Guest Post: Forgiving The Unforgivable by Emily Stroia

15/11/201713/11/2017Guest Posts9 Comments

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

14/11/201714/11/2017Braxton A. Cosby, Romance, Science-FictionLeave a Comment

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

07/11/2017Author Interview1 Comment

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

About the author:

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:

Book Links:

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

Book Review: Project Bodi: Awaken the Power of Insight by Hosein Kouros-Mehr

30/10/2017Hosein Kouros-Mehr, Science-Fiction2 Comments

Author: Hosein Kouros-Mehr
Release Date: 3rdSeptember 2017
Genre: Science Fiction
Edition: Ebook
Pages: 220
Publisher: Self-Published

Blurb:

In 2029, Google is the most dominant company in the world. Dr. Bethany Andrews heads the company’s Artificial Intelligence Department and leads Project Bodi, the world’s most advanced Augmented Reality smartglasses that will one day revolutionize the tech space. Her lead programmer is Austin Sanders, a 26-year-old psychonaut who loves Burning Man and electronic dance music. Together they embark on a life-changing journey to design the product of the decade, and along the way they discover the mind’s inner source of insight and innovation.

Review

★★★+1/2

Project Bodi by Hosein Kouros-Mehr is a unique science-fiction book that not only tells a story but also imparts knowledge of subjects not commonly talked about.

Despite being a high-tech science fiction book, I liked the reliability of it to the real world. Science fiction books that have their roots in the reality of the real world are always very strong, and this book was exactly that. The author did a great job describing and explaining and even in spreading awareness about subjects like mental peace, meditation, finding the inner self and gaining knowledge by exploring the real capabilities of the mind.

The writing was another plus as I enjoyed the flow of the words that were both simple and effective. The plot development was good and the overall story progression was smooth.

I enjoyed reading it and would recommend it to anyone who wants to read a science-fiction book with a heady twist.

Bookstagram

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Book Review: Going All In by Stephanie C. Lyons-Keeley and Wayne J. Keeley

26/10/2017Contemporary Fiction, Stephanie C. Lyons-Keeley, Wayne J. Keeley1 Comment

Author: Stephanie C. Lyons-Keeley & Wayne J. Keeley
Release Date: 17th October 2017
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Adult, Light Erotica
Edition: Ebook
Pages: 359
Publisher: Melange Books

Blurb:

Three mismatched suburban couples, Steve and Katie, Marty and Erin, and Scarlett and C. Thomas, have been neighbors and friends for years. During a pummeling Connecticut Nor’Easter, the members of the bored triptych engage in a friendly game of Texas Hold’em in front of a fire and over more than a few bottles of Merlot. The impromptu get-together eventually leads to the institution of alcohol-driven, bi-weekly poker nights.
One evening on a lark, someone suggests an alternate payout – instead of pocket change, the winner may choose a player (other than his or her spouse) with whom to spend the night. The proposition takes shape, but complications arise as these things will.
All too quickly, friendships are strained and relationships begin to crumble. Lies are told, truths are exposed, and feelings are hurt. In the end, can anyone bear the weight of this wanton self-indulgence? They are six fully consenting adults, and after all, it’s only a game. Or is it?

Review

★★★★+1/2

Going All In by Stephanie C. Lyons-Keeley & Wayne J. Keeley is a contemporary fiction (bordering on erotic fiction) written very well by the husband-wife author duo and rich with authentic characterization.

When I read the blurb of this book, I was quite intrigued yet a little sceptic, but having read the authors’ previous book Deadraiser, I accepted the book knowing how the writing would be. And to my utter pleasure, the book turned out to be really good!

I loved the way the story was told as the easy flow of the writing made reading this book not only easy but also very quick. There was a use of different POVs which helped me in relating to most of the characters. But the best part about this book was the characterization. The characters were so realistic that it was hard to imagine that it wasn’t a true story. All the characters were unique and had qualities that made them real and relatable. I was really vouching for Steve and Katie’s relationship but I must say that the end was nothing short of satisfying given what he did.

In this book, the authors beautifully experiments and bring us face to face with different human tendencies that anyone can or would exhibit. I’m sure that about eighty percent of the people I know are like Steve; they know what they really want but always try to do the right thing and not think about anything else really.

I’d recommend this book to all the contemporary readers and Poker lovers (you’d love the book just for the kicks alone.)

PS: The book is not outright erotica but it does have some pretty explicit scenes.

Bookstagram

https://www.instagram.com/p/BatoU9rDDgw/

Goodreads and Amazon

Book Review: Supernova (The Star-Crossed Saga #2) by Braxton A. Cosby

16/10/201716/10/2017Braxton A. Cosby, Romance, Science-Fiction3 Comments

Author: Braxton A. Cosby
Release Date: 28th June 2015
Genre: Science-Fiction, Romance
Edition: Audiobook
Pages: 293
Publisher:

Blurb:

WHAT YOU CHOOSE, BECOMES YOU…
Against everything he had known as truth, William has made the choice to protect Sydney from the forces seeking to destroy her. But just as these two Star-Crossed lovers are beginning to explore their relationship and search for answers to the mysteries of Sydney’s existence, she advances to the next stage of her Star-child evolution—Supernova—and struggles not only to control her new powers, but also the emotions for her new love. William seeks to find the truth behind Sydney’s erratic behavior, while overcoming the new threat headed to Earth to destroy them. With new villains and old allies on the horizon, and chaos brewing on William’s home world, will self-sacrifice prove to be the only way for him to achieve victory and defend his love, or is there another way?
The follow-up to the debut Award-winning novel PROTOSTAR!

Review

★★★★

Supernova by Braxton A. Cosby is the sequel to Protostar, the first instalment in new sci-fi romance series The Star-Crossed Saga. The story starts where the first book ended and continues to tell us more about the story of Sydney, the star-child, and William, an enemy turned lover.

I liked this book even more than the first one as the story came across more clearly and because, obviously, more details on the lead characters as well as the thematic concept of the star-child were revealed. As the story unveils further, we see some old characters and some new taking us through the extraordinarily perilous life of the leading lady, Sydney.

The story progressed smoothly and I found myself instantly immersed into the plot right from the start as I was keen to know what happens next. The plot had quite a few twists and turns and they successfully managed to keep me interested in the storyline throughout the book.

The writing was good and the plot was well-structured. I liked the character arcs as well and enjoyed the story overall. I also liked where the story ended and I’m really looking forward to reading the next part.

I’d recommend this series to all Romantic Sci-Fi lovers. This is one series to look out for.

Bookstagram

https://www.instagram.com/p/BaTOAWsD0Ov/?taken-by=thereadingbud

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Book Review: Horatio And The Fear Of Dying by J.D. Oldenburg

08/10/201714/11/2017Children's Fiction, J.D. Oldenburg, Magic5 Comments

Author: J.D. Oldenburg
Release Date: 4th October 2017
Genre: Children’s Fiction
Edition: Audiobook
Pages: 13 minutes
Publisher: J.D. Oldenburg Publishing

Blurb:

Once upon a time… a brave boy named Horatio challenged and conquered Death, dawning everlasting life over his Kingdom. But as life and death are in love, one without the other became joyless. Soon,

Horatio must mend the cycle he has broken. Horatio And The Fear Of Dying was inspired by Jim Henson’s adaptation of the famous 1850s Russian Folktale, The Soldier And Death.

Review

★★★★★

Horatio And The Fear Of Dying by J.D. Oldenburg is a coming of age children’s book which will absolutely blow your mind with its brilliant storyline, amazing narration and a beautiful message for children and adults alike.

This book not only teaches its readers how to get over their fear of death/dying or of anything that seems scary but it also successfully teaches the importance of relationships in one’s life. I had a chance to see some of the illustrations that’d be going in the illustrated edition of this book, and I must admit that they were beyond amazing!

I’d recommend this book to every parent and all the children who love reading or listening to stories as this can possibly be one of the best children’s book you might come across these days.

More from the author:
- Author Interview: J.D. Oldenburg #authorinterview

Author Interview: J.D. Oldenburg #authorinterview

29/09/2017Author Interview4 Comments

Welcome to TRB Lounge. Today, I’d like to welcome J.D. Oldenburg, author of Horatio And The Fear Of Dying, for an author Interview.

About the author:

J.D. Oldenburg (Jose Diaz-Oldenburg) grew up with an unusually intense fear of death. He didn’t suffer trauma or family member’s death in his early youth, yet as a little kid he often sat with his parents to ask concerned questions about the subject. Conversations about death took place almost every evening. Some nights he understood, some nights he feared.
At the early age of nine, he confronted his anxiety by penning a short tale titled “La Muerte de la Muerte” or, Death of Death. A short story inspired by Jim Henson’s 1997 adaptation of an old Russian Folktale called The Soldier and Death.
In early 2015, La Muerte de la Muerte showed up hidden between old books in the family library and a new idea was born. Horatio and The Fear of Dying would come to life.
Armed with a bachelor’s degree in film, a couple of highly encouraging rejection letters, and seven years of experience in film production and advertising, J.D. felt compelled to bypass traditional publishing and retain full control of the final product. He built his creative team through persistence, trial and error, and craigslist ads. After locking the right artists, they embarked on an almost three-year process to the final creation released now.
J.D. hopes the book will help kids all over the world ease this universal fear and gain a strengthened sense of adventure about life.

Horatio and The Fear of Dying comes to Kickstarter October 3^rd, 2017 – It will be available for shipping worldwide.

J.D. Oldenburg lives in Los Angeles, California.

Contact Details:

Website: http://www.jdoldenburg.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jdoldenburg/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jd_oldenburg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/j.d.oldenburg/

Hello, J.D. Thank you for being here today.

Can you please tell my readers about your ambitions for your writing career?

I am a film maker as well as an author. I aspire to lead my books into becoming movies.

My biggest aspiration with Horatio is to move kids into a place of less fear earlier in life.

