Kill me Softly Review

Date Published: April 5, 2012

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Number of Pages: 331

Publisher: Egmont USA

First Thoughts:

Can I start off by saying I never knew the sweet classic tales I thought I knew so well (Cinderella, sleeping beauty, little mermaid, etc.…) were actually quite morbid and disturbing? Wow…this was an interesting and definitely different kind of read for me. The concept and storyline were unique and so strange…I actually don’t know how to really grasp what I think of this book…it has its moments and it was definitely really cool to read about but in the end I’m still unsure if it was the book for me.

Plot:

The plot was different and filled with a lot of spinoffs of the classic fairytales…I wasn’t much into the classics to begin with but reading the more morbid and creepy versions of them really made me wish I had. I’m starting to wonder if perhaps the fairytales I had watched when I was little had hints of these “new” fairytales because if they did…well that’s just disturbing and so, so , so wrong. The story was a little hard to follow at times, the sub-plots seemed to get snagged and twisted along the way and I sometimes found myself having to go back and re-read certain parts to better understand the current part I was at. The pace of the book was semi-fast…some parts were more action packed than others and I felt the story start to drag at certain parts…this whole 331 page book took place in less than a week…but of course those 4-6 days were essential…and the ending just felt rushed and a little unrealistic…I felt the author rushed it and in the end it really didn’t impress me. Some things I did enjoy about the plot was that it wasn’t the same type of paranormal you read about so often, it had so many different unique properties that I didn’t once find myself becoming bored of the ideas themselves, I just think this book needed to be better organized and created. And one thing I didn’t like was the “bad” boy…it’s like every book now days has a “bad” boy and quite frankly I’m starting to get tired seeing one…now I like me a good “bad” boy once in a while but not so often and well this one in particular was good but like I said not too original.

Romance:

Yes of course there was romance in this book how could there not be? So if you’re not into reading about some little TLC and love then don’t even bother reading this book. I felt that the romance was pretty good, it had some really cute moments but kind of typical…the romance wasn’t unique and therefore didn’t really feel necessarily special to me. Romance did play a key concept and conflict in this story so yes it was a big part of what this story was about. Overall the romance was okay but not great.

Characters:

I liked the characters, I felt they were full of life and each one definitely had their own quirks and traits. It was fun to see some of the characters clash; there were definitely a few comical scenes. The main protagonist was kind of hard at first to connect with, she kind of actually annoyed me at times with her line of thinking but as the story progressed I slowly started to warm up to her and understand her a little better. As for the more minor characters they were good and well placed and they did help the story move along and help solve the conflict…actually some of the minor characters like Jewel and Layla were some of my favorites…they really played their parts really well and added character and spark to the story. And as far as I could tell each one had a part to play and did well with their contribution to the story.

Transformation of the Character:

There were a few minor transformations but they weren’t really easy to see and they could easily be debated as being the character just realizing who they were all along…the main character didn’t really change at all, she discovered more of herself but her traits and way of thinking stayed the same throughout the story….it kind of disappointed that she didn’t change…she could have used some transformation to help brighten and sparkle up the overall feel of the story. So overall this aspect did nothing to the story.

Description:

The description was really good; the author really knew when to pay attention to the details. I especially enjoyed seeing the little details of the houses and the “Dream” Casino/hotel…the “Dream” hotel was really cool, the way she described it made me want to go and visit…well if only I watched my back that place is dangerous! Anyways I really felt that at times the way she described the scenery was really poetic and beautiful…it really allowed the reader to visualize each scene and better understand what the characters were up against. The amount of description was good for most of the book, I don’t think it was the description itself that made the story drag at times but the story/concept itself…like the way it was organized caused the reader to read more slowly and try to better understand what’s going on. Some of the last scenes with Felix were just creepy, the author did a fantastic job describing his “special” room…definitely spooked me! But overall I really enjoyed the description and felt that it was one of the best aspects of the story.

