Barbed is an extraordinary memoir penned by the author Julie Morrison. Julie and her husband Brent left their life in Washington as they got the opportunity to work on her father’s ranch. Julie and Brent’s marriage was getting affected. Together they started working on the ranch but they didn’t think that the ranch life could be full of challenges and tiresome. Brent had to struggle to be accepted by the cowboys. The couple spent their anniversary weekend as an orientation, a try-before-you-buy exploration into the ranch.
I truly agree with the author when she has mentioned that pain in one place will eventually spread. I am delighted to read about Julie’s love for horses. Her story is inspiring. In life, we may have to face so many challenges but we should keep on trying alternative approaches to figure out what will work for us. Writing style of Julie is something that I really loved. I am glad to get my hands on this memoir.
Those who love reading memoirs should definitely get their hands on this one.
Father Green is the debut book of the author Caleb Thornton. In this book, we see a naive boy expressing his feelings deeply. He is in love with a priest because the priest made him feel safe. The boy is on his knees asking for forgiveness.
The only goal of the boy was to get closer to priests’ heart but his intentions were taken wrongly. The boy is ready to wait till eternity for the love he is expecting. He knows that jealousy isn’t a good emotion but still he doesn’t feel good when someone else has priests’ attention.
This book will introduce readers to the various features like forgiveness, failure, grudge, etc. Read the poems based on these. I am sure you could connect to the author’s words at some point of time. Language used in the book is simple and the cover photo is suitable. I am glad to get my hands on this book and would like to recommend it to others.
Rita H Rowe has a strong grip in writing romance stories. ‘Never The Moon’ is another interesting story penned by the author.
Main character of the story is Jennifer. She lives with her mother Judy and sister Elle. Her father died when Jennifer was twelve. He left his family penniless and in debt.
Jennifer’s hopes for a better life depends on a guy. David was the guy who came into her life. But after losing David, as she moved forward in life and met Jack, they got married. Jack is handsome, tall, charming but he is also the wife beater. He has hit Jen many times and once even Jen’s best friend Angel saw that. One day, when David comes back into her life, she remembers the feeling of being loved by him. She even asked David to take her away from the place they were at.
Read the story to know with whom Jennifer will stay. Story is gripping and unputdownable. This story was a perfect escape from the real world. I enjoyed every bit of the story. Rita’s writing style is impressive. Go for it. It’s a good book for light reading.
Becoming Ruthless by Rita H Rowe is the third book of the author that I have read. Main character of the story is Ruth, a woman in her twenties. Oliver was her first real love. Before marrying Oliver, her parents warned Ruth to take time so she could be sure about that man but Ruth didn’t wait for whatever she wanted.
But as days passed, she realised Oliver and she don’t share a common interest. He is disinterested in everything she tried to involve him in. He used to stay late at work and always come home tired. But one day Ruth caught Oliver with another woman. After being cheated by the man she loved a lot, what Ruth will do?
The story shows how others’ cruelness and unloyalty changes us and makes us hard. This is a story with a brilliant plot. Author’s narration is so smooth to follow. The characters are unforgettable and this story will stay in my head for a long time. Looking forward to read more of Ruth’s work in the future.
Book: The Oysters Cave: A Murder Story Set In Pembrokeshire
Author: Alessia Oliveri
Available On: Amazon
Language: English
Rating: 5/5
“The Oysters Cave: A murder story set in Pembrokeshire” penned by the author Alessia Oliveri is a captivating story that hooked me from the first page itself.
The story features a freelance journalist Sarah Brighton who is in Tenby to investigate the discovery of the skeleton of a young woman who died in the late 1950s. It was a cold case. Sarah stayed at a local hotel where she was welcomed by the hotel owner Nora Taylor.
Sarah started her investigation by visiting the Oysters Cave. Marcus, the fisherman, took her to the cave. One of the articles that Sarah checked detailed about the death of a young pilot, Harry Holton. Harry died in a plane crash but saved the life of two Scottish passengers who were aboard alongside Harry. Read this story to know where Sarah’s investigation would lead her.