Which writers inspire you?

J.K. Rowling inspired me to write my first novel when I was a scared teen who wanted to feel brave, and Neil Gaiman inspires a lot of ideas at the moment. They are both great at adding elements of real humanity to their fantasy worlds.

Eckhart Tolle inspires me as well. Though not a fiction writer, his through understanding of self has made me a better human and a better writer.

Tell us about your book?

Horatio and The Fear of Dying was inspired by Jim Henson’s adaptation of an 1850s Russian folktale called The Soldier and Death.

It is the story of a little boy who manages to kidnap death to save his family. Along the lines, he accidentally kidnaps the joy of living as well and must mend the cycle he has broken.

How long did it take you to write it?

It’s been a long process, I wrote the first draft in one sitting, inspired by a little tale I wrote when I was 9, after watching the aforementioned Jim Henson show. It took months of revisiting and sitting with my editor to get it finalized.

In addition to writing it, I drew sketch concepts and found all the artists involved through online ads. The whole process from conception to the final book took about three years.

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

I’m finalizing the publishing house so it’s ready for the book, and I have a line of greeting cards on amazon I’m really excited about because it supports the artists who paint them with royalties.

I’ll also have a horror coming of age novel titled The Feeder ready in a year or two. It’s based on a film I made in college, which you can see here: https://youtu.be/NIx1vbOH8bs. Though it’s packed with scares, it’s message remains one of growth and hope. Horror just seems to be the best genre to break into the film industry.

Why have you chosen this genre?

I love magic realism. I think you can plant deep messages in people’s minds in a really beautiful way with it.

When did you decide to become a writer?

I’ve been telling stories for as long as a I can remember.

Why do you write?

Because I have to. I have the best time doing it. When an idea finally comes, I fall in love with it and it almost becomes more real than the world around me. I like being in that place.

Where do your ideas come from?

Tough one. Where does any thought come from? The ether, I think. Most of my ideas have come from dreams. It’s odd to call them mine, because I feel they came to me, I didn’t come up with them. I don’t have that many, either, I don’t think I’ll be one of those authors who put out hundreds of books in their career, I don’t know how they do it.

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

I like the laptop. Sorry if that’s uncool. I do free-write on a notepad, but thoughts and ideas only, never a draft of the story.

What are your 5 favorite books and 5 favorite authors?

A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle is the only book I can say I’ve consumed more than ten times. Each time I do it leaves me something new.

The Harry Potter series changed me because I wanted to feel brave like Harry but I didn’t think I was, not really. I took to writing so I could have my own hero.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman is almost a rethought model of The Jungle Book. I love his prose, it’s amazing.

I’m currently reading Patrick Rothfuss, The Wise Man’s Fear. He takes his time with the book and I’m definitely not bored so I’ll list him too.

I’m a fan coming of age stories and idealized nostalgia, and Stephen Chbosky did an amazing job both penning and directing The Perks of Being a Wall Flower.

How do you deal with Writer’s Block?

By watching movies and re-reading books that got me writing in the first place. I try to turn on my writer/film maker mode and really notice why these stories moved me,

so I can re-discover why I was writing in the first place.

What advice would you give to new aspiring authors?

Enjoy the process. The result is only a reminder of the time and energy you put into achieving it. If you didn’t enjoy writing it, finishing it will turn out disappointing. I think this ends up being true for both you and your audience.

Thank you, J.D., for all your enlightening answers!

About The Book:

Once upon a time… a brave boy named Horatio challenged and conquered Death, dawning everlasting life over his Kingdom. But as life and death are in love, one without the other became joyless. Soon, Horatio must mend the cycle he has broken.

Horatio And The Fear Of Dying was inspired by Jim Henson’s 1997 TV adaptation of the famous 1850s Russian Folktale, The Soldier And Death.

Book Links:

Book site: http://www.horatioandthefearofdying.com
Book Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Horatioandthefearofdying/
Book Twitter: https://twitter.com/horatiostory
Book Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/horatioandthefearofdying/

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

Book Review: The Blue Curtain by L.G. Metcalf

26/09/201724/09/2017Fantasy, L.G. Metcalf, ParanormalLeave a Comment

Author: L G Metcalf
Release Date: 24th May 2017
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal > Vampire, Mystery, Suspense
Edition: e-book
Pages:
Publisher: Moleyco Press

Blurb:

Devastated by her father’s brutal murder, seventeen-year-old Emily Bliss is determined to find his killers, even after everyone else has given up. As Emily attempts to follow their trail, she encounters a mysterious stranger at a party. Beneath his handsome looks, physical prowess, vast wealth, intimidating presence and hypnotizing eyes, she can sense that he is tormented by demons that she cannot yet fathom. Soon Emily is shocked yet thrilled to realize that she is falling uncontrollably in love with him to the point of obsession and that she is willing say or do anything to make him stay. But an early birthday gift Emily’s father left for her has revealed secrets about her life, buried centuries ago, that will hurl her into a dark underworld that she never dreamed existed and point to a great destiny awaiting her, if only she can survive long
enough to seize it..

Review

★★★

The Blue Curtain by L.G. Metcalf is a paranormal YA romance novel that is quite like the others on the same theme but not too bad to read if you want to read a YA book with a mystery twist.

The writing is good, in fact, it is one of the positives in the book that made me read the entire story. The story was simple but it was made interesting with the use of alternating POVs in two very different timelines. The POV hopping was easy and smooth and made this an interesting read.

The plot was good but predictable and the storyline was not too different from other books in these genres. I liked the characters but wasn’t able to connect with them individually on any level. Though I did like them and cared enough to read about them through the end.

I’d recommend this book to the genre readers and to anyone who likes mystery reads and wouldn’t mind the paranormal or the YA angle.

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Author Interview: Serina Adham

24/09/2017Author Interview3 Comments

Welcome to TRB Lounge. Today, I’d like to welcome Serina Adham, author of Lulu’s Balallam-Bam-Bam Grooves, for an author Interview.

About the author:

Serina Adham drew on her experience as a dancer and dance instructor to give you this fun new adventure with Lulu and all her animal friends. She hopes that Lulu will teach children to enthusiastically follow their dreams but also consider the effects they have on others.

Adham lives in Vancouver, British Columbia. In addition to teaching dance, Adham has also worked as a jewelry and clothing designer and an interior designer. She has one fearless, dancing and singing daughter of her own.

Contact Details:

Website: https://www.adhambooks.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17117983.Serina_Adham

Hello, Serina. Thank you for being here today.

Can you please tell my readers about your ambitions for your writing career?

I am looking forward to publishing many more books.

Which writers inspire you?

As far as children’s books, My favourite writers are Dr. Seuss and Enid Blyton. As for adult fiction, Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchet.

Tell us about your book?

It’s about a gorilla that loves to dance but is unaware here actions cause a huge disturbance in the jungle. I wanted to show children in a fun and interactive way that they can do what they love but also be thoughtful of others.

How long did it take you to write it?

This story started off as very differently, it took a year until I was happy with it and a little longer for the illustrations to be done.

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

Yes I have Three stories that are in the final editing stages, unlike Lulu they were much easier and faster to write.

They are also about life lessons but with a playful and fun theme also involving animals and a little bit of magic as well.

Why have you chosen this genre?

I have a daughter of my own and I thinks books are one of the best ways to connect with kids and teach them life lessons.

When did you decide to become a writer?

I have always been a writer but I decided to call myself a writer, about ten years ago when I realized that this is what I would love my career to be.

Why do you write?

It is the best way to bring to life all that I imagine.

Where do your ideas come from?

Hard to pin point where exactly, I grew up with an over active imagination, and so grew up with many of these characters that I later developed into stories.

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

I love the feel of a pen in hand and pen on paper, and have this strange love for notebooks especially ones filled with my scribbles.

What are your 5 favorite books and 5 favorite authors?

Terry Pratchet: Mort,
Douglas Adams: The Long Dark Tea time of the soul..
Ann Rice: Lasher.
Paulo Coelho: The Alchemist.
Amy Tan: The Joy Luck Club
Neil Gaiman: Good Omens

How do you deal with Writer’s Block?

I make a cup of tea and just scribble whatever comes to mind, otherwise I do something else creative like painting, dancing, designing or sewing. When I am being creative in another way it always feeds and refreshes my imagination and creativity.

What advice would you give to new aspiring authors?

If you love to write, just keep writing. Don’t edit too much, do that at the end.

Write about what you love, what you know and trust your instincts, however every now and then it’s good to get some feedback from another writer maybe or editor, or life partner as in my case.

Thank you, Serina, for all your answers!

About The Book:

There is nothing Lulu loves more than dancing by herself. With each new song, she practices the “Ballalam-Bam-Bam Grooves.” She slides her feet, claps her hands, and bumps her hips against a tree trunk.
There is just one problem. Lulu is a gorilla! When she stamps her feet and shakes the trees, she ends up disturbing all the other animals in her jungle home. Poor Squin Squirrel cannot even sip his nut tea without Lulu’s dancing rattling his tree home. Squin and the other animals try to tell Lulu that her dancing is disruptive, but they cannot get through to the gorilla.
Then, Lulu’s loud music and dancing ends up waking up the mighty king of the jungle. The angry lion Jhawfors then confronts Lulu with the problem. Will the animals be able to find a compromise?
This rhyming children’s tale imparts valuable lessons to young readers. Lulu does not want to stop doing what she loves, but she needs to understand that her actions affect others. Through Lulu, children will learn the importance of respect, compassion, and compromise.

