Rainy Day Ramblings

A Little Help for the Troops Guest Post by D.G. Gass

 Yesterday I reviewed the book, The Ghosts of Arlington by D.G. Gass. 

In case you missed it you can see my review here.

The book tells the story of a recent widow, struggling to cope with the strains of the military.  Ms. Gass shares with us, in her book the importance of supporting our troops.  I know it is easy to do the simple things and go back to your daily grind.  These brave servicemen and women, who sacrifice so much to protect our freedoms, deserve more from us.  I contacted Denise, after reviewing her book and asked if she might write a guest post on some of the things we can all do to help make a difference in the lives of these important people.  I want to thank Denise for putting this thoughtful post together on such short notice.  I truly appreciate the time and effort she took in writing this piece, that I have the pleasure to share with you.  Here is Denise Gass with a few words on how you can help.

A Little Help Goes A Long Way

When Heidi asked me to do a guest post about the possible ways that the general public could best be of service to the men and women in uniform, I had to sit awhile and think on that. With everything that's available to the men and women of our Armed Forces, it should be easy to come up with a variety of ways to pitch in.  Yet, it's not that simple.

After all, military members benefit from a strong support system within their units, commands and service branches; as does their families. In a sense, it's a large community that tends to look after one another, well, because they're in it together. 

Then you have the guard and reservist, once known as “weekend warriors”. These are the individuals who are called up at a moments notice at times to assist in disaster areas, patrol the boarders or get sent to war zones for 18 months. These men and women train to transition from civilian to military life and back again in the blink of an eye. While there is the same support “military speaking”, it's often limited. The constant transitions can play havoc on marriages and morale.  

Finally, you have the veterans.  The men and women who either enlisted voluntarily or ended up being drafted.  These are the service members who, for whatever reason, choose to get out after honorably serving their term(s) of enlistment.  Once out, the support system that they once had has disappeared and they're often left to transition back into civilian life and traverse the maze of veterans benefits alone.  Many adjust well, then again, many don't.  

So when we're talking about the ways civilians can “serve” the service member and veterans, one specific way comes to mind.  It doesn't require a donation, it doesn't require volunteer time.  It can be done while sitting at the computer or with a phone call.  All one has to know is their state and federal elected representatives.  

I'm recommending being a thorn in the side of your congressman, especially when they start discussing cutting funding to departments such as the Veterans Administration, VA hospitals and educational benefits.  It's one thing to ask a service member to contribute two dollars a month to help cover their families health insurance, it's another when the elected officials who supposedly support the troops want them to pay for treatment for injuries that were service related.  Funding for the military and veterans programs is ultimately the responsibility of Congress.

Of course, there are other ways to help out service members and veterans.  Depending on location, time one is willing to expend and/or any money/items one wishes to donate.  

The one thing that puts a smile on a deployed serviceman or woman's face (beside a letter/card/call from loved ones) is the care packages.  Several organizations are setup specifically to send care packages to the deployed troops.  Operation USO Care Packages, Operation Gratitude and TroopCarePack.com are just a few.  (The USO also has a program like this for military families).  

Want to write a letter or send a card?  AmillionThanks.org and Letterstosoldiers.org are two of many organizations that can assist.  

Want to donate books and movies?  You may want to check out Booksforsoldiers.com 

Have time to volunteer?  Become a “Donut Dolly”.  The USO is always in need of volunteers to assist with events on and off bases.  Actually the USO provides a lot of services to men and women in uniform and their families. 

There are many other organizations out there to assist and support the deployed and injured soldiers and their families.  From making pillows for the soldiers who've suffered traumatic brain injury to victory quilts for the soldiers and their families to seeing the deployed off and welcoming them home.

Two special organizations I would like to touch on for those wounded in battle.  The Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), which provides peer-to-peer aid for injured service members by injured service members. The other is the Special Operations Warrior Foundation (SOWF).  The SOWF provides full scholarship grants and educational and family counseling to the surviving children of special operations personnel who die in operational or training missions and immediate financial assistance to severely wounded special operations personnel and their families. 

While the SOWF is basically a monetary donation organization, the WWP accepts both volunteers and donations.  

As far as helping the veterans?  Let me give you an example of what one first grade class did.  The first graders at one school in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania many years back, made homemade Valentines Day Cards to be given to the patients at the VA Hospital in Pittsburgh.  I had the privilege of being one of the people to help distribute those cards.  You'd be surprised at the smiles those cards brought.  

If you have a VA Hospital in your area, they're always looking for volunteers.  

Want to assist the homeless veterans?  Call your county veterans administration.  They'll be able to tell you of shelters.  Coats, warm clothes and blankets are always helpful.  Volunteer to serve food at the local church soup kitchen or Salvation Army, be prepared to wear a smile and offer a kind word.  

If you're really ambitious, organize a veterans health fair in your area.  Or if there is one being planned, take a few hours and help out.  You'd be surprised how a friendly face can make someone's day.  

One of the most important things that you can do, if you know of a military member or veteran who is struggling with depression, anxiety or other signs of mental stress outside the norm of the day to day stress. Tell them it's okay to get help.  Let them know that what they're experiencing is not a sign of weakness. In 2010 it was reported that approximately 950 veterans and active duty military attempted suicide ever  month. That's 11,400 suicide attempts in a year among veterans alone.  That's reported cases.  Out of that number, approximately 216 were successful.  In 2011, the VA estimated there were approximately 800,000 veterans and active duty military, suffering some form or level of ptsd related symptoms.  One out of five soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan suffer some form of mental illness.

 

I'd like to thank Heidi for the opportunity to step on my soapbox for a few moments, and thank you, reader for taking the time to read this.  

 

About D.G. Gass:  Inspired by Walt Whitman and Carolyn Keefe, author D.G. Gass, from a young age, has always loved to write. It just took 40-years for her to believe in her work enough for it not to find the trash when she finished. Originally from Jeannette, PA, the Yankee transplant, currently resides in Columbia, SC with her husband and daughter, not to mention, three cats that own her.

A veteran of the US Air Force, whose day job is in healthcare IT, the author has a passion for veterans issues, which is the driving force behind her first book, “Ghosts of Arlington”. When she’s not writing, she can be found curled up with a good book, working on handcrafts, or staring blankly at walls in a catatonic state.

D.G. Gass released her first poetry compilation, “Twilight Ponderings, Midnight Musings” at the beginning of 2011. The compilation is a series of poetry and prose that was born out of loving someone with diagnosed chronic depression.

Thank you Denise, for all your time and effort.  I learned so much from your post.  How about it book bloggers and readers, I know many of you have extra books lying around, pack them up and donate them to the troops.  Send a letter, make some one's day a little brighter.   

