Tag: literature & fiction

Redneck Riviera by James Hooker Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

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

A man coming out of a high-powered job in California must adjust to life on a small island off the coast of North Carolina in author James Hooker’s “Redneck Riviera”. 

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The Synopsis

After being laid off from his executive job with a California high-tech company, a man and his wife decide to leave the “rat race” and move to a tropical island on the coast of North Carolina. The culture of the island and its people are completely different from this cosmopolitan couple, who struggle to adapt to the island’s Southern, down-home, Redneck residents.

From food to local traditions, the author documents his humorous journey, in a classic tale of a “clash of cultures.”

What could possibly go wrong when Yankee meets Redneck?

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The Review

This was such a compelling and thoughtful narrative. The author does a great job of balancing what feels like their own personal experiences with hilarious and engaging scenarios unique to the island they find themselves on. The fast pace of the narrative and the relatability of the character’s arcs in this story felt like a great way of drawing the reader in. The overall atmosphere and character arc themselves felt like something pulled out of the cult classic film My Cousin Vinny, embracing the city slicker fresh out of the water feeling when the protagonist arrives in the slower-paced, humorous landscape of the South.

The dynamic character development and the powerful theme of embracing the unexpected made this a fantastic story to get lost in. The juxtaposition of the protagonist and his mindset with how things operate within the Southern culture was perfectly presented here, and the way this journey takes off so suddenly and the couple here are thrown into this journey through adventure. Engagement kept the reader invested in the story’s development.

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The Verdict

Remarkable, hilarious, and engaging author James Hooker’s “Redneck Riviera” is a must-read novel. The threading of multiple storylines and exploring culture shock throughout the story will keep readers invested in this short yet potent novel. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

James Hooker spent over thirty years in research and technology in California’s Silcon Valley. He is a former senior executive in global sales and has travelled extensively throughout North America, Asia Pacific, Japan and Europe. He and his wife have been married for 21 years and make their home in Rhode Island.

Satirical & Humorous Stories

Parade of Streetlights by Itua Uduebo Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

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

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A young man from Nigeria discovers what it means to be a millennial in America in author Itua Uduebo’s “Parade of Streetlights”.

The Synopsis

Life is lived between the checklists

Parade of Streetlights is a captivating exploration of the millennial experience. Following a significant incident from his youth in Lagos, Kolawole Idowu always had a haunting desire to return to Nigeria and commit his time to making a difference. Within the course of a year, Kola explores his adopted home of New York City and all aspects of his world with candor and humor. Kola is both self-conscious and observant as he encounters people on the streets of NYC and constantly struggles with the idea of what it means to be himself. 

A quarterlife manifesto for the modern malaise

Parade of Streetlights is a deeply personal and introspective debut novel from author Itua Uduebo told in vignettes and featuring characters who are working through many personal absurdities. This is a novel about the choices we make, the ways we restrict ourselves needlessly, and the freedom of embracing the authentic pursuit of happiness. Kola’s voice is a welcome addition to the literary canon and his story will stay with you long after the last page is finished.

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The Review

This was a compelling and engaging read. The balance of creative storytelling and impactful and thematic writing kept the reader invested in the author’s narrative. The rich imagery in the author’s writing allowed the setting to flourish and come to life around the characters. It made NYC feel almost new and inviting as readers gained a new perspective generationally and from a Nigerian immigrant.

The character development was the heart of this story, as the author crafted a protagonist that brought the Nigeria component and the millennial concept to life through Kola. His unique viewpoint of the events of this book, as well as his journey of self-discovery and exploration of what home means to him, made this a memorable read.

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The Verdict

Memorable, heartfelt, and insightful author Itua Uduebo’s “Parade of Streetlights” is a must-read coming-of-age story that not only gives the millennial a voice but captures what it means to be a millennial in America today. The twists and turns in the story of Kola and the remarkable heart that the author poured into this narrative made this a story readers won’t soon forget. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your very own copy of this novel today.

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Itua was born in Lagos, Nigeria, graduated from Georgetown University with a degree in International Politics, and resides in New York, NY. He is currently working in the financial technology industry. His writing journey began in his college years and to date he has several essays, articles, freeform poems, and short stories published online and in print. His focuses are new adult fiction, urban literature, science fiction, thrillers, politics, racial justice, culture, and global affairs. Currently working on his second novel manuscript and always looking to take on new creative challenges.

Find Itua online at:

Website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok

The Garden of Mercy by Myriana Merkovic 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. 

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A young woman seeking redemption utilizes the power and language of flowers to help others in author Myriana Merkovic’s “The Garden of Mercy”.

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The Synopsis

The Garden of Mercy is a heart-rending coming-of-age novel about families lost and found, belonging, and finding meaning in places where fragrances stay.

