Month: November 2017

Book Review: The Night Parade by Ronald Malfi

Categories Dystopian, Ronald Malfi, Speculative-Fiction, Supernatural1 Comment on Book Review: The Night Parade by Ronald Malfi
Author: Ronald Malfi
Release Date: 26th July 2016
Genre: Science-Fiction, Dystopian, Apocalyptic, Supernatural
Edition: Ebook
Pages: 384
Publisher: Kensington Press

Blurb:
First the birds disappeared.
Then the insects took over.
Then the madness began . . .
They call it Wanderer’s Folly–a disease of delusions, of daydreams and nightmares. A plague threatening to wipe out the human race.
After two years of creeping decay, David Arlen woke up one morning thinking that the worst was over. By midnight, he’s bleeding and terrified, his wife is dead, and he’s on the run in a stolen car with his eight-year-old daughter, who may be the key to a cure.
Ellie is a special girl. Deep. Insightful. And she knows David is lying to her. Lying about her mother. Lying about what they’re running from. And lying about what he sees when he takes his eyes off the road . . .

REVIEW

★★★★

The Night Parade by Ronald Malfi is a very engaging and emotional read.

Initially, after reading the first couple of pages, I felt the plot might be similar to Firestarter by Stephen King, a book I really, really loved(!) but as the plot progressed I felt reassured that this book was not entirely like it. Though the basic concept is the same – Father-daughter duo fighting and running from the world because of the daughter’s supernatural ability, this book was different in its own way. In this book, for one, the father did not possess supernatural abilities. This really made things different, though the main conflict of the father was that he did not have enough time (just like in Firestarter.) The one thing that made this book entirely different from Firestarter is the main backdrop and the central theme – The apocalypse, a world falling prey to an unidentified and seemingly incurable plague. Though I do feel that this book is kind of a homage to Mr King’s masterpiece.

The best part of the book was the conflicts, both inner and outer. I liked the characters of David and Ellie and rooted for them both till the very end. The buildup was very good and the ending was reasonable, though I did see it coming, because really, how could a book like this end? Still, I felt like I was sucker punched in the belly.

The alternating timelines added a lot to the suspense buildup and, overall I really liked this book. In spite of being almost 400 pages, it proved to be a quick read because of the high tension that was maintained throughout the book.

I’d recommend this book to every dystopian fan, though sci-fi and apocalyptic lovers might find this book a bit “low-key” as compared to the action-packed drama we normally expect from these genres.

Goodreads, NetGalley and Amazon

Book Review: Small Hours by Jennifer Kitses

Categories Contemporary Fiction, Jennifer Kitses1 Comment on Book Review: Small Hours by Jennifer Kitses
Author: Jennifer Kitses
Release Date: 13th June 2017
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Edition: Ebook
Pages: 288
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Blurb:

In the vein of Richard Russo and Tom Perrotta, a gripping, suspenseful, and gorgeous debut novel–told hour-by-hour over the course of a single day–in which a husband and wife try to outrun long-buried secrets, sending their lives spiraling into chaos.

REVIEW

★★★★ + 1/2

Small Hours by Jennifer Kitses is an intense read that is sure to leave a mark on the readers.

Given the short and undescriptive blurb of this book, I wasn’t sure what exactly to expect from it. Though sceptical, I decided to give it a try as it kind of intrigued me. Anyway, reading a book without knowing anything about the story is quite exciting, at least for me, so I went ahead and read it. By the quarter mark, I was glad that I did so as this book turned out to be an excellent example of what exactly a contemporary fiction book should be like.

I liked the plot and the basic premise of the story. It was a very intense read about the complexities of relationships and how people change with time and their thought-process and reactions get impacted accordingly. The characterization was brilliant and though I didn’t connect tot he characters personally, I was very engaged int heir day-to-day life.

The beginning of the story was very engaging and the ending was utterly perfect, it was so good in fact that I read the last part thrice to soak it all in – the way issues were confronted and handled. I loved the inner conflicts in this book and really marvelled the author’s writing style.

If you want to read one contemporary fiction this year, make sure this is it.

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Book Review: Call A Spade by D.M. Griffin

Categories D.M. Griffin, Dystopian, Science-FictionLeave a Comment on Book Review: Call A Spade by D.M. Griffin
Author: D. M. Griffin
Release Date: 28th April 2017
Genre: Science-Fiction, Thriller, Dystopian
Edition: Ebook
Pages: 225
Publisher: –

Blurb:
CALL A SPADE is a tale of the silver buried beneath tarnish, of unlikely heroism, and of courage and resolve in the face of overwhelming odds.
Jasper never wanted to be a hero; Jasper just wants to be normal. But just as Jasper had no part in choosing how he would be born, he also becomes the unintentional recipient of an amazing and very dangerous gift – a gift that only Jasper himself can decide how to use.

