Fantastic Feathers

07 November, 2020

Black Canyon of Gunnison, Montrose, Colorado

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We have traveled a lot across Colorado and covered around 80% of places in the state. But, this is the first time for us visiting Southwest Colorado.

We visited Mesa Verde national park, Great Sand dunes national park, Mahalakshmi temple in Crestone, and Pagosa Springs but never ventured beyond that.

We have heard a lot about Telluride, the Switzerland of America- Ouray, and million-dollar highway, so we were planning for this dream trip for a long time. But, we don't want to do a quick trip as well. As usual, we plan to cover all the beautiful places around whenever we visit one place.

Black Canyon of Gunnison is known as a less visited national park in Colorado.

Here is our travelogue - Day 1 and Day 2

Day 1 is mostly dedicated to traveling to Montrose from Colorado Springs. This time, we chose to go through Salida, driving along the river. We crossed Salida, driving through the scenic Collegiate Peaks byway. It's our first time watching so many peaks together in Colorado even though we are not new to the mountains.

We crossed through Monarch Pass, and the drive was splendid. The road between Monarch Pass and Montrose was beautiful too. We could see the vast waterbody - The Gunnison River along the route.

Lovely beaches and scenic bridges!

Day 2 - Black Canyon of Gunnison

We rested for that night in Montrose at Hampton Inn. The hotel was very good and they provided excellent cleaning services in the light of Covid.

Black Canyon of Gunnison National park in Western Colorado is a steep canyon known for it's highest cliff 'Painted wall'. The Black canyon got its name as some parts of the canyon don't get any sunlight due to its depth and look black. The entry fee is $25 per vehicle.

We reached Black Canyon of Gunnison by 11 AM. The South rim visitor center was open and the Park official guided us on kid-friendly trails and tips to save time to cover more in one day.

Our plan was set! We wanted to cover almost all overlook points in South rim Scenic drive, drive down through the winding East portal road, have lunch at Montrose and drive to North rim.

This is the first overlook that impressed us. Tomichi Overlook.

Some great overlook points are Devil's lookout, Chasm View, Painted wall view, Dragon point, and Sunset view.

See the Gunnison river in between the canyon walls and the beautiful red colors of the rocks.

We did a kid-friendly trail - Warner point nature trail which is around 1.5 miles round trip, but we were not too satisfied with that trail as it wasn't very scenic. We would have tried oak flat loop trail instead. It's 2 miles round trip.

Driving through the East Portal road is a great experience. It's a dirt narrow winding road, so you need to drive in low gear slowly, but it's completely worth it.

Here is a photo from the river up close after reaching down!

Then, we finished our lunch on the way to North rim. The drive to North rim from South rim takes 2 hrs and it is mostly boring and not scenic(through Hotchkiss). But, I definitely recommend the other route along Curecanti recreational area which will take around 2.5 hrs, if you have the extra time. That is the scenic alternative.

The overlooks / View are much better from the North rim than the South Rim, but you should set 3 to 5 hrs of your time just to drive and cover them.

Can you see the little heart-shaped land between canyon? Isn't it cool?

In the North Rim, the Exclamation point gives the best view. We also did a small hike which offered amazing views. The North rim visitor center was closed. Due to covid, only limited facilities are open.

We were exhausted by the end of the day with many hikes and relaxed in our hotel.

Stay in touch with me on my blog / Instagram (@ramyaelr) / Twitter (@mahathi_ramya)/ Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/fantasticfeathers.in) so that you don't miss Day 3 and Day 4 of our travelogues :-)

Use this interactive map to find accommodations to stay in Montrose.

Until next time,

Linking this to #MondayMusings hosted by Corinne.

21 October, 2020

Smile of Deceit by Keith Newman - [Book Review]

Summary:

When two teenage girls disappear exactly sixteen years apart, police are convinced that the cases must be connected. One suspect was present on both occasions and now he has checked out of his hotel early and cannot be found.

But nothing is straightforward and it becomes clear that police involved in the original investigation have secrets of their own. When the cold case is reopened new evidence about both girls is established quickly, and there is a strong suspicion that the police are being manipulated.

Ruby Delacourt, the partner of the main suspect, is convinced that he is innocent and she uses her skill as a reporter to do her own digging. But she helps to uncover a much darker side to his character and an unexpected link between the two cases.

This is the turning point and the race is on to catch the real killer – a race which begins in the mountains of the French Alps and ends in a ski lodge just north of Lake Bled.

Information about the Book

Title: Smile of Deceit

Author: Keith Newman

Genre: Thriller

Publication Date: 20th October 2020

Page Count: 478

Publisher: Clink Street Publishing

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55648700-smile-of-deceit

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Smile-Deceit-Keith-Newman/dp/1913568172

My Review:

Smile of Deceit is an investigation thriller. Two teenage girls disappear suddenly within 16 years apart and one person is present in both the places raising the suspicion if he is responsible for their disappearance.

