GRANTED WISHES: TANYA VOUGHT

Author: Tanya Vought (Goodreads Official Page) 
No of Pages: 234 pages

Publication House: Booktrope Editions
Date of Publication: February 2, 2015
ISBN-13: 978-1620157138
ISBN-10: 1620157136

Genre: Romance
Series: The Granted Series
Buy: Maybe
Book Source: Enchanted Book

Summary: (from goodreads.com)

A decision that will change her life forever.

After the loss of her husband, Gracelynn Calhoun has struggled with her life and career. Forced to take a four week vacation or be fired from her job, she surprises everyone including herself and agrees to the vacation.
The owner of Antonetti Suites, Giovanni works hard and doesn't have time for relationships or love. That is until he literally crashes into Gracelynn. She brings back all the feelings he thought he would never feel again. 
With the odds stacked against them in every way possible, will they forge ahead together or will this be the end of the road for their new found love? Will the whispers from above bring them together or will misunderstandings ruin what could be an amazing second chance at love?

** The book had been sent by the author for an honest review and by no means the review is biased/influenced**

STAR RATING: 3.5/5

DESCRIPTION IN ONE LINE: Faith, Love and Hope 

Title: The world will become heaven, if we all could be granted a wish each. The title had me intrigued andmake it sound like a story of love and passion which is a good message.

Title Rating: 3.5/5

Cover: Time and again people say not to judge a book by it's cover, but it does play an important role in the overall appeal of the book. The cover is simple and sweet and oozes out love. To be on the honest side the cover could have a great deal of more appeal to it, with the drawings of angels and so many things that could have been picked out to represent the story much better.

Cover Rating: 2.5/5

Characters: Gracelynn: Mourning can be a tough phase in anyone's lives while trying to keep your life normal and balanced. Fragile, loving, sweet and a dozen of other qualities make her the perfect goody two shoes. Saddened by the unfortunate incidents thrown on her platter so abruptly, she agrees to go her mysterious vacation to save her job. She is vulnerable but tries to keep the tougher appearance on the outside is what makes her character worth remembering.

Giovanni: For a man who wishes to stay emotionally distant and still be so affected by the horrifying incidents from his past, he is the person who kept his key to secrets till the end. Although hardworking, family oriented and his looks definitely speak a lot about who he his. He's not afraid to voice his opinions and is of protective nature having trust issues.

Characters Rating:3.5/5

Review: The story begins with our getting to know Gracelynn, who is at a very nightmarish place in her life and in order to keep her job, she is forced to take a vacation where destiny awaits her. The moment she enters New Hope and gets hit by the Gio's truck life decides to be kind to her and evoke her senses to love with a man, who has his own set of tragedies etched to his soul. It's like broken pieces fitting back to solve the puzzle of love in an adorable series of events in a modern fairy tale town. It seems the angels have decided to fill the lives of our protagonists with whirlwind romance.  The story has it's own set of twists which can be unraveled by reading the book. 

Review Rating: 3.5/5

Appreciation: The scenic beauty and the descriptions made me go WOW. I felt like getting on the the next flight and see the place for myself. The author has done an amazing job of creating the visions which build up in the reader's mind in matter of seconds and leave us craving for more. The story about two broken people understanding and supporting each other was sweetly refreshing. At some points I literally could connect to the story on a personal level.

Let Downs: There are a bit of let downs that I would like to cast a light upon. The last 30% of the story is kind of rushed and it seems the author did not spend as much thoughts as she has on the beginning and the middle. Some of the descriptions were kind of overdone such as angels, divine intervention, book boyfriends and physical things materializing from the realm of spirits. Also feel some scenes lacked intimacy and were more of a statement i.e. earth-shattering kiss which kind of broke the link to the sweetness and pull me back to reality.

Surprise Factor: The role the dead and beloved play in the story revealing which here, would ruin the read.

Final Verdict: The book is a casual-weekend-sort-of-lazy read. It may not be the one all sorts of readers, but those who can connect to the story will have a pleasant time.

Quotes that made me think: 

• "Faith, Hope & Love"
• "I hate that other people get to see you every day and I'm not there to see you each morning and night."

Would I be reading more from Tanya Vought: Depending upon what she might write next I won't really mind reading a lot more from her provided she improves her writing style a bit. She does have a lot of creative ideas and bears promise to quality work in near future.

