Tag: fiction

Books · Life · Self-publishing · Uncategorized

My review of: Brexecution by Joel Hames

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brex
I saw that this book was released shortly after Brexit and was interested enough to pick it up. I started reading this little book a few days ago and have been hooked all the way through.
The plot is clever, the pacing brilliant. I was taken straight into the story and gripped the whole way through. An unlikely hero, a middle-aged taxi driver who is thrown into a world so dark and shady because one of his passengers left a briefcase in his cab. I didn’t know where this story would go and I loved every minute of it. I am already planning to pick up more by this author.
Books · Life · Self-publishing · Uncategorized

My Review of: Agony of the Heart by D.M Miller

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Agony.jpg

 

http://amzn.to/2d6jn7I 

This is the second book I have read by this author and this one leads on from the first. The first book I awarded 4 stars because although it was good there were a few elements that weren’t to my personal taste in the storytelling, but I wanted to read more by this author. I picked up Agony of the Heart hoping that I would enjoy it as much as the first. This book however exceeded all my expectations and I was hooked. The development of the characters Catherine and Abdul was great. There was a switch in the dynamics of their relationship. This book explores the complexity of the human mind when fears and insecurities are allowed to fester. Her portrayal of the post natal depression that Catherine suffered was believable and sensitively written. The love of her husband is coupled with the exasperation of the man who wants to fix her but can’t and doesn’t know what to do. His thought processes are quite simplistic due to his sheltered upbringing but over the course of the book he develops as a human being and comes to understand more about his wife and his own unintentional neglect of her and his children.

The love this couple has is clear throughout, they are passionate and fiery. I loved the authors clear characterisation which was evident throughout but brought to the fore in the arguments between Catherine and Abdul.
This author seems to go from strength to strength and I am very much looking forward to reading book three which has been released.
Books · Self-publishing · Uncategorized

My review of “When Dead Men won’t Lie.” by Felicity Snowden

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Dead.jpg
This book is a gentle walk through the boyhood of a man who is looking back on his life. It is set in 1959/1960 when the young Niall who had no interest in learning meets an inspirational cover teacher who ignites a passion for history in him. Niall devotes his time to studying and with the help of some discovered artefacts and visions of the past he changes his destiny.
The author paints a lovely story of a family who despite their closeness have their troubles. This book is interspersed with lots of lovely moments. I liked the relationship between Niall and his sister Alice.
There are some minor mistakes, typos but certainly not enough to distract from the story in any way.
If you are looking for a dynamic storyline then this book isn’t for you but if you are happy to meander through a lovely story with this author and her characters I would recommend picking this up for a read.
Looking forward to reading more by this author.
Books · Life · Uncategorized

My review of “Flor y Fuego.”

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Flor.jpg

http://amzn.to/2bAINc7

What a lovely short story. In just 26 pages the author draws you into Flor’s world which encompasses a life that she can leave with ease and a man who broke her heart with complete disregard before trying to pull her back into his orbit again.
Bibiana manages to pull you into the story, making you want to turn each page. Her style is original and on a deep level that enthrals. The ending came as a complete surprise.
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My review of “The Magic of Grandfather Time” by Rose English

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I’ve read this book twice now and my heart stopped in the same place both times. This author has such a fantastic way with words. This little book contains two interlocking short stories from different eras and both are very emotive. The first story follows the story of Cole and his heartbreak. But there is magic in the air or should I say in the Grandfather clock and the second story goes back in time to William, family man, creator of clocks and in particular the grandfather clock that looks over future generations. This author uses beautiful words and strings them together with skill.  I’m looking forward to reading the next book by her and luckily enough I have that in my library.
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My Review of Brief Encounters of the Third Kind by Janet Gogerty

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Brief

http://amzn.to/2buwn9f

I would have liked to have been able to give this book 4 stars and had it been half the size it certainly would have got that. The storyline was really clever mixing the science fiction with an everyday, normal family existence. The characters were likeable and believable and I loved the baby Adam, the author wrote his part extremely well. I got the sense that I knew most of them quite well during this story. However, the pacing for my liking was too slow, i think we were taken too much through the mundane part of a family’s life and for me it felt that it dragged and slowed the story down so that I struggled. I think the story would be much tighter if some of the repetition were removed. At times I nearly gave up reading it but I wanted to find out what happened which is a credit to the author’s ability and I am glad I finished it.

