Non-Fiction: The Profiler, by Pat Brown

The Profiler, by Pat Brown with Bob Andelman, is the true account of a woman in her thirties who travels the unlikely path to becoming a professional criminal profiler. This book tells of her journey to learn all aspects of profiling and become involved with law enforcement for the solving of cases, her experiences with the bureaucracy that is often involved, as well as her in depth analysis of some crimes she investigated.


Being that I am fascinated by true crime shows and books, I jumped at the chance to review this book. It was intriguing to see just how simple common sense makes up the majority of the profiling scenario. An eye for detail, some theories, as well as making sure the pieces fit snugly, is also required.



This book was written in plain language that was easy to read and follow. I did find it to be a bit redundant in many places. Part of this, I suspect, is due to the layout of the book. The other part might be just the author's desire to make her point. In either case, it was a little distracting.

Besides the redundancy, I was really disappointed with the fact that none of the cases in the book ended up being solved, even with the author's contribution. I feel that all of the work that Pat Brown did in order to become a profiler, and one who was taken seriously, should have led to at least a few cases being considered solved and closed. This would have been a better testament to the validity of her work. There should have been a balance between solved and unsolved cases to show that she has been successful in bringing justice forward, as well as how difficult it is to find justice when bureaucracy plays such an integral part in the process. Because of the lack of positive outcomes, this book left me feeling a tad hopeless and doubtful of Ms. Brown's success in helping to close any cases.

On a scale of 1-4, I give this book a 3 because it was an easy read with very good and interesting information. Had it not been so redundant and had at least two "happy" endings, I would have considered giving it a 4.

This book was published by Hyperion, a division of HarperCollins.
ISBN: 978-1-4013-4126-8


Thank you to Pat Brown, via her publicist Joyce Lundeen for the gift of this book.

Fiction/Short Story Collection: A Sudden Outburst of Cosmic Duck, by Troy Blackford

Because I edited this book, I have a pretty in depth understanding of the concepts and characters Troy was going for. In working with Troy, I also have a pretty good idea about his own character and am able to appreciate how his personality traits played out in his short stories.




Though I have not had a chance to read the final cut of the book ( I have no idea what changes Troy made without my guidance!), I do know that it is not too far off of the original. With that said, I can share with you the things I liked best about this book,hopefully, without ruining any of the plots.





I really liked the reality game show platform that Troy incorporated into 3 of his stories. It was a unique concept that played out nicely in 3 very different scenarios.



I also enjoyed the story which featured the future of self-driven cars. It was a scary portrayal of just what can happen because we are so tied to technology.



I liked the majority of the stories in this collection. The book hosts a panoply of characters ranging from the psychotic, to drunk, to determined, and more. There are stories that have Stephen King and Alfred Hitchcock like themes, and a grand finale that explains the quirky, cosmic title.



Don't judge a book by its title, judge it by its content. You may not like all of the stories in this collection, but I am sure you will find at least a couple of jewels that you'll treasure.
 
 
On a scale of 1-4, I give this book a 3. There are some great story concepts, and a lot of detail so that you know EXACTLY what Troy was thinking!
 
 
This book was independently published using http://lulu.com/
ISBN: not available
 
Thank you to Troy Blackford for the opportunity to play with his words and enjoy his stories!

Children's Fiction: Do Witches Make Fishes? by Jason Mayo

Do Witches Make Fishes? This book, by Jason Mayo, tells the tale of a boy who, like so many, would rather eat candy than the fish and veggie stew his mother has served. A grave warning is issued, a hasty wish is made, and a witch appears! A difficult decision is made by the boy, and a lesson on healthy eating is learned.


I read this book with two of my daughters. As I read it, I found the rhythm and flow of the words to be pleasant. The storyline was interesting, and the artwork was colorful. I did find the ending to be a bit abrupt, and the question asked in the title "Do witches make fishes?" was never answered. However, overall, I found it to be a user friendly story to read.


When I asked my girls if they liked the book, both  said it was "O.K." Neither offered me specifics as to why they felt this way. Perhaps it was the mood they were in, or maybe the book didn't meet their expectations. Just goes to show, I don't always know what goes on in the minds of my children!


 On a scale of 1-4, including my thoughts and those of my daughters, I give this book a 3. Overall, we liked this book, but there just seemed to be a little something missing.


