Category: reviews

Just Another Meat-Eating Dirtbag: A Memoir by Michael Anthony (Illustrated by Chai Simone Review

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are y own.

Author Michael Anthony takes readers on a journey of love and veganism as he searches for a way to maintain his relationship with his girlfriend as she dives further and further into “The Cause” in the graphic novel “Just Another Meat-Eating Dirtbag: A Memoir”.

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The Synopsis 

A rough-and-tumble Iraq War veteran is young and in love, and the last thing on his mind is food and the ethics of eating meat. But when his girlfriend becomes a vegetarian and animal rights activist, suddenly food is all he thinks about.

A true story of how love and vegetarianism can triumph over all else. Love, heartache, and the rest of the ingredients that make a reader laugh, smile, and stop-and-think, are all found in this enthralling graphic memoir. Amidst the stories of love and frustration, there are treatises on food, vegetarianism, and the ethics of the animal rights movement (some of it juxtaposed against Michael’s graphic wartime experiences). Told with Michael’s sardonic perspective and the delightful artwork of debut graphic novelist Chai Simone, this is a journey of true love gone temporarily astray.

The Review

This was such a unique and interesting read. The author did an incredible job of conveying real information and knowledge about the vegan and vegetarian lifestyle and how it can impact relationships while also infusing humor and wit into the narrative. The natural tone and atmosphere the author infuses into the story were great to see come to life. Typically in a memoir, the author has to work to infuse imagery into their stories, but the amazing artwork of Chai Simone did a great job of providing the warmth and depth this narrative held. 

Aside from the excellent utilization of the graphic novel format, what stood out to me was the deep emotional impact that this narrative had as well. The honesty and charm the author infused into the backstories of both himself and his girlfriend and the hardships they each had to overcome that led to their outlook on life (and subsequently the vegan/vegetarian lifestyle as a whole) was so profoundly moving and made the memoir feel more relatable and connected for many readers.

The Verdict

Thoughtful, gripping, and engaging, author Michael Anthony’s “Just Another Meat-Eating Dirtbag: A Memoir” is a must-read graphic novel meets nonfiction memoir of 2022. One of the top memoirs of the year, the author does an incredible job of finding his voice and infusing humor and emotion so seamlessly into the story of his relationship with both his girlfriend and his lifestyle as a whole and made this one book I didn’t want to put down. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Michael Anthonyis the author of the graphic memoir Just Another Meat-Eating Dirtbag: A Memoir,and the award-winning and acclaimed memoirs: Civilianized: A Young Veteran’s Memoir,and Mass Casualties: A Young Medic’s True Story of Death, Deception, and Dishonor in Iraq.

Michael’s writing has been called “strong … and starkly honest…”-Publisher’s Weekly, “Dark Humored,” –Kirkus, “smart and mordantly funny,” –Milwaukee Journal, and “gut punching…”–Mary Roach. He has appeared in several anthologies, and has written for The Washington Post, Business Insider, Signature-Reads, and The Good Men Project, where he served for a year as chief editor of the War & Veterans section.

He has been featured in several documentaries regarding military service, philosophy, and comedy, and he has worked as a military consultant for award-winning theater and art installations.

A graduate of Bridgewater State University, Michael also holds an MFA in creative writing from Lesley University. A former US army soldier, he currently lives with his wife in Massachusetts and spends his free time working with veterans.

Michael can be reached through his website: MichaelAnthonyAuthor.com

https://twitter.com/M_ichaelAnthony

Damnation and Cotton Candy by Alan S. Kessler Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn Blog Tours, Book Events, reviews2 Comments

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Author and poet Alan S. Kessler take readers on a journey of beauty and melancholy in his book “Damnation and Cotton Candy”.

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The Synopsis

A book of poetry from Alan S. Kessler, the award-winning author of the 2022 Eric Hoffer Finalist Ghost Dancer, and other books. These are poems best served with hot cocoa, melancholy, and a sharp knife.

