Reader Views

The Call

Derald Hamilton’s “The Call” combines satire, humor, and spoof in this unpredictable fictional account of seminary training and the broad spectrum of individuals who have responded to the “call to ministry.” The story is presented in the first person voice of Ishmael O’Donnell. His childhood is beleaguered by the strict disciplines administered by his military father and his religious mother who accepts as her “lot” subjection to an unfaithful husband. Added to Ishmael’s dysfunctional childhood is the unexplainable supernatural indwelling or possession of the “spirit” of his long-dead twin brother Isaac.

Hamilton understands the importance of audience to the success of satire. He writes for a wide audience covering a time span of over 30 years directly impacting the veterans and families of three wars or Military conflicts who will relate to the account of Ishmael’s coming of age in the transient lifestyle of military families, the diversity of political views of U. S. involvement in these intervention actions, and the extremes of disciplines and control exercised by his military father. Another audience that will be touched by Hamilton’s observations is made up of anyone concerned about illusion versus reality in organized religion.

As Ishmael grapples with the his family’s dysfunction and the harassment of Isaac’s spirit, Hamilton focuses on another potential audience as he parodies the religious neuroses plaguing Ishmael by the inconsistency of forced church attendance by his father and the genuine religious zeal of his mother. Participation with Campus Para church ministries while attending University lead to Ishmael’s “call” to attend seminary as a means to find life fulfillment and spiritual cleansing.

Part Two of the novel deals with the three years of Ishmael’s seminary training. He is frustrated by the inconsistencies and the church politics often practiced within the established church, issues of integrity, and conduct behind the cloistered walls of the seminary. The illusions and reality of Hamilton’s observations open the door for his articulate tongue-in-cheek satiric exposition. Hamilton has cleverly recreated believable characters into caricatures which disconcertingly uncover fraudulence, impertinence, personal inconsistencies, character flaws, prejudices, and biases often found in the Christian community. Liberal, conservative, charismatic, nor ultra-fundamental escape his invective.

I became deeply involved in Hamilton’s storyline and characters. A composite development of fewer characters and a merging of the curriculum, training, and field assignments into typical content rather than detailed descriptions of the repetitive progression of each individual year of the program would have enhanced the flow and pace of the book for me.

“The Call” offers brilliant writing that is reflective, funny and provocative – a troubling look at the duplicity of influential leadership in today’s culture.


The Call
Derald Hamilton
D. Hamilton Books (2010)
ISBN 9780984619207
Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views (11/11)

Heaven’s Daughter

Article first published as Book Review: Heaven's Daughter by Maggi A. Petton on Blogcritics.

When I began reading “Heaven’s Daughter,” I found myself immediately held spellbound. The story begins with two runaway slaves, who are mother and daughter. Having been captured in Africa, taken away from her family and her fiancé, the mother is desperate to give her daughter, Effie, a better life. Since they are both slaves, this is difficult to do. As the daughter begins to suffer the same horrible abuses that her mother did, from their owners, they both know that they have to escape.

As they begin the arduous journey north, they encounter a young blonde girl named Abby. Abby is also on the run, but in her case she is running from a kidnapper. The kidnapper grabbed her from her family’s home so that he could pretend he was traveling with his daughter, instead of being an army deserter. Fortunately, he did not abuse her.

Joining together to return Abby to her home, the girls develop a strong bond. Effie’s mother shares her African heritage with them with both songs and stories. When they finally make it to Abby’s home the family gives them a warm welcome and is grateful for their assistance in returning their daughter. As time goes by, and they suffer through some horrible tragedies, the bond between the two women becomes even stronger. Knowing that this is a time where both interracial and homosexual relationships are not acceptable, the women have to keep their special love for each other a secret. Their incredible love for each other helps them hang on to their sanity and each other as they try to cope with family losses, betrayal, and tragedy.

