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.

Monday, December 23, 2019

SPAWN Offers Call for Professional Reviews for New Books

Open to non-members
Room for 4 more books
View this email in your browser
DEADLINE January 20, 2020
Is your book coming out in the New Year or was released since October 1? Get advance reviews!

Get your book in front of 2,400+ legitimate book reviewers, Amazon reviewers, and book bloggers


Solve the mystery of getting a book in front of legitimate reviewers. SPAWN has the answers to these questions:

Where do I find reviewers and book bloggers?
How do I get in front of Amazon Key Reviewers?
What do I present to them?

Do I send a print book or ebook?

Feature your book in this service from SPAWN, 
open to members and nonmembers.

Sign up now and be part of New Releases from...
Deadline for next issue is January 30, 2020

Book must have been released during the last six months or will be released before October 2019.
View the October issue
Praise for New Releases from...SPAWN

"I never expected to receive such an amazing and heartfelt review, and I appreciate it so much." ~ Chuck Redman, author of A Cottonwood Stand

"In January  2019, at age  79, I published my first  novel, a memoir called I Slept In Hitler's Bed. I had no idea if it was marketable. I signed up for SPAWNS New Releases, and received 3 remarkable reviews, the last from Midwest Book Reviews, a 30-year-old organization that reviews for Educational Institutions and Libraries. SPAWN has placed my book out into the universe, and the feedback just as important to me, since it has confirmed that I am a writer." - Jay Balter

"As much as I am a do-it-yourself kind of marketer, one author can only do so much! SPAWN's outreach to reviewers got results--one of the best pay-for-help services I ever used!" ~ Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically 

"WOW! We already received three book order from reviewers in less than 24 hours. Thanks, so much." ~ Bob Osland, Surepoint Publishing
DO YOU HAVE A BOOK PLANNED FOR SPRING RELEASE?

Editors had a positive response to New Releases from SPAWN. One thing several wanted were unreleased books, those coming out in the Winter.


Plan your marketing for reviews at least 3 to 4 months in advance.
Reserve your space now!
Launched in 2017, the newsletter goes out every quarter to over 2,400 book reviewers, Amazon reviewers, and book bloggers. The reviewer list is pulled from Cision, the premiere online media database company that updates its media lists daily and includes top publications, online and broadcast resources like NPR, daily and weekly newspapers that publish book reviews, and a host of freelancers and bloggers who review books.

Each participating author submits up to 75-word description of the book that starts with a catchy log line such as appears in the New York Times Book Review or online at Kirkus Reviews. Log lines are the concise one-sentence description of the book usually at the top of the review. We want these descriptions to sound professional and grab reviewers.

Quick sentance and a grabber to get them to request the book.

View the last issue for examples.

Along with the description, an image of the book cover and a link for reviewers to request a book.

Fee and how to participate in the New Releases from... newsletter

     Option One:  $225 for one book description and cover. SPAWN members only $150 - non-members including membership

The New Releases from… newsletter goes out four times a year.

  • The next edition is January 2020.
  • This service is open for all books published within the last year.
  • Deadline for participation in the next issue is January 20, 2020.
Learn more or sign up!


MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER, THIS BLOG, AND ITS BENEFITS FOR WRITERS

 The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. Of particular interest to readers of this blog is her most recent How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically (http://bit.ly/GreatBkReviews ) that covers 325 jam-packed pages covering everything from Amazon Vine to writing reviews for profit and promotion. Reviewers will have a special interest in the chapter on how to make reviewing pay, either as way to market their own books or as a career path--ethically!

This blog 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.



Note: Participating authors and their publishers may request the social sharing image by Carolyn Wilhelm at no charge.  Please contact the designer at:  cwilhelm (at) thewiseowlfactory (dot) com. Provide the name of the book being reviewed and--if an image or headshot of the author --isn't already part of the badge, include it as an attachment. Wilhelm will send you the badge to use in your own Internet marketing. Give Wilhelm the link to this post, too.

Orphan Train Trials (Hearts on the Rails Book 2) by Rachel Wesson

Title Orphan Train Trials (Hearts on the Rails)
Author Rachel Wesson

ISBN-10: 179167383X
ISBN-13: 978-1791673833
ASIN:  B07J5DC368
Price $11.99 Paperback, $ 7.49 Audiobook, $3.99 Kindle
Page Count 348
Formats (PB, Audiobook, Kindle)

Reviewed by Carolyn Wilhelm



Orphan Train Trials is book two in the Hearts on the Rails series by Dublin author, Rachel Wesson. How does an author imagine life in America from the early 1900s from so far away as to time and distance? Rachel Wesson does just that for so many of her historical fiction books.

The children who rode the orphan train became close as possible and sometimes were actual siblings. They watched out for each other as much as they could, usually living apart. Some children became indentured servants much too young, some met fates that were even worse, and some were loved as the program intended. Oh, to be a lucky one, but that is not what happened with all the adoptees in this story. 

Bella tries not to become attached to the orphans she chaperones on the train ride to various towns where people just said they would take the children -- and the children were given to them. However, Bella cannot help herself from loving six-year-old twins. There was no application, no formal "vetting," and no actual knowledge of what would happen. People did try to check a year later, but often it was after abuse and neglect had occurred. 

It almost seemed this book was written for a middle grades audience as it is an easy read although touching on abuse topics. So the intended audience is adults although abuse is vaguely described. We do understand what the abuse is without getting the actual details. 

Rachel Wesson on Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15024927.Rachel_Wesson
Rachel Wesson on Facebook 
https://www.facebook.com/authorrachelwesson

Orphan Train Trials (Hearts on the Rails Book 2) by Rachel Wesson

Thank you for reading!

MORE ABOUT THIS BLOG The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. Authors, readers, publishers, and reviewers may republish their favorite reviews of books they want to share with others. 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 and love. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page and in a tab at the top of this blog's home page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites so it may be used a resource for most anyone in the publishing industry. 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. #TheFrugalbookPromoter, #CarolynHowardJohnson, #TheNewBookReview, #TheFrugalEditor, #SharingwithWriters, #reading #BookReviews #GreatBkReviews #BookMarketing

Sunday, December 22, 2019

Last-Minute Christmas Gift E-book Free for Amazon Kindle Members



  • (Christmas Holiday Extravaganza
  • Available for readers and Kindle before Christmas
  • Author: Lisa J. Lickel
  • Publisher: Prism Lux (November 20, 2019)
  • Publication Date: November 20, 2019
  • Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B07YSXXMD6
  • Genre: Romance. Christian Romance
  • Authors website: https://www.lisalickel.com/
  • Purchase on Amazon 
  • Free to Amazon Kindle Unlimited Members
  • Last-Minute Holiday Gift for 99 cents  

Reviewed by Eliza Earsman originally for Amazon.co.uk  

Well written, heartwarming and sometimes moving.

Booklovers:

This well written, heartwarming and sometimes moving, clever mix, entwines to present this romantic decent and interesting story.

This feel-good fiction uplifts us via Gospel teachings and is to be recommended, as two damaged people come together to live, laugh and love.

Pelican Book Group publishes Christmas holiday stories each year. Don't go past this one – Crazy Creek Christmas (set in Wyoming) by Lisa Lickel - for your Christmas list. Pick up your copy and appreciate.

I’m looking forward to the next book written by this remarkable author.

Five stars – commended.



Last-Minute Christmas Gift E-book Free for Amazon Kindle Members





MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER, THIS BLOG, AND ITS BENEFITS FOR WRITERS

 The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. Of particular interest to readers of this blog is her most recent How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically (http://bit.ly/GreatBkReviews ) that covers 325 jam-packed pages covering everything from Amazon Vine to writing reviews for profit and promotion. Reviewers will have a special interest in the chapter on how to make reviewing pay, either as way to market their own books or as a career path--ethically!

This blog 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.



Note: Participating authors and their publishers may request the social sharing image by Carolyn Wilhelm at no charge.  Please contact the designer at:  cwilhelm (at) thewiseowlfactory (dot) com. Provide the name of the book being reviewed and--if an image or headshot of the author --isn't already part of the badge, include it as an attachment. Wilhelm will send you the badge to use in your own Internet marketing. Give Wilhelm the link to this post, too.

