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.

Showing posts sorted by relevance for query true crime. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query true crime. Sort by date Show all posts

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Review and FREE Offer for New Crime Novel

South on Pacific Coast Highway
By Gary Paul Corcoran
Stargazer Press
ASIN: B00E4TQ3U4
338 Pages
Crime
http://garypaulcorcoran.com/

Reviewed by Joe Hempel, originally for Top of the Heap Reviewshttp://topoftheheapreviews.com/  


Crime novels can be tricky.  You have to keep the reader engaged the plot, and tell a smart and compelling story with characters that are relate-able.  How does Gary Paul Corcoran’s first foray into this complex genre fair? 
 
The first in a series of throwback crime novels, inspired by the Phillip Marlowe and Sam Spades of the author’s youth, Michael is himself a throwback private detective, preferring persistence to gadgetry and brains over guns and brawn. Operating a one man shop out of Laurel Lagoon, modeled after Laguna Beach, CA, South On Pacific Coast Highway is at once an affectionate ode to everything LA, from the cookie cutter communities to the seedy shops dotting the beach towns along that stretch of coastline, a portrait of the moral and cultural arc of Southern California from the sixties to the growing disillusionment of contemporary times, and lastly, on a personal level, it is simply the tale of a man haunted by a woman’s uncanny resemblance to the redhead he once loved.

Self described as a crime “throwback” novel, you can easily grab comparisons to Sam Spade and Phillip Marlowe.  From the way Michael Devlin draws his conclusions, his interactions with the other characters, and his internal monologues, you grab that smokey, gritty world of the under-paid and under-appreciated PI almost immediately.  That in itself is worth the price of admission here.  It pays respectful homage to crime novels of the past.

The plot in itself starts out fairly simple.  Michael Devlin’s friend is thrown in jail for murdering his wife, and he is out to clear his name.  What happens is a couple more murders, a romance between Devlin and a redheaded bombshell, and international arms dealers that stretches from Mexico to Russia.

How Gary connects point A to point B with all the twists and turns in between is something to read.  Usually first or even second time authors have trouble linking things together, and you have to make a leap of faith in order to accept the conclusion.  That doesn’t happen with this book.  Every move that is made is calculated, and makes logical sense.  By the time the finale happens you don’t have to wonder how Michael got there, it was well mapped out.

This is not to say that it’s not going to throw you along the way.  Each character has their own motives, their voice, and they are all interconnected in some way.  You’ll be second guessing yourself throughout the entire experience.

The characters are all brought out well.  Even the villains are a little likeable at times.  Gary is able to create separation and distinction to each character so you are never confused as to who is in what scene.

The romantic tension is done incredibly well.  There is no gratuitous sex, but you know that the sex is wild, loud and passionate without the book turning into erotica.  You feel for Michael as we wrestles with whether or not he should get involved, and you feel the consequences right along with him and his decisions.

The Bottom Line:  Quick wit, smart plotting, and prose that reflects his influences in crime, South on Pacific Coast Highway is one book that you’ll not want to put down.  When the final pages are turned, you’ll want to re-visit Michael in another book and follow him to find out if he finds peace, if he finds true love, and if he can come to terms with life around him.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
20 Free Copies of South on Pacific Coast Highway!

That's right! The first 20 people to click on the "Contact" button of the author’s website and leave a brief hello, along with their name and e-mail address, will be gifted a free copy of South on Pacific Coast Highway! Be sure to specify the e-book format of your choice! And when they're gone, they're gone!   http://garypaulcorcoran.com/

Also, please note. It is the author's stated policy. No spam. No sharing of contact information with any third parties, for any reason and no unwarranted contacts going forward.
 
MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR
 
The product of an Irish/Italian family, Mr. Corcoran was transplanted as a boy from the clapboard New England of his youth to the cookie cutter, stucco subdivisions that began to litter the disappearing ranches and orange groves south of Los Angeles in the 1960s. True to his rebellious nature and the folk music/coffee house idealism that helped shape his early worldview, Mr. Corcoran chose to resist the Vietnam War, was a man without a country for several years as the result and can count incarceration in a Mexican prison as one of his many colorful experiences from that era.


