Cheryl Ellis Reviews New Inspirational Fiction by Donald James Parker

Title: All the Stillness of the Wind
Author: Donald James Parker
Author Website: http://DonaldJamesParker.com
Genre: Inspirational Fiction
ISBN-13: 978-1-2345-6789-7
Publisher: Sword of the Spirit Publishing
Rating: 5 star

Reviewed by Cheryl Ellis for All Book Reviews

Whether seeking personal peace, finding the path to redemption or satisfying a need for knowledge; your journey could begin by reading this book!

A ‘parable’ is an avenue used to get a point across, by telling a fictional story, allowing the listener to make their own conclusions. It usually pertains to a moral or spiritual idea. Jesus was famous for his use of parables, and I believe that this fictional story would best be described as a modern day parable.

Jeremy is dating Maria and coincidentally, his father, Paul is dating Maria’s mother, Lisa. The women are devote Christians, who know their futures lie with men of similar beliefs. Jeremy has already studied the theory of evolution and concluded that there must have been a creator. The men set out to research religion and it’s many viewpoints, with special focus on Christianity, the arguments for and against. They share their newfound knowledge and acceptance with the women, as their beliefs are discussed or debated.

The comfort level and bantering conversations between the four characters made me laugh, as I learned right along with them. Throughout their search, they ‘weed through’, accept or reject different viewpoints on what man must do, to inherit eternal life. Along the way, they discover there are numerous ways to reconnect with God and inner peace, by way of music, prayer and more.

The couples celebrate their first Christmas together, the happy memory quickly shattered by a horrific accident, which would shake even the strongest of believers’ faith. It is then that we learn about grace, “the ability to forgive people for messing up” and about the five steps of grieving. This is one of the many times that Satan feeds our anger and, only once he has been renounced, is the burden lifted. Love and faith are a true believers path to a good life, and the key to the much believed in, Heaven.

The author, Donald James Parker, has told a brilliant version of a parable, and shown us a way to begin the search for truth. It is easy to read and identify with, not heavy on scriptures. He provides a few web sites as well as scriptures for future research.

Donald James Parker, graduated from Dakota State University with a degree in secondary education, then went on to study computer programming. After 25 years of IT work, his passion for writing took over. The outcome, to our benefit, is a book series involving two generations of the Masterson family. One never knows what the future holds, but I am sure more books are to follow. He is currently working on other books “engaging the cultural climate of the 21st century.”

To review this book was incredible timing. Either divine intervention or just plain coincidence, as it came to me in a time of many questions. It has had a positive influence on my life, by encouraging me to reconnect with my roots and beliefs, on my own search for peace.

I highly recommend reading this book.

-----
The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, founder of Authors' Coalition (www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com). 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 and reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page.

Melissa Meeks Reviews Passionate Historical Fiction

A Passion Most Pure
By Julie Lessman
The first book in the Daughters of Boston book series
Publisher: Revell (January 1, 2008)
Historical Romance
ISBN 9780800732110
480pp
$13.99

Reviewed by Melissa Meeks for Bibliophile's Retreat

It is less than two decades into the 20th Century. Two sisters in the city of Boston, Faith and Charity O'Connor, are coming to terms with growing up, love, men, and faith. Faith is nearing her 20th birthday and her sister, Charity has just recently finished at he local high school. The young man that Faith secretly admired since childhood is being enticed by Charity and has changed from the caring, gentle person Faith remembers from their school days. Charity seems to have one motivation which is to take what isn't hers and wrap men around her little finger. Jealousy ensues since she is successful at it and her looks only make things worse.

