Polka Dot Reviews

The Call

2012-01-23T11:47:00.001-05:00

Derald Hamilton
D. Hamilton Books (2010)
ISBN 9780984619207
Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views

Derald Hamilton's "The Call" combines satire, humor, and spoof in this unpredictable fictional account of seminary training and the broad spectrum of individuals who have responded to the "call to ministry." The story is presented in the first person voice of Ishmael O'Donnell. His childhood is beleaguered by the strict disciplines administered by his military father and his religious mother who accepts as her "lot" subjection to an unfaithful husband. Added to Ishmael's dysfunctional childhood is the unexplainable supernatural indwelling or possession of the "spirit" of his long-dead twin brother Isaac.

Hamilton understands the importance of audience to the success of satire. He writes for a wide audience covering a time span of over 30 years directly impacting the veterans and families of three wars or Military conflicts who will relate to the account of Ishmael's coming of age in the transient lifestyle of military families, the diversity of political views of U. S. involvement in these intervention actions, and the extremes of disciplines and control exercised by his military father. Another audience that will be touched by Hamilton's observations is made up of anyone concerned about illusion versus reality in organized religion.

As Ishmael grapples with the his family's dysfunction and the harassment of Isaac's spirit, Hamilton focuses on another potential audience as he parodies the religious neuroses plaguing Ishmael by the inconsistency of forced church attendance by his father and the genuine religious zeal of his mother. Participation with Campus Para church ministries while attending University lead to Ishmael's "call" to attend seminary as a means to find life fulfillment and spiritual cleansing.

Part Two of the novel deals with the three years of Ishmael's seminary training. He is frustrated by the inconsistencies and the church politics often practiced within the established church, issues of integrity, and conduct behind the cloistered walls of the seminary. The illusions and reality of Hamilton's observations open the door for his articulate tongue-in-cheek satiric exposition. Hamilton has cleverly recreated believable characters into caricatures which disconcertingly uncover fraudulence, impertinence, personal inconsistencies, character flaws, prejudices, and biases often found in the Christian community. Liberal, conservative, charismatic, nor ultra-fundamental escape his invective.

I became deeply involved in Hamilton's storyline and characters. A composite development of fewer characters and a merging of the curriculum, training, and field assignments into typical content rather than detailed descriptions of the repetitive progression of each individual year of the program would have enhanced the flow and pace of the book for me.

"The Call" offers brilliant writing that is reflective, funny and provocative – a troubling look at the duplicity of influential leadership in today's culture.

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Will the Courageous: A Story About Sexual Abuse

2012-01-16T10:48:00.001-05:00

Amy Barth
Loving Healing Press (2011)
ISBN 9781615990009
Reviewed by Carol Hoyer, PhD, for Reader Views

Anybody who works with children, or any parents of young children, will find this book to be very helpful, especially when it comes to sexual abuse. "Will the Courageous" is easy to read and understand therefore making it accessible to young children.

Will is an energetic six-year-old who has to go to a caretaker's home after school since his mother started working. Nana Winnie is fun to be around and really listens to the children she watches. One day Nana Winnie's nephew Perry came to visit for a few weeks. At first Perry was fun to be around and listened to Will's knock-knock jokes. Perry then wanted to play the tickle game which Will wasn't very fond of. Perry started to make Will feel uncomfortable when he touched him between the legs.

After that incident Will started going straight to his room, acted like he was sick and didn't want to go to school. Will's mom and dad took him to the doctor's to have him checked out. Finally Will mumbled to his doctor what happened. He was then referred to a child advocacy center. Will learned it was not his fault what happened and was taught ways to handle situations like that in the future.

Ms. Barth did an excellent job in writing this book so any six to nine-year olds will be able to understand about inappropriate touching and "secrets." It is the responsibility of all parents to teach their child about this. Avoiding the topic will not help and children will eventually stuff their feelings.

The illustrations are bright, colorful, and interesting to look at; any child would be able to relate to Will.

I would recommend "Will the Courageous: A Story About Sexual Abuse"to all counselors, doctors and staff that work with children as well as parents of young children. The book certainly makes it easier to discuss sexual abuse with them.

Ruby’s Juke Joint: Americana Cookbook

2012-01-16T10:46:00.001-05:00

Ruby Dee
Bando Press (2012)
ISBN 9780983782407
Reviewed by Irene Watson for Reader Views

How much more fun is there than going into your kitchen, putting a CD into your player, grabbing a glass of wine, and rockin' and two-steppin' around the island? Oh, wait, this is a cookbook and I'm supposed to be making dinner. Nevertheless, I'm doing both because I'm about to start cooking from "Ruby's Juke Joint: Americana Cookbook" as I'm listening to the companion music CD provided with it. You see, there is more to Ruby Dee, she's not only a fantastic cook but she's also part of the music scene known as Grammy-nominated "Ruby Dee and the Snakehandlers."

For the purpose of the review we are asked to test three recipes. For the first recipe, I made "Blue Cheese, Pecan, Apple-Stuffed Bacon-Wrapped Pork Chops." I took two butterfly chops and seared them on both sides; then I stuffed them with a combination of blue cheese, pecans and apples. I wrapped the stuffed chops with a slice of bacon and placed in pan. While baking in the oven I deglazed the pan with wine and then added broth and butter. Oh my, the end result was very tasty and the chops were fork tender.

Ruby suggested serving the chops with "Potato Pancakes" so this ended up being my second test recipe. It has been a long time since I've made potato pancakes so I was eager to try Ruby's recipe. Using a food processor, I grated the potatoes and then added the remaining ingredients of onion, eggs, flour, salt and pepper. There was also an addition of a pinch of baking powder which was different from the recipe I used before. The pancakes ended up being crispy and yummy. They certainly did go well with the stuffed pork chops.

The third recipe I tested was "Ginger Snaps." I was attracted to the recipe because there are two ingredients that normally don't go into ginger snaps and those are oil and dry mustard. I was very curious how the cookies will end up being crisp when I use oil. Well, to my surprise the cookies are crisp and have a zing to them. I suspect it's the dry mustard that does that. By the way, these cookies also have cinnamon in them which isn't a normal ingredient either. I have to tell you, this is now my favorite ginger snap recipe.

Ruby Dee, who has the bragging rights of cooking on the "Rachel Ray Show" where she shared her infamous "Ruby's Thanksgiving Leftover Enchiladas," has given us recipes for good ol' homecookin.' As I perused the rest of the book I noticed the recipes are simple and all the ingredients can either be found in the kitchen pantry or purchased at a local grocery store. "Ruby's Juke Joint" is an easy to handle cookbook and sits well on a book stand. The colored photographs of the recipes look great and help to see what the end result will look like.

Ruby's passion for cooking and music meld brilliantly in "Ruby's Juke Joint: Americana Cookbook." Her enthusiasm for good food prepared in the home comes from the heart and she shares it beautifully with us. Of course, the music CD is the added bonus that will bring a smile to your face. Good food and good music is the order for today.

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Edge of Ready

2012-01-09T10:11:00.001-05:00

L. B. Tillit
Saddleback Educational Publishing (2012)
ISBN 9781616517786
Reviewed by Madeleine Sullivan (age 17) for Reader Views

"Edge of Ready" by L.B. Tillit follows the story of Dani. Dani, a high school senior, wants to graduate, but that prospect keeps looking less and less likely to happen. Dani manages to juggle school with watching her baby brother while her mom works overtime; she is, after all, strong. But the odds are stacked against her, and a terrible tragedy befalls her. Is Dani strong enough?

I enjoyed "Edge of Ready." I found the story pleasantly unpredictable and dramatic, with enough of twists and turns and ups and downs, while still maintaining a reasonable and believable flow of events which powerfully depicted human truths. Although "Edge of Ready" was full of many layers and turns of plot, it was a beautiful illustration of the power of brevity. Although only a small paperback -- only 192 pages, with three-page chapters -- it had remarkable depth, flow, and progression. Because of the smaller size, L.B. Tillit's ideas in the book are compact and more powerful for it. Each word, phrase, and sentence has bucket loads of meaning packed in -- the word to thought ratio is small, and this makes it more memorable and meaningful.

Not only was it well crafted, but the narrative voice was powerful. I could really hear Dani's thoughts and ideas as she processed the events. She is a believable teenager, dealing with hardship, who is in the process of figuring out how to cope and be a strong person. We watch Dani struggle with ideas throughout the book. As she narrated, "I just wanted to move on, but there was something about Mrs. Grady that made me think I was missing something, I just couldn't figure it out." She is dealing with difficult events, and she does receive some guidance as to what to do, but the main point is Dani's conclusions and thought processes as she herself deals with things.

The title was well chosen, perfectly describing the crux of the book. Dani is "on the edge of ready," and we see her practice the ready better and better. One of the characters advises her, "Dani, whatever happens, life will go on. She paused, taking my queen off the boars. She looked at me and said, and you can handle it. I promise." "Edge of Ready" by L.B. Tillit is an excellently written reminder that we are all practicing. No matter what happens, we must just continue pretending as if we had it all together, and as we practice, we get closer and closer to the edge of ready, until we, like Dani, will find ourselves no longer on the edge, but truly ready.

I would recommend "Edge of Ready" to older students looking for a meaningful, enjoyable portrayal of the power of living.

Unthinkable: Tips for Surviving a Child’s Traumatic Brain Injury

2012-01-09T10:10:00.001-05:00

Dixie Fremont-Smith Coskie
Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing (2011)
ISBN 9781936214419
Reviewed by Joseph Yurt for Reader Views

Following her own child's harrowing traumatic brain injury Dixie Fremont-Smith Coskie wrote a highly acclaimed book which emotionally and passionately documented her nightmarish journey as mother and caregiver. In that book, "Unthinkable: A Mother's Tragedy, Terror and Triumph Through a Child's Traumatic Brain Injury," published in 2010, each chapter, written with deep emotion, is concluded with tips for coping and participating throughout the process. It was these rational tips that offset the unbridled emotion in that first book.

In the Introduction of her new, follow-up book, "Unthinkable: Tips for Surviving a Child's Traumatic Brain Injury," the author has excerpted these tips to create a concise yet thorough caregiver's companion. Coskie's priceless experience make this book a valuable resource for dealing with an unthinkable, life-changing event for which none of us is ever prepared.

Coskie presents her tips in ten sections. The first group of tips addresses the steps and components of preparedness. The advice offered in this section is not unlike that which is generally recommended for any medical emergency. But, the reader is cautioned not to assume that brain trauma events are like other medical events. Section 2, "Traumatic Event," will abruptly and jarringly dismantle that false assumption. And from that point forward, the reader will be riveted by information that might make some readers simply give up and set the book aside.

But read on we must if we, our child and our other family members are to have any chance at all of surviving one of the most horrific and unthinkable occurrences that can befall us. Not only should primary and secondary caregivers and other family members read this book, so should doctors and medical services providers involved in the process.

Each section of tips following Section 1 in "Unthinkable: Tips for Surviving a Child's Traumatic Brain Injury" continually startled me with relentless "slaps in the face" of reality. But I feel blessed for having had the opportunity to read the book and I am grateful that Dixie Fremont-Smith Coskie had the strength and passion to share her experience and lessons learned. Otherwise, who would have known?

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Between the Cracks (eBook)

2012-01-06T14:48:00.001-05:00

Kim McDougall
Kim McDougall (2011)
ASIN B0050JK0NI
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views

"Between the Cracks" contains an odd assortment of short stories and poetry. While the author's creations tend to "fall through the cracks" of being able to be labeled under a specific genre, many of them have a touch of fantasy in them. The fantasy ranges from folklore to horror. Within each story I also found themes involving humanity or inhumanity. The author does an excellent job of conveying the emotions of each character in her stories. Most of them also had a great deal of descriptions involving nature. I felt that this touch allowed me to "feel" what was happening. For example, when she describes cold winter weather, I felt like I was sitting right in the middle of it. When other worldly creatures interact in natural settings, it also makes them seem more real.

Within the stories, I found touches of humor, fantasy, folklore and eroticism. Having such a variety present in one small book is a real treat. Each story or poem stands alone on its own and is not dependent upon the others. This enables you to either read it in one sitting, or if you are short on time, you can go back to it as your time allows. I would love to read other works by this author, including her young adult stories, however, due to the adult themes in several of the stories, I suggest that this particular book be limited to adults. While I might not recommend this for a high school summer reading list, I highly recommend it for an adult reading group. The stories will be enjoyed as they are read and then enjoyed again as they are discussed. "Between the Cracks" is a keeper!

We Shall Rise: Misfits of the Lore, Book 2

2012-01-06T14:46:00.001-05:00

J.E. Hopkins
CreateSpace (2011)
ISBN 9781466427327
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views

"We Shall Rise" is the second book in the "Misfits of the Lore" series. Tired of being cast down by vampires and werewolves of pure blood, the lower caste immortals are waging a war to escape from their domination. These lesser breeds include the witches, sages, shifters, demons and those of mixed blood. Children are not even safe during these times. Reysa, a half-breed vampire/warrior owns a night club called The Lore, that welcomes all who enter in peace. She has created her own family of half breeds whom she calls "The Misfits." She wants no part of this war. When people in her club become endangered she has to become involved.

While all of this is happening there is a smaller battle being waged between Reysa and the vampire Kaden Gaspard. Reysa and Kaden are fighting the uncontrollable attraction that they have for each other. Kaden, has many inner demons to deal with. He has made a mess of most of the relationships that he has had in his life. This includes betraying his brother with his fiancé. That fiasco resulted in the deaths of seven women. Kaden is afraid to take a chance with Reysa because he fears that she will end up being hurt. In spite of this, their attraction to each other is too strong to be denied. When they team up to rescue a mutual friend who has been kidnapped, their constant closeness not only drives them crazy, but it also affects others around them. To survive, they have two battles to win.

I absolutely loved reading "We Shall Rise." The author did a tremendous job with creating unforgettable characters. From the emotionally tortured vampire to the drag queen Mother-Father witch and everyone in-between there was not a dull moment with any of them. She also did an awesome job with creating and sustaining sexual tension between the hero and heroine. This totally added to the drama. "We Shall Rise" has the perfect blend of drama, romance, humor and magic. In spite of being almost a four-hundred page book, I was disappointed that it ended so soon! I look forward to following the rest of the "Misfits of Lore" series.

Fancie’s Followers

2011-12-12T14:27:00.001-05:00

Jannet Ridener
iUniverse (2011)
ISBN 9781462008278
Reviewed by Marty Shaw for Reader Views

When I first heard of "Fancie's Followers," I thought it would be the perfect book for me to read. It's inspired by Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," which I have never read, and I'm really not much of a Shakespeare fan, either. In other words, if I liked the book, I knew there was a good chance that others who weren't devotees to the Bard would like it, too.

While I have never read the play that inspired the book, I do know enough about the original story to see the parallel between characters. If you have read "A Midsummer Night's Dream," then you'll be happy to know all the characters are still here, albeit in thinly-veiled contemporary disguises, and the storyline runs close to the source material.

The story revolves around a group of people that are each facing their own seemingly insurmountable dilemma. Sheriff James Weaver is suffering from a severe case of boredom mixed with a dose of midlife crisis. He's tied down by the constraints of life and doesn't even know it. Elaine just wants to be loved, and she'd prefer if that love came from her crush, Alex, who is too busy doting on his fiancée, Mia, to realize he doesn't actually love her. Emmett is Alex's new friend, and Elaine's new crush. Each of these individuals are living messed up lives but things become even more chaotic when they find themselves unwittingly involved in a battle of wills between Theron and Eugenia, the king and queen of the fairies.

The mention of Theron and Eugenia brings up one of my few complaints with the book. I wish the author had made allowances for readers that have no knowledge at all about "A Midsummer Night's Dream." The word 'fairy' is never used within the pages so it could be confusing for some to read about people who talk to trees and animals and look down on mortal affairs as minor inconveniences. Even the infamous Puck might not be recognized because he goes by the name Robin, with the more familiar name never being mentioned.

I also saw little reason for the moon-worshiping women. They seemed to have very little to do with either the affairs of the mortals or the battle of wills between the two fairies. Their presence doesn't really detract from the overall story, but it doesn't add anything, either.

"Fancie's Followers" would be a great read for anyone that thinks about reading Shakespeare but worries about getting lost within dry and dated language. The contemporary setting dusts off the classic tale and makes it something fun and lively that anyone can enjoy. If you're looking for a light and funny story that flows easily and won't take too much of a time commitment, "Fancie's Followers" is the book for you.

Spare Change

2011-12-12T14:25:00.001-05:00

Bette Lee Crosby
Bent Pine Publishing (2011)
ISBN 9780983887911
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views

Bette Lee Crosby's "Spare Change" is a quirky mix of Southern flair, serious thoughts about important things in life, madcap adventures of a young boy and a late change of heart that made all the difference in the life of an unusually independent woman. More than anything, it is a heartwarming book, which is simultaneously intriguing and just plain fun.

Olivia Ann Westerly has always refused to conform. Instead of marrying and raising a family, as her father expected her to, she left home and found a job, rented a flat and had tons of fun. Oh, did I mention that she did that in 1923, when she was only 25-years-old? While today that would not have been anything extraordinary, she certainly was an exception back then. And then she decided not to marry and to continue her career, living in this manner quite happily all the way until 1956. It was then that she met Charlie Doyle and fell madly in love, agreeing to marry him without any hesitation when he asked her to. But then Charlie had to go and die while they were on their honeymoon, and Olivia seemed to have lost all her will to do anything. Until Ethan Allen Doyle, Charlie's grandson, showed up on her doorstep. Olivia never wanted children, so why would she change her mind now? And to make matters worse, Ethan Allen was 11-years-old and number 11 has always been a bad omen for Olivia. To top everything else, it was clear that Ethan Allen was hiding something. Was there any chance of a happy ending here?

I truly enjoyed this imaginative and very entertaining story. Told from many different perspectives, it kept my interest from beginning to end. The voices of the characters were very distinct and the good ones were easy to like, just like the bad guys were easy to hate and fear. It does not happen very often that I truly like the more minor characters in any book, since most of them never get the chance to develop enough to be really interesting, but Clara was one of my favorites here - heart of gold and brassy manners, what more could one want in a friend? She was just one in the substantial line-up of supporting characters who kept Ethan Allen's presence in Olivia's building a secret, or at least they thought so. Every one of those characters was well defined and completely believable. I enjoyed the storyline and the lively dialogue, as well as the rapidly unraveling mystery of the secret Ethan Allen was trying to keep to himself. And I am going to do my best to keep the beginning of the story, as told by Olivia, in mind for the future. Here's what she had to say...

"I don't suppose there's a person walking the earth who doesn't now and again think if I had the chance to live my life over, I'd sure as hell do it differently. When you get to a certain age and realize how much time you've wasted on pure foolishness, you're bound to smack yourself in the head and ask, what in the world was I thinking? Everybody's got regrets; myself included.

Some people go to their grave without ever getting a chance to climb out of that ditch they've dug for themselves, others get lucky. Of course, the thing about luck is that you've got to recognize it, when it walks u' and says hello, the way Charlie Doyle did."

Those two paragraphs alone would be enough for me to like this book and recommend it, yet they were truly just the beginning. If you want to know more, you will simply have to read "Spare Change" yourself, and I am certain you will not regret that.

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How to Forgive: A Practical Guide

2011-12-05T09:29:00.001-05:00

Lynda Bevan
Loving Healing Press (2011)
ISBN 9781615990306
Reviewed by Irene Watson for Reader Views

In the first chapter Lynda Bevan explains "this book will identify the many aspects and meanings of the word 'forgiveness' and will attempt to enable you to understand exactly how being able to forgive someone is a basic, essential, necessary process in your life."

Bevan further states "The focus of this book is 'forgiveness in adult relationships.'" Indeed, it is a book for healing adult relationships. And, it certainly is one for those that have experienced various negative emotions/feelings and lived through the trauma/drama to get to the place of wanting self-awareness and healing the past. Any age group or relationship, whether it be young or old, married or divorced, same-gender or heterosexual, parent or child, or even platonic friendships, will find Bevan's simple method of much benefit to start the forgiveness process.

In the beginning of the book Bevan, in a gentle voice, helps the reader understand what forgiveness really is and why we need to forgive. She claims that we aren't able to "move on" if we don't practice and incorporate forgiveness into our lives. Personally, I completely agree with her. Sometimes forgiveness is the only medicine that will heal emotional unrest.

Once the reader fully understands the necessity of forgiveness and is willing to start the healing journey Bevan gives a step-by-step process. Her guidance is clear and direct.

I believe the most important chapter in this book is "Implementing Change." The initial process may seem simple enough but the actual change can be a challenge. Others may trigger negative emotions in us and it becomes easy to slip into the old patterns.

Bevan encourages addressing the feelings by providing a set of questions to ask ourselves. It's only when we become clear that we are able to truly forgive. "How to Forgive: A Practical Guide" is an important tool for that clarity.

Farsighted

2011-12-05T09:27:00.001-05:00

Emlyn Chand

Blue Crown Press (2011)
ISBN 9780983930808
Reviewed by Chandler Dixon (age 13) for Reader Views Kids

In Emlyn Chand's first novel in the "Farsighted" series, Alex Kosmitoras is a lonely high school sophomore, hoping to make friends. When he meets Simmi he has hopes he won't be so lonely after all. Simmi is new in town, having moved from India and it seems that she is the only person in school who is interested in becoming friends with Alex. Soon Alex has someone to talk to other than the school bully, as Simmi proves to be a great friend.

Alex's mother runs a florist shop called Sweet Blossoms, and tells Alex about a new neighbor in the shop next door, a psychic from New Orleans named Miss Teak. Alex is curious and goes to meet Miss Teak, and eventually also makes friends with both Miss Teak and her daughter, Shapri.

Soon Alex starts having visions of the future, hinting that Simmi is in grave danger. When he has his visions, he sometimes thinks that they are happening in real time. This leads to embarrassing outcomes, such as the time he is in the lunchroom at school and has a vision of Simmi choking. Alex rushes to Simmi and tries to perform the Heimlich maneuver, and is embarrassed in front of everyone in the lunchroom, since she isn't really choking. Eventually he learns to recognize when he is having a vision and can distinguish what is real from what is in his vision.

Alex's visions include nightmares, in which he watches Simmi being killed over and over again in every way you could imagine. He's seeing visions of a man named Dax killing Simmi and other people. Sometimes Alex sees himself helping Dax kill people. In order to sleep, he takes to stealing sleeping pills from his dad.

In his effort to eliminate the threat to Simmi, Alex learns a lot about himself, his powers and how to develop and use them. He also discovers important information about his father and grows closer to his newfound friends.

Author Emlyn Chand presents a believable storyline, with a very realistic setting and people. The story moves smoothly, at a good pace, with lots of surprises that fit in well with the plot
.
This book is for teens who like books about magical powers, and the process of learning how to use them. I enjoyed "Farsighted" very much and can't wait for "Open Heart," the next book in the series!

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Your Daily Walk with the Great Mind, 3rd Edition

2011-11-28T08:57:00.001-05:00

Richard A. Singer, Jr.
Marvelous Spirit Press (2011)
ISBN 9781615991143
Reviewed by Carol Hoyer, PhD, for Reader Views

As a person in recovery trying to make sense of my life and to identify changes I need to make, "Your Daily Walk with the Great Minds" is one of the best books I have read. Author Richard A. Singer did an excellent job in writing easy-to-understand terms to help us walk the path.

Singer expresses that if he can just change one person or inspire him or her to make positive changes he has done his job. I believe he has done his job.

The book is very inspirational and uplifting. For each day of the week Singer has given words of wisdom from people like Einstein, Mother Teresa and Abe Lincoln. The book starts from January 1st with a quote, a meditation and, most importantly, a journaling exercise. He has provided an author's index with the date to find the desired information. In addition, there is a subject index by date, i.e., for 'adversity,' 'appreciation,' 'can't.' It is easy to find what you are experiencing in the here and now. For each month there are suggested books to read, most of which one can find at the library.

What I particularly liked, in addition to the above, is this is a great book to use for reading groups. As I reviewed this book, I felt hopeful that I could put these techniques to use to make positive changes in my life. Readers will enjoy "Your Daily Walk with the Great Minds." It really is a must read, making notes along the way, then stop to look at what one really wants out of life.

Heaven’s Daughter

2011-11-28T08:56:00.001-05:00

Maggi A. Petton
BookLocker (2011)
ASIN: B0068CUNIS
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views

When I began reading "Heaven's Daughter," I found myself immediately held spellbound. The story begins with two runaway slaves, who are mother and daughter. Having been captured in Africa, taken away from her family and her fiancé, the mother is desperate to give her daughter, Effie, a better life. Since they are both slaves, this is difficult to do. As the daughter begins to suffer the same horrible abuses that her mother did, from their owners, they both know that they have to escape.

As they begin the arduous journey north, they encounter a young blonde girl named Abby. Abby is also on the run, but in her case she is running from a kidnapper. The kidnapper grabbed her from her family's home so that he could pretend he was traveling with his daughter, instead of being an army deserter. Fortunately, he did not abuse her.

Joining together to return Abby to her home, the girls develop a strong bond. Effie's mother shares her African heritage with them with both songs and stories. When they finally make it to Abby's home the family gives them a warm welcome and is grateful for their assistance in returning their daughter. As time goes by, and they suffer through some horrible tragedies, the bond between the two women becomes even stronger. Knowing that this is a time where both interracial and homosexual relationships are not acceptable, the women have to keep their special love for each other a secret. Their incredible love for each other helps them hang on to their sanity and each other as they try to cope with family losses, betrayal, and tragedy.