I really liked the characters of Sarah, Nora, etc. Cover photo of the book is nice. Title of the book is suitable according to the story. It’s a gripping tale with a well written plot. This story kept me on the edge of my seat as I read it. Go ahead with it without any second thoughts.
The Glass Moon penned by the author A. M. Kent is a must read. Main character of the story is a twenty seven years old Edgar Atlas. He is dying and the doctors aren’t able to figure out why. Edgar is an enigma of self-destruction. His cells, organs were failing him. The professionals are unsure when he will die but they said it’s likely to be within three months.
Edgar’s mother loves him. She gave him a sketching pad. Edgar drew the sketch of a female doctor Collete but Doctor Vines told Edgar there isn’t a female doctor on this ward. Edgar felt as if his brain was withering away, that’s why he imagined Collete. As the story progresses, we see Edgar went to the moon with Collete. Read this story yourself to find out more.
This is a nicely written book. I appreciate the vivid imagination of the author in creating the story plot. Pace of the story is fast and one won’t be bored at any time while reading this book. Narration is smooth and one would be able to follow the story easily. I am looking forward to reading more books by the author.
“The Worst Life Has to Offer” penned by the author Venetta Cox-Mlynczyk is a must read. The moment I started reading this book, my heart sank. Venetta’s world was shattered when she received a phone call in the middle of the night. She received the news that her son Brandon is on life support and she has to reach Royal Victoria in Barie asap. Her son was hit by a SUV that was being driven by a woman named Sharlene. But worse happened when she reached the hospital and received the news that her beloved son had passed away.
As a few months passed, another heart wrenching tragedy happened to Venetta. She lost her older son Devon who was in Toronto. With two tragedies back to back will Venetta find her way back to happiness?
This is a heartbreaking true story of the author. This book will take you on a rollercoaster ride full of emotions. The content of the book is sensitive especially for parents who have lost their kid. I appreciate the author for sharing her story with us. Memoir lovers should go for it. This story has touched my heart deeply.
Darkest Rose penned by the author Vera Morgana is the first installment in “The Inevitable War” book series. Main characters of the story are Ella Desouza and Edmund Gilmore. Ella is the daughter of the Emperor’s eastern royal guard, Lord Derrick Desouza.
Gilmore and Desouza are enemies. Gilmore tries to outdo Desouza. When Edmund was climbing the wall to get a glimpse of Sophia in Desouza’s party, Ella saw him. Ella recognized immediately that it’s a Gilmore because Gilmore are known for their red hair. When Ella had a dance with Edmund, she couldn’t take her eyes off him. Soon her heart fell for Edmund.
Ella and Edmund are in love. Ella’s parents had arranged her wedding with Wilkin, the Duke of Kroukhesta. Will Ella and Edmund be together?
Narration is smooth and strong. Ella and Edmund’s characters are my favorite but Nurse Marcie also won my heart. Writing style of the author is impressive. She has developed an interesting world that totally hooked my attention to the story.
Those who love reading Young Adult fantasy stories should get their hands on this one.
