Tag: book reviews

Yecheilyah’s Book Reviews – Give into the Feeling by Sarah Zama

Title: Give into the Feeling

Author: Sarah Zama

Publisher: Sarah Zama

Publication date: 03/04/2016

Published: March 04, 2016

Words: 20,030

Language: English

ISBN: 9781310502927

My first time reading dieselpunk, Give into the Feeling is a Paranormal Romance, dieselpunk novella. We start off meeting Susie, a Chinese American who moved to the United States and is a dancer at a Chicago Speakeasy in the 1920s. When Blood and his brother Michael enter the place and that peculiar feather-brushing sensation overwhelms her, Susie stares toward the black man entering with the long black curly hair passed his shoulders. Except, Susie is already with Simon, the man with the dark lurking shadow following him.

Simon is with Susie, and no one will take her away from him. After all, he’d given her beautiful things, lovely dresses, and exciting nightlife. Still, Simon couldn’t make her body or mind feel as comfortable as when she was with this stranger. And was it any coincidence she was attracted to the man whose name was the color of the dress she wore that night? Was it any coincidence that blood couldn’t take his eyes off the woman in red?

This was a well-written story, and I thoroughly enjoyed the symbolism, the description of the speakeasy, and the attention to detail, especially how Susie was feeling. The emotional intensity and tension between her and Blood was hot.

I enjoyed reading about Susie’s internal struggle between Blood and Simon. How she struggled to deny herself the crush, she had on him for the sake of Simon. It was authentic how she brushed off her feelings for Blood and tried to convince herself she wasn’t attracted to him. This went along well with the hint of something more sinister taking place simultaneously; Simon’s jealousy contrasted against who he truly is.

Ratings:

Plot Movement / Strength: 4/5

Entertainment Factor: 4/5

Characterization: 5/5

Authenticity / Believable: 4/5

Thought Provoking: 5/5

Overall Rating: 4 / 5

Give into the Feeling is available at the following locations online:

BUY IT!

Smashwords | Barnes&Nobles | Kobo | iBookStore

Goodreads

The book is not currently on Amazon but is available for Kindle via Smashwords

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Be sure to follow this author online!

Blog: www.theoldshelter.com
Website: https://sarahzama.theoldshelter.com/

Twitter: www.twitter.com/JazzFeathers
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/jazzfeathers
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jazzfeathers/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/+Theoldshelterdieselpunk
Pinterest: https://it.pinterest.com/jazzfeathers/

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Stay tuned for next week’s awesome author!

Indie Author Page

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I have added a new page to this blog: Indie Authors. There you will find the list of Authors I’ve worked with so far per the Book Reviews published to this blog. As I publish more, the list will grow.

If you’re looking for something good to read, you can find tons of good stories there.

If you would like to be added to my list, register your book for consideration for a Book Review HERE.

Please read my guidelines carefully before submitting your book. Book reviews are free and I have the right to decline any book I am not comfortable reviewing.

If you don’t meet the requirements for my book reviews keep in mind that you can always submit a different book or submit something else that I can promote on your behalf.

Thank you for your time and understanding.

-EC

Email List – Book Promotions

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I really wanted our Throwback Jam to be my last post of the day, but I couldn’t (not) tell you this.

I mentioned once before that I am starting to promote books in my email newsletters or email list. After drafting tomorrow’s 31st Issue (which I am very excited for you to receive in your inboxes. It is literally LOADED with the information you WON’T find on this blog!), I thought I should go ahead and spread the good news. My emails go out on the 18th of every month and I didn’t want you to be left out!

If you’re an Indie Author and you’d like a little bit more exposure for your books that you don’t have to pay for, I have added a Book Promo section to my emails. It includes the author’s Book Cover, Link, Blurb, and a brief endorsement from yours truly. Now, for me to properly endorse your book, of course, I must have read it. For this reason, promoted books are books I’ve reviewed.

However, I am willing to make an exception for those who’d just like more eyeballs on their work. All you should do is send me your book cover, link, and blurb. Of course, you’d have to also sign up for my email list if you want to see how your book is displayed because it will otherwise kind of defeat the purpose (Subscribers receive a free copy of Beyond The Colored Line, the most famous of the Stella books. Though Book Two, it can be read as a standalone and its yours free).

Books I’ve reviewed I will be able to pretty much brag about whereas books I have not reviewed I can only go so far. For this reason, please ensure your book cover art is decent enough for me to have something to promote if I have not read your book. No, my covers aren’t all that, but they are decent. That’s all I ask. I’m being picky about the covers because everything I represent is, at the day’s end, a reflection on me. I am asking that you give me something that won’t embarrass us both and that will increase the chances of your book cover being clicked on and your book, bought. Excellence is a priority.

You’re probably wondering what I can do for your book?? I’m pretty open about the method to my madness and I can tell you no, it is not a guarantee that people will click on your book cover and purchase your book (is it ever?). However, I will say for now that my email list is modest. This means that I can guarantee you that your book will not get lost. I can guarantee you that your work will be seen and that my readers are pretty darn supportive of what I recommend, many of them asking me what’s next on my reading list (I love them!). While there’s no guarantee, visibility is always a good thing.

I’m doing this because I know how hard it is for Indie Authors and I want to do my part. That’s why it’s free. In return, I only ask that you subscribe to my list. (Real partnerships benefit both parties). It will also help you to benefit from the promotion if you can receive the emails as well.

  • If you’d like me to promote your book to my list, please subscribe to my email list Here. And send your book cover, blurb, and link to yecheilyahysrayl@literarykornerpublishing.com
  • If you’d like to take it a step further and have me to review and promote your book, please register your work Here. I will review your book info and inform you on whether or not I agree to review the book.

Disclaimer: Please read through my Guidelines carefully before subscribing to my email list specifically for Book Promotion. While I’d love your support of my email list, I don’t want anyone to feel some kind of way if I have to decline your book. It will do us both a disservice for me to review books of which I am not truly invested.

Note that registers from this point will go into the 2017 year since I am already backed up. Usually, reviews post to this blog every Friday but I’ve had to push them back a bit because my family is planning a camping trip and we won’t be home next week. BUT, for those of you who signed up, I’m good on my promises and I will get them out (I’m going to push to publish one next week before we leave, time permitting. I have at least a few to get out before this year ends). Basically, if I agreed to review your book, I will do so, period. Word is bond.

Yecheilyah’s Book Reviews – Listen (Earthen Witch #3) by Sarah Doughty

Title: Listen (Earthen Witch Book 3)

Author: Sarah Doughty

Series: Earthen Witch

ISBN: 9781370998340

Language: English.

Published: October 7, 2016

Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Urban, Fiction » Romance » Paranormal

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Sarah Doughty’s latest novel, Listen is Book Three in The Earthen Witch series and I must mention here that I have not read the other two books. However, Book Three is fully capable of catching you up. Literally out of this world, I invite you to step into a place of vampires, werewolves, a shamaness and wolf extraordinaire, a cat that is really a Sphinx, a ghost that possess the body of a little boy, pixie’s and let’s not forget the protagonist herself, Earthen Witch Aisling Green.

As an Earthen Witch, Aisling possess supernatural abilities that show up even during her hot and steamy sessions with Connor Jennings, her soul mate (literally). Also a witch, Connor is Aisling’s Supernatural Soul Mate and fellow Earthen, though he is still trying to figure out how to access his powers in the way that he needs to. If Aisling got hurt sparing for instance, Connor wouldn’t be able to offer his blood’s healing powers to her, not like the master Vampire Liam. In fact, it was during sparing that the dream-sight began, a series of blackouts that causes Aisling to see fog so cloudy that she cannot see or understand what’s happening.

