Blind Fortune captures the reader’s heart

Posted: March 26, 2012 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: Book Review | Tags: Blind Fotune, Book Review, JoAnna Waugh, romance | 2 Comments

Blind Fortune, by Joanna Waugh is a most engaging historical romance set in 19th Century England. Within the first few pages, Waugh captivated me. I had to read more. Blind from birth, Lady Fortuna Morley has been schooled in all of the proprieties of the bourgeois society, but shielded from most social interactions that would put them to practice. Fueled by the work of Mary Wollstonecraft, Fortuna views men as stifling and condescending, and she loathes the fact that she is forced to be dependent on others. When she learns of her younger cousin, Juliana’s ambitions to marry the Marquess de Granville, Fortuna is convinced that it is a road that will only lead her cousin into a life of seclusion and dependence, and she is determined to deter the union.
Waugh does a wonderful job of leading the reader through the eyes of a woman who has never seen a sunset, and she allows readers to share in Fortuna’s joys and frustrations. As a battle of wills unfolds between she and Lord Granville over his marriage to her cousin, her propriety is put to the test. Both she and the gentleman discover that their adversary is not the person that was at first apparent and, in a turn of events that is most unexpected, Fortuna finds herself longing for something that she never thought she would desire and that she is certain she can never possess. I highly recommend Blind Fortune.
Blind Fortune can be purchased on Indie Bound, Barnes & Noble, All Romance, Elora’s Cave and Amazon. Links to these outlets can also be found on Joanna’s website.

Get wrapped up in Tim Baker’s “Pump It Up”

Posted: March 10, 2012 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: Book Review | Tags: Book Review, Pump It Up, TimBaker | 2 Comments

I am privileged to be able to do the first review on Tim Baker’s soon to be released, Pump It Up. This fast moving story about the underground world of black market cosmetic enhancement draws readers in quickly and doesn’t let go. A cover up of an accidental death, a kidnapping, a car chase and two attempted murders … and that’s just in the first three chapters. Fans of Baker’s books know well his tough guy protagonist, Ike and new readers can’t help but like this ex-SEAL with a passion for doing the right thing, but doing it his own way. Ike and his friends are out to get the bad guys once again after their underground silicone injection business goes terribly wrong, resulting in the deaths of three innocent people. When the police are ineffective in their response to the reported crimes, Ike takes matters into his own hands and sets out to set the villains up for a fall. The stakes are raised as their plan unfolds and they discover that they aren’t the only ones out to get the silicone injecting criminals. Things don’t go as planned, forcing Ike and his friends to improvise, and placing them in some precarious and hilarious situations. They race to take down the silicone pumping “doctor” before his transgender ex-“girlfriend” or his money-grubbing cronies can get to him first. This is a fun read that you won’t want to put down until you’ve turned the last page. Pump It Up is sure to please everyone but the bad guys.

“Heroes Call” is the grand finale of the “Demon Hunter Saga”

Posted: March 9, 2012 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: Book Review | Tags: Cynthia Vespia, Dark fiction, Demon Hunter, Review | Leave a comment

Demon Hunter: Saga, by Cynthia Vespia

Dark fiction fans who have found pleasure in the first two books of the Demon Hunter: Saga, by Cynthia Vespia, will surely enjoy Heroes Call, the third and final book. Costa Calebrese questions who he is in The Chosen One and he learns his lessons as he faces evil foes of supernatural origin. In Seek and Destroy, the lessons learned involve true love and the battles are even tougher. In Heroes Call, Costa once again finds himself with doubts about his path in life. Once again he is called to the aide of those that he cares for, but when he thinks that he has lost everything, he doubts not only his calling, but his own abilities. He begins to make a new life, only to discover that his old life will not be left unresolved. The opponent he faces this time may not be beaten with fighting skill alone, and he must rediscover his faith in himself and who he is to win. The lesson he must learn this time may be the hardest lesson of all. If you haven’t had the pleasure of reading Vespia’s books, all three may be purchased together as Demon Hunter: Saga at Amazon:

“No Good Deed” Keeps Readers Guessing

Posted: January 16, 2012 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: Book Review, Uncategorized | Tags: Books, No, Reviews, Tim Baker | 4 Comments

A large sum of mob money is suddenly up for grabs in “No Good Deed”, by Tim Baker. Nobody knows where it is, but everyone is trying to find it. A betrayed girlfriend whose looking for answers, two wise guys who haven’t got a clue, a grounds maintenance worker out for a piece of the big pie, and a guy who is down on his luck and sees an opportunity to turn his life around are thrown together by some unanticipated circumstances. No one is who or what they seem to be and wrong assumptions lead to mayhem in a race to get the cash. Kurt is looking for a respectable life and someone to share it with, but what he gets is trouble around every turn. Candy is looking for answers as to why her boyfriend would plan a new life that didn’t seem to include her, unwittingly placing her own life in danger. Al is looking to regain the life that he lost any way that he can. Howard is just looking for some easy money, but unknowingly sets all of them up for an enormous fall. Not until the battle is over, will readers know who will come out on top, and who won’t come out at all. “No Good Deed” is a truly entertaining story that will keep readers turning the pages just to find out what will happen next.

“Life, Death and Back” Review

Posted: January 20, 2011 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: Book Review, Writing | Tags: Life Death and Back, Review, Vespia | 1 Comment

Life, Death and Back, by Cynthia Vespia takes readers to realms they may never have considered before. Killed in an auto accident, Bryan Caleb isn’t ready to cross over to the other side. He has unfinished business here. He is offered a chance to stay and be the guardian angel to Lisa Zane, who has made a life time of wrong choices and is now strung out on drugs and running with the wrong crowd. Bryan’s job is to save her, from herself and the rough crowd she’s fallen in with. How he does that, when Lisa refuses to believe that he is real, is nothing short of miraculous. But that’s not the end of the story, for Bryan. When his son, Kriticos takes a wrong path in life, Bryan is offered yet another chance at life, in order to steer his son away from the path of destruction he is on. His job this time, to change the path of his son’s life, to find the boy that he knows dwells within and brings him back into control. In the process, he discovers that his wife is dying, and he feels that he must help her cross over to the other side, even when he has been forbidden to reveal himself to her. What happens is an exciting journey, with a surprising ending that will make readers both laugh and cry.
This is an unbelievable story that takes readers through life and death and then back again.

It’s Up to You, the Reader

Posted: December 22, 2010 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: Book Review, Writing | Tags: Aunt Lou, Book Review, Books, Children's Books, Chosen, Chris Keys, Cynthia Vespia, Demon Hunter, Fiery Dragons, Fishing Trip, Ghost Stories, I'll be There to Write the Story, Laura Resau, Midnight Ride of Blackwell Station, Mishka Zacharin, Mosquito, Naked Edge, New Year's Resolutions, Poetry, Raw Edges, Reprisal!, Review, Ruby Notebook, Secret to Lyinig, Spirit Lens, The Last Lie, The Truth Comes Out, Thomas Merton, Tim Baker, Water Hazard, Writing | 2 Comments

New Years is almost here and what writer doesn’t include in their list of resolutions a resolve to improve their writing? In 2010, I had the privilege of reviewing many truly good reads, by some really awesome authors. With 2011 just around the corner, I thought it might be beneficial to take a look at those reviews to see what worked and what didn’t. The only problem is I don’t really have an unbiased opinion, so I thought that I’d leave it up to you. So, here are links to twenty-two book reviews, both here and on the Southern Colorado Literature Examiner. Please take a look at them, if you haven’t already, and then vote for the ones that you think are the best in the comments section. You can choose more than one, but please include a brief explanation as to why you liked each particular review, or why you didn’t, so that I can identify areas that might need some work. If you read the book, do you agree or disagree with my review? I will approve all comments as long as they are not downright nasty. Next week I will publish a list of the top reviews, according to you, the readers. I couldn’t do it without you.

