Middle-of-the-Year Reading Resolution - From My #Bookshelf

Resolutions exploding like Fireworks!

Almost everyone compiles a list of resolutions, or thinks about making resolutions, at the start of each New Year. Then July rolls around, and with half the year gone, the list becomes more burden than incentive. My good-intentions list is no exception - other than for my "reading resolution" as recorded on my annual Goodreads Reading Challenge. 

A reading list keeps me focused. But personal, recommended book suggestions are always welcome and often a pleasant surprise.  

Hawaii Fiction Writers group meets monthly at the Aina Haina Library on the island of O'ahu. Recently the library extended an invitation to local writer, G.T. London, to speak about her writing and a recently published sequel to her novel, Second Chances and Then Some. 

G.T. London spent years living in England, working as a business and leadership coach, consultant, and trainer in the UK and Canada. She also served as a guest lecturer for MBA students before becoming a full-time writer and moving with her husband to live in Hawaii.

I quickly read G.T. London's first novel before the meeting and commented in my book review: 

The intrigue of a mystery and a heavy undercurrent of possible romance held my interest throughout the novel. Strong character development and a satisfying denouement deserve top stars.

*****

**I am eager to read the author's second novel, Eight Weeks Later, because it is set in Hawaii and has a genealogical mystery in its plotline . . . so stay tuned for future comments!**

*****

Book Review: Cry To Me by J.A. Schneider

Welcome to Book Review Monday. According to an encouraging adage for writers, “Successful writing includes the side component of reading.” As testament to this adage, reading keeps me grounded, informed, aware, and alive. Novels entertain me. News reports and essays tie me to a teeming, ever-growing and changing society of ideas. Non-fiction stimulates my mind, allowing me to transform my own thoughts into written words. 

The list of books I’ve read and reviewed over the past year isn’t genre-specific, only slightly tilted toward suspenseful mysteries. But to my way of thinking, every story contains a mystery, with suspense of one sort or another to hold the reader’s interest. Mixed genres work well to satisfy the desires of multiple preferences. 

On the topic of mixed genres, if you are looking for an entertaining novel filled with suspense, thrills, and a touch of romance to read this week, look no further than: 

“CRY TO ME: An Intense Romantic Suspense Thriller” by J.A. Schneider

“Cry To Me” is one of Joyce’s best novels, which says a lot because her entire Embryo series kept me well-entertained as she pumped them out over the years.

In her latest stand-alone novel, "Cry To Me", the story’s main character and narrator Kim attends a celebration of her sister and brother-in-law’s renovated mansion. Loud music, business connections interested only in making money or getting revenge, and an exposed affair all lend suspicion when the host is found dead and the hostess clings to life after both are shot by an unknown assailant.  

A hurricane is brewing, moving closer each day as police attempt to clear the  investigation. They quickly assume murder and attempted suicide. But Kim  refuses to accept that her sister shot her husband and then tried to kill herself. As a crime fiction writer, Kim proceeds to use her detecting skills to dig up evidence proving her sister’s innocence. But as the storm builds, threatening imminent power outages and severed satellite service, the narrowing list of possible suspects has Kim, and the reader, wavering over who is the true killer. 

Simmering tension and character development held my attention throughout the plotline’s steady escalation. The local book club selection for May, “And Then There Were None” by Agatha Christie, is described by many as the best mystery ever written. For thrills and accuracy, I would say “Cry To Me” is comparable.

*****

Upcoming post - Wednesday June 9: “Novel Research” interview with J.A. Schneider. Get to know more about the author whose novels are as addictive as Belgian chocolate truffles.

*****

"Cry To Me" is available at Amazon.com - the kindle edition on sale now for 99cents.   

CRY TO ME: An intense romantic suspense thriller - Kindle edition by Schneider, J.A. . Romance Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

A is for AND SO IT BEGINS #AtoZChallenge 2017: FOOD FOR THOUGHT

 

This year for #AtoZChallenge, 

I decided to combine two concepts in my under-300-words daily posts:

FOOD For THOUGHT

 

Each day's post contains an appealing food choice

combined with the emerging thoughts of an incurable writer. 