Having read and enjoyed “The Queen’s Companion,” I suspected that “Heaven’s Daughter” would be an exceptional book. And I was correct. In this novel, the horrors of slavery, war, prejudice and discrimination are all brought together however; love and loyalty demonstrate a great healing power. I found this story to be extremely realistic and well researched. While I have studied this era and thought about how difficult it would be for people to mix interracially, I never considered what it would be like for homosexual couples. In this story, Petton addresses both issues in one relationship. It was refreshing to be able to enjoy an incredibly written story, and to be offered something new to reflect on. I highly recommend “Heaven’s Daughter.”


Heaven’s Daughter
Maggi A. Petton
BookLocker (2011)
ASIN: B0068CUNIS
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (9/11)

Unchained (Gravel Road)

“Unchained” by L. B. Tillit is the story of TJ, a boy who lived in fear of the neighborhood gangs that ruled his life and the parents who abused him. TJ never liked to be described as mean. He never even liked the word mean. But TJ was mean. When he was little, his parents were always so high on drugs that they never paid any attention to him. So TJ would try to get their attention. He would scream and he would hit them, but all that ever did was make them hit him back. So when he met other kids he would treat them as his parents treated him. He would hit them. He never knew anyone he could truly call a friend until he met Kaden Cruz. Kaden took TJ to his house, the headquarters of a neighborhood gang called The Hillside Vipers. TJ’s father tried to warn TJ of the debt he must pay for enjoying the gang’s property, but TJ never listened. Will TJ be forever wrapped up in the gang, or will he find a way to unchain himself from his oppressive life?

The Vipers welcomed him into their gang. They treated him as a friend, as a brother. TJ had never known such kindness from anyone. Then the deliveries started. It began when the leader of the gang, BB, took him aside and asked him to deliver a package. TJ accepted. That was only the beginning of his troubles. TJ did more and more for the gang; then his father died. An overdose of drugs dropped him where he stood. The teenaged TJ was taken away from his mother and sent to a foster home. His life was turned upside down. He was taken to a home several towns away, to a lady called Miss Dixie. Miss Dixie raised other foster kids who had been taken away from abusive families so they could try to begin their life again. TJ hated it. He hated the other kids. He hated Miss Dixie. But as a year went past, TJ began to warm up to his new family. He began to appreciate the new life he had been offered. Then the social worker returned. She said that his mother was going to take him back. TJ was horrified. How could he return to the living hell that was his life? Will TJ be able to readapt to life that he thought he had left behind?

When TJ returned to his mother he hated her. He hated her for bringing him back to the life he had hoped to leave forever. Then Kaden found him. Kaden welcomed TJ back to the Vipers. TJ stopped attending school. All that mattered to him was the gang. He ran assignments for the gang. Rough up a guy here, deliver a package there. The chain tattoo that was the symbol of the gang grew farther around his wrist as his prestige soared. Then, after a rival gang member was beaten to the brink of death by Kaden, TJ wondered if he was really cut out for the gang. He wandered the streets making his way back to the Viper’s house. Right before he got through the back door he heard gun shots. The rival gang had sent a hit and run crew to attack the Vipers. Only one gang member was left standing. How will TJ continue his life with a mother who ignores him and no one to rely on?

I would recommend “Unchained” to people who like reading books with a deeper meaning. This book might not be appropriate for younger kids as it contained some inappropriate themes. It gave me many insights into what it might be like to live such a difficult life surrounded by drugs and gangs. This was a very quick read, and I finished it soon after I started it.


Unchained (Gravel Road)
L. B. Tillit
Saddleback Educational Publishing (2012)
ISBN 9781616517922
Reviewed by Ben Weldon (age 14) for Reader Views (11/11)

Edge of Ready

Article first published as Book Review: Edge of Ready by L. B. Tillit on Blogcritics.

“Edge of Ready” by L.B. Tillit follows the story of Dani. Dani, a high school senior, wants to graduate, but that prospect keeps looking less and less likely to happen. Dani manages to juggle school with watching her baby brother while her mom works overtime; she is, after all, strong. But the odds are stacked against her, and a terrible tragedy befalls her. Is Dani strong enough?

