The New Book Review

Five-Star Review for Book Set in New York

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Howard-Johnson) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:46:00 PST

Title: Fixer
Author: Ed Brodow
Author Website: http://www.fixerbook.com
Genre: Historical Fiction
ISBN: 978-1432717032

Reviewed by Erika Borsos originally for Amazon
Reviewer's Rating: Five Stars

This book provides a great visual representation of life in New York city at the turn-of-the-century. The author uses his words like an artist uses paint on canvas. This book leaves a great visual and colorful impact on the reader. The story is energetic, fast paced and filled with great human interest, overall a fascinating read. This is an historical era novel about a powerful charismatic politically connected figure who wielded a great deal of influence in New York city during the height of his career. It was a time when various people from Europe and Russia were clashing as they fought to create a new and better life for themselves and their families. They escaped the political forces and prejudices which held them back in the "old world" but faced new and different enemies and circumstances instead. Sometimes, the new circumstances were nearly as daunting as the old but as time marched on, the powerful walls which kept people of different cultures from achieving their potential cracked and broke apart. Times created situations where someone with a powerful personality who had major chutzpah and intelligence could work the system and become highly influential. This book is about such a man, his name is Harry Leonoff, a man of Jewish descent who beat the odds and made himself into a success. He become politically connected and indispensable to the politicians who needed major jobs done around the city. He hung around Tammany Hall with the Irish who got Harry hooked on politics. Harry's reputation grew as he strove to maintain his values and integrity while he got jobs done. Unfortunately, his strong need to maintain his integrity prevented him from backing down from a position once he took a strong stand and this became his undoing after clashing with Mayor Fiorello La Guardia who also possessed a similar ego and style of behavior.

Harry Leonoff's rise to power and his fall from grace makes for a fascinating novel. Harry's early life began on the Lower East Side of New York in Jewish tenement houses and apartments. This milieu provided the foundation for Harry's developing a strong character. His character was tested when he developed polio and underwent rigorous stretching exercises, without benefit of analgesics. Fortunately, he eventually received more humane treatment from Andrew Craig a Scotsman who developed a successful home treatment for polio victims. Harry retained a limp due to this childhood illness. Perhaps this is where Harry learned to care so much about the poor and less fortunate. Harry's fearless reputation got him hired by a local group of Jewish leaders who wanted some anti-Semitic thugs taught a lesson. By age 23, Harry realized he needed education and hung out at a local Democratic Club, where he overheard Big Jim Connolly express that lawyers ran the city. This gave Harry the grand idea to become a law clerk. At the time there were several avenues to entering the legal profession, one was attending law school, another was graduating from college and preparing for the bar exam, and a third for those with little formal education, as was Harry's case, was to become a law clerk. Harry was hired to apprentice for Mr. Levine who had won some rather famous cases. This is where Harry's sense of fair play arose as he noticed not everyone was getting justice under the legal system ...in fact, the rich and powerful seemed to receive most of it. He concluded only those with political influence could correct the deficiencies in the system so Harry attempted to do just that. He returned to Tammany Hall to work for Big Jim Connolly. Harry's success continued as he gained experience and grew to have a reputation for getting the job done.

The author does a superb job of describing the rise and fall of Harry's fame. The stories are realistic and believable, most are serious, others are humorous. The author does a particularly excellent job of drawing the reader into the story from the beginning when Harry's grandson visits at the hospital where Harry resides. The description of the harbor, the weather, the landscape and views and then the inside of the mental hospital are very visually realistic and appealing. The author's description of how Harry's frame of mind flips from current reality into the past is highly accurate of how confused elderly people behave and react. The book was inspired by the life of the author's own grandfather. This book is most highly recommended. Erika Borsos [pepper flower]

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

Valentine Gift that Lasts Better Than a Greeting Card

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Howard-Johnson) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 01:41:00 PST

Cherished Pulse
A Chapbook of Unconventional Love Poetry
By Magdalena Ball and Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Genre: Poetry
Available on Amazon at http://budurl.com/CherishedPulse
Available for Kindle

After throwing out another batch of high priced Christmas cards, I’m ready to put a formal ban on wasteful, expensive greeting cards in my house. With Valentine’s Day pending, it’s time we started giving real gifts that last and forget about fancy expensive packaging and syrupy cliché cards that make landfill.

For those looking for a deeper and more sustained gift for Valentine's Day, an inexpensive chapbook of poetry is perfect. Poetry has a transformative effect and it lasts. Cherished Pulse, a book of unconventional love poetry by Carolyn Howard-Johnson and Magdalena Ball, is pretty enough not to need any embellishments with beautiful artwork by watercolorist Vicki Thomas. It doesn’t have any calories, fits snugly on the shelf or looks lovely on a coffee table, and at only $6.95 for a paperback, or $2.99 for the Kindle version, it won’t more (or as much!) as a card on its own. Pair it with your own beautiful poem or a hand-picked flower from your garden for the most memorable and powerful Valentine’s Day gift you’ve ever given.

Review by Molly Martin:

Carolyn Howard-Johnson’s poems begin with the delicate refrain found in ‘A Woman's Heart.’ ‘Dreaming Lilacs,’ moves the reader into a scented, heart felt remembrance before moving on to a playful stanza ‘Hallmark Couldn't Possibly Get This Right.’ Poet Howard-Johnson’s last offering is a poignant introspective ‘Loving Lance.’ Other titles by this poet include; "Watching My Daughter Say Goodbye To a Fleeting Love," and " LA Love Story."

Magdalena Ball presents the first 10 poems; from the haunting lyric found in ‘The Ocean,’ strength of ‘Great Sky,’ and stark reality of ‘Dark Matter,’ poet Ball moves the reader toward her final though provoking reflective work; ‘Baker’s Dozen’. Other titles by poet Ball include; "Event Horizon," and "Oubliette."

Cherished Pulse :Unconventional Love Poetry is a pleasurable collection of buoyant, spirited poetry sure to pique the interest of the most discerning reader who is looking for a nice afternoon’s read. Each of the verses is a true delight. There is something for everyone. Language use is not predictable, nevertheless Cherished Pulse is an invigorating read of agreeably constructed stanzas presented in a satisfactorily rounded assortment. The reader will be drawn into the verses’ rich stitching of sentiment, passion, and sensation.

Pick up a copy at http://www.budurl.com/CherishedPulse. Add a grosgrain ribbon book mark and an early spring flower and you'll have a never-forgotten gift.

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

New Book Is What Donald Trump and Dr. Oz Have in Common

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Howard-Johnson) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 01:17:00 PST

Title: 5 Minute Motivator

Author: Dr. Eric Kaplan

Both Donald Trump and Dr. Oz have Dr. Eric Kaplan's books.

This story is unique in that it is a love story, a story of survival, dedication and positive thinking. After Dr. Kaplan and his wife were 100% paralyzed by Botox injections (Dying to Be Young, #1 Bestseller.

The couple were recently featured on Dr. Oz and hopes to appear on the show again with his new book. They have also appeared on Good Morning America, Primetime Live, CNN Anderson Cooper, Montel Williams, andThe Insider, just to name just a few. With his new book again he is expecting to do many shows which will be mutually beneficial.

