Showing posts with label BOOK REVIEWS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BOOK REVIEWS. Show all posts

Friday, August 23, 2019

BOOK REVIEW # 2019-153 - Polly Diamond and the Super Stunning Spectacular School Fair


A CHILDHOOD FANTASY CAME ALIVE FOR ME IN THIS BOOK

I received a print copy of this book from the publisher through a giveaway they had on LibraryThing, and the following is my honest opinion.

How many parents reading this review can remember as a child you loved to write stories and pretend that they were true, I can. As a child, using one of those black/white marble cardboard covered notebooks, I can remember writing them. Some of these stories were like the ones Polly Diamond writes in her magic book, Spell; which is why my inner-child loved reading this book, the only difference is that the stories she writes actually do come true.

As adults, we know how complicated the English language can be to learn even though we’ve been born here; especially when a word can have several meanings. We need to be precise as possible so there won’t be any problems with what we need or want. This is the lesson Polly learns, as the difference between her stories and the ones we wrote, is that her stories actually do come true.

If you’re going to be using your imagination as Polly does, there could be all sorts of consequences, some funny and some serious; if you don’t sure you’ve asked for precisely what you want to have, like what happens to her. And if you’re going to have something like a school fair, you’d like to make sure it will an extraordinary one which no one will ever forget.

For having given her young readers, including my inner-child, an imaginative educational reading experience; my adult side is giving the author, Alice Kuipers, the 5 STARS she’s gotten; along with Diana Toledano for her on-point illustrations for the text.

This love of writing is still with me, as I’ve become an author myself.

Monday, July 8, 2019

BOOK REVIEW # 2019-152 - Allie Ritch - "Bare Season (Children of Nanook Book 4)


DON’T LET THE BAGGAGE FROM YOUR PAST KEEP YOU FROM FINDING THE LOVE YOU WERE MEANT TO HAVE

I’d won a Mobi.file of this book from the author some time ago through a giveaway she had on the TRR [The Romance Reviews] website; however, it had gotten lost in the myriad of books I read/review until recently. The following is my honest opinion.

There’s an old idiom which goes: Once bitten/burned, twice shy. The meaning of which is that once a person has had a bad experience regarding something in their life, they would prefer never to experience it again. And it is this same idiom which befits the female protagonist [Idonea] in this story, not once, but twice.

For starters she’s deadly petrified of bears having already been assaulted by one; and as far as men are concerned, she’s become quite cynical regarding all members of the sex after having relations with a few of them.

Having already read a few shape-shifting stories in my days, just as many of you reading this review might have read as well; one thing is certain, once the male of the species has set their eyes on his perfect mate, nothing will be able to stop their quest in obtaining that mate.

Shape-shifting males in search of a mate are looking for one keen attribute for her to possess, the scent of her body; and for Massak it’s the scent which Indonea’s naturally emits. One small whiff of her at the beginning of the winter mating season is all that he needed to realize she’s meant to be his forever mate, as his natural primeval drives begin to emerge from their hibernation.

Taking his human form, he approaches Indonea using his diverse inventory of natural skills. At first, she’s reluctant to respond to his presence; but with his beguiling ways, she lets her guard down and allows him in. When Massak shape-shifts for the first time, she’s frightened. But as moments pass Indonea senses a calming presence and she begins to pet and scratch the bear he’s shape-shifted to beyond his ears; just as we would do to our dogs and cats.

When they arrive at her home outside her village, their hot, steamy love making begins in earnest, culminating with the realization that each has found their HEA mate.

Given the kind of books I’ve been reading/reviewing recently, I had to let my erotic personae read /review this book.

Ms. Ritch’s vivid erotic style of writing puts her readers, as it did me, into Indonea’s shoes with many of us physically responding to the hot, steamy love-making which occurs within the pages of this book, for which I’ve given the author the 5 STARS she’s garnered from this book.  


