Review: New Fantasy Series Begins with Chrysalis: The Awakening

Chrysalis: The Awakening
By M. L. Lacy
AuthorHouse
ISBN: 9781438959856
589 Pages

Note: Check out the author site by clicking on the title of this article!


Book 1 of a new series by M. L. Lacy, Chrysalis: The Awakening, is an intriguing addition to the fantasy genre. With nearly 600 pages, that read very easily and quickly, I highly recommend you start this series right now, as Bree awakens!

No, Aubrey Marie Campbell has not been “asleep;” rather, she has been a mortal since birth and now is her time to “transition” into the magical realm. You see she is A Chosen One—in fact, she is the “last” of the Chosen Ones and if she fails in her mission, both the mortal and magical worlds will ultimately be destroyed. I plan on following this series! It is well written and Book 1 has established a firm understanding of the storyline, the primary characters, and what will be happening; and entertains and pulls readers in so that they want more. I personally hope we don’t have to wait too long for the follow up!

As the last Chosen One, Bree’s life has been in danger since she was born. Her parents were constantly threatened so that Bree’s childhood was constantly more and more confining and restrictive. She was separated from her “intended” and, instead, married to a sadistic mortal that constantly abused and tormented her, even to the point of “sharing” her with his male friends. Finally, when she became pregnant, was beaten, lost the baby and was then unable to have further children, Bree gathered her strength and filed for divorce.

While Bree was made to suffer during her childhood, she was not left totally on her own. There were many that stood guard over her, even at night while she slept—although they could not be seen!

Now her grandmother has invited her to a “reunion” of old friends and although she was not interested in going, fearing that her friends would all be the same age as her grandmother, she finally gives in and, once there, finds that there are many of her own age. One in particular greatly attracts her. Oops, shall I highlight here that memory of her old friends, especially Steven, her intended mate, had been magically erased, so that when she now meets them, she does not remember their earlier relationship. Actually, it was the interaction between the characters at this point that I especially enjoyed since Bree had felt for many years that there was perhaps something wrong with her—she heard voices, she healed quickly, even from the continuous abuse from her husband, and she had been restricted from so much activity by her parents, she had assumed that she was mentally ill! This part is funny and sad—sad to realize what parents, even parents with magical abilities, can do to a child.

For Bree’s rival, Esmeralda, did indeed threaten—and everybody knew that she would follow through on her threats! But now Bree was finding her own strength and much of her early life had been explained. Bree’s first confrontation with Esmeralda is excitingly funny—because by now of course, readers are all supporting Bree’s new reign and looking forward to her final transition, when she gains her full powers!

Hey, everybody needs a little magic in their lives—you know, clans of vampires, a few werewolves, a giant or two, witches, elves, and wizards—Oh My! Seriously, readers, if you love fantasy, then you will indeed enjoy Chrysalis: The Awakening by M. L. Lacy!


G. A. Bixler

Review: The Shenadoah Spy Begins Exciting Civil War Series!

The Shenandoah SpyBy Francis Hamit
Brass Cannon Books
ISBN: 9781595959027
433 Pages


I met Belle Boyd this past weekend, thanks to Francis Hamit, and was thrilled to meet and spend all my time with her! This first book in a series starts with The Shenandoah Spy: Being the True Life Adventures of Belle Boyd, CSA, “The Confederate Cleopatra.”

“Belle Boyd was a real person, and became world famous as a spy for the Confederate Government...in September, 1862, [she] became the first woman in American history to be formally commissioned an Army officer.” (Foreword) The book centers on her role as a scout and spy for the Confederate Army. If only a small percentage of the story were true, Belle was...one gutsy woman! I am thankful that Hamit is publishing her story, for she is a woman to be much admired and embraced by all Americans and especially our younger generation!

Belle was a true Southerner but she was not the typical “belle” as we think of most women of the south. True, she might have worn the big-hooped gowns, learned how to flirt with gentlemen as part of her training, and had her first “season” in Washington with the intent to find a suitable husband. However, when the war began, she was just 17 and she automatically sought to find ways to support the south.

Her first major role was to assist and then nurse at the hospitals. Perhaps it was her required intimacy with those men that first started her reputation. Or perhaps it was her shooting a drunk Yankee soldier who had attacked her mother. But it was her scouting and spying efforts that firmly established Belle’s as a spy that could easily flirt and then finagle from the Yanks to learn and gain information to pass on to H. Turner Ashby, her immediate commanding officer, Jackson and other Confederate officers.

Hamit has created an exciting story of the civil war against which he tells Belle’s story. Through extensive reading and research, he presents the major players and battles of the war, and includes his characters that effectively supplement actual soldiers and officers. He also considers the political issues as to why the war was started and by whom, whether slavery was a major or minor point and highlights the role of the professional soldiers who moved from war to war, fighting for pay rather than through dedication to the people and the cause they supported.

