Book Reviews

Double Trouble: Showtime at Castlewood Manor by Veronica Cline Barton

7/4/2020

(My American Almost-Royal Cousin Series Book 5)

Multi-volume, award-winning author, Veronica Cline Barton introduces us to her newest volume in the series, “Double Trouble: Showtime at Castlewood Manor”:
American Marchioness and mummy-to-be Lady Gemma Lancaster Williams is up to her maternity toes with the soon to be completed renovations at Cherrywood Hall and the planning for the Prince of Kingwood Ball, a royal, society event. The startling find of a skeleton in the construction zone brings renovations to a grinding halt. History is about to get a big royal wake-up call with this ghoulish find, as scandals from the past are revealed.

Gemma’s college friend, interior designer extraordinaire, Rikkhe St. Claire has an eye for clues and a nose for trouble, helping Gemma uncover deadly details from years gone by. A new nanny’s in the halls of Cherrywood—will Figgy McEwen’s psychic conversations with the ghost whisperers from the past lead Scotland Yard to discover fiends most foul? Chaos on the film set of the Castlewood Manor movie lead to more than one deadly demise—are they accidents? Or pre-meditated?

Royal diaries, international intrigue, a film’s future, and meddling friends and family bring these scandalous happenings to a head. Gemma, hunky-dunky, hubby Kyle, and new doggie of the manor, Teddy are definitely in for double trouble in this almost-royal who dun nit like no other.

I love this book and the entire series! I feel right at home with all the characters. Veronica has such a wonderful, deft touch with dialogue and action in her books. She keeps the pace flowing so smoothly. Her description of the foods makes my mouth water at times. The dialogue is so witty at times, I chuckle or laugh on almost every page. With an account of the apparel of the characters is sterling and helps me to see the characters in my mind. My favorite new character is a certain Scottish nanny, Figgy; she nearly charmed the socks off me. Sorry, Pippa. No hard feelings, I hope.
With nothing but praise for this book, I award an easy five stars to “Double Trouble: Showtime at Castlewood Manor”! Thank you so much for the hours of reading pleasure!

You can buy this book:
https://smile.amazon.com/Double-Trouble-Showtime-Castlewood-Almost-Royal
https://www.goodreads.com/-double-trouble
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/double-trouble-showtime-at-castlewood-manor
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/double-trouble-veronica-cline-barton/1137291338
https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1522093241

You can follow Veronica Cline Barton:
https://twitter.com/VClinebarton
https://myamericanalmostroyalcousinseries.com
https://www.facebook.com/myamericanalmostroyalcousinseries
https://www.amazon.com/Veronica-Cline-Barton
https://www.goodreads.com/author/Veronica_Cline_Barton
https://www.youtube.com/channel/#Bookem

Tags: mystery, suspense, traditional detective, cozy, castle, dog, cuisine, culinary, pregnancy, twins

Here is the interview with the author and the review of the first book: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/the-crown-for-castlewood-manor-by-veronica-cline-barton
Here is the interview with the author and the review of the second book: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/cast-crew-and-carnage-the-filming-of-castlewood-manor-my-american-almost-royal-cousin-series-by-veronica-cline-barton
Here is the interview with the author and the review of the third book: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/deadly-receptions-the-debut-of-castlewood-manor-by-veronica-cline-barton
Here is the review of the fourth book:
https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/mistletoe-and-mayhem-yuletide-at-castlewood-manor

Copyright © 2020 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction

35 Comments

You Can't Love Your Children Too Much by Janet M. Nast

6/26/2020

27 Comments

A Single Mom's Thoughts On Raising Children
(A Live, Love, Learn Series)

Multi-volume, multi-genre, non-fiction author, Janet M. Nast introduces us to her book about raising children, “You Can’t Love Your Children Too Much”:
With the humor and insight that can only come from the experience of raising two children on my own, I’m happy to share with you all of my simple, low-cost and unpopular opinions. Parenting is not about money nor is it a popularity contest; it’s about growing amazing, successful adults. Every child and every family is different, so take what works for you and ditch the rest. I won’t be offended, I promise.