Q1. Hello, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
I am second generation Cuban, Spanish, Mexican Indian, born in Brooklyn and raised on Long Island, New York. My father was a renowned electrical engineer, and my mother was an ER RN. I am the second of four children with an older sister and two younger brothers. Alcohol was abundant in the family home and I became an alcoholic by the age of 10. I was raised in a predominantly white community and faced fierce racism while attending school, first Catholic, then public school. I fell in with the wrong crowd as I approached adolescence and started smoking marijuana in junior high school, then abusing amphetamines in high school. My first arrest for possession of marijuana occurred when I was only 13. I became a gang member in high school and ended up in jail at 18, then a psychiatric hospital at 19. I was convicted of theft and placed on probation. Ironically, this is where I first thought about becoming a probation officer. I always loved reading and writing. I was an all-conference football player in high school, which is when I first set my eyes on my future wife, Paula, who I followed to California when I was 21. We were married on the beach. I stated working as a juvenile probation officer in Southern California. After several years we moved to the San Francisco Bay Area where Paula and I attended graduate school at U.C. Berkely. In 1987 I obtained my masters degree in English. I studied James Joyce with John Bishop and poetry with Robert Pinsky and Gary Soto. I became a federal probation officer in 1990. Our daughter Tebben was born in 1991. After Paula completer her PHd in School Psychology, we moved to Connecticut to be closer to family. I continued to work as a federal probation officer and Paula is still a professor at Fairfield University. I retired in 2016 and began working as a mitigation specialist in federal death penalty cases. I wrote my three memoirs during the Pandemic and I am excited about my first work of fiction, a novella titled The Painter, which is being released this summer.
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘Hard Faith’ book?
Preparing an outline and deciding which stories to tell. Also obtaining input and perspective from my family and friends.
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
When I set out to write memoirs, I looked for authors who have written memoirs who had a similar background as myself. I discovered James Brown, author of The Los Angeles Diaries, This River, and Apology to a Young Addict. He became a friend and mentor and wrote endorsements for Hard Knocks and Hard Faith. I’ve been strongly influenced by the classics, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Moby Dick in particular. I wrote my masters thesis on Ulysses by James Joyce and was influence by Jack Kerouac. I’ve embraced a stream of consciousness style. One of my latest readers, Frederick Block, the author of Disrobed: Memoir of a Trial Court Judge and Race to Judgment, said my writing reminds him of Kerouac. Judge Block is writing an endorsement for The Painter.
Q4. What’s your favorite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
That would be Southern California, specifically San Clemente, where Paula and I were married in 1981 and lived near the beach until we moved to Berkeley in 1986.
Q5. Is there lots to do before you drive in and start writing a book?
Yes. The primary thing is putting together and outline for both non-fiction and fiction. In fiction, character development and vivid description of people, places and events is key. I loved writing The Painter. I came to know my characters but not always what they would do or say. This came through the writing.
Q6. How long did it take you to write ‘Hard Love’ book?
Hard Love was fast. I thing I wrote the first draft in a couple of weeks Again, I wrote all three memoirs during the Pandemic
Q7. On what all platforms readers can find ‘Hard Knocks’ book to buy?
All my books are available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, other online sellers and through my publisher, Wipf and Stock.
Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the cover and the title of your books?
My daughter, Tebben Gill Lopez, is a talented artist and designed the covers for my memoirs. She read the books and responded by what moved her. She is also one of my most important critical readers, as is my wife, Dr. Paula Gill Lopez, who wrote the forwards for all three memoirs.
Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
Well first you just must write and not worry about your first draft. Writing The Painter was so different than the memoirs. Writing the memoirs was therapeutic, wherein writing The Painter was an adventure. I came to love and care about my characters and some of the emotional scenes that I wrote made me cry. The novella is based on true stories and characters. The main character, Giordano Bruno, the painter, is based on my close friend, Gaitano, who was a capo in the Patriarca Family who was convicted of murdering another mobster in the late 80s. I worked on his case when I was a federal probation officer. He now teaches art therapy at a residential drug treatment facility!
Q10. Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?
Book: Calvin, Center Of The Universe: The Beginning
Author: Doug Gonterman
Available On: Amazon
Language: English
Rating: 5/5
“Calvin, Center of the Universe: The Beginning” is an interesting story book penned by the author Doug Gonterman.
Main character of the story is a little boy named Calvin who thinks he is the center of the universe. He has proof of his statement. Read this fun-filled story book to know why Calvin considers himself as the center of the universe.
Story is imaginative. Language used in the book is lucid and kids would be able to follow the story easily. Illustrations are pretty and would catch kids’ attention in the first look. Cover photo is eye-catching. Go for this amazing Children’s Book. Your little one would definitely enjoy reading it.
Sassy Reviews 