If you knew the secret powers of flowers, would you use their spells to change lives?

Mercy knows humans aren’t the only beings capable of emotions and acts of compassion; flowers can also feel and do good deeds. And there are sweet-scented killers for those who won’t be saved. Mercy knows them all intimately.

Raised by a Bible-thumping mother and shunned by her peers for her peculiarity, she finds refuge in the neighboring woodlands, where she learns the secret language of flowers and the power of plants. As she grows, so does her curiosity, sense of smell, and use of the flowers’ skills to solve quandaries: Aster for patience, borage for courage, dandelion for anger…. But everything changes the day she gathers the wicked purple flower and considers the unthinkable…

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Now a young woman, Mercy finds she isn’t alone in struggling with the wounds of her past; the quirky residents of a dilapidated Victorian mansion where she works are, too. Yearning for redemption—theirs and hers—she conjures a miraculous garden where scents mend broken hearts. As the flowers come to life, healing begins for all but one, leaving Mercy with an impossible dilemma. How far is she willing to go this time? How much is she willing to risk? What he asks of her isn’t a small feat; she could lose it all: a family found, a place where she belongs, love….

Enchanting and searingly honest, The Garden of Mercy will make you look at the world differently and question your beliefs about everything.

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The Review

This was an absolutely moving and heartfelt read. The way the author can draw upon the unique and wonderful world of flowers and their inherent power in the world and the use of powerful imagery in the author’s writing allowed the flowers and the fantastic character development to become very cinematic in quality on the page. 

The theme surrounding this story of life, death, and the love connection between them both was so well represented in this narrative, not only in the protagonist’s journey in her past and present but also in the complexity of the flowers themselves, from the unassuming flowers that heal to the deadly yet beautiful flowers that kill. The growth and change that the protagonists underwent throughout their journey kept the reader invested in the story.

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The Verdict

Heartfelt, memorable, and thoughtful, author Myriana Merkovic’s “The Garden of Mercy” is a must-read coming-of-age tale, filled with mystery, tension, and notes of hope that helps showcase the power of found family and the lengths we are willing to go to keep that family intact. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Myriana Merkovic was born in Africa, educated in Europe, and later emigrated to America, the land she fell in love with at ten. Her journey in the medical field and across continents gave her an appreciation of life’s frailty and nature’s ingenuity. She lives in Florida with her husband, her four-legged children, and a menagerie of backyard tenants. This is her third novel.

The Good Shepherd by Saulius Arbocius Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

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

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Author Saulius Arbocius takes readers on a personal journey through the lens of a parable involving a sheep and his relationship with his shepherd in the book “The Good Shepherd”. 

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The Synopsis

This story draws inspiration from Jesus’ powerful parable of the lost sheep. Just as the sheep in the parable was lost and in need of rescue, so too are we often lost in the storms of life, desperately searching for comfort and a safe haven.

Just as the Good Shepherd came to the rescue of the lost sheep, so too does Jesus come to our aid in our times of need. His love and grace are always available to us, even in our darkest moments.

Throughout the narrative, we witness scenes where the lost sheep, wandering aimlessly and feeling adrift in the world. But through her journey, she discovers the power of faith and redemption, finding solace in the loving arms of the Good Shepherd.

This story is not merely a tale of a lost sheep, but a meditation on the nature of God’s love and the transformative power of faith. It is a reminder that no matter how lost or alone we may feel, we are never truly beyond the reach of the Good Shepherd’s mercy.

Come and join this tale, and journey together to uncover the depths of a life lived in faith. Allow the beauty and wonder of the divine to envelop you as the story unfolds, and feel the transformative power of its message reverberate within your heart and soul.

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The Review 

This was a creative and inspiring read. The author’s use of allegory in retelling this classic Christian parable was great to see come alive. The insights that readers can gain from this small sheep and his journey of discovery make this book feel more connected than most others in this genre. 

Although not religious, this book’s inspiration within the reader allows readers from all walks of life to resonate and engage with the narrative. The hopeful undertones of the story and the sense of identity and love that the narrative explores will be profoundly felt throughout this book.

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The Verdict

Heartfelt, engaging, and inspiring author Saulius Arbocius’s “The Good Shepherd” is a must-read book. The touching moments as the narrator communes both with nature and the shepherd and the engaging moments of the story will sit with readers long after the book ends. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today.

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Hello, I’m Saulius Arbocius, born on June 6, 1978, in the heart of Lithuania’s summer. My journey began with an innate curiosity to understand the divine. Growing up in a serene countryside, I sensed the presence of God through nature, igniting a lifelong quest for deeper knowledge.