The title says it all--You Can’t Love Your Children Too Much. We raised our three kids and now are reaping the joys of grandkids.
Some might think that this is how kids are spoiled, it’s simply not true if a parent loves their children like the author describes. The children will grow up and become responsible adults.
While much of this advice is available in many different places, this is the only place where it’s shared with such humor and honesty. I love the pictures in the book, I bought the hardback. I was reminded of many of the pictures we took of our kids as they were growing up. Can I show you pictures of my gorgeous grandkids?
The illustrative stories are told with a candor and wit that I love. This is a book for parents and grandparents. After you have raised your own some of the early lessons fade away, so this book provides a nice refresher course and it’s so easy to read.
I give this wonderful book 4.7 stars. The score would have been higher except for the handful of spelling errors I found. Those errors have been corrected, so your reading will be better.

You can buy this book:
https://smile.amazon.com/You-Cant-Love-Your-Children-Too-Much
https://www.goodreads.com/-you-can-t-love-your-children-too-much

You can follow the author:
https://twitter.com/janetmnast
https://janetmnast.com
livelovelearnwithJanet.com
http://www.instagram.com/janetmnast
https://www.facebook.com/TheBusinessofLife
https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetmnastcarter
https://www.youtube.com/janetmnast
Tags: Children, raising kids, parenting, single parent, life tips

Copyright © 2020 Mark L. Schultz

27 Comments

Reborn by Jenna Greene

6/20/2020

2 Comments

Multi-volume, multi-genre author Jenna Greene introduces us to her dystopian thriller, “Reborn”:
Those who bear marks on their skin are doomed to a life of slavery. Lexil has seven.
Sold into servitude, Lexil must deal with brutal punishments, back-breaking labor, and the loss of every freedom. When a young child she has befriended faces a horrible fate, Lexil must intervene to protect her, no matter what the risk.
With the help of a boy named Finn, the trio flee into the Wastelands. There, they must evade those who hunt them while trying to survive a barren landscape. Lexil must face challenges she's never imagined existed, all while learning what it means to truly be reborn.

I enjoyed this tale, it is quite interesting and rings with a lot of truth. People fear those that are different. We all have our tribe of those that are similar to us and we are very comfortable with them. Freckles. How do they make us so different from others without freckles? Of course, there is no difference, except a little bit of color on the skin.
The story moves along at a good pace, the action and the dialogue are handled quite well. I laughed in a number of places. The story flows pretty smoothly. The scenes including violence are few and not too graphic. The scene setting and descriptions are almost too sparse in a few places. There are a few slight touches of fantasy also. Overall, I like it a great deal.
The protagonist’s true nature is slowly revealed in a very delicious way. The next book is going to be very exciting. I wish I could read it now.
I award 4.7 stars to “Reborn” The score would have been higher except for a couple of spelling errors.

You can buy this book:
https://smile.amazon.com/Reborn-Jenna-Greene-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/-reborn
You can follow the author:
https://twitter.com/jgreenewrites
http://www.jennagreene.ca/
http://www.facebook.com/jennabutrenchukgreene
Tags: fiction, dystopian fiction, young adult, YA, action thriller

Copyright © 2020 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction

2 Comments

The Life and Times of Clyde Kennard By Derek R. King

6/13/2020

49 Comments

Award winning, multi-volume, multi-genre author Derek R. King introduces us to his amazing book about a man, an era and a crusade, “The Life and Times of Clyde Kennard”:
In 1955, Clyde Kennard, a decorated army veteran, was forced to cut short the final year of his studies at the University of Chicago and return home to Mississippi due to family circumstances, where Kennard made the decision to complete his education. Yet still on the eve of the civil rights movement in America, Kennard’s decision would be one of the first serious attempts to integrate any public school at the college level in the state. The Life and Times of Clyde Kennard tells the true story of Kennard’s efforts to complete his further education at Mississippi Southern College (now the University of Southern Mississippi) against the backdrop of the institutionalized social order of the times and the prevailing winds of change attempting to blow that social order away. As Meredith’s admission to "Ole Miss" became more widely known at the time, Kennard became the forgotten man. Author Derek R. King shares his extensive research into Kennard’s life, and touches on key events that shaped those times.

What an amazing book! Starting from the earliest days of slavery in the new world, Derek takes us through the significant events in American history that led to the Civil Rights Movement in the middle of the twentieth century.
It came down to the decision of Clyde Kennard to leave college and return to the family farm in Mississippi, so he could care for his mother and keep the farm going. His decision and that of others to want to finish their education in a good college, that they were barred from attending by state law and practice is the crux of the matter.
The events that have unfolded for Clyde and many others since that time, more than 50 years ago, have led to unprecedented changes in our society. We have outlawed racism in as many forms as possible and continue to seek expanded opportunities for all people. We haven’t reached the finish line yet, but knowing how far we have come as a society since Clyde’s life ended is a great encouragement. We can feel strengthened to continue the course and root out this pernicious evil wherever it may be found.
Derek uses a plethora of source material from both sides of the issue to weave a coherent and understandable story. All sides are well represented at all levels of government.
This is a book well worth reading. It is hard to put down at times and it is hard to read at times about the abuse that these Americans endured simply because of their skin color. Even though I found a small handful of spelling errors, I am going to award 5 stars to “The Life and Times of Clyde Kinnard”! Thank you, Mr. King, for giving 10 years of your life to bring this story to light.

You can buy this book:
https://www.goodreads.com/-the-life-and-times-of-clyde-kennard
https://www.lulu.com/derek-r-king/the-life-and-times-of-clyde-kennard
https://smile.amazon.com/Life-Times-Clyde-Kennard
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/the-life-and-times-of-clyde-kennard
https://books.apple.com/the-life-and-times-of-clyde-kennard
https://play.google.comThe_Life_and_Times_of_Clyde_Kennard
You can follow the author:
https://twitter.com/DerekRKing2
https://www.clydekennardlifeandtimesof.com
Tags: civil rights, civil disobedience, movement, history, slavery, slaves, Africa, Martin Luther King, Jr., Medgar Evers, Emmett Till,
Copyright © 2020 Mark L. Schultz Except the author's introduction

49 Comments

Death at the Dakota: A Trudy Genova Manhattan Mystery Book 2 By M. K. Graff

6/6/2020

69 Comments

Multi-volume author, M. K. Graff, introduces us to the second volume of her cozy murder series, Trudy Genova Manhattan Mysteries, Book 2, Death at the Dakota:
Nurse Trudy Genova is making plans to take her relationship with NYPD detective Ned O'Malley to the next level when she lands a gig as medical consultant on a film shoot at the famed Dakota apartment building in Manhattan, which John Lennon once called home. Then star Monica Kiley goes missing, a cast member turns up dead, and it appears Trudy might be next. Meanwhile Ned tackles a mysterious murder case in which the victim is burned beyond recognition. When his investigations lead him back to the Dakota, Trudy finds herself wondering: how can she fall in love if she can't even survive?

Cozy murder mysteries are climbing up my list of favorite genres, definitely in the top ten, maybe one of the top five. This book is one of the reasons for that change.
“Death at the Dakota” is such a fun book to read, using first person point of view for the protagonist, Trudy Genova, nurse and third person POV for her detective boyfriend, the story is revealed clue by clue.
The author has a nice touch with word choice, her descriptions are just right, not too long and not too short. Scene setting is very good also, she has a good eye for architectural details and the makeup of a room. Action is delightful also, benefiting from an economy of words, the story moves along at a good pace.
All of that contributes so much to excellent reading. But the thing that really makes this story shine for me is the dialogue. I laughed and giggled so much, the conversations were appropriate and contributed a great deal to my overall enjoyment of the story.
I award a score of 4.8 stars to “Death at the Dakota”! The score would have been higher except for the handful of spelling errors I found.
Here is a nice touch. If you buy the book from Bridle Path Press you can request an autographed copy of the book. The link is below.
The author has told me the spelling errors are corrected.

You can buy this book:
http://www.bridlepathpress.com/Store/Books/Death-at-the-Dakota
https://smile.amazon.com/Death-Dakota-Manhattan-Mystery-Mysteries-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/-death-at-the-dakota
You can follow the author:
https://twitter.com/GraffMarni
http://www.auntiemwrites.com
http://facebook.com/bluevirginmysteries
Tags: amateur sleuth, police procedural, women sleuths, cat, action, mystery, murder
Copyright © 2020 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction

69 Comments

Shattered Truth and Alien Disruption By Garry J. Peterson

5/30/2020

88 Comments

Multi-genre, multi-volume author, Garry J. Peterson introduces us to the first two books in the Stargate Earth series, Shattered Truth and Alien Disruption:
The existence of alien life on planet Earth has been discussed and argued for centuries. The ancient alien theory phenomenon is now well established as one of the fiercest debates, and the complex issues of “are there or aren’t there…were there or weren’t there” cannot be answered in a simple yes or no.
In book one, SHATTERED TRUTH, ancient-alien hunter Pete Stevenson was the family generational pioneer in the search for the truth that was out there. In what could only be called a “bittersweet” journey, Pete found such evidence, including encounters with friendly temporal aliens, and paid the ultimate price with his life.
Pete’s granddaughter Sara Steele had an intense need to either prove or disprove Grandad Pete’s alien theories; and as her vision became clear, she established and directed the Extraterrestrial Research Team, or ETRT, and her similarly-wired associates became our world’s best shot at understanding alien presence and even determining planet Earth’s survival.
In SHATTERED TRUTH, Sara’s team was introduced to the same friendly temporal aliens that her grandad had met, but this time the alien encounters prevailed in real life-and-death circumstances. Sara had been given the ultimate gift of alien resources and the penultimate truth that she was Earth’s Chosen One.

