Reviews – Page 67 – Rosepoint Publishing

Choices and Illusions – Review

Choices and Illusions by Eldon Taylor — **Sept 2014 Cover**

Choices and Illusions-How Did I Get Where I am, and How Do I Get Where I Want to Be? By Eldon Taylor

Genre: Currently #1367 in Best Sellers Ranking for Books, Religion & Spirituality, New Age & Spirituality, New Thought (#5004 in Books, Self-Help, Motivational, and #7925 in Books, Self-Help, Personal Transformation)

Publisher: Hay House, Inc.

Publication Date: Revised Edition: September 2014

Submitted by author’s publicist for review

Choices and Illusions-How Did I Get Where I am, and How Do I Get Where I Want to Be?

From the hype promoted for “Choices and Illusions-How Did I Get Where I Am, and How Do I Get Where I Want to Be?” I guess I expected some innovative breakthrough, or influential psychological studies that would drive home a solution, albeit not without real conscious or subconscious work on the behalf of the reader.

This entire book, however, could basically be summed up in two words: “Own it.” Taking responsibility for yourself is a strong mantra repeated throughout, and probably learned by most who delved into self-help books beginning 20 years ago. It’s a close companion to “forgive and forget”, and ergo always more difficult that those simple words would divine. It begins with the basic tenet–we have all been imprinted–and I’ll buy that. Whether or not by accident or design, that imprint creates the composite of who we are. Continue reading “Choices and Illusions – Review”

Burke’s War – Review

Burke’s War by William F. Brown

Genre: Currently #27 in Kindle Store, Prime Reading, Literature & Fiction, Action and Adventure

Publisher: William F Brown

Publication Date: February 2015

Submitted by author for review

Burke’s War by William F Brown

Having read and enjoyed Winner Lose All by William F. Brown, I was certainly prepared to enjoy Burke’s War. I really was, but first…

It was necessary to suspend disbelief to think that a passenger on a jet landing into O’Hare in Chicago could not only see a murder taking place on the roof of a three-story building, but look into and lock eyes with both the murderer and the victim. (Shaking my head–can’t buy the initial premise.)

The plot has the protagonist Bob Burke returning from Washington DC after a failed attempt to renew an important contract for his telecommunications company. After he witnesses and reports the murder, he discovers local police are less than interested and extremely skeptical of his being capable of seeing such an event from that vantage point. The one officer who believes his account may be able to lend some help, but otherwise Burke is at a loss to decipher those who are corrupt from those he can trust. Continue reading “Burke’s War – Review”

Wired Rogue by Toby Neal – Review

Wired Rogue by Toby Neal

Genre: Currently #4603 in Best Sellers Rank for Literature & Fiction, Action & Adventure, Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Crime

Publisher: Tony Neal

Publication Date: November 2016

Submitted by author for review

Wired Rogue by Toby Neal – Great cover, conveys location

Once again, Toby Neal has written a book with so much character and charisma in her multi-dimensional protagonist, exotic Sophie Ang, you’ll feel intimidated when she launches into explosive action in Wired Rogue. I’ve written before regarding the author Toby Neal and have long enjoyed her Lei Crime Series. The character of Sophie Ang was introduced in that series, along with friends Marcella and Marcus.

While book 2 of the Paradise Crime series could be a standalone, you might want to read book 1 first to gain some insight and back story into Sophie’s character and the ongoing battle regarding her program DAVID secreted within the FBI with whom she’s worked computer guru for five years. Continue reading “Wired Rogue by Toby Neal – Review”

Goodreads Choice Awards 2016

The winners of the 2016 Goodreads Choice Awards have been published on the Goodreads website. These are the only major book awards decided by the readers themselves and come through literally millions of votes; 3,562,702 to be exact. Who says people don’t read anymore?

Voting was scheduled in three rounds beginning November 1st and ending November 27th and included 20 categories from Fiction and Mystery/Thriller to Non-Fiction and YA Fantasy. Of all nominees, there were 237,844 votes total. In the Fiction category, the winner with 30,154 votes went to Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriaty. Truly Madly Guilty was also listed on Amazon in the top 20 overall customer favorites, where additional favorites listed were such authors as J. K. Rowling, Nora Roberts, John Grisham, Bill O’Reilly, and Michael Connelly. And in the best mystery and thriller category, Stephen King for End of Watch with 42,382 votes. How is that even fair?

