Sage Nestler's Blog, page 69
May 27, 2016
Celebrating Our Fans – 10% off every month
Hello Everyone!
To celebrate our second biggest sale of the year, we are offering a ONE DAY ONLY promotion! Any new subscribers today will receive 10% off of every month they are subscribed, indefinitely! You can also use the code “MEMORIALDAY30” for 30% off of your first month or 3 month subscription with a reoccurring 10% off for each subscription period after. (Current subbies will be receiving this promotion as well!)
*The first new subscriber today will also receive a replica of the elder wand from Harry Potter in their first box package*
Also, as a reminder, all books chosen for the box are fit for young adults through adults. We cover all genres and themes except for erotica or books with excessive violence, and our goal is to give you a new book in a genre that you would have never picked up before! This is the best way to expand your horizons and step out of your comfort zone. We have found many of our new favorite books this way, so don’t be scared by the different themes and genres! All books are approved to be loved from page one.
Thank you to everyone for your support! We love every single one of you.❤ Keep on keeping on!
Much love,
Ashley
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*Donations are more than welcome and help me to keep my reviews and marketing services free. Please help me to keep my blog going! All donations will receive a gift.*
May 26, 2016
Give It Back by Danielle Esplin – 5/5
Title: Give It Back
Author: Danielle Esplin
Rating: 5/5
Synopsis:
“This novel follows three characters: Lorraine, Lexy, and Ella.
Lorraine:
Not long ago, Lorraine lost her husband to another woman. She thought that was the worst thing that could happen to her, but soon she realizes it’s just the beginning of an everlasting nightmare.
Lexy:
Lexy, an au pair from London, moves to Seattle to help Lorraine with her infant son. But she didn’t come for the child…she came for something else.
Ella:
When Ella receives a call from her sister, Lorraine, who begs her to leave San Diego to spend time with her, she decides to take a few days off from work to visit her. Frightened to see how much Lorraine has weakened since her diagnosis eight months ago, she packs a bag and heads to Seattle with a foreboding feeling that this might be the last time she sees Lorraine.
But on her way to the airport, she learns that something shocking has happened since she last spoke with Lorraine and now. To make matters worse, once Ella arrives in Seattle, Lorraine’s story keeps changing, making Ella question how reliable her sister really is.
Soon Ella is entangled in a mysterious investigation, and more so, in the lives of everyone involved. She realizes not only that she won’t go home anytime soon but also that she’ll never look at others the same way she did before.”
Review:
This book was a trip. From page one the words punched me in the gut and made me take a step back. Not to mention that Danielle Esplin’s writing sounds like a professional. I found myself intrigued and yearning for more from page one, and that is something that has become very rare for me.
One of the main aspects that I seek out in a novel is whether the characters are well developed, and that was something that I was able to see easily with Esplin’s writing. She clearly understands her characters and all aspects of them. I found myself worrying and carrying for each character, and I was afraid to put the book down in fear of letting them go. They were so complex and realistic, and Esplin captured the flawed human experience perfectly. I didn’t feel like any of her characters were too perfect or unreachable, and that allowed me to connect to them on a personal level.
In terms of story, Esplin mastered the mystery element of this novel. She made it clear that she always had more information than the reader was presented with at times, and I was excited to find out that she didn’t give all of her story’s information away right away. She was the master of her story, and that is something that I rarely see anymore.
Surprisingly, I don’t get approached with many contemporary novels to review, and reading Give It Back was a breath of fresh air. I absolutely love when novels are separated into chapters with different character perspectives, and Esplin’s novel completely demonstrates the writing tip I posted earlier this week about handling different perspectives. Her writing was golden and flawless and I could go on and on about it.
If you are looking for a wonderful contemporary novel with flawed characters and intense mystery, then this novel is the one for you. I will gladly read it again and recommend it to others as much as I can.
FOR BOOK REVIEW REQUESTS FILL OUT FORM: Book Review Request Form
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May 25, 2016
FLASH SALE! 30% Off of Your First Go Indie Now! Box
Hello Everyone!
We have a new logo! Also, in celebration of Memorial Day I am offering a flash sale for 30% off of your first box! Use the code “MEMORIALDAY30” through May 30 to reap the benefits!
All subscriptions ordered by June 10 will start receiving their subscription with the June Historical Fiction Box.
Thank you all for all of your support!
