BOOK REVIEW # 2017-037 - THE OPTIMAL LIFE EXPERIENCE

I received an ARC [Advanced Reader’s Copy] mobi.file copy of this book from the author’s publisher through a giveaway they had on LibraryThing and the following is my honest opinion.

The author, Brian Vondruska, has done a marvelous job in communicating to his readers about what the optimal life experience is. Instead of just throwing out the information/answer haphazardly, he has done it in a methodically manner by dividing it into specific chapters [components], with each subsequent chapter building on what happen been presented it the previous one.

Essentially, achieving the so-call optimal life experience is not achieved solely by taking something it requires a give and take, a give and take which is both physically and mentally. Extracting a combination of psychological, philosophical, and economical ideas the author succeeds in completing the jigsaw puzzle of the totality for the experience of human life itself.

Out of the intricacies which life presents, readers are given an easy to follow path towards their feeling comfortable, healthy, or happy. This path is different from one person to the next. So, as each reader reads what is being presented to them, they develop their own individual path.

At the end of each chapter, the author has kindly given his readers a summary of what had been the intention for the chapter they’ve just read. If you ever wanted a book which would help you hack your way through the complexities of life itself, then this book would serve you well in reading it.

For wanting his readers to help find the answer to the sweet mystery of life itself, and have it be the optimal it can be, I’ve given Mr. Vondruska 5 STARS for his endeavor here.

US:  https://www.amazon.com/review/R1C3FI0BUZ0I2

UK:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R1TRG962QFXYDI

STATUS REPORT # 115

Things are moving along slowly regarding completing the re-release of my debut MG/YA Paranormal romance novel, “I Kissed a Ghost.” Right now, I’ve approved the inner for the book and CreateSpace is finalizing that. Next comes the book’s cover which I’ve thought had been a done deal, since I’m using the same exact cover except for the ISBN number. But that isn’t the case, I’ve got to repurchase the cover’s design because the book is no longer using this number and has been assigned a new number. So, right now I’m waiting for CreateSpace to send me the cover again for my approval, which means I’ve got a chance to review any of the text on the back. Once I’ve approved this, they’re sending me a PROOF copy for my review and approval. It is at this point I can order the KINDLE conversion. Given this hopefully the book will be become available in its paperback, KINDLE and KINDLE Unlimited by October 15^th. Just in time for Halloween.

My review of books has picked up its pace over the past few weeks, good enough that I’ve decided to restore my original goal for the 2017 GoodReads Reading Challenge back up to 200 books from its current 150 books goal.

Part of the time since my last status has been spent allowing my erotic side to do whatever needed to be done on its writing endeavors and promotional activities got itself.

Going forwards I’ve got to return posting some more marketing/promotional ideas.  I’m looking for my fellow romance authors who want to be interview for my two blogs on BlogSpot.com and WordPress.com. So, if anyone is interested please send me a DM on my Twitter account and if you’re not following me here on this blog, I’d love for you do so right now.

Meanwhile. if anyone is interested in several unedited original snippets for “I Kissed a Ghost”, here are the links for my two blogs:

BlogSpot.com

https://mypennameonly.blogspot.com/search/label/Ghostly%20Whispers

WordPress.com

https://mypennameonly.wordpress.com/category/ghostly-whispers

BOOK REVIEW # 2017-036 - FINISH LINE

As promised here is the 600^th book review I’ve posted on Amazon earlier today:

I read this book via an Amazon-US KINDLE Unlimited download.

As young, urban boys who sometimes have nothing do except occasionally commit some mischief, Justin Ventimiglia and Keith Puccio got involved with and got picked up performing an act of property destruction. Naturally, these two juveniles had to be taught that they need to pay for what they’ve done, and the St. Louis authorities felt the best way would be to give them summer jobs at the Prairie Winds Golf Course on the east side of town.

The story this book contains is a coming of age one as these two protagonists experience a life outside of the dysfunctional one they’ve become used to living in. The shenanigans of the eccentric adults with their drinking, gambling and smoking they witness causes them to have some interesting reactions. This creates a somewhat special bond between all involved.

When you throw in a young man fighting the dreaded disease of cancer into the mix, you get an emotionally touching story of life and death, as Justin and Keith begin to have an understanding of the tests life can throw in front of you along with the love for the game of golf itself with the challenges it gives to those who play it.

While this book seems geared to those who are golfers, it’s a story which can be enjoyed by anyone. Although this book reads like a stand-alone, it’s the second part of the six-book series [Prairie Winds Golf Course] written by the author, James Ross.

For having given his readers, this poignant coming of age story, I’ve given Mr. Ross 5 STARS for his endeavor here.

