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book reviews |
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Debut author, Tammy Horvath introduces us to “Gone in an Instant”: How Do You Forgive the One Person in Your Life Impossible to Forgive? On August 2, 2017, a knock on Tammy Horvath’s front door shattered her world. “Your son has been murdered,” a police officer said in a quiet voice. As she struggled through the horror of the following months, another Voice spoke. “Forgiveness is a choice and you must forgive him, Tammy.” But How? What Would You Do? How Would You Find the Strength to Forgive the Killer and Have Faith After Loss? How Do You Deal With Grief and Get Help to Go On Living After Losing Someone You Love? In this deeply moving and ultimately triumphant Christian book about child loss, Tammy shares the story of how God revealed Himself in astounding ways and set her free in a manner she could never have imagined. Tammy got through the pain and grief of losing her only child to murder, and so can you. Gone in an Instant is for you, if
Can you believe that? It’s true! You can absolutely be set free. With insight, humor, and deep authenticity, Tammy will take you on a journey that will utterly change your life forever. You’ll find the self-help you need and the grief steps after child loss. Tammy’s heart breaks for you if you are experiencing any of these emotions. Please come alongside her and learn from her. You are loved, and you have a purpose.  How is it possible to forgive the person who murdered your son? I cannot think of many more dreadful situations to exact vengeance than making the person who killed your child pay. The author clearly describes this problem because she lived through it. She faced her son's death and came through it with the support of many loving people and our heavenly Father. She could have made it without the former but not the latter. We have all lost loved ones at one time or another but not often to personal violence. Many of us have lost our loved ones to a disease or an unrecoverable accident, we had time to say our goodbyes, which is very comforting for us who are left behind. I loved this book, it encouraged my faith and brought me to tears more than once. There are many lessons to be gained, not the least of which is that we are not islands in a stream. Our lives and our choices are intertwined with others. If you want to know more then read the book. I give "Gone in an Instant" 5 stars!  You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Gone-Instant-Losing-Loving-killer https://www.goodreads.com/-gone-in-an-instant https://www.barnesandnoble.com/gone-in-an-instant-tammy-horvath You can follow the author: https://twitter.com/thorvathauthor http://www.tammyhorvath.com https://www.instagram.com/tammyhorvathauthor https://www.facebook.com/Tammy-Horvath-Author https://www.pinterest.com/TammyHorvathAuthor https://www.youtube.com/channel/Tammy Horvath https://www.linkedin.com/in/tammy-horvath Copyright © 2022 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction
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Multi-volume author Jay Veloso Batista introduces us to the third volume of his paranormal historical fiction in The Forerunner Series: “On Viking Seas”: From Cornish pit mines to Jorvik back alleys, from the Mercian Court to beyond the North Sea, the Agneson clan continues their adventures across Midgard and the 9 realms: Scheming aldermen, duplicitous monks, slave drivers, dark elves, trolls, ghosts, shapeshifting witches, the legendary Norse Wild Hunt, and… a dragon! With the fall of the Danish army at the battle of Ethandun, historical events scatter the Agneson family: Cub is enslaved in the Devonshire tin mines while Sorven stalks retribution in Jorvik; Kara is unwillingly propelled toward a convenient Saxon marriage while Karl and his crew are castaway on a mythic floating island. Separated and marooned, each is forced to tackle their challenges alone while the forerunner Thorfinn faces supernatural revenge, a battle to lift a Jarl’s curse and the release of his Jotenhiem wyrm in Midgard! Can Cub escape his overseers in the tin pits of Devon? Can Kara evade her Saxon uncle’s plans for her marriage? Will Sorven succeed in his bloody revenge? Can Finn save a Jarl’s daughter and break a mysterious curse? Can the forerunner find and help his scattered family overcome their trials? And what can Finn do with… a pet dragon?!? Based on actual historical events and authentic legends, this epic fantasy follows the paths of the sons and daughters of Agne, Son of Ironfist in the Viking Era circa the year 880. Don’t miss this grand panoramic tale!  Not only is the series getting better with each volume the characters are growing and evolving, I think Kara is my favorite character. There are dark moments that add some great depth to the story, especially for Cub, the oldest son, I think he gets the worst of it. There are lighthearted moments also, the humor isn't gone. The settings and action are to be commended also; they add so much to the plot lines. The setup for the next volume promises to be very exciting! If you like historical fiction stories with an exciting, paranormal angle that fits perfectly in the story age, then you will love this book and the series, indeed. 4.8 stars from me.  