The New Book Review

This blog, #TheNewBookReview, is "new" because it eschews #bookbigotry. It lets readers, reviewers, authors, and publishers expand the exposure of their favorite reviews, FREE. Info for submissions is in the "Send Me Your Fav Book Review" circle icon in the right column below. Find resources to help your career using the mini search engine below. #TheNewBookReview is a multi-award-winning blog including a MastersInEnglish.org recommendation.

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

University Press Published Fiction Hits a Chord for Top Reviewer

 

Review by Bookreporter.com  
Title: Don't Forget Me, BrBy John Michael Cummings
Publisher: Stephen F. Austin State University Press
Reprinted with permission from Pauline Finch, Bookreporter.com
 
Reviewed by Pauline Finch originally for Bookreporter.com
 
Families: they love us, they hate us, they confuse us, they support us, they believe in us, they hurt us, they forgive us, they never forget our mistakes. . .
It’s no good picking and choosing which of the above (in what could be an interminably long list) best applies to your particular family, or mine, because today’s assumption will become tomorrow’s irrelevance.  
As author John Michael Cummings shows with such poignant and searing skill in DON’T FORGET ME, BRO families contain all of it. There’s simply no tidy, predictable emotional or dynamic boundary to draw around these most primal of human units. Even those who don’t know their biological families have collective relationships that daily test their autonomy, individuality, self-worth and dreams. 
Cummings, who’s spent more than three decades writing about human beings, mainly of the everyday American persuasion, excels in uncovering those beneath-the-skin familial stories that realistically probe uncomfortable, often invisible, areas of life. And even in our current decade of sociological transparency, perhaps nothing is more resistant to illumination in this context than mental illness.   
As a broad collection of chemical, biological and/or psychiatric disorders of the brain, it eludes clear-cut treatments and solutions as successfully as families elude pat definitions of who and what they are. When families and their perceptions of mental illness collide, as happens with such gritty persistence in Don't Forget Me, Bro all the discomfort of relationships, normal and otherwise, comes to the fore.
Returning home to West Virginia to deal with the premature death of his older brother Steve, long diagnosed as schizophrenic, Mark Barr carries plenty of his own emotional and psychological baggage, including a deep-seated distaste for a father he remembers as abusive, a mother who seems a passive bystander to life, and a middle brother who comes across as just plain weird. With a number of failed relationships on record – including the one that’s falling apart even as he sets out from New York – he’s not so sure about his own mental health either.
“Going back home” stories are often based on narrow cliché-filled themes that focus on a single character or experience. Like series TV shows, they are easier to control and wrap up in a satisfying sentimental or tragic package at the end.
Fortunately, Don't Forget Me, Bro isn’t one of them. It’s a gripping emotional and literary journey that hits just about every pothole one can expect to find on life’s road; that part is engaging and sometimes oddly familiar. And when Cummings throws in a few unexpected left turns, thanks to his character’s unpredictable relatives and colleagues, there are moments of surprise and difference to ponder as well. That skilfully managed dichotomy in itself sets this author apart, drawing the reader into places that challenge assumption and attitude.
At the outset, Mark does think this back-home story is all about him, but he’s not driven by ego or self-absorption as much as by fear, worry and chronic indecision.  His own identity, perhaps even his future, are on the line.
But as he blunders into memories, people, and artifacts from the chaotic mosaic of his dead brother’s life he rediscovers who Steve really was. In spite of himself he grows into a kind of belated and bewildered stewardship over his brother’s cremated remains, which become a catalyst for revealing ever-deeper layers of family stories he never really knew.
Haunted by the last words he heard Steve utter – “Don’t forget me, bro” – Mark realizes that at the heart of every human existence is the fear of being forgotten, of simply disappearing into cosmic anonymity. After all, even families that can’t stand each other tenaciously remember their own.
With the unexpected complicity of his equally dysfunctional remaining brother, Mark hangs around his hometown, stumbling upon ways to build better memories than the ones he’d fled more than a decade earlier when he went to New York seeking success.
The Barr family changes a little, just enough for its surviving members to actually remain civilly in the same room together. That’s about it. Cummings doesn’t make their story television-comfortable, nor does he eliminate the heavy reality of an uncertain future.
Set against the larger contexts of contemporary economic depression, social despair, fear of the known and unknown, as well as multiple shades of guilt, remorse and anger, in the end Don't Forget Me, Bro can only exhale in a long sigh of acceptance.
Cummings adeptly leaves the reader suspended in that fragile moment before the next breath must be taken, yet strangely satisfied that compassion and justice have been attained. Don't Forget Me, Bro is a rare thing, a brilliant addition to a theme in which so many other novels under-achieve.
MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
 
