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Recommend this book:
A Silent Prayer
A Prayer Series I
Samreen Ahsan
2014 Honorable Mention
330 Pages
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Fiction - General
Reviewed by Ray Simmons for Readers' Favorite
I think A Silent Prayer by Samreen Ahsan is destined to become a classic in the romance genre. I rarely read pure romance novels. I like my romance blended into an action or adventure story, otherwise it gets a little boring for me. This story is pure romance. It is all about the relationship between Rania, a Canadian woman of Lebanese descent, and Adam, a powerful and influential construction magnate in Toronto. Both of these characters are emotionally damaged. Neither has really loved before and, until they meet each other, are sure they will never love. This is nothing new or fresh in the annals of romance. What is new is that Samreen Ahsan chooses to tell the story from both characters' point of view. One chapter from the man's perspective and one chapter from the woman's.
There are a lot of good male writers who just can't capture the essence of a female character and there are a lot of good women writers who can't quite get the male voice right. To be honest, I don't know if Samreen is a male name or a female name. I really don't care and it really doesn't matter because the writing is great. Both the male and female perspective sound and feel genuinely authentic. This is what makes the story work for me. This is why I give it five stars. The writing is great and I cared about the characters. You could even say that I prayed for a successful conclusion to their romantic journey.
I think A Silent Prayer by Samreen Ahsan is destined to become a classic in the romance genre. I rarely read pure romance novels. I like my romance blended into an action or adventure story, otherwise it gets a little boring for me. This story is pure romance. It is all about the relationship between Rania, a Canadian woman of Lebanese descent, and Adam, a powerful and influential construction magnate in Toronto. Both of these characters are emotionally damaged. Neither has really loved before and, until they meet each other, are sure they will never love. This is nothing new or fresh in the annals of romance. What is new is that Samreen Ahsan chooses to tell the story from both characters' point of view. One chapter from the man's perspective and one chapter from the woman's.
There are a lot of good male writers who just can't capture the essence of a female character and there are a lot of good women writers who can't quite get the male voice right. To be honest, I don't know if Samreen is a male name or a female name. I really don't care and it really doesn't matter because the writing is great. Both the male and female perspective sound and feel genuinely authentic. This is what makes the story work for me. This is why I give it five stars. The writing is great and I cared about the characters. You could even say that I prayed for a successful conclusion to their romantic journey.
Recommend this book:
The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky
David Litwack
2014 Finalist
290 Pages
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Fiction - General
Reviewed by Faridah Nassozi for Readers' Favorite
Two major life changing events had taken place in Helena Brewster's life in the recent past; her father had passed away and she had seen Jason again after four years. However, neither of these compared to the effects of the sudden appearance of an angelic 9-year-old girl from the Forbidden Sea. When Helena and Jason rescued Kailani from the ocean, they did not anticipate her extraordinary nature and the effect it would have on them and everyone else around her. Kailani's nature was a mixture of the innocence of a 9-year-old and the wisdom of a mythmaker beyond her years. As Helena and Jason got to know her better, their lives changed in ways they had never imagined before. They promised to protect this child from the Blessed Lands from the ruthless laws of the Republic. However, no one really knew what this daughter of the sea and the sky was; was she just another zealot here to cause trouble in the land of the soulless? A prophet as some had come to believe? Or just a troubled innocent child?
The Daughter Of The Sea And The Sky by David Litwack is an intriguing tale of faith versus reason as each of the two lands separated by a horrible war fought to stay true to what they believed. David Litwack's writing style draws a very vivid picture of the setting of the story and the different characters that form part of this extraordinary tale. His description of Kailani's innocent and yet dazzling beauty and her personality gives you a real image of the little girl whose strange character and innocent wisdom touched so many lives. The story keeps you on the edge from one page to the next as you wait to discover the reason behind her sudden appearance in the land of the soulless and, in the end, the truth is very awe-inspiring and most deserving.
