Tag: short stories

Book review (2 for the price of 1!) In the Heart of the Fire and Photographing the Dead by Dean Koontz

In the Heart of the Fire

4 out of 5 stars

In the Heart of the Fire by Dean Koontz is a short, quick, and enjoyable read for those who are fans of the macabre. Koontz manages to deftly fit enough action to fill what would be a full novel for other authors into a quick 70ish pages. As this is the first book of the series, some backstories and explanations are provided to help the reader connect this story to the second book.

We meet Nameless, a clairvoyant who has no memory except for what is needed to complete his tasks as a sort of fixer. Nameless receives his instructions for each task from Ace of Diamonds; and again, those instructions only carry need-to-know information. In this first installment, Nameless is needed to help protect Jenny, who is a mother of two, and a town from an unscrupulous sheriff. The violent and trigger-inducing tasks that Nameless completes in order to achieve this goal will leave some cheering for vigilante justice. Nameless feels that he is used to it as the narrator states, “This is his life: confrontation with the darkness that has nothing to do with an absence of light.”

I recommend this short read for those who need something short to satisfy their craving for old-fashioned Koontz tales with a twist.

Photographing the Dead

4 out of 5 stars

Photographing the Dead by Dean Koontz is the second installment of the Nameless stories. It’s an engaging and quick read for those who need something short to satisfy their craving for old-fashioned Koontz storytelling with a twist.

The readers continue to get to know Nameless, a clairvoyant fixer who has amnesia. Nameless receives his instructions for each task from Ace of Diamonds, who only provides the information needed to accomplish the task at hand. In this second story, Nameless’ task is to deal with a photographer who has serial killer tendencies, Palmer Oxenwald. Throughout the cat-and-mouse chase of Nameless and Oxenwald, the reader gleans a few more details about what makes Nameless tick.

Posted on by brandeemiller 0

Book review: Rise to the Horizon by Hyunah Kim

4 out of 5 stars

Rise to the Horizon by Hyunah Kim is a heartwarming novella about a horse named Poseidon and Axel, a young rider who will enter his life and improve it at a time when most would have given up. Anyone who has worked with horses, especially horses with traumas, will relate to the bond between Poseidon and Axel. The character descriptions are beautiful and connect the reader to the characters’ emotions.

Poseidon is badly injured in a barn fire and is sent to Axel, a rider known for working with the more difficult cases, for training and emotional and physical healing. The story progresses as Axel and Poseidon work together and gain the other’s trust throughout months of hard work. The supporting cast of Poseidon’s owners and Axel’s family and friends add to the ambience of healing and recovery through relatable stories of overcoming setbacks and loss.

There are two areas of note with this novella: Throughout the story, Kim describes and explains the competitive world of show jumping for the readers who might not be as knowledgeable about these areas. However, what Kim describes is an exposition of show jumping from parts of Europe and may not completely mesh with American readers’ knowledge of the sport. This is not a distraction, only a chance to expand knowledge for those who already love the sport. Also, Kim’s language base is extraordinary and encompasses various languages. Most of the spelling is based on British English, and the English syntax used is lyrical and poetic in ways that may appear unusual to some readers.

I received a complimentary copy from the author. This review is honest and voluntary.

Posted on by brandeemiller 0

Happy holidays and good reading wishes to you and yours!

I’ve been working on building content for my language and book blog the past few months. Regularly scheduled book reviews appear every Monday. During this holiday time, I’ll be adding a few reviews a bit spontaneously as I finish books that I think would make good gifts.

The newest book review is about a LitRPG for young readers. A few more will be dedicated to short stories. If you are looking for poetry, feel free to peruse past blog entries for poetry on an array of subjects. Most of these books are available through Amazon in a variety of formats, though some might be available in local book stores as well.

My aim this years has been to help spread the word for indie authors who may not have as wide a reach as do some of the more established authors. Though from time to time, I try to stay current with mass-produced authors as well and include those reviews.

Posted on by brandeemiller 0

Book review: Anxiety in the Wilderness by Kathleen Patrick

5 out of 5 stars

Anxiety in the Wilderness by Kathleen Patrick is a collection of 17 short stories bookended by a pair of poems. The stories vary in length from six to 14 pages and are written from various points of view. While all the stories can be read independently and in the order they are presented in the book, a few tie together with common characters at various times throughout their lives. The poetic language of the stories lends a warmth to the storytelling that helps to bring the characters to life. Each story describes a different human worry or anxiety that we all may have experienced at some point in our lives; therefore, each story is relatable in its own way. Since this book is a collection of worries and anxieties, it may not be for everyone. There are mentions of death, dying, and possible abuse.

Short stories are a disappearing art form, and Patrick demonstrates why we should keep them around. There is no grandiosity of language that detracts from the storyline or from the artful character descriptions. Characters navigate their way through their predicaments one day at a time. The poignant vignettes showcase the rawness of various human emotions, much like a snapshot of an expert photographer.

My favorite story, Madam Heart, describes the distinct seasons of life through the eyes of the main character, Maddie Heart. The reader travels with Mrs. Heart as she finds love, marries, supports her restauranteur husband, moves with him to a small town in Iowa, and takes over caring for the lovely Victorian home they shared. While worry and anxiety are the two main emotions demonstrated, the reader connects with Mrs. Heart as she lives, learns, and loves. At the end of the story, I wanted to hug the main character and tell her to keep being the amazing and strong woman that she is.

I recommend this collection of heartfelt stories for the readers who might need to take a story at a time, taking breaks in their days to discover a fascinating collection of characters and settings. Though you might find yourself so pulled into the descriptions, you keep on reading.

