Wow Review of Wow Crime Novel!

Book title: A Model Murder (Alicia Allen Investigates 1)

Author: Celia Conrad
Website: www.alicialleninvestigates.com
Where to buy the book: Amazon USA http://tinyurl.com/pjtyn54
Genre: Crime fiction
ISBN 9780954623326 (Paperback) & available in all Ebook formats
Publisher: Barcham Books

 Reviewed by Marlan Warren originally for "Dancing in the Experience Lane" Open Salon Blog

 

In law firms, nobody can hear you scream...

 

 

He told me he was used to getting what he wanted...

--A Model Murder, Celia Conrad

 

What do law firms and men’s “hostess” clubs have in common? If your first thought is “alpha males,” you’re already on board with A Model Murder. Conrad draws disturbing, often painfully entertaining, parallels between these two worlds where Neanderthals still roam the Earth, and a resistant female might get a bop on the head or worse.

A Model Murder is a fast-paced suspense mystery, full of twists and turns, following in the tradition of Nicci French and Sue Grafton.

Alicia Allen is a London-based Anglo-Italian lawyer on the verge of her 30^th birthday whose experience of Death has been limited to sorting estate issues...until her beautiful Australian neighbor and wannabe model, Tammy, turns up raped and murdered before she can collect her first paycheck from the job she wants to quit in a sleazy men’s club.

British author Conrad has painted a loving portrait of the multi-cultural melting pot that is London and her down-to-earth heroine who has no superpowers of intuition and deduction, but is quite simply a good neighbor who will stop at nothing until a wrong is made right.

Lack of police progress propels Alicia towards finding Tammy’s murderer herself. The Shakespearean character of Portia (Merchant of Venice) is mentioned, and indeed Alicia does resemble that legendary defense attorney. Her “quality of mercy is not strained” as she single-mindedly focuses on solving this horrible murder. Using her honed skills of observation and detail-awareness, she finds clues even in opera. Breaking and entering to gather evidence? No problem.

When Alicia coincidentally finds herself in a life-threatening work situation from a mad-dog senior partner, the link between sociopaths who legally run law firms and take unfair advantage of women “underlings” and the sociopaths who run illegal prostitution rackets solidifies.

Of course the crazier and nastier the law firm environment, the more fun. Conrad also makes the fair point that women in both arenas can also harass their female coworkers. All the better to keep readers guessing whodunit!

Red herrings swim among Alicia’s true friends who are the mainstay of her life. Will that Robert Redford-type lawyer who wows the ladies at her office be The One or is he somehow responsible for Tammy’s untimely demise?

Will Alicia pick the true-blue “best friend” who shares her Italian heritage or the office lover-boy who makes her knees weak while he quotes Shakespeare? That Conrad keeps all these balls in the air until the story’s breathtaking and very scary conclusion is a testament to her marvelous instincts as a storyteller extraordinaire.

Women make this plot twirl on its axis; so there has to be food. I found myself wanting Pringles (Alicia's one addiction), pizza, salad nicoise, pasta primavera, and high tea with succulent scones throughout the adventure. Not necessarily in that order.

Full disclosure: I toiled in law firms for years as a secretary, and I had a friend who worked in a pole-dancing club in Los Angeles. So this harrowing, occasionally satirical, murder mystery hit a nerve and my funny bone at the same time.

PS to American Readers: Keep your English to English Dictionary handy! Alicia eats chips from a tube and then rides on one...but I just have to love a language and a country where women can be "well upholstered."

I am eagerly looking forward to reading the other two books in this Alicia Allen Investigates Trilogy: A Wilful Murder (Book 2) and Murder in Hand (Book 3).

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Author Reviews Dr. Bob Rich's Ascending Spiral

Book Title:  Ascending Spiral: Humanity’s Last Chance.

Author: Dr Bob Rich
Website: http://bobswriting.com
Where to Buy Book: http://bobswriting.com/ascending.html
Genre: Metaphysical fiction
ISBN: 978-1-61599-187-7
Publisher: Marvelous Spirit Press

Reviewed by Megan Williams

Ascending Spiral began, for me, as a boy’s own adventure but quickly morphed into a story about a man fighting a just war against invaders. Then followed human damage, downfall and retribution. I was hooked.

