God's Little Princess Devotional Bible by Sheila Walsh
Bible Text selections from the International Children's Bible

 

This devotional Bible is made especially for the little girl. Various features set about to help the King's daughter grow spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically through reading, memorizing scriptures, and participating in activities designed to make her beautiful inside and out. A Table of Contents can help her go back to a favorite activity and/or story.

 

The child that cannot read yet will enjoy looking at the pleasing illustrations drawn by Sheila Walsh and Meredith Johnson. The stories are written in language the early reader can read. Scripture text is listed at the end of the each story for further review. Role playing activities are fun, but a parent or older sibling will need to assist. I strongly recommend the older person reading the role play before beginning the action to familiarize him/herself with the questions and answers required. Thick, glossy pages clean up with a damp cloth and endure rough handling. The large print makes it easy for small child and older adult to read. I recommend this Bible for the little girl's first Bible and suggest she receives it even before she can read. She will love the pictures and, with the mother's help, all the little activities included.

 

Lucille P Robinson
Member of Thomas Nelson Book Review Blogger program: http://brb.thomasnelson.com

 

 

How to Argue and Win Every Time ~ Gerry Spence ~  St. 20 Martin Press ~ Persuasion/Psychology

 
Website of Author: http://www.gerryspence.com/index2.html
Genre: Persuasion/Psychology

 

Buy Now Url/Link: http://www.amazon.com /exec/obidos/ASIN/0312144776/o/qid970442644/sr8-1/refaps_sr_b_1_3/103-2921954-6754227

This is more of a testimonial than a review. I feel deeply about the attitudes portrayed between the covers of this book. I bought the book ages ago and I'm now 63 years old. I've had the book all these years  without reading it. The first time I tried reading it, it sounded like it would be one of those hard to read/hard to understand law books or college thesis type of stuff, so I laid it aside. But I love books so much that when I get one I'm determined to keep it until I read it. This was the case with How to Argue and Win Every Time. I can only say that I regret so much not having read the book when I first bought it. The insights could have helped me with all my relationships down through the years. Here are some of the things I regret not learning way back there:

 

1) I learned I wasn't always losing an argument when I backed off. All my life I've loved peace and quiet and never relished the idea of confrontations. Hated to face off and preferred to just walk away. I could have walked away with more dignity had I read this book way back yonder.
2) I found out how to keep my kids from hating me and get more understanding from them. My kids grew up okay, but they could have been reared with a better handle on coping with adulthood and business than what they turned out being.
3) I learned my marriage didn't have to hit the rocks. Nope, I didn't get a divorce because I've always believed 'until death do us part' and believe that when a person makes a vow, that vow must be kept. The Bible says, "It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not pay." You'll always be held accountable for  it. Yet, had I learned some of these attitudes back then, my marriage would have been better.
4) There are many other truths, I believe they are truths, in this book that will help parents understand their children and lighten up. I think the problem driving parents harder than anything else is the fear of failure as parents and that this failure will surely show up in their children as poor behavior, bad habits, and crime.
5) Yes, I've tried his methods outlined in this book and they work with my children and husband.

 

From here on out, I'm determined to keep in mind these things Mr. Spence has tried to tell the world and make some changes in my own attitudes because of his writings. I've always prided myself in being able to look at another's problems and the way they've worked through them, and learn lessons that way rather than the hard way. Although I will admit I haven't always been successful.
 
This book contains a Contents page and an Index for ease in use. There is no need to read from page 1 to page 307, but if you don't you're missing a lot. My recommendations concerning who should read this book are: those in government in Washington, D.C., governors and mayors of every state and city, esp. school board organizations world-wide, every parent and would-be parent, and every child old enough to read.

 

Author Bio:
I could list all kinds of great things about Gerry Spence here, but you can go to his website to read all of  that. I  find Mr. Gerry Spence one of the best psychologists I've heard speak in a long time. I find him contrary to the most popular view of lawyers around my home town. I find him knowledgeable in those things that concern me: family, friends, co-workers, and others, even my neighbors. Read his bio on his website and you'll find that he has enough credits on his name to cover all of these boasts I've made.

 

 

 

Malignance ~ Sturmen Krieg ~ Cedar Hill Publishing ~ Action/Adventure/Thriller
Website of Author: http://www.sturmenkrieg.com

 

Old habits die hard, they say. In Alexander Scott Richter's case the old adage proves correct. Richter is a career military man. From the time he attended ROTC till now, decades later, his life consists of danger, an element that forces a man to stay alert, be observant of surroundings and people, and be always on the ready to perform defensive measures. Special missions honed these abilities to perfection. So when Richter arrived in New Orleans, Louisiana, to find his daughter's grave, his eyes and mind took note of everything and everybody  even while making his way across familiar territory to the cemetery. He knew that danger could arise from any side and an unprepared person would suffer the consequences.

 

As he bowed before his daughter's grave, he noticed a weird item almost hidden by the wilting flowers surrounding her grave. A claw, pincer, of some animal and Richter thought it might be a chicken's claw.

 

Richter visits his ex-wife and her new husband after the visit to his daughter's grave. Leaving them with very little information, he visits the Sheriff's office. As he talks to the Sheriff, Richter realizes he just can't sit back and wait for the law to find his daughter's killer. He learns nothing new and decides to take matters into his own hands.

 

Making enquiries about the claw and his daughte's death, stirs up Madame Babineaux, Queen of Voodoo. As a result, Richter's life is threatened by Madame's henchmen and all his training as a mercenary  is needed to keep him alive. After a man shoots at him and misses, Richter gives chase through the thick Mardi Gras crowd and the back streets of New Orleans. If not for a faithful friend shadowing his every move, he would have been shot in the back and left for dead. Richter takes over another man's motor cycle = and ends up in the Mississippi River. As a result of this chase, several people are shot, Richter loses the man and the Sheriff calls him in for interrogation.

 

Not long after the visit with the Sheriff, Richter is again attacked. Through this chase he arrives at the House of Dreams. However, Madame gets away and Richter finds himself chasing her. He admires her athletic ability even as he scorns her beliefs and attitudes toward children. The time comes when Richter has a chance to kill her, but the priest stands between them. The Sheriff arrives and the story ends with a satisfying wrap-up.

 

Malignance-The Dark Ages Trilogy II is superbly written. Good grammar, a bit too much description perhaps, and lots of suspense and action makes this book a must read for suspense and action readers everywhere. The story is filled with more chase than other elements, but it's what  happens during the chase that will excite the reader. I liked the story and recommend readers to read Ignoble - The Dark Ages Trilogy I found here: http://www.readerseden.com/product.php?productid=591&am= p;cat=0&page=1  Trilogy I tells about Richter's beginnings as a member of special forces. Sturmen Krieg will soon have The Dark Ages Trilogy III on the market. Check the Readers Den website often.

 

AUTHOR BIO:
Sturmen Krieg

 

Krieg is a retired US Army officer who served as an Intelligence Specialist for the US Army Security Agency (ASA), Korea, Germany, and the Continental United States (CONUS). He served as both an Infantry and Engineer Officer, and had the privilege to command the 256 BDE Engineer Company (Separate).
 
Krieg is a director of 18 stage plays and 5 television productions (QPTV, NYC). He executive produced both stage plays and TV productions via raising funds in support of these creative ventures. He garnered editing and rewrite experience as a director of both stage plays and local TV.  He underwent actor/director training at the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute in NYC and at the Herbert Berghoff (H Studios, also in NYC.

A Ph.D.,  Krieg teaches for Corinthian Colleges, Inc. / Florida Metropolitan University = (FMU) / Everest & Wyotech Online, February 2006 to present: teaching Computer Applications, Computer Networking and Systems Analysis & Design.

Krieg is married and has one child.

http://www.alternative-read.com - Main Site
http://tjbook-list.blogspot.com - Review Blog

 

Liberation ~ Linda Ambrosia ~ Lavender Isis Press ~ Romance
Website of Author: http://hometown.aol.com/romanceadventure/index.html

 

Bess Hawkins, born in Michigan and reared in Ann Arbor, Mississippi, in a communal atmosphere, met her match when she met Rama Chandra, an Arabic refugee who had come to live in Sunbeam Township located near Lake Michigan. Bess saw herself as a liberated woman and had a built-in disgust for the way people like Rama treated their women in the East. Rama decided Bess=20 needed someone like him to teach her what a woman should be. Sparks flew from the outset, but Bess was used to that kind of action since she was daily on the receiving end of insults from everyone in the town and at Sunbeam School. She felt ready for a fight and wasn't afraid to have it. However, things didn't go the way she'd planned especially when her heart betrayed her by falling in love with Rama. Their love wasn't well received and Rama and Bess found themselves fighting for the right to love each other and be married as they desired. Hope is not an element that likes to give up and lie still no matter the obstacles. Obstacles included Bess's uncle Jason Trask and his daughter and son, both of whom had grown up in a mansion.

 

Arabic customs vs. American cultures are at work in this novel. Low class vs. high class is also at work. Northern United States differs from the Southern states almost as much as both sections differ from the Arabian culture, yet love is the same no matter where one finds it.

 

Many people are forced to grow up being shunned by their peers for one thing or another and many grow up without family and friends. This book shows one such person who lost her parents and was forced to grow up experiencing all of this. Liberation also shows how one can live courageously through it all and come out a winner. The book is a must read. A wonderful story of heartache being overcome with happiness.

 

The author wrote:  My book "Liberation" is a clean, old fashioned romance, directly patterned after the romance novels of the  past. So if you liked the early Harlequin Romances, Emily  Loring, and other romance novels of that caliber, you'll love Liberation. No foul language, no sex scenes, make this book available to women of all ages.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  Born and raised in Detroit, I only left Michigan once, when I toured Europe (including Britain) as a singer  in my high school's chorus. In the early eighties, met the man I was to marry when he walked into the gas station where I worked at the time. I'm  the proud parent of four children, all grown with one in the Navy, and am now an equally proud grandmother.

 

 

http://www.alternative-read.com - Main Site
http://tjbook-list.blogspot.com - Review Blog

 

Girl of My Dreams ~ Morgan Mandel ~ Hard Shell = Word=20 Factory ~ Romance

 

Website of Author: http://www.morganmandel.com/=20

 

Girl of My Dreams is off to a roaring start when Jillian Baker has to find a stand-in for a contestant in the show by the same name. Her  employer expects her to go on the street to get a contestant, but she, being actually employed by an outside agency, feels she could do a better job herself. Thrown on stage, in front of cameras with thousands of people soon to see her, without the thick lensed spectacles she needs to see, Jillian panics at her audacity to disobey Blake Caldwell and fill in for number twenty-five. Disobedience  will surely cost her the job and she would never see Blake again. In just a few short months, she'd fallen in love with the producer, now she would no longer be able to work alongside him, making sure the minute obstacles standing in the way of putting on a successful show were smoothed out.

 

To her surprise, Jillian, now going under her birth name Veronica, finds herself chosen as one of the top ten beauties by the millionaire Troy Langley and now must stay in the show until the Girl of My Dreams is chosen. From Hawaii to Las Vegas to Venice to France, Jillian ends up the chosen Girl of My Dreams for Troy Langley, but what of Blake Caldwell? What will her future hold? You must read the book to find out.

 

Girl of My Dreams is a superbly written story of true love, the kind of love that causes a woman to save herself for the right man. The story moves your emotions from calm to excitement to joy to happiness. Yes, a little fear shows its ugly face in there as well. A good, fast read brought to a satisfying end. A story that takes you into the heart of a woman's dreams of being in a beauty contest, desired by a rich handsome man, and admired by many fans. A dream come true for Jillian Baker. You need to read this book, ladies. Experience the dream.

 

BIO FOR MORGAN MANDEL:

 

Morgan writes romances and mysteries while commuting on the train to her day job as an administrative assistant in Chicago's Loop. She and her husband live in a suburb of Chicago with their dog, Rascal, who lives up to her name.

 

Morgan Mandel's favorite childhood story was Cinderella. That fascination carried with her to adulthood when she decided to create her own version in her recently released romantic comedy, GIRL OF MY DREAMS. 

 

Her debut novel, the romantic suspense, TWO WRONGS, a tale of vengeance and the healing power of love set in Chicago, is also still available.

 

Morgan is a past president of the Chicago-North Chapter of Romance Writers of America, serves as Library Liaison for Mystery Writers of America, belongs to Sisters in Crime and EPIC. Prior to being published in book form, she freelanced for the Daily Herald newspaper.

 

She's a great fan of country music, participates in local festivals, enjoys arts and craft shows and has a weakness for slot machines, which explains why she only goes to the casino when on vacation.

 

 

 

Title: Dragon Rampage
Author: Susie = Hawes
Website of Author: http://www.susiehawes.com
Genre: Fantasy

 

It was a time when dragons, humans and elves attempted to live as equals with each inhabiting their allotted territories. When a human Park Ranger disappears, Farquarte, a young dragon, introduced as a human in Susie Hawes' Dragon Creed (Book #1 of The Dragon Thing To Do Series) is accused of murder. The young dragon had eaten only cattle, yet he ended up arrested to suffer the humiliation of a court trial. Farquarte is like a magnet where trouble is concerned and he faced much before the situation improved.

 

The story's opening hooks the reader immediately by plunging him/her into a courtroom drama. Dragons, elves, and other beings change into human form hoping to co-exist with humans. The story takes on the flavor of an analogy as the story unfolds and paints a picture of today's world in which so many races are trying to co-exist in many nations. Cultural problems, laws, and other matters differ widely between the beings of this imagined era as they differ between the races of our world. Let us not forget to mention the story is full of humor. Well-plotted, well-characterized, Dragon Rampage is one book to put on your list of reads.

 

Susie Hawes' The Dragon Thing To Do Series is a must-read for anyone who loves fantasy, magic, elves, dragons and other magical  creatures. Book #1 is Dragon Creed, #2 - Dragon Insurrection, #3-Dragon at Law and  #4-Dragon Rampage, which this review is about. Book 5 - Damned Dragon (as yet to come out.). Find them all at www.fictionwise.com where they won't cost an arm and a leg to purchase. All four novels trace Fraquarte's life from a human to a dragon. These books are not available in print at present.

 

I liked the story because it gives me a look into a fantastic tale of dragons and elves. There is something truly magical about dragons and elves. Farquarte reminds me of Drago in Dragonheart, a video distributed by Universal Studios and one in which Sean Connery made me fall in love with a wise dragon. I've been crazy about dragons ever since.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

 

Trapped in the moody Texas weather, this disabled mom squeezes out a few hours each day to write. Her husband and children are   patient, her housework is neglected and her dog is not speaking to her.
 
Her fiction has appeared in numerous magazines and e-zines, including Whispering Spirits ezine, Darkfire Fiction ezine, Worlds of Wonders ezine, Twilight Times, Runes E zine, Neo-Opsis, Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine (issues # 14 and 18) and Quietus Magazine.
 
She has articles, book reviews and author interviews published or about to be published in SFReader.com, EpicSFF.com, Bewildering Stories, Surreal Magazine, = Whispering=20 Spirits ezine, Worlds of Wonder ezine, The Sword Review and Darkfire Fiction ezine, Neo-Opsis, Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine, Whispering Spirits, SFReader.com and Surreal Magazine.
 
Susie has stories in the anthologies Flashspec vol.2  by Equilibrium Press, and "The Shadowbox Anthology", by Shadowed Realms ezine out of Australia. She has a story in the anthologies: Things Are Not What They Seem and in the Authors by Design anthology, yet to be named.
 
She was September's featured author for Writers 4 Writers in 2006, and the featured author at globalgothic.com for June, 2007.
 
Janrae Frank writes, Susie Hawes' work offers "a very fine reading experience that isn't often found in contemporary fiction. She captures a quality I thought lost with the Golden Age."
  
Susie's Livejournal http://ghostposts.livejournal.com/ page also contains a wealth of information and is updated regularly.
 
She is also a long time friend and contributor to GlogalGothic.com. She has short stories featured
http://www.globalgothic.com/pages/fiction.htm and can be found as Ghostposts throughout the forums. There is a special thread  dedicated to Susie. Susie's most accomplished work is her series of highly credited "The Dragon Thing To Do". Dragon Creed made #1 in fantasy downloads at fictionwise.

 

 

 

Dragon at Law ~ Susie Hawes ~ Renaissance E-Books ~ Fantasy
Website of Author: http://www.susiehawes.com

 

While Farquarte the Dragon and his friends are waiting for the Crown to ratify their non-discrimination agreement the Greenfields who were in a contract to supply the Casino with wine hacked up the prices. Farquarte, being a dragon, had a huge appetite so when he and Jacques to town to buy more wine for the casino and learned of the higher prices, he made a rampage, feeding off a cattle herd.

 That was just the beginning of troubles. Through death omens, cold stiffening his joints, and worry over where he can buy the wine so desperately needed for the Casino, Farquarte finds himself much confused by everything that is happening. Swallowing a few gold pieces didn't help any, especially when he woke up the following morning with a hangover to rival those we suffer after a drinking spree. By the end of Book 3 of The Dragon Thing To Do series, Farquarte is in jail for murdering a Park Ranger, only he didn't murder the ranger.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 
Trapped in the moody Texas weather, this disabled mom squeezes out a few hours each day to write. Her husband and children are patient, her housework is neglected and her dog is not speaking to her.
 
Her fiction has appeared in numerous magazines and e-zines.  She has articles, book reviews and author interviews published or about to be published. She was September's featured author for Writers 4 Writers in 2006, and the featured author at globalgothic.com for June, 2007. Susie's most accomplished work is her series of highly credited "The Dragon Thing To Do". Dragon Creed made #1 in fantasy downloads at fictionwise. Damned Dragon Book #5 should come out in 2008.

 

Susie Hawes has done a good job with her The Dragon Thing To Do Series. I liked the imagery, the way the plot is paced, the way Ms. Hawes instills love and consideration into Farquarte, making him more human than he realizes. Humor, something I like in my reading, is meshed throughout the plot.  I recommend starting with Book #1 Dragon Creed and work your way through the series.

—

 

 

Title: Strange Worlds of Lunacy: The Galaxy's Silliest Anthology
Author: Various Authors
Website of Author: = NA
Publisher: CyberAliens Press: A Imprint of Cyberwizard Productions
Website of = Publisher: http://www.cyberwizardproductions.com/
Genre: Humor/Science Fiction/Fantasy

 

Strange Worlds of Lunacy is a conglomeration of cracked fairy tales, fantastic fantasies, lovable limericks, adorable aliens, elderly elves, gargantuan ghouls, wizened wizards all mixed and matched into the best bathroom anthology a reader could ask for. The tales will terrify, horrify, spice-ify and satisfy your every fantasy well, almost. The sex will not be missed, trust me. The illustrations are as good and informative as the stories. The best the book does for its reader is make him/her laugh. As you know, laughter is the  best medicine as has been proven time and again. As to where to read the stories, the bathroom is the best place in case the companion to laughing decides to come along. Having read a couple of stories, the reader will definitely find excuses to return to their small rooms possibly more often than ever before.

 

I assure you, you will want to read some of the stories more than once. There are limericks, some of my favorites, many stories short enough to read in one 10 minute sitting, and a couple that may take more trips to complete, but good reading nevertheless. Buy the book, read the book, enjoy the book.  You can't go wrong.

 

Many authors, well-known and new ones, have taken part in producing this anthology. In the back of the book, the authors are listed along with brief biographies.

 http://www.alternative-read.com (Main Site)
http://www.tjbook-list.blogspot.com (Review Blog)

 

Title: Murder is Binding
Author: L.L.Bartlett
Website of Author: http://www.LLBartlett.com; http://lornabarrett.com/

 

Tricia Miles was one of many book store owners who had been enticed to open a store in Stoneham, New Hampshire as a means to  bring in tourists. When she opened her mystery book store next door to The Cookery, Cook Book store and met the all the other book store owners and experienced the slow and easy living prevalent in the quiet town she welcomed the new life feeling  she'd found her niche in the world. Soon her world fell apart.

 

It all started with the murder of The Cookery's owner, Doris Gleason. From then on the citizens of Stoneham regarded Tricia as the killer. Distrust and curiosity met her in the eyes of every customer that visited her store. Even people of the town who'd never came into the shop, visited her just to see her because Doris's murder was the first murder in ten years and they just had to see the murderer face to face. When the sheriff acted as though her mind was already settled on Tricia being the murderer, Tricia knew  she would have to solve the crime or end up in prison. One would think a mystery book lover and store owner would know what to do. She knew what Miss Marple would do. Question the suspects. Her questioning everyone that even knew Doris Gleason stirred a cauldron of activity that threatened her life even before the courts ever had a chance to try her and send her to prison. Too many deceptive people. Who to trust?

 

Was the murderer Bob Kelly, the real estate man who'd convinced all the book store owners to open in Stoneham? Had he killed her because Doris was refusing to pay the higher rent and he'd decided the bookstore would have to close? Was Doris's sister, Deirdre, the killer who didn't want to wait for Doris to die to inherit her bookstore? Was it Mike Harris, the young man is trying to get elected as the next Stoneham selectman? Could the killer be any one of a handful of women who'd known Doris and never bothered to try to  hide the fact they didn't like her? Then another woman is killed just minutes after being seen with Tricia and the screws of accusations tighten. 

 

You've got to read the book. Lorna Barrett weaves a 20 marvelous tale of murder and suspense with twists and turns that fully  satisfies even the most skeptical of mystery lovers. At first I thought this had to be a boringly quiet mystery such as the ones written eons ago. Not so, however, tension builds steadily and even more so when Tricia is in the presence of the real killer and she doesn't know it. You won't be disappointed.

 

AUTHOR BIO:
Lorna Barrett is the nom de plume of author Lorraine Bartlett. 
Lorraine's other alter ego, L.L. Bartlett,  writes psychological suspense and the Jeff Resnick mystery series.
She's done it all, from drilling holes for NASA to typing scripts in Hollywood, and lives a life of crime in western New York.
Her first sales were to the confession magazine market.  In all, she's sold nine short stories, including  one on Amazon Shorts.

 

 

—

Gone Baby Gone ~ Miramax Films ~ Fiction/Crime

Title: Gone Baby Gone

Website: video.movies.go.com/gonebabygone

This website has more good information on this DVD, video clips, actor bios, the works.

Producer: Alan Ladd, Jr., Dan Rissner, Sean Bailey

Genre: Fiction/Crime

Publication date: February 12, 2008; Pre-order at video.movies.go.com/products/5373803.html

Length: 114 minutes

Format: DVD

Gone Baby Gone is based on a novel by the author of Mystic River.  The screenplay is written by Ben Affleck and Aaron Stockard. Ben Affleck debuts as its director. Actors include Morgan Freeman, Ed Harris, Michelle Monaghan and Casey Affleck among other  notable ones. Put out by Miramax Films.

When a little girl disappears, two private detectives (Casey Affleck and Michelle Monaghan) who specialize in finding lost children are hired by the grandmother (Amy Madigan) to help find the child. The detectives work closely with the police seeking anyone who may have been involved. Tempers rise, frustrations mount, and the stress of the hunt threaten lives and sanity of those involved. The mother of the little girl (Amy Ryan) acts like one who has something to hide, causing the police to lose patience with her. Her  emotional state is not what you would assume it should be in this type situation, but your emotional state will be stretched to its limits as your nerves tighten by the minute. No one seems to hold much hope of finding the little girl alive after hree days of absence, yet, you never lose hope.

What works? Any time Morgan Freeman or Ed Harris is in the character lineup, you know the movie is going to be good. Morgan Freeman is one of the greats. I remember Ed Harris best in The Abyss, but he's made many good movies besides. Ben Affleck's name has grown popular as well. Ben Affleck has written other screenplays and has even won an Academy Award back in 1997 for one. Casey Affleck is a rising star. I wonder if Casey is Ben's son?  <smile>

What doesn't work? I can't think of a single thing I would change about  the movie. The story is well plotted, with surprising twists and turns that keep you guessing at the ending.

My type of story, folks. I heartily recommend this movie to everyone although children under 17 should be accompanied by a parent or guardian because of the violence and profane language.