BOOK REVIEW #2016-091 - ON A DARK STORMY NIGHT

Being a child of the 1950’s I can remember in the fourth grade when we were asked to write a 500 [or whatever] word composition about _________.  We weren’t allowed to deviate from that topic. However the fourth grade students, whose short stories are contained in this book, led by their teach Ms. Greer and NY Times Best Selling Author K. Bromberg were simply asked to something, without a word limitation, that began with the words “ONE DARK, STORMY NIGHT.”  

This collection of 23 short stories, written by these students, shows the diversity of their creativity. Of course a purist would say these stories need to be edited. However we must remember who’s writing these stories; and the worst errors I found is that of being passive in their writing with their frequent use of the word “was.” Because of the opportunity given to these students, it might serve as the catalyst which might interest them in becoming real authors.

Too bad is kind of opportunity hadn’t been given to me in the fourth grade, as I might have become an author at a much earlier age. The parents of these students must of proud of their children for getting something they’ve written to be actually published in a book. Parents, I feel should get a copy of this apparently permanent free KINDLE book for their child and then ask them to write something around the same topic idea as the students in this book. or even something else. And in support of these young writers I’m more than happy to give this book 5 STARS.

US:  https://www.amazon.com/review/RDOFMCU8Q4PN5

 

 

BOOK REVIEW # 2016-090 - ANIMAL TALES

Being a cat lover along with my dear OH [we can’t really have dogs where we live except for service ones] I couldn’t resist downloading this book via KINDLE Unlimited.

If you’re an animal lover, and even if you’re not, this wonderful collection of poems and short stories by Kevin Cooper has to make you smile, lift your spirits or warm your heart. As you read his short stories you quickly forget that some of the characters in it are not human, they’re a cat, a dog, or even a mouse, etc.; because in reality sometimes they are since they somehow know when we need their company, or are not feeling well.

Since we don’t have any children, we’ve adopted cats, and like children they love to keep each other company, play and occasionally create mischief. When one died because of illness, we had it cremated and had it buried in a beautiful pet cemetery; and it felt like we’d lost a real person. This is one of the emotions the author communicates within the pages of his book.

For giving his readers a delightful reading experience and for his willingness to donate the proceeds of this book to the RSPCA [ASPCA in the UK] I’ve got to give this endeavor by the author 5 STARS. 

US:  https://www.amazon.com/review/R15ZR49K39KISU

UK:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R3CT6O3AUAJJO

 

BOOK REVIEW # 2016-089 - CARPE DIEM

Remember those days when you were in school and had to read Macbeth by the bard, William Shakespeare; you must be able to remember, at least in part, this famous soliloquy:

 

There would have been a time for such a word.
Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
To the last syllable of recorded time,
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.

 

If you can, then you can totally relate to what Katy Huth Jones is saying within the poetry she’s included in this book. Life is too brief to keep worrying to what has been, because there’s nothing we can do about changing what has already happened. And we can’t worry about the future either. Instead, we must look forward to each day has it comes and live it to its fullest.

 

It’s nice looking back to the decisions we’ve made and wonder what would have been if I had only done this instead of that, I know because I’ve done it myself; and the chances are you’ve done it as well.

 

Furthermore, as I’ve already mentioned; try as we might love to do, we can’t do anything about the future even it might be only an hour, or better yet, the next minute; because some crazed idiot might decide to drive by and shoot you as you walk down the road. And to go even further, you can’t tell me what you’re thinking about RIGHT NOW because that now has already passed. 

 

Instead you must do what the quote the author uses on the very first page of her book:

 

"Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero." From Horace's Odes

 

And seize each day, each minute and each second as they come.

 

For telling the truth about what we need to do to live life to its fullest, I’m happy to give Ms. Hunt and her book, 5 STARS.

 

I read this book via a KINDLE Unlimited download.

 

US:  https://www.amazon.com/review/RFQWLVMLY3KXQ

 

UK:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R23OSVIAENVIUL

ROBIN LEIGH MORGAN'S MARKETING/PROMOTIONAL IDEA # 13

Depending on your genre try giving book readings/book talks at schools, libraries, companies and local organizations, etc where individuals might benefit from what your book has to offer. Naturally, be sure to have copies of your book with you.

