February 2016 Review Issue
Pardon
Me While I Close The Door
Marjan Sierhuis
Marjan Sierhuis, Publisher
978-0-994-0653-0-8 $l5CAD
www.marjansierhuis.ca
In the Spring of 2014, author Marjan Sierhuis read Cheryl Strayed’s Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, an account of how the twenty-six-year-old embarked upon a life-changing hike of some eleven hundred miles. Inspired to undertake her own (albeit shorter) odyssey, Sierhuis kept a journal of her experience which evolved into Pardon Me While I Close The Door, a different urban walk of self-exploration.
The walk reflects a middle-aged woman's life journey and choices and the changes she experiences upon the death of her parents, and it captures a vivid personal odyssey that ultimately revolves around the acceptance of loss and how to move on.
The door closes upon a chapter of pain and confusion even though the walk itself is only some thirteen kilometers and undertaken in an urban setting. Lacking the usual life-threatening rural obstacles, readers might wonder what an urban sojourn could mean to an effort to change one's familiar surroundings in order to gain perspective; but Pardon Me While I Close The Door demonstrates that a rural experience or a long journey are not prerequisites for growth and enlightenment.
The sojourn allows time for Marjan to explore memories of her family and life, to process them under different conditions than her everyday familiar world could allow, and to invite a kind of closure that wasn't possible when immersed in familiar routines.
Her memoir thus offers many touching moments that readers will find poignant, candid, and heart-felt: "Marjan, I hope you are not with me the day I die,” he said, “because you will try and save me.” Looking at him in silence, I didn’t know what to say. I felt there could be some truth in his words. And perhaps if I did speak, it wouldn’t be what he wanted to hear and I would regret it for the rest of my life."
The author's process of accepting her parents' deaths didn't begin with her walk, but it synthesized and completed a process that had actually started before her parents died: "Close friends and colleagues empathized as I rambled on endlessly about my father. I read voraciously—every book I could find on death, dying, and bereavement. I started journalling. When I wasn’t working twelve-hour shifts, I walked through forests, provincial parks, along lakes and riverbeds, trying to find a spiritual connection to my father. I tried to hang on and let go at the same time."
Pardon Me While I Close The Door also explores the movement from friendship to lover as the author forms and then re-examines different connections in her life.
The result is a memoir that intimately follows the process of how the stormy present becomes a gentler past, both in death and in romance, and shows how a walk out of one's world can serve as a catalyst for closure and change.
Pardon Me While I Close The DoorReturn to Index
The
Rose Temple
S. Mitchell Weitzman with Lucia Weitzman
Solomon Berl
9780996117708 $24.95
www.solomon-berlmedia.com
http://therosetemple.com
The Rose Temple: A Child Holocaust Survivor's Vision of Faith, Hope and Our Collective Future blends history and memoir with a social plea as it follows a woman who not only survives the Holocaust, but becomes a spiritual messenger.
Lucia Weitzman's transformation began with her struggle to survive both physically and spirituality: a journey through turns of events that take readers far from the usual Holocaust autobiography about surviving atrocities. The story is told by her son, S. Mitchell Weitzman.
It was after the author's father died that his mother's spiritual exploration began ("Her friends and family expected her to seek security and comfort with a companion. Instead she chose to spend her time documenting her mystical dreams and visions in a private journal.") in a quest that will eventually draw him into what was to prove an incredible journey for them both as son and mother drew together in unexpected new directions: "I began writing The Rose Temple as an admiring son. Unexpectedly, it turned into something more. My own spiritual sensibilities have developed, often in synchronicity with my mother’s. It helped promote my own healing. And it has affirmed my role and even my duty to make this a better world. The process has been joyful, challenging and intense."
A popular saying mentions that more value lies in the journey than in the ultimate destination, and readers interested in Weitzman's journey and its accompanying spiritual revelations will thus find The Rose Temple a powerful testimony of faith, endurance, and the evolution of mysticism. Lucia's identity was erased during the Nazi era and her long journey to reclaim her birthright and heritage led her in unexpected directions.
As the wellsprings of divine inspiration pour forth from circumstantial encounters, serendipitous and life-changing events, and a journey of heart, memory and soul, so readers are carried along a passionate ride that seeks answers, connections, and meaning from life.
Though the drama of family encounters and events are evident in perfect autobiographical form, so are the queries into purpose and meaning that elevate The Rose Temple from a Holocaust memoir to something much more: "Perhaps instead of asking if God is communicating to you, you need to ask what God is communicating to you," Mitchell said.
Because events move back and forth in time in place from Poland to New York to Israel and beyond, readers should be prepared for a somewhat mercurial read that flows easily between past and present, with clear chapter headings and contents allowing little possibility of confusion.
Has Lucia been granted life only to save another life? Do her dreams portend a mystical solution? Can her journey and record of these dreams lead to something more?
The Rose Temple is a good choice for those seeking something more than a Holocaust history or memoir: something steeped in spiritual exploration and, ultimately, a journey to arrive at the crux of the meaning of life. While it's a heady read that ultimately asks readers to examine their own lives, it's also fueled with the passion of an individual's journey and thus is accessible to a wide audience: very highly recommended as a standout read in the literature of Holocaust survivors and Jewish spiritual exploration.
The Rose TempleReturn to Index
Helm
of Shadows
P G Badzey
P G Badzey, Publisher
978-0-9971397-0-9 $TBA
http://www.pgbadzey.com/
The Grey Riders who 'serve the holy way' in Helm of Shadows live on a world called Damora in a star system nearly twenty light years from Earth. It's much like Earth, but it has a number of planets aligned against it, so its enemies are legion and its inhabitants are ruled by prophecy. They use gates that allow them to travel between worlds and regularly confront Daemons who consider Damora their playground.
Against this backdrop these warriors journey south and east on winged steeds that carry their Viking-like heroes to lofty heights and purposes to quench the fires of evil, embarking on a quest for a relic whose powers will change the world even as they confront the dark forces that twist their own hearts.
That's the basic plot of the third (concluding) book in a multi-faceted series, but readers expecting a linear progression of events will be happy to learn that each series title in fact expands upon its predecessors and adds further information about the past, present and future lives of Dar Cabot's family as it wraps its cloak of fantasy around an atmosphere of mystery and intrigue.
Helm of Shadows provides a number of maps to help clarify Damora's geography, uses a rhyme about the Riders and their purpose to introduce them to newcomers to the series, and employs the gaming style of Dungeons and Dragons in book form to bring a successful role-playing formula to new life. Although Helm of Shadows stands well on its own for newcomers to the series, it does represent the third (and final) book in the trilogy, and so is especially recommended for prior fans who will appreciate the neat wrap-up of events and smooth answers to many questions about an ongoing evil and a family's connections to the threat.
Perhaps this is the greatest strength of Helm of Shadows, which sees the series' complex, evolving theme to satisfying fruition. Badzey takes the time, even in his concluding novel, to assure that readers enjoy that same sense of place and time that was crafted in his prior books: "Eric gave the air a long, careful sniff. He detected prairie grass, heather, oakwood, hartberry and fern… some moss and fungus as well. There was something else… something musty and animal-like… it reminded him of a dog."
Dangerous shamen, elven senses, and magical potions that pack protection (and a punch) when consumed ("Holy saints,” he coughed after the last. “Peppery, orange, chocolate, salty, lemony and minty, one after the other… I bet Melinor makes those flavors just to laugh at people after they drink them.”): by steeping the senses in the flavors, colors, sights and sounds of Damora, Badzey assures that this journey and its consequences are impressively vivid.
Most fantasy sagas (especially multi-volume productions) hold common denominators and attractions: missions, prophecies, extraordinary adversaries, and dangerous encounters that challenge and change hearts and minds. All of these components are central devices of the more successful works.
The best of them, however, create living, breathing protagonists who function so smoothly in their worlds and roles that readers are drawn by both setting and challenge and encouraged to not just care about characters and events, but to envision themselves facing such obstacles with the powers of purpose and choice at their fingertips. And fantasies which add subliminal connections to familiar ideas (whether it be religious, psychological or social) truly stand out from the norm. Such was the case with C.S. Lewis in his Christian-based Narnia fantasy series, and many of these same elements and approaches are intrinsic to Helm of Shadows and its predecessors.
Newcomers who hold a particular affinity for fantasy role playing and complex, action-packed stories from Tolkien to Brooks will be delighted with this winning trilogy which is solid, engrossing, and compelling to the end.
Helm of ShadowsReturn to Index
Killing
Juggernaut
Jared Bernard
BookBaby
Paperback: ISBN 9781682224045
$19.00
Ebook:
ISBN
9781682224052 $ 3.99
Novel website: www.killingjuggernaut.com
Author website: www.jaredbernard.com
Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
While all sci-fi and thriller readers will appreciate Killing Juggernaut, Jared Bernard's focus on three individuals who separately (and differently) react to the scientific premise that ecological destruction will bring about the end of humanity will especially delight fans of apocalyptic and environmental works.
Written from the perspective of an astronomer's reaction to impending disaster, his journey to the desert and his diary of events make for a gripping story.
The title Killing Juggernaut may portend a military novel or a thriller but in fact the story line begins with a scientist's desperate mission to understand the events that have led to humanity's downfall, and it is enhanced by two very different individuals' experiences and perspectives about the path of humanity's rocky road to ruin.
The scientist protagonist strives to 'keep his writing simple' for whomever might discover his saga, and so his scientific explanations are tempered by observations that clearly explain his discipline and perceptions without jargon or confusing technical explanations.
The story is narrated from these different perspectives and includes news reports, personal feelings towards these events and outcomes ("It seems as if witchcraft has befallen our society."), insights on the Mission for Humanity project, and other struggles for survival which makes for a gripping saga that is precise and revealing in its approach.
Killing Juggernaut reveals the killing forces at work on levels ranging from personal and environmental to social and political as it documents the end of humanity's long journey. There's even room for love in such a scenario: a surprise touch for a story filled with angst and special interest insights on impending disaster.
Revealing, engrossing, and hard to put down, Killing Juggernaut is just the ticket for sci-fi readers who want a pointed observational piece on the survival (or demise) of humanity.
Killing JuggernautReturn to Index
Reason
for Existence
Richard Botelho
Windstream Publishing Company
303 Windstream
Place
Danville, CA 94526
Price:
$14.95 US Dollars (softcover)
and $2.99 US Dollars (ebook)
ISBN: 978-0-9643926-6-3 (softcover)
ISBN: 978-0-9643926-7-0 (ebook)
www.wpcbooks.com
Reason for Existence at first looks to be another apocalyptic story of impending nuclear war, as its scenario is set in 2017 and opens with military exercises undertaken by the Chinese along a vast Asian border. As events progress, it seems inevitable that the Earth will sizzle under nuclear fire.
As if this weren't enough of a problem, aliens have also deemed this an opportune time to launch a biological weapons attack against humanity!
It would seem highly unlikely that a single government (much less one individual) could change the relentless march of the human race towards extinction, but such a hero is David Jordan, whose private life is about to embrace a much bigger scenario where humanity's ultimate fate is literally in his hands.
One explanation of why Reason for Existence is such a delight is that the story doesn't stop with these engrossing challenges: It embraces philosophical and spiritual approaches using a sage (yet seasoned) plot that involves readers in not just nonstop action, but higher-level thinking. All this is couched in the form of a thriller that is absolutely engrossing.
Another reason why Reason for Existence stands out is its protagonist, who is edgy, distantly intrigued by political dilemmas, and who harbors a secret that questions his own origins and connections with the human race: "Three million years of human evolution stared me in the face, replete with countless wars, genocides, environmental degradation, nuclear destructions, and a general maliciousness of men toward their fellow men. Still, something propelled humanity forward, something worth living for that I had never quite grasped, and I wanted to learn of its nature. I guess you could say it was my quest."
Duty, global war or peace, and battles on many fronts … a thriller-seeker couldn't ask for a better series of events, which takes the standard apocalyptic political thriller and moves it into the arena of wider-reaching science fiction: "Earth was not the first hospitable planet with intelligent life to order its own demise. I guess you could blame physics. That’s why The Council often intervened to save planets from themselves. Even advanced species like The Council recognize the inviolability of entropy; and that recognition is a primary reason we work so hard with other intelligences to someday devise a solution to a universe otherwise proceeding toward its own death."
Inject moral, ethical and philosophical concerns into the story line for a powerful account that mixes human destiny with extraterrestrial influences and places everything solidly in the hands of one American man who questions what it means to be human in a riveting, didn't-see-that-coming saga packed with satisfying twists and turns.