Style:

The authors style was good, I liked that she mostly stayed in one POV (near the end she switched POV just for a short while). I thought the use of third person really added character to the book and allowed the reader to step back and get a broader view of what’s going on…I think that view point allowed the reader to understand what was going on…to see the big picture and go Ah! I know I’m making a big deal of following along the story and yes it was hard at times but it wasn’t too bad…just enough to make it worth mentioning. As for the writing itself I didn’t have any problem with it, it was smooth and enjoyable to read.

Quote of the book:

""This has to be your happy ending, Mira. Because this is the only ending you have.""

Goodreads Summary:

Mirabelle's past is shrouded in secrecy, from her parents' tragic deaths to her guardians' half-truths about why she can't return to her birthplace, Beau Rivage. Desperate to see the town, Mira runs away a week before her sixteenth birthday—and discovers a world she never could have imagined.

In Beau Rivage, nothing is what it seems—the strangely pale girl with a morbid interest in apples, the obnoxious playboy who's a beast to everyone he meets, and the chivalrous guy who has a thing for damsels in distress. Here, fairy tales come to life, curses are awakened, and ancient stories are played out again and again.

But fairy tales aren't pretty things, and they don't always end in happily ever after. Mira has a role to play, a fairy tale destiny to embrace or resist. As she struggles to take control of her fate, Mira is drawn into the lives of two brothers with fairy tale curses of their own . . . brothers who share a dark secret. And she'll find that love, just like fairy tales, can have sharp edges and hidden thorns.

Last Thoughts:

I would recommend this to fans of fairytales and romance; it was a cute and interesting read and is worth the time and effort. Though I found some major flaws with the story I would definitely be willing to read other books by this author…she was a good writer it was just the story itself…maybe this book just wasn’t for me. Either way this was an overall good book and fun to read.

My Rating:

Angel Eyes Review

Date Published: May 29, 2012

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Number of Pages: 320

Publisher: Thomas Nelson Fiction

First Thoughts:

This book was different in the sense that it was a different story than I had anticipated. It had its ups and downs and the emotions were definitely strong but I think this story just lacked a certain spark…But it did have some really cool concepts and some of the scenes were really good but the book as a whole just didn’t live up to what I expected.

Plot:

It was good; it was a fast read for me and didn’t take a lot of time to finish. And the concept was interesting and fun, I really like the halo’s it was cool to see how the author chose to use them and what their purpose was. The plot was well placed and I don’t think it lacked any important element, I really enjoyed that there were secrets and some of them were slowly uncovered allowing the reader to be in suspense rather than already knowing the conclusion. The concept of angels is never a new concept but I do like that this author chose to add in some creative thoughts and ideas making it fun to read about. The sub-plot about her best friend was an essential part of the story and I felt that without it the story wouldn’t be complete and would actually be lacking a very important element. As for the other sub-plots there weren’t many of them, I liked seeing the main character’s life unfolded throughout the story, it really allowed the reader to better connect with the story and understand what’s going on. As for the feel of the book, it had a kind of dark and sad feel about it, the main character had some deep lining issues and therefore added in a more realistic feel to the story. As far as originality there was almost the same plot line we see in most YA these days (Mysterious boy, new girl they meet, ect…) But it also had some variations that some of those books don’t have…so overall it was a good book to read.

Romance:

Yes there was romance and it was kind of a big chunk of the story so that kind of was a letdown to me. But if you’re into romance it was sweet and very much fun to read and it was not the major conflict just kind of the branch off of the major conflict. So overall this was an okay aspect of the book.

Characters:

They were really well created, they were realistic and interesting. The main protagonist had a lot of depth to her and I liked that, she had this whole ordeal that she went through and throughout the book is trying to find her way to the surface but I have to say one of her flaws is that she trusts way too easy…not that it ended badly because of this but in reality you just don’t instantly trust a stranger, it takes time. As for the minor characters there were a few unnecessary characters but they didn’t do any harm to the story itself. So overall the characters helped add a new texture to the book and allowed the reader to better connect with the story.

