White Elephants by Chynna Laird
Published by Eagle Wings Press
ISBN-10: 0982624328
ISBN-13: 978-0982624326
At the request of WOW Tours, a PDF was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.

Synopsis (from Amazon): Elephant in the middle of the living room. That is one way of explaining how a family walks around the invisible presence of huge problems. Hindsight is what brings the elephant into focus. Somehow, Chynna T. Laird began to see at age five the bulky creature crowding her family. And from that time as the child, Tammy, she took on a sense of responsibility to her mother far beyond expectation for her age. Her mother was different than other mothers. Family life in their household was not pretty. No one seemed to notice. No one did anything about it, and Tammy wanted someone to do just that. As an adult, Tammy took on her first name, Chynna, and took up the challenge to find out what might have helped her mother fight her battle of self-destruction. She couldn’t help her mother, but she would consider it worth everything if her family’s story helped another.

My Thoughts and Opinion: An extraordinary read!!!   A memoir that was both emotionally disturbing yet inspirational.   Chynna Laird, author, penned and shared a very transparent look into her abusive childhood and how she took back her power to become a scarred but forgiving and content adult.   Her writing style is exceptional.   A book so engrossing that I read it in 2 days because it was the type of book one could not stop reading.   A story that HAD to be read, wishing it was fictional due to the trauma that this author had lived.   I kept thinking how painful it must have been for her to write this book because she had to revisit so many tormented memories. Her young life living with an alcoholic parent with mental illness that was not treated, cared for improperly by a parent that was not equipped to love, having to be the adult at the age of 8 for her younger siblings and being molested at 12, attempted suicide when she was 15, just to name a few.   Her coping mechanisms to get through it all from her own use of drugs and alcohol, cutting and eating disorder.

As I said, I could not put this book down. Reading the excruciating agony of a child, who felt “trapped and hopeless” was heart wrenching!!   Knowing and wanting to help her mother, a child with adult thoughts of “fixing” her mother but not knowing how, riveting!!   A story that consumed, captivated, and had me feeling an array of emotions, that at times were overwhelming.   As a parent myself, I found myself agonizing for this child.   And I also found myself to be so angry with the parent, at times even detesting, but then also realizing that she was a very troubled woman with untreated diseases.   As distressing as this story was, it was also inspirational.   It was about this battered child, who had lived through in surmountable times but prevailed to become a forgiving, sympathetic, loving adult.   A spell binding read!!   Poignant and profound!!!   Off the chart read!!   Touching!!   I definitely recommend this book, it will stay with you for many years to come!!!

(2012 Challenges: Ebooks, Off The Shelf, Free Reads, Where Are You, A-Z, 52 in 52, Color Coded, Outdo Yourself, 100+)

Betty’s (Little Basement) Garden by Laurel Dewey
Published by The Story Plant
ISBN-10: 1611880386
ISBN-13: 978-1611880380
At the request of The Story Plant (Spread The Word Initiative, an ARC EBook edition was provided, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.

  Synopsis (from publisher): Betty Craven is the epitome of elegance, class, and perfection. Her prize-winning garden is the envy of her neighbors; her impeccable manners and epicurean skills have made her the “hostess with the most-est.”

But all is not what it seems.

The truth is that this fifty-eight year old’s seemingly idyllic world is quickly disintegrating. Widowed and left with a modest income, Betty’s Colorado gourmet chocolate shop has gone belly up, leaving her floundering for purpose and meaning. Tied to a house in disrepair that she can’t sell, and mired in unrelenting grief for her dead son, this patriotic former Texas pageant queen comes to the shocking and debilitating conclusion that her entire life has been wasted. As that realization hits her hard between her well-manicured brow, the rebellious spirit that Betty has silently kept under lock and key, explodes to the surface.

When that happens, her staunch conservative world changes drastically, causing Betty to question every belief and opinion she’s ever had. The path she chooses is paved with secrecy, eccentric characters, toe-curling love, life-changing events, and a connection to her unconventional garden that she never could have imagined. No matter how hard she tries, Betty Craven will never be the same again.

My Thoughts and Opinion: Where do I start?   There were so many components within this book.   A fictional story, an extraordinary amount of compiled research, factual statistics, educational, instructions; personal development, values, moral, social, and some governmental issues, life lessons, friendships, relationships, principal passions, and even a very little bit of spiritual/paranormal.   This is definitely recommended and a must read if you are in a book club due to the multiple and vast discussions that this book will trigger.   I tend to write reviews that are concise but I just can’t with this book and I apologize in advance and will try to touch upon all the aspects that this book offers.

The author and the fictional side: I was first introduced to this author during a Partners In Crime Tours, reading her Jane Perry novelettes, Unrevealed and Promissory Payback, which I enjoyed.   This book is so different compared to those stories, premise wise, about a topic that has many pros, cons, truths and fallacies but the writing style the same.   Solid, fluid, descriptive, life like character development with palpable emotions, flaws and relatability.   The settings likewise. It was very easy to create my imagery due to the depictions and narrative picture the author conveyed with her written words.   The actual plot and story line will definitely have the reader turning the pages.

As a former nurse, I found the subject matter quite interesting, to the point that due to the accumulation of detailed facts and gathering of related material evidence, it was also an education.   A lesson, that created some very personal thought provoking questions, a different mind set and possibly a change of personal opinion.

The plot with reality slant: Engrossing!!   Are we being told the truth by our government, lobbyists, politicians, pharmaceutical companies?   With the information, that the author has done an enormous amount of research on and shares with the reader, makes one wonder?   This is one part of the book that I can’t stress enough. Ms. Dewey, definitely did her homework with the collection of facts. However, at times, it was so minutely described and technical that, and this is my opinion only, that it took on a bit of a non fictional story.

With that being said, the overall book was compelling, emotional, at times humorous, controversial, heart wrenching, inspirational, and definitely leaves the reader confronting one’s own personal viewpoint after the last word is read.   Highly recommend!!

(2012 Challenges: EBook, Off The Shelf, FreeReads, Where Are You, A-Z, 52 in 52, Outdo Yourself, 100+)

   The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan
Published by Reagan Arthur Books/Little, Brown and Company
The Hachette Book Group
ISBN-10: 0316185906
ISBN-13: 978-0316185905
   At the request of The Hachette Book Group, a HC was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.

   Synopsis (borrowed from Amazon): Grace Winter, 22, is both a newlywed and a widow. She is also on trial for her life.

In the summer of 1914, the elegant ocean liner carrying her and her husband Henry across the Atlantic suffers a mysterious explosion. Setting aside his own safety, Henry secures Grace a place in a lifeboat, which the survivors quickly realize is over capacity. For any to live, some must die.

As the castaways battle the elements, and each other, Grace recollects the unorthodox way she and Henry met, and the new life of privilege she thought she’d found. Will she pay any price to keep it?

The Lifeboat is a page-turning novel of hard choices and survival, narrated by a woman as unforgettable and complex as the events she describes.

  My Thoughts and Opinion: Even though this book was not about The Titanic, I thought it fitting to read during it’s 100th anniversary.   There is one mention of the above named ship within the book.   However, because of the premise, I was able to vividly create my images from when I did see the movie, Titanic.

The book grips you in the prologue when Grace, the main character, is standing on on U.S. land, with head raised, mouth opened trying to catch the rain and on her way into court where she stands on trial for murder.   Murder?   I’m hooked.

The reader is then taken to the ship when passengers are being loaded into lifeboats. Grace, a newlywed managed to secure a seat in one, with the help of her husband who was left behind as the ship is sinking.   The book continues with a daily recap of the passengers and survival in a lifeboat for 21 days from Grace’s perspective.   The characters were aptly described and could be visualized.   The setting and description the same.   The book was a quick read, kept my interest because I couldn’t imagine why a murder charge?   However, the overall 21 days at sea story was at first a page turner but, and this is my opinion only, then seemed to drag at times and details that were omitted until the end, felt unrealistic when the book was finished.   Again, this is my opinion, but felt that the plot lacked action at times due to circumstances of the story line.   As I said the imagery I created was due to the movie, which helped greatly.   Even though it kept my interest, I expected more, maybe due to all the Titanic hype this month.   Overall, it was a fast (274 pages) and entertaining read.

  My Rating: 3

(2012 Challenges: Mystery/Suspense, What’s In A Name, Off the Shelf, FreeReads, Where Are You, A-Z, Merely Mystery, 52 in 52, Outdo Yourself, 100+, Reagan Arthur)

KILLER BYTES: A Novella of Intrigue by Alan Williams
Self Published
ASIN: B00723U2QU
At the request of the author, an ARC electronic edition was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.

  Synopsis (from the author): A killer is stalking London; a banker is already dead, killed in an explosion, and there are more victims in the killer’s sights. Techno geek and Internet journalist, Wil Jackson becomes inadvertently embroiled in the investigation when he interviews one of the murder victims, and the killer starts communicating with Wil via the Internet.
Can Wil help the police stop the killer before the body count increases further?

  My Thoughts and Opinion: This is the second time this has happened to me and I feel that it is the greatest honor and most humbling experience to be bestowed with and that is to be entrusted with an author’s manuscript for review.
Through blogging and the PR company, Partners In Crime Tours, I met someone who is an outstanding blogger and reviewer.   After working with him on several projects, I had a feeling that he might also be a writer.   I asked and he said that he had been working on a novella and asked if I would read it and give him my honest opinion.   For me, that’s like being asked to be the Godmother of someone’s baby.   Such an honor yet also a huge responsibility.

He sent me only the first half, as the 2nd half was with his editor.   I started reading with great skepticism because now it was going to be the moment of truth.   And within a couple of weeks I had the entire book so that this review now reflects my impression on the entire read.

The novella starts off with a prologue and within the first couple of pages, the book grabbed me.   The suspense and action was fast paced.   The writing style flowed and it was easy to create my own imagery from the detailed prose.   The characters were well developed and became life like due to his descriptive writing.   There were only two (2) items that I felt that could be improved upon, which with time, mentoring and professional advice, would help make this blogger’s work into an author’s success. Those 2 items were, and only during a couple of places in the story, a bit of simplistic dialogue and the other being of tweaking to make the story in certain places tighter and more mature.   My rating is based upon his writing, story line, the development of characters, and the fact that this is his debut as a novella. I am not rating it as compared to seasoned authors.

Ninety Days: A Memoir of Recovery by Bill Clegg
Published by Little Brown and Company
Hachette Book Group
Publishing Date: April 10, 2012
ISBN-10: 0316122521
ISBN-13: 978-0316122528
At the request of The Hachette Book Group, an ARC TPB was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.

Synopsis (from publisher): The goal is ninety. Just ninety clean and sober days to loosen the hold of the addiction that caused Bill Clegg to lose everything. With seventy-three days in rehab behind him he returns to New York and attends two or three meetings each day. It is in these refuges that he befriends essential allies including the seemingly unshakably sober Asa and Polly, who struggles daily with her own cycle of recovery and relapse.

At first, the support is not enough: Clegg relapses for the first time with only three days left. Written with uncompromised immediacy, NINETY DAYS begins where PORTRAIT OF AN ADDICT AS A YOUNG MAN ends—and tells the wrenching story Clegg’s battle to reclaim his life. As any recovering addict knows, hitting rock bottom is just the beginning

My Thoughts and Opinion: A raw and emotional look into the life of one man’s journey and battle for sobriety. This book was read in one sitting as I learned how a white collared businessman lost everything to come back from rehab with nothing. He fought to stay clean for 90 days but the drugs had a stronger grasp, that he kept relapsing within the goal of ninety days to stay clean and sober. The guilt and embarrassment he felt when he did relapse and once again try to reach the goal was palpable. He introduces those in his life who befriend and support him but the need for the drug is too powerful. We read and hear of this every day and the disease does not discriminate.

I had mixed feelings on this book. It was a simple read yet poignant. This was the sequel to his first book, Portrait Of An Addict As A Young Man, which I did not read but did read the rave reviews for it. Because of that I had high expectations that there would be more from this book than a very simplistic digest of him trying to win the war of drugs and alcohol. He makes reference to another book that was an Oprah” book, which I did read. And even though it turned out that that story was embellished, it was a more detailed look into the life of an addict.

This is my opinion, and only my opinion, but I expected more from this book, both in substance and writing style. It may be due to the fact that I did not read the previous book and/or my expectations that the composition would be more complex than what I came away with, which was I thought, just a short story.

(2012 Challenges: Off The Shelf, FreeReads, Where Are You, A-Z, 52 in 52, Outdo Yourself, 100+)

Today is a very special day for me.   And what better way to spend my birthday then with an old (and not chronologically lol) friend.   I read and reviewed Bill’s first book,  A Note from an Old Acquaintance, for another tour company back in March of 2010 .  He then emailed me asking if I would post my review on Amazon and we kept in touch.  Then in August of 2010 he bestowed on me a great honor and entrusted me to read and review his rewritten manuscript of Titanic 2012.  Today, not only is he stopping by to kick off his tour, but he is kicking it off with Partners In Crime Tours.   I will be reposting my review because, as you will see, that was what I promised to do.  So please help me welcome my friend and author, Mr. Bill Walker.

ABOUT BILL WALKER

 A graduate of Emerson College’s prestigious film school, Bill wrote and directed his first feature film, Pawn, while still a student. After graduation, he co-founded Newbury Filmworks, Inc., an award-winning production company renowned for making high-quality corporate films and commercials.

In 1990, Bill relocated to Los Angeles, and began a freelance story analysis career for various studios and independent production companies, while devoting his spare time to the writing of novels, short stories, and screenplays. He is also a highly-respected graphic designer, specializing in book and dust jacket design. He has worked on books by such luminaries as: Ray Bradbury, Richard Matheson, Dean Koontz, and Stephen King. In addition, Bill is a member of the Authors Guild.

He has won awards for his screenwriting, his two short story collections for Mid-Graders, Five-Minute Frights and Five-Minute Chillers, are perennial Halloween favorites, and his first novel, Titanic 2012 was enthusiastically received by readers. His second novel, Camp Stalag was released in 2001. Bill lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Debbie, and their sons, Jeffrey and Brian.
You can visit Bill at his website or Facebook.
You can hear his interview on Blog Talk Radio here.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Best-selling mystery novelist Trevor Hughes has no idea that attending his twentieth reunion at Harvard will forever change his life.

Persuaded to go by his on-again-off-again girlfriend, Dr. Julia Magnusson, he meets up with three old friends: Solly Rubens, a self-made Wall Street millionaire; Ken Faust, a successful software entrepreneur; and Harlan Astor, New York real estate tycoon and the glue that holds their circle together.

That afternoon, over drinks at the Harvard Club, Harlan drops his bombshell: He is doing what James Cameron did not — he is rebuilding the Titanic, and sailing the ship on the hundredth anniversary to honor those who died, including his great-grandfather, John Jacob Astor IV. Only Trevor is intrigued by Harlan’s audacity. Touched by his friend’s interest and concern, Harlan invites him on the maiden voyage to serve as the official chronicler.

On April 10, 2012, Trevor journeys to Southampton and, along with the hundreds of handpicked passengers, boards the Titanic. He is awed by the immensity of the ship and the feelings that well up in him. His friend has made his grand dream a reality.

During the journey, armed with his iPod Touch and a miniature wireless camera hidden in his glasses, Trevor interviews both passengers and crew, eager to learn the reasons why they chose to sail on the reborn ship.

Nearly every one of them claims to have been profoundly affected by Cameron’s film, wanting to recapture the magic for themselves. And some of them are dying — their last wish to be on the maiden voyage of the new Titanic.

Trevor is touched that his friend has allowed these people to come aboard, and is unprepared when he meets Madeleine Regehr, a beautiful, free-spirited woman who resists his entreaties to be interviewed, intriguing Trevor all the more. Slowly, and inexorably, Maddy draws him out of his shell, allowing him to love deeply and completely, for the very first time in his life.

But Trevor soon discovers a darker purpose for the voyage, a purpose that threatens to destroy him and the woman he loves. In a race against time that pits friend against friend, Trevor must stop the unstoppable or risk a horrific replay of history…

Read an excerpt:

This is my review that was posted on August 16th, 2010:

CARING LESSONS by Lois Hoitenga Roelofs
Published by Deep River Books
ISBN 10: 1-935265-37-7
ISBN 13: 978-1-935265-37-5
At the request of WOW Tours, a TPB was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.

  Synopsis: Lois Roelofs describes herself as a rebellious minister’s daughter, a reluctant nurse, a restless mom, and a perpetual student who eventually became a fun-loving teacher of mental health nursing. During her forty-year nursing career, she cared for patients and taught nursing students in primarily mental health and medical-surgical settings. As a caregiver, she learned the value of caring for herself and did so by changing jobs to suit her interests, going back to school more than once to feed her crave for learning, and seeking professional help when personal and family crises invaded her life.

LOVE THY NEIGHBOR by Mark Gilleo

Published by The Story Plant

ISBN-10: 1611880343

ISBN-13: 978-1611880342

At the request of The Story Plant, an ARC digital edition was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.

  Synopsis (from the publisher): Clark Hayden is a graduate student trying to help his mother navigate through the loss of his father while she continues to live in their house near Washington DC. With his mother’s diminishing mental capacity becoming the norm, Clark expects a certain amount of craziness as he heads home for the holidays. What he couldn’t possibly anticipate, though, is that he would find himself catapulted into the middle of a terrorist operation. As the holiday festivities reach a crescendo, a terrorist cell – which happens to be across the street – is activated. Suddenly Clark is discovering things he never knew about deadly chemicals, secret government operations, suspiciously missing neighbors, and the intentions of a gorgeous IRS auditor. Clark’s quiet suburban neighborhood is about to become one of the most deadly places on the planet, and it’s up to Clark to prevent the loss of hundreds of thousands of innocent lives in the nation’s capital.

   My Thoughts and Opinion:  Where do I begin?  OK..let’s start off by me proving myself wrong again with first impressions.  I’m thinking this book is going to be another international espionage spy novel (not high up on my favorite read lists), 438 pages (great….this will take me weeks to read…. will probably seem like a lot more because of what I just mentioned) and it’s a debut novel!!!   OK….Let’s get this read.

The novel starts off with an Author’s Note that states It’s True.   And I am hooked!! This debut author has me, but now comes the story, will he hold my attention for 438 pages?   As I continue to read, his writing style is so graphic in detail that I actually had the ability to create a clear and vivid imagery in my mind, almost like I am watching a movie, which continues throughout the book.   He has the same ability of bringing the cast of characters to life and the settings of the scenes as if I was present and a bystander.   Throughout the book there were multiple twists and turns and chapters with mini cliff hangers that made this reader having to “read just one more chapter” but then realizing I was ten chapters later.   The suspense was non stop, a definite page turner.  There were also a couple of scenes (do not want to include spoilers) that I found myself laughing out loud.  A brilliant and compelling read!!!

I found myself thinking several things when I finished this novel. Yes, I was wrong. I could not put this book down, all 438 pages of it.   What I thought was going to take me weeks to read, took me a couple of days because it was so engrossing and kept pulling me to pick it back up.     A masterful written work of fiction, but could it become a reality?   I also thought that this novel would make for a great movie.   And most importantly, this is an author to put on your radar.   His writing is that of a seasoned author.  I say Bravo Mr. Gilleo!!!

DISCLAIMER

I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me,

in exchange for my honest review.

No items that I receive

are ever sold…they are kept by me,

or given to family and/or friends.

(2012 Challenges:  Romantic/Suspense, EBook, ARC, Mystery/Suspense, Off The Shelf, Serial Killers, FreeReads, Where Are You, A-Z, Merely Mystery, 52 in 52, Outdo Yourself, 100+)