PREAMBLE
Back in late June, this delightful author contacted me and asked if I would read and review a book she had recently released called "Monster Story." She went on to tell me that she was sending me two other stories as well, "The Tribe" and "Half Inch." She said that if I was interested in reading them and offering a review on them she would be delighted. I told her I would do it and as luck would have it, I had some time to review them and fairly quickly. ::pausing for effect:: Pay attention to that fairly quickly part.
It is now mid August and while I have had the books read and the reviews written, I am just now getting around to posting the reviews. My life just exploded and I am slowly but surely getting ahold of things again. I would not want these stories to slide under any radar because they are good stories and YOU, our loyal blog readers, will want to know about these books and participate in this giveaway. You will. You won't be sorry.
THE GIVEAWAY
So here's the deal...leave a comment, any ol' comment. You can pat my head and tell me that it's okay, everyone's lives explode at one time or another and make me feel a little better, or you can line up and throw dart at my picture. Whichever. But LEAVE a comment! Because that will enter you in a drawing (determined by Random.org) to win an e-copy of one of the stories of your choice directly from the author (who is still lovely enough to want to do this). The drawing will be held on Tuesday, August 23rd and the winner announced that day as well. Make sure you leave your e-mail address or it will go into another round of Random.org if you don't!
Post away my darlings!!! I'll see you next week when I'll be picking up some meme's again. Good luck! Whomever wins will be one lucky enchilada!!!
THE REVIEWS
Concept: “The tribe has been alone on the farm for many seasons, struggling to survive by their wits and will, unaided by the humans who abandoned them there years ago. Few members of the tribe outside of Tia, the eldest, and her fiercely loyal companion Bella, remember a time when two-legs--the cats' name for humans--lived in the farmhouse. Suddenly, the tribe's territory is invaded by a young two-legs couple, and the frightened cats ask themselves why have two-legs come to live there after so many seasons and what will happen to the tribe at the hands of these often cruel creatures?” (From Author’s website.)
Review: This book really landed in the right lap. As you loyal followers know, I am a huge animal person. About the only animal I’m not really all that into are cats. This book is mainly about kitties. The message in the book though, is for every responsible pet owner. It’s aimed at the young adult demographic but I found it to be a rather enjoyable read at my ripe old age. This book is wonderfully written and the characters (the animals) really jump off the page at you. It’s a delightful and responsible book and perfect timing for the problems we face today.
What I liked: I love the message of this book and I find it very interesting that the author chose to tell it while focusing on our kids since they will be the ones to fix problems like this. It’s a good story and well thought out. Heartwarming.
What I disliked: This genre isn't really my personal cup of tea and I feel uncomfortable writing this review because of that. If you are interested in this book and looking to my review to decide your purchase, please read other reviewers of this story along with mine.
My rating: 4 feathers
* * *
HALF INCH
By McCarty Griffin
Published by: McCarty Griffin (Smashwords)
First Printing: April 27, 2010
ASIN: B004YDM212
Amazon; Barnes and Noble; Goodreads
Concept: “Pammy has had enough of Bobby, her abusive drunk of a husband. One lovely spring day, she decides to kill him, despite the fact that they will soon be divorced and he will, at least in the eyes of the law, be out of her life for good. Indulging in homicidal daydreams for years has led her to devise her own perfect and completely bizarre plan.”
Review: This is a short story of a woman who is at the end of her rope because of her abusive, alcoholic husband. But she has a plan and she’s going to off him and bury him, truck and all in a hole that she has dug. She has this plan figured out down to the “T.” The problem? Murphy’s Law strikes and it doesn’t quite go as she wanted so she has to quickly start relying on Plan B, and maybe even Plan C. It’s an interesting, nail biting, well written story but, I’m not quite sure of one thing. Why? There’s no moral to the story or bad ending or good ending. It just ends and it left me wondering if I was missing the purpose to this book.
What I liked: Once the “murder” was happening, things moved quickly and with a great deal of excitement. There was a good amount of build up and intrigue. Lots of holding your breath type moments.
What I disliked: I think this is one of those books where the story is good, but highly improbable and as I said, I am still wondering what the purpose of the story even was.
My rating: 3.5 feathers
* * *
Concept: “Christy McCauley has returned to West Virginia at last, but her homecoming quickly turns into a surreal nightmare. In the deep hollows and woods of rural Augusta County, something unspeakable is slaughtering people in the dark of night. Authorities don't know if its human or animal, or how to stop it. Christy and her friends only know they must hunt it and destroy it, before it kills again.” [From Amazon.]
Review: I read a fellow reviewer’s review on this book just to weigh our opinions against one another, and then I read another and another and then with my opinion, I think I can safely report that everyone agrees that this book should be considered a “cozy” horror story that has a sort of backwoods redneck horror atmosphere. You know the scene, someone is dead, a bunch of characters go “hunting” in the scary, dark woods. Some live, some die, some meet the monster that goes bump in the night. That’s how this story reads. It’s a good, familiar type read while introducing us to some fun characters, some that make it, some that don’t and a truly crazy monster (that’s crazy in a spooky, don’t turn the lights off sort of way). Throughout it all though, there is a unique and likeable writing style and if you are a lover of scary movies, this book is for you.
What I disliked: I am a lover of characters in my books, but I am finding many authors that seem to be throwing in character after character for no reason. That is sort of the case here, except because some of the characters are victims, I sort of am okay with it. But I can’t help but wonder if it really would have made that big of a difference if there were less characters and still the amount of victims if it would have been so bad?
The book for me was slow in some spots. I felt there could have been better flow to the story. Now having said that, I’m going to turn around and compliment the writer on an excellent writing style that presented the story in a unique yet familiar way. Perhaps a slightly shorter tale would have been better.
What I liked: I really liked a point of view in the story that was presented from the monster’s side. Yes, it’s been done, but this was done well and I appreciated it.
This book is a classic horror story written in a unique way by an author who has proven herself to me to be special. I will speak nothing derogatory about this author and indeed, I am hopping on the fan bandwagon. Maybe I’m not sitting in the front seat, but I’m still on the wagon.
My rating: 4 Feathers
Kelly
for Book Lover's Hideaway
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