Transformation of the Character:

There was a tiny or beginning of a transformation, I still think that there will be more to take place but you could already begin to note the changes the character is making. I don’t think that the transformation is being rushed but rather that it’s taking time and therefore giving it a more realistic and believable feel to it. So over all there was a small transformation that will become something bigger in the books to come.

Description:

I really enjoyed the description; the way the author chose to describe some of the scenes was really cool. One of my favorite descriptions is of the halo itself; she uses simple words to leave a stronger impact on the reader. Some of the few fight scenes were really well described and I didn’t find it hard to keep up with them. As for the way she describes the scenery I didn’t find a problem with it, she kept it simple at times and more detailed at others…I didn’t think there was too much or too little description and as far as the dialogue I didn’t find it unrealistic or fake at any moments throughout the book. Actually I think some of the best description in this book came from the dialogue because the words of the characters were deep and inspiring…it really gave the reader an insight of the character and how they were “really” feeling. The description of emotion was in both the dialogue and prose…with it being spread throughout it really allowed the reader to better understand what the character is thinking and feeling. So overall the description was an essential aspect to this book and added more flare and creativity to it.

Style:

I liked that the author switched from three POV’s, for this story in particular it opened up the story more and allowed the reader to better understand the situation and start to believe the boundaries in the created world. As far as the writing itself it was good a bit off at times but overall easy to read and understand.

Quote of the book:

““You shall know the truth…and the truth shall set you free.””

Goodreads Summary:

Once you’ve seen, you can’t un-see. Everything changes when you’ve looked at the world through . . .

ANGEL EYES

Brielle’s a ballerina who went to the city to chase her dreams and found tragedy instead. She’s come home to shabby little Stratus, Oregon, to live with her grief and her guilt . . . and the incredible, numbing cold she can’t seem to shake.

Jake’s the new guy at school. The boy next door with burning hands and an unbelievable gift that targets him for corruption.

Something more than fate has brought them together. An evil bigger than both of them lurks in the shadows nearby, hiding in plain sight. Two angels stand guard, unsure what’s going to happen. And a beauty brighter than Jake or Brielle has ever seen is calling them to join the battle in a realm where all human choices start.

A realm that only angels and demons—and Brielle—can perceive.

Last Thoughts:

I would recommend this to fans of angelology and to fans of romance. This was a fast and fun read but nothing that necessarily stunned or wowed me. I am willing to continue on with this series to see what this author has in store for her readers. The ending did leave you kind of wondering but I wouldn’t consider it a cliffhanger but it did leave me wanting to read more. So overall it was a good book just not one of my favorites.

My Rating:

Few are Angels Review

Date Published: May 7, 2012

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Number of Pages: 366

Publisher: Self-Published

First Thoughts:

I fell in love with this story, I essentially enjoyed every second of it…I found myself up late in the night just wanting to read it…to know more about what was happening in this unique world. It really captured my full attention and I had no problem with wanting to read it, each part was just as important as the one before it. The writing is captivating and beautiful and the characters were so enticing that I found myself falling in love with them…this book had a really good connection between the story to the reader. This is a story you’ll find you can’t put down.

Plot:

The plot was complicated in a way that it dealt with a new and unique concept. There was an interesting backstory that you learn about as the story progresses. And the ending! Wow, such an intense and cliffhanger of an ending, it literally left me yearning for more…this period of waiting for the next book in the series is going to be a long one. I enjoyed that the story itself was interesting and fun to follow but at times it was a little hard to follow because of the unfolding of the world itself (a bit complicated to explain) The plotline itself was good and I felt it had all the elements it needs to be considered as complete. The concept/idea was new to me but there were parts of it that aren’t…they were just kind of mixed in with the new to create a unique and interesting world. As for the sub-plots I felt they were both amazing and necessary; without them the main conflict wouldn’t make sense; you’d be left in the dark. Some of them were really interesting while a select few weren’t (I could have done away with them but in the end they helped tell the story). As for the pace of the story I felt it  to be fast but at times slowed down, allowing the reader a reprieve from the action and time to digest the newest information. I also felt this book was a mixture of the different sub-catorgories of the paranormal…and I found it fun that the different categories clashed together and had to co-exist in some way. So overall I found the plot to be unique and a great aspect to the book.