What I liked about the book?

The storyline is unique. 2 disappearances with one person present in both places. I loved the characterization and narrative too. Characters have many layers and it is interesting to read about their thoughts and their secrets revealing gradually as the story progresses.

The narrative is cool and friendly. The suspense is maintained until the end of the book.

What might have been better?

I loved the story , but I felt, it became too descriptive and boring at some points. Editing and proofreading might have fixed a few minor typos.

No other negative points.

I would recommend this to people who love investigation and crime thrillers.

My Rating: 4/5

PS: I have received this book from Authoright for free in exchange for my review and this is my honest opinion on the book.

Author Information

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My name is Keith Newman and I have two things in common with Rodney, the character in ‘Only Fools and Horses’ – we are both tall and slim (well at least I was when I was his age) and we both have one ‘O’ level. Perhaps the similarity ends there.

My full-time formal education stopped when I was 15 in 1957 so I am getting on a bit. Lewes Secondary Modern School for Boys was good for us in many ways – we had to behave ourselves, were taught to work hard or else, and not be too interested in the girls from the school next door.

My first job was as office boy at the local council offices. It wasn’t long before I knew what everyone was doing in their own little rooms and I probably knew more about the people working there than the boss did. I moved about quite a bit in the same department, but was always able to select the best manager to work with based on my insight into the various power struggles. I paid invoices, moved trampolines from one school to another (only losing one in the process) and helped to organise the 11+ examination. Then I ended up in Personnel (HR as it’s now called). We had 36,000 employees working in about 300 sites and I got to visit every one. It was my dream job and I ended up managing the whole team. We certainly had a variety of problems.

But now in my retirement I’ve started to write fiction and I can for the first time in my life be creative. My first book, ‘Smile of Deceit’ is a crime thriller and I am already planning the next one.

Tour Schedule

Monday 19th October

Stuck in the Book

Tuesday 20th October

Bookish Blue

Wednesday 21st October

Fantastic Feathers

Thursday 22nd October

Friday 23rd October

Monday 26th October

Tuesday 27th October

Wednesday 28th October

Orchard Book Club

Thursday 29th October

Georgia Books

Friday 30th October

TanyCandleCo

Until next time,

03 October, 2020

A Dangerous Affair by Rubina Ramesh - Book Spotlight

Print Length: 211 pages

Publication Date: September 11, 2020

Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC

Language: English

Genre: Romance, History, British Raj

Blurb

Charu...

She is a young girl of twenty who leads a well-protected life. But in 1947, when India is at the brink of getting her independence, who could remain innocent to death and loss? Charu is not spared either. Anger bubbles inside her, and she vows to avenge her loss. But to do so, she has to cross the path of Dev.

Dev...

He is the privileged son of the zamindar. He enjoys being a spoilt brat and has a Cassanova image. But his good looks and charming smile hide some deep secrets. Will he be able to bare his heart to a young girl who was much beneath his status?

They meet, and they clash. Falling in love was in their destiny. But would the same destiny send Charu to face her death? Or will Dev be able to save her on time?

Read the Excerpt

Rubina Ramesh is an avid reader, writer, blogger, book reviewer and marketer. She is the founder of The Book Club, an online book publicity group. Her first literary work was published in her school magazine. It gave her immense pride to see her own name at the bottom of the article. She was about 8 years old at that time. She then went to complete her MBA and after her marriage to her childhood friend, her travel saga started. From The Netherlands to the British Isles she lived her life like an adventure. After a short stint in Malaysia, she finally settled down in the desert state of USA, Arizona. Living with her DH and two human kids and one doggie kid, Rubina has finally started living the life she had always dreamed about – that of a writer.

Click here to check out all the titles by the author...

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Until next time,

24 September, 2020

The Canyons and Colors #WordlessWednesday #ThursdayTreeLove

This pic is taken at Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park near Montrose, Colorado.

Until next time,

Linking this to #WordlessWednesday hosted by Natasha and #ThursdayTreelove hosted by Parul.

Hawthorn Woods by Patrick Canning - [Book Review]

Book Details:

Title : Hawthorn Woods

Author: Patrick Canning

ISBN: 979-8-663-48797-9 (pb) 978-0-578-72823-0 (ebook)

Publication Date: Aug. 4, 2020

Formats: Paperback, ebook

Available On: Amazon,

major online retailers Price: $15.95 paperback $9.99 ebook

Page Count: 300

Genres: Domestic Suspense, Thriller, Mystery

Source: A free review copy from the author

Logline:

Seeking to rediscover herself after a divorce, a detective-minded woman embarks on solving the small mysteries of a Midwest neighborhood, only to learn the secrets hidden there are more horrifying than she could have ever imagined.