This book was published by AuthorHouse.
ISBN: 978-1-4520-6944-9

All proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to Garden of Dreams. For more information, please visit http://dowitchesmakefishes.com/.

Thank you to Jason Mayo for the gift of his book.

Non-Fiction: It Writes Itself; A Travel Guide to Writing Fiction, by Susannah Raulino

I am not a writer, but I have dabbled here and there. When this book, It Writes Itself, came up for review, I thought I'd check it out. I have to say that I am really impressed. This book is a great resource for people who want to explore writing fiction, but it is also good for those writers who might be blocked, or need to take a step back.

This book lays out very easy to understand principles which help a person tackle everything about writing fiction; from voice, to setting, to characters, and more. There are fun exercises addressing all things fiction to help new and established writers get the most out of their work.





There are 8 chapters in this book addressing the following:
1. Why Write? Where Write? And for Whom Write?
2. Meet and Get to Know Your Fellow Travelers, the Characters say "Hi"
3. Senses, Languages, Voice, and Point of View
4. Architecture and Nature
5. Histories and Culture
6. Situations, Actions, and Plots
7.Story Structures, Putting it All Together, and Chatting With Fiction
8. Rewards of Writing and Sources of Inspiration

This is not a work that explores topics in depth, but gives a surface exposure to get people going. I would consider this a first stepping stone, as opposed to a definitive work. Or, for established writers, I would consider this a refreshing step back in the process which may illuminate and inspire.


I really enjoyed the easy and uplifting prose of this instructional book. I found it to be a pleasant read with many great ideas that I will actually try to use when exploring the writer within me.

On a scale of 1-4, I give this book a 4. It is a highly user friendly book with pertinent and realistic information.

Published by Raulino Books
ISBN: 9780615345703

Thank you to Susannah Raulino for the gift of this book.

Fantasy/Fiction: Dante's Journey, by JC Marino

Dante's Journey, by JC Marino, is the story of Detective Joseph Dante, a Boston police officer who has suffered the tragic loss of his family in the early 1960's. In his pursuit of justice, Joe Dante chases the man he holds responsible for the murder of his wife and children, Filippo Argenti, right into the bowels of Hell.

While searching for Argenti through the many layers of Dante's Inferno, Joe Dante finds himself learning many secrets, and having to struggle to do the right thing. Coming face to face with terrors, demons, and truths abound, Dante fights to find the justice he believes his family deserves.

I have yet to read Dante's Inferno, so I cannot speak to the accuracy of the author's claim on the back cover that Joe Dante does in fact move "through the rings of the original Dante's Inferno." However, judging this as an independent work, I feel that the descriptions of the many levels and layers of Hell, along with the symbolism, was done fairly well. I liked the way the story moved from Hell, to Joe's past, and back in order to explain the chain of events and the inter-relationships of the characters. I also liked the way the characters tied together.

There is a moment of reckoning that takes place toward the end of the book which I feel needed much more development. After all, the whole story brings us to that one point, and then, out of 366 pages, only 2 1/2 were devoted to this event. I feel that this was such a HUGE pivotal moment, that it really deserved much more attention than it received. Reading what was written, I feel that the author was rushing to get to his ending.

Overall, I liked this book and the concepts of moving a "modern" character through a classic background. The writing was done well and there were few mechanical errors. The tone was consistent and the basic storyline was good.

On a scale of 1-4, I give this book a 3. I really liked the book, but wish the "moment of truth" had been better developed.

This book was published by A Star Publish, LLC.
ISBN: 978-1-935188-09-4

Thank you JC Marino for the gift of this book.

Children's Fiction: Mrs. Pinkelmeyer and Moopus McGlinden Burn the Rrrrump Rrrroast, by Jennifer Kelman

Mrs. Pinkelmeyer and Moopus McGlinden Burn the Rrrrump Rrrroast is a children's book written by Jennifer Kelman, and illustrated by Michael Swaim. In this story, what I'm led to believe is the first in many adventures, Mrs. Pinkelmeyer gets a phone call from a stranger which leads her to telling tales of her dog Moopus and completely forgetting about her rrrump rrroast in the oven.

This story was a fun read. My girls got a kick out of the rolling R's in "rump roast", as well as to the mishaps and adventures of Mrs. Pinkelmeyer and her dog, Moopus. There were a couple of awkward transitions and some mechanical errors, but the story, overall, was well done.


