Harmony Kent's Blog, page 18
October 26, 2022
#BookReview: Roam by C H Armstrong @C_H_Armstrong
Hi everyone! Today, I have a book review for an author new to me, C H Armstrong >>>
About the Book:Seventeen year-old Abby Lunde and her family are living on the streets. They had a normal life back in Omaha but, thanks to her mother’s awful mistake, they had to leave what little they had behind for a new start in Rochester. Abby tries to be an average teenager—fitting into school, buoyed by dreams of a boyfriend, college and a career in music. But Minnesota winters are unforgiving, and so are many teenagers.Her stepdad promises to put a roof over their heads, but times are tough for everyone and Abby is doing everything she can to keep her shameful secret from her new friends. The divide between rich and poor in high school is painfully obvious, and the stress of never knowing where they’re sleeping or where they’ll find their next meal is taking its toll on the whole family.As secrets are exposed and the hope for a home fades, Abby knows she must trust those around her to help. But will her friends let her down the same way they did back home, or will they rise to the challenge to help them find a normal life?
My Review:
A heartwarming, and at times gut-wrenching, read.
I haven’t read this author before but I’ll definitely be reading more!
‘I HATE THIS TOWN ALREADY.’ … from this assertive opening line, the reader is plunged into the life of 17-year-old Abby, who’s existence has fallen apart in the most spectacular of ways. Right from the get-go this book had me hooked. The characters were so well formed, I felt as though I walked by their sides and lived and breathed the story with them.
Despite a few issues with the over use of unnecessary words such as ‘own’ and telling what’s just been shown in dialogue ‘I interrupt’, etc., as well as overly descriptive dialogue tags such as ‘Trish coos’ and ‘Nick corrects’, the narrative flows smoothly and is well written. I found myself laughing aloud as well as crying full-on tears. Not many books move me in the way this read did. Below are some lines I loved …
‘I’ve always imagined homeless people as unkempt vagrants in rags. What I find, instead, is a collection of people who look like us—normal.’
And …
‘It’s soon clear Mr. Zagan could make puppies on Christmas morning seem dreadful.’
And …
‘She runs a finger over the photo, and a thin layer of dust lifts from its surface.’
As well as wonderful descriptions and emotionally evocative writing, a delightful sense of humour threads throughout the narrative and dialogue. The character interactions are some of the most realistic I’ve come across, and the plot and pacing are well done.
This read covers some important social issues and offers valuable life lessons and insights without getting preachy about it. Roam is a heartwarming, and at times gut-wrenching, read that is sure to move you. It gets a solid five stars from me. Go and read this book!
***
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 this review. Thanks for stopping by 
For anyone interested, here are the Amazon links …
UK … https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08R8XRTB2/
US … https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08R8XRTB2/
The post #BookReview: Roam by C H Armstrong @C_H_Armstrong first appeared on Welcome to Harmony Kent Online.
October 25, 2022
#CoverReveal: Secrets in the Blood by Unity Hayes @RoLuvsSims
Hi everyone! I hope you’re all well. I have an extra treat for you this week with yet another book and author! Fellow writer, blogger, and friend, Kymber C Hawke, is joining us to reveal the awesome new cover for her book, Secrets in the Blood, which she is re-releasing under her pen name, Unity Hayes. I do so love that name! Grab some snacks and a drink and sit back and relax while Kymber tells you all about her book >>>
About the Book:
Secrets have been buried in a steel town for many years, but someone is
about to blow the lid off them and rock this little town. Cassidy loves her life
just the way it is. But when mysterious and good looking West arrives, her
world is turned upside-down. West carries the secrets of the steel town.
Cassidy is attracted to the stranger but a relationship seems impossible as
West’s accusations make him appear crazy and bodies start to pile up. No one
wants to believe West; can Cassidy let her feelings go and trust him? Who is
the killer? How many bodies will pile up before the biggest secret of all is
revealed?
Prologue:
The bedroom was dark except for the muted yellow glow from the hall table
lamp. Although subdued, the light was bright enough to stab through the
partially open doorway like a spear. It cast a pie-shaped beam just inside on
the thick blue carpeting. But the rest of the room remained dim and sinister
as if the light had been swallowed by it.
