Sage Nestler's Blog, page 51
January 3, 2017
Perfect Timing by J.C. Layne
Title: Perfect Timing
Author: J.C. Layne
Rating: 3/5
Synopsis:
Jes Harper loves her life. Being the production assistant for one of the most sought-after producers in the music industry, Brett Winters, she gets to spend her time doing what she loves – listening to music. Working with the musicians is fun, too, but after being burned by them twice before in love, she’s sworn them off for anything more than friends. But, Brett’s best friend is back in town and perfect in every way, and he could change her mind…if she’d just let him.
Mitch Lansing has lived the musician life – the drugs, the women, the partying – but he’s over that now. At 40, you tend to want to settle down, even if you’re a musician. He’s happy to be back home with his best friend, Brett, and recording his own music. One look at Brett’s assistant and he knows he’s found the perfect woman for him…if he can just convince her of that.
When coming on strong doesn’t work, Mitch decides to take it slow and vows to not give up. Day by day, piece by piece, he chips away at the wall around Jes’s heart. Can he prove to her that not all musicians are the same? Or will a ghost from his past ruin everything for them both? The other musicians from her past broke her heart…Mitch could shatter it completely.
Review:
Perfect Timing is a good introduction into the romance genre. The romance is fairly simple and it involves music and musicians, a popular theme for many fans of the romance genre. I enjoyed how the chapters were divvied up between characters and that we were able to gain multiple perspectives as the story went on. J.C. Layne did well handling two characters at once while also making their thoughts and actions separate from one another.
Even though the writing could be wordy and flat at times, I thought that the romance was sweet and something that many girls will fawn over. Layne understands her characters and the world she created well, and fans of quick romance reads will surely be pleased. Even though this novel was not completely my cup of tea, I still found it to be a quick and enjoyable read. Hopeful romantics will find hope in Jes and Mitch’s love story, and they are sure to bring hope to us all. Just be advised that this novel does end on a cliff hanger, and even though I am not a fan of cliff hangers, it might keep you reading to the next book in the series.
Brett and Becca are one of those couples. You know, the ones who get it right? They’re great together and they give me hope that maybe one day I’ll get it right, too.
FOR BOOK REVIEW REQUESTS FILL OUT FORM: Book Review Request Form
IF BOOK REQUEST WEBSITE IS DOWN EMAIL: peachykeenreviews@gmail.com
January 2, 2017
2017 Writing Challenge + Writing Prompt #1
Hello, Everyone!
I have decided that it might be fun to host a year-long writing challenge for 2017. Many of us have made resolutions to write more in 2017, and what better way to do that then to have weekly writing prompts? I will release these prompts every Tuesday, and I strongly urge you to keep a handwritten notebook to keep your prompts in. However, if you would rather type them out on the computer then that is fine as well. This will be a fun way to keep your writing resolution, while also getting those creative juices flowing.
That being said, your first writing prompt of the year is:
Write a story based on this excerpt- “He tried to stand, but his fins wouldn’t let him. He never wanted something more.”
Get to writing and feel free to share your thoughts with us in the comments! I look forward to seeing how your prompts go.
Much love,
Ashley
Weekly Update
Hello, Everyone!
I’m sorry that I didn’t get to review The Neverland Wars by Audrey Greathouse this past week. I caught quite the cold and I am still getting over it! But that being said, I will get to reviewing it this week. Happy New Year, everyone, and let’s make this the best bookish year yet!
Set agenda for this week:
Review: The Neverland Wars by Audrey Greathouse
I will most likely get to more reviews this week, but I am just listing the one review for now depending on how this cold treats me.
Much love,
Ashley
December 29, 2016
Review: Charmed Bookshelf – December 2016
Charmed Bookshelf is a brand new book subscription that sends out New Age books and items to compliment the reading materials. There are three different subscription types to choose from – the “Enchant” box ($37 + shipping/month), the “Enlighten” box ($37 + shipping/month), or a box that sends everything from the first two boxes ($69 + shipping/month).
