The New Book Review

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Linda Barnett-Johnson Reviews Young Adult Novel

Book: The Dog Men

Author: Patricia Crandall

Genre: Young Adult, Suspense/thriller
Author's Web Site: http://patriciacrandallauthor.homestead.com/

Buy Link: http://tinyurl.com/d5sdom5

Rank: 5 stars

Reviewed by Linda Barnett-Johnson, Editor and Virtual Assistant for Authors. Originally review for Amazon.

The Dog Men is one of those books that your older kids and adults should read. If you are interested in what goes on in the dog fighting world, then it's for you. But it's also for those people that care about animals. Unfortunately, this goes on more than we know.

The characters are young kids about 9 and 10. As you know, most young kids are curious. When they discover a terrible secret in their small town, they vow to do something about it.

Fun read and a good gift to those kids that want something different.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Layman's Guide to Fear Reviewed

A Layman’s Guide To Managing Fear

By Stan Popovich

Book Web site: www.managingfear.com
Publisher: Treble Heart Books
Genre: Self Help Book
ISBN: 1-928602-97-5Rated: [G]
Highly recommended by Allbooks Review

Reviewer: Cheryl Heinrichs, Allbooks Review at www.allbookreviewsint.com

“Reading this guide is a first step into the rest of your life.”

Fear is a state of mind or emotion when we sense personal danger. Some people are more prepared than others to rationalize their fears. It can prevent us from harm by removing us from the situation, but can also cause unbearable, immobilizing anxiety. Someone living with fear may make unhealthy life choices because they are afraid that they are incapable of forming a well balanced decision.

The author, Stanley Popovich presents three main principles in this layman’s guide to managing fear:

General Counseling Techniques encourages critical thinking and deductive reasoning. In order to make an informed confident choice, facts must be gathered first, and well researched. One must also factor in the ‘what if’ scenarios. Then with common sense reasoning determine what is most important. The reader is enlightened by the examples used of ‘John and Mary’s’ unpredictable situations.

Non-Resistant Methods of dealing with fear is more of a defensive approach. We all have ‘triggers’ that bring on anxiety and it is important to recognize them, not allowing ourselves to be ruled by them.

Christianity is a religion based on the teachings of Jesus Christ. Belief in faith can provide a powerful foundation for problem solving.

FEAR is an introduction for readers who yearn to control their negative reactions. Stanley Popovich provides basic but exceptionally valuable steps in learning how to personally manage negative situations. Along with detailed stories the reader is provided with websites dealing with fear, twelve pertinent suggestions and several Biblical scriptures that provide support. As the title suggests, it may be used as a guide and empty pages are provided for your own notations.

Stanley Popovich has used his writing skills, analytical talents, interviews and diligent research in an attempt to educate readers. He was educated at Pennsylvania State University and has used these approaches in his own life.

I am no stranger to fear. In the past I had allowed myself to become controlled by it. Through reading, research and my physician’s advise I learned that there are many courses to take pertaining to the subject. I have completed several, adding a new confidence to my life. One is unable to enjoy a fulfilling life when fear is ever present. For more information please go to www.managingfear.com

Reading this guide is a first step into the rest of your life.

Author's Bio:

Stan Popovich is the author of "A Layman's Guide to Managing Fear Using Psychology, Christianity and Non Resistant Methods" - an easy to read book that presents a general overview of techniques that are effective in managing persistent fears and anxieties. For additional information go to: http://www.managingfear.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 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 :

Monday, August 13, 2012

Editor Reviews Catherine MacDonald's New Romance

Book: Seasons of the Vineyard

By Catherine MacDonald

Genre: Romance

Website: www.supernovel.com
Blog: http://supernovel.com/blog
Rating: 5 stars

Amazon link: http://tinyurl.com/cywffj3

Reviewed by Linda Barnett-Johnson, Editor and Virtual Assistant for Authors, originally for Amazon.

I have read and written reviews for a few books. None have left me wanting more than this book, Seasons of the Vineyard by Catherine MacDonald. If you like a strong woman character, this is the book for you. I couldn't put it down. There are twists and turns throughout. I spoke out loud in a few places. Pleading or getting angry at some of the events. But that's a sign of a great book. You get involved. You can't help it.

