Reader Views

With Every Good-bye

“With Every Good-bye” by Terri Watrous Berry is a story of a young woman, Marti, who is trying to finally grow up. She is married and has two children, but her husband has recently left her and she is having an extremely hard time dealing with the situation. She grew up well loved and protected, and her early married life seemed to be equally as safe. When it came crashing down, Marti was not well prepared for the harsh reality, retreating behind the walls of her home in the vain hope of staying invisible and thus protected. A well-meant invitation for a night out with her friend, Paula, made her realize that there were other things and other people out there, and she started to explore her newly found freedom and independence. That was quickly threatened by her mother and her soon to be ex-husband, and she was forced to make some really hard decisions, culminating in shocking consequences.

Terri Watrous Berry wrote a book that really made me think about the family dynamics, importance of standing up for oneself and need of finding one’s path in life. Reading about the run-ins that Marti had with her mother, Beatrice, and of all of her attempts to please her mother, was a bittersweet experience. I feel certain that mothers and daughters everywhere will find a lot to relate to in this segment of the story, and they will hopefully learn how important it is to let grown children make their own choices and live their own lives the way they want to. Although very often attempts to block such independence are made with the best intent in mind, the results tend to be disastrous for everybody involved.

I found the characters in the book very well developed, believable and easy to relate to, and although I did not find them likeable I did care about what happened to them. The flow of the narrative was smooth and appropriately paced, the storyline engaging and relevant, and overall I truly enjoyed reading “With Every Good-bye.” The choices Marti made were certainly not those I would have made, but somehow that made the story even more irresistible. I do wish the book had a different ending, but then, I am an incurable optimist and a closet romantic, but I am well aware that life rarely plays out that way. This is a book that should be well received by a wide circle of readers, since it is so realistic and so heartbreakingly down-to-earth. It should be required reading for all mothers and all daughters, who could learn so much from the mistakes Marti and Beatrice made in their relationship.

To purchase book please contact author at: tgwberry@yahoo.com


With Every Good-bye
Terri Watrous Berry
Morris Publishing (2011)
ISBN 9780615544298
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (2/12)

Words & Graphics: A Collection of Works

Article first published as Book Review: Words & Graphics: A Collection of Works by C.O.B. on Blogcritics.

“Words & Graphics” is an extremely simple title for a complex collection of writings which includes poems, dialogues, short stories, statements and plays.  There are also artistic images that contribute greatly to this novel.  Some of the writings make brief and blunt statements; others are more in-depth and incredibly descriptive considering that they don’t take up many pages. The author also includes H.O.T.Ds - “Highlights of the Day.”  These are interspersed throughout the book and they focus on brutally honest and, at times, disturbing observances made by an employee regarding his day at work.  I really enjoyed reading these because sometimes I feel the same way.

Every important aspect of life is included in these writings. This includes parenting, religion, love, loss, and death.  Nothing is simple or joyful, yet the complexity of the writings left me with some very intense feelings. I also appreciated that the short stories and the screenplay left me wanting more. While this might sound negative, it is actually positive because I wanted to be able to sink myself further into what the characters were experiencing.  I admire the author for being able to draw me in and quickly connect me to the characters in the stories.  The artistic works also added a visual connection to the writings. They can also be enjoyed on their own.  Each one is unique and also made me pause to ponder them.

The author notes that it took ten years to create “Words & Graphics.”  I totally enjoyed every page and highly recommend it.  Readers will enjoy the uniqueness of how the works are presented and appreciate having the opportunity to get their hands on something different.  This book would also make an excellent gift for the person who has everything!


Words & Graphics: A Collection of Works
C.O.B.
Grey Line Press (20122)
ISBN 9780983002826
ASIN: B007K1EF9E
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (3/12)

