Call for Indie Books for Me (Rachel Barnard) to Review

by in Author Thursdays, Local Authors, Rachel Barnard | 2 Comments

Dear Readers and Writers,

I love to read. I love to write. I love to tell the world my opinions. My current tbr (to-be-read) list is shrinking rapidly and I need new books! My preferences tend to lie in local authors of Indie books in the genres of YA/Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Action and Adventure. Have you written a book and are looking for reviews? Do you know of a really good Indie book that I should read and review? I want to support authors like me and use my talents to add to the melee that we call the internet. I post reviews on my blog here, on Goodreads and Amazon. I am now reading in both Kindle and print version. If I get the physical copy of a book, I require it to be signed by the author (which usually entails local events to purchase the novel or a giveaway. If you know of any author book release parties/readings/etc in the Bellevue/Seattle area I would love to know about them).

My dream one day when I’m a millionaire/billionaire is to fund Indie authors so that they can convert their novels into audiobooks.

Book Review: Stars in the Texas Sky by Stephen Matlock

by in Book Review, Local Authors and tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Stars in the Texas Sky by Stephen Matlock

A Fiction Novel published on amazon.com (07/01/2012)

Summary:

Windmill is a tranquil orderly town in the middle of Texas where change is slow in coming in the year 1952. Tabitha tells the mayor about Windmill on page 34, “It’s small-minded. Nothing Ever happens here. It’s just a wide spot with two roads running into each other. No one comes here – they all come from  here.”

Benjamin Clark has been on the short end of the stick his whole life, ever since he understood that his skin color made him different to others’ eyes. Henry Valentine  is the Junior Safety Patrol Officer who is growing up on the right side of town. Both boys are passionate about baseball, have a growing interest in girls, and question the system of race.

 

Keywords:

 Texas in the 1950’s, racial tension, coming-of-age, boys becoming men, hard life lessons, inequality, corruption, stuck in ways, friendship

 

My Review:

Stephen Matlock has confronted a sticky issue in this book. He confronts the topic through the eyes and eventual friendship of two boys born so different because of skin-color and so similar because of their love and passion for baseball and doing what is right. Matlock confronts this issue in the light of growing up and becoming a man. It is a coming of age novel. The boys are just around 13 years old and the reader gets to feel their confusion and frustration in the backwards-thinking town that they currently live in. Matlock masterfully tells a coming-of-age story relevant for any reader, for he tells the story of understanding, honesty, thinking for yourself, standing up for what is right and what you believe in, and more. The story goes deeper than just a boy and an unlikely friend and deeper even than racial tension in a small Texas town. There is fighting, murder, revenge – all the makings of an intriguing read.

Matlock has many life lessons packed into this book. There are so many coming of age themes that I thought the one about the boys’ confusion about girls and their growing feelings towards girls was unnecessary for the story.

Matlock also had a tendency to repeat his life lessons. I love the quotable bits but it does get a little hit-you-on-the head until you get it as you read along. Throughout the novel Matlock writes some profound tidbits, like “Dreams lead to sorrow same as night leads to day.” (Page 5). Matlock certainly has a way with his words and his dialogue is ten out of ten.

It’s only natural that a book’s language should match the time period and setting. Stephen J. Matlock does just that – naturally weaving in descriptions that match the time and the place – which is difficult to do unless you are a master of your craft. The only part that caught me by surprise was the climax in the middle of the book, setting me adrift in a sea of unexpected plot turns, but Matlock firmly led me ashore when the subplot he had been building broke through the surface, tying all the elements together in the end. Still, if only he didn’t end the main story (in my mind) half way through the book I would have been way more satisfied.

What is growing up?

“‘Son, you gotta learn how it is in this town and this country. You keep your head down, don’t look a white man in the eyes, don’t be looking at a white woman, and just never ever think of touching a white woman less’n ou want to lose an arm. Never.'” (page 32).

“Growing up means you learn to accept things the way they are.” (Page 61).

I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a historical fiction book set in America (the South) or a coming-of-age novel.

This novel was published through Createspace Independent Publishing Platform 07/01/2012 and is available on Amazon here.

 

TLDR Star Rating: 4.00

 

Links for more information:

Stephen Matlock’s Website

Goodreads Profile

FreeValley Publishing’s Stephen Matlock

Author Thursdays: At One’s Beast Book Giveaway* Ending and Character Names’ Meanings

by in At One's Beast, Ataxia and the Ravine of Lost Dreams, Author Thursdays, Local Authors, Rachel Barnard and tagged ,

Enter to win a copy of At One’s Beast, through September 14th

Atonesbeast

“You are not required to review the book if you win a copy. However, we encourage you do to so, as it’s the reason the publishers are giving us free books in the first place. People who review the books are also more likely to win more advance copies in the future.”

 

 

Alcina –  Derived from the Latinized Greek mythological name Alcinous meaning, “Strong-willed.”

Zosimos – Latinized form of a Greek name derived from  Ζωσιμος meaning “viable” or “likely to survive.”

Aethon – Ancient Greek word means “burning” or “blazing” or “shining.”