On a scale of 1-4, I give this book a 3. My girls loved the characters and I enjoyed trying to sport an English accent whilst wildly rolling my R's.

This book was published by Dog Ear Publishing
ISBN: 978-160844-612-4

Thank you to Jennifer Kelman for the gift of her book.

Suspense: Birth of an Assassin, by Tony Bertot

The Birth of an Assassin is one of 3 books in a series by author Tony Bertot. In this prequel to Mr. Bertot's first book, The Heart of an Assassin, we meet eight year old Theo Gresco, whose life and losses we learn about as the story weaves between Little Italy- Chicago, Palermo- Italy, and New York City. Through his heartbreak and experiences, we get to witness The Birth of an Assassin.

After tragedy strikes Theo's family, his mom moves them to Palermo, Italy. With WWII going on, Italy is a German occupied country. Theo and his family face danger from the local German occupants and ultimately fall to more tragedy. Eventually, Theo returns to America,  grown up and well practiced in the art of shooting.

I enjoyed the storyline of this book. The style was, for the most part, easy to read. I liked that it was filled with action, suspense, plenty of mob bosses, love, and heartbreak. However, with so many Italian mob bosses trying to rule the world, I did have a little difficulty keeping everyone straight. Aside from this, and a few technical difficulties, I really enjoyed this book. I look forward to the third and final book, The Legacy of the Assassin.

On a scale of 1-4, I give this book a 3. I liked the storyline and want to see where life takes Theo Gresco.

This book was independently published using createspace.com
ISBN: 978-1450535946

To purchase copies of this book, please visit http://www.createspace.com/3426180 or http://www.thestorytellertonybertot.com/ (signed copies can be purchased at the second site.)

Thank you to Tony Bertot for the gift of this book.

Children's Fiction: Princess and Missy's Magical Adventures: The Crystal Heart by Michelle Nicole Martin

Princess and Missy's Magical Adventures is a series of children's books written by Michelle Nicole Martin and illustrated by Richa Kinra. In the first book, The Crystal Heart, we meet Princess the dog and her family. Princess wanders away from her family home and returns to find her family missing. In her quest to find her family, Princess meets and helps many people, sometimes with the help of a fairy named Missy. Together, they try to fight the evil done by Jaith the Joy Stealer. Although Princess does not find her family, she does make new friends with whom she stays.


My daughter and I read this book separately. From my standpoint, I liked the story concepts, but feel that the writing needed to be a little more developed. There were also a couple of places where some grown-up ideas, such as foreclosure, seemed out of flow with the general idea of the book. My daughter, however, liked the characters and storyline. She was a little disappointed in the way the story resolved itself, but said she looks forward to the next book so she can find out what happens to Princess.


On a scale of 1-4, based on my thoughts and those of my daughter, I give this book a 2. We both liked the book, but agreed there were some things missing.

This book was published by Outskirts Press, Inc.
ISBN: 978-1-4327-4954-5


Thank you to Michelle Nicole Martin for the gift of this book.

Mystery: Tears of Pearl by Tasha Alexander

Tears of Pearl, by Tasha Alexander, is a suspenseful mystery which takes place in the late 1800's. Husband and wife duo, Colin and Emily Hargreaves, are on their honeymoon traversing the world when they meet a man named Sir Richard while traveling to Constantinople. Misfortune hits their new found friend, and thus, the Hargreaves find themselves amidst a plot of murder and intrigue which leads them through the city and harems of the surrounding area. While trying to solve the case at hand, Lady Emily also struggles to resolve her own "mysteries" and concerns for a friend back home. This is the fourth book in the "Lady Emily" series.


This was a fun read. The voice was what I imagine proper, upper class English of the times would have been. Reading about sultans,concubines and harems, along with hamams (baths) was rather interesting. Learning about the architecture and geography of the area through Alexander's eyes (she travelled to Istanbul to research the story elements) was fascinating.


There were only a couple of parts where I felt the book dragged with too much repetition of ideas previously established. And although I love the idea of a strong heroine, there were times when I felt the story to be a bit unbelievable (certain allowances and situations that felt unlikely). But on the whole, I really enjoyed the character development, the dialogue was well done, the plot was well developed, and it was entertaining.

On a scale of 1-4, I give this book a 3. You'll have to read it to find out "who dunnit," and I can't wait for the next one in the series!

This book was published by Minotaur Books.
ISBN: 978-0-312-38370-1