Open Book Blog Hop - 14th November

Open Book Blog Hop - 14th November

An excellent post about offering feedback and reviewing.

"For authors I don’t know I will suggest ways in which they can improve instead of trashing their hard work, but some of the replies I’ve had when I’ve done this suggest they only want to read glowing reports as of course their story is up there with the bestsellers."

Agreed. As a reviewer, I've encountered the sort of author who is very gracious even when my rating of the book was not spectacular. I gave the book two stars because the story was convoluted by time jumping, perspective jumping, and multiple subplots all without a clear division. I suggested to the author that while the idea and characters were interesting, the story was confusing in its current state and she should seek the assistance of an editor.

On the other hand, I've had authors whose work I've given a decent to excellent rating jump down my throat for pointing out minor issues. I encountered many of these types when I used to do reviews for the Online Book Club. I don't recommend doing reviews for them, by the way. If I'm expected to put up with emotional abuse, I expect far better compensation than they provide.

The Ghost of Walhachin: Book Promo, Review, and Giveaway

 

The Ghost of Walhachin

by Ramona Nehring-Silver 

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GENRE: Juvenile Fiction / Historical - MG 

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BLURB:

A ghost, time travel, and unusual friendships await Kean in Walhachin. Kean feels displaced at his home in Seattle since his mother recently re-married and has chosen to spend the summer in the small desert town with his aunt and younger cousin. Not long after arriving, he regrets his decision. There is no one his age. The town is too small for public amenities. Then everything changes when he uncorks an old soda bottle that was made in Walhachin eighty years prior. He becomes embroiled in an adventure to try and help a ghost retrieve a much-needed item from the past. In his quest to help the ghost he discovers the town's spirited history and develops unusual friendships with an old man in the present and a young boy in the past.

 

"The Ghost of Walhachin is an unusual ghost story. It's not spooky; instead, it's an engaging tale of adventure and enduring friendships, with a slice of history." – Helen Davies

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Excerpt

Goosebumps crept up the back of Kean’s neck. As he slowly turned to examine the room, he spotted the green mist up in the corner near the door. It wasn’t spreading around the room like a stench.

“What are you doing to me? Open the bottle,” the voice pleaded.

No one was in the room.

“Who said that?” Kean blurted, then lifted his feet onto the bed and leaned over to see under the bed.

“I did.”

“Who? Where are you?” Kean’s knuckles turned white from gripping the bottle

“Right here! Close the curtains. It’s too bright in here.”

“What are you talking about? Where are you?”

“It’ll help if you close the curtains.” The voice sounded impatient but friendly. 

Kean slowly stood on the bed, backed toward the window and closed the curtains. “There. Now, where are you?” he asked, looking around the room.

His eyes stopped on the mist. It had gotten brighter in the darkened room and formed a boy’s head and shoulders, with one arm attached.

“Ahhhhh!” Kean backed into the far corner of his bed, not taking his eyes off the shape.”

Review

The Ghost of Walhachin is an engaging story. Kean is a relatable protagonist, an ordinary boy stuck in the boring small town of Walhachin over the summer, looking for some excitement to break up the monotony. When Kean's spirited cousin Calvin finds a large snake and puts it under the shed to keep it cool, Kean spots an old bottle that he thinks his mother will enjoy putting in her collection. Little does he know that his wish for some excitement is about to come true. The strange "mist" in the bottle turns out to be a ghostly boy who needs Kean's help.

The story is family-friendly and the ghost isn't frightening. Expressive illustrations complement the tale. Older kids and adults alike will enjoy the unique friendship between Kean and Sam. I enjoyed reading the story very much. It reminded me of some of the stories that I enjoyed reading in my youth as well as summers looking for adventure. The book is well-written and impeccably edited. I give it five out of five stars.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Ramona Nehring-Silver's memories of living in and around Walhachin as a child and exploring the surroundings with seven siblings provided the initial inspirations for The Ghost of Walhachin. Ongoing motivation, and sometimes interruptions, came from her four children and thirteen grandchildren. She now lives in the far northeast corner of British Columbia, where her teaching career has ranged from adult art and writing classes to elementary school. Exploring B.C. and beyond by motorcycle is her favorite thing to do, as well as spending time with her grandchildren.

