Beginner’s Bible App for iPad

I wanted to review this app because I have a 15 month old grandson. He already knows the iPad because we use FaceTime together.

The Beginner’s Bible App is perfect for children on the iPad. It includes six colorful animated stories from Genesis and a wonderful activity for each one. Children can read, listen, color, complete puzzles, and play a game.

My grandson is obviously too young to read, however, I am going to play the Beginner’s Bible App on my iPad for him the next time I see him. It’s an app he can grow with.

The Contessa’s Vendetta by Mirella Sichirollo Patzer

The era is A.D. 1645, in the city of Vicenza, Italy. The population is rapidly decreasing because of a deadly plague. To protect her family and live-in servants, Contessa Mancini quarantines everyone in her home. Against her better judgment, one day the Contessa decides to take a walk, a decision she regrets for the rest of her life. During her stroll down the street, she comes across a young boy, ill and suffering on the ground. She tries to help, and comes in close contact with him, which results in contracting the disease.

If that is not bad enough, a monk finds the Contessa, and tries to help her, as she did the child.  However, thought to be dead from being in such bad shape, they bury her. The only problem is she is still alive.

Contessa Mancini wakes up, and to her advantage, because of a poorly built coffin, she is able to claw and kick her way out, ending up in her ancestor’s mausoleum. During her efforts to escape the mausoleum, Contessa discovers a secret tunnel used by brigands to hide treasures of gold, silver, and gems worth a fortune.

Once Contessa is free, she learns her husband, Dario, and best friend, Beatrice, are having an affair. Neither grieved for her death, and she becomes aware of how little she meant to both, as a wife and friend. Dario even neglects their young daughter, and proves he isn’t much of a father either.

This is where Contessa Moncini develops her strategy for revenge. She tells no one she is alive while she plans and executes her vendetta against Dario and Beatrice.

Mirella Sichirollo Patzer writes with attention and details to her characters and settings. Patzer creates this period of 17^th century history to come alive, arousing my interest.  All her characters bring substance to the story and I appreciate learning about Vicenza, Italy.

My personal concern with, The Contessa’s Vendetta, is that many parts are drawn-out, for example:  Contessa’s thoughts repeated often, prolong the story.

I recommend The Contessa’s Vendetta by Mirella Sichirollo Patzer, to be an entertaining approach to learning history, hence my love for historical novels.

The Charter by Gillian E Hamer

Gillian E Hamer writes an outstanding Chapter One in her historical novel, The Charter. It is typical for the first couple of paragraphs in a book to hook the reader; however, The Charter’s entire first chapter is extraordinary.

As a historical novel, the story is based on the Royal Charter’s shipwreck that occurred in 1859. It is a fascinating read; because it isn’t often I travel to the rocky Welsh coast and the Irish Sea.

The storm of the century claimed many lives on the Royal Charter. The survivors in the Irish Sea, who made it to shore, were happy to possess their gold from Australia. This is where Gillian E Hamer develops her plot.

Sarah, the main character, has a father who displays odd behavior during his life. After his death, Sarah receives clues to locate his gold, at the reading of his will. In her quest to find the treasure, Sarah has to decide whom to trust and whom not to trust. Is Sarah successful in locating the gold?

Hamer adds the paranormal, crime, mystery, and murder, to her historical novel. Are crimes and mysteries solved?

The characters are captivating, and the story reads at an ideal pace. I did predict the outcome of one character, however, that was the exception. The story is unique for a historical novel, and the ‘ghost’ twist Hamer integrated with amazing skill, was not exaggerated.

Gillian E Hamer sends a subtle message in her intriguing novel, The Charter: Greed can wreak havoc on you and your relationships over time.  

I look forward to reading more from Gillian E Hamer; I enjoyed her unique style of writing historical fiction.

The Sun Zebra by R. Garcia

A collection of short stories with unpredictable endings is a description of, The Sun Zebra. If anyone has ever read a review of mine, they know I value unpredictability as the key to great fiction.

The Sun Zebra is a perfect reminder for adults to open their minds and become kids again. To understand events, through the eyes of a child, is a wake-up call to the kid in all adults.

Each story is different, containing the elements of great writing. Nell is a precocious child, who possesses the ability to think critically, and analyze better than most adults. Her father is the epitome of a perfect dad, listening to her and allowing her to think. Her mother is the perfect balance to a loving marriage. Nell is lucky to be a child in this family.

My children are grown up, but this tiny book of wisdom will benefit me to augment my ability to be a better grandmother to my grandson. I thank R. Garcia for writing these pearls in, The Sun Zebra.

Tyrker's Tale (The World's Edge Series) by Robin Ingle

One doesn’t often think about the Vikings, from tenth century Iceland, so this is a great little story to spark an interest in an area of study, abandoned since the fifth grade.

Tyrker is a thrall, which is a slave, and he is training to be the guard of Eirik the Red’s son, Leif Ericson. It’s a story, in and of itself, how Tyrker becomes a thrall for Eirik the Red.

In less than twenty pages, Robin Ingle, has managed to write an exceptional, historical, piece of writing. So much occurs in this extremely short story; we get to know Tyrker, we learn about Viking women, slaves and non-slaves, and we are treated to an inside peek into the mind of Eirik the Red.

Tyrker is educating Eirik’s sons for combat, as he is a well-rounded man of warfare. He is such an interesting character, with an intriguing love life, and I am eager to read more about Tyrker, in the future.

Tyrker's Tale (The World's Edge Series), is my introduction to Robin Ingle. As a reader of historical fiction, I am thrilled to have stumbled across this author, and I’ll be looking for more of her work.

No Mercy (Sgt Major Crane Story) by Wendy Cartmell

This short story anthology, No Mercy (Sgt Major Crane Story), begins my introduction to Wendy Cartmell’s writing. The book consists of three, quick and easy to read mysteries; No Mercy features, Sergeant Major Crane.

The last story is an autobiographical piece, which I question the author’s reason for including it in a mystery anthology.

The mysteries have a ring of familiarity; I have either read similar stories or have viewed comparative TV shows.

I always appreciate the element of surprise in a good mystery. I expected unpredictable endings to the three mysteries; however bleak, I must express disappointment.

The author’s writing style is flawless for composing mysteries, and readers will notice her passion. I encourage, Wendy Cartmell, to continue writing mysteries in the future, however, adding originality to her stories.

I recommend, No Mercy (Sgt Major Crane Story), by Wendy Cartmell, to readers of all ages.