This book is not only a riveting story but full of emotional dynamite. There are times when I couldn't guess what the next page would bring or even a character was so sure of something that I as a reader couldn’t help being sure too. However the question always remained would it REALLY end that way? Julie Lessman's language evokes a strong emotional response and makes her characters so much richer as the reader not only sees their story on the page but at the same time experiences their sadness, disappointment, frustration, joy and many other feelings along with them. She has crafted a gripping, suspenseful narrative chock full of encouraging nuggets from scripture and wonderful examples of faith/relying on the Lord even when we as fallible humans manage to make a mess of things. Faith learns that while emotions may be out of our control turning to God will get her through those times without compromising her commitment to the Lord. She also learns to forgive and trust through the Lord's strength when it seems impossible to do as well as that prayer truly does move mountains or in this case stubborn men. As long as the Lord is our focus and we rely on him anything is possible and He will as the Psalm says give us the desires of our heart.
----
Note: The review blog Bibliophile's Retreat may be found at http://bibliophilesretreat.com/

Technorati Tags:
historical romance, melissa meeks, a passion most pure, revell, daughters of boston, julie lessman
Add to: | Technorati | Digg | del.icio.us | Yahoo | BlinkList | Spurl | reddit | Furl |

-----
The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, founder of Authors' Coalition (www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com). 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 and reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page.

MaAnna Stephenson Presents New Model for Thought

Title: The Sage Age: Blending Science with Intuitive Wisdom
Author: MaAnna Stephenson
Publisher: Nightengale Pres
ISBN: 978-1933449630
356 Pages
$19.99
Paperback - 8 x 10
Available at Amazon.com

Combining the knowledge of physics with intuitive practice is no small task. The two disciplines often use the same words to mean entirely different things. Written for the seeker with more than a casual interest, The Sage Age – Blending Science with Intuitive Wisdom demystifies complex ideas with intelligent analogies and examples designed to appeal to both the scientist and the natural intuitive.

Four years in the writing, this expansive new work combines knowledge from the physical sciences and the intuitive arts to present a visionary perspective that harmonizes these diverse disciplines into one body of knowledge.

With a well-researched approach to its subjects, The Sage Age covers a broad range of material from ancient to modern thought, frontier science and current intuitive practice to deliver a depth and breadth of understanding that culminates in a holistic perspective for our time.

Living up to its mantra of "new models for new thought," The Sage Age is certain to be a catalyst for dialogue and is destined to be a major work in its field.

Technorati Tags:
The Sage Age: Blending Science with Intuitive Wisdom, McAnna Stephenson, physics, intuitive,
Add to: | Technorati | Digg | del.icio.us | Yahoo | BlinkList | Spurl | reddit | Furl |

-----
The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, founder of Authors' Coalition (www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com). 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 and reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page.

Liz Cosline Shares Life/Death Experience

Transcendental Sojourn
By Liz Cosline
http://www.lizcosline.com/index.htm
Nonfiction
ISBN13 Hardcover 978-1-4363-3715-1
ISBN13 Softcover 978-1-4363-3714-4

Reviewed by Lisa E. Ruedemann, ruedester@gmail.com

Let me tell you about Liz Cosline's new book Transcendental Sojourn. It is thought provoking…on to my thoughts……When we get older…yes older …we start reflecting on the lives we've led. It is a human thing to reflect upon our life and the place we have in the grand scheme of things. The wonder if we have contributed anything worthwhile or major to this world or at least to our small part of it. Our lives seem so short when you think of it really and over all too soon for most of us. Each of us with a personal view of what death will be and how that fits into the grand scheme of life. A few people have had the opportunity to gain insight into death that the rest of us can only conceptualize as we get closer to the reality. There are a rare few who have actually faced death and have lived to share the experience with us. Liz Cosline is one of those people who faced death and was willing to share her thoughts and views with us on the experience.

Ms. Cosline suffered a brain aneurysm one Easter out hunting eggs. An almost always fatal occurrence, however, she was one of the 1% who miraculously recovered from such a traumatizing event. She expresses her views on how her life has changed and how she now views her life and life's choices. I have read Ms Cosline's other books ( One Voice, Unexpected Knowing and Notice for Arrival - a trilogy about near death experience) and wish to share some of the insights I gathered from her journey to the brink of death, through almost death and then the life after near death. I find that her most recent book is her journey into life's meaning. She writes with a new light on life and gave me much to think about in regards to my own mortality, dreams and aspirations and where I will be after death. The book is such an easy read. Just an account of her philosophy of what life could be like living in harmony and peace, her questions to God , views on God and the place God holds in her life. The changed values and the new way she sees what is important in life. She did not tell me how to think or feel, did not preach a system of belief upon me. She just spoke in her words about her journey through life changes since nearly dying and how she now views living.