Having read and enjoyed "The Queen's Companion," I suspected that "Heaven's Daughter" would be an exceptional book. And I was correct. In this novel, the horrors of slavery, war, prejudice and discrimination are all brought together however; love and loyalty demonstrate a great healing power. I found this story to be extremely realistic and well researched. While I have studied this era and thought about how difficult it would be for people to mix interracially, I never considered what it would be like for homosexual couples. In this story, Petton addresses both issues in one relationship. It was refreshing to be able to enjoy an incredibly written story, and to be offered something new to reflect on. I highly recommend "Heaven's Daughter."

Cinderella’s Magical Wheelchair: An Empowering Fairy Tale

2011-11-21T09:11:00.001-05:00

Jewel Kats
Loving Healing Press (2011)
ISBN 9781615991129
Reviewed by Madeline (age 10) & Sophia (age 8) McElroy for Reader Views Kids

Madeline:

This is another Cinderella story with something added! In this book, Cinderella is in a wheelchair. It may sound like a weird story, but it is very good. Life is hard for Cinderella; her jobs are harder to do and her step-sisters treat her like an animal. The day of the ball, her step-mother says she can go to the ball if she makes jewelry for her and her step-sisters. She had worked all day on the jewelry and had made herself a dress too. Right before they leave, Cinderella's stepmother sneaks up behind her and disables her wheelchair so she can't make it move. Cinderella cried, "What about the promise you made?" She laughed and said, "Promises can be broken." Just then somebody says, "Don't Cry." It's Cinderella's fairy godmother! She zaps her. "But remember, the spell wears off at midnight, be careful!," said her fairy godmother. Then she disappears. Now, Cinderella is flying to the ball! She lands inside and her step-sisters and step-mother get very angry. The Prince comes over and asks her to dance. She possibly couldn't! Then, her wheelchair flies up and he grabs her hands, everywhere he went, the wheelchair followed while flying. The end is for you too see.

I liked this book because I like fairy tales and Cinderella is one of my favorites. It is great for kids who have disabilities in life such as being in a wheelchair or having a disease that bothers them. This book can help them get through it and realize life can be the same as others lives too.

Sophia:

"Cinderella's Magical Wheelchair" is a good story for kids who have had a horrible accident or injury. This book is about a girl named Cinderella with two evil step-sisters and one step-mother. The step-mother says the step-sisters can go to the ball, but the step-mother said Cinderella couldn't go. But the step-mother said she could make jewelry for the step-sisters. When Cinderella makes the jewelry for the sisters she gets ready. But when she is ready the step-mother makes a flat tire on her chair. Then she realized she had a fairy godmother! The rest you should read to see yourself. This book was very wonderful.

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How to Paint Chickens: And other Stories

2011-11-14T09:13:00.001-05:00

Vladimri A. Shvarstman
VS Holding, LLC (2011)
ISBN 9780984377022
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views

"How to Paint Chickens" is a collection of short stories that follow Mr. Shvarstman from his childhood in Siberia to his adulthood in the United States. I found his recollections of growing up in Siberia to be absolutely fascinating. His stories of having been raised in a poor area where governmental control reigned supreme were very eye opening for me. Reading about how his family struggled to maintain what possessions they had, including chickens, was interesting and entertaining. I also gained a deeper appreciation for what opportunities I have had living in the United States.

After the author immigrated to the United States, he married, had a son and experienced a painful divorce. As he relives some of those experiences, he shares what he has learned from them. He also does a great deal of reflecting upon how things could be improved in the United States. I agree with much of his discourse, however, I know that most liberals will not. But I think he makes a lot of sense.

When the time comes for Mr. Shvarstman to move on to a new relationship, he hits some interesting bumps in the road. I found some of these experiences to be very amusing; however, I suspect at the time, they were not. Exploring online dating proved to be both adventurous and disastrous. He definitely put himself in situations where he could easily have been taken advantage of, yet I suspect his expectations from some of these women would have involved him taking advantage of them if they had not struck first. In addition to entertaining, this section was very eye opening and enlightening. Learning from this, I don't recommend that people make themselves vulnerable by traveling long distances to meet potential mates. I also think that he learned that trying to date married women, who say they are in bad relationships, is futile. I think it works this way for both sexes.

The last half of the book focuses on dialogue from some of his potential mates. While there were some interesting points made in this section, I found some of the material to be too lengthy and this detracted from some of the story.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading "How to Paint Chickens." I liked that the author included some of his artwork and pictures in the book. That definitely added to it. On the other hand, I found that there were a lot of grammatical errors that caused me to pause and try to figure out some of the meanings. I think that professional editing would really help make the book more enjoyable to all.

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A Slot Machine Ate My Midlife Crisis (eBook)

2011-11-14T09:11:00.001-05:00

Irene Woodbury
SynergEbooks (2011)
ISBN 9780744314977
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views

A few months from now I will be turning forty-five. Having suffered through the mid-life crises of two men, I figured it is my turn to have a good one. For me a good mid-life crisis doesn't involve betraying anybody, it just involves buying a brightly colored sports car with a big engine. However, the cost of gas is so high right now my practical side is thinking of just dying my hair red again and renting a Corvette to drive up the Pacific Coast Highway.

Already forty-five years old, newlywed Wendy is facing a pretty major mid-life crisis. Hers actually extends into a total identity crisis. Having dated her husband Roger for seven years, and only recently marrying him, she finds herself uprooted and unemployed. Sharing an idyllic life in Los Angeles; each had their own career. When Roger's career involves accepting a dream job in Houston, Wendy readily agrees to sell her condo and move with him. Recently unemployed, she is not leaving behind any prospects. However, shortly after they arrive in Houston, Roger turns into a major workaholic.

Losing her identity as a career woman, being ignored and living in a home with critters and other problems, Wendy does not settle in easily. While Roger is eager to become a part of high society in Houston, Wendy does not enjoy the snooty women who she feels pass judgment on her. When an opportunity arises for her to go away to Las Vegas for five days, Wendy jumps on it. Feeling the honeymoon is over after less than four months, part of her feels disappointed that she is looking to get away from her husband.

After spending five crazy days with her friend Paula, that include a wedding being cancelled because of Paula's indiscretion with the groom, Wendy finds life in Las Vegas, crazy, but she is also enjoying massive amounts of food, retail therapy, and spa treatments. She has also made some eccentric new friends. When it is time to return home, Wendy bolts from the airport and begins living her own life in Sin City.

While she tells Roger that she is just staying on for a little while longer, she actually doesn't know when she will be home. As weeks turn into months, Roger's frustrations at not having his wife with him cause many arguments. The communication between them becomes sporadic. Meanwhile Wendy begins building a life for herself that also involves achieving some of her career dreams.

Fighting her attraction to some charismatic men, she is determined to stay faithful while she figures out what she is going to do. Wendy has to decide whether or not she wants to be a wife and live in a place where she will see little of her husband and be miserable, or continue on with a rewarding career that helps her make headlines.

While Wendy's decision result in her making extreme changes in her life, I suspect that there are a lot of middle-aged married women out there who fantasize about doing what she has done. Unlike Wendy, many of these women probably married their high school sweethearts and never had a chance to establish their own identities. Circumstances caused Wendy's identity to be taken from her, and her desire to reinvent herself, based upon her terms, does not mesh well with her role as a wife. Wendy's dilemma is tough, especially since she has a husband that loves her but is waiting for her to return to his world.

I found "A Slot Machine Ate My Midlife Crisis" to contain both humor and drama. The eccentric characters and the crazy Las Vegas lifestyle added a great deal of enjoyment to the story. The dilemma faced by the main character is very complicated, yet I feel there are readers who will find themselves relating to it, perhaps just on a smaller scale. I recommend this novel to all midlife-crisis aged women!

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Caged: Memoirs of a Cage-Fighting Poet

2011-11-07T08:39:00.001-05:00

Cameron Conaway
Threed Press (2011)
ISBN 9780615521770
Reviewed by Joseph Yurt for Reader Views

Author Cameron Conaway is wise beyond his years. He demonstrates this clearly with honest self-analysis and unfiltered feelings in his fierce first book, "Caged: Memoirs of a Cage-Fighting Poet." It's as much about casting off the cages in his life as it is about the constraints they imposed on his heart and soul.

"Caged" delves deep into Conaway's demeaning, painful upbringing by his pathetically dysfunctional father. By the time he was thirteen, he was totally devastated by his environment and experiences. The remainder of the book is spent retelling and reflecting on the events of his past and present and on the application of his learned lessons on his aspirations for the future.

Conaway takes the road less traveled on his self-discovery journey the reader is invited to join. The choices he makes in pursuit of redemption are unexpected. His writing style is unconventional. His chapters are unpredictable. They flow smoothly enough to weave his writing tightly, but not so smoothly to allow us to know what's next; what's next is sometimes impossible to anticipate. The chapters have a self-contained, short story quality; some are rough and raw, some inspire, some are magical, and, some impart an almost heroic dignity to Conaway's Warrior Spirit.

"Red Tail, Chapter 14" and "Caged – Part Two, Chapter 15," which describes his second MMA cage fight, are back-to-back demonstrations of the range of Conaway's craft and creative process. Both are at once real and surreal, raw power and mysticism. Whenever he feels like doing so, he steps outside his story to deliver teachable moments and to offer explanations and revelations of personal philosophies. He seems to find learning in every activity and invites the reader to do the same.

"Caged: Memoirs of a Cage-Fighting Poet," is one hell of a debut book. In this review, I have chosen to deliberately provide only the bare bones of Conaway's story. Instead, I have concentrated on my reactions during and after reading the book. "As for the adjective: when in doubt, strike it out." said Mark Twain, but "Caged" leaves one addicted to adjectives.

I want you to read "Caged: Memoirs of a Cage-Fighting Poet." I want you to root for Cameron Conaway. Most importantly, I want everyone to seriously consider the Warrior Spirit movement he has conjured. If you seek inspiration for dramatic change in your life, you will find it in "Caged: Memoirs of a Cage-Fighting Poet."

Facing Demons

2011-11-07T08:38:00.001-05:00

Ashley Sanders
Trafford Publishing (2011)
ISBN 9781426951701
Reviewed by Avni Gupta (age 17) for Reader Views Kids

When I received "Facing Demons," I was quite excited to read it. I have always been pretty interested in reading about people who have had to go to rehab and the stories behind them. Normally, you just hear about them as a statistic, but behind every number and every statistic, there is a real person and a real story. Although the first three or four pages seemed a little preachy, in the "don't do drugs" sense, as soon as I got past the first few pages, and really got into the book, I was hooked! I was not able to put this book down (technically speaking, I was not able to put my i-pod touch down, since I was I was reading the e-book version)!

This book begins with a prologue, in which Blake Solomon, the man who runs the Anchor Beach Rehab clinic, is in the hospital with a boy from the clinic who doesn't seem like he's going to make it. Blake seems rather distraught, and in his mind, is transported to a different time and place in that hospital. That hospital is the place where Blake was cured of his cancer! The rest of the book is devoted to telling the stories of four of the residents of the Anchor Beach Rehab clinic. It talks about their issues with drugs, alcohol, child prostitution, self harm, gangs and other issues that many teenagers have to deal with.

This book was absolutely amazing. I definitely read it twice before I started writing this review! With every page I read, and every detail into someone's story, I became more and more hooked on this book. I feel like anybody who reads it will be in the same boat as I was!

One thing that I really liked about "Facing Demons" was the dedication that the author made at the beginning of it. This book is dedicated to "those who deserve a second chance." I feel like that dedication was a perfect beginning to this book because all of the characters made a mistake and deserved the second chance that they were given.

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Sleeper’s Run

2011-10-31T10:43:00.001-04:00

Henry Mosquera
Oddity Media (2011)
ISBN 9780615505442
Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views

"Sleeper's Run" is built on a plot in which the characters have inflated egos and are motivated by greed and the thirst for power. Author Henry Mosquera has created a non-stop action thriller exposing the protagonist Eric Caine to conflict, after conflict, after conflict with only brief respites of resolution. He includes action, romance, deception, and intrigue in this fast-paced international thriller.

Special Forces veteran Eric Caine is found wandering the streets of Miami as a result of a car accident. He has no memory of the details of the accident. As a result of his service in the War on Terror, Eric is suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), resulting in a way of life destined to end in self-destruction.

An unexpected timely chance meeting at a bar and the events that follow provide Eric with an opportunity to start on new a new path of life fulfillment. The new job requires that he relocate to Venezuela, the land of his childhood. Eric pours himself into the job, impressing his employers; however, things take a turn for the worse as suspicious incidents signal the threat of something evil. Suddenly Eric finds himself involved in a catastrophic event that threatens the political and economic stability of the country. Eric is forced to clear his name by exposing an elite team of CIA assassins in an international conspiracy.

Mosquera has a broad scope of understanding of international current events; the crime and corruption often found intermingled with political ideologies. He writes intelligently of subjects including: martial arts, self defense weaponry, security systems, internet hacking, and world travel. He introduces interesting aspects regarding paramedic techniques and provides insight into PTSD. All of these areas of expertise are interwoven into his writing.

I was also impressed with Henry Mosquera's character development. He effectively uses a combination of back story, dialogue, inner dialogue, narrations, and flashback to introduce his main characters. Mosquera carefully combines a protagonist first person narration with sequences where his protagonist is not present. Occasional verb tense changes add interest to specific scenes but triggered insecurity into my own editorial instincts.

"Sleeper's Run" may be a book that many will find so compelling that they will read it in one sitting. For me, the rapid pace of the action was so intense I had to take breathers, however, I found myself quickly drawn back into the mêlée. If you like super-heroes, non-stop action, and intrigue and suspense you are destined to become a fan of Henry Mosquera. I am looking forward to reading his next intrigue and adventure novel.

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Nickels: A Tale of Dissociation

2011-10-24T09:57:00.001-04:00

Christine Stark
Modern History Press (2011)
ISBN 9781615990504
Reviewed by Joseph Yurt for Reader Views

Mental Health America defines dissociation as a mental process that causes a lack of connection in a person's thoughts, memory and sense of identity. Driving on a familiar road and abruptly realizing that you don't recall the past few miles you just traveled is the kind of mild dissociation many people have experienced. But when new author Christine Stark decided that one of the concepts she wanted her first book to explore was dissociation in an immediate and centrally focused way, she chose to write a story in which dissociative experiences of childhood sexual abuse are the central, chronic, and overwhelming problem.

Stark's story, "Nickels: A Tale of Dissociation," takes the reader on an unimaginable, excruciating journey in the company of the mind of a biracial girl named "Little Miss So and So," from age four into adulthood. The vast majority of readers are not likely to have seen the written and verbal portrait of childhood and developing personhood that the author paints. Her canvas is the character's inner-most mind in which she blends a unique, rhythmic prose with powerful and unsettling imagery.

Particularly piercing and provocative is the dissociative world created by "Little Miss So and So" in her early childhood years of four and five. She uses her own special language and her own secret places to help her sustain her disconnection from the never ending horror, which she cannot yet fully comprehend, brought upon her by an incestuous father. It's a world populated by China Doll Girl, P girl, Suit Man and Mad Dad. But it's a world that keeps her safer than her real world.

"Nickels: A Tale of Dissociation" will inherently fall on a continuum of reader opinion. Educators, writers and advocacy organizations have already lauded the book on many fronts. Among more casual readers, some will no doubt set the book aside after reading the first chapter and never return. Some will simply find it a good story. Still others will find it a riveting story that they are unable to put down. As for me, the author's innovative writing style and powerful verbal imagery simultaneously commanded my attention and distracted me. There were times along the way when I had to step outside the child's world for some fresh air. And there were occasions when I wished the journey would just end. But, all things considered, I am grateful to Christine Stark for taking me to that place. Childhood sexual violence is more widespread in America than most people realize. Take the journey with "Little Miss So and So" because if we don't know about her world, we won't care enough help solve the problem.

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House of Cards: Dead Men Tell No Tales

2011-10-24T09:56:00.001-04:00

Theodore J. Cohen
Outskirts Press (2011)
ISBN 9781432779801
Reviewed by Marty Shaw for Reader Views

A seemingly random murder on Halloween leads Detective Louis Martelli into an elaborate conspiracy that threatens more than just the financial security of the world, as the FBI tries to keep him from learning the truth.

"House of Cards: Dead Men Tell No Tales" has a plot that was ripped from the headlines and then blended together with the colorful characters that were first introduced in "Death by Wall Street: Rampage of the Bulls." Martelli and his IT assistant, Missy Dugan, are once again using their combined expertise to dig through the lies and uncover the bad guy.

Martelli is probably one of my all-time favorite crime-fiction heroes because he's a good cop, but he's not perfect. He's the type of guy that believes in the law, but he also believes that laws can be bent a little bit if the end result is justice being served. Missy Dugan, his partner in both law and illegal activities, is a feisty counter to Martelli's gruff demeanor, providing more than one laugh with her verbal sparring against Martelli. She might not be pounding the pavement with Martelli but she's definitely an essential member of his team.

The plot moves at a steady pace, and Cohen provides plenty of depth and description to the story, allowing the reader to easily get lost within the pages. The machinations of Wall Street and the banking industry play an integral part in the storyline, and I am far from being a Wall Street guru. Fortunately, an in-depth understanding of the industries is not required because Cohen is able to walk a fine line that allows him to provide the necessary information in an easy-to-understand manner without actually talking down to us. The story took a couple of unexpected twists that I didn't see coming, keeping me thoroughly engrossed in the book as Martelli does what he has to do to uncover the truth. The FBI, depicted as the bane of local police in numerous works of fiction, are up to their old tricks once again, hoping to keep 'the little people' in the dark because there's no way they could understand 'the big picture.' The only complaint I have about the story is that Martelli's partner, Sean O'Keefe, didn't play a larger role. I understand that Martelli and Dugan are the main characters, and I wouldn't dream of destroying that chemistry, but O'Keefe often seemed to exist just so Martelli would have someone to talk to. I'm not saying the crime-solving duo needs to be turned into a trio but I think, for future stories, it would be best if O'Keefe either had a beefier role or just went away completely.

If you enjoy the 'ripped-from-the-headline' stories of shows like Law & Order, then you should definitely take a ride with Lou Martelli and Missy Dugan. They'll keep you educated, informed, and entertained all at the same time.

Editor's note: This novel contains adult language.

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Blood in the Promised Land

2011-10-17T07:30:00.001-04:00

Eliot Sefrin
iUniverse (2011)
ISBN 9781462026104
Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views

At the height of World War II another intense confrontation is spawning divisive hostilities on America's home front. Wartime production jobs have lured thousands of poor blacks from the rural South to defense jobs in the North.

In "Blood of the Promised Land" Eliot Sefrin interweaves the separate life journeys of two men: Roosevelt Turner, a young black migrant who flees the South to work in Pittsburgh's flourishing steel industry and Jacob Perlman, a Jewish physician forced to escape Nazi-occupied Austria.

Eliot describes, with heart-breaking pathos, Roosevelt's traumatic reaction to the massacre of family members by a crazed crowd driven by frenzy to acts of mayhem and murder. Orphaned and alone, Roosevelt's every waking moment is plagued with visions of the vigilante mob, their unchecked rage, violence, and blind groundless malice.

Jacob and his family experienced total humiliation at the hands of Hitler's Gestapo police. Their property was confiscated or destroyed. They were forced to flee their homeland to save their lives. After immigrating to America, Jacob maintained his dream of a better life.

The impact of this influx of displaced peoples on American's major cities exposed prejudice, bias, and underlying animosities. Industrial centers became the breeding ground of racial conflict. Race riots and hate strikes beset factories, shipyards, and defense production, as whites attempted to impose long-held racial barriers, against blacks who discovered that the dream of entering "the promised land" is unrealized and has only exchanged the South's Jim Crow harassment to the Northern bias, injustice, and bigotry.

Roosevelt and Jacob have been shaped by the stigma of the past, by racial or ethnic identity. They both hope to rebuild their life. In the midst of an incident of violent racial conflict their paths cross. An unlikely bond propels them into the crucible of the civil rights movement. They valiantly join forces in an effort to defeat a terrorist hate group.

Sefrin carefully lays the foundation for his story. His images are extraordinary, his character development amazing. He has created believable characters from opposite ends of the professional and economic spectrum. He brilliantly uses southern dialect and Jewish idioms in his dialog. He is equally at ease with creating the caricature of southern sheriff as with a newspaper editor, FBI agent, churchmen, or family members. Sefrin's writing is so intense and authentic that I often lost sight of the fact that I was reading a fictional account. I found myself drawn into the emotions of the outrage and the toll of suffering experienced by his protagonists.

The Second World War, waged from 1939-45, has inspired countless novels of the era. "Blood in the Promised Land" is unique among them as it gives the reader a glimpse in the unresolved issue of bias, prejudice, and bigotry prevalent in our nation.

Plan B: 5 Differences That Make a Difference in your Small/Home Business

2011-10-17T07:28:00.001-04:00

Cesar V. Teague
Xlibris (2011)
ISBN 9781465334787
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views

Times are tough, there is no denying it. Our economy is in shambles, previously solid companies are folding daily, and unemployment is looming on the horizon for many fellow Americans. If you are one of those who have been contemplating a change in their career, and if such change includes a possibility of opening a small business, you could do much worse than invest in the "Plan B: 5 Differences That Make a Difference in your Small/Home Business". Although a slim volume, "Plan B" contains enough information to enable anybody curious and brave enough to switch, in the author's words, from "being stuck in a full-time job and a part time life to having a full-time life and a part-time job – living life on your own terms."

The author, Cesar V. Teague, defines the five basic differences as:

Multiplication vs. Addition,
Success vs. Struggle,
Focus and Flow,
Aligning Opportunities and Goals,
Action Steps for Geometric Gains.

Each of those differences is outlined in a separate chapter, complete with examples, personal stories and truly powerful quotes. While the book is obviously geared towards the novices in the small business field, I am certain that it could also prove useful for those of us who have been working for ourselves for a while already. I have found the content of "Difference 5, the Action Steps for Geometric Gains," particularly enlightening. The breakdown in the "Identify Your Business Activities" made me look at some of my work practices again, and I was amazed at the difference this made nearly instantly.

The appendix, containing forms and worksheets, should be an invaluable resource as well, particularly for those readers who are just starting to think about a new business venue. Just the business plan outline alone is well worth the price of the book, and some of the tax issues mentioned in the last couple of pages were extremely useful and eye-opening.

I have enjoyed Mr. Teague's clear and direct writing style, which remained pleasantly conversational, yet precise. I would highly recommend this book to those who are toying with the idea of branching out on their own, as well as any current owners of small or home businesses, since even those already established ones could clearly learn some valuable lessons from "Plan B."

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Ding Dong the Diva’s Dead

2011-10-10T08:25:00.001-04:00

Cat Melodia

Camel Press (2011)
ISBN 9781603818070
Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Novel
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views

I like proverbs and old sayings of all kinds. Very often I even try and live by what they tell us, and in such endeavors I could be more or less successful. Here is one of my favorite ones: "Don't judge the book by its cover." And yes, this is one that I try to follow as often as possible. When it comes to "Ding Dong the Diva's Dead," that was truly a good decision. If I judged this particular book by its cover, I would have never opened it. The slightly cartoon-like cover showed a voodoo-doll-crossed-with-an-inflatable-object-from-the-adult-store depiction of a diva and a cast of sinister looking people. The title with its weird yellow script and the shadowed sub-title did little to make me any more interested in the story. But I decided to be brave, and I opened the book on a randomly selected page. After the first couple of sentences I was giggling uncontrollably, deciding to start it from the beginning, as it should be read. Granted, being fluent in more than one language certainly helped me to catch some of the well-placed barbs, but even without that I would have found the book to be an absolute delight.

Deborah de Lille is an opera singer. Just not of the Maria Callas caliber. So she is more than thrilled when her agent secures her a minor role with a small town opera company in Ville d'Aurore, an idyllic looking and sounding setting. The production? Offenbach's "Tales of Hoffman," a rather spooky opera even in its classical form, but even more so under the direction of Corabelle Swift, the stage director with peculiar ideas on how to make it more contemporary and relevant. When one adds three leading ladies with huge egos, an assorted bunch of cocky males, a suspicious death of a prominent singer, and various creepy incidents to the mix, Debbie certainly has a lot to worry about. Who is out to get her? And more importantly – why?

The "Ding Dong the Diva's Dead" was a well-paced and utterly charming mystery. Its cast of characters, although large enough to be difficult to keep track of, was extraordinarily charming, even when it came to the villains. The dialogue, the story line, the twists and turns, author's obvious insider knowledge of all opera related things and her wicked sense of humor kept me turning the pages until I finished reading the story late the same day. My favorite part? It would have to be some of the names. Kopfschlager, Perlmutter, Mannschliesser and Poubelle? Chapeau, Madame Melodia, and "Brava!" for sure.

I would recommend "Ding Dong the Diva's Dead" to any lover of unpredictable mysteries with a hefty dose of intelligent humor. If this person happens to be an opera lover, even better - but I certainly do not believe love of opera would limit the enjoyment of this clever whodunit.