John Michael Cummings is an award-winning novelist and short story writer from Harpers Ferry, WV.  His fiction has appeared in more than seventy-five literary journals, including The Iowa Review, North American Review, and The Kenyon Review, and has been nominated twice for the Pushcart Prize.
His debut novel The Night I Freed John Brown (Penguin Group, 2008) won the Paterson Prize, and his short story collection Ugly To Start With (West Virginia University Press, 2011) was an IndieFab Award Finalist.
 
His latest novel, Don’t Forget Me, Bro (Stephen F. Austin State University Press) has been excerpted in The Chicago Tribune.
 
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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.
 
 

Marlon Brando's Nephew Takes on the Writing of Fiction

Title: The Kingdom on the Edge of Reality
Author: Gahan Hanmer
Author's book tour Web site link:  http://thekingdomontheedgeofreality.com/thekingdomontheedgeofrealitybooktour.htm
Genre:
Fiction, Fantasy, Action and adventure
ISBN-10: 937293645
ISBN-13: 978-1937293642
Graphics: http://thekingdomontheedgeofreality.com/images/book.png




 

The Kingdom on the Edge of Reality

Sometimes it’s funny how fast things can change, and sometimes it’s not . . .

Welcome to Albert Keane’s beautifully designed medieval kingdom nestled in a completely isolated river valley in the Canadian wilderness. Peaceful, happy, and prosperous, it takes nothing from the modern world, not so much as a single clock.

There is a castle, of course, and a monastery. There is even a pitch dark, rat-infested dungeon – because you simply have to have one if you are trying a rule a feudal kingdom!

Farmers work the land, artisans ply their trades, monks keep school and visit the sick, and nobody (well, almost nobody) misses the modern world at all.

So why has Jack Darcey – actor, wanderer, ex-competitive fencer – been tricked and seduced into paying a visit? And why hasn’t anyone told him that the only way to leave is a perilous trek across hundreds of miles of trackless wilderness without a compass or a map?

Because a tide of fear and violence is rising from the twisted ambitions of one of King Albert’s nobles, and Albert’s fortune teller believes that Jack could turn the tide – if he lives long enough . . .

Seamlessly blending medieval and modern elements, The Kingdom on the Edge of Reality serves up a heady brew of action, humor, romance and satire in a kingdom set apart in time and space where reality is the dealer’s choice.

 
The Kingdom on the Edge of Reality answers the question why the past holds the key to happiness that may be missing in our present day.  That community and connectedness is more important then we realize.  We could very easily leave the present and live in the past.
 

The Kingdom on the Edge of Reality is a modern classic that has an original story line.  The author's vivid storytelling transports you to a world of fantasy, actionl and adventure.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR'S PROCESS
 
When Gahan began writing he found the creative process, as so many artists will attest, mysterious. You make an attempt to create something, the project unfolds, and at the end you wonder, “Did I do that? How did I manage to do that? When writing Gahan drew on his previous experience as a method actor and his working knowledge as a trained stage duelist.
 
Although the novel takes the shape of a fairy tale, it is a serious book about the human predicament, and unlike so much of what is coming out nowadays, it has a philosophy and a moral point of view. The hard part for Gahan was leaving the characters, which became totally real behind. These characters were larger then life. They all had real personalities, quirks, hopes and desires, and their own opinions.
 

WHAT BOOK LOVERS ARE SAYING

"I love the twist on an old fantasy story. To have a modern-day kingdom that is ruled and ran as the original kingdoms of old is ingenious. This is a captivating fantasy story that I would recommend to all fantasy-lovers." Literary R.R.

