Harmony Kent's Blog, page 23
May 31, 2022
#NewBook: Harmony is on tour with Jan Sikes @JanSikes3 for the release of #Life&Soul
Hi everyone! Today, I’m thrilled to be visiting fellow author, blogger, Story Empire member, and friend, Jan Sikes.
Jan has kindly invited me over to help me promote the release of my second book of poetry: Life & Soul, Book 2 in the Soul Poetry Series.
As many of you know, due to health issues, I’m not able to manage a big launch tour this time, but I had three blog visits last week, and three this week. I’m so grateful to all of you who offered your time and blog space for me. You’ll find me at Jan’s place HERE. We’d love to see you and say Hi! 
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!
#TANKATUESDAY Weekly #POETRYCHALLENGE #2-31-05-22 #SHAREYOURDAY @ColleenChesebro #Kerf
Hi everyone!
Today, I’ve joined Colleen’s weekly TankaTuesday challenge, which asks for us to create a syllabic poem based on our day.
You can find Colleen’s post HERE.
Image by SEBASTIEN MARTY from Pixabayhttps://pixabay.com/photos/girl-sea-w...
Flash Flood
Carried down the river
Torrent of sudden flash flood
Float on my back, looking for the rainbow
The shock makes me shiver
This rain of pain isn’t good
Though what can I do but go with the flow
Sunshine all day forecast
Not out of control deluge
Knocked off my feet, which only goes to show
Good or bad, it won’t last
Plans can’t provide a refuge
Trust yourself and let your inner sun glow
Today, I chose a Kerf:
12 lines made up of 4 tercets;syllabic: 6/7/10 per line;rhymed: rhyme scheme abc abc dec dec.
Yesterday went somewhat awry. One thing happened that cascaded into another, and before I knew it, all plans were off. Amusingly, my day matched the weather. The morning started sunny, as forecast, then turned into heavy rain and flash floods. From an active start, I ended up needing to rest and take medication for a deluge of pain. By the evening, the sun had returned in its full brilliance … a gorgeous reminder of what can happen when we embrace the storm and go with the flow.
I hope you enjoyed today’s poetry. Have a lovely day!
© Harmony Kent 2022
May 30, 2022
#NewBook: Harmony is on tour with Staci Troilo @stacitroilo for the release of #Life&Soul
Hi everyone! Today, I’m thrilled to be visiting fellow author, blogger, Story Empire member, and friend, Staci Troilo.
Staci has kindly invited me over to help me promote the release of my second book of poetry: Life & Soul, Book 2 in the Soul Poetry Series.
As many of you know, due to health issues, I’m not able to manage a big launch tour this time, but I had three blog visits last week, and three this week. I’m so grateful to all of you who offered your time and blog space for me. You’ll find me at Staci’s place HERE. We’d love to see you and say Hi!
As well as being a courageous, generous, and inspiring human being, Staci is the author of many books of fiction, short stories, and series. She truly is an author of talent. You will find her works on her Amazon Page, and they’re well worth a look! Thanks for stopping by, everyone!
May 29, 2022
#BookReview: Carolina Moonset by Matt Goldman @goldman_matthew @NetGalley
Hi everyone! Today, I have a book review for a great read from an author new to me, Matt Goldman. Many thanks to a couple of blogging friends, Mae Clair and Joan Hall, who introduced me to this book via their great reviews. I hopped on over to NetGalley and requested a review copy, which I was delighted to receive. The book releases tomorrow. I have review posts scheduled up to early July, so today you get a bonus post to help promote its release! Here’s my review >>>
About the Book:
Both suspenseful and deeply moving, Carolina Moonset is an engrossing novel about family, memories both golden and terrible, and secrets too dangerous to stay hidden forever, from New York Times bestselling and Emmy Award-winning author, Matt Goldman.
Joey Green has returned to Beaufort, South Carolina, with its palmettos and shrimp boats, to look after his ailing father, who is succumbing to dementia, while his overstressed mother takes a break. Marshall Green’s short-term memory has all but evaporated, but, as if in compensation, his oldest memories are more vivid than ever. His mind keeps slipping backwards in time, retreating into long-ago yesterdays of growing up in Beaufort as a boy.