Thump.
The wind howled mercilessly as fat raindrops spattered against the second
story window.
Eight-year-old Kenton turned restlessly in his bed, his pillow falling to the floor
with a gentle thud. Somewhere, deep within the bowels of the cavernous
house, a woman moaned.
Or perhaps it was only the wind again.
Thump. Thump.
Kenton awoke with a start, sitting up suddenly and rubbing the sleep from his
blinking brown eyes. Had he heard something? He kicked frantically at the
bedcovers, his thin legs hopelessly entangled in them during his brief and
fitful sleep.
Thump.
It was louder, closer. How many times had his child’s imagination conjured up
images of monsters in that house? That colossal, hulking ogre of a house. He
feared that one day he would disappear; be swallowed up and forever lost in
the startling noises it made at night and the menacing shadows present in
every corner.
He wanted his mother. She would smile at him and tell him there were no
monsters. She would look in his closet and under the bed and tousle his curly
brown hair playfully as she tucked him back into bed. She would sit with him
until his breathing became even and steady and she knew for certain that he
was asleep again.
Finally freed of his bedding, Kenton peered through the ominous shadows at
his younger brother’s bed. Shane wasn’t there. Kenton rubbed his eyes again
as if that would make Shane reappear. Dropping his bare feet to the floor, he
padded cautiously to the door. The door that would either lead him to his
mother…or to the terrible noise he had heard.
He wiped his sweaty palms on his pajama pants and waited a moment before
pushing the six panel oak door open the rest of the way. The door squeaked
lightly on its hinges, but the sound seemed to reverberate through the entire
estate like an endless echo. He stood in the open doorway as if frozen, not
wanting to look into the corridor. Waiting. Listening. The feeling of
dread began to build in him, rolling in his stomach and threatening to
explode out of his mouth into a terrified scream.
He hesitated for what seemed to be hours, and then stepped into the soft
light of the immense hallway like a dead person would step toward the light
at the end of the proverbial tunnel. With cold sweaty beads trickling down his
back, he couldn’t shake the eerie feeling creeping over his flesh. He
shuddered.
Walking a few feet down, again out of the light but toward his mother’s room,
Kenton breathed a soft sigh when he saw Shane. The four-year-old was seated
on the floor at the edge of the balcony, completely unmoving, even at
Kenton’s approach. His feet, as his older brother’s, were bare, his bony legs
dangling through the spindle railing. As if entranced, his black-as-pitch eyes
stared oddly downward into the dark, marble floored foyer below.
A chill from an unknown source prickled the hairs on the back of Kenton’s
neck. Something was dreadfully wrong. Silently, his stomach tensing into a
knot, he sat beside the younger boy and squinted into the murkiness beyond
the balcony. He could see nothing except the faint shape of the mahogany
fern stand by the powder room door. The bulky fern, barely discernible, looked
to Kenton like a crazy octopus, arms waving, ready to eat them if they
ventured downstairs. He looked anxiously at his brother again. Shane seemed
mesmerized, watching fixedly as if he could actually see something.
Kenton tried to follow the intense stare. There was no sound now. No light. No
movement in the foyer. Only silence. A frightening silence that chilled his
blood.
“Momma’s gone,” Shane whispered so softly, Kenton wondered if he’d actually
heard the small boy speak at all.
“What?” Kenton whispered back fiercely, his emotions completely unraveling
by Shane’s disturbing stare into the blackness below them. His knuckles
turned white as he gripped the railing and strained once again, hoping to see
what so steadfastly held his brother’s attention.
Slowly, his pale face a mask of deep shock and horror, his onyx eyes glittering
in the hall light, Shane turned to face Kenton. “Momma’s gone. Daddy killed
her.”
About the Author:
Unity is the author of Secrets in the Blood (mystery/romance – August 1, 2013).
She has been writing since the age of 15 and has always dreamed of telling
stories through the craft of writing. Unity is a Registered Nurse who enjoys
small town living, antiquing, and spending time with her family.
