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book reviews |
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2000 Years of Idiocy from Nero to Trump Multi-volume author, Adam Powell introduces us to his latest book, “More of History’s Worst”: Idiocy is the best form of comedy, and there is an inexhaustible supply. MORE OF HISTORY’S WORST: 2000 Years of Idiocy from Nero to Trump celebrates the mad, bad, and just plain mediocre. Generals are more dangerous to their own side, monarchs too looney to be let out of the palace, and politicians who make you weep for democracy. There have been plenty of “best ofs,” but MORE OF HISTORY’S WORST deals with the biggest butchers and buffoons from the ancient world to the bloodstained twentieth century—from the king who thought he was made of glass to the exploding dog regiment. Funny and provocative, this is the stuff you never learned in class. Not so funny to many, the fact that the United States is now pitied in some other countries because of Trump rather than admired, his character (or lack of character) is exemplified in the many quotes President Trump has said.  I love history, I love trivia, unusual and little-known facts, and I love to laugh. This book has it all! Most of what is in this book is downright funny, some of it is sad also. A little bit is somewhat gruesome, but not too bad. There are quotes and quotable events, all the worst of so many categories beyond political and military misadventures. There really is something for everyone. The worst sports and foods ever invented by human beings. Some of these staggers the imagination. I couldn’t invent most of this stuff. Could you? I award 4.6 stars to “More of History’s Worst”, the score would have been higher except for the handful of spelling errors I stumbled across. These few errors have been corrected; your reading will be improved.  You can buy this book:
https://rdrpublishers.com/historys-worst-2000-years-of-idiocy-by-adam-powell https://www.amazon.com/Historys-Worst-2000-Years-Idiocy-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/-history-s-worst You can follow the author: https://twitter.com/Adam0Powell https://powelladam0.wixsite.com/historysworst https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-powell https://www.facebook.com/adam.powell Copyright © 2021 Mark L. Schultz, except for the author’s introduction
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Multi-volume author, A. E. Faulkner introduces us to her third book in the Nature’s Fury series, “Devastation Erupts”: I’ve finally got my sister back. Now, if we can just catch up with our friends and find a way home...it’s only 300 miles away. When we’re offered a deal that seems to include everything we need to get home, the only choice is to accept. Never mind that the cost is our silence, along with taking a slight excursion along the way. The clock is ticking and we’re sworn to secrecy. Can we reach home in time and keep our promises? The road ahead is nowhere near easy. Tag along with Quinn and Riley as they attempt to reach their safe haven before Devastation Erupts.  This third volume is a great extension of this series. These characters have their highs and lows, wins and losses. The losses are bigger and hit more often than the wins, unfortunately for them. The sisters are finally reunited and very happily so. They barely have a chance to catch up before yet another problem appears. The author has done a good job of preserving the first-person point of view for Quinn. I love the intimacy that it brings to the story. No head hopping here, the author is quite expert at maintaining the purity. The author has also kept a certain amount of humor in the story as well, which is good; otherwise, it might be too depressing. Seriously, everything that can possibly go wrong does. About the only thing that hasn’t happened yet is being savaged by a pack of raging Chihuahuas. The dialogue is good, the action is almost non-stop, POV is held quite well, descriptions are just right and scene setting is excellent. You are going to love this book! I award 4.9 stars to “Devastation Erupts”; the score would have been higher except for the handful of spelling errors I found.  