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Recommend this book:
Smash All The Windows
Jane Davis
2023 Silver Medal
338 Pages
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Fiction - Drama
Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite
Smash All The Windows by Jane Davis is a dramatic tale of justice and faith. August 2003 in London was a day like any other – until it wasn’t. Fifty-eight people never made it home from work that evening. But they weren’t the only ones who lost that day; justice for the victims’ families is still far off, and marriages and friendships have been destroyed. Finances are wiped out, health deteriorates, and careers are lost. The effects of one terrible event stretch far and wide, destroying all in its path. But now there's a hero for the victims. A first-year law student called Eric has studied what led to the accident that claimed so many lives, and he thinks he has discovered what they all need to know. But can they manage the fight ahead? Do they have the strength to continue after 13 long years of fighting?
Wow! Smash All The Windows by Jane Davis is an unforgettable story that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It’s an emotional tale of families seeking justice for the loss of their loved ones, of the destruction of lives in what appears to be a fruitless fight. This book is a journey you won’t forget in a hurry. The attention to detail is second to none, and you can feel the emotion pouring off the pages. This is an original story, well-written and action-packed, with no small amount of suspense. The cast of characters is immense, but they are all developed equally well into people you will relate to and feel empathy for. The story does flit between the past and present, but this helps you make sense of events and the enduring pain and suffering of those left behind. This is a tragic story, yet compelling reading, and it’s a book you won’t forget in a hurry.
Smash All The Windows by Jane Davis is a dramatic tale of justice and faith. August 2003 in London was a day like any other – until it wasn’t. Fifty-eight people never made it home from work that evening. But they weren’t the only ones who lost that day; justice for the victims’ families is still far off, and marriages and friendships have been destroyed. Finances are wiped out, health deteriorates, and careers are lost. The effects of one terrible event stretch far and wide, destroying all in its path. But now there's a hero for the victims. A first-year law student called Eric has studied what led to the accident that claimed so many lives, and he thinks he has discovered what they all need to know. But can they manage the fight ahead? Do they have the strength to continue after 13 long years of fighting?
Wow! Smash All The Windows by Jane Davis is an unforgettable story that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It’s an emotional tale of families seeking justice for the loss of their loved ones, of the destruction of lives in what appears to be a fruitless fight. This book is a journey you won’t forget in a hurry. The attention to detail is second to none, and you can feel the emotion pouring off the pages. This is an original story, well-written and action-packed, with no small amount of suspense. The cast of characters is immense, but they are all developed equally well into people you will relate to and feel empathy for. The story does flit between the past and present, but this helps you make sense of events and the enduring pain and suffering of those left behind. This is a tragic story, yet compelling reading, and it’s a book you won’t forget in a hurry.
Recommend this book:
Blurred Fates
A Novel
Anastasia Zadeik
2023 Silver Medal
312 Pages
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Fiction - Drama
Reviewed by Viga Boland for Readers' Favorite
When Kate’s loving husband confesses to a sexual encounter he doesn’t even remember happening, Kate and the almost idyllic life she enjoys with her family fall apart. Negative memories of her unenviable childhood and sexual abuse by her brother’s friends keep surfacing in her mind despite her best efforts to repress the past - something she has always done since marrying into an upper-class and wealthy family. Unable to forgive her husband, her stress mounts when she is suddenly forced to return to her childhood home due to her father’s impending death. To do so means encountering her hated brother. It’s all more than someone suffering from past trauma can handle. In Blurred Fates, Anastasia Zadeik brilliantly brings all the events, characters, and emotions to life through Kate Whittier’s voice, head, and heart.
On several occasions as I read Blurred Fates, I found myself wanting to ask the author how much of this story is fiction. That’s because of Zadeik’s remarkable skill in making readers believe in the copious amount of reflective self-analysis of Kate Whittier, her protagonist. Kate is such a credible narrator of the events and her emotions that it makes me wonder whether this isn’t, perhaps, part memoir after all. As many reviewers of Blurred Fates have stated, it’s hard to believe this is a debut novel. The writing style is flawless; the characterization is realistic; the dialogue is natural; the plot is well-executed with well-placed twists, and the suspense and reader tension are well-controlled. Bravo, Anastasia Zadeik.