 

*** *** ***

 

AND SO IT BEGINS.

 

Eating an artichoke, petal by petal, brings a multitude of thoughts to mind. After peeling the layered petal from the boiled artichoke, I dip the tender end into my concoction of mayo and lemon juice gently place the petal between my front teeth, and slowly strip away the flesh. The soft pulp blends with the acidic flavor of the dip, sending my taste buds soaring, along with my imagination. 

 

Of course, the exotic or erotic could easily come into play here. But my mind gravitates toward mystery. As the petals peel away from the artichoke's center, I peel back the layers of a character's personality. Dip my protagonist's fingers into someone else's business. Strip away the barriers that conceal a killer's motives. And once all the petals are removed, I've laid bare the artichoke's heart. Just as, while fleshing out the details of a plot, I also discover the heart of the mystery.

 

After all the boiling and peeling and stripping away of unnecessary parts, not unlike eating an artichoke, the meat of the project reveals itself on the page, and on your tongue.

 

Nirvana.

 

Are you energized when your story's plot is laid bare and all the pieces fall into place?

 

*** *** ***

 

 

UPDATE: March 31 Cover Reveal on Facebook for DARK PARADISE: An Anthology

A long time coming, our anthology of 17 Hawaiian mystery short stories has been in the planning stages for two years. On Monday, April 3, Friday, March 31 we will hold a "Cover Reveal" on our Facebook page for DARK PARADISE Mysteries in the Land of Aloha.
(The Facebook page DARK PARADISE goes live on March 31, 2017)

Plan to visit with us on Facebook, Friday, March 31. Along with the cover reveal, we will share some of the short story plotlines, details about the authors, and tidbits of writing information we've picked up along the way. We'll even hold a book giveaway.

The anthology, with a Foreword by author Toby Neal, will be released in trade book and ebook formats at Amazon. Each of the 17 mystery short stories is set in Hawai'i and all offer unique perspectives about living in Paradise (spoiler: it's not all rainbows and Mai Tais.)

 

 

***   ***   ***

Each participant blogging  for the cover reveal will reveal a tidbit about their short story . . . without giving away the plot. You can visit each site listed below to get a sneak peek at what is lurking behind the fabulous DARK PARADISE cover!

 

***   ***   ***

 

Gail's tidbit of information about Controlling Destiny, a mystery short story set in Hawai'i:

Freelance Reporter Cacao Janus knows few people choose to be homeless.

After the tragic death of a middle-aged woman living on the street,

Cacao decides to dig into the victim's background for answers.

The truth, as it unfolds, isn't pretty.

This is the third Cacao Janus mystery short story I've written for anthologies:

MYSTERY IN PARADISE 13 Tales of Suspense: Chinatown Conundrum

PARADISE PASSION MURDER: Crime of Dispassion

DARK PARADISE Mysteries in the Land of Aloha: Controlling Destiny

With this trilogy of short stories published, I will begin editing the first draft of the Cacao Janus novel, which I wrote during National Novel Writing Month in November 2013. The setting of the novel, as in the short stories, is Hawai'i.

 

***   ***   ***

List of participants' websites:

 

Gail M Baugniet http://gail-baugniet.blogspot.com

Laurie Hanan http://www.lauriehanan.space/blog/

David W. Jones http://dancingtreefrog.com/

D.V. Whytes http://www.whyteontherock.info/

Toby Neal https://www.facebook.com/LeiCrimeSeries/

Lizbeth Hartz https://www.authorlizbethhartz.com/blog/

D.S. Scott https://www.facebook.com/Sulfur-Silk-D-S-Scott-Writer-616324408427998/

A.J. Llewellyn http://www.ajllewellyn.com/site/blog/

***   ***   ***

 

Trick-or-Treat All Treats Halloween e-Books 99c Sale

  
 ***
TRICK-OR-TREAT 
HALLOWEEN 99c e-Books SALE

October 30 - November 1, 2018

Mystery - Suspense - Legal Thriller

with four spirited and non-ghoulish author friends:

MARIA RIEGGER Miscalculated Risks *  * LAURIE HANAN Another Day in Paradise

 *UNA TIERS Judge vs. Nuts *  * GAIL M BAUGNIET Neshoto Junction Homicide 

 *****     *****     *****

Dog nappings have doubled on O`ahu over the past year.

