35 Miles From Shore

35 Miles From Shore
Author: Emilio Corsetti III
Publisher: Odyssey Publishing, LLC
Rating: 
Reviewed by: Gary Mack

In a straight forward investigative style, Emilio Corsetti  III delivers a substantive and thorough examination of the “error-chain” that caused the ditching of ALM Flight 980 on May 2, 1970. Like so many other calamities that end tragically, Corsetti poignantly details how the mentality of corporate profits over the safety and well being of passengers sets off a horrific chain of events.

 

From the beginning chapters, Corsetti puts us in the minds and board rooms of those responsible for making the decisions that put ALM Flight 980 in Harms way. Though Corsetti is careful not to point out who the true villain is in his gripping tale, his early treatment of ONA CEO and President G. F.Steedman Hinckley clearly delivers a nod.

 

Hinckley’s driven ambition to create a route from New York to St. Maarten minus a third fuel tank for the sake of maintaining face, casts Hinckley into the dark shadows of aviation history.   

 

Corsetti delivers vivid scenes chapter after chapter. He takes you into the cockpit, into the rafts that carry the surviving passengers, onto the helicopters that dropped the slings and rescue seats as they hovered above the swells of the ocean. Corsetti’s riveting paragraphs are at their best when he immerses the reader into the ditching of the plane and the heroic rescue efforts of the crew and the Coast Guard.

 

Like Harry Evans, I must admit I suffered a little “cognitive narrowing” from the dizzying amount of characters Corsetti introduces paragraph after paragraph.  By the middle of the book, one is so overwhelmed with the constant bouncing from one character to another; it’s hard to concentrate on the task at hand. Corsetti would have been better served if he would have told the story from the perspective of a handful of people – like Balsey Dewitt, who palpably is the most interesting and courageous character in the human drama. Just like fiction, non-fiction must move along and keep the readers attention. I wanted more of Balsey, his life, his emotions, his thoughts and feelings as he humbly did his duty as a professional pilot. In the end, it was his efforts that allowed people the chance to survive.

 

Still, one cannot come away from this account unimpressed with Corsetti’s talent and his attention for detail. Because of his pen, the ditching and rescue of ALM Flight 980 comes to life, and heroes we never were aware of emerge.  

 

Emotionless Souls

Emotionless Souls
Author: David S. Grant
Publisher: Brown Paper Publishing
Rating: 
Reviewed by: Elaine Raterman

 

 

 

 

Emotionless Souls by David S. Grant is a wonderful collection of 20 vaguely surreal short stories, written in succinct, tight prose that perfectly sets the mood for each and every one.  The collection starts with the account of two couples spending New Year’s Eve in Dublin and ends with the account of one couple vacationing in Paris.  Between these two we encounter (among others) a poker game gone wrong, an office prankster who goes to extremes, a one-hit-wonder, a white-collar pickpocket, and an accountant who isn’t quite as boring as she first appears.  Unexpected plot twists abound and make each of the stories truly remarkable.

Crash!

Crash!
Author: Mayra Calvani
Publisher: Guardian Angel Publishing
Rating: 
Reviewed by: Cheryl C. Malandrinos

 

 

Children will love reading about Marcelo and his new puppy in Crash! by Mayra Calvani.

Marcelo’s parents surprise him on his fifth birthday with a golden retriever puppy–the one thing he wanted more than anything in the world. Thrilled beyond all belief, Marcelo must now learn how to take care of his new puppy: feeding him, walking him, playing with him. But all that is easy compared to finding a name for him.

Crash! is a charming story about a boy and his dog and the special relationship that develops between a child and his pet. Author Mayra Calvani shows off her storytelling talents once again, as she did with The Magic Violin. Calvani has a way of getting right to the heart of children with her touching stories.

Kudos go out to young illustrator, Anna Pylypchuk, whose beautifully drawn illustrations bring Calvani’s story to life. My children each had their favorites drawings from the story.

I can’t wait to see what Mayra Calvani’s next children’s book is all about!

 

 

Honor Due - Review

Honor Due
Author: D.H. Brown
Publisher: Big River Press
Rating: 
Reviewed by: Lamees Siddiqui

Honor Due is a gripping story of an ex- Special Forces vet who retires from the life of politically orchestrated killings and retreats to a life of peaceful solitude in the Pacific Northwest…..until, hunted by ex-colleagues from Special Operations and Homeland Security, the Major, our protagonist, finds the gruesome memories coming to life, from his war shattered past.

 

The instinct for survival takes precedence and soon a mysterious plot bridging the past to the present, starts to unravel. The Major’s new assignment is to ensure his own as well his Rhade family’s survival while giving the fallen Warriors, the ‘honor due’.