Purchase the box here: http://www.charmedbookshelf.com/subscribe/
The “Enchant” box is centered on Wiccan/Pagan reading material and items, while the “Enlighten” box is centered on crystals, chakras, yoga, etc. and it is a great plan for those who are just starting to discover New Age subjects.
For December, I received the “Enchant” box. It came in a white box with Charmed Bookshelf’s logo on it, and I just had to peel the logo sticker off of the box and keep it because it is too adorable.
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Charmed Bookshelf announces the book choices before sending them, but the items that go along with the box are a surprise. This month’s box featured Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft which is one of the most beloved books in the Wiccan community. It is essentially a course in Wicca and I was very excited to receive it because I did not own it before. The version sent is the updated anniversary version, and I love how it has extensive information on the history of Wicca and Witchcraft. The book is very large and a great item for those new to the craft to learn the techniques and intricacies of the religion. However, it is also wonderful for seasoned practitioners to have in their libraries. [image error]
When opening the box you first see a small art print with the Wiccan Rede on it. I love this item because this is the rede that Wiccans live by and it is great to put on your altar. I have already placed it on mine, and I love the peace that it brings to the room. A holiday card and candy cane were also included this month due to the holidays, and we also received a bookmark with the packing list of the box printed on it.
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The first item included was a bird feather. Feathers are very important when practicing Wicca or witchcraft, and I thought that it was a great item to include in this box since it is essentially a starter kit for Wicca and witchcraft. I already put it on my altar!
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The next items include was a sage smudging stick. These can be used to cleanse the air of negative energy in any living space, and like the feather, it is perfect for beginners to have in their possession as it is used in different spells and rituals.
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This beautiful abalone shell was also included, and it is my favorite bonus item in the box. It is perfect for your altar, and it is very large! It is another great beginner gift, and it corresponds with the book perfectly.
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The last item included was this coexist bumper sticker, and it is one of my favorite bumper stickers that has ever been released. It reminds us all to accept each other for who we are, and the sticker is perfect to go along with this intro to Wicca box.
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Overall, I loved this box! Even though I have been practicing Wicca for many years I found this box to a perfect addition to my collection, and I was not let down. The items included were highly functional and coincided perfectly with the box. Christina’s curation was spot on, and I think that everyone who is interested in Wicca or witchcraft would benefit greatly from this box. Her box doesn’t popularize Wicca or witchcraft, but it takes it seriously and I am so happy to have found a box that celebrates the craft in a positive light.
December 28, 2016
Announcing Hedren’s Chest
Hello, Everyone!
I am excited to officially announce a brain child of mine that has been in the works to premiere in 2017. As you know, I am the owner of Go Indie Now (soon to be Literary Vacation Club) and I am happy to announce that I am starting another book subscription service catering to hardcore horror fans! Horror is one of my favorite literary genres, and this box will be a celebration of the horror written word.
Horror is one of my favorite literary genres, and this box will celebrate underground and mainstream horror novels as well as artistic horror items from small businesses and artists. It will be a complete product of the maker’s movement, and I am so happy to be able to share with you all the box in coming months.
The website is already up for your exposure: https://hedrenschest.com/
The first box will go out in February, and spots open on February 1! The box will be bi-monthly and it will include 1 – 2 lesser known horror novels and 3 – 5 horror items from small businesses and artists.
More information is to come in January, so stay tuned!
Much love,
Ashley
December 27, 2016
Review: Nora & Kettle by Lauren Nicolle Taylor
Title: Nora & Kettle
Author: Lauren Nicolle Taylor
Rating: 4/5
Synopsis:
What if Peter Pan was a homeless kid just trying to survive, and Wendy flew away for a really good reason?
Seventeen-year-old Kettle has had his share of adversity. As an orphaned Japanese American struggling to make a life in the aftermath of an event in history not often referred to―the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II and the removal of children from orphanages for having “one drop of Japanese blood in them”―things are finally looking up. He has his hideout in an abandoned subway tunnel, a job, and his gang of Lost Boys.
