Archive
Giveaway: One Death at a Time by Thomas M. Hewlett (INTERNATIONAL)
This giveaway is now over! Thank you all for entering!
It’s time for the fourth giveaway of 2014 here at Opinions of a Wolf. Lots of the indie authors whose books I accepted for review in 2014 also were interested in me hosting a giveaway at the time of my review, so there will be plenty more coming up in the future too.
There are TWO ebook versions of One Death at a Time
What You’ll Win: One ebook copy of One Death at a Time
How to Enter: Leave a comment on this post stating what profession you think might secretly have a lot of vampires among its ranks.
Who Can Enter: INTERNATIONAL
Contest Ends: July 11th. Two weeks from today!
Disclaimer: The winners will have their ebook sent to them by the author. The blogger is not responsible for sending the book.
Giveaway: The Second Lives of Honest Men by John R. Cameron (INTERNATIONAL)
This giveaway is now over! Thank you all for entering!
It’s time for the third giveaway of 2014 here at Opinions of a Wolf. Lots of the indie authors whose books I accepted for review in 2014 also were interested in me hosting a giveaway at the time of my review, so there will be plenty more coming up in the future too.
There is ONE ebook version of The Second Lives of Honest Men
What You’ll Win: One ebook copy of The Second Lives of Honest Men
How to Enter: Leave a comment on this post stating what historical person you would bring up to the present, if you could.
Who Can Enter: INTERNATIONAL
Contest Ends: May 3rd. Two weeks from today!
Disclaimer: The winner will have their ebook sent to them by the author. The blogger is not responsible for sending the book.
Announcement: Smashwords Sale for Read an Ebook Week
Hello my lovely readers!
Just wanted to take a moment to let you know that I’ve signed both my novella and my novel up for Smashword’s sale for Read an Ebook Week.
Ecstatic Evil is is 100% off aka free until March 8th.
Waiting For Daybreak is 50% off until March 8th.
The coupon codes to partake in the sale are listed on the books’ respective pages on Smashwords.
Check out all the indie books taking part in the sale!
Happy reading!
Giveaway: The House of Azareal by Erik Dreistadt (INTERNATIONAL)
This giveaway is now over! Since no one entered, there are no winners.
It’s time for the second giveaway of 2014 here at Opinions of a Wolf. Lots of the indie authors whose books I accepted for review in 2014 also were interested in me hosting a giveaway at the time of my review, so there will be plenty more coming up in the future too.
There is ONE ebook versions of The House of Azareal
What You’ll Win: One ebook copy of The House of Azareal
How to Enter: Leave a comment on this post stating your favorite horror trope.
Who Can Enter: INTERNATIONAL
Contest Ends: March 8th. Two weeks from today!
Disclaimer: The winner will have their ebook sent to them by the author. The blogger is not responsible for sending the book.
Giveaway: The Reflections of Queen Snow White by David C. Meredith (INTERNATIONAL)
This giveaway is now over! Since no one entered, there are no winners.
I am super-excited to get to offer up my first giveaway of 2014 here at Opinions of a Wolf. Lots of the indie authors whose books I accepted for review in 2014 also were interested in me hosting a giveaway at the time of my review, so there will be plenty more coming up in the future too.
There are TWO ebook versions of The Reflections of Queen Snow White
What You’ll Win: One ebook copy of The Reflections of Queen Snow White
How to Enter: Leave a comment on this post stating your favorite part of the original Snow White fairy tale. Your comment must also contain your EMAIL ADDRESS so you can receive your ebook.
Who Can Enter: INTERNATIONAL
Contest Ends: February 13th. Two weeks from today!
Disclaimer: The winners will have their ebooks sent to them by the author. The blogger is not responsible for sending the books.
Friday Fun! (In Which I Walk Across All of Boston and Blog Tour Updates)
Hello my lovely readers!
Another busy week at work this week (as it will be until the end of September, so be prepared to hear that sentence repeatedly). I finally got my booty outdoors this week, though, and I have the tan-lines to prove it!