At first this seems like a blessing of sorts, with the past providing a refuge from a shrinking future, but Joey grows increasingly anxious as his father’s hallucinatory arguments with figures from his youth begin to hint at deadly secrets, scandals, and suspicions long buried and forgotten. Resurfacing from decades past are mysteries that still have the power to shatter lives—and change everything Joey thought he knew.
Especially when a new murder brings the police to his door …
My Review:
A moving and engrossing read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge Books for this Advanced Review Copy.
I haven’t read this author before, but after seeing positive reviews around the blogosphere, I requested a review copy via NetGalley, and was thrilled to have the chance to read and review Carolina Moonset, which did not disappoint.
“When I saw my first palm tree, I almost died of disappointment.” … this opening line had me hooked. I loved the set-up and wanted to know more. The writer takes the reader immediately into a journey of reminiscence, love, loss, and letting go. I fell in love with the characters, who all felt visceral and real, and I connected with the predicament deeply.
I love a good mystery, especially one that happened decades ago and needs to be resolved in the here and now, as well as an in-the-present crisis to go along with it. This book certainly delivers that.
Joey’s dad has Lewy Body Demtentia, which leaves him with zero short-term recall and no idea what happened even a few seconds prior. He lives in the past, which he recalls vividly. Added to that, he also begins to hallucinate and hold conversations with people who are not there. When a prominent local businessman is shot dead, and the murder weapon is linked to Joey’s dad, things get a whole lot more serious.
I loved the style of writing, the characterisation, world building, and humour that runs throughout the narrative. Here are some lines I loved …
“I took a deep breath and inhaled forty years of pleasant memories from this place I loved.”
And …
“Running a company and parenting two teenagers was easier than parenting my parents.”
And …
“When it comes to matchmaking, my wife treats this town like one of her quilts. No tolerance for loose threads dangling all alone.”
The plot, pacing, and writing were excellently done, and I enjoyed this read immensely. The ending was well-rounded and satisfying. I shall be reading more of Matt Goldman for sure. Carolina Moonset gets a resounding 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 …
May 28, 2022
Life & Soul at Sally’s Cafe and Bookstore today! #NewBook @sgc58 #poetry
Hi everyone! I don’t post in a Saturday usually, but I had to share Sally Cronin’s incredibly generous shoutout for my new book, Life & Soul today!
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 weekend!
May 25, 2022
#NewBook: Harmony is on tour with Beem Weeks @BeemWeeks for the release of #Life&Soul
Hi everyone! Today, I’m thrilled to be visiting fellow author, blogger, Story Empire member, and friend, Beem Weeks.
Beem has kindly invited me over to help me promote the release of my second book of poetry: Life & Soul, Book 2 in the Soul Poetry Series.
As many of you know, due to health issues, I’m not able to manage a big launch tour this time, but I have three blog visits this week, and three next week. I’m so grateful to all of you who offered your time and blog space for me. You’ll find me at Beem’s place HERE. We’d love to see you and say Hi!
As well as being a talented, generous, and inspiring human being, Beem is the author of many books of fiction and short stories. He truly is an author of talent. You will find his works on his Amazon Page, and they’re well worth a look! Thanks for stopping by, everyone!
#BookReview: Dead Against Her by Melinda Leigh @MelindaLeigh1 @NetGalley
Hi everyone! Today, I have a book review for a crime read from an author whose book I picked up via NetGalley, Melinda Leigh >>>
About the Book:Sheriff Bree Taggert’s downfall is part of a killer’s cunning design in #1 Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Melinda Leigh’s novel of murder, lies, and revenge.
Called to an isolated farm to check on an elderly widow, Sheriff Bree Taggert finds a brutal double homicide. One of the victims is Eugene Oscar, the bitter and corrupt former deputy she recently fired.
Working with criminal investigator Matt Flynn, Bree discovers that she isn’t the only one who had a troubling history with Eugene. But someone doesn’t want Bree digging up the past. She becomes the target of a stranger’s sick and devious campaign calculated to destroy her reputation, career, family, and new relationship with Matt. To make matters worse, she’s the prime suspect in Eugene’s murder.
