tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55293865218362969952024-03-05T15:38:39.937-05:00Erin Miller's ReviewsThis is a site where you can get reviews on your products. Products are limited to books. All reviews are no holds barred!Erin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00049685776910358451noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529386521836296995.post-16783153593212374202019-02-27T20:05:00.002-05:002019-02-27T20:09:11.368-05:00The Princess Bride <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The Princess Bride S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure<br />
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Who hasn't watched the movie The Princess Bride? It's a lovely film filled with such wittiness. I haven't seen the movie in years but I did love it when I watched it. Maybe I should watch it again sometime. Oh right, the review!<br />
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If you think this review is about the movie, think again! This is about the book, the abridged version by William Goldman. Or as he likes to call it, "good parts" version. Goldman explains throughout the book why he abridged scenes and took out scenes. It gets annoying when you just want to read the story but then the explanations seem to enhance the overall book if that is even possible. I know I wouldn't want to read ten to twenty pages on trees. (Actually I have, but that's another story.)<br />
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The Princess Bride is about a couple whom truly love each other. Or maybe not. That's up for you to decide based on Morgenstern's play of words throughout the novel. I must admit this is the only book that has a movie not so loosely based on the book, meaning the book and the movie are almost one in the same. Almost.<br />
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The tale is about Buttercup who grows into a beautiful woman and falls in love with her farmboy. She then gets kidnapped by a mercenary and his henchmen and then rescued by the same people. How's that for a twist? Does she reunite with her one true love? Will their blossoming romance ever come to be? Find out by either watching the movie or reading the book. (Did I really just say that?)<br />
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Anyway, if you loved the movie, pick up the book. It will answer some questions the movie made you think about. I guess this is what you call a "good romp," or some such silly words.<br />
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Go read the book, enjoy the movie and then read the sequel Buttercup's baby which is only one chapter long and in the book. They really should have done more with the sequel. Aw well, can't get everything!<br />
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Erin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00049685776910358451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529386521836296995.post-11062506796928843002018-12-14T11:30:00.000-05:002018-12-14T11:30:01.582-05:00Reviews have Returned<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have decided to make a return to book reviews. Hopefully I wont regret this. It seems to be a lucrative market. So here's to reading the books put out there by all those wonderful authors!</div>
Erin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00049685776910358451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529386521836296995.post-26696549043639609402018-03-30T22:56:00.002-04:002018-03-30T22:56:30.407-04:00NO MORE REVIEWS! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I want to delete this blog but can't figure out how. However, I do have a short story blog which you can visit at erinscomics.art.blog<br />
Whether I continue to write book reviews or not, remains to be seen. As of right now, it doesn't look promising in that avenue.</div>
Erin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00049685776910358451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529386521836296995.post-17134227254309763062018-01-05T14:21:00.002-05:002018-01-05T14:37:54.014-05:00A Treasury of Swashbuckling Adventures <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Author/Blogger Note: I do apologize for not posting anything for a while. I have had certain things happen which has in a sense demotivated me from pursuing passions once enjoyed. Anyway, I am taking steps to recover and get back to a healthier state of mind. I do apologize for any inconveniences this may have caused people and hope to remedy this in the near future. Now onwards with this review!<br />
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<b><u>A Treasury of Swashbuckling Adventures </u></b><br />
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Lately I have been going to Barnes & Noble and perusing their bargain shelves which have many classics on sale for $7.98 per collection. I am in New York on Long Island so this is still rather expensive and I am spending too much money in this regard, but it's books so I can be forgiven in this sense.<br />
Anyway, this treasury I picked up is all about sword fights and pirates. Okay, well I kind of picked up the book thinking only about pirates, so to me that was my mistake. It happens. Still, I enjoyed most of the stories contained in this collection and in order to do a proper review I would have to review each story separately within this article. Will you stay around through the whole article?<br />
There are 14 stories in this collection. I am also going to forgo the star system I usually employ when writing reviews and only give my opinions on the stories therein. I will be as brief as possible.<br />
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Story 1: The Prisoner of Zenda by Anthony Hope<br />
Royal red haired cousins that look alike. One a king. One not as high in rank. A king kidnapped. A cousin then plays a part and undergoes a rescue mission.<br />
There is definitely a lot of swordplay and daring here. It's an action packed adventure story and has some romance in it and I can't reveal anymore than that. I believe there was an movie made on this but it's an old movie. They will probably remake it soon. Who knows. It is definitely a must read book if you want to get into heroic adventure stories. <br />
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Story 2 How the Brigadier Bore Himself at Waterloo by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle<br />
The story of Etienne Gerard trapped behind enemy lines and how he had conducted himself. This is a short story so if I reveal anymore it would reveal too much. I thought it was entertaining.<br />
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Story 3 The Captain Moratti's Last Affair by Sidney Levettt-Yeats<br />
Another enjoyable story although tragic. Another short story and I am afraid I can't reveal much more but the story was action packed and well written.<br />