Embracing my passion, I embarked on a path that led me to the Catholic priesthood. Theology, with its profound intricacies, captured my heart and mind, and I remain enamored by its depth. My formative years were marked by transformative seminars, evangelization, and enlightening mission schools.

After completing my theological studies and becoming a deacon, I decided to embark on a new chapter, opting to shift my focus to family life. After getting dispensation from Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, me and my cherished wife and two children, found a different yet equally profound way to serve God and the Church. Since 2013, we’ve made our home in the UK.

In service to my faith, I guide adults in sacramental preparation, lead seminars, and am currently devoted to the art of writing. My passion for theological exploration continues unabated, and my current endeavor involves sharing my insights through the pages of books. Each word I write is a testament to my unwavering commitment to understanding and illuminating the spiritual journey we all undertake.

Dollybird by Anne Lazurko 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 young woman with dreams of working in medicine is forced out of her home and into the wild after she becomes pregnant out of wedlock in early 20th century Saskatchewan in author Anne Lazurko’s “Dollybird”. 

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The Synopsis

Housekeeper—or whore?

Twenty-year-old Moira, the daughter of a Newfoundland doctor, dreams of becoming a doctor herself; but when she becomes pregnant out of wedlock, she is banished to the bleak landscape of southern Saskatchewan in 1906. There, she must come to terms with her predicament, her pioneer environment, and her employment as a “dollybird,” a term applied to women who might be housekeepers, whores—or both.

A saga of birth, death, and the violent potential of both men and the elements, Dollybird explores the small mercies that mean more than they should under a vast prairie sky that waits, not so quietly, for people to fail.

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The Review

This was a visceral, captivating, and engaging historical fiction read. The author did a wonderful job of using imagery and atmosphere to their advantage, taking readers deep into the past to experience the hardships and struggles of life in the west. The grit and harsh conditions of the atmosphere during those times added to the wealth of struggles the protagonist faced, and really brought the era to life in the reader’s mind so perfectly.

Yet it was the powerful themes of double standards found between the expectations of men and women during those times, and how misogyny has plagued our world for so long, that really drew me into the narrative. The violence and cruelty of men and the unfair expectations placed upon women to fit a particular mold in society and live a certain way to be considered “civilized” was felt through every chapter of this book, and it was through protagonist Moira that the reader really felt the strength and resilience of her journey. The way she fought for what she believed in and made her own way in the world despite her “banishment” and yet found the means to learn the skills to survive in the wilds of the frontier made this a compelling read.

The Verdict

Visceral, captivating, and entertaining, author Anne Lazurko’s “Dollybird” is a must-read historical fiction novel. The twists and turns in the narrative will keep readers hanging onto the author’s every word, and the memorable themes will resonate with readers today in a very profound and heartfelt way. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Anne Lazurko is an award-winning novelist, a no-awards farmer and a sometimes poet. As the youngest of six daughters born to Dutch immigrants, she grew up with a nuanced view of people and their stories.

‘What Is Written on the Tongue’ (April/22 ECW Press) was shortlisted for the Glengarry Book Award. Her first novel ‘Dollybird’ won the Willa Award for Historical Fiction and Anne received a 2018 Saskatchewan Foundation for the Arts Literary Award.

A graduate of the Humber Creative Writing program, Anne is published in literary magazines and anthologies. An active editor, mentor and teacher in the prairie writing community, she writes from her farm on Treaty 4 territory in Saskatchewan. 

WHAT IS WRITTEN ON THE TONGUE, a novel

The Archivist by V.S. Nelson Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

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

The last Archivist who sells his services as a soul harvester to others in order to preserve their dying loved ones finds himself embroiled in a deadly plot after a teenage boy tricks him into murder, and as a suicidal cult dies at his feet, an ancient power begins to hunt him down in author V.S. Nelson’s “The Archivist”.

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The Synopsis

Death is not the end.

There is no God waiting for you in paradise. No afterlife where friendships severed by death are reformed and families reunited. There is only the Aether, a dimension of insatiable hunger that will possess you no matter the life you led.

Yet there is hope for a lucky few. Archivists, existing between the world of the living and the world of the dead, can offer salvation… for a price. Taking your essence in the final moments before death, they become your afterlife, allowing you to speak with those who remain.

When the last archivist is tricked into murder by troubled teenager, Sun-young Kang, he finds himself the centre of a suicidal cult that die at his feet. But there is more to these deaths than the Archivist realises. Someone is coming for him.

The Archivist may be the closest thing to a god that walks the Earth, but is that enough to keep those he cares about safe?

The Archivist is an incredibly rich novel with a truly original concept. It is cinematic in its scope and details the haunting, but also beautiful, gift an archivist could offer a person in their final moments.

