Harmony Kent's Blog, page 14
January 18, 2023
#BookReview: The Widow by Kaira Rouda @KairaRouda
Hi everyone. Today I have a book review for you from an author new to me, Kaira Rouda. Here’s my review >>>
About the Book:
A husband with secrets. A wife with no limits. A riveting novel of marriage, privilege, and lies by Kaira Rouda, the USA Today bestselling author of The Next Wife.
Jody Asher had a plan. Her charismatic husband, Martin, would be a political icon. She, the charming wife, would fuel his success. For fifteen congressional terms, they were the golden couple on the Hill. Life was good. Until he wasn’t.
Martin’s secret affair with a young staffer doesn’t bother Jody personally. But professionally? It’s a legacy killer. Soon a reporter gets word of this scandal in the making, and Martin’s indiscretions threaten to ruin everything Jody has accomplished.
When Martin suddenly dies, it’s a chance to change the narrative—but the reporter won’t let go of his lead. As the balance of power shifts in the Asher house and on the Hill, it’s time for Jody to take control. And there’s nothing the ruthless widow won’t do to secure the future she’s entitled to. Even if she has a secret of her own.
My Review:
An entertaining read
‘Behind every successful man is a ruthless wife who made it all happen, or so they say.’ … I loved this opening line, together with the promise in the book description of a ruthless woman who would stop at nothing to get what she wants. Unfortunately, I don’t feel the book delivered on this promise. By the end, I felt the main character had lost her way somewhat and the whole thing fell flat.
Jody Asher most certainly was manipulative and selfish, and a character I loved to hate, but once her husband died … which happened well into the story after some great build up … the whole thing unravelled. As people abandoned her and the obstacles mounted, I kept waiting for her to do something big, or at least go out with a bang, but for me, this didn’t happen, and the final quarter of the book became hard going. By the end, I wondered what the point of it all was, other than the obvious and well-known political shenanigans, that is.
All in all, an entertaining read but not one that left me wowed. I give The Widow 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 for rating purposes. If you like political dramas, and a detestable main character who’s sassy, witty, and fun in a bad way, then you’ll enjoy this read.
***
NOTE ON RATINGS: I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.
5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! — Highly Recommended.
4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER — Go read this book.
3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! — An okay read. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.
2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.
1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book.
UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08B8BDLW1/
US https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08B8BDLW1/
I’d love to hear what you think of this review. Thanks for stopping by 
The post #BookReview: The Widow by Kaira Rouda @KairaRouda first appeared on Welcome to Harmony Kent Online.
January 11, 2023
#BookReview: The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri @christy_lefteri @ZaffreBooks
Hi everyone. Today I have a book review for you from an author new to me, Christy Lefteri, with a heartbreaking novel about refugees fleeing Syria. I will, for sure, be reading more by this outstanding author. Here’s my review >>>
About the Book:
In the midst of war, he found love
In the midst of darkness, he found courage
In the midst of tragedy, he found hope
The Beekeeper of Aleppo
What will you find from his story?
Nuri is a beekeeper; his wife, Afra, an artist. They live a simple life, rich in family and friends, in the beautiful Syrian city of Aleppo–until the unthinkable happens. When all they care for is destroyed by war, they are forced to escape. But what Afra has seen is so terrible she has gone blind, and so they must embark on a perilous journey through Turkey and Greece towards an uncertain future in Britain. On the way, Nuri is sustained by the knowledge that waiting for them is Mustafa, his cousin and business partner, who has started an apiary and is teaching fellow refugees in Yorkshire to keep bees.
As Nuri and Afra travel through a broken world, they must confront not only the pain of their own unspeakable loss, but dangers that would overwhelm the bravest of souls. Above all–and, perhaps, this is the hardest thing they face–they must journey to find each other again.
Moving, powerful, compassionate and beautifully written, The Beekeeper of Aleppo is a testament to the triumph of the human spirit. Told with deceptive simplicity, it is the kind of book that reminds us of the power of storytelling.