The 5 Minute Motivator clearly demonstrates the power of goal setting, affirmations, positive mental attitude, love, commitment, while being of service to others. The 5 Minute Motivator is a book about self-empowerment, self-actualization, and success manifestation using spiritual short stories to portray the principles and conscious tools and techniques.

From Such Seeds of Adversity Can Come your Greatest Triumphs...

5 Minute Motivator was the result as they turned tragedy into a dream come true. It includes simple yet powerful steps you can follow to infuse your own life with treater abundance, joy, and happiness.

Dr. Kaplan believes you were born with everything you need to heal yourself. After millions of years of evolution, your body is equipped for any challenge that comes its way: germs, cancer cells, you name it. But a huge, profit-driven medical establishment has been built around healing from the outside in, instead of inside out. When you buy this book today, you'll also receive Dr Kaplan's other book - Imagine two books for the price of one plus 150 bonus gifts! 5 Minutes to Wellness will open up your power of self-healing and The 5 Minute Motivator, will motivate you to do so. Dr. Kaplan outlines a step-by-step, approach by committing "5 Minutes a day."

CHECK OUT THE GREAT BONUSES!

In "5 Minutes" a day:

you can live the life you dreamed.
you can be healthier.
you can be happier.
you could remove the toxins that are in your body.
you could lose 10 pounds--and more.
you could help others.
you could own your own business.
you could make a difference in your life and the lives of others.

Take that one step further. Follow in the great steps of Michael Jordan, and make winning a habit. This book will teach you how. Check it out now! http://bit.ly/y0nJVi

~ Book Tour by Denise Cassino
Publicist and Book Marketing Specialist
303 838 3399
skype: denise.cassino
www.BestsellerServices.com
www.spiritoftheseasoncatalog.com
www.mybestsellerlaunch.com
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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Best Books for Writers To Read in 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Howard-Johnson) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:25:41 PST

Obviously, I haven't read every new book out there for writers. Consider this a good little "get started" list for your 2011 reading.

Agni, a literary journal. Literary writers might pick any full book-size issue and study the selections to improve your poetry and short stories.. Published by Boston University. www.agnimagazine.org.

Outwitting Writer’s Block and other Problems of the Pen by Jenna Glatzer, Lyons Press, ISBN: 1592281249

Ignite the Genius Within: Discover Your Full Potential (with CD), by Dr. Christine Ranck and Christopher Lee Nutter, Dutton. ISBN: 9780525950943

Surviving Depression with Art Therapy by Joyce White, AuthorHouse, Really for artists of every ilk, but an interesting take on what the arts (writing) can do for our psyches. ISBN: 9781434320667

Concerning E. M. Forster by Frank Kermode. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. This book is for very literary types and really avoid Forster fans. ISBN: 9780374298999

The Essential Don Murray, edited by Thomas Newkirk and Lisa C. Miller, Heinmann Boynton/Cook. Don Murray is deceased. His sage advice to writers live on. ISBN 9780867096002

Writers’ Tricks of the Trade: 39 things you need to know about the ABCs of writing fiction by Morgan St. James, Marina Publishing. A new book by the queen of mystery writing. ISBN: 9780983779001

Spice Up Your Writing: Write to Entice by Billie A. Williams. Published by Filbert Publishing. Williams is a mystery writer with several self-help books for writers to her credit. I especially love the chapter on perseverance in this, her newest. ISBN: 9781932794168

Note: For more outstanding books—not necessarily books for writers—please see Carolyn's MyShelf Noble (Not Nobel!) Prize list for 2011 in her Back to Literature Column (http://www.myshelf.com/backtoliterature/column.htm.)

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A Brand New eBook Women's Poetry Anthology

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Howard-Johnson) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 01:40:00 PST

Title: Fire on Her TongueSubtitle: An eBook Anthology of Contemporary Women’s PoetryEditors: Agodon, Kelli Russell, and Spaulding-Convy, AnnetteEditor’s Website Link: http://www.ofkells.blogspot.com/
Genre: Poetry
ISBN-13: 978-1-937860-24-0Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Fire-Her-Tongue-Contemporary-ebook/dp/B006R8Q9JK
Two Sylvias Press, 2012
E-book

Reviewed by Paul David Adkins

Fire on Her Tongue: An eBook Anthology of Contemporary Women’s Poetry, (, ISBN: 13: 978-1-937860-24-0, 491 kb, approximately 460 pp) is an eBook edited by Kelli Russell Agodon and Annette Spaulding-Convy. The editors present the work of 73 poets, both well known and emerging artists. This first-of-its-kind collection, available on Kindle, Nook, iBooks, Sony Reader, and twenty-eight other eBook retailers such as eBooks.com, IndieBound.org, Powell’s and many others, provides an exciting overview of some of the best American writing today.

Fire on Her Tongue should not be confused with earlier comprehensive anthologies such as Hayden Carruth’s The Voice That is Great Within Us, or a college textbook published by Norton, lugged to every introductory American literature course known to woman. Agodon and Spaulding-Convy present the poetry of contemporary women exclusively: there is no Robert Frost, W.C. Williams, Carl Sandburg, or Robert Creeley here. The collection is vivid and immediate, and the writers are all still living. This eBook captures the incredibly varied talents of the women included.

Anthologies are normally associated with canonical writing. With the usual exceptions of Emily Dickinson, Elizabeth Bishop, Edna St. Vincent Millay, and Gwendolyn Brooks, general anthologies almost universally neglect the presence, much less importance, of women poets. The adage that one must be dead to be a famous author seems especially fitting for these types of collections, many of which stop at Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton. It is as if American women suddenly ceased writing to eternally mourn the deaths of these twin icons. The fact that the press publishing this work is named Two Sylvias is doubly significant here. It marks the definitive passing of women’s poetry from the enigmatic, suicidal Plath to her matrilineal descendants, so to speak. Deference is paid to America’s colossal literary martyr, but it’s time to move on, the editors declare.

And move on, they do! Though the poets are presented alphabetically, Kim Addonizio is a perfect opening writer for this groundbreaking collection. Members of the canon such as Alicia Ostriker and Patricia Smith stand alongside deserving lesser-known authors including Ivy Alvarez and Kate Lebo. Rachel Contreni Flynn and Annie Finch comfortably coexist. This is a collection for people who love poetry. And while academics will certainly find it an invaluable tool for mapping current literary trends women are exploring, the real worth is in its ability to share wonderful work with other readers, not dictate what is canonical or worthy of scholarly attention.

Some people might consider the heavy concentration of writers linked to Seattle as a weakness. Over 30 of the authors are indeed directly connected in some way to this city and surrounding area, as, too, are Agodon and Spaulding-Convy. The question might arise as to why Two Sylvias did not simply present the anthology exclusively as a showpiece of the incredibly vibrant Seattle poetry scene; there is certainly enough material to do so. Such criticism misses the point of the collection, however. The anthology has more of a conversational than authoritative feel. Essentially, here are two highly knowledgeable women from the Pacific Northwest respecting their audience with questions such as, “Hey, have you read THIS writer? She’s awesome! This one, too. Do you know her? She’s really fantastic!”

