Reader Views

Traces of Bliss

Article first published as Book Review: Traces of Bliss by Cecilia Velastegui on Blogcritics.

When Claire, a personal massage therapist, who devotedly caters to the seniors in the rich neighborhood of Los Feliz in Los Angeles, changes the oil she uses to a formula suggested by her grandmother, strange things began to happen. All of her clients, elderly and well-off, began to experience extremely vivid memories, really more like flashbacks, of their ancestors from centuries ago. While nobody knew quite what to make of this, and all of the caretakers for those elderly people were quite worried about their charges, Alma Ruiz, their less than reputable neighbor, saw the opportunity to become rich by impersonating a doctor of holistic medicine. Alma’s plan was deviously simple – she would make them believe that she can help them continue re-living those memories by staging sessions of memory retrievals. Such a plan of course required at least one accomplice, and Alma found an ideal one in the rather unscrupulous Soledad, the Filipina caregiver of Dr. Nunez. Everything seemed to be going according to their plans, but Alma was not counting on the ever watchful Octavio, the immensely intelligent and powerful gardener, who used to be a powerful shaman in Ecuador. He remained intent on protecting Claire and her clients, and did so in a very efficient and rather surprising manner.

“Traces of Bliss” by Cecilia Velástegui was quite unlike any other book I’ve ever read. Her ability to seamlessly weave the past and the present together in a fashion that defies description, coupled with a great sense of language and meticulous research, resulted in a story which at times read like historical fiction, bordering on fantasy, and at others was a very insightful view of class and race issues in the contemporary California. Some of the scenes from the past, as well as the ones from Octavio’s childhood, were almost dreamlike, and some of the ones happening in the seedier parts of contemporary Los Angeles or to its seedier characters were downright disturbingly harsh, yet brilliant. The incredible cast of characters was rich and drawn with lots of detail, and each one of them turned out to be more complex than what one would expect of them at a first glance. There is a heady mix of Moorish invasions, Basque Witch trials, duende, prehistoric caves, flamenco dancers and gypsies, cross-dressing military officers fighting for the Spanish crown in the 17th century, mermaids, missing teenagers, Sephardic Jews, poets, shamans, involuntary memories, magic mushrooms, violent husbands, crying babies, impersonators, gigolos, and more... and somehow it all makes sense in the end.

“Traces of Bliss” is a hauntingly beautiful book, which will certainly appeal to readers of intelligent fiction, particularly those who are truly interested in history and not opposed to some novel views. While happiness might not be found easily in this story, it definitely exists, and reminds us time and again what really and truly matters.


Traces of Bliss
Cecilia Velástegui
Libros Publishing (2012)
ISBN 9780983745877
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (12/11)

The Parsifal Pursuit: A Winston Churchill Thriller

Article first published as Book Review:The Parsifal Pursuit: A Winston Churchill Thriller by Michael McMenamin & Patrick McMenamin on Blogcritics.

Father and son writing team, Michael and Patrick McMenamin collaborate in “The Parsifal Pursuit,” a new approach to the genre of historical fiction. This is the second in their series of Winston Churchill Thrillers. Mattie McGary, photo journalist, with the Hearst newspaper empire, and Bourke Cockran Jr., a New York law school professor and former counter intelligence agent, protagonists from the “DeValera Deception,” are found deeply involved on separate assignments in a Grail quest commissioned by Winston Churchill.

The year is 1931. A conspiracy is underway to assassinate Germany’s President Hindenburg. Their assignment is to find and recover a stolen ancient Christian artifact, the Spear of Destiny, which was used to pierce the side of Christ on the cross. Time is of the essence as Hitler and the Kaiser are in a race to recover the Spear for their own personal purposes.

Cochran’s specific assignment is to represent an heiress, victim of Nazi tactics in an extortion and protection racket. Germany is in a state of political struggle. Reactionary industrialists are backing Kaiser Wilhelm II, and racist radicals are promoting the Nazis and Adolf Hitler.

In the background another conflict is taking place in the search for the Spear in the Austrian Alps. Mattie’s life is endangered, as well as her romance with Cockran, when an unscrupulous, handsome guide recuses Mattie and determines to seduce her.

