April 2017 Review Issue
Beginnings,
2nd Edition
Edward Galluzzi
CCB Publishing
978-1926585109
$4.95 Kindle/$17.95 Paperback
http://a.co/6CEngLd
Beginnings is a memoir based on the life of Greg and his girlfriend Charly, and focuses on relationship-building, forces that assault, support, and influence lives, and the collective impact of beginnings and endings throughout life, and represents an intersection of biography and fiction that features many strong points as it explores these routes and two lives whirling through the maelstrom of life.
Most approaches which use nonfiction to form fictional discussions are reviewed in the fiction or literature section, but even though Beginnings will reach these audiences, with so many strong, real-world ties throughout, it's reviewed here as one of the few fictional stories with strong enough psychology and biographical ties to deserve a place in nonfiction collections strong in memoirs, as well.
As chapters reveal the story of two individuals who face different kinds of beginnings, from their birth in the 1950s to their progression through life, there are many reflections on community systems, support, and life changes ("When I was born, the world population was 2.5 billion people. Life expectancy was 71 years - for women, of course. For men, life expectancy was beaten down to a mere 65 years. Are women just stronger than men or does marriage make men weaker?")
From evolving faith and the beginning of its end to how love evolves between Greg and Charly and how it results in unexpected transformations, Beginnings charts influences on decisions, the effects of choices, the fluid junctions of life's changes, and all the circumstances that precede endings and beginnings.
Readers who enjoy stories alive with the vigor and influence of faith and love and who especially like psychological insights into what drives individuals, motivates them to change, and affects their decisions, will find Beginnings a fine read that toes the line between a strong autobiography and a fictional inspection of life.
Beginnings, 2nd Edition
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The
Rise of Nazil
Aaron-Michael Hall
Xtabyren Publishing
978-0692518892
$18.50; ebook: $3.95
www.aaronmichaelhall.com
No watchman has looked upon the crypts of the Guardians for two hundred years, and no Guardian has been activated in all that time - but the rise of an ancient threat has prompted the awakening of an ancient defense, and The Rise of Nazil opens with this awakening, this threat, and a powerful review of oaths once sworn and new obstacles to world peace.
Fantasy readers may be used to epic battles and confrontations, but it should be noted that even the most seasoned reader of such sagas will find an unusually complex, well-detailed plot to this story, which covers numerous characters, special interests, lost connections between generations, and challenges to long-established beliefs.
From slaves and political alliances, romance and war, and the presence of ethereal Guardians who promise hope and promote faith in a time of conflict to the ongoing contrast and struggles between love, personal interests, and the greater good of the wider world, Pentanimir and others face choices and consequences not always of their making as they watch the Nazil threaten everything they have known and built.
Where other authors might create black-and-white delineations between good and evil forces, Aaron-Michael Hall adds much food for thought on all sides, introducing sets of circumstances which are neither cut and dried nor clear. Fast-paced action and drama is tempered by the moral, psychological and spiritual dilemmas of many of the characters, while layers of angst, lust, and confrontation make for a story that may dismay some with its explicit sexuality and violence, at points, but which will delight readers who want all kinds of perspectives and approaches under one cover.
Many epic fantasies eschew such undercurrents in favor of acceptably clean focuses on action, politics, and light romance; but one of the strengths of this story is its different and overt inclusion of all kinds of forces at work in the kingdom.
Readers who like epic reads who aren't put off by graphic descriptions of violence in the course of an action-filled story line will find The Rise of Nazil a gritty, absorbing tale that winds the lives of its characters into the reader's mind until the story becomes gripping, passionate, and hard to put down.
The Rise of Nazil
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Sunwalker
S. T. Sanchez
Independently Published
https://www.facebook.com/
Sunwalker is a fantasy novel recommended for readers who want surprises - and the first surprise takes place in a birthing room, where Elaine produces a child not quite acceptable in the eyes of her doctor. Oh, the girl looks human at first glance - but she's not quite there. There are the telltale features that indicate the child is a monster. And Elaine isn't giving her new baby milk...but something else.
Readers fairly quickly come up to speed on a fact that Elaine's doctor (and brother-in-law) can't accept; but this is just the opener in a story that offers a very different take on the usual vampire scenario.
This is a future ninety years ahead of ours: a world where vampires have overrun the West Coast, where nuclear bombs have made it a wasteland, yet failed to control their proliferation; and where the world completely changed when vampires emerged from hiding.
It's a strange new land where vampires are genetically connected to the human race (and likely have evolved because of human activities), and where a rare gene shared between Elaine and Dylan dictate that their spawn will be different.
And it's in this country in which Elaine, Lilly, Dylan, and Tread journey carefully through a host of dangers and changes that bring with them many new choices which even the vampire-born Lilly acknowledges are difficult for her: "Craving blood, not sleeping, the speed, the strength. Sometimes it's still a little overwhelming to me and I was born this way. I mean I'm sure it would have been easier to get used to had I been able to use all my abilities freely since birth. But I don't know. Not to mention you'd never be able to go out into sunlight again. That one I don't have to deal with, but I would imagine it's difficult to accept."
Soulless, evil monsters, the promise and pain of eternal life, and a dangerous game with the acquisition of a city as its prize - these facets are woven into a vampire saga that will engross anyone who likes a blend of fantasy and horror wrapped into the bigger picture of a world gone wild.
Sunwalker
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The
Bone War of McCurtain County
Russell Ferrell
Rabelais Publishing
978-0-9833551-5-1 $16.95
http://a.co/4iooHMX
The Bone War of McCurtain County: A True Tale of Two Men's Quest for Treasure, Truth, and Justice is an extraordinary biography and true-life adventure story that began, oddly enough, with a visit to a small Oklahoma rock shop during a vacation, where the proprietor's extraordinary story immersed Russell Ferrell's son in the strange tale of a paleontological "bone war" fought over dinosaur remains and land rights in the unlikely setting of Oklahoma.
The war began when an Arkansas hillbilly and a Choctaw Indian stumbled upon, unearthed, and claimed a fossil prize from a waste-holding pit. The battle that followed would immerse corporate, scientific, and political interests in an unprecedented conflict over rights, ownership, and scientific advancement that even boiled over into religious concerns.
One of the delights of The Bone War of McCurtain County lies in the presentation of this vivid story, which embraces hoaxes, dreams, legal processes, scientific revelations, and a buried treasure that changed the lives of all who touched it. It's not easy incorporating the drama of a thriller or an Indiana Jones adventure style into a nonfiction piece that winds through many special interests with a solid attention to not taking the easy way out and which steps solidly on the toes of politicians, lawyers, and scientists who became immersed in a whirlwind of questions about ownership and rights.
Even more exceptional is the careful detailing of the clash of cultures sparked by the extraordinary discovery: "The two homespun Okies ostensibly clashed with the two academicians—culturally, regionally, educationally, occupationally, socially, and economically. There was an unmistakable divergence between their backgrounds. This became even more apparent the longer the two blue-collar workers sat across the table from the two white-collared scholars, and their interaction noted by curious burger-devouring patrons sitting nearby. There was an unbridgeable difference between their hardscrabble world, and Langston’s refined, scholarly sphere."
The attention to this detail and insights are such that this book holds even more important implications on other levels for a country divided by class, culture, and politics: "Lawyers were seen as part of that exclusively rich “green zone” (not botanical green, but dollar green) of the American landscape. This was a particularly vivid perception for disgruntled working stiffs who couldn’t afford their services. Detached legal elitists perched on piles of cash and plush corporate nostrums have delusively presumed that everything was on par with John Q. Public; however, in reality, things were not as idyllic out in the hinterland as they imagined. There was a groundswell of disillusionment and outright contempt for the profession and system. To many people looking inward at the system from an outside vantage point, the system looked broken and hopelessly corrupt."