Where to find Unity and her Book:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E50JO3A
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18165857-secrets-in-the-blood
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/340354
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/secrets-in-the-blood
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/secrets-in-the-blood-kymber-c-hawke/1116264451
October 24, 2022
#NewBook: Saddled Hearts by Jan Sikes @JanSikes3 @wildrosepress #RomanticSuspense #ContemporaryRomance #NewRelease @StoryEmpire
Hi everyone! Today, it gives me great pleasure to welcome author, friend, and fellow Story Empire contributor over to my place with some exciting news … Jan has a new book! Grab a drink and a snack, and sit back and relax while Jan tells you all about Saddled Hearts, the final book in the White Runes series 🙂 >>>
Thank you, Harmony, for allowing me to visit your blog today to talk about my new book, Saddled Hearts! I am deeply grateful for your generous hospitality. [It’s so wonderful to have you over to visit, Jan!]
Have you ever walked into a wine cellar that just blew your mind? In this story, my character, Sage Coventry, is just getting to know Colt Layne, and he is continually surprising her by stepping out of his rustic cowboy character.
And that is exactly what happened in this scene:
Colt pointed toward what resembled a barn door. “The wine is in there. You choose.”
Sage blinked when a light automatically came on as she opened the door.
Inside, she gaped at the wine fridge and large wooden rack filled with choices.
She turned back toward Colt. “Wow! How do you ever decide?”
He shot her a crooked grin. “I just close my eyes and grab one. I like surprises.”
Why did it feel like that statement carried a much deeper meaning? It told her more about this cowboy that continually shocked her.
He was a man of many contrasts who broke every stereotype.
As she turned back to the wine, Colt joined her.
Her heart thudded when he put an arm around her from behind. “Here. Like this. Close your eyes.”
She did as he instructed. His warm touch on her hand brought a gasp.
Never had she experienced anything as sensual and exciting. With his hand guiding, her fingertips brushed against the tops of the bottles.
The nearness of his chiseled body, his breath ruffling the top of her hair, and the scent of his earthy aftershave were almost more than she could take.
She fought for composure and whispered. “Are we there yet?”
“Almost.” His baritone voice reverberated against her neck. “There.” He stopped moving her hand. “You can open your eyes now.”
After a glance up at him, she pulled out the bottle. “Perfect. A Pinot Noir. One of my favorites.”
As if nothing had happened, Colt dropped his arm, flashed an irresistibly wicked grin, moved out of the pantry back to the counter, then picked up his knife.
Sage took a deep breath before closing the door.
***
I loved writing this. It is the most sensual scene in the book, in my opinion. I’d love to know what your reaction would be to such an out-of-character reveal, such as this amazing wine closet. Have you ever been surprised like that by someone you are just getting to know?
Let’s talk!
BOOK BLURB:
Colt Layne owns the Layne Horse Sanctuary. He lives an idyllic life between caring for the animals and playing music with his band. That is until a stranger appears with unreasonable demands. When someone murders the man, Colt is arrested. He’s been framed, but by whom and why?
He needs to talk with his deceased grandfather. But that’s impossible. Or is it?
Sage Coventry is gifted with the ability to communicate with the deceased. Skeptical but desperate, when Colt consults with her, he gets more than messages from beyond the grave as she breezes into his heart with sweet patchouli fragrance and tempting lips he longs to kiss.
The race against time to clear his name and save the ranch launches them on a mission that brings shocking revelations.
UNIVERSAL PURCHASE LINK: https://linktr.ee/Rijanjks
SOCIAL MEDIA:
WEBSITE: http://www.jansikes.com
BLOG: http://www.jansikesblog.com
TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/jansikes3
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorJanSikesBooks
PINTEREST: https://www.pinterest.com/jks0851/
GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7095856.Jan_Sikes
BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jan-sikes
LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jansikes/
AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE: https://www.amazon.com/Jan-Sikes/e/B00CS9K8DK
The post #NewBook: Saddled Hearts by Jan Sikes @JanSikes3 @wildrosepress #RomanticSuspense #ContemporaryRomance #NewRelease @StoryEmpire first appeared on Welcome to Harmony Kent Online.Find Harmony on the Voice of Indie #Podcast @VoiceOfIndie @FreshInkGroup to listen to the recording now on BlogTalk Radio, I Heart, Radio, Tune In and more!
