Review: Pieces

Pieces
by Maria Kostaki

Synopsis

When her mother, Anna, abandons her to move abroad with her new husband, Sasha is passed around her three grandparents in Cold War-era Moscow, attending first grade with a Lenin star pinned to her breast. Five years later, Anna and her husband reappear and whisk Sasha off to a better life in Athens, Greece. But they are not the gallant rescuers they first appear to be, and Sasha soon finds herself caught between a violent stepfather and a psychologically abusive mother. In her struggle to survive in her new world, Sasha turns to a world of invisible friends even as she continues to long for something real. At turns haunting and uplifting, Pieces is the story of one girl's survival and self-discovery and her continual search for love in a world where she has been given none."

Review

In Pieces, we follow Sasha in her journey back to Greece upon learning of a death in the family. The journey brings with it many memories of a life once led, including memories of Sasha's dysfunctional mother. This book is not for everyone, but I enjoyed it. I was glad to read a book that took its time with emotion - no matter how painful that emotion could be. The book covers many areas that culminate in what it means to exist in a broken family. 

Reader, if you come across this book, I ask that you give its characters a chance. I've heard them described as whiny and annoying, but really - it's the story that leads to understanding. This is a subtle and honest look to what it means to live in this kind of a world. 

Review: The Balance Project

The Balance Project
by Susie Orman Schnall

Synopsis

The Balance Project is a story of loyalty, choices, and balance that will resonate deeply with all women who struggle with this hot-button issue. Loyal assistant Lucy Cooper works for Katherine Whitney, who seems to have it all: a high-powered job at a multibillion-dollar health and wellness lifestyle company, a successful husband, and two adorable daughters. Now, with the release of her book on work-life balance, Katherine has become a media darling and a hero to working women everywhere. In reality, though, Katherine’s life is starting to fall apart, and Lucy is the one holding it all together, causing her own life―and relationship with her boyfriend Nick―to suffer. When Katherine does something unthinkable to Lucy, Lucy must decide whether to change Katherine’s life forever or continue being her main champion. Her choice will affect the trajectory of both of their lives and lead to opportunities neither one could have imagined.

Review

I was intrigued by the premise of this book because it centers around two females. What? A book that doesn't solely focus on a love story between a man and a woman? This is why I jumped at the opportunity to review it when it came time for the Summer Reading Challenge from BookSparks. 

This book is about two women, Lucy and Katherine, who are on opposite sides of the spectrum. Katherine seems to have it all while Lucy is her loyal assistant. The author covers how women treat other women, in the workplace and otherwise.  The story is about how other people's decisions shape and effect who we are - in both good and bad ways. Although it is fictional, the book portrays struggles women go through every day trying to do-it-all and therefore, trying to have-it-all while trying to maintain a balance. 

Verdict

I believe that women in the workplace and especially those women who have to juggle different "hats" (such as also being a mother) would really get much from this story.

Review: The Grown Ups

The Grown Ups

by Robin Antalek

Synopsis

From the author of The Summer We Fell Apart, an evocative and emotionally resonant coming-of-age novel involving three friends that explores what it means to be happy, what it means to grow up, and how difficult it is to do both together.

The summer he’s fifteen, Sam enjoys, for a few secret months, the unexpected attention of Suzie Epstein. For reasons Sam doesn’t entirely understand, he and Suzie keep their budding relationship hidden from their close knit group of friends. But as the summer ends, Sam’s world unexpectedly shatters twice: Suzie’s parents are moving to a new city to save their marriage, and his own mother has suddenly left the house, leaving Sam’s father alone to raise two sons.

Watching as her parents’ marital troubles escalate, Suzie takes on the responsibility of raising her two younger brothers and plans an early escape to college and independence. Though she thinks of Sam, she deeply misses her closest friend Bella, but makes no attempt to reconnect, embarrassed by the destructive wake of her parents as they left the only place Suzie called home. Years later, a chance meeting with Sam’s older brother will reunite her with both Sam and Bella—and force her to confront her past and her friends.