Under a different hand, the Indiana Jones-style drama could have translated into a one-dimensional production; but the delight of The Bone War of McCurtain County is that so many levels are covered in depth and detail - and yet, the flavor of an adventure story is retained throughout. The Bone War of McCurtain County is very, very highly recommended as a top read across genres, from general-interest readers to those who regularly pursue histories in scientific, political, and social circles.
The Bone War of McCurtain County
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CLASSICS:
Why and How We Can Encourage Children To Read Them
Fiza Pathan
Fiza Pathan Publishing (OPC) Private Limited
978-81-932906-0-6
$29.99
https://www.amazon.com/
CLASSICS: Why And How We Can Encourage Children To Read Them asks a very basic question: why should children read books deemed 'timeless'? Fiza Pathan provides many answers to this question - and they are not limited to benefits to children, either.
There are many reasons for reading classics. Being time-tested and well-written, they improve language skills and they stimulate the imagination. Their descriptive powers are considerable, and many hold moral and ethical lessons for all ages. Moreover, they often provide surprising and ongoing insights into current events and general knowledge: an asset the teacher author discovered when one of her students was called upon to take an impromptu quiz on the subject and succeeded, crediting his reading of classic literature for addressing thought-provoking questions.
These ranged from a question on which group of people in an English court give a verdict (answer: a jury - from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland) to the word for the study of languages (linguistics - from Pygmalion) and the definition of someone who hoards money without spending it (a 'miser', from A Christmas Carol).
But this is simply one of the many educational benefits to be gained from reading the classics, and as Fiza Pathan explains these benefits, she also addresses the different challenges of reading classic literature for different age groups, provides discussions of where to locate these books and how to define a 'classic', and contrasts the pros and cons of abridged versus unabridged versions.
With its wealth of information that ranges from book clubs for young people to notes about obstacles to reading and comprehension and the myriad benefits of classics, CLASSICS: Why And How We Can Encourage Children To Read Them is a treasure trove of insights highly recommended for teachers and adults who want to pass on the legacy of classic reading to kids.
CLASSICS: Why and How We Can Encourage Children To Read Them
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Rites
of Azathoth
Frank Cavallo
Bedlam Press
978-1-944703-20-2
Paper:
$19.95
Kindle: $3.99
http://a.co/hDaYnxq
Rites of Azathoth is a horror story of madness, the occult, and psychological warfare. It swirls around a previously-retired FBI profiler who finds herself way over her head when she realizes that capturing her target rests on her ability to not just understand him, but immerse herself in his insanity.
Diana hates the political world of DC with its hypocrisy and lies. But what does this life have to do with an ancient Tablet of Destinies artifact? Diana, Carter, Norris, and others become involved in ancient rituals, long-buried (but, apparently, only sleeping) horrors, and a dangerous blend of delusional beliefs and supernatural danger which blend a deadly chase with a psychopath's vision of horror.
Aside from those obvious horror elements, Rites of Azathoth contains many unexpected facets that keep it from being easily typecast in any one genre. Horror readers will find it contains a healthy degree of winding investigative intrigue as Diana and Norris desperately search for an elusive perp. Detective fiction fans will discover a heavier touch on the supernatural than many competing novels offer. Readers of psychological intrigue will find more than enough darkness to keep them awake at night.
Occult rituals, a secret society working to re-awaken evil into the world, and forces that eventually pit Diana against the very agency she once revered make for an engrossing story filled with unexpected twists.
Its ability to toe the line between a horror and an investigative thriller piece sets Rites of Azathoth apart in many ways and makes it a special recommendation for readers of horror and detective fiction who want vivid reads that straddle the line between both genres.
Rites of Azathoth
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Soldier's
Stories: A Collection of WWII Memoirs
Compiled by The Miller Family
BookWise Publishing
978-1-60645-162-5 (paperback) $29.99
978-1-60645-176-2 (hardcover) $34.99
www.bookwisepublishing.com
www.soldiersstoriesbook.com
So many, many histories, biographies and autobiographies have been written about World War II over the decades that one might wonder about the need for yet another, yet a number of factors differentiate Soldiers' Stories: A Collection of WWII Memoirs from others on the market, making it a recommended pick for military history collections and anyone interested in a different approach to the war's experiences.
For one thing, it includes not just vividly-penned memories, but photos and illustrations throughout - and it's a family production: the writers, editors, and the illustrator are all members of the Miller family and held the shared goal of immortalizing their veteran father (Myron H. Miller was a sergeant in the 83rd Infantry Division) and his achievements alongside those of other WWII fighters.
Aside from this unusual cooperative family effort, it should be noted that most illustrated World War II histories are geared to a younger audience. As this book proves, that’s a shame; because visuals can be just as powerful as written memories, and Soldiers' Stories succeeds in bringing both to the forefront in an invigorating, inspirational read designed to capture not just battle history, but the hearts, minds, and intimate reflections of soldiers in the field.
In a second notable contrast to other approaches, this is achieved through not just one soldier's story and experience, but in a compilation designed to capture a wide range of soldier perspectives and experiences. This successfully creates a much more diverse set of wartime insights than any single biography or autobiography could achieve.
The families of vets of World War II have participated in this effort, but the collection campaign was made all the more challenging by the fact that so many of these vets didn't like to speak about their military experiences, creating a special challenge in producing this book.
Furthermore, the Millers weren't content to conduct research via phone and internet or limit their focus to U.S. vets alone: "Our journey took us to Omaha Beach, Sainteny, St. Malo, the Ardennes, Luxembourg, the Hurtgen Forest, Remagen, and other places. We saw the beaches, the hedgerows, the city streets, and the towering forests that had been the scenes of terrible suffering and fighting over seventy years ago. We experienced first hand the grateful memories of French, Belgians, and Germans who were there then and the appreciation of a new generation for what those soldiers did to free Europe of tyranny."
Between the international nature of their venture, the all-encompassing drive to gather a wide range of WWII experiences, and the gorgeous color and vintage illustrations packed throughout, it's no wonder that Soldiers' Stories won the 2017 Ella Dickey Literacy Award for historical preservation through literature; or that among the plethora of World War II history books, it's an eye-catching standout that takes military history and personalizes it to an extent few other books in the genre can compete with.
Very, very highly recommended as a 'must have' acquisition for any library or individual professing any interest in World War II experiences and their lasting impact on individual lives and the world.
Soldier's Stories: A Collection of WWII Memoirs
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The
Stuff of Life
Asif Zaidi
iUniverse
ISBN: 978-1-5320-0956-3 (sc)
$13.99
ISBN: 978-1-5320-0958-7 (hc)
$23.99
ISBN: 978-1-5320-0957-0 (e)
$ 3.99
http://a.co/6tLKg4F
A reader might not expect the philosophical perspective represented in The Stuff of Life because its author is a banker and business advisor, and works by such professionals are generally less ethereal and tend to reflect linear thinking processes. Higher-level questions of what makes for a life well lived, how to move into a spiritually awakened state of mind, and employing meditation and other devices to enter into an awakened state and counter the effects of the Internet Age are typically subjects that stem from new age sources; not from the business world.
Therefore, it's especially refreshing to see such a perspective wound into essays that cross genres in their pursuit of excellence in an anthology of thoughts and reflections considering the basic elements that make life meaningful.
At many different points, Asif Zaidi's background lends to some intriguing and different introductions to his topics: "Recently I attended a leadership training program for executives. This intense five-day program featured lectures from top executives and leadership gurus like Marshall Goldsmith, Thomas J. Delong, Robert Steven Kaplan, and Jim Loehr. While it was useful, I was amused to see how man’s age-old love for wisdom and quest for knowledge of how best to live have been distilled into skills for success in the corporate world."
