October 2015 Review Issue
Beautiful
Hero
Jenny Lau
No Publisher, ISBN, $TBA
Prepublication Manuscript: ETA Spring 2016
Email: JennyL@toppandlau.com
Beautiful Hero: How We Survived The Khmer Rouge tells how a family of eight with six children (ranging in age from six months to thirteen years old) made it through hell and back again, and narrows survival skills down to the most basic of needs: water and food. There have been other autobiographical accounts of life under the Khmer Rouge; but Beautiful Hero departs from most in its focus on one woman's courage (the author's mother) and how this literally made the difference between life and death for her entire family.
Sagas of family survival are typically thought-provoking, evocative, and compelling. In this case, they also assume a gritty, close examination of the life of a woman whose name translates to 'beautiful hero' in Chinese, and whose destiny seemed predetermined: "In retrospect it seems as though her sole purpose was to save us from the hell of the Khmer Rouge." Few lives can claim to hold such a clear purpose: Meiyeng's ability to solve problems and survive under impossible circumstances came from a steely fortitude developed in early childhood and fostered by life's slings and arrows as an adult.
Readers shouldn't expect just psychological inspection, but should anticipate a read that pulls no punches: Lau's writing paints vivid pictures as it documents the trials and challenges of staying alive under these conditions: "Today wasn’t the first time I found a clump of cow dung and dead leeches floating in my soup. My stomach soured." And thus Beautiful Hero becomes not one matriarch's biography, but a record of the entire family's experiences and how each family member reacted to and survived these soul- and body-wrenching encounters.
Not everyone emerges a survivor - and those left behind are also left to struggle with their reasons for going on: "Within twenty-four hours, he had lost his entire world. It was in this desolate wilderness he contemplated ending his life. He wanted to hang himself; it would be so easy to end it here, but according to Buddhism, suicide was condemned as an act of cowardice, the most unforgivable of all sins."
Every American should read this saga, which documents an ultimate journey to America and the costs involved in getting there. It's a story that is evocative, gripping, and challenging, all at once; and it's one that leads the reader to better understand the promises and delivery of a kind of freedom that many countries never experience.
Beautiful HeroReturn to Index
Running
from the Mirror: A Memoir
Howard Shulman
Sandra Jonas Publishing
PO Box 20892, Boulder, CO 80308
978-0985581534
$14.95
http://www.howardshulmanbook.
http://www.
Those who enjoy memoirs about people who have overcome the most dire of circumstances will be moved by Running from the Mirror. A particularly inspiring read, the book chronicles the devastating events the author experienced as a newborn and how they set the stage for the rest of his life: "Three days after his birth, a perfect baby, the carrier of his young parents’ dreams and ambitions, became what some would call a monster. Like ants on honey, a bacterial infection consumed his face, and as quickly as his face disappeared, so did his mother and father. The newborn his parents had been prepared to take home and raise as their beloved son was no longer the child they had the courage to claim. I was that baby."
His face and his parents gone, Howard Shulman is turned over to the state, becoming a ward of New Jersey for the next eighteen years. During that time, he undergoes nearly a hundred operations to try to reconstruct enough of his face to allow him to survive—just barely.
Add the psychological trauma of abandonment to the physical devastation of a staph infection and you have a situation that would seem unsurvivable in so many ways—yet Shulman is a survivor, and his memoir depicts the process of reconstructing not just a face, but a life.
Shulman
endures years of physical and psychological
torture before finding solace in friendships, outdoor adventures, and
his
foster family. Though life always seems uncertain, he meets these
uncertainties
with a resourcefulness and determination to survive: "I felt I was always in limbo, on
the brink of
something calamitous. Life seemed precarious, and without hope of
adoption,
which was never a realistic option because of the astronomical cost of
my
treatments, I remained a ward of the state."
From homelessness and risky business schemes to breakups, nightclub ownership, and a search for answers from his past, Running from the Mirror is vivid and engrossing from start to finish. As much as Shulman is influenced by his physical appearance and his childhood traumas, he is also driven by an inner resolve to create a better life for himself.
So if it's a memoir of family, overcoming anger, evolving friendships, and confronting fate that is desired, this book delivers it all, using one-two punches that will keep readers engaged straight to the end.
Running from the Mirror: A MemoirReturn to Index
Chronicle
of the Guardians: Emergence
Lewis Keating
Amazon Digital Services
ASIN: B00Y90WQXQ
.99
http://www.amazon.com/
Book one of the Chronicle of the Guardians series sets the stage for a military sci-fi read and opens with a general's strategic planning session for a top-secret operation against a 20-foot-tall troll who seems immune to anything they can throw at it. The team's violent defeat is being monitored and it seems only the Guardians - a group that hasn't been called upon for centuries - can defeat these formidable super-opponents.
But if a team is destroyed in minutes, how can one individual hope to stand against such an enemy? Particularly such a young adult as Danny, who only wants to work, get money, and enjoy his life. Saving the world is the last thing on his mind: he's still recovering from his parents' deaths, and he's keeping his world as hassle-free as possible by working a menial job and paying his rent. All this is about to change; and given the forces at work on all sides around him, his hidden abilities are about to be put to the test in a confrontation that will decide the fate of humanity itself.
Chronicle of the Guardians: Emergence does an excellent job of juxtaposing Danny's choices and inclinations with the bigger picture of facing an invasion of a myriad of creatures, from trolls to chimeras. At every turn, Danny is tested; and through these tests and struggles he'll come upon a cave, spells, and keys to his role as a Guardian with powers he must learn to control if he's to be an effective force in the world.
"Magic kills. Be respectful of the power you wield." With this and other life lessons injected into the saga, a story of personal and species survival becomes supercharged with insights on purpose, choice, and the responsibilities involved in honing supernatural abilities.
The result is an action-packed fantasy/thriller that moves neatly beyond the usual constraints of either genre to present a solid read recommended for those who want entertaining coming-of-age fantasies and nonstop confrontations paired with insights on a young man's higher purpose in life. Recommended for fantasy and thriller audiences alike, Emergence pairs an Indiana Jones-type approach to discovery with a Star Wars-style series of battles and wraps them all neatly within the greater philosophical story of a young man's growth into and acknowledgment of his special abilities and the responsibilities that come with them.
Chronicle of the Guardians: Emergence<Return to Index
In
the Seraphim City
Eirik Moe Dahll-Larssøn
CreateSpace
ISBN-13: 978-1512051179
ASIN: B0127EVIMA
Price: $18 paperback, $2.99 digital
http://www.amazon.com/
In the Seraphim City tells of a city experiencing uncontrolled growth and success - until it collapses upon itself to leave its creators, the Alchemists, despised for encouraging the city to grow beyond its optimum levels. Society is stratified in this broken hive, and only one man will prove able to bridge lives and worlds to heal a goliath that has grown unwieldy and no longer works.
That's the rough outline of the premise of In the Seraphim City: now for the meat. It's packed with a diverse range of protagonists; some of them compelling, others tertiary adjuncts to the action. And it's also packed with genre-crossing methods which inject a crime and mystery elements into what appears to be a straightforward sci-fi read about a dysfunctional future society.
Darkly compelling, In the Seraphim City presents its world through the eyes of one Theodore Donovan, perhaps the only individual able to truly grasp the nuances of his world. That this approach is honed through evocative, compelling descriptions that blend action with the sights, smells and sounds of another universe is testimony to Dahll-Larssøn's ability to create a story line that sings to its readers: "The wind around him broke out in song as it whipped past his ears, and the city rushed towards him and threatened to devour him as he clamoured to stay, to keep himself aloft. The bright lights of the surface vanished around him, the darkness of the underworld enveloped him, and even as the screeching wind stopped, the sound only grew louder. He grasped for the ancient walkways in the dark, the abandoned levels in between the lights of nature and the lights of industry, but none would reach him. The city laughed and opened its gaping maw with teeth of rotted steel, and he shut his eyes and yelled as it devoured him."
Power plays and villains who may have logical motivations for murder, possibilities of perps who are immersed in a corrupt political system, and larger questions of spiritual rationales for murder and manipulation: these are just a few of the devices employed to bring the story to life: "If he played smart, he’d be on top here already – and we’d all be dead or dying. I said, his following’s based on faith. On believing in an immortal man, wiser and better than we are. To us, he’s a killer and drug dealer. To them, he’s… a deity. And you don’t kill quietly in the name of God.”
Fans of sci-fi, fantasy and mystery shouldn't anticipate the usual genre read, with so much going on: indeed, its complexity isn't recommended for the 'light reader' who just wants casual entertainment; but for enthusiasts of stories that challenge the mind and invite reflection, even injecting a dose of romance into the bigger picture of a City and its individuals challenged by the very status quo they've created and lived by.
In the Seraphim CityReturn to Index
The
Sensitives
D.O. Thomson
D. O. Thomson, Publisher
ASIN: B010NZFU5G
$2.99 Kindle
$18.00 Paperback
http://www.amazon.com/
A man sits in the dark in 2078 Mississippi because systems have failed - and without electricity, thousands are dying. Are terrorists responsible for the massive system failure? It turns out that aliens are the bigger problem: having discovered that Earth is the perfect place to grow the universe's most potent drug, they have determined that the human population must be controlled and used; and only the Sensitives, a group endowed with special evolutionary abilities, can stop them.
The Sensitives begins as an apocalypse survival piece but actually is so much more. Against the backdrop of failed systems and massive deaths comes a confrontation between forces of Earth and other worlds: forces that have already faced the proliferation of Jihadists and dirty bomb attacks, and which now face ever-complex situations.
