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Multi-volume, multi-genre author, J. D. Edwards introduces us to his latest book of historical fiction, “Indomitable”: When Black voices are stifled, the reality is transformed into fiction, history is twisted into folklore, and heroes are turned into myths. Harriet Beecher Stowe published Uncle Tom's Cabin, holding a brief account of Eliza Harris, in 1853. Now, 170 years later, learn the actual tale of Eliza's harrowing escape from slavery and her unwavering bravery to live a life of freedom. Eliza risked everything to cross the semi-frozen Ohio River in the dead of night and save her baby from a slave's life. Indomitable is a work of historical fiction based on real events and Eliza's firsthand narrative. While one branch of the author's family owned Eliza, the other branch risked their lives to rescue her. We cannot undo the past, but we can recount the tales of those who fought for liberty and assure that their sacrifice was not in vain.  Based on a true story? Yes. More loosely based on thousands of true stories? Yes. Worthy of being on the reading list of every person interested in American or Canadian history. Slavery has been a blot on humanity for many thousands of years. Slavery has existed in one form or another in almost every society on earth and continues right up to this day. This story might make you angry and shake your soul. If it does, good. This story might make you marvel at the determination of one person to create a new life for herself and her son. That I-will-do-whatever-it-takes attitude is no less astounding than it was so long ago. I loved this book, its story and its writing. Both are utterly fabulous! Mr. Edwards is one heck of a writer! Be prepared to be shocked, enlightened and entertained. I certainly was. 5 stars for “Indomitable”!  You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Indomitable-Harris-J-D-Edwards-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/-indomitable www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/indomitable-the-story-of-eliza-harris I reviewed another book by the author: The Phantom Seer by J. D. Edwards - Word Refiner You can follow the author: https://twitter.com/FaerieRealms https://www.facebook.com/FaerieRealms https://www.linkedin.com/in/twyrch https://www.wattpad.com/user/FaerieRealms https://www.instagram.com/twyrch https://www.pinterest.com/twyrch https://www.tiktok.com/@faerierealms Copyright © 2022 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction
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Amazon debut author, Rob Samborn introduces us to his first book, “The Prisoner of Paradise”: A 400-year-old murder. A disembodied whisper: "Amore mio." My love. Nick and Julia O'Connor's dream trip to Venice collapses when a haunting voice reaches out to Nick from Tintoretto's Paradise, the world's largest oil painting. Though Julia worries her husband suffers from a delusion, Nick is adamant the voice belongs to a woman from the 16th century—his soul mate from a previous life. He discovers a religious order that has developed a method of extracting people's souls, which they imprison in Paradise. Over the centuries, they've judged thousands of souls and sentenced them to eternal purgatory. As infatuation with the past clouds his commitment to a present-day wife, Nick must right an age-old wrong—destroy the painting and liberate his soul mate. But freeing her would allow all the souls to be reborn. The order will never let that happen.  Such an amazing and intense story! I have read a lot of time travel stories. This is not that. It is a past-life story. Is that a spoiler? I hope not, I try not to let spoilers leak out in my reviews. When Nick and Julia land in Venice, on a dream vacation, they have no idea that they are on a collision course with the past! This fast-paced adventure begins to pick up steam when they visit a renowned art museum in Venice. Nick thinks he is losing his mind when he hears a voice calling to him from a famous painting that is several hundred years old. His wife, Julia, doesn't know what to think. Things go from bad to worse as a centuries-old conspiracy is slowly revealed and the married couple does not know who they can trust. The Order seems to be everywhere all the time. A rollicking ride that veers from the present into the past over and over. You are going to love this book! It is so hard to put down!  You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Prisoner-Paradise-Book-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/-the-prisoner-of-paradise https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-prisoner-of-paradise-1 You can follow the author: https://twitter.com/RobSamborn https://robsamborn.com https://www.facebook.com/RobSambornAuthor https://www.instagram.com/robsamborn Here is the link to the review of the second book and the interview continues there also: www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/painter-of-the-damned Copyright ©2022 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction Multi-volume, fiction and non-fiction author, Elaine Graham-Leigh introduces us to her latest science fiction novel “The Caduca”: The planet of Benan Ty is just another poor and violent ex-Terran colony. Now the Chi!me, the major power in the galaxy, are coming to broker a peace deal between guerrilla group ViaVera and the government. For Quila, a rising figure in the Chi!me diplomatic service, the posting to Benan Ty could be the making of her career. Meanwhile Terise, one of ViaVera's inner circle, is just trying to get her lover out with his life. But in a conflict where no side's motivations are pure, they are both about to discover how much they have to lose. Set in a future where humanity has gone to the stars, but taken exploitation and oppression with them, this is a story of imperialism, resistance, friendship and ultimately, liberation.  This story was a true pleasure to read. While there was quite a bit of narration each chapter was devoted to one or two main characters so the point of view kept changing and that increased my interest factor. Each person thought they were the hero in the story they were telling. The story explored contrasting concepts such as loyalty and betrayal, love and loss, greed and benevolence. So many broad experiences are well represented in this story. With many actors, this story is full of the human condition and is an excellent read! I award 4.6 stars to "The Caduca".  You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Caduca-Elaine-Graham-Leigh-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/-the-caduca https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-caduca-elaine-graham-leigh You can follow the author: https://twitter.com/egrahamleigh https://redpuffin.net Copyright © 2022 Mark Schultz except for the author’s introduction Multi-genre, multi-volume author Frances T. Pilch introduces us to her latest book, “Domestic Violence: Tragedy and Hope”: Beginning with a discussion of the magnitude of the problem of domestic violence, the authors present a fictional narrative of "Suzanne," whose relationship with her intimate partner dissolves into abuse and violence, both physical and emotional. What follows is expert commentary on her story by law enforcement, a judge and former district attorney, victim advocate, therapist, and survivor, which provide a unique exploration of the tragedy of abuse and potential means by which it can be addressed. The main theme of the book is the tendency to "blame the victim" for staying in an abusive relationship and the need to understand why leaving can be so difficult and dangerous. “This book, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: Tragedy and Hope, starts with a compelling domestic violence story. This book provides an analysis of the story by experienced and expert professionals from all the relevant fields to help us learn from the powerful story. I was especially interested in the law enforcement professional who said