Reviews By Charline

“Joshua and Aaron”

Author: David Gelber

I’ve spent the last couple days inLas Vegas which also happens to be where I read “Joshua and Aaron.” Being curious about this book I did my research and noticed it’s listed as religious fiction. I was chatting with a friend of mine shortly thereafter and I jokingly asked if reading a book with religious overtones while in Vegas could be construed as sacrilegious. It’s probably not since I’m sure every hotel in Vegas has the obligatory bible in the nightstand.

“Joshua and Aaron” is the second book in the ITP series by David Gelber. The book’s main character, Joshua Smith, shoulders the burden of having to save mankind from its own excesses. Joshua definitely didn’t ask for this responsibility rather it was unceremoniously dropped in his lap. How’s that for a “hot potato?” Luckily for the world’s population our hero is blessed with amazing luck, intelligence and above all a MacGyver-like ingenuity.

As for the author and his writing skills, David Gelber does a great job of holding the reader’s interest. I don’t normally read religious fiction but Gelber’s descriptions of places and events were very well written and held my attention completely. The interactions between the characters flowed well and his overall writing style made for an enjoyable read.

I would have to say my only complaint was that, at times, certain scenes were too unbelievable; namely the one toward the end of the book which starred Little Bit. I use the name versus the scene so as to not give away the story. Hopefully this allows the author to understand to what I’m referring. I realize “Joshua and Aaron” is a work of fiction. However, I also feel that even fiction needs to be believable. Once upon a time writer’s like Asimov challenged the world’s perception of technology and robotics. I’m sure some considered his works unbelievable. Our advancements today are proof that far-fetched fiction can become reality. The scene to which I refer is, to me, completely unbelievable. I can’t picture a scene like the one featuring Little Bit ever happening; consequently when I read it I was immediately wrenched out of the story.

Keep in mind my last paragraph is directed to the author only and not to his readers. Overall I found “Joshua and Aaron” to be a well written book and a fun read. While it definitely falls into the category of religious fiction the message contained therein was not too over the top. I give this book a solid four stars and feel that anyone who enjoys reading will enjoy this book.

“Healing with Words”

Author: Diana M. Raab

I recently finished reading “Healing with Words” by author Diana M. Raab. Initially I was hesitant to start this book; I lost my best friend Julie to cancer in April of 2006.  However, now that I’ve finished, I’m thankful I did and I feel truly honored to provide my thoughts about this wonderful book.

“Healing with Words” is a real look at cancer through the eyes of someone who has experienced and overcome the physical aspects of this life-shattering disease. “Healing with Words” is a well-written, eye-opening and painfully honest book. It’s a realistic look at cancer from someone who has experienced it and lived through it first-hand. Raab has taken the time to share with her readers a very intimate accounting of an extremely hard time in her life. There is no history of any type of cancer in her family and yet she was unlucky enough to be diagnosed with this disease. Twice.

Raab walks us through her life starting with when she was first diagnosed with DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ) which is an early form of breast cancer. She shares her pain, devastation and disbelief that this was actually happening to her in a manner which anyone who has had or currently has cancer will be able to relate to. She also provides her reflections, poetry and even some of her private journal entries. Throughout “Healing with Words” Raab gives insightful information and helpful advice that only someone who has personally traveled this horrific road would be able to offer. The fact that she has experienced cancer first-hand and refused to let it beat her should provide comfort to anyone reading this book looking for guidance or a kindred spirit.

“Healing with Words” is a powerful book and I feel the message contained within its pages will help many in the generations to come. I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone with a cancer diagnosis as well as to that person’s family members and friends. As a final note, the author proceeds from this book will be donated to the Mayo Clinic and I applaud Raab for her generosity.

“Siegfried Follies”

Author: Richard Alther

So…I’ve taken an extra two days to write this review mainly because I was trying to figure out the best possible way to write something positive about the book “Siegfried Follies.” I will give Richard Alther, the author, credit for being a descriptive writer but as far as the story itself I’m unsure whether I should say I’m dissatisfied or disillusioned with it. The following is why:

My understanding of the book’s premise, based on the synopsis provided by the author, was this. In an unlikely twist of fate two young boys, one German and one Jewish, are thrown together during the end of World War II. It was my understanding that this book would be a look at their lives, both together and apart, over the next thirty years. The novel seemed to promise to focus on a time period I’m interested in and it seemed like it would offer a unique look back into history.

