Review: Guest Blogger Janet Morris Grimes Gives Thoughts on Lucille O'Neal Book

Walk Like You Have Somewhere to Go


Lucille O'Neal -
Two out of Five Stars.







Eager to read this story, I found it less than what I expected. Lucille shares her memories of early childhood through her own rise to the top as she created a place for herself in the high-profile world of the NBA, currently serving as the elected president of the Mothers of Professional Basketball Players Association. Lucille uses all that she has learned from life as she travels across the country sharing her message of believing in yourself and overcoming the odds, and that is to be commended.

While I appreciated the honesty offered by Lucille O’Neal, it portrayed an air of bitterness throughout, spreading the blame for her battle with depression and alcohol to everything from her parents’ early divorce, to a strict and overtly religious upbringing by grandparents, budget cuts brought on by then-President Ronald Reagan, to the controlling nature of her military husband of twenty-eight years. My first thought was that had Shaquille not found immense success in the NBA, her husband would have been viewed as the hero of the story, rescuing her from a life of poverty and providing the stability for her own family that she so desired as a child.

I found the structure difficult to follow. The writing jumps from her generation to present day issues, and is unclear. For example, with this sentence, “When you combine low self-esteem with the lack of hope for a bright future, you have some powerful deterrents to avoiding a pregnancy.”

I admire anyone who uses the gifts they have been given for good to touch the lives of others. Lucille has overcome many demons in her life. Her true and powerful relationship with God was revealed at the end, but as an afterthought. It was a non-factor throughout the story.

Both Lucille and Shaquille O’Neal will remain positive role models in a fickle world that desperately needs them. They will continue to make a huge difference through their various charities and opportunities for motivational speaking. Thankfully, that does not change based on whether or not I appreciated this book.



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”


Janet Morris Grimes
http://www.janetmorrisgrimes.com/

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Review: Guest Reviewer Shares Opinion on Sikaran Shield Lord...

Sikaran Shield Lord


Reverend Joanna Z. Ray

Pentland Books
ISBN: 1 85821 878 0
224 pages (including front and back matter)



Sikaran Shield Lord, by Reverend Joanna Ray, is a fascinating novel that relates the adventures of 22 alien Sikaran mercenaries who belonged to the Isithan—warriors who trained for the military early, had leadership qualities, displayed courage and were willing to live by a strict code. Passing the initiation and becoming a member of this “Brotherhood of the Sword” was a long, difficult challenge that many failed to meet.

The presentation of the storyline to readers is via the notes, diaries, and logs of the various characters. Ultimately, the individual writings reveal a sequence of events that link the present and past, a skilled approach that keeps readers turning the pages with questions and anticipation. The main plot involves the Sikaran aliens intermingling with humans as they travel across the galaxy to the Naiobi colonies in order to provide them with security. The Sikaran mercenaries spend ten months on the McBride, a grain vessel, adapted for war, where new friendships are formed between the aliens and humans; however, there are negative experiences as well as positive ones in which readers will see a wide range of emotions from both groups.

As the plot unravels, readers will be held captive by the colorful characters and the ability of the author to breathe life into them through vivid description and realistic dialog. My favorite character is definitely the alien called Shield Lord Marayshan, a strong, handsome warrior who speaks what he thinks and seems to be the best at whatever he is involved in—including the martial arts. All the alien mercenaries are experts in this field, but only Marayshan has the added ability to tell jokes that nearly everyone finds entertaining. He wins others over quickly by his display of both courage and humor. Through a type of flashback, the author provides background information about Marayshan’s younger years as well as the same for his best friends, Nava and Avernyi.

For the romantics, there is a powerful love scene between Marayshan and Triatha whom he rescued years earlier at the Gloshan Camp. Though he still loved his deceased wife, Triatha was very special to him as evidenced by their time together. As mercenaries whose people had signed a treaty with the Gloshans, the aliens were required to fight for them. But we also see the frustration of this Brotherhood as they witness the horrific treatment and torture of the prisoners. They wanted to help them but were bound by a contract; however, the passage of time changed the situation and the alien mercenaries changed sides.

When the aliens join the police force at the Naiobi colonies, they are there to help the humans who live there, moving forward from the past when they were on opposite sides in the Sikaran-Interspace wars. Marayshan is now the governor of the colonies, and the adventures he and his friends experience there with humans will continue to entertain and intrigue readers.

After finishing this book, I am convinced that individuals will be eager to read the sequel entitled “One of the Good Guys.” In the meantime, I highly recommend this book.



Bettie Corbin Tucker
For Independent Professional Book Reviewers
http://www.bookreviewers.org/
May 7, 2010

John L. Betcher Announces First James Becker Mystery! Review Coming Soon

After decades of clandestine government operations, James “Beck” Becker and his wife Elizabeth return to “Beck’s” childhood home to enjoy a settled retirement in the small Mississippi river town of Red Wing, Minnesota. But “settled” is a relative term and no matter where Beck goes, intrigue follows.

