Author and Blog Reviewer Loves Sci-Fi

Man-Kzin Wars XIII 
Man-Kzin Wars series
By Larry Niven
Note: The authors vary in each anthology

Available on Amazon  

Genre: Science fiction
ISBN: 978-1-4516-3816-5
Publisher: Baen (2012)

Reviewed by Joy V. Smith, originally for Amazon

5 stars out of 5

I liked all the stories, but Bound for the Promised Land, Tomcat Tactics, Pick of the Litter, and Misunderstanding (the quirkiest) were my favorites. This anthology is highly recommended. (It's rare when all the stories in an anthology are this good.)

Misunderstanding by Hal Colebatch & Jessica Q Fox is a fun story where the Kzin are befuddled by some strangely different aliens.

Two Types of Teeth by Jane Lindskold: I enjoy stories where Kzin and human work together to confound other Kzin or humans.

Pick of the Litter by Charles E. Gannon: Humans attempt to capture and raise and socialize Kzin kits... This premise caught my attention right away. Well executed.

Tomcat Tactics by Charles E. Gannon: A Wunderland (the planet) story. Humans fight back against Kzin occupying their planet. Another good premise, and I was happy to see another Wunderland story.

At the Gates by Alex Hernandez: Humans and Kzin inhabit a lost colony of Earth when a damaged Kzin ship appears above the planet. Suspenseful with a good payoff. (Hmm. I could have added this to my favorites, but I didn't want to include them all!)

Zeno's Roulette by David Bartell: A story involving the Puppeteers and a secret they use humans to retrieve. The Puppeteers aren't my favorite characters, but it was interesting to see them included in another anthology--and it was a puzzling mystery.

Bound for the Promised Land by Alex Hernandez: Bobcat, a tailess Kzin telepath, comes across an opportunity to escape his ship with a telepathic ARM agent hot on his trail.

About the reviewer: Joy V. Smith loves and writes science fiction. Some of her stories are collected in her latest e-book, The Doorway and Other Stories (available from Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007SV1FB2). However, her upcoming novel, Detour Trail, is a story of the settling of the western frontier.

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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. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Memoir Hits Chorde for Amazon Reviewer

Title: Save Send Delete
Author: Danusha V. Goska
Author's Web site link: http://save-send-delete.blogspot.com/
Genre or category: Memoir
ISBN ISBN-10: 1846949866
Reviewed by Kincaide originally for Amazon.
Publisher and reviewer's rating: Five stars

Happened upon this book quite by accident. A fortuitous one at that.
It's been too long since I've read a non-formulaic, original work, let
alone one that openly bares the soul of the author and makes you
respect them for honestly portraying life as filled with shades of
grey instead of being just black or white. Perhaps it was David Eggers
"Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" that last moved me this way.

Ms. Goska's intelligent and eloquent use of the English language
vividly and realistically conveys a broad range of human emotions,
including, wonder, inquisitiveness, love, lust, anxiety, exhilaration,
disappointment, anger, loneliness, fear and hope. Mira, who represents
Ms. Goska in this story, is the protagonist. She invites us along on a
private journey of discovery as her act of reaching out to a stranger,
a famous academic, takes her on a long road of self exploration,
winding down many paths. Ultimately, breaking from the day to day
correspondence, the book fast-forwards several years into the future
with Mira reflecting back on their intense relationship.

Told in the form of a series of first person emails, we are allowed to
see only Mira's side of the correspondence with the academic, Lord
Randolph Court-Wright. In this book, Lord Court-Wright is a famous
atheist. Mira, on the other hand, is a devoutly Catholic professor,
who lives modestly in relative obscurity. Although their discussion
initially begins as a heated debate over the existence of God, it
quickly goes well beyond that, and shows how individuals relate,
interact, fight, fall in love and seek meaning through themselves and
through others. Since readers only see only Mira's correspondence,
Lord Court-Wright is viewed through her reaction to his emails. Each
passage is time stamped. At the end of each missive are ubiquitous
"Save Send Delete" choices that modern-day readers used to email for
daily communication find comfortably familiar. Cleverly, Ms. Goska
shows hesitation, doubt and clarification through both the time of the
communication and Mira's choice of whether a particular email is
saved, sent or deleted.

Ms. Goska inserts one other active character into the story, Amanda, a
friend from a completely different background. Amanda is famous in her
own right, but shares a special connection with Mira. Correspondence
between Amanda and Mira is visible to the reader, allowing Ms. Goska
to flesh out the Lord Court-Wright character. When Amanda asks
questions about him, Mira dutifully answers in her own quirky way -
revealing insight about both Mira and Lord Court-Wright. Since the
book is ascribed to true events, I assumed while reading it that
Amanda is a real person. In retrospect, I'm not sure if she is real,
or whether she is a plot device to more fully embellish the atheist
Lord Court-Wright, referenced, but otherwise unseen.

