High Cotton Country - Leta McCurry (Book Review)

High Cotton Country by Leta McCurry
Genres: Adult Fiction, Family
Publication date: December 15, 2014
Publisher:  Embers Publications
Format: ebook, 370 pages
How I got it: From Leta McCurry, Thank you for letting me read this book!
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes & Noble  | Createspace
My rating: 4/5
 
Secrets. Hidden they can destroy from within. Revealed they can explode her world.

A message that her father is dying sends a reluctant Cazzie Randle to his bedside but not to reconcile a lifelong estrangement. This is her last chance to make him reveal the secrets behind the memories that haunt her. He must answer questions of "Why?" Why did he abandon her? Why did her mother commit an act of such unspeakable horror?

An explosion of truth in a dusty Texas hill country town reveals old secrets and demands choices. But will she be able to choose or will she be paralyzed by all the old hurts, cruelty and betrayals that have driven her all her life? To find the answer, Cazzie must confront the very essence of who she has become and question whether the price was too high.

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My thoughts:

Cazzie was born into a rough life when she was very young her mother killed herself along with her two younger siblings. Cazzie was at school while this all happened.  Home became a treacherous place for Cazzie her dad felt lost without his wife and than she moved in with her grandparents with a grandfather who only saw it his way.  

As Cazzie began growing up all I could think was how hard her life was she was bullied at school and she didn't really have anyone she could talk with or open up to. As the story unfolds more people begin to let her down.

 

As I was reading the book I was just hoping that Cazzie would catch a break she had so much hardship she really needed something to grab a hold of.  I thought it was going to happen with her first husband, but looks can be deceiving. 

I loved the character development of Cazzie as the reader you need to read the whole book to piece all of her life together, but you can really feel the struggles that she went through to get to where she is today.   I felt like I was there along the side with her going through all of this.  Cazzie experienced so much in her early years that when she started having to work I think she had to thrive there was only one way and that was up.  Cazzie made her life into her work and trying to help her children the best she could. 

I also love the character of Nine she is introduced in the beginning of the book and we get to learn more about her in the middle of the book.  She is also a very strong women who is trusting as well as caring.  Nine and Cazzie seem very similar as both hardworking women who want to help there children grow and be successful. 

This book touches on many hot topics of today, such as child abandonment/hardships and bullying.  Cazzie experiences so many hardships and than child abandonment that for her to turn around and be there for her children means she has learned from the past and wanted to move forward and be better.  She did everything to protect her children from her shattered past.  I think this is a big thing because in today's society some people lean back on hardships they had as a child and they can't move passed them.  Cazzie not only moved passed them, but became a stronger person because of it. 

I suggest reading this book when you have some free time at night or even a weekend read.  The book is  easy to get into and once you start reading you want something to go right for Cazzie, but I also kept hoping there wouldn't be another fall out because I wasn't sure she could take any more.  This is an easy read with many great topics and gives you a lot to think about while reading.
 
I was received this book from the author Leta McCurry for the purpose of providing an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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About the Author

I have been writing since I was about twelve years old.  Prentice Hall, New York, published my college textbook, Introduction to Commercial Real Estate in 1990.  I confess I was an “accidental author” in this case because I never intended to write non-fiction.  My heart has always been with fiction.

People sometimes ask where I get ideas or inspiration for stories and I guess the answer is that an idea can come from anywhere – a news story, a random comment by someone, observation of interactions between people, my own or someone else’s reaction to an event or circumstance.  Once the kernel of the idea takes hold, I begin to see the story unfolding in my mind like a movie.  I just write what I see.

I love just about everything about writing but I think what I like the most is getting acquainted with new characters and seeing what they will do as the story develops. They often surprise me.