A beautiful, mysterious Chinese actress is distraught when her Pomeranian is stolen. Mail carrier Louise Golden finds the missing pooch only to learn the actress is suddenly gone - with her belongings.

BUY ANOTHER DAY in PARADISE AT AMAZON
99 CENTS
https://goo.gl/MAjHV1

Outspoken and abrasive, law student Isabel enjoys arguing with just about everyone. Her strained relationship with her mother, less-than-stellar job prospects and frustrations with the conformist political culture of Washington, DC have left her resentful and unfulfilled. Then she meets a new fellow student who defies all of her stereotypes.

BUY MISCALCULATED RISKS AT AMAZON
99 CENTS
https://goo.gl/D8tlr9

    

Within hours, Insurance Investigator Pepper Bibeau's planned fishing trip turns deadly. Someone sends her tumbling into a storm-swollen river, a crude attempt to keep her from stumbling across a dead body. Unearthing the killer may depend on Pepper’s unbridled curiosity - and her ability to stay alive.

BUY NESHOTO JUNCTION HOMICIDE AT AMAZON

99 CENTS

https://goo.gl/P8vCYR

​​​

Fiona Gavelle expected something glamorous after three miserable years of law school. But she finds herself in a run down office, making little more than car fare. Hours after she meets a judge, he is murdered.  

BUY JUDGE VS. NUTS AT AMAZON
99 CENTS
https://goo.gl/VPvsCJ

*****     *****     *****




HAPPY HAPPY  HALLOWEEN!

Trick-or-Treat HALLOWEEN SALE 99c #Mystery #Suspense #LegalThriller ebooks * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * OCTOBER 29 - 30 - 31, 2016 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

HALLOWEEN SALE
with Una Tiers and her non-ghoulish author friends

Gail M Baugniet  *****  Maria R. Riegger  *****  Laurie Hanan

  

BOOKS ON SALE FOR 99 cents each

 OCTOBER 29, 30, 31, 2016

​​​Fiona Gavelle expected fame, fortune and glory after law school. However she finds herself working in a dead end, dusty law office where she does more secretarial than lawyer work.
One snowy Chicago night, she learns she was fired from her miserable job and when her miserable husband doesn't support her plight, she walks out.
However, after attending the funeral of a man she only met once, her luck turns. She gets new office space, and is taken in by her favorite Aunt.
She struggles to prove the practice of law does not include car chases or running down the alley at midnight. 
Join Fiona to see where she leads you.

BUY JUDGE VS NUTS AT AMAZON 99 CENTS CLICK HERE

*****     *****     *****

Dog nappings have doubled on O`ahu over the past year.

Brazen thefts of beloved pets from their

homes have the community on edge. A beautiful, mysterious Chinese actress is distraught when her Pomeranian is stolen. Mail carrier Louise Golden finds the missing pooch, only to learn the actress is suddenly gone, with her belongings. Dogs are disappearing. Street people are being abducted by aliens—or so claims Louise’s homeless friend, Frankie. Clues point in different directions. Nothing adds up. A masked man appears out of nowhere and warns Louise to mind her own business. What did he mean? Everyone is a suspect: her boyfriend who tells stories for a living, the ex lover who once betrayed her, the acting coach skilled in the art of deception, the shameless stalker in the yellow Tweety Bird van. At the polo field, tempers flare. Someone’s bound to get hurt. Things heat up for Louise, as well, when a sexy Brazilian polo player befriends her. Is he truly a friend, or a rake intent on seducing vulnerable women? Can Louise even trust her own spiritual awakening to help her find a path to understanding—or is she faking it and running blindly to a dead end? What will she do when she comes face to face with her greatest fears?

BUY ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE AT AMAZON 99 CENTS CLICK HERE

*****     *****     *****

 What would you do if you met someone who defied all of your stereotypes? 