Pick up a copy of Denise's book, The Ghosts of Arlington, on Amazon and other ebook retailers for $2.99. 

Bargain Book Bin #3: The Ghosts of Arlington by D.G. Gass

Welcome to another great Bargain Book Bin find! 

The Ghosts of Arlington by D.G. Gass

NOT ALL GHOSTS REMAIN ON THE BATTLEFIELDAs an Army wife, Candace Benning understood and was prepared for what might happen. She was prepared when her husband was sent to the Middle East twice. She was prepared when they told her of his injuries and the months of therapy that would be needed. She was prepared for the psychological battles he might face. She was prepared for everything - or so she thought.After witnessing her husband's suicide, Candace tries to move on, despite the emotions and the memories that haunt her. But memories aren't the only things haunting her. Recurring dreams and unexplained events have her worried for her sanity. Was she experiencing the effects of posttraumatic stress or was there really something beyond the grave reaching out?And what about Everett Bayard, the reporter in search of a story in the wake of the Walter Reed scandal?. Was his appearance just a coincidence or was there something else behind it? Whatever it was, Everett would be the key that draws Candace back into a fight she had hoped she'd left behind.A fight to save the Ghosts of Arlington.
Kindle Edition
Published October 27th 2011

1/2

Three and a half stars: A book that is a stark reminder of the sacrifices of our service men and their families.

 

Candace paces the floor anxiously waiting for her brother in law to return her husband, from their boys night out.  They promised not to drink too much, but Candace knows better.  She hates the drinking, mainly because the mix of alcohol and anti depressants tends to have severe repercussions for her husband.  Aaron, an Army veteran, has recently returned from one of many tours of duty overseas.  This time though, he returned minus a limb.  His leg was blown off by an I.E.D.  He lost more than his limb.  Aaron is suffering from severe depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.  Candace along with rearing their two young twin sons, is doing everything she can to nudge him gently back into his life.  All that goes out the window,  when she awakens to glass shattering, the next morning.  She finds Aaron standing in front of the smashed mirror, shards of glass sticking out of his knuckles.  He is shaking and holding his gun, the one she took away to protect him, to his temple.  Candace begs him to put the gun down....In an instant he is gone. Candace is left to pick up the pieces.  As she slowly tries to climb the towering mountain of regret and sorrow, she meets a journalist, Everett.  With some prodding he convinces her to share her story.  What follows is a heartbreaking and necessary look at the lives and struggles of our military men and women and their families.  It seems though, that Candace's meeting with Everett is not left up to fate alone.  Can a loved one from beyond help to set things right?

What I Liked:

• I liked the protagonist, Candace.  She is a character, who is representative of the many brave women and men out there, facing the burdens and sacrifices, that are the reality of having a spouse serving in the military.  Faced with grief and hard choices,  Candace tackles her problems head on, without despairing and feeling sorry for herself, even though she has every right to.  I truly admired Candace, she is a courageous woman.
• This book shares some important insight into the difficulties facing our service men and women.  It shows how the greed of money and politics sent our troops into battle with sub par equipment. After serving many return home to find their jobs are no longer waiting.  For our veterans who were disabled or injured, they are treated in hospitals with mold growing in the walls, if they are lucky to get the care they require.  Many veterans suffering with debilitating psychiatric disorders, such as PSTD, are ignored because the government fails to acknowledge the need for properly treating these victims.  Many are homeless, forgotten by the same country they protected.  This book is an eye opening experience on the deplorable treatment of our servicemen.  I applaud the author in the way she relays this information.  She doesn't preach or sensationalize it, instead she shows us Candace's story.  Her message, while woven subtly into the story, comes across loud and clear.
• The biggest impact of this book is the way it gently reminds us the importance of supporting our military personnel.  I admit I am guilty, I thank the servicemen when it is called to my attention, but I don't go above and beyond.  This book conveyed to me the importance of doing more to support these brave people, who sacrifice so much for the American people.  Supporting our troops, according to Ms. Gass, is more than saluting,  flying flags and placing tattered magnets on our cars.  Get out there volunteer, do something to help make a difference for these families. 
• I enjoyed the supernatural element in the book.  It is rather inconspicuous.  Not over the top, most of the ghostly encounters are in dreams, which is a believable way to incorporate a bit of the paranormal into what could be a real life story. 

And The Not So Much:

• I can't criticize this book too much because the author is trying to convey such an important message.  I only have three tiny criticisms.  Everett, the political reporter, is a sympathetic character once his past is revealed.  I liked him, but I was a little disappointed in the way he immediately starting trying to prod Candace into a relationship, so soon after her husband's death.  Given his history, I expected him to be a little more understanding in giving Candace the space she needed to grieve.  I did not like the hurried movement toward a romantic relationship, especially with the scene at the hotel at the end. 
• The writing lacks frills, it is straight forward and simplistic, which is not necessarily a bad thing.  Ms. Gass gets the job done, by getting her important points across, but the plot lacked a bit of depth.  
• I was left wondering about the encounter Candace had with Everett's brother at Arlington, was there more to his story?

The Ghosts of Arlington, is a heartbreaking story of a military wife, shouldering a heavy load of grief.  Candace, gives us a glimpse at the many difficult challenges facing those who sacrifice freely to protect the masses.  Pick up a copy of this book to gain an understanding of the obstacles they face during and after their time of service.  I hope that I can do more on my part to help better the situation, as can we all.  This ebook can be purchased on Amazon and other ebook retailers for $2.99.

Favorite Quotations:

"The public would be content knowing they've done their part for showing support for our troops by tacking a magnetic yellow ribbon to their bumper and flying their tattered flags from the antennae of their cars."

"Do you believe that a random act of kindness needs to be earned?"

"..she stared out the kitchen window, pondering on the fingernail moon that hung in the sky." 

"Her lips became his addiction as she matched the intensity."

"I watch over those who wander."

Come back tomorrow for a special guest post from the author, D.G. Gass.

Rainy Day Ramblings Friday Forecast

Welcome to Friday Forecast.  On Fridays I will be highlighting some upcoming new releases for the following week.  For fun I will tell you the weather forecast for Portland, OR.  Leave me a comment and tell me what you are looking forward to reading and what the weather is going to be like in your neck of the woods.  If you are an author and have a book that will be released next week and you would like me to include it in my forecast. Send me and email with the link for your book to Amazon. Now this weeks Forecast:

 

Click on any of the bookcovers for more information on each title. A great group of books to choose from.  I have two that I am interested in this week, Everneath and There Is No Dog. What book are you wanting for your shelf?

