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Catalyst, Book One in the Me & You Too series
Author: Bob HarveyISBN: 1-933538-38-4The following review was contributed by Mary Simmons: Click Here To Read Mary's ReviewsAfter a fire barrels through a townhouse complex, six strangers and their pets are brought together with a common mission to stop a corrupt businessman from levelling what's left of their homes and destroying the local ecosystem.The fire turns everything upside down for Justin Eagleton, the protagonist in Bob Harvey's 'Catalyst,' who ponders "the seeming randomness...
(No rating) 7-28-2006 Views: 4270

I Promise You: Preparing for a marriage that last a lifetime
Author: Dr. Willard F. Harley, Jr. ISBN: 0-8007-1893-3While it is generally known that divorce rates in North America are staggeringlyhigh, couples continue to make plans for lifelong commitments, sometimes headingblindly into an emotional minefield. But you don't have to head into the unknownwithout some tools to help you cope. By identifying key factors that lead to thebreakdown of a marriage and eliminating them from your relationship, you cangrow old with the partner you love.'I Promise...
(No rating) 11-14-2006 Views: 4723

Angels, Twice Descending
Author: Justin SmithPublished by Silver Leaf BooksThe following review of the ARC copy was contributed by: Mary Simmons: Click Here To Read Mary's Reviews Revisiting the chaotic world of Constance Fairchild, Justin Smith opens his latest novel, 'Angels, Twice Descending,' with a dream sequence that foreshadows events to come, immediately pulling the reader into the adventures of the protagonist while using lyrical language full of symbolic imagery.Set in the not-too-distant future, the...
(No rating) 4-20-2006 Views: 3605

In Search of a Brilliant White Cloud
Author: Simon van der HeymPublished by Ivy House Publishing GroupISBN 1-57197-420-2The following review was contributed by Mary Simmons: Click Here to view Mary's other reviews.Simon van der Heym chronicles one man's life journey in his debut novel, 'In Search of a Brilliant White Cloud.'Van der Heym draws on his own life experiences as a child fleeing the Nazi invasion of Holland, a businessman, a husband and a father and a cancer survivor.His protagonist, Eric, goes through all of these...
(No rating) 5-15-2005 Views: 5356

The Mills of God
Author: Justin SmithPublished by Silver Leaf BooksTo be published in 2006The following review was contributed by: Mary Simmons: To read more of Mary's Reviews CLICK HERECombining corporate espionage, intrigue and murder with poetry, art and the enduring strength of the human soul, 'The Mills of God' is a pleasure to read.Justin Smith's suspenseful tale is woven around the theme of reincarnation and the nature of corruption. Clever, witty and at times shocking, the novel is set in the...
(No rating) 6-12-2005 Views: 8569

Echelon: Somebody's Listening
Author: Jack O'NeillISBN: 1-59571-071-XThe following review was contributed by: Mary Simmons: Writer, Journalist and budding Author: Click Here To Read Mary's Reviews If you've ever asked yourself how far the government can go to listen in on your phone calls and e-mails and if you are a fan of novels that keep you in suspense and are full of intrigue, crime and passion, you will want to add 'Echelon: Somebody's Listening' by Jack O'Neill to your library of literary thrillers.O'Neill draws...
(No rating) 3-30-2006 Views: 5255

Snapshots of Heaven
Author: Michael WellsPublishers: Cameo PublicationsISBN: 0-9737965-0-2The following review was contributed by: Mary Simmons: Click Here To Read More of Mary's ReviewsThere are moments in life we take for granted, but if we examine them closer, we will find they were moments of absolute truth when the greatest life lessons were learned.In 'Snapshots of Heaven: 40 Funny, Profound, Real-Life Stories About Children,' author Michael Wells says these moments come from our children, who are angels...
(No rating) 11-29-2005 Views: 8775

Shelby and the Shifting Rings
Author: A.M VeillonPublishers: Parity PressISBN 0-9762015-4-2The following review was contributed by: Mary Simmons: To read more of Mary’s Reviews CLICK HERE'Shelby and the Shifting Rings' is the first instalment in A.M. Veillon's Defender of Time series for young adults.It tells the story of 12-year-old Shelby Shodworth, an orphan who lives with her uncle, Leviticus Pottsworth, until she is shipped off to Ms. Peabonnet's Academy for Girls, a stipulation of her mother's will. At the academy,...
(No rating) 6-24-2005 Views: 2503

