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Recommend this book:
The iCandidate
The Michael Bennit Series
Mikael Carlson
2014 Silver Medal
359 Pages
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Fiction - Drama
Reviewed by Samantha Rivera for Readers' Favorite
Mr. Bennitt isn’t your average high school history teacher. He’s a teacher determined to make a difference in his students’ lives and the lives of everyone in America. What begins as a simple bet with his students over their grades turns into something much bigger than any of them could have ever imagined. Running an entire political campaign with no true opinions on the issues and no face-to-face meetings with constituents may seem like a set-up to fail, but it’s actually a match made in heaven for the socially connected world we live in. The iCandidate by Mikael Carlson is the story of a man who is determined to teach a lesson to the masses.
Michael Bennitt is the type of character anyone can relate to. He’s a seemingly normal man with his own quirks and failings, just like everyone else, but he’s also a driven man. He’s someone who is determined that the world really could be a better place if the American people were only willing to stand up and do things rather than sit back and allow things to happen. Unfortunately for all of us, standing up and doing means putting down the social media we all love so much. But it doesn’t mean putting down this amazing book. The iCandidate is one of the best books that I have read in a long time and the characters and twists will keep you reading long into the night. I will recommend this book to my friends and family and I'm sure anyone else who reads it will do the same.
Mr. Bennitt isn’t your average high school history teacher. He’s a teacher determined to make a difference in his students’ lives and the lives of everyone in America. What begins as a simple bet with his students over their grades turns into something much bigger than any of them could have ever imagined. Running an entire political campaign with no true opinions on the issues and no face-to-face meetings with constituents may seem like a set-up to fail, but it’s actually a match made in heaven for the socially connected world we live in. The iCandidate by Mikael Carlson is the story of a man who is determined to teach a lesson to the masses.
Michael Bennitt is the type of character anyone can relate to. He’s a seemingly normal man with his own quirks and failings, just like everyone else, but he’s also a driven man. He’s someone who is determined that the world really could be a better place if the American people were only willing to stand up and do things rather than sit back and allow things to happen. Unfortunately for all of us, standing up and doing means putting down the social media we all love so much. But it doesn’t mean putting down this amazing book. The iCandidate is one of the best books that I have read in a long time and the characters and twists will keep you reading long into the night. I will recommend this book to my friends and family and I'm sure anyone else who reads it will do the same.
Recommend this book:
October Snow
Jenna Brooks
2014 Gold Medal
364 Pages
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Fiction - Drama
Reviewed by Bil Howard for Readers' Favorite
In Jenna Brooks's October Snow, a woman who was a battered wife witnesses the death of one too many battered wives, murdered by her husband. May, Josie’s friend, dies in her arms and the moment changes Josie forever. She steels herself to putting an end to the abuse that continues to plague the women she is trying to rescue. She must do this before the same fate that took May's life catches up with them. Josie knows exactly how to make a bully wish he had never crossed her path. When Jack, her friend Samantha's abusive husband, reveals that Samantha’s baby by him is a tool for manipulating her, Josie has had just about enough. She steps in to take care of the problem. Will she rid Sammy of her problem permanently or does she have some other tricks up her sleeve to defeat the abuser?
October Snow is a brilliantly written piece that digs deep into the soul and psyche of an abused woman who has been able to set herself free from the controlling and manipulative bondage of an abuser. It digs deep into the characters involved in the struggle in such a way that the reader will feel as if they are living the nightmare themselves. The plot is expertly designed to keep the reader on the edge of their seat and turning pages in order to discover what new twist the story will take. It is a deep look into abuse, control, battering, and the struggle that women endure in order to survive. The character development is superb. This is not a story for a light-weight reader, but rather a harsh look into the reality of this horrible injustice. You will feel the terror, the anger, and the vengeance.
In Jenna Brooks's October Snow, a woman who was a battered wife witnesses the death of one too many battered wives, murdered by her husband. May, Josie’s friend, dies in her arms and the moment changes Josie forever. She steels herself to putting an end to the abuse that continues to plague the women she is trying to rescue. She must do this before the same fate that took May's life catches up with them. Josie knows exactly how to make a bully wish he had never crossed her path. When Jack, her friend Samantha's abusive husband, reveals that Samantha’s baby by him is a tool for manipulating her, Josie has had just about enough. She steps in to take care of the problem. Will she rid Sammy of her problem permanently or does she have some other tricks up her sleeve to defeat the abuser?
