Sage Nestler's Blog, page 75

Mind in the Clouds by Bruce M. Perrin – 4/5

Title: Mind in the Clouds

Author: Bruce M. Perrin

Purchase: Amazon Link

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis:

“Recently graduated and newly hired Ruger-Phillips employee, Dr. Sam “Doc” Price is excited to be starting his new assignment. He will be assessing training developed for a team. It is, however, a team like no other, because only one of the team members is human; the other is one of the most intelligent and lethal systems ever built by man – the Joint Aerial Combat Capability or JACC. Loaded with the latest in detection and threat assessment technology, JACC is a silent, deadly hunter in the sky. Doc discovers, however, that JACC may not be the only killer on the remote, Nevada test range where he now finds himself. Soon, he is involved in a cat and mouse game with an unknown adversary. In this fight for his life and the lives of his friends, Doc asks himself, how do you match wits with the mind in the clouds, when you are not sure if you are facing the cold, exact logic of machine intelligence or the coldblooded urges of a human murderer?”

I found the idea of this book to be interesting.  It involved violence with a technology twist that made it unique to read.  However, I found it hard to get into because the writing was a bit choppy.  There were pages filled with chunks of dialogue that made the writing flat.  I wish there had been more descriptions and less dialogue, but that is just my opinion.  This would have made the writing more interesting to read.

Since the majority of this novel involved in depth technology discussion, I did learn a lot about these new concepts.  For example, drones played a large role in the story and I didn’t know very much about them before.  Perrin is very knowledgeable about these forms of technology as well as psychology and the human mind, and that did show in his writing.  I could tell through his story that he was passionate about his work, but in the sections of the book where the writing fell flat I felt that he was waiting to get to a more interesting part of the novel.  There was just not enough time put into certain sections of the book.  I just think that if he went back through and added more descriptions and less dialogue, the novel would be stronger.  All this novel needs is for the dialogue and descriptions to be mixed instead of separated, and that would take this novel from good to great.

If you are a technology buff, this novel would be for you.  It is written for intellectual readers and those interested in more information than fiction.  This novel was good and I do recommend it to crime and technology buffs.

 

Summer Author Interview Month

Hello everyone!

Today I have been checking out the Brain to Books 2016 Cyber Con and it gave me an idea for a celebration that I would like to host this summer.  This celebration will be a method of free publicity for authors.

Author interviews are a great resource for readers.  It has been shown that when readers feel connected to the author, they tend to get more out of the author’s work.  Because of this, I am going to host a month on my blog where I will have a new interview with an indie author posted each day.  I will be doing this for the month of June and am going to start collecting author interview requests now.

Please email peachykeenreviews@gmail.com if you are interested in being interviewed.

I will be posting the interviews here on the blog as well as my Facebook page, Twitter, and Goodreads.

This will be a great way for us, as authors, to connect with one another and our readers.

I look forward to hearing from you!

~Ashley

Brain to Books Cyber Convention 2016

Hello My Wonderful Blog Readers!

I wanted to alert you about a fabulous event that is taking place tomorrow, 04/08/2016 – 04/10/2016 called the Brain to Books Cyber Convention.  This event is an online book expo that will be taking place on Goodreads.  There will be virtual booths at this event representing more than 300 authors from more than 15 countries and there will be giveaways and other fun things occurring.  This is an excellent event to help you meet new authors and find out about new books that you may otherwise not have known about.  The whole event has been scheduled meticulously and everyone involved is putting their heart and soul into this event.  Nothing is better than the passion that goes behind books and writing, and it may be just the right dose of inspiration that you need!

Also, would could be better than a free book expo that you can attend while sitting on your couch in your pajamas?

I will certainly be attending and I really hope you do as well!  If you do not have a Goodreads account, please sign up for one and go to the following link to join the group and attend the convention: Brain to Books Cyber Convention

Hope to “see” you all there!

~Ashley

Uppercase Monthly Book Box – 5/5

Hello Everyone[image error]

Recently I posted a review about one of the monthly book boxes that I receive, The Best Damn Book Box – 5/5, and I wanted to share with you the first young adult book box that I had ever received.  This box is called the Uppercase Box and I have been receiving it since September 2015.  It is amazing, and all of the books that have been sent to me through this box were books that I didn’t know anything about.  I liked this element of surprise, because I never know what to expect with the box.

