Review: Knightley and Son by Rohan Gavin

Sometimes I hate getting Netgalley ARCs because I read them and then have to wait possibly months before I can tell you about or if I tell you soon after reading it and you have to wait months to read the book yourself. For my US readers, the latter happens to be the case with this book. Good news for my UK readers - Knightley & Son by Rohan Gavin is now available.

I considered waiting until the US release date to post my review, but I couldn't wait until March to tell you about this book. It's just too good (I kind of want to read it again right now). I found it when looking for middle grades and younger adult books for my niece and nephew. I loved the description for this book and thought it would be a fun read for my nephew. Little did I realize how much I would personally enjoy the book. For me it felt a little like a Nancy Drew or Veronica Mars, but the lead character is boy and the case is a bit more supernatural. And oh, English!

Buy Knightley & Son at Amazon

Presumably, I read the British version and I wonder how much of the wording will be changed for the US edition (kind of like how the Philosopher's Stone had to be changed to Sorcerer's Stone). Knightley and Son is set in London and so I hope it doesn't lose too much of its British feel, but there were a few references that I don't think the target audience in the US would get. 

The whole time I was reading it, I couldn't wait to share it with my nephew. I know he will love it. I guess having to wait until March isn't so bad as it is closer to his birthday and I won't have to worry about what to get him.

It is a fun adventure story that the whole family should read together. While there is a supernatural element to the plot, I wouldn't really call the book fantasy. It is such a small portion of the story line. Knightley and Son is so much more - a detective story, a great father-son adventure, conspiracy and danger abound, family and loyalty are at the forefront and never underestimate the intelligence of young people. There is even a bit of humor infused within the pages.

It would make an excellent father-son bonding activity whether read together at bed time or in a book club type setting where each read on their own and then talk about it together. I recommend it for father-son time because the story focuses on a father-son team, there is nothing keeping it from entertaining the entire family. I hope there are more adventures to come from Knightley & Son.

Book Info:
ebook & hardcover (30 pages)
Published March 2014 by Bloomsbury USA
ISBN13: 9781619631533
Source: Netgalley
Read: December 2013


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Interview with Tracey Lampley, author of KEPT

What does it mean to be kept? 

When a woman becomes a long term sex partner to a man to whom she is not married, she is kept if he provides for her. Provisions could include gifts of rent and/or mortgage payments, payments for cars, jewelry or clothing. Usually he is married to another woman. If this is the case, one can expect him to be controlling of his mistress, sex partner.

If you could pick any actor to be your sugar daddy, who would it be? 

There are two actors I’d pick, and they’re in no particular order. Denzel Washington is one, and the young Sean Connery (When he was James Bond) is another.

Why did you pick that actor?

Denzel is sexy in an understated way. The fact that he doesn’t find himself sexy is a turn-on, and Sean Connery radiates a power and sexiness unmatched by another. Connery often tried to play down his sex appeal—but to no avail. In fact, for a novella in the works, I’ve borrowed pieces of Bond’s character played by Sean Connery. My character is debonair with a touch of humor.

What made you choose this theme? 

I wanted to try my hand at romance writing, and since I know two people who’ve been kept by a man, I decided to write about it. I included the suspense part to portend the potential dark side of being kept.

Have you ever been kept? 

I’d never tell if I was.

Was it difficult to write the sex scenes?

Very, and I’m still not certain I’ve written them with the taste they deserve. While I’ve never considered myself an erotic writer, Kept has erotic overtones, and I hope I’ve depicted my characters and their actions realistically.

Tell us about the character, Kate Mercer.

She’s a vulnerable woman who got caught up with her sugar daddy, Carrington Grant who is totally controlling. So she decides to take her life back, and along the way she reconnects with her ex-lover, Lamar Burton. It’s then that she realizes she’d made a mistake and should be with Lamar, but she’s being stalked and has to fight for her life.

Tell us about Carrington Grant. 

He’s a man you never say ‘no’ to. With that being said, Kate dares to walk away from him. Will her decision cost Kate her life?

Tell us about Lamar Burton. 

Lamar is a prideful man who is partial to damsels in distress. But Kate is from his past, and he’s uncertain of their future.

Is this novella a series? 

Yes, it will be, but with different characters populating each novella, although the second book in the series will feature Kate Mercer again.

When will you release the next novella in the series? 

On February 1, 2014, I will release Kept: Book 2 just in time for Valentine’s Day. The novella will be an update and continuation of Kate Mercer’s story.

Tracey Lampley is a graduate of Miami University of Ohio with a degree in English. Since she was a kindergartner, she wanted to be an author and publisher. So at the tender age of five she published her first book by punching three holes in ten sheets of typing paper and binding them together with her hair ribbon. Her uncle bought her book for 5 cents. One nickel, imagine that! Now she wants to be the Shonda Rhimes of novellas.

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Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate;  a small fee is earned when purchases are made at Amazon through the above link. The views, opinions, and beliefs of contributing writers are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Girl Who Reads. Promotional interview was provided by the author and used with permission.

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Birthday Writing Prompt Contest

I wish I could be a fiction writer. Maybe if I had more time I could be, but I don't have that kind of time or desire. However, from time to time I come up with a idea that I think would make an excellent plot. My birthday is coming up on January 18 and I want to celebrate with all of you. A few years ago a couple of lines came to me and I've have always wanted them turned into a story. (Remember, my favorite stories are often a bit dark or depressing - usually they have a happy ending, but not always)

Want to give me a gift? Take the following prompt and write a flash fiction story. But wait, there is something in it for you. On Saturday, January 11 I will post a linky and then I will let readers vote. Voting will be open until 6 pm EST Friday, January 17. The top 3 stories, chosen by readers, will receive a book store gift card (I will be the tie breaker vote if needed).

You have one week to perfect your story. You are to post the story on your blog or Facebook page. On January 11 (starting at 7:30 am EST), add the link to your story. (There will be a post specifically for the linky and giving readers some info on voting). The winners will be announced on Saturday, January 18.

Ready? Here's the prompt:

I can't remember the last time someone held my hand or warm arms embraced me. It has been a decade since another's lips have touched my own. Now, I sit here on my birthday... no party or well wishes, not even a cake. Is this my future, to wither and die alone?

Good luck! I'm really looking forward to what you come up with.

10 Blogging Goals for 2014

The holidays are over and life is returning to normal (I'm back to work today). I don't do New Year Resolutions, but I do like to set goals. As I'm coming up on my 3rd blogging anniversary I thought now would be a good day to think about what I want to accomplished.

1. Write reviews more promptly. I read enough books in December that I can post one review a week through mid-February. However, I have a bad habit of not writing the full review until the weekend before. This is a bad habit. I only do a short review on Goodreads upon completion of the book. Sometimes it's enough to jog my memory and sometimes it doesn't. I either need to take better notes or just write the full review at least the same week I finish the book.

2. Host 100 authors. I had 97 authors as guests on my blog in 2013. Many of them wrote more than one post, but I have more than enough guest feature spots to easily host 100 authors. If you are an author that would like to write a post or do an interview, check the submission guideline tab. If you are a reader and have an author who you would like to see appear on my guest, drop me a line and I will see what I can do.

3. Set-up posts in advance. Last year I started putting together all my blog posts for the week over the weekend. I will continue that practice, but sometimes authors will send me their articles several weeks in advance (which I absolutely love!). Right now, I usually sit on them until the weekend before they go live. Instead of blogging week to week, this year I want put together as much of the month as possible (blog month to month).

4. Put together my second marketing secrets ebook. I have written all the posts that will make up the bulk of the ebook so it is just a matter of finding the time to compile the posts, add in the transitions and expand on information I glossed over in the original blog post.

5. Read 72 books. Every year, my goal is to read 52 books but I also like to put in a challenge goal. It is usually a few books more than I read the year before. I didn't do as well this year with my reading. I only completed 81% of my challenge goal this year, so I'm reducing the number by 12.

6. Promote my blog more. I spend a lot of time promoting other blogs through Triberr and while I believe it does help, less than half of members I'm in a tribe with share any given post of mine. There will go whole days where only 1 or 2 people share my post through Triberr. There are over 50 members combined in the 3 tribes I am part of. I need to make sure I need to promote my posts more myself.

7. Be more active on Facebook. I often forget about my Facebook page. I need to use it more to promote my blog and interact with my readers.

8. Write better posts. I was very pleased to see this year a majority of the Top 10 Most Popular Posts were ones I written. I worked hard to improve the quality of my posts, but I know I can improve even more. I also want to write on more topics. I would love to get more press releases from authors and publicists so I can share your book news with my readers. I want add a few new features - popular books, new releases, ebook deals, themed recommendation lists. I've played with all of these in 2013, but not consistently enough to figure out what works and what doesn't.

9. Start an online blogger group. I love my tips posts, but I would like more interaction with bloggers. I'm part of a few author groups that offer support and advice, but I want one for book bloggers. It will most likely be a Facebook group. I'm thinking we could share posts, ask questions, and offer general support in what can be a frustrating and lonely occupation. Authors who are also book bloggers will be welcome. I think the guideline for who is a book blogger will be if your blog is 60% book-related topics (and for authors - that 60% should be book topics other than about you and your books). If you are interested in the being part of such a group or helping with it, let me know.

10. Add a reviewer and/or regular contributor(s). Sometimes life gets busy or there is more blogging tasks I want to accomplish that I cannot do them all alone. I would like to find someone who is interested in reviewing a book or two a month (bonus if their preferred genres is romance, horror, or fantasy) and putting together one featured article (new books, themed list, book news, etc) per month. I'm also considering offering weekly/monthly column. This would be great exposure for a new author or a writer wanting to expand their portfolio. Contact me if you are interested

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Short Story: The Ivory Tower by Kirstin Pulioff

I'm going to let you in on a little secret - I don't really like short stories. No sooner do I get to know the character it is time to say goodbye. That is how I felt with The Ivory Tower. I was just getting to know Simone and the world she inhabits when the story ended.

Yet, at the same time I'm drawn to short stories when I need a quick escape where I get the whole story without a big time commitment. (I read a lot of short stories while writing my dissertation for this reason). And I have to say Kirstin Pulioff did a magnificent job in the 20-something pages her story comprised.

Buy The Ivory Tower at Amazon

Simone, or 277 as she is known at the camp, is an orphan. The inhabitants of this camp are there for their own protection. The world as they know it has become a dangerous place and as long as they follow the rules they will be cared for. Or so goes the party line. A precocious child that knows few boundaries and has even less parental oversight isn't so sure she wants to toe that line any more. Why should she? All it gets her is food rations - when they don't run out before getting to her spot in line - and a threadbare shirt.

So much is happening within these few pages, I have to wonder if Pulioff is planning to explore this world more. I think I'm most impressed with how complete Pulioff is with her world building. I've read series that takes the author 3 books or more to give me a clear picture of how the world works. Yet, in The Ivory Tower the reader can see how society wound up in these "protective" camps and why they remain so. But, there is still plenty of stories within this world that can be explored and I do hope she considers it.

Book info:
ebook (24 pages)
Published September 2013
Source: author
Read: December 2013




Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate;  a small fee is earned when purchases are made at Amazon through the above link.  A free ebook was provided by the source.

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