Review # 281: Molly O'Grady's Home Run by Stephen R. Champi

Description: (book jacket)

A Very Different Baseball Hero! 

      As the crucial seventh game of the World Series approaches, emotions are running high for both the New York Bombers and the New York Stars. John O’Grady, the legendary manager of the Bombers, has his hopes pinned on winning the World Series. His loyal and loving wife, Molly, secretly wishes for a different outcome, dreaming of a peaceful retirement to Florida. Unexpectedly, O’Grady has a vision of a different kind of sports legacy … but will it affect the outcome of the game? Find out in this unique and delightful baseball story for all ages.

Review:

     Molly O'Grady's Home Run is a short story in the sports fiction genre - and I mean short! I was surprised to receive a twelve page pamphlet of a book, and even more surprised by the price-tag - $8.95???  The story would be great in a fictional sports anthology, but alone it is more of a foul ball. The tale of the O'Grady's was lighthearted and humorous, but unlike what the description promised, I doubted that it would be interesting for "all ages", especially to children. I also noted several grammatical mistakes and patches of strange/ unrealistic dialogue. Overall, I was not impressed with the story as a standalone volume.

Rating: Toe Tag (1/5)

*** I received this book from the author (Bostick Communications) in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

About the Author:

     Stephen R. Champi, a native of New Jersey, retired in 2005 from a law career that spanned over five decades. He is a former founder and managing partner of a mid-size law firm, and he also has served as a county prosecutor and judge. He now enjoys reading, writing, limited traveling and expanding his knowledge, understanding and appreciation for a dynamic and changing society in the new global world of the 21st century.

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Review # 280: The Tutor's Daughter by Julie Klassen

Description: (from book jacket)

     Emma Smallwood, determined to help her widowed father regain his spirits when his academy fails, agrees to travel with him to the distant Cornwall coast, to the cliff-top manor of a baronet and his four sons. But after they arrive and begin teaching the younger boys, mysterious things begin to happen and danger mounts. Who does Emma hear playing the pianoforte, only to find the music room empty? Who sneaks into her room at night? Who rips a page from her journal, only to return it with a chilling illustration?

     The baronet's older sons, Phillip and Henry, wrestle with problems--and secrets--of their own. They both remember Emma Smallwood from their days at her father's academy. She had been an awkward, studious girl. But now one of them finds himself unexpectedly drawn to her. 

     When the suspicious acts escalate, can the clever tutor's daughter figure out which brother to blame... and which brother to trust with her heart?

Review:

     First-off, I love reading anything that takes place in England during the early 1800's, so I knew that I would enjoy the time period and setting of The Tutor's Daughter! Secondly, the cover-art captured quite a beautiful scene, which very much piqued my curiosity. I had never read anything by Julie Klassen before this book, but I heard that she had a way with descriptions and well-constructed characters, which in my new-found opinion, is true. I identified with Emma from the beginning - more interested in books than a husband. Her mannerisms were well-developed and realistic, causing me to feel as if I was in the room observing her. The interactions between characters, especially Emma, Henry, and Adam were emotionally precise; the dialogue was very timely and properly accented. I appreciated that the plot held equal parts mystery and romance with humor and Christian thought interspersed throughout. The story was one that I had not heard before, and one of the characters (no spoilers!) had an affliction that I found very interesting to read about, especially because of the time period. However, there were a few grammar errors, and little more snogging would have been nice, but one must not be too picky! Overall, I quite enjoyed my trip to the cliff-top expanses of Cornwall, and hope to have the opportunity to read more from this author soon.

Rating: On the Run (4/5)

*** I received this book from the author (Bethany House) in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Review # 279: Educating Autumn by Jane B. Night

Description:

    Autumn Claire is not like other girls, she can secretly read in a society where education is restricted to males only; her love of books and her attitude towards marriage often getting her into trouble. But as soon as  a stranger, Orion Louis, discovers her secret, he knows that she is the woman he is meant to be with - even if she has no desire to be wed, among other things.