After losing Suzie, Bella finds her first real love in Sam. But Sam’s inability to commit to her or even his own future eventually drives them apart. In contrast, Bella’s old friend Suzie—and Sam’s older brother, Michael—seem to have worked it all out, leaving Bella to wonder where she went wrong.

Spanning over a decade, told in alternating voices, The Grown Ups explores the indelible bonds between friends and family and the challenges that threaten to divide them.

Review

I'm pretty picky about what books I read and I mostly stick to authors and genres I know. This is why I enjoy entering the Book Sparks Summer Reading Challenge. The challenge affords me the opportunity to find out about authors I never would have found out about on my own. Robin Antalek is one such author. The Grown Ups is a coming of age story for when you're "on the other side" also known as adulthood. It's a story told from the perspective of three individuals, Suzie, Sam, and Bella, starting from their early teen years to adulthood. Each faces similar, but unique experiences and heartaches - all while being a part of each other's stories.

This story is about growing up and how even when you're grown up, it doesn't mean you know all the answers. It's a beautiful and heartbreaking book. I will definitely be looking for other works by Robin Antalek.

Verdict

Read it!

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Review: Until You

Until You
by Jeannie Moon

Synopsis

When newly divorced Kate Adams is approached on the sunny deck of a California hotel by hockey star David Burke, and he invites her to dinner, she almost says no. He’s obviously younger than her. And charming. And drop dead gorgeous. But there’s also something sweet about David, so Kate—who hasn’t done anything spontaneous in a very long time—accepts his invitation. 

It is, after all, her fortieth birthday. 

However, a real romance with thirty-year-old David, whose picture is in the gossip pages as often as it’s in the sports pages, is out of the question. No matter how much she wants him, it’s just too risky. 
But meeting Kate has been David’s lightning strike. She’s the one for him, and he has no intention of giving up on her. 

So while Kate guards her fragile heart, David sets out to win her over with the same determination that drives him on the ice. 

And he’ll break every rule in the book if he has to. 

Review

I received an ARC of Until You by Jeannie Moon through Spark Point Studio in exchange for an honest review.

I hesitate to call contemporary romance books my guilty pressure. I don't think anyone should feel guilty about what they like to read. With that said, let me tell you my honest opinion about this book - I thoroughly enjoyed it!

The story was not the run of the mill, cookie-cutter kind of story. There were a lot of ups and downs and real character building happening in this story. The characters were very much like real people, making mistakes, having insecurities and wanting to be happy. I enjoyed the fact that the protagonist is a female fiction writer (best seller - thank you very much!) and that she wasn't so willing to be in a relationship. 

**********SPOILERS AHEAD************

This book also contains storylines that I usually hate in romance literature...and literature in general. For example: surprise pregnancy, more than 2 people's point of view, an engagement. I usually roll my eyes whenever any of these scenarios happens. They just irritate me. However, in this story? Not so much. Maybe it is because I came to like the characters, especially the protagonist Kate, so much. I wanted all the good guys to succeed and if that took some of these storylines to do it - so be it. I honestly just fell for the characters. 

Also, as a side note, I really don't like the covers of romance novels. I think this is why most of my romance titles reside in my Kindle/Nook/iBooks app on my tablet rather than on my shelf. I don't enjoy cheesiness. Regardless, this book is worth picking up in whatever format available. 

Verdict

If you enjoy romance stories, you'll enjoy this one. If you enjoy romance stories with an intelligent protagonist, you'll like it. If you like romance stories of the "major-sexy-times" persuasion...this book will probably not be enough for you.

Book Rewind: 50 Shades of Grey

50 Shades of Grey
by E.L. James

Synopsis

When literature student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating. The unworldly, innocent Ana is startled to realize she wants this man and, despite his enigmatic reserve, finds she is desperate to get close to him. Unable to resist Ana’s quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her, too—but on his own terms.
 
Shocked yet thrilled by Grey’s singular erotic tastes, Ana hesitates. For all the trappings of success—his multinational businesses, his vast wealth, his loving family—Grey is a man tormented by demons and consumed by the need to control. When the couple embarks on a daring, passionately physical affair, Ana discovers Christian Grey’s secrets and explores her own dark desires.