Like I said, it is seemingly simple easy reading...every time I have read it. And yes I have read it several times and each time I read it I take something different away some new thought…..a new insight to ponder. Reading this book has me reflecting on my own life, values and what life means to me...and what my death may bring...and how do I live the rest of my time here on this earth. Yes so simple yet thought provoking. Definitely a worth wile choice of must read books.~ Lisa E. Ruedemann, MS HSA
Technorati Tags:
Lisa E. Ruedemann, liz cosline, transcendental sojourn, aneurysm, traumatizing events, after death, life philosophy
Add to: | Technorati | Digg | del.icio.us | Yahoo | BlinkList | Spurl | reddit | Furl |

-----
The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, founder of Authors' Coalition (www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com). 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 and reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page.

The Lowdown on E-mail Marketing and How You've Been Lead Astray

Email Marketing for Complex Sales Cycles
Subtitle: Proven Ways to Produce a Continuous Flow of Prospects and Profits with
Effective, Spam-Free Email Systems
By Winton Churchill
Foreword by Ron Richards, President, ResultsLab
Morgan - James, 2008
ISBN 9781600374210
Nonfiction/Business
Author's Site: www.churchillmethod.com/
Contact Reviewer: HoJoNews@aol.com



Reviewed by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, award-winning author of three books of fiction and poetry and The Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won't and The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success

Remember when we were advised, "Don't believe everything you read?" That's probably even more true in the Internet age than it was back in the days when I first heard it. That's one of the reasons I was glad to see the release of Email Marketing for Complex Sales Cycles by Winton Churchill.

See, I've always been vaguely aware that people get unnecessarily up in arms about SPAM. I see them let others censor the material they get delivered in their e-mail boxes all in the interest of kill, kill, killing the Dearly Beloved messages. I've seen them give up an old e-mail address to curtail the flow of SPAM, even though they are also giving up all kinds of networking contacts when they do so. I've seen them rant and rave about SPAM that was really only a query from someone who had found them doing a search on Google. I mean, that's why we have websites, so people can find us.

So when a real expert like Churchill tells it like it is, well . . . that is a wonderful, affirming experience for me. Churchill is a master marketer who has been quoted in the likes of The Wall Street Journal and Inc. Magazine. He also happens to know a good deal about e-marketing and he shares what he knows in this helpful marketing book.

Email Marketing is written primarily for big business people with large marketing budgets and big staffs. I would like to have seen Churchill specifically address how little guys might put his method to use on a smaller scale and a lot more frugally. But then I am the author behind the HowToDoItFrugally series of book for writers. With an emphasis on the word frugal.

That doesn't mean this author's methods can't be adapted to small business people, right down to small publishers—even individual authors. I found that many of his theories fit very well into the basics of great PR (things like building relationships rather than use the big four-letter word SELL). And that many of them can be adapted to less ambitious online processes like forging trust and making great contact lists.

It is also comforting to know that in my own marketing I have already been practicing much of what he preaches but on a much, much smaller scale. He almost has me convinced to take a jump into something bigger. But if I don't, I can use some of his techniques to hone the processes I'm already using.

Technorati Tags:
winton churchill, ron richards, resultslab, marketing books, email marketing, complex sales cycles, spam free, spam, the new book review
Add to: | Technorati | del.icio.us | Yahoo |


-------------
Carolyn Howard-Johnson is an instructor for UCLA Extension's Writers’ Program. She is the author of two award-winning books, This Is the Place and Harkening. Her how-to book for writers, The Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won't, is the winner of USA Book News' Best Professional Book and the Irwin Award. The second in the HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers, The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success, is also a USA Book News award winner and a Reader Views Literary award winner. She won the 2008 New Generation Award for Marketing. Learn more at www.HowToDoItFrugally.com.

