Word Refiner
  • Start Here
  • Word Refining
  • Learn More
  • Books I Have Refined
  • Promote Your Book
  • Acclaim from Authors
  • Book Reviews
  • Previous Book Reviews
  • Boomers on Books
  • Blog: Words For Thought
  • Highly Regarded Blogs
  • Guest Blogs
  • Contact
  • Hyper-Speller Humor
  • The Hyper-Speller interviewed
  • In memory of Grizz
  • Start Here
  • Word Refining
  • Learn More
  • Books I Have Refined
  • Promote Your Book
  • Acclaim from Authors
  • Book Reviews
  • Previous Book Reviews
  • Boomers on Books
  • Blog: Words For Thought
  • Highly Regarded Blogs
  • Guest Blogs
  • Contact
  • Hyper-Speller Humor
  • The Hyper-Speller interviewed
  • In memory of Grizz

​book reviews

La Petite Josette En Provence                               By Ashley Davidson-Fisher

4/28/2019

0 Comments

 
​Debut children’s author, Ashley Davidson-Fisher introduces us to her children’s book, La Petite Josette En Provence:
La Petite Josette loves adventures and history and she is super excited for her trip to one of the most beautiful villages in Provence, France. What will she find? A castle, knights, perhaps a "treasure" to take home? There's so much to do before the trip, but with the help of her big sister, they'll be on their way in no time. Come join La Petite Josette, her sister Anne-Laure, and their parents while they have a picnic lunch of delicious, French food, go inside a medieval toy store, and explore the village. Are you ready? Vous êtes prêts?
·        Parents and grandparents of young children will find the sweetness and gentleness of the illustrations (beautifully hand-drawn and water colored by the author's daughter), and the simple story line, will help to introduce their little ones to the French language.
·        The short words and phrases in French will engage young readers, ages 6-11, and help to pique their interest in learning a new language or reinforce a language they already have some knowledge in.
·        Children will also be introduced to one of the most beautiful and historical places in France.
·        One does not have to know French in order to read it as the book is written mostly in English with French phrases throughout.
·        French speakers looking to improve their English skills would also enjoy the book. 
Picture
​This is a very cute book. I love the story and everything about it. The author’s daughter did the illustrations and I love them.
Mixing in a little bit of French with the English writing comes off quite well.
Teaching children a second language when they are young is a very good idea. Their brains are very malleable and it’s relatively easy for children at a young age to learn extra languages.
If that interests you as a parent, this is a good place to start. The story flows well, the scene-setting is nice. The family dynamic is pleasant. Dialogue is lovely.
You will find this this story fun and lighthearted.
I award a score of 4.9 stars! 
Picture
You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Petite-Josette-Provence-Childrens-Bilingual-ebook 
https://www.goodreads.com/book/-la-petite-josette-en-provence 
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/la-petite-josette-en-provence-ashley-davidson-fisher 
 
You can follow the author:
https://twitter.com/backyardprovenc 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleydavidsonfisher 
https://lapetitejosette.com 
http://readingwithyourkids.com/rwyk-presents-a-bilingual-childrens-book-la-petite-josette-en-provence 
https://www.instagram.com/backyardprovence 
 
Here is a podcast:
https://creativewritingmagic.com/podcast-ep-008 
 
Tags: Family vacation, France, historical sites, picnic, toys
 
Copyright ©​ 2019 by Mark Schultz except for the author’s introduction
0 Comments

The Earl And The Enchantress:                            The Enchantresses Book One                                By Paullett Golden

4/19/2019

76 Comments

 
Multi-volume author, Paullette Golden introduces us to her first volume in the historical romance fiction series, The Enchantresses, The Earl And The Enchantress:
Not all scars can be healed with a kiss. 

Sebastian Lancaster, Earl of Roddam, harbors a family secret so dark he has forsaken marriage to hide the past. When fate introduces him to Lizbeth, he believes he has met his perfect match—a woman with whom he can share passion without commitment. 

Lizbeth Trethow risks everything to follow her heart until Sebastian’s past returns to haunt them. Desperate to hide the blood on his hands, he sabotages their happiness. Everything depends on Lizbeth unraveling the truth and turning this villain into a hero. 

This is the love story of Lizbeth and Sebastian as they battle metaphoric ghosts born of murder and enlightenment to be together
Picture
What a wonderful story! I have read a number of historical fiction romance stories and this is the best one so far!
Paulette does such a masterful job of weaving so many historical details into her story, it makes me think she has a time machine in her basement. She must have lived in the milieu for some time, because her knowledge of the age is encyclopedic.
With so much attention to detail, without being burdensome, her scene setting is impeccable! I feel like I was at the table with all the nobility. Her dialogue is witty and authentic. It all rings so true and natural. I laughed out loud quite a few times. The action is quite good also, even the steamy parts.
I award The Earl And The Enchantress a score of 4.9 stars! 
Picture
You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Earl-Enchantress-Novel-Book-ebook 
https://www.goodreads.com/-the-earl-and-the-enchantress 
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/the-earl-and-the-enchantress-paullett-golden 