The Sensitives is a work that alternates between personal protagonist experiences and paranormal abilities which influence a struggle for survival. The back-and-forth subplots between Jihadists, aliens, and the group of Sensitives who are honing their skills for an unexpected battle makes for a series of diverse encounters that doesn't follow the standard progression of a sci-fi or a thriller, but incorporates the best elements of each genre.
As a result, the story evolves in intriguing ways and will prove absorbing to readers who like alien involvements, paranormal activities, and sci-fi stories of survival.
The
Sensitives
Return
to Index
Stem
Cell Battles: Proposition 71 and Beyond
Don C. Reed
World Scientific Publishing Co. Inc.
27 Warren Street, Suite 401-402
Hackensack, NJ 07601
9789814644013
$24.99 Paper/$49.00 Hardcover
www.worldscientific.com
Stem Cell Battles: Proposition 71 and Beyond offers the rare blend of science geared for lay readers, discussions of political struggles surrounding that science, and inspirational stories of those who suffer from chronic illness and who look to stem cell research for answers. As such, it's a highly recommended pick for any involved in stem cell concerns; whether it be from a scientist's perspective, a politician's viewpoint, or from a patient seeking relief.
So much has been in the news about stem cell battles that one might expect this book will be redundant; but in actuality the news reports have been widely scattered, are usually quite narrow in scope and approach, and fail to analyze all the concerns in one place.
Stem Cell Battles surveys progress already made, processes in the works, and lives changed as a result, with an eye to exposing innovative programs, sources of discomfort, and how international cooperation has gone hand in hand with stem cell research.
It's a war unlike any other: a war challenging religious beliefs and ethical, moral, health, and political concerns alike; and it comes from an author who has spent several decades raising funds for scientists and defending their freedom to research.
Its focus on California achievements, in particular, lends to a discussion that juxtaposes the personal (including the author's own struggle with cancer) with the political in a rare, wide-ranging discussion that no health collection should be without. Add insights into how ordinary people can help and you have a key acquisition not to be missed by readers with any degree of interest or curiosity in stem cell research's promises, controversies, and very human concerns; or by acquisition librarians who will appreciate its fresh, new perspective on the subject.
Stem Cell Battles: Proposition 71 and BeyondReturn to Index
The
Apothecary
Marshall Chamberlain
The Grace Publishing Group
428 Childers St.
#24550, Pensacola, FL 32534
ISBN:
978-0692447963
www.gracepublishing.org
www.marshallchamberlain.com
There are thrillers and then there are 'techno-thrillers'. The Apothecary is the latter, even though the word conjures up the image of old magic and old potions. Readers with an interest in science gone awry are the audience of techno-thrillers, which often rely on scientific disasters or the injection of political power struggles into the scientific process or discovery - and this is where The Apothecary gets really interesting.
In its world, a stressed project director of a top-secret nanotechnology experiment vanishes, along with test products that can affect human behavior. When murders begin to occur, all pointing to the vanished scientist and his secret government project, that's when the 'thriller' part enters, blending healthy doses of murder mystery, high-level thinking, and pending disaster.
The process is complicated: no doubt about it. The Apothecary's plot offers many satisfying twists and turns that will leave more casual mystery readers in the dust, but will delight those who enjoy a cat-and-mouse game between an elusive and dangerous adversary and a political process that can't control its own experiments.
An emotionally disturbed scientist, with the clever savvy of a predator, pairs with demented insights that lend meaning and understanding to his twisted character motivations (something too often left out of techno-thrillers): "Fantasies often overwhelmed his attention, sometimes for several minutes at a time. A reoccurring and distracting picture would form in his mind…of a knight bringing greater good to mankind, a savior for the addictions of the weak, accompanied by a feeling of virtuosity."
Street deals and drugs, fiascos and undercover labs, subterfuge, break-ins, high technology, and a story line that rises to the top of the political food chain to involve the President of the United States: these are all hallmark precursors of simmering catastrophe that work on many levels (psychological suspense paired with mystery, intrigue, and political confrontation) to immerse readers in a gripping thriller read that's satisfyingly hard to put down.
The ApothecaryReturn to Index
The
Burning Man
Solange Ritchie
Morgan James Publishing
9781630475192
$19.95 www.MorganJamesPublishing.com
The Burning Man is set in Orange County, California, in an upscale community where a lovely Mexican woman is mutilated and left for dead, prompting the attention of the Irvine Police Department and FBI pathologist Dr. Catherine Powers. This isn't a one-time event, but the work of a serial killer who threatens the community and who is labeled 'The Burning Man' when his work results in more and more bodies.
On the face of it, The Burning Man could be seen as just another formula story (female forensic investigator; serial killings that hit too close to home), but the test of the superiority of any saga lies not so much in its story line, but how the author carries it out - and for a debut novelist, a production like The Burning Man is proof of that higher level of writing.
The psychological suspense and fast-paced action are gripping; and if at times events seem to head pell-mell into one another like a train speeding towards disaster, Ritchie's ability to hold it all together with a twist, a subtle nuance, or a delightfully thought-provoking psychological focus on causes, effects, and choices in the matter keeps The Burning Man more than on track.
Readers who expect a more casual mystery may be stymied, at first, by the presence of such depth woven into the twists and turns of the plot: investigator Powers, for example, faces powerless moments in her own life and career, is driven to succeed as a mother and as a forensic investigator, and finds her family ties tested by a dangerous foe who has her on his radar.
No light or simple read, The Burning Man makes its readers think, requires them to hop on board for a vivid and unpredictable ride, and, in the end, promises (and delivers) a strong female protagonist whose complex life and issues are far beyond the usual one-dimensional investigator persona seen in similar genre thrillers. Yes, some threads are left unwoven - much as in life. This just means that The Burning Man might (or might not) lead to something more.
As it is, it's a powerful read and a top recommendation for mystery and thriller fans who like their stories fast-paced, multi-faceted, and hot and spicy with emotional connections and psychological depth.
The Burning ManReturn to Index
A
Deadly Gamble
Pat Mullan
Athry House
978-0983865247 $12.95
http://www.amazon.com/Deadly-
It's an unusual scenario to have a hunter also be prey, and at first this seems a challenging turnaround of events - but the logic of a man left to die who survives to gain revenge another day is impeccable, and makes A Deadly Gamble a riveting thriller that evolves from a Las Vegas deal gone awry to a story of revenge and conflict.
Add in the global banking system and its uses and abuses, and an international focus, and you have a story line that sizzles with excitement and which begins in Miami, where a forthcoming marriage of the daughter of a prominent Paraguayan family is halted when deceit is uncovered on the groom's part by the bride’s protective brothers who send him packing.
At every turn in the story there's fuel from the banking process, which injects itself into high-stakes stories of confrontation, deception, revenge, and big money. A heartbroken bride pursues her dream in a process that will reach across the world to involve banker Jim Sharkey, a Manhattan businessman whose obsession with his career has ended his family. Drifting towards ruin, he becomes involved in a theft that could lead him away from a dead-end job into a world of wealth. But the theft of funds in the millions is stolen from that prominent Paraguayan family. And they want blood.
As mystery and thriller readers move into a cat-and-mouse game of plots, subplots, confrontations and struggle, they will appreciate Pat Mullan's ongoing ability to paint a bright path of progress, only to diverge from that path at the last minute in a three-sixty degree turn of events which succeeds in adding different nuances and protagonists.
From Vegas and back again, Sharkey's involvement with legal and illegal maneuvers and protagonists who aren't what they seem creates a fluid, ever-changing plot which sweeps readers along on a flowing ride through a series of encounters based on a big company's secret involvements with Paraguayan crime lords.
Will Jim move from near-poverty to better circles, or will his ambitions result in a deadly gamble that will ultimately end his life? It should be cautioned that this is no simple story line. Readers who enjoy ever-changing twists and turns of story will find it engrossing and satisfyingly complex: a perfect saga for puzzle enthusiasts who might assume Jim's eventual success, but not how the surprising route to it ultimately takes place.
A Deadly GambleReturn to Index
Melody
for Murder
Carolyn Marie Wilkins
Pen-L Publishing
978-1-942428-18-3 $13.97
www.pen-l.com
Melody for Murder is Book One of the 'Bertie Bigelow' series, and centers upon a recently widowed college choir director who accepts a date with a snobby judge, only to find that one of her most talented students is a suspect when he's found dead the next morning. This combination of events sends her on the most challenging journey since her husband's death, involving her in an investigation of her troubled student's life that leads to a circle of friends and their possible involvements in sordid affairs.
On the face of it, Melody for Murder is fairly straightforward: an amateur sleuth, a troubled student fingered for a crime she didn't commit, and an effort to find the real perp. But while it may sound like formula writing, its pleasure lies not just in plot, but how characters are developed and how events play out.
There's no satisfying mystery without well-developed protagonists that involve readers on an emotional level; no reason to keep reading unless the plot sparkles and thickens with satisfying twists and turns; and no better way to develop a scene than by choosing a protagonist whose life seems realistic, recognizable, and involving. Bertie is all these things: a nearly-forty professor involved in teaching college students, she's the least likely candidate for a murder investigation - and that's precisely what makes her so delightful.
As in life, readers encounter fun characters and annoying ones. The story line's ups and downs are always in keeping with realistic approaches that mirror life's ebb and flow. Its Chicago setting is vividly drawn and adds to the plot's development ("Located in a squat, concrete fortress at the epicenter of Chicago’s impoverished South Side, Metro Community College was the last remaining cultural outlet in this once vibrant area."), and the characters are simply delightful individuals; often unexpected: "Several cartons of Heavenly Hot Sauce lay piled against the wall on the left. Lining the right-hand wall were shelves containing oversized cans of condiments, industrial kitchen appliances, and sacks of flour. Smack in the middle of all this clutter, the Hot Sauce King sat smoking a cigar with his feet up at a small metal desk piled high with cookbooks."