Ashley
FOR BOOK REVIEW REQUESTS FILL OUT FORM: Book Review Request Form
IF BOOK REQUEST WEBSITE IS DOWN EMAIL: peachykeenreviews@gmail.com
SIGN UP FOR GO INDIE NOW! MONTHLY BOOK BOX: Go Indie Now!
WOULD YOU LIKE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF MY BOOKS? REQUEST HERE
*Donations are more than welcome and help me to keep my reviews and marketing services free. Please help me to keep my blog going! All donations will receive a gift.*
Writing Tip #6 – Handling Multiple Perspectives
Hello everyone,
Yay! It’s time for another writing tip! I’m sorry these tips haven’t been posted as routinely as I would like them to be, but things have been insane in the membrane and I promise I will try harder to post them on a regular basis. That being said here I am, ready to give you another important writing tip that will be gold for those who love writing from different character perspectives.
Have you ever read a book where every chapter is from a different character’s perspective? Does Game of Thrones ring a bell?
Yes, well, this technique is not as easy as one might think. The more books I read, the more I see authors who have almost come to grips with handling the different characters and their perspectives, but more often than not authors tend to make all of the character perspectives sound the same. This is an unfortunate trap when an author is trying to come to grips with the different abilities and experiences of each character, and in turn, the characters become two-dimensional instead of three-dimensional. My advice is that if you want to write a book with chapters surrounding the perspectives of different characters, create specific profiles of each character and describe the tone of voice they would have in person when talking or telling their stories. I also highly suggest that you read the different chapters out loud as well to make sure that each chapter and character has their own voice. The point of writing a novel with chapters from the perspectives of different characters is to present the stories of different characters, as well as portraying the motives and backgrounds of them as well, and you need to make sure that using a certain character’s perspective will add to the story and not confuse the reader.
Use the Three Character Rule
If you want to use the different perspectives of different characters, I would suggest to you to use the three character rule. Don’t use more than three perspectives from three different characters. Doing so can confuse the reader, and you as an author, and above all else you want your novel to be understandable not only in your head, but for your reader. Before writing a novel using the different perspectives of different characters, make a story map outlining your story, but then make three additional maps to work out the perspective of your story from the three different character perspectives. I also suggest that you have certain elements known to only certain characters in your story so that their tone and perspective has purpose. Only use the perspectives that you need, and leave the other characters be.
Use the three rule once again and determine: 1) If a character’s memories are of use to you, 2) if a character’s tone is of use to you, and 3) your story can’t be told or understood without the perspective of the character. If the answer is yes to all three of those specifics, then go ahead and use the first person perspective, but keep as many characters as you can in third person. For the characters who you are using in first person, make sure to label each chapter under the name of that character who will be speaking. Keep your story clean and understandable, and your writing will be golden.
If you have any questions regarding this tip, please feel free to email me!
Much love,
Ashley
FOR BOOK REVIEW REQUESTS FILL OUT FORM: Book Review Request Form
IF BOOK REQUEST WEBSITE IS DOWN EMAIL: peachykeenreviews@gmail.com
SIGN UP FOR GO INDIE NOW! MONTHLY BOOK BOX: Go Indie Now!
WOULD YOU LIKE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF MY BOOKS? REQUEST HERE
*Donations are more than welcome and help me to keep my reviews and marketing services free. Please help me to keep my blog going! All donations will receive a gift.*
May 24, 2016
Weekly Update 5/23/16 – 5/29/16
Hello Everyone,
This week I reviewed Bounty by J.D. Cunegan – 5/5, but I will also be reviewing:
Give It Back by Danielle Esplin
I am also aiming to finish Making Monsters by Joe Turk, and should have the review up either later this week or early next.
Bonus Announcements
The deadline to subscribe to the Go Indie Now! Book Box in order to receive the June Historical Fiction box is JUNE 10.
On another note, our July Go Indie Now! Box will feature two different indie authors and two different books as well as numerous related accessories to celebrate Indie Pride Day on July 1. I will also be a blog host for the day, so watch out for all of the events that will be happening online and off. That being said, the deadline to order your July Go Indie Now! Book Box is JULY 1. The deadline has been pushed up for July because I have to buy one of the items in bulk to be handmade and I need an exact number. There will be no leftovers from this box, so the box will be a rare treasure and I highly encourage you to pick one up! I have already completed interviews with both of the featured authors, and they are amazing people.
Summer Author Interview Month is Upon Us!
Say what?! It is almost June already?
