MURDER AT THE FLAMINGO by Rachel McMillan

Appreciate the process! I began reading MURDER AT THE FLAMINGO by Rachel McMillan poolside. This book was to be my summer read and it did not disappoint. The problem was the number of interruptions I had as every time I got to a good spot.
MURDER AT THE FLAMINGO is more than a murder mystery it is a classic movie in print. I was a participant in the 1937 based drama. I met each character: the anxious Hamish, the need to find herself Reggie and the various personalities surrounding the event.
What makes a novel a great book is the stories surrounding the story. In the beginning the reader is introduced to two individuals who are struggling with the preconceived ideas of parents. Unable to cope they escape to a world unfamiliar.
As you read this book, uninterrupted I hope, you find yourself going deeper and deeper into the world of 1937 night life in Boston. By the time you reach the halfway point you will be totally sucked in and no one will be able to interrupt you.
MURDER AT THE FLAMINGO is the type of book I like; filled with personality, intrigue and the lack of modern dramatic hyperbole. Far to many books today have lots of sexual descriptions and violence that the imagination becomes unnecessary; they are quick reads, mindless dribble not so with this book. It’s a good book, get it!  Written by Marsha L F Randolph

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

ROOM ON THE PORCH SWING by Amy Clipston

It has been quite some time since I have read a novel primarily because I a very picky about what I read. With nothing but junk on television and after years of reading nothing but non-fiction I decided I needed a break from reality. I chose to review ROOM ON THE PORCH SWING by Amy Clipston as my first adventure into the world of non-fiction because I am facsinated by Amish life and because I love a good love story.

ROOM ON THE PORCH SWING was an easy read and, despite it being 320 pages, a quick read. I would daresay anyone who is used to reading novels could finish it in a day but it took me three days to complete.

The plot was interesting and, yes, predictable as most love stories are. The development of the relationship between the main character, Laura, and  her best friends husband gets the readers attention pretty quickly.

One of the difficulties I had was the use of Amish words at awkward points of the story. At the beginning of the book there is a glossary of the words used in the book but who wants to keep going back to look at definitions. I guessed the meaning of words based on the context in which it was used but I would have personally preferred just not be used. It seemed weird to me for a person to speak English and through in an Amish word in the middle of a sentence; but that is me.  Never-the-less this is a great poolside book.     Written by Marsha L F Randolph

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

THE CHANGING SEASON by Steven Manchester

RELEASE DATE: FEBRUARY 16, 2016

THE CHANGING SEASON is a novel about a young man, and his dog who is looking forward to graduating high school and going to college. The transition from High school to college is not as easy as Billy thought it was going to be; life happens and for him it happens in an exciting but not necessarily good way.
My first impression upon receiving  THE CHANGING SEASON by Steven Manchester in the mail: I don’t like movies or books about pets. My second impression: I really don’t care about the accolades presented, even if they are on the New York Times Bestsellers list. BUT I had agreed to review the book so I started reading the 273 page novel.

It is a very good book, great for those in Middle or High school. (DO YOUNG PEOPLE READ BOOK REVIEWS?) The dialog makes sense and the pace of the story line allows for excellent plot development. The food for thought story is very believable.

I am not a reviewer of young adult books. I don’t know if my opinion makes a difference to the young man or woman who is looking for a good book to read. (A mature adult you will enjoy it too!) Without telling the story, which would be a spoiler, there is no way to do THE CHANGING SEASON justice.  All I can say is: I recommend the book.


 Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

PEDAL by Louis K Lowy

It is rare that I get to review fiction that actually interest me, which is probably why I don’t review fiction to often. I agreed to review PEDAL when I met the author before I knew what the book was about, this never happens! After I received PEDAL by Louis K Lowy with nothing to do I decided to glance at the first few pages- LOL! I was hooked.
The plot is very simple, main character meets adversity, which should make the story easy to follow except the book is not really about adversity it is about achieving victory. PEDAL by Louis K Lowy is about finding a way to get passed unplanned unexpected difficulties by coming out of your comfort zone.
If I had read the description of this book found on Amazon I would have passed on the book. It has a lot of catchy words like” single, romance, and female; but the book is not a romance novel and it the main character could have been a man with a brother who experienced a bad relationship. Being a forty-nine year old teacher who has been fired is significant but not an unrecoverable life event. However, what makes things difficult for the main character Joanne and most people today is other people, a concept many readers are dealing with in their own lives. It is the family dynamics within the novel that will bond the reader with the writings.  How do you deal with your problems when other people have opinions of who you are and what you should be doing?
I recommend PEDAL, a good motivational read on how to overcome difficulties by facing your past and pushing yourself into the future. As you take the journey from trouble to triumph with the main character you will be encouraged. Success comes when you pedal forward even when you don’t feel like it.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

RETURN TO ME by Lynn Austin

I have never read a Lynn Austin book, I chose to read Return to Me (The Restoration Chronicles) because I wanted to read a good novel and I enjoy reading Biblical fiction.  I just could not get into this novel, the pace is slow and my busy schedule was not conducive to allowing my imagination to take me away into the land of Old Testament times.

