Broken Pieces by Rachel Thompson Kindle ASIN B00AR0T74S, $4.99
It is rare when a writer puts so much of him or herself on the paper that you can see them...moreBroken Pieces by Rachel Thompson Kindle ASIN B00AR0T74S, $4.99
It is rare when a writer puts so much of him or herself on the paper that you can see them bleed, but Rachel Thompson boldly steps out of the shadows and puts herself in the light that shows her wounds, her flaws, her heart and you can’t help but be moved.
This book was extremely hard for me to read, even though it is written in short, succinct bits. There is poetry mixed in with short stories that reveals for the entire world to really see just who Rachel Thompson is and all that she has battled, overcome, or made peace with to become the vibrant, confident, successful woman she is today.
Rachel is willing to put herself out there so we can see that even the worst kinds of pain can be overcome. That the human spirit really is indomitable, that while we can be hurt we are tough enough to disable the things that seek to destroy us and use them instead to recreate the person we will be in the future.
Broken Pieces left me in tears. It left me raw – the wounds still chafe, but it left me astounded at the courage Rachel Thompson had shown in writing this book, in breaking taboos, in speaking out and in refusing to use her pain and hurt as excuses to hide behind for the rest of her life.
This is a book about rising above; about becoming more than you can possibly believe you ever will be at those terribly low points of your life. It is about surviving, thriving and living and I recommend it more than any other book I have read. (less)
Spring into Summer by Eden Baylee Paperback ISBN 13: 978-1478257677,$12.99, Kindle ASIN B008IJ4BNM, $4.99
Refreshing is the word that comes to mind when...moreSpring into Summer by Eden Baylee Paperback ISBN 13: 978-1478257677,$12.99, Kindle ASIN B008IJ4BNM, $4.99
Refreshing is the word that comes to mind when describing Eden Baylee’s erotica collection Spring into Summer. It made me believe in hot, sexy love all over again. I found Eden reached deep within herself while writing her short stories and touched her feminine heart and just poured it out on the page. I felt the intoxication of the characters, laughed with them, cried with them, heard the poetry of the Romantics whispered in my waiting ear and felt a yearning that went beyond the merely physical and touched a soul that was filled with more than just lust.
While Baylee’s writing is absolutely everything that erotica should be hot, intense, passionate, it is so much more. Her depictions of her characters are so well done you can picture the shiver of anticipation that races through a woman’s core, hear the deep tones of impassioned speech, picture the sweat on the entwined bodies, feel the struggle to believe in love. To hope that what you see, hear and feel is real and to discover you have a power you never dreamed you possess.
Baylee’s male characters are all strong leading characters in their own right, but it is in the depiction of her female characters that she excels. They are not wimpy, needy, clinging women, but strong, passionate and possessed with a sense of their own power. They are feminine, with all of the wonderful traits that term truly engenders, and she paints accurately, the full spectrum of behavior from women who know what they want and who don’t feel threatened in going after it.
I enjoy good erotica, but Baylee’s tales are so much more than simply good erotica. They are stunning slices of humanity laid bare at their most vulnerable moments and shared with her readers. I cannot recommend Spring into Summer, or Baylee’s talent highly enough. (less)
A Date with Death By Louisa Bacio ISBN 978-1-61333-363-1, ASIN B00916WA8E $2.99, NOOK Book 2940014811088 $2.99
I’m not sure what I was expecting when I s...moreA Date with Death By Louisa Bacio ISBN 978-1-61333-363-1, ASIN B00916WA8E $2.99, NOOK Book 2940014811088 $2.99
I’m not sure what I was expecting when I saw the title of this book, but it wasn’t the warm, loving, but erotic tale that I got.
Maise finds herself in heaven’s waiting room, awaiting her final judgment. At 24, Maise is filled regrets, but key among them is dying a virgin. It wasn’t that she was saving herself for marriage or anything – she just never had the opportunity. But as Maise is mourning this fact she finds a business card for the mysterious Madame Evangeline. She vaguely recalls taking the business card off the windshield of her car and placing it on her seat the night she died. Somehow, it ended up in her purse here in this waiting room. From the waiting room she contacts Madame Eve who, after finding out Maise hasn’t faced her judgment yet, assures her she can meet her needs and set her up for one night of purely sensual pleasure.