Having a foundation that lies more in this business milieu than in liberal arts and spiritual thinking adds a depth and practicality that many similar-sounding coverages eschew. Add psychological insights and you have a survey that is rich in scope and considerations: "We can only keep our unhappiness alive by giving it time. Remove time and compulsive thinking from unhappy feelings and they die. They cannot survive without a dwelling place inside us, which we must never allow them in any form whatsoever. We only have to truly want them to die. This also transforms our outer life, our relationships, and so on."
The most satisfied readers of The Stuff of Life will be those seeking a wide-ranging set of essays that analyze the human condition and its social, spiritual and moral concerns. As Zaidi draws connections between human philosophy and religion and the pursuit of happiness, he includes discussions of many notable individuals who have contributed thoughts and approaches to life and whose works have added value to overall considerations of life's meaning.
The result is a thought-provoking series of discussions that may seem to wander in their scope and presentation, but which ultimately involve readers in analyzing the collective human efforts that lead to a good life well-lived, highly recommended for spiritual and social issues thinkers who would consider connections between philosophy, history, psychology, and the world's greater purposes.
The Stuff of Life
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Why
They Stay: Sex Scandals, Deals, and Hidden Agendas of Nine Political
Wives
Anne Michaud
Ogunquit Press, P.O. Box 1520, Huntington, NY 11743
978-0-9976633-0-1
$14.99
http://annemichaud.com/why-
https://www.amazon.com/Why-
It's about time that a book such as Why They Stay should appear to comment on the wives of politicians and why they remain in place despite reports of infidelity and bad behaviors. Not only does this apply to the highest political offices past and present, but its message and analysis will reach many a marriage where friends may wonder about the reasons why a wife stays in the home after misconduct is uncovered.
This is not to say that the two environments (political and personal) are identical and hold the same commitments and conundrums - far from it. As Why They Stay points out, political pressures and purposes are similar to traditional marriages in some aspects and far different in others. It's a gamble to stay in a situation where one's partner may or may not be exonerated from political charges, for example; and public perception and fallout that falls on a spouse from these actions differs between political figures and personal lives.
The nine political women chosen for close examination in this book range from Eleanor and FDR and Jackie and JFK to Southern belle/Harvard educated Silda Wall's relationship with Eliot Spitzer.
In each case there is a 'White Queen Quotient' assigned, rating each incident and following the scripted behaviors similar to all the political individuals in this book.
Social observation and political and psychological insights blend as the author reconciles her perception of 'why they stayed' ("Perhaps this sort of marriage, at the top echelons of Washington and international society, was made from different rules than I had agreed to when I married. Fidelity, honesty—perhaps these were quaint ideas better suited to less ambitious people. When one had the heights of the free world practically in one’s grasp, maybe the bargain at the altar became more pragmatic.") with deeper thoughts about the consequences of behaviors and the political, legal, social and family ramifications of allegations and actions.
It's more than a recap of events, but follows the aftermath of these behaviors on family and associates as well, making Why They Stay a powerful survey of lessons learned, gathered by a columnist who covered politicians for decades and so holds the ideal combination of professional political journalist and inquirer into the kinds of arrangements these women had to grapple with and make in order to survive.
It's a gripping production especially recommended for any interested in women's issues and political scandals and their aftermath.
Why They Stay: Sex Scandals, Deals, and Hidden Agendas of Nine Political Wives
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The
Wisdom of Wildflowers
Heather Robbins
Resource Publications, a division of Wipf and Stock
Paperback – 978-1-5326-0316-7
Hardcover –
978-1-5326-0318-1
$19.00
Ebook – 978-1-5326-0317-4
www.wipfandstock.com
Heather Robbins lived on a Canadian cattle ranch for over twenty-five years, and recorded her observations of wildflowers and the life lessons connected to them. The result is The Wisdom of Wildflowers, a combination of wildflower insights, positive philosophy, and psychological self-help highly recommended for women who seek wisdom from nature's beauty.
Why women, in particular? Because this audience will be more attuned to listening to the gentle, flower-specific details here. The book consists of chapters arranged with a type of wildflower, and women will likely be more open to passages that are lyrical, inspirational, and speak to female lives and experiences.
Take the chapter on 'Golden Bean', for one example. After describing the plant's unique qualities and appearance, the discussion neatly segues into a broader consideration of the lesson the Golden Bean wildflower holds for approaches to life: "The plants stand together, spilling their bright sun-kissed colors over the entire landscape. Each flower consists of a cluster of crescent-shaped blossoms that appear to be made of raw yellow silk. Leaves are long, pale-green ovals that linger languidly on the sides of robust stems. The effect of all these Golden Beans together is spectacular. Their community is rich because of all who inhabit there. As important as it is to be unique, to stay true to ourselves, and to have alone time, it is also important to maintain a healthy social life. As social creatures, we are compelled to have a relationship with our fellow human beings. Maintaining a connection with others while not being consumed by all the hustle and bustle of life, requires that we walk a delicate and sometimes tricky path. We must decide, without compromising our individuality, what level of interaction will enable us to contribute to society."
This message - along with the others - requires affection for lyrical description, an interest in colorful plant drawings (which are crafted by the author and visually introduce each chapter), and even more importantly, the ability to appreciate both poetic, botanical observation and a deeper inspection of life.
Women who are interested in crafting their own life perspectives to embrace God, family, community and strength will find The Wisdom of Wildflowers a lovely synthesis of all facets, and won't waste time wishing the book held more botanical facts and less wisdom - this isn't its purpose. Its intent is to invite using the beauty of nature and then gently pair that splendor with a deeper spiritual and philosophical perspective about life - and in this, Heather Robbins more than succeeds.
Women will find these admonitions about life will guide their own courses through it, offering much food for thought that often is only reached through trial and error: "Sometimes we have to step back and let people find their own way, and not get caught up in their drama. We may feel the need to put in our two cents, and say or do things to help our family members live a better life. That’s a good thing if our input is welcome, but if it’s not, then we need to back off. Our family members have their own journeys to attend to, just as we have ours, and if we want them to respect us and our space, we must also respect theirs."
Readers interested in the wildflowers of the Canadian prairie and their connections to life lessons will find The Wisdom of Wildflowers a beautiful production, especially worthy of gift-giving with its encouraging messages and vibrant visual flower drawings.
The Wisdom of Wildflowers
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Witch
Jill Benson
CreateSpace
9781537636627
$16.99
http://a.co/7MJSG15
Six cells built into stone walls keeping children imprisoned, a bookstore owner kidnapped and locked away, an old woman who wears purple and harbors a deep secret, and an investigator who experiences waves of super-sensory perceptions as she investigates disappearances ... These seemingly-disparate elements wind together in a story that keeps flitting the image of a witch through its pages and settings, ultimately leading readers to wonder about the identity of the real witch, or whether there are multiple definitions involved. This approach lends to a surreal work that crosses a detective story with a work of subtle horror and provides a mercurial, changing plot replete with a host of characters and almost surreal encounters.
These stories coalesce during the course of a murder investigation that at times seems a survey of evidence of witchcraft and at other times looks at the world from the victims' perspectives, whether they be a young woman who thinks she may be able to use her hereto-hidden extraordinary powers to escape her capture or an old woman who knows too much.
Where other books might take the supernatural elements and run with them, creating a paranormal story alone, in this case the witch figure and her powers are carefully woven into the real world so that the supernatural elements are but a tinge of flavor added to the overall mystery mix - a facet that could dismay those who had anticipated a fantasy or a story replete with spooky events and witchcraft.
But, it's the subtlety of the witch figure and how its presence touches and changes lives without overriding the story line that makes Witch a standout among others; and while readers seeking a story steeped in the supernatural might chafe at Jill Benson's light touch in this area in comparison to other books containing 'witch' in their title, this same audience - especially those with an affinity for mysteries and detective investigations - will come to realize that, here, the broader definition and applications of 'witch' create a more thought-provoking story than most.
As events progress, Witch moves beyond the familiar 'old crone' initially presented in the first chapter to explore the diverse elements of power which move in Lucy, Nita, and other characters who hold less physical or obvious connections to the occult figurehead. From considerations of the possibility of group hallucinations and mental illness to visions of a witch who brings light and illusions, missing children who struggle to survive and escape, and five kids who pay for a glaring error, this is a powerful read that holds many characters, subplots, and inter-connections, and which takes the witch character and theme and moves it from the familiar to the extraordinary.
One might think the prerequisite to enjoying this piece would be an affinity for supernatural fiction or fantasy; but such is not the case. It's the mystery reader seeking deeper investigations of the psyche and the interactions between past and present, hidden abilities and everyday life, and individuals who find their own powers and purposes in life through adversity who will find Witch a compelling and satisfyingly complex detective investigation with a supernatural overlay that continually moves in unexpected directions.
Witch
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Bloodline
Secrets
Barbara Taylor Sanders
CreateSpace
978-1450518161
www.amazon.com
Bloodline Secrets is a contemporary suspense tale with a twist: it's clean intrigue devoid of sexual flings, and racy passages, which lends it a satisfying focus on action and escapades as it opens with a sailboat crash near Brant Light House on Nantucket Island and a woman who keeps her royal bloodline a secret from a man who, ironically, harbors his own secrets.
Laci Ann is adjusting to society life again after having dipped into the bohemian world while attending a Parisian art school. She's been out of the country for a few years, so her identity is not as readily known as it used to be. She's one of three sisters who are all keeping their royal bloodline hidden for different reasons; but when these reasons pale in the face of a threat, each sister finds her reason to accept her heritage, her relationships, and the boundaries of her life.
In many ways Bloodline Secrets is a novel of intrigue; but in others it's a story of romance and family ties that hold powerful lessons for everyone involved; from a sister set to marry another 'loser' to conflicting relationship messages that keep another sister on her toes and guessing even as her sister goes missing ("In fact, it felt as though she had known him all her life, even though she knew nothing much about him. But she admired his confidence and sincerity. He seemed genuinely interested in her despite her surly behavior.").
As romance pales in the face of events that place Laci Ann in danger, the three sisters who share bloodlines and many perspectives about life find their assumptions deeply challenged as Laci Ann faces kidnappers and the uncertain aftermath of rescue.
From emotional bombs about true heritage and inheritances to how a brush with death changes everything, Bloodline Secrets offers a ripple effect in a set of circumstances that change the lives of everyone they touch. Add a dose of religious realization and spiritual reflection to the mix for a novel of suspense that is as much about how people grow and change as it is about close-held secrets, family ties, and breaking points.
Romance
as well as contemporary fiction audiences will find it satisfyingly
abundant
with twists and turns designed to keep the reader on edge and thinking.
Bloodline
Secrets
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to Index
Deadly Delusions
Barbara Ebel, M.D.
Barbara Mary
Ebel, Publisher
eBook:
978-0-9977225-2-9
Paperback:
978-0-9977225-1-2
$11.95
Author’s
website: http://barbaraebel.weebly.com
Amazon Purchase
Link: http://amzn.to/2gE7R3D
Deadly Delusions is a medical mystery thriller along the lines of Robin Cook and focuses on the ongoing work of Dr. Annabel Tilson, a third-year medical student with her first patient assignment, Victor Blake, who is set to go home after a stint in a psychiatric ward. Annabel doesn't think psychiatry will wind up being her specialty, but she's enjoyed success with her patient - a success that will soon come crashing down upon his discharge.
It should be noted that Deadly Delusions is the second book in the Dr. Annabel Tilson series; but works well as a stand-alone with no prior need for familiarity with its predecessor, Dead Still. This is a fine approach that allows for independent pursuit of Dr. Tilson's personal evolution in the medical field and her involvement in two very different conundrums.
Another note is that the author is a medical doctor herself, well versed in the politics and demands of a hospital setting, and thus her characters and their working environments are in keeping with real-world experience and include a depth and detail often lacking in medical thrillers written by outsiders who may have the 'thriller' formula well in hand, but who operate without intimate knowledge of the medical community.
As Dr. Tilson navigates professional relationships, interacts with a mentor, and learns about mental patients and their special challenges, she becomes involved in a number of situations that test her morals, ethics, and growth.
To its credit, Deadly Delusions offers no pat answers and no simple views of mental illness. Again, this is likely due to the author's professional background - but it's also because much attention has been given to creating a story line that eschews over-simplification and cursory awareness for much deeper insights: a fact that lends credibility and a real-world feel to its events.
As readers follow Annabel's interactions with patients and physicians, they too learn about diagnostics, treatments, and team processes as medical students and physicians interact with and discuss their patients and how they can help them. These processes reveal much about medicine's approach to mental conditions while enhancing the overall tension of the events that affect them all: "It’s called patting ourselves on the back with refreshing ‘positive affirmations,’” Dr. Keeton said. “Each and every one of you is special; your diagnosis is a small aspect of who you are; and you must always understand and give yourself permission to compliment yourself.”
The result is a well-detailed, involving and highly recommended story of not just one young doctor's world, but the lives and struggles of her patients and peers. Fans of Robin Cook and other medical thrillers will find much to like in this story, which is cemented by Dr. Barbara Ebel's attention to realistic medical communities and psychiatry's processes.
Deadly Delusions
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Dead
Still
Barbara Ebel, M.D.
Barbara Mary Ebel, Publisher
eBook:
978-0-9977225-0-5
$3.99
Paperback:
978-0-9911589-9-7 $11.95
Author’s Website: http://barbaraebel.weebly.com
Amazon Purchase Link: http://amzn.to/2ai7H1T
Dead Still is the opener to a new series revolving around medical student Dr. Annabel Tilson, but it's refreshing to note that each book is a stand-alone read and holds no cliffhanger conclusions or the need to reference prior events in order to prove satisfying.
Dr. Tilson is past the first two years of medical school classrooms and excited to be in her third year on medical rounds in an actual hospital. The first clinical rotation is surgery - the environment in which her famous neurosurgeon father excelled.
Annabel soon finds that there's much to learn during her year as a surgical team member - and that more is going on than learning about surgical procedures. There's hospital politics to grapple with, possible romance, and a medical mystery that involves her in a deadly puzzle with equally powerful consequences for ruining her novice medical career.
With such weights on her shoulders, Annabel quickly finds her personal and professional lives are on a collision course further complicated by the fact that her participation in solving this medical issue could jeopardize everything she's worked for. However, if she chooses to evade the issue, she'll be compromising her integrity.
Fans of Robin Cook and similar medical thriller authors may anticipate a similar tone of intrigue and high drama in Dead Still, but will quickly find these backed by a solid set of insights into hospital community interactions and processes. Author/physician Barbara Ebel's strength lies in two directions: her medical expertise (which lends an insider's viewpoint to proceedings) and her ability to depict the winding path and challenging choices Annabelle faces beyond the routines of learning how to be a physician.
Annabel's options in various situations are presented in such a manner that her logic processes and choices are understood and build her character and overall approach to both her life and career: "Finishing the surgery rotation was on the line, as well as her health; she needed to do something for herself, like another sexual fling. There wasn’t anything else she could think of that could give her the thrill, pleasure, or gratification. Some people do drugs or alcohol, but she liked her idea so much better. No hangover or build-up of an opioid or drug tolerance or accidental overdose."