This book is intended for mature audiences.

Time to Rewind

If you haven't already read my review for this book, please head over to this post.

So - it doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand that I did not like this book, but I could find something of a novel idea in it. I mean, two very different people with obviously different experiences and point of views who fall for each other? This book and its series could have been so much more. The psychological aspect alone! But alas, it was not meant to go that way.

Now the question - why am I "rewinding" a book I did not like? Well, because I watched the movie, of course.

Better question: Why in the world would I see the movie of a book I basically hated? Easy - I was curious. Not about the sex because, heaven knows, I read all about that in this book (and half of the second). No, I was curious to see how Hollywood would change the story to make it seem more appealing to watchers. Granted, it didn't matter what was changed, really, because people enjoyed this book and movie - regardless of it's undertones. 

If I thought reading this book was silly/somewhat of a waste/devoid of actual emotion, watching it was downright cringe-worthy. 

First of all, I watched it by myself. It was the second movie ever watched by my lonesome (the first was The Duff - but that's for another post). I knew my husband wouldn't want to see it and I didn't feel comfortable inviting anyone when I knew...I KNEW...I would ultimately hate the movie.

And boy was I right.

First, the technical. The dialogue sounded even worse when heard aloud. Grey came off as creepy from the get go. Douche-y, even. Steele came off as ignorant/oblivious (she is a college graduate, come on now...). 

Second, the undertones. I do not get squeamish/embarrassed by sex scenes in books or movies. I just don't. Sometimes, if written or portrayed right - they can be very enjoyable. However, this...relationship between Grey and Steele made me feel so uncomfortable from the beginning. There is no respect between man and woman, dom and sub. There is no communication. There is simply: want, take, have. I'm not saying passion can't be like that, but in this situation, it's not passionate, it's abusive. As a relationship (which it obviously isn't because Grey tells Steele and us repeatedly that he just doesn't do that), Grey does not listen to Steele. He knows she's uncomfortable, afraid of hurting, wanting to be close to him, but he does not acknowledge any of it. He sees it, as it is obvious, and continues to the want, take, have. As a BDSM relationship (of which I don't believe this is an example of), Grey as a dom does not respect his sub. Bottom line. He allows his anger to seep through his treatment of Steele. To sum it up - dude has mommy issues. Hey, that's okay! But guess what, not every woman is a representation of the one that hurt you, dude!

And that's where I think - this could have been so much better. If only James would care enough about her characters to allow them to become more than one-dimensional characters. An exploration of trauma and experiences that leads to understanding another person - that would have been great. But instead, we get a man that doesn't listen, a woman who seems oblivious most of the time, and a story that makes these two crash and burn in a bad way.  

So - why am I spending so much brain-power on this book? Because it makes me so angry.

Authors, artists, celebrities, ORDINARY PEOPLE sometimes like to think their actions don't matter. They are simply smaller pieces of a infinite puzzle - how could they matter?

But it does. From the most famous to the seemingly unimportant - actions and words MATTER. 

I don't like censorship. I want people to express themselves. But if you're going to write about something - portray it the way it is. If you want to write about a BDSM lifestyle - research it. Talk to people. GOOGLE IT. Don't gift wrap abuse and call it something else. It's still abuse.

We unfortunately live in a world where women are still fighting to be respected, taken seriously and not hurt/killed/assaulted/raped/abused for simply being women. A story like this...where the man doesn't listen to the woman, where the virginal woman is forced (because if she doesn't join, she doesn't get to be with the person she thinks she loves. That's called being forced) into a world she wasn't sure she wanted to be in...it blurs too many lines and unfortunately too many people take it at face value. 

So, I am spending time thinking about this because it makes me so very angry. I care about everyone. That's right, everyone. And I want people in safe and consensual relationships/situations. Whether that's two church-goers, two gay men, casual daters, a BDSM couple - I don't care. I want people safe. And this book? This movie? It highlights the opposite. It's basically a book where one person is constantly persuaded, encouraged to follow a lifestyle she knows nothing about. Where one person is constantly being followed, messaged, and having life interfered by another person. It's about a person whose wish to be in a relationship is ignored. Grey doesn't care about Steele. He cares about what he wants from her. Now, isn't that a nice precedent?