When Kate’s loving husband confesses to a sexual encounter he doesn’t even remember happening, Kate and the almost idyllic life she enjoys with her family fall apart. Negative memories of her unenviable childhood and sexual abuse by her brother’s friends keep surfacing in her mind despite her best efforts to repress the past - something she has always done since marrying into an upper-class and wealthy family. Unable to forgive her husband, her stress mounts when she is suddenly forced to return to her childhood home due to her father’s impending death. To do so means encountering her hated brother. It’s all more than someone suffering from past trauma can handle. In Blurred Fates, Anastasia Zadeik brilliantly brings all the events, characters, and emotions to life through Kate Whittier’s voice, head, and heart.
On several occasions as I read Blurred Fates, I found myself wanting to ask the author how much of this story is fiction. That’s because of Zadeik’s remarkable skill in making readers believe in the copious amount of reflective self-analysis of Kate Whittier, her protagonist. Kate is such a credible narrator of the events and her emotions that it makes me wonder whether this isn’t, perhaps, part memoir after all. As many reviewers of Blurred Fates have stated, it’s hard to believe this is a debut novel. The writing style is flawless; the characterization is realistic; the dialogue is natural; the plot is well-executed with well-placed twists, and the suspense and reader tension are well-controlled. Bravo, Anastasia Zadeik.
Recommend this book:
Life Between Seconds
Douglas Weissman
2023 Gold Medal
264 Pages
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Fiction - Drama
Reviewed by Alma Boucher for Readers' Favorite
Life Between Seconds by Douglas Weissman introduces Peter Berry and Sofia Morales, who live opposite each other in a San Francisco apartment building. Peter lost his father in a car accident and his mother to a mysterious incident. Peter’s memories were of his mother’s struggle with depression following his father’s death. Sofia was happily married before her daughter disappeared during a protest in Buenos Aires. Peter and Sofia are opening up to each other by sharing their stories from the past. The neighbors have a common bond having been through so much and both suffering tremendous losses. Peter still misses his mother, while Sofia still longs for her daughter. As friends, Peter and Sofia help each other overcome the traumas and turmoil that have shaped their lives so far.
Life Between Seconds by Douglas Weissman was a slow read that was filled with emotion. It was a portrait of Peter’s and Sofia’s grief and suffering. The story was interesting, and I was intrigued from the start. It kept me guessing until the very end, and I never knew what to expect. The characters were authentic and relatable. I got to know them better through their memories. I had sympathy with Sofia for not knowing what happened to her daughter or getting closure. Weissman explores how childhood traumas and tragedies shape your adult life and have a lasting impact. The story was beautifully written and at times brought tears to my eyes. It is a tale about love, loss, grief, and finding a way forward. It will stay with me for a long time.
Life Between Seconds by Douglas Weissman introduces Peter Berry and Sofia Morales, who live opposite each other in a San Francisco apartment building. Peter lost his father in a car accident and his mother to a mysterious incident. Peter’s memories were of his mother’s struggle with depression following his father’s death. Sofia was happily married before her daughter disappeared during a protest in Buenos Aires. Peter and Sofia are opening up to each other by sharing their stories from the past. The neighbors have a common bond having been through so much and both suffering tremendous losses. Peter still misses his mother, while Sofia still longs for her daughter. As friends, Peter and Sofia help each other overcome the traumas and turmoil that have shaped their lives so far.
Life Between Seconds by Douglas Weissman was a slow read that was filled with emotion. It was a portrait of Peter’s and Sofia’s grief and suffering. The story was interesting, and I was intrigued from the start. It kept me guessing until the very end, and I never knew what to expect. The characters were authentic and relatable. I got to know them better through their memories. I had sympathy with Sofia for not knowing what happened to her daughter or getting closure. Weissman explores how childhood traumas and tragedies shape your adult life and have a lasting impact. The story was beautifully written and at times brought tears to my eyes. It is a tale about love, loss, grief, and finding a way forward. It will stay with me for a long time.