Having pursued a love of reading and writing in various forms all his life, Mr. Corcoran finally sat down to take this passion seriously around the turn of the millennium and has dedicated the remainder of his days to authorship. As the result of his rough and tumble experiences in life and his undying affection for the fairer sex, adventure romance would best describe the character of Mr. Corcoran’s work.

 
Mr. Corcoran currently resides in Laguna Beach, California but fancies completing the circle one day soon and settling into a little cottage in the woods of New England.



-----
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.

Friday, January 15, 2016

Interview: Wordworth Inspires True Crime Writer

Hi! I am Carolyn Howard Johnson, your trusty New Book Review blogger and author of the multi award-winning HowTo Do It Frugally Series of books for writers. This blog has heretofore been exclusive for reviews but I thought I’d do a special series of interviews after I chatted with Jeanie Loiacono, President of Loiacono Literary Agency – Where ‘can’t’ is not in our vocabulary!  I thought sharing the interviews would help the many subscribers and visitors to this New Book Review blog, including authors, reviewers, and, of course, readers who just might find a new favorite author among the featured books and authors.

So, today welcome Linda Case.

Linda L. Case is the former President/Owner of Case Accounting and Tax Service. She was featured in “A Salute to Women in Business” published by The Columbus Dispatch newspaper. Linda is a graduate of Ohio State University and life member of the Ohio State Alumni Association. While attending Ohio State, Linda was featured in the school newspaper, promoting the benefits of education.  She is a member of the Atlanta Writers Club and continues to promote her new career as a writer by participating in creative writing programs.  She is a past treasurer of the Public Accountants Society of Ohio, a past member of the International Toastmistress Club and has experience presenting seminars and workshops. Linda was born in Point Pleasant, West Virginia.


  1. What is your genre? Is it fiction or nonfiction? True Crime - Nonfiction

2. What made you want to be a writer? I put my grief into words by writing about it. I am hopeful my true story will inspire and encourage others to do the same.

3. Of all the authors out there, who inspired you most? William Wordsworth

4.  What is your writing style? Do you outline? Linearly? By scene? Why? Therapeutic? Therapeutical? While serving my sentence of house arrest and probation, I was seeing a professional counselor, compliments of the Federal Government. Encouraged by my counselor to do so, once a week for almost two years, I took my written words to my counseling sessions. I cried the entire hour but felt a huge sense of relief following each visit. By the end of my story, the counselor was crying, too.

5.  Do you write every day? How much? How long? Since my book was just published October 31, 2015, I am not currently writing. I am actively promoting my book.

6.  Do you think reading is as important to writing for an author? Why?  Absolutely. Like peanut butter goes with jelly. Avid readers know what makes a good story really great.

7. What are some of the things you would like to share with budding authors? Never give up!! "A published author is an unpublished author who never gave up." (I don't know who said that first)

8. Do you have any marketing and promotional advice, referrals, tips you would like to share? Reach out...contact every person you've ever known...talk about your writing...socialize...take classes...join writers groups.

9.  Do you think conferences are beneficial? If so, what have you learned? Which ones do you frequent? Conferences are great resources for workshops and for community with other writers, agents and publishers. I am a member of the Atlanta Writers Club and attend their conferences twice yearly. I also attended the first publishers conference in Georgia, Publish15, last June, where I was referred to LLA. In less than two months, my fabulous agent, Johnnie Bernhard, had a publisher for my story.

10. Where can we find you, your books and when is your next event? You can find me:
Amazon  Half Priced Books Market Place  Hudson Book Sellers  B&N  BAM  IndieBound  Shelfari
Represented by Loiacono Literary Agency, Johnnie Bernhard


MORE ABOUT THE SPONSORING AGENTS
Agent and Training Officer – Johnnie Bernhard
A former English teacher and journalist, Johnnie Bernhard life’s work has been writing and reading.  A published writer, her work has appeared in newspapers and magazines, both nationally and internationally.  Johnnie believes that good writing has the ability to transform and transport the reader.

