Location: United States
Member Since: July 15, 2010

Tiffany Harkleroad

Biography

Just a book reviewer, trying to help great authors get noticed!

Where to find Tiffany Harkleroad online

Website: http://www.facebook.com/tiffanys.blogs
Twitter: @Tiffanysblogs
Blog: http://tiffanysbookshelf.blogspot.com

Smashwords book reviews by Tiffany Harkleroad

  • Death Rhythm on Aug. 29, 2010

    Andrew was unlucky, because he wrecked his car in the middle of nowhere. Turns out nowhere was actually pretty close to where his long lost Aunt Mae lives, so the cops help him connect with her, and she takes him in for a few days while his car gets repaired. While he is there, he stumbles across a local cemetery, some strange neighbors, a dead cat, and some pretty deeply buried family secrets. Andrew is forced to face up to a sick, twisted side to his family, which he never knew existed before now. From the opening scene of this book, I was hooked. The prologue was not an easy thing to read, it was clear from the get go, this was going to be an extremely dark novel, and in the hands of an unskilled writer, it could have easily careened into campy, cheesy, fluff. Thankfully, it did not. Joel Arnold has written a novel that would make King fans not only proud, but thoroughly satisfied. I found the story to be very well developed, and the storytelling quite vivid. As Andrew enters the old family home, and begins unearthing its secrets, I felt as if I was there with him. I really loved the development of Mae's character, and found her to be quite sympathetic. Edna, on the other hand, is not fully developed until closer to the end of the book, which I find appropriate, and I love the turns her character takes. I found the book full of surprising and unusual plot twists, and I was interested right up to the very end. I dare you to read this book without the hairs on your arm standing completely on end.
  • And You Thought Your Family Was Dysfunctional! on Jan. 13, 2011

    This is a book all about the author's crazy Portuguese family. All the aunts are named Maria, so he devises other ways to keep them straight, based on ridiculous things that happen in their lives, including, but not limited to Aunt Vampira and Aunt Penis. He also names his uncles, like Uncle Fart and Uncle Nut, also based on crazy antics. We learn all about Porks, as the author calls them, and their ridiculous ways. Sure to make you feel much better about your own family. When I first was introduced to some of Dayton's stories about his Portuguese family, I was immediately able to relate. Anyone whose family is in touch with their ethnic roots realizes that their ethnicity makes them a bit, um, different, from other people. The stories in this book all but confirm this as fact. I think any reader would be hard pressed to get through this book with out laughing. I love that Dayton uses slang and colloquialisms in this book of family stories. It makes the whole thing feel so much more genuine. The style of writing is more like storytelling, and it reads much like a storytelling would talk, with ramblings and digressions. It is self referential, but in a way that almost pokes fun at itself. I love the nicknames for the aunts and uncles, particularly when we are told the back stories. The only thing I felt was lacking was a few more stories about the author himself. Mostly, the stories in which he appears are focused on other family members. Personally, I want to know what Dayton's nickname would be, and the back story behind it. I funny and entertaining read that gives you newfound appreciation for your own familial quirks.
  • Killers on Nov. 08, 2011

    As a police officer, Prosper Snow is no stranger to dealing with murder, and he is always determined to solve his cases. Sometimes, he gets a little to close to the case for comfort. So, when people start taking his murder investigations away from him, he is determined to find out why. He learns that the recent murders are tied to a scientific experiment got bad, and the agency in charge of solving the problem wants him on their team. They will get his cooperation, even if it means blackmale. But is the killer really the person they think it is? I am a huge fan of thriller and crime literature, and I have a sick fascination with serial killers, so this book really appealed to me. While this is the second in a series, I can say, having not read the first, that this book serves as a great stand alone novel. The character of Prosper Snow, although a bit removed and mysterious, is well developed, and it is easy to find yourself rooting for him to get the bad guy. I was quite intrigued with the story. As a student of psychology, I was fascinated by the concept of the experiment at the center of the plot. I was aware of some of the scientific concepts the study was being based on, yet it still felt like a new spin on old ideas, which I really enjoyed. I was surprised to learn who the real killer was, which is always a sign of a well written suspense novel. Clearly, with a title like Killers, you know there is going to be some violence in the book, but I felt is was not gratuitous. It served the purpose of driving the plot, and I thought it was well written. All in all, I think fans of thrillers, crime dramas, suspense, and even mysteries will enjoy this solid novel.