Noah, didn't it Rain by William Lee Golden

Noah, didn’t it Rain

By William Lee Golden of the Oak Ridge Boys

Illustrated by Bill Looney

ISBN 978-0-89221-683-3

Publisher: New Leaf Press

What a breath of fresh air for the classic Bible story about Noah and his ark. God tells Noah to build an ark, to build it strong and to build it big. Noah does and prepares for the onslaught of torrential rains, but as he opens the doors to his ark and sees all the animals waiting to come inside, he must make more room for them all and include all the foods necessary for all the varieties of animals to survive.

The illustrations that go along with the story are wonderful and unique, and it’s amazing after seeing the photo of the author with his history in the back of the book, to reflect on how similar he looks to the Noah illustrated in the book.

As an added bonus, a CD comes with this well-made hardcover children’s book. William Lee Golden of the Oak Ridge Boys narrates the story himself and also included on the CD is the song that coincides with the idea for the book, ‘Didn’t it Rain’ performed by the Oak Ridge Boys themselves!A delight for young and old alike. I’d highly recommend this illustrated children’s book for every child or grandchild.

~~ Cindy Bauer

www.cindybauerbooks.com

www.reviewsbycindy.blogspot.com

Cindy Bauer is the author of the Memory Box Trilogy, Chasing Memories, Shades of Blue and Crystal Clear, an Inspirational Fiction series. She is an avid reader, freelance writer and editor, and reviews for Bookpleasures.com and New Leaf Press. She recently joined the staff at Visual Arts Junction as a volunteer and contributes articles on writing, publishing and marketing. With the completion of her Inspirational series, Cindy plans to write in the mystery/suspense genre, which is her favorite to read.

Figures in Silk by Vanora Bennett

Author: Vanora Bennett
ISBN: 978-0-06-168984-0
Publisher: William Morrow (HarperCollins)

Hardcover

A splendid blend of romance and history as the author takes one into the world of silk making. Set in the late 1400’s, the story is based around two sisters, Jane and Isabel, who are the daughters of a silk merchant in London, John Lambert. Lambert’s business is suffering and in desperation, he resolves to marry off his two daughters to rich husbands.

Jane, the eldest of his daughters, marries Will Shore, but then later divorces him when she becomes romantically involved with Edward Plantagenet (King Edward IV) and she continues to be his mistress for several years.

Isabel marries Thomas Claver, a goldsmith, who is the son of Alice Claver, another silk merchant. Thomas later dies, making Isabel a widow, but Alice Claver is impressed with Isabel’s obvious skills involving the manufacturing of silk and teaches her everything she knows about the silk industry, from producing the finest quality silk to the business end of marketing the silk.

Isabel then becomes involved, in a business sense, with King Edward’s plan to bring in workers from Venice, their competitor, to make the finest quality silk.

After Edward’s death though, Jane goes to prison, which is a surprising twist in the story. Another twist is that Isabel later becomes involved with Richard, the Duke of Gloucester, who eventually becomes King Richard III.

I found the weaving of a fictional story plot into the well researched history of the time era to be quite impressive. The romantic involvements of the two sisters plays a very important part in the story plotting, while the setting is really the main focus point of the novel, as the reader learns about the rulers of the land and how important the silk industry becomes to their success or demise.

I believe there may be a few discrepancies in the historical part and a few plotting avenues that were not totally believable, however overall the story itself flows quite smoothly with just enough romance and mystery interlaced with historical accuracy to make for a very good storyline for anyone who enjoys history or historical romance.

I also found the blending of the setting and plotting to accentuate each other nicely, keeping the reader’s interest in the two women, Jane and Isabel, and their very apparent affluence in the silk industry, while also learning the importance of that industry to the politics of the land’s government.

Bookpleasures.com

Cindy Bauer

www.cindybauerbooks.com

Cindy Bauer: Cindy is the author of the Memory Box Trilogy, Chasing Memories, Shades of Blue and Crystal Clear, an Inspirational Fiction series. She is an avid reader, freelance writer and editor, and reviews for Bookpleasures.com and New Leaf Press. She recently joined the staff at Visual Arts Junction as a volunteer and contributes articles on writing, publishing and marketing. With the completion of her Inspirational series, Cindy plans to write in the mystery/suspense genre, which is her favorite to read.

The Dead Man by Joel Goldman

The Dead Man
by Joel Goldman
ISBN 978-0-7860-2040-9
Pinnacle (www.kensingtonbooks.com)

408 pages, paperback

Riveting! This brilliantly written second edition in the Jack Davis’ series by Joel Goldman grabs your attention from page one as the scene of a December 1959 double murder unfolds. No one was ever charged for the homicides, in which the daughter was a witness to, but lucky to have been brave enough to jump from her second story bedroom to avoid the assailant.

The story then jumps to present day, January 2009, as Jack Davis meets with a friend to discuss his delicate “services” in need once again. Davis is a former FBI agent who had left the agency for health reasons. The complications of his disease made it impossible for him to fulfill his duties at the agency. His son was murdered years before and more recently, his daughter has passed away.

But Simon, who is in a security business, needed him now. Milo Harper’s foundation was doing studies on the human brain. But some of the study participants are dying. Not only that, but dying exactly in the way they’ve dreamed they would die.

The foundation, The Harper Institute, are performing the studies to try to find ways to cure Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases. But the studies are now pointing to deaths and could be the end of the institute!

Jack, even with his physical and sometimes debilitating limitations, agrees to help his friend Simon but soon discovers, he’s become involved in something much worse than “unexplained deaths”. There’s a serial killer loose and Jack must find out the truth and who is behind the now determined, murders.

Joel Goldman has a unique style as his story unfolds in the first person, putting you into the head of Jack Davis. I found this to be quite gripping and captivating.

The novel itself is quite long, so you can’t read it all in one sitting, but you’ll find it difficult to find a place to “stop for the night”. Realistically set in the Kansas City area, I found the book to be very believable since I also live in the Kansas City area and my books are also based around the Kansas City area, however in a fictitious setting based around the Kansas City area.

Goldman’s realistic setting, fast-paced dialogue and chilling plotting will have you wanting to read more in this gritty suspense series. I’m looking forward to more of this author’s work.

~~ Cindy Bauer
www.cindybauerbooks.com
www.reviewsbycindy.blogspot.com

Bookpleasures.com

Cindy Bauer is the author of the Memory Box Trilogy, Chasing Memories, Shades of Blue and Crystal Clear, an Inspirational Fiction series. She is an avid reader, freelance writer and editor, and reviews for Bookpleasures.com and New Leaf Press. She recently joined the staff at Visual Arts Junction as a volunteer and contributes articles on writing, publishing and marketing. With the completion of her Inspirational series, Cindy plans to write in the mystery/suspense genre, which is her favorite to read.

EVIL WITHOUT A FACE

EVIL WITHOUT A FACE

By Jordan Dane

ISBN number: 978-0-06-147412-5

Publisher: Avon Books

Queen of suspense Jordan Dane has done it again with another high-stake suspense novel. Formerly an energy sales manager in the oil and gas industry, she is now following her passion to write full time. Lucky for readers who crave a well-developed plot and suspense, Evil Without a Face takes you on an intense suspense ride. An exceptional new author with talent that will captivate all readers

Jessica Beckett is a strong-willed Chicago bounty hunter who lives on the edge and does just about anything to capture fugitives. Not only does she carry a Colt Python near her at all times, she also carries a painful secret from her past that drives her to this addiction, her personal mission, to give criminals what they deserve.

After hunting down Lucas Baker, a low life sex-peddler, she discovers he’s involved in more than she expected. Jessica uncovers an online international organization operated in secrecy. A global conspiracy named Globe Harvest.

Seth Harper, a mysterious computer whiz, helps aide Jessica through this hunt of conspiracy linked to missing teens. Though his fancy home and intellectual behavior poses curiosity for Jessica, she decides to keep him as a contact.

Former quarterback Payton Archer makes a promise to his sister. He promises to find his seventeen-year-old niece, Nikki Archer, who has been abducted by an online predator. Suspicion leads to Globe Harvest, the circle of organization that thrives on committing heinous atrocities.

The chase starts off in Chicago and leads to Alaska. Jessica won’t take no for an answer and is determined to go after Globe Harvest, even if it means risking her life. The CPD detectives make Jess a prime suspect. She counts on her best friend Detective Sam Cooper to help cover her tracks. Now not only is she on a hunt for a missing teenage girl, but she fears Globe Harvest is responsible for the abduction of Nikki Archer and many other missing girls.

Alexa Marlowe works for an organization, a private international organization that specializes in criminal cases with tough jurisdictional boundaries. But can Jess trust her? Would she regret giving the mysterious blonde the only evidence linking to Globe Harvest?

A suspense cliff-hanger with a well-developed plot, realistic exhilarating characters, and a touch of romance without the mush, what more can you ask for?

An excellent read!

BookPleasures.com
http://www.bookpleasures.com/websitepublisher/articles/522/1/Review-Evil-Without-A-Face/Page1.html

Reviewer Martha Ramirez has enjoyed writing stories, poetry, and drawing since childhood. Her first children's book entitled The Fabulous Adventures of Fred the Frog was created and inspired by the curiosity and fascination her toddler has with books. Writing continues to be her passion as she strives to create stories children will love as well as learn from. She is also a reviewer for Bookpleasures and a member of the Muse Conference Board, CataNetwork Readers, American Author's Association, and CWGI (Christian Writers Group International). She resides with her husband and son in Northern California where she is currently working on a novel. To access Martha's web site CLICK HERE

Redeeming Love

For those of you who already read Redeeming Love by, Francine Rivers, you would probably agree what an amazing story Francine expressed.For those who haven't yet gotten the opportunity, I urge you to read this profound story.

Not only did I find it to be riveting, but I also found the words Francine expressed at the end of the book to be quite fascinating. I can assure you your heart will be touched and you'll be hooked after getting to know Sarah and Michael--an absolute page turner.
5-STARS

My First 24 Hours in Hell

My First 24 Hours in Hell
By V.K. Sansone

The synopsis on the back cover explains it very well. If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like in hell and why you should choose to let God into your heart, this book will be the turning point of your life! An amazing and descriptive read! – I give it 5 Stars!

~~ Cindy Bauer, author of Chasing Memories, Shades of Blue and Crystal Clear, an Inspirational Trilogy series.

My Life Journal (From My Heart To Yours)

My Life Journal (From My Heart To Yours)
By V.K. Sansone

A wonderful collection of stories, poems, letters, dreams and memories, My Life Journal by V.K. Sansone is sure to grab your attention as she tells all, no holds barred. Some sad, some happy, her memories of her life unfolded before you will be sure to grab your emotional heart strings.

Her amazing life has dealt with tragedy, rejection, alcoholism, divorce, love, death and even God-sent dreams and I’m truly amazed she has come away from it all with such a positive attitude and uplifting spirit.

A remarkable memoir you won’t soon forget. A must read! - I give it 5 stars!

~~ Cindy Bauer, author of Chasing Memories, Shades of Blue and Crystal Clear, an Inspirational Trilogy series.