Maise thinks of her perfect man, presses *69 on her phone and suddenly finds herself transported to a Castillo resort. Maise is in for a night beyond her wildest dreams, but what will happen when the morning comes?
Reece is in mourning for his brother who recently died. He had applied to Madame Eve’s 1 Night Stand dating service only because it was a gift for his twenty-ninth birthday from his brother. There had been no response, but this morning he receives a message that his “perfect match” has been found. Reece isn’t sure he believes in perfect matches anymore, but out of respect for his brother Reece decides to follow through, after all, it’s only a commitment to a one night stand.
Maise’s beauty leaves Reece breathless and from the moment Maise lays eyes on Reece something wonderful and new stirs within her. Their night is amazing as Reece makes love to her over and over again making her feel like the most important woman in the world. How can they overcome the huge obstacle standing in the way of their happiness?
Bacio sets the perfect tone for the story it is bittersweet, filled with both discovery and regret. It is erotic, but romantic and so touching you can’t help but sympathize with Maise and eventually Reece over the untenable position they find themselves in. Madame Eve is known for bringing about a “happily ever after” for the couples she works with, but can she pull it off this time?
Bacio makes the story rich, erotic, sweet and believable. She adds touches that make Maise’s first, and only, experience with making love full of desire and memorable moments that will last her forever – they have to, this is the only chance she’ll ever have to make love before she walks through those doors and into her judgment.
I definitely recommend A Date with Death. It is erotic, romantic and everything a love story should be while presenting some unique obstacles our couple will have to overcome if they are ever going to be able to have their happily ever after. (less)
Fated By Carolyn McCray Copyright 2010 by Carolyn McCray An Off Our Meds Project, published by arrangement with the author ASIN B0050VRK20 $2.99
Fated by C...moreFated By Carolyn McCray Copyright 2010 by Carolyn McCray An Off Our Meds Project, published by arrangement with the author ASIN B0050VRK20 $2.99
Fated by Carolyn McCray was a wonderful excursion into the “what if” realms of history. I loved it. It was interesting, it was passionate and it painted a character from history – a much maligned character I must add – in a light that made him human, even if from the story’s point of view he was so much more.
I loved the character of Brutus as written by McCray, a just man who believed in freedom and the individual’s right to determine his or her own path. I liked the fact that Julius Caesar was painted as a man rather than as a martyr, both his good points and his bad points were touched upon. I found the arrogance of Marc Antony rang true, whether that was in fact his personality or not, McCray convincingly made it so. Most of all I loved the character of Syra, proud, strong and more than a match for any man.
I liked the premise that there are people who are more than human who are called upon at key times in humanity’s quest for knowledge and growth to shape events in such a way that mankind benefits from them in the long run. I ached for the characters where their destinies could not be changed and they had to squarely take responsibility for actions they were called upon to take.
Through the pages of her novel McCray made both history and its major players more interesting and understandable to the average reader. It made me want to head for the non-fiction section of my local library and find out more about Julius Caesar and Brutus, and perhaps gain a glimmer of what made Brutus a partner in what is undeniably one of the most famous assassinations in recorded history.
McCray caught me up in her story, stimulated my mind and my senses with characters and scenes so vivid they will be etched upon the canvas of my imagination for some time to come. Once I started reading Fated I was loathe to put it down even to sleep at night and upon rising I returned to it as soon as possible on the new day, anxious to see what lie ahead for the characters so interestingly and intricately woven together into a rich tapestry by McCray. I highly recommend Fated. (less)
Blood Line By Kate Hamilton Copyright 2011 by Kate Hamilton Amazon Kindle ASIN B004KZOU3E $4.50
Blood Line by Kate Hamilton is one of the more interesting...moreBlood Line By Kate Hamilton Copyright 2011 by Kate Hamilton Amazon Kindle ASIN B004KZOU3E $4.50
Blood Line by Kate Hamilton is one of the more interesting romances I have read lately. I found its plot line unique and highly interesting. I enjoyed a few good chuckles as I read through the book. It is the tale of Lauren, a reluctant bride promised in marriage to the Scottish Laird Hugh MacBreach, and of Lauren’s guardian angel, Cidriel.
Lauren is Cidriel’s first assignment and some of his skills, especially those in human communication could use a bit of polishing. On his first visit to Lauren he fails to impress upon her how serious her plight is and he then finds himself in one position after another where his skill and timing are sorely pressed as Lauren seems to continually land herself in hot water.
Lauren finds herself embroiled in a Gothic suspense of the first caliber as she ties to avoid marrying the one man who might possibly be able to make her happy. But before Lauren can hope to find to find happiness she has to avoid the attempts on her life and try to discover her role in a prophecy she finds in a book in her library. All signs seem to point to something dark and terrible for Lauren, but can her angel help her out of her bind, and speaking of her angel, there’s sparks flying between Lauren and Cidriel. Maybe things are even more complicated than they appear on the surface. Could the right man not be a man at all?
Kate Hamilton keeps you guessing on this one up till the final paragraphs. I don’t want to give anything away, but I think you’ll find the ending quite satisfying. I know I did. Until you reach it you’ll be kept turning pages by Hamilton’s excellent storytelling skills and her ability to continually draw you deeper into the story. I read the story through in two evenings as I did not want to put it down. When it was over I enjoyed the glow that comes from experiencing a tale well told and a romance that was exactly that, something that made your heart pound with excitement and joy. It was a wonderful experience. (less)
Anomaly By Thea Atkinson Copyright 2010 by Thea Atkinson ASIN B004C0542S, ISBN NOOKbook 2940011157271,
Anomaly by Thea Atkinson is a thought provoking lo...moreAnomaly By Thea Atkinson Copyright 2010 by Thea Atkinson ASIN B004C0542S, ISBN NOOKbook 2940011157271,
Anomaly by Thea Atkinson is a thought provoking look into the life of J, a transgender person struggling to find an identity to cling to while trapped in a male body that doesn’t normally feel as though it is his own. J’s life will undergo more changes than he thought possible in the space of one short week. Not only will his identity go from masculine to femme in that time, but he’ll find someone he could care for, maybe. Go through hell to help a next door neighbor he just meets. And try to help out his dearest friend, only to discover that in the end, he’s the one with the real problems.
J is a rich and multi-faceted character. He comes across so well on the page. Kind, infinitely human, with just enough smart ass thrown in to cause him trouble. He’s flawed. He’s put himself through all kinds of torment, but in the end he’s a decent person you can really like. I feel as though I should be alternating pronouns between “he” and “she” as I describe J because ultimately J is both masculine and feminine. As a man J describes himself as a “pretty boy,” as a woman J feels ugly and incomplete without her makeup on, just like most other women I know. J’s character just feels ‘real’.
I recommend Anomaly by Thea Atkinson. It puts a name, face and personality on an individual’s struggle to be recognized for who he or she is regardless of the gender presented. It brings light to where we as a society fail transgendered people. (less)
The Hate and Manhunt by S. L. Pierce Copyright 2011 by S. L. Pierce, Smashwords ISBN 978-1-4580-4598-0 Kindle ASIN B004O6MVAS $.99
I occasionally review...moreThe Hate and Manhunt by S. L. Pierce Copyright 2011 by S. L. Pierce, Smashwords ISBN 978-1-4580-4598-0 Kindle ASIN B004O6MVAS $.99
I occasionally review novellas or short stories. This review is of the short stories The Hate and Manhunt. The Hate is the short story that is for sale, Manhunt accompanies it as a free gift. Both stories are very interesting for very different reasons.
I found The Hate to be a really interesting story of the revenge all of us would like to exact if we were in the protagonist's situation. There isn't a person reading the story who couldn't identify with the grief-stricken mother and her need to get even, at any cost. What I really enjoyed was the end of the story. I don't want to give it away but suffice it to say that it too is a situation I could see happening, under the right circumstances.
Manhunt is a very different type of story. It is the tale of a young woman who grows up to be an assassin and who kills the President of the United States. In a story that at first appears to bear little resemblance to the original circumstance - she killed the president - the ground work for her tale is laid. The twist at the end was great and really tied together everything I had read up until that point. It made the entire story echo through my mind as the reality of her conclusion hit me. It was great.