My Review:
An Incredibly Moving Story of Endurance, Survival, and Triumph
‘I AM SCARED OF MY WIFE’S eyes. She can’t see out and no one can see in.’ … from this powerful and haunting opening line, we live and breathe with Nuri as he and his wife, Afra, embark on a terrible journey, both outwardly and inwardly. The book switches back and forth from a B & B in the south east of England and Aleppo, then various places on this courageous husband and wife’s journey as refugees fleeing the horrors of Syria.
While this is a difficult read at times, it is also beautiful and inspiring. A must read that will stay with me for a long time to come. The book deals with painful issues such as the loss of a child and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, amongst other things. It does so sensitively and balances this with moments of quiet joy and hope, as well as the power of friendship and the kindness of strangers. The writing is superb, and here are some lines which stood out for me …
‘The painting, and its measly river, reminds me of struggling to stay alive.’
And …
‘… the lust and greed that crackled through his phlegm when he spoke, almost hidden, but not quite.’
And …
‘I move back so that I can look at her – sadness and memories, love and loss, blooming from her eyes. I kiss her tears, I taste them, I swallow them. I take in everything that she can see.’
The writing is so moving and beautiful, I struggled to choose just a few pull quotes to share with you. Christy Lefteri did such a fantastic job, I believed I was listening to Nuri tell his tale rather than reading a book written by a female author. I cannot recommend The Beekeeper of Aleppo or Christy Lefteri highly enough. Go and read this book! As you may have guessed, this gets a resounding 5 stars from me, and I would give it 10 stars if I could.
***
NOTE ON RATINGS: I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.
5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! — Highly Recommended.
4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER — Go read this book.
3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! — An okay read. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.
2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.
1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book.
UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08B8BDLW1/
US https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08B8BDLW1/
I’d love to hear what you think of this review. Thanks for stopping by
The post #BookReview: The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri @christy_lefteri @ZaffreBooks first appeared on Welcome to Harmony Kent Online.
Harmony is Vocal! #Haiku in @Vocal_Creators #Poetry four elements #challenge #WritingCommunity #poetsoftwitter #poetrylovers
Inspired by the four elements of earth, wind, fire, and water …
Hi everyone. I’ve written 6 … ahem, yes, 6 … poems for Vocal’s Quadru-Haiku Challenge. Vocal’s criteria for this Haiku challenge is simply a 5-7-5 syllable format without any of the usual rigid requirements of nature, etc. The poet can use one, any, or all of these elements.
You can find my poems below …
1. Domestic Violence HERE
2. Topsy-Turvy HERE
3. Inflamed HERE
4. Nature’s Way HERE
5. Born to Die HERE
6. Wildfire HERE
At 17 syllables each, they’re nice and short 
I’d love to know what you think! And I would be delighted if you could read and heart … even just one or two! To heart and/or comment, you’ll need to sign in to Vocal, which is free to do.
Thanks for all your support! Hugs 
January 8, 2023
#NewBook: The Last Drive by John Howell @HowellWave #ParanormalFiction #MysteryThriller
Hi everyone! I hope you’re all doing well. It gives me immense pleasure to welcome friend, author, blogger, and fellow Story Empire contributor to my place today so he can tell us all about his latest book! Grab your favourite beverage and snack and sink into a comfy seat while John shares his good news …
I am so pleased to be with you today, Harmony. I want to thank you for helping to spread the word about The Last Drive. As a writer, editor, and poet I can imagine you have had some works more or less sneak up on you. This book could be labelled the surprise. I had no intention of writing a sequel to Eternal Road. In fact, I pretty much put the thought out of my head until the characters started calling me collect with story ideas. So, what is an author to do but give in to the demands of those who were created in the author’s imagination in the first place. Yes, I gave in and the end result is what we are discussing today. [Oh, yes! I can sympathise all too well with those pesky characters who refuse to leave you in peace. I have to confess, I’m delighted they pestered you!]