October Snow is a brilliantly written piece that digs deep into the soul and psyche of an abused woman who has been able to set herself free from the controlling and manipulative bondage of an abuser. It digs deep into the characters involved in the struggle in such a way that the reader will feel as if they are living the nightmare themselves. The plot is expertly designed to keep the reader on the edge of their seat and turning pages in order to discover what new twist the story will take. It is a deep look into abuse, control, battering, and the struggle that women endure in order to survive. The character development is superb. This is not a story for a light-weight reader, but rather a harsh look into the reality of this horrible injustice. You will feel the terror, the anger, and the vengeance.
Recommend this book:
Chasing Invisible
Karen Pokras Toz
2013 Silver Medal
306 Pages
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Fiction - Drama
Reviewed by Natasha Jackson for Readers' Favorite
Julia Alexander is the quiet girl we all know who simply doesn’t know how great she is, no matter how many times you tell her. She’d rather hang out with a few dusty books and her nearest and dearest instead of sitting in a crowded smoky college bar. Unfortunately it is just one of those dark crowded rooms where she meets Chase, an aspiring musician with dreams of stardom. How, you wonder, will Chase and Julie end up anywhere near a relationship? Let’s just say it is a well-crafted story from Karen Pokras Toz.
I’ll admit that I had some hesitation about this story, thinking it’d be another incredibly gorgeous and rich celebrity playing the ‘woe is me’ card during a whirlwind romance filled with jewels and exotic vacations, but I was wrong. Really wrong. The truth of the matter is that "Chasing Invisible" is aptly titled because you feel just how badly Julia just wants to be more than normal, but invisible. Given the current state of the paparazzi it is safe to say Julia would be happy to know she missed the worst of it by a decade. Nevertheless "Chasing Invisible" is an incredible story of getting what you want and having it all blow up in your face. Karen Pokras Toz does a fantastic job of sucking the reader right into Julia’s psyche allowing you more than to peek at her pain. At times her need to be invisible is so visceral that I had to take a few moments away from the story to gather my bearings. With an ending you won’t see coming, Pokras Toz has a winner on her hands with the compelling tale of Julia and Chase.
Julia Alexander is the quiet girl we all know who simply doesn’t know how great she is, no matter how many times you tell her. She’d rather hang out with a few dusty books and her nearest and dearest instead of sitting in a crowded smoky college bar. Unfortunately it is just one of those dark crowded rooms where she meets Chase, an aspiring musician with dreams of stardom. How, you wonder, will Chase and Julie end up anywhere near a relationship? Let’s just say it is a well-crafted story from Karen Pokras Toz.
I’ll admit that I had some hesitation about this story, thinking it’d be another incredibly gorgeous and rich celebrity playing the ‘woe is me’ card during a whirlwind romance filled with jewels and exotic vacations, but I was wrong. Really wrong. The truth of the matter is that "Chasing Invisible" is aptly titled because you feel just how badly Julia just wants to be more than normal, but invisible. Given the current state of the paparazzi it is safe to say Julia would be happy to know she missed the worst of it by a decade. Nevertheless "Chasing Invisible" is an incredible story of getting what you want and having it all blow up in your face. Karen Pokras Toz does a fantastic job of sucking the reader right into Julia’s psyche allowing you more than to peek at her pain. At times her need to be invisible is so visceral that I had to take a few moments away from the story to gather my bearings. With an ending you won’t see coming, Pokras Toz has a winner on her hands with the compelling tale of Julia and Chase.
Recommend this book:
![](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=/book-award/along-the-watchtower&media=https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51UXOaVF7UL._SL442_.jpg._AA200_.jpg&description="Along the Watchtower" is the story of Lieutenant Freddie Williams who was severely injured by an IED when he was on patrol with his group in Iraq. The story proceeds on two levels: we follow along as he recovers from his injuries in the VA hospital and begins an intensive course of physical therapy to regain the use of his legs; and we are also pr...){kind=link}
Along the Watchtower
David Litwack
2013 Bronze Medal
214 Pages
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Fiction - Drama
Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite
"Along the Watchtower" is the story of Lieutenant Freddie Williams who was severely injured by an IED when he was on patrol with his group in Iraq. The story proceeds on two levels: we follow along as he recovers from his injuries in the VA hospital and begins an intensive course of physical therapy to regain the use of his legs; and we are also privy to his dreams, wherein he is the Dauphin, heir to a kingdom, a role he has been in training for all his life. Now that his father, the King, is dead, he must pass a series of challenges and trials. The survival of the kingdom and all its inhabitants is dependent on his successful completion of these tasks. In his waking life, in addition to the challenges he faces as he regains his ability to walk, Freddie carries a load of grief and regret, both for the loss of his comrades back in Iraq and the premature deaths of his parents and brother.