            Her novel, A Good Girl, a second finalist in the 2015 William Faulkner-William Wisdom Creative Writing Competition, is available for acquisition.
Genres:  Literary Fiction, Women’s Literature, Faith-Based Literature, Southern Literature, Historic Fiction, Memoir, and Nonfiction.

Jeanie Loiacono, President, Loiacono Literary Agency
A facilitator of dreams, Jeanie Loiacono represents over eighty authors. Her forte is mystery, romance, thrillers, historical/military/southern fiction, and all quality fiction/nonfiction. Her passion is to see her authors succeed.

“There is nothing more rewarding than to hold one of my author’s books and know I helped bring it to fruition. I am so blessed and privileged to be able to work with some of the most talented writers in the world.” Jeanie.L@llallc.net  www.loiaconoliteraryagency.com


IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE INTERVIEWS--TO FIND GREAT READING OR TO NETWORK WITH AUTHORS--PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG. YOU ARE A WELCOME ADDITION TO THIS FAMILY WHO LOVES BOOKS! YOU'LL FIND A WINDOW TO DO THIS AT THE TOP OF THIS BLOG PAGE.


----- 
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.

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Interviews: Veteran English Teacher Sets Grand Example for Creativity




Hi! I am Carolyn Howard Johnson, your trusty New Book Review blogger and author of the multi award-winning HowTo Do It Frugally Series of books for writers. This blog has heretofore been exclusive for reviews but I thought I’d do a special series of interviews after I chatted with Jeanie Loiacono, President of Loiacono Literary Agency – Where ‘can’t’ is not in our vocabulary!  I thought sharing the interviews would help the many subscribers and visitors to this New Book Review blog, including authors, reviewers, and, of course, readers who just might find a new favorite author among the featured books and authors.

So, today welcome Caroline Giammanco.

Caroline Giammanco grew up on a farm in the Ozarks of Missouri. After graduating from high school, she moved to Tucson, Arizona where she attended the University of Arizona. Her Bachelor’s degree is in Political Science with an English minor. Caroline has taught public school for over twenty years in New Mexico, Arizona, and Missouri. She is currently the English department chair of a southern Missouri high school. Caroline is the mother of two sons, Rick and Kevin, both military veterans.  

1. What is your genre? Is it fiction or nonfiction? I write non-fiction true crime with an emphasis on criminal justice reform.

2. What made you want to be a writer? I'm an English teacher and had considered writing for years. I finally found a topic I want to share with the world.

3. Of all the authors out there, who inspired you most? I have always admired authors who aren't afraid to tackle a tough subject; be it Harper Lee with To Kill a Mockingbird or Richard Peck writing The River Between Us. I like authors who make you think. 

4. What is your writing style? Do you outline? Linearly? By scene? Why? I seldom outline. When an idea strikes me, I write. Then I build around that central idea.

5. Do you write every day? How much? How long? I don't write every day, but some days I spend hours writing. It depends if there is something I have to get down on paper and what is happening in real life.

6. Do you think reading is as important to writing for an author? Why? Reading teaches children the power of writing. I am a huge advocate of early childhood reading, and in reading throughout your whole life.

7. What are some of the things you would like to share with budding authors? Write about what you believe in, and believe in your writing. If you have a passion for a topic, you will touch the hearts and minds of readers.  

8. Do you have any marketing and promotional advice, referrals, tips you would like to share? Don't just write to be published, write to be published and sell millions! Your success hinges on your own investment of time and effort into the promotion of your work. Don't be content stopping at step one. Network, use social media, and self-promote.

9. Do you think conferences are beneficial? If so, what have you learned? Which ones do you frequent? I'm a first-time author who just attended my very first writer’s conference, held by the Ozarks Writers League. Making those connections, learning from others, and sharing my own experiences were invaluable.