You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Devastation-Erupts-Natures-Fury-Book https://www.goodreads.com/-devastation-erupts https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/devastation-erupts-a-e-faulkner You can follow the author: https://twitter.com/AuthAEFaulkner http://authoraefaulkner.com https://www.facebook.com/authaefaulkner https://www.instagram.com/authoraefaulkner https://www.tiktok.com/@authoraefaulkner I have reviewed the first book in the series also: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/darkness-falls Tags: Dystopian, fiction, coming of age, science fiction, YA, climate, catastrophe, family, relationship Copyright © 2021 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction Debut author, Timothy W. Sparks introduces us to his anthology of horror and science fiction, “Pipe Dreams and Nightmares”: Pipe Dreams and Nightmares explores the strange and impossible through stories of science fiction and paranormal. In one weird new world after another, Sparks lights up the page with chilling tales of death, hopeful stories of the afterlife, and strange accounts of the extraterrestrial. Be prepared for anything in the twist endings and surprising solutions to the unprecedented problems these characters face. From men pregnant by aliens to sentient invasive weeds to corporate manipulation in the outer space junk-collecting business, life is normal until it’s not and then what do you do? Table of Contents: Caged The Culling Cheaters Due Murder Me Please Mausoleum Madness The Ghost and His Dead Dog The Misadventure of Toby Spencer My Uncle’s Dog is a Dragon Space Junk Jockeys My Calamity The Heathen Weightless Weeds  There are some great stories here. I think most, if not all, could be expanded into a book, a good book. I like the author’s writing style quite a bit. It is quite down to earth and realistic. I think my favorite story is The Ghost and His Dog. I was in the military a long time ago and we had a German Shepherd as a family dog. He was dumb as a rock, but we loved him. Don’t ask me to choose my least favorite story. I can’t do it. Each story is so good on its own merit. Cheaters Due gives a chilling new meaning to close encounters. I award 4.9 stars to Pipe Dreams and Nightmares, the score would have been higher except for a small handful of spelling errors.  You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Pipe-Dreams-Nightmares-Short-Stories-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/-pipe-dreams-and-nightmares https://www.barnesandnoble.com/pipe-dreams-and-nightmares-timothy-w-sparks It is also available on many other fine platforms. You can follow the author: https://twitter.com/Timothy65447327 https://www.facebook.com/timothy.sparks.16 Copyright © 2021 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction HOW TO MANAGE ANXIETY, UNDERSTAND THE MIND/BODY RELATIONSHIP, FOCUS ON YOUR AUDIENCE & MAKE AN ‘OUT OF THIS WORLD’ SPEECHMulti-volume author, Vince Stevenson introduces us to his second of three non-fiction books, “The Fear Doctor”: HOW TO MANAGE ANXIETY UNDERSTAND THE MIND/BODY RELATIONSHIP FOCUS ON YOUR AUDIENCE & MAKE AN ‘OUT OF THIS WORLD’ SPEECH In The Fear Doctor, Vince Stevenson discusses issues that can throw you into a spin. Vince describes himself as a ‘recovering speaker’ following a panic attack in front of a Board meeting in the mid-80s and discusses how just a few years later he was applying for top salaried jobs in an international training role. The journey is rocky and fun too. Vince shares stories of his egotistical early days as a cricketer and a successful footballer: how one silly decision lost him the opportunity of possibly going professional and, most importantly, what he learned about life, business and how to accelerate achievements by getting out of his own way. Confucius said, ‘Find an occupation you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.’ When Vince found his vocation as a trainer, he never looked back. Thousands of hours in the classroom with thousands of talented graduate students helped him to forge his message and stay on top of this highly competitive profession. Using self-deprecating humour as a shield and armed with a philosophy of respect, humility and empathy, Vince has worked from Brazil to Bangladesh with some of the world’s top consultancies and NGOs. What this book reveals is how to: - Manage anxiety - Focus on what you want, not on what you don’t want - Understand your thoughts - Understand your body - Understand the mind/body relationship - Focus on your audience - Deliver an out-of-this-world speech  We all struggle with fear and anxiety at one level or another. This book is full of practical tips, quotes and wisdom to live a more enjoyable and relaxed life. The methods the author shares are not limited to helping a person make a better speech; these proven techniques are of great value, and useful in any part of life. He has the experience to back up his claims and knows what he is talking about having been a corporate trainer and professional speaker for many years. What is even better is that Vince shares so many videos that can help a person relax and gain better self-control when speaking in front of others. I have taken the Dale Carnegie course in effective public speaking, he mentioned and it helped me overcome a stammering problem quite a bit. I learned that being in control is fun and enjoyable, but only when you have planned, prepared and practiced properly. Vince makes it seem like pleasurable. I award Vince’s book, “The Fear Doctor” a score of 4.9 stars. The score would have been higher except for a handful of spelling errors.  You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/the-fear-doctor https://www.goodreads.com/-the-fear-doctor https://www.amazon.co.uk/FEAR-DOCTOR You can follow the author: https://twitter.com/vincestev https://twitter.com/ttruck1995 https://www.collegeofpublicspeaking.co.uk https://www.facebook.com/vince.stevenson.5 https://www.linkedin.com/in/collegeofpublicspeaking Copyright © 2020 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction Multi-volume, multi-genre author, Elizabeth Clamon introduces us to her latest book about how God is good, even when we go through trials, “Fiercely Faithful”: Have you been discouraged? Found yourself wondering where God is in the midst of your storm? These fourteen authors have been there and chose to share their stories of when God was Fiercely Faithful. Everyone has difficulties, traumas, setbacks, and tragedies. Despite the difficult situations these authors found themselves in, they chose to trust God to get them through. Come on the journey with these amazing people as they share some very challenging situations and how they made it through what may have seemed like insurmountable odds with Fierce Faith.  This is a collection of testimonies about how God rescues us from the consequences of our choices and circumstances sometimes beyond our control when we turn to Him. The hope that is exemplified in these pages is very similar to experiences I have had also. This hope is available to anyone, at any time, in any circumstance. The details are laid out clearly in the book. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I award a score of 4.8 stars, the score would have been higher except for the large handful of spelling errors I found. Those errors should be corrected now, your reading experience will be improved.  You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/fiercely-faithful https://www.goodreads.com/-fiercely-faithful You can follow the author: https://twitter.com/ClamonElizabeth https://www.elizabethclamon.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/ElizabethClamon http://www.instagram.com/ElizabethClamon https://facebook.com/ElizabethClamonspeaker https://www.youtube.com/channel/ElizabthClamon https://www.pinterest.com/ElizabethClamon I have reviewed another book by Elizabeth, “Beauty Rising from Brokenness” here is the link: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/beauty-rising-from-brokenness-by-elizabeth-m-clamon Tags: self-help, parenting, families, dysfunctional family, PTSD, relationships, spiritual life Copyright © 2020 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction. Multi-volume, multi-genre author, Matthew Fish introduces us to his latest story, “All The Best Roads Still Lead West”: In the summer of 2019, a Photographer who has lost their way and a young woman who is losing her vision go on a meandering journey westward. Over the course of their travels, they both strive to connect and find happiness along the open road and the spectacular views of nature the trip affords them. All the Best Roads Still Lead West is a story about dealing with the difficulties that can often be found in life and holding onto the idea of hoping for better days ahead. Along with the story, the novel contains over eighty photographs from my own personal journey west. The idea was to create a compelling narrative revolving around the idea of travel and mix it with my love for photography.  This is a surprising book. It seems like a book about photographing a cross country vacation. But it is really about two people discovering each other and learning to share a small part of their life together. I love photography and there are a lot of nice pictures in the book which is really refreshing. The story of the trip these two make across the country imbues the photos with pathos. We know the young woman is losing her vision and nothing can be done about it. Her apparent equanimity in facing her increasing blindness unravels somewhat when she employs her sharp-edged humor. I found the writing to be compelling. The descriptions were luxurious, and set the stage quite well for dialogue and for action. The story is told in the first person, pulls me in deeply. The characters were well constructed, they played their roles in a very natural way, they came across as real and alive. I award 4.6 stars to “All The Best Roads Still Lead West”. The score would have been higher except for the large number of spelling errors I found. The author assures me they have been corrected, so your reading will be the smoother.  