Desperate to run away, the world outside her oppressive brownstone calls to naïve, eighteen-year-old Nora―the privileged daughter of a controlling and violent civil rights lawyer who is building a compensation case for the interned Japanese Americans. But she is trapped, enduring abuse to protect her younger sister Frankie and wishing on the stars every night for things to change.
For months, they’ve lived side by side, their paths crossing yet never meeting. But when Nora is nearly killed and her sister taken away, their worlds collide as Kettle, grief-stricken at the loss of a friend, angrily pulls Nora from her window.
In her honeyed eyes, Kettle sees sadness and suffering. In his, Nora sees the chance to take to the window and fly away.
Set in 1953, NORA AND KETTLE explores the collision of two teenagers facing extraordinary hardship. Their meeting is inevitable, devastating, and ultimately healing. Their stories, a collection of events, are each on their own harmless. But together, one after the other, they change the world.
Review:
Nora & Kettle is by far the most original novel that I have read in 2016. Even though it has been publicized as a new take on Peter Pan, it was so much more than that and its story line is one that is important and rarely seen in literature. Nora & Kettle is unapologetic and explores child abuse as well as the Japanese internment camps that are so often forgotten in our history. Lauren Nicolle Taylor doesn’t sugarcoat anything, and her novel is of vital importance in young adult literature today.
In his eyes are the reflections of the beating I didn’t know how to stop, and even though my heart remembers, the rest of me would like to forget.
Nora & Kettle is written in chapters alternating between the title characters as they struggle to survive and eventually cross each others’ paths. Nora suffers physical abuse at the hand of her father, while Kettle is a young Japanese orphan who was cast out of an orphanage due to his heritage during World War II. Their story reflects how their lives have always run right along each other until tragedy captures both of them and they crash into one another by an act of fate.
My father watches me, his eyes crinkling in disgust with every movement. I have his ears, nose, and hair…and he can’t stand it. I wish I could scrub out my face and start again. Not because it would protect me, but because it would mean I wouldn’t see him in my reflection.
Taylor is a truly poetic author. She doesn’t over explain sections of her plot or characters, but she adds in beautiful lines of literature that can sum up an entire scene in one sentence. I found myself awestruck at Taylor’s words, and her artistry filled my veins with a warmth that I find hard to find in today’s young adult literature. Her novel is one that I believe everyone needs to read – girls, boys, men, women – whoever you are, your life will be better after reading this novel.
His eyes are intense. Dark. They look like they’ve seen things I don’t want to know about.
As I said in the beginning, this novel is so much more than just a re-imagining of Peter Pan. It is sure to make us all see beyond the smokescreen that has prevented us from our painful past for years and years.
New Years Blogish Resolution
Happy Almost New Year Everyone!
This coming year, my goal is to organize my reviews, publishing tips, and writing tips a bit better on my blog. Each week I will post a schedule for what you can expect to see during the week, and this will help me to be more consistent as well! That being said, this week my posts will include:
Review of Nora & Kettle by Lauren Nicolle Taylor (Clean Teen Publishing)
Neverland Wars by Audrey Greathouse (Clean Teen Publishing)
Next week I will be releasing more information on changes that I am making to Go Indie Now!, our subscription book business, and what can be expected in the new year! As a sneak peek, Go Indie Now! is changing its name to Literary Vacation Club and while the box will still feature indie novels, it will be focused on bringing the books we send to life so that they can take readers on a journey into the books we send.
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I hope you all have a wonderful finish to 2016!
Much love,
Ashley
December 26, 2016
Soul Cry by Xavier J. Frazer
Title: Soul Cry: An Anthology
Author: Xavier J. Frazer
Rating: 4/5
Synopsis:
Xavier Frazer’s anthology is an epic thought provoking poetry thriller that takes you into the heart of Inner City life in Jamaica while addressing social issues, indulging in love and matters of the heart and human desire for self actualization, thus stimulating a global “Soul Cry”. The author encourages and challenges his audience to “accept the past, embrace the present, and while confidently preparing for the future”; a message conveyed with every cry of his soul. The metrical composition of this publication brings life to unspoken words and comfort to wounded souls as it renders its healing by casting light on real life situations. These poems will captivate your mind, body and soul as you embark on this inspirational journey of words. These powerful expressions have touched people worldwide; consequentially moving many to tears. Frazer’s ‘Soul Cry’ is a must read!
