RebeccasReads

Water to my Soul: The Story of Eliza Lucas Pinckney

In the “Author’s Note” section of the book, author Pamela Bauer Mueller gives the reader a brief history of South Carolina and then tells the reader that, “Through the efforts of animated, indomitable Eliza Lucas, South Carolina was provided with the dye of the indigo plant.  This single act brought wealth to the south shortly before the American Revolution.  Eliza Lucas Pinckney was a child prodigy turned celebrity.  Her remarkable success in the eighteenth- century colonial world is a noteworthy achievement that required skill, luck, and a strong personality.” (p.9)

“Water to My Soul” is labeled as a “historical novel.”  It is based on factual history, but has elements of fiction in it.  Mueller pieced together Eliza’s story through old letters, journals, papers, books, and other documents.  Unfortunately, there are no existing known photographs of Eliza so we can’t get a visual of what she looks like.

In the opening pages, Mueller lays out for the reader what is fact and what isn’t.  She even gives a list of the characters that are fictional.  I appreciated this as when I am reading a book of this nature I always wonder what parts are real and what aren’t.  I am thankful that Mueller eliminated this uncertainty right off the bat.

I found the book to be an interesting, readable work.  The concept for the book was original and Eliza’s story was not one that I was previously familiar with.  It was incredible how one single act had such a huge impact on Eliza’s life and the lives of the other people in the colonies.  Mueller did an excellent job giving the reader the feel of colonial Charles Town and the way of life during that time period.  I truly felt as if I were transported back to that era.   If you are looking for a book that is both educational and entertaining and you enjoy historical novels, then I recommend Mueller’s “Water to My Soul.”


Water to my Soul: The Story of Eliza Lucas Pinckney
Pamela Bauer Mueller
Pinata Publishing (2012)
ISBN 9780980916317
Reviewed by Kam Aures for RebeccasReads (02/12)  

Promised Valley War

“Blue Sky suddenly realized who the man was:  the lead hunter in the ravine the previous autumn, the hill man who’d initially disregarded Wandering Star’s warning cries not to take his hunting party any higher up the mountainside and risk death at the hands of the farmers.

Then the man looked up at the farmers’ guard post and saw Blue Sky and his equally brave or foolish comrade, Spring Rain, ready for bloody battle all by themselves, but still holding back their arrows when they easily could’ve let them fly.” (p. 2)

Ron Fritsch’s “Promised Valley War” picks up where his first book, “Promised Valley Rebellion,” left off.  In the first book, the younger people staged a rebellion against the King for he was opposed to the marriage of his son, the prince, to the hill people’s princess.  In this second installment of the series we are transported back to prehistoric times once again where the valley people and the hill people are still at odds.

At the beginning of the book, Fritsch thankfully provides the reader with a character list which I found to be enormously helpful.  Not only did it help refresh my memory as to who each person was but it helped me to keep everyone straight as I was reading the novel.  With character names like Autumn Wine, Tall Oak, Rose Leaf, and Sturdy Limb, it sometimes takes a little bit to keep everyone straight.  There are around 30 characters with names like these so it was wonderful to be able to flip to the front of the book if I had any doubt about who a specific person was.  I enjoyed seeing how Fritsch further developed the characters that the reader was introduced to in the first book in the series.  It was fun to learn more about them and watch them evolve.

 “Promised Valley War” reads well as a stand-alone novel, especially if you read through the notes and character synopses at the beginning of the book.  However, I think that in order to get the full impact of the story it is best to read the previous novel, “Promised Valley Rebellion,” first.   There are two more books coming in this four-part series and I am excited to see what adventures this pre-historic cast of characters will face next.


Promised Valley War
Ron Fritsch
Asymmetric Worlds (2011)
ISBN 9780615567297
Reviewed by Kam Aures for RebeccasReads (2/12)

Emeralds Never Fade

World War II is looming, but two German boys only know their shared love of playing the piano. Soon, forces beyond their control or understanding, separate them as Germany becomes an unsafe place for Jews. Leo Bergner’s parents see themselves as German, not just Jews, and refuse to believe Hitler will go as far as the rumor mill suggests. After family begs them to see the writing on the wall, Leo’s parents ultimately send him to safety in Palestine.