 

EXCERPT

" I got to my feet and looked Pollux over while he stood there calmly, unconcerned with the dead men in the grass and with the violence that had erupted a short time ago. Embedded deep in the wood of my saddle, I found the second crossbow bolt. That was good—it would support my story. I was still thinking about investigations, and evidence, and criminal courts, as though I still lived in the twenty-first century. But that wasn’t true anymore. I was a knight living in the Middle Ages now. "

 ABOUT GAHAN HAMMER

Gahan Hanmer naturally gravitated toward the arts. He speaks French and Spanish and has a Master of Fine Arts degree from Columbia University. Under the guidance of his uncle actor Marlon Brando, Gahan developed his talent exclusively as a theater artist, working with many inspired teachers and directors. The Kingdom on the Edge of Reality is available at: Amazon, My Book Orders,, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and on his website.  Ask Gahan Hanmer questions by visiting his website at http://thekingdomontheedgeofreality.com/contact.htm.

_______________
SUBMITTED BY
Yvonne Wu
Authors Support Services
The YP Publishing

http://theyppublishing.com
You have your own story to tell, our mission is to help you get the message out there.

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Saturday, April 18, 2015

True Sobriety Info Done with "Brightness"

Title: Sober is the New Black
Author: Rachel Black
Web site: www.soberisthenewrachelblack.blogspot.co.uk
Category: Self help, Addiction, Alcohol, Memoir
ASIN: B00HZIGNLU
Buy the e-book here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00HZIGNLU


 

Reviewed by Anna Buttimore B.A.Hons Administrator, originally for the spring 2015 issue of Law Care News



 
Sober is the New Black by Rachel Black shows very effectively how alcohol can insidiously, destructively and completely take over a life. Throughout it powerfully juxtaposes events in the author's life--business conferences, family holidays, book club meetings--when she was drinking, and after she stopped. There's always a risk with this sort of personal memoir that it can become egocentric and dull, but this one avoids that on two counts. First, because Rachel will resonate with so many readers as a typical working mother, someone they can relate to. Second, because it doesn't go too deeply into aspects of her life (we never learn the names of her children or her Other Half, or what job she does) and stays firmly focussed on the subject of alcohol.




I particularly liked the metaphor where the author compares lifelong abstinence with her mortgage. Both are burdens which look huge and terrifying when viewed as a whole, but are manageable and life-affirming on a day-to-day basis. The book well written, interesting and not overlong, but for me its best feature is the overriding optimism and delight on every page. If it has one message, it's that the sober life is wonderful. Rachel was evidently taken by surprise to find how much better everything, from social events to Christmas, is when you're not focusing solely on wine and how to drink as much of it as possible without anyone noticing. That brightness and assurance shines throughout the book and lifts it above other "sobriety memoirs”.

MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR
 
Rachel Black is also the author of‘Fashionable and Fabulous’. Read her blog here.

Join her on Twitter @SoberRachel.



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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Friday, April 17, 2015

Ask People Who Know About Today's Education

 

Title: Lifting the Curtain: The Disgrace We Call Urban High School Education
By D. A. Russell
Second Edition
Paperback: 276 pages
Genre: Nonfiction
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 2nd edition (January 5, 2015)
ISBN-10: 1506015980
ISBN-13: 978-1506015989
Blog tour by WOW (Women on Writing) WOW!
Buy the book at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Lifting-Curtain-2nd-disgrace-education/dp/1506015980

Review by Renee Roberson

In the first edition of Lifting the Curtain, Russell outlined the issues that are plaguing today's high school educational system, and offered solutions necessary to incite change. After releasing the book, he heard feedback from so many teachers that he decided to put together a 2nd edition so their voices could be heard. It also includes additional topics that weren’t in the 1st edition, such as the loss of electives in today’s schools.

The author is a retired math teacher who felt an overwhelming need to document the very real problems with education that are affecting the children both inside and outside the classroom, by spending three years surveying 760 teachers and students in 19 urban high schools in 15 cities in Massachusetts.

I learned a lot personally from reading this book. I truly had no idea how difficult the teaching profession has become to navigate. If you are a teacher, you can’t just expect a love and passion for teaching children will carry you through the obstacles he outlines in this book. You’ll be stonewalled by PDPs, standardized testing mandates, the pressure to pass children, bullying by school administrators, and much more.

But rest assured. This book is not just one teacher ranting about the problems within the public school system. The responses from the students and teachers he surveyed as part of the book’s research speak volumes, as does the following quote:

We seem to have asked everyone outside of the school building what is wrong with education, but ignored the views of everyone inside the building.

