PORTALS, PASSAGES & PATHWAYS by B.R.Maul Review

PORTALS, PASSAGES & PATHWAYS

BOOK #1:  IN THE LAND OF MAGNANTHIA

In 2015 In the Land of Magnanthia won the Independent Publisher Book Awards for Best Sci-fi/Fantasy eBook. Thousands of authors and publishers in all 50 U.S. states, eight Canadian provinces, and 34 countries submitted books in the IP Book Awards that year.

When a portal to another world cracks open just outside a small town in Minnesota, it sets off a series of events forever changing the lives of two boys. Simon is set on the path to save the world, while Jak is on a path to tear it apart.

In the Land of Magnanthia is a teen & young adult fantasy adventure that takes you on a magical journey into the beautiful land of Magnanthia, the home to fantasy creatures of all kinds, spell-casting wizards and warlocks, and the ultimate war between good and evil. Follow two teenagers as they go up against the hardships with coming of age, struggle to find redemption, and fight to discover a way off the roadway of eternal death and onto the pathway to everlasting life!

What pathway are YOU on?

You can purchase the eBook here.

See for yourself what other are saying about In the Land of Magnanthia!

About The Author:

B.R.Maul is an award-winning author. His debut novel In the Land of Magnanthia (book #1 in his Portals, Passages & Pathways series) won the bronze award for Best Sci-fi/Fantasy eBook in the 2015 Independent Publisher Book Awards held in New York City. This is an international award recognizing independent authors and publishers around the world for their outstanding work.

My Review:

This is a great read for kids and I found it a fun read. It is only book one, and has a lot of world building. It was interesting to read about wizards, guardians, etc. It is a rather long book for young readers, at 470 pages. I definitely think that this could have been broken up into smaller parts, or that some descriptions could have been left out. The end is weird, and I wish I knew what was behind that passageway. The plot reminded me of The Lord of The Rings. As a kids book this is great, even with it's length. However I have to give it a 3/5. Nothing really stood out to me. I was given a copy. All opinions are my own. 

Jackie: The Adventures of a Little Boy Trying to Grow Up By John Tammela Review

Jackie: The Adventures of a Little Boy Trying to Grow Up
By John Tammela
Publisher: Acorn Independent Press
Published: March 2014
ISBN: 978-1909121461
ASIN: B00JDOBGCK
Genre: on Fiction, Personal Narrative, Young Adult, Children

Jackie was an average kid growing up in a Finnish family in Niagara Falls, Canada in the late 1930’s and early ’40’s.

In this true story you will join Jackie as he deals with being the youngest of four children, but also the terrors of his second grade teacher or the school nurse, and the pangs of his first crush. Then there was the run-away bread wagon and being lost in a snow storm, but snow meant building a huge snow castle and of course snow-ball battles on the ramparts. This book may seem best suited for middle grade readers but not so. There are oldsters, grand-parents and parents too who will become teary-eyed as they recall similar experiences. What do you suppose is the author’s message here ?

My Review:

The great thing about this book is that we can all relate to parts of the story. Although I imagine that boys can relate more than I did. I also really liked that this story is an autobiography and it highlights a special time in history. It was interesting to read about Canada, rather than The United States. What made this book believable was that it is told from a child's point of view, rather than an adults. I go think that the cover does not fit the story, and led me to think that the story was going to be much more depressing. All in all I did like the story and I would love to read future installments from this author. I am giving this book a 4/5. I was given a copy to review, however all opinions are my own. 

The Spaces In Between By Gavin Ough Review

The Spaces In Between
By Gavin Ough
Publisher: Serealities Press
Published: August 2014
ISBN: 978-0615987736
ASIN: B00MK9UDEM
Genre: Fantasy

What makes a hero a hero? Courage? Honor? Determination?

Young Gremlaw has these qualities in spades, but he wouldn’t call himself a hero—these days he mainly plays the role of a thief, doing whatever it takes to survive.

But when the dangerous narcotic Forever begins infiltrating the kingdom of Trathlain, Duke DeLarouge decides Gremlaw is just the thief to help him discover who is smuggling the drug across their borders. And DeLarouge will do whatever it takes to ensure that Gremlaw agrees.

Forced into a dangerous mission, Gremlaw unknowingly takes the first steps of his hero’s journey, willing to risk his life in order to protect the only two people he loves.

The Spaces in Between is a fantasy adventure full of magic and intrigue, testing the boundaries of the human mind and the complexities of the heart.

Along the way, Gremlaw discovers that he has a remarkable ability: he can see negative space, allowing him to slip through gaps that others overlook. But he soon learns that gifts can also be curses, and when he is abducted and imprisoned by the Lavashians, his power may in fact be the end of him.