“The Ghost of Walhachin is an unusual ghost story. It's not spooky; instead, it's an engaging tale of adventure and enduring friendships, with a slice of history.”

- Helen Davies - Tellwell Editor

CONNECT WITH RAMONA:

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

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19916750.Ramona_Nehring_Silver

Website: https://www.ramonanehringsilver.com/

 

BUY LINKS:

AMAZON.COM: https://amazon.com/dp/022881720X

AMAZON.CA: https://amazon.ca/dp/022881720X           

KINDLE: https://amazon.com/dp/B085P3JGLS

BOOKSHOP: 

https://bookshop.org/books/the-ghost-of-walhachin/9780228817208

INDIGO CHAPTERS: 

https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/the-ghost-of-walhachin/9780228827764-item.html

BARNES & NOBLE: 

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-ghost-of-walhachin-ramona-nehring-silver/1136064438

BOOK DEPOSITORY: 

https://www.bookdepository.com/The-Ghost-of-Walhachin-Ramona-Nehring-Silver/9780228817208

RAKUTEN KOBO: 

https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/the-ghost-of-walhachin

SMASHWORDS: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1008659

APPLE BOOKS: 

https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-ghost-of-walhachin/id1502311571

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

Ramona Nehring-Silver will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

 

RAFFLECOPTER:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Animal Farm Discussion

1.     What did the different characters and animal species remind you of? What symbolism did you pull from them?

The animals are representatives of the different social classes. The pigs are the ruling class. The other animals variably try to please the ruling class. The best they can hope for is to not be harmed. The ruling class will always view them with disdain.

2.     Did this story draw any parallels with you for historical events or modern events?

The story was about the Russian revolution and the Soviet Union. The proletariat were no better off under the rule of the Soviet leaders than they had been under the rule of the aristocracy. Under Stalin’s rule, many people starved to death.

3.     What are your thoughts about the changes in the commandments and the animals' reactions to it?

The commandments were changed to keep the other animals obedient to the ruling class (the pigs.) The sheep were followers who never questioned the pigs. The other animals questioned, but most were not willing to risk their well-being to attempt to oust the pigs.

4.     In the end, the animals couldn't differentiate between the humans and the pigs: what can we infer from how things have changed since Animal Farm was created?

Those in power can never be trusted to do the right thing consistently without a system of checks and balances to keep them from abusing their power. Citizens must be allowed to criticize the government. To have a government that is above reproach is a gateway for totalitarianism.

5.     What did you like about Animal Farm? What did you dislike?

I thought that it was a well-written story and a wonderfully scathing satire of the formation of the USSR. I have no complaints about the book.

The questions are from the Insecure Writers Support Group Book Club.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/21761043-discussion---animal-farm

 

REVIEW

Animal Farm is a brilliantly written satire of the formation of the Soviet Union. Through his use of talking animals, George Orwell shows that communism is an ideology that looks good in theory but does not benefit the majority in practice.

When the Communist party overthrew the Russian aristocracy, the common person wound up trading one set of tyrants for another. The Russian nobility (the humans) were ignorant of just how badly the lower classes were suffering and how dissatisfied the people were, and they paid the ultimate price for their ignorance.

Initially, the animals were glad to have the humans gone. However, they soon became aware that they were no better off under Napoleon (the pig) and his sycophants than they had been under the rule of the humans.

Through the use of allegory, Orwell cautions readers against blindly following any ideology, no matter how seductive that ideology is on the surface.