Outspoken and abrasive, law student Isabel enjoys arguing with just about everyone, including her friends. It's 2010, and her strained relationship with her mother, less-than-stellar job prospects and frustrations with the conformist political culture of Washington, DC have left her resentful and unfulfilled.

Only her sisters and a few good friends are able to keep her semi-grounded. When she meets a new fellow student who dares to challenge her, she is intrigued but skeptical. While Isabel is risk-averse where her feelings are concerned, she is also becoming increasingly curious. She's afraid to get close, because being vulnerable always lead to being hurt, doesn't it?

BUY MISCALCULATED RISKS AT AMAZON 99 CENTS CLICK HERE

*****     *****     *****

Within hours, Insurance Investigator Pepper Bibeau's planned fishing trip turns deadly.

Her head is already spinning over a marriage proposal from Homicide Detective Rick Janus, father of her 14-year-old son. A last-minute assignment to investigate questionable medical claims on preteen sisters adds to the tension. Before she can relax, someone sends her tumbling into a storm-swollen river, a crude attempt to conceal a dead body.

With a young girl's life at stake, she must uncover an unlikely connection between an abandoned rifle and a litany of environmental complaints. Unearthing a killer may depend on Pepper’s unbridled curiosity, and her ability to stay alive.

BUY NESHOTO JUNCTION HOMICIDE AT AMAZON 99 CENTS CLICK HERE

*****     *****     *****

4 BOOK REVIEWS FOR AUGUST #FridayReads

The goal I set for myself was to read and review 71 books between Oct., 2015 and Oct. 2016. Including the four books reviewed below, I've read 46 books, 65%, and submitted the reviews to my Goodreads "My Books" page. With 25 more books to read before October 22, 2016, I'd better get cracking!

The books I read in August are:

JUST ADD WATER Jinx Schwartz

Jinx has written an entire series of "JUST" novels that I look forward to reading. I don't think she's finished with the series yet, so I can rest easy, knowing it will be some time before I reach the end.

In JUST ADD WATER, I met and sailed with Hetta Coffee as she edged her way into a new life of living on the water. How many times have you wished you could make a clean slate of your life and start over, with you in the driver's seat? Expectations of independence are much more lax now for women. But it wasn't that many (decades) ago that men did most of the driving. That's why it can be so much fun for readers of a certain age to immerse themselves into the story.

Just imagine the wind in your hair as you take control of the wheel of your very own yacht. That's independence!

Can't wait to dive into JUST ADD SALT!

*****     *****     *****

THE IMMACULATE by Marian McMahon Stanley

I was lucky to win a copy of THE IMMACULATE in a blogsite contest giveaway earlier this year. After receiving the book in the mail, it took some time for me to add it to my schedule. When I found a few days open, I sat to read the book and finished in less than two days. To me, that is a sign of a well-written novel. The story line is straightforward and the characters are delightfully fleshed out and likeable. Even the villains are 3-dimensional in their un-likeability.

What I especially appreciated about the story was how the protagonist related to the other characters, on a unique and individual basis. As the main character, Rosaria O'Reilly had an emotional connection to every situation and the sensitivity she portrayed in each scene grounded the story in reality.

*****     *****     *****

THE LIFE WE BURY by Allen Eskens

This book was recommended to me by my sister. It deals with a grittier topic than I was expecting, that of a man convicted of the crime of rape and murder who has been released from prison during his last months before dying. The Netflex series Making of a Murderer comes to mind while reading the story. But the project assigned to the protagonist, Joe Talbert, is to interview this stranger and write a short biography of the man. Of course, the plot thickens as Joe does his research and interviews the man.

Ultimately, the story gives readers an opportunity for inner debate on where they stand concerning certain issues arising in today's society. Granted, during an election year, we have no lack of issues to consider, but this one is more hypothetical and therefore more of an
exercise. Without being personally invested in the final decision, the story can also be entertaining for the reader.

*****     *****     *****

and

THE CITY & YTIC EHT by China Mieville

This is a book club choice for the group that meets at Coffee Talk in Kaimuki on the first Saturday of each month. This book, chosen by David Jones, helps to illustrate just how diverse our selections are from month to month.

