The Sunpiper Press Book Review

Somebody's Always Hungry - Juliet Johnson

2008-11-21T13:07:00.003-05:00

Juliet Johnson writes an amazing collection of stories about motherhood and dealing with children. It gives a new look into the realm of motherhood that is seems to be slowly forgotten in favor of tv babysitters and off-hand parenting. The book declares it to be full of essays but it actually contains a form of a memoir that makes you feel like you're having story time with your girlfriends while the kids are asleep. Details are sweet and humorously filled from birth to roughly age five.

Refusing to be preachy but still wishing to be informative, she casts a lure of how you can have one notion of children only to have that twisted around once the time of children and playdates rolls around. Instead of a sugar-coated view of the world, she gets down to the real nitty-gritty of the heart of a mom and the requirements needed to please two tiny people that demandedher life to be reborn.

Anyone that wishes to know a less than perfect view of motherhood, or at the very lest get a quick glipse into a new world, will walk away with new found knowledge. Learn to go back to the basics and relax with kids. They are something to be cherished and can the greatest teachers the universe will ever obtain. The stories will provide comfort to moms of all sorts in the throes of everyday life and the not so everyday.

Jessica Koster

The Sunpiper Book Review

http://freewbs.com/jessicakoster

The Mind of a Genius by David Snowden

2008-05-02T13:41:00.002-04:00

What in the world could possibly be of interest to MI4, the CIA, the British Secret Service, and Scotland Yard? British Scientist Malcolm Prince had just completed work on a secret formula--so secret no one really knew what the secret formula was or what it would do. But, when Prince dies without having formally announced the details of this formula, world agencies go berserk.

Snowdon weaves us through a tale that follows one particular MI4 agent and his efforts to find out everything he can about the formula through seducing Prince's widow, Laura--and, at the same time, protect her from all the people wanting to get their hands on the secret information.

What we get is a mind-blowing race...I won't ruin the ending by revealing who wins!

A quick, satisfying weekend read.

Darlene Oakley
The Sunpiper Book Review
Freelance Editor & Suspense Fiction Writer

www.darscorrections.com

What To Do When You Become The Boss - Bob Selden

2008-04-28T12:13:00.001-04:00

Having been on both sides of the management/employee relationship and having to cope with some pretty awful bosses in my time, I was curious to see how Bob Selden’s book, What To Do When You Become The Boss: how new managers become successful managers, would tackle the subject. Would it be something I could relate to as a former manager and as a former employee? Would it be useful to me if I became a new manager, or a new employee?

The answer is a resounding “yes!” Selden uses decades of personal experience and research into management practices to very effectively guide readers – both new and experienced managers – along the path to success. This well thought-out, well organized book breaks down the varied responsibilities most managers have to face, not only when new but also over the course of their careers, into an easy-to-understand, easy-to-apply, comprehensive, and practical aid. Topics range from the more general, how to be an effective leader and manager, to the more specific, dealing with your employees, your co-workers (your own bosses and peers), and yourself. The one aspect of the book that I particularly appreciated was the author’s emphasis on the welfare and happiness of employees as complete people rather than treating them merely as obedient workers.

As a new manager, I was thrust into a position with virtually no management training. Like the author, I was able to rely upon the guidance and experience of subordinate co-workers to teach me the ropes and make my life easier. However, when it came to certain jobs, such as interviewing new employees, working on projects such as budgets or rewriting standard policies and procedures, or leading meetings, I was pretty much on my own. No one explained to me nor showed me techniques for how to get the most from my employees, how to schmooze with the higher ups or establish a supportive network of peers, or how to be an effective communicator. It was trial and error. Sometimes, I was successful, other times not. Had I had this book, or been trained by someone using the suggestions and wisdom shared in the book, I believe I would have been more effective, and happier with my jobs in the long-run. Had my managers been trained with the ideas in the book, I might have stayed in the jobs I quit because the bosses didn’t have a clue of how to deal with people, didn’t know how to positively motivate me, said one thing but did another, didn’t hold certain people accountable, or didn’t allow people to do their jobs without micromanaging. I have even been thinking of anonymously sending a copy to a former boss!

This is a great book with lots of practical advice, sample forms, “rules” to follow, and techniques to use. In fact, many of the suggestions also apply to daily life. For example, I was quite impressed with the section on time-management and the management of one’s email. Procrastination combined with opting to work on what the author calls “comfort tasks” can be anyone’s downfall, whether one is employed by a company or self-employed. One can only hope that most managers are interested enough in the quality of their management skills to take this book seriously and implement the plans and ideas discussed within. Bob Selden’s What to Do When You Become the Boss should be part of the orientation package given to every new manager, regardless of how high up the corporate ladder they are starting.

By Lise Hull
The Sunpiper Book Review

She Came From Heaven by Rosanne Pellicane

2008-03-10T13:17:00.002-04:00

Delightful. This book can easily be summed up in this one simple word. Delightful.

Rosanne Pellicane, former interior designer, weaves a story that comes from her own personal archives. With a graceful, flowing and storyteller style, Pellicane takes us into her own marriage and relationships and struggles and, more particularly, into the relationship between her and a stray puppy that appeared on her doorstop without any clue to her whereabouts. The black labrador retriever is quickly adopted by Pellicane and her husband and named, Whimsey.

As Pellicane faces personal, spiritual and vocational challenges, including a husband she has a hard time figuring out, Whimsey is a constant and faithful companion that seems to be able to calm and comfort in any situation.

This story is well-written, not only from the perspective of real life twists and turns that you would never expect, but also because Pellicane has a talent for drawing you into her story, crying and laughing--and eating--along with her, a feat which most autobiographers fail to accomplish. This story truly reads like fiction and is worthy of a Saturday afternoon of reading.

Pellicane is working on a couple of other books. I look forward to reading those as well.

Darlene Oakley
The Supiper Book Review
Freelance Editor & Suspense Fiction Writer
http://www.darscorrections.com/

Spiriting Around: A Modern Guide to Finding Yourself by Martin "Mark" Tomback

2008-02-27T15:22:00.002-05:00

Martin "Mark" Tomback gives a new outlook to spirituality in this modern guide to finding happiness with yourself. This guide is just that, a guide to growing up a facing the reality of life itself. This is not your normal book about God and spirituality.

The book may have been written with teens in mind but anyone can gain knowledge to all aspects of life and learn to stand by their actions and be responsible for them. It is broken down into six chapters of "steps" in how to work toward goals, find what’s right for you and how to follow through to accomplish those goals and any you might have in the future.Tomback tells us about everything from love to money, marriage to divorce, and to conflicts and controversies. Spirituality and God are also included in this journey of discovery, but he speaks more in a universal manner than as a lecturer.

He uses a common sense way to speak about growing up and finding solutions to problems and explains how to be patiently deal with them while staying focused. Life's resistances pop up at every corner, but with every problem there is a solution if you just know how to look for it in all the right places.

There are things we need in this life; a value system to live by, success that is worth all the effort put in, friends and true romance, and an understanding of society's rules and how to live within them without having to give up our own identity.

If you are looking for a thought provoking book about life or the functions of live in general, this book may be just the guide you need. A belief in god isn't a requirement to walk away with some great insight. Just a desire to be a better you and find our own happiness.

Jessica Koster
The Sunpiper Book Review

Public Lies by Brenda Youngerman

2008-02-11T15:19:00.000-05:00

"Why don't you just leave?" Every woman in an abusive relationship has faced that question, whether from friends and family, or from deep within herself. Anyone who has ever experienced abuse knows that the issue is much more complicated than those five words, and Brenda Youngerman masterfully takes the reader into the web of marital abuse in Public Lies.

Nancy Cooper is a beautiful woman who has a seemingly perfect life: two kids, devoted husband, fledgling business venture, a home in the suburbs with two vehicles parked in the driveway. But behind the facade of the normal suburban wife lies a terrible truth. Nancy's life is not what it seems.

