What a pleasant surprise!
924184
Great movie.  Time travel done without it appearing stupid or unbelievable.  Loved it!
2601297
Honestly I guess I didn't know what to expect... But it was indeed a pleasant surprise!!

For a persons first novel it was well written, detail-oriented, and fast paced.

I will be recommending this novel to anyone that will listen.

Thank you to Mr. A.G. Riddle! I can't wait to read the sequel.
4157806
Pleasantly surprised after not knowing what to expect. Not a cookie cutter story at all. I enjoyed following the characters' journeys with the unexpected twists and turns life threw their way. Certain parts I wish were more in depth, but so much was included in this book it's hard to complain!
1182644
A total surprise and a very welcome surprise.  I can usually hear what the music will sound like based on my familiarity with the musicians and the review given in DownBeat Magazine. That review sold me and then of course the music was more than I expected. A excellent release!  we need more music from this group and soon.
2871622
I didn't expect much and was pleasantly surprised. There is some pretty smart and layered comedy on top of the dumb parody base. I haven't laughed so much and so hard at a comedy in a long time!
2336444
Well, this is a surprise! I had pretty much concluded that I would not write any more reviews of Kindle books, because frankly, most of them I've read are pretty bad. And unlike a defective or poorly made product, the value of intellectual property is in the eye of the beholder. I'll admit, as an occasional author and sometime editor I am probably more sensitive than average to misuse of the English language; grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc., and sometimes I just can't get beyond those issues to appreciate the story. It seems editing is nil on books written for Kindle.

But this story blew me away! By the time I had read 28% of it my curiosity about the reviews for this book overcame me and I went back to Amazon, expecting to find they were all five stars. I'm surprised they are not. A particular objection seems to be that there are some fairly explicit sexual encounters, but it seems to me that is typical of an erotic romance these days, which this certainly is. Perhaps that could have been clearer in the "purchase page" description. But being a freebie, I doubt most people bother to read much of that anyway, or the reviews.

This should NOT be a "free" book, or even a 99 center. And I purchased the sequel immediately, even though I'm not sure I'll be quite so happy with it based on the description. Frankly I felt I owed it to the author.

It's not the greatest plot; I suspect most readers will guess the twist to the ending long before it happens, but it is excellently written and just the rich descriptions of the setting and the people were enough to keep me involved in the story. Can anyone who reads this say they did not have a yearning for an extended trip to Newfoundland? Of all places. (It's even better if you're a bird watcher). It is also, after all is said and done, heartwarming! (I'm a fan of happy endings).

This author has a facility with language and description that makes me jealous, just a "way with words", if you will. The ablity to describe the Newfoundland countryside is breathtaking, and the easy and I assume, accurate use of the local dialect, idioms, etc. makes me believe that the author has been a long time resident of the area and involved in the daily lives of the local people.

In fact, I strongly suspect that this writer is not "new" as a "first" book would suggest, but rather, a seasoned author, perhaps writing under a nom de plume to venture into a new genre or style. Or perhaps to fulfull a yearning to reveal the details of the land and the lives of the people on the Newfoundland coast in an endearing way, based on a lifetime of memories. I suspect there may even be some autobiographical details hidden here somewhere. A very rewarding read, and for me, hard to get out of my head even when finished.
4205549
I read lots of YA fiction, but I seldom review it. This book was a delightful surprise. Meticulous research underlay the entire story, yet never came as an info-dump. The characters were enganging and vivid, and the plot was more complex and intriguing than the average for this genre. Just a delightful page-turner!
4492498
I was not expecting much from this book; but, I was wrong and quite happy to have been so.
The father and son writing team make quite a dynamic duo and I look forward to their future works.
Give "The Godling Chronicles" a try, you will be glad you did.
3972082
I found this one by accident and what a pleasant surprise!  Very well done, and enjoyable.  Some good laughs.
2920902
To be honest I didn't know what to expect,  but I was wonderfully surprised!  This is a very good read.  A good plot and well written (except for the use of "anyways" instead of "anyway"-leave off the s, Mr Muse, please). Thank you, Ben
Muse, for a southern novel that brings a lovely part of the country and it's people to life.
3593263
Way too often I start a book that had rave reviews and wonder "what on earth did the reviewers read?" Not so with this one! What a wonderful suprise to stumble across a hilarious, original work with surprises at every turn, and the best part is it is so well written. How refreshing to read a freebie that is not plagued with awful grammar, spelling, etc. Snappy dialogue, offbeat characters, an original plot - well done!

Look forward to reading more from this author.
2605544
What a nice surprise "Distant Cousin" was - quite unique. It has humor, moves along at a pleasant pace, and the main characters have realistic flaws and faults that I could identify with. Despite the many trials our heroine suffers, I found myself smiling the entire time I was reading it. There is a subtle wisdom and numerous life philosophies throughout this book. To sum it up: good story - thoughtful, comfortable, and fun! I will be buying the next book! Sue
186689
Fantastic! This was a sweet surprise!
"From the Start" tells the story of Kate Walker and Colton Greene, both who are trying to find themselves after a season of heartbreak and lost dreams. Because sometimes life can take a turn we do not expect.
This is what we see in this book: many characters facing the unexpected and finding community to face the challenges that appear each day.
This community is depicted in the form of a city that sticks together, Maple Valley, but also in the form a specific individual blessing another by being present to the other when they most need it.
I expected Kate to be a strong and mature character. However what caught me by surprise was how graceful she was. With a tender heart that has been hurt but is learning to heal and open up again.
And so Melissa Tagg pleasantly and with care takes us through these characters journey, making us starve to be a part of rebuilding a community and participating in special events that can seem silly but are so particular to a place that they resemble the meaning of HOME all over.
And because of this Colton Greene is finally able to feel what it is like to have a normal life and live fully.

I cannot wait for the next books of this dear family that won a place in my heart.
2032632
I got this as a freebie during one of the promotions and had no expectations.  I was surprised and delighted from page one.  Superb writing, great humor, amazing insights which we humans can certainly benefit from....just a lovely read.  Could not put it down and smiled from beginning to end...even laughed out loud a few times. Big thumbs up!  Look forward to further adventures.
95982
I had been meaning to buy this 2 disc set and while heading to my wine store in Boston, I ran into a CD shop to see if they had it on the shelf, they had one copy.  Quickly I picked it up, paid for it, ran out and opened a bottle of red wine.  What a nice suprise! The youth in her voice mixed with the serious potential in her infliction blew me away.  With a tinge of happiness I read that the A & M records did not sell well at their release time and I thought how nice to have something so few do.  Well, this was worth every penny and each song is just as fresh and polished for the time, some with exceptional production.

This is a bit of rarely heard Liza but not at my home!
3163949
This movie was a pleasant surprise. I really did not expect the humor. The main characters Cherie and go were so extra, this movie was a delight!
2245909
Normally I'm a mystery buff, but I happened to come across this book and was intrigued by the reviews so I decided to give it a try. What an awesome surprise! The story is unique and very clever as is the dialogue. There is definitely something for every reader here - adventure, danger, humor, love and above all the life lesson that everyone has a story that is worth knowing. I look forward to reading more by this talented author.