David Litwack's "Along the Watchtower" is a remarkable and timely novel that should appeal to a wide-ranging audience. The parallel stories grab the reader from the introductory paragraphs and keep them enthralled as Freddie progresses through the challenges and trials he faces. "Along the Watchtower" explores the extreme hardships faced by veterans whose physical injuries are often accompanied by brain injuries and emotional trauma. I was particularly interested in Freddie's interactions with the hospital staff and his fellow patients. Choosing the Cape Cod area also adds a lot to the work. From the ocean-front home Freddie shared as a child with his family to the ice-sculptures he visits during his convalescence, the environment is beautifully presented and adds to the enjoyment of the reader. I highly recommend this book and am looking forward to reading more of Litwack's books.
"Along the Watchtower" is the story of Lieutenant Freddie Williams who was severely injured by an IED when he was on patrol with his group in Iraq. The story proceeds on two levels: we follow along as he recovers from his injuries in the VA hospital and begins an intensive course of physical therapy to regain the use of his legs; and we are also privy to his dreams, wherein he is the Dauphin, heir to a kingdom, a role he has been in training for all his life. Now that his father, the King, is dead, he must pass a series of challenges and trials. The survival of the kingdom and all its inhabitants is dependent on his successful completion of these tasks. In his waking life, in addition to the challenges he faces as he regains his ability to walk, Freddie carries a load of grief and regret, both for the loss of his comrades back in Iraq and the premature deaths of his parents and brother.
David Litwack's "Along the Watchtower" is a remarkable and timely novel that should appeal to a wide-ranging audience. The parallel stories grab the reader from the introductory paragraphs and keep them enthralled as Freddie progresses through the challenges and trials he faces. "Along the Watchtower" explores the extreme hardships faced by veterans whose physical injuries are often accompanied by brain injuries and emotional trauma. I was particularly interested in Freddie's interactions with the hospital staff and his fellow patients. Choosing the Cape Cod area also adds a lot to the work. From the ocean-front home Freddie shared as a child with his family to the ice-sculptures he visits during his convalescence, the environment is beautifully presented and adds to the enjoyment of the reader. I highly recommend this book and am looking forward to reading more of Litwack's books.
Recommend this book:
![](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=/book-award/the-magnificent-mary-ann&media=https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41OtC6GDpdL._SL442_.jpg._AA200_.jpg&description="The Magnificent Mary Ann” by Philip Kraske is a fascinating look at how one event that may seem minor to one person changes the course of events for another. Rarely do we know the effect our words or actions have on others. Sitting next to a young girl on a flight to Chicago Hal offered up words of wisdom. Never had anyone taken the time or ener...){kind=link}
The Magnificent Mary Ann
Philip Kraske
2013 Finalist
178 Pages
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Fiction - Drama
Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite
"The Magnificent Mary Ann” by Philip Kraske is a fascinating look at how one event that may seem minor to one person changes the course of events for another. Rarely do we know the effect our words or actions have on others. Sitting next to a young girl on a flight to Chicago Hal offered up words of wisdom. Never had anyone taken the time or energy to talk to Mary Ann. Hal had no means of knowing her circumstance or the result of his advice. Mary Ann was only eleven years old. She was a run away, escaping an abusive father and brothers. She listens intently to every word Hal utters, absorbing it all. She follows his advice and is successful. “Do what you like most. What you need isn't a lot of money or background, what you need is a dream. If you have a dream, everything else will take care of itself. Sure, there are people who dance for a living. It’s extremely difficult to get into, of course — you have to be the best. But if you train hard, and you come to rehearsal ready to work every day, you’ll make it. The pay isn't all that great, but you’ll get along.” Now at twenty it is her desire to locate the man with curly blonde hair named Hal. By coincidence, Ruth, a flight attendant, finds Hal and urges him to call Mary Ann.