I received a complimentary copy from the author. This review is honest and voluntary. 

Posted on by brandeemiller 0

Book review (extra post for spooky season!): The Hidden Secrets of NOLA by: Laura Daleo, Rhonda Bobbitt, Fern Miller, Preston Allen, and Savanna Loy

This is a wonderfully spirited collection of short stories that highlight different aspects of New Orleans and the different populations which are drawn to the city’s mysteries. Each story is a tribute each author’s imagination. I received an ARC and am so glad I did!

My Name is Death by Laura Daleo
What does Death do on a vacation? In this supernatural story, he visits his favorite places in New Orleans—a city known for its joie de vivre—and encounters a young soul who needs the help and understanding only Death can provide. Annalise, a 17-year-old girl who has been sick her whole life escapes the hospital from where she is staying and searches out life’s experiences that she has been unable to take part in up to this point. Death’s and Annalise’s serious conversations and interactions are imaginatively woven with the more vivacious aspects of modern-day New Orleans.

The Ghost of Toulouse Street by Rhonda Bobbitt
As Rose’s 25th birthday arrives, she has the feeling that she is being watched. Rose reaches out to her sister Lydia and tries to convince her that she has seen the same man in various places throughout the city. Lydia remains dubious while Rose explains the strange happenings that have occurred at her work and other locales. Merrick has his own mystery to solve and a curse to vanquish and believes he has found the answer with Rose. Rose, Merrick, and the supporting cast of intriguing characters weave in and around 1969 New Orleans in this paranormal thriller.

Bidding Up Knox by Fern Miller
This page turner of a second-chance romance takes place in modern-day New Orleans and showcases Kara and Knox. Kara’s caring personality drives her to work for a non-profit organization, and Knox’s father presses him to work in the family industry and to make as much money as possible. Kara and Knox once had a budding romance that left Kara with more questions than answers. When they meet again at an auction that Kara’s organization puts together, Kara wonders if she’ll ever receive the answers that have eluded her for years. Will Kara and Knox be able to reconcile their obvious differences to try again at love? Or will the same issues drive them apart once again? Read along as the descriptions of love and the hustle-and-bustle of New Orleans keep you reading.

Crossed at the Cafe by Preston Allen
Modeste’s life is one of intrigue, voodoo, and witchcraft. She is a voodoo priestess who helps her father with the family store. While ordering a coffee in an unassuming cafe, she has a chance encounter with someone who will greatly influence her life. Modeste, her father, and a family friend try to unravel the mystery of the woman from the cafe, and the readers are taken on an adventure that lends itself well to the magical-realism setting. The characters leap off the page and entwine the reader in a wonderful description of the magical side of New Orleans.

Borrowed Bayou by Savanna Loy
Estelle’s story is one that traces back throughout the ages and evolutions of New Orleans. This sci-fi romance tells of a cursed family who runs a cafe and airboat tour business in the bayou country. Estelle and her close-knit family have sacrificed to ensure the safety of New Orleans over the course of 100 years. Their sacrifices have been many, and each family member has grown weary of their role. One day, handsome Thiago walks into the cafe and catches Estelle’s eye, heart, and soul. But how will Thiago react when the terrible secrets that the Dupont family have managed to keep hidden away all this time are revealed? This story is full of rich descriptions and engaging characters that have the reader engrossed until the very end.

Posted on by brandeemiller 0

What was on your 2022 reading list?

What are the best books that you have read throughout this year? Unfortunately, I have not read as much this year as I have in other years. My Goodreads list tells me I’m 28 books behind my goal for the year! Yikes. However, I have appreciated what I have read. Published dates are dates items were first published. * denotes a reread; everything else is a first read-through for me.

My current reads (I tend to read multiple books at a time):

At First Light (Dr. Evan Wilding #1) by Barbara Nickless, pub. 2021

The School I Deserve: Six Young Refugees and Their Fight for Equality in America by Jo Napolitano, pub. 2021

A Calm and Normal Heart: Stories, by Chelsea T. Hicks

* The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World by Dalai Lama XIV, Desmond Tutu, Douglas Carlton Abrams, pub. 2016 (I put down this book back in 2017 when I first started reading it as I was trying to break down what I was reading and absorb the lessons. I recently picked it back up as I am on a different journey of finding joy in a different environment. I am still consuming the lessons in short bursts, but I want to finish by end of this year.)

Completed reads for the year (listed below in the order I read them, starting with most recently finished book):

A Conspiracy of Bones by Katy Reichs, pub. 2020

Hideaway by Nora Roberts, pub. 2020

The Butcher and The Wren by Alaina Urquhart, pub. 2022

Wreckage by Emily Bleeker, pub. 2015

On Beauty by Zadie Smith, pub. 2005

The Hike by Susi Holliday, pub. 2022

Prison Ramen: Recipes and Stories from Behind Bars by Clifton Collins, et al., pub. 2015

Split Second (Sean King and Michelle Maxwell, #1) by David Baldacci, pub. 2002

The Woods by Harlan Coben, pub. 2007

Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson, pub. 2020

The Puma Years by Laura Coleman, pub. 2021

The Other Emily by Dean Koontz, pub. 2021

If You Tell: a True Story of Murder, Family Secrets, and the Unbreakable Bond of Sisterhood by Gregg Olsen, pub. 2019

Say Her Name by Dreda Say Mitchell and Ryan Carter, pub. 2022

The Legend of the Firewalker by Steve Bevil, pub. 2013

* The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, pub. 1892

I am working on writing reviews for these book and will come back to link reviews once written. As you can tell, I am an eclectic reader.

What books have you read this year? Would you recommend them? Why or why not?

Posted on by brandeemiller 0