US:  https://www.amazon.com/review/R2H3QEZEWO4GB8

UK:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R39ZPBKQAUA3X4

STATUS REPORT # 113 PLUS ANOTHER MILESTONE HAS BEEN HIT

Things have been happening since my last report. To begin with I finally got around to submitting the revised edited manuscript for my debut romance novel, a MG/YA Paranormal, “I Kissed a Ghost” to CreateSpace. Now, hopefully on Friday I’ll be told the inner is now finished and we can move on to the next step. If all goes well, I’d like to see my book becoming available within three weeks.

This morning I’ve hit ANOTHER MILESTONE > > > > I’ve posted my 600^th review on Amazon. So, I’d like to invite everyone to check out my reviews and perhaps you’ll find your next book to read or give as a gift.

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

I’ll be posting my 600^th Amazon here something later today.

With my “I Kissed a Ghost” on its way to see the light of day, I’ve started to return to the writing of my two WIPs. So far I’ve just ran a Grammar/SpellCheck on the two manuscript with the update versions of MicroSoft Word which came with my new computer, and now I’ve got to decide which one I’m going to work on first. The thing is I’m in no rush since I need to raise the funds to get it self-published and therefore I’ve got to do some intense promotional activities for all of my books.

HAIKU HORIZON # 22 - SHADE

Here’s this week’s prompt from the Haiku Horizon site which is “SHADE” and here are my three Haiku response endeavors:  

[ https://haikuhorizons.wordpress.com ]

In the elm tree’s shade

We sit making our sweet love

To the robin’s song

Use my umbrella

To shade yourself from the sun’s

Harmful UV rays

The tree’s huge shadow

Keeps us cool under its shade

Heat abounds outside it

Would really love to get your feedback

"I KISSED A GHOST" UPDATE # 1

Hi ALL

After a slight miscommunication with CreateSpace about submitting my completed revised manuscript for my debut romance novel, a MG/YA Paranormal entitled
“I Kissed a Ghost,” I wanted to send it in. However, when I went to the perfectly fine saved file and opened it I saw it had been corrupted. Instead of just seeing the actual manuscript, I saw it along with all the changes which I made from the suggestions the line editor gave me to improve the original one. I became frantic trying to undo what had occurred, it took almost two weeks to correct this situation, which wound up being this past Wednesday [09/13/17]. On Friday, with a clear head, I slowly reviewed each page, making sure no glitches had remained.

On Thursday, I finally wrote the copyright, dedication and my other endeavors pages; adding in the appropriate blank pages. On Friday, once I was satisfied that all is well with the manuscript I’d worked so hard to revise, I contacted those supportive folks at CreateSpace to help me in getting all the comments connected to the manuscript got removed. With this last step, and making sure one last time that I had no more issues with my manuscript, I followed their instructions to send it to them.

Now, I’ve got patiently wait to them to finish setting up the interior of the revised book, so I can move on to the next step for the re-release of this book.

BOOK REVIEW # 2017-035 - GETTING MARRIED AT LAST

I read this book via an Amazon KINDLE Unlimited download.

I found this brief book to be precisely as the author has written for her description; the truth being said, it’s not only inspirational, but quite poignant as well.  The problem is too many people set their personal HEA [Happy Ever After] too high, which only results in one disappointment after another; people need to know what both their assets and negative attributes are to really fulfill their heart’s desire, which usually involves getting married at long last.

Personally, I married at 43 to my dear OH, aged 39. I knew what my limitations were; a slight speech imperfection and a genetic condition affected my physical appearance, especially my facial appearance. But one day, I found someone who could look beyond all this and to the personal I’m like on the inside; in fact, both of us looked at each of our personalities and compatibilities more than anything else, much like the author herself.

The only negative thing I can say about her book is that I feel she’s targeted her reading audience towards women. We’ve got to recognize and remember that there are scores of men who are still suffering the same way, downtrodden that they’re still living alone, and might benefit from reading the book themselves.

Every book should have a playlist which can accompany it, and this book is no exception. While for this book most people would think of Dean Martin’s “Everybody Loves Somebody”, there’s another song which he sang “Somewhere There’s a Someone” which I feel far more epitomizes what this book is trying to communicate. Here are the lyrics, see if you agree with how I feel:

Somewhere there's a someone for everyone

Somewhere there's a someone for me

Though I may be lonely now

I'll see it through somehow

To someone's heart I know I hold the key

Somewhere there's a someone for everyone

Somewhere there's a someone for me

And I'll search my whole life through

Until I find a love that's true

For I know somewhere there's a someone for me

(Somewhere)

(Somewhere)

And I'll search my whole life through

Until I find a love that's true

For I know somewhere there's a someone for me

For I know somewhere there's a someone for me

For wanting to share her story and to help others to get out of the rut they’re in, I’m happy to give Lori A. Peters and her book 5 STARS.

US:  https://www.amazon.com/review/R3GUBPIJ9NXSVW

UK:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R2QIWK40R8MLC9