Recommend this book:
On the Bank of the Chippewa
An Evocative Saga of a Midwestern Family
Steven Lomske
2022 Finalist
302 Pages
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Fiction - Drama
Reviewed by Maria Victoria Beltran for Readers' Favorite
On the Bank of the Chippewa: An Evocative Saga of a Midwestern Family by Steven Lomske is a captivating family story set in the tumultuous mid-1900s. Beneath a family saga of heroism, three generations of the Mertz family live on a Michigan farmland by the flow of the Chippewa River. This is a coming-of-age story as the author shows readers everyday farm life and gives them a glimpse of what the characters heard, smelled, tasted, and felt. Brothers Paul, Steven, and Gus--with their parents and grandparents--toil on the farm and hunt together until they grow up, fall in love, and choose completely different paths in life. The truth about their family legacy unravels toward the end of the narrative as the brothers struggle to keep their filial bond together.
Steve Lomske’s On the Bank of the Chippewa is a moving family saga narrated from the point of view of Steven Mertz. It explores the lives of three generations of men in a family of farmers from the uncertainties of the First and Second World Wars to the chaos of the Vietnam War in the United States. Moving seamlessly between the past and the present, author Steve Lomske successfully explores the emotional and physical landscape of war and the pains and joys of growing up in a rural setting. The central theme of this narrative, however, is the ties that bind a family together and it is a moving read. I highly recommend this book!
On the Bank of the Chippewa: An Evocative Saga of a Midwestern Family by Steven Lomske is a captivating family story set in the tumultuous mid-1900s. Beneath a family saga of heroism, three generations of the Mertz family live on a Michigan farmland by the flow of the Chippewa River. This is a coming-of-age story as the author shows readers everyday farm life and gives them a glimpse of what the characters heard, smelled, tasted, and felt. Brothers Paul, Steven, and Gus--with their parents and grandparents--toil on the farm and hunt together until they grow up, fall in love, and choose completely different paths in life. The truth about their family legacy unravels toward the end of the narrative as the brothers struggle to keep their filial bond together.
Steve Lomske’s On the Bank of the Chippewa is a moving family saga narrated from the point of view of Steven Mertz. It explores the lives of three generations of men in a family of farmers from the uncertainties of the First and Second World Wars to the chaos of the Vietnam War in the United States. Moving seamlessly between the past and the present, author Steve Lomske successfully explores the emotional and physical landscape of war and the pains and joys of growing up in a rural setting. The central theme of this narrative, however, is the ties that bind a family together and it is a moving read. I highly recommend this book!
Recommend this book:
The House of Baric Part One
Shields Down
Jillian Bald
2022 Honorable Mention
438 Pages
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Fiction - Drama
Reviewed by Amanda Rofe for Readers' Favorite
The House of Baric: Shields Down by Jillian Bald is a debut fictional novel set in 17th century Europe. Part one of a trilogy, it tells the tale of Mauro Baric, heir to a Venetian barony and his arranged marriage to Resi, the daughter of an Ottoman trader. Neither very keen to wed, they come to the marriage as strangers, having only met once. Mauro, with his small army, arrives straight from battle with little experience of love. His new wife, with no desire to marry a Venetian far away from the home she loves, is spirited and strong. She settles to her new position but finds her husband away more than he is at home. An historical romance, Shields Down portrays the life and times of the period as the Thirty Years' War comes to a close.
This is a captivating story of battle-weary men and wealthy pampered ladies who were used in marriage alliances to further family ambition. I was delighted with the exquisite writing and the two very engaging main characters. Jillian Bald provides an exceptionally well-researched account of the compelling lives of the aristocracy of the time. She includes intimate details of their style of dress, complex social conventions and a generous portion of political intrigue. Shields Down is thoughtfully written with a rich mix of history and romance. There is a timeless elegance to the writing which never faltered. If you like historical romance, you will absolutely love this book. I very much look forward to reading the remaining books in The House of Baric trilogy.