Two major life changing events had taken place in Helena Brewster's life in the recent past; her father had passed away and she had seen Jason again after four years. However, neither of these compared to the effects of the sudden appearance of an angelic 9-year-old girl from the Forbidden Sea. When Helena and Jason rescued Kailani from the ocean, they did not anticipate her extraordinary nature and the effect it would have on them and everyone else around her. Kailani's nature was a mixture of the innocence of a 9-year-old and the wisdom of a mythmaker beyond her years. As Helena and Jason got to know her better, their lives changed in ways they had never imagined before. They promised to protect this child from the Blessed Lands from the ruthless laws of the Republic. However, no one really knew what this daughter of the sea and the sky was; was she just another zealot here to cause trouble in the land of the soulless? A prophet as some had come to believe? Or just a troubled innocent child?
The Daughter Of The Sea And The Sky by David Litwack is an intriguing tale of faith versus reason as each of the two lands separated by a horrible war fought to stay true to what they believed. David Litwack's writing style draws a very vivid picture of the setting of the story and the different characters that form part of this extraordinary tale. His description of Kailani's innocent and yet dazzling beauty and her personality gives you a real image of the little girl whose strange character and innocent wisdom touched so many lives. The story keeps you on the edge from one page to the next as you wait to discover the reason behind her sudden appearance in the land of the soulless and, in the end, the truth is very awe-inspiring and most deserving.
Recommend this book:
Lenin Lives Next Door
Marriage, Martinis, and Mayhem in Moscow
Jennifer Eremeeva
2014 Finalist
298 Pages
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Fiction - General
Reviewed by Maria Beltran for Readers' Favorite
Lenin Lives Next Door: Marriage, Martinis, and Mayhem in Moscow by Jennifer Eremeeva is an intimate look at the life of an American woman living in Moscow. After reading a book on the last Russian royals, Nicholas and Alexandra, thirteen-year-old Jennifer falls madly in love with the country. She studies the Russian language, goes on a ten-day student trip to Leningrad, Pskov, Tver, and Moscow, and the romance continues. She finds herself in Russia in 1993 again, and this time she is managing back-to-back tours and hosting trade show delegations. As predicted by a Georgian sightseeing guide, Jennifer marries a Russian whom she dubs as HRH, meaning Handsome Russian Husband and occasionally, Horrible Russian Husband. The couple settles down in Moscow, has a daughter, and lives in an apartment not far away from where the embalmed corpse of Lenin gets regularly freshened up. Deciding to quit her job to write a book, Jennifer takes a look at her life, her adopted country, and her other expatriate friends in a funny way.
Witty, humorous, and informative are the three words that came to mind after I finished reading Lenin Lives Next Door: Marriage, Martinis, and Mayhem in Moscow. This book is obviously based on the life of the author, Jennifer Eremeeva, who has been living in Moscow for twenty years with her Russian husband and their daughter. The author’s voice is matter of fact, slightly ironic, and she writes in the conversational first person perspective, making the reading experience quite intimate. In going through the funny and sometimes hilarious events in the life of an American woman living in Russia, readers should be able to get a lot of information about the Russian people, as shaped by the country’s long and tumultuous history. Straddling two cultures, the author uses a special blend of sarcasm and humor, mixed with a certain amount of fondness in her writing style. The result is a book that is not only funny - it is absolutely charming!
Lenin Lives Next Door: Marriage, Martinis, and Mayhem in Moscow by Jennifer Eremeeva is an intimate look at the life of an American woman living in Moscow. After reading a book on the last Russian royals, Nicholas and Alexandra, thirteen-year-old Jennifer falls madly in love with the country. She studies the Russian language, goes on a ten-day student trip to Leningrad, Pskov, Tver, and Moscow, and the romance continues. She finds herself in Russia in 1993 again, and this time she is managing back-to-back tours and hosting trade show delegations. As predicted by a Georgian sightseeing guide, Jennifer marries a Russian whom she dubs as HRH, meaning Handsome Russian Husband and occasionally, Horrible Russian Husband. The couple settles down in Moscow, has a daughter, and lives in an apartment not far away from where the embalmed corpse of Lenin gets regularly freshened up. Deciding to quit her job to write a book, Jennifer takes a look at her life, her adopted country, and her other expatriate friends in a funny way.