Hi everyone! Happy Monday! In case you missed the live playing of my fun podcast with Stephen Geez and Beem weeks last week, you can find the show and have a listen in lots of places, which I list below! I’ve also embedded the YouTube recording here on this page >>>
StephenGeez.com: https://stephengeez.com/podcast/voice-of-indie-episode-116-10-19-2022-kent/
FreshInkGroup.com: https://freshinkgroup.com/fig-podcasts/voice-of-indie-episode-116-10-19-22-kent/
BeemWeeks.com: https://beemweeks.com/podcast/voice-of-indie-116-10-19-22/
BlogTalkRadio: https://www.blogtalkradio.com/voiceofindie1/2022/10/20/voice-of-indie-episode-116
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5rEdbhhkpZVrBpCfmDZ2K6
I Heart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-thevoiceofindie-102023320/episode/voice-of-indie-episode-116-103511288/
Tune In: https://tunein.com/podcasts/TheVoiceOfIndie-p1805865/?topicId=202719103
Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmxvZ3RhbGtyYWRpby5jb20vdm9pY2VvZmluZGllMS9wb2RjYXN0/episode/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5ibG9ndGFsa3JhZGlvLmNvbS92b2ljZW9maW5kaWUxLzIwMjIvMTAvMjAvdm9pY2Utb2YtaW5kaWUtZXBpc29kZS0xMTY?sa=X&ved=0CAUQkfYCahcKEwio0uj-1u_6AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAQ
The show is archived now, and will be available whenever you fancy a listen and have the time! Thanks for all your support, everyone. Have a wonderful week!
The post Find Harmony on the Voice of Indie #Podcast @VoiceOfIndie @FreshInkGroup to listen to the recording now on BlogTalk Radio, I Heart, Radio, Tune In and more! first appeared on Welcome to Harmony Kent Online.October 19, 2022
#BookReview: When the Moongates Grew Over: The Last Sun-Born by Kate Frantz @greatiskate @bookroar_tweets
Hi everyone! Today, I have a book review for an author I came across via a book review site, BookRoar: When the Moongates Grew Over: The Last Sun-Born by Kate Frantz >>>
About the Book:Lewel was born in the dark. Her sun-born identity hidden in lies and isolation. A life suffocated by fear of what the moon-born must do if they discovered the truth. Yet Lewel was not destined to remain in the shadows. There was a true evil barreling into the world that only she could stop. Embarking on a suicide mission that would test her merit, Lewel finds herself discovering the joy of friendship even while facing the grief of fate. As the ancient text prophesies: When the moon dances Upon open palm Thy destiny is glory. For Lewel, glory could only come by way of death.
My Review:
A gripping read but lacks resolution at the end.
I haven’t come across this writer before, but the title, cover, and book description all pulled me in, so I grabbed a Kindle copy.
‘Ithriel wailed as they snatched the child from her grasp.’ … this tense opening line in the prologue shows us characters we don’t meet again in the main narrative; however, it sets up the world and its rules in a wonderfully succinct way, which is a great use of a prologue. From here, in Chapter One, we meet the main character, Lewel, right as her life is about to change drastically.
Sun-born, Lewel has been kept hidden away all her life and told she’s an abomination. Then two moon-born strangers come to the tiny hut she’s spent her life in and take her away. From here, Lewel is faced with a barrage of new information and has to decide what’s true and what isn’t. Everyone she meets seems to have an agenda, and lies and deception abound, as does danger and challenge.
The characterisation and world building is well done, and some lovely descriptive sentences give the narrative a nice flow. Unfortunately, the writing also suffers from grammar and punctuation issues, as well as passive writing, missing words, and the over use of filler words.
The plot and pacing are great, right up until the end, where the story finishes abruptly with a ‘to be continued’ announcement. None of the plot threads so wonderfully woven are resolved or tied off at all. This makes the book feel like the set up for a story rather than a finished piece with a beginning, middle, and an end. All of which have left me frustrated as a reader.