You can follow the author:
https://twitter.com/PaullettGolden 
https://www.paullettgolden.com 
https://www.facebook.com/Paullettgolden 
https://www.instagram.com/paullettgolden 

Tags: Regency romance, England, nobility, landed gentry, royalty

​Copyright © 2019 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction
76 Comments

The Void Within: The Cluster Saga Book One    By Carlos Tkacz

4/12/2019

61 Comments

 
Independent author, Carlos Tkacz, introduces us to his debut sci-fi novel, The Void Within:
The 25th century. Humanity has discovered a new form of energy, the Source, derived from the very basis of life itself. Using this power to travel instantaneously through space, humans have spread through their corner of the galaxy and coalesced into two groups: the Coalition and the Inner Cluster. They are held in an uneasy economic and cultural relationship by their reliance on each other, the Coalition with the technology of the Source and the Inner Cluster with the materials to make it a usable form of energy. When rumors of conquest, political undergrounds, and alien contact threaten this balance of powers, it falls to three individuals to find the truth of the conspiracies swirling through their governments and to stave off a disastrous war. What they find in the process will change the course of humanity forever.
Picture
What an elegant meal, Carlos serves up in this story. This galaxy-spanning saga delivers a very satisfying six-course meal. There is military action, multiple planets of diverse kind, a touch of romance between enemies, and a hard look at the nature of mankind.
I have always promised no spoilers, and this will be no exception; but it will be quite difficult to keep that promise. I don’t think I have ever picked inner dialogue as my favorite aspect of a book. This time, yes. I loved the action and the scene-setting was marvelous, not too much, just the right amount. I enjoyed the dialogue also, the characters stayed true to form.
The ending was fabulous! It caught me by surprise. It has been several decades since reading Asimov’s Foundation trilogy, I was reminded of that epic story while reading this tale.
I award The Void Within 4.9 stars! 
Picture
You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/-the-void-within 
https://www.goodreads.com/book/-the-void-within 
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Void-Within-Cluster-Saga-Book-ebook 

You can follow the author:
https://twitter.com/IWriteSciFi 
https://www.facebook.com/carlosrtkacz 
https://www.instagram.com/boulderbushido 
https://carloswritesscifi.blogspot.com 
 
Tags: space opera, military science fiction, metaphysical science fiction, FTL, faster than light, transhumanism
 
Copyright ©​ 2019 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction
61 Comments

Visitor’s Blood: Book one                                        By Sahreth ‘Baphy’ Bowden

4/6/2019

35 Comments

 
​Debut author, Sahreth Bowden introduces us to his first novel, Visitor’s Blood: When an alien craft lands on planet Earth, Maj. John and Dr. Connie Shinn are eager to learn about its all-too-human passengers. However, when the peaceful aliens are forced into further compliance, the Earthlings are thrown into an unimaginable battle against one of the passengers...a vampire. Unwittingly, the couple find themselves aboard the spaceship with its captain, Malook, and his vampiric companion, Sulru, as they head for Galdelier where they find the beautiful foreign world on the brink of civil war between the ruling humans and the malcontent vampires, strained under decades of subjugation. But amidst struggle, the lines between friend and foe can be easily turned askew. When you begin to question everything you once thought was noble or evil, where will you find your loyalties lie?
Picture
I really enjoyed this book! Sci-fi is my favorite genre and this hits my favorites in many ways! You have UFOs landing on earth, human-like occupants, a family, and – a vampire?! What are vampires doing in space? This book answers that question and many more you may not have thought of.
This book is written in first person POV, alternating with each chapter. I happen to enjoy the intimacy of that format a great deal. There is no head hopping, something I quite detest.
Sahreth’s world building is quite good, he delivers just enough for everything to make sense. I like how he incorporates so many different aspects right down to architecture and food. One thing that comes to mind for more interest, personally, is religion. What kind of religion would the vampires have, as well as the ruling class of humans?
I enjoyed the dialogue, inner and outer, throughout. The action was good also.
I give “Visitor’s Blood” a score of 4.3. 
Picture
You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/-visitors-blood 
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Visitors-Blood-Book-One 
https://www.goodreads.com/book/-visitor-s-blood 
 
You can follow the author:
https://twitter.com/Baphy1428 
http://baphy1428.com 
https://www.facebook.com/VisitorsBloodOfficial 
https://www.facebook.com/Baphy1428 
https://www.instagram.com/baphy1428 
 
Tags: dystopian fiction, abduction, aliens, first contact, invasion, slavery, rebellion
​
Copyright ©​ 2019 Mark Schultz except for the author’s introduction
35 Comments

    Who am I?

    An avid reader, typobuster, and the Hyper-Speller.  I am a husband, father, and grandfather.

    Contact

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

"I'm very pleased with all your efforts. Twitter promotion and proofreading were beyond what I expected with a book review. Your suggestions throughout the process of refining both books helped me immensely. I look forward to working with you again."   A.E.H Veenman “Dial QR for Murder” and “Prepped for the Kill”