Review link on Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3656093147

 

Dance With Me Promo Post and Review

 

DANCE WITH ME

by Judith Crow

 

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GENRE:  YA (Fantasy)

 

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BLURB:

Don’t tell anyone, but Kelli spends all her free time listening to folk music. Ok, it’s not what you’d expect from a popular fifteen-year-old, but that’s why she doesn’t want the whole world to know.

When Kelli follows the mysterious Tam Lane, she finds herself in a place where folk songs come to life. As she comes to terms with the world, she makes friends, uses her privilege to help others, and even falls in love.

But Kelli has forgotten the fates which await so many characters in the songs, and she soon finds herself surrounded by heartbreak. Determined to protect the people she has left, can Kelli change a fate which has been sung for centuries?

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Excerpt 

“So, what is Carterhaugh?”

“It’s in the Scottish borders,” he replied. “You must have heard of it before, Kelli.”

Kelli thought about it. The name sounded familiar, but she knew nothing about Scotland to speak of, and certainly nothing beyond the visitor attractions in Edinburgh. “I’ve heard of it, but I don’t know where.”

“Well, it’s a kind of gateway,” Tam explained. “There are beautiful gardens, and the land is very fertile so it is said that any seed to touch the earth will grow into the greatest of its kind. It was the birthplace of the ancient kings.”

“What does that have to do with me?” Kelli asked. “Or with Jehovah’s Witnesses for that matter?”

“Nothing at all,” Tam replied. “But you must have asked about it for a reason.”

“Yes, I did,” Kelli said, thrusting the magazine back into Tam’s hands with her thumb marking the last page. It fell open as Tam took it from her, and a picture of smiling children covered most of the back page, with the title ‘Bible Questions Answered’ and a small amount of text. 

“Yes?”

“It was there!” Kelli said, a shiver running down her spine. She flicked through the magazine, but the page was nowhere to be seen. “It was there. There was a picture of a wood and a river.”

“That is Carterhaugh,” Tam said. “The birthplace of kings. You should go there. You’d like it.”

“How would you know?”

Review

Dance With Me is a well-written story with a fascinating premise. A mysterious young man named Tam Lane shows up at the home of Kelli, a disenchanted teenager who has just broken up with her boyfriend and feels disconnected from her family. When Kelli agrees to dance with Tam, he whisks her into the past.

There is no strong profanity in the book and the romantic interactions are described more in terms of emotion than action. There are no explicit descriptions of violence, however, several characters die in unpleasant ways.

I enjoyed the way that the lines from various folk ballads tied in with each chapter and the view into what it would be like to live in the Middle Ages in Scotland. I don't recommend it. Life was very difficult and had a tendency to be short. The descriptions of the places and scenarios that Kelli encounters are realistic and rather bleak rather than being romantic and glamorous. Women are seen as the property of men and are expected to be quiet and obedient.

I give Dance With Me four out of five stars. The story is compelling and competently written, but I dislike it enough when stories written for adult women obsess on weight and dieting. This narrative is even more damaging when stories with adolescent girls as the target audience do so. Eating disorders are a serious problem, and passages such as this normalize and reinforce diet culture.

"Kelli had not taken part in any exercise and was becoming aware that, even during the week, she had been forced to loosen some of the laces on the dresses Ailric had gifted her. She wondered what Marcus would say if he could see how she had put on weight. Probably something like ‘I don’t believe a perfect ten can be a twelve, chunky-monkey’. She vowed she would lose the weight again within the next week."

As someone who tried to hate herself thin for 33 years, I would love it if authors would rethink including this sort of narrative in their stories. I would have loved it if Kelli had thought something like "but Marcus was an idiot, and she was glad that she had broken up with him. She couldn't be bothered to dwell on such nonsense now."

I would have given the book five stars if it had not included this unwanted helping of size shaming and diet talk.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Judith was born in Orkney, grew up in Lincolnshire, and now lives in the far north of Scotland. Her writing is inspired by the experiences of her life so far and she loves picking up on quirks and immortalising them in fiction.