I'll be getting off my soapbox now and I will no longer be talking about this movie or book (unless I'm asked about it). Feel free to share your thoughts though. Your thoughts are always welcomed - even if you disagree with me. 

Review: The Rosie Project

The Rosie Project
by Graeme Simsion

Synopsis

The art of love is never a science: Meet Don Tillman, a brilliant yet socially inept professor of genetics, who’s decided it’s time he found a wife. In the orderly, evidence-based manner with which Don approaches all things, he designs The Wife Project to find his perfect partner: a sixteen-page, scientifically valid survey to filter out the drinkers, the smokers, the late arrivers. 

Rosie Jarman possesses all these qualities. Don easily disqualifies her as a candidate for The Wife Project (even if she is “quite intelligent for a barmaid”). But Don is intrigued by Rosie’s own quest to identify her biological father. When an unlikely relationship develops as they collaborate on The Father Project, Don is forced to confront the spontaneous whirlwind that is Rosie—and the realization that, despite your best scientific efforts, you don’t find love, it finds you.

Review

Ugh. Ugh. I wanted this book to be a person so I could hug it. I actually wanted the book to be Don Tillman because the beautiful fool just need some things explained to him! I loved a lot about this book - but most importantly, I loved that Don is in the Autism spectrum, the very subject he's trying to lecture on at the beginning of the book. Samsion is a fantastic author in that he is able to write the book in Don's voice - as confusing, logical, painful and loving as it was. The reader falls for Don...it just takes us a Don-moment to realize that we have. 

The book is about falling in love without knowing that you are. It's about learning to care about someone and choosing the confusing and mysterious road that love brings upon you.

Verdict

Read it. Read it now. Go. Why are you still reading this??

Book Blitz: Valentine's Day is Murder

Valentine's Day is Murder
by Carolyn Arnold

Synopsis

Jimmy finally takes a vacation--and a chance on love--only to be abducted. His female companion originally thinks he had cold feet about their relationship, but Sean and Sara know there’s more to it. Jimmy isn’t the type to just up and disappear, let alone leave a lady stranded.

Setting out on their private jet, Sean and Sara reach the tropical paradise of Ocho Rios, Jamaica with sightseeing as the last thing on their minds.

With a gold coin being their initial tie to Jimmy’s kidnapper, Sean and Sara even speculate about the involvement of pirates. Yet as the hours pass, and there’s no word from Jimmy’s captors, Sean and Sara will need to figure out the real motive before it’s too late.

With help from their friend, Adam, back in Albany, the pieces come together and not a moment too soon.

Strap in for an adventure that will take you to the beautiful island of Jamaica and have you wanting a piña colada.

About the Author

CAROLYN ARNOLD is the bestselling author of the Madison Knight series, the Brandon Fisher series, and the McKinley Mysteries. Her love for writing dates back to her teen years, but her passion was reignited in 2006 when a fellow employee said "tell me a story." Since then Carolyn has never looked back.

Her writing has since been compared to New York Times Bestsellers such as JD Robb, Mary Higgins Clark, Sue Grafton, Michael Connelly, Tess Gerritsen, and more.

Carolyn was born in 1976 in a rural town of Ontario, Canada, and she currently lives with her husband and two beagles in a city near Toronto.

For more information on the author visit https://carolynarnold.net/

Amazon – http://ow.ly/G4Yl6

Amazon UK – http://ow.ly/G4Ynv

Barnes & Noble – http://ow.ly/G4Ype

iTunes – http://ow.ly/G4Yqv

Kobo - http://ow.ly/G4YrU

Excerpt:

Chapter 4

Pineapples & Alibis

“There was no answer in her room. She may be out by the pool.” The front desk clerk lowered the phone’s receiver and gestured toward a wall of windows that faced a pool, and, beyond that, the sea.

“Thank you,” Sean said.

“No worries.” The clerk smiled and flipped some papers over that she had been working on when they had approached her to call up to Meredith’s room.

