#ShareAReviewDay

#ShareAReviewDay Tuesday – Songs of Heartstrings by Miriam Hurdle

/ Marcia Meara / 25 Comments

This afternoon, I’d like to welcome Miriam Hurdle to The Write Stuff. Miriam is sharing a review for her book of poetry, Songs of Heartstrings, and I know you’ll enjoy it! Be sure to pass it along to the Immediate World, too, so others can learn more about Miriam and her work. Thanks!

REVIEW:

Dorinda Duclos
5.0 out of 5 stars Heartfelt Passages of Life and Faith
January 31, 2019
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase

Songs of Heartstrings – Poems of Gratitude and Beatitude is a most enjoyable book of poetry. Told in the first person, Miriam Hurdle takes you along on her many journeys, in the ups and downs, of life. I particularly enjoyed the photos, placed before many of the poems. It brought me closer to what Miriam was relaying in her words.

My favorite poem is “Life’s Currents”. Here, the author reminds us we are never alone, no matter the hardships we might face in our time here on Earth. There is no doubt Miriam has a strong faith and relies on it for many of life’s obstacles.

The book is broken up into eight different sections, making it a very pleasant read. Miriam uses different styles of poetry, so you’re never just reading. She easily gets and keeps your attention throughout. If you are looking for a poetry book filled with inspiration, and thought-provoking passages, this is the book for you. I highly recommend this to any and everyone as I thoroughly enjoyed reading Songs of Heartstrings – Poems of Gratitude and Beatitude.

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#ShareAReviewDay Tuesday – Understanding: An Anthology of True and Significant Life Events Compiled by Stevie Turner & Shared by D. G. Kaye

/ Marcia Meara / 14 Comments

This morning, let’s welcome D. G. Kaye (or Debby Geis, as many of us know her) to share a review of an anthology she is a contributor to: Understanding: An Anthology of True and Significant Life Events. This one is bound to strike a note with many, many of us who have been through similar things during our lives. I know you’ll enjoy learning more about it and will pass it along to others. Thanks!

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Thanks so much for bringing back ‘Share A Review Day’ Marcia. Today I’d like to share a brand new book called Understanding, an anthology of true and significant life events, which I’m thrilled to be part of along with 19 other authors, compiled by Stevie Turner. The book is only 99 cents and all proceeds are going to cancer research, and delves deep and personal into poignant events the authors experienced and how they were handled and overcome.

REVIEW:

5.0 out of 5 stars An insightful and inspiring collection of experiences
April 20, 2019
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase

This collection of experiences, told mainly in the form of questions and answers, from twenty authors and bloggers, is a unique and emotional read. Each of the twenty participants has been through a traumatic time in their lives and each of them has overcome their particular set of circumstances, whether it is a struggle with cancer, sexual abuse, the loss of a loved one or a personal obsession gone wrong. Despite its emotional and heart wrenching content, this book is, on the whole, an uplifting read as well as being an enlightening one. I was impressed and encouraged by each of these writers ability to overcome their personal hardship and find a successful path forward.

To my mind, the stories in this book can be divided into two sets, those participants who had to deal with circumstances imposed on them by a third party or outside force creating circumstances over which they did not have complete control and those participants who ended up in a situation of their own making through their obsessive natures or those human frailties, like low self-esteem and anxiety. I know from personal experience with friends and family that overcoming such mental barriers is an incredibly difficult thing to do.

I commend all of these authors and bloggers for their courage and honesty in writing their personal stories to help and encourage others who may be facing similar situations.

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#ShareAReviewDay Tuesday – The Emissary 2: To Love Somebody by Marcia Meara

/ Marcia Meara / 24 Comments

Here it is #ShareAReviewDay again, and I’m welcoming . . . er . . . MYSELF to The Write Stuff this afternoon. Had an opening, figured I’d use it. Hope you’ll enjoy this lovely review of The Emissary 2: To Love Somebody, and will pass it along on your favorite social media sites. Thanks!

