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, June 8, 2010

Aggie Villaneuva Reviews Romance Set in New Mexico

Love Finds You in Golden New Mexico
by Lena Nelson Dooley
$12.99 Paperback
349 pages
Also available in Kindle Format
Summerside Press, Spring, 2010, ISBN 978-1-935416-74-6
Genre: Inspirational Romance


Reviewed by Aggie Villanueva


I was first drawn to Lena Nelson Dooley’s new book, Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico, because I once lived in the (no longer) ghost town of Madrid, right next to Golden, and spent much time also in Cerrillos, where some major scenes take place, and all along the beautiful Turquoise Trail that her characters bounced over by wagon.

Though her hungry characters never got to dine there as planned, the writer brought back fond memories of fabulous New Mexican cuisine and Sunday morning brunches as she described the only restaurant in Cerrilos where the train used to stop, and across the town square from Mary’s Bar, the old Saloon. This restaurant is still operating, though the train isn’t.

Ms. Dooley keeps us mindful of the historical setting in the early 1800s. Having lived next door, I know that you can now drive through Golden without knowing you have. But Dooley early on registers the fact with readers that in 1830 it was the bustling home of the first gold strike west of the Mississippi, predating both the Colorado and California gold strike by several years.

Her thorough research is as constant throughout the story as is the continual thumping of the gold stamping machine that backdropped each day of life in Golden. But its Ms. Dooley’s characters and unfolding suspense that drew me into the story, beyond just the familiar places she researched so well.

Boston’s elite, Madeline Mercer, is suddenly penniless after her seemingly healthy and definitely wealthy father dropped dead at his business. And then on top of that Horace Johnstone, longtime employee of her father’s, shows up claiming he is not only a full partner in the business but that Maddy’s father promised her to him in marriage should anything ever happen to him. He threateningly gave her a two-week deadline until their wedding day.

I in the process of checking out Mr. Johnstone Frank Sneed, one of only two servants she could keep, found a ray of hope – a mail order bride ad in the Boston newspaper. The advertiser was a miner in Golden, New Mexico.

If it weren’t for her only remaining servants, Sarah and Frank Sneed, more like Godparents than servants, she could have never escaped into the night to reluctantly answer that ad, toting the orphaned baby its mother had begged her to raise as her own.

The trials of the overland train ride and acquaintance of the advertiser, Phillip Smith, a Godly but aging wealthy miner, were behind her. Their friendship established and growing, Maddy looked forward to being like a daughter to Smith, who was already a grandfather to her baby. But she hadn’t factored in Smith’s best friend, the young Jeremiah.

Jeremiah, sure Maddy was after the old man’s money, set the Sheriff to investigating her. When a wanted poster with Maddy’s face on it arrived in Golden, along with the enraged Horace Johnstone, her world, once more, turned tragic just when Maddy (and readers) thought things were turning out well for her.

If you love inspirational romances, suspense to the end, and characters you care about then you’ll love Lena Nelson Dooley’s newest book. And you’ll anxiously look forward to her next.

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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 loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index 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. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using the widget below:

Monday, June 7, 2010

Poetry, Myth and Vampires

Title: Crow/Woman and MudGirl
Author: VictoriaSelene SkyeDeme
Genre: Poetry
ISBN: 978-1424122240


Reviewer's name: Erin O'Riordan for Amazon

VictoriaSelene Skye Deme is, I believe, the illegitimate love child of Sylvia Plath, Barbara G. Walker (who wrote the wonderful Women's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets) and American Indian writer Louise Erdrich.

CrowWoman and Mudgirl is an all-too-brief collection of poems steeped in myth and folklore. The theme, generally, is the reconciliation of the age-old dichotomy of feminine archetypes: is a woman a sweet-faced angel, or a raging she-wolf goddess? In Skye Deme's poems, she is daughter, lover, monster, and more. These are big poems for such a tiny book, and deeply satisfying. My personal favorite is "Dreary Summer Day." What sounds like something perfectly mundane is actually a beautifully spun vampire tale.

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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 loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index 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. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using the widget below:

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Billie A. Williams Pens Another Myster, This with a Christmas Backdrop

The Capricorn Goat
by Billie A. Williams
Mystery
ISBN: 1-60813-090-8
Publisher: Publish America

Reviewed by J Gayle Kelly, author of Watermelon Patch and other novels


Mystery writer, Billie A. Williams, publishes mysteries as fast as a missile streaks across an ocean. The Capricorn Goat, one of her fairly recent releases, does not disappoint. She has assembled a book full of entertaining characters, as usual, who excite the reader and move the story forward. For the most part, these characters with such "fun" names, are intelligent, and especially, very human.