Witty, humorous, and informative are the three words that came to mind after I finished reading Lenin Lives Next Door: Marriage, Martinis, and Mayhem in Moscow. This book is obviously based on the life of the author, Jennifer Eremeeva, who has been living in Moscow for twenty years with her Russian husband and their daughter. The author’s voice is matter of fact, slightly ironic, and she writes in the conversational first person perspective, making the reading experience quite intimate. In going through the funny and sometimes hilarious events in the life of an American woman living in Russia, readers should be able to get a lot of information about the Russian people, as shaped by the country’s long and tumultuous history. Straddling two cultures, the author uses a special blend of sarcasm and humor, mixed with a certain amount of fondness in her writing style. The result is a book that is not only funny - it is absolutely charming!
Recommend this book:
Unpredictable Webs
Darlene Quinn
2013 Gold Medal
447 Pages
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Fiction - General
Reviewed by Kristie Ingerto for Readers' Favorite
There is a new Darlene Quinn book out in her Webs series and it is one you will not want to miss out on! “Unpredictable Webs” draws the reader back into the retail and fashion world as well as the lives of Ashleigh and Conrad and their twin daughters Callie and Cassie/Marnie. The book picks up in the series five years after Marnie is returned to her birth parents. Marnie is a rebellious teenager and has had difficulty adjusting to her family as they are not the family she grew up with as a child and finds it hard to fit in with the perfect twin sister. Marnie believes that she has met a friend online and comes to trust him – to trust him enough to meet him. However, Marnie learns too late that her friend is not who she believes him to be and she is caught in a sinister plan.
This book is a fast-paced exciting read that immediately draws the reader back into the characters’ lives. They are characters who are loved from Quinn’s previous novels. All the characters are so well-developed and so real in this book. It is easy to empathize with the characters, especially the mothers Erica and Ashleigh. I found myself trying to imagine how it would feel not to have my daughter, as Ashleigh felt for years, and how difficult it is for Erica not to have her daughter whom she raised as an infant and child. Quinn is a talented writer and storyteller who writes books filled with all the elements of great books – real characters, love, betrayal and suspense.
There is a new Darlene Quinn book out in her Webs series and it is one you will not want to miss out on! “Unpredictable Webs” draws the reader back into the retail and fashion world as well as the lives of Ashleigh and Conrad and their twin daughters Callie and Cassie/Marnie. The book picks up in the series five years after Marnie is returned to her birth parents. Marnie is a rebellious teenager and has had difficulty adjusting to her family as they are not the family she grew up with as a child and finds it hard to fit in with the perfect twin sister. Marnie believes that she has met a friend online and comes to trust him – to trust him enough to meet him. However, Marnie learns too late that her friend is not who she believes him to be and she is caught in a sinister plan.
This book is a fast-paced exciting read that immediately draws the reader back into the characters’ lives. They are characters who are loved from Quinn’s previous novels. All the characters are so well-developed and so real in this book. It is easy to empathize with the characters, especially the mothers Erica and Ashleigh. I found myself trying to imagine how it would feel not to have my daughter, as Ashleigh felt for years, and how difficult it is for Erica not to have her daughter whom she raised as an infant and child. Quinn is a talented writer and storyteller who writes books filled with all the elements of great books – real characters, love, betrayal and suspense.
Recommend this book:
 agrees somewhat reluctantly to spend the winter at his old friend Jack Rockshaw’s house in Cornwall, working on a commission. Renowned photographer Rockshaw is temporarily in New York and, unbeknown...){kind=link}
Portrait of a Landscape
Daniel D. Watkins
2013 Finalist
250 Pages
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Fiction - General
Reviewed by Ioana Marza for Readers' Favorite
Daniel Watkins’ Portrait of a Landscape is a fictional work of introspection. In the aftermath of a bitter divorce, Hugh Borne (a sculptor/painter) agrees somewhat reluctantly to spend the winter at his old friend Jack Rockshaw’s house in Cornwall, working on a commission. Renowned photographer Rockshaw is temporarily in New York and, unbeknownst to his wife Elise, is involved in a tense relationship with a young student. While Hugh struggles to find inspiration, peace and some sense of direction, the family life of the always supportive Elise crumbles around them. They both find it difficult to connect with their teenage children and they are all unsure what they want from life anymore. Paradoxically, it is another teenager, Jonah, who helps Hugh to start seeing things from a different perspective.