In a genre replete with formula approaches and one-dimensional figures, Melody for Murder successfully stands out with its winding developments, vividly realistic moments, and the talents of a college professor turned sleuth who finds her good intentions repeatedly land her in the path of danger. It's highly recommended for any genre fan who wants fresh, lively writing and a protagonist who is neither beautiful nor a sleuthing genius - just a likeable, believable human being who finds herself involved in something outside her career and expectations.
Melody for MurderReturn to Index
The
Mercy
Barbara DeShong
Barbara DeShong, Publisher
978-0692492123
$14.95
http://www.amazon.com/Mercy-
The Mercy, Volume One of the 'Jessica LaFave Mysteries' series, provides a powerful account of suicide in a family of professional therapists - but none of this is indicated in the opening lines, which take place at a horse show where police are involved in a drug bust. While its setting's not the usual opener for a story about suicide, it does set the tone for a mystery that includes a best friend with uncommon abilities ("Camilla has powers. She says she can see the woman I used to be still inside me. I’d have to take her word on that."), an unexpected death, and a series of psychologically gripping encounters that appear to lead in one direction, then twist to take an opposite path.
The first thing to note about The Mercy is its powerful images and psychological insights: "I am a trespasser, a stowaway on the Queen Mary of elite sports." There are no staid and dull perceptions, here: using a healthy dose of metaphor tinged with wry humor, events unfold in a lusty tale from the perspective of a psychologist who finds herself in over her head when murder strikes too close to home.
It's difficult to claim that a genre mystery is truly original: with so many reads permeating this market and so much of them predictable, the presence of something truly remarkable and different is a breath of fresh air.
The Mercy is this breath, lacing and entwining its readers with a complex spider web of events that ultimately questions who is the real victim, and centers around a journey that takes the protagonist over the border and into other worlds, entirely.
So go ahead: imbibe of The Mercy for what it is: a beacon of originality in a genre replete with predictability - and one that adds a heavy dose of psychological insight to its story of friendships, murder, and choices gone awry.
Does madness always show? The Mercy answers this with exquisite precision in a fast-paced read recommended for genre fans and those who usually prefer the thriller format (the latter will find its psychological depth and self-analysis the perfect touches, here.)
The MercyReturn to Index
Nightscape:
Cynopolis
David W. Edwards
Imperiad Entertainment
6472 SE Nathan
Ct.,
Hillsboro, OR 97123
978-0-9897487-3-5
Price: $14.99 USD for trade paperback, $5.99 for e-book
www.nightscapeseries.com
Nightscape: Cynopolis is the newest addition to the Nightscape series and is urban horror fiction at its best, promising prior fans and newcomers alike a read that is marked by elements of supernatural fiction, thriller writing, and high-tech threats.
It's not a challenge to imagine a setting in which a 'thought virus' is released that turns an urban city's dogs into feral, supernatural threats. The response to this threat weakens civilization's structures and quickly turns into a battle for survival as city residents fall prey to the creatures and a military blockade of the city alike.
Readers should anticipate a healthy dose of noir atmosphere that injects a gritty, urban feel to setting, dialogue, and encounters: "More fuckin drunk tank shit,” Rollie said. “Better check they got a room.” Rollie heaved himself out of the car and headed for the drunk. The headlights pointed up the suspect’s shirt. ‘One Love’ my ass, Rollie thought, fingering the snap on his nightstick."
This urban dialogue is an intrinsic part of Nightscape: Cynopolis and serves to capture the stark characters and contrasts of the city even before the supernatural threat becomes a prevalent force in the thriller's evolution, so readers should be prepared for a good deal of realistic, engrossing conversation: "Fuck. I know what he’s sparkin on. He got a bad fuckin habit a crackin on the one thing you do wrong, not recognizin the hunnerd things you do right. That’s on my heart hard. I made some bad decisions with women in my past, but I made em wit the conscience I knew they wasn’t good.” Neither his eyes nor lips betrayed his bone-deep shame for what he’d done to his first baby-mama Arleen."
The characters are tested in a variety of ways. They face physical, mental and spiritual trials. Some challenges involve high-tech restraints. One character is forcibly infected with "explosive nanites" that will detonate if he attempts to harm or flee from his captor.
This book is for those who appreciate hard-hitting back-and-forth dialogue, have an interest in survival horror, and enjoy gritty urban thrillers. Issues of safety and danger permeate a charged, winding storyline filled with earthly and cosmic threats, including alien gods.
It all seems quite a bit to toss into one mix, but Nightscape: Cynopolis does a fine job of exploring and explaining its numerous facets in the course of presenting a rollicking, action-packed thriller/fantasy read highly recommended for any who enjoy survivalist sagas with a supernatural twist.
Nightscape: CynopolisReturn to Index
Razor
King
T.W. Moore
ISBN: 9781310996566
ASIN: B00U1WOB48
$5.99
Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Razor-
Smashwords link: https://www.smashwords.com/
Alaska in 2080 is a very different place than the frozen tundra of our times: the icebergs have almost completely melted, and the ice is being hacked away in search of something long-buried. In parts of the world (such as Australia) the ozone is completely depleted, and a small nuclear war has completed what mankind began - so, for its own safety, the world is being run by quantum computers, which have taken over and prove to be somewhat unstable.
This book isn't about climate change or computers gone awry, however: these are just the backdrops for an even stranger scenario in which organ harvesting has run amok and the 'Razor King' is terrorizing the night with his vicious harvesting.
It will take a madman, a genius, or a hero to stop him - and 'Captain Matagon' is all three, charged with bringing down The Razor King. It should be evident by now that The Razor King is not just another dystopian read: it adds elements of intrigue, mystery, and suspense that places it on the crossroads of three genres: science fiction, thriller, and mystery.
Another bonus: more than a dose of high-tech atmosphere ("A laser system that can tell by your breath if you have cancer. It identifies trace levels of compounds that may be signs of disease in a simple breath sample.”) adds surprise and depth, while philosophical injections of perspectives on the human condition provides thought-provoking moments throughout ("Is it, Captain? Is it really your choice? Once truth is denied to human beings, freedom becomes an illusion. Truth and freedom either go together hand-in-hand or they perish together in misery.”).
The Razor King could have collapsed under the weight of all these facets under a different hand; but the mark of a superior production is its ability to seamlessly draw all elements together in a smooth, gripping read, and T.W. Moore achieves this in a saga of DNA resurrection and the costs of being human, while leaving the door open for possible further variations on the original theme.
Thriller, sci-fi and mystery readers alike will find it realistic, compelling, and hard to put down.
Razor KingReturn to Index
When
Good Men Die: A Sam Dawson Mystery
Steven W. Horn
Granite Peak
Press
P.O. Box 2597, Cheyenne, WY 82003
978-0-9835894-5-7 (cloth)
978-0-9835894-7-1 (paper)
978-0-9835894-9-5 (ebook)
www.granitepeakpress.com
When Good Men Die joins others in a mystery series begun in The Pumpkin Eater, and while prior familiarity with the character of Sam Dawson is recommended, it's not a requirement for readers who would quickly absorb the unusual investigative skills of Sam, a photographer by trade.
The first thing to note here is that Horn injects a wry comic sense into some of his interactions: a satisfyingly different way of bringing protagonists and plots to life: "Railroad ties. He’s carrying railroad ties, new ones, one on each shoulder. Trapper!” Doc shouted. “Where’s Trapper? William, fetch me the megaphone.” “Just ’cause I’m a Negro and work for ya, don’t mean I’m your boy. What do you say, boss?” Doc stared at him for a moment, unbelieving. “Please, damn it, fetch me the megaphone.”
In peppering these moments throughout the story, characters assume three-dimensional quality, and readers receive both vivid descriptions and fun interludes to mitigate the tension of an investigation that immerses Sam in another conundrum: "Does she always smell this bad?” Aimee said without turning. “She smells like a pack of beagles.”
Another device that sets When Good Men Die apart from other genre reads is the fact that it excels in blending dialogue with description, with maximum impact: "My dad worked very hard all his life. It seemed he had little time for anything but work. He didn’t keep regular hours, always on call. He liked popcorn and beer, the Friday night fights, and Loretta Young. He didn’t like anything in a cream sauce, organized religion, or Ed Sullivan."
The level of depth, understanding, and involvement make for a truly exquisite read as readers follow Sam into danger and back again. As readers come to care about Sam, Annie, Aimee, and the events that threaten to immerse them, they will enjoy a different kind of crime saga that questions impulse, intention, and the intersection between violence and aggression.
Changes are in the works for Sam; the nature of which are revealed in the course of a rollicking good read recommended for genre mystery readers and newcomers to the format alike. There's nothing 'formula' about this work: believable and surprisingly fun protagonists and dark moments juxtaposed with a dash of light humor make for an involving story many a novel reader will find satisfyingly filled with depth and vision: elements too often lacking in many mystery genre stories.