Reason for ExistenceReturn to Index
Common
Stones
Alicia M. Smith
Publisher: InspiringVoices
ISBN: 978-1-4624-1164-1 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-4624-1163-4 (e)
www.inspiringvoices.com
For Purchase:
http://www.amazon.com/Common-
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/
http://bookstore.
It's a well-known fact that many people have the strength to overcome impossible obstacles to happiness, health, and better living, and their stories sometimes serve as examples for others. But, exactly how do they overcome and persevere? What reserves do they draw on while reaching for life's positive experiences?
Common Stones may hold a name that sounds ordinary, but its message is anything but common. Its subtitle ("A glimpse into several different worlds, in an effort to become more acquainted with our own") actually holds clearer keys to understanding its approach, while its focus on spirituality, a better connection to God, and the powers of hidden grace make it especially recommended for spiritual readers.
Stories of miracles, achievement, and large and small successes are supplemented by an overall attention to the details of philosophy, psychology, and spiritual living: "We all have a common thread, our own stories, our own soundtracks that represent our lives. We struggle with a desperate hope to persevere. We want to be needed, to be appreciated for our talents, our passions, and our characteristics—what we bring to the table, unique from everyone else on this planet. We want to fulfill some type of purpose, whatever that may be. These threads create not only our own patch of tapestry, but combined, become a bigger idea, a masterpiece linking each of us. Not a single thread can be replaced. It may dull or endure wear and tear, but it maintains its purpose. It supports the others, creating a one-of-a-kind symphony of intention."
The stepping stones of stability and purpose are the focus of this survey, which identifies and shares these approaches to personal freedom. The stories are selected for their ability to impart inspiration, hope, and healing, and blend first-person autobiographies with insights on how the power of prayer and connections changed lives or influenced directions.
At each step, illustrations of how the struggle itself resulted in growth on many different levels makes for a thought-provoking testimonies about different kinds of survival tactics and their ultimate success.
The result is recommended for any Christian and spiritual reader who would look at adversity and life challenges with a new eye to identifying and working with their growth potential: an inspirational read that includes captivating testimonies affirming the superpowers of faith.
Common StonesReturn to Index
The
(First) 4 Maxims Of Social Conservatism
By "WE"
Amazon Digital Inc.
B00XZN6MYW
$2.99
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/scmaxims
Webpage: scmaxims.com
What is social conservatism and how can The Four Maxims help you understand and apply it to everyday life? Most such discussions stem from a single individual or expert, but an important difference in The (First) 4 Maxims Of Social Conservatism (evident in the author line, if nothing else) is that this book comes not from a one perspective but from a collective effort.
The authors, "WE", embrace one of the basic premises of social conservatism by placing this discussion not in the hands of the usual politician associated with being a 'conservative', but in the lives of everyday individuals. The authors of this book work in various trades and professions, are members of civic organizations or school groups, and bring to the table diverse family backgrounds and experiences, blending insights on social conservatism into a unified theory based on maxims that apply to everyday American life.
Thus, The (First) 4 Maxims Of Social Conservatism gains its strength not from political mandate or expertise, but from the life experiences and homegrown tenants of its contributors.
Lest readers anticipate a blend of autobiography and self-help, however, they shouldn't. The (First) 4 Maxims relies on the intersection of history, science, and logic to craft these keys to daily living. It's not a discussion based on religion and it isn't written just to appeal to conservatives, but reaches out to anyone who would consider how to best live, and what kind of society supports those goals.
'Social conservativism' itself is all about addressing social problems starting not from the political top, but from the bottom - and this means the lives, hearts and minds of the common man. It advocates less government by laying forth the kinds of lifestyles that result in less dependency, and less isolation, psychological issues, crime, divorce, incarceration, out-of-wedlock births, and drug dependency (among other goals).
How can these lofty ideals be achieved? Not by enacting laws; but through grassroots changes from the bottom up. If this all sounds impossible, read on. The idea is not to force people into niches, nor is it about governments enacting laws: it provides both a foundation for better living and a springboard for linking personal and social transformation processes by applying the initial four maxims described in this book (more are projected to evolve from this effort).
From clarifications on what differentiates a social liberal from a social conservative ("If your outlook is: "Life should be lived by a Pleasure Principle," and you strive to live that outlook (especially in the area of social relationships), then you're a social liberal. If your outlook is: "Life should be lived by a Happiness Principle," and you strive to live that outlook (especially in the area of social relationships, then you're a social conservative.") to exactly how these efforts manifest in choices in living one's life, The (First) 4 Maxims Of Social Conservatism couldn't get any clearer in its ideals and discussions.
Indeed, The (First) 4 Maxims is packed with so much food for thought that it's recommended for reading in bits and pieces, as each digested concept is weighty and ideally should be thought about in the context of a reader's past, present, and future life choices.
Embedded with website reference links throughout and peppered with evidence on what makes people happiest and most satisfied with their choices in life, this lively discourse is a 'must' for any thinking reader, conservative or liberal, who would consider behavioral and philosophical adjustments in pursuit of a greater goal.
The (First) 4 Maxims Of Social ConservatismReturn to Index
Power:
A User's Guide
Julie Diamond, PhD
Belly Song Press
978099666033 $18.95
www.bellysongpress.com
Power: A User's Guide discusses leadership roles, the negative spin given to the concept of acquiring or handling power, and how to exercise authority properly and ethically. It blends psychology and social observation with exercises and stories from author Julie Diamond's career as a leadership coach helping clients develop their own high-power roles in business and personal lives, and it provides a powerful survey of different aspects of power management, from how to hone it in oneself and one's life to navigating the issues that arise from how others wield it.
Chapters offer plenty of cautions on the pitfalls of power in the process of surveying its management and power-sharing strategies and how to overcome or work with inherent individual limitations.
Connections between emotions, trigger events, and the exercise of power cultivate discussions that consider historical uses of power and adult perceptions of authority, offering checklists and guidelines designed to foster psychological growth and better understanding.
The result is a wide-ranging discussion accessible to audiences of business readers and those interested in self-improvement, identifying the basic characteristics of power, linking these to various personality traits, and providing an in-depth set of ideas for more effectively understanding and applying powerful approaches to life and business alike.
Power: A User's GuideReturn to Index
Tokyo Decadence
Ryu Murakami
Kurodahan Press
3-9-10-305 Tenjin, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka, 810-0001 JAPAN
978-4-902075-78-6 $20.00
Prepublication Manuscript: ETA March 2016
www.kurodahan.com
Murakami's short stories are presented in a chronological sequence (from 1986 to 2003) and explore the lives of several individuals who move in different circles of Tokyo society; from a college student who works as a specialty sex prostitute for high-end clients, pleasing their whims by playing out their sexual fantasies while handling her own unrequited love for a married man, to others who turn to sex to boost their processes of personal transformation.
First of all, readers should be advised that the graphic sexual descriptions are, of necessity, a powerful part of many of these stories; if sexual scenes are offensive (these include erotic asphyxiation, light s/m bondage, or role-playing fantasy), then choose another book. Potential readers should also know that the special richness of Tokyo Decadence lies in its attention to presenting sexual experiences that reflect and change each protagonist's life. The collection thus excels in diverse scenarios of fortune, love and redemption.
It quickly becomes evident that Tokyo Decadence holds quite a bit of psychological depth and is not simply an exploration of sordid sexual encounters. Under Murakami's hand, prostitution becomes a multi-faceted affair, its insights revealed through multiple viewpoints. These include revelations about Japanese society ("Whenever I go abroad I’m reminded that Japan is a special case, and that the Japanese are hopelessly spoiled. The prosperity here is due mainly to geopolitical factors, but everyone thinks it’s because we work so hard."), explorations of interpersonal relationships, and discussions of choices that result in both positive and negative impacts.
There are intriguing cross-cultural comparisons ("Studying the people there, it struck me how everyone inevitably ends up a slave like everyone else. Slave faces, slave fashions, slave cars, slave speech, slave attitudes—they just keep replicating themselves, endlessly. In Japan people aren’t even aware of it, but in a place like Calcutta the discrimination is so total and so blatant that you can’t kid yourself about where you really stand."), subtler observations of generational differences ("I’m feeling a lot better now, and a funny thought occurs to me—that if I were someone my mother’s age I’d probably still be bowing in his direction."), and the experiences of mistresses, men, and other characters caught up in sex, drugs, and cultural inconsistencies.
While Tokyo Decadence's sex scenes are indeed graphically portrayed, it's important to note that, more so than most fiction where sexual activity is one of the main themes, Murakami's exact details employ precise blends of sexual, sensual and psychological intimacy. They incorporate emotional responses, past history, and present revelations to craft a bigger picture far more complex than one might anticipate from a collection that includes 'decadence' as part of its title.
Readers seeking a progressive story of emotional and physical evolution together with insights about Japan's cultural psyche will find Tokyo Decadence a sensual gathering of fifteen intersected stories of individuals who love, lust, and trade revelations with others about their dreams, fantasies, and personas: "These facts define who I am and limit my freedom and possibilities. And I didn’t really want to think about all that."
Short story readers with a special affection for Japanese culture will find Tokyo Decadence a rich, multi-faceted collection: candid, startling, and satisfyingly diverse in its perspectives.
Tokyo DecadenceReturn to Index
When
Giorgione Died: A Rebilungsroman in Two Volumes
Gloria Kury
Periscope Publishing Ltd.
9781934772317 $35.00
http://www.amazon.com/When-
If When Giorgione Died: A Rebilungsroman in Two Volumes sounds familiar, perhaps that's because of the reference to one 'Giorgione' in its title: a Renaissance artist about whom little is known (although much has been speculated, as he's received scholarly attention over the centuries).
One might expect that an art history and biographical sketch holding such a title and topic would be limited to the attention of Renaissance-era experts and art historians; but one of the pleasures of When Giorgione Died is its ability to reach out to lay readers who may be interested in art matters, but who lack an art researcher's credentials.
Gloria Kury's approach to her subject cultivates a chatty, warm style that eschews the usual dry approach of art histories to add a lively and fun set of insights into the artist and his times, using language that is accessible to all: "Giorgione. He was never quite real. Not real like Titian. Maybe that's why people back then, during the 16th century, said he went into hiding after Titian outdid him in painting the façade of a building on the Grand Canal."
Famous for a particular style of painting and for being so mysterious that even his dates are hypothetical, with his background as shadowy as his art works, this exploration seeks to make shadows visible and provides two very different 'volumes' under one cover to fully express the ironies and inconsistencies, providing an artistic approach that examines the processes peculiar to understanding elusive artists and their works.
Much-cited books needing new translations, objects and subjects, art works which fabricate an artificial alternate reality, and mirages, scams, and clues to Giorgione and his paintings are all presented using almost surreal insights and language, translating a wealth of conflicting speculations and facts about the man and juxtaposing them with bright, intense words that promote a different way of viewing the world.
When Giorgione Died is no linear analytical production for the typical art historian, and so it requires (and even demands) of its reader an unusual affinity for non-linear thinking: an approach that involves delving behind appearance to embrace the strange coincidences and surrealistic impressions that are as much a part of the art world as intellectual discourse.
Lest one wonder: two volumes actually reside under one cover, here, so there's no need to look for a second book. The 'two volumes' mention fits neatly into the light-hearted exploration of the ironies of art history presentations and traditional biographical treatments of artists. As an added bonus, 27 illustrations accompany a text that unfolds like a slideshow lecture.
Bam! Bam! Slap! Slap! Listen! Look! These are not typical words in art histories, but they are highly appropriate here, illustrating the one-two punches of a survey that is as steeped in fun as much as it's backed by the authenticity and insights of a Vassar graduate well versed in both art and psychology. Her absorbing treatise takes a cloudy history and transforms it into a mercurial, surrealistic vision.
While no art history collection should be without its delightfully unique approach, general-interest readers will find When Giorgione Died to be wonderfully accessible, lively, and thought-provoking. Slow reading is a requirement here, as well as re-reading. There's so much to see, hear, and absorb in a treatise that is neither a scholarly tome nor a light treatment; but an intriguing affair that compares literary and artistic figures alike as it romps through the art world of Renaissance times.
When Giorgione Died: A Rebilungsroman in Two VolumesReturn to Index
Why Are You Here?
Franklin L. Kury
University Press of America
Paperback: 9789761864622
$24.99
eBook:
9780761864539
$24.99
www.rowman.com
www.franklinkury.com
Why Are You Here? A Primer for State Legislatures and Citizens looks deceptively slim at barely over a hundred pages, but its diminutive appearance masks a treasure trove of information on how state legislatures operate that will provide students from high school to college (and the general-interest reading public) with a key to understanding their purpose and function.