I appreciate the personal insight I gained into science of Eugenics, the dangers of injustice to individuals when government attempts to legislate the practices aimed at improving the genetic composition of its citizens. I gained a new perspective on the political feelings in Europe in the years leading up to World War II.

Michael McMenamin’s careful attention to historical accuracy while interjecting fictional segments into factual circumstances gives credibility to the background for the story. Patrick McMenamin’s creative imagination adds a flavor of excitement, adventure and romance to an important era in world history.

“The Parsifal Pursuit” is informative and entertaining – a new approach to the genre of historical fiction. The story is packed with suspense, adrenaline-producing drama, and fast-moving action right up to an unexpected, over the top, climatic conclusion.


The Parsifal Pursuit: A Winston Churchill Thriller
Michael McMenamin & Patrick McMenamin
Enigma Books (2011)
ISBN 9781936274239
Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views (2/12)

Promised Valley War

Article first published as Book Review: Promised Valley War by Ron Fritsch on Blogcritics.

“Promised Valley War,” the second book by Ron Fritsch in his four-novel Promised Valley fantasy series, is now available. His first book, “Promised Valley Rebellion,” met with both reader and critical acclaim. It garnered, among other accolades, the silver medal in the Historical Fiction category of the Readers Favorites awards competition, and first-place in the Gay & Lesbian & Transgender Fiction category of the 2011 National Indie Excellence Awards. “Promised Valley War” appears capable of receiving the same level of recognition.

Fritsch once again transports the reader to the fictional realm of Promised Valley. It’s an idyllic place inhabited by prehistoric farmers who believe their gods promised them the fertile river valley in return for their good behavior and obedience. Their enemies, the hunters who live in the mountains enclosing the valley, believe their gods gave it to them. While the book ultimately reveals itself to be keenly relevant socially, the reader will immediately note that the story takes place prehistory, prior to the establishment of civilization and societal structure. As a result, conflict and war seem inevitable.

It is the story’s prehistoric setting that provides the basis for the intellectual question which binds the Promised Valley books together: “Could civilization and history, with their countless heaven-sanctioned wars and genocides, have begun differently?” With that as his touchstone, Fritsch thoughtfully and compassionately offers answers through the story and its characters. “Promised Valley War” and the ironic relationship of its two central characters, one a farmer, one a hunter, are charged with Fritsch’s passion and exuberance for  literary, historical and LGBTQ fiction.

In writing this multi-faceted novel, Fritch masterfully layers and blends several literary devices – intellectual twists and turns, enigma, allegory and parable – to create a story rendered in both intricate detail and simple wisdom.  Even through the vivid telling of epic war and death, Fritsch employs both fantasy and genuineness to connect with and uplift the reader.

I have deliberately avoided offering any further synopsis of the story told in “Promised Valley War.” While it’s an adventurous tale on its surface, it is not what it seems to be; it is much more. For me it was a book of revelations. For others it will be what they perceive it to be. For anyone who has never lost their child’s heart and imagination, “Promised Valley War” will compel them to consider all that the book has to say to them. That’s what unforgettable books do.


Promised Valley War
Ron Fritsch
Asymmetric Worlds (2011)
ISBN 9780615567297
Reviewed by Joseph Yurt for Reader Views (2/12)

One Hit Willie: A Classic Rock Novel

Article first published as Book Review: One Hit Willie: A Classic Rock Novel by William Westhoven on Blogcritics.
 

“One-Hit Willie: A Classic Rock Novel” is the debut novel for longtime performing arts and newspaper columnist, William Westhoven. While the author successfully avoids most of the criticism leveled at many “first books” – style consistency, pacing, character development – “One-Hit Willie” is a bit choppy and rough in a few spots. But overall, Westhoven’s feature writing acumen and mastery of his writing craft have resulted in the creation of an appealing and intriguing read. This should be especially so for post-forties, rock/pop music buffs and those interested in the social influences of music during the last half of the century, as well as those drawn to the eternal flame of Las Vegas/organized crime legend and lore.

