Review: Emma's Secret by Steena Holmes

Emma's Secret by Steena Holmes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

List the characters and describe them. Emma, a child who is kidnapped before her third birthday. Megan and Peter are her parents. Dottie has dementia and kidnaps Megan. She then 'pretends' that Megan is her grandchild. Jack is Dottie's husband.

What was the mystery and how it was solved. The mystery of problem in this book was Emma's disappearance. Once she is found and returned to her biological parents, it takes a lot of adjustment because she has formed a strong bond by the people who took her.

What are your general thoughts about this book? This is the first book I am reading by this author and I absolutely loved everything about the story. It is breathtaking. I can't wait to read the prequel and other books by this author.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from the author.

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Review: The Newbie Author's Survival Guide by A.K. Taylor

The Newbie Author's Survival Guide by A.K. Taylor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What are some of the book's themes? This book functions as an A to Z guide for authors who want to attempt self-publishing. The author provides links to other sites and examples of what needs to be done.

Did the book end the way you expected? I would have liked to hear testimonials from people who have used these services.

Top 3 things I liked about the whole book. It was to the point. It can also function as a guide for book bloggers. My favourite chapter was networking.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from the author.

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Review: Dark Corners by Theresa Curnow

Dark Corners by Theresa Curnow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Do any characters grow or change during the course of the novel? Carl the Santa Claus. Although all stories were focused on horror or some bloody event, I really wasn't expecting the ending of that story. He changed from one extreme to another in a matter of seconds.

What motivates a given character’s actions? Each of these stories brings out the worst in humans while some focused on altered perceptions which is how most of us see the world. We are adamant that the world functions exactly as how we understand it without realising that at least 10 other people are thinking the same thing.

Which characters do you particularly admire or dislike? Lenny. He seemed so flawless and so interesting right up to the end when this perception is altered in every way possible. That is the one thing that is dominant in all stories, they each had an open ending or a weird twist that is worthy of M. Night Shyamalan.



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Review: Do Not Go Quietly: A Guide to Living Consciously and Aging Wisely for People Who Weren't Born Yesterday by George A. Cappannelli

Do Not Go Quietly: A Guide to Living Consciously and Aging Wisely for People Who Weren't Born Yesterday by George A. Cappannelli
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Who do you think the author intended to read this book and why? For anyone seeking to improve themselves and to understand the stage of life they are in.

Is the title a good one or a poor one and why? The title is perfect and for quite a few of the book club members who are beyond 40, we couldn't wait to read this book.

Did you like the way the book ended? I liked the call for action this book made and I will definitely be implementing a few steps.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from the author.

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Review: The Critical Flaw: How to Profit and Protect Wealth in History's Greatest Opportunity by Alan Chan

The Critical Flaw: How to Profit and Protect Wealth in History's Greatest Opportunity. by Alan Chan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Top 3 things I liked about the theme. The book explains how to make sound investments using silver and gold. This was something new to me and I will pay more attention to it in the future. The author has done a lot of research into the various scams and investments that a person can become involved in. I especially liked the chapter on inflation. It is a concept so many people overlook or think that it does not relate to them and the author proves that it does affect every single one of us.

Top 2 things that I could relate to. The Definition of Money is definitely worth re-reading especially when he goes on to explain in detail how the economy-money link. Secondly, "

In large societies people don’t know all the other community members, let alone trust them." This is very true, in my opinion, the more we progress moneywise, we sometimes take a step or more backwards.
Cover. I didn't really get the question mark in the middle but after reading the book, that is the best way to describe what the book is about.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from the author.

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Review: Women's Obsession with Shoes: Real Stories Straight from the Sole by River Maria Urke

Women's Obsession with Shoes: Real Stories Straight from the Sole by River Maria Urke
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

What kind of language does the author use? The language is straightforward and simple but this book needs a good polish where editing is concerned. It's one thing to use "SMS" language when writing dialogue in a fiction book but to use it in a non-fiction book, it was distracting, to say the least.

Talk about specific passages that struck you as significant. When the author talks about buying her Zena boots which are Italian made. I love boots as well, so I liked reading her thoughts on this.

What have you learned after reading this book? You need to edit and format your book more professionally. It was tedious reading this book when superscripts appeared as normal text, introduction headers were different for each chapter. Are you reading a sub-chapter, a new chapter or does the formatting need fixing?

Disclosure - As a Quality Reads Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book from the author via Orangeberry Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.


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Review: The Forth Conspiracy by Thomas Thorpe

The Forth Conspiracy by Thomas Thorpe
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Favourite location … When William stumbles around in the dessert and he spots the North Star. He then thinks about what Elizabeth is doing. I really like how the author used such a serene location to highlight the strain William and Elizabeth were going through.
Favourite quote … "Every step must be taken towards it" This indicates William's willpower and determination to save his ancestral home.
Describe the main character in one word. Courageous. This couple took a big risk to save their ancestral home and I think this is the main element that made the story more interesting. They never gave up even if it meant they were apart for so long.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from the author.