The weekend weather forecast for Portland, OR is:

Heavy Rain all weekend. High temperature: 47 degrees Low 38 degrees.

Great weather to curl up inside with a good book!

Have a great week! 

The Reluctant Guest Post with C.S. Splitter

I am lucky today to have C.S. Splitter again visiting the blog.  In case you missed him, he recently did a post back in December, on the Creative Review Anthology, Christmas Lites.  You can check out his post here. 

Yesterday, I reviewed his first novel, The Reluctant (Crayder Chronicles #1).  Here to write a response to my review is none other than Splitter. Take it away!

Do these jeans make my butt look fat? 

That question is something every attached man will face at some point in his life if you substitute dress, pants, or skirt, for jeans.  It sends chills down our spines because we know we are in trouble (we have a similar reaction when we hear, “We need to talk…”).  

There is no good answer to that question.

“It’s not the jeans…” will have you sleeping on the couch.  Ignoring the question will lead to an observation that we never listen.  Even saying that the jeans make her butt look fabulous could lead to accusations of insincerity and cowardice because she KNOWS we are only saying that to avoid trouble.

You see…she already made up her mind about the jeans, one way or the other, before she asked for an opinion.  It is pure luck when our answer matches her opinion because we are clueless.

When an author puts his or her book out there for public scrutiny, they are asking a similar question: does this book make my story look good?

We already have our opinions on our book.  We had those opinions before we ever let anyone else read it, especially a reviewer.  And while we love our readers (especially reviewers), what we would really like is affirmation of our opinions.  Of course, books are more complicated than jeans and there are opinions to be had on many different aspects so it is literally impossible for us to get the affirmation we seek.

So…every review is suspect to us.  We can’t say anything, either.  It goes against the unwritten etiquette between reviewers and writers to opine, one way or the other, on a review.  We WANT to thank you for a positive review, but we cannot do that while we ignore the negative review.  It would just be dishonest.  And we certainly cannot send a WTF? e-mail to the person who panned our book.  Therefore, we cannot say much to a reviewer who loved our book.

It’s not fair.  Well, maybe it is actually fair, but it does not feel that way.  That is probably because we put so much time and effort into our writing that it is personal to us.  Yeah, it is better for everyone concerned if we do not saying anything.  So saying, I am going to break that rule into a million little pieces!  Do not worry, Heidi said it was ok.  She did NOT know I was going to do this before she wrote her review, though.   

Let us take Heidi’s very thoughtful review as an example.  It’s a really positive review!  I wanted to send her an email thanking her for such a nice review, but I could not.  All I could say was my standard, “Thank you for taking the time to read and review my book.”

I know she does not expect more, but I feel like an ungrateful ass….umm…shmuck…for being so lukewarm in my response.  When someone does something nice, even if it is their job, you are supposed to thank them, right?

It really was a thoughtful and, for the most part, positive review and, yet, my focus is on the negative.  It always is and I KNOW I am not alone among authors.  No matter what someone says, we try to read more into it.  You could tell us ten great things about our book and one thing that did not go over so well and, in our minds, we would want to grill you on that one thing until we felt we thoroughly understood why it detracted from your enjoyment of our story.

Seriously, we are masochists and not in that really fun “whips and chains excite me” way.

Knowing that Heidi typically writes her reviews with what she liked and did not like, I admit that I skimmed the “what I liked” and went straight for the “not so much.”  Seriously, I need therapy.

What would an author say about this review starting with the negatives?  What goes through our minds?

This is a man’s book:  Doh!  Don’t say that, Heidi!  AFTER I wrote The Reluctant, I did some market research because I like being bass ackwards about things.  I found that 80% of the fiction audience is female.  Doh again!  The good news is that women tend to have a VERY wide range of tolerance for their reading and, probably, 90% of my readers are female.  They can accept a flawed, male protagonist because….well, probably because they have to deal with men in their real lives and realize just how flawed we are.  Still, it scares me when people say it is a guy’s book because I am afraid that some women will not then give it a chance.

It took about half way into the book to see where the story was going to go:  Ahhhhh!  Slow story is the kiss of death!  Here I was wondering if the first chapter thrust the reader into too much action too early.  Damnit!  Conundrums.  But I get it.  While the story is a stand alone book, it is part of a series and I wanted to plant the rest of the series on the strong foundation of the first few chapters in book one.  Since the series really is character driven, I wanted the reader to know the characters and like them.  So, while I do not like hearing it said out loud because might take it the wrong way, I MEANT to do it that way lol.

I can even find negatives in the positives!

Tom is not a hunky guy:  That’s true.  I would not call him “middle aged” though.  Middle age is like 50 and he is younger than that…although how many people do you know who live to be 100?  Ok, he is probably middle aged.  With some of Tom’s habits, he has the life expectancy of a carnival goldfish.  But, aren’t you all tired of Adonis and his bodice ripping tendencies?  I promise; we are surrounded by heroes in everyday life and most look very ordinary.  That single mom holding down two part-time jobs is a hero and probably looks older than her years.  I thought it was time to give the common person their props.

It was fun to hear about piloting a small plane:  You know, someone else just wrote a review saying that there was too much talk about airplanes.  Heck, that was after I cut almost 2000 words about flying.  Where is the elusive balance I sought?  Half the people who write to me want more “plane talk” and the other half want less.  Gah!

Threats to our nether regions:  Yeah, that one is true.  Why do women always use that as a threat?  Lorena Bobbit even went through with it…and now you know where Lorena in the book got her name.  Doh!  I should not have revealed that.  Dang those tricky reviewers, now look what she made me do.

Guys think about sex all the time:  Well, duh.  I mean, come on.  I saw a study once that said men think about sex more than once a minute.  I do not know if that is true or not because I have been writing this guest blog piece for almost an hour now and I haven’t thought about sex more than half a dozen times (I do not count my earlier vague reference to BDSM in that, however.)  Isn’t that one of our endearing qualities?  You know what to expect from us.  It’s not like we are going to ask you whether or not those gym shorts make our butts look fat.

This book is self published:  Even after all of the writing I have done on the subject, all of the reading, and knowing of so many self-pubbed success stories, I still cringe when I hear this.  That stigma dies hard.  People still think self-published means that the book was not good enough to be published “for real.”  Yes, there are a lot of bad self-published books out there, but there is also a bunch of trash coming out of traditional publishers, too.  Again, it’s not fair, but even I am subject to that prejudice as evidenced by my continuing cringe habit.

Like I said earlier, you cannot make us happy as authors.  No matter what you say, we will find the fault.  We would not even believe if you said, “Your book was awesome!”  We know that book is not awe inspiring.  Like the person who finishes their own basement, we know where all dubious wiring is within the walls.  We know the flaws and we are sensitive to them even when you, the reader and reviewer, are not.

