Location: United Kingdom
Member Since: Feb. 13, 2011
wistfulskimmie
Books
This member has not published any books.Smashwords book reviews by wistfulskimmie
- Mental Shrillness
on April 28, 2011
This is a series of 6 short stories. Each story focussing on an emotion – love, betrayal etc. There is a certain macabre darkness running through each story. I liked that each story managed to make the hairs on the back of my neck prickle & stand on end. Particularly the last one which is a good deal longer than the others. All the stories put me in mind of some of Stephen King's early short stories. All in all I think this is a very good collection of chills. I would like to see more from this author as I feel he has more to give.
- Remember...in your dreams?
on May 01, 2011
This is a lovely story about family life seen through the eyes of a grandfather talking to his newborn grandson. Via astral travel we are taken to key points in the family's life. I liked the personal feel to it, almost autobiographical. I was however a little confused by the author keep slipping between the first and third person (or maybe I just didn't 'get' it) but this didn't in anyway detract from the essence of the story. Basically it is a series of short chapters made up of anecdotes each chronicling key points in this family's life. But it is also so much more than that. Through the grandfather's eyes we are able to see the importance of family and extended family. It was also interesting to take a peep at different countries customs as the family comes from Panama. All in all an excellent book and well worth a read.
- Kiwi in Cat City
on May 04, 2011
This is a lovely story about 2 children who decide to follow their cat one night and 'see what she has for breakfast'. They end up following her to 'Cat City' and the book is then about their adventures there. To say any more would be to give away spoilers and that’s not what this review is about! This author has a fantastic imagination and although this was essentially a children’s book, I found myself thoroughly enjoying it. The story was told in an easy to read way and was a lovely subject. Who hasn’t wondered where their cat goes all night? I would love to read more from this author as she is quite simply amazing!
- Kaleidoscope
on May 05, 2011
This is a book of many poems, each broken up into 'chapters' or subjects, such as 'love' or 'nature' etc. Now, I will be honest & say I don't generally like poetry but I was given the opportunity to read this & as I enjoyed a previous book by this author I thought I would give them a chance. I went in with an open mind and I am so glad I did. Wow! This author writes beautiful words. I enjoyed each & every poem, I found myself turning page after page to read the next & the next. More of the same please! Such a talented writer.
- Shadows of my mind
on May 22, 2011
A lovely story Kristina. I really enjoyed this one, just the right amount of chill and suspense. More please!
- Aces High
on May 22, 2011
A very spooky story, I enjoyed it all the more because it could happen! Well done Kristina!
- Be Careful What You Wish For
on June 08, 2011
I loved this. I have never really thought about reading 'chicklit' before but this was ace! I could not put it down. There was blackmail, murder & fraud all wrapped up under the guise of boxing, although the boxing was secondary to the storyline. The story romped along at a cracking pace and there were some really funny laugh-out-loud moments. It was a very enjoyable book and not at all 'fluffy' as I was expecting it to be – that will teach me about stereotypes! I will certainly look forward to more from this author.
- Forever the Dark Grave
on June 11, 2011
On the face of it this is a vampire story. 'Oh no, not another vampire story!' I hear you cry. But wait! Before you judge on subject matter, yes it is a vampire story but it is so much more than that. It turns many of the tried and tested myths on their heads. I can't say too much here without revealing spoilers but it certainly put a new spin on things for me and gave me lots to think about. I loved it. The pace was quick and snappy with plenty of action and even a little bit of sauciness in for good measure! And an ending that was unexpected as it was shocking! I recommend this to anyone who would like to try a 'different' vampire tale. It has made me hungry (See what I did there?!) for more by this author.
- Breaking Faith
on June 18, 2011
You often hear about stories that stay with you long after they have been read. Well, for me this was 'that' story. I was bombarded by several different emotions whilst reading this book and I loved every minute of it! This book was a rites of passage tale. We are taken on a journey by the female lead of this story and how her life changes therein. I was amazed at how much time and emotion I invested in each of the characters – really feeling their every emotion, they were so real to me. I also like the way the author changed the narrator almost each chapter between the two main leads. It meant we could see both sides of the story as it were and was a nice touch. It was beautifully written, in such a way as I could not put it down. Almost to the detriment of my sleep! Thank you Mr Aken for writing a story that has taken me over so completely that now I have finished it, I feel a little lost! May there be lots more from you.
