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January 31, 2008
Review by Tracee Gleichner
Don't Be Afraid of Heaven by Clint Adams
Miguel Estes has been born with a rare genetic skin disorder called Epidermolysis Bullosa, or E.B. for short.
Unsure of how much time he has left to live, his Aunt Shirley has helped him develop a To Do list - a place to keep track
of all of the things he is afraid to try. She believes that it is necessary to conquer these fears to lead a more enriched
existence. This certainly helps to motivate him and in spite of his daily struggles, keeps him in high spirits, after all,
he can't let his aunt down. When his mother chooses to move in with her husband, Hunt, Miguel decides it is best for him to
move in with his father, even though this means starting a new school, and changing doctors as well.
Aunt Shirley decides that when school starts, Miguel should start up an afterschool program called F.A.A.T.
or Fear Ain't All That. She thinks that this will be a good way for him to get to know new students, and help them realize
that life is what you make it, and fears are all relative. Thankfully he already has the support of his new best friend Samantha,
his nurse's niece. And there is no one that needs F.A.A.T. or Miguels help more than she does.
This book was a rollercoaster ride, and it was so wonderful to read a book that was sure to inspire children
and adults alike. We all fear something, but we need to look past all of that and make a To Do List - I believe it would help
us all stay positive, and realize that there really is nothing to fear, anything can be overcome, even death. Thank you Clint
for opening my eyes, and I think you will do the same for many people in the future.
Author Questions
How did you come up with the idea for this book, and the F.A.A.T. concept?
Honestly, I wrote DON 'T BE AFRAID OF HEAVEN as a tribute to my cat, Samantha. I named one of the main characters after her. I learned so much from Samantha,
her life and the time she chose to die. Since my books all have to do with 'eliminating fear,' I decided to write about eliminating,
or trying to help teens eliminate the most common fear of all, the fear of death. I hadn't seen many of these for the teen
market (not novels anyway)...so I thought I'd give it a shot. In my mid-thirties, I began to feel certain that fear is something
that is completely learned, not natural in any of us. I wanted the themes in all my books to be the same; lives begin to change
only when fear is absent.
Do you have any books currently in the works?
Yes, I do. After having published four novels for teens, I've decided to try something different. My newest
novel is a suspense thriller for adults titled, THE SEVEN RITUALS. Two plots run consecutively throughout; the two protagonists
are the same person, yet one offers an innocent outlook at something rather perverse and dangerous, while the other shows
incredible determination to discover the truth that will inevitably set him free.
What made you decide to have Miguel suffer from E.B., as opposed to some other ailment?
Good question. A long while ago I attended a fundraising concert in San Francisco ...not really knowing
what the particular cause was. It ended up being a benefit event for kids that live with this rare disease, E.B. Shortly after
the concert, I got to meet several of these brave kids. Their courage inspired me incredibly; I learned as much as I could
about E.B. and I decided to continue writing about a boy living with E.B. as a tribute to them, those kids that have chosen
to live without fear.
Do you have any other hobbies?
I love meeting people from as many countries as possible and learning as much as possible about their lives
and their cultures. This is my favorite hobby, as well as being my greatest opportunity to learn.
A copy of this book is going to be raffled off the first week in March. To enter, all you need to
do is sign the guestbook under each book you are interested in.
Don't Be Afraid of Heaven by Clint Adams
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January 29, 2008
Review by Tracee Gleichner
Jenny's Legacy by Cassandra Barnes
What would I do if I lost a child? Especially if I lost them and there was a chance I could have stopped
their untimely death? Kyle Cordell's father has decided that it is his mission to put an end to all psychics, psychologists,
counselors, mediums, anyone who is attempting to do "mind control". After all, that is what Master Kundalini did to his youngest
daughter Jenny, and it ended in her death. There is no way any good can come from anyone doing these types of things. He is
so adamant that he forms The Family Foundation - a group of individuals intent on doing everything in their power to stop
this from happening again. Kyle has been "brainwashed" into this belief system - and since he and his sister were so close
he feel responsible for not stopping her before it was too late.
Gaelynn Graham is at the crossroads of her career. She is a school counselor part-time but her dream job
at Millwood Mindworks is slowly becoming a reality. She has been blessed with a special gift and uses it to help her patients
deal with their problems. If things continue going so well she will be able to quit her job as a counselor and work at Millwood
Mindworks full-time. Unfortunately, her psychic abilities do not help her see her own future, as there are some struggles
she is going to face in the very near future, struggles that will change her life drastically.
When Kyle and Gaelynn meet at the ER, there is a physical attraction that neither can deny. But when it
become apparent to Kyle what she is, there is no way he can have ANY kind of relationship with her...after all it is people
like her that were responsible for the death of his sister.
"Jenny's Legacy" is a great read with well thought out characters and a plot that will be sure to keep you reading into the wee
hours of the night. I am thrilled that books involving the paranormal are becoming so popular as I am a HUGE fan of anything
like this. We must all try to overcome our differences to see the good in each other, and in the end Kyle and Gaelynn are
able to do this.
Thanks Cassandra for the opportunity to review this great book!
A copy of this book is to be raffled off the first week in March. To enter, please sign the guestbook
under each book you are interested in.
Jenny's Legacy by Cassandra Barnes
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January 28, 2008
Review by Trace Gleichner
Black Dove by Bridgette Cassese
When Emma decides to pack up her lucrative job after a failed engagement
to get a fresh start and do something that she really enjoys her sister tells her, "No one is really free, and there is no
such thing as 'free will'. We all have responsibilities." Emma has decided to move to Cornwall with it's beautiful beaches,
interesting history and a place to start over. She finds a place to start her new dream - The Black Dove Inn. She can't believe
her good luck when she finds out that it is for sale, and at a very reasonable price. Rumor has it that it is haunted, but
this is more intriguing that scary for her.
She has also met some new friends, among them Anton, a local artist
and somewhat of a mystery himself. Although there is an immediate attraction he seems to be involved in a relationship and
she needs to put some work in to make the Inn exactly what she wants it to be - an art gallery, wine bar, and a great place
to just sit and socialize while appreciating the finer things.
After moving in she does experience some "hauntings", and when she comes
across a painting that resemles Anton she does some digging. She finds out that the history around the Inn involves seances,
pirates, and smuggling gone bad. This is extremely enchanting to her, and when she meets Anton again their chemistry is impossible
to resist. After all, this is the same man she has seen in her dreams, and some of her nightmares as well.
This story really makes me want to visit England and see some of the historical
sites. The author really draws you in and evokes many different emotions as you are reading.
Black Dove is a collection of 4 Novellas including Black Dove, The River
Tale, Castle of Dreams, and Dark Goddess. Each focus on mystery, intrigue and romance. Each story is set in a new location
that matches the atmosphere of the tale.
Bridgette Cassese, in her late thirties currently resides in Sennen in
Cornwall. She studied Social Anthropology and Psychology, at Sussex and London Universities and enjoys Jungian analytical,
Rogerian and humanisitc psychology, from which she has taken many of her themes. She is also a contributor to the magazine
Dark Nights. She has taught psychology at Norwich city college and as a private tutor.
Questions for the author:
Do you miss teaching?
I still teach occasionally - the psychology of creativity - I dip in and
out.
Do you have any books in the works currently?
I am currently working on another historical novel with supernatural themes
and featuring local legends - 'The Lost Isle of Lyonesse - a flight of doves', for which I am seeking a publisher and agent.
What hobbies do you enjoy in your free time?
Hobbies - Surfing - body surfing mostly, but can use the big boards but
not standing up yet. Walking and exploring rugged and wild terrains. Swimming horse riding, computers, desktop publishing,
psychology and art. Creative writing, short story writing. Visiting art exhibitions - the romantics. Music.
Seeing as how Black Dove focuses on art, do you have any artistic abilities?
Yes, I attended Ravensbourne College of art and design for one year and
studied graphic design and did a fine art module. I paint in both watercolours and oils (an average talent). I worked for
18 months as a researcher on the compilation of the Penwith artist's dictionary, at the Hypatia Trust, an academic publisher
here in Penzance and like the romantic artists, particularly the Pre Raphaelites - such as Dante gabriel Rossetti and John
Waterhouse Collier and F Leighton etc.
A copy of this book will be raffled off the first week in March. To enter,
please sign the guestbook under each book you are interested in.
January 24, 2008
Review by Tracee Gleichner
Bad Girls Club by Judy Gregerson
With mental health issues being so prevelant in society I was very intrigued by the premise of this book.
Let me tell you that as hard as it was I read it in one sitting - it grabbed hold and would not let go.
All Destiny
wants is to get a job and try to have a semblance of a normal life. Instead she is burdened with the responsibilty of taking
care of her mentally ill mother and trying to protect her younger sister Cassidy from the violent rages and outbursts that
have become more common than not. Destiny's life has never been anything but that of a constant caregiver and mediator...especially
since the incident at Crater Lake. She loves her mother, and even though she knows that this is not a normal family life she
is willing to do what her father asks and help keep her mother in their home, for better or worse.
As this book unfolds
you watch this family go on such a downward spiral that my heart was literally breaking. As much as I hated to turn to the
next page for fear of what was going to happen next, I was compelled to do so in hopes that a ray of light would be found
and something positive would happen to change some of the bad to good. At first I was unsure if this could really happen -
how could both parents let their children go through this living hell? I then thought of my own life, and the lengths I may
go to keep my family in tact. Love is a very powerful emotion, and nothing is more powerful than the love between a parent
and their children. As Ms. Gregerson points out in her Author's Note, children that come from abusive families are even more
loyal to their parents than children who don't. They seem to constantly be searching for a way to gain acceptance and love
from the parent(s) who neglects or abuses them.
This book is a true eye opener, although it is fiction we can't turn
a blind eye to the fact that there are families like this in every town in America. I am hopeful that this book will give
some of these families the strength they need to get the help so desperately needed before it is too late and the children
are damaged to a point of no return. It will hopefully also make people think closely about some people they know and maybe
will give them the strength to intervene in situations they know are not healthy for the family involved. The author has done
a true service by writing about an issue that should not be ignored.
Questions for the author:
What made you
decide to write the story from the perspective of the oldest daughter?
Well, it was personal really. I was a parentified child, meaning that I was one of those kids who took care
of my mother and my older sister when my family was spiraling out of control. I was the one who felt responsible to hold everything
together because no one else would. And I believed that multitudes of people all around the world experience that same thing
-- they become the savior of their families because no one else will. I wanted to shine a spotlight on that problem and what
it does to a kid. And on another level, this is a cautionary tale: beware what you do to your children. When 5 children a
day die in this country because their mother, a family member, or someone who knows their parent kills them, we're in deep
trouble. We are allowing the ruin of our children and then we wonder why these kids can't learn in school or why they turn
to crime, or why they're depressed. This book tells why, in some cases, our children are lost.
What was your inspiration
for the story?
There were several things that inspired me. And in some sense, it was reaching critical mass and feeling that
I had to say something about this problem. I tell everyone the story about meeting a man whose mother set their house on fire
after locking him and his little brother in. There was Susan Smith and Andrea Yates. I thought they were anomalies, but I
found out that they aren't. I started studying this issue and realized that 500 mothers a year kill their children. I started
wondering what it would be like to live in a family like that. What if every day, your little sister's life was on the line
and you couldn't do anything except be the one who stood between her and your mother? What if you knew your life was on the
line and you had to live with one eye open so you could survive? These are the things I thought about, they're the questions
that horrified me, as I wrote this book.
Do you have any books currently in the works?
I currently have one book in the works about a girl whose mother deserts her at the local grocery store, leaving
the girl with her eccentric extended family and the question, "Why did she leave me?" I'm about a third through that and may
get back to it soon. I also have another book finished about a girl in a trailer park who's the underdog and can't seem to
find her way.
What hobbies do you enjoy?
Oh, I'm an odd one. I love to research. That is really relaxing to me. I pick a topic and then I search it
out. I travel a little. We have a summer place on a beautiful glacier fed lake and I love going there. I hang with my daughters
who are almost 18 and 21. They're my greatest joy. I read some, mostly nonfiction. I have a few favorite TV shows like CSI
and Ugly Betty. Other than that, I just hang and try to find things to laugh at. The absurdity of life amuses me.
A copy of this book will be raffled of to a reader of this website the first week in March. To enter,
all you need to do is sign the guestbook under each book you are interested in winning.
If you have any questions or suggestion, please feel free to email me at tracee@uponfurtherreview.org
Bad Girls Club by Judy Gregerson
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January 22, 2008
Review by Tracee Gleichner
The Legend of Billy Davies by Emma Brown
Living in Wisconsin we are home to 2 of the most notorious serial killers in history;
Ed Gein and Jeffrey Dahmer. I have read many books about serial killers and the one thing the majority of them have in common
is they are quiet, unassuming, and someone you would never suspect of committing the heinous crimes they are eventually convicted
of. This is the most frightening thing about them.
I am also a true lover of horror movies and books so I was thrilled
to receive a copy of The Legend of Billy Davies by Emma Brown. Melding elements of Halloween, Psycho, and The Vanishing, just
to name a few, the author works these into her own style to create Billy Davies- psycho extraordinaire. Billy is a troubled
youth who commits a murder out of what he believes is neccesity. He becomes institutionalized, and while there develops a
horrifying scheme - revenge so sinister it would make any fan of horror proud.
Without going into too much detail I
will say that the mental state of Billy and the crimes he commits would turn some stomachs and may keep some up at night.
It once again proves you just never know who you may be dealing with...how well do you REALLY know your next door neighbor?
Thanks
Emma for a great read and true page turner!
A copy of this book is to be raffled off the first week in March. To enter,
all you need to do is sign the guestbook below any of the books you are interested in.
As always, if you have any questions feel free to email me at tracee@uponfurtherreview.org
January 20, 2008
Review by Tracee Gleichner
A Soldier of Chance by Nathan Rosenfeld
After reading "A Soldier of Chance" I realized that not only did I not know much about the Holocaust, I
didn't really understand what it meant to have to live through this horrific time, and the trials and tribulations that many
individuals had to go through not only to survive, but to keep their sanity as well.
To put it into perspective let me give you some statistics (as found on the History Place):
| Country |
Initial Jewish Population |
Estimated % Killed |
Estimated Killed |
Number of Survivors |
| POLAND |
3,300,000 |
91% |
3,000,000 |
300,000 |
| USSR |
3,020,000 |
36% |
1,100,000 |
1,920,000 |
| HUNGARY |
800,000 |
74% |
596,000 |
204,000 |
| GERMANY |
566,000 |
36% |
200,000 |
366,000 |
| FRANCE |
350,000 |
22% |
77,320 |
272,680 |
| ROMANIA |
342,000 |
84% |
287,000 |
55,000 |
| AUSTRIA |
185,000 |
35% |
65,000 |
120,000 |
| LITHUANIA |
168,000 |
85% |
143,000 |
25,000 |
| NETHERLANDS |
140,000 |
71% |
100,000 |
40,000 |
BOHEMIA
MORAVIA |
118,310 |
60% |
71,150 |
47,160 |
| LATVIA |
95,000 |
84% |
80,000 |
15,000 |
| SLOVAKIA |
88,950 |
80% |
71,000 |
17,950 |
| YUGOSLAVIA |
78,000 |
81% |
63,300 |
14,700 |
| GREECE |
77,380 |
87% |
67,000 |
10,380 |
| BELGIUM |
65,700 |
45% |
28,900 |
36,800 |
| ITALY |
44,500 |
17% |
7,680 |
36,820 |
| BULGARIA |
50,000 |
0% |
|
50,000 |
| DENMARK |
7,800 |
.8% |
60 |
7,740 |
| ESTONIA |
4,500 |
44% |
2,000 |
2,500 |
| LUXEMBOURG |
3,500 |
55% |
1,950 |
1,550 |
| FINLAND |
2,000 |
.03% |
7 |
1,993 |
| NORWAY |
1,700 |
45% |
762 |
938 |
| TOTAL |
9,508,340 |
63% |
5,962,129 |
3,546,211 |
These figures are mind boggling - to call this a tragedy would be somewhat of a joke. This book is
written by the son of holocaust survivor, Alex Rosenfeld. Alex came from a family of extremely hard workers. He
wasn't booksmart as some of his siblings were but preferred to learn a trade, something that may have had an integral
part in his survival during the Nazi takeover.
Alex certainly had luck on his side, as you will see repeatedly when you read this book. He is able
to disguise his identity as a Polish Jew not once, but numerous times, and is able to convince the people in his life that
he is a Frenchman who lost his family at birth and was adopted by a family with the last name Rosenfeld. Unfortunately,
truth be told, he does end up losing his parents and sisters to the holocaust.
Instead of being sentenced to a concentration camp he is called to the police station where he is served
his working papers. Upon receiving these he volunteers to work in Germany in their factories (something he would have
been eventually ordered to do anyway). He has not choice as he is almost out of ration cards and will starve if he doesn't
leave. He ends up excelling at his work and even becomes friendly to some of the Germans including his bosses.
They have nothing bad to say about him and even award him a plaque commending him on being an exemplary employee, something
else that may have attributed to his survival at a later point.
Working in Germany eventually takes its toll, so on one of his vacations he decides it is time to stay in
France and "do the right thing" by joining the French Resistance. This also almost costs him his life numerous times,
as the Germans continued to try and keep their reign of terror at an all time high, even though it appeared they were starting
to weaken and lose their power.
One of the things I liked most about this book is you felt like you were there walking along the path that
Alex followed. Nathan adds wonderful historical documentation through photographs to help blend the historical aspects
with his fathers personal experiences to truly give you an understanding of all this man went through to survive.
This book is a true eye-opener and a refreshing view on how it is possible to overcome and survive
anything as long as you don't give up and fight for what you believe in.
A copy of this book is to be raffled off the first week in March. To enter the contest, please sign
your name to the guestbook below any book you are interested in.
A Soldier of Chance by Nathan Rosenfeld
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