Are We Our Past Lives?: Soul Patterns in Personalities and Relationships

2011-10-10T08:23:00.001-04:00

Marie Gates
CreateSpace (2010)
ISBN 9781452867731
Reviewed by Carol Hoyer, PhD, for Reader Views

As a Psychologist and college professor I get many questions about reincarnation, especially from my students at a Christian college. Although many do not believe in past lives, Marie Gates has provided her own research and thoughts on this topic. Through her writing, she will get you to have second thoughts about what you believe.

Gates has done much research over the years on her own past lives and karma. Her extraordinary way with words describe in detail how she discovered these past lives and what her feelings were at the time of discovery. She is enthusiastic about her theory and supports it through research from individuals like Edgar Cayce, and the use of Harmonic Vibrational Therapy (HVT). In addition she gives great detailed information about HVT.

She states "Who are we and why? Don't most of us think of this? Do you have vivid dreams of people that have made an impact on your life?" She goes on to quote Sylvia Browne, "Almost everything about us in rooted in a past life."

In "Are We Our Past Lives?," Marie Gates discusses negative karma, emotional challenges and the roles we play. Her book is very informative. You will need to read this slowly, jot down notes or questions and do some research of your own. After reading this book, you might be undecided as to what you believe - some of us are on the fence. Ms. Gates' information, research and excellent writing skills will give you food for thought - this is a journey all should take.

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Black as Snow

2011-10-03T10:30:00.001-04:00

Nick Nolan
AmazonEncore (2011)
ISBN 9781612180052
Reviewed by Irene Watson for Reader Views

When I got Nick Nolan's "Black as Snow," I was excited to start reading it because of his previous award-winning writing, knowing that I was in for a pleasurable journey. However, I really didn't realize the treat I was going to get until I started flipping the pages. At first it was intimidating because I find reading a near 400-page book a challenge but as soon as I got into the first few chapters, I realized that I was hooked.

The basic story revolves around Sebastian Black, in his late teens, who has extra-ordinary powers of telepathy. His mother, Kitty, creates a spiritual movement using Sebastian as the prophet but there is a movement by Christian militants set out to kill him because they believe he's a false messiah. Sebastian flees to get away from the threats and his controlling mother only to come upon ordinary people that change his life forever. Sounds like a common story, right? Well, the premise might be but I can assure you "Black as Snow" is like no other novel out there.

The chain of events that take place while meeting the stream of commoners is breathtaking. Readers, through Sebastian, meet incredible people that not only change Sebastian's life but theirs as well. Nolan brings in an aging lesbian couple, a Mexican handyman, a female student who is anorexic, a meth addict just out of prison, a gay teenager and a host of others that pass through Sebastian's life.

The thing is that Nolan's writing skills are so refined that he is able to bring each character to full life and there is no forgetting who each one is or what they depict in the story. The character development is well beyond any I've seen and Nolan's wordsmithing is incredible.

Readers will find a multitude of concepts in this book: radical religion, spirituality, love, control, murder, mystery, romance, gay exorcism, greed, intrigue, hate crimes,

paranormal, friendship, and, anything else you want to read into it. It is difficult to place a genre on "Black as Snow" because it covers so many different aspects but don't let that fool you, it's a story that you would not forget very soon because, although fiction, it streams of reality of everyday life.

It's not too often I get so grabbed by a book that I forgo watching a favorite TV series or going to a movie as "Black as Snow" did. I firmly believe that you too, as a reader, will get drawn in and have a hard time putting the book down. Oh, a word of caution - each chapter ends with a cliff-hanger! Need I say more? I loved this book!!

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Gathering of the Indigo Maidens

2011-10-03T10:29:00.001-04:00

Cecilia Velastegui
Libros Publishing LLC (2011)
ISBN 9780983745815
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views

When rare art and book collector Paloma Zubiondo receives a disturbing phone call from a young woman speaking in her native Ecuadorian language, begging to be rescued, her peaceful existence is shattered. Along with receiving pleas to be saved, Paloma is also accused of being in the possession of a rare stolen painting. She is told that she can help this girl by giving the artwork back to its rightful owner. Knowing that she carefully selects what she purchases for her collection, Paloma believes that she is being set up. In spite of this, she wants to keep the authorities out of it because she doesn't want any suspicion or doubt cast upon her reputation.

Until this phone call, Paloma has prided herself on living comfortably among her prized possessions. Unlike most people who just see dollar signs on valuable works of art, Paloma looks at their intrinsic worth. When she gazes upon her paintings, she is able to experience the feelings that the artists try to convey through their art. To have someone accuse her of illegally obtaining items that she holds as sacred in her heart is a terrible travesty.

While living in her peaceful world, Paloma has remained aloof from the evils of our society. When this desperate caller tells her that she is being violated, Paloma is introduced to the vile world of the sex trade. She desperately doesn't want to be involved with this case, however, she cannot allow herself not to do anything, especially when this young woman reminds her of a treasured family employee from her childhood.

As Paloma seeks information to vindicate herself from the accusations, she also learns more about how young women are being taken from their poor homes with false promises of employment and turned into prostitutes. She discovers that it is a huge problem that has taken place all over the world throughout history. Knowing that her own life is in danger, Paloma cannot sit back and do nothing. She has to turn to friends that she can trust for help.

"Gathering the Indigo Maidens" tells an incredible story that incorporates both the beauty and history of Spanish art into a modern story about the evils that come with greed in our society. The author does an excellent job of taking us to different times in history where we can see that things weren't much different even going back as far as 1699. Lack of respect and abuse towards women existed then and still exists today. By sharing this story, my eyes were opened.While paintings which depict women don't suffer physically, they do experience some of the same disrespect that the young women do. Neither the paintings nor the women are seen as anything more than their monetary worth. There is no humanity or appreciation for the beauty of both. The exception to this is in Paloma's eyes.

"Gathering of the Indigo Maidens" is an exceptionally written story that is guaranteed to hold you captive and stir at your heart strings while you read it. I highly recommend it, especially for readers who enjoy a mix of history, art and mystery.

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Five Dances with Death: Dance One

2011-09-26T05:10:00.001-04:00

Austin Briggs
Helvetic House (2011)
ASIN: B005EJGYJ8
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views

The first book in this series begins in 1516, during the time of the Aztec Empire and the Spanish conquest. Lord Angry Wasp, a prince of Tlaxcala is playing a deadly ballgame against his nemesis Talon. Talon had captured Wasp's precious daughter Dew. Desperate to find her, Wasp agreed to the ballgame, hoping to reclaim her. When this does not happen, Wasp refuses to give up on his search for her. Much of his future decisions and actions are based upon this goal.

Wasp has two wives, one is his beloved Otomi witch Broken Plume, who is also Dew's mother. The other is a Toltec princess named Rainbow Obsidian. Her role as his wife is to give status based upon her Toltec heritage. Broken Plume has taught Wasp to use sorcery to make a spiritual double of himself, so that he can travel to other places, including the underworld and also enter into other's bodies and see things through their eyes.

Desperate for the return of his captured daughter Dew, Wasp takes journeys to gather information about her whereabouts. He also obtains information about his enemies, and the newly arriving outlanders who come from the sea. During one of these outer body quests, Wasp is somehow captured by the Moonwalk people and forced to play games truly based upon life and death. Dying is considered an honor and Lord Wasp holds a strong belief that his death will not be the end, but rather a continuation of his journey. However honorable this may be, he is still not ready to die yet.

The people of Tlaxcala are facing difficult times because blockades by the Mexica are preventing food and supplies from being brought to them. As Wasp endures great physical and spiritual battles, he does not always act honorably with his decisions. His easiness to anger also gets him into some sticky situations. As he discovers more about what is happening in the lands around him, and the incoming outlanders, he has to figure out who he can best ally his people to and then convince his people about what is best. This is not an easy task.

"Five Dances with Death: Dance One" tells an amazing story of a leader who faces incredible trials while trying to keep his people safe from both the Aztecs and the incoming Spanish Conquistadors. Using sorcery, strength and his wits, the hero has a daunting task set in front of him, especially since major decisions can affect whether or not he sees his enslaved daughter again. Austin Briggs does an excellent job of bringing this period to life and as I read I found myself totally captured by the story. Readers will truly appreciate both the story and the amount of historical research that went into bringing this novel to existence.

Hurrah’s Nest: Memoirs of a Money Trader

2011-09-26T05:08:00.001-04:00

Barbara Kennedy
iUniverse (2011)
ISBN 9781462011230
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views

"Hurrah's Nest: Memoirs of a Money Trader" is the first book in "The Baby Boomer Memoirs." Not being familiar with this phrase, out of curiosity I looked it up in The Webster's Dictionary which defines "Hurrah's Nest" as the "state of utmost confusion." That definitely applies to the characters in this novel; however, it takes them some time to figure this out for themselves.

The story is mainly based upon two women, Meg and Becky. Best of friends and sometimes the worst of enemies, Meg and Becky were both born in the same bed a week apart. Meg's mother does not survive the birthing, so her father takes her away from the family, to Florida, where he raises her. Meg and Becky were able to overcome the distance that kept them physically apart by writing to each other. Through their letters, they shared intimacies like they were sisters.

The circumstances surrounding Meg's loss of her mother and having to move away from family that could have helped raise her left Meg feeling abandoned and out of place. She was also betrayed and horribly taken advantage of by an older male neighbor. It seems like Becky got the life that Meg wanted.

As Meg approaches adulthood she decides to pursue an acting career which will eventually take her back to New York and she will be able to be closer to Becky. Meg is married to Dick and they have to live frugally while he is pursuing a career in directing. Becky, on the other hand, is married to Kevin, who works on Wall Street as a money market broker. She appears to live the good life, yet like Meg, neither woman is very happy with her life or her relationship. Unbeknownst to Meg, Becky feels that Kevin only married her to fulfill a role that will help him achieve his goals. It isn't until much later that she discovers how his use of his relationship with her has a profound effect on the global market. And, in the long run it will seriously affect decisions that she has to make for her future.

Meg tires of having to struggle for what she wants. Her husband spends most of his time at work. She doesn't give the impression that she trusts him. Becky puts up a good front of appearing to enjoy her high class social status as the wife of a man of wealth, who also comes from good breeding. While she appears happy, deep down she really wants to be with someone who she feelstruly loves her. Meeting Alex, an older, unfaithful book store owner with a sports car and a wife, Becky begins to feel alive. But obviously the circumstances are not the best for her. As her husband's career takes him to other countries, Alex is just a distraction for her. This is also when Becky begins to see the repercussions of her husband's schemes.

In time, Meg also finds a relationship with a married man. He has wealth and enjoys spending it on her. When Dick's job takes him to California, she stays behind. Both she and Becky have lives, but they aren't really living. Even as Meg's finances improve, neither woman has the emotional security that she desperately desires. Meg realizes that Becky's loyalty is to herself first, and that she will take what she needs from others to get what she wants. Becky and Meg also discover that their pasts are more convoluted and intertwined then they could have ever possibly imagined. Their futures will be as well. Deception is a key theme throughout both of their lives based upon acts done to them, and acts that they do to others.

I found "Hurrah's Nest" to be a fascinating and compelling novel. I felt linked to the characters because the story appeared to be so realistic. The twists and turns that the author takes the plot along provide for many shocking revelations. As I read, I kept thinking, "It is true, money does not buy you happiness; but then neither does poverty." This story also made me realize that true loyalty is more important than anything. I highly recommend this novel!

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Fighting CPS: Guilty Until Proven Innocent of Child Protective Services Charges

2011-09-19T07:35:00.001-04:00

Deborah K. Frontiera

Bluebonnets, Boots and Books (2011)
ISBN 9780980006162
Reviewed by Joseph Yurt for Reader Views

The back cover notes of "Fighting CPS" by Deborah K. Frontiera state that the book "chronicles thirteen months of agony and frustration suffered by the innocent Bonilla and Frontiera families as a result of Children's Protective Services removal of young James Bonilla from his parents." But the significance of the story this book tells reverberates far beyond the Child Protective Services Division of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services on which the book focuses. This book is relevant for all fifty states with similar agencies charged with responsibility for investigating reports of abuse and neglect of children.

Few Americans take exception to the mission of child protective services and their primary goal of protecting children. But a mounting body of evidence, like that presented in "Fighting CPS," has made it clear that an alarming number of state agencies and family court systems are broken. This reality has resulted in a growing grassroots movement demanding change and reform in numerous states. Based on Frontiera's book, it's hard to imagine a state in greater disrepair than Texas!

On the other hand, once the reader uncoils from their own initial reaction of disbelief, made possible by the detailed documentation drawn from the author's own copious journal notes, no imagination is required to comprehend the ordeal of young James Bonilla, his parents Rufina and Julio and grandparents Deborah and Jasper Frontiera. I wonder, however, if those individuals from Texas CPS who were involved with this case understand, or even care, about the ramifications of their ineptitude. I was not, in the case of James Bonilla. Many reform advocates believe that the investigative component of the process would best be executed by trained law enforcement agencies. And, to make a difficult process even more daunting, the Bonilla case was handed off to thirteen different case workers over thirteen months. Nearly all of them failed to even find time to read the case file.

In "Fighting CPS," Deborah Frontiera shares her story in an honest, open and endearing manner. I felt her agony and frustrations and sometimes intense anger throughout the book. I was eager to keep reading so that I could celebrate the victory that I wished for this family to achieve. While Frontiera follows-up on her own story with ten other case studies in answerer to the question of whether or not her case was typical, it is her own story that undoubtedly will compel others to engage with this issue or become involved with a movement. At least that was the case for me. Before penning my final draft of this review, I began researching the current condition of CPS in my own county and state. I hope the author will tell James and his parents that the sharing of his story has already had an impact on someone who read the book.

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Padman: A Dad’s Guide to Buying...Those and Other Tales

2011-09-19T07:34:00.001-04:00

Mark Elswick

Modern History Press (2011)
ISBN 9781615991150
Reviewed by Joseph Yurt for Reader Views

As a young man just out of high school, author Mark Elswick experienced a devastating traumatic brain injury (TBI) in a car accident. Although doctors wrote him off, he beat the odds, and not only regained his life, he discovered a single act that is critical to the recovery process for both patients and caregivers. This is a giving back book for Elswick on more than one level. He is donating a percentage of the proceeds from the sale of each book to support TBI research. But, his kindest gift, given to all who will read "Padman: A Dad's Guide to Buying...Those and Other Tales" is the book's collection of humorous short stories. Elswick writes in his preface that he hopes to "...entertain you with humorous stories taken from my life, but also to sprinkle in some more serious stories about my traumatic brain injury incident and other survivor stories." His aim is true; he hits the mark!

While the book targets multiple audiences, the short stories will especially entertain the diverse reader population that can relate to a single parent, in this case the author, living the challenges of raising his daughter. Elswick also hopes his personal stories will provide much needed stress relief and an emotional pit stop for daily caregivers. There are many amusing books, blogs and articles out there chronicling the "Dad raises daughter" scenario. What creates point of difference for this book is Elswick himself and his stream of consciousness writing style. Elswick is quaintly macho - a source of humor in itself, and his story telling is based almost entirely on a streaming dialog in his mind, in which he encourages the reader to join. Among the stories included just for amusement and laughs, I laughed out loud at "Red Flags of Age, Frogger Shopping, Newborn to Dad: No Multi-Tasking and In Front of Me? ('Listen punk! If you ever kiss my daughter again, there will be consequences that you won't like.')"

The stories which explore various aspects of TBI are sprinkled in, as directed by Elswick. The design is seamless, a result of the author's clearly established persona, giving the reader a feeling that they are having a relaxed, informal conversation with the author. Among the best examples of these stories is "Little Brooke: A TBI Story ALL Parents Need to Read." In fact, Brooke's story will be compelling for anyone who reads it because it awakens the realization that on any given day, anyone could be affected by TBI. This is the story that is most likely to stimulate a greater interest learning more about the brain and the buzz around TBI. And it that regard, Elswick hits the bull's eye again.

I like Mark Elswick's book a lot. My own personal commitment to being of good humor every day is buoyed by these stories. And, I understand that we are not likely to care deeply about a problem like TBI unless we are familiar with it. Elswick's book compels me to care; to contemplate how I would cope if TBI affected me or someone I loved some day; how I can help those affected now? As Elswick notes, "Learning about traumatic brain injuries can, and does, have that big an influence on one's thinking."

So, as of this writing, I am officially announcing my own support for Mark Elswick, the writer who won his own battle with TBI and is now giving back of himself to those who are continuing or just beginning theirs. "Padman: A Dad's Guide to Buying...Those and Other Tales"offers an "edutaining" read on a subject that is anything but humorous. And it underscores the importance of embracing now the devastation of TBI among the general public, as well as in the face of our affected troops returning home. In the opening paragraph of this review, I mentioned that during his own experience, the author discovered a single act that is critical to the recovery process in general. As the patients and caregivers echo in their stories, that act is support. I highly recommend you begin giving yours by reading the book.

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What Do You Use to Help Your Body?

2011-09-12T08:48:00.001-04:00

Jewel Kats
Loving Healing Press (2011)
ISBN 9781615990832
Reviewed by Cayden Aures (age 6.5) for Reader Views Kids

In "What Do You Use to Help Your Body?" a girl whose name is Maggie and her mom go on a walk. Her mom made it so that they would see different people who use different things to help them. Sometimes people need help with things if they got hurt or something. Sometimes people are born that way too and need extra help.

Some of the different things that the girl Maggie learns about are hearing aids, wheelchairs, canes, and walkers. I have seen people with wheelchairs, and canes, and walkers before.

Some of the things in the book I didn't know about. I haven't ever seen anyone who had an artificial leg before. I also thought that the communication board was kind of neat. It is good that the lady had one so that she could talk to people. She talked by pointing to pictures and letters on the board so people knew what she wanted to say. If she didn't have one of those, I don't think anyone would know what she needed and that wouldn't be very good.

I liked learning about all of the different things that help people. It says in the book that they are called "assistive devices." I liked the pictures of the things in the book too. I thought the walker was a wheelchair though because the lady was sitting on it. But, it says that she sits on it when she needs to rest. "What Do You Use to Help Your Body?" is a good book; it helps kids learn about these things that some people need.

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Less Blah Blah More Ah Ha: How Social Savvy Real Estate Agents Become Trusted, Preferred, Referred -- and Rewarded

2011-09-12T08:46:00.001-04:00

Ken Brand
CreateSpace (2011)
ISBN 9780615462424
Reviewed by Irene Watson for Reader Views

With the downturn of the economy in the past few years real estate sales have been down and many of the agents have been at a standstill; many changing careers or supplementing their income with part-time work. Those that are on top of their market are still successful because they know the ins-and-outs of being a good agent. Ken Brand's book, "Less Blah Blah More Ah Ha" is geared for those that are struggling in the market because they haven't learned what it takes to be an agent or for those breaking into the industry. But, the book is also for those that aspire to learn new information and for those that have been in the business for a long time but are relentless in learning new techniques and strategies.

Written in a conversational style, Brand provides a book full of proven approaches and tactics that have helped him and his team succeed. Chapter Two is titled "Surprise! We're not in the Real Estate Business." If nothing else, that should grab your attention. According to Brand, "Selling a house is the end result of a transaction, but client delight and our long-term success happen only when we focus on the total client experience...;the total client experience...is shaped by the quality of our communication, presentation, sharing, problem solving, and service." He continues to tell the reader that the total client experience is "a reflection of our values: what we believe in, what we stand for, and where we choose to draw the line between common and uncommon." At the end of the chapter Brand encourages the reader to jot down the answer to "What business are you really in?" as a personal mini Values Statement. By the time you get to the end of chapter two, or in fact, any other chapter, I can guarantee you will want to proceed to the next because there is always a hook and bait to keep you engaged.

I am a former licensed agent and also have purchased and sold properties through other agents. From my experience there are just agents, and then there those that are truly good agents; those that put the seller or buyer in the forefront and give total attention to their needs and wants. They are the ones that listen to the client and actually hear what is being said, and they are the ones that establish credibility in the beginning through their words and actions. Brand gives the step-by-step formula to be what it takes to be a truly good agent. (He also gives tips on how to adopt abandoned buyers - something many agents inherit.)

Although "Less Blah Blah More Ah Ha" is geared toward real estate agents, I can assure you anyone that is selling any item will find the strategies would work for him or her. The bottom line ends up being awareness, on-purpose direction, and attentiveness; those three will provide the person with communication skills that are beyond the run-of-mill seller. Brand teaches the skills with humor and directness.

Brand's writing style is captivating as he draws the reader to the next page or next topic. Like a well-written novel, the cliff hangers at the end of each chapter don't allow you to put the book down. "Less Blah Blah More Ah Ha" by Ken Brand is a must-have for all real estate agents, especially those starting out in the highly competitive industry, as a resource/workbook. But, the techniques only work if worked.

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Why China Will Never Rule the World: Travels in the Two Chinas

2011-09-05T10:02:00.001-04:00

Troy Parfitt
Western Hemisphere Press (2011)
ISBN 9780986803505
Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views

Troy Parfitt introduces an analysis of China's culture, history, government, and citizens exploring them within a cultural context in a time relationship exploring the past, the present, and the future in his book "Why China Will Never Rule the World: Travels in Two Chinas."

I enjoyed Troy's descriptions of the often lush, sometime arid, flora and fauna of China's ever-changing landscape. Whether traveling by train, bus, or following a "scenic walking tour" (suggested in one of his tour books), his descriptions paint picturesque, colorful, and detailed word pictures. In contrast, at times I was disturbed by the exposure to the blind acceptance of the Chinese citizenry to the dismal drab reality of existing circumstances as their destiny.

My perceptions of China's culture and history have been formed through early exposure to missionary biographies, high school curriculum, anti-Communist propaganda, and a number of home visits by Chinese students in our home.

It should come as no surprise to the reader that Troy's own bias, personal philosophy and sometimes cynical outlook come through loud and clear in his writing. His conclusion that China's modernization is largely superficial will meet with criticism and controversy by many. His investigative observations, however, bring out in the open the lack of progress in areas of human rights, educational reform, or freedom of expression in the political arena. I want to think that I will be more objective in my personal understanding and analysis of future news reports regarding China. As an aside, I found it interesting to consider the impact of foreign aggression and of the Opium Wars on China's anti-foreign sentiment.

Although intimidating at first (over 400 pages), I found Troy's writing compelling as well as enlightening. I enjoyed his subtle humor and his entertaining and informative writing style. It is rare to find an author who combines such insight into current affairs and travel. I found the book to be an important learning experience. Troy's impressions, observations, and intimate anecdotes, are engaging, well formulated, and superbly articulated.

The background information, historical anecdotes, travel narrative, and geographical descriptions added immensely to my enjoyment of "Why China Will Never Rule the World."

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Hell Hounds of High School

2011-09-05T10:01:00.001-04:00

Patricia Marie Budd

iUniverse (2011)
ISBN 9781450242660
Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views

High School English teacher and writer Patricia Marie Budd collaborates with illustrator Tara Nakano to create this unique book "Hell Hounds of High School." The story provides glimpses behind the doors and typical scenes which occur in the English classroom, the principal's office, the counselor's desk, and the teacher's lounge at a fictional parochial school.

Her protagonist Mrs. Pricilla Bird began her teaching career with the ideal that "there is something good in every student." As the reality of disruptive students, out-of-control classrooms, and non-supportive school administrators and parents is seen, Mrs. Bird struggles to maintain this belief. However, she unexpectedly becomes a student advocate, as she attempts to defend her students' actions with the other teachers.

"Hell Hounds of High School" demonstrates the extremes found in individual personalities, the bravado, the insecurity, the determination. Bird discovers the magnitude of the impact environment; family life, drugs, and abuse have in molding the personalities of her students.

Although the book is fiction, many of the episodes and characters represent a composite of Budd's experiences of nearly twenty years of teaching. Students Greg, Mary, Frank, and Damien make up this cast of characters as well as Mrs. Bird's peers, Miss Payne and Mr. Wood.

These students and teachers become caricatures and reveal Mrs. Bird's cynical viewpoint of the educational system. Each chapter contains animated pen and ink drawings which add additional humor and another dimension to the narrative.

I enjoyed the segment where Mrs. Bird exchanges a hilarious series of e-mails to express her woes to a friend, Livy. Livy's responses soothe Bird's panic and provide her with needed encouragement and confidence.

Budd uses a writing style that combines comedic satire, a character driven plot with "cheeky" fast moving dialog, (letters and dashes allow the reader to use their imagination to fill in the blanks). Her humor is clever and colorful, sometimes demeaning, often exaggerated, not always politically correct, but admittedly funny. Budd's earlier writing includes script writing and a historical novel. Although "Hell Hounds of High School" is a diversion from these works, elements from both genres are incorporated in this project.

Budd continues to maintain that working with students is an energizing experience. "Hell Hounds of High School" will add school administrators, teachers, and educators to her growing base of fans.

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Stealing Angel

2011-08-29T12:19:00.001-04:00

Terry Wolverton

Spinsters Ink (2011)
ISBN 9781935226451
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views

After Maggie Seaver's lover Yoli leaves her, she continues to be a mother figure to Angel, a child that was conceived while Yoli was cheating on Maggie. Knowing that Angel is a blessing in her life, Maggie loves her as if she had given birth to her. Angel, now seven, calls Maggie "Maggiemama."

As Yoli pursues a career in music, she also hooks up with a lot of unsavory characters whom she hopes can help to further her career. This does not sit well with Maggie because she worries about these people hurting Angel. After Yoli removes Angel from Maggie's care, at the directive of her latest boyfriend, Maggie gets a call from Angel's teacher. Rather than contact authorities and have Angel become a potential victim of the system, the teacher calls Maggie to let her know that Angel is being hurt. When Maggie arrives at Angel's school and sees her bruises, she rashly decides to take off with her.