The Review

This was such a profound and captivating collection of poetry. The author’s ability to weave macabre imagery and atmosphere into the poetry while offering commentary on life itself was so engaging for a reader to behold. The natural way the author is able to weave dark tones with profound emotions was truly inspiring to behold.

Yet to me, it was the way the imagery blended with the deep-seated themes of this narrative. From politics and warfare to hollow niceties between strangers and corporations as a whole, the message of finding hope is not in the materialism of our current world but in the philosophy and spirituality that exists just on the fringes of our society as a whole. 

The Verdict

Mesmerizing, haunting, and emotionally driven, author Alan S. Kessler’s “Damnation and Cotton Candy” is a must-read book of poetry. The imagery and atmosphere do a great job of portraying the capitalist machine of our world with the truly dark and macabre aspects of life, and readers will be hard-pressed to put this creative, artistic, and chilling book down. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Alan Kessler grew up in Columbus, Ohio. He says, “Childhood shapes us. Mine was, ironically, a gift. The sadism of my mother and the violence of my father, a murderer who died in prison, created within me a countervailing force, the ability to write empathetically about characters who, as Faulkner said, not merely endure but prevail.”

“Resilience isn’t an achievement, it exists as a matter of luck. I was lucky. I have a wonderful wife and four caring, intelligent children–even a dog,” according to Kessler. “I am blessed.”

https://www.alanskessler.com/

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Inertia by Mark Everglade Review

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

After discovering a conspiracy involving the increased speed of rotation for humanity’s last remaining colonial planet, a woman must seek help from her father, who never knew he had a daughter, and stop the geological effects on their planet before it plunged into darkness forever in author Mark Everglade’s “Inertia”.

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The Synopsis

Gliese 581g is the last remaining colony of the human race, located twenty light years from Earth. The planet was once tidal locked to its sun, with one side draped in darkness and the other half always bright. This changed after a radical group called O.A.K. increased the planet’s rotation to bring daylight cycles to all in the name of equality. All was not well, however, as decades passed, and new generations dealt with continual floods as the newfound sunlight melted the icecaps. Entire neighborhoods went aquatic from rising sea levels.

Soon, the planet was spinning out of control, with sunrises occurring every few hours.

Ash Rivenshear works as a geophysicist at Geosturm, a company contracted by the New Order to monitor the geological crisis. As she investigates the planet’s increasing rotation, she uncovers classified data indicating that someone is intentionally manipulating it to their own ends. An attack on her life is made to cover up the intel. After surviving, she contacts her estranged father for help, Severum Rivenshear. Having no idea he had a daughter, Severum agrees to help, but the tension of his absence throughout her life builds as he works to build a relationship with her.

Ash and her father discover a research lab where Severum uncovers a connection between Geosturm and the Old Guard, a scion of the now defunct Government of Evig Natt led by Eduardo Culptos. The Old Guard seek to restore their power over the hemisphere by accelerating the planet’s rotation at breakneck speed, exacerbating the negative ecological effects, as they convince the public that the planet was better off in darkness. They’re motivated by the wealth they obtained back when light was scarce and commodified, and seek a restoration of their influence. Severum catches glimpse of a scientist being held captive at the lab during his reconnaissance, but he’s forced to back down due to being outnumbered, and unable at the age of sixty-nine to fight efficiently due to his war injuries.

Severum approaches K.O.A., an offshoot of O.A.K., for help at their commune where he obtains equipment, and cybernetic upgrades to offset the effects of aging. Eventually, he learns that most of those effects were in his mind and not actual limitations.

The Review

This was such a thoughtful and captivating sci-fi read. The author does an incredible job of balancing the larger-than-life climate and the geological crisis of this fictional planet with the much more intimate personal crisis between a father and his daughter. The imagery the author conjures up in this book really emphasizes the crisis itself, as the opening pages highlight the damage done to this world with a mixture of flood and trash hitting the protagonist as she makes her way to work. The atmosphere and tension continuously ratchet up as the mixture of atmospheric suspense and action thriller bleed into this epic sci-fi narrative. 