Most political process books are overly complex, mirroring the weight of a political system that tends to bog down from its structure. Not so Why Are You Here?, which pairs analytical discussion with clear explanations of how legislatures handle issues of criminal, personal and ethical scandal, lobbyists and special interest groups, and pressures to perform.
Citizens and elected officials will find it packed with insights on these demands and how they are (or are not) handled, with discussions including notes and assessments that stem from real-life political encounters, embracing a practical clarify that is simply refreshing to read: "Legislatures, however, are not seminaries. They cannot teach the basic difference between right and wrong. Individual legislators come to the capitol with whatever moral compass they were raised with at home. A state capitol, with all its pressures and temptations, is not the place to learn a moral code of conduct. Rather, the capitol may be the ultimate testing ground for the strength of that code. On this point all legislators must be accountable to themselves and their constituents."
From monetary expenditures and reapportionment processes to the issues surrounding campaign funding and fairness, the focus on political process and ethical results pinpoint all facets of legislative activity in a manner especially relevant for citizens who envision serving or operating in government and public service sectors.
Franklin L. Kury served six years in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and eight in the state's Senate. Citizens and would-be political figures could ask for no clearer assessment of the ethical and political pressures involved in such service than Why Are You Here?, which should be required reading for any who would enter legislative office and for any high school to college-age student who would better understand its workings.
Why Are You Here?Return to Index
Agent
Ginger (The Extra Mile)
Foley Western
Published by CreateSpace , ISBN-13: 978-1519162823,
Price
$12.99
ISBN-10: 1519162820
http://www.foleywestern.com,
Http://www.Twitter.com/
It's unusual to find a spy story that includes a good dose of romance; especially one whose protagonist is a feisty woman who won't take 'no' for an answer; but Agent Ginger is such a creation. Ginger's an extraordinarily capable, talented spy on the level of James Bond, whose mission to China leads her to cross into forbidden territory by falling in love with her boss.
As capable as she is in the arena of international politics and infiltration, she finds herself somewhat less in control when it comes to the puzzles of romance, and so Agent Ginger's latest mission is a challenge on many levels as she seeks to thwart forces that would prevent the peaceful return of Hong Kong back to China as well as those which would compromise her heart.
As Amanda ('Ginger' is her code name) struggles, she finds herself unable to use the information that usually reliably helps her steer a course in life, and finds herself navigating the murky world of love and intrigue on an uncustomary thin line. Chapters follow her wavering course, which offers a blend of confidence and uncertainty about the impact of her decisions.
Especially powerful in its consideration of how communications between couples can deliver mixed messages ("He was lying to cover his mistake. Except that he wasn’t, Ginger thought she knew a lie when she heard one, but she also knew Clive well enough to know that he didn’t make excuses.") and in how two already-powerful individuals come to find first connection then solace then love in one another, Agent Ginger is especially recommended for readers who relish international intrigue, a good spy saga, and an overall blanket of emotional interplays that links and guides these themes.
Agent Ginger (The Extra Mile)
Return to Index
Banished
Threads
Kaylin McFarren
Creative Edge Publishing LLC
978-1518806919 $9.95
www.kaylinmcfarren.com
It’s been rumored that Banished Threads concludes a vivid mystery series revolving around sleuths, spies, and treasure hunts: so those who have relished Kaylin McFarren's prior books should be prepared to read slowly, carefully, and enthusiastically, because this final book will end the series unless Kaylin surprises us all.
That
said, Banished
Threads should not
be missed by either prior fans or newcomers, and twists the threads of
family
ties to their breaking points, as it uncovers stolen paintings, a
missing
granddaughter, an uncle accused of murder, and a plot to destroy a
family.
Rachel
and Chase have their hands more than full, especially since Rachel
faces
building her own future family circle, which may become endangered by
her
actions.
Taunt
scenes of confrontation between characters, underlying issues of trust,
forthcoming nuptials changed by unexpected voyages, and the terror of a
kidnapped woman are all wound into atmospheric descriptions of setting
and
psyche alike. But it's the psychological depth that keeps the
protagonists
filled with life and three-dimensional personalities: "He’d been protecting her from
his psycho partner in
the next room—a man who would beat her to death if given the chance.
She slowly
opened the door, exposing her fears and vulnerability. Then she slid
down to
the floor and stared straight ahead, waiting like a mouse in a trap.”
These revelations, liberally peppered throughout a story of danger and motivation, keep the plot moving quite a step above the usual genre mystery: "Where are my friends? She wondered. Maybe they never existed outside of her imagination. They were as phony and wicked as the fairy tales she had once believed in—the fairy tales her language teacher had enjoyed reading in boarding school and had cruelly destroyed the night he snuck into her room. It suddenly dawned on her that, no matter where destiny took her, she would always be caged, always be trapped in her childhood nightmares. Begging for love, begging for power. Begging to wake up and be free.”
Mystery
and thriller readers will find this level of description sets Banished Threads apart
from more
singular plots as it evolves into a gripping story of life and death
told on
many levels, using real living, breathing protagonists whose actions
and
thoughts move beyond the art and intrigue circles they traverse.
Quite simply, Banished Threads is an emotion-charged ride through a series of close encounters that are as psychologically gripping as they are filled with action.
Mystery and thriller audiences are in for a real treat.
Banished ThreadsReturn to Index
Blood
Seed: Coin of Rulve Book One
Veronica Dale
Nika Press
Print ISBN: 978-0-9969521-0-1
ASIN:
B0199BD0E8
$5.99
www.veronicadale.com
http://amzn.to/1M9luyJ
Sheft is an eighteen-year-old who harbors a deadly secret: his blood, when shed, attracts a terrifying entity that threatens his small village. Convinced that he is a danger to all around him, Sheft keeps himself apart. So when he falls in love, it's an unexpected (and in some ways unwanted) experience that he believes can only lead to tragedy.
That's the basic gist of Blood Seed. Veronica Dale could easily have stopped here, focusing on the developing romance and Sheft's struggle to break his bonds of isolation. But events move in a different, more complex direction and love serves only as the starting point for a journey that leads Sheft to find out more about his role as a strange attractor to underlying supernatural forces at work in his world.
It's difficult to categorize Blood Seed - and that is part of its attraction. In a book world replete with formula genre reads, Blood Seed offers up something different: a potent mix of fantasy, romance, intrigue, and a believable protagonist whose current dilemma is just the beginning of his evolutionary process.
Descriptions of how Sheft balances the passions and promises of love while struggling with a seemingly invincible curse are compelling and poignant, as are those of Mariat's increasing and unbreakable involvement in his life. They drive the underlying fantasy and horror elements in the story: "She needed him, he realized with a pang, as no one else ever had. In spite of what Gwin had spewed at the fair, what if courage and compassion demanded he stay by her side? What if love demanded he never let her go? They drew apart, and her eyes were awash with grief. But they also held a kind of aching wisdom, as if she had gazed upon a darkly shining mystery that had forever deepened her. She had witnessed two deaths in less than half a year."
With Blood Seed holding the power to attract so many different genre readers with its fantasy, romance, supernatural, and horror elements, it's a challenge to neatly categorize its audience. Readers journey through a strange land in Sheft's footsteps, partake of his agonies and ecstasies, and ultimately revel at his tenacity and strengths.
Is there a curse, or isn't there? Can what is broken be healed? And will the process of discovery change Mariat's own life? Certainly it's changed Sheft's world, which moves from the hidden powers of an isolated loner to something much greater. What each will become, and the events that take place in the eighteenth year of Sheft's life, provides an action-packed saga that carries readers on an evocative journey that holds no pat ending.
Fans of genre crossovers who appreciate romance, powerful protagonists, and coming-of-age reads will relish a touch of the unexpected in the complex world explored in Blood Seed, the first book of the four-book series Coin of Rulve.
Blood Seed: Coin of Rulve Book OneReturn to Index
Blood
Stripe
Gina Maria DiNicolo
St. John's Press
978-0966298604
$11.99
www.amazon.com
www.ginamariadinicolo.com
Susanna Marcasi is in Washington, D.C. on a quest to reclaim her lost memory, life, and self. Surprisingly, the prologue to Blood Stripe: The Susanna Marcasi Chronicles doesn't begin with this journey, but with the harsh and derogatory thoughts of a man who has held her in disdain at the U.S. Naval Academy during their tenure together and who hates her achievements and is determined "not to let the bitch win." A violent attack nearly destroys her physically and mentally and, true to her nature, she's fought her way back - but not without lingering effects.
All this is a satisfying prelude to the story of her subsequent involvement with an investigation of Defense Secretary Manfred Stahl, whose methods and evil actions cross social, political and military lines behind closed doors. In true keeping with the feisty willpower that has allowed her to survive both U.S. Naval Academy daily strife and its vicious aftermath, Susanna finds herself utilizing all of her strengths, skills and determination in a dangerous game that creates a variety of insights on many levels.
The action is nonstop, the thriller format embraces a strong women's quest to take back her life and the notion of deadly adversaries that are backed by the American political process, and the saga is cemented with the personality, hopes, and evolution of a protagonist who won't give up her dreams.
Blood Stripe's scenarios are authenticated by author Gina Maria DiNicolo's background as a former US Marine and military historian and a Naval Academy graduate. These experiences place her in the unique position of writing accurately and convincingly of the world of women in uniform and the struggles they face for equality in traditionally male-dominated services. Stories of abuses of power are not uncommon; but Blood Stripe provides a closer inspection of military inner circles than one might expect from a thriller format.
Despite the prologue and introduction, it's important to note that Blood Stripe is not a linear or predictable read. Many satisfying twists and turns along the way are both in keeping with the story's overall theme; yet provide a wealth of unexpected moments. These are the marks of a truly superior thriller: one which makes the military and social prowess of Blood Stripe an unstoppable, thoroughly engrossing read, driven by protagonists who don't know when to quit and who persevere in quest of justice against all odds.
Blood StripeReturn to Index
Hugo
Duchamp Investigates: Un Homme Qui Attend
GN Hetherington
GNH Publishing
978-1519235718 L10.00
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hugo-
Hugo Duchamp Investigates: Un Homme Qui Attend introduces a French policeman who has been working abroad in London as an investigator for over a decade; but when he's called home, it's not for family reasons but to investigate the death of a child - an event replete with town politics and special interests.
As if a child's deliberate murder wasn't enough, the protagonist of Hugo is quite gay, romance runs through the story line, and the story's sense of place is immersed in the sights, smells, and sounds of France: "He exhaled and inhaled again, taking in his first proper gasp of Parisian air for over a decade. Or was it longer? It was true, he believed, that each city, each country had their own smell. Centuries of history left their imprint on atmospheres. Paris, like London, was old and the pages of its history were littered with sense memories that hung in the air, never able to truly dissipate. The smell of wars. The smell of souls that had come and gone."
The result is a powerful saga that does more than describe a veteran investigator's dilemma: it's infused with the culture of France, gay sexuality, and foods, wines, and characters who are steeped in the French countryside: "The mayor had laid on a beautiful spread, local wines, cheese and baguettes that were all delicious and reminded Hugo of the lavish lunches that had been served at his Grand-Mère’s plush home."
All this is part of what serves to make Hugo Duchamp Investigates such a vivid read: even those who have never set foot on French soil will find themselves involved in politics, investigative processes, and personalities that are uniquely French, from village residents to reporters to investigators: "They are investigating this tragic death, they are not paid for by the French public to answer your quite irritating, and pointless questions which are centred more on discrediting me and my office than the real reason we are all here."
As Hugo peels back layers of long-held town secrets, powerful individual special interests, and the specter of possibly more children in danger, he edges ever closer to a truth that might ripple out and destroy long-held secrets and Hugo's world alike. It all boils down to what will be done for love and revenge, and what will be wrecked in the process.
The feisty detective work of Hugo, his French culture, and his love life promise something satisfyingly different in the world of investigative mysteries, and making this especially recommended for readers who enjoy a firm sense of place and a protagonist whose interests and life don't exactly fit the norm.
Hugo Duchamp Investigates: Un Homme Qui AttendReturn to Index
The
Jigsaw Man
Leigh Goodison
Sheffield Publications
978-0692534212 $13.99
(paperback) $6.99 (ebook)
http://www.leighgoodison.com
Readers who enjoy good, solid suspense thrillers with thought-provoking premises should muse on what they would do if they woke up one morning to find they were someone else … but the story doesn't begin here; it actually begins with an impromptu murder conducted by a professional supposedly on the side of the law.
