Sage Nestler's Blog, page 18
August 2, 2019
GIVEAWAY ALERT: Win FIVE Autographed Books from Erec Stebbins
I am excited to share with you a giveaway for 5 autographed books by Erec Stebbins! Erec is a fantastic thriller author, and I think you will love his work. Visit the link below to learn more about Erec’s work and enter the giveaway!
Much love,
Ashley
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Win FIVE Autographed Books from the “Master of the Thinking Reader’s Techno-Thriller”
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“Outrageously entertaining: Epic, explosive, subversive, engaged and compassionate, like a Michael Bay movie written by Aaron Sorkin.” -says author Chris Brookmyre
FIVE autographed paperbacks with international intrigue, extreme action, mysteries, unusual and diverse characters, and engaging with contemporary global and domestic events. The complete Intel 1 series of thrillers in hard copy will be yours if you win.
July 20, 2019
Announcement: Literary Apothecary Organization
I’m very excited to finally announce to you a project that I have been working on. This past May, I graduated with my masters in social work with an emphasis on mental health. Throughout my schooling, I always knew that I wanted to start my own organization that incorporates literature into mental health services. My dream is finally coming to fruition with the creation of Literary Apothecary. My goal with this organization is to offer services and packages that utilize literature, mindfulness, and art in in-home therapy, while also providing a virtual support system through online forums and video consultations and small groups.
The official name for the utilization of literature in therapy is bibliotherapy. The basis of the programs I am creating involves the utilization of various novels and memoirs to address mental health issues. I am trained in bibliotherapy and mindfulness therapies, as well as utilizing art in therapy, and the development of each program will incorporate these to create a set of cohesive programs that are designed to treat various disorders and life circumstances.
I have been over the moon developing this organization, and I am so excited to finally be able to share my pre-launch with you! Please help support by signing up for our newsletter and liking our Facebook page. I would be so grateful!
Much love,
Ashley
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July 17, 2019
Book Review: Soulfire by Christen Stovall
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Rating: 5/5
To the Point
Soulfire is a cleverly crafted fantasy-romance filled with raw emotion and groundbreaking world-building. Christen Stovall takes the reader on an emotional roller coaster in a world that leaps off of the pages.
Give Me More
Soulfire is the second book in Christen Stovall’s Song of Souls trilogy. The novel follows Aislynn, the story’s heroine and fierce female lead – as well as her soulmate, Rorin, and love interest, Ciaran. But it is so much more than that. Rorin is deceased and is present as a ghost with newfound abilities, but when he is amongst the living only Aislynn can see him. Stovall challenges life and death by creating a world for the living, as well as a world for the dead, and crosses both by giving Aislynn and Rorin the ability to communicate due to their bond as soulmates. Their bond is tested when Aislynn forms an attraction to and feelings for Ciaran – the king – who is part of the living, and Rorin begins to realize that Aislynn does still have human needs that he cannot provide. However, Rorin is the only one who knows of Aislynn’s reoccurring nightmares and her increased ability to hear voices. He is also harboring his own secret connected to his abilities, which presents itself as a game-changer.
What I love about Stovall’s writing is that her world and ideas are complex, but she feeds them to the reader in a way that is easy to understand. Her words sweep the reader off of their feet and transports them into the story. Her characters leaped off the page, and I felt the distress and love the characters experienced as I read along – which was almost painful. The beauty of Soulfire is that you don’t necessarily need to have read Soulbound before venturing into the novel as Stovall keeps the reader up to date and forms an action-packed story of its own.
Stovall is a master fantasy author who incorporates romantic aspects flawlessly, and I found her world and characters to be believable and all-consuming. All I can say is, bring on the third book in the trilogy! I will be patiently waiting to be mesmerized once again.
July 12, 2019
Gardens, Galaxies and Goosebumps Blog Tour 2019
I am excited to share with you an interview with horror author David Jenkins! Peachy Keen Reviews is the next stop on his Gardens, Galaziws, and Goosebumps blog tour, and I am honored to share his work with you. Keep an eye open for my review of Gardens, Galaxies, and Goosebumps soon! But for now, enjoy getting to know David below. 
