The Muse Book Reviews

Of Lights in the Night reviewed by Irene Roth

2010-10-27T15:36:00.000-07:00

       Of Lights in the Night: Friends and Adventure
       The Everlasting and Fantastical Adventures of Elannah and
       Sam
       Sean Noonan
       Juvenile Fiction/Fantasy & Magic
       Ingram, Baker & Taylor, 2010
       68 pages
       Printed Book
       $11.95
       968-1-4327-5289-7
       Also available as an Ebook


       This is a unique juvenile fiction adventure story. Kids will be
       transported by the story into a world of fantasy and magic in
       a mesmerizing manner.

       The story is about Ellanah and Sam. As they are asleep, they
       travel to their secret tree-house in the jungle where they
       meet in their dreams. They're flying on bikes into the night
       sky, and only another adventure. Beyond the half-sleep lies a
       land of dreams where the impossible is possible.

       The story moves quickly, and the prose is packed with
       action, vivid sensory details, and excitement. Both the young
       and older reader will really enjoy the story immensely. I really
       enjoyed reading the book to my 5 year old nephew who was
       entranced by the story and wanted me to read it to him twice.

       Rating: 4 roses

Irene S. Roth
The Muse Book Reviewer

As Long As He Needs Me reviewed by Irene Roth

2010-10-27T14:24:00.000-07:00

As Long As He Needs Me
Mary Verdick
Romance Novel
Outskirts Press, 2009
215 pages
Paperback

Verdick's book is a unique portrayal of a romance novel.
While most romance novels end when the couple finally
overcoming many different obstacles, and these obstacles
actually help the couple grow and mature together, Verdick's
book spans thirty-five years of marriage. In essence, this
romance novel talks about all their years of marriage, all of the
ups and downs and celebrations.

It is an interesting novel, and no one would think that
someone's marriage might not survive a vacation. I love the
honest portrayal of the relationship between Clem and Kitty
Johanssen. They obviously share their own ups and downs
during their years of marriage. They embark on a cruise to
celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary. However, before their
ship sets sail, swindlers steal all of their money. This incident
starts their vacation on the wrong foot, as one could imagine.

Clem seems to react to this incident by withdrawing within
himself, while Kitty becomes outward and social and finds
pleasure in the company of strange characters on the ship.
Although their marriage has lasted 35 years, it is uncertain
whether it will last until the end of the cruise!

I read the book in one weekend. I couldn't do anything else
until I found out what happened to the relationship. I'm sure
that each reader will find the same kind of faith when they read
it. This is truly a great story!

Rating: 4 roses

Irene S. Roth
The Muse Book Reviewer

Lucifer Rising reviewed by Irene S. Roth

2010-07-12T07:04:00.001-07:00

Lucifer Rising

Barbara Fifield
Thriller
83 pages
Printed Book



Lucifer Rising is an alarming book about cults and reincarnation. The book is difficult to follow in places, and requires a bit of background knowledge in reincarnation because the premise for the plot is quite complex.

Elisa is a reporter working on a story about a religious leader, Tyrell Tyro. She realizes that the person she is profilling is quite evil and also seductively attractive, which can only help him to entrap her further as time goes on. His charisma and cunning charm keep her increasingly entranced, so much so that she can't let go of him, not even if she wanted to.

With this as the background of the plot, the reader gets a look at how spirituality pulls people in. Elsa finds herself being drawn tightly into his grasp. He seduces her and she then learns that she is merely one of his many sexual conquests. Elsa tries to get away but he has a strong hold on her and uses gifts and promises to lure her further in. Can Elsa expose him and his world?

The novel is quick moving, despite the fact that it is a heavy read in places. The plot is intensely crafted and the characters are drawn with so much realism that it is easy for the reader to be completely drawn to see how Elsa is entranced into the whole business and cannot seem to extricate herself from it.

As I was reading this book, I couldn't help but wonder: What if Lucifer were to appear today? He would probably gain a following through a fundamentalist religion of sorts where people are not expected to think. Much like Tyro, Lucifer would have control over his congregation to the point where he would control their minds and hearts too.

       Irene S. Roth
       The Muse Book Reviewer

       Rating: 3 roses

Some Dogs Are Angels reviewed by Nancy Bell

2010-06-02T15:18:00.003-07:00

Title: Some Dogs Are Angels

Author: Mark Starmer

Published by: Mark Starmer

Genre: Non Fiction/Dogs/Angels/Spiritual

ISBN: 978-0779503-186

Page Count: 269

Price: 22.00 CAD

BuyLink: http://www.somedogsareangels.com/some_dogs_are_angels_039.htm

Some Dogs Are Angels may well be the most intriguing, mind expanding book about dogs that you will ever read.

Every dog owner loves their own particular dog and believes that their dog is special. Mark Starmer believes that too. What sets Mark apart from your garden variety dog lover, is that he also believes that some of his dogs are avatars. That is angels, incarnated as dogs with a purpose and a mission to fulfill. This is a true story; the author is very candid, admitting that some readers will dismiss him as a crazy man. Starmer reveals that he also has the, sometimes inconvenient, ability to speak with and hear angels, in particular the Archangel Michael.

While some may find this premise bizarre, Starmer tells his story with humour, honesty and humility. He is not selling snake oil to an unsuspecting public; rather he holds his story up the revealing light of public scrutiny and invites the reader to make up their own mind. Whether the reader choses to believe Starmer’s story or not is inconsequential to the story. This book details the love between dogs and humans along with Starmer’s personal journey of spiritual discovery.

You don’t have to be a dog lover to enjoy this inspiring story, readers from all walks of life will find something in these pages that speaks directly to them. As Mark says “People hear things when they’re meant to hear them. They are drawn to information because it has meaning for them in that moment and for their future lives.”

Rating: Four Stars - Highly Recommended

Nancy Bell

Muse Book Reviewer

The Cuban Scar reviewed by Lea Schizas

2010-05-12T18:11:00.000-07:00

The Cuban Scar by Gabriel Hemingway
Suspense/Thriller

Castro, musician, assassination...put it together and you have a riveting read.

How can one man possibly come to terms with what he hears on a video made by his dead father, especially one where he reveals he took part in an assassination that rocked the world?

Gabriel Hemingway does an astounding and superb job in recreating the era during JFK’s assassination. His alternate take and theory intertwined with the twists and turns of fully fleshed out characters and situations had me turning the pages to find out how this will resolve at the end. And he didn’t disappoint me.

I wasn’t sure how to classify this book because the author has added suspense, thriller, espionage, and a love interest...yet at the end I went with suspense because that’s how the book grabbed me, a strong suspenseful hold to see how Nelson, the main character will fair at the end.

Being the first time I have read this author I can guarantee it won’t be the last time. His artistic ability to paint the Cuban society and culture was educational for me. Gabriel has a very strong writer’s voice, one I haven’t come across in such a long time for a new novelist.

If you’re seeking a cultural and riveting read, a hypothetical resolve to possibly the most engaged and 'unresolved' assassination ever, then I highly recommend The Cuban Scar by Gabriel Hemingway.

The False Light reviewed by Nancy Bell

2010-04-22T14:05:00.003-07:00

Title: The False Light

Author: Diane Scott Lewis

Published by: Eternal Press

Genre: Historical Romance

ISBN: 978-1-77065-059-6

Page Count: 124,316 words

Price: $8.95 USD

Buy Link: http://www.eternalpress.biz/book.php?isbn=9781770650596

Lisbette Jonquiere, a privileged and sheltered young woman who is more used to the pleasantries of the French Court, is wrenched from her homeland by the impending French revolution and finds herself up to her aristocratic elbows in filth working in a Cornish ale house. At last, beginning to understand the poverty and desperation that sparked the French revolution, Bettina discovers that betrayals and untruths are lurking behind the façade her family presented to the world. To make the waters even more muddied, Bettina can’t get the enigmatic uncle of the young boy she is tutoring out of her thoughts.

Diane Scott Lewis writes with a fresh, clear voice, keeping all the threads of betrayal, intrigue and lies from becoming tangled as she weaves them into her story. The False Light is a rich tapestry that successfully weaves the relationships of the ordinary citizens with the more privileged upper class, while never losing sight of the budding romance that breaks into full bloom by the last page. This one has it all; romance, murder, intrigue, espionage and sorrow. If this novel is not the first of a series, it should be as the ending is a cliff hanger.

Rating: 4 Stars Highly Recommended

Nancy Bell

Muse Book Review

The Ghosts of Lone Jack reviewed by Irene Roth

2010-04-21T08:40:00.000-07:00

   The Ghosts of Lone Jack
   Lance Lee Noel
   Historical Fiction
   Spinning Moon Press, 2009
   255 pages
   Printed Book


   This is quite a charming, engaging and educational book that will be especially interesting for teenager boys. Lance Noel draws on his passion for history to create a splendid debut Young adult novel. He also exactly   captures the feelings and experiences of adolescent boys.

