Harmony Kent's Blog, page 35

#BookReview: The Color of Your Voice by Daniel Newwyn @DanielNewwyn @bookroar_tweets

Hi everyone! Today, I have a book review for an author new to me, Daniel Newwyn. The blurb appealed to me, and I adore the book cover and story premise >>>

About the Book:

What happens when a call girl and a death row prisoner fall in love?

Violet Pham can see sounds. The brown chirps of the sparrows dance with the colors of their feathers. The green blobs from her mother weave into her squeaky berates.

She believes she was born to become a painter but after being labeled as a burden by everyone around her, she questions that belief. The colors around the sounds become a curse rather than a gift. With her future unsettled and her family mired in debt, there is only one solution: run away from everything.

That’s when she meets Turner Nguyen. He’s everything she wishes she could be—an iron will and a flint heart. There’s only one thing wrong with him. He’s at the center of gang wars, uses his fists to collect debts, and makes his money off the addiction of others.

Soon, the sound of his words paints Violet’s world with the ugly shade of disaster. Where will they go from here?

‘The Color of Your Voice’ is a tragic, depressing love story that speaks to the lows of human experience. It deals with themes of self-esteem, desperation, and salvation. If this is your cup of tea, then this book is for you.

Disclaimer: ‘The Color of Your Voice’ is a novella set in Vietnam, dealing with heavy themes such as prostitution, drug trafficking, and depression. The author in no way encourages or glorifies prostitution and drug trafficking.

 

My Review:

’The old prison jailer unlocked the cell. The man in the corner looked up at him, his face contemptuous, hair shaggy, and eyes devoid of life. The features that once characterized the respected and fearsome gang enforcer—slick black hair, freckled cheeks, and the sun in his eyes—had long since passed.’

From these opening lines the book grabbed my attention, and I read it in one sitting. The story premise of: ‘What happens when a call girl and a death row prisoner fall in love?’ piqued my interest, so I added this novel to my Kindle Unlimited library. The author, Daniel Newwyn, is new to me, and I’m glad I gave The Color of Your Voice a chance.

While my Kindle pages number 235, the book is a much shorter read. I believe this is down to formatting issues where way too many blank lines lie between the paragraphs. The story is written like a detailed outline and has vast potential for development into a deep and moving novel rather than the novella it is with the narrative sort of stop-start and switching scenes just when things get deep or interesting. Also, spelling issues abound and suggest that English may be the writer’s second language. The book could benefit immensely from a professional edit and proofread.

With all of that said, Mr Newwyn displays great potential for improvement and has evident talent for storytelling. With more practice and experience, I can see him becoming a world-class author one day. His writing is wonderfully descriptive, and here are a few lines which stood out for me …

‘… being summoned meant that even if it was raining like the sky hadn’t pissed for years, you were going to strap on your boots, put on a raincoat, and barge outside against the wind.’

And …

‘I was young and naïve, you know, like every fifteen-year-old in the world with an ego the size of the Earth, thinking their will is the Sun and the world dances around their gravitational force.’

And …

‘Violet had never cried in her life. But that day, she burst into tears. She fell on the ground and cried as though her body contained only tears, as though crying were in her blood, as though it were her lifeline.’

Despite the brevity of the writing, I connected with both the main characters. I loved that Violet could see sounds, and the depiction of the sound-colours was wonderfully done. The story switches between Violet and Turner as well as timeframes, moving back and forth between 2011 and 2013, and finally ending at 2017.

The denouement tied off all the threads and brought things to a close nicely. While the book has possible triggers around an abusive mother, prostitution, and gangster violence, it is a moving and gripping read which leaves room for hope and love, even though redemption isn’t on offer for everyone. I give The Color of Your Voice a soft 4 stars and would have no problems upgrading that to 5 with a bit of polishing and refining.

On a final note, I adore the book cover and wish the author luck in his writing career. I believe this book will stay with me for a long time.

***

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/

 

#BookReview: The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlain @D_Chamberlain #LastHouseBook #SmallTownSecrets

Hi everyone! Today, I have a book review for an author I haven’t read in a while, Diane Chamberlain. The blurb appealed to me, and I’m delighted to have been accepted for a free advance review copy of this book from NetGalley >>>

About the Book:

From bestselling author Diane Chamberlain comes an irresistible new novel that perfectly interweaves history, mystery, and social justice.

When Kayla Carter’s husband dies in an accident while building their dream house, she knows she has to stay strong for their four-year-old daughter. But the trophy home in Shadow Ridge Estates, a new development in sleepy Round Hill, North Carolina, will always hold tragic memories. But when she is confronted by an odd, older woman telling her not to move in, she almost agrees. It’s clear this woman has some kind of connection to the area…and a connection to Kayla herself. Kayla’s elderly new neighbor, Ellie Hockley, is more welcoming, but it’s clear she, too, has secrets that stretch back almost fifty years. Is Ellie on a quest to right the wrongs of the past? And does the house at the end of the street hold the key? Told in dual time periods, The Last House on the Street is a novel of shocking prejudice and violence, forbidden love, the search for justice, and the tangled vines of two families.

 

My Review:

Thanks to NetGalley and Headline for this Advanced Review Copy.

Right away, the book description pulled me in, and I was delighted to receive an ARC of The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlain. The novel certainly didn’t disappoint!

The story covers two time periods, 1965 and 2010, and the narrative switches between each as the events unfold and, eventually, collide.

Powerfully and beautifully written, this story will move you to tears and anger and then to the other end of the emotional spectrum so that you laugh aloud, when you find humour amidst the darkness, and smile at the warmth and bravery and kindness set against secrets, bigotry, and horrific prejudice. Only one thing is certain … that we cannot ever truly know a person, nor a community, and sometimes, not even ourselves.

In 1965 a group known as SCOPE set about helping people of colour to register for the vote. This culminates in a tragedy that has repercussions right up to the present day in the story, 2010.

In 2010, a new widow and her young daughter move into the last house on a street under development, which was the dream home Kayla and her deceased husband designed and built together. Before its completion, a freak accident left Kayla alone and ambivalent about the house. However, she had no viable option but to live there. Then strange happenings and outright threats begin.

Somebody doesn’t want her there. Why?

With so many secrets, lies, and torn consciences, will the truth win out before more people die?

I fell in love and hate with the true-to-life characters, which shows a book excellently written. The pacing was fast but not overwhelming. This is a novel you live rather than read, and it will stay with me for a long time to come. The Last House on the Street gets a resounding 5 stars from me, and I shall keep an eye out for more books from this amazing writer.

***

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/

 

#BookReview: Sugar by Bernice L McFadden @queenazsa

Hi everyone! Sorry I’m not around much right now. I’ll be back visiting you all as soon as I can manage it. In the meantime, have a good week/weekend

Today, I have a book review for an author new to me, Bernice L McFadden. The blurb appealed to me, and I’m so pleased I had the chance to read this re-released classic  >>>

About the Book:

The novel opens when a young prostitute comes to Bigelow, Arkansas, to start over, far from her haunting past. Sugar moves next door to Pearl, who is still grieving for the daughter who was murdered fifteen years before. Over sweet-potato pie, an unlikely friendship begins, transforming both women’s lives–and the life of an entire town.

Sugar brings a Southern African-American town vividly to life, with its flowering magnolia trees, lingering scents of jasmine and honeysuckle, and white picket fences that keep strangers out–but ignorance and superstition in. To read this novel is to take a journey through loss and suffering to a place of forgiveness, understanding, and grace.  McFadden is the author of the novels Gathering of Waters, Glorious, and This Bitter Earth.

 

My Review:

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK Vintage for a free ARC of this book.

I haven’t read anything by Bernice L McFadden previously, but the blurb caught my attention. I am so pleased I received a copy of this moving novel. Usually, I would make notes as I read so I can quote lines that stand out for me, but this was a photocopy, so I couldn’t take notes this time. However, so many beautifully written lines made an impact on me.

The book covers the story of Sugar and Pearl, two women in a southern town in 1950s America, with all its superstition and prejudice. Against all odds, these two strong and independent characters become friends.

This is a brutal and moving read and shows strength and perseverance in the face of horrific incidents. The plot, pacing, and characterisation are all done excellently. I’d hoped Sugar would make a different choice at the end, but can see why she took the road she did. As well as the dark side of life, the narrative also brings us humour and camaraderie aplenty.