When Good Men Die: A Sam Dawson MysteryReturn to Index
The
Cat and Cayenne Anne
Cavel isn't your ordinary protagonist: she runs a shop and is an artist
in the French
Quarter, and she has just run into her ex-boyfriend after 10 years of
recovering from a bad breakup and the death of her mother, who was
eaten by a
Louisiana alligator. At this point in her life there are too many
romantic
possibilities: what's a single Louisiana
girl to do? Well,
it is
New Orleans - and it seems
a visit to a Voodoo Queen is in order to help her navigate the
uncertain lines
of potential lovers of the future and losses of the past - but when
Anne
consults one, she's given no clear answers and winds up with even more
questions about the direction of her life, loves, and sexual
inclinations. The
Cat and Cayenne lives up to its
promising title in adding in spice and feline attractions, among
others. Anne
lives in the modern world, so the story is replete with references to
musician
Fiona Apple, classical music ringtones, smoking pot, and 'fluid
sexuality', all
of which contribute to a three-dimensional protagonist who uses and
moves
contemporary New Orleans. It's satisfyingly realistic, for example, to
read
references to mansions and voodoo consultants that are offset by, say,
croissants, cafes, and sexual experiences. The
latter descriptions are just one facet of The
Cat and Cayenne used to spice up the story; so
if descriptions of
sexual experiences are offensive, readers should look elsewhere: "Every person deserves a
chandelier to look up at
during oral sex. Louisiana governor Huey P. Long once promised a
chicken in
every pot, if I ruled the world, I'd put a chandelier over every bed."
Anne's experiences are described in living color, along with such
irreverent
observations that often take the form of wry cultural and personal
humor. One
of the most delightful aspects of the story is its ability to create a
believable, compelling protagonist in the form of Anne: one that drives
her
romp through what has become of her life. Are men bad for her? Can Anne
love a
woman sexually but still want a man? Is there a God or real goodness in
the
world, and does this spirit manifest itself in her cat, Rock Star? And
why are
many conditioned to shun faith? The
cat, the girl, and the process of healing and finding direction in life
are all
embedded with a spiritual, reflective feel unusual in a tale which
revolves
around a single, drifting woman who explores her sexuality and path in
life.
Claudie Hebert's ability to keep all this on track with a spicy, fun
protagonist who is not just believable, but compelling, makes The Cat and Cayenne
an engrossing, lovely
read packed with unexpected moments; especially recommended for readers
of
'chic fiction' and contemporary women's novels. Five stars, hands
down!
Claudie Hebert
Amazon Digital Services
ASIN: B011N9PVOG $3.99
http://www.amazon.com/Cat-
Return
to Index
The
Consummate Traitor Readers
with a general affinity for historical fiction and a special interest
in World
War II spy novels will find all the elements of surprise, intrigue, and
action
are paired with a solid, believable story line in The Consummate Traitor,
which is Book One in the 'Trilogy of
Treason' series. Think
Ken Follett - but with more romance. Think John le Carré - but with
better-developed spies. Take the backdrop of World War II and add
emotion
surrounding not just political events, but personalities facing
betrayal, love,
and turmoil at the highest levels of political and personal engagement.
Some
facets are more predictable than others: while some readers might
consider it a
little less suspenseful than expected, that's only because it stays
truer to
real life than most - which is, after all, not all about nonstop
staccato action. Perhaps
it's because the story line is inspired by true events, or maybe it's
because
the unexpected inclusion of romance elevates it beyond the focus of the
action
thriller one might expect from the genre; but the inclusion of a female
war
correspondent's perspective blend with the author's delightful
attention to
capture the sights, smells and sounds of Europe ("Wafts of smoke drifted windward
from the chimneys of
cottages dappling the countryside. She sniffed and imagined bread
baking inside
their brick ovens. Her stomach gurgled. The thought of fresh bread
smothered in
creamy butter reminded her she had forgotten to eat."),
with
delightful results indeed. Where
similar-sounding coverages would lose these details (and human lives)
in
pursuit of nonstop action, The Consummate
Traitor excels in an approach designed to bring
people and times to
life in vivid, colorful passages. The result is a tense, gripping saga
always
firmly centered in the believable realm of individual personalities and
perceptions: a story not just for readers of thrillers, spy novels, and
historical pieces; but one perfectly tuned to the nuances and
directions of the
heart.
Bonnie Toews
Whistler House Publishing, an imprint of Signalman Publishing
17780 Ninth Line. Mount Albert, ON Canada L0G 1M0
9781461015383
$13.68 softcover $4.45 e-format (Text to speech enabled)
http://www.amazon.com/
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The
Damnable Legacy It's
rare to find a story line that is narrated from the afterlife and
follows the
reflections and circumstances of a minister's wife who has expired from
terminal cancer, but who follows through (beyond death) with a plan to
reunite
a biological mother and her granddaughter. Such an endeavor involves
faith,
love, and interconnections between different worlds, and represents an
exploration of the lasting ramifications of decisions and
choices. Thus,
one prerequisite to enjoying The Damnable
Legacy would be an interest in matters of the
heart, an acceptance
of afterlife possibilities, and a willingness to appreciate
explorations that
range from destiny and love to a narrator who has set the stage for a
possible
reunion and resolution, watching her plan evolve from another realm of
consciousness. In
chapters that juxtapose a mountain-climbing adventurer with a distant
granddaughter who repeatedly injures herself as she struggles with her
uncertain
home life and future, the narrator who pulls together both lives is an
ethereal
being whose efforts have set into motion circumstances to connect two
broken
lives. All this is well explained in the second chapter, after the
presentation
draws readers into these two disparate lives. Another
plus to this saga is that nothing is cut and dried. Protagonist
Frankie, who
struggles with her home life, and Lynn, addicted to climbing the
highest
mountains in the world except the one that looms largest in her heart,
are
joined by blood, biology, and unresolved troubles. In the course of
learning
about their different lives and observing the forces at work to bring
them
together, readers are treated to a series of revelations that are
emotionally
involving and revealing. At
times the observational status of the narrator slips itself into one
life or
the other - and this creates a satisfyingly different approach that
adds a rich
blurring of boundaries between the three dissimilar personalities: "Neither spoke until all the food
had disappeared, and
then Mrs. Farley, who must have been dying to barrage Frankie with a
million
questions, asked only a single one. “What are you looking for,
darlin’?” She was so kind, and I was in such
a daze from the pie, that I imagined it was I who was sitting across
from her.
I thought about how I would answer. What was I looking for? The ability
to rest
in peace? A way to let go of my life? Assurance that those I loved
would be
safe and happy? An answer to where I was and what my eternal future
might
bring? Something to believe in? But Frankie was more pragmatic. “A ride
to Bend.” Engrossing,
winning, and compelling, The
Damnable Legacy
uses poetic language, an unusual narrative approach, and compelling
scenes to
move between the beliefs, events, forces and choices that shape both
Lynn and
her granddaughter Frankie's lives, exploring how each is lost in
different
ways, and how they come together. The
result is a story that is hard to put down and which follows faith and
how it
withstands even the most adversarial of conditions to blossom from the
storms
of life, evoking connections and (ultimately) forgiveness.
G. Elizabeth Kretchmer
Booktrope Editions
Print ISBN 978-1-62015-965-1 $18.95
Epub ISBN 978-1-62015-996-5
$4.99
http://www.amazon.com/
Return
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Do
Good Well Do
Good Well: The Three Williams Tour
is
the second work of the trilogy begun in At
the Death; but those anticipating a smooth
continuation of plot will
find that Phakos excels in adding twists that, initially, make it seem
like
this is a stand-alone novel unconnected to its predecessor. It's only
as events
unfold that one senses that there is, indeed, a continuing theme to the
saga
that makes Do
Good Well a satisfying,
supportive continuation of concepts introduced in At the Death. While
the opening centers on a strange series of lottery ticket wins in
Britain, the story quickly
shifts to the Hampshire United Soccer Club, which is on a plane heading
to Britain.
What do the two events hold in common? Plenty,
as readers are about to find out. Even more so than the prior At the Death,
Do Good Well
is infused with descriptions of soccer, team
interactions, and ultimate goals in life. It carries its introductory
theme
well into playoffs and team interactions - which means that a prior
familiarity
with At the
Death, though not
essential, certainly makes this follow up a gratifying read for those
returning
from the team's buildup in the first book. Between
the touch of mystery added to the story, the British culture and
settings
(which are delightfully portrayed), and team choices in how they will
live
their lives, Do
Good Well
provides a special treat as it rounds out and expands the world of a
soccer
playing team and their continuing life encounters and
education. What
do King Arthur's ring, prior lives, and the philosophical examination
of life
well lived hold in common with soccer? Add a touch of angels and Satan,
messages from divine sources, and the intrigue that comes with the gift
of
seeing events before they unfold and you have a vivid story powered as
much by
spiritual insights as by soccer descriptions. "With you it may take time. The
time of several lifetimes perhaps, but
in the end, even you will come to recognize that goodness will always
triumph
over evil.” The
plays, strategies, and challenges particular to the sport of soccer
will
especially delight avid fans as well as those with a more casual
familiarity
with the sport. In
his second book of the trilogy, Phakos poses some intriguing,
challenging
concepts and follows through on delivering a sound, well-reasoned saga
based on
sports, spirituality, and choices for doing good well.
Alex Phakos
Hampshire United Publishing
978-0-9961206-3-0
www.hampshireunited.com
Return
to Index
In
Search of Tom Candy In
Search of Tom Candy is historical
fiction at its best; partially because it's quite specific about its
fictional
protagonist, one John Stanton, a young journalist in 1904 who is the
son of a
former secretary of war who worked under Abraham Lincoln. Stanton's
proposed
story about western pioneer Tom Candy does not go over well with his
editor, so
he resigns and goes on his own to investigate the facts surrounding
Candy's
legend - and in doing so, Stanton uncovers some puzzling facts about
Candy and
his own father that bring his report too close to home for
comfort. Three
viewpoints are used in the course of the novel to bring events to life;
but
what is particularly notable is Johnson's ability to bring the
atmosphere and
feel of the times to life through each protagonist's separate
observations:
"…the smells…dear God, the smells. Urban
transportation had grown exponentially in the last decade. Electric
trains
crisscrossed the city, and gasoline-powered automobiles chugged through
the
newly christened Times Square.