The story of “One-Hit Willie” takes the reader on a spirited, top-down road trip through five decades of music history. After Westhoven’s intriguing prologue and luscious word portrait of Willie’s mother in Chapter One, you hop in just as a young Willie Taylor is readied by his mother to embark on a successful career as a 1950s, child radio performer. The next stop on the trip is the tale of Willie and his older brother Bobby, The Taylor Brothers, appearing every weekend in their hometown, Las Vegas, at the Full House Casino Regal Lounge! After this almost quaint portrayal of Americana, Westhoven suddenly sends the story barreling down the road like a hotrod Lincoln. What unfolds in the remainder of the book is often unpredictable, unexpected, inexplicable, and on occasion, implausible. I noted that the pacing of the story waned in places, and on a few occasions, I sensed that the author had displaced his new novelist voice with his honed and comfortable columnist voice. But that aside, I found “One-Hit Willie” to always be mesmerizing, fascinating and entertaining.

In the book’s Author Notes, Westhoven readily admits to being a frustrated musician. He never made music, finding his calling instead as a journalist who could adeptly write about a wide range of subjects, but whose passion became covering the performing arts. “So when it came time to focus on a novel, music was the natural target.” Indeed, “…music was my master” he writes, and it compelled him to explore an expansive range of musical genres. His ability to successfully draw deeply from this musical wellspring in creating a content rich, multi-faceted story is what truly distinguishes this book.

William Westhoven’s “One Hit Willie: A Classic Rock Novel” is a truly wonderful enigma of a novel. Westhoven can write, and he knows how to tell a good story. I hope he is working on another one. I would like to read it too. And like Aaron Lowe, one of the central characters in “One Hit Willie” says, “You just never know what’s around the corner. You just never know.”


One Hit Willie: A Classic Rock Novel
William Westhoven
CreateSpace (2011)
ISBN 9781467991964
Reviewed by Joseph Yurt for Reader Views (2/12)

2012: A New Maya Nation Emerges

Article first published as Book Review: 2012: A New Maya Nation Emerges by Edward D. Curry on Blogcritics.

Edward D. Curry’s intuitive nature, vivid imagination, and extensive research are evident in “2012: A New Maya Nation Emerges,” the dramatic climax to the third novel in his Maya adventure series.

Through the use of a short but comprehensive prologue, Curry provides a synopsis of the earlier books in the series: “Temple of the Two Jaguars” and “2012 Maya End Date: A New Beginning.” This synopsis introduces new readers to the series and serves as a reminder to his followers of the main events leading up to the current book in the series, “2012: A New Maya Nation Emerges.”

Representatives from the Mexican government, Mayan leaders, and the Smithsonian Institution convene in Mexico City to consider presentations on the Celestial Awareness Program, the Maya end date projection, the future of Mesoamerica, and the advancement in plate tonic and remote sensing technology, (specifically LiDar and ALSM) for penetrating jungle foliage.

Plans are set in motion for a new Maya culture with a strategy for formation and relocation of the Maya to a newly created town, Nuevo Ciduad, in Guatemala.

A cast of over forty “real-as-life” characters, intricately interacting, add a unique dimension to a masterful character-driven plot which includes intrigue, suspense, adventure, and romance. Curry baits the reader with dialog that includes the promise of action and danger just ahead to build suspense, tension, conflict, and resolution.

Ryan Keshaw’s first person narration, sometimes overtly casual, helps the reader identify and become engaged in his characters. His stimulating dialog also helps move the story forward and establishes important background information. A behind the scenes look into life with his precocious young daughter, Lynn , their new baby son Ryan, his own work with Ryan Keshaw Consulting firm, and his wife Allie’s position as lead archaeologist at the Smithsonian, helps the reader relate to their personal hectic lifestyle, balancing parenting with successful careers.

Chapter titles add a touch of humor and lightness to a subject matter that might otherwise be wholly academic even as a work of fiction. Ryan’s humorous quips and uncanny wit left me quietly guffawing with a lingering smile right on through to the next chapter.

In a narrative beautifully describing the customs and simplicity of a Maya wedding, an emphasis on harmonious interaction with Mother Nature, and glimpses into the sacred book Popol Vuh, the introduction of demons residing in underground caves, psychic talent and crystal balls add another dimension to the range of topics considered in a storyline filled with the unexpected.

Curry’s writing is compelling. Rather than painting a doomsday scenario, he draws a picture of a world on the verge of change as a result of the 2012 Maya end date, which will impact the populace and economy extending beyond Mexico, Guatemala, and United States. This is intense, believable, historical fiction reflecting day-to-day living in a contemporary setting. The reader is transported to the highlands of Guatemala. Graphic descriptions of ancient rituals, rites, and ceremonies add to the colorful history of the Maya.