Romance:

Yes romance is part of the conflict but not necessarily the ultimate conflict. It’s there and it can be gooey at times I won’t lie to you but I kind of liked it. And I know a lot of YA are all about romance and it is getting old but I enjoyed this romance…it was fun to read about and I loved the conflict involved in it. So whether this aspect of the book would affect your decision to read the book is up to you but just know that it was fun to read about and was comical at times.

Characters:

The main protagonist was interesting and well created. I instantly clicked with her; she was filled with so much dark and sad emotion that I instantly felt remorse for her…she had endured the death of both of her parents; I can only just begin to guess at how much that can affect an individual. And yet at times throughout the story I saw a little more than that remorse, I saw a part of her that has been suppressed and I can’t wait to see it resurface and be permanent. As for the other characters they were well created and placed within the story, though there were a few minor characters that could have been taken out of the story (they really didn’t add anything to the overall plot or feel of the story). So overall this was a good aspect to the story.

Transformation of the Character:

There weren’t really any transformations that took place within this first book in the series; it was mainly just the introductions of the characters and allowing the reader to get to know the current character so that in the books to come the transformation can really be noted. But I did enjoy reading about the current statuses of the characters and can’t wait for the transformations to come. So overall this is not a real important aspect of the series yet.

Description:

I really enjoyed the description in this story; it was beautiful and poetic at times. The author did a great job on describing the emotion of the character; she dug deep within the characters mind and used emotion to describe the current status of the characters mental well-being; it allowed the reader to better understand the situation and predict the events surely to follow. The author also did a really good job on describing the scenery, I felt like I was actually there, right alongside her; each little detail helped support the world she created. And like I mentioned earlier some of the scenes had a really poetic feel to it, especially the cabin scene…and I don’t know if it was just me and my love for this author but I felt that some of the landscape description was influenced by the poet Robert Frost, there’s just something about the way she described some of the scenery that caused me to make that connection. But overall I felt there was just the right amount of description and felt this added great texture to the overall feel of the book.

Style:

The author chose to write in one POV (well up to the epilogue) and I really felt that allowed the reader to better connect not only to the concept of the story but to the main protagonist. As for the authors writing itself I really enjoyed it, it was easy to read and I instantly fell in love with the way she arranged the story. One thing else I liked was that at the beginning of each chapter there was a little quote…it just kind of added another element to the story. Also the flashbacks were well placed and created, I had no trouble switching from present to past, it was actually quite fun! So overall the style of the book was good.

Quote of the Book:

““I miss the old times, you know? I want things to be like that again…”

“Things will never be the same, Ella. That’s just the way it is.””

Goodreads Summary:

After a fatal hit and run accident, Ella Monroe fears that she’s lost more than her beloved parents. Horrifying visions of a past life and a disturbing voice in her head have psychiatric professionals convinced that she’s lost her sanity as well. But when Kale--a dark and handsome stranger with a mysterious past--reveals the true meaning of her visions and the tremendous power she wields through them, Ella must come to terms with the devastating truths of her own past, while eluding an ancient Dark Prince who seeks to control not only her future, but all of mankind’s, by means of abilities that Ella is only beginning to understand.

Enter the shrouded world of an age old battle between an ancient race known as the Immortals and their bitter enemy Laurent, the so-called Dark Prince, who commands an army of half-breed vampires known as Chorý. Both sides have been desperately searching for the prophesied emergence of the Arc, a clairvoyant with unparalleled power to recall the past and a soothsayer with clear vision into the future.

