Tag: book

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The Killing of Mummy’s Boy by Joan Ellis Review:

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author and Booklover Catlady Publicity in return for a fair and honest review.
Many thanks!

A fresh new take on the thriller genre takes form in The Killing of Mummy’s Boy, an incredible novel written by Joan Ellis. Written to feel like
a classic, 1970’s era murder/mystery British film, the novel follows Sandra, a young woman who’s son Carl is in the Witness Protection Programme.
Aboard a train, she meets a stranger, who’s past is steeped in murder. Unknown to her at the time, she reports a missing card on the phone and
gives out her personal information for Ben, the murderer she meets on the train, to hear. With her son on the run after helping put local
gangster Lee Elliot behind bars for murder, Sandra finds herself alone and afraid as this mysterious murderer now knows her address, and so much
more. Soon she is in a hair-raising, high-stakes game of life and death as someone begins breaking into her home, and she begins to cross paths
with Ben in several unexpected ways.

The artful way this book is written gives tribute to the rich culture of England, from the streets of London to the isolated countryside. The
internal struggle of Sandra is heart-pounding and emotional as well, allowing the reader to empathize and feel the pain she suffers as the story
progresses. What really sets this story apart from others is the great attention to detail, whether it’s through the settings of the story to the
chaotic character exchanges or the twists and turns in the story itself. The Killing of Mummy’s Boy is a phenomenal hit thriller for author
Joan Ellis, and the exploration of moral integrity, right and wrong and the true meaning of family are expertly explored throughout the novel.
Pick up your copy of The Killing of Mummy’s Boy by Joan Ellis today!

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The Fault In Our Stars by John Green Review:

OK, I’ve stopped crying long enough to write down this review. From the title you can tell why all the feels were happening for me. John Green’s
masterpiece novel, The Fault In Our Stars, tells the story of Hazel, a young girl diagnosed with a form of cancer and living a detached, lonely
life. However, she soon meets Augustus Waters, a cancer survivor who helps her realize the power of forming connections with others, even if
she fears hurting them when she passes. This is the base of the story, but there is so much more that makes this such a powerful and emotional
story.

Many are familiar with this story after the well known film adaption starring Shailene Woodley, but even if you haven’t seen the film, the book
is written in such a way that picturing the characters in your mind is like you are watching a film. Rather than fantasize the romance between
these two characters and paint a picture of overwhelming happiness, the book depicts the gruesome reality of the battle with cancer, both
physically and mentally, and the toll it takes on each individual. It deals with heavy issues, from family and love to mortality and leaving a
legacy of some sort. The very real way that the author writes this romance story helps the audience connect on a deeper level with the characters,
from the two leads to the most base secondary characters sprinkled throughout the novel.

By novel’s end, the realness of the story creates an emotional impact that very few books have done in the last decade. The character development
in this book is unique and original, creating mature teens feel real and refreshing rather than stick with the stereotypical teenager obsessed
with popularity or dating the cutest guy/girl in school. This is a real book that needs to be read, and sticks out as the strongest of John Green’s
novels to date. If you haven’t yet, read The Fault In Our Stars today!

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Black Widow: Forever Red By Margaret Stohl Review:

The Marvel Universe has expanded into the YA book genre with Margaret Stohl’s “Black Widow: Forever Red.” The story does a masterful job of
delving into the mysterious history of everyone’s favorite assassin turned S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, Natasha Romanoff. After a mission to stop the
man who broke, trained and turned her into a weapon ends with a young girl saved and the man supposedly killed, Natasha finds herself inexplicably
connected to the young girl she rescued. However, because she was trained to be an agent and not an open person who makes personal relationships,
Black Widow disappears from young Ava Orlova’s life, leaving her in S.H.I.E.L.D. custody. Years later, Ava is trying to fit in as a normal
teenager in Brooklyn, but her experiences and connections to her past has left her unable to let people past her own barriers.

Soon however, life get’s complicated for Ava. Children across Easter Europe have gone missing, and when Red Room technology is rumored to be
involved in the abductions, Black Widow fears her old teacher and tormentor may have survived their last encounter, and Ava might be the only
one who can stop him. Reemerging into the teen’s life, Black Widow and Ava must unravel the mystery and their pasts that remain in the dark
from even themselves, and will end up discovering a bigger mystery involving the dark-eyed teenage boy who walks through Ava’s dreams, sporting
an hourglass tattoo.