10. Where can we find you, your books and when is your next event? Bank Notes: The True Story of the Boonie Hat Bandit is available online @ Amazon, BooksAMillion, Barnes & Noble and increasingly in stores. Ask for it at your local book retailer. www.booniehatbandit.com The Newsy Notes page is my blog. Facebook fan page www.facebook.com/Caroline-Giammanco-Author-Fans-708344612622445/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009880805237

 On December 6th I will be at the Barnes and Noble in Fairview Heights, Illinois.
Larry Connors USA
By Brady Hempen on November 23, 2015 in Podcasts
Audio Player
Use Up/Down Arrow keys to increase or decrease volume.
Caroline Giammanco, wife of Keith Giammanco, better known as the Boonie Hat Bandit, joined Larry to talk about her new book Bank Notes: The True Story of the Boonie Hat Bandit

MORE ABOUT THE SPONSORING AGENT

Jeanie Loiacono, President, Loiacono Literary Agency
A facilitator of dreams, Jeanie Loiacono represents over eighty authors. Her forte is mystery, romance, thrillers, historical/military/southern fiction, and all quality fiction/nonfiction. Her passion is to see her authors succeed.

“There is nothing more rewarding than to hold one of my author’s books and know I helped bring it to fruition. I am so blessed and privileged to be able to work with some of the most talented writers in the world.” Jeanie.L@llallc.net  www.loiaconoliteraryagency.com



IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE INTERVIEWS--TO FIND GREAT READING OR TO NETWORK WITH AUTHORS--PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG. YOU ARE A WELCOME ADDITION TO THIS FAMILY WHO LOVES BOOKS! YOU'LL FIND A WINDOW TO DO THIS AT THE TOP OF THIS BLOG PAGE.

-----
 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.

Friday, April 24, 2009

A Memoir--Nay, a Saga--of World War II

Abandoned and Forgotten: An Orphan Girl’s Tale of Survival during World War II
Biographies / Memoirs
Author: Evelyne Tannehill
6 x 9 Trade Paperback
440 pages
ISBN: 978-1-58736-693-2



Reviewed by Douglas Brough, UK Press, http://www.laurahird.com/newreview/abandonedandforgotten.html



“I will do anything for food and shelter with a little love thrown in and no beatings”

‘Evelyne as a young child during WWII’
.



From time immemorial society has given men weapons and the knowledge of how to use them. Sent to kill, maim and win the war they were greeted as heroes upon their return, having killed indiscriminately in the name of victory, having sold their souls to the devil. But the true heroes, the true survivors are those without weapons, those without knowledge of war and those without the benefits of age who survive the fiercest of battles based on their wits alone, their compassion stretched to the limit, their tolerance in mankind stretched beyond recognition, solely because of their naĆÆve childhood innocence.

To speak of a war hero, natural thought suggests those who win wars, those who kill in the name of freedom. The “laughing faces of young boy pilots” zooming in on their innocent victims were heroes’ faces in their native Russia during those dark days. Yet Evelyne Tannehill, the face of one of the true heroes of World War II, lies, neglected, in the midst of historical memorial as the forgotten one; forgotten of all recognition as a flesh and bone human being; forgotten because she was guilty of a crime, guilty of the crime of being German, despite her American citizenship. It was Evelyne, the war-orphan of the family who emerged as the true victim, the true hero of this very conveniently forgotten story of survival, survival against the fiercest of odds.

A tale that begins on her ninth birthday, the youngest of five children, on her parents farm by the Baltic Sea in the then East Prussia in Germany. Her family worked the land surrounded by the political legacy of World War I and its Treaty of Versailles which, it is claimed, led the already devastated Germany into its second war in twenty years; a war that was to see all collectively considered as guilty for the actions of the few.

The nearby Russian Front had left relatively untouched their tranquil lifestyle but It wasn’t to be long before the closing and subsequent months of the war were to unleash a surging flood of devastation upon the German people unmatched in 20th century history; a surging flood that was to see “a wave of humanity” fleeing the advancing Russians, complicated by counter-propaganda alleging that the “set-backs were only temporary” and forbidding the civilian populous to flee without prior written authorisation.

