Amazon UK and Amazon US
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November 12, 2015
Where Tomorrow Waits
Where Tomorrow Waits
BY DINA KA
Historical/Biographical Fiction
Reviewed on behalf of The Review Board by Harmony Kent.
I received a free PDF copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
In this book, the author tells a difficult story of a young girl thrown into adulthood far too young. Set in Cambodia, pre/during/post Khmer Rouge, it shows us all the horrors of war in gripping clarity.
The narrative is told in the first person, and is utterly believable. If you’re looking for an easy read, this is not the book for you. At a little over 400 pages, it is a lengthy read—yet every page gives you something to think about. We are shown rape, murder, genocide, and pain and suffering in all its many guises. We also discover courage, compassion, and the utmost bravery in the simplest of acts.
Even before the war, life for Dara was not all that it seemed, and some of these secrets haunt her all the way to a new life in a new country. Will Dara ever be able to face her inner demons? Or will they prove to be one straw too many?
Told through the eyes of a young girl, and then a teenager, it feels authentic throughout and shows the ordinary insecurities and self-doubt that we all go through as we search for our identity. These normal teenage troubles are then compounded by events far outside of Dara’s control, and at many points in the book I just wanted to give her a huge hug. Bravo to the author for making her so real—so human.
Despite going through the care and attention of an editor and proofreader, things have been missed, and the narrative would benefit from another go-round. Overuse of delaying devices such as ‘began to’ and ‘started to’ pepper the text, as does unnecessary usage of ‘own’. Spelling errors and punctuation hiccups are also frequent enough to merit a mention. All of this mars what would have been a top-star book for me.
Although a harrowing read much of the time, I found it a rewarding one with a well-rounded ending that tied all the many threads together. I give it 8 out of 10 TRB stars, which equates to 4 out of 5 stars on other rating scales. If you are drawn to historical or biographical fiction, then this is a book you will want to read.
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November 8, 2015
There is a Reaper
There is a Reaper by Michael Lynes
5 Stars
There is a Reaper is a book about a five-year-old boy who develops JCML–an aggressive form of juvenile leukemia. But more than that, it is about his spirit. I discovered this author and this book from a blog tour, and then on a book club website, and from its title I knew this would not be an easy read. However, it was a rewarding one. I am so glad I bought this book and bumped it right up my To Be Read list.
Full of beautiful prose throughout, it offers a deep and insightful look into life, death, and the journey in between. The author is obviously well read, and this shows through wonderfully within his writing. Written mostly from the point of view of the father, the book also includes moving sections written from Mom’s perspective. If you’re looking for a book about this illness with an A-Z of treatments, you won’t find those within these pages; what you will find is a the celebration of a life and the love of a family.
I am humbled and inspired by the way Christopher’s brothers and parents handled this crisis, and how it drew them closer together where so many families are torn apart. This is a must read for everyone, but most especially for those who have suffered the pain of loss. The writing is honest and full of rich imagery. This is a book that offers hope, even in the face of defeat. I highly recommend this book.
Click on the book cover image to go to Amazon UK and find out more about this book.
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November 6, 2015
First Five Friday 6/11
When writing a novel, authors are advised to make the first five lines pop. These are what need to catch the reader’s attention from the get go. So, each Friday, I shall share with you the first five lines from a book that caught my attention, and then I’ll do a bit of show and tell, where I make up Five First Lines on the spot. Feel free to comment, and leave Five Lines of your own! If you have read a book where the opening lines impressed you, please do share! For any books I post on First Five Friday, you will find the UK Amazon link in the title link, and the US Amazon link by clicking on the book cover.
Last time, we looked at First Five Lines from Sibel Hodge. This week we have the opening lines from There is a Reaper: Losing a Child to Cancer by author Michael Lynes.
I don’t know why I’m writing this; it will likely never be read by any other person. I am doing it entirely for myself, in memoriam of a life well lived, a son sorely missed and greatly mourned. Some would say his life was too short, or that he never had a chance … oh what might have been … I say he lived his life as fully as any man woman or child on this Earth. It was his life, and it was complete, and it was perfect.
These opening lines strike me as deeply personal, and I feel an immediate connection with the narrator. Already, before he has even introduced me to his child or family, I feel like I know them, and I want it all to be okay, even though I know from just the title alone that it isn’t going to be. These first lines are engaging, honest, and flow beautifully. I want to read more.
The best books lure you inside, and then slam the door shut behind you.
Okay, time for me to write Five First Lines for today:
‘I don’t do Halloween.’
‘Of course you do–everyone does Halloween.’
‘I don’t do Halloween.’