Curry combines information and insights from the studies of anthropology, Latin American history, ancient religion, mysticism, and astrological forecasting in the fictional account of the Mayan Civilization, its history, culture, art, architecture, symbolism, mythology, superstitions, and contributions to civilization

"2012: A New Maya Nation Emerges” is compelling, scholarly, entertaining creative fiction with a unique twist of wry humor. This is a must read for astrology followers, archeologists, and anthropologists, and just about every one else.


2012: A New Maya Nation Emerges
Edward D. Curry
Merlin & Associates (2012)
ISBN 9780981468433
Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views (2/12)

Finding Faith: A Novel

I think that C. E. Edmonson is trying to show people how Native Americans were treated in the early 1900s. You are shown this from a thirteen-year-old girl’s point of view; her name is Faith. It all takes place during the depression in 1934.

Faith Covington has everything she could ever have dreamed of - loving parents, a huge house, her parents were rich, and she acted like a young lady. All of this is destroyed when America is hit with the worst thing possible - The Depression. When Mr. Covington’s company goes out of business and the banks go bankrupt, Faith’s world is turned upside down.

The only possible solution is for Faith and her mother to go live with their Aunt Eva while her father stays in New York to try and find work. Faith finds Aunt Eva is a Lenape Indian making her part Indian too. She is faced with persecution and racism, things she had never been exposed to. After she and her mother have settled in and she has become accustomed to her aunt’s ways, things start to go bad. When an Indian named Red-Moon has his barn burned down, Faith and everybody else knows things aren’t right. The people are confused and worried and their fears are confirmed when the next day Red-Moon is shot in the head and Paul sees a pickup truck driving away from the scene.

This story is full of adventure and mystery. You also get to know what it would’ve been like for a teenage girl struggling to survive during the depression while experiencing the ups and downs of living in a new community and learning trust with the Lenape people. My opinion would be that this book is recommended for ages 12+ and for both genders.

I found it interesting when I could relate to the plants and animals. When Faith talks about seeing a black head sticking up out of the water I knew it to be a loon or when she talks about sweet berries growing close to the ground I recognized blueberries.

Finally, I personally loved this book. I have always found Historical-Fiction fascinating and “Finding Faith” is the perfect book to read. C. E. Edmonson tells the story and makes you feel like you are there, like you know Faith and Paul and Aunt Eva, and the setting is described with great detail so you can picture it in your mind. You learn about how a rich and spoiled girl turns into a girl who can live off of the forest, can fish, can garden, can make pottery and do so much more. She finally realizes that maybe the depression was supposed to happen; maybe she was meant to come and live in the wilderness and learn the ways of the Lenape. After all, she could never have done anything like that in the busy streets of New York.


Finding Faith: A Novel
C. E. Edmonson
WinePress Publishing (2011)
ISBN 9781414118673
Reviewed by Kristen Keiran (age 13) for Reader Views (2/11)

ELCO

Article first published as Book Review: ELCO: Follow the Men of Love Compan by Leslie Brudvig on Blogcritics.

The book begins in the trenches of war during World War II and introduces you to a motley crew of men in the “L” Company. As you meet each of the characters, some main characters and some not - but all important in the story in their own way - you realize that war is handled differently by different people. We all have our ways to cope with death around us and although the men are at the end of war time, they still have sense of completion; they feel the need to finish the job until they’re told otherwise.

The pranks, wise cracks, and death that surround each character differ depending upon their personalities. One is determined to leave with tons of silver coins confiscated from a “Jap Camp” they raided, certain to become rich with the end of the war. One can find a way to get just about anything you can imagine and the deal is you just pay the price and don’t ask how. The characters are shared in detail with the reader, giving you the opportunity to truly know each one as if you were truly there meeting them. As the war ends though, much like many war buddies, they go about their own way but always seem to keep in touch at some point. These men are no different and decide that they will become a corporation called ELCO, named after their military unit “L Company” and utilize their friendships to create an organization to disperse literally millions of dollars to various charities.

