Reader Views

Tomorrow’s Headline

When Allison Browne is murdered, American arts and antiquities dealer Mike Andrews becomes the lead suspect.  Mike was one of her closest friends and admits to having been one of the last people to be seen with her.  Devastated over her death yet desperate to protect his private life, Mike does not give the police the information that they need to prove his innocence, so he goes to jail for several months.  When he is released after a mistrial is declared, police detective Alex Barone is put on the case to follow him so that he can find evidence to prove his guilt.  Since Mike searches for antique treasures all over the world, Alex finds himself following him to some pretty far off, exotic places, like Morocco.  While he is doing so, he notices that someone else is also following Mike.
          
Realizing that he has to be honest with Mike about who he is so that he can help protect him, the two men develop a friendship.   As Alex gets to know Mike he also believes his innocence, yet he cannot figure out why Mike is being followed.  When it appears that Mike’s life is in danger, both men have to resort to extreme measures to survive.
         
Once I started reading “Tomorrow’s Headlines” I quickly found myself hooked on the suspenseful story. Not only are the characters realistic, but the good guys are also genuinely likable, so I found myself rooting for them. Their loyalty to the people that they love is highly commendable and somewhat rare.  The unusual locales that the two traveled to also helped create a great backdrop for the adventure.  I also enjoyed that this book contains suspense, adventure, mystery and romance.  It has all the elements that I believe one looks for in an exceptional novel.  I highly recommend “Tomorrow’s Headline.”  Readers are sure to enjoy discovering author D.E. LeFever’s writing talent!

Tomorrow’s Headline
D.E. LeFever
CreateSpace (2011)
ISBN 9781456471392
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (10/11)

Stealing Angel

After Maggie Seaver’s lover Yoli leaves her, she continues to be a mother figure to Angel, a child that was conceived while Yoli was cheating on Maggie. Knowing that Angel is a blessing in her life, Maggie loves her as if she had given birth to her.  Angel, now seven, calls Maggie “Maggiemama.”

As Yoli pursues a career in music, she also hooks up with a lot of unsavory characters whom she hopes can help to further her career. This does not sit well with Maggie because she worries about these people hurting Angel. After Yoli removes Angel from Maggie’s care, at the directive of her latest boyfriend, Maggie gets a call from Angel’s teacher.  Rather than contact authorities and have Angel become a potential victim of the system, the teacher calls Maggie to let her know that Angel is being hurt. When Maggie arrives at Angel’s school and sees her bruises, she rashly decides to take off with her.

She hopes to get Angel out of the United States and down to The Light Beings, a religious commune in Baja California, without being caught.  As they venture down into Mexico, Maggie does everything she can to protect both of them.  Relying on others from her religious group Maggie gets some help along the way.  Venturing down into Baja California, below where the American tourists usually go, Maggie is seeking Guru Tam, whom she hopes can help guide her to make the right choices for Angel.

When Maggie arrives in the place where she believes that the commune is located nearby, she discovers that American way of life has been extended down to this part of Mexico and that with satellite television people will know that she is being sought, and might be willing to turn her in for the reward.  When Maggie finds her way to the Light Beings, she learns that Guru Tam is very ill, and she also sees that the people living there are not as friendly as the ones that she left behind in Los Angeles.  Having to rely purely on her faith as the situation escalates, Maggie discovers more of the truth about these people and how much they can really help her.  She also learns who her true friends really are.

“Stealing Angel” tells an incredible story of a woman who learns to seek the answers from the truth that she holds within herself first, before she seeks it from others.  Maggie’s inner dialogue contains a great deal of wisdom from which all readers will benefit and find a great deal of material for journaling.  I loved reading this story because it tells the tale of a woman on a journey that will teach her to trust the voices within herself and to discover her sacred gifts. This is definitely a “must read” book.

Stealing Angel
Terry Wolverton
Spinsters Ink (2011)
ISBN 9781935226451
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (7/11)

And It Was Full of Light! : Finding the courage to overcome homophobic bullying and hate

This is a tough story to tell but the main character, Bobby Fowler, tells it with flair. Bobby Fowler is a young, orphaned, high-school kid that is gay and admits it. He tells his story beginning with a few chapters on his two friends and his life as an orphan. He mentions the school’s star quarterback, Kyle Faulkner, and describes the following this young man has; he is the most popular boy in the school and Bobby likes him too.

Bobby then tells how he was jumped and beaten by some school thugs because of his sexual preference. Had it not been for Kyle, he probably would have died. But thanks to Kyle, Bobby’s life is saved and he makes a very slow recovery.

His life slowly gets back to normal and he meets a college sophomore named Matt that is going to take him to his prom. But those aspirations are quickly dashed when he is called to the principal’s office and told he cannot bring a male date to the prom.

The book continues with Bobby’s struggles at school and in his personal life. He leaves for college after graduation and the final chapter has a very happy ending.

“And It Was Full of Light!” is a fast-paced and interesting of a good quality, both in its writing and composition. I gave it a high mark of a B and consider it a good read for anyone who is interested in reading about a man of the gay persuasion. It is not necessarily a general audience book because of the subject matter and the 353 pages will not make it a quick read but aside from that, it was a good storyline.

And It Was Full of Light! : Finding the courage to overcome homophobic bullying and hate
Robert W. Littlefield
AuthorHouse (2010)
ISBN 9781452054926                                          
Reviewed by William Phenn for Reader Views (5/11)

The Queen’s Companion

The story begins in 1554 during the time of the Inquisition.  Queen Catherine of Montalcino finds herself becoming distressed over the Church’s abuse of power.  People of her realm, whom she considers under her protection, are being falsely accused of heresy and then tortured and murdered.  Catherine personally finds a woman being brutally tortured and raped.  This woman, Lady Isabella, has had her whole family branded heretics and murdered.  As Catherine helps her to recover she finds herself falling in love with her.  This goes against everything she believes is right.  She is afraid that God will punish her for these feelings.

The Queen also has a Bishop in her court who she knows hates her and would like to destroy her. This Bishop is not a good man, and he has a sick attraction to boys.  In her determination to help save her people Catherine has to try to make sure that her allies will support her, and she must also avoid being accused of heresy by this Bishop.   In order to hide her relationship with Lady Isabella, she agrees to marry.  She seeks a man to be King who will help her bear an heir and then leave her alone. When she finds the perfect Prince for this role, she marries him and they have a daughter named Sofia.

As she continues with her efforts to try to halt the abuse of her people by the Inquisitors she becomes beloved to the people of her realm.    

Undaunted by the Queen’s appearance of a normal life, the Bishop decides to use Catherine’s daughter to his advantage. Knowing that he has been warned about having his unnatural tastes for boy revealed should he try to hurt the Queen, the Bishop uses subterfuge to get to her daughter and try to convince her that her mother is a heretic.  These actions set a course of events into action that will have a devastating effect on all who are involved.

Once I started reading “The Queen’s Companion,” I found it difficult to put down.  I immediately became totally wrapped up in the lives of the characters.  Interweaving actual historical events about the Inquisition into the story really brought the reality of what was happening at that time to life.  The descriptions of the ways that people were tortured was both educating and disheartening.   Catherine and Isabella’s relationship was really beautiful, and it made me realize how hard it must have been at that time for women, especially for one in a role of leadership.

Readers who enjoy historical fiction will really enjoy reading this novel. The author’s chapter at the end of the book will also cause goose bumps!  I highly recommend “The Queen’s Companion,” and especially recommend it to reader’s groups.

The Queen’s Companion
Maggi A. Petton
Booklocker (2011)
ISBN 9781609106461
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (5/11)

A Time Before Me

Mason is a gay teen growing up in rural Mississippi . Not only does he have to deal with all of the normal issues that teens deal with, like deciding his future, but he also has to deal with his secret of being gay. Neither the town, nor his family, is receptive to people with alternative lifestyles. Rather than accept a scholarship to his local college or work with his father in a factory, Mason wants to spread his wings and fly. His best friend and lifelong crush, Billy, has run away to live in New York City. Billy is also gay, but he and Mason never talked about this aspect of their lives. Mason meets an out of town visitor that shows him where the secret gay night life is. He gets to meet other people like himself. It is a relief to be able to be out in the open, even if it is only with this group.

After a summer visit to his Aunt Savannah, who runs a drag queen cabaret in New Orleans, Mason decides that he wants to move there. His aunt really understands him, and in New Orleans, Mason is surrounded by people who accept him for who he is. He meets Joey, who works for his aunt. Joey is very attractive and sweet. Mason feels drawn to Joey and begins to forget about his crush on Billy. Except for a kiss with Billy, Mason has not been with anyone. Joey encourages him not to rush into anything with anyone. New Orleans has a lot of wild stuff going on and Mason admits that he is not ready for that. As he and Joey get closer, his feelings for him deepen.

Out of the blue, Mason gets a call from Billy who is going to be in New Orleans with his current boyfriend. Mason begins to feel tugged away from Joey. Joey can sense this and is hurt. Mason has to figure out what he really wants and he needs to take a good look at what his relationship with Billy really was.

I really enjoyed reading “A Time Before Me.” My heart goes out to Mason’s character, because throughout the entire story, he was always trying to do what was right. He has a strong sense of values and did not let himself get seduced into the wild New Orleans lifestyle. He is a young man that wants to be loved. He just needs to decide who the best man is for him. It is pretty obvious to the reader, but for him, he has to decide where to follow his heart.