REVIEW:

Mae Clair
5.0 out of 5 starsAn uplifting tale!

October 27, 2018
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This urban fantasy is a delightful and heartwarming read that combines paranormal elements with the bonds of friendship, loyalty and family. Jake and Dodger are “emissaries” who have been recruited by the Angel Azrael to intercede on Earth when someone is about to do something, well…catastrophic, terrible or dumb. Jake and Dodger have certain rules to follow as they’ve died, yet physically remain on Earth, and can still suffer pain, just not death. They’ve already been there/done that. Now they get to travel around in a big semi rig and help others.

What makes this series (I highly recommend the first Emissary novella if you’ve haven’t already read it) so engaging is the emotional elements the author layers in her plot. Jake and Dodger are on the learning curve this time around, getting accustomed to their powers (under Azrael’s tutelage) while still learning about each other and how they fit into the world. The latter is a particularly rough spot for Dodger given the age at which he died.

As usual for a Marcia Meara story there is angst and hardship, but also plenty of triumph and heartwarming moments that result in misty-eyed reading. The bond between Jake and Dodger is wonderfully portrayed, the writing is polished, and the story flows beautifully. All three of these characters, Azrael included, will capture your heart. I love seeing the Archangel tread the line between his extraordinary power, humanity, and his attachment to his emissaries. A fabulous tale!

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#ShareAReviewDay Tuesday – Devil in the Wind by Frank Prem

/ Marcia Meara / 63 Comments

Hi, Folks! It’s #ShareAReviewDay Tuesday again, and our guest this morning is Frank Prem. Frank is sharing a review from his poetic anthology, Devil in the Wind. After reading this, I’m sold. I’ve pre-ordered this one to add to my collection of poetry anthologies, and I suspect many of you will as well. Thanks for checking it out today, and for sharing far and wide, as well. 

REVIEW:

Mick rated Devil In The Wind 5.0 out of 5 stars on Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44440062-devil-in-the-wind

Like Frank’s previous book, Small Town Kid, this collection of poems tells a story of rural and small town Australia. But the similarities between the two books end there.

Whereas the previous collection was a celebration of boyhood in Frank’s hometown, this is an account of the dreadful bushfires of February 2009 that swept through parts of Southern Australia, the area that is home to the author, killing 173 people and leaving a huge area a fire-blackened moonscape.

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#ShareAReviewDay Tuesday – The Heart of Applebutter Hill by Donna W. Hill

/ Marcia Meara / 37 Comments

Please help me welcome our second guest of the day, Donna W. Hill, who will be sharing a lovely review from her book The Heart of Applebutter Hill. I’m sure this one will speak to many of you, and you’ll be happy to share it on your favorite social media. Thanks!

REVIEW:

The Heart of Applebutter Hill
by Donna W. Hill

 Reviewed by Jacqueline Williams

From the Editor: Jacqueline Williams has taught in New York, in Uganda, and on the San Carlos Indian Reservation in Arizona. After she earned a master’s degree in special education from Northern Arizona University, she served as a special education teacher and administrator in Mesa, Arizona. Now retired, she writes poetry and serves as dance coordinator in the Mesa public schools.

The Heart of Applebutter Hill
 by Donna W. Hill
 Smashwords Press, 2013, 346 pages

 Available in print and as a Kindle ebook, and from Bookshare and Learning Ally.

The Heart of Applebutter Hill is a story of suspense and a passage through adolescent growth. Coping with vision loss and bullying are combined with adventure and fantasy, demonstrating Donna Hill’s vivid imagination. This novel will inspire teachers and readers who want to be part of the solution to bullying and other actions that harm the disadvantaged.

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#ShareAReviewDay Tuesday – The Prince’s Man by Deborah Jay

/ Marcia Meara / 13 Comments

This morning, our #ShareAReviewDay guest is Deborah Jay, and the review she is featuring is from her novel The Prince’s Man. I know you’ll enjoy learning about this one, and I can attest to how good it is! Let’s help get the word out to those who haven’t discovered it yet. Thanks!