I really enjoyed this tale. Philip Kraske is a talented author having created two diverse but fascinating characters. It was interesting to watch Hal and Mary Ann as they matured and changed. As soon as the author introduced Mary Ann’s family into the plot it was easy to see why she ran away from home. Ruth was a secondary character but as I read her dialog, which I thought was humorous, I was reminded of a few scatter brained people that I know. The plot moved along at a smooth pace and is not high action but tends to be more introspective. "The Magnificent Mary Ann” will encourage readers that they can succeed no matter what circumstances they have to overcome.
"The Magnificent Mary Ann” by Philip Kraske is a fascinating look at how one event that may seem minor to one person changes the course of events for another. Rarely do we know the effect our words or actions have on others. Sitting next to a young girl on a flight to Chicago Hal offered up words of wisdom. Never had anyone taken the time or energy to talk to Mary Ann. Hal had no means of knowing her circumstance or the result of his advice. Mary Ann was only eleven years old. She was a run away, escaping an abusive father and brothers. She listens intently to every word Hal utters, absorbing it all. She follows his advice and is successful. “Do what you like most. What you need isn't a lot of money or background, what you need is a dream. If you have a dream, everything else will take care of itself. Sure, there are people who dance for a living. It’s extremely difficult to get into, of course — you have to be the best. But if you train hard, and you come to rehearsal ready to work every day, you’ll make it. The pay isn't all that great, but you’ll get along.” Now at twenty it is her desire to locate the man with curly blonde hair named Hal. By coincidence, Ruth, a flight attendant, finds Hal and urges him to call Mary Ann.
I really enjoyed this tale. Philip Kraske is a talented author having created two diverse but fascinating characters. It was interesting to watch Hal and Mary Ann as they matured and changed. As soon as the author introduced Mary Ann’s family into the plot it was easy to see why she ran away from home. Ruth was a secondary character but as I read her dialog, which I thought was humorous, I was reminded of a few scatter brained people that I know. The plot moved along at a smooth pace and is not high action but tends to be more introspective. "The Magnificent Mary Ann” will encourage readers that they can succeed no matter what circumstances they have to overcome.
Recommend this book:
When Red Is Blue
Sabrynne McLain
2013 Honorable Mention
308 Pages
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Fiction - Drama
Reviewed by Brenda Casto for Readers' Favorite
Kate Faraday always felt a bit of shame where her parents were concerned. It was tough growing up with an alcoholic father and a mother who suffered from mental illness. Added to the dysfunction was the fact that her parents lived in separate houses, but stayed in each other's lives. Kate lived with her father, but she had been looking out for her mother for as long as she could remember. After high school Kate leaves the tiny town of Cooper, to go to college in Lansing in the hope of leaving Michigan and moving to California, where she could start over. When something happens to her mother she finds herself dealing not only with long-lost relatives, but with feelings that she has kept buried as well.
"When Red Is Blue" is a powerful story that allows the reader a true glimpse of the effects of growing up in a dysfunctional family. Sabrynne McLain breathes life into each of her characters allowing me to feel the emotions that they felt. As we learn about Kate's mother Sophia it is easy to feel sympathy for her, but the snippets of the past that we get also allow the reader to see the pride she felt for her only daughter. Art Faraday was another surprise. Kate remembered him as an alcoholic, but as she sifts through the past she sees a man who sacrificed, and truly loved her mother. Kate's character is the most complex of all. The author allows us to see Kate's flaws, but Kate judged herself more harshly than anyone around her did. She is a daughter who worried about her mother, felt guilt over something that wasn't her fault, and didn't hesitate to come home and help her father when he needed her. "When Red Is Blue" is a touching account of a daughter longing to break away and leave the past behind, but learns that she must deal with the past in order to embrace her future! A book that will resonate with anyone who has ever been touched by alcoholism or mental illness. Memorable characters have made this a story that I continued to think about long after I read the final page!
Kate Faraday always felt a bit of shame where her parents were concerned. It was tough growing up with an alcoholic father and a mother who suffered from mental illness. Added to the dysfunction was the fact that her parents lived in separate houses, but stayed in each other's lives. Kate lived with her father, but she had been looking out for her mother for as long as she could remember. After high school Kate leaves the tiny town of Cooper, to go to college in Lansing in the hope of leaving Michigan and moving to California, where she could start over. When something happens to her mother she finds herself dealing not only with long-lost relatives, but with feelings that she has kept buried as well.