I highly recommend this book. I think that it is perfect for young adult readers that are learning how to deal with issues of their sexuality and for people that care about them. In addition to be an excellent story, Mason’s story also taught me a lot about how hard it is for a gay youth to fit in and be accepted for who he is. Being a teen is so hard, and being a teen with a secret is so much harder.

A Time Before Me
Michael Holloway Perronne
iUniverse (2006)
ISBN 9781583484630
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (1/07)

Promised Valley Rebellion

At its heart, “Promised Valley Rebellion” is a story about misunderstandings, and how a society can base its whole philosophy on what is perceived to be correct. The people of the promised valley are living their lives as they always have until a seemingly innocent decision makes the new generation, and the old generation, face off against each other. Prince Morning Sun has found the woman he wants to marry, but his royal parents have decreed that Rose Leaf is the one person he can’t be with. It’s up to Rose Leaf’s brother Blue Sky to use his insatiable curiosity to discover the reason why because it’s already been determined that Morning Sun and Rose Leaf aren’t related. Blue Sky’s quest for the truth leads him to startling revelations about himself, his family, and the land his people call home; and the answers might not be the ones that can halt the growing tensions that threaten to lead the people to civil war.

Fritsch’s novel seems daunting at first, with a huge cast of characters that have names like Morning Sun and Blue Sky, but the writing style and the story itself kept me from becoming overwhelmed, and the twists and turns of the plot kept me reading as Blue Sky slowly finds his way to the truth. The characters have depth so it’s easy to understand their motives as some seek to hide the past even as Blue Sky is driven to uncover it. The story does involve some male-on-male romantic relationships but the descriptions never become vulgar or overly descriptive.

The plot has a slow pace with very little action throughout the whole book, but the pacing does allow for the main characters to become fully developed so that the reader can understand the motivations each person has. Blue Sky could be considered a troublemaker but his father shares an interesting history with the king that practically gives him free reign to do as he pleases. Before the end of the book, he learns that this freedom, combined with his fearless curiosity, comes with a price of its own.

“Promised Valley Rebellion” might not be for everyone because of the slow pace, but you’ll enjoy it if you like in-depth characters, a mystery that’s not easily solved, and a subtle twist that could change everything.

Promised Valley Rebellion
Ron Fritsch
Asymmetric Worlds (2010)
ISBN 9780578057781
Reviewed by Marty Shaw for Reader Views (4/11)

Without One Plea: A Novel

I have to say without a doubt this was one of the most fascinating books I have read regarding gays. It still amazes me today that in the world of high tech we still don’t understand gays and lesbians.

Ben Mitchell has done his research. I have read many other books on this topic, but his ability to get into the minds of his characters, his research and his descriptions of how the South views this topic was incredible.

Chet Monroe is everyone’s dream child- he has a great job, is passionate, religious and a momma’s boy. Yet, he is not happy. He has to go home to take care of his mom who is ailing. Yet, he has a secret that will have a great impact on his life returning home. No one knows his private life with his male lover. Chet and Drew make a decision to return to his hometown thinking that they can keep their secret, but it all goes crazy. Chet thinks he can be the hometown hero, even though his sister says things have changed and one big change is in the church Chet used to attend. Brother Gene, the current pastor, thinks something is amiss with Chet and Drew and he is determined to find out what it is and expose Chet. Once the pastor gets an idea in his mind, he is obsessive with it.

Drew and Chet decide to break up, not because Chet wants it but Drew can’t handle the small-mindedness of the town. It will take all Chet can do to survive in a town that once loved him. You will love some characters, admonish others and hate some. It will certainly make readers think about where they stand on treating others as we would want to be treated. One of the things I really got out of this reading is that we fear what we don’t understand.

“Without One Plea” by Ben Mitchell is an absolutely incredible read; once you start you will begin to live the characters lives.

Without One Plea: A Novel
Ben Mitchell
iUniverse (2009)
ISBN 9780595458332
Reviewed by Carol Hoyer, PhD, for Reader Views (01/10)

Torn

Let’s face it - growing up is a terribly confusing process. One day you are playing with dolls or cars, and then all of a sudden you start noticing boys or girls, and maybe both. Finding out who one is and what one really wants can be a long and oftentimes painful process and more often than not, the adolescent has few, if any people, who can really help with the ensuing confusion. Amber Lehman's “Torn” is a brave and candid book about a group of teenagers searching for their identities and dealing with everyday school and family issues.

When she transfers from a Catholic school in Ohio to a public school in California, fourteen-year-old Krista McKinley’s life changes rapidly Very quickly she is befriended by Carrie and Brandon, who in turn introduce her to a bunch of other teens and Krista’s life suddenly does not look so bleak. But teens will be teens and a simple game of truth or dare threatens to shake Krista’s life and her beliefs to the core. Is she gay? Is she straight? Does she love Carrie? Or maybe Daemon? Or is it somebody else who has really captured her heart?