- Mementoes of Mai
on June 25, 2011
This is an interesting short story that reads a little like a travel diary which is a novel idea. It is about taking chances and not always receiving the outcome you expect. The descriptions of the sights and sounds were so vivid I felt like I was really there and this I enjoyed. I have never been to Vietnam and to be taken on a journey around the different markets and foodie places was great. Unfortunately for me the story didn’t flow very smoothly. I understand that English is not the authors first language and I commend him for writing a story thusly. Some of the conversation seemed either forced or stilted in parts. That being said with some clever editing this could be a really lovely travelogue type short story.
- Polar #2(Wingless Book Series)
on June 27, 2011
This is the second book in the 'Wingless' series and what a ripper it was! It picked up exactly where Wingless finished. In this one we learnt more about 'the family' and were introduced to a few new cast members. I was hooked on this from page one. In fact I stayed up late last night trying to finish it as the ending looked to be being explosive. Sadly I fell asleep but I did finish it today and what an ending! Another masterpiece Holly and another cliffhanger! All I can is keep em coming.
- A Flash of Inspiration: A Collection of Very Short Stories by Indie Authors
on July 01, 2011
This is a collection of short short stories (called Flash Fiction, all under 100 words) written by a group of writers from the 'Book Junkies' group on Facebook. The idea came about because they were messing around and posting their flashes in the group. Someone came up with the mad idea of collecting them altogether with contributions from many authors and putting them in a book. And so 'A Flash of Inspiration' was born. The authors have showed with this, that they have a range of talents. The stories range from the funny, to the bizarre to the downright dark. Every one being a winner. Well done guys, heres to the next collection!
- High Spirits A TRUE paranormal short story
on July 03, 2011
This is a short but true story about the spirits residing in Mel's house. I loved the candour in which Mel told the true story. Some of the things she wrote about were deeply personal. All in all it was a lovely peek into the life of Mel Comley!
- A Twist in the Tale (Short Stories)
on July 05, 2011
This is a collection of 5 delightful short stories. Each has a twist at the end and each got you thinking a little bit. I enjoyed this as a nice light 'easy' read but very different from Mel's usual style of writing. It's nice to see an author step away from what they are used to and try something different. Well done Mel!
- Scattered and Broken
on July 05, 2011
Once again the story starts off where the last one finished. There seemed to be more angst this time around which is not necessarily a bad thing as life isn't always fun and games is it? I enjoyed this one as I have the others. I am interested to see the development of the characters and how they deal with certain situations. There were happy times and sad times but they blended together to make a well rounded story. Another good one, I can't wait for the next to see what happens next in Eve and Evan's lives!
- For Nothing
on July 09, 2011
This is a story of a man avenging his friends death and finding himself in the middle of a war between two mafia families. This story never let up once. I was hooked from page one and could not put it down. The author did a good job of explaining the different aspects of mafia life and hierarchy. There were many twists and turns and just when I thought I was on the right track I was thrown another curveball. The ending was totally unexpected and was clearly left wide open for a sequel. I for one cannot wait for that sequel!
- Prison of Paradise
on Aug. 06, 2011
This once again picked up where the last story left off but a little bit into the future. Evan and Eve are still wrapped up in each other at the start but have a lot of upheavals to contend with this time around. New additions to the family, Turf wars & family reconciliations. I enjoyed this as much as I have enjoyed the previous books. The author has a way of drawing you in and not letting go until she has wrung every drop of emotion out of you! I had to keep turning the pages to find out what happened to the characters I have invested so much time and emotions on. I recommend this completely and can't wait for the next story!
- Chasing Destiny
on Aug. 14, 2011
This was a wonderful story. Magic, witches, shape-shifters, curses and at its heart a love story. The story was well told. I found myself drinking in the images of Avalon and once or twice lost myself in the sheer wonder and beauty of it. There were a couple of tear jerking moments but they were tempered with happiness on the other hand. There was some action in the middle and towards the end and I was willing the good guys to defeat the enemy! I so enjoyed this and I hope anyone who loves witches and magic gets the enjoyment as I did.
- My Novel Affair
on Aug. 16, 2011
Let me start by issuing a warning. This book is screamingly funny. It should come with a disclaimer – 'Warning – This book may induce instantaneous bouts of out-loud mirth. Take care reading in public places!' I was reading this on the bus and I got some very funny looks, I can tell you! The idea of a story within a story is refreshing one and works very well. The characters are larger than life and vibrant. The juxtaposition of the story (within the story) and the real life element was very skilfully and cleverly done. My hats off to the author for she has pulled off another winner. I loved and enjoyed this and hope that everyone else reading it enjoys it as much as I did!