Book Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=lulu%27s+ballalam+bam+bam+grooves+kindle
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36104433-lulu-s-ballam-bam-bam-grooves

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

Book Review: Pangaea: The End Of Days, Revelations by Bolivar Beato

22/09/2017Bolivar Beto, FantasyLeave a Comment

Author: Bolivar Beato
Release Date: 11th July 2017
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Pangaea
Edition: e-book
Pages: 226
Publisher: Self-Published

Blurb:

At the dawn of humankind came the end of all that stood before.
This story is one such fairytale. Except it is not truly a fairytale. It is the story of Giants and Immortals, and of Earth’s greatest legend, Pangaea.
The great continent and the ocean Panthalassa were more than just the earth and the sea—they were the future. They were more than the children that ran across their playgrounds, the farmers that plowed their fields, and the sailors that travelled their waters. More than the hopes and fears of their inhabitants. And much more than the myths and legends who walked the Earth three hundred million years ago. They were a dream, a covenant made long before this universe ever took shape.
This is the tale of an end of an Age.
These are its tragic last days.
Pangaea is being torn apart by magic, and an old evil is set to return. Its greatest champions are blinded by ambition, choked by politics, and crippled by pain.
Brought together by fate, seven young heroes set out to save the world.
But what can children do against living gods?

Review

★★★

Pangaea: The End Of Days, Revelations by Bolivar Beto is a unique new fantasy read written in a different way that is sure to entertain you.

The story is written in the form of various short stories being told of the same world and ultimately coming together in the larger picture. The book was easy to read and quite quick which was a big plus. The writing was mostly simple and understandable, though I had to re-read some sections to understand the meanings of the lines. Maybe it was because of the intricately woven tale of the cosmic world which was not easy to comprehend on the first reading or maybe it was the sentence formation, I’m not quite sure. Though, I did enjoy reading the book.

It was good to read about Indian Gods in one of the stories of the Caldroun and I must say, as different as it might be from Indian myths, it was sure interesting to see them in a fantasy read from a foreign perspective.

I’d recommend this book to Fantasy readers and readers and enthusiasts of cosmic stuff. This book would highly appeal to you if you have a liking for the whole good and evil concept.

Goodreads and Amazon

ARC Review: Protostar (The Star Crossed Saga #1) by Braxton A. Cosby

17/09/201717/09/2017Braxton A. Cosby, Science-Fiction, Young Adult2 Comments

Author: Braxton A. Cosby
Release Date: 26th September 2017
Genre: Young Adult, Science-Fiction
Series: The Star-Crossed Saga
Edition:e-book
Pages: 312
Publisher: Cosby Media Productions

Blurb:

What Would You Choose, love or duty?

On the brink of civil war, the Torrian Alliance continues with its mission to obliterate Star-children across the universe in order to suppress an intergalactic evil. Following the recommendations of his council, King Gregorio Derry reluctantly agrees to send his only son William on a mission to restore honor to his family name. William seeks to complete his assignment, the elimination of a Star-child named Sydney on planet Earth, but when the assassination is delayed he begins to realize an emotional connection with his target. With conspiracy threatening his home planet, and a hidden menace on Earth seeking to secure a vested interest, William finds himself torn between irrevocable duty and sacrificing everything he stands for to defend Sydney. As William and Sydney struggle to overcome their impossible circumstances, they start to wonder if the connection of two Star-Crossed lovers will be enough to save them from certain doom.

Review

★★★+1/2

Protostar by Braxton A. Cosby, the first book in The Star-Crossed Saga, is a nice starting to a promising new YA series.

Overall the story was good, quite engaging in fact, and the plot was well thought out. The writing was easy and flowed smoothly making this book an enjoyable and easy read. I liked the different cosmic concepts expressed in the story and enjoyed the romantic theme as well.

The book started out with a nice opening and I was pulled into the story right from the first page. It had a nice hook and the pace was easily set in the first few pages itself.

The characterization, though, felt weak and for some reason, I wasn’t able to connect to the main leads, neither the male lead nor the female, though I did like them and cared just enough to read the entire story. The ending was good and fitting for a book that’ll soon have a sequel, so all in all this book makes for a nice read.

Though I did feel that at places (however on only rare occasions) the sentence structures could have been better and the dialogues were not right. This can be due to the cultural difference in the use of English language in American English, but I couldn’t help but noticing and mentioning it here.

I’d recommend this book to mainly Young Adult lovers but I’m sure that even Sci-Fi readers would enjoy this book.

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Book Review: Stories From The Witch Store by Olga Gutsol

09/09/2017Fantasy, Magic, Magic/Elementals, Olga Gutsol, Paranormal, Supernatural, Young AdultLeave a Comment

Author: Olga Gutsol
Release Date: 20th August 2017
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal > Magic and Witches, Humour
Edition: e-book
Pages: 114
Publisher: –

Blurb:

Funny and imaginative chronicles from the life of a hereditary witch Arelia who, along with her loyal companions Cat and house-ghost Puck, moved to the small town of Burnaville to open the Magic Potions store. Here she falls into a lifetime of boredom. How have her magical powers resulted in this? What is missing from the charming life she has built?

Review

Stories From The Witch Store is a delightful young adult read sprinkled with beautiful and heart-warming illustrations that’ll win your heart!

This book is written in the form of diary entries from the perspective of the main protagonist, Arelia, the town witch. It is a beautiful, beautiful book and I’m sure that it will steal your heart with the author’s clever writing and impressive imagination. It has been so long since I’ve read such a delightful book about witches. The wittiness of Arelia and her seemingly mundane life with Puck, the house spirit, and Cat, her familiar, is outstanding and very, very funny.

Each and every diary entry is a treat to read, whether short or long. Arelia is a very strong protagonist and I was able to connect to her instantly. I liked her from the first diary entry and was in love with her adorable character by the 2nd page itself. Even all the secondary characters are well-crafted and quite relatable, especially that of Puck and Cat – they’re my absolute favourites.

I’d recommend this book to each and everyone who loves reading, especially fantasy and paranormal (magic and witches) readers.

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Book Review: The Invitation: To Journey Through A Conscious Mind by Tyfany Janee

05/09/2017Tyfany JaneeLeave a Comment

Author: Tyfany Janee
Release Date: 31st March 2017
Genre: Poetry Collection
Edition: e-book
Pages: 40
Publisher: Self-Published

Blurb: The Invitation: To journey through a conscious mind, is a showcase in talent from author and poet Tyfany Janee. She’s eloquently produced the anthology through plaintive artistic angst. Injecting the essence of her soul into her prose. The diverse collection of poetry which lies between the covers is the result of an entire life’s work experimenting within her vocation.
Her work is comprised of truth, meaning, hope, possibility and a succinct hint of humor as she tears away the facade from humanity. The works shed light on relative issues that we’re all faced with in our easily waywardly led astray lives, and the monotony that makes up our existence.
The Invitation: To journey through a conscious mind is an ode to the beat generation of poets that carved their names in literary history. Any creative mind will revel in the inspiration that lies between these pages, it’s full of daring attitude, and celebration for the authentic. A unique look on love, that you have to dare to delve within. It harnesses true devotion, with a stark, hair raising element of modern reality.

Review

The Invitation: A Journey To The Conscious Mind by Tyfany Janee is a remarkable collection of poems that will surely make you feel one with the author’s emotions.

I rarely read poetry collections but when I do I make sure that the one I pick up is worth m y time and energy and this is where this book totally nailed my expectations. Each and every poem was concise, to-the-point and surprisingly very relatable. The language is simple yet effectively descriptive and went a long way in leaving the desired impact on me as a reader.

At first, I was a bit sceptical as to what to expect from this book, but the overall tone of the poems and the poems, in general, felt very inviting and gave a sense, for no apparent reason, that I knew the author well and grasped the gist of exactly what the author was talking about. This made the entire collection very relatable and easy to read.

I’d recommend this book to poetry enthusiasts and readers who want to read something by a promising new author.

More from the author:
- Author Interview: Tyfany Janee
- Guest Post: Tone Is Everything by Tyfany Janee

Goodreads and Amazon

Guest Post: Tone Is Everything by Tyfany Janee

31/08/201730/08/2017Guest Posts1 Comment

Today, at TRB Lounge, we are hosting author Tyfany Janee, author of The Invitation: To Journey Through A Conscious Mind.

Presenting Tyfany Janee…

Tone Is Everything

Tones are categories that characterize the dimension of a given text, the emotion that must be evoked in the reader. They, therefore, define the scope and usefulness of a literary text.

The tone of a text is a particular way of telling an event. By using different methods of writing and highlighting certain themes, it is possible to provoke in the reader or spectator various emotions: laughter, sadness, anguish, terror … The tone of a text Does not necessarily depend on its genre – a novel, for example, can be comic and pathetic. In a text, one can meet the tones tragic, pathetic, lyrical, epic, comic, ironic, fantastic …

Furthermore, the tone is everything your text needs to stand out. Some Types of tone and its uses include:

Tragic tone

The tragic tone is the tone of terror/fright and pity. It is a frequent tone in classical tragedy and in the theater of the twentieth century.

It is about man facing forces that surpass him (gods, fate, passions). Fate is like an infernal machine, as it has no way out for the character, usually of high rank, posed to his dilemmas. There is no happy outcome to provoke catharsis, the purgation of the passions of the soul.

Processes used: sustained register, figures of amplifications such as hyperbole, opposition figures, exclamations, apostrophes, interrogations, supplication, complaint, impotence, fault, death.

Comic tone

This is the tonality that seeks the expression of laughter and entertainment. In addition to this, the comic can have a critical reach. Laughter can highlight the defects of the man to seek to correct them. In this, he joins the satirical tone.

It is a frequent tone in comedy but can be found in other literary genres.

Four types of comics play the springs of the comic: the comic situation, the comic character, the comic of words, the comic gesture.

Processes used: the burlesque (contrast between the subject treated and the style: serious subject on a vulgar style for example), parody, satire, figures of repetitions, current or familiar register, the effect of misunderstanding, Effect of rupture, exaggerations, play on words.

Pathetic tone

It is the expression of suffering that inspires the reader with powerful emotions. The pathetic term comes from pathos in Greek which means compassion, pain. If the pathetic tone arouses a violent emotion, it does not contain a notion of fatality, contrary to the tragic tone that is close to it. It is also linked to the lyrical and elegiac tones that are reciprocally the expression of feelings and the expression of sentimental suffering.