This mixture of fantastic and frustrating makes it difficult for me to rate this read. Some of it is brilliant while other bits need work. In a case such as this, I find it helps me to break the writing down into separate elements, rate those, then add the scores together and divide by the number of elements to give me an average. Here goes …
Plot and Pacing … 5
World building … 5
Characterisation … 4
Grammar, punctuation, etc. … 2
Dialogue … 3.5
Finale/Resolution … 1
This gives us 20.5 divided by 6 = near enough 3.5, which I round up to 4 stars for rating purposes. With some tweaking, I can see this as an absolute gem of a read that would get an easy, solid 5 stars. Kate Frantz is definitely an author to watch, and I look forward to seeing her future works.
I enjoyed this read immensely and finished it quickly. If you don’t mind a wide-open ending and waiting for the next book in the series, then definitely go and buy this book!
***
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 this review. Thanks for stopping by
For anyone interested, here are the Amazon links …
UK … https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08R8XRTB2/
US … https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08R8XRTB2/
The post #BookReview: When the Moongates Grew Over: The Last Sun-Born by Kate Frantz @greatiskate @bookroar_tweets first appeared on Welcome to Harmony Kent Online.
October 18, 2022
Harmony is on the Voice of Indie #Podcast @VoiceOfIndie @FreshInkGroup
Hi everyone! Exciting news today … I’m on a podcast this evening with Beem Weeks and Stephen Geez! I’m so excited, now I’m over my nerves, lols.
Because I’m about 5 hours ahead of Eastern US time, we had to pre-record, and I won’t be on the live tweet stream when it airs at 8pm ET today … it will be about 02:00 AM my time, lols! … but I’ll be sure to look at the feed in the morning when I’m somewhat more awake and with it. We had such a fun time doing the recording, and Beem and Stephen were wonderful to chat with.
You can find the show HERE at 8pm ET, when it airs, and it will also be available to listen to anytime once it’s aired. Enjoy!
Thanks for all your support, everyone
You can find Beem at his blog HERE.
You can find Stephen at his blog HERE. 
The post Harmony is on the Voice of Indie #Podcast @VoiceOfIndie @FreshInkGroup first appeared on Welcome to Harmony Kent Online.
October 12, 2022
#BookReview: You Don’t Know What War Is by Yeva Skalietska @KidsBloomsbury @NetGalley #UkraineRussiaWar
Hi everyone! Today, I have a book review for a young, debut author: Yeva Skalietska.
I received a free Advanced Review Copy of this book from NetGalley >>>
About the Book:
Everyone knows the word ‘war’. But very few understand what it truly means. When you find you have to face it, you feel totally lost, walled in by fright and despair. Until you’ve been there, you don’t know what war is.
This is the gripping, urgent and moving diary of young Ukrainian refugee Yeva Skalietska. It follows twelve days in Ukraine that changed 12-year-old Yeva’s life forever. She was woken in the early hours to the terrifying sounds of shelling. Russia had invaded Ukraine, and her beloved Kharkiv home was no longer the safe haven it should have been. It was while she and her granny were forced to seek shelter in a damp, cramped basement that Yeva decided to write down her story. And it is a story that the world needs to hear.
Yeva captured the nation’s heart when she was featured on Channel 4 News with her granny as they fled Ukraine for Dublin. In You Don’t Know What War Is, Yeva records what is happening hour-by-hour as she seeks safety and travels from Kharkiv to Dublin. Each eye-opening diary entry is supplemented by personal photographs, excerpts of messages between Yeva and her friends and daily headlines from around the world, while three beautifully detailed maps (by Kharkiv-native Olga Shtonda) help the reader track Yeva and her granny’s journey through Europe. You Don’t Know What War Is is a powerful insight into what conflict is like through the eyes of a child and an essential read for adults and older children alike.
My Review:
Utterly Compelling
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ) for a free ARC of this book.
You Don’t Know What War Is, is the dairy of a 12-year-old Ukrainian girl, Yeva Skalietska, and it covers her experiences of war from her birthday—a few days before Russia invaded—through the early days of the invasion and heavy shelling of Kharkiv, and onward to after she and her grandmother have become two of the many refugees fleeing their home country.
From the foreword by Michael Morpurgo: ‘Yeva’s utterly compelling story stays with us: one young writer’s descent from everyday life into hell, and ultimately into salvation.’