Yep, that’s right. And here at Peachy Keen Book Reviews, June is our official Author Interview Month! This year I have been working with wonderful authors to feature for the month and am very excited to share them with you all, and help you discover their beautiful work! The current list of authors who will be featured throughout the month is as follows:
Tiffany Apan
Aliya Dalrae
Nelson Pyles
Joe Ferguson
C.L. Schneider
Brittany Willows
Ash Krafton
I am looking forward to a great, literature filled summer and hope that you all are as excited as I am!
Much love,
Ashley
FOR BOOK REVIEW REQUESTS FILL OUT FORM: Book Review Request Form
IF BOOK REQUEST WEBSITE IS DOWN EMAIL: peachykeenreviews@gmail.com
SIGN UP FOR GO INDIE NOW! MONTHLY BOOK BOX: Go Indie Now!
WOULD YOU LIKE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF MY BOOKS? REQUEST HERE
*Donations are more than welcome and help me to keep my reviews and marketing services free. Please help me to keep my blog going! All donations will receive a gift.*
Bounty by J.D. Cunegan – 5/5
Title: Bounty
Author: J.D. Cunegan
Rating: 5/5
Synopsis:
“Jill Andersen is one of Baltimore’s best and brightest detectives, but she harbors a dark secret — a secret that threatens to come out when the body of Dr. Trent Roberts is pulled out of the Chesapeake Bay. Dr. Roberts’ connection to Jill reveals a past that involves a tour in Iraq, a secretive cybernetic experiment, and a conspiracy that involves a native son.
Can Jill solve the case while still keeping her secret? Will her partners at the Seventh Precinct find out what she’s so desperate to hide? What was Dr. Roberts looking into that led to his murder? And perhaps the biggest question of all…
Who is Bounty?”
Review:
I am also interested in murder mysteries, they are my guilty pleasure, and this one did not disappoint.
J.D. Cunegan’s writing is read with ease, and I found the tone and flow of the sentences to be poetic. He knows how to use similes and metaphors flawlessly, and doesn’t over describe scenes or characters to the point of boredom. Instead, his plot focused more on the mystery at hand and I found myself guessing at answers throughout the novel.
The best thing about this novel was how Cunegan was able to describe the gruesome events and dead bodies in ways that weren’t grotesque, but intriguing. I also enjoyed how he noted that the main character, Jill Anderson, was hardened to the point of not becoming disturbed by gruesome scenes anymore. I found this aspect of her character to be very real, and I looked up to her for her ability to harden herself against the terrible things that she saw on a regular basis.
Since I am going to school for social work and have worked in the criminal justice system, I related very well to Jill because of everything she has seen and gone through. I also enjoyed how Cunegan emphasized how victims ARE people and aren’t just subjects in a crime scene. I think that in our criminal justice system the victims are often lost because of how much focus is put on the criminal, and Cunegan did a brilliant job at emphasizing the importance of victims as people.
With books that cover heavy matter such as Bounty, I often find that either the author doesn’t fully understand what they are writing about, or they know just enough to make it brilliant, and this novel is of the latter. The writing does not come off as ill-informed, but instead knowledgeable, and I admire Cunegan’s grasp on the scenes and world that he writes about. I am looking forward to jumping into the sequel, Blood Ties, and reading Cunegan’s brilliant writing again.
This novel, and series, is perfect for those who want a better grasp on the criminal justice system and the truth about murder and victims without the fluff. Bounty is raw and real, and I couldn’t have asked for anything more. It was a much needed breath of fresh air to read and earned a well deserved 5/5 rating, which is a rating that I don’t give often.
FOR BOOK REVIEW REQUESTS FILL OUT FORM: Book Review Request Form
IF BOOK REQUEST WEBSITE IS DOWN EMAIL: peachykeenreviews@gmail.com
SIGN UP FOR GO INDIE NOW! MONTHLY BOOK BOX: Go Indie Now!
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*Donations are more than welcome and help me to keep my reviews and marketing services free. Please help me to keep my blog going! All donations will receive a gift.*
May 22, 2016
Red Cross Fundraising Reminder
Hello Everyone,
I wanted to remind you that all royalties earned from my novels sold today will be going to the Red Cross, as well as 10% of any new Go Indie Now! subscriptions sold today. Also remember that when using the code “NEWMEMBER” you can receive free shipping for your first box in the United States.