 

STATUS REPORT # 88

I can’t believe it. In five days, on August 26, 2016, I’ll be marking the second anniversary of my decision to start my 2^nd second career, that of a Book Reviewer. Between January 22, 2014 and August 11, 2014 I had only read/reviewed 9 books, but today that total has already reached 373 books. I would now love to reach a total of 500 reviews before the end of the coming year.

 

Since my last Status Report I’ve read/reviewed a total of 9 books, but as you’ll noticed I’ve only posted 3 reviews here on my blog. The reason I’ve decided to do this, as I might have already said is that I wanted to increase the variety of the entries I post; which is why I’m looking to interview individuals, do a spotlight on an author’s book, or have them do a guest post here, so far no one seems to be interested in accepting my invitations.

 

I just reminded by one of my various followers on the internet that I’ve had a Short Story published in “More Than Best Friends – An Anthology in support of Guide Dogs for the Blind” Compiled by Kevin Morris  http://www.epubbud.com/book.php?g=4JFJ4VK4  The Short Story entitled “Mary Finally Gets Her Dog” is actually an excerpted scene from my debut MG/YA Paranormal romance novel, “I Kissed a Ghost” modified so I could use it has a short story. If I remember correctly the anthology got published in the beginning of 2015 about the same has the upheaval, in dear OH’s, and that of my mine daily lives, began.

For the past several days I decided to shift gears a little so I could concentrate my efforts on reading/reviewing books and get reinvigorated in my writing endeavors. I’m now looking at completing my writing of “His Darkest Secret” by the end of September, followed closely by my Erotic/Shape Shifting/GLBT novelette, “The Transformation.” The reason for my moving this novelette up to the second spot on my WIP listing is that there’s a contest I might decide to enter and would like to have it completed just in case I happen to win.  

 

I’ve got tired looking at my Gmail mail boxes overloaded with old and obsolete items that I made a concerted effort to clean them up and at 6 PM – New York time I finished and from now on I’m going to make sure I’ve got less than 10 items at any one things. During this massive cleanup I added a few more personal boxes which will assist me in moving forwards with everything I’m doing these days.

BOOK REVIEW # 2016-088 - IT'S HARD TO GO HOME

As we look back to when we were twelve, the same age as Millie Jackson, the protagonist in Ms. Soard’s book, how many of us can remember the difficulties we had coming of age. But I wonder how many of us had to endure the kind of family environment she had to face on any given day, a strict mother who rule the roost without a single item getting under her radar.

 

Luckily Millie has two best friends, her two cousins Aaron and Josh, as her company. To away from her daily miserable environment, Millie loves to wander into the wooded mountainous area around her home. The only thing she really needs to keep mindful of is not running into creepy old man Taylor who frightens her slightly each time she sees him on one of his daily hikes to his wife’s grave.

 

Everything is essentially fine with Millie until the day a tragedy hits her like a brick when the car Aaron’s driving gets involved in a horrific accident and kills Josh. Just like when we hear that one of our loved ones has been suddenly taken away us, we’re in a state of total disbelief; she wants it to be a horrific mistake or merely a bad dream as well.

 

While Millie is too young to do what we as adults sometimes resort in doing, like getting drunk to make us feel better, she is getting tempted by Renee, who she’s getting increasing involved with, into using drugs to get the same result. The question is which path will Millie ultimately decide to take.

I loved the author’s true to life approach to this story, an approach which didn’t appear to be overly self-righteous. The fact that Millie was able to rise above the adversities she had to face and to honor the memory of her cousin Josh’s life is something which should pull at the heartstrings of the adults reading this book, like me. This book can also be used to show readers in the target audience for this book that they need to put any event like the one Millie had to face behind them, so they can move on with their lives unabated, which is why I’ve decided to give Ms. Soard 5 STARS for this endeavor.

 

US:   https://www.amazon.com/review/RF4GXTNZ2Y77Z

 

UK:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R3JTBHBUW84ZK

BOOK REVIEW # 2016-087 - DANA'S DUO

I received a mobi.file copy of this book from the author from the giveaway she had on LibraryThing and the following is my honest opinion.

 

While Dana had a fixation on the owner of the company ever since she started working there, Drew Fischer; she also had an eye for the Head of Security there, Lex Bradshaw. By a twist of fate Lex came to her assistance when she was being harassed by Mr. Harding from the Human Resources Dept. From the moment Lex brings her to Drew’s office the sexually interaction between Dana, Drew and Lex begins to quickly develop into an extremely hot ménage-à-trois; something which she could never have imagined happening.