   The Ghosts of Lone Jack introduces ten year old protagonist Jared   Millhouse. When Jared and his father spend the summer visiting his grandfather in the town of Lone Jack, Missouri, they thought they would have a quiet and uneventful summer on his grandfather's farm. They never suspected that before the summer was over, young Jared would find himself involved with an entire army of ghosts from the Civil War, and ultimately searching desperately for the 'key' which release these spirits.

   This novel is swift-moving and filled with action, as well as a considerable amount of information about the American Civil war and its effect on a single small town. Noel has a good feel for the character and the relationships of a group of ten year old boys and his development of the young people who become Jared's friends is a particular strength of this novel. Jared, is a young ten-year old boy with intelligence and a good heart, but something of an outsider. He's an interesting and convincing character himself, while his interaction with the other kids of his age in a series of crisis moments gives the novel a sense of reality and a particular depth of feeling.

   Noel is also quite knowledgeable about the events of the Battle of Lone Jack, which are dealt with extensively in the novel. He manages to combine these disparate elements to create a tale which seldom cools down from the heat of heavy action, a book which should appeal to young   readers, especially young males.

   The Ghosts of Lone Jack succeeds in bringing a boy's story and the story of the actual battle to fully realized life. The reader is kept in excited anticipation of the outcome right up to the end of the novel.

   Rating: 4 Roses


   Irene S. Roth
   The Muse Book Reviewer

The Shadow of the Wolf reviewed by Nancy Bell

2010-04-07T10:34:00.000-07:00

The Shadow of The Wolf

Author: Sam Cross

Published by: Eternal Press

Genre: Thriller

E Book ISBN: 9781770650671

Print ISBN: 9781770650688

Page Count: 117,000 words

Price: $7.95 USD

To Buy

Take a university professor who specializes in criminology and develops a very personal interest in his subject and pair him with a delusional serial killer who believes he is stalked by a pack of killer wolves and turn them loose on the world. Add to that a plucky hooker and a big hearted cop, stir well. Sam Cross blends a tale of mayhem and murder that takes many unexpected dips and turns as his newest offering builds to a crashing crescendo.

Cross tells a chilling, twisted tale of horror that presents an ordinary face to the everyday world, while hiding the darkness and pain within behind that carefully built façade. There are plenty of thrills and lots of blood to satisfy fans of this genre. The ending leaves you with a chill down your spine.

Rating: 4 Stars - Highly recommend

Nancy Bell

Muse Book Review

Is There a Monster Over There? reviewed by Karen Cioffi

2010-03-21T10:53:00.001-07:00

Title: Is There a Monster Over There?

Author and Illustrator: Sally O. Lee

Publisher: LeePublishing.net

ISBN: 1-4505-3102-4

With vivid and fanciful double-page illustrations, Is There a Monster Over There? is sure to grab the attention of children. This picture book addresses the fear some children have of unseen monsters lurking about. They may never see a monster, but that doesn’t stop them from being frightened.

Mabel searches all over her house for the monster’s hiding place. She looks under her bed, outside her window, and in her closet. Mabel is certain the monster is hiding and getting ready to pounce on her. Ah, the imagination of a child.

Although Mabel is scared, she does take steps to protect herself and her cat, Tiffany. She builds a fort out of a blanket that will keep them safe. But, finally she rethinks the situation . . . maybe the monster isn’t bad or scary. Maybe, it wants to be friends.

Surprisingly, the monster appears and Mabel approaches it. She touches its nose and the monster runs from her in fear. After a long chase, they become friends. This part is a little confusing because Mabel kept searching for the monster, but couldn’t find it. Then, it was there.

While this is a cute picture book and will certainly entertain young children, I would be a little apprehensive in introducing this book to a young child who is impressionable. If a child isn’t afraid of monsters lurking about his/her house, this book may trigger the imagination. Especially since in the end, Mabel does find a monster, even though he is friendly.

I’m a fan of a number of Sally O. Lee’s books. She creates imaginative and colorful illustrations that help engage the child. Is There a Monster Over There? is a book I’m just not sure about. I know my 4-year-old grandson is impressionable and I didn’t read it to him for that reason.

I think for this book parents and grandparents will have to use their own discretion.

Reviewed by Karen Cioffi

Author, Writer-for-Hire, Freelance Writer

http://karencioffi.com

Great Little Last-Minute Editing Tips reviewed by Karen Cioffi

2010-03-20T15:57:00.001-07:00

Title: Great Little Last-Minute Editing Tips for Writers

Author: Carolyn Howard-Johnson

Publisher: Self Publishing

ISBN: 1450507654

What’s more important to a writer than words? Not much . . . maybe how to put words together properly, using correct grammar, weaving them together to create descriptive or informative content . . . but, we still go back to the foundation of every writer’s manuscript or article . . . words.

Carolyn Howard Johnson’s latest book, Great Little Last-Minute Editing Tips for Writers, is a little 55 page book (or e-book) that a writer can refer back to over and over and over to find help with some of the most common word trippers.

In the Before You Get Started section of this book, Howard-Johnson explains, “Great Little Last-Minute Editing Tips for Writers is full of words that are trouble causers. They either sound alike or are spelled similarly. They are not arcane words that you will seldom have an occasion to use. They are not words the writer knows but still mistypes.”

Words such as climactic and climatic used improperly or misspelled can mean a rejection when submitting to the “gatekeepers.” The addition or deletion of that little second “c” makes a huge difference in the meaning of the word.

Or, how about the words: all together / altogether; demur / demure; one in the same / one and the same; and peeked / peaked / piqued. These are just a few of the word trippers added in the Great Little Last-Minute Editing Tips for Writers.

Listed in an A – Z format, the words chosen for this book are thoroughly explained with the aid of examples. This all makes for an easy to understand and easy to read guide. The author also provides two resource sections at the end of the book: Reading: One Editing Book at a Time, and Other Writers’ Aids.

I happen to be a fan of Carolyn Howard-Johnson’s Frugal series and have the Frugal Editor as well as the Frugal Book Promoter. They are a part of my writing and marketing toolkit. The author has done it again with the Great Little Last-Minute Editing Tips for Writers. She has compiled this much needed booklet as an addendum to a list in the appendix of her book, The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success.

I learned a great deal from Great Little Last-Minute Editing Tips for Writers and will be referring to it often; I highly recommend it.

Reviewed by Karen Cioffi, author, writer-for-hire, freelance writer

http://karencioffi.com

Cultivating Hope reviewed by Irene S. Roth

2010-03-10T13:55:00.000-08:00

                                      Cultivating Hope
   By: Karen Casey
   Hazelden Press
   191pages
   Printed Paperback
   $15.95
Karen Casey's book is about how an individual can live a life that is fearless and meaningful at a time when such virtues are so difficult to come by. We live in very troubled social, personal, and financial times. This is why Casey's book is so important for us today. Casey also comes from a troubled background herself. For a long time, all she really wanted out of life was for others to change. This, she thought, would ensure her peace and happiness.

   It took her a few years to come to the realization that she was the one who had to change. Although this was difficult for her to accept at first, she did keep trying to open up to the idea that if she didn't change, nothing else would either.

   Understanding the true nature of anger is the key to changing our outlook. Holding judgments against anyone holds us hostage. Everything we experience can be a pathway to a more peaceful and hopeful life. Our lives can dramatically change through the power of hope. When we face obstacles in life, we must refuse to give up on hope. Our experiences are all necessary. We are always where we need to be, sharing space and time with others who are part of our destiny. People who are able to understand and then apply these principles can ultimately realize an inner peace that's so complete that others are changed by their very presence.

   This process of seeing and understanding anew isn't something that happens overnight. We won't get to where we want to be without patience, commitment, and a little willingness and a lot of effort. Most of us don't like to change our old ideas and our old ways of doing things. However, we need to make informed choices about our behavioral and attitudinal changes. Every person that we affect with our new hopeful vision of hope will be encouraged to see their life differently. If we want a different life, a different set of experiences, a more hopeful world, we must be agents of change.

   Hope is the trigger that can change every perspective an individual holds dear. A vision of hope is what gives it all of this power. When hope opens the door to these possibilities, individuals have to decide if they want to change or live as they always have lived. It is incumbent on those of us who have been led by our experiences with hope to serve as examples to others. There is another way to think and live, other than in a gloomy and depressive way. By embracing
hope, we all have an opportunity to align our thinking with this idea.

   Casey's book is divided into twelve themes, one for each month. Each begins with a story of hope, followed by an essay or reflection, for each week. Additional reflections are included at the end of the book for those months that have an extra week in a given year. The essays for each week can be read once at the beginning of the week or daily, if its helpful. It is best to read each essay more than once so that it implants firmly in our minds.

   Casey's book is a like a breath of fresh air. If only readers can fully understand and accept some of the principles, insights and personal stories in the book, their thoughts and habits will be imbued with positive energy and they will gain the perspective and strength to turn away from fear and will open themselves to potential and positive change.

   Rating: 4 Roses

   Irene S. Roth
   The Muse Book Reviewer

Surviving Your Doctors reviewed by Nancy Bell

2010-03-10T07:34:00.000-08:00

Title: Surviving Your Doctors

Author: Richard S. Klein, M.D.

Published By: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Genre: Self Help/Medicine

ISBN: 978-1-4422-0139-2

Page Count: 248

Price: $32.95 USD

Buy Link: http://bit.ly/aZ1oTm

Your Doctor is who you look to for answers when you or a loved one are sick, but where do you turn when you lose faith in the members of the medical profession?

Surviving Your Doctors, Why the Medical System is Dangerous to Your Health and How to Get Through it Alive, is a guide to what every patient and primary caregiver should be aware of in the American health care system. The informative text guides one through the idiosyncrasies of a flawed system and offers tips on ways to insure that you or your loved one gets the best possible care.

Dr. Klein has divided Surviving Your Doctors into four sections, each pertaining to a different aspect of the medical system and the care you should expect to receive. Each section concisely sums up what you should expect to see and what warning signs to watch for with regards to the medical attention you are receiving. Surviving Your Doctors is easy to navigate and written in simple language so that anyone can understand and utilize the information.

Whether or not you agree with Dr. Klein’s position, this book is a valuable hands on guide and should be on the reading list of every American, including those who are not currently using the American health care system, being forewarned is to be forearmed.

Rating: 4 Stars

Nancy Bell

Muse Book Reviewer

Harm's Way reviewed by Nancy Bell

2010-03-02T05:28:00.000-08:00

Title: Harm’s Way

Author: Sam Cross

Published by: Whiskey Creek Press

Genre: Romance/Thriller

ISBN: ebook 978-1-60313-745-4

Trade paperback: 978-1-60313-746-1

Page Count: 324

Price: $6.99 USD

To Buy

Clare Boyd’s goal in life is to become President of Garford and Miller Direct, in order to attain that she will do anything it takes.

But when Clare wakes up in an improbable place the morning after an important client’s company function and can’t remember how she came to be there, her life takes a different direction all together. Believing she was orphaned at a young age, Clare is sceptical when a woman claiming to be her mother arrives at her door bearing evidence that her father was a notorious serial killer. The truth becomes more obscured the harder Clare tries to sort through the maze of lies and half truths. The lines between Clare’s personal life and her business persona become increasingly blurred as she desperately searches for the answers she needs.

Sam Cross presents the storyline from each character’s point of view, skilfully weaving all the facts into each one. Dreams and memories interchange, leading the reader farther into the mist where the truth flits elusively. Not until the end is the true horror of what happened at Clare’s childhood home revealed with a flourish. Cross leaves blood and intrigue on each page and keeps his reader riveted right up to the last word. Fans of mysteries and thrillers will appreciate what Harm’s Way has to offer. A highly recommended read for fans of this genre.

Rating: 4 Stars

Nancy Bell

Muse Book Reviewer

The Yellowstone Chronicles reviewed by Nancy Bell

2010-02-27T14:32:00.000-08:00

Title: The Yellowstone Chronicles

Changing of the Guard

Author: Ted Rechlin

Published by: Outskirts Press, Inc

Genre: Middle Grade/Nature/Dinosaurs & Prehistoric Creatures

ISBN: 978-1-4327-5008-4

Page Count: 40

Price: $22.95 USD

Buy Link: http://outskirtspress.com/changingoftheguard

Imagine a Yellowstone where dinosaurs and grizzlies walk side by side and eagles and Pteranodons share the sky.

Changing of the Guard tells the story of Yellowstone Park by showing us a day in the life of the animals who call Yellowstone home. Ted Rechlin introduces us to the animals we would see if we visited Yellowstone today. Moose, coyotes, wolves, grizzly bears, eagles and ground squirrels, but he super-imposes the denizens of the past over the inhabitants of today. The ground squirrel goes through her day in the company of the ancient Purgatorius, the bison grazes beside the Triceratops and eagles and Pteranodons float in the updrafts over Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley.

Rechlin’s Changing of the Guard illustrates how the food chain in a natural environment works. Within the loose framework of a typical day in Yellowstone, Rechlin pairs the pre-historic creature equivalent to today’s inhabitants as they hunt for food and try to stay out of the way of the creatures who are hunting them. The book is full of vivid and colourful illustrations, created by the author. Some pages are black and white line drawings that are suitable for colouring.

Changing of the Guard is well researched and easy to read and understand. It illustrates the balance in nature that exists between predator and prey and is also an insightful window into similarities and differences between the inhabitants of pre-historic times and present day. Educators and parents alike will find this book an entertaining and educational offering. Young readers will enjoy the colourful illustrations and the easy to follow text, while absorbing the educational information.

RATING: FOUR STARS

Nancy Bell

Muse Book Reviewer

A Little Bit of Larceny reviewed by Nancy Bell

2010-02-27T14:22:00.000-08:00

Title: A Little Bit of Larceny

Author: Darlene Cox

Published by: Outskirts Press, Inc

Genre: Fiction/Mystery and Detective

ISBN: 978-1-4327-2154-1

Page Count: 324

Price: $12.95 USD

Buy Link: www.outskirtspress.com/DarleneCox

It appears that things are never what they seem, who would guess that the small town librarian had a chequered past and that the nice man you married is actually a raging psychopath?

Joanne Moore must come to grips with these realities in Darlene Cox’s A Little Bit of Larceny. When her long time friend and confidant dies in mysterious circumstances and leaves Joanne as her sole heir, she is startled to learn that Abigail Crittendon had much more of a past than a small town librarian has a right to. Sexy lingerie and fancy gowns, not to mention safety deposit boxes scattered all over the country full of cash and jewels. Add to that an abusive, stalker of an ex-husband and you have the ingredients for an intriguing, multi-faceted mystery.

Darlene Cox presents us with a plot that has more twists and turns than a Six Flags roller coaster. Two mysteries run counter-point to each other and the reader is eager to peel back the layers and discover what is truth and what is a cleverly laid trail of red herrings. Maybe, as Joanne Moore says, there is a little bit of larceny in all of us. You be the judge.

Rating: Three Stars A Great Read

Nancy Bell

Muse Book Reviewer

Words for Warriors reviewed by Joyce A. Anthony

2010-02-27T12:30:00.000-08:00

Title: Words for Warriors: A Professional Soldier's Notebook
Author: Ralph Puckett
Genre: Military Leadership Development
ISBN: 978-1-58736- 805-9
Publication Date: November 2007
Pages: 406
Price: $28.95
Publisher: Wheatmark

Purchase link:

http://www.amazon.com/Words-Warriors-Ralph-Puckett/dp/1587368056/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267244592&sr=8-1

Whether the battlefield of the Middle East or that of the corporate world, the quality of leadership can decide who wins and who loses.

Colonel Ralph Puckett has taken his more than fifty-eight years in the military and condensed the best tactics he's used in training, mentoring and teaching our military leaders into one book. He shares all he has learned about what makes a strong leader, one that can lead his charges to victory with confidence and pride. Drawing on advice from history's greatest leaders as well as his own experience, he offers practical advice for all those who wish to lead.

Reading the subtitle of this book, A Professional Soldier's Notebook, I must admit the question entered my mind of why there needed to be an entire book to tell people how to scream orders and demand unwavering compliance. At that point, I thought that was how the military was run. I am pleased to say I was totally wrong.

Col. Puckett has divided this book into individual essays that illustrate what he has learned and why he has become such an honored member of the military. While his focus is totally on the military, the qualities he tries to get through to those he mentors are what makes a great leader anywhere in life.

His words reminded me of a grandfather passing on his life lessons to a treasured grandson. There is a quiet confidence that comes through the pages. It is as easy to picture Col. Puckett walking among troops under fire as it is sitting in a cozy den reliving his experience. Either way, you know he is a man who has come by his knowledge through hard work, yet is willing to ease your burden by sharing what he's learned.

This book will definitely catch the interest of all who have served, or who are servicing in the military. I would, however, recommend that anyone hoping to lead, whether in the business world, government or classroom, take the time to read and digest this book. The information you will gain is priceless.