The final chapter of the book provides a clear and set of solutions to all the problems Russell outlines in the earlier chapters of the book. But to learn what they are . . . you'll have to check out Lifting the Curtain for yourself!

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

D. A. Russell has spent the last ten years as a math teacher in one of the urban high schools that is the subject of Lifting the Curtain. He is an honors graduate of Dartmouth College, and has his master’s degree from Simon School, where he was valedictorian of his class. Russell is a decorated Vietnam veteran. He has two children that he treasures, and four grandchildren. His son is a police officer who served in the US Army in Afghanistan, earning a Bronze Star for valor. His daughter is a lawyer and his most passionate fan and honorary literary agent. Russell has a passion for children that dominates his life. He has taught and coached children for decades. Few things are more important in Russell’s view than to cherish the children who are our real treasures in this world. He is a contributor for education matters to the Huffington Post, and runs a personal blog at: LiftingTheCurtainOnEducation.wordpress.com dedicated to letting teacher voices be heard in the real problems with education.

 
ABOUT THE REVIEWER

Renee Roberson is an award-winning freelance writer who also blogs at www.reneespages.blogspot.com. When she’s not writing, researching, or reviewing books, she assists authors as a blog tour manager with WOW! Women on Writing, which provides authors with excellent service and out-of-the-box book promotions.

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Children's Book Helps Them Understand They Are Not Alone

Title:  Busy Dizzy
Author: Dr. Orly Katz
http://
www.SimplyMeModel.com  Category:  children's book
ASIN: B00HALMR6C
Amazon link


Reviewed by
  Busy Dizzy is a lovely educational book for children in the 4-8 range. It will help them to recognize those negative feelings that rise up inside of them that tell them they aren’t good enough, or that they will be laughed at, or not to try because they will lose, or any other negative thing that we sometimes tell ourselves. Dr. Katz helps children understand that they are not alone. Every child, and every adult too, has feelings like these and through this lovely rhyming story gives the child and parent a strategy for dealing with these feelings to deal with them and overcome them.

Busy Dizzy is written in delightful rhyming style, perfect for holding the attention of young children. The pages are brightly coloured, with interesting, colourful pictures.

The text is simple enough that as children begin to read, they will be able to read some of the text on their own with help from mom or dad. There is a song to sing to the Busy Dizzies to send them on their way which will help for practicing reading and as a pleasant way to divert the child’s mind from the negative thoughts troubling the child.

Included in the back of the book are some pages for the child to draw and name their Busy Dizzies as well as a couple of pages for parents with a few reminders of how to help your children deal with those negative thoughts.

I thought this book was an exceptional teaching aid for helping young children deal with those negative thoughts that get in the way of the child engaging in an activity he/she would like to participate in. I liked particularly that it empowers the child to do something about the situation such as naming the Busy Dizzy and then saying good bye to it and sending it away. Recognizing that all people have these kinds of fears/emotions is helpful because then the child doesn’t think that he/she is the only one. This would be an excellent book to use in a classroom or at home.

As a parent, I would recommend this book to all parents of young children and as a teacher myself, I would also recommend this book to schools. I gave this book 5 stars out of 5.

Thank you to the author, Dr. Orly Katz for providing a copy of Busy Dizzy in exchange for a fair and honest review. A positive opinion was not required. All thoughts are my own.

About the Author

Best seller author, Dr. Orly Katz (SimplyMeModel.com) is an expert on children and youth empowerment and the founder of the Simply Me Center for Leadership, Empowerment and Self Esteem. She is the author of numerous books on Amazon under the "Simply Me" series: (Surviving Junior High, Surviving Primary School and Busy Dizzy for ages 4-8).

Orly is also the creator and developer of the Simply Me- Digital Programs:
For teachers, parents and workshops facilitators:
"Empowering Adults to Empower Children".
Orly lives in Haifa, with her Husband and three children.
To get the "Supper Quiz" for Parents and find how well you know your children, go to:
http://simplymemodel.com/MevdakEN.asp 

You can watch Orly's TEDx talk- "Raising a star- not a celebrity" at:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=2yiWB-JDQus  
 
 
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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Maria Mar Gives Spirtual Nonfiction Book a Great Big Ten