You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Best-Roads-Still-Lead-West-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/all-the-best-roads-still-lead-west https://www.audible.com/pd/All-the-Best-Roads-Still-Lead-West-Audiobook You can follow the author: https://twitter.com/Matthew_MFish Copyright © 2020 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction Multi-volume author, Stephen Reeves introduces us to his latest fantasy story, “The Melody of Three”: Sorcerer Christaan De Rein's return to Liverpool does not go well, starting with the fact that his trusted apprentice, Higgins, dies on the way. Then again, Higgins dies a lot. Of course, Rein doesn't expect to be welcomed with open arms after being banished for nine years, but a cryptic summons from The Musician herself cannot go unanswered. But when Rein arrives all is in chaos. People with fairy blood are turning up dead. The Forum Magicae is undone and the Curators sieged. And in another world altogether, where Earth is just a legend, a girl named Niena and a cursed lyre hold the key to saving both realms. Or destroying them.  This story drew me into its embrace in unexpected ways. I am not normally attracted to the darker side of fantasy. This story felt like it was in a perpetually dusk on a cloudy day. I had a hard time putting the story down, I was wooed and attracted like seldom before. The author’s grasp of language was breathtaking throughout. The images that unfolded in my mind were wonderfully intoxicating at times. Scene setting was extensive as fantasy usually is. Dialogue was terse and well played. The action could have been a bit fuller in a place or two, a few times I had to reread a section to be certain I didn’t miss a syllable. I award 4.8 stars to "The Melody of Three: (Evercharm Trilogy, Book 1), The score would have been higher except for the large handful of spelling errors I found.  You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/the-Melody of-Three-Evercharm-Trilogy-Book https://www.goodreads.com/-the-melody-of-three https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-melody-of-three-sd-reeves and other major platforms where you buy books. You can connect with the author: https://twitter.com/SD_Reeves https://www.facebook.com/SDReeves.Author https://www.goodreads.com/author/S_D_Reeves I have reviewed another wonderful book by the author: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/curses-of-scale-by-s-d-reeves tags: fantasy, fairy, fairies, magic, elf, elves, music, books, sculpture Copyright © 2020 Mark L Schultz except for the author's introduction Ph.Ds. Richard Silvestri and Jill Racine introduce us to their new book about defining and treating anxiety and depression, “From Misery to Mastery: A Revolutionary New Treatment for Anxiety and Depression”:This is a self-help guide for people suffering from mild to moderate anxiety and depression, using a multidimensional new method. This method is a combination of the well-tested and proven exposure therapy (which one of the authors helped originate) with the authors' unique system of trait and predisposition analysis, which takes the person's overall psychological makeup and inborn predilections into account, to create in effect a customized treatment for each person. This system also takes into account the three different components of anxiety, all of which must be dealt with to assure effective treatment, and includes a treatment plan for those who wish to take their recovery all the way to complete mastery—total banishment—of these troublesome conditions. This book addresses anxiety in all its forms, including generalized anxiety, situational anxiety, multiple anxieties, very private anxieties, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder, phobias, PTSD, stress, worry, and fears, including response-based fears. It also addresses many forms of psychological depression, from depression due to losses (grief) to depression mixed with anxiety or anger, as well as other depression-related conditions such as grudges, regret, guilt, and procrastination.  This is a good and helpful book, written by a father and daughter team, who are both psychologists. I enjoyed the book and found it to be well-grounded in reality. The several modes of anxiety and depression are described quite well and so are the different treatments. The authors encourage readers with mild to moderate issues to do it themselves; others with strong issues are recommended to seek guidance from a qualified professional. The many different examples make this book quite interesting and easy to consume. With references and an index those desiring more information can educate themselves further with ease. I award 4.8 stars to “From Misery to Mastery” the score would have been higher except for a large handful of spelling errors. Those errors are corrected now, your reading in the e-book will be smoother.