RATING: 3 STARS = Great Read

Joyce A. Anthony
MUSE BOOK REVIEWER

Running Away From Me reviewed by Joyce A. Anthony

2010-02-27T12:19:00.000-08:00

Running Away From Me
Author: David Allan Reeves
Genre: Memoir/Self Help
ISBN: 9 781426 909863
Publication Date: September 2009
Pages: 193
Price: $18.95
Publisher: Trafford

Sinking from emotional exhaustion and feeling the chaos closing in, is often when a person realizes the one person you can't run from is yourself.

David Allen Reeves finally realized he couldn't run away. Unfortunately, it took spending half his life in a drug-induced fog, or in pursuit of that fog, and being locked up among some of the country's worst criminals, to come to this realization. Running Away From Me is David's story, written in hopes that others can be spared that useless race. He describes his initiation into the drug scene and the course of his descent in simple terms, free of excuses. As he looks back, he shows how easy it can be for a decent person with a life of possibility to destroy it all.

David's story could be that of anyone. That polite young man next door who is heading off to college next year, the cashier down at the corner store, the straight A student at your local junior high. His path is the exact one so many have followed. He describes the inner workings of a drug addict's mind so well the reader can truly understand how much of a prison drugs are for those shackled to them.

The author's sense of humor shows throughout the book. He doesn't make light of the subject, but neither does he embellish the facts. At one point, he describes a battle between the angel and devil sitting on his shoulders and I had to read the paragraph to everyone around. His talent with words is excellent.

This is a book that anyone who has a pre-teen or teenager should take the time to read. It shows how easily a parent can give a child everything they think is necessary, and still not keep the streets from claiming that child. For anyone struggling to understand a drug addict in their life, this book will give you a greater understanding of how the mind of an addict works. Lastly, for all those caught up in the trap of addiction, this book offers a glimpse of where your path is heading and offers you the chance to make a u-turn before you get there.

2 STARS = Good

Joyce A. Anthony

MUSE BOOK REVIEWER

Web of Deceit reviewed by Nancy Bell

2010-02-02T06:48:00.000-08:00

Web of Deceit

Author: Darlene Cox

Published by: Outskirts Press, Inc

Genre: Fiction General

ISBN: 978-1-4327-4614-8

Page Count: 271

Price: 16.95 USD

Buy: www.outskirtspress.com/DarleneCox

What happens when the web you weave becomes just a tad too sticky and ensnares not only your victim’s lives but your own as well.

Peter Brock is a man who thinks he has everything in order, a grand scheme to fatten his off shore bank accounts and a fool proof escape plan if he needs it. Peter has surrounded himself with women who are strategically placed to aid him in his pursuit of riches. A stripper to seduce the target, a dedicated executive assistant to keep things flowing smoothly and an international flight attendant to carry contraband, the plan seems fool proof. But what if some of the minor players start to weave webs of their own? When the webs become snarled together the outcome is anyone’s guess.

Web of Deceit is Darlene Cox’s second novel. She has produced a tidy little thriller with lots of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing right up to the end. Her characters are believable and fit together in the plot like puzzle pieces as Darlene leads us through the greedy corridors of their minds. The characters all have two things in common: greed and the ability to deceive.

Lovers of thrillers and mysteries will enjoy this offering from Darlene Cox.

Rating: Two Stars

Nancy Bell

Muse Book Reviewer

The Mudhogs reviewed by Irene Roth

2010-01-27T16:06:00.000-08:00

The Mudhogs

Dalton Gage James

Outskirts Press

Category: Juvenile Fiction

32 pages

$13.95

971-1-4327-4560-8

Printed Soft cover Book

The Mudhogs is Dalton's third book. He is a very bright and imaginative eight year old who enjoys reading and writing books. I was captivated by his book. It is instructive and it has an important lesson as well.

The book is about three little pigs who form a club in order to celebrate mud. But one day they turn around and there is no mud to be found anywhere no matter what they do. So, they decide to travel to far off places in the search of mud. But no mud was found. They were dismayed until they decided to go back home.

What a great moral lesson for young kids! I think they will be able to better understand the value of home and may even realize that there is no real point to search for things away from home. Home is where everything that we need resides.

Dalton also illustrated his own book. The pictures are very realistic and I love the drawings of the little piggies!

What a great job by a wonderful and talented boy! I can't wait to see Dalton's next book!

Rating: 4 Roses

Irene S. Roth

The Muse Book Reviewer

Light at the Edge of Darkness reviewed by Lea Schizas

2010-01-02T09:32:00.000-08:00

Light at the Edge of Darkness
Genre: Christian Speculative Fiction Anthology
Edited by Cynthia MacKinnon
Published by: The Writer’s Café Press
Price: $14.99US
Pages: 363

I have to admit I had no clue what I’d find when I accepted to review Light at the Edge of Darkness. The reason is this would be my very first Christian Speculative Fiction book…and it was the ‘Christian’ aspect that intrigued me, wondering how the dark side of things would be portrayed.

Well, I can honestly say from page one I was totally ‘wowed’. Each individual author spun tales of such a pulling nature and different from one to the other, I was immediately pulled into the stories and not once did the word ‘God’ or faith or any other Christian element sway me from the stories in this anthology. I’m not an atheist by far, but my original worry stemmed from having religious sermons instead of a good read.

Authors have offered everything from horror, supernatural, fantasy to the obvious science fiction. There’s an epic assortment of emotions in each tales, and fear trickles in most of them. Each story offers strong characters with a mission, and there is no lack of action. Be forewarned, there are some graphic passages with blood and mutilation, but this is Good against Evil, after all, and I expected nothing less. At the end, the reader comes away with not only an entertaining read but also the message to embrace your faith.

For those who enjoy speculative fiction I know you will thoroughly enjoy the otherly worlds found in this anthology, ones that make you stop and think about our own world and surroundings.

Lea Schizas
Founder - The Muse Book Reviews

The Family Constitution reviewed by Irene Roth

2009-12-27T11:53:00.001-08:00

Your Family Constitution:
A Modern Approach to Family Values and Household Structure
Scott Gale
Spectrum International Press
115 pages
$15.95
Printed Book

Family dysfunction is running rampant in our culture. We live in an age of entitlement. This creates problems for parents to effectively parent their kids, and for kids to develop proper discipline and life skills. Fundamental respect and discipline have become casualties in our culture at all levels. Many parents overlook the gravity of this cultural shift, discussing the obvious symptoms of entitlement. There are life long consequences when parents fail to impart accountability in a child, as well as constantly excusing a kid's self-centered and apathetic behavior.

A negative behavior such as lying or laziness, can end up being rewarded by a lack of consequence, and can become the groundwork for a bad. Once a bad habit is formed, it is difficult to uproot it and replace it with a good one.

Because of this, there are anxieties to modern parenthood. For the past three decades, the world has been changing at an alarming rate. Life is faster. "What's in it for me?" has replaced "How can I help?" as the prevailing mentality. Lawsuits, information overload, and cultural changes have degraded personal discipline and accountability in the classroom, work place, and home. Deep-rooted appreciation, work ethic and values have become more the exception than the norm. Parents struggle to raise responsibilities and respectful kids. The Age of Entitlement is clearly upon us.

It is for this reason that parents must create a family constitution. The Family Constitution steers behavioral choices by leveraging mutual understanding, clear expectations and prescribed incentives. The Constitutional Way harnesses kids' energy and ideas, rather than dismissing their opinions. This book explains this method of parenting in detail. It shows how parents can really gain a lot of leverage with their kids by using this method. In order to follow this parenting style, the parents must construct a family constitution.

After the Family Constitution is constructed, the parents and kids must live the constitution. This is the hardest part of this process. The important for parents to remember is that this is a journey and it can take a long time to put this structure in place. Parents must meet as a family once a week. There will always be issues that are not addressed by the Family Constitution. The family must solve these issues by applying clarity, consistency and commitment. Change is inevitable. Minimally, circumstances shift as kids get older. Some boundaries become antiquated. Others grow in importance through life's various stages.

Whatever the impetus for change, structure must adjust to effectiveness. The family constitution should evolve with the family's needs and conditions.

The Family Constitution can only be effective if the whole family makes a genuine commitment to work through family challenges together. If the family decides to take on the process, they should be judicious and diligent with each other. They should have faith that the effort will pay off. Then they should try to make it happen.

In conclusion, I think that Gale's book is very important in today's culture of entitlement. I commend Gale on taking on such a difficult topic. If implemented, the family constitution could go a long way towards fixing some dysfunctional familial situations and save a family from painful miscommunications and ultimately divorce. So, I think that the journey that Gale outlines in the book is definitely worth the effort.

