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book reviews |
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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 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
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Multi-volume, multi-genre author, Mercedes Rochelle introduces us to the fourth volume in “The Plantagenet Legacy” series, “The Accursed King”: What happens when a king loses his prowess? The day Henry IV could finally declare he had vanquished his enemies, he threw it all away with an infamous deed. No English king had executed an archbishop before. And divine judgment was quick to follow. Many thought he was struck with leprosy—God's greatest punishment for sinners. From that point on, Henry's health was cursed and he fought doggedly on as his body continued to betray him—reducing this once great warrior to an invalid. Fortunately for England, his heir was ready and eager to take over. But Henry wasn't willing to relinquish what he had worked so hard to preserve. No one was going to take away his royal prerogative—not even Prince Hal. But Henry didn't count on Hal's dauntless nature, which threatened to tear the royal family apart.  I am a big fan of the author. Her books about all of these kings are so good! I confess that I zipped through this stuff in history class and was so happy when it was over. Mercedes has turned that all around for me. I really enjoy historical fiction and stories from history. She takes the old and withered bones of history and brings them to life in a compelling and dramatic way! Her descriptions of traveling through towns on the way to battle or negotiation are first rate. She accounts for weather, geography and other impediments to human activities whether benign or nefarious. Some of the historical characters are well known, others not nearly as much. She gives them all their proper due and allows them to be real humans, flaws and all. While the action sequences are quite good, the dialogue is what really locks it in for me. Whether you like history or a political thriller this book is for you!  You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Accursed-King-Plantagenet-Legacy-Book-ebook https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-accursed-king-mercedes-rochelle https://www.goodreads.com/-the-accursed-king 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/the-usurper-king 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 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/fatal-rivalry-by-mercedes-rochelle Tags: history, biography, fiction, medieval, European, Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales, France, historical, biographical, Copyright © 2021 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction. Multi-volume, historical fantasy fiction author, Jay Veloso Batista introduces us to the first volume of the Forerunner Series, “Thorfinn and the Witch’s Curse”: THE 2020 WISHING SHELF BRONZE MEDAL WINNER! Viking legends, unforgettable characters and authentic history combine in an exciting series starter! Vikings and Saxons, ghostly curses, witches and soothsayers, dangerous were-creatures and a young boy who must find his courage! Danelaw life is good! Practicing martial skills, grumbling over chores, listening to scary stories and shadowing his brothers everywhere, Finn is a normal boy of ten in the Viking Kingdoms of ninth century England. A bit timid, his father plots his apprenticeship while the family prepares a grand wedding. Off to the North, his uncle sails home after years of exile. And unbeknownst to all, the ghost of an ancient mage sits sentinel over his clan freehold. But when a witch’s curse comes alive, a mishap turns young Finn into a vardoger, haunted by his own forerunner ghost. Suddenly thrust into a new realm beyond Midgard, Finn struggles to be a boy by day and a ghost at night. His own clan fears him, he overhears murder plots, he learns the truth of giants and the hidden folk, and the witch still hunts revenge… Will Finn find the courage to defeat his enemies, save his uncle, and accept his new half-ghostly existence? Don’t miss Thorfinn and the Witch’s Curse, first book of The Forerunner Series by Jay Veloso Batista.  This is such a good story. I was quite captivated by Finn and his Viking brothers and sisters. The author has such a good eye for detail that brings the story and the characters to life without burying me in extraneous information. I love the dialogue and the plotting was very exciting. Finn comes across as an ordinary, ninth-century, Viking boy looking for adventure. He finds far more than he expected when he sneaks off with a big brother and a friend to investigate a local legend about a witch. If you like a touch of the supernatural and are interested in legends of old you are going to love this story!  You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Thorfinn-Witchs-Curse-Forerunner-Saga-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/-thorfinn-and-the-witch-s-curse https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/thorfinn-and-the-witchs-curse-jay-veloso-batista 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 A sequel to The Black Douglas TrilogyMulti-volume, multi-genre author introduces us to her latest work of historical fiction, “The Douglas Bastard” is the sequel to the Black Douglas trilogy: King Robert the Bruce and the Black Douglas are dead — and Scots once more must fight for their freedom. Young Archibald, the Black Douglas's bastard son, returns from exile to a Scotland ravaged by war. With treachery and danger on every side, he must learn to sleep with a claymore in his hand and one eye open because even his closest friend may betray him... Content warning: violence against a child  This is a marvelous book! I love historical fiction it’s my third favorite genre. Books centered on the United Kingdom are particularly attractive to me because much of my heritage comes from there. The author has taken a minor figure and walked with him through the major events he would have faced and been involved in. She did a great job! I love how she wove so many minor details of daily life into the story. I felt I was right there with Archibald. His struggles with being the bastard son of a noble included repeated bullying by his peers. He held his own with even odds. The fights, jousts and war scenes were brutal like daily life for most people. The dialogue came across quite real. This is a great read and I award 4.9 stars.  