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Saturday, December 30, 2017

Author Interview of Kevin Purdy

AW: Tell us about yourself…

I am the author of The Legend of Decimus Croome: A Halloween Carol  Originally from Montana, I now reside in Louisville, Colorado where I was a teacher for over twenty years. I write both fiction and non-fiction books as well as occasional magazine articles and blog posts. I am also the owner of Purdy Books and run the websitesPurdyBooks.com and Trailsnet.com.  I can be found on most social media outlets under both the Trailsnet and PurdyBooks user names.

AW: What genre do you write and why?

I write young adult, historical fiction and non-fiction. In addition to being a bibliophile, I’m also an anglophile, so I love to read and write books based on British history and British literature.

AW: Tell us about your book….

I believe The Legend of Decimus Croome: A Halloween Carol is bound to become a Halloween classic
Decimus Croome is a despicable fellow who hates all holidays but especially despises Halloween. However, Croome's life is transformed one memorable Halloween when four ghastly spirits pay him a visit to reveal the misery he has inflicted upon his friends, neighbors and family members. Join Tommy Bobbich, Decimus Croome and an enchanting cast of ghosts, witches and ghouls in this modern day holiday story that is sure to provide you with chills, laughs and even a few touching moments.
 Based on A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, The Legend of Decimus Croome is bound to become a Halloween classic for readers of all ages. Follow old man Croome as four hilarious and eccentric spirits turn his world inside out. And oh what spirits they are. Each one is more disturbing than the last as they deliver a chilling message for Croome and his fellow Halloween humbugs. Once you've read The Legend of Decimus Croome, you will never look at Halloween the same again.
 "If Charles Dickens, Edgar Allan Poe and Dr. Seuss conspired to write a novel, the results would probably look something like The Legend of Decimus Croome: A Halloween Carol. - BestHolidayBooks.com

AW: What was your inspiration for this book?
 I’m a huge fan of Halloween, but I noticed there are very few really good Halloween books out there that are appropriate for all ages whereas there are so many incredible Christmas stories. One of the very best of those is A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. In fact, Dickens is sometimes credited with being the man who popularized many of our modern Christmas traditions. But I always found it strange that a Christmas story centered around four ghosts. That sounded more like a great Halloween story to me. So as I began to see many of my friends and neighbors start to take a Scrooge-like attitude about Halloween, I decided it was time to write A Halloween Carol

AW: Do you have a favorite character and why that one?

Since Decimus Croome is the title character, it’s tremendously fun to watch how his attitude changes from the beginning of the book to the end. And then there are those incredibly eccentric ghosts. What’s not to love about a wisecracking pumpkin-head or a hilarious, shape-shifting witch? How about Tommy Bobbich, the Tiny Tim of A Halloween Carol? But I must admit, my favorite character of all is Black Magic. She provides some incredibly preposterous comic relief every time the book starts taking itself too seriously.

AW: Did you find anything particularly difficult in writing this book?
 Essentially I was trying to walk in the footsteps of one of the greatest writers of all time. It was as if Charles Dickens was my writing coach, and he was a stern taskmaster. I often reread parts of A Christmas Carol and other Dickens literature throughout the writing of A Halloween Carol. It was truly a humbling and educational experience. 

AW: What project(s) are you currently working on?
 
It’s as if ghosts got into my soul, and I can’t exorcise them. I am just in the brainstorming/outlining phase of a huge ghost story project that will include at least three books (possibly six) that will be like a combination of works by J.K. Rowling, Stephen King and J.R.R. Tolkien. Don’t expect anything too soon.

AW: Do you have any interesting writing quirks you want to tell us about?
 I’m a prodigious pre-writer and a meticulous editor/reviser. I spend WAY more time planning and revising my books than writing them.

AW: Do you have any advice for writers out there?
 
Start early, write often and network with other writers. And don’t forget to read on a daily basis and learn from the masters.

AW: Where can we find you? 
Thanks for asking!! You can find my imprint, PurdyBooks, on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and PurdyBooks.com.

AW: And of course we have to know, where can we find your book? 
In addition to participating bookstores such as Tattered Cover, Book Cellar and Boulder Bookstore, The Legend of Decimus Croome: A Halloween Carol can be found on Amazon.com in both e-book (Kindle) & paperback form.

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

His Secret Son by Brenda Jackson

Book Description:

Always a Lawman by Delores Fossen

Book Description:

Ten years ago, Sheriff Gabriel Beckett helped convict the man who murdered his parents in a shocking crime that still haunts his small Texas town. Now the terror has returned and the woman who escaped the attack is a target again.