Shattered Truth is the first of five volumes and a hefty part of the beginning of the book is setting the stage for the action and events to follow. It seems like a slow start in the beginning, because of that. However, there is a fair amount of dialogue and action, and the scenes are pretty well described. If you are intensely interested in the idea of aliens or just want an overview of the ideas and theories, then this is a great book to read.
There were a number of ‘wow’ moments and some funny parts also. I enjoyed the story quite a bit, despite the slow start.
There were quite a few spelling errors, they have been corrected in the e-book, so your reading will be smoother. I award a score of 4 stars to “Shattered Truth”.

You can buy this book:
https://rdrpublishers.com/shattered-truth-a-sara-steele-novel
https://smile.amazon.com/SHATTERED-TRUTH-Stargate-Earth-Book-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/shattered-truth

In book two, ALIEN DISRUPTION, Sara Steele becomes the absolute leader of a multi-talented and intensely focused group of determined disruptors—fighting crime, tyranny, secret societies, suppressed technology, climate change, and even evil aliens. Having been physically rebuilt and now possessing superhuman strength, Sara’s capabilities are taken to the limit.
ALIEN DISRUPTION is a visionary novel giving the reader an alarming apocalyptic glimpse of the future. Then, the reader gets to play, despite the evil aliens, a constructive part in a creative process promoting a unified advance of our human species through a holistic transformation of Spaceship Earth and the people on board for this incredible journey.
The most dynamic relationship storyline in ALIEN DISRUPTION becomes the intense, mutually beneficial, and effective relationship between Sara and the female alien leader, Echo, as well as Sara’s strong physical, mental, and emotional bond with alien warrior Pulse.
Humor, storytelling, and the several flawed but well-intentioned characters give the reader a sense that this story is as much about people, family, and what we all struggle with day after day, as it is about science fiction. Leadership and a strong moral and spiritual fabric are the pillars that define bad behavior and drive good behavior.
The ending of ALIEN DISRUPTION will provide a multi-faceted cliffhanger that will tie books three, four, and five remarkably into the STARGATE EARTH SERIES, and leave the reader anxious and excited to read book three, WARRIORS OF THE GALAXY.

I enjoyed this story quite a bit. Garry covers a lot of ground, many different topics that affect the lives of people on Earth. Aliens, ancient aliens, artificial intelligence, climate change and terrorism, to name a few.
The ETRT group is front and center of the action and strategy to deal with multiple issues, their expansion of the research of Sara’s grandfather has earthshaking consequences.
No spoilers from me. There are fascinating plot twists in the story, the action is detailed and appropriate for a five-volume set. I found the dialogue to be a lot of fun at times, there is a wonderful collection of characters and they come across as quite alive.
The stakes are climbing for the research group, and the inhabitants of Earth.
I award a score of 4.3 stars to “Alien Disruption”, the score would have been higher except for a large number of spelling errors. Those errors have been corrected; your reading experience will be the better.

You can buy this book:
https://rdrpublishers.com/products/alien-disruption
https://smile.amazon.com/ALIEN-DISRUPTION-Steele-Novel-Stargate-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/-alien-disruption

You can follow the author:
https://www.garryjpeterson.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/garry-peterson
https://www.facebook.com/garry.peterson
https://twitter.com/GarryPeterson
Tags: science fiction, sci-fi, pyramids, stone henge, Easter Island, time travel, action, adventure, thriller, space, spacecraft, stargate
I have also reviewed Garry's book about business practices:
www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/who-put-me-in-charge
Copyright © 2020 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introductions.

