Author: DiAnn Mills
Determination Is a Powerful ForceWhat would you be willing to do to right a wrong? "Bert" - Ember, is a young woman with a plan that doesn't turn out the way she envisioned. One twist and turn after another may hide danger or a helping hand...but who to trust? Emotions tug at her heart and infulence her decisions. When choices are forced upon her the consequences look grim. Once you pick up The Fire in Ember, you won't be able to put it down!
DiAnn is a wonderful storyteller. Her characters are well rounded and you become emotionally attached, living each moment as if you were there. The setting, in the old west, was simple but complicated by the choices of others. This is an adventure you don't want to miss. So saddle up and join the posse!
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Save Me
Author: Lisa Scottoline
Crucial Seconds,
Unforeseen Consequences....
Life's critical situations come without warning, forcing us to choose quickly. What seemed the right choice then may appear different the next day.
When Rose regains consciousness, finding the lunchroom at school in flames, who will she choose to save, the dazed and injured children near by or her daughter trapped in the restroom? The cost of this decision will forever change her life. Chapter by chapter Roses' unspoken past influences her choices and endangers her marriage and family relationships. The outcome finds her on shaky ground with a battle she must fight to win.
Lisa's style is fast paced and the story moves quickly. If you are a parent, you will relate to Rose's struggle to protect her child. The story has many twists and surprising turns that will keep you going from chapter one. The characters come alive with worldly actions and emotions pushed by the tragedies at hand. You will see the action, hear the danger and feel the story. Save Me will captivate your heart.
Crucial Seconds,
Unforeseen Consequences....
Life's critical situations come without warning, forcing us to choose quickly. What seemed the right choice then may appear different the next day.
When Rose regains consciousness, finding the lunchroom at school in flames, who will she choose to save, the dazed and injured children near by or her daughter trapped in the restroom? The cost of this decision will forever change her life. Chapter by chapter Roses' unspoken past influences her choices and endangers her marriage and family relationships. The outcome finds her on shaky ground with a battle she must fight to win.
Lisa's style is fast paced and the story moves quickly. If you are a parent, you will relate to Rose's struggle to protect her child. The story has many twists and surprising turns that will keep you going from chapter one. The characters come alive with worldly actions and emotions pushed by the tragedies at hand. You will see the action, hear the danger and feel the story. Save Me will captivate your heart.
Think Twice
Author: Lisa Scottoline
Trust… A Matter of Death or Life
Lisa has done it again, excellent writing from page one. I was pulled in hook, line and sinker. Jam packed with action, well developed characters, and a story line to shiver your socks off.
Everyone has their place in life and Bernie, a successful attorney, was making great strides. Owner of her own law firm, life was good. She had recently established a relationship with Alice, her twin sister, she hadn’t known existed. When dinner at Alice’s place becomes worse than a nightmare, it is just the beginning.
Trust becomes a matter of life or death and it’s true friends that make the difference. Think Twice will have you second guessing yourself.
Make sure your doors are locked before you start reading!
Trust… A Matter of Death or Life
Lisa has done it again, excellent writing from page one. I was pulled in hook, line and sinker. Jam packed with action, well developed characters, and a story line to shiver your socks off.
Everyone has their place in life and Bernie, a successful attorney, was making great strides. Owner of her own law firm, life was good. She had recently established a relationship with Alice, her twin sister, she hadn’t known existed. When dinner at Alice’s place becomes worse than a nightmare, it is just the beginning.
Trust becomes a matter of life or death and it’s true friends that make the difference. Think Twice will have you second guessing yourself.
Make sure your doors are locked before you start reading!
Damger Close
Authors: William G. Boykin and Tom Morrisey
Action filled from page one….
Addicting writing and hard to put down, Boykin and Morrisey bring the realities of war to your imagination. The characters are more than just people on a page; they take on a life of their own full of emotions and struggles that will touch the closed places of your heart.
War is a terrible thing. When you face it head on the choices you make in the service of your country and the “better good” are often split second decisions. Faith in God is sometimes the only thing you have to hang on to when it seems all is lost.
Danger close will take you inside a soldiers mind…..if you dare to enter.
Action filled from page one….
Addicting writing and hard to put down, Boykin and Morrisey bring the realities of war to your imagination. The characters are more than just people on a page; they take on a life of their own full of emotions and struggles that will touch the closed places of your heart.
War is a terrible thing. When you face it head on the choices you make in the service of your country and the “better good” are often split second decisions. Faith in God is sometimes the only thing you have to hang on to when it seems all is lost.
Danger close will take you inside a soldiers mind…..if you dare to enter.
Under This Unbroken Sky
Auther: Sandi Mitchell
The struggle and tragedy that befell the Ukrainian immigrants to Canada is portrayed with gut wrenching precision. This story may be fictional, but the truth behind its telling could be repeated by those who lived and died in similar circumstances.Ms. Mitchell jumps into the story with an overload of characters that are a challenge to keep clear. The first few pages appear difficult, leaving the reader a little lost. With the passing of time, the story unfolds like a movie and individuals emerge with clarity and depth. The flow of events contains a few instances of back-story thoughts that interrupt forward movement, but they add necessary intensity of understanding and widen the readers over all experience.
Poverty is shown in precise words, actions and deeds, the details of which could be disturbing to some readers. When going without, so others may live, is a fact of daily life it becomes a reality most readers of today have never suffered. Food is produced, harvested, preserved and stored and every family member participates. Winter becomes a time of rationing, so their stores will sustain them through the harsh, cold winter months, until spring arrives. The unimaginable emotional roller coaster spares no one, as the highs and lows of survival take their toll.
The writing is full of realism and the story unfolds in unmistakable detail. The reader will cheer inside with each triumph and ache with every mounting struggle, willing the characters to challenge impossible odds. There are, however, even in these dire circumstances fleeting moments of joy and glimpses of happiness from simple, un-profound events.
Ms. Mitchell has done an amazing job of pulling the reader back in time, forcing them to see, hear, taste and feel, to become a part of the story.
I found this work to be of the highest quality, a definite page turner. She has presented a glimpse into the harshness and brutality of a time not easily forgotten. The faces haunting your mind and the emotions of your heart will be forever branded by her story.
The struggle and tragedy that befell the Ukrainian immigrants to Canada is portrayed with gut wrenching precision. This story may be fictional, but the truth behind its telling could be repeated by those who lived and died in similar circumstances.Ms. Mitchell jumps into the story with an overload of characters that are a challenge to keep clear. The first few pages appear difficult, leaving the reader a little lost. With the passing of time, the story unfolds like a movie and individuals emerge with clarity and depth. The flow of events contains a few instances of back-story thoughts that interrupt forward movement, but they add necessary intensity of understanding and widen the readers over all experience.
Poverty is shown in precise words, actions and deeds, the details of which could be disturbing to some readers. When going without, so others may live, is a fact of daily life it becomes a reality most readers of today have never suffered. Food is produced, harvested, preserved and stored and every family member participates. Winter becomes a time of rationing, so their stores will sustain them through the harsh, cold winter months, until spring arrives. The unimaginable emotional roller coaster spares no one, as the highs and lows of survival take their toll.
The writing is full of realism and the story unfolds in unmistakable detail. The reader will cheer inside with each triumph and ache with every mounting struggle, willing the characters to challenge impossible odds. There are, however, even in these dire circumstances fleeting moments of joy and glimpses of happiness from simple, un-profound events.
Ms. Mitchell has done an amazing job of pulling the reader back in time, forcing them to see, hear, taste and feel, to become a part of the story.
I found this work to be of the highest quality, a definite page turner. She has presented a glimpse into the harshness and brutality of a time not easily forgotten. The faces haunting your mind and the emotions of your heart will be forever branded by her story.
Love’s First Light
Author: Jamie Carie
Young Christophe, the Count of St. Laurent, was brutally left alone in the midst of the French Revolution. Fearing for his life, escaping from Paris was his only hope…Knowing all he ever loved is gone forever, Christophe retreats to the old family castle in the medieval town of Carcassonne. Consumed with research, experiments and writings he thinks of little else. Years pass unnoticed, like the blowing of the wind.
Unable to sleep he wanders about late at night. One evening, clad in disguise, he finds a beautiful young woman visiting a grave. He tries to speak with her but she is withdrawn. A spark of hope is ignites in Christophe’s heart with the prospect of future encounters.
Beset by the trials of poverty, life for the commoner grows more difficult each day. Self-reliant and resourceful, Scarlett, a recent widow, her sister and mother have survived fairly well. However, their resources are rapidly depleting and drastic measures must be taken. A plan is set in place.
The ensuing story is about the reawakening of two broken hearts amid the devastating circumstances of the French Revolution. Will they fall prey to the devious plans of the revolutionists?
Jamie has done it again. Love’s First Light is action packed and emotionally charged from beginning to end. The characters are fully developed and become ingrained in your minds eye. The writing is so vivid you will feel their pain, experience their struggles, and smile at their peaceful moments.
Love’s First Light is the best romance book I have read in a long time. I was enthralled, addicted, and couldn’t put it down.
Young Christophe, the Count of St. Laurent, was brutally left alone in the midst of the French Revolution. Fearing for his life, escaping from Paris was his only hope…Knowing all he ever loved is gone forever, Christophe retreats to the old family castle in the medieval town of Carcassonne. Consumed with research, experiments and writings he thinks of little else. Years pass unnoticed, like the blowing of the wind.
Unable to sleep he wanders about late at night. One evening, clad in disguise, he finds a beautiful young woman visiting a grave. He tries to speak with her but she is withdrawn. A spark of hope is ignites in Christophe’s heart with the prospect of future encounters.
Beset by the trials of poverty, life for the commoner grows more difficult each day. Self-reliant and resourceful, Scarlett, a recent widow, her sister and mother have survived fairly well. However, their resources are rapidly depleting and drastic measures must be taken. A plan is set in place.
The ensuing story is about the reawakening of two broken hearts amid the devastating circumstances of the French Revolution. Will they fall prey to the devious plans of the revolutionists?
Jamie has done it again. Love’s First Light is action packed and emotionally charged from beginning to end. The characters are fully developed and become ingrained in your minds eye. The writing is so vivid you will feel their pain, experience their struggles, and smile at their peaceful moments.
Love’s First Light is the best romance book I have read in a long time. I was enthralled, addicted, and couldn’t put it down.
Swan for the Money:
Meg Langslow Mysteries
Author: Donna Andrews
Meg Langslow, smack dab in the middle of another mystery. Just as expected.
Donna does a wonderful job of turning a local rose show into an adventure that will make you laugh, frown, and puzzle away. Her characters are so eccentric they will stretch your imagination to the limit. Of course, not all of them are human!
Roped into organizing the Caerphilly rose show Meg holds her own against trying circumstances and animal antics. Mrs. Winkleson has agreed to allow the rose show to take place in her barns, but she is also one of the entrants. This causes suspicions as baffling things begin to happen.
Every day is a new challenge for Meg. Even the simple tasks become complicated. Rose bushes, dogs and pruning shears go missing. Animals appear out of nowhere to harass the rose show contestants and in the midst of it all the pruning shears become a murder weapon.
Meg’s grandfather, an animal activist, is sure Mrs. Winkleson is up to no good when he discovers her treatment of the “less than perfect” animals that are born on the ranch. If they don’t meet her “color scheme” they disappear.
Shortly before the rose show Meg is horrified to find out that Mrs. Winkleson and has called the rose club members informing them that the only roses to be shown are white and black. (She insists because it is her motif for the whole ranch.) Needles to say, it takes Meg awhile to straighten everything out and keep the peace between the contestants.
When Meg out smarts the geese, passes the fainting goats and breaks into Mrs. Winkleson’s rose garden, in the name of justice, the outcome takes a dangerous twist.
Swan for the Money was a “hoot” if you are a humor junkie. However, it was a bit much for my practical imagination.
Author: Donna Andrews
Meg Langslow, smack dab in the middle of another mystery. Just as expected.
Donna does a wonderful job of turning a local rose show into an adventure that will make you laugh, frown, and puzzle away. Her characters are so eccentric they will stretch your imagination to the limit. Of course, not all of them are human!
Roped into organizing the Caerphilly rose show Meg holds her own against trying circumstances and animal antics. Mrs. Winkleson has agreed to allow the rose show to take place in her barns, but she is also one of the entrants. This causes suspicions as baffling things begin to happen.