Only an idiot writes a novel.  A masochistic, soon-to-be humbled idiot.  The only good news that goes along with that knowledge is that we are accompanied on our journey by reviewers and readers who actually DO get it.  Like Heidi.

It is true that we should not say anything to reviewers even when they put effort and energy into writing thoughtful reviews.  We seek those reviews.  We need those reviews to let readers know about our books.  But that does not mean that we should trust ourselves to be objective about those reviews.  Our books are too close to us and it’s too personal.

Plus, we are bound to always, always, always find the negative and only an idiot would put themselves through that.

I guess, after all of that, I will just say: "thank you" to Heidi for taking the time to read and review my book.  It is safer that way and I shall go back to my corner now and contemplate how to make my writing suck less...'cause it will never be good enough.  (I told you we were idiots)  

I am starting a support group for writers and we will meet every Tuesday at 8pm.  It’s BYOB.

Splitter

Umm, thanks Splitter, I think!? Okay, ladies do you want more? Then head over to Splitter's blog, for a funny new feature every Tuesday called ask Tom Crayder, where you can email Tom Crayder your questions and get a manly answer. 

Still want more? Be sure to grab your free copy of The Reluctant on Amazon, while the price remains free!  Pick up the sequel, The Willing, while you are there.

 

Do you think you would like to have the illustrious Splitter do a post for your blog? Click the tour button on the top right of my blog and check the tour schdule for availability.  I promise, he is always fun to have on the blog. 

 

 

Finally, Splitter is offering up a free copy of The Willing,to one lucky winner.  Fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Good Luck!

 

Bargain Book Bin #2 The Reluctant by C.S. Splitter

Welcome back to the second edition of Bargain Book Bin.  This week another gem for you.  Normally this book is $.99 on Amazon, but when I checked today it is currently listed for free.  Even better.  So head over to Amazon and pick up your copy. 

Bargain Book Bin presents:

The Reluctant (Crayder Chronicles #1) by C.S. Splitter

Action, adventure, suspense, and thriller in one story told with a liberal dose of humor.Tom’s problems are not unique. His business is failing and his wife has to work too many hours to make ends meet. He is under some rather large financial pressures and wants more from his marriage and his life.He finds his respite in the air as a private pilot. Unfortunately for Tom, he is behind on payments for his plane and is forced to take odd jobs from a local crime boss. Tom is no criminal, but the errands he is running are just slightly on the wrong side of the law and the money is almost good enough to allow him to make his plane payments. Just as things begin to come under some semblance of control, he meets a woman who just might represent the adventure he seeks. He soon discovers that appearances, and beautiful women, can sometimes be deceiving.“The Reluctant” is the first in the Crayder Chronicles series and yet is a stand alone story with a satisfying conclusion of its own.
Kindle Edition  (approximately 320 pages)
Published April 12th 2011 (first published April 10th 2011)

Four Stars: Are you ready to delve into the mind of a man?

Tom Crayder is hoping for a quick, routine flight in his small Cesna plane.  He is a private pilot, who thoroughly loves to fly.  Today his cargo is a man named, Tiny, who for the record is not so Tiny.  Tom, desperate to make ends meet and keep up with payments on his plane, occasionally transports passengers and items for cash for his friend, Jake.  The money is good but the jobs often fall into that "grayish area."  Tom isn't certain of the specifics on Tiny (the man who weighs about four hundred pounds), he prefers to remain in the dark and just do the flying.  What he plans on being a simple, easy flight, goes south when one of the engines suddenly stalls.  Tom makes a crash landing, err scratch that, an excellent forced landing in a cow pasture, all while listening to an enormous man, scream like a girl.  A few scrapes and bruises and a few cow pies later, our hero is ready
to put the event behind him.  Little does he know that his graceful, crash landing, I mean emergency landing with style, has caught the attention of some powerful, clandestine people.  Tom, armed with his formidable Lady Smith gun, is in for a life changing adventure.  Will he live to tell the tale, or will he screw up and get shot in his private parts?

What I Liked:

• Tom Crayder, okay ladies are you ready for the next super hot, debonair, smooth, gun wielding crime fighter? Well, Tom Crayder is not any of the above.  Instead, this action hero is an unassuming, regular guy.  He is happily married to a wonderful, supportive, beautiful woman.  He, like many Americans, is fighting to stay afloat.  His business is struggling and he is trying to stay current on his plane payments.  Is he sexy and hot? Not exactly.  He is a slightly paunchy, middle aged man, who is still trying to prove he is a suave ladies magnet.  Now you must be thinking, why on earth would I want to read about this average Joe?  I will tell you, because he is a realistic portrayal of a normal guy.  Ladies, if you want to get into a guy's head and see what they are really thinking, then this book is for you.  No big surprise, to find that men think about sex, food, sex, guns, sex, planes, sex on planes...ok you get the point.  This is a humorous look into the mind of a typical, ordinary man suddenly thrust into a dangerous situation.   
• The humor in this book is so much fun.  The Reluctant, is brimming with witty, slightly sarcastic commentary, that will definitely have you grinning and chuckling.  I found it to be the perfect amount of sarcasm, not over the top by any means. 
• As I mentioned, this is a guy's book but it is fun for a girl to get inside a man's head.  I found it refreshing to see how a man thinks.  Sure he leers at other women, but his heart belongs to his wife.  I liked all the numerous references to the coolness of being a pilot and flying.  I even for the most part, enjoyed all the discussion on flying.  I know nothing about aerial transportation, so it was fun to learn the specifics of piloting small planes. 
• Tom's gun.  It cracked me up that Tom didn't carry a weapon with clout.  Instead he chooses to pack a small, Lady Smith pistol. He gets a bunch of flack for it too.  Not really what you would call "packing some heat", it is more like some warmth.
• I have to throw this in, I found it particularly funny that one of the female characters threatened Tom twice, with shooting him in his nether regions.  Obviously, a man's biggest fear.
• This book is a self published book that can be purchased for $.99.  Now, before you turn away and write this off as a "no thank you read", because it is self published, I will tell you that this is one indie title you do want to read.  This book is properly edited and well written.  In fact, the author, C.S. Splitter recently did a post on his blog regarding everything that a self published author should be doing to get a good product out to market.  If you are an author, who is thinking of self publishing your work, then I would highly recommend you check out The Reluctant and Mr. Splitter's blog, Splitter's World.  The Reluctant, is how a good self published book should be done.  In reality, I wouldn't have known it was self published while reading it.