Rating: 4 Roses

Irene S. Roth
The Muse Book Reviewer

Messy Tessy reviewed by Irene Roth

2009-12-27T07:31:00.000-08:00

Title: Messy Tessy
Author: Leah Orr
Illustrator: Josephine Lepore
Reading Level: Ages 3 - 8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Author House, 2009
ISBN: 978-1-4389-9398-0

Leah Orr's book is an enchanting depiction about how kids can become adventurous when they are left alone for a while. Every parent will be able to relate to this story. I know that it really gave me a chuckle because when my niece was really young she was a little bit like Tessy, too.

The story is about a girl, Tessy, who is baby sat by her Aunt Fran while Mom is away at the gym. Aunt Fran comes in and before Tess knows it she is asleep. That is when
Tess's fun really starts. She does everything that her Mom always told her not to do, such as scatter all of her toys on the floor, write on the walls, applying Mom's makeup to her face and to all of her dolls. While she was at it...well, I won't spoil it for you but suffice to say she gets into more mischief.

When Aunt Fran suddenly woke up, she went straight to Tessy's room and discovered that there was a real mess that needed to be cleaned up before Mom got home. Aunt Fran bathed Tessy, put all her toys away, and cleaned the walls. When Mom came home she was impressed at how clean Tessy's room was. As Aunt Fran was leaving, Mom noticed something in Aunt Fran's hair and the sock stuck on to the back of her pants. She knew then that Tess was up to something while she was away that was less than admirable.

In addition, Orr's book is wonderfully illustrated by Josephine Lepore, Orr's Mother. The pictures are so realistic and humorous, illustrating Tess's and her Aunt's personality. It is a really funny book, one that both kids and parents won't be able to put down for too long. I can't wait to read it to my nieces and nephews.

Rating: 4 Roses

Irene S. Roth
The Muse Book Reviewer

Stictly Sundays reviewed by Janie Franz

2009-12-07T16:16:00.000-08:00

Strictly Sundays: Making Every Cook a Hero on Sundays
Joe Fitzpatrick (photography by Steven Potter)
Book Publishers Network
Non-fiction
ISBN-10: 1935359193
ISBN-13: 978-1935359197
146 pages
$19.95 US
Buy on Amazon

http://www.strictlysundays.com

Rating: 3 stars

The Blue Collar Gourmet brings families together.

Sunday dinners bring families together. And author Joe Fitzpatrick knows that very well. He's been cooking for his family for years, and his food is still the thing that draws his children, now grown, home once a week to be with family and enjoy his meals.

Unlike many people who write cookbooks, Joe Fitzpatrick will be the first to tell you he's no chef. He doesn't own a restaurant and has never even worked in one, not even as a dishwasher. But he does know the power of a well-cooked meal shared with loved ones. It started simply enough when he began making intimate gourmet dinners for his wife and himself on Saturday nights. His children begged for “special food,” too. And soon Joe was in the kitchen on Sundays whipping up something delicious.

His book, Strictly Sundays: Making Every Cook a Hero on Sundays, was written at the urging of his daughter Angela because she wanted his recipes and thought that other people would enjoy them, too. The book brings Joe's best dishes to print. These recipes are arranged in six categories: Appetizers, Main Dishes, Salads, Soups, Side Dishes, and Salsas. There are no desserts.

Most of the selections are his takes on comfort foods. I looked at his Macaroni and Cheese recipe because it is one of my favorite comfort foods. His recipe is a basic from-scratch one, like the one I use, but it has more milk and more salt. So, the resulting texture will be creamier.

Coming from a man in the kitchen, there are indeed some great barbeque recipes. He also doesn't overcook his meats, knowing they are the most tender and flavorful when medium rare.

Joe Fitzpatrick is by no means a timid cook. He's not afraid of flavors or unusual vegetables (jicama, hearts of palm). He experiments with wondrous results. His Lamb Stew is divine and his Sunday Night Football Chili is to die for! But I thought John's Stuffed Flank Steak was over the top and could just be too much with a stuffing made with whole Italian sausage and cheese. That definitely would be something I might sample due to all of the favors in the meat and the sauce, but its richness would be too much for me.

The other sort of klinker for me was his Potato Salad which calls for Durkees. The recipe doesn't say Durkees what since Durkees is a spice/herb brand. However, a little research told me that Durkee Famous Sauce is a creamy deli spread that's been around for since 1857 and lovers of the spread just call it Durkees.

Joe's Tomato Pie was another recipe I would tweak because it's made with Bisquick. It's one of the very few recipes that Joe includes in this book that isn't made totally from scratch. But since Joe doesn't seem to do desserts or any kind of baking, I can understand why he would fall back on a baking standby like this.

Known as the Blue Collar Gourmet, Joe Fitzpatrick has brought a recipe collection that doesn't denigrate home cooked comfort foods but elevates them with style and panache. His selections for the most part are gourmet quality and executed with techniques any professional chef would approve. Grab a copy of Strictly Sundays: Making Every Cook a Hero on Sundays, dip into its delicious offerings, and watch family members begin to show up on Sundays a bit more often.

Janie Franz - Reviewer

You Wanna Go to Willard by Linda M. Holbrook

2009-11-06T07:22:00.000-08:00

You Wanna Go To Willard
Linda M. Holbrook
Fiction
Book Surge Publishing
244 pages
$15
Printed book
TO BUY

You Wanna Go to Willard is a sad but also uplifting book about one woman's journey from familial hardships in a dysfunctional family life to emancipation by never refusing to give up on herself or her spirit.

Growing up, Laura felt different from other kids. She even, at times, felt abnormal. She was the third child of four and the oldest girl. Her mother conditioned her to respect elders. She was required to always use proper behavior and manners. Laura's life was, therefore, mostly focused on doing things that other people wanted, even if she didn't felt uncomfortable doing them herself.

Laura never questioned anything that her parents asked her to do. She desperately wanted people to like her. However, the older she got, the harder she tried, and the worse it became. She realized that she could not be all things to all people.Laura had a difficult relationship with her mother. She constantly felt ostracized and belittled by her. This made her feel very self-critical and unsure about herself. During one of her many arguments with her mother, Laura had a breakdown and ended up in a hospital. This was a real turning point for her and she knew afterward that she had to do something about her deplorable situation.

Unfortunately, when she left home, she met an abusive man and married him. He didn't love her unconditionally and she settled into that life because it was much better than her family of origin. But, as her relationship continued with this man, she discovered that he didn't love her. So, when the kids grew up and left home, Laura decided to do go back to college. When Laura completed her university degree, she felt that she could tackle anything that came her way. Finally, she felt that she didn't need to settle for second best.

Holbrook's book has two important messages for women. First, women who come from an abusive and dysfunctional family can emancipate themselves from the past. There is no need for them to stay stifled in a life that is consuming all of their passions and livelihood. It is possible for women with a fractured past to wake up and smell the roses of life and to ensure that they live the best possible life.

The second message of Holbrook's book is that women should not ever give up on themselves. They need not live a life that is pleasing to everyone else except themselves. Women should create a life that is based on what they want and to not stop or quit until they achieve it.

Holbrook's book is an uplifting story about how women can honor their spirit by being true to themselves and by making sure that they fulfill their destinies. Women should strive to live their lives with a true and authentic spirit by never giving up on their dreams. What a powerful and uplifting message for women!

Rating: 4 roses

Irene S. Roth
The Muse Book Reviewer

Too Too Many Tutus by Suzanne Davis Marion

2009-11-06T07:15:00.000-08:00

Too Too Many Tutus
Suzanne Davis Marion
Illustrator: Marj Hales
Reading Level: Ages 4 - 8
32 pages
Book Surge Publishing
$22.97
TO BUY

Suzanne Davis Marion's book is wonderfully crafted, colourful, and enchanting in its own way. It was such a joy to read and I know that young girls will especially enjoy the book.

Too Too Many Tutus is about Christina, a girl, who cannot decide which colour tutu to wear to her ballet class. She asks her Mom which colour tutu she should wear. But her Mom asks her to talk to her Dad about it. Her Dad feels that he cannot decide which one she should wear either because they're all so beautiful.

So Christina asks her big brother Max, and he suggests that she spread all of her tutus put on the bed and then once she looks at all of them she may be able to decide which one she really would like to wear. Can Christina decide which colour tutu to wear?

From this point onward, the story takes on a rhythmical tone that will both enchant and entrance every girl who reads the book. The words almost have a sing song quality to them. What an enriching, exciting, colourful, and wonderful journey for any girl to take!

