Friday, March 16, 2012

The Spirit Archer by Mike Evers

This is a short narrative about a young boy in the United Kingdom going through many personal trials; he is the sole support for his mum's household since his dad was killed years ago. Jamie is feeling lost and restless overhears a conversation about a mysterious incident at a local cemetery and to distract him from his worldly troubles he decides to scout out a cemetery to see what or who scared the customer. He ventures into a mysterious world involving a long lost hero to some and a criminal to another; A fork-lore hero to the poor.

This discovery positions his destiny to change from the lost boy to grow into a knowledgeable lad; for he finds a kindred soul who helps him through the darkness to the light, be it supernatural or a fantasy.

This genre is refreshing because education is lacking in the world today and this author was able to take a captivating character and formed a bond with a lost lad and the conclusion was awesome ; meanwhile he describes details of a historical truths that makes this reader want to Goggle the internet and refresh my educational knowledge.

It was ironic how the past comes into the present and the bullies are put in their rightful places. The hero comes to the rescue and proves that if one is kind and gives then they too will be rewarded for their sharing.

This narrative should be extended into longer historical facts written using the adorable Jamie as a teacher and role model to teach the children about not forgetting about their history and to continue to learn new knowledge every day. This story has a surprising conclusion and it is somewhat witty and remarkable. You have to read it for yourself. If you crave folk-lore tales and want to know historical facts this author may be the one for you to investigate.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

At First Light by John R Sikes

and the charcoal drawings illustrations by Glenn Duncan and Jim Borer is a witty short collection of stories with this opening:

Author's Note:
I named this collection of stories At First Light because no matter if I am at sea, on the river or in the woods, it is my favorite time of day. The transformation from darkness into light. A time between the last chill of the night and the warmth of seeing the sun appearing over the horizon. It always brings hope"
This written introduction by the author was an eye catcher already for this reader to get comfortable and read this collection.

In this short collection the author is describing his days as a fisherman and his camping experiences by himself and the antics he lives through. He continues the tales detailing his career as a tour guide taking tourists out on the raging rivers and he adds his own adventures of almost losing his life on more than one occasion. Yet he still does not learn his lesson and like a dare devil goes on yet another wild adventure. He adds a humorous touch to the short tales and the additional illustrations describing the journeys with creative details pulls in the reader. Captivation enough to reeled in this reader and have her get caught up in the story; like when a tourist or friend is flipped into the frigid fast flowing rivers as the canoe overturns or the other typical male tactics one does to enjoy the outdoors life and captured game adds a laugh here and there.

This reader enjoyed this preview and look forward to reading more works from this writer.

This author has other books in the works. His style of writing with humor and realistic life experiences give these stories and unique quality of their own. Rated PG but parents should review first before younger children read this collection.

Available by John R. Sikes

At Rogue Phoenix Press

Fisherman's Son

Young Jason hits the open ocean of the Pacific Northwest for the first time. In his adventure-filled journeys, he learns the ropes of fishing the great seas under the tutelage of his Uncle Buck and the old salty dogs aboard the commercial fishing vessel, the Wave Dancer. Jason's strength of character, quick wits, and bravery are called upon to help save the family business and the lives of his fellow crewmen. Will he survive his ordeals? Will he earn enough money to fulfill every teen's boy's dream of buying a fast car? Enjoy this rolling sea adventure to see how he fares.

Coming Soon

Smuggler's Story

Smuggler's Story is about the early days of drug smuggling and how the notorious drug cartels were formed.

Just After Daylight

Another collection of short stories.

Many of John R. Sikes books are also available in print at Amazon.com

Read more: http://www.greatmindsthinkaloud.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=prose&action=display&thread=1195#ixzz1p3TY91gv

Game of Heart by Kathryn J. Bain

Is a story about a struggling single mom with three children and an ex-husband who is a deadbeat dad who does not pay his child support in the arrears of 40,000 plus and she with the children are struggling day by day to put food on the table and barely pay the bills. The children go without new clothing and are deprived of many things because mother can't afford the basics right now on her part-time job. The story has a charm of it's own as the three pre-teenagers described their personalities and how each one deals with the reality of a divocre and living in poverty and the transformation that is about to come into their lives.

The author was inspiring as she added in the hilarious scenes which poor mom, Deb experienced and the surprise of her lifetime comes into her reality. It is inspiration because it is full with faith and strength to get through any storm as long as you believe in the unseen and yourself.

The mother gets feed up and dreams of escaping her fateful destiny but can not abandon her children. The author mixs into other entertaining characters, her lady friends from the South mingling with the Northern ladies and they have some playful conversations as they help Deb through her emotional and financial difficulties.

In all a warm witty and delightful story that some time God closes one door to only open a much happier one. The humour in the story was so realistic and the reader wanted to smash that arrogant deadbeat over the head too. She had to be a saint not too.

Then an additional gift was given at the end of this short narrative that made this reader curious to Goggle the title and author and this is what I found out;

http://www.amazon.com/Kathryn-J.-Bain/e/B0072LEMOU she definitely writes books that tugged at the reader's hearts. Go see for yourself, fun, clean and witty with realisitic prespectives with some fantasy mixed in.
©2010, Kitty, all rights reserved.


Read more: http://www.greatmindsthinkaloud.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=romance&action=display&thread=1210#ixzz1p3Sy9YXS

Run from Fear by Jami Alden

Is an intensely suspenseful chilling romantic writer for she has spun a tale while probably thinking of her favorite authors; Judith McNaught, Johanna Lindsey, Karen Robards, Catherine Coulter, Shirlee Busbee among others, as she stated she devoured their lavish historical epics full of overbearing alpha males and the women who brought them to their knees" as she indicates in her Amazon Bio. This story is written similar to that unique style adding all those components in a thriller that was intense.

This story is about victims who became victors in the end. This is a dramatic horror about a serial rapist and killer targeting vulnerable females and torturing them within inches of their lives. In the past he captures Talia and she becomes a victim only to get justice but now she and her sister are in need of a safety house until the arrest and trial and other events passed. After their lives have been disrupted for close to two years They come out of hiding and try to restore as much as possible a normalcy to their lives as they could. In the back ground a security agent Jack with seal training and his own issues takes the women under his wings; since he was the rescuer of Talia. Since that day he save her he was attracted to her wanting to protect her and her sister like broken birds. He was always behind the scenes making sure the women are fine. Everything is going smoothly until the strange incidents starting occurring, the necklace, the flowers, and the pictures and other events which haunted Talia’s mind, bring back flashback of her horrific ordeal at the hands of a serial rapist and emotional roller coaster ride of battling her demons. Jack becomes the knight in shining armor fighting her imaginary or real foes.

Jack knows that something is not right, and comes out of hiding to protect and captured the culprits who are taunting the women. The relationship between them changes from professional body guard to somewhat a personal relationship. Tilia wonders if she is so broken will she be able to open her heart to another man, be vulnerable to depend upon another. The conflict, suspense and twists keep the reader enthralled to see what will happen next. Warning there are some language and graphic details and lusty scenes in this book.
The title fits this story accurately there is fear around every corner, every place the women visit, the past of healing from scarred wounds and memories, the present question will they be safe and the future; can Talia open her closed heart to the man of her dreams.

Here is an excerpt “The obvious one to look at is Margaret Grayson,” Jack continued, referring to David Maxwell’s widow, released from prison after serving only eighteen months after she agreed to give up all of the details of her husband’s illegal activities that spanned the globe. “Cole’s been checking up on her but she’s keeping a low profile, hiding out at the family estate on Bainbridge Island.”

“Doesn’t mean she didn’t hire muscle to harass Talia.”

Jack paused as a guest squeezed past them in the hallway that led to the kitchen.

“True, but so far we haven’t been able to find any links,”

This writer has an Amazon Author page just Goggle this book and/or her name and see her other published books full of chills and suspense with a romantic twist; They definitely will keep the reader entertain because you are on the edge of your seat waiting for that "what If" moments and desiring to see the outcome become a victory.

Read more: http://www.greatmindsthinkaloud.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=supernatural&action=display&thread=1207#ixzz1p3SGlDLE

Monday, March 12, 2012

“The Castors of Giza” by Chris Hambleton

Is a combination of Biblical history and a fantasy book; the author extracts different theories about the ancient Egyptians days and their lives living in the surrounding lands. This story surrounds one certain Pharaoh who is appointed to the throne of Kemet: Khufu. His father was a master builder and command that the slaves build majestic pyramids, the burial site for royalty.

The Pharaoh wants to be honored by the underworld gods and decides to best his father and create the greatest pyramid and surrounding temples so all can see even miles down the Nile River. He appoints specialized experts in the art of stone making and other fields to journey across the Red Sea and seeks for the materials they will need to complete the dream of the mighty pyramid.

The story is enlightening, intense, and courageous as the experts travelled into unknown territories and encounter roaming nomads and barbarians.

The plot switches between the Pharaoh and his Egyptian kingdom to introduce an incident and one of the experts who’s in trouble to be saved at the last moment by a Hebrew. Thus the unusual friendship begins. The Hebrews understand that the stranger needs to go back home to Kemet and the rescuers are rewarded for their bravery and are allowed to reside in the blessed kingdom and experienced their own personal trials. The bond of friendship grows and the Egyptians realize that the Hebrews have vital knowledge to extend to completing the building of Great Pyramid.

This story is full with suspense, adventure and historical as well as biblical verses that made this reader wonder at the mysteries of life in those days and today of the 21st century.

The author combined the two periods together the emerging of monotheism and the building of the pyramids. He gives insights to the possibility of the secrets of how the pyramids may have been created. The story is full of daily life rituals and tender moments of family and loved ones experiencing joy and sorrow and missing their loved ones as the experts are commanded to venture to a faraway land to scout for the precious stone that is needed to complete the building of the pyramid. He incorporates various theories from religion to the sciences into the story.

The additional bonus is that there is a conspiracy and two brothers are pitted against each other and one’s beliefs are to be banned, but which one’s? Events and twists that make the story compelling, suspenseful and intense to conclude in one or two readings. The additional elements of the letters between the Hebrew slave and the Egyptian master builder lets the reader follow the progress of the building of the king's dream and other concerns that plague the lands and causing intriguing situations.

The author was generous to include data and references of the facts that pull together a sensitive, knowledgeable insight into the lives of the people who lived in the days of Genesis and how the two confronted each other over their views of faith and how they resolve conflicts.

If you like to know more secrets about the pyramids and relationships in those days, you can go to this link: http://www.castorsofgiza.com/ to investigate for yourself and learn more information about this fantastical period of the former days. It is recommend for all ages for it is complete with many details and would make it a hot topic to talk about around the dinner table.

book trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwB-ao0h_20

Saturday, March 10, 2012

The Priest and The Peaches by Larry Peterson

Is an amazing heart wrenching story about a family and their bond with each other, the unseen forces and the people in their lives. The family consists of a father and five children living together under one roof. They lost their mother to illness and their dad became lose in the world of alcohol and grief. He loves his family and does the best he can consider the circumstances.

When a tragedy hits the Peaches Family they have to fend for themselves and became a close knit family. More calamities occur and they are lost in a personal tumult storm and experience events that were detrimental yet they are courageous, miraculous and the trails transform them all. Their father was as I was seeing my own father when alive; a man who would give his own shirt off his back to help his neighbor and kept his deeds quiet. His mantra of L.Y.N. is such a powerful tonic of unconditional love and teaches others to share. The theme of paying forward had this reader reaching for the tissue box.

The hidden poetry of the story was so familiar to this reader's life I felt as I was reliving some of my childhood experiences and was being pulled into a whirling pool of emotions, from love, anger, hatred and finally forgiveness. The writer has the gift of a master in explaining the secret of how pride, anger and hatred blocks the wondrous gifts that were meant to be cherish, and are lost in the rush of daily life of all business and some strangers and loved ones unleashing their selfish ego attitudes it is not to be spiteful but to hide behind the defenses so they do not have to unveil their broken hearts and shame secrets. I think this author is trying to tell the readers to keep their priorities in order and live life as it was meant to be and let the petty things go.

Everyone in this story is like a family member and it is easy to connect with each one. It was like my uncle and aunt was whispering to me and sharing wisdom with this reader. It is filled with knowledge, love, hope and faith and mysteries we all ponder about.

This author broke down all those barriers by writing a touching soul wrenching story about trials in life and shows with faith anything is possible. The twists and life rituals of this wonderful family and their personal journey through heart ache to victory is very inspiration and has this reader thinking about returning back to her former faith and strive harder to release the human qualities of pride and ego; to connect more with a higher force which may be the answer to live on this planet and we should live as in Let It Be as in the Beatles song.

This book is a winner and has a message for all ages. I was joyfully taken hostage by the story and sad to be release. This reader definitely looks forward to read more enlightening stories from this writer. This choice will probably stay as my number one choice for 2012.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Daisy Dawson on the Farm by Steve Voake and illustrated by Jessica Meserve

A cute short story book with entertaining charcoal drawings of farm animals and other drawings related to the plot. It is light reading and has a moral written throughout; if there is a problem, vent about it, accept it and then created a plan to solve it. The farm animals are faced with a life situation and the charming Daisy Dawson becomes the team leader and organized them into a comedic cooperated team to think of strategies that will solve the problem.

My children are in college but if I was a grandmother this would be a choice to read with my babies. It has cute little songs in-between the pages and as a reader I was thinking what would be the perfect music tune to listen and sing by as we read this as a family. It is light and charming and a treasure to add in your library with a moral teaching that all little children and even adults who need a refreshing break from stress could enjoy.

As a reader I like the scene when Daisy and the animals received insight to how precious mother nature and the human connection is to each other and what they could do to help one another survive. The added elements of the bond between life and nature were a vital component written into this tale. It even includes dancing to the rhythm of nature’s sounds. This part alone if my children were toddlers would interested me in saving this book for rainy and mom I am bored days. There is so much in this little story that can entertain adults and children happily for quality time together. Oh the good news there are ha others books in this amusing series.

I was curious and asked my teenager could ebooks be attached by computer to a large screen television, "of course mom" I was verifying it so I could save this cute story on a flash drive, for just maybe in the future and shared this delightful tale and other with them; I am discovering these types of books could teach reading, learning valuable life lessons , and includes singing and dancing, what a wonderful way to spend a memorable time with the ones we love. Highly recommend this book and others in this series for a mini break and to create life-time memories and spending quality time with the children is a gift not to be taken for granted.

This is the link http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1406327484/ref=cm_cr_rev_prod_img
As a mom of three teenagers, who survived through the difficult times of bored days I could not believe this little gem has not been reviewed before I came along. Please go check it out if you are looking for a delightful treat and look forward to enjoying memories with your babies for they grow up too fast.

Read more: http://www.greatmindsthinkaloud.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=childrens&action=display&thread=1180#ixzz1oYssj9Eq