Yet to me, this was a narrative that was only as engaging as it was thanks to the infusion of such a profoundly meaningful character direction for both protagonists. The heartbreak as Ash struggles to connect with her absentee father while Severum tries to be there for the daughter he never knew existed was incredible to read, as it added the human element that sci-fi reads of this caliber need. The themes of family, our own mortality, and how parents are compelled to protect their children are felt so profoundly in this novel.

The Verdict

Harrowing, thought-provoking, and entertaining, author Mark Everglade’s “Inertia” is a brilliant sci-fi novel and a great followup to the author’s book “Hemispheres”. The twists and turns that this narrative takes to mirror the life or death stakes perfectly of this global dilemma, and the personal story of this father and daughter duo will have readers invested until the book’s final pages. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

I was born a simple boy, simpler than the complex people around me. I studied them to reduce all that complexity, becoming more complex myself in the process, but I didn’t so much as gain a sense of myself, as lose my own nature. Today I know myself by what I am not. I blend idea and form, the negative and the positive, the conceptual and the real, as a master spice blender creates a hot curry, grinding and grinding in proper order, always looking for balance between volatile ingredients.

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Philosophers say meaning is just consistency and agreement. But I am not consistent. I am not agreeable. I reach out. My arms draw lines extending into space. Everything that extends is composed of smaller parts that also extend. At the end of all that extension there is still more extension. When I reach the end of all I reach for, I will still reach, I will still desire, because I am a fool. But I know that fool is to savant as zero is to one, each meaningless without the other, each undeserving of reverence or criticism. I accept myself, even as this paper pushes back at my pen with equal force, even as the environment pushes back at the force of my thoughts. For I can push much, much harder.

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As a child, I loved sci-fi, but felt that many books had no great impact on the world. At the age of 11 I began writing alternate endings to everything from The Legend of Zelda to X-Men episodes, tiny fingers flurrying over an ancient typewriter while blaring Bach on synth. Now I have published 13 short stories in competitive arenas, including one to be published in an anthology alongside cyberpunk legends Cory Doctorow and Walter Jon Williams, and have contracted three novels with traditional-model publishers.

Today I do not create characters. I do not tell stories nor am I an author. I never even outline books; if I knew how it was going to end I wouldn’t want to write it. I create realistic characters with realistic motivations and place them into environments rife with conflict. Then I sit back and watch as the characters come alive, as they tell me their stories. Cut their words and they will bleed. The best books let you escape reality for awhile — the best writing experiences should be the same way. All great art is psychosis.

I hold a Master’s of Science in Sociological Conflict Theory, and my ancestor invented psychology in the 19th century.

I am also a proud contributor to World Cyberpunk Day.

https://www.markeverglade.com/

https://twitter.com/MarkEverglade

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BFZP5VJL/ref=x_gr_w_glide_sin?caller=Goodreads&callerLink=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.goodreads.com%2Fbook%2Fshow%2F62837338-inertia%3Fac%3D1%26from_search%3Dtrue%26qid%3DIOkZ2x7Nvx%26rank%3D1&tag=x_gr_w_glide_sin-20

Dominion by John L. Ford Review

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

A man frustrated by the arrogance of academia pushes to curate a legacy for himself in the world of physics, and discovers something truly profound in author John L. Ford’s “Dominion”.