when police take a DV call the alleged abuser almost always lies. This interested me because family court professionals do not know what police experts know and so keep forcing children to live with abusers.” ~ Barry Goldstein, Author of The Quincy Solution: Stop Domestic Violence and save $500 Billion and Scared to Leave, Afraid to Stay: Paths from Family Violence to Safety “Professor Pilch and her collaborators capture the dynamics of domestic violence by presenting “Suzanne’s” case history, a composite, and then offering commentaries from the perspectives of psychology, law enforcement, victims’ advocacy, and the courts. The result is a heightened appreciation of the complexity of this “pandemic.... raging in our country” alongside COVID-19 and of how diverse causes and potential interventions intersect. Clearly written with minimal jargon, the book offers valuable insights both to professionals and to the broader public.” ~ David Price, U. S. House of Representatives (D – NC) “This book is hard to read. That is why we must read it and seek to understand. Years ago, I rode wearing a bulletproof vest with the DVERT group described in these pages to observe the innovative multi-disciplinary teamwork in use to address this unbelievable problem of abuse and violence. The experience changed me. I hope this book will change you if you are not familiar with the gravity of domestic violence and the hope we can bring with understanding and action. This book will make you think, offer hope, and hopefully drive action. Supporting action to combat this insidious violence is one of the most important things we individually and collectively can do. I commend the authors and recommend their work to you.” ~ Pam Shockley-Zalabak, Ph.D., Chancellor Emerita, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs and President, CommuniCon, Inc.  Almost all of us know someone who has experienced domestic violence in one form or another. I do. The impact on the abused and the abuser can last for generations and frequently does. This book highlights that issue and many other related problems. I am glad the story of Suzanne and Rob is fiction. Yes, it was hard to read but it resonated with a lot of truth. The dysfunctions of their relationship were many and serious, as the dissection of the issues and events carefully points out. This book needs to be read by everyone, especially the few who have not encountered or know anyone affected by domestic violence. Awareness of the issues and likely outcomes should make everyone vigilant for their friends and loved ones. The abusers need serious help but the abused need even more help to survive. Domestic violence is a sad fact of our world. It’s pervasive and easily transmitted from generation to generation. Tremendous resources must be expended to prevent the occurrence of domestic violence, more to recover from it. This book gets 5 stars from me for not only the detailed story but for the multi-disciplinary viewpoints expressed in the latter half of the book.  You can buy this book:
https://rdrpublishers.com/domestic-violence-tragedy-and-hope-by-fran-pilch https://www.amazon.com/Domestic-Violence-Tragedy-Frances-Pilch https://www.goodreads.com/domestic-violence-tragedy-and-hope You can follow the author: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frances-pilch https://www.facebook.com/fran.pilch.1 https://www.amazon.com/Books-Frances-T-Pilch Here is another book by the author: https://rdrpublishers.com/collections/memoirs-true-stories-from-the-heart/products/invisible-surviving-the-cambodian-genocide-by-frances-t-pilch Copyright © 2022 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction Multi-volume, non-fiction author, Vince Stevenson introduces us to his book, “Anxiety Quick Wins” about how to thrive in anxiety-filled circumstances: ANXIETY QUICK WINS is an essential guide to health and well-being. Anxiety steals your sense of purpose and turns your focus inwards. It shuts down the neocortex, the logical side of your brain, and takes you hostage. Anxiety manifests in many forms, unique in each case. The best medicine is preventative medicine. Mental health issues now affect 20–25% of the population and with the news that these issues can reduce life expectancy by 15–20 years, it’s a major concern for every individual, family and community. But it’s also a national crisis. In 2019, the Centre for Mental Health indicated that absenteeism cost the economy £35 billion. In the US, 40 million people, 18% of the population, suffer from anxiety. The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted underlying health issues in socio-economic groups in both the UK and the US. These vulnerable groups bear the brunt of societal inequalities in terms of income, housing, opportunity and occupation. My suggestion is that whatever group you’re from, making yourself bulletproof should begin straightaway. By that, I mean building your physical strength through nutrition and exercise, as well as introducing mindful activities into your daily life and building resilience. If you need a diagnosis and therapeutic assistance, it may be several months away due to the mental health postcode lottery. Delayed diagnosis exacerbates an already fraught situation, particularly in the young. When the pandemic struck, the first issue in lockdown was making provision for nutrition. The supermarket shelves were emptied day after day. Panic buying left health workers empty-handed and feeling betrayed. For some, this was an assault on their mental health. If you’re going through hard times, it’s sensible to take precautionary measures now. It’s never too late to respect and rebuild your body and begin the healing process that your mental health depends upon.  I wasn’t paying close attention. I expected a self-help book filled with encouraging quotes and familiar platitudes like so many others before. This BOOK is filled with much better stuff. Using the example of climbing to the peak of a mountain, the first section deals with practical and foundational concepts for building personal health. Vince is clear that there are no overnight fixes when a person has not taken care of their physical or mental health. He does offer many suggestions to reach the goal. Start small and build upon success with each step. The second section of the book includes a wealth of ideas and anecdotes for inspiration to continue the journey. There is lots of encouragement to be found in these stories. Vince has a great deal of insight that he freely shares from his personal and professional life. I have utilized many of these suggestions to my personal benefit. You will find them useful also. I award 5 stars to “Anxiety Quick Wins”!  You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/ANXIETY-QUICK-WINS-Vince-Stevenson-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/-anxiety-quick-wins You can follow the author: https://twitter.com/vincestev https://twitter.com/ttruck1995 https://www.facebook.com/vince.stevenson.5 https://www.linkedin.com/in/collegeofpublicspeaking I reviewed another book by Vince and we had a great interview, here is the link: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/the-fear-doctor Copyright © 2021 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction Multi-volume, multi-genre author G. David Walker introduces us to his latest story in the fantasy genre: The most unrelenting evil of all is the one which believes itself good. An unintended evil stalks the land, gathering countless victims to itself as it extends its reach; an evil born of the noblest intentions gone horribly awry. After it claims his only remaining family, young Kelwyn vows to track it down and end it, no matter the personal cost. With little more than hope and a promise, he sets out on a journey whose end lies shrouded in uncertainty. He knows he cannot win, but he will not, cannot stop. Before his journey is over, he will discover places he’s only heard of from rumor and legend, and face terrors from the past he once thought long gone. From mountain holds to arid deserts, his vow drives him inexorably toward the final confrontation to save his family. But in the end, will the cost be too high?  I loved this story all the way to the end and the ending surprised me. Kelwyn's journey was epic and kept me entranced for the entire length of the book. His desire to save his brothers kept him moving forward all the time through a lot of brutal training and traveling through many different dangers towards his goal. I found myself agreeing with many of Kelwyn's decisions and drive AKA stubbornness. I enjoyed the sidekicks' obstacles and opportunities they provided. I award 4.9 stars to Redemption's Edge!  I reviewed another book by the author and we had a great interview, here is the link: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/jabens-rift-by-g-david-walker