I like the fact that Watkins describes the more unpleasant side of art – the swollen knuckles, the commercial aspect, the lack of inspiration and the inevitable frustration. None of the characters is happy or comfortable in their own skin, and some are trying to adapt to it like wearing a suit they don’t like. Everybody is trying to find a way out, but where to? None of the themes is new. Man’s search for a meaning for life, and the desire to create and transcend our own limitations have been discussed since the dawn of time, but Daniel Watkins makes these wonderfully human in a way that the reader can relate to. Some characters might be stereotypical, but their dialogues are not. It does not try to provide any fundamental answers and, for such deep themes and troubled people, the ending could not possibly fall into place too neatly. I wouldn't say that Portrait of a Landscape gave me a joyful fulfilled feeling, but rather a restless one; however, once I picked this book up I couldn’t let go. I highly recommend it.
Daniel Watkins’ Portrait of a Landscape is a fictional work of introspection. In the aftermath of a bitter divorce, Hugh Borne (a sculptor/painter) agrees somewhat reluctantly to spend the winter at his old friend Jack Rockshaw’s house in Cornwall, working on a commission. Renowned photographer Rockshaw is temporarily in New York and, unbeknownst to his wife Elise, is involved in a tense relationship with a young student. While Hugh struggles to find inspiration, peace and some sense of direction, the family life of the always supportive Elise crumbles around them. They both find it difficult to connect with their teenage children and they are all unsure what they want from life anymore. Paradoxically, it is another teenager, Jonah, who helps Hugh to start seeing things from a different perspective.
I like the fact that Watkins describes the more unpleasant side of art – the swollen knuckles, the commercial aspect, the lack of inspiration and the inevitable frustration. None of the characters is happy or comfortable in their own skin, and some are trying to adapt to it like wearing a suit they don’t like. Everybody is trying to find a way out, but where to? None of the themes is new. Man’s search for a meaning for life, and the desire to create and transcend our own limitations have been discussed since the dawn of time, but Daniel Watkins makes these wonderfully human in a way that the reader can relate to. Some characters might be stereotypical, but their dialogues are not. It does not try to provide any fundamental answers and, for such deep themes and troubled people, the ending could not possibly fall into place too neatly. I wouldn't say that Portrait of a Landscape gave me a joyful fulfilled feeling, but rather a restless one; however, once I picked this book up I couldn’t let go. I highly recommend it.
Recommend this book:
![](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=/book-award/the-second-chances-of-priam-wood&media=https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51HAo6ixOiL._SL442_.jpg._AA200_.jpg&description=Alexander Rigby tells the story about a man’s redemption from his own regrets in "The Second Chances of Priam Wood". Seventy year old Priam Wood had died, but the afterlife wasn't something he had expected at all. Chloe, his Golden Retriever that died several days before him, appeared and greeted him as his guide. The old artist was told that he ...){kind=link}
The Second Chances of Priam Wood
Alexander Rigby
2013 Finalist
494 Pages
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Fiction - General
Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite
Alexander Rigby tells the story about a man’s redemption from his own regrets in "The Second Chances of Priam Wood". Seventy year old Priam Wood had died, but the afterlife wasn't something he had expected at all. Chloe, his Golden Retriever that died several days before him, appeared and greeted him as his guide. The old artist was told that he had second chances to change the seven days of his past life. It was a revelation that was double-edged, for he could easily fail and things might become worse. But with his beloved dog’s support, Priam Wood decided to make everything right and those seven days given to him were about to be a priceless life lesson that he overlooked when he was still alive.
The very first chapter started slowly for me but I was glad the pace picked up when Priam died and was greeted by Chloe in the world between the living and the dead. The writing is flawless; the seven days that the character had to re-live is told in details and isn't rushed. The concept of the story isn't new, nevertheless it is beautifully and genuinely written. Moreover, the lessons and inspiration that one could take from this book are plenty: live life to the fullest, nothing lasts forever and you don’t know what you have got until it is gone. The depth of this story was astonishing. This is a kind of book that you will want to read while you are relaxing no matter where or when.