Friday, December 20, 2019

Opportunity Knocks - Just Open the Door to List Your Book (Plus Hint #9 for Getting More Reviews)



________________

CAROLYN'S HINT 9 FOR GETTING REVIEWS


How to Get Great Reviews

Build relationships with each of your chosen bloggers. Frequent their blogs, comment on them and broaden the discussion. Judiciously drop in information about your books, with a link to your site. After a suitable amount of time, pitch these bloggers with the idea of a review. (paraphrased  from Carolyn's book, How to Get Great Book Review Frugally and Ethically, Page 104.)  
_______________

REVIEWS WANTED

In the tradition (and memory) of our beloved friend and author advocate, Dan Poynter,
The New Book Review wants to help our readers get credible reviews, so continue to send us your REVIEW WANTED requests as outlined below.
__________________________

TO SUBMIT YOUR REVIEW REQUEST, KINDLY USE THE FOLLOWING FORMAT:

AUTHOR'S NAME:

BOOK TITLE:

SUBTITLE (if any::

NUMBER OF PAGES:

DESCRIPTION: (Please keep pitch to 75 words or less.)

GENRE OF BOOK:

E-MAIL:

FORMAT:(PDF, E-BOOK, # of PAPERBACK BOOKS, # of HARDCOVER BOOKS)
* NOTE: you are more likely to get a response to your review request if you offer a paperback book.

AGE/NTEREST LEVEL:

AMAZON URL: 

Send review requests to Lois at: tales2inspire@optimum.net with Book Review Request IN THE SUBJECT LINE.
__________________________

REVIEWS WANTED

___________________________

This is an "Authors Helping Authors" Project. 

We post your review requests but ask that you return the favor by reviewing one of our listed books of interest to you. 

  1. To get your copy of any of the titles listed for review, contact that author directly. using the e-mail listed in the 2nd column - right under the author's name. 
  2. Commit to writing a review within 30 days.
  3. Post your review on Amazon.
  4. Give the author permission to post it on this New Book Review blog, credited to you with a link to your website or social network, of course.
  5. E-mail Lois with a link to your review so she can reward your efforts.
___________________

Lois W. Stern is a multi award winning author whose work has been featured in the New York Times, on Local Access TV and in live presentations in many varied venues. She has now published eight Tales2Inspire books 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: www.tales2inspire.com/contest-2
________________________________________________________________________________

MORE ABOUT THIS BLOG The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. Authors, readers, publishers, and reviewers may republish their favorite reviews of books they want to share with others. 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 and love. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page and in a tab at the top of this blog's home page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites so it may be used a resource for most anyone in the publishing industry. 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. #TheFrugalbookPromoter, #CarolynHowardJohnson, #TheNewBookReview, #TheFrugalEditor, #SharingwithWriters, #reading #BookReviews 

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Jim Cox Features "Great First Impression Book Proposal" on his Library Bookwatch



The Great First Impression Book Proposal
Subtitle: Everything You Need to Know About Selling Your Book to an Agent or Publisher in Thirty Minutes or Less
Second Edition
Author: Carolyn Howard-Johnson
ISBN: 9781615994816
$8.95, PB, 54pp,
Purchase on Amazon

Reviewed by Jim Cox for Library Bookwatch

This review  will also appear in the Cengage Learning, Gale interactive CD-ROM series "Book Review Index" which is published four times yearly for academic, corporate, and public library systems.


Synopsis: Carolyn Howard-Johnson, has been a UCLA Extension Writers' Program instructor for nearly a decade. In "The Great First Impression Book Proposal: Everything You Need to Know About Selling Your Book to an Agent or Publisher in Thirty Minutes or Less" she draws upon her decades of experience and expertise to helps authors successfully execute the task they most love to hate -- writing a book proposal. In this 54 page booklet Carolyn has taken the guessing out of the book proposal process with a thoroughly 'user friendly' and effective step-by-step instructional guide and manual.
Critique: The creation of an effective book proposal cannot be overemphasized as a basic skill set for all aspiring authors seeking publication of their work -- and Carolyn Howard-Johnson is a time-tested expert on the subject. Every aspiring (and even seasoned) author needs to obtain and carefully read "The Great First Impression Book Proposal" -- and every Creative Writing class should list "The Great First Impression Book Proposal" on their supplemental studies reading lists. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Great First Impression Book Proposal" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $2.99) and a hard copy.
ABOUT THE REVIEWER

James A. Cox is  Editor-in-Chief of Midwest Book Review and Library Bookwatch. Learn more about the resources he provides for writers at www.midwestbookreview.com.  Read more reviews like this one on his Writing/Publishing Shelf on that website. 

