Category: Reviews

A Jarring Misstep in Craft ~~Life Unwritten by T.I. Lowe ~~ Book Review

1 star out of 5          

As a published author, I hold a firm line: fiction should serve the story, not the writer’s personal agenda. In this book, T.I. Lowe—writing in first person—abruptly breaks character to deliver unsolicited religious commentary. It’s not subtle, it’s not earned, and it’s not appropriate.

This kind of narrative hijacking is the literary equivalent of shoehorning in a political rant mid-scene—whether it’s “Trump should be king” or “Trump is a whiny, narcissistic man-child.” Regardless of the viewpoint, it’s a breach of craft and reader trust.

I’ve appreciated some of Lowe’s previous work, but this one felt like a sermon disguised as a story. The Mormon/Baptist insertions weren’t just distracting—they were disruptive. If you want to preach, write nonfiction. If you want to tell a story, stay in character and respect your audience.
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The Deep South Trilogy

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Strong Women Battling Life’s Challenges

A Teachable Moment. Book Review of Just for the Summer

I try to keep my book reviews focused on the positive. I  choose not to tear down another writer.  However, my critique of Just for the Summer by Melody Carlson serves as a teachable moment for other writers, highlighting the perils of writing a story with two protagonists.  
First, the review:
3 out of 5 stars

The plot was charming and had great potential, but…
Ginny was a fine protagonist. This reader quickly felt empathy for this woman. Jacqueline…not so much! 
The chapters bounced back and forth between the two women as they had agreed to ‘trade places’, that is, ‘job swap’ for the summer.   
Sounds interesting….right?  

Unfortunately, I found the second heroine of our story very much a caricature of a shallow villainess.  Jacqueline, her boss Diana, and her boy friend, were all clichés. Overblown characters with no redeeming traits. 
And at the end I found the ‘wrapping up’ of Jacqueline’s story too ‘pat’. 
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Maybe the problem was that the book was top-heavy with Ginny’s life and struggles.  Maybe the problem was the author didn’t give enough ink and paper to Jacqueline.  Hard to say. 

But, if you plan on writing a story with two protagonists and one turns out to be an antagonist….be careful of these pitfalls when mapping out your plot. 
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A Teachable Moment. Book Review ~ Just for the Summer

I try to keep my book reviews focused on the positive. I  choose not to tear down another writer.  However, my critique of Just for the Summer by Melody Carlson serves as a teachable moment for other writers, highlighting the perils of writing a story with two protagonists.  
First, the review:
3 out of 5 stars

The plot was charming and had great potential, but…
Ginny was a fine protagonist. This reader quickly felt empathy for this woman. Jacqueline…not so much! 
The chapters bounced back and forth between the two women as they had agreed to ‘trade places’, that is, ‘job swap’ for the summer.   
Sounds interesting….right?  

Unfortunately, I found the second heroine of our story very much a caricature of a shallow villainess.  Jacqueline, her boss Diana, and her boy friend, were all clichés. Overblown characters with no redeeming traits. 
And at the end I found the ‘wrapping up’ of Jacqueline’s story too ‘pat’. 
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Maybe the problem was that the book was top-heavy with Ginny’s life and struggles.  Maybe the problem was the author didn’t give enough ink and paper to Jacqueline.  Hard to say. 

But, if you plan on writing a story with two protagonists and one turns out to be an antagonist….be careful of these pitfalls when mapping out your plot. 
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Book Review~Hot Property by Mike Lupica – A Masterclass in Fiction Writing

5 out of 5 stars  

THE  GANG’S ALL HERE!

Mike Lupica’s writing captures the late Robert B. Parker’s voice like no other. This latest tale of Spenser’s exploits brings the old and new gang back together. Rita, Susan, Hawk, Henry, Spenser (of course!),  Quirk, Vinnie…the list goes on and on.  

This is a really good story and have I mentioned? I love it when the old gang returns. Such rich, full bodied characters that only Parker aka Mike Lupica can create and maintain. 

I highly recommend it!  

Curious to hear from the author himself? Read my exclusive interview with Mike Lupica

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Book Review ~~ Rolling Toward Clear Skies

5 out of 5 stars  Book Review

Catherine Ryan Hyde plucks her ideas for a story…where?…we can only guess.  My best guess about Rolling Toward Clear Skies is that it’s based around the horrific wildfires yearly in California.  And the author’s Doctors on Wheels loosely resembled the 58+ medical and mental health professionals that delivered direct health services to residents by the International Medical Corps.
Throw in a couple of lost kids and you’ve got another one of Catherine’s GREAT stories. 

The writing is suburb and consistently in Catherine Ryan Hyde’s unique voice. An author, myself, I’m envious of her flawless writing. 

Many years ago I stopped saying “this one is my favorite….” because every book this prolific writer puts out is my favorite… until the next one!   I highly recommend this book to my followers. 

Did you miss my interview with this author? 
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Review ~~ The Forgiving Kind by Donna Everhart

            5 out of 5 stars   ~~   Book Review

From the first page, the reader is captivated by the sultry afternoon in the deep South, the cotton fields, the red earth, and the narrative from one small girl.  
Be prepared to be unable to put this magnificent story down.  Sonny Creech and her family draw you in; sweating as they hoe the fields, worrying about where the next dollar is coming from, putting up with two crass brothers’ antics, and a sudden tragedy that rocks their family.  

The characters are so beautifully drawn by this author; the reader feels they have known them their whole lives.  Mr. Fowler was a superb villain.  I loved to hate him and I was rooting for his downfall, which by the way, wasn’t assured at all.  

I highly recommend this book to my readers. 

Did you miss my interview with Donna Everhart?
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Book Review ~~ The Summer Swap

   5 out of 5 stars    ~~  Book Review

Just Released!

Sarah Morgan has really delivered this time! The characters are so fun and richly drawn.  I had special empathy for the 75-year-old, Cecilia. A feisty matriarch, she gets a few surprises when she returns to Dune Cottage after avoiding the place for decades.

The writer’s imagery is powerful. You can smell the salty air from the ocean, hear the seagulls scolding. 

Overall, it’s a great summer read and I highly recommend it to my readers. 

Did you miss my interview with Sarah? 
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Book Review ~~ Thirty Days in Paris by Veronica Henry

5 out of 5 stars     Book Review

Good writers have the most wonderful ideas for a book. Great writers have the persistence, courage, knowledge, and passion to get the story written down,  weaving those ideas into the very fabric of existence. 

Veronica Henry is a great writer of contemporary stories with wonderful empathic, interesting characters.  And Thirty Days in Paris is no exception.

Juliet has just suffered from empty nest syndrome big time, and her husband is in some mid-life crisis that she can’t understand. They finally agree that they have grown apart and their marriage has reached its ‘sell by’ date. 

Juliet happens upon an advert:  “ TO LET. Charming ‘chambre de bonne’ in the 2eme. Situated a stone’s throw from the glamorous Rue Saint-Honore with its chic boutiques….” 
Paris, the city of love, has always lingered in Juliet’s heart. Now, fueled by whimsy and courage, she answers the ad. The tiny apartment becomes her cocoon, her canvas for reinvention.

The plot is delicious! Juliet’s courage to move from a suburban-Mom’s life to a soon-to-be single middle aged woman on her own is tantilizing. The writing flows like wine. The surprises? Oh, they sizzle like crepes in a skillet—each flip revealing a layer of vulnerability, resilience, and newfound purpose. Veronica Henry’s prose dances, and we, the readers, waltz along.

I highly recommend this book to my readers. 
Did you miss my interview with Veronica Henry? 
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Eat And Get Gas ~ Book Review

                              4 out of 5 stars  ~~  Book Review

A story of the tangled threads of a family.  Complex in its strife but always with familial love.  Like any other family, the threads are co-dependency, love outside of wedlock, unrequited love, addiction, illegitimate kids, and secrets.  Do you know a family without secrets?  I don’t. 

The only real villain in this story is the Vietnam War.  When young men or old boys (depending upon how you look at that war) were sent to their deaths or returned, alive but damaged beyond repair.  PTSD wasn’t a thing yet and was pretty much left untreated.   

Despite the sometimes heavy subjects, J.A. Wright’s writing is superb.  Easy-going, light, a delight to read.  I highly recommend this book to my readers. 
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Book Review ~ The Physics of Relationships

 

2 out of 5 stars  ~~  Book Review

Even though this narration was supposed to be from the Mom, the author’s masculine voice frequently leaked through.    I can’t quite put my finger on the whys or hows but there is a definite masculinity to her/his ‘dry’, analytical tone. And  I never discovered her name.  

The narrator is the Mom figure in the story. Unfortunately, she is just that. A talking head. Her deeper feelings aren’t explored. The narrator talks at the reader with conclusions rather than a true exploration.  Is Chas guilty of ‘man-splaining’?  

Early on the family unit fell into being a clique.  Two husbands, one divorce, 1 male child, 1 female child, 1 best friend. 

Speaking of the BFF. Amy  moves in with Mom for awhile. She also is having troubles in her marriage.   They end up sharing the same bedroom and bed and eventually Amy makes tentative sexual ovatures to her good friend.  (This is an 8  on the ‘ick’ scale.) First of all, middle-aged BFFs would not share a bed. Except at a hotel, on holiday, and there was only one room/1 bed available and they were desperate for lodging.  (Guilty!)
Why do most men think that if two women are very close friends, they must have lesbian tendencies just under the surface of the friendship? 

This might have been a better book if the author had written in his own voice (as narrator) and told the story from the three men’s point of view. Greg, Lawrence, and Phil.
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