Galloping to Freedom - A Review

GALLOPING TO FREEDOM – SAVING THE ADOBE TOWN APPALOOSAS by Carol J. Walker.

Sitting at my keyboard contemplating this review I already know that my vocabulary is too limited so I am going to run out of adjectives to describe how AMAZING this rescue effort was and how absolutely BEAUTIFUL and STUNNING Ms. Walker’s photography is in retelling the adventure.

This book is both a tribute and a fund-raiser to help save America’s wild horses.  When I requested this book it was because I wanted to enjoy the photographs included – and believe me – they are INCREDIBLE!  There is no doubt as to Ms. Walker’s talent as a wildlife photographer.

More importantly she gives the reader a touching and often heart wrenching saga of the “wild and beautiful horses whose spirit and grace touched her so deeply”.  Witnessing first hand through the lens of her cameras the ongoing round-ups of these horses made her wonder about the justification of “herd management”; taking these beautiful wild horses away from the habitat, often separating family groupings – was this really in their best interest?  Her recollection of witnessing “Rocky” (so name because of his ability to elude capture even when helicopters were involved) as he managed to escape yet, thereby, loosing his “family” begins this book and was the catalyst in her decision to do something to try to help these horses maintain their habitat or move to a safer one rather than be rounded up, sold and often killed in the process.

The contrast in her photographs of the horses running wild and then the same horses corralled is heart stopping.  Happily, some of the older horses (10+) were eligible to go to the Black Hills Sanctuary and because Ms. Walker’s scrupulously catalogues her  photographs some family groups of the horses were able to stay together.  A success, albeit a minor one.  The first transfer of horses from the corrals to the sanctuary was a success.

The horses remaining were beginning to endure some difficult conditions including mares birthing in crowded pens, where there was not only the imminent danger of the foals being hurt but as each foal was born it meant that mother and foal needed to wait until being able to be moved.  Sadly, not all the foals survived.

Of course, as the horses were set free at the sanctuary it presented Ms. Walker with so many more photo opportunities and I must say seeing these horses behave as they would in the wild through her pictures was a real treat.  The pictures of the horses posturing and challenging for dominance in their new home were AMAZING!

The sanctuary consisted of hundreds of acres of wild open pasture.  There the horses would be protected and yet still be “free”.  As some of the horses were scheduled to be moved to the “rescue pasture” - the first step in their transition to living permanently in the sanctuary - a very happy event occurred ... a new foal was born. 

As Ms. Walker describes it, “I climbed up onto to the flat part of the truck so that I could take photos without disrupting the group, and watched as the other sanctuary horses in the pasture next door came running down the hill and over to the fence to see the new arrival.  They seemed fascinated by the new baby.  A while later, Sid, a rescued horse with a big personality, came loping up to the fence to join the others, as if to say, ‘No one told me about the baby!’”

It seemed an apt christening and a sort of blessing for the endeavor.  It was a girl.

This book is nothing short of beautiful from the story to the publication (coffee table size and format, high quality glossy pages) and of course, the photography.  If you or anyone you know has a soft spot in their heart for the majesty of horses you or they will adore this book, plus it helps a good cause.  Win/win as far as I’m concerned.

Although these horses were successfully moved and are now protected in their freedom many more wild horses are facing roundups.  I was not aware of this issue and in Ms. Walker’s afterword she clarifies it in glaring terms. “In September and October of 2014, the Bureau of Land management removed 1263 wild horses from the Great Divide Basin, Salt Wells Creek and Adobe Town Herd Management Areas.  This action was motivated by a lawsuit instigated by the influential Rock Springs Grazing Association whose goal is to eradicate wild horses from both private and public land in Wyoming.  This group’s pressure on the BLM is unrelenting.”

In the back of the book is a list of organizations on the front lines of the campaigns to save wild horses and burros.  To find out more about these wild horses you can visit www.wildhoofbeats.com and even show your support by putting their badge on your blog or website.

* I received this book at no charge from the author

via Wordslinger in exchange for an honest review *

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR (from amazon.com)

Carol's passion for photography started at an early age, with animals as her favorite subjects. She studied literature and photography as an undergraduate at Smith College, and continued her education in photography after graduating, studying portraiture and nature photography. She has traveled all over the world photographing wildlife for the past 30 years. In 2000, Carol started her business Living Images by Carol Walker, specializing in photographing horses. Carol's images illuminate the relationship between horses and their people, as well showcase the beauty of horses with her stunning images of horses at liberty. She teaches workshops for amateur photographers on equine photography. She markets her fine art prints from her Living Images website as well as in several locations on the Front Range of Colorado and has won numerous awards with her artwork. 