#bookpromotion #writing #writingcareers #traditionalpublishing #gettingagents
Jim Cox Features "Great First Impression Book Proposal" on his Library Bookwatch



MORE ABOUT THIS BLOG

 The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. Authors, readers, publishers, and reviewers may republish their favorite reviews of books they want to share with others. 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 and love. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page and in a tab at the top of this blog's home page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites so it may be used a resource for most anyone in the publishing industry. 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. #TheFrugalbookPromoter, #CarolynHowardJohnson, #TheNewBookReview, #TheFrugalEditor, #SharingwithWriters, #reading #BookReviews #GreatBkReviews #BookMarketing

Saturday, December 7, 2019

Reviewer's Take: Karen A. Wyle's Romance Heals Hearts


What Heals the Heart 

(Cowbird Creek 1)
Author, Karen A. Wyle http://www.KarenAWyle.com
Genre: historical romance
Oblique Angle Press
ISBN: 978-0998060453 
ASIN: B07VH1Q6C6
Oblique Angles Press
Reviewer rating = five stars plus two exclamation points
Purchase on Amazon 



Reviewed by Whitney Simonson originally for Honestly Austen and Goodreads

Synopsis:

Joshua Gibbs survived the Civil War, building on his wartime experiences to become a small 
 And if he wakes from nightmares more often than he would like, only his dog Major is there to know it.

Then two newcomers arrive in Cowbird Creek: Clara Brook, a plain-speaking and yet enigmatic farmer’s daughter, and Freida Blum, an elderly Jewish widow from New York. Freida knows just what Joshua needs: a bride. But it shouldn’t be Clara Brook!

Joshua tries everything he can think of to discourage Freida’s efforts, including a wager: if he can find Freida a husband, she’ll stop trying to find him a wife. Will either matchmaker succeed? Or is it Clara, a woman with her own scars, who can heal the doctor’s troubled heart?

My Favourite Quotes:

"But from time to time she turned to him as if studying him. He let her scrutinize him. Maybe she would discover something about him that he needed to know.”

“‘Who would want an old lady like me?’ Joshua put down his fork and leaned forward o his elbows. ‘Anyone who wants a woman with experience, a woman who knows something about life, who’s also a good cook, and smart, and funny, and has a heart as big as the prairie.'”

“Robert’s grin grew even wider. ‘Matchmaking in self-defense! I like it.'”

“But instead, he found himself looking for a letter he’d gotten from his mother the week before, and reading it over, and kissing her signature.”

“A long pause. ‘The family was told he had died in battle. And I the only one to know, to understand, what that means. The others imagine something swift – a bullet extinguishing him in an instant. They never saw, or heard, or – or smelled the things that let me imagine what he likely endured. And that is just part of what makes me feel like… some different kind of creature, pretending to be like them, to be one of them. To be the daughter and sister I used to be. Someone I scarcely remember being.'”

My Thoughts:

I am back, literary lovelies, with my first book review in quite some time. AND I have to tell you I am so glad this was the book to start me off reviewing once again.

Having battled with being triggered by my previous read for my book club I found myself in a reading drought. I could not focus on anything and felt genuinely disheartened until I received an email asking me for a book review.

A quote from one of my all-time favourite novels, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, helps illustrate my next point, “Perhaps there is some secret sort of homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers.”

I believe that secret homing instinct was at work bringing What Heals the Heart by Karen A. Wyle to me as I needed to be rescued in more than just the literary sense. I could never say my personal mental health struggles would completely align with the main character of What Heals the Heart but through the actions and friendships of this novel, I found it healing my own heart in a very real way. (And yes I am very aware of my intended pun – or whatever we are wanting to call it!)

It is essential for mental health to become a more common discourse in our lives and novels can be a fundamental tool in doing so. What Heals the Heart brilliantly connects the reader to the characters reliving collective trauma and illustrates how profound support and understanding can be in finding forms of healing.