Yeva’s experience and diary records certainly do stay with the reader. Her first entry shows us her youth and innocence… ‘I wake up early on the morning of 14 February. Today is my birthday. I’m twelve—almost a teenager!’ … Her excitement is palpable. Then, mere days later, Yeva writes: ‘All of a sudden, a massive rocket flew by and exploded with such force that I felt my heart go cold in my chest.’
The diary feels authentic with many of the words and phrases presented as you would expect from a twelve-year-old, and it seems the editors have, largely, left Yeva’s words untouched and true to her experience and expression. The only time I felt any intrusion into this was the point at which the reader is told: ‘I’ve been keeping a secret from this diary ever since we met the reporters.’ … This revelation was huge and would have changed how Yeva and her grandmother experienced and felt about all the events that had led up to that secret and beyond. For me, this undermined the authenticity of the read massively. I would have much preferred that the revelation had been given its proper place and significance in the telling of events. Being given this news when Yeva heard it, and getting her actual reaction, would have been real and brilliant. As it is, it feels jarring and deceptive. Was this an editorial decision? … I don’t know. But, for me, it would enhance rather than mar my experience of this read if the significant event was told in sequence.
As well as Yeva’s entries, we also see text messages between her and her friends. And this gives the reader more insight into how individual experiences of war can differ depending on viewpoint and location. Photographs, hand drawn maps, international news headlines, and detailed notes also help to add to the understanding of Yeva’s journey through Ukraine, Hungary, and eventually to Ireland.
Here are some lines which show this young writer’s skill …
‘Everything that seemed hard or bad in the past, becomes trivial.’
And …
‘Evenings are full of the unknown and swallow me whole with fear.’
And …
‘Do you enjoy fighting in cities, destroying everything in your wake, instead of fighting in the battlefields?’ … A great question, I feel!
The diary closes with short entries from some of Yeva’s friends, which I think is a wonderful thing to do. You Don’t Know What War Is gets five stars from me.
***
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 this review. Thanks for stopping by
For anyone interested, here are the Amazon links …
UK … https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08R8XRTB2/
US … https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1454949694/
The post #BookReview: You Don’t Know What War Is by Yeva Skalietska @KidsBloomsbury @NetGalley #UkraineRussiaWar first appeared on Welcome to Harmony Kent Online.
October 5, 2022
#BookReview: Rainer Razes Cain (Rainer Series Book 1) by Gregory R. Marshall @bookroar_tweets
Hi everyone! Today, I have a book review for an author I came across via a book review site back in August last year: Torn Veil by Gregory R Marshall. You can find my four star review HERE. I enjoyed that read so much, I picked up another book of this author’s, and it didn’t disappoint >>>
![Rainer Razes Cain (Rainer Series Book 1) by [Gregory R. Marshall]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1665074267i/33467287.jpg)
About the Book:Forced out of the police department after the disappearance of a dangerous suspect, Rainer Hase finds himself at a crossroads. When his former Lieutenant offers him a chance to extract a college girl from a cult, he sees it as a shot at redemption. Rainer soon finds that Cainstown is hiding monstrous secrets.
My Review:
A gritty action-thriller with relatable characters
‘After the incident, people never looked at Rainer the same way.’ From this intriguing opening line, we meet Rainer Hase, a good cop driven out of the force after a bizarre incident involving a car that disappeared into thin air. At a loose end, needing income, and desperate to regain some self-esteem, Rainer becomes a PI. Then is his former Lieutenant approaches him about the daughter of friends of his, who seems to have been reeled in by a cult.
Basically, this is a book that explores the divide between science and Christianity all while delivering a gritty action-thriller with relatable characters and an all too real scenario. The author brings us the fantastical as well as the macabre, and does it so well, I never once found myself having to suspend my disbelief. The plot is complex, the pacing fast, and the world-building and characterisation done excellently. At no point could I guess where this story would go or how the whole thing would end.