When Minneapolis computer genius, Katherine Whitson, disappears under peculiar circumstances, her husband exploits a sympathetic Red Wing acquaintance to enlist Beck’s aid in finding her. As it turns out, Katherine’s kidnapping is more complicated than the typical abduction, and the case taxes the Beckers’ considerable skills to their limits.

After dispensing with the “usual” suspects – the unfaithful husband, his same-sex lover, an overly-ambitious co-worker and a cadre of beleaguered managers – Beck homes in on Katherine’s boss at ComDyne Computer Systems as the likely mastermind behind her abduction.

Under cover of darkness, Beck and his word-miserly American Indian cohort, Bull, follow the kidnappers on a visit to their remote “hidey hole” in an abandoned artillery installation. With the aid of law enforcement, the two guys in the white hat and headdress free Katherine from her dungeon imprisonment. But she’s not safe until her boss is behind bars.

Now it will take all of the Beckers’ collective experience – his as a military intelligence specialist and hers as a CIA code-cracker – to bring Katherine's captors to justice, and to neutralize an international cyber-espionage threat that has been at the root of the kidnapping all along.

Katherine herself proves instrumental in orchestrating an FBI raid on her employer’s--ComDyne Systems, Inc.’s--headquarters and in exposing the nefarious potential of ComDyne’s new network hardware.

In the end, Homeland Security halts the release of ComDyne’s spy components. And the would be pooks/kidnappers receive their due.

Some of the book’s more unique characteristics are its Minnesota setting, its likeable main characters and its high-technology-made-understandable. Not to be forgotten is Beck’s American Indian cohort, “Bull,” who presents a stoic, formidable and good-humored persona.

The characters are reminiscent of those in the Robert B. Parker’s Spenser series. The book also features a good deal of law enforcement tactics and technology throughout.

WHAT MAKES THIS BOOK UNIQUE?


The Missing Element delivers high-stakes action in a Midwest setting. The book’s likeable characters, intelligent dialogue and traditional mystery plot line will appeal all readers of commercial mysteries. Along with the mystery comes a good deal of hightechnology-made-understandable, as the main character, James “Beck” Becker delves into the mind-bending world inside computer micro-processors.

Written in the style of Robert B. Parker’s Spenser novels, The Missing Element's action takes place at various venues in and around the Twin Cities area. So readers who are looking for a Minneapolis, or even a Minnesota, connection will appreciate the book’s authentic local color.

According to computer experts with whom the author has consulted, the book’s cyber-espionage premise is not only plausible, but likely. Reviewers agree.

And finally, readers who are concerned about the Orwellian aspects of the ‘black box’ that computer high-technology has become, will enjoy the philosophical questions Beck raises as he contemplates the reality that ‘man’ is fast becoming the ‘missing element’ in the cyber-equation

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY


The author holds a Bachelor’s Degree, cum laude, in English from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Minnesota Law School in Minneapolis. He has practiced law for more than twenty-five years in the Mississippi River community of Red Wing, Minnesota. He has also been a long-time supporter and coach of youth volleyball there.

Mr. Betcher has published three feature articles in COACHING VOLLEYBALL, the Journal of the American Volleyball Coaches Association. His most recent article was the cover story for the April/May, 2009 Issue.

His book on volleyball coaching philosophies entitled The Little Black Book of Volleyball Coaching has been selling nationwide and is currently available at Amazon.com.

His mystery novel, The Missing Element, was featured on the Reading Minnesota Blog on April 5, 2010, Reader’s Choice Review on April 25, 2010 and in the Red Wing Republican Eagle newspaper on May 1, 2010. He is also an active member and writing peer coach at the Agent Query Connect writer's forum.


Click on the article title to move to author's web site!

Review: The Cold Room - Exciting Dark Thriller!

The Cold Room

By J. T. Ellison

MIRA Books

ISBN: 9780778327141

401 Pages

The ending Author's notes by J. T. Ellison regarding her book, The Cold Room, intrigued me. Many readers will find the book "dark" and into an almost taboo subject; it was a welcome addition for me to read her thoughts as she wrote the book, realizing from her research that the issue was far from uncommon--that those who use narcotics as part of their assaults were often mimicking their baser desires.

For necrophilia...

Add that to how and who was committing the horrendous murders, and you have one of the most compelling novels you may have read for quite some time. Fortunately, with the darkness, Ellison's main characters are an exciting team. Think "Closer" but have the couple working side-by-side on a major serial killer case.

Dr. John Baldwin, head of the FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit had been involved much earlier than Taylor Jackson. They called the killer, The Butcher, as he murder women in Italy, and then, later, in England. When similar, but not quite the same MO was used by a man in Nashville, where Jackson worked for Metro police, they quickly started comparing notes.

The Butcher had first starved the women to death, but had grown impatient and had started to strangle them...He would leave a picture of some piece of famous art with her body.

But the man who was soon called The Conductor, was much more dramatic, setting the stage with classical music and actually posting the bodies to match works by Picasso!

Taylor Jackson is one hot investigator! Though recently demoted and her previous team scattered, she quickly latches on to the case and is moving ahead, even while a new boss wants her to kowtow to his personal management style and she has a new partner about whom she knows little and has had no opportunity to build trust and an awareness of what skills she could come to depend on.

Her meticulous approach, however, soon has other cases tied to The Conductor and she is able to add much to Baldwin's profile development.

And then the pressure is on, because the latest victim is related to a member of the Metro administrative staff and Jackson has promised her friend that she will find the young girl!

Add on to all of that the fact that Taylor Jackson has her own stalker, called The Pretender, and an officer from England falling for her and you have one complex, twisted book that forces you to marvel at the main character's ability to keep going to solve the case. What an exciting book!

If you love psychological thrillers, and don't mind delving into a perhaps new and dark area for you, then you won't want to miss The Cold Room by J. T. Ellison... Me, I'll be ordering her three other books and adding her to my Trackle List for new books! You?

Book Provided Via
Amazon Vine



G. A. Bixler

Review: Guest Reviewer Bettie Corbin Tucker Shares Favorite!

We Do Remember You
Steve Butler
Illustrated by Grace Mayfield
www.enheartpublishing.com
ISBN: 0-965-4899-8-1
48 pages (including front and back matter)


We Do Remember You by Steve Butler is a book written for those who are grieving the death of a child. Though it is a difficult subject, the author has presented the material in a way that gives readers of all ages help, hope, and an outlet for their emotions.

As a mother who has lost a child, I shed tears but also smiled as I met the young angelic characters who are enjoying the beauty of Heaven as they share conversations about their lives and deaths. All but one child explains how his or her family presently expresses their love for them on earth, whether it involves putting flowers on a grave, planting a tree, caring for a rose bush, lighting a candle, praying, or performing some other personal and meaningful ritual. This is done to show the children they are missed and remembered. But what about that one child—doesn’t anyone miss her? Purchase this book and find out how a baby without a name gives and receives joy in Heaven.

When the author mentions rituals in the foreword, he speaks of them as ways of “Doing” your grief…when they are carried out with love and care. He also expresses his belief that these rituals allow the spirits of those who grieve touch the spirits of the ones they can no longer see on earth. Through fictionalized conversations, readers quickly learn from the angelic children how much these acts of remembrance mean to them. This should prove especially beneficial to children who are left behind when their brothers, sisters, parents, or best friends go to Heaven.

Alexandra, one of the heavenly angels, was introduced to me in an earlier book entitled “A Letter to Heaven.” As she thinks about the urn in her own home and a special rose garden in her grandmother’s yard, she understands just how much she was and is loved. She asks God to let her brother Jamie know that she will always love him. I believe the prayer is answered through a ladybug. Yes, a ladybug!

I give We Do Remember You my highest recommendation. It is well-written, beautifully illustrated, and the language is age appropriate. In my opinion, this book fills a need for a different kind of resource on the subject of grieving.

Bettie Corbin Tucker
For Independent Professional Book Reviewers

Review: Deadline Man Fantastic Mystery!

Deadline Man


By Jon Talton

Poisoned Pen Press
ISBN: 9781590587232
287 Pages


 
You know how some books are called page-turners? Well, Deadline Man, by Jon Talton, is what I've coined a "read-faster!" I don't really know whether it was the writing, his style, the main character's profession, or the suspenseful mystery, but I found myself moving faster and faster across the words to see what was going to happen next! Fantastic!

He was now a well-read Business Financial columnist, having worked himself up from writing obits at Seattle Free Press, a privately owned newspaper that had, under its previous leader been a strong contender in being first in hard news on major issues. However, on her death, the family was interested only in getting their money and if that meant selling the newspaper, then so be it. One of the problems they faced, however, was that there might not be any buyers, given the declining industry.

And it was just a routine interview with Hardesty, whose hedge fund had just invested $75M into a new startup, which he was enjoying, when everything started to go south. He had merely tried to gain new material for his column and picked out a company, Olympic International, that had not been highlighted for many years. But later he would push to remember everything that had happened that day.

--He had heard on the news immediately before the interview that Megan Nyberg, a teenager, was missing.

--He was still thinking about his previous night with Pam, while Troy teased him about being involved with Rachel Summers. Actually he normally had three or four lovers at any given time...

--A blond had shoved past him as he was leaving; he remembered her later when she was trying to kill him.

--Troy Henderson fell from his high-rise terrace immediately after he had left!

--During the interview, Troy had asked him casually whether he had ever heard of eleven-eleven...

And then he wrote his first column on Olympic International...

After that, he was running for his life as men who professed to be FBI pursued him, a prostitute yells after him, "eleven-eleven--you'll get yours!" And he finds himself in bed with Pam, who is dead.

Needless to say, I loved this one. I enjoyed learning about the newspaper business mechanics, such as the lede spelling change, and empathize with the individual employees as they feared losing their job and considered what they would do. Talton has shared a real-time issue with readers as he has also given us a beautifully entwined mystery that keeps readers guessing, but meticulously comes together as if the author had created a tapestry!

This is a must-read for mystery lovers...well above a 1-5 ranking, earning a 9 or 10 in my opinion! Let me know if you agree!

Book Provided Through
Net Galley by Publisher



G. A. Bixler