Whether it's how hospital and career pressures and politics are handled or why Annabel chooses certain paths, Dead Still 's well-rounded attention to building characters against the backdrop of the medical milieu in which they interact makes for a powerful, well-done story line that really challenges readers to think.
Fans of Robin Cook may be used to medical intrigue, but the added doses of issues of personal, ethical, and professional survival will very much satisfy those who like their medical mysteries endowed with a sense of personal growth and moral grounding.
Dead Still
Return to Index
Death
on Canvas
Mary Ann Cherry
CreateSpace
978-1523829118
$14.95
http://a.co/geJV1yW
Death on Canvas opens Volume 1 in the Jessie O'Bourne Art Mysteries series with a puzzler that begins with a landscape artist's absent-minded inclusion of a strip of turquoise in her painting. When Jessie investigates the source of this odd splash of color in an otherwise-pastoral scene, she discovers a dying Native American girl who whispers that her assailant is a cop.
In the next breath Death on Canvas assumes an eerie blend of murder mystery and art piece as the scene unfolds and a series of brush strokes and attacks ties a missing masterpiece into a murder that pulls Jessie even further into a vivid mix of good, evil, and danger.
How could this contemporary story have its roots in rural Montana in 1918, where a Native American boy and would-be warrior faces a murdering woman who poses as a schoolteacher, placing him in a position of defending a flock of kids? The plot becomes complex and engrossing as the present-day Jessie pieces together interconnected scenes of the past and faces a cruel legacy that seems to belie her artistic perspective of modern-day Montana.
Readers who anticipate a one-dimensional "whodunit" piece will be pleased to note that there's nothing singular or predictable in Death on Canvas, which includes much artistic insight throughout the course of an uncommon murder investigation.
What makes the scenario unusual is Jessie's evolving connection between present-day murder and the unsolved past murder of her aunt, her concurrent evolving quest for missing art masterpieces and a killer, and her slow evolution from artist to investigator.
There's a plethora of possibilities both in the perp and in the motive, and Jessie's route is as complex as her evolving role in what follows. Connections between past and present are cemented through the use of alternating chapters, and though a few might find this constant movement too busy, the effect is to create a series of scenarios that illustrate cause and effect and the long-term results of decisions made long ago.
Many of the characters 'go way back' in their relationships - further than they, even, might think - and so the progressive build-up of Death on Canvas is perfectly in keeping with the evolution of these relationships and their deeper meanings.
"You're helping me find the paintings - not trying to solve Amber's attack" warns Jessie's new secret partner, but her new Norwegian cop partner doesn't seem to realize that the two are intrinsically entwined, or that in order to solve one mystery, the other must be addressed.
Death on Canvas is no light romp. Readers receive a healthy dose of philosophy, romance, artistic concerns, and a host of possible perps so dizzying in scope that Jessie and her partner (and sometimes the reader) find themselves scrambling for answers.
While mystery readers will be the primary audience for this story, a secondary readership of artists who want involving fiction based upon an aspiring artist's descent into a perplexing art mystery will also find much to enjoy in Death on Canvas's swirl of personalities, color, and artistic and social conundrums within its rich palate of possibilities.
Death on Canvas
Return to Index
The
Hunger Saint
Olivia Kate Cerrone
Bordighera Press
978-1-59954-106-8
$12.00
www.bordigherapress.org
The Hunger Saint recounts a young man forced into a life of back-breaking work in the Sicilian sulfur mines to support his family, is set in post-World War II times, and provides close inspection of child labor laws and experiences both in that country and around the world through its focus on Ntoni's experiences.
As it is based on the oral histories of former miners who still reside in modern Sicily as well as years of historical research, this novella's impact and authority provides a much more pointed piece than fiction alone could have achieved, basing its action and experiences on facts that should be more widely known than they are.
The novella is introduced with a succinct roundup of historical fact ("Sulfur was once considered one of the world’s premier energy sources. The sulfur mining industry in Sicily lasted for hundreds of years until its demise in the 1980s. Severe poverty and unenforced labor laws led countless Sicilian families to put their children (some as young as six years old) to work in the sulfur mines, where they experienced horrific working conditions. These children were known as the carusi.") which are key to understanding the events which are described in the story line, but the real draw of The Hunger Saint lies in its ability to vividly depict Ntoni's harsh world and its realities: "Ntoni crouched along the wall, his body sore. His eyes brimmed. Before him rested the small prayer card of Saint Calogero. He shot a hand over the Hunger Saint, then pushed himself up and made the sign of the cross. He brought the saint to his lips before fitting the card back into the folds of his loincloth. His sulfur rocks lay scattered in the surrounding pools of gray light. The thought of recovering them all was exhausting. But to do otherwise would mean a beating..."
Italian culture, religion, relationships between miners and society and their family interactions, and gruesome cave-ins and daily challenges to life itself all intersect in a powerful series of descriptions that personalize issues of dangerous working conditions and challenging lifestyles.
All events really happened, and are all backed by well-researched historical fact ("It is estimated that thousands of people over several generations became victims of the soccorso morto system. Although the Italian government passed legislation in 1886 restricting children under the age of nine from working in mines, quarries, and factories, these labor laws were not strictly enforced, especially in more rural and impoverished areas of Sicily, allowing abusive conditions to continue for decades more.").
The result is a powerful survey that brings to life and personalizes the plight of child laborers and their experiences, highly recommended for any who enjoy historical novels in general and, particularly, those who look for cultural insights and social messages in fiction readings.
The Hunger Saint
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The
Infidel Next Door
Rajat Mitra
CreateSpace
978-1542647809
www.amazon.com
The Infidel Next Door opens with an arranged marriage between a sick orphan girl and a shy boy; but it quickly evolves to embrace more than two lost souls finding each other; because between them there are deeply abiding secrets that keep each at arm's length even as they learn that neither can hide or keep secrets about their past.
Replete with Hindu gods, temples, local politics and religious perspectives, and a young boy who serves as both a miracle and a reminder of life's fragility, The Infidel Next Door weaves through Indian culture and perspectives as if in a delicate dance, each step precisely described and compellingly intriguing.
When a temple is built next to a Muslim mosque, creating forces that confront one another on many levels, the story really earns its laurels as characters so carefully crafted earlier in the tale begin to comprehend the magnitude of the changes in their world and what it means to their choices and lives: "Remember what I taught you about infidels? It is Allah’s will that your fight begins on your doorstep.” “I will cast terror in their hearts as it is commanded in the book,” Anwar said. “It is a priest and he has a son who are coming next door. They won’t be a match for you.” “I will convert him to Islam and if he doesn’t obey, I will drive them away from Kashmir.” Haji chacha looked him in the eye. In a steady low pitched voice he said, “Inshallah, you are fortunate. You no longer have to imagine an enemy. He will come right next door to you. Your struggle will be unique in the annals of jihad.” “Why chacha?”Anwar asked. “Because a warrior comes alive through knowing that his enemy is big, real and more dangerous than he thought him to be.”
From caste systems to secrets surrounding births, defiance and difficult love relationships, and the challenges of children to either follow in or divert from the paths of tradition, The Infidel Next Door is alive with thought-provoking insights throughout, cemented by characters who struggle on many levels: "Aditya, you are like those distant mountain peaks. They look beautiful but one can’t live there. I want to remember you as someone who liberated me.” “That is not love, Zeba.” “Every woman, Aditya, falls in love with the man who teaches her to live. He then should live in her memory otherwise their relationship loses meaning.” “Zeba, this will be a living death for us.” “I know that. I have to be loyal to my husband inspite of thoughts of you that are there in every corner of my mind.” Tara came near and said to Zeba, “The light in your room has been switched on.” ... She decided not to open the curtains and look outside again and closed the light. That was her past. There comes a time in everyone’s life when they have to close the curtains of the past. “I will give myself a chance, to my marriage, to this relationship with Salim,” she said, as she switched off the lights. It was better she stayed in the darkness."