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Review: Sojourners in Shadow by Steven Beeho

Sojourners in Shadow by Steven Beeho
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Which did you find more appealing, the introduction or the conclusion? Neither. I preferred the middle sections when you actually receive an explanation about the ongoing battle and mutants.

Why would you recommend or not recommend this book? I would but only to people who enjoy multiple genres and stories cramped into one story.

Did the book description relate to the story? Mostly, yes. Although, I do think it would be more than helpful if the author included a list of characters and places. Most of us at the book club did this ourselves and without this guide, it would have been confusing.


Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from the author.

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Review: Killer Work from Home Jobs: 200 Fortune 500 & Legitimate Work at Home Jobs by Lee Evans

Killer Work from Home Jobs: 200 Fortune 500 & Legitimate Work at Home Jobs by Lee Evans
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What alternative title would you choose for this book? I wouldn't pick a different title because the title suited this book perfectly.

Share a quote or two from the book. "My shower felt like a cold-water wash which I was forced to withstand." The book opens with the author's experience about working for other people. And I could definitely relate to some of the sentiments.

Share your favourite chapter from the book. The second half of the book when it actually gives out the information about the companies.


Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from the author.

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Review: The Darkest Lie by Angela Day

The Darkest Lie by Angela Day
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

What I didn't like – More than once, the author stated the obvious. It seemed as if she was using the descriptions and character's actions as fillers which didn't really draw me in. Overal, I liked the story and the flow of the story.

Is the story plot or character driven? For this reader, the story was plot driven. Thane was the central character whose life becomes part of a complicated magical adventure. He is motivated to find answers, the reader follows Thane on this journey and the plot becomes clearer from scene to scene.

What did you think of the story structure? I loved it. It didn't jump around as some fantasy books do. It was straightforward, twisted enough to be adventurous but not so complicated that you did not understand what was happening.

Disclosure - As a Quality Reads Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book from the author via Orangeberry Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.

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Review: muted: a short story in verse by Jessica Bell @MsBessieBell

muted: a short story in verse by Jessica Bell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Was the book different from what you expected? Where do I start? When we first saw that it was short story verse, we were expecting a few different stories meshed into one. One story, for about 2000 words that turns out be moving and touching at the same time, not at all what I was expecting.

Does the author spend too much time on description? No. The writer uses a combination of words to create a scene or description and I think this is one of the best things about Muted by Jessica Bell. Once the stage is set, the scene cascades towards the audience much like the main character's singing and the harpist tunes.

Was the time period important to the story? Not really. In some countries these kind leaders already exist and for others, it is a matter of time before we our every movement, action and speech is monitored to be condemned or punished.

Disclosure - As a Quality Reads Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book from the author via Orangeberry Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.

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Review: Finding Claire Fletcher by Lisa Regan

Finding Claire Fletcher by Lisa Regan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What did you think of the story structure? Sometimes, it felt as if there were multiple storylines that eventually formed the main story. I liked the way Lisa Regan did this. Claire Fletcher's story needed to be told in sections so readers could sort out how they felt about the situation. The story structure was effective and kept me interested throughout the book.

Which secondary character resonated most with you and why? Raynard's mother - She knew what her son was and she protected him even though he had raped both his sisters. On the one hand, how do you choose between right and wrong when your child is involved? But she made no attempt at trying to remedy the situation.

What did you think of the ending? I liked the ending because Claire had a choice of a life in her hand and ending this life. She chose moving on with her life and heal as best as she can without taking this other person's life. That was really big of her.

Disclosure - As a Quality Reads Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book from the author via Orangeberry Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.

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Author Interview - Merry Farmer

Our Little Secrets by Merry Farmer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

List the characters and describe them. Charlie Baldwin – came to Montana to escape her step-father

Michael West – merchant and general store owner in Cold Springs, Montana

Edsel – cowboy trouble maker

Nancy Deen – helps Michael out at his general store

Phineas Bell – bank manager and friend of Michael West

Delilah – hotel owner, friend of Michael and Phineas

Christian Avery – justice of the peace and friend of Michael

Eric Quinlan – rancher and friend of Michael

Ms. Helen – arrived on same train as Charlie, and a con artist

Jacinta – clerk to the justice of peace

What makes a minor character memorable? Phineas and Delilah. These each tried to help a friend.

What are the most revealing scenes? When Michael realizes that his father is Charlie’s step-father.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from the author.

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Author Interview:

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?  I think I’ve always been interested in writing, ever since I learned to spell the giant word “grasshopper” in 1^st grade.

How long have you been writing?  I have been writing since I was in 3^rd grade and realized one day that I didn’t have to wait for the teacher to assign a creative writing project to write something.  And yes, the first story I remember writing was more or less a romance novel about a boy I had a crush on.