FEEDBACK IS WELCOME

BOOK REVIEW # 2019-151 - Anitha Rathod = "Shelly's Stocking Goes Missing"


IT’S CHRISTMAS IN JULY AS YOU READ THIS BOOK

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

The moment my inner-child began reading this book, it immediately thought of Christmas and the poem ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, especially when it mentioned the stockings being hung with care, in the hopes that St. Nicholas will soon be there.

Shelly, remembering she had no stocking to leave for Santa so he can fill in with all sorts of candy and other goodies, she began to make her own; and leaves it hanging by her window, Like all children, wanting to see him, Shelly tries to stay up but as expected falls asleep.

This is a marvelous enchanting book for its young readers, it’s filled with the magic and spirit of Christmas, especially that of sharing; and with the stocking becoming alive and going off on a journey hoping to get itself filled and then returning home before Shelly would get up Christmas morning.

Does the stocking get itself filled? Is the stocking able to find its way back home after flying and traveling all over town? Who does it meet so it can get the instructions to go back to Shelly from?

Being July, it’s hazy, hot and humid outside; reading a Christmas book at this time makes you wish it was December with the holiday quickly approaching. The rhyming in this book captures and holds the young reader’s interest; just as it did for me when I was a young child reading the poem I mentioned at the beginning of my review.

For creating the Christmas spirit for her readers now, both young and old, I’m happy to give the author, Anitha Rathod, the 5 STAR rating she’s gotten from this reviewer and my inner-child.


FEEDBACK IS WELCOME

Tuesday, July 2, 2019

BOOK REVIEW 2019-147 = Paul Larkin’s “How to Write a Story..."

As promised I'm starting to post a copy of my book reviews here on my blog.

I’d won a Mobi.file copy of this book from the author through a giveaway he had on LibraryThing, and the following is my honest opinion.

Being an author of several books, including a YA Paranormal romance and an erotic novella, I’ve learned that there are components crucial to both genres, despite their differences.

This book looks at writing a story, not from the POV [point of view] of today’s authors, but from the time of creation when no stories had existed. Instead of stories, let’s look at something quite trivial for a brief moment, such as the wheel. In order for the wheel to have been invented, questions needed to get answered before it could finally come into existence. Now with the wheel’s existence being present, individuals have kept on tweaking it, to achieve an individualistic desired appearance.

Getting back to the writing of stories, a variety of forces interact to create the building blocks for each one, including that of the genre. According to the author, Paul Larkin, there are essentially five different storylines for any story along with seven possible different types of characters that are plausible to exist in these stories.

Coming from own experience, agreeing with the author, in writing and moreover having read/reviewed over 1,100 books, stories much have some plot twists which ensure to captivate and maintain a reader’s interest so they’ll keep turning the pages of the book until the story’s climax has been reached. And within these plot twists, there’s also the proverbial need of some conflict, regardless of how substantial or minuscule it might be.

This naturally brings us to the all-important language that’s being used in the text itself; boring dull language doesn’t cut the mustard it needs to be somewhat provocative in order to grab and maintain a reader’s interest from the first page to the last.

For wanting to inform his readers, whether they’re aspiring authors, have a few books already under their belts or just interested in the subject matter of how to write a story from a different approach or POV; I’ve given Mr. Larkin the 5 STAR rating he’s gotten.

Link to my review & book on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/review/R34D4O5OPDICGI

Sunday, February 11, 2018

BOOKS TO CONSIDER READING FOR THIS YEAR'S VALENTINE'S DAY

As we all know Wednesday, February 14th, is Valentine’s Day, a day on which cupid is supposed to shoot his arrow into the hearts of two individuals so they can fall in love and obtain the HEA they’ve desired as long as they can remember. This is also the period of time when, romance authors write and their readers search for, stories which will personify the spirit of this day and the days surrounding it.

Since last Valentine’s Day I’ve written about 250 reviews covering many genres, including a variety of romances. It is for this reason I’ve decide to compile a list of the romances I’ve written reviews for during this period. I hope by reading this list you might find your next romance book.

