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book reviews |
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Authors S. Jackson and A. Raymond introduce us to When Angels Fly: We often find ourselves daydreaming about what our futures will be like. This may be especially true if one lives in an environment most would consider less than desirable. Some are lucky to find their futures much like their childhood dreams. Others find the paths to their dreams strewn with hurdles. Growing up, Sarah dodged her mother’s blows. She often hid in her room crying about her life. Still, she believes in her future and the happiness it can bring. In their book When Angels Fly, authors S. Jackson and A. Raymond tell Sarah’s story--their stories. The authors use their journals to describe Sarah’s experiences of family dysfunction, strength, courage, faith, abuse, grief, and so much more. You’ll read how, like many, she attempts to escape from her mother’s abuse through marriage. And like many, she learns it is not a viable alternative. Then Sarah experiences a parent’s ultimate tragedy twice, the deaths of her sons, Joshua and Eli. When Angels Fly is about much more than the telling of a family’s tragedy. It is also the story of finding faith after it has wavered. Most of all, it’s a story of love lost and found.  This is a powerful and moving story! I laughed a few times, got angry more than once, cringed a lot, and my eyes got sweaty quite a few times. The medical knowledge displayed is obviously from someone who is an insider, yet it is not overwhelming. The structure of a diary or journal is a little unusual, yet it adds a framework that is ultimately helpful to the reader. I award 5 stars to When Angels Fly.  You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/When-Angels-Fly-S-Jackson-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/-when-angels-fly https://www.amazon.co.uk/When-Angels-Fly-S-Jackson-ebook 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.threads.net/@mschmidtphotography https://www.deviantart.com/mschmidtartwork https://www.pinterest.com/marylschmidt/ Mary has the largest book board in the world on Pinterest. 210,161 covers as of this moment in February 2025: https://www.pinterest.com/marylschmidt/books-worth-reading/ I have reviewed another book by the author: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/her-alibi Cancer, childhood cancer, oncology, faith, spirituality, Christian faith, domestic abuse, death, memoir, inspirational Copyright © 2025, 2017 Mark L Schultz except for the author's introduction
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Multi-volume, multi-genre author JD Edwards introduces us to the first volume of his new series, “The Scions of Faerie”: Not every hero wears a cape: Embark on an epic YA fantasy adventure as Ian Prescott confronts the demons of a haunted past and fights to free civilization from darkness and oppression. Ten years after surviving a brutal attempt on his life, Ian faces a new threat when a dark mage, Lord Turok, returns to eradicate the last remaining Scion of Faerie by sending a hellhound to finish what he started. When myths gain life, a hero is born. Ian escapes the clutches of his parent’s assassin a second time and learns that all magic comes with a price. Now, armed with Brander, his ancestor’s legendary flaming sword of Celtic myth, Ian must confront the shadows of his past while battling mythical creatures and unlocking ancient magic. As he travels to mysterious worlds where Celtic legends spring to life, Ian’s fight for justice pulls him into a high-stakes war to save his beloved aunt from eternal imprisonment and prevent an impending civil war. But to banish Lord Turok to the underworld forever, he must confront the ultimate question: how much is he willing to sacrifice? Sometimes, the price of revenge is your very soul. Will Ian sacrifice himself to avenge his parents, save his aunt, and prevent Faerie from eternal servitude to Lord Turok? Or will the Dark Lord rule the world with an army of fearsome creatures and a magical talisman bent to serve his evil desires?  I like a longer book because it gives the author a chance to develop the characters and situations. Many of the characters experience growth in different situations and the world-building is wonderful. The author has put a lot of thought and work into this series. I enjoyed it and you will also. A fabulous beginning to this YA fantasy adventure! 4.8 stars because I am picky about certain things.  You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Scions-Faerie-Chronicles-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/-the-scions-of-faerie https://www.editingleindiehouse.com/thescionsoffaerie You can follow the author: http://faerierealm.50megs.com https://www.threads.net/@twyrch https://www.instagram.com/twyrch https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdedwardsauthor https://www.facebook.com/FaerieRealms https://www.wattpad.com/user/FaerieRealms https://www.pinterest.com/twyrch https://www.tiktok.com/@faerierealms I have promoted another book by the author here: Indomitable: The Story of Eliza Harris by J. D. Edwards - Word Refiner and here: www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/the-phantom-seer Copyright © 2025 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction Multi-genre, multi-series, multi-volume author Mary Lu Scholl introduces us to her latest story, “Rhiannon: Lady Leprechaun”: Rhiannon is a little tired of being dismissed as a mere girl. Her mother is kidnapped, and her father leaves to find her. Meanwhile the kingdom is left in charge of her incompetent brother. What's a girl to do? Pick up a sword and go after them, that's what! She learns about being a leader, about the loyalties of her companions, and a lot about herself as she leaves clan, family and her love behind. Will the hardship and danger be worth the sacrifice?  Rhiannon knows her mind and is not afraid to speak it. She is loyal to her parents but knows her brother, the prince will one day inherit the throne and is too self-centered to be a good king for the nation of Leprechauns. This is such a delightful story, I won't give anything away. I will say it's written with great respect for the little people and reflects well on the author's Irish heritage. Magic abounds in the land but everyone has their limitations and most know their place. Read this book, it's fabulous fun. 4.9 stars from me as I am picky about certain things.  You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Rhiannon-Lady-Leprechaun-Mary-Lu-Scholl-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/-rhiannon-lady-leprechaun You can connect with the author: https://x.com/MaryLScholl1 https://www.facebook.com/maryluschollauthor https://www.instagram.com/maryluscholl https://www.amazon.com/author/maryluscholl My review of the fourth volume in the Nature Coast Calamities, “Pu’ka and the Pirates” is here: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/puka-and-the-pirates My review of the second volume in the Nature Coast Calamities, “Big Foot and The Bentley” is here: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/big-foot-and-the-bentley My review of the first book of the Trailer Park Travails series, “Camper Catastrophe” is here: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/camper-catastrophe-by-mary-lu-scholl My review of the second book of the Trailer Park Travails series, “Mobile Mayhem” is here: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/mobile-mayhem My review of the third book of the Trailer Park Travails series, “Birds, Bees and RVs” is here: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/birds-bees-and-rvs-by-mary-lu-scholl My review of the fourth book of the Trailer Park Travails series, “Trailer Trauma” is here: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/trailer-trauma-trailer-park-travails-book-4 My review of the ninth book of the Trailer Park Travails series, "Fatal Philandering" is here: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/fatal-philandering Tags: cozy, mystery, brother, fiction, action, leprechaun, spirit, shape-shifter Copyright © Mark L. Schultz 2025 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
March 2025
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