You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Viking-Seas-Forerunner-Book-ebook/ https://www.goodreads.com/book/-on-viking-seas My review of the first book, “Thorfinn and the Witch’s Curse”: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/thorfinn-and-the-witchs-curse My review of the second book, “The Vardoger Boy”: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/the-vardoger-boy You can follow the author: https://twitter.com/JayVBatista https://www.jayvelosobatista.com http://www.amazon.com/author/jayvelosobatista http://www.facebook.com/jayvelosobatista http://www.instagram.com/jayvelosobatista https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jay-veloso-batista https://www.goodreads.com/JayVelosoBatista Copyright © 2022 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction Multi-volume, multi-genre author, Melissa Rea introduces us to her steamy, historical-fiction tale about love and betrayal in old Venice, “Maestro”: Gabriella stands on a gallows one day before her 19th birthday in 1718. She tells her story to a young blacksmith, a surly milkmaid, and a mute dwarf who is much more than the muckraker he seems. The pampered daughter of a count, Gabriella's entire existence has been her music, until one afternoon's sensual exploration leads to the shame of two noble families and her exile to a convent school for orphan girls, the Ospedale della Pieta in Venice, Italy. Antonio Vivaldi, the school's Maestro of the Concerto, teaches the students and composes inspired by their talent and beauty. She tells of her friend, Veronica, a sublimely talented violinist whose cold eyes hide tragic secrets and of whose murder she now stands convicted. With tears in her eyes, she speaks of her love, Raphael, the handsome overseer whom she had planned to marry. The story of her desperate attempt to learn the truth of a terrible curse that took her own child's life, and save Veronica from a dark affair, holds the crowd's rapt attention. Now she must escape with the help of her friends, from the Ospedale, and perhaps those in the crowd assembled to watch her hang.  I enjoyed the story so much. It is rich, like a wonderful dessert that requires time for each bite. This is an exciting and seductive story. The premise draws you in with a shot of sympathy for the woman who was facing being hanged that very day. But the executioner was absent. She faces a hostile crowd and begins to relate the story of her life that led to the charge of murder of which she proclaims her innocence. This story is so compelling, that it's hard to put it down. Descriptions are opulent without being overbearing, much of the dialogue is quite enticing and the action is plentiful. I found the balance of this three-legged stool to be very even and the story was very enjoyable for it. The author does a marvelous job of incorporating all of the senses. I will say no more to avoid spoilers. "Maestro" is a sensual feast and gets 4.8 stars from me.  You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Maestro-Melissa-Rea-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/-maestro https://www.barnesandnoble.com/maestro-melissa-rea https://www.smashwords.com/maestro You can follow the author: https://twitter.com/author_rea http://www.melissareaauthor.com Copyright © 2022 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction. Multi-volume author Jay Veloso Batista introduces us to the second volume of his paranormal historical fiction in The Forerunner Series: “The Vardoger Boy”: A 2020 WISHING SHELF BOOK AWARDS RED RIBBON WINNER! Vikings war with the last Saxon Kingdom, blood feuds stalk the family, the werebear takes revenge and our forerunner hero must face trolls, a kelp man and his nuggles, and a dark elf… The epic adventures of the Agneson Clan continue! The year is 878… Danish forces assemble for war on Wessex and the loyal Agneson Clan heeds the call to join the Great Viking Horde, but while honorable men gather in the midlands, a blood feud draws mercenaries to their undefended homestead for murderous revenge. Sailing his Viking crew to fulfil their oath, Karl harbors suspicions over strange occurrences that bedevil his nephew Thorfinn, while far to the north their sworn enemy the werebear and his dark elf master strike back… And the young forerunner Thorfinn learns the Nine Realms are full of surprising hidden folk, but to earn his place aboard the Viking’s ship he must accept a mast troll’s quest…. Will the family escape the despicable vendetta? Can Thorfinn face the evils prowling the bottom of the Humber Estuary? Does Cub battle to victory against King Alfred’s men? How can Karl and his Vikings find and defeat a mysterious lair of were-beasts? The epic saga of Thorfinn the forerunner and his clan in Danelaw England continues…. Don’t miss The Vardoger Boy, second book of The Forerunner Series by Jay Veloso Batista, historical fantasy and supernatural suspense! if you love the work of Bernard Cornwall, Susanna Clarke or Elizabeth May, then this will have you turning the pages!  I love this book; I love the series! The author has crafted a wonderful continuation of the first book. He has some wonderful dialogue; it rings so true to each character's station in life. The action is glorious at times and easy to read. I am enjoying learning about the Viking myths and lore regarding their gods and supernatural beings. Jay is so good at weaving in lots of details about everyday life for people of this age along with the paranormal elements which they easily accepted as a part of their lives. Following multiple plot threads, the story of the Agneson family continues. I can hardly wait to read the next book! 4.9 stars!  You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Vardoger-Boy-Forerunner-Book-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/book/-the-vardoger-boy My review of the first book, "Thorfinn and the Witch's Curse": www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/thorfinn-and-the-witchs-curse My review of the third book, “On Viking Seas”: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/on-viking-seas You can follow the author: https://twitter.com/JayVBatista https://www.jayvelosobatista.com http://www.amazon.com/author/jayvelosobatista http://www.facebook.com/jayvelosobatista http://www.instagram.com/jayvelosobatista https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jay-veloso-batista https://www.goodreads.com/JayVelosoBatista Copyright © 2022 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
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