Dead Heat To Destiny by J. B. Rivard

My initial reaction to this book was annoyance due to the abundance of characters and jumping from story to story.  The story was interesting though and eventually I got the characters straight in my head and enjoyed the book.  It takes place in the years prior to WWI.   The characters intermesh in a complex plot that entangles citizens of a variety of nations.  It is a people story, not action or a thriller but story about people.

Will was my favorite character and not just due to his name.   His impulsive nature and perseverance resonated with me.

The conditions in the U-Boat made my palms sweat.

The political balderdash surrounding Will’s actions are indicative of the political nonsense that continues to this day.  Covering your butt, just doesn’t seem to change.

I recommend the book. 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

Bones Under the Ice by Mary Ann Miller

Sheriff Jhonni Laurent is faced with multiple alleged murders, an inimical press, a deceitful deputy, a historic secret, and feuding citizens.  If that isn’t enough she is faced with accepting her fifties with grace.  

 

Miller paints a very realistic portrait of a woman happy with her work and facing job stresses that are crushing.   I also like how she showed that small-town people aren’t as naïve and stupid as many big-city folks think.  Of course, that may be colored by living in a small town. 

 

There was a strong complex plot showing the good and bad of human nature.   I thought Miller did an excellent job in her characterizations.  

 

I recommend the book.

 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

Grunt the Grizzly Learns to Be Grateful by Misty Black

Ana Rankovic illustrated this book and deserves a pat on the back for adorable critters.   Grunt is grumpy.  He wakes up grumpy, goes to school grumpy, and goes to bed grumpy.  Being grumpy is tiring.

Grunt lashes out at Punk the Skunk and is surprised that his friend isn’t grumpy in return. Grunt learns to count his blessings from his friends.

Grunt finds that he can pass on his lessons on grumpiness to his family.

Great moral, grumpiness can be contagious but counting your blessings can turn your frown upside down.  

From this book, I would extrapolate that the other Misty Black books might be worth picking up.  

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

Ellen the Elephant: Based on Ellen DeGeneres and Her Show

Kindness is important

An interesting take on Ellen as well as a good value lesson. This a simplistic view of Ellen DeGeneres and her show that illustrates the value of kindness.

A word game and coloring pages make the book into a toy as well as a learning experience.

The book is well formatted for portrait mode on a tablet.

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

Hardy Belch and the Infamous Doan Brothers by William G. Bentrim

 

Ada and the Helpers: A Dancing, Deaf Fox and her Friends Find Ways to Help Each Other Overcome Challenges and Find Their Strengths by Travis D. Peterson

This book shows a variety of animals with issues, physical and emotional. Ada has hearing issues but her parents see that she has help with hearing aids.  Ada meets a bunch of peers and helps each one deal with their particular problems.  By helping others she earns their help and respect in her dance recital. 

Words are signed on some pages which is a learning tool.  Ada's helpers are her friends and her hearing aids. 

A good message with endearing illustrations.

ons.

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

Pardon Me, Please by Lois Wickstrom

This is a book focused on a Thanksgiving staple, the turkey.

Albert lives on a turkey farm and a family has come to pick him up for dinner, not as a guest but as the main entrée.   Albert is aware that everyone needs to eat but does his best to convince the family that they should eat something else.

The book shows the dilemma of holidays and what they mean to people and their children.  It does not go into any diatribe on veganism or vegetarian lifestyle, it just leaves the reader to extrapolate whatever values they wish from reading the story.

This book was formatted correctly to show up on a Kindle Fire tablet and Google phone.

 This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

The Gratitude Jar by Katrina Liu

The Gratitude Jar, great concept, I like the moral of the story. It reads quite nicely on the computer screen but very cramped on my phone and tablet. Good story, mechanics of the digital version could be improved. I'd recommend reading it on the computer or buy the hard copy.  Illustrations were very good, too. 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

The Fun Thieves by Carli Valentine

The author offers a valuable perspective to disgruntled children.   It is so easy to complain and feel like the world is conspiring against you.   Children often feel powerless and unable to control any aspect of their lives.  Valentine shows how easy it is to feel disgruntled.  She then shows how to turn it around and look at alternative perspectives.    I think the book provides an excellent lesson on how to look at life without ever mentioning glass half full. 

Well done and I recommend the book. 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

Goodbye Dad, A Military Funeral by William G. Bentrim, with Trailer

This is not a rerun.  Military Funerals can be substantially different than civilian funerals. 

