Harmony Kent's Blog, page 59

#Bookreview – Creative Solutions for the Modern Writer: Inspirational Tools to Fire Your Imagination by Harmony Kent – Robbie’s inspiration

Hi everyone. After not posting for a while, I have two reblogs as it happens today, lol … Robbie Cheadle has posted a wonderful review of my book on writing inspiration. I’d be delighted if you could hop on over and show us both some love. Thanks, folks!

#TwoferTuesday No. 2 – #BookSale – ALL My Novels!

Hi everyone. I’ve been quiet just lately, and for that you have my apologies. However, I couldn’t miss sharing this fabulous deal with you all. Fellow author and online buddy Marcia Meara is offering all of her books … yes, ALL of them! … at discounted prices. If you’re looking for a new read, hop on over to her place and check it out >>>

Just want to let the Immediate World know all of my full-length novels are on sale from now until April 30! Yep! ALL. Of them.

http://mybook.to/FALLOUT is awarded an @IndieBrag Medallion! #Post-Apocalyptic

 

 

 

 

Hi everyone, the other day I received an email that lifted my spirits. For those who may not know, I’ve been suffering with an exacerbation of my asthma lately and am now on my second treatment of steroids. My husband and I are on a strict lockdown, but at least we can be together. At first, it looked as though we would have to separate for the duration so that he could keep working, but we’ve found a way around that. Yay. Anyway, the email was from IndieBrag, and they wrote to tell me they have award my book FALLOUT one of their prestigious medallions for excellence. To say I’m thrilled is a massive understatement! {Huge grins all around}.

They are in process of adding FALLOUT to their site, but if you’d like to check out other B.R.A.G Medallaion Honourees, click HERE. I’ll be updating the cover and boasting the badge as soon as it’s all ready to go, but I just had to share my awesome news here. 

I hope you’re all keeping well and safe and finding things to smile about.

With hugs and appreciation, Harmony

#BookReview: The Hallows by Victor Methos @VictorMethos

Hi everyone. Today, I have another book review for you … and–delightfully–it’s another high star rating

Why Write Wrong? #1

Hi everyone. You must go to Story Empire today and check out Marcia Meara’s first SE post! It’s a good one … do you peek, peak, or pique? >>>

Hi, Folks! Marcia here, checking in from way down south in central Florida. Hope you’ve all been having a great week, so far. Since this is my first “official” post as a new member of t…

Source: Why Write Wrong? #1

How to Publish with KDP: Part Six B | Story Empire

Another installment from me over on Story Empire today on how to self publish to Amazon’s KDP programme >>>

 

Hello SErs. Harmony here. As promised earlier, here is the second part of the sixth installment in the post series dedicated to taking a step-by-step look at how to get your finished manuscript fro…

Source: How to Publish with KDP: Part Six B | Story Empire

#BookReview: Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine @rachelcaine

Hi everyone, today I have a review for you for a book I came across in August last year on Joan Hall’s website, which I got around to reading, finally! >>>

About the Book:

Gina Royal is the definition of average—a shy Midwestern housewife with a happy marriage and two adorable children. But when a car accident reveals her husband’s secret life as a serial killer, she must remake herself as Gwen Proctor—the ultimate warrior mom.

With her ex now in prison, Gwen has finally found refuge in a new home on remote Stillhouse Lake. Though still the target of stalkers and Internet trolls who think she had something to do with her husband’s crimes, Gwen dares to think her kids can finally grow up in peace.

But just when she’s starting to feel at ease in her new identity, a body turns up in the lake—and threatening letters start arriving from an all-too-familiar address. Gwen Proctor must keep friends close and enemies at bay to avoid being exposed—or watch her kids fall victim to a killer who takes pleasure in tormenting her. One thing is certain: she’s learned how to fight evil. And she’ll never stop.

My Review:

 

 

I first came across this book on a fellow author’s website in August last year and finally got around to reading it.

The opening was powerful and hooked my attention. Written in first-person and present tense, it took me a while to get used to this, but I did enjoy it. The pace keeps up throughout the book, and the identity of the killer kept me guessing until very near the end. On the whole, I could relate to the characters and cared what happened to them.

Originally, I was going to rate this a five-star read, but the dop-off-a-cliff ending let it down immensely for me. While many of the threads woven through this story got tied off, the book ends on a hell of a cliffhanger, which I didn’t like at all. I’m in two minds as to whether or not I’ll look out for the next book in the series because of this.

One line that stood out for me: ‘… a gun can’t protect you unless you protect yourself mentally, emotionally, and logicaly. It’s the punctuation at the end, not the paragraph.’

All in all, an enjoyable read that 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.

Amazon Links if you’re interested: UK and US.

 

Please note, these are NOT affiliate links.

 

©Harmony Kent 2020

Update to #coronavirus struggles and #Amazon’s rationale for banning ads for my book FALLOUT

Hi everyone. I had a nice long weekend to celebrate hubby’s birthday. Sadly, I’m now struggling with an asthma episode, so if I’m not online as much this week, that’s why. I’ve doubled-up my meds and have a phone call with the asthma nurse scheduled for Wednesday afternoon … for obvious reasons, I don’t want to go to the GP surgery unless I absolutely have to. The receptionist I spoke to said things were crazy, and she sounded well frazzled … I feel for those on the frontlines right now.