And The Not So Much:

• This is a man book, that doesn't mean a lady can't enjoy it.  Just be prepared for some boy talk, mostly sex talk and typical guy stuff.  The only problem I had was after awhile all the pilot and flying detail became a little much toward the end.  Again, I am not the target audience, so perhaps if you are man, you will love every detail on planes and piloting.  
• Near the end, the book had a couple of graphic scenes involving animals.  To be fair, the author did warn me up front before I read the book that there was a bit of animal cruelty.  He said it pained him to write those scenes, as he is an animal lover himself.  He told me, it was necessary to establish the bad guy as a scum bag. Armed with that information, I chose to gloss over those pages.  Mr. Splitter makes up for it by including a fat feline, with an affinity for scrambled eggs and the appearance of a lovable chihuahua at the end.   
• While this book drew me in with the comedic commentary and interesting story, it took awhile for the plot to settle in and reveal itself.  I was over half way in before I uncovered the true story line.  Up until that point, the book focuses on character development and introductions. Thankfully,  I was never bored due to the humorous quips, while I waited for the real story to be told. 

The Reluctant, is a fun, entertaining book that will keep you laughing as you follow the adventures of the reluctant and unassuming, Tom Crayder.  Take a chance and step outside of your normal reading zone and pick up a copy.  For $.99 this comedic gem is a steal.  Ladies, you will enjoy an entertaining and revealing look into a man's head.  This book made it even more clear to me, that men and women must be from two different worlds.  I can say that I won't be reluctant to read the next installment of the Crayder's Chronicles. The Willing, available now at amazon.com and other ebook retailers, for $2.99.   

A copy of this book was provided by the author, in exchange for an honest review.

Favorite Quotations:

"He needed one of those slaps that calms people down in the movies but I couldn't reach back that far. Even if I could, I didn't have a third hand to spare."

"Fiery death was to be avoided at all costs."

"Being tough can suck."

"Macho was mandatory in these kinds of encounters."

"I didn't want to abandon the adventure. I felt like Chevy Chase standing beside the pool, swinging his arms, and muttering, “This is crazy.”

"I wasn't sure how much of my decision making was coming from either head, but that lack of knowledge didn't affect my thinking. I was on an adventure and I felt alive."

"The one thing I had never liked about the Lady Smith pistol, besides not being able to find one without “Lady Smith” printed on it, was the trigger."

"A new smell, open sewer, had also been added to his repertoire."

"I swear stores train their people to sneak up on customers. "

 

Stay tuned tomorrow for a special guest post by C.S. Splitter.  You won't want to miss it!

Some Girls Bite Read Along Tuesdays Week Three

 

 

Welcome to week three of the Some Girls Bite Read-Along! For those of you who don't know, the wonderful ladies behind Tina's Book Reviews, Books in the Spotlight, The Unread Reader andSupernatural Snark are hosting a read-along of book one of Chloe Neill's outstanding Chicagoland Vampires urban fantasy series. Each week we'll pose and answer five questions about the book and then hop around to the other blogs who have signed up to check out everyone's answers! For all the details about the event and the grand prize giveaway, be sure and check out the introductory post HERE.

 If you're participating, please be sure to link up your discussion post for chapters 9-12 in the linky below and don't forget to check out Missie's blog for next week's questions for chapters 13-15 and Epilogue.

January 3rd - Chapters 1-4 (Jenny at Supernatural Snark)
January 10th - Chapters 5-8 (Tina at Tina's Book Reviews)
January 17th - Chapters 9-12 (Rummanah at Books in the Spotlight)
January 24th - Chapters 13-15 + epilogue (Missie at The Unread Reader)
January 31st - Special guest post by Chloe Neill and the grand prize giveaway!

1. Catcher and Ethan share some personality traits. What makes Mallory, Merit, and even us readers attracted to these guys? Would you date/mate with someone like these guys in real life?

Ethan and Catcher have strong, assertive personalities.  They are leaders, take charge type of guys. I think what draws women to these men, is the assertive way in which they carry themselves. They kick butt, take names and ask questions later, when it comes to defending that which is important to them.  Every girl wants to have the security in knowing she has a man who will be there to defend her.  Absolutely, I would date one of these men, as long as they are intelligent and of course the six pack abs doesn't hurt their cause either.

Honestly, though I am a little bit partial to Jeff. He is funny and cute with his antics. I also love Grandpa.

2. In Chapter 9 we learn of another murder. Do you see any patterns with the previous murder and Merit's attack? Do you have any guesses as to who is responsible and the motive behind the murders?

Yes, so far all the victims have been young women, with dark hair in their late twenties.  All similar in looks and build to Merit.  As far as motives, I think it is someone who is uncomfortable with the unveiling of the vampires, since they are obviously trying to implicate each of the vampire houses.  I wouldn't be surprised if it was someone acting on behalf of a person in power, for instance the mayor.  I don't know just a guess. 

3. The commendation is my favorite moment in the book and a significant event in Merit's life. She has finally come to terms that she is a Cadogan vampire. Were you surprised at all that Merit resisted Ethan's call and that he made her a Sentinel? Do you think she'll do well in this position? Why or why not?

I was not surprised at all to find that Merit could resist Ethan's power.  It is already evident that Merit isn't exactly the conformist type.  I think she is rebelling from being kept under a strict thumb again.  Her father obviously was a hard nosed rule stickler and I am sure she doesn't want to relapse into that type of life. Besides, we already know she resisted the other female vampire's coercion.  It is another way for her to pretend to establish that she can resist Ethan.  As far as making her a Sentinel, no not shocked, making her a Sentinel, seems like a good way to control her and help her get out some of that pent up aggression.  Hopefully, kicking some ass will help her to ease better into her new life.  I like the security team.  Merit will fit in better with these strong personalities, as opposed to the beautiful, recently turned groupies. (Gag me!)

4. Loyalty is a reoccurring theme throughout the book and much of this series. Why is it so important to Ethan that he needs Merit's allegiance? Is it solely a Master and Sentinel thing or does it imply something else?

I think it is important for Ethan to gain Merit's allegiance.  It seems that the vampires banded together and formed a hierarchy community in which they can live comfortably under communal protection.  In order for a house to succeed and thrive, all members must be loyal and conform to the set parameters.  Without loyalty and trust, the tight knit society would falter and fall.  A house divided doesn't last. As far as the Master/ Sentinel aspect, I think Ethan is putting Merit in a position of power to further gain her trust and hopefully score some points toward winning her heart.

5. If you had the opportunity to sit down with Ethan, Merit, Mallory, and Catcher for a bite to eat like in the beginning of Chapter 12, what questions would you ask them at this point of the story?

One of my favorite aspects of the Chicago Vamps is they retain healthy appetites.  All the delicious descriptions of food make your mouth water.  The Chicago hot dogs sounded super tasty.  Sitting down with the characters and feasting with them on fabulous food would be awesome. Yum Yum..oh yeah I am supposed to ask questions while I am trying to stuff my face? Seriously? Ok, I would ask them who they think has a vendetta against the current vampire hierarchy, who stands to gain from the collaspe of the houses?     Now, back to the food! 

 

That is week three of the read along. Next week the finale! This has been such a fun adventure to read this great book.  I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know some of the bloggers participating along the way.  Stay tuned for the wrap up and guest post from the author, Chloe Neill.  

 

 

 

Tell Me Something Tuesday

Welcome back to another edition of Tell Me Something Tuesdays hosted by Cambria Hebert.  Anyone can join in, just answer the question and post it on your blog and add your link to Cambria's website.  Then go visit some of the other participating blogs, hopefully we will all make some new friends and learn something fun about each other.  If you want to sign up contact Cambria for more information.

Now this week's question:

Tell Me Something: Out of everything you have read who is your favorite villain you loved to hate?

Hmm scratching head, this required some thought.  It is easy to fall head over heels in love with the heroes.  I know it is a good villain when they strike fear into me. 

I thought of a few.  First, The Dark Lord, Sauron from The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. I recall, reading this series in my youth and Sauron scared the pants off me. He was so vile and dark, he had a entire army of trolls,orcs and dark creatures.  Not to mention an entirely dead, black kingdom. Creepy! And don't forget that all seeing eye! 

 

 

 

 

Another guy that scared the bejesus out of me when I read about him in my late teens was Bram Stoker's Count Dracula.  If you have never read Dracula, do it. It is so scary but good. If that makes sense.  Don't read it alone at night, unless you enjoy nightmares.  Gary Oldman in the movie did an amazing job of bringing the chill factor to the screen.

 

 

 

 

More recently, Lord Voldemort from J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, is another vile creation.  The way he bullies and murders with just a curse.  I wouldn't want to face him anytime soon.  Ralph Fiennes does a terrific job depicting him in the movies. 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, in recent books I have read, a couple come to mind, the glass eyed sleaze bag, Keith  from Richelle Mead's Bloodlines.  The best way to describe him is unctuous. I wanted Sidney to kick him in the crotch.

The villains from Veronica Roth's Divergent, are malicious and spiteful.  I truly detested them.  You know it is a good character when you encounter them your pulse races and you want nothing more than to punch them in the face!  Peter, Eric, Molly, Drew and Jeanine elicit that response. 

I know I couldn't narrow it down to just one.  Who scares the bejesus out of you? Who do you want to punch in the face? I would love to here your thoughts on the baddies!

 

 

Fracture by Megan Miranda

Eleven minutes passed before Delaney Maxwell was pulled from the icy waters of a Maine lake by her best friend Decker Phillips. By then her heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead. And yet she somehow defied medical precedent to come back seemingly fine —despite the scans that showed significant brain damage. Everyone wants Delaney to be all right, but she knows she's far from normal. Pulled by strange sensations she can't control or explain, Delaney finds herself drawn to the dying. Is her altered brain now predicting death, or causing it? Then Delaney meets Troy Varga, who recently emerged from a coma with similar abilities. At first she's reassured to find someone who understands the strangeness of her new existence, but Delaney soon discovers that Troy's motives aren't quite what she thought. Is their gift a miracle, a freak of nature-or something much more frightening? For fans of best-sellers like Before I Fall and If I Stay, this is a fascinating and heart-rending story about love and friendship and the fine line between life and death.
Hardcover, 264 pages
Expected publication: January 17th 2012 by Walker & Company 

Three stars: A near death experience, leaves Delaney with a startling new supernatural ability. 

Delaney bounds down the stairs, after wriggling into thermal wear, that has mysteriously shrunk since last year. Her best friend and next door neighbor, Decker is waiting for her.   It is December in Maine, and the pair is headed to the ice crusted lake to spend an afternoon engaging in a game of "manhunt" in the snowy woods.  Delaney slips into her bright red coat, she is going to stick out like a sore thumb against the wintry white background. They are running late, so Decker decides to take the short cut and head across the frozen lake.  Cautiously, Delaney trails behind Decker on the slick ice, trying to keep her footing.  As she reaches the half way point, she looks up to see Decker and the gang waving at her to hurry up.  Delaney picks up the pace.  Her foot slides and she falls onto the ice-covered lake.  The thin ice shudders and groans beneath her weight.  Spidery cracks form around her body and then the ice breaks.  The bitter cold water slams against her skin, sucking her breath away.  Her heavy winter gear drags her down into the dark, icy depths.  She is sinking and dying..blackness washes over her she fades into oblivion.  A bright light flashes against the backs of her eyelids.  Consciousness slowly pricks at her numb mind.  She overhears a voice, not an angelic voice, but a doctor.  He is telling her parents she may never wake, she might remain in a vegetative state for an indefinite period.  It has already been six days, the prognosis isn't looking good.  Wait...she thinks..six days? Delaney's eyes slowly flutter open, she is alive!  Miraculously, she seems almost untouched, after her arctic plunge, much to everyone's surprise and relief.  She spent eleven minutes trapped below the sheet of ice on the lake.  She should have died.  Decker nearly fell in after her, as he  tried to rescue her.  Turns out her red coat saved her life.  Delaney hopes to slip back into her normal life, but something isn't quite right.  She feels an uncontrollable itching sensation and a strange pull in her brain, guiding her to those souls, near death. Then she meets a mysterious boy named, Troy, who seems to know a great deal about her accident.  Why does she feel this strange tugging?  What is Troy hiding? 

What I Liked:

• The opening of this book grabs you and drags you right into the freezing depths of the lake.  The author does a terrific job in conveying the terror of falling through the ice and then the daze and confusion that follows waking up in the hospital. 
• Ms. Miranda, is an excellent story teller.  Her story flows smoothly as she takes you through Delaney's accident and recovery.  I enjoyed Delaney's voice.  She is funny, without being sarcastic.  She has some curves but takes it in stride. She does obsess a bit over her studies but that isn't necessarily a bad thing.  Delaney is a likable female protagonist.
• I enjoyed the strong friendship between Delaney and Decker.  They have been inseparable best friends since childhood.  The comfortable warm bond between them was one of my favorite aspects.
• I liked the real depiction of a girl who returns from the clutches of death.  The emotional upheaval that Delaney experiences as she plugs back into her real life, was eye opening.  The struggle to understand what happened and a bit of guilt blended with her strange new sense provide an interesting story line.  I appreciated gaining an understanding of  the strain her near death experience is for everyone around her.  This book brings to light the range of emotions that survivors and their loved ones encounter.
• I liked that the story resolves neatly and most of my lingering questions are answered but the door is left open for a continuation.