‘How screwed up are you?’
‘You’re about to find out, honey.’
Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to come lurk in my lair next Friday, where we’ll have more Five First Lines!
Find Harmony’s books on Amazon UK and Amazon US
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October 16, 2015
First Five Friday 15/10
When writing a novel, authors are advised to make the first five lines pop. These are what need to catch the reader’s attention from the get go. So, each Friday, I shall share with you the first five lines from a book that caught my attention, and then I’ll do a bit of show and tell, where I make up Five First Lines on the spot. Feel free to comment, and leave Five Lines of your own! If you have read a book where the opening lines impressed you, please do share! For any books I post on First Five Friday, you will find the UK Amazon link in the title link, and the US Amazon link by clicking on the book cover.
Last week we looked at First Five Lines from Nonnie Jules. This week we have the opening lines from Look Behind You by Author Sibel Hodge.
Pain everywhere. My back, my wrists, my legs. Even my hair hurts. The worst of it is in my head. Hot, white shards of pain stabbing my skull.
These opening lines immediately grab me by the hair and yank me in. What I want to know is what awful situation is the character in? I don’t even know at this stage if the person is man or woman, and already I feel for them. In just these five lines, the author has laid out the premise for the story and pulled the reader into Chloe’s world.
Other writing advice tells us that each chapter should be written as though it is the first chapter. So, this tells us that the first five lines of each chapter should be as compelling as the first five lines of the book. This author, in Look Behind You, didn’t fail to deliver. And here are five first lines from the beginning of a chapter near the end of the book:
Three things happen. I hear a sound downstairs. My heart stops. I freeze. ‘I know you’re here, Chloe!’
The best books lure you inside, and then slam the door shut behind you.
Okay, time for me to write Five First Lines for today:
I hate tea. And you’re not everyone’s cuppa. Still, I crave you like I crave coffee. You set my heart racing, and flames fry my veins. How is it that you have no idea I even exist?
Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to come lurk in my lair next Friday, where we’ll have more Five First Lines!
Find Harmony’s books on Amazon UK and Amazon US
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October 11, 2015
Special Guest: Author Ben Starling!
Daniel thought war was tough. That was till he fell in love.
What if it’s true that you can never really go home? Returning from a soul-crushing war, Daniel Dragan is determined to put the past behind him. But with his beloved uncle dead and the town’s economy in a slump, there may not be much to keep him in San Prospero, California.
That is till he is startled by veterinarian Willow Dixon at the roadside lookout above their hometown’s new factory.
A desperately needed job offer there may offer Daniel the chance he needs – but all is not as it seems at the factory and Willow, determined to save the inhabitants of her animal sanctuary, wants the factory’s operations stopped.
Sometimes the road home is neither the one we expect. Nor the one we left behind…
Something in the Air is the first short story prequel (others coming soon) in this soul-stirring series from Ben Starling. Something in the Water, a novel, will be released on January 21, 2016.
Ben Starling is passionate about environmental conservation and sport, both central themes in his work. His interest in marine life has taken him across three continents over the past three decades.
He is Oxford’s only ever Quintuple Blue (varsity champion five years running), was Captain of the university boxing team, and coached and boxed competitively until a few years ago. He is 6’3”and 185 lbs.
Ben graduated from Oxford University with a Master of Arts and an M Phil. He was born in the USA but has lived in the UK since childhood.
Connect with Ben – join him at
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October 9, 2015
First Five Friday 10/07
When writing a novel, authors are advised to make the first five lines pop. These are what need to catch the reader’s attention from the get go. So, each Friday, I shall share with you the first five lines from a book that caught my attention, and then I’ll do a bit of show and tell, where I make up Five First Lines on the spot. Feel free to comment, and leave Five Lines of your own! If you have read a book where the opening lines impressed you, please do share! For any books I post on First Five Friday, you will find the UK Amazon link in the title link, and the US Amazon link by clicking on the book cover.
Last week we looked at First Five Lines from Zoe Cannon. This week we have the opening lines from Daydream’s Daughter, Nightmare’s Friend by Author Nonnie Jules.
Birds singing. The sun trying to find her perfect spot on the horizon. Marisa still sitting in bed after another sleepless night. This was the order of all her mornings. As she looked down on Walter’s sleeping face, a sadness washed over her as it always did when the memories of her awful secrets invaded her thoughts.
In these opening lines, the contrast between the peaceful setting and the turmoil within Marisa is brilliant. Immediately, the reader wants to know what awful secrets the woman has. In just these five lines, the author has laid out the premise for the story and pulled the reader into Marisa’s world.
The best books lure you inside, and then slam the door shut behind you.
Okay, time for me to write Five First Lines for today:
When you lie, your right eye twitches. Always has. What are you trying to hide? Don’t lie to me. Because I know. I always know.
Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to come lurk in my lair next Friday, where we’ll have more Five First Lines!
Find Harmony’s books on Amazon UK and Amazon US
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TRB Review: Skive
Skive
BY PAUL ADAM LEVY
Black Comedy
Reviewed on behalf of The Review Board by Harmony Kent.
I received a free MOBI copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
Alexander is a dysfunctional young man, disillusioned with his life. After ten years working in the warehouse of a supermarket, he is offered an automatic promotion, at which he completely freaks out. This sets off a chain of events which sees him homeless and staggering from one event to another with no rhyme or reason.
I found this character so unmemorable, I had to go back and look up his name to write this review. I failed to connect with him on any level, and had no sympathy whatsoever for his plight. Remarkable, considering the whole book revolves around this character—his thoughts, his emotions, and his reactions. He is so dysfunctional, in fact, that no logic can be found within his responses or thoughts—I would say ‘reasoning’ but there really wasn’t any.
That’s not to say that I didn’t relate to his awful personal situation: I did. His dead-end job, lonely, single home life, rundown studio flat, and no hope … but none of this explains his (dare I say) borderline mental health issues. He’s not the only guy to have been in this position, but it would be a dire world indeed if they all spiralled so out of control like he did just because they got offered a promotion they didn’t particularly want.
As you will have guessed, this all made it an arduous enough read for me, but then we get into the technical hiccups that added to the burden. The writing style is passive in the extreme. I lost count of the number of sentences with words missing. Spelling mistakes abound, and comma usage is erratic at best. Incorrect words are used, such as ‘moral’ instead of ‘morale’, ‘discrete’ instead of ‘discreet’, and ‘carefree’ being treated as two separate words. I could go on. Exclamation marks are chronically overused, as is delaying the action unnecessarily by using ‘began to’ and ‘started to’. Split infinitives pepper the prose, as does telling instead of showing.
While the plot does include unexpected events, the main character’s reactions to them are all too predictable. At one point, pages have been given over to showing how hungry he is, and then with the first pound he receives, he blows it in an internet café—so, obviously not quite that deleriously hungry after all. Believe me, if he was all that starved, he would have bought something edible with even that small amount of money, such as a bag or crisps or a chocolate bar—anything that contained calories.
I give this book 5 out of 10 TRB stars, which equates to 2.5 out of 5 stars on other rating scales.
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October 7, 2015
Hungary Eyes
First, I would like to thank my gracious host for giving me the privilege to guest blog here on the first stop of my weeklong tour. Also, a debt of gratitude to 4 Wills Publishing for organizing all this. The tour runs today through October 14th. If you are interested in continuing with me on the tour stops (and I know you will), just click here for the dates and locations, and don’t forget to bookmark the page. Thanks!
I thought it a good idea to start the tour off by acquainting everyone with my debut novel “The Budapest Experiment.” I’ll be providing a glimpse inside the writing of the book, as well as offering a glance into my “author” personality. Last month I did my first ever author interview on Cheryl Holloway’s blog that I thoroughly enjoyed, and would like to share. Please be sure to leave comments/questions/feedback at the end of the post, they are much appreciated. Here we go….
Can you sum up your book in 20 words or less?
A captivating thriller that weaves business, politics, seduction, power, and religion into a compelling tale of international intrigue.
Since this is an international thriller, where do your ideas come from? Do you have a standard formula for plots or do stories come to you as a whole concept?
As this is my first novel, I cannot say that I have a “standard formula” for plots, at least not yet. But I can say that even as a child I had quite a vivid imagination and was adept at storytelling. It is these qualities that I believe shaped my visions in writing this book. The scenes and dialogue came to me almost as if I was writing a screenplay. This particular story and concept had been brewing in my head since the early 1990’s and I’ve finally put it into print.
I did invest in Scrivener author software to help with the organization and plot development of the sequel that’s currently in progress. It is going to be a three book series, so I am hoping this tool will help with arranging the large array of characters and scenes in the best logical order. We’ll see how it goes.
What is different and exciting that you bring to your readers through your suspenseful writing?
I would dare to say that this book does not reflect your typical storyline and plot. It is a thriller incorporated into historical fiction that reminds us of the political, social, and economic outcomes of the late 1980’s, and early 1990’s. While these events took place a quarter of a century ago, it is amazing to realize how they have impacted our lives and major world events here in the 21st century. Even today, we see Russia trying to reclaim and form alliances with former Soviet Bloc countries, playing out a game of international “tug of war” with the West on the world stage.