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The Synopsis

Where the corrosive power of time failed, Dominion begins. Unable to wear down the chains of grief left in the wake of losing her and stuck in the quagmire of postmortem morosity, Colton is on the verge of hanging his legacy upon the gallery walls of dimmed mediocrity in the museum of unknown history. Then, it happens. A flash of insight, as though spoken from the grave, it becomes the guiding light; one desperately needed to reinvent purpose and meaning. It is so much of what she meant to him shining through, that internal voice from the past, that it strikes him with an idea so profound it could only result in the ensuing research. Is it fiction or reality? Leonardo da Vinci visualized flying machines, and the essential aspects of that ‘fiction’ became fact. And just as the genetics of his ideas evolved into man-made dragonflies and humming birds, Colton Reinholt, a physicist, with a unique mind for synthesis, drafts an idea, too. Borrowed by observation of actual physiological biology, he uses solid state physics to reconstruct a natural paradigm only ever achieved by evolution’s miracle, the human mind. Thus, what emerges in this physical and ethereal journey simply must carry more than mere soupcon of riveting plausibility. So, through accelerating technological forces on the world often charging boldly before compunction, we are compelled by our own evolution to satisfy an unstoppable desire for discovery. What is really meant by the phrase, ‘Artificial Intelligence’? This is what we adventure through experimental exploration into the energy of the mind. What begins as an innocent thought experiment, frolicsome dabbling fuses with technical know-how and its synthesis results in a fantastic gestalt. By bridging disparate scientific disciplines, it ultimately gives rise to a power that may either become benevolent or malevolent. For despite all human conceits, the answer to the question of good versus evil is not one we are capable to define.

The Review

This was a mind-blowing and thought-provoking read. The author does an incredible job of crafting a narrative that felt both complex and engaging, challenging the reader to think beyond the immediate plot and delve into the fascinating theories and structures of the world around us on a whole new level. The imagery and atmosphere the author curated really felt visceral and brought the reader into this world that felt equal parts science fiction and scientific theory.

The complex nature of the themes and narrative itself paired perfectly with the complexity of the characters and their journey, as the reader felt connected to Colton’s experiences and his pursuits while also recognizing the implications his work had on our understanding of the universe and consciousness itself as a whole. The slow-down pacing of the narrative allowed the reader to really connect with the science and theories that the author presented through this plot, making this a one-of-a-kind sci-fi read.

The Verdict

Mesmerizing, engaging, and thoughtful in its approach, author John L. Ford’s “Dominion” is a must-read sci-fi novel. The twists and turns in the narrative and the complexity of both the themes and characters will have readers fully immersed in the story, and the mindful approach to the actual science behind the sci-fi will have readers questioning their understanding of the universe themselves. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

John is deeply fascinated by all that is discovery, with an insatiable lust for turning the corners of life just to see what is there. From his native education and acumen in Meteorology, to the countless hours in free-time spent ogling and exploring sciences such as Geology, Biology, Astronomy, Physics, or the myriad of sub-classical disciplines therein, these pass-times also inspire his unrestrained imagination. An energy for story-telling combined with natural ability for speculation and synthesis, he often postulates on his own, only to find one day that research substantiated his own idea. This ability creates a unique visionary mind, one able to construct science-fiction fantasies that in a lot of ways seem eerily plausible. His belief is: The art of creating the believable, is not in inventing the science that proceeds it; it is using real science of the real world to invent the purposes and devices. This naturally evokes the same wonder and awe in the mind of the reader, who is thus impelled to journey further into the story. It is hoped, leaving them in a state of consternation as to what can plausibly come of this ever modernizing world; and looking toward the futures as a technologically advancing species – we are one that is apparently only limited by our own poor judgment and lack of foresight to serve as our guides. And so we live in an era that is rife with potential for mishap and unintended consequences, from incubating super pathogens, to constructing deep-field astronomy technologies that could one day attract unwanted guests, to artificial technology and war-machines that run amok and prove to possess a will that endemically comes into conflict with the creators’. These are tropes at this point. The novel intrigue is in the human cost in lacking vision, where the ingenuity of creative problem solving gives birth to unique wonders, too often in conflict with the evolution of the same force that created them. He spends a lot of his waking private thoughts in wonder, seeking answers to these very same questions. These are stories John likes to explore, spending time in blogging and sharing on science-related social media, as well as bouncing ideas of his various sphere’s of friends and love ones. These same influences have urged him through the years to put these ideas down in writing, and so we have an author that borrows from the actual, to formulate arresting questions of the ‘what if.’