Jodi Canton loved Gabriel—until that love shattered with his parents’ murder and her father’s conviction. Taunted with threats, she’s determined to bait the real killer out of hiding. Drawing out a criminal puts her life on the line, but Gabriel’s protection puts her heart in danger. Even if they survive a predator, can they risk everything to heal each other?

My Thoughts:
I enjoyed this book.  Gabriel is going to keep Jodi safe in spite of her attempts to make herself a target.  I liked that these characters have a past.  It was a twisted story that pulls you in and makes you want to read faster so you can figure out who the bad guy is.
I wasn't sure at all which was the bad guy of the choices.  Each had pros and cons on them.  The story didn't answer all of my questions so I will be looking for another from this author.  Jodi had her issues and I liked her boss but he had issues too.  
It was a 4/5 for me.  I cannot wait to have my questions answered!


Thank you to the author/publisher for the review copy of this book (via Lady Amber's Reviews).  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Thursday, December 21, 2017

Abuse of Discretion by Pamela Samuels Young

Abuse of Discretion (Dre Thomas Series Book 3)Book Description:
A Kid’s Curiosity … A Parent’s Nightmare 
The award-winning author of "Anybody’s Daughter" is back with an addictive courtroom drama that gives readers a shocking look inside the juvenile criminal justice system. 

Graylin Alexander is a model fourteen-year-old. When his adolescent curiosity gets the best of him, Graylin finds himself embroiled in a sexting scandal that threatens to ruin his life. Jenny Ungerman, the attorney hired to defend Graylin, is smart, confident and committed. She isn’t thrilled, however, when ex-prosecutor Angela Evans joins Graylin’s defense team. The two women instantly butt heads. Can they put aside their differences long enough to ensure Graylin gets justice? 

Unbeknownst to Angela, her boyfriend Dre is wrestling with his own drama. Someone from his past wants him dead. For Dre, his response is simple—kill or be killed. 

My Thoughts:
Wow.  This one is so realistic that it is scary.  This is the first book that I've ready by the author and I wasn't sure what to expect.  What I got was a story that could very well be pending in a court right now.  I work in the legal field and this story could be a file on my desk.  
The characters are realistic.  I felt horrible for Graylin and the situation he was in.  He had a great team for his defense though.  There is more going on but my focus remained on Graylin's story.  It was just infuriating and heartbreaking that because of technology kids that aren't bad kids can be branded as such.  Not because of anything they did either.  I will be looking for more from this author and go back to read the previous stories in this series.
It was a 4/5 for me.  

Thank you to the author/publisher for the review copy of this book (via PUYB).  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Monday, December 18, 2017

Imperfect Justice by Cara Putman

Imperfect Justice (Hidden Justice #2)Book Description:
To the world it seems obvious: Kaylene Adams killed her daughter and then was shot by police. Attorney Emilie Wesley knows a different story: Kaylene would never hurt anyone and was looking for a way out of a controlling, abusive relationship. Her death shakes Emilie’s belief that she can make a difference for women in violent marriages. Self-doubt plagues her as she struggles to continue her work in the wake of the tragedy.

Reid Billings thought he knew his sister—right up until he learned how she died. He discovers a letter from Kaylene begging him to fight for custody of her daughters if anything should happen to her. No attorney in her right mind would support an uncle instead of the father in a custody case, but Kaylene’s letter claims Emilie Wesley will help him.

Thrown together in a race to save Kaylene’s surviving daughter, Emily and Reid pursue the constantly evasive truth. If they can hang on to hope together, can they save a young girl—and find a future for themselves in the process?

My Thoughts:
This was a really good one.  Domestic violence is too prevalent and hard to write about but this author does a great job with it.  It is a completely believable story, and that is what makes such an impact.  Most of us know someone, maybe not in this exact situation, but in a similar enough one that they come to mind when reading this.  I thought the author just really did a fabulous job with the story.
The whole cast of characters are people you think you might very well meet walking down the street.  Reid is a strong brother/uncle who loves his family and is willing to do what it takes to keep what is left of them safe.  Emilie is such a strong, smart woman.  She is a character that I wanted to get to know and root for through the entire book.  I literally despised one character throughout the book and so wanted them to go down!  
It was a 5/5 for me.  The strong feelings I got from reading the book just got me!