Chalysta – Variant and Female version of the Greek Kallistos, meaning “most beautiful.”

Eudocia – Latinized form of the Greek name  Ευδοκια (Eudokia) meaning “good thought.”

Mara – Means “bitter” in Hebrew.

Yuridia – Greek for “noblewoman.”

Marina – Feminine form of Marinus meaning “of the sea.”

Spyros – Greek short form of spyridon meaning “basket” or “spirit.”

 

 

If you miss out on the Goodreads Giveaway you can find the kindle/ebook version of At One’s Beast free during the September 19th – 21st weekend or purchase a signed copy at the Snoqualmie Block Party booth. 

Book Review: Mind Space Volume 1: Conspiracy / Book 2: Restoration by David S. Moore

by in Book Review, Free Valley Publishing, Local Authors and tagged , | 1 Comment

Mind Space Volume 1: Conspiracy / Book 2: Restoration by David S. Moore

A Science Fiction Novel published on amazon.com (01/10/2014)

Summary:

 Book one of the Mind Space Series ended with the Alliance broken apart and the giant corporation Jaimeson-Cale taking a hit from a terrorist attack that cut off their ability to use the mind control aspect of the Mind Shield while still being able to monitor for certain health conditions. Version 3 of the Mind Shield is introduced in this novel Restoration as the ability of the Mind Shield to eliminate drug addiction. Sounds great, right? Not if you are forced to get a Mind Shield. This second book in Moore’s series introduces the more nefarious sales tactics of Jaimeson-Cale. They will do anything to get the sale, but not just to build their bottom line or please their investors. Moore gives us more background into the ultimate purpose of the Mind Shield in this second book: Mind Space. Mind Space will be version 7, the final version, of the Mind Shield that will create a sense of community bond in order to bring about spiritual purity. The catch is that Mind Space cannot exist unless 73% of the population of the world have Mind Shields. On top of that number, Jaimeson-Cale already promised Mind Shield users that version 7 and Mind  Space will be available in 2084. The projection of sales doesn’t even come close after the attack of ’55, but they have strategies to build up their user base and with the release of each version hope to convert new followers to their cause. The only problem is the introduction of competition in the market in the form of the Limbic Freedom. Limbic Freedom’s endgoal is simple: to combat the Mind Shield and keep Mind Space from happening

“The Mind Shield was a nemesis. The best tool that they had to defend against it was Limbic Freedom — of that she was certain. It had a mass appeal, it was simple to use, and most importantly it was based on freedom of choice. Let the user decide what to do. The Mind Shield was designed to mold the user to its purposes — or rather, those of its masters. Mind Space is the promised future for those who enjoy the privileges of Mind Shield.” (Page 217).

Keywords:

Science Fiction, Mind Control, America 2050’s, Technology, Resistance Movement, Rival Product, Monopoly, Free Market, Restoration

My Review:

This series speaks to me in so many ways. It deals with business, marketing, medical devices, manipulating the public into buying a product, regulatory concerns, bureaucracy, underdogs, good versus evil, gray areas, consumer psychology, etc. I get angry when Jaimeson-Cale uses underhanded (and at times) illegal business practices to make a sale of the Mind Shield. I root for the Limbic Freedom and the Alliance to shut down sales of the Mind Shield. I get nervous when Jaimeson-Cale has the upper hand. Moore is so adept at pulling me emotionally into the book on so many levels and yet, he doesn’t answer all my questions. How much does the Mind Shield or the Limbic Freedom cost? How is there no health concern with the transmittal of information from the nanites in the brain to the monitoring database at jaimeson-Cale? Are there no side effects at all from either device?

Moore answered some of the questions in this second book that I had brought from reading the first book. He delves into the past of Jaimeson-Cale and how they developed the nanite technology and how they created their model of different versions unveiled every six years and ultimate plan of development. Moore introduces us to Adam True, an ingenious scientist with so much potential, he just had to develop a stunted philosophy (or is it?) about community and freedom. True’s philosophy and his mindset on  humanity and community are similar to the concept in the series Left Behind by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. If you haven’t converted, you get left behind. The difference between Left Behind and Adam True’s vision of Mind Space is that no one will be left behind because anyone who has not chosen to get a Mind Shield would invariably be forced to have one or be killed.

Mind Space might seem like utopia, but anyone who is not currently hosting a Mind Shield would think differently. I envision Mind Space as a great connection between all Mind Shields, except that individuality is censored and the collective consciousness is just the nice version of that collective conscious in Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick. Mind Space is like teeth in a comb, all the same parts of a whole instead of like pine cones on a tree, mostly similar but uniquely different. That sounds perfectly wretched to me, to be forced to think the same as everyone else. To Mind Shield hosts and Adam True followers, Mind Space is like Ragnarok, with a cult following ready for a specific day’s event in the ever-nearing future.

Moore begins gearing up his characters for war. There has already been the terrorist attack at the end of book one and the underhanded sales techniques in book two. “Eventually the polite  competition of products in the marketplace would be transformed into an all out war for the minds of the masses.” (Page 392).

