Monday, September 7, 2015
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
Book Review Manila Marriage Ap by Jan Elder
Passport to Romance Series
April 2015
Pelican Ventures, White Rose
Publishing
Romantic novella
115 pp
Ebook - $3.99
Buy on Amazon
About the Book
It all began as a lark. Shay
Callahan’s life was just fine, thank you, but when the seemingly misogynistic
missionary, Timothy Flynn, places an advertisement in a Christian magazine for
a wife, Shay decides to give it a whirl. Why not? After all, she’s not
currently seeing anyone, and this man truly needs to be taught a lesson.
When Dr. Flynn picks Shay's application, she hops on a plane and flies to the
Philippines. The strategy is to jet in, enjoy an exciting two-week vacation,
and jet out again, all at his expense. Instead, her plan backfires. The
handsome missionary man is not what he seems, and the foreign land has far more
to offer than Shay could imagine.
Embark on a tropical adventure with Shay that challenges everything she
believes.
My Review
For a sweet romantic novella,
a lot of good reading and adventure is packed in. Shay’s character is never in
doubt, even if she is, about her personality. From the moment she cheerfully
but regretfully changes her ruined heels for too-big flip flops after being baby
barfed on en route to meet her prospective fiancé with dried peas in her hair,
the reader knows we’re in for a great tale. Timothy is nothing like Shay
expects, and the author has fun unpeeling his tough outer hide.
The Philippines grow on
Shay the more time she spends there; an accident, an unexpected visit, and a
life-threatening illness draw this couple together. If anything, there is too
much packed into this short little read and some clues could be drawn out. Told
from Shay’s point of view in first person throughout, readers are treated to a
whole lot of fun introspection, subjective cues, and tangled emotions. Nicely
done. Those who like a quick and clean romantic read with a too good to be true
hero will love Manila Marriage Ap.
Check out the Passport to Romance series.
About the Author
Jan Elder is a Christian romance
writer with a zeal for telling stories other women can relate to. She strives
to write the kind of book that will strengthen the reader's faith, while also
providing an entertaining and engrossing love story. Pelican Book Group/White
Rose is publishing her first novella, Manila Marriage App, one of many in their
successful Passport to Romance series.
Besides writing romance, she enjoys the occasional hazelnut cappuccino while
watching Turner Classic Movies. Always an avid reader, she devours books
voraciously, both Christian and secular. She was born a cat-lover and all
future books will, no doubt, feature a feline in some way or another.
Happily married for twelve years to loving (and supportive) husband, Steve, the
two live in central Maryland along with Jamie (a tuxedo cat), and Shu-Shu (a
tortoiseshell cat). On the weekends, Jan and Steve comb the nearby countryside
in search of the perfect ice cream flavor.
Avalon by Vanessa Morgan
Non-fiction, memoir
105 pp
June, 2015
From the publisher:
Some cats need nine lives to make a
difference. Avalon only needed one.
From Amazon bestselling author Vanessa Morgan, Avalon is the heartwarming and once-in-a-lifetime love story of a girl and her neurotic Turkish Van cat.
With humor, the author details how Avalon made other creatures cringe in distress whenever he was around, how he threw her dates out by means of special techniques, and how he rendered it almost impossible for her to leave the house. Avalon was so incorrigible that even her landlord ordered her to get rid of him. But beneath Avalon's demonic boisterousness, Vanessa recognized her own flaws and insecurities, and she understood that abandoning Avalon would be the worst she could do to him. Thanks to her unswerving loyalty, Avalon transformed into a tender feline, and even landed a major role in a horror movie. In turn, Avalon made it his mission to be there for his human companion.
By turns jubilant and deeply moving, Avalon is a memoir for anyone who has ever been obsessively in love with a pet.
From Amazon bestselling author Vanessa Morgan, Avalon is the heartwarming and once-in-a-lifetime love story of a girl and her neurotic Turkish Van cat.
With humor, the author details how Avalon made other creatures cringe in distress whenever he was around, how he threw her dates out by means of special techniques, and how he rendered it almost impossible for her to leave the house. Avalon was so incorrigible that even her landlord ordered her to get rid of him. But beneath Avalon's demonic boisterousness, Vanessa recognized her own flaws and insecurities, and she understood that abandoning Avalon would be the worst she could do to him. Thanks to her unswerving loyalty, Avalon transformed into a tender feline, and even landed a major role in a horror movie. In turn, Avalon made it his mission to be there for his human companion.