In my eyes, this is a must read book, and I’m delighted to see this classic re-released. A solid 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/

 

Story Empire Weekly Round Up @StoryEmpire @MaeClair1 @JanSikes3 #WritingCommunity

Hi everyone. It’s Friday!

Before we get to the Story Empire posts this week, I need to give you all an update incase I disappear at any point. Some of you will have noticed I’m not around as much as usual. At the end of June (roughly), I awoke one morning with numbness and tingling. Since then, other bits and bobs have cropped up. I’m currently waiting for an MRI of the brain after routine blood tests came back okay. I am experiencing significant fatigue as well as pain on some days, so if I ignore your blogs, etc., at any time, please know it’s not personal. I’ll keep you all updated.  

Here are the posts for the week from Story Empire (in case the title of the post didn’t give it away)

 

Happy Fourth of July Holiday Monday from the SE team

What I learned from High School History by Mae

 

Every Author’s Four-Letter Word by Jan

 

 

 

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone  

 

#BookReview: Grinders by C S Boyack @Virgilante

Hi everyone! Today, I have a book review for friend and fellow SE author, Craig Boyack. I’m way behind on his books, so I’m happy to have read this far. I love the humour and characters that Craig writes  >>>

About the Book:

Jimi Cabot made one mistake as a starving college student. When she went to work for the San Francisco Police Department, it nearly cost her the job. The union stepped in and they had to reinstate her. They did so by assigning her to the duty nobody wants, Grinder Squad.

Grinders are people who use back room surgeries to enhance their bodies with computer chips, and various kinds of hardware. Jimi is sure that if she can just bust one grind shop, it will be her ticket back.

Paired with veteran cop, she soon learns that Grinder Squad is a cash-cow for the department. They are nothing more than glorified patrol cops, and generally get the worst assignments.

Matchless is the most wanted grinder of all time. He disappeared years ago, leaving only the evidence of those he enhanced during his career. With these pieces, Jimi picks up the cold trail to try working her way back to more respectable duty.

Grinders is a cyberpunk story set in a world where global warming has eroded coastlines, and society has solved many of our current problems by replacing them with new ones. There are cyber shut-ins, cyber-currency skimming schemes, and more in this futuristic tale.

This book also takes the opportunity to poke a stick at current issues that seem to have lasted into the future. Entitled people, helicopter moms, overzealous homeowner associations, and lack of decent jobs are all present. Never preachy, these issues make up the day to day work of a patrol officer.

 

My Review:

‘Jimi Cabot rolled over in bed, but the black cat pawed her face once more.’

From this opening line, the author takes his readers into a futuristic world of robotic and/or holographic house companions, constant advertising, body alterations via various weird and wonderful implants/modifications, a grid that manages traffic, and a police Grinder squad, which is viewed as the police dumping place for officers they don’t want or who are past their prime. Jimi has other ideas after getting dumped into the Grinder squad, and when she pairs with veteran cop, Lou, things get interesting fast. Here are some lines which stood out for me:

 

(Lou talking to his ‘companion’) ‘You’re still cheaper than both my ex-wives, and you take no for an answer.’ This had me chuckling away … oh, the benefits of a non-human live-in!

and

‘Parenting advice from a hologram?’ I loved the indignation and humour in this whole exchange.

There’s a lot of information to take in, and lots of conversation in this novel, but it works. I enjoyed this read and soon got through the book. The writer brings us a satisfying ending with all the threads nicely tied up. Grinders gets a solid 4 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/

 

Harmony is Vocal again! @Vocal_Creators #WritingCommunity #ReadingCommunity

Photo by Eriks Abzinovs on Unsplash

Hi everyone. Exciting news today! I joined writing platform Vocal a couple of weeks ago and have now submitted four short stories. A Stitch in Time, a 1300 word short true story, is entered in a Thread the Needle competition. Readers are telling me it’s a moving piece, and I’d love to know what you think! I’d be delighted if you could read my competition entry HERE and leave a like. To like, you’ll need to sign in to Vocal, which is free to do. In the event of a tiebreaker, all reads and likes will be taken into account. Your support would be gratefully received.  Thanks, everyone! Hugs

 

Story Empire Weekly Round Up @StoryEmpire @HowellWave @JoanHallWrites @stacitroilo #WritingCommunity