You can buy this book: https://www.amazon.com/Redemptions-Edge-G-David-Walker-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/ebook/-redemption-s-edge https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/redemptions-edge-g-david-walker You can connect with the author: https://twitter.com/gdavidwalker https://gdavidwalker.com https://www.facebook.com/Far-Land-Trilogy-Jabens-Rift https://www.facebook.com/gdavidwalker https://www.goodreads.com/G_David_Walker My first review of a book by this author: www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/jabens-rift-by-g-david-walker My third review of a book by this author: www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/three-blood-prince Fantasy, dark, swords, sorcery, action, quest, family, slavery Copyright © 2021 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction. Multi-volume, multi-genre author, M. Ainihi introduces us to her volume of short stories in the dark fantasy and horror genres, “The Warning Signs”: Don’t ignore… …the warning signs Something lurks beneath the waves on an island where the sun never sets; a ghost tries to stop an up-and-coming serial killer; a heartless sorceress is thrilled when she finds access to the human realm; a boy tries to win his crush’s heart by challenging a horrifying local legend. Delve deep into the shadowy, unexplored territories of the imagination with these short stories that are sure to frighten and enchant. From misunderstood spirits to encounters with mythical creatures, these twisted tales include run-ins with ghosts, mermaids, werewolves, sorceresses, vampires, murderers, and their victims. (Includes three short stories from the world of Sumir - The Blood Inheritance Quartet)  I really enjoyed these stories. I found them to be intriguing and entertaining. I am not a fan of horror and gore, the more gore the less I enjoy it, a good scare is fun, like a ride on a wild rollercoaster. These tales approach some traditional topics from an unusual perspective which enchanted me quite a bit. There is a werewolf, a vampire, ghosts, sea monsters and more. Some will be familiar and some will not be familiar. I think any fan of horror will enjoy this collection. I award "The Warning Signs" a score of 4.8 stars.  This is the author's avatar You can buy this book: https://www.amazon.com/Warning-Signs-Tales-Horror-Fantasy-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/-the-warning-signs https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-warning-signs-m-ainihi You can follow the author: https://twitter.com/m_ainihi https://mainihi.wordpress.com I have reviewed three other books in a series by this author, here are the links: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/rise-a-blood-inheritance-novel-by-m-ainihi https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/lost-a-blood-inheritance-novel-by-m-ainihi https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/endow-a-blood-inheritance-novel-the-blood-inheritance-quartet-book-3-by-m-ainihi www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/resist Tags: Teen, Young Adult, Sword and Sorcery, Fantasy, dark, Horror Copyright © Mark Schultz 2021 except for the author’s introduction Debut author, KA Woodford introduces us to her psychological thriller, “Stolen”: Jenna Brandt can't stay out of trouble for five minutes. When she sees one of her friends about to be abducted, she launches into action not thinking of the consequences. Detective Sergeant David Sawran doesn't know what to think; troublemaker or daredevil. The vehicle she stole has evidence from a cold case fifteen years and fifteen hundred miles away causing Sawran and the original detective to team up hoping they can catch a killer before he finds Jenna.  This was an interesting read! Yes, it was a little gory in places. How could it not be when the story is about the hunt for a serial killer. This hunt stretched over a couple of decades, hundreds of miles and there were lots of missing girls. All the steps the police had to go through to eliminate suspects to find the killer was quite fascinating. I really do enjoy police-procedural stories. There was a little bit of jumping around in the timeline. There was also changing first-person point of view, that was not clearly defined sometimes. I do like the intimacy of first-person POV, however. Excellent closure at the end of major plot points. I award 4.5 stars to "Stolen".  You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Stolen-KA-Woodford-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/-stolen You can follow the author: https://twitter.com/woodfordauthor https://www.bookbub.com/profile/ka-woodford Psychological fiction, crime, thriller, police, kidnap, murder, killer Copyright ©2021 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction Multi-volume, multi-genre author, Priscilla B. Shuler introduces us to her story, “Kuimba” set in the American South a little over 100 years ago: South Carolina, 1914. Ophelia Smith’s life changed completely when she heard his beautiful singing. After hours of hard labor, the first-time mother feels blessed when the blue-eyed baby comes out of the womb making sweet music instead of cries. Naming him Kuimba for his enthralling voice, she proudly shares him with others who become enamored with the newborn… unaware of an older boy whose eyes are filled with hate. Over the years, Ophelia watches in awe as her child grows up healing people through his touch and being visited by holy beings. But she struggles to protect him from the brutal attacks of a savagely jealous young man whenever he’s out of her sight. And when angels warn her that God has one more task for the youth before calling him back to Heaven, she fears the looming fate that threatens to take him away forever. Will Ophelia’s magnificent son achieve his destiny and bring light into the world? KUIMBA is a spellbinding standalone historical fiction novel. If you like captivating characters, spiritual wonders, and divine fate, then you’ll love Priscilla B Shuler’s religious southern tale.  This story is set in the American South 1900s and I enjoyed it quite a bit. The title character is most unusual because he sings throughout the book. That is far from the most unusual thing about Kuimba. Much of the dialogue is heavily accented and that worked well for me because I have heard many southern accents. There is a lot of regional flavors, descriptions of the times, and mores of people who lived then. The other characters play very important parts also. I like the level-headed attitude that so many of them have. I also like how many of them experience drastic changes for the better as a direct result of knowing Kuimba. I award 4.8 stars to "Kuimba"!  You can buy this book:
https://smile.amazon.com/Kuimba-Priscilla-Shuler-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/-kuimba https://www.barnesandnoble.com/kuimba-priscilla-b-shuler You can follow the author: twitter.com/ShulerPriscilla https://priscillabshulerartistauthor.com https://www.amazon.com/Priscilla-B.-Shuler www.facebook.com/priscilla.shuler.33 I have reviewed another book by Priscilla that I enjoyed quite a bit: www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/favored Copyright © 2021 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction Multi-volume, multi-series, mystery author, Marni Graff introduces us to the fifth volume in The Nora Tierney English Mysteries series, “The Evening’s Amethyst”: Who is Verity? That becomes the central question for American writer Nora Tierney, who has moved to her new Oxford home with her fiancé, DI Declan Barnes, and her young son. Declan's new case at Exeter College coincides with a frantic call from Nora's stepsister, Claire Scott: a fellow graduate student has died in a fall, and Claire begs Nora to help her prove her friend didn't commit suicide. The sisters conduct their own snooping, while Declan and his tam juggle this death with a cold case that proves to be more surprising than Declan could ever imagine.  I love Nora, don’t tell my wife or Declan. Her supporting cast adds so much depth to the story. Her life seems to be on the upswing in many ways. The author is very talented in weaving multiple stories into a cohesive and interesting plot! I was on the edge of my Kindle much of the way. The characters seem alive and quite three-dimensional. They struggle with everyday stresses and have worries just like us. Even the minor characters seem very organic in the story. A lot of the dialogue is witty and sometimes it is heartbreaking. The investigation proceeds at a reasonable pace and every step is realistic. I award 5 stars to "The Evening's Amethyst"!  You can buy this book:
https://smile.amazon.com/Evenings-Amethyst-Tierney-English-Mysteries-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/-the-evening-s-amethyst You can follow the author: https://twitter.com/GraffMarni http://www.auntiemwrites.com http://facebook.com/bluevirginmysteries Tags: amateur sleuth, police procedural, women sleuths, dogs, toddler, action, mystery, suicide or murder, England, Oxford I reviewed other books by Marni: “Death at the Dakota” and interviewed her beneath that review: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/death-at-the-dakota-a-trudy-genova-manhattan-mystery-book-2-by-m-k-graff “The Golden Hour” we had an interview there also: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/the-golden-hour-by-marni-graff Copyright © 2021 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction Award-winning, multi-volume author, Mercedes Rochelle introduces us to her third volume in The Plantagenet Legacy, “The Usurper King”: From Outlaw to Usurper, Henry Bolingbroke fought one rebellion after another. First, he led his own uprising. Then he captured a forsaken king. Henry had no intention of taking the crown for himself; it was given to him by popular acclaim. Alas, it didn't take long to realize that that having the kingship was much less rewarding than striving for it. Only three months after his coronation, Henry IV had to face a rebellion led by Richard's disgruntled favorites. Repressive measures led to more discontent. His own supporters turned against him, demanding more than he could give. The haughty Percies precipitated the Battle of Shrewsbury which nearly cost him the throne—and his life. To make matters worse, even after Richard II's funeral, the deposed monarch was rumored to be in Scotland, planning his return. The king just wouldn't stay down and malcontents wanted him back.  I have enjoyed this series so much! Mercedes takes a dusty and dry part of history makes pure entertainment out of it! I think she has a time machine because the actions and conversations seem so real, the people are real, whole and so organic. The things they do and say make a lot of sense. This is how people are, they worry first about their own well being and then they look to the welfare of those they love the most and the circle slowly expands. People today are the same as people back then. The writing is so good, Mercedes truly understands these people. Her powers of description provide the perfect balance with dialogue and action. There is lots of action also, love, bravery, murder and intrigue at all levels. I award 5 stars to “The Usurper King”! Considering all of the books Mercedes has written, this is the best!  You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Usurper-King-Plantagenet-Legacy-Book-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/the-usurper-king https://www.amazon.co.uk/Usurper-King-Plantagenet-Legacy-Book-ebook 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 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-genre, multi-volume co-authors Krall and Barton introduce us to their collection of tales for the fall season: Travel the world and enjoy a collection of luxurious short stories with a paranormal edge from the writing desks of Bibiana Krall and Veronica Cline Barton. This 'spirited' anthology is guaranteed to give you the shivers and keep you reading late into the night with heady doses of mystery, haunted imagery and psychological suspense. Catch up and read Hearth Fires (Book #1) and get ready for an intense ride to places unknown. HVISKE (Norway) Here in the fjordic crags, each of us can be the victim of ourselves, the frozen death within waiting to be unleashed. I hear their silent whispers cry… ‘meg, meg, meg’. Most I choose to ignore, letting karma’s destiny of actions unfold. For those I extricate, the journey into the Northern Light or depth of darkness is swift. Choose wisely, hviske within. WIDOW’S WALK (Falmouth) After inheriting a historic mansion on the shores of Cape Cod. Abigail is consumed by grief for the loss of an incredible woman, and tormented by a childhood ghost that does everything possible to scare her out of her wits. When the troubling entity makes physical contact, it’s clear that Abby is in danger. Does the mysterious phantom want her dead? SCULPTURE OF THE DEAD (Aspen) I touch the cold, Colorado marble with my hands, running my fingers over the veins. I know when the stone matches the traits of the departed. Sculptural portraits, masks of the dead, fragments of limbs…the living think they want to remember their dearly departed with my creations. Sometimes it’s better to forget. SPIRIT ISLAND (Jasper) Seychelle is a free spirit, taking one day at a time and doing her best to help her family. When she accepts a creative assignment and experiences something, haunting and otherworldly in the wilderness… will it help her understand her own life better or carry her down a crooked and violent path she cannot return from? The past is alive. MODE de VEUVE NOIRE (Quebec City) Selfie, pose, look at me, I’m the fashion influencer you want to be. Follow, buy, so yesterday, darling--opinions, trends my ultimate worth. When wannabe, legend in her own mind Monique hits the streets of Quebec with an antique camera once owned by the famed Madame Coco, the photos she takes provide a stroke of famed acclaim, or dismal despair to those she hoped to install in her style hall of shame. The camera never lies, Madame. Click. Click. Click. RAGNO DAZANTE (Italy) Itsy, bitsy spider, dance, twirl and spin that tangled web. What waits for us on the other end of the cosmic red string? Aurelia has it all, a lush life in Italy, and fierce looks to match, yet she uses her power to dominate, mistreat and humiliate another woman. When Pietra finally embraces her dark birthright, the wicked game is afoot.  Hoo, boy! I love these stories! I can’t decide which is my favorite. but I do know which one creeped me out the most. Spirit Island takes that top slot, followed closely by Ragno Dazante. RD thoroughly surprised me with the ending. I didn’t see that coming. Mode de Veuve Noir had an unexpected climax also. Hviske was quite surprising as well. I guess my favorite is between Widow’s Walk and Sculpture of the Dead. Anything that makes me laugh as much as those two stories did lands at the top of my list for humor. This is a perfect offering for the fall season we are in now. What is left unsaid is almost as important as the writing. Extrapolation is a mark of good writing! 5 stars from me!