“Behind Blue Eyes”
By Karen M. Bryson
4.6 STARS/18 Reviews

“Madamoiselle: A Novella”
By Suzanne Jenkins
4.8 STARS/17 Reviews
https://www.amazon.com/review/RHGE2FYGUR7EG

“Dogged by Love”
By Holly Tierney-Bedord
4.5 STARS/45 Reviews
https://www.amazon.com/review/RQSHGGRZJIVBO

“His Captivating Confidante [Secret Sentinels]
By Lisa Weaver
4.6 STARS/16 Reviews
https://www.amazon.com/gp/review/R27C83M0KPQNR8

“Valentine Vision”
By Tammy Tate
4.9 STARS/13 Reviews
https://www.amazon.com/gp/review/R2JKE5GSUWFVX5

“Sweet Child of Mine: 6 Secret Baby Romances”
By 6 Various Authors
4.5 STARS/8 Reviews
https://www.amazon.com/review/R1XCE69Q4O3IGX

“Romancing the Rogue [Passion and Promises Book 3]
By Erica Ridley
4.5 STARS/103 Reviews
https://www.amazon.com/review/R90H6ALKXXT6G

“The Fix It or Get Out Series [Books 1–3]
By Christine Ardigo
4.8 STARS/9 Reviews
https://www.amazon.com/review/RP7Z9WMSOCRRY

“Breathless [Players to Men]
By Georgia Lyn Hunter
4.6 STARS/35 Reviews
https://www.amazon.com/review/R3I7OGB2949C27

“Songs of the Heart”
By 7 Various Authors
4.7 STARS/12 Reviews
https://www.amazon.com/review/R1WZ89W0L71PDS

“Dear Viking: Christian Historical Romance Novel”
By Lori Soard
4.7 STARS/20 Reviews
https://www.amazon.com/review/R1O4OPLVRF20OJ

“One Weekend Away [Stubborn Romance Book 1]
By L Marie Apps
4.9 STARS/16 Reviews
https://www.amazon.com/review/R1O4OPLVRF20OJ

“Never Let You Fall”
By Kate Smith
4.8 STARS/5 Reviews
https://www.amazon.com/review/RKGGBDKTNGS42

“Marrying Ms. Kringle: Lux”
By Lucy McConnell
4.8 STARS/32 Reviews
https://www.amazon.com/review/R1ZT9MZ2UFJPCD

“Season Shenanigans [Volume 5]
By 14 Various Authors
4.5 STARS/38 Reviews
https://www.amazon.com/review/R2B6DXGO9D56PF

“Snowstorm [Christmas Inspirational Romance]
By Jennette Green
4.9 STARS/11 Reviews
https://www.amazon.com/review/RMW4V9A3LFLTP

“My Wild Duke [The Dukes’ Club Book 8]
By Eva Devon
4.6 STARS/23 Reviews
https://www.amazon.com/review/R2YRZNA9CPZX5A

“Betty’s Blessing”
By Jo Huddleston
4.8 STARS/6 Reviews
https://www.amazon.com/review/R2FFAUHWC1PIIH

“Can’t Stop Loving You”
By Miranda Liasson
4.5 STARS/143 Reviews
https://www.amazon.com/review/R2FFAUHWC1PIIH

“Marriage With a Proper Stranger [Men of Wollstonecraft Hall]
By Karyn Gerrard
4.7 STARS/7 Reviews
https://www.amazon.com/review/RQNNAYVA5XHTU

And if you would, I’d appreciate you checking out the two books I’ve written, both are available as a KINDLE Unlimited download.
https://www.amazon.com/Robin-Leigh-Morgan/e/B00BWXT4VU

Sunday, December 17, 2017

BOOK REVIEW # 2017-041 - SNOWBEARD the PIRATE and the NAUGHTY LIST


I received a signed hardcover copy of this book along with its accompanying CD from the author through a giveaway he recently had on GoodReads, and the following is my honest opinion.

We all remember growing up our parents kept on telling us about Santa and how he keeps tabs on us with everything we do each day. They told us as Christmas approaches he keeps checking and rechecking his lists to make sure each child is on the correct list; the nice list and the naughty list. While we knew Santa spent the entire night going to every good boy’s and girl’s home where he’d leaved a nice gift; we never knew anything about how the naughty gifts got delivered to those naughty boys and girls.

Chip Huddleton, in this, his debut children’s book, has successfully attempted to clear this mystery up for his young readers and some of their parents. It appears Santa has a brother, the black sheep of his family, who he enlists to handle the naughty gift giving to the children on his naughty list.  Santa’s brother is Snowbeard, a pirate whose home is in the Florida Keys.

Snowbeard had been reluctant at first, but his brother’s jovial manner finally convinces him to undertake the task. With the rotten old fruitcake Santa gave him and private toys made by his crew loaded onto a huge jolly-boat that will be pulled by a team of eight now-flying sharks, thanks to Santa’s magical pixie dust, Snowbeard takes off, following the route his brother gave him.

Santa had an alternative motive for plotting the course the way he did. Even though his brother was actually on the naughty list, he wanted to give his brother a nice gift for helping him the way he did. What the gift is I’m not going to say, what it was is in the book.  

While I could have easily read this book as an adult, I used the accompanying CD.  The addition of the music, sea shanties, and carols heard in the interludes between the actual story totally enriched the experience of having the book read to me by the author, who used his talents to give an authentic private voice to the story as well as its characters.

In the end there’s no way I can give the author, Chip Huddleston, or this book anything less the 5 STARS I’ve given it; wish I would have been able to give it 10 STARS.






Saturday, December 2, 2017

BOOK REVIEW # 2017-040 - SEASONAL SHENANIGANS


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

While all of us look at Valentine’s Day, February 14th, to be a special time for romance, whether it be a first love or a second chance one, every woman is longing to find that special guy, a guy she can have her long desired HEA with; most of us have forgotten that the holiday season about Christmas as being the second most popular day for romances to come into bloom. The holiday season includes the Winter Solstice, Chanukah [there’s multiple “correct” spellings] and of course Christmas; and this wonderful holiday anthology with 14 well known and loved romance authors cover all three of these holidays.

I truly love to read anthologies, especially when romance is a key element to each story, and when you add in the winter holidays, as I’ve said in the above, how can you go wrong.

This anthology offers a wide spectrum of all the romantic subgenres we love to read, from those sweet love at first sight to a hot, steamy, BDSM, how can you go wrong. Animal lovers get a chance to read how an abandoned box of kittens brings two neighbors together when the woman is at a lost at what to do with them. Sci-fi romance lovers get two chances to read their favorite genres, one where the two protagonists are on a spaceport, and the second involving two strangers up against aliens out to ravage the Earth’s resources. Can Kismet bring two individuals together, well if you love this type of story there’s something there for you as well.

As you can see there’s a strong possibility you’ll love reading at least a few of them, and at a price of 99 cents for 14 short stories, it’s a can’t lose situation. This anthology offers romance readers a chance to venture into reading a romance subgenre they’ve haven’t read before, and to possibly enjoy discovering authors they’ve never read anything from before.

So if you read only one story a day, depending on the holiday, these stories will either get you through the holiday, to the holiday itself, or get you into the spirit for the holiday for when it actually arrives

All in all, given what I’ve written in the above; I’m happy to give all the authors and the short stories they’ve contributed to this collection 5 STARS and hope you’ll enjoy reading what I’ve read.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS to you and your families !!!  😊 😊 😊

HUGS and KISSES to everyone.

NOTE: This book releases on December 7, 2017

Tuesday, November 7, 2017

BOOK REVIEW # 2017-039 - MURDER AND MAYHEM

Having received a True Crime Enthusiast badge from Amazon on my profile should server as an indication for one of my favorite genres to read/review. So, when I hear about this marvelous collection of 20 stories of murder and bedlam on September 23rd, I didn’t hesitate to pre-order it.