“How could God allow this?” were words frequently on the young Evelyne’s lips as her family was drawn apart by the demands of war and survival; as father and son, mother and daughter, brother and sister were separated by the cruel aura of war, death and survival.

Evelyne was to see her brother Douglas taken by the Russians looking for German deserters; she was to participate in the family evacuation; she was to be taken by the Russians to herd the cattle and was to endure constant threats of abuse and death for the smallest of reasons, and all this was before the war ended in May 1945.

Perhaps now that the war was over mankind would rekindle some of its humanity but this was not to be so. Her ‘education’ was to take new meaning in the months after the war as she saw her mother raped and then die a painful death brought about by typhoid. It wasn’t to be long before Evelyne found herself alone, separated from her family - her brother Henry she only saw occasionally - leaving the young naĆÆve and impressionable girl to fend for herself in a world of ignorance, bitterness and slavish attitude instigated by the now dominant Polish population. Never in one place for long, she gained few friends but many enemies among the Russian and then Polish inhabitants as she was finally split from her remaining family member, having been moved from pillar to post; the bane of those who took her in.

Despite being treated in a manner more reminiscent of the 1800’s and suffering repetitive sexual abuse and violent outburst from those around her, Evelyne manages to write without bitterness, without anger and without blame for her childhood years where she was moved from one house of servitude to another, her youthful years of no consequence to the labour she was forced to undertake in return for her keep or for the bare morsels that did little to sustain her young, innocent life.

Through one of these friends she was soon to find herself among the mass exodus out of the area and on one of the last cattle trains destined for the new Germany. Being re-united with her brother at the train station was a poignant moment; perhaps the beginning of the rest of her life as Evelyne and Henry soon found themselves in an orphanage in Bautzen where friendships and compassion began to grow; where she was given clothes and where her schooling was to continue; where she was to finally find someone who cared.

Two aunties, Elsbeth and Gertrude had gone to great pains to find their niece; their hard work reaped reward and a letter duly arrived at the orphanage informing them that her uncle Eduard was to shortly collect them. It was a moment of great joy as they fought through the crowds to get to their aunties in Klosterburg. Subsequent years were still tough: Evelyne was schooled at the nearby Gymnasium where she worked hard to master the English language in preparation for her new life in America. She felt loved, but still troubled by the traumas of the past.

Aunt Gertrude took her to the ship which was to take her to America and then slipped away quietly in the crowds, perhaps as Evelyne suggests, to avoid the pain of goodbye. “Sailing to America with a small trunk filled with books, a single suitcase of clothes and an unrestrained optimism that only the young are capable of.” Upon arrival there was to be no family welcome - her brothers were fighting for the Americans in Korea. She ended up staying with an older German couple.

Despite being in America, the ghosts of the past continued to haunt her. Her first marriage suffered. Not until her second relationship was she able to put the ghosts of the past to rest.

When the Iron Curtain was raised she was able to travel back to the land of her childhood; some people had long forgotten her, yet others still remembered this small impressionable girl; one offered to slaughter a chicken before she departed, but had to make to with a gift of apples.

Past memories were overwhelming as Evelyne went to where she remembered her mothers grave was, sending her unspoken thoughts in her mother’s direction, “I want to tell you about my life,” she began, “I loved you more than I knew. Not until you were gone did I learn how much. And I will always love the memory of you”.

One spends a lifetime waiting for ‘the book’ and then along comes a story so full of personal emotion and courageous honesty that it becomes a privilege to read. This, is that book. It took courage to address her past and open her life to public scrutiny and write of her life as an orphan of the Second World War. I offer a debt of gratitude for the privilege of reviewing her story; a story that I hope goes some way towards reconciliation between former enemies; a story so full of emotion that as she finally left her childhood roots after her visit, she decided was a chapter in her life that needed closing.

And then, Evelyne wrote the book, and the rest, as they say, is history…………………

(The author may be found at http://abandonedandforgotten.com. She blogs at http://abandonedandforgotten.blogspot.com/


-----
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.

