Samyann's Blog, page 52
August 12, 2014
Yeah! Another review for Yesterday!!
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This review is from: Yesterday: A Novel of Reincarnation (Kindle Edition)
Yesterday by Samyann is a beautiful love story sprinkled with mystery and intrigue. This book had me immediately. Amanda has lived a life full of loss of those she cares for; her parents, fiancé. She fights tooth and nail not to get involved and love any more people but Mark worms a way into her heart. She saves his life and from that moment the connection between them is evident. Neither can place where or how they know each other but somehow, somewhere they do. Enter the old clock in the picture. Amanda deals in antiques and becomes mesmerized by an antique clock. The connections between her, the clock, and mark catapult her into trying regression .These sessions slowly bring her to the answers.
The pacing and suspense of this novel was absolutely perfect; not too slow nor rushed. Just enough to keep me pondering what was going to happen next. The regression took Amanda back to civil war and post war days in the South and North. Samyann did a truly exceptional job writing down the accents and conveying a full picture of the novel as it unfolded. I was intrigued from page one. There wasn’t a dull moment in the read.
Fantastic!
August 10, 2014
Black Wind by Clive/Dirk Cussler – Audiobook Review
Published quite a while ago, 2005, this story is still worth the read (listen). The only problem I have is that Cussler has included both Dirk Pitts, Senior and Junior. Sometimes, he simply indicates ‘Dirk’. Usually, this isn’t a problem, but I had to spin back the audiobook a few times to decide which Dirk. Like father, like son, they are both type A-macho dudes.
As in all Cussler books, you’ll find the character of Clive himself a fun little tradition. He always includes himself as a character, however insignificant.
The bad guys, having obtained a virulent pathogen that they enhance, have a predictable objective. In Dirk Pitt(s) fashion, the evil-doers also meet a predictable brick wall … all is well in the end. An enjoyable, undersea – NUMA adventure. If you’re a fan of Clive Cussler – Dirk Pitt books, you’ll know a main character is the NUMA director, Sandecker. In this story, he has advanced to a high-level political position. I won’t give away any spoilers, but this hadn’t occurred to me … nice touch.
This audiobook is approximately sixteen hours long and read, with his expected ‘magic’, by Scott Brick. Recommended, of course.
August 9, 2014
Yesterday Review on Amazon and Goodreads – Woo-hoo!!!
I would be the first to admit that I am not a romance fan but I have to say that I was intrigued by Yesterday. Amanda and Mark’s tale draws you in- as someone who has a nagging suspicion that you’ve known someone you have met before and seeing the possibility of what such an encounter could hold. I could relate more to Mark than Amanda and found myself drawn more to his view than hers but I liked how it all worked together to weave their historical, epic love. Yesterday is quite descriptive, a bit wordy in some parts, but Samyann does a great job incorporating those elements we look for about the Civil War to buttress a good love story. Overall a great, satisfying read- especially if you enjoy historical fiction.
August 6, 2014
Need a review?
I will purchase, read, and review your book. You return the favor with Yesterday – A Novel of Reincarnation. You’ll get a review on Amazon, Goodreads, and on Samyann.com. Feel free to post my review, or a link to my review, on any other site you please.
Fred’s Diary by Robert Fear, E-Book Review
Fred’s Diary is just that, a diary. This book is a compilation of the daily writings of Robert Fear describing his travels through Asia, his personal experiences, thoughts, and growth.
It will take you a while to get into the cadence of the work. It is a daily diary, some days extremely monotonous, others documenting fascinating events. Just like life. Some entries are explicit in description of interesting places, others are a simple indication of having gone somewhere, visited a city, or taken a ferry. Personally, I’d have appreciated more description of these excursions. For example, the author mentions a visit to the Taj Mahal … a place that would merit a poetic description. But, this isn’t the intent of Fred’s Diary, it is not a novel … but simply a non-fiction journal of events. A most interesting part, for me at least, describes Fear’s experiences following arrest and imprisonment for a drug bust in Thailand. The uncertainty, bribery temptation, surprising availability of drugs while in this prison, fairly liberal visitation permissions, etc., … are all educational. The story will bring forth some dèja vu regarding late 70s and early 80s technology, a fun walk down memory lane. For example, the Sony Walkman was a big thing, and there is no cell phone, and people still wrote letters – not emails.
No need to suspend any beliefs, this is a true story. Enjoyed.
August 5, 2014
Baby Girl by Elle Klass, E-book Review
This review addresses the first three books in the Baby Girl series, which to this point includes Book 1, In the Beginning – Book 2, Moonlighting in Paris – Book 3, City by the Bay.
The story surrounds the trials and adventures of a girl, seemingly born into poverty to a drug addicted mother. Finding herself completely alone, and unaware of her mother’s death, the girl heads out into the world on her own. The story moves along through her subsisting on dumpster trash and living under a bridge to a life of luxury in Paris and beyond. In the interim, the protagonist creates life long friendships, lives life on the run, falls in love, experiences great highs and lows, successes and devastating loss … as she delves into her past.
There are some incredibly fortuitous coincidences that will force the reader to stretch the imagination, but hey … this is fiction, not real life. Ergo … fun. I don’t believe you’ll be able to simply read Book 1. You’ll find yourself sucked in and rooting for the character. Enjoyed!
August 4, 2014
Timebound by Rysa Walker, Audiobook Review
Winner of the 2013 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award, Grand Prize. The story surrounds the mysteries of Chronus, a program in the 24th century that facilitates time travel. A young girl in modern day learns of her genetic abilities via an estranged grandmother. For this reader the integration of Chicago history, including the 1893 Columbian Exposition and the devious serial killer, H. H. Holmes, is that part of the story I found the most fun to read. The bizarre time shifts will have you pausing a few times, but in the long run you’ll figure it out. The story could have been much shorter, in my opinion. I actually skipped through some chapters and had no trouble following along. Doesn’t say much for the story arc, but Walker is a new author. Hopefully, she’ll move forward with her writing. Timebound, although not the best book ever, is an enjoyable, young-adult yarn. However, there is only one other short available, so……..one hit wonder?
August 3, 2014
Team of Rivals, by Doris Kearns Goodwin – Audiobook Review
Teams of Rivals is a story of politics, unlike most books about Lincoln. However, Goodwin obviously worships at the Lincoln altar, and the book is rife with ‘Lincolnesque’ wisdom and stories. I personally felt a bit hammered with the fervor of the author and her personal admiration of Lincoln and his words; there is considerable repetition. That said, Team of Rivals is a terrific insight into Lincoln.
The book begins with the biographical detail of Lincoln’s cabinet members and progresses through his election, Presidency, the American Civil War, his assassination, and ends with the death of Mary Todd. The story does not linger on any single historical event. It is a compilation of the behaviors of Lincoln himself and his circle of cabinet members, family, and friends, primarily from a political view. Attitudes regarding preservation of the Union and slavery are the primary focus. The genius of Lincoln and his artful manipulation of the disparate personalities of the men surrounding the White House, including Civil War generals, is the backbone of Team of Rivals.
Understanding and appreciating the passions and goals of others, and using this knowledge to his advantage, was his genius … especially considering he ruffled no feathers in the process.
This book is the basis for the Spielberg movie, Lincoln. Cliché though it may be, “The book is better.” , applies. The full title of the book is actually: Team of Rivals – The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln. Over 41 hours of listening, the book is read by Suzanne Toren. As an audiobook listener, I was more focused on the history of the time and man, and wasn’t distracted by the reading … so she apparently does a good job 
.
July 30, 2014
American Civil War dead trivia
With advances in weaponry and the sheer number of men killed, many bodies were damaged beyond recognition or left to rot in piles at the battlefield. Families simply needed to presume dead any man who didn’t come home after the war.
An estimated 40 percent of American Civil War dead were never identified. Given 750,000 died in that war, we’re talking 300,000 men. Amazing.
July 28, 2014
Watchers by Dean Koontz, Audiobook Review
I like Dean Koontz mainly because he writes stories that are beyond the realm of reality as we believe it to be. Making the reader think the basic premiss is possible is obviously fun for him to imagine and for us to read, and in the genre of Koontz, scary as well. Predictable at times, but fun.
This audiobook was released in 2008, is just over fifteen hours of listening, and is nicely read by J. Charles. J. Charles is not a prolific narrator, but does a good job throughout.
I particularly enjoy the personification of Einstein, a Golden Retriever. Although I’ve no way of knowing, something tells me Mr. Koontz is, or has been, the owner of a dog. Several of his stores depict a dog, and anyone who loves and appreciates one of these furry companions, will enjoy this character immensely. They also might look at their own dog, and wonder…… Wonderfully done. This was my second listen to Watchers, I’ll likely re-listen again, over and over.
