STATUS REPORT # 95 - 2016 YEAR END POST

I can’t believe it’s been over a month since my last status report; but, here I go, doing it again by not posting the way I would like to; on a more regular basis. It’s the holiday season and you know how hectic that can be. But it’s New Year’s Eve and for the coming year I’m making a New Year’s Resolution to keep to some sort of a regular schedule in the kind of postings I do each week.

 

One of the things I would like to do interviewing authors, especially those who had to write in my genre of romance, hopefully once a week regarding their writing endeavors on both of my blog sites [BlogSpot.com and WordPress.com] provided I can find authors who are interested in being interviewed by me.  So if you would care to be interviewed please let me know as it’s going to be on a first come/first served basis.

 

I looking at posting more marketing ideas some of which might only be useful to certain individuals, along with one/two new weekly items.

 

This year I’ve completed the 2016 Reading Challenge on GoodReads.com again. I’d set a goal of reading/reviewing 200 books and now at the year of this year I’ve read/reviewed 231 books. As a reminder I don’t accept requests for book reviews. I only read/review books I’ve won through giveaways for books I’m interested in reading, want to read on my own, and if I should receive free download of a book for having subscribed to a newsletter, etc., I read/reviewed them as well provided I’m interested in reading them. Being a Book Reviewer as you probably can tell has become quite a serious endeavor for my 2^nd second career since retiring back in the middle of February 2010, and is now doing better than my desire to become a bestselling romance author. Since making my decision to be become a Book Reviewer back in August 2014 I’ve reviewed 461 books on Amazon, GoodReads and LibraryThing. My goal for 2017 will once again be 200 books, and as soon as GoodReads posts their challenge I accept it.

 

So far I didn’t win one of the two writing contests I’ve entered and I’m still waiting to hear from the second one.

 

In regards to my writing endeavors I’ve got three WIPs I’m set on completing before July 2017: an adult Contemporary romance novella entitled “His Darkest Secret,” a MG/YA Urban Fantasy novella entitled “The Secret of the Well,” and an GLBT Erotic Shape-Shifting novella entitled “The Transformation.”

 

I also in the midst of deciding whether I should go with a reediting of my debut romance novel, a MG/YA Paranormal entitled “I Kissed a Ghost” which if I do will result in a good period of time for the book being not available in either the paperback or KINDLE version.

 

I would love to read your comments so I know what you think or how you feel about my posts and activities; so don’t be shy or bashful.

 

Lastly, I want to wish all of my followers on this blog and your families a Very Happy and Prosperous New Year.

 

O X O X O X

 

Robin Leigh Morgan

 

BOOK REVIEW # 2016-111 - HOLIDAY SPICE AND EVERYTHING NICE

A BAKER’S DOZEN OF DELIGHTS

I’d brought this book on December 22, 2016 with the intention of reading one story a night for each of the 12 days of Christmas, but as it often said: “The best laid plans of mice and men often go astray” is what would best described what happened to me. It started with my inability to access my computer [I read my KINDLES on my computer] starting on Christmas Eve which I didn’t resolve until the 26^th. And with surprises [distractions] coming up for the next two days, when I got home with my dear OH [other half] on the 28^th I decided to lock myself up in our spare bedroom with orders not to be disturbed unless it was a dire emergency. So yesterday [December 29^th], I again locked myself up in the spare bedroom until I finished reading this wonderful anthology of 13 stories written by some of the bestselling authors from the New York Times and USA Today. This collection is a wonderful opportunity to read something new from your favorite authors or discover authors you’ve never read before.

 

The assortment of hot steamy yet sweet delights contained in this book is sure to please any aficionado of this genre like myself. I became tickled being about to fantasize stepping into the shoes of the female protagonists in each of these stories. Imagine if you will, being able to be in the arms of a hot alpha male or an unbelievable sexy Billionaire; or even better yet, being in bed with one of them doing whatever; something you might not worry about if doing it winds putting you on Santa’s naughty list for next year so soon.

 

And even though Christmas might be over this collection is guaranteed to turn up the heat on any cold night or day for the weeks to come, which is why I’ve given this collection and each of its authors 5 STARS.

 

US:   https://www.amazon.com/review/R19QT4NEB0ANA8

 

UK:   https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R2UTVM2N5N8P9Z

BOOK REVIEW # 2016-110 - SOUL MUSIC

I won a PDF.file for this book from the author through the giveaway she recently had on LibraryThing, and the following is my honest opinion.