The House of Baric: Shields Down by Jillian Bald is a debut fictional novel set in 17th century Europe. Part one of a trilogy, it tells the tale of Mauro Baric, heir to a Venetian barony and his arranged marriage to Resi, the daughter of an Ottoman trader. Neither very keen to wed, they come to the marriage as strangers, having only met once. Mauro, with his small army, arrives straight from battle with little experience of love. His new wife, with no desire to marry a Venetian far away from the home she loves, is spirited and strong. She settles to her new position but finds her husband away more than he is at home. An historical romance, Shields Down portrays the life and times of the period as the Thirty Years' War comes to a close.
This is a captivating story of battle-weary men and wealthy pampered ladies who were used in marriage alliances to further family ambition. I was delighted with the exquisite writing and the two very engaging main characters. Jillian Bald provides an exceptionally well-researched account of the compelling lives of the aristocracy of the time. She includes intimate details of their style of dress, complex social conventions and a generous portion of political intrigue. Shields Down is thoughtfully written with a rich mix of history and romance. There is a timeless elegance to the writing which never faltered. If you like historical romance, you will absolutely love this book. I very much look forward to reading the remaining books in The House of Baric trilogy.
Recommend this book:
Everything Here Belongs To You
Saborna Roychowdhury
2022 Bronze Medal
351 Pages
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Fiction - Drama
Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite
Everything Here Belongs To You by Saborna Roychowdhury is a coming-of-age story of a girl forced to grow up too fast and pay the price later in life. Parul was just 6 years old when her father Ahmed left her with the Sens family in the city to work as their housemaid. As the Sens were wealthy Hindus and their money was important to her family, Parul was asked to keep her Muslim religion hidden from them. Amid the hard work and sadness, Parul found solace in Mohini, the Sens' daughter. While growing up, Mohini was the only friend and companion Parul had, but the privileged life she lived was a source of envy for Parul who was nothing more than a source of income for her own family. However, things got worse when Parul’s secret boyfriend Rahim asked her to do something horrible, and Parul was stuck. Would Parul do something that would destroy everything she worked for or risk everything to make Rahim happy?
Shedding light on the social and moral dilemma of child labor that still occurs regularly in households in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and other South Asian countries, Saborna Roychowdhury shows what truly happens to those children who are forced to stop living like a child and bear the burden of an adult. Parul’s life wasn’t pleasant, to begin with, and being away from her family was the last thing she needed. The isolation at first and then the detachment from her family made Parul unhappy and angry. She wanted and needed someone to pay the price for her lost innocence and childhood. Rahim was the first person who treated her as an equal. Even though Mohini was never cruel to Parul, the social imbalance was too wide for them to truly call each other friends. The narrative was powerful in its simplicity, it affected me and made my heart ache for Parul. I would highly recommend Everything Here Belongs To You to anyone who enjoys reading realistic fiction with an underlying social issues message.
Everything Here Belongs To You by Saborna Roychowdhury is a coming-of-age story of a girl forced to grow up too fast and pay the price later in life. Parul was just 6 years old when her father Ahmed left her with the Sens family in the city to work as their housemaid. As the Sens were wealthy Hindus and their money was important to her family, Parul was asked to keep her Muslim religion hidden from them. Amid the hard work and sadness, Parul found solace in Mohini, the Sens' daughter. While growing up, Mohini was the only friend and companion Parul had, but the privileged life she lived was a source of envy for Parul who was nothing more than a source of income for her own family. However, things got worse when Parul’s secret boyfriend Rahim asked her to do something horrible, and Parul was stuck. Would Parul do something that would destroy everything she worked for or risk everything to make Rahim happy?
Shedding light on the social and moral dilemma of child labor that still occurs regularly in households in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and other South Asian countries, Saborna Roychowdhury shows what truly happens to those children who are forced to stop living like a child and bear the burden of an adult. Parul’s life wasn’t pleasant, to begin with, and being away from her family was the last thing she needed. The isolation at first and then the detachment from her family made Parul unhappy and angry. She wanted and needed someone to pay the price for her lost innocence and childhood. Rahim was the first person who treated her as an equal. Even though Mohini was never cruel to Parul, the social imbalance was too wide for them to truly call each other friends. The narrative was powerful in its simplicity, it affected me and made my heart ache for Parul. I would highly recommend Everything Here Belongs To You to anyone who enjoys reading realistic fiction with an underlying social issues message.
Recommend this book:
Wrong Number
A Forbidden Love Age-Gap Romance
Iris Trovao
2022 Silver Medal
354 Pages
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Fiction - Drama
Reviewed by Alex Ndirangu for Readers' Favorite
The story begins with Jolie texting her friend Alicia. However, she misspells one digit, and the text message ends up on the phone of Carson, an ER physician. Carson is the father of two children. His marriage is on the verge of dissolution because his wife is cheating on him. But Carson continues to live with her in order to avoid a scandal. Jolie, whose marriage is also having issues, is depressed because she thinks her husband has lost interest in her. As a result, Jolie drinks a lot. However, after a protracted period of texting with Carson, they start a blind relationship with one another. Will Jolie's husband discover her flirting? Will the undeniable attraction between Carson and Jolie last after they meet in person? Read Wrong Number by Iris Trovao to find out.
When you look into Wrong Number, you see a reflection of Carson and Jolie that stays with you throughout the book. Their endearing emotional bond flows deep and cold through the valley and along the cliffs, becoming an eternal waterfall. The storyline is well-developed, and the plot moves quickly. Iris Trovao's vivid descriptions of events aided the plot's progression. From Jolie diving under her bed covers to fool John into thinking she was fast asleep, to Carson walking into the house while the sun shone over the horizon, the scenes captivated my attention and captured my mind and emotions. Each character's role in the book was carefully constructed by selecting the right words to convey their traits and set them up for their roles. This instilled in me an exhilarating sense of anticipation and an unavoidable affection for the characters. This book does a great job of illustrating the lengths people will go to in order to fulfill their hearts' desires, and it will appeal to anyone looking for a compelling narrative with a romantic undercurrent.
The story begins with Jolie texting her friend Alicia. However, she misspells one digit, and the text message ends up on the phone of Carson, an ER physician. Carson is the father of two children. His marriage is on the verge of dissolution because his wife is cheating on him. But Carson continues to live with her in order to avoid a scandal. Jolie, whose marriage is also having issues, is depressed because she thinks her husband has lost interest in her. As a result, Jolie drinks a lot. However, after a protracted period of texting with Carson, they start a blind relationship with one another. Will Jolie's husband discover her flirting? Will the undeniable attraction between Carson and Jolie last after they meet in person? Read Wrong Number by Iris Trovao to find out.
When you look into Wrong Number, you see a reflection of Carson and Jolie that stays with you throughout the book. Their endearing emotional bond flows deep and cold through the valley and along the cliffs, becoming an eternal waterfall. The storyline is well-developed, and the plot moves quickly. Iris Trovao's vivid descriptions of events aided the plot's progression. From Jolie diving under her bed covers to fool John into thinking she was fast asleep, to Carson walking into the house while the sun shone over the horizon, the scenes captivated my attention and captured my mind and emotions. Each character's role in the book was carefully constructed by selecting the right words to convey their traits and set them up for their roles. This instilled in me an exhilarating sense of anticipation and an unavoidable affection for the characters. This book does a great job of illustrating the lengths people will go to in order to fulfill their hearts' desires, and it will appeal to anyone looking for a compelling narrative with a romantic undercurrent.
Recommend this book:
Nunn So Mighty
The Journals of Angus Roy Murphy
Mac McClure
2022 Gold Medal
355 Pages
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Fiction - Drama
Reviewed by Vincent Dublado for Readers' Favorite
Nunn So Mighty by Mac McClure is an intense family drama about family secrets. Angus Roy Murphy greatly admires his grandfather, Theodore Thomas Nunn. Angus’s story takes you back to his childhood, where he roams freely back and forth to where his grandparents live, and the only forbidden zone to his full rein is the attic that stays locked and the key is hidden. This only amplifies Angus’s curiosity to discover what is hidden behind the attic. Tragedy strikes that further pushes his curiosity to uncover the truth about his grandfather. A family secret will be revealed, one that will shed light on a conflict between father and son that has been the source of palpable violence.