Williams’ protagonist, January Flannel, is a mystery author who finds herself immersed in an intriguing mystery which is far too real for comfort. Her good friend Sasha "Echo" Folio is accused of murder and although she entangles herself in the same danger Echo is in, January does not back away. A quote from The Capricorn Goat gives the reader a sense of January’s loyalty to a friend and a peek into her experience as an author: "As a writer, her mind puts the pieces of the mysterious murder together in a puzzle, all the clues interlocking."

Williams stealthily cuts a slice of political intrigue into the mix. How can she explain to her teenage daughter, Taylor, why her father who suddenly disappeared many years before, has suddenly resurfaced in such a profound circumstance? The story centers on the characters and their relationships with each other and the men that complicate their lives; the threats that curse their every day. January is run down by a "hit and run" driver which nearly takes her life, and puts her in a wheelchair. An intruder bullies his way into her house; shots are fired, bullets find their mark. A local teenager is kidnapped. All this at Christmastime when parties are planned and shoppers fill January’s gift shop, The Capricorn Goat.

The climax will keep the reader on the edge of his seat, and all the pieces of the puzzle finally slide into place and click at the end. I promise you, The Capricorn Goat, will make you glad you sat in a cozy chair with your favorite cup of tea and submerged yourself in Billie A. Williams’ gift for writing.

Find the author, Billie A. Williams, at http://writingwide.com.



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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 loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index 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. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using the widget below:

Friday, June 4, 2010

Historical Novel Inspired by Historical Crestmont Inn

Crestmont
by Holly Weiss

Historical Fiction ISBN 978-1-935188-10-0
StarPublish LLC



Plot synopsis

“A dream, after all, needn’t be fueled by particulars, only by desire.”

So notes main character, Gracie Antes, in CRESTMONT, a historical fiction gem set in the 1920s.

Determined to take control of her life, sheltered Gracie Antes leaves her unhappy home in 1925 to pursue her dream of a singing career. On her way to the big city, she accepts a job as a housemaid at the bustling Crestmont Inn. Once there, Gracie finds a life-changing encounter with opera singer Rosa Ponselle, family she never imagined could be hers, and a man with a mysterious past. Relive the 1920s with a colorful cast of characters. Discover with Gracie that sometimes we must trade loss for happiness.

Set in Eagles Mere, Pennsylvania, the story is interwoven with details about the town, the rich history of The Crestmont Inn, and the family who passed ownership from one generation to the next. Many attempts have been made to explain how the mountaintop lake nestled in this tiny town came to be. Crestmont gives a new twist to an old Native American legend, setting the tone of grace around which the story is built.

Let the period of the Roaring Twenties spark your interest with its unique social mores, fashion, jazz, and yes, a little bootlegging thrown in for pizzazz.

Review



Reviewed by Holly Connors for Feathered Quill Book Reviews

“Have you ever wished for a comfy, old-fashioned inn where the staff attends to your every need, there’s a nearby lake where eagles soar, and each night there’s a fabulous home cooked meal waiting for you? That special place is within the pages of Crestmont, the debut novel of Holly Weiss.

In the Author’s Note, Weiss acknowledges that she was inspired to write this book after staying at the real Crestmont Inn in 2006. Many of the characters are based on real people, although their “…characterizations…are wholly the author’s creation.”

With extensive attention to detail, the author creates a beautifully realistic world of the hustle and bustle at a busy inn in the 1920s. There is plenty within the pages of Crestmont to keep the reader interested. Indeed, by the end of the book, Gracie, Mrs. Cunningham, PT and the others are like family members and the reader will want to see what happens to each. Crestmont is a study of relationships...it’s a story of intersecting lives.

Quill says: "Reading Crestmont is like staying at a quaint old inn, curling up next to the fireplace with a cup of hot chocolate and an old friend and catching up on the day’s events.”


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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 loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index 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. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using the widget below:

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Sick of Doctors? The Answer Is Here!

Sick of Doctors? Then Do Something About It!
by Lorene Burkhart

In this groundbreaking book, author Lorene Burkhart challenges each of us to enter the era of empowered patients by letting go of past practices and embracing outcome-based medical services. Being accountable for one's own body and health is a huge step toward improved medical relationships. She rejects the old authoritarian system of "handing it over" to a doctor as one that is no longer appropriate or wise, and that made its exit when the Internet made its entrance. Using a variety of resources as a guide, Burkhart encourages patients to be their own medical advocates with the ultimate reward being their own good health.