Eleven years ago, Carol began photographing wild horses. As she followed several herds in Wyoming, Colorado and Montana, she became aware of how precarious their situation on public lands has become. Since then, she has dedicated herself to educating people with her photographs and stories about the wild horses. She is one of the leading advocates working to keep America's wild horses wild and free on our public lands. Her award-winning book Wild Hoofbeats: America's Vanishing Wild Horses The book was released winter of 2008 and is currently in its third printing. Carol's second book, Horse Photography: The Dynamic Guide for Horse Lovers is in its second printing. Carol's third book, Mustangs: Wild Horses at the Heart of the American Legend was published in October 2014 in France.

Proceeds from the sales of Carol's artwork and books fund her work to keep America's wild horses wild and free. For the last seven years, Carol has produced a calendar of her images each year to benefit first the Cloud Foundation and now for Wild Horse Freedom Federation. Carol is the Director of Field Documentation and on the Board of Directors for Wild Horse Freedom Federation, which is dedicated to stopping the roundups and keeping our wild horses wild and free.

The House on Cold Hill - A Review

THE HOUSE ON COLD HILL by Peter James

“They said the dead can’t hurt you … they were wrong.”

Whoa!  Anyone who has been following my reviews knows that I have a self proclaimed and always ongoing quest to find a really good ghost story.  There have been contenders, close calls and some that actually make the list.  “The House on Cold Hill” most certainly makes the list!

Ollie and Caro Harcourt and Jade, their twelve-year-old daughter, move to Cold Hill, a small village within commuting distance to Brighton.  Their new home, an old Georgian Mansion, has stood empty for a long time and needed some serious renovation.  Yes it was pushing their finances to the max but Ollie, an “eternal optimist” felt very positive about the whole project.  They were going to be living their dream.

From the moment they pulled up to the house, driving between the two stone pillars topped with the sinister looking wyverns, something was not quite right.  Was that someone watching them arrive through one of the dormer windows?

Mr. James spins a wonderfully suspenseful and scary story in this book.  He writes a ghost story the way its supposed to written … unusual and frightening things happening to an ordinary family – things that, with a little stretch of the imagination, can be explained away as normal happenings in a centuries old house undergoing renovations – that is explained away until things get really strange.  He builds, layer upon layer, so the reader slowly comes to care about Ollie and his family and between each layer he inserts another tingle.  As the truth around the history of the house is, ever so slowly, unraveled Mr. James gives his reader a sense that maybe, just maybe, everything is going to be okay now that the truth is revealed.  But will it truly be all right when the house really doesn’t like it when anyone leaves?

I loved it from the first page.  Five pages in I suspected that this was going to be a good ghost story.  Of course, many have started off strong only to tank in the last half or third of the book.  Not so in this case.  Mr. James gave me goose bumps right through to the last sentence.  Well done!

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a well-written horror/ghost story that doesn’t throw guts and gore at you, but rather gives you a nice, slow clackety ride to the top of the hill before your realize the stomach wrenching drop is inevitable.

This is the first book I have read by Mr. James and will definitely be checking out his other stand-alone novels.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR (From his website)

Born:

Brighton, Sussex, England

Educated:

Charterhouse, then Ravensbourne Film School.

Home:

I lived for 10 years in a very haunted Georgian manor house, near Ditchling, Sussex. It was converted from a monastery built on the site of Roman ruins, and had the ghost of a Centurion, a monk, a baby and a nasty, man-hating grey lady! Then moved to a group of converted farm buildings on a historic site outside Lewes, which were occupied by a whole bunch of ghosts of victims of the Battle of Lewes, but they were politely evicted. My Sussex home is now a Victorian rectory and so far ghost-free, as is my apartment in Notting Hill, London, on the site of a former cinema. No spectral screenings yet during the night, but always hoping...

Made publishing history:

In 1994, in addition to conventional print publishing, Penguin published my novel, Host, on two floppy discs, and it is now in theScience Museum as the world’s first electronic novel. It caused huge controversy, I was pilloried on the Radio 4 Today Programme for attempting to destroy the novel, and I was front page news on many papers around the globe, all equally furious! In the immediate following years I became a media spokesperson for the electronic publishing age, and in 1996 found myself as a keynote speaker at a conference at UCLA on the future of reading, alongside (gulp) Steve Jobs and the CEO of Time Warner!