Tourists, clad in bathing suits in a spectrum of colors, dotted both the poolside and the beach. It had Sara wishing all she and Sean had to do was enjoy the scenery.

The sun was beating down, the warmth all-encompassing, but thankfully, the humidity wasn’t extreme. Sara still wished to slip out of her dress to reveal the bikini she wore underneath. The thought of the rays kissing her skin was almost too much to dismiss from her mind.

She scanned the horde of vacationers and spotted Meredith lying out on a lounge chair. She sat up as if she sensed Sara watching.

“There she is, Sean.” Sara nudged her head toward Meredith.

“She doesn’t look too upset, does she?”

Sara put a hand on Sean’s shoulder. “We’re not going to assume she’s behind this.”

He stayed put. “She’s not behind this and yet she’s new to his life and he’s never gone missing before.”

“We promised on the flight we would give her the benefit of the doubt, unless something came up to convince us of her involvement.”

“I’m starting to rethink that decision.”

“If Jimmy trusted her—”

“Yes, then we should too.”

“That’s right.” Sara pressed her lips, hoping she conveyed more conviction than she felt at times—this being one of those times.

Review: Hark - A Christmas Collection

Hark: A Christmas Collection
by Justin Bog

Synopsis

A beautifully written collection of short stories from critically acclaimed Pacific Northwest writer Justin Bog, Hark explores the range of emotions surrounding the holidays. From melancholy to madness, loss and despair to hope and forgiveness, these six tales shimmer with feelings, some we'd rather stuff away, that Christmas can evoke.

Set in colorful locations around the United States, from Anacortes, Washington, to Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Sun Valley, Idaho, each tale focuses on people who struggle to make good choices, learn lessons, and maybe even find peace during the holiday season.

A bonus story, Poseidon Eyes, from Booktrope's upcoming reissue of Sandcastle and Other Stories---The Complete Edition, is included.

Review

I cannot be the only person that loves reading Christmas-related stories around Christmas time, right? That is part of the reason why I enjoyed reading Hark - the Christmas focus. However, that was only a tip of the iceberg. In these 6 short stories (another bonus!), we are witness to the spectrum that is human emotion. We could experience this any time of the year, but there is something about Christmas that can bring out how grateful, angry, happy, sad and lonely we all are. I believe most of us feel a plethora of feelings like this throughout the holidays (here's hoping it's more grateful and happy than the others, yeah?). 

The stories that Bog has included in this collection all center around your average person who is going about their average days that are tinted with the holidays and therefore, are presented with these choices they must make. It's a beautiful collection that anyone who enjoys short stories and particularly those focused on character emotions will enjoy. I know I did.

Verdict

Pick it up and let it engulf you. 

About the Author

Justin Bog lives in the Pacific Northwest on Fidalgo Island. Justin Bog was Pop Culture Correspondent and Editor for In Classic Style. He enjoys cooking, lawn mowing not so much, and spends time walking and handing out treats to two long coat German shepherds, Zippy and Kipling, and two barn cats, Ajax The Gray and Eartha Kitt’n.

Follow Justin Online: 

Justin Bog A Writer's Life Blog: www.justinbog.com

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/JustinBog1

Twitter: @JustinBog

Review: Waking Up Joy

Waking Up Joy
by Tina Ann Forkner

Synopsis

Behind every lost dream lies a second chance…

When adored town spinster Joy Talley ends up in a coma after a peculiar accident, she is surprised and incensed to hear what is being said in her hospital room, including plans for her funeral. When she finally wakes, her well-meaning, but bossy, brothers and sisters dismiss her claims, thinking her accident has knocked her off her rocker, but Joy has never felt better, and is determined to set the past right. 

Now Joy must face her darkest secret and risk reopening wounds caused by an old flame who rejected her more than twenty years ago. But taking risks brings change, as well as a new, younger man into Joy’s life, making her feel like a teenager again. Suddenly Joy’s once humdrum life is anything but boring and routine and the future beckons, exhilarating and bright.

