Renee Hand's Blog, page 7

March 30, 2015

Review for Dr. Dee Dee Dynamo's Saturn Surprise by Oneeka Williams M.D.




Book DescriptionPublication Date: February 18, 2015 | Age Level: 6-12The rings of Saturn go round and round,
Disappeared one day and could not be found.
To put them back, just take a chance,
And join me in the Saturn Dance!
Meet Dr. Dee Dee Dynamo-
9-year-old girl Super Surgeon on the Go.

Born with supernatural powers from electrical energy, she jets around the Universe fixing problems with her gifted hands. Dr. Dee Dee’s, and cousin Lukas’s, visit to the Island of Positivity Planetarium is interrupted when Gordon the Gullible Globe sounds the alarm that Saturn’s rings have disappeared. Dr. Dee Dee is skeptical but mobilizes her team of assistants and instruments for a mission to Saturn. Oh boy! Is she SURPRISED when she arrives at Saturn!


About the AuthorDr. Oneeka Williams grew up in the Caribbean with her mother, a science teacher, and her father, a journalist. Her love for the sciences and for writing developed at an early age, as did her desire to become a doctor. When she first entered the operating room while attending Harvard Medical School, it was love at first sight. Dr. Dee Dee Dynamo embodies all of these elements and encourages kids to live a life without limits. This is Dr. Williams third book. Dr. Dee Dee Dynamos Mission to Pluto and Dr. Dee Dee Dynamos Meteorite Mission were the first two. She is a practicing surgeon and lives in Massachusetts with husband, Charles and son, Mark.
Review:Dr. Dee Dee Dynamo's Saturn Surprise is a delightful story filled with great information about the planet Saturn. Dr. Dee Dee has supernatural powers which allows her to fly around in space and help the planets. In this story she helps Saturn fix it's rings because they have gone crazy. While reading the story children will learn about what a ring plane crossing is, as well about the Cassini-Huygens Spacecraft, Saturn's moons, and the names of Saturn's rings. There is a lot of alliteration in the story which will help readers remember the characters names. Readers will enjoy the nonfictional information included in the story. It is very informative and will help readers for reports and such. A few quibbles. At times the illustrations are confusing. When looking at the illustrations for ring plane crossings, the boxed pictures help the reader understand what is going. The other illustration is confusing to the reader since all the Saturn's virtually look the same. Dr. Dee Dee has supernatural powers but Kyle ad Lukas don't so technically they shouldn't leave Freeda, which is why she comes along on the ride, and yet those characters, at times, are outside in space. Kyle is also very negative and weighs down the story. Dr. Dee Dee sends positive messages to kids like don't give up, use your voice, be confident and assertive, yet here's a character who is whiny and negative. The last illustration on page 32 shows Dr. Dee Dee applauding, yet the story says that Saturn and the rings applauded. Given the fact that neither Saturn or it's rings have any hands in the illustration makes this part impossible, though they could shout with glee. These are small things but are none the less noticeable. Otherwise, the story is well developed with a great message for kids. Amazon says that this book is for 5-6 year olds but it is really meant for older children. Some of the vocabulary is for older children, younger won't get it. Though the author did add in a vocab section in the back of the book as well as a glossary of info talked about, questions and a resource guide.Overall, this series is informative, well written with great educational story lines, and has great messages for kids who are 6-12 years of age.


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Published on March 30, 2015 05:20

March 26, 2015

Interview with John Fioravanti for Passion & Struggle

Come and join me as I talk with author John Fioravanti about his book Passion & Struggle  on Stories From Unknown Authors http://blogtalkradio.com/storiesfromunknownauthors at 1pm EST today.



Product DetailsPaperback: 296 pagesPublisher: Fiora Books (October 13, 2014)Language: EnglishISBN-10: 0993655823ISBN-13: 978-0993655821
Book DescriptionPublication Date: October 13, 2014Marco Rossini is a historian with no political aspirations, and no desire for power. However, he possesses unique knowledge that is about to change his life: he knows the human history of the planet Earth. The year is 2796 CE, and on the planet Genesis, human civilization looks very similar to the world it left behind. One difference dominates: a Church, created by the United Nations to compel peace, has ruled for seven centuries. Now, in the wake of a brutal war that aligned humanity with the new rulers of Earth, the old ways have been shattered, and Genesis needs a new, egalitarian government. Marco is the right man to help lead the change, but as the professor soon discovers, the battle between Church and state is far from over, and both sides are willing to spill blood. Struggling to remake his world, to find love, and to survive in troubled political waters, can Marco Rossini change history?