From gods destroyed and traditions that clash to miracles and murders, The Infidel Next Door weaves a tight story of social, spiritual and psychological changes which are tinged with disaster and discovery at every turn.
One needn't be familiar with Indian society, Muslim or Hindu religions, or even with regional Indian social and political forces in order to appreciate this compelling story, which draws together disparate lives and cross purposes in an engrossing saga that's hard to put down and especially recommended for any Westerner who would better understand the subtler nuances of Indian society.
The Infidel Next Door
Return to Index
The
Man in Cell 13
Billy McCoy
Independently Published
978-1520431680
$10.96
http://a.co/2lAxCdd
Soren Davidson is an inmate in Cell 13. He's been arrested, served time, and is facing the life changes resulting from his incarceration: "All at once, the iron doors snapped shut; and Soren, the paragon of success, unaccustomed to physical confinement but nonetheless mentally tough and tenacious, was shut out from the fortunate life he had doggedly built for himself. Now, the floodgate of uncertainty was the anxiety of being released a felon, the onslaught of societies perception of felons, the dread of having to go back home to his mama, and the despair of low confidence in himself. The waters that swept through those gates deluged Soren."
This vivid portrait may sound like the end of the story; but in The Man in Cell 13, it's just the opener to a tale that begins after years in prison and moves forward, following Soren back into the free world.
But, is it really free? What could be the future of a young man whose parents "added nothing nor took nothing from life," which left him to his own devices to make his way in the world, learn from his mistakes, and eventually wind up newly out of prison with nowhere to go?
Soren is right to worry about his choices and options as a newly-released felon: he is not as thrilled about the prospect of being released as he thought he'd be, and his mantra of "promise and hope" guides him into unexpected situations in unexpected ways throughout the story.
The Man in Cell 13 offers no cut-and-dried or clichéd approaches. It would have been easy to paint Soren's parents as monsters - but they were ordinary folk, even if they did lack in the affection department. It would have been simple to have Soren's experiences reflect a downward spiral - but there are high points as well as low points in his life; and all are equally well depicted.
Vivid passages follow his various revelations about life and its meaning, even when solid connections fade: "He was in despair, and had to reach deep down within himself. His life seemed to unravel at this unsettling news about his mother: she was all that he had left. He realized that he was about to lose the rock of stability for last forty years. Somehow, he had to endure. Then suddenly, in flash, a bold idea struck him and he turned inward. He remembered Francis of Assisi, Paul of Tarsus, and St. Ignatius. The defeat and humiliation which stalked him made him see that life was precarious and material things fleeting, and that life meant the most when a person was willing to sacrifice everything for a cause bigger than their narrow interests. The solidarity with those giants made him feel a little better. What’s was an expensive condo and luxury car compared to setting a good example? At least the good example could last generations, as opposed to a pile of metal on rubber."
Self-sacrifice, emotional and spiritual devastation, renewed faith, love, and financial entanglements in the business world all affect and chart Soren's course through life as readers follow his steps to prison and beyond.
The result is a powerful story that is gripping and insightful: a story of love in the face of injustice and of the aftermath of what is ultimately a selfless decision involving much sacrifice and promise. Readers of novels about social issues and individual choice will find The Man in Cell 13 thought-provoking and intriguing as its protagonist makes headway in his life and forms his personal philosophy about it.
The Man in Cell 13
Return to Index
My
Kill Play
Tim G. Patten
CreateSpace
978-1541061255 $17.98
http://a.co/7vWKbNM
My Kill Play is another roller derby book by Tim G. Patten, whose fictional works about the sport he loves are based on his experiences and reality - but this one holds a difference in its focus on both sports achievement and personal memoir which chronicles both his involvement in roller derby and the evolution of his life as a gay man.
In the 1980s, a deadly virus threatened many talented roller derby players, including the author. The different facets that layer this story, from personal autobiography to a history of the sport and a fictional overlay that rounds out these real-life experiences makes for a read that should appeal across genres, from readers of gay fiction to those who enjoy roller derby memoirs. These audiences will appreciate an approach that changes character identities, locations and personal details into fiction for both privacy and a smoother-flowing story line.
One might not expect same-sex marriage, themes of urban gentrification and economic pressure, AIDS concerns, and roller derby experiences to coalesce neatly under one cover, but the special appeal of My Kill Play lies in its ability to take all these themes and especially the gay culture of a city player's life and times and weave them deftly into a story of personal and sports excellence.
As chapters capture both the excitement of the derby world and the rising fears of the gay community as a whole as they faces AIDS and its devastating impact, readers will find the drama and social inspection and interactions absorbing, capturing these lives with a descriptive force that makes the novel hard to put down: "He wanted to enjoy their shared and all-consuming love for roller derby. The sport itself and the theater of it, the way the vibe seized his heart and the gang of skaters who were family made his body tingle."
Whether it's derby drama or an intense life-or-death struggle, My Kill Play goes the extra mile to capture the realities of a changing San Francisco Bay Area culture, derby skating challenges, and especially the frightening secrets gay men often kept after diagnosis: "He had never thought of himself as anything other than healthy; it was an image he worked hard to project. He knew he still appeared healthy, his positive status invisible."
Although the likely reader of My Kill Play will be the gay community member who will especially appreciate the realistic description of San Francisco during this era (the authenticity of which this reviewer can personally vouch for, having lived those times in the City), roller derby fans who enjoy solid descriptions of competition on the rink will find much to like in My Kill Play, which takes derby competition a step further by adding elements of the social and cultural milieu in which it operates.
My Kill Play
Return to Index
Mystery
and Misadventure: A Reunion
M.D. Hall
Independently Published
https://www.
Mystery and Misadventure: A Reunion is a delightful throwback to the Alfred Hitchcock-style "Stories not for the Nervous" series, the ironies of Twilight Zone, and the oddities of short story horror thriller collections of the past, and joins several others in M.D. Hall's evolving theme collections with yet more macabre tales.
As does its predecessors, A Reunion excels in twisting tales that insert a sense of horror into everyday events and ordinary people's lives.
Take the opening 'The Long Drop', for example. In 1792, judge Sir Henry McClelland's chance encounter with a strange little old man who stops his carriage ride (and his heart, with only a glance) changes the course of his courtroom proceedings and his life. The judge's secret penchant for suffering takes an unexpected turn after a hanging and a desperate woman move him from judge to accused in the most heinous fashion.
Then there's the couple who step into a world where normal rules don't exist, only to find their perceptions and lives challenged and transformed, in 'Awakening', where buried secrets come to life in dreams and an old man presents the choice of ignoring these fantasies or walking out of the world.
The joy of these reads lies in their ability to spin yarns that seem linear in approach, but which take a big turn in an opposite direction nearly every time, surprising readers and promoting them to think about unfamiliar consequences of character actions and choices.
Short story readers who appreciates the macabre or the tale that excels in irony and oddity will relish yet another satisfyingly powerful addition to the Mystery and Misadventure series: A Reunion.
Mystery and Misadventure: A Reunion
Return to Index
Bindi
and the Bodhi Tree Bindi
and the Bodhi Tree tells of a cat
who lives in a special home, a spiritual ashram in Ha'waii, and offers
many
thought-provoking insights to young picture book readers who have a
good grasp
of the written word and who are given a basic introduction to
meditation,
chanting, reincarnation, mantras, and more - all this through a cat's
eyes. Bindi's
'father' is a human who one day becomes stuck in a Bodhi tree, and
learns a
lesson from it. That's not the only lesson imparted here, as Bindi's
life and
those of her 'parents' are entwined with spiritual growth and
reflections. Adult
assistance with the concepts presented in this book will be useful, as
some
concepts both require clarification and invite further discussion.