The Dressmaker - A Review

THE DRESSMAKER by Rosalie Ham

Twenty years ago, following a tragic incident, Tilly Dunnage was sent away from Dungatar the small rural Australian village where she grew up.  She spent the time wisely learning the art of couture dressmaking.  Now, on the heels of another tragedy, she has returned home only to find that most things have not changed; the townsfolk still hate her, her mother has seemingly slipped further into senility and they are still considered the outcasts.  But the one thing that is different?  Tilly now has a skill that the women of Dungator covet … they want her dress designs for themselves.

Although there is a dark undercurrent in this book the major part of the story is the characters themselves.  Dungatar is populated by a very unusual cast of characters, including the cross-dressing policeman, the wanna-be debutante, the lesbian post mistress and of course, the obligatory “best-catch” bachelor among a only a few.  What these rugby-loving, gossip-mongering, one-upmanship-practicing and universally flawed townsfolk get up to is boggling.  With the exception of two characters there wasn’t a totally lovable one in the bunch and I enjoyed every minute of their escapades.

This is a well-written story about an isolated small town where the residents think they can get away with anything only to discover that revenge definitely is a dish best served cold.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR (from her website)

Rosalie Ham is the author of The Dressmaker, Summer at Mount Hope and There Should be More Dancing. Her novels are described as having fresh, unusual and entertaining ideas and have sold over 75,000 copies. Rosalie was born and raised in Jerilderie, NSW and now lives in Melbourne.

She holds a Master of Arts in Creative Writing and teaches literature.

The film of The Dressmaker starring Kate Winslet, Judy Davis, Hugo Weaving and Liam Hemsworth is scheduled to be released in Melbourne on October 29tht, 2015. 

A Fairy Extraordinary Christmas Story - A Review

A FAIRY EXTRAORDINARY CHRISTMAS STORY by A.J. York.

Read this one to youngsters at Christmas time and start a new tradition or read it yourself for the warm fuzzies and smiles it is sure to evoke.  Granted, the concept has been done many, many times … toys and Christmas decorations with an “awareness” slowly being left behind as the household grows up … but really, does it ever get old?  And, “A Fairy Extraordinary Christmas Story” does have a very touching and yet amusing twist at the end. 

Tallulah is a Christmas Fairy tree-topper.  Ever since she was manufactured she had an awareness of being.  On her first Christmas atop a tree a shooting star blazes outside the window and with that magical occurrence Tallulah realizes that she and all the other decorations are “alive”.

As we meet all the other decorations and ornaments we hear the story about how they are brought out every year and then, sadly, have to be returned to the attic when Christmas is over.  But, maybe not so sad after all since the attic is where all the decorations for all the holidays reside and soon enough Tallulah meets the Easter (Bunny) and Halloween (Skelly and Witch) decorations as well.

As must happen, the children grow up and move out and then one year the parents decide that decorating is too much trouble.  Confused by the sudden quietness of the house and the fact that it’s Christmas and they are still in the attic the decorations decide to take matters into their own hands.  The result is an adventure that warmed my heart and made me smile.

Definitely 5 bookish Christmas Trees for this charming little story.

  * I received this book at no charge from the publisher, Nova Sky Books,

via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review *

ABOUT THE AUTHOR (from the website)

A. J. York is the author of the middle grade fantasy series called The Delilah Dusticle Adventures. Born in Gothenburg, Sweden and raised in the UK, A.J. York's first love was telling stories through drama.

"I have always enjoyed making up characters and their life stories, therefore I jumped at the chance to study theatre at the University of Brighton.  I later trained as a drama teacher and I have a Master's degree from Goldsmiths. I have gone back to my roots and I now live in Gothenburg. People have told me they love reading my stories and I hope you have fun reading them too!" A.J. York

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR (from the website)

Hailing from the north of England, Gavin Childs is a Design teacher at an International School in Gothenburg, Sweden.

