Planet Willie by Josh Shoemake

A Heavenly Detective

 

Being dead and hanging out in heaven isn’t Willie Lee’s cup of tea. After being murdered as a mortal, his ‘future’ becomes rather boring, until he is given a task to change from his angelic state to incarnate and become a detective back on earth.

 

Sporting a no-holds-barred attitude, Willie provides plenty of humor (at times, off-color) throughout the story. He wastes no time enjoying a politically incorrect life, which includes plenty of booze and women.

 

This is not your typical book; the characters are exaggerated and a bit outrageous. Watching Willie balance his angelic thoughts and actions with earth’s many temptations, is amusing.

 

Trying to complete his original task, Willie would also like to solve his own murder mystery.  Is he a successful detective?  Find out by reading Planet Willie by Josh Shoemake. It’s an unusual story, demonstrating a change of pace to be entertaining.

Magic Bridge by Thomasina Burke

A trip around the world!

 

Browsing for a good novel, I was fortunate to locate this treasure, Magic Bridge. The pitch for the book described the setting in Arizona, and having lived in Phoenix, I was excited to take the trip. It was nostalgic visiting Phoenix and other memorable places in the great state of Arizona.

 

There’s more to the story than beautiful landscape, however. We share the lives of Bridgette and Matt, who meet in Crown King, Arizona. Not only do they fall in love and marry, but they travel the world, and as lucky readers, we get to hike right alongside the couple.

 

As with any relationship, there are ups and downs, and Bridgette and Matt live through adversities most relationships hope to escape. Promises are made and Bridgette is put to the test in keeping her word.

 

What balances the heartbreak of the story is being able to travel the world with two characters that relish life, and are intelligent, interesting, and very real. The true meaning of friendship is a major theme in Magic Bridge, and Bridgette and Matt’s friends are the cream of the crop.

 

Booklovers, who appreciate history, and stories about genuine relationships, will be captivated taking a trip around the world with Bridgette and Matt.

Daughters by Florence Osmund

Captivating me immediately, I anticipated a story filled with rich history and conflict of the 1940’s and 50’s. My expectations weren’t met after reading the first couple of chapters.

The story was about a young woman, Marie, who lived her first twenty-something years as a white woman, only to discover the father she never met, was a Negro. Conflicted with being biracial was the heart of the story. But Marie’s conflict involved excessive commentary lacking an equal amount of struggle.

While it was a noble story, with a link to history, I felt so much more could have been expounded to add historical depth. It mentioned a few events, adding language, music, and culture, but I longed for more.

My favorite character was Richard, Marie’s ex-husband. He sprinkled conflict into the story and I looked forward to his unexpected visits.

Daughters, by Florence Osmund, is a feel good story about relationships that will leave you thinking about your own believes and prejudices. Simply touching on historical accounts of the era, it may serve as a motivator for research.

Stop the Whistleblower by Charles Deemer

Reading the novella, Stop the Whistleblower, is compelling.  The book is written like a screenplay and I’m fascinated by the no fluff writing style of Charles Deemer.

As the title suggests, the book is about a whistleblower. Ray is a white man who works for BeautiLine. VitaTan is a new suntan pill the company manufactures and according to Ray, the pill is not safe and he can prove it, and we all know what happens to whistleblowers.

Drastic measures are taken to keep Ray quiet – an overdose of VitaTan – and Ray is now a black man. Trying to convince everyone he is Ray, the white man, is where the story becomes full of suspense and humor. That’s right, I found it to be quite comical at times, which makes it an entertaining read.

Experiencing life as a black man is eye-opening for Ray, his situations range from not being able to hail a cab, to sleeping with a black woman, to being arrested. This all happens while he tries to deal with a jealous half-brother and revenge plans for BeautiLine.

No spoilers here, you’ll have to read, Stop the Whistleblower, by Charles Deemer, to see if Ray lives his life as a free white man or an incarcerated black man.

The Tegen Cave by Inge-Lise Goss

A Spider’s Web of Crime and Corruption

Escaping from her boyfriend, Conner, and his mafia-style life of organized crime, Sara Jones becomes a silent hero in this tangled web of mystery and suspense.

Spiders remain busy spinning a murderous web when they are signaled by a unique sound heard only by spiders. Possessing poisonous venom, the spiders complete their mission consistently.

Sara learns she is immune to the poison, and this is where the story begins to build up suspense on every page.

Caught in a web of deceit, Sara isn’t sure who to trust, Conner, the gorgeous hunk of a boyfriend who entangled her into his life of crime, or the other gorgeous hunk of a boyfriend, Brett, who replaces Conner. Yes, there’s plenty of sex interweaved with horror and violence in The Tegen Cave.