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Story 4 How Jean-Pierre Met the Scarlet Pimpernel By Baroness Orczy<br />
Besieged Lyons. Ailing child. A mysterious aristocrat. History buffs will find this story amusing.<br />
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Story 5 The Adventures of a Night by John Bloundelle-Burton<br />
An old friend invites a man to save her from a predicament. Charming story, even if a bit cliche.<br />
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Story 6 The Story of Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmund Rastand and Anne O'Hagan<br />
Historical fiction based on life of historical poet, playwright, duelist, and soldier Cyrano. The story opens up with him dueling while reciting a ballad on the spot. Still, this story was way too short and had the potential to be so much more. A bitter disappointment!<br />
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Story 7 Crillon's Stake by Stanley J. Weyman<br />
A foolish bet by a foolish youth turns into so much more. This was a good read.<br />
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Story 8 The Corsican Brothers by Alexandre Dumas<br />
A traveler learns of a special trait shared by twin brothers and observes two conflicts which they both most solve, though they be in two different countries. Excellent story!<br />
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Story 9 English Steel and Spanish Passion by Drake Williams and Warren Geiger<br />
English Nobleman and Spanish Pirate duke it out. English Nobleman clearly wins. Crap story! English nobles are too egotistic in these short story pirate adventures!<br />
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Story 10 Alamut by Harold Lamb<br />
Woman gets tricked by invader and her father gets killed. Seeks the aid of a foreigner for justice. This story is well written and even has an interesting twist at the end.<br />
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Story 11 The Plot of Signor Salvi by Marion Polk Angellotti<br />
A bit more acceptable than the former English versus pirate stories and a bit more realistic but still very mary sueish. At the very least this was entertaining.<br />
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Story 12 Scourge of the Main by by James Perley Hughes<br />
Noble fights against vicious pirate. Noble wins. Boring story. Not worth reading. Better left to obscurity.<br />
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Story 13 The Substitute Sword<br />
A brother is scorned for not partaking in his deceased brother's honor but then he is left with no choice and discovers a shocking secret. This is an entertaining story.<br />
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Story 14 Captain Blood by Rafael Sabatini<br />
Ah the final story in the treasury and the longest one too. Peter blood, a doctor by trade, but with a stint as a soldier, gets caught practicing his trade as a doctor to a rebel. Wrongly convicted of treason and sold into slavery, his saga begins. This is quite a captivating story and enjoyable. Even if none of the aforementioned stories strike your interest, definitely give this one a shot. You won't regret it!<br />
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And now, I need to figure out what I'm reading next. Leave a comment if you enjoyed the review or even if you hated it. Please don't leave me in obscurity!<br />
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Erin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00049685776910358451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529386521836296995.post-15919963474727843422017-02-02T17:02:00.001-05:002017-02-02T17:02:31.547-05:00To Live Is To Die First by Eli Darzi<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
This book is purely philosophical. A new text in a new millennia. Have we come across the 21st century Plato or Aristotle? Not them, but perhaps an Epicurus, This is an anthology of essays for numerous different topics that all relate in some way to human's suffering.</div>
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This is not an easy read but it certainly makes you think. I can imagine this book being used in many college philosophy classes in the future. Eli Darzi is certainly a writer to look for in the future in the academic world. Or at least, his work should be considered. We will see in the future.</div>
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Some of the things mentioned in his essays I can't fully agree with. Still, it's excellent food for thought.</div>
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I rate To Live is to Die by Eli Darzi a 4 out of 5. There were only a minute number of small typos but not enough to detract from the overall effect. It's a great piece of non-fiction. This is a philosophy book you don't want to miss!</div>
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In the future, I will post a picture of the paperback copy. I had to replace my copy since I accidentally left it at one of my jobs one day. Hopefully, whoever picked it up is loving every minute of reading it! Really, buy this book! You won't regret it. </div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Live-Die-First-Eli-Darzi/dp/1540890015/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1486072860&sr=8-1&keywords=to+live+is+to+die+first" target="_blank">Buy To Live is To Die First On Amazon</a></div>
Erin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00049685776910358451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529386521836296995.post-26968387171335220002016-12-16T20:30:00.002-05:002016-12-16T20:56:45.328-05:00Left Across the Border: A Story of Teen Depression<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
This is book one to what can be seen as
a “controversial topic.” The story opens up with a little girl
named Flora who has to cross the border to go to America. She starts
out as an illegal alien but then gets a green card.
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Flora's story is heart wrenching and
people who don't understand the immigration process really need to
read this. Flora is a Mexican and her story about crossing the
border, going to an American school, and the isolation and culture
shock among other things. It certainly makes readers think if they care
to read this.
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The writing style could use a bit more
work, but at the same time I think it's perfect for the one person
narrative of the character “Flora.” She was a little girl who
only spoke Spanish on arrival to America and now speaks English. It's
a must read for everyone!</div>
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Another thing that is listed in this
book are sources where people can find help who are facing depression
and other mental health ailments. It's a great reference tool for
those who may not be aware.
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Hopefully, people will read this story
and change their view on what they call “Mexicans,” and realize
that the world should have no borders. For a book that actually
brought me to tears, I absolutely recommend this book to everyone!</div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MXGO01S/ref=r_ea_s_f" target="_blank">Buy Left Across the Border on Amazon</a></div>
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Erin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00049685776910358451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529386521836296995.post-24166165266274411432016-12-16T00:14:00.001-05:002016-12-16T00:18:41.685-05:00Introducing Guest PostsThis is a review blog. Reviews are limited to books, graphic novels, comic books, and video games. (Although there are only book reviews for right now.) Since I have written many book reviews, I now want to give back to authors and also include guest posts in this blog.<br />
So, if you're an author, contact me via fiverr or send me an e-mail at erinmmillerart@gmail.com<br />
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Hope to hear from you soon and please keep an eye out for new guest posts.<br />
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In the meantime, check out my other blog and gigs that I offer on fiverr and etsy.<br />
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<a href="https://zombieerinsfiction.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Zombie Erin's Fiction Lesbian Fiction Site </a><br />
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<a href="https://www.fiverr.com/erinmillerart" target="_blank">Erin's Art on Fiverr</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/erinmillertreasures" target="_blank">Erin's Art on Etsy</a><br />
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<br />Erin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00049685776910358451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529386521836296995.post-24027062325866668502016-12-09T16:07:00.000-05:002016-12-09T16:07:33.515-05:00The Shadow of the Gauntlet by Casey CaraccioloSo my partner picked this book up from one of the conventions she sells her art work in. This and the sequel to it anyway. When she came back, she handed me the book saying, "You'll probably like this. You read faster than I play through video games." Anyway, she was right and I did like this book a lot.<br />
So let's get on with the good and the bad, starting with the bad first.<br />
The cover of this book could be better. The simple design is nice but since books are still judged by their covers, it needs a better cover. Of course, that's just my aesthetic opinion on the matter and I shouldn't say anything about it since the book does have 52 reviews at the time of this blog post.<br />
I also felt it was too short, but that's not a bad thing at all.<br />
Moving on to the good...<br />
What can I say about this book that will make it more awesome? Absolutely nothing! It's a standalone on its awesomeness.<br />
So what's this bloody thing about anyway?<br />
Cue in Thomas Scargen, a chronic slacker that somehow manages to graduate high school. He has a robot that takes place of a nanny. (Clearly, this is set in the future.) Eventually, he wakes up from a nightmare and everything stems from this. Yareli, a Native American girl, helps him escape from some villains.<br />
Okay, so it sounds like a typical fantasy story right? Throw in a whiskey drinking, Shakespeare quoting werewolf, a day-walking vampire, a teleport dragon, a gorilla bartender, a robot with autism, a fox spirit, mechanical midgets, and more. Intrigued yet? This review doesn't do this book any justice. Just please pick it up and read it for yourself. It's a new spin on fantasy and scifi. A must read for fans of these genres.<br />
With that said, I'm going to tell my girlfriend to let me read the second book and possibly go stalk the author and find out when he plans to release more books.<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Gauntlet-Scargen-Book-ebook/dp/B00DC8W9D8/ref=dp_kinw_strp_1" target="_blank">Buy The Shadow of the Gauntlet on Amazon</a><br />
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<br />Erin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00049685776910358451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529386521836296995.post-69174104979788958172016-11-26T12:23:00.002-05:002016-11-26T12:23:22.402-05:00The Little Voice by Joss Sheldon <div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
This book is one that I normally don't
review. I read a variety of things of course, but my reviews mainly
stem on science fiction and fantasy- my favorite genres. Needless to
say, this was not in that genre. This was a literary piece filled
with psychological and philosophical notions.
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The writing style is different than I'm
used to reading. I believe it's second person prose. However, the
author did this on purpose and it worked.
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Yew is the main character of this story
who when he turns six, starts listening to the “egot” inside of
him. This was an interesting play on words and if you are familiar
with psychological theory you will understand where the inspiration
for this comes from. Throughout his life, Yew then obeys rules and
the “egot” becomes smaller and smaller until he eventually
forgets it. Then one day in adulthood, after a chance meeting with
someone from his past, he finally “snaps.”
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At times this book can seem a bit
over-saturated with case studies in psychology but it does help to
move the story along. It can actually help a person who may not be
familiar with the concepts used throughout the book so it works if
you have no background knowledge but paradoxically, you need some
background knowledge to fully appreciate what you are reading.
Anyway, this book combines both psychological concepts and eastern
philosophy via Lao Tzu. So in a way, it's academic brain candy but
written in a way almost everyone would understand. I wouldn't be
surprised if this book was eventually used in a high school classroom
or rather, a university classroom.
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Needless to say, this was a page turner
and certainly something to keep your eye on. What the author presents
in his book certainly makes you think and he leaves it up to you to
interpret the end of the story for yourself.
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It's a good book. And definitely, one
that should be read by all.
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<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Voice-rebellious-novel-ebook/dp/B01MG9AP4U/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1480180855&sr=1-1&keywords=the+little+voice+by+Joss+Sheldon" target="_blank">Purchase The Little Voice on Amazon</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/681490" target="_blank">Purchase The Little Voice on Smashwords</a></div>
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Erin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00049685776910358451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529386521836296995.post-29254858956791955912016-11-17T14:28:00.000-05:002016-11-17T14:28:11.488-05:00A Map to Otherworld: The Guide to Meditative Shamanic Journeying by Rebekah Gamble<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Shamanic work? Astral projection right?
Well, if anything it certainly got the best of me in regards to my
own curiosity of inexplicable phenomena that current science has yet
to prove of disprove.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
As I was reading through this book, it
had many similarities in regards to my own religion when I do
practice it, that of Paganism. Wicca it also reminded me of and yes,
there are differences between the two, kind of like how there are
differences between Christianity and Catholicism. Either way though,
all religions try to bring about unity, peace, and love.
Unfortunately, the human element in interpreting bible verses, book
of shadows, etc. deludes from the ultimate message of religions, which I believe is love. However, my own interpretation can be wrong as well. I'm only human and can err just like anyone else. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I don't consider this book a religious
text mind you, but it's definitely worthy of a read by people who
consider themselves more “spiritual,” than “religious.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Also, shamanic journeying and astral
projection are different. I learned that from reading this book and I
am certainly no expert in things like this nor do I intend to be. It
is interesting to reflect over though.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I like how the writer of this book used
her own life experiences as examples. It's like you're having a
conversation with her, even though it's not necessarily going both
ways. It's good to read this book with no prior judgments attached.
For people who are interested in this type of thing it's good to add
into your collection.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I do like to delve into reading
material such as this, but my mind is still too scientific to fully
accept all of it. Either way, it's worthy of reading and having a
different perspective on things such as this.
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Read the book for yourself, to see what
I mean. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LDB3F38/ref=r_ea_s_f" target="_blank">Purchase Map to Otherworld</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
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Erin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00049685776910358451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529386521836296995.post-2822410090952953532016-11-06T22:43:00.002-05:002016-11-06T22:43:47.751-05:00Gods Behaving Badly by Mickey Ann<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
At first, I
really did not want to read this book. I was hesitant because I
thought I would hate it since I normally don't read this type of
thing unless it's filled with a lot of humor. With my prior
misgivings I jumped right in and read the whole book.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
This was a
pleasant surprise. The book has humor and the author has certainly
done her research on mythology in order to write this book. It's set
in our time with a bunch of renegade gods and goddesses “behaving
badly.” Ah, I see what she did there.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
So, this book is
about the human form of Hecate who calls herself “Cate.” Her soul
was stolen by Hades and her lover is Ares. Alright, so we have a love
triangle and a “Hecate-Cate” who is sarcastic, witty, and who is
portrayed as a “bad-ass.” These types of books are getting more
and more popular and I can see why. It's a really cool portrayal.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
For a first
book, I like how this author is doing. Personally, I felt the book
was a bit short but that's a good thing. I look forward to seeing
more of this author's work and I give this book an 8 out of 10.
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Purchase it for
yourself by clicking on one of the links below:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/664759" target="_blank">Gods Behaving Badly on Smashwords</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Gods-Behaving-Badly-Book-One-ebook/dp/B01LZFE18J/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1478490141&sr=1-2&keywords=gods+behaving+badly" target="_blank">Gods Behaving Badly on Amazon</a> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
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Erin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00049685776910358451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529386521836296995.post-42273485074933847482016-10-07T12:43:00.001-04:002016-10-07T12:43:07.861-04:00I Wore Heels To The Apocalypse by CH Clepitt<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The apocalypse. Spies. Zombies. A
badger? Who doesn't love a witty badger with the attitude that
everyone's an idiot?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
It all works in this hilarious comedic
apocalyptic story.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Right from page one it takes you on a
romp. Kerry starts out as what appears to be an airhead and then it
gets funnier from there. The character development uses a lot of stereotypes but in a comedic way that just adds to the story. The story itself, well, I don't want to spoil it!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I absolutely love how this book makes
fun of itself. The author is a genius for penning something like
this.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Anyway, there really isn't much more I
can write about this story. So go check it out, leave a review,
and enjoy the satire.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/632154" target="_blank">Buy I Wore Heels to the Apocalypse by CH Clepitt</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Erin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00049685776910358451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529386521836296995.post-86332983202069554432016-09-30T13:13:00.001-04:002016-09-30T13:13:33.831-04:00Review of the Harry Potter Series by JK RowlingWitches. Wizards. Goblins. Giants. Dragons. Werewolves. A protagonist with a dysfunctional extended family that discovers he's a wizard the moment he turns eleven? What's not to like?<br />
Harry Potter has been read for years and with the writing style being friendly for everyone, it's easy to see why it has passed through so many hands. Top this off with a very successful movie franchise and it's no wonder, JK Rowling struck it rich, even if she did lose her billionaire status since she is a real human being and not like most of the others gloating in their gold like some tuxed and elite Smeagal over the one ring- whoops, sorry, different franchise.<br />
Anyway, the series follows Harry Potter through his school years at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. It's a nice fantasy story that gets darker with every book. The darker the better, since now Harry deals with inept bureaucracies, i.e. Ministry of Magic,- hey, sounds like Congress in America! Harry goes on to discover in Hogwarts, secret passageways, an invisibility cloak (because what teenager wouldn't want that at some point?), quiddicth (a wizard ball game on broomsticks), and then some.<br />
Another thing that's awesome about this series is that in a way it breaks high school stereotypes. For example, Harry would be a jock and Hermione would be classified as a nerd. Or is that just my limited scope on things. Either way, that doesn't matter but it's something extra to think about if you still have a high school mentality and many people still do sadly.<br />
I absolutely loved reading this series as it was a great distraction from daily life.<br />
Go read it, if you haven't already.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Harry-Potter-Paperback-Box-/dp/0545162076/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1475255495&sr=8-1&keywords=Harry+Potter+The+Complete+Collection" target="_blank">Buy Harry Potter The Complete Collection</a><br />
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<br />Erin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00049685776910358451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529386521836296995.post-30017325936756087132016-08-02T00:57:00.002-04:002016-08-02T01:00:36.522-04:00Before Reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone... AgainFor those who do follow me and have followed me in the past, I apologize for not keeping up with my self-imposed schedule. Being that I am both an artist and a writer, deadlines aren't exactly my strong suit. Plus, with my new day job at Savers and a possible teaching job starting September 7, I have been quite busy. I also don't make any money off these blogs I run. At least, I don't make much from them...Yeah, I just love writing that much... No seriously, I do! Although you can purchase books from me and I am working on more although I have been saying that for the past four years. I sell art as well.<br />
Time for me is different.<br />
Anyway, onwards to the point of this post.<br />
<br />
