Lately I've found that many times, when I consider downloading a free e-book, it's part of a "series". I find myself interested in the story, so I mentally thank the author for making the first book free and begin to read. I get drawn into the story, and just when it's getting good, it ends. FRUSTRATING!
    Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a good series as much as the next person. However, what I'm describing can hardly be described as such. Sure, a series tells a story that is only truly complete when you've finished all of the volumes, but each separate part typically has a story of its own. For example, the Harry Potter series wasn't complete until book seven, but even book one had a plot that was resolved at the end. J.K. Rowling didn't cut it off right after the detention in the Forbidden Forest.
   Writers, I understand, especially among self-published authors, that there is a need to build a reader base, but why these incomplete stories? It may seem like a good marketing tactic, but when I encounter this kind of thing, I feel tricked, not drawn in to your writing. Why not write a complete, short story attached to the series somehow? I know I'd rather read a good short story from you, get a taste of your writing, and then pay a few dollars for the books in your series. Or why not just make the first complete book of your series free?
    Please, writers, no more of this nonsense where you have a complete, long story, but break it up into several terribly incomplete stories with cliffhangers rather than endings. That may work well in television, but it doesn't work so well with books.

    Nearly every day I skim through emails which have e-book deals listed. One day a few weeks ago, The Pepper in the Gumbo was listed for free. The blurb attached to it said how fans of You’ve Got Mail would like this story. I can’t remember the exact wording, but it sounded a lot like the plot of the movie. I didn’t really like the movie, but part of me wondered just how alike the movie and this book would be, so I downloaded it.
    As I read, I was quite astonished - the book seemed like an updated version of the movie. Alice was a local bookstore owner who hated technology, and Paul owned a large electronic/gaming company that was about to open a store near Alice’s. Of course, they met each other, didn’t exactly hit it off, and of course Alice was none too happy with Paul’s new store being opened. The two also talk online - and you guessed it - Alice doesn’t know she’s talking to Paul, but Paul knows he’s talking to Alice. They set up a meeting, and Paul plans on telling Alice he’s the guy from online, but Alice doesn’t get it. So, on with the drama.
    What made me chuckle was that at some point, Tom Hanks is referred to, and at another point the characters even joke about how much this situation is like You’ve Got Mail.
    Near plagiarism aside, this book wasn’t the most enjoyable read. I found myself having to force myself to read it in its entirety. It was filled with extraneous details that made it seem more like reading diary entries than meaningful plot points. While it makes sense that the characters bonded over works they’ve read, they were referenced and quoted too much - it made reading the book tedious.
    Then of course, there were tropes present. For instance, Alice had a boyfriend at the beginning of the book, who was of course, one of the most unpleasant characters and really served no purpose other than to create tension with the main characters’ relationship. Also, later in the book, when Alice finally realizes Paul is the man she’s been talking to online, and has also done many wonderfully kind acts for her, Alice assumes he has terrible motives.. It’s the typical scenario you see in romance movies - someone is hiding something and twenty minutes before the end of the movie the other finds out and their relationship is threatened. Like in too many of those movies, the fact that the one who discovers the secret is hurt and offended is just ridiculous.  Don’t worry though, they get back together.
    Anyway, point is, you might as well just watch You’ve Got Mail. It’s a slightly less tedious telling of the same story.

    My husband has published his book today, and I am so excited for him and for every reader to delve into the story! Gods on the Mountain by Ben Willoughby

    I've had the pleasure of hearing this story in every step of the process. I got a first glimpse into the world he built when my husband initially started developing it. Even the world intrigued me, and I couldn't wait to hear what stories would come out of it. Then, my husband would read chapters to me as he was writing, and even in the very first draft, I couldn't wait to hear more. I like to think it's thanks to my pestering that he wrote it all so quickly.  I had the pleasure of reading it, editing it, reading it, editing it again, and reading it. Each time, I loved it more and realized deeper elements to the story and characters than I had before.
    If you are looking for an entertaining fantasy story with well-developed characters you are bound to get attached to, I highly recommend this book!!