The book is also wonderfully illustrated by Marj Hales, who is a gifted painter. Hales's representation of the little girl in the different ballet positions is so realistic and accurate.The colours of the tutus are an absolute delight to the reader's eye and will transport every child into the world of dance and ballet.

When I read the book to my niece, she was so entranced by it that she wants to start taking ballet classes herself when she turns five next year. She was also mesmerized by the vivid colours on each page. She can't wait to wear her very own tutu. And she loves the pink tutu the most.

Rating: 5 Roses
Irene S. Roth
The Muse Book Reviewer

The Talking Baby - Nonfiction

2009-11-05T05:58:00.000-08:00

The Talking Baby:
Simple Tricks and Techniques to Encourage Your Baby to Speak Sooner
Jeremy and Karina Sweet
Jema Alka Worldwide Publishing, 2008, 57pp.
TO BUY

Sweet's book is a unique and charming book on how a parent could teach a baby how to talk as early as possible. The hardest part of being a new parent is not knowing what your little bundle wants or is trying to tell you. The initial months will most likely be challenging due to a lack of communication. The techniques outlined by the authors in this book can assist any new parent to help understand their baby. And what a gift that is!

There are several conditions that must be present for a baby to talk effectively. First, the baby must have a happy and comforting home. Children with the greatest learning and communication issues often come from environments that do not nurture or encourage their youngsters. The children who excelled and had a thirst for learning most often came from happy and caring family atmospheres. While most parents are not intentionally hurtful or neglectful, they can unknowingly do things to intal frustration, withdrawal, or hinder a child's development and communication skills. Such parents promote a stressful environment by focusing too often on problems rather than solutions. They shout, ignore, don't forgive, forget to laugh, play and love. They also take out their frustrations on a child and on each other instead of supporting one another.

Happiness and security are some of the most important factors in raising a healthy, engaged and motivated child. Parents must make home a happy place for the child. They should ideally try to minimize the stress that their little ones see and experience. The atmosphere that is created for the child by the parents can play a major role in how (s)he will learn to talk. Babies are fascinated by the world around them and are often switching attention, moods, needs, wants, feelings, and desires at the flip of a coin. Hysterical crying can turn into giggles, then back to tears, then back to laughing all within one minute. Babies get easily frustrated, and bored if they don't like something or are not having fun. Patience, control, and a sense of the bigger picture are not exactly a baby's primary skill set.

Second, repetition is essential for the baby to learn words effectively. Familiarity and repetition grounds a baby, and helps her to feel safe. Repetition can help to create confidence to begin speaking and interacting in this new and strange world. An extremely important element in the talking process is giving the baby effective praise and encouragement. When your little one gets something right, the parents must make the child feel like a superstar. If the baby gets a word wrong, repeat it back to the baby. And remember to recognize, reward and repeat the word for utmost success.

Third, proper nutrition and sleep are also important in order for the baby to function properly. A baby with the right nutrition, nourishment and food intake will have more time, energy and brain power to enjoy and learn the processes of speaking. It is recommended that parents not push the baby to speak when she is tired. However, the parents should take advantage of optimal times when the baby is wide awake and eager to learn.

Sweet's book is packed with information for any new and aspiring parent on the trials and tribulations of bringing a baby into the world and teaching it to speak. It is also a book about the importance of creating a certain type of environment for the baby to thrive and grow into the happiest little child possible.

Rating: 4 Roses

Irene S. Roth
The Muse Book Reviewer

Dark Side of the Morgue by Raymond Benson

2009-07-28T05:09:00.000-07:00

Dark Side of the Morgue
Raymond Benson
Thriller
Leisure Books
336 pages
Printed book

Benson's book is a wonderfully written thriller that will keep the reader turning the pages quickly and furiously. I found myself drawn into the book right away and couldn't put it down.

Raymond Benson writes clearly in a series of short, striking episodes. His characters are familiar and likable. Spike Berenger comes from a performing music background himself and so provides a keen amount of insight and background into the world of show business and music in his writing. It brought me right into the life and times of these musicians.

The plot of this involved thriller concerns a systematic series of murders of members of vintage Chicago rock bands, apparently by a female ghost which has appeared from their past. Spike, a detective who works in the Celebrity Security business, becomes involved upon a request by one of the potential victims, and finds himself entranced in a complicated tangle of dark motive and intrigue which stretches right back into the early days of rock 'n roll. His pursuit of the 'ghost' who is committing the murders leads him into a world of sex, drugs, and violence along with a long series of adventures before he finally solves this complicated case.

The Rockin' Security team is called into action. Spike and his partner, Suzanne Prescott, travel to Chicago to investigate the case, only to discover that nobody wants to talk about this situation to anyone. As Spike continues to dig deeper and deeper, he begins to unravel a lode of deadly secrets involving sex, psychedelic drugs, and rock 'n' roll. It isn't long from there that the private
detective himself becomes a pawn in a very dangerous game that becomes life threatening.

This is a novel which should appeal to any reader who likes quick-paced action, set in the world of music, which is explored in some detail. While the novel starts at a steady pace, as the background information is presented, it explodes into frenetic action and mystery which kept me guessing
right to the end.

The novel is structured in an interesting and unusual manner as well. It consists of a series of thirty chapters, each one named after a rock 'n roll hit, with a Track Listing at the beginning, an unusual and clever conceit. I think that Benson's book will be read by individuals who love rock 'n' roll and
who have a knowledge of some of the rock bands during this period. The book is intriguing and wonderfully crafted. Very few people will be able to put the book down. I read it in one sitting.

I recommend Benson's book to anyone who loves to read a good thriller! And I think that covers most of us from time to time!

Rating: 4 Roses

Irene S. Roth
The Muse Book Reviewer

Remnants: Devotions for When We're Broken

2009-07-11T11:57:00.000-07:00

Remnants: Devotions for When We're Broken
by Marisa Gary
Devotional
Strongtower Media & Entertainment
93 pages
$16.95
Printed book

Gary's book is a wonderfully crafted and motivational book. Gary reminds the reader that they are never alone when they hurt. What a wonderful message!

So often when we are broken, sad, sick, and just confused, we don't reach out to God. We all struggle and suffer and God is always there for us, waiting for us to come to Him. But He's always there with His arms wide open.

For Gary, walking with Christ involves more than a decision to live our lives differently. It is a life-long commitment to live according to scripture by dedicating our lives to God by being obedient to his commands. This will probably be most noticeable to others in the world who don't necessarily know that there is a God.

By living according to God's commands, the pressures of the day won't feel as great, we will pray more frequently, re-evaluate what's important in our lives, and know that the impossible can be brought about if only we pray for it to happen. When we follow God, we will not be as discouraged and we will have hope, trust and confidence in all the things that we do. We will therefore walk freely and not be discouraged by the pressures of life.

To do so, we should strive to live our life alongside God as it were. When we live this way, our paths will be much clearer and noble. We will not fret the small things and will walk in line with God. The media bombards us with the necessity to buy more and more so that we will feel that we never have enough. We seemed to have lost of our way. When we turn to God, our truest priorities will come to the fore and we will live in terms of them.

Once individuals start living their lives for Jesus, they will discover an instant peace in their lives. Their thoughts will be purer, their actions will be more guided, their choices and decisions will be easier to make because they won't be constantly bombarded by trifles. That is such a gentler life.

We must make the most of each and every day, because this is the day that the Lord has made. We must rejoice and be glad in it. I think this is especially the case when people are sick with a chronic illness or just are having a difficult time in life. The path to wellness is only cleared when we follow God and walk alongside Him.

We should also learn the power of prayer. The practice of praying can give individuals the power and peace that neither the world or any other person can give. Prayer can move mountains for those who believe. Through prayer, we will gain a new and peaceful heart, we will become humble, gracious, confident, joyful, strong, slow to anger, and forgive often. So, the onus is on us to live a life devoted to God and His magical works.

However, in order to live alongside God, we must learn the importance of being still at least once a day. Only then can we recognize that God is there beside us. Otherwise, all the noise and chaos of the day will distract us from God.

I think that Gary's book should be on every person's night stand. It is organized such that individuals can read one or two pages a night to gain inspiration and to ponder God's message to them.

What a charming book! I would highly recommend Gary's book for anyone who needs more than the here and now in their lives. And that I think covers most of us!

4 Roses

Irene S. Roth
The Muse Book Reviewer

Thine is the Kingdom by Garth Buckner

2009-05-27T05:21:00.000-07:00

Thine is the Kingdom
Garth Buckner
Adventure
Ravenna Press
235 pages
$14.95
Printed book

Thine is the Kingdom is a wonderful and thrilling read. It takes the reader beyond the surface of the glare and glitz of island society to its criminal underbelly and how good people with innocent pursuits struggle to survive.