Here is the blurb and then we can get to a short excerpt from the book.
The Blurb:
In the sequel to Eternal Road – The final stop, Sam and James are reunited to look for two souls, Ryan and Eddie. Ryan was killed in Afghanistan, trying to avoid a schoolyard with his crippled plane. Eddie Rickenbacker, Ryan’s hero, is to guide Ryan to his Eternal Home, and now both are missing.
The higher-ups believe that there has been some interference in Ryan and Eddie’s journey by Lucifer, so Sam and James have the task of finding Ryan and Eddie to get them back on the road despite the evil interference. Unfortunately, the machinations designed to prevent Ryan and Eddy from completing their journey take the pair to horrifying testing grounds. The places visited represent the best work of the Devil. They are the trenches of World War I in France, gladiators at the Roman Coliseum, the sinking Titanic in 1912, Hiroshima 45 minutes before the bomb, and the Auschwitz concentration camp in 1943.
This book is for you if you like plenty of action, strong characters, time travel, and a touch of spiritual and historical fiction. So, join Sam and James as they try to find the missing souls while staying one step ahead of the Prince of Darkness, who is determined to destroy all that is good.
An Excerpt:
The Archangel waves his hand. “Whatever. The important point is Ryan and the guide disappeared from that game, and we have not heard from either since.”
“That game happened in sixty-seven. It could be the two are still in that year.”
The Archangel folds his hands and lays them on his lap. “I need you to go there, Sam, and try to locate the guide and Captain Sanders.”
“Who’s the guide? Do I know him?”
“I’m not sure you do. His name is Rickenbacker.”
Sam stands. “Eddie Rickenbacker? The famous airman?”
“Yes, I believe so.” The Archangel shuffles through the papers again. “Yes, it is Eddie Rickenbacker. Sanders had a hero-worship thing about Rickenbacker, so we selected him to escort Ryan down the Eternal Road. I hope Eddie is not the problem.”
Sam settles back into her chair. “No, I’m sure he’s not the issue. Eddie would make a good guide. Lucifer is behind this.”
“Really?”
Sam sits forward. “May I speak my mind, Sir?”
“Of course, my child.”
“I’m surprised God and yourself don’t keep track of this kind of thing.”
Book Trailer:
Buy Links
The Last Drive is available in paper and Kindle editions on Amazon. Here are the universal links. The Kindle edition is on sale for 99¢ through mid-February.
Kindle https://mybook.to/FYmkKr
Paper https://mybook.to/BCsWV
About the Author:
John is an award-winning author who after an extensive business career began writing full time in 2012. His specialty is thriller fiction novels, but John also writes poetry and short stories. He has written Six other books that are on Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions.
John lives in Lakeway, Texas with his wife and their spoiled rescue pets.
Author links:
Blog Fiction Favorites http://johnwhowell.com/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/john.howell.98229241
Twitter – https://www.twitter.com/HowellWave
Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7751796.John_W_Howell
Amazon Author’s page – https://www.amazon.com/author/johnwhowell
BookBub – https://www.bookbub.com/profile/john-w-howell
Eternal Road Buy links:
Kindle Universal link mybook.to/EternalRoad
Paper universal link mybook.to/Eternalroadpaper
Thanks for telling us all about your latest book, John! We wish you every success with your launch and tour.
If you haven’t read any of John’s books yet, you need to He’s won a few awards, just to entice you a bit more–wink, wink–and I highly recommend his novels.
Thanks for stopping by today and supporting John. Hugs
The post #NewBook: The Last Drive by John Howell @HowellWave #ParanormalFiction #MysteryThriller first appeared on Welcome to Harmony Kent Online.
January 4, 2023
#BookReview: Well Behaved Wives by Amy Sue Nathan @AmySueNathan
Hi everyone. Today I have a book review for you from an author new to me, Amy Sue Nathan, with a domestic drama set in the 1960s. Here’s my review >>>
About the Book:
Perfect wives, imperfect lives, and upending the rules of behavior in 1960s America.