In this book “ELCO,” it’s interesting to follow the lives of some of the men as they move on to civilian life and become everything from a U.S. Senator to a crime lord. You’re led into the boardroom with one of the men who made his fortune from Wall Street to the unscrupulous behind the scenes of one of them who became a Porn King. Not wanting to give away who becomes what in ‘civie’ life, I’ll leave names out but the story is intriguing and touching as well. It’s hard to believe that these same men that kept their hard core exterior during the war realized how important it was to take their benefits in life to help others in the world. You’re touched with their stories, amazed by their paths in life chosen and never left without feeling a tug at your heart that this big burly group of men who made it in the war wanted to honor their company and those from their company that didn’t come home alive by become charitable beyond dreams.

It’s an amazing story that truly takes you from the trenches of battle, hearing the fear in the voices of the same men that later in life strive to be some of the most powerful men in the world. It is heart wrenching, touching and definitely written with such talent that you walk away from the last page yearning for more.

The author’s ability to create characters so true to life and so realistic in war gives you a feeling he speaks from experience and he does. Having been a rifleman in WWII you feel as though, while the book is fiction, the characters are a lot like those he created a bond with himself during the war. It’s amazing that out of war comes such a wonderful thing as the bonds of friendship and determination to do well for so many others. This is a must read book for anyone, but if you’re a not a typical reader of war stories I still strongly suggest this as a great read. While the beginning does focus on the men and their time at war, it’s at the end of the war and you truly bond with each person as an individual. It’s not written in horrid gory fashion and doesn’t disgust you but instead brings you to become a part of “L” Company or “Love” Company as they complete their mission and move on in life. It truly is unlike any war story turned Cinderella story I’ve ever read because of that fact. Most think that they need to be very gruesome, intricate details of the war; but the reality is we know war isn’t pretty and we don’t necessarily need or want those details.

When we read a book like this we know how horrible the war aspect is and, yes, it is touched on by the author but not the focus of the book. The focus is the organization created later when this group of extraordinary men come together to make a difference in the world. “ELCO” is going to bring your mind to a point of realizing that while war is horrible, some people can actually make something beautiful come out of it in their friendships and their determination that continues from the battlefield to the job back home.


ELCO
Leslie Brudvig
Outskirts Press (2011)
ISBN 9781432767273
Reviewed by Beverly Pechin for Reader Views (1/12)

An American in Vienna

What would you do if you suddenly found out that your ancestors were of European nobility yet left their life of wealth and privilege to live as commoners in America?  And, that despite all attempts to find answers you came up with only more questions?  Could you live with not knowing or would the call of secrets from a faraway land be too difficult to resist?

“An American in Vienna” begins by introducing protagonist Andy Bishop, a young man from Ohio with mysterious roots in Austria.  Although fresh out of college, he’s ready to jump into a new research project – answer the question of why his aristocrat ancestors left their homeland.  The investigation starts innocently enough but quickly takes a backseat when Austria is thrust into the First World War.  Instead, he begins to put his journalistic training to work as he begins writing on the war and local attitudes under the byline ‘An American in Vienna.’  With his Viennese family assisting his efforts and a beautiful Austrian countess distracting him from other matters, Andy’s trip has turned into a life-changing explosion of events.  Will he escape the turmoil unharmed?  Can he keep his family and new friends safe?  Will he ever discover why his family left their life of privilege for America? 

Author Chip Wagar includes quite a bit of historical information as he weaves his plot in and out of the real world events; he’s exceptionally thorough.  I also loved his vivid descriptions of the places he sets his story – both the true-to-life details as well as the fictional additions.  As a ‘seven year resident’ of Europe I’ve visited most of the places Wagar describes, to include Vienna and the spot in Sarajevo where Franz Ferdinand was killed, and found the novel to be simply delightful.  It really took me back to the enthralling sights and sounds of Europe, even if the book was set almost one-hundred years ago.  The story was a little on the predictable side but that may also come from knowing the history of this time period.  Wagar tells his story in the first person, from Andy Bishop’s point of view.  With that in mind, the language and its tone was what I’d consider ‘proper’ – the perfect way a nice young man from the early 1900s would think and speak.  This made his characters convincing within the real world time period and events.