Ever since we’ve been a child [I’m a child of the 1950’s] we’ve been listening to music; first that of our parents while we were still in a crib, as we grew old we gravitated to our own music and our own taste for songs we simply loved listening.

 
In this book Ms. Awen Finn attempts to interpret the significance of over 50 songs for individuals who had contact her for a “reading” of a song to be able to something about their inner being. And surprisingly when these individuals responded back, she seems to have been intuitively correct in what she wrote.

As a book reviewer I learned it is important, whenever you can, to impart something of yourself in the writing of a review; as it gives a potential reader a personal insight of what a book is about which they might be able to relate to as well. My own intuitiveness have been appreciate several times as I’ve heard back from readers who have bought a copy of the book I’d review saying that they have been able to relate to the book as well. For some reason I have the ability to have a song pop up in the jukebox of my mind only when I’m reading a romance story, perhaps this is because it is the genre I love to write in.

While this book is definitely not one in the romance genre, a song started to play in my mind, it is a song that tells us why singers write the songs they do which make us feel the way they do. The song is “I Write the Songs” by Barry Manilow.

I've been alive forever

And I wrote the very first song
I put the words and the melodies together
I am music and I write the songs

[CHORUS]

I write the songs that make the whole world sing

I write the songs of love and special things
I write the songs that make the young girls cry
I write the songs, I write the songs

My home lies deep within you

And I've got my own place in your soul
Now, when I look out through your eyes
I'm young again, even though I'm very old

[CHORUS]

Oh my music makes you dance

And gives you spirit to take a chance
And I wrote some rock 'n' roll so you can move
Music fills your heart
Well, that's a real fine place to start
It's from me it's for you
It's from you, it's for me
It's a worldwide symphony

[CHORUS 2x]

For having shared the insights for the songs as they relate to the individuals this author has done song readings for, which many of us might be able to see ourselves in as well, I’m happy to give Ms. Finn the 5 STARS I’ve given her here.

US:   https://www.amazon.com/review/R1YKJW0YGX55FG

UK:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/RR6YXU7O9BM1A

BOOK REVIEW # 2016-109 - THE RUSSIAN'S ACQUISITION

I received a print copy of this book from the author through an internet giveaway she had been involved with and the following is my honest opinion.
 
Image if you will you’re a seemingly hot sensuous blond-haired woman, by the name of Clair Daniels, who when she desires something would do anything she needs to do to get it: and one day you receive the following email:

To: ClairDaniels@BrighterDaysChildrensFund.org

From: Aleksy.D@DmitrievHoldings.com
Subject: Contractual Offer

You will find $100 000 in your charity's account today, provided I find you in my bed tonight.

 

Of course, you’d bend over backwards to get it. But one of the problems is that the guy who sent it to you is, Aleksy Dmitriev, a disreputable billionaire, whose only real interest in you is to seek revenge on the man who had destroyed his family years ago; and it doesn’t matter that your former boss is now dead. In his depraved mind obtaining the acquisition of the woman, who had been his business rival’s mistress, would still mean having acquired one of that man’s treasured possessions.

However there’s a fly in the ointment in Aleksy’s plan; to begin with, you’ve never been your boss’s lover but more importantly, you’re a virgin. Upon learning this he allows you to become his non-mistress lover, giving you all the perks which go along with it: apartment, credit cards, choice of wonderful jobs another woman would die to have. You decide to play along until you can get what he had promised you.

But as time goes along you’re unintentionally growing on him, there’s one misunderstanding after another, until the day you decide to finally leave him; after all, you’ve gotten the money he’s promised you at the start of your relationship with him. Yet, at the same time he has grown on you and not wanting to have another major rejection in your life, after not getting adopted at the orphanage you grew up in, you return there to give them the money you’ve received and to help out anyway necessary.

But what happens when he discovers where you’ve disappeared to, that you’re not a gold-digger as he had envisioned, and there’s actually a charity you’re doing things for. Will he seek you out? Will there be a HEA for the both of you? But more important, will there be another misunderstanding along the way before this will actually happen?

For having given her readers a romance story fraught with misunderstandings, I’m giving Ms. Collins 5 STARS.

 

US:   https://www.amazon.com/review/R30VV4MODGTI3I

UK:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/REW1MRUMYH4O7

 

 

BOOK REVIEW # 2016-108 - ROMANCING CHRISTMAS: VOLUME 2

It’s the Christmas Holiday time again, a wonderful time to have wishes to come true, especially if they’re of a romantic nature: a time to finally have that HEA you’ve been hoping for such a long time become a reality.

