Lynnette's Book World: Review: Summer Shack by Kelli Sue Landon #YA

Lynnette's Book World: Review: Summer Shack by Kelli Sue Landon #YA: Summer Shack: A Killer Vacation Young Adult who-dun-it author Kelli Sue Landon has delivered another winner! Every high-school grad lo...

First Summer Shack review on Amazon!

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read, November 26, 2011

By 

Shirley Priscilla Johnson "Author/Reviewer -... (USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Summer Shack: A Killer Vacation (Paperback)

Kimberly and Deborah are happy that High School is now behind them. Now they can plan their lives their way. Deb invites Kim to spend a month with her at her parents' cottage in Wisconsin. The girls are excited, after all they are now masters of their own souls. There is only one thing Deb requires and that is for Kim to help her film a documentary of the area. She wants it for a pre college project. Kim doesn't think that is a bad price to pay for an entire month of fun.

Soon after arriving, the girls were surprised to hear about the arrest of a serial killer. It was both scary and exciting to them and as they hear more and more stories from the locals, Deb decides this story would make a better film. Deb decides that being the first to film inside the killer's beach house, where the bodies were, would seal the films success. But what will happen to the girls and their friends as they go places they should never be?

I enjoyed this book. The author did a very good job of bringing forth the characters and the part they played in the storyline using the different personalities in Kim, Deb and their two friends. Each young lady brought to the table an element that helped bring the story alive and keep it flowing. She also did a nice job in her description of the locals and the local people. You wondered (and that is what you should be doing) just how each one fit into the mystery that was growing. As usual, I did not see the ending coming and I was surprised. All in all it was a smooth flowing read, had elements of surprise and definitely suspense. The story also addressed some issues that young girls may be facing and it had a great ending.

This book delivered and I recommend it.

3rd Novel!

My third novel to be released!!!!

I am a winner!!

The Authors Show put on this contest and I made it into the top 50 out of 113 finalists!!  I will be featured in 50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading of 2011!!!!  Thanks to everyone for your votes and support!

Book Reader's Heaven: Camp Site Murder Mystery for YA Great Action/Adven...

Book Reader's Heaven: Camp Site Murder Mystery for YA Great Action/Adven...: "Image by (adam) THEO via Flickr The camp hadn't been used for awhile; a murder had taken place nearby... Then why were WE going there??..."

Book Signing!!

My book signing for Nightmare At Camp Forrestwood is scheduled for Saturday Sept. 17 at I Know You Like A Book in Peoria Heights!  I am thrilled to have it in the fall since the story takes place at that time!  Perfect!!  We had a great time in March with Sudden Moves and hope everyone will stop by between 2 and 4 to purchase a signed copy and maybe have a drink or two!

First review for Nightmare At Camp Forrestwood!

5.0 out of 5 stars Nearly all teens will recognize themselves and their high school, giving a great context for the mystery, June 12, 2011
By
Charles Ashbacher "(cashbacher@yahoo.com)" (Marion, Iowa United States(cashbacher@yahoo.com)) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER) (VINE VOICE) This review is from: Nightmare At Camp Forrestwood: A Young Adult Whodunit (Paperback) This mystery with mayhem set in a camping outing for high school students has all the atmospheric background for the teen reader. There are intense cliques among the boys as well as the girls, with the girls trying to get with the cool guys and the guys trying to pair off with the right girl.
Holly is a new student at Madison High, she moved there with her mother after her father died and their feelings are still raw. As seems typical of high schools with cliques and clubs, the only person that befriends Holly is Erin, an outcast girl that wears the same worn out clothing every day and has some hygiene as well as motivational issues.
When the senior class camping trip comes up Holly's mother encourages her to go in order to better fit in. Desperate to have at least one friend on the trip, Holly begs Erin to come on the trip. Even though she is reluctant to admit it, Erin is pleased to come along and is angry when Holly talks to another girl.
It all descends into desperate chaos when one of the tougher girls is found stabbed to death and the adult chaperones are missing. The story involves the usual scary camp stories of crazy people that are cannibals, the actual sex between a teacher and a student and the usual complex interplay between athletes, scholars, girls with superior attitudes, misfits of both sexes and every other level of personality that one finds at a high school.
Young readers will recognize their school atmosphere and most likely themselves somewhere in the group of personalities thrown together for a night of terror at a remote camping site. For some, the most frightening aspect will be the fact that one of the rules of the camping trip was that no camper could bring a cell phone.

Fall Book Signing

My book signing for Nightmare At Camp Forrestwood is scheduled for Saturday Sept. 17 at I Know You Like A Book in Peoria Heights!  I am thrilled to have it in the fall since the story takes place at that time!  Perfect!!  We had a great time in March with Sudden Moves and hope everyone will stop by between 2 and 4 to purchase a signed copy and maybe have a drink or two!

Press Release - Nightmare At Camp Forrestwood

Here is my press release for my new novel published by Outskirts Press!!

http://www.pr.com/press-release/327897

New Serial Blog is launched!!