Fire on Her Tongue is a celebration of women’s poetry, a party, not a granite monument. It’s not the work of two editors showing off how smart they are, but instead how excited they are about the current state of women’s poetry in America. Buy it! Read it! You’ll find their enthusiasm is catching.

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

Writer Advises This Book as Brushup for Writers

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Howard-Johnson) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 01:20:00 PST

Title: Punctuation
Author: G. Miki Hayden
Link: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Punctuation+by+G.+Miki+Hayden
Non-fiction ebook on writing

Reviewed by Joy V. Smith originally for her writing blog

Reviewer's link: http://pagadan.wordpress.com/

Reviewer's rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Writers need this book!

As a writer, I take advantage of opportunities to refresh my knowledge of the basic rules of writing. Even though I’m an English major, I’m occasionally unsure of whether to use a comma or a semi-colon, etc., so I was grateful for the opportunity to read Punctuation by G. Miki Hayden. Btw, look carefully at the punctuation mark on the cover. It is not what you think. At least, it wasn’t what I thought. I confess I just glanced at it and thought I knew what it was. I was surprised to learn that I was wrong–and what it means.

The rules of punctuation are to make it easy for the reader. You don’t want to trip him up and stop his enjoyment of your story, because writing isn’t just words; it’s about how to emphasize them. I appreciated not only the easy-to-understand rules, but also the examples, which help you to understand them. I’m less fuzzy now about which punctuation marks go inside the double quotes and which don’t, among other things. And I won’t be puzzled when reading a book published in England.

Learning that you don’t need to use italics when writing thoughts was a relief. And I learned only recently that we probably don’t need to underline words to be printed in italics, and we now only put one space at the end of a sentence. That is a hard habit to break! (And you’ll notice that I’ve only used one exclamation mark so far. I tend to overuse them, along with parentheses.) Be sure to study the section on apostrophes, please.

The ellipsis explanation really helped me, and the serial comma explanation made me feel better. (I had never given up the last serial comma, btw.) A number of things were clarified for me, including what to use inside a parenthesis (brackets); I’ve been using more parentheses. And there are quizzes at the end, if you want to test yourself. This was an easy and enjoyable read, and the author was firm, but not dogmatic. Highly recommended for those who write, whether it’s fiction or reports or a blog. And it was a fun read.

Joy
My writing blog
http://pagadan.wordpress.com/

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

Poetry That Refreshes the Soul Reviewed

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Howard-Johnson) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 01:42:00 PST

Book Title: After the Storm

Subtitle: Poetry that refreshes the soul

Author: Anthony F. Rando

Author’s Website Link: http://anthonyfrando.net/

Genre: Poetry

ISBN-10: 1613466412

ISBN-13: 978-1613466414

Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/After-Storm-Anthony-F-Rando/dp/1613466412/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_t_1

Reviewed by Jennifer E. McFadden (Katy, Texas)

I received this book from Anthony a few weeks ago and was amazed at his

raw honesty in each poem. Beautifully colored images throughout the book

add to Anthony's tender, poetic expressions of love, emptiness, remorse,

nature, and healing. I was also pleased at the quality of editing and highly

recommend this book."

Learn more about the poet on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AnthonyFRando

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

Reviewer Suggests Sex and the City Fans Read This One

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Howard-Johnson) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:38:55 PST

Title: California Girl Chronicles: Brea & the City of Plastic

Author: Michelle Gamble-Risley
Author’s Website Link: http://www.3lpublishing.com
Genre: Contemporary Fiction/Romance
ISBN: 978-0-615-55787-8
Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/California-Girl-Chronicles-Brea-Plastic/dp/0615557872

Reviewed by Sigmarie Soto originally for ZiggySoto

Book 1 of Michelle Gamble-Risley’s California Girl Chronicles is not what you’d expect—it sure wasn’t what I expected anyway. And I’ll admit I wasn’t disappointed at all. Everyone loves an entertaining, escape-for-awhile novel, and that is exactly what Brea & the City of Plastic is. Book 1 takes us through Brea Harper’s journey of moving to Los Angeles to make it as a screenwriter, while going through some fun, sexy, humiliating, and heartbreaking moments along the way. In a world where business and professional lines are blurred, this novel is more than appropriately titled, and there’s never a dull moment.

While Brea may be a born-and-raised Cali girl, women everywhere can relate to her on some level. She is genuine, unpredictable, good-hearted, at times fickle, and well-aware of her flaws, which makes her all the more likable. There are moments where she is vulnerable and other moments where she is strong. Who can’t relate to that? I found myself having shake-my-head moments when Brea knowingly makes mistakes as well as ha-take-that moments when she triumphs.

The characters Brea meets along the way are as equally intriguing and multi-dimensional as Brea, with some you will love to hate, others you will hate to love, and everything in between. While I was rooting for Brea every step of the way, I also couldn’t get enough of Brea’s love interests, especially Kale, the successful, sexy, almost too-good-to-be-true movie producer who is head over heels for her. And add into the mix Brea’s new and old friends, including Kale’s Latina housekeeper, Maya, and Brea’s straightforward roommate, Denise.

Michelle’s first novel is refreshingly honest. With Brea, we see and experience things that most women think but rarely admit. The narration is playful and humorous, though we can easily feel Brea’s conflict and dilemmas at the right moments. The dialogue is enticing yet real, which Michelle uses to bring more depth to her characters than initially meets the eye. Since Book 1 is such a fun read, I can’t wait to see what new adventure Brea will take in Book 2. I think I may like this even more than Sex and the City.

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

Father and Daughter Team Share Devotionals

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Howard-Johnson) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 01:41:00 PST

Title: Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life

Author: Karina Fabian and Deacon Steve Lumbert
Category: Christian, devotionals, spiritualityISBN: 9780982256534Available from: Publisher (Tribute Books)
or Amazon or other online dealersFor More Info: http://whygodmatters.com
Amazon link: http://amzn.to/dI7jbp

Reviewed by Cheryl Malandrinos originally for The Book Connection

For an easy to digest look into how God touches us daily, pick up a copy of Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life by Karina Lumbert Fabian and Deacon Steven Lumbert.

In this short book, authors Fabian and Lumbert invite readers along on a journey to discover through their experiences how God can be seen in our daily lives. From Deacon Steve's story of being a reluctant convert to Fabian's story of how she stopped being a martyr for the trivial, each chapter brings the reader that much closer to seeing how God impacts our lives, as seen through the eyes of two devoted Catholics.

Before I go further with my review, I feel the need to impart a bit of information to my readers. I spent thirty years in the Catholic Church. I was baptized into it, forced to attend Mass unless I was on my death bed, attended a Catholic school for eight years, taught religious education for 10 years and directed an elementary religious education program for 5 years. My decision to leave the Catholic Church was forced by my pastor explaining to me that after all those years, if I decided to marry the Greek Orthodox man I was engaged to, and didn't do it in the Catholic Church, I could no longer practice my faith: accept the sacrament of Holy Communion. To say the Catholic Church and I parted in not a good way, would be an understatement.