You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Douglas-Bastard-Sequel-Black-Trilogy-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/-the-douglas-bastard https://www.barnesandnoble.com/the-douglas-bastard You can follow the author: @JRTomlinAuthor http://www.jrtomlin.com http://jeannetomlin.blogspot.com Copyright © 2022 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction At the Edge of the Jordan: What Waits for Us After This Life and Why It Matters by Leah Chrest5/28/2022 Debut author, Leah Chrest introduces us to her fiction story about the afterlife: What waits for us when we die? How can the truth of heaven revolutionize our faith? In this unique work, Leah Chrest, a lifelong Christian, draws from both hundreds of near-death experiences and the Bible to create a captivating tale of faith and personal transformation. Based on the NDEs of Nancy Rynes, Rev. Howard Storm, Dr. Eben Alexander, Mary C. Neal, George Ritchie, and dozens more, Aislinn's story will answer your heart's deepest questions and inspire you to live a more peaceful, inspired, faith-filled life. Journey with Aislinn, a young woman who is no stranger to grief, having lost her sister and grandparents in the span of just a few years. On her honeymoon, Aislinn drowns in a freak surfing accident. Her soul leaves her body and enters heaven, where she meets with Jesus and has the innermost questions of her soul answered:
If you have always wondered about near-death experiences, this well-researched narrative account will warm your heart and inspire you to live with deeper purpose and meaning.  A fascinating story with tantalizing glimpses of what heaven and hell might be like. It’s an emotional rollercoaster at times with the death of loved ones and suffering being part of the story. Those darker moments are balanced with healings and connecting again with family members. I found the footnotes to be interesting and they add a welcome depth to the story. I enjoyed them as an information junkie. However, you can enjoy the story quite well without reading any of the footnotes. The story easily stands on its own. I give “At the Edge of the Jordan” 4.8 stars.  You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/At-Edge-Jordan-Waits-Matters-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/-at-the-edge-of-the-jordan You can follow the author: https://twitter.com/ChristianMedit2 http://thecontemplativechristian.com https://www.instagram.com/christianmedit2/ https://www.youtube.com/c/christianmeditation https://www.facebook.com/christianmedit2 Copyright © 2022 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction Multi-volume, multi-genre author, Jacqueline Mead introduces us to her children’s book, “The Tales of Mr. Mouse and Friends”: Join Mr. Mouse as he tends to his award-winning garden, makes friendships, meets Hilda his future wife, all the while drinking lots of tea and eating lots of cake. Mr. Mouse is a popular character whose door is always open, who is on hand to help anyone who needs assistance, who will rally around a worthwhile cause and who is highly thought of throughout the woodland community. Each chapter is a short story of its own and set in a season, there are twelve chapters following Mr. Mouse over three years. Read about the woodlands during a harsh winter when the woodlands are covered in six-foot snow drifts, during spring when the season is changing from winter, summer when Mr. Mouse’s award-winning gardens are at their best and autumn when the trees and plants are losing their leaves. Mr. Mouse with a house on the River Louse will become a favourite bedtime story for your children.  I enjoyed this book a lot. My two granddaughters did also. The casual rhyming was clever and the character names were pleasing. I loved the illustrations also, they are soft, the pastels are easy on the eyes. Each chapter has a full-page illustration. They look nice even on my Kindle. Each chapter is its own story. That makes for a pleasantly short read for bedtime, leaving time to answer questions a child might have. The overarching theme of the book is that family and friends are important and worthy of attention. Another wonderful theme is caring for your surroundings and environment. You are going to enjoy this peaceful visit to the river and woods where Mr. Mouse and his friends live.  You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Tales-Mr-Mouse-Friends-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/-the-tales-of-mr-mouse-and-friends https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-tales-of-mr-mouse-and-friends-jacqueline-mead You can follow the author: @Jackiem158 http://www.jacquelinemead.com Copyright © 2022 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction A Battered Mother’s Message to Her Son |
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You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Tangled-Webs-Haunted-Book-2-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/-tangled-webs
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/tangled-webs
Here is the review of Hearth Fires:
www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/hearth-fires-the-haunted-book-1-by-bibiana-krall-and-veronica-cline-barton
You can follow the authors:
https://www.twitter.com/Bibiana1Krall
https://www.bibianakrall.com
https://www.amazon.com/author/bibianakrall
https://www.youtube.com/channel/bookem channel