When fear for her safety finally drives her from her home, Nancy determines that she can only escape if she disappears. And it works . . . for a while. But the seething anger inside Vincent Cooper, Nancy's husband and the father of her children, follows her family and eats away at the life she builds. Her children, especially her son, begins to ask questions that Nancy cannot answer, and she begins to ask questions of her own. Is there any freedom when you are constantly running away? She knows that she must return to face Vince . . . and his anger.

Vince has spent three years thinking of only one goal: to punish his wife. It is an obsession that consumes him and becomes the sole guiding force in his life. He attacks her through the only area that she is still vulnerable: their children. Fueled by substance abuse, his need for revenge seeks only its need to destroy Nancy, no matter what the cost. And Nancy can only watch her children pay the consequences.

Tautly written, Public Lies takes the reader into a land of terror seldom explored so realistically. Can a woman be abused without physical violence? Can children be endangered by a legal system that cannot deal with a new form of domestic violence? Can you stop a person who is single-mindedly determined to destroy you, when the law is on his side? Suddenly, "Why don't you just leave?" isn't so simple anymore.

Alesha Gee

The Sunpiper Book Review

"Seasons Among the Vines : Life Lessons From the California Wine Country"

2008-02-09T11:56:00.000-05:00

Paula Moulton has brought together a menagerie of amusing escapades, learning experiences and life lessons in a book that exceeds the boundaries of a typical memoir. This wonderfully entertaining sometimes hilarious book is a compilation of a grape farmer's garden journal, a wine making guide and the diary of a woman who is following her dream.

This is a down to earth story of one woman's experiences as she follows her dream of living the life she always wanted, as a farmer in the wine country of California.

Paula takes you on a very personal journey of self-discovery, learning a new way of life and when to listen to yourself. During this journey she explains every step in creating a thriving healthy organic vineyard that produces grapes for her award winning wines and also for some of our wine country's best-known wineries. There are many situations along the way that prove humor and wit are needed strengths to get thru the day. She also shares with her readers’ recipes and instructions on wine making along with seasonal farming tips and everything from soil conditions to grape harvesting. She shares the good times and the bad and how she overcame obstacles in farming life she never would have thought existed. She does this with humor, grace and the ultimate feeling of being human in the realm of Mother Nature. I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It shows you how to listen and understand life's ups and downs and how to follow your dreams and be triumphant. I know it will be one of those books that you keep going back to for instruction and for inspiration.

Review by:
Lisa Pratt
The Sunpiper Book Review

The Healer's Way

2008-02-09T11:44:00.000-05:00

"The Healer's Way" Bringing Hands-On Compassion to a Love-Starved World
By: Earnie Larsen with Carol Larsen Hegarty

In this age of self-help books on every subject imaginable--how to find the right man/woman, how to cure oneself of alcoholism, how to lose weight and keep it off--Earnie Larsen sets himself apart from all the rest.

"The Healer's Way" is an in-depth and detailed look at the inner workings of a person's mind and psyche, and how the "training" we receive as children based on the care we receive from our parents or caregivers shapes how we respond psychologically to the events that we face throughout our lives--abusive spouses, alcoholism, drug addiction.

Through elegant, flowing, storyteller prose, Larsen uses simple, yet, direct analogies and stories to emphasize his point. He uses examples of people he has met to illustrate his thoughts and bring the advice and situation home to a person dealing with that particular difficulty. He presents a fresh perspective and effective imagery to the nature of healing.

He takes the reader through a thorough and detailed look at "The Hoop"--all the things that happen from the very beginning (core needs not being met) to the culmination of a crisis in a person's life, which cannot be overcome. Unless this whole hoop of conditions is addressed, a person can never truly heal.

If you are looking for a different self-help book. A book that takes you step-by-step through what you truly need to do to be healed and not just survive one crisis after another...you need to read this book.

Darlene Oakley

The Sunpiper Book Review

Truth Seeker: Straight Talk From The Bible by Warren M. Mueller

2008-01-27T13:10:00.000-05:00

As the back cover states, “Truth Seeker—Straight Talk from the Bible" explains how much of the controversy surrounding what the Bible says stems from a lack of systematic study, the taking of verses out of context or the attempt to pull more “truth” out of a passage that is clearly stated.” I could attempt to make this a long review, but I have to say, this is an accurate account of what the book is about and sums up effectively what it does.

Warren M. Mueller has taken intrinsic societal issues such as abortion, angels, baptism, forgiveness, gambling, marriage, judgment, money and many other issues we deal with daily, and has composed a narrative of what the Bible expects of us. However, he doesn’t just stop there. Unlike many Christian commentators, however, Mueller directs you to the chapters and verses in the Bible for you to read and decide for yourself.

Mueller’s book, Truth Seeker, does a wonderful job of letting you know what the Bible actually says about a situation, not just the popular opinion in which many carry today.

Robert Denson

The Sunpiper Book Review

Destiny's Team: A Story About Love Choices and Eternity - Thomas A. Glessner

2007-12-26T16:11:00.000-05:00

If you're looking for an uplifting, soul-searching, "real" people story...then look no further.

"Destiny's Team" by Thomas A. Glessner (published by Anomalos Publishing) takes you into the day-to-day, seemingly innocent, college-age behavior, which as we all know, can have consequences for which none of us can fathom until they swarm back at the most inopportune time; at least inopportune to us.

Jason O'Connor and Bobby Childs are football heroes at Washington State University and are faced with the temptations any sports hero is faced with...girls, ambition and sex. Little did they know that their actions would come to a head 10 years later, two weeks before they were to lead the Seattle Seahawks against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the SuperBowl.

This is more than a football story. I am not a football fan. I can't even carry on the endless debate from the Canadian side that our 3-down style of football is real football. No, hockey is my sport.

But, this story isn't about football. It's about a team of human beings and two particular human-beings, who are forced to deal with their earlier decisions and, in so doing, find their answers to life not in ambition, girls and sex...but in God.

As I said, if you want a true-to-life example of where our human nature can take us and what a relationship with God can do to that life...then you will want to read this book. If you're searching for answers to life's questions and your questions about God, this book will address those as well. If you already know God and just want a refreshing story from all the sex, murder and mayhem you find in mass market books, this book is for you.

Darlene Oakley

Freelance Editor & Suspense Fiction Writer

Sunpiper Book Review

In Search of Mr. Wonderful, The Journey From Myth To Madness - Monica Bouvier

2007-12-19T15:40:00.000-05:00

Monica Bouvier spins an emotional tale of one woman's search to find her very own Mr. Wonderful and live happily just like the fairy-tales, the type of love that conquers all and lives forever. Reality doesn't seem to want to help out, only get in the way.

Syvanna Lee tries to find her Mr. Wonderful but ends up coming up empty-handed. After each Mr. Somebody, a new piece is revealed to the complexity that is Syvanna. In order to gain the great love she so desires, perhaps she should do the ultimate thing, learn to love herself first.

If you wish to read a book that will leave you stunned and on an emotional rollercoaster, I highly recommend this novel. At one point it had me shocked and almost near tears. Heartbreak, self-destruction, and discovery are around every corner in this book of transformation. Surprising enough, this is a memoir and a novel. One can only speculate on what is truth and what is fiction, but either way, you cannot walk away from this book without feeling something.

Each page is filled with the inner struggles on Syvanna as she goes from a desperate search for true love to thinking that Prince Charming non-existing and all the bumps in the road along the way. We all have our own demons to face; perhaps our own journeys to self-discovery can start by walking a mile in Syvanna's shoes.

Jessica Koster
The Sunpiper Book Review

Cradling My Heart: God's Comfort in Affliction by Cindy Zompetti

2007-12-09T13:31:00.000-05:00

Cindy Zompetti's Cradling My Heart: God's comfort in affliction tells the story of a series of debilitating emotional losses that left the author confused, grief-stricken, and slipping into a depression that other people might not have survived without professional help or hospitalization. Instead, Ms. Zompetti relied upon her deep knowledge of biblical Scriptures, which she repeated as she sought strength to carry on through each day, and also put pen to paper to write about her pain. Some days, nothing appeared on her paper; on others, she wrote only a brief word or two, sometimes making little sense, or more lengthy thoughts described her despair.