She hopes to get Angel out of the United States and down to The Light Beings, a religious commune in Baja California, without being caught. As they venture down into Mexico, Maggie does everything she can to protect both of them. Relying on others from her religious group Maggie gets some help along the way. Venturing down into Baja California, below where the American tourists usually go, Maggie is seeking Guru Tam, whom she hopes can help guide her to make the right choices for Angel.

When Maggie arrives in the place where she believes that the commune is located nearby, she discovers that American way of life has been extended down to this part of Mexico and that with satellite television people will know that she is being sought, and might be willing to turn her in for the reward. When Maggie finds her way to the Light Beings, she learns that Guru Tam is very ill, and she also sees that the people living there are not as friendly as the ones that she left behind in Los Angeles. Having to rely purely on her faith as the situation escalates, Maggie discovers more of the truth about these people and how much they can really help her. She also learns who her true friends really are.

"Stealing Angel" tells an incredible story of a woman who learns to seek the answers from the truth that she holds within herself first, before she seeks it from others. Maggie's inner dialogue contains a great deal of wisdom from which all readers will benefit and find a great deal of material for journaling. I loved reading this story because it tells the tale of a woman on a journey that will teach her to trust the voices within herself and to discover her sacred gifts. This is definitely a "must read" book.

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The Human Hologram: Living Your Life in Harmony with the Unified Field

2011-08-29T12:17:00.000-04:00

Dr. Robin Kelly
Energy Psychology Press (2011)
ISBN 9781604150629
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views

I found it incredibly refreshing to read "The Human Hologram." By demonstrating how modern science and ancient wisdom are connected, Dr. Robin Kelly presents a convincing argument to explain his theory that we are living in a holographic universe. To support his theory, he provides us with Ten Guiding Principles of the Human Hologram. The Fourth Principle, "Modern scientific and mathematical theory lends support to the theory that our universe is holographic. It follows that we, as part of the universe, must also be holographic. Modern Science acknowledges that pure information is fundamental to our universe." What this means to us, as both humans and holograms, is that we are actually able to play an active role in co-creating our future. In doing so, by combining our knowledge of modern science and the ideals of ancient wisdom, we can connect to a unifying field of consciousness that will enable us to transform our health and our environment.

In explaining how he arrived at this idea, Dr. Kelly heavily expounds upon scientific processes. Having personally read many books that put a lot of emphasis on metaphysical ideas while throwing some scientific jargon in, I was pleased to see that Dr. Kelly utilizes his obviously extensive knowledge of natural physical laws and constants to show how "The Human Hologram" can be a reality.

While "The Human Hologram" presents a lot of complex ideas, Dr. Kelly presents it in a way that I was able to follow, even though my last science class was fifteen years ago! I felt that this book was beautifully written and I loved how the author showed that both eastern and western medicine can be connected. Utilizing a great deal of explanations, diagrams, case studies, compassion and a touch of humor, I totally enjoyed reading this book, and was excited to see that scientists are heading us in a direction where as individuals we will be encouraged to play a more active role in taking responsibility for our health and transforming our lives.

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Boiled Peanuts: A Peeping Tom Goes Nuts Over A Blind Girl

2011-08-22T10:48:00.001-04:00

John Patrick Doyle
Copperhill Media (2011)
ISBN 9780983280064
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views

Paul Kirk doesn't have much of a life. As a youth, he lost his mother to MS and his father, was and still is an alcoholic. The few times in his life where he did try to participate in normal social interactions, he usually felt like a fool and had to blunder his way through. It didn't help that his peers were not very kind to him.

Never feeling comfortable with socially interacting with others, even from a young age, Paul found it easier to be a Peeping Tom. He wasn't your typical perverted peeper. He just found it easier to watch other people engaging in their lives while just imaging that he had a role in their families.

As an adult, Paul is a librarian. This allows him to continue to live quietly, yet still be involved with knowing the town people. He is able to track them through his resources as a librarian. While they might not know who he is, he knows who they are. When Paul accidentally is identified as doing a heroic deed, he is forced into becoming more sociable. He does his best to participate in these interactions. Then one day, while at church, he meets the beautiful Bronwyn, who recently inherited a home from her deceased Aunt Phyllis. Paul falls for Bronwyn.

Bronwyn finds Paul endearing, but he doesn't realize this at first, so he goes back to his Peeping Tom ways and imagines himself a part of her life. When Paul stumbles into a situation where he has to warn a local woman that she is being conned, he ticks off the conman. Not knowing where to find Paul, he goes after Bronwyn. This forces Paul to step out from behind his wall and become more involved. When Bronwyn lets Paul in on some family secrets regarding her Aunt Phyllis, he is excited to be involved in helping to solve her mystery.

I absolutely loved reading "Boiled Peanuts!" I found myself relating to Paul's angst so many times in the story. While my own situations were never as extreme, I did feel a connection with him. The story is also full of quirky, eccentric characters who add so much humor to the drama. I also enjoyed the complexity of the mystery behind Aunt Phyllis. "Boiled Peanuts" is definitely not a typical fiction book, and when you find out how the name ties into the story, you will laugh out loud like I did!

Pacha's Pajamas: A Story Written by Nature

2011-08-22T10:47:00.001-04:00

Aaron Ableman
BALANCE Edutainment (2011)
ASIN: B0058UUOYO
Reviewed by Madeline McElroy (age 10) and Sophia McElroy (age 8) for Reader Views

Madeline: A young girl named Pacha loves to go visit her dad at work at the zoo. She loves to help him feed, and wash the animals. She spends all day there and loves animals. When she comes home, her mom has a surprise for her. She gives her homemade pajamas with animals on them! There is a hummingbird, a whale, a mushroom, a tree, and a jaguar. She puts them on and hops into bed. While sleeping, she has a dream with all of the animals from her pajamas in it. Another surprise, in her dream, the animals could talk!

A hummingbird was flying around, then a whale came out of the water, a mushroom hopped along, a jaguar stalking, and a tree standing before them all. They were all discussing how bad the earth is getting and how humans ruining their habitats. The whale said, "Every time I turn around, there is a piece of plastic!" The hummingbird said, "There isn't enough flowers for me to drink nectar." The jaguar said, "They are cutting down my lands to make shopping malls!" The mushroom said, " The dirt is too dry! I won't be able to grow!" And the tree sighed and said, "They are cutting down my friends and family, we keep the earth breathing." They all sat there for a while and then they thought of an idea. They wanted to bring all different types of animals and nature to a big gathering in a arena and discuss how to make it better.

The end will make you want to help the earth too! This book is good for young and grown-up kids and adults too. It teaches you how to make the earth better, and when you make the earth better, everyone feels better too.

Sophia: This is a story about a girl named Pacha. She visits the zoo very often and helps her dad with the animals. Then one day Pacha's mom gave her some homemade pajamas with animals on them. Then she went into bed and drifted off to sleep. She had a dream about the animals on her pajamas, a humming bird, a beautiful whale, a spotted jaguar, a mushroom, and a talking tree. Pacha in her dream was disguised as a gorilla. And you know what else? The animals and mushroom and tree could talk! You don't see that in jungles, oceans, and gardens! And the animals decided to do a concert and there were singing people like a beaver named Just in Time. But when Pacha (the gorilla in disguise) was doing an act and her mask fell off when she was bowing, everyone gasped and said, "It's a human!"

Pacha's Pajama's Single

Madeline: It has a very good beat and I like the raps. I like the tambourine playing in the background and the other instruments. It is a good song and it's fun to listen to if you feel like dancing or just want some loud relaxing music. I like how it is like, pop, hip- hop, and just calm too. It would be good to dance with and it would be fun to listen to at like a party or a get together. It is a good song and it really relates to the book.

Sophia: I really liked this song, it was funny!

Listen to Live interview on Inside Scoop Live

Read interview with Aaron Ableman

your new look

2011-08-15T11:49:00.001-04:00

I like it!!!

Kingdom in the Balance

2011-08-15T10:34:00.001-04:00

Debra Killeen

Helm Publishing (2011)
ISBN 9780983010937
Reviewed by Ben Weldon (age 14) for Reader Views Kids

"Kingdom in the Balance" by Debra Killeen is the story of several kingdoms that are plunged into chaos by the demise of their rulers. Several kingdoms threaten war, and others attempt and fail to withdraw from the oncoming events. Connected by marriage, royals are unwillingly thrust into battles they would otherwise avoid. Everything depends on the outcome of these individual battles between royals. They are truly kingdoms in the balance.

When the King of Esterlyn was found dead, killed by disease, chaos ensued. Also on this dark day the two-year-old King of Wyckendom was found murdered in his bed. And then, to make matters worse, the Prince of Esterlyn, due to be crowned, was abducted by a vicious band of vagabonds interested only in helping a more distant evil prince ascend to the throne. Four friends from a nearby duchy set out to find the missing heir. But with many obstacles in their path, will they find the missing prince before he is killed?

For all the fighting that went on in this book, there was little blood. It was almost all verbal sparring and threats. The verbal sparring made it rather complex as you would have to mentally connect the previous threats to get the full message.

The book made for an interesting read as I was able to learn a little about how the medieval feudal system worked with respect to inheriting the throne. The book was somewhat confusing and had about four different plot lines all going at once. These plot lines include things like an unknown heir unexpectedly showing up and royalty unwilling to renounce their king. Several characters had dalliances which some parents might find inappropriate for young readers.

I would recommend "Kingdom in the Balance" to people who like books centered on a very politically-based storyline. This was the fifth book in a series and I highly recommend that you read the preceding books first. I had not read the previous books and had a hard time understanding several things that required knowing information from the other books. This was a rather slow book, but became much more interesting towards the end and I began to enjoy it very much.

Target Sitting

2011-08-15T10:32:00.001-04:00

Cathy Travis
Kindle Digital Publishing (2011)
ASIN: B00599S9GY
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views

The last seven years of Cathy Travis's twenty-five years of service working on Capitol Hill were incredibly stressful due to being a "target sitter" for terrorists. Prior to the 911 attacks security on the "Campus" was always a concern because the Capital Building would be a prime choice for terrorists to attack to gain maximum worldwide exposure. Concerns about how these attacks could occur were thought of and discussed however; it wasn't until 911 that reality struck so close to home. Literally.

Knowing that one of the three planes involved in 911 had been headed for the place where Cathy worked hit her very hard. While appreciating that the heroes on the plane saved her life by diverting it, she still had to deal with the fact that she was inside the intended target. Additional crises worldwide and within our nation after this time, further increased her stress levels. At the recommendation of a counselor from Human Resources, Cathy put the power of her pen to use in two ways. The first way was to seek release by writing out her feelings about the events that were occurring following this tragedy. The second way was to share her story with the world.

By reading "Target Sitting" the reader's eyes are opened to the daily stresses of working in a building that is constantly under threat of attack. By hitting both a national symbol and our leaders, the United States would definitely be brought down a couple of notches. Learning about how the system is set up to make sure that our government has a back-up plan for leadership is reassuring. However, I also found it disconcerting to learn about glitches within the actual security of the building. Like the author, I hope that these issues have been corrected. She had a first-hand experience of seeing how bad communication was when she reported seeing a man who resembled a known terrorist within the area of the capital. Her concerns were not immediately followed up upon and dismissed. This is not reassuring at all.

Having to endure the memories of evacuating during 911, the anthrax attacks, false alarms at the capital (namely by planes who fly into the No Fly Zone) and other attacks that occurred worldwide takes a toll on one's health and soul. By sharing her story, I am hoping that the author will receive some healing from knowing that she is helping others to wake up to the reality of what is happening both within and outside of our country. It is scary.

Written in a casual journal-like style, I truly felt like I was reading the private journal of a friend. The only thing missing was the handwriting. As I read through Cathy's experiences, I relived many of my own thoughts and feelings about what was happening at the time. She also opened my eyes to some things that I did not realize had happened. I suspect part of this was due to her proximity to national leadership. I also think that part of this was due to my mentally blocking what was happening at the time. Having family members personally involved with 911 and some in the military at the time, I don't think I let myself fully let everything sink in. Sitting and looking back, Cathy gave me what I needed to fill in a lot of blanks. This book is highly recommended for all Americans. It will definitely make you think.

Listen to Interview with Cathy on Inside Scoop Live

Read interview with Cathy Travis

Stolen Secrets: A Dr. Cory Cohen Mystery

2011-08-08T10:30:00.001-04:00

Sandra Levy Ceren
Modern History Press (2011)
ISBN 9781615990689
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views

Dr. Cory Cohen, a therapist, was worried. One of her patients, Morgan, a successful attorney running for the District Attorney, was missing. Shortly before her disappearance Morgan confronted her following a strange, threatening late night phone call in which the caller divulged Morgan's best kept, dirty secret. To the best of Morgan's knowledge, Dr. Cohen was the only other person aware of her fantasies. Cory, extremely surprised about this, tried to find out how Morgan's secret could have leaked from her office, just to discover weird and sinister events happening to her as well. Realizing that all of this is too much for her, Cory decided to hire a private investigator to help her discover the truth, and somewhere along that path she started getting quite interested in him as a man as well. Will they find Morgan? Which of Cory's patients is behind those disturbing incidents? Will they discover the villain on time?

"Stolen Secrets" is a tense, quick paced and engrossing mystery. Its cast of characters is diverse and engaging, and the range of strong females will make this a particularly attractive narrative for those readers who enjoy books with prominent female protagonists. The dialogue flows, the premise of the story is engaging and the psychological insights into the various behaviors of Cory's patients add some interesting side stories to the mix. A well placed red herring – or two – will keep you guessing for a good while, and while the solution to the mystery might not be mind-blowingly unusual, it certainly kept me entertained. Strangely enough, I probably enjoyed the side stories even more that the main mystery, which just shows how the author's professional background – a clinical psychologist for over forty years – truly enabled her to entertain the reader with her insights into the darkest recesses of human souls.

I would recommend "Stolen Secrets" to any reader who enjoys a well written contemporary mystery with intriguing psychological undercurrents and a feisty, intelligent heroine.

Listen to interview with Dr. Ceren

Nine Insights For A Happy And Successful Life

2011-08-08T10:28:00.001-04:00

Mitchell Earl Gibson, MD
Tybro Publications (2011)
ISBN 9781463538088
Reviewed by Joseph Yurt for Reader Views

Psychiatrist, Dr. Mitchell Earl Gibson, has spent years listening and helping thousands of people successfully navigate the obstacles in their lives. His personal journals documenting what he learned from his clients throughout their shared journeys, were the basis for his newest book, "Nine Insights For A Happy And Successful Life." The book explores the author's simple, straightforward Insights with an easy manner that uses numerous thought provoking stories to engage and stimulate the reader.

"Nine Insights" has been conceived by the author as guide and reference book for anyone who is ready to "decide that is something that you want, above everything else." "Happiness is an art." Dr. Gibson proclaims. Readers should be aware, however, that the insights and methods of practicing the author's art of happiness are neither new nor innovative. Concepts such as contributing to your own happiness by contributing to the happiness of others, searching for, finding and following your inner most thoughts and dreams, and the importance of evolving and adapting to the world around you are accepted universal truths with regard to the pursuit of happiness and success. But, in concert with the many supporting stories and anecdotes, especially those based on the author's personal clinical experiences, the book's content is inspiration rich.

For me, the most inspiring and timely of the book's nine insights is titled "Early Failure Often Leads to Success," an insight that explores the power of failure. I found the story of "chaos, despair and disappointment" that was occurring in the life of "Harry Potter" creator JK Rowling, while she was struggling to find a publisher, to be particularly motivational. In telling this story Dr. Gibson notes: "When we are young, life seems to have no boundaries. Dreams are plentiful, and at times, anything seems possible. For many people, however, emotional setbacks, failures, or loss of a loved one signal the end of the period of dreaming. The focus then becomes survival and the avoidance of failure. This is not the way of happiness."

Over the years, I have read numerous books concerning the achievement of "true" happiness and success. These are universally desired, yet strongly subjective needs. But, in "Nine Insights," Dr. Mitchell Gibson has managed to create an objective and effective guide to aid individuals at any point on the proverbial "scale from one to ten," significantly improve the degree of happiness and success in their life. This book definitely stands out from others of its kind.

Listen to live interview with Dr. Gibson

My Sister Makes Me Laugh

2011-08-01T13:07:00.001-04:00

Amy Toms and Sara Toms
RLT Industries, Inc. (2010)
ISBN 978-0977649723
Reviewed by Zoey Crane (age 7) for Reader Views Kids

This is such a cute book written by two sisters. One wrote the story and the other illustrated the book. When you share a bedroom with a sister and you aren't sleepy - how much fun can you have? Cute illustrations by older sister Sara adds to the reality that we as kids have fun with family members and shows sister love.

Zoey: I loved this book, it was so much fun to read and especially that two kids wrote the book. When we have to go to bed at night we aren't always sleepy and we try to figure out how to have fun till we are sleepy. My best friend Dalianna and I spend the night together a lot. She is so funny and just like a sister to me. We get upstairs and watch TV and read, and then we move the mattress on the bed to make a slide. I don't think my Nana knows this, but she does now. She tells us to be quiet and go to sleep but we can't so we play instead. I love my best friend Dally and we have so much fun when adults aren't watching us. I like the pictures in this book because it was kids' drawings. The kids had their dad help them a little but it was their idea. Now I want to write a book too. If you don't have a sister like Sara and Amy you could use your best friend.

Nana: Zoey really loved the fact that this book was written by kids. She loved the pictures and how the book read. She doesn't have a sister but a best friend who is just like a sister. I admire kids that come up with ideas for a book and they should get help publishing them. Kids have great ideas, and, oh did I say Zoey wanted a bowl of water on her last stay over with Dally?

A Murderer’s Mind

2011-08-01T13:05:00.001-04:00

Patricia Turner
CreateSpace (2011)
ISBN 9781456428105
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views

When Rusty Linden is handed the opportunity to take on a journalist assignment that will have her living with a recently paroled murderer, she feels both excitement at having this opportunity, and trepidation because her safety could be at risk. Being the kind of reporter that she is, she chooses to take the assignment and the risks that go with it.

The parolee is Antonia Brandon. Paroled after thirty-nine years, she had been in prison for being part of a cult that was responsible for committing heinous multiple murders. Her cult leader was trying to model himself after Charles Manson. Because of her active role in the murders, she is still despised even almost forty years later.

Rusty has mixed feelings about meeting Antonia, especially after she interviews one of the victims who survived. Without a doubt, she knows that Antonia is guilty; however, it is also thirty-nine years later. Being locked up for that length of time does not necessarily make one a better person, instead it might make her even less humane and more dangerous.

When Rusty and Antonia meet, they both have to overcome reservations that they have about each other. As far as Antonia knows, Rusty might be looking to write a story that will completely discredit any progress that she has made in her rehabilitation efforts. Knowing that she is despised also forces her to try to maintain a low profile.

When innocent people who were involved with either the victims or the trial start dying, the public looks to placing the guilt on Antonia. Because Antonia doesn't have perfect alibis, either she is guilty once again, or someone really knows her whereabouts. This situation really forces Rusty to tread carefully; however, in fairness to Antonia, she is honest about her concerns. Working hard to find out the truth, Rusty also puts herself in danger. In the end, the shocking truth is discovered.

"A Murderer's Mind" is so well written and thought out that it would be easy to believe that it was based upon a true story. As the author Patricia Turner takes us into Rusty's mind, we get to see what is happening through her eyes, and share her feelings of both hope and fear. I appreciated that Rusty was very honest with herself about looking at both sides of the situation. Having interviewed a victim and a former cult member who still seemed hooked on the cult leader definitely gives Rusty cause for concern. But also having the chance to get to know the murderer and see how she reacts to things that are happening in the real world, Rusty is able to form her own opinions and pray that she is correct.

I really enjoyed this story and think that fans of true crime and mysteries will also enjoy "A Murderer's Mind."

Sherman’s Chaplain

2011-07-25T07:33:00.001-04:00

David Bellin
Epigraph Publishing (2011)
ISBN 9781936940028
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views

I started on the "Sherman's Chaplain" on a bright and very warm sunny afternoon, and for a moment I hesitated over my selection. Was I really going to read about something as depressing as the war on such a sparklingly beautiful day? A quick look at the cover made me hesitate even more… a huge cross, cavalry dashing in action, destruction... An undoubtedly beautifully executed cover, but… war and religion might just not be the best choice on a day like that. So I made a bargain with myself, one that I thought would be very easy to keep. I'll read the first chapter, and after that I will pick up something lighter for the rest of the day. Such a bargain should be very easy to keep, right?

When I looked up next, it was time to turn the lights on, and the book was finished. True, at 122 pages it was not a long one, but very seldom do I find myself so immersed in a book that I do not stop even for a cup of coffee. "Sherman's Chaplain," against my expectations, was one of the rare exceptions. It is difficult to put in words what was so completely magical about it, particularly in view of the aforementioned fact that I do not find war especially fascinating, at least not in a good way. But this was a gem of a book – compact, hard, but utterly beautiful, sparkly and "cut" with great precision. The tale of a young chaplain, freshly graduated from a seminary, who is quickly promoted from the post of a regimental chaplain to the post of a senior chaplain at the headquarters of General William Tecumseh Sherman, had so many elements of a great story! Where do I begin?

I absolutely loved the format of the book, written as a series of personal letters of the young chaplain, Ellis Brantley, to his "dearest Elaine." The tone of those letters was so genuine and so believable that it was extremely hard to accept the fact that this book, although based on the true history of Sherman's march from Atlanta to Savannah, was pure fiction. The letters described the daily events as well as the chaplain's musings and inner struggles in great detail, managing to bring to life the enormity of the task that Sherman's army was facing, the great disparity between the North and the South, the inhumanity (as well as great humanity!) of some of the people involved in the war, the daily struggle of staying true to oneself and true to one's religious beliefs and so much more. They were passages so lyrical that one nearly forgot one was reading about the war, and others so brutal that it was hard to keep reading. There were heroes and villains, but most importantly, there were extremely complex human beings. There was plenty of vivid dialogue, and possibly even more of quiet, contemplative passages. And time and again, there was this all-encompassing and overriding theme of humanity, in all its glory and with a plentiful dose of guts, spilled and otherwise.

You can read "Sherman's Chaplain" for its great story, for the beautiful language, as a religious rumination or as an exercise in history. Whatever you are looking to find in it, is most probably there.

The Sixth Coming

2011-07-25T07:13:00.001-04:00

Richard Donahue
AuthorHouse (2010)
ISBN 9781452047966

Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views

"The Sixth Coming" takes us to another time and place where magic exists and science has not been created yet. Vibrantly written, we follow along on the journey of a young woman of royalty who goes through the process of discovering her gifts as a Shield Maiden. This was not an easy journey for her because it involved having to suffer through the loss of her loved ones as she has battles to triumph over a powerful and evil king.

The Shield Maiden's story begins with the reader being introduced to her loved ones. Each character is well developed and had distinctive characteristics. When bad things happen to them, we also feel her loss. We also learn more about how she came to be, and how important loyalty is to her survival. The places that this story takes us to are either incredibly beautiful, or eerily foreboding. The creatures in it are also very uniquely described and incredibly different from the mundane realm that we currently inhabit.

As I read this story, I felt like I was envisioning a movie rather than reading words typed onto a formerly blank page. "The Sixth Coming" is the first book in a trilogy. I think it will be interesting to follow along and see what the author has planned next for this incredible place and people.

Read interiew with author

Eliza’s Forever Trees

2011-07-18T16:31:00.001-04:00

Reviewed by Sydney Clark (age 13) for Reader Views Kids

"Eliza's Forever Trees," by Stephanie Lisa Tara, is the story of Eliza, a 10-year-old girl who has a "wrong-beating heart" that keeps her from running and jumping like other children. Her mother reads Eliza stories every day, and takes her on walks in the redwood forest. But one day, Eliza's mother disappears and Eliza has to live at her strange grandfather's house. Her grandfather owns a million books and is always thinking of some way of using them, including burning them for firewood.

Where did Eliza's mother go? Why did she leave Eliza? Will she come back?

One day, a butterfly lands on the windowsill and talks to Eliza in the simple universal language that every creature can understand and speak. He and Eliza become friends while he waits for the other butterflies to fly down from the north, with Eliza reading to him from her books. One afternoon while they're reading together, Eliza's heart starts its "wrong beat," reducing her to a helpless heap and the butterfly resolves to help her find her mother. The next day they venture into the redwood forest, following the path they hope will lead to Mother Redwood, the first redwood ever, who will be able to tell them what happened to Eliza's mother.

As Eliza journeys on, she meets more friends, including a wise owl and a French squirrel that makes tiny sculptures. She stops feeling the wrong-beats in her heart. She learns the ways of the forest, the way every creature is part of a big family and how they all work together to help the forest thrive. But along the way she meets creatures that may -- or may not -- contribute to the forest family. Will they help the other creatures of the forest when the need arises? Or will they ignore them as they always have? Will Eliza ever find Great Mother Redwood and her own mother?

"Eliza's Forever Trees" is a sweet story filled with friendship, talking animals, the importance of families, stories, and the bonds between mothers and their children. I would suggest this book to anyone who would like to read a heart-warming tale about a small girl who defeated all the odds to find her mother and, along the way, made life-long friends.