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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, book 1 in the series: www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/hearth-fires-the-haunted-book-1-by-bibiana-krall-and-veronica-cline-barton Here is the review of Wicked Mist, book 3 in the series: www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/wicked-mist 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.
 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 Multi-volume author, MK Schultz introduces us to his latest in his science fiction series, “Equilibrium”: Experience Kassius Kanex like never before in the epic conclusion. In anticipation of the arrival of an evil that could rob Kassius Kanex of his power, he must go off-grid, in search of the only hope there is to defeat it. With the help of his larger-than-life, best friend Rock, the engineers, his faithful pod keepers, a secret-keeping crow and a time-travel-enabling octopus, Kassius Kanex must expand his organization to levels even he did not dream to be possible. Can the world survive the evil long enough for Kassius to find the only thing powerful enough to stop it? The whole of humanity depends on one thing: EQUILIBRIUM.  This has been an interesting and exciting journey in this series! The plots and subplots weave around each other quite well. Some of the events depicting the incarnate evil are somewhat horrific and bloody. Be warned. This style of writing reminds me of the golden age of science fiction and brings back fond memories of some great stories. The ending was very shocking also. I enjoyed the story a lot. The ending leaves room for the series to continue, I hope it does.  You can buy this book:
https://smile.amazon.com/Equilibrium-Kassius-Kanex-Book-3-ebook https://www.barnesandnoble.com/equilibrium-mk-schultz https://www.iuniverse.com/-equilibrium https://www.goodreads.com/-equilibrium You can follow the author: https://twitter.com/Makemali https://www.mkschultz.com https://www.instagram.com/mkschultzauthor https://www.goodreads.com/author/MK_Schultz I reviewed the first book here: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/kassius-kanex-by-mk-schultz I reviewed the second book here: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/the-fishing-trip-kassius-kanex-book-2-by-m-k-schultz Tags: science fiction, action, adventure, time travel, suspense, dystopian Copyright © 2021 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction Debut author, Joyce A. Harvey introduces us to her memoir about the loss of her daughter, “Swan Lessons”: Swan Lessons: A Bereaved Mother’s Story of Courage and Discovery by Joyce A. Harvey is an account of military harassment, a series of poor decisions, and the desperate suicide of a young Lance Corporal. It describes the daunting challenge of a bereaved mother attempting to proceed with a public career in the midst of profound grief. It is also an amazing story of ongoing communication with the spirit of her daughter Jennifer, through dreams, signs, and spiritual mediums, including George Anderson. The author tackles tough subjects such as whether to pursue a wrongful death suit with the military. She also takes on clichés that are typically said to the grief-stricken and helps readers understand why they are better left unsaid. She shares dreams where she was “warned” that she might lose Jennifer and dreams in which Jennifer “visits” following her death. Ms. Harvey tells readers early in the book about her association of Jennifer’s death with the song “Vincent,” which refers to Vincent van Gogh’s suicide. Could the seemingly “coincidental” appearances of the song and references to Van Gogh be vehicles Jennifer uses to communicate with her mother from the afterlife? There are individual books on grief, suicide, dream work, after-death communication, spirituality, and abuse of power in the military. However, the author hasn’t found any examples written by a bereaved parent that combine all of these subjects into one book, as Swan Lessons does, helping readers to put it all together. As the book winds its way through the canyons of grief, it offers glimpses of hope, moments of utter astonishment, and examples of courage. The author skillfully weaves journal entries, as well as letters to and from Jennifer, to tell the story of a mother-daughter bond even death cannot sever.  A powerful and well-written book! Though she describes it quite well, I find it very hard to imagine the grief that Joyce experienced. Isn’t that one of a parent’s worst nightmares? We, as parents, expect to pass on before our children. It seems the ordinary order of events. I have no reservation, in my mind, her pain was far worse than what she described. What she discovered after her daughter’s death is very fascinating. The communications from across the divide were extraordinary! I appreciate that she shared the good and the bad support she received from different people. Her extended family really stepped up to the plate. I award 4.9 stars to “Swan Lessons”.  You can buy this book:
https://rdrpublishers.com/swan-lessons-a-bereaved-mothers-story-of-courage-and-discovery https://www.amazon.com/SWAN-LESSONS-Bereaved-Mothers-Discovery-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/-swan-lessons You can follow the author: https://joyceanneharvey.com https://www.facebook.com/joyceanneharvey grief, bereavement, death, heaven, Catholic church, suicide, dreams, signs, workplace abuse, military, marines Copyright © 2021 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction Multi-volume, multi-genre author, Maura Beth Brennan introduces us to her latest domestic thriller, “The Edge of Fear”: When you have everything you always wanted, you have everything to lose. After years of struggling to overcome her tragic childhood, Hattie has the life of her dreams--her adored husband, Eli, her precious little daughter, Lilly, a beautiful home, and more money than she ever dreamed possible. But lately, a feeling nags at her, a sense of something not quite right. Is this just her imagination? Hattie's family and her best friend, Celine, keep telling her that it is. Meanwhile Hattie's ex-husband, Frank, has learned of Hattie's good fortune and it's eating away at him. He comes up with a plan to get some of Hattie's windfall for himself--a plan that will shatter Hattie's life and bring about her worst nightmare. That's when Hattie notices odd things happening. Small things at first--but the incidents escalate, until finally the unthinkable happens. Hattie does everything the police advise her to do. But as time passes and her life crumbles around her, it seems everyone fails her--law enforcement, a private detective, even her husband. Why has Eli suddenly gone off and left her to struggle with this alone? Desperate but determined, Hattie decides to take matters into her own hands. Aided by her best friend, Celine, she sets out on a mission. Will she be able to take back what is hers? Or will she lose it all?  I thoroughly enjoyed this story of a mother fighting to regain her daughter and life. The story is told in the first person and I love that for the intimacy it provides. The action builds up slowly as the ex-husband gets his plan rolling. The current husband is working his angle as well. I enjoyed the dialogue and the plotting quite a bit. The ending is so exciting! No spoilers from me! I was on the edge of my Kindle through much of the book. Get it! Read it! You will be glad you did! I award 5 stars to “Edge of Fear”!  