Judith’s new book, Dance With Me, combines her love of folk music and creative writing, and finds her main character in a world where folk songs come to life. Her debut book, The Backwater, was a finalist in the Wishing Shelf Book Awards 2019.

When she isn’t writing, Judith is a primary school teacher who enjoys crafting and music, as well as being a generally doting spaniel owner.

Website

www.judithcrow.co.uk

www.crowvus.com

 

Twitter

@jayzed_kay

 

Buy link:

 https://www.amazon.com/Dance-Me-Judith-Crow-ebook/dp/B08GC86MG7

 

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Georgian Romance Revolt Review and Giveaway

 

Georgian Romance Revolt

by Lucinda Elliot 

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GENRE:   Homour, Dark and Satire

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BLURB:

Elaine Long is trapped in the body of the heroine in a warped cyber version of an historical romance.  
Something has gone drastically wrong, with the characters talking and acting outside the script, and her coachman is exactly like one of the author’s Golden and Reckless hero types.

Worse, the disgraced earl turned highwayman anti-hero - one of the author's Dark, Mean and Moody hero types, has stolen the heroine’s betrothal ring, which just happens to be Elaine’s escape device.  

Elaine, once eager to escape from everyday life and being taken for granted by her part-time boyfriend into this cyber version of her favourite author's fictional world, isn’t even confident that this story can guarantee a happy ending, even if she does have three or four hero types in it with her...

A darkly comic, fast moving spoof on the tropes of  historical romance from four times BRAG medallion winner Lucinda Elliot.

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Excerpt

When the character from one of Charlotte Cray’s novels appeared in her study, she knew him at once as the anti-hero from The Pledge.

He was half dressed, in his shirt sleeves and breeches, without a wig, with his black hair casually caught back in a queue. He brandished a ring like a weapon.

Even in her shock, she was pleased that he looked exactly as she had imagined him, tall, lean, dark and wickedly handsome, exactly as she had pictured Rinaldo Rinaldini.

As Charlotte put down her pen, blinking, she realised that she had no idea of what she had been writing.

“Curse it: I’ve taken too many of those pills.  I suppose it had to happen sometime.” She decided to be philosophical and try to enjoy the hallucination.

Besides, she had a vague memory that it had happened once before. That vision had faded soon enough. It had been of one of her Golden and Cheerfully Reckless heroes, incongruously dressed in servants’ garb. She had been in a bad mood at the time, plagued by tax troubles, and had taken it out on the hallucination. She had said that seeing he was playing the role of lackey, he might as well do some chores for her. She couldn’t recall his reaction,  though she thought that it had been engaging.

By contrast, the earl highwayman scowled at her. This, though typical of his arrogance, was a nerve in a figment of her imagination.

“Who the Devil are you, ma’am?” His sparkling black eyes scanned her disapprovingly, dwelling incredulously on her legs.

Although he didn’t exist, this was humiliating. She realised that a skirt a couple of inches above the knee, respectability itself for this era, with all the girls in miniskirts, was indecent by the standards of the eighteenth century. Yet it was absurd that her creation should have any independent notions about her dress or anything else.

She knew hallucinations to be one of the side effects of Maxidream. One person she’d heard of had imagined a voice coming from what she had termed ‘the toilet’. Charlotte had turned up her nose at the vulgar genteel term and the coarseness of such an illusion.

Now the ’Grande Dame of Georgian Romance’ answered as boldly as one of her heroines. “I see no reason why I should account for myself to one of my own characters.”

He drew back. “Your character?” His voice came as almost a groan. “Damn it, it cannot be true.”

“I am sorry to distress you, My Lord; pray take a seat while you collect yourself.” It was only polite to address him in language that he could understand. Still, she hoped that he would soon disappear.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Lucinda Elliot, four times winner of the BRAG medallion for outstanding self published fiction, was born in Amersham, Buckinghamshire. When she was growing up, her family lived in various large, isolated old houses in various parts of the UK as they used to renovate such places in the days before it became fashionable. She lived for many years in London and now lives in Mid Wales with her family.  She loves a laugh above anything. 