The Hate and Manhunt can both be read in a few hours. While a thread of commonality runs through the stories they are very different from one another in scope. I enjoyed both of them and think they are well worth the investment in their purchase. (less)
Clementine by Cherie Priest copyright 2010 by Cherie Priest, published by Subterranean Press, PO Box 190106, Burton, MI 48519 http://www.subterraneanpre...moreClementine by Cherie Priest copyright 2010 by Cherie Priest, published by Subterranean Press, PO Box 190106, Burton, MI 48519 http://www.subterraneanpress.com ISBN 978-1-59606-366-2 available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble for $4.99 for the eBook
Clementine is the second installment set in Cherie Priest’s “Clockwork Century” world. It is a world where the American Civil War still continues, great and terrible machines are being made and the city of Seattle, Washington is walled in and quarantined.
Clementine picks up the story of Croggon Hainey, a runaway slave who years before stole a Union war dirigible he renamed the Clementine. The Clementine is stolen so Hainey sets off in another stolen airship to try to recapture the Clementine and a race across the country, from Seattle, Washington to Louisville, Kentucky is on.
As Hainey races to recapture the Clementine, Maria Isabella Boyd, better known as “Belle” Boyd, a former Confederate spy has just gone to work for the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, her job, to make sure the Clementine makes it safely to her destination. She’s given the information that Hainey, a man wanted by the Confederacy Belle used to serve, is hot on the Clementine's tail. Belle is given a free hand to deal with Hainey any way she wants, including turning him over to her former pals within the Confederate Army.
Clementine is a really good read, although I didn’t like it as much as the first Clockwork Century novel Boneshaker. There is plenty of action in Clementine, but I didn’t feel as though there was enough tension in the book. It’s there in places, but it builds and releases coming to only a moderate climax at the end of the book. I personally prefer novels that continue to build their tension throughout the book without any of the periodic drop-offs that I experienced while reading Clementine.
I really enjoyed the characters in Clementine and the interplay that takes place between them. I was already slightly acquainted with Croggon Hainey through Boneshaker. To me he is the Civil War equivalent of a Rambo, rushing in guns blazing saying to hell with the consequences. He knows he wants his ship back and he’ll run over anyone or anything that gets in his way.
Clementine is worth the time it takes to read it. It’s relatively short. It’s fun and it’s a definite must read if you are a fan of Priest and her Clockwork Century world. (less)
Imago Chronicles Book Four: The Tears of God by L.T. Suzuki copyright 2003 by L.T. Suzuki, available from the author's website http://web.me.com/imagobo...moreImago Chronicles Book Four: The Tears of God by L.T. Suzuki copyright 2003 by L.T. Suzuki, available from the author's website http://web.me.com/imagobooks $5.99
The imagination of Lorna Suzuki is a rich and complex place and nowhere is this made more apparent than in her stellar novel The Tears of God. The Tears of God is the fourth installment in the fantastic Imago Chronicles.
The land of Imago is a wondrous place where brave warriors and knights still fight to preserve their people and keep them free of any evil that threatens to harm them. Imago is people with humans, elves, knights, kings, princes, princesses and all the wonderful things you love to see in fantasy. It is also full of great evil that threatens the lives and loves of the characters you have come to care intensely about.
In The Tears of God Nayla finds herself battling evil in a new form, but this time it’s more personal than it’s ever been before and she must not fail or cost would be unimaginable. The Order is gathered together once again to confront an unknown enemy, or is it really an enemy from the past? Could it be one they thought they had vanquished?
Imago Chronicles Book Four: The Tears of God is the best of the Imago novels to date. Suzuki’s storytelling skills exceed all expectations and the story sets you in the middle of heart-stopping action from the outset. Suzuki handles multiple points of view with ease, always placing you where the story is the most intense. The pace is relentless in this addition to Imago Chronicles.
I highly recommend The Tears of God. It is a wonderful fantasy in the old tradition where the fates of not only individuals, but kingdoms, and entire lands are all at risk. The stakes are high, the action pounds through the pages like a herd of stampeding cattle and all you can do is get out of the way and keep reading till the final climax. I highly recommend Imago Chronicles Book Four: The Tears of God. The Tears of God can absolutely be read as a stand-alone novel. There is no need to have read the previous novels in order to understand it, any backstory that is necessary is provided within the novel itself. (less)
**spoiler alert** Imago Chronicles Book Two: Tales from the West by L. T. Suzuki continues the story of Nayla Treeborn begun in the first volume, A Wa...more**spoiler alert** Imago Chronicles Book Two: Tales from the West by L. T. Suzuki continues the story of Nayla Treeborn begun in the first volume, A Warrior’s Tale, which incidentally is optioned for a major motion picture. Tales from the West introduces a palate full of new characters and a new adventure and a new love for Nayla. Will this love be more faithful to her than her first love was? You’ll have to read to see.