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Tales2Inspire ~ The Ruby Collection - Created by Lois W. Stern

Tales2Inspire ~ The Ruby Collection (Gifts of Compassion):
ISBN-10: 149594008X
ISBN-13: 978-1495940088
Genre:
Inspirational, Motivational, Non-fiction, Short Story Collection



EXPANDED AND REVISED 2018

_________________________________________



True Stories of Inspiration, Compassion and Love
By Gail Sobotkin
I have read each story and can honestly say I don't have a favorite. Each and every story touched my heart deeply. If you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a world where people and animals are treated with compassion, kindness and love, where the human spirit rises up again and again to meet seemingly impossible challenges, where faith triumphs over despair, where young children and abused animals teach adult humans life lessons, where the homeless are treated with respect and compassion, you must read The Ruby Collection, an amazing anthology of 14 true stories that will inspire you to live your own life with an open heart--- despite, or perhaps because of, whatever difficulties you may face.
Compassion is a gift that keeps on giving; it changes the giver, recipient, and all those who witness the compassionate act. It makes the world a better, kinder place and when delivered with love, has the power to transform the globe one person, one animal at a time.
The Ruby Collection makes a great gift for children and adults. Treat yourself to a copy and buy one for your friends, colleagues and relatives. Ask them to read the book then pass it on to an institution such as a library, hospital or school so that the stories will be spread far and wide, planting seeds of inspiration, compassion and love.


Inspiring 
By Shauna L Bowling
Freelance Writer/Copy Editor
. . . a book of inspiration that uplifts the reader with each story. From human/animal spiritual connections to human/human connections, these true stories of courage, love, and strength are proof that good exists in the world. We can and do overcome the odds each and every day. If you have any doubts about the power of love, read this book. All it takes is one person to reach out to make positive changes in someone's life.
I highly recommend this book to readers of all ages. It just may change your life!

Another Chicken Soup for the Soul
Warmly recommended, By Bani Sodermark
Reviewer for Book Pleasures and Amazon Vine Voice Reviewer
This is a feel good book documenting a collection of true stories that involve genuine empathy and kindness to other living beings including oneself. It arose out of a writing contest by an organization called "Authors Helping Author" and includes the best contributions that were submitted. The result is a very readable and well written book enshrined in the symbol of the ruby which stands for kindness and compassion.
That which is most appealing about this collection of stories is that the kindness shown at one instance of time is nearly always repaid in some way or other, forging deep and lasting bonds as the protagonists walk their life paths in tandem with one another. In some cases, they may experience a total reversal of a bodily malfunction as in the case of the first story, in which a man took care of a wounded eagle, unable to fly and nursed it to wellness. Later on, he was afflicted with cancer and he is convinced that dream conversations with his pet eagle, supplemented with chemo, was the cause of his total recovery.
A second story documents the success of a program called "Labs`n Life" in which dysfunctional children with learning and other problems are made to train Labradors. The interaction with these intelligent and loving animals, miraculously opens up these children and helps them integrate into the mainstream.
The theme of working with animals continues with the rehabilitation stories of Dusty the horse and Rae the dog who are restored to their playful selves and fulfil memorable relationships with their caregivers.
A few of the stories will touch you deep down inside. There is the erstwhile convict, Ray, who after years of confrontation with the bullying and sadistic warden of the penitentiary that he had occupied since his late teens, helped set fire to it. The warden was changed to one who had a record of successfully rehabilitating dreaded inmates and the whole atmosphere of the place changed as the convicts applied their energies to study and vocational training. There were no more incidents of arson or otherwise and our friend, Ray, after he was released was able to successfully land a job, get married and raise a family.
There is the holocaust survivor, who neutralized the actions of local politicians by going out with his own message of peaceful coexistence, ultimately reaching out to millions.
Another story that I will find difficult to forget is the story of a young African American black belt karate champion on the karate circuit, who it seems always acted rough if he or his team lost. It turned out that he had dedicated his life to saving children in the roughest quarters of Miami from a life of crime, by loading as many as possible into a van that was to take them to the tournament. If he did not win, he would have to borrow the money for the gas home.
There is the story of a former citizen of Rwanda, who returned to his homeland after the genocide and helped many people work their way out of poverty using his engineering skills and thus finding the way to his true calling. . . . 
Other inspiring stories include that of a young woman who appeared in the Guinness Book of Records after running seven marathons in seven continents. There is also the unusual story of window cleaners outside a hospital dressing up as children's heroes, e.g. Batman to cheer up children suffering from debilitating diseases.
The length of the manuscript is optimal, not too long, not too short.
This book, in my opinion, the best so far, in the Tales 2 Inspire series, created by Editor, Lois W. Stern. The storytelling is chiseled and evocative. . . .  One can never read too many of such stories, of seeing the way love and spirit redefine priorities and guide the human race out of black holes of its own making.