Thirty years later a revolutionary surgical approach to reconstructive surgery based on 3D laser printing and DNA allows a doctor to flawlessly produce a realistic, changed face, opening the door to applications and ethical conundrums she could never have dreamed of.
A partnership between a doctor on the cusp of a revolutionary new treatment and an entrepreneur who sees its possibilities as something more than helping the disfigured is only the surface action in a story that takes many unexpected twists and turns.
At what point does altering a face alter a personality? By what means are monsters created? The thought of a Frankenstein creator's unintended result from manipulating life comes to mind as The Jigsaw Man evolves in complexity. What seems to be a murder mystery changes direction to become a medical thriller and becomes something much more, opening a can of ethical worms in the process.
As masks come off, literally and figuratively, the plot turns into something even more compelling, on the lines of a Robin Cook medical mystery: replete with powerful protagonists, special interests, and a healthy inspection of underlying motivations.
The result is a powerful, top recommendation for readers who relish unpredictable, believable medical murder mysteries fueled by both high technology and solid protagonists.
The Jigsaw ManReturn to Index
The
Last Refuge
Martin Roy Hill
Amazon Digital Services, Publisher
978-1518682711 $3.99
www.amazon.com
www.martinroyhill.com
Book Two in the Peter Brandt thriller series is set in Iraq in 1991, where a terrible mistake has resulted in the 'friendly fire' massacre of a small group of American soldiers and one mysterious civilian found behind enemy lines. Who was this engineer civilian? When a reporter stumbles upon the aftermath of the story years later and decides to investigate further, events take a darker turn as a cover-up and deadly mystery are revealed.
One of the many attributes of The Last Refuge is that it offers a twist on the usual thriller format of international intrigue, military operations gone wrong, and government secrets. Peter Brandt's moved from being a hired reporter to a freelancer and his comparative freedom in following a case the way he wishes offers mixed opportunities to explore new directions and face different kinds of danger. Just because he's not using the usual investigative routines doesn't mean he's not up to the challenge of a special case, and so his nose for trouble exposes his greatest challenge yet.
Peter doesn't do suicide stories anymore, but this mystery holds one. His home is a small, old office, and his beat has become the beach. All this changes in an instant with a whirlwind of danger as his investigation of the death of Robert Stanning turns into a series of confrontations with too many stunning possibilities revolving around Project Qari and a deadly scenario with Desert Storm.
Industrial espionage, intelligence agents and uncertain friendships, government-sponsored actions, and collateral damage purposely masked by survival decisions: all these are hallmarks of this solid thriller which is spiced with interpersonal actions and surprises throughout that challenge both Peter Brandt and his perceptions of the war.
Although The Last Refuge is fiction, it's based on historical facts. Perhaps that's what lends the story line its realistic, heart-stopping edge and what helps make it a standout in the military/thriller genre, highly recommended for prior fans of Peter Brandt and the espionage/thriller genus as a whole.
The Last RefugeReturn to Index
Mistaken
Enemy
Dennis A. Nehamen
Golden Poppy Productions
9780989057233
$15.99
dennisnehamen.com
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=
A flight to Israel takes first-person narrator Zach on a journey "seven hundred fifty miles from where I intended to shop for groceries." Apparently a visit to the Middle East was not on his original shopping (or bucket) list, and matters only become more convoluted as he unwittingly becomes involved in the politics and personalities of the region, bringing readers along with him for a ride that is entirely unexpected.
The surprise lies not in a thriller set in the Middle East (many modern thrillers take place in such settings) but in the fact that readers not usually interested in political thrillers will find Mistaken Enemy uniquely gripping and nearly impossible to put down, from its intriguing introduction ("I’m sorry. I’ll always think of you as my brother.” Those are the last words I recall him saying….in a flash my mind’s eye blinked, exhibiting for me a panoramic view of all the events that had transpired to land me…in Hell. I hadn’t betrayed him…but I had planned to.") to its masterful method of personalizing politics.
A good thriller should create powerful protagonists that draw in readers across genres. A superior work will cement its action using a range of character experiences which are not just realistic and believable, but whose lives reach out to grip its audience. Mistaken Enemy is that superior production, creating and then questioning the tenuous relationships and decisions that influence friends, enemies, and family ties.
Its capability of drawing reader attention using powerful individuals who represent different social and political struggles is especially exquisite; perhaps because, as in life, these individuals and their relationships to one another are never easy, often unpredictable, and (under Nehamen's hand) always understandable.
Too many thrillers work with one-dimensional characters and never quite achieve what they strive to create: living, breathing protagonists who love, hurt, recover, and make both good and bad choices. And too many novels give up psychological depth in favor of an overall plot structure supercharged with action and intrigue.
While these last two elements are certainly present in Mistaken Enemy, what drives (and binds) the entire story line is an attention to the emotional and life encounters of Zach, from his uncertain romance in a different culture to a mission that embraces Middle Eastern politics and acknowledges volatile issues.
From a New Mexican Native American woman and bonds between women ("I think what really bonded us was that our personalities are identical. We both have this talent for knowing what we have to do and not letting anything get in the way of accomplishing it. All kinds of spiritual and religious confusion drive us nuts. We handle loneliness the same, hiding in work.”) to subconscious mental influences and encounters with leaders, Mistaken Enemy features the rare ability to juggle a myriad of plots and subplots to become a real winner. It's a standout in the world of either political novels or thrillers, and is highly recommended as a captivating read.
Mistaken EnemyReturn to Index
Project
Sparta
B.B. Gallagher
CreateSpace
978-1519273352 $14.95
Blog: www.authorsblock.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/
Ordering Link: http://www.amazon.com/Project-
'Project Sparta' is the code name for a private black ops training program driven by adolescent prodigies who have been chosen for their ability to counter terrorism by becoming forces with no identity, no limitations, and nothing to hold them back. They are young killing machines: ruthless, unconnected to family or social mores, and capable of much more than their training.
Xander is one of those Spartans and exists only to safeguard his country. His parents were killed when he was eight in an event that erased his memory, making him a convenient soldier serving the cause of justice and America. His talent for analyzing the logical progression of events to a predictable outcome borders on the psychic while his photographic memory makes him a powerful force to be reckoned with: unstoppable and nearly superhuman.
There's only one problem: he's beginning to question his training. And when that happens, trouble looms.
On the face of it, Project Sparta is a thriller that adopts a familiar-sounding plot similar to many on the market these last ten years (the enlistment and training of adolescents for military or political causes, and their almost superhuman special abilities). Read further, however, to discover that Project Sparta is familiar only in its opening act. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep readers guessing, fine psychological depth as characters and their motives are developed, and a healthy dose of espionage and terrorist encounters. The story's set in different time periods, which serves to further develop protagonists and action.
Xander, Fiona, and others interact on personal levels that are psychologically revealing, and there are plenty of insights on their different motivations: "Duke, caught off-guard, narrowed a derisive expression at him. Xander sensed an initial impulse that was gracious and heartfelt but it was quickly supplanted by the image of intimidation Duke so tirelessly fought to maintain."
Mature young adult readers and adults who like thrillers featuring young adult protagonists will find the depth and action of Project Sparta to be captivating and understandable.
The mark of a good, solid thriller lies in its ability to create memorable characters, realistic scenarios and concerns, and to weave in more than a light dose of uncertainty and intrigue in the process of delicately walking a fine line between a spy story and an action-packed read. Project Sparta is such an achievement, and is highly recommended.
Project SpartaReturn to Index
Thirst:
An Alex Graham Novel
Katherine Prairie
Stonedrift Press Ltd.
Box 14308 Granville
Island
PO
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6H 4J6
978-0-9949377-0-4 (paperback)
$14.95
978-0-9949377-1-1 (epub)
$7.99
www.stonedriftpress.com
Geologist Alex Graham's primary task is to locate a silver mine; but her prospecting involves far more than minerals in Thirst, which follows Canadian/US politics, a deadly pesticide spill, and a dangerous adversary who threatens numerous innocent lives.
It's unusual to pair a female investigator with a job typically associated with males (geologic field work is demanding and strenuous), but this marriage works and readers are instantly immersed in the character of Alex and her job, which is already challenging even before a perp rears his ugly head: "Eyes tightly shut, she clenched her sleeping bag tight beneath her chin. Massive boughs shook as the high-speed downdraft lashed at towering evergreens that lined the lower reaches of the steep rock face. The rattle of thousands of aspen leaves whipped into frenzied movement betrayed the wind’s push across the valley floor."
From this early example, it's easy to see that Thirst promises to not just describe a compelling setting, action and adventure; but plunges readers into a 'you are here' experience that is profoundly captivating. Thirst not only goes where other detective/thrillers fall short, but it provides a riveting story line that's hard to put down.
A geologist's life embraces many rules and Alex has not only thrived with this career choice, but has crafted more rules for her own psyche which have served her well, but which are broken one by one as she embarks on an incredible journey: "Why am I doing this?” she said aloud. “Because you didn’t follow your own rule. Don’t get involved. Don’t volunteer. How many times will I ignore my own good advice?”
As
she and sidekick Neil investigate further, all her training and skills
leap to
the forefront to track down not minerals and mines, but a dangerous
killer. And
when she's forced to make ultimately-hard decisions to protect herself
and
those around her, she could face legal fallout from a deadly scheme
that
threatens millions.
Lethal encounters. Dangerous defenses. Bombings and Homeland Security. These topics are usually far from the topic of a geologist's field work. But Alex is no usual geologist, and Thirst is no typical mystery. Detective and mystery genre readers will find it a compelling, involving read.
Thirst: An Alex Graham NovelReturn to Index
All
People Lives Matter
Billy McCoy
CreateSpace
9781519630155 $13.96
http://www.amazon.com/People-
An abusive priest, a police state that condones violence by simply not acting, a family tasked with an exhausting struggle for justice, and a movement called 'All People Lives Matter' that takes the battle into a new level: all these are powerful themes in Billy McCoy's latest novel, which holds exceptionally close ties to modern news of violence and police actions.
Readers who follow such events will find that, in many ways, All People Lives Matter mirrors these struggles, taking the microcosm of one girl's life and creating thought-provoking connections between her influences, choices, and community experiences to use them as a mirror for those taking place in modern America.
The female narrator on the cusp of young adulthood is Holly, a biology student at the university, and her parents are successful executives. It only seems logical, at first, that she should volunteer at an organization that promises hope and social change, contributing her time to an altruistic venture. But her idealism is about to change, and is portended by others who pinpoint her future successes and failures in a nutshell: "You’re young, a rabid idealist, impressionable, stupid and going to change the world with your over-powering hope and youthful enthusiasm. The movement is better off with your naiveté, it’s a fifth wheel to a truck. You’ll jump in with both feet and boldly change the world. Pity you!"
A bystander's cryptic and cynical remarks before the narrator even has a chance to immerse herself in the culture of a do-good organization sets the stage for what is to evolve: a movement that holds more to it than an image of positive change, powered by a leader whose real persona is something more than the public sees.
As church, state, idealism and romance intersect in Holly's life, what seems a relatively straightforward series of events becomes complicated, casting readers into the roles of judges and participants themselves as Holly's blossoming perceptions embrace some of the most volatile issues affecting Americans today.
Is Holly intoxicated by love and social action, or is something more going on under the surface? As Holly comes to understand the real motivations and influences of the movement she's chosen, her true imprisonment really begins. Trapped by her ideals and a ruthless leader, Holly's world turns upside down just as society is manipulated on all sides by police and social leaders alike.
Nothing is as it seems; from the volatile and changing relationships between men and women to the same patterns that affect opposite sides of society. At the center of it all is Holly, whose privileged life would seem to belay her desire to volunteer in a service position for the greater good.
The process of a young idealist's disillusionment with her world is a painful one, convincingly and creatively explored by Billy McCoy, who takes the microcosm of one life and expands upon it until it becomes the macrocosm of social breakdown. There's simply a lot going on (both personally and politically) in one white girl's life, which holds plenty of eye-opening moments and more than a small degree of social and psychological inspection.
Readers who enjoy stories of personal transformation, political and social involvement and the methods by which connections, estrangements, and real change is made will appreciate All People Lives Matter as a multifaceted, compelling read, tracing Holly's evolution as she moves far from family ties and everything familiar into uncertain, mercurial territories.