When her chief deputy goes missing while investigating the case, Bree refuses to back down. She won’t let him become the next victim. His life and her future depend on finding a killer nursing a vengeful rage.
Romantic Suspense. Mystery Suspense. Crime Suspense
My Review:
An Okay Read
With the book cover, the description, and all the four and five star reviews, I was excited to get to read this book. The narrative opened strongly with … “Hate is a living thing, a seed to be planted and watered.” … and a little further on … “Regret is a funny emotion. By definition, you can’t experience it until after the fact.”
Unfortunately, I soon got bogged down in passive writing, split infinitives galore, crutch words and repetition. After just the first few chapters, I lost count of how many times the reader was informed Oscar had been fired by Bree, and all the whys and wherefores around that.
I liked that the main protagonist is such a strong character, and here are some more lines I loved …
”Weedy pastures and run-down structures painted a desolate landscape.”
And … “The foyer was like its owner, dated but well kept.”
All in all, an okay read that starts slow and is heavy on description at times, but has likeable characters and a good plot. A solid three 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 …
May 24, 2022
#NewBook: Harmony is on tour with D L Finn @dlfinnauthor for the release of #Life&Soul
Hi everyone! Today, I’m thrilled to be visiting fellow author, blogger, Story Empire member, and friend, D L Finn.
Denise has kindly invited me over to help me promote the release of my second book of poetry: Life & Soul, Book 2 in the Soul Poetry Series.
As many of you know, due to health issues, I’m not able to manage a big launch tour this time, but I have three blog visits this week, and three next week. I’m so grateful to all of you who offered your time and blog space for me. You’ll find me at D L Finn’s place HERE. We’d love to see you and say Hi!
As well as being a talented and inspiring human being, with an avid interest in the magical, Denise is the author of many books of fiction, non-fiction, short stories, and poetry. You will find her works on her Amazon Page, and they’re well worth a look! Thanks for stopping by, everyone!
#TANKATUESDAY Weekly #POETRYCHALLENGE #275 #THEMEPROMPT @ColleenChesebro
Hi everyone!
Today, I’ve joined Colleen’s weekly TankaTuesday challenge, which asks for us to create a syllabic poem based on a Theme Prompt from Kerfe:
‘USEFUL’As ever, we need to avoid ‘ing’ ending words if at all possible.
You can find Colleen’s post HERE.
Empty Vessel
of what use is an
empty pot?—more than
the space within the vessel?
best vacant or full?
life brings push and pull—
with such things we must wrestle
esse is more than
achievements that span
the years in which days nestle
cup spills if too full
the mess left awful
too busy is not special
better to sit an’
reflect—be still—than
coat yourself in the speckle
of the useless pall
of doing it all
twisted up like a pretzel
the pragmatic man
walked before he ran
balanced work with the restful
drop by drop—stream full
listen first then call
for a life quintessential
Today, I chose an Alouette.
From Poet’s Collective: The Alouette, created by Jan Turner, consists of two or more stanzas of 6 lines each, (12 lines or more) with the following set rules:
Syllabic: 5/5/7/5/5/7
Rhyme Scheme: aabccb
The form name is a French word meaning ‘skylark’ or larks that fly high, the association to the lark’s song being appropriate for the musical quality of this form.
I hope you enjoyed today’s poetry. Have a lovely day!
© Harmony Kent 2022
May 23, 2022
#NewBook: Harmony is on tour with Gwen Plano @gmplano for the release of #Life&Soul
Hi everyone! Today, I’m thrilled to be visiting fellow author, blogger, Story Empire member, and friend, Gwen Plano.
Gwen has kindly invited me over to help me promote the release of my second book of poetry: Life & Soul, Book 2 in the Soul Poetry Series.
As many of you know, due to health issues, I’m not able to manage a big launch tour this time, but I have three blog visits this week, and three next week. I’m so grateful to all of you who offered your time and blog space for me. You’ll find me at Gwen’s place HERE. We’d love to see you and say Hi!
As well as being a wonderful, kind, generous, and inspiring, human being, Gwen is the author of both a book of memoirs and also three books of fiction. You will find her works on her Amazon Page, and they’re well worth a look! Thanks for stopping by, everyone!