Title: "Love and the Mystery of Betrayal: Recovering Your Faith and Trust after Trauma, Deception, and Loss of Love"
By Sandra Lee Dennis   
ISBN-13: 978-0986068423
Purchase at Amazon: http://bitly.com/1xRKgC5
Author website:  www.sandraleedennis.com
Genre: Nonfiction Narrative/ Relationships/Psychology/ Spirituality
Awards: Finalist USA Book News 2014

Reviewed by Maria Mar, blogger and author of “A Place for Roses” originally  for her blog  

“From all the books I’ve reviewed in 2014, this moving story and compelling journey is the uncontested winner!” Maria Mar, the Dream Alchemist

 
“If you are reading this book, it is likely that you or someone important to you is responding to an urgent call to open up a pained past or dive into the swirling seas of a currently upended life.” 
 
… And I am the living proof!
To say that it is an excellent book seems trivial. It is a sacred experience of healing through a deep dive into the transformation that betrayal brings into our life so that it can be cleared, healed and transmuted into a higher frequency of love.
That this book fell in my hands is simply part of Divine Design. This book is such a miracle. If it has found you, receive the blessing. For me this book is sacred. It has the qualities of a sacrament, of an anointment and ceremony that acknowledges both our human frailty and our superpowers.
Sandra Lee Dennis has achieved a rare marriage of soul, body, emotions, mind and spirit in her language, in the journey through which her book takes us, and in the knowledge she shares with us.
If you have gone through a betrayal—romantic or otherwise—it may have left pieces of poisonous thorns embedded in your soul and you may have left pieces of soul embedded in the time-space continuum of the trauma. A shaman would tell you that you need to do a soul retrieval. This book has the qualities of such a sacred ceremony.
You may not realize it but years—even decades after the trauma of betrayal—these unresolved pieces can result in health issues, relationship failures, or blind spots that grow into toxic fields and flood your life. These are psychic lakes of amnesia where your memory and awareness goes to sleep. You can close off entire aspects of your sacred self, your emotions and even your trust and faith in life.
The good news is that it is never too late, and if this topic resonates with you, then this book is your alchemical codex to free yourself from the limiting and traumatic impact of betrayal. If you have gone through the trauma of betrayal, no matter how long ago it was—get this book immediately and clear time not just for reading; but for healing.
The journey through this book is a healing experience that helps us to understand what we’ve gone through, to name the invisible, hidden cracks this trauma inflicted on our psyche, to validate our soulful intuition, and, finally, to help us emerge into an ecstatic experience of self-love and higher love.
If you are going through the trauma of betrayal now—get many copies of the book. One is for you. The other is for your closest friends and relatives; your support system, and one or two are for the healers or therapists of your choice. This book is your blueprint through the dark stormy seas of betrayal into the harbor of radiant health.
If someone you love has gone or is going through a betrayal—get two copies. One for you and one for that person. Read yours carefully so that you know how to talk to this person in ways that truly support her and how NOT to talk to her so that you don’t join the many insensitive voices that add salt to injury.
One of the things that appalls me about our modern world is the insensitivity to grieving. Sandra Lee Dennis does an amazing job of addressing our cultural blindness to the grief and trauma of betrayal; so that you can maneuver through it without shame, guilt or alienation from your sacred self.
Another Important topic that she introduces is our secret tendency to measure trauma based on how long, how tragic or how dramatic a trauma is; so that betrayal seems trivial in the face of death, serious car accidents, murder, rape or physical violence. This book is vital in our society because so many of us have been deeply traumatized by seemingly “minor” betrayals that have stolen essential parts of our self, limiting our lives and haunting us for years; perhaps for all our lives.
As the author points out, because betrayal often comes accompanied by personal shame, social embarrassment and relationship awkwardness, its devastation is swept under the rug and the person is expected to “get on with her life.” This leads to a social gag that compounds the problem, making the person feel that they are alone and that there is something wrong with them that they cannot “move on.”
Sandra Lee Dennis has broken the silence behind the trauma of betrayal by sharing her own excruciatingly painful and gloriously sacred journey from betrayal to the deepening and expansion of her capacity to love. She is blowing the whistle in a society that minimizes emotional trauma because it is afraid of things it cannot control, like emotions.
This author, who is also a doctor in psychology, writes this book in the voice of the sacred warrior who walks through fear into freedom, through pain into power. She also becomes a priestess of the sacred darkness who guides you through a journey into the dark night of the soul, revealing ancestral wisdom from the very womb of the holy mystery that has been held by priestesses in sacred feminine schools of wisdom.
Trust your heart to this author-healer-warrior. Walk inside this book to walk inside yourself and find your way back to your heart.
I give this book 5 STARS because my rating does not allow me to give it ten!