You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Edge-Fear-Maura-Beth-Brennan https://www.goodreads.com/-the-edge-of-fear You can follow the author: https://twitter.com/maurabeth2014 Copyright © 2021 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction Tags: mystery, thriller, police, family, child, kidnapping, gang, ransom, bestie, girlfriend, rescue Multi-volume fantasy author, Jan Anderegg introduces us to her second volume in the series about children, dragon, and fairy tales: Jack thought he was an ordinary boy, until he found a dragon egg, and befriended the beautiful dragon, Julu, who introduced him to his true home, the magical world of Jirvania, birthplace of all imagination. As future Guardian of The Great Library, Jack must change the story to save Jirvania from the evil creatures intent on destroying imagination, but how? With his friends, he sets out to find the answer but each action he takes causes a ripple effect and time is running out. Soon the black hole of emptiness will swallow both our worlds. No pressure Jack, but you’re our only hope! Jirvania, Book 2 in the Julu series, is perfect for readers of all ages who love to pick up a book and escape to a different world.  An amazing story by an amazing writer. I love this series and this sequel is even better than the first book, Julu. I am quite taken by the author's skillful blending of historical events from different time periods including the very recent past into the story. The texture of the story is so rich, it draws on many different fables, fairy tales and various types of literature. One of the unusual things that endear this book to me is the strong fantasy themes with a large dose of time traveling thrown in. Stories with time traveling usually are found only in science fiction, with a few notable exceptions such as the Dragon Riders of Pern. I give this wonderful story a score of 4.9 stars!  You can buy this book:
https://smile.amazon.com/Jirvania-Book-Julu-Jan-Anderegg-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/jirvania https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/jirvania-jan-anderegg You can follow the author https://twitter.com/JanAnderegg https://www.julu.blog https://www.facebook.com/Janilou2018 https://www.facebook.com/JanLucy2017 Tags: sword and sorcery, magic, time travel, dragon, music, poetry, art, fairytales, fables, I have reviewed the first book and interviewed the author here: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/julu-by-jan-anderegg Copyright © 2021 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction Multi-genre, multi-volume author Stanley Straub introduces us to his first YA book: Bobby McDane and the Missing Unicorn: Fifteen-year-old, Bobby McDane goes on a mission to locate the last remaining unicorn. He learns to fly after reading comic books, against his dad's wishes. His dad says he will never amount to anything because all he does is read comic books. Bobby has a very smart dog friend who talks and helps him learn to fly. Bobby's mom cleans doctors' homes and Bobby accompanies her one day on one of her jobs at Doctor Vile's house. While there, he finds some notes in doctor Vile's diary saying that he had captured a unicorn named Flora and he was holding her on an island near Madagascar. After reading the notes, Bobby feels that the doctor is evil and needs to be stopped. He becomes determined to find Flora and set her free. It's up to Bobby to find Flora, set her free, and in turn save the world from the evil doctor.  Bobby has many adventures and some are quite perilous. This story is a lot of fun and will be enjoyed by many. There is plenty of action and funny dialogue! Bobby and his friends travel to unusual and interesting locations. Will Bobby find the missing unicorn? Will he save the world from the evil Dr. Vile? Since I don’t give spoilers, there is only one way to find out. I award 4.5 stars to “Bobby McDane and the Missing Unicorn”.  You can buy this book:
https://smile.amazon.com/McDane-Missing-Unicorn-Stanley-Straub-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/-bobby-mcdane-and-the-missing-unicorn https://www.amazon.co.uk/McDane-Missing-Unicorn-Stanley-Straub-ebook 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: fantasy, talking animals Copyright © 2021 Mark L. Schultz Debut author, Shane Scott introduces us to his first novel, “THE ALL God of Nothing”: What if God and the Devil had a daughter? Who would she be? The ALL chronicles four generations of the most powerful Immortal family in God’s creation. The Promethean saga spans uncountable years and dozens of worlds. Mortals, Gods, Devils, Dragons, Titans, Demons, Werewolves, Vampires and Angels clash in a never-ending battle of love and hate. The first book in the ALL, God of Nothing, starts the epic adventure. Murdered at seventeen by the Titan, Silver, God of Death, Aja Ashe wakes with her Dragon. Thrust into a bizarre world where her enemies are friends, and friends are enemies, she learns the truth about her parents and herself. Her mother is God, and her father is the Devil. She was the first thing born, not created. Enraged that Aja survived, Silver, God of Death, forces her to make choices to protect those she loves. Will Aja save the ALL or destroy it? If she survives, will she hate herself for what she’s done? WARNING This work of fiction includes topics some may find offensive. There is no graphic sex, but numerous sexual situations, including LGBTQ+. Also, it has instances of blasphemy, vulgar language, smoking, drugs, violence, gore, and mentions rape. Due to the nature of this work, it is intended for people 18 years or older.  This book is such a wild romp in the afterlife and the present, that I hardly know where to start. The characters are what make this book. If they weren’t so real and varied, I don’t think the story would work nearly as well. There are quite a few characters, also but the author pulls it off in a marvelous fashion. The plot is a coming-age story, it travels far and wide providing a great deal of entertainment, as Aja begins to find her place in the cosmos. She experiences many transformative experiences including her first drink, first hangover, first kiss and her first occasion killing someone. You are going to love this adventurous story! I award five stars to “THE ALL God of Nothing”!  You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/GOD-NOTHING-Book-1-ALL https://www.goodreads.com/THE-ALL-god-of-nothing https://www.audible.com/pd/The-All-Audiobook I reviewed another book by Shane: www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/faith You can follow the author: https://twitter.com/TheALLwriter https://www.facebook.com/TheALLwriter Copyright ©Mark L. Schultz 2021 except for the author’s introduction Multi-volume, multi-series, mystery author, Marni Graff introduces us to the fourth volume in The Nora Tierney English Mysteries series, “The Golden Hour”: From the award-winning author of the Nora Tierney Mysteries comes her most chilling novel to date, one author Elly Griffiths of the Ruth Galloway Mysteries notes: "Nora Tierney tackles her most complex and captivating mystery yet." Nora Tierney can't shake the feeling she has a stalker. While she's house hunting in Oxford, her partner, DI Declan Barnes, untangles the murder of an art conservator. When these situations collide, Nora finds herself fighting to save her child and the family she's trying to create. Ausma Khan, author of Among the Ruins and The Unquiet Dead praises THE GOLDEN HOUR: "One of the best things about Marni Graff's latest Nora Tierney Mystery is the down-to-earth depiction of family life coupled with the tightly paced build of a twisty, time-honored puzzle. A meditation on love, loss and motherhood, THE GOLDEN HOUR blends touchingly real domesticity with tongue-in-cheek humor, as the backdrop to a tale of art theft, germ warfare, and international conspiracy. The reflections of a reprehensible villain on the shortcomings of the British add just the right note of comedy to these otherwise weighty concerns. Added to this is a wonderful sense of place--Bath, Brighton, and Oxford are vividly rendered and charmingly true to life. Come for the crackling mystery, stay for the steady companionship of debonair detective Declan Barnes and feisty heroine, Nora Tierney, who offers warmth and smarts in equal measure." Sarah Ward, author of the DC Childs Mysteries, adds, "THE GOLDEN HOUR is a compulsive read with a narrative that both charms and surprises. I love Nora Tierney and can't wait to see what happens next."  I really loved the story! The best thing for me was to see how real the characters were. They were well-rounded and fit their roles perfectly. They had realistic dreams, desires and frustrations. The conspiracy was cleverly managed too, everything was revealed in due course. I must admit to being quite puzzled in the beginning, appearances were very deceiving at times. If you enjoy a good detective mystery, you will love this story! I give 4.9 stars for “The Golden Hour”! You can buy this book:
http://www.bridlepathpress.com/Store/Books/The-Golden-Hour https://www.amazon.com/the-golden-hour https://www.goodreads.com/-the-golden-hour You can follow the author: https://twitter.com/GraffMarni http://www.auntiemwrites.com http://facebook.com/bluevirginmysteries Tags: amateur sleuth, police procedural, women sleuths, dogs, toddler, action, mystery, murder, art, epidemic, biology, virology, England, Russia, art restoration, stalker I reviewed another book by Marni, “Death at the Dakota” and interviewed her beneath that review also: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/death-at-the-dakota-a-trudy-genova-manhattan-mystery-book-2-by-m-k-graff I have reviewed "The Evening's Amethyst" here: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/the-evenings-amethyst Copyright © 2021 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction Multi-volume author Alexa Spagnoli introduces us to her latest book, “Queen of Diamonds”: 2004 – Chicago gangster Nick Nicoletti was dying of heart failure. Who could he trust to help him keep control of his criminal enterprises before it was too late? Who had the cold-blooded killer instinct and cunning required to do what his businesses required and would accept the mantle he had to bestow when his time came? No man in Chicago could fill his shoes, as far as he was concerned. But he knew a woman who could. It had been twenty years since Cyn Hardy breezed into Las Vegas from small-town Michigan, a wide-eyed eighteen-year-old innocent looking for excitement in her life. During that time she married the son of mobster Joe Spagnoli, became the owner of the largest call-girl service in Sin City, and survived the murders of her husband, then her father-in-law, and finally her twenty-year-old son. As she was immersed in grief, her father-in-law’s closest friend, Nick, sent for her. Cyn had something no one in Chicago had – Nick’s complete trust. And she owed Nick big time. So Cyn Spagnoli was back in the Mafia again, learning Nick’s gambling and loan-sharking businesses and his specialty – assassination, tapped to become his successor.  I truly enjoyed this sequel to “Mafia Madame”! I loved the concept. Cynthia Spagnoli exemplifies the strong female protagonist. While grieving the deaths of her closest family in Nevada she steps up to the plate when asked to and accepts the responsibility wholeheartedly. This book is so well written. The authors make a great team. I thoroughly enjoyed the dialogues; the action was good and an appropriate amount of scene setting makes for an easy-to-read story that will keep you on the edge of your seat. I award 4.8 stars to “Queen of Diamonds”.
You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Queen-Diamonds-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/queen-of-diamonds You can follow the authors: @SinCityMadame http://www.mafiamadame.com http://www.facebook.com/Alexa-Spagnoli @Johnldeboer http://www.novelsbyjohnldeboer.com Tags: Mafia, Las Vegas, Chicago, gambling, loan sharking, rivalry, the mob, assassination Copyright © 2021 Mark L. Schultz except for the authors’ introduction A Dark Age Historical Fiction Novelby Francis Williams Multi-genre, multi-volume, award winning author Francis Williams introduces us to the latest volume in the Thrones and Soldiers series, “Usurper”: Five long years have passed since Drysten was thrown into a cell. All hope of his escape or release left him with the realization his people had no idea he was alive. He was once a great warrior who fought proudly and ferociously for the very same king who cast him aside. He didn’t know how, but he knew he would find his revenge. One man placed into the cell beside him gave him the knowledge needed to wage war across the kingdom of Ebrauc. All he would have to do was wait for the moment he would be free. That moment has come, and with it the opportunity to serve one of the most ancient gods of Britannia. But with all things comes a cost.  This is a great sequel to Honor, the premiere of the Thrones and Soldiers series. This is wonderful dark historical fiction! There isn’t a plethora of information about the dark ages of Britain and Europe after the fall and contraction of the Roman Empire. The author does wonderful work to enrich the dry, dusty bones of this dark period of time. The multitude of characters are quite individual and realistic in their actions and conversations. The scene setting is well-balanced and supports the characters perfectly without taking over the story. I loved this book so much! I give it a score of 4.8 stars.  You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Usurper-Historical-Fiction-Thrones-Soldiers-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/-usurper You can follow the author: https://twitter.com/Author_FrancisW https://www.instagram.com/iamfranciswilliams https://www.facebook.com/IamFrancisWilliams I reviewed the first book in the series here: Honor: A Dark Age Historical Fiction Novel (Thrones and Soldiers Book 1) By Francis Williams - Word Refiner I have reviewed the third book in the series here: www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/the-imperative tags: action, adventure, ancient military, gods, God Copyright © 2021 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction Multi-volume, multi-genre author Paul C. Thornton introduces us to his latest book about cruising and the people who enjoy it: Cruising Interrupted started out as More Joy of Cruising, the follow-up to the award-winning The Joy of Cruising, a fun, upbeat look at travelers from all over the world with a passion for ocean cruising and who act on that passion in creative and fascinating ways. Then the pandemic happened. And cruising was interrupted. Cruising Interrupted will fascinate anyone who has ever cruised, aspires to take a cruise, or just loves travel. At the same time, Cruising Interrupted acknowledges the influence on cruising of the Covid-19 pandemic, the most significant event in the history of cruise travel since the sinking of the Titanic.  I admit that I have never been on a cruise. After reading this book, I really want to go cruising now. I can’t decide if I should focus on a destination or on the ship itself. All ships have their advantages and disadvantages. Each itinerary has pros and cons as well, and they all seem so exciting. I am far better equipped to make a wise choice after reading this book. I love the author’s style of writing, part investigative journalist and part close friend, he really makes the selection process easier. Highlighting some of the blogs and youtubers that share their personal experiences and inside information provides a wide breadth of available knowledge. I award 4.6 stars to “Cruising Interrupted”.  You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Cruising-Interrupted https://www.goodreads.com/-cruising-interrupted https://www.barnesandnoble.com/cruising-interrupted You can follow the author: https://twitter.com/joyofcruising http://www.thejoyofcruising.net http://www.facebook.com/TheJoyOfCruising http://www.instagram.com/thejoyofcruising http://www.amazon.com/author/paulthornton I reviewed the first book here: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/the-joy-of-cruising I reviewed the third book here: www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/the-joy-of-cruising-again Copyright © 2021 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction Finding My Voice and Surviving Childhood Sexual AbuseDebut author, Shirley Aumack introduces us to her memoir about healing from child sex abuse: All She Ever Wanted Was to Believe She Was Loved When she quietly confronted her father asking him to stop sexually abusing her as a little girl, she got this tirade from her father: "No one cares what I do to you. I don't love you, no one loves you, and no one will EVER love you." How does a little girl ever heal from this? Compounding the pain of this horrific, inhumane message and the sexual abuse starting when she was eight years old was having a mother who was emotionally vacant. Shirley Aumack never received any affection from her, never heard the words, "I love you" or any such affirming messages. She never attempted to tell her mother about the abuse and never found anyone to confide in who would believe her. It is common for people who have endured such hellish abuse to overcompensate their feelings of low self-worth by excelling at everything they do. And Shirley is no exception. Throughout her life, she has excelled at everything--academically, professionally, personally as a mother, wife, friend, and in every role she has impressively had love as her guiding force. Lois Einhorn, PhD, author of Forgiveness and Child Abuse: Would YOU Forgive? writes about PLEASE BELIEVE ME: "Shirley is a gifted storyteller making the book a quick read. But her messages will stay with me for a very long time. She covers unflinchingly details of her life including her despair and devastation. But her book is not only of surviving but also of thriving. In addition to horrifying images, she includes laugh-out-loud stories. Ultimately this book is inspiring and empowering, hopeful and healing. Shirley's life serves as a testament to the preciousness of all life, the transformative power of love, the triumph of the human spirit, and the need for humor."  It is an astonishing and well-written story. As difficult as the subject may be, the author does not hesitate to share the devastating experience of being raped by her father and the lifelong effects. These effects were made worse by her empty, egocentric mother. The pastor of her church failed her also for reasons we will never know. Her writing is very clear and the good and the bad are shared with appropriate humor. Her children are a testimony to her efforts to care for them much better than she was cared for by her own parents. I award 4.8 stars to “Please Believe Me”.  You can buy this book:
https://rdrpublishers.com/please-believe-me-finding-my-voice-and-surviving-childhood-sexual-abuse https://www.amazon.com/Please-Believe-Me-Surviving-Childhood https://www.goodreads.com/please-believe-me You can follow the author: https://www.pleasebelieveme610.com https://www.facebook.com/shirley.aumack https://www.linkedin.com/in/shirley-aumack Tags: child sexual abuse, emotional abuse, PTSD, healing, recovery, panic attacks, adult survivor, memoir Copyright © 2021 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction Multivolume, multi-genre author Leighton G. Cullens introduces us to his eco-fiction adventure “Togwotee Passage”: An impassioned, thought kindling journey on a wilder side of life, from youth to passing, with a breadth of charged life experiences. In 1940s Wyoming, a seven-year-old under the yoke of a dysfunctional family is beginning his life journey with stumbling steps. When an intervention whisks him reluctantly away, he faces new challenges in a sweeping wilderness setting, where a sustaining influence is the friendship of a Shoshone youth with differing cultural values. On into the treacherous terrain of life's chaotic landscape, with his mettle tested time and again he is increasingly rankled with civilization's Janus-faced ways and ill-conceived progress. Mitigating his irritation, is a distracting fascination with the wonderment and paradoxes of the natural world. That is, until he considers where humankind's varying proclivities stem from. -------------------------------------- Togwotee (toe'-ga-tee) is the name of a challenging mountain pass in the Absaroka Mountains of northwest Wyoming. As used in the title of this fictive tale, it's an apt metaphor for the protagonist's life path. The story is character driven, contains Native American mythology, has an entwined thread of natural world interconnectedness, and is complemented with expressive illustrations.  I really enjoyed this story. While I didn’t grow up in 1940s Wyoming, I grew up on small farms in Oregon and Washington in the 1960s. I was reminded of the many wonderful hours I spent in the woods, it was my sanctuary. The scene-setting was excellent, I could plainly see what the author was describing. The dialogues were good also, downright funny at times. The action was very satisfactory, though it wasn’t extensive. I really enjoyed the relationship Cullen had with Derek, his Shoshone friend. A lot of good-natured bantering surrounded by a secure relationship. Each man walked his own path and respected the path of his friend. I award 4.7 stars to “Togwotee Passage”.  You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Togwotee-Passage-L-G-Cullens-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/-togwotee-passage https://www.barnesandnoble.com/togwotee-passage-l-g-cullens You can connect with the author: https://lgcullens.com https://www.goodreads.com/author/L_G_Cullens The author is giving away a limited number of copies of this book during the month of May, 2021. The details for obtaining a copy can be found at https://lgcullens.com/tpigiveaway Tags: ecology, environment, environmental, balance, nature, fiction Copyright © 2021 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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