Law school graduate and newlywed Ruth Applebaum is acclimating to life and marriage in a posh Philadelphia neighborhood. She’ll do almost anything to endear herself to her mother-in-law, who’s already signed up Ruth for etiquette lessons conducted by the impeccably accessorized tutor Lillian Diamond. But Ruth brings something fresh to the small circle of housewives—sharp wit, honesty, and an independent streak that won’t be compromised.
Right away Ruth develops a friendship with the shy Carrie Blum. When Carrie divulges a dark and disturbing secret lurking beneath her seemingly perfect life, Ruth invites Lillian and the Diamond Girls of the etiquette school to finally question the status quo.
Together they form an unbreakable bond and stretch well beyond their comfort zones. For once, they’ll challenge what others expect from them, discover what they expect from themselves, and do whatever it takes to protect one of their own—fine manners be damned.
My Review:
A Historical Issue Still Relevant Today, Sadly
‘Well-behaved women seldom make history.’ — I love this opening book quote by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich.
From the blurb and the opening quote, I expected a woman who trail blazed her way to forcing change. This isn’t that kind of story. Rather, it’s a quiet, slow read that shows how effective persistence can be. Late in the book, I loved one of the character’s acts of ‘quiet’ defiance. It was the wife’s job to be the husband’s memory (thank goodness hubby doesn’t have to rely on my memory! ha ha), and instead of feeding him the information as she would normally, this character kept telling him, ‘I don’t know’ until he got the message she wasn’t pleased. Loved it!
The characterisation was a bit flat, and the pacing glacial at times, also the writing tends toward passive with filler and filter words in abundance–hence a soft four stars rather than five. Other than that, there were so many things I loved about this read. This gives an accurate portrayal of life for women in the 60s, and sadly, reflects many issues still prevalent today–especially victim blaming.
Here are some lines that stood out for me …
‘To the neighbors, to family, even to wives who should have known better, life fit Lillian like a beautiful dress all the girls envied—but it itched to high heaven underneath.’
And …
‘Discontent choked her far more than any smoke could.’
And …
‘… if a man says something, people believe him. When a woman says something difficult, she’s hormonal, pregnant, or hysterical.’
If you enjoy historical fiction and domestic dramas, you’ll enjoy this book. I’ll be checking out more novels by this author.
***
NOTE ON RATINGS: I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.
5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! — Highly Recommended.
4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER — Go read this book.
3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! — An okay read. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.
2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.
1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book.
UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08B8BDLW1/
US https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08B8BDLW1/
I’d love to hear what you think of this review. Thanks for stopping by
The post #BookReview: Well Behaved Wives by Amy Sue Nathan @AmySueNathan first appeared on Welcome to Harmony Kent Online.
December 15, 2022
#Thanks @BeemWeeks @HowellWave @YvetteMCalleiro @gmplano @JoanHallWrites @stacitroilo @pokercubster @davidmfprosser @WordDreams @bakeandwrite @StephenGeez @Virgilante @dlfinnauthor @JanSikes3 @MaeClair1 @sgc58
Hi everyone! Today is the end of my blog tour for Sorrowful Soul.
I am overwhelmed with gratitude for all your support and encouragement along the way.
A huge thank you to all my fantastic tour hosts, who I list below, together with the post links in case you missed any.
Also, a special thanks to Sally Cronin with her Cafe and Bookstore posts, for being so supportive of us all. Although Sally wasn’t on my tour list, she has done so much to help me launch my latest book. And I’m so grateful. You can find her Christmas Book Fair post for Sorrowful Soul HERE. For which I’m still doing my happy ‘Jingle Bells’ dance!
And thank you so much to everyone who has stalked me around the web this last three weeks! Your company means so much, and I’ve loved each and every comment and interaction.
