Talent by B. Lynn Goodwin Review

Title: Talent

Author: B. Lynn Goodwin

Genre: young adult

Publisher: Eternal Press

Publication Date: November 1 2015

Paperback:  284 pages (also available in ebook format)

Synopsis:

Fifteen-and-half-year-old Sandee Mason wants to find her talent, get her driver's license, and stop living in the shadow of her big brother, Bri, who disappeared while serving in Afghanistan.

She discovers that real life doesn’t have a script as she deals with loss, the manipulation of Bri’s best friend, her burning ambition to find her talent and figure out what happened to Bri, and unexpected bits of joy that pop up when she least expects them.

About the Author:

B. Lynn Goodwin is the owner of Writer Advice, http://www. writeradvice.com, and the author of You Want Me to Do WHAT? Journaling for Caregivers. She’s been published in local and regional newspapers, plus numerous magazines, anthologies, and online journals. A former drama and English teacher, she now conducts writing workshops, writes book reviews, edits, coaches writers, and is currently working on a second book about Sandee Mason’s adventures and a memoir about getting married for the first time at age 62 to a two-time widower who she met on…gulp…Craigslist. She lives with her husband, Richard, and her dog, Eddie McPuppers, in Northern California.

Author's Websites:                

B. Lynn Goodwin’s website:

http://www.writeradvice.com/

http://blynngoodwin.com

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/blynn.goodwin

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lgood67334

My Review:

This was an interesting story for me. I thought that it was different for a young adult novel to deal with the real issues of war that real young adults are facing today. The idea of talent was also important for me. In today's society talent means different things then it did when I was young. When the author had talent come through at random times I thought that this was a great lesson for readers to learn. Talent comes from who you are and yes some talent is from what you can do physically and mentally, but some talent comes from within. I give this book a 4/5. I was given this book a review and these are my opinions. .

The Woman of La Mancha by Karen Mann Review

The Woman of La Mancha

by Karen Mann

The Woman of La Mancha, a companion book to Don Quixote, tells the woman's story of Don Quixote by recounting the story of the girl he called Dulcinea, the woman he loved from afar.

It's 1583. An eleven-year-old girl wakes in the back of a cart. She has lost her memory and is taken in by a kindly farm family in La Mancha. She adopts the name Aldonza. She doesn't speak for quite some time. Once she speaks, there is a family member who is jealous of her and causes a good deal of trouble, even causing her to be forced to leave La Mancha in tragic circumstances. Having to create a new life in a new location and still unaware of her birth family, she adopts the name Dulcinea and moves in the circles of nobility. While seeking her identity, she becomes the consort of wealthy men, finds reason to disguise herself as a man, and learns herbal healing to help others.

The novel also features a parallel story of a young man, Don Christopher, a knight of King Philip and the betrothed of the girl, who sets off on with a young squire, Sancho, to find the girl. Christopher's adventures takes them across Spain and forces him to grow up. Does he continue the quest to find his betrothed or marry another and break the contract with the king?

Both young people have many experiences and grow up before the readers' eyes. Floating in and out of each other's paths as they travel around Spain, will they eventually find each other and be together?

Paperback: 354 pages

Genre: Historical Romance

Publisher: Fleur-de-Lis Press (May 5, 2014)

ISBN-10: 0965252043

ISBN-13: 978-0965252041

The Woman of La Mancha is available for purchase at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Karen Mann is the Administrative Director of the brief-residency Master of Fine Arts in Writing Program at Spalding University in Louisville (spalding.edu/mfa) of which she is also the co-founder. 

Her fiction and nonfiction have appeared in various anthologies. Her second book, The Saved Man: The First Century, is available as an ebook on Amazon. After having lived in Indiana most of her life, she now lives in California. 

Find out more about Karen by visiting her online:

Website: http://www.karenmannwrites.com 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karenmannwrites

My Review:

I enjoy reading about this time period. I love when an author takes a famous person from history and writes a new story about one of the supporting characters. The author did a great job of honoring Don Quixote. I loved the info on each chapter at the beginning of each chapter. My favorite is Chapter 8 in which Donza finds her voice. The ending was fun and adventurous! I am giving this book a 4/5. I was given a copy to review via WOW book tours, however all opinions are my own.

Voices of the Sea by Bethany Masone Harar Review

Title: Voices of the Sea

Author: Bethany Harar
Genre: YA Paranormal

Publisher: WiDo Publishing

Publication Date: July 22, 2014
Paperback: 285 pages

Synopsis:

The Sirens of Pacific Grove, California are being exterminated, and seventeen-year-old Loralei Reines is their next target. Lora may look like a normal teenager, but her voice has the power to enchant and hypnotize men. Like the other Sirens in her clan, however, she keeps her true identity a secret to protect their species.

Lora's birthright as the next clan leader seems far off, until the Sons of Orpheus, a vicious cult determined to kill all Sirens on Earth, begin exterminating her people. When an unexpected tragedy occurs, Lora must take her place as Guardian of the Clan.

Lora is determined to gain control of her skills to help her clan, but they are developing too slowly, until she meets Ryan, a human boy. When Ryan is near, Lora's abilities strengthen. She knows she shouldn't be with a human. Yet, she can't resist her attraction to him, or the surge in power she feels whenever they're together.

And the Sirens are running out of time. If Lora can't unlock the secret to defeat the Sons of Orpheus, she, along with everyone she loves, will be annihilated.

.

About the Author:

Bethany Masone Harar graduated with a Bachelor's degree in English from James Madison University and a Masters in Secondary English Education from Virginia Commonwealth University. She has enjoyed teaching high school English ever since. As a teacher, Bethany is able to connect with the very audience for whom she writes, and this connection gives her insight into their interests. As a writer, she wants to make her readers gasp out loud, sigh with longing and identify with her characters. Bethany also enjoys posting on her blog, bethsbemusings.blogspot.com, is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, and is an avid follower of literary-driven social media. She resides in Northern Virginia with her husband, two beautiful children, and her miniature poodle, Annie.

Author's Websites:                

Bethany Harar’s website:

www.bethanymasoneharar.com

Bethany Harar’s blogs:

http://bethsbemusings.blogspot.com

Twitter: @bethhararwrites

My Review:

I loved this new take on Sirens, and how they interacted with humans. Lora went through so much loss, and her character really grew as did her place in her clan. The sound of the Sirens seemed peaceful, especially with the sounds of the water. I would love to hear a playlist, or soundtrack, to this book. The ending was bitter sweet, and I think that there will be a sequel. I would love to see Lora grow into her role and avenge the dead. It was interesting to read about Sirens and cars. I really enjoy present day Mythology re-tellings. I am giving this book a 4/5. I was given a copy to review, however all opinions are my own.