I enjoyed “Edge of Ready.” I found the story pleasantly unpredictable and dramatic, with enough of twists and turns and ups and downs, while still maintaining a reasonable and believable flow of events which powerfully depicted human truths. Although “Edge of Ready” was full of many layers and turns of plot, it was a beautiful illustration of the power of brevity. Although only a small paperback -- only 192 pages, with three-page chapters -- it had remarkable depth, flow, and progression. Because of the smaller size, L.B. Tillit’s ideas in the book are compact and more powerful for it. Each word, phrase, and sentence has bucket loads of meaning packed in -- the word to thought ratio is small, and this makes it more memorable and meaningful.

Not only was it well crafted, but the narrative voice was powerful. I could really hear Dani’s thoughts and ideas as she processed the events. She is a believable teenager, dealing with hardship, who is in the process of figuring out how to cope and be a strong person. We watch Dani struggle with ideas throughout the book. As she narrated, “I just wanted to move on, but there was something about Mrs. Grady that made me think I was missing something, I just couldn’t figure it out.” She is dealing with difficult events, and she does receive some guidance as to what to do, but the main point is Dani’s conclusions and thought processes as she herself deals with things.

The title was well chosen, perfectly describing the crux of the book. Dani is “on the edge of ready,” and we see her practice the ready better and better. One of the characters advises her, “Dani, whatever happens, life will go on. She paused, taking my queen off the boars. She looked at me and said, and you can handle it. I promise.” “Edge of Ready” by L.B. Tillit is an excellently written reminder that we are all practicing. No matter what happens, we must just continue pretending as if we had it all together, and as we practice, we get closer and closer to the edge of ready, until we, like Dani, will find ourselves no longer on the edge, but truly ready.

I would recommend “Edge of Ready” to older students looking for a meaningful, enjoyable portrayal of the power of living.


Edge of Ready
L. B. Tillit
Saddleback Educational Publishing (2012)
ISBN 9781616517786
Reviewed by Madeleine Sullivan (age 17) for Reader Views (11/11)

Sabrina’s Window

Article first published as Book Review: Sabrina's Window by Al Riske on Blogcritics.

Sabrina is a beautiful 31-year-old hair stylist and budding artist. Joshua is a 17-year-old paperboy. Both live in Taos, New Mexico.  Their lives interconnect one day when Joshua accidentally breaks Sabrina’s window while delivering a newspaper.  Rather than paying for the damage, Sabrina allows him to work it off.  As the summer progresses, and Joshua’s debt is paid off, an unusual friendship develops between the two.  Having lost his mother, Joshua finds comfort in confiding in Sabrina.  Having her own relationship issues, Sabrina doesn’t know all of the answers, but she does lend a friendly ear.  In addition to offering Joshua personal advice, Sabrina also helps guide him from being a scruffy teen into a handsome young man.

Their friendship progresses as Sabrina and Josh try to figure out how to handle their personal relationships.  Because of the difference in their ages, they also attract scrutiny from the locals.  While they both recognize an attraction to each other, they recognize the need to stay platonic.  In spite of Sabrina’s age, this is really a coming-of-age tale for both of them.

This novel will be enjoyed by people of all ages, including teenagers.  They will be able to relate to Joshua’s angst as he heads towards adulthood.  Many adults will be able to relate to Sabrina’s relationship dilemmas while reliving their own teen years and the drama that came with them.

“Sabrina’s Window” is a pure pleasure to read.  Al Riske does an excellent job of creating colorful, realistic characters.  The story is brought to life while the author blends the story into the beautiful Taos scenery.  Doing so gives the novel a very unique flavor and I highly recommend it.


Sabrina’s Window
Al Riske
Luminis Books (2011)
ISBN 9781935462538
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (1/12)

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)