Book Review: In Golden Splendor by Michael K. Reynolds

Hello Bookworms!!

          I have a new review for you all today! Some time back I read a novel called “Flight of the Earls” by author Michael K. Reynolds. Later, I posted an interview with Mr. Reynolds! Today, I have the review for the second book in the Heirs of Ireland trilogy “In Golden Splendor”. Be careful though, If you haven’t read “Flight of the Earls” this could contain SPOILERS!!!

 

Summary:

          Seamus Hanley’s life has never been easy. His father was a cruel man. His brother Keavan drowned and it was all Seamus’s fault. Now he is a defector from the United States Army living in a cabin that isn’t exactly up to standard for Rocky Mountain Living. When a United States Soldier has an accident on the mountain side, Seamus’s life takes another sudden turn.

          A letter, a picture, and an inner pulling from an unknown source lead Seamus to San Francisco in the middle of the gold rush and the events that follow change Seamus in ways he never thought possible.

 

Review:

          I am going to say first off that this is not a book that you should read without having read the first book first. It will ruin LOADS on surprises from the first book if you read them out of order. Now, to my thoughts on ‘In Golden Splendor”:

          I greatly enjoyed the book. The characters are numerous but none of them are lost in the story. Each and every one of their personalities are distinctive and are just as important to the story as the main characters! No detail is wasted (which is personally something I LOVE in a book. It can get tiresome to read tons of detail that doesn’t further the story). As far as the main characters (Seamus, Ashlyn, Henry Parnell, Annie, Cade, Clare, Davin, Brother Chuck, and others) stories, they braid together better that a little girls pigtails. Michael Reynolds ability to tie details together from the very beginning to the very end (and from book one to book two) reminds me of the writing of J.K. Rowling with the Harry Potter Series.

          There are so many twists in this story that one can never get bored. Something amazing happens, you get a few pages to breathe and process the information along with the character and then BOOM! Something else happens (They’re not all bad things though so don’t panic and jump ship before you start ;) ). Two of my favorite themes that were dealt with in the story had to be the damage that parents can do to their children when they choose not to parent properly and does God really love us no matter what we’ve done (the answer is yes by the way J ).

          I am forced to ask why we have such crappy movies coming out when there are great novels out there that could make amazing movies. Flight of the Earls and In Golden Splendor would make awesome movies! I can see it as I’m reading! Please if you are a movie maker or you know how to contact one, give these books some consideration!

          All that being said, I HIGHLY recommend this book and its predecessor (Flight of the Earls) to everyone! Even to guys! I know that sometimes it’s difficult to get boys to want to read (no offense to any boys and men who do love to read <3 ), but I think these books especially Seamus’s story will be one that they will enjoy following.

 

Buy In Golden Splendor

 

Read my review of Flight of the Earls here!

Buy Flight of the Earls

Read See Lizzie Read's Interview with Michael K. Reynolds here!

 

Until Next Time!!!,

                   Lizzie <3

See Lizzie Read 5 Minute High 5 With Author Michael K. Reynolds!

Hello Bookworms!,
       Today I have a special treat for you all!! Recently, I posted an interview about Flight of the earls by Michal K. Reynolds! Now I am proud to bring you an interview with Mr. Reynolds himself! Its See Lizzie Read's 5 Minute High 5 with Author Michael K. Reynolds! Enjoy!

Michael K Reynolds, Author/Speaker

 

 

1.       I read that you have a B.A. in Creative Writing, but it had been many years since you had written any fiction. What made you decide to return to it?

I had written three books by the time I was 21, with two of them being fiction. My fourth novel I began in college, but got no further than a title and some initial research. That title was Flight of the Earls. Once graduating I got a job as a journalist and then got swept into the marketing industry where I became a copywriter and started my own agency. Twenty years had gone by without me writing a sentence of fiction when, on a whim, I pitched the idea for Flight of the Earls at a writers conference. Two publishers requested to see the manuscript just on the concept alone…and that’s what returned me to my first love of fiction.

2.       You’ve been involved with both non-fiction and fiction projects. With non-fiction the facts are decided for you, whereas with fiction you get to decide the facts. Is it more satisfying to receive a good response to your non-fiction or fiction projects?

The response you crave most is that people were inspired by your writing, and that can be accomplished with both disciplines. I’ve authored non-fiction for decades and I enjoy it because it’s writing with the skin of the grape peeled back—very direct and effective. However; it’s a unique and revelatory joy to hear your readers converse in a positive way about the characters and plots of your novels because all of this comes from the raw clay of your imagination.

3.       Flight of the Earls is set around a time period that I have not often seen (The Irish Potato Famine) especially from the point of view of the Irish. What led you to use this time period and this point of view?

 

The Great Potato Famine is the single most important (and tragic) event in Irish history, so that’s what drew me to that era. However; as I began to research and draw storylines for my next two novels in the series it was like an archeologist pulling amazing discoveries from the ground. This time span from 1845-1865 is truly a transformational period in American history and is overflowing with human drama and scintillating plots.

4.       You’ve said in another interview that without having had experience living with four women in your house (your wife and three daughters) you would not have been able to work on the strong female lead, Clare Hanley, like you've been able to today. Do we as the readers see any parts of those women in Clare Hanley’s character?

That’s an interesting question! When I first shared the initial chapters of Flight of the Earls with a critique group early on in the process, the feedback I received was overwhelmingly positive. However; many of the women complained that I made Clare “too perfect.” I had to go back and “scuff her up” in the subsequent drafts. What I realized was I had originally written Clare as what I saw in my daughters, and most Dads think their girls are perfect. Once I shifted out of that mentality, I was able to create a Clare that was much more well-rounded and believable. But definitely, I think very highly of my wife and daughters and I’m sure Clare represents some of the best of each of them.

5. It is obvious that your first fiction novel, Flight of the Earls, is getting great response and that people are excitingly anticipating the other two books (In Golden Splendor, July 15^th, 2013 and Songs of the Shenandoah, January 1^st, 2014) in the series. After the Heirs of Ireland trilogy finishes, are we going to get to see more fiction projects from you in the future?

Yes. I’ve been blessed with some great interest in my writing pursuits following the Heirs of Ireland Series, and my agent and I are sorting through those. Although it’s too early to discuss specifics, God willing, it is safe to say there will be more of my novels coming to a bookshelf near you.


There you have it! I hope you enjoyed this look into Mr. Reynolds and his work! If you'd like to buy your own copy of Flight of the Earls, Click here:

http://www.amazon.com/Flight-Earls-Heirs-Ireland-Novel/dp/1433678195/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366146381&sr=8-1&keywords=flight+of+the+earls

In Golden Splendor, the second book in the Heirs of Ireland Triloghy is available for pre-order now! If you'd like to pre-order your copy now, Click here!:

http://www.amazon.com/Golden-Splendor-Heirs-Ireland-Novel/dp/1433678209/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1366146490&sr=1-1&keywords=in+golden+splendor

And remember to keep an eye out for Songs of the Shenandoah, out January 1st, 2014!

You can become one of Michael K. Reynolds author insiders! You'll recieve e-mail updates about books, opportunities for prizes and more! Want to become one of Michael K Reynolds Author Insiders? Click Here!: http://www.michaelkreynolds.com/?page_id=2363

Follow Michael K. Reynolds on Twitter:
@M_K_Reynolds

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More posts coming soon! ;)

Until Next Time!,
                    Lizzie <3