Much love,
Ashley
FOR BOOK REVIEW REQUESTS FILL OUT FORM: Book Review Request Form
IF BOOK REQUEST WEBSITE IS DOWN EMAIL: peachykeenreviews@gmail.com
SIGN UP FOR GO INDIE NOW! MONTHLY BOOK BOX: Go Indie Now!
WOULD YOU LIKE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF MY BOOKS? REQUEST HERE
*Donations are more than welcome and help me to keep my reviews and marketing services free. Please help me to keep my blog going! All donations will receive a gift.*
May 21, 2016
Asleep by Krystal Wade – 4/5
Title: Asleep
Author: Krystal Wade
Rating: 4/5
Synopsis: “To cure fear, you must use fear.” Rose Briar claims no responsibility for the act that led to her imprisonment in an asylum. She wants to escape, until terrifying nightmares make her question her sanity and reach out to her doctor. He’s understanding and caring in ways her parents never have been, but as her walls tumble down and Rose admits fault, a fellow patient warns her to stop the medications. Phillip believes the doctor is evil and they’ll never make it out of the facility alive. Trusting him might be just the thing to save her. Or it might prove the asylum is exactly where she needs to be.
Review:
Asleep is a new take on the fairytale, “Sleeping Beauty”, and it has been marketed as a horror/thriller version of the story; however, I didn’t really see how this novel related to the horror genre. Instead, I felt that the novel was more of a psychological thriller and meant strictly for young adults. The story line was a bit sugar coated, but it was still an enticing read. If you are a young adult interested in the safer side of the horror genre, then this is the perfect novel for you.
My favorite part about this novel was how Krystal Wade did incorporate different versions of the classic characters from the story, such as Rose and Phillip. She made sure that her story didn’t relate too closely to the fairytale and added her own take on the characters, which was exciting. I always love a good asylum based read, and this novel was a great story based in contemporary asylums, or psychiatric hospitals. Since Rose is a teenager at the point in her life where she is struggling to find herself and who she is going to be in her adult life, I felt that teenagers will be able to relate to her well. It is a scary time in ones life when they are jumping from a child to an adult so abruptly, and Rose seemed to be mixed up inside about who she really was and wanted to be. She didn’t understand why everyone thought that she was insane when she felt fine, and this showed how influenced she was by what everyone else thought of her. I felt that Wade presented us with a great novel that examined the human mind in a comfortable and safe way, while also showing how those around us can negatively impact our mental state if we let them.
Overall, I recommend this book to young adults or to adults who want a read that is lighter but surrounds a heavier topic. I can proudly say that I haven’t read another book like Asleep and the originality of it was stunning. Since my reviews are based heavily on story originality, this book passed with flying colors.
Krystal Wade is also the owner of Blaze Publishing, an indie young adult publishing company that is currently taking manuscript submissions. For more information, visit their website.
FOR BOOK REVIEW REQUESTS FILL OUT FORM: Book Review Request Form
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*Donations are more than welcome and help me to keep my reviews and marketing services free. Please help me to keep my blog going! All donations will receive a gift.*
May 20, 2016
ARC – The Carver by Jacob Devlin – 4/5
Title: The Carver (Available for Pre-Order)
Author: Jacob Devlin
Rating: 4/5
Synopsis:
“THE GIRL IN THE RED HOOD has been looking for her mother for six months, searching from the depths of New York’s subways to the heights of its skyscrapers . . .
THE PRINCE looks like he’s from another time entirely, or maybe he’s just too good at his job at Ye Old Renaissance Faire . . .
THE ACTRESS is lighting up Hollywood Boulevard with her spellbinding and strikingly convincing portrayal of a famous fairy. Her name may be big, but her secrets barely fit in one world . . .
Fifteen-year-old Crescenzo never would have believed his father’s carvings were anything more than “stupid toys.” All he knows is a boring life in an ordinary Virginia suburb, from which his mother and his best friend have been missing for years. When his father disappears next, all Crescenzo has left is his goofy neighbor, Pietro, who believes he’s really Peter Pan and that Crescenzo is the son of Pinocchio. What’s more: Pietro insists that they can find their loved ones by looking to the strange collection of wooden figurines Crescenzo’s father left behind.
With Pietro’s help, Crescenzo sets off on an adventure to unite the real life counterparts to his figurines. It’s enough of a shock that they’re actually real, but the night he meets the Girl in the Red Hood, dark truths burst from the past. Suddenly, Crescenzo is tangled in a nightmare where magic mirrors and evil queens rule, and where everyone he loves is running out of time.”