Review

★★★★

Call A Spade by D.M. Griffin is a very engaging science-fiction thriller that’ll capture your interest from the beginning till the very end.

Although shocking, the idea of the plot is not only strong but very probable which makes this book a compelling read. There’s a mix of everything – good action, low-key drama and quality humour, in this book. What else could you expect from a sci-fi thriller?!

The protagonist is an 8-year-old child who suffers from Apert’s Syndrome. Despite his aesthetic deformities, he is a great kid with a praiseworthy sense of humour for a child that age. He is extremely likeable and I was able to feel a connection with him right from the start. Other than the lead character, I loved the secondary characters of Ethan and Ashlyn as well, they both were very sweet and I enjoyed reading about them.

The book did start with a rather lengthy exposition, but when the lead character was revealed it was all worth it. The ending was great as well. And I’m sure as hell going to keep an eye out for other books by the author.

I’d recommend this book to all sci-fi lovers and even to all those readers who don’t mind reading action, adventure and thriller fiction.

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Book Review: Into The Light by Emily Stroia

Categories Emily StroiaLeave a Comment on Book Review: Into The Light by Emily Stroia
Author: Emily Stroia
Release Date: 4th October 2017
Genre: Poetry, Self-Discovery
Edition: Ebook
Pages: 158
Publisher: –

Blurb:
Into the Light is a memoir-inspired poetry collection in seven parts.
The book shares the author’s life from a transformative perspective of being in a deep state of darkness to finding hope, miracles and light. In the final part, there are notes to the reader and finding one’s inner peace after adversity.
This book explores trauma, abuse, sexual abuse, mental illness, loss, healing, spirituality, meditation, inspiration and empowerment.

Review

★★★★

Into The Light by Emily Stroia is an intense poetry book that’ll sure to win your heart.

The poems are categorized in a very intelligent way and take you to the deepest reaches of emotions. You’ll experience a plethora of emotions – dispair, anxiousness, heartbreak, empathy, tiredness, but above all hope while reading this beautiful book.

I liked each and every poem and could relate to almost all of them in a way that really surprised me. Though the author writes from her own experiences, the poems speak to the heart of the reader, making them feel like they’re not alone and that someone else is there who’s gone through something that wasn’t in their control, yet emerged as a victor and so they can too.

I’d recommend this book to everyone, whether or not a poetry reader, as this book has something to offer to everyone. Moreover, this book is more like a stimulus for one’s inner self rather than just another book.

More from the author:
- Author Interview: Emily Stroia
- Guest Post: Forgiving The Unforgivable by Emily Stroia

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Guest Post: Forgiving The Unforgivable by Emily Stroia

Categories Guest Posts9 Comments on Guest Post: Forgiving The Unforgivable by Emily Stroia

Today, at TRB Lounge, we are hosting author Emily Stroia, author of Into The Light.

Presenting Emily Stroia…

Forgiving The Unforgivable

For the longest time I didn’t know how I could forgive my parents. All I ever wanted from them was to have a loving healthy relationship. I couldn’t understand why or how they became the way they did.

Growing up in an abusive home showed me experiences that I didn’t need to see. Experiencing sexual abuse from my Father destroyed any last hope that things could truly be different.

I hoped that every time we talked it would be different and that miraculously he would be the Father I always dreamed of. My hope turned slowly into resentment and anger.

There simply wasn’t anything left in me to forgive a man who kept repeating the same behaviors.

In turn it only made me worse in my relationships with partners, friends, myself. My pride in my own beauty and integrity started to fade. The woman I’d wake up to in the mirror I didn’t know.

I’m not sure I ever truly knew her then.

I harbored a resentment so grand that it blocked me from trusting other people and from trusting myself. I wanted to believe that the world wouldn’t hurt me but my thought process was “If my Father could do this to me then anyone most definitely can”.

So life went by and I had armor around my heart and a cynical mindset that just wouldn’t budge.

I knew I wanted to heal this but I just didn’t know how so I tried nearly everything. I went to hypnotherapy, studied with meditation gurus, explored healing through intuition and spirituality.

The one thing that was missing was me; me allowing my pain to have a voice.

I felt ashamed about the sexual abuse. I felt like it was my fault and that everyone would see it that way.

Only through years of intense therapy, transformational workshops and yoga training did I finally allow what was buried inside of me to have a voice.

The more I screamed and cried about it the better I felt. The more I began to understand who my parents were as people not just as two people who raised me.

The word forgiveness creeped into my mind and for the first time I could feel myself feeling true forgiveness in my heart towards them.

I could feel myself freed from a lifetime of pain and nightmares that haunted me.

We can read a million quotes, books and take enough trainings to save our life on forgiveness but it truly comes down to willingness.

Are you willing to forgive the unforgivable?

If the answer is ‘No’, then let it be no without shame, without judgment.

Own your feelings and slowly freedom will find you through this process.

I wasn’t willing.

Until I realized that I was suffering more than I needed to.

Living a fulfilled and happy life was more important to me than holding resentment and anger in my heart towards someone who is simply living life their way.

Could things have been different?

Sure.

But it wasn’t. This is the story I was born into but it definitely doesn’t have to be the ending.

A poem from my new book, Into the Light:

Forgiveness is letting go

Of the story of how it should be.

Accept what was,

Surrender the fight,

Loving the dark & the light.

By freeing ourselves from the attachment that this experience or this person could have been any other way we take our power back.

I know that is what my heart desires.

 

About the author:

Emily is an intuitive teacher, spiritual leader, author and artist. Emily first discovered her gifts of intuition and creativity as a child and was placed in a highly gifted program for children. She often explored her gifts through writing, art, and experienced frequent visions and dreams that would turn out to be accurate. Not understanding fully why or how she was able to do this, she decided to study. She has always felt a strong attraction to the metaphysical and spiritual aspects of life and continues to delve deeper into each. Believing strongly in her intuitive gifts, as well as wanting to express her deep desire to help people, Emily decided to utilize her abilities to turn her passion into a profession.

Contact Details:

Website: http://www.emilystroia.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmilyStroia/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EmilyStroia
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilystroia/

About the book:

Into the Light is a memoir-inspired poetry collection in seven parts. The book shares the author’s life from a transformative perspective of experiencing trauma & darkness to finding hope, miracles and light.

In the final part, there are notes to the reader and finding one’s inner peace after adversity and healing through brokenness. This book explores trauma, abuse, sexual abuse, mental illness, loss, healing, spirituality, meditation, inspiration and empowerment. This book is for anyone who has ever experienced loss, grief, brokenness, depression, abuse, trauma and heartbreak.

Book Links:

Book site: http://www.emilystroia.com/intothelight 
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Into-Light-Emily-Stroia-ebook/dp/B0765VJGJ2/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36365956-into-the-light

If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author’s guest post on TRB, then please get in touch through email at thereadingbud@gmail.com

Book Review: Solstice (Star-Crossed Saga #3) by Baxton A. Cosby

Categories Braxton A. Cosby, Romance, Science-FictionLeave a Comment on Book Review: Solstice (Star-Crossed Saga #3) by Baxton A. Cosby
Author: Braxton A. Cosby
Release Date: 25th November 2017
Genre: Science-Fiction, Romance
Edition: Ebook
Pages: 315
Publisher: Cosby Media Production

Blurb:
What You Believe, Can Destroy You!
William and Sydney have sacrificed everything to fortify their love, so much so that William dares to brave the depths of space to find a cure for their deadly Supernova bond, leaving both her and Earth vulnerable to alien Torrian Alliance’s attack. But with a full scale civil war in play on Fabricius, the reality of Sydney’s execution from Torrian hands is diminished, only eclipsed by the certainty of a more threats – The Third Faction and The Dagmas Clan – lead by Dominic and his insurgent recruits on a quest to complete the failed assassination of the teenage girl. With overwhelming odds mounting against them, William makes a desperate attempt to find the last of the endangered Star-children only to be captured by a new menace, where he is forced to compete in the dreaded Gauntlet of sport. Allies surge to free Fabricius, seeking alliances across the galaxy while Sydney tries to keep her identity hidden and trains to master the third phase of her Star-child evolution: Solstice. With Sarah’s mysterious return home with clues to unlock the future, Noella’s training and Bill’s symbiotic development hope is restored, but will it be enough to unite the galaxy and destroy evil for once and for all?

Review

★★★★

Solstice by Braxton A. Cosby, the third instalment in the Star-Crossed Saga, is the perfect end to such an amazing trilogy.

I enjoyed the first and the second parts of this series, Protostar and Supernova, of this series a lot and when given the chance to review the third part, I was more than willing to do so! What I really liked about this book was that there were a lot of sub-plots running along the main plot, which kept the tension up and the mind engrossed. The danger was also kept imminent from all sides which only upped the anticipation.

The ending was apt and it won’t be an exaggeration if I say that it was indeed satisfactory. I liked how everything turned out at the end. It was a roller coaster ride that ended on a high note and that is exactly what makes a series worth reading.

I enjoyed this book and the overall series is great for sci-fi readers. Even romance fiction enthusiasts would enjoy this series. I’m looking forward to reading more by the author.

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Author Interview: Emily Stroia

Categories Author Interview1 Comment on Author Interview: Emily Stroia

Welcome to TRB Lounge. Today, I’d like to welcome Emily Stroia, author of Into The Light, for an author Interview.

About the author:

Emily is an intuitive teacher, spiritual leader, author and artist. Emily first discovered her gifts of intuition and creativity as a child and was placed in a highly gifted program for children. She often explored her gifts through writing, art, and experienced frequent visions and dreams that would turn out to be accurate. Not understanding fully why or how she was able to do this, she decided to study. She has always felt a strong attraction to the metaphysical and spiritual aspects of life and continues to delve deeper into each. Believing strongly in her intuitive gifts, as well as wanting to express her deep desire to help people, Emily decided to utilize her abilities to turn her passion into a profession.

Her mission is to inspire people to find the gifts in
their stories and live powerful transformed lives with
ease and peace.
Her life is a breathing expression of intuition,
passion, spirituality and creativity.
Most days you can find her coaching clients, writing, practicing yoga and playing with her dog in Los Angeles.

Contact Details:

Website: http://www.emilystroia.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmilyStroia/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EmilyStroia
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilystroia/

Hello, Emily. Thank you for being here today.

Can you please tell my readers a little bit about yourself?

I am a spiritual teacher, intuitive and writer. I am avid practitioner of yoga and love exploring new ways to heal and connect to my intuition. I live in Los Angeles with my mini-schnauzer, Scarlett.

Please tell us about your book?

Into the Light is a memoir-inspired journey of healing and transformation told through poetry. It explores abuse, trauma, mental illness, healing and finding peace in the past through personal exploration and spirituality.

How long did it take you to write it?

A little under a year.

Why did you choose this topic?

Healing has been an ongoing journey for me and this topic is very personal to my heart. I am passionate about sharing tools to heal and grow in the darkest times of life.

Which writers in your field inspire you?

Rupi Kaur, Pavana Reddy, Gabrielle Bernstein, Rebecca Campbell.

What inspired you to write?

One day I picked up Milk & Honey in a bookstore in Bushwick and was immediately curious about the work. I fell in love with Rupi’s writing and learned about her story of being raped. I knew then that it was time to share my story with women and anyone who has experienced abuse.

Are you working on any other project(s) right now? If yes, what are they?

I am working on a second book that will be in addition to Into the Light. This will explore the recovery process after loss, abuse, falling in love and continuing the transformational journey.

How do you prefer to write? On computer/laptop, typewriter, dictation or longhand with a pen?

I prefer to write on my laptop and traditional pen and paper.

What are your 5 favorite books and 5 favorite authors?

Milk & Honey by Rupi Kaur, Brave on the Rocks by Sabrina Ward Harrison, Light is the New Black by Rebecca Campbell, Spirit Junkie by Gabrielle Bernstein, Wild by Cheryl Strayed

Non-Fiction deals with a lot of facts and real-life study. How do you deal with the all research work?

My research is mainly focused on personal growth, spiritual insight and finding inspiration from new places, writers, artists and stories.

What advice would you give to new aspiring authors in your genre?

Explore writing without being attached to the outcome. Let go of any insecurity with if the work will be good or not. If anything remember WHY you are drawn to writing and visualize where you want the work to go. Who’s life will it touch?

Thank you, Emily, for all your enlightening answers! 

About The Book:

Into the Light is a memoir-inspired poetry collection in seven parts. The book shares the author’s life from a transformative perspective of experiencing trauma & darkness to finding hope, miracles and light.

In the final part, there are notes to the reader and finding one’s inner peace after adversity and healing through brokenness. This book explores trauma, abuse, sexual abuse, mental illness, loss, healing, spirituality, meditation, inspiration and empowerment. This book is for anyone who has ever experienced loss, grief, brokenness, depression, abuse, trauma and heartbreak.

Book Links:

Book site: http://www.emilystroia.com/intothelight 
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Into-Light-Emily-Stroia-ebook/dp/B0765VJGJ2/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36365956-into-the-light

For more author interviews, click here.

If you are an author and wish to be interviewed or if you are a publicist and want to get your author interviewed on TRB, then please get in touch through direct e-mail: thereadingbud@gmail.com