Books such as these are of interest to me because I'm always searching for that nugget of faith in God that surpasses the theology and catechism to bring us closer to our Heavenly Father. Why God Matters is definitely one of those books.

Each story included in this short book displays God's work in our lives. They reach beyond the rules and touch the heart. They discuss what it is like to have a relationship with God that allows us to come to Him in our times of need, knowing He will always be there. While books that discuss the Catholic faith often provide readers with dry theology, they don't allow the average person--especially one not familiar with the Catholic Church--a way to understand God and our relationship with him. Why God Matters changes that. It's written by a lay person and a deacon, both devoted to their faith, but in many ways able to express what that type of faith can mean to an individual better than straight theology or dogma.

I must point out a couple of stories that touched my heart. Chapter Five is titled, "Out of the Depths of Despair". Deacon Steve shares his dilemma as a father to be, when he prayed for someone to help him decide on whether to sign papers to allow doctors to perform an emergency cesarean section on his wife. The help God sent came from an unexpected person. Also, Chapter 14, "Influence", in which Fabian shares her husband's conversion to the Catholic faith and their son's decision not to believe. As she explains it, "...I trust in God that he will eventually find his way." Being in the same situation with my son, I understand where she is coming from.

Every chapter includes quotations, a Life Lesson, and a Bible verse. This helps to make this book a nice devotional. The book has also garnered the Catholic Writers Guild Seal of Approval.

While this book is targeted to a Catholic audience, I feel other denominations will gain something from reading this book as well. I know I certainly enjoyed it, and look forward to more collaborations between Fabian and her father.

Author bios:

Deacon Steve Lumbert and Karina Fabian are father and daughter who came to their faith in different ways. Karina was raised in it, while Steve discovered his calling later in life. Steve is a Deacon and parish administrator in Pueblo, CO. Karina is a writer, military wife, and mother of four.

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

An Art BooK: Coloring for Everyone

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Howard-Johnson) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 10:37:29 PST

Title: Joel's GeoJumble Twist & Tumble Coloring Book, No.1
Paperback: 128 pages
Author: Joel David Waldrep
Publisher: Volar Media llc
URL: http://www.geojumble.com
ISBN-10: 0984686002
ISBN-13: 978-0984686001

Reviewed by Mary Robertson originally for Amazon.com

This is an amazing coloring book, packed with challenging geometric abstract designs. Each page is dedicated to one design, printed on one side, so you wont have to make any sacrifices while using markers that may bleed through to the next page. Bright white paper with a smooth texture. All of the designs fit together very nicely too, without there being any repetition. I'm impressed every time I open it, just to look through it and choose my next coloring activity. For me, coloring is a meditative and relaxing process, and this book is perfect for that. Do use sharp colored pencils, and fine point markers. I really like the effect of opaque gel pens on top of markers. Sharpie markers are excellent, but use an extra sheet of paper between designs, just in case you're heavy handed like I am, and tend to color hard. This book is a must have for any coloring enthusiast looking for fresh designs and a challenge.

Mary Robertson is a watercolor artist residing in the desert Southwest. She holds a BFA in Painting and Drawing from the University of New Mexico. Mary's talents range from large scale abstract oil paintings, watercolor fantasy landscapes and more. She maintains an extensive collection of sketch books of ink drawings as an "idea bank" for future works of art. Mary's artwork is on display at the Wooden Cow Gallery, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Examples of original artwork can be seen at www.maryrobertson.us

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

Lois Stern Brings Readers More Beauty Secrets Again

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Howard-Johnson) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 13:03:06 PST

Title: Tick Tock, Stop the Clock
Subtite: Getting Pretty on Your Lunch Hour

Author: Lois W. Stern

URL: WWW.TICKTOCKSTOPTHECLOCK.COM ISBN-10: 0741453592
ISBN-13: 978-0741453594

Reviewed by Jerry Simmons originally for Amazon.com

“Congratulations to Lois W. Stern for following up her fabulous book Sex Lies and Cosmetic Surgery with an equally informative one. Tick Tock Stop the Clock is well written and filled with incredible information from renowned experts in the health and beauty field. This book is for anyone serious about affordable ways to enhance their appearance.”

~ Review Jerry Simmons is an author and executive with The Time Warner Book Group (Vice-president, Director of Field Sales for over 20 years. He is also creator and publisher of Nothing Binding, a community built to: “Inspire, Educate and Unite Writers, Authors and Readers Across the Globe”

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

Reviewer Rates Fantast Novel "Simply Perfect"

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Howard-Johnson) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 01:39:00 PST

Title: Magic, Mensa and Mayhem

Author: Karina Fabian

Category: Fantasy, Humor

ISBN: 978-1-934041-78-9

Available from: Swimming Kangaroo (www.swimmingkangaroo.com )
or Amazon or other online dealers

For More Info: http://www.dragoneyepi.net

Amazon link: http://amzn.to/e34KIT

Reviewed by Shirley Starke originally for Fanstay Novels

This is the most entertaining book I’ve read and re-read in years. The characters are “real” – they make you care – and the plot is full of delightful twists and turns.
An earlier, shorter version of this book appeared as a serial in The Prairie Dawg, newsletter of North Dakota Mensa, and won the Owl, national Mensa’s highest award, for fiction. As editor of The Prairie Dawg, I could hardly wait to read the full novel. I found it even better than the version that won the Owl.

Vern, the dragon private investigator, and his partner, Sister Grace, really grow on you. I’ve found myself wishing they were real – and on my side. You will also meet Coyote, the traditional Native American “Trickster,” in a hilarious form that will leave you wanting more, the Greek Muse Euterpe in a form that will remind us all of someone we’ve met (and hopefully forgotten), and Brunhilde, the Valkyrie of legend, as a bodybuilder and designer of Valkyrie’s Whisper lingerie.

Karina is able to write of dragons, both in this humorous vein and in a serious vein as creatures “created from God’s greatest imaginings,” without the darkness that mars many writers’ images of them. In short, her plot and her characters are simply perfect.
Rating: 5 / 5

Author bio:

Karina Fabian writes award-winning science fiction and fantasy that twist clichés and combines the heavy with the lighthearted. Find all her books at http://fabianspace.com

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First Lady of First Ladies Lauds Frugal Book Promoter for All Authors

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Howard-Johnson) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 01:53:00 PST

The Frugal Book Promoter
Subtitle: How to get nearly free publicity on your own or by partnering with your publisher
ISBN: 9781463743291
Available for Kindle
Amazon paperback: http://budurl.com/FrugalBkPromo
Author's blog: www.ShasringwithWriters.Blogspot.com
Author's Web site: www.howtodoitfrugally.com
Cover design by Chaz DeSimone, www.chazdesimone.com

Reviewed by Feather Schwartz Foster originally for Suite 101

The first lady of first ladies reviewed the new (expanded and updated!) Frugal Book Promoter on Suite 101.

She says, "Written with humor and style, it is also laid out in such a way that it is easy to follow, and easy to understand. Every chapter is filled with insights and how-tos and a whole bunch of where-to-finds!"