I'm not sure I could have made it through this novel without the help of an online chapter-by-chapter synopsis. I certainly recommend that a reader consult an in depth synopsis before tackling the story unless you are already a great fan of eccentric world building and appreciate learning all the intricate details as the story unfolds.

In the world of THE CITY & YTIC EHT, best-selling author China Mieville takes us on a tour of two cities which overlap one other. These are not two dimensions, existing side by side, but two cities existing simultaneously on the same spot with residents of each expected to ignore the other. This is, of course, a simplistic explanation of a world that grows increasingly complicated as the story evolves.

This story presented many unusual twists. The mystery aspect of the plot is almost incidental as the reader is given ongoing updates of how these particular worlds work, or in some cases don't work. Big Brother is definitely involved, regardless how the story unfolds. One thing is certain, the book club choice will make for interesting discussion.

*****     *****     *****

https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/4756053.Gail_M_Baugniet



#WriterWednesday - Book Review/Interview: SANDRA NIKOLAI

My guest today is Sandra Nikolai, author of the Megan Scott/Michael Elliott mystery series. Icy Silence is the third novel in this series. I recently received my new e-reader in the mail and this is the first novel I read on it. A great choice.

This is the author's synopsis of the novel:

When ghostwriter Megan Scott and investigative reporter Michael Elliott agree to speak at an exclusive boarding school, the undisclosed deaths of two students overshadow their agenda. Fear mounts as a powerful ice storm cuts them off from the rest of the world—harboring a potential murderer in their midst.

Without access to outside help, Megan and Michael are forced to rely on their wits. Desperate measures drive them beneath the protective façade of the elite high school in a frantic search for a coldblooded killer. What they discover are secrets more terrifying than anyone could ever expect.

Two Interview Questions Relating to Icy Silence

Sandra Nikolai lives in Canada where the winter weather can be a bit unpredictable at times. She mentions on Goodreads that a real ice storm inspired her to write this story. I decided enquiring minds would want to know more so I decided to ask, and Sandra graciously answered.

Without giving away pertinent plot lines, Sandra, can you tell us about your experience with an ice storm and how such weather can be life threatening?

 

SANDRA NIKOLAI:  I’ll never forget the North American Ice Storm of January 1998. It was a system of successive ice storms that hit Ontario, Quebec, and Nova Scotia in Canada, and extended from New York to Maine in the US. Millions of people had no electricity for weeks—some even longer. Tree branches, overhead power lines, and rooftops collapsed under the weight of heavy ice and caused considerable damage. Schools were closed, transport shut down, and people stayed home from work. Major Canadian cities declared a state of emergency, and thousands of military personnel were deployed to help clear debris and restore power at the height of the storm.

Everyone knows that electrical appliances are useless without power. Good thing we’d heeded the government advisory and kept an emergency kit on hand that included candles and matches. We stockpiled bottled water and canned goods that required no heating or cooking, along with a manual can opener. Our wood fireplace in the living room provided the only heat source, so that’s where family members slept. We were lucky that the power outage lasted only a few days in our area. Even so, the whole experience took us back decades when reading by candlelight was the norm!

 Research is an integral part of writing a convincing story. Again, without divulging strategic plot lines, can you share some of your research avenues for this novel, and your normal process of research before and during the creation of a novel?


SANDRA NIKOLAI:  Aside from researching the ice storm as a backdrop for Icy Silence, I researched several private boarding schools in Canada to help create the elite school setting in my story. I adapted tidbits of information I collected about private school guidelines and etiquette and wove them through the narrative. I also researched old abandoned mines. Yes, mines! I’ll leave this peculiar aspect for readers to discover.

I try to do most of my research for the story beforehand so I don’t interrupt the flow of writing, but sometimes it can’t be helped. I’m always on the lookout for that little extra something to enhance reader experience, especially if it evokes any of the five senses. Since Icy Silence is told in the first person through Megan’s perspective, her thrilling ordeals should impact readers all the more.

Thank you, Sandra, and best of success with your Megan Scott/Michael Elliott mysteries.