Faith and obedience are an obvious theme within the story as it pertains to the characters. Return to Me (The Restoration Chronicles)by Lynn Austin is as the title implies a novel about God’s children turning from their worldly ways back to Him.

This is a book that requires not only some Biblical knowledge but also time to explore the various concepts woven within each chapter.  What makes a good novel is one that is pleasurable and makes you think unfortunately Return to Me (The Restoration Chronicles) was not as pleasurable as I would have liked.  

Perhaps if I had had time to read the first four chapters uninterrupted thereby developing the proper foundation I might have been able to appreciate this book a little more. Unfortunately, I had to reread the first chapter twice because of interruptions.

This is a book you are either going to love or find OK, which makes it a good book but not a great one.  I recommend this book; I would suggest you check the book out of the library. xxx Marsha L Randolph

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

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PATRIOTS OF TREASON by David Thomas Roberts

    A good book captivates the reader’s attention within the first two paragraphs, an excellent book is when the reader  reaches the last page and realizes he has not done anything but read the book the entire day.  Patriots of Treason by David Thomas Roberts is better than excellent, I caution the reader to make sure you start this book when you have plenty of time.

    Patriots of Treason is a politically incorrect novel based on a “what if”.  What if the first black president created a crisis in order to guarantee that he would win his second term? What if his Attorney General bypassed the constitution in order to destroy the Tea Party? What if the White House manipulated the truth in order to carry out their political agenda?  “What if” the federal government messed with Texas?  

    By the time I reached page 68 of this 299 page novel I could no longer contain myself, I posted the following on Facebook: “I am reading a totally awesome book! Reading fast so I can write the review: Patriots of Treason by David Thomas Roberts. Conservatives will love it, Tea Partiers will agree with it, Liberals need to read it but will hate it. Oh, it’s fiction!”  Needless to say, I did not cook dinner, I was compelled to read the entire book in one day.

    Half way through this book I was ready to move to Texas!  After reading “Patriots of Treason ”  by David Thomas Roberts  you will know why they say: “Don’t mess with Texas!”

Yes, I recommend you buy this book! And please let your friends know about it as well.  Remember it is Fiction but I don’t think certain people will like it!

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

DARK RULE

It is true that I have become bias when it comes to books written by D. I. Telbat, however, as with any book in a series there is an expectation from the reader that each book has to be better than the last and I have enjoyed the Coil Series thus far, though perhaps not as exciting as the first (nothing really is) it is still a good read.

“Dark Rule” the third book in the Coil Series by D. I. Telbat can better be appreciated if you have read” “Dark Liaison” and “DarkHearted” (books one and two respectively).  Since “Dark Vessel” will be released sometime this year I think it would be well worth the reader getting all three books now.

I have come to think of the Coil series as the “mission impossible” for Christians. The mission in this book  is to rescue Chen Li a COIL agent from the hands of evil.  Commission of International Laborers, a group of Christian individuals trained in to fight the powers of darkness in a non-deadly fashion use their skill on the most dangerous of places around the most violent people.

As with the other books in the series “Dark Rule” by D. I. Telbat is entertaining, suspenseful and suitable for all readers. It does not contain sex or extreme violence. Because this is the 3rd in a series the end becomes anti-climatic yet unlike the other books I was able to reflect on the bigger picture which is the plight of Christians throughout the world who do not have the freedom to worship openly.

 Despite my obvious bias I do recommend you read this book.  Though the reader will be able to follow the story without purchasing the first two in the series there will be a better appreciation for the essence of the series (the difficulties of Christian missionaries) if each book is read.

Though the book is available via Amazon I would highly recommend you download this eBook via SMASHWORDS

 I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. 

THE DISILLUSIONED BY D. J. WILLIAMS

    Some books you should not start unless you have time to finish it without interruption “The Disillusioned” by D. J Williams is one of them.  I declined an invitation from my husband to go out so that I could finish this book. Yes, it is better than good.

“You don’t just wake up one morning and decide to die.”

    What an ominous statement. (page 52 of my copy)  To answer this question Sam and Danny had to understand their mother’s will. How do you make sense out of something that does not make sense? Particularly when you believed you knew everything there was to know about your parents. How do you ascertain the truth when you do not know where to look? What would the truth look like; particularly after discovering that you believed in  an illusion?

     “The Disillusioned” is truly a well written novel filled with intrigue that just so happens to involve a church. Now there are jabs here and there about traditional religion and I think they were very appropriate, under the circumstances.  If you attend a mega-church put your sensitivity aside, no one is talking about you! The book is fiction.  If you hate big churches, please remind yourself that the book is fiction; this really did not happen even though it reads like a true life story. Get past the church thing and enjoy this very well crafted story of the individual journeys of 3 people who were destined to meet despite the circumstances.

Of course I recommend this book, it is to good to pass up! And I would suggest you purchase your own copy, don’t wait for it to come to a library.   MARSHA L. RANDOLPH 

I received a complimentary copy  in ebook format in exchange of an honest review.