In his spare time Gavin illustrates The Delilah Dusticle Adventures. He is currently working on an animated trailer, and you can find examples of his work by visiting his website: www.gavinchilds.com

Merry Mary - A Review

MERRY MARY by Ashley Farley

After having one miscarriage and one stillbirth Scottie Darden is throwing herself into her work to stave off the emptiness she feels from the empty nursery at home.  Working on “Lost Souls”, a photo project featuring homeless people – she hopes it will help establish her career as a photojournalist – she is offering some hot food and coffee to her homeless photo subjects when she discovers a young girl dead in her tent.  In her arms lies a crying baby girl.  As soon as Scottie announces the death, screaming for help, the small group of vagrants quickly disperses.  With no one around and her cell phone charging at home Scottie has a decision to make … wait until someone shows up or take the little girl home with her to a warm home, a bath, a clean diaper and some formula.  She decides her home is the best place.  A decision that will be hard to undo as it doesn’t take her long to fall in love with the baby.

What will happen when an autopsy shows the young woman had recently given birth and was breastfeeding yet there is no baby to be found?

I was hoping for a heartwarming Christmas story as I started reading this book.  There were moments that did tug at the heartstrings but in my opinion this novella could have been so much more.  Despite her heart of gold when it came to Mary (the baby) I really did not like Scottie.  She seemed very spoiled and self-centered.  Her mooch of a husband does a disappearing act halfway through the story, her parents are supportive yet seem slightly aloof and her brother is a hard drinking womanizer who, admittedly, does step up when he’s needed but only as last resort.

The story itself seemed a little far-fetched.  As the characters were having one stressful moment after the next trying to figure out what to do with the baby I was thinking of any number of reasonable solutions.  Of course, that would have made it a 5-page short story.

There was also a little bit of confusion for me as the reader.  At several points near the beginning of the story it looked as if it were going to take a slightly religious path (okay, since it is a Christmas story) then for the second half of the book the whole theme was totally forgotten and never mentioned again.

I’m going to give this one 3 bookish Christmas Trees.  It was well written and it had a good premise.  I guess it was not quite what I was expecting (my fault for having pre-conceived expectations).  Still, it is a sweet holiday idea.

* I received this book at no charge from the publisher, CrushStar MuliMedia LLC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review *

ABOUT THE AUTHOR (from her website)

If only I had another minute, another hour, another day. There never seems to be enough time to accomplish all that’s on my mind.

I am an indie author, amateur photographer, and mother of two college-aged kids who bring me much joy but are turning my hair gray. My contemporary women’s novel Her Sister’s Shoes, June 2015, is the story of three middle-aged sisters that proves the healing power of family. My debut novel Saving Ben, January 2012, is a tribute to my brother—the boy I worshipped, the man I could not save.

I experienced the fragility of life when my brother Neal died of an accidental drug overdose in 1999, at the age of 37. He touched the lives of many with his wonderful sense of humor, his infectious laugh, and his tortured soul.

I learned a lot during the many years my family suffered the fallout of my brother’s addictions. After Neal’s death, I wanted to share those experiences. I wanted to tell anyone willing to listen how substance abuse and mental illness destroys families. I wanted to counsel groups of students about the dangers of alcohol and drug use. But every time I tried to talk to others about Neal, my voice shook and my eyes filled with tears. So I let the experts do the talking. I chaired education committees at my son’s school to promote alcohol and drug awareness to parents. And I helped to organize a series of leadership symposia where we brought in world-renowned speakers to empower students to become better leaders through honor and integrity and character.

But none of my efforts were enough to fill the hole in my heart created by my brother’s death. So I turned to writing. Saving Ben is not a memoir, but a story about the special bond between siblings.

I grew up in the salty marshes of South Carolina, but I have lived in Richmond, Virginia, a city I love for its history and traditions, for most of my adult life. I love to travel, garden, and when I’m in the mood, I like to try out new recipes.

The Masked Truth - A Review

THE MASKED TRUTH by Kelley Armstrong

As Riley Vasquez was babysitting one evening, upstairs entertaining the little one so the parents could leave the house without the crying scene, masked intruders broke in.  Riley, hid under the bed as shots were fired downstairs, discovering later that the little girl’s parents had been killed.  Despite the fact that by hiding she undoubtedly saved the child’s life Riley suffered survivor’s guilt.  Her therapist suggested an overnight therapy group may help her open up about what happened in order to deal with her trauma more effectively.  Things did not quite happen that way.  Just as everyone was arriving for the “therapy weekend” masked intruders broke into the facility holding all the patients and the two counselors hostage.  That is until the shooting started.  Riley has only herself and Max Cross to depend on to get them out of there.  Unfortunately, Max is schizophrenic and has a hard time discerning what’s real and what’s imaginary.