Demon Soul

Rose Walters knows what it is like to have lost something.  Growing up, she had nothing of value for as long as she could remember.  She lost her mother at the age of sixteen, was kicked out of the house of the family who took her in and spent the remaining days of her own life in the streets and on drugs.  She has now been chosen for a different life after her death.  As a Soul Chalice, she is a protector of souls.   Her task is to protect Gabriel Cane and keep him from losing his soul.  Gabriel Cane is, part human, demon and fae.  He has spent many years being estranged from his family, mostly because he is ashamed of his demon heritage.   He blames himself for his mother’s death, because she died giving birth to him.  When he comes home, he has to face the fact that he has lost some of his soul to a vampire named Satine and she is fighting hard to reclaim the rest.  With the help of his family and friends, and now Rose, Gabriel must try to do whatever he can to keep the rest of his soul away from Satine.  Quickly they realize that Rose’s powers are demon-like similar to his own.  So Gabriel begins to work with Rose to teach her how to control them, much like how he has had to learn.  As Gabriel and Rose work on learning how Rose’s powers work, word has gotten back to Satine that Gabriel’s soul is being protected by Rose.  At first she didn’t recognize her, but as they both now realize, Satine and Rose discover that they were cousins when they were living.  As the stakes get higher, both sides are calling in all of their allies to help.  From vampires to werewolves to witches, they much use their strengths to save one soul that holds the soul of thousands.

“Demon Soul” is a very interesting book.  After reading the book, my first thought was this book is not “Twilight” and therefore, should not be read by the young teens who want to enjoy books about vampires these days.  So, I would caution anyone considering allowing elementary and middle school-aged children to read this book.  It does not appear to be the author’s intent, but this seemed, important to mention – just in case.  I also thought the authors writing style was very technical and mature in nature and would more than likely lose someone in that age bracket anyway.  The concept around “Demon Soul” is something that I have not come across before.  I would have to applaud Christine Ashworth for coming up with a plot that hadn’t already saturated the market.  The characters were different than what you would normally read about.  Although the book was a work of fiction, the author took real life issues and managed to weave them into the story in a very nice way.  So, the book went beyond a love story or a story about someone being rescued.  It went a little deeper and darker into family relationships and the issues that plague our society, such as drug addiction and created a story around that. “Demon Soul” is for those who want something different and want to go beyond the fluff that is out there today.


Demon Soul
Christine Ashworth
Crescent Moon Press (2011)
ISBN 9780984180592
Reviewed by Tracey Rock for Reader Views (1/12)

Through Whose Eyes: Rise Child of God

There are not enough words to describe the incredible insight and thoughts that Jacqueline Rainey has shared in "Through Whose Eyes: Rise Child of God." Many readers may find, through her writing and her approach, it seems she was in their minds.

The format of this book is alternating poems (I like to call them words of wisdom) and stories in which she covers topics such as throw-away children; prostitution; drug abuse; losing one’s self to drugs and alcohol. In addition, Rainey addresses loss of spirituality and loss of being in touch with God. I loved the way she approached these various topics; inner thoughts that one might feel given any of these circumstances.

Many readers will be able to relate to these inner thoughts. As a person in recovery, my favorite story was “I Use To Be.” Many of the thoughts expressed were things I learned in recovery and I still use today. Many of us who are in recovery are often mad at God because we think He let us down; yet we never gave up hope and some of us got out of that lifestyle and found ourselves again.

Even though some of Rainey's poems and stories relate to specific high-risk behaviors, most everyone can relate. As humans, we question who we are, why we present abnormal behaviors or lifestyles and sometimes beg God to help us each day.

As a psychologist, I am thrilled “Through Whose Eyes” was written because it will help so many that are lost in their journey of life. Rainey's wisdom is non-judgmental and does not give advice; it is a reflection of living life on life’s terms.


Through Whose Eyes: Rise Child of God
Jacqueline Rainey
Strategic Book Publishing (2011)
ISBN 9781612048550
Reviewed by Carol Hoyer, PhD, for Reader Views (8/11)

Power and Tender

Article first published as Book Review Power and Tender by Margret Russell on Blogcritics.

Margret Russell chronicles the lives of Arthur, Ben and Hannah Alton during the years immediately following World War I throughout the years leading up to and through World War II in “Power and Tender.” This is more than a nostalgic stroll down memory lane.  Russell writes of a significant era in American history. Through the Alton’s she follows the impact and hardship experienced by rural families at a time when our country shifted from its agricultural roots to a culture of international trade, commerce, and industry.

Ben develops a love for the sea as a child, the result of hearing his uncle’s heroic stories. He dreams of becoming a coastal pilot in Chesapeake Bay.  Ben is devastated as after years of perseverance in combining working the land with his love for the water, boating, and fishing, he has attained the theory and experience necessary to qualify for an appointment as a government Pilot only to discover that the years of hard labor have left him physically disqualified.