We Need More Love and Kindness
By Mommy to Twins
      Today, the news is full of negative stories. We need more positivity and compassion in our lives. In fact, the research supports that "extending compassion toward others biases the brain to glean more positive information from the world, something called the 'carryover effect.' And compassionate action--such as giving some of one's own earnings to charity--also activates pleasure circuits, which some people call 'the warm glow.'
These heartfelt stories of compassion, love, and kindness, help us to know that there are good people in the world who live their life with an open heart. They provide the necessary inspiration we need to live our own lives more compassionately. It reminds us that it really takes just one person to make a real difference in the life of another. These are stories that should be shared with everyone.

Warm Feeling
by Rod DiGruttolo
Published author, Group Leader for the Sarasota Writers Group 
       Tales of compassionate souls are always heartfelt even if they are something we do not see often enough. The Ruby Collection of Tales2Inspire presents a group of such stories that keep warm feelings bubbling in your heart for months to come.
From abused animals to frightened children, the gifts of human and animal alike jump off the page and embrace the reader. From the furthest corners of the world, injured eagles; horses destined for the slaughterhouse; a family dealing with the death of a wife and mother; children in hospital frightened while dealing with terrible pain and patients facing their fears, feel the compassion of people and creatures around them.
Fourteen stories of courage, compassion and love grace the pages of this wonderful tome. A must read for all.

Gifts of Compassion
By Michael Monji 
     Tree Whisperer, Amazon Vine Voice Reviewer
On a scale of 1 to 5, this series of Tales2Inspire books is a whopping TEN! This particular book will inspire you to never give up. The courage that these people showed is unbelievable. When you think time are tough for you, then you need to read this book. Your problems and worries will fade away. Now go out an buy all four books.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

POPULAR LINKS






BUY HERE

___________________________

----- 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.

Sunday, May 21, 2023

Great Reviews For Tales2Inspire ~ The Ruby Collection



TITLE OF BOOK: 

Tales2Inspire ~ The Ruby Collection (Gifts of Compassion)

  ISBN-10: 149594008X

  ISBN-13: 978-1495940088


ANTHOLOGY BY AUTHOR/EDITOR:

LOIS W. STERN


FAVORITE LINKS:

https:/www.tales2inspire.com

/twitter.com/tales2inspire2

/youtube.com/winningtales 


ASSURANCE TO SATISFY COPYRIGHT LAW: 

 X Yes, I have received permission from each reviewer to reprint their review in its entirety. 



CELEBRATING THESE GREAT REVIEWS FOR 

TALES2INSPIRE ~ THE RUBY COLLECTION



TRUE STORIES OF INSPIRATION, COMPASSION AND LOVE

By Gail Sobotkin 



I have read each story and can honestly say I don't have a favorite. Each and every story touched my heart deeply. If you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a world where people and animals are treated with compassion, kindness and love, where the human spirit rises up again and again to meet seemingly impossible challenges, where faith triumphs over despair, where young children and abused animals teach adult humans life lessons, where the homeless are treated with respect and compassion, you must read The Ruby Collection, an amazing anthology of 14 true stories that will inspire you to live your own life with an open heart--- despite, or perhaps because of, whatever difficulties you may face.