This YA novel is a step away from Ms. Armstrong’s usual paranormal fare.  It was a well-written book that kept me turning the pages.  Yes, a little reality suspension was necessary.  Yes, the characters were a little cliché – the strong (thinks she’s not) heroine, the flawed hero, unbelieving parents and bad guys that were a little over the top.  Some of the action was a little repetitive as well, but the book certainly gave you action.  I’m rating this one three stars.  Being a constant reader of Ms. Armstrong’s books, including most of her YA books, this story felt like a bit of a rehash of “The Darkest Powers” trilogy without the paranormal edge … teenagers running from the bad adults, hiding, running and finally having to deal with everything one their own.

It was still a good read just, in my opinion, not one of the most original of her books.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR (from her website)

I’ve been telling stories since before I could write. My earliest written efforts were disastrous. If asked for a story about girls and dolls, mine would invariably feature undead girls and evil dolls, much to my teachers’ dismay. All efforts to make me produce “normal” stories failed. Today, I continue to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in my basement writing dungeon.

29/30

Otherworld Secrets - A Review

OTHERWORLD SECRETS by Kelley Armstrong

If you are an “Otherworld” fan and still suffering from withdrawal symptoms because the series ended this is definitely the book to pick up.  It is comprised of six short stories (I would dare to say novellas) and each was a nice (re)visit with the main characters from the book series.  As I was writing the short synopsis of each story I also got to thinking that these stories stand pretty well on their own too ... if you have not read any books in the "Otherworld" series they still make sense and it may whet your appetite for the series.

LIFE AFTER THEFT (Hope and Karl) 

With baby number two on the way Karl has retired from his life as a werewolf jewel thief, but one of his clients has one more heist that only Karl can pull off – the theft of the ultimate grimoire containing ancient dark magic spells. 

MORGAN (Elena and Clay)

Morgan Walsh has been living with wolves in Alaska – living with them as a wolf – but now he has decided to come to Stonehaven to consider Elena’s invitation to join the pack.  (Elena being the only female werewolf thanks to Clay's impulsive bite and now Alpha in training for the pack)  While on route he stops in Westwood for a bite to eat.  How he resist stopping in a town that advertises itself as “Home of the Werewolves” and the diner gives a 10% discount to all Werewolves and their families … of course the town is talking about their football team ... but Morgan stops anyway.  It’s not too long before he discovers himself in the local jail with barely any recollection of how he got there.  A map with Stonehaven circled and Elena’s telephone number written on it is the only identification he has, so the sheriff calls.  It’s not too long before Elena and Clay realize that things are not quite right in Westwood.

ANGELIC (Eve and Kristof)

With her latest case resolved Eve is ready to join the ghost realm with Kristof for some much needed R&R.  The fates however have a slightly different idea.  They want her to wrap a quick case involving a demon uprising.  To save time she enlists the help of a couple of other avenging angels only to find that she is not the only rule breaker in the “angel corps”.

THE UNGRATEFUL DEAD (Jaime)

While performing one of her on stage séances Jaime is visited by a ghost with a mission and no amount of vervain is going to repel this determined spirit.  Not wanting him hanging around as she is getting ready for a weekend visit from Jeremy she decides to see what his request is all about.  Well, she can certainly put her necromancer skills to good use when she uncovers his little secret.

ZEN AND ART OF VAMPIRISM (Zoe)

Zoe has always been the only vampire in Toronto and she likes it that way, but when two new vamps come to town with the idea of taking over Zoe gives them a tour of the city they will not soon forget.

COUNTERFEIT MAGIC (Lucas & Paige, Adam & Savannah)

Carlos is still trying to get Lucas to leave the Cabal and a new client shows up to hire Winterbourne Investigations to look into the death of her brother … somehow these two incidents are related.  Not until things in Paige and Lucas’ marriage take a turn for the worse and Adam is possessed by a demon do they get the bottom of what is really happening.

Each story was wonderful, but because they featured my favorite characters from the series I must admit to enjoying “Counterfeit Magic” and “Morgan” the best.

As I was reading this book I realized that I have been quite “brainwashed” by the “Bitten” television series, because every time Clay’s name came up all I could picture in my mind was Greyston Holt.  Not a great hardship, darlin!

