Books, Books, and More Books: Not my usual cup of tea, but a good read

Books, Books, and More Books: Not my usual cup of tea, but a good read: Book Review of Shadow on the Wall by Pavarti K. Tyler Book Synopsis: Title: Shadow on the Wall Author: Pavarti K. Tyler R...

Not my usual cup of tea, but a good read

Book Review of Shadow on the Wall by Pavarti K. Tyler

Book Synopsis:

Title: Shadow on the Wall

Author: Pavarti K. Tyler

Recai Osman: Muslim, philosopher, billionaire and Superhero?

Controversial and daring, Shadow on the Wall details the transformation of Recai Osman from complicated man to Superhero. Forced to witness the cruelty of the Morality Police in his home city of Elih, Turkey, Recai is called upon by the power of the desert to be the vehicle of change. Does he have the strength to answer Allah's call or will his dark past and self-doubt stand in his way?

Pulling on his faith in Allah, the friendship of a Jewish father-figure and a deeply held belief that his people deserve better, Recai Osman must become The SandStorm.

In the tradition of books by Margaret Atwood and Salman Rushdie, Shadow on the Wall tackles issues of religion, gender, corruption and the basic human condition. Beautiful and challenging, this is not a book to miss.

Author Information:

Pavarti K Tyler is an artist, wife, mother and number cruncher. She graduated Smith College in 1999 with a degree in Theatre. After graduation, she moved to New York, where she worked as a Dramaturge, Assistant Director and Production Manager on productions both on and off Broadway.

Later, Pavarti went to work in the finance industry as a freelance accountant for several international law firms. She now operates her own accounting firm in the Washington DC area, where she lives with her husband, two daughters and two terrible dogs. When not preparing taxes, she is busy penning her next novel.

Throughout history, literature and the art of story-telling have influenced politics, religion and culture. The power of the epic tale is universal. Why is it that those who never read The Iliad know Helen of Troy? Her story, Homer’s story, transcends the written word and has become a part of our human lexicon. The power of the written word is undeniable and Pavarti is honored to be part of the next wave of literary revolution.

Links

Website and Blog: www.fightingmonkeypress.com

My tumblr is 18+ only: http://pavartidevi.tumblr.com/
Facebook Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/#!/FMPress
Twitter Feed: http://twitter.com/#!/PavartiKTyler
Google+: https://plus.google.com/?gpinv=JFSVnKSj7Uk:FdjR-3NCJW8#me/posts

Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/MeWoIv5osNc

Book Excerpt

            Knock. Just one solid sound.

Recai sat up too quickly and fell back against his mattress gasping as Rebekah stuck her head into his small room, her face creased with worry and fear.

“Cover yourself and stay silent,” she whispered before closing the door and rushing back into the living room to retrieve her burqa and open the door. Recai heard the movement of the heavy fabric she wore on top of her house dress as she moved across the room to greet their visitor. He wondered if she had retrieved her father’s gun which he’d overheard Hasad say was under the couch in the living room.

Before hiding beneath the thin sheet that covered him, he reached down and pulled the rug from the floor and threw it across his legs. He covered his head and melted against the wall with the pillow on top of his upper body. Feeling foolish, Recai laid there, wishing he had his ID, his phone, anything to help bribe his way out of this situation if it was indeed the RTK at the door.

Perhaps it’s just a neighbor, he thought. A neighbor come to ask after Rebekah’s father’s ealth or to borrow some salt. His attempt at rationalizing the unexpected visit did not quell his fears. The RTK made a habit of performing home inspections, especially if they suspected a woman alone. It wasn’t a safe time for anyone under the jurisdiction of Mayor Yilmaz.

Book Review:

This book is outside the norm of what I usually read.  It was a difficult read for me.  The topic is one we usually avoid.  Generally we say don’t talk to people about religion or politics, and this book has both.  It also has violence and race issues that are very pertinent to the world we live in today.  There is a lot on the news about the Middle East and the problems between Muslims and Jewish people.  These are difficult topics to explore in any circumstance, which makes this book unique.

I do not think this is a book I would have normally just picked up to read in the store as I tend to avoid books that make me uncomfortable and this book did that.  However, I am glad I read it.  While the topics are traditionally taboo, this book provides great insight and understanding that people are people no matter what their religion or political views.