Russell introduces a plethora of topics relative to the era in dialog depicting casual gossipy conversational dialog through informal settings at the town post office, the barber shop, in the home, or during routine chores and errands. Although often these seem irrelevant, they provide background and insight into the culture of the era, family life, and individual struggles of the protagonist.

The journal entries of Evan Griffith, a professor, employed during the summer by Ben Alton, afford additional points of interest and offer a noteworthy depth. They take shape as chapter summaries adding insight into the interaction, and core values of the Alton family. Lessons on parenting, family and social relationships, and insights into plant life and animal behavior are carefully woven into the warp and woof of the story line.

I have a new appreciation for the difficulties of the farming communities, crop failures, and food surpluses in the great depression era experienced throughout the country in the 1930s, as well as a better understanding of President Roosevelt’s “New Deal” philosophy and policies.


Power and Tender
Margret Russell
Outskirts Press (2011)
ISBN 9781432763756
Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views (1/12)

Facing Demons

When I received “Facing Demons,” I was quite excited to read it. I have always been pretty interested in reading about people who have had to go to rehab and the stories behind them. Normally, you just hear about them as a statistic, but behind every number and every statistic, there is a real person and a real story. Although the first three or four pages seemed a little preachy, in the “don’t do drugs” sense, as soon as I got past the first few pages, and really got into the book, I was hooked! I was not able to put this book down (technically speaking, I was not able to put my i-pod touch down, since I was I was reading the e-book version)!

This book begins with a prologue, in which Blake Solomon, the man who runs the Anchor Beach Rehab clinic, is in the hospital with a boy from the clinic who doesn’t seem like he’s going to make it. Blake seems rather distraught, and in his mind, is transported to a different time and place in that hospital. That hospital is the place where Blake was cured of his cancer! The rest of the book is devoted to telling the stories of four of the residents of the Anchor Beach Rehab clinic. It talks about their issues with drugs, alcohol, child prostitution, self harm, gangs and other issues that many teenagers have to deal with.

This book was absolutely amazing. I definitely read it twice before I started writing this review! With every page I read, and every detail into someone’s story, I became more and more hooked on this book. I feel like anybody who reads it will be in the same boat as I was!
          
One thing that I really liked about “Facing Demons” was the dedication that the author made at the beginning of it. This book is dedicated to “those who deserve a second chance.”  I feel like that dedication was a perfect beginning to this book because all of the characters made a mistake and deserved the second chance that they were given.


Facing Demons
Ashley Sanders
Trafford Publishing (2011)
ISBN 9781426951701
Reviewed by Avni Gupta (age 17) for Reader Views (10/11)

Bodacious Blues

“Bodacious Blues” is the final installment of the trilogy of a Creole family from Estilette, Louisiana. The reader is taken on an adventure that takes up where the author’s second book (“Shadows of the Blues”) leaves off. The story begins in 1965 and tells of the descendents, Lester and Ann Martel of the Martel Creole family. Ann goes on to become a physician, which their grandfather had hoped for Lester. But such was not the case and the roles reversed. Instead, Ann became the doctor and Lester struggles on to fulfill his dreams. He gets wrapped up with protest groups fighting against racial intimidation in Estilette and then travels to Chicago and gets romantically involved. Then Les tries his hand at being an actor and moves to Hollywood for a while. Living life on his own terms, he soon discovers that Hollywood is not the place he thought it would be. There was the deception, lack of values and the lies. All of it made Les realizes that becoming a man is not an easy task.

The author sets a good mood for “Bodacious Blues” by relating the problems that three generations of this family have struggled through. They survived the perils of religious conflicts, murder, voodoo, and racism among all the other trials they are given. “Bodacious Blues” earned my high grade of a B, I think it would be a good adult read and has as much diversity as Harold Robbins’ “Carpetbaggers.” With its 350 pages, it’s not a one-day read, but it is a fairly fast moving book. As with any two or three volume series, it would have helped had I read the first and second LeBlanc books, then I would have had a better background and lead in to this third and final book of the trilogy - “Bodacious Blues.”