Tales from the West is artfully crafted with a scintillating storyline and a constant escalation of tension that will keep you turning the pages. I read this 413 page book in three days. I think I only stopped to grab coffee so I would have the energy to keep reading because I had to know what was going to happen next. Nayla Treeborn is a character near and dear to my heart and I can’t wait to read the rest of the books in the series.
In Tales from the West a great quest is undertaken by seven men, six humans and one elf. Of the males all are warriors save one, an innocent, a boy, the young squire of one of the princes in the party. Together the party is destined to try to protect humans and elves from the coming of a get evil, the dark lord Beyilzon and his mighty army. If they fail, the worlds of elf-kind and humankind will be lost. It is an all or nothing situation.
The young squire is stolen from the party by emissaries of the dark lord and this is where Nayla enters the picture, battling the emissary who has the boy and freeing him. Nayla flees after the battle to pursue her own quest. Due to her stature and her battle skills all are left wondering who the boy or young man who came to their rescue was. Then Nayla comes to their rescue a second time, leading the group to safety after a hazardous turn of events. It is at this junction that the party learns their rescuer is actually a woman, who can not only carry her own weight, but best any man among them. After some consideration part of the party asks Nayla to join them on their expedition. Not everyone likes this idea but after giving it due consideration Nayla, and because of one member of the party in particular and his role in relation to her own people, Nayla decides to join forces with the expedition.
As usual Suzuki, a master at martial arts herself, brings all her knowledge of this art to bear in the fight scenes making them realistic. Her writing skill makes the scenes steal your breath away. At every turn she is the consummate professional drawing into the world of her creation with artful imagery and storytelling.
What follows is a passage from Imago Chronicles Book Two: Tales of the West:
“At the mouth of the Gap where the pass opened up into Darross, Markus and Arerys caught up to Faria. An Expression of utter shock was etched across this knight’s face as he took in the carnage. His mind was reeling, unable to comprehend the magnitude of the devastation that lay before him. Nicobar, his childhood home, was now but a memory. And against the night sky, King Sebastian’s castle was a stark silhouette, dark and abandoned. The banners bearing the golden dragon, the heraldic symbol of Darross that once flew high and proud over the castle walls were now conspicuously absent. Faria’s eyes scanned the darkened landscape littered with the dead. Everywhere, there lay body after body. He dismounted from his steed as he gazed at the fallen knights and soldiers before him. “How can this be?” gasped Faria, shaking his head in disbelief as he swallowed back his mounting rage. “This would only have happened if the captain was killed at the onset of the battle,” determined Markus. “The ranks collapsed and mayhem ensued.” “Do not say that!” growled Faria. “The captain is not dead! He cannot be dead!” Ignoring Markus’ words, Faria frantically raced from corpse to corpse, searching the faces of the knights once in King Sebastian’s service. “Faria, we must move on,” ordered Arerys. “There is nothing we can do for these men.” The Elf’s words went unheeded as Faria scrambled from one knight to the next. As he came to a body that lay near the banner bearing the emblem of the golden dragon, Faria fell upon his knees. Many arrows had pierced the knight’s body that lay before him. Arerys and Markus came to Faria’s side. Carefully, he removed the helmet, gently cradling the dead man’s head in his arms as he trembled, overwrought with sorrow. Faria began to weep for this lost life. “Who is this fallen knight you grieve for?”questioned Arerys, as he knelt by Faria’s side. Gazing up at Markus and the Elf, through his tears Faria spoke: “Here, in eternal sleep, lies the protector of the House of Northcutt; trusted servant and loyal knight to King Sebastian.” “He was the captain?” determined Markus. “He was my brother, Davenrow Targott,” responded Faria, a sad sigh escaped him as he lay the younger sibling down. “The one I had appointed to captain the army in my absence.”
Tales from the West is full of examples of the personal tragedies and triumphs of a people who have literally set out to save the world. Its tension is finely tuned, its characters skillfully drawn and it storytelling exquisitely set forth. Tales from the West is a prime example of why fantasy and adventure is such a wonderful release for those who, like me, love it.