The story picks up when the team— vampires, werewolves, shamaness and wolf extraordinaire, a cat that is really a Sphinx, a ghost that possess the body of a little boy, pixie (and a partridge and a pear tree…lol hee hee, had to say it)— realizes two of their team members, Liam and Jon, have gone missing and set out to look for them among a common enemy: Renata Crane, a New Orleans voodoo priestess who wants more power than she has. She wants Aisling the witch, Angela the shamaness, and even the power and blood of Liam, the vampire Aisling is seeing in her dream-sights. The war is on but Aisling is sick, throwing up and having fainting spells. Something is not right with Aisling and her powers are not as strong as they were. How would this influence the battle with Renata? Listen to find out.

I’m not into the whole witch thing and I thought the beginning was a bit slow, however the story is written with enough description to help those who have not read the first two books to get a thorough understanding of what’s going on. It’s not my ideal read but it is well-written and those who are interested in stepping into the dark side will definitely have their hands full with this one.

Ratings:

Plot Movement / Strength: 3/5

Entertainment Factor: 4/5

Characterization: 4/5

Authenticity / Believable: 3/5

Thought Provoking: 3/5

Overall Rating: 3 / 5 stars

Listen is available now. And guess what? It’s free!

(This Book Cover tho! Nice..)

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Smashwords – https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/thesarahdoughty
Barnes And Noble – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22Sarah%20Doughty%22?Ntk=P_key_Contributor_List&Ns=P_Sales_Rank&Ntx=mode+matchall
Kobo – https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/search?query=Sarah%20Doughty&fcsearchfield=Author
iBooks – https://itunes.apple.com/us/author/sarah-doughty/id990778287?mt=11
Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13753138.Sarah_Doughty

Connect With The Author

Website – www.sarahdoughty.com
Instagram – www.instagram.com/thesarahdoughty
Twitter – www.twitter.com/thesarahdoughty

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Did you just write a book? In need of more reviews? Register Your Book HERE! Please be sure to read through my guidelines and to register long books (300+ pages) far enough in advance for me to read them thoroughly  if you have a preferred date for your published review. I publish reviews to this blog every Friday (or every other Friday). I also post them to the authors Amazon and Goodreads page and feature the linked book covers on my  Author website and email list. Stay tuned for next weeks author.

Yecheilyah’s Book Reviews – Listen (Earthen Witch Book 3) by Sarah Doughty

Title: Listen (Earthen Witch Book 3)

Author: Sarah Doughty

Series: Earthen Witch

ISBN: 9781370998340

Language: English.

Published: October 7, 2016

Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Urban, Fiction » Romance » Paranormal

Sarah Doughty’s latest novel, Listen, is book three in The Earthen Witch series. While I have not read the other two books, book three can catch you up.

I invite you to enter a universe that is literally out of this world, one where there are pixies, vampires, werewolves, shamans, wolves of extraordinary prowess, a cat that is actually a Sphinx, a ghost that inhabits a little boy’s body, and, of course, the main character, Earthen Witch Aisling Green.

As an earthen witch, Aisling possesses supernatural abilities that show up even during her hot and steamy sessions with Connor Jennings, her soul mate (literally). Also a witch, Connor is Aisling’s supernatural soul mate and fellow earthen, though he is still trying to figure out how to access his powers however he needs to.

The story picks up when the team realizes two of their team members, Liam and Jon, have gone missing and set out to look for them among a common enemy: Renata Crane, a New Orleans voodoo priestess who wants more power than she has. She wants Aisling the witch, Angela the shamaness, and even the power and blood of Liam, the vampire Aisling is seeing in her dream sights. The war is on, but Aisling is sick, throwing up and having fainting spells. Something is wrong with Aisling; her powers are not as strong as they were. How would this influence the battle with Renata?

You would have to Listen to find out.

The pacing was slower than I would have liked in the beginning, but the story is written well, with enough description to help those who have not read the first two books. While it is not my ideal read, plenty of action and revelations keep you on your toes.