Evil exists in the world and we cannot avoid it; however we can strive to understand where it is coming from and learn from it to become better people.  That is the message of this book.  While I would not have necessarily chosen this book to read, I am glad that I did.  It has broadened my view of the world and, hopefully, helped me to see into a world I will never live.

I give this book 4 out of 5 clouds despite being such a difficult book to read.  This is NOT a book for children.  It is definitely for adults as the topics described are serious and not for young people.  The discussion guide in the back was invaluable.

Unicorn Keep Release Day Party and Giveaway

Release Day Party

Title: Unicorn Keep

Author: Angelia Almos

Genre: YA Fantasy

Jiline of Ainsley is dismayed when her best friend is selected by the mages to become a unicorn keeper at the Keep, an isolated mountain fortress. Especially since Madelen is in love and engaged to the richest boy in the village. Jiline on the other hand has no prospects of marriage or a trade in their small village. So, she comes up with a plan to take Madelen’s place at the Keep and hopefully flunk out of unicorn keeper training before the mages can discover the deception. Unfortunately, the unicorns have their own plans for her.

Mage Herrick, son of the Keep Mage, returns home to the Keep as the trainee keepers arrive. A chance encounter with Jiline, who he believes is Madelen, on the trail sparks a magical connection between the two. Knowing he can’t feel a magical draw to someone who has no magic, he tries to prove Madelen (Jiline) has magic within her. His attention brings unforeseen complications for both of them.

Print - Create Space - https://www.createspace.com/3840073

 
Print - Amazon - http://amzn.com/1475222971/thoroughwebpr-20

Ebook - Amazon - http://amzn.com/B007YIWQAS/thoroughwebpr-20

Ebook - Barnes and Noble - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/unicorn-keep-angelia-almos/1110455362

 
Ebook - Smashwords - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/156547

Author Bio and Picture

Angelia Almos formed a lifelong passion for horses at the age of five when she talked her parents into riding lessons. Horses often play a prominent role in her young adult fantasy books. She also write horsey nonfiction and space opera. She lives in the Sierra Nevada Mountains with her husband, two daughters, two dogs, two cats, and one pony (she often thinks of bumping that number up to two).

Visit her website: www.angeliaalmos.com
Twitter:  www.twitter.com/angeliaalmos
Facebook:  www.facebook.com/AngeliaAlmosAuthor

 

Be sure to enter the giveaway below.

Books, Books, and More Books: Some changes: are they + or -

Books, Books, and More Books: Some changes: are they + or -: Hi all my trusty followers and visitors, You may have noticed that I made some changes to the format of the blog in an effort to help orga...

Some changes: are they + or -

Hi all my trusty followers and visitors,

You may have noticed that I made some changes to the format of the blog in an effort to help organize and clean up the visual appeal of the blog.  Let me know what you think.  Is it a win or a miss?

Familiar Ties Review for Inkspell Loved it

Book Review of Familiar Ties by Naya Nikki

Book Title:  Familiar Ties

Author: Naya Nikki

Genre: Romance

Publisher: InkSpell Publishing

Publication Date: May 21^st 2012

Format: eBook, Kindle, Paperback

Book Synopsis:

Max West is a widower raising Phoebe, his four-year-old daughter. Phoebe has to live with the fact that the day she was born is also the day of her mother’s death. As her fifth year without her mother approaches, Phoebe finds solace in her godmother, Amy Riley, and her daughter, Grace Crawford, another single parent family.

Amy Riley is a successful fashion designer who spends most of her days raising her four-year-old daughter, Grace, while her wayward boyfriend is travelling the world making the next best film. As the fifth year without her best friend looms she finds comfort in her ex-boyfriend, Max, and his daughter, Phoebe.These two “broken” families have a tough week to face as the dreaded day approaches.

However through their past, present and debatable future will their choices affect the outcome both parents clearly want and are simply denying? Or will Phoebe and Grace lose the only “whole” family they have ever known?

Book Excerpt

“Amy,” Max warned, “You’re not going to just take pictures.”

He chuckled as he stood behind Amy, who was trying to figure out the new camera. Grace and Phoebe were posed perfectly on the sofa like little angels, big smiles showing rows of shiny white teeth, with the odd one or two missing. “You see,” he showed her. “There's this new, fancy thing called a timer. This means that all of us can be in the picture, including you.”

She playfully swatted him, as he jumped back, “Oh zip it.” She laughed, “I look a mess. Anyway I want a picture of you three for my desk, not me.”