My writer's group (Midwest Authors Group) has started a serial blog about time travel, taking place in the year 2020.  A lot of talent is involved in this blog. You don't want to miss this!! 
http://2020timetravel.wordpress.com/

New interview about Nightmare At Camp Forrestwood!

My first interview about my second novel is now up!!  Nightmare At Camp Forrestwood!!! Check it out!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/avidbookreviews/2011/05/09/discussion-with-young-adult-mystery-author-kelli-sue-landon

New interview!!

Gearing up for another interview! This one is about my second novel!!  I record it by phone Monday!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cW-lq4VJ98
Speaking of my second novel, Nightmare at Camp Forrestwood, two weeks ago, I edited the book and sent them to Outskirts Press.  Now I am waiting for them to correct my edits and send me the file to review.  Then it goes to print if all is good!!!  I cannot wait!!!!

New author Emily Hale - In need of a publisher

New author looking for a publisher (will be a bestseller)!

The Bully Effect is a fictional story about Amy James, a girl who teamed up with a divison of the government's witness protection program after being bullied severly. The book is Emily's now #1 Most read book in Farmington Junior High. Teens from all different cliques and groups have read this book, and shown strong apriciation for it. Emily has even started saving up the money to have her book published! The book is about more than just bullying, it's a book about second chances, friendship, and courage. Even Emily's friends have definatly recognized changes in the bullying at their school after teens read it. Emily's classmate and friend, Courtney Howard says, "I think it's made a difference by showing people how wrong it is to bully people, and in my opinion it's made bullying go down, like people have stopped bullying as much as they use to." And Courtney is not the only one. Deaven Hunter, another classmate, said she actually cried while reading it, "Do people actually bully like that?!" She asked Emily. The answer is yes. 77% of students at other schools said they had been bullied. And 14% of those who were bullied said they experienced severe reactions to bullying. Still people are reading the book, and maybe soon, the whole U.S. will be(: This book has been read by more of Emily's friends than her other books such as Where The Road Ends.

Writing update

I am now 100 pages into Summer Shack, my third novel.  Things are going great so far.  Finding the time to write has been a challenge lately, but hope to get back into it and write more after Easter.  Still waiting on the first proof of Nightmare At Camp Forrestwood.  Outskirts Press has been editing the book and I realize that pushes production back.  It is three months today since production started.  Sudden Moves took 2 1/2 months.  Should be hearing something at any time now.  Can't wait for this one to come out and hopefully I will get as good of a response as I did with Sudden Moves! 

New interview!

Check out my interview here!!  This goes into more detail about Sudden Moves.
http://www.bestsellersworld.com/interviews/kelli-landon.htm

Another good review!

Great review that goes more into detail with Sudden Moves!

http://www.bestsellersworld.com/2011/04/12/sudden-moves-by-kelli-sue-landon-review-2/

Read For Your Future: Sudden Moves by Kelli Sue Landon Review!

Read For Your Future: Sudden Moves by Kelli Sue Landon Review!: " &n..."

Third novel - Summer Shack Preview!

My third novel now has a preview up on my website!  Check it out on my Summer Shack Preview page!
http://www.kellisuelandon.com/

New review!

Not a bad one - pretty good, glad this reader wants to read more of my books!
http://www.bestsellersworld.com/2011/03/29/sudden-moves-a-young-adult-mystery-by-kelli-sue-landon/

The Authors Show

http://www.theauthorsshow.com/
Now that it's the day after my featured interview, it will be archived on The Authors Show for six months.  You just scroll down the play list and click on Sudden Moves!

Interview is up!

I am the featured author today on The Authors Show!  Have a listen!
http://www.theauthorsshow.com/

Sudden Moves Review!

Another great review for Sudden Moves!

http://inkslingerswhimsey.blogspot.com/2011/03/review-of-youth-mystery-sudden-moves.html

Podcast Interview

Here is a link to my interview for Writers In The Sky.  I was pretty nervous and I don't like my voice, so I hope you all enjoy it!

http://nashvillewriter.audioacrobat.com/deluge/KelliSueLandon.mp3

Book Signing photos!!

Cover art for Nightmare at Camp Forrestwood!

Here's the cover art for my next novel!  I have to tweak the information on the back and my bio before it goes to final print.  I get one last look to make any changes to it.  Very exciting!

I Know You Like A Book - Local bookstore with style!

I had my book signing at this bookstore in Peoria IL on Saturday March 5. It is independently owned and Mary Beth supports local authors. The store is in a good location, smack dab in the middle of different shops and cafes that line the street. I had a great time and had a good turnout.  I was happy to get a couple glasses of wine during the event. I plan on having another book signing with my next novel. 

Short Tales on sale soon!

I just approved my copy of Short Tales - Eight of my short stories published for free through http://www.createspace.com/.  $6.99 on Amazon!  If anyone is interested, pick up a copy today!  If I could have done this sooner, I would use some at my book signing on Saturday - going to the first five customers or a prize for second place in my trivia game.  Oh well!  Still, great book to read in your spare time - really fast!
 

Blogging problem

I am testing out a new blog post here - my old blogs have reappeared, thrusting my newest blog "My Novels" into cyber oblivion.  Trying to become a blog host and review books!