Review

Waking Up Joy started a bit slow for me, but it didn't take long to pick up! The writing style was creative and interesting. I enjoyed the family dynamic that Forker describes in the book. One would think that because of the focus on family the book must be all drama, but the book had its share of comedic moments that make the reader hold on for what comes next. The characters are rich and provide the perfect back drop for such an interesting read. 

Verdict

Read Joy and enjoy it slowly :)

Book Spotlight: The Antithesis

The Antithesis
by Terra Whitman

Synopsis

Civil war between demons and angels lies just on the horizon. 

Alezair Czynri, member of the Purgatorial Jury, is thrown into a world of murder, exploitation, chemical substances, betrayal and bureaucratic red tape as he and his court attempt to diffuse escalating conflicts.

Yet things are not as they seem. Ever since his induction into the Celestial Court, Alezair has been treated with cool indifference by the Justice Commander, Leid Koseling. A former prisoner of the Nexus Initiative, Justice Czynri exists without any memories of his former life, the consequence of being a slave merc for hire. 

But Purgatory is strangely familiar, and slowly little pieces start coming back. There might be a good reason why Alezair's boss keeps him at arm's length.

About the Author

Terra Whiteman is a clinical scientist who writes dystopian science fiction in her spare time. Her life is a dish of pipettes, refractometers and immunossays, heavily seasoned with grimdark worlds and their battlegrounds. She’s profane, opinionated, and if you met her you’d think she’s really weird. 

Website:  http://terrawhiteman.com

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/YT7Dwa

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1p1CzAk

Smash words: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/476379

Book Spotlight: Homeward Bound

Homeward Bound
by Josh Greenfield

Synopsis

A young man sits alone in a public garden contemplating the big questions; the origins of the Palisades Cliffs, cold sesame noodles and his father's mortality. In the spirit of James Joyce, Josh Greenfield, follows the thought process of Jordan Fineman, where ever it leads.













About the Author

Josh Greenfield is a graduate of both Phillips Andover Academy and Cornell University's College of Arts and Sciences. He holds two masters degrees from the City University of New York, one in History and one in English Literature. He also completed the better part of a doctorate in English at Fordham University. His desire in writing is to tell a entertaining and engaging story, to look for laughs in dark places. He is the author of "The Obsessive Chronicles: a novel."

Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1rTvi5J

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1wquLi4

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1vxXrWf

Review: Can You Keep a Secret?

Can You Keep a Secret?
by Sophie Kinsella

Synopsis

With the same wicked humor, buoyant charm, and optimism that have made her Shopaholic novels beloved international bestsellers, Sophie Kinsella delivers a hilarious new novel and an unforgettable new character. Meet Emma Corrigan, a young woman with a huge heart, an irrepressible spirit, and a few little secrets:

Secrets from her mother:
I lost my virginity in the spare bedroom with Danny Nussbaum while Mum and Dad were downstairs watching Ben-Hur.
Sammy the goldfish in my parents’ kitchen is not the same goldfish that Mum gave me to look after when she and Dad were in Egypt.

Secrets from her boyfriend:
I weigh one hundred and twenty-eight pounds. Not one eighteen, like Connor thinks. 

I’ve always thought Connor looks a bit like Ken. As in Barbie and Ken.

From her colleagues:
When Artemis really annoys me, I feed her plant orange juice. (Which is pretty much every day.) It was me who jammed the copier that time. In fact, all the times.

Secrets she wouldn’t share with anyone in the world:
My G-string is hurting me.


I have no idea what NATO stands for. Or even what it is.

Until she spills them all to a handsome stranger on a plane. At least, she thought he was a stranger.

But come Monday morning, Emma’s office is abuzz about the arrival of Jack Harper, the company’s elusive CEO. Suddenly Emma is face-to-face with the stranger from the plane, a man who knows every single humiliating detail about her. Things couldn’t possibly get worse—Until they do.

Review

I was in a mood for a sweet, funny contemporary book - and although I've only read Confessions of a Shopaholic by Kinsella, I knew that she was the way to go if I needed that lightheartedness. I was not disappointed!