The Council of Immortals has sworn to protect the Arc, whom they have identified as young Ella Monroe, a college freshman from Virginia living quietly and unaware of her powers or her past. But a renegade Chorý has other plans for the protection of a girl he has loved through the ages. Can Kale convince Ella of who she is, what she is destined to become, and what he once meant to her? Is he truly the best protector to shield the world from the devastating misuse of her powers that Laurent is bent on controlling? Or will the forbidden love they share and Kale’s cursed condition as a retched and hated Chorý be used against them both?

Last Thoughts:

I would recommend this to fans of the paranormal and to those who just like a good story. I liked the emotion and writing itself, this was a book that I could get myself lost in; to just forget all stress and worries and become immersed in a world unlike my own. I can’t wait to continue this story, Ella is just a character I have to know the conclusion to and the ending….just WoW. This is an author I’ll definitely be keeping my tabs on.

My Rating:

No Good Deed Review and Interview

Date Published: March 9, 2012

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Number of Pages: N/A

Publisher: Self-Published

First Thoughts:

This book captivated me from the very beginning; it had a lot of uniqueness and action to it. I loved being able to see the heroine as someone being middle aged and not the skinniest person alive; I’m sick of the near perfect heroines give me a “real” person any day! I loved the passion and will this heroine had; it made the story that much more enjoyable. I just loved how the author was able to take a paranormal situation and add realism to it; definitely unique to these types of books. This will be one book that will take you on a roller-coaster of a ride.

Plot:

I really enjoyed the plot of this book; there were a lot of scenes that allowed the reader to better understand the main protagonist and understand where she is coming from. It was really fun to see all of the characters backstories and how they fit into the whole scheme of things. This story was filled with ideas that were both new and old; the idea of demons is nothing new but the storyline was. I liked the idea of the team and how they got to each of their “assignments” really cool. And there were also some parts where the author included some magical terms and ideas that made the story seem more real; more stable. As for the pace of the story it was semi-fast to me; there were some parts that seemed to drag like where the protagonist was having internal struggles and parts where she was at home tending to everyday normalcies. But I really did enjoy seeing how the character tried balancing her life; the contrast of her “job” and then the average family home life. The sub-plot of her home life was interesting, seeing her deal with a handicapped husband and two children and seeing how she loved them dearly…definitely well written. As for some of the other sub-plots I think some of them were left unfinished; like the backstories of the other “team members” but knowing this is only book one in the series I figure their stories will be told when the time is right. So overall I enjoyed the overall idea and storyline of this book and liked this aspect of the story.

Romance:

There wasn’t much romance in this book, I mean the most romance you see is between husband and wife and I wouldn’t really classify that with the normal YA romance we see in most books as of late. I did enjoy the love between the wife and husband it was soft and sweet but at the same time in no way overwhelming; the amount of romance was perfect. I liked…no…loved that romance was not the main focus of the story; such a nice relief from all the other books that are focused on this aspect. So overall the romance was perfect for this book and I really enjoyed this aspect.

Characters:

I did really enjoy the main protagonist, I felt she was created with perfect clarity and had the right personality for the role she played. I really enjoyed her line of thinking and the way she reacted to each situation; it really seemed realistic and believable. As for some of the other characters I felt some of them fell a little short, they seemed real enough but they kind of lacked a certain aspect that would have really made them fit perfectly within the story. Don’t get me wrong not all of them were this way but a few select were….I just personally couldn’t connect with them. But overall each character fit into their roles just right and there weren’t any unnecessary characters within the story.

Transformation of the Character:

I don’t think there was a real transformation that took place within the story, I believe there was a start of one but I think there’s much more that needs to happen before it could be classified as a transformation. So overall I don’t think this was an important aspect of the story and believed that there didn’t need to be one in this first book of the series.

Description:

I really enjoyed the description of this book; at times it was really dark and creepy (there are some scenes I’ll never be able to forget). It was cool to be able to really picture each of these demons, the description was really deep and detailed; I could really see each little thing about the demon, kind of morbid and gross…As far as how the author described the landscape, I think he did a good job on describing each scene and allowing the reader to really see each location and be able to distinguish them from city to city. There were a few scenes where the author really used the senses; he incorporated each important sense so that the picture of the scene was that much stronger. I don’t think there was too much description; he used just the right amount to describe both the scenes and the characters. He did really well on the battle scenes. One part that may have thrown me off was when they assigned each member of the team a color….it was that bad but it did take some getting used to. But overall I really liked this aspect of the book.