When I first read the Harry Potter series, I was 14 years old. I was living in a four bedroom apartment with my Mom and two brothers. (My other brother was in a group home and my youngest two half brothers weren't even a thought at this point.) It was a rainy Saturday and the option was a video game which one of my brothers hogged all the time or books. Clearly, I turned to books although I played video games here and there, amidst sibling fist fights but that's another story altogether. Anyone who grew up with brothers will understand what I'm talking about and yes, I'm the only girl.<br />
On my brother's bookshelf was a Harry Potter book. It was new so it caught my attention. Keep in mind this was early 2000's. Shh. So I sat on the couch in the living room and finished it within 6 hours.<br />
<br />
Fast forward to 16 years in the future... (Scary thought, but I try not to think too much into that... No reason to. It's not like I'm in my 80's or something and even if I was, well, I don't really think I'll live that long so let's move on shall we?)<br />
<br />
So a new Harry Potter book came out recently. The friend I'm living with pre-ordered it and I figured I might as well get back into the series. So as a 28 year old I am rereading the Harry Potter Series although I never did get past book 4 in my teens. Mainly because I couldn't afford to get the books at the time and something happened where I was unable to use my library card. Again, that's another story.<br />
<br />
My 14 year old self probably wouldn't like my 28 year old self, but who really can say the opposite of that?<br />
So for now on, my reviews will be before I read the book, after I read the book, and if inspired enough from reading said book, a piece of fan art. I will list the link to my artist profiles below.<br />
<br />
I'm wondering if I will be as enticed by this book as I was when I was 14 years old. It's time to begin that journey. I'll get back to you with what I think after I read this gem.<br />
<br />
Here are the links to my artist profiles:<br />
(If you know anyone who is interested, send them the links please and thank you!)<br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/ErinMillerTreasures" target="_blank">Erin on Etsy</a><br />
<a href="https://www.fiverr.com/erinmillerart" target="_blank">Erin on Fiverr</a><br />
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<br />Erin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00049685776910358451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529386521836296995.post-83393888976228823232016-06-30T13:43:00.003-04:002016-06-30T13:44:08.831-04:00Extensis Vitae by Gregory Mattix <span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">Michael Reznik was a soldier and a good one. Special ops, the works. However, he wakes up in a mysterious underground bunker, in a technologically advanced body. He no longer has his own body obviously. The science fiction is amazing. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">The group of people he wakes up to are a peaceful lot in that they don't use overt violence, but there are other things going on. Picture a peaceful bureaucracy going slowly out of hand and you'll know what I mean. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">With that said, "extensis vitae" which is Latin for "extended life" is a fitting title. After all, Reznik should have been dead centuries over by now. Still, he now has to go on a rescue mission to the surface and what he finds, well think Mad Max meets Fall Out 4 and you'll get a general understanding of this book. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">The actions scenes were awesome and what more can you ask for from a book such as this. I did get this book for free from amazon.com and I'm always iffy about the free books on amazon. The last time I read a free book from that site I wanted to pull my hair out. However, this book makes up for it and I'm interested in reading the sequel. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">Check it out here...</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Extensis-Vitae-Gregory-Mattix-ebook/dp/B00BGXA7TE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1467308141&sr=8-1&keywords=extensis+vitae" style="background-color: black;" target="_blank">Extensis Vitae on Amazon</a></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"><br /></span></span></span>Erin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00049685776910358451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529386521836296995.post-59064988524597321482015-08-09T13:33:00.001-04:002015-08-09T13:36:08.761-04:00Ravens in the Sky by Will Bly<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Ravens in the Sky is a captivating book with the main character who is a detective wizard named Irulen. It's refreshing in that the characters aren't typical fantasy stereotypes and there is a play on their psyches which adds more to this well written book. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Mr. Bly combines realism in that Irulen's magic is finite and presents challenges for each character contained therein. Although it takes place in a fantasy world, each character has a bit of something each reader can relate to, at least if you have a dark past... Still, the characters are enjoyable, the plot was amazing, and he did leave it on a cliff hanger so he better release the next one soon! </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">With that said, this tiny review doesn't do the book any justice and really, just go read it!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ravens-Sky-Dark-Compass-Novel/dp/1512074535/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1439141071&sr=8-1&keywords=ravens+in+the+sky" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/Ravens-Sky-Dark-Compass-Novel/dp/1512074535/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1439141071&sr=8-1&keywords=ravens+in+the+sky</a></span><br />
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<br />Erin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00049685776910358451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529386521836296995.post-74841059767561348462014-08-27T14:49:00.000-04:002014-08-27T14:49:40.116-04:00The First Taste is Free- Tales of a Lesbian Vampire (The Pixie Chix Book 1) by Zephyr Indigo<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Lesbian fiction has had an explosion
recently. Tales of lesbian heroines are coming out more and more. I love
lesbian fiction. I really do, but the following book is something I just could
not wrap my head around.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">The heroine Felicia is a vampire that doesn't
want to feed but is sex crazed for any lesbian woman she can get. While
sex can be good in a story, I just felt like this book should probably have
been on a pornographic store shelf and not to be taken seriously.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I think humor was what this book was
intended for, but I just did not get it. It felt like nothing more than a
sexually frustrated lesbian author with a need to write about sex in a fantasy
setting just to get off. Sorry, but I can’t recommend this book to anyone! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Erin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00049685776910358451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529386521836296995.post-32801465203124022772014-08-27T14:34:00.004-04:002014-08-27T15:22:23.098-04:00Emperor The Gates of Rome by Conn Iggulden<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> Emperor The Gates of Rome is a historical
fiction book written by Conn Iggulden. It takes place in Ancient Rome and is
about the youth of a great historical figure. It’s done in such a way that, I
personally could not put the book down!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">The way Iggulden
writes he breathes life into something that most people would find boring. Not many