Between February and November by Patti Lee Review

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

A woman discovers the impossible as she witnesses her marriage hanging on the verge of destruction and she must discover whether it can be saved in author Patti Lee’s “Between February and November”.

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The Synopsis

From Firebird Book Award winning author, Patti Lee, her debut novel “Between February and November” delves into the messy uncertainty of long-term marriages. Being in the wrong place at the right time can change your life in an instant.

That February morning started out like any other; Layla Ranker got her kids ready for school and her husband off to work before she went to work herself. It went downhill from there. An unfortunate event took her two towns away from home where she happened to see her husband, Alan, with a young, attractive woman going into a hotel.

Devastated, Layla contemplates the last twenty years of her life and wonders if Alan regrets marrying her right after high school. Old wounds are opened as she struggles to figure out what went wrong.

Can they rekindle what they once had?

The Review

This was a tense and emotional read. The author did a fantastic job of crafting a narrative that felt both realistic and engaging to the reader. The tension and atmosphere the author built around the cast of characters really heightened the imagery that made this story feel more cinematic and dramatic in its delivery.

The characters were the true heart of this story. The way the author showcased the point of view of the three main players in this story and woven the backstories of these characters from their pasts into the development of these drastic turns of events in the present made this feel both grounded and mesmerizing in its delivery. The themes of love, loss, and relationships, in general, were so profoundly felt in this book and made me feel connected to the characters and their hardships in this tale.

The Verdict

Heartfelt, emotional, and thoughtful in its approach, author Patti Lee’s “Between February and November” is a must-read contemporary women’s fiction and family drama novel of 2022. The relatability of these characters and the heartbreak surrounding the situations they face all culminate in some twists and turns that make the readers feel shocked at the turn of events that this narrative takes. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Patti Lee brings women’s fiction stories to life, tapping into the hopes and sometimes fears of readers. Her debut novel, Between February and November, due to be released in 2022, placed in the top 10 in Notebook Publishing’s #IndieApril contest. An award-winning essay writer, her creative non-fiction has been included in Crone Rising by Jazz House Publications, and her short story, The Ward House, was included in the Of Cottages and Cauldrons autumn anthology, also by Jazz House Publications.

Patti Lee is currently putting the finishes touches on her second novel. When she’s not writing or playing with her grandkids, she dabbles in acrylic painting. She is a groupie of singer-songwriter Josh Ritter and alt/folk duo Parsonsfield but has also been known to play the soundtrack to Hamilton on repeat. She currently resides in Vermont, where she has more cats than throw pillows. Read more about her and her writing at http://pattileewriter.com. You can find her on Twitter @pattiauthor and Instagram @authorpattilee.

https://www.pattileewriter.com/

https://twitter.com/PattiAuthor

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BKDTKKDL/ref=x_gr_w_glide_sin?caller=Goodreads&callerLink=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.goodreads.com%2Fbook%2Fshow%2F63116331-between-february-and-november%3Fac%3D1%26from_search%3Dtrue%26qid%3DJtyXLaVxA4%26rank%3D2&tag=x_gr_w_glide_sin-20

Teddy Loves Spaghetti (The Adventures of Teddy) by Christine Milkovic Krauss Review

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Author Christine Milkovic Krauss takes young readers on a journey to learn about pet care and nutrition through the adventures of a rescue cat in the book “Teddy Loves Spaghetti”, the second book in The Adventures of Teddy children’s book series. 

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The Synopsis

Teddy Loves Spaghetti is the second book in the Adventures of Teddy series. Teddy is our real life rescue pet who lost his ears to frostbite and just happens to have a serious love for pasta!! This book uses humour to educate children about nutrition, alternatives to food based rewards, pet care and introduction to diabetes awareness.

The Review

This was a fun and educational read. The author did a fantastic job of finding a way to be fun and heartwarming with the characters while also providing a detailed and engaging look into the world of nutrition for both humans and pets alike. The fun imagery the illustrator brought to life captured these tones perfectly, and the pacing of the story felt perfect for the young reader audience.