The book is available here: Granted Wishes

Keep watching this space for an exclusive interview of Tanya Vought.

To get your book reviewed you may contact me on:

Email: inextrica.sukriti@gmail.com

Facebook: Sukriti Goyal

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BEHIND THE BOOKS: DAVID J THIRTEEN: MR 8

So today is world book day, I feel incredible to have an opportunity to interview an author which has such an amazing writing style. I had a whole sleepless night till I didn't turn the last page of the book. I just couldn't keep my eyes off the pages and totally ignored even my phone, which kept buzzing like crazy. One book old and he has been creating waves with his amazing plot and narration style.

Author's Bio: David J. Thirteen has studied English Literature, Film Making, and Media Studies. He has lived and worked in the technology field for twenty years throughout the North East, in both Canada and the U.S. Writing has been a hidden passion for most of his life.

Mr. 8 is his first published novel is now available at Amazon, B&N, and iBooks. It was first written as a serial story on Wattpad, where it became a #1 ranked feature novel. He still writes and posts new stories on Wattpad every week.

David currently lives in Toronto, Canada and lives a bright life, while dreaming dark dreams.

**DISCLAIMER: The interview does contain spoilers so better to grab a copy of the book and read that for reading below**

1. How did you discover your hidden passion for writing while you have been working in the field of technology for 20 years?

I have always been interested in writing. In my teenage years I wrote many short horror stories and one almost complete novel. Then after college introduced me to the classics, I tried my hand at literary fiction. None of it was very good and I never had a mentor, a teacher, or peers who could offer me support and guidance with it. So one day, I hung it up and walked away, concentrated on my career and my family. I never expected I would come back to it, but a few years ago, I found myself in a bad place. The job that I once loved had become completely unfulfilling. It wasn't really a conscious decision but I started writing again, jotting down just a few random things at first, but eventually writing stories and novels. Writing resurfaced and became an outlet for creativity and fulfillment. My job was paying the bills but I was sitting down at the laptop every day and producing something from my heart.

2. Where do you take inspiration for your characters from? Like friends or family members?

I never base characters on people who are close to me, although I will borrow character traits from them. Acquaintances seem to be a bigger source of inspiration. Denton Reed, the main character of Mr. 8, was based on a very influential professor I had while in college. I never knew the man that well, but he has stuck with me to this day. And whenever I thought of Denton, I saw him.

3. Which is that one legendary author (living or dead) for you  that you'd wish to meet and work with? Also what would you wish to ask them in person?

That’s always a hard question for me, because I always (realistically) imagine myself completely tongue-tied in a situation like that. I would have to say Haruki Murakami. At least, even if the conversation turned out to be a total disaster, we could talk about music. I really admire his work. The first time I read something by him it was like stepping onto a new planet. He made me see both book and life in a completely different way. We would definitely talk about music, because I would want to ask him about his thought process when he puts music into his stories.  Is it what he’s listening to when writing? Are they a thematic decision? Or is it more just a way to define the character?

4. So how did you end up on Wattpad? Who pushed you there?

While I was researching self-publishing, I came across Wattpad, as well as some other similar sites. I had just finished a novel that I wanted to get it out there. I guess I realized that it wasn’t good enough for people to pay for, so I figured why not put it out for free—at least someone might read it. Ironically, to this day, I still haven’t shared that book with anyone. Occasionally I dust it off but it always seems so inferior to the work I did on Wattpad. It really is a great forum. The internet can be a pretty harsh place. Anonymity can bring out the worst in people. But Wattpad’s community is amazingly supportive to novice writers. I’m still shocked by how much I improved after I started writing on there and started to get feedback from other writers. No one pushed me on there, but one of the fist writers I discovered there was Alys Arden (author of The Casquette Girls) and I have to credit her for proving to me that there was high caliber writing on the site.

5. While reading the story I felt that at almost three points you almost ended the story but chose to continue with a new twist? Is it true or just a figment of my imagination?

I can completely see that, but it was always planned that way. The first plot twist, where Cole Radnor seems to infect Denton, was really the pivotal point of the book. For a brief time when I first started planning the book, I even considered starting with that moment and splitting the story off with present events and flashbacks of what led up to it.