Price: $29 (includes shipping) – multiple months can be bought at one time

Link: Uppercase Box

In each Uppercase Box you receive a book that is signed by the author or comes with a signed bookplate and a few bookish items.  Lisa, the creator of the box, also provides a handwritten note about the book selection and why she chose the book.  She pre-reads the books she chooses, so I trust her selection since she has tried them firsthand.  You will also receive a bookmark each month that contains an interactive reading experience.  On certain pages of the book you will be asked to type in a code on the website and a new experience that goes along with the book will come up.  I personally love this, because it is like having an online book club each month.

Each item in the box is worth more the $29 fee.  The specific box that I will be reviewing is the March 2016 box.

Item 1: Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton

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The first item in the box was the book of the month, “Rebel of the Sands” by Alwyn Hamilton.  The book came with a signed bookplate by the author and an interactive reading experience.  I have found this book to be very intriguing and adventurous.  It is well worth a read.

Item 2: 18k Gold Quote Earrings

The second item included was a pair of quote earrings by JewelSugar.  These are just so adorable and rich looking.  Being a writer, I think they add some charm to my look when I wear them.  Also, they are 18k gold plated.  How extravagant is that?

Item 3: Read More Big Magnet

The next item was a Read More Big Magnet.  It is very geeky and fun to have around.  I personally keep this with all of my books.  It helps me to urge myself to read when I get stressed out about other things.

Additional Content: Interactive Reading Experience, Personal Letter, Book Decals

The last few items included in the box were the bookmark with the reading experience link, the personal letter from Lisa, and decals to go with Rebel of the Sands.  All of these items pepped up my enthusiasm for the book and the experience in the box.

Overall, this box is just a joy to get.  I love how most of the authors included in the box are first time authors and how unique all of the separate items are.  I also think that this is the most affordable book box.  I urge you to check it out and try it for at least a month.  If you are a fan of young adult literature, you won’t be disappointed.

~Ashley

The Calypsis Project – 5/5

Title: The Calypsis Project

Author: Brittany M. Willows

Purchase: The Calypsis Project on Amazon

The Calypsis Project is a science fiction novel and, let me tell you, it was one hell of a ride.

SYNOPSIS

“The year is 2438. Ten years ago, an ill-fated encounter on a human mining colony triggered a devastating war between the United Nations Planetary Defense and an alien organization known as the Drocain Royal Empire.

After a decade of fighting with no sign of a conclusion in sight, the men and women of the UNPD find themselves faced with the reality that mankind’s very existence could be at stake.

When Corporal Alana Carmen stumbles upon an encrypted communications device, she learns there is more to the conflict than a simple war-for-worlds. But to uncover the truth, she must make allies of those she once considered enemies.

And now, the fate of the entire galaxy may rest on the shoulders of a single alien warrior . . .

Following a public shaming at his own Coming of Age ceremony, Kenon Valinquint enrolls in the Drocain Royal Empire with the hope of one day redeeming himself. Unbeknownst to the young Drahkori, this decision has set in motion a staggering chain of events that could very well change the direction of the war, and the known history of the universe, forever.”

Brittany M. Willows is a brilliant writer and a lovely person.  When asking me for a review, she was so gitty about her work and I could feel her enthusiasm as though it were my own.  This enthusiasm added to the essence of the novel.

I rarely find books that produce worlds as well developed as “The Calypsis Project” does.  I, myself, worked for years on developing the fictional world in my first book and I still don’t think it is as well developed as Willow’s work is.  From page one I was captivated, and that one page kept me reading on and on.  She is clearly passionate about her work, and it shows.  The acknowledgements page was particularly lovely:

“This book is dedicated to my wonderful friends and family whose undying support helped me to craft this story into what it is today.  Without them, this project likely never would have seen the light of day.  Special thanks to my lovely Beta Readers and especially to my mom, who played a massive role in editing this book and did an absolutely fantastic job of it.  You are amazing.  Thank you!

First off, the writing was flawless.  It was perfectly edited and a joy to read.  Aside from that, the descriptions were excellent.  Since this novel is a science fiction novel, it was imperative that there be strong descriptors to help guide the reader through the book story.  While reading this novel I felt like I was inside of the book myself.  The descriptions were not amateur by any means.  Some authors can let their stories run away from them if their plot and setting is too complex, but Willows had both of these components reigned in and under control.  She clearly understood the world of her book down to the smallest detail and I am willing to bet that she could even tell you what her characters like to eat for breakfast.