I did take some time, as the book begins, constructing the background and character of Michael, the protagonist, and then worked toward immersing the reader into his skin. For the sake of realism, there had to be a compelling story behind how an American consultant could become involved with the Russian Mob. Confronted with business, personal, and financial challenges whose solutions come with a multitude of moral and philosophical dilemmas, Michael is riddled with guilt and betrayal. Add in the benefits, dangers, and intrigue of being linked with the ‘Organization’, the story is designed to keep readers on edge and ultimately implore them to consider “At what price would I sell my soul?”
Where are you from? Does your background have any influence on this book?
I grew up in New England, but this had no impact with regard to the setting and plot of the book. Although, I do include scenes in Boston and its suburbs, being the protagonist’s ‘home base.’
The story was born of my experiences in the early 1990’s. One of my entrepreneurial ventures led me to working as a trade consultant in Hungary. At that time, the country was transitioning from a state to market economy and offered many business opportunities.
In the nearly 3 years that I travelled there I met lots of ‘interesting’ characters in both business and political arenas. The Budapest night life could get quite crazy at times if your ‘meetings’ and social engagements led you to certain places. Conversations would get quite interesting as my Hungarian colleagues and I would be ‘playing games with the faces’, as Simon and Garfunkle would put it, letting our imaginations go wild. As an example, my Hungarian associates would look at a table that was living it up big time in a crowded room and say, ‘That guy is a lieutenant with the Mob’ or ‘That dancer he’s with is one of the Organization’s women.’ It was these real life experiences that had the biggest influence on the creation of The Budapest Experiment.
This book is about the Russian Mafia, the Organization as you refer to them in the book. Did you find anything challenging while writing this book?
As a young adult, two great movies came across the silver screen that really stuck with me, The Godfather in 1972 and Jaws in 1975. Despite all the violence and bloodshed, I think The Godfather went a long way toward romanticizing Organized Crime with the general public. Seems like there will always be an attraction to those with power and wealth, regardless of the methodologies they used to procure their status.
In the book, the Mob serves as the vehicle to Michael’s newfound wealth, while at the same time providing a glimpse into the darker side of their operations. This triggers the internal conflicts that confront him and give pause for readers to consider how they would handle these dilemmas.
Not really knowing much about the Russian Mafia, it was somewhat of a challenge to write. Along with some research, I combined my real life experiences in Hungary with what I’ve seen in some of the more famous mafia movies to create and develop the ‘mob’ characters and scenes. There are several references to ‘The Godfather’ movie in the book.
Another challenge I faced was writing the erotica scenes. My decision to include these was a bit of a struggle. I considered ‘glazing over’ these scenes, but in the end felt it important to capture the intimacy between Michael, the ‘Mob Women’ assigned to make him happy, and a flirty interpreter. My hope was that by including the details of these encounters, readers would better comprehend and assess the internal conflicts of the main character, and also familarize themselves with the ‘behind the scenes’, and sometimes tragic, life stories of the Mob women he encounters.
Why did you decide to write this book?
Many in my family and in the business world have often told me that I had good writing skills. I had this story on the back burner for quite a while, always thinking about writing a novel, but never following through. Oddly enough, it was the sensation of 50 Shades and E.L. James that was the final motivating factor.
After hearing all the ‘buzz’, I decided to read the book. When finished, I kind of understood why the book took off but felt, ‘Hey my story is more compelling than, and as sexy as this one…’ Then I discovered self-publishing was now an option for authors. After lots of research on the industry and being an entrepreneur at heart, I launched myself into it. Not alone in these notions, many new emerging authors have brought the self-publishing industry to what it is today.
Did you have to do any special research to write this book?
I did do some, but not an extensive amount, of research into the Russian Mob of the late 1980’s and early 90’s. As an MBA, what I did learn was quite fascinating from a business perspective. In the book, I do get into quite a bit of detail regarding the Mob’s overall plan for enhancing their financial positions in Eastern Europe and beyond during this time of tumultuous change and its impact on the world as a whole.
The real research came more on the self-publishing, promoting, and marketing stages of the process.
Was it hard creating believable situations and issues or did you take them from real life and elaborate?
The latter is true, for the most part, through the first eight or so chapters of the book and also in some instances later on. For the 100% fictional parts, I believe I succeeded in creating realistic and believable dialogue and scenes, though often hampered with the challenge of using ‘second hand’ English for international characters. Yes, I can say it was difficult at times.