Ratings:

Plot Movement / Strength: 3/5

Entertainment Factor: 4/5

Characterization: 4/5

Authenticity / Believable: 3/5

Thought Provoking: 4/5

Overall Rating: 4 / 5 stars

Listen is available now. And guess what? It’s free!

(This Book Cover! Nice..)

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Smashwords – https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/thesarahdoughty
Barnes And Noble – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22Sarah%20Doughty%22?Ntk=P_key_Contributor_List&Ns=P_Sales_Rank&Ntx=mode+matchall

Kobo – https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/search?query=Sarah%20Doughty&fcsearchfield=Author

iBooks – https://itunes.apple.com/us/author/sarah-doughty/id990778287?mt=11

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13753138.Sarah_Doughty

Connect With The Author

Website – www.sarahdoughty.com
Instagram – www.instagram.com/thesarahdoughty
Twitter – www.twitter.com/thesarahdoughty

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Yecheilyah’s Book Reviews – House of the Hanging Jade by Amy M. Reade

Title: House of The Hanging Jade

Author: Amy M. Reade

Print Length: 246 pages

Publisher: Lyrical Underground (April 26, 2016)

Publication Date: April 26, 2016

Sold by: Penguin Random House Publisher Services

Language: English

ASIN: B0138NHCMO

Not willing to cope with Washington’s brutal winters, Kailani breaks up with restaurant owner Geoffrey and leaves her job to return home, returning to the warm weather and beauty of Hawaii, black sand, and the curling waves of the Pacific Ocean. In preparation to return, Kailani searches for employment and secures a position as personal chef to Lars Jorgensen, owner of Kaimana Surf Company, and his wife, Dr. Barbara Merriweather, on the West Coast of the Big Island in the district of North Kohala.

When she arrives, the Jorgensen’s house is beautiful, and this sous-chef is ill-prepared for what awaits beyond the lush tropical gardens of palm trees, midnight jasmine, red ginger, and pergola laden with hanging Jade. As Kailani settles in, a series of events begin to unfold that question the stability of the Jorgensen household. First, Lars and Barbie don’t seem to like each other much, which could have something to do with Barbie’s roaming eye.

When Barbie asks Kailani to make more nutritious meals to reduce her family’s craving for junk food, the kids dislike Kailani’s healthy cooking. Nevertheless, this is not the full scope of Kailani’s issues. As Geoffrey relocates to Hawaii to be with her, things start to become strange, and a body is discovered on the Jorgensens’ property.

I liked reading about the kinds of meals Kailani would make for the family because she is a chef, especially as she started to get inventive to convince the kids to eat healthily. I got a sense of Hawaiian culture through it.

I also like how the plot focuses on this one family. That gives the story a TV show feel, which I like. Whenever I put my Kindle down, I think about what I will read in tomorrow’s House of the Hanging episode. The Jorgensen’s are off the chain.

What’s really going on in the house with the hanging Jade?

Ratings:
Plot Movement / Strength: 4/5
Entertainment Factor: 4/5
Characterization: 5/5
Authenticity / Believable: 4/5
Thought Provoking: 5/5
Overall Rating: 4 / 5 stars

House of the Hanging Jade is available  now on Amazon!

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Be sure to contact this Best Selling Author at the links below!

Amy can be found online at the following places:

Website: www.amymreade.com

Blog: www.amreade.wordpress.com

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/8189243.Amy_M_Reade

Amazon: www.amazon.com/Amy-M.-Reade/e/B00LX6ASF2/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/AmyMReadesGothicFictionFans/

Twitter: www.twitter.com/readeandwrite

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/amreade

Instagram: www.instagram.com/amymreade

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Refocusing – Book Production Updates

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Morning!

You may have noticed I’ve been posting less frequently this past couple of weeks. I’d admit. I’ve been so into research of the industry that I’ve lost focus a bit on how I do things. So concerned about how it’s done that I’ve neglected my way of getting it done. You’ve been off focus Yecheilyah (Yes, I talk to myself, doesn’t everyone?) Now that I’ve disciplined myself, it’s time to refocus.