Read more at Suite101: The Frugal Book Promoter - A Book Review | Suite101.com http://feather-schwartz-foster.suite101.com/the-frugal-book-promoter---a-book-review-a390639#ixzz1ZB1bQdhC

~ The reviewer, Feather Schwartz Foster, is an independent historian-lecturer, who focuses on the "old" First Ladies - Martha Washington to Mamie Eisenhower, to be specific. She teaches for the Christopher Wren Association, affiliated with the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA. She has written four books: "LADIES: A Conjecture of Personalities," (historical fiction); "Garfield's Train", historical fiction, "T: An Auto-Biography," (children) and most recently, "The First Ladies," (nonfiction).
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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Children's Lit Reviewed by Moira Shepard

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Howard-Johnson) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 12:19:00 PST

Wings - The Journey Home
by Elizabeth & William Hicks
Book Web site: www.wingsthejourneyhome.com
Fiction: Children's
ISBN: 9780615420714

Reviewer: Moira Shepard, Author of "Another Day, Another Miracle"Originally published on Amazon.com
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Title of Review: Unexpectedly touching and inspiring, June 25, 2011

I found "Wings" to be a well-written novelette that will be easy for
youngsters and young adults to read and understand. The authors draw
you in with touches of suspense, warmth and humor that keep you
turning the pages. Once I started reading, I didn't stop until it was
done.

Some of the "lesson" portions of the story seemed a bit obvious; but
then, I've been studying metaphysics for years. The lessons may be new
to younger readers. Even so, the wisdom of "Wings" is undeniable, and
spoke to my heart. I was surprised to find myself shedding tears at
some of the more moving portions of the story.

This could well become a classic along the lines of "The Little
Prince." I agree with the reviewer who found the writing cinematic -
"Wings" definitely has potential as a story for the screen.