For readers who like action there is plenty, though some rather violent, but all realistically representing human nature. I found it a disturbing but profoundly compelling distillation of the potential for good and evil to exist in all of us. But Bob also introduces hope and the possibility of forgiveness for oneself and others without excusing evil deeds.

From the prologue, and you should read it, Bob sets the style by writing as if everything is happening in the present even though the action zig zags across time and space through history. This gives the story its immediacy and brightness and allowed me to remain engaged when it took on fantastical elements that are not my preferred reading matter.

Bob manages to get under the skin of both the male and female characters and is not afraid to cover many distasteful but all to real aspects of human frailty and cruelty. The vehicle for telling the story through the character’s reincarnation is the greatest strength of the book for me. However, I don’t have to believe in reincarnation to be thoroughly engaged in the existential questions posed. Who am I? What is the meaning of suffering and what can I do to lessen it both  for myself and others?

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Writers Bureau Correspondence Course Recommended

Today's post is a casual review/recommendation of a course, rather than a book. It came to me from a trusted fellow writer from the UK, Mark Logie, and because so many of the subscribers to this blog are writers and publishers, I thought it would be a service to post his letter of recommendation.

Here is the metadata:

General info from:  The Writers Bureau (www.writersbureau.com ), Manchester, UK
Course info:  www.sell-book-course.com
Course type: home study
Price: £274  (about $470)
Here is his note to me, reprinted with Mark's permission:

Dear  Carolyn,
In The Frugal Book Promoter you stress the importance of  authors educating themselves in marketing books. I found the Writers  Bureau correspondence course “How to Market Your Book” very  useful.
When I took this course  (November 2013 – May 2014) there were a small  number of mistakes (such as a few out-of-date Web links, and one or two  features on Amazon it suggested using that had changed or been  discontinued), but it did motivate me to start a blog, which I had been  putting off
because I was finding it very difficult. There was excellent  support
from my tutor too.
With very best wishes,

Mark Logie

More about Mark:
Mark Logie is the award-winning author of On the Road to  Infinity and Deadfall, in which a young tearaway leads the battle to prevent the world's worst terrorist attack. It is written for young people twelve years and over. Find it on Amazon. Thanks to inspiration offered by good books and courses on marketing books, he now blogs at Goodreads.

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Beth Fowler Reviews Young Adult Novel

White PineSubtitle: My Year as a Lumberjack and River Rat
By Caroline Akervik
Akervik's website: https://www.facebook.com/#!/HorseNamedViking
Published by Melange Books LLC's YA imprint Fire and Ice.
ISBN 9781612358260

Original review by Beth Fowler 

"Be a man that people can count on," 14-year-old Sevy Anderson's father tells him. Because Sevy's father broke his leg in a sawmill accident, the boy must quit school and earn money for the family among rough and tumble lumberjacks and river rats who harvest the white pine forests of Wisconsin.

White Pine begins where every good story starts: On the cusp of an irreversible, life-changing event for the protagonist.

Told in the first person from Sevy's point of view, readers are privy to the teen's inner emotions of fear, pride, remorse, affection and homesickness. With a deft, light hand, author Caroline Akervik, through Sevy, describes aspects of lumbering and lumberjacks that give readers confidence that this is a reliable, accurate depiction of life as a North woodsman in days gone by...which means readers can settle in and enjoy the story.

Roget, a giant of a lumberjack, objects to Sevy's presence in the lumber camp. "He's is a boy. He has no place here." Problems escalate when Sevy's forgetfulness causes what becomes known as "the incident."  Sevy vacillates from carrying the heavy burden of paying for his father's dream to own a farm, to the simple joys of hearing bells jingling on the horses, and eating salt pork and biscuits after a long day of dangerous, hard work in the numbing cold.

The tension, while varying in intensity, never goes slack. The story doesn't veer from Sevy's struggles to live up to the command his father gave him and his own desire to be a true North woodsman, in this coming-of-age novel.