 And The Not So Much:

• While I loved the idea of Delaney returning from near death with a supernatural ability, it lacked a bit of originality.  Having just recently read, The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting and Soul Screamers by Rachel Vincent, I found Delaney's new sense had shades of both of these books.  While the best friends portion was reminiscent of Violet and Jay.  I found myself drawing comparisons to the other two series.  If I hadn't read these books before reading Fracture, I would have enjoyed the book more. Unfortunately, I found that Fracture suffered from a lack of originality.  Thus, the reason I gave it a lower rating.  It would have been a four star read otherwise.
• One of my favorite aspects of the book was the easy companionship between Decker and Delaney, I hated to see the relationship struggle a bit after the accident. 
• Troy, this character left me conflicted.  Even after his story was revealed, I couldn't feel warmly or sympathetic toward him.  I wanted to like him but I couldn't.   
• It seems that Delaney's mother suffers more from survivor's guilt than Delaney.  Interesting glimpses are offered on her mother's history that help explain some of her strange behavior.  At the end of the book I was left with a few remaining questions and left wondering if her mother was going to fully recover.

If you are looking for a new read with a slight touch of the supernatural, then I would recommend you pick up a copy of Fracture.  Especially, if you enjoyed Body Finder and Soul Screamers.  This book is reminiscent of both of those books, but still an enjoyable and entertaining read.  Megan Miranda's is another debut author I will be watching, her book shows she is a promising new talent.

 A copy of this book was provided by Walker and Company courtesy of NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Favorite Quotations:

"A man in white who was decidedly not God stuck a penlight into each eye, once, twice, and pulled a tube the size of a garden hose from my throat."

"There was a hole of time, and nobody would fill it."

"The house transformed into a living entity.  It smelled of life, fluttered with activity, absorbed sounds, and produced warmth."

"I wasn't athletic and had no desire to work out, so I watched what I ate.  Correction: I ate what I wanted and felt guilty."

"I loved the smell of books.  I kept breathing in until I felt too light, like I was inhaling all the knowledge from the books and there was no place for the information to go."

"Maybe hell was just an absence of something.  A void wanting to be filled."

"Decker was always able to believe in the impossible--that I could live when I was dead, that it could snow in August, that loving me was enough."

"Funny how everything can change in an instant.  From death to life.  From empty to full.  From darkness to light."

 

Busting the Newbie Blues Event

 

Today I am excited to participate in an event hosted by my friend Small, from Small Review.  This is a chance for new and old blogs to share some experiences and hopefully make some new blogger friends.  Anyone can join in the fun.  Click on the banner and head over to Small Review for the details.  To participate just answer the questions and post them on your blog and add your link to the list on Small’s blog.  Then visit other bloggers and compare your answers.  Most important have fun! 

Here are my answers:

1.   When did you start your blog?

I started my blog in September, but I didn’t have my official debut until November.  I signed up on a waiting list of a blog designer.  Supposedly, her wait was approximately one month.  After waiting anxiously for over two months, I sent a follow up email to inquire as to when she might get around to designing my blog.  Sadly, I never received a response of any kind. At first, I was frustrated! Then, thanks to a friend, I was referred to a designer, who ended up doing my blog.  She was fast and affordable and very inexpensive.  I had my blog designed and ready for the public within two weeks.  The good thing about the experience is while I waited for the design, I continued to research and write reviews.  By the time my blog debuted I had a wealth of knowledge on blogs and a stash of reviews tucked away.  It is always good to have extra reviews on hand.  The other great thing about the situation was, I had planned on spending about $200 to have the blog designed (yeah I know expensive).  I ended up spending a fraction of that.  So, in the end it was a win win situation for me and I loved the way my blog turned out.

 2.  Why did I start my blog?

After joining Goodreads and hanging around for a few months, I noticed a couple of things.  Many of my new friends had blogs.  I started checking out blogs and thought it was a fun way to share my love of books with others.  Second, like many bloggers, I was sucked in the by the lure of possibly having access to the ever coveted, ARC’s (Advanced Reader Copies) all I can say is be careful what you wish for, I find myself committed to reading many titles and my TBR (to be read pile) is ever growing, often times I am unable to read the books I am dying to read due to prior commitments.

 3.  What has been the biggest challenge you have faced so far?

I will have to refer back to my answer in question 1.  The non response of a designer, who left me hanging for two months without sending an email saying no, I can’t design your blog.

 4. What did you find most discouraging about being a new blogger?

I found it a little discouraging at first getting accepted into the “blogging club”.  Most bloggers are friendly and willing to help out but unfortunately I ran into a few, who didn’t bother to respond to my emails.  Best advice I can give to anyone thinking of blogging, is  take time to answer all your emails!  Yes, I know they are time consuming but you have to remember your followers helped your blog become successful, don’t ever get to the point where you think you don't have time to answer comments or emails!

 5. What do you find most encouraging?

Once I got my feet on the ground and found my way around, I have had the pleasure of making so many new blogger friends.  That is the best part of blogging, the interaction with the blogging community and your readers.  So, don’t be shy. Visit some blogs, leave some comments get to know your fellow bloggers.

 6.  What do you like best about the blogs you read? Have you tried to replicate this in your own blog?

Aside from the friendly interaction, I like seeing other blogger’s takes on the same books that I have read.  It is especially interesting sometimes to read differentiating opinions.  I also enjoy discovering new books that are reviewed on my friend’s blogs that I hadn’t heard of prior to reading their review.  As far as replicating things onto my own blog, for the most part, I haven’t. I am trying to keep my blog pretty original.  I have come up with a couple of my own features and I am looking forward to running them regularly.  The one feature that I do see many blogs do, that I am going to run, is feature the upcoming titles for the following week.  I love reading about all the great books that are on the horizon.

 7.  What do you dislike about blogs you’ve read?  Do you try to avoid this?

There are few things I have seen that I am not a fan of on other blogs.  One is blogs that are so cluttered that it is hard to find anything.  I have recently helped a couple of authors organize tours. I can’t tell you how many times I visited a blog looking for contact information and was unable to find it. If you want readers and authors/publishers to contact you, then you must have a visible email address! The best way to do this, is have an email button displayed somewhere on your blog, where it is easy to find.  I would recommend having a set of buttons on the top right, one for email, twitter, FB, GR, Feeds Burners,representative of any way that people can follow and find you.  Also, have your email listed under your about me section.  Another thing that I have run across is people copying someone’s meme.  If you try and copy a big blog’s regular meme, people are going to write you off.  Be creative and original in your ideas or participate in the meme you are trying to mirror, instead of copying it.

