Thursday, December 31, 2020

First Chapter Review: THE SHADE UNDER THE MANGO TREE by Evy Journey @eholychair #fiction #firstchapterreview

December 31, 2020 0 Comments

 


Thanks for visiting Literarily Speaking! Today's post is a first chapter review of THE SHADE UNDER THE MANGO TREE by Evy Journey. First, a little about the book....



Title: THE SHADE UNDER THE MANGO TREE 
Author
: Evy Journey
Publisher: Sojourner Books
Pages: 330
Genre: Contemporary Fiction

BOOK BLURB:

After two heartbreaking losses, Luna wants adventure. Something and somewhere very different from the affluent, sheltered home in California and Hawaii where she grew up. An adventure in which she can also make some difference. She ends up in place where she gets more than she bargained for.

Lucien, a worldly, well-traveled young architect, finds a stranger’s journal at a café. He has qualms and pangs of guilt about reading it. But they don’t stop him. His decision to go on reading changes his life.

Months later, they meet at a bookstore where Luna works and which Lucien frequents. Fascinated by his stories and his adventurous spirit, Luna volunteers for the Peace Corps. Assigned to Cambodia, she lives with a family whose parents are survivors of the Khmer Rouge genocide forty years earlier. What she goes through in a rural rice-growing village defies anything she could have imagined. Will she leave this world unscathed?


FAVORITE QUOTE FROM FIRST CHAPTER:
 

"I roll my luggage across the concrete entryway, pass the hibiscus hedge, and stop to pluck a bouquet of its flaming-red flowers. Its home is a vase on the coffee table in the living area. To signal I’m back. While visitors surf, tan on the beach, don flowery muumuus and shirts, and slurp maitais or Hawaiian punch while ogling hula dancers, I look forward to domesticating with Grandma."



BOOK COVER:

This cover from what I'm understanding went through a couple of changes (the glory of self-publishing - don't like it, change it I love it) and I have to say I love this change. Do you know I've never had a mango but so appropriate on this cover.


FIRST CHAPTER REVIEW:

 
And this is the very reason I do these first chapter reviews - to read authors whom I've never read before. What a shame I have missed out on so many because of the time factor. The author in this case, Evy Journey, is so blissfully talented and I don't even know if she knows it so putting that out there right now. So we have the main character, Luna, returning to her grandmother's house for the summer. It's this chapter where you get a glimpse of Luna being back at grandmas: 

I pick up traces of the scent of green mangoes from her hair, mixed with the lingering bouquet of jasmine. Grandma has never worn perfume or cologne. Instead, she picks jasmine from her garden every morning and tucks it under her long hair, pulled back and twisted into a bun above the nape of her neck. The first few years of my summer visits after returning to my family in California, I slept with Grandma on her king-sized bed for a week or so. I often fell asleep, snuggled close to her, inhaling the hint of jasmine from her loosened hair.
See what I mean about Ms. Journey's writing? Sucked me right in. And that only touches the surface. With this first chapter we get a glimpse of Luna's life - she's come back to her grandmother's for the summer but two months go by and she's off to another adventure. Can't wait to read more!

KEEP READING?


Definitely! I'm figuring by the title that grandma's mango trees are going to mean something and I can't wait to see if I'm right. I'm also curious what happens with Luna. Definitely will keep reading and will leave a full review soon!

Pick up your copy!

Amazon → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KFMR9SG


Meet The Author


Evy Journey, SPR (Self Publishing Review) Independent Woman Author awardee, is a writer, a wannabe artist, and a flâneuse who, wishes she lives in Paris where people have perfected the art of aimless roaming. Armed with a Ph.D., she used to research and help develop mental health programs.