Keeping up with Sara’s libido as she tries to spin a web of moral survival is incredibly entertaining. All the characters become real in this particular world of spiders and creative fiction by Inge-Lise Goss.

Appreciating extraordinary writing was a pleasure. I was engaged throughout the story as there was never a predictable event. I’m hoping for a sequel to The Tegan Cave, by Inge-Lise Goss.

The Dream You Make by Christine Nolfi

Complex relationships

Annie McDaniel is in her thirties – owns and manages Green Interiors, a greenhouse – acting like a teenager at times, in other respects, an intelligent business woman. Michael Rowe is in his thirties - owns and manages Rowe Marketing, a successful marketing firm – acting like a brute at times, in other respects, a caring and generous boss. When the two meet, during Annie’s interview to work at Rowe’s Marketing Firm, there is an immediate attraction.

Annie tries to keep her personal life from her boss, Michael Rowe. Any relationship would jeopardize her chances of gaining custody of her nephew. The secrecy drives Michael crazy, and his way of handling bad situations is to pack up and leave.

While Annie reciprocates Michael’s love, she must put her nephew first, which creates feelings of angst in the relationship.

During most of the story, I couldn’t stand Michael, but I grew to understand and love the guy. The same could be said for Annie, at times, her behavior drove me nuts. Their relationship was complex and is thought provoking – do I judge people too quickly, too harsh – do I give people a chance?

The Dream You Make is all about second and even third chances. Both Annie and Michael forgave each other many times for a chance of happiness.

While I enjoyed the story, I agreed with a remark made by Michael, during a usual work day, “Damn it! I’m sick and tired of the theatrics!” 

Understanding the first section of chapter one served as an introduction, the information was more enjoyable when it was integrated afterward and into the first chapters.

The Dream You Make by Christine Nolfi gives hope to all relationships.

What the Hell is Going On in My Life?: Using the "NEW" Astrology to Find Serious Answers by Larry Schwimmer

Filled with entertaining stories about how the “new” astrology played a part in decision making in people’s lives, What the Hell is Going On in My Life?: Using the "NEW" Astrology to Find Serious Answers, was a fun and interesting read.

Appreciative it was a book of advice written in a sensitive manner vs. an ‘in your face’ style of self-help book was refreshing. One could take away useful information and choose to apply it to their life, or not, without feeling the book was read in vain.

Larry Schwimmer offered a free transit calculator to assist his readers in understanding how they could use the new astrology to improve when, where, and how to make more productive decisions.

As a new fan of the “new” astrology, I’ll be updating my transit calculator when needed and taking advantage of the advice.

See a Heart Share a Heart by Eric Telchin

Reminded of the saying, ‘stop and smell the roses’, See a Heart Share a Heart, is a beautiful comparison to this sentiment.

Each page has captured a heart that is found in a folded leaf, paint drips, a butterfly’s shadow, and a shell on a beach, just to name several.

Captions attached to each heart are thought provoking and the illustrations are striking.

Eric Telchin’s message throughout his inspirational book is: Hearts bring love.

Readers will enjoy taking a moment to stop and See a Heart Share a Heart.

Sherlock Holmes and the Needle's Eye: The World's Greatest Detective Tackles the Bible's Ultimate Mysteries by Len Bailey

More effective as a Bible study.

An unusual idea for readers to enjoy Holmes, but I wasn’t impressed. The book began with the Needle’s Eye, the means to Holmes and Watson’s ability to time travel, but I was left confused.

It continued with ten Biblical mysteries to be investigated. Holmes and Watson took the time traveling trips where they witnessed scenes and discussed clues. Holmes recited Scriptures from memory and the two connected the dots. I found it odd that Holmes memorized Scriptures when he doesn’t share the faith, and Watson was his typical annoying self.

Reading the book as a novel, my thoughts turned to thinking maybe it was more effective as a Bible study. The reader would answer questions provided in the back of the book, which included specific scriptures to follow.

Desiring to finish the book with a pearl or two, as much as I was confused and frustrated, I decided to read the investigative questions provided. They were thought provoking enough for pondering - always a good thing.

To be fair: the book was presented with two suggestions on how to read it, as a Bible study or as a novel/collection of individual mysteries.

Tulsa Tempest (Tulsa Series) by Norma Jean Lutz

The year was 1921; the place was Tulsa, Oklahoma during the Tulsa race riots. The story centered on a nineteen year old woman, Tessa, who fled to Tulsa to avoid marrying one of her father’s drunken buddies.

Tessa is not at all prejudice and she proves it time and again. Her strong beliefs rub off on a man she comes to love.