Style:

The author chose to write in one POV and in first person which is the norm in most books and in this case really worked. It allowed the reader to just focus on one plotline; it narrowed down this large world so that it wouldn’t confuse the reader. If you really looked at the world itself and each of the characters you would see multiple POV’s would have been too much and the story would have literally been lost within itself; the author made the right call. As for the writing itself it was easy to read and I didn’t have any problems with it.

Quote of the Book:

“That hideous little mask is grinning at me…I stare right back. The shadows grow behind its hollow eyes. The hair on the back of my arms and neck lifts a little. It’s definitely laughing at me, now. I give it an even look. “Bite me.””

Goodreads Summary:

Kelly McGinnis has spent her adult life trying to do the right thing, but as a newly down-sized mother of twins and the wife of a man living with Multiple Sclerosis, she also knows that trying isn't always enough.

While interrupting a scene of police brutality, Kelly unwittingly releases a real, live demon. After she manages to kill the creature through gut instinct and blind luck, she is approached to join a secret group of demon hunters who reveal an underworld of monsters and magic.

Against her better judgment, Kelly accepts the lucrative, if bizarre, offer; but when she meets Umber, a compelling incubus with an unexpectedly human story, she learns that the truth is far stranger and more terrifying than she imagined.

Last Thoughts:

I would recommend this to fans of books about demons and fans of the paranormal. I really enjoyed the uniqueness of this book and look forward to continuing Kelly’s story.  This is a world I can’t wait to divulge into more; the author just has a way of taking an old idea and twisting it into something more. This was a book that got me really interested in demons, never been a fan of them, they kind of just were there before this book, now I kind of want to try more books like this…perhaps when I get the time in the future….

My Rating:

And the winner of the e-book copy of “No Good Deeds” is Mikayla! Congratulations!!

Interview with Bill Blais

What inspired you to start writing No Good Deed?

Well, I've always enjoyed underdogs, and I was frustrated by what I perceived as copy-cat heroines in the urban fantasy genre. I had originally been thrilled when female heroines started appearing on the shelves, but it seemed to me that they quickly fell into the same problems as many of the male heroes: super-confident, super-sexy, super-strong. I can't really relate to someone with all these traits, so these characters never appealed to me. Finally, I decided I had to stop complaining and put my money where my mouth was. Thank goodness Kelly showed up!

What is your favorite part of writing?

Revising. The first draft is usually fueled by the newness and excitement of discovering the story (whatever my preconceived notions may be), but this is more of a 'spectator sport' for me. The actual work of revising, of really re-viewing what I've written and challenging myself to make each scene, each paragraph, each word earn its place, this is what I enjoy most. Okay, so that's perhaps a bit obsessive and masochistic, but I love the language and I try to keep learning.

How long does it take on average to write the first draft of a book?

Just the first draft? Hm. Well, between 2-4 months, generally speaking. It's the revisions, though, that take the most time. As I mentioned, though, revision is my favorite part, but the devil truly is in the details, there, and I can easily get lost in them (thus, the 13 drafts of my first book), but I have been steadily working that down and am down to 5-7 drafts per book.

What is your beverage of choice when you’re in the “zone” of writing?

Tea. Black Tea. Preferably a good Irish Breakfast, with a bit of raw sugar. When I'm really in the 'zone', though, I may only get a few sips before it gets cold because I can't stop writing long enough. Those are very good days.

Were there any songs you listened to a lot while writing this book?

I tend to get repetitive when it comes to music and writing. When I find a song that seems to work, I tend to listen to it on repeat for days at a time. For No Good Deed, one of those was "Canción del Mariachi (Morena de Mi Corazón)" from the Desperado film soundtrack. This is a great high-energy, rhythmic, authentic-feeling piece, that suits the action scenes.