She’s a writer because beautiful prose seduces her and existential angst continues to plague her despite such preoccupations having gone out of fashion. She takes occasional refuge by invoking the spirit of Jane Austen to spin tales of love, loss, and finding one’s way—stories into which she weaves mystery or intrigue.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

First Chapter Review: THE KISS THAT SAVED CHRISTMAS by Elysia Strife @elysialstrife #Holiday #Romance #firstchapterreview

December 31, 2020 0 Comments

  


Thanks for visiting Literarily Speaking! Today's post is a first chapter review of THE KISS THAT SAVED CHRISTMAS by Elysia Strife. First, a little about the book....


Author: Elysia Strife
Publisher: Independent
Pages: 310
Genre: Holiday Romance


BOOK BLURB:


Claire’s husband passed away two years ago this Christmas, leaving her alone and in charge of a beautiful and overwhelming cabin venue in the Montana mountains. She’s low on cash, the truck won’t start, and fewer people are calling in event requests.

Every past assistant has been problematic and disappointing. With one final wedding scheduled for the year, Claire is desperate to make a good impression and needs the property in top shape. Only one candidate remains: Zach.

Zach is prior service, down on his luck, and shamed by the town for the actions of his youth. Even after a decade of service, he can’t escape the gossip.


Claire has no option but to entrust him with the future of Briar Ridge—her future. She just wished he didn’t have to remind her so much of her late husband. Yet Zach is different, bringing with his burdens an unexpectedly sweet side.

Zach is full of surprises.

She doesn’t want to fall for him.

He can’t help but fall for her.

A sweet holiday romance with a few curses and some violence.


FAVORITE QUOTE FROM FIRST CHAPTER:
 

"She drew in the last breath of her husband’s piney, metal-slag scent. Then it was gone—like footprints in the sands of a honeymoon in Hawaii. Claire clutched the fabric of his shirt. Her body ached, wishing to lie next to him once more. Despite her fluffy wool socks, her feet were cold. Nothing could combat the chill that followed that phone call. She had to love a soldier." 



BOOK COVER:

Very festive and very professional - I love the way it looks like a wrapped gift and also love the way the sun is shining between the the couple. The author aced it.


FIRST CHAPTER REVIEW:

 
Poor sweet Claire. I automatically took a liking to her. We open the first chapter with her contemplating hiring this new guy to come help her with the lodge - the lodge that her deceased husband and she shared. You can just feel the emotion as she's recollecting the past as she fears the present without her husband. It's the last wedding of the year and the new guy is coming to fix things around the lodge so that the wedding that is scheduled there can go off without a hitch and perhaps she can figure out where to go after that. She knew one thing - she did not want Briar Ridge Lodge to go down without a fight. It was something her deceased husband cherished and one in which she was not willing to go down without a fight to save. Claire might have gotten knocked down a notch or two but I have a hunch she's a fighter.

KEEP READING?


My goodness yes. Even though Christmas is over, I would definitely keep reading. I want to find out more about this guy who is coming to help her take care of the lodge. I want to see if grief overrules the heart or the heart helps heal the grief. Or both! This first chapter gets a 2 thumbs up!


Pick up your copy!

Amazon → https://amzn.to/37PqSx1

Meet The Author


An optimist and opportunist, Strife is a self-made author, cover designer, and editor. Best known as Elysia Strife, who writes primarily sweet holiday romance, she most loves writing dystopian science fiction fantasy novels under the pseudonym variation E. L. Strife. She is an upcoming author of young adult fantasy as Elysia Lumen and looks forward to diving deeper into the world of magic.

Strife has toured castles, haunted houses, frozen caves, lava tubes, and concentration camps. She’s a hopeless empath who needs the quiescence of hiking in the Cascades, camping, and snowboarding to recharge. She also enjoys reading on rainy and snowy mornings with a fire going, even if it’s just the fake one in her RV. She craves learning new things, like how to work on her 1981 Corvette, her jeep, and the four-wheeler that just won’t budge.

Strife lives with an amazing man who can build anything he puts his mind to and a rescued dog that steals socks and chases the vacuum. Together, they travel the country—from the golden plains of North Dakota to the warm ocean of the southern Texas coast and back to the green valleys and vineyards of Oregon. Anywhere is home as long as they’re together.