Richard Silvestri, Ph.D. Jillian Racine, Ph.D. You can buy this book:
https://rdrpublishers.com/from-misery-to-mastery-a-revolutionary-new-treatment-for-anxiety-and-depression https://www.amazon.com/from-misery-to-mastery-arevolutionary-new-treatment-for-anxiety-and-depression https://www.goodreads.com/-from-misery-to-mastery You can follow the authors: https://drjillracine.com Tags: psychology, psychiatry, DIY Copyright © 2020 Mark L. Schultz except for the authors’ introduction Debut author, Trish MacEnulty, introduces us to her first book, “The Pink House”: Jen Johanssen is a former porn actor trying to fit into the world of academia. Her sister, Lolly Johanssen, is a cancer survivor. Nicole Parks is in prison for loving the wrong guy. And Sonya Yakowski, also in prison, is a member of a family of traveling criminals, desperately missing her young son. The lives of these four women converge in a Florida prison, where Jen and Lolly have joined forces to put on a grant-funded drama production. Despite their remarkably divergent histories, these women come together in unexpected ways, each beginning to confront and forgive her own past.  This is a wonderful example of women’s literature that anyone will likely derive pleasure from the reading. I really enjoyed the story. The women from such varied backgrounds came across so real. Using the vehicle of a memoir, their different stories converge in a Florida women’s prison. The author does a great job of showing each of the women as a unique individual with their own ambitions and desires. She makes effective use of accents and idioms to differentiate the characters from each other. Much of the book is set in the prison and those descriptions are vivid without being overdone. The dialogue and action all drive the story forward at a comfortable pace. The ending was unexpectedly beautiful, I loved it. I award 4.9 stars to “The Pink House”, the score would have been higher except for a handful of spelling errors.  You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Pink-House-Trish-MacEnulty https://www.goodreads.com/-the-pink-house https://www.barnesandnoble.com/the-pink-house-trish-macenulty You can follow the author: https://twitter.com/pmacenulty https://www.trishmacenulty.com https://www.facebook.com/pat.macenulty women’s literature, women’s fiction, prison, parole, death, cancer Copyright © 2020 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction Multi-volume author, Mary Lu Scholl, introduces us to the second book in the series, “Mobile Mayhem”: Patty is a reluctant retiree in a Florida Mobile Home and RV Park. Socially awkward, she tries to reshape her new life with an ever-changing array of neighbors. Ever-changing, you say? Maybe if they would quit dying on her... Follow her as she solves another mysterious death...  I loved this story just as much as the first one. The author makes me laugh a lot. The story is very entertaining. I love the way Mary writes; she channels an inner curmudgeon so well. Patty comes across so well, some of us never quite fit into the social milieu. Patty is the poster child for this affliction. The dialogue is quite good, an appropriate amount of snark and lots of self-questioning. The action is excellent as well as the scene setting. The descriptions are measured and well placed. Patty gets some ghostly help from a supernatural source, a neighbor that died right after she moved in. I award 4.9 stars to “Mobile Mayhem”, the score would have been higher except for a couple of spelling errors.  You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Mobile-Mayhem-Trailer-Park-Travails-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/mobile-mayhem https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mobile-Mayhem-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, “Camper Catastrophe” can be found here: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/camper-catastrophe-by-mary-lu-scholl Tags: cozy, murder, mystery, Florida, pets, dog, cat, neighbors, fiction, action Copyright © 2020 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction The Walkers, Paul, Alexandra and Calvin, debut authors introduce us to their book about having a richer life by going, “UNPLUGGED”: INTELLIGENT AND FUNNY, this book is designed for teenagers; it has hundreds of fun activities that teenagers can do that don't involve a screen. Some of the ideas are free and only take a few minutes while others may cost a small fortune and take years. UNPLUGGED contains useful ideas, such as creative ways to earn money and ideas to make your parents happy. There are a number of activities teens can do with their friends or to do to make new friends. The first section includes lists of activities that people can do, from cooking to earning money. The second includes things that teens should know about, like how to avoid being poor, how to negotiate, how to tell if someone is lying, and other similar skills. The third is similar to the second, only more focused on health. Because some of the sections are simply long lists, at the bottom “activities” were added which serve as hints or jumping-off points for that particular list. ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Paul Walker is the dad. His daughter Alexandra Boyden Walker (age 13) and his son Calvin Boyden Walker (age 17) give their dad “rant scores” whenever he contributes to the book, yet it is obvious they have deep respect for him. Teens themselves, they are concerned their peers will grow up with compromised social skills because of their obsession with their devices, spending the equivalent of 136 days a year on them. So they did extensive research and created lists of healthier activities to do instead. Visit the authors on their website: http://mindfulcynic.com/.  I enjoyed this book a lot. I found it entertaining and insightful, with a healthy dose of cute. I think that everyone benefits from engaging in different activities at all ages, but especially in the school-age years. The chapter on volunteering is quite good and provides ideas for volunteering in many different areas of interest. They can also be implemented in towns of almost any size. Learning the value of serving and assisting others is an important life skill to have. Almost all nonprofit organizations would fold without any volunteers. Many of the activities are way fun! Quite a few of them can easily be leveraged into a hobby or in a few cases, a business. Lessons can be learned, while having fun, that will remain with a person all throughout life. I recommend this book wholeheartedly. It’s fun, enjoyable, helps to build a well-rounded personality through a variety of experiences. I award 5 stars to “UNPLUGGED”! Congratulations to all of the authors!  You can buy this book:
https://rdrpublishers.com/unplugged-hundreds-of-activities-for-teens-to-do-without-a-screen https://www.amazon.com/UNPLUGGED-Hundreds-Activities-Without-Screen https://www.goodreads.com/-unplugged This book is available on many other platforms also. You can follow the authors: https://twitter.com/Mindful_Cynic http://mindfulcynic.com https://www.facebook.com/Mindfulcynic Copyright © 2020 Mark L. Schultz except for the authors’ introduction Multi-volume, multi-genre author, Stanley C. Straub introduces us to his science fiction thriller, “The Terminus List”: A Science Fiction thriller filled with realistic characters, aliens, politics, romance, hi-tech Flybots, Universal Transport Machines, and multiple universes. The main character is a mother determined to save her daughter at all costs. She is helped by her right-hand man, a humanoid that is almost more human than robot. The story begins at the year-end extravaganza held in 2998, where Tom Florin became a statistic. He was terminated by liberated punctuation, a fancy, made-up term by the government for killing people to keep the population under control. Two years later, in 3000, the names of the new chosen ones were published for all to see. Whose names will be listed and who will get to go to the extravaganza parade and then be led to the glorious extermination stations during the Super Sunday halftime celebration. Barbara Freeman, age 16 was one of the "supposedly" lucky names chosen for the 3000 celebration. During the show which will be broadcast for the world to see, Barbara and several thousand more are planned to be terminated. Most of them are willing and happy to be part of the termination process, but Barbara, her boyfriend, and her folks are not. Can Barbara escape her pending fate?  Mandatory population control has been turned into halftime entertainment. This dystopian-themed story introduces some new twists to the genre with multiple universes, talented robots and democratic elections. I enjoyed this story, there was a lot of action and the dialogue kept the story moving at a good pace. Some of the technology was a lot of fun. We finally get our flying cars! Set in the year 3000, flying vehicles are the primary mode of transportation for the populous. I hope I don’t have to wait that long. I award 3.8 stars to “The Terminus List”, the score would have been higher except for a lot of spelling errors. These errors have been corrected according to the author. Your reading pleasure will be improved.  You can buy this book:
https://smile.amazon.com/Terminus-List-Stanley-Straub-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/the-terminus-list https://www.barnesandnoble.com/the-terminus-list-stanley-c-straub You can follow the author: https://twitter.com/Renownedwriter https://stanleystraubauthor.com https://writerstar.wordpress.com https://www.facebook.com/stanley.straub.92 https://www.facebook.com/Stan-Straub-Author https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/76655467 tags: science fiction, sci-fi, dystopian Copyright © 2020 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction Accomplished authors, Bibiana and Veronica introduce us to their first collaboration, very spooky in nature, “Hearth Fires (The Haunted Book 1)”: Enjoy an eclectic, and imaginative collection of six, original, short stories that share one central theme, the mysterious Ouija board with a nod to the troubled spirits that guide The Oracle. Take a journey through the Deep South, then head to the American Northeast, Pacific Northwest and end your reading adventure with a flight on a magical witch’s broom across the glimmering pond. Halloween can’t come soon enough! Indulge your senses and drift over to the spooky side with Hearth Fires. If you adore “Night Gallery” “Dark Shadows” “Hocus Pocus” and anything Poe, Jackson or DuMaurier, this collection was written especially for you. Culinary Coterie by Veronica Cline Barton––When Sammie Atherton returns to the family home in Smoky Shoals, Louisiana, she learns of a culinary legacy that has been passed down through generations. Will she be up for the challenge of leading the town’s Culinary Coterie with their mystery ingredients? Herbs and spices will never be the same again! The Window by Bibiana Krall––Late one night in Savannah, Tabitha sees something odd in a window. A shadow? A ghost? Or is it just her imagination that something is reaching across the great divide? The risk is in finding out the truth and discovering the lengths she might be willing to go to help a stranger… Vintage Vibrations by Veronica Cline Barton––Allie Michaels’ Salem boutique offers only the second hand best to her chichi clientele. She’s always on the search for unique finds, ready to turn a profit. When an aging actress offers her a deal too good to be true, she jumps at the offer—but will the recipients of these goods live to regret their purchases? Dark Watchers by Bibiana Krall––Emily doesn’t realize that a surreal, childhood experience in the woods holds the key to a mystery that has haunted her ever since. Betrayal becomes part of a dangerous evening when peril and danger lurks behind the smile of a handsome genius. Will she leave Big Sur with her sanity and safety intact? Board Whisperers by Veronica Cline Barton—When nanny Bria McEwen takes on her latest assignment in Glasgow, she’s looking forward to a luxurious holiday excursion with a seemingly, charming family touring the Scottish Whisky Trail. When her assignment is abruptly cancelled, she has one important question. Where are the children and their parents? La Fee Vert by Bibiana Krall––A talented painter in Paris is obsessed with becoming a commercial success. Something in her soul shifts when she’s extremely close to reaching her dreams… Will Camille discover the high price of fame in The City of Lights, a glittering place paved with the broken dreams of artists long departed.  I love a scary story as much as the next person, when the goose bumps show up, I know the story is great! I don’t care for a lot of blood and gore; it takes away the fun. I get excited when righteousness and justice prevail. Everyone wants to see the bad guy get their just desserts at the end. These stories deliver plenty of the above. They are scary and creepy in turn, with a small slice of humor included. The intersection of our contemporary world with the spirit world makes for frightening encounters. The descriptions of Big Sur stimulated fond memories and enhanced my enjoyment. These stories are excellent! They are not only compact they are so well written. I received wonderful, shivery pleasure and award five stars to “Hearth Fires”!
You can buy this book:
https://amazon.com/Hearth-Fires-Haunted-Book-1-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/hearth-fires https://www.barnesandnoble.com/hearth-fires-bibiana-krall https://www.books2read.com/HearthFires 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 tags: horror, shorts, Copyright © Mark L. Schultz except for the authors’ introduction Multi-volume, political-thriller author, James McCrone introduces us to his newest volume of the Imogen Trager series, “Emergency Powers”: The accidental president is no accident. When the president dies in office, FBI Agent Imogen Trager knows that the conspiracy she chased down a blind alley still has life in it-and she needs to get back in the hunt. The old case may be the key to stopping a brutal, false flag terrorist attack meant to finalize the new puppet president's grip on power. Imogen doesn't know it yet, but she's running out of time. As bodies pile up and leads go cold, the main target from that old case reaches out to her. He's still at large, and now he needs protection. Imogen doesn't trust him, and it's not only because he's offering intel that sounds too good to be true. He's already tried to kill her once. Set variously in DC, Seattle and small-town America, Emergency Powers is a story of corruption and redemption, achieved at enormous personal cost, with a ripped-from-the-headlines urgency: a fractious FBI, an undermined Attorney General, powerful people using all manner of treachery to maintain their hold on power. But it's more than headlines about things people think they know. And darker.  This is such a good book! I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. McCrone has a keen eye for detail, his plotting is so good! I was sorry when I reached the end of the story, it was such good reading. A very satisfying ending, I might add. All the steps necessary to uncover the plot to control the presidency are amazing. So many disparate pieces that fit together with unbelievable precision at the end. There is so much I loved about this book, the characters, even minor players come across with depth, they seemed so real. The dialogues are very organic and the characters to live and breathe. Settings and action are commendable, all of these elements working so well together adds up to a wonderful book to read. The best and worst part of this story is how real it seemed. I worry that it could come true. I give “Emergency Powers” a score of 5 stars!  You can buy this book:
https://amazon.com/Emergency-Powers-James-McCrone-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/-emergency-powers https://www.barnesandnoble.com/emergency-powers-james-mccrone You can follow the author: https://twitter.com/jamesmccrone4 https://www.facebook.com/FaithlessElector/ http://jamesmccrone.com/ I have reviewed the previous book: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/dark-network Tags: thriller, politics, political thriller, mystery, suspense, action, FBI, espionage, procedural, justice Copyright © 2020 Mark L Schultz except for the author's introduction Multi-volume author and renowned herbalist, Lesley Tierra introduces us to her book “A Kid’s Herb Book: For Children of All Ages”: A Kid’s Herb Book makes learning about herbs and plants fun and educational for children. They follow the friendly elf, Mr. Greenleaf, through the plant “kin-dom.” They learn various uses of plants and they learn to appreciate vital things that plants provide, such as oxygen, food, soap, wood, teas, and medicines. They will discover the differences between herbs, weeds, and spices. They learn to make products from herbs, such as natural toothbrushes and homemade cough medicine. They learn about the healing properties of specific herbs. And they learn enchanting stories that can be read aloud and that awaken the imagination. A Kid’s Herb Book includes delicious recipes for such culinary delights as “Basil Pesto” and “Rose Petal Jam.” Children and their parents are encouraged to grow their own herb gardens. Simple instructions are provided for outdoor gardens (when space is available) to smaller gardens (using a window box, a basket, or even a flowerpot!). To go completely natural, readers can learn to make and use compost as well.  What a marvelous and fun book! I enjoyed this book so much. It truly is written for children of all ages. The writing style is winsome and easy to read for almost any average skill level fifth or sixth grade reader and above. The black-and-white line drawing invite you to color them in and own the book. The page layout and fonts keep the information flowing in an easy-to-understand fashion. The creation-of-the-herb stories are fun and invite discussions between parent and child about important issues and character traits. There are recipes, songs and care guides that extend the reading experience and solidify the knowledge imparted. This is such an excellent and well-written book; it easily deserves to be awarded 5 stars!  You can buy this book:
https://rdrpublishers.com/a-kid-s-herb-book-for-children-of-all-ages-by-lesley-tierra https://amazon.com/Kids-Herb-Book-Children-Ages-paperback https://www.goodreads.com/A_Kid_s_Herb_Book You can follow the author: https://twitter.com/east_west_herbs https://planetherbs.com https://www.facebook.com/lesley.tierra# Copyright © 2020 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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