I am often drawn to books that discuss aspects of mental health as they often help to heal me as oppose to trigger me. I was touched by Wyle’s way of illustrating with due care and attention the post-traumatic experiences of more than one character within this novel. She was able to bring a perfect amount of lightness (small town matchmaking and quirky friendships) to balance a tough subject.

The friendships in this novel were phenomenal and I loved every single one of them. Wyle is able to create characters who I wanted to befriend. Who I felt came to life for me as a reader. Characters I fought for, cheered for, loved, and in all honesty, cried for and with.

I felt like I held my breath the whole time I was writing that!

But before I leave you, I must do some review-wise housekeeping. Ready?

How long is too long of a quote to have in my ‘My Favourite Quotes’ section, dear readers? I only ask because the last quote I wrote in the above section was quite a bit longer. I have gone back and forth over whether or not I should include it in its entirety or just implore you to go and read this novel especially the rest of this moment between Clara Brooks and Dr. Joshua Gibbs in Chapter 23! It stands out as one of my favourite moments (of many) in the book. [Bloggers Note: Please feel free to answer Whitney in the comments section of this blog.]

I heart What Heals the Heart this much:  ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ !!
*** Copy received from the author in exchange for an honest review ***
More About the Author 

Learn more about Karen A. Wyle from:
Her website: karenawyle.com
Facebook: @KarenAWyle
Twitter: @KarenAWyle 
or on Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/Karen-A-Wyle/e/B005WK7D26/


About the Reviewer

Learn more at https://honestlyausten.wordpress.com/about/

Reviewer's Take: Karen A. Wyle's Romance Heals Hearts


-----

MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER, THIS BLOG, AND ITS BENEFITS FOR WRITERS

 The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. Of particular interest to readers of this blog is her most recent How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically (http://bit.ly/GreatBkReviews ) that covers 325 jam-packed pages covering everything from Amazon Vine to writing reviews for profit and promotion. Reviewers will have a special interest in the chapter on how to make reviewing pay, either as way to market their own books or as a career path--ethically!

This blog 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.



Note: Participating authors and their publishers may request the social sharing image by Carolyn Wilhelm at no charge.  Please contact the designer at:  cwilhelm (at) thewiseowlfactory (dot) com. Provide the name of the book being reviewed and--if an image or headshot of the author --isn't already part of the badge, include it as an attachment. Wilhelm will send you the badge to use in your own Internet marketing. Give Wilhelm the link to this post, too.

Saturday, November 30, 2019

Great Stocking Stuffer for Authors



Title: The Great First Impression Book Proposal
Subtitle:  Everything You Need to Know to Impress 
                a Publisher in Thirty Minutes or Less
Author: Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Modern History Press
https://www.howtodoitfrugally.com/index.htm
Publisher: Modern History Press
5145 Pontiac Trail, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
www.modernhistorypress.com
ISBN: Paperback, 9781615994816, $8.95, 
54pp, 
Available as hard copy, paperback and ebook on Amazon

Synopsis: Carolyn Howard-Johnson, has been a UCLA Extension Writers' Program instructor for nearly a decade. In "The Great First Impression Book Proposal: Everything You Need to Know About Selling Your Book to an Agent or Publisher in Thirty Minutes or Less" she draws upon her decades of experience and expertise to helps authors successfully execute the task they most love to hate -- writing a book proposal. In this 54 page booklet Carolyn has taken the guessing out of the book proposal process with a thoroughly 'user friendly' and effective step-by-step instructional guide and manual.

Critique: The creation of an effective book proposal cannot be overemphasized as a basic skill set for all aspiring authors seeking publication of their work -- and Carolyn Howard-Johnson is a time-tested expert on the subject. Every aspiring (and even seasoned) author needs to obtain and carefully read "The Great First Impression Book Proposal" -- and every Creative Writing class should list "The Great First Impression Book Proposal" on their supplemental studies reading lists. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Great First Impression Book Proposal" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $2.99).