Sadly I was extremely disappointed and I guess it’s safe to say I was also disillusioned at the same time. I expected more history, more German / Jew life experiences and less of a dark look at the human psyche. I’m not saying that some life experiences weren’t provided it just seemed to me that the author was more intent on shocking his readers with his grasp of psychology and human nature. There were also certain scenes that, to me, seemed out of place. For example, there was a physical relationship between an adult woman who was pregnant and an eight or nine-year-old boy. There was also a homosexual relationship of sorts between the two young boys which was very odd and had no bearing in the story later on. Truthfully, I could find no way to reconcile these scenarios and others with the gist of what this tale was supposed to be about. I fail to see how things like the aforementioned apply to this specific era and truthfully, in my opinion, if one were to change the names and locations this story could be set in any time period and any place.

In summary while Richard Alther does have a very descriptive writing style; I didn’t enjoy “Siegfried Follies.” According to the author “a prime audience for this novel is readers interested in the Holocaust, a subject that will never, nor should, fail to engage.” I don’t agree with his statement. I felt his book had nothing to do with the Holocaust especially as the story begins in 1945. I’m sorry to say this but I feel the author is trying to propel his book forward by using a shocking tragedy versus his ability to write a great story.

“Shogun Iemitsu”

Author: Michael R. Zomber

Recently I was searching for a new book to read when I came across “Shogun Iemitsu.” I enjoy world history and the words “War and Romance in 17^th Century Tokugawa Japan” below the book’s title caught my eye. I was immediately intrigued as I haven’t read many novels set in historical Japan.

I visited Amazon’s website in order to read the jacket blurb and after doing so I decided I wanted to read it. I have to say I am very thankful I did. The author, Michael R. Zomber, is a fantastic writer. He is wonderfully descriptive without becoming boring and his words bring each character to life. I must also commend him on being able to write so well about Japanese heritage because I understand their culture and customs are woven through with intricacies and subtle nuance. According to the author’s bio which is provided on the book, Zomber has had an ongoing interest in Japanese art and culture for almost fifty years. This fact is very apparent throughout “Shogun Iemitsu.” I applaud Zomber for being able to tell an amazing tale using his acquired knowledge in a manner that holds the reader captive instead of coming across like a text-book, becoming tiresome and verbose, or sounding like a pompous know-it-all.

In “Shogun Iemitsu,” Hideo and Kobiyashi are the main characters and although the book only chronicles a single, shared day in their life; the reader experiences much more than that. We learn about their past through their memories and we also learn about that which they seek to attain. There are many players in this intricate story and the reader will receive an eye-opening look into life during the rule of the Shoguns where every decision and action is but a minute part of a complexly woven web.

In closing, I give “Shogun Iemitsu” a solid five star rating although I would only recommend it to mature readers due to the graphic nature of the era it is written about. In a time before “death by lethal injection” justice was meted out with a sword. While Zomber does a good job of not being too graphic in these situations, a younger reader may have trouble with the gruesomeness of punishment in an earlier Japan.

“Photographs and Memories”

Author: Barbara Fifield

I opted to read and review “Photographs and Memories” because it seemed as if the book would hold a powerful message for any reader who has experienced the loss of a family member or friend. I could also see the possibility of this book providing helpful information for those who have not yet experienced the loss of a loved one. Sadly, I was very disappointed with both the quality of the book as well as Barbara Fifield’s writing style.

To start, Ms. Fifield has a very choppy writing style. She seems to flit forward; then backward; then forward again with the same erratic pattern of a butterfly in flight but leaves the reader without the pleasant feeling one gets from watching the butterfly. There were also times when the author herself seemed to forget the sequencing of her own story. A great example of this would be the book’s back jacket where it clearly states “Suddenly and unexpectedly, Angela’s mother dies. Angela turns to her husband for support, but in the cruelest turn of fate, he too suddenly passes away. All alone, except for the helpless Martha, Angela must now gently coax her failing father into a nursing home.” Not to give too much of this book away but the CORRECT order of these events is: Angela’s father was placed in a nursing home, then Martha passed away, and then Angela’s husband passed away as well.

Moving on, I found Ms. Fifield’s descriptions of people, places and events shaky at best and the dialogue among the characters came across as stilted and unnatural. At times I was extremely put off by some of the character conversations as they seemed better suited to a five-year-old child than a sixty-one year old woman.

And finally, as far as the premise of “Photographs and Memories” I was expecting a book with a powerful message that could help people cope with loss. In the end, when I had finished reading it, I felt completely let down. There was no message and there was no power behind her words. It was basically just a recounting of events that the author has experienced. While my heart goes out to her for what she has been through this book comes across merely as the therapeutic writing of the author and reads like a diary.

“Follow The Money”

Author: Ross Cavins

I don’t normally read books that are a collection of short stories. However, after reading the jacket blurb for “Follow The Money” I figured I should make an exception because this book sounded like it would be funny. Plus, I really wondered what Peanut Butter Crunch, cowboy boots and Jesus all had in common. I was also curious why Katie Couric was in the same equation as Heineken and hot peppers. Since curiosity hasn’t killed me yet I decided to read “Follow The Money” since it was the only way to find out the answers.

In the beginning “Follow The Money” was difficult for me to get into. It seemed that every time I started to enjoy a story; the next thing I knew; it was over. It was also very apparent that the book was written by a man and the book’s general appeal seems to be geared toward those of the masculine gender. Luckily for me I have a cynical and sarcastic streak which definitely helped with the “guy” aspect of this book’s humor. Once I got beyond the shortness of the stories I did enjoy the read more.

Cavins does have very good writing skills. While some of the characters portrayed in his stories were lacking in their thinking and / or communication abilities neither of those things were an issue for Cavins. I definitely found “Follow The Money” to be a unique read. Yes, it is a collection of short stories but each tale is connected to the prior one. Once you realize this both the title of the book and the beginning quotation take on a new found meaning. Each story is off-the-wall and a little on the wacky side. While Cavins is no George Carlin he is a humorous writer and you will enjoy his book so long as you enjoy a cynical look at life and idiotic people.

For the women out there who don’t really enjoy a male oriented book I suggest picking this one up for the guy in your life. “Follow The Money” will travel with him when he inevitably disappears into the bathroom for thirty minutes under the pretense of “using the facilities.”

“Dead Forever: Awakening”

Author: William Campbell

I came across  a book title that immediately caught my eye: “Dead Forever: Awakening.” Interesting… This of course prompted me to visit Amazon’s website in order to find out a little more about the book. The words “Imagine a world where death is merely an inconvenience” jumped off the proverbial page at me and I found myself immediately intrigued by the concept. Who wouldn’t want to live forever? Even if “living forever” ultimately meant living a full life, experiencing a real death and then finding oneself inhabiting a new body. Hmmm…

The premise of “Dead Forever: Awakening” is that once you die you will resume living while still retaining all of your memories, all of your likes and dislikes and all of your various skills and talents. How’s that for having your cake and eating it too? Well, therein lies the catch because immortality comes with a very high price. People now answer to a “master” and things like individuality, creativity and freedom to think for yourself are no longer allowed. Of course there are those who find themselves unable to conform to these rigid rules and they refuse to accept this life. Since no one can really “die forever” the masters devise a clever solution. Permanent amnesia. How can a person fight if they can’t remember what they are fighting for? Yup, I decided I definitely needed to read the book so I could find out what happens.

For the most part I was pretty happy with “Dead Forever: Awakening.” The author, William Campbell, has an easy to follow writing style. His words flow well; his story is descriptive but not boring; each character has a unique personality and Campbell does a great job of bringing them to life. However, there were times when a scene from the book would remind me of a scene from “The Matrix.” Consequently I became distracted by these similarities which unfortunately took some of the enjoyment out of the read for me.

In summary I give “Dead Forever: Awakening” a solid four star rating and I would recommend it for readers of all ages. I hope Campbell keeps up the great writing and I look forward to reading more of his works in the future.

“Searching for Eden”

Author: Keith Madsen

Evan Jordan’s life is turned upside down by the unfortunate death of his fourteen-year-old daughter. How does one even begin to handle that? He is lost and hurting and trying to find peace within himself. Before his daughter passed away she had expressed an interest in the Garden of Eden. In an attempt to find something he needs, although he is unsure what it is he is seeking, he sets out to find the Garden.

Evan is not sure if the Garden is fact or fiction but he realizes a quest of this magnitude requires more knowledge on the subject than he possesses. He sets out to recruit help. Somehow he manages to convince a beautiful archaeologist to accompany him while at the same time he manages to rescue a young girl from a life of prostitution.  Coincidentally the girl he saves is the same age as his deceased daughter.

Evan’s journey takes him through Iran and Iraq where he meets wonderful people from differing religions who all pull together to help him find what he’s looking for. They scour the lands searching for clues to the Garden of Eden’s location until they anger the Iranian government because they were too close to nuclear sites. At this point the journey becomes part quest and part rescue mission.

All in all I found “Searching For Eden” to be a touching story but at times it definitely bordered on the unbelievable side. This is a fictional book; however, the backdrop is centered in the Middle East which makes it challenging to remember the genre of “fiction” and the strong religious current throughout the book didn’t help either.

The author, Keith Madsen, does a great job of being descriptive and it’s easy to empathize with the book’s characters. Madsen comes across as knowledgeable about the countries traversed within this tale and at times he provides a very different perspective on the varying religions. His writing style is informative yet fun making it easy to follow. At times there was a little too much “drama” for my own personal taste but overall I found it to be a well written book. To sum up: a good read with a powerful message.

“Genoa Bay”

Author: Bette Nordberg

I found “GenoaBay” to be a delightful and charming read. The author, Bette Nordberg does a wonderful job of skillfully bringing this tale to life. She is extremely descriptive and attentive to detail without becoming boring or long-winded. While the book is fictional I do feel that many readers will be able to empathize with the story and its characters in one way or another.

The main character, Brandy Beauchamp, inherits a bed and breakfast located onVancouver Island. The property is beautiful but will require a tremendous amount of energy, commitment and tender loving care in order to return it to its former glory. Brandy is faced with a difficult choice. Should she stay in her current situation which seems to be taking her nowhere or should she take a chance on a new and previously unexpected opportunity?

Signs, which seem to be telling her to go, jump out at her on a regular basis and Brandy finally realizes she needs to just take a leap of faith and act on this chance. Much to the dismay of her friends and family she uproots herself and her five-year-old daughter Gabby. Together they move to British Columbia in order to take on this huge project and have a chance at a new life.

Once there though things are not as cut and dried as Brandy originally expected them to be. There is a lot of back-breaking work to be done and she continuously wonders if she has made the right choice. It doesn’t help that a local property developer wants to purchase the land that her bed and breakfast sits on and she is shocked by the lengths he is willing to go to in order to get what he wants.

In closing, “Genoa Bay” was a well written novel and definitely a fun read. I highly recommend this book to readers of all ages. Bette Nordberg has a fantastic writing style. Her words have the ability to remove you from your own life before they deposit you right into the pages of her book. I look forward to reading more of her works in the future.

“Flaherty’s Crossing”

Author: Kaylin McFarren

Normally in my reviews I start with information about the book but in this case I am going to start with the author. I found Kaylin McFarren to be a very descriptive writer. She is able to describe people and situations in a clear yet interesting manner without becoming too wordy or boring. I would liken her writing style to that of Danielle Steele and I think her works will make a wonderful addition to the romance genre.

“Flaherty’s Crossing” is a heartfelt story about a woman whose entire life seems to be in turmoil. Kate Flaherty, the main character, is a woman in constant emotional pain. Because of her life experiences, her upbringing and the death of her mother when she was a small child she refuses to allow anyone completely into her life. Instead she keeps everyone, including her husband, at arms length preferring to hide behind the facade of a perfect life.

We first meet Kate at her father’s house where his losing battle with cancer is almost over. Kate is unsure how to feel at this point. On the one hand she is angry at him for shutting her out of his life ever since the death of her mother. On the other hand she is still daddy’s little girl; desperately wishing for his love and affection or at least a sign that he is proud of who she has become as an adult. He passes away while she is not there which leaves her adrift; warring with feelings of guilt, sorrow and anger.

Kate is also battling with a marriage that is falling apart and neither she, nor her husband Drew, seems to know how to reach out to the other to fix it. They are both at an impasse. She feels she cannot trust him because he is always letting her down and he feels that she no longer wants him in her life.

Several key events transpire which force Kate to face previously unknown truths; force her to question the validity of the reality she thought she knew and force her to realize that no one is perfect. Armed with this new information can Kate rescue herself, her life, and her marriage before it’s too late? The answers to that and to the “rest of the story” can be found on the pages of “Flaherty’s Crossing.”