It is a common tone in the great literary genres: poetry, novel, theater.

Processes used: amplification figures, lexical field of strong feelings, exclamations, interrogations, injunctions.

Epic tone

This tonality seeks to provoke admiration or fright. It is used to narrate the warrior and wonderful adventures of a hero. It is found originally in the epic, then in medieval narratives, in certain theatrical texts, in certain novels, in certain historical narratives when it is a question of narrating a grandiose act.

Processes used: amplification, superlatives, hyperboles, enumerations, accumulations, personifications, intensity adverbs, action sequence, marvelous.

Fantastic tone

This is a tone that seeks to arouse anguish, fear, hesitation. It is particularly present in the novels, the news belonging to the fantastic genre. It involves bringing mysterious facts into the real world.

Emotions are caused by the uncertainty in the interpretation of what is happening: is it natural or supernatural? Rational or irrational? Doubt is, therefore, the founding element of the fantastic tone.

Methods used: intrusion of the mysterious into everyday life, internal focus, narrative breakdown, lexical field of the strange, modalizers of doubt (adverbs, conditional mode), lexical field of fear, hesitation.

Polemic tone

It is the tone of anger or indignation. This term comes from polemos in Greek which means war.

It is a tone that is found in debates, argumentative texts, essays, speeches. All these texts fight ideas and arise in conflicting argumentative situations. These are energetic denunciations.

Processes used: attempts at discredit (antiphrasis, litotes), marks of personal commitment, marks of emotion (exclamations, interrogations)

Deliberative Tone

This is a tone of doubt, of hesitation. It is a matter of unraveling a situation involving two choices. We confront the arguments, we discuss them, and we make a choice. It is a rhetorical tone in the case where deliberation seeks to convince someone. It is found in the debates.

Processes used: presence of arguments and counter-arguments, rebuttals.

Learning tone

The didactic text seeks to explain or to teach a knowledge through explanations or a morality. These are the explanatory texts, the argumentative texts, the essays, the maxims …

The methods used: an objective style, a neutral vocabulary, declarative sentences, present.

Epidemic tone

It is the tone of admiration, praise, or blame. It is the art of portraiture in the novel genre, in the theatrical genre, for example. It is also the art of discourse, a rhetorical art. It can be found in poetry, in funeral orations, too.

Epidural tone celebrates qualities or denounces someone’s faults.

Processes used: image enhancement or devaluation, a vocabulary pejorative or melliative.

In conclusion, the tone consists of the attitude adopted by the author concerning a specific character, place, or development. Helping, thus, the reader to determine the feelings of the author. It is the emphasis it conveys through the solemn, the serious, the critical to the witty, and the ironic and comical. To make a literary work interesting and lively, the importance of the tone cannot be overemphasized.

About the author:

Tyfany Janee is a devoted mother and a graduate of Strayer University in Virginia. She is a prolific writer, author and poet and she has an upcoming plan of releasing a debut novel in 2018 that she titles; “I Used to Love Him.” and another book titled “RSVP: To Be You Unapologetically.”

Tyfany Janee’s love for poetry has gained her several publications in Anthologies as a young adult for poetry. Her recent book is comprised of truth, meaning, hope, possibility and a much needed element of humor when it comes to exposing the true nature of humankind. Tyfany devours inspiration wherever she can get it, from cult classics, to just about anything she can see.

Contact Details:

Website: http://www.tyfanyjanee.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17027338.Tyfany_Janee

About the book:

The Invitation: To journey through a conscious mind, is a showcase in talent from author and poet Tyfany Janee. She’s eloquently produced the anthology through plaintive artistic angst. Injecting the essence of her soul into her prose. The diverse collection of poetry which lies between the covers is the result of an entire life’s work experimenting within her vocation.
Her work is comprised of truth, meaning, hope, possibility and a succinct hint of humor as she tears away the facade from humanity. The works shed light on relative issues that we’re all faced with in our easily waywardly led astray lives, and the monotony that makes up our existence.
The Invitation: To journey through a conscious mind is an ode to the beat generation of poets that carved their names in literary history. Any creative mind will revel in the inspiration that lies between these pages, it’s full of daring attitude, and celebration for the authentic. A unique look on love, that you have to dare to delve within. It harnesses true devotion, with a stark, hair raising element of modern reality.

Book Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Invitation-journey-through-conscious-mind/dp/0998889202/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35674490-the-invitation

Unboxing Book Mail #1

30/08/201717/09/2017Podcasts, Unboxing, VideosLeave a Comment

ARC Review: The Flawed Ones – A Story of Mental Illness, Addiction and Love by Jay Chirino

28/08/201730/08/2017Contemporary Fiction, Jay Chirino2 Comments

Author: Jay Chirino
Release Date: 2nd November 2017
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Mental Illness
Edition: e-book
Pages: 260
Publisher: Archway Publishing

Blurb:

After leaving behind a trail of drug-addled destruction, Jay finds himself confined to the walls of a psychiatric hospital. He is now compelled to confront his actions, his issues, and the past that led him to such downhill spiral. But what surprisingly affects him most are the people that he becomes surrounded by; people with considerable deficiencies that will shed some light on the things that truly matter in life.

“The Flawed Ones” is a thorough examination of the struggles of mental illness, depression, addiction, and the effects they have on the human condition. Most importantly, it proves that physical and mental shortcomings do not necessarily define who we truly are inside- that the heart is, in fact, untouched by our “flaws”, and that love will always prevail above all.

Review

The Flawed Ones by Jay Chirino is a very interesting book on a subject that is not only sensitive but also taboo for many people – mental illness.

The beauty of this book lies in the fact that it not only concentrates on the mental illness but it also tells us about what lies beyond the dark face of the illness itself. This book is a highly compelling and a very intelligent book.

The writing is good and it complimented the story quite well. The descriptions were painfully realistic and I was able to connect to the lead character’s angst. Reading this book made all the situations Jay had to go through, feel very… intimate and real.

The starting of the book was simple yet powerful and good. Even the Author’s Note was really good. As the story progressed I found myself unable to put the book down. It was gripping on an emotional level and that is where this book impressed me.

I’d recommend this book to everyone who likes reading as we all, from time to time, have or will come across people and/or situations where this kind of intense familiarity in regards to mental illness might prove very helpful. If you don’t want to read this book for entertaining purpose then read it for the sake of awareness.

More from the author:
- Author Interview: Jay Chirino
- Book Excerpt: The Flawed Ones by Jay Chirino

Goodreads

Book Review: Hiding In Third Person

28/08/2017Action, Adventure, Phil BradleyLeave a Comment

Author: Phil Bradley
Release Date: 31st May 2017
Genre: Action, Adventure, Mystery
Edition: e-book
Pages: 260
Publisher: Archway Publishing

Rating: ★★★+1/2

Blurb:

Ricky, a flippant orderly befriends a mental patient at an asylum he refers to as the spa and dude ranch. He listens to the sick man, the others refer to as Mr. River, tell a dubious tale of two teenage boys on the run from an assassin.
In River’s story, the boys take refuge at an abandoned military base, BOMARC, nestled in the idyllic New Jersey Pinelands. Also trailing the boys are several cops. False identities and coded messages hinder the cop’s search.. Mr. River’s story ends in a bloody showdown at BOMARC.
Asylum doctors plan to move Mr. Rivers to a dark and remote facility. Their ultimate decision hinges on the validity of the sick man’s story. Seemingly, Ricky is the only believer and he has to risk his life to prove the patient’s story to be true.

Review

Hiding In Third Person is an entertaining yet light-hearted read.

I wasn’t sure what exactly to expect from the book in terms of plot and the story, but once I started reading it I found it a very engaging and an entertaining read. The writing is good and has a nice flow to it. No complex words, no complicated sentence structures and no unnecessary detailing – in short, it was a light and casual read.

The characterisation was not great, but I did care for the main lead, Ricky, enough to finish the entire book pretty quickly. As I already mentioned, it is a light read so it worked for me.

I’d recommend this book to anyone who likes action, adventure or mystery and even to those who are looking for a breezy read to take a break from their usual reading genres.

Goodreads and Amazon

Book Review: Players by Bridget Nash

27/08/2017Bridget Nash, Dystopian, Young Adult2 Comments

Author: Bridget Nash
Release Date: 11th October 2015
Genre: Dystopian, YA
Edition: E-book
Pages: 500
Publisher: Wallace Publishing

Rating: ★★★+1/2

Blurb:

Ryan Scribe is eighteen and has it made.
He lacks nothing and doesn’t even know anyone who lacks anything.
Then he hears a beautiful actress say, “Truth is often stranger than perception,” and he begins to look at his world with new eyes.
All it takes is one wrong question and he is swiftly banished from the only home he’s ever known. Forced to join a band of traveling players, stage actors who look like they could have stepped straight out of Elizabethan England, Ryan begins to question his life, his country and everyone around him. Can he really trust a group of actors? Will his questions land him in even more danger?

Review

Players by Bridget Nash is a unique Dystopian read with a touch of Shakespearian feel.

The plot of this book was quite unique and considerably impressive. I liked the dystopian setting, which is always the most important element in this genre, and I also liked the characters. The artistic Shakespearian touch tot he story in terms of writing as well as the concept really added a layer of positive complexity as well as a defined character to the plot.

I liked the main character of Ryan Scribe as he was very relatable and easy to like and loved reading about him and his journey. I also liked the secondary characters. but overall the story went a bit too heavy and hence I’m deduction 1/2 a star from my rating of 4 out of 5.

In spite of having liked so much, I feel that the overall story seemed a bit too heavy and hence I’m deducting 1/2 a star from my rating of 4 out of 5.

I’d recommend this book to all Dystopian lovers and the fans of Shakespearian literature.