This wondrous collection of romance novellas written by seven of the nation’s bestselling romance authors on USA Today and the New York Times allows you to read another story written by an author you love to read; as well as discovering new ones you might wind up wanting to read more from. And for a price of 99 cents how can you go wrong.

This collection also allows you to experience a romance genre you might have never read before, such as a Military Romance. I also love having read a variety of writing styles from an endearing lovable one to one which is sizzling hot, with characters ranging from mere acquaintances to those who are in loving relationship with each other; all of whom have a Christmas desire regarding romance which they’d love to come true. It didn’t hurt having a Scrooge or a fairytale type godmother thrown into the mix, or even a sexy military hunk becoming the whipped cream of a hot cocoa to warm your heart and soul on a wintry day.

For having given their readers a romantic Christmassy collection of novellas I’m glad to these authors 5 STARS for their efforts here.

 

US:    https://www.amazon.com/review/R245J2NEKBKZVC

 

UK:   https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/RUR57FIAO4YQS

BOOK REVIEW # 2016-107 - AMISH LOVE OF A LIFETIME

For those of you who have read my reviews you know I’m a relatively voracious reader/reviewer of books of various genres. And while I especially love reading romances, even those hot steamy romances where I can truly fantasize about being in the shoes of the female protagonists, I love sitting down in a recliner, nuzzling up with a sweet love story without any sex scenes in my hands, and simply reading it to my heart’s enjoyment.

In “Amish Love of a Lifetime” the author, Sadie Palmer, gives us precisely that, a love story of two endearing individuals, Rebecca Bieler and Isaac Schuster, which spans the 73 years of their lives. It starts with a puppy love kind of a close relationship when they were 3 and 4 years old; where she accepted him despite and didn’t tease him because of his having a lisp, which he appreciated.

All this had been too good for these two as Isaac’s parents moved miles away to Ohio from Lancaster, PA, because his uncle got sick, leaving him depressed. When he got old enough he made the decision to move back in the hopes of courting Rebecca, a decision which winds up distressingd his parents no end.

The thing is Rebecca had always hoped their relationship even at a young age would turn out to be something more substantial, like marriage. And was quite pleased when she saw his return; hoping he’d start the courting process, starting with the simplistic buggy rides alone with each other; a courting process which the rest of the population here had until the beginning of the 20^th century, a courting process which is far more beautiful and simplistic than the haphazard, harried ones we have today.

If Isaac does what she hopes he will, her dreams of having a HEA with him will become a pleasing reality; if he doesn’t their relationship could easily turn into something else, and during this time her faith will be continuously tested.

In the end, the author’s experience living close to the Amish community in Holmes County, Ohio, gives her readers a beautiful, realistic inside glimpse of what the lives of Rebecca and Isaac had become with their marriage, having children and grandchildren, along with all the trials and tribulations the Amish lifestyle might give a typical married couple.

I’m glad and sadden that Ms. Palmer decided to take us through their lives, until the day Rebecca dies and Isaac is left sadly left alone, without the love of his lifetime by his side. An ending which we a seldom, if ever allow to see, once the couple in the HEA stories we love to read, get married and we’re left wondering what happens next in their lives.

For having given me, and her readers, a sweet love story without a single sex scene we’re usually accustomed in reading in many HEA stories I’m giving Ms. Palmer and “Amish Love of a Lifetime” 5 STARS.

I read this book via a KINDLE Unlimited download to the KINDLE device on my computer.

US:    https://www.amazon.com/review/RWJCZ09CPKKGB

UK:   https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R31GZYBH93CJ8

BOOK REVIEW # 2016-106 - THE MEN OF STARLIGHT BEND

Anyone who is a voracious reader of books, or one who is also a book reviewer like me, should jump at any opportunity in which a LIMITED collection of stories written by bestselling authors of the New York Times and USA Today for only 99 cents comes along, especially when the genre is romance. While many such collections revolve around a simplistic notion such as shapeshifters and the like, this one had been planned. The one thing which actually connects each of these five stories is a Christmas wish tree located in the local sporting goods store in Starlight Bend, Montana. Not only does each story revolve around a sexy hunk one can only dream about, each of them lives in Starlight Bend, Montana. When you add in the holiday season and making a Christmas wish come true for a child how can you go wrong?