By turns jubilant and deeply moving, Avalon is a memoir for anyone who has ever been obsessively in love with a pet.
My review:
Vanessa Morgan is a Belgian and
author and screen writer.
Anyone who quotes Dean Koontz as an
epigraph gives you a certain expectation.
You’d think Europeans
would have a different take on animal obsession, but apparently not. Even after
visiting Greece and Turkey last summer where cats roam at will and become
beloved but not possessed by locals, it’s apparent that kitty love exists on a
different plane of reality.
Morgan writes the
memoir of a twelve-year relationship with a found feline in her neighborhood in
Belgium where she lives and works. Her cat love for the rare species of Turkish
Van helps her see her life and career through different eyes. On one hand
Morgan uses Avalon, the cat, to excuse difficult relationships with people, and
on the other, she uses him to realize and bring out the qualities of love and
self-fulfillment she has buried within her.
Told in first person, real time. Recommended for those
who like true pet stories, from bringing the critter home, through antics,
feeding, and all the difficult choices one makes regarding lifestyle and life
end.
About the Author:
Vanessa Morgan is an author,
screenwriter, and blogger. Two of her works, The Strangers Outside and A Good
Man, have been turned into films. Her short film script Next to Her is
currently in pre-production. When she's not working on her latest book, you can
find her reading, watching horror movies, digging through flea markets, or
photographing felines for her blog Traveling Cats. http://travelling-cats.blogspot.com/
She lives in Belgium.
Friday, August 14, 2015
Uncharted Inheritance by Keely Brooke Keith
About the Book: Bethany Colburn finally
turns eighteen and Everett Foster is about to confess his love for her. When a
new man arrives in the village of Good Springs, he brings charm Bethany has
never encountered and illness the Land has never known. While the medicinal
power of the gray leaf tree is put to the test and the Colburn family’s
strength is stretched thin, Bethany must learn to protect her true inheritance.
Uncharted Inheritance weaves heartbreak and hope while delivering long-awaited
answers in this suspenseful story of life in a hidden land.
Electronic $3.99
Print $12.99
Audible $17.46
Links to the book online:
My review:
This third book in the series offers
a true test of mettle for the people of The Land Uncharted. Just to prove he’s
not nuts more than a desire to regain control of his errant life, a colleague
of outsider Connor Bradshaw, first book hero, Justin Mercer, manages to get to
the mysterious island where he last saw Bradshaw. The Land Uncharted appears
like Brigadoon out of the mist every so often on the equinox.
The youngest Colburn daughter of the
leader of the community of Good Springs, Bethany, is about to reach her
majority. For all of her teen years she’s wanted to know the admiration and
love of a unique man like the outworlder Connor, who married her oldest sister,
the village doctor. When Mercer washes ashore, Bethany wonders if she’s found
her man. It doesn’t take long before Bethany realizes Justin is not like
Connor, who adapted to the quaintness of this strict, faith-based community.
When Justin realizes just what might be involved in staying away from the
carnal pleasures of the near future outside world, he seeks only to return. But
will he take their secret closeted existence and its treasure with him?
It’s never really a question of how
much The Land will be affected by outside influence; the story of whether The
Land’s principles will affect Justin is a question readers can decide. The real
tale, though, is how this pristine community lives out its original moral premise.
The concept of protecting women vs. allowing them to act as a critical asset to
life is explored with an underlying power that subtly defies the delicacy that
is threaded throughout the narrative.
Grow along with Bethany as she
learns the art of adulthood in this lovely story. Readers of gentle Christian
fantasy fiction will enjoy this addition to The Land Uncharted series. I know,
it’s supposed to be a trilogy, but we can convince the author to write more,
can’t we?
About the Author:
Keely is a bass guitarist and lives
on a hilltop south of Nashville. When she isn’t writing stories or playing
bass, Keely enjoys dancing, having coffee with friends, and sifting through
vintage books at antique stores.