All People Lives MatterReturn to Index
Champion
Bubbler
Jules Mitchell Bailey
CreateSpace
978-1511942010 $14.95
www.amazon.com
www.julesmitchellbailey.com
www.facebook.com/
www.twitter.com/juleselbailey
Bubbler's real name is Mercedes, and she earned the nickname as a child when she first began dancing before she could walk. Now she's an exotic dancer in a club in the tourist resort area of Montego Bay, and her experiences have been filled with dark encounters: family corruption, drugs, a dangerous, depressed neighborhood, and an absent father whose identity remains uncertain.
Under such circumstances one wouldn't expect the protagonist to be feisty, upbeat, or determined - but these are all special facets of Mercedes' survival skills, and they only serve to show that tenacity can evolve even under the most adverse of conditions.
As Mercedes becomes involved with two very different men, she increasingly finds herself wound up in lies that confuse her world ("I thought about what lies I was going to tell Danny so that I could be free when Greg arrived."), and when she sets aside her dancing career in pursuit of other goals, she begins to more closely examine the course of her life and her choices in it ("I took a back seat at the club and slowly sipped on a glass of White Rum and Coke. This was not my usual drink, but I needed something strong that night to help me sort out my emotions.")
Peppered with accounts of changing family relationships and connections between past, present and future ("I love my sister and was really happy that she had a father who was proud of her and one she could depend on, but it always reminded me of the fact that I did not even know who my father was."), Champion Bubbler is a novel about succeeding against all odds, and documents the progress and choices of a Jamaican ghetto-born woman who is willing to take risks in love and life as she strives for a greater goal.
Novel readers who enjoy Caribbean settings and stories of personal achievement will relish Champion Bubbler 's satisfying juxtaposition of psychological growth and social commentary, which come alive under Jules Mitchell Bailey's hand.
Champion BubblerReturn to Index
The
Dead Bank Diary
Anna Schlegel
Schlegel Press Association
ISBN-13: 9780986174919 ASIN: B00OPAZQMI
Price: 0.99
Kindle:
http://www.amazon.com/Dead-
Paperback:
http://www.amazon.com/Dead-
Series:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/
Author's website: www.RobberMagazine.com
Interview with Anna Schlegel: http://robbermagazine.com/
One might anticipate from its title that The Dead Bank Diary will be another 'cops and robbers' brand of mystery/detective story; but although the bank has, indeed, been compromised, it's not from the usual robbery. It's more than a takeover of the bank: it's a heist where the winner takes all - the money and the bank itself, together with the staff.
Russian author Anna Schlegel is in the perfect position to craft such a tale: a PhD born in Moscow who fell into the job of a securities trader, then become involved with a Foreign Intelligence Officer who was an expert financier/fraudster himself, her unique background lends to a thriller which, although not based on reality, holds all the trappings of a real political and financial event.
The intersection of 'dead banks' in 1998 Moscow (which fell down like a house of cards), a million-dollar bond's uncertain future, and an unemployed bank trader asked to perform a job that will change and challenge her life makes for vivid reading. Add a series of criminally masterminded events during the Financial Crisis and you have a detailed story line that delves deeply into a world that many a fiction reader won't expect.
The novel's satisfying depth and intrigue do come at a small price. Occasionally-stilted dialogue and lack of the usual punctuation quotes around dialogue (English is not the author's native language and at points the wording or punctuation could have benefited from an editor's hand), and more financial details than one might appreciate means that readers without some basic knowledge of banking could become lost.
This is more than offset, ultimately, by a story that is charged with intrigue and action, realistic and vivid protagonists, and revelations about swindlers, con artists, and about raider takeover of a bank and its forced bankruptcy. It should also be noted that the action and intrigue doesn't involve the usual violence, so if it's heart-stopping deadly confrontations that are desired from a thriller, look elsewhere. The Dead Bank Diary relies upon far more complicated scenarios and threats to drive its action, and that makes it a standout in a genre too commonly littered with nonstop murders.
Those who anticipate a light action piece may be stymied by the story's well-developed technical details, but readers who look for thought-provoking complexity from their suspense thrillers will find The Dead Bank Diary holds the uncommon ability to show how easy it is to break the bank if you think like a banker.
The Dead Bank DiaryReturn to Index
How
to Marry Your Wife
Stella Marie Alden
Soul Mate Publishing
9781619359864 $3.99
www.soulmatepublishing.com
Purchase: http://a-fwd.com/asin=
Fans of Alden's prior book How to Train Your Knight might remember the protagonist Thomas in her latest How to Marry Your Wife, who was featured under main character Marcus in the first book. Set in England in 1276, Templar Knight Sir Thomas D'Agostine has found the ideal woman with whom he will handfast; only a love potion hastens matters and changes their lives - and this is only the beginning.
Anticipate the same solid attention to medieval history and detailed sexual scenes as in How to Train Your Knight; only from a different perspective as a minor character assumes major proportions in this novel. Time moves swiftly using two different, alternating timelines identified by chapter headings, so readers need to be on their toes to absorb a satisfyingly fast-paced story line that revolves around romance.
But the marriage (when it happens) is a farce and is completed only because Thomas won't have Merry bedding another man nor raising his son, and so love seems to vanish as the consequences of sex and love potions evolve. It's not often that a brand new bride hates her husband before the marriage takes place, but Merry has been branded a harlot because of Thomas, and her hatred of him is just as intense as her reluctantly ongoing attraction.
The process of turning hate into love and rekindling more than the physical fires of passion is the theme of a rollicking good medieval read that infuses its protagonists with the lingo, culture and social mores of its times, yet includes a healthy dose of sexual description for spicy reading.
Romance readers with an affinity for early history will relish its passionate, powerful protagonists and their diametrically opposing personalities, and will find this saga of scoundrels, secrets, idiots and wise men (and women) is filled with satisfying medieval atmosphere and twists and turns of plot.
Under Alden's hand, the sexual encounters reinforce and flavor events and the juxtaposition of battle scenes, romance, and the era's political overtones is exquisite. There's no need for either a prior familiarity with How to Train Your Knight or with medieval history and culture. As events unfold, Thomas and Merry are continually challenged both in their stormy relationships and in their stubborn natures which will ultimate lead to not just survival, but real love.
Without revealing spoilers, suffice it to say that the conclusion of How to Marry Your Wife leaves the door wide open for more - and readers who relish historical romances will welcome this possibility!
How to Marry Your WifeReturn to Index
Mollie:
Bride Of Georgia
Lorrie Farrelly
Amazon Digital Services
ISBN: 9781519213594 $2.99
http://www.amazon.com/Mollie-
About a year go, over forty independent authors decided to create a series ('American Mail Order Brides') set in the late 1800s, with each author creating a story (or two) for one of the 50 states, following the order that the state was admitted to the Union.
Each book is a stand-alone creation, and Mollie: Bride of Georgia adds to this series in telling of an unusual eligible bachelor doctor who could have his pick of gals, but who chooses to place an unusual ad for a bride in The Groom's Gazette, and romance author Mollie, who seeks a new life … but not necessarily with a distant, crusty vet.
That's the background about this novel's creation and a quick overview of its plot; but among its strengths and pleasures is an attention to detail that includes humor, strong characters, a realistic setting, and a series of compelling issues that join some protagonists while alienating others.
The trials, tribulations and human and animal characters of an early American vet's practice, the personalities of beaus who are either humble or spoiled, and the underlying expectations of romance between men and women are all explored with a fine eye to adventure and insight.
Under Farrelly's hand, early America's worlds and characters come to life, with the aftermath of struggles and traumas of war influencing perceptions and choices. From the feisty, opinionated character of Willie Mae (whose wisdom and advice often hits the nail on the head with more than a light dose of humor) to unfortunate introductions and the surprising events that evolve from them, the hopes, dreams, motivations and choices of Mollie, Nick, and their circle come to life.
It's fairly rare (but not unique) to have a collaborative literary effort spark a powerful series. What is even more notable here is that the book stands alone superbly and the series theme both links productions and allows for a good deal of author creativity under a general umbrella. The result is everything a successful collaborative effort should be. Mollie: Bride of Georgia might not have been written without this inspiring project, but it moves beyond its themed boundaries to create a truly wonderful, compelling historical romance piece, highly recommended for any reader looking for a rollicking good read.
Mollie: Bride Of GeorgiaReturn to Index
One
Woman Three Men
Pouline Middleton
Over and Above Press
978-0-9890917-8-7
$TBA
www.modernloveandsex.com
Can a life and relationships change completely between April and July? They can, as Pouline Middleton demonstrates in a new romance novel that outlines the evolution of a relationship between one woman and several men. The story is based on Middleton's premise that a modern woman actually needs not one man, but three: one for sex, one for intellectual stimulation, and one to help around the house.
This open marriage exploration takes the form of a diary by a "…nice, well-behaved Danish girl " who believes "…that my good behavior would create peace in ‘Palesrael,’ equal wages for men and women and reduced poverty in Africa, while I waltzed into the Copenhagen sunset with my prince, till death do us part."
What's wrong with this picture? Everything, as a failed marriage, single parenthood, and a lack of positive relationships proves to the novel's narrator. Even her relationship with a millionaire doesn't pan out - and when the 'metrosexual' choice also fails, it's time for something completely new.
One Woman Three Men explores this different perspective of romance with an eye to blending philosophy, fiction, and real-world relationship concerns. Nothing is perfect or easy here, whether the goal is traditional or alternative in nature; but in the course of following the diary writer's life and revelations, readers gain a better sense of the sexual and psychological differences between men and women and the ideals and realities that can come between them.
"As a woman, I’m living in a golden age. There are so many possibilities for coupling, I can live exactly the way I wish to live — or so they say. What am I dreaming of? Or should I ask: what is my mind dreaming of? It seems we’re not always in agreement." Exploring such possibilities in a truly different fashion involves re-examining one's illusions, delusions, the precedents set by powerful social innovators of women's rights (such as Erica Jong and Gloria Steinem), and identifying the ideal man's qualities. The realization that no such ideal can exist in a single body leads the narrator to explore how such goals can be met through more than one relationship and, more importantly, how these polyamorous relationships can be successful.
Open relationships and modern love concepts certainly aren't new ideas, but it's their enactment which creates new ground and proves the real challenge. Employing humor, angst, intellectual analysis and psychological understanding, One Woman Three Men delves into how alternative romances are forged and how a 'nice girl' moves into uncharted romantic territories with no roadmap for success.
One intriguing aspect of the narrator's encounters is that they consider open relationships using different analytical tools: thus she becomes involved in intellectual discussions that liken her philosophy to business world pursuits and organizational models as well as social experiments ("Imagine you had a factory or an organization with an operational model that just didn’t work: you’d change that model. In only about 25% of all relationships, the relationship model works really well. The rest of the relationships accrue enormous debts, and society ends up spending billions picking up the pieces.”), all the while dancing around blossoming possibilities that come, go, or evolve.
Can a depth of vision be achieved in a three-man/one woman model? As the narrator finds her philosophy questioned, so opportunities arise for further clarification and definition of her chosen course: "I have yet to meet a man who will do as much for me as I will do for him,” I said. “Maybe you are doing too much and therefore expecting too much back?” he asked. “Yes, exactly. The three-men model helps me keep a cool head.” “To me, it sounds as if your heart remains cold.”
Readers of the nonfiction classic Open Marriage as well as those who seek a fictional set of revelations for a new relationship model will find One Woman Three Men a spicy, thought-provoking read steeped in entertaining moments and intriguing blends of psychological and philosophical inspection: the perfect romantic alternative to one-dimensional, singular novels about relationships.
One Woman Three MenReturn to Index
Roller
Babes
Tim Patten
iUniverse
ISBN: 978-1-4917-8329-0 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-4917-8328-3 (e)
http://www.amazon.com/Roller-
Roller derby has numerous enthusiastic followers and leagues around the world; so a novel based on the sport will draw from these groups as well as reaching into general-interest audiences. While the plot and characters of Roller Babes: 1950s Women of Roller Derby are based on real people and events, Patten takes the process a step further with a saga that adds fictional embellishments to real events and protagonists to heighten drama and explore the derby world.
Tim Patten is himself a former professional roller derby champion, so he's in the perfect position to craft a story that explores these early skaters and their achievements using more than a researcher's familiarity. His background lends insight, authenticity, and direction to the novel, which honors these early players by examining their lives and the social and sports conditions under which they played.
As Lottie and others feel their skills, passions, and interests alienate them from peers of both sexes ("The boys wanted Lottie out of their games for good. She felt her pulse in her throat. As the only girl, she had never fit in. Even among other girls, Lottie stood out from the crowd, and not in a good way: gawky, rough-and tumble, forever uncomfortable among the little ladies in their pretty dresses and beautifully curled hair. Lottie’s hair was choppy. She was an oddball."), they come to find in roller derby a new venture more accepting of who they are.