The only thing to let down this wonderful narrative are the numerous spelling mistakes and grammar hiccups. Basic things such as ‘phazed’ instead of ‘fazed’, etc., which get in the way too often. Still, the writing and overall story pulled me in so much, I still found myself fully immersed in this gripping read. Otherwise, the writing was well done with some wonderful descriptions and a fantastic thread of dark humour. Here are some lines I loved …
‘His whole existence lived in the space between simple traps and tazer zaps.’
And …
‘… This place could do with a woman’s touch.” | “I guess I was married to my work, but that bitch left me too.”‘
And …
‘You can’t make your insecurity into a cause.’
The ending rounded up the plot and threads nicely. My only complaint is that the mystery of the disappearing vehicle never seemed to get cleared up. I believe a sequel is on the way, so perhaps that will get addressed then. As you may have guessed by now, I enjoyed this book immensely, and Rainer Raises Cain gets five stars from me.
***
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 this review. Thanks for stopping by
For anyone interested, here are the Amazon links …
UK … https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08R8XRTB2/
US … https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08R8XRTB2/
The post #BookReview: Rainer Razes Cain (Rainer Series Book 1) by Gregory R. Marshall @bookroar_tweets first appeared on Welcome to Harmony Kent Online.
October 3, 2022
#NewBook: The Midnight Rambler … wonderful #DarkHumour from author C. S. Boyack @virgilante @storyempire #LizzieandtheHat #series
Hi everyone. Today, it gives me great pleasure to have Craig Boyack, fellow author, Story Empire contributor, and friend, over to visit. Craig has a new book coming out, and it’s in one of my favourite series of his, Lizzie and the Hat. If you haven’t read any of these fun books yet, I urge you to give them a read! You’ll find them full of dark humour and puns. Here’s my review for The Hat, the first book of the series. If you haven’t discovered Craig’s Pinterest collection, it’s a must-see! He’s curated some fantastic images on there. You can find the links to all his social media at the bottom of this blog page. Without further ado, I’ll let Craig tell you all about his latest release …
I appreciate you loaning me your space today, Harmony. If I can ever return the favor, I’d be honored.
I’m here to talk about The Midnight Rambler, but we’ll let the cover and blurb give you some specific details for that. I like to keep these posts unique, and today’s topic is dark humor.
There’s no doubt these stories are corny. I go out of my way to make them so. I put my main character, Lizzie, through a lot. She’s been shot, had to kill a friend, and more. People die in these stories, and it’s not often peaceful. That’s pretty descriptive of the dark. That’s why I try to include some light.
I’m a big lover of adding humor to tales like this. It might be a whistling in the graveyard approach, but I think it keeps them fresh. There are a lot of vampire stories out there, but only one Kevin with his speech impediment and fear of virtually everything. These stories all have a certain pull-my-finger quality to them.
This is the series where I add silly little graphics as section breaks. Lizzie and the hat have a certain kind of buddy-humor between the two of them. Things happen to Lizzie that are more mortifying than life threatening. One example from a previous tale is how her witch costume was compared to blackface when she showed up at the local witches coven after a comic book convention.
I like to include characters like Kevin, but also Lizzie’s mother, Star St. Laurent. She’s an old hippy and makes no bones about it. When I use her she always brings a certain something to the stories. I’ve added magical creatures like Noodles the Rottweiler/snapping turtle thing, who’s manic happy all the time to the point of craziness.
I intend to keep torturing Lizzie in absurd and painful ways, but I also intend to fill these tales with a bit of humor. If you think this sounds like Halloween fun, come on the hunt for The Midnight Rambler. There’s no prequisite reading, and you might decide to check out the back catalog once you finish.
About the Book:
Something evil is after the hat. The ageless enemies have battled many times, but this time Lizzie is wearing the hat. She’s also up against a ticking clock, in that if she can’t find the maker of her new friend’s medicine he will die.
The Rambler has kidnapped the only witch capable of making Ray’s medicine in an attempt to make the hat sloppy in his efforts. He’s also flooded the streets with deadly minions to impede any progress our heroes might make.
As if that weren’t enough, Lizzie is facing more of life’s struggles, both financially and mechanically. This all goes down in the middle of a huge flood event that she’s ill equipped to handle.
Join Lizzie and the hat as they battle the elements, the paranormal, and a being of pure evil. Lizzie might be battling some personal demons along the way as she and Ray grow closer.