July 9, 2019
Book Review: The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
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Rating: 5/5
To the Point
The Silent Patient is a psychological thriller reminiscent of an asylum-based horror. Alex Michaelides’ writing takes the story in what is thought to be a predictable direction before providing the reader with whiplash within the last few pages. You won’t see the ending coming.
Give Me More
Sometimes I feel like I am becoming a little snobby when it comes to thrillers or mysteries, and I have to catch myself when I read. Many novels in these genres tend to follow a classic storyline, and the endings are often predictable. As I was reading The Silent Patient, I feared that I knew where the book was going within the first few chapters; however, I soon discovered that the story was anything but predictable. Alex Michaelides’ clearly knows the classic thriller tropes used in his genre, and he used them against the reader in his writing. Doing so provided me as a reader with one of the biggest whiplashes I have experienced in a novel in quite some time.
The Silent Patient follows a therapist as they work with a woman who has gone mute after being accused of killing her husband. The novel is written primarily from the perspective of the therapist, but snippets from the woman’s life are also shared to incorporate her experience with the stories of other vital characters. The chapters are short, and they all serve as puzzle pieces to the final picture. One thing that I loved about The Silent Patient was that there was no filler, and each chapter was vital to the unfolding of the story and development of the characters. But perhaps the best thing about this novel is that the big reveal occurred within the last few pages, and threw the reader completely off track. Even the most seasoned of thriller readers will be taken aback by Michalides’ clever storytelling.
The Silent Patient is in a class of its own. While it will appeal to readers who are fans of The Girl on the Train or Gone Girl, it is a true modern classic in the thriller genre. The short chapters and fast pace make the novel a quick read, and it will leave you thinking about it for days afterwards.
Have you read The Silent Patient? Let me know what your thoughts are in the comments!
July 3, 2019
Book Review: South of Main Street by Robert Gately
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Rating: 4/5
To the Point
South of Main Street is a touching portrait of an eclectic man, and how normality is merely an illusion.
Give Me More
I have always been a fan of literary fiction, especially when it comes to novels that examine human behavior under a microscope. South of Main Street was a rare treat in this way. Robert Gately is a deeply introspective author, and I swooned over his elegant prose. South of Main Street is a novel about a seemingly odd man from afar, but when taking a closer look, it is about the complexities of human connection.
Set in a small town in Pennsylvania, Gatley presents the reader with Henry – a middle-aged, emotionally distraught man. To Henry’s neighbors, he is an odd nuisance, but Henry is gifted in that he has the ability to connect to others and cross social lines in the community. While Henry’s neighbors find his behavior odd, the novel puts the reader in Henry’s shoes and allows the reader to experience his unique “normality”. Throughout the novel more is revealed about Henry and his past, as well as his connection to his family. Family ties are examined in all of their twists and turns, and I couldn’t help but connect Henry’s experience to that of my own family. Gately’s gorgeous portrayal of small-town connections and familial struggles guides the reader to think about their own social standing in a new and unique way.
South of Main Street will appeal to fans of A Man Called Ove or The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime. Gately’s writing forced me to think critically about human relationships in a new context, and I was blown away by Henry’s character development and the reveal of his multi-faceted life and personality. The only reason I gave this novel 4/5 stars is due to wordiness throughout the novel. However, if you are looking for your next great literary fiction read, then you can’t go wrong with South of Main Street.
June 18, 2019
Book Review: All That Compels the Heart by Erin Bowlen
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Rating: 5/5
To the Point
All That Compels the Heart is a sweeping examination of life after tragedy and the metamorphosis we experience on our journey to a heightened life.
Give Me More
All That Compels the Heart is one of those rare novels that has perfect timing. Upon reading the novel, I found myself in a place similar to that of Aoife (the book’s heroine). Her story has helped me through a difficult time in my life, and for that, I want to thank Erin Bowlen for introducing her novel to me. While the novel is defined as romance, I found it to be a gorgeous literary fiction novel that explored one woman’s journey as she steps into a new stage of her life. Aoife experiences a rude awakening that makes her realize that nothing in life is permanent, but she soon discovers that with change comes love and opportunity.