Thanks so much for all your support. You’re all so amazing! Hugs 
TOUR STOPS:
Tuesday 22/11/2022 …………… Beem WeeksWednesday 23/11/2022 ……….. John HowellTuesday 29/11/2022 …………… Yvette M. CalleiroWednesday 30/11/2022 ……….. Gwen PlanoThursday 01/12/2022 ………….. Joan HallFriday 02/12/2022 ……………… Staci Troilo and Debby Gies KayeMonday 05/12/2022 ……………. David ProsserTuesday 06/12/2022 …………… Jacqui MurrayWednesday 07/12/2022 ……….. Robbie CheadleThursday 08/12/2022 …………… Stephen GeezMonday 12/12/2022 …………….. C. S. BoyackTuesday 13/12/2022 ……………. D. L. FinnWednesday 14/12/2022 ………..Jan SikesThursday 15/12/2022 …………… Mae ClairThe universal Amazon link for Sorrowful Soul is: https://mybook.to/SorrowfulSoul
The post #Thanks @BeemWeeks @HowellWave @YvetteMCalleiro @gmplano @JoanHallWrites @stacitroilo @pokercubster @davidmfprosser @WordDreams @bakeandwrite @StephenGeez @Virgilante @dlfinnauthor @JanSikes3 @MaeClair1 @sgc58 first appeared on Welcome to Harmony Kent Online.December 14, 2022
#NewBook #BlogTour: Sorrowful Soul–Book 3 in the #SoulPoetrySeries #Poetry #Grief #Grieving #Loss @MaeClair1
Hi everyone! Today, I’m excited to share my next stop on my three-week blog tour for my new book of poetry, Sorrowful Soul.
I’m thrilled to be visiting fellow author, blogger, Story Empire member, and friend, Mae Clair. As well as being a generous, talented, and inspiring human being, Mae is the author of many books of fiction novels, novellas, and short stories. Mae has an avid interest in myths and legends and folklore, and you’ll find this wonderful influence throughout her gripping stories. You will find her works on her Amazon Page, and they’re well worth a look! Thanks for stopping by, everyone!
I’ve closed comments so you don’t have to comment here as well as on today’s blog visit!
Where I have the links ahead of the day’s post, I’ve added them below, but they won’t work until the date they go live.
Thanks so much for all your support. Hugs
TOUR STOPS:
Tuesday 22/11/2022 …………… Beem WeeksWednesday 23/11/2022 ……….. John HowellTuesday 29/11/2022 …………… Yvette M. CalleiroWednesday 30/11/2022 ……….. Gwen PlanoThursday 01/12/2022 ………….. Joan HallFriday 02/12/2022 ……………… Staci Troilo and Debby Gies KayeMonday 05/12/2022 ……………. David ProsserTuesday 06/12/2022 …………… Jacqui MurrayWednesday 07/12/2022 ……….. Robbie CheadleThursday 08/12/2022 …………… Stephen GeezMonday 12/12/2022 …………….. C. S. BoyackTuesday 13/12/2022 ……………. D. L. FinnWednesday 14/12/2022 ………..Jan SikesThursday 15/12/2022 …………… Mae ClairThe post #NewBook #BlogTour: Sorrowful Soul–Book 3 in the #SoulPoetrySeries #Poetry #Grief #Grieving #Loss @MaeClair1 first appeared on Welcome to Harmony Kent Online.
#BookReviews: Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro and The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
Hi everyone. Today I have two book reviews for you. The first one is written by a Nobel Prize winning author, and the second one by the well-known author of the Hunger Games Trilogy. What fascinates me is that these two vastly different reads have similar average scores on their review ratings on Goodreads, yet Klara and the Sun fell flat for me, while I loved The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. I’d be interested to hear your thoughts. So, without further ado, here are my reviews >>>
First Review:
About the Book:
‘The Sun always has ways to reach us.’
