Harmony Kent's Blog, page 68
November 22, 2019
Sally’s Cafe and Bookstore – Christmas Book Fair -New book on the Shelves #Pre-order – Oh Baubles: A Christmas Romance Novella by Harmony Kent
My latest book gets some Christmas love over at Sally’s Cafe and Bookstore Christmas Book Fair … I’m thrilled! >>>
Delighted to share the news of a Christmas themed new release from award winning Harmony Kent.. on pre-order until December 6th at 99p/99c – Oh Baubles: A Christmas Romance Novella. About Oh …
Friday Book Share: A Comprehensive List
Check out today’s Friday Book Share from Staci Troilo over at Story Empire >>>
Ciao, amici! This is my last book share for the year, so I’m going to do something a little different than usual. I’m choosing five books. That’s right, not one,but five. Why? Tw…
November 21, 2019
#NewBook Release: Royal Command Family Saga
Hello everyone. Today, it gives me great pleasure to welcome fellow author, Sarah Stuart, who is showcasing her latest book release. Her post says it all, so I’ll let her take it from here >>>
Hi, Sarah here, everybody. Harmony kindly tweeted my latest release when it was on pre-order, so thank you, my friend, for hosting me now it’s live. I do have a secret! Back in 2014, Harmony read and reviewed my first book, Dangerous Liaisons. She obviously enjoyed the story – she gave it 4 stars – the fifth fell to her claim that it needed an editor. Obviously, I was upset! Most definitely not on speaking terms with this… this person who had insulted my baby. That lasted until I admitted the truth – Harmony was 100% right.
Three more books in the Royal Command Family Saga – edited and proofread – followed, and then I changed tack from steamy sizzle to Christian YA, and even dipped a cautious toe into horror. By now, I was seeing Boxed Sets advertised, so I approached my cover designer. Her first effort was traditional. Four book-ends showing the title and the front of Dangerous Liaisons – nothing wrong with it, but I wanted “different”.
All the books are written as standalones, each with a happy ending. To achieve that, minor threads had been left “more or less” covered. Imagine a tapestry that looks great from the front until it’s stretched for framing. Missed stitches show as holes and dangling wool ends appear as worms. I reread all four books and then wrote Sizzling Sunset, a novella that rounds off everything. Introducing my huge cast, who appear slowly throughout the saga, would have been impossible, so Sizzling Sunset will remain exclusive to the new book.
“Michael, a poverty-stricken amateur actor makes superstar abetted by wife Elspeth. Unknown to Michael, Elspeth and their daughter are influenced by a literary heirloom. Seductions, betrayals, kidnap, blackmail, & murder follow. The Spy, an unscrupulous journalist, is out to prove rumour true & see Michael jailed for incest, hiring a hit man, or both.”
Amazon Book Description
Michael, a poverty-stricken amateur actor/singer, makes it to superstar, abetted by Elspeth, his beloved wife. Michael faces an overwhelming celebrity lifestyle, whilst The Spy, a sensationalist journalist, spearheads media attacks.
Elspeth, only daughter of a wealthy Scottish laird, persuades Clement, a multi-millionaire impresario, to cast Michael in a starring role. The musical is a spectacular success in London’s West End and on Broadway.
But, unknown to Michael, Elspeth and their eldest daughter, Lisette, are influenced by a literary heirloom originally owned by Margaret Tudor and her potentially dangerous command, “find love where ye may”, which leads to risqué seductions and infidelities.
Success and wealth beyond Michael’s wildest dreams, and his love for Elspeth, are marred by one mistake that haunts him. Blackmail, child-kidnap, a brutal murder, sex-trafficking – all ammunition The Spy uses in his attempts to bring down Michael, the Diamond Superstar.
Tempted? Maybe; I’m holding the price at 99p/99c for a little longer.
viewbook.at/RoyalCommandFamilySaga
Find me at – authorsarahstuart.com
https://www.amazon.com/Sarah-Stuart/e/B00MA9XLHI
Again, thank you, Harmony, for your hospitality. Sarah xx
Thanks, Sarah. I have my copy on my ereader and can’t wait to read the whole series. Best of luck with everything! Hugs, Harmony xx
November 20, 2019
#BookReview: I Remember Judy by Verwayne Greenhoe #audiobook
Hi everyone. Harmony here with another book review for you. This one is a little bit different in that it’s an audiobook. Fellow author and friend, Verwayne Greenhoe, offered me a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review. Here are my thoughts >>>
I Remember Judy
Book Description:
A husband writes about his romance, marriage, honeymoon, and life with the woman of his dreams. Tender moments of love and intimacy build a strong relationship that can not be torn apart by her history of sexual abuse as a child, her slow decline into dementia and Alzheimer’s. Written by the author of the February 2018 Rave Review Book Club ‘Book of the Month’ selection, “The Totally Unnecessary Death of Amanda Dawn,” the reader gets to feel some of the joy, the love, the intimacy, the happiness, the pain, regret, and the sadness of this relationship over the course of forty plus years. From the shyness to the sadness, the author reveals it all. When his wife could no longer remember it, Verwayne Greenhoe remembers for her in “I Remember Judy – A Love Story. ”
My Review:
This is my first review for an audiobook. It’s a bit different because a lot of issues are hidden to the listener, not having a text to read. Anyway, here goes …
First up, many thanks to the author, Verwayne Greenhoe, for a free Review copy of this audiobook from Audible.
As the book description says, this is first and foremost a true life love story. I felt that the author wrote cleary and honestly. Sometimes, for me personally, a little too honestly at times. I found myself wondering if I would want my husband to share some of that same deeply personal stuff at some unknown point in the future … I’m not so sure I would. But that’s a personal thing, not necessarily an editorial one.
Many times, the writer apologised for writing about how many times they told one another ‘I love you’ and other such beautiful things that he says may come across as ‘goofy’. I can assure him that they don’t. If they are, then that makes my husband and I just as goofy, because we’re that way with one another all day every day, lol.
The narrator did a good job of rendering the author’s voice. On a very few occasions, while trying to narrate an adult female voice, I felt it sounded patronising and too much of a little girl voice, which made me cringe at times. The rest of it was well done and pleasing to the ear.
A few issues of word repetition and unecessary fillers (she nodded her head, instead of she nodded, or he shrugged his shoulders, instead of simply he shrugged, or overusing the same word in close succession, and that kind of thing) interrupted the flow, but all in all, I enjoyed this audiobook immensely. It’s a new way of ‘reading’ for me, but one that I enjoyed.
The audio production sounded professional, and the story itself is a lovely poignant listen. I give this audiobook a solid 4 stars.
***
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.
Sally’s Cafe and Bookstore – Christmas Book Fair – #Writers Denise O’Hagan, #Familydrama Christa Polkinhorn, #Poetry Miriam Hurdle, #Thriller Iain Kelly, #Writers Harmony Kent
My latest non-fiction book, Creative Solutions for the Modern Writer, gets some love over at Sally’s Cafe and Bookstore Christmas Book Fair, along with a wonderful collection of authors and books >>>
Welcome to this year’s Christmas book fair where I will be sharing the books of all the authors on the shelves of the Cafe and Bookstore with their most recent review in the last six months. I will…
Author Essentials Part 3: Website
Check out this useful post from PH Solomon over at Story Empire today … I could have done with knowing all this when I first set up as an author >>>
Good morning story Empire readers, P. H. here today with another edition of Author Essentials. Previously to foundation topics were discussed, domain name choices and establishing an email address …
November 19, 2019
#BookReview: My Main Haiku by Bette Stevens and Little Bandaged Days by Kira Wilder
Hello everyone. Today, I have two book reviews for you. The first is a review for fellow author and friend Bette A Stevens with her book of Haiku. The second is a review read I had from NetGalley about a mother who spirals into madness and depression. Sad to say, once again, it looks like the indie read is the better one. Here are my reviews >>>
My Maine
Book Description:
Inspired by The Pine Tree State—Maine’s diverse landscape, natural beauty, rural communities, and independent people—the author’s 150 haiku poems, along with 49 of her photographs, reflect the Maine she knows and loves. Bette A. Stevens’s imagery draws the reader into her world of wonder and delight. My Maine takes readers on a poetic journey through Maine’s four seasons. Whether you’re a native Mainer or from away, Stevens’s short story poems and photographs will resonate. The collection opens with a haiku tribute, “Maine Pines and People.” The journey continues with the rejuvenating spirit of “Spring Awakenings” and “Summer Songs”; then on to more of the magic and majesty of the places and people of Maine in “Autumn Leaves” and “Winter Tales.” This is a poetry collection to be slowly savored, made even more delectable with the author’s original drawings and photographs. In addition to its poems and photographs, My Maine includes state symbols and interesting facts about The Pine Tree State.