Compassion is a gift that keeps on giving; it changes the giver, recipient, and all those who witness the compassionate act. It makes the world a better, kinder place and when delivered with love, has the power to transform the globe one person, one animal at a time.

The Ruby Collection makes a great gift for children and adults. Treat yourself to a copy and buy one for your friends, colleagues and relatives. Ask them to read the book then pass it on to an institution such as a library, hospital or school so that the stories will be spread far and wide, planting seeds of inspiration, compassion and love.


INSPIRING 

By Shauna L Bowling

Freelance Writer/Copy Editor



. . . a book of inspiration that uplifts the reader with each story. From human/animal spiritual connections to human/human connections, these true stories of courage, love, and strength are proof that good exists in the world. We can and do overcome the odds each and every day. If you have any doubts about the power of love, read this book. All it takes is one person to reach out to make positive changes in someone's life.

I highly recommend this book to readers of all ages. It just may change your life!



ANOTHER CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL

By Bani Sodermark

Reviewer for Book Pleasures and Amazon Vine Voice Reviewer



This is a feel good book documenting a collection of true stories that involve genuine empathy and kindness to other living beings including oneself. It arose out of a writing contest by an organization called "Authors Helping Author" and includes the best contributions that were submitted. The result is a very readable and well written book enshrined in the symbol of the ruby which stands for kindness and compassion.

That which is most appealing about this collection of stories is that the kindness shown at one instance of time is nearly always repaid in some way or other, forging deep and lasting bonds as the protagonists walk their life paths in tandem with one another. In some cases, they may experience a total reversal of a bodily malfunction as in the case of the first story, in which a man took care of a wounded eagle, unable to fly and nursed it to wellness. Later on, he was afflicted with cancer and he is convinced that dream conversations with his pet eagle, supplemented with chemo, was the cause of his total recovery.

A second story documents the success of a program called "Labs`n Life" in which dysfunctional children with learning and other problems are made to train Labradors. The interaction with these intelligent and loving animals, miraculously opens up these children and helps them integrate into the mainstream.

The theme of working with animals continues with the rehabilitation stories of Dusty the horse and Rae the dog who are restored to their playful selves and fulfil memorable relationships with their caregivers.

A few of the stories will touch you deep down inside. There is the erstwhile convict, Ray, who after years of confrontation with the bullying and sadistic warden of the penitentiary that he had occupied since his late teens, helped set fire to it. The warden was changed to one who had a record of successfully rehabilitating dreaded inmates and the whole atmosphere of the place changed as the convicts applied their energies to study and vocational training. There were no more incidents of arson or otherwise and our friend, Ray, after he was released was able to successfully land a job, get married and raise a family.

There is the holocaust survivor, who neutralized the actions of local politicians by going out with his own message of peaceful coexistence, ultimately reaching out to millions.

Another story that I will find difficult to forget is the story of a young African American black belt karate champion on the karate circuit, who it seems always acted rough if he or his team lost. It turned out that he had dedicated his life to saving children in the roughest quarters of Miami from a life of crime, by loading as many as possible into a van that was to take them to the tournament. If he did not win, he would have to borrow the money for the gas home.

There is the story of a former citizen of Rwanda, who returned to his homeland after the genocide and helped many people work their way out of poverty using his engineering skills and thus finding the way to his true calling. . . . 

Other inspiring stories include that of a young woman who appeared in the Guinness Book of Records after running seven marathons in seven continents. There is also the unusual story of window cleaners outside a hospital dressing up as children's heroes, e.g. Batman to cheer up children suffering from debilitating diseases.

The length of the manuscript is optimal, not too long, not too short.

This book, in my opinion, the best so far, in the Tales 2 Inspire series, created by Editor, Lois W. Stern. The storytelling is chiseled and evocative. . . .  One can never read too many of such stories, of seeing the way love and spirit redefine priorities and guide the human race out of black holes of its own making.