Never giving up, she began to see the role God played in the process she was undergoing, cradling her heart while allowing her to care for herself in a positive, productive way, a way that brought her out of the darkness caused by losing close relationships and suffering through menopause and back into the light, with new relationships – including a deeper appreciation of God.

This fine book provides inspiration and guidance on how to cope with the emotions and pain of depression to readers struggling with grief and loss even if they are not Christians in the strictest sense of the word. In Cindy Zompetti's case, the depression appears to have been clinical in nature; but, without the aid of medical experts and medications, she managed to work through the issues that had brought on her "affliction." Readers can only admire her ability to call upon her inner strength, which, on a conscious level seemed to be eluding her but was really the underlying impetus that caused her to persevere despite the pain and the confusion that she felt.

One of the strengths of this book is the author's honest and uncomplicated writing style, which enhances her ability to talk to her readers as if we are in the same room. She shares her pain and her experience in very human terms and offers hope in a gentle, subtle way – by example rather than by producing a step-by-step manual for self-healing. This, for me, is the true strength of this book: Ms. Zompetti's sharing by example. We can all find inspiration and hope from this excellent book. Perhaps in the future, Ms. Zompetti will grace us with another inspirational work.

Reviewed by Lise Hull

The Sunpiper Book Review

Spirits in the Garden - Joan Solomon

2007-12-09T13:04:00.000-05:00

Fascinating!

If there was one word that could summarize this book, that would be it.

I appreciate a book of vivid colors and creative imagery on what we are missing in the world around us. I appreciate being challenged to not pass by these everyday things and dismiss them as ordinary. There is just so much more to them than we ever thought possible.

Joan Solomon has put together a book that does just that.

"...we are encouraged to see life from a fresh perspective." (Page 28)

Joan Solomon certainly does that. Through fascinating photos taken at just the precise moment to capture the "faces" or "spirits" of the garden, Solomon carries us through a garden and provides that "fresh perspective". Through her photos and descriptions Solomon demonstrates very vividly Thomas Moore's quote (page 33) "Entering a garden is like passing through a mystical gate. Things are not the same on the other side."

Not only does she present a fresh perspective on how to perceive the buds and flowers in the everyday garden, she also presents facts about each plant she has photographed. She explains how some have medicinal purposes and the variety of ways they can be prepared to heal or to nourish. And, then--very much to my delight--Solomon provides recipes, remedies and preparation methods for each of the plants in her book.

Enjoy this book. Be fascinated! And watch for the small wonders in the world around you!

Darlene Oakley
The Sunpiper Book Review

The Identity Factor - James Houston Turner

2007-11-21T15:31:00.000-05:00

With the steep decline of unrealistic spy novels, chronicles of CIA and FBI agents taking down the masterminds of terrorism have filled bookstore shelves. Authors such as Robert Ludlum, Vince Flynn, David Baldacci and Brad Thor have become household names and have quickly replaced Ian Fleming and his creation of James Bond. Well guys, it’s time to make room for one more, and his name is Turner: James Houston Turner.

As if he combined the religious ramifications of Dan Brown’s The DaVinci Code and the realism of terrorist attacks from Brad Thor’s The First Commandment, James Houston Turner has created a masterpiece in The Identity Factor. The story is based around an archeological artifact that could prove Israel’s uncontested ownership of Palestine…confirmed by Ishmael himself. Because of the tensions of the West Bank, the authentication of the artifact would, no doubt, lead the nations into World War III. This unleashes both friends and foes, including mastermind terrorist, Abu Nazer.

In a twist, un-chartered in many political spy thrillers, a lone female CIA Agent/Analyst Zoë Gustaves allows nothing to stand in her way to hunt down the infamous terrorist, Abu Nazer. Disobeying almost every command given to her by her superiors, the only thing that saves her…career is that she always gets results. The question is, “are the results always good?” Turner takes excellent care of Gustaves by showing her weaknesses while at the same time showing her courage to trudge bravely through her insecurities.

Houston introduces many multi-faceted characters, such as Jackson Teague, the arrogant Deputy CIA Director, which is Gustaves’ boss; Rutherford Tyler, the mysterious yet world renowned journalist with friends from Vice Presidents to Middle Eastern businessmen; Youssef Zakkara, extremely wealthy Egyptian businessman and owner of the artifact in question; Sharifa al Rashid, personal assistant to Mr. Zakkara and deceptive love interest of Rutherford Tyler and many other characters making their appearances to assist in completing the intricate puzzle of the espionage that lurks within the pages. As the characters work with each other while simultaneously working against each other, no one can be trusted and no one seems to be who they say they are.

A thrill ride from the opening page, Turner explores the fast pace of terrorist investigation, split second decisions and unpopular choices being made to uncover the truth and stop the brewing chaos stemming from the existence of the priceless, religious artifact. Just as the cover says, “Seeking answers can be deadly when everyone has secrets.”

James Houston Turner is a great political thriller author and I look forward to the books that follow.

Eden's Way - Beverly Money Luke

2007-09-24T12:12:00.000-04:00

Some marriages slowly fade away while others end with a firestorm. Misty Barnes witnesses the firestorm one beautiful day when her neighbor blows up his home - with his wife still inside. For reasons Misty herself doesn't understand, she begins to question her own marriage and the life that she and her husband have built together.

She and her husband, Day, have the perfect "image". They are pillars of their community; they attend church regularly, and Day even serves as a church deacon. They have good jobs, a beautiful home, and all the trappings of a successful suburban couple. But the thoughts that haunt Misty as she looks at the rubble across her perfectly manicured lawn concern what lies beneath the surface. If everything is so right, why does it FEEL so wrong? And if her marriage is all that it should be, why is her husband never at home?

Misty devises a plan, but her plan doesn't have the happy ending she expected, nor is it without its share of unintended consequences. As Misty journeys down a lonely and confusing path, she must face her life without the "whitewash". She must look at the truth about her marriage and her husband. She must find strength within herself to survive.

*Eden's Way* takes a no-holds-barred look at Christian marriage and examines the reasons that so many "picture perfect" marriages (from the outside, at least) fall apart. It is by turns heart-warming and gut-wrenching. And consistently, it causes the reader to ask questions about the life and relationships within that life. Difficult to put down, this is a work of fiction that is also a "must read" for any Christian facing an unexpected divorce or relationship crisis. As she endeavors to explain what Christian marriage should be - and where so many go wrong - Beverly Money Luke speaks to the head, and to the heart. And Misty's story gives hope for a new tomorrow!

Alesha Gee

The Sunpiper Book Review

The OOBE File - Harry Highstreet

2007-09-03T09:48:00.000-04:00

Harry Highstreet, the author of this book, is an accomplished writer. He has written for newspapers, radio and television. He is not new to the forum you are about to experience. A short quote from the book to follow will give you a taste of his perception…

"…you are not one of those that lack imagination. The simple words "what if" will automatically cause you to ponder. Mental images will suddenly appear, forcing you to contemplate the answers to "what if"?"

While Mr. Highstreet was researching subject material for a short story, he discovered the United States Government had been studying the same subject for years. The subject was Astral Projection. This coincidence led the author to further reading, gathering of information and ongoing research on this subject. He wondered if Astral Projection had been perfected and had it already been used by the military? As a result of all of this research and the questions he pondered, a new novel emerged "The OOBE FILE"

"The OOBE File" (OOBE meaning Out Of Body Experience) is the first book in a trilogy by Harry Highstreet. It is filled with intrigue, suspense, military espionage and a twist of how it all comes together on the astral plane. The author keeps you interested by detail orientated descriptions of each scene as it plays out, leaving you wondering what will happen next…

In this fictional account of Hubert Wright, an unassuming U.S. Army Private finds he has a gift of Astral Projection and can control his own out of body experiences. However, he suddenly learns that he is not alone in having such a "gift". He is then plunged into a world of military espionage that quickly turns into a cat and mouse game between an elusive strange man, several high ranking officials and innocent civilians who are entangled in a scheme to obtain hidden files that hold the secrets to untold power and control of global influences.

U.S. Army Private First class Hubert "Bert" Wright can't find his body!? While he was enjoying a little jaunt on the Astral Plane someone stole his body! He knows he would be in deep trouble if someone found him "sleeping" on watch, but how would he explain to his superiors that he was not even in his body at the time they found him?! Wait a minute; if someone already found his body then he was in worse trouble than he thought! He finally does find his body in a detention cell. He was right about being in big trouble! He realizes he must come up with an explanation to tell his superiors that they will believe. Shockingly, the truth is the only thing they do believe!

This is just the beginning of a strange and dangerous mission for Bert as he takes us along with him on a journey filled with military secret agents, plots against world governments and the use of "Out Of Body Experiences". While trying to follow orders, take care of his earthly form and save a new found friend that has been kidnapped, he must catch an elusive and clever man that will stop at nothing to obtain hidden documents that hold the key to ultimate power and worldly political and social control.

This book is extremely detail oriented. The author has a gift of transporting you into the story itself. I found myself asking questions about things I never knew I needed answers to. It is an easy and interesting read; therefore I recommend it as an excellent novel for advanced adolescent readers as well as the adult fiction reader. I look forward to the sequel "The Wind Dies at Dusk" and the third book in this trilogy, "Mystery of the Third Realm".

Lisa Pratt

The Sunpiper Book Review

Life Moxie! Ambition on a Mission: 9 Strategies for Taking Life by the Horns

2007-08-31T21:19:00.000-04:00

Do you feel stuck emotionally, that your dreams are unfulfilled, that you are wandering aimlessly from day to day, that your job, your personal life, your relationships are not at all what you want for yourself? The answer, according to author Ann Tardy, founder of LifeMoxie! Enterprises, is to create a life of "moxie."

Moxie is a quality we can recapture, if we follow the nine-step strategy Tardy reveals in her fine book, Life Moxie! Ambition on a Mission: 9 Strategies for Taking Life by the Horns. Using examples taken from her own life and career experiences, as well as those of associates, clients and celebrities, Tardy has developed a sensible and usable guide to identifying and realizing one's dreams, turning passions into achievable goals, and seizing the day – each day – to we make the most of our lives.

What is moxie? It's that feeling of invincibility, spontaneity and "I can do anything" that we all had as children not yet tainted by disappointment, fear and questions about our own competence. It's that feeling of passion, excitement and optimism which may have infused our lives but became lost in the quest for personal or financial security. Tardy says, "It is the determination and courage to move forward in the face of all that life throws your way. It is operating from a strength of purpose; following from your heart and soul, not your circumstances; and facing difficulty with courage and grit."

Tardy introduces readers to the nine, practical and easy to understand, strategies that, when implemented together, will help create a life filled with moxie, instill confidence, reignite our passions, and accomplish our individual "beat-the-alarm-clock" goals. Among the strategies, Tardy suggests that we celebrate our successes, whether they are large or small, oust the "naysayers" from our lives, seek out "yaysayers" who support us, asking directly for what we need, and, perhaps scariest of all, to go for what we want without first planning it to death.

This book came to me at the right time in my life. I have been struggling with some issues, not quite sure which direction to head. While I am not seeking a new career, I am stuck in a rut that I need and want to pull out of. I had forgotten that the best things in mylife were achieved with moxie, through leaping without a plan and making decisions based on my heart rather than killing them with my head.

I highly recommend Life Moxie!

Lise Hull

Sunpiper Book Review

Pocket Prayers - 36 Praises & Graces for All Faiths

2007-01-03T12:42:00.000-05:00

June Cotner has introduced a wonderful blessing!

Just recently, my pastor spoke about giving "your first and best to God." Included in this were the first words and thoughts of our day. Now, I don't know about you, but I'm not my most pleasant in the morning. Because of that, I needed a little help. Thankfully, I received a complimentary "Pocket Prayers" from Ms. June Cotner.

In "Pocket Prayers", Ms. Cotner has collected 36 prayers (some poetry, some sayings) and printed one on each card. They are great for coffee tables (for others to inquire), as well as gifts and for myself, my first thought of the day. I leave my pocket prayers on the side of my bed and as I get up in the morning, I shuffle the deck and pull one. The words give me focus for the day and a chance to praise God as my first act of the morning.

Being a Christian, I use the words on each card as Christian inspiration, however, the poetry Ms. Cotner has chosen for "Pocket Prayers" is not Christian scripture. Instead, the words of expression can be utilized in any belief system the reader may hold. The messages are about positive progression and the chrysalises of the human spirit struggling to emerge itself from the storms of life. In the tumultuous world in which we live, the words of encouragement are refreshing and fulfilling.

I highly urge you to order a deck for yourself. Furthermore, as I judge the extraordinary expressions Ms. Cotner chose to portray in "Pocket Prayers", I plan to order some of her other books, but this time on my own dime!

Final Paradox - Mary E. Martin

2006-12-29T13:53:00.000-05:00

Mary Martin has done it again!

If you have read her first book "Conduct in Question", you have witnessed Ms. Martin's art of shedding light of parts of the law that only the "insiders" see. In her second addition to the Osgoode Trilogy, she has taken it one step further. Martin shows how organized deception of the law can quickly evolve into organized crime and who else to expose it than our old friend, Harry Jenkins.

Harry Jenkins is a 'good-intentioned', blindingly-naive, Toronto lawyer who is constantly grasping for the pieces of his life that have gone awry. Harry has two loves in life; his beautiful, seductress girlfriend, Natasha and the Law. His constant struggle to do well and do what is right makes him easy prey to those wishing to manipulate the law and its purpose. Harry is not quick to pick a fight, but when he fights; he fights hard.

In "Final Paradox", Harry is the championed knight of the wealthy Ms. Norma Dinnick, a widowed old woman who constantly floats between lucidity to insanity. Norma sees and hears people who aren't there and has a bounty of conspiracy theories based on all of the people fighting to steal her estate. This might not seem like a difficult task, however, some of her conspiracy theories are true and Harry can't seem to retrieve Norma from oblivion long enough to obtain any straight answers. With so much money on the line, everyone involved begins plotting and consequentially, people begin dying.

While Harry is dealing with the life and death of this case, he is troubled with the suicidal tendencies of his father (who'd never had a word to say to him as a child or a young man), the reluctance of his girlfriend to take their relationship one step further and eerie images of his past that catapulted him down a dark road. As Harry is being bombarded from every angle and by every person possible (some even threatening his life), he is forced to determine just what kind a man he truly is: good or bad.

In the fashion of good literature, Mary E. Martin has created a suspense novel that focuses not only on the climax, but the art of telling the story. The intricate tapestry Martin has weaved in the first two installments of "The Osgoode Trilogy" is worth seeing in theaters. I look forward to reading the final installment.

South of Main Street - Robert Gately

2006-07-18T16:01:00.000-04:00

My father once told me that you did not really know your family until you attempted to split an inheritance with them. Author Robert Gately displays this imagery deeply and intimately in his first novel, South of Main Street.

In South of Main Street, Gately introduces you to Henry Wolff, a recent widower struggling with the grief of losing his wife and the grief emerging between his two daughters since the death of their mother. You see, Wolff’s deceased wife was quite wealthy and took care of the financial side of their marriage. Why? Well, Henry is…different.

Now that the fortune is left in the hands of Henry, one of his daughters (Sharon) thinks his “difference” makes him incompetent to handle the estate and thus takes him to court to prove so. However, his other daughter (Robin) believes in her father and fights against her sister to make sure his rights are protected. Nevertheless, while the daughters are concerned with the handling of the wealth, Henry is more interested in the handling of life.

Henry is very child-like and focuses on the finer things in life. Henry notices how people treat one another; he appreciates the magic of nature and could care less about the money. Instead, Henry is more interested in touching the lives of people and sets out to do so.

Robert Gately has created a wonderful, modern-day messiah in Henry Wolff. Gately demonstrates through this novel that though the world around us may be in chaos, there is still a strong, still, saving, child-like voice within us. As Wolff assists others with their life’s issues, the reader may find him/herself being assisted as much as the characters in the story. Robert Gately is a marvelous writer with a wonderful flair for writing. I hope South of Main Street is only the first of his works. I highly recommend this title for your bookshelf.

Hidden Grace - Garland Roper

2006-02-02T13:24:00.000-05:00

Author Garland Roper presents a story worthy of the “big screen” in his novel “Hidden Grace”.

Hidden Grace tells the story of an extraordinary psychotherapy patient, Grace Albright. On the surface, Grace’s problems are not much different than others who suffer from depression. She was subjected to several abusive situations as a child being moved from foster home to foster home and she’s struggled from the influence of this abuse for the majority of her life. What makes Grace so unique? Grace is 60 years old.

Obviously, there is nothing wrong with a 60 year-old seeking psychological assistance, however, her doctor seems to think so. In her doctor’s opinion, “Old people are hopeless…If they haven’t worked out their problems by the time they reach 50 or so, what are the chances?” Unfortunately, Grace is not alone in her need for psychological assistance.

Carl Wilder, PhD, Licensed Psychologist, the constant analyzer, has been gripped by feelings of mediocrity and failure. Though he celebrates a wonderful life filled with an understanding wife, a supporting son and professional success, Dr. Wilder feels that he is no longer effective in his practice and is terrified through each session he conducts, expecting one of his patients exposing him as a fraud. As his sessions with Grace progress, however, Dr. Wilder realizes that his mental condition is not much better than hers.

Hidden Grace paints a beautiful picture of the human spirit; how it deals with human suffering and the detailed process of how it overcomes it. Written by twenty-year, clinical psychologist Garland Roper, Hidden Grace places a human face upon the doctors that make their living helping patients remove their emotional burdens. It also exposes the fragile line psychologists walk as they balance objectivity and responsibility for those patients that seem unreachable.
Hidden Grace is an informative and entertaining journey into the human soul. It is a delicate package of humor, drama, mystery and redemption. I recommend it to everyone and especially to anyone who has sought answers as they’ve battled with human affliction.

Songs in Search of a Voice - Marcus Harris

2006-02-01T16:05:00.000-05:00

“Langston Hughes goes street,” was my feeling as I read “Songs in Search of a Voice” by Marcus Harris.

In “Songs”, Harris takes philosophical and prophetic thoughts and eloquently transforms them into a modern, hip-hop revolution. The poems selected for this innovative public missive hold feelings of love, honor, life and introspection. Harris’ words allow the reader to envision the full potential of life while at the same time, calling a spade a spade. That’s right, Harris pulls no punches regarding the mixed up world and the mixed up thoughts that plague it, however, it is far from judgmental.

Harris does not project his words from a pulpit. Though some of the poems plead to the broken masses, Marcus Harris does not talk about or talk at these situations. Instead, he speaks through these subjects allowing the reader a glimpse as to what the people see. Harris shows his capability to lift up even those individuals that tend to let themselves down.

Two of my favorites from the book are "Woman to Player" and "Player to Woman". These two works describes the feelings of a woman trying to hold a relationship with a player and, of course, the player’s attempt to “maintain” while dealing with the attitude of the woman. After reading these two poems, there is a realization that both have their eyes on the prize yet they refuse to work together to obtain it.

Harris goes on to present "Two Little Piggies" which details the story of two boys committing the same crime yet receiving completely different “justice” because they possess a different color skin. Controversial, but so real and revolutionary—and Harris doesn’t stop there. He introduces magnificent art through Haiku, presenting "Chainless Gangs", "New School Hip-Hop" and "NCAA Football". They take just a moment to soak in, but once they do—they will shake you to the core.

I highly recommend this insightful, prophetic journey of emotion through poetry and prose. As founder and president of The Lady Oya Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports domestic violence survivors and their families, Marcus Harris speaks not only for himself but also for many souls that long for love, justice and equality.

Conduct in Question - Mary E. Martin

2005-12-06T15:17:00.000-05:00

When I think of successful, modern-day, mystery writers, I think of Stephen King, John Grisham, Walter Mosley, Dean Koontz, James Patterson and Patricia Cornwell. The ability to interject realism into a mystery novel makes it an extremely difficult genre to enter. Some would say that there simply is not enough room in this area to lend admission to a new writer. Whether there is room in the literary community or not, space must be made for Mary E. Martin.

Canadian attorney, Mary E. Martin can not only 'hold her own' with each and every one of these authors, but her ability, at times, outshines them all.

In her breakout novel, Conduct in Question, Martin introduces readers to a hard-working, honest attorney, Harry Jenkins. Harry is the legal machine behind the success of his firm, yet he has always played second fiddle to his law partner, Richard Crawford. Though Harry is constantly prodded by his spoiled wife for ‘carrying more about his clients than earning money’, he remains complacent with his career and applies no pressure upon himself to excel in his finances. Though Harry is not completely happy, he continues in this role until, in less than a week, his life takes a rollercoaster track of unavoidable detours.

Within the span of a few weeks, Harry’s boss dies of a stroke; his firm’s richest client dies under suspicion of murder; a Hong Kong business man pays him more money on a retainer than he’s made in five years and his wife decides to leave him. If this is not enough, a serial murderer known as “The Florist” is murdering young women in the city and the police find that Harry always seems to be connected.

Mary E. Martin has taken estate law, criminal law and politics of bar associations to create a masterpiece that truly belongs on the silver screen. In this legal thriller, Martin beautifully constructs the dining halls of upper-class socialites, the bureaucratic halls of the legal profession, the back rooms of the mob and the hard-working class of people that keep our world balanced. Before the reader reaches the middle of the book, he/she will suspect each and every character (still alive) as the infamous “Florist”.

Through all the suspicion, lore and evil, Martin adds the backdrop of beautiful Toronto, Canada, which becomes a breathtaking character in its own right. Though I’ve never visited the city, I have vivid pictures in my mind of its skyline, communities and architecture.

Conduct in Question promises to be the first in a trilogy. I can’t wait for two and three and if you haven’t heard of Mary E. Martin, mark my word, you will. If you don’t know who she is and you enjoy a great suspense thriller, you have no idea what you are missing.

You! The Journey to the Center Of Your Worth - Ed Young

2005-11-22T13:17:00.000-05:00

Pastor Ed Young is a man on a mission. That mission is to change your life by introducing you to the second most important person in your life. You may ask, “Why wouldn’t I just want to know the MOST important person in my life first?” The answer is, “Because that person is YOU! And you can’t know the most important person in your life (our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ) until you first know YOU!” You might find this statement controversial, however, it is within you that He resides therefore that is where your search should begin.

With every Christian book I am privileged to review, I search to find something within the book that will help me learn and grow in my Christian life. In reading “You!” it was very easy to find what stood out the most for me. Pastor Young introduced me to the 4-F’s. The 4-F’s are four destructive tenets we experience that bring about our downfall.

The first is Fear. Our fear to be ‘found out’ is sometimes so strong that we try to camouflage our pain. Pastor Young explains how this fear grows and manifests in other aspects of our life. The second is Frustration. Frustration rears its ugly head when we won’t admit our mistake. The third tenet is Fatigue. Fatigue sets in when we get tired of dealing with the fear and the frustration. The continued juggling weighs heavy on your soul and it makes us easy prey of tenet four. Tenet four is Failure, which is what the enemy craves for you and I to experience.

You might think I’ve shared the premise of the book, however, the 4-F lesson is only three pages of the book!

Pastor Ed Young has created an extraordinary book to help young Christians find fulfillment in a Christian walk. It is a wonderful book that is easy to read and is perfect for youth groups. It is a great book to read together with a friend or just to read on your own.

YOU! The Journey to the Center of Your Worth offers insight for both the budding Christians and the seasoned Christian soldiers, the tools to make that journey. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it.

Burn This Book - dreamslaughter.com

2005-11-21T12:36:00.000-05:00

“You can always know the character of a man by the quotes he chooses to use.” – Robert Denson

As a child, my father used to quote famous speakers and authors to inspire me. “Son, if you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything!” He’d say or, “No good deed goes unpunished. Your character comes not from your reward but from that in which you fervently stand.”

Dreamslaughter.com have captured the essence of wisdom through quotes and published it. The product is Burn This Book now on sale at their website http://www.dreamslaughter.com/.

Apparently, the project began in Internet chat rooms over ten years ago. They found that many people used quotes of famous people to support positions in political discussions. Dreamslaugher.com compiled these quotes.
Since “Burn This Book” is a collaboration, it was decided to use the chat room handle 'dreamslaughter' as the author. They used the title “Burn This Book” because the quotes used are provocative and thought inspiring. The book is edgy, passionate, angry, spiritual, compassionate and deeply thought provoking. It is a frontal assault on non-progressive ideals, using the words of notable people.

I applaud dreamslaughter.com’s ideals in producing Burn This Book and I highly recommend it. The thing that most Americans lack is the will to think for themselves. Burn This Book promotes freethinking through famous quotes. If you are opposed to individually educated thinking and support the status quo, you might have the urge to burn this book as well! I, however, am looking forward to the promised second edition.

Twist in Time - Bill Coate

2005-11-17T19:39:00.000-05:00

You think you know history?

You might very well know the things that were taught to you in high school history class, but there is so much more to history than the stories that are told. There are many tidbits of history that were “left out” or “omitted” because they were felt to be unimportant.

In his book, “Twist in Time”, William S. Coate has captured and recorded some of the most intriguing, scarcely known facts of history. For example:

Did you know that there seemed to be a curse on almost every person remotely connected to the assassination of Abraham Lincoln? Coate lists eight people either directly connected to President Lincoln or to the events of his death. Each person either lost their minds or their lives, including the widowed first lady. Who were these people? You’ll have to see pages 100 and 101 of the book.

If that is not enough, consider this:

Did you know that Theodore Roosevelt was shot while running for another term as president? He was set to give a speech in Milwaukee and in route, he was shot in the chest at close range. Being the strong man that he was, Roosevelt ignored advice of doctors and gave the speech…with the bullet still in his chest! How did he survive? See pages 134 and 135.

I am quite fascinated with history. One of the things I liked most about “Twist in Time” is that I did not have to read it all at once. Every two to three pages are full stories within themselves. The book is very well crafted and provides much intrigue and mystery.

William (Bill) S. Coate has delivered a magnificent historical volume that will be sure to make the reader reign supreme in his/her knowledge of historical trivia. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

The Early Horror Works of H.P. Lovecraft

2005-11-11T16:34:00.000-05:00

Call me cynical and morbid, however, two of my favorite authors are Edgar Allan Poe and Stephen King. These two authors have always been able to express man’s greatest struggle with the battle with inner fear rather than with outside circumstances. I did not think there were any other authors that could adequately portray this struggle on paper, until now. The funny thing is, I did not discover this through reading but from listening. Let me explain.

Though my bookshelves are filled with hardbound books, both for reading and for collecting, I have long since been a huge fan of audio books. Audio books are not only time beneficial, but educational as well. I have long believed that audio books are the wave of the literary future. Finally, someone else agrees with me...Classic CD Books.

Classic CD Books introduced me to classic writer, H.P. Lovecraft and his early horror works. Narrated and performed by former radio DJ, Erik Sellin, the five stories (The Beast in the Cave, Dagon, The Statement of Randolph Carter, The Terrible Old Man and The Music of Erich Zann) practically come to life as the words flow from the speakers. Erik Sellin does a marvelous job of making each sentence breathe through his emotion and pitch.

In my favorite of the five, The Beast in the Cave, a hiker is separated from his group and finds himself alone in a cave...or so he thinks. He is terrified because he has no idea where he is or how to get out. He soon realizes that he is not alone and that there is a creature lurking in the dark just beyond his vision. The creature seems to be stalking his every move. Reminiscent of Poe and King, Lovecraft does a marvelous job in describing the fear of mankind and the desperate actions taken when succumbed by fear.

This audio production was quite a wonderful way to discover and indulge in old classics! Visit http://www.classiccdbooks.com/ or order it on Amazon. I am looking forward to many more classics to be so eloquently produced by Classic CD Books. Long live the audio revolution!

The Letters - Sean Hanzelik

2005-11-01T14:59:00.000-05:00

When horrific atrocities are happening in the world, where is God? When an innocent child is being abused, where is Jesus? When your life is going terribly wrong and everything is falling down around you, where is our Savior?

The answer to each of these questions is, “He is there.” Sometimes He speaks to us and sometimes, He sends us letters.

“Dear Reader, It is now time for you to read this book. I have helped write it for your enjoyment and for your enlightenment. Listen to your heart as you read, and hear My message. I look forward to speaking to you in the very near future. God.” You might find this to be ‘over the top’ until you crack open the book and read the divine messages displayed upon its pages.

Sean Hanzelik has captured the extraordinary examples of how God reaches us and compiled them in what promises to be a breakout novel, The Letters. Why would I make such a profound statement about this book? Because The Letters’ most important gift is not the story, but the messages it delivers.

This book makes such a huge impact because it describes how there are no ‘random events’ in our lives. God works in mysterious ways and He is always working. Even in the midst of our struggles and pains, Jesus is there. He so desperately wants us to turn our lives over to him rather than take on the world’s circumstances on our own; however, it is always up to us to make that decision.

When reading The Letters, you will feel each and every character. You will identify with their successes and what seem to be their failures. You WILL feel their pains. Most of all, however, you will feel their redemptions and you will realize how Christ is always standing ready to enter into our lives. We are always within the reach of His outstretched arms. Life’s tests and trials come as opportunities to make us stronger, not to destroy us. As one of Hanzelik’s characters, Odessa Greene states, “Wherever God puts you is a blessing.”

The Letters is an extraordinary novel about extremely ordinary people. There are several champions for Christ in this book however the only hero is the “Love of God”. There are no enemies or evil foes represented between the pages, only the people who keep the characters from Jesus’ love…themselves.

Sean Hanzelik has created a story worthy of the bestseller lists. I hope you will take the time to read The Letters and share it with anyone who can benefit from its message and I believe that anyone is everyone.

The God's Honest Truth - Darin Hufford

2005-11-01T14:56:00.000-05:00

This book had a profound effect upon me. You may ask, “Why this one more than other books?” It was so profound to me because this book was about me.

No, I did not write this book. It was written by Darin Hufford, the founder and director of Married to the Master Ministries (www.phoenixnightlight.com) based in Phoenix, Arizona. The book resonated with me so much because like myself, Darin had to lose his religion before his spiritual connection with GOD was taken to another level. The most magnificent aspect of Darin’s epiphany is when GOD revealed it to him. It was not when he was lost and confused in worldly means. It was while he watched an auditorium fill with Christians coming to hear the word of GOD. What Darin realized was that the majority of the people entering the conference were in spiritual pain. In Darin’s words, “The people were basically disappointed with their religion. It was if they had been sold something by a con artist and once they got it home, it didn’t work.”

Wow! I cannot tell you how many times I’ve experienced this in my life. When I was in rebellion and away from the church, I cannot tell you how many times I watched Christians who had found Jesus that continued carrying their own burdens. Christians have no idea how much they deter people who want to find GOD from coming to church. When those that are lost see the ‘churchgoers’ still burdened with spiritual pain, they don’t see a benefit. Why trade pain for another pain? So rather than embrace Christians—they flee! Darin’s message on this subject is, “There is a power in GOD’s kindness that can literally carry you to freedom!”

Please realize that the focus in this message is not on the church but on the perception of religion. “The purpose of this book is not to expose the faults of the Church, but to declare the truth and beauty of GOD.” And what a beauty Darin Hufford shares in The God’s Honest Truth. Hufford has delivered a message that strikes at the heart of the old as well as nourishes the roots of the young in Christ.