Every day is a new challenge for Meg. Even the simple tasks become complicated. Rose bushes, dogs and pruning shears go missing. Animals appear out of nowhere to harass the rose show contestants and in the midst of it all the pruning shears become a murder weapon.
Meg’s grandfather, an animal activist, is sure Mrs. Winkleson is up to no good when he discovers her treatment of the “less than perfect” animals that are born on the ranch. If they don’t meet her “color scheme” they disappear.
Shortly before the rose show Meg is horrified to find out that Mrs. Winkleson and has called the rose club members informing them that the only roses to be shown are white and black. (She insists because it is her motif for the whole ranch.) Needles to say, it takes Meg awhile to straighten everything out and keep the peace between the contestants.
When Meg out smarts the geese, passes the fainting goats and breaks into Mrs. Winkleson’s rose garden, in the name of justice, the outcome takes a dangerous twist.
Swan for the Money was a “hoot” if you are a humor junkie. However, it was a bit much for my practical imagination.
When Danger Calls
Author: Terry Odell
Open the pages of When Danger Calls, and step into an action filled journey you can’t escape. Terry does an amazing job of story telling. Her characters are well rounded, emotional, and flawed in a captivating sort of way. Their unpredictability and change keeps you guessing what lies just ahead. There is never a dull moment and the tension builds from start to end. There is some open sexual descriptions, done in a gentle yet intimate manner.
It’s like Barbie meets Wolverine. Two totally different worlds intertwine and sparks fly on all levels. Small town school teacher and international terrorist fighter encounter each other in the local hospital. Ryan Harper’s father was injured and Frankie’s mother had a health scare. Distraught and exhausted, Ryan holds his head, elbows on his knees. Tears threaten and his trembling hands wipe angrily across his cheeks. Frankie sees his distress and offers her help. Ryan tries to shut her out, but finds comfort in her gentleness. A favor is extended and the consequences for all are beyond imagination.
A backdrop of vast Montana splendor, family challenges, and international surprises sends Ryan Harper on an emotional rollercoaster. When Frankie and little daughter Molly manage to reach his heart, he loses clarity and focus. When she asks for his assistance, he returns the good deed, but it’s more than he bargained for. Just by association, mother and daughter become part of the dangerous international picture, their lives in danger. Ryan must detach for their safety. But is it too late? What are the chances? The odds appear to be against them or are they? Who is to be trusted?
When Danger Calls is a great read, especially for the adventurer with a romantic heart. The gauntlet of emotions will leave you breathless. I was hooked from the first and page, closing the book was not an option.
Open the pages of When Danger Calls, and step into an action filled journey you can’t escape. Terry does an amazing job of story telling. Her characters are well rounded, emotional, and flawed in a captivating sort of way. Their unpredictability and change keeps you guessing what lies just ahead. There is never a dull moment and the tension builds from start to end. There is some open sexual descriptions, done in a gentle yet intimate manner.
It’s like Barbie meets Wolverine. Two totally different worlds intertwine and sparks fly on all levels. Small town school teacher and international terrorist fighter encounter each other in the local hospital. Ryan Harper’s father was injured and Frankie’s mother had a health scare. Distraught and exhausted, Ryan holds his head, elbows on his knees. Tears threaten and his trembling hands wipe angrily across his cheeks. Frankie sees his distress and offers her help. Ryan tries to shut her out, but finds comfort in her gentleness. A favor is extended and the consequences for all are beyond imagination.
A backdrop of vast Montana splendor, family challenges, and international surprises sends Ryan Harper on an emotional rollercoaster. When Frankie and little daughter Molly manage to reach his heart, he loses clarity and focus. When she asks for his assistance, he returns the good deed, but it’s more than he bargained for. Just by association, mother and daughter become part of the dangerous international picture, their lives in danger. Ryan must detach for their safety. But is it too late? What are the chances? The odds appear to be against them or are they? Who is to be trusted?
When Danger Calls is a great read, especially for the adventurer with a romantic heart. The gauntlet of emotions will leave you breathless. I was hooked from the first and page, closing the book was not an option.
Tide, Feather, Snow:
A Life in Alaska
Author: Miranda Weiss
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live on the Alaskan Frontier, to leave the modern world behind and step back into the pages of history? Tide, Feather, Snow is one woman’s experience that leaves a definite impact.
You will receive a plethora of information that will likely surprise, enrich, and fill your imagination beyond belief. The beauty of nature at it’s finest is detailed, broad, and bluntly portrayed as survival of the fittest always wins. The harsh elements will never be tamed, but the value of experience and hands-on learning can mean the difference between life and certain death.
Homer is a small Alaskan town at the end of the road. Miranda shares her thoughts, daydreams, and reality through vivid writing, painting mind pictures that you can see, here, feel, touch and smell as you walk along her path. She shares openly her daily routines of gathering food in the spring, summer and fall to prepare for the harsh winters that lie ahead. Lacking confidence in many areas, Miranda relies on her boyfriend, books and old timers to gain the wisdom needed to keep on going where many others return stateside. Miranda is faced with many challenges. Determined one moment and confused the next, her life is filled with emotional and physical roller coasters.
I found Tide, Feather, Snow packed with unique information from which I gained new insight into life in Alaska. However, the writing style felt disconnected. One paragraph or two we would be off on an adventure or facing a new challenge then memories of another time or experience would intrude for several paragraphs and then back to the adventure. Even though the writing was very descriptive and informative it felt like I was reading in a monotone. The same scenes were often described over and over with slightly different perspectives.
Tide, Feather, Snow allows the restless spirit to experience the cold, hard realities of life on the edge of the Alaskan frontier.
Author: Miranda Weiss
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live on the Alaskan Frontier, to leave the modern world behind and step back into the pages of history? Tide, Feather, Snow is one woman’s experience that leaves a definite impact.
You will receive a plethora of information that will likely surprise, enrich, and fill your imagination beyond belief. The beauty of nature at it’s finest is detailed, broad, and bluntly portrayed as survival of the fittest always wins. The harsh elements will never be tamed, but the value of experience and hands-on learning can mean the difference between life and certain death.
Homer is a small Alaskan town at the end of the road. Miranda shares her thoughts, daydreams, and reality through vivid writing, painting mind pictures that you can see, here, feel, touch and smell as you walk along her path. She shares openly her daily routines of gathering food in the spring, summer and fall to prepare for the harsh winters that lie ahead. Lacking confidence in many areas, Miranda relies on her boyfriend, books and old timers to gain the wisdom needed to keep on going where many others return stateside. Miranda is faced with many challenges. Determined one moment and confused the next, her life is filled with emotional and physical roller coasters.
I found Tide, Feather, Snow packed with unique information from which I gained new insight into life in Alaska. However, the writing style felt disconnected. One paragraph or two we would be off on an adventure or facing a new challenge then memories of another time or experience would intrude for several paragraphs and then back to the adventure. Even though the writing was very descriptive and informative it felt like I was reading in a monotone. The same scenes were often described over and over with slightly different perspectives.
Tide, Feather, Snow allows the restless spirit to experience the cold, hard realities of life on the edge of the Alaskan frontier.
Savannah’s Choices
Author: Donna Ketchbaw
We are the product of life’s choices….
Savannah Leon is a dynamic character who will immediately captivate your mind and possess your heart. Her struggles for success can be found, in varying degrees, in every woman’s life. When you step into her world you become part of it, seeing, hearing and feeling her pains and joys. Savannah’s choices gradually empower her to reach for freedom and stand on her own, but at what price?
From the get go the reader will find a well written story that is clear, precise, and a definite page turner. The descriptions are alive with detail that reach the senses and fill your mind. A perfect mix of dialogue, action and suspense will keep you up at all hours. The supporting characters are well developed and enhance the story. The best friends, the demanding mother, the controlling lover and many others influence Savannah’s choices and the direction of her life.
Drastic measures equate to crucial choices and once made, there is no turning back. Savannah faces numerous situations where yesterdays tears bring tomorrows uncertainty. Oft times one moment of anger, desperation, misunderstanding or weakness leaves in its wake unchangeable consequences
Love is powerful and controlling. When it becomes the force by which life is governed, obvious and potential danger signs go unheeded or are quickly dismissed. There are valuable “life lessons’ woven into the pattern of Savannah’s story that can benefit the reader in their own struggle for self-esteem, personal freedom and success.
Savannah’s Choices is the best romance I have read in a long time. There is depth and meaning in this story that goes far beyond the written word. With each passing chapter your imagination is bombarded with possible scenarios and an insatiable desire to discover what comes next. No one who finishes Savannah’s Choices will leave empty-handed.
We are the product of life’s choices….
Savannah Leon is a dynamic character who will immediately captivate your mind and possess your heart. Her struggles for success can be found, in varying degrees, in every woman’s life. When you step into her world you become part of it, seeing, hearing and feeling her pains and joys. Savannah’s choices gradually empower her to reach for freedom and stand on her own, but at what price?
From the get go the reader will find a well written story that is clear, precise, and a definite page turner. The descriptions are alive with detail that reach the senses and fill your mind. A perfect mix of dialogue, action and suspense will keep you up at all hours. The supporting characters are well developed and enhance the story. The best friends, the demanding mother, the controlling lover and many others influence Savannah’s choices and the direction of her life.
Drastic measures equate to crucial choices and once made, there is no turning back. Savannah faces numerous situations where yesterdays tears bring tomorrows uncertainty. Oft times one moment of anger, desperation, misunderstanding or weakness leaves in its wake unchangeable consequences
Love is powerful and controlling. When it becomes the force by which life is governed, obvious and potential danger signs go unheeded or are quickly dismissed. There are valuable “life lessons’ woven into the pattern of Savannah’s story that can benefit the reader in their own struggle for self-esteem, personal freedom and success.
Savannah’s Choices is the best romance I have read in a long time. There is depth and meaning in this story that goes far beyond the written word. With each passing chapter your imagination is bombarded with possible scenarios and an insatiable desire to discover what comes next. No one who finishes Savannah’s Choices will leave empty-handed.
Look Again
Athor: Lisa Scottoline
When life is going too good, it can’t last…
It all started when Ellen picked up the mail and saw her son’s image, not for some achievement, but as a missing child. Stunned and disbelieving she tries to put the picture out of her mind, but it creeps back in at the worst times. Ellen, a reported, first met Will as a sick and abandoned baby left at a local hospital. Her story touched many hearts, especially her own, it was love at first site. When Will was well enough to come home, she adopted him. Now three, he is healthy, loves his cat, Oreo Figaro and is the joy of Ellen’s life. Just like any three year old, Will has ups and downs, good days and bad, but mommy is the one that makes it all better. Ellen is a person that every mother can relate to. Her feelings are open and readable, no matter how hard she tries to hide them.
Look Again is definitely a page turner! Deception is woven into the story from different angles making it hard to predict. The chapters are short but the suspense builds as Ellen is thrown into a spiral of mass confusion, half truths, and lies. The writing will keep you spellbound and the flow is like a raging river pulling you along. You will meet well rounded characters, some loveable and others from your worst nightmare. The story is strong, written with detailed descriptions that open your mind. You can see the story unfolding as if you were there. In fact, as the reader you can’t help becoming a silent sidekick, trying to guess what’s coming. It is an emotional rollercoaster so buckle-up and hang on tight.
Look Again is the best book I have read in ages, clean, emotionally engaging, and great writing. I do have one caution…don’t starting reading at midnight, you won’t get to sleep!
When life is going too good, it can’t last…
It all started when Ellen picked up the mail and saw her son’s image, not for some achievement, but as a missing child. Stunned and disbelieving she tries to put the picture out of her mind, but it creeps back in at the worst times. Ellen, a reported, first met Will as a sick and abandoned baby left at a local hospital. Her story touched many hearts, especially her own, it was love at first site. When Will was well enough to come home, she adopted him. Now three, he is healthy, loves his cat, Oreo Figaro and is the joy of Ellen’s life. Just like any three year old, Will has ups and downs, good days and bad, but mommy is the one that makes it all better. Ellen is a person that every mother can relate to. Her feelings are open and readable, no matter how hard she tries to hide them.