----- The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Monday, April 13, 2015

AND THE MUSIC PLAYS ON



----- The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Letter to the Author from Reviewer Ron English

Title:  One Night in Tehran: A Titus Ray Thriller
Author:  Luana Ehrlich
Website: http://www.luanaehrlich.com
Genre: Christian thriller
ISBN: 1500157236
ASIN: B00MKK5HEM
Amazon Purchase Link:

Reviewed by Ron English originally for Amazon
Amazon Reviewer: Ranking 330,190

 

Mrs. Ehrlich, I have just completed reading your novel, "One Night in Tehran". To say I was delighted with the storyline is an absolute understatement. You are a wonderful writer and storyteller. I don't know what I was expecting, but you exceeded by a country mile all of them. You set the stage for the next book. Your skill matches beautifully that of John Grisham and James Patterson. I have often said that authors and TV dramas could be just as interesting without profanity if they majored on the story. You have proven this to be true. The skillful and beautiful way you handled the Christian faith aspect was so well done that no one outside the faith should be concerned or have any hesitation in picking your book up and diving in. Christians on the other hand will marvel at the wonderful treatment you provided your faith and ours. Our Lord, I am sure, is happy with your book and will bless you abundantly as people discover this work. God bless you richly and thank you for this powerful story of intrigue and local setting. With best wishes for your next book and the next appearance of Titus Ray, Your Norman Fan, Ron English

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Friday, April 10, 2015

Spicy Reads Loves Contemporary Romance

Title: One to Save
Author: Tia Louise
Author's Web site link: http://www.AuthorTiaLouise.com
Genre or category: Contemporary Romance
ISBN: 978-1508738503
Reviewer's rating: 5 Stars
BUY LINKS:
Amazon: http://smarturl.it/OTSA
iTunes: http://smarturl.it/OTSi
Google Play: http://smarturl.it/OTSG
Nook: http://smarturl.it/OTSN
Kobo: http://smarturl.it/OTSK
ARe: http://smarturl.it/OTSAR
Paperbacks on
Amazon: http://smarturl.it/OTSAp
CreateSpace: http://smarturl.it/OTSC    

Reviewed by  Shayna Renee originally for her Spicy Reads blog

ONE TO SAVE was a sizzling, suspenseful romance that took me to another place. I completely lost myself in this book! Derek and Melissa are characters that stuck with me from the beginning and embedded themselves in my heart. I felt the complete and undeniable love they they feel towards each other, and I felt the utter gut wrenching heartache that they went through in this book. I absolutely LOVE each installment of the ONE TO HOLD series, but this book, this incredible book, left me a blubbering mess and pulled emotions out of me left and right. Tia Louise is a genius at setting the scene, giving her readers a vivid, beautiful depiction of all that is going on, transporting us to this lovely world with ease. Tia Louise fans will fall in love with the latest ONE TO HOLD novel! 

And ladies...get ready to SWOON your panties off, because DEREK ALEXANDER is BACK!

Derek and Melissa have come so far. But secrets, lies, and deceptions prevent them from having the happily ever after they both deserve. Melissa knows what it's like to be in a relationship full of lies, and she WILL NOT go through that again. When Melissa pushes Derek away, he is devastated and broken. He knows he was in the wrong, protecting her but not communicating with her. He is determined to make things right. He will stop at nothing to see her smile once again. But what if it's too late? Fool me once and all that. 