Author links:
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
From Newton, Einstein to God: a poetic memoir by Dr. Leong Ying
Hardcover: 216 pages
Publisher: Emerald Book Company
(January 13, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1937110710
ISBN-13: 978-1937110710
$18.95
$8.99
buy on Amazon
buy on Barnes and Noble
2015 Next Generation Indie Book
Award Winner
From Newton, Einstein to GOD is
a poetic memoir that follows the amazing life of Leong Ying, beginning with his
birth into poverty in 1961 in the former British colony of Singapore. After a
short time, his family is able to make their way to England. There, as a child
with prophetic abilities and a penchant for daydreaming, Ying turns away from
his spirituality and toward the logic of science, ultimately earning a graduate
degree in nuclear physics. Shortly thereafter, Ying immigrates to the United
States and, for a time, chases what he sees as the declining American dream.
In this new land, the duality of
Ying's life comes into focus, and he uses science--which he'd formerly applied
to deny the existence of God--to reveal the ''ultimate godly secrets.'' In
doing so, he discovers the Twin Universe, a grand cosmic cycle that will lead
us into a new phase, one that will have a dramatic influence on the existence
and evolution of humankind and our humanity to come.
Through his unique writing style,
Ying's philosophy and ideas come vividly to life. Interspersed with photographs
from his youth and adulthood, each page is a unique dance between words and
images that will inspire and enlighten.
My review:
Dr. Ying’s varied experiences and education
lead him on a journey to explore the universe and all the knowable that dwells
in it, but also the ultimate question of how and why it came into being. The
book is a biographical memoir written in a wrenched poetical scheme that leaves
some gaps and lapses into narrative sentences upon occasion, disrupting the rhythm
until it finds the flow again.
Filled with an interesting picture of an
immigrant family leaving China and finding a new life in Great Britain, the
dynamics of working parents and distance, a young man forced to find a way to
fit into an alien society and grow up to make his own way in life, Newton, Einstein to God is an
interesting story. Readers must read behind the lines to get a fuller picture
of the emotion, or as admitted by the author, lack of emotion and only belated
ability to really connect to others, particularly his parents. Dr. Ying’s
courage to venture into education, reason about his culture and delve into
matters of faith is admirable. An English class, he says, led him to attempt
this type of story-telling for his book. There are memorable nuances, an
interesting reference to appearing in a Star Trek movie, which had me reviewing
my copy to find his performance. I may have caught him in two very brief spots,
though I’m not sure and there are no credits for him in my version.
Regarding the proof of God segment, Dr. Ying
comes up with his theory, though it’s a little hazy to me how he actually
decided there is a God and changes his life because of this inspiration. He writes
a series of commandments he calls edicts: cherish life, earn your own values,
defy oppression, and so forth. He mentions more than once belief in a great
power, or a primary supercomputer, that permeates the universe, but a lack of
emphasis on Christ makes me think the faith described is not Christian but
deity-central. “Try to divide or multiple GOD and you still get total unity.”
Those who are poets might find the scheme a bit
difficult, but there are moments of lyricism: “Universal Laws of Thermodynamics
was to be the crowning culmination. On the last fourth page I wrote the
conclusion as the Proof of GOD. Determine to garner a Noble Prize in Physics
against mighty odds.” The lack of consistent tense and some punctuation which
would not affect the syllable count in the attempted couplets was problematic.
Those readers who enjoy a quirky style would find this book an interesting
read. I enjoyed this little venture into the life of an intriguing personality.
About the Author:
Leong Ying is a nuclear
physicist, science fiction author, stage director, and poet. His spiritual
journey and scientific research helped him discover the Twin Universe theory,
with the goal of proving God's existence from a scientific perspective. He's
releasing a documentary this fall.
Kathy Carlton Willis Grin With Grace Blog Tour
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Wednesday, August 5, 2015
Frankie Bow and her mystery The Musubi Murder
First released in Audio Format, Frankie Bow's debut cozy mystery The Musubi Murder is now available in Print from Five Star/Cengage
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What I love about this book: The
Molly Barda mysteries (this is the first in a series) are exactly
THE MUSUBI MURDER
Buy the Book:
About the Book:
Small town life,
big academic egos, corruption, revenge, and Spam musubis! The Musubi Murder is
the first campus crime novel set in Hawaii, and the perfect read for mystery
lovers, Hawaii expatriates, disillusioned academics, and anyone who fancies
Spam (the meat).