Look Again is definitely a page turner! Deception is woven into the story from different angles making it hard to predict. The chapters are short but the suspense builds as Ellen is thrown into a spiral of mass confusion, half truths, and lies. The writing will keep you spellbound and the flow is like a raging river pulling you along. You will meet well rounded characters, some loveable and others from your worst nightmare. The story is strong, written with detailed descriptions that open your mind. You can see the story unfolding as if you were there. In fact, as the reader you can’t help becoming a silent sidekick, trying to guess what’s coming. It is an emotional rollercoaster so buckle-up and hang on tight.
Look Again is the best book I have read in ages, clean, emotionally engaging, and great writing. I do have one caution…don’t starting reading at midnight, you won’t get to sleep!
Homecoming
Author: Bernard Schlink
Homecoming is usually a memorable and happy experience however this journey is one filled with so many twist and turns I found myself lost on several occasions.
The story starts out simple enough. Young Peter travels across the German / Swiss boarder to visit his grandparents during the summer. The descriptions here are well done and easy to visualize. The stories were interesting.
Peter becomes infatuated with a story his grandparents are editing and is frustrated when he can’t find the rest of the story pages. Growing into adulthood, his life focuses on finding more information about a specific P.O.W. featured in the story and what has become of him.
There are several long quotes from the P.O.W.’s story inserted into the text and to me they were very distracting. Other stories were quoted from as well that seemed only to confuse rather than enhance.
Peter lives an unsettled life and goes through a number of women after his is dumped by one for whom he had deep feelings.
Over all I did not care for the organization of the book. It was too disjointed to keep a realistic flow and forward motion. It seemed to go left and right and left then a step forward and even a circle.
If you enjoy applying detective work to your reading or like solving involved mysteries then you may find this book enjoyable.
I enjoy reading about people’s lives. The challenges, the trials and the happy times often inspire. But with Homecoming, the challenge was reading the story.
Homecoming is usually a memorable and happy experience however this journey is one filled with so many twist and turns I found myself lost on several occasions.
The story starts out simple enough. Young Peter travels across the German / Swiss boarder to visit his grandparents during the summer. The descriptions here are well done and easy to visualize. The stories were interesting.
Peter becomes infatuated with a story his grandparents are editing and is frustrated when he can’t find the rest of the story pages. Growing into adulthood, his life focuses on finding more information about a specific P.O.W. featured in the story and what has become of him.
There are several long quotes from the P.O.W.’s story inserted into the text and to me they were very distracting. Other stories were quoted from as well that seemed only to confuse rather than enhance.
Peter lives an unsettled life and goes through a number of women after his is dumped by one for whom he had deep feelings.
Over all I did not care for the organization of the book. It was too disjointed to keep a realistic flow and forward motion. It seemed to go left and right and left then a step forward and even a circle.
If you enjoy applying detective work to your reading or like solving involved mysteries then you may find this book enjoyable.
I enjoy reading about people’s lives. The challenges, the trials and the happy times often inspire. But with Homecoming, the challenge was reading the story.
Montana Creeds: Dylan
Author: Linda Lael Miller
Abandoned by the brothers, the Creed ranch had been unkempt for years. Logan, Dylan and Tyler had found success in others areas. Their father’s death, funeral, and the ensuing fight were memories no one wanted to revisit.
Life events have a way of changing your perspective. Dylan, a rodeo circuit champion, now turned gambler was prepared, or so he thought. Leaving the poker game with large winnings was dangerous, especially at late hours. Exiting the back door, he knew something was about to happen. Six feet away from his truck, he recognized the person inside. Opening the door and sliding inside, his neck was immediately squeezed tightly…by two small arms belonging to Bonnie, his two year old daughter. Her mother was nowhere insight.
Dylan learned fast all he didn’t know about being a dad. However, he was determined to keep Bonnie at all costs. The only person he could think of to help was Logan, his lawyer brother and he knew just where to find him. Heading for Stillwater Springs, was just the beginning.
Using your imagination and the descriptive writing you will find yourself caught up in anticipation. The characters are well developed, but not overly dramatized. If you try to predict the next step you may be surprised. The story flowed very well and the characters experience realistic situations and challenges of daily living. There are some definite steamy encounters that will raise your blood pressure, so be prepared.
I always enjoy romance books with lots of twists and turns. Watch out, this one may give you whiplash!
Abandoned by the brothers, the Creed ranch had been unkempt for years. Logan, Dylan and Tyler had found success in others areas. Their father’s death, funeral, and the ensuing fight were memories no one wanted to revisit.
Life events have a way of changing your perspective. Dylan, a rodeo circuit champion, now turned gambler was prepared, or so he thought. Leaving the poker game with large winnings was dangerous, especially at late hours. Exiting the back door, he knew something was about to happen. Six feet away from his truck, he recognized the person inside. Opening the door and sliding inside, his neck was immediately squeezed tightly…by two small arms belonging to Bonnie, his two year old daughter. Her mother was nowhere insight.
Dylan learned fast all he didn’t know about being a dad. However, he was determined to keep Bonnie at all costs. The only person he could think of to help was Logan, his lawyer brother and he knew just where to find him. Heading for Stillwater Springs, was just the beginning.
Using your imagination and the descriptive writing you will find yourself caught up in anticipation. The characters are well developed, but not overly dramatized. If you try to predict the next step you may be surprised. The story flowed very well and the characters experience realistic situations and challenges of daily living. There are some definite steamy encounters that will raise your blood pressure, so be prepared.
I always enjoy romance books with lots of twists and turns. Watch out, this one may give you whiplash!
Montana Creeds: Logan
Author: Linda Lael Miller
Abandoned by the brothers, the Creed ranch had been unkempt for years. Logan, Tyler and Dylan had found success in others areas. Their father’s death, funeral, and the ensuing fight were memories no one wanted to revisit.
Time has a way of changing perspective. Logan, a big city lawyer, had sold out and headed home to Stillwater Springs. His goal, to resurrect the Creed name into one of respect and honor, would be no easy task. Money was not an issue. The sooner he got started the better.
Taken aback at the disrepair of the main house, Logan wastes no time throwing himself into the task at hand. Caught showing his soft side, he surprises many and opens the door to trust. It is not long before his lovely neighbor makes a lasting impression and the sparks soon fly. But that is only the beginning…
You will surly relate too many of the supportive characters and the challenges that often come on a daily basis. Single parenthood, traditions of the past, old wounds, and new dangers make this story one you won’t forget.
The writing is alive with details. You can visualize events and feel the emotions like you were there. It flows smoothly and transitions are made with ease. You will find it hard to set the book down.
There is a good balance between humor, suspense, and light hearted fun. However, there are lusty thoughts and actions intermingled as well.
All in all it was an enjoyable story.
Abandoned by the brothers, the Creed ranch had been unkempt for years. Logan, Tyler and Dylan had found success in others areas. Their father’s death, funeral, and the ensuing fight were memories no one wanted to revisit.
Time has a way of changing perspective. Logan, a big city lawyer, had sold out and headed home to Stillwater Springs. His goal, to resurrect the Creed name into one of respect and honor, would be no easy task. Money was not an issue. The sooner he got started the better.
Taken aback at the disrepair of the main house, Logan wastes no time throwing himself into the task at hand. Caught showing his soft side, he surprises many and opens the door to trust. It is not long before his lovely neighbor makes a lasting impression and the sparks soon fly. But that is only the beginning…
You will surly relate too many of the supportive characters and the challenges that often come on a daily basis. Single parenthood, traditions of the past, old wounds, and new dangers make this story one you won’t forget.
The writing is alive with details. You can visualize events and feel the emotions like you were there. It flows smoothly and transitions are made with ease. You will find it hard to set the book down.
There is a good balance between humor, suspense, and light hearted fun. However, there are lusty thoughts and actions intermingled as well.
All in all it was an enjoyable story.
Crazy Faith:
Ordinary People, Extraordinary Lives
Author: Susan K. Williams Smith
Faith is an astounding thing, especially when you test it…
Crazy Faith emphasizes the amazing accomplishments of several biblical persons and latter-day counterparts. It is well thought out and the conclusions drawn by Susan Smith are thought provoking, giving the reader another paradigm to consider.
Through intriguing imagery, familiar bible renditions of struggle, faith, and courage come alive. Individuals who pressed forward in the face of doubters and unbelievers were able to achieve the humanly impossible. Keeping an open mind will give the reader a chance to appreciate the authors’ interpretations.
The stories of crazy faith taken from more modern experiences are informative and truly inspiring. Each is presented with vivid details that will leave the reader in awe. The accomplishments are remarkable. The journey of faith begins with just one small step, followed by dedication, perseverance, and the hand of heavenly intervention. Many attitudes, visions, and lives were altered for the better because one person had enough crazy faith to stand up in the face of impossible odds. Even the hardest heart will be touched.
I found Crazy Faith to be a wonderful source of inspiration intermixed with honest preaching from a single perspective. Never the less, it felt like the same points were emphasized again and again. Different areas of focus were presented, but still the same point over and over again.
Author: Susan K. Williams Smith
Faith is an astounding thing, especially when you test it…
Crazy Faith emphasizes the amazing accomplishments of several biblical persons and latter-day counterparts. It is well thought out and the conclusions drawn by Susan Smith are thought provoking, giving the reader another paradigm to consider.
Through intriguing imagery, familiar bible renditions of struggle, faith, and courage come alive. Individuals who pressed forward in the face of doubters and unbelievers were able to achieve the humanly impossible. Keeping an open mind will give the reader a chance to appreciate the authors’ interpretations.
The stories of crazy faith taken from more modern experiences are informative and truly inspiring. Each is presented with vivid details that will leave the reader in awe. The accomplishments are remarkable. The journey of faith begins with just one small step, followed by dedication, perseverance, and the hand of heavenly intervention. Many attitudes, visions, and lives were altered for the better because one person had enough crazy faith to stand up in the face of impossible odds. Even the hardest heart will be touched.
I found Crazy Faith to be a wonderful source of inspiration intermixed with honest preaching from a single perspective. Never the less, it felt like the same points were emphasized again and again. Different areas of focus were presented, but still the same point over and over again.
Up in the Old Hotel
Author: Joseph Mitchell
Mitchell, a well known reporter has filled a role in history that will always be remembered and loved by those who lived the life he wrote about.
The people in his stories are unique and have qualities some would find interesting. His writing is very descriptive and he captures countless details not understood or seen by the casual passer-buyer. You can easily place yourself as a fly on the wall soaking in your surroundings.
If you read “Up in the Old Hotel” with literary merit in mind then you will be in for a good dose of excellent writing by a standard of yesteryear. If you are looking for people who fit outside the box, you will surly find them. If you are looking for a glimpse of the past them be prepared to journey back with a fine guide who didn’t miss a thing.
There will be many of the older generation that will remember, with clarity, when Mitchell’s writings first appeared and the impact they made. It is to this group that I recommend “Up in the Old Hotel”.
Though a brilliant writer, I was not drawn to his stories. For me they lacked the “snap, crackle, and pop” of today’s aggressive writing style. If New York had been my home over the years, then I would have found a deeper appreciation and understanding for those who made up Mitchell’s fine work.
Mitchell, a well known reporter has filled a role in history that will always be remembered and loved by those who lived the life he wrote about.
The people in his stories are unique and have qualities some would find interesting. His writing is very descriptive and he captures countless details not understood or seen by the casual passer-buyer. You can easily place yourself as a fly on the wall soaking in your surroundings.
If you read “Up in the Old Hotel” with literary merit in mind then you will be in for a good dose of excellent writing by a standard of yesteryear. If you are looking for people who fit outside the box, you will surly find them. If you are looking for a glimpse of the past them be prepared to journey back with a fine guide who didn’t miss a thing.
There will be many of the older generation that will remember, with clarity, when Mitchell’s writings first appeared and the impact they made. It is to this group that I recommend “Up in the Old Hotel”.
Though a brilliant writer, I was not drawn to his stories. For me they lacked the “snap, crackle, and pop” of today’s aggressive writing style. If New York had been my home over the years, then I would have found a deeper appreciation and understanding for those who made up Mitchell’s fine work.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Near Death in the Mountains:
True Stories of Disaster and Survival
Near Death in the Mountains is not for the squeamish!
Can you imagine being stranded in an ice cave at eight thousand feet, the raging wind gusting in excess of 100 M.P.H., frostbite swelling your hands and feet so badly you can’t even dress your self, you become delirious from lack of water, and unaware of the passage of time? These conditions can be part of the countless, serious conditions the mountain climber may encounter.