Get your copy here: https://mybook.to/TheMidnightRambler
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The post #NewBook: The Midnight Rambler … wonderful #DarkHumour from author C. S. Boyack @virgilante @storyempire #LizzieandtheHat #series first appeared on Welcome to Harmony Kent Online.
October 2, 2022
#NewBook: The Power of Love by Marlena Smith @WriterMSmith #Romance
Hi everyone. Today, it gives me great pleasure to have Marlena Smith–fellow author, blogger, and friend–over to visit with some exciting news! Mar has a new book out! I’ll let her take the stage to tell you all about it …
Hello!!
Saying I’m excited doesn’t quite feel like enough to describe today. I can’t believe I’m finally here and promoting the launch of The Power of Love. Thank you so much for joining us, and a huge shout out to Harmony for hosting today! Thank you for supporting me and giving me the opportunity to share my story. [My great pleasure, Mar!]
Over the next few days, I get to visit some writing friends, and I’m thrilled to be sharing this journey with them because they’ve been a part of my writing family for several years. And oh how I adore each of them. <3
Ok, let’s kick this launch off and go back to the beginning. Where it all began…
My earliest memories of writing are from grade school. Early grade school. If you know me, you probably know this story. We were given a gingerbread-shaped booklet and told to let the words flow. I wrote about my family and our home. Somehow, this story took me to the Alabama Young Author’s Conference, and my eyes were opened to a world I didn’t know existed. From there, the pieces came together.
I started typing up stories on our old family desktop and printing them off on the dot matrix printer. These would be called dinosaur devices today, but I thought it was the coolest.
I wrote about four princesses that were learning the full grasp of their magical powers, and they meet just as many princes. What a love story?! Then, there was the tale of Sara living in the days of horse carriages and general stores. This one has a little suspense due to a potentially tragic accident. We mustn’t forget the ridiculous amount of notebooks and journals I had, filled with my ramblings and ideas. These were mostly poetry because that was my first love, I think. Emily Dickinson, Edgar Allan Poe. They were the greats.
I love looking back on these old stories and am so thankful I still have them. Even at a young age, I had quite an imagination. I’m grateful I’ve never grown tired of that creativity.
Book Blurb:She only wants a fresh start and a life away from the big city.
Scarlet finds herself in the small town of Belmont, Montana. It’s a quiet town with a lot of charm. One she didn’t expect to fall in love with, but it offers something magical.
Will her past catch up to her? Will she be forced back into the life she hates? Will she risk everything for a chance at love?
Purchase Links:
Amazon PaperbackAmazon Ebook
About the Author:
Marlena Smith is a multi-genre author that uses her own small town life experiences to create stories of the same. Her publications include:
Ella: A Romantic NovellaThe Intruder: A Short ThrillerWriting Prompts: to bring out your dark side
Marlena grew up in Alabama with a love of words and creativity. She still lives in that small town today with her family and has never lost that passion. She spends her days working with churches to help them grow and her nights creating tales.
Three Random Facts (I’m stealing this idea from fellow writer, D.L. Finn!)
I graduated high school with a 4.05 GPA. Even though the class had under 80 students, I was still excited to be part of the top 10. And to this day, 15+ years later, I still miss many of those faces I had grown so close to.I’ve visited one of the most haunted places in the US–Waverly Hills Sanitorium, a facility from the early 1900’s that housed Tuberculosis patients.At the above mentioned facility, I laid inside a coffin. It was part of the offered attractions, but for me, it was a way to experience what those patients went through. Harsh treatments and traveling down the body chute, being left with lifeless bodies even though you still had a heartbeat. It seems they didn’t have much compassion.If you’d like to connect with Marlena, you can find her online:
WebsiteTwitterInstagramFacebook
I can’t thank you enough for joining us today. Please help me in thanking Harmony for sharing her site with us. (She has some fantastic posts and book reviews, so do yourself a favor and look at her past posts!) [Thanks so much, Mar]
See you in the next post! Happy reading!! <3
The post #NewBook: The Power of Love by Marlena Smith @WriterMSmith #Romance first appeared on Welcome to Harmony Kent Online.