Readers who love Gary Paulsen's young adult coming-of-age stories set in the wilderness will treasure White Pine, as will fans of Laura Ingalls Wilder's books. No warnings about content are needed for this wholesome, credible, engaging story. White Pine is a book that parents and other adults can read to young children and give to pre-teens and teens to read on their own. As with the best of this genre, adults can enjoy the story as well. The book belongs in school libraries and on family bookshelves. And more importantly, in the hands of young readers.

 MORE ABOUT THE REVIEWER

Beth Fowler  is also the author of Ken's War,When culture shock & teen rebellion collide. She writes under the name B.K. Fowler

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Targeted Resources To Get You Invited To Be a Radio Guest!

This is not exactly the usual New Book Review review. I am running it on this blog because I know that many of the authors and publishers who have offered their reviews to The New Book Review will find this series of booklets useful. They offer up-to-date opportunities for radio interviews.  The author, Fran Silverman, is also the author of
Talk Radio Wants You: An Intimate Guide to 700 Shows and How To Get Invited published by McFarland Co. 2009. It was a National "USA Best Books 2009" Awards winner in the Business: Reference category. And her new booklets are especially valuable because they are targeted to specific topics and genres and are frugally priced!


The following ebooks for radio guests are available from Fran:


Animals ($12 for 46 shows) - Covers animal advocacy, health, care, competition, communication, behavior, longevity, dog relationships, pets and the paranormal, pet peeves, wildlife, training, shelter and rescue.

Authors ($12 for 52 shows) - Covers writing, editing, publishing, marketing, literary agents, Christian authors, author spotlights; genres include thrillers, suspense, action/adventures, novels, teen/YA, romance, poetry, science, historical, baseball, screenplays, songwriting.

Business ($25 for 274 Shows) - Covers workplace issues, innovation, entrepreneurship, business strategies, careers, finance, small business, sales, home-based businesses, law, investments, insurance, money management, customer service, and real estate.

Entertainment ($20 for 176 Shows) - Covers art, fashion, movies, music and comedy.

Environment ($12 for 39 shows) - Covers green lifestyles, sustainable communities, conservation, cleaner energy, natural healing and medical remedies, environmental news, non-toxic living, wildlife, and activism.

Food and Travel ($12 for 64 shows) - Covers grilling and barbequing, wines and spirits, tea, chefs and recipes and raw food, parties, special event planning; all kinds of travel: budget, frequent, upscale, good deals, cruises and medical and health tourism.   

Health ($20 for 178 Shows) - Covers healthy living and lifestyles, fitness, health as a business advantage, natural healing, alternative medicine, medical travel, issues, education and treatment, and overcoming adversities.

House and Garden ($12 for 26 shows) - Covers gardening, growing vegetables, going green, home improvement, repair, and remodeling, healthy home design trends, buying and selling homes, feng shui, organizing vegetable garden

Men and Women ($12 for 67 shows) - Covers chick lit books, female and Christian entrepreneurs, fun for women over 40, men's comedy, girl's math and science, women empowerment, life makeovers, interesting women, women's health, parenting, women's ministries and spirituality, women in business, medicine, politics, gay, lesbian and transgender issues.

New Age - ($25 for 220 Shows) - Covers astrology, metaphysics, Tarot, Angels, psychic development, paranormal, parapsychology, holistic health, healing, mysticism, occult, and mediums.

Parenting ($15 for 64 shows) - Covers parenting issues and pressures, education, security and safety, family life, parenting parents, health, home-school, child development, schooling, charter schools, mom entrepreneurship, homebirth, adoption, marriage, military moms, single mothers, childhood cancer, and money management.

Politics ($20 for 216 Shows)- Covers current events, conservatism, Christian conservatism, liberalism, Libertarianism, government, pop culture, U.S. Constitution, Tea Party movement, democracy, the military and labor.

Relationships ($15 for 72 shows) - Covers dating, relationship strategies, weddings, marriage, sex and divorce.

Science and Technology ($12 for 50 shows) - Covers hardware, software, wireless communication, clean energy technology, nanotechnology, engineering, film and video production, biology, astronomy, geology, robotics, physics, and outer space.