The alienation of 'tomboys' in sports in the 1950s is well documented through character experiences ("The stickball game officially broke up. Lottie’s teammates turned their attention elsewhere and once again, the girl who never felt like she fit in found herself alone, a cavity hollowed out inside her chest."), while roller marathons, the habit of staging accidental collisions between marathon couples in competition to up the ante and audience, and the evolution of American Roller Derby antics to supplement skating prowess provides a powerful account of the major figures of the sport and how entertainment and competition intersected to draw large audiences.
From skaters in professional and physical battles to the difference between showmanship and dangerous emotional confrontations, Patten delves into the darker side of roller derby as well as its evolutionary process and juxtaposes character motivations and experiences with insights on roller derby's appeal and rationales and the development of the contact sport.
The result is a powerful historical sports novel combining elements not usually gathered under a fictional cover to blend a thought-provoking survey of the history of women in derby with a very personal perspective of its pros, cons, and special challenges.
Roller derby evolved from early risk-takers and sports revolutionaries. There's no better way to learn about this history than through a lively, teeth-gritting read of close encounters on the skating track.
Roller BabesReturn to Index
Second
Chances
Lincoln Cole
LC Publishing
978-0692559741 $2.99
Kindle
http://www.LincolnCole.net/
http://www.amazon.com/gp/
"Why are people so committed in this battle against fellow Americans?" While that's an early question posed in Second Chances, it's also the crux of a story about strife and struggle in the life of Nichole. She is ready to graduate from high school when friction over racial issues brings livid parents into a town meeting to display a generalized prejudice and fear of threats to the educational and social system. It quickly becomes evident that undercurrents of prejudice are directed at her family.
After painting a simple portrait of Nichole and her kin, the second chapter jumps ahead a year and introduces Richard, a married attorney who has moved from courtrooms to mediating business legal conflicts. His decision to move away from his role as a public defender into situations less dependent on an uncertain legal system hasn't, unfortunately, lead to peace. Nichole has applied to work as an intern in his office and her race is, in this different situation, a benefit because of Richard's desire to help deserving minorities by giving them professional opportunities.
These two very different lives change drastically, and suddenly their focuses and carefully-built stabilities are gone. Nichole is unexpectedly saddled with family responsibilities that will challenge her goals, while Richard faces a series of crises that come to include Nichole primarily because she's the most brilliant intern he's ever had, and her changing life could threaten both her future and his choices in ways neither could imagine.
Entwined decisions, consequences which ripple out from their initial influences and circles of family and friends, and the harsh lives of some of the kids Richard encounters all become part of a bigger picture in a thought-provoking read about what constitutes success and how failure can thwart all positive achievements.
The various protagonists are consistently clear about their motivations, influences, and lives: "How the hell are you supposed to make friends when your mom is a drunk and your Dad left? We were outcasts, shunned by everyone we met. I didn’t have any friends, and I didn’t really want any either. I was just fine being alone, and if those assholes didn’t want to hang out with me that was just fine." Readers thus receive a healthy dose of social insight throughout the story line.
It should be noted that the insights on educational system pressures, structure, and choices are particularly well done. Lincoln Cole's approach (of having events move back and forth in time) could have proved confusing; but plainly marked chapter headings place these timelines in clear perspective and the recurring theme of what constitutes a 'second chance' (and when such is solicited or given) unites the various protagonists' perspectives and stories ("I’ve been sleepwalking for years, making the right decisions for the wrong reasons. Now, I want to start making those decisions for the right reasons.")
The result is a vivid saga of racial and social situations that's highly recommended for readers seeking a story that revolves around changing hearts and minds and positive character growth.
Second ChancesReturn to Index
T.J.'s
Last Summer in Cape Cod
Garfield Whyte
Garfield Whyte,
Publisher
9781519232250
$TBA
www.garfeel.com
Eighteen-year-old Taj James (aka TJ) is on the cusp of adulthood and his last summer in Cape Cod involves a romance with a younger girl and a changing relationship with the 55-year-old womanizing uncle who tried to make TJ his protégé. In much the manner of Evan Hunter's classic Last Summer, T.J.'s Last Summer in Cape Cod is a coming-of-age story about adolescent sexuality, but Whyte's focus on evolving and changing relationships is much more emotionally charged and detailed, making it a top recommendation for readers of adolescent experience.
Many issues are explored in the best coming of age novels: not just changing hormones and evolving sexuality but, more importantly, an understanding of and growing moral and ethical platform. Behind predictable beauty and appeal lie hearts and minds conflicted by desire, psychological challenges, and emotional puzzles. Behind every athletic boy and beautiful girl lie choices and questions and the hard edge of decisions that only go to show that in life, appearance is the tip of the iceberg.
As T.J.'s Last Summer in Cape Cod unfolds its protagonists' interactions, growth, and secrets which can change perceptions of family and life itself, so readers are carried along for a closer inspection of what it means and feels like to teeter on the cusp of adulthood. From an uncle's life-changing decision to marriages on the edge of dissolution, the story throws in all the physical, emotional, and moral challenges that will bring TJ into the adult world.
While mature teens are a predictable audience for this story, it's also strongly recommended for adults who want to look back on those years with more than a one-dimensional perspective, to understand more deeply the workings and perceptions of the young adult mind.
T.J.'s Last Summer in Cape CodReturn to Index
The
Winbourne Affair
Foley Western
Publisher- Foley Western,
ISBN - 1518899560,
Price –
$12.99
ISBN –13: 9781518899560
http://www.foleywestern.com
http://www.Twitter.cm/
Mark works for a successful law firm and Debra is its newest member. Both are powerful personalities, so when Debra seeks to intervene in Mark's life, a 'situation' develops which challenges them both personally and professionally. That's the basic premise of The Winbourne Affair, a romance which focuses on the common scenario of tangled affairs.
Delve a little deeper to find that not everything centers upon a fairytale romantic involvement, even if it is a verboten workplace affair; for Mark tends to be controlling and nearly-thirty Debra has had many years to develop her own stubbornness from an aristocratic background and training. Neither are kids, and neither are immune to trying to control the consequences of their choices.
The circumstances of their rocky road (a divorce in process but not yet complete, a relationship that can't be completely acknowledged due to uncompleted affairs and challenged workplace ethics) are evident in the first few pages: what then evolves is how each character handles what comes next, and how they've arrived at this point.
This refreshingly different focus allows for insights into impulsive actions, romantic surprises (such as unexpected lunches in unexpected places), hopes and dreams ("She dreamt of being married to Mark, and living in a big house in the suburbs. In her dream they had three children. Two of them were boys and had their father’s dark hair and handsome smile. The youngest was a little girl with her mother’s blonde hair and dimples. They were barbecuing as a family in her dream, and were all just about to jump into the large, blue swimming pool when Debra woke up."), and legal confrontations with choices that could translate to political suicide.
As their association with Eli takes a dangerous turn, The Winbourne Affair diverts from its romantic involvements to add something even more complex with the possibility of changing the lives of all involved.
Readers who enjoy strong romances fueled by powerful, mature protagonists, family connections, legal concerns and more than a dose of intrigue will find The Winbourne Affair a satisfying saga which winds towards a conclusion not necessarily inevitable.
The
Winbourne Affair
Return
to Index
The
Murdered Messiah Prologue & Book 1: Miracle in Galilee
Len Lamensdorf
SeaScape Press, Ltd.
Ebook ISBN 97809852381-1-7 $.99 cents
www.lenlamensdorf.com
www.murderedmessiah.com
If just one epic series set in Jesus' time and revolving around his life and death were to be read, then The Murdered Messiah series would be the winner, rising to the top of all the novels devoted to the subject. The first book Miracle in Galilee introduces the set and provides the basic information key to understanding early Roman times.
Plenty of single novels and a number of series titles have attempted the same thing; but the difference here lies in Len Lamensdorf's focus on the brutalities of Roman overlords during Jesus' times, the daily lives of everyone under them and within the Roman ranks, and how all this affected Jesus' life, choices, and those around him. With such a close inspection of social structure and social issues, it's clear that The Murdered Messiah takes a different approach to its subject right from the start, couching Jesus' persona, spirituality, and developments from Biblical accounts of his life in terms that take into account the actions and impact of political affairs.
How does a good man - even a messiah figure - emerge under the rampant cruelty of his times? How does his word of peace spread? And what are the underlying consequences of his actions, beyond Biblical discussions of their lasting religious impact? The Murdered Messiah answers all these questions and more through its exploration of the juggernaut of Roman brutality and its lasting effects on humanity.
Perhaps the strength of this particular approach lies in its focus on expanding, without refuting, the traditional image of Jesus as a miracle worker and pacifist. Retaining these traditions while adding a depth of political insight and social inspection is no easy achievement, and neither is the juxtaposition of historical fact with religious insights. Most fictional treatments of Jesus favor one approach over the other - but his life is not an 'either/or' situation and so Lamensdorf's treatment abandons both traditional and easy portraits in favor of exploring more complex bigger pictures. This may mean that readers hoping for a casual treatment need to look elsewhere. (In all fairness, there's nothing about a five-book series that promises 'casual'.)
Original research is one reason why The Murdered Messiah diverges from the norm. Did Jesus himself believe he was the Messiah? What did that image entail, and how did he both conform to it and reject its principles? Gospel passages, theological analysis, the early history of Jewish lives under Roman rule, and insights from Jewish and Christian Scripture and sources all contribute to this exploration, which includes numerous maps, a historical timeline of events, black and white early images of Jesus' times, and an approach that is both scholarly and yet accessible to lay readers (that's the beauty of adopting a fictional approach, with its ability to add drama and human elements to the process of a social and political examination.)
Lamensdorf’s initial character in the Prologue uses the first person present tense approach to open events in Book One, Miracle in Galilee, and the novel starts with (literally) a bang: "The pounding on the door of my tiny apartment shocked me from sleep at 3 A.M. on a Saturday morning. I didn’t immediately respond because I resented being awakened on the Sabbath, the one day I could sleep late. But I knew the voice yelling at me—Wajeeh Nuseibeh."
The sights, smells, sounds, and politics of this old world town come alive in passages that are captivating, realistic, and sparkling with intrigue and mystery from the start: "—Come, come! They will kill each other!” I immediately knew who he meant, and I pulled on pants and a shirt without underclothes and jammed my feet into sandals, while Wajeeh virtually shoved me out the door. It was still dark, but the streets were filled with thousands of pilgrims dressed in thousands of different styles, some carrying flaming torches, some flashlights, all with unlit candles, and all hurrying to the same place. Wajeeh never let go of my arm, dragging me though the narrow streets of the Old City, not letting go even when we bumped into other people or bounced off walls. It wasn’t easy running on the uneven streets, even though I was accustomed to this part of the city." The man is Yossi, an Israeli guide on his way to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where he’ll be confronted by six priests and patriarchs, who are furious about the theft of precious ancient scrolls.
But, wait: there are Glock handguns and Israeli/Arab struggles for religious artifacts and areas of Jerusalem! Isn't this the modern world and not Jesus' times? Yes, it is - but past and present are deeply connected in Miracle in Galilee. A date on the Prologue would have eliminated confusion for those who entered the story pre-convinced that all the action would take place in ancient times; but Lamensdorf has a particular objective in mind in keeping the initial dates obscure until Miriam arrives on the scene, and satisfying surprises that confront and challenge a reader's anticipation of events is just one of the devices superbly honed in this series.
Fragments of a life and time bound together and unwound and re-interpreted by a Biblical scholar. A woman named Judith, who claimed to be the sister of Yeshua of Nazareth, who captures the intricacies of her world's logic, actions, politics and social affairs. A close inspection of the psyches and motivations of everyone involved ("This spring morning, Miriam had risen before dark, dressed and hurried to the well, anxious to complete her chores and still have time for a stroll through the hills. She loved to walk through the mists, piercing them with her own footsteps, making them curl and dip and rise in mysterious patterns… Miriam seldom picked the flowers. She hated to kill anything, and besides, plucked flowers would wilt in the heavy heat of the day."). The third person experiences are just as beautifully crafted as the first-person introductory prologue, portraying lives and times with a sparkling attention to detail and realistic feelings.
Up until the Messiah's appearance, which includes this book, the common man prays for a miracle. Caught in the crosshairs of early events that can only lead in one direction, Judas, Joseph, Miriam, and other Biblical figures enter the action and come alive. The plot has taken its time to develop, and has been crafted with an expert's attention to riveting action and realistic events. Time for Book 2!