Alexander Rigby tells the story about a man’s redemption from his own regrets in "The Second Chances of Priam Wood". Seventy year old Priam Wood had died, but the afterlife wasn't something he had expected at all. Chloe, his Golden Retriever that died several days before him, appeared and greeted him as his guide. The old artist was told that he had second chances to change the seven days of his past life. It was a revelation that was double-edged, for he could easily fail and things might become worse. But with his beloved dog’s support, Priam Wood decided to make everything right and those seven days given to him were about to be a priceless life lesson that he overlooked when he was still alive.
The very first chapter started slowly for me but I was glad the pace picked up when Priam died and was greeted by Chloe in the world between the living and the dead. The writing is flawless; the seven days that the character had to re-live is told in details and isn't rushed. The concept of the story isn't new, nevertheless it is beautifully and genuinely written. Moreover, the lessons and inspiration that one could take from this book are plenty: live life to the fullest, nothing lasts forever and you don’t know what you have got until it is gone. The depth of this story was astonishing. This is a kind of book that you will want to read while you are relaxing no matter where or when.
Recommend this book:
Puck
Kevin White
2013 Bronze Medal
Kindle Edition
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Fiction - General
Reviewed by Trudi LoPreto for Readers' Favorite
“Puck” by Kevin White is the beautiful, heart-warming and heart-wrenching story of Kathy and Jason and their autistic young son Luke. Ice hockey becomes the thread that connects Luke to the outside world. Luke’s story is told to us through the eyes and heart of his father. Luke at two years old was diagnosed as being an autistic child while at four he started therapy. Luke did not speak but had a fascination in catching flies in his little hands as they flew by. He could also build towers with tin cans and blocks. He watched TV but never showed any interest or understanding of what he was seeing unless it was a hockey game. Jason took Luke for a daily walk around the neighborhood and one day they stopped in at the local ice skating rink. Luke immediately became absorbed in watching the young boys playing hockey and when a puck came out of the rink and landed at his feet, it became his prized possession. When Luke surprised his parents, speaking his first word, it was 'puck'. Because of his strong interest in following the movement of the puck, they decided to teach him to skate and signed him up to play for a local home rink hockey league. This was the beginning of a new life for Luke and it changed his life forever.
“Puck” is a great story that Kevin White wrote with feeling, understanding and a lot of love. I felt all of the pain and joy along with Jason and Kathy. I cheered for Luke and became emotionally attached to him. The final chapters tore at my heart and made me proud too at the same time. I was really sad to leave my new friends behind when I got to the last page. Kevin White has written a winner that can easily hold its own as the top best seller for many weeks. It would make a fantastic movie as well. My hope is that there is a follow-up so that we can see where life takes Luke next. Kevin White is a five star writer who has left me wanting more.
“Puck” by Kevin White is the beautiful, heart-warming and heart-wrenching story of Kathy and Jason and their autistic young son Luke. Ice hockey becomes the thread that connects Luke to the outside world. Luke’s story is told to us through the eyes and heart of his father. Luke at two years old was diagnosed as being an autistic child while at four he started therapy. Luke did not speak but had a fascination in catching flies in his little hands as they flew by. He could also build towers with tin cans and blocks. He watched TV but never showed any interest or understanding of what he was seeing unless it was a hockey game. Jason took Luke for a daily walk around the neighborhood and one day they stopped in at the local ice skating rink. Luke immediately became absorbed in watching the young boys playing hockey and when a puck came out of the rink and landed at his feet, it became his prized possession. When Luke surprised his parents, speaking his first word, it was 'puck'. Because of his strong interest in following the movement of the puck, they decided to teach him to skate and signed him up to play for a local home rink hockey league. This was the beginning of a new life for Luke and it changed his life forever.
“Puck” is a great story that Kevin White wrote with feeling, understanding and a lot of love. I felt all of the pain and joy along with Jason and Kathy. I cheered for Luke and became emotionally attached to him. The final chapters tore at my heart and made me proud too at the same time. I was really sad to leave my new friends behind when I got to the last page. Kevin White has written a winner that can easily hold its own as the top best seller for many weeks. It would make a fantastic movie as well. My hope is that there is a follow-up so that we can see where life takes Luke next. Kevin White is a five star writer who has left me wanting more.