In addition to writing, I love family fellowship and am fortunate to enjoy a large, fun-loving and compatible family.  I also enjoy interacting with readers and other writers and fun times and conversations with my long time best friends, Dale, Donna and Ruth. High also on my list is church, golf, cooking (when I feel like it), my Min-Pin dog, Daisy Mae, and travel.  I have visited Hong Kong, Singapore, Mexico, Canada, Puerto Rico, Bahamas, St. John, Jamaica, Haiti, and many of the states, including Alaska and Hawaii.  My most recent trip was to Ireland which was particularly exciting because my ancestors migrated from there in 1750.

Author Links:

   

Secrets of Sand Mountain - Philip C. Elrod (Book Review)

Secrets of Sand Mountain by Philip C. Elrod
Genres: Fiction, Mystery
Publication date: December 10, 2015
Format: ebook, 416 pages
How I got it: I was given a copy from the author for an honest review
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
My rating: 4/5
 
The summer of 1944 – a sleepy little town in Southern Appalachia: on the surface, life seems simple and uncomplicated - but, people are not what they seem. Secrets and a dark heritage lurk just beneath the surface and suddenly erupt in danger, death, and destruction. Some characters, when challenged with life altering situations, rise to the occasion heroically - others, sink into the dark abysses of depravity. Many lives will never be the same following this hot summer of 1944.

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My thoughts:

This book is split into four sections that follows the life of one family from the small town in Southern Appalachia mountains.  We first meet Philip who seems very intelligent, but feels distanced from his family.  He seems to want to gain knowledge about the world around him as well as his family.  He gets a set of pearls from the local store and gives them to his Aunt Vi.  I think this is where the story really takes off.  Once Aunt Vi is introduced you can see the story is going to take several turns.

The character development is amazing each character is developed fully so as the reader you can get a quick feel for each of them without being overly detailed.  The setting the author picks for the scenes is also easy to follow for the reader.  It allows you to feel like you are 1940's with the war going on. I love who Philip transforms during the book and you can see him growing as you read.  We learn more and more about how Philip's family is made up and can see why people are the way they are, but from the beginning Philip wants to break that tradition. 

The details of the war really keep the story moving for me.  I love the details regarding gas rations it is a small detail, but you can see how it affects life for the people in the town.  It was very interesting to learn about what the family did to protect themselves from bombing at night by keeping the shades shut and also listening to the radio every night for updates on the war. The war is a big portion of the book and showing how people lived and acted during this time is very interesting to me.

This is an excellent book and if you love books set in time of war this is the perfect book.  The story really moves along so you want to keep reading to figure out what is going to happen to all the characters.  The plot is pretty complex with the story really taking place all over the world not just one small town, but you can see that other towns must have been going through the same thing.  There are so many great topics in the book this would be an excellent book club book.

I would highly suggest this book for a nighttime read or even a weekend read.  I think this is a book that gives you a lot to think about as a reader so it will really take you mind off of everyday life.

I was received this from the author for the purpose of providing an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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About the Author

Philip C. Elrod was raised in Crossville, a small town on top of Sand Mountain in Northeast Alabama. He served two years in the US Army, stationed in Germany and returned to attend college at the University of Florida and Florida Southern College Majoring in Industrial Engineering and Economics.

Mylea is his first novel. However, over the years of his professional career he has written many articles and manuals on data collection, computer technology and technical trading of securities. His most recent articles have been published by FXTraderMagazine.com and other international magazines.

Mr. Elrod resides, along with his wife of many years, Linda, and two wonderful little canine friends: Kokko, a five and half pound male Japanese Chin, and Tinker, a seven and half pound male miniature Shih Tzu. Tinker served as the inspiration for the fictional character, Mitch the Bitch. His interests include astronomy, photography, outdoor cooking and travel, especially RV travel with his wife and pets.

The author can be reached by via his website www.pcelrod.com

Risen: First Book of the Nameless Chronicle - M. T. Miller (Book Review)

Synopsis:
In the middle of nowhere, a nameless individual rises from the dark. With barely any knowledge apart from how to speak and how to kill, he finds himself in a world gone mad. Worse off, nearly everything that moves is out for his blood.