And as with every Christmas season, a certain magic abounds around us and wishes of finding someone to love can finally be fulfilled, especially if you believe it can happen. There’s a certain warm endearing quality about the guy in each of these stories, a quality which might make you fall in love with and fantasize about being in the shoes of the woman who winds up stealing his hearts. There’s a wonderful range of romantic themes in these stories from a second chance romance by Calistic Fox in “His Angel” to a sweet beauty is in the eyes of the holder story in “The Grinch of Starlight Bend” by Jennifer Probst, a story which is similar to the romance story most if not all of us have read as a child, that of “Beauty and the Beast.” But who knew then that what we had read had been, along with “Cinderella,” had been our first exposures to romance, which is why we probably love this genre today.

For a having us 5 stories which will begin to warm the cockles of our hearts in time for the holiday season, I’ve giving this LIMITED Edition collection 5 STARS.

US:    https://www.amazon.com/review/R2LYWH3Z6F4FE5

UK:   https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/RL21MYXYGFMA5

BOOK REVIEW # 2016-105 - UNDER THE KISSING BOUGH

I love having an opportunity to partake in a smorgasbord. Who doesn’t?

Smorgasbords at weddings are simply divine to eat. You’re able to savor delicacies you seldom have a chance to eat; or delicacies you’ve never tried before, and now will love eating more of any chance you get. But along with them comes the, heaven forbid, dreaded weight gain.

Those of us who are aficionadas of the romance genres love to devour anything and everything thing written by our favorite authors. However, at the same time we’re hesitant at times in buying something written by someone we haven’t read before. This is not because the stories aren’t well written; it’s usually because we might not like that particular author’s style of writing.

This is why I love jumping at an opportunity to read a smorgasbord of multi-genre romance novellas and novelettes written by some of the bestselling authors here in the US and internationally. I love being able to see how these various authors deal with a specific theme, as is the case here. The theme in this LIMITED EDITION, which is a get it while you can situation, is the Kissing Bough, otherwise known as the mistletoe.

What’s more fun than kissing someone under under the mistletoe?  It’s kissing them under their nose.[LOL]

But seriously, how many women who haven’t found their HEA yet, each year are looking forward to this holiday season so they can grab their desired hunk and kiss him under the mistletoe, even it means having a friend nearby with a sprig of this mythical bough dangling on a string attached to a stick.

In each of the 15 wonderful stories contained in this collection, the female protagonist is counting on her kissing her guy under the mistletoe before the last berry has been removed. Will each of these women obtain what she desires, or will she be disappointed only to wait until next year for her next opportunity to have the HEA she desires?

With the low price for this collection, how can you go wrong in downloading a copy? This is why I’m not hesitating in giving this collection the 5 STARS it so richly deserves.

US:   https://www.amazon.com/review/R1YFIPZCCHAZSY

UK:   https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/RL4V7E8UKDHCS

 

STATUS REPORT # 94

I know it’s been 18 days since my last Status Report but with nothing really to report I saw no need to do one.

Since my last report I haven’t been myself, nothing serious but I just felt I need to simply relax and take care of myself. I didn’t do any work on any of my three WIPS, which I’m now going have to pay for with having to re-read several chapters of my debut erotic novella. I still have the end of the year set as when I’ll be able to type that final elusive period for the manuscript.

I haven’t done too much reading so I haven’t done that many reviews; and why I haven’t posted any of better reviews here.

The past five days were quite enjoyable. To begin with it was my dear OH’s birthday which got followed three days later by our 23^rd wedding anniversary.

Now rested from all the festivities, I’ve set and ready to begin returning to normal. So with Thanksgiving approaching we’ve decided to be different this year by going out to eat and possibly eating a non-traditional holiday meal, perhaps going so far as having Chinese food.

THANKS for following me here. I’d love hearing from you. But most important have a HAPPY THANKSGIVING with your families.

HUGS and KISSES !!!  :-) :-) :-)

BOOK REVIEW # 2016-104 - DON'T I KNOW YOU ?

I received a hardcopy edition of this book from the author’s publisher, Flatiron Books, through a giveaway they had on GoodReads and the following is my honest opinion.

“Rose McEwan has lived her life out of the spotlight—daughter, wife, mother, ex-wife, journeyman writer trying to make ends meet. But even so, fame has come to her.”  So states the description for this debut novel which contains 14 episodic stories in this fictional woman’s life from the age of 16 to 60.  At the same time the author tells us in her Author’s Note that they contain some autobiographical elements.