What is your ideal vacation spot for writing?

Above our garage. Just me, a box of pencils, and a stack of recycled paper.

Who gave you the biggest support for this book?

Oh, that's easy: My wife. She has supported me in every possible way. Without her, well, that's not even worth contemplating.

What is one thing you would like your fans to know about you?

Honestly? Nothing, really. I mean, I don't really think there's anything terribly special about me. I'm actually playing this 'game' on 'the lowest difficulty setting there is', as John Scalzi rightly described (http://whatever.scalzi.com/2012/05/15/straight-white-male-the-lowest-difficulty-setting-there-is/).

Did you take any scenes out of No Good Deed?

Actually, no, not full scenes. I cut many scenes down, often in half or more to tighten things, but the outline was solid to begin with and each piece of the story held its own throughout the revisions.

What should we expect for the next book in the series?

Well, there's more Umber, for starters, which was very interesting for me, but the overall story took a much darker and more 'realistic' turn than I expected when I first started thinking about what came next. I don't want to give too much away, but Kelly's involvement in the events of NGD have gained her some unwanted attention from the 'other side', and this time Denis and the team aren't around to help as her family is threatened.

Thanks Bill for taking the time to let us know a little more about you and your book, it was a blast!

Vengeance of the Wolf Review & Interview

Date Published:  February 23, 2012

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Number of pages: 316

Publisher: Self-Published

First Thoughts:

I’m usually not one who’s interested in the cop type books but this book was so different and creative that it was nothing like I expected. The whole concept and suspense was really good and kept me on my toes. This book really reminded me of the concept of the movie “Inception”; meaning it dealt with the dimensions of the dream world and created outrageous and cool boundaries…definitely a unique and interesting read.

Plot:

I really enjoyed the plot and backstories; they were creative and so different from what I’m used to reading. I felt that the book had all the usual elements we expect in a traditional plot, the ending was very satisfying and I loved what it was hinting at (I’ll leave you to see what that is) One thing I found I had to do was stop reading this book about 40 percent into it, it just kind of got to me…Kind of freaked me out and I decided to read another book before finishing this one up and thankfully I was able to do just that. But what I discovered was that the last half of the book was even more morbid and freaky and it really kind of made me want to finish the book even more quickly…there’s not many books out there that can really get to me but the way things unfolded and the reasons behind it really kind of had realism to it. It’s like there’s a person out there in our world that has this same thinking pattern and it really makes you think what could happen.  As for the pace of the story it kind was slow to me, there was plenty of action though don’t get me wrong but for some reason maybe because of the content and how it got to me but it was a slower read to me but I think it would be different from reader to reader. As for the sub-plots there weren’t many of them, it was mainly just one big plot that bounced from POV to POV, it all ended in one big resolution. So overall the plot was good and definitely one that can mess with the mind.

Romance:

There was essentially very little of this in the book, there was a small romance that is worth mentioning but it’s none of that over dramatizing romance we see so much in YA these days. But the romance was soft and low key in this book and I really enjoyed this aspect, it’s getting kind of old reading about the romance between a couple and something coming between them....I much prefer this kind of romance, it’s not the main focus of the book but it’s still there, soft and gentle. So overall I enjoyed this aspect of the book.

Characters:

The characters were definitely created with care, some were livelier than others and some were more focused while the others were kind of fuzzy. I really enjoyed the antagonist, it was really cool to get inside the mind of a serial killer, to be able to really get a feel on how he thinks and his reasons behind his actions; super awesome. I also felt that the antagonist or “Uncle Sam Killer” had a lot of detail that went into creating him; he had many layers and emotions that helped connect the reader to character. As for some of the protagonists some I enjoyed and some I didn’t, I liked Williams, he had a lot of guts and personality to him that really made him realistic but as for some of the others they just kind of just fell flat to me for some reason, it wasn’t because of how they created but maybe of the role they played in the plot. But overall each character did fit well into the story and all were necessary in the overall plot of the book.