ONE TO SAVE was one helluva page-turner. Steamy, action packed, and heartwarming, I can never get enough of this series. A story about finding your light in the darkness and never letting it go, Derek and Melissa's love story will be one to remember, one to cherish, and one to learn from. I know this was the happily ever after I always wanted for these two, but I hope that it isn't the last we hear from them. #DerekAndMelissaForever

MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tia Louise is the author of sexy books with a twist.
* * *  One to Hold   * * *  One to Keep  * * *  One to Protect  * * * One to Love  * * *  One to Leave * * * One to Save

 




 
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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Tales2Inspire ~ The Topaz Collection (Personal Awakenings stories)

TALES2INSPIRE ~ THE TOPAZ COLLECTION

        Stories of Personal Awakenings




 
Title: Tales2Inspire ~ The Topaz Collection

Subtitle: Personal Awakenings

Publisher: Lois W. Stern for Tales2Inspire®

Authors: Lois W. Stern plus the following contest winning authors: Charles Musgrave Ph.D.,Luke Potter, Susan C. Haley, Cecile Bell, Melissa Dallago, Charlotte Snead, Melanie Sue Bowles, Micki Peluso, Jessica Marie, Ian Schagen, Ph.D. ,

Karen Pirnot, Ph.D. , Adrienne Drake, M.D.


Genre: Anthology of inspiring true stories

ISBN-13: 978-1492252054
ISBN-10: 1492252050
ASIN: B00GNL1W5C

Page count: 123
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REVIEWS 

5

Gems of Inspiration,
       I find it inconceivable that any title other than Tales2Inspire could possibly be assigned to Lois Stern’s Topaz Collection. Lois‘ compilation of inspiring stories is a powerful and touching tribute to the inherent qualities of compassion and strength of the human spirit. Each story touches the reader’s emotions and offers inspiration in a different, yet similar way. From the journey of Gabriel Cordell in Roll of a Lifetime, to the adventurous spirit of Luke Potter and his family in New Life in the Country, to the deep compassion and understanding of Dr. Pirnot in As I Am, the human spirit is highlighted and will move your soul in a very deep and powerful way. In a world that is seemingly dominated by the prominence of the media’s negative “News,” Tales2Inspire is a refreshing tribute to the kind and compassionate deeds that exist everywhere in our global society. I highly recommend the Topaz Collection to anyone seeking to witness the human spirit at its best.
Glenn Poveromo, Award winner speaker and Author of: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life, Learn to Live Your Best Life Possible and Simple thoughts About Life and Living

Tales2Inspire by Lois W. Stern is a collection of 13 non-fiction short inspirational stories. Though my goal with the book was entertainment many of the stories teach powerful lessons that can only be taught through the prospective of someone living a very different life than mine.
There were lines that stopped me in my tracks. For instance, a high achieving diabetic high school admonishing his over-protective mother with, "Mom, do you own this disease or do I?" Another was an adopted girls realization about true happiness. Or, the incredible bond between a Dr. and her 7- year quadriplegic patient.
Many stories seek to teach us about the power of the mind, but this story may be the best illustration I've read. The first exchange between Dr. and patient was the child saying he had a "really bad tummy ache." The Dr. took that as a "clue to the healing of the soul because he could feel nothing below his neck." Then she induces him into a state of hypnosis and an amazing story begins and brings an enjoyable and enlightening book to an end.
John Graden 
Author of Near Death Experiences-Doctors and Scientists Go On The Record About God, Heaven, and the Afterlife

This book would be a wonderful gift for a friend who just might need a ...
Lois Stern has created a true gift with her Tales2Inspire anthology collection. I am proud to be a published author in the Topaz Collection of this series. The Topaz Collection is filled with heartwarming stories of personnel transformation, as daily events subtly and consistently reveal to each author new aspects of living a more full and rewarding life. The depth of the messages in each story is in contrast to the simplicity of the tales. This makes one realize that these gentle moments of awakening are available not only to the lucky few; they are available to all, especially to those who look, and, with the help of these insightful stories, see with newly opened eyes. This book would be a wonderful gift for a friend who just might need a little inspiration. There is plenty of that here for everyone!!
byAdrienne A. Drake, M.D.