Grace sat up as she swung her little legs off the edge of the sofa, her feet not even scraping the floor. “Come on, Mommy! Pwease?” She was missing her two front teeth and therefore she couldn’t pronounce her L’s properly. Amy thought it sounded so cute and secretly hoped that they’d never grow back.

How could she possibly say no to her little darling? She watched as Grace began to pout and bat her big, grey eyes at her. It was her infamous look that could make anyone fall for her, including her mother and her Uncle Max.

“No, not the pout,” she joked. “Anything but that, Gracie you know I can’t resist that cute little pout of yours.”

Once Max finished setting the timer, he curled his fingers around Amy's pale bangle covered wrist and pulled her towards the girls and the sofa. As they both sat down, on either side of the girls, he leaned over the girls’ heads to whisper, “I taught her that pout.”

“Yes, I know,” she replied. “Because that’s how you got Anna to fall for you.” She was about to laugh when she realized what she’d said. There was a moment of silence as both contemplated the loss of Anna. “Sorry,” she whispered to him. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

“It’s fine,” he whispered back, before he could say anymore Phoebe crawled onto his lap. He smiled and saw the splitting image of his deceased wife staring back at him. He didn’t mind that Anna was gone, because she’d left him the most precious of gift. Amy smiled as she lifted Grace onto her lap. Both parents shuffled closer together as a unit.

“How long do we have, Daddy?” Phoebe asked, as she snuggled into her father’s chest.

“Thirty seconds,” he answered. “Can you smile big for me?” he asked.

Phoebe nodded as she smiled her massive toothy smile and reached for Grace's hand. “You too, Grace!” Phoebe instructed her friend. “Smile really, really big!”

For a moment, Amy remembered Anna again. They’d both been only eight years old when they’d sat and posed for a different camera. Amy still had that picture on her bedside drawer, next to one of Phoebe and Grace as babies. 'Smile real big,' Anna had said as she’d tilted her head against Amy’s to become one.

The smile on Amy's face wasn’t a sad one anymore. She was fortunate that she could feel Anna’s presence, through her charming daughter.

As she looked at the camera, she hadn’t realized that Max had put his free arm around her waist, pulling them closer. The camera started to blink, indicating to be ready. “Ready?” she asked them. “On the count of three, okay? One…Two…”

“Three,” they all said together, smiling big for the camera, to produce the perfect family photo, to anyone who didn’t know them.

Author Information:

Born and raised in London, England, Naya Nikki is a student who’s spent most of her life taming her creative streak through writing short stories. She’s signed her first contract with InkSpell Publishing to publish her first book “Familiar Ties.” The story follows the journey of two single parents whose daughters want nothing more than for them to become a happy family. She is currently earning a degree in English with a minor in Creative Writing that will allow her to build her writing career. When she isn’t at the university, Naya loves nothing more than spending time with her parents and grandparents as well as meeting her friends for gossip sessions over some hot coco. Links

Author website: http://nayanikki.weebly.com

Twitter: @NikkiNaya

Pre-Order The Book: http://www.inkspellpublishing.com/4/post/2012/01/familiar-ties.html

Book Review:

Initially I thought this story was just a “typical” romance.  The story plot is that two friends both have little girls very close in age.  Max lost his wife when his daughter was born.  Anna, the deceased wife, was the best friend of Amy, Max’s neighbor and friend.  They are godparents to each other’s children and the kids spend every day together.  The father of Amy’s child is an actor who is always working and is gone for months or years at a time.  Max and Amy are falling for each other, and from there you get your “typical” romance.  However, in Familiar Ties the author takes the story one step further.  Neither wants to admit to being in love, Amy moves in with the father of her daughter in a different town, and many other twists and turns.  However, true love always wins in the end.

In Familiar Ties you have a story that is more complex than expected.  The characters are fully developed, not just the main characters but the side characters as well.  You really come to feel as though you are part of this group of people and can feel their struggles over everyday and more momentous events.  I was drawn to the characters in this book for their flaws, as well as their strengths.  I loved the relationship the little girls have with each other and with Amy and Max.  The supporting players brought a lot of extra information and often humor.  I was impressed with how much I genuinely liked these people and wanted things to work out for them, and how much I wanted to slap Jack (but you’ll have to find that out for yourself). 

I give this 4 out of 5 clouds.  An excellent read for the beach, pool, or anytime you need a good read.