'Mantra' and
'bindi', for just two examples, are words that are not completely
explained or
explored in this book, but are perfect fodder for adult/child
discussion, and
there are also concepts here that invite further dialogue: "Ramakrishna didn’t like me at
first because he
thought I was scrawny and ugly. That was over seven years ago and he
was much
more shallow back then than he is now." Parental
assistance
will be required to completely explore the idea of 'shallow' and how it
applies
to one-dimensional perceptions of life. Other ideas, such as
those of
'selfless service' and the notion of Bindi's ability to grasp Japanese,
also
invite further discourse about ethereal, spiritual notions, ethical and
moral
perspectives about life, and cat habits in general. The
Ha'waiian themes and drawings are filled with color, flowers, and fun
devices
for attracting young reader attention - especially those who hold a
prior
affection for cats. These lovely drawings by Mae Porter provide simple
yet fun
embellishments to Bindi's story, which includes several examples of
guided meditation
and yoga that can be used by adults to introduce children to these
ideas. Bindi
and the Bodhi Tree is not designed
to be a "read it yourself" story: because its subject and nature,
it's an interactive process best served alongside an adult's attention
to
explaining and exploring the Eastern philosophy basics and concepts
within, and
is highly recommended as a gentle, animal-centered introduction to the
basics
(and concepts) of Eastern philosophy.
Faete Faete,
Book 1 of the 'Blood Moon' series,
offers a feisty young protagonist who should be concerned with filling
out
college applications, but who instead uncovers family secrets, a Celtic
book of
magic, and faces the consequences from dabbling in something
dangerous.
Add a twist of romance to this paranormal mystery and you have a
genre-busting
read that has, as its protagonist, a 'halfling' that fits neatly in no
particular world, but deftly crosses into many with a strength few can
equal. Several
elements translate to this uncommon power; one being the feisty
character of
seventeen-year-old Renny, whose offer to close her mother's bookstore
one
evening leads to all kinds of problems, including opening a long-closed
gate
between two very different worlds. But
the story doesn't open on a teen's mundane life or in a bookstore, but
in a
boggy field in 19th Century Scotland, where spitfire Caitlin Brody sets
the
stage for what will affect several worlds by participating in a pagan
ritual
that portends dire consequences for both the mortal and faery kingdoms
she
straddles. Fast
forward to present-day Wisconsin, where a girl who comes "from a long
line
of seanachies" discovers that a Celtic bookstore holds a particular
book
of magic that is a powerful portal to something she never should have
encountered. Like many teens, she feels herself teetering on the cusp
of greatness
yet stuck, at the same time: "My
eighteenth birthday was approaching and my life felt like one giant
Groundhog
Day." The book she uncovers tempts her with not
only the
promise of magic, but the possibility of change - but it's not the kind
of
change she ever would have wished upon herself or those around her, and
as
events swirl into a deadly nightmare begun under a Blood Moon, so
readers are
swept into an epic romance and paranormal confrontation that is replete
with
forests, rituals, Celtic lore, dark forces, and love. As
Renny uncovers the truth of what she's inadvertently done, the second
powerful
feature of Faete
comes to light:
its ability to spark a series of connections between otherworldly
events and
influences and very human affairs. Take
love, for example. There are warnings galore ("It's every bit as dangerous to
close your heart off as it is to open it
to love."), but none of them can alter the
relentless turn of
events as Renny finds herself in trouble and locked in a
battle between
her head and heart. And
this leads to the third major reason why Faete
is a standout: its focus on choices, consequences, and their impact on
everyone
around her creates many thought-provoking scenes teens will reflect on
as they
become completely absorbed in Renny's dilemmas and the many challenges
to her
life. Can she set aside her infatuation with Keegan? And what about
Tristan -
what will these decisions cost her? And what do long-buried family
secrets have
to do with this process? Evocative,
compelling, and rich in setting, psychology, and supernatural flavors,
this
romance/paranormal tale will appeal not just to mature teens on their
own cusps
of new adulthood and its challenges, but to many an adult who will
appreciate
the warm blend of action, supernatural forces, and love wrapped in a
compelling
story of how a spell half-spoken in jest come alive with deadly
powers.
Just
Like You Said It Would Be When
seventeen-year-old Amira's parents sent her from Canada to live with
relatives
Dublin for the summer while they re-considered their relationship, they
didn't
expect that she would fall in love - but, she did. And when they called
her
back home, it was to discover that she had not only grown up immensely
through
a complicated relationship, but now had to deal with loss once again,
ripped
away from someone in the same way she'd been pulled from her
home. Most
young adult romances center around the evolution of the dream and not
upon its
aftermath, particularly when separation and long distances are
involved. But
one of the pleasures of Just
Like You Said
It Would Be lies in its precise words and images
of that aftermath,
and how the protagonist moves on from there: "Fighting in the street with him,
jealous, bitter, and sad. Us curled up
together, skin to skin in my aunt and uncle’s shed, breathing each
other in
like we could never get close enough. The intent way he’d listen, his
face a
mystery to me. The way he’d look at me, his electric blue eyes making
me feel restless,
dizzy, and full of ache. I wanted to know every thought running through
his
mind, unlock him for good and learn all his secrets. Maybe none of that
sounds
earth-shattering, but it was to me. His voice. His fingers on the
guitar. His
perfect wrists. The intensity with which he loved music, as though it
was
something sacred. Every time he walked into a room he made it feel like
a more
interesting place. What could be bigger than that? And what do you do
when you
don’t have that anymore and the memory of it has to be enough?" Few
writers follow the push and pull of a young relationship as deftly as
C. K.
Kelly Martin; especially the angst and uncertainty that brings jealousy
and
anger along with fiery passion. Whether it's unreasonable or unfair
feelings or
those which are logical, ordered, and rational, Just Like You Said It Would Be
features a whirlwind of
change as Amira faces friendships under siege, bad influences and
social
pressures, parents separated and reunited, and emotional distance and
connections
between friends and loved ones. Mature
teens who want a realistic, absorbing story of a girl's uncertain moves
from
adolescence to adulthood will find much to like, here. How does one
recover
from the absence of the love of one's life? Just
Like You Said It Would Be follows this process
though a riveting set
of emotional ups and downs and revelations that will keep readers
wondering
about the outcome till the end. It's highly recommended for teens on
the cusp
of adult relationships themselves who would learn much from Amira's
evolution.
Lucy
Lou's Magical Phone Lucy
Lou's Magical Phone will reach
elementary-level readers and those parents who look for family-oriented
read-alouds with its fun story of a girl who has a new red flip phone
that she
deems 'magical' because it requires a magical phrase to open
it. Lucy
Lou's phone has been passed down between generations - but it holds the
added
magic of returning to life the memories of a beloved grandmother whose
special
form of magic transferred from phone to listeners on both sides of the
device. The
magic phone holds the ability to bring families together, as Lucy Lou
discovers.
It reaches all ages, and it holds wider lessons - such that of the
concept of
'recharging'. Readers
with good reading skills will enjoy reading about Lucy Lou's magical
phone; but
most of all, they will feel warmed by the story's exploration of close
family
connections. Kids
who expect 'real magic' in the form of witches, brews, or amazing
supernatural
abilities may be disappointed to find that the phone holds none of
these
elements; but it actually features something better: the magic of love
and compassion
between different generations. Adults
who want to pass along this legacy to kids will find Lucy Lou's Magical Phone
an enchanting, encouraging read.
