Thud! by Terry Pratchett

Thud! by Terry Pratchett

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What can I say? I can't stay away from Discworld...

Troll vs. Dwarf, that age old feud brought to life again... Commander Vimes got quite the adrenaline rush in this tale, constantly in fear for his life as well as the life of his wife and son, young Sam.

Vimes has changed drastically since his first appearance in Pratchett's novels. Now that he has a son, he is very determined to make it home to read to young Sam. It is sweet watching Old Sam's transformation throughout the series. He protects his family better than he protects himself.

In this book, the reader gets to see a bit of the history as to where the animosity between the dwarves and the trolls comes from. The thought and creativity that Pratchett put into the story is amazing. He really knows how to spin a tale that gets the reader excited. Once again, another Pratchett novel that I would recommend to anyone and everyone. His novels are appropriate for all ages, even though the youngins might not get all the puns and wit...

And on that note...

WHERE'S MY COW?!?!

Behind on my reading...

That's my Sammich!

I have been a bit remiss lately on my reading and blogging, but most of all... my writing! I've been working so much and also just adopted a new puppy. He has been keeping me up at night and making it difficult to concentrate. His name is Sammich (yes, slang for Sandwich) and he is 2 1/2 months old. He super cute and sweet and I'm staying busy with training him.

I have received a lot of review requests lately and have agreed to most. I'm very excited at the thought of finding reading time again. I'm also working on an editing project for a friend. XchylerConn has sent me part 2 of her Keizara series and I can't wait for everyone else to read it as well. I'd share the cover image here but I do not know what it will be yet. (I think she is keeping it secret for now...)

Below are a few of the books that I've received that reviews will be coming shortly. Click the covers and check them out for yourselves!



The One Percenters

Watchman of Ephraim

Die For Me

Touch

Everyone But You

Xenofreak Nation Book 1

Gossamer Sphere

Quest of the Demon

Taking Criticism As An Author

So I've been writing book reviews for some time now. It isn't always the best feeling because it's difficult to write a review that an author might take offence to but I feel it is necessary to be honest. I always give the good with the bad and try to keep my reviews balanced.

This isn't a business for the faint at heart. Sometimes getting a bad or even okay review is helpful to the author. It's better to get an honest, straight-forward opinion than to have a bunch of yes-men around telling you something is great only to find out that the general populace disagrees.

My advice? When a reviewer writes you a review and you don't like what they have to say, take it and put it in your pocket for contemplation at a later time. You might be upset or offended now, but if you look at it later, with a clear head, you might just see that what they said could help you and your career. 

The saying goes, "Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes." Well, I have. I too am an author and feel that I have some experience in the business of getting reviews and being criticized. If an author doesn't receive constructive criticism at the beginning of their writing career, they have no way of growing.

As an author, I've gotten some great reviews and some not so great. I've even been told by one reader that I should NEVER write another word. Of course, she has been the only one to say anything like that. In her case, there was no constructive criticism, just someone being as mean as possible. If I were to post the email she sent, it would make my readers cringe as it does me when I think on it. Even when I received her response, I took it, accepted it and moved on. I didn't respond to her and start up an argument. I let it be. She is entitled to her opinion, just as everyone else is.

I, like most of my fellow indie authors, am just beginning on what I hope to be a long career as an author. I know that my work isn't perfect but I strive for it to be. I'll take help wherever I can get it and suggest that you do too. Taking that criticism and using it to your benefit can be a HUGE help!

The Gunslinger by Stephen King

The Gunslinger by Stephen King

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've read this book many times and will never get tired of it. This was my first time listening to the audiobook though and it was almost better than reading it on my own. Actually hearing the demands of this destitute world being placed upon Roland's shoulders was quite intense.

King did an amazing job in creating this world. Most novels/series that go back and forth between our world and the created world focus mainly on the here and now. King focuses on his world and brings in aspects of ours. It's refreshing to see things switched up a bit.

If you don't know me, I should probably tell you now that Stephen King has and always will be my favorite author. The first novel I ever read was The Stand when I was seven and haven't looked back since. It's intriguing how that book actually ties into this series and so many other books of his.

And with that, I'd like to say 'thankee sai' for writing your books for so many years and keeping me entertained!

Also, if you really enjoy Stephen King's work and really liked this book too, check out the graphic novels. They are quite impressive...

My apologies...

I just want to say that I'm sorry to anyone that came to my blog today expecting to see a review. There were some technical difficulties and the review is gone. I promise to make it up to my readers. I promise!!

So how about some comic strips about books and writing?

I never realized until recently how much my Kindle really is like the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.  I almost want to get a custom skin made for it that says 'Don't Panic' on it...

Haiku anyone? How about an apology for the missing review... 

Something is missing.

Bone Dressings review is gone.

I'm sorry, readers...



And while I hope this isn't the case, I know anything is really possible. Please say it isn't so... If you follow my blog, Tell me what you like or dislike about it. Give me some feedback and help me to improve!



The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I tried reading this book a few years back and just couldn't get into it. I don't know if it had something to do with the style or what, but I just didn't enjoy it. Well, a few weeks ago I found it as an audiobook, not only that, but it was read by Douglas Adams himself! I figured I would give it another shot and am so glad that I did...