Professor Molly
Barda is a born and bred big city girl. But thanks to the academic job market,
she finds herself at remote Mahina State University, using her top-ten
literature PhD. to teach resume-writing to business majors. Molly just wants
to keep her head down and stay out of trouble until she gets
tenure, so naturally she ends up getting dragged into the middle of a
grisly murder case.
A brief Interview with the Author:
What I love about this book: The
Molly Barda mysteries (this is the first in a series) are exactly
Who are the bad guys? In The Musubi
Murder, as in life, no one thinks of themselves as the bad guy. Everyone is the
hero of their own story.
For example Molly's
bottom-line-focused dean refuses to antagonize the "customers" (aka
tuition-paying students) so Molly is forced to give two plagiarizing students a
penalty-free do-over. Naturally this makes the other students cry foul and
blame Molly for playing favorites. The dean thinks he is looking out for the
financial health of the college; Molly thinks he is undermining her teaching
and destroying the value of a Mahina State University education. Neither one is
entirely wrong.
What I hope readers will tell others
when they're done: That the book made them burst out laughing, preferably loudly
and in a public venue.
Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Frankie_Bow
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/frankie.bow.1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/frankie.bow.1
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/frankie-bow/
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
Fall From Grace by J Edward Ritchie
424 pp
January 2015
ISBN-13: 978-1502973863
About the Book:
Heaven: a paradise of all that is
pure in Creation. Led by brothers Michael and Satanail, the Angelic Host is a
testament to cosmic harmony and love. But when an unprecedented revelation
threatens to uproot their peace, a schism splits the Host’s loyalties. Every
angel has to make a choice: faith or freedom. Good or evil. Salvation or
damnation.
War consumes Heaven in the first and
most destructive loss of life that Creation will ever know. As brother turns on
brother, the fate of Heaven and Earth rests in the hands of the Creator’s
chosen son, Michael. How far will he go, what will he sacrifice in the name of
their Father, to protect his family?
Witness the tragic downfall of a
civilization told from both sides of a bloody rebellion. More than myth, more
than legend, Heaven’s war will forever stand as a harrowing warning that even
the purest of souls can fall from grace.
My review:
The author approached me, offered me
a copy in exchange for a review. I did my usual double check of legitimacy and
some reviews, and yes, saw most were freebies, but I was still intrigued. A
slight surge of temporary wealth and the 99-cent price led me to buy the book.
I don’t mind supporting fellow authors who are serious. And Jeff was
personable. Upon opening my copy, I learned it was well-written enough for me
to stomach—as an author and professional editor, I’m basically ruined for
reading—and discovered very few issues that would keep me from regretting the
purchase.
The story of the war in heaven is a
stunner. It’s fiction—necessary for me to repeat to myself and all other
readers. The author is clear that it’s not religious. But it’s almost hypnotic.
I had to stop and ponder several times and spoke to a friend numerous times
while reading. I almost wish the author had not used the biblical names for his
world and its characters, because for the first third of the book I went down
paths of “what if” and “hmm, interesting angle” knowing it’s fantasy/fiction.
And not Christian.
Some issues are irrelevant because
it’s not religious fiction or biblical regarding the anatomy of angels and
references to humanisms; even the term “Father” for the Creator in a world
where procreation doesn’t happen, as well as occasional veiled scriptural
references might make some dedicated readers of serious science fiction or
Christian fantasy groan, but the author’s take on the different types of angels
and what their realm might be like is intriguing.
The fantasy elements of the Fires of
Creation and the weapons of warfare went a little over the top for me, but
that’s because I was taking the story too seriously. As mentioned, the author
pulls in a number of cultural and mythical references and once I realized I
didn’t really know where the story was headed I had a very hard time putting
the book down. It was long—too long, really, and if I’d been the editor I’d
have asked him to trim it—but the elements were intriguing. There were very few
mistakes that didn’t throw me out of the book. Told from multiple narrator
viewpoints. I do admit to buzzing though some of the brutal war imagery. Fall From Grace is a worthy debut novel
from a talented author.