- Letters to You
on Aug. 19, 2011
Again this picks up where the last left off. Eve has been hit by a truck and disappeared. Is she OK or not? Once again it was easy to slip into the lives of Eve, Evan, Kenny et al. I thought this being the fifth book in the series I would know what to expect. But no! This time around things were somewhat darker. There was more action and key characters has personality turnarounds. Once again for me it was a complete page turner. I couldn't put it down and loved every minute of it. I thoroughly recommend this and hope everyone reading it enjoys it as much as I did.
- Fourteen Days Later
on Aug. 25, 2011
I'm really not sure where to start with this. I thought it was absolutely wonderful! Helen has decided to take up the challenge of trying a new thing every day for two weeks after being let down by her boyfriend. Along the way she learns new things about herself and finds love is sometimes nearer to home than you think. I found it very very funny. I was laughing out loud in places and my partner was giving me some very odd looks. I so identified with Helen. I loved her clumsy disaster prone nature (very like myself!) it made her very endearing and lovable. All in all another good one from this author. I am now off to read the sequel!
- How Do You Say Goodbye
on Sep. 02, 2011
This was a fantastic book. Be warned though, it is a major tearjerker. It is a tale about Sam, a woman who had a shocking life and has found out she has an inoperable brain tumour. The story follows her journey to hook up with her old biker 'clan' finishing up at her friends grandparents. Her wish is to die by the beach so they take her to the beach where her friend has a house. More happens along the way but I don't want to spoil it. I was moved by Sam's plight. I found myself laughing and crying with her. The love all her friends had for her was tangible and I felt it too. It was a real page turner and got me from the first page. Read it, you won't be disappointed.
- Back to Life
on Sep. 09, 2011
This is the last book in the Wingless series. Set 3 years after the events of Letters to You. Eve has left Evan and set up a successful resurrection business with Kenny. Will all go smoothly, will Evan come back into Eve's life and will she be reconciled with Oliver, her son? It was so easy for me to get into this, having read the other 5 books in the series. I was eager to find out what happened to Eve, Evan, Kenny et al. As ever the story flowed well, keeping me glued to the page for the whole book. I am sad this is the end, as everyone feels like old friends now. It was a fantastic ending though and really the only one that would have done the series justice. Thank you Holly for writing such an amazing series!
- My Perfect Wedding
on Sep. 14, 2011
This is technically the sequel to Fourteen Days Later but could be read as a standalone book. This time around Helen is on her way to Northern Cyprus with Kamen for a few days of rest and relaxation before her dream wedding. Only for Helen (being somewhat of a magnet for bad luck) it doesn't quite go to plan and it just gets worse from there... This was hysterically funny. Helen once again lurches from one disaster to another, somehow finding herself in the process. It was lovely to be reacquainted with familiar characters. Once again the story rocketed along, and with the vivid descriptions of Northern Cyprus, I felt like I was there with them. It was a real page turner and I read almost all of it in one day. The ending was fabulous and just perfect for the story. If you have read Fourteen Days Later you will love this. Even if you haven't you will love this. It is a nice light funny read that no one can help but to enjoy.
- D.N.A. -Nothing Would Ever be the Same
on Sep. 22, 2011
This is a brilliant look at a dysfunctional family and how the daughter rose above it. The night before a family holiday Debney is told, yet again, she is not to come with them by her mum. They go off on holiday and she has a party. The police arrive at her house to tell her her family has been killed in a car accident. There is some mystery surrounding her brothers. She makes some bad choices and finds she's pregnant, what will she do? This was a deeply moving story. I was near to tears in many places. the way Debney was treated at school, the aftermath of the accident and finally it all coming together. The triumveret of friends in Debney, Nadine and Giante was wonderful. Most of the story was told in flashback and the story unfolded slowly but coherently. The pace of the story was perfect, and there were no confusing moments at all. The ending was fantastic, just how I hoped it would be, and warmed my heart. This is a great story and I urge people to give it a go. Great for Young Adults and Adults alike.
- How to Dump Your Boyfriend in the Men's Room (and other short stories)
on Sep. 26, 2011
This is a collection of hysterical, laugh-out-loud short stories told as only Sibel can. I really enjoyed these. Each story was screamingly funny with my significant other rolling his eyes at me each time I guffawed. 'Reading another Sibel are you? Say no more!' he said. My favourites were 'The S-Word and the Lady Garden', because it is especially relevant to me and 'Kismet' because it was both sweet and funny at the same time. All in all yet another winner by Sibel who is fast becoming my favourite 'chick-lit' author. (As well as being the one who introduced me to the genre in the first place!)