Please note that with some booksellers this book is listed as the first in the series. To avoid confusion look for the words Tales from the West in the title or search for it by the ISBN number. Currently the book is available only in electronic format for popular reader applications and in a pdf version although a print version will be available in the near future. If you purchase the book in deluxe PDF version through the author’s official website at http://web.me.com/imagobooks it is numbered correctly as the second book in the series. (less)
DIARY OF A MAD GEN Y ER by Marcus Dino is one of the most delightful reads I’ve had in a long time. It is a bit hard to classify as it could be intend...moreDIARY OF A MAD GEN Y ER by Marcus Dino is one of the most delightful reads I’ve had in a long time. It is a bit hard to classify as it could be intended for Young Adults, but would probably be a good read for anyone from the middle grades through adult age ranges. The main character is a creative and imaginative twenty-five-year-old actress named “Fifi” Larouche. Fifi, whose real name is Cheryl though you’d best not call her that, is working as a waitress at “a greasy spoon diner” while waiting for her big break.
Fifi is from the Midwest. Los Angeles presents its own challenges and joys for Fifi. Her wonderful imagination and fanciful dreams enliven this great story. Join her as she travels through her dreams into mysterious realms or as she joins the author, whom she refers to as a “glorified typist” in a trip to the fictional Kingdom of Sumon, in the Middle East. Regardless of where her travels take her, Fifi is always filled with joy, hope and strength of character.
Fifi isn’t the only interesting character in this book, although she is certainly the main one, she has many friends chief among whom are Alocki the alien, Fifi’s boyfriend Biff and an Englishman named Dirk, who although he only appears in two stories, made a powerful impression on me. Flifi, Fifi’s alter ego fairy also has her own section dedicated to wise advice to people. Flifi is also in the Kingdom of Sumon story and uses a warning about her unique fairy talent to let the Sultan of Sumon know when he’s gone too far.
DIARY OF A MAD GEN Y ER is made up of Fifi’s “Silly Stories”, Fifi’s “Silly Poems” and Fifi’s blog. It also contains Marcus’ “A Visit to the Kingdom of Sumon” and Flifi’s “Thoughts and Tips” as well as a brief and amusing “Introduction.”
I can’t stress enough how much I enjoyed DIARY OF A MAD GEN Y ER by Marcus Dino. If you read only one book for pure fun this summer it should be DIARY OF A MAD GEN Y ER.
What follows is an excerpt from DIARY OF A MAD GEN Y ER:
"I'm rubbing my shoes. I’m rubbing my shoes. I’m rubbing my shoes and the next thing I know I’m wearing this colorful, old-fashioned looking dress and black shiny high heels. I’ve got my hair all put up in a bun and I’m in this beautiful night club. I see all these nicely dressed ladies entertaining handsome young soldiers and sailors. There’s this big band playing such beautiful songs. The girls are serving the GI’s coffee and sandwiches and all kinds of goodies and they’re also dancing with them.
The next thing I know, omigosh, I see a fella I recognize as a big name actor from the 40s all dressed up in a nice suit and tie. We’ll just call him John. He comes up to me and says, “Shake a leg honey. Grab that tray of doughnuts. The boys are hungry.”
Well he may have been a big name 40s star but I don't care, the nerve of the man talking to me like that.
“Excuse me, my name is Fifi, not ‘Honey.’ I have no idea where we're at, but you sound like you should be in the Neanderthal exhibit at the local museum of natural history. You may be a big shot movie star, but I will not be addressed in such a demeaning way.”
John looked at me and chuckled. “You got a lotta spunk in ya kid. All right I didn't mean to be so crude? Will you please, Fifi, serve the soldiers these doughnuts? Fifi huh? Just the like the French poodle. I knew a gal whose name was Fifi a few years back. A French girl, a cute little actress, I don't know what happened to her. She went back to France a few years ago and of course I hope she's okay. You know with the occupation just ending.”
“The occupation? Omigosh are you talking about the German occupation of France? So I’ve gone back to World War 2? What day is today?”
John gave me a curious grin. “Are you okay kid? Maybe you've been out in the sun too long. Of course we're talking about World War 2. What other war is going on right now? It's Dec. 7, 1944, the third anniversary of Pearl Harbor.”