There was even an underground train system getting ready to open toward
the end
of the year. Still, work animals were the main mode of
transportation." Why
is John initially fascinated with the character of Candy? Because "…He’s important because he was
the first
cattle driver to move a herd of longhorns from Texas to New York,
fifty years ago. It was quite a feat. And he wasn’t even American. He
was an
Englishman. And his assistants on the drive included a Mexican vaquero
and a
Cherokee Indian.” As
if this wasn't enough to capture and keep his attention, his growing
realizations about Candy's involvement in his own heritage makes for a
series
of engrossingly unpredictable revelations that bring conspiracies,
hidden
truths, and his father's political involvements into question. From
the roughshod atmosphere that is early New York to Candy's frontier
world,
Johnson is consistently adept at recreating the sounds, smells and
ambiance of
the times: "The
two men watched the
herd move for a while, a sea of rich brown and white brindle steers,
their
horns clacking against one another. Those that had gone in the pen
first were
already lined up at the troughs, getting their fill of water." Atmospheric
and replete with intrigue, and spiced with the social and political
temperaments of its times, In Search of Tom Candy is a top
recommendation for
any enthusiast of historical fiction who like their characters to match
settings
through realistic portraits and insights from the past.
Dairl M. Johnson
Dairl M. Johnson, Publisher
978-0-9891359-1-7
$4.95
www.amazon.com
Return
to Index
Lucien
and I Although
its hand-drawn cartoon cover might indicate it's a children's title, Lucien and I
is anything but a teen read,
telling of 39-year-old record executive David, who is not living the
kind of
life he dreamed of in his youth. What will ultimately change the course
of this
dead-end life is Lucien, a worldly Englishman living with a sexy
girlfriend. As
an odd (and tangled) relationship develops between the three of them,
David
discovers that the friendships he chooses will eventually change the
course of
his life forever, leading him on a roller coaster whirl through sexual
exploration, friendship challenges, and even on an adventure to a
remote locale
far from his New York City home. It's
important to note that Lucien
and I
is all about evolution, uncertain relationships, and how a young man
who is
"a creature in
search of exaltation"
becomes introduced to and newly excited by the possibilities in his
life.
Readers who don't seek psychological introspection and accounts of
challenging
new experiences, or who are offended by sometimes-graphic sexual
description,
should look elsewhere; but those interested in the dynamics of
relationships
will find these descriptions pointed and interesting: "…yeah, it wasn’t nice to provoke
her, but it was funny
to watch her try to control him through force of will while he pushed
her
buttons. She really didn’t get him. Who knows what goes on in
the dynamic
of any romantic couple?" How
does one who has formed a comfortable, safe life come to feel newly
alive in
the world? How do friendships with unusual people challenge and change
this
cocoon of predictability? And how does the fluidity of life reach one
who
stands on the cusp of reaching out for something more than he's created
in 29
years of living? Lucien
and I is a rich, meditative piece
recommended for audiences who enjoy a combination of psychological
inspection
and insights on how relationships come together and fall apart - and
what
transpires when they do.
Danny Wynn
Bright Lights Big City Books
978-0-692-39964-4
$2.95
www.amazon.com
Return
to Index
The
Misses Brontë’s Establishment What
does the spoiled rich daughter of a knight in mid-Victorian England
have to do with Emily and Charlotte Brontë in The
Misses Brontë’s Establishment? Plenty: and if
it's a stretch to
imagine that Maria's situation holds connections to these more famous
sisters,
it's not a stretch to see the parallels between her life experiences
and the
journeys of Emily, Anne and Charlotte, who are her tutors in this
take-off on
literary characters. Readers
should ideally have some relatively recent familiarity with at least Wuthering Heights
and Jane Eyre
(and the backgrounds of the
Brontë sisters) in order to appreciate this winding story which takes
their
lives a step further in introducing a feisty new young protagonist who
mirrors
her mentors' footsteps in romance but adds a dash of detective work and
unexpected humor into the mix. This
audience will be better able to appreciate all of the allusions and
approaches
Amy Wolf utilizes to bring Maria and her Victorian times to life in a
world
centered on the Brontë sisters and their perspectives and further
adventures.
From Christmas in 1843 to a wedding, the adventure twists and turns
down the
alleys and byways of England with exquisite observations of class,
romance, and
the trappings of Victorian society: "Once
I would have been ravenous to devour news of Society, but now, I was
not quite
sure how to digest this meal. Of course, I longed to attend the events
that
Isabelle limned with such fever; but a new, contrary flavor rose to
sour my
palette: some might call it Distaste. Balls, opera, finery: what use
were they
to me now? I lived amongst a people who spurned such pleasures—who
clung almost
like Quakers to their plain manner of living." This
is not to say that The
Misses Brontë’s
Establishment is intended as a bastion of
literary achievement
riding on the coat strings of the Brontës: its primary audience will be
historical romance readers who will relish its setting and the
attentions of
Maria in deciphering the puzzles of romance in her life and those of
her
mentors. So, to anticipate that this novel should assume the complexity
and
proportions of a literary classic is unfair to its true intention: to
use the
background and characters of the Brontë sisters to spin its own unique,
individual romantic yarn that creates a dilemma around a character who
finds
herself out of familiar territory as she moves from London society to
the
backwaters of the English countryside. Readers
seeking a vivid love story with more than a bow to the classics and the
ability
to stand out in a genre filled with one-dimensional historical romance
characters, and who seek a light, engrossing leisure read incorporating
all
these elements rather than a demanding, heady piece of literature, will
relish The
Misses Brontë’s Establishment for its
many strengths and its ability to provide a rollicking romp through
Victorian
principles and society.
Amy Wolf
CreateSpace
978-1515160281 $13.75
http://www.amazon.com/Misses-
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to Index
The
Nun's Dowry First
of all, it should be mentioned that this complex novel adopts changing
perspectives and narrators to impart its story; and while that device
could
have proved confusing under lesser hands, Alan Thompson's approach
succeeds in
creating a winning saga that examines not just one nun's world, but a
number of
other lives that orbit around her. 1912
New
Orleans comes to life first, in
this approach, blending a historical novel's attention to details of
the times
with a hard-hitting account of the burdens of faith, broken promises,
and
uncertain beginnings. Fast forward to Baton
Rouge in 1965 after this
introduction, where a man faces the morning aftermath of failed virtue
and his
decision to marry Sarah: the logical conclusion in a sequence
of events
that have tied them together. Embedded
within this series of events is an encounter with a soon-to-be nun and
a monastery
he didn't even know existed: a discovery that leads him to live two
lives: one
on an inevitable, predictable course and the other spent trying to
convince a
beautiful young woman to alter the spiritual convictions that are
leading her
away from the world and into a future of isolated devotion. The
certainty of conviction is woven wonderfully throughout the changing
perspectives in The
Nun's Dowry,
which keeps readers engaged not only in the protagonists' different
lives, but
in their philosophies and spiritual approaches to understanding and
dealing
with their worlds: "How
do you square
the existence of your God with the world we actually live in?” Readers
receive a winding, compelling story line that travels through Louisiana
and views events through a number of different eyes. Devotion comes
from
different angles in this approach ("Although
Dominique’s life was monastic he didn’t live in a monastery, and the
outside
world seeped in.") and is tested by the
betrayals of parents
and lovers, and the twisting relationships that chance and history
introduce to
each protagonist ("For
a single, futile
moment she had ignored her own weakness, and hated the man responsible
for her
inability to love the man who loved her."). Readers
who anticipate that The
Nun's Dowry
will be solely about religious orders and relationships within them
will be
pleased to find this a complex, multi-faceted novel that embraces
history,
philosophy, and the influences that lead down a darker road of violence
and
murder. It's
difficult to capture all the nuances of the story without revealing too
many of
its twists and turns: suffice it to say that The
Nun's Dowry offers more than a diversity of
perspectives and lives:
it is a novel of intersections and complicated relationships both
within and
outside the monastery, and is recommended for readers who like their
stories
well detailed, winding, and filled with food for thought.
Alan Thompson
W & B Publishers
9001
Ridge Hill St. Kernersville,
NC 27284
Paperback ISBN
9781942981039 Price
$17.99
Ebook ISBN
9781942981008
Price
$3.99
www.mindsonshelves.com
Return
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Unmoored Unmoored
opens with a bang: "He
was fascinated with
fire all that week, my mother told me. Why didn’t I know?" and while
it sounds like a
nonfiction autobiography, it's actually fiction - and that choice makes
it all
the more powerful a read, highly recommended for any who want a
vividly-drawn,
compelling saga revolving around the mysterious death of a tyrannical
father. Family
sagas and adversity rarely offer something refreshingly new and
different. The
novel genre is replete with stories of angst paired with emotional and
physical
destruction. What sets Unmoored
apart from these is its attention to ambiguity and uncertainty and the
shifting
tides of facts, feelings, and reality that ebb and flow through
colorful,
compelling descriptions: "Scraps
of my father’s life are being
piled in a wet heap outside the window. I stand there seeing all of us
flat and
black and curled at the edges." These
insights are at once surreal, ethereal, and poignant,
providing an immediacy often lacking in other novels and creating an
atmosphere
that is emotionally charged and precise in its connections between past
and
present: "If I
start from what is
clear, I can account for the basics. And I lay out the constellation of
my life
as I’d known it—what I’m sure of. I am Rennie who will follow the
thread of the half-told
tales. I am already beyond choice." Few
novels hold this ability to juxtapose events with the
narrator's evolving life as she moves from roots and connections to
romance and
the results of her own choices: "I
sat there reading those words, overwhelmed at the need to love him and
the
fervent need to never say goodbye again. And yes, overwhelmed at his
sense of
me. And I thought of all the layers in his answer in Reading Terminal
fifteen
years before when I asked him what he did. “What I do,” he’d said. “If
it could
be enough.”
From
a sibling's descent into madness to an adopted son who is fated to
follow the
family's dysfunctional path, and the possibilities replete in new
relationships
outside the family structure, Unmoored
is all about casting off and sailing away - and what happens when
baggage is
packed for the ride. That
it identifies this process in the landscape of one woman's uncertain
examination of what makes life possible, different, or repetitive of
past
traumas makes for a highly recommended, compelling read that stands
head and
shoulders above any label of 'dysfunctional family novel' to embrace
elements
of self-discovery, mystery, romance, and interactions with the force
that is
life within and outside of us: "I sat
on the bank and watched for a long time. “Don’t look for fish, look for
parts
of fish,” I could hear my father say. I watched the pattern the water
made as
it moved. Then a glinting appeared, almost like a sunspot, and
disappeared, and
the river returned to the pattern I’d memorized. “A big fish,” I said.
I
watched his lie."
Jeri Parker
Winter Beach Press
936 East 17th South
Salt
Lake City,
UT 84105
978-09836294-3-6
$15.00
winterbeachpress@
http://winterbeachpress.com/
Return
to Index
Werewolf
Nights Catherine
is a widowed bakery owner left with grief and business concerns, but
her life's
about to get a lot more complicated when her leisure passion for
werewolf lore
begins to threaten her life by becoming reality, and when she decides
to try
her hand at acting - in her ripe, inexperienced thirties. There
would seem to be no room for romance in her life, even though it's
lacking -
but when Catherine falls for her sexy co-star, things get even more
complicated
and events force her to examine whether the werewolf legends could be
real. Despite
the complicated-sounding circumstances surrounding Catherine's life,
readers
should expect a light leisure read here: a plot embracing mystery,
supernatural
forces, romance, and entertainment alike. A prior interest in these
devices and
genres will attract the right kind of reader who enjoys genre-crossing
productions that foregoe complex psychological drama in favor of plain
adventure and intrigue. It's
hard to present 'something for everyone' - usually an author falls
short on
romance, mystery, or supernatural elements - but the pleasure of a
light summer
read such as Werewolf
Nights is
that it's easy on the eye and mind - and perfect for a beach take-along
or a
quick, engrossing leisure pursuit. There's
a premise establishing uncertain, tense historic relationships between
werewolves and humans ("Humans
who
feared becoming dinner hunted Gamel and Ymma’s descendants with or
without
justification. The sight of one human carcass would trigger the
massacre of
dozens of man-wolves. To protect themselves, the werewolves formed an
alliance
called the Yellowtoothed Clan."), there's a
passionate
protagonist who is willing to take risks even in her thirties, there's
the
special challenge of falling in love with someone who is in the midst
of
changing ("Greg
touched his face,
sensing something was wrong. Catherine hadn’t recognized him as
Charles. He
looked into one of the new mirrors. He was transforming. Sharp features
molded
his face, almost animallike although not completely. Oh God! Whatever
was
happening to him had to be dealt with. He needed answers."). Readers
who expect a complex, introspective plot should know this won't be the
case
from the fun cover presenting a nymph at the stove with a werewolf
looming in
back of her. With its light tone, absorbing action, and a protagonist
who is
satisfyingly straightforward, Werewolf
Nights succeeds in providing what many leisure
readers desire with
an entertaining story that's perfect for a hot summer's vacation night
of
engrossing reading.
Mari Hamill
Dog Ear Publishing
9781457525742 $16.95
Paperback $2.99 Kindle
http://www.werewolfnightsbook.
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/
Barnes & Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/
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60
Driving Made Simple 60
Driving Made Simple came from the
author's love of driving and his growing realization two things:
patterns in
how people drive under various conditions, and how these behaviors
combine to
offer greater insights not only into personal driving choices, but the
overall
culture and psychological atmosphere of the roadway. His
discovery and investigation into the history and culture of driving led
directly to this book, which is not the anticipated discussion of how
seniors
can drive better, but a wider-ranging survey synthesizing some 15 years
of
driving observations and analysis. Could
anyone have produced such a book? Only if they spent those years with a
specific purpose in mind: charting behaviors and collecting and
documenting
driving patterns. Most drivers aren't that methodical: Paul Burgett's
focus is
different and useful, and it doesn't just involve history or
psychology: its
intent is to help readers understand what's involved in operating a
motor
vehicle. A
dose of humor accompanies discussions that range from vehicle
maintenance to
understanding the step-by-step process of moving from being a
non-driver (or a
driver by chance) to being an informed motor vehicle operator. From
learning to
drive to purchasing a car, insuring it, maintaining it, and adopting
safe
practices, 60
Driving Made Simple
is packed with advice, from developing a schedule that allows for road
delays
to using seatbelts properly and handling aggressive drivers ("Like a ship passing in the
night, either let them
pass you, or move around them quickly. Better to be well ahead of them,
or well
behind them, so that if they cause an accident you will have time to
react.
They are physically and emotionally dangerous to you due to their
forceful
tactics and confrontational behavior.") While
this collection of road-wise admonitions should be part of any driver's
repertoire, its main audience will be the newer driver who should use 60 Driving Made Simple
as a basic primer
and game plan to develop 'best practices' as a driver. Therefore,
it's especially recommended as a basic gift for those just embarking on
their
life-long driving career.
Paul Burgett
PO
Box
274
Hopkins, MN
55343
978-1505881387
$12.99
Email: driving060@gmail.com
Return
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The
Bad Girl What
could bring a young woman to fall into the world of selling herself in
the
sordid sex industry trade; and what could lead to her escape from a
downward
spiral of failure in her young adult life? This is just one theme
explored in The
Bad Girl, which explores family
influence, poverty, and resilience in twenty-something Riley's
life. It's
not unusual for authors to provide a third-party perspective on events
to move
beyond a protagonist's viewpoint; but in this case said observer takes
the form
of purebred Samson, the self-proclaimed King of four cats which 'the
Girl'
keeps in her New York City apartment. Because she's saved him from
certain
death, Samson loves her - and thus he observes the evolution of her
life with
more than an interest in her can-opening abilities, which provides a
satisfying
set of riveting insights that juxtapose well with Riley's personal
reflections
on her experiences. Vietnam
vet Fitz Darcy has come back from hell, himself, and is one of the
lucky ones
to survive psychologically intact, albeit with a glaring reminder of
his
service. Fully mindful of this luck, he relishes the constant reminder
of how
far he's come - and he also reaches out to others who may or may not be
on the
rocky road to recovery. One of those he observes is Riley, on her way
to work
in the sex emporium - and eventually the two disparate souls are
brought
together as they stand out from "a world full of callous and bullshit
people" and as Riley faces a sudden challenge to one of the few jobs
she's
been able to do to survive - and to the only home she's been able to
build for
herself. What
opens as a focus on a New
York girl's life blossoms
into an absorbing page-turner as Riley continues to battle the heritage
of a
dysfunctional mother and an uncertain adult world where survival shares
a place
alongside the thin edge of violence. 1971 was a year of many social
changes,
and Riley's choices reflect this atmosphere as she emerges from a dark
cocoon
of isolation and abuse into a world where kindness is not only
uncertain, but
rare. That
all this is presented in a gripping short novella format is testimony
to the
sterling precision of a writer who makes every word and experience
count. Under
such a hand, a little over 120 pages of material springs to compelling
life. Riley
does what she has to do to survive, and the
author's ability to capture how she does this (in one case, by humming
songs
to accompany her sex work and
deflect from the sordid physical realities of her job) brings not just
Riley's
world to life (that would have been easy), but exposes what's in her
heart. The
Bad Girl documents Riley's survival
efforts
and,
in the process, steeps its characters in an inner city Manhattan
culture that
reaches out to grab and shake the reader's world, as well. Is one's
path in
life set and unchanged by one's choices, dreams, and desires? Do bad
things
happen because a sufferer is inherently bad herself: is it karma, and
does she
deserve her trials in life? And does being 'damaged goods' mean that
she
doesn't deserve a good man - such as Fitz - when she finds
him? The
kindness shown to her by an old man who works
at an animal shelter, who shares with her an affection for animals; the
feisty
independence Riley displays as she eschews the help and benevolence of
others
in favor of cultivating self-reliance, and her struggle to take care of
herself
and her beloved animals makes for a riveting story line indeed that
that
embraces concepts of self-discovery and recovery and a skillfully
explores an
elusive happiness that could be just around Riley's corner. Pepper
this approach with all kinds of
interesting characters, and you have a well-seasoned, highly
recommended
novella perfect for fans of superbly-crafted short works!