The Smoking Poet Reviews Linda Merlino's New Novel

Belly of the Whale
Linda Merlino, author


"A riveting story, both powerful
and poignant in its telling." H.Roughan,
NYTimes Bestselling Author


Reviewed by Zinta Aistars for The Smoking Poet, Summer 2008 issue



If you are a lover of fine literature, you know that sweet moment of discovery. This is why you read. This is why you open book cover after book cover, anticipating that golden moment. It happens when a newly opened book reaches from the printed page and into your mind, into your heart, and captures cleanly both imagination and resonant emotion. Opening Belly of the Whale, by first-time author, Linda Merlino, is such a golden moment.

I may never have picked this book up in any of my bookstore wanderings and treasure hunts. The dark cover with flashes of neon light, a tiny gunman, and a teary bald woman may have had me turn away. Don't judge. Not like that. For this book, arriving instead in my mailbox awaiting review in The Smoking Poet literary e-zine, may have begun as something of an editorial job ... but concluded with a new fan for writer Linda Merlino.

The story begins at the end.

"I fear that the dead are gathered here in this corner of Whales Market, that the sums of several lives are laid out on gurneys like me, and that yesterday I thought the worst thing happening was my breast cancer."

Hudson Catalina—"Hudson like the car, Catalina like the island, Hudson Catalina, I love you," her husband Jack whispers to her in their marriage-long game—is on the brink of giving up. Her mother has died of cancer, as has her grandmother. Now, after a double mastectomy, as she battles for life, or is it that she battles against the torments of medicine, chemo and radiation, 38-year-old Hudson wishes only to be done. Done. With all of this. Despite her four lovely babies, her ever patient and devoted husband, Hudson is beyond tired of the fight. It is Tuesday, and she throws some delicate treasure against the mirror, breaks all, feels broken herself, and has no patience left. Not even for the love of her family and closest friend. What's the point?

You know how that happens. You reach the end, what feels like the end, and when you think you have encountered the worst life can shovel on you, you encounter something even darker. Here is the belly of the whale, and Hudson is swallowed into it. Dragging herself out into a storm to go to a small grocery for a few items in preparation for her daughter's birthday, surely the last one she will share, Hudson becomes hostage to a young man gone mad with his own devastated heart and broken spirit. Here begins a nightmarish night of being held hostage, handcuffed to the dead and dying, hope threaded to another boy who is mentally incapacitated. Pressed that hard and so harshly against yet another wall in her waning life, Hudson Catalina makes some discoveries about herself and about where hope begins ... somewhere beyond the point where you think you lost it.

I am keeping my eye closely trained on this new author. Learning that Merlino wrote much of this book in longhand, scribbling notes throughout a busy mom's day, I understand the drive and motivation that could produce such a worthwhile read. In a day and age of a struggling publishing industry, just when you are about to lose hope in the literati, this kind of writing makes you find new hope yet again.

-----
The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, founder of Authors' Coalition (www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com). 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 and reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page.

David Brailovsky Reviews Intrigue in the House of Wong

Title: Intrigue in the House of Wong
Author: Amy S. Kwei
Publisher: Tats Publishing, PO Box 425478, Cambridge, MA 02142
Date published: 6/1/2008
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
ISBN: 978-0-9815499-0-3
202pp
$13.99
Available at Amazon.com and Tatspublishing.com

Reviewed by David Brailovsky

I enjoyed very much reading Amy Kwei’s “ Intrigue in the house of Wong”. She succeeded in an interesting and effortless way to explain Chinese culture, values and traditions.

A better understanding between East and West is a major concern of the book. The “House of Wong” is a great way for the younger generation to do away with stereotypes and prejudices. The plot makes it fun reading.

I recommend it highly.

===================
Reviewer David Brailovsky is the author of "A Covenant in Shanghai". Available at Amazon.com

-----
The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, founder of Authors' Coalition (www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com). 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 and reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page.