 

It is a well written thriller, the mere tone of which is enough to raise the hair on your back. The casual narration of repugnant killings, gives the book an eerie quality. The electronic wizardry, the web of security firewalls and high tech computer jargon are enough to make Mr. Bond cringe with envy. The graphic descriptions are vivid engaging all the six senses, definitely tickling the taste buds and fanning one’s appetite; however, in some parts of the narrative, the repetitive details of routine chores, tend to drag somewhat.

 

Apart from telling a great story, the book also makes a serious and decisive statement about the ethics and the code of honor of a true Soldier; about the ‘War on Terror’ and how it is manipulated as a pretense for mysterious political contract killings on domestic soil.

 

 

 

 

Quo Vadis, Israel

Quo Vadis, Israel?

Author: H. Peter Nennhaus
Rating:
Publisher: Outskirts Press
Reviewed by: Cheryl C. Malandrinos

Well-written, intellectually stimulating, and thoroughly researched, Quo Vadis, Israel? provides the open-minded reader with a unique solution to a decades-long problem.

Since its birth in 1948, the State of Israel has been consistently despised and attacked. Numerous peace efforts by various countries and organizations have failed to bring about a long-lasting solution for Israel and Palestine.

But what if Israel were moved to a more suitable land in Europe?

This is what author H. Peter Nennhaus asks the reader to contemplate while providing an historical background of the conflict, the history of anti-Semitism, and the bleak outlook for the future in the Middle East.

For such a short piece of work (~ 110 pages), Nennhaus has managed to pack in a plethera of facts, figures, and important dates. It is obvious he is knowledgeable about this topic. He makes a strong case for moving Israel to a more suitable location–one where the State of Israel and its inhabitants wouldn’t be surrounded by a bunch of countries and people who wish them harm. Showcasing the abilities that the Jews have for turning wasteland into prosperous territory, Nennhaus believes the Jews will do equally well in creating a new home in a land that is in much better condition than the land they received in 1948. The author willingly admits that this plan will be difficult for many to accept, but this reviewer admires his convincing arguments.

In Quo Vadis, Israel? I found a probable solution that would finally allow the State of Israel and its people to live in peace.

The Truth (I’m a girl, I’m smart and I know everything)

The Truth (I’m a girl, I’m smart and I know everything)
Author: Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein
Publisher: Enchanted Self Press
Rating: 
Reviewed by: Elaine Raterman

The Girl is in fifth grade, she’s in love with the new boy in school, she hates it when her parents fight, and she’s here to tell us The Truth. 

The Truth is 115 pages of observations told from the perspective of a young girl on the verge of adolescence.  She isn’t a girl growing up in the 21st century, she is a girl of a past generation, but she still talks about many things young girls today can relate to - boys, school, parents, siblings, friends, teachers, growing up. 

This is also a wonderful book for the parents of girls.  Sometimes it’s hard for adults to remember what childhood feels like, this book helps bring some of that back, and helps build understanding across the generations. 

Mistress of the Revolution

 Mistress of the Revolution
Author: Catherine Delors
Publisher: Dutton (Penguin)
Rating: 
Reviewed by: Cheryl C. Malandrinos

Well-drawn characters, gripping storylines, and rich descriptions fill the pages of debut author Catherine Delors’s Mistress of the Revolution.

Set during the years leading up to and through the French Revolution, this epic novel finds young noblewoman Gabrielle de Montserrat falling in love with commoner Pierre-Andre Coffinhal. Her brother forbids their union and forces her into a marriage to an aging and wealthy cousin who mistreats her.

After the sudden and unexpected death of her abusive husband, Gabrielle goes to Paris to make a life for her and her young daughter, Aimee. As the threat of revolution hangs overhead, Gabrielle becomes a kept woman and a lady in the court of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. When Gabrielle is faced with the guillotine, she reaches out to Pierre-Andre, who had fled to Paris to become a lawyer when he was denied her hand in marriage. The two lovers search for a way to hold onto each other, as violence swirls around them; pulling everyone and everything into its grasp.

Every so often I pick up a book whose hook has such dramatic impact that I must read it again. Such is the case with Mistress of the Revolution by Catherine Delors. Many years in the future, the narrator, Gabrielle tells of the exhuming of the bodies of the late King and Queen of France, thereby setting the scene for all that will unfold in subsequent pages.

While a first person narrative often distances the reader from the story, Gabrielle never once distracted me from all that was happening in and around France in the late 1700’s. A tremendous amount goes on within the 450 pages of this fascinating and captivating novel. Fully explored were the relationships between Gabrielle and her family, Pierre-Andre, her lover Villers, Aimee, and the friendships she maintained and lost through the years. Rich and vivid details flowed throughout, drawing the reader deeper and deeper into a story that realistically portrayed the plight of the late 18th century woman and the tragic events that unfolded in France during the reign of King Louis XVI and beyond. 

My one and only disappointment is the cover. The artwork was taken from a famous painting titled, The Stolen Kiss, by Jean Honore Fragonard. The image was reversed so that the table and chair are on the left and the gentleman stealing the kiss on the right. I would much have preferred to have seen more of the image of the gentleman–which is hidden inside the book flap–than the furniture, but it is still a strikingly handsome cover.
 

Mistress of the Revolution is a story of impossible love pitted against the most tumultuous time period in France’s history. It is a novel that will reward the reader in every aspect and leave her desiring to read it again as soon as the last word is read. I eagerly look forward to the next book by talented newcomer Catherine Delors.

Kiss Me, I’m Single: An Ode to the Solo Life

Kiss Me I’m Single: An Ode to the Single Life

Author: Amanda Ford
Publisher: Conari Press

Rating: 
Reviewed by: Dorothy Thompson

I am so very, very impressed with this book, I can’t even find the words to describe the joy I’m having at received it to review.

Kiss Me, I’m Single: An Ode to the Solo Life by Amanda Ford is one of the best and most fun reads I have read in a long time.  

Amanda Ford’s wisdom on being single shines like a star in the dateless horizon for those women (and men!) who have tired of the dating rituals and want to finally say I’m happy with myself and there’s not a darn thing wrong with it.

  

As Amanda says in her book, “Love has nothing to do with another person; it is a condition of your own heart.”

  

Inside these wonderful pages of singledom wisdom comes refreshing antidotes that the author herself has gleamed from years of being single.  Who’s more perfect to write about being single than someone who has been there, done that?  Not only that, she’s an expert in her field and the proof is in the pages of this entertaining book.

  

But the main point Amanda is making with this book is that it’s okay to be single and once you fall in love with yourself, everyone else will fall in love with you, too!

Kiss Me, I’m Single: An Ode to the Solo Life by Amanda Ford should be on every singles’ bookshelf as a testament to being proud of who they are.

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Enhancing Sexual Desire

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Enhancing Sexual Desire
Authors: Rachel Greene Baldino and Judy Ford
Publisher: Alpha (Penguin)
Rating: 
Reviewed by: Dorothy Thompson

Who doesn’t want to enhance their sexual desire?  Who wouldn’t want to make their sexual relationships top priority?  Who wouldn’t want to reawaken their sexuality?

Stop with the questions.  Now we can find the answers to those questions and lots, lots more in Rachel Greene Baldino and Judy Ford’s latest self-help book for those looking for strategies to boost their sexual desire, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Enhancing Sexual Desire (Penguin). 

I throughly enjoyed this book because as a baby boomer who has seen better days in the romance area, romps in the bedroom tend to get put on the back burner.  As more time goes on, you only get buried in that long dark hole and sometimes it’s really hard to find that intimacy you once shared with your loved one.

After reading Rachel and Judy’s book, my sex life has greatly improved because they have shown me steps to take to change bad habits and rejuvenate that tired, sagging libido.

Inside you’ll find tips for successfully navigating the six stages of love relationships.  You’ll also find satisfying suggestions that will help you get back in touch with your sensuality.  And, you’ll also find ways to spice up your sex life and discover your personal intimacy style.

This is a very thorough how-to manual to feel passionate again with your loved one and who wouldn’t want that? 

It’s wonderful to feel passionate again!  I highly recommend The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Enhancing Sexual Desire to keep those love fires burning!

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Sermonsnacks

Sermonsnacks
Author: Donald Collette
Publisher: Trafford Publishing
Rating: 
Reviewed by: Cheryl C. Malandrinos

If you’re looking for help, if you’re looking for hope, if you’re looking for encouragement, look no further than Sermonsnacks. This powerful devotional will inspire you along life’s journey and make the ordinary seem extraordinary.

Donald Collette chose the best Scriptures and perfectly matched them with thought-provoking comments to put together a devotional that is powerful, yet easy to read. Using Scriptures from both The Message and the New International Version, Sermonsnacks offers help, hope, and encouragement for every facet of your life: to build your faith, for the times when you are in pain or suffering, for the times when you’re lonely, and for help with work and your finances. When you seek help, hope, and encouragement in your family life, in your marriage, and in your senior years, Sermonsnacks will be there with words of Biblical wisdom and insightful, inspirational commentary.

I will keep Sermonsnacks by my bedside and read it every day as part of my morning and evening prayer ritual.