DIARY OF A MAD GEN Y ER by Marcus Dino, copyright 2009 by Marcus Dino, published by SummerTime Productions, WGA Registration no. 1360788, ISBN 978-0-615-30500-4, available online from $7.00 for the eBook (less)
Conscious Footsteps: Finding Spirit in Everyday Matters By Dianne Eppler Adams
Conscious Footsteps: Finding Spirit in Everyday Matters by Dianne Eppler...moreConscious Footsteps: Finding Spirit in Everyday Matters By Dianne Eppler Adams
Conscious Footsteps: Finding Spirit in Everyday Matters by Dianne Eppler Adams is a unique find in the world of books of spirituality. Dianne draws upon her own heightened awareness and her experience as an astrologist to bring an entirely new refreshing perspective to books on spirituality.
Conscious Footsteps: Finding Spirit in Everyday Matters is a self-help book in that it does help highlight practices you could now be doing to help you and the world around you to achieve better balance and happiness.
Adams recognizes we are going through difficult times and acknowledges that more of the same is likely, but she shows ways, such as focusing on the positive or helping with a charity, to get through these times. As she aptly points out the key to surviving these times is to take the focus off of ourselves and put it on someone, or something else.
Another thing Adams emphasizes is the fact it is better to say nothing at all than to tell even a “white lie.” She uses the example of someone asking us how we are and the fact we almost invariably reply with “fine.” Adams points out that it’s better to say nothing than to answer that you are fine if you aren’t. Don’t be rude or anything, just come up with a true, but non-committal answer.
Adams also strongly emphasizes out uniqueness and how important our opinion is, even when it differs from that of the world around us. Voicing our opinion can help other see another side and may help bring balance, or a better resolution to a situation. She also points out that we need to honor ourselves in our lives, opinions, relationships and interactions with others and the world around us. We need to find ways to both give and receive in our relationships so we can be fulfilled and have an inner well of strength to draw on. We need to not allow fear to hold us back. That only brings about more fear and a constriction in the natural flow of things.
I’m giving away way too much of Dianne’s book, but let me point out that these examples are only a very small portion of the life-changing examples of Adams work and these are all in the first few chapters. Also, you can use the book as a daily reference – or whenever you want/need to – just pop it open to a page and apply that point for the rest of the day. It works great.
What follows is an excerpt from Conscious Footsteps: Finding Spirit in Everyday Matters:
“I remind myself that I did not create myself. Therefore, I am not the beginning and end of the strength on which I can call to manage my life. I frequently call on Spirit during the day with an inner thought or wish or prayer. I ask for strength when I feel weak. I ask for clarity when I am confused. I ask for patience when I am frustrated.
The operation of Spirit is not something I fully understand, but I trust it. I consider it humorous that, with our little brains, we think we might understand the vast wisdom of Sprit. For this reason, I believe all religions and belief systems are only partially true. All mystics, seers, and prophets see part of the Truth but not the Whole Truth. They are trying to access the Truth with a puny (relatively speaking) instrument called “the human mind.”
When I am fearful, I all on the strength that comes from beyond me and trust that Spirit is handling everything.”
Conscious Footsteps: Finding Spirit in Everyday Matters by Dianne Eppler Adams, copyright 2010 by Dianne Eppler Adams, published and distributed by AuthorHouse, 1663 Liberty Drive, Bloomington, IN 47403, ISBN eBook 978-1-4520-1149-3, soft cover 978-1-4520-1147-9 (less)
Ghost Of The Black by Alan Baxter really had the potential to be a good story. some of the elements were there but it rushed toward the end of the sto...moreGhost Of The Black by Alan Baxter really had the potential to be a good story. some of the elements were there but it rushed toward the end of the story. Also the transition between scenes in some places was unimaginative, merely a spaceflight to a new place or a fight and the new scenes started. The plot line was good, but the characters, including the "hero" were all stereotypical.
Baxter's Ghost of the Black and my appreciation of it may have been affected by its brevity. It is a very difficult task to develop intense characters in novellas and short stories and Ghost Of The Black is not an exception to this problem.
The story line has so much potential for a longer work and I think I'm biased because that's really what it made me want, a longer work were Baxter could explore the characters more and really add some depth to the story. I really like the plot, I just think both the "hero" and the "villian" could have been much rounder characters.
I actually wish we had a score that was a two-and-a-half because there were aspects of this story that I really liked, but there were also aspects I felt were only okay, so given the choices offered I had to give it two stars, though in truth it falls somewhere between two and three. (less)
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