book review

Let’s Change It Up; One More Time…

Angela5 Comments

…so I was kindly contacted by WordPress (no sarcasm here; I was glad they called me), letting me know my Business plan I paid for last year was about to expire ($299.00). Did I want to renew? Um; no; I didn’t. Through no fault of their own, I had some issues getting my store part of the business page working correctly, and I was not seeing the benefits I expected.

Some mistakes were on my side, and the person I talked to was kind enough to at least credit me to get some new things going forward on my plan so I did not lose all of that money.

So a few lessons here; my page is changing…again. I am trying to remove my store from my WordPress page, because I am literally not getting emails when someone contacts me, or buys something from me.

And Thank You to my customers who have been more than forgiving through this.

The Business account should expire shortly, and I am working on an Etsy store for any editing needs as well as merchandise all about books, for both writers and readers alike. Until then; you are going to see a Books & Opinions page still hanging out here that I cannot connect with.

And how is your Monday going?

 

My Sweet Audrina – VC Andrews

Angela2 Comments

One of the few books (now), that were actually written by VC Andrews; I remember this book from 30 years ago, and how much I loved it.

So I read it again; and loved it just as much. Poor sweet Audrina was manipulated and made to believe a life that was never real.

My Sweet Audrina Cover Image

But she has grown up; and fought back.

Fought against her father, her half-sister, and everyone else who wanted to destroy her.

If you want a good weekend read; this is definitely it.

I will honestly tell you right now that there is a sequel to this story coming out this summer, written by who knows who.

But they had the first few chapters at the end of this eBook, and I had to write to Simon and Schuster.

The errors were ridiculous. The story did not follow anything that was in the first book; and I am honestly debating buying this sequel. If I buy it and see they did not fix the neon-flashing-glaring-issues I pointed out….well; I’m just going to get mad.

It is hard to read a story so full of sorrow; but it is also what sucks me in from the beginning.

Do you read VC Andrews? Have you read her way back when?

I would love to hear what you think about the “changes”.

My Missing Book Review – A Crying Shame by William W. Johnstone

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Leave it to me to completely leave out the actual book review from the last post I did about William W. Johnstone. So; my apologies, and here it is!

A Crying Shame Cover Image

Sheriff Mike Saucier has his hands full when the Links stop keeping themselves hidden, and start taking revenge on the townspeople. They seem to have been infected with some sickness, and these half-human beings are going mad and no longer concerned about staying hidden.

Jon Badon is a mercenary brought to Fountain Parish, home to the Crying Swamp, by Paul Breaux. Paul had discovered what he since named the Links, as in “the missing link”. Part human, part animal, the Links had been around for hundreds of years.

As a genetic mutation took hold, they could no longer have female children, so in order for them to not die off, women of the parish were kidnapped and used for childbearing. Any babies that were human enough were left on doorsteps in town, to be raised with, and by, humans.

Jon Badon is determined to do what he was paid to do; get rid of the links. His Scientist and Doctor friends disagree. As Jon grows closer to Linda Breaux, he promises both of them that after this last mission, he will retire, and they will get married and start a family.

Can humans and half-humans really exist together? It may not always be necessary to fear something just because it is different than you.

I would love to tell you how it ends, but you know my policy; no spoilers if I can help it. This is a quick read, and a great story! I hope you give it a try!

A Crying Shame – William W. Johnstone

Angela1 Comment

This is one of very few horror books I had not read by Mr. Johnstone.

Those of you that have been following me, and those of you that know me, know that I absolutely adore his writing. It literally changed my life!

I would go to the grocery store with my Mom every week. And every week; I would find a book I wanted to read, and she said, just get it!.

Rockinghorse. That is the book that made me write to him in the first place. A silly teenaged girl using a typewriter (Yes; an actual typewriter), to write to Mr. Johnstone and let him know how that book lit a fire in me.

And I found more of his books. And I came home from middle school one day for my Mom to tell me I got something in the mail!

It was an autographed book, and a letter, and it put me on the path of reading and writing that was so amazing to me. I continued my correspondence, and had the pleasure of having a NY Times best selling author telling me what to do to succeed.

(After I read Rockinghorse, I was so amazed at how the story played out, I asked him if he wrote it from the ending, and then filled in the rest!) I could not honestly believe, at 11 years old, that someone was capable of seeing all of that in their mind, and writing it out.

…I feel like I have wasted time…I have stories in my head; stories I write; but it is not the right time…

I am waiting for my Rockinghorse; and as soon as I have it; I know that I have succeeded.

Thank you Mr. William W. Johnstone. You were a gift to me; and your books are a gift to everyone… I truly miss you, and will try to get over the disappointment I feel for not publishing a book before you could read it.

 

 

Sweet Dreams – William W. Johnstone

Angela2 Comments

I have to say for not having read this story in at least 20 years, it took less than 2 pages into it that I remembered the story, the main characters, and numerous other things I should have long ago forgotten.

Sweet Dreams

I either read this book more times than I could even guess when I was a teenager, or I have a place in my brain where I lock things away that are safe from my forgetfulness.

Heather and Mark are young teenagers who are both new to the same small town. The same small town where very strange things are happening with some of the residents. There is no rhyme or reason. Young or old, boy or girl, random members of the town are behaving in ways that are very disturbing to a couple of the adults who see what is happening.

Sweet Dreams Autograph.png
Almost 30 years ago when I received this in the mail!

 

Jerry is the town doctor, and Maryruth is a psychiatrist. And the numerous side characters are easy to follow, and you quickly get a vested interest in them.

It is all about Satan, and pure evil, and I will tell you right now, this book is very graphic in the horror department, so consider yourself warned. And my Mom bought this for me when I was 11… 🙂

It is a good read, and you will not be sorry you picked it up. I highly recommend it, and I would have recommended it 30 years ago before I reached out to the author and began a snail-mail communication.