Review:
This book was an interesting read, and while I did enjoy its storyline, I couldn’t help but question the origin of the ideas in the novel. The writing, however, was flawless and painfully relevant to today’s times, while also adding the essence of fairytales. But I found that this book was largely reminiscent of the television show “Once Upon A Time”, which did make me questions its originality; however, it was an enjoyable read, if not completely original, and today’s teens are sure to enjoy it.
I received this novel as an ARC (advanced reader’s copy) from Blaze Publishing since it is due for release on July 19, and I was thoroughly excited to read it. Since this book has been marketed as a take on Peter Pan, I went crazy over it since Peter Pan is my favorite fictional character of all time. However, I found myself enjoying the incorporation of many different fairytale characters more than just Peter Pan since I was not expecting so many of them to be a part of the story. I did really like how Pinocchio’s son is one of the main characters in the book, and is the teenager present to connect young adults to the story. This book does seem like a good entry novel for young adults to get into the new “fad” of twisted fairytales, and I am sure that this book will end up having a big following. Since it does appear that this book is going to be part of a series, I am interested to see how the other books turn out.
Since this book has not yet been released, I don’t want to give anything away too soon! But I want to leave by saying that I would recommend The Carver to young adults, since they are the audience that will enjoy this book the most, and that I am impressed by the author’s writing style and ability to connect to today’s times and teenagers. Even though I didn’t feel that the storyline itself was completely original, the book is highly enjoyable, and those who have not read a lot of books based off of fairytales or don’t watch “Once Upon A Time” will get the most out of it. I look forward to more books written by Jacob Devlin and will be following him!
FOR BOOK REVIEW REQUESTS FILL OUT FORM: Book Review Request Form
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*Donations are more than welcome and help me to keep my reviews and marketing services free. Please help me to keep my blog going! All donations will receive a gift.*
Hedge King in Winter by Michael E. Dellert – 5/5
Hello Everyone,
Now that the May Go Indie Now! Fantasy boxes are all sent out, I can now post my review for one of the books that I included in the box, “Hedge King in Winter”! The second book included, “A Merchant’s Tale”, will be reviewed later since it is the sequel to this novella.
Title: Hedge King in Winter
Author: Michael E. Dellert
Rating: 5/5
Synopsis:
“The king has been crippled. Can his brother hold the kingdom together against the machinations of their rival cousin?”
Review:
Let me start this by saying, I LOVED THIS NOVELLA. If that is not enough to tell you how good this book is, then keep reading.
I received “Hedge King in Winter” from Michael during the Brain to Books Con this past April in a giveaway. He sent me a signed copy of the the book a few short days after, and as soon as I got it I had to dig in and immediately knew that I would be basing the May Go Indie Now! Box after it. This book has everything that I look for in old – fashioned fantasy, and so much more.
First of all, the cover art and book design is brilliant. The art gives the novella a renaissance fantasy feel and I felt as though I fell into the book as soon as I opened it. It was also helpful that a map of the land that Dellert created, Droma, was included in the beginning of the book. Since the land he created, and the characters, are so vast and wide it was nice to be able to have an aid to picture the story properly.
But one of the things that I loved most about this novella was that it was short, but that Dellert packed a punch throughout the book, and I didn’t become bored at any point. As soon as I finished the book, I immediately had to order the second book in the series that just released “A Merchant’s Tale“, and wasn’t disappointed. (“A Merchant’s Tale” was the second book included in the Go Indie Now! May Box).
Dellert’s work is very original, and he clearly understands what he has created and doesn’t confuse the reader at all with inaccuracies (which can happen in heavily imaginative works sometimes). I found myself connecting to the characters on a personal level, and I loved how the language is similar to that of old – English (but easier to understand).
Michael E. Dellert is a gem of an author and I am so happy to have won his book, worked with him, and featured him in our May Go Indie Now! Box. I highly recommend “Hedge King in Winter” for readers of all ages and will be buying the rest of the series as soon as the books are released.
Purchase “Hedge King in Winter” Art Prints – 50% of Proceeds Go to Charity
FOR BOOK REVIEW REQUESTS FILL OUT FORM: Book Review Request Form
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*Donations are more than welcome and help me to keep my reviews and marketing services free. Please help me to keep my blog going! All donations will receive a gift.*