Laguna
Author: Michael PutegnatPublisher: Synergy BooksISBN: 1-933538-21-XThe following review was contributed by: Mary Simmons: Click Here To Read Mary's Reviews The opening paragraph of Michael Putegnat's 'Laguna' portrays an egret hunting for minnows before being torn apart by a Peregrine falcon. A character who observes this transference of power considers the nature of justice, concluding that it only takes one moment for the predator to become the prey.This sequence sets the tone for the rest...
(No rating) 6-6-2006 Views: 1902

The Traitor's Wife: A Novel of the Reign of Edward II
Author: Susan HigginbothamPublished by iUniverseISBN: 0-595-35959-0The following review was contributed by Mary Simmons: Click Here To Read Mary's ReviewsIn 'The Traitor's Wife: A Novel of the Reign of Edward II' author SusanHigginbotham follows the life of Eleanor de Clare from the time she marriesHugh le Despenser in 1306 to her death in 1337. The years in between are full ofchallenges, which the title character rises to admirably. She is portrayed as aloyal, passionate woman who loves her...
(No rating) 8-30-2006 Views: 8183

Summer Snow
Author: William T. HathawayISBN: 0-9738442-3-XThe following review was contributed by: Mary Simmons: Writer, Journalist and budding Author: Click Here To Read Mary's Reviews Combining a story of the military with Sufi mysticism, William T. Hathaway manages to conquer the two topics in a cohesive work of fiction in his novel 'Summer Snow.'A Vietnam veteran, Jeff Madsen, finds himself in the midst of the war on terrorism in Kyrgyzstan, where he meets a Sufi mystic, Cholpon, who is trying to...
(No rating) 3-30-2006 Views: 7281

A Dark Oval Stone
Author: Marsena KonkleISBN: 1-55725-427-3The following review was contributed by: Mary Simmons: Click Here To Read Mary's ReviewsTo read Mary's Interview With Author Marsena Konkle CLICK HERE Exploring loss and grief and their effects on a person's hope and faith, Marsena Konkle's debut novel, 'A Dark Oval Stone' is a haunting read that will captivate you from the first sentence to the last.Its protagonist, Miriam Kovatch, has experienced more loss than one person can be expected to endure....
(No rating) 4-1-2006 Views: 5391

Soulmate or Cell Mate: A Guide to Healthy Relationships
Author: Jackie WoodsISBN: 1-933690-00-3The following review was contributed by: Mary Simmons: Click Here To Read Mary's Reviews Have you ever wondered if there is actually one perfect person out there who will complete you and enrich your life in the way that can only be achieved by a soulmate?If so, author Jackie Woods says you are perpetuating a deeply flawed concept that is prevalent in our society. In her latest book, 'Soulmate or Cell Mate: A Guide to Healthy Relationships,' she offers...
(No rating) 4-18-2006 Views: 3791

Jason and Medea: A Whirlwind of Ruin
Author: Matthew L. HunterPublished by iUniverseISBN: 0-595-34321-XThe following review was contributed by: *Mary Simmons: Click Here To Read More Of Mary's ReviewsTackling some of today's most pressing issues through an ancient story, 'Jason and Medea: A Whirlwind of Ruin' tells a tale of love, adventure and violence against a backdrop of philosophy and mythology.Author Matthew L. Hunter prefaces his novel by acknowledging that many readers will already be familiar with his title characters...
(No rating) 1-3-2006 Views: 3255

Prisoners of War
Author: Katie ThibodeauPublishers: American Book PublishingISBN: 1-85982-237-4The following review was contributed by Mary Simmons. To read more of Mary’s Reviews CLICK HEREIt can be a painful experience to enter the mind of a young woman who is slowly destroying herself under the guise of wanting to be thin.In Katie Thibodeau's 'Prisoners of War,' the experience is also a beautiful one.Exploring the parallels of her protagonist's war with bulimia and the tragic occurrences faced by the...
(No rating) 7-19-2005 Views: 2303

The Book of Light: The Nature of God, the Structure of Consciousness and the Universe Within You, Volume 1
Author: Dr. Michael SharpISBN: 0-9738555-2-5The following review was contributed by: Mary Simmons: Click Here To Read Mary's ReviewsUsing poetic, flowing language, Michael Sharp spins a tale of creation that is both familiar and new in the first volume of his fourth book, 'The Book of Light.'Having been raised as a Christian and not having explored the metaphysical concepts set forth in either this book or any of Sharp's previous publications, I approached this book with some mixed feelings....
(No rating) 3-30-2006 Views: 8207

Raging Silence
Author: Amanda StoneISBN: 0-9764981-1-1The following review was contributed by: Mary Simmons: Click Here To Read Mary's Reviews In a time when it is reported that half of all marriages end in divorce and every two-and-a-half minutes someone is sexually assaulted in America, a novel that explores how both of these issues can tear a family apart is sadly one which many will relate to on a personal level.Amanda Stone takes on these turbulent topics in her semi-autobiographical novel, 'Raging...
(No rating) 4-1-2006 Views: 3960

Daffodil Dancing
Author: Jean Jardine MillerPublished by Jardine Miller PublishingISBN: 097313764-9The following review was contributed by: Mary Simmons: Click Here To Read Mary's Reviews In 'Daffodil Dancing,' Jean Jardine Miller delves into the world of someone living with social phobia, exploring not only how it affects the afflicted person, but also her friends and family.Beginning in 1987 and taking us into the present, the author follows the progression of not only the disease suffered by the character...
(No rating) 4-20-2006 Views: 8056

St. Mary Magdalene: The Gnostic Tradition of the Holy Bride
Author: Tau MalachiISBN: 0-7387-0783-XThe following review was contributed by: Mary Simmons: Click Here To Read Mary's ReviewsMuch attention has been focused on Mary Magdalene in recent years, but what do we really know and understand about the woman who has been labelled a whore?In his latest book, 'St Mary Magdalene: The Gnostic Tradition of the Holy Bride,' Tau Malachi reveals her as the soul mate of Jesus. She is his closest disciple, wife and consort, co-equal and co-enlightened with...
(No rating) 5-16-2006 Views: 7052

The Looming Fog
Author: Rosemary EsehaguPublisher: Oge Creation BooksISBN: 1-933496-00-2Who we are is often directly linked to our gender, so how different would we be if that were stripped away from us and we were treated as less than human because we were neither male nor female?In ‘The Looming Fog’ by Rosemary Esehagu, the narrator is an intersexual who was abandoned at the age of seven and left to fend for itself in the rural Nigerian village of Hidaya where no one will even acknowledge its...
(No rating) 3-27-2007 Views: 3345

Angels in the Wilderness
Author: Amy RacinaPublished by Elite BooksISBN: 0-9710888-9-6The following review was contributed by: Mary Simmons: Click Here To Read Mary's ReviewsSome stories are almost too incredible to believe. They read like fiction even though they are fact and inspire all who read them to look beyond themselves and find faith in a higher power.Such is the story of Amy Racina, who has published her memoir, 'Angels in the Wilderness,' an account of her sixty-foot fall in the Sierra Nevada mountains and...
(No rating) 7-18-2006 Views: 3542

Violent Night
Author: Byron JusticeISBN: 978-0-9701793-4-0The following review was contributed by: Mary Simmons: Click Here To Read Mary's Reviews: To read Mary's Interview With the Author CLICK HERE"Let both of them grow togetheruntil the Harvest;and at Harvest time I will tell the reapers:Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundlesto be burned,Then gather the wheat into my barn."Drawing from these words attributed to Jesus Christ in the Gospel of Matthew, author Byron Justice relates his...
(No rating) 3-30-2006 Views: 7536

The Masada Scroll
You Can Purchase This Book From Amazon Authors: Paul Block and Robert VaughanISBN: 978-0-765-31338-6Joining the ranks of the growing list of religious thrillers, ‘The Masada Scroll’ is a fictional account of the archaeological discovery of a gospel that predates those included in the Bible’s New Testament and the adventures that ensue for the people involved. S
(No rating) 7-12-2007 Views: 4316

Launch Out Into the Deep!
Author: Acacia L. SlatonPublisher: Xulon PressISBN: 1-5978-704-X“God has a blessing for you…but you must take a leap of faith and be willing to Launch Out into the Deep!” These are the powerful words of Acacia L. Slaton in her spiritual guide, ‘Launch Out Into the Deep!’ In it, the author challenges her readers to live their faith openly and deeply, committing their lives to their Saviour and letting him work his miracles in their lives.She addresses the struggles we all face and gives...
(No rating) 3-8-2007 Views: 6518

The Blood of Flowers
Author: Anita AmirrezvaniPublisher: Little, Brown and CompanyISBN: 0-316-06576-5In the blink of an eye, everything can change. One tragic event can send lives spiralling down a staircase full of unknowns. In her debut novel, Anita Amirrezvani explores this theory through the eyes of a young Iranian woman living in the 17th century. At the age of 14, the unnamed narrator is looking forward to a new chapter in her life. She is expecting to be married before the year is out and her only troubles...
(No rating) 7-25-2007 Views: 5635

Belong to Me
Click Here To Purchase Belong To Me Author: Marisa de los SantosISBN: 978-0-06-124027-0Published by Harper Collins In ‘Belong to Me” author Marisa de los Santos touches on the universality of humanity. Although we are all different, we share the same basic yearnings, an innate desire for
(No rating) 5-1-2008 Views: 2684

Interview With Byron Justice Author of Violent Night
Author: Byron JusticeISBN: 978-0-9701793-4-0The following interview was contributed by: Mary Simmons: Click Here To Read Mary's Reviews: To read Mary's review of the book CLICK HEREMary: What sparked your interest in the Apocalypse and what made you decide to write a book on the subject?Byron: The Left Behind series rekindled my interest in the Apocalypse, but it was only about those left behind, and I didn't relate well to the characters. I saw the movie Armageddon that wasn't even about...
(No rating) 3-30-2006 Views: 6700

Brothers Forever: An Orphan Story
Click Here To Purchase From Amazon Brothers Forever: An Orphan Story Author: Craig Mayeux ISBN: 978-0-595-44219-5Publishers: iUniverse, Inc.From the well-known examples of Oliver Twist, Anne of Green Gables and Harry Potter to more obscure literary figures, orphaned characters are among the most well-beloved in our rich fictional heritage. There’s something about an orphan story that touches our hearts while exploring one of our deepest fears.In his debut novel, ‘Brothers Forever: An Orphan...
(No rating) 11-22-2007 Views: 3759

Immortal
Click Here To Purchase From Amazon ImmortalAuthor: Traci L. SlattonISBN: 978-0-385-33974-2Published by Delta Trade Paperbacks Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live to be 180 years old? If given the chance to experience such longevity, would your ambitions, goals and pursuits change or would your priorities remain the same? Does a long life necessarily mean it will be richer, happier and more fulfilling?These questions and more are addressed in the historical novel, ‘Immortal,’...
(No rating) 3-6-2008 Views: 2945

The Family History
Click Here To Purchase The Family History Author: Jean Jardine MillerPublishers: JM PublishingISBN: 9780973137651 In The Family History, a multigenerational saga of one family’s heritage, author Jean Jardine Miller explores how grief affects two women who become widowed mothers at
(No rating) 7-9-2008 Views: 7021

Interview With Marsena Konkle Author of A Dark Oval Stone
Author: Marsena KonkleISBN: 1-55725-427-3The following interview was contributed by: Mary Simmons: Click Here To Read Mary's ReviewsTo read Mary's Review of A Dark Oval Stone CLICK HEREMary: In 'A Dark Oval Stone' your main character, Miriam, experiences a lot of loss in her life. What inspired you to tackle this subject matter in yournovel?Marsena: When I first began this novel, I really had no idea what it was going to be about. In fact, I wrote and rewrote the first chapter for about a...
(No rating) 4-1-2006 Views: 6291

A Book of Simple Prayers
Click Here To Purchase A Book Of Simple Prayers Author: Gloria GaitherPublishers: Regal from Gospel LightISBN: 978-0-8307-4686-6In the tradition of the psalmists, Gloria Gaither pours out her soul to the Lord in her latest publication, “A Book of Simple Prayers.” It is a book the author admits she never intended to write. “I never started out to write prayers,” she states in the Author’s Note. “But there was a span of time when prayers came out whe
(No rating) 8-19-2008 Views: 3957

Fight Fatigue: Six Simple Steps to Maximize Your Energy
Click Here To Purchase From Amazon Fight Fatigue: Six Simple Steps to Maximize Your EnergyAuthor: Dr. Mary Ann BaumanISBN: 1-5988618-7-5Whether it is work, family life or social time, there never seem to be enough hours in the day to satisfy everyone and also meet our personal needs. We are constantly being pulled in several directions at once, expending our energy until there seems to be nothing left over for ourselves.If you identify with this, you should pick up a copy of Dr. Mary Ann...
(No rating) 3-30-2006 Views: 5943

A Dedication
AuthorL John ZaissPublisher: Synergy BooksISBN 0-9755922-3-8The following review was contributed by: Mary Simmons Both teenagers and those who have survived their teen years will relate to the coming-of-age story told by first-time novelist John Zaiss in his book, 'A Dedication.'In a witty, cathartic tale, Zaiss introduces us to Quinnlan Marshall, a 17-year-old underachiever who matures and grows as a result of a friendship with Joe Toscano, a 74-year-old Vietnam veteran.Through the pages of...
(No rating) 5-7-2005 Views: 3474

The Developers
Author: Ben WoodsISBN: 0976432285Genre: fiction/humourThe following review was contributed by: John Walsh: CLICK TO VIEW John Walsh's ReviewsIn the small Michigan town of Malorett, where winter and snow seem perpetualphenomena, a group of five young people work together as an internet technologycompany known as The Developers. In a world of sexual tension, low-brow popularculture and seemingly endless junk food, the developers work on their firstproduct, deal with the implications of its...
(No rating) 1-13-2006 Views: 16588

Once Blind: The Life of John Newton
Author: Kay Marshall StromPublished by Authentic PublishersISBN: 978-1-934068-27-4Click Here To Purchase Once Blind The Life Of John Newton
(No rating) 6-12-2008 Views: 5924

Helping Me Help Myself: One Skeptic, Ten Self-Help Gurus, and a Year on the Brink of the Comfort Zone
Click Here To Purchase From Amazon Helping Me Help Myself: One Skeptic, Ten Self-Help Gurus, and a Year on the Brink of the Comfort ZoneAuthor: Beth LisickISBN: 978-0-06-114396-0 I was amazed to learn that the self-help industry pulls in annually over a billion dollars in revenue. The outgrowth of the industry is quite apparent just by looking over Amazon’s list of self-help books where you will notice that there are over 150, 000 books listed. Beth Lisick, author of the New York Times...
(No rating) 3-14-2008 Views: 4202

Interview with Tau Malachi Author of St Mary Magdalene: The Gnostic Tradition of the Holy Bride
Author: Tau MalachiISBN: 0-7387-0783-XThe following interview was conducted by: Mary Simmons: Click Here To Read Mary's ReviewsMary: For those who are unfamiliar with the term, can you briefly describe what it means to be a Gnostic Christian? Malachi: Gnostic Christianity is a mystical or esoteric form of Christianity and represents the "way of inner knowing"; akin to what we encounter in the wisdom traditions of the East, it is a path to enlightenment. This reflects the view...
(No rating) 6-6-2006 Views: 7031

A Conversation With Rosemary Esehagu Author The Looming Fog
Author: Rosemary EsehaguPublisher: Oge Creation BooksISBN: 1-933496-00-2The following interview was conducted by Mary Simmons: Writer, Journalist and Author: CLICK HERE to read Mary's Review of The Looming Fog. Click Here To Read More of Mary's Reviews Mary: What made you decide to tell this story of a rural Nigerian village through the eyes of an intersexual child? Rosemary: My original intention for writing The Looming Fog was to document aspects of my mom’s difficult childhood. Most of...
(No rating) 3-27-2007 Views: 5810

Helping Me Help Myself: One Skeptic, Ten Self-Help Gurus and a Year on the Brink of the Comfort Zone
Click Here To Purchase From Amazon Helping Me Help Myself: One Skeptic, Ten Self-Help Gurus and a Year on the Brink of the Comfort ZoneAuthor: Beth LisickISBN: 978-0-06-114396-0Publisher: William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollinsAuthor Beth Lisick deals a serious blow to the self-help world in her hilarious new book, “Helping Me Help Myself.” With a slightly jaded eye, Lisick was never one taken in by gurus claiming to solve their followers’ problems, des
(No rating) 1-19-2008 Views: 3306

Wayne Winterton Author of Whistler's Gold: The Secret At Nizhoni Toh Interviewed
Author: Wayne WintertonISBN: 1599267527 The following interview was conducted by: NORM GOLDMAN: Editor of Bookpleasures. CLICK TO VIEW Norm Goldman's Reviews To read Norm's Review of the Book CLICK HEREToday, Norm Goldman, Editor of Bookpleasures.com is pleased to have as our guest, Wayne Winterton, author of Whistler’s Gold: The Secret At Nizhoni Toh.Good day Wayne and thanks for agreeing to participate in our interview.Norm:
(No rating) 4-24-2006 Views: 6844

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