Being a science fiction novel that involves violence and tension, description of both of these things was necessary to amplify the story.  However, I have found that some authors put too many descriptions in violent passages which can turn off the reader.  Willows could have easily done this, but she did not.  Instead, her violent passages were poetic.

This was a shock to me, because I haven’t experienced violent scenes as being poetic before.  When reading the violent passages I felt as though I were staring at a Cobra: lethal, but too intriguing to look away.  One of the best examples of her violent passages was:

“Kenon raised his weapon, aimed at the soldier, and squeezed the trigger.  Shards of hardened crystal flew forth, shining like golden icicles.  They splintered the human’s chest plate, piercing his flesh and spraying crimson blood across the grass.”

Passages like this in “The Calypsis Project” made me feel as though I were reading one of the many novels of a well seasoned, best-selling author; likewise, a book that could easily become a once in a lifetime blockbuster.

All in all, I loved this book.  This is not something that I can say often as I am usually quite picky about science fiction, but I adored this book and I will be reading the sequels when that come out.  That being said, I am off to Amazon to pick up the physical copy.  It now has a well deserved spot in my personal library.

*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.*

Peachy Keen Book Reviews Request Form

The Best Damn Book Box – 5/5

Hello Everyone!

I just wanted to share with you a review about a monthly book box that I receive.  This book box is called The Best Damn Book Box and it is a young adult monthly box.  In each box, you receive a highly anticipated young adult novel along with many bookish accessories from small businesses.  This is the second month that I have received this box and I just adore it.  Nicole, the owner of the business, is very personable and wraps each piece in the box separately so opening the box is like opening a present.

Price: $39.99+shipping per month

Link: The Best Damn Book Box Link

Now, there are many book boxes out there that you can choose from, but I have found that this box is the biggest bang for your buck and the most personable.  It is pricey; however, Nicole offers discount codes frequently and there are so many items in the box that the box is worth more than the money you pay for it.  Each month you will get billed on the first, but you can also pay for three or six months in advance.  If you choose one of multi-month options, you receive a huge price cut.

Each month the box is based on a different theme surrounding the book that Nicole has chosen for the month.  In February, the first box that I received was themed on “Sleeping Beauty” and provided a brand new indie novel that I just adored.  In March the box’s theme was “Magical Things & Magical Beings” and that is the box that I am reviewing today.  Each box also contains a candle based on the theme or book included to enhance the reading atmosphere.  I absolutely love this, because I always read in the bathtub with a candle burning.  In the past two boxes a bath bomb and bath fizz were also included, which added to my reading atmosphere even more.

Item 1: Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare

This month’s book choice was the highly anticipated novel “Lady Midnight” by Cassandra Clare.  I was very excited to receive this book, even though I haven’t yet read the Mortal Instruments (don’t shoot me).  It came wrapped in these adorable ribbons and there is a stamp on the inside with Cassandra Clare’s signature, which I thought was very lovely.

Item 2: Crafting Call Book Locket

The first bookish item included was a book locket from Crafting Call of Lady Midnight.  I was very excited to receive this, because I recently reached out to Crafting Call and asked them to make me a bracelet with book lockets of my two books that I have published.  They were such a pleasure to work with and I absolutely love their keepsakes.  I am going to treasure this forever.

Item 3: Novelly Yours Candle

The third item in the box was a Lady Midnight candle by Novelly Yours.  It smells exactly like what I imagine the novel to be like.  The scents in the candle are outdoors, forest, and citrus.

Item 4: Ariel’s Mermaid Ring by Sparks Emporium

The fourth item in the box was an Ariel Mermaid Ring by Sparks Emporium.  It is absolutely adorable and adjustable.  I was very happy with this ring as I am a huge fan of the little mermaid.

Item 5: Fairy Dust Bath Fizz by Enchanted Storybook Spa

The fifth item included was bath fizz from Enchanted Storybook Spa.  The scent is called Fairy Dust and smells like lavender and vanilla.  It smells delicious and is all natural.

Item 6: Dragon Button

The sixth item is a button of a dragon logo.  I think that this is going to be the new logo for the box and I absolutely love it!  It is adorable.

Item 7/8: Card and Sticker by Evie Bookish

The last two items were a card and sticker by Evie Bookish.  The quote says “Some things you learn best in calm and some in storm.”  I loved how on the back of the card there was a list of all items included in the box as well as the shops where they came from.