The book's title points to a possible moral component of the book. Most Christians will be familiar with this all-important phrase. And the title lives up to its message. Buckner deals with the slippery and important topic of whether it is ever right to do something illegal in the pursuit of gaining something legal. This is quite an all-important theme and one very important for our times.

The story starts with how Gavin Blake returns to his island home to claim the citizenship denied to him at birth. As Blake tries to get his citizenship, he finds a job on a yacht of a wealthy local, Thesinger, who made his living bootlegging. Thesinger had an old colonial home on the sea. They were avid supporters of the arts. Their world was under siege, however, both from the elements that eroded their land and lawlessness.

After a series of break-ins and violent confrontations, Blake discovered how dangerous his life is with the Thesingers. As the story unfolds, Thesinger's actions become more and more suspect, and despite his sense of self-righteous indignation, his life starts to mirror the lawlessness that he is fighting, making it all the more dangerous and confrontational all the time.

As events continue to unfold in the story, Blake is put in an increasingly difficult position. Finally, Thesinger tells Blake that the only way he will get his citizenship papers is by paying a bribe. Confronted with this irony, Blake discovers he must make a choice before it is too late. But this comes as a major threat to Thesinger's world and when things become very uncertain, someone is killed.

Thine is the Kingdom wonderfully reveals to the reader the inner lives of his characters and in so dong implicates us all in one man's struggle to do the right thing. Sometimes that's especially difficult to do. And the reader will see this struggle very clearly throughout the book.

I found the book to be mesmerizingly complex in its structural elements and very exciting. I felt sorry for Blake. But many times, innocent people fall into the hands of the enemy in the pursuit of innocent things.

Rating: 3 roses

Irene S. Roth
The Muse Book Reviewer

The Lake That Stole Children by Douglas Glenn Clark

2009-05-01T08:47:00.000-07:00

The Lake That Stole Children Douglas Glenn Clark Create Space 50 pages $6.25 Paperback

Douglas Glenn Clark¹s book is a beautifully written story that focuses on some very important themes. Clark focuses on these themes in a very open and honest manner. The story has soul and is mesmerizing in its overtones!

One of the themes is the relationship between the father and his children. The father is very harsh and Tyler, the son, is petrified of his father. This fear, in the end, creates the urge for Tyler to do the very thing that his father is not allowing him to do.

The second theme of the book focuses on the importance for a father to take the time and energy needed to develop open and honest communication with his wife and children. One of the underlying themes of the book is that a father should refrain from yelling at his family members since this hinders proper communication between the father and his family.

The story starts with the father portrayed as a stern man. The daughter was always silent because she didn¹t want to upset her father. Tyler sometimes had his own mind and didn¹t seem to fear too many things. He sometimes tried to ignore his father¹s orders, especially when it came to casting the fishing line deep into the river.

Tyler always wanted to use his father¹s fishing pole to cast the line far up the river. But his father didn¹t let him. One night, Tyler couldn¹t sleep. So, he got up in the middle of the night, grabbed his father¹s fishing pole from the door, and headed out to the river alone. All he wanted to do was to cast the fishing line into the river.

Little did he know at the time, he would be in danger.

His son's predicament caused the father to come to his senses and see the error of his ways. He was very hurt that his son was lost and possibly dead. With great determination, when he cope no longer, he went out to the river in the middle of the night in the hopes that he would see his son.

I found myself transported by some of the scenes of the book. I especially loved the conclusion of the book. The father, wife, son, and daughter learned many lessons because of this ordeal. Many mistakes were made and forgiven. And that is all part of family life. I think the father in this story probably learned the most important lessons.

I read this book with my niece when she visited last weekend. She was mesmerized by the prose. When she went home, she talked about the book to her father. She said that the conversation brought them closer to each other.

Rating: 4 roses

Irene S. Roth
The Muse Reviewer

Memoirs of a Fortune Teller by Gary Turcotte

2009-04-07T18:38:00.000-07:00

Memoirs of a Fortune Teller
Gary Turcotte
Thriller
Outskirts Press
www.Outskirtspress.com
125 pages
$13.95
Print book

Gary Turcotte¹s book is a wonderfully crafted book about the life and perils of a fortune teller. The book is unique since it is written in the form of a journal. The chapters focus on one theme from the most disturbed readings of a travelling fortune teller.

Mary Ann is the travelling fortune teller through which the book is written. A carnival set-up man and his girlfriend find absolute pleasure and fascination daily as they watch Mary Ann convince the most resistant of customers to have their pasts and futures revealed. She has an incredible gift that many individuals are sceptical of at first.

However, in time, Mary Ann started converting even the most skeptical customers into believers about her powers to see the past and future of her customers. In the process, she sees some of the most alarming details about her customers' lifes, some of which she does not dare to reveal to them.

By chance, Mary Ann uncovers a startling truth. As the fair enters the new season, the locals are asking the fortune teller to help them find a missing child. Since Mary Ann is an older woman and is scared about the prospects of getting too deeply involved in this case, she tries to resist having anything to do with these individuals or the situations surrounding this incident.

Another thing that Mary Ann realizes is that many of the readings of the locals seem to be alarmingly intertwined. This scares Mary Ann but tries not to disclose this fact.

Soon the killer is convinced that Mary Ann knows too much because of the readings of the locals. Fearful for her life, she tries to move on quickly after the fair.

Gary Turcotte has captured the rewarding and perilling aspects of a fortune teller¹s life marvellously well. And he has portrayed Mary Ann as an all-knowing goddess who must be careful not to learn too much about her customers since this might ultimately pose a danger to her own safety.

I found this book to be breathlessly exciting and scary in places. There were times that I was sitting at the edge of my seat not knowing if Mary Ann would be safe, given her sometimes spunky and overly courageous nature.

As I read the book, I was transported into the world of a fortune teller who¹s future can be unpredictible, given the nature of her work. It is difficult to fathom how just merely touching a person can reveal so much about the person and his/her life.

AMAZON
Rating: 4 roses

Irene S. Roth
Muse Book Reviewer

The Smartest Way to Save Reviewed by Irene Roth

2009-02-12T17:38:00.001-08:00

The Smartest Way to Save
Samuel K. Freshman and Heidi E. Clingen
Straightline Publishers, LLC
www.TheSmartestWay.com
219 pages
$21.00
Print Ebook

The Smartest Way to Save is a wonderfully crafted and excellent book that is especially needed, given our tough financial times.

In the book, the authors address some of the most important aspects about how to save money. The book is divided into two main parts. In Part I, the authors talk about our relationship to money by addressing how our emotional states can impact whether or not we save money. Most people overspend because we think that buying will bring us happiness. The authors try to show the mistaken hidden assumptions of such claims by challenging the reader to identify rationalizations, minimizations and intellectualizations for why we overspend. Through self-discipline, we have to face our debts by ending procrastination and creating a budget that will work for us. As a result, we can more readily control our spending and get out of debt.

In Part II of the book, the authors concern themselves with how our handling of money can affect our relationships with others by addressing what is genuinely behind our overspending. One of the most important parts of this discussion is how we could resist overspending by avoiding excessive spending on gifts around the holidays and for birthdays.This is a topic that has tremendous emotional overtones for many individuals. Many people have a mistaken belief that their relatives will be happier during the holidays and on their birthday if they buy expensive gifts. As the authors succinctly point out, this can create a lot of needless debt which can ultimatley lead to unhappiness. To reduce unwanted debts and overspending, we should either make our own gifts or decide as a family on a dollar limit to spend per person on gifts. Either way, we could control our spending more effectively and this can ultimately lead to less debt and more investments.

In addition, with a bit of planning and forethought, we could save money on travel and entertainment, shopping for clothes, and food and transportation. By saving on daily expenditures, we could all have some money left over to save and invest. We need not live from pay check to pay check. We too could achieve financial independence one small step at a time. This book provides the practical tips for all of us to be able to do this. In the last few years, Americans have collectively spent more than they earned. What we desperately need is a plan and vision of where we want our finances to be in the short term and the long term. After all, the author¹s believe that it¹s not how much we make but how much we keep that can help us become financially independent.

This book will be very helpful for readers of all ages. Throughout the book, the authors effectively balance the psychological features of spending and saving, along with some practical tips for creating financial independence. I found the book to be clear, concise, and to the point. Once I started reading the book, I couldn¹t put it down until I read it from cover to cover. I can¹t wait to read the sequel to this book!

