Book: Redemptive Trauma: Confession Of A Defrocked Priest
Author: David Giffen
Available On: Amazon
Language: English
Rating: 5/5
“Redemptive Trauma: Confession of a Defrocked Priest” is a memoir written by the author David Giffen. David was once a defrocked priest. Defrocked means the deprivation of a member of a religious order from the sacred office they hold. In this book, author has talked about ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) and the Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder with which David was diagnosed
in 2018.
David with an overcharged mind and an overactive imagination migrated with his family from Scotland to Canada. His dad was workaholic and alcoholic. His mum once caught him taking cookie and got frustrated. David once spent a night behind bars but he met Jesus there. Author has shared about various events of his life including his final placement as a parish priest.
If you are comfortable reading books that has mature content then go ahead with this book. Author has expressed his viewpoint in this book very openly and that is reflected well in his writing. Grab a copy of this book to unveil what more happened in David’s life. This book is recommended for adults only.
“Tales of the Lost Horizon” is a collection of short stories and poetry written by the author Michael Eging. One of my favourite among the collection is Splendor from which some of the lines are below:
TThe bloody marred blade lays nak’d upon a rock. The knight, armor battered, fallen not far off. His hands outstretched, still in death he grasps for that familiar hilt. Warrior’s noble horse calls up on the hill. There is no one to answer, no one who ever will.
I enjoyed reading “From Beyond The Grave” also the most. In this story, a sealed coffin was coming from New York to Cleveland. It has the body of Craig’s wife. He wanted to spend more time with his wife. But she had run off and returned in a box.
This book is a collection of total eighteen pieces. Featured artists list show the various artists who has contributed to this book. For the first time, I have came across a book that has more than 2 artists. Eging’s work is deep and is recommended for avid readers. His writing style is nice and I enjoyed reading the poetry and short stories by him.
“The Zima Confession” is a political thriller written by the author Iain M. Rodgers. The story is set in different time at different places. Main character of the story is Richard. Richard had a nightmare about a snake and he was awake now. When he opened his inbox, he saw an email mentioning that his colleague Andy Mitchell was dead.
Richard remembered Andy mentioning about the debt he was in and how bitch his wife was. In Helsinki, Mitchell told some secret to Richard but Richard is unable to recollect the details. It might be something related to Zima. He thought has Mitchell really told him something or is it just his imagination. Grab a copy of this book and find out yourself what will happen when different agents and experiments get associated with the Zima unravel.
Plot of the story is amazing and hooked me to the story. Language of the book is lucid and easy to follow. Cover photo is nice. I loved author’s imagination in creating a great storyline. Characters are well written and the way suspense is maintained in the story made me enjoy this book more.
Romilla written by the author Luella White is an interesting story. Story is set in the the grand city of Asterbury. Story features the wealthy Vrana family. Shandar Vrana is not as rich as his younger brother Master Halvard. Halvard’s son Sullivan spends more time in his uncle’s company as compared to his dad. Halvard wants his son to be responsible and Intelligent but Shandar wants his nephew to have a good and adventurous life.
When Halvard was a little boy, he ran from Nalia. But now, Nalia has sent two creatures Petimus and Verdorben in search of Halvard. Nalia needs him. When Petimus finally found Halvard, Halvard was trembling to see him. Grab a copy of this novel and find out yourself what gonna happen with the Vrana family.
Storyline is interesting. It kept me on the edge of my seat. Cover photo is nice. Language of the book is lucid so it was easy for me to follow the entire story. World building is interesting and involve the presence of different types of creatures in the story. Writing style of Luella is impressive. It’s a perfect story for weekend reading.
The Criminal Mind is a Serial Killer Suspense Thriller penned by the author Thomas Benigno. It is the third installment in The Good Lawyer Series. Story features an old veteran Charlie Malone on his wheelchair. He lives in a center for veterans with disabilities on Eighth Avenue in Manhattan, New York. One day when he was on Eighth Avenue, he met a teenager Mia Langley. Mia reminded Charlie of his sister Peggy who ran away from home one day and later her skull was found near the construction site on the outskirts of town.