Overall, this box is just a joy to receive.  It is only a few months old and better than other boxes that I have received that are much older.  I highly urge you to check it out, even if you just try it for a month.  It will be more than worth it.

Much love,

~Ashley

 

 

Book Discussion #1 – Characters

Hello Everyone[image error]

I just wanted to update everyone on the review process.  Currently I am reading The Calypsis Project by Brittan M. Willows and I am loving it.  It is probably one of the most creative science fiction novels that I have read recently and I highly recommend that you check it out.

That being said, I wanted to start a discussion characters.  I am going to post a couple of questions and I would love for all of you writers and readers to comment on your thoughts.  My first question is:

As authors and readers, do you feel that the characters in your books or the books that you are reading are like your family? 

I have found that the stronger an author feels about a character, the stronger that character is.  If a character is weak and the author doesn’t care for the character, I find it hard to care about them as well. I am just curious to hear your thoughts on this.  I would also like you to consider the next question:

To you, are characters more than figments of the imagination?

Remember, this question is subjective and please don’t discount any else’s response.  Feel free to post any other questions that you have as well!

~Ashley

P. S. Would anyone be interested in participating in a book club that I would host?  We would be reading both indie and mainstream novels.  I would like for the group to analyze books in depth, which would be a great way for us to get to know one another and understand literature on a deeper level.  Let me know!

Writing Tip #2

Hello Everyone,

For Writing Tip #2 I want to talk about one of the most important aspects of a novel that publishers, and readers, look for. This aspect is a solid, interesting novel from beginning to end. I, myself, have struggled with this in the past because I would come up with a story that I thought was great but would always tell people: “It gets better after the first couple of chapters”.

This is one of the biggest mistakes that you, as a writer, can make.

To talk about this issue let me ask you a couple of questions. What is your favorite book? Why is it your favorite book? In the beginning of this book, were you bored?

Most likely your answer to that last question will be no. Usually, bestselling books are solid stories from beginning to end. If you, as a writer, can’t make your story solid enough to be enjoyable to write or read from beginning to end, then you need to redevelop your novel. This doesn’t mean that you are a bad author, it just means that you have further work to do. Plot is everything and if a plot is weak, your reader will notice. Next time you go through your novel to edit it read it as though you are a reader. Are you interested from the first chapter or prologue? If not, then you need to rewrite it. And rewrite it. And rewrite it. I cannot stress this enough. If a writer is bored with their own work – either while reading it or writing it – then so will the reader.

If you are interested in traditional publishing, agents and publishers will only ask you for a couple of chapters to review when you pitch you novel to them. If they aren’t hooked based on those couple of chapters you will most likely be rejected. This has happened to me personally time and time again and I am still constantly trying to remind myself to develop plot in terms of making sure that it is solid from the beginning and doesn’t fade out towards the end. The best way to do this is to outline your novel as you go back through it and fill in any holes that you find. It is also best to do this as you are planning your novel before you actually write it.

If your novel is currently at this status, do not throw it away or feel defeated. Take a break if you need to then get back to it. Don’t edit your novel just in terms of grammar. Use the outline technique and change parts that you would like to reimagine or fill in the holes. Writing, after all, is rewriting, and no story is every truly finished.

I hope this tip helps those of you editing your novels or even those who are just starting out. If you would like me to expand on this topic feel free to contact me personally at peachykeenreviews@gmail.com or post in the comments. I can provide you with an outline structure that you can fill out if that is something that you would like. I am here to help.

~Ashley

*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.*

The Unseen Face by Joannes Rhino Review -4/5 Stars

Title: The Unseen Face

Author: Joannes Rhino

Rating: 4/5

Purchase: The Unseen Face on Amazon

“The Unseen Face” is one of those rare books that forces you to turn the page.  I was enthralled from beginning to end.  The official synopsis of the book is as follows:

“James Maddox must face the demons of his past and question everything he thought was real; even his own memory.

James was used to living without emotion after losing his Emilia unexpectedly; he gave up on happiness the day she died. His plans for their future, of marriage and kids, died right along with her. He preferred feeling numb, rather than feeling the pain of losing his dreams. That all changed the day he received an anonymous letter in the mail with just three words: I am innocent.