The mystery of this book’s story makes it one of the most thrilling political YA novels I’ve ever read. The way this book blends the thriller,
Cold War-era political mystery and YA romance genres is brilliant, and getting to learn more about this bad ass and strong character Natasha
Romanoff makes it addicting to read. Getting a chance to peel back the layers of the Black Widow’s history and mixing it with the governmental
politics of S.H.I.E.L.D. was a stellar storytelling technique, and fans of the Marvel universe will love the surprise characters involved in
the story, and the intimate look at a brand new character like Ava Orlova. The novel is filled with tons of action, romance and a fast-paced
plot that will leave you craving more by the last page. With a sequel in the works, Black Widow: Forever Red is a strong first entry in Margaret
Stohl’s Black Widow series, and Marvel has done an excellent job of entering the world of storytelling through novels. Pick up your copies today!

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The Night of Elisa by Isis Sousa Review:

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author and Booklover Catlady Publicity in return for a fair and honest review.
Many thanks!

If Penny Dreadful and American Horror Story were to be combined into one super project, it would look a lot like Isis Sousa’s “The Night of Elisa”.
This beautifully illustrated horror and suspense novel takes readers through a unique story in a Victorian era setting with a phenomenal
array of various characters. The story follows Elisa, a mysterious girl who is fleeing a troubled past, and Leonhard, the man who finds Elisa
but fears she’ll discover his dark history.

Taking the reader through an almost Beauty and the Beast style story with some more mature and
horror filled elements for sure, this is a story that needed to be told, and the cinematic and visual representation of the story through the
mixture of art and story makes this one of the most unique reads I’ve read in 2016. The interesting take on this story made it almost feel like
a classic novel written in the Gothic era the story is based on, as if it were a manuscript previously unknown to the world and recently discovered
by historians. That is the power of Isis Sousa, and her beautiful tale of Duskland and the characters in this mystery land is one of the most
original horror stories to come out in recent years. Visually, character development wise and settings wise, “The Night of Elisa” is a must
read novel that readers will be fully engrossed in, and this reviewer hopes to see a sequel to this incredible tale.

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Interview with Frank Freudberg:

1) Tell us a little about yourself and your book, Baby Please Don’t Go.


I’m a ghost writer, journalist and novelist. I’m married with one
teenage son and we live outside of Philadelphia. I’ve been writing all
my life. I’ve always loved writing and working for myself – even going
as far as dropping out of high school to pursue my craft. I believe in
Mark Twain’s adage: Never let your schooling interfere with your
education.

2) What was the inspiration for this novel?


My son – and every parent’s nightmare: losing a child, no matter how that loss may occur.

3) What would you say the biggest difference/challenge was between writing this novel and your previous novel, Find Virgil?


The two books are wholly different and Find Virgil is a pure thriller while Baby Please Don’t Go fits squarely in a non-existent genre some have called “modern noir romance.”

4) What or who inspired you to create the characters in this book, like Lock and Natalie?


The two characters you mention are amalgams of people I know, including a few people who I wish I didn’t know.

5) What authors or books helped inspire you and your writing?


Thomas Berger, author of 20 novels, including Little Big Man. I like to say he’s America’s greatest living novelist – however, I can’t say that as he died a year and a half ago.

6) What would you say interests you more from a writer’s perspective: developing the plot or the characters?


That’s
an easy one for me: characters. Once I have detected a heartbeat within
a character I’m trying to bring to life, the plot kind of suggests
itself. “Character is drama,” someone said. I agree.

7) What characters in Baby Please Don’t Go do you sympathize or identify with more than the others?


I most identify with Lock; I share some of his troubles and some of his joy.

8) Have you ever wanted to dabble in other genres besides the thriller genre, or is this a genre you are passionate about?


I
don’t feel like I need to stick with one genre. I love writing and I
write what presents itself to me. In both the novels mentioned in this
interview, I wrote the books and only then did I notice that (at least
one of them) might fit into an established genre. I’ve often wondered if
there’s a genre called, “Don’t Waste Your Time,” since that was the
sentiment of more than one Amazon reviewer. Speaking of Amazon
reviewers, I recently received a 1-star review that simply said,
“Haven’t read it yet.” I guess she’s clairvoyant.

9) If you could bring any of your characters to life and have a sit down chat with them, who would it be and why?


It would be Lock’s boy Augie. If I state why I’d want to chat with him, I’d be providing a spoiler, so, I can’t elaborate.

10) What advice would you give to any aspiring writers out there?


“Sit
in your chair and relentlessly put black on white” and, to quote
novelist Rita Mae Brown, “Don’t hope more than you’re willing to work.”

Thank
you so much for speaking with us, and I wish you luck with all your future endeavors.


Thank you, Anthony, for this opportunity to speak to you and your audience. Best regards,
Frank Freudberg