***** ***** *****

Posting a review of a book you enjoyed reading is the best compliment you can give to an author about their work. With that in mind, I posted my review of Icy Silence, which follows here, along with Amazon and Goodreads

Icy Silence E-Book Review Title: Chilling Tale of Terror

After reading the first two novels in Sandra Nikolai's Megan Scott/Michael Elliot mystery, I was eager for the publication of the next in the series.  I enjoy following the cases of these two likeable protagonists because they work so well together, without undue friction that often comes from mixing business and personal relationships.

Megan Scott puts a romantic interlude on hold to accompany Michael Elliott on a trip to an exclusive college where he will give a talk on investigative reporting. Without warning, students lives are in danger not only from unexplained human sources but from the dangers of a widespread and extended ice storm. The author presents a consistently suspenseful atmosphere, introducing circumstantial evidence that points to an unresolved event in Megan's past.

Nikolai once again maintains a high level of tension as the story progresses to a final satisfying climax. I am already looking forward to the fourth novel in this mystery series.

***** ***** *****

 

LINKS to Sandra Nikolai:

 



Website: http://sandranikolai.com

Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Sandra-Nikolai/e/B0087RR4XY/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SandraNikolaiAuthor
 

Twitter: @SandraNikolai


 

#FridayReads THE MESSENGER 26 of 71 Reviews

 

Over the years, I’ve read many of Jan Burke’s Irene Kelly mysteries and always found them suspenseful and entertaining. The Messenger is billed as a supernatural thriller. I decided to step out of my comfort zone to read this novel. (I’ve found that setting a goal of reading 71 books in 12 months gives me the incentive to read a wide variety of genres. )

As always, Burke held my interest with the promise of a good mystery to solve. But she ratcheted up the tension with a new dimension of possibilities.

This story quickly brought to mind a powerful aspect of the Harry Potter novels, that of the young protagonist’s main nemesis and the series’ ultimate villain. Burke expertly weaves into her supernatural tale strands of reality that suggest plausibility requiring little “suspension of disbelief” on the part of the reader.

The back-of-cover synopsis states, “The mystery dates back two centuries, when a wounded British officer exchanged his life to become the messenger, a being who conveys the final thoughts of the dying to their loved ones.”

Even if the paranormal genre is not your usual cup of tea, you may want to venture into the arena for this fun and suspenseful read.

Next up for review is:

The Pearl Harbor Murders by Max Allan Collins

 

PAYING IT FORWARD: Author Terry Ambrose #MondayBlogs

 

 

When someone develops an idea that will benefit a good cause, and then spearheads the project from napkin notes to tangible product, a rousing "Thank You" is in order. In this case, the project was an idea to raise money for READ ALOUD AMERICA, an organization focused on "building families of lifetime readers."

The project involved an anthology of short stories set in Hawai'i, written by 10 authors who have close ties to Hawai'i. The person who conceived, developed, and brought to fruition the brilliant idea is Terry Ambrose. He gathered the authors, then the stories. He corralled a very willing editor, a book cover designer, and a layout artist. Terry coordinated the entire project right down to the strategic marketing.

Because of Terry's extraordinary efforts, Paradise Passion Murder became a reality, with all proceeds going directly to READ ALOUD AMERICA. The mission of this organization is:

Our Mission

Through the fun of reading and being read-to,
Read Aloud America promotes literacy, bonds families,
and builds communities of lifetime readers.

 

 (You can check it out here: http://www.readaloudamerica.org/ )

 

 

To Terry, MAHALO NUI LOA for your vision; for all your hard work to accomplish this goal;

for offering the opportunity to participate in a heartwarming and exceptionally worthwhile project to a wide-spread group of writers who then evolved into an aloha-filled group of friends.

 

For further information about author Terry Ambrose and the anthology project, please visit:

http://drusbookmusing.com/2016/01/30/tales-mystery-hawaii/

and

http://hbsauthorspotlight.blogspot.com/

 

 

The anthology is available at Amazon.com



PARADISE PASSION MURDER 10 Tales of Mystery From Hawaii



 

THE MELODY LINGERS ON: #FridayReview 1 of 71

My goal is to read and review 71 books between October, 2015 and October, 2016. Not all reviews will be confined to stories in the mystery genre, though I may lean heavier in that direction. My eclectic reading list ranges from first-in-series self-published novels to the classics. At the end of each review, I will list the next book slated for review. I begin with a mystery.