From her place in the store, Klara, an Artificial Friend with outstanding observational qualities, watches carefully the behaviour of those who come in to browse, and of those who pass in the street outside. She remains hopeful a customer will soon choose her, but when the possibility emerges that her circumstances may change for ever, Klara is warned not to invest too much in the promises of humans.
In Klara and the Sun, his first novel since winning the Nobel Prize in Literature, Kazuo Ishiguro looks at our rapidly-changing modern world through the eyes of an unforgettable narrator to explore a fundamental question: what does it mean to love?
My Review:
Nothing Special
I discovered this book and author via my local library’s eBook loan scheme, and the sci-fi element intrigued me. Sadly, the read didn’t deliver that well. With the Premise of an AI developed to be an Artificial Friend (AF) to a teen and the robot’s ‘outstanding observational abilities’ this promised to be a gripping read. But it wasn’t. The POV fell flat and was disjointed, and I didn’t find Klara’s insights that remarkable at all.
The plot and pacing was glacial, and the many references to ‘boxes’ left me wanting. I kept on going to the end of the book because I had invested so much time already and wanted to know what the heck happened. In short, I should have quit while I was ahead, as the ending didn’t answer any of the questions raised, and Klara’s fate was all too predictable.
Usually for a review, I will pull out quotes that stuck with me, but the narrative gave me little to work with. Also the writing is passive and contains too many filter words and over use of things such as ‘very’ and ‘own’, etc. Add to that my pet hate of too much name-dropping in dialogue, and we have a book that left me bored and frustrated rather than entertained. Finally, the layout proved difficult, as the novel doesn’t contain chapters, but instead is broken into five sections, which makes for a long spell of reading with no easy stopping places. The sections do have section breaks, but few and far between. So this isn’t an easy book to dip in and out of.
I haven’t read this author before, and although he’s a Nobel Prize winning author, I don’t think I’ll be checking out his other books. Klara and the Sun gets 2 soft stars from me. I may have liked a few things, but it just didn’t do it for me.
For anyone interested, here are the Amazon links …UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08B8BDLW1/
US https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08B8BDLW1/
Second Review:
About the Book:
It is the morning of the reaping that will kick off the tenth annual Hunger Games. In the Capital, eighteen-year-old Coriolanus Snow is preparing for his one shot at glory as a mentor in the Games. The once-mighty house of Snow has fallen on hard times, its fate hanging on the slender chance that Coriolanus will be able to outcharm, outwit, and outmaneuver his fellow students to mentor the winning tribute.
The odds are against him. He’s been given the humiliating assignment of mentoring the female tribute from District 12, the lowest of the low. Their fates are now completely intertwined — every choice Coriolanus makes could lead to favor or failure, triumph or ruin. Inside the arena, it will be a fight to the death. Outside the arena, Coriolanus starts to feel for his doomed tribute… and must weigh his need to follow the rules against his desire to survive no matter what it takes.
My Review:
A Deep Look at Human Nature
I somehow missed this prequel to The Hunger Games, a series I loved. So I was delighted to be able to pick up an eBook via my local library’s eBook loan app. The book didn’t disappoint, and I enjoyed it so much, I’ve now ordered a paperback copy.
‘Coriolanus released the fistful of cabbage into the pot of boiling water and swore that one day it would never pass his lips again. But this was not that day’ and […] ‘ … one of a long list of precautions he took to mask the fact his family, despite residing in the penthouse of the Capitol’s most opulent apartment building, was as poor as district scum.’ … from these opening lines, the reader is introduced to the world of Panem and the Capitol about ten years after the war. We meet a young Coriolanus Snow, who would become the president in the trilogy, and see him struggle with poverty, family pride, and ambition.
Many reviewers failed to connect with or like Coriolanus, but I found myself both rooting for him and hating him a little–both signs of a skilled writer if she’s managed to make a reader feel conflicted and strongly for any character. Add to that the real life struggles this young man faced, and I could empathise with many of his choices and attitudes, even if I wouldn’t have chosen those paths myself.