A solid read that surprises and inspires, Gremlaw’s tale will keep you guessing and hoping until the final page.

Serealities Press

Website: http://serealities.com

My Review:
Gremlaw has been put in a very dangerous position. He is just a thief, isn't he? One that is willing to do anything to live and survive. He has been recruited against his wishes to find out how a drug called Forever is being brought into Trathlain where he lives. He has to put his own life in danger for others. This is a wonderful fantasy with suspense and danger. Gremlaw has a gift that he will soon realize. Is it going to help or hurt him and others he cares about? I give this book a 4/5. I was given this book for a   review. These are all my opinions.

Suicide Supper Club By Rhett Devane Review

Suicide Supper Club
By Rhett Devane
ISBN: 978-0615863306
ASIN:
Pages: 242
Genre: Women’s Fiction, Southern Humor

In the Deep South, the grinding summer heat is enough to make people stupid. Four small town Southern women—each with distinct reasons to consider her life total crap—band together to forge “the easy way out.” But life has a way of turning out opposite of misdirected plans.

Abby has no husband, no children, no living kin, and a painful family secret. Loiscell is a two-time breast cancer survivor facing recurrence with dwindling faith and courage. Sheila is a meek abused wife hiding behind a religious, volunteer-queen veneer. Estranged from her only child, Caroline “Choo-choo” Ivey desperately misses her late husband.

As the relentless summer heat continues, conditions deteriorate for the women. Initially in jest, they propose group suicide: a nice meal, followed by a quick death courtesy of a paid assassin. Choo-choo offers to pay, and Sheila figures a way to enlist her husband to acquire a contact name. Then plans go haywire.

The Suicide Supper Club was a finalist in the 2012 Florida Writers Association RPLA contest. The Suicide Supper Club tackles tough subjects—abuse, cancer, aging—but with humor. In the South, humor is as essential as breathing and often filters life’s harsh realities.

Contact

Rhett DeVane

Website: http://www.rhettdevane.com
Twitter: @dixiemadhatter

My Review:

This was an interesting story. Death and unhappiness is all around them. However once they actually go through seeing someone they know commit suicide the supper club starts to think differently. Every day is a gift. It was interesting to read how these friends thought in their minds and how their actions were affected. I am giving this book a 3/5. I was given a copy to review, however all opinions are my own

Finding Billy Battles by Ronald E. Yates Review

The first in a trilogy of novels about a man’s 100 year life of peril, adventure, tragedy, transgression and redemption.
When a great-grandson inherits two aging trunks and a stack of meticulously detailed journals penned by his great-grandfather, he sets out to fulfill his great-grandfather’s last request: to tell the story of an incredible life replete with adventure, violence, and tragedy. The great-grandfather’s name is Billy Battles–a man often trapped and overwhelmed by circumstances beyond his control.

For much of his 100-year-long life Billy is a man missing and largely unknown to his descendants. His great-grandson is about to change that. As he works his way through the aging journals and the other possessions he finds in the battered trunks he uncovers the truth about his mysterious great-grandfather–a man whose deeds and misdeeds propelled him on an extraordinary and perilous journey from the untamed American West to the inscrutable Far East, Latin America and Europe.
As he flips through the pages of the handwritten journals he learns of Billy’s surprising connections to the Spanish-American War, French Indochina, and revolutions in Mexico and other Latin American countries. But most of all he learns that in finding Billy Battles he has also found a long lost and astonishing link to the past.

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My Website: http://www.ronaldyatesbooks.com/

Ron Yates Blog: http://j-hawker.blogspot.com/

Authors Guild Website: http://www.ronaldyates.com/index.htm

Amazon Author Central: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001KHDVZI

My Review:

This is the story of a man who found the journals of one of his ancestors. I always thought that it would be exciting to travel back in time and meet my family. How they lived and where our family traditions came from. I really liked the idea of the info being written down for all future generations to read. Billy definitely led an amazing life and met many people. He lived through happiness, tragedy and some very important times in history! I am giving this book a 4/5. I was given a copy to review via The Book Review Buzz, however all opinions are my own.

Ask Me Anything By Susan Marg; Marie Rudisill Review

Ask Me Anything
By Susan Marg; Marie Rudisill
Publisher: Cowgirl Jane Press
ISBN: 978-0578143187
ASIN: B00LJAKXRK
Published: July 2014
Genre: Memoir
Formats available for review: print (only available to qualified reviewers & bloggers), pdf

Ask “The Fruitcake Lady” and get ready! You never know what she’ll say next.

Marie Rudisill has been called many things: irreverent, sassy, brash, even rude, and, certainly, too old to be crude. You get the idea, if you don’t know her already as “The Fruitcake Lady” from The Tonight Show. Well into her nineties, she became a television celebrity, going mouth to mouth with anyone who asked her a question or sought help with a problem. She always had an answer on the tip of her tongue.

Ask Me Anything is the story of Marie’s amazing life as told to Susan Marg. She had seen a lot and accomplished even more when she passed away at 95 years old. She was Southern to the core, yet she took on the Big Apple. When she settled in the Carolinas, she undertook one venture after another – all before she became a pop culture phenomenon.

Family, too, was a big part of Marie’s life. She was close to her nephew Truman Capote, and their falling out over some paperweights hurt her deeply. She retired to Florida with her husband to be near their son, yet yearned to return to her sweet Alabama hometown. Marie’s triumphs and tribulations will make the heart sing and the mind dance.

Susan Marg

Website: http://www.susanmarg.com

My Review:

I always wondered how people got famous and what they do after their time in the spotlight. This book was a great look into the life of an amazing woman. The way she spoke her mind and got through some difficult times. I really liked when she talked about her days on television. I am giving this book a 4/5. I was given a copy to review via the Book Review Buzz, however all opinions are my own.

Dragon Bones: Two Angels Leave at Sunrise By D.A. Winstead and Ohio 2029 By D.A. Winstead Reviews and Donation

Dragon Bones: Two Angels Leave at Sunrise
By D.A. Winstead
Publisher: AVIVA Publishing
ASIN: B00F0UDUWU
Pages: 216
Genre: Paranormal Fiction, Paranormal Thriller

What happens when people do things they shouldn’t things so horrible that they are left racked with guilt and longing for redemption? Jules Bailey, the Christian Witch is about to find out. Dragon Bones is the International Publishers (IP) 2014 Illumination Silver Award Winner.

A group of strangers holed up in an abandoned church closed by the Catholic Church six hundred years ago sets the stage for an old world European mystery. News of the Messiah walking through an ancient city s gate raises suspense and invites the question: What exactly is the Church of Rome hiding in Dubrovnik, Croatia?

Secrets in Rome run deep and are well-hidden, especially in less saintly places where bloody wars have stained so many lives. When a United States Senator s daughter ends up in the same church and refuses to leave, Jules Bailey, who works for the American embassy, is summoned there to unravel the secrets. Jules has the same old soul and open mind and heart that she had in Winstead’s previous novel Wiggle Rooms: A Tale of a Fallen Anchorite, and the gift from her mother s side is still with her and burning to be used again. When Jules teams with a handsome young Catholic priest, they must dodge those closest to them as the secret of the dragon bones a secret no one should be told, much less can understand is brought to life.

Full of Balkan lore, religious fervor, death, wandering souls, and guilt, Dragon Bones will keep you wondering until the very end: Will the young American witch and the priest solve the mystery of the dragon bones before the Vatican succeeds in covering up another angelic tale of Faith and Passion?

He invites all readers to visit www.colorhimfatherfoundation.org and follow and contribute to the African Fatherhood-in-the-Workplace cause. For all donations of $50 or more, Color Him Father Foundation will include the just released political fiction OHIO 2029: UTOPIA HAS NEVER BEEN SO WRONG in your thank you/donation acceptance letter. This is the founder’s newest novel and a fun read for conservative thinkers who also believe that America’s big spending days are coming to an abrupt end…sooner rather than later.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Dennis A. Winstead
Website: http://www.dawinsteadbooks.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/dennis.winstead.atl
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/denniswinstead1

My Review:
This is a story that I would compare to The Davinci Code, but not a movie, yet. There is a lot going on in this book. There are supernatural powers, greed, secrets and of course religion. The supernatural powers were a great addition to this plot and I thought that it made Jules who she was and more likable. She knows what it is like to be different and that there are things out there that are unexplained. Greed and secrets play a big role for this book. There are characters that are greedy for power and will stop at nothing to get what they want. They do not care who they hurt or who dies. All they care about it getting their way and making sure that no one finds out how the are succeeding. The religion in this book centered around the cover up and there were characters that were involved with religion. The ending however restored faith. I also really liked the lore in this book, and would love for the author to write more stories on the subject. I am giving this book a 4/5. I was given a copy to review, however all opinions are my own.

Ohio 2029
By D.A. Winstead
Publisher: AVIVA New York
Published: March 2014
ISBN: 9781938686665
ASIN: B00JEHMSAA
Pages: 256
Genre: Political Fiction

Those with open eyes knew the inevitable would happen one day that economic implosion would put an end to our small world. But when the United States learned that the Black Crash of 2015 was planned and carried out by Washington insiders, people simply stopped wondering why, rose above the fray, and learned how to move on with some conditions. What happened in 2015 was not just an attempt to bring an end to American exceptionalism.

Fifteen years after the catastrophic economic collapse on June 22, 2015, a very different United States has taken shape. Led by a coalition of conservative Southern states credited for forging the greatest economic recovery in our nation s history, the national economy is strong again. New laws have minimized Washington s power and placed progressive troublemakers in ghetto-like reform zones. Still, most Americans remain unwilling to forgive and forget…except for those young and in love.

Much of the nation is still suffering and ready to move on. But first, two families must do so. Mary Catherine Marshall is the daughter of a powerful Red State senator living in Atlanta; Maddy Garner is the son of a Blue State refugee hidden away in dangerous and violent Cincinnati, a national reform zone known as Hell Town. With four of the last five reform zones set to be closed, leaving only Cincinnati to remain for the long-term, Mary Catherine goes there to be with Maddy, the only one shes ever loved. When she goes missing inside the zone her father created, the two families find out quickly that getting over political ugliness isn’t their biggest problem. Deep in the bowels of the nation s reform zone, where a hateful roamer has taken over, the two families must forget the past to unite and fight an even uglier and more revengeful reality.

My Review:
This is a great story about what could happen if the wrong people come into power. What would happen if the states were divided again? During the Civil War families fought against each other. What if you had to go against the love of your life? This book is also about greed and power, but of something more important. In this book the greedy characters that want power are the ones that control the nation. What worried me a little bit was that this story has not taken place yet. On June 22, 2015, I will be thinking of this book until then. I am giving this book a 4/5. I was given a copy to review, however all opinions are my own.

Being Someone By Adrian Harvey Review

Being Someone
By Adrian Harvey
Publisher: Urbane Publications
Published: July 2014 (ebook)
Published: June 2015 (print)
ISBN: 978-1909273092
ASIN: B00LUME0JO
Genre: Romance, Contemporary Fiction

Our lives are a tale to be told, but how often do we fear the story in its telling? James has fallen through life, plotting a course of least resistance, taking each day as it comes and waiting for that indefinable ‘something’ to turn up, to give his story meaning. His journey lacks one vital element – a fellow traveller, a heart’s desire – a purpose. Then he meets Lainey. Confident. Beautiful. Captivating. And James rewrites himself to win her heart. Lainey gives James a reason to grow, paints a bright future, promises the happy ending he has sought so keenly. But when we discover we can live the greatest story of all, are we able to share the pages with someone else? Being Someone is an emotive tale of love, of self-discovery and adventure – a story of the eternal search for happiness in another, without ultimately losing ourselves.

Author’s Website: http://adrian-harvey.com/

Publisher’s Website: http://urbanepublications.com/books/being-someone/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/urbanepublications
Author’s Twitter: Author’s Twitter: @ade_harvey
Publisher’s Twitter: @urbanepub

My Review;

This was an interesting book that made me think about how true love is supposed to complete you. At what point do you change? Should you change? True love should add to your happiness and make you a better person. However what if you think you are good enough already? This is definitely a book that is about yourself and what you want out of life. Especially if you want to lose some of yourself in love, or forever wonder if you are whole. I am giving this book a 3/5. I was given a copy to review via The Book Review Buzz, however all opinions are my own.

The Cause By Roderick Vincent Review

The Cause
By Roderick Vincent
Publisher: Roundfire Books
Published: November 2014
ISBN: 978-1782797630
ASIN: B00OMCD5F4
Genre: Dystopian Thriller

The year is 2022. America is on the verge of economic and social collapse. The government has made individual freedom its enemy. Hacker Isse Corvus enters a black-ops training camp. He discovers the leaders are revolutionaries seeking to return the U.S. back to its Constitutional roots. Soon the camp fractures. Who is traitor? Who is patriot? And at what point can justice only be paid for in blood?

The Cause takes many of today’s issues to the next logical level: government surveillance and the growing violation of privacy, the militarization of the police force, financial depression and corporate corruption, and the inefficacy of the public vote – painting a very real future in which a revolution could be––or perhaps, must be, born.

Roderick Vincent

Website: http://www.roderickvincent.com

My Review 

As a citizen very involved in politics I found this book to be entertaining. I enjoyed reading the different views and thinking of them. The future is exactly that, the future. Howevre this book did make me think and wonder about our government. There is definitely some truth to what the author thinks might happen. I am giving this book a 4/5. I was given a copy to review, however all opinions are my own.

The Great Grammar Book By Marsha Sramek Review

The Great Grammar Book
By Marsha Sramek
Publisher: Arch Press
ISBN: 978-0984115709
Genre: Education, Grammar
Formats Available for review: Print (only available to qualified reviewers/bloggers), pdf

The Great Grammar Book uses fun facts, amazing trivia, and odd news events to make learning grammar fun. This entertaining book is now a best seller, used in over 250 schools and colleges.

The book opens with a 100-question diagnostic grammar test (with answer key) to help readers discover their grammar weaknesses. Over 2,000 intriguing practice sentences—more than any other text—enable readers to master even long-standing grammar problems.

Focusing on the commonly encountered bulk of real-world writing, the book uses and explains only those grammatical terms which are necessary to avoid mistakes or to improve writing skills.

If you want to banish grammar errors and write clearer, more concise, and more readable sentences with confidence and style, this is the book for you.

Marsha Sramek

Website: http://www.thegreatgrammarbook.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marsha.sramek

My Review:

I took Latin in school and I loved how it helped me with grammar. I also love the way this book is formatted. It is easy to follow, helpful and includes ways to strengthen your skills. There are tests and exercises and so much more.  The usage glossary itself is worth the money to buy the book. I highly recommend this book for people that love languages, are in school or just want to improve their word power. I am giving this book a 5/5. I was given a copy to review via The book Review Buzz, however all opinions are my own. 

Skeleton Trail By Kasey Riley Review

Skeleton Trail
By Kasey Riley
Publisher: Web Lane Enterprises
Published: August 2014
Genre: Mystery/Suspense/Action with a side of Romance

Bethany and Roger Meadows plan for a bright future, a guest camp and pack station that will cater to horse owners and adventure campers. The campgrounds, cabins, stables, and pavilion are ready, but there are no trails for the guests to explore.

Bethany and Megan venture into the woods to mark a trail, but a frightening accident brings her face to skull with a mummified corpse. She sends Megan and Kam out to guide FBI Forensic specialist David Harrison to the location of the body. After Megan leaves, an unknown shooter attempts to keep the murder a mystery.

Agent David Harrison finds when the bullets start flying Kam leads him to an abandoned cabin where they wait out the storm and the shooter. He discovers he wants to explore their shared heritage, in private.

With the evidence they uncovered in the cabin and the corpse itself, the mystery unfolds and the connections to current day become clearer. Crimes of the distant past link to crimes of the closer past and even to crimes of the present; blackmail, extortion, arson, and murder attempts link the body and some of the current residents of Riverview. David and Kam work with Megan and Aaron to uncover connections and reveal what occurred so long ago and how it might affect people in the town today.

David and Kam grow closer with each new danger, coming to appreciate the similarities in their pasts and the differences that draw them to each other. Once all the mysteries are solved, can they find a way to become a lasting couple, or will her past interfere with their future?

This book, like the first Riverview mystery, Desperate Endurance, shows the values and cohesiveness of small town and rural America. People are willing to help each other and sacrifice as needed to keep each other safe in a very rugged and unforgiving land.


Kasey Riley
Website: http://www.kaseyriley.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorKCRiley

My Review:
This is a sequel that starts off after the first mystery and is a stand alone. I liked how the skull was found, and I have never read that in a book before. The killer ends up sending David and Kam to a cabin where they not only tease each other but also find clues. The mystery was interesting and I was not really sure how the author was going to tie all the loose ends. There were FBI agents, bribes and explosions, and the killer was not who I expected. There was a lot of action at the end of the book and I was rooting for David! I am giving this book a 4/5. I was given a copy to review from the author via The Book Review Buzz, however all opinions are my own.

Zora Hurston and the Strange Case of Ruby McCollum by C. Arthur Ellis, Jr., Ph.D. Review

Publisher: Gadfly
Published: August 2014
ISBN: 978-0982094044
ASIN: B00N16QVTY
Genre: True Crime

Premiering on November 18 in the 2014 season of the Discovery Channel’s A Crime to Remember, this murder stole the headlines of every newspaper in 1952. It is the sordid tale of an African-American wife who murdered her white lover on a hot August Sunday in 1952, and the ensuring trial that shook the foundations of the Segregationist South. The murder was a crime of passion, as Ruby McCollum burst through the “colored” entrance of Dr. Adams’ office and shot him 4 times during a heated argument, shortly after he was elected to the Florida State Senate. Rumors spread that the murder was over a doctor bill, yet the McCollums were wealthy operators of the illegal gambling operation known as “bolita,” and were always known for paying their bills. It was only later that “outsiders” were to discover the true motive for the murder, and rip through the thin veneer of Southern civility to expose the sordid world of liquor, gambling, drugs, sex and illicit dealings between “whites” and “coloreds” that lay beneath the surface. The ensuing high profile trial in Live Oak, Florida hit the headlines of all the major newspapers of the time, and marked the first time that a woman of color was allowed to take the stand and witness against a white man who forced her to have his children. Now readers can review the full testimony allowed Ruby McCollum during her trial. Zora Hurston covered the trial for the Pittsburgh Courier, the newspaper with the largest circulation to African-Americans at that time. Largely lost to history, this landmark trial was given new life when Dr. C. Arthur Ellis, Jr., who knew all of the characters in the story, published the first edition of this work in print, proving to the world that McCollum actually testified during her trial while all other sources deny that she did (Full transcript in State of Florida vs. Ruby McCollum, Defendant, available on Amazon).

Now, readers can enjoy the beauty of this color illustrated Kindle Fire edition, and download it free through the Kindle Matchbook program if they have previously purchased the print edition on Amazon.

“Drawing on Hurston’s newspaper coverage of the trial and interviews with town residents, Ellis-a Live Oak resident himself-recounts the sensational trial. He alternates between the first-person voice of Hurston herself and a narrative of the backstory of the love affair and fortunes made in a small town on illegal gambling and drugs.” –Vanessa Bush Booklist (American Library Association)


Leslie Ellis
Website: http://www.rubymccollum.info

My Review:
I was interesting in reading this book because I love true crime stories on television. I am so glad that I read this book. I loved that the paintings were made from actual drawings and pictures from the author. The author also wrote other books a bout Ruby. I felt like I was attending this trial because the author knew so much about the people involved. The paintings of people and places only made the book seem even more real to me. This was a part of history that was so different then it is today that I felt like I was reading what the history books never told me. The way that certain people were treated were not in any history books I read. The story, coupled with the great pictures and true facts really made this an exciting read for me. I was able to go back in time and have my own opinion about the trial. I am giving this book a 4/5. I was given a copy to review from The book Review Buzz, however all opinions are my own.

Hostile to Reason by Captain Kevin M. Smith Review

Hostile to Reason
Captain Kevin M. Smith
Publisher: Tate Publishing
ISBN: 978-1621474869
ASIN: B009P63JEE
Genre: Critical Thinking

Crash Course on Critical Thinking.

Then….
Non-partisan analytical examination of Socialism using critical thinking as a guide.

Instead of the redistribution of wealth, socialism is in dire need of a redistribution of ideas. The current ones are not working—not even a little bit. Critical thinking is an exercise that seems to have largely been abandoned in Western politics. Consider this a crash course. The experiment with socialism that began more than a century ago is still well underway throughout the world. From economic crisis in Europe to uncertainty at home, there has never been a better time to have this conversation. As experts in the field of critical thinking, pioneers in non-linear problem solving, and inventors of a comprehensive body of knowledge known as ‘Operational Decision Theory’, Captain Smith and Dr. Lofaro examine socialism in a new way. Throw away the ‘conventional wisdom.’ It’s time for a new paradigm.

Captain Kevin M Smith:

Website: http://commitmenttoreason.com

My Review:

Socialism is a word I hear a lot. It was interesting to read this author's take on socialism in toda'y society. I liked that he included information on critical thinking and there is also a question and answer section at the end of the book. This book may not be for everyone, but I liked hearing the author's opinion. I am giving this book a 4/5. I was given a copy to review from The Book Review Buzz, however all opinions are my own. 

A Man in Control By Harry E. Gilleland, Jr Review

A Man in Control
By Harry E. Gilleland, Jr
Published: October 2014
ISBN: 978-1503100916
ASIN: B00P1KBEEA
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Crime, Murder

A Man in Control is a fiction novel in the genre of Mystery, Thriller, & Suspense – Crime – Murder. It is the tenth book published by Harry E. Gilleland, Jr. It is available at Amazon as print book and as Kindle e-book. Published by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (October 30, 2014). Print copy is 206 pages and 51,100 words.

David Wynthers is a microbiology professor who needs to control all aspects of his life. His orderly world gets thrown into turmoil by the death of his wife. A cascade of events follows for Dave to cope with – murder, mystery, terrorists tracking him, sudden wealth, an intriguing police detective, and the FBI. Can Dave maintain control of the events swirling around him?

It is a story of relationship drama set against a background of Muslim terrorists, Ebola virus, murder, and mystery.

Website: http://www.gillelands.com/poetry/

My Review:

This book had a little bit of everything. I really liked the romance plot and I was not sure how I felt after a romance following his wife's death. However that did fit David's personality. The way the author made me feel bad for Dave, then to disliking him, then to feeling bad for him again was done in such a way, that I hardly noticed my feelings were changing. He got what he wanted, but at what cost? I am giving this book a 4/5. I was given a copy to review from The Book Review Buzz, however all opinions are my own.

Paths of Young Men by Matthew Chase Stroud Review

My Review:

This is a really interesting book about how three siblings can each react to grief in their own way. This author did a great job of describing scenes. These brothers not only had to come to terms with their mother's death, and their own issues, but they also had to come to terms with each other. Even though they all chose a different path they were still connected by memories. It was interesting to read how each character finished the book. I am giving this book a 4/5. I was given a copy to review from The Book Review Buzz, however all opinions are my own.

Vanished The Search for Sally Hunt By Jan Joseph Review

Vanished

The Search for Sally Hunt
By Jan Joseph
Publisher: Strategic Book Publishing
Published: August 2014
ISBN: 978-1628578775
ASIN: B00NPCGD6A
Genre: Mystery

The Search for Sally Hunt begins in 1974, when a being visits Sally in her college dorm, informing her that she has the power to heal others. Not sure how to use this ability, or if it’s even real, Sally meets a small-time psychic named Carmella Nuncio. Carmella became known when she located a young boy in Ohio who was kidnapped and killed by a pedophile. Carmella becomes an anchor for Sally as Sally begins her adult life as a teacher and writer.

The story begins a few days after Christmas 2000, when Sally’s mother finds her missing and calls the police. As police detectives Jane Peters and Ollie Hudson investigate Sally’s disappearance, they find that the woman is a mystery. Slowly they strip the layers from Sally’s life to reveal things few know about her.

The police meet with Sally’s friend Jeanie Farmer, who has taken advantage of her friendship with Sally. Jeanie knows her friend’s secrets and has been extorting money from her. The police are frustrated in their search and begin to try other methods, including a psychic who volunteers for the police department.

Will the mysterious search for Sally be successful?

Jan Joseph

Website: http://sbprabooks.com/JanJoseph/

My Review:

This was one of those mysteries that give you goose bumps! Psychics play a role in this book, and so do visions. Sally was also a mystery writer and as detectives started to read her address book they wondered where her inspiration came from. She kept a very detailed address book, but that did not help them find her. As Carmella starts to help with her visions we start to understand where Sally is. But a warrant is hard to get on the word of a psychic. It was a race against time, and I could not stop reading until I found out the ending. Sally's talent will be put to the test, but will she survive it? Will the captors be brought to justice? I am giving this book a 4/5. I was given a copy to review via Book Review Buzz, however all opinions are my own.

The Angolan Clan By Christopher Lowery Review

The Angolan Clan

By Christopher Lowery
Publisher: Urbane Publications
Published: July 2014 (ebook)
Published: May 2015 (print)
ISBN: 978-1909273153
ASIN: B00LW368BY
Genre: Thriller, Suspense, Crime Thriller

THE ANGOLAN CLAN takes the reader on a heart-stopping roller coaster ride, from past to present and back again. It is a deadly intercontinental treasure hunt laced with secrets, deceit and murder. The prize is a fortune in Angolan diamonds…..or death at the hands of a pathological killer.

1974-75: After the “Revolution of the Carnations,” Portugal is transformed into a communist state. Capitalists are ruthlessly persecuted and the liberated Portuguese colony of Angola is thrust into one of the bloodiest civil wars in history. The fabled Angolan diamond mines are closed down, but not before a group of refugees escape with a hoard of the precious gems. Their lives promise wealth and success, but a legacy of revenge and greed will eventually find them all, with fatal consequences. 

2008: A millionaire businessman drowns in the swimming pool of his mansion in Marbella; a wealthy Frenchman is killed while skiing in the Swiss Alps; and a Portuguese playboy and a prostitute are found murdered together in a seedy New York apartment. The series of seemingly unconnected deaths sets two women—Jenny Bishop, a young English widow, and Angolan-born Leticia da Costa—on a terrifying journey into the past to revisit the Portuguese revolution and the Angolan civil war. Together they begin to unlock a 30 year old mystery that promises to change their lives forever, if they survive to reveal the truth.

Matthew Smith

Website: http://urbanepublications.com/book_author/christopher-lowery/
Twitter: @urbanepub

My Review:

This book is a great mystery! It reminded me about great great mysteries like where Amelia Earhart went. It would be interesting to find out years later what really happened. At 615 pages this book definitely has a lot of history in it! I learned a lot about Africa. I also enjoyed reading about blood diamonds. The author did a great job of making the characters real that I felt as though I was reading about the real descendants. The author went back and forth between the two time periods, however once I got used to it the sections complimented each other. This is definitely the type of book that you need to read when you have plenty of time! The characters were so involved. Money isn't everything, but having it or not having it determines how you live your life. Are you happy and poor, or unhappy and rich? The characters in this book find out a lot about themselves. I am giving this book a 4/5. I was given a copy to review from the author via Book Review Buzz, However all opinions are my own.

Blood Lust By Catherine Sharp Review

Blood Lust
By Catherine Sharp
Published: August 2014
ISBN: 978-1500556242
ASIN: B00MC82R7C
Genre: Murder Mystery, Crime Thriller

There is a serial killer running rampant on the streets of Los Angeles, torturing and killing young women on a whim. Detective Nick Ryan is determined to stop this depravity, just as he succeeded in Afghanistan when he was a Navy SEAL. In his hunt for this elusive killer, he crosses paths with the beautiful Claire Hunt and their attraction can’t be denied. Their sensual feelings for each other reaches a white hot climax just as the hunt for the killer takes a turn into insanity as they discover Claire is playing a much bigger role in this macabre play than anyone would ever have guessed. Follow these lovers down the rabbit hole to discover who the murderer is and who is involved in this lunacy.

Review:

This is definitely a thriller. The killer's thoughts were not fun ones to read about. It was also hard to guess who the killer was. Then there is Claire, and her role in the killer's plot. Nick was a man in love and he fell hard for Claire. It was interesting to read the ending and to see how the author had everything fall into place. Claire's version of love might not be the same as the killers. I am giving this book a 4/5. I was given a copy to review, however all opinions are my own.

Molly's Moon by Ron Parham Book Review

Molly’s Moon
By Ron Parham
ISBN: 978-1940222424
ASIN: B00L4NLDUI
Publisher: Pen-L Publishing
Published: April 2014
Genre: Suspense/Thriller

A widowed businessman lands in Amsterdam on Sept 11, 2001, and finds out about the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the abduction of his teenage daughter by Mexican sex-traffickers at the same time. With America’s airports closed, he must find a way to Mexico to save his daughter, relying on an old military buddy who is an ex-San Diego cop, now a broken-down private investigator. A white-knuckle race against time and distance bring them to a dramatic climax at the Tijuana border crossing.

Ron Parham

Website: http://www.RonParham.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ron.parham.50

My review:

I just finished reading, Mommy's Moon" and it kept me at the edge of seat. Once I started reading it I could not stop. I loved the storyline and the characters were fantastic. Molly and her friends have been kidnapped and it is up to her father and his old friend an ex-cop who is now anything but a cop. Ethan, Molly's father decides to hire and trust his old friend. The hunt is on to find the girls before they are sold or killed. I give this book a 4/5. I was given this book for the purpose of a review and all opinions are my own.

Elementary Educ 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College By Gretchen E. Schultek Review

Elementary Educ 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College
By Gretchen E. Schultek
Publisher: Outskirts Press
Published: August 27, 2014
ISBN: 978-1478711865
Genre: Elementary Education

Your first year as a teacher is full of exciting moments and of course some blunders. Why not decrease the likelihood of encountering these blunders by reading this book and learning from my experiences in an elementary school classroom? Here’s to wishing you a successful first year teaching and beyond!

Gretchen Schultek is a general education teacher of 8 years. She has taught grades 2, 3, and 5 at both low and high performing elementary schools in Charlotte, North Carolina. In 2006, she received her Bachelor’s degree from Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York. In 2010, she received her Master’s degree in Curriculum and Supervision from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Gretchen attained National Board Certification as an Early Childhood Generalist in 2012. She is passionate about educating the whole student so that they are best prepared to be successful both in and outside the classroom. “ELEMENTARY EDUC 101” is Gretchen’s first published book and she is currently in the process of writing a children’s book.

My Review;

This was a book that I wish I had before I did my student teaching, not so much before I teach my own class. There are tips on grading, landing a job, parents, data, etc. There is so much info in this book in a nice format. The info is grouped by chapter and then in an outline style. I also really liked the chapter on being a professional. This is a great book to have on hand for tough days, especially the "joke" section at the end. I am giving this book a 4/5. I was given a copy to review from the author via Book Review Buzz, however all opinions are my own.