Thank you to the author/publisher for the review copy of this book.  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Friday, December 15, 2017

Being Alpha by Katie Salidas

Being Alpha (Olde Town Pack)Book Description:
Newly-Minted Regional Alpha, Aeson Silverman hit the jackpot. Power, prestige, and wealth, he’s got everything a wolf-shifter could ask for.
Or so he thought…
Being the Alpha is not the playboy lifestyle he’d imagined.
Despite devastatingly good looks and an impressive wit, he can’t seem to get Emma MacBride, the hottie doctor from another pack, to give him the time of day.
Unfortunately a bruised ego is only the beginning of Aeson’s troubles.
Someone has been poisoning the minds of other territorial Alphas, systematically pitting neighbor against neighbor. And the moment he takes control of the Long Teeth territory the rising storm of dissension finds a way into his pack.
Allying himself with the powerful Olde Town pack, Ace chooses comradery over aggression and invites warring neighbors to join him for a meeting to establish peace.
Diplomacy comes with a reward earning him a date with the elusive doctor MacBride.
But every choice the young Alpha makes is under scrutiny and when his peaceful summit ends with the death of a high ranking wolf, the fate of his pack and his leadership hangs in the balance.
 

My Thoughts:
I enjoyed this book.  I've looked forward to another book from this author and this one was a good combination of some of her series.  Aeson is the new alpha and with the title has come a multitude of headaches.  Once he meets Emma, all he wants to do is impress her.  There is a lot going on and Aeson has to keep his focus or he risks a lot more than his heart being broken.
I wasn't a huge fan of Emma.  She was in love with someone who wasn't for her but also just kinda seemed fake.  I loved the other characters coming back in and how this wasn't just focused on romance, but on pack, loyalty and laws.  Pack brothers are close and I enjoyed watching how they relied on each other, though politics and everything swirled around them, it didn't stop them from having each others' backs.  
It was a 4/5 for me.  A good wrap up to the series (unless the author decides to *hopefully* write more!)

Thursday, December 14, 2017

Under the Mistletoe by Jill Shalvis

Book Description

Thursday, December 7, 2017

Murdered Gods (audiobook) by Marina Finlayson

Murdered Gods (Shadows of the Immortals, #2)Book Description:
Lexi didn’t set out to steal a god’s ring, but when a magic artifact starts trying to talk to you, what’s a girl supposed to do? She’s always had the ability to talk to animals, but this new development amps up the crazy. Now she’s afraid her power is out of control and she’s losing her mind. 

The only person who could possibly reassure her that she’s not going mad is her mother, who has always refused to discuss the source of Lexi’s strange ability. Now that the jewellery is getting chatty, maybe she’ll finally spill the beans. 

Unfortunately, going home means a trip back to the human territories, and Lexi only just made it out of there alive last time. She’s hoping for a quick visit, but with a god hellbent on retrieving the ring and a fireshaper she might have accidentally betrayed on her tail, life is about to get horribly complicated—for her and everyone she cares about. 

My Thoughts:
This was a wild ride.  Lexi has decided that maybe not ALL shapers are as bad as she thought.  That being said, when you take a ring that was in the possession of one and he was just starting to trust you, well that doesn't really help build his trust.  Seeking answers brings her more questions than answers.
Is she a member of this new group she met and just forgot?  Are they who she hopes they are or who Jake says they are?  Confusion and hope tangle in her.  Nothing from her past is as she remembers.  Her new friends may not be friends at all and Jake may never trust her again.
It was a 4/5 for me.  I am truly enjoying these books.

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

Wolf Hunger by Paige Tyler

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Tuesday, December 5, 2017

Dangerous Illusions by Irene Hannon

Dangerous Illusions (Code of Honor #1)Book Description:
Trish Bailey is on overload trying to deal with a demanding job, an ailing mother, and a healing heart. When a series of unsettling memory lapses leads to a tragic death--and puts Trish under police scrutiny--her world is once again thrown into turmoil.

Detective Colin Flynn isn't certain what to think of the facts he uncovers during his investigation. Did Trish simply make a terrible mistake or is there more to the case than meets the eye? As he searches for answers, disturbing information begins to emerge--and if the forces at work are as evil as he suspects, the situation isn't just dangerous . . . it's deadly.

Bestselling and award-winning author Irene Hannon captures readers with a mind-bending story that will have them doubling back to retrace their steps--and figure out what they missed!

My Thoughts:
As always, I thoroughly enjoyed Mrs. Hannon's book.  This one has suspense, mystery, romance, and action.  I like the different points of view.  The bad guy is really bad.  I thought the author did a great job of taking us down the path and I wasn't certain at any point who the bad guy was.
I really liked Trish.  My heart broke for her with what she was going through.  Colin was a good guy.  I would not be able to handle the job he has (or that Trish had for that matter).  This book has strong characters and a story that makes you not want to put the book down!It was a 4/5 for me.  I cannot wait to read the next in this series.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy of this book.  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Christmas Ranch Rescue by Lynnette Eason & Lauryn Eason

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Friday, December 1, 2017

Dubiosity by Christy Barritt

Book Description