While I enjoyed the story and the history, I felt there wasn’t enough action and conflict for such a violent and tumultuous time in history. I also found it difficult to establish and maintain Tessa as a nineteen year old, as she was repeatedly described and perceived as much younger throughout the story.

A Christian tone was sprinkled throughout Tulsa Tempest, but not in a preachy way. Tulsa Tempest is an approachable way to be introduced to the Tulsa riots of 1921.

LOVE THUG (a.k.a. Can't I Do Anything Wrong?) By Daniel Berenson

Just be yourself.

Love Thug is a fun story for pre-teens about a first love. Billy wanted to impress Veronica so much he tried to imitate the boy that had already caught her attention. After many failed attempts he realized he just can’t do it.

Berenson wrote for a pre-teen audience, (I don’t see this as a book for older than fourth graders) that is sure to enjoy Billy’s outrageous strategies to ‘get the girl’. A lesson for young kids to be yourself and the right girl will come your way.

I would have liked a challenging vocabulary sprinkled throughout the story. Nevertheless, it was a short, entertaining read that kids will enjoy.

Do Monsters Wear Undies? - A Rhyming Children's Picture Book by Mark Smith

Keeping with Smith’s theme of monsters, this is a silly one asking the question, do monsters wear undies? The rhymes are a great way for children to enjoy a quick, silly book, and Smith masters his poetry.

My Kindle doesn’t provide justice for the illustrations, I realize that, but using my imagination of adding color, I’m sure kids will love the pictures. If sent as a PDF, I could download it on my iPad to appreciate the illustrations.

I wasn’t too thrilled with this particular story; it was okay, but nothing outstanding.

The Book of My Lives by Aleksandar Hemon

Looking for an answer. [ Read below for the answer I received today from the author himself ]

I enjoyed reading the compilation of essays of Hemon’s two lives, one in Sarajevo before war broke out in the 1990’s, the other in Chicago. His style of writing kept me engaged throughout the stories.

This was my first book read by Hemon. I usually do not read other reviews until I finish a book, however, I glanced at the ten reviews posted on Amazon to see if I had read the paragraph written on page 21 correctly. No one has mentioned it, so it looks like I’m alone. Am I reading it incorrectly, or does Hemon say Obama is our president by way of a falsified birth certificate?

I emailed the publisher and the editor and asked this question, but no reply as of yet. The internet provided additional information on Hemon, such as his becoming a U.S. citizen, but I’m hoping a comment will be written by a reviewer, a reader on my blogs, or Hemon himself answering my question.

[ Aleksandar Hemon says:
It was ironic. Read it again. There are people in this country who can only imagine Obama as the other, and thus perpetually suspect. ]

Flying Soup by Bobby Adair

Who said religion and politics don’t mix?

 Throw a can of soup at an antichrist underachiever who shares the left-wing view with his best friends - a gay cutting edge electrical engineer and a mid-level programmer, and you have a plot for a fascinating story.

To appreciate Flying Soup you must possess a sense of humor because Adair masters satire. There’s more truth than not in the characters and situations and I found both written in an entertaining style.

Stumbling upon Flying Soup was a much appreciated change of pace. I haven’t enjoyed a book this much in a while, reading it straight through. It was an intelligent, amusing, and fast paced read.

I appreciated Blair mastering the mix of taboo subjects and creating believable characters to write a really fun book.

Eyes That Could Kill by Derek Haines

A reader may choose Eyes That Could Kill because they enjoy reading mysteries about ancient Greek and its mythology, maybe even Latin mythology, but even if that isn’t the case, Chapter One will hook any reader immediately. It is one of the most intriguing first chapters I’ve ever read.

The main character, Langley Garret, is viewed as a regular run of the mill guy at one point, then becomes a complicated part of a political scheme when he is kidnapped.

Readers have no idea what is going on because poor Langley doesn’t have a clue either. In Derek Haines true form developing his characters, his phenomenal writing style keeps his readers questioning the same things Langley is confused about.

In Eyes That Could Kill, Langley becomes our best friend. We route for him to figure out his predicament, that is while we are internalizing (pun intended) why he thinks in terms of his internal organs, especially during some of his less friendly kidnapping ordeals.

Derek Haines showcases his expertise in letting his readers decide for themselves what his characters are all about. He is at his best writing Eyes That Could Kill because it has the most unpredictable ending for Langley Garret.

Mystery lovers will appreciate reading Eyes That Could Kill by Derek Haines, especially if they want to know if Langley Garret is successful unraveling his kidnapping.

The Golden Grave by David Lawlor

An entertaining way to learn history.