If you’d like to know when Strife’s next books will be out, and to ensure you hear about her giveaways, visit her website: elstrife.com and subscribe via the links on her homepage.

 

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

Website: http://www.elstrife.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ElysiaLStrife

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElysiaStrife

Sunday, December 20, 2020

First Chapter Review: LAST GIRLS ALIVE by Jennifer Chase @jchasenovelist #Crime #Thriller #Detective #firstchapterreview

December 20, 2020 0 Comments

 


Thanks for visiting Literarily Speaking! Today's post is a first chapter review of LAST GIRLS ALIVE by Jennifer Chase. First, a little about the book....

Author: Jennifer Chase
Publisher: Bookouture
Pages: 364
Genre: Crime Thriller

BOOK BLURB:

Half-buried in the muddy earth and surrounded by puddles of water lies the naked body of a beautiful young girl. Her pale skin looks like porcelain in the early morning light. Her fragile arms bent and crooked like a broken doll.

When Detective Katie Scott is called to the discovery of a young girl buried on the grounds of a former children’s home in Pine Valley, California, she’s hopeful it’s the end to a devastating cold case she’s been working on. No one has seen Candace Harlan since she ran away from Elm Hill Manor five years ago. Her death will be a tragedy, but it will also bring peace to those who miss her most. But the girl in the ground is not Candace.

The victim is almost identical to Candace in every way, but fear grips Katie as she takes in the black ink that decorates the girl’s back—a terrifying message tattooed on her skin after she drew her last breath.

Forcing down traumatic memories of losing her own parents, Katie is certain someone mistook this poor soul for Candace, and that this crumbling home for lost girls is at the heart of this terrible crime. She sets to work digging into the tragic history of the owners who lost so many children of their own and tracking down the last six residents and the staff who cared for them—but no one wants to talk, let alone remember.

The next day, as second girl’s body is found down by the creek at high water, the same words etched into her skin. Katie’s worst fear is confirmed: someone is picking off the last of the Elm Hill girls one by one. But what does the tattoo mean? And what monster would target these innocent girls who have already been through so much?

Katie must dig deep to confront her own fears and protect the vulnerable—but as the body count rises further, will there be anyone left to save?

An absolutely gripping, dark, and totally unputdownable serial killer thriller that will keep you racing through the pages all night long. Fans of Lisa Regan, Rachel Caine and Melinda Leigh will read in one sitting!

FAVORITE QUOTE FROM FIRST CHAPTER:
 

"Bramble stepped to the edge of the pit and peered downward. Submerged in the muddy earth, and surrounded by puddles of  water, lay the naked body of a young woman—her pale skin like  porcelain in the early morning light. Lying on her left side, arms  twisted precariously, one in front of her bent body and the other  behind. She looked like a broken doll that had been carelessly  tossed away. The remnants of a rope dangled from her left wrist.  Her long chestnut hair, wet and knotted around her face, covered  her frozen expression."



BOOK COVER:

Love, love it! 


FIRST CHAPTER REVIEW:

 
Before I begin my review of the first chapter, I must mention the prologue. O.m.g. So two girls are obviously running away from a teenage foster home. This sets up the perfect suspense to begin the first chapter. One of them escapes but the other one tells her that she wants to wait until she turns 18 which is just another year. She has no money and by then she will be prepared. She tells her friend that they will meet at the hiding spot at that time. So the first chapter then begins 5 years later and already I'm wondering what the heck became of either girls, especially the one that stayed behind. But as the first chapter opens, we see that it is not a boarding house anymore. A developer had bought the land and the house had become dilapidated. While they were excavating the property, they had to stop. A body of a young girl was found in a shallow trench. Work came to a complete stop. 

KEEP READING?