Hi everyone. It’s Friday! It’s been a bit of a week, but we’ve made it! Here are the posts for the week from Story Empire (in case the title of the post didn’t give it away)

Writing Motivation Killers Are Out There – Let’s Discuss Three of Them by John

 

Words by Joan

 

Developing Your Villain by Staci

 

 

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone  

 

#BookReview: Her Last Breath by Hilary Davidson @hilarydavidson

Hi everyone! Today, I have a book review for an author new to me, Hilary Davidson. When I saw Her Last Breath on my monthly Amazon Free Prime Reads, I jumped at the chance to read this because the blurb leapt out at me  >>>

About the Book:

From the bestselling author of One Small Sacrifice comes a suspenseful thriller about a dead woman who predicted her own murder—and the sister who won’t let the truth be buried.

When her beloved sister Caroline dies suddenly, Deirdre is heartbroken. However, her sorrow turns to bone-chilling confusion when she receives a message Caroline sent days earlier warning that her death would be no accident. Long used to being a pariah to her family, Deirdre covers her tattoos and heads to Manhattan for her sister’s funeral.

The message claimed Caroline’s husband, Theo, killed his first wife and got away with it. Reeling from the news, Deirdre confronts Theo on the way to the cemetery, and he reveals both his temper and his suspicion that Deirdre’s “perfect” sister was having an affair.

Paranoid and armed with just enough information to make her dangerous, Deirdre digs into the disturbing secrets buried with Caroline. But as she gets closer to the truth, she realizes that her own life may be at risk…and that there may be more than one killer in the family.

 

My Review:

‘I didn’t know what to wear to the funeral. Any other day, I would’ve called my sister for advice, because Caro always knew the right way to do things. But she was dead, and I’d never hear her soft, husky voice again.’

From this intriguing opening, the story only got better. The story unfolds in first person POV and alternates between Deirdre, the bereaved and out-cast sister, and Theo, the husband under suspicion. While I guessed early on who wasn’t the culprit, it took some working out who might be, and the guessing gave me much fun along the way. The clues are expertly laid, and the characters well drawn. The pacing is fast but not overwhelming. Here are some lines that stood out for me:

‘The minor chords of the pipe organ underscored the ugliness of the moment.’

and

‘His head drooped, as if his neck had just decided to quit its job.’

and

‘There’s a problem with blind loyalty when you mistake a monster for a man.’

In fact, so many wonderful lines stood out as well written and original. I don’t want to say too much more lest I put in spoilers. Some serious gaslighting goes on in this book, and the true villain is one nasty, twisted person. All in all, an emotional read full of flawed and relatable characters, which shows us the kinds of secrets and lies we wrap around ourselves each and every day. How well do you really know family?

A resounding 5 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: Her Last Breath by Hilary Davidson @hilarydavidson first appeared on Welcome to Harmony Kent Online.

Story Empire Weekly Round Up @StoryEmpire @Virgilante @dlfinnauthor @harmony_kent #WritingCommunity

Hi everyone. It’s Friday! It’s been a nice, quiet week (the best sort!). Here are the posts for the week from Story Empire (in case the title of the post didn’t give it away)

Writing and Social Media by Denise

 

The Other Sister by Craig 

How to Make 3D Book Covers for Free by little ole Harmony   

 

 

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone  

 

The post Story Empire Weekly Round Up @StoryEmpire @Virgilante @dlfinnauthor @harmony_kent #WritingCommunity first appeared on Welcome to Harmony Kent Online.

In case you missed my mischief … You can find me at Sally’s @sgc58 and Marcia’s @MarciaMeara

Hi everyone, I had fun on the web yesterday visiting two lovely ladies: Sally Cronin with a wonderful review of The Vanished Boy, and Marcia Meara with a fun 10 Things you may not know about me. If you haven’t seen these already, we’d love a visit, which would be sure to give you a chuckle! Thanks, everyone!  

The Vanished Boy at Sally’s place

This week I have been reading The Vanished Boy by Harmony Kent… a parent’s worse nightmare.

 

 

Ten Things You May Not Know at Marcia’s place   

The post In case you missed my mischief … You can find me at Sally’s @sgc58 and Marcia’s @MarciaMeara first appeared on Welcome to Harmony Kent Online.