More from the author: Author Interview: Bridget Nash

Goodreads and Amazon

Author Interview: Tyfany Janee

25/08/2017Author Interview5 Comments

Welcome to TRB Lounge. Today, I’d like to welcome Tyfany Janee, author of The Invitation: To Journey Through A Conscious Mind, for an author Interview.

About the author:

Contact Details:

Website: http://www.tyfanyjanee.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17027338.Tyfany_Janee

Hello, Tyfany. Thank you for being here today.

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

I’m a Maryland native and a Mom of two. I work full-time as Membership Coordinator/Content Marketer at a Non-Profit Association. Currently finishing my degree in Business with a minor in Marketing. I plan to pursue entrepreneurship into a Publishing and Marketing company.

Writing has always been a part of my life. I’ve been at this since the age of 13, and have written many unpublished works such as stories, screen plays or poems. I’ve been learning everything about my craft waiting for the time when I could share with the world.

Please tell us about your book?

The Invitation: To Journey through a conscious mind, it’s just that of which it states. An invitation to join and emote in the conversation. That it’s ok to “be” and have thoughts or experiences like the ones that unfold. Furthermore, in the end there’s a strengthening that can begin from it all.

It’s the invitation to celebrate oneself. Be brave and courageous to be who you. You’re not perfect. I’ve lived, laughed, loved through the good and the bad. The purpose of it all, to learn and make me better. On the social side, there will are things not fair or equal. Be the change you want to see. And on the relationship side of life, we love, lose, get played and cry the blues. It will be ok, but it sucks, I know let’s express about it. You think, does love even remember your name? You don’t fit in but like being different. It can make you feel insecure and socially awkward. There is so much in this book to speak to.

I’ve experienced some of these things and gave a voice to others that have. Just to be conscious enough and speak to the topics not many want to speak on. It’s reality, It’s someone’s reality. I came to share the story in poetic form, give to the one that needs it and maybe doesn’t even know it.

How long did it take you to write it?

It took 3 months to bring it all together. I had some older poems that fit the theme. However, there was still 70 percent of new content that I had to work on. Poems are not typically hard for me. I tend to get inspired often, and can write them without any hesitation. So, I just kept writing and judged if they fit the theme later.

Why did you choose this topic?

I chose this topic and the five themes in the book because it represented a current moment. It represented truth in this moment. Some of themes fit personally for me now or in past. Others that I’ve heard related in conversations or seen from women/men that are attributed to the joys, insecurities, struggles in relationships, lack social acceptance etc.

I’m open enough to say, I’ve been there, seen it, heard it, and I understand. To have loved and lost, have or had insecurities, struggle to find one self, battles of fitting in. Understand because that person was a family member, friend, or stranger to me.

Which writers in your field inspire you?

I’m like an old soul. So, there are many that inspired me that are not present. These great writers include Maya Angelou, Zora Neal Hurston, and Nikki Giovani. Growing-up I read books from Omar Tyree, Toni Morrison, and E. Lynn Harris.

What inspired you to write?

I read many great Authors coming up and I was always taken by the words of many of them. I probably was the only thirteen-year-old into Shakespeare. Ultimately, I wrote to express myself. In every emotion, I was compelled to write versus speaking. It was a release. I was always an imaginative child. Once I grabbed a pen and paper it became home to the constant stories I thought up.

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

I’m writing now the next book, The Road Sometimes Traveled, it contains three short stories that are tied together by a central theme of my characters dealing with secrets of their past coming back to haunt them. The cover is ready and it’s been put up on my website and all the ways to connect with me via social media.

I plan to release another poetry book in 2018, titled, RSVP: To Be Unapologetic. That book will have poems that are aimed to shed light life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. About being confident in your own skin, speak your truth, getting naked in a sense to say yes, I have flaws and imperfections. I’m human. It pulls out a chair to the table that tells it like it is. We all have our vices, mistakes are made daily. We move forward and learn, for those that are still there, you’re no less than anyone that has moved onto the next phase. Be unapologetic in being who you are.

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

I prefer the longhand with a pen. I know very old school and probably double the work. But it allows me to organize my thoughts and clearly write. I start every story in a composition book. I don’t know how many words I’m writing like I would on the computer. However, I can take it everywhere and when inspiration comes that may help what I’m working on, I can jot it down.

What are your 5 favourite books and 5 favourite authors?

Books:

Tales of the Fourth Grade Nothing – Judy Blume (Yes, I had to go back to childhood lol. She is an amazing writer. I’ve read more than a handful of her titles.)
Never Again Once More- Mary B. Morrison
The Notebook – Nicholas Sparks (It’s unfair to list just one. I like anything by him.)
Twilight Book Series – Stephanie Meyer (Need I say more.)
The Joy Luck Club – Amy Tan

Authors:

Kimberla Lawson Roby
Mary B. Morrison
Nicholas Sparks
Stephanie Meyer
Judy Blume

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

Poetry is a different type of process and it is technically Non-Fiction. Moreover, I believe the research comes in a way of discovery. Discovery into the feeling that has become inspired.

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

Don’t be afraid to be yourself and embrace your style. Allow people to get to know your tone and your words to the point that they can recognize them anywhere, because you are that distinct.

Thank you, Tyfany, for all your enlightening answers!

About The Book:

Book Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Invitation-journey-through-conscious-mind/dp/0998889202/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35674490-the-invitation

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

Book Review: Synesthesia (The Senses #4) by K.M. Aul

21/08/2017Church fiction, Combination, K.M. AulLeave a Comment

Author: K.M. Aul
Release Date: 31st December 2016
Genre: Christian Fiction, Fantasy
Edition: E-book
Pages: 482
Publisher: Self-Published

Rating: ★★★★

Blurb:

The Best Selling Christian Fiction/Fantasy Series Continues!

Time has run out. The world as we know it is coming to an end and a handful of heroes are all that stand in the way of the final darkness.

Born in an age of brutality and miracles, Eli was raised from the dead to start a new life unlike any other. His touch can heal; his pain can destroy. He has not only seen the rise and fall of civilizations, his power has been the cause of them. Prepare yourself for an adventure through time, prepare to face the greatest challenge humankind has ever known.

Review

Synesthesia by K.M. Aul is a one of a kind book which is as entertaining as it is insightful.

In spite of not being a Christian, I enjoyed reading about this story. It was intense and quite well-written. The flow of the writing was the one thing I admired the most in this book because it made the reading very easy and smooth.

Though it did take some time for me to get into the story at first, once I started to get into the flow, it was not easy to put it down. Its uniqueness is one of the biggest plus points of the book. You hardly ever get to see Christian fiction told in fantasy settings with modern characters.

I’d recommend this book to everyone interested in trying new well-written genre combinations.

More from the author:
- Author Interview
- Guest Post: God, Myth and Mystery

Goodreads and Amazon

Book Review: Start Winning With Money by Donnie Masters

18/08/201718/08/2017Donnie Masters, Non-FictionLeave a Comment

Author: Donnie Masters
Release Date: 18th July 2017
Genre: Non-Fiction
Edition: E-book
Pages: –
Publisher: Masters Investment Group LLC

Rating: ★★★★

Blurb:

If you are looking to make millions of dollars while sitting in your pajamas, then this book is not for you!
Start Winning With Money is financial book that offers high impact, real world solutions for life’s many money questions.
Want to better your personal finances?
Want to open your own successful business?
Would you like some real clarity on the cost of higher education?
Want to address the issue of debt in your life?
All of that and more is available to you.
Start Winning With Money will teach you:
Why your current income has nothing to do with obtaining wealth
Challenge the popular belief that all debt is bad
Address the issues with public education and why you were taught to fail with money
Define a proper budget
Why good debt can help you grow wealthy
Explain the importance of money in achieving financial freedom
Redefine true wealth

Review

Start Winning With Money by Donnie Masters is an insightful book that has a lot to offer in terms of financial ideas, monetary strategies and capital management.

It’s not been long that I’ve started reading non-fiction, but so far I’ve read some books that shed light on some very important topics that help a person in their day to day life. One such topic is money and money management. Everyone has ideas about gaining and maintaining wealth, but often we find ourselves in tight-spots where we fail and have to face consequences. This is why I was really interested in reading this book. And to my delight, Start Winning With Money was a great read and it went a long way in decoding some of the longest standing myths about money and all the related problems.

As a newbie to business, I found this book very helpful and even quite encouraging. I found the tactics described by the author very clear, concise and practical. The methods listed in this book are not only simple and easy to follow but also seem very effective.

Another thing that I really liked about this book was that each and every chapter in this book was organised nicely and was divided into sections that made a lot of sense and also made it easy to keep a track of things. The format of the book makes it very easy to not only read but also remember the points of note.

I’d recommend this book to everyone who wants to learn not only how to get better financially, but also how to prepare practical strategies to maintain one’s wealth.

More from the author: 
- Author Interview
- Guest Post - The 4 Biggest Financial Lies Being Taught To Americans Right Now by Donnie Masters
- Book Excerpt

Goodreads and Amazon

Happy 71st Independence Day!

15/08/2017MiscellaneousLeave a Comment

Happy Independence Day!

Verbatik Media

Happy 71st Independence Day to all my Indian brothers and sisters. Today is the day of pride for our nation and on this beautiful and honourable day, I am happy to share with you all something about India’s Independence Day:

Independence Day is annually observed on 15 August, as a national holiday in India commemorating the nation’s independence from the United Kingdom on 15 August 1947, the UK Parliament passed the Indian Independence Act 1947 transferring legislative sovereignty to the Indian Constituent Assembly. India still retained King George VI as head of state until its transition to full republican constitution. India attained independence following the Independence Movement noted for largely nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience led by the Indian National Congress (INC). Independence coincided with the partition of India, in which the British India was divided along religious lines into the Dominions of India and Pakistan. On 16 August 1947…

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Author Interview: Jay Chirino

13/08/201712/08/2017Author Interview1 Comment

Welcome to TRB Lounge. Today, I’d like to welcome Jay Chirino, author of The Flawed Ones, for an author Interview.

About the author:

Jay is an author, mental health advocate and recovering addict, who spent over ten years battling his demons. Today he focuses on sharing his story and the story of others like him in order to create awareness and help eradicate the stigma that has always surrounded mental illness. He lives in Tampa, FL with Ana, his cat.

Contact Details:

Website: http://www.theflawedones.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theflawedones
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flawedones/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/theflawedones

Hello, Jay. Thank you for being here today.

Can you please tell my readers about your ambitions for your writing career?

I want my stories not only to entertain, but also to inspire and to give awareness, to make the reader think and see things from an angle that maybe they hadn’t seen from before; to give a poetic light to some of the negative things in the world and explain them in a way that make them neither good or bad, just real. In essence, I want to squeeze the reader’s heart and make them feel alive.

Which writers inspire you?

I am not a huge fan of horror fiction, but when I read Stephen King’s “On Writing – A Memoir of the Craft”, I understood the hype that eternally surrounds him. The man is a flawless story teller and he knows the craft very well. I think George RR Martin is another one of those writers that excels in creating masterpieces, not only for his talent at creating incredible worlds, but also for being able to put you in the center of those worlds with his impeccable prose. I have also been reading Tom Perrota lately, his writing style captivates me as it’s smooth and fluid; you go from chapter to chapter without even realizing that he is taking you on an unexpected journey. As far as the classics, Hemingway has always been on the top of my list.

Tell us about your book?

The Flawed Ones is an immersion into the world of mental illness in a way that I don’t think has ever been done before. I didn’t want it to be a memoir, there are already enough of those out there. I wanted to shed light not only on my personal struggles, but on the struggles of different people with different levels of mental deficiencies and their everyday lives. What happens when you put them all together in one place? How do they portray their own humanity? I wanted the story to be almost poetic; sometimes bitter, sometimes cruel, sometimes funny, sometimes scary and other times inspiring. I want the reader to feel with the characters, to laugh, to cry and to understand maybe what they haven’t understood before. I want them to think about these characters when they are finished with the book, to wonder and worry about them, almost as if they were family.

How long did it take you to write it?

From the time I put the first word on the paper to the time I finished the last correction it was about one-and-a-half years.

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

Right now I am solely working on getting the word out there about The Flawed Ones as much as I can, but in the background and I am toying with the idea of a prequel for this novel if it all goes well.

Why have you chosen this genre?

It’s deeply personal to me. I have lived and breathed mental illness since I was a child, and I couldn’t find another topic that moved me this much, in order to write an honest and provocative first novel.

When did you decide to become a writer?

I never really decided, it has always been a part of me. My mom had one of those old typewriters when I was young, and I really enjoyed writing stories on it, as it made the loud CLACK CLACK CLACK of the letters being printed on the page. When I was sad, writing always helped, when I fell in love, poetry was always there, there has been no me without writing; it’s not a choice I made, it’s as natural to me as taking showers or drinking water. Nothing brings me more peace.

Why do you write?

I write because it frees the chains of my mind and allows me to travel, to fly to unexplored territories, to islands of thought, were imagination is queen and her beauty sublime, where routine doesn’t enslave me, where I can make sense of my world by tearing it apart and looking inside, where love doesn’t hurt and hope doesn’t fade… where time slows down just enough to touch, to feel, to dance with, intricate motions in collaboration that lead me to realizations and allow me to dream, to smile, to live. I write because it brings me peace.

Where do your ideas come from?

The beautiful struggle that is life. I like making poetry out of the mundane things that we might not even be aware of; the everyday routines that we are tied to, the automatic processes that we perform without even realizing. Then, you see it written on paper in a way that even the most insignificant moment demands your attention, and you have no choice but to pay it.

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

To get the ideas out of my head I need a pen and a white sheet of paper. Once the basics are down I transplant them over to the word processor on the computer and I polish it several times.

What are your 5 favorite books and 5 favorite authors?

Authors: Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Stephen King, George RR Martin, Tom Perrota. Books: The Great Gatsby, The Sun Also Rises, The Old Man and The Sea, The Leftovers, Game of Thrones Vol 1.

How do you deal with Writer’s Block?

I step away from the desk and think about anything but writing. I go out and explore, and put myself in situations that make me think- maybe sitting at a coffee shop people watching or going for a walk in the park. Once you let your thoughts roam free, the ideas will begin to flow.

What advice would you give to new aspiring authors?

To read as much as they can, and to be honest when they write, not holding back, finding the true story deep inside them, and not in what they think others will like.

Thank you, Jay, for all your amazing and insightful answers!

About The Book:

Book Links:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35893903

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

Book Review: Playing To Win by Ashlie Knapp

12/08/2017Ashlie Knapp, RomanceLeave a Comment

Author: Ashlie Knapp
Release Date: 12th June 2016
Genre: Romance, Sports
Edition: E-book
Pages: 225
Publisher: –

Rating: ★★★★

Blurb:

Spunky, quick-witted twenty-one year old Callie Thompson is a University of Oklahoma journalism student by day and Oklahoma City Thunder dancer by night. Callie hopes her connections with the franchise might get her foot in the door for a sports broadcasting job when she graduates. She just has one rule: never date the players.

Kyle Kelly is the deadly handsome and charmingly Southern Thunder man of the hour. All the twenty-six year old is looking for is an NBA championship to call his own. An unexpected meeting with an opinionated, feisty Callie, however, who is very unimpressed with his celebrity status, sets his sights toward winning two things: her heart AND the championship.

Review

Playing To Win by Ashlie Knapp is a beautifully written romance novel that’ll steal your heart.

It is an enjoyable book with a very interesting plotline. The story managed to keep me glued to the book right till the very end.
The writing was good, quite descriptive in fact, and the imagery was very vivid. The smooth flow of the writing made it a light and breezy read. As this is the first book in the series, I’m sure that I’ll be looking out for the next books as they come out.

The lead characters, Callie Thompson and Kyle Kelly, are well-developed and beautifully used throughout the story adding depth to the plot. I loved them both and was able to relate to both of them. I’ve always been a fan of Southern male leads in romantic novels (there’s just something very gentlemanly about them and their manners) and this book had exactly that, a charming southern guy as the male lead. Additionally, it was quite interesting to read about Callie, the female lead, who wants to be a sports journalist. The insights into the background were quite interesting.

The beginning and ending were perfect and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

I’d recommend this book to all the genre lovers who love reading romance novels with good plotlines and even better characters.

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Goodreads and Amazon

Author Interview: Kate Trinity

10/08/201701/08/2017Author Interview1 Comment

Welcome to TRB Lounge. Today, I’d like to welcome Kate Trinity, author of It Is The Demon In Me, for an author Interview.

About the author:

11 countries, 2 degrees, a love of animals, and all things supernatural. When Kate isn’t writing she’s baking and loves to decorate cakes in unusual ways. Brought up around steam trains, her father was an engine driver and her mother a nurse in St. Luke’s. The eldest of five siblings and with 2 children of her own her family is a large one. After the break up of her marriage and becoming unwell Kate began to write, and never stopped. Her world is filled with gods and demons, monsters and fae.

Hello, Kate. Thank you for being here today.

Can you please tell my readers about your ambitions for your writing career?

To keep writing and maybe, one day, possibly, fingers crossed, have a book made into a movie.

Which writers inspire you?

Andy McNab, Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett. They all have a very different voice and unique way of approaching their story. But they all write stories that take you into the action and make you want to keep reading.Tell us about your book?

Tell us about your book?

It is the Demon in Me is the first in a trilogy about a young woman, Deanna, who has to make big decisions about her future. Only, they’re not simple decisions like where shall I go to college, shall I get a job or go on vacation this summer. They’re much more complicated than that, with much more devastating consequences if she chooses wrong. And she has the added complication of being a witch whose powers have been kept bound by her parents coven.

How long did it take you to write it?

A long time. I wrote it by hand during a time when I was suffering with depression. So, there were days when I hated the very idea of getting up and writing. On other days, it was like therapy. And then when I was done with pen and paper I had to type it up on my very ancient, slow, argumentative, computer.

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

I’m writing a script. I began writing the story as a novella for a competition and half way through realised it would work much better as a movie.

Why have you chosen this genre?

It chose me. I wrote the story as it came to me with no thought as to what genre it might fit into.

When did you decide to become a writer?

I don’t think I ever decided to become a writer, I always just wrote. There was a point (quite) a few years back when I suddenly thought ‘I am a writer’.

Why do you write?

It’s a compulsion. A story begins to form in my head, and over a couple of days it grows, and then I have to write it down so I can stop thinking about it.

Where do your ideas come from?

Music sometimes suggests a story, other times it could be something I’m reading, or something I’ve seen whilst out and about. It’s often from a ‘what if…’ question that my imagination runs away with.

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

I used to prefer to write by hand but as my typing has gotten better it’s much easier to go straight to the computer. Occasionally I’ll make a story idea note on my phone. Or start an idea for a story with pen and paper but I rarely write the whole thing by hand any more.

What are your 5 favorite books and 5 favorite authors?

Books

Rules for a Knight by Ethan Hawke
Smokey the Cow Horse by Will James
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Rats by James Herbert
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

Authors

Andy McNab
Stephen King
Neil Gaiman
Terry Pratchett
Philippa Gregory

How do you deal with Writer’s Block?

Music. A great way to deal with writer’s block is to compile a playlist for the scene you’re trying to write. One that makes you feel the way you want that scene to feel. Then listen to it whilst thinking about the characters in the scene. Don’t try to write it at first, simply listen and think, eventually the words start flowing again. I don’t think it’s something you can force your way through. But if it goes on and on, lasting for days, I think you have to ask yourself some questions about what you’re writing. Maybe it’s not the right thing or if the direction you took earlier in the story was the wrong one.