Bodacious Blues
Whitney J. LeBlanc
Outskirts Press (2011)
ISBN 9781432773793
Reviewed by William Phenn for Reader Views (12/11)

Singing Her Alive: A Fictional Memoir

Article first published as Book Review: Singing Her Alive: A Fictional Memoir by Diana K. Perkins on Blogcritics.

“Singing Her Alive” begins when the death of her grandmother takes a modern city dwelling woman, named Sarah, back to her roots.  When Sarah returns home to help her mother clear out her grandmother’s belongings, she finds herself feeling connected to the old homestead. Her interest is peaked when she discovers the diaries of both her grandmother Rebecca and her lifelong friend “Aunt” Doris.

Taking her back in time to the late 1800s, Sarah reads about how Doris and Rebecca met.  Sharing a bed in a room in a boarding house while they both worked in a textile mill started their friendship.  As their relationship blossomed, they encountered many complications and obstacles from others, who couldn’t accept that they were becoming more than just friends.  When a crisis forces them to look elsewhere for a fresh start, Sarah’s future grandfather helps them with this goal.
          
As Sarah reads these journals, she finds herself feeling pulled further and further away from her life in Boston.  Through her readings, Sarah is able to go back in time and see how life was for these two women.  As she sees how they discover each other, she also begins learning more about herself.  Her personal life becomes more involved in this little town. Family secrets that are revealed in the diaries also greatly complicate things.  Sarah has to figure out how she is to handle what information has been revealed to her, because it will still have a tremendous impact on those she cares about. As she works through this dilemma, she also is growing closer to her mother and has made some special friendships with two local people.

“Singing Her Alive” has two love stories. One is from the past, and the other is developing in the present.  Both involve difficulties, yet the people involved reveal themselves to be incredible characters that are worth fighting for.  Written as a fictional memoir, the author made it hard for me to believe that it didn’t really happen. Including a great deal of true historical information really helped with this. She peaked my interest so much, I found myself looking through a website that is included as a reference.  I highly recommend reading this novel.


Singing Her Alive: A Fictional Memoir
Diana K. Perkins
FriesenPress (2011)
ISBN 9781770671195
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (1/12)

Spare Change

Article first published as Book Review: Spare Change by Bette Lee Crosby on Blogcritics.

 

Bette Lee Crosby’s “Spare Change” is a quirky mix of Southern flair, serious thoughts about important things in life, madcap adventures of a young boy and a late change of heart that made all the difference in the life of an unusually independent woman. More than anything, it is a heartwarming book, which is simultaneously intriguing and just plain fun.

Olivia Ann Westerly has always refused to conform. Instead of marrying and raising a family, as her father expected her to, she left home and found a job, rented a flat and had tons of fun. Oh, did I mention that she did that in 1923, when she was only 25-years-old? While today that would not have been anything extraordinary, she certainly was an exception back then. And then she decided not to marry and to continue her career, living in this manner quite happily all the way until 1956. It was then that she met Charlie Doyle and fell madly in love, agreeing to marry him without any hesitation when he asked her to. But then Charlie had to go and die while they were on their honeymoon, and Olivia seemed to have lost all her will to do anything. Until Ethan Allen Doyle, Charlie’s grandson, showed up on her doorstep.  Olivia never wanted children, so why would she change her mind now? And to make matters worse, Ethan Allen was 11-years-old and number 11 has always been a bad omen for Olivia. To top everything else, it was clear that Ethan Allen was hiding something. Was there any chance of a happy ending here?

I truly enjoyed this imaginative and very entertaining story. Told from many different perspectives, it kept my interest from beginning to end. The voices of the characters were very distinct and the good ones were easy to like, just like the bad guys were easy to hate and fear. It does not happen very often that I truly like the more minor characters in any book, since most of them never get the chance to develop enough to be really interesting, but Clara was one of my favorites here - heart of gold and brassy manners, what more could one want in a friend? She was just one in the substantial line-up of supporting characters who kept Ethan Allen’s presence in Olivia’s building a secret, or at least they thought so. Every one of those characters was well defined and completely believable. I enjoyed the storyline and the lively dialogue, as well as the rapidly unraveling mystery of the secret Ethan Allen was trying to keep to himself. And I am going to do my best to keep the beginning of the story, as told by Olivia, in mind for the future. Here’s what she had to say...