The Review

This was such a brilliant and unique read. The author did an incredible job of crafting a mythos and world that felt both alive and new in its identity. The emotional depth of the narrative was greatly felt, as readers felt the character’s struggles with loss and the concept of death and the afterlife as a whole. The heavy atmosphere and tension that came with that reality were both relatable and original in their delivery. 

The character arcs of this narrative and how they played into the evolving mythos surrounding the Aether and the Archivists were incredible to watch. The complexity of the Archivist itself and how it holds so many other essences within itself while maintaining some sort of autonomy was so thought-provoking and unique. Yet it was the emotional toll of the families and those living within the Archivist in death that really drove the heart of this narrative home.

The Verdict

Heartfelt, engaging, and thoughtful, author V.S. Nelson’s “The Archivist” is a must-read novel o 2022. The growing mythology of the Aether and the Archivists was so creative and unique in its development, and the imagery the author used in their writing was both beautiful and chilling, depending on the moment in the book the reader was reading. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today. 

Rating: 10/10 

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About the Author

V S Nelson writes unconventional middle grade and young adult fantasy, science fiction and supernatural stories for readers who enjoy something a little strange.

Their first story was The Keeper of Portals, a middle grade fantasy/sci-fi with plenty of portal jumping and time slipping. Their second story, The Archivist, is a young adult dark fantasy all about death and what happens after.

V S Nelson loves big ideas, fantastical concepts and stories that unsettle the reader and set them thinking about something new.

V S Nelson lives in Winchester with their other half, two children and three cats. When not writing, they’re either working as a theoretical physicist or building Lego.

https://vsnelson.com/

Surfing with the Bishop: A Funny Business Novel by Jeff Costello Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviews1 Comment

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

A man must find it within himself to save the company he’s poured his life into after his boss and mentor passes away, and his children begin the process of selling off the business in author Jeff Costello’s “Surfing with the Bishop: A Funny Business Novel”.

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The Synopsis

“A hilariously fun read loaded with relatable characters and laugh-out-loud moments that’s so damn entertaining, you’ll wish you worked with these people. Buckle up for a white-knuckle ride that will remind you of the best companies you’ve ever worked for and the worst.”

Tim Shiner, Entrepreneur and author of 50 Things They Didn’t Teach You in School!

Business owners die, heirs sell, and companies disappear. It happens all the time. But, when Grayson Quinn’s mentor Big Bill passes away – and his daughters quickly decide to sell off their father’s legacy – the burden of saving the company and the livelihood of so many others falls to Grayson.

To succeed, he must accomplish the seemingly impossible. It will take all of Grayson’s ingenuity to overcome insanely bad marketing, negotiate without money, and outwit obnoxious competitors who want to buy the company and steal his business, not necessarily in that order.

Hidden motives drive critical decisions, as Grayson is caught in the middle with little understanding of anyone’s true intentions. Business as usual is his directive to anyone who will listen, but there’s nothing usual about the final days of Martlet Visionary Products.

The Review

The author did a marvelous job of creating a unique reading experience that focuses on high-stakes business operations while also crafting memorable characters that readers will feel invested in. The amount of detail the author poured into the characters was amazing to see, as the business world felt alive and vibrant in the author’s novel, as did the businessmen and women who brought this company to life. The way the author infused humor and wit into the character’s interactions within this office setting and the issues protagonist Grayson faced were well-rounded and entertaining to see unfold.

Yet it was the tone and world-building the author did that really made this novel come alive. It is such a unique story as it really hones in onto the business theme and had detailed accounts of how the business side of things ran, elevating the characters and their own struggles as the story went on. Layering this into a story of loss and overcoming insurmountable odds, along with the theme of legacy, made this story really shine brightly.

The Verdict

A memorable, original, and highly creative read, author Jeff Costello’s “Surfing with the Bishop” is a must-read contemporary fiction novel. The funny interactions between the characters within this business world and the layered world and character growth the author introduced will definitely have readers enthralled, making this a brilliant feat of storytelling. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Jeff Costello served as a senior sales executive for 30-plus years, driving billions of dollars of revenue from emerging technology markets. He’s led worldwide sales teams that supported partners in over 100 different countries and participated in numerous company acquisitions. Having entertained customers for decades, he’s often boasted that he has, “fed more people than Mother Teresa, or at the very least, served better wine.” Jeff lives in the Dallas/Fort Worth area with his wife, Trina, and their dogs, Bentley and Bo. 

Author website

https://jeffreybcostello.com/

Social Links

https://www.facebook.com/jeff.costello.7

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jecostello/

https://twitter.com/Cosmo817JC

Amazon Buy Links

Hardcover https://www.amazon.com/dp/1737501902

Kindle https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09BT7C9YP