 

Ms. Lynch’s overly descriptive narratives, as well as her highly descriptive tag attachments; both of which are usually frowned upon in any good work of fiction; merely add to the hot nature and what she’s written here and making them sizzle.

 

It could be hard for practically anyone who reads this novella, and who begins to fantasize they’re actually in Dana’s shoes, to avoid having some kind of emotional and physical feelings, similar to the ones Dana experiences in this book’s storyline.

 

As I read some of the sizzling scenes this author has created in her novella, I couldn’t help hearing the party song “Hot Hot Hot” by Buster Poindexter playing in the back of my mind. And for taking me out of the doldrums of reading the non-erotic books I’ve been reading/reviewing, which I loved doing; I’m giving Ms. Lynch and her endeavor here 5 STARS.

 

US:  https://www.amazon.com/review/R2R84PFNJYXBUX

 

UK:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R39TQJRJH6UJXP

BOOK REVIEW # 2016-086 - GET OVER HIM GIRL: THE MOVING ON MANUAL

There are far, far too many women who have gone through abusive relationships with guys that have finally ended in divorce, for which she should now be extremely grateful for. There are far, far too many women whose relationships have ended abruptly with devastating results; and what they’ve thought would be their HEA turned out to be an unfortunate false alarm, a false alarm which they’re now blaming themselves for. The problem is all too often for many of these women, I hate to say this, is their persistence in making the same mistake by going after the same kind of.

Ms. DeLoach has done a wonderful job in relating her own her divorce and four crushing catastrophes; but unlike so many other women she refused to become bitter about any of them. She knew what she had to, and what she wants the readers of this book to do now.

If you’ve ever been in what you’ve thought had been a wonderful relationship which suddenly turned sour, you probably must have wondered what you did wrong.  The truth is the only thing you’ve done wrong has been, not really knowing what you want in a relationship. It could been looking for the image of your father in your desired guy, or it might have been refusing to give up on the image you’ve had for your true love ever since you’ve been a teenager.

The author’s intention in putting this book together is for it to serve as a guide for women who have been down the same road which she has had to endure, and not to have them go through the same difficulties. In order to move forwards and possibly find the HEA they’ve been looking for so long, women need to first get over their breakups and then they need to discover what their truly need to look in obtaining their long desired HEA. But in order for this book to what the author wants it to do, women have to be willing to accept the advice of someone who’s been in their shoes.

For having written a manual which can possibly help millions of women overcome their hurt and move on, I’m happy to this effort by Ms. DeLoach 5 STARS.

I read this book via a KINDLE Unlimited download.

US:  https://www.amazon.com/review/RX6W6CBZ5KCX9

UK:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/RACHJAN2AWUP

 

 

STATUS REPORT # 87

In the past several weeks I’ve been pushing myself quite a bit so this week I decided to take a small break and rest my weary mind. As a result I only reviewed two books, one of which I posted here, I made a sketchy outline for the rest of my adult Contemporary entitled “His Darkest Secret,” and wrote an additional 1,400 words for. Two of my requests to read/review a book on The Romance Reviews [TRR] website got fulfilled; they turned out to be short stories which I’ve already and posted my report on that site.  Once the review gets approved, I’ll be posting in on all of the regular on-line sites; since I don’t want to overwhelm my readers with reading mostly reviews here, I won’t be posting them here.

I would love to add interviews and spotlights of books to the types of postings I do here, so if anyone is interest in either of these two items PLEASE send me an email at rlmorgan51@yahoo.com  SUBJECT:  I’D LIKE TO _____________.  I will be creating a FIRST COME/FIRST SERVED listing to help me keep track.

 

 

BOOK REVIEW # 2016-085 - AMISH CHOICES

One of the reasons I loved reading this book was the education I’d received regarding the Amish. I, like most people, never knew they were open to the things as those which the period of Rumspringa allows for before they’re of the age they must make the decision of whether or not to move away from the church/community or to stay and follow all the rules stipulated in the Ordnung.

In her heart Ruth Yoder knows she should she should remain and begin living the Amish life with Jacob Miller, unfortunately just before the clock strikes midnight, forcing her to make her decision, the English gentleman, Dr. John Williams, she met during her Runspringa decides to return with the intention of marrying her.  Hearing about Jacob he gives Ruth the old ultimatum of it’s either me of him, demanding her answer in a week. If this wasn’t enough to cause confusion in her mind as to which proposal she should accept; fate steps in as Jacob gets hit by a car and with John saving his life adding to her confusion.