I finally had a reply from our friends Amazon, about why they have banned ads for my book, FALLOUT. Here goes >>>

 

I’m laughing so hard at their question at the bottom of the email … Were you satisfied with the support provided? …

Whaaat??? LOLs. Um, no. I wasn’t. Actually. It took so long to get a response, and to my mind, this bans just about half of every fiction book ever written.

What’s more, hubby and I were browsing on Amazon Prime for a movie to watch, and right up there on newly added was a virus-related apocalyptic film!! So, was that a ‘satisfactory customer experience’? NO!!

I’m lost for any further response to this.

 

And I’m sick of all the panic and hoo-har about the Covid-19 virus. As an asthmatic, I’m supposed to self-isolate for up to four months … even from my husband … um … unless he moves out, that isn’t possible. We have an open-plan bungalow with one bathroom and one kitchen. Due to my disability, he also does a lot for me. 

Likewise, because of all the idiotic panic buying, I can’t actually buy any essentials … so, hubby and I are having to scavenge in every supermarket just for the basics, which increases our social exposure massivley.

Lastly, hubby can’t self-isolate with me because he is self-employed, and no work equals no pay … so, to miss four months of work? How are we supposed to manage? The advice from the government might sound good, but it is in no way practical or doable for the average citizen.

That’s it from me today, folks. Stay well and keep safe.

 

 

 

©Harmony Kent 2020

Fishing for Plots #Plotting #StoryEmpire #WIPs | Story Empire

Hi everyone. Today, Mae has a great post over on Story Empire about ‘fishing’ for plots >>>

Hi, SEers! It’s Mae Day on Story Empire, and I’m here to talk plotting—and fishing.  Early in our marriage, my husband introduced me to flounder fishing. That attachment eventually evol…

Source: Fishing for Plots #Plotting #StoryEmpire #WIPs | Story Empire

#BookReview: The Book of Koli by M R Carey @michaelcarey191

Hi everyone, I have another book review for you today. This one was an ARC from NetGalley, and I loved it …

About the Book:

 

‘A captivating start to what promises to be an epic post-apocalyptic fable’  Kirkus

EVERYTHING THAT LIVES HATES US . . .

Beyond the walls of the small village of Mythen Rood lies an unrecognisable landscape. A place where overgrown forests are filled with choker trees and deadly seeds that will kill you where you stand. And if they don’t get you, the Shunned men will.

Koli has lived in Mythen Rood his entire life. He believes the first rule of survival is that you don’t venture too far beyond the walls.

He’s wrong.

The Book of Koli  begins a breathtakingly original new trilogy set in a strange and deadly world of our own making.

‘Narrator Koli’s inquisitive mind and kind heart make him the perfect guide to Carey’s immersive, impeccably rendered world’  Kirkus

‘Carey writes with compassion and fire – strange and surprising and humane’

Lauren Beukes

Look out for the next novels in the trilogy: THE TRIALS OF KOLI and THE FALL OF KOLI

 

 

My Review:

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Little, Brown Group UK–Orbit– for a free ARC of this book.

The cover intrigued me, mostly due to the lack of anything much other than creeping vegetation. And the title made me wonder, what’s this going to be about? So, I gave the description a once over … EVERYTHING THAT LIVES HATES US … ooh, now, I liked the sound of that. And I adore post-apocalyptic fiction. So, I requested The Book of Koli and duly received an advanced copy. I’ve never read anything by M R Carey before now, so I had no idead what to expect.

The narrative pulled me in from the first line of the first page and never let up until the end. Because this is the first book of a planned series, it ends where the next stage of the story will continue in book 2, so is a little open-ended due to that, but the threads from this first book are, by-and-large, tied up nicely.

I connected with all the characters, who are well drawn and realistic, and I care what happens to Koli and Ursala, as well as certain others, whom I don’t want to mention here so as not to put in spoilers. I hate spoilers. The world-building was excellent, and I’m intrigued as to what happened to bring the world to its present state in this story. I expect we’ll find out in book two.

As other reviewers have commented, the narration in the voice of Koli takes some getting used to, but very quickly, I found that I enjoyed the alternative way of speaking and the rythym. Here are a couple of examples …

‘She didn’t say knowed, she said known, …. It was how they said those things in the old times.’

‘… my ma sometimes called the engine Summer, …’ (for indian [injun] summer!)

And lots of English place names have been subtly altered, such as Half Ax, Ludden, Burnt Lea, etc.

Here are a couple of lines that I loved …

‘… or else a hollow in the ground and a hope that was hollower still.’

‘I seen now that dying wasn’t just one single thing that happens one single time. A little of it comes with every ending, collecting in the heart of you like rainwater in a barrel. This was a big lot of dying all at once, and it daunted me.’

This tale brings us a boy just coming of age, who has so far lived a sheltered life within the walls of his village. But his thirst for knowledge and wanting to get his hands on old tech propell him into places he never knew were there. The dystopian element is limited in this first story, but the post-apocalyptic element is huge and enjoyable. We have trees that move to trap unwary humans for food, as well as dropping seeds that burn into a person, and don’t even ask about the wild animals! It’s great to watch Koli grow as his story unfolds, and I look forward to reading more about him and his adventures in the coninuation of this series, which I’ll be looking out for.

I don’t want to say anymore here, because that would bring in spoilers. Suffice to say, I loved this book. It gets a solid five stars from me. The only reason I didn’t read it in one sitting was because real life has a way of demanding your attention for other things.

***

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.