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

Can You See My Scars? By Samuel Moore-Sobel

4/24/2021

68 Comments

 
Debut author Samuel Moore-Sobel introduces us to his memoir about a serious burn accident he endured as a teenager, “Can You See My Scars?”:
Can You See My Scars? is a story of trauma, adversity, healing, and recovery. Samuel, a young man about to begin his sophomore year of high school, accepts a job that culminates in a chemical explosion—leaving Samuel with severe burns on his face, neck, and arms. The tragic and sudden accident sets Samuel on an unpredictable journey of healing, recovery, and acceptance.
In the wake of the accident, Samuel endures grief, pain, and numerous surgical procedures for the scars on his body. He grapples with his appearance, faith, and the loss of friends. Through it all, he comes to view his scars as an unavoidable part of the human experience. Whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, we all carry scars—and it is simply what we choose to do with them that defines us. Samuel’s story allows us to see him for who he truly is, while also turning a mirror on ourselves.

Can You See My Scars? explores questions about identity, suffering, purpose, and ultimately, what it means to be uniquely human.

Picture
This is one of the best memoirs I have read in quite a while. It is shocking, but encouraging. Samuel remained very candid about his emotional and mental condition throughout the accident and the years-long recovery. His struggle with matters pertaining to his faith was very real and comprehensible.
The scene-setting was good, dialogue worked well throughout the story. The conclusion of the book was very satisfying.
I award 4.8 stars to “Can You See My Scars?”. 
Picture
You can buy this book:
https://mascotbooks.com/mascot-marketplace/can-you-see-my-scars
https://www.amazon.com/Can-You-See-My-Scars-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/-can-you-see-my-scars
 
You can follow the author:
http://www.samuelmoore-sobel.com
https://twitter.com/smoore_sobel
https://www.instagram.com/smoore_sobel
 
Copyright © 2021 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction
Tags: burns, trauma, recovery, PTSD, triggers, inspirational 

68 Comments

Fatal Rivalry: Part Three of The Last Great Saxon Earls by Mercedes Rochelle

4/17/2021

61 Comments

 
Multi-volume, multi-genre author, Mercedes Rochelle introduces us to the award-winning, third and final volume of “The Last Great Saxon Earls”, “Fatal Rivalry”:
In 1066, the rivalry between two brothers brought England to its knees. When Duke William of Normandy landed at Pevensey on September 28, 1066, no one was there to resist him. King Harold Godwineson was in the north, fighting his brother Tostig and Harald Hardrada at Stamford Bridge. How could this have happened? Why would Tostig turn traitor to wreak revenge on his brother?

Harold and Tostig were not always enemies; it took a massive Northumbrian uprising to tear them apart, making one an exile and the other his sworn enemy. After Edward the Confessor died and Harold took the crown, Tostig was intent on reclaiming his earldom. But he was on his own; his brother was not sympathetic. In fact, Harold allied with Tostig's enemies. What else could he do?
Picture
This is a stupendous climax to the series. I absolutely love how this historical-fiction novel is structured using first-person POV.
The dialogues and inner thoughts of each main character in turn carries the story forward so well. It really makes the history come alive. The scene-setting is quite well done also, especially the scenes of battles. Just like life in the Middle Ages, the action is very intense and brutal at times, but only to fit the needs of the historical events.
The entire series is binge worthy! I want to read it all again.
I award 4.9 stars to “Fatal Rivalry”. 
Picture
You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Fatal-Rivalry-Three-Great-Saxon-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/-fatal-rivalry
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fatal-Rivalry-Three-Great-Saxon
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/fatal-rivalry
https://books2read.com/u/3LRVkM

You can follow the author:
http://www.twitter.com/AuthorRochelle
http://www.mercedesrochelle.com
http://www.mercedesrochelle.net
 
I have reviewed other books by this author:
https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/a-king-under-siege-book-one-of-the-plantagenet-legacy-by-mercedes-rochelle 
​
https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/the-kings-retribution 


The Usurper King (The Plantagenet Legacy Book 3) By Mercedes Rochelle 
​
https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/heir-to-a-prophecy-by-mercedes-rochelle-narrated-by-kevin-e-green 

https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/godwine-kingmaker-part-one-of-the-last-great-saxon-earls-by-mercedes-rochelle​ 

https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/the-sons-of-godwine 
https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/the-accursed-king 


​Tags: history, biography, fiction, medieval, European, Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales, Denmark, Norway, France, Normandy, historical, biographical, Battle of Hastings

Copyright © 2021 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction.
61 Comments

Birds, Bees, and RVs by Mary Lu Scholl

4/10/2021

57 Comments

 
Multi-volume, Florida author, Mary Lu Scholl introduces us to the third volume in the “Trailer Park Travails” series, “Birds, Bees, and RVs”:
Life in a Florida Retirement Mobile Home Park is - complicated. It's spring time and romance is in the air - all around Patty whether she wants it there or not. Everywhere she looks people are in love, or dead - or both. Passions erupt on all sides and of all kinds among neighbors, family, friends and frenemies. Murder happens.
Was it motivated by fear, jealousy, love or simply being crazy? Can Patty even hope to salvage the life around her? Will solving the murder of a friend also result in her getting killed?
Picture
I am really enjoying the continuing saga of Patty, AKA Potato Woman to some of the residents in her senior trailer park. No matter how hard she tries to fit in, which isn’t very hard much of the time, the bodies continue to appear. What else is a self-respecting mystery writer to do except figure out whodunit?
The characters are becoming alive for me, I share some of the same issues as they struggle with. Many different senior topics are addressed in the story. The dialogue is touching at times and funny at other times. Action and scene-setting contribute a lot to the story.
I award 4.9 stars to “Birds, Bees, and RVs”! 
Picture
You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Birds-Bees-and-RVs
https://www.goodreads.com/-birds-bees-and-rvs
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Birds-Bees-Trailer-Park-Travails-ebook
 
You can follow the author:
https://twitter.com/MaryLScholl1 
https://maryluscholl.blogspot.com 
www.facebook.com/maryluschollauthor/ 

My review of the first book of the Trailer Park Travails series, “Camper Catastrophe” can be found 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” can be found here: Mobile Mayhem: Book Two of Trailer Park Travails by Mary Lu Scholl - Word Refiner
My review of the fourth book of the Trailer Park Travails series, "Trailer Trauma" can be found here: www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/trailer-trauma-trailer-park-travails-book-4 
My review of the second volume in the Nature Coast Calamities, “Big Foot and The Bentley”: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/big-foot-and-the-bentley 
Tags: cozy, murder, mystery, Florida, pets, dog, cat, neighbors, fiction, action
 
Copyright © 2021 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction 
57 Comments

    Who am I?

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

    Contact

    Archives

    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”