The book was definitely driven by the educational aspect of this narrative. The author’s focus on not only nutrition but the impact of diabetes on our pets as well was inspiring. Having known people throughout my life who haven’t always known the best or most appropriate foods to give their pets, the author’s message to younger readers is the perfect way to integrate this knowledge at an early age. 

The Verdict

Entertaining, informative, and fun, author Christine Milkovic Krauss’s “Teddy Loves Spaghetti” is the perfect children’s book story and a must-read next entry into this brilliant children’s book series. The heartfelt and engaging delivery of this information and the rich characters the author introduces in this story will have readers hooked instantly. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Everybody has a story. More importantly; every person is deserving of friendship, kindness and acceptance. Teddy Loses His Ears is a non-fiction story about my real life rescue cat who lost his ears to frostbite while being homeless in negative 50 degree temperatures in central Canada.

All of the books in the Teddy series will highlight educational points about pet care, support inclusivity and celebrate being different together. Teddy Loses His Ears is the introduction book to the series and touches on self esteem and disability awareness. Each illustration in the story is hand painted and even has a Teddy’s favourite toy hidden on every page for children to find! This story was created to raise awareness for rescue organizations and promote, adopt vs shop, to find your purr-fect family pet.

In addition to being a pet lover and cat mom, I am also a mom of two primary school aged children.

These books could never have come to life without their inspiration, a tribe of supportive humans and of course, Book Club. 

https://cmkauthor.wixsite.com/christinemilkovic

Cut From Stone by Brendan O’Meara Review

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

A teenager living in a world split in half between two different factions is chosen to be one of several teens to be transformed into elite soldiers in author Brendan O’Meara’s “Cut From Stone”. 

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The Synopsis

The world is fresh from humanity splitting in half – the BlankZone in the East and the Federation in the West. As an inevitable attack from the BlankZone looms, the Federation makes swift, mysterious, and unexpected moves to prepare.

James, a 17-year-old living in the Federation, is drafted by the military. He learns he has been selected to join a group of skilled teens who will be transformed into elite human weapons. Follow James and his friends as they mature from teenagers to lethal warriors. Together, they will face life altering events as they navigate a new existence dedicated to protecting their friends, families, and humanity at all costs. 

The Review

This was a brilliant YA Sci-Fi and Dystopian read. The author did an incredible job of layering the narrative with world-building and an atmosphere that took on the quality of futuristic historical fiction in many ways. The tension and drama that the author brought to life did an incredible job of highlighting the struggles of this dystopian future in which our world is divided, and the detailed way the settings were brought to life really made this world feel alive and realistic in a lot of ways.

Yet to me, the biggest draw of this novel was the author’s incredible character growth for his cast of characters and the pacing of the action itself. While a military dystopian YA read, the book did a great job of keeping the narrative more character-driven than action, allowing the more bloody aspects of this narrative to be something alluded to or trained for before actually heading into the thick of things. The relatability of the characters and the complex journey the protagonist in particular goes on allows readers to really become invested in his struggles and keeps the reader grounded in this new reality fully.

The Verdict

Harrowing, entertaining, and captivating, author Brendan O’Meara’s “Cut From Stone” is a great first chapter in the author’s “Crafting Humanity” series and a brilliant must-read sci-fi and YA dystopian read. The twists and turns in this world and the physical and emotional toll this adventure takes on the chosen teens allow for a more personal and driven approach to the genre than ever before, and readers will be hard-pressed to put this book down. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Raised in White Plains, New York, Brendan O’Meara formed a love of stories and books from a young age. He has spent his free time over the last decade crafting his debut novel, Cut From Stone, book one in the Crafting Humanity series.

It began in Philadelphia where he attended college daydreaming about a dystopian reality. With a vivid imagination (as described by his middle school teachers) and a passion for adventure, Brendan’s novels will transport you to a different life and capture you from cover to cover.