"When Red Is Blue" is a powerful story that allows the reader a true glimpse of the effects of growing up in a dysfunctional family. Sabrynne McLain breathes life into each of her characters allowing me to feel the emotions that they felt. As we learn about Kate's mother Sophia it is easy to feel sympathy for her, but the snippets of the past that we get also allow the reader to see the pride she felt for her only daughter. Art Faraday was another surprise. Kate remembered him as an alcoholic, but as she sifts through the past she sees a man who sacrificed, and truly loved her mother. Kate's character is the most complex of all. The author allows us to see Kate's flaws, but Kate judged herself more harshly than anyone around her did. She is a daughter who worried about her mother, felt guilt over something that wasn't her fault, and didn't hesitate to come home and help her father when he needed her. "When Red Is Blue" is a touching account of a daughter longing to break away and leave the past behind, but learns that she must deal with the past in order to embrace her future! A book that will resonate with anyone who has ever been touched by alcoholism or mental illness. Memorable characters have made this a story that I continued to think about long after I read the final page!
Recommend this book:
Here Among Us
Maggie Harryman
2013 Gold Medal
289 Pages
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Fiction - Drama
Reviewed by Alice DiNizo for Readers' Favorite
It’s February of 1970 and in South Orange, New Jersey, Seven year old Flynn O'Shea likes living in her parents' apartment which is located above the bar they own and manage. Flynn is the youngest of the three O'Shea children Maeve being the oldest and Osheen, the only son. Flynn adores her father, Paddy, her best friend and confidant, and when he dies suddenly of a stroke, she is grief-stricken. Many years later, in 2007, single mother Flynn flies home for Thanksgiving to South Orange with her teenage daughter Didi. Flynn and Didi live in San Francisco where Flynn had worked as an attorney for eleven years. The recent downsizing of her firm has left Flynn unemployed and she has a daughter to raise and lives carefully on the money from the three restaurants her mother, Oona, had created. Upon reaching home, Flynn finds that her sister Maeve's luxurious life with husband Jeffrey Tarrant is crumbling, her mother Oona is showing signs of Alzheimer's, her brother Osheen is gamling in Atlantic City, and Didi goes off shopping with Maeve in new York City. Is this any way to celebrate a family holiday get-together?
Author Maggie Harryman has created a highly-readable story of an Irish family in modern-day America. The characters, Flynn, Maeve, Osheen, Oona, Didi and their family friends and neighbors are unforgettable as they battle and then reconcile with each other. Author Harryman creates images such as Flynn's always taking the window seat in her flights on airplanes (p.20), "imagining that her father was out there in the clouds." The book is full of witty remarks like the one we find on page 121 where Osheen is presented as "a flawed and broken man who had spent the better part of his life learning the lessons only angry women can teach.” The reader will treasure these expressions and the author's lyrical writing style that makes "Here Among Us" a masterpiece.
It’s February of 1970 and in South Orange, New Jersey, Seven year old Flynn O'Shea likes living in her parents' apartment which is located above the bar they own and manage. Flynn is the youngest of the three O'Shea children Maeve being the oldest and Osheen, the only son. Flynn adores her father, Paddy, her best friend and confidant, and when he dies suddenly of a stroke, she is grief-stricken. Many years later, in 2007, single mother Flynn flies home for Thanksgiving to South Orange with her teenage daughter Didi. Flynn and Didi live in San Francisco where Flynn had worked as an attorney for eleven years. The recent downsizing of her firm has left Flynn unemployed and she has a daughter to raise and lives carefully on the money from the three restaurants her mother, Oona, had created. Upon reaching home, Flynn finds that her sister Maeve's luxurious life with husband Jeffrey Tarrant is crumbling, her mother Oona is showing signs of Alzheimer's, her brother Osheen is gamling in Atlantic City, and Didi goes off shopping with Maeve in new York City. Is this any way to celebrate a family holiday get-together?
Author Maggie Harryman has created a highly-readable story of an Irish family in modern-day America. The characters, Flynn, Maeve, Osheen, Oona, Didi and their family friends and neighbors are unforgettable as they battle and then reconcile with each other. Author Harryman creates images such as Flynn's always taking the window seat in her flights on airplanes (p.20), "imagining that her father was out there in the clouds." The book is full of witty remarks like the one we find on page 121 where Osheen is presented as "a flawed and broken man who had spent the better part of his life learning the lessons only angry women can teach.” The reader will treasure these expressions and the author's lyrical writing style that makes "Here Among Us" a masterpiece.