If you love learning too, this book will take you to wine country where the author shows you how grapes are grown and how wine is made. You know that Ms. MacDonald has done her research. It's very educational as well as a great romance. I laughed in spots and got mad in others. That's the sign of a well-written book. Ms. MacDonald has a knack for pulling you in from the beginning and makes you want more when you are finished.

This book is for women and men. Men can learn about the wine making process and how a strong woman can achieve through hard work and determination. Women will love and identify with the main character, Francesca, as she is pulled in many different directions, but finally does what she is meant to do, run a successful vineyard. I don't want to give anything away, so get the book today. You'll be glad you did.

~More about Linda Barnett-Johnson, editor and virtual assistant may be found on her Web site at Linda Barnett-Johnson Editing Services. She is an administrative director of LSS School of Writing, assistant editor of Long Story Short ezine . Find her

Blog here.

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Kathleen Smith Reviews Adventure Novel

Title: Can You Hear the Music?

Author: Sandra Farris
Author's website: www.sandrafarris.com
Genre: Adventure
ISBN: 0595302688
Reviewer's rating: 5 stars

Reviewed by Kathleen Smith originally for Amazon and www.reviewsfromtheheart.blogspot.com

This one has captured my heart and soul! I absolutely loved it from beginning to end!,

"Listen, son, can you hear the music?"

"What music, Pa? I don't hear anything."

"Stand quiet and listen. Hear the wind singing through the trees, the birds whistling from the meadow and, if you listen really close, you can hear the brook laughing as it runs across the rocks and spills down the hill. That's the music I'm talking about...the music of life. No matter how big or important you may feel when you get older, I hope you will always take the time to stop and listen to that music."

"I don't understand. Those are just ever'day sounds you hear all the time."

"True, they are everyday sounds, but we don't always hear them because we take them for granted. It's the same with people. They are always there but we take them for granted and that is what saddens my heart, for I am as guilty as the rest." He sighed and shook his head. "Listen to the frog. His song is not as beautiful as the bird's and he is truly an ugly creature to you and me, but in his own way he contributes to that music of life. What I am really trying to say, son, is that no matter how insignificant and small a man may seem, he has that right to contribute and he is just as important."

In the novel, Can You Hear The Music by Sandra Farris, the reader is in for a delightful surprise when they begin this story in the life of Corey James, a young nine-year-old girl who finds herself left orphaned in 1919 when a tragic car accident claims the life of both her parents. Her Uncle, George and his wife Lizzie take Corey in, but soon is seems the Corey finds herself the target of abuse from Lizzie. Faced with emotional and physical abuse, Corey finds herself not wanted and it hurts her deeply. Knowing only that she doesn't like being hurt anymore, she takes her small dog Muffin and slips away into the night searching for love and acceptance in the form of anyone who can provide it.

Lucky for Corey that she has disguised herself as a young boy to avoid being found by her Aunt and Uncle, and finds the most unlikely friend in the form of a hobo named Andy Curruthers. Andy relates to Corey's situation being orphaned at the age of ten and vows to help him learn the ways of life traveling the rails and seeing the world.

I received this novel compliments of Sandra Farris for my honest review and was so enraptured by this story, I could not put it down once I started. She demonstrates the talents of a great story teller in creating the characters of Corey and Andy. You can't help but wish for them to remain together throughout the book and along the way, they both learn a thing or two about forgiveness and unconditional love. There are a host of lovable supporting characters, Gus Thatcher, Lord Mayor, Injun and even Muffin, her delightful dog who never leaves Corey side no matter how dark things get. I would love to see someone pick this one up and create a beautiful movie from it, and in my opinion this one deserves so much more than my usual 5 out of 5 stars. I would rate this one a 10!

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Mainstream Fiction Gets Crack Review from Quilldipper

TITLE: Twelve Months
AUTHOR: Steven Manchester
AUTHOR'S WEB PAGE: http://www.StevenManchester.com
PUBLISHER: The Story Plant
RELEASE DATE: August 14, 2012
ISBN: 978-1611880533
GENRE: Commercial Fiction
Available on Amazon
Reviewed by Heather Froeschl originally for Quilldipper.com

"Life. A series of lessons for the soul? What is our purpose here on earth? That’s up to you. Life is what you make of it, or don’t make of it. For Don Dimarco, at age 57, he’s going to make the best of it. In Steven Manchester’s newest book, Twelve Months, readers will experience the hardest thing we have to face as human beings and will be grateful to the author for the reminder to live.