“The Ruby Notebook” holds the key to many secrets

When “Mosquito” gets hold of you, it sucks you in and doesn’t let go

Anna Strong is a force to be reckoned with in “Chosen”

Storyline in “The Truth Comes Out” keeps readers guessing

You’ll think twice about water after reading “Water Hazard”

“Reprisal! The Eagle Rises” gives readers something to think about

“I’ll Be There to Write the Story” – A true tale that will touch your heart and stir your spirit

“The Last Lie”: a perplexing tale that will keep readers guessing

“Why Did This Happen to Me, Aunt Lou?” Inspires and Delights

“Killing the Cobra” is packed with action

“The Midnight Ride of Blackwell Station” is delightfully entertaining for all ages

“The Secret to Lying” holds the key to more than one secret

“Raw Edges: A Memoir”: a journey of self discovery and revelation

“Star in the Forest”, a glimpse of reality through a young girl’s eyes

Pamela Clare brings another sizzling romance in, “Naked Edge”

“The Spirit Lens”, a spellbinding tale that will captivate readers

“From the Spleen of Fiery Dragons”, by Mishka Zacharin

From the Old Blog to the New – Reviews of “Demon Hunter: The Chosen One” and “Demon Hunter: Seek and Destroy”

“The Fishing Trip: A Ghost Story”, by Chris Keys

“Beneath the Mask of Holiness” depicts the human side of Thomas Merton

“The Secret of Everything” is an absolute must read

You’ll think twice about water after reading “Water Hazard”

Posted: October 11, 2010 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: Book Review | Tags: Action, Adventure, Book Review, Tim Baker, Water Hazard | 3 Comments

Water Hazard, by Tim Baker takes readers on a ride as wild as any water slide. When twelve year old Justin and his buddy heist a collection of CDs from a car parked in a construction area, they don’t realize what treacherous waters they are treading into. Included in the collection, are a pair of encrypted discs that contain valuable information about an illegal water pumping operation, that mean big bucks for the owners, and they will stop at nothing, including kidnapping and murder, to get them back. When the boys sell the CDs to a local music store, owner Steve Warwick and his friend Ike are plunged into the eddy, and they are determined to bring down the whole operation with a splash. It seems that the villains in this story have just been dog paddling, in an attempt to swim with the big sharks, and you’ll have to laugh as Steve and Ike outsmart the bad guys time and time again, as they slip and slide through all the loops, and watch the bad guys as they belly flop. Water Hazard is filled with back flips and cannon balls that will keep you guessing as to who will sink and who will swim, in this hilarious adventure of high jinks and intrigue.

“Reprisal! The Eagle Rises” gives readers something to think about

Posted: October 7, 2010 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: Book Review | Tags: Books, Chris Keys, Reprisal!, Review | Leave a comment

Reprisal! The Eagle Rises, by Chris Keys is a thought provoking action thriller novel, as terrorist forces move to take control of the U.S. and ineffective politicians play right into their hands in a scenario that may be all too possible and too similar to reality for comfort. Keys gives readers a look at what might happen if a force with unlimited resources takes matters into their own hands and takes the action that the government either can’t or is unwilling to take. The politics of Reprisal! are eerily familiar, making one envision how easy it would be for a scenario such as this one to really happen. After reading this book you may even be just a little uneasy, for many of the circumstances reflected seem all too real. When the most recent terrorist attack kills members of General Chip Clarrett’s family, he decides to step down from his government post and climb on board Steven Howard ‘s Kilauea Corporation, and the fight becomes a personal. Can Kilauea Corporation stop the terrorist forces that are trying to infiltrate the U.S.? Can they really be more effective than government entities from around the world? Watch and see, as Kilauea forces swing into action and go after the terrorist cell that has recently wreaked havoc on their homeland. Reprisal! The Eagle Rises is action packed and filled with intrigue. Definitely a must read for action adventure fans.