https://twitter.com/VClinebarton
https://www.veronicaclinebarton.com
https://myamericanalmostroyalcousinseries.com
https://www.facebook.com/myamericanalmostroyalcousinseries
https://www.amazon.com/Veronica-Cline-Barton
https://www.goodreads.com/author/Veronica_Cline_Barton
https://www.youtube.com/channel/#Bookem
Copyright © 2021 Mark L. Schultz except for the authors’ introduction
https://www.amazon.com/Tangled-Webs-Haunted-Book-2-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/-tangled-webs
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/tangled-webs
Here is the review of Hearth Fires:
www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/hearth-fires-the-haunted-book-1-by-bibiana-krall-and-veronica-cline-barton
You can follow the authors:
https://www.twitter.com/Bibiana1Krall
https://www.bibianakrall.com
https://www.amazon.com/author/bibianakrall
https://www.youtube.com/channel/bookem channel
https://twitter.com/VClinebarton
https://www.veronicaclinebarton.com
https://myamericanalmostroyalcousinseries.com
https://www.facebook.com/myamericanalmostroyalcousinseries
https://www.amazon.com/Veronica-Cline-Barton
https://www.goodreads.com/author/Veronica_Cline_Barton
https://www.youtube.com/channel/#Bookem
Copyright © 2021 Mark L. Schultz except for the authors’ introduction
Multi-volume author, Richard Smith introduces us to his MG stories of time travel, "Time Trap" and "Time Trap 2":
Time Trap
Who was the mysterious Hector Lightfoot? What was he up to when he disappeared, and who were the two ghosts once seen in his house? School friends Jamie and Todd are destined to find out when they go to London to spend a weekend with Jamie's Uncle Simon, who now lives in that very house. Soon after they arrive, Jamie has a frightening encounter with the two ghosts. Hector, a veteran from the First Afghan War, joined a covert expedition to China, and afterwards worked on a secret Government project in an underground lab at the British Museum. He vanished suddenly, and was never heard from again. Simon takes the boys to the lab, where they find a strange contraption - which, unknown to any of them, is a time-travel device. When the building is struck by lightning, the device is energised, and sends the boys back in time to the year 1862. There, surrounded by danger and exposed to disease, they are sucked into a life of crime in order to survive. Only if they can find Hector will they have any chance of getting home again. But why has he gone into hiding? Who is the man after him and what does he want? As the boys struggle to escape back to their own time, Jamie becomes convinced that the two ghosts he saw earlier are following them...
Time Trap 2
Jamie and Todd are horrified to learn that the Grand Plan, which they thought had been defeated, is about to be implemented in 1775, America. Hector and Catherine have to go back in time and thwart Travis - an agent of the Grand Plan - who is hell bent on world domination.
Jamie and Todd go with Hector and Catherine on a mission to 1775, to prevent a super gun from being used in the Battle of Bunker Hill, during the American War of Independence, but only have days to stop history from being altered.
Jamie and Todd go with Hector and Catherine on a mission to 1775, to prevent a super gun from being used in the Battle of Bunker Hill, during the American War of Independence, but only have days to stop history from being altered.
 Time Trap is a wonderful adventure story for middle grade children and above. The story clearly depicts how brutal life was in Victorian England if you didn’t have any money. The author is smart by not explaining how the time travel mechanism actually works. We see it all from the perspective of the two teenage boys. They are unexpectedly thrust backwards in time and struggle to locate the people who might be able to help them return to their time. I enjoyed the accents as portrayed by the people who live in Victorian England. The use of the environment as an important aspect of the experience the two boys had is quite good. The action is excellent and very important to the story. I award 4.8 stars to Time Trap. |  Time trap 2 is a fun extension of the story from Time Trap. Instead of Jamie and Todd being trapped in Victorian London, their scientist friends, Hector and Catherine, from that period appear in modern London. Hector and his wife are chasing another time traveler, Travis, who is seeking to further the goal of world domination by a shadowy organization. Travis has obtained an early model of the Gatling gun from the 1860s and is taking it to the American Colonies in the 1770s. If he is not stopped, Western History will be radically changed. More great writing in a very exciting story! I give Time Trap 2 a score of 4.9 stars. |
You can buy these books:
https://smile.amazon.com/Time-Trap-Richard-Smith-ebook
https://smile.amazon.com/Time-Trap-Two-Richard-Smith-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/book/-time-trap
You can follow Richard Smith:
https://twitter.com/RichardSmithTT
https://www.facebook.com/Time-Trap-1862-360641754046977/
http://www.timetrap.co.uk/
I promoted his first book here: www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/the-darziods-stone
Copyright © 2021 Mark L Schultz except for the author's introductions
https://smile.amazon.com/Time-Trap-Richard-Smith-ebook
https://smile.amazon.com/Time-Trap-Two-Richard-Smith-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/book/-time-trap
You can follow Richard Smith:
https://twitter.com/RichardSmithTT
https://www.facebook.com/Time-Trap-1862-360641754046977/
http://www.timetrap.co.uk/
I promoted his first book here: www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/the-darziods-stone
Copyright © 2021 Mark L Schultz except for the author's introductions
Who am I?
An avid reader, typobuster, and the Hyper-Speller. I am a husband, father, and grandfather.
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