Blow Dart: The Abduction Book Review...

Blow Dart: The Abduction
Patricia Gayle
Publisher: Dog Ear Publishing
Published: 2009
ISBN: 97816084431347
Pages: 232


In a word, brilliant! I am a fast reader when I'm interested in a book but my pace is faster when the book is extremely good. I finished this book which shall now be classified as one of my favorite books, in only a day and a half! This book is a fast paced thriller that grabs your attention from the first page never letting go until the very last word. My anticipation for the next one was heightened after reading the epilogue. Ms. Gayle leaves readers thirsty for more!

Patricia Dawson is an extremely good friend and because of that she is thrust into a position she does not deserve to be in. She is happily married and innocently offers relationship advice to two of her closest friends. As a result, she ends up fighting for her life as well as that of her best friend. Patricia is left in the woods barely alive and is rescued by a man that she eventually falls in love with.

Ms. Gayle's amazing storytelling ability allowed me to feel a range of emotions that mirrored those that Patricia felt-- fear, anxiety, sadness, anger, rage-- toward her captor. In addition, I was pulled so deeply into the story that I also felt anger towards her rescuer for allowing her to continue to forget her past. His selfishness mirrored that of the murderer/captor although he was the hero for bringing her to safety after finding her initially. I know the story would've been extremely short if the author didn't allow this to happen but his behavior angered me just the same.

Without telling the story I must say from start to finish, Ms. Gayle captured my attention providing twists and turns that left me astonished. Each time I thought I knew what was going happen the story took another turn. Each scene more vivid than the next, I felt like I was there when each person was fighting for their life or running to safety. I was clearly able to see the black van, its license plate and smell the sweat of the captor and basement. It is hard to believe that this is Ms. Gayle's first book. I look forward to reading her next book and liken her work to that of one of my favorite authors--Patricia Cornwell.

Well done and I eagerly await the next masterpiece!

Magically Delicious Cookbook Review...

Magically Delicious
Felicia Martin
Publisher: Create Space
Published: 2010
ISBN: 9781438232935
Pages: 240


This book was filled with meals that could be prepared easily on a daily basis. It wasn't a book filled with ingredients that were foreign to me. The lists that were provided included food that I was familiar with. However, the author did inform you of where to find certain ingredients in the grocery store that were less commonly used ingredients. She included a list of spices, cleaning tips, a recipe index and a glossary of terms used in the recipes and for cooking as well. This was an added touch.

I wish the author would have included a table of contents to guide the book easier. I am big on presentation. Most cookbooks are usually bright, colorful and inviting and I feel this book would be better received if the books color scheme was different. Most importantly I wish the pictures of the food were in color. The food would be more inviting when the pictures jump out at you. In black and white it is hard to appreciate the finished products. I hope if the author is planning on writing a second cookbook that there are color photos in the next one. Color explodes off the page whereas the current photos don't allow you to enjoy what the food could look like.

This book has recipes that can be used in any home and I recommend readers add it to their collection.

Foreva' Young

I wrote this song and made this on my camera. I am looking for someone to help me write the music so that I can make a demo. I am not looking to sing it but want to find the right artist to do so... Serious inquiries ONLY, please... thanks!!

A diet book like no other!!

Title: The Diet Joke
By: Lisa Pedace
Publisher: Big Shot Press
Published: 2010
ISBN: 9780982340417
Pages: 226 (excluding bibliography)

Like many Americans I have tried various weight loss regimens in an attempt to get to a desired weight. However, like many folks, I arrived back at the same place many times. I wanted to read this book not because I’m on a particular diet currently but because I recently realized that if I wanted a healthier lifestyle that I had the power to change it, and could only maintain that lifestyle for the rest of my life if my thought process changed along the way. This author has written a book suggesting that as the key to successful dieting. Basically, reprogramming results in success.

This author offers different suggestions than most diet books in that they generally focus on specific recipes and exercise regimens whereas she goes one step further and discusses reprogramming—changing your way of thinking. She ventures away from the norm of diet books and is extremely successful in her delivery. I get extremely bored when reading dieting books or magazines, however, I eagerly flipped through the pages of this book trying to comprehend reprogramming in its entirety. Although it was educational Ms. Pedace, offers up a great deal of humor and sarcasm making the book easier to digest. There are cartoons in the book and when she sums up each section, she does so in a laughing out loud kind of way. For example, “Some people don’t have enough to eat. You are not one of them,” or “Calories are not the enemy, but that doesn’t mean you can turn your back on them,” and “If your gas tank was as stretchy as your stomach you could hardly afford to drive to work.”

There are diaries and food journals, reprogramming activities, and science that bring this book full circle. There are no recipes or exercise regimens although she does mention walking exercises and the amount of calories burned. This book is full of knowledge that will help readers modify their thinking thus resulting in weight loss that they will be able to maintain. There aren’t any weight loss diet tricks anywhere in this book, but what you will find is an honest, hilarious, sarcastic look at dieting and the key to success—reprogramming. It encourages us to establish and maintain a healthy lifestyle, which is easier to do when it is explained to you in a humorous way allowing you to laugh at a serious and sometimes difficult situation.

I highly recommend this book for readers whether they are dieting or not. Reprogramming is the key to survival in every aspect of our lives… well done!!

Sotherton Abbey Book Review...

Title: Sotherton Abbey: Jane Austen Meets Sante Fe
By: Inez Ross
Publisher: Ashley House
Published: 2010
ISBN: 9780966433746
Pages: 173


Each chapter begins with a quote from Jane Austen and other prominent authors including C.S. Lewis, Lord Chesterfield and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. This book is a pocket companion small enough to fit in your back pocket but large enough to tell a great coming of age story. It’s a small book with a lot of suspense and excitement as Christina Dashwood leaves her Michigan farm home travelling to Sante Fe to take six weeks of summer classes at the Regency Seminar.

Introduced to Jane Austen in her final year of high school by her classroom teacher, Mr. Saxon, she is eager to attend this seminar. Christina has never left her home town alone and her parents are not exactly excited about the trip to New Mexico. At first, her father denies her the opportunity by telling her that they don’t have the money for her to go. However, her teacher informs the class of the trip and the scholarship that comes through a writing contest that Christina eagerly enters. The contest winner receives a free trip for the seminar which Christina ultimately wins. A real journey begins as soon as Christina boards the train for her trip. Christina arrives at the seminar but not without setbacks that occurred on her journey. Despite the challenges, she triumphed and arrived in Sante Fe while becoming friends with a young girl, Jane Fairfax, along the way.

Christina and Jane become close friends which directs the suspense and mystery of the story. Jane’s family has some secrets that are shared throughout adding to the suspense and mystery that begin to arrive in Christina's life. Christina becomes a heroine as she helps Jane solve the mystery. That is exciting for Christina as she has secretly desired to be a heroine. This book is a great, faced paced story that could be read anywhere as it is small enough to fit in your pocket or purse. The difficulty is that you will want to sneak a peek at it every chance you get because it is hard to put down. Ms. Ross is an established author and this is her eighth book which is reflected in her great storytelling ability. If you are a fan of Jane Austen or have never had an opportunity to read anything from her time, now is your chance. Good stuff!