Brendan lives in Washington, DC with his daughter, wife, and two dogs. You will find him on the weekends drinking a beer watching the Packers and Notre Dame football games. He is an avid reader with a specific interest in sci-fi, anything dystopian, fantasy, history, and all levels of fiction.

Brendan would love to hear from you, feel free to contact him any time at brendan.omeara@craftinghumanity.com.

Follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Amazon.

https://www.cutfstone.com/

https://twitter.com/cutfstone

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B788Q3QX/ref=x_gr_w_glide_sin?caller=Goodreads&callerLink=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.goodreads.com%2Fbook%2Fshow%2F62063908-cut-from-stone%3Fac%3D1%26from_search%3Dtrue%26qid%3D00QYLqM3k8%26rank%3D2&tag=x_gr_w_glide_sin-20

Love Soars the Skies: A Mother’s Quest to Reach Her Son by Linda Ann Jones Review

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

A mother must learn not only how to cope with the grief of losing her son, but how to utilize the heartbreak that comes with that loss to see beyond the world we know and understand the hidden world that resides just beyond our perception in author Linda Ann Jones’s “Love Soars the Skies: A Mother’s Quest to Reach Her Son”.

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The Synopsis

A mother’s love lasts for all eternity.

Grief struck — paralyzing, debilitating — the day she prayed would never come.

The personal story of how one mother coped, to find answers and to somehow make sense of it. She knew that to reach her son in the place he now resides was her only hope.

This book will not tell you how to deal with the unfathomable grief of losing a child. It invites you to explore a bigger picture.

No one understands the complexities of drug addiction. But what if it was a plan all along? To learn, experience, and grow. Earth and heart have the same letters. What if it’s through heartbreak that we grow the most?

There is more to this world than meets the eye, and new vision is required to see past the paradigms that bind us.

Through her son, the author discovers extraordinary signs and synchronicities, some of which are supernatural.

This much is sure. There is an invisible world that we cannot see with our mere five senses. But we can sharpen our vision, to glimpse the wonders of eternity in all its powerful glory, and realize the mighty bond of love that forever weaves and sustains it. For love is the abiding force that connects the entire universe.

And absolutely nothing will ever diminish the unrivaled magnificence of a mother’s love.

The Review

This is truly an emotional and captivating read. The author’s writing really allows the reader to feel the depth of emotions that she felt and continues to feel after the loss of her son. The imagery and artistry of the author’s writing style really captured the impact of both this loss and the journey that she went on in the wake of that loss, and the subtle tones of hope and meaning lay amongst the waves of sadness that the author had to overcome really captured me as I read further and further into this journey.

Yet for me, the author’s striking balance between memoir, biography, and spiritualism as a whole really made this nonfiction read feel more profound. The way the author delved into the powerful themes of drug addiction, grief, and the meaning of death and life as a whole were perfectly elevated by the study of more supernatural elements in the author’s journey, such as the synchronicities that occurred in the wake of this tragedy and the search for communication on the other side that defined her grieving process.

The Verdict

A memorable, engaging, and heartbreaking story of love, parenthood, loss, and our place in the world, author Linda Ann Jones’s “Love Soars the Skies” is a must-read nonfiction memoir and spiritual book. Bringing the heart and deep impact that the loss of a child gives to parents at any age, the author instantly connects with the reader and allows us all to walk in her shoes on this journey of hers to make some sort of sense of this tragedy, and in that same vein understand the unexplainable nature of our world altogether. If you haven’t yet, please be sure to read this book immediately.