Hopefully Limbic Freedom can combat the Mind Shield, it monitors the same health conditions that versions 1 and 2 of the Mind Shield monitors and allows the user complete freedom of choice and control of thought. There is a key difference between the two devices, more than just the lack of mind control capabilities in the Limbic Freedom. Moore most likely has faith in humanity and I do not. Limbic Freedom requires configuration, learning, and training and Mind Shield does not. I’m assured that most people would rather the convenience of control than the inconvenience associated with the freedom of choice and thought. If it takes time to make the Limbic Freedom device capable of the same things as the Mind Shield, it won’t appeal to a large portion of society. Isn’t that why the Limbic Freedom was such a hit in the first place, because it treated obesity/overweightness by buffering the user from their own lack of willpower?

Moore throws short detailed scenes throughout the book, where the reader is presented a first-hand account of a character’s experience with the Limbic Freedom or the Mind Shield. This was very Stephen Kingesque of him and I rather enjoyed the brief evidence each scene brought to my side of the fence, where both the Mind Shield and Jaimeson-Cale are evil.

A new depth is introduced in book two regarding the type of Mind Shields produced. There are levels of Mind Shields with levels of controls built in, as if they are directives for robots. Moore also connects the Mind Shield and its directives specifically to the Way of Truth, gearing up for the big finish in his next novel of the series, Mind Space.

Is it truly bad to be a sheep in society if there were no addictions, anxiety, depression, hate, envy, etc? Mahatma Ghandi said, “Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.”

I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a well written novel and easy-to-read science fiction novel. This book reminds me of Childhood’s End by Arthur C. Clarke  in it’s sweeping narration through long periods of time with a focus on a single aspect of society.

This novel was published through Createspace Independent Publishing Platform 01/10/2014 and is available on Amazon here.

TLDR Star Rating: 4.75

Links for more information:

David S. Moore’s Website

FreeValley Publishing’s David S. Moore

FreeValley Publishing Authors: Upcoming Live Event at Snoqualmie Days

by in At One's Beast, Ataxia and the Ravine of Lost Dreams, Author Thursdays, Free Valley Publishing, Local Authors, Local Events and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Block Party - FPC

 

Remember that countdown timer on my blog? it’s for this event! Come see FreeValley Publishing’s booth and snag all those books you haven’t read yet. Check out new books by Rachel Barnard (At One’s Beast), Victoria Bastedo (Roots Entwine) and Jeffrey Cook (Dawn of Steam Gods of the Sun). For more information on FreeValley Publishing, check out their website here!

Authors will be available to meet you and to sign books. The event is at Center Blvd SE, Snoqualmie, WA from 10-5. Hope to see you there!

 

Book Review: Reflections on Water: A Collection of Poems and Favorite Verses by T. Tommia Wright

by in Book Review, Local Authors and tagged ,

Reflections on Water: A Collection of Poems and Favorite Verses by T. Tommia Wright

A Collection of Poems published through CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform  (08/01/2013)

Summary:

Reflections on Water by T. Tommia Wright is made up of three parts: photographs, poems, and Bible verses. In all but the author photo, water is prominent in the pictures, hence the title. The poems and Bible verses work off the theme of water, incorporating elements of the sea, rain, rivers, streams, waterfalls, lakes or morning dew.

Keywords:

 Poetry, Bible verses, photographs, nature, water-themed

My Review:

 One of T. Tommia Wright’s strongpoints is something many readers might take for granted… Wright has the inexplicable ability to craft a crossover work with such skill and beauty that it looks professionally crafted. Her book is short, granted, but she has blended the use of photography and poetry skillfully. The color blend on the cover is artful and eye–catching, the way the blue of the photo merges with the slow fade of blue on the cover and the font type works with the shapes in theh photo is well-done. Her cover works well on any coffee-table.

Wright also is able to stick to her theme loyally. She tells us that it will be a “Reflection on water” and she gives us just what she promises. Every page is true to the theme, her only deviations being the author photo in the back, though she is still surrounded by the natural element.

I’m not religious by any means and I find that most of my encounters with Biblical verses are in the context of religion or persuasion, so to be provided a few verses from the Bible from Wright is refreshing because she gives me seemingly random short verses. They are not random, though, they stick to her theme. She chose verses that do not even remind me of the Bible, but of some calming piece of text that references nature in all its forms which is exactly what Wright does in her poetry and photographs.

I only wish that the  inside pictures were glossy  like the cover, but then the book would have been like a large collection of postcards, awkward and stiff and I rather do enjoy the feel of a floppy paperback.

My favorite poem is the last four lines of Thin Veil on page 23

“In the Valley of the Shadow of the Moon,

The roaring waters echoing boom

Long flowing before the changes round

Making its way to Sound.”

I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys poetry or nature-themed photography .

This Collection of poems was published through CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform  (08/01/2013) and is available on Amazon here.

TLDR Star Rating: 3.50

Links for more information:

on the web: http://freevalleypublishing.com/featured-authors/t-tommia-wright/

blog: Tommiastablet.wordpress.com