Readers will not help but notice there are some ‘unbelievable’ situations that continue to perplex the protagonist, like ‘Why has the Organization found such favor in me?’ And ‘Am I being setup?’
Which character was hardest to write? Which character was easiest to write?
By far, the easiest character to write was the protagonist, Michael. It was easy because surprisingly (*he says jokingly*) he shared a lot of the same traits as I did back then, even though most of his experiences in Budapest are quite different than what mine were.
The most difficult was the character of the villan, Laszlo Toth, a member of the Mob with a drug (cocaine) issue, who without giving too much of the book away, becomes a villan to both Michael and the Organization. I definitely need some more experience and work on creating and developing villanous characters.
How long did it take you to write this book?
The Budapest Experiment is a rather long novel with 451 print pages on a 6×9 paperback book template and over 150,000 words. It took me about 13 months to write. I do have a full time job that pays the bills, so the writing was done on a part time basis.
What really surprised me was the length of time (4 months) it took between finishing the writing of the manuscript to the publishing date. I did have professional editing and book cover done, and spent a good amount of time doing some rewrites, building my author platform, and doing pre-launch promo before the publishing date.
What kind of feedback are you getting from readers of the book?
The most common feedback I have received from my readers is that the book kept them on edge, and that the ending left them wanting more, which I take as a very high compliment. The Amazon and Goodreads reviews I have obtained so far have been very positive and encouraging. As a new author, feedback and reviews are the bloodline we live on, not only to bring added exposure to our work, but to help emerging authors evaluate and improve their writing skills.
I would strongly encourage your audience to post reviews for their favorite books penned by indie authors to show them support.
Thanks so much for taking your time to read this post. I would love to hear your feedback/questions/comments.
On the next tour stop I will be providing an excerpt from the book that is not available through the “Look Inside” feature on the book’s Amazon page. This excerpt will chronicle Michael’s first ‘Organization’ meeting and a face to face dialogue with ‘The Boss’, the powerful leader and brainpower behind the Mob, running its operations, for now, out of Budapest. Hope you will joins us for that.
In celebration of the first few stops on the tour, the Kindle version of The Budapest Experiment is available for download FREE October 8th and 9th. Just click on the Amazon page link below.
http://www.mauricegmiller.com/
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00WHA3J0E
Author Bio
Maurice has been involved in the creative arts since his teenage years. Having worked and played in rock/blues bands for most of his adult life, the artistic role models that he came to admire were those authors, musicians, and philosophers that wrote the books, poetry, lyrics, and music that touched and moved the souls of generations. Counted among his favorites authors are J.D. Salinger, Earnest Hemingway, Dante Alighieri, and Kahlil Gibran. Deciding to take a break from the music career, he has rededicated his creative energies toward writing.
Then there is the “business geek” side of him. With an MBA degree, and having started several ventures, he has an obsession for creating new business ideas, digging into data analytics, and dissecting statistics. This passion for entrepreneurship is reflected prominently in his writing style.
Maurice’s debut fictional novel, “The Budapest Experiment”, an international thriller, was released on May 25, 2015 and is available now on Amazon.
Lots more can be found, including book info, social media contacts, and blog posts, at: http://www.mauricegmiller.com
Links
Web Site: http://www.mauricegmiller.com
Email: mauricegmiller@yahoo.com
Amazon Page: http://smarturl.it/budapestexp
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mauricegmiller @mauricegmiller
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1DO6y6k
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1ESXMYv
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/MauriceGMiller/
Google +: http://bit.ly/1N1Jmdv
The Budapest Experiment – Synopsis
At what price would you sell your soul…?
This captivating thriller weaves business, politics, seduction, power, and religion all into a compelling tale of international intrigue.
Set in 1991, during the dawn of the Post-Communist era in Hungary, this novel chronicles the exploits of Michael, an adventurous but struggling American entrepreneur.
During this period of tumultuous political, economic, and social change, the Russian Mob is taking advantage of the ensuing turmoil to entrench itself deeper into the business landscape of the former Soviet Bloc countries.
Navigating through the streets of Budapest, Michael immediately senses an air of mysticism and lurking danger. After a few successes and trials, a series of business dealings leads him to a consulting position with the ‘Organization’.
Seduced by their women, money, and power, Michael becomes entangled in the web of Mob culture. Digging into his conscience, he encounters a spirit ravaged with feelings of guilt and betrayal, but a rapidly growing bank account serves as the means to justify his actions.
Pondering his future, Michael wonders if he can balance this extreme Budapest lifestyle with his ‘ordinary’ family life back home. After padding his wallet for the past several months, would the Organization let him just walk away, or would there be consequences?
This book is intended for mature audiences.
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