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

BOOK REVIEW # 2016-101 - CAT WISE

Being a child of the 1950’s whenever a mother had a question regarding the raising of their children the book they would ultimately turn to would always be “Baby and Child Care” by Dr.  Benjamin McLane Spock. The book helped mothers raised their children from infancy to toddlers to school age kids to adolescents.

There was almost no topic the book didn’t have some sort of answer for. The book also helped parents to better comprehend their children’s needs and behavioral issues, as well as the child’s place in the overall dynamics of the family.

My dear OH and I have no children, instead for the past, almost 23 years we’ve had “fur children” better known as our cats. While I knew the simple basics regarding cats and their behavior since I had them for about 12 years before getting married, this book has gone into far greater detail and has gone into areas I had no idea as how to handle.

I received an ARC [Advance Reader’s Copy – uncorrected proof copy] through a giveaway the publisher had on GoodReads and this review is my honest opinion.

In reading this book I found it quite well organized in a logical progression which mirrors a cat’s live from being a small kitten to that of being a senior citizen cat. This is a book we wish I and we had when we adopted our cute bundle of fur.

Each chapter of the book has a question being raised and the followed by the author’s answer, which has been thoughtfully broken down into segments so the reader can better comprehend the solution being offered.

Ms. Pam Johnson-Bennett in this book has done for cat lovers and their “fur children” what Dr. Spock had done for mothers and their real children; which is why I’m not hesitating in giving this book 5 STARS.

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

UK:   https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R39IX9UYJCA9L5

BOOK REVIEW # 2016-100 - FOOL MOON

As you know life has a way of throwing a curve into its path and changing the path of your destiny, because most likely it has already happened to you in one form or another.

With the author’s skill of writing this novella you find yourself stepping into Lorileen Masters’ shoes and that you’re a teenager, a teenager who has basically everything she wants to have based on her family’s situation; but the only thing which prevents this from being an ideal situation is that you and your family have both been cursed by a malevolent witch, and it’s up to you to undo it.

You’re told the only way for this to happen is to confront the witch face to face and work out an amiable agreement for the curse to be lifted; not an easy task since there’s usually a formidable price which would be demanded to be paid.

Lorileen’s trek is quite daunting as she’s constantly being stalked by shadows, shadows which can only belong to the witch. But her white knight, Archer Cross, in the guise of a hunter, comes to rescue her and then protect her until she reaches the destination of her quest, with his surprising power over her shadows.

There’s a kismet which takes here between these two individuals, a kismet which neither one had ever expected the moment they first met. It is also where life might be throwing a curve into Lori’s life; for if she succeeds in undoing her curse, she’ll have no memory of the trek she has just endured, no memory of anything which has transpired since the curse had first been cast, which definitely includes her savior Archer.

Will Lori toss away the reason she made her trek just to be with Archer? Could the kismet which occurred when they first met survive the aftermath of the curse being lifted?  I’m not telling.

This YA romance novella also contains the right amount of humor, magic and fantasy to engage its readers to continue reading, which is why I’ve given Ms. Brooke and this book 5 STARS.

US:   https://www.amazon.com/review/R2YCGN1D4GUSB0

UK:   https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R1HVHDZJMPD5BA