88 Comments

Unwanted Discovery - Book One By Sandra Denbo and Tamarine Vilar

5/23/2020

69 Comments

Multi-volume authors, Sandra Denbo and Tamarine Vilar introduce us to the first volume of The Unwanted Series, “Unwanted Discovery”:
Sharon Cooper and her daughter, Callie, nearly bit off more than they could chew when they started to inventory Sharon’s mother’s estate. A series of unwanted discoveries begins when they find old letters in the attic. Hidden and locked away throughout the mansion are more secrets about Sharon’s family than she ever imagined. How could Sharon have grown up here and not be aware of the mystery, intrigue and scandal within these walls?

This complex mystery is a lot of fun. I really enjoyed it. Since it’s the start of a series, the authors have provided a longer-than-normal opportunity to get to know the full cast of characters.
The surprises and plot twists keep showing up and that was one thing I really liked. The shocking events more than made up for the slightly slower pace. This pace allowed for fuller development of the characters which is quite nice. They come across as quite real for me.
The scene setting is very thorough and lends a lot to the enjoyment. The dialogue is quite funny at times and so delightful. The action keeps the story flowing as well as the dialogue.
Overall, this book is a lot of fun to read and I highly recommend it! I award a score of 4.9 stars! The score would have been higher except for a few spelling errors. The authors have assured me the errors are corrected; your reading experience will be better.

You can buy this book:
https://smile.amazon.com/Unwanted-Discovery-Book-Sandra-Denbo-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/-unwanted-discovery---book-one
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/unwanted-discovery-sandra-denbo
You can follow the authors:
https://twitter.com/SeriesUnwanted
http://theunwantedseries.net
https://www.facebook.com/TheUnwantedSeries

Copyright © 2020 Mark L. Schultz except for the authors’ introduction

69 Comments

The Fishing Trip: Kassius Kanex, Book 2 By M. K. Schultz

5/16/2020

85 Comments

Multi-volume author, Mark K. Schultz introduces us to the second volume in his Kassius Kanex series:
The lives of five fishermen are forever altered when they embark on a fishing trip together. The trip brings forth an evil that beckons them to the fulfillment of their destinies. When an evil cult attempts to use the fishermen to their own means, a powerful time traveler comes to the rescue, but only after they are first led through a trial of great suffering and despair.

The first book, Kassius Kanex, was a pretty wild ride with a secret organization that was set up to protect the world and bring justice to evil doers when the regular channels failed.
This book delves deeply into the origins of The Organization and the ability of the leader to travel through time and teleport things also. It’s hard to not give any spoilers, but I am trying.
This is an interesting book on many levels, it feels like it came out of the golden age of science fiction, it is focused on men and masculinity. Women are not ignored by any stretch of the imagination. Women are treated with respect and honor.
The story has a lot of action and some of the dialogue is very funny. Scene setting is done well without going overboard. The characters are well developed and easy to follow.
Some of the plot twists are surprising and a lot of fun.
I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
I really enjoyed this story and its uniqueness. I award “The Fishing Trip: Kassius Kanex, Book 2” five stars!

You can buy this book:
https://smile.amazon.com/Fishing-Trip-Kassius-Kanex-Book-ebook
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/the-fishing-trip-mk-schultz
https://www.goodreads.com/-the-fishing-trip
You can follow the author:
https://twitter.com/Makemali
https://www.mkschultz.com
I reviewed the first book here: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/kassius-kanex-by-mk-schultz
Tags: science fiction, action, adventure, time travel, suspense
Copyright © 2020 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction

85 Comments

A Bloody Hot Summer by Trevor D’Silva

5/8/2020

62 Comments

Multi-volume author, Trevor D’Silva, introduces us to his latest novel, a wonderful, murder mystery set in England in the early 20th century, “A Bloody Hot Summer”:
It’s 1927 and Great Britain is sweltering in an unprecedented heatwave. On the morning after her eightieth birthday party, Lady Fitzhugh is discovered bound and butchered in her bed, with her family and staff the prime suspects...
Whilst holidaying at nearby Meadowford Village, Detective Dermot Carlyle is asked to help investigate the brutal murder. The clues all point to a robbery gone wrong, but Dermot suspects that there is more to the horrific crime. The Fitzhughs’ secrets take Dermot along a path linking some of the biggest events of the British Colonial Empire – from India to Africa, to the dark days of the Great War itself.
As more murders take place, Dermot is racing against time to discover the killer’s identity. What are the family hiding, why did Lady Fitzhugh have to die, and what horror was committed in the colonies that led to this trail of death and deceit?

This story is such a delight! An English murder-mystery in the tradition of one of the finest authors in the genre. I can’t imagine any person who enjoys this type of reading being disappointed in some way.
The author has proven he is a journeyman writer in all accounts. His handling of important aspects such as plotting, action and dialogue are masterful. His scene-setting and narration is elegant. I find nothing to complain about. Not even a single spelling error popped up to irritate me as I read.
I award 5 stars to “A Bloody Hot Summer”! Well done, Mr. D'Silva, well done!

You can buy this book:
https://smile.amazon.com/Bloody-Hot-Summer-Trevor-DSilva-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/-a-bloody-hot-summer
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/a-bloody-hot-summer-trevor-dsilva
You can follow the author:
http://trevordsilva.com
https://twitter.com/TrevorDAuthor
https://www.instagram.com/trevordauthor
https://www.pinterest.com/trevor_dsilva
mailto:trevordsilvaauthor@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/Trevordsilvaauthor/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-d-silva

I reviewed Trevor’s other book: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/fateful-decisions-by-trevor-dsilva
Tags: British fiction, murder, mystery, international, the Great War, Boer War, South Africa, crime, action, detective, Scotland

Copyright © 2020 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction

62 Comments

The Death Doll By K. D. Carter

5/2/2020

5 Comments

Multi-volume author, K. D. Carter introduces us to her historical fiction book, set in the American colonies, “The Death Doll”:
In the summer of 1692, the infamous Salem witch trials were underway in Massachusetts Colony, North America. Meanwhile, a new Governor was appointed over New Hampshire colony, but his only interest was the land he felt entitled to. Citizens of Durham, New Hampshire, were losing property they’d farmed for years. It was a dangerous time to come to the Colonies, but Kate Tremont had no choice. Having lost her father and her home in Kingston, Jamaica, she sailed to Durham, New Hampshire to stay with her only living relative – William Stoddard, a farmer and devout Puritan. William demands obedience and conformity if Kate wants to stay, but that’s not the worst of it. Kate finds that enemies are easier to make than friends when she gives a doll to a child. When her act of kindness is twisted and used against her, Kate learns that evil happens when good people get angry!

Katie Tremont makes a logical choice, but she winds up jumping from the frying pan into the fire. What a long and difficult jump that turns out to be.
Author Carter has written a wonderful book. I love historical fiction and this genre is my third favorite to read. I really enjoy learning what life was like in other times and places. I think that partially stems from my trip to Europe in my college years. I know that people are basically the same no matter when or where you go.
Carter excels at painting a realistic picture of daily living, the scenes and dialogue ring with authenticity. The characters are easily distinguishable and very much alive.
This is an excellent read and quite enjoyable. I give “The Death Doll” a score of 4.9 stars, the score would have been higher except for the small handful of spelling errors I found.

You can buy this book:
https://smile.amazon.com/Death-Doll-K-D-Carter-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/-the-death-doll
You can follow the author:
https://kdcarterbooks.wordpress.com
https://twitter.com/CarterbooksD

Tags: hist-fic, fiction, suspense, mystery, thriller
Copyright © 2020 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction

5 Comments

Empty Seats by Wanda Adams Fischer

4/25/2020

93 Comments

Debut author, Wanda Fischer, introduces us to her novel about baseball in the 70s:
They were all stars in their hometowns. Then they were drafted to play minor league ball, thinking it would be an easy ride to playing in the big time. Little did they know that they'd be vying for a spot with every other talented kid who aspired to play professional baseball. Young, inexperienced, immature, and without the support of their families and friends, they're often faced with split-second decisions. Not always on the baseball diamond.

I played Little League when I was in middle school. My position was right field, where I could do the least amount of damage. Truthfully, I had no real skills in baseball, but I loved the game, nonetheless. I collected baseball cards, now I wish I had not used them to make noise when I rode my bike. I did love that sound at the time.
I enjoyed this book more than I expected. Just to have an inside look at what happens between being the top player in school (only in my dreams) and going into the minor leagues was a thrill for me.
This book is so well written, it moves along at a nice pace with lots of dialogue and detail to keep it interesting and every page worth reading. Wanda captures the thought processes of young men quite well, whether they have dreams they aspire to or a desire for another beer.
The 1970s were a tumultuous time in America also and the small-town point of view is not ignored in this book.
The characters really come alive in this story, with excellent scene setting the action keeps the story moving along so well.
I award “Empty Seats” a score of 4.9 stars! The score would have been higher except for the handful of spelling errors I found.