I think my only disappointment with the plot was that uncovering the family secret seemed to come as an afterthought.  The very premise of his trip based on this secret but it seemed like it was treated as ‘no big deal’ upon its discovery.  We don’t even get to know what Andy’s parents’ reactions were to the news and his mother had been searching diligently for this information for so long.  Perhaps this was done intentionally to leave the door open for a sequel?  I’m hoping so!

“An American in Vienna” would be an enjoyable read for those interested in historical fiction, World War I, and Europe.  Its content is suitable for almost all ages and if anything, I’d rate it as ‘PG’.  Altogether, “An American in Vienna” is an extremely pleasant novel – easy going and perfect for lazy summer days.


An American in Vienna
Chip Wagar
iUniverse (2011)
ISBN 9781450267687
Reviewed by Vicki Landes for ReaderViews (6/11)

Clubs Are Trumps: The Road From Plum Run

Article first published as Book Review Clubs Are Trumps: The Road From Plum Run by Kregg P. J. Jorgenson on Blogcritics.

I thought it was just another Civil War story, but it proved to be much more than that. “Clubs Are Trumps” is a very interesting story about a group of young men who leave their families, the comforts of their normal home life and everything they know to join the Union Army during the Civil War. While struggling to survive the war, they are subject to the horrors of the killing and maiming going on around them. They see the terrible consequences that others suffer while fighting for their own lives.

Kregg does a very good job with “Clubs Are Trumps” in the way that he clearly and systematically develops the characters to where they are easily recognizable and you really get to know them. The book is written as the characters actually speak and that adds a more personal touch to the whole novel. As the band made it through the hell of Gettysburg to the streets of New York, the author keeps the book historically correct and brings you right into the action.

All 282 pages of this interesting war novel are exciting and keep the readers attention from one page to the next. It is an adult book that due to the descriptive nature of some passages is not fit for the younger generation. The reader will notice that the author did considerable research to make the book as historically accurate as possible. Places and dates were mentioned that proved to be correct and not fictitious even though the book itself is fiction. “Clubs Are Trumps” has good cover art; fine print and paper quality, which helped, give it a big B in my rating. It is a very well-written book that deserves a look from any Civil War or history buff or if you just like a good story.


Clubs Are Trumps: The Road From Plum Run
Kregg P. J. Jorgenson
Outskirts Press (2011)
ISBN 9781432776701
Reviewed by William Phenn for Reader Views (1/12)

Blomqvist (2nd Edition)

Article first published as eBook Review: Blomqvist (2nd Edition) by Michael Hickins on Blogcritics.

Blomqvist’s story is told by his beloved cowardly bard Axel Oxensteirna.  Axel swore his fealty to Blomqvist after he savagely murdered Axel’s parents. Letting him live, Axel promised his allegiance to him.  This included his love and adoration.  The same situation had happened to Blomqvist in his youth when his parents were killed.  However, there is a huge difference between the two men. Blomqvist the Black is known for being a warrior that is massive in stature, yet still quite agile.  He is renowned for both his prowess on the battlefield and with women.

Set during the 11th century where many battles were held among the Christians, Muslims and Pagans, Blomqvist holds no religious beliefs.  He has difficulty understanding the concept of Christianity, because while the religion worships Christ, a man of peace, Christians are engaging in battles that involve killing others for the sake of Christianity.  He forms alliances where he can best be served.

The love of his life is his betrothed Alix.  Alix is the only woman who has managed to hang on to Blomqvist’s interest in spite of the numerous children that he has created with other women.  To ensure Blomqvist’s support and prevent him from backing out of a pledge, Alix is taken hostage and taken far away from him. In a rage, Blomqvist leaves in search of her.  Along the way, as he journeys across foreign lands, his adventures continue. Unfortunately, he also loses many friends in battle.  His loyal Axel continues to remain at his side, even during times of capture. In his desire to have Alix returned to him, Blomqvist forfeits offers of great riches.

“Blomqvist” is an incredibly well-written historical fiction. The story is told in such vivid detail that there were times that I felt I might have been watching a movie instead of reading words typed on paper.  The battles are bloody and well described which would be expected for the times.  Alex’s devotion to Blomqvist is admirable, and Blomqvist’s love for Alix is timeless.  I truly look forward to reading the next story in their journey.


Blomqvist (2nd Edition)
Michael Hickins
Mynameisbooks (2011)
ASIN:B006QZHA92
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (1/12)