Harmony Kent's Blog, page 62
February 11, 2020
#ShareAReviewDay Tuesday – Oh Baubles by Harmony Kent
Oh Baubles gets some love today over at Marcia Meara’s place … doing my happy dance >>>
I’m super happy to welcome Harmony Kent here today. Harmony is sharing a wonderful review of her book, Oh Baubles, and I know you’ll enjoy reading it! Don’t forget to pass it arou…
Source: #ShareAReviewDay Tuesday – Oh Baubles by Harmony Kent
Smorgasbord Cafe and Bookstore – Author Updates #Reviews -#Shortstories Karen Ingalls, #Thriller Terry Tyler, #Fantasy C.S. Boyack, #Memoir D.G. Kaye
Check out this great collection of books over at Sally’s Cafe and Bookstore today >>>
Delighted to see so many reviews coming through for the authors in the Cafe and Bookstore so I will be adding an extra update in the week to make sure they get showcased. The first author with a re…
February 10, 2020
How to Publish with KDP: Part Three
I missed sharing this with you on Friday, due to being unwell, so here it is for any of you who haven’t seen this yet … my latest post in the Publish to KDP series over on Story Empire >>>
Hello SErs. Harmony here. As promised earlier, here is the third installment in the post series dedicated to taking a step-by-step look at how to get your finished manuscript from your computer and…
5 Indies I loved (Just in Time for Valentine’s Day)
My little romance got some love on Friday over at Jacqui Murray’s place, along with four other great-looking books. I’m late reblogging as I was under the weather on Friday. Back up to speed now though! >>>
If you like the variety and the uniqueness of Indie novels, here’s a great selection for Valentine’s Day. They aren’t all romances, just all good: Jock of the Bushveld–one o…
February 6, 2020
#BookReview: Serang by Craig Boyack @virgilante
Hi everyone. Today, it gives me great pleasure to share my review for fellow author and friend, Craig Boyack, and his latest book, Serang.
I have to say, I adore the cover for this one.
About the Book:
Monastic life is all about duty, service, and harmony. For Serang, a young girl abandoned at the temple by her mother after the death of her father, that life becomes all she knows. The monks give her purpose, and become her new family.
When political upheaval brings chaos throughout the land, Serang again loses everything and everyone she loves. Alone, she struggles to survive. She convinces a wandering monk to take her under his wing and complete her training. Thus begin her adventures through strange lands and her trials to become a confident, capable, independent adult.
This is a coming of age story set in fantasy world. It’s filled with monsters and martial arts, difficulties and dangers. The serious situations preclude the story from the levity of it’s predecessor, Voyage of the Lanternfish, but it provides a compelling look at the origin of one of the saga’s most fascinating characters.
My Review:
After thoroughly enjoying Serang’s character in Craig Boyack’s earlier book, Voyage of the Lanternfish, I looked forward to reading all about her in her very own story.
It was great fun to read about Serang as a wilful child who had to learn to adapt to change and find a whole new way of living after family tragedy struck, and to see her grow into a formidable y0ung woman.
This is a fun fantasy read filled with a strong sense of humour as well as more serious moments. The writer has done a great job with world building and characterisation, and has obviously done his research on the subject matter.
Although this is a spin-off from a character from Voyage of the Lantern Fish, it works well as a standalone novel. Having read the first book, it’s wonderful to learn where Serang’s propensity for Huangjiu came from! Equally as fascinating is reading about her trials and tribulations set within the vast upheavals that beset the China of the day with an emperor bent on war and total domination.
A number of spelling issues, missing words, and missing or misplaced quote marks let down what was otherwise a brilliant read. However, for entertainment value and a rip-roaring read that will grab you by the throat and pull you right in, I can’t recommend Serang highly enough. It gets a wonderful, solid 4 stars from me. And I’m eagerly awaiting the next book, Grinders, from this author.
***
NOTE ON RATINGS: I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.
5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! — Highly Recommended.
4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER — Go read this book.
3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! — An okay read. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.
2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.
1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book.
Amazon Links:
UK … https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07ZYPPV8K/
US … https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07ZYPPV8K/
© Harmony Kent 2020
February 5, 2020
Dual Use of Fiction Meta-Content Part 1
Check out this great post on how to develop your marketing material at the same time you develop your book by P H Solomon over at Story Empire today >>>
Good morning Story Empire readers, P.H. Solomon here with you today with a few questions, and maybe a few answers, about your content development. Do you struggle with developing marketing content …
February 4, 2020
#ShareAReviewDay Tuesday – Wake-Robin Ridge Book 1 by Marcia Meara
Marcia Meara has a great book review over at her place today for Wake-Robin Ridge … I have this and book 2 on my ereader waiting for me, and after reading this review, I can’t wait to get around to reading this series >>>
I had a bit of a mix-up with another author’s post, and ended up rescheduling her review for next Tuesday. That left me with an opening this morning, and I decided to indulge myself by sharin…
Source: #ShareAReviewDay Tuesday – Wake-Robin Ridge Book 1 by Marcia Meara
February 3, 2020
Character Archetypes: The Mentor
Check out a fun and interesting post today on Characters by Craig Boyack over at Story Empire today >>>
Hi gang, Craig with you today. This is post number two in the character archetypes series. In the Hero’s Journey, there are some common characters that are likely to show up in all stories. This do…
Source: Character Archetypes: The Mentor
Hode’s Hill Series .99c Sale #GhostFiction #SupernaturalSuspense #ParanormalMystery
A great deal on Mae Clair’s Hodes Hill Series of books today … check it out at her place >>>
Hi, friends. I’ve been away since last Friday afternoon for an extended weekend at the beach. The weather was awesome and it turned out to be one of the best vacays DH and I have had. I got s…
Source: Hode’s Hill Series .99c Sale #GhostFiction #SupernaturalSuspense #ParanormalMystery
January 31, 2020
Week In Review
A funny confession, a lovely photo, and some great writing-related links today from Joan Hall over at her place today >>>
Sometimes I’m beginning to think doing NaNoWriMo caused some of my brain cells to disappear. For some reason, I can’t seem to get it together. I scrambled at the last minute to get the …
Source: Week In Review