Two other points of interest for me were the drinking, theft and lack of courtesy shown by the majority of Yankee soldiers and the role of the slaves/servants as they chose to support their families (owners) rather than their supposed liberators.

As the author stated in his foreword, he wrote the novel to entertain readers. Whether or not he took license with the truth in telling the story, I for one believe he did exactly what he said he was doing! This is truly an entertaining, fantastic tale of the past and provides all the excitement, intrigue, action and suspense that readers expect and enjoy!

Francis Hamit has the knowledge, experience and interest to have picked a remarkable character from our historical documents upon which to build this series. I highly recommend that you get the first book, The Shenandoah Spy, now and watch for the next one coming, hopefully soon!

G. A. Bixler

Review: Texas Rangers in Terrific Techno-Thriller!

Strong Enough To Die
By Jon Land
Forge Books
ISBN: 9780765312587
351 Pages


A “western” flavor with great historical information and action from the Texas Rangers is merged within an exciting techno thriller, in Jon Land’s Strong Enough To Die. In my opinion, it’s a must-read out this month!

Caitlin Strong, a fifth-generation Ranger, has had one too many close calls--the last one resulting in the death of a dear friend and partner. Leaving the Rangers, she goes back to school to get her degree for counseling and gets a job at the Survivor Center for Victims of Torture. Although the director is unsure about her working with victims, when Caitlin is brought in to see one of her potential patients, and recognizes him, she is pulled into an experience to be faced like no other she has ever known and assures the director that she will work hard to handle the job in order to be able to care for the man.

As she begins her new job, she learns that Cort Wesley Masters, the man who had been the leader at the ambush where her partner was killed, has been released due to a new test for the DNA that had proved him not guilty, and he was coming after her for revenge. They meet when he finds out where she is working and goes to the Survivor Center, only to find that the facility is under attack and Caitlin is the only staff member left alive and she is fighting to save her patient. In a split-second decision, Cort forgets his original plan and works along with Caitlin to eliminate the attackers!

Reclaiming her Ranger’s badge is one part of Caitlin’s first acts after this massacre. As Caitlin discovers that Cort was set up and wants to find out who falsely accused him, she also learns that, by protecting her patient, who others are trying to kidnap, she, Cort, and his two children, are now all under attack. Cort and Caitlin are forced into an uneasy alliance as they discover more and more about everything happening.

Caitlin and Cort are terrific characters and I hope they will be in future books; however, one minor character, Guillermo Paz, stole a lead role for me—a mercenary/hit man, Paz visits various churches and confesses his actions to the dismay of local priests. His latest job has brought him from South America by the “head man” and is told to get rid of all witnesses. However, when he finds Caitlin, protecting the sons of Cort Wesley, he leaves without killing them—and later revisits a local church. Paz has found his role in life!

Strong Enough To Die by Jon Land is refreshingly different as the role of Texas Rangers is blended with hi-tech murder. One of the best I’ve read!

G. A. Bixler

IMPORTANT INFO ON PROPOSED MASTECTOMY LAW CHANGE! PLEASE RETWEET!

Thanks to Lifetime TV for hosting information and petition! Please sign and let other friends know about this important announcement! You can click title to go to Lifetime for complete information or directly to the petition via the http link below.

Proposed Mastectomy Law Change

(written by a surgeon); I'll never forget the look in my patients' eyes when I have to tell them they must go home with the drains sticking out, new exercises and no breast. I beg the doctors to keep these women in the hospital longer, only to hear that they would, but their hands are tied by the insurance companies.

So there I sit with my patients giving them the instructions they needed to take care of themselves, knowing full well they didn't grasp half of what I was saying, because their glazed, hopeless, frightened looks spoke louder than the quiet 'Thank you' they managed.

A mastectomy is when a woman's breast is totally removed in order to extract cancerous cells/tissue. If you know anyone who has had a mastectomy, you know that there is a lot of discomfort and pain afterwards. Insurance companies are insisting mastectomies are an outpatient procedure. Let's give these women the chance to recover properly, with professional care and instructions, in the hospital for 2 days after surgery.

This Mastectomy Bill is in Congress now. It takes only seconds to make your wishes known. It is truly important. Please take the time and do it now! The Breast Cancer Hospitalization Bill is vital legislation for all women and their families.

Please send this to everyone in you know. If there was ever a time when our voices and choices should be heard, this is one of them. If you're receiving this, it's because I think you will take the few seconds to go vote on this issue and send it on to others you know who will do the same.

The bill is called the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act and it will require insurance companies to cover a minimum 48-hour hospital stay for patients undergoing a mastectomy. It's about eliminating the 'drive-through mastectomy' where women are forced to go home just hours after surgery, against their doctor's advice, still groggy from anesthesia and often with drainage tubes still attached.

Lifetime Television has put this bill on their web page with a petition drive to show your support. Last year over half the House signed on. PLEASE! Sign the petition by clicking on the web site below. You need not give more than your name and zip code number.

http://www.mylifetime.com/community/my-lifetime-commitment/breast-cancer/petition/breast-cancer-petition

This only takes a moment. PLEASE PASS THIS ON to your friends.

News from VPublishing

Greetings,

During tough times it is important to find a way to keep moving. Although times are hard, these times will also be a memory of the past. We at View House Publishing, have reduced the prices of our Writing & Self-Esteem Workshop for children. There are a few spaces available. Below and attached is a flyer about our workshop for children. Also, if you would like to sponsor a child's tution to the workshop, please contact for information.

_________________________________________________
Writing & Self-Esteem Workshop for Children
(ages 8–12)
Only an educator, social worker, parent, and publisher could have designed a group that combines creative writing, art, and self-esteem building in a way that attracts children. Participants will have the opportunity to meet in weekly workshops that consist of group activities and fun tasks with the goal of completing a published book by the end of the sessions. These workshops are designed to help children develop an interest in writing, a passion for creative art, social skills, and an opportunity to feel good about a great accomplishment.

Registration form:
Workshop sessions are $21.00 per week. Please note that half of the total payment must be made before or on the first day. The remaining amount must be paid prior to the fifth session. The total cost of $210 covers 10 workshops, two copies of a published book that contains the group’s completed work, and a completion certificate. The books will be mailed to the participants 10 days after the last session.
Note: Two early-bird discounted rate of the total cost:
1) $190 (half payment by June 2) or $165 (full payment by June 2)

Location: 1305 Franklin Street, Suite 502, Oakland, CA 94612 (basement conference room)
Day & Time: Saturdays, 2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
Start & End Dates: June 13, 2009–August 22, 2009
Workshop Dates: June 13, 20, 27 July 11, 18, 25 August 1, 8, 15, 22

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For more information, call (510) 350-5502 or send an email to vpublishing@aol.com. Please make your check payable to View House Publishing (VHP), and mail it with this completed form to: VHP, 1305 Franklin Street, Suite 502, Oakland, CA 94612 (credit & debit cards are also accepted). Fax (510) 404-5278
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Review: Grandma's First Computer - Fun for Kids/Adults!

Grandma’s First Computer
By Linda Hayes
LuLu.com
ISBN: 978-0-557-01609-9
35 Pages


I think in every family, there is at least one older member who has absolutely no understanding of the “potential” of computers. Some, like my sister, have no desire to learn either. However, as more and more opportunities for sharing pictures, letters and even researching the family tree becomes known, many people who had no earlier opportunity to use the computer are taking the plunge!

Linda Hayes, in writing Grandma’s First Computer, apparently had that situation in her family, for her son Lawrence and Grandma Sylvia inspired Linda’s book. I am totally supportive of having young children learn to use computers—it is “their” future, after all! But I also am pleased whenever someone who has previously not had the opportunity decides to find out what the “internet” is that everybody always seems to be talking about.

Using excellent illustrations, by Acesgraphics, Linda shares a simple story about the time Grandma decided to buy a computer, only to get it home and have no idea what to do next. I had to chuckle at this point because even though I’ve worked with both mainframe and personal computers for years, there were technical staff members who actually set up and cared for the hardware (all equipment including the computer and peripheral machines such as printers, scanners, etc.) So when I decided to have a home computer, I admit to some trepidation, even though I had already been using personal computers and enjoying their benefits for work and research. Believe me, Grandma knew what she was doing to leave the computer in the box...until...Timmy came to visit!

Timmy looks to be about 8, but he obviously is already totally capable of setting up and getting things ready for Grandma. The book effectively shows and explains what computer components he’s working with. Only when he starts to use some routine computer terms, such as mouse and cursor, does he realize that...wow...Grandma doesn’t know anything!

I got the feeling Grandma and Timmy was going to be spending quite a bit of time together! And won’t Timmy feel great about being able to help his Grandma learn about computers!

Not having knowledge and experience can exist, no matter what age. Many of us were in jobs and had an opportunity to learn, but many others were busy doing other jobs! I applaud you if you are one of the latter and are just now beginning to learn about computers. I work almost daily via email with a gentleman in his 70’s who is learning to promote his books online, having never learned much other than using a word processor. You could be that person and need help...

Grandma’s First Computer is very, very elementary and is geared toward children, but it wonderfully shows the potential of two generations being able to reverse roles and the older individual learn from the younger. So, if you’ve decided to take the plunge, check out Grandma’s First Computer by Linda Hayes and share it with your nephew or grandson and see if he takes the hint! You just might get much-needed help and start that young individual on the way to a future career!

G. A. Bixler