You can buy this book:
https://smile.amazon.com/Empty-Seats-Wanda-Adams-Fischer
https://www.goodreads.com/-empty-seats
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/empty-seats-wanda-adams-fischer
You can follow the author:
https://twitter.com/EmptySeatsNovel
http://wandafischer.com
https://www.facebook.com/EmptySeatsNovel

Tags: sports, fiction, family,
Copyright © 2020 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction

93 Comments

Lately Lesbian By J. D. Simmons

4/18/2020

64 Comments

Debut author, J. D. Simmons introduces us to her memoir, “Lately Lesbian”:
Good Southern girls follow the rules and walk down predictable paths. Jenna predictably married Paul and believed in happily ever after. Although Jenna played by all the rules, she had no idea the tragic turns that her life would take--the tragic death of her first baby, and the unexpected loss of a second baby. There would be more heartbreak. Would Jenna ever be blessed with a child that she wanted with all her heart? Would Paul step up and become the husband and partner she only dared to dream of? Jenna needed the support of her husband, his sympathetic shoulder to cry on, and strong arms to hold her, but he cast an absentee ballot most of the time.
Then out of the blue, Jenna crossed paths with a young woman and her life changed in ways that she never could have imagined. For too many years, Jenna drifted through life searching for answers to understand her undeniable attraction to this woman and uncover her true authentic self. Denial reigned supreme until one phone call changed everything.

This memoir is quite a story. It is well written and populated with real people. Penned in first person point of view, as befitting a memoir, it chronicles the struggle the author endured to find a person who would love and cherish her for who she is. This is one of the deepest needs of the human spirit, it is something we all want and we suffer damage when we don’t get it.
The author does a marvelous job of setting the scene for the events in the story. The dialogue rings with authenticity. She includes enough action to keep the story moving forward. It never really bogged down for me, like memoirs can at times. The inner narration wasn’t harsh, but it was gritty at times and very honest.
I award 4.8 stars to “Lately Lesbian”, the score would have been higher except for the small handful of spelling errors.

You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Lately-Lesbian-J-D-Simmons-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/-lately-lesbian
https://bookbaby.com/Lately-Lesbian
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/lately-lesbian
You can follow the author:
https://twitter.com/JDSimmons8
https://www.facebook.com/jdsimmonsofficial
https://instagram.com/jdsimmons61

Tags: LGBTQ, gay, biography
Copyright © 2020 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction

64 Comments

The Windowpottamus [The Animalobs Book 1] By Cameron Kincaid

4/10/2020

53 Comments

Multi-volume, children’s author, Cameron Kincaid, introduces us to book 1 of the Animalobs series, "Windowpottamus":
A series of charming and illustrated tales following the adventures of a variety of characters.

I love this book! With its colorful illustrations and simple, rhyming text, it’s a real pleasure to read to a child.
I read this to my two, younger granddaughters, 4 ½ and 6 ½ and they both loved the story and the illustrations.
I give this book 5 stars! It is delightful. The author has several other books in the series and they appear to be just as wonderful.

You can buy this book:
https://smile.amazon.com/Windowpottamus-Animalobs-Book-1-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/-the-windowpottamus
You can follow the author:
https://twitter.com/Animalobs
https://www.cameronkincaid.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/Animalobs
https://www.instagram.com/the_animalobs

Tags: children’s book and literature
Copyright © 2020 Mark L. Schultz, except for the author’s introduction

53 Comments

Darkness Falls By A. E. Faulkner

4/3/2020

74 Comments

Multi-volume author, April E. Faulkner introduces us to her first novel in the Nature’s Fury series, “Darkness Falls”:
As Nature tires of human destruction, two sisters must face a changing environment that stands between them and survival. When Quinn and Riley set out on a family vacation with their parents, the trip ends before it begins. Mother Nature interferes with their plans, setting off a sequence of events that thrusts the teens into a hostile landscape. Stranded, with limited supplies, struggling to figure out who they can trust along the way, they must determine how to survive Nature’s evolving fury.

This is a really good story. The author really knows how to spin a tale. Writing in First Person point of view is something I really like. As long as the author avoids head-hopping, I hate head-hopping, everything gets so confused. This author does a very good job of maintaining the POV, nice and clean.
Faulkner also balances the story so well with action and dialogue. The dialogue is so funny at times, I found myself laughing quite a bit.
The characters are very believable, all of the major players are developed very well, they are real individuals, not cardboard cutouts.
The scene-setting and action help the story to move along at a good pace, the flow is smooth and varies from scene to scene. Just like it should.
“Darkness Falls” is quite well written and gets a score of 4.9 stars. The score would have been higher if not for a few spelling errors. These errors are fixed, so your reading pleasure will be the smoother.