There was an event (won’t say what for fear of spoiling it for other reader’s|) that I felt should have had more emotion attached to it and it felt as though it slipped in alongside the everyday events too much.
Having said all of that I did enjoy it and will pick up more by this author in the future.
Books · Self-publishing · Uncategorized

My Review of CXVI by Angie Smith

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http://amzn.to/2bSOPc2

 

CXVI

This is another book that sat on my kindle for a while but the moment I opened the pages I was hooked. Ms. Smith writes a believable mystery thriller which keeps you on the edge of your seat and explodes in more drama at the end.  DS Maria Barnes is not a cliche character, she very much holds her own with insights into a more complex character. Superintendent Greg Woods sees something in Barnes that her other colleagues don’t. He looks beyond her prickly, almost autistic nature and sees her potential. The relationship ( work/friendship) between them is lovely and natural, building throughout the story.
A series of deaths which first appear unrelated start to show the traits of a series of killing with one obvious link – the Roman Numerals. The more that  Woods and Barnes dig they find that the connection leads them to a rich and beautiful widow.
There are many threads woven into this tapestry of a book and not one of them was loose. 
This book is cleaver and exciting and well written.
The ending was not one I saw coming. I will be picking up books 2 & 3 in this trilogy.

 

Books · Self-publishing · Uncategorized

My review of “The Food Critic.” by R. E. Hargrave

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The Food Critic.jpg
This novelette was a delight to the senses. It was well written, the pacing was spot on and the characters likeable.
Serena gets more than she bargained for when she goes to a small diner to review the food there.
I read this in a couple of sittings, couldn’t wait to pick it up to read to the end. I will be reading more by this author.
Books · Self-publishing · Uncategorized

The Vintage Coat by Chris Turnbull

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The Vintage Coat
I bought the paperback copy of this book as the cover attracted me and having had this author recommended to me by a friend thought I would give it a go.
This is a time slip story about a man named Joe who is in a bit of a rut in the present day and on discovering an old coat in the charity shop where he works he gets whipped back in time to 1943.  In 1943 he develops a lovely friendship and falls in love.  The characters are well written and likeable. I felt a strong sense that I was actually reading about the 40’s which had clearly been well-researched.
The authors writing style is simple and not overly showy, a pleasure to read at all times. I kept the book as my bedtime reading and each night I couldn’t wait to slip back into Joe’s world both past and present.
The end has a lovely twist that I didn’t see coming.
Can’t wait to read more by this author who has a new fan.
Books · Life · Self-publishing · Uncategorized

Bookshop Bistro – Aiding Indie Authors

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There is a wonderful initiative that is run by one very busy lady, a pro-active author who helps other authors. Yes, you are quite right there are lots of people out there who do a lot to support the Indie community.

What makes this initiative special? This one could really work if more people took part.

The idea is that each week there is a spotlight author/book, for that week you have to either have your book priced at .99c or .99p or for free. Then then members over the space of the week buy this book. If they are so inclined, they can read and review also, but that isn’t a necessity. There is no spotlight for the weeks over Christmas and New Year, so the most you commit to is £50.00 or $50.00 per year. You don’t have to buy each and everyone but to make it work it would help. If you already have the spotlight book, you just write that in the comments box.

So what does that do? The increased sales, especially spread out over the week takes you up the Amazon rankings and once you get within the top 100 in a category you may get sales from randoms because if we’re honest how many of us have the patience to trawl through 500 pages to find a book we might be interested in- it doesn’t really happen. If you disagree with me, please feel free to scroll through until you reach mine, pick it, send me a screenshot of your purchase and I will be happy to eat my words. No really, please do that…now!

I was lucky enough to be the spotlight author during the week of the 15th February. I also followed this up with a BookHippo promotion. My Novella’s fall below the word count allowed for BookSends and BookBub otherwise I would have kept the momentum going with them.

9

So what happened for me? Before the spotlight my sales chart was flatlining, I was waiting for the time of death statement.

I am going to attach more screenshots here than you may want to see, but please feel free to scroll from the top to the bottom to give you the picture.