Self-Help ($20 for 231 Shows) - Covers personal and professional goals, growth and empowerment, emotional freedom techniques, motivation, creativity, living one's calling, making for a better world, transforming your life and self-realization

Sports ($20 for 100 Shows) - Covers wrestling, biking, gaming, fantasy sports, golf, fitness/health, football, baseball, basketball, hockey, tennis, thoroughbred racing, hunting, fishing, camping, birding, hiking, skiing, kayaking, and performance.
 
To order go to her buy page on her Web site: http://www.talkradioadvocate.com/Ebooks.html

Or e-mail her for more information at:
franalive@optonline.net. 

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Gut Reaction Reviews of Psychological (and Literary!) Fiction

TITLE: Saints in the Shadows

AUTHOR:   Alana Cash
ISBNs: 13: 978-1497511170
10: 1497511178
GENRES: Psychological/Paranormal/Literary Fiction

Reviewed by Don Grant originally for  Gut Reaction Reviews and Amazon  

 

 

         Madame Budska or Maud Strand………  ****

Wow. Sometimes one finds a diamond in the rough. Having been asked to review this book I bought it for my kindle as I was drawn to the description which said it “dabbles in provocative subjects such as psychic phenomena, economics, morality, masochism, color, jazz, history, and a bit of romance with an NYPD detective”.   I was not disappointed.

First, let me talk about the negative aspect of the book. The author would have made this even better with just a bit more editing and maybe one more pass with a copy editor. Each scene change has a heading which in the beginning was distracting but I will say as the story developed this was not as bothersome.

The story itself is gripping and I found it hard to put down. The writer draws you in quickly and at times I forgot I was reading a work of fiction. If you have ever seen a film with a famous actor who makes you forget that you are watching them act, then you know what I mean. The transition from past to present was easy to follow and never “pulled” me out of the story.

The character, Maud Strand, is one I would like to read more about. She seemed to me, to be more interesting than Madame Budska. Based on the title the author seems to disagree, hopefully she will change her mind.

The ending was slightly rushed and left me wondering about what was going to happen to Maud. Maybe it all wrapped up too fast. But I will say I look forward to more books by Alana Cash.  This gets a well earned four stars!

 

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  The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Anna Aizic's Memoir Spans Continents

 

The Circles of Life:
Subtitle: My Ukrainian Family's Odyssey of Secrets, Love and Survival from Pre-War Odessa to the Promised Land and America

Author: Anna Aizic
Print Length: 152 pages

Publisher: Meir Publishing Press (May 3, 2014)

Available on Amazon as an e-book

Language: English

ASIN: B00K41Y2GI

Author's Web site:  http://www.annaaizic.com/
Author's Biography: http://amazon.com/author/annaaizic

 

There is an elemental quality inherent to the works of Anna Aizic. Her artistic progression and interest in the nature of properties has led her to experiment with a variety of media including wood, stone, metal and glass in addition to efforts in painting, photography and writing; she recently published her first book (memoir in letters:The Circles of Life), and working on other writing projects.

Aizic was born in Communist Odessa of Ukraine; she has been working for over twenty years with people with Special needs, developmental disabilities,mental illness and psychiatric rehabilitation.[ her parents hoped she will become a concert violinist :-) Sorry Mom:-)]

Born into an artistic family, Aizic was educated at The Art School of Jafa in Tel Aviv, and trained in jewelry design, yet it is in paintings and sculptures that her fascination with energy and divinity found full expression: in her art, figures come forth from their amorphous abstraction, at once fluid and crystalline, they twist and recede upon themselves, defying gravity while reflecting the color and light of surroundings.

There is a playfulness and freedom in the work of Anna Aizic, yet the joy seems ephemeral and but a momentary glimpse at the true joy of existence. Anna Aizic lives and works in New Jersey with her husband, daughter, son and a cat.

 

Book Blurb:

A fascinating read, coupled with captivating details that allow the reader to truly see  and feel your gripping story.Your book contains valuable lessons and touching anecdotes of struggle, strength and perseverance.An enduring message of hope and inspiration for your family and so many others. ~ Rabbi Mendy Lewis, Chabad of Old Tappan, NJ

 

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  The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Marie Lavender's Writing in the Modern Age: Marketing Your Book While on Vacation by Lois W. S...

Marie Lavender's Writing in the Modern Age: Marketing Your Book While on Vacation by Lois W. S...: Going on vacation? Bet you can’t wait! But with a little advance planning, you can combine your fun in the sun with some book marketing. ...

----- The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Readers' Favorite Reviews Joy V. Smith's "Detour"

Title: Detour Trail

Author:  Joy V. Smith 
Genre: Western

ISBN-10: 1612355706
• ISBN-13: 978-1612355702

Publisher:  Melange Books
Reviewer's rating: 5 stars
Available on Amazon : 

 

Reviewed by Michelle Robertson originally for Readers’ Favorite

Lorie Emerson, like many others of this era, is traveling with her uncle on a wagon train headed west on the Oregon Trail. But after the unexpected death of her uncle, Lorie is asked by the wagon master to leave the group at the next town. Not willing to give up so easily and determined to make a home in the west, Lorie finds others needing help and willing to travel with her. She organizes their little group, preparing supplies and leading the group to their destination, but not without a struggle. Lorie must fight the elements, enemies, and face problems within the group before they all can settle in the frontier. Detour Trail by Joy. V. Smith is a unique western novel introducing readers to the era of the Oregon Trail, western frontiers, harsh elements, thieves, death, hardship, love, hard work, and determination. 

Author Joy. V. Smith takes a bold approach when writing a western with a heroine instead of the typical male hero taking the lead role. Although not totally unheard of, a female heroine in the Oregon Trail era was uncommon. The elements were rough and life was hard, not fit for most women. Creating a main female character is refreshing, exciting, and honors those few women who did succeed on the Oregon Trail in the same way as the book character Lorie Emerson. Detour Trial is a book for readers who enjoy reading about courageous men and women and their adventures, love, suspense, grief, and enlightening experiences as they crossed the frontier on the rough Oregon Trail to create new homes and lives for themselves.

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Hawaiian Reviews Ballou's "Wai-nani"

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Wai-nani, A Voice from Old Hawai’i

Author: Linda Ballou
Historical Fiction
ISBN 978-1-932993-88-2
Author's Web site: http://www.LindaBallouAuthor.com
Available as e-book on Kindle

Reviewed by Toby Neal

 

Press in to really "get" this book. Wai-nani’ s story is told in a hypnotic, fairy-tale or high legend voice that took me a chapter or two to get into--but once I did, I was fascinated with the way Linda Ballou had taken us into the intimate and unknown world of the Hawaiian people through the eyes of an unforgettable heroine. Wai-nani is fierce, passionate, and deeply connected to the land and ocean--and to her complex and multi-faceted warrior husband. It reminded me how fully developed the civilization of the Hawaiian people was, and how large their population, before the fateful arrival of "Kapena Kuke" and his "floating heiau."
Thanks for this journey to another time and a Hawaii seen through a princess of its people.

MORE ABOUT THE REVIEWER

 

Life-long island resident, Toby Neal is the author of the Lei Crime Series, and the poster child for successful online book marketing. I am so pleased that Toby found Wai-nani worthy and has given me permission to share her review. Go to www.TobyNeal.net to learn more about her books and how she connects with readers.

 

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  The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Bob Rich Reviews Psychologist's Self-Help for Anxiety Disorders

Book Title:  “Calm Ground: Grounding tools to help you feel safe and solid in the present”

Author:         Megan Williams
Website:      www.calmground.com
Where to buy book:  Available on Megan’s website
Genre:        Self help for anxiety, stress and trauma.
ISBN:          978-0-646-90948-6
Publisher:  Self Published

Reviewed by Bob Rich originally for his newsletter “Bobbing Around”

Modern society is designed to make us dissatisfied, worried, unhappy. Contented people don’t need to buy things. So, we all need tools apart from retail therapy to relieve distress.

Nearly on third of people will qualify for a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder at one time or another, and people in the “normal” range also suffer stress and anxiety far more than is good for them. So, Calm Ground by Megan Williams is an invaluable tool for most people.

This little book is a plain language primer on anxiety disorders, and evidence-based techniques for dealing with them, but it’s more than that. It is also a collection of magnificent photos of Australian landscapes including peaceful forests, beaches and mountain streams. Understanding is also aided by helpful diagrams. The pictures are tools for self-soothing.

Although relevant psychological theory is explained, the words and concepts are simple enough for a high school student to follow.

There are useful exercises that anyone can do. They will help at times of anxiety and worry, and more generally will lead to inner peace.

So, do yourself a favour and study this mini-manual, and follow its suggestions.

MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Megan is a  registered psychologist.

 

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Debut Novel of Suspense and Romance Tours Blog

Danger In Her Words

Author:  Barbara Barth
Publisher: Gilbert Street Press 

ISBN-13: 978-0983171539

Romance/Suspense

Available on Amazon and Kindle   Link to buy:  http://amzn.com/098317153X

 

 

Synopsis:

What if writing a book brought a serial killer to your back door and you had no one to call for help.

A TV sitcom pitch gone wrong at a writers’ convention turns dog-column writer Susan Meyers in a tailspin. Sex Sells was the topic of the day. Worried her writing style had become stale, Susan decided to try something new. A steamy romantic novel seemed just the answer to bring in a new audience.

Susan, a widow who had not dated in three years, was out of practice with men and sex. She turned to an online dating site to find inspiration for her book and unleashed a predator with the words she wrote. Tucked an hour away from her friends in a small town where she kept to herself, with only her tiny dog for company, Susan felt safe from the world. Little did she know her life was about to change.

Danger In Her Words is a book within a book. There is Susan’s story and the book she is writing, where you meet Jamie, a widow like Susan who has also been out of the dating scene. Your character takes you on your journey. Susan heard that about writing fiction and quickly discovers it is true. Jamie has a mind of her own and Susan is dismayed as her novel takes some surprising turns. Jamie knows she wants a relationship, Susan still has that to learn about herself. Both find themselves in harm’s way as romance comes close.

Set against the background of a fictional country town an hour outside of Atlanta, Georgia, Danger In Her Words is full of farmhouses, antiques, girl-talk, a touch of murder, a sprinkle of suspense, a bit of naughty fun, and a dog that will steal your heart.

Two widows looking for love in all the wrong places might still get it right if they live long enough.

About the Author:

Barbara Barth is the author of The Unfaithful Widow, a memoir on the first year on her own. It placed as a finalist in the 2011 USA Best Book Awards. Her work has appeared in On Purpose Woman Magazine and on many on-line sites, including The Balancing Act with Lifetime TV, Skirt.com, Silver & Grace, and The Red Room.

Author, blogger, sometimes antique dealer, and dog whisperer, although some days she has to bark to be heard at home. She lives in the metro Atlanta area with six dogs from local animal shelters.

Danger In Her Words is her first work of fiction. Visit the author’s website at www.barbarabarthwriter.com

 

 

 

 

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  The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Amazon Top Reviewer Loves New Mystery

Title: The Threshing Circle.

Author: Neil Grimmett
Genre: Thriller/Mystery
Author's Web site: www.neilgrimmett.com
Available for Kindle
5-Star Amazon Review

Reviewed by B. Case, originally for Amazon
 

One of the major reasons I continue to read and write book reviews is because I look forward to the rare chance of being exposed to outstanding fresh literary talent. As an Amazon Top Reviewer (in the U.S.), I get solicitations to read and review thousands of books a year. Most of these solicitations do not appeal to me and I ignore them. However on occasion, a few catch my interest and I agree to read them in exchange for an honest review. Despite my discriminating selection process, I’m often sorely disappointed. Every now and then, I discover a genuine gem. “The Threshing Circle,” by Neil Grimmett, is a case in point.

This book is exceptional on so many levels. Most important, it’s one terrific story! It grabbed me from the first page and didn’t let go. The characters are authentic. The plot was challenging, complex, clever, and thoroughly entertaining; it is filled with every variety of intense human emotion. The writing was polished, the pacing almost perfect. And the ending…well, blew me away!

It’s a mystery-suspense thriller set in modern-day Crete and that’s a significant part of its charm. The book so authentically captures that specific island culture, I honestly felt I was there…tasting the food, smelling the aromas, basking in the brilliant light, walking the ancient streets. The proud people and culture of Crete are definitely unique. The island is part of Greece, but it is an ancient culture of its own. The author is British, but has spent a great deal of time living in Crete. He obviously knows these people and this place intimately. More important, he has the skill to make us part of that world, too. This is one of the chief reasons I fell in love with this thriller.

The story begins during World War II when the Germans have occupied Crete and there is a strong underground resistance movement underway among the island citizens. A resistance fighter named Kapetanios Michaelis falls deeply in love with a stunning visiting English artist named Marianna. They marry and relocate to a small village where Michaelis hopes Marianna will be safe while he continues his clandestine resistance activities. There she gives birth to their daughter, Athena. Their love is ideal and pure; however, it is built on a perilous lie: Kapetanios Michaelis is already married. Marianna has no knowledge about her husband’s bigamy. Unfortunately, Crete is an island where everyone knows everyone else’s business and it is an island where family honor, blood feuds, and vendettas are paramount. Naturally, the family of Kapetanios Michaelis’ first wife is driven to avenge the loss to their family honor. They devise a cunning plot that will cause Marianna to be captured and killed by the Germans. It is successful, but Marianna’s death does not satisfy the blood feud. There are many loose ends to this convoluted affair that carry forward generations into the present day. What these complications are, and how they evolve over the years, form the mystery and drive the fast-moving action of this novel.

The central contemporary storyline focuses on two main characters: Kristy, a 36-year-old Scottish expat who owns a kafenion (a typical Greek café and gathering place) and Barba Yiorgos, the 71-year-old son of Kapetanios Michaelis, a colorful and beloved local citizen. Into this world come two foreigners, Eleni and Patrick, a loving young couple who tell everyone that they are on vacation. But this charming couple end up doing some strange snooping around that catches the attention of both families wound up in the multigenerational family vendetta that started with Kapetanios Michaelis and Marianna more than a half-a-century earlier. Soon, Eleni and Patrick disappear under extremely questionable circumstances and Krista and Barba Yiorgos become partners in trying to figure out the mystery of what might have happened to them. Are they kidnapped? Why? Where are they? Who has them? Can they be saved?

This is a powerful thriller with believable, authentic, and charming main characters. The writing is superb, strong, literary, but never gets in the way of the story; Neil Grimmett is a careful skilled craftsman.

As a woman, I loved this book, but I get the feeling that men might enjoy it even more because there are significant masculine thematic elements. Read it. I’m betting, you won’t regret it. It’s a first-rate mystery-suspense novel in every way.

See all of Case's reviews on Amazon.

----- The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Meditation Illuminated Reviewed by Fran Ponick

Title: Meditation Illuminated: Simple Ways to Manage Your Busy Mind

Author: Joy Rains

Author's Web site: www.joyrains.com
Genre: Nonfiction, Meditation
Publisher: Whole Earth PressPaperback: 172 pages
ISBN: 978-0-9886699-0-1Product Dimensions: 7 x 5 x .04
Price: $15.00
Purchase from Amazon: www.tinyurl.com/amazon-meditate
Name and Web site of Reviewer: Fran Ponick  http://www.Leadership-English.com/
Review Originally Published: The Washington Times Communities   www.tinyurl.com/washtimesreview

Desperately seeking Alpha: 'Meditation Illuminated' by Joy Rains

WASHINGTON, November 3, 2013 – Joy Rains, author of Meditation Illuminated, defines meditation as “a discipline of training the mind through the practice of awareness.” She states that the nature of the mind is to generate content, or stuff, meaning Stories, Thoughts, Urges, Frustrations, and Feelings. 

Most of us react to life and the “stuff” that’s in it. Meditation is a way to control your stuff by learning to become aware of it. If you can become directly aware of your stuff, you can respond to it—and to your daily life—consciously. 

Desperately seeking alpha: Beyond the monkey brain 

Think about it: Never in the history of the world have we humans been more aware that our brains are actually electrochemical computing devices. But never in the history of the world have so many individuals been bombarded with so much data. 

Outside stimuli produce what are termed high beta frequencies in the brain. It’s hard to think straight if your brain is buzzing along at 14–40 cycles per second (cps), which is what’s happening when you’re in that state. These are your “monkey brain” moments. Trying to get something done, make a decision, solve a problem, or learn anything? You’d be better off swinging in trees. 

All the things that fall into the general category of cogitation simply can’t be done in beta. You need to get to alpha (7.5–14 cps), or maybe even theta (4.0–7.5 cps).

What we need is some kind of surge protector. It’s time to conserve our circuitry by controlling our random reactions to more data hits than we can handle. We need to stop the craziness of beta and figure out how to think straight. That’s supposedly a simple activity, but why is it so hard to sustain? And how do you even get there? Meditation is one path. 

The monkey brain explores meditation 

The profundity of meditation is its simplicity. Meditation Illuminated reflects that not only in its content, but also in its design. It’s a beautiful book that feels good in the hand.  It begins with an engaging Preface, continues with a helpful Introduction, and concludes with an encouraging Epilogue. 

Not a word is wasted, yet the writing throughout is graceful and generous. Even the Appendix and Endnotes, which support the science of meditation and the author’s assertions, provide solid scholarship without the heavy burden of ivory tower intellectualism. 

The book is divided into five parts. The first part describes STUFF, while the second presents the essence of meditation and how it works. The simple language, short sentences, and easy flow of the writing will calm even the most hurried reader. 

Rains’ writing style is deliberate without being boring, respectful without currying favor, and hypnotic without being controlling. Each chapter begins with a title supported by an explanatory subtitle and ends with a brief summary and a preview of the next chapter. These guideposts provide the reader a sense of place in the narrative, yet are neither repetitive nor didactic.

Part 3 of the book, entitled “How to Meditate,” introduces the selection and use of an anchor, or object of awareness, as a resting place for one’s attention. Rains is careful to point out that we need not abandon nor ignore thoughts and feelings while meditating. Rather, a meditator notices and acknowledges emerging thoughts and feelings, then redirects attention to the chosen anchor.

Thus, the continuous cycling of attention between stuff and anchor as described in Part 3 can help make meditation far less random and far more intentionally active than most people think it is. 

One banana at a time

Once the reader has learned the basic tools and activities of meditation, Part 4 introduces the practical application of meditation to daily life. Part 5, the longest section of the book, introduces twenty-one approaches to intentional meditation. Beware of the variety in these choices if you have any inclination toward monkey brain thinking! 

After reading this book and gradually learning to say “yes” to meditation, you will want to try them all. Now. Your best bet is to back up to the paragraph titled “Busy Mind” in Chapter 13, “Strategies for Addressing Common ‘Obstacles’ to Meditation,” and reread the final sentence: “The quality of your awareness is more important than the quantity of your stuff.” 

Be aware that you have just turned all twenty-one suggestions for different types of meditation into stuff. 

Select one, promise yourself the remaining twenty, and begin.

MORE ABOUT THE REVIEWER

Fran Ponick, MA, is certified in P-ESL (Pronouncing English as a Second Language) and provides training in business presentations and interpersonal conversation skills for native and non-native speakers of English. Her company, Leadership English™, offers communications skills, training and coaching for non-native and native English speakers, as well as award-winning writing and editorial services for businesses large and small.

 MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Joy Rains is a
Meditation Speaker, Author, Guide

breathe.relax.repeat.

Meditation Illuminated: Simple Ways to Manage Your Busy Mind

Find it on:  www.tinyurl.com/amazon-meditate

Book Review: www.tinyurl.com/washtimesreview

website: www.joyrains.com

twitter: @joy_rains

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/joyrains

T: 301-530-0583

 

 

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.