Congratulations on a job well done, Elise and William Hicks!

~~~

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

Poignant, Timely Novel from Joplin Independent

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Howard-Johnson) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 12:10:00 PST

CHAIN GANG ELEMENTARY

A Novel by Jonathan Grant
Thornbriar Press
ISBN 978-0-9834921-0-8
Genre: Contemporary Fiction/Literature
Book Web site: www.chaingangelemetnary.com

Permission granted to reprint from the Joplin Independent
Reviewer’s rating: A

When Fact and Fiction Tell the Whole Story …

By Jack L. Kennedy (former president, Education Writers Association)

Joplin Independent

Try wrapping teaching, testing, tutoring, sex, attempted murder, egos, child abuse and discrimination into one book. At times, Chain Gang Elementary (Thornbriar Press) does read like an improbable, overdone soap opera. But it is not often that a born newspaperman turns out a fiction piece that becomes a searing commentary on education’s strengths and failings, while throwing in an extramarital affair and other inducements. Chain Gang is a well-crafted depiction of hero Richard’s attempt to keep the local school going and its parent organization alive while combating bad teaching, obtuse administration, racism and other issues that might have been torn from the headlines today.

Author Jonathan Grant has his roots usually in non-fiction newspapering. He served as a school parent association president, and with his dad, wrote the acclaimed book The Way it Was in the South: The Black Experience in Georgia. Coincidence? Others have called Chain Gang autobiographical; Grant claims it is not.

The human condition often takes a beating in the book. Good teachers and administrators seem scarce as the book’s protagonist and father, Richard, agrees to become head of the Malliford Elementary parent organization. It is not officially a national parent/teacher association unit. The national group dropped it when a previous treasurer ran off with the treasury and other hanky-panky took place.

Richard’s efforts to tutor non-Caucasian students new to the school, start teacher in-service training or replace an art teacher sound like current themes chronicled in Education Week or some other pedagogical publication. Through all of the hassles and hurdles, however, some good teachers remain, like Mrs. Little, who cares for kids in and out of her class. Yes, skeptics, such souls do exist.

Mrs. Little, Richard and others fight for fairness, an end to intolerance and obscurity whether for the person who is the white son of the parent organization president or talented Antonio from “those apartments” just redistricted into Malliford Elementary. There is hope in the book for a rebirth of common sense and better communication in many ways—not bad goals for anyone any time.

The book flows well, with often sharp word choices, crisp scene-setting, rhythm and humor. Although at times a bit overdone for dramatic effect (after all, it is fiction), Chain Gang does repeatedly emphasize the importance of individual responsibility and caring and parents working with, not just against, educators. It criticizes education rendered through policy, prescription and one-size-fits-all mentality.

Revealing the ending or even specific plot twists would spoil the reader’s fun. Those who have written education columns for newspapers, survivors of parent/teacher organizations as well as many others will find that Grant has done an exceptional job of weaving educational fact and enticing fiction together. For that, he deserves an “A.”

For more information about the author go to his blog here.

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

Reviewer Loves Novel About Claude Debussy

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Howard-Johnson) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 12:00:27 PST

Title: Claire De Lune

Author: Pierre la Mure
Genre: biography

Reviewed by Aakanksha Singh originally for http://www.bookreivewsgalore.wordpress.com

A La Debussy!

It may not be one of the greatest books, maybe out of print and may not even be about the best musician on the planet(though for some he definitely is!), but nonetheless, it is one marvellous novel that must be read.

: Taken from goodreads.com

'Clair De Lune' written by Pierre La Mure is a biography of France's best musician and composer, Claude Debussy. Before you stop reading the review further because the word 'biography' has put you off, I must tell you that the biography is very much a novel, a story of his life rather than a collection of boring essays of Debussy's life by other people.It is written beautifully tracing Debussy's life from his birth to his eventual/sad death. La Mure wrote about Debussy's life like a intricate story so much so that the reader is one with Debussy in his travails and success.

There is not much in the sense of a plot in the novel which is quite obvious as Pierre is writing about a true, famous French musician and not a fictional character. Yet I will give you a short summary. The book starts with his aunt and her reflection of her motherly love for Debussy. She recalls his birth and how she convinced his parents to let him stay with him in Paris. His aunt recognized his talent and arranged piano lessons for him. His musical talent got him admission in the Paris Conservatoire. He even won the Prix De Rome. However, because of the difficult and experimental nature of his music, Debussy wasn't able to impress many composers who dismissed his work as difficult to play. Debussy therefore continued to struggle and remain in poverty partly because of this and partly because he did not grab opportunities when he saw them and was not business minded. It was only after his opera's performance,'Pelleas et Mesilande', that Debussy tasted success and his music was appreciated. He was finally able to uplift himself from his crushing poverty. He died in 1918 in the middle of World War I due to cancer. Mixed with his musical life is his very colourful love life. He had affairs with several women which is greatly described in the book.

How much is truth and how much is dramatization in this biography I cannot judge. However, I am guessing that the love affairs that have been focused and etched out so vividly have definite touches of fiction, probably given to increase the reader's curiosity and make them want to buy his novel. And that is one of the negative points in the book. It tends to focus more on his turbulent affairs than his music. He comes across as a womanizer than as a composer because of this. The book does mention that music was his first love but this love is never demonstrated elaborately. His music is relegated to the margins quite often which is quite disappointing. (Though it is quite fun reading pages and pages of love making he had with his love interests!) Another very disappointing aspect is that the novel exalts Debussy, creates a perfectness in him that is impossible in any individual, justifies all his actions and portrays him as a victim(particularly when it comes to his mean actions with his love interests).

Besides all these drawbacks, 'Clair De Lune' is a breathtaking work, a beautifully crafted biography that ignites the life and times of the great misfit musician. It pulls the reader into the bygone latter years of the 19th century, paints a stunning, opulent, luxurious,enchanting picture of France and Paris and other European places that Debussy visits. The emotional ups and downs, the tempestuous love affairs, the harrowing poverty, the fantastical music moments and the astonishing success seep into the reader making it difficult to tear oneself away from the book's magic and come back to the dreary,music-less 21st century world!

'Clair De Lune' is a novel that is not to be missed. One does not need to be a music expert to read Claude Debussy's life story. The book never throws a lot of confusing music jargon that laypeople won't understand. One can however, fall in love with his music because of this novel and that won't be futile as his music is pretty darn good with its melting, lilting, dreamy qualities. It is sure to be a heart stirring experience!

Do check out this book and his wonderful music. They are both worth the time and money!

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

Christian Romance E-book Praised

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Howard-Johnson) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 01:31:00 PST

Last Resort
Genre: Novel: Christian Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Desert Breeze Publishing, Inc.
Author's blog: http://barbarajrobinson.blogspot.com
E-book

Reviewed by Nike Chillemi originally for Amazon

Five-Star Review

Just when you think it's another church supper, the hero makes his entrance...and what an entrance it is. He crashes in and winds up with strawberry shortcake all over him. Then there's the guy with the gun. Creepy. He turns out to be a stalker who relishes the hunt. Scary.

Faith Roussell is determined not to fall in love again, not after her ex-fiancé cheated on her. But Matt Allen has eyes that are like magnets, drawing her in. The action goes from Bridal Wreath, the Florida Keys and finally to Key West and then back again and as the storyline progresses, the stakes keep getting higher. The continual playing on the words "last resort" intrigued me, as that's one of the monikers for Key West. Also, near the end, the villain says he escalated his actions as a last resort.

This is a novel where the reader can not only connect with the heroine and hero, as would be expected, but there's also connection with the villain. This is a unique take on how to present a villain and an inventive one.

~Learn more about the author at http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-184/B-J-Robinson-Last/Detail.bok and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juwF0dLLX6M&feature=youtu.be
Buy the book at http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/last-resort-b-j-robinson/1030124288?ean=2940012838063&itm=1&usri=last%2Bresort%2Bb%2Bj%2Brobinson,

http://www.amazon.com/Last-Resort-ebook/dp/B005CQ7JQK/

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

How-To for Authors Reviewed by Novelist Sarah Pinneo

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Howard-Johnson) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 01:31:00 PST

Review: The Frugal Book Promoter, 2nd Edtion
Subtitle: How to get nearly free publicity on your own or by partnering with your publisher
By Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Winner USA Book News Best Business Book in Publishing/Writers Category
Available for Kindle, http://budurl.com/FrugalBkProKindle
Paperback, http://budurl.com/FrugalBkPromo

Reviewed by Sarah Pinneo

I knew I was in strong hands even before I'd opened the mailer containing The Frugal Book Promoter by Carolyn Howard-Johnson. Affixed to the mailing envelope was a very large address label which contained tiny thumbnail images of several of Howard-Johnson's books. As the clever label showcase suggests, The Frugal Book Promoter's author is very thorough.