Readers are bound to walk away from this book with many different and
perhaps conflicting perceptions of the message. I grew up Catholic,
converted to the Episcopal Church as an adult, and am now agnostic.
The debates over the existence or non-existence of a supreme deity
mirror the questioning that I personally struggle with when thinking
about one all-knowing being. Having never knowingly experienced the
tangible physical manifestation of a divine force, I don't have the
same perception that Mira describes in her emails with Lord
Court-Wright. However given the vastness of the universe, I find it
arrogant to think that there is not some force that had a hand in
bringing our small little corner of the universe into creation. Ms.
Goska allows and acknowledges doubt, debating respectfully, but still
forcefully arguing through Mira, that god exists. There are moments
when certain passages drag on, belaboring theological points that that
can be made in a more succinct manner. Ms. Goska can be forgiven this
infrequent tendency towards elongating certain sections (or perhaps I
should be chastised for a short attention span) because when viewed as
a whole, the book is a gem.

The undercurrent of the book is the budding love story and saga of two
incredibly talented individuals that are unexpectedly brought
together, and that support, challenge, chide and at their core, care
for each other. This particularly struck home for me, as I have also
experienced a deeply moving, intellectual and emotional relationship
with an unattainable member of the opposite sex. Readers don't need to
personally experience this however, as the message however of finding
meaning and purpose by and through interaction with others is
universal.

"Save, Send, Delete" is a highly intelligent, thought-provoking book
that keeps the reader engaged and rooting for a happy ending until the
very last page. Such a richly nuanced portrayal of a deeply moving,
human story deserves to catapult Ms. Goska out of obscurity and into
the limelight as one of the most powerfully authentic authors of our
time.
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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. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

THE Title for Those Suffering from Stress

Living Consciously In An Ego Driven Society

Karen Monteverdi
Genre: Nonfiction: Self-Help/Health and Healing

Submitted by Denise Cassino

I just found a book that aligns with my thinking and I wanted to share it with you. There are a few of books out there that talk about this subject, but none so easy to understand, and simple to use. In writing Living Consciously In An Ego Driven Society, Karen Monteverdi, is offering a shortcut, a possibility… you won’t have to wait years to “get it”!

WHAT IS "IT"?

A life that you LOVE living.

A life that you can’t wait to get into each day.

A life that calls forth YOUR unique expression.

We dare to say "Healing by the medical community and alternative health practitioners, are missing bits and pieces." The effectiveness of the conventional health community has always been trial and error.

Karen Monteverdi sets the stage for a new way to look at health, a new way to express ourselves. We call the complex system the Total Holistic Integrated System, and we see it as a expression of how you experience life. You can change your mind, heart, spiritual awareness, become emotionally intelligent and improve your body awareness to create a positive experience of life, letting go of the distress. http://bit.ly/NJBrjT

Living Consciously in an Ego Driven Society is a guide to understand what that means, how different aspects of “Self” being expressed can affect our quality of life. When we live in ego, we may create unwanted symptoms in our mind/body/spirit and emotional body. The "Ego Driven Society" is a "Stress Full Society!"

What are stress driven illnesses? (According to the AMA & Natural Healing Communities)

Individuals who have frequent moments of stress and do not take steps to manage their stress are prone to developing stress induced illnesses. Here are some stress-related diseases.

Physical Disorders Related to Stress

• Coronary

• Heart disease

• High blood pressure

• Heart attack

• Hypertension

• Diabetes

• Ulcers

• Allergies

• Asthma

• Rheumatism, arthritis

• Colitis

• Chronic bronchitis

• Sinus problems

• Sexual dysfunctions

Emotional Disorders Related to Stress

• Hyperactivity – Bi-Polar Disorders

• Depression – Social Disorders including Agoraphobia

• Suicide

• Violent anger – Irrational thinking

• Nervous System & Brain Disorders e.g. PTSD

And here's the best part, when you buy the book, you can download dozens of similar bonuses that will help you with your own growth. Enjoy! http://bit.ly/NJBrjT

~Submitted by Denise Cassino, publicist and book marketing specialist. Learn more about her at: www.BestsellerServices.com
www.spiritoftheseasoncatalog.com
www.mybestsellerlaunch.com
Follow her  on Twitter @DeniseCassino
Friend her on Facebook Denise.Cassino

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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. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Wisconsin Tale Impresses Reviewer

Legends of the Lake

By Philip Nork

Author's Website: www.PhilipNork.com

Link to buy: www.createspace.com/3742301

ISBN: 978-146804369

Also available for Kindle

Review: Originally posted on www.AngieMangino.com by Angie Mangino

Rated 4 of 5 stars

In Legends of the Lake, Nork has shared a unique look at four generations of family in a backdrop of Chicago, and most especially, a lake in Wisconsin, spanning the years from 1910 into the 1980’s.

Central to the story is Eddie and Connie Kron, the narrator’s great-grandparents, who bought the cabin by the lake. Readers venture into this summer cottage from the start, watching it change and develop as the family grows and changes. The cottage on the lake is the visual constant that reflects the roots of this family.

In the true definite of legends, the family story credits Eddie and Connie as the inspiration for many a unique well-known invention and neighbors with an infamous man. These add a perfect balance of levity to bring a chuckle to readers, while leaving the rare possibility that some of it may actually be true.

