Lost in a Good Book

Little Miss Sure Shot: Annie Oakley’s World by Jeffrey Marshall

19 Mar 2015 Leave a comment

by Amy in 4 Stars, Book Bingo, General Tags: annie oakley, biography, book bingo, four stars, historical, jeffrey marshall

Published: 5th May 2014
Publisher: Self Published
Pages: 148
Format: ebook
Genre: Biography/Historical
★ ★ ★ ★ – 4 Stars

Little Miss Sure Shot is a fictionalized account of the life of Annie Oakley, drawing heavily on the real timelines and events of her life. However, the book is not a biography – it invents situations, people she meets, and a myriad of conversations. Moreover, while the book is presented chronologically, apart from the prologue, it skips certain periods and attempts to focus on those that are especially vital, such as the early years Annie spent with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, including the tours through Europe. A special feature of the novel is the framing of Annie’s loving marriage to fellow sharpshooter Frank Butler, whom she married at sixteen and remained married to for 50 years until her death. Frank was far more than just her husband – he was her manager (he gave up his own shooting for that role) and her constant companion. The novel closes with an epilogue in Frank’s voice, presenting an overview of their lives together and the circumstances of her death in 1926.

Note: I was provided a copy of this book for review.

Not knowing anything about Annie Oakley before starting this book I was not sure what I was in for but it wasn’t long before I became engrossed with the story. Marshall has been quite clever in his presentation of this book, stating clearly that it is not a biography, but it is also not a novel either. Somewhere in the middle is this book that looks at key moments in Oakley’s life, and explores her rise to stardom and life in the spotlight with a few fictional elements added.

There is not a lot of dialogue or plot, and being a semi-fictionalised account of Oakley’s life it isn’t supposed to have a plot per se, but Marshall writes in such a way that it has a narrative feel which also makes the story flow nicely. I liked that it read more like a novel than a nonfiction biography, having said that the writing does have an informative tone to it mixes this with snippets of dialogue and scenes that balance it out nicely.

Annie’s life is presented chronologically, though there are brief references to future moments or memories of the past, but Marshall connects these together smoothly and doesn’t jar the story with them. While Marshall admits this not a true biography, there is no doubting it has a great deal of information about Oakley’s life. Marshall explores Annie’s childhood and how she started shooting at 8 years old, and he also focuses intensely on her time with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show. One of the great and consistent elements in the story though is the exploration of Oakley’s marriage with Frank. As her husband for 50 years it is wonderful to see their connection grow and the influence he had on her life.

While the Wild West show was interesting, discovering about life during that time and the difference in society across Europe and America not to mention Annie’s place within them was fascinating. It was also wonderful to discover just how famous Annie was and the impact she had on the world. As a person she comes across as someone who is independent and knew what she wanted, and she was determined to be herself no matter what. Her strong ideals, ingenuity, and her desire that every woman should learn to shoot makes her a wonderful woman and key part of history, something which Marshall captures wonderfully.

I really enjoyed this book and I loved learning about Annie Oakley and her life. The problem of not being a real biography means there is an uncertainty about certain facts and events, but Marshall’s recount about Annie’s life piques your interest and curiosity in just the right way to want to go and learn more about her. Knowing this biography is based on some element of truth though makes the sad bits sadder but the good bits greater and there is no doubt it is a charming and heart-warming story and one of admiration for Annie and the life she lead.

You can purchase Little Miss Sure Shot via the following

Amazon

Amazon Aus

Amazon UK

Cover Reveal: Unholy Blue by Darby Kaye

18 Mar 2015 2 Comments

by Amy in Cover Reveal Tags: cover reveal, darby kaye, spence city, the stag lord, unholy blue, urban fantasy

Today I have a great cover reveal to share for Darby Kaye’s newest book Unholy Blue. This is the sequel to her previous book The Stag Lord which you may or may not remember I also did the reveal for last year.

Unholy Blue is due for release at a yet to be announced date in December thanks to Spence City, an imprint of Spencer Hill Press, so keep an eye out for it or add it to your to-read pile!

Cover for UNHOLY BLUE

Synopsis

Strong and Rare and Irish.

That’s how Shay Doyle likes her whiskey. And men. As Healer to a clan of immortal Celtic warriors living in modern-day Colorado, she has been gifted with such a man: Bannerman “Bann” Boru. The only problem is keeping the stubborn warrior alive. For Fate seems to have it in for Bann, and his son, Cor, descendants of the kings of Ireland, and recipient of an ancient grudge from the mad god, Cernunnos.

But, with a bit o’ luck, Shay, Bann, and the rest of the Doyle clan—along with the aid of a legendary huntsman known as the Black Hand—might just suss out how to kill a shapeshifter that refuses to stay dead, prevent clan warfare, and make a choice that could change their lives.

If they don’t lose them first.

Praise for THE STAG LORD:

“A passionate story with a strong romance…Darby Kaye’s Tuatha Dé Danann shouldn’t be missed.” — M.D. Waters, author of Archetype and Prototype

“A refreshing glimpse into the world of Celtic mythology and tradition…and give us heroes we want to root for—and reasons to keep turning the pages.”

— Walter H. Hunt, author of the Dark Wing Universe and Elements of Mind

“Delightful tale filled with action, mystery, and romance.” — Rabid Reads

“…highly recommend for fans of urban fantasy who are looking for brilliant characters to fall head-over-heels for.” — A Belle’s Tales.

All Your Bits and Pieces Needs

Goodreads

Author Website

Unsavory Delicacies by Russell Brooks

17 Mar 2015 Leave a comment

by Amy in 5 Stars, Book Bingo, General, Short Stories, Thriller Tags: book bingo, ebook, five stars, russell brooks, short story, thriller

Published: 11th November 2013
Publisher: Self Published
Pages: 28
Format: ebook
Genre: Short story/Thriller
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ – 5 Stars

For fans of Barry Eisler and Robert Ludlum. A three-course story collection with a side-order of revenge.

Crème Brûlée
Rogue operative, Monique Beauvais, cons a software genius into selling her a coveted technology that would allow its user to control CIA drones while they’re in flight. And she will go as far as killing him in public in order to have it.

To the Last Bite
A renowned food critic–whose scathing reviews have closed down restaurants–gets a savoury surprise.

Shashlyk and Morezhenoe
CIA operative, Ridley Fox, leads a team against one of Russia’s most powerful crime families. He discovers secrets, but not one that he was expecting to find.

Three stories with three consequences. All containing three Unsavory Delicacies.

***Caution*** Readers are strongly advised NOT to eat while reading To The Last Bite.

Note: I was provided a copy of this book for review

Brooks’ short stories, much like his novels, manage to encapsulate the thriller genre incredibly well, even with vastly fewer pages. Just like his novels Brooks upholds the tension and the gripping feeling but this time with less action and more cunning.

The theme of the collection is food, though Brooks takes very different approaches for each and as the title suggest they are quite on the unsavoury side. This does not mean though they are necessarily grotesque in description or in content. And yet while there is a warning for one of the stories, there is no denying Brooks is masterful when it comes to grabbing the reader’s attention from early on and holding on till the last page, dragging it around whereever it needed to be in the process.

Once again Brooks demonstrates creative and clever writing and he uses the short story design and the element of the unexpected to his advantage. The building anticipation in the stories is evident and not knowing where it could end up adds to the enjoyment because anything is possible. As a result, each story is brought to life with uniqueness and the perfect amount of pacing, revelation, and intrigue that a short story and a thriller needs.

With only three short stories, Unsavoury Delicacies is a quick read but it is one that once started you will not want to stop. Brooks’ cleverness is clear and his stories are filled with characters and conclusions that leave you wide eyed and mouth agape. This three course collection of stories are somewhat shocking yet fascinating, and with revelations that fit ideally into the thriller genre. I think it is safe to say that they are enough to suitably satisfy your appetite for the suspense but they also leave you wanting more.

You can purchase Unsavoury Delicacies via the following

Amazon
Amazon Aus
Amazon UK
iBooks

A Few Words on Sir Terry Pratchett

13 Mar 2015 4 Comments

by Amy in General Tags: discworld, terry pratchett

Today I woke up to the incredibly sad news that author Sir Terry Pratchett had passed away. Pratchett has brought so much to the world through his books and I think the world is truly a lesser place without him.

I am not going to claim to have read all of his books yet, but I don’t think that excludes me from adoring him as an author and immersing myself in his Discworld creation through quotes and references or from having an intense adoration of him as a person.

