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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
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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 My review of the third book, "Birds, Bees, and RVs" can be found here: Birds, Bees, and RVs by Mary Lu Scholl - Word Refiner 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. Lifelong educator and new author, Scott Douthit introduces us to his debut book, “My Dyslexic Life”: “But Mr. D, you’ve graduated from college, written plays— you’re a great teacher with all these awards. You wouldn’t know what it’s like to have people make you feel stupid for being dyslexic!” “Actually, believe it or not...” Today, researchers estimate that between five and twenty percent of the population is affected by dyslexia. This growing awareness and understanding of different learning styles has changed the lives of tens of millions of people. When Scott Douthit was growing up in the 1960s, though, no one could explain why it was so difficult for him to succeed in the one-size-fits-all schools he attended. My Deslex Dyslexic Life: A Journey Out of the Shadows, a deeply moving account of Scott’s struggles and triumphs, invites the reader to consider new ways of overcoming barriers to accomplishment and understanding, both for themselves and others. At once entertaining and touching, it offers an intimate glance into the life, mind, and heart of a courageous individual. Scott’s story serves as a reminder that the norms, standards, and expectations of society are a work in progress, and that it is within our power to make them more humane and compassionate. A staggering 5 to 15 percent of Americans—14.5 to 43.5 million children and adults—have dyslexia, a learning disability that makes it difficult to read, write, and spell, no matter how hard the person tries or how intelligent he or she is. •It is estimated that 1 in 10 people have dyslexia •Over 40 million American Adults are dyslexic - and only 2 million know it •Dyslexia is not tied to IQ - Einstein was dyslexic and had an estimated IQ of 160 •Dyslexia in not just about getting letters or numbers mixed up or out of order •80% of people associate dyslexia with some form of retardation - this is not true •Dyslexia is a language-based learning disability or disorder that includes poor word reading, word decoding, oral reading fluency and spelling •Dyslexia occurs in people of all backgrounds and intellectual levels •Dyslexia has nothing to do with not working hard enough •20% of school-aged children in the US are dyslexic •With appropriate teaching methods, dyslexia can learn successfully •Over 50% of NASA employees are dyslexic •Dyslexia runs in families; parents with dyslexia are very likely to have children with dyslexia •Dyslexics may struggle with organizational skills, planning and prioritizing, keeping time, concentrating with background noise. •Dyslexics may excel at connecting ideas, thinking out of the box, 3D thinking, seeing the big picture •People with dyslexia excel or even gifted in areas of art, computer science, design, drama, electronics, math, mechanics, music, physics, sales and sports •Many famous people are dyslexic including: Orlando Bloom, Whoopi Goldberg, Stephen Spielberg, Kiera Knightley. Albert Einstein and Patrick Dempsey  This book was an eye-opener for me! While I have never struggled with reading, quite the opposite, actually. The stories of struggling in social situations and flunking a skills test in a physical education class resonated to the core of my soul. Having a serious stammering problem caused my school years to be full of social difficulties beyond the normal teen angst. I loved the writing, it was so meaningful and using the vehicle of vignettes from the author’s life provided perfect illustrations of the struggles faced by so many. Scott brings hope and humor into difficult situations. I greatly appreciate his passion for educating everybody about different styles of learning and how to appreciate those differences. I award 5 stars to “My Dyslexic Life” by Scott Douthit!  You can buy this book:
https://rdrpublishers.com/my-dyslexic-life-a-journey-out-of-the-shadows-by-scott-douthit https://smile.amazon.com/My-Dyslexic-Life-Journey-Shadows-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/-my-dyslexic-life You can connect with the author: https://www.mydyslexiclife.com https://www.facebook.com/scott.douthit.1 Copyright © 2020 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction Award winning, multi-volume, multi-genre author, Mercedes Rochelle introduces us to “The Sons of Godwine: Part Two of The Last Great Saxon Earls”: Emerging from the long shadow cast by his formidable father, Harold Godwineson showed himself to be a worthy successor to the Earldom of Wessex. In the following twelve years, he became the King's most trusted advisor, practically taking the reins of government into his own hands. And on Edward the Confessor's death, Harold Godwineson mounted the throne—the first king of England not of royal blood. Yet Harold was only a man, and his rise in fortune was not blameless. Like any person aspiring to power, he made choices he wasn't particularly proud of. Unfortunately, those closest to him sometimes paid the price of his fame. This is a story of Godwine's family as told from the viewpoint of Harold and his younger brothers. Queen Editha, known for her Vita Ædwardi Regis, originally commissioned a work to memorialize the deeds of her family, but after the Conquest historians tell us she abandoned this project and