Mary Higgins Clark

The Melody Lingers On

 

I started reading Mary Higgins Clark with her first published suspense novel, Where Are The Children. She hooked me on the first chapter. I went on to read a dozen or more of her novels over the years.

At some point, I stopped reading her stories but not because the writing lagged. She has always maintained a high quality in her writing style and level of tension. She understands what her readers want in the way of a mystery, and she consistently delivers. My tastes may have changed or I needed to experience new writers as a means of learning the craft of writing. I believe it is Stephen King who advocates that if you don’t read, you can’t write. 

Over the years, having already devoured all of Robert Ludlum’s books, and impatiently awaiting the next gunslinger novel from Stephen King (oh, the endless wait!), I “discovered” John Sandford, Sue Grafton, Michael Connelly, Tess Gerritson, Kathy Reich, James Lee Burke . . . the list is also never ending. 

But all roads lead back to the Queen of Mystery, Mary Higgins Clark. 

As I read the opening chapter of The Melody Lingers On, I felt the draw of Clark’s first novels, such as The Cradle Will Fall and Weep No More, My Lady. She builds suspense slowly, allowing the reader to absorb each newly introduced character before asking them to draw an opinion or conclusion. Villains and heroes are treated evenly, making it difficult to determine which is which. My indecision always keeps me reading to learn more. 

If you have ever been on the wrong end of some sadistic person’s scheme to derive pleasure from cheating others, you will relate, as I did, to this suspense-filled novel. With such a personal investment in the story, the hook is set, and you will find that reading this novel from cover to cover is inevitable.

 

Next up for review is:

Moloka‘i by Alan Brennert

 

 

 

Any Publicity is Good Publicity

Amazon has this relatively new promotion (Jan. 2014) called Kindle First. Each month, four upcoming kindle releases are offered for $1.99. I always look forward to reading the synopsis of each novel, understandably biased as it is written by the book’s editor. My choice for June is The Fracking King: A Novel. I might have leaned more toward the mystery, Supreme Justice, except for two reasons. 

The first reason is that I’ve followed the news about fracking within the United States and look forward to reading the author’s treatment of this controversial practice. The second reason involves a “review” submitted by someone who believes the author of The Fracking King: A Novel should do more research due to the spelling of a word in the book’s title (for the record it is spelled correctly.) The comment has led to a “review discussion.” 

 

 

First, let me say it is not my idea of entertainment to read critical remarks or faint praise meant to discredit an author’s work. Having been on the receiving end, I know the potential damage such a review can cause to an author’s self-esteem or credibility. Low-star reviews offering no substantiating insight, however, reflect the mindset of the reviewer far more than they reveal the worth of the book being reviewed. 

A reviewer’s opinion falls under the heading of free speech, a constitutionally guaranteed inalienable right. Opinion connotes view, estimation, belief, judgment, attitude, and outlook. Opinion does not signify fact, absolute, dogma, or law. 

Granted, at times I have decided against purchasing a book when credibly written low-star reviews outnumbered axe grinding low-star reviews. On the other hand, a large number of high-star reviews suggests to me that the author has succeeded in reaching their target audience, something all authors aspire to and admire in others. In that case, my responsibility is to determine if the book targets my interests.

A high-star review has never convinced me to buy a book that didn’t interest me, and no low-star review will ever stop me from buying a book I want to read. Therefore, are reviews worth anything more than unlimited entertainment and insight into the human psyche? Definitely!

Reviews confirm that people are reading the book and sharing their opinions with others. Contrary to popular belief concerning the “word of mouth” theory, not everyone who hears an opinion agrees with it. Some people like to form an opinion based on their own criteria. Whether they ultimately agree with the “word of mouth” opinion or reach a different conclusion, one thing still holds true.

 

Any publicity is good publicity.

 

 

This is my opinion on book reviews and publicity. I would love to hear yours.