Samyann's Blog, page 65
September 22, 2013
Amazon review of Yesterday, Thanks!!!
By
Mitch Fatouros (NJ, USA) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What’s this?)
This review is from: Yesterday: A Novel of Reincarnation (Kindle Edition)
“Yesterday” is a novel I highly recommended for everyone and especially for English as a second language Americans. Its vocabulary revolves around common expressions sprinkled with forms from a previous era, like the word “rascallion,” a forerunner to “rascal.”
I particularly admired the author’s method of depicting objects and spaces thorough, in plain English. Her ability to form images increases while the action progresses from near inertia to rapid motion in time. The characters also become more defined line by line. The metaphysical element that is introduced in the book abridges a historic event with a romantic novel flawlessly.
I would have liked a less stereotypical Mark, although Mark speaking a once considered extinct language is a great touch. Mark has a future, better yet a future-past in fiction. His relation with Mary, an old soul, can blossom into one of a mentor-student. Mark needs an unresolved crime mystery from an earlier time in his life as a sequel to “Yesterday.” And I wonder, what would Mary have revealed had she been the epicenter of hypnosis sessions?
How did Mark do that thing with his finger? Can I do that?
August 9, 2013
Fan Letter – Thank you!
Message:
Hi Samyann,
I absolutely loved your book! I am totally blind and have a difficult
time finding many of the books I’d like to read in an accessible
format. When I found Your novel, Yesterday, on Audible I was hooked
through the entire book. The story is wonderful; the plot is awesome;
and the characters, along with the entire reading experience, is
captivating! I cannot recommend this book enough to anyone interested
in both romance and reincarnation! Can you tell us when you plan to
release another book like Yesterday?
Thank you so much!
July 22, 2013
Transfer of Power – by Vince Flynn – Review
As I mention in a review of The Third Option, I’m in the process of re-reading Vince Flynn’s amazing books. A tribute to the man, I guess, given there is not much else I can do. He passed away on June 19, 2013 and I felt that I needed a fix.
Transfer of Power is in the vein of his other novels, which entails the beliefs of some Islamic fundamentalists, and how their salvation somehow requires the annihilation of America and the murder of Americans. These stories are not for the faint-hearted in these beliefs. The author makes no bones about the fact that this is the objective of these people and has been for years.
I won’t be giving away any secrets with a definition of the title. It simply references the constitutional process of transferring power from the President of the United States to the Vice President. It is required in this story because the White House is stormed and the American President is confined to the White House bunker, with all communications disabled.
I suppose the most riveting factor, beyond the nail-biting tense action, is the fact that the entire scenario, as it pertains to the human dynamics involved, is so possible. This story will never be dated, unless we find ourselves one day sophisticated enough to teleport individuals when needed. The behavior of some characters is so intentionally frustrating, you can actually picture politicians of today playing the roles. Sort of like Allan Drury, who wrote Advise & Consent in the 1950s, the behavior of those politicians also are headlines today.
Another point of interest, if you’re a fan of Vince Flynn … this story has all the characters we love. Irene Kennedy, Sanford, Mitch Rapp. His girlfriend, Anna, is introduced.
There will be no more Mitch Rapp with Vince’s death. How sad is that. But, in my heart of hearts, I truly hope that there exists people like this character in the efforts of our country to protect Americans from the oh-so-real animals that rose from Vince’s imagination.
RIP, Mr. Flynn. I will read on. Again and again.
July 6, 2013
The Third Option – by Vince Flynn – Review
Audiobook, written by Vince Flynn, read by Nick Sullivan
After hearing of Vince Flynn’s death on June 19, 2013, I was terribly saddened. The writing world lost a terrific champion and skilled author. Vince Flynn is an example of the tenacity of a talented writer initially shunned by mainstream publishers. After a few dozen rejections, he self-published his first novel in the late 1990s, Term Limits. This was published well before the modern popularity of on-line publishing. I would imagine, at that time, that Flynn would have sold copies from the trunk of his car. Beyond that, it’s a mystery to me how he accomplished pushing his story to best selling status, but he did. Mmmmm. Maybe he was that good.
I decided to re-listen to one of the Mitch Rapp stories, The Third Option, released in 2000. Although the lead character works for a clandestine and unknown arm of the CIA specializing in anti-terrorism, that is not what the story is about. The bad guys in The Third Option are right here among our Washington, DC leaders. The story, unlike many Mitch Rapp capers, was written before the tragedies of 9/11, before Vince Flynn devoted his patriotism to ‘real’ bad guys bent on simply killing all Americans. It is extraordinarily interesting that Vince Flynn had the foresight to predict the need for this type of defense, but he did … just look at the publishing dates of his many novels.
The Third Option is about power. The power of political office, and the hunger of some individuals for this political power. The Third Option falls into that period of limbo for some political authors that is between the cold war and the war on terror. If you’ve wondered what those authors wrote about that was exciting after the fall of the Berlin Wall and collapse of the USSR and KGB, this is a good one to consider.
As a narrator, Nick Sullivan does a good job. But, when you have great material, that’s not too difficult.
RIP, Vince Flynn. I’ve several of your books and will listen again to them all, many times.
June 28, 2013
Yesterday – Audiobook Coupons – FREE!!
Happy to pass on a few download codes given to me by Audible to help promote the audiobook version of Yesterday – A Novel of Reincarnation. The story is read by Darlene Allen. I think you’d enjoy. Please provide a review of the book on Audible.com.
Send me a note, I’d be delighted to send you a download code 
.
June 17, 2013
Amazon review for Yesterday!
By
BAR “barbararogan” - See all my reviews
This review is from: Yesterday: A Novel of Reincarnation (Paperback)
This is a fun read, with an intriguing mix of romance and reincarnation and lots of attention to historical detail. I look forward to the sequel.
June 13, 2013
Days of Gold – by Jude Devereaux – Review
This is one of the better Jude Devereaux romances. The chemistry between lead characters is great. Although there is adult content, I wouldn’t hesitate for a teen interested in historical romance to read. I’m not sure where this story fits in the chronology of exactly when it was released in the series by Devereaux, but it is the background story of the town named Edeline This town appears in Lavender Morning, and if I’d known, I would have read Days of Gold first.
The real star in this story is the reader, Davina Porter. She is, hands down, my favorite female reader and I have no doubt I enjoyed the story partially because of her narration. Her diction is superb, the male voices excellent. I highly recommend anyone interested in the world of audio books listen to Davina at least once. In addition to Devereaux books, Davina Porter is the reader for the Outlander series by Gabaldon. The lead male character in Days of Gold is a man named Angus. He has the same voice as Jamie in the Outlander books … but that won’t bother you, in that both characters are authentically represented as Scotsman, kilts included with the brrr of their Scottish brogue.
It’s all in this story, the reluctant hero, the feisty beauty, forbidden love, and a wonderful supporting cast of good guys and bad guys. Fun listen, and not likely my last Jude Devereaux.
June 5, 2013
Lavender Morning – by Jude Devereaux – Review
Audiobook Review. Lavender Morning is the story of a girl who inherits a large home in Maine from her mentor, an elderly woman the main character has spent her life adoring. The story reveals the mentor’s life, WWII fiction, and the main character’s search for explanations. I’ll not provide any spoilers beyond this fundamental information, which you’ll get from simply reading a blurb. The story is a touching memoir to this elderly lady, her unrequited love of WWII. It’s not a good audiobook, in my opinion. There is way too much use of the word ‘said’, distracting … it may not be annoying in print as a reader tends to skim over extraneous words, but in audio format it makes me lower the star rating. Jos said, Luke said, said Jos, said Luke … not every line of dialogue, but it sure seemed like it, and it took away from the story.
Sort of interesting, in the sections that involved WWII action, to envision the characters as young and beautiful people, in love during a violent time. Those sections are part of a story/diary written by the elderly woman. As these stories are read in the form of 3rd and 1st person stand-alone Chapters, I’ve some problem with the point of view sometimes being that of other people and this woman writing about it…confusing imagery. She’s relating feelings and emotions of men and other characters speaking about herself as a young woman. How would she know what they thought or did when she wasn’t present? A bit picky, but I shook my head in wonder at what up and coming writers today would get crucified for…why would an agent or publisher let Devereaux get away with this approach? Well, because she’s Jude Devereaux, no other reason. People will spend money on Jude Devereaux books, which is all the publisher/agent cares about. If you like romance novels and can look beyond that which by some standards is considered “bad writing”, you’ll probably enjoy Lavender Morning. However, I don’t think the Jude Devereaux style is something you should emulate if you’re attempting to get published today and you’re an unknown. You’d be toast.
May 30, 2013
Did you know….
That Robert E. Lee’s Virginia estate was confiscated by the Union and turned into a cemetery during the war? It’s called Arlington National Cemetery, today.
Did you know….
30% of all southern white males 18 – 40 died in the American Civil War. Support self-publishing,