Not knowing where to turn, the wanderer traverses the desolate landscape of a ruined continent. Along his travels, his mind and body are pushed to their limits as he desperately tries to make sense of what has happened to the world, what he is, and why he exists.

Foe after foe meets their end at his hands, yet each kill only serves to raise more questions. Is he even human? What has happened to the world? Where does his path lead?

The answer lies beyond the blood-stained horizon.

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Review:
Full disclosure, I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank M.T. Miller for giving my the opportunity to read this apocalyptic fiction book.

This is a quick read about a man who wakes up from the grave.  He is originally trapped under the ground when he wakes up and needs to crawl out.  Nameless doesn't know what is going on in the world any longer or where he is.   So when the book first starts it jumps right into the action and might be confusing to the reader, but once the book gets going you are able to pick up more and more of what is going on.   As a reader I was able to feel comfortable with the writing style after the first few chapters.

The author sticks close to the original concept of Nameless not knowing what is going on as you basically learn as the narrator/main character learns what is going on.   The book is very fast paced and does cover a lot of ground in a short period of time.  The book makes you want to keep reading to learn exactly what is going on in the world and what is up with Nameless.

The book sets it self up really well for a squeal to be produced, I will be on the lookout to find out what is going to happen next!  

I would say this is a book to read right before bed, it takes your mind off the day.  It is a easy story to follow so you can pick it up and read whenever you are ready.

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My Rating 4/5

ASIN: B01ALZDY6A

Length 87
Format eBook

Link for Purchase: Amazon

Henchgirl - Rita Stradling (Book Review)

Synopsis:

The children of dragons and humans, the dracons, control eighty percent of the world’s governments. Humans worldwide are either subservient or prey. On the small vacation island of Mabi, humans call for war.

Sixteen year old Dakota Kekoa lives a double life. By day, she pretends to be a human to infiltrate Mabi Academy, a 'human's only' high-school. At night, she works as a henchman for her draconic mafia family, utilizing her ability to steal and manipulate emotions.

When Dakota’s human friend is kidnapped, she takes on the mission to find her. This is not just any mission though; she is diving head first into the escalating conflict between humans and dracons. As more girls disappear and some are discovered dead, Dakota realizes her first honorable mission may also be her last.

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Review:
I love when you read a book and after finishing it you want to read everything ever written by that author.  That is exactly how I felt about this book.   I went on a massive google hunt and now I added two additional books to my TBR list.  As well as patiently waiting on a squeal although this was just released so I know I will be waiting a little bit, but I need to know what is going to happen. 

I could not put this book down once I started it and pretty much finished it in one sitting.  The book opens with an explanation of what a Dracon is and from there we meet Dakota who is attempting to go into a night club that is very dangerous.  Dakota appears to be a very young girl who is a slightly unsure of herself, but once her first job is complete in the book you get to see a very independent and intelligent girl.  Sometimes looks can be deceiving.

The character development is amazing, you get a real feel as a reader of exactly how the characters look as well as the scenery around them.  From the night club to her grandfather's house to visiting the other side of the island as a reader you can almost imagine that you are there, which keeps the story moving along.   As a reader once I can visualize exactly what the characters are seeing I feel I am now part of the story.

I have read a few fantasy books before and this one is different the concept of focusing on Dragons.   The reader gets to learn about exactly what a Dracon in and that there are different levels of Dracons depending on the portion of human versus Dragon.  The whole Dragon world becomes intriguing to the reader and you want to know more about the different levels and what Dakota has to do with it.  Also, the Dracon's have special abilities that are mostly unique to that person.  It was interesting to see the author come up with so many aspects that a Dracon could have. 
   
To me this is a must read if you love fantasy books.  In my eyes this book hits exactly what a fantasy book should be with all the creative characters and a story that keeps you mind wandering into a fantasy world.  I would suggest having a longer time to read to complete this book because once you start you are going to want to know what is going to happen! 