Recommend this book:
From the Chrysalis
Karen E. Black
2012 Bronze Medal
387 Pages
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Fiction - Drama
Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite
Our story begins in a butterfly garden with two cousins flirting with each other. Dace is a handsome young man prone to trouble. For much younger Liz he is temptation. He enticed her to swim in the pond. If Uncle Norm had not come along at just at the right moment they would have gone too far. He promised her he would write but he never did. Liz continued to think about Dace. She searched through the microfilm of Maitland’s newspaper hoping to find something about him. Dace had been convicted of manslaughter and was serving the next seven years in prison. Her father burned with a continuous rage at Liz. Her mother decided it would be in her best interest if she went to live with her maternal Irish grandmother in Dublin. That was when she began receiving letters from Dace. Of course she wrote him back and each letter Dace received from Liz gave him hope. He was ecstatic when she told him she was returning to Maitland. When riots broke out in the prison Liz rushed there hoping in some way she could protect or rescue Dace.
"From The Chrysalis" is both drama and thriller. The plot is character driven. The protagonist is Dace. He is about 17 when the book begins and the reader knows from the start that he is drawn to trouble. He sort of reminded me of James Dean, handsome, tempting and sure to cause suffering. Liz is merely 13 when we first meet her. She is drawn to Dace like a moth is drawn to flame. We all know she is going to be burned. The two play well together and yet we know they are not good for each other. The story is one that will keep the readers eagerly turning pages. I am not usually drawn to books that contain prison scenes but I had to read every word. The author, Karen Black, has provided a very descriptive account of the prison. Black is a very talented author. She brings the scenes in her book to life and they march off the pages. I look forward to more books by Black.
Our story begins in a butterfly garden with two cousins flirting with each other. Dace is a handsome young man prone to trouble. For much younger Liz he is temptation. He enticed her to swim in the pond. If Uncle Norm had not come along at just at the right moment they would have gone too far. He promised her he would write but he never did. Liz continued to think about Dace. She searched through the microfilm of Maitland’s newspaper hoping to find something about him. Dace had been convicted of manslaughter and was serving the next seven years in prison. Her father burned with a continuous rage at Liz. Her mother decided it would be in her best interest if she went to live with her maternal Irish grandmother in Dublin. That was when she began receiving letters from Dace. Of course she wrote him back and each letter Dace received from Liz gave him hope. He was ecstatic when she told him she was returning to Maitland. When riots broke out in the prison Liz rushed there hoping in some way she could protect or rescue Dace.
"From The Chrysalis" is both drama and thriller. The plot is character driven. The protagonist is Dace. He is about 17 when the book begins and the reader knows from the start that he is drawn to trouble. He sort of reminded me of James Dean, handsome, tempting and sure to cause suffering. Liz is merely 13 when we first meet her. She is drawn to Dace like a moth is drawn to flame. We all know she is going to be burned. The two play well together and yet we know they are not good for each other. The story is one that will keep the readers eagerly turning pages. I am not usually drawn to books that contain prison scenes but I had to read every word. The author, Karen Black, has provided a very descriptive account of the prison. Black is a very talented author. She brings the scenes in her book to life and they march off the pages. I look forward to more books by Black.
Recommend this book:
The Wonder of Ordinary Magic
Lilli Jolgren Day
2012 Silver Medal
252 Pages
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Fiction - Drama
Reviewed by Lisa McCombs for Readers' Favorite
Bobby, an author by trade faces his greatest writing challenge to date as he struggles to pull his characters out of a dangerous and suspenseful situation. Nothing out of the ordinary for your every day author, except Bobby is anything but ordinary. Bobby is in a coma. As he writes the scintillating lines of his latest novel, the world revolves around him, unaware of what is happening in this seemingly vegetative individual. Where Bobby's medical condition has become a hopeless waiting game for his friends and family, he produces a fictional tale of intrigue that oddly mirrors his current life. The exception to the otherwise pessimistic perspective of his chances of survival is his four year old niece, Chloe, plans her days around Uncle Bobby's return to the living because of her invention of a magical magnet that will operate on his damaged brain. While the rest of the family fashion their daily schedules around hospital visits that can only lead to their last look at Bobby, they are unaware that he miraculously hears their words and sees their actions. He grows fond of his caregivers and silently offers advice and concern for all those around him.