My, my, my, my, my. I have goosebumps. You know what I really loved about this? The author knew just what to do to build up suspense by adding the prologue with action that drew me in from the get go. If I were reading the first chapter without it, the tension wouldn't have come until the end and who knows if that could have lost a few readers you never know. I know that Chase is a seasoned author and has written quite a few books...you can't tell me that the more you write, the better you get - that's so obvious. But, yes, amazing how the suspense was built up from the get go. Now the question is what happened with the two girls in the prologue? Are we going to go back in time and find out what happened behind the walls of the mansion? What about the girl who escaped? And did the girl who stayed behind end up dying? I will definitely keep reading and will have the full review up when I finish. This first chapter/prologue is a definite 5 stars for me.

Pick up your copy!

Amazon → https://amzn.to/3nQSoAe


Meet The Author


Jennifer Chase is a multi award-winning and USA Today BestSelling crime fiction author, as well as a consulting criminologist. Jennifer holds a bachelor degree in police forensics and a master’s degree in criminology & criminal justice. These academic pursuits developed out of her curiosity about the criminal mind as well as from her own experience with a violent psychopath, providing Jennifer with deep personal investment in every story she tells. In addition, she holds certifications in serial crime and criminal profiling.  She is an affiliate member of the International Association of Forensic Criminologists, and member of the International Thriller Writers.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

Website: https://authorjenniferchase.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JChaseNovelist

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJenniferChase

Sunday, December 6, 2020

First Chapter Review: THE COLOR OF TOGETHER by Milton Brasher-Cunningham @miltybc #Nonfiction #Christian #firstchapterreview

December 06, 2020 0 Comments

 


Thanks for visiting Literarily Speaking! Today's post is a first chapter review of THE COLOR OF TOGETHER: MIXED METAPHORS OF CONNECTEDNESS by Milton Brasher-Cunningham. First, a little about the book....


The Color of Together: Mixed Metaphors of Connectedness
Milton Brasher Cunningham
Light Messages Publishing
160 pp.
Christian Nonfiction

The Color of Together begins with the primary colors of life–grief, grace, and gratitude–and enlarges the palette to talk about the work of art that is our life together in these days. The idea for the book began with understanding that grief is not something we get over or work through, but something we learn to move around in–something that colors our lives. Grace is the other given. Gratitude is the response to both that offers the possibility of both healing and hope.

FAVORITE QUOTE FROM FIRST CHAPTER:
 

"It is a sacred space of disquietude; a turbulent silence where things are still and vibrant in the same moment."



BOOK COVER:

Love it...shows the color wheel and its many derivatives of color...reminds me of that paint commercial.


FIRST CHAPTER REVIEW:

 
This was a great introduction for this book! It begins with the author talking about a color wheel and how they started out with the three basic colors - red, blue and yellow - to get other colors derived from those three. The author notes, "
The purples, greens, and oranges that filled in the circle illustrated the relationships between the primaries, which stood in such contrast to one another on their own. Wherever we started on the wheel, there was a connection, a way to get to the other colors." Basically this was the gist of the author's message throughout the first chapter - how colors can be used as a tool to understand relationships and other human emotions as a whole. 

KEEP READING?


I'm intrigued. I would love to find out where this book is going to take me...it's very spiritually-minded and that in itself makes it captivating.

Pick up your copy!

Amazon → https://amzn.to/30Urxsj

 Barnes & Noble → https://bit.ly/3jZ8OD6

Meet The Author

Milton Brasher-Cunningham was born in Texas, grew up in Africa, and has spent the last thirty years in New England and North Carolina. He is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, and has worked as a high school English teacher, a professional chef, a trainer for Apple, and is now an editor. He is the author of three books, Keeping the Feast: Metaphors for the MealThis Must Be the Place: Reflections on Home, and his latest, The Color of Together.

He loves the Boston Red Sox, his mini schnauzers, handmade music, and feeding people. He lives in Guilford, Connecticut, with Ginger, his wife, and their three Schnauzers. He writes regularly at donteatalone.com.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

Website: https://www.torchflamebooks.com/milton-brasher-cunningham

Blog: www.donteatalone.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/miltybc

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/milton.brashercunningham

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5863259.Milton_Brasher_Cunningham





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