On Sunday, I went for a long (accompanied) walk along the Charles River. It was completely gorgeous, but I did manage to get a bit of a burn. According to my dad, I do this every year and always along the Charles. Oops? Maybe next year I’ll finally remember to put on sunblock….
On Tuesday (my work-week Monday), I was meeting up with someone in the North End for gelatto, which I totally did not end up eating, but anyway. I decided that since he couldn’t make it there until 7 at the earliest and I had a couple of hours to kill, I would walk it. Bad. Idea.
My work is on the south side of Boston, so I basically walked across the entire city. In flat pretty sandals. And now I have the shin splints to prove it. Again, oops? You may have noticed that I don’t always manage to think my plans all the way through. On the plus side, I got to see the Public Gardens and got a sandwich from the Clover food truck in Boston Common. On the minus side, my shins were too sore for zumba on Wednesday.
I know, I know. #firstworldproblems
Anyway, after all that walking, instead of gelatto I had a glass of sangria, because that is obviously infinitely better. :-D
Also, the best street for gelatto in the North End is Hanover Street, not Salem Street. Just fyi.
Anyway, so that was my super-exciting week! Now on to the weekly Waiting For Daybreak
It was a much busier week this week, which was of course exciting!
Wickedly Bookish interviewed me. Check that out to find out my self-publishing advice!
Wickedly Bookish also hosted a giveaway that is still open. If you have yet to win a copy, definitely consider entering.
Ellie Hall posted a review (that is also cross-posted to 1889 Labs) where she says, “The story flies by and it is thoroughly engrossing, with periods of action and adrenaline nicely balanced by periods of memory and self-reflection. The sense of danger and suspense is well developed, and the narrator’s doubts and fears are easily understood.”
The Book Hoard‘s review says, “If anyone had told me that I’d enjoy a zombie apocalypse a year ago, I’d have told them they were nuts. However, I have come to enjoy a few zombie apocalypse stories like Waiting For Daybreak.”
The Book Hoard is also hosting a giveaway that is still open. That’s two! Two chances to win a copy! Ah-ha-ha.
Last but not least, Persephone’s Winged Reviews posted a review stating, “At the end of the day, it’s much more about Frieda trying to find out what normal means in a world gone wrong instead of a zombie book. I believe that it is a fresh take on zombies in the fiction genre.”
Thanks once again to every single participating book blogger! I truly appreciate you giving me (and my writing) time and space on your blogs.
To all my loyal blog readers, happy weekends! *waves*
Announcement: Waiting For Daybreak Now Available in Print!
That’s right, you can now choose between an ebook
Interesting fact: the print version is 172 pages, and the kindle version is about 104 pages.
Book Review: The Value of Rain by Brandon Shire
Summary:
Charles hasn’t been home since his mother and uncle sent him away to an insane asylum at the age of fourteen after he was found in the embrace of his first love–Robert. Now, ten years later, his mother, Charlotte, is dying, and he comes back to take his revenge.
Review:
This is one of those genre-defying books. Although classified as LGBTQIA+, it is so much more than a genre. Shire explores the devastating effects of prejudice, hate, secrets, and lies throughout family generations, and that is something that is simultaneously universal and tragic.
The book constantly takes the reader by surprise. At first it seems an expected my-family-didn’t-love-me-because-I’m-gay story, but Charles does *not* get a free pass simply because he is hurt by his family. He is given chances at new life and redemption from a hate-enshrouded existence, but he doesn’t choose that path. It is painful to watch, and yet simultaneously understandable. I applaud Shire for not taking the easy way and by making Charles an easy hero.
The writing is particularly eloquent and strong in description, especially when describing painful topics. For instance:
She had lived in the maze of Charlotte’s thumbprint and she had not survived. (location 1349)
On the other hand, the dialogue sometimes struggles in comparison to the lyrical descriptions. For instance, characters often say people’s names more frequently than is natural. This is a kink that I am sure will be ironed out with time and experience.
I also loved and was totally shocked by the ending. That is not an easy thing to do to this reader.
Overall this book represents all that can be great about indie publishing. It is a deep, dark story with a minority, tragic hero that most likely would not be told at a traditional publishing house due to the fact that it does not easily fit into any one genre or marketing scheme. Of course, that is also why I love it.