Weighing in at 416 pages, the book is meant to be a broad survey of twenty-first century book promotion opportunities, covering both fiction and non-fiction. The ideal reader is a motivated author who has already learned a bit about the subject, who could yet benefit from a good primer. For example, if you've read enough to know that you may need a "media release" and "media kit," this is the book which will tell you precisely how--and why--to write one. The tone of the book is that of a knowledgeable aunt who has been around the block frequently enough to have thought the journey through. Dozens of promotion ideas covered: retail opportunities, conferences, media interviews, awards.

The first part of The Frugal Book Promoter helps an author frame her thinking around what book promotion can and cannot accomplish. I particularly enjoyed the short chapter about whether or not to hire a publicist, and also the chapter on being interviewed, and how to be a good radio/TV guest. Because the book tackles so many subjects at once, however, every chapter is short. This book is the #101 survey course, and I sometimes found myself wanting to know more advanced details before I was swept on to the next topic.

If you'd like to peruse the universe of book promotion ideas, this book is for you.

Disclosure: I received a copy of The Frugal Book Promoter when I expressed the desire to review it. You can find more about Ms. Howard-Johnson at www.howtodoitfrugally.com. The book is $17.95 in paperback on Amazon or $9.95 as an e-book.

~Sarah Pinneo is the author of Julia's Child, a novel. She blogs at Blurb is a Verb here on Blogspot.
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Self-Publishing Secrets from Penny Sansevieri

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Howard-Johnson) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 01:53:00 PST

Get Published Today

Subtitle: An Insider’s Guide to Publishing Success

By Penny C. Sansevieri

Publisher: Wheatmark 2011

ISBN: 9781604945591

Nonfiction/ (Writing/Publishing)

Contact Reviewer: hojonews@aol.com

Let the Expert Make an Expert of You

Marketing Guru Shares Publishing Secrets

Reviewed by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, award-winning author of This Is the Place and Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered, Tracings, a chapbook of poetry and the How To Do It Frugally Series of books for writers and retailers.

Many of my consulting clients first come to me because they’ve self-published or used a partner publisher and run into some serious mistakes (and misunderstandings) along the way. When Dan Poynter endorsed the second edition of my Frugal Book Promoter (http://budurl.com/FrugalBkPromo) he noted that “The most expensive parts of book promotion are the mistakes.” That’s true of publishing a book, too.

In Get Published Today, Penny C. Sansevieri has written a definitive book on self-publishing. One glance at the Contents (a reliable resource for being reasonably sure a book will give us the information we need), tells us this book will do the job for any author who has chosen the self-publishing route because they don’t want to bide their time during the long and emotionally strenuous agent/traditional publishing route. Or they know that self-publishing is the best way to make more money for their particular title.

Sansevieri covers the basics in the first section, “Let’s Get Published.” In fact she even covers the different publishing models that will help a writer make the best choice. She doesn’t neglect the publishing process, discussions of where you can get help and what you’re likely to need help with.

The third section works at convincing authors that marketing is indeed part of publishing—an essential part. Thank heaven for that! After the thorough job she does of helping a writer bring their book to market, what would be the point of letting it languish!

I am a big proponent of learning by reading. Any author considering the self-publishing route should have a go at this book. The information in it will stand them in good stead no matter what publishing decisions they finally make. The more any writer knows about the publishing world, the less chance there is of having unrealistic expectations, the less chance of making those expensive mistakes.

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Carolyn Howard-Johnson’s first novel, This is the Place, has won eight awards. Her book of creative nonfiction Harkening, won three. A UCLA Writers' Program instructor, she also is the author of another book essential for writers, USA Book News' Best Professional Book , The Frugal Book Promoter: How to get nearly free publicity on your own or partnering with your publisher to get nearly free publicity on your own or by partnering with your publisher (http://budurl.com/FrugalBkPromo). The second in the HowToDoItFrugally series, The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success (also a multi award-winner) covers writing successful query letters and includes helpful hints from twenty of the nation's top agents. Purchase it at Amazon, http://budurl.com/TheFrugalEditor. Learn more at her Web site http://HowToDoItFrugally.com.

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

Political Thriller Important Study in Culture

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Howard-Johnson) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 01:22:01 PST

Title: The HomeGrown: Narrative of a conversion
Author: Harry Deshpande
Author's Website: www.thehomegrown.info
Genre: Political thriller
ISBN: 1460998316

When recent college graduate Anwar, a Muslim born in Denmark, marries Nahgma, an Indian Muslim, her prosperous father is keen to celebrate the union by treating them to a honeymoon in Hawaii. However, Anwar's father has a markedly different idea in mind to launch their marriage: a visit to the family homeland of Pakistan to acquaint the new bride with Pashtun culture. Reluctantly agreeing, Anwar finds himself in the province of Quetta, and in the forbidding company of Hamid, a member of his extended family who has a palpable madness in his eyes.

Regrettably, this meeting will forever alter Anwar's worldview. When he takes up Hamid's offer to visit a site of American attack as proof that the United States is targeting innocents, Anwar lands in the middle of a skirmish between American Special Forces and the jihadist elements. From there, one traumatic event after another calls into question Anwar's accepted Danish mores, his relationship with his new bride, and his comprehension of Denmark's complicity to Pakistani atrocities at the hands of Americans.

From there, rigorous Jihadist brainwashing quickly transforms a benign Western accountant into an avowed Muslim with a new wife, for whom he has a passion that even surprises him. With that love rendered asunder, Anwar now has the fire to enact the unimaginable, right in his once-beloved Denmark.

With each turn, The Homegrown charts the grave and all-too-common trajectory from world citizen to public enemy, casting crucial light on why terrorists succeed with their message of hatred, and why the United States may be losing in the war of propaganda.

The story is told through Anwar's eyes; fundamentally, it is the story of the definition, breaking, and re-making of his character. Thus he moves from being a more or less vague, dissatisfied, vacillating, and anonymous character to an equally anonymous character, albeit re-made and somewhat hardened in the mold of a terrorist. The irony at the heart of the story is that, in the end, Anwar is no more his own man than he was at the outset, but his closely mentored suffering, combined with his exposure to an exotic and seductive religiosity that appeals to his weak and sentimental nature, makes him an ideal weapon in the hands of higher-ups who, like officers of every stripe, nationality, and era remain safely behind the lines.

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

Readers Favorite Gives Five Stars to Historical Suspense Novel

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Howard-Johnson) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 01:40:00 PST

Lost Treasure of the Fourth ReichBy Barrett Clisby
Web site: www.LostTreasureoftheFourthReich.com
Historical Suspense Novel

Published by Island Girl Publications, LLC
ISBN 978-0-578-08749-8
E-book ISBN 978-1-4507-8377-4

Reviewed by Stephanie D. for Readers Favorite (www.readersfavorite.com)

5 Star Rating by Readers Favorite

The Lost Treasure of the Fourth Reich" by Barrett J Clisby describes itself as ‘an historically based suspense novel’. But what exactly does that mean? It means the author has used historical events as a base from which to weave a fictional, highly imaginative and exciting story.

Brad Calder, the book’s hero, uncovers the sunk German submarine U-842, which went down at Hogsty Reef carrying looted treasure en route from Nazi Germany to safe keeping in Argentina during the Second World War. It was also transporting the infamous ‘Red Leather Book’, which listed the names of all the people in Britain and America who had collaborated with the Nazis. There is plenty of action in this book as Brad and his colleagues Sally, Gail and Greg overcome horrific ordeals. It seems everyone wants what they recover from the U-842. Their pursuers include pirates, Nazi sympathizers and ...[others]

The author has obviously done a phenomenal amount of research. His style is detailed and methodical. This might sound slow-going, but it isn’t. Once the author has set the scene in the early chapters, then there’s no stopping it. There is also some jumping around between the present day and the past, which works very well in building up the complexity of the events within this book. It comes as no surprise to learn that this Renaissance Man of a writer is a boat captain and sailing instructor, aviator, diver and amateur treasure hunter. His experience in these skilled fields shines through in the book, lending authenticity and interest.

And the best news of all is that this book is the first in a trilogy!
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BookPleasures Editor Reviews Gloria Galloway's Mystery

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Howard-Johnson) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 01:58:00 PST

Title: Dead By My Side

Author: Gloria Galloway
Buy on Amazon
ISBN: 978-1456579104
Genre: Mystery
Rating: Five Stars

Reviewed by Norm Goldman originally for Amazon and BookPleasures.com

Reviewer's Link: http://www.bookpleasures.com/websitepublisher/

As the debut novel in Gloria Galloway's Dead By My Side opens, Detective Anthony (Tony) Camarelli of the Sacramento Sheriff's Department along with his attractive partner, Julia (Jules) Reynolds are assigned to watch a snitch in the quiet small river town of Hood with a population of less than three hundred. Both didn't expect much action and even planned to alternate taking naps. At two in the morning they decide to call it a night and to pick up coffee and cinnamon buns at their favorite haunt, Little Italy Bakery. While Julia goes into the bakery without her bullet-proof vest, Tony hears a shotgun blast and sees Julia splayed against the double-glass-door entry. Tony kills the gunman, however, unfortunately, Julia never makes it. Fast forward a week later, Tony, who is still grief-stricken with the loss of the woman he loved and worked alongside for twelve years, is astonished and jolted when Julia reappears as a ghost and carries on her old habit of bugging him with her verbal diarrhea, as she did when she was alive.