L. Donsky-Levine
Steel Wheel Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-9966787-04
Price: $8.99 paperback; $2.99 eBook
Prepublication manuscript: ETA Fall 2015
www.ldonskylevine.com
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The
Millennial Reincarnations New
age, spirituality and philosophy readers alike will find in The Millennial Reincarnations
a different
kind of message, delivered with a different style: a novel that reads
like a
cinematic widescreen production designed to capture immediate attention
and
explore the reasons why individuals are on the planet. If all this
sounds heady
- it is. The
Millennial Reincarnations is
especially recommended for seekers who would absorb all this
information in the
form of a narrative that closely examines mind, heart, and soul in the
height
of millennial times (the late 1990s to the mid-2000s). A
series of experiences by people around the world serve as focal points
in this
sweeping (even epic) examination of universal connections, transition
points,
and connections that succeeds in embracing a wide, seemingly-disparate
perspective. One
way that The
Millennial Reincarnations
achieves this goal while remaining accessible and lively is through
sparkling,
compelling dialogue that doesn't just explain or lecture, but reaches
out and
grabs readers: "This
is what a power
struggle looks like; and you are leaving one, which is why you see it
and feel
it now…Now take the pressure off the turbo and slide the cruise
function along
the bottom; the trick is to try and kind of glide within the space you
see
ahead – just let yourself stay there suspended for a moment and hang
out the
stabbing pain you feel for that’s not something we want to take back
with us at
all … … that pain, by the way, is the pain of a consciousness
determined to condemn
its own species to death for its own personal gain. It’s a
pre-Millennial force
dragging at your back wings …" Why
are we here? What are the forces that dictate life choices? How can
Millennials
become the first generation to let loose the ties that bind to embrace
an
ideology and approach to life that lends to taking wing and making most
of
one's presence on the planet? It's
Daniel M. Harrison's high-octane, compelling language that creates the
path to
help this generation perceive and understand these new opportunities;
his
approach that captures the connections between individual lives and
greater
purpose through a series of fictional vignettes; and his compelling
vision of a
reincarnated generation raised on new technology with the possibilities
for new
responses and vision unprecedented in human history that makes this
such a
stand-out discussion. The
fact that all this is couched in a fictional format makes it
compellingly
accessible despite these complex overtones: "Most of us are not really here
for the money anymore, the same way most
suburbanites aren’t in the picket-fence walls of a three square meter
garden
for the lifestyle; we’re here either because we entered a block with a
one-way
revolving door and there’s no way out … or we’re just in it for the ride." Be
forewarned: The
Millennial Reincarnations
isn't the kind of novel you'll want to tear through, no matter how
gripping its
language or approach. It's best digested in bits and pieces (there's so
much to
consider and learn) and it's a sparkling revolution of words that holds
the
potential to not just entertain Millennials, but help them transform
the world. All
that's required of its readers is an interest in psychology,
spirituality, and
the processes of choice and change. The
Millennial Reincarnations (like its predecessor Butterflies: The Strange
Metamorphosis of Fact &
Fiction In Today’s World) is a category unto
itself and a standout
in the mundane world of novels with canned plots and one-dimensional
approaches. There's
nothing predictable or tired about The
Millennial Reincarnations. It screams its
message of faith,
opportunity, and how individuals change worlds, and it's a gripping and
unique
account that turns the novel format upside down and imbibes it with an
intense
message aimed right at the Millennial generation.
Daniel M. Harrison
Publick Media Publishing
978-1513603766 $18.00
http://www.dmh.co/the-
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Volcano Island The
prologue of Volcano
Island is set
in 850 AD in Iceland, and sets the stage with a lovely narrative voice
by Mary
Allwright as it tells of a Catholic monk sailor who is cold and wet,
having
sailed for several weeks from Ireland to discover a land that voice in
his head
has directed him to find. His sojourn is relentless and he's on his
last legs
when he finally lands in a rugged, icy world. When
the monk encounters a strange, tall stranger on the island, he
discovers he's
landed on Volcano
Island,
inhabited by a tribe that values its privacy. (One incongruity comes to
mind:
how does a monk from Ireland
understand the language of a tribal man on another continent?) Fast
forward from this isolated monk's journey and life of solitude and
peace to
ten-year-old Rolf Arneson from Minnesota,
who visits Iceland
and finds a world replete with rugged adventure, an Icelandic girl
(Frieda),
and a threat that might consume both their worlds. He's dreamed of
volcanoes
while in Minnesota - but not the danger he finds; while Frieda's world
is
replete with folklore, history, and a giant black mass that looms over
her
world, known simply as 'the black volcano'. By
Volcano Island's
third chapter, Iceland
comes alive - before Rolf even arrives - the setting well developed
between the
monk's discovery and the contemporary young girl Frieda's heritage.
William
Graham devotes several important chapters to setting the sights,
scenes, and
sounds of Iceland: in a key to an evocative listen that builds high
adventure,
from Rolf's plunge into a dangerous sea to his tour of geothermal areas
and his
growing realization that Volcano Island holds something more than
rugged beauty. One
might expect a winning adventure around a volcano's threat from the
title; but
which is equally compelling - and less anticipated - is an attention to
detail
that brings Iceland's environment and communities to life. As the story
proceeds, Graham's inclusion of these details creates exquisite mental
visuals
that enhance the building tension: an especially important device in an
audio
listen. While
Volcano Island's
focus on young
protagonists would seem to limit its audience to teens and pre-teens,
many an
adult with an interest in Iceland will find it a compelling listen, as
well;
driven by its focus on a rugged land too rarely used as a backdrop to
anything
but fantasy sagas. With its ability to build a powerfully realistic
setting and
then add in protagonists who discover this world, each other, and their
place
in surviving what is to come, all paired with a clear, evocative
narrator, Volcano
Island's audio adventure should be
well received not just by young listeners, but by all ages.
William Graham
BookSurge Publishing/Audible Audiobook
978-1419615788
$6.08
http://www.amazon.com/Volcano-
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An
Unusual Island It
feels like Janine's birthday couldn't get better: her parents have won
a
vacation to an island and the whole family gets to go have fun - which,
unfortunately, includes a sightseeing boat ride (Janine isn't fond of
boats:
"Being on the
boat reminded me of a bad
kids’ roller coaster ride—bumpy and boring.").
The experience
does nothing to improve her opinion when a storm arises and they are
shipwrecked on an uncharted island, there to face the mystery of their
lives. Only
eleven pages into the story, D.L. Finn paints the background,
interests, and
concerns of her protagonists and places them in a position of
confronting
powerful changes: off and running with a quick start, teen readers will
find
themselves plunged into adventure following a "stereotypical smart
girl" who finds her comfortable world challenged in more ways than
one. The
mystery of the island's hidden (but beneficial) presence is well done
and the
seemingly-calm acceptance of the protagonist is deftly explained just
at a
point where it starts to feel too pat and unreal: "Mom wasn’t acting like Mom, who
would have said something
right away, and I wasn’t acting like myself, either. It was like I had
been in
a trance while we were walking. Why weren’t either one of us freaked
out?"). In
a rollicking journey that includes caves, possible pirate treasure, and
references to baseball, bears, possible school pranks, and more, An Unusual Island
is replete with twists
and turns that skirt the supernatural and create the evocative saga of
an
island replete with danger. With
an adventure far beyond that of a shipwreck or treasure saga, teens
will
delight in a winding story line that requires only an interest in
adventure and
fantasy to prove an engrossing, compelling read, recommended for ages
9-16.
D.L. Finn
BookBaby
978-0-9962582-3-4 $10.88
http://www.amazon.com/Unusual-
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Another
Girl Calls My Dad Daddy Another
Girl Calls My Dad Daddy holds a
compelling cover of an older and a younger girl and the father who
stands
behind them and presents an intriguing theme for ages 8 and older,
beginning
with twelve-year-old Portia Maddox, who meets her older half-sister for
the
first time. Portia
is hopeful for a positive relationship because they share the same
father and
she has longed for a sibling; but Jasmine is not what she
expected.
Portia is so disappointed that she is afraid to share that she has Type
1
diabetes. Jasmine believes Portia has a better life than she and is
more
beloved by their father - and so Jasmine embarks on a series of efforts
to make
Portia's life miserable. It's young Portia who is wise enough to know
that now
she has to 'share' her father - but because Jasmine sees that Portia
seems to
be the apple of her father's eye, she quickly turns into a jealous,
vindictive
person. How can a positive relationship be forged from such
adversity? Emma
L. Price excels at crafting realistic situations, unlike many
similar-sounding
stories. It's not a simple 'hate at first sight', for example: Jasmine
and
Portia's phone discussions and long-distance introductions have been
warm and
seem to hold much promise for the half-sisters getting along, even
given that
fifteen years went by before either knew about the other. There
are numerous young adult and pre-teen stories on the market about
blended
families, but most involve step-parents and only lightly touch upon
sibling
relationships. Even the title of this book strikes at the heart of the
matter:
sibling jealousy. The
complexity of family relationships may be explored through Portia's
eyes and a
first-person account, but equal attention is given to presenting
Jasmine's
impressions and rationale for her actions, making Another Girl Calls My Dad Daddy
a compelling read for any
interested in the rigors of blended family interactions.
Emma L. Price
ELP Books
P.O.
