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​book reviews

Snow: Cursed by Willa R. Finnegan

11/29/2025

60 Comments

 
Young Adult author Willa R. Finnegan introduces us to her award-winning novel, “Snow: Cursed”:
  • GOLD MEDAL WINNER in the 2025 Readers' Favorite International Book Awards in the Young Adult Mythology/Fairytale Category.
  • Literary Titan Gold Book Award
Snow has always been the perfect princess or at least the best that she could be. She had done everything correctly for fifteen whole years and had always righted every single wrong that she had ever committed. Though, it still wasn't enough. On the eve of her fifteenth birthday, her father divulges a secret that her parents had kept from her since the very beginning. One that could ruin her life forever. The fact that she was cursed at birth by an evil sorceress who cast a spell that is nearly impossible to break. Snow will find that the line between good and evil is not all that it is cut out to be. It is blurred, and it has faded from the black and white that it once was. Good is not always pure, and evil is not always wicked. Throughout her adventures, battles, and difficulties she quickly discovers that she might not be on the side that she thought she was on. Will she succumb to the fate that was forced upon her or live to see another day? Will she find the truth or just encounter lies? Will she remain pure as snow, or will her conscience falter as the trials of her life wear on? Will she live happily ever after or have her future unjustly stolen from her grasp? The future is up to Snow.
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What a wonderful surprise! I grew up with fairy tales and legends of many kinds. We watched all of the versions on TV, every Sunday night. Before cable and streaming were available. Yes, I am that old.
Blending so many different stories into a fresh vision is spectacular! I enjoyed the story a lot, great fun!
Read this book, you will enjoy it!
I am picky about certain things, so I award four point seven stars.

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You can buy this book:
https://www.willarfinneganbooks.net 
https://www.amazon.com/Snow-Cursed-Willa-R-Finnegan-ebook 
https://www.goodreads.com/-snow-cursed 
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/snow-cursed-willa-r-finnegan 
https://mailchimp/snow-cursed-book 
https://www.walmart.com/Snow-Cursed-Paperback 
And many other online retailers.
 
You can follow the author:
https://x.com/writerfinnegan1 
https://www.willarfinneganbooks.net 
https://www.facebook.com/people/Writer-Willa-R-Finnegan 
All of the author's links:
http://linktr.ee/wrfauthorgirl 
 
Copyright © 2025 Mark L. Schultz, except for the author’s introduction.  

60 Comments

A Tatterdemalion's Testimony by Sarah Vigue

11/14/2025

50 Comments

 

One Woman’s Story of Surviving Trauma to Discover Faith and Redemption 

 Debut author, Sarah Vigue introduces us to her testimony about being abused as a child, her involvement with magic and New Age practices, and how God rescued her from generational curses:
"There are things I need to tell you—or rather, things I’m not supposed to tell you."

Battered by trauma and surrounded by mental illness, Sarah didn’t expect God to come for her. Then He did. This unflinching Christian memoir traces a gritty path from skepticism to surrender—and the healing that followed.

In this gritty yet grace-filled testimony, Sarah shares her reluctant journey into faith. Skeptical of the church and terrified of the unseen, she steps into a spiritual world she never imagined—one that challenges her doubts, identity, and sense of belonging. Along the way, she discovers the God who sees, heals, and redeems even the most shattered places.

What You’ll Experience in A Tatterdemalion’s Testimony:

  • An honest account of trauma and mental illness that doesn’t minimize pain or hope.
  • A raw, unfiltered story of survival and the search for meaning.
  • How faith walked with, not around, the hardest moments.
  • A vulnerable journey from skepticism to belief, showing that doubts can be transformed.
  • A reminder that no one is too far gone to be remade by God’s grace.
  • Hope for anyone who has ever felt on the outside looking in.
  • Practical glimpses of healing, community, and God’s nearness in the dark.
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This memoir is not a pretty picture to start. It is full of gritty details about the author's childhood and the extreme abuses she suffered throughout her life.
Her rescue and redemption began with a whisper that God is really good, not the killjoy so many think He is. The author shares many of her spiritual struggles in breaking free from the black magic embedded in the deceptive practices of New Age thought. We witness her defeats and victories that lead to her experiencing the abundant life promised in the Holy Bible to all.
The victory Sarah experiences is available to all.

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You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Tatterdemalions-Testimony-Surviving-Discover-Redemption 
https://www.goodreads.com/-a-tatterdemalion-s-testimony-by-sarah-vigue 
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/a-tatterdemalions-testimony-sarah-vigue 
 
You can connect with the author:
https://sarahvigue.com 
https://x.com/sarahlaceyvigue 
https://www.facebook.com/sarahlvigue 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahlvigue/ 
https://www.pinterest.com/slv1982 
https://www.instagram.com/sarahvigue 
http://www.tiktok.com/@sarahlvigue 
https://www.youtube.com/@sarahvigue 
 
Copyright © 2025 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction 
50 Comments

Auntie Renita’s Galactic Motel                               by Gary Alan Henson

11/6/2025

16 Comments

 

Rooms to let for all Species 

Multi-genre, multi-volume, author Gary Henson introduces us to his humorous, sci-fi story about unexpected adventures in a small corner of the galaxy, “Auntie Renita’s Galactic Motel”:
It's 2323 and the Galaxies are booming with Tourists!
Plouton II is a thriving planet of Galactic diversity in the Andromeda Galaxy.
Interstellar travelers across the Universe visit and do what all intelligent beings do... look for a motel.
Auntie Re's has fresh bed sheets and hot tubs of lava!
Enjoy your stay!

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This story was fun to read. I love how Jake and Arlo have changed since I read "Arlo and Jake Enlist."
No matter where in the universe our heroes go, there will always be greedy bad guys who need to be brought to justice. Jake and Arlo are the human and sentient chameleon to do the job.
I can't share any more details without breaking my promise of no spoilers. Read the story and enjoy the ride. Maybe you can drive one of the hover bikes. ;-)
I award 4.7 stars because I am picky about certain things.

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You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Auntie-Renitas-Galactic-Motel 
https://www.goodreads.com/book/-auntie-renita-s-galactic-motel 
 
You can follow the author:
https://x.com/garyalanhenson 
http://garyalanhenson.blogspot.com 
https://bsky.app/profile/mrgort.bsky.social 

I have reviewed another book by the author:
www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/arlo-and-jake-enlist 
 
Copyright © 2025 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction.
16 Comments

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