These stories, in part, remind me of the fictional character Walter Mitty who begins to fantasize and daydream the moment he hears something interesting the moment he hears something which triggers he imagination. Rose after encountering the celebrities mentioned in each of these stories; however when she retells each incident she begins to embellish what happens afterwards.

All of these stories are quite plausible but only to a point; these stories attempt to show that even though these individuals might be a celebrity that they’re really ordinary people like you and me given the right circumstances. Rose’s embellishments are fascinating and touching, as well as being quite thought provoking and delightfully fun to read.

The interesting thing is many of us can, given the right opportunity, might do the same thing as Rose has done. I should know because being involved in local politics the way I was I got invited to a birthday party for a local elected representative where I met someone who’s a nationally known political figure, and had a photo taken of the three of us. I didn’t have to say a single word when I would show someone the photo; the photo did the embellishing for me. Honestly, wouldn’t you want to embellish a story about someone who might met who’s well known.

For having given me something I would love to read again if I can find the time, I’m giving Ms. Jackson 5 STARS for this endeavor.

US:   https://www.amazon.com/review/R5V7MH9KLUN91

UK:   https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R1LD3DQ698N8IS

CA:   https://www.amazon.ca/review/R2P90J0I5NBJSL            

STATUS REPORT # 93

This is going to be a very brief Status Report as things should be getting back to a real sense of normalcy for myself.

To begin with I’ve finally finished judging the entries I’d received for the contest a local chapter of the RWA [Romance Writers of America]. This endeavor took me more time than I had anticipated.

Now it’s back to work on my first Erotic romance novella which as I’ve already written in my previous reports is my first priority to finish as I’ve entered the beginning in a contest from a RWA chapter, and want to have a completed manuscript prepared in case I should become a winner and someone wants to read it. Right now with a projected word count of 40,000 I’m about 48.2% finished. Once I’ve re-read the last two chapters, I ready to forge ahead towards typing the elusive final period.

I’ve already completed my GoodReads reading challenge of my reading/reviewing 200 books by the end of the year at the end of last month.

With about 60 days left for the rest of the year I’ve got to move my goal of having read/reviewed my 500^th book until about the end of January 2017.

 

BOOK REVIEW # 2016-103 - ANATOMY OF A SONG

Being a child of the 1950’s I was born along with the real birth of the genre of music we fondly know as “Rock ‘n Roll”, and then for the genre known as “Pop”.  By the time I was eight [1959] and could really begin to enjoy listening to the old style radios we had I enjoyed listening to this kind of music. While I might not have understood the meanings of the songs being sung, I still enjoyed the sound of these songs.

When I was ten I got my first transistor radio with those rectangle 9 volt batteries I could listen to my music any time I wanted to. The problem was back then I fell asleep with the radio on, and as you might have guessed by the time I woke up the battery had died. I had no music so I wound up, much to my chagrin, having to ask my parents for money to buy a new battery. Of course, wanting to teach me a lesson about responsibility [turning off the radio before going to sleep], they would deduct it from my allowance.

All my friends had record players which we listened to the 45 rpm records we used to buy with our allowances. Some of my friends had been lucky as their parents gave them money to buy their records any time a song became very popular. There was never a party where records weren’t played, sometimes over and over again. We used to stack as many records as we could so we wouldn’t have to change the records on our own.  Diners had a small one at all of the booths they had, and if you were lucky your parents would pay for your song selections.

We all loved listening to the songs of the “Rock ‘n Roll” and “Pop”, etc. eras, we never became interested if there was a reason as to why the singer[s] decided to write their songs. Even though the eras of this music have died, we’ve never gotten the music out of our blood. Which is why we’re nostalgic about them still today, and why, even as adults, we’re always looking for an opportunity to see our favorite artists live. And along with this nostalgia comes an interest in knowing if there had been a reason for any of the songs a specific artist is noted for singing.

The only way to find out what had brought about the creation of the songs we had loved is to speak to those involved which is precisely what Marc Myers has done here. By interviewing these individuals [those still alive] the author takes us into their minds and the events surrounding the decades of songs the author has included in this marvelous compendium of the songs we all loved listening to as we grew up, songs we still love hearing today.