Native
American Action Stories Kindle:
Native
American Action Stories Website:
Home
- Native American
Action Stories Native
American Action Stories: Exciting Events in Nine
Different Tribes appears in its
third revised edition and
broadly defines 'events' as moving beyond military confrontations and
into
areas of competition, hunting, village attacks and more. It also
embraces and
rewrites the history of tribes across North and Central America, which
makes
for a satisfyingly different contrast of tribes, history, and actions.
This
different approach features a fine re-definition of Native actions and
life
challenges and is especially user-friendly for its intended adolescent
audience
with its larger font style and an accessible, inviting format. This
author's note highlights the unique approach of these stories: "Fight-to-the-death forest
ambushes by Northeastern
natives in the dense forests; athletic games--similar to lacrosse--so
physically demanding that natives of the Southeast referred to these
contests
as "Little Brother of War"; Eskimos stalking large polar bears near
the frigid Arctic Circle; Aztec sacrificial combat held in the capital
of their
kingdom--all of these actions were experienced by certain groups in
different
parts of the Americas." All
this said, readers who expect battle scenarios may be surprised to find
the
depth of history presented in these stories, which includes plenty of
political
background and discussions of intertribal relationships and how these
were
affected by the arrival of the white man: "Among the first Indians with
whom the French traded were the Algonquins
and the Hurons. As a result, these two large tribes--located in what is
mainly
Canadian territory-- became powerful and benefited greatly from their
European
ally. In the present New York State area lived a group of five tribes
broadly
called Iroquois who, although possessing the same language and culture,
had no
real bonds of cooperation. The only thing they could agree upon was
their
archenemy--the hated Algonquins--was growing richer and stronger
through French
backing." These
nonfiction reader notes accompany each story and add to the tales of
tribal
encounters and experiences, making this collection of interest far
beyond its
intended juvenile readership. Anyone
who wants a lively, well-rounded survey of Native American history will
find Native
American Action Stories a fine pick
that doesn't sacrifice historical fact for the sake of action, but
combines
both in a vivid, memorable series of tales highly recommended for all
ages.
Too
Many Things! Young
Jamie loves the weekend. He has many choices on how to spend his time
with his
family, and the only thing he hates is going shopping. However, this is
a
problem for him because his parents love to shop - and insist on
bringing him
along! Illustrator
David Barrow provides engaging, fun, and very colorful drawings that
capture
Jamie's reluctance to shop and the conundrum he faces from parents who
"just need a few things" at the store even as Jamie insists that
"we already have too many things!" Jamie
is definitely a minimalist, while his parents can't seem to get enough
stuff.
One Saturday, he becomes determined to get his point across. But will
his
parents listen? And how will they handle the problem of overabundance
and
obsessive shopping habits? Tracy
Bryan offers a fine story that holds a powerful message for ages 4 and
older.
It's a gentle reminder about life values couched in the realistic story
of how
a family handles the problem of having too many material
goods. Even
more fun is the concluding page, which features black and white
drawings of the
author and illustrator produced by the illustrator himself: a great
conclusion
to a winning picture book story that should be in every
collection!
The
Waterfall Traveler Book
One of this young adult fantasy introduces its tale with a map showing
an
island off the shore of a land mass which includes such intriguing
images as a
castle at Sea Dragon's Point and a mountain range called Funeral
Mountains.
This provides a visual sense of the landscape and adds an element of
intrigue
right from the start. Enhancing the sense of adventure is a prologue
that
features a goddess, her brother Death, and her sister Fate, who
together weave
a new world. But
this sense of magic and intrigue received an immediate, satisfying
twist when
protagonist Ri awakens to a dilemma which also forges a solid sense of
place in
just a few sentences: "No,
no, no! How
could I have slept so soundly while Samuel wandered out of our home? I
swung
my cottage’s door open and bolted outside. The morning sun peeked over
the
mountains and cast soft light onto my cliff-top village." Ri's
adoptive father Samuel is ill. He suffers from incurable
hallucinations, and
she has to watch his every move while solidly rejecting the notion that
he
can't be healed. But she's stymied in her goal of helping him until she
meets
two strangers in the forest who have their own agendas, and faces a
choice that
could either cure Samuel or imprison her in another realm. The
Waterfall Traveler combines an epic
quest with a caring girl's coming of age and offers much to young adult
fantasy
readers. Perhaps its greatest strength lies in its ability to craft a
tale with
very realistic goals and concerns as Ri faces dangerous plots and
counters many
plans with her own: "Was
he seriously
rambling about a backup plan in case a guard captured—or killed—him?
Every part
of me was shaking. “No.” I shoved him and the amulet away." It's
always pleasing to see determination, grit, and personal struggle
cementing an
action-packed story, and The
Waterfall
Traveler provides these elements and more, never
neglecting personal
psychology in favor of adventure. Ri is continually challenged and
meets these
dangers head-on; but always with very real fears behind her bravado,
and this
is just one element that lends authenticity to the action: "My hands trembled, grasping my
dagger—a pitiful
weapon against such a monstrous beast. It was mere luck that I had
even
stabbed the creature in the first place. I was going to die. I was
never going
to see Samuel, Bryce, or home again. If only I had a powerful blade
like
Baxter’s and the strength to use it. But I didn’t, and I was alone.
“Pull
yourself together,” I told myself. “There’s a way out of this. Think.” As
her relationships and choices drive the story, young adult (and many an
adult)
readers will find Ri's determination and rationales powerful driving
forces to
the story line ("He
clomped into the
stream and I was forced to follow. “Is Bryce out here too?” “Of course
not!
He’s too ill.” I dug my heels into the soft sand at the water’s bottom.
“Stop
treating me like a child!” He had reverted into the cold officer who
had
humiliated me the night we met. How dare he think this type of behavior
was
appropriate? “Dammit, Baxter,” I yelled, squirming. “Let go.”)
which
lends it a flavor that makes it thoroughly engrossing and hard to put
down. Can't
wait for Book Two!
Ramakrishna Michaels
Moana Publications
978-0-9978810-1-1
$14.95
http://a.co/2h7QQE0
Bindi
and the Bodhi Tree
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Aimee Sellars
Inglenook Books
978-0692745649
$4.99
http://a.co/5pGT5pb
Faete
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C. K. Kelly Martin
CreateSpace/Amazon Digital Services
1542749468 Print: $11.95
e-book: $5.99
Website www.ckkkellymartin.com
Ordering links:
http://amzn.to/2lVhfEM
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/
http://apple.co/2ltqyZf
https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/
The story's ability to pull readers into this maelstrom of emotion and
have it
all make sense from Amira's perspective as she faces choices and
surprises
rests firmly on a first-person voice that carefully considers these
bombshells
and their different options: "It’s
funny the way you can still laugh when you’re unhappy deep down.
Darragh folded
his hands beneath his head then and lay down next to me. I turned on my
side,
touching my History of Ireland necklace and telling myself I couldn’t
be in
love with him because it was too soon."
Just
Like You Said It Would Be
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Jaime Trainor
Warren Publishing
978-1-943258-31-4
www.warrenpublishing.net
Lucy
Lou's Magical Phone
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Alvin R. Brown
CreateSpace
9781519435774
$19.99 paperback $3.99 Kindle (0 with Kindle
Unlimited)
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/
Native
American Action Stories
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Tracy Bryan
Self Published @ Create Space, Ingram Spark
Hardcover:
9780692830147
$19.99
Softcover: 978-0692816141
eBook: 9780692831533
Audiobook Price: 3.46
https://www.amazon.com/Too-
Too
Many Things!
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S.J. Lem
Carpe Noctem Publishing
Hardcover 978-0-9986129-0-4
$24.99
Paperback 978-0-9986129-2-8
$13.95
eBook
978-0-9986129-1-1 $3.99
https://www.amazon.com/dp/
The
Waterfall Traveler
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