These Works In Progress (WIP – not to be confused with Wayward Ink Publishing’s WIP) updates are always a bugger for me. I have such good intentions, but never seem to have the time to finish anything.
BUT – this time I have some news without hopes or best intentions. This time, I actually have completed stories to announce. (Shocking, yes I know.)
Continue reading Update Part 2 – New – and Not So New – Works in Progress
Before I start, I think I’m supposed to say I received an advance copy in exchange for this review. Okay, legal disclosure over.
Now a couple disclaimers – I don’t review a lot of books, mostly because there is an art to doing them, and especially in doing them well, so If I don’t do the book justice, my apologies to Will. I don’t ‘rate’ books with stars or smiles, or kisses or hearts. I just give my opinions. Last, I don’t read a lot of YA – it’s not usually my cuppa – so again, I might not ‘know’ all the trends.
Pitch had it’s initial appeal to me because I love baseball. But my love of baseball doesn’t mean I want to read a book chock full of games, analysis and situations. Will Parkinson does a great job of delving into the sports/jock culture, yet keeping it on the fringe. Jackson Kern is a baseball player, and a good one. He’s also the hot jock. But we don’t get bogged down in baseball games, and situations and innings. We see the game, see the player and we move on. Nicely done. It gives the character some depth, but doesn’t bore the reader.
So without all the baseball ‘stuff’ what’s an author to do? How about let the reader ‘meet’ the characters and see their lives. And that is what Will does. We see the ‘boys’ in all their elements. This isn’t a one dimension, sports only, jock loves nerd story. Continue reading Pitch: By Will Parkinson.
Someone died tonight. An innocent. Someone who should have lived. I felt their death. I feel the innocents who die. They call out for vengeance.
GENRE: M/M
RATING: 5 Sweet Peas!
“This is the beginning of an incredible adventure from the mind of Andrew Q. Gordon, who I first met when I did the review for (Un)Masked where he teamed up with Anyta Sunday. The blurb grabbed me and held me tight. The story did the same.”
There are so many things to like about this book – but perhaps the best part is that it’s part of a series. I don’t usually stay up late on work nights – especially when I have to be in court the next day, but this had me up every night until I finish. If you like fantasy, read this book. It’s not a M/M Romance, but so what – it is a great book, read it!
Gaspar is the Emperor of Uttor, an up and coming nation that has most of the other kingdoms wary. Sebboy is an old, powerful kingdom on the decline. When the Prince of Sebboy kidnaps Gaspar’s beloved sister, that sets the stage for what’s about to come. Lorant kidnaps Adora Leonnte – princess of Uttor hoping to marry her fast enough that Uttor won’t attack. That didn’t work out so well for him or his family. Uttor crushed Sebboy in a matter of days, making Lorant and his family prisoners of Uttor. Fortunately the story isn’t about him or his troubles.
Julissa is a princess of Sebboy and Gaspar takes a liking to her before he realizes she is a princes. The story revolves around the aftermath of Sebboy’s fall and the relationship between Julissa and Gaspar. Continue reading Review: Captive Heart, By Tali Spencer
I probably haven’t said this before, but I only review books I like. Not all the books I like, just some and only when I get the time to write them up. I probably have at least a half dozen books I want to review, so this is a good place to start.
I bought this book because I saw a good review of it and it was a top seller. [The cover is kinda hot too] It did not disappoint. For me, a character driven story is so important. I most enjoy stories where the author has breathed life into their characters, where the characters leap off the page and I feel like I’m reading about the real adventures of a real person. Peterson’s book does this.
Danny is a wonderful character. Flamboyant, out, wears make up and female clothing, yet unashamed of who and what he is. If it sounds a bit over the top – it is, yet isn’t. It’s what makes Danny who he is and the story so worth reading. Peterson starts the book with a statement – “For everyone who is deemed different. Don’t try to fit in, be you. STAND OUT!” That sums up Danny. Continue reading Review: Plan B: By SJD Peterson
Another Review for The Last Grand Master
This review is also posted on Joyful Jay’s Site: Review: The Last Grand Master by Andrew Q. Gordon
The Armchair Reader reviewed The Last Grand Master. See Cole Riann’s thoughts on the book. AQG
Pixie at MM Good Book Reviews gave the first review of my latest book, The Last Grand Master.
Reviews – to me at least – are a tricky thing. On the one hand, when you like a book, you want to talk about all the things that make you like it. Balancing this desire is the need to not spoil things for others. Hiding things in spoilers is always an option, but how many of us don’t peek? So with that in mind, I’ll set out to do this justice without any spoilers.
I wish I could give this more than 5 stars and rate it more than once. There were times when I really felt Thomas-Edward, the narrator, was a real person sitting next to me and telling his story. The depth of the character and the bitter sweet undercurrent throughout the book left me feeling this could almost be an autobiography, the emotions were so vivid. Maybe it is, I don’t know the author other than exchanging a few emails, so it’s possible, but I don’t think it’s autobiographical, just damn good writing. Continue reading Review – What Binds Us – By Larry Benjamin