Collection of the best entertaining, Inspirational short stories
Lois W. Stern, creator of "The Topaz Collection," one of the books in a series of inspirational books in the "Tales2Inspire" series, presents stories that teach, charm and warm the heart. Each story is unique yet shares a bond of uplifting and gratifying life experiences told through the words of writers like Susan C. Haley. She brings a large baby calf into the world when its mother runs into life-threatening problems trying to deliver it. The bond between Haley and and the surviving calf prevails as he grows to become a 2000 pound white bull.
Author Lois W. Stern relates how she overcame her fear of public speaking when she was a shy first grade student, by standing in front of her classmates and amusing them with an account of how she found an opossum in her garage. Their response, so excited and intrigued, gave Lois a life lesson that would bring her success later in her endeavors.
Writer Karen Pirnot, PHD, in her story, shows how she helps a quadriplegic young boy to learn to use his mental imagery to 'touch and feel' things that he can't in reality. Garret grows up to lead a fuller life due to this practice and becomes a role model for others in his situation. These are just three of thirteen exceptional works.
"Tales2Inspire" and "The Topaz Collection" has inspired new and seasoned writers to achieve success while improving their innate skills and then sharing their award winning stories; reflecting the miracles of life happening all around us. This is a book to be read and reread, learning something new each time.
Those enjoying these fascinating and sometimes humorous tales will want to move on to read other accounts of the strength and faith of ordinary and extraordinary people, in "The Emerald Collection" and in the upcoming "Sapphire" and "Ruby" collections. Each book is named for a specific gem because each story is a sparkling jewel to be read and treasured.
Micki Peluso, journalist and author of . . . And the Whippoorwill Sang

This story tells of the love of family and commitment to a couple's dreams and ...
The Topaz Collection is filled with stories that are heartwarming and inspiring. Dan, the trumpet player who battles serious medical issues ends up in a coma, on hospice care. While still unconscious he started to move his fingers up and down as we would if he was playing the trumpet and shortly after he woke up from his coma. He regained his strength and a few months later was discharged from Hospice Care. He continued to improve with the help of the loving care of his wife of many years. Another heartwarming story is of the family that moves to the Australian countryside from suburbia, with no more than a tin caravan and a shack to call home. This story tells of the love of family and commitment to a couple's dreams and how these helped them meet the many challenges facing them as they moved back to the country. This book is filled with stories in which a person realizes something that can affect their life or achieves a goal that often seems insurmountable. I think the Tales2Inspire are interesting in many different ways and encourage readers to try one. You will most likely want to get another one soon after.
by an Amazon Customer

A Treasure Chest of Possibilities
The Topaz is the birthstone gem that symbolizes energy and truth seeking.
All thirteen inspirational tales in The Topaz Collection add a distinctive and clarifying facet to this gem of a book.
Charles Musgrave's "And the Music Plays On", teaches a lesson to even the most cynical of us that 'modern day miracles' indeed occur. This story gives a message of hope, despite many obstacles, and demonstrates the power of our inner strength and determination.
In "Proof of Life", Melissa Dallago explains how death taught her about life. This story is an inspiration to anyone who has experienced the death of a loved one. It is relatable, thought provoking and tender from start to finish.
This is a timeless book for all ages - the perfect gift for the reader in your life who needs an infusion of possibilities, positive energy and hope.
Maria Couchara- Jordan, MSN, RN
Author of 'Kylie's Blossoms'; Nurse Instructor

Tales2Inspire ~ The Topaz Collection: Awakenings & Aha Moments
Each story in this book is a winner from the annual Tales2Inspire international competition, anonymously selected by a jury of accomplished authors. You will read a 'baker's dozen' amazing stories, including stories about a man who rolls across America in his non-motorized wheelchair, a new horse owner tho learns how to communicate with her recalcitrant horse while observing other horses in pasture, a trumpet that literally saves the life of one musician . . .
This is just a sampling of the thirteen inspiring stories you will find within the pages of this book.

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BUY HERE


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MORE ABOUT THIIS AUTHOR/PUBLISHER

Lois is a multi award winning author whose work has been featured in the New York Times, Newsday, Long Island Press, Barnard Magazine, on Local Access TV and in live presentations in many varied venues. She has now published ten Tales2Inspire® treasured anthologies of her contest winners' stories. Fans of Chicken Soup for the Soul are particularly enamored of Tales2Inspire® books, because aside from their inspirational themes, they are filled with original photos to enhance the power of each story. Lois invites interested readers to get a FREE Tales2Inspire® sampler book at: www.tales2inspire.com/gifts and to learn more about entering the next Tales2Inspire contest at: tales2inspire.com/contest. Guess what? It’s free - No entrance fees!

Visit Lois at these Media Marketing sites to learn more about her and her Tales2Inspire® Authors Helping Authors project/contest at: 

Website: http://www.tales2Inspire.com 


Spend some media marketing time with Lois at: 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/tales2inspire

Twitter: www.twitter.com/tales2inspire2