Erin Bowlen exhibits pristine emotion in her writing, and I enjoyed her combination of humor and drama as it intensified the believability of her story. I have never had the opportunity to visit Ireland, but Bowlen’s vivid descriptions helped transport me into the scenery. While All That Compels the Heart is a rather large book at 700+ pages, it did not feel that long and I yearned for more of the story once it ended. Bowlen’s emotionally riveting ending gave me nostalgic Casablanca vibes, and I must admit that it made me tear up. I always judge a book on its ability to change me, and All That Compels the Heart has done just that. Don’t be a fool…add this novel to your summer reading list NOW! You will be glad you did.
June 13, 2019
12 Subscription Boxes Based on Your Hogwarts House
Happy Friday, Bibliophiles!
What better way to start the weekend than with a Harry Potter post?! I personally ADORE goodies that correlate with the different Hogwarts houses, and I wanted to share with you an article that highlights subscription boxes that appeal to each Hogwarts house. As a Hufflepuff, I found Cratejoy’s subscription box selection to be spot on! Are you ready to see which box the sorting hat has chosen for you?
*Unsure of your Hogwarts house? Join Pottermore to be sorted into your house here!
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June 5, 2019
What is Your Limit with Romance?
I apologize for not posting last week’s discussion! I have decided to push back the discussion for a week to help things get back on track.
As we continue with our romance discussions, this week’s question topic is:
What Is Your Limit with Romance?
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By “limit” I’m referring to the types of romance novels that may not be down your alley or may possess elements that don’t appeal to you. Romance is a genre that offers multiple sub-genres, and most sub-genres have their own audience. For example, my favorite romance novels are Western-based and involve horses, ranches, cowboys, etc. I also love historical romance novels set in Victorian times or involve pioneers and the Old West. However, I am not often attracted to high suspense romance/erotica or romance/erotica that involves law enforcement or violence. I am also not a big fan of science fiction erotica. Since romance is connected to sexual desires or fantasies, there is almost a limitless market for just about any form of romance novel. All romance and erotica is important, and I am curious to know what your preferences are!
Tell me what romance you love in the comments below, as well as what you tend to stay away from! Let’s get the conversation started.
May 23, 2019
Why do you read romance?
For the next four weeks, I am hosting a weekly romance discussion that involves anything and everything about the romance and erotica genres. I am excited to hear your perspectives on romance, and together we will debunk the myth that romance is a lesser form of fiction.
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So, for our first week, I thought we’d start simple…
Why do you read romance?
Or if you don’t, then why don’t you read romance?
Share with me in the comments below. All opinions are welcome! Please respect others when commenting (hateful or inappropriate comments will be removed).
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My Story
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(Oh hey! That’s me ^.^)
I an avid reader and writer of romance, but this wasn’t always the case. I was raised to believe that romance novels are “trashy” and off-limits, and it took me years to grow comfortable with reading romance and erotica novels publically. It took me even longer to be comfortable with writing romance as a professional author. However, my background also helped me to understand the marginalization that romance and erotica authors and novels face due to the genre being seen as a “pleasure” genre and cheap fiction due to its subject matter. To some, romance is equivalent to porn and seen as illicit. But to others (me, for instance) romance is a way for readers and writers to explore and express love and sexuality while deepening feelings of self- and partner-love.
After much contemplation, I came to a conclusion. My other favorite genre is horror (the bloodier the better), and I began to realize that I read romance and horror novels due to the extreme emotions they elicit within me. Books have always been my portals, and I have found that reading horror and romance has provided me with emotions and experiences that are not available to me in person. I prefer novels that expose deep feelings, and love and sexuality are two strong emotions that are universal. Romance novels allow you to explore your sexuality and escape in a way that is personal for each reader. For me, romance reading and writing has allowed me to explore the unexpected and expand my understanding of all types of relationships.
I read romance because it relieves stress and makes me feel closer to not only myself but my partner as well. Romance helps me practice self-care while expanding emotions and exposing new experiences through literature. Whenever I open up a romance novel, I immediately feel like I’m going home, and there is no place I would rather be. Romance helps readers explore human relationships in a format, and I will also advocate for romance and erotica authors and readers.
Much love,
Ashley Nestler, MSW