All I can say is that if you ever have a chance to listen to an audiobook that is narrated by the actual author, do it! It's the only way to get the true feel of the emotions the author meant the words to have. Listening to this book, with Adams reading it to me, made me laugh and really enjoy myself. I found myself grinning, shaking my head, and actually laughing out loud (which I don't recommend you do while sitting at your desk at work. It causes strange looks to be directed at you) at times!

Adams has a great imagination as well as an unending sense of humor that keeps the reader very interested. What I found even more interesting is the fact that the description he gives of the actual 'Hitchhiker's Guide' sounds very similar to the Kindle that is sitting next to me right now... Adams created a whole new universe and populated it with such races that would make a 5-legged stripper from Mars turn her head...

There's only one thing left to ask... Do you know where your towel is?

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a very entertaining start to what I hope is going to be a good series. Following Percy along on his dangerous quest, I found myself constantly curious as to what was going to happen next. What made this even better was the fact that the author thought out things in such a manner as to not provide hints of what was coming up. Riordan literally kept the reader in suspense.

Now I will say, the book is COMPLETELY different from the movie. For one, the movie portrays Percy to be a lot older than he actually is. The characters are different, as are the bad guys. Both were great though. It was actually kind of nice being able to watch the movie first and then read the book and find that neither ruined the other for me.

Usually, this is a major problem, when it comes to movies based on books. They always seem to be missing something or changing things that shouldn't have been changed. In this case, they did it to make the movie more interesting to a wider audience, as opposed to being mainly for kids. I can understand and appreciate it, but I did prefer the book.

I would recommend the book to anyone, child or adult, and I definitely look forward to starting up book two in the near future. So get the book and give it a shot. Young adult books are a fun and quick way to pass the time. And when you get done, go watch the movie and enjoy some popcorn...

A new review, a new giveaway and a new site to check out...

Drop by www.werevampromance.org to read the latest review of my short story, The Mind Entangled - Part One: The Discovery. While there, leave a comment along with your email address and you could win an eCopy of my novel, The Blood Moon of Winter.

The site may be new but it is definitely worth checking out. If you want to read past posts and see where the blog originated, drop by the old blog and check out at http://werevampsromance.blogspot.com/.

Be sure to sign up for the new site while you are there. You will get to meet some great authors and she is always hosting wonderful giveaways too!

In Leah's Wake by Terri Giuliano Long

In Leah's Wake by Terri Giuliano Long

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Get In Leah's Wake here.

This novel follows the lives of a family in major turmoil. A girl with everything going for her falls in with the wrong crowd and her life spirals down, taking the entire family with her. This story hit home for me as a similar situation happened in my own family. Children always think they know better than adults and this novel encompasses that perfectly. Long does show the more extreme side of the dangers that can happen but she does it in a way that keeps the reader turning the pages.

My only real beef with this book was that I kept getting up and making my way to the kitchen for food! That's right, I was hungry a lot when reading this! The characters in the novel seem to center their lives around food, as if it brings them peace. I can understand this, as it works as a good distraction. The only thing is Long goes into such detail, down to every morsel of food, that I gained a few pounds during the reading process...

This was definitely a great story and worth every second spent reading it.


Tour Notes:

Please vote for my blog in the traffic-breaker poll for this tour. The blogger with the most votes wins a free promotional twitterview and a special winner’s badge. I want that to be me! You can vote in the poll by visiting the official In Leah’s Wake blog tour page and scrolling all the way to the bottom.

The next word for the book give-away is NOVEL. Learn more about the give-away and enter to win 1 of 3 copies on the official In Leah’s Wake blog tour page. The other 2 copies are being given-away courtesy of the GoodReads author program, go here to enter. And don’t forget to stop by the Q&A with Terri Giuliano Long Group to discuss In Leah’s Wake (including questions from the official book club guide), the author, her writing process, and advice.

Book Trailer for In Leah’s Wake:

Going Postal by Terry Pratchett

Going Postal by Terry Pratchett

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Going Postal must be one of my favorite Terry Pratchett books. It was so creative and fun. To win a battle of wits without much in the way of wits is pretty impressive. It is quite true that once someone gets angry, they do lose a bit of self-control and don't think as clearly. Pratchett really pulled that aspect into play in this book. It was fun to follow the characters and their 'angel' through the rebuilding of the post office.

Stanley was one of my favorite characters in all the Pratchett books. He may have only had a small part but he made me laugh. I have known quite a few collectors in my time and Stanley sure fits the extreme definition (yet some people really are that into collecting things). A good lesson to be learned? Never mess with a hardcore collector when it comes to something that truly matters to them...

The only downfall of this book, in my opinion, is that the old letters never get delivered. They were the cause of all the problems in the first place, demanding to be delivered, and yet the letters gave up on being delivered without any mention of it whatsoever. They stopped delivering the old ones almost right away and only seemed to focus on the new ones that were coming in because that brought in revenue for the city.

And don't forget, they did a 2-part TV adeptation of this great book! I saw the previews for it when I was in London last year and was disappointed that I was leaving the country 2 days before it aired. I know I still need to watch it and so do you! Check it out now on Sky TV!