The Murdered Messiah Prologue & Book 1: Miracle in GalileeReturn to Index
The
Murdered Messiah 2: Massacre Of The Innocents
Len Lamensdorf
SeaScape Press, Ltd.
Ebook ISBN:
97809852381-2-4
$2.99
www.lenlamensdorf.com
www.murderedmessiah.com
In Book Two, Joshua (Jesus) has grown into young adult who faces the realities of his times, Roman rule, and the dangerous character of Pontius Pilate. He meets John the Immerser and encounters many of the trials familiar to the rites of passage of young adulthood, including finding love, coping with family loss, and growing a better understanding of his world.
Joseph has taught his son to follow him in his carpentering career, teaching him care and attention to detail, and Joshua is acknowledged by his parents as a clever child limited only by a sense of recklessness and the kind of impatience that youth cultivates. Together Joseph and Miriam have borne a large family of six more children and are raising each child to be true to the word of God in a world fraught with inconsistencies, challenges, and brutality.
But Joshua is different than the other children. It isn't just his fairer skin and the glow about him; it's the fact that he's growing into some unusual abilities that first appear when family friend Ari is stricken by a stroke, only to be brought back from the edge of death by Joshua's admonition to him not to depart. This is the first clear indication that Joshua is truly different from the others, even though their child won't acknowledge that he's anything special: "How did you heal Ari?” one of the elders asked. Joshua spoke sharply. “Only GOD heals,” he said. Something in Joshua’s eyes intimidated them. They stepped back, confused. The boy was only eight years old. Why did they feel fear?"
Soldiers and attackers, conflicting feelings about whether to stand up and fight or allow injustice to continue unchecked, pilgrims and rebellions, and the guidance of a young man who stays steady and true to his heart and his God all come to life through dialogue and action that explore Biblical events and provide a solid sense of the times: "Joshua listened to the arguments with avid interest. He could feel the anguish of his people deep in his bones. Jacob poked a hand in his back. “We going back?” he asked. Joshua shook his head. “Why not?” Jacob asked. "Aren’t we going to fight for God?” Joshua smiled at him. “Only if the Lord tells us to.” “How will we know?” “We won’t talk,” Joshua said, “we’ll listen.”
Another notable feature of this book is its ongoing attention to developing sub characters, plots, and political and social atmospheres to explain the rationales, lives, and approaches of protagonists on all sides: "Gaius had little enthusiasm for military service. But he had no personal means beyond his army pay and he was determined not to return to Rome, far from Miriam and her child. Nevertheless, he promised himself that he would stay away from Miriam and thus save both of them further distress. But as the years passed his curiosity continued to grow and he finally resolved to search her out."
Where so many coverages of Jesus' times focus on a single perspective, by Book Two, Massacre Of The Innocents, the pattern of how and why things happen and evolve becomes evident, creating a sweeping saga that strives for historical, Biblical, and psychological and social accuracy in its depictions of the times.
The fact that readers receive this progressive exploration in a lively story that makes for a delightful read both entertaining and thought-provoking (even for those with relatively little background in Biblical history) makes it a highly recommended read for all kinds of audiences. It comes enlivened with the sense of joy, wonder, moral and ethical confrontations, and characters that sparkle in Jesus' life and times. He understands that for John the Immerser, "Impurity did not mean sin, but this fellow was taking care of repentance and cleansing and using the living water to do it. Here was a man doing the Lord’s work whose devotion was mixed of equal parts of reverence and joy. Joshua, pleased, laughed to himself."
Can Joshua's approach triumph over brutal forces set on destroying his world? Will his message of love be overcome by vengeance and hatred? Events are riveting and engrossing and conclude with uncertainty and trepidation, setting the stage for Book Three.
The Murdered Messiah 2: Massacre Of The InnocentsReturn to Index
The
Murdered Messiah 3: Rising Storm
Len Lamensdorf
SeaScape Press, Ltd.
Ebook ISBN: 97809852381-3-1
$2.99
www.lenlamensdorf.com
www.murderedmessiah.com
It may be a misnomer to call Book Three Rising Storm because in many respects, the entire life of Jesus is a rising storm of inevitability because his spirituality and ideals are on a collision course with his world from day one. But be that as it may, Book Three more clearly charts the ensuing journey of Joshua after his world has crumbled, and how his loss and travels result in encounters that solidify his spiritual perspective.
Rising Storm is thus not just about the brutal overlords affecting his life, but the inner storm of emotional and spiritual growth that forces him to consider, analyze, and make choices between religious paths and belief systems.
From his encounter with a desert band of healers, who live and work in a compound near the Dead Sea, and Joshua’s new studies into the Torah's words and predictions to his second encounter with Johannon the Immerser, the baptism he accepts, and the newfound path he walks as a leader and preacher, Rising Storm presents a logical series of encounters and progressions that finally begin to fine-tune the character that will emerge as Jesus, who holds a special message to deliver to his troubled world.
While, clearly, any of these books could stand alone; it should be mentioned that their true value lies in their progressive reading, because the story's depth takes five books to tell properly and is actually served as a series of building blocks or stepping stones, with one foundation work segueing neatly into the next.
The point here isn't that Jesus preaches and provides guidance. It's the spiritual, psychological, social and political influences of his times that lead to his special brand of wisdom: "Judas leapt to his feet. “Then we must attack the Romans at once!” Joshua raised a hand to calm Judas, who slowly sat back down on the ground, but his eyes still blazed. “Yes, my friends, we must act—we must confront the Romans, but not with weapons of war. In such a war we are doomed. The Roman armies will overwhelm us. Many, many will die, but we will not be free. The end time will not be the Lord’s time it will be the end of Israel. “We must all rise at the same time—not in war, but in peace.” And then Joshua reveals his plan, startling in its simplicity, terrifying in the risks it creates, but compelling, as Joshua himself is compelling: courageous wise and totally committed.
This crystal clarity about the progressive nature of these (then) revolutionary concepts cannot be achieved without a sequential reading of each novel in the series; but if the lay reader anticipates this to be a plodding affair requiring much prior Biblical knowledge, it should be noted that neither is a prerequisite.
The novels read with the fiery passion of adventure and intrigue, the thought-provoking depth of both personal introspection and social observation, and with an unusually thought-provoking attention to detail that captures the emotions and perceptions of all kinds of common men and their special interests in Jesus' time: "They say the dove is a bird of peace,” Joshua said. “True,” the merchant said, “a very lucky bird to own.” “I say we need more than luck, friend,” Joshua told him, “if we are to have peace.” “But there is no war,” the merchant said. “Hasn’t been a battle fought in these parts for years.” Joshua shook his head. “I can’t agree with you. People are struggling with hunger and poverty. Many battles are being fought—but they are inner battles—battles of the soul.” “I wouldn’t know about that,” the merchant said. He didn’t like the way the conversation was going. As far as he could tell, Joshua carried no purse and there was nothing strapped about his waist. He didn’t look like a buyer—though he surely didn’t seem dangerous."
The point, many times, is not that Jesus engaged a range of characters in his world - it's how he did so. With exact passages pinpointing the many ways he touched hearts and changed minds, The Murdered Messiah succeeds in achieving what few other novels about Jesus have accomplished by rendering the souls and evolutionary processes of its times into a logical and dramatic story which, even for readers well versed in Jesus' life and times, succeeds in coming to life like few others.
And with the rising tides of passion and purpose comes Book Four, a further engagement between author, reader, and spiritual leader; recommended for anyone who would not just read about the life and times of Jesus, but would feel these peoples and their passions tug at their heartstrings.
The Murdered Messiah 3: Rising StormReturn to Index
The
Murdered Messiah 4: Waging Peace
Len Lamensdorf
SeaScape Press, Ltd.
Ebook ISBN: 9780985238148
$2.99
www.lenlamensdorf.com
www.murderedmessiah.com
With the prior three books in the series concurrently following Joshua/Jesus' evolution and growth and the increasing dangers of Roman oppression and brutality, the stage is set for war - which is one topic that makes Waging Peace unexpected from the start. It's no longer enough to oversee healing and miracles on a small scale: as political and social injustices ramp up, it's more clearly Joshua's duty to step up to the plate and respond with a powerful rebuttal.
Again, the 'how' makes for the story here; and his choice of peaceful protests lies both in astute observations (that he has no ability or resources to respond with war and violence in return, even if he wished to) and an option in keeping with God's goodwill and charge to meet brutality and violence with peace by turning the other cheek and serving as a living example of an alternative lifestyle.
Can he change the minds and hearts of the Zealots who are determined to amass forces and meet violence with violence? Can he save both individuals and an entire society and world order? While we believe we know the ultimate outcome there are more surprises yet to come., The Murdered Messiah series isn't about that outcome alone: it's about the choices, consequences, and roads that led there.
At every point the feelings, perceptions, and psyches of the characters are well presented, from Romans to all who interacted with Jesus: "Johannon, the Baptizer, sat on the stone floor in his cell, a small room in one of the towers of Machaerus. There was no window and the only light came from the torches in the corridor. The ceiling was too low for Johannon to stand up, but the room was dry and free of insects. The food was sparse but clean. Johannon was cheerful in his captivity. He was relieved that Joshua, the Messiah, had come, and that his own service was, therefore, at an end. He hoped to see the new king firmly on the throne before he died, but considered his own continued existence of little importance. All that mattered was that God had decided that the hour for Israel’s rescue had arrived and that made Johannon very happy."
These specific insights, from doubts to convictions, lend The Murdered Messiah its strength in portraying how individuals and ultimately nations are swayed, changed, and embark on different journeys: "After leaving Joshua, Judas felt serious misgivings. He had promised Joshua that the Zealots would come to the festival in great numbers, but they would not carry weapons. Nevertheless, He had told the Zealots they should bring their weapons and hide them somewhere in or very close to the city. whated himself for his uncertainty. Did he believe in Joshua’s non-violent methods or not?"
As Joshua ben Joseph becomes increasingly and widely acknowledged as the Messiah of legend, forces are set in motion that lead toward the inevitable tragedy that Jesus has already foreseen..
From the personal risk Joshua represents to Governor Pilate to his crafty decision to let Joshua's supporters reveal themselves so he better knows his enemies, the depth and detail continue to inject realistic, logical, and compelling drama into this fourth coverage of Jesus' life and times.
Time for the conclusion in Book Five - and even though readers may believe they know the ending, they may well be surprised, and they should anticipate the same blend of subject and psychology that successfully mingles political and social insights with a solid attention to recreating the psyches and sentiments of the times in an approach that injects the entire saga with new life.
The Murdered Messiah 4: Waging PeaceReturn to Index
The
Murdered Messiah Book 5: Death and Tranfiguration &
Epilogue
Len Lamensdorf
SeaScape Press, Ltd.
Ebook ISBN: 9780985238148
$2.99
www.lenlamensdorf.com
www.murderedmessiah.com
Passover, The Feast of Liberation, is approaching, and matters laid out in the previous four books are coming to a head in what will become both an ending and a new beginning for Joshua and his believers.
Jerusalem has become the focal point of troop activity, pilgrim and rebel alliances, and the massing of forces on all sides, further complicated by the hidden Zealots who have amassed weapons in preparation for a bloodbath. In such a scenario, conflict is inevitable. The only question is: how many will die? And Joshua, in his wisdom, sees that his choices and actions are one of the few variables that will dictate this last piece of the complicated equation.
From plots and meetings with high priests to Joshua's serene convictions, the final book in the series shines with compelling scenes that mix religious beliefs, political events, and special interests. It's here that readers will come to recognize the final power of Jesus' life and his interactions with all the disparate forces of his times, and here that some of the series' most powerful scenes are vividly portrayed: "I have not come here to quarrel with you. I am here in the hope that we share the same vision: the peaceful liberation of Israel and that we, as all Jews, may share in that liberation. I want you to know what my intentions are, so that you may inform the Sanhedrin, if you choose, so that all men of wisdom and influence may share in this great day.” Caiaphas was totally confused. He had been certain Joshua had come to ask him to participate in his coronation and he had been ready to refuse in the most ringing terms. Joshua, it seemed to him, had evaded the issue, but he wasn’t even certain of that. What did this man want? Caiaphas was too arrogant to ask a direct question."
