Delightful Oasis by Denzel Weidner

Review
"Delightful Oasis," by Denzel Weidner, is a funny, romantic read that catches your interest and keeps it. The fast-paced story follows Virginia, a young woman who is deeply in love with Brad, much to the chagrin of her parents. Brad doesn't have the prestige that Virginia's father has. In fact, Virginia's father threatens to disown his daughter if the relationship continues. The conflict between the relationship and the disapproval of the parents is fascinating to see develop.

Weidner does a good job of pacing the story, developing the characters and building the tension. There's also a fair amount of humor in the book that had me laughing out loud a few times. This is a recommended read for anyone who likes humorous, romantic stories.

Satin Shorts by George Snyder

Review
George Snyder's "Satin Shorts" is a novel about a man named Eddie who can’t seem to get away from complicated relationships. For one, his wife Phillis shot him. Secondly, while he was in jail serving time for being a thief, she hooked up with his business partner, Nick.

Now that he’s back out, Nick has another plan in mind to two-time him, while trying to distract him with a prostitute. Eddie enjoys more than just the prostitute’s body however, and the two become romantically involved. Meanwhile, Eddie and Nick are involved in a bank robbery involving lots of money and multiple accomplices. Things get heated when there is a hitch in the robbery and Eddie is stuck in charge and calling the shots.

The money from the robbery causes more issues than Eddie had ever imagined, and the reader gets to find out with Eddie what’s in store for him. Betrayal, love, and lust are all themes that are found in this novel. The novel is an easy read, with believable dialogue and a fast-moving plot.

If you're an adult who is looking to read a novel about crime from a crook's perspective, then "Satin Shorts" is an excellent read.

Summary & Analysis of Paper Towns by Book*Sense

Review

"Summary & Analysis of 'Paper Towns'" by Book*Sense is an excellent read for anyone looking for a thorough yet concise look at the book. I read the book for a book club and used the guide to brush up on the details of the story the night before club's meeting.

I feel this summary and analysis book worked excellently for this. The summary & analysis is broken into easy-to-digest sections, such as Setting for the Story, Story Plot Analysis, Character List, and more. The writing is succinct, with no fluff, yet covers the important stuff. Definitely a good buy for anyone looking for a solid summary and analysis of "Paper Towns."

The Devil's Fox by George Pollino

Review
George Pollino's "The Devil's Fox" is a novel that beautifully blends romance, mythology, and suspense into a riveting story. I was intrigued from the start, with Akane, a fox demon, waking up in a public restroom. I could see Pollino's knack for descriptive, affective writing, particularly narration.

Additionally, I was impressed with the imaginative nature of the story. This is not your run-of-the-mill suspense/thriller. For instance, the main characters are a fox demon, a scientist, and a blind priest. When Thomas, the priest, summons Akane, the fox demon, she finds herself embedded in a life or death battle that seems impossible to win. Pollino does an excellent job weaving a story with many threads that is unpredictable and gripping. Although I think all the characters are well-written, the soulless Akane is my favorite, with her complex desires and unique relation to the other characters. The novel's chapters switch between different time periods and settings (Japan, Italy, etc) giving the reader insight into the story from multiple angles. I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mythology (particularly Asian mythology) and suspense. 

Starstruck by Simone Heart

Review
"Starstruck," by Simone Heart, is a fast-paced romance that follows the incredible trajectory of a young, humble Montana woman's love life. The main character is Adeline Conner, a pretty yet unassuming woman who has always been the Good Girl. She ends up married to Andrew, an abusive drunk.

As bleak as things seem, she escapes and finds herself in an electric romance with a Hollywood movie star. Heart does an excellent job of pacing the plot in a way that really keeps you guessing. I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a fast-paced romances with lots of twists and turns.

Don't Cry, Pappa by Gunnar E. Skollingsberg, PhD

Review

"Don't Cry, Pappa: Surviving Persistent Depression and Heartbreaking Tragedies to Find a New Mission in Life" by Gunnar E. Skollingsberg, PhD, is a touching memoir about the author's life, particularly the family-based challenges and tragedies he experienced, and a portrait of survival and hope through pain and grief.

Skollingsberg walks the reader through the main events and inflection points of his life, from his early childhood memories of "feeling demeaned, worthless, and unwanted" as an isolated and abused immigrant son from Norway, to experiencing the death of two of his children, and the pains of divorce. Though these events caused the author to feel self-loathing, grief, and depression, the author shows that it is possible to press forward amidst the most heart-wrenching life experiences. Skollingsberg loves his remaining children and makes it his professional and personal mission to help other children who feel lonely and worthless as he once did. 

"Don't Cry, Pappa" is an incredibly well-written memoir with thoughtful reflections and overall positive messages of survival through very tough times, and specifically, the persistence of hope after the loss of a child. The author is inspiring in that he is able to repurpose his life to do good for other children after the personal losses he suffered.

"Dont' Cry, Pappa" is a must-read memoir for individuals looking for a role model who can lead by example after experiencing personal tragedies and difficulty life circumstances.

 

The Opal Dragon by James A. Calderwood

Review
"The Opal Dragon," by James A Calderwood,  is a thriller about a young man with a rough upbringing who turns to crime and finds himself in a cat-and-mouse chase with the police.

The protagonist is Ali, the son of a local prostitute. After robbing an old merchant, Ali flees to the mountains to his Aunt Sasha. What ensues is a chain of events filled with suspense, intrigue, and action. There is a subplot involving seekers of the black opal, which adds another layer to the story. Although this is a thriller filled with action and adventure, characterization is a strong element of the story. You really start to understand Ali the further you get into the plot, which makes the story all that more engaging. If you're a fan of thrillers with strong characters, I'd recommend this book to you. 

Lucas Locke and the Vile Shadow Beasts by Cate Mara

Review
Cate Mara's "Lucas Locke and the Vile Shadow Beasts," book 1 in a YA fantasy series, is a magical adventure story about a boy who begrudgingly becomes a hero in a fantastical land.

The main character, Lucas Locke, lives a relatively normal life ... until he is whisked away to a place filled with spells and enchantment. He finds himself in a strange realm called the Garden of Eternal Sorrow where people, hungry for a savior, entrust him to save them. Aided by a small man named Stodge and a warrior named Amira, Lucas does his best to complete the tasks set before him, bringing the reader along for an adventure filled with action and fantasy that inspires the imagination. My favorite character is Amira, a strong female character who fights for what she knows is right. This book would be ideal for ages 12 - 17, although ages outside the range could surely enjoy it. Recommended for anyone who likes adventure stories!

Chaos Tactics by Trent Falls

Review
Book 1 in the Reckless Chronicles series "Chaos Tactics" (by Trent Falls) is a sci-fi adventure story that follows one man's race to save Earth.

The protagonist, John Carn, is a retired sergeant in the Earth Expeditionary Force Marine Corps, who is begrudgingly pulled into a mission to save Earth. There are a lot of sci-fi elements in the book, from spaceships to futuristic weaponry, but the sci-fi elements are not overbearing or heavy in long-winded lore. There's a lot of action and adventure in the story from gun battles to high speed space travel.

If you're a fan of approachable sci-fi with lots of action, you'll enjoy "Chaos Tactics."

Wake Up! Awakening Through Reflection: A 10-Day Life Lessons Workshop by Suzanne Ross

Review
Suzanne Ross's "Wake Up! Awakening Through Reflection" is an inspiring book about finding meaning and purpose. The book, organized as a 10-day workshop, guides the reader on a journey toward finding their true calling.

The book is written in a way that is inspiring and empowering while also being practical and easy to understand. It's clear that Ross is an expert on the topic.

This is a comprehensive book, even though the workshop is organized in a 10-day time period, that covers everything from reflection to healing to moving forward. If you're looking to approach life with purpose and make changes, you'll enjoy this read.

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