Also found in the top 20 in both the Goodreads Fiction category as well as the same category on Amazon was The Nest by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeny with 24,848 votes on Goodreads and The Nix by Nathan Hill with 3,645 votes, also an Amazon editor best pick of the top 20. Additionally, Nathan Hill scored again for Best Debut Goodreads Author. And it doesn’t stop there. Continue reading “Goodreads Choice Awards 2016”

Mortom by Erik Therme-Review

Mortom by Erik Therme

Genre: Currently #1555 on Best Seller’s Rank for Kindle eBooks, Mystery Thriller & Suspense

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Publication Date: April 2015

Submitted by author for review

Mortom by Erik Therme – Cover hints at suspense

Maybe it was the discovery of the odiferous rat found under the refrigerator when the protagonist, Andy Crowl and his sister Kate, tentatively set foot in the house he has just inherited, but this one grabbed me from the beginning. The rat had a key wrapped in a note shoved into his rotting jaws. His unfortunate cousin, Craig Moore, had passed and left his entire estate, consisting of this old house and an empty bank account to Andy despite the lack of recent familial connection.

What he remembers of his cousin was the puzzles in which they both shared an interest. Craig wasn’t just good with puzzles, it was the one activity where he could actually best Andy. It doesn’t take Andy long to realize, however, this puzzle is a deadly one, but one that could also reap him some major bucks if successful–and heaven knows (given his current circumstance) he needs them! Unfortunately, the puzzle comes with a timeline. Continue reading “Mortom by Erik Therme-Review”

Serenity by Craig A Hart – Review

Serenity by Craig A. Hart

Genre: Currently #11672 in Best Sellers Rank for Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Crime

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Publication Date: October, 2016

Submitted by author for review

Serenity by Craig A Hart – Interesting cover-may not convey subject

Serenity – The Shelby Alexander Thriller Series by Craig A Hart actually uses a senior protagonist, albeit one who, as a former boxer, still has a somewhat athletic body with the strength and experience to handle most of what comes his way.

Shelby Alexander is known in the small Michigan town of Serenity as a “fixer,” and takes on the murder of a young woman left to die in his arms on his property. She comes from a family of less than stellar reputation, and the patriarch has hired him for the task of discovering who and why. Continue reading “Serenity by Craig A Hart – Review”

A Bit of Earth – Review

A Bit of Earth by Wendy Crisp Lestina

Genre: Currently #26694 on Best Sellers Rank for Biographies & Memoirs

Publisher: Lychgate Press

Publication Date: October, 2016

Submitted by author for review

A Bit of Earth by Wendy Crisp Lestina

Maybe because I’m not, I love stories of strong, independent women. In particular, the ’60s were a time of major upheaval in the standard structure of the home with more women than ever grabbing the car keys and **gasp** heading to work.

Giddy from escaping total nuclear annihilation in the ’50s, the ’60s went the extreme from flower children to the assassinations of our leaders. Increasingly, women no longer had a mandate to stay home, produce babies, cook, clean, and “stand by their men.” And like a number of social activists and feminists, the author discovered she too had to have more than diapers and a garden.

The memoir of Wendy Crisp Lestina, “A Bit of Earth,” is composed of folksy vignettes, some of which originated as columns written through the years, and tells the story of a remarkable list of accomplishments. There are a few times the chronicle lapses into a back-story; something that perhaps is meant to explain the next. This is a woman of intelligence with places to go, people to meet, things to do, and the powerful influence to do it. Continue reading “A Bit of Earth – Review”

The Old Man and the Princess-Review

The Old Man and the Princess

Genre: Currently #2555 in Best Sellers Rank for Kindle eBooks, Literature & Fiction, Action & Adventure, Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

Publisher: Paul Thomas Publishing

Publication Date: September, 2016

Submitted by author for review

The Old Man and the Princess by Sean-Paul Thomas – Cover is great and almost tells the story.

“The Old Man and the Princess,” from the mind of Sean-Paul Thomas will definitely grab you from the beginning. You may think you can second-guess where this is going, but you won’t. Yeah, I know you’ve heard that before, but Sean-Paul apparently thinks out of the box and his plot is full of intrigue and plot twists.

Pegged as a mystery, thriller, and suspense, this novel has that and more; how about tension and apprehension? I love how that dark sense of Irish humor weaves in and out of the dialogue, a patter so palpable, there are snicker-filled moments–or depending on your own sense of humor, LOL opportunities. Continue reading “The Old Man and the Princess-Review”