Every once in a while you find a novel like this, that seems to flow as you read along, and you are taken by the peculiarities of the characters. Uncle Bo has that particular accent and the heft of an ordinary working fellow. With his nephew Angus thirsty for answers about the mystery surrounding his grandfather, you can sense how Bo walks a tightrope in making an effort to be honest yet cautious to make Angus know well enough but not too much. Nunn So Mighty does an interesting thing with the Irish immigration experience. Mac McClure shows you another side of the Great American Dream that is contrary to many of the common hopeful impressions. McClure’s gritty writing is as impressive in its own way as Puzo’s Fortunate Pilgrim. It’s a must-read drama that is strongly driven by characters motivated by a family mystery that screams for answers.
Nunn So Mighty by Mac McClure is an intense family drama about family secrets. Angus Roy Murphy greatly admires his grandfather, Theodore Thomas Nunn. Angus’s story takes you back to his childhood, where he roams freely back and forth to where his grandparents live, and the only forbidden zone to his full rein is the attic that stays locked and the key is hidden. This only amplifies Angus’s curiosity to discover what is hidden behind the attic. Tragedy strikes that further pushes his curiosity to uncover the truth about his grandfather. A family secret will be revealed, one that will shed light on a conflict between father and son that has been the source of palpable violence.
Every once in a while you find a novel like this, that seems to flow as you read along, and you are taken by the peculiarities of the characters. Uncle Bo has that particular accent and the heft of an ordinary working fellow. With his nephew Angus thirsty for answers about the mystery surrounding his grandfather, you can sense how Bo walks a tightrope in making an effort to be honest yet cautious to make Angus know well enough but not too much. Nunn So Mighty does an interesting thing with the Irish immigration experience. Mac McClure shows you another side of the Great American Dream that is contrary to many of the common hopeful impressions. McClure’s gritty writing is as impressive in its own way as Puzo’s Fortunate Pilgrim. It’s a must-read drama that is strongly driven by characters motivated by a family mystery that screams for answers.
Recommend this book:
McDowell
William H. Coles
2021 Finalist
354 Pages
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Fiction - Drama
Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite
McDowell by William H. Coles is the story of Dr. Hiram McDowell. A celebrated surgeon, Dr. McDowell is single-minded in getting what he wants. His climb to the top is not without casualties and is not without some questionable practices. Cold and calculating, there is no denying his brilliance but when tragedy strikes, his world comes tumbling down. Grief and anger put him on a criminal path that will see his life of privilege and wealth all but destroyed. Can Hiram rebuild his life? On the run, Hiram embarks on a journey that will change the very core of him, change the way he lives, but is it enough to rebuild life as he knew it or will he become a different man? This could be Dr. McDowell’s one chance at redemption but will he take it?
McDowell by William H. Coles is a brilliantly written masterpiece of literary fiction. A story that could so easily be true, riveting to read. The emotion pours off almost every page and you can feel it; you can feel the sadness, the humor, the anger at the main character to start with. In the beginning, you really do not like Dr. McDowell and his fall from grace will make you happy but that is the turning point of this story. From there on, the action really picks up the pace and takes you on a journey you will never forget. This book is for everybody. It is full of lessons on life and attitude. We can all learn something here and every reader will take away something different from this book. The characterization is excellent and William H. Coles has created a main protagonist that you absolutely hate from the start but grow to love. Be prepared for an intense read; there is so much going on but every single word is relevant.
McDowell by William H. Coles is the story of Dr. Hiram McDowell. A celebrated surgeon, Dr. McDowell is single-minded in getting what he wants. His climb to the top is not without casualties and is not without some questionable practices. Cold and calculating, there is no denying his brilliance but when tragedy strikes, his world comes tumbling down. Grief and anger put him on a criminal path that will see his life of privilege and wealth all but destroyed. Can Hiram rebuild his life? On the run, Hiram embarks on a journey that will change the very core of him, change the way he lives, but is it enough to rebuild life as he knew it or will he become a different man? This could be Dr. McDowell’s one chance at redemption but will he take it?