("Clay" walking up the stairs after changing out of wolf form ... sorry - not really - but couldn't resist)

 THE END

ABOUT THE AUTHOR (from her website)

I'm married with three kids and live in rural Ontario, Canada. After graduating with a degree in psychology, I switched gears and studied computer programming. Currently, I'm a full-time writer and parent. Could I make this section any more dull? Probably not.

28/30

Stop the Diet, I Want to Get Off! - A Review

This seemed like a good book to review after hitting "publish" on my Christmas Baking Post - just to remind myself why those cookies should get put in the freezer ASAP!

STOP THE DIET, I WANT TO GET OFF by Lisa Tillinger Johansen, MS, RD

Who hasn’t been on a diet?  As Ms. Tillinger-Johansen states in this book it is probably easier to count who has not been on a diet than tally those who have.  The word “diet” itself does not denote the desire to lose weight – diet simply refers to what we eat and drink every day.  A specialized eating plan can be made up to help attain certain goals achieved through what we eat – a healthier lifestyle, prevention of diabetes or high blood pressure and, yes, weight loss.

I have been a TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) group leader for a number of years and I enjoy my group but sometimes I find it difficult to come up with an interesting meeting topic to discuss each week; a topic that will not only be interesting for my members but that will also keep them (and me) motivated until next week’s trip to the scale.  I requested this book hoping it would give me some ideas.  Well, if you are looking for a common sense, easy to read, packed full of information and often amusing book about dieting this is certainly one to pick up.  Having read through this book I feel quite certain there is not one aspect of sensibly eating (diet, if you must) that this book does not touch upon.  Ms. Tillinger-Johansen includes obesity statistics from other countries (staggering!), she discusses fact versus fiction when it comes to dieting and touches on the plethora of diets out there (many some of which can do more harm than good both for your health and your waistline).  There is even a diet that promotes eating baby food … I’m pretty sure I didn’t even want to eat baby food when I was a baby!

What would a diet book be without discussing the evils of distorted body image brought on by Hollywood, advertising, beauty pageants and even Dr. Oz.  Personally, don’t even get me started on him.

All the important subjects are covered including protein, starches, fibre, WATER, fats, fruits and vegetables, vitamins and portion size.  Have a question about their importance and the answer can be found in this book.

On the back cover of this book it states “We’re caught in a never-ending merry-go-round of weight loss plans, fueled by celebrity endorsers, TV doctors and companies angling for a piece of a $60 billion industry.  But do these diets really work?  And how healthy are they?”  If you want to get off that merry-go-round and start eating for your health this book is an excellent resource on how to do that … and most importantly … it does that without being preachy or weighing you down (pun totally intended) with guilt.

I still find this book, packed full of solid information, an excellent resource to use for my TOPS group. 

* I received this book at no charge from the author via WordSlinger

 in exchange for an honest review *

ABOUT THE AUTHOR (from the book jacket)

Lisa Tillinger Johansen is a registered dietician who counsels clients on a wide range of health issues.  Her debut nutrition book, “Fast Food Vindication”, received the Discovery Award (sponsored by USA Today, The Huffington Post and Kirkus).

She lives in Southern California.

From her website www.stopthediet.com

REAL WORLD SOLUTIONS

Lisa helps her patients clients find a realistic plan that works for them. In this fast-paced world, it isn’t always easy to prepare home-cooked meals. Lisa helps her clients devise nutrition strategies for eating on the go, whether at sit-down restaurants or even fast-food establishments.

REACHING OUT AROUND THE WORLD

Now, through this website, fastfoodvindication.com and consultthedietitan.com, Lisa answers nutritional questions, gives helpful tips, and creates exclusive videos designed to promote a fun and more healthy lifestyle.

25/30

Real Santa - A Review

REAL SANTA by William Hazelgrove

Just how far would you go to keep your daughter’s belief in Santa Claus alive for just a little while longer?  Would you … be willing to become the town laughing stock?  Put your family’s finances in jeopardy?  Take a chance on alienating the rest of your family?  Risk your life?  George Kronenfeldt does all those things, and more.

When George’s 9-year-old daughter Megan comes home from school and announces that her fourth grade teacher has denounced Santa Claus during a discussion on Global Warming George decides to take matters into his own hands.  Marching off to school to confront the teacher turns into a shoving match and George vows to keep Megan’s belief in Santa alive for at least one more year.  He is determined that having ruined his relationship with his children from his first marriage this time he will be a better parent.  He will use his expertise as an engineer and manufacture a Christmas Eve visit from Santa that Megan will never forget.  One that she can videotape and show her friends … and Santa will stay alive in their lives for one more year … even if he has to be the “real Santa”.

All the nay-sayers will cannot deter him from his mission as he hires a filmmaker to help with special effects, rents nine flatulent reindeer and a sleigh to perch on his roof, a contractor to expand his chimney and a couple of mountain climbers to help him up and down that same chimney.  Soon enough he begins to have his own doubts about his scheme, but he has reached the point of no return and plods forth.  Does Megan get her video of Santa’s visit?  In the end … no, I won’t give it away!  Suffice it to say that I do not think it was by accident that George Kronenfeldt shares his name with that other iconic George of “It’s a Wonderful Life” fame.

This book was a wonderful Christmas read.  George is a loveable loser just trying to do his best when everyone in his life doubts him.  This book has everything you could want in a Christmas read; a little history about Santa Claus, a lot of humor, many touching moments, some suspense and great characters.  Megan’s teacher is the perfect villianess in this book – over the top, set in her ways, crotchety, bitter and determined to stop George at all costs.  Throw in the next-door neighbor with the ugly seasonal inflatables (a tank?) on his lawn, the long suffering wife who decides she’s finally had enough, the vengeful ex-wife and his two slightly neglected children from his first marriage and you have almost the entire cast for this perfect Christmas farce.

I’m going to rate this Christmas read at 4 Christmas trees.  There were a few sections that seemed to go on just a little bit too long and I could have done with less of the film director but don’t let that stop you from picking this book up if you are looking for a Christmas read.  Yes – you will have to suspend reality, take a few things on faith and give in to the spirit of Christmas, but that won’t be so hard to do as you cheer for George right to the end.  

I could so see this book being made into a movie ... I'd watch it. 

* I received a copy of this ebook at no charge from the publisher, Koehler Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review *

ABOUT THE AUTHOR (from his website)

William Hazelgrove is the bestselling author of eight novels, Ripples, Tobacco Sticks Mica Highways Rocket Man, The Pitcher, Real Santa, and forthcoming Jackpine and The Pitcher 2 in 2015.

His books have received starred reviews in Publisher Weekly and Booklist, Book of the Month Selections, ALA Editors Choice Awards Junior Library Guild Selections and optioned for the movies. He was the Ernest Hemingway Writer in Residence where he wrote in the attic of Ernest Hemingway’s birthplace. He has written articles and reviews for USA Today and other publications and has been featured on NPR All Things Considered. The New York Times, LA Times, Chicago Tribune, USA Today have all covered his books with features.

He runs a cultural blog, The View From Hemingway’s Attic. He lives in Chicago.

21/30

Red Tide - A Review

RED TIDE by Jeff Lindsay

Jeff Lindsay once again brings his readers to Miami, this time not with Dexter rather with Billy Knight, but no worries – the body count is still high.  Billy is an ex-cop who wants nothing more than to be on his boat chartering tourists out fishing.  When he’s not doing that he is trying to keep things together with his girlfriend (she leaves) or he hangs out in bars (ends up in jail).  Life’s not so great.  On a trip picking up and delivering a boat for a friend he and his friend Nicky are enjoying the ocean when Nicky decides to do some target practice shooting coconuts out of the water.  One of the coconuts turns out to be a human head.  It looks like another Haitian refugee has not made it safely to American soil.  “Happens all the time,” say the police and Billy tends to agree with them.  But Nicky feels a responsibility to this corpse he took a pot shot at. 

Enter Anna, a refugee herself, albeit from Eastern Europe.  Billy immediately falls for her and wouldn’t you know it – because of her own history – she agrees with Nicky; someone has to look into what turns out to be a series of “tragic drownings” involving Haitian refugees.  Reluctantly, Billy agrees to look into it.  With the help of The Deacon, Billy’s contact on the police force the three take the reader along on an adventure on the high seas hunting down a Haitian Voodoo Bocor who’s best talent seems to be making Haitians disappear from his boat – after taking their money.

This is the second book in the Billy Knight series and it read fine as a stand-alone novel.  I didn’t feel I missed anything by not having read the first book.  Admittedly there were a few intriguing snippets here and there, but were they compelling enough to entice me to pick up the first installment?  Not sure.