Box
1506
Gardena, CA
90249
9780984165025
$9.95
www.elpbooks.net
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Felicity
and the Featherless Two-Foot http://loraleeevansauthor. http://www.amazon.com/ Felicity
is a little sparrow whose courage leads her to become an honorary
fairy,
flitting about in a world of fairies threatened only by "pea-poles"
or "featherless two-foots". What makes Felicity seem fearless is that
her fairy friends must not let their enemies see them - and Felicity
has no
such constraints. This lends to an openness about the featherless
two-foots
which in turn leads her to explore their world more openly than her
fairy
companions can do. Felicity
and the Featherless Two-Foot is a
delightful, easy-to-read animal-and-magic based fantasy that focuses on
a
little bird's encounters with humans. Elementary-grade readers who love
fantasy
and animal stories will find many fun moments as Felicity observes
these
strangers and finds herself attracted to some of their accessories ("Granola tasted almost as good as
beetle!")
when a human camping trip attracts her attention. Perhaps
it's inevitable that her curiosity and openness to new experiences will
land
her in danger. Perhaps it's predictable that one of the 'peoples' will
threaten
the fairy world's secrets. And it's a compelling development in the
story that
Felicity's friendships will eventually cross worlds to lead her to take
under
her wing the most unlikely of characters with more than a small degree
of
compassion: "The
poor little
featherless two-foot! Of course, he’d taken Colin’s stuff, and he was
being a
nitwit, causing everybody worry and problems. But still!" It's
this attention to understanding and empathy that elevates Felicity and the Featherless
Two-Foot from
being a children's fairy/animal story to a tale of positive attitudes
towards
life, new encounters, new creatures, and new opportunities. Dreams,
imagination, and different worlds intersect in a positive and simple
story that
kids will find whimsical and delightfully fun.
Loralee
Evans
Loralee Evans, Publisher
978-0692538913 12.95 Paperback
www.loraleeevans.com
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Nathaniel
Hawthorne’s Mr. Higginbotham’s Catastrophe Nathaniel
Hawthorne’s Mr. Higginbotham’s Catastrophe
is a classic story adapted for young readers ages
10-13. Lively,
rich, black and white illustrations by Marc
Johnson-Pencook inject new
life into a classic writer's work. The
drier appearance and style of the original story translates well to
larger
print, full-page pen and ink drawings, and a paperback format that
lends an
unassuming, attractive air to this comical tale about a search for
truth, and
the conundrum a gossip-spreading peddler finds himself in when faced
with the uncertain demise of Mr. Higginbotham. All
the elements that make 'classics' so challenging for younger audiences
have
been eliminated in this remake to create an enticing, involving final
result.
Tiller's efforts to update the look, style, and text arrangement
succeed in
making it attractive to young readers. He also succeeds in retaining
the irony
and humor of a story that is both entertaining and
thought-provoking. Ultimately,
Nathaniel
Hawthorne’s Mr. Higginbotham’s
Catastrophe is a terrific example of how
'classic' writers' works
can, with a little attention to format, illustration and design, be
updated to
appeal to modern young readers!
Adapted by Jerome Tiller
ArtWrite Productions
1555
Gardena Avenue
Minneapolis, MN
55432-5848
9781939846068
$8.99
www.adaptedclassics.com
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Physical
Literacy: 12 Steps Pledge Ambassadorship Physical
Literacy: 12 Steps Pledge Ambassadorship
promotes fitness, plain and simple, and provides a 12-step program of
strategies using the latest scientific research to connect health and
fitness
objectives with a smarter workout design by building a lifestyle
based on healthy behaviors
rather than presenting a single program. Where
most other books provide 'quick fix' routines, Physical
Literacy eliminates potential confusion by
focusing on twelve topics
about health and fitness. It presents a program aimed toward middle
school
readers in grades 6 and up, who receive a blend of full-page color and
simple
'Idance' ideals for physical fitness that encourages active, regular
leisure
pursuits. There's
a lot of detail packed into a deceptively simple-looking picture book
read: so
much so that parental involvement is suggested not just to interpret
the facts
("Physical
literacy is best achieved by
combining health and fitness objectives. Start with a food plan and
action plan
to ensure your success by stating your goals and chosen exercise, time
and
space (environment) to exercise, and determine how long you will stick
to a
plan.") but for adult enlightenment, as
well. Another
plus: color photos of young adults performing break dancing and other
dance
routines accompany color drawings and short descriptions that
illustrate each
dancing step and its connection to overall health. The
inclusion of an 'Ambassador Certificate', glossary of terms, and a
fitness
chart a self-assessment quiz creates a fine collection of insights that
use the
metaphor of dance to transmit key information on how kids of all ages
(into
young adult and adult circles) can achieve better health by
incorporating dance
routines into a lifestyle of healthy, regular, and fun
activity.
Steven C. McCartney
Juvenile / Young Adult Health and Fitness
ISBN: 9781506164878 (SC), $15.99, 36 pages
B00N1YPZU2 (Kindle), $6.99 36 pages
ISBN: 978-0990681557 (HC) $21.99, 40 pages
Publication Date: February 26, 2015 Publisher: Healthy Lifestyle
Changes, Inc.
Distributors: Amazon, Ingram, iTune, Google play, Nook, Overdrive
www.amazon.com
www.physicalliteracy12steps.
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Seven
Viking Days Seven
Viking Days offers up Viking tales
of Thor and others in a hardcover, full-color children's picture book
that
gathers these tales together and adds vibrant details about Viking
lives and
history. It
would have been all too easy to just present Viking folklore alone; but
the
added value of this approach is that it tailors its stories to reveal
Viking
lives and society and thus takes the folktale format a step further by
creating
a lively history. Mia
Hocking's lovely illustrations create a collage of images and
backgrounds to
accompany text that will lend to both parental read-aloud and leisure
enjoyment
by kids with basic reading skills who have moved beyond the one- or
two-line
elementary picture book format. From
the origins of Tuesday in 'Tiu's Day' to how other days of the week and
Scandinavian roots are still present in modern culture, Seven Viking Days
uses repetition, icons
for the days, discussions of days' names and their roots in legend and
story,
and more. The
result is a gorgeous presentation of Viking vignettes that will
interest adults
as well as children.
Lee Cuesta
Infinity Publishing
1094 New DeHaven Street, Suite 100
West Conshohocken, PA 19428
LCCN: 2015937660
$34.95
ISBN: 978-1-4958-0584-4
www.infinitypublishing.com
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Smart
People? Smarter Animals Pop
culture, music references and natural history is admittedly an unusual
blend
rarely married in a nonfiction account, but Smart
People? Smarter Animals is about intelligent
creatures and is
written with a young audience in mind, and it blends these facets well
in an
approach that opens with an account of a honey badger, a creature
that's been
receiving a good amount of attention. The
animal stories here name each creature under inspection (the honey
badger is
'Stoffel', for example) and they adopt a chatty tone that belays the
usual
dryness of science, making for an appealing fiction-like survey of
facts
especially recommended for advanced elementary to middle-grade readers.
Some
examples of this tone: "As
you can see,
a honey badger is carnivorous and has few predators. He’s one tough dude."
and "Photographing
Stoffel is a
challenge since he’s always on the go, probably a type A. Honey badgers
and
humans seem to keep their distance, the former figuring the woman with
the
camera has a gun hidden somewhere." To
further the feel of a chatty conversation, references are also made
within the
chapters to popular media representations of each animal, related
animals and
the researchers who have studied them, and TV shows and websites which
offer
further information. Yes, all this could have appeared in a more
'scholarly'
approach using footnotes and bibliography (indeed, a section of
'References' is
included at the end); but by also presenting many of them as part of
its chatty
text, readers receive at-a-glance options that fit neatly into the
course of
discussion rather than appearing isolated at the end of the
book. While
some adult readers might eschew this more casual tone and approach ("…getting back to pronghorn, maybe
they are jocks, but
can they pass the entrance exam? From what I’ve written, you can see
that
they’re smart and athletic but come on; they certainly won’t get a
diploma or
even be on the Rams taxi squad."), the result is
a natural
history that reads with the lively jumps and cultural references of
fiction,
making it a reference for young readers and many an adult alike: those
who like
wildlife, pop culture, and an unusual mix of the two that holds the
potential
for couching its natural history facts in a lively treatment that's
anything
but dry.
Robert S. Swiatek
Robert S. Swiatek, Publisher
978-1-63452554-1 $19.95
www.barnesandnoble.com
www.bobcooks.org
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SouthWyck SouthWyck,
book one of a four part series
called The Villages Of Wyck, is a delightful teen fantasy read and is
set in a
magical town where Kar Homely eagerly awaits the biggest day of his
life: the
day when he will dip his finger into a magic urn and discover what his
magical
ability will be. There
seem to be a number of barriers to this event for him, however,
including the
secret his parents have kept of his true birth origins, the efforts of
bullies
to thwart his dreams, and a stunning upset in the process which leads
him on
quite a different journey than has been the routine for years in the
magic-infused town of SouthWyck, where everyone has a special
ability. The
first thing to note about SouthWyck
is Christina Waymreen's ability to infuse her story with the sights,
sounds,
and psyche of the entire town. From mouth-watering descriptions of
foods to
hair-raising and believable confrontations with town bullies to the
emergence
of a truth that affects not just Kar's life, but the accepted routines
and
ultimate existence of the entire town, action is swift and
changing. Characters
are well portrayed and believable, events are only slightly predictable
(that
Kar's special day will take an unexpected turn) yet still engrossing,
and the
twists and turns presented from the point of Kar's disastrous coming of
age to
a journey that confronts a growing evil makes for engrossing read that
teens
will find hard to put down. An
interest in magic-infused fantasy is required for appreciation of the
story.
Teens with such interests will find much to like in the evolving
character of
Kar and his exploits, and will enjoy a story that's perfectly tailored
for ages
12-14 - a refreshing approach, given that so many teen fantasies, in
trying to
reach into adult circles, make their plots too complex for the very age
group
they seek to include.
Christina Waymreen
Seaway Press
ISBN: 0996013229 ISBN-13: 978-0-9960132-2-2
Prepublication Manuscript: ETA: October 2015
Email: seawaypress@gmail.com
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