people like history and I don’t particularly care for historical fiction (Side
Note: I actually do love history, especially art history! Also, this is historical fiction with an emphasis on FICTION!). Anyway, from page
one the book is action packed and there is never a dull moment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">It starts with
two little boys named Gaius and Marcus. Gaius comes from a semi-powerful family
in Rome and Marcus is a bastard child who was taken in by Gaius’ father. The two
grow up together and are best friends. They get trained in the art of combat
and educated by the same tutors. However, when they grow up, all things shift.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">I really can’t
give anymore of the story away. Still, it was very well written and all I can
think of is praise for the book. Even if you’re not into historical fiction,
you should give this book a try. I’m sure it will turn you onto the genre,
especially if you like books that have a ton of action, mystery, intrigue, and
very brief romance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Purchase here: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 15.333332061767578px;"><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/emperor-the-gates-of-rome-conn-iggulden/1106752468?ean=9780385343015">http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/emperor-the-gates-of-rome-conn-iggulden/1106752468?ean=9780385343015</a></span></span></div>
Erin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00049685776910358451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529386521836296995.post-58763619019941151002014-05-31T22:55:00.001-04:002014-05-31T23:20:06.986-04:00The Castings Trilogy by Pamela FreemanMurder. Death. Intrigue. Betrayal. Love. Unrequited Love. Horses. Magic. Spell Casting. Fortune tellers. These books have it all!<br />
The Castings Trilogy by Pamela Freeman has such immense power in the story you get captivated from page one. She paints a picture of a vast world with her words and every page is mesmerizing and so satisfying it's a shame I had to finally finish it.<br />
Pamela Freeman writes with each character's viewpoints. Normally this is a style of writing that should be frowned upon, but she makes it work. All the characters and their stories intertwine making a good story that hopefully never gets turned into a movie or a mini series on television because that would ruin it.<br />
Anyway, the three main characters are Bramble, Ash, and Saker. Their names are given them by their mothers who name their children based on the first living thing they see. I'm still confused about the name Ash but nevertheless these are the three main characters. Freeman writes her story in these characters viewpoints, however she also writes in the characters viewpoints of the lives they touch. Originally, I thought this was going to be a bad idea, but it actually worked to add more depth to an already great story.<br />
Delving further, it is Saker that is trying to raise an army of the dead to put a stop to the warlords who have treated his people called "Travelers" like dirt since the time of the man named Acton.<br />
In the story, a man named Acton led his people to war against the Travelers and massacred everyone. He took over their land and forced them to obey the war lords or suffer the consequences and die in a pressing box or by hanging. Unfortunately for the Travelers little things such as the wrong glance towards a war lord or not bowing down low enough made them have a one way ticket to death. <br />
This has been the norm for a thousand years since the death of Acton, however there was a nice twist. Certain things came up, that an unsuspecting reader would think twice before jumping to what seems like an obvious conclusion. Sometimes even the stone casters (I'll relate them to Tarot card readers of today, minus the spitting in hands and clasping hands with spit for readings of the future, glad I don't have to do that with tarot cards...) were stumped. What you thought was predictable ended up making your head spin in a good way and the gods were another focus of the story as well. <br />
In the story, the gods are present and I'm reminded of mythology. Then again, what decent fantasy story doesn't have some reference to a form of mythology? Each character believes in the gods and the gods talk to them and sometimes help them, or like the Greek Gods of myth are too busy doing their own things to bother with humans. (Side Note: You should really check out mythology and get at least a spoonful from each ancient civilization. You won't be sorry!)<br />
There is so much more that happens in this wonderful tale, but I'm not going to give you a chapter by chapter summary. If I do that, what's the point of reading the book? Please go check this out from your local library or buy it and support such a wonderful author. I can't wait to read more books from her!<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Castings-Trilogy-Pamela-Freeman-ebook/dp/B0047Y0EW4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1401592385&sr=8-1&keywords=the+castings+trilogy" target="_blank">The Castings Trilogy by Pamela Freeman</a><br />
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<br />Erin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00049685776910358451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529386521836296995.post-86043589653509565392014-03-10T21:59:00.001-04:002014-03-10T22:00:45.422-04:00Light & Shadow (The Complete Series) by Moira Katson<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">When I had read the first book in this series called Shadowborn, I had read it as part of a free promotion on amazon. I fell in love with the story and I just had to get the next two books, so I did. Moira Katson is a wonderful author to definitely keep a watch on. Her characters are wonderfully portrayed and it's a fantasy series that is both character driven and has an excellent plot line. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">In the first book, Catwin, an orphan girl raised by a town healer gets swept away by court intrigue when she is chosen to be a shadow - assassin if you will. She gets trained as a shadow to Miriel DeVere. You can say they both hate each other at first. And apparently, it is Catwin's destiny to be betrayed by someone. The person who betrayed her, and you don't see this until the third book, shocked me and normally, I can pinpoint exactly what happens in novels. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This is a fresh new breath in the fantasy pool and there isn't even a hint of magic and sorcery in it. It's so realistic I felt drawn to the characters and empathized with Catwin and Miriel. Even the supporting characters felt real. I would recommend this trilogy to go on any reader's shelf. I'd love to see more books from Moira Katson in the near future. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> Purchase this book here: </span><span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Light-Shadow-The-Complete-Series-ebook/dp/B00CAWVYI8/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394502448&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=light+and+shadow+moira+catson">http://www.amazon.com/Light-Shadow-The-Complete-Series-ebook/dp/B00CAWVYI8/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394502448&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=light+and+shadow+moira+catson</a></span><br />