“I don’t suppose there’s a person walking the earth who doesn’t now and again think if I had the chance to live my life over, I’d sure as hell do it differently. When you get to a certain age and realize how much time you’ve wasted on pure foolishness, you’re bound to smack yourself in the head and ask, what in the world was I thinking? Everybody’s got regrets; myself included.

Some people go to their grave without ever getting a chance to climb out of that ditch they’ve dug for themselves, others get lucky. Of course, the thing about luck is that you’ve got to recognize it, when it walks u’ and says hello, the way Charlie Doyle did.”

Those two paragraphs alone would be enough for me to like this book and recommend it, yet they were truly just the beginning. If you want to know more, you will simply have to read “Spare Change” yourself, and I am certain you will not regret that.

Spare Change
Bette Lee Crosby
Bent Pine Publishing (2011)
ISBN 9780983887911
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (11/11)

Hurrah’s Nest: Memoirs of a Money Trader

“Hurrah’s Nest: Memoirs of a Money Trader” is the first book in “The Baby Boomer Memoirs.” Not being familiar with this phrase, out of curiosity I looked it up in The Webster’s Dictionary which defines “Hurrah’s Nest” as the “state of utmost confusion.”  That definitely applies to the characters in this novel; however, it takes them some time to figure this out for themselves.

The story is mainly based upon two women, Meg and Becky.  Best of friends and sometimes the worst of enemies, Meg and Becky were both born in the same bed a week apart.  Meg’s mother does not survive the birthing, so her father takes her away from the family, to Florida, where he raises her.   Meg and Becky were able to overcome the distance that kept them physically apart by writing to each other.  Through their letters, they shared intimacies like they were sisters.

The circumstances surrounding Meg’s loss of her mother and having to move away from family that could have helped raise her left Meg feeling abandoned and out of place.  She was also betrayed and horribly taken advantage of by an older male neighbor.  It seems like Becky got the life that Meg wanted.

As Meg approaches adulthood she decides to pursue an acting career which will eventually take her back to New York and she will be able to be closer to Becky.  Meg is married to Dick and they have to live frugally while he is pursuing a career in directing.  Becky, on the other hand, is married to Kevin, who works on Wall Street as a money market broker.  She appears to live the good life, yet like Meg, neither woman is very happy with her life or her relationship.  Unbeknownst to Meg, Becky feels that Kevin only married her to fulfill a role that will help him achieve his goals.  It isn’t until much later that she discovers how his use of his relationship with her has a profound effect on the global market.  And, in the long run it will seriously affect decisions that she has to make for her future.

Meg tires of having to struggle for what she wants. Her husband spends most of his time at work.  She doesn’t give the impression that she trusts him. Becky puts up a good front of appearing to enjoy her high class social status as the wife of a man of wealth, who also comes from good breeding.  While she appears happy, deep down she really wants to be with someone who she feels

truly loves her.  Meeting Alex, an older, unfaithful book store owner with a sports car and a wife, Becky begins to feel alive.  But obviously the circumstances are not the best for her.  As her husband’s career takes him to other countries, Alex is just a distraction for her.  This is also when Becky begins to see the repercussions of her husband’s schemes.

In time, Meg also finds a relationship with a married man. He has wealth and enjoys spending it on her. When Dick’s job takes him to California, she stays behind.  Both she and Becky have lives, but they aren’t really living. Even as Meg’s finances improve, neither woman has the emotional security that she desperately desires.  Meg realizes that Becky’s loyalty is to herself first, and that she will take what she needs from others to get what she wants.   Becky and Meg also discover that their pasts are more convoluted and intertwined then they could have ever possibly imagined. Their futures will be as well. Deception is a key theme throughout both of their lives based upon acts done to them, and acts that they do to others.

I found “Hurrah’s Nest” to be a fascinating and compelling novel.  I felt linked to the characters because the story appeared to be so realistic.  The twists and turns that the author takes the plot along provide for many shocking revelations. As I read, I kept thinking, “It is true, money does not buy you happiness; but then neither does poverty.” This story also made me realize that true loyalty is more important than anything.  I highly recommend this novel!

Hurrah’s Nest: Memoirs of a Money Trader
Barbara Kennedy
iUniverse (2011)
ISBN 9781462011230
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (8/11)