When did you first know you could be a writer?  I don’t think there was ever a time when I didn’t think I could be a writer.  Like I said before, I grew up in a family of artists and creative-types.  Writing was tame compared to what some of them did.

What inspires you to write and why?  Love.  That’s it really.  My own romantic life is so pitiful that I love writing about people falling in love and ending up together in spite of the odds.  That and writing is like breathing to me: I can’t imagine not doing it without dying.

What genre are you most comfortable writing?  The easy answer to that is Romance.  But I also really like writing Science Fiction.  I always seem to write love stories, no matter what I write, but there are so many complexities to life and so many situations I can imagine people falling in love in that I need to explore.

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Genre – Western Historical Romance

Rating – R

More details about the author & the book

Connect with Merry Farmer on Facebook & Twitter

Website http://merryfarmer.net/

Review: Mars Rising by Mark David Major

Mars Rising by Mark David Major
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What are some of the book's themes? Corruption, death, survival. There were some very dark themes and emotions, hence the title, Mars Rising.

Did the book end the way you expected? It was a little twisted and unexpected but I loved the ending and really want to read other books by this author.

Top 3 things I liked about the whole book. This is one of the very few self-published books that the author has put so much effort into. The sketches. The writing. Lastly, the whole new world he created.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from the author.

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Review: The Granite Key: Arkana Archaeology Thriller Mysteries #1 by N S Wikarski

The Granite Key: Arkana Archaeology Thriller Mysteries #1 by N S Wikarski
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Time period? Didn't give a time period but I do expect that it can be set in any time period.

List of characters and describe? Cassie - Was a college student. She was a pythia. She joined the society.

Maddie- Red head, in her 50's, smoker. 6 ', in the society.

Faye - Head of society. She told everyone what to do.

Griffin - Very smart, very factual. In his 20's, 6'.

Erik - The protector of the group.

Abraham - Twisted. Ordered several murders.

Leroy - Murderer. Did all the dirty work for Abraham.

Problem in book, solved? Problem was to find the bones of the mother. Leroy was never held accountable for murder either.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from the author.

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Review: Redwood Violet by Robin Mahle

Redwood Violet by Robin Mahle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Was it a good book? This was a very good book, well written with no flaws. A very enjoyable read.

Which secondary character resonated most with you and why? Marshall, he kept trying to help Katie. I feel Jennifer will play a more important part in the second book but have not figured out what.

What are the most revealing scenes? Katie learning about her horrible past from her parents.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from the author.

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Review: Family Magic (Hayle Coven, #1) by Patti Larsen

Family Magic by Patti Larsen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What I didn't like? The torture Miriam went through and the humiliation Alison went through. While I understand these scenes were necessary to illustrate the point of evil in the story, it was realistic enough to give me goosebumps.

Cover - I liked the cover a lot. The design was simple and the shades of blue were vivid. The eye with the pentagram in the pupil was a great touch and the curvy fonts for the author's name and book title were eye-catching.

Which secondary character resonated most with you and why? Quaid warned Syd about his mother and I admired this character for being able to choose right over wrong, instead of blood over water. He went against his evil parents and this really says something about who he is and what Syd means to him.

Disclosure - As a Quality Reads Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book from the author via Orangeberry Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.

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Review: Evergreen (A Serial Killer Thriller) by David Jester

Evergreen by David Jester
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

How does setting figure in, come to life? The setting is mysteries. They were in their own element.

Like ending and why? The ending was definitely twisted, but I liked it. It gave Patrick answers and he got to meet his mother.

List of characters and describe? Patrick - 25 years old. He believed he was an orphan. He was the leader of the Evergreen community.

Aiden - 50 years old. Father and murderer.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from the author.

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Review: Enigma Black by Sara Furlong Burr

Enigma Black by Sara Furlong Burr
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What were the main themes of the book? Murder, vengeance and mayhem. The only thing that came to mind when I started reading this book was the Five for Fighting song "Superman". There's this line that says "Even superheroes have the right to bleed" and that's what happens to Celaine.

Describe 2 different settings or locations. In the beginning of the chapter, The Lakes when Celaine describes Christmas in contrast to her parents' deaths and

Were you able to connect with the main character and why? Some book club members since it was easy to connect with Celaine before she was 'converted'. I agree with this but I also think that her vengeance is a real feeling and although it panned out in murder and mayhem, it presented raw human emotion that I could definitely connect with.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from the author.

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Review: Shadow Cay by Leona Bodie

Shadow Cay by Leona Bodie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Is the story plot or character driven? Honestly, I was dreading this question. This book is plot driven and runs on so may sub-plots it can get very confusing. If some of the subplots were removed and then used for a separate book, this might have been better than squeezing everything into story and confusing readers along the way.

What did you enjoy about this book? Loved the locations and I loved both the main characters, Madeleine and Peter who seemed to complement each other despite their circumstances.

What did you think of the style of the writer? I liked her writing style. She was witty and descriptive which made the locations in the story very interesting. But still, less sub-plots, please.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from the author.

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