 

What is most important, however, and is the true strength of this work, is the family dynamic. This is a family to which readers can relate, with real dialogue and characterization that truly brings this family to life.

Connie’s favorite quote was, “If it makes you happy, that’s just fine with me.” This reviewer can almost hear her saying that to readers today who will be happy reading Legends of the Lake.

 

About the Author: Phil Nork, author of Misguided Sensitivity, Legends of the Lake, You're Never Alone and coming soon Life Is a Balance ... It's Not Only About You.  www.philipnork.com

Follow him on facebook at www.facebook.com/authorPhilipNork

 

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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. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Jo Linsdell's Zoo Book Given Five Stars

Title: Out and About at the Zoo

Author: Jo Linsdell

Author's Web site link: www.JoLinsdell.com

Genre or category: Children's picture book- Juvenile Fiction / Stories in Verse



ISBN/EAN13: 1477446591 / 9781477446591

Reviewed by Virginia L. Jennings originally for Amazon

 

Awarded five stars

"Out And About At The Zoo is a cute book that describes a child's memory filled trip to the zoo. Are you heading to the zoo and you would like to tell your kids what animals they will see there and what they might be doing? Then Out And About At The Zoo would be a great choice. Easy to understand and easy for children to read along with. It is filled with simple yet colorful pictures that even held my one year old's attention!

Would also make a good gift for young readers who are just beginning to read!"

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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. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Honoring Father/Daughter Writing Team Today

Note from Carolyn (your New Book Review blogger): This review is specially posted today to honor fathers and daughters everywhere, but especially father and daughter writing teams. I don't know many of them. Deacon Steve Lumbert and Karina Fabian are father and daughter who came to their faith in different ways. Karina was raised in it, while Steve discovered his calling later in life. Steve is a Deacon and parish administrator in Pueblo, CO. Karina is a writer, military wife, and mother of four.

Title: Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life

Author: Karina Fabian and Deacon Steve Lumbert

Category: Christian, devotionals, spirituality

ISBN: 9780982256534

Available from: Publisher (Tribute Books)
or Amazon or other online dealers

For More Info: http://whygodmatters.com

Amazon link: http://amzn.to/dI7jbp

Reviewed by Elizabeth Weidner originally for A Catholic Mom Climbing the Pillars

Fathers are so cool, they can be the best person in a child's life....or the worse. It's their choice. Much of it depends on their own bringing up, how they interpret the role of parenthood, especially the role of being the father. Fathers balance the family scales with mothers, giving the children in the nest two places to rely on. From the dawn of history, mothers were the nurturers, consolers, and source of gentle loving confidence. Fathers, on the other hand, provided the means to which the family survived, food, money, shelter, and protection from the outside.

Children, therefore, saw in a father the strength of one beyond their own capacity. The automatic dependence was a source of security that only in the strength of the father could a child even think of venturing outside the cocoon of the mother's nest.

The father's dependence on the mother was also a sign of strength to the children. His love and devotion to their mother impressed upon their children that strength is a sign of wisdom when it can bow down to dependence and devotion to another.

In August (2010), at the Catholic Media Network and Catholic Writer's Conference Live event in Philly, I was able to meet just such a father in Deacon Steve. He and his daughter, Karina, wrote a book together sharing their history and growth in their belief and dependence in God. "Why God Matters," is a compilation of experiences and life lessons that both brought them closer together and instilled in them that God is there for them at each and every corner of their lives. Both are a complete delight and without saying a word are beacons of hope for those around them in God. Just by their actions, you can tell they have joy in their hearts and hope on their sleeves. They know God and God knows them.

Meeting them both, I can see that Karina is the person she is because of her father's role in her life. Deacon Steve has truly been a devoted father to both his daughters and completely devoted to their mother. Yes, trials followed him throughout their family life, but it never dimmed their love for God, on the contrary, it strengthened their awareness of His presence.

The stories in their book will make you laugh, cry, and even give you an "Ah ha" moment through their life lessons section following each chapter. I loved the book and went away from reading it with the wide-open message that fatherhood is so imperative to a child's psyche and security. Karina is blessed and Deacon Steve is a blessing.

 ~Karina just wants to add that her "dad is everything Elizabeth says and more, and working on the book with him was one of the highlights of her writing career

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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. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Reviewer Lauds Author's Debut Thriller

Title: The Gizeh Scrolls

Author: Charles Yockelson

Author's Web-site Link: http://www.wix.com/charlieyo/gizeh1

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

ISBN: 9781475173451

Reviewed by Eve Anderson originally for Amazon

Reviewer's Rating: 5 stars

Charles Yockelson has produced an excellently crafted storyline of international intrigue mixed with historic content. I was not expecting such a page turner plot and, once started, I could not stop reading the book. His descriptions of historic landmarks in many countries are so well constructed that you feel as if you are walking alongside the book's characters and experiencing the same breezes and seeing the same views as they.

The book was obviously very well researched and the author intertwined fact and fiction so well that the telling of the story could easily be mistaken for nonfiction instead of a novel.

It is hard to believe this is Yockelson's first book. I sincerely hope there are more to come.

----- 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. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :