RECENT REVIEWS
Interview with Derald Hamilton, author of The Call
- By Reader Views
- Published 01/24/2012
- Author Interviews
- Unrated
All his life, Ishmael O’Donnell has wrestled with family dysfunction and being possessed by the spirit of his long-dead twin brother. With a military father who has always controlled him, Ishmael has only escaped corporal punishment through his mother’s intercession. Seeking purification from his past and freedom from the haunting spirit of his brother, Ishmael eventually makes his way to the seminary.
In "The Call," author Derald Hamilton creates an unforgettable cast of quirky, humorous, unorthodox, and larger than life characters as Ishmael’s fellow seminarians. While some have received a legitimate call to the ministry, others are simply fulfilling a family legacy of being clergy. Surprised and shocked by such people and even more by the disillusioning church politics he encounters, Ishmael finds his three years in the seminary will lead him down a path to purification he never could have imagined.
The Call by Derald Hamilton: Book Review
- By Reader Views
- Published 01/24/2012
- Fiction
- Unrated
All his life, Ishmael O’Donnell has wrestled with family dysfunction and being possessed by the spirit of his long-dead twin brother. With a military father who has always controlled him, Ishmael has only escaped corporal punishment through his mother’s intercession. Seeking purification from his past and freedom from the haunting spirit of his brother, Ishmael eventually makes his way to the seminary.
In "The Call," author Derald Hamilton creates an unforgettable cast of quirky, humorous, unorthodox, and larger than life characters as Ishmael’s fellow seminarians. While some have received a legitimate call to the ministry, others are simply fulfilling a family legacy of being clergy. Surprised and shocked by such people and even more by the disillusioning church politics he encounters, Ishmael finds his three years in the seminary will lead him down a path to purification he never could have imagined.
Will the Courageous: A Story About Sexual Abuse by Amy Barth: Book Report
- By Reader Views
- Published 01/17/2012
- Parenting and Family
- Unrated
What is wrong with Will? Will is a typical six-year-old boy: he loves to tell "knock-knock jokes", collect bugs, and play with other kids. On most school days, Will goes to Nana Winnie's until his mom returns from work. Will enjoys having his Nana as a babysitter. Recently, Nana's cousin Perry has come to visit and suddenly Will no longer wants to go there. He starts having nightmares, acting out in school and wetting his bed. Will's parents are worried. What is wrong with Will? "Will the Courageous," by author Amy Barth, deals with important issues regarding sexual abuse that may arise in a young person's life.
Ruby’s Juke Joint: Americana Cookbook by Ruby Dee: Book Report
- By Reader Views
- Published 01/17/2012
- Cooking
- Unrated
Ruby Dee takes you inside the heart of Americana food with her new cookbook. Filled with old fashioned down home recipes, "Ruby's Juke Joint" is accompanied by a great soundtrack by some of the best Americana artists today. Check out the inside pictures and get your copy now. "Ruby's approach to food and music are the same -- she's classic and classy with a twist of unexpected delight. And what she whips up is always extremely tasty!"
- Elizabeth McQueen, singer Asleep at the Wheel
"I can't think of a better person to do a cookbook like this. Ruby IS Juke Joint, Americana, and all the good stuff that goes with it. In Ruby's life, music and cooking are intertwined: heart & soul, inspiration, improvisation, and passion. Ruby has all the right ingrediants to make this the "go-to" book in anyone's kitchen."
- Cindy Cashdollar, Five time Grammy award winning dobro and steel player (Rod Stewart, Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, Dave Alvin and more)
Interview with Dixie Fremont-Smith Coskie, author of Unthinkable: Tips for Surviving a Child’s Traumatic Brain Injury
- By Reader Views
- Published 01/11/2012
- Author Interviews
- Unrated
In 2001, thirteen-year old Paul was struck by a car while riding his bicycle without a helmet. His family’s life was turned upside down as they cared for him. Dixie Coskie has told her and her family’s incredible journey through the first year of Paul’s recovery in her previous book "Unthinkable: A Mother’s Tragedy, Terror and Triumph through a Child’s Traumatic Brain Injury." Now in her second book "Unthinkable: Tips for Surviving a Child’s Traumatic Brain Injury," Coskie provides hope and help to parents in the same situation by focusing on necessary information for parents.
Unthinkable is divided into ten sections of tips, beginning with addressing the steps and components of preparedness. Other tips include what friends should or should not do, how to help other children in the family through the event, and reminders to take care of yourself and to include humor in your life.
Unthinkable: Tips for Surviving a Child’s Traumatic Brain Injury by Dixie Fremont-Smith Coskie: Book Review
- By Reader Views
- Published 01/11/2012
- Health
- Unrated
In 2001, thirteen-year old Paul was struck by a car while riding his bicycle without a helmet. His family’s life was turned upside down as they cared for him. Dixie Coskie has told her and her family’s incredible journey through the first year of Paul’s recovery in her previous book "Unthinkable: A Mother’s Tragedy, Terror and Triumph through a Child’s Traumatic Brain Injury." Now in her second book "Unthinkable: Tips for Surviving a Child’s Traumatic Brain Injury," Coskie provides hope and help to parents in the same situation by focusing on necessary information for parents.
Unthinkable is divided into ten sections of tips, beginning with addressing the steps and components of preparedness. Other tips include what friends should or should not do, how to help other children in the family through the event, and reminders to take care of yourself and to include humor in your life.
Edge of Ready by L. B. Tillit: Book Review
- By Reader Views
- Published 01/11/2012
- YA/Teen
- Unrated
Rape is not a pleasant topic for any book but "Edge of Ready" offers a sense of reality by including it, a reality that young adult readers appreciate because it opens their eyes to the real world they are themselves about to enter. Rather than depicting the rape as a terrible incident that defeats young Dani, it becomes a source of inspiration—a sign that people can rise above anything when they are determined. Readers will care deeply about what will become of Dani up to the final conclusion that powerfully depicts human truths. Written in fast-paced short chapters, "Edge of Ready" by author L.B. Tillit, keeps readers’ attention as Dani encounters layer after layer of unpredictable problems.
A Mysterious Journal, A Murder, Sexual Spirituality
- By Chris Phillips
- Published 01/6/2012
- Mystery and Thrillers
- Unrated
Detective Benjamin Kramer's quest to find his long-forgotten Great-uncle Jonathan led him to a secretive attorney in Cincinnati, an esoteric monastic lover, a professional dominatrix, and a murdered temple priestess. Along the way he discovered his family's secret: his mother and her ancestors were Dionysians, members of an ancient, and supposedly defunct, fertility cult that worships Dionysos, the god of wine and ecstasy. From the attractive young monk who teaches him the secrets of Tantric sex to the professional dominatrix who shows him the whip-induced path that leads to visions of gods, Benjamin probes, questions, and discovers a hidden Alliance with immense wealth, power, and influence. When they turn to him to solve the ritualized murder of Chicago's temple prostitute, the verse from the Book of Ezekiel ("And the harlot shall be slain by the sword") is the only clue to the perpetrator. Is it a modern day Salem witch hunt or a Bacchanalian rite gone terribly wrong?
Diana and Dobbin, the horse, reunite Sarah and her horse
- By Chris Phillips
- Published 01/5/2012
- Children's Books
- Unrated
Diana and Dobbin her dream companion and dream horse, find out that Sarah is in trouble. They find Sarah's horse and reunite them
Between the Cracks (eBook) by Kim McDougall: Book Review
- By Reader Views
- Published 01/2/2012
- Fantasy/Science Fiction
- Unrated
Four words that evoke memories of princesses and goblins, of fables and fairy-tales. They have become an archetype, harking back to a time when the word novel was synonymous with fantasy. In fact, English literature was forged in the fires of sorcery and unreality. Where would you look for these stories in your local book store? Certainly not in the fantasy section. Back when Moby Dick was published there were no fantasy and sci-fi, no mystery or romance, only novels. Alexander Pope did not worry about cross-genres when he composed The Rape of the Lock, and Robert Louis Stevenson was not catering to horror fans when he wrote Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. In this anthology of short and flash fiction, sprinkled with unnatural poetry, Kim McDougall reveals the grit, lust and beauty that goes on "Between the Cracks."
