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Showing posts from May, 2014

Broken Ties (Prequel to The Mentalists Series) Book Review

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I really liked this prequel to The Menalists series by Kenechi Udogu. The author has a way of drawing on the reader's emotions that really brings you into the story. My only compliant is that this is a teaser. It was much, MUCH too short. It leaves a cliffhanger that does make you want to read the rest of the series if you haven't done so already. Great writing. I'm looking forward to The Keepers, the third installment in The Mentalists series. Rating 5/5

Dead(ish) Book Review

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Dead(ish) is a short work by Naomi Kramer about a ghost named Linda who’s lost her body. As the story progresses from her boyfriend’s point of view to the viewpoint of the private detective (who dead Linda hires), we find out that it’s not a simple case. The language is rough and the plot shocking. But it has a great twisted sense of humor to carry you through. I’m rating this R for Restricted. If you’re not easily offended, check it out. It also offers a preview of the next book in the Deadish series: “(technically) Dead.” Linda is back and it’s too funny. Rating 3/5

Saving Raine

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Title: Saving Raine Author: Frederick Lee Brooke Series: The Drone Wars, Book 1 About the Author: (Amazon) Frederick Lee Brooke launched the Annie Ogden Mystery Series in 2011 with Doing Max Vinyl and following with Zombie Candy in 2012, a book that is neither about zombies nor sweets. The third mystery in the series, Collateral Damage, appeared in 2013. The first book in Fred's entirely new series is due in November 2013. A resident of Switzerland for the last 20 years, Fred has worked as a teacher, language school manager and school owner. He has three boys and two cats and recently had to learn how to operate both washing machine and dryer. When not writing or doing the washing, Fred can be found walking along the banks of the Rhine River, sitting in a local cafe, or visiting all the local pubs in search of his lost umbrella. Summary: (Amazon) "Matt, Raine went to California because her parents thought it was safe. It’s not. You’ve got to get her out as soon as possib

The Real Thing - Play Review

On Thursday April 17, 2014, I got the chance to experience Tom Stoppard’s play The Real Thing . Directed by Patrick Cribben, Chesapeake College’s Division of Arts & Sciences presented this production. This play is designed to portray what love is truly like, rather than the fairy-tale Disney stories most people believe it to be. Through the writing of Henry and the whorishness of Annie and Charlotte, it is discovered that love is not as magical and wonderful as often witnessed in movies. Although the play failed miserably at entertaining the young girl I am, for a more mature, relatable audience it certainly would achieve its purpose in bringing forth the truth about love while entertaining the audience in a couple unromantic comedic acts.             Henry writes plays. He is married to Charlotte and together they have a daughter named Debbie. Annie is married to Max. Charlotte and Max are both actors in Henry’s plays; it is believed that Charlotte and Max are having an affair.

Kit Brennan Interview!

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1.  What's the main message you want readers to get from Whip Smart? I’d like readers to be amused and excited by the adventures that Lola gets herself into, and then—because she’s a flawed heroine, full of contradictions and temper and headstrong desires—caught up in the sometimes dangerous but often brave ways she tries to free herself, or save the day, or learn from her mistakes. As Helen Keller wrote, “Life is a daring adventure, or nothing.” 2. What inspired you to write Whip Smart? I’m a mad fan of George MacDonald Fraser’s Flashman series, reading and rereading them throughout my teenage years and on. I love the way he made Victorian history come alive: I could learn so much about it, the events and the personalities, and also laugh and shake my head at the antics on the battlefield and in the bedroom. Brilliant comedy! A fictional nineteenth century character jammed into real events taking place all over the world, present (somehow) at every battle and piece of sk

Deadly Patient-Care Errors Excerpt

Thriller Explores Biggest Medical Nightmare: Deadly Patient-Care Errors "A thriller that only a doctor could have written. Wyler's sense of the worlds of the hospital and operating room are unsurpassed. You'll feel as if you are right there." --Michael Palmer,  New York Times  bestselling author of  Miracle Cure  and  The Sisterhood “ Deadly Errors  is a wild and satisfying ride! This is an ‘up all night’ pass into troubled places that only hard-working doctors know about, a turbulent world of trusting patients and imperfect humans struggling with the required image of perfection.” --John J. Nance, author of  Pandora’s Clock  and  Fire Flight A comatose man is given a fatal dose of insulin in the emergency room, even though he isn't diabetic.  An ulcer patient dies of shock after receiving a transfusion of the wrong blood type.  A recovering heart patient receives a double dose of medication and suffers a fatal heart attack. Brain surgeon

Frozen Movie Review

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Frozen (The Disney Movie) *Possible Spoiler Alert* I took my children to see Frozen at the theater. Like all Disney movies, it was a great experience for them. I, on the other hand, was disappointed. I left the movie with too many questions. Maybe I thought too hard about it, after all it's a kids' movie, right? I am a great Disney fan but when I started to write this review, I had in mind all the things I didn't like about Frozen. I decided that would be too many. So I'll write what I did like instead. Disney continues to put together visually pleasing animation, whether it's digital or traditional. It's colorful and fanciful. My favorite characters are Olaf and Sven, the snowman and reindeer. The songs were nice. Of course the favorite is Let It Go sung by Elsa. The actress Idina Menzel in the movie sang her heart out in that song. However, the songs had a Broadway feel to it. Instead of dialog, they sang...a lot. A kid in th