 

A post WW1 impressive historical novel and the sequel to ‘Tan’, The Golden Grave picks up with Liam Mannion in search of gold. A train cargo packed with enough bullion bars to persuade Liam and his war buddy to return to the horrific battlefields of France once again.

Gold wasn’t the only lure; there is a gold seeking, conniving bitch named Sabine, a former lover of Liam, who has recruited a group of servicemen to carry out her dirty work.

Lawlor takes his readers back in time by reliving the horrors during battles. Buried bodies, active explosives, and weapons all come alive in their search for gold. The stench and sight of war being thrown in their faces make the men sick and twisted with greed. Everyone has a plan, there are secrets and lies, and this is what kept me engaged from page one.

What differentiates a good book from a great book is unpredictability. The Golden Grave is packed with surprises throughout the story, none of which takes away from the historical details.

Who ends up with the gold, if anyone? Was it worth the return to hell?

I recommend The Golden Grave to readers who enjoy a great historical novel; it’s an entertaining way to learn history.

the Philadelphia Chromosome by Jessica Wapner

Renewed Appreciation

Reading the Philadelphia Chromosome transformed me into a mini scientist majoring in CML, Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia. I was diagnosed with CML in November of 2003, which required keeping up-to-date on news relating to CML. When I heard about the Philadelphia Chromosome by Jessica Wapner, I was anxious to add it to my shelf of resources.

Reading the book with pencil in hand to highlight new facts as well as valuable previous knowledge, I found myself marking information on every page.

When I was diagnosed my oncologist informed me that if there was ever a good time to get CML, it was now. At that precise moment, I had no idea what he was talking about. He may have elaborated, but in that moment of shock, I didn’t hear much. Wapner’s book has renewed my appreciation of that conversation every time I swallow my oral chemotherapy pill, Gleevec.

I have an entire file cabinet filled with lab results since 2003. My oncologist reviews the findings with me twice a year, but after reading the Philadelphia Chromosome, my understanding of the labs has improved. I have registered for a couple of CML conferences and am confident I will easily grasp new information presented after reading this book.

Years ago I started writing a book about living with CML. I found it too depressing to continue, however, not abandoning the therapeutic effect; I turned it into a blog, which I update once a month.  marycrocco.wordpress.com   Being helpful to a few readers who have stopped by makes it worthwhile.

Wapner shared a story of a patient who cherished her Gleevec and defended it with her life. I do the same thing, always insisting to sign for it and checking the delivery time is set for the morning. I don’t want my miracle pill losing its potency in the heat of a UPS truck.

Thank you, Jessica Wapner, for taking the time to write this incredible book, the Philadelphia Chromosome. I appreciate the effort required in your research to share with others who suffer with CML, or readers who have an interest in cancer treatments.

Bringing to life the names of medical doctors and institutions involved in the creation of Gleevec was important. I owe my life to Dr. Druker, and others, who dedicated a large portion of their lives creating a targeted medicine to fight chromosome abnormality in cancer cells.

Embrace Loneliness - There's Nothing Wrong With You by Gail Billing

While I read nothing new in Embrace Loneliness - There's Nothing Wrong With You, Gail Billing wrote her book with an objective of helping others. The information is good and for readers who have not read similar books on loneliness, then this book will offer sound advice.

Gail Billing wants readers to feel good after finishing her book. She stresses that loneliness is a way of life for some and if it is currently a source of pain, she offers tools to cope and maybe even enjoy being alone.

Embrace Loneliness - There's Nothing Wrong With You is written in a comfortable, non-threatening style, which is sure to benefit readers as they absorb each chapter filled with expertise from Gail Billing.

Odyssey through HELL Exit, Push here: X Reengineering strategies for business, personal and spirit; an autobiographical... by M. Yero Morris

Odyssey is an autobiography of M.Yero Morris that reads like a TV drama on cable or HBO.  Weaved into the story line, the author being the protagonist in his own drama, strives to help readers as a way of accepting his personal challenges dealing with business and personal life.

Included in Odyssey through HELL Exit, Push here: X Reengineering strategies for business, personal and spirit are apropos historical quotes full of wisdom I found to be quite engaging.

Beat Your Brain at its Own Game: 12 Essential Skills for Overcoming Depression by Andrew Wiseman

If someone is suffering from depression and browsing for self-help to find answers, Andrew Wiseman’s 12 Essential Skills may offer a different approach for solutions. It’s written in a non-preachy, personal style, which is taken from his experience. Anyone searching for help will appreciate his sharing of first hand wisdom.

The skills are practical and the book would be helpful to the person suffering and/or family and friends to help a loved one.