Author Biography:

Lorene McCormick Burkhart is a genuine entrepreneur. Her business career spans 40 years and features many notable achievements, which in their time broke traditional business boundaries. From becoming a female executive before the phrase “glass ceiling” was coined to founding her company, Burkhart Network in 2007 at the age of 73, Burkhart is a true trail blazer. She’s just published her fifth book Sick of Doctors? Then Do Something About It! A Prescription for Patient Empowerment, with two more book titles scheduled to be published in 2010. At the age of 75, Lorene McCormick Burkhart continues to challenge the status quo. Ignoring “old age-isms,” she forges ahead with her career of being an author, which originated at age 70 when she decided she probably had 20 good years remaining (so what was she to do?). She writes from the heart focusing on subject-matter areas that are meaningful to her.
Videos for Sick of Doctors? Then Do Something About It!
Learn more at these YouTube sites: Attitude Shift - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hMzNqv7zs0
What makes this book different? - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mp5Yt3ZWye8
Patient Empowerment - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXJ9gJKoU3k

What Medical Experts Are Saying About Sick of Doctors?

Sick of Doctors? shines bright light on the impactful but often flawed training received by our health professionals and empowers readers to clear away the prejudices — both naïve and pessimistic — that hinder our ability to form effective partnerships in the healing endeavor. ~
Mehmet Oz, MD, FACS New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia

… if I could select one sub-group to “assign” (this book) to, it would be the medical students throughout our land. It seems to me that the information contained herein would be extremely helpful to them in understanding the roots of our profession, the powerful forces that act on us now, and what they must do to be the kind of doctors that they want to be. ~ Dr. William Norcross, MD, Director of Physician Assessment and Clinical Education, University of California, San Diego

Sick of Doctors? certainly covers a lot of ground and makes a great deal of complex material readily accessible to large and diverse audiences. ~ Ora H. Pescovitz, MD., Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs


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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 loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index 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. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using the widget below:

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Tim Bete says "Queen Jaw Jaw should be called Queen Ha Ha!"

Title: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Throne

Author: Georgia Richardson, aka, Queen JawJaw
By Georgia Richardson
Category: Humor
ISBN-10: 1932993185
ISBN-13: 978-1932993189



Reviewed by Sandra Gauci, "Queen Moonstone," for Amazon.

THE Funniest Book!!!!


Georgia Richardson better known as `Queen Jaw Jaw' has compiled this book of anecdotes and essays about life experiences. Whether you see yourself in this book or not, Georgia's humor throughout the book is infectious and gives us as readers a side splittingly funny account of everyday experiences. I found myself openly laughing out loud on more than one occasion while reading this book.

Georgia's unique humor shines through like a beacon on a lighthouse allowing reader's to see within themselves a humorous side to sometimes painful and embarrassing situations. We have all experienced similar events in our own life journey and how we react to them often determines our view on the world. If we took a page of two out of this book and viewed the world like Georgia, Earth would be a funnier and friendlier place to live.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and suggest you go take some time out to read it also. Humor is a precious tool that we all need in life and Georgia Richardson has a gift in her writing that brings this tool to life.

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Georgia Richardson is also associated with Pink Jasper (see the Amazon link on this page). And she monitors a fantastic (my opinion) forum for writers at www.boomerwomenspeak.com.

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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 loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index 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. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using the widget below:

Donna McDine Reviews Must-Have Scholastic Book

Title: If You Lived When There Was Slavery in America
Written by:Anne Kamma
Illustrated by:Pamela Johnson
Soft cover:64 pages
Ages: 9-12
Publisher: Scholastic
ISBN: 13: 978-0-439-56706-0
Published: February 2004
Price: $6.99

Reviewed by Donna M. McDine

Imagine if you will being kidnapped at the age of eight and sold into slavery. Slavery? What is slavery you may ask? Slavery is when one person owns another and the slave must obey all orders from their owner.

Slavery existed well before the first slaves arrived in Jamestown, the fist British settlement in America in 1607. Captured in Africa, over 20 million Africans were forced to travel in terrible conditions on the sea voyage aboard crowded ships, where disease and beatings ran rampant. Many did not survive the trip and for those who did faced a horrible life as a slave.

If You Lived When There Was Slavery in America captures in fascinating detail the life of a slave and the deplorable circumstances they endured. Ms. Kamma presents the historical facts of slavery in easy to understand narrative and quotes from actual slaves. Blending the two into a journey back into time which the reader will NOT soon forget, thankfully so, because to have such a dreadful time to rear its ugly head again would be horrendous.

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More about the reviewer:

McDine writes the Write What Inspires You Blog and the
The Golden Pathway Story book Blog. She also offers the Write What Inspires You! FREE Newsletter: opt-in @ http://www.donnamcdine.com and receive FREE e-book “Write What Inspires You Author Interviews”


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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 loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index 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. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using the widget below: