books – Life Gone Write

Horrid- I’d eat this book.

Horrid’s first page is one of the best beginnings I’ve ever read.

Horrid by Katrina Leno

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Karina Leno’s Horrid is like the old house it takes place in, a typical haunted mansion that you’ve seen a hundred times, but you still want to explore the dark insides.

I was excited when I came across the Owl crate addition of HORRID in a used bookstore, especially since the timing aligned with my YA Horror binge. I loved the cover, and the creepy poem in the beginning hooked me immediately. Leno’s use of the old rhyme is stellar, and as a writer that loves to add poetry to prose, I’m 100% partial to a creepy nursery rhyme being part of a novel.

That said, I went in with low expectations. I hadn’t heard raving reviews for Horrid. After all, I found my copy in a used book store less than year after it’s release.

Maybe that’s why I loved this story so much! I got a much better book than I anticipated. I adored the creepy house and garden, the Agatha Christie references, and the simple, classic feel to the writing. The first page is perfect, one of the best beginnings I’ve ever read. Horrid doesn’t have a flashy plot. It’s not groundbreaking. The characters are familiar because I’ve seen similar ones before. But Horrid is creepy, and sometimes I want less flash, more comfort. Horrid is a thunderstorm read, a book you grab over a quiet fall weekend and read by the window while it rains. Exactly what I needed at the time. I devoured it in two days.

I have a feeling the ending might throw some readers, which I can understand. If you aren’t prepared for a horrid ending (Sorry about the pun, I couldn’t resist), or you’re looking for something truly terrifying or out of the box, I recommend passing on this one. I happen to be in the mood for classically creepy when I read this, so I loved this book. That said, I’m ready to find an out of the box YA horror now.

View all my reviews

Big Book News: I Have an Agent!

GUESS WHAT: I Signed with Christa Heschke at McIntosh & Otis!!!!!!!

*TEARS OF JOY*

Christa loved my latest crossover fantasy, HEX OF THE KILLING CROWN, with its morally grey characters, complicated sibling relationships, enemies to lovers romance, and twists galore.

This journey has been one heck of a ride, and it’s just beginning. I’ll share the full story of how I got my agent very soon, but for now, I’m going to celebrate.

Keep writing everyone,

The VRW Awards Luncheon

Guys, I got invited to a tea party.

A real life tea party!

The Virginia Romance Writers throw a luncheon for the Finalists of the HOLT and the Fool For Love contest every year. My novel The Seductress made the finals! It’s the first event of this type close enough for me to make, so I was ecstatic.

I got to dress up, eat amazing food, and listen to some really great advice from Cynthia Holt Johnson and Carolyn Greene. I had the pleasure of sitting at their table during this event, and I am so glad I got to know them.

Cynthia is full of bubbly energy. She radiates an enigmatic aura, and has a style that simply defines her. Her impressive history with the RWA includes a seat on the national RWA board of Directors and several terms as the President of the Virginia Romance Writers . She is working on a book set in the same area of Florida I was born in. I am looking forward to it’s release.

Carolyn is so kind and insightful. Conversation with her is a treat. She is a two time HOLT winner, a Rita finalist, and has published multiple romance novels with several publishers, including Harlequin.

These amazing women are best friends, the kind that makes other girls envious, and both of them gave me advice I hope to live by- Be Audacious!

Thank you ladies. I plan to be.

My first audacious move is to brag about myself. I know, I know, it sounds so bad doesn’t it? But I am going to be a go-getter, so here it goes.

The Seductress won the Fools For Love Paranormal Division!

I am so grateful and flabbergasted my novel was awarded first place. Thank you to the VRW for putting on this event, and to the women who organize the contest. You are appreciated, and the party was excellent!

I was fortunate enough to receive a full manuscript request, which lit a fire under my little butt to get this novel polished up and completed. I can’t wait to see where The Seductress goes. No matter where it ends up I plan to make the ride quite enjoyable.

Congratulations to all the other winners of the 2016 Fools for Love Contest and Holt Medallion! You guys are incredible!

Until next time,

House Of Royals

I haven’t read a vamp book in a while. Probably because I vamped myself out when I was nineteen ( Oh, hey Twilight!) So when The House of Royals caught my eye, I was surprised. I was even more surprised when I realized the book was a vampire Paranormal read, and I was still interested.

This all boils down to one thing.

I love the cover!

But we aren’t here to talk about the beautiful red dress and lovely raven that dominate the book’s front. We are here to talk about the inside pages. So let’s get down to business.

The House of Royals starts with a young city girl named Alivia arriving at her newly inherited Southern Plantation home. Her long lost father left her a mansion…and quite an eye brow raising heritage. I won’t go into any more plot detail because the books starts out fast and I’d end up spoiling things, but lets just say vampires, slayers, and royal bloodlines are involved.

Oh, and romance. But I’ll get to that later…

The writing is good. Modern slang with Southern charm. I can’t say the premise is unlike anything I’ve ever read before, but it is a well described, beautiful setting . The vampires weren’t original, but they are vampires. We all know what they are! It’s 2016! Why change what works? The descriptions are good, the characterization is good…

The book is good.

However, nothing really surprised me. The ending does have a plot twist, but I could feel it coming. The beginning of the book felt rushed, and parts of the book seemed to be filler. It was good, but not great.

So, why am I putting the book on my blog? I only talk about books I love! The other reviews go straight to Amazon and Goodreads!

The Romance.

I love romance!!!!!!

Keary Taylor is a romance writer. Romance is her language, and she can give quite a speech. The house of royals is a romance, so that’s what I’m going to judge it on. Here is a little taste of Taylor’s style below.

“Ian and I have been circling one another in close orbit. We have a gravitational pull on each other that can’t be explained by logic or reason…Sometimes fate deals you the horrible and the incredible. We can’t run from either. I take a step away from him…and millimeter by millimeter, our fingers slip apart.”

I love the energy she creates between two people. She is a pro at tension, and tension is what I love. The tension between Ian and Alivia is thick, and sticky, and oh so not allowed. Forbidden love, hot guy and beautiful girl who might be destined to be a vampire?

I’ll take it!

I’d highly recommend this to anyone who likes Paranormal Romance. if you love Vamp romance, this is a must read for you.

Four stars for the House of Royals! The second book in this series is already out, and you can bet I’ll read it soon. Put me on your e-mail list, Keary Taylor! I ‘ll be needing the last book in this series as soon as it’s available!

Review of The Mark of the Shadow Grove

Release date, January 15th, 2016

“The birches- wizening old man arms bursting from the black soil and piercing heaven- are like the columns of some ancient temple.”

This is not my normal fare for books. However, sweeping lines such as the one above hooked me in, and I am very glad I was caught.

The Mark of the Shadow Grove is a horror novel telling three separate stories loosely connected by the leading women’s bloodline and the monsters they revolve around. Each ending is left a little open, giving them creepish mystery. I don’t usually like open endings but it worked so well for this book I can’t say anything else would be better. The book explores the dark elements of witchcraft, ancient cults, and necromancy.

Ross Smeltzer has a writing style which could be considered antiquated. His language architecture often reminds me of Wilde, Emerson and Lovecraft. Part of this may be because the book is set in the past so the language style fits its time period. I think there is more to it. Smeltzer possesses the old talent of creating a captivating setting by using long, flowing descriptions. His style is old fashioned. At the same time he manages not to droll. Many of his strongest lines were simple.

“True evil needn’t be flamboyant about itself.”

The above statement is said in a very colorful setting by a dramatic character. It is one of the most basic lines in the chapter. However, the line caught my attention with it’s simple truth. Smeltzer has similar moments scattered throughout this book and they are my favorite parts of his writing style.

The Mark of the Shadow Grove is not a light read. Its prose sweeps you in and manages to make mundane things come alive with the dark, gloomy mood Smelter casts over his setting. I wouldn’t recommend it for most readers. This book is a certain style built for a certain taste, but the audience it is written for is sure to love it. People with an adventurous and curious side will love it too. The Mark of the Shadow Grove is a gritty example of gothic horror, and I enjoyed it so much I think I will start picking up the genre again. When I was little I would sneak-read Rebecca and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by the lowlight coming from my bedroom window. I forgot how much I enjoyed them. This book reminded me.

4.7 stars for The Mark of the Shadow Grove. I took off because I personally appreciate a slightly quicker pace, and there were instances where the scenes jumped around and I was a tad confused. However, these “flaws” have more to do with me than the book, so I won’t take off much, and as you all know…

I round up!

So five stars will be my rating on all of the review sites.

Grab your own copy of Ross Smeltzer’s The Mark of the Shadow Grove here. It is well worth your time!

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