Month: April 2017

Cover Reveal – The Lost Sentinel #fantasy #epicfantasy #heroicfantasy

Put this one on your reading list now!

As promised, I’m ready to reveal the cover of my new book ‘The Lost Sentinel’.

But before the big reveal, here’s the all important blurb;

Silent Sea Chronicles

Book One – The Lost Sentinel

The magical island of Kalaya is dying, along with its Sentinel. With the Kalayan people turning their back on magic, can Tei help the exiles find their new Sentinel before it’s too late?

Kalaya is controlled by the Assembly – set up to govern but now under the control of Rathnor, who is intent on persecuting those who have magic, many of whom have taken refuge in the Turrak Mountains.

Tei has been raised to hide her magic, until her father, Migil, is visited by an old friend who warns them that they must seek refuge in the mountains.

On the journey, an enemy attack leaves her father mortally wounded. He sees her into the care…

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Weekly Round-Up 4/30/2017

Tomorrow is May 1st and the weather forecast for Fargo, ND includes the possibility of snow. Gotta love North Dakota. Let’s close out the month of April by taking a look at my TBR and see what, if any, progress I have made in the past week.

I finished reading 1 book. Ooh, three cheers for me! I also added some books. And by some, I mean 8! April 30 Book Haul

These are the ones I received in the mail. I also received 2 Kindle books from NetGalley. All this means that the TBR has reached a new high, ending at 281. My NetGalley rating has dropped to 70% and I’m 2 books behind on my Goodreads challenge.

Coming Up

I am currently reading “Dead Watch” by John Sandford.

I’m also listening to the audiobook of “The Cleaner” by Mark Dawson.

Thank you for joining me in this little glimpse of my lack of self-control when it comes to books. I hope you all have a good week!

Happy Reading!

“Actual Malice” by Breton Peace and Gary Condit

Who doesn’t remember the media onslaught surrounding Gary Condit and the disappearance of Chandra Levy. What people kept calling for at the time was some kind of confession from Gary Condit, but he refused to speak about his part, if any, in the disappearance. In this book we get the whole story from the Condit side of the drama. Breton Peace has done a fabulous job of detailing the events, the media’s actions, and the response of the Condits to the onslaught of accusations. You will read in here about the missteps of the investigators and the self-promotion that certain members of law enforcement was engaging in, at Gary Condit’s expense.

I found this story to be very disturbing. The level of false accusation and the destruction that came in its wake just astonished me. The author’s writing style made the story very engaging and at times un-put-downable. I would like to think that our society as a whole can gain, through this story, an awareness of how false accusation can destroy an individual, and that we would, as a result, hold ourselves to a higher standard. I was very moved while reading this book and I highly recommend it.

Alinefromabook’s rating: 5 stars!!

Happy Reading!

On Amazon | On Goodreads

Thank you to NetGalley and Ghost Mountain Books for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

“A History of Courtship” by Tania O’Donnell

Welcome to another Quirky Corner of History! This was such a fun little book to read. Subtitled “800 Years of Seduction Techniques”, this book is a survey of various aspects of courtship through the years. This is not a heavy history tome but a light, easy-to-read, fairly short book. The author takes a look at everything from beauty and seductive items of clothing to tokens of love and chaperones. I was particularly intrigued by how important the length of the point on a man’s shoe could be, and grateful that I have never received a “vinegar valentine”. If you’re looking for something a little different to read or maybe a source of “love” trivia then you need to check this out.

Alinefromabook’s rating: 4 stars!

Happy Reading!

On Amazon | On Goodreads

Thank you to Pen & Sword Publishing for providing a review copy.

Weekly Round-Up 4/23/2017

I can’t believe it’s already late April. My son and I have 25 school days left and I mowed the lawn for the first time this year yesterday. Here in North Dakota the temperature has approached 70 a couple of times but we’re still in the 50’s most of the time, and expecting a lot of rain this coming week. Yesterday was quite exciting. I took my soon-to-be 17 year old son out to buy his first suit. He put on that suit and looked like he was ready to take on the world. I’ll try to get a picture after I pick it up from the tailors. His first prom is in 3 weeks! Ok, enough of the doting mother routine. Let’s check on the status of my TBR.

I picked up 3 books from NetGalley this week and I finished reading 3 books. I also took 1 book off the list because I just wasn’t enjoying it and decided I’m not going to finish it. So that makes the grand total 274. Since I added 3 and only finished one, my NetGalley score dropped back to 70%.

Coming Up

I finished reading “A History of Courtship” this morning and my review should go up tomorrow. I am currently reading “Actual Malice” by Breton Peace and Gary Condit,

Actual Malice

After that will be “Dead Watch” by John Sandford.

Dead Watch

I hope you are all having a relaxing Sunday. I will check in with you again next week.

Happy Reading!

“An Untamed Land” by Lauraine Snelling

Christian values and 1880’s Dakota Territory combine in this inspirational story. Roald and Ingeborg, Carl and Kaaren, two young couples from Norway emigrate together to America in order to take advantage of the homesteading opportunities in North Dakota. Just getting there almost costs Kaaren her life, but they have been researching and planning for this trip for years and are ready to hit the ground running when they arrive. Proving up a homestead is no easy task and finding the tools and livestock they need proves more challenging then they anticipated. The story follows these two couples through the first 3 years recounting their triumphs and tragedies, and demonstrating how their faith pulls them through.

I don’t normally read books in this genre but I was drawn to this one because the story takes place in the Red River Valley where I happen to live and I was looking for a change from my usual thrillers. The story did not disappoint. The pacing and creative of the storyline kept me well engaged. I think the author did a great job of bringing the realities of the homesteading life to the reader. My usual problem with this genre is that it can be quite preachy, but I did not find this to be true in this case. If this is a genre you enjoy then you won’t go wrong with this book. This is the first book in the Red River of the North series.

Alinefromabook’s rating: 3.5 stars!

Happy Reading!

On Amazon | On Goodreads

“Everything You Want Me to Be” by Mindy Mejia

Hattie is 17 and has always felt like an outsider in her small hometown in Minnesota. She dreams of the day she graduates from high school and can run off to New York City. Her senior year begins and the school has a new English teacher, a young, married man, who will change her life forever. Peter and his wife have moved back to his wife’s hometown to care for his ailing mother-in-law, a woman who seems to hate him. As his wife becomes more and more involved with her mother’s care, Peter starts to feel like the odd man out, and he misses the vibrancy of their life in Minneapolis. Just a few weeks before graduation Hattie is found dead in an abandoned barn and suddenly the whole town suspects Peter. Will the local police chief be able to unravel the secrets of Hattie’s life and catch a murderer?

I found the mystery in this book to be a fascinating one with plenty of twists to keep you guessing. There is a lot of angst being worked out in this story. Both the teenage variety, as Hattie is straining against her small town life, and Peter’s more adult variety, as he struggles with a troubled marriage and a life that is not fulfilling to him. The author has done a great job in crafting her main characters in a way that makes them appealing to the reader and also draws the reader in to the story. “Everything You Want Me to Be” is a great story and should appeal to a broad range of readers. I highly recommend it!

Alinefromabook’s rating: 4 stars!

Happy Reading!

On Amazon | On Goodreads

Weekly Round-Up 4/16/2017

Alright, let’s open up the TBR and see where we stand this week. First, I’ve done a lot of reading this week and posted 3 new reviews, 2 books and a short story. I also added 2 items to the TBR, 1 book and 1 short story. This activity has bumped the TBR back up to 275. In addition, I now have 6 books in transit, and 3 pending requests on NetGalley.

Speaking of NetGalley, my score remains at 71%, though it did pop up to 72% for a day or two after I finished The Fifth Petal.

Coming Up

I am currently reading “Everything You Want Me to Be” by Mindy Mejia. Hope to finish it yet today.

After that, I will be reading “Actual Malice” by Breton Peace and Gary Condit.

Actual Malice

I don’t have to go to work until Wednesday this week, so hopefully I’ll get another 2 or 3 reviews in this week.

Finally, I’m excited that I’ve gotten several new followers in the last few weeks. After being at a standstill for almost a year it’s nice to see that number going up a little. Enjoy the rest of your Easter and may all your reading dreams come true.

Happy Reading!

“Scarred” by Michael Kenneth Smith

Synopsis: After fatally shooting the Confederate sharpshooter who killed his best friend, Zach Harkin’s sense of revenge changes to deep remorse when he views the dead man’s diary and photo. Haunted, suffering from post traumatic stress, and unable to serve, he is mustered out of service. With scant information, he begins an epic journey to search for the dead man’s family. He is captured, imprisoned, tortured, and thoroughly tested as a human being, but after escaping, he never expects to find love in the war ravaged South.

My thoughts: I found this story very moving. Zach Harkin is so damaged by his war experience and yet still all he wants is to return the journal he found on a Confederate soldier to the man’s wife. What he thinks will be a relatively simple task turns into a nightmare for Zach. I liked that even when his circumstances were at their worst, he thought of other’s needs before his own. It’s not often that I come across a story set in the Civil War, but this is a moment of history that has always piqued my interest so that just added to my enjoyment. I cannot recommend this story highly enough, a real gem. I am looking forward to more from this author.

Alinefromabook’s rating: 5 stars!

Happy Reading!

On Amazon | On Goodreads

“Death of a Pawn” by David Bruns and J.R. Olson

This is short story and a companion to the Weapons of Mass Deception (WMD) series. The story alternately is told by Alberto Nisman, a special prosecutor in Buenos Aries trying to uncover a governmental conspiracy, and Rafiq, an assassin working with Hezbollah. Rafiq is assigned the task of assassinating Nisman. I was very impressed with the story and the writing. I wasn’t sure went I picked the story up that I would enjoy it but the authors do an excellent job of taking the reader into the drama. The story is short and succinct and I really enjoyed it. I would like to thank the authors for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review. I look forward to reading more from these authors.

Alinefromabook’s rating: 4 stars!

Happy Reading!

On Amazon | On Goodreads

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