concentrated on her husband, the less dangerous subject. In THE SONS OF GODWINE and FATAL RIVALRY, I am telling the story as it might have survived had she collected and passed on the memoirs of her tragic brothers. This book is part two of The Last Great Saxon Earls series. Book one, GODWINE KINGMAKER, depicted the rise and fall of the first Earl of Wessex who came to power under Canute and rose to preeminence at the beginning of Edward the Confessor's reign. Unfortunately, Godwine's misguided efforts to champion his eldest son Swegn recoiled on the whole family, contributing to their outlawry and Queen Editha's disgrace. Their exile only lasted one year and they returned victorious to London, though it was obvious that Harold's career was just beginning as his father's journey was coming to an end. Harold's siblings were all overshadowed by their famous brother; in their memoirs we see remarks tinged sometimes with admiration, sometimes with skepticism, and in Tostig's case, with jealousy. We see a Harold who is ambitious, self-assured, sometimes egocentric, imperfect, yet heroic. His own story is all about Harold, but his brothers see things a little differently. Throughout, their observations are purely subjective, and witnessing events through their eyes gives us an insider’s perspective. Harold was his mother's favorite, confident enough to rise above petty sibling rivalry but Tostig, next in line, was not so lucky. Harold would have been surprised by Tostig's vindictiveness, if he had ever given his brother a second thought. And that was the problem. Tostig's love/hate relationship with Harold would eventually destroy everything they worked for, leaving the country open to foreign conquest. This subplot comes to a crisis in book three of the series, FATAL RIVALRY. This book has received an Indie B.R.A.G. Medallion!  What a wonderful telling of a long-lost story! The author has pulled off an exciting reconstruction of a tale filled with intrigue and menace for so many of the people involved. Mercedes uses a rotating-by-chapter, first person point of view to smoothly recreate the action and details of these events from over a thousand years ago. I love first person POV, it brings a level of familiarity that isn’t found in other point of views. Mercedes is so expert at bringing the culture and daily life of people born over a millennia ago to life. The scene setting leaves nothing to be desired, dialogue is wonderful and the characters seem so real and alive. You are going to love this book, there is action, intrigue, international politics, romance and horses. Something for almost everyone. I give “The Sons of Godwine” a score of 4.9 stars! The score would have been higher except for the handful of spelling errors I found.  You can buy this book:
https://smile.amazon.com/Sons-Godwine-Great-Saxon-Earls-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/-the-sons-of-godwine https://www.amazon.co.uk/the-Sons-of-Godwine 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/godwine-kingmaker-part-one-of-the-last-great-saxon-earls-by-mercedes-rochelle https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/the-kings-retribution 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/heir-to-a-prophecy-by-mercedes-rochelle-narrated-by-kevin-e-green Tags: history, biography, fiction, medieval, European, Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales, France, Normandy, historical, biographical, Copyright © 2020 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction. Multi-volume, multi-genre author and poet, Tolu’ A. Akinyemi introduces us to his collection of short stories about men, women and relationships, “Inferno of Silence”: The first collection of short stories by this multitalented author entwines everyday events that are articulated in excellent storytelling. The title story “Inferno of Silence” portrays men’s societal challenges and the unspoken truths and burdens that men bear, while “Black lives Matter” shows the firsthand trauma of a man facing racism as a footballer plying his trade in Europe. Stories range from “Return Journey” where we encounter a techpreneur/ Poet/Serial Womanizer confronting consequences of his past actions, to “Blinded by Silence,” where a couple united by love must face a political upheaval changing their fortune. These are completed with stories of relationships: “Trouble in Umudike” – about family wealth and marriage; “Everybody don Kolomental” where the main character deals with mental health issues; and “In the Trap of Seers” when one’s life is on auto-reverse with the death of her confidante, her mother, as she takes us through her ordeal and journey to redemption. This is a broad and very inclusive collection.  Reading these stories was very interesting. I enjoyed the vicarious involvement in the lives of primarily Nigerian characters in the stories. Other than a short hop from Spain, across the Straits of Gibraltar, to a small town in Morocco, I have never been in Africa. I know that experience does not represent the entire continent in any. I was surprised and not surprised to learn men face many of the same challenges around the world. I could relate to a lot of the experiences from my own life. I enjoyed this book and recommend it as a good reading experience on multiple levels. I award 4.5 stars to “Inferno of Silence”, the score would have been higher except for the handful of spelling errors I found. The author assures me those have been corrected; your reading will be smoother.  You can buy this book:
https://smile.amazon.com/Inferno-Silence-Tolu-Akinyemi-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/-inferno-of-silence https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/inferno-of-silence-tolu-a-akinyemi https://www.kobo.com/inferno-of-silence https://books.apple.com/inferno-of-silence You can follow the author: https://twitter.com/toluakinyemi https://www.tolutoludo.com/index.html https://www.facebook.com/ToluAAkinyemi/ https://www.instagram.com/tolutoludo/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/toluakenyemi Africa, Nigeria, Nigerian, men, women, relationships, technology, marriage, family, airplane, flying, business, religion Copyright © 2020 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction Debut author, Shirley Hoisington introduces us to her book, “Beyond Despair”, a novel about romance, love and loss: Twins, sisters in love with the same man! Who will find true love in this tale of twists, turns and surprises? Jealousy... Sacrifice... Betrayal... This one has it all! Can Miranda find herself? Does Miranda choose the man of her dreams or her twin sister? Will anything be made right again…beyond despair?  This is a fun, exciting and touching story. Miranda makes important choices that put the needs of others before her own and sometimes suffers a great deal from the consequences of those choices. This story is well written and very enjoyable to read. I was able to relate to all the major characters quite significantly. That is a sign of good writing. Another sign of good writing is that the book is easy to read. Easy reading is the result of hard writing. The scene setting is excellent throughout the book, as a native Oregonian it was fun to see so many places I knew in the story. A jet boat ride on a wild river is an unforgettable experience! The dialogue was a standout for me also, very natural and suitable for the different occasions. I laughed out loud many times. The development of the characters was well done also. They seemed alive and lively to me. I award 4.6 stars to “Beyond Despair”, the score would have been higher except for the large handful of spelling errors.  You can buy this book:
https://amazon.com/Beyond-Despair-by-Shirley-Hoisington https://www.goodreads.com/-beyond-despair https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beyond-Despair-Shirley-Hoisington You can follow the author: https://twitter.com/ShirleyHoising2 https://shirleyhoisington.com Romance, adventure, suspense, Oregon Copyright © 2020 Mark L. Schultz, except for the author’s introduction. Debut author, Morgan R. R. Haze introduces us to the first in a series of science fiction novels, “Alpha Dawn”: In the far future humanity is in a paradox. The discovery of a dynamic ore has allowed humans to prevent their own extinction by saving their dying world. However, Terra Prime is ultimately consigned to oblivion in an unforeseen cataclysm. A cataclysm which has created the Void. Rather than be curious or fearful of unexplored space, most humans simply perceive the Void at the center of the known universe as the single greatest mystery of the cosmos. While the human race is preserved, living on colonized planets in outer space, mankind has lost the sense of who they really are. Thus, their understanding of true history is deluded. Facts are viewed as myths and myths as historical events. In such strange circumstances, there are those who seek to belong somewhere more meaningful, opposed to the numerous ideologically flawed organizations, governments, and planets spread across the known universe. Prepare to go on a journey with Captain Singer and many others as their fates intertwine in various, sometimes unexpected ways. Will they prevent their past from catching up to them, while searching for a better place in this dystopian universe? Or will their past and future collide in unimaginable events?  I see this first volume as a wonderful introduction to a wide and far-ranging story about the human experience. I love the use of first-person POV. Each chapter has a different POV or location and the chapters are quite short, avoiding the dreaded head hopping that occurs in so many other stories like this. That makes for a fast-moving story and flows quite well. There are a number of characters and we meet quite a few of them, but it’s pretty easy to keep track most of the time because the chapters are not very long. I appreciate that aspect. Some of the characters are fully human and some are altered genetically or otherwise, that contributes a lot to the story. There is a lot of action and dialogue that drives the story nicely. The scene setting is okay, it could be a little bit longer, but it is adequate and I am sure it’s hard to find the right balance. I award 4.5 stars to "Alpha Dawn: Book one of the Teragene Chronicles". I really enjoyed the story, but there were a lot of spelling errors. The author assures me those errors have been corrected, therefore your reading will be smoother.  You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Alpha-Dawn-Book-Teragene-Chronicles-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/-alpha-dawn https://www.amazon.co.uk/Alpha-Dawn-Book-Teragene-Chronicles You can follow the author: https://twitter.com/Morgan_R_R_Haze https://www.instagram.com/morganrrhaze https://www.facebook.com/Morgan-RR-Haze Here is the review of the next volume in the series, "Alpha Convergence":www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/alpha-convergence-book-two-of-the-teragene-chronicles-by-morgan-r-r-haze 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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