Review:

     This book was definitely not what I was expecting, but overall, I did enjoy reading it! Lately, any book I receive labeled "erotica" is a total let-down - either too blatantly pornographic with no real emotional substance, or so scantily risque that it can barely be considered part of the genre. Educating Autumn lies somewhere near the nethermost point of the "erotica spectrum", a lighter, yet progressively passionate reading experience. I liked that Jane B. Night gave the reader time to get to know Autumn, Orion, and their families before jumping into their eventual relationship. I enjoy stories with a build-up, and although this one took some time to get up to speed, I appreciated the more realistic pacing of events. Orion and Autumn were both easy characters to relate to, their growing love for one another was gradual and was not forced. Honestly, their was more longing and restrained passion than there was hands-on intimacy, but it was well worth the wait. The sexual scenes were tastefully written and quite satisfying. However, I was not too keen on some of the repetitiveness of the descriptions and dialogue in the first couple of chapters. I also disliked the verbal abuse between a few of the characters, and felt that it was unnecessary. Besides my couple gripes, I enjoyed Educating Autumn overall, and would love to read more about Autumn and Orion, (or their dystopian world), in future books.

Rating: Bounty's Out (3.5/5)

*** I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

About the Author: (from http://authorjanebnight.webs.com/)

I am an avid reader, scrapbooker, writer, lecturer and working mother of twins.
Yes, I am very busy.

I started writing when I was in second grade. I was part of the young authors program in grade-school. When I was older I joined 4-H and had creative writing as a project. I won at county level when I was 13.

I have a degree in Health Information Management and work at a local hospital. One of the biggest perks of my job is that I am allowed to listen to audiobooks at work.

I live in central Ohio with my two children and my best friend since high-school.

Visit me at my website: http://authorjanebnight.webs.com/

Buy the Book:

• Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/281739
• Lulu: http://www.lulu.com/us/en/shop/jane-b-night/educating-autumn/paperback/product-20690172.html

Review # 278: Huge Words by Huge People by Liam James Leaven / Illustrated by Katrina Kinder

Description: (from Amazon)

     From author Liam James Leaven and artist Katrina Kinder comes this collection of masterfully illustrated Huge Words by Huge People quotes.

     Delving deeper into the pearls of wisdom and inspiration spoken by others, Leaven works to unearth greater truths to present the world in a unique, irreverent, and always hilarious manner. Clinical depression has never been so much fun!

Review:

     I thought that Huge Words by Huge People had an interesting premise - taking the words of the greats and adding a unique modern spin to them. I have always been a fan of twisting words into puns and the like, so I was intrigued by author, Liam James Leaven's, work, especially since I knew that it was illustrated. I liked the fun, sometimes child-like, sketches that depicted each quote, many of them were laugh worthy, particularly the more literal ones. I also enjoyed the pastel/ black color scheme. As for the "Huge Words", my reaction was 50/50. Many of the mash-ups were very clever, even deep, but others seemed obscure and discombobulated. Here is one of the funnier compilations:

"Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom... people who land on trampolines, therefore, are generally more successful than those who land on large piles of bricks. So go get yourself a trampoline, and then hire a pygmy to follow you around holding the trampoline behind you, in case you fall." by George W. Patton & Liam James Leaven

Besides the odd quote match-ups, I really thought that Liam's blog/ book idea was uniquely novel, and a great conversation piece! The off-beat nature of the book definitely made it worth the read, and the length (68 pages) was perfect for toting around until break-time. Overall, I enjoyed my reading experience, I just wish that there had been more "Huge Words".

Rating: Bounty's Out (3.5/5)

*** I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

About the Author:

     Liam James Leaven is the name of a computer program that travels through the ethereal Space of Cyber, posting random musings at binary will at some of the world's most preeminent think tanks and thought gathering grounds. Recently, in a flash of Avatar-esque genius, Liam James Leaven's programmer recruited a goofy looking bloke to hook a motherboard and WiFi connection to his brain and be Liam James Leaven's tactile connection to the real world.

     While Liam James Leaven leaps from WiFi to cable modem to Ethernet connection, leaving a trail of woeful ruminations in his path, his avatar travels the streets, roads, paths and alleyways of the world, peddling hard copies of the program's RNG-generated musings. Together, Liam James Leaven and his avatar hope to one day conquer the world, take all the stuff, recede to their compound and build a big fence.

Review # 277: Unglued Devotional: 60 Days of Imperfect Progress by Lysa TerKeurst

Description:

     This devotional is the companion to the bestselling book - Unglued: Making Wise Choices in the Midst of Raw Emotions by the same author. It is filled with needed encouragement to help Christian readers handle the emotional stresses around them. Daily Scriptures, Thoughts for the Day, a devotion, and a closing prayer are available for each of the 60 days, allowing readers to positively process their raw emotions - fear, anger, grief, and regret.

Review:

     I love taking a couple minutes out of every day to read a page-or-two of a daily devotional! I like to be able to ruminate over a particular concept or quote throughout my day, versus reading a section of my Bible; I find that I get more from small chunks of information than I do in bulk. Unglued Devotional: 60 Days of Imperfect Progress by Lysa TerKeurst is part of a series, but it is fine as a stand-alone devotional. I had no problem following any of the material presented, and enjoyed my overall experience with it. The Thought of the Day section stuck with me the most, as did the included prayers. I would wake up every morning before work, open up to the day's exercises, and grab a couple quick minutes with the Lord. Overall, I liked the material, however, I found some of the stories and quotes less than optimistic, although, some of those sections had the most impact on me, it seems. This very personal and honest devotional definitely left me wanting to learn more about Lysa TerKeurst's other books. I will be reading Unglued: Making Wise Choices in the Midst of Raw Emotions, (The Unglued Devotional companion), in the near future!

Rating: On the Run (4.5/5)

*** I received this book from the author (BookSneeze) in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

About the Author:

     Lysa TerKeurst (www.lysaterkeurst.com) is the New York Times bestselling author of "Made to Crave" and "Unglued" as well as 14 other titles and a speaker who helps everyday women live an adventure of faith through following Jesus Christ. As president of Proverbs 31 Ministries, Lysa has led thousands to make their walk with God an invigorating journey. For over 15 years, her message has enabled women to:

• Make the Bible come alive whenever you read it.
• Discover how to develop inner peace and security in any situation.
• Replace doubt, regret, and envy with truth, confidence, and praise.
• Stop unhealthy cycles of striving and learn to love who you are.
• Sense God responding to your prayers.

     Lysa's personal adventure of following God captured national media attention when she and her husband adopted two teenage boys from a war-torn orphanage in Liberia, Africa. They never imagined their decision would start a chain reaction within their community, which inspired other families to adopt over 45 children from the same orphanage! Lysa's amazing story led to appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Good Morning America, The 700 Club, USA Today newspaper, Woman's Day magazine, and Focus on the Family radio.

    Today, Lysa and her ministry team at Proverbs 31 encourage 500,000 women through their daily online devotional. In addition, she co-hosts a 1-minute inspirational radio program aired on more than 1,200 stations around the world. Lysa's blog averages over 80,000 avid readers per month. Plus, she touches hearts through their monthly magazine, P31 Woman.

     Lysa is the award-winning author of 14 books, including her newest New York Times bestselling release, Made to Crave: Satisfying Your Deepest Desire with God Not Food..

Other noteworthy books include:

• Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl
• What Happens When Women Say Yes To God
• What Happens When Women Walk In Faith
• Am I Messing Up My Kids?
• Capture His Heart
• Capture Her Heart
• Living Life On Purpose
• A Woman's Secret To A Balanced Life
• Leading Women to the Heart of God

     Lysa was a Gold Medallion finalist for her book, Leading Women to the Heart of God, and a People's Choice Award finalist for, What Happens When Women Walk In Faith. In addition, her articles have been published in Focus on the Family magazine, Marriage Partnership, and Crown Financial Ministries' Money Matters.

     Each year, Lysa is a featured keynote presenter at more than 40 women's events, banquets, and retreats across North America, including the Extraordinary Women conferences and Focus on the Family's women's conference, Renewing the Heart. In addition, she hosts the annual She Speaks Conference, which has helped thousands of women gain the tools to pursue God's calling on their life.

     In the midst of her busy schedule, Lysa is an everyday woman who simply seeks to glorify God through her life and family. She and her husband, Art, reside near Charlotte, North Carolina, with their five priority blessings named Jackson, Mark, Hope, Ashley, and Brooke. Join Lysa and discover the everyday adventure that God has waiting for you! 

Review # 276: S∙E∙C∙R∙E∙T by L. Marie Adeline

Description: (from RandomHouse.com)

     Cassie Robichaud’s life has been filled with regret and loneliness since the death of her husband. She waits tables at the rundown Café Rose in New Orleans, and every night she heads home to her solitary one-bedroom apartment. But when she discovers a notebook left behind by a mysterious woman at the café, Cassie’s world is forever changed. The notebook’s stunningly explicit confessions shock and fascinate Cassie, and eventually lead her to S∙E∙C∙R∙E∙T, an underground society dedicated to helping women realize their wildest, most intimate sexual fantasies. Cassie soon immerses herself in an electrifying journey through a series of ten rapturous fantasies with gorgeous men who awaken and satisfy her like never before. As she is set free from her inhibitions, she discovers a new confidence that transforms her, giving her the courage to live passionately. Equal parts enticing, liberating and emotionally powerful, S∙E∙C∙R∙E∙T is a world where fantasy becomes reality.

Review:

      I don't usually read erotica, but when I do, it better be decent, (and a heck of a lot better than Fifty Shades...). When I first came across S∙E∙C∙R∙E∙T, I was intrigued by it's unique premise - a thirty-something widow stumbling across a secret society of women who help each other explore and satisfy their sexual fantasies; definitely not a story-line that I have come across before. It was refreshing to see a character like Cassie, full of real grief, uncertainty and insecurity about herself and the current state of her life. The subtle sections of her history, as well as the death of her husband, made it easy for me to connect with her emotionally in the beginning; her thoughts and dialogue were well-written and realistic, allowing me to explore and share the world of S.E.C.R.E.T with her. However, about half-way though the book, Cassie's character was of less interest to me. I do not know if she was meant to get less interesting or not, but I felt like the emotional qualities I had enjoyed at the beginning were lost. All that I was left with was a few gradually dispersed scenes of sensuality, with a couple steamy, (more sexual-in-nature), scenes mixed in - even a friend I lent the book to admitted that she was bored without emotional depth. In my opinion, Cassie's fantasies just weren't fantastical enough, although the men described were ridiculously hot! I also had a problem with the pace, the sex was too quick and scant, and the rest of the story seemed to crawl.. Speaking of, the ending was super abrupt - I liked where it was leading, but it all seemed like an afterthought. Overall, I feel like the book had a lot of potential and a great premise, but the execution was lacking in certain areas and the encounters were repetitive. I will read the sequel, but I hope that L. Marie Adeline finds a way to amp up the heat.

Rating: Bounty's Out (3/5)

*** I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Review # 275: Silver's Treason by Clifford W. Dunbar

Description: (from Amazon)

Lost in the Colombian rain forest, only his supernatural canine companion can keep this American soldier alive.

      Caught in the crossfire between paramilitaries, drug dealers, rebel guerrillas, and the Colombian Army, US Army Private Jeff Thompson and Silver, his K9 companion, are forced to make their way through the jungles of southwestern Colombia to rescue a drug lord's daughter held captive by rebel guerrillas. Silver, the product of a decades-old breeding project overseen by the American military, possesses supernatural abilities that are barely under her control. When Jeff is surprised by a payoff from the drug lord and seduced by his beautiful daughter, the US Army believes he has gone over to the other side and sends a Retrieval Team after him, with a powerful dog of its own.

Review:

     It took me forever to reach this book in the TBR pile, but I was no less excited to read it after the five month wait! Clifford W. Dunbar's fast-paced, action-packed, detail-laden adventure was easy to get sucked into! I am an animal lover and a scientist, so the genetically modified canines definitely caught my interest immediately. Each character's multifaceted personality, including those of the four-legged variety,  felt real and relatable. The descriptions and dialogue pushed the boundary of my imagination -- a full-scale action movie blasted through my head! I enjoyed the setting as well as the military jargon, which was surprisingly easy-to-understand. I only wish that some of the sections had not been so gritty and graphic; sometimes they made me lose sight of what I had previously been reading. Overall, I was thoroughly entertained for the couple of hours that it took me to read Silver's Treason, and I really hope that there is a sequel coming soon - the ending was great! (No spoilers!).

Rating: On the Run (4/5)

*** I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

About the Author:

     Clifford W. Dunbar was born in Lockport, NY, but has spent most of his life in Florida. He has taught English and English as a Second Language in both public and private schools. He also taught computer courses and has worked extensively in the IT field. He once published an academic article on noun compounds but these days he focuses his writing on exciting science fiction stories and silly romantic poetry.