M.A. Kropp: Writer, Blogger, GeekGirl. My Life. My Words. My Way.
You have all seen, heard, and gotten the emails. "You recently purchased XXX. Would you like to write a review?" Reviews are becoming increasingly important to sellers of all types in these days of online research for everything. Authors also depend on reviews to help get word out about their work. You have seen me … Continue reading Wednesday Writer: 7 Reasons Why Reviews Are Important
My rating: 4 of 5 starsThis is the fourth installment in Wendig's Miriam Black series. Miriam has a gift- or perhaps it is more of a curse: if she touches you, skin to skin, she sees your death. The when, where, and how of that death, whatever it may be. It's not always pretty. Sure, … Continue reading Friday Review: Thunderbird (Miriam Black #4) by Chuck Wendig
My rating: 4 of 5 starsState Route 177 runs along the Suwanee River from Fargo, Georgia to the Okefenokee swamp. Titus and Melanie Bell are newlyweds on their honeymoon trip to a rented cabin where they plan to do some canoeing in the swamp. According to the GPS map, there are six bridges along their … Continue reading Friday Review: The Toll by Cherie Priest
My rating: 3 of 5 starsIn this first in a series fantasy novel, Wheeler uses an Asian-inspired setting and characters to tell a story of revenge, faith, and honor. The main character, Bingmei, is a young girl who has uncharacteristic white hair, a sign that is considered a disease, and instills fear in most people. … Continue reading Friday Review: The Killing Fog (Grave Kingdom #1) by Jeff Wheeler
My rating: 4 of 5 starsAt 52 years of age, Noah Adams, NPR host and news reporter, decided to buy a piano and learn to play. This lovely little book chronicles his first year as a piano student, with all the ups and downs, triumphant moments and frustrating setbacks. It's also a love story to … Continue reading Friday Review: Piano Lessons: Music, Love, and True Adventures by Noah Adams
This will be brief because I am going to try to avoid spoilers for the many who have yet to see it. It was thoroughly enjoyable. Maybe a bit plot thin in spots, but there is enough character, action, humor, and, yes, sadness to keep the movie from dragging. It draws on all of the … Continue reading Friday (Movie)Review: Spider-Man: No Way Home
My rating: 4 of 5 starsThe Green Man is a mythic figure that recurs in many different forms in many different folklores. He goes by many names, but he is the embodiment of Nature and its power. In this anthology, Datlow and Windling have gathered some of the best fantasy writers of the day to … Continue reading Friday Review: The Green Man: Tales from the Mythic Forest, Ellen Dalow and Terri Windling, Editors
My rating: 4 of 5 starsAmanda is 23, gifted at mathematics, teaching at the local university, and living with her fiancé. She has an obsession with astronomy and what some call an overactive imagination. When she and her fiancé break up, she decides to move to a family cabin that she has loved her whole … Continue reading Friday Review: Sleepwalking Backwards by Catherine Zebrowski
My rating: 4 of 5 starsNadia Moran is a thief, and a very good one, at that. Her employer, an elven lord, keeps her in his service because Nadia's younger brother is victim of a rare disease that only the elves can cure. And if Nadia doesn't do what Morvillind wants, he will not give … Continue reading Friday Review: The Thief Trap (Cloak Games #1) by Jonathan Moeller
My rating: 4 of 5 starsJohn Perry just turned 75, so he did what any self-respecting 75-year-old would: he visited his wife's grave, and joined the army. Technically, he joined the Colonial Defense Force (CDF). In this Earth future universe, the CDF doesn't want young, inexperienced recruits. They want those with the knowledge, experience, and … Continue reading Friday Review: Old Man’s War (Old Man’s War #1) by John Scalzi
And So On... 