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REVIEW:

5.0 out of 5 stars Grown up fantasy with real meat on its bones

April 9, 2019
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I’m not sure what I was expecting when I started reading ‘The Prince’s Man’, but the reality blew me away.

The story is a grown up fantasy reminiscent of Robin Hobb’s Farseer series [which I also happen to love]. You’ll find Machiavellian politics, intrigue, loyalty, a hint of love, and a cast of characters you can relate to. Yes, they have their flaws, but don’t we all?

To my mind, watching the characters change and grow is at least half the fun. The other half is getting to know the world in which those characters live. In all types of speculative fiction, the world is as much of a ‘character’ as the characters themselves. Think how important the planet Arrakis is to the story of Dune.

As readers we want to step out of our everyday lives and get lost in another world. And the author does not disappoint. The otherness of The Prince’s Man is evident right from the start, but there are no boring info. dumps. We learn about the world in the same way we learn about the human characters, by watching the story unfold, a bit at a time.

And finally, I’d like to say something about the plot. It. Is. Not. Predictable. To me, that’s one of the book’s greatest strengths. I like to be surprised, and nothing puts me off more than ‘the same old same old’. In The Prince’s Man, the author kept me guessing right to the end.

I’m looking forward to reading the next book of the series, and I highly recommend this one to anyone who likes a story with real meat on its bones.

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#ShareAReviewDay Tuesday – Amanda in New Mexico: Ghosts in the Wind by Darlene Foster

/ Marcia Meara / 32 Comments

This afternoon, please help me welcome Darlene Foster to The Write Stuff. Darlene is sharing a review of Amanda in New Mexico: Ghosts in the Wind, and I know you’ll enjoy reading this one. Don’t forget to pass it along to all and sundry to help more people learn about this wonderful series. Thanks!

REVIEW:
Bette A. Stevens
5.0 out of 5 stars History & Mystery with plenty of life lessons along the way!

January 15, 2019

Amanda and her sixth-grade class are on an educational field trip from their hometown of Calgary, Canada to visit, explore and document their experiences in New Mexico, USA. As the class tours Taos, New Mexico and the surrounding area, their trip is interrupted by ghosts present and past. In “Amanda in New Mexico—Ghosts in the Wind,” Foster has written a contemporary fiction story through which middle-grade students will not only learn about the region’s geography, architecture, and artifacts—they’ll learn invaluable life lessons along the way. Students and teachers are sure to want to follow Amanda through further adventures in this well-written series.

~Bette A. Stevens, author of award-winning children’s picture book” AMAZING MATILDA, A Monarch’s Tale” and other books for children and adults. Continue reading →

#ShareAReviewDay Tuesday – A Thousand Yesteryears by Mae Clair

/ Marcia Meara / 68 Comments

This morning, we are very happy to welcome Mae Clair to our first returning #ShareAReviewDay post.  I know you are going to enjoy reading about her deliciously shivery book, A Thousand Yesteryears, which is currently on sale for a super bargain price. Check it out, and share the news! Thanks.

REVIEW:

A Thousand Yesteryears by Mae Clair
Book 1 of the Point Pleasant series (can be read as a standalone)

Press review provided by NY Times bestselling author, Kevin O’Brien

“A THOUSAND YESTERYEARS is masterful, bone-chilling fiction that begins with a real-life tragedy on December 15, 1967: the Silver Bridge collapse in Point Pleasant, West Virginia.  46 people died.  Author Mae Clair has seamlessly woven fact, fiction and creepy urban folklore into one intense thriller. The gripping story focuses on two witnesses to the disaster—fifteen years later.  Both Eve Parrish and Caden Flynn lost loved ones in the catastrophe and still carry the emotional scars.  After a long absence, Eve returns to Point Pleasant to bury her recently-deceased aunt, face some old ghosts, and reunite with her one-time “impossible-crush,” Caden.  But when Eve begins to investigate her aunt’s death, she’s plunged into danger and a nightmare world where scary urban legends are very real.  Full of suspense, A THOUSAND YESTERYEARS will keep you guessing, gasping and turning the pages for more.” Continue reading →

#ShareAReviewDay Tuesday is Back!