10/10

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About the Author

Linda Ann Jones grew up in beautiful upstate New York which probably had something to do with her love for poetry. Quite unexpectedly, that eventually led her to write an award-winning children’s book series titled Alphabet Anatomy. In 2014, she became a grieving mother, which led her on a path to reach her oldest son in the place he now resides. She and her family live in sunny Arizona with three lively dogs and one remarkable cat. Her motto for writing has always been, “Say what’s in your heart, and touch someone else’s.”

https://lajones.allauthor.com/

The Alphabet Anatomy Rap is on You Tube! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxxZsC-70jg

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BH6Y8TNL/ref=x_gr_w_glide_sin?caller=Goodreads&callerLink=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.goodreads.com%2Fbook%2Fshow%2F62882247-love-soars-the-skies%3Fac%3D1%26from_search%3Dtrue%26qid%3DOMm2pKvrk8%26rank%3D3&tag=x_gr_w_glide_sin-20

Beyond the Father (gods on Trial: The Series Book One) by Opëshum Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviews3 Comments

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

As a mysterious god on a distant planet watches as conflict arises in multiple sectors of this alien world, a far great threat looms and one young prince’s vision quest may change the course of their story in author Opëshum’s “Beyond the Father”, the first book in the gods on Trial series!

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The Synopsis

Beyond the Father” sets the scene for the 8-book Sci-Fi Epic “gods on Trial: The Series,” delving into life’s determination to transcend all limitation.  Set on the planet Xżyber, citizens of the Sub-Median Region, imperfectly reborn into metal, oppress those who are organic.  Elsewhere, in the Central Kingdom, religion supports royalty’s brutal domination of the lowest class.  War over scarce resources is coming, revolution within each region is brewing, and none know of the eccentric god who created them. This being watches, has fascinating conversations with his often-wiser companion, occasionally learns, and rarely intervenes.  The many levels and threads of struggle distract nearly all from a far greater threat.  Meanwhile, the young Prince Anglid’s vision quest into the unexplored Area X may ultimately change everything.  However, just when you think you know the direction of the story, the author has yet another surprise.

The Review

This was such a rich and captivating read. The author did an incredible job of building a unique and layered narrative with the equally layered mythos. The multiple POVs from such different characters and entities in this narrative allowed the reader to really get a sense of the struggles and power dynamics that this world held. The amount of detail and backstory the author poured into this story within such a short amount of pages was astounding, including the glossary of terms the author procured to make this world feel even more alive on the page.

Yet it was the beautiful fusion of sci-fi and fantasy along with the powerful themes of religion’s influence on politics, the improper balance of the class systems, and our place in the world as a whole that made this story really come alive. The varying arcs of each character allowed not only for this dynamic world to come alive, but to highlight the problems and emotional weight of each faction highlighted in this narrative. The blend of sci-fi tech and the alien world with the more epic elements of fantasy and mythology was great to see, but at the end of the day, the way the author highlighted how despite our class systems separating us, we are all individuals at our core, and each suffers from our own sources of distress and worries, was amazing to read.

The Verdict

Captivating, engaging, and thought-provoking, author Opëshum’s “Beyond the Father” is a fantastic first book in the gods on Trial series and a brilliant sci-fi and fantasy fusion. The twists and turns this narrative takes and the shocking twist ending will have readers clamoring for more, and the dynamic world the author has crafted leaves an incredible wealth of room for future installments in this series. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Opëshum has been writing since she was a child, and believes that authors are selected by their characters to bring their stories to the world. Incredibly shy and introverted, Opëshum does not make public appearances. She prefers to remain behind the scenes as the characters in her books take center stage. Her current work, the 8-Book SciFi Epic gods on Trial: The Series™ kicks off with Book 1, BEYOND THE FATHER.  

Opëshum calls Sheridan, Wyoming her home, where she is currently writing Book 2 of this series. She lives in a modest Cape Cod dwelling on 3 acres of land where she lets a robust variety of sunflowers grow wild and untamed, while Aloe Vera and other succulents decorate almost every ledge within her house. An avid writer in the early morning and late at night, Opëshum often works on her manuscripts in rooms lit only by homemade candles.

She enjoys nature walks, full moons, and open spaces where she can stare up at the stars. 

“I live my life in the shadows, and I am shy. For I know that my appearance is not pleasing to the eye.” – Opëshum Patroz

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