A Farm in the South Pacific Sea

2011-07-18T16:29:00.001-04:00

Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views

In 1967, American June Sandusky decided to uproot herself from the states and go to the Kingdom of Tonga to start a spiny lobster farm. At forty-years of age, she had been divorced three times, and lost the love of her life in WWII. Looking to enrich her life, by making a difference for others, June sold off her possessions and relocated to an island in the South Pacific Sea.

When she arrived, the natives were displeased to see that she was a woman. While women's rights in the United States were limited at this time, in the Kingdom of Tonga, they were virtually non-existent. June had to overcome the opposition she received from the males and prove herself. In accomplishing this task, she also set a great example for the women of this place.

While June worked hard to overcome barriers placed in her way, she also met a very special man who unfortunately was settled in an arranged marriage. Her relationship with him played a huge role in her life during her time on the islands. In addition to falling for this man, June also found herself developing close relationships with many of the natives. Unfortunately, she encountered a few people who tried to ensure that she not only would fail, but she would also be demeaned in the process. This opposition seemed to make June even more determined to succeed.

When I started reading "A Farm in the South Pacific Sea," I found myself totally wrapped up in June's story. The author Jan Walker made me feel like I was walking on the beach alongside June. She also did an outstanding job of taking us into her heart and soul so that we could understand and relate to everything that was happening to her in the story. When I reached the end of the book and discovered that it was based upon the life of her cousin, I was both surprised and grateful that she had the chance to share her cousin's amazing adventure with us.

"A Farm in the South Pacific Sea" will make a very strong impression on those who read it. The feelings and thoughts that I experienced, while reading about the incredible journey that a real woman took, stayed with me for a long time after I finished reading the book. I highly recommend reading this amazing story.

Read interview with author

A Dad’s Point-of-View: We ARE Half the Equation

2011-07-11T09:17:00.001-04:00

Bruce Sallan
JuneDavid Publishing (2011)
ISBN 9780983316602
Reviewed by Joseph Yurt for Reader Views

Bruce Sallan is a popular commentator on parenting issues from a dad's point-of view, although most of what he has to say is appropriate for either gender. In his new book, "A Dad's Point-of-View: We ARE Half the Equation," S allan weaves some of his best columns, written under the same title, into a book that is a witty and wise commentary on the current state of the American family. It will surely connect with the vast majority of parents, grandparents, and aunts and uncles to whom it speaks. Perhaps he is so wired into his audience because they perceive him as a layman expert to parenting issues who "writes about topics such as marriage, faith and giving, men and women, teenagers, and anything else that comes to my mind. I am not a therapist and have only on-the-job immersion training."

Sallan's parenting immersion didn't begin until age 40 with the birth of his first son by his first wife. A second son followed three years later. When the boys were only six and nine, he divorced, became a single stay-at-home parent raising two sons, and the sole caregiver for his aging parents. "I still look back at those days with bemusement. I was frequently asked the same questions by both moms and dads…" 'What do you do all day?' 'When are you going back to work?'" No one seemed to understand that I was doing 'work.'" Sallan added his current wife to the mix a few years later and at the time of the books' writing, the boys had become fourteen and seventeen-year-olds.

Like his articles, columns and radio shows, the book journeys throughout today's marriage, parenting and personal growth landscapes. The selected columns are clustered under clearly titled thematic chapters like: Teenagers, Family Life and School, Holidays, and Friends. While chapters are neatly connected, each is also an effective stand-alone piece. And three chapters – Big Ideas, More Big Ideas, and Ten Things to Learn From This Book – could easily serve as a quick reference guide for young couples contemplating parenthood. The author has done an excellent job of documenting his own parenting experiences, which seemingly, based upon his popularity, mirror those of many other parents. It is important to note, however, that Sallan's experiences have fortunately not included some of the more serious addiction, teen sex and extreme bullying issues confronting some parents today. These less fortunate parents will need to look elsewhere for support.

"A Dad's Point-of-View" is a quick, easy read about some of the typical, sometimes serious problems facing today's often overwhelmed and ill-prepared parents and their children. "We ARE Half the Equation," a reference to a father's and mother's differing perspectives, is the book's subtitle. But Sallan makes it clear that kids are an important part of the equation too. This is a book the entire family should share.

An American in Vienna

2011-07-11T09:16:00.001-04:00

Chip Wagar
iUniverse (2011)
ISBN 9781450267687

Reviewed by Vicki Landes for ReaderViews

What would you do if you suddenly found out that your ancestors were of European nobility yet left their life of wealth and privilege to live as commoners in America? And, that despite all attempts to find answers you came up with only more questions? Could you live with not knowing or would the call of secrets from a faraway land be too difficult to resist?

"An American in Vienna" begins by introducing protagonist Andy Bishop, a young man from Ohio with mysterious roots in Austria. Although fresh out of college, he's ready to jump into a new research project – answer the question of why his aristocrat ancestors left their homeland. The investigation starts innocently enough but quickly takes a backseat when Austria is thrust into the First World War. Instead, he begins to put his journalistic training to work as he begins writing on the war and local attitudes under the byline 'An American in Vienna.' With his Viennese family assisting his efforts and a beautiful Austrian countess distracting him from other matters, Andy's trip has turned into a life-changing explosion of events. Will he escape the turmoil unharmed? Can he keep his family and new friends safe? Will he ever discover why his family left their life of privilege for America?

Author Chip Wagar includes quite a bit of historical information as he weaves his plot in and out of the real world events; he's exceptionally thorough. I also loved his vivid descriptions of the places he sets his story – both the true-to-life details as well as the fictional additions. As a 'seven year resident' of Europe I've visited most of the places Wagar describes, to include Vienna and the spot in Sarajevo where Franz Ferdinand was killed, and found the novel to be simply delightful. It really took me back to the enthralling sights and sounds of Europe, even if the book was set almost one-hundred years ago. The story was a little on the predictable side but that may also come from knowing the history of this time period. Wagar tells his story in the first person, from Andy Bishop's point of view. With that in mind, the language and its tone was what I'd consider 'proper' – the perfect way a nice young man from the early 1900s would think and speak. This made his characters convincing within the real world time period and events.

I think my only disappointment with the plot was that uncovering the family secret seemed to come as an afterthought. The very premise of his trip based on this secret but it seemed like it was treated as 'no big deal' upon its discovery. We don't even get to know what Andy's parents' reactions were to the news and his mother had been searching diligently for this information for so long. Perhaps this was done intentionally to leave the door open for a sequel? I'm hoping so!

"An American in Vienna" would be an enjoyable read for those interested in historical fiction, World War I, and Europe. Its content is suitable for almost all ages and if anything, I'd rate it as 'PG'. Altogether, "An American in Vienna" is an extremely pleasant novel – easy going and perfect for lazy summer days.

Listen to Live interview on Inside Scoop Live

Hope[less]: A Novel

2011-07-04T09:51:00.001-04:00

C.O.B
Grey Line Press (2010)
ISBN 9780983002802
Reviewed by April Sullivan for Reader Views

Two teenagers, almost 18, find love, excel at music and have their whole life ahead of them. That would be what is expected, the hope. But not for Lorraine and KJ, the main characters in the novel "Hope[less]." Their life takes a turn toward hopeless when a tragedy occurs that sends the two out onto the streets of Philadelphia.

Lorraine and KJ never believed that they had everything going for them. They did not believe in faith or fate or plans. What was the point when life happened to you despite plans? KJ learned that at the age of 14 when his mother left and didn't take him. Lorraine learned that when her mother was raped and killed in New York. This is why she and her father moved to Philadelphia and why she was starting over in high school, as the last chair in the trumpet section in the school band, even though she was better than all of them. KJ played the saxaphone. He saw her talent and bonded with her instantly. Music was his passion, what he lived for. Lorraine became his second passion. The two live for each other, and music is carried along as a burden and a savior.

The author of "Hope[less],"C.O.B., has written a dark, intense novel. The front and back cover charcoal drawings by O. Tycho Baker set the tone for the novel. On the front is a lone bench with a saxaphone case on the seat and a backpack on the ground with a trumpet sticking out. A single beam of light illuminates the backpack. The image is sad and lonely, but hints at brightness.

The opening chapter is strong and overwhelming in its pain. Each section of the book, Atonal I, II, and III starts with a chapter about a strange encounter between a man and his two young daughters. It seems to make no sense to the rest of the novel at first, but becomes resolved to some level by the end.

C.O.B. writes as if he or she has experienced some of the scenarios the characters experience. The passages about the high school band experience are intriguing to me because I have never been a part of that world and the author portrays it much differently than I would have expected. The hurt and homelessness the characters go through are written with a level of understanding that I can only imagine someone who has been there could describe as well as C.O.B. does.

"Hope[less]" is a sincere novel about two young people trying to make their way in a world that makes no sense to them. In the end they find a glimpse of meaning, but it is done in a realistic manner, not in a fairy tale ending. The novel is a good reminder of the hopelessness we all experience at some time in our lives and the power of love to turn that around.

Remnant: An Anthology

2011-07-04T09:50:00.001-04:00

Roland Allnach
All Things That Matter Press (2010)
ISBN 9780984629701
Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views

Roland Allnach's "Remnant: An Anthology" consists of three stories within the science fiction genre. The stories are linked in theme by characters seeking self-truth and redemption through finding their true moral center.

The first of the three novellas, "All the Fallen Angels," is the story of Stohko, a convicted war criminal and his attempt to make peace with his past. He is filled with paranoia, guilt, confusion, self-deception, hostility and hate.

In the second novella, "Enemy, I Know You Not," a military officer, Lieutenant Hovland, is assigned a group of recruits for simulated training exercises. He is tortured with corruptive thoughts of rebellion, order, and the illusion of control while he tries to find his loyalty in paranoia of suspicion and mistrust.

The final novella, titled "Remnant." continues with the theme of behavioral research and centers around the conflicted emotions of Peter Lowry, the survivor of a global pandemic. Peter is confronted with the prospect of making peace with past memories when, Jim MacPherson and Emily Lewis, two other survivors attempt to bring him back from self-imposed isolation.

Influenced by the writing of mythology and classical literature, Allnach follows a pattern in his writing using character driven themes. Although he writes primarily in the Science Fiction genre he develops depth and substance to his characters in situations outside of the realm of our "common world."

Each of the three novellas in the anthology follows a pattern of a nightmare of "tangled, convoluted confusion." Stohko experienced Hermium euphoria, chaotic eruptions of jumbled moments in time in "All the Fallen Angels." He was plagued by a trance-like weaving in an out of a delirious dream moving from guilt of the past, the realities of the present, and the hopelessness of the future.

Lieutenant Hovland lost his sense of purpose in "Enemy, I Know You Not." When a malfunction at the simulator turned a training level exercise into an actual lethal fight for survival, Hovland found himself suspected of subversion. This created a feeling of paranoia, suspicion, exhaustion, futility, betrayal and retribution. In "Remnant" Peter Lowry becomes a prime example of traumatic stress syndrome as he works through the negative characteristics of blind obsession, mistrust, suspicion, guilt, and the positive qualities of genuine empathy, concern, discipline and loyalty.

I especially appreciated Roland's literary style:

His vivid word pictures
His insights demonstrated through character driven dialog
His creative imagination
His use of foreshadowing

Allnach's writing in "Remnant: An Anthology" is haunting, begging for an interactive response from the reader in an honest self appraisal; asking the "what if" questions created by identifying with the protagonist in well written literature. Roland Allnach is destined to become recognized for his contributions in whatever genre of writing he may choose.

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Giving God the Helm: Overcoming Storms of Adversity

2011-06-27T08:27:00.001-04:00

Mark Kuhne
Overcoming For Life, LLC (2011)
ISBN 9780615429038
Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views

Mark Kuhne likens life's trials and tribulations to facing the turbulence of the open sea in a row boat. In his book "Giving God the Helm: Overcoming Storms of Adversity" Mark shares from his own life experiences to encourage the reader to make Jesus the Captain of their lives. He goes on to show the reader how; by turning over the helm of their life to Jesus, He will lead you into safer waters, in the midst of tumultuous life difficulties and adversities.

Throughout his story Mark refers to "The Parable of the Pontoon Boat." He candidly tells how blinded by circumstances and enticed by visions of ownership and pleasure, against his better judgment, he became the owner of a pontoon boat. What started out as a "free gift" became a costly lesson, revealing Mark's vulnerability, his weakness, and his stubborn heart.

Later, in a similar instance, with much more at stake, Mark discovers the hard way that he has not learned his lesson and once again finds himself accepting what he thought was a favor (or free gift) which turned out to be a nightmare, the worst storm of his life.

Mark Kuhne's writing is founded on proven Biblical principles, examples, and faith building lessons leading to spiritual growth and living victorious Christian lives. He uses the Old Testament story of the spirit of Jezebel to help the reader understand the forces of spiritual battles and the armor to fight these battles. He has a unique way of clearly articulating how to use the energy from your adversities to transform your life by applying your faith to help you proactively avoid the worst of storms to overcome anxiety, fear and depression.

Throughout the book are bold highlighted tips, advice and inspiration, for example: "No matter how difficult the circumstances, the experience will prepare you for something greater if you determine to learn and accept the lessons from God, your Captain."

The selected scripture passages that offer promise and possibility are another source of inspiration. Other important features are the comprehensive selection of Bible affirmations and suggestion resources.

Mark relates how, on occasion, he has found direction from the interpretations of dreams in the midst of a particular trial. This may raise a flag from some readers. However, I found Mark's foundational theology to be solid.

After 25 years in banking, Mark Kuhne left his position as Community Bank President to pursue painting and writing full-time. He has included black and white replicas of many of his original paintings. These dramatically reinforce and impact a number of the Biblical examples included in the narrative.

"Giving God the Helm: Overcoming Storms of Adversity" is a strong reminder of the power and possibilities available to the person willing to turn their life over to God as their Captain.

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Drawn to Danger

2011-06-27T08:26:00.001-04:00

Jeff Burton
Jeff Burton (2011)
ISBN 9781460980361
Reviewed by Ben Weldon (age13) for Reader Views Kids

"Drawn to Danger" by Jeff Burton is the story of Andrew, a boy who finds himself caught up in a storm of events when his drawings are sucked into another world and become real. Andrew's Uncle Bob mysteriously disappeared and was given up for dead. As the family was cleaning out his apartment, Andrew found a small leather pouch with an eagle insignia which he kept. He started storing his drawings of ships inside the pouch. The next day he opened the pouch and found, not his drawings, but a letter from a certain Mr. Sprottle thanking him for some ships. Will Andrew find out what is happening to his drawings and who Mr. Sprottle is? Will this help him find his lost uncle?

After losing several drawings to the pouch, Andrew wrote a letter and put it into the pouch asking about what and who was on the other side of the pouch. Mr. Sprottle responded. He told him that the small country of Eagleslea was under attack from an evil pirate chieftain named Scarcliff, and the country was in desperate need of reinforcements and supplies. He thanked Andrew for the new warships that arrived in their harbor overnight (they were his drawings come to life). He begged Andrew for more supplies and ships. Andrew enlisted his friends to draw supplies.

Soon after his correspondence with Eagleslea began, Andrew remembered a special trunk that his parents had sold. He had reason to believe that the trunk had the ability to transport someone to Eagleslea. He set out to find the trunk. When he found the college student who had purchased it, she was more than willing to give it back because the trunk had "eaten" her cat, Miss Kittums. During this escapade Andrew continued correspondence with Eaglslea and had reason to believe that his uncle was there. This made Andrew more determined than ever to try and save his uncle.

After arriving in Eagleslea, Andrew was swept into a battle between the greatly outnumbered forces of Eaglslea and the evil pirate hordes. In the battle, the Eagleslean trunk was destroyed taking with it Andrew's escape route home. Andrew decided that even if his chance to go home was destroyed, he would at least try and save his uncle. Stocked with several bags of chips and a few cans of soda, he set out ready to take on the entire pirate army in order to free his uncle. He arrived at the pirate camp where he was apprehended at gunpoint and brought before Scarcliff himself. The evil pirate rambled on for a while about Andrew's world and how he, Scarcliff, had found Eagleslea and the pirates. He then demanded chips and soda in exchange for Andrew's uncle's release. But will the dread pirate stay true to his word and free Andrew and his uncle?

I would recommend this book to people who like adventure and pirate stories. It was a very entertaining read and I didn't want to put it down until I finished it. This was the author's second book and I hope he keeps writing more.

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Finding Badger: The Evolution of Doing Nothing

2011-06-13T10:10:00.001-04:00

Holly LaMora
Jeanne D'Arce Press (2011)
ISBN 9780983106708
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views

The year is 2330, and the story begins on a dying planet that only has children for survivors. Well, children and rats. After destroying the environment on the planet, the adults have killed each other off. Struggling to survive, the children have learned to be very resourceful. It is kill or be killed. Living on rations, rats and whatever they can scavenge, they have only known this way of life. They cannot begin to imagine the concept of restaurants or grocery stores.

When two people are sent to rescue a child, they have no clue how much is actually involved, or that there are others on the same mission. Armed only with the information given by a badger, they are in shock when they arrive on Planet X and discover how bad things really are there. They also have to overcome mistrust from others to gain information about the whereabouts of whom they seek.

As the story unfolds, so does the history of how the people involved are connected. When I mention history, I mean from generations ago. Each person in the group has interacted in past lives. They have always had the same mission to complete, and failed each time. Now that their time is running short, they are desperate for everybody to recover their lost memories so that they can finish what needs to be done. They also have to overcome anger and hurt from their past lives so that they can work together and figure out who their real enemies are.

"Finding Badger" is an incredibly well written novel. Not only are the ideas behind the story very unique, but there are also a lot of metaphorical and philosophical components interspersed throughout the writing that add a great deal of depth. Because of the different levels of complexity, "Finding Badger" is a novel that can be enjoyed by both teenagers and adults. As I read the story, I felt that this would be an excellent tale for family members to read and to share. It would be interesting for both parents and their teens to discuss what their perceptions were of the events as they were happening in the story. The underlying philosophical and metaphoric touches would also lead to some very interesting conversations that would give each person a chance to share their views. I highly recommend Ms. LaMora's book!

The Whole Youth Worker: Advice on Professional, Personal, and Physical Wellness from the Trenches, 2nd Ed.

2011-06-13T10:09:00.001-04:00

Jay Tucker
Loving Healing Press (2011)
ISBN 9781615990788
Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views

"The Whole Youth Worker" is filled with practical pointers for the potential or practicing youth worker: professional or lay, paid or volunteer. Jay Tucker covers the entire spectrum of advice from personal and physical wellness and professional conduct, to dealing with difficulty, balancing family while creating a clear vision of ministry.

In his holistic approach, Tucker considers not only the ministry aspect of worship, teaching, and fellowship but includes the importance of personally living a Christ-honoring life. Jay notes that the job description of the youth worker includes being spiritual advisor, parent, friend, and therapist, a 24/7 type job.

The chapter titled "Lock-in 101" presents the pros and cons of sponsoring a lock-in event. The chapter includes unique ideas for games, activities and programming with a sample 12-hour lock-in plan. Another important chapter deals with "Senioritus" and the symptoms that accompany this transitional year prior to high school graduation.

Tucker maintains that success and cutting edge ministry differs among churches and generations. He discusses looking at traditional programming in light of changes in contemporary, culture, time constraints on students, and family lifestyles. He also encourages taking a realistic look at teen relationships within the youth group, the problems that arise when good kids make bad choices, and the importance of creating a parent-friendly ministry. He includes some keys for dealing with criticism, making the most of board meetings, the importance of creating friendships, and communicating with the congregation.

The author counsels the reader on the importance of staying healthy through diet and exercise as an important element to effective worship and ministry. He talks about health and diet. I found his menus and nutritional comparisons of fast foods informational, interesting, and helpful.

Jay looks at questions about ethics for the Youth Worker in light of both personal and professional standards. He talks about the "call to youth ministry," the reality of the possibility of unexpected job change, and the interview process.

I enjoyed the format of the book, the organization of the material as well as Jay's practical approach and realistic analysis of youth ministry today. This second edition of "The Whole Youth Worker" has been updated and includes an additional five chapters offering up to date "advice on professional, personal, and physical wellness from the trenches."

This book contains highly practical advice. "The Whole Youth Worker, 2nd Edition" should be read and on the resource shelf of every youth worker, professional or lay, new or seasoned. This is a resource that should be on the reading list of every college, seminary, or Bible school for every student considering a Christian Education major, or considering a career in youth ministry.

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The Source

2011-06-06T12:06:00.001-04:00

Diana Bastine
Helm Publishing (2010)
ISBN 9780983010906
Reviewed by Sydney Clark (age 13) for Reader Views Kids

"The Source," by Diana Bastine, is the story of Caitlin, an Irish teenager interested in folklore, who, while on a hike, discovers a strange man named Fortescue in a cave in the Irish countryside. As she finds out more about who he is and where he comes from, Caitlin gets thrown into an adventure that carries her to a strange, subterranean world she never dreamed existed. Suddenly, Caitlin finds herself critical to the survival of Fortescue's people.

As they get to know each other better, Fortescue begins telling Caitlin about the reason he came to the surface -- to find an ancient amulet that is said to restore nutrients to the drink that sustains all of Fortescue's people ... the Source. For decades, the Source has been becoming less and less nutritious, and Fortescue must find a way to restore its vitality or see his people die. But when another of Fortescue's kind, Mortimer, comes to the surface, Caitlin worries that he is not to be trusted. Will Mortimer turn out to be trustworthy? Or will he try and thwart Caitlin's and Fortescue's plan, and gain power for himself?

When Mortimer betrays them and runs away to Dublin, Caitlin, Fortescue, and Caitlin's father must try and stop him. But when they finally discover an injured Mortimer, they are at their wit's end. After realizing that Mortimer doesn't have the amulet, they begin a massive search all over Dublin. The fate of Fortescue's people is threatened by a chance encounter with muggers, and then with a common merchant. Will they recover the amulet and save Fortescue's people? Will the people survive?

I enjoyed reading "The Source" because it was an interesting take on the classic myths and legends of vampires and the famous story "The Pied Piper." Caitlin is a smart teenager interested in old folklore and is willing to fully commit herself to helping her friends and family when they are in need. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes folklore and adventure. "The Source" was an enthralling book and someone from practically any age group would enjoy it.

Crisis In The American Heartland: Disasters & Mental Health in Rural Environments: An Introduction (Volume 1)

2011-06-06T12:05:00.001-04:00

George W. Doherty, MS, LPC
Rocky Mountain DMH Institute Press (2011)
ISBN 9781615990757
Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views

"Crisis In The American Heartland" is Volume 1 in a series of books for Crisis Intervention Training for Disaster Workers, for mental health workers and first responders who deal with related stress and trauma situations, specifically as they relate to disasters in rural environments.

These issues are taking on new proportions as they relate to the question of whom and how the challenge of dealing with mental health counseling will be met in the next rural crisis. The uneven distribution of population, the potential of high levels of immediate need in the event of a disaster occurrence, limited availability of rural services, and the trend of populations relocating to urban centers all impact intervention planning.

Unique mental health issues may result from stress, anxiety, and cross-cultural variables brought about by changing roles, unresolved trauma, and a declining farm economy. The impact of these issues may be demonstrated in domestic violence, youth violence, murder or suicide.

In the rural area of Southwest Michigan where I live, severe storm warnings are frequent; heavy rains may result in flooding, lightning damage or death, as well as the possibilities of destruction by high winds and tornados.

As I write this review, news reports are coming in updating the devastation impacted by a massive tornado, covering a 7-mile-wide area in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, as the result of winds over 200 mph. State and Federal Agencies are setting up disaster relief for physical needs. Mental health personnel will move in to assist with post-traumatic stress and critical incident stress management and other related areas. Multiply the difficulty in providing these services in a rural situation where the results of trauma, crisis and disaster cover a much wider area and cannot be as readily implemented.

For these reasons it is critical that mental health professionals and first responders in rural areas become aware of recent research, and training approaches to crisis intervention and traumatology. I am impressed with the depth of material provided in this overview and the articulate communication in transmitting a new awareness of the specific applications to the reader.

A comprehensive bibliography of resources and references is provided to help the reader gain a better understanding of disaster mental health faced in rural areas and various cultural situations including: Physical issues such as land, air, and water resources, chemicals and pesticides, animal rights, food distribution; Quality of life issues such as rural America's declining share of national wealth, problems of hunger, education, and rural poverty among rural populations; Direct and indirect service issues; Professional training and development issues; and personal issues.

"Crisis In The American Heartland: Disasters & Mental health In Rural Environments: An Introduction (Volume 1" is a momentous breakthrough in disaster relief awareness and is destined to become a model for training manuals of the future. This is a monumental accomplishment for George W. Doherty, and Rocky Mountain DMH Institute Press.

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The Queen’s Companion

2011-05-30T09:52:00.001-04:00

Maggi A. Petton

Booklocker (2011)
ISBN 9781609106461
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (5/11)

The story begins in 1554 during the time of the Inquisition. Queen Catherine of Montalcino finds herself becoming distressed over the Church's abuse of power. People of her realm, whom she considers under her protection, are being falsely accused of heresy and then tortured and murdered. Catherine personally finds a woman being brutally tortured and raped. This woman, Lady Isabella, has had her whole family branded heretics and murdered. As Catherine helps her to recover she finds herself falling in love with her. This goes against everything she believes is right. She is afraid that God will punish her for these feelings.

The Queen also has a Bishop in her court who she knows hates her and would like to destroy her. This Bishop is not a good man, and he has a sick attraction to boys. In her determination to help save her people Catherine has to try to make sure that her allies will support her, and she must also avoid being accused of heresy by this Bishop.   In order to hide her relationship with Lady Isabella, she agrees to marry. She seeks a man to be King who will help her bear an heir and then leave her alone. When she finds the perfect Prince for this role, she marries him and they have a daughter named Sofia.

As she continues with her efforts to try to halt the abuse of her people by the Inquisitors she becomes beloved to the people of her realm.

Undaunted by the Queen's appearance of a normal life, the Bishop decides to use Catherine's daughter to his advantage. Knowing that he has been warned about having his unnatural tastes for boy revealed should he try to hurt the Queen, the Bishop uses subterfuge to get to her daughter and try to convince her that her mother is a heretic. These actions set a course of events into action that will have a devastating effect on all who are involved.

Once I started reading "The Queen's Companion," I found it difficult to put down. I immediately became totally wrapped up in the lives of the characters. Interweaving actual historical events about the Inquisition into the story really brought the reality of what was happening at that time to life. The descriptions of the ways that people were tortured was both educating and disheartening.   Catherine and Isabella's relationship was really beautiful, and it made me realize how hard it must have been at that time for women, especially for one in a role of leadership.

Readers who enjoy historical fiction will really enjoy reading this novel. The author's chapter at the end of the book will also cause goose bumps! I highly recommend "The Queen's Companion," and especially recommend it to reader's groups.

The Road-Shaped Heart

2011-05-30T09:51:00.001-04:00

Nick Purdon
Modern History Press (2011)
ISBN 9781615990573
Reviewed by Marissa Libbit for Reader Views (4/11)

"The Road-Shaped Heart" by Nick Purdon is a collection of twenty-five poems written from the heart. Covering topics such as addiction, loss, love, and grief, Mr. Purdon has a strong grasp on the English language and pens words in such a way that they tug at the reader's heart, and this statement is coming from a reader who does not typically read much poetry. While not understanding every nuance in every poem, I certainly felt the emotion Mr. Purdon's words sought to provoke.

One particular poem that touched me was "Saying Good-Bye." Purdon wrote, "…Are you now walking on the doused coals as I do?...Are you picking through the charred remains as I do?...Our moon had long been waning, yet…Still, I breathe in…Your every breathing out." In "Withdrawal" he wrote, "As the dark clouds roll in, heaving, they bring…decaying ravens plummeting from a sky of cracked bones…" The imagery is so vivid the reader cannot help but recall his own emotions to the surface.

"The Road-Shaped Heart" is a quick read that can be read over and over. Though not particularly a "happy" read, the emotions so beautifully depicted highlight the depth of real emotions felt by many.

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The God Matrix

2011-05-23T08:04:00.001-04:00

Brian David Alexander
AuthorHouse (2009)
ISBN 9781438949611
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views

John Phoenix is a college professor of psychology and a very gifted hypnotherapist. When he notices an increase of clients who are claiming to have been abducted by aliens, his interest is piqued. He classifies these people into three groups. One group consists of a few people who appear to have been abducted, yet they do not have clear memories of what happened. The second group is what he refers to as abduction wannabes. The third is of a group that appears to have had false abduction memories implanted into their psyche. It is the first group that John is most interested in. His first client in this category, Shelly, comes to him seeking answers through hypnotherapy. As John tries to recover her lost memories, he realizes that she has had her memory tampered with so that typical hypnotherapeutic techniques are useless.

In addition to Shelly's group having their memories blocked, they also have had life-altering experiences. All of these subjects had been involved in working with government research. After their unexplainable experiences, they find themselves making career changes that will enable them to use newly acquired gifts to help others. Shelly starts a small practice that involves healing others, using energy therapy.

As John continues to work with these different groups of people, he begins to suspect that the government is somehow involved. The further he delves into this mystery, the more endangered his life becomes. He also begins to realize that there is something happening at a much higher level. Because of his special gifts, he has the power to try to convince humanity to save itself. However, because of the damage that has been done to the planet and the psyche of the majority of the people, this is a daunting task. In spite of the dangers involved with the mission that John has undertaken, he is gifted with the opportunity to experience an incredible spiritual metamorphosis. While doing this, he also finds himself drawing closer to Shelly. They must work together to save mankind.

I found "The God Matrix" to be an incredibly written, well-thought-out novel. Brian David Alexander really impressed me with his ability to write an exceptional science fiction novel incorporating all of my favorite elements such as metaphysical, psychological, intrigue, romance and suspense. But most of all, his story infused me with the desire to want to make positive changes in my spiritual ways so that I can be more like the people who can save the planet. In spite of the knowledge that this is a fictional novel, there is a part of me that believes there could be some truth hidden in this tale. It takes a real gift of writing for an author to be able to do that.

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33 Days: Touring In A Van. Sleeping On Floors. Chasing A Dream.

2011-05-23T08:02:00.001-04:00

Bill See
Lulu (2011)
ISBN 9780557758814
Reviewed by Marty Shaw for Reader Views

I wasn't really expecting much from "33 Days" because the band, Divine Weeks, didn't exactly set the world on fire, so how exciting could a story about their road trip be? However, that view changed when I realized one very important thing: This isn't the story of a big-name band with a huge record deal, and it's not meant to be. Within the pages of this book are the hearts and souls of some young men who dared to follow their dreams and the author does a great job of bringing us along for the ride.

Bill See is our doorway into the adventure these five young men embark on, and his first-person account helps reveal these dreamers for who they really are. Divine Weeks is heading out on a road trip for their first tour and emotions are riding high as they leave their local comfort zone for the very first time. They'll entertain hundreds, see new parts of the world, and learn more about each other, and life in general, as they set out to create their future. Through the author's eyes, we'll get to experience the fear and excitement of passing that first mile marker, feel the joy of total strangers that enjoy the music we create, and we'll see how the bonds of friendship change when you're stuck in a van with the same people for a little over a month.

Bill's band isn't going the indie route because they stink, but because Bill has a dream of following in the footsteps of other independent labels. He believes that hooking up with a major label would be selling out and giving up on the artistic side of the venture, but performing on stage with a stripper pole and depending on the kindness of strangers for a place to sleep isn't everyone's cup of tea, and one person's big dreams could cause problems along the way.

In addition to different aspirations, the road trip reveals the pressures that hinder almost everyone at some point in life. Do you follow your dream or take the safe and traditional route of college? Please the family or please yourself? We all face these decisions, and See does a good job of using that common ground to make us care about his fellow road warriors. By the end of the book, we've seen a few people change and make decisions based on their new over-the-road education and we understand them because we took the trip with them.

If you've been in a band or taken a spur-of-the-moment road trip to chase a dream, then "33 Days" might bring back some fond memories, but the descriptive locales and colorful characters will make this an enjoyable read for anyone, even if you've never toured in a van, slept on a floor, or chased a dream.

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Final Destination

2011-05-16T09:08:00.001-04:00

Ankur Choudhury

Xlibris (2011)
ISBN 9781456864446
Reviewed by William Phenn for Reader Views (4/11)

This is a book of thoughts of a twisted and pained mind. The words that are written bleed through the pages with heart wrenching strength. In one such poem called, "Funeral," Ankur Choudhury expresses his suicidal tendencies with the words "I see death as the only escape from reality."

This 119-page book is filled with the thoughts of Mr. Choudhury's twisted view of reality. His gripping fear is expressed in a way that will make the reader feel his pain. With what is written, he wants the reader to share in his anguish as he takes you down the grizzly road that he has traveled.

Poems like "Happiness," express his feeling of being followed by death. Then in "Shadows," he states, "Won't someone kill me, tie me up and nail me?" There is a definite fixation that the author has with doom.

Clearly these and many more such examples, prove that this is a very dark volume of stressful and erratic thoughts. Passages in this book are seriously not for the meek. They are frank and scary poems that take the reader into the abyss of a twisted mind.

If one is to take what is written seriously, then it is evident that the author was emotionally distressed. The way the poetry is presented is of a mature and very dark nature, not recommended for young impressionable minds. The book has a parental advisory warning about "Mature Content" and should be avoided by young readers.

There were some typos and the cover did not strike me as being an eye catcher. I did, however, give it one of my high grades of a B. It was gloomy and sad; it would be welcomed by the Goth folks and I have to agree it achieved its goal. I didn't mind it as a change of pace from my usual reads but would not make a habit of it. I would definitely recommend "Final Destination" to anyone who enjoys dark poetry.

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Innocent War: Behind an Immigrant’s Past, Book 1

2011-05-16T09:07:00.001-04:00

Susan Violante
Outskirts Press (2011)
ISBN 9781432770471
Reviewed by Ben Weldon (age 12) for Reader Views Kids

"Innocent War" by Susan Violante is the story of her father's childhood experiences growing up in Italy during World War II. Up until the war, Nino led a relatively ordinary life for a kid growing up in Europe. When World War II broke out he went to school and tried to live as ordinary a life as he could. But then the bombing started. Life became intolerable and food became scarce. Nino thought it couldn't get worse, but when his father was drafted and one of his best friends killed, he knew he was wrong. How will his life change?

After a long time of wandering, and trying to find a safe place to stay, Nino and his family settled down in the mountain town of Modica Alta. Life there was pretty quiet until the American bombing raids. Several American planes were shot down and the pilots taken prisoner but only after the soccer field was completely obliterated. Soon after this incident the Germans left and the Americans came in.

For a kid, Nino faced the dangers of World War II pretty well. I am not sure I could have done the same. At times Nino did some things he probably shouldn't have; such as disassembling different weapons like mines and selling the detonators as firecrackers. All in all he held up pretty well to stress and constant danger. But life just wasn't as good without his father. Will he ever see his father again?

One interesting aspect of this book was that it was written from an Axis perspective. One of Mussolini's speeches praised war, guns, and fire. During his time in Modica Alta everyone was scared of the Americans, especially after some had been imprisoned. Some of the character'' experiences helped me to understand why some of the Italians hated the Americans so much. It was fun to try and place myself in Nino's shoes and see how I would react if faced with his same choices.

I would recommend "Innocent War" by Susan Violante to people who like adventure and non-fiction. This was a true story and it was interesting to see what Nino had to live through. It was a fun read, and I will recommend it to my friends who are interested in history.

Read review of Innocent War on Reader Views (Adult Review)

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Plato’s Apology of Socrates: A New Translation, in the Style of a Cinematic Novella

2011-05-09T09:23:00.000-04:00

Steve Kostecke

CreateSpace (2011)
ISBN 9781456490614
Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views

"Plato's Apology of Socrates: A New Translation, in the Style of Cinematic Novella" is a unique and innovative approach to introducing classic literature to a new generation of readers. This is a relevant translation of Classic Greek Philosophy, translated into clear contemporary English, easy to understand. In lieu of footnotes Kostecke has chosen to use bracketed paragraphs to create cinematic word pictures which help the reader visualize the Athenian Courthouse and the courtroom where the dramatic trial takes place.

Detailed cinematic instructions clearly describe sets, costumes, body language, hand movements, and character descriptions. This cinematic strategy allows the reader an opportunity for creating their own imaginative impression and to build a personal movie like visualization of the scene, the action, and the characters. Kostecke clearly understands the emotional power of words. By adding a sense of audio to the oration and dialog, the trial takes on a real life dimension for the reader.

Kostecke's writing reveals amazing insight into the Greek classics. His extensive research is well documented and referenced. Extracts are pieced together from Demosthenes' writings. I especially appreciated the handling of the four flashbacks to the scene in the Agora from Xenophon's version of "The Apology of Socrates" and the scene of Socrates' death taken from "Plato's Phaedo." Steve Kostecke has drawn from the Greek text edited by John Burnet and Liddell as well as Scott's Greek-English Lexicon. Several other texts are credited in his documentation of sources. I was also fascinated with the scene where Socrates digressed in his appeal to give a glimpse into his philosophy of life.

A major in English literature, Greek studies, and a Masters degree in Foreign Language Education led to opportunities for Kostecke to teach English as a foreign language in universities in Japan, Korea, Thailand and Pennsylvania.

"Plato's Apology of Socrates: A New Translation, in the Style of Cinematic Novella" is entertaining, enlightening, and a powerful and dramatic presentation of Socrates' defense plea for his life.

Rehearsing for Heaven

2011-05-09T09:22:00.001-04:00

Mark B. Reed

CreateSpace (2010)
ISBN 9781450597777
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views

If you are a believer – and regardless of your faith – there is some sort of Heaven promised to you at the end of your journey IF you do things right and IF you live your life in accordance with the beliefs and rules of your faith. But those are big IFs, and most probably getting perpetually bigger along with the bigger desires and more indulgences that life in today's world offers and entices us to wish for. Compared to all that is on offer right around us every day, it is sometimes difficult to imagine that Heaven the way it is described in the old texts would be particularly appealing to most modern people. Yet we are supposed to aspire to it as our final destination. So what is a believer supposed to do?

Usually I am not a big fan of books telling me what to believe and how to "change" myself to be a "better" person. Most of them are extreme, as well as extremely preachy, and all too often based on very simplistic equations that do not make much sense to me. Luckily there are exceptions to every rule, and Mark B. Reed's "Rehearsing for Heaven" is definitely one of them. I found his book to be very engaging and approachable. His writing style, in spite of the obvious copious amount of research, never became too convoluted for the average reader; and the mix of personal stories and quotes from various sources kept my interest aroused throughout the 400+ pages.

I've highly enjoyed the unusual format of the narrative, which is structured like a theatrical production in three acts, explaining to the reader how rehearsing for Heaven while living on Earth will not only earn you a spot in Heaven but also assure you of a more fulfilling and worthwhile everyday existence.

Refreshingly non-judgmental and accepting of the realities of life, including the mistakes all of us make at some point in life, this is a book which will make you think and re-evaluate your path, or as the author aptly put it, "rehearse for Heaven," without the fear of being refused entrance due to some transgressions in your past. For once I did not feel that the book was telling me what to do as much as it was telling me to re-evaluate and rethink the way I approach my daily life, and by doing that change my appreciation for all that has been given to me. Read this book if you feel lost in your quest for spiritual answers, or simply to reinforce your beliefs. Either way, "Rehearsing for Heaven" will change your perception of Heaven in a very positive way.

Shelby & Shauna Kitt and the Dimensional Holes

2011-05-02T10:16:00.001-04:00

P. H. C. Marchesi
Out-of-this-world Books (2011)
ISBN 9780615475448
Reviewed by Ben Weldon (age 13) for Reader Views Kids (4/11)

"Shelby & Shauna Kitt and the Dimensional Holes" by P. H. C. Marchesi is the story of Shelby and Shauna Kitt, thirteen-year-old twins tasked with saving Earth. When the twins' mother lost her job, Shauna and Shelby were thrown out of school, and their mother was attacked by evil Klodians, aliens bent on killing them; you might say that they had had a bad day. Then Lendox found them. Lendox was an alien from a planet called Miriax that orbited Earth in an alternate dimension. He had been sent to find the twins and recruit them for a dangerous mission into yet another dimension to close some holes that had allowed evil aliens to enter Earth's dimension. Lendox then took them to a top secret military base to meet other kids that would be coming with them. But danger lurked at the base. Can Shelby and Shauna stop the ever present evil before it is too late?

When the twins and their friends Vanessa and Jit arrived on Miriax, they were stunned by the amazing beauty of the planet. Trees with emerald green leaves and the transparent walkways were some of the many wonders they found. The lifestyle of the Mirians was also quite interesting to them. Tea with exploding mushrooms was a favorite snack. But not even these utopian features can hide the danger that lurks nearby. Can Shelby and Shauna protect themselves from the Klodians?

While on Miriax, Shauna and Shelby discovered that they each had different and special powers. Shauna couldn't get sick, could heal people, and could communicate with animals. Shelby was extremely prone to motion sickness, could pilot vehicles or games having only just touched the controls, and could manipulate gravity to an extent. With these new powers the Kitt twins thought that dealing with the Klodians would be easy. Maybe they can contend with the Klodians, but can they deal with an enemy closer to home?

I would recommend this book to people who like adventure and fantasy. This fast-paced book has an interesting style that merges science fiction with fantasy. "Shelby & Shauna Kitt and the Dimensional Holes" was very entertaining and I didn't want to put it down until I finished it.

A Colonial Adventure: Fitch Tavern Tales #1

2011-05-02T10:15:00.001-04:00

Lea Ann Knight
Stone Croft Press (2010)
ISBN 9780982835708
Reviewed by Sophia McElroy (age 8) for Reader Views Kids (4/11)

This is a really fun book to read; every page is a new adventure! First you will get to know a ten-year-old girl named Skip. She was always getting into something. The story begins when Skip goes to find her sister, but she is missing. While looking for her sister Skip finds herself magically back in the colonial times. She was very scared and nervous at first. She meets a girl named Elspeth and they become friends. The girls prepared food for men and learned how to care for the farm animals. She liked living there, but she missed her family and tried to focus on figuring out how to get home.

My favorite character is Skip. She is a very adventurous girl who I think I would like. Skip thought about her family worrying about her. She was mostly worried about her little sister, Ruby. Skip continued to think of a way out. Then before bed she finds a notebook. She opens it up under her covers and it showed initials. Initials? It was like a riddle to her. She loved riddles. After she thought about it she went to bed. In the morning she had stepped on something, "It was just the book." Skip said to herself.

"A Colonial Adventure" is one of those books you will want to read over and over again to discover some more surprises!

Women, War & Hypocrites: Studying the Qur’an

2011-04-25T09:39:00.001-04:00

Robert A. Campbell
Cape Breton University Press (2010)
ISBN 9781897009536
Reviewed by Carol Hoyer, PhD, for Reader Views (4/11)

Author Robert A. Campbell has provided an in-depth view of the verses of the Qur'an for readers who are interested in learning more about how translations from inception to contemporary times have evolved. His focus is particularly on the Fourth Surah which talks about women.

Really having no knowledge of the Qur'an other than media or comments from others, this reviewer found the book to be very detailed and informative. Although the author says readers don't need to have a great knowledge about the Qur'an prior to reading this book, some general knowledge would be helpful.

In the Introduction, the author talks about if one is not willing to learn about the Qur'an, their opinions will be shaped by others. He also relates that many of the general public want to know the actual content and how it guides, or doesn't guide, the beliefs and actions of today's Muslims.

The material is presented in four major chapters. The overview of this material talks about how the Qur'an came about, including a basic outline of shariah and the structure and content of the fourth surah. After reading these chapters, he states that readers can read any of the remaining chapters in whichever order they want.

The chapter on women was very interesting and the opinion could be controversial in some of the subject matter addressed such as: marriage, wife beating, lewdness, right of the husband and wife. This reviewer found this material very interesting.

This book is not something one can just breeze through. You really need to focus on what was being said and try to absorb the information before you move further on. The hardest part of reading the book was keeping all the history in one's mind, as well as the numerous views of translators on what the verses were actually saying. I found that making notes in the margins were helpful.

Overall, "Women, War & Hypocrites: Studying the Qur'an" was a very interesting read and very informative. The author provided every bit of information that one might want and do further research on. Each individual the author wrote about and their interpretations were quite an experience. We all perceive what we read and hear based on our own beliefs, cultural experiences and stereotypes of different cultures and religions.

Destined To Live, Despite Me: Biblical Truths for Suicide Survivors

2011-04-25T09:38:00.001-04:00

Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views (4/11)

"Destined to Live, Despite Me: Biblical Truths for Suicide Survivors" is unique in that it is written from the perspective of a "suicide attempter." Author Yolanda Shanks' writing is based on true Biblical principles. She offers a compassionate message of hope at a time when suicide rates in our country continue to escalate.

Chapters One through Six look at questions or thoughts that are often prevalent in the thinking processes of one contemplating suicide: Questions like, "Why this void? Where is this pain coming from? Who am I? What are my options?

Yolanda is open and candid in relating her personal experiences. Her writing is authentic and bears evidence of an understanding of the brokenness that accompanies anyone considering suicide. Her work is highly endorsed by Pastors and Christian leaders. She advocates making an intentional and deliberate choice to live life to the fullest resulting in an experience of peace and freedom even in the midst of the difficulties and challenges that often seem insurmountable. She encourages the reader to recognize their need for a faith in the Creator, God, who promises to complete the work that He has begun in us.

Although Shanks recognizes the need for medical and psychological counseling, her approach is clearly on a spiritual level. Her message offers hope through an understanding of the Christian message, the gospel of Jesus Christ. Yolanda balances the use of an easy conversational style with well-chosen scripture references, and narrative providing information and illustrative material, often probing and profound, always positive and articulate.

Yolanda advocates making an intentional and deliberate choice to live life to the fullest, a life resulting in an experience of peace and freedom even in the midst of difficulties and challenges which often seem insurmountable. She encourages the reader to recognize their need for a faith in the Creator, a God, who promises to complete the work which He has begun within us.

If you have ever seriously thought of suicide, made plans to commit suicide, or actually tried and failed in a suicide attempt, this book is for you. It can also be a source of inspiration and help to anyone concerned for a loved one showing signs of contemplating suicide.

"Destined to Live, Despite Me: Biblical Truths for Suicide Survivors" provides a blueprint for anyone on a personal quest for truth, wanting to overcome negative self-image, seeking renewal, and desiring a restructured life.

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Return to the Desert

2011-04-18T10:53:00.003-04:00

Dr. Jerry Burgener
iUniverse (2010)
ISBN 9781450205238
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views

"Return to the Desert" is the sequel to "Desert Journey." In this adventure, Jerry continues on his spiritual path with lessons and guidance given to him by Tom, a Native American spirit guide. On this journey, Jerry experiences past-life regression. Freshly out of a relationship in which he felt betrayed, Jerry is able to make the connection between incidences that he did not clear up in his past lives with those that he is re-experiencing in this life. As he progresses through his memories, he begins recognizing the connections between the different relationships and gains an understanding of how he needs to heal them, so that he will not keep reliving them.

Most of Jerry's regression memories involve experiences with a father who he felt abandoned him. By not clearing up those negative feelings, he finds himself feeling betrayed again in a relationship with a woman. Recognizing similarities between the two experiences, Tom helps him to figure out what he needs to do to heal so that he can move on with his life. Jerry also has a friend named Sam who offers him some very sound, good advice. Between Sam and Tom, Jerry is given a lot of things to think about.

"Return to the Desert" is beautifully told in vivid detail so that, as a reader, I felt like I was seeing Jerry's life directly through his eyes. The settings were also beautifully described and Jerry's relationship with his horse, also added a special touch to what he had going on in his life because he knew that he could rely on her. His spiritual guide at times seemed very real, and at other times seemed to be an enigma. I felt that this demonstrated that Jerry was progressing to the point where he could use his intuition to see the lessons that the guide had for him, especially since many of their contacts were in dream like states.

I gained some powerful insights from reading "Return to the Desert." The first insight focused on the importance of clearing up past life issues so that we no longer have to relive them and so that they will not hinder our spiritual growth. The second and third insight came to me at about the same time. I realized that it is important to clear up relationship issues in this life time so that I do not repeat the same mistakes in this life, as I have seen many people do, and also that I do not need to repeat them in future lives. Jerry's story taught me to clean issues up now, so that they do not hinder my spiritual growth. "Return to the Desert" is a wonderfully written story of a man's spiritual journey that will also have an impact on the reader's journey and spiritual growth.

The Bundle (Vic Fallon Mystery Series)

2011-04-18T10:53:00.001-04:00

Tim Smith

eXtasy Books (2011)
ISBN B004TMB5IG
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views

Ex-cop Vic Fallon quickly finds himself in way over his head when he reluctantly agrees to bodyguard a celebrity. He agrees to do this to pay back a favor to her lawyer, who is his friend. The pop singer Kimberly Daniels has come to Cleveland to promote her latest album. She is also returning to the place of her roots. Expecting her to be shallow and demanding, Vic is pleasantly surprised when he discovers that she is not. She is very beautiful, sexy, and appears to be quite attracted to him. He is fine with this part of the job, however, shortly after her arrival things get tense when she receives a death threat from a stalker who seems to have a connection to her estranged family.

Vic finds himself using his detective skills and former professional connections to try to figure out who and why someone would be after Kimberly. As he investigates the case, he sees a connection between an extortion attempt by someone threatening to reveal secrets from her youth, and the person stalking her now. He and Kimberly also explore their attraction to each other while engaging in some very explicit sensual scenes.

When the extortionist gives Vic 36 hours to come up with a million dollars, Vic is under the gun to keep Kimberly safe while he solves this mystery. He also has to figure out what to do with his feelings for a woman who lives far away and who he knows will complicate his comfortable life of solitude.

I totally enjoyed reading "The Bundle." The author Tim Smith has done a great job creating characters that are very realistic, yet also unusually appealing. Vic is portrayed as a rugged ex-cop who demonstrates that he has some values. Kimberly is seen as an attractive woman who has had a painful past that she has not allowed to weaken her. Nor has she allowed her fame to ruin her. The sensual scenes between the two are beautifully written, and perfectly illustrate the evolving attraction and emotion between them. There are other side characters in the story that help set the background and provide some comic relief.

I also found the mystery aspect of the drama to be well written, and very well thought out. I appreciate how Tim Smith connects different aspects of the heroine's life to tie the clues together so that Vic is able to discover their connections as the he also learns about her past.

I highly recommend "The Bundle" to readers who enjoy some romance and sensuality mixed in with a good mystery. This was the first novel that I had the pleasure of reading by this author, and I know for sure it will not be my last.

Clip-Clop, Tippity-Tap: French Vocabulary on the Farm

2011-04-11T09:19:00.001-04:00

Kim Chatel

Guardian Angel Publishing (2011)
ISBN 9781616331368
Reviewed by Cayden Aures (age 6.5) for Reader Views Kids

In "Clip-Clop, Tippity-Tap" all of the animals on the farm have different jobs that they have to do every day. There is a little horse and his name is Mini-Moi. He isn't even close to as big as the other horses. All of the other horses do things like pull wagons and help the farmer plow. Mini-Moi is too little to do those things. He is pretty sad about that but in the end he finds something he can do. That is good because I think that there is always something that somebody can do even if they are little.

I liked that I learned some different words in French from reading "Clip-Clop, Tippity-Tap." It was sometimes hard to figure out how to say them though. Even mom had trouble. Some of the words were easy to say like for bird in French it says oiseau (wazo). But some of the others where it says how to say it had things like buisson (bɥisɔ̃) for bush. I really didn't have any idea what that meant in the parentheses. It sounds kind of like the word is spelled though. We did listen to how to say the words on the computer though for the ones I wanted to know. It was fun to learn new words. My favorite one we learned was poulet, which is chicken in French.

The Imprint Journey: A Path of Lasting Transformation Into Your Authentic Self

2011-04-11T09:17:00.000-04:00

Liliane Desjardins

Loving Healing Press (2011)
ISBN 9781615990870
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views

There has never been any doubt in my mind that we are all products of our environment as well as of our genetics. And both of those factors, whether we like it or not, lead us to some rather peculiar behavioral patterns or, probably even more accurately, the repeating patters of such behavior. What has never been quite clear to me though was exactly why and how we keep repeating such actions, which are all too oftentimes very destructive and/or self-destructive. The best answer I've found so far is the one provided by Liliane Desjardins in her book "The Imprint Journey," which I have been privileged to read before it was even published.

What exactly are imprints? Let me quote the author herself. "You might wonder what are IMPRINTS: they are our emotional map, the deep-seated beliefs and values stored in our brain's limbic system. In spite of everything we know, our imprints govern our life at the subconscious level." If you are anything like me, this would be enough to make you curious. Do yourself a favor and delve deep into "The Imprint Journey," even if you usually do not read self-help books. I bet you will be amazed at how often the book will strike a nerve, and how many of those will be very, very raw indeed.

"The Imprint Journey" starts with a deeply personal, courageous and touching personal story, in which the author tells us about her early childhood in what is today Croatia, and what was back then war-torn Yugoslavia, followed by the untimely death of her mother, the immigration path leading her family to France and later to Canada, her struggle to find her true self and the dysfunctional life she led, all the way to a suicide attempt which resulted in a near-death experience and a gradual change in attitude adjustment.

Following the rather chilling first part is Part II, which provides one with a deeper understanding of what imprints are, how they are created and maintained and how they can – and should! – be changed so that an individual can be transformed and reach the Authentic Self. The techniques are illustrated by a series of true life stories from a variety of subjects, who dealt with many kinds of adversity and addictions.

Never judgmental, never preachy and never overly technical, "The Imprint Journey" is one of those rare books that will make you think and re-evaluate who you are and why you are acting the way you are. If you are lucky, you will gather enough courage to deal with the issues that bother you. All the tools are there, you just need to find the courage to make that first step...

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The Bridge Club…..it was never just about the cards

2011-04-04T11:59:00.001-04:00

Patricia Sands

iUniverse (2010)
ISBN 9781450241359
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views

At the first glance "The Bridge Club" with its title and the retro-looking pink and black cover did not look too promising. I don't play or understand bridge, and pink has never been my favorite color. But I am so glad I picked this one up! My first clue should have been the little note on the cover itself, saying, "….. it was never just about the cards." And while bridge runs throughout the book, it certainly is not the most important part of the story.

Where should I start, without giving away too much of the story? Maybe with a quick quote from the book itself… "The Bridge Club: eight women, just over their sixty-year speed bump. They were never anything remotely resembling Desperate Housewives or Ya-Ya candidates but simply great friends since their footloose days of finding the way through their early twenties. During those heady days of the mid to late 1960s they had, in various combinations, lived, worked, studied, traveled, and certainly partied together."

Here you have it, the framework of an amazing story of enduring friendship of the best kind, one that stands the test of time and is always supportive, even when things get really bad and some tough love is the only possible solution.

Ms. Sands wrote a convincing and heart-warming story of a diverse group of women who found out that the one true constant in their lives was this group of friends, always there to support, to advise, to console or prod them along, no matter what life threw their way. There to party, there to help, there to commiserate, there to admonish – no situation too small or too big, too ugly or too unusual for them to handle. Eight separate stories, one for each of the members of the club, dealing with a variety of truly life-changing, very realistic situations of different kinds, set the stage for the final, ninth story. This is the one that will test all of their beliefs again, and since I truly do not want to even hint at the ending, let me simply say that I love the unconventional way Ms. Sands dealt with the identity of the heroine of this last story.

I absolutely loved "The Bridge Club..." It made me enormously grateful for the friends that I have, and for the things I've experienced and places I've been to. It made me realize again how important female friendships are for us women, and how nothing else can really take their place. Great writing, great story and for certain one you'll want to share with your own friends!

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The Book About Tony Chestnut

2011-03-28T08:05:00.001-04:00

Reviewed by Cayden (age 5 ½) and Max (age 3 ½) Aures and Mom for Reader Views Kids

"The Book About Tony Chestnut" brings the children's song 'Tony Chestnut" by The Learning Station to life. It is accompanied by a read-along CD.

Cayden: "The Book About Tony Chestnut" is about a boy and his sister who have to go to a new school because they moved away from their old one. His sister is sad because she misses her friends. All of the other kids play at recess but Tony and his sister just sit on the bench and she cries. He sings to make her happy and everyone looks at him. He sings a funny song with his name in it and it has a dance with it too. It goes "Toe Knee Chest Nut Nose Eye Love You" and then there are some other kid's names in the song too. He puts his hands on all of the parts he says, and that is how he dances. The CD with the book was really cool. It reads the story three times and then the lady asks some questions to answer. I liked listening to the CD. It helped me learn some of the words in the book that I didn't know. My favorite part of the book is when the boy is dancing and when we did the dance too! It was cool how he made a song out of his name! My favorite picture in the book was when they were playing on the playground."

Max: "I liked dancing to the song with Cayden and listening to the CD. I liked the skipping part. My favorite picture was when all of the kids were on the jungle gym and one was hanging upside down! I wish I could hang upside down but I am too little."

Parent's comments:

"The Book About Tony Chestnut" by Laurie Monopoli is a wonderful interactive reading experience! Incorporating the names into the movements in the song is very clever and my children found it to be quite amusing. Long after the book was put down they were still dancing around to the Tony Chestnut song!

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Chromatics Attack

2011-03-28T08:03:00.001-04:00

Reviewed by Madeline McElroy (age 9.5) for Reader Views Kids (3/11)

When Emison's mom turns into a shadow and warns her about 'The Chromatics' and then disappears, she must get back her mom before it's too late. About one week after her mom was gone, two new people move in next door in her apartment. Emison must be very careful to not saying anything or her mom might be more in danger then before! The next day Emison meets her new neighbors, a boy named Adam and a girl named Missy. They were very nice and fun. She wanted to tell them about her mom becoming a shadow, but she is afraid they can't keep a secret.

After a long day talking with her new friends, everyone goes back home. Emison wanted to find out more about the Chromatics her mom warned her about and looked them up in 'Google.' Some results said Color Scientists and some said a paint store. She must find more. She searched shadow people but nothing came up. The next morning Emison shows her new friends around the building and they go to the thrift store to sell some stuff for her mom. When they get there, she asked the store keeper Mr. Lewis if he knew anything about the Chromatics. He said they sounded familiar and would look at it later. After they're done, they walk down the alley back to their apartment. In the lobby, Adam asks if they could go down to the basement and see what is there. Emison thought it might be fun so they went down. The basement had low light, very low light, and there was a big black hole in the middle of it, and a boy inside it. There was also a man talking to the boy; he said, "You can't come into our world, it's too dangerous." What did he mean?

The next day Emison, Adam, and Missy go down to the thrift store again. Emison asks Mr.Lewis if he found anything about the Chromatics, and he did. He found a flyer that read, Chromatics Meeting Today Down at Harper Street at 3:00. This could be a clue to finding her mom! They sneak down to Harper and look through the window of the meeting. Who would never know it, there was that big black hole again and Adam and Missy's babysitter Hannah! Then Emison realized her mom disappeared through a hole like that. Could it be the entrance to the shadow world! Tomorrow they plan to go back down to the basement and travel to the shadow world. When entering the shadow world, it was very dark and not a thing of life. The weird thing was that when Adam looked at the sun, it was not yellow, it was a glowing purple, and instead of burning your eyes, it was a beautiful sight. Emison knew she must stick to the case, to find her mom.

The rest of this book will leave you guessing what will happen, and what will not. "Chromatics Attack" is a great story that will keep you wanting to read more! I like this book because I love fantasy books; I think it's so awesome for this author to make up such a cool world and such a cool book! All kids my age and older would love reading this book. I know I loved it!

Bouncing Back From Loss: How To Learn From Your Past, Heal The Present, And Transform Your Future

2011-03-21T10:16:00.001-04:00

Donna Marie Thompson, PhD
Morgan James Publishing (2011)
ISBN 9781600378256
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views

At some point in our lives we are all faced with adversity. I am sure we've all heard people say things like, "What doesn't break you, makes you stronger…" or my grandma's favorite, "Nettles don't freeze…", yet when we are in a middle of a crisis, it is hard to think clearly and even harder to realize that bouncing back from loss is a long and oftentimes very difficult process.

While we rarely have the foresight to prepare ourselves for such devastating circumstances as those described in Donna Marie Thompson's "Bouncing Back From Loss," reading her book at any given moment will give us tools to be better able to fight our way back to sanity when loss happens, or in the case we've already suffered a loss, it will definitely be an invaluable guide out of the confusing, scary and overpowering feelings that tend to overcome us when we are in the midst of a challenge or loss.

Donna Marie Thompson's story of emotional, financial and physical challenges she had to face in rapid succession is brave, deeply personal and incredibly inspiring. What I found the most inspiring was her will to overcome whatever was thrown her way, and the most valuable parts of the book were, at least for me, those which detailed both the challenges she faced and the solutions she devised for them. Through her story the reader could clearly see that both loss and recovery are processes, and they both take a certain amount of time. It would be difficult, if not impossible, to hurry them, and one has to go through certain phases to recognize, accept and deal with the situation, as well as heal from whatever has happened. In addition to the personal story, which in itself is an excellent teaching tool, Donna Marie Thompson offers a variety of exercises and tools to "help you learn from your past, build the present and transform your future." From the 5 Es to recovery (explore, eliminate, embrace, envision and energize) to 21 stupid things people say when someone has suffered a loss, they will help you get back on track and continue stronger than you ever were.

Written in a positive and always affirming tone, "Bouncing Back From Loss" is an intelligent, insightful and useful guide to facing life's challenges and recovering from them.

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Desperate Desires (A Sweet and Spicy Novella)

2011-03-14T09:04:00.001-04:00

Terri Wolffe

Amazon Digital Services (2011)
ASIN: B004MME1HA
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views

In London, England, in 1796, beautiful and feisty Lucinda is about to become a widow. Her much older wealthy husband is in ill health. Fearing that his devious relatives will try to step in and take everything from her, because there is no heir, Lucinda has hatched a plan to solve this dilemma. Enlisting the aid of her loyal servants and her giant brother, she sets out to kidnap the Duke Lucien Douglas IV. The success of this mission is critical to all who are involved because the estate of the Lucinda's husband is home to all of them.

Wise to the ways of the world, Lucien is extremely surprised to discover himself so easily kidnapped. Initially he is angry and resistant to the idea of helping Lucinda, especially when he learns her criteria for choosing him. When he finds himself unable to resist her charms, he quickly changes his mind. Caught up in their desire for each other, they seem to forget all else. When Lucinda's allies step in to help bring them back to reality, they find themselves lost to each other. It is now Lucien's mission to find Lucinda.

"Desperate Desires" perfectly blends erotica, romance and humor. I found the whole eccentric cast of characters to be endearing. The sensual scenes are beautifully written and extremely erotic. I think most readers will find themselves wishing that they could be in Lucinda's shoes. I guess I shouldn't say "shoes" because she certainly wasn't wearing any in the most intense scenes. Terri Wolffe definitely managed to capture my attention with this tale. I highly recommend "Desperate Desires" to readers who enjoy erotic romances.

Head Trip: One Case of Super Twins

2011-03-14T09:03:00.001-04:00

Jack Eadon
Eloquence Press (2011)
ISBN 9780982495407
Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views

Jack Eadon has created a terrifying look into the potential impact of Superfetation (the 1 in 40,000,000 chance of twins being conceived at different times but born together). Roger, a full term baby, and Marcus conceived one month later, born prematurely struggle, in an ongoing completion, one to succeed, the other to keep up.

In a masterful introduction, Eadon describes the growth pattern and the imaginary thoughts of the two developing embryos within the womb. At birth the boys are labeled "super twins" after the medical term "Superfetation."

Eadon goes into great detail describing the personality development of the twins as they compete at home, at church, with girls, in Eagle scouts, sports, and music. Marcus, although premature was born first. Later it was determined that he may have been pushed out of the womb – as the intruder. As an interesting aside Eadon introduces "birth order" implications of this phenomenal possibility.

Careful thought has gone into the development and introduction of each character. Each has their flaws as well as a certain element that leads to possible empathy from the reader.

I found the parallel of the Biblical twins, Jacob and Esau, of great interest. Similarities are woven into the story of Roger and Marcus that are drawn from the Biblical account. Even as Esau threatened to kill Jacob after he was robbed of his birthright and Isaac's blessing by Jacob. Roger in his obsession with envy, rage, and rationalization makes plans to have Marcus killed.

The sexual content relative to personality development and the rites of coming of age are often graphic. The dark evil side that results from compulsive envy gives the reader a glimpse into the seamier side of life. I sometimes felt the reader was provided a little "too much detailed information."

This is the first in "The American Drama Series" which promises to bring to life the seven deadly sins. Jack Eadon combines an active imagination with careful research in this fast-moving, dramatic story as he unravels the deadly results of being obsessed with envy.

The hardback edition, which I read, has an attractive durable binding. I hope to add the entire set to my library and am looking forward to book two in the series, "A Consequence of Greed," which will also feature Marcus Ramsey. "Head Trip" is a fast-moving "page turner."

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Finding Faith: A Novel

2011-03-07T08:59:00.001-05:00

C. E. Edmonson
WinePress Publishing (2011)
ISBN 9781414118673

Reviewed by Kristen Keiran (age 13) for Reader Views Kids

I think that C. E. Edmonson is trying to show people how Native Americans were treated in the early 1900s. You are shown this from a thirteen-year-old girl's point of view; her name is Faith. It all takes place during the depression in 1934.

Faith Covington has everything she could ever have dreamed of - loving parents, a huge house, her parents were rich, and she acted like a young lady. All of this is destroyed when America is hit with the worst thing possible - The Depression. When Mr. Covington's company goes out of business and the banks go bankrupt, Faith's world is turned upside down.

The only possible solution is for Faith and her mother to go live with their Aunt Eva while her father stays in New York to try and find work. Faith finds Aunt Eva is a Lenape Indian making her part Indian too. She is faced with persecution and racism, things she had never been exposed to. After she and her mother have settled in and she has become accustomed to her aunt's ways, things start to go bad. When an Indian named Red-Moon has his barn burned down, Faith and everybody else knows things aren't right. The people are confused and worried and their fears are confirmed when the next day Red-Moon is shot in the head and Paul sees a pickup truck driving away from the scene.

This story is full of adventure and mystery. You also get to know what it would've been like for a teenage girl struggling to survive during the depression while experiencing the ups and downs of living in a new community and learning trust with the Lenape people. My opinion would be that this book is recommended for ages 12+ and for both genders.

I found it interesting when I could relate to the plants and animals. When Faith talks about seeing a black head sticking up out of the water I knew it to be a loon or when she talks about sweet berries growing close to the ground I recognized blueberries.

Finally, I personally loved this book. I have always found Historical-Fiction fascinating and "Finding Faith" is the perfect book to read. C. E. Edmonson tells the story and makes you feel like you are there, like you know Faith and Paul and Aunt Eva, and the setting is described with great detail so you can picture it in your mind. You learn about how a rich and spoiled girl turns into a girl who can live off of the forest, can fish, can garden, can make pottery and do so much more. She finally realizes that maybe the depression was supposed to happen; maybe she was meant to come and live in the wilderness and learn the ways of the Lenape. After all, she could never have done anything like that in the busy streets of New York.

Vampire Ascending

2011-03-07T08:58:00.001-05:00

Lorelei Bell

Copperhill Media Corporation (2010)
ISBN 9780976511670
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views

In "Vampire Ascending," the main character Sabrina Strong has a gift of clairvoyance. Because she has visions when she touches items, she usually prefers to wear gloves. Except for this gift, and her mother disappearing on her after being turned by a vampire when Sabrina was ten, she has led a pretty mundane life. She seems to have the same financial worries and self doubts that most females have. I found myself being able to really relate to her character. Her adventure begins when she takes a job as a clairvoyant with a master vampire's organization. She really, really needs the money if she wants to hang on to the house that she inherited after her father's death.

In addition to the job paying well, Sabrina also discovers that she has something very special about her that tends to attract the attention of vampires and shape shifters. While this can be somewhat startling at times, it is also very exciting for her. As she gets drawn into using her gifts to help discover who is murdering vampires, she suddenly realizes that she is a very hot item. She also finds a link between the mystery of what happened to her mother, and a vampire mark that she received as a child. Having become involved with the mystery has caused her life to become endangered. Fortunately, she has some newly found, attractive friends to help protect her.

I am a huge fan of vampire stories. It all started with "Interview with a Vampire," by Anne Rice. In college, I was thrilled to discover that "Dracula" was on my reading list for a course. Lately, the market has been deluged with vampire tales. While many are very good, some are beginning to give me that "run of the mill" kind of feeling. When I began reading "Vampire Ascending," I was ecstatic to discover that I had gotten my hands on a truly extraordinary vampire tale.

The author, Lorelei Bell, incorporates other worldly creatures into her story. These include: shape shifters, werewolves, demons, and elves. Because they are all a part of mainstream society, with their abilities hidden, this gives the novel a touch of credence that these characters could really be out there in our own reality. Now I know that this isn't really true; to me it helps add to the fantasy. I can still hope that just maybe that gorgeous Native American male, with the long flowing hair, walking down the street is actually a shape shifter. Thoughts like that help me make my mundane world more interesting, but, mind you, not interesting enough to require psychotropic meds.

I think that Lorelei Bell has made a mark in the world of vampire novels with "Vampire Ascending." Fans of this genre will be pleased to discover her work. I cannot wait to see what she has in store for her characters in her next novel.

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King Arthur’s Children: A Study in Fiction and Tradition

2011-02-28T07:59:00.001-05:00

Tyler R. Tichelaar, Ph.D.

Modern History Press (2011)
ISBN 9781615990665
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views

There are probably very few of us who have not read at least some of the stories and legends featuring King Arthur, and marveled about the ideals of Camelot, which could easily be described as an utopian sort of early democracy. The round table, around which the knights could be seated in such a way that they were all equal, the romanticism, the idealism and magic of the Arthurian legends are rather timeless and very familiar to us. But just like with any other story about somebody who lived so long ago, the details and the truth are rather elusive.

Like so many others I've only ever heard of Mordred, Arthur's son, who tended to be portrayed as villain. Tyler R. Tichelaar changed my perception about that and added several interesting directions to explore. And this was just the beginning of the fascinating tale spun by Tyler R. Tichelaar.

The book is divided into four parts. Part I talks about Arthur's most plausible other children, the three sons mentioned in the Welsh sources – Gwydre, Amr and Llacheu. Part II is devoted to the mystery of Mordred. Was Mordred Arthur's son or nephew? Was he a villain or a great king whose crown Arthur tried to usurp? Part III delves into Arthur's descendants, including the possible link between Arthur and the English royal family and Arthur and the famous clan Campbell. As the author mentioned already in the Introduction, if Arthur indeed had children, and more importantly, if Arthur ever really existed – and who could say that he did not? - quite a few of us could be his descendants. Part IV was, in some ways, the most fascinating to me, talking about possible other children, mentioned in different works during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, as well as the modern fiction featuring Arthur and his children. It was this last part that truly made me realize how very present the Arthurian legends still are, and how relevant they are even in the 21st century.

While this is certainly a scholarly study, the author's writing style remains accessible to any reader who is curious about the subject of Arthur's potential children. Even a brief glance at the bibliography at the end of the book tells one about the depth and scope of the research Tyler R. Tichelaar had to perform to write this fresh, fascinating and exciting study. Eight pages of sources should provide even the most curious of readers with lots of additional reading, and the Index decidedly made looking for content of interest much easier when I decided to go back and re-read certain sections. I have thoroughly enjoyed "King Arthur's Children: A Study in Fiction and Tradition," and I recommend it highly to any lover of Arthuriana.

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French Fries, Ice Cream, & Cucumber Sandwiches: A Poetic Memoir of a Journey with Alzheimer's

2011-02-28T07:57:00.001-05:00

Nell Dale
CreateSpace (2010)
ISBN 9781452880396
Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views

In her book "French Fries, Ice Cream, & Cucumber Sandwiches" Nell Dale captures the essence of the roller coaster of emotions faced by the victims and caregivers of those facing the afflictions of Alzheimer's disease.

In brilliant patterns of poetic verse Nell describes her journey through the havoc and confusion brought about by the ominous diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. Her poems relate the progression of her husband Al's cognitive decline. In vivid word pictures she tells of how she went through the stages of denial, loneliness, and of experiencing grief as she experienced the slow loss of her loved one…living but "gone."

Nell speaks of Al's unyielding need for complete attention. She shares keen observations on the unexpected, unpredictable and emotionally draining demands on the caregiver. Nell's willingness to become vulnerable by expressing her deepest thoughts and emotions add another level of credibility to her writing. Her journal entries and poems reveal an amazing spirit of gratitude and a positive attitude in the midst of the various stages of her journey. Throughout the narrative a mutual love and devotion between Nell and Al demonstrate the strength given and received as new challenges are met head on.

A fellow traveler with Nell, I am a caregiver in process. I am reminded of the need to maintain a healthy perspective, to avoid burnout by asking for help, and to accept the challenge a step at a time.

In a moving tribute to Al, Nell encapsulates highlights of his life by using dozens of photographs. They reflect his academic and career accomplishments, as a scientist, as well as his love for life and family. These color pictures add a significant depth to the reality of the impact of Alzheimer's on his life journey.

In this brilliantly written memoir Nell Dale shares insights into her own life as she faces each new challenge of Al's relapse into "childhood." She tells of her faith, her work, her family, and of caring for Al three years in their home. She relates the story of discovering Barton House and of the loving care Al received while a resident. Their story is heartwarming and compassionate. Though unique, it is representative of the growing number of families who are and will be facing Alzheimer's and other dementia related diseases.

"French Fries, Ice Cream, & Cucumber Sandwiches" is a powerful memoir. Al's life is a tribute to all victims of this dread disease. Nell's story is an inspiration to every brave caregiver and those supporters who help them along the journey.

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Awakening Consciousness: A Woman's Guide!

2011-02-21T08:23:00.001-05:00

Robin Marvel
Marvelous Spirit Press (2010)
ISBN 9781615990641
Reviewed by Irene Watson for Reader Views

If you are a woman and know a little about energy, chakras, vibrations, auras, meditations, and spirituality, then "Awakening Consciousness: A Woman's Guide!" is for you. I feel it's a book that would work well for any woman contemplating on expanding her wisdom and power through sources within herself. Thre workbook is simple, concise, and certainly not overwhelming for a beginner.

Robin Marvel presents to her reader ways to get in touch with the vibrational energy within, discover the aura, understand chakras, give self empowerment, recognize the messages in dreams, and much more. In her short and summarizing explanations, Marvel encourages the reader to expand her horizons and experiment with new concepts. As well, she gives the reader the opportunity to write notes, messages, affirmations, or whatever needs to be written in the book itself. In the end this book becomes a personal journal as well as an exercise venue.

All along during my reading and exercise journey I kept thinking that this book would work great in a group setting and sure enough, in Chapter 16, Marvel suggests just that. She also encourages using a talking stick in the group as well as how to make one. I do believe that awakening consciousness is a very personal endeavor; however, I also believe that we need support from other women that have the same goals and aspirations to even take ourselves to a higher state of consciousness.

"Awakening Consciousness: A Woman's Guide!," by Robin Marvel, is one of those little books that you will always remember and keep in the back of your mind when you hear of someone wanting to delve into their consciousness, awaken it and take it to higher levels. This will be the book you will recommend because I certainly do.

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A Generation Awakes: Young Americans for Freedom and the Creation of the Conservative Movement

2011-02-14T08:54:00.001-05:00

Wayne Thorburn

Jameson Books (2010)
ISBN 9780898031683
Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views

"A Generation Awakes" is an objective and comprehensive account of the history, philosophy, and objectives of the Young Americans for Freedom movement initiated, developed, and officially organized in the early 1960s. Wayne Thorburn is well qualified to author this objective account of the dramatic impact the Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) has had on American politics over the last fifty years. He joined the organization in 1961 and served as executive director for the years 1971 – 1973.

The book details the activities of this group of conservative activists who took a stand against the liberalists who were espousing the New Deal in the post World War II years. They took a stand against Communism, took part in the Goldwater and Reagan campaigns, and established new conservative newspapers, and magazines, and opposed the stand taken by the Student for Democratic Society (SDS). Thousands of students have been influenced by YAF.

The influence of YAF still is being felt today as prominent former members have moved into positions of leadership in all sectors of American life. They have not only influenced conservative politics where they have served as campaign specialists and become members of Congress. They have made major contributions in forming policies in public service. They have brought about important conservative influences in the field of communications and media, and have established an important voice in academia. Their personal commitment to moral values has opened the door for them to play an important role in areas of religion. Many former members have become entrepreneurs and are making vital contributions in the world of finance, business, and industry.

I appreciated Thorburn's unbiased coverage of YAF's involvement in the issues relative to the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Kennedy assassination, and the Viet Nam War. I also enjoyed the material Thornburg shared from the personal insights he learned through his own involvement in the organization.

Thorburn's writing is engaging, packed with a balance of political narrative, entertaining anecdotes. His careful attention to detail in historical content is brilliant. His work is thoroughly researched and well documented.

"A Generation Awakes" is highly endorsed for its historical accuracy, comprehensive detail and is destined to become an indispensable resource in the study of conservative politics in America. It is a major work on the history of the conservative movement and will be appreciated by all American history enthusiasts. A colossal accomplishment.

REPAIR for Toddlers: A Children’s Program for Recovery from Incest and Childhood Sexual Abuse

2011-02-14T08:53:00.001-05:00

Reviewed by Carol Hoyer, PhD, for Reader Views

Marjorie McKinnon has done an excellent job developing an activity book for children ages 2-6 who have been a victim of incest or other sexual abuse. The book has bright, colorful pictures, explains feelings and gives prevention tips on what to do if someone tries to touch you and you don't like it.

This recovery book is intended for adults working with children. It gives children an opportunity to build their self-esteem and realize that it is not their fault that something like this happened. It is very easy to read and understand and has easy to follow activities.

The author starts out with defining what repair means; she then starts with each letter of the word repair and gives the parent (caregiver or therapist) and the child the opportunity to talk about the pictures and words. Along the way she provides children the opportunity to tell what they like or what they are good at. Too many times in a child's life there are "secrets" and this is discussed. There is an opportunity to draw pictures and I find that this is one of the best ways to get children to express their feelings.

One of the things I liked about this book is that McKinnon discusses and defines what the private areas are in a kid-friendly way.

After I read "REPAIR for Toddlers," I sat down with my six-year-old granddaughter and asked her to read it and tell me what she thought. She did respond to the activities and said she was glad the author described the real terms for the body parts. She also said she wanted to share this book with her school counselor.

This book and program can be used over and over, even a little at a time depending on the child. There was also an unwritten message for the parent(s) or guardian- maybe they felt guilty about what happened, but this book will help them too.

As a Psychologist, I think the program in "REPAIR for Toddlers" can be used in other areas of abuse, like physical, verbal or emotional.

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A First Guide to Space Creatures

2011-02-07T08:47:00.001-05:00

Faiz Kermani
Lulu Publishing (2010)
ISBN 9780557748792
Reviewed by Evan Weldon (age 9) for Reader Views Kids

"A First Guide to Space Creatures" by Faiz Kermani is a humorous guide about creatures from around the galaxy that are under threat because of industrial pollution, inter-galactic travel, war, hunting, and other alien activities. The book categorizes creatures into Furry, Small but Greedy, Smelly, Definitely Weird, On the Move, Endangered, and Very Dangerous. Under each category there are details about three or four creatures and a color drawing of each one.

My favorite creature was the moonrock hound, an endangered species. It used to be an alien pet but when the aliens left, they abandoned the hounds. The alien government has put out advertisements looking for beings to adopt the hounds. Unfortunately, it is kind of hard to find new owners for them because the moonrock hounds need to be walked seven times per night, they like to live in very cold and dark homes, and due to their huge diet they produce a green gas with a pungent and irritating odor. Do you want to adopt one?

This is a very funny book and must have been a lot of fun for the author to write and to illustrate. The names of the creatures were hilarious gobbledygook that sounded funny but made no sense. Some creatures seemed based on earth animals. For example the blue glod looked somewhat like a dog with an elephant trunk.

I would recommend "A First Guide to Space Creatures" to people who have a good sense of humor and who enjoy reading books about space creatures. I think all my friends would like it. After reading this book, I think people will be inspired to draw alien creatures.

ERIC II: The Encyclopedia of Roman Imperial Coins

2011-02-07T08:45:00.000-05:00

Rasiel Suarez
Dirty Old Books™ (2010)
ISBN 9780976466413
Reviewed by Irene Watson for Reader Views (12/10)

When I first received "ERIC II" for review, I went into overwhelm and wondered how I was going to give a book of near 1500 pages the justice it deserves. But, with a little persistence and a whole lot of interest I delved into it. I have to admit, for the purpose of this review I did not go through every page in detail but I do feel I read enough and perused the rest to give this book the kudos it is worthy of.

"This book chronicles the nature and evolution of the money made by the Romans and through the end of its spinoff civilization, the Byzantines." (p ii) Rasiel Suarez goes on further to tell us that "Most Roman coins feature religious or military themes," and they "came in many different denominations. The weight and metal type of each coin determined how much purchasing power each coin had." (p iii) The historical aspects of coins in "ERIC II" were of much interest to me as I'm sure they will be to avid coin collecting buffs or historians. As well, Suarez gives photographic examples of coins. Crude as the coins may be, the images are clear and the reader can enjoy the vivid comparisons.

"ERIC II," in encyclopedia format, is easy to use. Each ruler is defined by title and dates of reign, biography and plate of the bust. As well, Suarez provides reverse and obverse legends, mint location, metal type, references, and much more for the over 60,000 coins listed. Of particular interest to me was market pricing and I was amazed to see that these rare coins are sold on eBay and for what I felt a very reasonable price considering the age. Others have auction prices which often are much more.

I must say that I am grateful I took on the challenge to review "ERIC II: The Encyclopedia of Roman Imperial Coins" because I have expanded my knowledge of ancient coins by a hundred fold. It is evident that Suarez is an expert on Roman Imperial coins and his passion comes through in his research. I'm sure the coin collecting community is elated with this book because the basic research has been done and provided to them.

I can't imagine any other book on the market even comes close to being compared to "ERIC II: The Encyclopedia of Roman Imperial Coins." Rasiel Suarez, calling himself "just a geek," is to be commended and praised for offering his research to others. I believe every national and international library, with English speaking patrons, should hold at least one copy of "ERIC II" as so should Roman coin collectors.

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Beyond Schizophrenia: Michael’s Journey

2011-01-31T08:24:00.001-05:00

Reviewed by Carol Hoyer, PhD, for Reader Views

As long as I have been a Psychologist, I have always believed, as the author does, that we fear mental health issues because we don't understand them. In this moving book Susan Dunham talks about the journey of her wonderful and talented son through schizophrenia. What started out to be a beautiful life with a brilliant son turned into a nightmare no parent should have to endure and neither should the individual who has encountered a mental health issue.

Part of our problem, as the author states, is that we have healthcare providers who are not adequately trained in mental health issues; individuals are being misdiagnosed or over medicated. Then you have the media, which tosses around psychiatric terms like they were water; no wonder the general population is so confused.

Mike was a wonderful, intelligent son who showed great promise in his life. He was funny, caring and a very sensitive young man. There were two things he wanted out of life- go to college and get into modeling/acting. However, his brain had other plans for him. It started with little unusual behaviors and then, when Susan and her husband Mark went away for five days, a whole new persona took over Mike. After many trips to the hospitals and doctors, Mike was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Susan does an excellent job of describing schizophrenia through her personal experiences and much research. She and Mark were at a loss for what to do – just when things seemed to get better, another issue would pop up. Susan, a nurse, did what most parent(s) would by asking: "Why didn't I know the warning signs? How could I have stopped this? Why couldn't it be me?" The problem is you can't stop it – you can help things go smoother, but you can't stop it.

Through NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), Susan and Mark learned so much from other parents and professionals, along with reading many books on the subject. Family and friends provided additional support- emotional and physical, even when Susan didn't want to tell anyone about Mike and what was going on.

One of the things that Susan discusses is the lack of quality care in some psychiatric facilities. I see this all the time when I visit facilities – it seems as if the staff doesn't care- medicate so they don't bother you. They provide no information or support for families. However, this is not all places- we are getting better but we have a long way to go.

Mike was a fighter. He didn't let go even when he wanted to end it all; it took years, it wasn't an overnight cure. Actually, there is no cure for schizophrenia.

I loved the honesty in this book and the will to not give up regardless of what others said. Family members are often the only advocates for their loved one. What the author shares will say more about this illness than any textbook or class. If nothing else, readers will learn what it is truly like to live with someone who has a mental illness and have no control over anything.

I applaud Susan and her husband Mark, and their son Mike, for their love, dedication and willingness to share this journey with readers.

I would love to use "Beyond Schizophrenia: Michael's Journey" as required reading for my online psychology classes that I teach. It is written with love – not to make readers feel sorry for the family, but to educate. If you can read one person (and I'm sure Susan has reached more) you have done a fantastic job.

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Multiply and Divide with Sticks and Steps®: Teach this Easy Method in Just 5 Minutes

2011-01-31T08:23:00.001-05:00

Reviewed by Christine Watson for Reader Views

Maureen Stearns obviously has experience working with students. In her book, "Multiply and Divide with Sticks and Steps®," she shares her clear and simple system for multiplying that I plan to use with my students from here on out. As a teacher and administrator, I have seen many methods attempted to help students gain understanding of multiplication. An important aspect to Ms. Stearns' "sticks and steps" method is that she shows concretely what multiplication is, instead of just having students memorize the times tables. With a better understanding of why multiplication is used, it's much easier for students to make sense of the process. Without that understanding, true learning is not taking place.

I am grateful to Ms. Stearns for creating a book that teaches us all how to help students understand several math concepts with better clarity. She not only teaches multiplication, but also shows how the method works with division, least common multiples, and square roots. She also uses bigger numbers to show how the process works correctly every time.

The book is simple to read and understand, and then teach to students. Students could even read this book and understand it themselves. There are step-by-step instructions as well as sample problems showing the how the process works. There is a natural flow throughout the book as concepts get more difficult and problems can still be solved using her method.

I highly recommend "Multiply and Divide with Sticks and Steps®" to any teacher looking to find a concrete way to teach multiplication and division that literally shows students on paper what is happening during the process. This is a must-have for math teachers with struggling students. I will be passing this book along to all of my teachers.

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Homecoming

2011-01-24T15:36:00.001-05:00

Reviewed by Marty Shaw for Reader Views

Snowy is a young slave who has never known any other life than one of servitude. However, he and his friends have figured out a way that allows them to stay together. They dance so well together that they sell for a higher amount as a group than as individuals. The life of a pleasure slave isn't a good one, but Snowy and his friends make the best out of a bad arrangement, and Snowy has special gifts that allow him to make things as easy for them as possible. Snowy is able to use these gifts to catch the eye of a R'il'noid named Derik, who buys Snowy and his friends. As for as masters go, Derik really isn't that bad and Snowy figures that life might not be that bad with him, but then something happens that changes everything. Snowy gets deathly ill from a disease that has little effect on humans. This leads Derik to discover, with the help of his half-brother, Nik, that Snowy isn't human. Snowy only has a few memories of his mother and no memories at all of his father, so he's shocked and frightened to learn that Derik's brother, Lai, is his father.

Snowy is given the name, Roi, and begins the daunting task of learning to live as a free person. The fact that his uncle was formerly his owner is a fact that affects the whole family and causes some understandable tension, especially when Derik's history of taking slaves as lovers is widely known among others. Another source of tension is Lai, who carries a lot of emotional baggage associated with Roi's mom and the memory of her departure. He doesn't know what to do with this child who appeared from nowhere and he fears doing the wrong thing because he feels that he did something wrong in raising his other son, Zhaim, although he can't actually admit that to himself. Will Roi be a chance at redemption or proof that the madman, Zhaim, truly is the result of Lai's parenting?

It's easy to feel a little overwhelmed with "Homecoming" because there are a lot of characters that are tied to one another in some form or another. Fortunately, the author does a good job of keeping things in order so it doesn't become too confusing. Snowy/Roi is a likable character and that makes him entertaining to read about. I felt his fear as a slave trying desperately to keep his little family together, and I felt that fear slide towards terror when he was introduced to his new life. He's known some decent R'il'noid slave owners, but the majority of them were twisted and depraved. As a R'il'noid , will this now become his future? His father, Lai, is a good man with a lot of responsibility and a busy schedule. I wasn't too thrilled with Lai at first. His aloofness made it hard to like him, but the story focuses attention on him towards the middle of the book and I was able to get to know him better and I learned that he was actually a good guy who just desperately needed another perspective in his life to allow him to see some errors in his judgment.

Roi's uncles, Derik and Nik, are both good guys who have the best of intentions for Roi, although Derik's wild past makes others frequently question his motives. Zhaim is the half-brother that nobody wants to be related to and he causes more than his fair share of heartache and heart in Roi's life. Ironically, Zhaim's attitude and constant plotting against Roi provides the fire that allows Roi to fully accept his new station in life. Marna isn't introduced until halfway through the book, but she is easily one of my favorite characters, second only to Roi. She is the definition of a true woman, elegant and formally polite when the situation calls for it, but a passionate warrior that won't hesitate to stand her ground when challenged. She's had centuries of heartache that could have destroyed a lesser spirit, but that history simply makes her stronger and more determined.

While "Homecoming" has an ending that confidently wraps up all the loose ends in this part of Roi's life, I'm left with the hope that Ms Bowling might one day let us see how Roi is doing as an adult. If you're looking for a science fiction adventure that has some thought behind it, I highly recommend this story.

How to Interview Like a Pro: Forty-Three Rules for Getting Your Next Job

2011-01-24T15:35:00.001-05:00

Mary Greenwood, J.D., LL.M.
iUniverse (2010)
ISBN 9781450270892
Reviewed by Vicki Landes for Reader Views

Award-winning author Mary Greenwood puts her skills and experience on paper yet again in her latest 'like a pro' installment, "How to Interview Like a Pro: Forty-Three Rules for Getting Your Next Job." Within the pages, she gives practical and realistic recommendations on how to act, what to say (and even not say), when to follow up, what to wear, and much, much more. Greenwood's book makes for a quick and easy read with the implementation of her advice just as simple.

"How to Interview Like a Pro" is relevant and widely applicable, especially in today's struggling economy. Jobseekers need the right tools in order to stand out from other applicants and Greenwood offers exactly that. Each of the forty-three rules can be used by the young and old, the new and experienced, and even the entry-level to executive hopefuls. Ultimately, the book seeks to prepare the reader for what they could potentially encounter, such as questions, interviewing arrangements (i.e., one-on-one or panel type scenarios), and even the out of the ordinary situations. Further, readers are armed with a list of questions and subjects that employers cannot, by law, bring up in the interview process. These questions include information on race, religion, health and genetic backgrounds, sexual orientation, and even marital status. Greenwood concludes her book with helpful contact information for each state's employment agencies.

"How to Interview Like a Pro" is organized in short, helpful rules which makes learning each of them quick and painless. Greenwood writes with authority and experience while giving plenty of encouragement and support. She also includes some fun anecdotes of her own interviews and what she's learned from them.

"How to Interview Like a Pro: Forty-Three Rules for Getting Your Next Job" is THE 'down and dirty' for learning how to interview in the most professional and prepared way possible. Author Mary Greenwood already has two, multiple-award-winning books under her belt and this latest release is sure to garner the same type of attention and honors. Today's tough economy calls for applicants who know how to make themselves stand out in a sea of nameless, faceless resumes and Greenwood's book gives those elusive 'hows' and 'whys' to make for a more successful employment search. A must read for any job seeker!

The DeValera Deception

2011-01-17T08:38:00.001-05:00

Michael McMenamin & Patrick McMenamin
Enigma Books (2010)
ISBN 9781936274086
Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views

"The DeValera Deception" is the first in a series of "Winston Churchill Thrillers" by the father-son writing team Michael and Patrick McMenamin. It is set in the era 1929-1939 when Churchill was without power. His was a lone voice warning against the growing power of Nazi Germany.

In the summer of 1929 Germany plotted with the USSR in a secret military agreement to develop new weapons. Both countries want to dismember the newly revived independent Poland. To distract Britain from helping Poland, the plot includes a conspiracy to put the new Irish Free State at risk by working with arms dealers. It is the intention of the IRA to buy large quantities of arms in the United States.

Winston Churchill is planning a three-month holiday to North America when Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald asks him to take on an assignment to thwart the plans of the arms deal for an IRA overthrow in the new Irish Free State. The plan calls for Churchill to enlist American President Herbert Hoover to prevent the weapons from being delivered to Ireland. British SIS agents are assigned to the project. However Churchill puts together his own unofficial team to gather evidence.

This team includes Bourke Cockran, Jr., a former military intelligence agent, and Mattie McGary a photo journalist working for William Randolph Hearst. The two are attracted to each other even though they often conflict as they travel form New York to Los Angeles in an effort to discover who is funding the IRA as well as the locations of where the arms are amassed.

Cockran has an agenda of revenge to the kill the leader of the IRA team responsible for the murder of his wife in the Irish Civil War. Mattie has secrets of her own. Churchill, Cockran, and McGary are all targets for assassination.

This is a definite page turner. It is a combination of creative historical fact, speculation, and political controversy. Revenge, greed, and power motivate influential men in powerful leadership roles in government, industry, finance, and in the media.

The authors carefully develop characters both fictional and real-life with additional images superimposed into Churchill's personality to better serve the role played out as the story is unveiled. As a member of English Parliament Churchill is described as: impulsive, a calculating romantic, with a reputation as being a swashbuckler, an opportunist.

This is a novel that includes universal interest, a historical setting with a fictional plot which features all of the elements of the "Mystery Thriller" genre. The authors are steeped in information and details from this era in history and Winston Churchill in particular. The Geneva Plan, IRA, and the politics of Irish freedom are all included in the development of the many-faceted complexities of an intricate plot.

I especially enjoyed the authors' attention to detail and the note of authenticity when describing unique and well-known locations of interest in each of the various locales mentioned in the narrative.

The reader is soon asking the question, "What if? What if this really happened?" "The DeValera Deception" adds a new dimension of international intrigue, terrorism, conspiracy, and personal revenge to the genre of historical fiction which is entertaining and highly informational.

Love More, Feed Less: A Tasty Path Toward Avoiding Childhood Obesity

2011-01-17T08:36:00.001-05:00

Randi Lee Levin
The Muffin Lady Inc. (2010)
ISBN 9780974500836
Reviewed by Marissa Libbit for Reader Views

"Love More, Feed Less" by Randi Lee Levin is a guide to feeding your children less with more healthy alternatives. Contents include "How to Add More Fruits and Vegetables into Your Foods," "Better Choices for Flavor and Health," and "Modeling for a Better Life." There is also advice on motivating your children to move more. One chapter titled, "The Power of Homemade Love," however, seems to be the permeating theme for the entire book as the pages are filled with many recipes for the reader to try to incorporate healthier alternatives into the family's diet.

Ms. Levin's book is easy to read with short informative paragraphs about integrating healthy choices into your family's kitchen with quick hints and simple recipes. There are also italicized tips such as to use canola oil rather than vegetable or corn oil as it contains the least amount of saturated fats. While I have not yet prepared any recipes (and I plan to), none appear to have any obscure ingredients.

What I most liked about "Love More, Feed Less" is that the recipes and tips focus on real food that real American families like. There are suggestions given that include serving pizza, bread, and sweets in ways that are still healthy. Sometimes the tips are simply to lessen portion size or substitute fatty ingredients, but the family favorites are not made taboo which is much more practical for the average family. Yes, cooking homemade meals every night can seem daunting, but Levin's ideas for planning ahead or making two meals at once to freeze one can end up saving time in the end. The extra time in the kitchen will be an act of love that can only benefit your family. Help your family to enjoy the benefits of healthy eating with "Love More, Feed Less."

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Mourning Under the Bridge

2011-01-10T09:21:00.001-05:00

C. Amethyst Frost
WingSpan Press (2010)
ISBN 9781595944214
Reviewed by Madeline McElroy (age 9.5) for Reader Views Kids

This book is about a ten-year-old girl named Mourning. She is an orphan who lives with five other orphans under a bridge near a castle. She has been a stray her whole life and being a stray is not easy.

During the winter, Mourning and her friends only had small rags to keep warm and only a small amount of food - they were hungry. Sometimes Mourning and her best friend Jo would sneak around a certain house where a woman who lives there throws parties all the time. After the party, the girls sneak into the house and get some leftovers.

One cold evening, Mourning and her friends heard the orphan hunters. They were all really scared of them because they rode on dragons and captured orphans! When one of Mourning's friends is captured, all the orphans are sad. Later, a carriage pulls up at the castle in front of the bridge. When the man in the carriage spots Mourning, he put a cage on her like she was an animal! To everyone's surprise she finds out that the man who captured her was her older brother! His name was Damien.

Soon everything turned out fine with Mourning and Damien. Although Damien's wife Flora, and her kids Draken, Rowan, and Lacy have a couple fights with Mourning, they soon accept each other and everyone was happy. Damien and Flora adopted Mourning and helped the rest of the orphans find a special place to live. The next chapter will blow your mind, nothing was what it seemed!

I liked "Mourning Under the Bridge" because all the characters and fantasy stuff in the book made it real interesting. I think kids eight to thirteen would like this book just as much as I did. If I could, I would give this book fifty stars!

The Raindrop Who Lost His Cloud But Found His Purpose!

2011-01-10T09:20:00.001-05:00

M.A. Toffle
Beaver's Pond (2010)
ISBN 9781592983537
Reviewed by Cayden Aures (age 6) and Mom for Reader Views Kids

Cayden's comments:

"In this book there is a raindrop and his name is Stewart. He has a face with eyes, a nose, and a mouth, and he even has arms and legs and hair! His head is shaped like a raindrop because it is kind of pointy on top. He lives up in a little cloud in the sky. He gets bored though and wants to know what his purpose is. That is what it says in the title, his purpose. That means that he wants to know what he is there for. He asks some of the other raindrops and they all say the same thing. They want to get bigger and fall to land and go into the big ocean. Stewart doesn't want to do that though. He wants to do something else but he doesn't know what so he asks some other raindrops on different clouds. At the end of the book he figures out what he wants to do though."

"I liked the pictures of the raindrops in the book because they all had different faces. Most of the pictures kind of looked the same though and they weren't very colorful. I didn't think it was nice when those troublemaker raindrops made fog on the roads though because that is hard for people to drive in the fog. I liked what Stewart decided to do at the end of the book. That was a good idea."

Parent's comments:

"The Raindrop Who Lost His Cloud But Found His Purpose!" is one of those books that really make a child think. I enjoyed the discussions about life purposes that this book opened up with my son. M.A. Toffle has created an original book that I think would be best enjoyed by children ages 5 to about 8.

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Iraq Through a Bullet Hole: A Civilian Wikileaks

2011-01-03T08:37:00.001-05:00

Reviewed by Richard Blake for Reader Views

Iraqi playwright Issam Jameel left Iraq in 1994 to work in Jordan during the regime of Saddam Hussein. He took a job with the Almoustakbale radio station owned by one of the Iraqi opposition groups. This choice labeled him and left him in exile. During his stay in Jordan he converted to Christianity. In 2002 he left Jordan to relocate in Australia, where he resides today. "Iraq Though a Bullet Hole" is his unique account of a two-month return for a family visit to Iraq beginning in July of 2005.

Jameel describes his country as shattered by war, made up of a people traumatized by fear, and a government ruled by intimidation, violence, and intolerance, bent on preventing political reconciliation. His visit to Iraq was an effort to provide comfort to a brother and his family whose son was killed by American forces while guarding an Iraq parliament member. He details his day-to-day activities as he exchanged the comparative safety of Jordan for the uncertainty and hazards of Baghdad.

I enjoyed the insights into the concerns of various family members for Issam and his safety welfare. The ongoing dialog with Sami regarding Islamic faith and his concern for Issam's conversion to Christianity provided an interesting slant on the teachings of the Qur'an,

Maps and photos provided in the appendix add another dimension to the narrative, revealing the devastation, congestion, and culture of central Baghdad, its suburbs, traditional houses, and modern structures. He describes the basic hardships such as food, water, and power. He discusses the difficulty in getting a job and selling real estate in light of the hostile religious factions, ethnic splinter groups, and radical political blocs and their on-going struggle for power.

Jameel gives a fair and honest look at U. S. Involvement in Iraq. His writing is stimulating, authentic, and revealing. "Iraq Through a Bullet Hole" is a powerful and relevant account.

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Read review of Innocent War on Reader Views (Adult Review) Listen to interview on Inside Scoop Live

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Read review of Innocent War on Reader Views (Adult Review)

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