James began dreaming of Emilia that same night. However, his dream quickly becomes his nightmare as she haunts his sleep, demanding he knows the truth, that he faces the unseen. And what is hidden threatens to change James’ life forever.”

I found the writing in this novel to be virtually flawless.  Not only was it perfectly edited, but Joannes Rhino’s characters were like faceted jewels.  Not only were there many different sides to them, but he fully developed every different side.  He also added an edge of horror to his novel by incorporating the death of Emilia into the novel.  This edge was just enough to keep the reader haunted and curious.

The main character, James Maddox, is a deeply disturbed character.  However, despite his depressing attitude and frustrating demeanor, I wanted to keep reading so that I could be with him and go through all of his emotions as well.  The sadness he experienced throughout the novel was so beautiful and almost endearing.  It was like a drug and I kept craving more.

However, I found the way that Maddox holds Emilia on a pedestal to be perplexing.  Despite being dead, she still haunts his dreams and doesn’t allow him to develop any other romantic relationships.  He seems to let the memory of her control him and many times I wanted to shake him out of what he was going through.  He can’t even seem to handle work or friendships very well because of how obsessed he is with Emilia.  I found this most interesting because I don’t think that when Emilia was alive he would have held her in such a big spotlight.  It was like he was addicted to her memory and the sorrow that came with her death.  Since reading about the beautiful sadness was a drug for me, I can see how it was a drug for him.  Since she was gone she was out of reach and therefore angelic.  He seemed to only remember the pain she went through and treated her as though she were flawless, likeable to an angel.  He was using her as an excuse to fall into his illusions which slowly turned into madness.

I gave this novel 4/5 stars instead of 5/5 because of how repetitive the character of James Maddox could be at times.  For the most part he was well developed, but I thought that there was too much emphasis on how highly he felt about Emilia.  I found this to make his character desperate and unlikable in some parts of the book.  However, I do understand why this was an important aspect to portray to the reader in terms of story.  I just think that this depressing, two dimensional side to James could turn some readers off.  It would have been better if there weren’t so many long passages that dwelled on his lost love.

But there were also some parts of the book that used foul language in a demeaning way towards women.  This was meant to represent an aspect of the character that was using the foul language, but I do think that readers should be aware of this aspect if they are sensitive to this kind of language.

Overall, I couldn’t stop reading this book.  I keep finding myself thinking about James and Emilia and the haunting mental torture that he was put through.  This novel was full of mystery and intrigue and I wanted to keep reading to find out what happened.  The tragedy of Emilia’s death was bittersweet and carried this novel out in a unique way.  I have never read a novel that was so disturbing or enjoyable and I highly recommend it.

Into The Fog – My 2nd Novel – UPDATE!

Hello Everyone!

I wanted to share some very exciting news.  My second novel, “Into The Fog”, is going to be re-released in a few months with many story updates and I today I had the pleasure of obtaining and releasing the new cover!

I am very, very excited about this cover which is from the website selfpubbookcovers.com.  Once you pay for a cover on this site it cannot be sold again, but you can change it and edit it if you need to do that.  I was referred to this site by the beautiful and talented Marie Silk, author of the book Davenport House of which I recently wrote a review for: Davenport House by Marie Silk Review

Please keep an eye out for the new version of “Into The Fog” which will be releasing soon.  I will add updates until then.  This is a novel that I have worked on and changed over the course of seven years and I am now getting ready to release the permanent, final version.  A sequel will also be in the works soon.  Below is the synopsis for “Into The Fog”:

 

“A murder, a choice, and an eternal destiny. Welcome to the untold story of sixteenth century England.

Darielle couldn’t be happier and more in love with her fiancé, Prince Tarum, until the eve of their wedding announcement when Tarum is murdered.  Following the tragedy, Darielle is thrown into a life filled with despair as strangers enter the Tower and change her way of life.  However, she begins to find herself drawn to Harlisisle, the new guard for Queen Estelle.  Something about him makes her feel as though she has known him before. This attraction ends up unraveling past events in her life that she had long forgotten, and she soon discovers the true circumstances surrounding Tarum’s murder.  The truth makes her question the love that she once had for people that she thought she knew.

‘Into The Fog’ is a roller coaster ride of historical romance and fantasy elements that will keep you on the edge of your seat and asking only one question:

‘What if death isn’t an ending, but a beginning?'”

Please keep checking the blog for updates on my novels and book reviews.

~Ashley