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My Rating 5/5

Author website http://ritastradling.wix.com/author

Publisher Gill Publishing

ISBN 9781517470777

Length 397
Format eBook

Link for Purchase: Amazon

The Dean Machine - Dylan Lee Peters (Book Review)

Book Synopsis:
Meet Dan Delacor, an utterly boring citizen of Yellow City. Every day he puts on his yellow shoes, yellow shirt, yellow pants, and yellow tie, and catches a ride on the Tunnel Runner from the suburbs into downtown. He has a job, a home, and a girlfriend, and he never wonders what waits beyond the giant glass wall that surrounds Yellow City.
Except… Dan isn’t as boring as he seems. He often wonders why everything in Yellow City has to be yellow. He wonders why he suffers frequent anxiety attacks, and why he can’t help himself from strolling through dangerous neighborhoods, or running wildly through the fields that separate downtown from the suburbs. Mostly though, Dan wonders why he can’t remember how he lost his right arm, or anything that happened before five years ago.
So, when Dan’s mundane yellow world is interrupted with the seemingly impossible presence of a little red dog named Dean, he quickly finds out there are answers to his questions, and that everything he knows is a lie.
Follow Dan as he learns the secrets of his true identity, the scope of the world beyond the wall, and the true intentions of Yellow City’s mysterious leader, Chancellor Elgrey Vinsidian. Meet Wendy, the twelve-year-old girl on a rescue mission, Echo Valkzdokker, the woman with a love for danger, James Perkins, the wily pilot who has a way with words, and Bianna Kensington, the cold-mannered rebel with a cause. Look through the cracks of this new world with Dan as he learns why his little friend is nicknamed The Dean Machine, what special bond they share, and why the dog deserves a legacy that should live on forever.
He lives to love.
He would die to protect.
His heart is a machine.

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Book Review: 

Full disclosure, I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank Dylan Lee Peters for letting me read this amazing book!

I loved this book! The story is pretty complex and takes a large amount of twists and turns, but it kept me wanting to read more and more.  I needed to know what happened, what was actually happening in the story and honestly I didn't piece it all together to the way end.  The book makes you want to read, which is one of the hardest things I think an author must accomplish to produce a great book.  

I haven't read a great science fiction book in a while, but I feel this book crosses very close to mystery and suspense as well so it would capture the attention of a wider range of readers.   In the beginning of the book you learn a little about the mundane life that Dan is experiencing and he is just starting to sense something is not right in the world he is living in.   The book gives you bits and pieces of information that you take to be real as the reader in the beginning.  When the story begins to unfold you see a whole different concept develop, which is what is presented to you sometimes is not always real.  The characters in the story need to determine what is real and not real and also who they can trust if at all anyone, which leads to the mystery and suspense.

The character development of every major character in the story is great.  There are a lot of details given to the reader so you can imagine what everyone looks like as well as the great scenery details so you can almost feel like you are in Yellow City.  The story does visit some other locations and the descriptions allow you to get a clear picture of what is going on and what the characters are seeing.   It allows the reader to become part of the story.

The book touches on some topics about society today regarding how there are some very influential people at the top and their opinions give a large amount of sway in decisions.   A powerful influencer can change what people think and believe, which is exactly what happens in this book.  The author also gives their view on what can happen if this continues down the path of powerful influencers getting there way since no one seems to be stopping them.   It gives the reader a lot to think about while reading or after you’re finished with the book.

Dean is a rescue dog who didn’t have the best upbringing.  I love the story of Dean and how he became a machine.  I think it is imperative to the reader that you read the forward about the actual Dean.  I am a rescue pet owner myself and you never know what actually happened to the animal before they got to you; you can only move forward loving your pet and taking care of them.  

To me this is a must read if you love science fiction and mystery books.  It is more of an adult level read to me.  I would suggest this as a weekend read where you have enough time to sit down and really appreciate the book.  Also, you need time to digest the book once you have read it.

 

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My Rating 4.5/5
Author website www.dylanleepeters.com.
Publisher CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (December 4, 2015)
ISBN 9781519414663
Length 294
Format Ebook
Purchase Links: Amazon