As soon as Dr. Williams gave Ruth his ultimatum I couldn’t help but recall Mary MacGregor singing her song from 1976, “Torn Between Two Lovers.”   

There are times when a woman has to say what's on her mind

Even though she knows how much it's gonna hurt
Before I say another word let me tell you I love you
Let me hold you close and say these words as gently as I can

There's been another man that I've needed and I've loved

But that doesn't mean I love you less
And he knows you can't possess me and he knows he never will
There's just this empty place inside of me that only he can fill

Torn between two lovers, feeling like a fool

Loving both of you is breaking all the rules
Torn between two lovers, feeling like a fool
Loving you both is breaking all the rules

Now we come to the BIG QUESTION, given all this, with whom does Ruth’s heart belong to: It is a life-long childhood friend or is it the doctor who saved his life?

If you were in Ruth’s shoes, who would you chose to have your HEA with? I know what she did and I feel she was correct in making her decision, but you’ll have to read this book to find out, a book which I’m giving 5 STARS to.

I read this book via a KINDLE Unlimited download.

US:  https://www.amazon.com/review/R10SSPMRD8Q9V9

UK:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R3HDNEXDVTXP3Q

ROBIN LEIGH MORGAN'S MARKETING/PROMOTIONAL IDEA # 12

If you have the funds you can take out an ad for your book in a newspaper. Naturally big city newspapers will cost more than ones in a smaller local. You should remember ads which are placed on the internet usually get a better response since no one really wants to be bothered having to go on the internet and type in your book’s link[s]; all they need to is to click on the link in the on-line ad.  

FLASH FICTION - INDIES UNLIMITED - HORIZON

I’ve just found another site where I can get writing prompt for the Flash Fiction I love to write, it’s Indies Unlimited

Instead of the 5 sentence requirement I had to deal with at the other site I used to use, this site has a STRICT 250 word limit, in addition whatever is written has to be appropriate for the photo they give.

This is my first Flash Fiction I’m writing using this site. And as I’ve done in the past, I’m using the prompt word as an acrostic around which I write my response to the prompt word. 

                                    (c) K. S. Brooks - 2016

                                     Zoe Learns Never to Ask Again

Highlighting the relatively barren coastline there stood a lighthouse, small and dainty as it could be.

One day, Mother Nature decided she would turn her darker side on and to have a little storm at sea.

Regretfully it was also the day Robert finally capitulated to his wife continuously asking him to take her fishing.

It appeared that his wife, Zoe, had unfortunately never been on any ocean going boat; she always thought it would be the same as the river or lake sightseeing trips they took on their vacations.

Zoe felt relatively fine on the calm ocean until the late afternoon when Mother Nature decided it was time to cause a little excitement by causing the waves to get rough and the sky to darken.

On board their boat, The Lucky Star, Robert had to do everything he could to make Zoe feel comfortable, while at the same time trying to get them back safely to their boat’s slip at the marina. And if it wasn’t for that small lighthouse on the HORIZON guiding their way back, Robert and Zoe might have never returned.

Now back to where they had started their fateful trip, Robert told Zoe, “You see why I never wanted to take you.” The only way she could respond was to say she does and promise that she’ll never ask him again.

I would love to hear your comments. 

STATUS REPORT # 86

As I wrote in my delayed posting of my Status Report #85 yesterday instead of reviewing any books, etc., I had decided to concentrate all my efforts I needed/wanted to read/review, it was I decided to all my efforts in completing a re-read/editing/revision of the first of WIPs which has remained dormant since my dear OH had gone into the hospital in March 2015.

Yesterday I had mentioned the stats for my WIP manuscript up to that point: a total of 200 pages in 29 chapters with a total of approximately 50,500 words. I also said I anticipate needing an additional 4/5 chapters and about 8,500 words to able to type that elusive final period of my manuscript. Well I was wrong.

As I mulled over what to write next I began to vaguely remember I had already written several more chapters with those additional words. As you might expect with this thought running through those little grey cells of my mind I began to search high/low for this. When I had begun to give up hope of finding it, I found one of those small external drives you can store your files on, around lunchtime two days ago, dusty at the bottom of a two-drawer file cabinet I hadn’t looked at for as long as I hadn’t looked at this manuscript.

