2017-02-04 by Karen

The Experimental Notebook of C.S. Boyack II by C.S. Boyack

tenofcsboyack_ii

The author sent me an ARC of this book (mobi format) in exchange for an honest review.

My rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Plot
(by Goodreads)

A second collection of short stories and micro-fiction. Every story can be read in a single session. This time there are a few tributes to the pulp era. Stories include science fiction, paranormal, and horror.

The stories: Fever, Documentary, Inheritance, Magpies, Questing, Career Move, Just Another Saturday Night, Last Flight of the Rocketmen, Night Bump Radio, Things We Do For Love, The Parade Wave, Jason Fogg, Angel, Holo-Barkers, Practical Geology
[the different colours are meant to simplify reading the titles]

Genre(s):	Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Superhero Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > Anthologies & Short Stories
Series:	The Experimental Notebook of C.S. Boyack, #II
Length:	141 pages
Release date:	2016-08-31

Teaser

“When you opened the detective agency you were so happy. You saved my life, and Detective Marsh fed you business. What’s the deal? You haven’t been to your office in two weeks.”

“It’s my special abilities. They ought to be worth something to us, but they’re not all they’re cracked up to be either. A man has to sell his skills, and I can do something nobody else can do.”

My Opinion

This anthology comprises fifteen different stories, taking you on fifteen very different trips; some will make you happy, some will make you sad, others will make you wonder. There is one thing that they all have in common: They are unforgettable. I cannot tell you more about this anthology as it would spoil the fun of reading it yourself.

With The Experimental Notebook of C. S. Boyack II, C. S. Boyack presents us with fifteen little gifts. Each story is skilfully elaborated, has its own great flow. Ernest Hemingway once stated “When writing a novel a writer should create living people; people not characters. A character is a caricature.” C. S. Boyack shows this masterly with every story – he created living people instead of mere characters. I was drawn into the stories right away, close to the protagonists – sometimes too close for comfort. I could easily envision the characters and locations. I had a great time reading The Experimental Notebook of C. S. Boyack II. It is a very enjoyable read.

This is for you if you like short stories, adventures with a humorous streak, paranormal events, horror stories, a remarkable science fiction story, very likeable characters to cheer on, surprises and food for thought – all packed in micro-fiction and short stories.

This is a book to read again. Highly recommended!

In brief:

Cover	⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Writing	⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Plot	⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Characters	⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Mood	Suspenseful, dark, fun, thoughtful
Pace	Steady
POV	Alternating persons
Language	– 😳
Violence	😳 – 😡
Sexual content	😳

About the author

I was born in a town called Elko, Nevada. I like to tell everyone I was born in a small town in the 1940s. I’m not quite that old, but Elko has always been a little behind the times. This gives me a unique perspective of earlier times, and other ways of getting by. Some of this bleeds through into my fiction.

I moved to Idaho right after the turn of the century, and never looked back. My writing career was born here, with access to other writers and critique groups I jumped in with both feet.

I like to write about things that have something unusual. My works are in the realm of science fiction, paranormal, and fantasy. The goal is to entertain you for a few hours. I hope you enjoy the ride.

Craig

Connect with the author:

Website: https://coldhandboyack.wordpress.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Virgilante
Amazon: C. S. Boyack
Buy link: books2read.com/u/mV71VM

Please take a look at my statement on reading in My train of thoughts on …reading. Now I am asking you. 🙂

My questions for you bibliophiles:
What about you? What did you think about The Experimental Notebook of C.S. Boyack II? Or – if you did not yet read The Experimental Notebook of C.S. Boyack II – are you now interested in reading it yourself?

I am looking forward to reading your comments. 🙂

10 Statements – C. S. Boyack

Review: Wild Concept

Review: Arson

Review: Will O’ the Wisp

Review: Panama

Review: The Cock of the South

Review: The Experimental Notebook of C.S. Boyack

3 Quotes – C.S. Boyack

Review: The Playground

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2016-05-15 by Karen

The Playground by C. S. Boyack

The_Playground The author sent me a copy (mobi format) in exchange for an honest review (member of Rosie’s Book Review Team).

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Plot
(by Goodreads)

The hottest toys of the Christmas Season are the Playground Network dolls. They contain a worldwide social network for children. Except, the network is controlled by a ruthless businessman with dreams of power. To reach his goals he turns to the occult. Will our children make up his personal army? Could we have an enemy soldier in every home?

Gina Greybill is a cancer survivor who stumbles into her own brush with the paranormal. She wants nothing to do with it, but may be the only one who can bring down the Playground Network. To do it she’ll have to embrace her new situation, and recover the next generation of Playground software.

There is competition for the software in the form of a brutal thug named Clovis. He’s bigger, more ruthless, and more experienced. To top it all off, he has a head start.

The Playground is suitable for more mature readers, due to violence and mature themes.

Genre(s): Paranormal, Occult, Supernatural

Series: n.a.

Length: 265 pages

Release date: 2016-04-04

Teaser

“…The profits and benefits will be through the roof. You’ll be a part of that and can write your own ticket. But first, you have to get your hands a little bit dirty.”

“I, I’ll get you another one.”

“Any word from that god damned Australian programmer that’s bleeding me dry?”

My Opinion

This book introduces Tommy Fazio, seemingly a ruthless and greedy business man with a plan. Three different plot lines – cleverly built – guide you through the story; meet Chloe, Gina and Clovis – be intrigued.

With The Playground, C. S. Boyack provides three cleverly elaborated plot lines, each of them drawing you deeper inside the story. I was drawn into the plot lines right away – very close to the respective protagonists; sometimes a creepy sensation. Each of the plot lines ‘felt’ different; resulting in a very intense story. I had a great time reading The Playground. It is a very enjoyable read. This is for you if you like paranormal/supernatural stories with a streak of horror, very likeable characters and food for thought.

This is a book to read again. Highly recommended.

In brief:

Writing	Great
Plot	Full of surprises
Mood	Suspenseful; Dark
Pace	Steady
Characters	Developed
Violence	Some violence
Sexual content	No sexual content (some hints)
POV	Third person

About the author

I moved to Idaho right after the turn of the century, and never looked back. My writing career was born here, with access to other writers and critique groups I jumped in with both feet.

Craig

Connect with the Author:

Website: https://coldhandboyack.wordpress.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Virgilante

Amazon: C. S. Boyack

Amazon: buy link

Please take a look at my statement on reading in My train of thoughts on …reading. Now I am asking you. 🙂

My questions for you bibliophiles:
What about you? What did you think about The Playground? Or – if you did not yet read The Playground – are you now interested in reading it yourself?

My question for you cinephiles:
If The Playground was filmed – who should direct it, who could you imagine as actors? Which of these stories would be your favourite on screen?

I am looking forward to reading your comments. 🙂

10 Statements – C. S. Boyack

3 Quotes – C. S. Boyack

Review: Wild Concept

Review: Arson

Review: Will O’ the Wisp

Review: Panama

Review: The Cock of the South

Review: The Experiemental Notebook of C. S. Boyack

Karen_RBRT Rosie's Book Review team 1

2016-05-08 by Karen

3 Quotes – C. S. Boyack

C_S_Boyack

C. S. Boyack, American writer (born: Craig S. Boyack)

born:
October 24, 1960 in Elko, Nevada, USA

known for:
Wild Concept, Panama, Arson, The Cock of the South, Will O’ the Wisp, The Experimental Notebook of C. S. Boyack, The Playground

Blog: http://coldhandboyack.wordpress.com

Regarding world building:
I don’t have to be perfect, I only have to be plausible.
+++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++
Regarding self promotion:
If you follow the herd, you get what the herd gets. Try something different.
+++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++
Regarding speculative fiction:
Your book makes a promise the very first time someone sees it. It’s important to deliver on that promise. Look at the speculative sub-genre and make sure you’re giving the reader what they expect.

Which is your favourite quote by C. S. Boyack? 🙂

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00ILXBXUY

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Virgilante

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9841203.C_S_Boyack

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ColdhandBoyack

10 Statements – C. S. Boyack

2015-12-12 by Karen

SILVER’S BOOK REVIEWS: “WILL O’ THE WISP,” BY C. S. BOYACK

Dear readers, as most of you know, I love C. S. Boyack’s books. And here is another great review by Colleen Chesebro for C. S. Boyack’s Will O’ the Wisp! 🙂

Colleen Chesebro ~ Fairy Whisperer

Title: Will O’ the Wisp
Author: C. S. Boyack
File Size: 3536 KB
Print Length: 259 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN:
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Publication Date: March 13, 2015
Sold by Amazon, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B00UPH6BNS
Formats: Kindle
Genres: YA Fiction, Paranormal, Mystery, and Suspense

*The author provided me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review which follows*

Have you Seen a Will O’ the Wisp?

Eerie green phosphorescent lights have been seen hovering over Bergamot Holler in Virginia since the beginning of time. What are these lights and why are they there? Speculation is that the lights are just swamp gasses floating harmlessly in the stillness of an autumn evening, even though their appearance has foretold many stories about fairies, ghosts, and witches.

That is until Patty Hall, a not-so-average 15-year-old, witnesses the Will O’ the Wisp first hand in…

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