The plot, pacing, world-building, and characterisation were all done excellently, and I sped through this read. Only real life got in the way of my finishing it more quickly, and at over 500 pages it’s a long novel. Honestly, the story entertained me so much it felt way too short a book! Here are some lines I loved …
‘… self-control was an essential skill, and he should be grateful his grandmother provided daily opportunities to practice it.’ … this shows the wonderful humour that threads throughout this novel.
And …
‘She waved as if to raucous applause, not dead silence.’
And …
‘… try not to look down on people who had to choose between death and disgrace.’
And …
‘The heat and humidity turned the air to some state halfway between a liquid and a gas, and he could not confirm if he was inhaling or exhaling.’
Whether or not you’re into the Hunger Games world, this is some impressive writing. As you may have guessed, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes gets a resounding 5 stars from me.
For anyone interested, here are the Amazon links …UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08B8BDLW1/
US https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08B8BDLW1/
NOTE ON RATINGS: I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.
5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! — Highly Recommended.
4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER — Go read this book.
3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! — An okay read. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.
2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.
1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book.
I’d love to hear what you think of these reviews. I won’t post any further reviews from today until January 5th, as I’ll be reducing my time online over the holiday period. Enjoy the holidays, everyone! Thanks for stopping by
The post #BookReviews: Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro and The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins first appeared on Welcome to Harmony Kent Online.
Oh Baubles at Sally’s Cafe and Bookstore today! #ChristmasReads @sgc58 #Romance
Hi everyone! I had a lovely surprise just now to find my Christmas Romance Novella, Oh Baubles, at Sally’s Cafe and Bookstore Archive Posts today. This is such an incredibly generous shoutout, and I’m delighted!
I’m so awed by her kindness and would be thrilled if you could hop on over and leave us some love … HERE
Thanks so much, everyone, and have a wonderful week!
December 13, 2022
#NewBook #BlogTour: Sorrowful Soul–Book 3 in the #SoulPoetrySeries #Poetry #Grief #Grieving #Loss @JanSikes3
Hi everyone! Today, I’m excited to share my next stop on my three-week blog tour for my new book of poetry, Sorrowful Soul.
I’m thrilled to be visiting fellow author, blogger, Story Empire member, and friend, Jan Sikes. As well as being a spiritual, generous, and inspiring human being, Jan is the author of many books of biographical fiction, fiction, short stories, and novellas. Jan is active in supporting her fellow authors around the web, as well as offering weekly posts on various meditations, runes, and author spotlights. You will find her works on her Amazon Page, and they’re well worth a look! Thanks for stopping by, everyone!
I’ve closed comments so you don’t have to comment here as well as on today’s blog visit!
Where I have the links ahead of the day’s post, I’ve added them below, but they won’t work until the date they go live.
Thanks so much for all your support. Hugs
TOUR STOPS:
Tuesday 22/11/2022 …………… Beem WeeksWednesday 23/11/2022 ……….. John HowellTuesday 29/11/2022 …………… Yvette M. CalleiroWednesday 30/11/2022 ……….. Gwen PlanoThursday 01/12/2022 ………….. Joan HallFriday 02/12/2022 ……………… Staci Troilo and Debby Gies KayeMonday 05/12/2022 ……………. David ProsserTuesday 06/12/2022 …………… Jacqui MurrayWednesday 07/12/2022 ……….. Robbie CheadleThursday 08/12/2022 …………… Stephen GeezMonday 12/12/2022 …………….. C. S. BoyackTuesday 13/12/2022 ……………. D. L. FinnWednesday 14/12/2022 ………..Jan SikesThursday 15/12/2022 …………… Mae ClairThe post #NewBook #BlogTour: Sorrowful Soul–Book 3 in the #SoulPoetrySeries #Poetry #Grief #Grieving #Loss @JanSikes3 first appeared on Welcome to Harmony Kent Online.