Can You Keep a Secret? is one hilarious book. It's about a junior executive, Emma, who spends most of her life lying to the people around her. Not in a bad way really, but in a way that she thinks will help everyone be happy and "keep the peace." All that changes, however, after taking a turbulent flight home that makes her feel like she's going to die. This causes her to spill all her secrets to the gentlemen next to her - a gentlemen that she later discovers is her boss!

As if it weren't bad enough that her boss now knows all her innermost secrets, the event causes her lies to slowly unravel from the rest of her life - something Emma is so not prepared to deal with!

This story is such a joy to read that it took me about a day to finish (granted, I've been home with bronchitis, but you know...). If you are a fan of funny, contemporary fiction and Kinsella's other works, you'll love this!

Verdict

So much fun :D

Review: The Montague Portrait

The Montague Portrait
by Matt Drabble

Synopsis

"Matt Drabble is a name that will one day be as widely recognized as Stephen King & Dean Koontz" - READERS FAVORITE 

From the award winning and best selling author of "Gated" & "Asylum" comes "The Montague Portrait"

Hugo Montague was a man of boundless cruelty that lived on beyond his mortal days. The portrait that he commissioned has hung on many walls, but has always overseen tragedy and murder.

The painting was long thought destroyed in a fire, but now there are those desperate to find the portrait if it still exists

Travis Parker was an insurance investigator, but now he is a widower trapped within his own pain and broken promises. When he is approached by the mysterious Telfer Vargas to track down the portrait he reluctantly agrees to one last case.

Charlotte Goode has a long personal history with the painting and will let nothing stand in her way to avenge her family.

The race across Europe to find the painting soon becomes littered with death as dark supernatural forces converge and threaten to consume those foolish enough to look.

Review

I've had the pleasure to review Matt Drabble's works before and not one of his books fails to disappoint! The characters in this book, including the painting itself, are thoroughly developed. I am a huge fan of horror and suspense works, be they in writing or film and Drabble does not disappoint. It is a truly creepy story and I suggest that if you enjoy horror, that you also check out Drabble's other works - you'll love them!

About the Author

Born in Bath, England in 1974, a self-professed "funny onion", equal parts sport loving jock and comic book geek. I am a lover of horror and character driven stories. I am also an A.S sufferer who took to writing full time two years ago after being forced to give up the day job. 

I have a career high position of 5th on Amazon's Horror Author Rank of which I am immensely proud.

"GATED" is a UK & US Horror Chart Top Ten Best Seller

"ASYLUM - 13 TALES OF TERROR" is a US Horror Chart #5 It was also voted #5 on The Horror Novel Review's Top 10 Books of 2013 & is a Readers Favorite 2014 Gold Medal Winner.

"ABRA-CADAVER" won an Indie Book of the Day award.

2014 has also been a milestone year for me so far as I recently passed 100,000 downloads of my work.

Visit me at www.mattdrabble.com

Twitter: MattDrabble01

Facebook: matt.drabble.3 

or to sign up for a newsletter: http://mad.ly/signups/95503/join

Book Spotlight: Brand Legacy

Brand Legacy
by Angela Mayartis Johnson

Synopsis

Brand Legacy is a guide for those who dream of something more than their current occupation, and are considering a change from their present (physical and/or mental) circumstances to their intended future. Through the use of Brandercises (branding exercises), vivid real life stories and key transitional tips, Brand Legacy, educates you on how to understand your value proposition in order to accomplish your dreams. It instructs you on how to live a passion-filled, purpose-driven life that leaves a legacy that communicates your narrative.

About the Author

Angela Mayartis Johnson is a dynamic motivational speaker who successfully redefined her legacy from Marketing Executive to Personal Brand Development Specialist focusing on helping athletes discover their passion, brand their niche and build their legacy. Using clearly defined and applicable techniques in her MBA course work, Angela passionately empowers others to overcome fears and create pathways to their future. Mayartis Brand Academy is a speaking/training forum that was created to develop brands, assist entrepreneurs in realizing their dreams and building their legacy. It is Angela's goal to help individuals define their "Why" and determine their goals, so they can live their dreams and make their mark. 

Links

Facebook.com/brandlegacy

@mayartis

www.mayartis.com

http://www.amazon.com/Angela-Mayartis-Johnson