I found myself praying for Bobby's survival, regardless of the grim reality of his diagnosis. Lost in this detailed story, I tended to forget about the perilous condition of the main character, until the surprising ending. I actually re-read the last pages to confirm that his story had in fact come to an end. The Wonder of Ordinary Magic left me haunted by its characters for days after I finished reading it.
Bobby, an author by trade faces his greatest writing challenge to date as he struggles to pull his characters out of a dangerous and suspenseful situation. Nothing out of the ordinary for your every day author, except Bobby is anything but ordinary. Bobby is in a coma. As he writes the scintillating lines of his latest novel, the world revolves around him, unaware of what is happening in this seemingly vegetative individual. Where Bobby's medical condition has become a hopeless waiting game for his friends and family, he produces a fictional tale of intrigue that oddly mirrors his current life. The exception to the otherwise pessimistic perspective of his chances of survival is his four year old niece, Chloe, plans her days around Uncle Bobby's return to the living because of her invention of a magical magnet that will operate on his damaged brain. While the rest of the family fashion their daily schedules around hospital visits that can only lead to their last look at Bobby, they are unaware that he miraculously hears their words and sees their actions. He grows fond of his caregivers and silently offers advice and concern for all those around him.
I found myself praying for Bobby's survival, regardless of the grim reality of his diagnosis. Lost in this detailed story, I tended to forget about the perilous condition of the main character, until the surprising ending. I actually re-read the last pages to confirm that his story had in fact come to an end. The Wonder of Ordinary Magic left me haunted by its characters for days after I finished reading it.
Recommend this book:
Lazarus in the Labyrinth
T R Hanes
2012 Honorable Mention
242 Pages
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Fiction - Drama
Reviewed by Alice DiNizo for Readers' Favorite
Reno Antonin and Blaise Berrington have been lovers and partners for twenty years. They have a perfect life together as they own a beautiful home with lovely gardens and a loving dog, part golden retriever and part Samoyed, named Zulie. Reno has always been the super athlete and now with Blaise's encouragement he is a college professor while Bliase continues with his career as a doctor, administering anesthetics in hundreds of operations over the years. But then Reno runs into a tree by accident while skiing and his leg is broken and injures his lower spinal cord. Falling and breaking his hip has meant hip-replacement surgery for Reno and he is stuck at home, dealing with physical therapy and his sister's recommendation of psychotherapy. Reno feels that Blaise is faced with too much: he works full time and then has to come home to care for Reno. Will psychotherapy really help Reno and Blaise or will it uncover too many past problems?
"Lazarus in the Labyrinth" is a well-written, well-edited novel that deals with tough issues that all relationships face. Reno and Blaise, Reno's sister Dahlia and her husband, and all the other characters in this story are believable and help the reader to conclude that life is always changing. The reader will be impressed with the plot as it moves to its conclusion, leaving room for thought about death and endings and whether past issues should just stay in the past. "Lazarus in the Labyrinth" is not just a book about a gay couple, it is a book about life's twists and turns. Thoughtful readers will adore this novel.
Reno Antonin and Blaise Berrington have been lovers and partners for twenty years. They have a perfect life together as they own a beautiful home with lovely gardens and a loving dog, part golden retriever and part Samoyed, named Zulie. Reno has always been the super athlete and now with Blaise's encouragement he is a college professor while Bliase continues with his career as a doctor, administering anesthetics in hundreds of operations over the years. But then Reno runs into a tree by accident while skiing and his leg is broken and injures his lower spinal cord. Falling and breaking his hip has meant hip-replacement surgery for Reno and he is stuck at home, dealing with physical therapy and his sister's recommendation of psychotherapy. Reno feels that Blaise is faced with too much: he works full time and then has to come home to care for Reno. Will psychotherapy really help Reno and Blaise or will it uncover too many past problems?
"Lazarus in the Labyrinth" is a well-written, well-edited novel that deals with tough issues that all relationships face. Reno and Blaise, Reno's sister Dahlia and her husband, and all the other characters in this story are believable and help the reader to conclude that life is always changing. The reader will be impressed with the plot as it moves to its conclusion, leaving room for thought about death and endings and whether past issues should just stay in the past. "Lazarus in the Labyrinth" is not just a book about a gay couple, it is a book about life's twists and turns. Thoughtful readers will adore this novel.
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