Synopsis:

Summer, 1989.

Reeling from a catastrophic divorce she just can’t seem to leave behind, Francine Haddix flees San Francisco for a two week stay at her sister’s house in Hawthorn Woods, Illinois.

The quaint neighborhood of shady trees and friendly neighbors seems like the perfect place to sort through her pain and finally move on with her life—but the tranquility doesn’t last long. Beginning with a complete stranger throwing a drink in her face at her own welcome party, Francine soon discovers the supposedly idyllic suburb is hiding a disturbing number of mysteries.

Why is the handsome-ish guy next door lying about who he is? What’s hidden in the back of the teenage troublemaker’s shed? Who wrote a threatening message in blood? Which of the smiling neighbors has a secret they’d kill to keep?

Seeking to reclaim a natural passion for sleuthing numbed by her divorce, Francine rewrites her prescription from one of relaxation to one of investigation. If she can detect the lies, follow the clues, and remember how to trust herself, she might get to the bottom of what’s so very wrong in Hawthorn Woods. She might even be able to believe the future can be good again—assuming she lives long enough to be in it.

My Review:

When I started reading the first few chapters, I got a feeling of reading a chick-lit. But, the story slowly transforms into a mystery as well.

Hawthorn woods is just like any other neighborhood with different types of people and gossips around. Laura Jean is my favorite actor and I can relate to those kinds of people in real life. They are great friends and fun to share our lives with.

Francine is depressed by her divorce and still cannot come out of those memories yet. She seeks comfort in using her detective skills for an investigation along with Bruno and finally falls in love with him.

Until the truth is found, Ronald is my second most favorite character. Calm and sensitive individual looking for a relaxing retirement life.

The characterization is great. I loved the portrayal of Charlie, Bruno, Eric, and Lori. The narrative is interesting. It's basically a cool read, unlike a suspense thriller. There are one or more great twists in the story and unexpected turns, but till the last few pages, it's smooth and predictable.

The pace is just right to me. The title and the book cover are appropriate. I loved the tag line of the book and the lines from the questionnaire before each chapter. Those lines before each chapter are relevant to the story.

I don't have anything that I disliked about the book. If you are looking for a chick-lit mixed with a little mystery, you will love this book.

My Rating : 5/5

PS: I have received this review copy from the author in exchange for a review and this is my honest opinion on the book.

Author:

PATRICK CANNING is the author of three novels, including Cryptofauna (2018), The Colonel and the Bee (2018), and his latest, Hawthorn Woods (2020). He has also published several short stories. When he isn’t writing, he enjoys playing beach volleyball, following space exploration, and losing at bar trivia. Patrick lives in Los Angeles with his dog Hank, who some consider to be the greatest dog of all time.

patrick@patrickcanningbooks.com

Katie.schnack@smithpublicity.com www.patrickcanningbooks.com

@catpanning

Until next time,

14 September, 2020

Nomit and Pickle Go Shopping by C. E. Cameron - [Book Review]

Summary:

Friends Nomit and Pickle head off on an adventure to the shops!

Information about the Book

Title: Nomit and Pickle Go Shopping

Author: C. E. Cameron

Genre: Children’s Picture Book

Publication Date: 1st September 2020

Page Count: 19

Publisher: Clink Street Publishing

Goodreads Link:

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nomit-Pickle-Go-Shopping-Cameron-ebook/dp/B08GKZBKT9

My Review:

Nomit and Pickle is such a cute story of a brother and sister. As we can guess, both love each other but fight with one another.

While Nomit calls her sister multiple times to get ready, Pickle enjoys her bike ready, gets ready slowly, and even goes back to fetch her purse while her brother is waiting.

They go shopping and there is nothing left other than Pizza which Nomit hates. Mmm... Poor Nomit. Did he compromise? What her little sister do to please his brother? You have to read to know the answers.

What I liked?

I loved the illustrations. Pickle is so cute with her hair tied up. The font in the book is very nice. It's pleasant.

I loved that it has a beautiful message at the end of the book.

The concept and narrative are good for children. I would recommend this to 2 to 5 yr olds. They will definitely enjoy listening to the story.

My Rating:

Of course, 5/5 :-)

Author Information

CE Cameron is very much a family person. Nomit and Pickle have been created through observing and being part of the trials and tribulations of family life, growing up & the brother / sister relationship. The stories take you through various experiences as well as day to day challenges - even when it comes to the simple, daily tasks! She loves family, food and animals and lots of exploring. The characters have lots of adventures coming up, including little challenges, which could go wrong & generally do! There is a ‘thought for the day’ at the end of every adventure. CE Cameron is a private person who loves nature and believes the most important thing in life is family. She hopes the Nomit and Pickle Adventures will be great to read as a bed time story and for children seeing a positive at the end of any challenge!

Tour Schedule