The intricacies of behind-the-scenes political and religious maneuvers become clearer as Joshua's role in his world becomes more complex and understandable: "Caiaphas had deliberately not called a formal meeting of the Sanhedrin, deliberately not called all of the members. He knew that what action might be taken would not, in terms of the established traditions, be fully legal…. They gathered in his great hall, most of the more important men of the nation. They were priests and scholars, landowners and merchants. Some were wealthy, some rather poor, most somewhere in between. They were all noted, in one degree or another, for their devotion to the law and to the nation. Most important of all, they were devoted to God."
It's this deeper attention to not just actions and events but underlying influences, meanings, and intentions that lends the entire series an exceptional sense of place, purpose, and logic where so many similar attempts fall short.
As readers move towards the final series of events, absorbing these details along the way, the sequences of Joshua's choices and their impacts (and the inevitability of the line he's walked from birth) becomes clearer than ever.
“A chill spread through Caiaphas’s bones. He suddenly felt old, very old. And the honor and glory of being the High Priest seemed a great burden, as if all the sacrifices of a Passover had been heaped upon his head instead of the altar. Pilate’s lips pried open and the words came forth like darts. He had to know, had to be sure “Who is this man?” he asked. For a moment, they all stared at him as if he were mad. But he had moved forward until he was within a few steps of the prisoner. Joshua looked at him with cool, blue eyes that hardly blinked. He showed no fear and little concern. Pilate wondered, did he know, did he understand what they had in store for him? Impossible. He couldn’t know, and remain serene. “Who are you?” Pilate asked. “If I told you,” Joshua said in his mellow, compelling voice, “you would neither believe nor understand.”
The final acts and decisions the Roman oppressors make, thinking the Jews will remember this man and learn a lesson in futility rather than remembering him as a leader promoting new beginnings, sets the stage for the world to come.
A first-person Epilogue returns events full circle to where they began, with Leila, an Arab-Israeli and noted archeologist, and the scrolls which have provided another, more religiously controversial perspective on the life of Jesus. Which is the more accurate interpretation of history? As Leila struggles with professional challenges that include the Vatican itself, the importance of her work and of the different insights on Jesus' life and times become strikingly apparent.
Why is this so important? Consider this: "All Christians believe that Jesus was crucified by the Romans, that he was laid to rest, that he was resurrected, made many appearances to his disciples and others on earth, and was then translated to heaven. If you challenge these beliefs you are insulting and offending two billion people—many of whom will instantly become the enemies of Israel."
A compelling story driven by the motivations, fears, and temperament of the times pairs with a powerful historical re-interpretation of events to make The Murdered Messiah series a top recommendation even for those who have read many a fictional re-interpretation of the life of Jesus. It's much more than a rehash of the life of Jesus: it's about his entire world and how it evolved socially, politically, and spiritually.
The entire series presents a magnitude of depth lacking in similar-sounding treatments and cements all in a satisfying blend of solid research and attention to psychological depth that will delight all kinds of readers.
The Murdered Messiah Book 5: Death and Tranfiguration & EpilogueReturn to Index
Cornelius
Goes West
Charlie Steel
Condor Publishing
ASIN:
B00BO0AGE0
$2.99
www.condorpublishing.com
"Cornelius Kogelschitz hated his name with all the passion his mind could muster." With a vivid opening line capturing attention and interest, middle-school readers are off and running in a Western story set in a time when typhus runs rampant and 'Corny' is adopted into a large family when his parents die.
In a harsh urban environment where diseases and poverty rule, Corny spies an advertisement for the rugged and beautiful Colorado mountains, and determines early on that someday he will journey to that paradise. That day arrives sooner than expected after he overhears his aunt and uncle arguing about the strain his presence has added to their 11-children family. Thus begins a trip that takes him far from the familiar urban world and into the rugged wilderness.
Kids who appreciate sagas of self-reliance, adventure, and an unusually mature attitude in a child (one who perceives his relatives' struggle and decides to alleviate their stress himself) will find Cornelius Goes West a vivid saga.
From the strife that erupts between a father and daughter to Corny's uncertain life, the personalities and background of the West strengthen upon Corny's departure from New York City and fill in as the story moves along. The later inclusion of a dash of romance might leave some younger Western readers cringing: after all, romantic involvements are typically more of an attraction to female readers at this age, and Corny's life and times will primarily attract middle- to high-school male readers of Westerns.
The three themes that wind through this short story - Corny's escape to a new world, his encounter with a feisty girl, and the evolution of their friendship - make for a well-rounded short read while the scenery, setting, and logical growth of the protagonists are very well done indeed, bringing the West to life.
Cornelius Goes West's focus on an underage youth's roles in that milieu offers a rare glimpse into the concerns and independence of teens who make their own decisions early on in the adult world of the American frontier. Since fewer truly Western themes are directed to this age group, Cornelius is a standout.
Cornelius Goes WestReturn to Index
Fairalon
T.J. Roberts
Fairalon Books
ISBN: e-book 978-0-9970071-2-1
$2.99
ISBN: Print:
978-0-9970071-0-7
$31.99
www.Fairalon.com
www.RingWord.com/Fairalon
Amazon Kindle Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/
SmashWords other e-book formats: https://www.smashwords.com/
Eleven-year-old Iris already has strikes against her: she's the new kid in town, and her quirky behaviors involve repetitive rituals and actions that have, in the past, been labeled an illness.
Now she knows they're something more: they are instinctive reactions to her strange and evolving abilities, and they hold the power to alert her of future disasters. That's why she was able to save a young girl from a peculiar car accident, and why she sees things others don't.
The first thing to note about this captivating fantasy is that it's liberally peppered with full-color (and well-done) illustrations that enhance its story line. From autos in the woods to strange mischievous beings, Fairalon is packed with visual interludes that enhance the story without taking it over completely. Middle-grade readers will thus appreciate the enhancements which create visual interest in Iris's adventures.
The second notable feature of Fairalon is an attention to supplementing a fantasy adventure feel with the realistic saga of a young girl's evolving perceptions of her powers, her world, and whom she can trust. Fueled by strong psychological insights and solid character development, it's a story young readers will empathize with as they read about Iris's unusual challenges.
Fairalon excels in a steady plot that offers several twists and turns and much insight on not just the origins of inherited traits, but choices in how power is wielded.
Middle school fantasy fans will be enthralled as Iris' world expands in unanticipated directions. It should be mentioned that its conclusion paves the way for more books, yet completes her story in a manner that is satisfying and exact, making for a fine introduction to what might become a series. An exciting blend of adventure, psychological insight, and beautiful illustrations make Fairalon a prime pick in its genre.
FairalonReturn to Index
Goose
Feathers
Robert Koermer
BookLogix
1264 Old Alpharetta Road,
Alpharetta, Georgia
30005
978-1-61005-640-3
$12.95
http://www.goosefeathersbook.
www.goosefeathersbook.com
The picture book Goose Feathers is crafted as a "U&I Read Aloud" book, which means that it requires parental read-aloud participation. Parents familiar with the traditional definition of read-alouds (which largely require a parent to do the reading while engaging the child) will be surprised to learn that this alternative approach has the parent and child reading alternate chapters.
This level of participation means that kids transitioning into chapter books receive an extra added-value level of participation to smooth their entry with a book that features a lowered reading level and larger font sizes in the chapters for the child to read - an inviting way of introducing the next level of complexity.
As for the story itself: expect a fun series of adventures centered around Lucie, a Canadian goose who hatches her brood of seven and interacts with the humans who have come to know her.
Goose natural history blends seamlessly into the story line and educates kids about geese as anthropomorphic birds and animals interact with fictional characters. From EMT assistance in hatching chicks to a little goose's initial fear of water and animals in their new Castle Lake home (which faces threats from intruders Tuffy Turtell and his Scottish turtle clan), the stories outline dilemmas, compromises, confrontations, and even court proceedings involving the influx of Canadian geese into the country.
All this is accompanied by Thomas Swofford's coloring-book-style color drawings throughout. Add a list of questions parents can ask during the reading to help a young reader consider the psychological impacts of the animals' interactions and choices and you have a wonderfully multi-faceted story that is both well-developed and designed to encourage kids to successfully move to the chapter book level from traditional picture books.
Parent/child supportive interactions thus create a bridge to reading that introduces a fun new dynamic to the finer art of advancing through different early reader stages.
Goose FeathersReturn to Index
Life
on Base: Quantico
Cave
Thomas P. and Nancy Wise
Köehlerbooks
210 60th Street
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
978-1-63393-138-1 - Print $12.95
978-1-63393-139-8 - Ebook $3.49
www.koehlerbooks.com
http://www.amazon.com/gp/
Life on Base: Quantico Cave is first in a projected series of middle school books and introduces Stephen, whose life on a military base is presented in exact detail. While many novels introduce the themes of 'army brats' interacting with their peers, few actually take the time to reveal base life itself, with all the uncertainties and altered realities that it brings.
As an example of the latter: what non-base kid needs to know their parents' ranking? What civilian child lives in a world where everyone's parents do the same job and everyone is trained to interact in a self-contained environment of military history and experience? And what average middle-school student is more concerned about decorum and exercise strategy than play?
There are plenty of experiences and differences on a military base to separate an army brat from a civilian child, and all these are thoroughly explored in a story set on a base where military structure and values override all concerns.
As Stephen faces constant changes, good and bad kids, and temptations and alternate directions, messages from the military and his parents' training permeate his consciousness and dictate his choices ("Keep your head up, his dad’s voice shouted from somewhere in his mind. Don’t cry, boy. You’ll be a Marine someday. We protect those who can’t protect themselves.")
From life on a base under lockdown and how children and their parents react to 'Clothes Monster' nightmares to the lingering affects of absent parents and constant moving, Life on Base: Quantico Cave is a story of friendships made and lost, of military family social interactions, and of one boy's coming of age in a world where routines are part of a rigid, essential system linked to survival and a greater good.
Anyone who wants to know exactly how base life is perceived by the young will find Life on Base: Quantico Cave engrossing and unparalleled in its descriptions of military base life's impact on family and friendships.
Life on Base: Quantico CaveReturn to Index
A Passing Phase
J. Paul Devlin
CreateSpace
978-1484834343
Book $12.99/ ebook $6.99
www.jpauldevlin.com
Teenager Nate doesn't see himself as gay, but he's still exploring his sexual identity. He sees himself as a normal teen in flux, and believes his infatuation with boys is likely a passing phase of his life before he ultimately settles down with a girl. But is this really a 'phase'? What if it isn't temporary?
A Passing Phase is an absorbing, realistic exploration of a teen's realization that his sexuality is heading towards an inevitable, singular identity that doesn't fit with his perceptions of how his adult life will evolve.
What begins as an attraction ("Nate had stolen a kiss from Ronnie, and Ronnie’s eyes had darted away as he said, “I’ve always… I’ve always thought that… you were really cute.” Nate had been flying high when he heard that. He’d never had a guy say that about him. But then again he never really thought of himself as cute.") turns into something more consistent than Nate's ever known - and something that will change his ideas of family and connections in unexpected ways.
In some ways A Passing Phase is a typical teen coming-of-age story: picture Catcher in the Rye's grittiness with a heavier dose of sexual description. In other ways it's an in-depth story covering perceptions of right, wrong, social and religious expectations, and what happens when a teen's evolution doesn't fit into anticipated paradigms.
Is Nate's secret relationship with a boy a sin? What's the difference between fun, 'messing around', and a more serious, committed path in life that deviates from everything Nate has been taught to value? Such a struggle would be too hard, and so Nate rejects the possibility after running it by others ("You’re not gay. Every guy goes through a phase when they think they might be. I mean, I did.” Nate did a double take. Now he felt like the one whose jaw had dropped. “You did?”), and decides to change his apparent sexual direction ("…like any red-blooded American teenage boy trying to change his sexuality, he just wanted to get laid…").
At the heart of A Passing Phase is the question of whether sexuality is a choice or a pre-programmed, innate trait unique to every individual. Nate believes that with enough determination and desire, he can change; and his efforts revolve around this objective. Pressured on all sides by friends, family, social norm and opinion, and a cast of often-oddball characters, Nate must find his way through a virtual quagmire of opinions and social pressures in order to achieve and understand his true self.
What will give Nate the greatest freedom? Readers should anticipate a number of graphic sexual encounters as Nate embarks on the process of pulling his life and persona together. His interactions with men, women, and the dating scene are realistically portrayed and his different, difficult family relationships are crafted in scenes that portray the fallout of his decisions.
The result is a vivid saga, especially recommended for readers of sexual coming-of-age stories open to the idea of a teen discovering who he really is and what constitutes a 'passing phase' versus a permanent, true direction.
A Passing PhaseReturn to Index