The Veteran Center where Charlie and other veterans were living was a result of plan that Nicholas Mannino and his wife Eleanor had thought of. Now Eleanor is not there in his life and later in life he fell for a waitress Maureen that even made him forgot about Eleanor when he was with her. Nicholas started visiting Veteran Center more after Eleanor’s death and there Charlie told him his entire life story. He also told him about a teenage girl Mia and her multiple personality disorder.
This is a gripping story that you won’t feel like putting down until you finish it. Author has written this story well and it’s perfect for weekend binge reading. Characters are interesting. Nick and Charlie both are my favorite from the story. If you are a big fan of thrillers then go ahead with “The Criminal Mind” without thinking twice. You won’t regret picking this novel at all. I am interested to read more novels by the author.
Q1. Please introduce yourself so that the readers can get to know you better.
Hello, my name is Deborah Smith. I am a Speech and Language Pathologist. I have enjoyed teaching special needs children how to communicate for over 3 decades. I’ve often used books along with other teaching tools as a means to help stimulate language development in my students. My biggest joy however, is spending time with my family and creating stories.
Q2. What is your inspiration behind your book “The Faith of a Mustard Seed”?
I became inspired to write a book about faith for children because I noticed that many children are growing up lacking an understanding of who God is and what it means to have faith in Him. I wanted to teach the concept of faith on a very simple level.
Q3. When did you realize that you wanted to be an author?
I realized that I wanted to be an author a few years ago. We all know that life can present many challenges and hardships. Teaching children from a young age to build up their faith in God helps with overcoming difficulties. I felt that pictures and stories would be a good way to teach that concept on a simple level.
Q4. Are you planning to write your next book soon?
Yes, I am in the process of writing more children books. One is a faith- based book and the others have different themes.
Q5. For which age group your book “The Faith of a Mustard Seed” is suitable?
The book is suitable for children up to 8 years old. However, it was written to engage older siblings and caregivers to engage in dialogue about the concept of faith. The questions at the end of the book will hopefully stimulate that conversation and really get people to think about trusting God.
Q6. What is your favorite quote?
My favorite quote is the scripture Matthew 17:20, where it talks about having faith the size of a seed so that nothing will be impossible for you. What a power to tap into!
Q7. How is life in New York?
I enjoy living in New York and being around a diversity of cultures. You can always find something to do. It can however be busy and fast paced. I work in a busy and populated area which many people do enjoy. At the end of the day, I thoroughly enjoy winding down in a quieter setting.
Q8. What suggestions do you want to give to parents of little readers regarding a reading habit?
My advice would be to always set up a consistent time to read with your children. Take trips to the library and make reading important. Reading builds up their imagination, vocabulary and literacy skills. But most important, kids love to spend that individual bonding time with their parents. Time goes by fast so create those moments as often as you can.
Q9. What does literary success look like for you?
For me as an author I ask myself these questions: Did I stimulate interest in the book? Did I get children thinking about a concept I presented? Did I encourage children and parents to engage in dialogue? Was something learned?
Q10. Lastly, who is your inspiration in life and why?
My inspiration in life are my daughters. They are very talented individuals. They have grown into bright and beautiful women inside and out. They encourage me to stay relevant to the times!
Book: Amber Tambourine and the Land of Laugh-a-Lot
Q1. Can you please introduce yourself so that the readers can know you better?
I was born and raised in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. I started off my career as a primary school teacher, and now work in the field of online education.
Q2. From where did you have the idea to write your book “Amber Tambourine and the Land of Laugh-a-Lot”?
I started thinking about my first house as a child, where I used to love wandering through the back woods and discovering hidden places. So that is where the book starts off…Amber wandering through the back woods with her dogs and stumbling upon a magical, hidden place.
I have always been obsessed with magical “otherworlds” I guess you could call them. My favorite movie has always been “The Wizard of Oz” so obviously the Land of Oz was an inspiration. And I also loved “Brigadoon” about a magical Scottish village that appears for only one day every 100 years. All inspiration for my “Land of Laugh-a-Lot” for sure!
Q3. What do you hope your readers will take away from your book?
At its core, the book is about friendships lost and new ones found. It is also about transition in one’s life and how difficult it can be, and how it seems things will never get better…but they do, in time. And good friends are always worth the wait.
Q4. What are your hobbies apart from reading and writing?