Author Bio:

I taught high school history for thirty-five years in just two schools in the Waterloo, Ontario region. My wife and business partner, Anne, and I have been married for 40 beautiful years. We have three adult children and three grandchildren. In 2002 I wrote an educational book for high school students about writing skills in the discipline of History. "Getting it Right In History Class" is available in Canadian and International editions at Wintertickle Press.

In 2006 Iceberg Publishing commissioned me to write an inspirational book about my years in the classroom. "A Personal Journey to the Heart of Teaching" was published in 2007. The book won a Bronze Medal at the IPPY International Awards in Los Angeles in May, 2008. I retired from teaching the next month.

My wife and I decided to strike off on our own and founded our own publishing company in December, 2013. We called it, Fiora Books. Our good friends at Iceberg Publishing turned my award winning book back over to us to publish under the Fiora Books imprint. The 2014 edition of "A Personal Journey to the Heart of Teaching will be available in May, 2014 on Amazon in paperback and eBook formats.

My next project is to launch a series of science fiction novels called "The Genesis Saga". The first title in the series is scheduled for publication in the fall of this year.


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Published on March 26, 2015 08:21

March 22, 2015

Review for If You Were Me And Lived In Scotland by Carole P Roman

If You Were Me And Lived In Scotland by Carole P. Roman
A Child's Introduction To Cultures Around The World





Summary:

Carole P. Roman is taking students to Northern Europe again and this time it’s to visit Scotland. You’ll learn about the fascinating architecture that was inspired by ancient Greece and Rome. Whether your name is Ian, Connor, or Malcolm, you’ll follow along and visit Loch Ness and hope to get a sighting of its famous occupant, Nessie. Perhaps you’ll try haggis or tatie scones and finish your meal with a clootie. This series has created a whole generation of armchair travelers that are thrilled to learn about cultures and customs from around the globe. 

Review:

In this book readers will learn lots of things about Scotland and a little bit about what it would be like if you were to live there. The clothes you would wear and some of the food you would eat. What you would call your parents and some of the traditions and activities that are there. Children and adults will be able to get an idea of the country, where it is located, and some of the myths. The author keeps the information simple for young readers. It is enough to give them an idea about Scotland's' culture and customs. It is not a story, but more of a 32 page nonfictional read for young children.

If You Were Me And Lived In Scotland

Product Details

Paperback: 32 pagesPublisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (January 2, 2015)Language: EnglishISBN-10: 1500531332ISBN-13: 978-1500531331

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Published on March 22, 2015 05:27

March 19, 2015

Interview with Rhani D' Chae for Shadow of the Drill

Come and join me as I talk with author Rhani D' Chae about her book Shadow of the Drill  on Stories From Unknown Authors http://blogtalkradio.com/storiesfromunknownauthors at 1pm EST today.


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Summary:[image error]A brutal experience transforms an unproven youth into a ruthless killing machine. For fifteen years he waited, building his body into an unstoppable weapon so that vengeance would be had through the strength of his will and the power of his hands. 

On the bloodstained streets of a northwestern city the enforcer known as the Drill stalks his prey. Judge, jury, and executioner; he seeks out those who target the weak and the vulnerable, condemning them to the kind of justice that has made him a legend.

File Size: 618 KBPrint Length: 287 pagesPage Numbers Source ISBN: 1479746479Simultaneous Device Usage: UnlimitedSold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.Language: EnglishASIN: B00GBHQZZU            About the AuthorRhani D'Chae lives in Tacoma, Washington, and has set the majority of her writing projects in the Pacific Northwest. She enjoys chatting with fellow writers via Facebook and loves getting comments and other input from those who have read her work. Ms. D'Chae is currently working on Winter of the Drill and hopes to have it completed by early 2015.Review:

Shadow of the Drill is a powerful story of characters who have to deal with the best and worst of themselves. Readers who love suspense will love the complexity of the story and how it flows through all the characters lives and what had made them who they are. Though the storyline switches often, readers will enjoy how the characters change and adapt to various situations and will then evolve into something the reader did not expect. 