Fall
From Grace is fantasy fiction using religious names and concepts, but is
not an inspirational story. In fact, the graphic violence, occasional language,
and sensuality may turn off some readers, so be aware this book is not
recommended for under mature later teens at the earliest or those who think it
might be theological. It’s not. But it might spark some conversation. The author has a number of posts about the story and his research on his website.
About the Author:
“J. Edward Ritchie is a novelist and
screenwriter specializing in epic world creation. He lives in Cape Cod,
Massachusetts with his wife and golden retriever.”
That’s what my novel bio says. Too bland
and impersonal? Well, let me tell you a little more about myself. Oh, and you
can call me Jeff.
I was born in the rural town of New
Milford, CT. Skateboarding, movies like Star
Wars and Braveheart, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, video games,
and classic literature all had an immense influence on my psyche and molded me
into a Frankenstein’s Monster of pop culture and academia. I knew what I
enjoyed in life and never made excuses for any of it.
For ten years I pursued a career in
screenwriting and even sold a few scripts.
The great American novel was calling
my name, as it has so many others…
My wife and I relocated to Cape Cod,
MA where I finished my first novel, the fantasy epic Fall From Grace. Trust me––you’ve never read anything quite like my
war between the angels. Inspiring and brutal, loving and bloody, it embodies
all of the thematic and fantastical elements that made me who I am today.
Movies, TV, books, comics, video
games––I dig all forms of creative escapism. That’s me in a nutshell: a nerd-of-all-trades.
Throughout my years at the keyboard, I believe that I’ve found the most
important piece of advice for all writers. Actually, a piece of advice for
everyone: find someone to love.
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
Madcap Fun with Lindsey Paley and her new book
June
2015
A
Camille Carter Novel Book One
Buy on Amazon
2.99
ebook
From the Publisher:
When
all-round buttercream princess, Millie Carter, becomes stranded at Craiglea
Manor Cookery School, she believes her chance of enjoying a merry festive
season is over.
The village of Aisford is Christmas-card perfect, but Millie hates it - she hates the snow, her freezing fingertips, and being forced to look like her Aunt Marjory in a mud-splattered wax jacket and wellies instead of her beloved shorts and sparkly sandals.
She plots her escape but ends up locking spatulas with the estate manager, Fergus McKenzie, who is forced to rescue her before she succumbs to a severe dose of hypothermia. Things start to improve with the arrival of handsome Sam Morgan, fresh from the beaches and rum shacks of the Caribbean.
Can Millie accept her fate? And will Aisford sprinkle some of its seasonal magic on her troubles?
Snowflakes and Christmas Cakes is a festive story of love and friendship and reaching for the buttercream icing and edible glitter when life gets tough.
The village of Aisford is Christmas-card perfect, but Millie hates it - she hates the snow, her freezing fingertips, and being forced to look like her Aunt Marjory in a mud-splattered wax jacket and wellies instead of her beloved shorts and sparkly sandals.
She plots her escape but ends up locking spatulas with the estate manager, Fergus McKenzie, who is forced to rescue her before she succumbs to a severe dose of hypothermia. Things start to improve with the arrival of handsome Sam Morgan, fresh from the beaches and rum shacks of the Caribbean.
Can Millie accept her fate? And will Aisford sprinkle some of its seasonal magic on her troubles?
Snowflakes and Christmas Cakes is a festive story of love and friendship and reaching for the buttercream icing and edible glitter when life gets tough.
My review:
I love Lindsey Paley’s
work. I love that each story is a little virtual visit for this American Anglophile
to Great Britain. I enjoy her characters. This first submission in the Camille
Carter series is no exception. She even made me miss winter with her summer
release.
Chef Millie is one
raw dough woman, missing that essential ingredient that would create the
perfect recipe of life. Trouble is, she keeps trying all the wrong additions
and making messes. Fleeing from tragedy to heartbreak to heartbreak and to
fling, readers follow madcap, clumsy, chip-on-her-shoulder, opinionated Millie
as she stumbles unknowingly headlong into a scheme to catch a crook. Maybe she’ll
even catch a break, but there’s no end of fun in store with Book One.
Told in third person
multiple viewpoints, this delightful contemporary British tale will delight
readers who like stories with twists and turns and a little zest with their romantic
scenes. The story is billed as a novella, but it’s not all that short. Fun read.
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