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<br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" />Erin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00049685776910358451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529386521836296995.post-9391420774070702662014-02-15T07:45:00.000-05:002014-02-15T07:45:30.438-05:00Booklish: The Simple, Comprehensive Guide to Successfully Writing and Publishing Your Book by BookacademyBooklish: The Simple, Comprehensive Guide to Successfully Writing and and Publishing Your Book by Bookacademy is a treasure trove of information! Anyone aspiring to be an author really needs to get their hands on this piece. The exercises at the end of each chapter help to refine a skill in writing and even published authors would benefit from this refresher course.<br />
Inside the pages, it is a walk through guide from getting your dream of publishing a book and turning it into a reality! Of course, having talent helps but I'm a firm believer that if you practice something long enough, you'll eventually get good at it. Writing is no exception to this! Each chapter deals with a specific subset of writing, from developing your voice, targeting your audience, marketing and more. It even tells you about metadata of books. If I had seen this book when I first started publishing my work back in 2011, I could have done so much easier and it wouldn't have been as time consuming, i.e. I've done a lot of research on self-publishing before becoming published. In reality, this is a perfect book for someone just starting out or again, even as a refresher course.<br />
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Purchase on Amazon: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Booklish-Comprehensive-Successfully-Writing-Publishing-ebook/dp/B00I7QF69E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391719127&sr=8-1&keywords=bookacademy">http://www.amazon.com/Booklish-Comprehensive-Successfully-Writing-Publishing-ebook/dp/B00I7QF69E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391719127&sr=8-1&keywords=bookacademy</a></div>
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<br />Erin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00049685776910358451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529386521836296995.post-6459515509285269072014-02-13T22:16:00.000-05:002014-02-13T22:16:26.404-05:00D-Nine: Protectors of the Crown by Magus TorD-Nine: Protectors of the Crown by Magus Tor is an exceptional book. It delves into a taboo subject of switching gender roles. It's also perfect for anyone that may be questioning their own sexuality. Either way, it makes an intriguing story.<br />
Dr. James is a person that has to undergo surgery due to a tumor in his brain. Somehow, he ends up in the body of Princess Sarabeth, a teenage blond woman living in the Middle Ages. How this happened to him, I thought could have been elaborated a bit more but the atmosphere of the story was a good one. Knowing a little bit about the Middle Ages, he didn't fully do his research on the time period but I'm going to just talk about how the story was enjoyable regardless. I'm not an expert so I really can't say much on that issue. I can be mistaken.<br />
The overall feel of the story from an entertainment viewpoint is that it did address gender roles. A man going into a woman's body, dealing with a woman's menstrual period, and then throw in some assassins for good measure, not to mention some sexist men and more. There were some grammatical errors in the book but not enough to detract from the overall story.<br />
At the end of the book, Magus Tor gives you the option of what epilogue to choose. Basically, it's like a video game where you make a split second decision and then you read the consequences of your choice.<br />
I really hope to see more on this tale in the future and I'm sure many more people would enjoy this story. I think it was a bit short, and other things definitely could have been expanded on. Still, as I was reading I saw a cinema in my head. With a little more details, I think it could make a great fantasy role playing video game. It would be a change from current rpg games. Please buy the book and check it out yourself! It's a good read when you need something to entertain you.<br />
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Purchase on Smashwords: <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/396496">https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/396496</a><br />
Purchase on Amazon: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/D-Nine-Magus-Tor/dp/1460987411/ref=la_B00HK58FTG_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1389272599&sr=1-1">http://www.amazon.com/D-Nine-Magus-Tor/dp/1460987411/ref=la_B00HK58FTG_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1389272599&sr=1-1</a><br />
Purchase on Createspace: <a href="https://www.createspace.com/3577422">https://www.createspace.com/3577422</a>Erin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00049685776910358451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529386521836296995.post-88910774352969704852014-02-09T19:22:00.002-05:002014-02-09T19:22:47.788-05:00Ray Ryan by Aiden RileyRay Ryan by Aiden Riley was an extremely interesting book. I admit there were certain times where I thought the author was a bit too passive in his narrative but after thinking about it more, it certainly worked with the overall story. At other points it seemed almost like a semi-autobiography. Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading it.<br />
This book is about a boy named Ray Ryan, an English boy. Dreaming of becoming a writer, he certainly goes face to face with many things he can turn into stories. It's a growing up story and one that speaks positively of change even through a violent whirlwind. It has tragedy, romance, drugs, and more.<br />
It's certainly different from what I normally read and for a first time author, I have no choice but to say I think Mr. Aiden Riley should keep writing. There is power within his words as he weaves his story together to bring you on a fantastical journey that can actually happen in real life.<br />
From what I gather of this book, I really do hope he releases more in the future. Aiden Riley is most certainly, an author to watch!<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ray-Ryan-Aiden-Riley-ebook/dp/B008VEC72G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390487685&sr=8-1&keywords=ray+ryan+aiden+riley" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/Ray-Ryan-Aiden-Riley-ebook/dp/B008VEC72G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390487685&sr=8-1&keywords=ray+ryan+aiden+riley</a><br />
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Here is a piece of fan art I have done for Aiden Riley.<br />
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<br />Erin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00049685776910358451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529386521836296995.post-85415991637867451572014-01-29T23:08:00.001-05:002014-01-29T23:10:35.582-05:00Second Chances- Transforming Adversity Into Opportunity by Chuck Gallagher<div class="MsoNormal">
Second Chances-Transforming Adversity into Opportunity,
written by Chuck Gallagher is a sensational book. It strikes many different
emotions to his readers and I personally was a bit conflicted. On the one hand
I agreed with most of it and on the other hand, I didn't. Nevertheless, it was
a powerful book.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Mr. Gallagher doesn't hold back that he was a convicted
felon due to embezzling money. However, he takes you through the book
explaining why he did it, when he got caught, his prison sentence, and more. He
left behind a wife and two children due to the nature of his actions or I
should say consequences. While he reflects on his past, it certainly makes you
think of your own and how to possibly make better choices for a better future.