- Doodling
on Oct. 06, 2011
This is a wonderful tale of a man – Neville – who found the world was moving too fast and fell off. He found himself in an asteroid field with all manner of quirky and interesting characters. Then he finds out the world is moving too fast and is going to leave it's orbit and fly straight into his new found home and friends. Does Neville stop the world and save the asteroids? Well that would be telling wouldn't it? This was a quirky little story. Neville mad me think a bit of Arthur Dent with his no nonsense approach to that which made no sense. It was funny in places and endearingly heart warming. Underneath it all was a deeper message to take things slowly and not let life rush you by. I loved this. It is a nice quick read and would appeal to all ages I think.
- Trafficked: The Diary of a Sex Slave
on Oct. 11, 2011
This is the story of a young woman who, promised the job of a lifetime, ends up being trafficked to Italy and being sold as a sex slave. It is written in diary form and tells of her life therein and what happens to her. First off, may I issue a warning? This story is utterly heartbreaking. Some of the things that happen to Elena are truly horrific but somehow she never quite loses hope that she will be reunited with her daughter again. Being written in diary form I could see her in my head and I truly felt the things she was going through. I am not ashamed to admit I was in tears in places. This is somewhat of a departure for this author as she is best known for her chick-lit novels. All I can say is 'Well done Sibel. This is an amazing novella and the jump from chick-lit to serious has been made successfully!' I urge everyone to read this so more people are aware of this terrible trade in human lives. It must be stopped and can only be stopped if more are aware that it is going on. Well done, and thank you Sibel for opening my eyes.
- Wizard of Time
on Oct. 26, 2011
This is a time travelling story. 3 teenagers are abruptly taken from their own times and brought to a wizard who needs help returning Excalibur to King Arthur, after it was stolen. They are given animal companions and new powers to help them on their quest. I am a great fan of this type of story, I think the possibilities are endless. I also am very interested in the Arthurian legend, so to me this was a winner before I had even started! I loved the characters, and their animal companions were very endearing. I particularly liked the white tiger. the story moved at a good pace, and my fingers were constantly clicking the next page button to see what happened next. This is aimed at the YA market but I think it would appeal to readers of all ages. I recommend it, particularly if you like the sort of dungeons and dragons type of story. This will have you gripped from page one.
- The Great Yellow Doom Bird
on Nov. 15, 2011
This is the story of a young boy. His father went off to sea and never came back so he goes to the beach every night with his uncle to see if he has come home. One evening he takes his neighbours dog for a walk and meets an odd gentleman up a tree. He is 7 feet tall and has eyes that are different colours, that also change with his mood. Thus begins an adventure that involves pirates, spy catchers, Eddies (whirlpools), Great Chiefs, volcanoes, enormous sea monsters and of course the Great Doom Bird of the title. I shan't say any more for fear of spoiling it. I so enjoyed this. It put me in mind of Lemony Snicket (but better if I do dare to say!). Stultus (the odd guy) reminds me of Johnny Depp's Mad Hatter. He is this larger than life (literally!) chap with a personality that just jumps off the page at you. Patrick starts off as a quiet shy little boy who becomes a confident young man. Their quest to save the Doom Birds is an admirable (if fraught) one and anyone interested in conservation will appreciate it. I recommend this for people of all ages. It is simply a lovely story, with enough action to keep everyone interested.