So, here’s what’s going on guys.

As you all know I’m writing a two-part novel series and I am approaching that six-month pre-release time. My hope is to launch Book One of The Nora White Story between June and July of next year. Though I haven’t decided on a date, I am putting together a plan that will help me to focus on execution. My husband says I suck at multi-tasking which takes someone who knows me well to see considering the load I carry.

The truth is I can only get away with doing so much due to maintaining a level of balance and by balance I mean deadlines and dedication. For instance, I host an online radio show every Thursday evening with a queue sheet that needs to be sent to my panel no later than Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning at the latest. These are deadlines I’ve given myself. That’s because I know myself and how much I need deadlines to keep me focused and as the excitement of another book release begins to creep in, I’ll be shifting my efforts to ensure everything is in its proper place.

I’ll admit something else too. I don’t like to reveal too much of what I’m doing during the writing and publishing process! At least not until I’ve met a certain goal. The reason is because I believe there are forces out there that are against us just as there are forces that are for us. I do not then think it is wise to reveal your plans or at least not everything that you’re doing. As I am refocusing I’ve noticed that my level of discretion is in need of a tune up so I won’t be divulging every detail but I will let you in on a little something-something!

  • Return on Time

The first thing I am focusing on is time management and ROT. We’ve all heard of Return on Investment. A high ROI means you receive a gain that is well worth the investment. Taking the ROI understanding and applying it to time, although I cannot foresee the details of the future I can take advantage of the time I am given in each day to dedicate toward some of the production work for this book. What I want to implement is practical tactics and execution that will produce a valuable gain from having put in the work, such as the completion of my work by the deadlines I set forth.

As of now, I’m thinking about things I can do to increase interest in the book (that I’ll implement later) that won’t be just a waste of time and resources. I truly believe hard work pays off and let’s just say it’s time to grind! Once I settle on a release date and announce that date, I do not intend on changing it, and if I manage my time right, I shouldn’t have to.

Speaking of release dates, I have my first real update for you!

December 2016

  • Book Launch Date
  • Book Cover Release
  • Matching Social Media Banners
  • Blurb

This is all tentative but if everything falls into place I’ll have a book cover and blurb to promote as early as December to accompany the decided launch date for next year. I’ve chosen to do this for several reasons, one of them being it’s different than how I released my other books and that’s what I love about Independent Publishing. With every book are new experiences so I love experimenting with different things. I also really want to have certain things done before I start promoting a release date. It’s important to me to have the Book Cover and blurb to go along with the date. This way the visual representation and a full idea of what the book is about will keep things exciting!

  • Guest Blog Posts and Email List

I enjoy blogging (*Waves to new subscribers, by the way!*) and consider it an important part of my work so of course, I’ll still be here but you should expect the number of posts to decline. (By decline I just mean I’ll be posting once or twice a day or every other day instead of my usual outrageous posting behavior). Instead, I intend to guest post on as many blogs as I can so I won’t be entirely out of the loop. As part of my refocus initiative, I am also dedicating time to building up and adding more value to my email list.

  • Book Reviews

Book reviews will commence. I know I’ve missed a couple weeks but I’ll have another author for you Friday. Those of you who submitted your book for a review I thank you for your patience. I’ll be reading and writing reviews as part of my refocus initiative so I should be churning them out more consistently. I do read a lot but that also includes my scripture studies (can’t neglect the word!) so I have to balance my time. If I haven’t responded to you yet no worries, I got them all and am organizing them to be read in the order in which they were received.

(P.S. I have a surprise, guess what’s coming back Friday? Black History Fun Fact Friday! Friday, I am officially bringing back this segment. Our first story is a group of beautiful women that not a lot of people know about. Their story is, well, something. You don’t want to miss it).