Blog:

https://sophieandemile.wordpress.com/

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/ElliotLucinda

amazon.author page

https://www.amazon.com/Lucinda-Elliot/e/B008YU9B58?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1595010312&sr=8-

Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/6469356.Lucinda_Elliot

The book will be on sale for $0.99.

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE:

Lucinda Elliot will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Readers Roost Review

Rating: Five out of Five Stars

This cheeky and very British send-up of historical romance tropes is exactly the kind of read I am looking for and don’t get enough of. Lucinda Elliot hilariously breaks the fourth wall with her observations of the gritty but conveniently not filthy and disease-ridden historical setting where the coachmen are compelling Adonises with chiseled jawlines and sparkling white teeth and the villains are compelling rogues with eyes like dark pools and surprisingly fresh breath. Romance authors and fans of the genre alike are sure to have a much-needed chuckle while joining long-suffering Elaine on a virtual romance adventure that she finds herself unable to escape from.

Lucinda Elliot is that rare author who knows how to poke fun at stereotypes without devolving into meanness. Women are often derided for using romance to escape their mundane real lives. When Elaine does this via a new virtual reality program at the library, it goes hilariously awry. Yet despite the reality of her journey into a scenario where she expected to be swept off her feet by a dashing hero or rakish villain coming up short, Elaine never appears pathetic. She is a likable heroine who keeps calm and carries on. She is a heroine that real women can relate to.

I unreservedly recommend Georgian Romance Riot to any reader who loves the romance genre and British humor. Come along on this well-written, quirky adventure. You won’t regret it!

~Cie for Readers Roost~

Wordy Thursday: New Mindest, New Results

Genre:

Business

Rating:

Four out of Four Stars for Online Book Club

Disclosure:

I received an advance copy of this book for review purposes.

This post contains affiliate links. If readers purchase a copy of the book through the above link, I will receive a small commission from Amazon.

Please read my exclusive Online Book Club review of this book here.

This is a brief, encouraging book geared towards small business owners who have employees. It can also be utilized by solo entrepreneurs and by managers in a larger business or corporate setting. The author writes in a friendly, personable tone. He addresses issues such as communicating with one's staff in an encouraging and forthright manner as well as personal perseverance. 

When employees feel as though they are a valued part of a business, they will be engaged and involved in its growth. I wish that some of my past employers had a book like this at their disposal. They might have enjoyed increased staff retention and performance if they had treated their employees as assets rather than disposable components.

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Ornery Literary Services

Wordy Thursday: Ornery Reviews: Ashes of Raging Water

Genre: Modern Fantasy/Science Fiction

Rating: Five out of Five Stars on Amazon and Goodreads

Disclosure: I received a promotional copy of this book. This post contains affiliate links. I earn a small commission from Amazon if the book is purchased through the preview link. This review is a duplicate of my review on Amazon and Goodreads.

An intricate and cerebral novel about a garrison of phoenix guardians known as a Shield operating in Atlanta. There is one phoenix for each element, plus a Shieldheart. The main protagonist is Aquaylae (Quayla), a youthful and impetuous water phoenix whose Shieldheart, Vitae, dislikes her and finds reasons to punish her.

The Fae in Ashes of Raging Water are not friendly pixies and fairies happy to grant human wishes because it's the kind thing to do. For a human to accept assistance from a Fae is akin to selling one's soul. Many of the Fae are badly behaved. The story opens with Quayla attempting to defend helpless pets waiting for adoption at an animal shelter against unscrupulous Fae hellbent on taking the animals for their own nefarious ends.

The reader learns more about the strange world of the phoenix and the fae as they read through this intricately woven tale. Humans should be careful what they wish for, because the fairies may be willing to grant wishes, but the price will be high.

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Ornery Literary Services

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