Recommend this book:
![](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=/book-award/promised-valley-conspiracy&media=https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81he5Na+r9L._SL442_.jpg._AA200_.jpg&description=In "Promised Valley Conspiracy", the third in the innovative series, Ron Fritsch continues to chronicle the social and political turmoil of the unique prehistoric world he has created. Tensions remain high between the agrarian Valley People and the hunting-class Hill People, and whatever truces were put in place in the earlier books teeter precario...){kind=link}
Promised Valley Conspiracy
Ron Fritsch
2013 Honorable Mention
268 Pages
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Fiction - General
Reviewed by Johnny Masiulewicz for Readers' Favorite
In "Promised Valley Conspiracy", the third in the innovative series, Ron Fritsch continues to chronicle the social and political turmoil of the unique prehistoric world he has created. Tensions remain high between the agrarian Valley People and the hunting-class Hill People, and whatever truces were put in place in the earlier books teeter precariously on the brink of failure as each side looks to gain an edge on the other. Dissension among the Hill People forces a detente on the part of the valley society, and they concede the upper valley to those refugees who want to work toward peace. This act leads to the rise of a threat to both peoples, a threat that can only be defeated by both sides joining together against the common enemy.
As in the other books of the series this plot line is built upon the backdrop of the unique world at the time of the dawn of mankind. Sustaining this world is Fritsch’s particular forte, and he practices it so seamlessly as to make almost necessary occasional references to period topics such as the first domestication of the horse, the invention of the wheel, and the first use of permanent housing, to remind the reader that it is indeed a period piece. These topics also add an intelligence and insight to the narrative and serve as a perfect framework on which to structure the main plot elements. Woven through these elements are themes that possess a universality that has resonated through the entire span of human existence on the planet. There is war and peace, racism and class unrest, scientific and educational developments, social cooperation and the effects on the social order when that cooperation breaks down. These themes not only subscribe to the classic literary aspects of conflict and resolution, but, through Fritsch’s deft craftsmanship, do so in a way that is pertinent even when read in the context of today’s world.
In "Promised Valley Conspiracy", the third in the innovative series, Ron Fritsch continues to chronicle the social and political turmoil of the unique prehistoric world he has created. Tensions remain high between the agrarian Valley People and the hunting-class Hill People, and whatever truces were put in place in the earlier books teeter precariously on the brink of failure as each side looks to gain an edge on the other. Dissension among the Hill People forces a detente on the part of the valley society, and they concede the upper valley to those refugees who want to work toward peace. This act leads to the rise of a threat to both peoples, a threat that can only be defeated by both sides joining together against the common enemy.
As in the other books of the series this plot line is built upon the backdrop of the unique world at the time of the dawn of mankind. Sustaining this world is Fritsch’s particular forte, and he practices it so seamlessly as to make almost necessary occasional references to period topics such as the first domestication of the horse, the invention of the wheel, and the first use of permanent housing, to remind the reader that it is indeed a period piece. These topics also add an intelligence and insight to the narrative and serve as a perfect framework on which to structure the main plot elements. Woven through these elements are themes that possess a universality that has resonated through the entire span of human existence on the planet. There is war and peace, racism and class unrest, scientific and educational developments, social cooperation and the effects on the social order when that cooperation breaks down. These themes not only subscribe to the classic literary aspects of conflict and resolution, but, through Fritsch’s deft craftsmanship, do so in a way that is pertinent even when read in the context of today’s world.
Recommend this book:
This Business of Children
Chloe JonPaul
2012 Bronze Medal
208 Pages
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Fiction - General
Reviewed by Molly Edwards for Readers' Favorite
A truly wonderful and well written novel! I am highly pleased to say that I really enjoyed this book. Chloe Jon Paul chose a setting and a plot that is superbly detailed and well written, threw in some really great characters and turned out a book that will capture the heart of the reader instantly.
I loved following Vera, Dee, Mark and Stu through out this story. A rather mixed up bunch, if I may say so, but the detail that the author put behind them was phenomenal.
These four characters aren't your normal ones by any means. Vera is a teacher, ready for retirement but can't help venting her frustration during a school board meeting. Dee, well, she's simply Dee. She's a dedicated teacher, holds a secret that no one else knows. Then there's Mark. I loved him and I hated him....his character was created fabulously but his personal life issues and his way of dealing with them just wasn't what I wanted them to be! Mark's attraction to Dee is strong, but he's a married man. Last, there's Stu--he's different, and only one other person knows why he's so different. But, tragedy strikes Stu and no one knows the cause.