/ Marcia Meara / 47 Comments

In an ongoing effort to bring back some of this blog’s most popular features, I hereby announce the resumption of #ShareAReviewDay Tuesday. For full instructions on how you can share your favorite or latest reviews, please click on the link entitled “General Blog Rules & Share A Review Day Instructions” in the black header bar above.  I will schedule the reviews 2 per Tuesday in the order in which I receive them.  (NOTE: I will need to set these posts up myself, even for those of you who are contributors to the blog. Thanks.)

And now, to start things off, I’m sharing one of my reviews from That Darkest Place: Riverbend Book 3.  This is basically the way I will set up your reviews each Tuesday. Hope you’ll enjoy taking part!

REVIEW:

MacTrish
5.0 out of 5 starsThis book has it all – Suspense, Romance, Tragedy and Humour
24 September 2018
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

That Darkest Place is the third book in Marcia Meara’s Riverbend series. It begins where the second one finishes and tells the stories of the older two Painter brothers, Jackson and Forrest.

Marcia has an insight into the workings of the human spirit that makes for compelling reading. There’s the sense of struggle, of families disagreeing but solidly behind each other, of menace from the unknown antagonist and the tender, sparky love scenes which are always wonderfully done – there’s joy and mischief and twinkling there that makes those scenes for me! She handles these scenes with a light touch that avoids graphic description yet captures the essence of the delight, the amazement, the miracle of love.

There’s also the subtly interwoven information about strokes, counselling and recovering from physical and emotional trauma that grounds the progress in a way that feels real and ‘right’. As with Hunter, the subject of the second book, the real hook as far as I’m concerned lies in the interaction between the characters and how readily we can identify with them. These fears, confusion and delight are common to us all and her ability to express them so realistically means that we share in them and become part of them, too.

I’d read these in chronological order to avoid spoilers even though they can all be read as standalones. Settle down somewhere cosy and prepare yourself for a most satisfying experience! Continue reading →

A Quick Update on A Few Things

/ Marcia Meara / 56 Comments


Maks and Potter

I had planned to post this earlier, but ran into so much trouble trying to access this blog, I had to give up. Decided I’d try one more time before calling this day done. I mentioned I hadn’t been feeling well, and that’s true, but it’s not serious, thankfully. Just a bad cold and totally blocked sinuses, which makes sleeping difficult for all of us, but can be really tricky if you use a CPAP machine, as  I do. The good news is, it seems to be easing up, and hopefully tomorrow will bring siginifcant improvement.

The other sad news I have is that our piebald dachshund, Potter, the older of our two ancient dogs, developed congestive heart failure last week and we had to say goodbye to him Monday morning. It was a pretty sad day around here, with his “brother”hunting for him everywhere, and me already feeling ill. Got even gloomier yesterday, as it rained all day long, too. But we are adjusting.

We adopted a 10-month-old Potter from an abusive situation more than 14 years ago, so it is very disconcerting not to have him here. I’m sure many (if not most) of you have been through similar things and know how sad it is when it comes time to say goodbye. He was good dog, though it was more than a year before he’d let Mark touch him. (Men were the enemy for a long time.) He grew into a sweet, friendly boy, and he will be sorely missed, for sure.

Tomorrow, I will try to post a sample of #ShareAReviewDay, one of the features I’m bringing back, so that new folks will see what they need to do if they’d like to take part. Will explain in much more detail then. (Assuming WordPress lets me post! ) 😀 And that’s all for now, but stay tuned! Tomorrow will be a better day!