What advice would you give to new aspiring authors?

Learn about the story arc. It makes plotting easier and helps you get into your reader’s brain. I wish I’d known about it when I first started writing stories but it’s taken me a while to appreciate all of its intricacies.

Thank you, Kate, for all your lovely answers!

About The Book:

A wickedly good novel about magic, curses, witches, and demons.
Born a witch, Deanna knew she had powers but not the extent of them.
Her parents and their coven bound her to keep her safe from the demons that wanted to find her.
But as her powers grew, the bindings weakened and they were found.
She must be unbound quickly as only she has the power to fight off the demons.
But what she discovers changes everything.
Her place in this world is not as she thought.
The time has come to make a decision and the lives of her family and their coven rest on it.
‘It Is The Demon In Me’ is the first in a three part series about Deanna, her family, and their true bloodline.
When your whole world changes, do you use fight or flight?

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

Book Excerpt: Cuteness Overlord by Mike Aaron

09/08/201706/08/2017Book ExcerptsLeave a Comment

Today, at TRB Lounge, we are featuring an excerpt from Cuteness Overlord by Mike Aaron.

Read ahead to get a sneak-peek into this unique new release.

About the Book:

Carl Shan is an underappreciated scientist who is absolutely sick and tired of it all.
His research ideas are illegal. He’s been fired. The twenty-nine year old is dumped and has been reduced to living with his parents in stupid Barnley. Furious with the way the world treats him and knowing that he should always believe in himself, Carl decides to leave it all behind. He builds a time machine to the year 2117. When he arrives, he is surprised to find his workshop a mess.
Why are the buildings in ruins and the streets empty? Also… since when did baby animals have such sharp claws?

Read the tale of a ridiculous dystopian world overrun by cute animals, where the only hope lies with a narcissist who has absolutely no interest in saving anything but his fame.

Book links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Cuteness-Overlord-Mike-Aaron-ebook/dp/B072LC2RPR
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35893903

BOOK EXCERPT

If this was indeed the year 2117, then everyone he knew would probably be dead. He’d not heard of any breakthroughs in life-prolonging research in his own time and the scientists of those related fields were, to be honest, incompetent. There was no parade. Had no one inherited the house despite his mother’s many relatives? Where was his parade, and how did this terrible disuse appear? He’d expected a carnival full of pretty women of all ethnicities.

Carl left the shed only to find a garden full of knee high grass and weeds like Yerkshire fog, added to Anisantha sterillis, which he did not know the common name for. Long stems drooped at the end in measured distaste. He stepped across the stones, lab coat fluttering noisily, watching in frustration the ruins of his old house. Then he stopped and turned.
Outside the center of Barnley, fences were short and useless for blocking sight. This meant he could see through to neighbor’s houses. This was considered an indecent but popular activity, which meant that for once Carl participated in a long standing Barnley tradition.

Their houses were in ruins too. The McSultries to the right even had slight case of missing roof, and he couldn’t see nosy Bessy anywhere. Carl stepped into the kitchen where he’d been rejected blindly by Sara for a second time just a month earlier.

A stench twisted the air outside. Wood littered the floor while rotting food sat in a broken down fridge. When food rots that badly, its sight slams the gut. Still, Carl fought to pull out a carton of milk so off the cap had welded shut in despair. The expiry date was set to 18/7/2025.

Due to the stench, Carl hurried out of the house in a hurry, just then noticing a silence. It was an unpleasant sort, full of insects and wild animal calls and buzzing like his smartphone, which showed no signal. The sun stood high on the sky, as pitiful as always over the clouds of Barnley.

By that time, Carl had realized that something had gone terribly wrong in the year 2025. Perhaps a war had erupted, or an epidemic, or a nuclear blast in southern Yerkshire. Carl did not check the house for dead bodies despite the stench, or maybe because of it. His parents would have still been there in 2025 if something had happened.

A long, pleasant life followed by eventual death was what he’d expected to discover of them. With a shrug, Carl left his old house behind, pulling his labcoat about him.
As he walked down the street, Carl’s thoughts drifted to “The Notebook,” and Yerkshire pudding of a certain sort. He hadn’t been there, which he supposed was lucky for him and the world in general. Despite this reasoning, Carl wondered if they’d missed him.

Just then, a noise drifted to Carl which made him stop. Barkings, meowls, and clucks sounded in a harmony. His tut joined them. Baby animals were the last thing he needed. His kitten (with the name he’d forgotten) was thankfully out of his life.

Carl turned to the left just as the group rounded a corner and came towards him. Carl knew that a group of capons was a mew, a group of cats was either a litter or a kindle, or that a group of electronic book-reading devices had no name. He knew no name for a group of every baby animal that could be considered even remotely “cute”. Thus his mind was at a loss for once, causing him to fumble for an answer as the meowling, whining, barking, chirping, oinking, and squeaking group of animals came towards him.
The second thing that occurred to Carl as the animas walked the center of the road towards him was that all these animals should not even be travelling together. There was a grey puppy at the head.

Also, why did their eyes seem so large?

As the animals came close, a slight twinge started in Carl’s chest. It was a soft B note informing him that these animals might just be hungry and need his help. Helpless and lovely, just like him. Adorable. He remembered that a flock of finches was called a charm and smiled ruefully, watching the animals and their adorable paws, wings, eyes. Maybe they just needed food, he thought.

At that precise moment Carl noticed the bloody fangs and claws.

About The Author:

Mike Aaron is a 23 year-old, most notably known for being a failing student of business studies. His short story, ‘Homes and Humans”, was out on Storyteller magazine in June, 2017. In his free time, Mike writes news articles and volunteers for The Green Light zine and Road to Nerdfighteria.

Contact Details:

Goodreads: http://twitter.com/mikeaaronohno
Twitter: https://twitter.com/theflawedones

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 featured on TRB, then please get in touch through e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com

Book Review: A Burning In The Darkness by A.P. McGrath

08/08/201708/08/2017AP McGrath, Romance, Thriller2 Comments

Author: A P McGrath
Release Date: 12th April 2017
Genre: Crime, Mystery, Romance, Spiritual
Edition: E-book
Pages: 253
Publisher: Troubador

Rating: ★★★★

Blurb:

A murder at one of the world’s busiest airports opens this simmering crime story where a good man’s loyalty is tested to its limits. Michael Kieh is a full time faith representative serving the needs of some of the 80 million passengers, but circumstance and evidence point to his guilt. His struggle to prove his innocence leads him on a charged journey that pitches love against revenge.
Michael’s loneliness was eased by a series of brief encounters with a soul mate. When she confides a dark secret, he is motivated to redress a heart-breaking injustice. Together they must battle against powerful forces as they edge dangerously close to unmasking a past crime. But Michael faces defeat when he chooses to protect a young witness, leaving him a burning spirit in the darkness.
Michael’s commitment to helping those in need was forged in the brutality of the Liberian civil war. Protected by a kind guardian, he too was a young witness to an atrocity that has left a haunting legacy of stolen justice and a lingering need for revenge. More poignantly there is a first love cruelly left behind in Africa because of the impossible choices of war. When Michael and his former lover find each other once again they become formidable allies in proving his innocence and rediscovering their lost love.

Review

A Burning In The Darkness by A.P. McGrath is an exciting crime mystery with an intelligent plot and a cast of life-like characters.

This book is an electric mix of mystery, romance, and spiritual fiction. The plot was fresh, well-built and very engaging. I was pulled into the story right from the first chapter till the very end.

The writing was good considering the fact that the prose was written phonetically from the point of view of the lead, Michael Kieh who was born and spent a considerable time of his childhood in Liberia. It added a realistic touch to the story bringing the readers closer to the protagonist in a very clever way.

The characters were all carefully constructed and relatable. I liked the character of Miachel Kieh, the protagonist and found his background very, very interesting. Even though Michael was too good to be real, the internal conflicts coupled with his personality made him a compelling lead.
I was able to relate to almost every other secondary character as well, which was a bonus.

The mystery itself was well thought out and carefully plotted. I must admit that I wasn’t able to put together all the pieces (though, I came quite close.) The author has done a good job at creating an intricate web of various twists and turns, making the ending unpredictable.

I’d recommend this book to crime and mystery lovers and to anyone who doesn’t mind reading spiritual fiction intelligently weaved into a mystery read.

More from the author: 
Author Interview: A.P. McGrath
Book Excerpt: A Burning In The Darkness by A.P. McGrath
Guest Post: A Sense of Place by A.P. McGrath

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Book Excerpt: The Flawed Ones by Jay Chirino

06/08/201713/08/2017Book Excerpts1 Comment

Today, at TRB Lounge, we are featuring an excerpt from The Flawed Ones – A Story of Mental Illness, Addiction and Love by Jai Chirino.

Read ahead to get a sneak-peek into this exciting new read releasing very soon.

About the Book:

BOOK EXCERPT

CHAPTER 1

I was stained with the color of despair, my face as white as paper and my eyes afraid. I had not been me for a while and I didn’t know how much destruction I had caused, but I had the terrible suspicion it had been a lot.

The room had nothing in it but a single-wide bed, right in center. There were no pulse monitoring devices, blood pressure monitors or any other type of triage care equipment. Behind the bed was a window that brought in enough light to see that it was daytime, but it wouldn’t be soon. There was a small television hanging from one of the walls, but it wasn’t on. For a minute, the thought of looking for a remote ran through my mind, but just thinking about exerting that type of effort made me feel exhausted.

I sat in the middle of the bed with elbows resting on my knees and hands balled into fists, supporting my head. Mom and Dad stood next to me, pacing nervously in quiet desperation. They had not slept for days and their faces showed it. Their eyes told a story I didn’t want to read, so I kept my head down and refused to make eye contact. There was a constant static noise inside my head that got gradually louder as the minutes went by, and by now it was getting to the point of unbearable. I tried squeezing my ears shut with my hands, closing my eyes and blowing out my nose, but nothing worked. It felt like the station inside my head had lost all reception, and only the white noise remained, slowly torturing me, forcing me to surrender the rest of my sanity.