MORE ABOUT THIS BLOG

 The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. Authors, readers, publishers, and reviewers may republish their favorite reviews of books they want to share with others. 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 and love. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page and in a tab at the top of this blog's home page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites so it may be used a resource for most anyone in the publishing industry. 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. #TheFrugalbookPromoter, #CarolynHowardJohnson, #TheNewBookReview, #TheFrugalEditor, #SharingwithWriters, #reading #BookReviews #GreatBkReviews #BookMarketing

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Dr. Wesley Britton Reviews Andrew Himmel's Debut Novel

The Reluctant Healer
Andrew Himmel
Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group Press 
 Release date: October 8, 2018
ISBN-10: 1626345309
ISBN-13: 978-1626345300
Purchase on Amazon


Reviewed by Dr. Wesley Britton originally for BookPleasures

Andrew Himmel's original debut novel is told with a fresh writing style,   an eccentric approach to his subjects and characters,  and a dry, wry wit, especially in the descriptions and observations expressed in the viewpoint of the novel's main character, New York attorney Will Alexander.

The main theme of The Reluctant Healer is the collision of Alexander's legalist, rationalist world view which is challenged when he meets the sexy New Ager Erica Wells. When they meet, Erica reveals she's an energy healer who can perceive Alexander has extraordinary abilities as a natural healer.        Alexander doesn't accept that judgement but finds himself drawn to the beautiful woman who is an intellectual match for him even if her metaphysical beliefs are the polar opposite of his own.

Very reluctantly,  Alexander finds himself being put in situations where his natural energies seem to, in fact, cure all manner of diseases and afflictions. For Erica, natural healers like Alexander are badly needed in a new era where viruses are becoming immune to antibiotics and it's natural energy, energies found in everything, that can be cures when the afflicted are merely in Alexander's presence.

Alexander's journey takes him into all manner of circumstances including long motorcycle rides, theft of an opponent's cell phone,   and situations that ultimately place him in legal jeopardy.   To say more would be to swerve into the world of spoilers.

Himmel's style and tone are extremely cerebral and the book is not light reading.   It's a book with serious intent. In supplementary material at the end of the book, Himmel reveals much of the book's content was inspired by his own journey, very much like Alexander's, as the author' wife Michelle became interested in energy healing and pulled him into her realm of Universal Energy healing.  Jumping off from his real-life experiences, Himmel claims his novel was ignited when he mused, "What if the conventional individual, rigid in his beliefs, developed
the capability of healing others, even as he distrusted much of the alternative world? His struggle would become poignant and pronounced, because he would
be grappling not just with tension in his relationship but also with internal conflict with phenomena that challenged both his sense of self and his worldview."

In a quiz prepared for readers with an academic bent, Himmel says, "The author believes that The Reluctant Healer is a bigger story about how we as human beings get along with and coexist with people who are different from—and
sometimes the complete opposite of— us."

It seems to me larger themes also include a modern twist on the conflicts between the rational and the mystical. In other words, The Reluctant Healer is a brain tickler designed to stimulate thought an reflection in Himmel's readers.  He offers no answers, no final conclusions, advocates no point-of-view, and leaves the story open for a sequel already in progress.

Not a book for all readers, but certainly one for readers who like to digest what they read and be challenged by above average language choices, imaginative imagery,    and be willing to absorb the story slowly. I had to read it in chunks, always eagerly returning quickly to continue the flow.
This review first appeared at BookPleasures.com on Nov. 27, 2019 at:

MORE ABOUT THE REVIEWER

 Dr. Wesley Britton, author of The Beta Earth Chronicles and 
reviewer for BookPleasures.com.  Learn more at: 






MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER, THIS BLOG, AND ITS BENEFITS FOR WRITERS

 The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. Of particular interest to readers of this blog is her most recent How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically (http://bit.ly/GreatBkReviews ) that covers 325 jam-packed pages covering everything from Amazon Vine to writing reviews for profit and promotion. Reviewers will have a special interest in the chapter on how to make reviewing pay, either as way to market their own books or as a career path--ethically!

This blog 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.



Note: Participating authors and their publishers may request the social sharing image by Carolyn Wilhelm at no charge.  Please contact the designer at:  cwilhelm (at) thewiseowlfactory (dot) com. Provide the name of the book being reviewed and--if an image or headshot of the author --isn't already part of the badge, include it as an attachment. Wilhelm will send you the badge to use in your own Internet marketing. Give Wilhelm the link to this post, too.