McDowell by William H. Coles is a brilliantly written masterpiece of literary fiction. A story that could so easily be true, riveting to read. The emotion pours off almost every page and you can feel it; you can feel the sadness, the humor, the anger at the main character to start with. In the beginning, you really do not like Dr. McDowell and his fall from grace will make you happy but that is the turning point of this story. From there on, the action really picks up the pace and takes you on a journey you will never forget. This book is for everybody. It is full of lessons on life and attitude. We can all learn something here and every reader will take away something different from this book. The characterization is excellent and William H. Coles has created a main protagonist that you absolutely hate from the start but grow to love. Be prepared for an intense read; there is so much going on but every single word is relevant.
Recommend this book:
Shooting Stars
Patricia Leavy
2021 Honorable Mention
155 Pages
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Fiction - Drama
Reviewed by Jessica Barbosa for Readers' Favorite
Patricia Leavy’s Shooting Stars centers around the love story of Tess and Jack. Tess Lee is a famous novelist who has won a slew of awards and has donated millions to public libraries and raised tens of millions more. One fateful night, she meets a man named Jack, who intervenes on her behalf when a stranger becomes too persistent in flirting with her. Jack Miller joined the military out of high school; Special Forces. Now he is a federal agent with the bureau, working in counterterrorism. His life changes when he meets Tess on that fateful night. Two seemingly different people brought together by happenstance, forming a bond that could last lifetimes. Like a puzzle, their broken pieces fit together. Join these two and their amazing friends as they embark on the journey of love, life, and the complications of their past and how it affects their present and future.
Shooting Stars is a story of trauma, healing, friendship, and love with a nice serving of domesticity to soothe the heart. Each of our characters goes through their own struggles and does their best to overcome their past. Patricia Leavy has managed to weave a love story that naturally develops and grips the heart. Love changes people to be a better version of themselves; it is protective, gentle, and can come in many forms: friendship or romance. The story unfolds in a gripping manner: Jack and Tess’ story starts sweetly and they each fall deeper for the other as days pass but both cannot escape their pasts completely. They help each other, support each other, and their friends are there for them too. These two are the main center points of the story and they have a beautiful relationship. Jack and Tess fit together in a way that most people envy but they have their struggles too and the story showcases their struggles as challenges that make their bonds with each other and the people around them stronger. Overall, Shooting Stars is a sweet story with lessons of love and healing that will reach the hearts of its readers.
Patricia Leavy’s Shooting Stars centers around the love story of Tess and Jack. Tess Lee is a famous novelist who has won a slew of awards and has donated millions to public libraries and raised tens of millions more. One fateful night, she meets a man named Jack, who intervenes on her behalf when a stranger becomes too persistent in flirting with her. Jack Miller joined the military out of high school; Special Forces. Now he is a federal agent with the bureau, working in counterterrorism. His life changes when he meets Tess on that fateful night. Two seemingly different people brought together by happenstance, forming a bond that could last lifetimes. Like a puzzle, their broken pieces fit together. Join these two and their amazing friends as they embark on the journey of love, life, and the complications of their past and how it affects their present and future.
Shooting Stars is a story of trauma, healing, friendship, and love with a nice serving of domesticity to soothe the heart. Each of our characters goes through their own struggles and does their best to overcome their past. Patricia Leavy has managed to weave a love story that naturally develops and grips the heart. Love changes people to be a better version of themselves; it is protective, gentle, and can come in many forms: friendship or romance. The story unfolds in a gripping manner: Jack and Tess’ story starts sweetly and they each fall deeper for the other as days pass but both cannot escape their pasts completely. They help each other, support each other, and their friends are there for them too. These two are the main center points of the story and they have a beautiful relationship. Jack and Tess fit together in a way that most people envy but they have their struggles too and the story showcases their struggles as challenges that make their bonds with each other and the people around them stronger. Overall, Shooting Stars is a sweet story with lessons of love and healing that will reach the hearts of its readers.
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