Near Death in the Mountains features some stories well suited to the season veteran, who can appreciate the detailed and technical accounts. (I was mostly lost.) Aspiring climbers can learn a great deal from these comprehensive and broad narratives.
The book also includes accounts more suited to the adventure reader. The vividness of description brings the rugged mountain peaks clearly to your mind. The terror of the wind comes alive as you hear it’s furry and feel the intense cold encompass the exhausted climbers. The possibility to freeze your fingers, nose, or toes in only moments of exposure becomes a startling reality.
Near Death in the Mountains lays it all on the line, with distressing accounts of carelessness, gung-ho attitudes, or over confidence resulting in the loss life or limbs. However, extraordinary courage, strength, and endurance in the pursuit of a dream give others a positive picture of the sport. After you read this book, its impact will affect you for the rest of your life!
Don’t forget an extra blanket. There is a blizzard between the pages and you’ll soon be engulfed!
Near Death in the Mountains is not for the squeamish!
Can you imagine being stranded in an ice cave at eight thousand feet, the raging wind gusting in excess of 100 M.P.H., frostbite swelling your hands and feet so badly you can’t even dress your self, you become delirious from lack of water, and unaware of the passage of time? These conditions can be part of the countless, serious conditions the mountain climber may encounter.
Near Death in the Mountains features some stories well suited to the season veteran, who can appreciate the detailed and technical accounts. (I was mostly lost.) Aspiring climbers can learn a great deal from these comprehensive and broad narratives.
The book also includes accounts more suited to the adventure reader. The vividness of description brings the rugged mountain peaks clearly to your mind. The terror of the wind comes alive as you hear it’s furry and feel the intense cold encompass the exhausted climbers. The possibility to freeze your fingers, nose, or toes in only moments of exposure becomes a startling reality.
Near Death in the Mountains lays it all on the line, with distressing accounts of carelessness, gung-ho attitudes, or over confidence resulting in the loss life or limbs. However, extraordinary courage, strength, and endurance in the pursuit of a dream give others a positive picture of the sport. After you read this book, its impact will affect you for the rest of your life!
Don’t forget an extra blanket. There is a blizzard between the pages and you’ll soon be engulfed!
Chosen by A Horse
Author: Susan Richards
Opening your heart can be a risky decision …..
Sometimes you do things on the spur of the moment then wonder later if it was the right choice. Taking on a starving, mistreated mare and her foal seemed a crazy idea to Susan and yet it seemed the natural thing to do. However, she didn’t think it would be this hard. In fact, it was down right over whelming!
Living alone with her three horses was a physical and mental stretch for Susan. But an advocate for those in need, she had willingly opened her barn and her heart. The mare, Lay Me Down, was at high risk. Her lungs were bad, she was malnourished, and she looked like walking death. It would be surprising if she made it through the night. Yet there was something else. Something Susan couldn’t understand. Lay Me Down had been abused and neglected for nearly a year and yet she showed a gentle and trusting attitude. It didn’t make sense.
Lay Me Down’s presence brought uncertain changes to the ranch. Normal routines were knocked out of kilter and the other horses were deeply affected. Their reactions were oft times predictable and at other times unexpected. There were horrific days ahead for Lay Me Down. Could she face the challenges? Would she find a new home and acceptance or would the demons of the past return?
When life has been less than kind, we often quit taking risks and withdraw from the real world. We close ourselves off from others to shut out the hurt. But sometimes, just at the right moment, we open up. We reach out with a single, selfless act, and reignite our desire to love anew.
Susan and Lay Me Down become intertwined in a fight for life. The journey they share has far reaching effects, beyond what the eyes can see. There is healing and growth, trust and risk as each life is forever changed.
Chosen by a Horse is a story of hope and a reminder that it’s today’s choices that make the real difference.
Opening your heart can be a risky decision …..
Sometimes you do things on the spur of the moment then wonder later if it was the right choice. Taking on a starving, mistreated mare and her foal seemed a crazy idea to Susan and yet it seemed the natural thing to do. However, she didn’t think it would be this hard. In fact, it was down right over whelming!
Living alone with her three horses was a physical and mental stretch for Susan. But an advocate for those in need, she had willingly opened her barn and her heart. The mare, Lay Me Down, was at high risk. Her lungs were bad, she was malnourished, and she looked like walking death. It would be surprising if she made it through the night. Yet there was something else. Something Susan couldn’t understand. Lay Me Down had been abused and neglected for nearly a year and yet she showed a gentle and trusting attitude. It didn’t make sense.
Lay Me Down’s presence brought uncertain changes to the ranch. Normal routines were knocked out of kilter and the other horses were deeply affected. Their reactions were oft times predictable and at other times unexpected. There were horrific days ahead for Lay Me Down. Could she face the challenges? Would she find a new home and acceptance or would the demons of the past return?
When life has been less than kind, we often quit taking risks and withdraw from the real world. We close ourselves off from others to shut out the hurt. But sometimes, just at the right moment, we open up. We reach out with a single, selfless act, and reignite our desire to love anew.
Susan and Lay Me Down become intertwined in a fight for life. The journey they share has far reaching effects, beyond what the eyes can see. There is healing and growth, trust and risk as each life is forever changed.
Chosen by a Horse is a story of hope and a reminder that it’s today’s choices that make the real difference.
Discovery! The Search for Arabian Oil
Author: Wallace Stegner
The beginning of something big often starts out small….
There was a time when the Persian Gulf was simple, quiet and undisturbed. Where religious pilgrimages were made with little interruption and life went on as it had for centuries. But then came change….
It was gradual and slow to start. The government leaders were cautious, skeptical of the advanced nations. Yet they desired the betterment of their people and country. There were many voices and the choices were vast. Who should they trust? What country offered the most?
King Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud allowed numerous companies the opportunity to explore for oil. But it was the influence of St. John Philby, a former English intelligence office and Muslim convert that opened doors for the Americans.
During the 1930’s depression, taking risks could be disastrous. However, the American oil company was successful. After many negotiations the Saudi King granted a partnership. The Americans agreed to share profits, build roads and towns, and most importantly train employees. There was much the Saudi people needed to learn and it would take many years before Aramco could stand on its own.
The American families who came will never be forgotten. Their influence had a lasting effect on those who they trained, helped and befriended. However, there were struggles and challenges along the way, which no one could have foreseen.
Discovery! The Search of Arabian Oil, summarizes the blossoming of a lasting business affiliation between King Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud and the United States, spanning the depression of the 1930’s to the end of World War II
This intriguing, and vividly descriptive story, was compiled and written some fifty years ago. Page by page you are transported back through the passing of history. The experience will definitely give you with a new perspective!
The beginning of something big often starts out small….
There was a time when the Persian Gulf was simple, quiet and undisturbed. Where religious pilgrimages were made with little interruption and life went on as it had for centuries. But then came change….
It was gradual and slow to start. The government leaders were cautious, skeptical of the advanced nations. Yet they desired the betterment of their people and country. There were many voices and the choices were vast. Who should they trust? What country offered the most?
King Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud allowed numerous companies the opportunity to explore for oil. But it was the influence of St. John Philby, a former English intelligence office and Muslim convert that opened doors for the Americans.
During the 1930’s depression, taking risks could be disastrous. However, the American oil company was successful. After many negotiations the Saudi King granted a partnership. The Americans agreed to share profits, build roads and towns, and most importantly train employees. There was much the Saudi people needed to learn and it would take many years before Aramco could stand on its own.
The American families who came will never be forgotten. Their influence had a lasting effect on those who they trained, helped and befriended. However, there were struggles and challenges along the way, which no one could have foreseen.
Discovery! The Search of Arabian Oil, summarizes the blossoming of a lasting business affiliation between King Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud and the United States, spanning the depression of the 1930’s to the end of World War II
This intriguing, and vividly descriptive story, was compiled and written some fifty years ago. Page by page you are transported back through the passing of history. The experience will definitely give you with a new perspective!
Brothers on the Bashkaus:
A Siberian Paddling Adventure
Author: Eugene Buchanan
When the language barrier could mean life or death, trust is essential…
Eugene and three white water companions are hyped up and on their way to Siberia to run a river with international cohorts. When they arrive they are greeted by three unknown Russian rafters who just seem to take over their lives. Communication is difficult, but at a bit of broken English is spoken.
The group the Americans intended to meet, is unavoidably detained by weather conditions, and unable to participate. The Russians invite the Americans to join them on their trip down the Bashkaus River. They are shown movies of the river and it is more dangerous than they had planned to run. Several of the rapids are class V and some class VI, (extremely dangerous). After several unsuccessful attempts to contact their planned partners, the Americans decide to join the trip down the Bashkaus. A choice they later question on more than one occasion.
Getting off to a “rough start” doesn’t even describe the challenges they endure just trying to reach the drop off point. Struggling with the language, unfamiliar customs, carrying their gear and undependable transportation is just the beginning.
Finally they set off down the river on homemade Russian rafts. All team members are assigned responsibilities. Confidence between the teams is a bit unstable. But as they face the power of the Bashkaus, uniting for the good of the team, a brotherhood of the river starts to grow.
When the common goal to best the Bashkaus becomes frightening, even terrifying at times, quick thinking and sharp minds are essential. The Americans experience the art of survival in a very different way while cooking, food rationing, foraging, and improvising with what is available. Everyone’s knowledge and skills are respected and needed, each a valuable part of the whole. Friendship develops into a deep trust and when danger threatens they all pull together. Sleepless nights, hunger, bruises, pains, bugs, and fatigue are overcome by music, camaraderie and sheer will.
Author: Eugene Buchanan
When the language barrier could mean life or death, trust is essential…
Eugene and three white water companions are hyped up and on their way to Siberia to run a river with international cohorts. When they arrive they are greeted by three unknown Russian rafters who just seem to take over their lives. Communication is difficult, but at a bit of broken English is spoken.
The group the Americans intended to meet, is unavoidably detained by weather conditions, and unable to participate. The Russians invite the Americans to join them on their trip down the Bashkaus River. They are shown movies of the river and it is more dangerous than they had planned to run. Several of the rapids are class V and some class VI, (extremely dangerous). After several unsuccessful attempts to contact their planned partners, the Americans decide to join the trip down the Bashkaus. A choice they later question on more than one occasion.
Getting off to a “rough start” doesn’t even describe the challenges they endure just trying to reach the drop off point. Struggling with the language, unfamiliar customs, carrying their gear and undependable transportation is just the beginning.
Finally they set off down the river on homemade Russian rafts. All team members are assigned responsibilities. Confidence between the teams is a bit unstable. But as they face the power of the Bashkaus, uniting for the good of the team, a brotherhood of the river starts to grow.
When the common goal to best the Bashkaus becomes frightening, even terrifying at times, quick thinking and sharp minds are essential. The Americans experience the art of survival in a very different way while cooking, food rationing, foraging, and improvising with what is available. Everyone’s knowledge and skills are respected and needed, each a valuable part of the whole. Friendship develops into a deep trust and when danger threatens they all pull together. Sleepless nights, hunger, bruises, pains, bugs, and fatigue are overcome by music, camaraderie and sheer will.
Baby Proof
Author: Emily Giffin
Deciding early in life not to be a mother, invited a myriad of confrontations…
Even as a little girl, Claudia’s decision was very clear. When she played dolls with her sisters, she only wanted to be an aunt, so she could move on to more exciting pursuits. In later years, discovering boys didn’t change her mind. When her high school prom night rolled around, the number of children she wished for was a firm zero.
Claudia, now in her thirties, is a well known book editor in New York City. Her personal convictions are still unaltered. Life is filled with work, friends, and enjoyable pursuits, minus children.
Love, that’s a different story. Everyone needs emotional attachments of the enduring kind. But for Claudia, her relationships quickly dissolved when the “no kid’s factor” came up. That was true, until she met Ben. It just seemed they were soul mates, everything just clicked.
Claudia was thrilled when Ben was a firm believer in the “no kid’s factor” and they have been married for three years. The impulsiveness they enjoy, while being unencumbered with children, is a vital part of their relationship. They share many common interests and dreams, life just couldn’t be better.
However, when their idyllic relationship is hit by a tornado, everything changes. Their best friends, ardent supporters of the “no kid’s factor”, have decide to have a child! Ben becomes absorbed in the entire process and when the baby arrives, he is hooked!