 8.  Any advice for other new bloggers?

Make sure you do your research before jumping into the blogging world.  Take your time to build and create an attractive blog, don’t just slap something together.  Prepare for the amount of time and commitment it takes to run a successful blog.  I would suggest practicing writing reviews and posting them on Goodreads before starting your blog.  Also, take the time to network and make plenty of contacts it will be extremely helpful and beneficial to you down the line.  Don’t be afraid to ask questions.  Most bloggers are willing to answer your emails if you need help.  If they don’t bother to respond then move along, there are plenty of other friendly bloggers out there who will offer advice.  When your blog takes off, don’t forget to turn around and help the newcomers.  

 9.  Any questions you would like to ask newbie or established blogger?

I would like to ask an established blogger how much time goes into their blog on a weekly basis.  I would estimate on my end the reading, writing and posting probably takes at least 15-20 hours a week.  For a newbie, are you prepared to make that type of commitment?

 10.  Is there anything you would like to tell us about your blog? 

My blog just recently kicked off a new feature that I am really excited about.  My feature is called, Bargain Book Bin, I purchase (or in many cases receive from authors) ebooks that fall into the bargain price range of $.99-$2.99.  I review and highlight these books, hoping to find some great reads for a steal.  There are plenty out there! I don’t review any of the free books for this feature because most of the time the price does not remain free.  I think this is a fun way to allow readers to participate, since often times bloggers are reviewing books that are ARC and not readily available to everyone.  I am trying to incorporate this feature on a weekly basis on my blog.  If you want to participate, contact me and I will be happy to post links to your bargain reviews on my next feature. 

 

Okay folks, that’s it! Hope you learned something from my answers. I will be visiting other blogs to see their answers.  There is plenty of time to join in, Small Review, is hosting the event for the entire month of January.  Please feel free to leave me a comment and your link and I will be glad to visit your blog and get to know you!

Happy Reading!

 

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children. 
 
If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company. And there are no strangers in the town of Near. These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life. But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true. The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.  As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.  Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab’s debut novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won’t soon forget. 
Hardcover, 282 pages 
Published August 2nd 2011 by Hyperion Books CH

Four stars: This is an enchanting book that reads like an old fairy tale.

"It starts with a crack, a sputter and a spark. The match hisses to life."

From the first line, this book transports you back to a simpler time.  When people still believed in the spirits of nature and witches were still somewhat accepted.  Before superstition and blame stormed in and banished them into hiding. For me, this a story that should be in an ancient, worn leather binding; tucked away on a shelf of favorite, old tales.  A volume that should be brought out in October and read when the shadows are long, around a warm fire.  This is a story where the wind has life, it whistles, whips, whirls and whispers through the pages, as it whisks around the town of Near, nestled next to the Moor.  One night a stranger, who seems to melt into the shadows, appears in the darkness on the outskirts of town.  Who is this mysterious boy?  On that same night, a child disappears.  Then the next night another.  Lexi a determined young lady, who misses her dead father so much it makes your heart ache, doesn't believe this enigmatic boy is responsible.  She refuses to hear the rumors circulating through the small town, and she sets out to uncover the truth behind the inexplicable disappearances.  It is a mystery that begins with an old children's rhyme,The Witch Song, echoing on the wind.  Can she unravel the secret in time?

What I Liked:

• The writing in this book is gorgeous.  The words have a life of their own.  They are spell binding and mesmerizing.  There are no simple descriptions in this book.  Everything is brought to life with stunning visual imagery.  I cannot do it justice in my explanation.  It is honestly some of the most breathtaking and beautiful writing I have encountered.  
• The tale of this book reads like a forgotten legend of old brought back to life.  A definite departure from contemporary young adult fiction.  It is creative and imaginative.
• Lexi, our heroine, is a girl trying to dull the pang of loss by filling her father's boots.  In an era when girls and women should be delicate; bound to the hearth and home, she defies the thinking of the times and stubbornly takes on the role of a tracker, like her father. I admired her strength and tenacity, especially when breaking free of societal expectations could be extremely dangerous.  
• The two old spinster, sister witches Magda and Dreska.  These two held the secrets of the town and they kept them well.  Their characters were cryptic and somewhat scary, but I thought they were fascinating. I would love to spend more time in their cottage drinking tea; waiting for them to divulge their archaic knowledge.
• The way that the author incorporated nature into the story.  The elements all had their own voice; the moor, the night, the rain and especially the wind.  The personification of the wind is magical.

 And The Not So Much:

• The story is somewhat slow and drags a little toward the end.  Not a lot happens in this book.  It moves at a deliberate speed.  Luckily, the writing is so superb you remain engaged. 
• The ending felt a little abrupt. The book slowly builds and builds and when it finally draws to a close it leaves a few unanswered questions. 
• This book is an amazing work of literary art.  I am surprised this is in the young adult category.  I feel that the average,  young teenage reader may not grasp the complex, beauty of this book.  I think it is best suited for older young adult readers; not due to the content; this book has no inappropriate material, but because this book is not a simple story, it is a sophisticated piece of literature, that younger readers may not fully appreciate.
• The character of Cole, is never fully revealed.  At the end of the story I still didn't even know his real name. He remains in part, a mystery.

The Near Witch is a beautiful, intriguing tale.  It draws on tales of old.  It has a dash of magic, the beginnings of a romance and the whispering of the wind.  I recommend you take time to appreciate the amazing and intricate weaving of words in this novel.  That to me is the best reason to read this book.  If you appreciate literary art then this book will speak to you. A magical book that should be read by a flickering candle or a crackling fire.  Pick up The Near Witch and be whisked away. 

Favorite Quotations:

"Fear is a strange thing," he used to say.  It has the power to make people close their eyes, turn away.  Nothing good grows out of fear."

"The trees all whisper, the leaves gossiping.  The stones are heavy thinkers, the sullen silent type.  He used to make up stories for everything in nature, giving it all voices, lives.  If the moor wind sings, you mustn't listen, not with all your ears.  Use only the edges.  Listen the way you'd look out the corners of your eyes.  The wind is lonely, love, and always looking for company."

"And then the clouds slip in.  They sweep silently across the sky and swallow the moon, and just like a candle snuffed out, the world goes dark."

"People know, but they try to forget," I say shaking my head. "They see witches as scary  stories, as monsters.  When my father was alive, things were better.  He believed that witches were blessings.  They are closer to nature than any human, because it is a part of them.  But most people believe witches are cursed."

"Of course she was.  Stories are always born from something."