Funerals are part of life. As adults, we have a basic understanding of what occurs when there is a funeral.

Children often do not have even a basic idea of the funeral process and a military funeral is frequently different. This book tries to explain what a funeral is and what happens at a funeral. It is non-denominational and does not deal with the grief that normally accompanies a funeral. This book just tries to explain the basic aspects of a funeral from the perspective of a ten-year-old boy who just lost his father. 

If you like the book a review on Amazon or Barnes and Noble would be great!

Trailer on Youtube

Buy Here

Review from Amazon:

Jeff Edwards

5.0 out of 5 stars I Wish Someone Had Given Me This Book As A Child

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 23, 2015

My own father passed away when I was seven years old. He wasn’t active duty at the time, but he was a veteran, and he received full military honors at his funeral. The memorial service was beautifully and tastefully done. That was the good news. The bad news was that nobody told us anything. My sister, my two brothers, and I were completely in the dark. No one explained to us what was happening, or what to expect. At one of the most frightening and disorienting times of our lives, we were expected to stumble through blindly, with no comprehension at all of the processes or symbols of our dad’s funeral.
A book like this would have gone a long way towards helping us cope. Enriched by realistic illustrations, this story — despite its inherent sadness — is an excellent guide for helping children understand the customs we use to say goodbye to our lost loved ones.
Nothing can ease the pain of losing a parent, but lack of understanding doesn’t assuage grief. It compounds it. Although the book is written for the children of service members, it works equally well for civilian children who face this misfortune.
This might not be the kind of book that you look forward to giving people, but it may be just exactly the book they need.

Kind Obi by Kamapala Chukwuka

Terrific topic!  I loved the story line and the message.  The activities at the end of the book were spot on for younger children.   Pencil Master did beautiful illustrations too.  

My only criticism is based on formatting and doesn’t diminish the value of the book.  I read the book on a Kindle Fire and the pages did not show up correctly.   I think the book should have been shown in a landscape mode but it did not react to the Fire’s change from portrait to landscape.   I tried reading it on my phone and it did not change from portrait to landscape there either.  The formatting consequently leads to a lot of pinching of the screen to get the page large enough to read the text. I tested it on a Samsung Galaxy tablet with the same results. The book read beautifully on the PC.   I don’t have any Apple devices to test it on.

I recommend the hard copy of the book or reading it on a PC rather than a Kindle Fire.  The message is terrific and well worth reading. 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

Goodbye Dad, The Funeral by William G. Bentrim, with Trailer

Funerals are part of life. As adults we have a basic understanding of what occurs when there is a funeral.

Children do not have that luxury. This book tries to explain what a funeral is and what happens at a funeral.

It is non-denominational and does not deal with the grief that normally accompanies a funeral. This book just tries to explain the basic aspects of a funeral from the perspective of a ten-year-old boy who just lost his father. 

If you like the book a review on Amazon or Barnes and Noble would be great!

Trailer on Youtube

Buy Here

Review from Amazon

RJS

5.0 out of 5 stars Finding Comfort When Your Peers Take an Interest in You

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 19, 2014

When a child loses a loved one it can be quite devastating. William's book, Goodbye Dad, is intended for just a time as this.

Randy has lost his dad and is going through one of the hardest times of his life. His mother takes him to the funeral home to arrange his dad's funeral. Randy meets Kirk, the funeral manager's son, a knowledgeable as well as sympathetic, young man about Randy's age. After he takes Randy around the funeral home and describes to him the basic preparations of a funeral, Randy's finds some solace in his sad situation.

This sensitive topic isn't the most popular to write about, however, William's intent is to bring understanding and comfort to children who have lost a loved one. Incorporating a young boy helping another young boy may help grieving children deal with pain and sorrow. Children, quite often, find comfort when their peers take interest in them as well as show them empathy and kindness. This book showcases just that kind of situation. It could be helpful for children who are dealing with the painful loss of losing a loved one.

DOES JOHNNY HAVE AUTISM? by William G. Bentrim with Trailer

DOES JOHNNY HAVE AUTISM?

 Much has been made about the dramatic increase in autism. Something to note is that autism as a term has been replaced by the expression autistic spectrum. Various disorders have been placed on a spectrum of behavior which has differing levels of impact.

All too often children have been labeled and then the self-fulfilling prophecy aspect occurs when realistic perceptions are clouded by a misplaced label. This book’s goal is to decry the label of autism and to provide a simplistic description of the autistic spectrum suitable for elementary-age children.

If you like the book a review on Amazon or Barnes and Noble would be great!

Trailer on Youtube

Buy Here

5.0 out of 5 stars A Much Needed Look at 'Labeling'

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 15, 2017

Verified Purchase

Once again counselor turned author William Bentrim focuses his experience and compassion on a much misunderstood subject, autism and the overuse of that expression to 'pigeon hole' thousands of youngsters. Using the format of a down to earth and believable conversation between two adolescent boys, Bentrim explores the broad spectrum of autism and exposes the tendency to 'label' kids who are different, usually with tragic and long lasting results. By helping his protagonists understand the strengths (and weaknesses) of their classmate who exhibits some evidence of autistic disorder, Bentrim skillfully demonstrates the differences in severity across the broad spectrum of this condition. Though written at an elementary level to help kids understand the condition, folks of all ages can benefit from this short and relevant story. I certainly did. Kudos to Bill Bentrim for his continued work in educating the rest of us on this and many other issues.

Birthright by Charles Lambert

A narcissistic young woman strives to feel less alone.  She questions her patrimony and is convinced that somewhere she has a twin.   The result of that search leads to a wide variety of chicanery.

Fiona is not a likable character.  Her incessant whining contributed to my overall dislike of the book.  There is a lot of romance or seeming romance but it appears Fiona’s biggest love affair is with herself.   Herself possibly including her sought-after twin which may or may not exist. The one facet of the book I appreciated was that there was no shirtless hunk with a Stetson pulled low gracing the cover.

I didn’t like the book.   I suspect romance fans will probably enjoy it.  I am not a romance fan.   

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

The OC by D. P. Lyle

This is an unlikely crew of private detectives. Nicole, beautiful a talented writer and Jake a retired MLB pitcher are asked to help Megan, a TV reporter, with her stalker.

Nicole has had stalkers of her own so she and Jake go from Alabama to OC. They find that Megan’s stalker is accelerating and they call in their partners, Ray, ex-CIA maybe, and Pancake a very large, very physical computer gear head.

The stalking gets out of hand and the four PIs are pushed to their limits.
Jake is, again, given the opportunity to use his pitching skills in a surprising manner.

I enjoyed the book.

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

The Maze by Nelson DeMille

John Corey is back for another adventure.  This time his shortcomings are used by his friends to maneuver him into infiltrating a PI firm that his friends feel is bogus.

I’ve not read any Corey stories lately.   I recall them more fondly than this book.   John Corey in this book has a boundless ego and little self-control.  Snark usually amuses me but it was carried to extremes in this characterization.  It was almost like DeMille was trying to write a eminently dislikeable character.

I enjoyed the book anyway but this would not rank in my top five DeMille books. 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

The Phantom Glare of Day by M. Lazzlo

This book was not my cup of tea.   I couldn’t get into it, I tried.   It is three novellas and not one of them captured my attention.   I’m not sure how to characterize the stories, romance, psychological introspection, and coming of age, for me, it was hard to say.

I suspect if you are into romantic fiction you might like this book.

I didn’t. 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

The Body In The Alley by James Dain

Keith is a bouncer.  Things go awry one night and he finds himself involved with Shawn Toomey a notorious killer.   Keith’s life goes downhill from there.

Keith’s inability to commit has a bearing on the plot.

This is a short story.  It was entertaining and I liked it. 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

The Hunt by Faye Kellerman

This book is two plots that merge near the end of the book.   I’m not familiar with the characters from any previous books so I don’t know if there is a backstory to tell but it appears there may be.   Chris Donatti runs a legal bordello.  His ex-wife comes to him for help escaping her current husband.   Peter Decker is a detective who retired from LAPD and currently working in the small town of Greenbury.  He has an unsolved murder that he wants to solve before he retires to Israel.

Chris Donatti is a high-functioning psychopath.  He is a semi-recovered addict and runs his lucrative but tiny empire with a tight fist.   Terry, his ex-wife is a medical doctor who can’t see that she is the classic abuse victim apologizing for her behavior that “forced” her abuser’s behavior.   Neither character is likable.  

Decker and Rina, his wife, are likable, affable, generous family-focused people.    Their side of the dual plots is less fraught with profaneness and depravity. 

The story comes together and solutions are found. 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

Forget Me by Lisa Sherman

Claire is a successful businesswoman whose life is turned upside down by her murder or was it.   The story revolves around a missing, presumed dead woman and her doppelganger.  

This was a good story but I am not fond of the before and after sequencing of the writing.   It worked but I don’t like that back-and-forth technique. 

It was a good mystery and I recommend it with the above caveat.

 This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

Stumpy, The Three Legged Alligator an Oral Reading

Kids seem to live on their devices. This is a reading of the book, Stumpy, The Three-Legged Alligator. The book is read by the author in the hopes that it might encourage kids to read books on their devices or perhaps to even read real paper books.  Stumpy is an inspirational tale of not letting an impairment define your life.  Please share. This is a BETA. #impairment #books #reading

The Girl Who Escaped by Mark Nolan

Although Jake and Cody figure prominently in this book, Brenda the anal-retentive FBI agent seems to be the subtle main protagonist.  A young woman and her friends are drugged partying on South Beach and kidnapped.  The kidnapping goes array and thus begins the blot.

Angie is the girl who escaped.   The trials she goes through are epic but Jake and Cody are there to help.   A  sociopathic thug and an egomaniacal pseudo-prince combine as the villains.

Lots of action although Jake and Cody are dramatically less lethal than in some of their previous stories.

I enjoyed the story and recommend it. 

UPDATE:  My wife read the book and LOVED it.   So a double review.

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

Original Sin by D.P. Lyle

Sam Cody is no longer a cop at Mercer’s Corner.  She is touring the country and ends up visiting an old friend, Dr. Lucy Wagner.   While visiting her friend, strange events start to occur.  Dr. Wagner’s patients begin exhibiting lethal behavior.   Does the snake handling minister have anything to do with the weird occurrences?

Sam is pugnacious as is expected.  Dr. Wagner is distraught over discovering some personal information.   Sam’s experiences in Mercer’s Corner provide her with a frame of reference to see the possibility that Lucy’s troubles may be of a supernatural cause. 

A pair of intellectually stunted good ole boys try to intimidate Sam to their resultant dismay.  Sam discovers a new admirer in Ty.  

A good story and an entertaining read.

 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

Deadly Setup by Lynn Slaughter

This is a YA mystery whose main character, Samantha, is accused of a crime she did not commit.   A responsible young woman, she is deep into her music that incidentally was the same music her deceased father loved.   The plot revolves around her narcissistic, romance-writer mother.

The book has abundant emotional turmoil with a boatload of teenage angst.  Noah, the lead in the high school play, West Side Story, is worshipped by Sam from afar.   Sam’s more of a loaner, less of a joiner, and very protective of her emotionally volatile mother.

Despite the nonstop drama or perhaps due to the nonstop drama, I found the book compelling.  

I recommend the book and enjoyed it.   

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

San Diego Dead by Mark Nolan

Jake Wolfe finds himself at war with a drug cartel.   As a government assassin, Jake is tasked to take down the cartel leader.  Jake, however, has the motivation to do the job well beyond his responsibility for the mission.

Jake’s sidekick and better half, Cody sniffs out trouble in all the dangers they face.   Jake’s girlfriend Sarah is emotionally torn between love and lust for Jake and the terror of his role as a government assassin.

Grinds, Jake’s LT in the Marines has his back and provides Jake with some needed common sense.  Jake is far beyond a bit of a loose cannon and needs all the stabilizing that Cody and Grinds can provide.

The book has a plot and action that is over the top.

I recommend it. 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

Journey to the Heart Stone by Catherine Raphael

This is a novel about three peoples separated from each other due to the depredations of a dictator.   The lands have a matriarchal tradition but Evil V or Vestor has displaced his niece, Cora aka Mother Minc, and initiated war with the Dute and the Carroo.  

Raphael has created three lands with different attributes.  Those differing attributes contribute to seeing the lands reunited.  The women portrayed as leaders all have strengths that may suffice to restore the land and defeat Vestor.

I enjoyed the book and recommend it. 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

Lest We Forget

Bull’s Eye by David Baldacci

This was a short crossover story with Will Robie and Oliver Stone dealing with a questionable bank robbery.  It was a treat to see the Camel Club again.

The story had the requisite tension and a bit of a mystery.  

I know I haven’t read everything Baldacci has written but I’m certainly trying to.

I recommend the story. 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned