THE SANTA CLUB by Kelly Moss
Illustrated by Jim Keserich
Published by Palmary Press
ISBN 13:  978-0-9821340-1-6
At the request of The Cadence Group, a HC was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.

  Synopsis (from author):   A delightful book with captivating illustrations, The Santa Club transitions your child from receiving gifts to experiencing the joy of giving. With sensitivity, faith, and love, The Santa Club tackles the serious question, “Is Santa Claus Real?” To be read with your child, this wonderful book not only answers that sometimes “dreaded” question but it also addresses the questions of why Santa comes at Christmas and who was the first Santa.  The Santa Club is a wonderful parenting resource and a stunning children’s book, and is sure to become an annual family favorite.

  My Thoughts and Opinion:  To those that follow this blog, you know that this is not the type of book that I would usually accept to review, however, when I was approached, I thought it would be different and fun.  When my boys were young, reading was an important integral of their upbringing.  From when they were infants, reading before bedtime was a nighttime ritual.  Books also played an important part during different milestones in their lives, such as bringing home a baby brother, potty training, starting school, and unfortunately, even loss.

Since it has been many years that I have read a children’s book, it was like a new experience for me.  The premise of the book is to help parents answer that hard question, Is Santa Real? Not only does it answer the question in a way that a child can understand but it also allows the child to feel special when the answer is revealed.  What also impressed me, which I am sure that some will disagree with me, is that it also explains the true meaning of Christmas.  At first, I was a bit unsure of the illustrations but the more I looked at them I could see the diversity the author was conveying to the parent and child.  I forgot to mention, this book states that a child must only read this book with a parent or guardian.  If you are a parent, grandparent or know someone with little ones, this should be in every household, tucked away for the day when that question is asked, Is Santa real?.  Highly recommend.

THE SANTA CLUB by Kelly Moss
Illustrated by Jim Keserich
Published by Palmary Press
ISBN 13:  978-0-9821340-1-6
At the request of The Cadence Group, a HC was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.

  Synopsis (from author):   A delightful book with captivating illustrations, The Santa Club transitions your child from receiving gifts to experiencing the joy of giving. With sensitivity, faith, and love, The Santa Club tackles the serious question, “Is Santa Claus Real?” To be read with your child, this wonderful book not only answers that sometimes “dreaded” question but it also addresses the questions of why Santa comes at Christmas and who was the first Santa.  The Santa Club is a wonderful parenting resource and a stunning children’s book, and is sure to become an annual family favorite.

  My Thoughts and Opinion:  To those that follow this blog, you know that this is not the type of book that I would usually accept to review, however, when I was approached, I thought it would be different and fun.  When my boys were young, reading was an important integral of their upbringing.  From when they were infants, reading before bedtime was a nighttime ritual.  Books also played an important part during different milestones in their lives, such as bringing home a baby brother, potty training, starting school, and unfortunately, even loss.

Since it has been many years that I have read a children’s book, it was like a new experience for me.  The premise of the book is to help parents answer that hard question, Is Santa Real? Not only does it answer the question in a way that a child can understand but it also allows the child to feel special when the answer is revealed.  What also impressed me, which I am sure that some will disagree with me, is that it also explains the true meaning of Christmas.  At first, I was a bit unsure of the illustrations but the more I looked at them I could see the diversity the author was conveying to the parent and child.  I forgot to mention, this book states that a child must only read this book with a parent or guardian.  If you are a parent, grandparent or know someone with little ones, this should be in every household, tucked away for the day when that question is asked, Is Santa real?.  Highly recommend.

SCREAM CATCHER by Vincent Zandri

Published by StoneGate Ink

  Now, in the wake of his literary success, the ever anxious Jude is hoping to lead a quiet, peaceful life in the idyllic Adirondack vacation town of Lake George, New York with his new pregnant wife, Rosie, and Jack, his young son from a previous marriage. But when Jude becomes the accidental witness to a bizarre “kill game” in which the killer, video game designer and master of disguise, Hector “the Black Dragon” Lennox, insists on recording the screams of his victims prior to shooting them dead, the ex-cop’s life is turned upside down.
  When Lennox is arrested by the L.G.P.D. and Jude is asked to act as the state’s “star witness,” he has no choice but to fight his demon-fear and take on the role. But what he doesn’t realize at the time is that the killer’s arrest is actually the first chapter in what is a carefully designed and scripted kill game that will involve Jude’s entire family.
  How will the kill game end?
  It will end not with a whimper, but a scream.

  My Thoughts and Opinion:  Where do I begin?  I’m thinking that I should apologize in advance as this is not going to be like my typical reviews where I attempt to make them short, concise, and to the point but this book has me reeling.  It all started in May of 2010 when I read a debut novel, Moonlight Falls, by an unknown author to me, Vincent Zandri and I was hooked.  Since that time I have read every one of his books and he doesn’t disappoint.
  I wrote a pre review last week when I was quite surprised when I received this galley in my email.  So I will start this review there.
(written on 07/28/11)  If you are a reader of mystery’s, thrillers, non stop action filled novels, mark your calendar for the release of this book!!!  Vinzent Zandri has IT!!!  Vincent Zandri is IT!!!  Vincent Zandri is brillIanT!!!  Just when you thought he reached the pinnacle in writing, he has found a higher mountain!!!  He has raised the bar with Scream Catcher!!  My heart was pounding at warp speed!!!  And that’s from reading 1/2 the book. It can only get better!!!  In ten days…plan on spending the day reading….it’s a page turning, can’t put down novel.
  Now that I have read the book in it’s entirety, I can give a full review.  Fantastic!!!!  Zandri is a genius at story telling.  Why does this book have me reeling?  His inventiveness of writing style.  I noticed a deviation immediately.  It has the classic Zandri flair, short chapters, cliff hanging chapters, twists and turns, non stop action and page turning suspense.  However, this had more drama, less quirky, quip dialogue and more of a psychological thriller plot.  Masterful!!!!
  In my pre review, I stated “it could only get better”…It did!!!  Exceptional!!!  His creative talent is phenomenal!!!  Vincent Zandri and Scream Catcher are Champions!!!!

SCREAM CATCHER by Vincent Zandri

Published by StoneGate Ink

  Now, in the wake of his literary success, the ever anxious Jude is hoping to lead a quiet, peaceful life in the idyllic Adirondack vacation town of Lake George, New York with his new pregnant wife, Rosie, and Jack, his young son from a previous marriage. But when Jude becomes the accidental witness to a bizarre “kill game” in which the killer, video game designer and master of disguise, Hector “the Black Dragon” Lennox, insists on recording the screams of his victims prior to shooting them dead, the ex-cop’s life is turned upside down.
  When Lennox is arrested by the L.G.P.D. and Jude is asked to act as the state’s “star witness,” he has no choice but to fight his demon-fear and take on the role. But what he doesn’t realize at the time is that the killer’s arrest is actually the first chapter in what is a carefully designed and scripted kill game that will involve Jude’s entire family.
  How will the kill game end?
  It will end not with a whimper, but a scream.

  My Thoughts and Opinion:  Where do I begin?  I’m thinking that I should apologize in advance as this is not going to be like my typical reviews where I attempt to make them short, concise, and to the point but this book has me reeling.  It all started in May of 2010 when I read a debut novel, Moonlight Falls, by an unknown author to me, Vincent Zandri and I was hooked.  Since that time I have read every one of his books and he doesn’t disappoint.
  I wrote a pre review last week when I was quite surprised when I received this galley in my email.  So I will start this review there.
(written on 07/28/11)  If you are a reader of mystery’s, thrillers, non stop action filled novels, mark your calendar for the release of this book!!!  Vinzent Zandri has IT!!!  Vincent Zandri is IT!!!  Vincent Zandri is brillIanT!!!  Just when you thought he reached the pinnacle in writing, he has found a higher mountain!!!  He has raised the bar with Scream Catcher!!  My heart was pounding at warp speed!!!  And that’s from reading 1/2 the book. It can only get better!!!  In ten days…plan on spending the day reading….it’s a page turning, can’t put down novel.
  Now that I have read the book in it’s entirety, I can give a full review.  Fantastic!!!!  Zandri is a genius at story telling.  Why does this book have me reeling?  His inventiveness of writing style.  I noticed a deviation immediately.  It has the classic Zandri flair, short chapters, cliff hanging chapters, twists and turns, non stop action and page turning suspense.  However, this had more drama, less quirky, quip dialogue and more of a psychological thriller plot.  Masterful!!!!
  In my pre review, I stated “it could only get better”…It did!!!  Exceptional!!!  His creative talent is phenomenal!!!  Vincent Zandri and Scream Catcher are Champions!!!!

THE GOOD SISTER by Drusilla Campbell

  Synopsis (borrowed from B&N): Roxanne Callahan has always been her younger sister’s caretaker. Now married, her happiness is threatened when beautiful and emotionally unstable Simone, suffering from crippling postpartum depression, commits an unforgivable crime for which Roxanne comes to believe she is partially responsible. In the glare of national media attention brought on her sister, Roxanne fights to hold her marriage together as she is drawn back into the pain of her troubled past and relives the fraught relationship she and Simone shared with their narcissistic mother. At the same time, only she can help Simone’s nine year old daughter, Merell, make sense of the family’s tragedy. Cathartic, lyrical, and unflinchingly honest, THE GOOD SISTER is a novel of four generations of women struggling to overcome a legacy of violence, lies and secrecy, ultimately finding strength and courage in their love for each other.

  My Thoughts and Opinion: Ms. Campbell was able to take a real life , often misunderstood, disease, and with her sensitive, personal experience and masterful writing style, to create a fictional story that was poignant, emotional and heart wrenching. The family dynamics profound, psyches formed from childhood make one wonder of their own family dynamics. This book, at times was very personal and hard for me to read, especially because I could relate to the character of Roxanne. With this book, comes a “Reading Book Guide”, and after reading it, I agree, this novel would make an excellent Book Club Choice. If you enjoy books where relationships are woven together, then this is a must read.

THE GOOD SISTER by Drusilla Campbell

  Synopsis (borrowed from B&N): Roxanne Callahan has always been her younger sister’s caretaker. Now married, her happiness is threatened when beautiful and emotionally unstable Simone, suffering from crippling postpartum depression, commits an unforgivable crime for which Roxanne comes to believe she is partially responsible. In the glare of national media attention brought on her sister, Roxanne fights to hold her marriage together as she is drawn back into the pain of her troubled past and relives the fraught relationship she and Simone shared with their narcissistic mother. At the same time, only she can help Simone’s nine year old daughter, Merell, make sense of the family’s tragedy. Cathartic, lyrical, and unflinchingly honest, THE GOOD SISTER is a novel of four generations of women struggling to overcome a legacy of violence, lies and secrecy, ultimately finding strength and courage in their love for each other.

  My Thoughts and Opinion: Ms. Campbell was able to take a real life , often misunderstood, disease, and with her sensitive, personal experience and masterful writing style, to create a fictional story that was poignant, emotional and heart wrenching. The family dynamics profound, psyches formed from childhood make one wonder of their own family dynamics. This book, at times was very personal and hard for me to read, especially because I could relate to the character of Roxanne. With this book, comes a “Reading Book Guide”, and after reading it, I agree, this novel would make an excellent Book Club Choice. If you enjoy books where relationships are woven together, then this is a must read.