Claudia is confident this is just a passing phase and eventually Ben will move out of it. He makes numerous attempts to convince her that a baby would be a wonderful experience to share. Claudia, on the other hand, emphasizes how a baby will burden and alter the life they now enjoy.
What will be the outcome of this dilemma? Family influences, stubbornness and pride, will definitely have an impact.
Baby Proof is an insightful look into personal choices and how they deeply affect those you love. However, it felt like the first person viewpoint occasionally droned on and on, with surplus information.
Deciding early in life not to be a mother, invited a myriad of confrontations…
Even as a little girl, Claudia’s decision was very clear. When she played dolls with her sisters, she only wanted to be an aunt, so she could move on to more exciting pursuits. In later years, discovering boys didn’t change her mind. When her high school prom night rolled around, the number of children she wished for was a firm zero.
Claudia, now in her thirties, is a well known book editor in New York City. Her personal convictions are still unaltered. Life is filled with work, friends, and enjoyable pursuits, minus children.
Love, that’s a different story. Everyone needs emotional attachments of the enduring kind. But for Claudia, her relationships quickly dissolved when the “no kid’s factor” came up. That was true, until she met Ben. It just seemed they were soul mates, everything just clicked.
Claudia was thrilled when Ben was a firm believer in the “no kid’s factor” and they have been married for three years. The impulsiveness they enjoy, while being unencumbered with children, is a vital part of their relationship. They share many common interests and dreams, life just couldn’t be better.
However, when their idyllic relationship is hit by a tornado, everything changes. Their best friends, ardent supporters of the “no kid’s factor”, have decide to have a child! Ben becomes absorbed in the entire process and when the baby arrives, he is hooked!
Claudia is confident this is just a passing phase and eventually Ben will move out of it. He makes numerous attempts to convince her that a baby would be a wonderful experience to share. Claudia, on the other hand, emphasizes how a baby will burden and alter the life they now enjoy.
What will be the outcome of this dilemma? Family influences, stubbornness and pride, will definitely have an impact.
Baby Proof is an insightful look into personal choices and how they deeply affect those you love. However, it felt like the first person viewpoint occasionally droned on and on, with surplus information.
Black Ice
Author: Linda Hall
Back then it all seemed so innocent. But now the web of deception has stretched into the future, stealing another life….
This winter Fog Point harbor was unusually crammed with ice. Reporters and photographers snapped endless pictures while snow plows constantly cleared the streets. Most of the locals stayed indoors and it was rumored that the ice was a bad omen. But that was before the shocking discovery.
Lenore glanced out the back window of her Bed and Breakfast. She noticed a dark spot in the snow. Had her sons carelessly tossed the garbage outside? It seems they were so lazy at times. Lenore marched outside in a huff. When the truth struck her senses, she inhaled sharply and covered her pounding heart. There, in the wintry snow, was the lifeless form of a young woman. Kneeling beside her, Lenore gently brushed the snow from her icy cheek. A scattering of freckles appeared. Her hair was in a pony tail. She seemed so young. Why, Lenore thought. Why would someone want to hurt her?
No one came forward claiming to know the young woman. But rumor quickly spread that she was an angel, sent by God, to protect Fog Point from impending doom. Had the entire town gone berserk? People were lining up in droves behind Lenore’s Bed and Breakfast. They wanted to see where the angel miracle happened. Many prayed in the snow bank, some left gifts, and others came in search of inner peace. Guests arrived and left on a daily basis, but the TV reporter and cameraman stayed for several days then suddenly disappeared. When Jake and May, two part time investigators, discover that danger still lurked, fear spread like a rushing flood.
After the snarled past eventually connects with the present, the elusive answers are just a stroke away. When long hidden truths finally surface, who will float away free and who will drown in their lies?
Black Ice is crammed full of imaginative characters, past and present. At first they appear unrelated and a bit hard to keep straight, but just keep reading…..
Back then it all seemed so innocent. But now the web of deception has stretched into the future, stealing another life….
This winter Fog Point harbor was unusually crammed with ice. Reporters and photographers snapped endless pictures while snow plows constantly cleared the streets. Most of the locals stayed indoors and it was rumored that the ice was a bad omen. But that was before the shocking discovery.
Lenore glanced out the back window of her Bed and Breakfast. She noticed a dark spot in the snow. Had her sons carelessly tossed the garbage outside? It seems they were so lazy at times. Lenore marched outside in a huff. When the truth struck her senses, she inhaled sharply and covered her pounding heart. There, in the wintry snow, was the lifeless form of a young woman. Kneeling beside her, Lenore gently brushed the snow from her icy cheek. A scattering of freckles appeared. Her hair was in a pony tail. She seemed so young. Why, Lenore thought. Why would someone want to hurt her?
No one came forward claiming to know the young woman. But rumor quickly spread that she was an angel, sent by God, to protect Fog Point from impending doom. Had the entire town gone berserk? People were lining up in droves behind Lenore’s Bed and Breakfast. They wanted to see where the angel miracle happened. Many prayed in the snow bank, some left gifts, and others came in search of inner peace. Guests arrived and left on a daily basis, but the TV reporter and cameraman stayed for several days then suddenly disappeared. When Jake and May, two part time investigators, discover that danger still lurked, fear spread like a rushing flood.
After the snarled past eventually connects with the present, the elusive answers are just a stroke away. When long hidden truths finally surface, who will float away free and who will drown in their lies?
Black Ice is crammed full of imaginative characters, past and present. At first they appear unrelated and a bit hard to keep straight, but just keep reading…..
To Love Anew
Author: Bonnie Leon
Life… It only takes a moment to be trodden down, forgotten, and cast aside like garbage...
19th Century New South Wales could be a pleasant place to live, if you had money. But those who challenged the upper class received severe and unwarranted punishment.
When Hannah looses her mother to an untimely death, it sends her spiraling downward, like a whirlpool. Frazzled, one poor choice tumbles into desperate actions. The penalty is unimaginable.
John should be happy. He has a successful tool business and a dear wife. But his restless spirit dreams of world travel, and the unknown. However, when a defensive action turns sour, his new journey becomes a nightmare.
Eventually John and Hannah meet while crossing the ocean. Packed like rats beneath the deck, the conditions are vile and impoverished. Month after tortuous month gradually passes while faith in God is their only comfort. But hope is vanishing with the setting sun.
Reaching Australia, will the cruelty of injustice continue? Hannah and John rarely see each other and the future is bleak. Trying to make the best of individual circumstances, they are thankful for the smallest kindness. Will fate, the hand of God, or unexpected compassion bring them full circle? Or are they doomed to a live of servitude?
To Love Anew is vividly written and the horrors of history are depicted with shocking realism. When heroic efforts unfold that challenge the strength of the human spirit, only the indomitable will prevail.
Life… It only takes a moment to be trodden down, forgotten, and cast aside like garbage...
19th Century New South Wales could be a pleasant place to live, if you had money. But those who challenged the upper class received severe and unwarranted punishment.
When Hannah looses her mother to an untimely death, it sends her spiraling downward, like a whirlpool. Frazzled, one poor choice tumbles into desperate actions. The penalty is unimaginable.
John should be happy. He has a successful tool business and a dear wife. But his restless spirit dreams of world travel, and the unknown. However, when a defensive action turns sour, his new journey becomes a nightmare.
Eventually John and Hannah meet while crossing the ocean. Packed like rats beneath the deck, the conditions are vile and impoverished. Month after tortuous month gradually passes while faith in God is their only comfort. But hope is vanishing with the setting sun.
Reaching Australia, will the cruelty of injustice continue? Hannah and John rarely see each other and the future is bleak. Trying to make the best of individual circumstances, they are thankful for the smallest kindness. Will fate, the hand of God, or unexpected compassion bring them full circle? Or are they doomed to a live of servitude?
To Love Anew is vividly written and the horrors of history are depicted with shocking realism. When heroic efforts unfold that challenge the strength of the human spirit, only the indomitable will prevail.
Fort Pillow
Author: Harry Turtledove
A vivid and intense look into the horror and brutality of the civil war…..
Nathan Bedford Forrest, a ruthless commander for the Confederate army, and his troops, approached Fort Pillow as if on wings. His men were driven by hatred for the escaped colored slaves and the Union army that trained them. Spurred on through the swamps and bogs, rain and cold by the demanding Nathan Forrest they reached Fort Pillow exhausted. However, fatigue quickly gave away to their desire to punish those sons-a-bitches.
Major William Bradford and his Union troops at Fort Pillow were comfortable knowing the Confederate soldiers were far away. Though he was a major, his experience in actual combat was minimal. A lawyer by trade, he fought best with words. Major Booth had added his forces to the fort about two weeks earlier. Experienced in the heat of battle, he was the senior officer and Bradford resented him, but was grateful for his knowledge.
The soldiers Major Booth brought with him were another story. Many were Niggers! Everybody that was anybody knew that coloreds couldn’t fight. They just weren’t worth considering and would likely turn tale in the heat of battle. Major Bradford knew all the training in the world couldn’t change the color of a man’s skin. Heck, he didn’t even consider niggers to be men. Yet Major Booth seemed to have confidence in them.
The truth would soon be uncovered. The first morning light brought the crack of Confederate rifles. The battle was one that went down in history for many reasons. The bravery and determination on both sides left many would-be heros silenced for eternity. Their stories would be buried with their bodies, in mass graves, unremembered and forgotten over time.
We take for granted our freedoms of today, yet we understand very little of the sacrifices that won those rights. Fort Pillow is more than a novel. It will let you feel and experience history as if you were there. It is graphic and candid, leaving nothing to the imagination. Read it if you dare, you’ll never be the same.
A vivid and intense look into the horror and brutality of the civil war…..
Nathan Bedford Forrest, a ruthless commander for the Confederate army, and his troops, approached Fort Pillow as if on wings. His men were driven by hatred for the escaped colored slaves and the Union army that trained them. Spurred on through the swamps and bogs, rain and cold by the demanding Nathan Forrest they reached Fort Pillow exhausted. However, fatigue quickly gave away to their desire to punish those sons-a-bitches.
Major William Bradford and his Union troops at Fort Pillow were comfortable knowing the Confederate soldiers were far away. Though he was a major, his experience in actual combat was minimal. A lawyer by trade, he fought best with words. Major Booth had added his forces to the fort about two weeks earlier. Experienced in the heat of battle, he was the senior officer and Bradford resented him, but was grateful for his knowledge.
The soldiers Major Booth brought with him were another story. Many were Niggers! Everybody that was anybody knew that coloreds couldn’t fight. They just weren’t worth considering and would likely turn tale in the heat of battle. Major Bradford knew all the training in the world couldn’t change the color of a man’s skin. Heck, he didn’t even consider niggers to be men. Yet Major Booth seemed to have confidence in them.
The truth would soon be uncovered. The first morning light brought the crack of Confederate rifles. The battle was one that went down in history for many reasons. The bravery and determination on both sides left many would-be heros silenced for eternity. Their stories would be buried with their bodies, in mass graves, unremembered and forgotten over time.
We take for granted our freedoms of today, yet we understand very little of the sacrifices that won those rights. Fort Pillow is more than a novel. It will let you feel and experience history as if you were there. It is graphic and candid, leaving nothing to the imagination. Read it if you dare, you’ll never be the same.
Woman in Red
Author: Eileen Goudge
No matter how hard you try, people hold the past against you. When Alice Kessler stepped off the ferry, she could feel the ill will. It penetrated her skin, like the chilling fingers of the relentless wind.
Grays Island, located in Puget Sound, Washington, held many wonderful recollections for Alice. But they were overshadowed by dark, vivid memories, full of pain, anger, and injustice. One desperate act had left her young son, Jeremy, without his mother. That was nine years ago. The complete emptiness she felt was devastating, like the fear now pumping through her heart. Slowly she climbed the hill, seeking refuge from the cold and her fears. Questions assaulted her mind. Will Jeremy, now a teenager, even talk to her? Could they start over? Where should she begin?
Being open and honest with her family was a hard choice for Alice. A few relations attempted to hide their feelings, some pretend it never happened, others honestly want to help. Can she regain a place of belonging, or will she be labeled an outcast forever?
It was bad enough to have the whole town against her, but when Jeremy is swept into the drama, it is overwhelming. Falsely charged with a criminal offence, the powers of the past swoop down like a vulture, threatening his future. In the midst of her struggles she finds support in unlikely persons, but dare she trust a stranger? Offers of help sound innocent enough, but what underlying agendas go unspoken?
