Book Review - DEATH OF A WATERFALL by Kara Leigh Miller

 

Blurb:  Twenty year old, college freshman, Teghan Jacobs didn’t think anything could be worse than learning she’s pregnant by a man she’s been dating less than six months. Boy, was she wrong. Her mother, who’s drowning in the river of denial, refuses to take a side on the issue. Her overbearing, manipulative father threatens to disown her and cut her off from her trust fund if she doesn’t have an abortion.

 

 

Donnie Marks couldn’t be happier. The woman he loves, the woman he fought so hard to be with, is going to have his baby. Life has never been better. But when she shows up in his dorm, sobbing and heartbroken, he learns the horrible truth of what happened. He vows to get revenge on the man who's responsible: Teghan's father.

 

 

My Review

 

I was looking forward to reading this book. The book blurb sounded interesting, intriguing, and promised a heart-throb to die for.

 

What I liked:

The book was well written, something which I find incredibly hard to find these days. The plot was fast, fascinating and downright gruesome at times. I constantly wondered what would happen next. It held my interest to keep reading. I didn’t skim, and read it all.

 

Donnie: A true heart-throb, and very appealing. BUT, I struggled with his character development. He went total OCD towards the end of the novel. I know there were horrendous circumstances, but his reaction came from nowhere--I wasn't convinced.

 

What I wasn't so keen on:

Teghan. I found her more reminiscent of what I expect from a YA character. Her emotional mood swings were all over the place, and unfortunately a little bit repetitive for me. I would expect a little more grounding for a character slipping into the NA slot.

The sex scenes: I just didn’t like them. In fact I found one scene incredibly cringe worthy. I’m not shy of sex scenes, far from it, but these did nothing for me.

The ending: I honestly turned the page looking for the next chapter. But it wasn’t there—I’d reached the end of the book! To me, the ending didn’t feel like one. I know there are more books to come in this series, but this really was a ‘what the heck moment’. It wasn’t a cliff-hanger, it just stopped.

Will I buy the next book in the series, yes, I think I will. I’d like to know what Miller has in store for the characters. Hopefully the sex will have improved and Teghan will have grown up a bit.

 

Title: Death of a Waterfall

Author: Kara Leigh Miller

Genre: New Adult Contemporary

Publisher: Rogue Phoenix Press

Release Date: June 8, 2013

Buy Links:

Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/Death-Waterfall-Hayden-Falls-Saga-ebook/dp/B00DAKXOQO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391887789&sr=8-1&keywords=death+of+a+waterfall+kara+leigh+miller

Barnes & Noble – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/death-of-a-waterfall-kar-leigh-miller/1115551192?ean=2940016534343

All Romance eBooks -- https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-deathofawaterfall-1219143-149.html

About the Author: 

Kara is a multi-published erotic romance author who isn’t afraid to fling the bedroom door wide open and jump into bed with her characters. Represented by Dawn Dowdle of The Blue Ridge Literary Agency, Kara loves to write contemporary romance, erotica, and young adult romance. Currently she has several full-length novels in the works, a series of novellas, and a handful of short stories. An active member of the CNY Writers Haven and the CNY Romance Writers, Kara is also the Managing Editor for the Surge and Romance Imprints at Anaiah Press.

To learn more about Kara, or to find links to her other published works, please visit her website: http://www.karaleighmiller.com. You can also follow her on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKaraLeighMiller) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/KaraLeighMille1)

 

 

 

 

ProjectREUTSway 2014 - Week 1 challenge

Here we go again!

Anyone who pops into my blog every now and then will have seen that last year I participated in ProjectREUTSway 2013, and was blessed with having 'Shifting Seas' selected for publication in the anthology which was released last week (31st October 2014)

I am now, with many other fabulous writers, attempting this years ProjectREUTSway.

MYTHOLOGY! Not the ones that everyone knows - oh no, Egyptian, Celtic, Asian, and Eastern Europe. Research!!!!!!!!

This was the first week challenge:

My story, SANDSTORM, has been sent today. Let the nail biting begin.

I'll be back next week, with news on the next challenge.

Id you fancy following all the events on twitter, search #ProjectREUTSway. We're all there, chatting, panicking and generally supporting each other.

See you soon.

Melody xx

BOOK RELEASE DAY: FAIRLY TWISTED TALES FOR A HORRIBLY EVER AFTER

Today marks the release of my first officially published story. It's a short story, under 5,000 words, and was the result of a competition ProjectREUTSway 2013, that ran throughout November 2013. I tweeted, blogged and shouted about the competition and my writing friends who also took part: Summer Wier, Drew Hayes, T A Brock, Carly Drake, Kathy Palm.

The result is this beautiful anthology, full of wonderful stories, and gorgeous illustrations.

I'd like to raise a glass to every writer who participated, and raise a glass or two (or three--Ashley!) to everyone who participated and made this happen. Working with Reuts has been fun and exciting, and I look forward to seeing what this years entries in the ProjectREUTSway will bring.

The book is available electronically NOW! and will be released as a hardbook in a few weeks time.

Here's the link to the electronic edition directly from REUTS Publications:  Fairly Twisted Tales for a Horribly Ever After

And here for Amazon.com: Fairly Twisted Tales for a Horribly Ever After

And here for Amazon.co.uk: Fairly Twisted Tales for a Horribly Ever After

And here's a teaser for my story: Shifting Seas

SHIFTING SEAS - Teaser for Fairly Twisted Tales for a Horribly Ever After

ProjectREUTSway have been releasing teaser trailers of the stories featured in the anthology, 'Fairly Twisted Tales for a Horribly Ever After', released on 31st October, 2015. Today it's ME!

So, here you are. A little teaser of Shifting Seas.

COVER REVEAL - FAIRLY TWISTED TALES FOR A HORRIBLY EVER AFTER

Last year I entered a short story competition run by Reuts Publications. One of my stories was selected for publication in this exciting anthology.

'Shifting Seas' will be featured, along with several other brilliant stories including ones by my writing buddies--Summer Wier, Drew Hayes, T A Brock, and Carly Drake.

But first--check out the dark and mysterious cover:

Summary

When it comes to fairy tales, there are plenty of things that go bump in the night. Things so morbid and grotesque, so sinister and diabolical, they haunt your imagination; warnings from generations past that still manage to terrify.

In 2013, authors came together for the annual Project REUTSway writing competition, penning their own interpretive twists on stories we're all familiar with. Seventeen were chosen, bringing twenty-five new versions to life. From The Brother's Grimm, to Hans Christian Andersen and beyond, these tales are not the ones you grew up with. They are, however, Fairly Twisted Tales for a Horribly Ever After. Dare to find out what happens when "once upon a time" ends in the stuff of nightmares?

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All proceeds from the sale of the anthology will be donated to the 2013 organization of choice, which was Reading Tree/Discover Books, a “green” charity which promotes literacy in the US by keeping books out of landfills, funding library sustainability, providing books to low-income families, and more. 

ProjectREUTSway 2014

For the 2014 season, ProjectREUTSway are giving you the chance to decide where proceeds will go! The new year also brings with it a new theme. So brush up on your histories, legends, and cultural lore, because we’ll be looking for the most original, fantastic versions of tales that have braved the centuries.

Learn More About Project REUTSway.

 

 

Review - PRIME DECEPTION by Carys Jones

Prime Deception by Carys Jones
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After not really knowing what to expect from this book after reading previous reviews (was it a romance or a crime suspense?) I was pleasantly surprised. To me, there was no doubt that this is a romance, albeit one shrouded in mystery and intrigue.

I really sympathised with Charles, although hated that I did, as he was the pivotal key to everything that happened. I didn’t struggle with the lack of political references. To me, there were enough mentions of the role he had to play in the government and it didn’t worry me that this was never covered in further detail, indeed, it may have detracted from the story too much if we had been bombarded with political references on every turn of the page.

There were a few niggles for me. The first was the constant switch of POV. Sometimes there were quick bursts from a character, and then we slipped back to another. Occasionally I became a little lost and had to reread to grasp whose POV I was in. Perhaps some sort of visual break would have made these switches easier for the reader.

Secondly the backstories. I found these really repetitive as every few fifty of so pages the same thing was said only in a different way. A lot of this could have been cut.

And thirdly. I think Carina have let Carys down on the editing support they gave her. There were distracting typos in my kindle edition, and several areas that in my view could have been tightened.

Even with my little niggles I still really enjoyed this book, galloping through the pages wanting to know how things were going to end.

If the editors had done a better job then this book would be a definite 5 stars, but I felt I had to drop one due to the niggles I just described.

Carys is a good storyteller, and I shall definitely be heading over to read her other books, and hope they are as gripping as Prime Deception. If Carina have edited her other books, I hope they have tightened their procedure to help make Carys's writing shine as much as it deserves!

Melody


View all my reviews

Cover Reveal: ISLA'S INHERITANCE by Cassandra Page

Today I bring you the cover reveal for Isla's Inheritance, by Cassandra Page, and I think you'll agree with me--it is beautiful!

 

 

 

Isla's Inheritance, by Cassandra Page

Genre: Young adult urban fantasy

Publisher: Turquoise Morning Press

Date of Release­­: 9 October, 2014


Summary from Goodreads:

Isla was content to let her father keep his secrets, but now she can’t stand the touch of iron and her dreams are developing a life of their own. She must discover the truth — before it’s too late.
Seventeen-year-old Isla Blackman only agrees to participate in a Halloween party séance because Dominic, an old crush, wants to. She is sure nothing will happen when they try to contact the spirit of her mother. But the séance receives a chilling reply.

SHE IS NOT DEAD.

Isla doesn’t want to upset her father by prying into the family history he never discusses. When the mysterious and unearthly Jack offers to help her discover the truth, Isla must master her new abilities to protect her loved ones from enemies she never knew existed.


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Giveaway

Enter to win a $25 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card (winner's choice)

Direct link: Isla's Inheritance cover reveal celebration


Author bio

Cassandra Page is a mother, author, editor and geek. She lives in Canberra, Australia’s bush capital, with her son and two Cairn Terriers. She has a serious coffee addiction and a tattoo of a cat — which is ironic, as she’s allergic to cats. When she’s not reading or writing, she engages in geekery, from Doctor Who to AD&D. Because who said you need to grow up?

 

 

 

 

 

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