Amazon UK:

14/2/2016

Screenshot 2016-02-14 15.18.03.png

15/2/2016 – Spotlight starts (5 sales)

Screenshot 2016-02-15 18.54.44.png

16/2/2016 (3 sales)

Screenshot 2016-02-16 06.48.38.png

17/2/2016 (3 sales)

Screenshot 2016-02-17 07.43.38.png

18/2/2016 (1 sale)

Screenshot 2016-02-18 13.56.30.png

19/2/2016 (0 sales – 1 review)

Screenshot 2016-02-20 08.09.45.png

Didn’t do a screenshot

20/2/2016 (6 sales – Book Hippo that day also)

Screenshot 2016-02-20 07.46.11.png

21/2/2016 (1 sale) last day

Screenshot 2016-02-21 09.42.46.png

1 week later with no additional sales

Screenshot 2016-02-28 13.44.31.png

Can you imagine what those figures would look like if more people participated, worth thinking about.

Amazon US:

14/2/2016 (2 sales) presumably the difference in time zones attributed to early sales

Screenshot 2016-02-14 15.18.39.png

15/2/2016 (1 sale)

Screenshot 2016-02-15 18.58.57.png

16/2/2016 (0 Sales)

Screenshot 2016-02-16 06.49.19.png

17/2/2016 (1 sale)

Screenshot 2016-02-17 07.23.15.png

18/2/2016 (0 sales)

No screenshot today

19/2/2016 (0 sales)

No screenshot today

20/2/2016 (1 sale)

Screenshot 2016-02-20 07.48.11.png

21/2/2016 (0 sales)

Screenshot 2016-02-21 09.42.17.png

One week later with no additional salesScreenshot 2016-02-28 13.44.50.png

Amazon Canada:

I didn’t have any ranking on the Canadian site, so anything was a bonus. I won’t post every day.

18/2/2016 (2 sales)

19/2/2016 (1 sale)

Screenshot 2016-02-19 07.55.30.png

20/2/2016 (1 sale)

Screenshot 2016-02-20 22.39.27.png

One week later with no additional sales

Screenshot 2016-02-28 13.45.08.png

I would love to have been able to report that my sales had continued but alas that isn’t true but maybe had the amount of participating members been higher the rankings may have risen higher and stayed there for longer. I certainly enjoyed being part of this and will continue to support the spotlight each week.

If anyone hasn’t bought ‘As Dreams are Made on.’ I have left it at the sale price 0.99 in whatever country you are in.

myBook.to/Adamo

I would like to thank everyone who bought the book, read or reviewed or still plans to do so.

I would especially like  to thank Tanya whose hard work makes this group possible. I want to end by doing a mini interview with Tanya.

Me: What was your motivation behind the Spotlight of the week?
Tanya: I was frustrated at how the big publishers are able to set a book off at a run when it’s released because of having such a larger support network. I wanted to see if we could develop a similar type of network for indies.

Me: What would you like to see from the group?
Tanya: I’d love to see it grow into the thousands and potentially branch off by genre.

Me: You are an exceptionally busy woman who not only works but writes so where do you find the time to help other people so much?

Tanya: There’s a saying, “if you want something to get done, ask a busy person” lol. I love helping people, it’s inherent in my nature, as such I tend to make the time to do the things I love. It helps that I don’t have a social life too haha.

Me: You have published your own book, ‘Dreams of Beautiful Whisper.’ when do you plan to make your book the spotlight of the week?

Tanya: My plan was to wait until I had book 2 completed, though that’s been delayed a bit, so I’m not sure on my timing. I also didn’t want members to feel that the purpose of the group was self-serving for my own book, so I haven’t made my book a priority for the Spotlight. I’ve also tried to stress to those submitting their books for the Spotlight that it’s important to have supporting marketing lined up for before, during and after a Spotlight position in order to maximize the benefits from it. I don’t have that stuff lined up for my own book yet, so that’s another factor in me holding off for now.

Me: Have you got a release date in mind for book two?

Tanya: Originally I was aiming for, well now lol, but a variety of circumstances in my life has caused a delay. So at this point I’m really not 100% sure when I’ll get it finished. But I am hoping to at least have ARCs available before the summer. (It is coming along nicely and my read along editors are loving it!)

Me: What advice would you give to anyone starting out on the journey of writing?

Tanya: As for the writing side – just do it. Make sure you’re writing something (anything) every day. Keep learning about the craft and always aim to improve your grammar, spelling, punctuation and word choice. For the rest of it, don’t try to rush the process. Do your research, learn the ins and outs and then approach it all very methodically. This can be a huge challenge for creative types as we do tend to be more sporadic and random by nature. But if you’re wanting to publish your work (by any means) it’s important to treat it as a business and to make sure you have a well thought out plan in place that you then consistently execute.

Please check this group out on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1675211409402187/

or on the website:

http://panopticnews.com/bookshopbistro/