Pratchett was a man adored by many people and there are many people who knew him a lot better than most. Neil Gaiman wrote a great piece in his introduction to A Slip of the Keyboard, a collection of nonfiction works by Terry Pratchett. In it he spoke about the man Pratchett was, but also how others seem to know him when they actually didn’t, not the true man anyway. What Gaiman writes is true for many celebrities and famous people. The person on television or seen in interviews, the person you meet at conventions is not who the person really is, and is not the same person that they are to people who really know them. Gaiman’s article reveals a lot about who Terry Pratchett was to him, but it is still just touching the surface to who he was.

The way I appreciate Terry Pratchett is admiring the immense world he has created and the skill and creativity he had to bring Discworld to life in the first place. Not only that, but reading and seeing his thoughts on Alzheimer’s and dying with dignity, and the fact he could make the serious issues funny without taking away its importance, both in real life and in his books. That is why I love him.

I’ll admit I was a late comer to his work. After having seen his books on our bookshelves for years growing up I was never old enough to appreciate who he was or what they were. My first Pratchett book was The Hogfather and I was 19 and at university. Having come into his career so late didn’t worry me and still doesn’t really, what saddens me is not being able to look forward to any more of his works. Though it must be said of him, at over 70 published works he had not left a meagre pile behind.

The world is going to miss the mind and creativity that is Terry Pratchett. There are hundreds of quotes from his books that are profound and beautiful, that talk about the simple things in life, the humorous, and those that question the makeup of the real world. What I noticed about Pratchett was his ability to look at life through the eyes of fiction and fantasy and through quirkiness and peculiar characters use them as a way to discuss the world.

At only 66 years old it is a shame to lose him so early but as Pratchett himself wrote in Reaper Man, “No one is actually dead until the ripples they cause in the world die away” and I do not see that happening anytime soon.

The Demeter Code by Russell Brooks

12 Mar 2015 Leave a comment

by Amy in 4 Stars, Book Bingo, General, Thriller Tags: book bingo, ebook, four stars, russell brooks, spy, thriller

Published: 4th July 2014
Publisher: Self Published
Pages: 422
Format: ebook
Genre: Spy/Thriller
★ ★ ★ ★ – 4 Stars

CRACK THE CODE AND YOU’LL SAVE LIVES…BUT KNOWING IT EXISTS COULD GET YOU KILLED.

When two American embassies in northearn Africa are bombed, CIA operatives, Ridley Fox and Nita Parris, are assigned to track down the perpetrators. However, when their top asset is killed in a failed op, the agents suspect that there may be a new threat. Their search for the truth puts them on a collision course with a powerful multinational—which will go to extreme lengths to bury its criminal activities. However, the agents soon learn that someone with a personal vendetta against that company not only knows their secrets, but will expose them in a way that could result in the largest single-day attack against America.

Note: I was provded a copy of this book for review

The first thing to say about this story is that it is filled with the unexpected and nothing is as it seems. The writing is extremely clever and captivating, and Brooks fills it with numerous surprises. For a story that seems exaggerated and action packed it actually remains quite realistic both in dialogue and events. The characters are also realistic and Brooks demonstrates great knowledge and understanding of government agencies and their practices.

The concept is fascinating and highly possible in real life which adds to the excitement. The fast-paced story is not rushed but it still manages to capture the intensity of the situations and the urgency in the unfolding events. The way Brooks writes makes the scenes play in your mind like a movie; the writing is clear and explained well but not overly so either.

The use of multiple perspectives allows a great chance at understanding and capturing the wider story, while still withholding key details. Every point of view is also a great chance to get an insight into characters minds and personality, villain or hero alike. Brooks manages to express who the characters are through their actions and their thoughts, and it offers a great chance to understand who they are without it needing to be directly addressed.

These multiple points of view along with the retelling of overlapping events work exceptionally well and they are all brought together and cleverly connected in a way you didn’t know they were connected. Brooks makes use of these numerous viewpoints to cover all the angles which adds to the completeness of scenes and events, and it also adds a lot more to the story than just characters recapping everything to one another and not being able to experience it alongside with them.

Brooks’ characters are all different from one another and due to the nature of the narrative everyone comes under suspicion at some point. Key characters Fox and Parris are likable and their friendship and banter is enjoyable. They interact believably as colleagues and it is easy to engage with them and understand who they are. They are each talented in their own right and Brooks explores their range of capabilities nicely and gives them the respect they deserve based on their strengths and abilities.

There is no doubt that Brooks has written a gripping story that brings together a wonderful narrative that explores real life possibilities coupled with an execution that is both mysterious and thrilling, and one that ends up going in directions you never even imagined.

You can purchase The Demeter Code via the following

Autographed Paperback