If there’s song which would epitomize all of the songs and artists in this book it would be Barry Manilow’s song I Write the Songs:

I've been alive forever

And I wrote the very first song
I put the words and the melodies together
I am music and I write the songs

[Chorus]

I write the songs that make the whole world sing
I write the songs of love and special things
I write the songs that make the young girls cry
I write the songs, I write the songs

My home lies deep within you

And I've got my own place in your soul
Now, when I look out through your eyes
I'm young again, even though I'm very old

[Chorus]

Oh my music makes you dance

And gives you spirit to take a chance
And I wrote some rock 'n' roll so you can move
Music fills your heart
Well, that's a real fine place to start
It's from me it's for you
It's from you, it's for me
It's a worldwide symphony

[Chorus]

[Chorus]

This is why I loved Marc Myers efforts in compiling this compendium of the origins of each of the songs he’s included here. Some of us might be familiar with the songs included in this book as they come from a column, of the same name, which the author wrote for the Wall Street Journal [2011 – 2016]. It must have been a monumental task for the author to select the 45 songs he’s included from all those he’s written about; perhaps if we’re lucky we might see a second book covering additional songs, songs we’ve listen to which we’d love to know the origins of.

For bringing back memories of our younger days and for enlightening us as to the origins of these songs, how can I not give Mr. Myers 5 STARS for his endeavor here.

US:   https://www.amazon.com/review/R3CFVDV0AH1YWJ

UK:   https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R33PSFULWZYMDF

 

STATUS REPORT # 92

I know it has been over three weeks since my last Status Report but as you’ll see I’ve been extremely busy. During the past 24 days I’ve:

Read/reviewed 16 books.

Today I’ve posted 2 reviews on GoodReads.com which completes my reading challenge goal there of reading/reviewing 200 books by the end of this year.

I can’t believe it’s been about 26 months since I decided to officially become a Book Reviewer and as of the writing of this Status Report I’ve read/reviewed 429 books with an Amazon Reviewer Ranking of 3,278. My 2^nd second career since retiring from my NYCity civil service job has become far more successful than my second career as a romance author.

I’ve judge 5 entries for one reading contest, and I’m in the process of judging 3 entries for a RWA Chapter contest where I’ve just completed judging one entry today.

As you’ve read in my previous Status Reports, I’ve entered two different RWA Chapter’s writing contests and I’m now in the process of trying to complete both the adult Contemporary novel and the Erotic novella before the end of the end so my completed manuscripts can be ready in case I should be declared a finalist in either/both contests I’ve entered and someone wants to see the completed manuscript. As far as the status of my manuscripts is concerned; the adult Contemporary is about 84% completed compared to about 48% for the erotic novella.

My intention of interviewing authors for my blog here has fallen to the wayside since I failed to get anyone interested in being interviewed by me.

My dear followers, I would love to read any comments you might have.

As a reminder, you can find my reviews here:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A19QLCLVPLZH0B

And more as to who I am here:

http://www.about.mr/rlmorgan51 :-)

Have a GREAT WEEK with whatever you do !!!  :-) :-) :-)

 

BOOK REVIEW # 2016-102 - THE TUNNELS

I received an ARC [Advanced Reader’s Copy] of this book from the publisher and the following is my honest opinion.

The moment I’d received my ARC copy of this book I had been able to find a video for the “banned” documentary the government didn’t want anyone to see. The documentary did a marvelous job in presenting a visual of what the individuals involved in creating the tunnel and their successful escape to freedom. In the NBC documentary you got to see and understand the risks they had to face in not being caught and feel the highly fraught emotions they faced each day. The unfortunately given the time restraints the documentary had to deal with to show everything important regarding the dire undertakings these individuals took to gain their freedom from the suppressed living conditions in Berlin in 1962.

There was no time to dwell into all of the historical background related to the creation of the divided city of Berlin and the construction of the wall which isolated it from the rest of the world.

Mr. Greg Mitchell has gone an exquisite job in gathering the informational minutia related to the Berlin Wall and all the escape attempts especially as well as the planning for the specific escape this book deals with and the documentary which the government tried to suppress during the heighten Cold War period during the Kennedy’s presidency. The author describes all the players involved and the specific roles they played in being a hindrance to the escape attempt and more important helping it move towards its ultimate fruition.

With the all of the completed appendices and index which will be included in the completed book, this book about “The Tunnels” being dug in Berlin during the Cold War will make an awesome edition to any library, which is why I’ve given Mr. Mitchell 5 STARS for his endeavor here.

US:   https://www.amazon.com/review/RWCUKQKB5HLTZ

UK:   https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R1DHLBAH2KUEEQ

If anyone is interested in viewing the program this book refers to here's the link:

http://www.nbcnews.com/video/nbc-news/33623268#33623268