Tony returns to work and his first assignment involves the horrifically brutal murder of Janice Hoffman, a mother of twin baby girls who is found bludgeoned to death in her bed. Initially, it looks like a robbery gone bad, however, on closer scrutiny, we learn that the victim's husband is a notorious philanderer who is one of the biggest used car dealers in Sacramento. Although there were no leads in the investigation of the murder of Mrs. Hoffman, incertitude crops up when, shortly after her death, Mr. Hoffman marries the nanny of his two children, Suzan Shelby. Apparently, prior to working as a nanny, Suzan worked as a receptionist at one of Mr. Hoffman's dealerships. We now ask ourselves was it really a robbery gone bad, a staged robbery or did Mr. Hoffman waste his wife. While the probe continues, Julia resolves to offer a helping hand to Tony and together they embark on a quest in getting to the bottom of the murder of Mrs. Hoffman.

As the investigation of the murder of Mrs. Hoffman moves along, another sinister homicide occurs when the body of a young white female in her early twenties is found hideously murdered by a “monster from someone's worst nightmare.” Gathering some of the best law enforcement minds in the business, the authorities including the FBI are faced with little to go on as there are very few clues to crack open the cases. Astonishingly, this murder is in turn followed by a series of others where, as was the case with the young white female, the victims are found with orthopedic stockings on their legs. It would appear that we are now confronted with a serial killer who doesn't seem to fit into any criminal profile and who enjoys taunting the local police enforcement as well as the FBI.

Galloway has certainly succeeded in crafting a haunting and chilling debut with a heady mix of suspense, touching characters, and even at times quirky humor with the bantering between Tony and Julia. Succinctly, what we have here is a thoroughly upsetting yarn that firmly exposes the workings of a crazed mind in all of its complexity while retaining the page-turning pleasures of a genuine thriller with a paranormal twist. Moreover, her masterstroke is that she deftly focuses attention on what is about to happen rather than harping on the past-something indispensable to advancing the story and increasing the reader's curiosity. Just as the law enforcement officers are clueless, so too are her readers, which commit them to finding out what happens next and leaving them constantly tense on the edge of their seats.

Another plus is the straightforward style that moves the story along at the quick pace essential to a good thriller. It is also apparent that Galloway has done her homework, as I detected from reading about her on the last page that states that the novel came together after extensive research of police procedure, crime scene investigation and studies of the criminal mind. As further mentioned, she collaborated with experts in the field, including a crime scene investigator and a former deputy coroner of the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department.

~Reviewer Norm Goldman, BA, LL.L, is the publisher and editor of BookPleasures.com.

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

Compelling Literary Novel Given Five Stars

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Howard-Johnson) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 01:42:00 PST

Two Kinds of Color
Author: Deborah Kennedy
Author’s Website: www.twokindsofcolor.com
Genre: Fiction/Literary/Crime
ISBN: 9781449988012
Amazon: B0031TZPHO

Reviewed by Rusty Beans originally for Amazon

Five-Star Review

Two Kinds of Color, fiction, is an exceptionally beautifully written novel. The characters are compelling and believable and the message of love and sacrifice and true friendship is touching and unforgettable. I savored this book. It is not a book to be skimmed through but read thoughtfully and carefully. The ability of Ms. Kennedy to present her story with such insight and heart-felt emotion is remarkable. I read a great many books and, like most of us, have my favorite authors. I look forward to reading any other novel my newest favorite author writes. Thank-you Ms. Kennedy, I enjoyed Two Kinds of Color very much.

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

Book Promotion How-To Lauded by Editor of Midwest Review

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Howard-Johnson) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 01:27:00 PST

The Frugal Book Promoter, second edition
Carolyn Howard-Johnson
HowToDoItFrugally Publishing
Author’s Web site: www.carolynhoward-johnson.com
ISBN: 9781463743291

Paperback $17.95
Paperback on Amazon
Kindle Edition

Reviewed by Jim Cox, editor of The Midwest Review

Originally for The Midwest Review and Newsletter

Carolyn Howard-Johnson draws upon her many years of experience and expertise as a professional book publicist and marketing specialist to author "The Frugal Book Promoter". The 416-page compendium of commentary, advice, tips, tricks and 'real world' techniques on how to authors can obtain nearly free publicity on your own or by partnering with their publishers will prove to be an invaluable, practical, profitable, and thoroughly 'user friendly' instructional reference.

It should be noted that the Midwest Book Review is cited four times.

Of special note in this newly expanded and completely updated second edition are the sample letters query letters, media releases, blog entries, trade show invitations, phone pitch scripts, email auto-signatures, and tip sheets. Simply stated, "The Frugal Book Promoter" is the single most valuable addition any aspiring author or novice small press publishers can add to their personal and professional book marketing reference shelves -- and has a great deal of enduring value for even the more experienced publisher marketing directors and publicists.

Caffeinated Book Reviewer Had Five Cups of Coffee Over This One!

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Howard-Johnson) — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 01:03:00 PST

The Secret of Lies

By Barbara Forte Abate

Author's Web site: http://www.barbaraforteabate.com

Genre: Mainstream Literary Fiction

ISBN: 978-160844-418-2

Reviewed by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer

The Secret of Lies, by Barbara Forte Abate

Propelled by an insurmountable sense of desperation, Stevie Burke is recklessly abandoning home, husband, and outwardly contented life under cover of night; at last resigned to defeat in her long battle against the tortured memories of her past. Days later, lost and floundering in a dreary motel room without plan or destination, it is a long ago song playing on the radio that gently tugs Stevie back through the dust of remembrance. 1957 - The last summer spent at the ancient house overlooking the North Atlantic. A season which had unfolded with abundant promise, but then spiraled horribly out of control - torn apart by a shattering tragedy that remains splintered in fragments upon her soul. And it is only now, when Stevie at last lifts her eyes to stare deep into the heart of her long sequestered memories, that the long held secrets of past and future are at last unveiled. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

The Secret of Lies by Barbara Forte Abate has to be one of the best novels I have ever had the pleasure to read. I was shocked to learn this is Abate’s first published work. Her writing style brings to mind such authors as Harper Lee and John Steinbeck. She writes with such detail, bringing images to life with the stroke of her pen. In her debut novel, she delivers a touching tale about, love, innocence, betrayal, loss and lies.

Secret of Lies reflects back on events that occurred off the Atlantic coast during the summer of 1957. The story unfolds through the voice of protagonist Stevie Burke. When the tale begins, Stevie is sneaking out of her home and leaving her husband. She is driving aimlessly and ends up in a dark musty hotel room three days later. We can tell that she is deeply troubled by something. It is here, as an Elvis song plays on the radio, that she reflects back on the summers, she and her sister spent at the shore home of their Aunt Smyrna and Uncle Cal.

Abate writes with a paint brush, bringing the seaside, storms, and fields to life. I could feel the wind and smell the sea air. She has a gift for beautifully expressing the emotions and feelings of a first kiss, a betrayal and loss. She unfolds the tale allowing the reader to put the pieces together before Stevie, giving us a sense of foreboding. While the subject matter is dark, Abate also shows us the light. We experience the joy of first love, childhood, and innocence.

Abates creates characters that you will love, pity and loathe. The character of Stevie is beautifully portrayed and you cannot help but like her. The way in which Abate shows the interaction between Stevie and her sister Eleanor reminded me of my own childhood. After the tragedy of 1957, we see firsthand how this affects Stevie. She struggles with the secrets and her memories. Years later,she meets Ash Waterman; through him she may finally find peace and happiness. I found myself rooting for this young man as he struggles to understand Stevie. The romance that develops between them is sweet, witty and romantic.

The story, the circumstances, and the impact it has on the characters is believable and touching. The events that occurred in the summer of '57 could have happened to any family. The ending is not wrapped up in a pretty little bow, but instead allows the reader to determine the outcome. While some may not like it, I feel it was appropriate. After all, life and family drama, do not come in neat little boxes.

I highly recommend this novel to everyone, but particularly those who enjoy books based on family, tragedy and human emotion. This would make a wonderful book club read. I have added Barbara Forte Abate to my list of must read authors and look forward to her next book.

I want to thank the author for providing this ARC, in exchange for my unbiased review.

I gave this book 5 coffee cups out of 5.

Buy here: B&N or here: Amazon

Author's website: Barbara Forte Abate

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Learn more about the author Barbara Forte Abate:

Award Winning Author: The Secret of Lies
http://www.barbaraforteabate.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaCPx-tKeW0&feature=channel http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Secret-of-Lies-Novel/195421757151252

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