You can buy this book:
https://smile.amazon.com/Darkness-Falls-Natures-Fury-Book-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/-darkness-falls
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/darkness-falls-a-e-faulkner
You can follow the author:
https://twitter.com/AuthAEFaulkner
http://authoraefaulkner.com
https://www.facebook.com/authaefaulkner
https://www.instagram.com/authoraefaulkner
Tags: Dystopian, fiction, coming of age, science fiction, YA, climate, catastrophe, family, relationship
Copyright © 2020 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction

74 Comments

True Story of the Perfect 36 by Veronica R. Tabares

3/28/2020

0 Comments

Multi-genre, multi-volume author Veronica R. Tabares introduces us to her latest time traveling adventure in “True Story of the Perfect 36”:
When the Rossi household wakes to a world radically changed, Vanessa is the only member of her family who realizes something is wrong. The timeline has shifted—and it quickly becomes obvious that it’s up to her young daughters, Maddie and Becca, to fix it.
Philip is from the future, but he’s also to blame for setting the timeline askew. Which makes Maddie and Becca view him with distrust and loathing. They will never forgive him for causing the death of their beloved father. Never! But they will work with him. It’s the only way things can be set right again.
Together, the time travelers hop a freight train to 1920s Nashville to ensure the Nineteenth Amendment is passed, giving women the right to vote—and correcting history. But their hilarious journey hits some bumps along the way, and by the end of this adventure, it’s more than Philip’s ego that’s bruised.

There is far more at stake than the life of their father, but I can’t tell you because that would be a spoiler. Sorry.
I can tell you that this story is a lot of fun! I love stories about time travel. My favorite subset of science fiction.
The plotting is exceptional! The events and the things that happen because of choices are very well done.
The author is quite good at dialogue also, the characters really stand out. The humor flows well, I laughed out loud quite a few times. Laughter is good medicine.
The author’s skill at scene-setting leaves nothing to be desired in this action-packed adventure. The action is easy to follow.
I award a score of 4.9 stars to “True Story of the Perfect 36”. The score would have been higher except for a couple of spelling errors. Those errors have been fixed so your reading pleasure will be all the better.

You can buy this book:
https://smile.amazon.com/True-Story-Perfect-36-Veronica-Tabares
https://www.goodreads.com/-true-story-of-the-perfect-36
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/true-story-of-the-perfect-36-veronica-rubine-tabares
You can follow the author:
https://twitter.com/veronicatabares
http://veronicatabares.com
https://www.facebook.com/VeronicaRTabares
https://www.pinterest.com/tabares0420
https://plus.google.com/+VeronicaRTabares/posts

Here is a link to the author’s previous book:
https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/time-without-by-veronica-r-tabares

Tags: time travel, science fiction, adventure, humor

Copyright © 2020 Mark L Schultz except for the author's introduction

0 Comments

<<Previous

Double Trouble: Showtime at Castlewood Manor by Veronica Cline Barton

(My American Almost-Royal Cousin Series Book 5)

You Can't Love Your Children Too Much by Janet M. Nast

A Single Mom's Thoughts On Raising Children
(A Live, Love, Learn Series)

Reborn by Jenna Greene

The Life and Times of Clyde Kennard By Derek R. King

Death at the Dakota: A Trudy Genova Manhattan Mystery Book 2 By M. K. Graff

Shattered Truth and Alien Disruption By Garry J. Peterson

Unwanted Discovery - Book One By Sandra Denbo and Tamarine Vilar

The Fishing Trip: Kassius Kanex, Book 2 By M. K. Schultz

A Bloody Hot Summer by Trevor D’Silva

The Death Doll By K. D. Carter

Empty Seats by Wanda Adams Fischer

Lately Lesbian By J. D. Simmons

The Windowpottamus [The Animalobs Book 1] By Cameron Kincaid

Darkness Falls By A. E. Faulkner

True Story of the Perfect 36 by Veronica R. Tabares

Who am I?

Archives

Categories

(My American Almost-Royal Cousin Series Book 5)

A Single Mom's Thoughts On Raising Children ​(A Live, Love, Learn Series)

Who am I?

Archives

Categories

A Single Mom's Thoughts On Raising Children
(A Live, Love, Learn Series)