- Days' End
on Dec. 14, 2011
This is a story about a woman (Nysa) who is at the top of her field in DNA retrieval at UCLA. She is head hunted by a strange gentleman for a project she knows nothing about but will pay top dollar for her services. She agrees, on the understanding she must have no contact with the outside world for the duration of the project, and tell no one where she is going. When a series of natural disasters prompts her boyfriend (Alistair) to try and find her, the project and his search suddenly are not quite what they seem. This was a great book. I enjoyed the fact that the chapters were short, it meant that I could read it quickly in short bursts. As it happened I found it extremely hard to put down. The basic plot (which I can't divulge as it would give too much away) is a good one, and had me gripped to the end.The characters were solid and although the story played out with only three main characters, I didn't feel the story suffered. The ending was as sudden as it was shocking, so be prepared for that. It was satisfying though and tied up any loose ends. It did, however, need work on the editing. All in all a brave subject to tackle, that the author has done justice with and I hope he has more in the pipe line. This review was originally written for the TBR Pile. http://thetbrpile.weebly.com/1/post/2011/12/review-and-contest-days-end-by-scott-collins.html
- Fezariu's Epiphany
on Jan. 01, 2012
This is the story of Fezariu, a young man born to a prostitute - who believes his mother died when he was 12. When his beloved stepfather is killed, he finds out that his mother is still alive and working in a famous brothel. After her rejection of him he goes and joins the Merelax Mercenaries. He rises through the ranks until he takes an assignment that brings him back to his old home town. There he takes stock of his life and finds out the truth about why his mother rejected him. on learning this he decides to exact a terrible revenge. I started this with a little trepidation as I am not a gigantic fan of fantasy novels. I am so glad I did though - I was sucked in straight away. It wasn't overly 'fantastical' but there were enough different races and worlds, all beautifully described, to keep me interested. I had no trouble picturing any of the descriptions. Poor Fezariu has seen so much sadness in his short life that he thinks a mercenary life is best for him as he cannot get close to anyone there. he does however become friends with three other recruits. The story is told mostly from Fezariu's point of view but occasionally changes as the story dictates, for example at his birth and in his letters to his stepsister. This was a good idea as it kept the story fresh. The ending was fantastic, and I had a tear in my eye. I have nothing but praise for this, and I hope the author has more to come.
- Wheezer And the Painted Frog
on March 16, 2012
This is the story of Sasa, a young Cherokee girl and a Jack Russell called Wheezer. Sasa's brother has been murdered and her Cherokee people are not getting the food and provisions they desperately need. Can Sasa and Wheezer get to the bottom of the mystery and solve it? This was a story steeped in history. Based on the Cherokee 'Trail of Tears', where they were moved from their land and made to settle elsewhere, with many Cherokees dying along the way. While this was at it's heart a murder mystery, you could feel the history seeping out of every word. Having 5 principal characters, Wheezer/Jack the Jack Russell, Sasa, Jackson, Arch and Anna - the story focussed on the dwindling supplies for the Cherokee settlers and the murder of Sasa's brother Usti Yansa. The story went along at a fair clip and the descriptions were so vivid, I felt I was there walking in their shoes. I loved the inclusion of Wheezer as a main character. Who couldn't fail to be drawn to a book with a dog as one of the principal players? I understand this is Kitty's debut novel-well it had me gripped to the end and I even shed a tear at the conclusion. Well done Kitty, I am anxiously waiting for the follow up!
- The Ambivalent Corpse
on March 28, 2012
This is the story of a brutal murder and dismemberment. A female body is found in Montevideo, South America - in seven parts, carefully cut up and placed between two significant monuments. The police are tied up in red tape so ask the people who found the body, Roger Bowman (ex cop turned PI) and Suzanne Foster (Botanist Professor), to help them in their investigations. Can they find out who she is and why she was killed? This was an interesting book. The pace was good and kept me turning the pages. At times it felt like I was reading a tourist guide to the best places to visit in South America and the murder aspect was secondary but it all seemed to come together in the end. Despite having the somewhat dubious subject matter of active nazism, it was handled well and it didn't seem offensive at all. The places were described vividly, particularly the Iguazu Falls, and I now know where I want to go on my next holiday! I also liked the addition of some fairly obtuse jokes and puns at the end of each chapter. It lightened up some pretty heavy subject matter. All in all I enjoyed this and it was a fairly quick read - I read it in about four hours. A good thriller that makes you feel like you are there with them.
- Next Move, You're Dead - A New Game
on April 13, 2012
This is the second book in the 'Next Move, You're Dead' trilogy. It picks up where the last book left off but with an almighty twist. This time around Erebus is playing with a female detective known as 'Mac'. A child has been kidnapped and another girl is in danger. Can Mac find them in time or will it be too late? This was great. I loved the unexpected beginning and from there I was launched into a tense & taut rollercoaster ride until the end of the book. Mac was a worthy opponent in the game and I felt her pain as she tried to find the child whilst being constantly taunted by Erebus at every turn. The conclusion was well crafted and left the way open for the final part of the trilogy. My hats off the the author for a worthy sequel!
- HYM and HUR
on May 10, 2012
This is the story of Hym and Hur, a couple who have been in love a long time and never age. They love playing pranks on people with their special powers. This time however they have made a deal with Death in exchange for a good deed. They may choose someone to save people from dying by touch alone, for 24 hours. But this is Death and there is always a loophole.... This was a deliciously funny little tale. I loved the pranks Hym & Hur played and the funny interventions they made into peoples lives, whether for the best or not. The story ran smoothly and the characters were believable. The end was very sweet and I would love to read more of this author's work.