Review:
Soul Cry is a heartbreaking poetry anthology that explores the pain and trials of the human existence. The poems are raw and almost feel like diary entries when reading them. It is clear their Xavier J. Frazer put their heart and soul into these poems, and I found my heart breaking as I read along.
The most beautiful aspect of Frazer’s poems is that they don’t tend to follow a certain design, and that they are raw forms of emotion put onto paper. Each poem was different but based on the same theme of bittersweet feelings and pain that tend to be the underlying condition of the human experience.
Even though I felt that some of the poems didn’t flow well do to the free form structure, I enjoyed them because they weren’t altered and portrayed a form of emotion that isn’t often used in modern poetry. Frazer’s collection will resonate with anyone needing to find comfort through literature, and I am sure that these poems will save lives.
FOR BOOK REVIEW REQUESTS FILL OUT FORM: Book Review Request Form
IF BOOK REQUEST WEBSITE IS DOWN EMAIL: peachykeenreviews@gmail.com
December 25, 2016
Merry Christmas
Hello Everyone!
I hope you are enjoying this Christmas and holiday season with your loved ones. Make sure to take time with your families and just kick back for a few days! I also hope that your holiday is filled with mountains and mountains of books!
Merry Christmas from my family to yours,
Ashley
December 23, 2016
The Sun is Also A Star by Nicola Yoon
Title: The Sun is Also A Star
Author: Nicola Yoon
Rating: 4/5
Synopsis:
Natasha: I’m a girl who believes in science and facts. Not fate. Not destiny. Or dreams that will never come true. I’m definitely not the kind of girl who meets a cute boy on a crowded New York City street and falls in love with him. Not when my family is twelve hours away from being deported to Jamaica. Falling in love with him won’t be my story.
Daniel: I’ve always been the good son, the good student, living up to my parents’ high expectations. Never the poet. Or the dreamer. But when I see her, I forget about all that. Something about Natasha makes me think that fate has something much more extraordinary in store—for both of us.
The Universe: Every moment in our lives has brought us to this single moment. A million futures lie before us. Which one will come true?
Review:
Nicola Yoon has a gift. She understands how humans work and how the adolescent experience can shape a person and change them forever. I found The Sun Is Also A Star to be an important work of fiction for young adults and adult alike, and Yoon’s writing did not let me down.
The Sun Is Also A Star follows the lives of two star crossed teenagers, Natasha and Daniel. Both could not be more different from one another, but they both end up changing each other for the better. Even though this story line can be considered overdone, Yoon turned it into a poetic literary fiction that was very different from anything else I have read. Her characters were diverse and had great depth, and I fell in love with both of them. I could tell when reading Yoon’s novel that her heart and soul went into her work, and that is what I look for in an author.
The layout of Yoon’s books are always one of my favorite aspects of her writing. Each chapter in this novel is labeled after either Natasha or Daniel until they eventually meet and clash with one another. In this way, Yoon’s writing becomes more a collection of poetry than a novel, and it made for a quick read. Some chapters were also labeled after those surrounding Natasha and Daniel and by understanding some of the side characters better Yoon’s world came to life. She clearly outlined the personalities and lives of Natasha and Daniel before and after they meet one another, and the progression of their personalities and evolutions was remarkable. I have not read another author who can evolve characters as brilliantly as Yoon can in one short novel, and The Sun is Also A Star will stick with me for years to come.
To make a thing as simple as an apple pie, you have to create the whole wide world.
I highly recommend this novel to young adults and adults alike. It is clean and beautiful, and it will leave you changed.
FOR BOOK REVIEW REQUESTS FILL OUT FORM: Book Review Request Form
IF BOOK REQUEST WEBSITE IS DOWN EMAIL: peachykeenreviews@gmail.com