While these stories might not be true, they’re sure to pique my desire to read about ingenuous crimes, dreadful murders, mysteries able to cause heart palpitations, and not to forget about plot twists will make one wonder what did I miss or what’s going to happen next.

With 20 stories, from those involving international spies and high-tech surveillance to small, hometown whodunnits and conventional page-turning courtroom dramas [like Perry Mason] to those hardboiled detectives like Mike Hammer or Sam Spade, you’re given a collection of extraordinary protagonists going up against incredible odds in stories which have all written by awarding winning or best-selling USA Today authors.

Who knows what evil lives in the hearts of men? After reading these stories you might just might find out.

For having given their readers this unforgettable anthology of stories at an unbeatable price, I’m happy to give this book and their authors, the 5 STARS in definitely deserves.


AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/review/R2VWGSSLMNP4YM

Wednesday, November 1, 2017

BOOK REVIEW # 2017-038 - IF MY MOON WAS YOUR SUN


I received a hard-cover ARC copy of this book, along with its accompanying cd consisting of the book’s text with its incidental music between chapters, from the publisher; and the following is my honest opinion, which I’ve broken down into several segments.



This is the first book I’ve read which has been translated from its original German text. The reason I’m mentioning this is that German had been my secondary major to my primary one of Sociology. Given the intended age group for this book of 8 – 12, I figured the original German should be easy enough for me to translate, which is what I did. When I listened to the audio for the text for the book’s first paragraph, I found much to my delight that the translator, Matthew O. Anderson, didn’t merely translate the book into English, he endeavored to capture the nuances of language which the author wanted to communicate to his readers.



I know I could have easily read this book, however I wanted to experience the impact having the book read to me for a change would feel like. Needless to say, I found the experience to be quite satisfying, especially when you include the carefully selected classical music segments heard between each segment [chapter] which added a delightful embellishment to the entire reading experience.



Ms. Palmtag, the book’s illustrator, has done a marvelous in pairing her illustrations to the words of the book which further heighten the story itself.



As for the storyline itself, you’ve got the love the coupling of the innocence along with the love for his grandfather Max exhibited when he decided to kidnap him out of the nursing home so he could keep his grandfather close and not lose him. Not knowing anything about dementia Max thought he’s doing something good, but when he saw people from the home and his mother chasing everyone; including Ms. Schneider, another resident of the nursing home who came along for the ride, Max knew he had to stop and give up.



If you’ve got any doubt that this endeavor had to be a labor of love for the author, instead of being just another children’s book, read the interview with the author and illustrator at the end of the book. Considering all this, you can see why I’ve given this book the 5 STARS it so richly deserves.








Tuesday, October 3, 2017

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.





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

Tuesday, September 19, 2017

BOOK REVIEW # 2017-036 - FINISH LINE


As promised here is the 600th 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.





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

Saturday, September 16, 2017

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.






Wednesday, September 13, 2017

BOOK REVIEW # 2017-034 - IT BEGINS AND ENDS WITH FAMILY


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



When I got married it was relatively late in my life, I was 43, and my dear OH was four years younger. We felt it was too late to start having children, besides I suffer from a genetic condition which we didn’t want to pass onto any children we might have had. But, after reading this highly inspirational book, I now feel we should have not fostered but adopted a young age-appropriate child for parents our age; especially since neither one of us any real family to speak of. I’ve got a sister and a handful of cousins, and my OH has a couple of cousins, none of whom we really talk to.  



I, in fact we all can see and can image a couple adopting one or two children, but the couple, Jo Ann and Dan Wentzel had amazing 75 children, frequently eight at a time and mainly teen aged boys. Those of you who have had children especially boys know what a handful it is to raise one or two of them; so, you can just imagine the fortitude and patience these two must have possessed to raise blended family and brew this size.

Those who read this book need to thank this couple for sharing their experiences of actually being a foster parent. What they’d discovered had been doing this successfully all came down to what family subtleties are needed to raise them and to have a family which come close to a natural family as possible.

This includes changing their mental attitude of family from the dysfunctional one they’ve been accustomed to living in. And once these children have reacclimated to a more normal family environment, they can return to their birth family with a new outlook for their lives and family they’d been born into. Hopefully, if the time these children had spent with the Wentzels, or in fact any foster family, has been successful this newly acquire attitude can be passed on to their children; and not the dysfunctional one they came from which would only perpetuate the situation into the next generation.

Along the way in sharing their story, the Wentzles share their various and at times quite different parenting methods, in the hopes others might benefit from in the raising of their own children; and that. perhaps after reading this book others might consider the joys of fostering children of their own/

Given what this couple has been willing to share with others, how can you not give this book the 5 STARS, I’m giving it.


Monday, September 4, 2017

BOOK REVIEW # 2017-033 - SUZY HAS A SECRET


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



As children, we’ve been taught to listen to our parents and to do everything they tell say us. We know how much they love us and they won’t do anything to hurt us. One of these things concerns tattling on someone else who did something they shouldn’t have done, because doing it wouldn’t be a nice thing to do.



But what happens when a relative, like Uncle Bob, starts doing something he shouldn’t and tell us to keep it a secret even from our parents. This is what Suzy has to deal with in this brief story when he starts touching her in places she somehow feels is wrong; she becomes scared and doesn’t want to get in trouble for tattling on her uncle to her parents.



This creates a conflict in her young mild since her parents had also taught her that if something is bothering her she should come to them. When she tells her friend Lucy what’s happening, Lucy’s older brother tells Suzy to tell her parents and that she wouldn’t get into trouble. Suzy follows his advice, tells her parents who respond by sitting down and talking to her about what Uncle Bob did to her.



Inappropriate touching is a sensitive, everyday occurring issue which parents need to discuss with their young child, and this book serves as marvelous beginning from which this discuss can begin. The book then gives parents ideas as to how to go about doing this. For trying to help parents, especially first-time young parents, in dealing with this important, sensitive issue, there’s no way I can’t give Ms. Jackson 5 STARS for her endeavor here.








Sunday, September 3, 2017

BOOK REVIEW # 2017-032 - NERDY BABY


While the premise of this picture book is to teach your young early reader child nerdy geeky techie words might sound a bit LUDICROUS, in reality, it’s a TOTALLY SOUND IDEA.



Kids today are far more technically savvy than their parents, and even more so when I [being a child of the 1950’s] was at their age. If there’s any doubt just look at the way they’re able to easily grasp the knowledge needed to use the internet.



Parents are supposed to nurture their children’s intelligence by giving things which challenges the ability to do things, such as the simple task of reading a book. These days learning the three R’s of, Reading, ‘Riting, and ‘Rithmetic is no longer enough, as they need to be tech savvy as well; I believe this book can serve as one of their first steps in facing the futuristic world they’ve been born into and I’ve given Kady Dash 5 and this book 5 STARS for trying to accomplish this end.  





UK:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/RJEXYUTW0N0BK

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

BOOK REVIEW # 2017-031 - LILLIE. A MOTHERLESS CHILD


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



This underlining essence for true story of Lillie Fritsche tends to harken back to the traditional Negro spiritual “A Motherless Child.” The reason I’m saying this is that like the song being a clear representation of the agony and depression felt by the children of slaves who had been forcibly taken from their parents at an early age, Lillie had to deal with the reality of losing her mother when she was seven.



Lillie instead of feeling the prejudice which had been so prevalent towards blacks while she was growing up, she had to face a similar animosity because of her German ancestry and the unpleasantness of the nationalistic sentiment at that time.



In this book, Ms. Hobbs has given her readers an exceptionally poignant reading experience, regarding her mother, Lillie’s life. The author allows them to follow Lillie’s life as she grows up facing the hurdles which were continuously placed in front of her until becomes an inspirational example of how far faith can take a woman if she believes in herself; which is why it has gotten the 5 STARS I’ve given it.








Saturday, August 19, 2017

BOOK REVIEW # 2017-030 - ONLY 60+ YOU GO GIRL


If anyone looks up my bio you’ll find I’m not only a Blogger and a voracious Book Reviewer with 572 reviews already under my belt since I started this, my 2nd second career, three years ago this week, I’m also an author with two books under my belt; an anthology of 100 Flash Fictions and my debut MG/YA Paranormal romance novel [which I’m currently re-editing.]



I found that this book speaks to me. Having married in my early 40’s to my dear OH about 23 ¾ years ago, we wound up having no children [probably good since there’s a genetic condition one of us has]. After having a massive heart attack and a quadruple by-pass surgery around age 60, I decided to sit down and finally fulfill a dream I had when I had been a young child. The dream had been to become an author which I’d fulfilled about two years later, and now I’ve the two books already written as I mentioned above, I’ve also got two endeavors which I’m working slowly on’ an adult Contemporary romance and a MG/YA Urban Fantasy. Now I’m just awaiting to get enough sales so I can quickly finish them and get them self-published as well through CreateSpace.



I haven’t let my age stop me with what I love doing now, which is my writing. Not am I only writing the stuff I’ve mention, I’ve writing stuff which can best be described as erotic.



As you can probably tell from what I’ve written above I’m not letting my age stop me from writing what I do; nor is my age stopping me from other endeavors. I believe I’m epitomizing what this book is trying to offer all those who read it. And if you’re like me, you shouldn’t let anything stand in your way from doing what you want to do or fulfilling those dreams which have yet to be fulfilled.



As I tell any woman, to whom I’m connected to on FaceBook, on their birthdays:



Happy Birthday Girl !!!

And Many, many more

Remember… The older you get, the better you get !!!  :-) :-) :-)



Given the above, it should come as no surprise that I’m giving this book the 5 STARS it so richly deserves. So, to use a US Army campaign, “Be All You Can Be,” and consider getting a copy of this book.

BTW – If you’re wondering about my age, I’M ONLY 66 ½ YEARS YOUNG !!!






Tuesday, August 15, 2017

BOOK REVIEW # 2017-029 - SECOND MARRIAGE


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



As a romance author who is also a voracious book reviewer, I read a wide variety of genres for all ages; so, naturally my favorite genre to review is romance. Romance has a multitude of subgenres, and of these, second chance romances is one of my favorites.



In reading a second chance romance the characters involved have gone through a traumatic experience such as a horrendous separation or even worse a divorce, which causes them to carry a lot of baggage around afterwards. When they finally do find someone they’re fearful about history repeating itself, and it doesn’t if it’s the guy or the woman, they both shared the same apprehensions about falling in love again; although the woman feels it more. They must overcome their trepidations if they’re ever going to have the HEA they desire.



In this book, the author, Sharilee Swaity, doesn’t deal with a fictional romance; she deals with real life situations and real people. And in doing this the author analyses the reasons from why married couples have disagreements in their relationships to why their marriages fall apart.



To accomplish this the author includes real life stories and studies in addition to her own personal second marriage experiences which also includes her husband’s. I loved reading the honest advice she gives to have a second marriage not have the pitfalls the marriage might have had. There is a definite need to in knowing how to overcome conflict before it gets out of control, and to resolve any disparities which might exist between either half of a marriage to the other.



Perhaps there’s some truth in Frank Sinatra’s song “The Second Time Around”:



Love is lovelier the second time around

Just as wonderful with both feet on the ground

It's that second time you hear your love song sung

Makes you think perhaps that love, like youth, is wasted on the young

Love's more comfortable the second time you fall

Like a friendly home the second time you call

Who can say what brought us to this miracle we've found?

There are those who'll bet love comes but once, and yet

I'm oh, so glad we met the second time around

Who can say what brought us to this miracle we've found?

There are those who'll bet love comes but once, and yet

I'm oh, so glad we met the second time around



For having given her readers palatable information for the possibility of a second marriage being successful, in an empathetic manner, how can I not give Ms. Swaity the 5 STARS she deserves.