The second twist, the one right before the end, was a bit more improvised. About halfway through the book I realized that my planned ending wasn't going to work. Denton’s character had developed in a direction where it just didn't make sense anymore. So I knew I wanted to have the scene on the frozen lake and I worked toward that. I decided to end it with one last twist. Denton makes so many wild assumptions throughout the book, it felt like he needed to be proved wrong. His biggest character flaw was what I took to calling “smartest man in the room syndrome.” Even when he doubts himself he never really thinks he’s wrong enough to change course. And that had to be his downfall.

6. How did you actually build this concept? I thought the story started as a murder mystery, went to some supernatural content and ended at what genre exactly?

A large part of the book came to me in a nightmare. I've rethought it so many times now that the actual dream is lost from my memory, but it did have a killer; victims who drew eights, which were really a sun and a moon; and an alien virus. Like I mentioned earlier, the moment when Denton thinks he’s become infected is really the key moment in the book. I thought I could cover the events leading up to it in a few chapters, but once I got into it, I realized it needed more and it became a whole mystery tale in itself.

The ending still fits into the supernatural genre. It’s just a very different supernatural source than what is believed in the middle of the novel. Part of me would have loved for it to have turned out to be a rational explanation. I even tried think up one and used my failed attempts as theories in the story. But had I gone with the insanity being caused by something in the water, for example, readers would have called BS on it. So really the explanation had to be supernatural in nature. It does end up being a tough sell, and I know not all readers aren't into it. The problem with it being a twist is that the reader’s only know what Denton does, so when he’s wrong, the only person to explain it isn't very reliable—Ray thinks he’s doing something good not just twisting people to his will. I think if it ended up being something like vampires, it would have had the power of established folklore to add to the reader’s knowledge and might have gone over better with more readers.

7. The role of a professor getting caught up in this and dying in the end saddened me. Why did he have to die?

In my mind, Denton was always on a collision course with death. Conceiving this story, I thought as being a bit like DOA, the main character racing against his own impending death to solve the case. It gave him a reckless freedom he wouldn't have had otherwise. While I was putting this out serially, I got such positive responses to Denton that I did start to wonder if there was a way to keep him alive. I came up with one ending but it was extremely bleak. Ultimately, Denton could never live with the things he did. He kills people and justifies it by saying, they weren't really human. But by the end, he knows that’s not true, they might have been under Ray’s control, but they were still human. It’s why he doesn't try and escape at the end.

8. Tell us about your upcoming projects and when can we expect to read the next title from you?

I’m nearing the end of the first book in a three part series on Wattpad. It’s called The Things We Bury and it’s about a group of people tasked with studying a mythological creature in a government lab. It’s much more in the Science Fiction genre than Mr. 8. I have also started a new novel which is very much in the spirit of Mr. 8. It’s a murder mystery with supernatural and horror elements. My hope is that I’ll be starting the publication process with one of them by the fall and I will have something new out next year.

9. Any message for your readers.

I would want to say, thank you. And, please get in touch and tell me what you thought of Mr. 8. This is a book that wouldn't exist without my readers. It was my first attempt at a serialized story and the feedback I got while writing it wasn't just hugely supportive but it also helped to mold the direction of the story. Now that it’s published, I am just hugely appreciative every time someone picks my book up—there are so many options to choose from in today’s market. And Wattpad has really spoiled me to getting a response from people. Hearing from readers is truly the best reward of writhing.

It is a pleasure getting to know David and here's the links where you can get to know him socially and his upcoming works:

Website: http://www.davidjthirteen.com/

E-mail: DavidJThirteen@gmail.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DavidJThirteen

Twitter: http://twitter.com/davidjthirteen

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9875250.David_J_Thirteen

I'll be reviewing more of his works when I get further chance.

You can Buy David J Thirteen's books from amazon.com. This link redirects you to his amazon.com page where all his works can be found out for purchase or gifts.

Here is the link to the review of his latest book Mr 8: MR 8_DAVID J THIRTEEN

**This material cannot be copied or used without the author's permission. **

To get your book reviewed you may contact me on:

Email: inextrica.sukriti@gmail.com

Facebook: Sukriti Goyal

Goodreads: Sukriti

Library Thing: My page

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MR 8: DAVID J THIRTEEN

Author: David J Thirteen (http://www.davidjthirteen.com) 
No of Pages: 288 pages

Publication House: Booktrope Editions
Date of Publication: January 8, 2015
ISBN 13: 9781620156193

Genre: Paranormal Mystery
Series: None
Buy: Surely
Book Source: Enchanted Book

Summary: (from goodreads.com)

Psychology professor Denton Reed has been pulled out of the classroom to find a killer. Bodies are turning up all over the quiet town of Bexhill. They are found dismembered and burned beyond recognition in a snow covered farmer’s field, by the abandoned mill, and under the train bridge. The only clue linking the victims is the bizarre figure eight patterns left behind in their homes.