I love being outside in nature, exploring the natural beauty of our world – beaches, waterfalls, mountains. I also love road trips, music, dancing, watching good TV and movies, and spending lots of time with my family. And I insanely love dogs.
Q5. Please tell me something about yourself that will astonish me and the readers?
That I didn’t start publishing my writing until my forties…although my mom said technically I wrote my first book when I was like 5 or 6. I always wrote in some form or another growing up, but on my fortieth birthday I had some kind of mid-life epiphany, I think. I promised myself I would start writing more and actively pursued it. I started writing and publishing articles for online platforms like Blasting News and Medium. I created a personal blog, Life Lessons for My Daughter. Then from there, just started writing children’s stories.
Q6. How do you select the names of your characters?
I really wanted to write a book with a character based on my daughter, Amber, who is now 7. Then our two dogs, Bandit and Roxy, got added in as well. “Amber Tambourine” was a nickname I gave my daughter as a toddler – I don’t even remember why now, to be honest – I have just always made up cutesy nicknames for her – this one just kind of stuck.
Q7. How is life in Canada?
Canada is a beautiful country and being such an outdoorsy person, I truly value and enjoy all of its breathtaking scenery. I think my best writing ideas have come to me while walking and being out and about in nature.
Q8. Can you please tell me and readers about your debut book publishing journey?
I was so fortunate that Austin Macauley Publishers USA believed in my little book and took a chance on me as a first-time author. It really is difficult to get your first book published but Austin Macauley is all about giving first-time authors a chance, and they are fantastic! I will be forever grateful to them.
Q9. Where do you see yourself in the next ten years?
I definitely want to keep writing children’s books, so my goal for the next 10 years is to keep writing and hopefully get more books published.
Q10. Who inspires you the most in life?
My daughter Amber is my biggest inspiration – I love watching her grow and play and dance and discovering her own unique talents and interests. I find myself jotting down story ideas all the time just from things she is interested in.
“Delsar: The Champion & The Hero” is a fictional story penned by the author A D Morway. Delsar made a promise to his dying mother Sariah that he gonna help people find happiness. After his mother’s death, he was fulfilling that promise until Queen’s murder. Delsar who was known as Queen’s Champion is now being called as Queen’s murderer by the people. Delsar left the town and reached new town Eskor. He was staying at Rina’s Food and Inn.
Soon, a woman tracked him and she introduced herself as Elidria. She was from the small village in the west called Bihnor. She told Delsar that her village was invaded by mercenaries and they started killing all innocent people. She needs Delsar’s help to save her loved ones. Delsar who have been betrayed by people in the past for his kindness will be willing to help her or not?
This is an amazing story. Language of the book is lucid so one could follow it easily. Cover photo of the book is nice. Storyline is so interesting that I couldn’t keep this book aside. Length of the novel is more so it is suitable for weekend binge reading. Elidria’s character is amazing. Author’s writing style and world building is amazing. It’s a worth reading story.
Book: Never Predictablez: Knife Between My Eyes That Muted My Cheer
Author: Tiffany L Gray
Available On: Amazon
Language: English
Rating: 4/5
“Never Predictablez: Knife Between My Eyes That Muted My Cheer” penned by the author Tiffany L Gray is a short and quick read. Story features a group of teenagers who are doing band practice during summer. They often mess up with each other. Nikki is a Miss Fashion girl but her mother is in depression. The recent event at the gas station made Nikki afraid that anytime cops may come and will put her behind the bars.
Grab a copy of this book and find out what happens next in the story. Language of the book is simple and easy to understand. Cover photo is nice. Since length of the book is not much so one could enjoy this book in a single sitting. Teenagers could relate well to this book. It’s a worth reading story. So, go ahead with it.
Tree Spirits is an amazing book that has story and photography by Louise Wannier. In this picture book, Louise has shared pictures of different tree shapes and has related that picture to different animals or birds. Before reading this book, I hadn’t realize that tree offers us so many things to see.
This book is suitable for kids of age group 4-8 years. Beautiful illustrations by Tatiana Jackson has made the book eye catchy. Kids gonna have great time as they have many pictures in this book which they can color. I am glad to read this book and much curious to explore the trees around my house. It’s a wonderful picture book that I like to strongly recommend to others.
Sassy Reviews 