Bruno’s parents force him to quit teaching the Jewish pupil, and he ends up joining Hitler’s troops. Thanks to a bum foot, he is spared getting his hands too dirty in the war, but he gains valuable knowledge while working in an administrative capacity at a concentration camp. Knowledge he later uses to his advantage.

The story continues to unfold. Leo ends up fighting the Germans in the British army while Bruno escapes to Argentina just before the Allied Forces close in. Leo feels the burden of his past, of his lost loved ones, even when he marries and moves into a career in banking. Bruno uses information gathered during the war to survive.
 
Leo ultimately uncovers a bank conspiracy involving stolen Jewish possessions. His family’s lost emerald heirloom, stolen during the war, brings the two men back together in an explosion of emotions and fate.

The author intricately weaves together the stories of Leo and Bruno throughout the novel. Each man is affected by the war, but uses different means to cope and move on. From the moment Bruno steals the emerald, we know their fates are intertwined. With each page turn, we eagerly anticipate how the two stories will collide. The author leaves us guessing until the very end.

Although the novel is a thrilling page-turner, it is still steeped in emotion. Both men are victims of circumstance. I found Leo’s letters from his mom particularly touching, and Bruno grew up under the thumb of selfishness and judgment. Neither man’s character is clear cut, both are just men held strongly in the often cruel hands of fate. You will enjoy this rich story, and its well-crafted characters, from beginning to end. An amazing cover seals the deal.


Emeralds Never Fade
Stephen Maitland-Lewis
Glyd-Evans Press (2011)
ISBN 9780983259633
Reviewed by Tia Bach for RebeccasReads (11/11)

The Silk Box

I just finished reading my copy of “The Silk Box” by author Shirley Mihoko Hairston and I must say it was a much better read then I expected it to be when I initially requested it. From the very beginning “The Silk Box” was an easy story to “get in to” and I immediately began to empathize with “Mi-Chan” Mihoko Namura, one of the book’s main characters. In reading Hairston’s dedication to her mother, Mihoko “Mi-Chan” Drake as well as to her father, Charles “Sonny” Drake I couldn’t help but notice that these were also the names of “The Silk Box’s” title characters. Being intrigued by this aspect I wondered how much of the tale I was about to embark on would be fictional and how much would be fact…

The premise of “The Silk Box” is this: Mi-Chan (Mihoko Namura) is a young Japanese girl who has just returned by train to the city of Hiroshima on the infamous morning of August 6, 1945. Mi-Chan is a docile and obedient child, yet for some reason on that particular morning rather than disembarking at Hiroshima station as she should have, she opted to stay on the train as it continued its journey to the military base. Mi-Chan was not alone as she traveled from home to school but, her best friend and companion, Junko was the feeling ill and decided to get off the train so she could rest at school rather than accompanying Mi-Chan any further.

A short while later the train stopped at Hirohito Station; and it is here that Mi-Chan finally stepped off the train; a decision that ultimately saved her life. It was a beautiful day, although exceptionally hot, and Mi-Chan began her walk to the bay. The stillness of the day was broken only by the sound of a propeller plane and as Mi-Chan looked skyward she was surprised to see that it was American. Moments later her life was irrevocably and forever altered.

“The Silk Box” continues and we follow along through Mi-Chan’s life; we learn about some of the horrors that the atomic bomb survivors lived through and we meet “Sonny” (Charles Drake, Jr.) who turns out to be the love of Mi-Chan’s life. Unfortunately life itself is never simple and these star-crossed lovers will wait years before they are finally able to be together.

I will not share any more of the tale found within “The Silk Box” as it is the author’s to share with you however, should you decide to read it, you will not be disappointed. Hairston writes with poignancy and eloquence and even though parts of the story were shocking and horrific they were always represented with dignity and class.


The Silk Box
Shirley Mihoko Hairston
Outskirts Press, Inc. (2012)
ISBN 9781432762841
Reviewed by Charline Ratcliff for RebeccasReads (2/12)

Journey to Virginland- Epistle 1

Armen Melikian’s “Journey to Virginland- Epistle 1” begins with a Soliloquy which culminates with following paragraph:

“Anthropods refuse to believe that these pages narrate a human biography.  They aver that this is a nefarious distortion of their sublime nature.  Let bipeds simmer in their sentiments.  On my part, I can’t allow humanoid extrapolation in terms of emending the work.  That would entail betraying my dog.  She is the true author.  I don’t exist here.  But no!  Perhaps I am a dog after all.”

Intrigued yet?

Once I read the opening pages I knew that “Journey to Virginland- Epistle 1” was going to be a book unlike any that I had ever read before.  As I continued to read my initial expectations were upheld.  Melikian has created a very intelligently written, original work of fiction.  I do admit that my knowledge of the English language was quite tested at points and my vocabulary much expanded after reading this book.  It is certainly not a light, fast read and requires your rapt attention to fully enjoy the work.  

In this unique work there exists Dreamland which contains locales such as Pharoahland, Allahland, Socratesland, WhiteBearland, Napoleonland, and the physical United States as we know it is named as Satanland.  There is a map diagram in the opening pages and then an explanation of the geography.  In Virginland resides God, in Satanland resides Satan.

In Melikian’s fictional novel he touches on many social, cultural, and philosophical issues making for quite a thought-provoking and interesting ride.  If you are looking for a book to read that is quite out of the ordinary, then add “Journey to Virginland-Epistle 1” to your list.


Journey to Virginland- Epistle 1
Armen Melikian
Two Harbors (2011)
ISBN 9781935097518
Reviewed by Kam Aures for RebeccasReads (1/12)

A Perfect Lawn?

“A Perfect Lawn?” is a collection of poems by Carl G. Ferrel.  In the biographical section of the book, Ferrel states, “I write about a variety of subjects; love, friendship, family, nature, social issues, etc.  I would like to see world peace, and an end to world hunger, and the formation of an international coalition to protect and preserve the earth and its inhabitants and strive for an ecological balance between man and nature that will allow both to survive and prosper.”  (p. 105)

True to his statement, Ferrel does incorporate a wide variety of subjects into his newest collection, “A Perfect Lawn?”  On one page there is a poem about a day at the beach and then on another there is a poem about death.

There is a strong “green” theme running throughout the book.  The poem for which the book is named delves into the price of having the perfect lawn.  It begins with the following verse:

“Poison, poison, everywhere.
Poison your neighbors.
Poison your friends.
Poison your children.
Again and again.” (p.27)

Then Ferrel goes on to talk about how the quest for the perfect lawn poisons the environment and kills people.  Ferrel has very strong opinions about environmental issues and these feelings are prevalent in much of his work.

Ferrel has compiled an interesting collection of thought-provoking poems.  As you turn the pages you never know what is going to come next!  One page could contain a happy, feel-good poem and the next could be a shocking poem containing darker subject matter.  Overall, the book will certainly hold your attention.


A Perfect Lawn?
C.G. Ferrel
Acheulan Publishing (2011)
ISBN 9780972968430
Reviewed by Kam Aures for RebeccasReads (1/12)

Dying for a Dance

If you like the idea of Dancing with the Stars combined with a murder mystery, you’ll love "Dying for a Dance."  Laurel McKay is trying to learn a ballroom dance routine for her best friend’s wedding. She has two left feet, but things only go downhill from there. One of the dance instructors is found dead with Laurel’s shoe heel stuffed in his mouth.
A murder mystery, a wedding, ballroom dancing… what more could you want? How about a hunky detective thrown into the mix? Detective Tom Hunter is Laurel’s ex-boyfriend, but the attraction is still very much alive. This isn’t Laurel’s first murder mystery, and her boss quickly pulls her in deeper when his wife becomes the prime suspect and he asks Laurel to help clear her.

In between learning to dance and playing detective, Laurel is a single mom juggling two kids. She’s also struggling with her mom’s decision to remarry and the hustle bustle of the holiday season. The whole family heads to Tahoe for the wedding, the same location as the ballroom dance competition. Here, the mystery finally comes to an exciting conclusion.

"Dying for a Dance" will leave you guessing until the very end and enjoying the ride while you are trying to figure it out. The twists and turns, no pun intended of course, are fun and the writing is witty and amusing. Cindy Sample makes murder entertaining in all the right ways. It’s a fast, entertaining read.

I only wish I had read "Dying for a Date," the first in this series. I wanted Laurel, as fun as she was, to be more fleshed out. Maybe that was done in the first book, but I don’t know and neither would other readers who picked up this book first. The gap of not knowing is all that kept this from being a five-star read.


Dying for a Dance
Cindy Sample
L & L Dreamspell 2011
ISBN 9781603184274
Reviewed byTia Bach for RebeccasReads (1/12)

Death’s Crooked Shadow

The Prologue to “Death’s Crooked Shadow” takes place fifteen years prior to the start of the first chapter.  In this glimpse into the past, the following scene plays out:

“The man’s car was parked in the alley behind the alderman’s house, in the shadows, away from the yellow glow of the sodium streetlight.  By the time he had lugged the suitcase up the basement stairs, wheeled it across the tidy patch of lawn and past the garage to the alley gate, he had sweat through his shirt and summer suit.  He hefted the case into the Buick’s trunk and quickly shut the lid before the inside light gave him away.  He guessed the case weighed over fifty pounds, maybe ten of it audio- and videotapes, the rest being cash.” (p. ix)

After these shady events take place, the reader is transported to July in Chicago fifteen years later and we meet real estate developer Doug Sutherland.  In the opening pages, Sutherland’s foreman discovers human remains in a building that they are restoring. This discovery will change the course of Sutherland’s life.

I enjoyed the plot of McIntosh’s second novel.  The writing moved along at a fast pace and the story was full of intriguing characters.  The author writes in such a manner that I could vividly picture in my mind the events that were taking place.  He has just the right balance of descriptive passages.  If you enjoy action-packed thrillers then I recommend giving Gordon N. McIntosh’s book “Death’s Crooked Shadow” a try.


Death’s Crooked Shadow
Gordon N. McIntosh
iUniverse (2011)
ISBN 9781462048519
Reviewed by Kam Aures for RebeccasReads (1/12)

Dark Solus: An Assassin’s Tale

The opening pages of “Dark Solus: An Assassin’s Tale” introduce us to Demon and Leynorr as they are trying to flee from the City of Duergar as a spell of animation has been put upon the area.  Stone gargoyles and others are beginning to become alive.  “Demon turned back to Leynorr as drops of fire fell all around them.  Leaning over, he held the slender half-elf in his scaled arms and placed a claw-like gauntlet on her abdomen.  ‘You carry our son,’ he said, gently rubbing in a circular motion on her stomach. ‘Your safety and his are all that matters.’” (p. 3)

Following this opening chapter the book fast-forwards to their son, Dark Solus’, childhood and how his parents are ruthlessly murdered and taken from him.  The being behind this execution is a wizard named Kalifen.  Dark is then trained as an assassin to return to the City of Duergar in an attempt to destroy them all to avenge the murder of his family.

The book is packed with action and is quite a fast paced read.  I think that much of the dialogue in the book would appeal to a younger generation of readers as well as the fact that the main character is a young boy.  The story is imaginative and flows well from start to finish.  The ending is most definitely left open for a sequel which I expect is in the works.    I recommend “Dark Solus: An Assassin’s Tale” for younger readers who enjoy fantasy, science fiction novels.


Dark Solus: An Assassin’s Tale
David Andrew Crawford
Strategic Book Group (2011)
ISBN 9781609113391
Reviewed by Kam Aures for RebeccasReads (11/11)

Under Cover of Night

“They forced her to her knees at the edge of the pit.  The driver stepped behind her, pulling his Makarov from his belt.  Her head was waving around as she sobbed uncontrollably.  He grabbed the back of her neck and held her still.  A second later a shot rang out.” (p.8)  These events in the opening pages of Al Gellene’s “Under Cover of Night” depict a secret execution carried out on a man and his daughter.  The information about this event has been under lock and key and only few people knew of what actually took place.

Enter attorney Steve Caputo.  He receives a strange phone call from a patient at Greystone Psychiatric Hospital asking for his help.  He is not sure what to make of the patient who seems to spout a series of odd phrases that do not appear to make any sense.  Will he be able to decipher them and figure out what she is talking about?

“Under Cover of Night” is a book that will draw the reader in right away in the opening pages.  I liked how the different parts of the storyline fell neatly into place.  I also enjoyed the main characters in the book, most particularly the character of Beverley, the patient at the psychiatric hospital.  The majority of the novel moved along at a nice fast pace and was full of suspense.  I suspect we will be seeing more of attorney Steve Caputo in future novels by Gellene.


Under Cover of Night
Al Gellene
Casterline Press (2011)
ISBN 9780984567881
Reviewed by Kam Aures for RebeccasReads (11/11)