I’ve spent the time since slowly going over these found pages just like I’ve already done with the rest of this manuscript; and by the time I had finished late last night, I had about what I had anticipated I would need to type that elusive final period, in fact I added about 8,700 additional words, 6 additional chapter with 32 additional pages. My intuition proved to be correct in regards to this; however it is now that I will need those same additional 4/5 chapters and about 8,500 words to able to type that elusive final period of my manuscript.

So once again I anticipate I will be complete this manuscript by the end of this month. In the meantime it’s back to my old routine of reading/reviewing of books and the usual other postings I do. Now I’m off to start doing the other things I needed to do in my last report.

THANKS for those supportive private messages I keep getting from you “guys”, I truly appreciate them.

Love

Robin Leigh Morgan  :-D :-D :-D

STATUS REPORT # 85

I originally wanted to post this Status Report in the morning of August 1, 2016 but in my eagerness complete what I’ve mentioned below. I had completed writing this post like all my previous reports in WORD, but then I forgot to actually post it.

You’ve probably noticed in the past week since my last Status Report aside from the one review I’ve posted today, I’ve only done one other book review. The reason wasn’t that I didn’t have any books I needed/wanted to read/review, it was I decided to concentrate all my efforts in completing a re-read/editing/revision of the first of WIPs which has remained dormant since my dear OH had gone into the hospital in March 2015. This was amazing how many little errors I’ve found using the new set of eyes I had gained not looking at this manuscript for just over 15 months.

I completed this endeavor this past Sunday afternoon in which I’d found over 450 tweaks/additions I had to make; which resulted in my adding approximately 2,400 words, splitting one chapter into two, and changing the format of each page. I should point out when I write my manuscripts, I format page so it would like an actual page of a book [9”x 6”] along with the appropriate margin settings. As it stands, my adult Contemporary romance novel entitled “His Darkest Secret” has 29 Chapters, with 200 pages and approximately 50,500 words. I believe with an additional 4/5 chapters and about 8,500 words I should be able to type that elusive final period of my manuscript.

I’m looking forwards to completing the two interviews I’ve received and revising my quest blog post for another posting. I’m still available if anyone wants to interview me or for me to do my guest post.

Last weekend my dear OH and I went to a large mall to do some shopping for clothes which both of us desperately needed to get, but needless to say we still need to buy some more clothes; and as you can imagined this means spending a lot of money at one time, instead over a period of several months.

All I need to do now is to promote my two books like crazy so I can raise the funds I need to have the manuscript edited and then to self-published this WIP and hopefully to a re-editing/re-release of my debut MG/YA romance novel. It would be wonderful if I could just win these funds from a lottery drawing. I know this is wishful thinking; but I can still dream, can’t I?

BOOK REVIEW # 2016-084

Wow if there was ever a book that was supposed to serve as a guide for women for gain any sort of assertiveness in their lives – THIS BOOK IS IT !!!

The basic problem for women is that for too long women have allowed their past, specifically their lives as a child, to control who they are today.  Dr. Julie de Azevedo Hanks has done a marvelous job in creating a pyramid of information to help women is this predicament, beginning telling what the difference between assertive and not being it.

The author’s experience not only as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker [LCSW] but as a Psychotherapist lends itself perfectly to her readers what they need to gain the assertiveness they’re looking for.

Instead of merely telling her readers this is what they must do or not do, she asks them to reflective on their lives and to look at the past events they’ve experienced from different angles so they can try to: have more clarity in their lives, more compassion towards others and how to connect with them more effectively, increased calmness when the situations warrant it, and most important an increase in the confidence they have about themselves.  In order to attempt this, the book contains exercises which I feel are not to arduous to do.

Being a child of the 1950’s, if was a song which would epitomize what this book is trying to do for women, than it would have to be “I Am Woman” by Helen Reddy.  If you’re not familiar with this song here are some of the lyrics:

I am woman, hear me roar

In numbers too big to ignore
And I know too much to go back an' pretend
'Cause I've heard it all before
And I've been down there on the floor
No one's ever gonna keep me down again

[Chorus:]

Oh yes I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to, I can do anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman

You can bend but never break me

'Cause it only serves to make me
More determined to achieve my final goal
And I come back even stronger
Not a novice any longer
'Cause you've deepened the conviction in my soul

As you can probably see there’s no way I can’t give this book the 5 STARS it so richly deserves.

 

US:  https://www.amazon.com/review/R11918QYSK5UQ7