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Published on March 19, 2015 08:38

March 12, 2015

Interview with Catherine MacDonald for Romancing The Vines


ROMANCING THE VINESByCatherine MacDonald
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Francesca Bernard is a vintner in the Sonoma Valley who just can’t seem to perfect her wine, her finances, and her love life. She finds herself torn between the man she lives with and the man she loves. A letter arrives from a long-lost cousin encouraging her to travel to Italy to uncover the secret to her wine and her heart. Tension is tight around the vineyard, so she leaps at the chance. Once in Italy, her cousin notices Francesca’s torment and convinces her to visit the local seer, who is known to help lost souls. The old woman propels her back through time on a heart-pounding quest where she visits three lives where her survival was in jeopardy. Armed with the secrets and truths, she finally understands how the love, lust, and revenge they have endured for centuries holds the answers to her present survival.
Magna gathered Francesca’s hand into her own cool gnarled ones and stroked them lightly. “Listen dearie. No one is allowing you to remain innocent and stuck on the wheel of life and death for eternity, but yourself. Even though the mind forgets, the soul remembers. Hopefully by examining these lifetimes you will understand the truth. You are responsible for the life you have—no one else.”
INTERVIEW1. Give us a brief synopsis of your latest work.   
Romancing the Vines is the sequel to Season of the Vineyard. It completes the saga of Francesca, Enrico, and Giancarlo. Francesca is a vintner who just can’t seem to perfect her wine, her finances, and her love life. On a visit to Italy, Francesca is propelled back through time on a heart-pounding quest where she visits three lives in which her survival was in jeopardy. Armed with the secrets and truths, Francesca finally understands who the love, lust, and revenge the three of them have endured for centuries hold the answers to her present survival.
2. What got you into writing? 
As a former school teacher and English major, I’ve always loved the written word. I’m one of those people who continually have her head stuck in a book or my Kindle. I started writing when I was a child, but it never took off until my own children were older and I had the “room of my own”.
3. What genres do you like to read and write?
 I like to read juicy novels with characters I’d like to sit down and chat with. I enjoy writing historical fiction, contemporary fiction, and spiritual fiction. When the story idea appears in my mind, it’s my job to chip away to find the story. Sometimes it takes awhile to flush out the characters and plot.
4. What is your process for developing characters?
 Do you people watch and base characters off of what you see? Or are your characters complete figments of your imagination? I love people watching. It’s where I find some of my best characters. Sometimes I create a character like I would a recipe—a little bit of this and a little bit of that, stir it together, and look at what you’ve created.
5.  Do you have any works in mind that you’ve not yet written? 
If so, what are they? I have an entire drawer full of notebooks containing sketches of stories. Currently, I am working on a novel set in 1923 in the era of speakeasies, the mob, and illegal alcohol.
6.  What inspired you to write your most recent story? 
I had readers ask for the sequel for Seasons of the Vineyard, so I wroteRomancing the Vines. The current story I’m working on came from research during Prohibition in my city. Did you know Reno was one of the wettest cities during Prohibition and it was controlled by a mob? No, well I didn’t either until I started my research.
7.  Where can potential readers find your work? 
I am on Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. You can visit my website for links: www.supernovel.com
8.  Where can readers connect with you socially online? 
My website and blog: www.supernovel.com  There you will find links to twitter and facebook.
BIO
Catherine MacDonald writes about vibrant, brave, strong, and hardy women. Growing up in Sacramento, California her library card was her passport, and the books she read were her adventures.Always fascinated by the written word, after college Catherine took her keen love of books to the classroom for twenty-five years. Catherine uses her dreams, visions, and experiences to create her multi-layered themes of love, relationships, and spirituality. She is the proud mother of two grown children (and son-in-law) and nana to three wonderful grandchildren. She lives in a cozy house filled with books, Lulu the labradoodle, and her husband Paul. She invites you to read her books and enter her characters' lives.
Website: http://www.supernovel.com/Blog: http://www.supernovel.com/blog/
http://lindabarnett-johnson.blogspot.com/2015/03/romancing-vines-by-author-catherine.html

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Published on March 12, 2015 19:50

March 6, 2015

Upcoming Release of Mystery Romance Novel Loves' Conqueror on Net Galley






Loves' Conqueror is a long awaited book for my romance novel fans. For years I have been focusing on my children's books. which have been very successful. But my fans keep asking me when I am going to write another romance. Well, my dear fans, it has finally arrived. Loves' Conqueror will be released on May 1st, 2015. If you would like to read and review it in advance you can go onto Net Galley and request it at http://www.netgalley.com/catalog/show/id/62284
Please post reviews on Amazon. I'm excited to read what people think. about this new adventure with some amazing characters. I will also be posting some of those reviews on my website http://www.reneeahand.com  Thank you everyone for your support. It's greatly appreciated. Enjoy!


Description:

Miranda Mayne, the daughter of a notorious pirate, spent most of her life in the hustle and bustle of London society, though her true love was always the sea. Promising her father she will stay away from the life that killed her mother, Miranda accepts the marriage proposal of a man she thinks she can trust--only to discover that his true intentions are to secretly capture her father. Trapped between loyalty and deceit, Miranda's heart falls prey for her true match only to find that he is out of her reach. Will she lose everything she holds dear or can she save her father, find true love, and most of all...find herself before reality prevails?