My Review:
A wonderful collection of Haiku. The author obviously loves the state of Maine in all its seasons. I enjoyed this little book enough to be inspired to put my review into a Haiku too …
Evocative words
Awesome, alluring pictures
A wonderful book!
I’ve read all of Bette Stevens’ books and admire this writer greatly. My Maine gets a solid 5 stars from me.
Little Bandaged Days
Book Description:
Kyra Wilder’s LITTLE BANDAGED DAYS, in which a protagonist experiences a slow slide into insanity as the isolation of her new life engulfs her; moving to Geneva for her husband’s job, she settles in with her two young children; everything seems perfect in their beautiful new home, but her husband’s frequent, extended absences and the weight of the quiet loneliness after her children go to bed soon become unbearable, to Sophie Jonathan at Picador USA, for publication in early 2020.
My Review:
Many thanks to NetGalley and Pan MacMillan for a free ARC of this book.
While the story started out well enough, it soon proved to be a slow and tedious read. None of the dialogue is within quote marks, which can make for difficult reading at times. Also, we’re in the head of the main character all the time who is slowly spiralling into madness. At no point could I say this was a fun or entertaining read, and with the unsatisfactory ending, I now wonder why I ever spent about five hours reading this novel.
While some of the writing was well executed, I don’t get the point of the book. It isn’t fun. It doesn’t entertain. I can see no message or point to it at all. It gets a soft 2 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.
Slowly, I’m working my way through my TBR, which is still beastly enough to be scary, lol. 
November 18, 2019
#BookReview: Hinting at Shadows by Sarah Brentyn @SarahBrentyn
Hi everyone. Today, I have another book review for you. I first came across this book via a reblog on Sally’s Cafe and Bookstore and loved the review so much, I got a copy. I finally got around to reading it and wish I’d done it much sooner. Here’s my review >>>
Book Description:
Delve into the deeper reaches of the human condition and the darkness that lives there.
A girl haunted by her sister’s drowning. A boy desperate for his father’s affection. A woman forced to make a devastating decision. A man trapped by his obsessions.
Experience tales of love, loss, murder, and madness through this collection of flash and micro fiction.
Take a peek behind the smile of a stranger. Get a glimpse inside the heart of a friend. Scratch the surface and discover what is hidden beneath.
These stories will open your mind, tug at your thoughts, and allow you to explore the possibility that, even in the brightest moments, something is Hinting at Shadows.
Each selection is approximately 100 words, with a bonus section of Microbursts in which each story is told in 50 words or less.
My Review:
This is a collection of flash fiction broken up into four sections, and it is an easy and quick read.
Having said that, brief as these snippets are, they go deep. I reckon I shall be re-reading this one over and over again. Here are a couple of lines that stood out for me:
‘Till the earth of who I was. From this mangled mass of roots, let something whole and healthy break through. Let something beautiful grow.’ and …
‘My life ebbs away, sailing from the shifting shore of my body like a piece of driftwood floating out to sea.’
And another one, which made me chuckle–I could relate to this one! … ‘The doctors say “insomnia” and prescribe pills. I say “writer” and pick up a pen.’
The writing was that good that I wanted each story to continue, but this is flash and micro fiction, so they don’t. Some of the stories are more like teasers and slice-of-life but brilliant nonetheless.
I read this in one go and couldn’t put it down. It gets 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.
Write Short, Edit Long / Write Long, Edit Short
Check out this post on editing by Joan Hall over on Story Empire today >>>
Hey, SE Readers. Joan here today with a subject near and dear to our hearts. Writing. Okay, little joke there. If you weren’t interested in writing, you wouldn’t be reading this blog. We all know e…
November 15, 2019
Friday Writing Question
Hi everyone. I have a question on whether or not you can read through a book full of errors if the story is a good one … check it out over on Story Empire >>>
Hello SErs. Harmony here for another Friday Writing Question. After years of reading books and enjoying so many different authors, I then began writing and publishing for myself. At some point, I r…
Source: Friday Writing Question