As I moved from chapter to chapter, I felt as if Darin Hufford was ministering directly to me. He gave me The God’s Honest Truth; addressing aspects of my own life, GOD’s love and what GOD has in store for us all. As he expresses the Divine message GOD asked him to deliver, Hufford constantly reminds you that, “Truth ceases to be the truth if it is spoken in any other tone than love.”
This is one of the most relevant and most powerful Christian books I have read for ‘spiritual’ seekers. Look for Hufford to be compared to Rick Warren and Joel Osteen. The God’s Honest Truth, in my opinion, is one of GOD’s best sellers.

The Spirit - Jean Emile Charon

2005-11-01T14:54:00.000-05:00

Why are we here? What is our purpose in this existence?

If you are a believer in Creationism, you know GOD created the universe, the Earth and mankind. HE gave Adam dominion over the Earth, however, HE never explained why. If you are a firm believer in evolution, then these too have been questions that have plagued humankind since it formed a conscience. No matter which belief you subscribe to, world-renowned physicist, Jean Emile Charon has the answer; and the answer is “The Spirit”.

Jean Emile Charon, nuclear physicist, decided to include the phenomena of metaphysics in his work in 1959. Dr. Charon has written more than 25 books on the subjects of physics, scientific philosophy and computer science (visit www.jeanemilecharon.com to see his extraordinary curriculum vitae). His goal was to bridge GOD and science—and he succeeded. Most would classify this as a new age subject; however, Dr. Charon first published this book as “L’Esprit cet inconnu” in 1977.

In realizing this, it is amazing how enlightened Jean Emile Charon was during a time that it wasn’t so popular. Dr. Charon provides his foundation in history, explaining how almost every successful physicist (specifically Sir Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein) wrote passionately about metaphysics. He also explains how succeeding scientists ignored and suppressed this information (reminiscent of Constantine’s ploy to decide approve and reject different books of The Bible) because they believed that since experiments could not be done and controlled, it was “out of our reach.” Dr. Charon believed that the very thing that physicists could not explain should be the very thing they sought to explain.

Jean Emile Charon, in this magnificent and controversial work, has done what other physicists were afraid to do. He has offered hard evidence that we are immortal. He has connected the ‘explainable’ to the ‘unexplainable’. Charon states, “Kicking a hole in a wall to get a view may be a bit radical, but as long as the wall stays intact, no one sees anything!” I can profess that the wall was adequately removed, almost 30 years ago, when Jean Emile Charon published this book.

If you are a seeker, like myself; if you thrive for answers to life’s unexplained situations, this book helps to fill in the gaps. This is not light reading however it is truly enlightened reading. Much appreciation goes to translator, Philip “Phil” Gagnon, Sr. for bringing this work into the American market. I recommend this book to each and everyone.

The Great Pretender - Millenia Black

2005-11-01T14:51:00.000-05:00

What happens when a 6+year, pseudo-bigamist decides to ‘grow a conscience’? Only one word comes to mind…disaster!

Reginald Brooks is a tall, attractive, charismatic and extremely successful businessman. Reginald has it all: power, influence, money, women and love…his problem? Where he wants love, he has abused and lost it. Where there is more love than life, Reginald ignores it. His biggest dilemma? He is playing this ‘give and take’ love game with five (count them) five women.

“Hell hath no fury to that of a woman scorned!”

Juggling a wife and two, practically adult, daughters in Miami and a fiancé’ and a six year old daughter in Orlando, Reginald makes it a difficult task for the women to continue loving him with their all. Nevertheless, Reginald plays Atlas, carrying the world on his shoulders, maintaining his masquerade by telling lies and securing alibis. All is manageable until Reginald decides he can no longer handle the pressure. In actuality, he does not ‘grow a conscience’. In fact, he attempts to shift the responsibilities of his selfishly choreographed indulgence steadily upon the backs of the women he supposedly ‘loves’.

Reginald discovers, unbeknownst to him, that all of these intelligent women have lives of their own; all having their own explicit secrets. As all the lies began to come to light, Reginald finds out that he has never had the control he believed he held. Reginald is merely a great pretender. The truth hurts, but not always the person in which it is expected to hurt. The truth has a life of its own as well.

In the literary arena, there are great stories and there are great storytellers. Most often, one does not automatically accompany the other…but in this case it does. Millenia Black is a great storyteller and she tells a great story. “The Great Pretender” is realistic; its characters are fully complex and their dialogue is authentic. With the use of small, inconsequential interruptions in complex situations, Millenia Black paints a scene that is so genuine, if flows like true life.

While reading this book, I was reminded of the days I grew up watching “Dallas” and “Dynasty”. I would not dare compare Millenia Black’s work to the soap opera’s of today because Millenia’s work is so realistic.
Someone call HBO! The Great Pretender could easily be “The Sopranos” of South Florida. I believe The Great Pretender will be a big hit in the bookstores and I have no doubt that it will not be last time hearing from Ms. Millenia Black. You’ll be asking, “Janet Evan-a-who?”

The Tribe - Gregory Townes

2005-11-01T14:42:00.000-05:00

What goes around comes around. We’ve heard this all of our lives, but what happens when situations truly come full circle? David Peters has found out the hard way and what he has discovered could mean death to him and his entire family.

In the midst of a heat wave, David and his daughter Star, go out to purchase her some new sneakers. Suffering from the constant heat, the couple cannot seem to find a cool place. They soon find themselves bombarded by strange characters that seem to repeat the same thing.

“The Dead Know What the Living Are Doing”

Not realizing what it means, they fight to make it back home in one piece. This proves not to be an easy task. Once they finally make it home, however, unbeknownst to them, a wheel has been set into motion. What was sent around hundreds of years ago is beginning to come around, and life as they once knew it is forever lost. They find themselves in a whirlwind of violence, death and evil. An evil so powerful that if not stopped, it will destroy the world. Only one person can stop this evil…an innocent pawn possessing more power than both life and death.

The Tribe is an excellent book that perfectly balances the sins of the past with the worlds’ problems of today. Author Gregory Townes has created a magnificent collage of human emotion, deception, greed and redemption. In his collage, Townes blends the history of slavery, African folklore and culture and its unfortunate circle of human iniquities.

A psychological thriller full of twists and turns, Townes will have you guessing through each page. Take a journey through hell with David Peters as he battles his demons, doubts, insecurities, anger and inabilities. His only goal is to catch a shining star. If that star fails, the world will most certainly follow down into the depths of the evil in which has inhabited it since its very existence.

A Break in the Storm - Arnold Simon

2005-10-01T20:56:00.000-04:00

Hindsight is 20/20.

If you ask most any American what they though of Adolf Hitler, they will possibly refer to him as evil, as a murderer, crazy and some would even refer to him as “The Anti-Christ”. In my opinion, all of these are adequate and I could add more, however, my feelings were manifested because ‘hindsight is 20/20’. But what if I had been born German? What if I had been living as a teenager in Germany during 1936? Would my opinion of Adolf Hitler be as concrete as it is now?

Author, Arnold Simon, tackles this subject brilliantly in his novel, “A Break in the Storm”. Simon magnificently paints for the reader a clear, 1936, German vision through the eyes of the lead character Erich Behrndt and others.

Behrndt is an enthusiastic and idealistic young German whose father died in World War I. He later watched his mother work herself to death to afford him an education and a better life in their homeland. Behrndt feels he has found the potential for his life when he is taken to hear a powerful and charismatic, German leader. The leader was Adolf Hitler.

Behrndt is seduced by the promise of making his country strong again. He is drawn in by the promise of restoring pride and glory to his country. Behrndt is hooked by the idea that he will have the opportunity to “make his father proud”. He eagerly joins Hitler’s movement, not realizing that his idealism, sought through a Nazi government, would come with an expensive price tag.

Simon uses colorful (yet realistic) characters to adequately express (what I consider) the different ideals of a struggling social climate whose ultimate future, in our hindsight, is predestined. Nevertheless, through the interaction of these characters, Simon demonstrates how close the world came to avoiding World War II.

Simon’s accounts are so clear and precise, you might wonder if it is truly ‘fiction’. This book lends human emotion to an era most of us only read about in textbooks. Arnold Simon delivers unparalleled social, political and historical fiction in “A Break in the Storm”. I recommend it to everyone that enjoys history and pays respect to the WWII generation.

Beneath Wings of an Angel: Healing the Child Within, A Spiritual Healing Journey to Recovery from Domestic Violence - Janice Romney Farnsworth

2005-10-01T20:39:00.000-04:00

Against all odds, GOD is still there.

People often ask, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” When things happen that we just don’t believe can be in GOD’s plan, we begin to question HIS existence. Where is GOD when a young child is being molested? Where is GOD when innocence is being stolen by evil? People are quick to compare their pains to those of Job, however, not many can actually identify. I believe, however, Janice Romney Farnsworth can.

Author, Janice Romney Farnsworth’s life’s testimony, Beneath Wings of an Angel: Healing the Child Within, A Spiritual Healing Journey to Recovery from Domestic Violence is a true, modern-day version of the Book of Job. Ms. Farnsworth reveals the torment of her inner soul, as Satan seems to hijack every male that enters into her life and take away everything she has, except her life. She readily admits that even though these men did not end her life, she wanted to end it…and tried.

Beneath Wings of an Angel, the inspirational and spiritual journey of Janice Romney Farnsworth, travels in both directions…into the future and deep into the past. During this journey, she realized that she’d been programmed to be a victim from her earliest of memories. She had dealt with abuse so much; she thought it was the way her life was supposed to be. So what changed Janice Farnsworth? At one of the lowest points in her life, GOD spoke to her.

Since that revelation, Janice Romney Farnsworth has become a champion for women dealing with domestic violence and abuse (and the abuse is not always physical). She is a hero to ALL victims because her story does not stop with her abuse. The abuse is only a steppingstone to the inspiration she received directly from GOD, which she now wishes to share with the world.

Not only does Beneath Wings of an Angel contain the trials of the author, but invaluable information regarding domestic violence. This is an inspirational book that could change your life if you are willing to accept the message. If you are not in need of its powerful message, I’m sure that you know someone who does. Through this book, Janice Romney Farnsworth can supply the tools to help them free themselves from abuse’s evil bondage.

Adrenaline - John Benedict

2005-10-01T15:58:00.000-04:00

God Complex.

Doctors are often labeled with having God complexes. Sitting upon the pedestal in which the public has placed them, it is easy to believe the supreme beings, adorned in their white coats, pick and choose who lives or dies…but what happens if it is true?

Doug Landry, a young anesthesiologist, finds himself asking this very question. When a string of patients start dying by extraordinary, ‘accidental’ circumstances, Doug is forced to investigate the very colleagues with whom he works everyday. He must determine whether the Grim Reaper is frequenting Mercy Hospital by chance, or is he being continually summoned?

Properly entitled, Adrenaline is a thrill ride from the opening chapter. Dr. John Benedict has written a novel encompassing the intrigue of Michael Crichton’s “E.R.” combined with the thrill of “Crime Scene Investigations.” More than this, however, John Benedict takes the reader into the life and mind of a doctor. Though some doctors may have God complexes, with these complexes come an awesome sense of responsibility for the lives that are in their care.

In Chapter 8 of Adrenaline, Benedict writes, “Mike realized that all doctors must face this crossroads at some point in their careers. If they detach too much from their patient’s pain, they become heartless bastards with no sense of caring or empathy, no ability to heal the soul, the most important part of their patient. If they don’t detach at all, they risk being dashed on the rocks of human suffering.” This was a spectacular observation, which I’d never considered before I read this book.

Benedict does a wonderful job in taking his reader into the operating rooms, the conference rooms, the locker rooms and even in the privacy of the doctors’ stalls (have to read the book to understand that one). He also takes the reader into the political realm of doctors, the blame games and the finger pointing.

Adrenaline is a thrill ride from beginning to end. This is a top-notch medical thriller and I hope it is the first of many from Benedict. He could easily become the next Dean Koontz with a medical degree.

Corinthia: My Name is Corinthia - Leonard 'CRUZE' Webb

2005-10-01T15:38:00.000-04:00

Corinthia Helene Myers is an average 10-year old girl living in the “City of Brotherly Love”. What she wants to tell you about is her first day in the public school system after years of Catholic school. In classic ‘10-year old’ dialogue, her story seems to take detours along the scenic route, allowing you to see more of her past than her present. The scenic view, however, is beautiful and the more Corinthia reveals to you, the more you realize; “Corinthia is not average at all!”

Author and cartoonist, Leonard ‘CRUZE’ Webb has created the sweetest, most adorable character in Corinthia Myers. Her mannerisms, her discussions and her wandering dialogue epitomizes the excitement and enthusiasm of a young girl ‘just dying’ to tell you her story. Webb, with his unique gift of cartooning, helps that much more with his illustrations.

As Corinthia holds your hand and walks you down the road of her life, you realize that her gifts are evident to everyone—except Corinthia. It might be because she talks more than she listens or it might be because she takes everything in stride. Either way, her story is meaningful, spiritual and enjoyable.

Corinthia Helene Myers’ innocence is sure to capture your heart. I thoroughly enjoyed Corinthia’s story, however, since I did not feel I was the intended audience, I consulted a professional…my 8-year old niece.

Vanishia, my niece, could completely identify with Corinthia and loved the character. She was excited about reading the book and was disappointed that she finished it so quickly. She was very pleased to know that it was the first in a series of books, and told me she wanted every one. I know Webb has at least one die hard fan!

Len ‘Cruze’ Webb has tapped into a market that has been sorely ignored. Corinthia is an African-American role model with a special gift from GOD and she is sharing it with EVERYONE. I strongly recommend this book for any young child just finding their direction in life. I guarantee that Corinthia will grab their hearts, minds and hands and guide them in the right direction.

From the Path - Verses on the Mystic Journey - William W. Simpson

2005-10-01T14:43:00.000-04:00

“We are all on the path of our lives. The path that leads from birth to childhood, youth to maturity, work, family, advanced years, death and to the life beyond. Each of us was born with a purpose—with an intention to manifest certain qualities, to learn particular lessons and to share particular experiences with each other. We are put here together, so that we might discover and share our lives—together—in service and love to each other. In the end, all our paths lead to the same place, our home in Spirit. But we each have our own unique way of getting there.”

I honestly cannot think of much more to add to the aforementioned wisdom that describes the book “From The Path – Verses on the Mystic Journey” by William W. Simpson. However, since the aforementioned wisdom is not my own, I will give it a try.

The quotation is from the foreword of “From The Path – Verses on the Mystic Journey” which was written by the author/poet on Sept. 20, 2004, which happens to be the day before my 35th birthday. Is this a coincidence? Only you can be the judge, however, I was honored to review this poetic collection and am now just as honored to share its effects on me with you.

“From The Path – Verses on the Mystic Journey” is full of philosophy, lessons of life as well as moments of spiritual awakening and consciousness. As I read these jewels of verse, I would find myself reading silent prayers. I would turn the page and find myself gazing into the heavens at the wonders of GOD’s creations. On the next page, I would find myself reminiscing about moments of my life that were long forgotten. I found myself caught up in each page, spiritually moved with the written testimony represented in the words of Mr. Simpson.

Though “From The Path – Verses on the Mystic Journey” chronicles the conscious journey of William Simpson, you will find a bit of yourself in each verse. If you consider yourself a spiritually inclined person, you will enjoy each and every page of this book. If you are a seeker of spirituality, the book also includes a bonus chapter entitled "First Steps" - a collection of practical techniques for growth and transformation including detailed instructions on: Practicing The Presence, Affirmations, Meditation, Chanting Om, Watching The Breath, Sitting In The Stillness, Loving, Giving All Actions To God and Practicing "The Last Day".

For more information on the author, a few sample poems and purchasing the book, please visit http://www.consciouslivingfoundation.org/book-FromThePath.htm. I believe you will enjoy Mr. Simpson’s “Path” just as much as I.