Rating: 4/5 roses

Irene S. Roth
Muse Book Reviewer

Creative Calisthenics for Writers Review

2008-12-31T09:28:00.000-08:00

Creative Calisthenics: A Workout for the Writer’s Imagination
Terri L. Main
ISBN 978-0-557-03183-2
http://www.creativecalisthenics.com
To Buy
$12.57 Standard Print Edition with high quality paper
$5.00 PDF Download
$3.50 Ereader format can be downloaded to Palm, Pocket PC and IPhone/ITouch devices as well as your desktop/laptop computer

Stimulating exercises to stir the creative juices…that’s what Creative Calisthenics: A Workout for the Writer’s Imagination is all about. Author Terri L. Main knows exactly how to stimulate and motivate a writer. Her work has been published in such magazines as: Writer’s Digest, Woman’s World, Entrepreneur, and more.

To give you an idea about the book, here is one of the headings and what it entails:

Jumper Cables for the Brain – loved the heading and if you sit down for a minute and think about the title you’ll realize this chapter is all about overcoming writer’s block, when our creative cells are dormant. This entire section is filled with ‘problem solving’ but not the mathematical type. Ms Main offers various topics, such as Atlantis, Future Archeology, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way To…, and more, areas you might not have thought of but enough variety to get you going once again. I had tons of fun with these exercises.

The neat thing with this book is that it’s not your typical book where you need to sit and read from A to Z. Oh no. Depending on what’s blocked or stopped you from continuing your writing, you hop on to that section, read her exercises, and let EUREKA strike. For example:

Getting Ideas – easy enough. Exercises to stir up new storylines
Characters and Settings – another no-brainer. Main offers questions to further flesh out your characters, their home life, where they live, etc
Organization and Plotting – exercises to help outline and map out where you want your story to go.

Now I won’t go into the tons of headings she offers but really want to emphasize that her exercises dig into areas I, myself, have never ventured to round out not only my characters, but my descriptive details about the setting, and situations I can place my main characters in. I’m talking about out of the box stimulating and thought provoking exercises where I am sure Dan Brown could have easily used Main’s exercises and created the DaVinci Code.

For those writers who find themselves ‘stuck’, ‘unsure where to go’, or simply want a break from the usual and need brainteasers to have some fun with, then Creative Calisthenics: A Workout for the Writer’s Imagination by Terri L. Main is the book I recommend.

Avenging Angel by Kim Smith - Review

2008-12-31T07:39:00.000-08:00

AVENGING ANGEL
A Shannon Wallace Mystery: Book 1
by Kim Smith
Published by Red Rose Publishing
To Buy
ISBN: 978-1-60435-276-4
Cover Artist: Shara Azod
Mainstream Fiction: Mystery/Suspense
Release Date: December 18, 2008

Can you have comedy and murder together? Will it take away from the suspense? Not on your life, not if your main character is Shannon Wallace, a spunky gal who finds herself smack in the middle of a murder…her ex-boyfriend’s.

Shannon doesn’t know where to turn until she remembers an old school chum who was going to open up his own PI business. Enter Dwayne in the picture and now the humor has jumped a notch. Dwayne keeps the read realistic with his antics whereas Shannon causes a reader to jump and yell, “You go, girl! Don’t take any crap from no one.”

This cozy is a delightful read, full of suspense, a bit of Crystal and Williams humor, and two of the cutest aunts in a small town you’d ever want to meet. Kim Smith’s writing voice pulls you into the book, allows you to connect with each character, and leaves a trail of hints for you to figure out the Avenging Angel mystery as you read along. Great read no matter what the season is.

4/4 Roses

Book of Names by D. Barkley Briggs

2008-12-21T09:15:00.000-08:00

The Book of Names
D. Barkley Briggs
Genre: YA fantasy
Published by NavPress
ISBN: 978-1-60006-227-8
Pages: 396
Rating: 4/4 roses Highly Recommended

I normally have avoided books that may contain folklore but thrilled to have found The Book of Names a riveting read, just as Lord of the Rings. This fantasy adventure uses nowadays teens and humor, but blends them with characters who reminded me of the era of the ‘round the table’ knights, a la King Arthur time. The adventure captured the same ambiance as in another favorite of mine - Narnia.

Twins Hadyn and Ewan Barlow find themselves in another world – Karac Tor - when pulled through a mysterious and ancient hidden portal. There, they discover the citizens believe them to be their saviors, their ‘Champions’. The boys, although intrigued by the attention, desperately want to find a way back home. Thus the adventure begins.

The author has done an amazing job in what I would classify as a Christian book of values. The title alone fascinated me and the way D. Barkley Briggs explains (using the characters) the importance and the significance of what a name holds (such as your future) was truly captivating. Add the imaginative world of Karac Tor, so craftfully created, the author made you believe it really existed.

If you love fantasy, enjoy books by C. S. Lewis, enjoy a bit of magic mixed with folklore, then The Book of Names by D. Barkley Briggs is one I highly recommend.

Lea Schizas

Chizzy's Topsy Tale by Donna J. Shepherd

2008-12-21T08:59:00.000-08:00

Chizzy’s Topsy Tale

By Donna J. Shepherd

Illustrated by Kevin Collier

Published by Guardian Angel

http://www.GuardianAngelPublishing.com

Print ISBN 13: 978-1-935137-10-8

eBook ISBN 13: 978-1-935137-13-9

tipsy-cover1

Sneakiness is just part of being a small child. They get excited just with a simple notion they’ve put in their heads. Add the mixture of ‘friend’ in there and you’ve got an adventure waiting to happen. Well, adventure is what you get in Chizzy’s Topsy Tale, beautifully illustrated by Kevin Collier. I have to say there isn’t one book I’ve come across illustrated by Collier that hasn’t impressed me.

Ms Shepherd’s book doesn’t involve children but animals…monkeys, and hippos, and elephants, oh my! Chizzy’s best friend Dotty the hippo found some fresh fruit. Her little nudge is enough to entice Chizzy to sneak from his tree house and follow Dotty. However, finding the fresh fruit will prove extremely adventurous.

The strength of this book is the poetic flare throughout on each page along with the illustrations. The storyline brings the animals alive, appealing to this big child, but to families who are seeking a story that will entertain and teach children the mishaps of disobeying.

A great and fun read all around.

Lea Schizas

Dream Chaser by Kevin Scott Collier

2008-12-21T08:56:00.000-08:00

Dream Chaser

By Kristen and Kevin Collier

Published by Guardian Angel Publishing

http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com

ISBN 13: 978-1-933090-64-1,

Jamaal Hawkins is a typical nineteen year old teen. Dreams and inspirations to become the next basketball superstar are always in his mind. However, his grandmother wants more from him; wants him to think beyond the NBA. So she comes up with an idea, one she hopes will teach Jamaal a lesson in humanity. When the teen complains and mutters about their living conditions, his grandmother begins the lesson with these words: “Jamaal,” she said softly. “It’s not where you live that matters. It’s how you live.”

The Colliers give a poignant and touching story how one determined grandmother is set on showing her grandson that life has more to offer besides basketball. She forces him to accompany her one day as a volunteer at a governor’s campaign office, stuffing envelopes. It’s here where Jamaal meets and interacts with others where his grandmother’s lesson plan begins to sink in.

I highly recommend this book to be read by families together with their children.

Lea Schizas

Bitten by K.L. Nappier

2008-12-21T08:54:00.000-08:00

By K.L. Nappier

Published by Double Dragon Publishing

ISBN: 1-55404-475-8

Genre: Supernatural thriller

Pulsating, riveting…a full moon is about to reveal the danger lurking in the shadows.

kl-nappierK.L. Nappier has done it once again. Bitten, her sequel to Full Wolf Moon, continues the emotional connection between those ‘bitten’ and ‘The Beast’. We follow Max and David, hunters, hot on the Beast’s trail. Max’s intuition on the proximity of the werewolf is offered via a pentagram on his hand, one he acquired once the beast was removed from his own body.

Unlike other werewolf books, this Beast has the ability to jump hosts…until he jumps into one that masters the Beast itself to some capacity. This conniving strength makes it a larger and more dangerous entity for Max and David because it can now reason out and target unlike any other creature they’ve encountered.

Ms Nappier pulls you into the storyline, and actually her style reminded me a lot like Stephen King, where you get the essence of each key player in the beginning. This bonds you with the characters, causing you to continue reading to find out who will or will not survive. Max’s personal turmoil and love interest – Doris – is another fascinating subplot Ms Nappier has masterfully woven into the novel. Max discovers a secret someone close to him has been holding back, one that eventually places every single hunter in danger.

With a minimal of blood ‘n core, more relying on a fully fleshed out story, believable and touching characters, and a surprise twist, it’s no wonder Bitten was a Dream Realm Award winner in the horror division in 2007.

Great book to sit by the fireplace, snuggled in a comfy blanket, and one eye around for any creature lurking nearby.

Lea Schizas