Recommended to those with an interest in LGBTQIA+ main characters and multi-generational family dramas.
4 out of 5 stars
Source: Kindle copy from author in exchange for my honest review
Note: Half of all proceeds donated to LGBT Youth Charities.
Announcement: I Am Published!!
Hello my lovely readers! So, the super-secret project that I’ve been working on is to finally get my own writing out where people can read it! I’ve been writing since…..well, since I could put pencil to paper. I am completely passionate about story-telling, and this is where I truly feel my talent lies. Since I finished grad school in January, I’ve been cracking down and getting serious about my writing.
Well, I can finally announce that I have published the first entry in a new series to the Amazon Kindle store! I started with my idea to reclaim the old format of serial books. Every entry in the series is 99 cents and short enough to read in one sitting, such as on your commute, a plane ride, a bath, etc…. The storyline is complete in and of itself, but it will be continued in another entry in a few months. Join Tova Gallagher in her paranormal world with the few moments you have to spare in your busy day! It is ideal for the busy, modern, paranormal romance lover.
The first entry is entitled Ecstatic Evil
Tova Gallagher isn’t just your average tough as nails, intelligent Bostonian. She also just so happens to be half-demon, and halvesies have an important role to play in the supe world. Whether they choose to go with the instincts of their demon or human half is supposed to predict the outcome of the endtimes, and now Tova has a deadline to choose sides. But all of that is hard to care about when she’s just met a sexy stranger on the edge of the Charles River.
Please do check it out! I write because I have stories to tell and want to entertain. At only 99 cents, it’s worth the shot, right?
Also, I started with the novella series so I could practice with the ebook publishing software before my first serious novel, which I plan to release in October for Halloween. I am very excited about it and can’t wait to let you guys know more details! In the meantime, be sure to keep an eye on my new Publications page on this blog. <3
Check Out Ecstatic Evil
Book Review: Crime Scene at Cardwell Ranch by B.J. Daniels
Summary:
Dana doesn’t want to sell the family ranch in Montana, but her siblings are insistent and without her mother’s new will, she doesn’t have a leg to stand on. The sale gets held up when a body is discovered in an old well on the ranch. A new marshal is brought in from out of town to investigate, and it’s none other than Hud, Dana’s ex-fiancee. Can they find the killer? Can Dana save the ranch from her greedy siblings? Will renewed love overcome old hurts?
Review:
This is a Harlequin romance novel, and they are not meant to be super-serious or make you ponder life. It’s light reading akin to viewing the hot summer blockbuster movie. So does it do its job?
The murder storyline is just complex enough to be compelling but not so complex that too much thinking is required, so plot-wise, Daniels does a good job. The characters are fairly well-rounded, and Daniels eloquently presents a true-to-life modern Montana and not the romanticized vision of the old west often seen in books. (My brother used to live in Montana, so I’m speaking from experience here). Hud and Dana are sigh-inducing as a couple, but are also still believable. Their love story could happen in real life, so that makes for an enjoyable read.
However, Harlequin romances are definitely supposed to be romance. I was expecting at least one good sex scene. What you get is a scene that, I kid you not, consists almost entirely of he kissed her breasts, there was passion, they went to sleep. I’ve seen better sex scenes in historical fiction that wasn’t even marketed as romance. Is this a Harlequin thing? Are they supposed to be that clean? I definitely remember them being a lot more hot and heavy when I was 15, but well, that was 9 years ago. In any case, this sex scene left much to be desired. Much.
The book also suffers from a lack of good editing. This definitely isn’t Daniels’ fault. Daniels makes mistakes most writers will make periodically in a book this long, but the editor failed to catch them. I’d say there are around five easily noticeable errors in the book. I find it easy enough to roll my eyes and continue on. If that sort of thing bothers you, though, you should be aware.
Overall, Daniels provides an intriguing modern day crime mystery set in rural Montana with a touch of romance and sex that happens off the page. If you like light, fairly clean genre fiction with a dash of intrigue, you will enjoy this book.
3 out of 5 stars
Source: Amazon
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This work by Amanda Nevius is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
Opinions of a Wolf 