“Torn” frankly and openly speaks about the realities of life faced by today’s teens. It touches upon the subjects of homosexuality, drugs, underage drinking, date rape, statutory rape, STDs, dysfunctional families, absent parents and more. Ms. Lehman’s writing is very fluid and vivid, and her characters colorful, believable and likeable. I particularly enjoyed learning more about Brandon, and I found him the best developed and most thoroughly explained character in the story. Although some of the dilemmas the teens in the book faced did not really resonate with me personally, I definitely see the value of speaking about those matters in the straightforward way that Ms. Lehman used. There was one slightly jarring note in the book for me, namely the way the adults in the book dealt with the issues of underage sex, use of drugs, alcohol and the borderline improper sexual conduct with the minor. I would have liked it better if the book made it clearer that none of those is a good idea and that they are all both illegal and highly dangerous. While I am definitely not closing my eyes against the reality, and I do realize all of those things do and will happen, I would have really liked the book better if the consequences of such behavior would have been more emphasized and the instances of it shown in a less permissive way.

Having said that, I would like to commend Ms. Lehman on a courageous and well written book; “Torn” could certainly help any teenager who feels alone, abandoned and confused.  And I am quite certain that would be quite a large percentage.

Torn
Amber Lehman
Closet Case Press (2009)
ISBN 9780979593369
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (11/09)

Ockham’s Razor: A Novel

From the very first page author Williams has captivated his reading audience by describing vividly his two main characters, Brendan and Micah. Both young men know that their sexuality is in question and are afraid to talk about it.  Being brought up Mormon has its good and bad points and when it comes to one’s sexuality or being of color, those are some things one doesn’t discuss.

Micah, a few years older than Brendan, has left the Church as he doesn’t agree with some of the doctrine and thinking.  Brendan has left the Church as well, but has not discussed his homosexuality with many people; his concern is that he loves dance- ballet and pointe, and no one can understand why a man would do this. He questions his own faith, as does Micah.  What starts out as a friendship grows into an on-again, off-again, relationship after Brendan lets Micah read his journal about his sexual attraction toward him.

During the course of trying to take the relationship slowly, Micah finds he can’t control his feelings or desire. Brendan on the other hand is often negative and critical of Micah, but at the same time initiates romantic and intimate interludes. Their relationship is strenuous to say the least.

I would say that the major theme of “Ockham’s Razor” by Alan Michael Williams as I read it was about the Church and homosexuality.  The author, who was an active Mormon at one time, gives readers good information about the Church’s stance on homosexuality.  The narrative of the story is given from Micah’s point of view with many conversations about pitfalls of the relationship, and who gives more in the relationship.  I found that I wanted to look more into what the Mormons believed about homosexuality and people of color in the church. It was a fast read.

Ockham’s Razor: A Novel
Alan Michael Williams
BookSurge (2009)
ISBN 9781439235270
Reviewed by Carol Hoyer, PhD, for Reader Views (10/09)

Girls Like Us! Season 1

Anike Baba has written a very interesting, fast-paced book about African-American lesbians who deal with straight people, prejudice and the lack of understanding about the lesbian community. Her vivid, upfront, no-nonsense characters will make you laugh, cry and get mad. As you read this book, you can almost feel like you are standing in the same room with these women.

Zoi Baker and AJ are both lesbians who own a bookstore and are writers. Each woman has decided that they do not want to be involved with men or "Curious George" women.
AJ has a little sister, Keisha, whom both women have decided will not become involved in the gay community. They seal this pact in blood. However, what they don’t realize is that the thoughts are already in her head. On her 21st birthday, Keisha makes a pass at Zoi and they end up in bed. Unknown to AJ there is a passion that is there that will last for years. Keisha can’t decide where she wants to be, with a man or with a woman.

As in any relationship, there are ups and downs. Everyone is involved in everyone else’s business. The fast-paced action that the author has provided makes this a book you can’t put down. The drama is there, and the love is there. What is interesting to me is this book really is written for the lesbian community as it provides plenty of between-the-lines thoughts. For someone who is not part of the lesbian community, this reviewer really appreciated the inside look at relationships - truly they are no different from all relationships.

This is the first of the series in this book. "Girls Like Us! Season 1" by Anike Baba ends leaving the readers wanting to know more right away. It leaves you hanging until you can get hold of the next book - what a great way to end it. The author has gotten you to want more.

Note to author:

What I didn’t particularly like is, that as in most books, there is nothing about the author to read. We have no clue who the author really is and what she does in real life. Also, as in most books, there were no reviews from any publishers, other professionals or a synopsis of the book. I hope that changes in the next books.

Girls Like Us! Season 1
Anike Baba
CreateSpace (2008)
ISBN 9781438239101
Reviewed by Carol Hoyer, PhD, for Reader Views (1/09)