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book reviews |
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Debut author and trafficking survivor Jen If introduces us to her book of poetry, “Monarch Child”: Monarch Child is a collection of nineteen memoir poems about international child trafficking. Look through the eyes of a small child smuggled abroad for organised abuse. A searing and uncomfortable insight into a world rarely shared. Our eyes of distant rain. Remnants of summer sun through her ever-shifting hair. Did her hands overflow with love, shame, or lies, when she passed that child, to not-her-uncle? This collection may be upsetting or triggering for people who have experienced S.R.A.  This slim volume of poetry is a testament to all survivors and a cry for help from those still caught in such an insidious industry. I cried on the inside as I read these poems. So much is not said and is just as important as the words on the page. Another part of me wanted to take action to end this abuse. If you are a survivor heed the warning in the front of the book.  You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Monarch-Child-Jen-If https://www.goodreads.com/-monarch-child You can follow the author: https://x.com/WriterJenIf https://www.jen-if.co.uk https://www.facebook.com/-Jen-If Copyright © Mark L. Schultz 2025 except for the author’s introduction
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Multi-genre, multi-volume, historical fiction author, J. R. Tomlin introduces us to her latest book about early Scotland, “On a Sword’s Edge”. This is the first book in the William the Bold series: Scotland. 1263. The scent of rain mingles with the smoke of campfires as word spreads: the Norse are coming… As tempers rise between King Alexander and the Norse King Haakon, at the center of it all is sixteen-year-old William Douglas, a squire in service to Sir John Stewart, Lord High Steward of Scotland. When Haakon's fearsome fleet is espied approaching Scotland's shores, carrying the greatest invasion force the Norse have ever mustered, the dread of battle settles over the land. Summoned to Ayr Castle, William joins the Scottish forces in a desperate defense. Now tasked with serving his newly knighted brother, Hugh, William has little time to dwell on the fear – or thrill – of his first real taste of war. And once the Norse's menacing line of ships finally touches shore, Scotland's fate may rest on more than noble titles and knightly deeds— it'll take the mettle of every soul on the ground for them to triumph. Set against the wind-swept coast of medieval Scotland, On a Sword's Edge takes you right into the center of The Battle of Largs alongside a mere – yet fearless – squire.  I love historical fiction! This story really stands out for me. It's a deep dive into the medieval period when the Scots and the Vikings were wrestling for control of Scotland and the nearby small islands. No spoilers from me. Take my word, this is a richly textured story and you won't be disappointed. 4.9 stars because I am picky about certain things. You will love reading this!  You can follow the author:
@jrtomlin.bsky.social http://www.jrtomlin.com http://jeannetomlin.blogspot.com Note: The author is not on X as of this writing. You can buy this book: https://www.amazon.com/On-a-Swords-Edge-Historical-Scotland https://www.barnesandnoble.com/on-a-swords-edge-j-r-tomlin https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/on-a-sword-s-edge https://books.apple.com/us/book/on-a-swords-edge https://play.google.com/on-a-swords-edge https://www.goodreads.com/-on-a-sword-s-edge Here is my review of the first book in a series: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/the-douglas-bastard Here is my review of another Tomlin book: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/the-wayward-alliance Here is my review of another Tomlin book: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/the-lion-of-galloway Tags: medieval, action, hist-fic Copyright © 2025 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction Award-winning, multi-genre, multi-volume author Mary L. Schmidt, introduces us to this highly celebrated memoir, “Her Alibi”: Visions of her Cherokee grandmother, Cordie, flashed through Mary's mind as her mother, Marguerite, informed her that her stepfather shot himself and was in the hospital. Oh no! No! This can't be! Not after the joking around at my home last night. NO!!!! Did she use me last night? She'd never use her scapegoat child. No, she couldn't! Even Marguerite wouldn't sink that low! Or would she? Marguerite had always been abusive and vile to most people, and especially to her children and husbands, but would she shoot Harold? Yet, here I was, and I had to tell the police that, yes, my mother was at my home all evening and into the night. How despicable that my mother connived her way into using me as her alibi. This book is a true memoir drawing upon the locals and inspiration of the areas in which the author lives and works. Names of towns, places, facilities, and people are real except for three men. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is not coincidental in nature and places where events take place are from her life growing up.  Amazon Number One Bestseller - 2022 Literary Titan - Gold - 2022 SoCal Book Awards - Honorable Mention - 2022 Reader's Choice Book Awards - Finalist 2023 London Book Awards - Honorable Mention 2023 Los Angeles Book Awards - Honorable Mention 2023 NABE - Gold - Best Book in the Category of True Crime Fall 2023 Author Shout Reader Ready Award Winner - Recommended Reads 2024 Silver Medalist in Non-Fiction/True Crime Readers Favorite 2024 IAN Book of the Year Awards Finalist Family Relationships 2024 Author Shout Reader Ready Award Winner - Recommended Reads 2024 Life Experiences/Memoirs Winner International Impact Awards 2024  This story was hard to take in. I have heard many stories of abusive parents but this is one of the worst. This book is quite well written. It has an engaging style and a good tempo. Abuse of this type is horrific and children are seldom believed. I am sorry you had to endure this suffering at the hands of the person who should have been your protector and cheerleader. 4.9 stars for certain things I am picky about. You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Her-Alibi-Mary-L-Schmidt-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/-her-alibi https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Her-Alibi/Mary-L-Schmidt https://www.walmart.com/Her-Alibi-Paperback https://www.waterstones.com/book/her-alibi/mary-l-schmidt https://www.barnesandnoble.com/her-alibi-mary-l-schmidt https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/her-alibi-4 You can follow the author: https://x.com/MaryLSchmidt https://whenangelsfly.net https://www.facebook.com/mary.schmidt.50/ https://www.instagram.com/mschmidtphotography/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/-Mary-Schmidt https://www.instagram.com/mschmidtphotography/ https://www.facebook.com/mary.schmidt.50/ I have reviewed another book by the author: www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/when-angels-fly Copyright © 2025 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction In a world where destiny is shaped by blade and bravery, ”Oath of the Blackguard” tells the compelling story of Caius, a young fisherman of humble beginnings. Born into poverty and the simplicity of a fisher’s life, Caius’s world is irrevocably altered by a tragic event that propels him into the orbit of the Imperial Blackguard. This fateful encounter offers him a chance to rise beyond his commoner roots. Thrust into the esteemed Blackguard fortress of Strovewuld, Caius faces the daunting challenge of proving himself to skeptics who doubt a mere fisher boy’s mettle. In the shadowed halls of this legendary bastion, he undergoes rigorous training, each day a test of his resolve and strength. Amidst the grueling regime, Caius forges bonds with two fellow trainees. Together, they stumble upon a dark conspiracy lurking within the very heart of the empire. As they delve deeper, they find themselves entangled in a web of intrigue and danger that threatens not just their lives, but the very fabric of the empire.  I enjoyed this story quite a bit. Caius, a young boy from a poor family of fishermen, is rescued from certain death by elf spies. That is all I will say because I don't want to spoil the story for anyone. The author has a nice style of writing. I like the action details and the camaraderie that develops among several new recruits. Oops! I almost gave some of the story away. He is good at describing a scene without going overboard. He mixes in some humor along the way. The story is fun if you like fantasy with action and magic. You will love it as much as I do.  You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Oath-Blackguard-Anthony-Hill-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/book/-oath-of-the-blackguard You can follow the author: https://x.com/EoblianKnight11 Copyright © 2025 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction |
Who am I?An avid reader, typobuster, and the Hyper-Speller. I am a husband, father, and grandfather. Archives
November 2025
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