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Published on March 06, 2015 05:08

February 26, 2015

Interview with Aline Soules for Meditation of Woman


Come and join me as I talk with author Aline Soules about her prose poetry and fiction book Meditation on Woman and Evening Sun A Widows Journey on Stories From Unknown Authors http://blogtalkradio.com/storiesfromunknownauthors at 1pm EST today.







Book Description of Meditations on WomanThese prose poems and flash fiction pieces work together to create a universal woman -- complex, multi-faceted, and fascinating.


Paperback: 82 pagesPublisher: Anaphora Literary Press (December 17, 2011)Language: EnglishISBN-10: 1937536130ISBN-13: 978-1937536138
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Book Description of Evening Sun

Through her poems in Evening Sun, Aline Soules reflects on her journey through widowhood, chronicling her emotions--despair, anger, longing, love, reconciliation.
Paperback: 38 pagesPublisher: Andrew Benzie Books (May 29, 2014)Language: EnglishISBN-10: 0989758494ISBN-13: 978-0989758499


Author Bio:
Aline Soules' work has appeared in journals, e-zines, and anthologies such as The MacGuffin, 100 Words, Literature of the Expanding Frontier, and Variations on the Ordinary. Her books: Meditation on Woman, published by Anaphora Literary Press, Dec. 2011; and The Size of the World (co-published with The Shape of the Heart), Plain View Press, 2005. Prose poems from Meditation on Woman previously appeared in Poetry Midwest, the Newport Review, the Kenyon Review, et al. Poems from her chapbook, Evening Sun, have appeared in Reed, Shaking Like a Mountain, The Houston Literary Review, et al. She earned an M. A. in English, an M.S.L.S. in Library Science, and an MFA in Creative Writing, this last from Antioch University Los Angeles. Her blog: http://alinesoules.wordpress.com. Her twitter handle: @aline_elisabeth. She is also on facebook (https://www.facebook.com/aline.soules), as is her latest book (https://www.facebook.com/MeditationOn...).

Review:

Meditation on Woman is a deep look into the mind of a woman through fifty-six meditations. Through ups and downs, and twists in turns in our lives, Aline captures every moment. Of life, of death, or just the everyday of living, the deepness of the fictional story is profound. She turns the simplest of events into something complex, memorable, and insightful, readers will walk away feeling endowed.


The Evening Sun-A Widow's Journey is heart wrenching yet relatable to others who have felt the authors pain.

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Published on February 26, 2015 05:44

February 19, 2015

Interview with CW Trisef for The Oracle Series


Come and join me as I talk with author CW Trisef about his YA novel Sunken Earth-Book 1 in The Oracle Series on Stories From Unknown Authors http://blogtalkradio.com/storiesfromunknownauthors at 1pm EST today.

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Book 1 back cover synopsis -

Fall, current day, Atlantic Ocean. Another hurricane tears through the Bahamas, headed for Florida. Among the wreckage: a U.S. Coast Guard rescue boat, one survivor (Ret Cooper), and a spherical object of curious design (the Oracle).

Ret Cooper is a simple young man with mysterious origins, unique physical features, and no memory of his past. His new family and friends discover he is truly extraordinary, with supernatural powers and strange scars on the palms of his hands. But what is his destiny?

The Oracle is the key to Earth's unity and full potential, too perfect to be man-made. Legend claims it can unleash limitless power when filled with Mother Nature's six, pure, original elements. But where are these elements? And which of our planet’s ancient secrets will be explained in the process of locating them?

The first book from new author C.W. Trisef will have you cheering for Ret as he travels a submerged road, discovers a lost city, climbs an electrifying mountain, and begins to unravel the mystery of the Oracle...all during his first year of high school.
Series: Sunken Earth (Book 1)Paperback: 348 pagesPublisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (June 22, 2011)Language: EnglishISBN-10: 1463559216ISBN-13: 978-1463559212

Review:

C.W. Trisef takes the reader on an interesting journey in Sunken Earth. Not remembering his past, yet finding a strange connection to the Earth and its energies, Ret finds himself right in the middle of unique allies and horrific villains. His hand, being branded with the sign of a triangle, gives him powers that no one understands, especially when he is near a beautiful blue orb with other elemental signs on it. As the adventure takes the reader into a mountain and an underwater city, Ret discovers his true purpose and wonders if his path is truly the right path.

The author does a great job creating adventure in this fast paced novel. Each scene is filled with something that reveals who Ret really is and more about the Oracle and its purpose. Teens and adults alike will enjoy the historical information revealed, creating great interest about the elements. The more one looks into it the more one sees the connections the author makes. This is book 1 of the series. Those interested in history and fantasy, are going to enjoy this series and the way the author weaves a tale of imaginable heights as the elements of our world are revealed. 

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Published on February 19, 2015 06:38

February 12, 2015

Interview with Carolyn Arnold for Valentine's Day is Murder


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Summary:
From bestselling author Carolyn Arnold...Strap in for an adventure that will take you to the beautiful island of Jamaica and have you wanting a piña colada. Jimmy finally takes a vacation--and a chance on love--only to be abducted. His female companion originally thinks he had cold feet about their relationship, but Sean and Sara know there’s more to it. Jimmy isn’t the type to just up and disappear, let alone leave a lady stranded. Setting out on their private jet, Sean and Sara reach the tropical paradise of Ocho Rios, Jamaica with sightseeing as the last thing on their minds. With a gold coin being their initial tie to Jimmy’s kidnapper, Sean and Sara even speculate about the involvement of pirates. Yet as the hours pass, and there’s no word from Jimmy’s captors, Sean and Sara will need to figure out the real motive before it’s too late. With help from their friend, Adam, back in Albany, the pieces come together and not a moment too soon. 8th in the Amazon Bestselling McKinley Mystery Series Approximately 27,000 words.

Series: McKinley MysteriesPaperback: 134 pagesPublisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (January 12, 2015)Language: EnglishISBN-10: 1505611563ISBN-13: 978-1505611564

Author Bio:
Carolyn Arnold is an award-winning and International bestselling author, a blogger, and is published in IUeMag, a distinguished online magazine dedicated to inspiring people. She is also the proud founder of the Shining Soul site that is geared to healing, motivation, and self-empowerment.

Since she published in 2011, her books have been sold and downloaded over half a million times. Titles in her Madison Knight, Brandon Fisher FBI, and McKinley Mystery series have all hit bestselling lists. Her work ranges from cozy mysteries to hard-boiled detective and FBI procedurals.

Born in a small town, Carolyn enjoys returning to her roots and spending time in the country reflecting on life and letting her imagination run wild. She currently lives in a city near Toronto with her husband and two beagles, Max and Chelsea.

For more information on the author visit www.carolynarnold.net

Come and join me as I talk with author Carolyn Arnold about her novel Valentine's Day is Murder on Stories From Unknown Authors http://blogtalkradio.com/storiesfromunknownauthors at 1pm EST today.

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Published on February 12, 2015 06:53

February 3, 2015

Review for Thumperino Superbunny and The Pirates of the High Seas

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Thumperino Superbunny and the Pirates of the High Seas is the third installment in the children’s book series Thumperino Superbunny by Amber L. Spradlin.

Paperback: 68 pagesPublisher: Hocks Out Press (September 20, 2014)Language: EnglishISBN-10: 0578147238ISBN-13: 978-0578147239Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.2 x 11 inchesAlso availaable in Kindle
Review:
Thumperino is an ambitious rabbit who lives by a moral compass. His caretakers, the Red-Haired Lady and the Singing Man, take him on a vacation to St. Kitts. St. Kitts is a beautiful Island over 1,000 miles southeast of Florida. Not knowing much about St. Kitts he visits his friend Veronica who lives at the New York Public Library. They discover there is a veterinary research school on the island, which may hold secret clues. Once the trio arrives they do lots of sight seeing. One of their adventures is scuba diving in the beautiful waters. After they eat lunch they discover something. A fridge is floating towards them. They was strange, because they didn't see any garbage on their way out.  Trying to grab as much garbage as they can with them as they return to shore, Thumperino finds himself wanting to solve the mystery. Why would someone pollute such a glorious place? He soon finds out that pirates have a hand in it as they search for treasure. Can Thumperino stop them in time by using the skills he's learned at the library before he has to walk the plank?  
This story is fun, creative, exciting and imaginative. The author depicts Thumperino, as not only an adventurer with great skills he learned from reading books in the library, but a relateable character who cares about the environment. Children will be able to relate to Thumerino's thirst for adventure and will learn much about pirates, treasure, and more. Though this can be a great educational tool, children will also love the mystery of the story and how it leads on to another adventure. 
This is a 68 page chapter book for children 9-12 years of age. The size is 8.5 X 11 inches which is similar to some comic books. Older children will like the feel of that. Being a superbunny with amazing skills like being able to fly, speak, and breathe underwater, it's the rabbits courageousness to fight for what is right and his determination that sets him apart from the rest. If fans like the other two books in this series The Diary of a Bunny and The Christmas Star Caper, then they will love what this story brings; a great moral and a captivating tale.

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Published on February 03, 2015 05:56