Don discovers that he has colon cancer. At stage four there really is nothing humane that can be done and the doctor tells him to live life to the fullest for what will be at best, twelve months longer. After the natural reaction of denial, resentment, anger, frustration and sorrow, Don gets on with the business of living. He writes a list of the top five things he’s always wanted to do and with the help of his dedicated wife, he sets out to accomplish them. What happens is more than he expected and greater than his family could have anticipated. The love between Don and his wife blossoms to the fullest capacity and through their shared adventures, readers will feel it radiating off the pages. The support and love from his family, as well as complete strangers, will bolster the reader’s feelings for humanity. Witnessing the growth of Don himself is a miraculous and amazing thing.

Facing the past, playing cowboy, declaring his love, confronting his demons, visiting paradise on earth…all are chapters in Don’s book of life and all are written with exquisite detail and deep feeling. You will experience each moment through outstandingly descriptive writing. Steven Manchester made me cry. I don’t think there is a reader who could get through this book without a tissue and a good healthy sob. What’s more important is the reminder the author gives us to live our own lives. Such a level of inspiration can be found here, such clarity of portraying the massive emotions of the characters, that one is in awe of the author’s wisdom. Steven doesn’t just write books; he authors life lesson plans.

Twelve Months is a powerful work of fiction."
~Contact the author at http://www.facebook.com/#!/AuthorStevenManchester

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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 :

Friday, August 10, 2012

Mindy Lawrence Gives Helpful Book for Emigrants Five Stars

What Foreigners Need to Know About America From A to Z

Subtitle: How to Understand Crazy American Culture, People, Government, Business, Language and More
By Lance JohnsonAuthor's Web Site Paperback available on Amazon and Amazon Spain, Germany, France, Austria, and UK
Five-Star Review

Mindy Lawrence "Writer, editor, publicist" (Springfield, MO USA)

This review is from: Mindy Lawrence, originally for Amazon

What Foreigners Need to Know About America from A to Z by Lance Johnson, a second generation United States citizen, has so much information in its 614 pages that anyone coming to our shores should find what they need to prevent cultural gaffs and language boo boos. They can discover ways to find jobs, open businesses and make friends in their new country, America.

Johnson is a world traveler. He knows what it's like to get along in other cultures. It was his travel, and the comments from those wanting to move to the United States, which made him notice what an important resource What Foreigners Need to Know could be. He has done the world a great service by the wonderful compilation of information he has gathered in this book to help others find their way around.

The paperback is divided into four sections:

* Section One: America's Heritage: the historical background of why America became what it is today - government, the American Dream, standard of living, etc.

* Section Two: America's Culture: How we conduct our live - etiquette, literature, movies and much more.

* Section Three: America's Business: Our business environment, customs and operations.

* Section Four: America's Language: Practical ways to improve English grammar, usage, writing, speech and communications skills. How not to embarrass yourself using an incorrect word.

Each one of these sections may be read individually or as the need arises. However, the entire book is so well thought out that I can't see why anyone would want to skip over anything Johnson has put together.

People moving to America have needed a book like this for many years. Thankfully, it has arrived.

~Learn more about the author, a world traveler, teacher, actor, and playwright. This book was adapted from a book published by Oriental Press in simplified Chinese in China by Oriental Press. Watch for a new translation published in Brazil in Portuguese.

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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 :

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Betty McMahon's A Rendevous to Die For Reviewed

A Rendezvous to Die For

By Betty McMahon

Genre: Fiction: Mystery

SBN-10: 1257931326

ISBN-13: 978-1257931323

Available on Amazon:
http://bit.ly/O0o6Y4

Reviewed by Jack Smith-St.Cyr

Combine an attractive, young photographer, a handmade throwing tomahawk buried in the skull of a news reporter for whom she has no respect, and an over-eager cop, and you have the beginning of a great mystery read. Cassandra Cassidy is forced to clear her name, but before she figures out how to do that, she discovers two more bodies. All three murders are somehow connected to the annual Prairie River Trappers' Rendezvous, a Minnesota classic, and its cast of colorful characters. The detective is more convinced than ever of Cassandra's guilt.

Making matters worse, some of her friends begin to look like possible perpetrators. Cassandra turns to her photographic expertise to find clues which lead to the killer and clears her name and reputation.

Still a creative photographer and hopefully an improved sleuth, Cassandra beckons to me to read the next mystery in Betty McMahon's promising series.

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