Sometimes, there are just no breaks. Unlikely chances often become the threads, on which the future hangs. Will Alice seize the moment, or will she play it safe? Does she have enough confidence to rise against the town’s powers, or will they pull her down?
When the past and the present entwine, forbidden secrets are reveled. Will they transform the future or just add to the pain?
Lady in Red is a sensitive yet harsh look into the lives of those who have struck out. But back at the plate once again, it is still the top of the ninth.
No matter how hard you try, people hold the past against you. When Alice Kessler stepped off the ferry, she could feel the ill will. It penetrated her skin, like the chilling fingers of the relentless wind.
Grays Island, located in Puget Sound, Washington, held many wonderful recollections for Alice. But they were overshadowed by dark, vivid memories, full of pain, anger, and injustice. One desperate act had left her young son, Jeremy, without his mother. That was nine years ago. The complete emptiness she felt was devastating, like the fear now pumping through her heart. Slowly she climbed the hill, seeking refuge from the cold and her fears. Questions assaulted her mind. Will Jeremy, now a teenager, even talk to her? Could they start over? Where should she begin?
Being open and honest with her family was a hard choice for Alice. A few relations attempted to hide their feelings, some pretend it never happened, others honestly want to help. Can she regain a place of belonging, or will she be labeled an outcast forever?
It was bad enough to have the whole town against her, but when Jeremy is swept into the drama, it is overwhelming. Falsely charged with a criminal offence, the powers of the past swoop down like a vulture, threatening his future. In the midst of her struggles she finds support in unlikely persons, but dare she trust a stranger? Offers of help sound innocent enough, but what underlying agendas go unspoken?
Sometimes, there are just no breaks. Unlikely chances often become the threads, on which the future hangs. Will Alice seize the moment, or will she play it safe? Does she have enough confidence to rise against the town’s powers, or will they pull her down?
When the past and the present entwine, forbidden secrets are reveled. Will they transform the future or just add to the pain?
Lady in Red is a sensitive yet harsh look into the lives of those who have struck out. But back at the plate once again, it is still the top of the ninth.
Before
Author: Joseph Hurka
A troubled mind full of snarled webs can be treacherous. Are the voices and visions real or just imagined? Where will they lead and whose life will they ensnare? It was in a small neighborhood of Cambridge Massachusetts, on a poorly lit street that an uninvited stranger crept, unnoticed. Will the unsuspecting residents get more than they bargained for? Who is truly safe or just unaware? The answers are elusive.
Tika, is a budding photographer, young and full of exuberance. She has become attached to an older couple in her apartment building. Juri, the husband, is recovering from a stroke and having difficulty adjusting to his current limitations. Anna attempts to care for him alone, but appreciates Tika’s helpfulness.
Juri is plagued with vivid images of the past, as he struggles with memories of the Nazi invasion. His losses were so great they still rip at his heart. He tries diligently to separate these events from current reality but waivers back and forth. Writing, he is always writing down what he remembers. The doctor says it is good for him, so he tries. But the memories bring unbearable pain and tears fall unbidden.
The residue of Ghost-Man’s deplorable youth still lingers, triggered by the simplest of things. He fights with his own inner demons and recollections as well, but they are more recent. Tragedies of the Gulf War were experienced in a gruesome and personal way, adding to the well of sorrow and pains from the past. His special training was meticulous and careful but also deadly. When things don’t go as planned, events spiral out of control and many lives are endangered.
Past and present collide and the results bring Tika, Juri and Ghost-man into a battle of wills, determination, and a triumph. But who will ultimately win the day?
Before is filled with vivid descriptions and emotions. However, the character’s stories are so intermingled from past to present and back again they are at times difficult to follow, thus making the overall flow a bit bumpy. There is also a tad of explicit material that could be offensive.
A troubled mind full of snarled webs can be treacherous. Are the voices and visions real or just imagined? Where will they lead and whose life will they ensnare? It was in a small neighborhood of Cambridge Massachusetts, on a poorly lit street that an uninvited stranger crept, unnoticed. Will the unsuspecting residents get more than they bargained for? Who is truly safe or just unaware? The answers are elusive.
Tika, is a budding photographer, young and full of exuberance. She has become attached to an older couple in her apartment building. Juri, the husband, is recovering from a stroke and having difficulty adjusting to his current limitations. Anna attempts to care for him alone, but appreciates Tika’s helpfulness.
Juri is plagued with vivid images of the past, as he struggles with memories of the Nazi invasion. His losses were so great they still rip at his heart. He tries diligently to separate these events from current reality but waivers back and forth. Writing, he is always writing down what he remembers. The doctor says it is good for him, so he tries. But the memories bring unbearable pain and tears fall unbidden.
The residue of Ghost-Man’s deplorable youth still lingers, triggered by the simplest of things. He fights with his own inner demons and recollections as well, but they are more recent. Tragedies of the Gulf War were experienced in a gruesome and personal way, adding to the well of sorrow and pains from the past. His special training was meticulous and careful but also deadly. When things don’t go as planned, events spiral out of control and many lives are endangered.
Past and present collide and the results bring Tika, Juri and Ghost-man into a battle of wills, determination, and a triumph. But who will ultimately win the day?
Before is filled with vivid descriptions and emotions. However, the character’s stories are so intermingled from past to present and back again they are at times difficult to follow, thus making the overall flow a bit bumpy. There is also a tad of explicit material that could be offensive.
Zoology
Author: Ben Dolnick
Destiny, do we have control or is it just by accident? High school graduation is supposed to open the road to new beginnings. That’s what Henry Elinsky thought, but his first year at college was a disaster. Now, back at his old high school and helping dad with music class, it’s definitely the pits. Life just doesn’t appear fair and understanding from others seems impossible! Family dynamics and hidden problems leave Henry wondering which way is up. Breaking into the adult world seems to present some real challenges, but this is just the beginning.
New York, New York, Glimmer and glitz, a place where starting over can take unexpected turns. Henry is invited to spend the summer with his brother David in the Big Apple and can’t wait for the adventure to begin. Dad thinks it is great, mom is afraid he’s avoiding college. Uncle Walter is just his emotional self. Once Henry’s settled in, next stop Central Park Zoo, and a job interview.
Nervous but determined, Henry nabs a job at the children’s zoo. There is nothing cool about shoveling animal dung and washing out cages but his responsibilities become enjoyable in a mindless sort of way. Sometimes Henry finds more comfort in talking to a hairy “friend”, than with unpredictable, closed minded, emotionally stressed humans! The Zoo becomes a refuge from the disappointments and trials that plague Henry’s struggle to reach his dreams.
Is love in the air? When Henry meets Margaret, matters of the heart take unpredictable turns and alter his thoughts for the future. Close encounters or just accidental meetings? It’s a summer romance, or is it?
Each day, Henry faces situations testing his ability to adjust, grow and learn from his choices. Accidents, family emergencies, and poor decisions may leave Henry up the creek with out a paddle.
Zoology is a small glimpse into the day to day events, thoughts, and dreams of a young man struggling to find meaning and purpose, in his upside down life.
Destiny, do we have control or is it just by accident? High school graduation is supposed to open the road to new beginnings. That’s what Henry Elinsky thought, but his first year at college was a disaster. Now, back at his old high school and helping dad with music class, it’s definitely the pits. Life just doesn’t appear fair and understanding from others seems impossible! Family dynamics and hidden problems leave Henry wondering which way is up. Breaking into the adult world seems to present some real challenges, but this is just the beginning.
New York, New York, Glimmer and glitz, a place where starting over can take unexpected turns. Henry is invited to spend the summer with his brother David in the Big Apple and can’t wait for the adventure to begin. Dad thinks it is great, mom is afraid he’s avoiding college. Uncle Walter is just his emotional self. Once Henry’s settled in, next stop Central Park Zoo, and a job interview.
Nervous but determined, Henry nabs a job at the children’s zoo. There is nothing cool about shoveling animal dung and washing out cages but his responsibilities become enjoyable in a mindless sort of way. Sometimes Henry finds more comfort in talking to a hairy “friend”, than with unpredictable, closed minded, emotionally stressed humans! The Zoo becomes a refuge from the disappointments and trials that plague Henry’s struggle to reach his dreams.
Is love in the air? When Henry meets Margaret, matters of the heart take unpredictable turns and alter his thoughts for the future. Close encounters or just accidental meetings? It’s a summer romance, or is it?
Each day, Henry faces situations testing his ability to adjust, grow and learn from his choices. Accidents, family emergencies, and poor decisions may leave Henry up the creek with out a paddle.
Zoology is a small glimpse into the day to day events, thoughts, and dreams of a young man struggling to find meaning and purpose, in his upside down life.
American Outrage
Author: Tim Green
The untold story is sometimes the most important… Working as an investigative reporter and celebrity host on American Outrage, Jake Carlson’s life is out of control. His job is uncertain, he’s recovering from the death of his wife and his adoptive son, Sam, is not adjusting well.
Jake doesn’t have enough to go around. Trying to be everything to everyone, father and son occasionally exchange harsh words. Feeling ignored, thirteen year old Sam asks dad to find his real mom. When a series of unexpected, dangerous and mysterious events unfold, their bond of love becomes the only link.
Jake’s search for truth begins while on assignment. Close to the town where Sam’s adoption took place, he stops by the old office. The investigation turns discouraging when the space is occupied by a travel bureau. Jake inquires about the adoption agency, but no one seems to know anything. When he returns the next day, the travel agency has disappeared!
Many miles away, Sam is at home with the housekeeper. Frequently he calls dad for the latest information, but Sam still feels left out. When Jake runs into a dead end, Sam comes up with valuable information off the internet, and then he vanishes. Panicked, Jake blows a vital interview for American Outrage and endangers his job. But when Sam shows up in Jakes motel room, things take a risky turn.
Jake has been threatened, chased and shot at. Utilizing past friends and FBI contacts he stubbornly pursues all leads. Fearing the worst, he arranges for Sam to stay with a relative. However, when his dad goes missing, Sam won’t give up and starts a search on his own.
The web of deception is ever expanding. Falsified documents, white baby markets and high society cover-ups make the truth difficult to untangle. Who can be trusted? Who has the real answers? Will Sam want to hear them? Worst of all, who will become the next severed head and two hands in a bowling bag?
American Outrage is full of suspense at every turn. Hang on and fasten your seatbelt!
The untold story is sometimes the most important… Working as an investigative reporter and celebrity host on American Outrage, Jake Carlson’s life is out of control. His job is uncertain, he’s recovering from the death of his wife and his adoptive son, Sam, is not adjusting well.
Jake doesn’t have enough to go around. Trying to be everything to everyone, father and son occasionally exchange harsh words. Feeling ignored, thirteen year old Sam asks dad to find his real mom. When a series of unexpected, dangerous and mysterious events unfold, their bond of love becomes the only link.
Jake’s search for truth begins while on assignment. Close to the town where Sam’s adoption took place, he stops by the old office. The investigation turns discouraging when the space is occupied by a travel bureau. Jake inquires about the adoption agency, but no one seems to know anything. When he returns the next day, the travel agency has disappeared!
Many miles away, Sam is at home with the housekeeper. Frequently he calls dad for the latest information, but Sam still feels left out. When Jake runs into a dead end, Sam comes up with valuable information off the internet, and then he vanishes. Panicked, Jake blows a vital interview for American Outrage and endangers his job. But when Sam shows up in Jakes motel room, things take a risky turn.
Jake has been threatened, chased and shot at. Utilizing past friends and FBI contacts he stubbornly pursues all leads. Fearing the worst, he arranges for Sam to stay with a relative. However, when his dad goes missing, Sam won’t give up and starts a search on his own.
The web of deception is ever expanding. Falsified documents, white baby markets and high society cover-ups make the truth difficult to untangle. Who can be trusted? Who has the real answers? Will Sam want to hear them? Worst of all, who will become the next severed head and two hands in a bowling bag?
American Outrage is full of suspense at every turn. Hang on and fasten your seatbelt!
The Dowry Bride
Author: Shobhan Bantwal
When you get married in India, the conditions could be surprising…
Megha Ramnath, married just over a year, awoke and found her husband missing. Arising, she steps outside into the cool darkness. Searching for Suresh, she notices a light coming from the small shed in the back yard. Cautiously approaching, she hears familiar voices. Listening, a deep fear seizes her heart. They are plotting murder! Her mother-in-law is describing the detailed plan of her demise to Seresh! There is no time to think. She must get away now…
Running till her breath comes in gasps, Megha finally stops to consider her options. If she returns to her parent’s home, they would likely send her back to Suresh. Wandering the streets late at night was very dangerous. She must find a place of refuge. Megha could think of only one person who had shown her kindness. But would he force her to return home as well? Kiran was a good person, but he was also Suresh’s brother. The idea seemed a poor choice, as contact with family could prove risky. Megha ducks into a dark corner just as a car passes. A stranger is watching her closely so she moves on. Just in the nick of time she climbs quickly over a fence and out of his site. Kiran seems her only hope. His apartment is not far. Knocking lightly, there’s no answer. Megha turns to run, but hears footsteps echo in the stairwell.
Fear is constant. Irrational decisions often lead her away from safety. Danger lurks only steps behind. Will Megha ever find peace? Will she be on the run forever? Will the evil plans be carried out?
The Dowry Bride is an eye opener to the challenges many Indian women face in a culture few foreigners comprehend.
Though well written and informative, there is a lot of “back story” that interrupt the overall flow of the book.
When you get married in India, the conditions could be surprising…
Megha Ramnath, married just over a year, awoke and found her husband missing. Arising, she steps outside into the cool darkness. Searching for Suresh, she notices a light coming from the small shed in the back yard. Cautiously approaching, she hears familiar voices. Listening, a deep fear seizes her heart. They are plotting murder! Her mother-in-law is describing the detailed plan of her demise to Seresh! There is no time to think. She must get away now…
Running till her breath comes in gasps, Megha finally stops to consider her options. If she returns to her parent’s home, they would likely send her back to Suresh. Wandering the streets late at night was very dangerous. She must find a place of refuge. Megha could think of only one person who had shown her kindness. But would he force her to return home as well? Kiran was a good person, but he was also Suresh’s brother. The idea seemed a poor choice, as contact with family could prove risky. Megha ducks into a dark corner just as a car passes. A stranger is watching her closely so she moves on. Just in the nick of time she climbs quickly over a fence and out of his site. Kiran seems her only hope. His apartment is not far. Knocking lightly, there’s no answer. Megha turns to run, but hears footsteps echo in the stairwell.
Fear is constant. Irrational decisions often lead her away from safety. Danger lurks only steps behind. Will Megha ever find peace? Will she be on the run forever? Will the evil plans be carried out?
The Dowry Bride is an eye opener to the challenges many Indian women face in a culture few foreigners comprehend.
Though well written and informative, there is a lot of “back story” that interrupt the overall flow of the book.
Under the Persimmon Tree
Author: Suzanne Fisher Staples
The Afghan war of 2001 was a vivid reminder of the brutality, anger and hatred the division of a country can produce. Under the Persimmon Tree brings this experience to life through the perspective of Najmah, an Afghan girl and Elaine an American woman waiting in Pakistan.
Najmah, lives with her father, mother and older brother in a remote village. They have little in worldly possessions, but there is a deep bond between them. When the fearful, abusive and controlling Taliban appear food is always seized with no thought for the remaining villiagers. This time is even worse for Najmah’s family. Her father and older brother are taken captive. Only Najmah and her mother remain, left to fend for themselves.
After the bombs come Najmah is left hungry, alone and numb, but lucky to be alive. She is helped by other villagers. They change her appearance and she travels with them to a refugee camp many perilous miles away.
Elaine, her Islamic name Nusrat, is married to a fine doctor. They have come to the country so he can help his people. He is far away in dangerous territory treating those in desperate need. Nusrat was a teacher in the United States and continues to fine ways to teach some of the refugee children from the compound. With no word from her husband, Nusrat longs to know of his welfare.
In time, providence brings Najmah and Nusrat together. There friendship grows and a bond of trust is developed. But what does the future hold in this vastly devastated and war torn country?
The overall writing was very descriptive, dramatic and direct. However, to get the clearest picture, familiarize yourself with the glossary.
I found Under the Persimmon Tree to be an excellent cultural read. It will open your eyes to a way of life that must be experienced to understand.
The Afghan war of 2001 was a vivid reminder of the brutality, anger and hatred the division of a country can produce. Under the Persimmon Tree brings this experience to life through the perspective of Najmah, an Afghan girl and Elaine an American woman waiting in Pakistan.
Najmah, lives with her father, mother and older brother in a remote village. They have little in worldly possessions, but there is a deep bond between them. When the fearful, abusive and controlling Taliban appear food is always seized with no thought for the remaining villiagers. This time is even worse for Najmah’s family. Her father and older brother are taken captive. Only Najmah and her mother remain, left to fend for themselves.
After the bombs come Najmah is left hungry, alone and numb, but lucky to be alive. She is helped by other villagers. They change her appearance and she travels with them to a refugee camp many perilous miles away.
Elaine, her Islamic name Nusrat, is married to a fine doctor. They have come to the country so he can help his people. He is far away in dangerous territory treating those in desperate need. Nusrat was a teacher in the United States and continues to fine ways to teach some of the refugee children from the compound. With no word from her husband, Nusrat longs to know of his welfare.
In time, providence brings Najmah and Nusrat together. There friendship grows and a bond of trust is developed. But what does the future hold in this vastly devastated and war torn country?
The overall writing was very descriptive, dramatic and direct. However, to get the clearest picture, familiarize yourself with the glossary.
I found Under the Persimmon Tree to be an excellent cultural read. It will open your eyes to a way of life that must be experienced to understand.
A Guitar and a Pen
Author: Stories by Country Music's Greatest Songwriters
This is definitely a book for Country Western fans…
If you are familiar with this genre of music then the stories will surely reach every corner of your heart. There is a time for laughter and a time for pain, a time of sadness and a time to yell yahoo!
Each story has its own unique style and theme. Some are easy reads that you can follow with no trouble others take a little getting into. It was hard, at times, to decipher if the tale was truth or fiction but each story left you with something to ponder.
You will have the opportunity to see a different side of the song writers you have enjoyed. With some, you look back into their past and relive important and maybe life altering experiences, challenging encounters and family struggles. Others maybe fiction, but they are written in such an expressive and clear way they could have been real events.
You could set down and read just one story at a time or one after another. But your journey is sure to be filled with unique experiences and surprise endings.
Each entry is followed with the author’s mini biographical sketch and a list of accomplishments. You will likely find tidbits of information that could amaze you.
I did enjoy the book even though I didn’t recognize all the authors. To put in simply,
“They make music with their words instead of words into music."
This is definitely a book for Country Western fans…
If you are familiar with this genre of music then the stories will surely reach every corner of your heart. There is a time for laughter and a time for pain, a time of sadness and a time to yell yahoo!
Each story has its own unique style and theme. Some are easy reads that you can follow with no trouble others take a little getting into. It was hard, at times, to decipher if the tale was truth or fiction but each story left you with something to ponder.
You will have the opportunity to see a different side of the song writers you have enjoyed. With some, you look back into their past and relive important and maybe life altering experiences, challenging encounters and family struggles. Others maybe fiction, but they are written in such an expressive and clear way they could have been real events.
You could set down and read just one story at a time or one after another. But your journey is sure to be filled with unique experiences and surprise endings.
Each entry is followed with the author’s mini biographical sketch and a list of accomplishments. You will likely find tidbits of information that could amaze you.
I did enjoy the book even though I didn’t recognize all the authors. To put in simply,
“They make music with their words instead of words into music."
The Golden Tulip
Author: Rosalind Kaker
Very addicting and well written…
The Golden Tulip will appeal to the heart of all those who struggle to reach their dreams.
The story, set in periods of Dutch history, weaves innocence and deception into a captivating tale.
You are carried back in time to notable confrontations with stunning realism. Artistic creativity of the true masters, bright and bold fields of tulips and the dark side of unethical behavior surface in unexpected places. Each chapter addresses the challenges of one character or another and you are often left wondering when they will reappear. If you try to predict the next move, you best put on your detective cloak. The author skillfully uses twists and turns surprising even the best of readers.
The characters, though a bit confusing at first, grow vivid and real with each turning page. Some are intensely and intimately described and yet others are mysterious shadows. There is a wonderful variety of naivety, common sense, shocking reality and evil in its purest form. Action fills almost every page and a roller coaster of emotional challenges soon beset the reader.
The story has many side plots which enhance the book. You will find a wide web of intrigue at its finest, romance with shocking consequences, and shameful dishonesty with scandalous results. The overall writing style flows easily. The settings and actions come alive as the author reaches not only your senses but your heart as well.
The Golden Tulip is a wonderful story for those who love to dream. It may surprise you what the human heart can endure… and still survive.
Very addicting and well written…
The Golden Tulip will appeal to the heart of all those who struggle to reach their dreams.
The story, set in periods of Dutch history, weaves innocence and deception into a captivating tale.
You are carried back in time to notable confrontations with stunning realism. Artistic creativity of the true masters, bright and bold fields of tulips and the dark side of unethical behavior surface in unexpected places. Each chapter addresses the challenges of one character or another and you are often left wondering when they will reappear. If you try to predict the next move, you best put on your detective cloak. The author skillfully uses twists and turns surprising even the best of readers.
The characters, though a bit confusing at first, grow vivid and real with each turning page. Some are intensely and intimately described and yet others are mysterious shadows. There is a wonderful variety of naivety, common sense, shocking reality and evil in its purest form. Action fills almost every page and a roller coaster of emotional challenges soon beset the reader.
The story has many side plots which enhance the book. You will find a wide web of intrigue at its finest, romance with shocking consequences, and shameful dishonesty with scandalous results. The overall writing style flows easily. The settings and actions come alive as the author reaches not only your senses but your heart as well.
The Golden Tulip is a wonderful story for those who love to dream. It may surprise you what the human heart can endure… and still survive.
The Fault Tree
Author: Louise Lure
A blind person as a witness, not possible…or is it?
Cadence Moran felt confident in her position as an auto mechanic. She often worked after hours when the shop was quiet. It had been a long day and Cadence was ready to go home and relax. A wave of Arizona heat rose from the sidewalk as she locked the door. Cadence followed the familiar routine, while listening for traffic and footsteps. Something curious caught her attention….A voice pleading for help, running footsteps, laughter, doors slamming… Suddenly an idling engine roars to life. Cadence, in the center of the street, hears the vehicle speed in her direction. With only seconds to spare, she leaps for the curb, breaking her cane as she falls. Trembling, her world of darkness is invaded with pain and fear….would they be back?
Cadence soon learns that someone in her neighborhood had been murdered, stabbed to death, near the time she was coming home. She decides to stay out of it. Besides, what could a blind person offer? However, when she finds out it was a well known and beloved senior citizen she decides to be forth coming.
Entering the police station, accompanied by an officer, she counts the steps to the elevator. But upon exiting, there were too many turns to remember. Keenly aware, she focuses on voices, and cologne. The interview was short and sweet. Cadence new by the patronizing tone of voice, that the police officer didn’t think the information she offered could help. What was she thinking, the sound of the engine, the smell of antifreeze, running footsteps, a call for help? She felt useless.
Unawares that a perilous journey lay ahead, Cadence returns home….
The trail is difficult for the over worked detectives to follow. Pressure to get information and come up with suspects is over whelming. Just when the case is surly solved, they are back at square one. When they turn to Candace and her heightened senses for assistance, they discover more than they bargained for.
The Fault Tree is non stop action!
A blind person as a witness, not possible…or is it?
Cadence Moran felt confident in her position as an auto mechanic. She often worked after hours when the shop was quiet. It had been a long day and Cadence was ready to go home and relax. A wave of Arizona heat rose from the sidewalk as she locked the door. Cadence followed the familiar routine, while listening for traffic and footsteps. Something curious caught her attention….A voice pleading for help, running footsteps, laughter, doors slamming… Suddenly an idling engine roars to life. Cadence, in the center of the street, hears the vehicle speed in her direction. With only seconds to spare, she leaps for the curb, breaking her cane as she falls. Trembling, her world of darkness is invaded with pain and fear….would they be back?
Cadence soon learns that someone in her neighborhood had been murdered, stabbed to death, near the time she was coming home. She decides to stay out of it. Besides, what could a blind person offer? However, when she finds out it was a well known and beloved senior citizen she decides to be forth coming.
Entering the police station, accompanied by an officer, she counts the steps to the elevator. But upon exiting, there were too many turns to remember. Keenly aware, she focuses on voices, and cologne. The interview was short and sweet. Cadence new by the patronizing tone of voice, that the police officer didn’t think the information she offered could help. What was she thinking, the sound of the engine, the smell of antifreeze, running footsteps, a call for help? She felt useless.
Unawares that a perilous journey lay ahead, Cadence returns home….
The trail is difficult for the over worked detectives to follow. Pressure to get information and come up with suspects is over whelming. Just when the case is surly solved, they are back at square one. When they turn to Candace and her heightened senses for assistance, they discover more than they bargained for.
The Fault Tree is non stop action!
The Lawless Frontier
By Randy Denmon
Sometimes luck runs out, even for the undefeated….
Myles Adams and Stewart Cook have been partners in war for several years. However, when Myles is asked to help Stewart rescue his girl from the rages of the Mexican Revolution, the odds are no longer in their favor.
Experienced and seasoned in the ways of battle, Myles is resolved to help liberate the lovely Alexia Garcia. However, his conscious, his keen senses, and his determination will soon lead them along treacherous paths and unpredictable situations. First they journey south to the boyhood home of Stewart. His American father runs a successful business and his beautiful dark haired mother is delighted to see him. They are pleased to meet Myles as well. However, their stay is cut short as news of the advancing Revolutionaries hastens their departure.
Myles, who has served as a liaison between the American and Mexican governments is hoping old ties will help their quest. Stopping to pick up supplies and some much needed rest, Myles encounters, once again, the enchanting Carmen. There’s something special between them. Carmen is fearful after learning the details of their trip, and tries to stop Myles from continuing.
Undaunted, Myles and Stewart head out, accompanied by dependable companions. The journey is hot, mosquito filled, and perilous. They encounter hostiles of the ruthless kind and the exchange is deadly. With time running out and Alexia still unaccounted for, every delay is agony for Stewart. Will the impossible become plausible for the clever Myles? Will Stewart be reunited with Alexia? Have the setbacks been too costly?
With renewed fervor they push onward, deeper into the realm of Poncho Villa. Reaching the city of Santiago, devastation and pillage are encountered at every turn. Entire families have been murdered in their own homes. Alexia’s house is abandoned and she is no where to be found. Is it too late? Can Myles former ally be trusted? Are the odds just too tilted?
The Lawless Frontier is a deeply personal look into the heart of the Mexican Revolution and the price paid for freedom.
Sometimes luck runs out, even for the undefeated….
Myles Adams and Stewart Cook have been partners in war for several years. However, when Myles is asked to help Stewart rescue his girl from the rages of the Mexican Revolution, the odds are no longer in their favor.
Experienced and seasoned in the ways of battle, Myles is resolved to help liberate the lovely Alexia Garcia. However, his conscious, his keen senses, and his determination will soon lead them along treacherous paths and unpredictable situations. First they journey south to the boyhood home of Stewart. His American father runs a successful business and his beautiful dark haired mother is delighted to see him. They are pleased to meet Myles as well. However, their stay is cut short as news of the advancing Revolutionaries hastens their departure.
Myles, who has served as a liaison between the American and Mexican governments is hoping old ties will help their quest. Stopping to pick up supplies and some much needed rest, Myles encounters, once again, the enchanting Carmen. There’s something special between them. Carmen is fearful after learning the details of their trip, and tries to stop Myles from continuing.
Undaunted, Myles and Stewart head out, accompanied by dependable companions. The journey is hot, mosquito filled, and perilous. They encounter hostiles of the ruthless kind and the exchange is deadly. With time running out and Alexia still unaccounted for, every delay is agony for Stewart. Will the impossible become plausible for the clever Myles? Will Stewart be reunited with Alexia? Have the setbacks been too costly?
With renewed fervor they push onward, deeper into the realm of Poncho Villa. Reaching the city of Santiago, devastation and pillage are encountered at every turn. Entire families have been murdered in their own homes. Alexia’s house is abandoned and she is no where to be found. Is it too late? Can Myles former ally be trusted? Are the odds just too tilted?
The Lawless Frontier is a deeply personal look into the heart of the Mexican Revolution and the price paid for freedom.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Ladykiller
Author: Lisa Scottoline
Thrown feet first into New York City’s darkest side, the horror and brutality of life flood your imagination. A murderer without conscience, without regret, without a second thought is on the loose. Silently deceptive, cool and calm, the Ladykiller is both cunning and efficient. There are no obvious clues, no clear patterns and no easy answers for Detective Dave Dillon. A haunting mistake from the past makes this his last chance for redemption. The son of an Irish cop, Dillon is stubborn, intuitive, and dead set on solving the case.
The ladykiller is just as determined, systematically eliminating those who deserve to die. Each victim is eradicated in the same brutal way. Lured to a deserted location, no witnesses and by the cover of darkness the killing takes place. Another murder and yet another, public and internal pressure on the Ladykiller taskforce intensifies. Time is running out and the answers are elusive. Over and over Dillon reviews each case looking at the photos and the facts. What do they have in common? What is their final expression trying to say? Where is the link? The experienced officers are determined to unravel the facts. When new tidbits of information shed light upon past discoveries, things come together. The link perhaps, but how? Persistence and resolve will find the answers, or dose it? A confession or a bid for notoriety, half truths or just more lies, where will it all lead? The Ladykiller is ruthless and shrewd, deceiving everyone, but for how long? Will there be another murder or will the taskforce arrive in time?
Matters of the heart make it complicated. When reason is left behind, desires, passions and reality become a lethal mix. Only a level head and a clear mind can discover hidden secrets. Who is really in danger, who is hiding the truth and who will snap first?
The Ladykiller is addictive, intense and not for the faint of heart!
Thrown feet first into New York City’s darkest side, the horror and brutality of life flood your imagination. A murderer without conscience, without regret, without a second thought is on the loose. Silently deceptive, cool and calm, the Ladykiller is both cunning and efficient. There are no obvious clues, no clear patterns and no easy answers for Detective Dave Dillon. A haunting mistake from the past makes this his last chance for redemption. The son of an Irish cop, Dillon is stubborn, intuitive, and dead set on solving the case.
The ladykiller is just as determined, systematically eliminating those who deserve to die. Each victim is eradicated in the same brutal way. Lured to a deserted location, no witnesses and by the cover of darkness the killing takes place. Another murder and yet another, public and internal pressure on the Ladykiller taskforce intensifies. Time is running out and the answers are elusive. Over and over Dillon reviews each case looking at the photos and the facts. What do they have in common? What is their final expression trying to say? Where is the link? The experienced officers are determined to unravel the facts. When new tidbits of information shed light upon past discoveries, things come together. The link perhaps, but how? Persistence and resolve will find the answers, or dose it? A confession or a bid for notoriety, half truths or just more lies, where will it all lead? The Ladykiller is ruthless and shrewd, deceiving everyone, but for how long? Will there be another murder or will the taskforce arrive in time?
Matters of the heart make it complicated. When reason is left behind, desires, passions and reality become a lethal mix. Only a level head and a clear mind can discover hidden secrets. Who is really in danger, who is hiding the truth and who will snap first?
The Ladykiller is addictive, intense and not for the faint of heart!
Queen of the Underworld
Author: Gail Goodwin
Young Emma Gant, a new graduate from J school, has recently received her first assignment, working as the Miami Star’s newest reporter. This is her chance to break free from a small town existence, a controlling step father and to live her dream. Following an interesting train ride she arrives at her hotel, escorted by her aunt Tess. The surroundings are not what she expected, not even a view of the beach. Disappointed yet pleased with its potential, the Julia Tuttle becomes her sanctuary, her comfort, her shield from the harshness of the real world. Emma is anticipating a phone call; it will be the voice of her married lover, Paul, coming to whisk her away. The owner of a resort where Emma worked last summer, he was her every heartbeat. The reunion will be sweet. Will they have a future or will fate change Emma’s perfect plans? With a mired of multi-faceted characters crossing her path Emma finds her first days on the job to be a roller coaster of events. Writing obits, avoiding the “glass cage” of the women’s section, visiting the papers “morgue”, interviews with tornado survivors and even an encounter with “The Queen of the Underworld” give her many challenges. It is the time of Cuban unrest and Fidel Castro’s usurping of land. The city has an influx of immigrants from varied walks of life, mingled with local color, from aristocratic know-it-alls, to young madams to mafia warnings; each seems a potential threat to her developing “Emma-ness”. Feeling diminished by the experience of other reporters, Emma goes the extra mile to make her mark. Can she carve a niche out for herself? Will she live up to “Lucifer’s” expectations or will she be cast off, banished, to a small town office? The entire book takes place over a period of about 2 weeks and it is filled with Emma’s constant thoughts and imaginings. To truly understand and appreciate the story to the fullest, one should have lived in that era or studied about it. By the way, don’t forget your Spanish-English dictionary.
Young Emma Gant, a new graduate from J school, has recently received her first assignment, working as the Miami Star’s newest reporter. This is her chance to break free from a small town existence, a controlling step father and to live her dream. Following an interesting train ride she arrives at her hotel, escorted by her aunt Tess. The surroundings are not what she expected, not even a view of the beach. Disappointed yet pleased with its potential, the Julia Tuttle becomes her sanctuary, her comfort, her shield from the harshness of the real world. Emma is anticipating a phone call; it will be the voice of her married lover, Paul, coming to whisk her away. The owner of a resort where Emma worked last summer, he was her every heartbeat. The reunion will be sweet. Will they have a future or will fate change Emma’s perfect plans? With a mired of multi-faceted characters crossing her path Emma finds her first days on the job to be a roller coaster of events. Writing obits, avoiding the “glass cage” of the women’s section, visiting the papers “morgue”, interviews with tornado survivors and even an encounter with “The Queen of the Underworld” give her many challenges. It is the time of Cuban unrest and Fidel Castro’s usurping of land. The city has an influx of immigrants from varied walks of life, mingled with local color, from aristocratic know-it-alls, to young madams to mafia warnings; each seems a potential threat to her developing “Emma-ness”. Feeling diminished by the experience of other reporters, Emma goes the extra mile to make her mark. Can she carve a niche out for herself? Will she live up to “Lucifer’s” expectations or will she be cast off, banished, to a small town office? The entire book takes place over a period of about 2 weeks and it is filled with Emma’s constant thoughts and imaginings. To truly understand and appreciate the story to the fullest, one should have lived in that era or studied about it. By the way, don’t forget your Spanish-English dictionary.
Nomad’s Land
Author: Susan Kathleen
A woman’s world or a guy’s world, it is all a matter of perspective. The vision of the 90’s has drastically changed the paradigm of modern society. There is no normal, average, or common denominator with which a life can be measured. This is the world of Nomad’s Land. Daytime actors are nighttime bartenders. Each realm has different relationships and “eyes” that perceive others with their own concocted and twisted beliefs. This is the temperament at Justin’s Place, a bar just like any other. Though Cat tries to enter quietly and discreetly, her condition is evident. The darkened booth doesn’t dissuade the curious eyes. Questioning minds begin their suspicions. Where has she been? Why has she returned? But most important where is Danny? Her reply will be. “He’s gone. Finito, Muerto. Dead.” Cat’s life began with many imbalances and now it’s been turned inside out. What will become her guiding force, her heart or her head?
Beware: Very Explicit Language.
A woman’s world or a guy’s world, it is all a matter of perspective. The vision of the 90’s has drastically changed the paradigm of modern society. There is no normal, average, or common denominator with which a life can be measured. This is the world of Nomad’s Land. Daytime actors are nighttime bartenders. Each realm has different relationships and “eyes” that perceive others with their own concocted and twisted beliefs. This is the temperament at Justin’s Place, a bar just like any other. Though Cat tries to enter quietly and discreetly, her condition is evident. The darkened booth doesn’t dissuade the curious eyes. Questioning minds begin their suspicions. Where has she been? Why has she returned? But most important where is Danny? Her reply will be. “He’s gone. Finito, Muerto. Dead.” Cat’s life began with many imbalances and now it’s been turned inside out. What will become her guiding force, her heart or her head?
Beware: Very Explicit Language.
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