Isn't that what this book is all about?<o:p></o:p></div>
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From a critical thinking perspective, his message is definitely
clear. Mr. Gallagher wants to help people and motivate them to do the best they
can with the hand they were dealt, or that they made themselves. Unfortunately,
some people are way too impatient and try to take an easy way out.<o:p></o:p></div>
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He’s right in that this society is a fast-paced, gratitude now
society. Everyone in this community wants things and they want it now,
regardless of how much they should really take the time to wait and plant the
seeds to what they want. If you don’t plant the seeds, you can’t watch
something grow! People forget it takes hard work to reach success and Chuck
Gallagher reminds you of that. Of course, his version of “success” is probably
what most people should realize, instead of focusing on material objects, but
again we are a fast paced, greedy culture focused solely on physical possessions.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Another thing that I personally liked in his book was the
following phrase “You made a mistake but YOU are not a mistake.” That’s a quote
that should be in many people’s minds for he is right in that sometimes we do
build our own “prisons.” It is ultimately
up to us, to break free as he has mentioned several times in his book, and we
all do have these capabilities. People will either realize this or not.</div>
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Chuck Gallagher’s book was definitely successful, but
certain areas he will need to touch up on. In some areas, his book felt a bit
too preachy. I’m not opposed to religion although I do identify as an atheist.
In other areas the grammar was a bit lax. The grammatical errors weren't enough
to detract from the overall book and most books have grammatical errors anyway,
so pointing it out seems kind of moot. Still, it was definitely a motivational
read even if some things mentioned, I’m still questioning. One thing is for
sure, we all do have consequences to our actions, so let’s try to make the
world a better place, one book at a time! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Second-Chances-Transforming-Adversity-Opportunity-ebook/dp/B004Y065G0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391052139&sr=8-1&keywords=second+chances+chuck+gallagher" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/Second-Chances-Transforming-Adversity-Opportunity-ebook/dp/B004Y065G0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391052139&sr=8-1&keywords=second+chances+chuck+gallagher</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ1teSGyGh7FeRH0UW_c7nKhyQgvaMbcOqzg34iOY2eJW3zBDy7rk6T3pThz3qrnT-7Nnjzq8Y7EaW28uOoZzeDYVBXwf2bfzkyGMSxlZIgkqSdN_YoEYDnBqhl2-m_9awV5ci1WbyW_E/s1600/secondchancecover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ1teSGyGh7FeRH0UW_c7nKhyQgvaMbcOqzg34iOY2eJW3zBDy7rk6T3pThz3qrnT-7Nnjzq8Y7EaW28uOoZzeDYVBXwf2bfzkyGMSxlZIgkqSdN_YoEYDnBqhl2-m_9awV5ci1WbyW_E/s1600/secondchancecover.jpg" /></a></div>
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Erin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00049685776910358451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529386521836296995.post-87263774584129212582014-01-26T02:13:00.001-05:002014-01-26T02:16:25.184-05:00Message From the Mountain: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose by Chuck Gallagher <div class="MsoNormal">
Message from the Mountain: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose,
by Chuck Gallagher, is a superb read.
This motivational self-help book is different from many others in the
genre. Instead of using the age old clichés that many self-help books are known
for, Gallagher takes you on a spiritual journey, getting to know his ancestors
and how each of them are connected into the future generations after fulfilling
a purpose. <o:p></o:p></div>
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While I was reading this book, there were some points that I
thought I would be offended by. For example, in some spiritual journey books it
sounds as if the author is pushing their own religion on you and enforcing what
they believe. In Gallagher’s book, although it is very spiritual, it has the
opposite effect. With an open mind, it fits in whatever religious belief you
may or may not have and so can be adaptable to any belief system.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As I was reading through the chapters, it reminded me of
certain Native American rituals if I may use that paradigm. This comparison isn’t
too far off track either, I might add. It also took me into fantasizing about
past fantasy novels I have read in which the concepts he uses are not foreign
to that genre of fiction. However, even though this story resonates within me,
this book was a powerful journey of self-discovery. It certainly makes you
stop, think, and hopefully appreciate life a bit more. Not only that, but it
gives hope to people who may feel hopeless about having no purpose in life, for
the theme of the story is that no matter who you are, where you came from, what
you’ve done or haven’t done, there is always some ultimate purpose of being.
Sometimes, you just have to stop, reflect, and move on.</div>
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Honestly, I can’t give any criticisms of this book. I’m sure
it is there but from my reading of this gem I can’t pin point any. The grammar
inside the book is excellent and the imagery and symbolism, vivid and
compatible with the overall story. The only thing I can say is that it was too
short but even then, that would be dishonest. It’s an uplifting and inspiring
book and I can only hope this author writes more books of this nature. <o:p></o:p><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Message-Mountain-Awakening-Lifes-Purpose-ebook/dp/B00HERX0FY/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1390137332&sr=1-1&keywords=message+from+the+mountain" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/Message-Mountain-Awakening-Lifes-Purpose-ebook/dp/B00HERX0FY/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1390137332&sr=1-1&keywords=message+from+the+mountain</a><br />
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Erin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00049685776910358451noreply@blogger.com0