Denton must use his unique profiling techniques to uncover the murderer, who the police have dubbed Mr. 8. As he begins to unravel the mystery, a strange pattern begins to emerge. Before their deaths, each victim was seized by dark obsessions and inexplicable changes in behavior. Whatever strange forces are affecting the people of Bexhill, they may actually be more dangerous than any killer.

As a wave of insanity sweeps the town, Denton will put his life on the line to get to the source of the madness and risk all to protect the woman he loves.

But is it already too late?

** The book had been sent by the author for an honest review and by no means the review is biased/influenced**

STAR RATING: 4/5

DESCRIPTION IN ONE LINE: The tale of unexpected twists, turns and blood. 

Title: The title has a mysterious notion and I thought probably it relates to 8 murders but it does relate to the number 8 indirectly so it's totally related.

Title Rating: 3.5/5

Cover: According to me a good cover is one that carries the essence of the story and after reading the book I feel anything other than this couldn't have done justice to the story. The only complaint with the cover that have that the 8 should have been composed of two equal circles exactly as the symmetry of 8 is important to the story's flow. 

Cover Rating: 4/5

Characters: Denton Reed: When you start reading you say oh a psychology professor but when you read about a dozen pages or so you know that he is the star of the story. The amazing character of Denton is what keeps you hooked to every single page of the book. His psychology related quotes, thinking and actions made me gorge eagerly at the pages throughout the night and have puffy eyes the next day. His dynamic personality, rationality, snooping around, weird dreams, loving side etc etc etc....I can't find enough words to describe the amazing nature he's characterized with. I felt as if I know him and any day I would love to meet him in areal world.

Bill:  The policeman and Denton's neighbor is the reason why Denton got involved in the whole matter but I cannot say his character was really that interesting but he did show a caring nature which evened out his not sharing any details of the matter.

Linda: Denton's wife and must say an amazing woman who is fearless and despite having a short role in the book we can not say that we didn't fall in love with her character in the small screen space she got. She was the reason that played a pivotal role in Denton's decisions and the bond they share is flawless. An artist by nature I did fear that she would be victimized  but I won't reveal the rest.

Characters Rating:4/5

Review: The story began from Denton's flashbacks and history with his wife and got dirtier when he got involved in the murder rampage. He even thought that he was over thinking the entire clues that he could see everywhere and one thing kept leading to another till he got so involved that he became paranoid, escaped police, dared to mess with people out of his league and even run out from a hospital. 

Review Rating: 4/5

Appreciation: The story is weaved in such an amazing way that I felt as if I'm on the same streets, mountains and places wherever Denton set his foot on. It was a real page turner and I could feel the jolts long after completing it. I could feel the tension, love and emotional journeys that the characters went on and was truly worth a read. 

Let Downs: The end made me sad on all levels as the roller coaster ride I signed up for came down crashing on me. The story shouldn't have ended the way it did but maybe I fell in love with the characters so much that I couldn't take it. Different readers might react to it differently.

Final Verdict: The book is worth the time a reader can spare on an amazing book and I certainly recommend this book to all mystery lovers.

Quotes that made me think: 

• "He put in just enough work to show that he was smart but never enough to do well." ~ Denton Reed
• "He would demonstrate the importance of not taking books in a person's possession as a direct representation of their personality. All too often any item purposely put on display hinted more at how a person wanted to be perceived , rather than who they were. The same principle applied to art on the wall."
• "the vigil had not just been a show of support, it had been therapeutic."

Would I be reading more from DAVID J THIRTEEN: He's got me hooked to his writing style and I got to stalk his Wattpad profile from now on: (http://www.wattpad.com/user/DavidJThirteen)

The book is available here: Mr 8

Keep watching this space for an exclusive interview of David J Thirteen.

The interview is live now: Behind the Books: David J Thirteen

To get your book reviewed you may contact me on:

Email: inextrica.sukriti@gmail.com

Facebook: Sukriti Goyal

Goodreads: Sukriti

Library Thing: My page

Book Blogs: My page