This book is filled with a bit of mystery, LOTS of dramatic situations and plenty of good reading. I highly recommend it to everyone looking for a new author and a good read.
A truly wonderful and well written novel! I am highly pleased to say that I really enjoyed this book. Chloe Jon Paul chose a setting and a plot that is superbly detailed and well written, threw in some really great characters and turned out a book that will capture the heart of the reader instantly.
I loved following Vera, Dee, Mark and Stu through out this story. A rather mixed up bunch, if I may say so, but the detail that the author put behind them was phenomenal.
These four characters aren't your normal ones by any means. Vera is a teacher, ready for retirement but can't help venting her frustration during a school board meeting. Dee, well, she's simply Dee. She's a dedicated teacher, holds a secret that no one else knows. Then there's Mark. I loved him and I hated him....his character was created fabulously but his personal life issues and his way of dealing with them just wasn't what I wanted them to be! Mark's attraction to Dee is strong, but he's a married man. Last, there's Stu--he's different, and only one other person knows why he's so different. But, tragedy strikes Stu and no one knows the cause.
This book is filled with a bit of mystery, LOTS of dramatic situations and plenty of good reading. I highly recommend it to everyone looking for a new author and a good read.
Recommend this book:
Tears of the Phoenix
Lonnie Beerman
2012 Gold Medal
504 Pages
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Fiction - General
Reviewed by Trudi LoPreto for Readers' Favorite
“Tears of the Phoenix” is the story of three eleven year old boys, Frankie,Aubrey and Tony,trying to deal with all that life throws at them.The time is the 1960s; the place is a small Southern town. Frankie is a boy without a dad, his father having died as a hero in the war. Aubrey suffers the humiliation of being an abused kid and Tony is the short, scrawny, rich “Yankee” kid from up North. The three boys are bullied, lonely and friendless until a school yard fight brings them together. They quickly become the “Three Musketeers“ and forge a friendship that will last a lifetime. Frankie is forced to deal with his mother’s serious illness and his favorite Uncle Frank being a 'gay man'. Aubrey finds solace in God’s word as he watches his daddy abuse his older brother, his mom and very often suffers the pains of bruises, black eyes and hurt pride. Tony tries hard to win the approval of his disinterested father.
Lonnie Beerman has written a book that deals with death, family abuse, homosexuality, bullying and love. From page one we the reader are caught up in the lives of these three families. The book is written with emotion, God and respectfulness towards difficult subject matter. It is impossible not to feel all of the ups and downs of each character.It was hard to put down until I reached the last page.I felt as though I knew each of the people in the book personally and cheered them on, felt their pain and rejoiced in the good things that happen to them.I highly recommend this book - it is a five star winner.
“Tears of the Phoenix” is the story of three eleven year old boys, Frankie,Aubrey and Tony,trying to deal with all that life throws at them.The time is the 1960s; the place is a small Southern town. Frankie is a boy without a dad, his father having died as a hero in the war. Aubrey suffers the humiliation of being an abused kid and Tony is the short, scrawny, rich “Yankee” kid from up North. The three boys are bullied, lonely and friendless until a school yard fight brings them together. They quickly become the “Three Musketeers“ and forge a friendship that will last a lifetime. Frankie is forced to deal with his mother’s serious illness and his favorite Uncle Frank being a 'gay man'. Aubrey finds solace in God’s word as he watches his daddy abuse his older brother, his mom and very often suffers the pains of bruises, black eyes and hurt pride. Tony tries hard to win the approval of his disinterested father.
Lonnie Beerman has written a book that deals with death, family abuse, homosexuality, bullying and love. From page one we the reader are caught up in the lives of these three families. The book is written with emotion, God and respectfulness towards difficult subject matter. It is impossible not to feel all of the ups and downs of each character.It was hard to put down until I reached the last page.I felt as though I knew each of the people in the book personally and cheered them on, felt their pain and rejoiced in the good things that happen to them.I highly recommend this book - it is a five star winner.
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