A doctor eventually walked in the room, sporting a fake smile, as if its only purpose was to sooth me. It failed.

“Hello, my name is John, I am the ER doctor today,” he said, still grinning without credible emotion. His whole expression had been programmed for dealing with the people he encountered, maybe in an attempt at making them more comfortable or at ease. He probably spent a long time in front of a mirror, perfecting it, practicing hard at masking his aversion to broken people, the reason he decided to become a doctor in the first place. Then he realized that fixing the broken meant being around them for a while, and he had no choice but to learn how to conceal his true feeling on the matter. I just hoped that his whole act worked better on others than it had on me.

“What brings you in today?”

His question was just part of the protocol; he already had the answer. His left hand had a grip on a chart that told him more than he needed to know, and I didn’t have the desire of reliving any of the details that had transpired the previous weeks. My blood would do that for me; it would give a thorough recount of the alcohol binge, the sedatives, the stimulants and whatever other substance I had put in my system without recollection. It would be a faithful witness of the accounts that made me lose total control and landed me in the hospital that day.

I kept it short and sweet to get things moving. “I have been struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts, self-medicating with alcohol and drugs,” I said with embarrassment, not for telling the doctor, but for having to openly admit what I never had in front of my parents.

“I see…” Now the doctor’s fake smile dissipated; my answer was the cue that gave him clearance to stop the pleasantries and get down to business. His new face was no better though; it had morphed into somewhat of a concerned frown, eyebrows making a considerable upwards tilt where they ended, by his nose. His nostrils opened wider than normal, almost begging for more air. His eyes strained with focus as he made eye contact with nothing but the chart that he was writing on, while speaking to no one in particular.

“Let’s go ahead and run some labs and see what medicine we can give you in the meantime, to ease some of the symptoms, deal?” He looked at me momentarily and there was one more artificial grin. Before I could nod in agreement he was walking out of the room, turning this time into his true, uninterested self. As he walked past the glass wall in front of me, I saw the real ER doctor for the first time. It almost made me feel relieved to not have to live with the lie; the clumsy act that he had to put on, just for me.

A needle went in my arm and painted three vials red. There went my story, no detail left behind. Questions were going to be asked, and truthful answers were going to be given. The dark era of lies and deceptions was finally coming to its inevitable end.

Then I waited, waited for help, a knot in my throat as the walls of the room started to close in. Sobriety sank, deep in my gut. I started reminiscing without anything to blur the images, and excruciating pain bubbled up inside me. There were projections on the walls, chopped up scenes of disastrous moments that defined the surrender of my sanity, of my happiness, of my hope. I wanted to scream, but didn’t know how. I wanted to cry, but tears wouldn’t come out. I sat still in the middle of the bed, and the walls were now so close that I could touch them with my hands. Mom and Dad became dark shadows that stood still in the background. The ringing in my ears became louder and it muffled everything else. My head started pounding harder than my heart, and my desolation became intolerable.

The wait continued, the minutes refusing to move on, time becoming relative to my discomfort. Mom and Dad still stood by my side. Their pacing had continued, just a little slower. Heads down, arms crossed, I could only imagine what was going through their heads. I was well-aware of their exceptional distress, and felt immense guilt knowing it was me who put it there.

Outside the room, movement continued. Nurses and doctors did their dance as stretchers drove by and parked in empty rooms, delivering their cargo. Green scrubs would rush to hook up monitors, get blood pressure readings and insert IV’s. An agonizing patient begged for pain killers. The loud speaker called out for a code blue in room twenty-six. Nurses sprinted past the room, almost in rehearsed formation.

I waited.

A blonde-haired woman now sat on a recliner on the other side of the glass wall, in front of the nurse’s station. It seemed like she couldn’t quite understand why she was there. She attempted to helplessly explain to the nurses and the cop standing by her that she had not meant to threaten anyone’s life. It had just been a fit of anger, like the ones she had gotten before, during her first tries at sobriety. The nurses, with their empty smiles and careless eyes, nodded and ignored her. It wasn’t a story they hadn’t heard many times before, or one that could possibly change her outcome in any way.

Seventy-two-hour psychiatric hold. We were going to be staying on the same floor.

At last someone came. They had secured a room for me to stay in. My parents got close and embraced me. Mom gave me her “it’s going to be ok” look, but the fear in her eyes said something else, something sadder. Dad walked past me and gave me two soft pats on the shoulder, then continued to walk out of the room, head down, as if my failures were his own.

As they disappeared into a corridor that now seemed five times longer than when we got there, my stomach ached the same way it did that very first day of public school, when they waved their hands in unison, and their blurry silhouettes shrank as I saw them vanish through the tears. I had never felt more alone, more abandoned. The complete weight and heat of my burning world rested entirely on my shoulders now. Would the elevator taking me to the third floor be able to hold that much? I was about to find out.

About The Author:

Contact Details:

Website: http://www.theflawedones.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theflawedones
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flawedones/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/theflawedones

Book links:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35893903

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 featured on TRB, then please get in touch through e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com

Guest Post: The 4 Biggest Financial Lies Being Taught To Americans Right Now by Donnie Masters

05/08/201729/07/2017Guest Posts1 Comment

Today, at TRB Lounge, we are hosting author Donnie Masters, author of Start Winning With Money: Your Guide to Personal Finance, Small Business Growth, and Building Wealth.

Presenting Donnie Masters…

The 4 Biggest Financial Lies Being Taught To Americans Right Now

I love living in America. I really do. There are so many opportunities available to people that live in this great country. But when it comes to the public education system, and specifically the way we are teaching the current generation of students about finances, we are really screwing it up.

I am sorry for being so brutally honest, but I was a child of the public education system. The things that some of my teachers taught me about life and money were simply wrong. Sadly, we are still teaching some of the same things to today’s children.

Before I go on any further, let me say that I do not have any resentment towards my teachers. I don’t believe for a single moment that any of my teachers were intentionally trying to steer me down the wrong road, I just don’t think they knew any better.

It has taken me a lot of years, and some big financial mistakes, to finally overcome some of the beliefs that I was taught regarding money and finance. My financial education, or rather lack thereof, truly placed a mental road block that I had to free myself from before I could find success.

I specifically cover all four of these financial lies in my book, Start Winning With Money. While each of these financial myths appears to be sound financial advice on the surface, I specifically break each one down with factual evidence as to why they are not necessarily your best financial move.So without further delay, here are the 4 biggest financial lies that I was taught and are still being taught to our children today.

Lie #1 – You Must Get A College Education

The fact that we continue to expect each and every student to go to college is just plain hypocrisy. Statistically, we now know that the ever increasing amount of debt that is taken on to afford college does not offer you any better opportunity in life. Yes, a college education is required for some specific jobs. However, unless there is a huge difference in salary, the amount of debt that you must pay back over time does not warrant taking the risk for a lot of degree programs.

Lie #2 – You Must Buy A House

Your personal residence is not an appreciating asset, nor is it a good debt. Yes, there is an argument to be made about the tax savings of owning a residence versus renting, but the reality is that your personal residence does not appreciate in value any faster than overall inflation.

Lie #3 – You Must Save A Lot Of Money For Retirement

By now it is fairly common knowledge that you cannot out save inflation. But did you know that you probably cannot save enough for your retirement either? A good 401(k) plan, and aggressively saving your money will put you in a better position than most,but the only way to thrive in your retirement is to begin building streams of passive income during your working years.

Lie #4 – You Must Avoid ALL Debt

Avoiding bad debt during your lifetime will afford you opportunities that others can only dream of. However, avoiding all debt completely, could actually cost you money in the long term. For example, if I offered to to pay you $900 for $600 on the first of every month would you take it? Of course you would, and why wouldn’t you?

Not knowing the difference between good debts and bad debts is really the bigger issue at hand. Any savvy real estate investor would take the $900 for $600 deal all day long. In fact, most highly profitable businesses run on far smaller profit margins than the 50% profit margin that we just used in our example. Knowing how to make money and when to use debt properly will change your financial future for the better.

About the author:

Donnie Masters is the current owner and president of Masters Investment Group. He is an accountant for a small private business, as well as an American book author. Donnie was born and raised in Martinsburg, West Virginia.

In 2015, after having spent more than 15 years as a restaurant manager and retail store manager, Donnie began working on his first book. was published in June 2016.

Mattress Buying 101 is a how-to book on properly buying a mattress. The book was written as a guide to help the average consumer purchase the best mattress for their budget. Donnie’s inspiration for writing the book was based on his career at Sleepy’s, where he rose from salesperson to district manager in just 3 years time.

After his first book’s success in the small niche genre of mattresses, Donnie decided to write again on a couple more subjects he knew about, business and money. Start Winning With Money was started in September of 2016.

In early 2017, Donnie founded the Masters Investment Group and began focusing his energy on financial education. He continues to actively work as an accountant and write full time.

Contact Details:

Website: http://www.donniemasters.com/
Twitter: @realdonniem
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/realdonniemasters
Email: mastersinvestmentgroupllc@gmail.com

About the book:

If you are looking to make millions of dollars while sitting in your pajamas, then this book is not for you!

Start Winning With Money is financial book that offers high impact, real world solutions for life’s many money questions.

Want to better your personal finances?
Want to open your own successful business?
Would you like some real clarity on the cost of higher education?
Want to address the issue of debt in your life?
All of that and more is available to you.

Start Winning With Money will teach you:
Why your current income has nothing to do with obtaining wealth
Challenge the popular belief that all debt is bad
Address the issues with public education and why you were taught to fail with money
Define a proper budget
Why good debt can help you grow wealthy
Explain the importance of money in achieving financial freedom
Redefine true wealth

Book Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071NMPPYR
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35666557-start-winning-with-money

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