Transformation of the Character:

This wasn’t really an important role in the book; there weren’t really any transformations that took place. It really focused around releasing the characters qualities and allowing the reader to learn about them more slowly. So overall not something that added anything to the overall feel of the book.

Description:

I really enjoyed the description, some of the scenes were really well described that I kind of wanted to skim over it, it really gave me the chills and freaked me out. The way the antagonist killed some of his victims was brutal and creepy, I will never get that airport scene out of my mind *shudders* I did feel that some of the scenes were over-described, like the author went into too much detail but thankfully that only happened in a couple parts of the book. As for the way he described things, I really like his attention to detail in certain parts of the book, the way he described the killings was necessary and though it can be morbid it did add more power to the overall message and feel to the story. As for the way the scenery and landscape was described, I felt he did a good job on creating rooms and places for the reader to really picture. Some of the best described landscapes were in the dream world; the reader was really able to see the incidents that took place within these dreams…it was really cool to see the contrasts between reality and the dream landscape…hard to describe, it is something you’ll just have to read about.

Style:

The style was different than I’m used to in the sense of how the story was organized. I did like the way he switched POV’s and he was very clear on the time period so it didn’t confuse the reader on where the scene was taking place and when. And I did like when he chose to switch POV’s, it really opened up the world so that the reader could get a better grasp on the situation and what was happening. The ending was definitely something I was only able to guess at till the mid-point! As for the writing itself, I had no problem reading it. So overall I liked the style of the book it just took some time to get used to it.

Quote of the book:

“A rock was overturned…A tree fell…A flower bloomed, and a voice sobbed its macabre refrain. A blade of grass withered…The stars disappeared…The eyes of many saw from the vision of one, yet none knew the answer of a needless demise.”

Goodreads Summary:

Detective John Yardley and FBI agent, Frank Williams are on a quest. They are determined to stop a manipulative, unknown mass murderer, whose targets seem to be specific politicians in a bizarre and maniacal killing spree...one that draws them into a world of dreams and nightmares beyond their wildest imaginations. Awaiting them are unbelievable terrors, chilling twists and turns, and a scope of destruction that they would never have believed possible.

Last Thoughts:

I would recommend this to fans of psychological thrillers and to any readers who enjoy a good mystery. I enjoyed this book; creepy but so worth it. I think the nursery rhymes really added a good element to the book; definitely amped up the creep factor. There are some scenes I’ll take from this book that will ever be engraved on my mind but I really liked the story behind this whole ordeal and do believe the mind of the serial killer is very much alive in one of the citizens in this world today *shudders* I will definitely be looking into more books by this author; his writing has a way of getting under your skin whether you like it or not.

My Rating:

A Special Interview with Solitaire Parke

What inspired you to write this book?

The phenomenon of Out of Body caused me to wonder what you could do if that was possible.  The rest just kind of tumbled out.

Were there any scenes that scared you?

No, but there were some that I thought were funny.

Did you have to write with the lights on?

Only when the serial killer showed up with the next available chapter.

What was your beverage of choice while writing this book?

Coffee, and then coffee sometimes followed with coffee.  Did I mention coffee?

How long did it take you to finish the whole process of getting this book published?

Too long.  Quite a bit of reinventing the wheel and learning how not to do things.  Trust me, the journey is worth it.

Were there any scenes you had to take out?

No, but there were a few I had to re-write during the final edit.

Were there any songs that helped inspire this book?

I listened to a lot of nursery rhymes.  It eventually even creeped my family out.

If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go?

The Plateau of Giza.  I have some ideas for a future book.

What author inspires you?

If I had to pick just one...it would be Edgar Rice Burroughs because he was the first to make me see the possibilities.

Who gave you the greatest support during this whole publication process?

Easy.  My family.  Without them, it just wouldn't happen.

Thanks again Solitaire for taking the time to answer some questions, it was a joy working with you! And may your writing career ever blossom!