I liked the setting in this book, I liked the characters – especially Nicky because he is quite unique, the action was intense because it took place in the closed confines of a ship sailing from Haiti to Miami and there were a few voodoo tidbits thrown in here and there.  Yet overall the story was lacking originality.  It felt almost a little formulaic if one compared it to the Dexter books … changed a couple of names and circumstances yet I could have taken the two books pulled character names from one, easily placed an equals sign to a character from the other.  I can’t rave about the book but would still mention it to action/thriller fans without feeling too guilty.

* I received this ebook at no charge from Diversion Books via

Netgalley in exchange for an honest review *

ABOUT THE AUTHOR (from GR Author Bio)

Jeff Lindsay is the pen name of an American crime writer, Jeffry P. Freundlich, who lives in Cape Coral, Florida with his wife, author Hilary Hemingway, daughter of Leicester Hemingway, Ernest Hemingway's brother.

Lindsay is best known for writing the Dexter series of novels. Many of his earlier published works include his wife as a co-author. Time Blender was written with Michael Dorn. He graduated from Middlebury College, Vermont, in 1975.

The first book in the series, Darkly Dreaming Dexter, was included on the original nomination list for the Mystery Writers of America's Edgar Awards in the Best First Novel category. However, it was dropped from the list after the group learned that Lindsay had put out several books in the 1990s under another pen name, Jeffrey P. Lindsay. 

20/30

The Witch of Lime Street - A Review

THE WITCH OF LIME STREET by David Jaher

Harry Houdini, arguably the world’s best magician, performed feats that made people believe he could dissolve his body – get out of perilous situations – and then put his body back together again.  He also performed feats of “mentalism” causing people to believe he could converse with the dead.  In actual fact he could do neither.  He knew what he accomplished was done through misdirection and trickery, but the public in the 1920’s wanted mystics, spiritualists and mediums. 

Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of one of the most logical minds in literary fiction, was one of those people who desperately wanted to believe that people could commune with the dead so he could once again speak with his dead son.

Each had their own view on the subject and each had their following of fans and believers.  As much as Houdini wanted to believe so he could have a final conversation with his deceased mother, he knew it was bunk and was determined to stop people from having their emotions and grief toyed with and their wallets lightened in the process.  Houdini was fighting an uphill battle.  The 1920’s were an age when spiritualism became not only a psuedo-religion but was also considered a science.  The likes of Harvard University set up a “parapsychology” department.  “Scientific American”, a well-respected scientific publication offered a reward for anyone proving they were the real deal in mediumship.

Enter “Margery”, the so called “Witch of Lime Street”, claiming she could not only communicate with the other side but could bring back the spirit of her dead brother, Howard.  Through ceaseless séances and spiritualist sittings Howard continued to materialize and perform the “tricks” the researchers had contrived to prove he was real.

Most of those who sat in on the séances Margery held were believers … Houdini went to his grave unconvinced … but what a battle it was.

Mr. Jaher tackled a complicated and interesting subject in this book.  It was very well researched and provided an in-depth look into the spiritualism craze that was sweeping the world during the early 20^th century.  In my opinion he made no attempt to sway the reader into believing or not and in fact at the end of the book he recounts Margery’s final séances and offers no definitive conclusions so the reader can make his/her own decision.

As well researched as the book was, or possibly because of that very fact, the book seemed to be lengthy and very repetitive.  Margery’s “performances” and the research around them went on for years, often several times a week and Mr. Jaher recounted as many of them as he could.  I very much enjoyed the first and the last 25% percent of this book; the 50% in the middle could have been trimmed significantly had Mr. Jaher only included those séances in which something new happened.  That being said I did enjoy the book and I learned a few things I had not known before … a few of which I could have lived happily without knowing, such as ways and means of hiding “ectoplasm” to make it appear when needed.  Those mediums, if nothing else, were certainly creative!

I received an ARC of this book and read it as an ebook.  I want to check out a physical copy of the book to see if there are pictures of all the well-known names that were dropped throughout this book as well as possibly some of the various testing devices they used such as the “bell box”.  (There are a few photographs on Mr. Jaher’s website)  The book certainly made me curious so, despite the repetition I mentioned, I am still awarding it 4 stars.

* I received this book at no charge from Crown Publishing via Netgalley

 in exchange for an honest review *

ABOUT THE AUTHOR (from his website)

David Jaher received a BA from Brandeis University and an MFA in Film Production from New York University. At NYU, he was the recipient of the WTC Johnson Fellowship for directing. Jaher has been a screenwriter and a professional astrologer.

A New York native and resident, this is his first book.

18/30