April #BookReviews @JenMcMurrain @dlfinnauthor @Virgilante Elizabeth Gauffrau Leona Nichole Black

Published on by Jan Sikes

Welcome to my April book reviews! I hope you find something here you can’t live without. 🙂

PURCHASE LINK

MY REVIEW:

As a long-time student of Tarot, this book caught my eye. What I found between the pages is a fresh new look at the practical everyday use of tarot cards presented in a truly profound way. I love that the book is divided into eight sections.
Starting with Love, the author shares a deeply personal story and journey. The following sections, Purpose, Healing, Change, Truth, and Hope, give the reader a detailed look at ways to utilize the major arcana in a tarot deck to help flesh out the answers to these universal questions. I found the writing to be superb and easy to read and follow.
The final section, The Modern World of Tarot, takes everything shared earlier in the book and gives practical applications that anyone could find helpful and inspiring.
The book is put together in such a way that it does not require linear reading. I love that about it. I went to the sections that appealed to me on my personal journey and found exactly what I needed to find in each segment. This book is a great tool for anyone just starting out with reading tarot cards as well as the seasoned reader, as it offers a different approach to enhancing daily life.
I will be purchasing the paperback format of this book to add to my library.

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MY REVIEW:

This book has two elements I love in a story—a ghost and a budding romance. The book opens with Cooper Davis not understanding why Sage won’t talk to him or even acknowledge his presence. It takes a long minute for him to realize he is dead. He perished in a shipwreck in the frigid Bering Sea, even though Sage had begged him not to go.
Sage is grieving, but she’s ready to move forward with a big dream she shared with Cooper. They’d planned on purchasing a cabin on a lake and turning it into a Bed & Breakfast. The motivation for Cooper taking the job on the boat was to finally get the downpayment they needed to make that happen. Now Sage is forced to continue alone. But she can’t do it by herself. She needs some serious help with repairs before it can ever be ready for guests.
Enter Noah Finnley. Noah is a down-on-his-luck, out-of-work carpenter on the verge of getting evicted from his apartment. Sage makes him an offer he can’t refuse, and he joins her as a partner in the B&B. There’s only one major hitch. Noah can see and communicate with ghosts. The conversations he has with Cooper are, at times, humorous, and, at other times, they take a turn toward violence as Cooper sees Noah as an intruder and a threat to his alpha male position in Sage’s life. After all, Cooper had promised Sage he’d never leave her. It doesn’t matter that he’s dead. He selfishly refuses to think of Sage moving on without him. I love all the different complex layers this story takes on when Cooper’s father is brought into the mix, not to mention the local sheriff, Richard. I don’t want to leave any spoilers here, but I will say if you are up for a good ghost story with a heavy dose of romance, this is the story for you!

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MY REVIEW:

This collection of short stories is unusual, covering several different genres and all with satisfying endings, which is no easy feat for short stories. In this book, you’ll find everything from a character finding exhilarating freedom to terror in an earthquake (with which California residents are all too familiar) to chilling ghost stories, sci-fi, and so much more.
I’m hard-pressed to pick any favorites from this collection, but I’ll give it a try. I Loved “End of the Road.” You see, I believe there are angels watching over us and there to give us nudges when we need them.
“Lyrical Dragon” is so cleverly written. The dragon communicates in haikus, which this author does extremely well.
An excellent sci-fi story, “The Playdate,” takes an unexpected twist, leaving the reader gasping. “The Bike” is a heartwarming story of generosity and forgiveness.
The 99-word flash fiction pieces are so enjoyable and well done. If you are looking for a collection of short stories that has something for everyone’s reading palate, this is the book for you! I highly recommend it!

PURCHASE LINK

MY REVIEW:

It’s no secret I am a huge fan of C.S. Boyack’s speculative fiction writing. But this book tops the list for me.
Mari White returns to the farm one morning after hunting for meat for the family to find her husband and only child brutally slain and the house turned upside down. On top of that, they even killed the ox they’d used for farming.
Life is hard enough in the apocalyptic setting without the marauders adding to the already astronomical difficulties of trying to rebuild after the 2nd World War that destroyed everything.
She reports the murders to the local sheriff, only he brushes her off, saying he has bigger problems than her murdered family.
Mari is hell-bent on revenge. The men who destroyed her world have to pay.
Examining the tracks leading away from the farm, she gathers the one onery ox that hadn’t been killed and hooks him to a wagon that, from the author’s description, is more like the back end of a pickup truck. She sets off to find them with only a 22 rifle and a knife that had belonged to her husband.
The journey is long and tedious through Florida swamp land filled with deadly creatures, both animal and human. The author does a fabulous job of describing the scattered remnants of society, destroyed roads, and numerous unforgettable characters as the story unfolds. Each character Mari encounters has something to offer.
If I had to pick a favorite side character, it would be Kelilah. She nurses Mari back to health after the same horrible men attack and rape her, then leave her for dead. Not only does Kelilah help Mari heal, but she also teaches her valuable lessons on ways to defend herself with a knife.
I love that quarters are the money system in this dystopian society, and white dog is the liquor of choice.
There were times along this journey when all hope seemed lost. Mari developed a keen sense of smell and could tell by sniffing a man’s saddle where he’d been or if a deer had recently crossed the path. That ability served her well. A stray dog she named Worthless tugged at my heart as well as the stubborn ox, Dirt. Her relationship with the ox didn’t start out on good terms, but she figured out how to control him with her small son’s whistle and a bucket of figs.
The story is told in first person through Mari’s point of view, so it is up close and personal. The progression of the story is steady, and it kept me engaged throughout. I rooted for Marisol White and wanted her to find what she sought. If you like to be entertained and are a fan of dystopian fiction, this is the book for you. I can highly recommend it!

PURCHASE LINK

MY REVIEW:

I chose to read this beautiful book of poetry on the anniversary of my husband’s passing. I found exquisite poetry from the author’s heart that expressed so much of what I was feeling. While we never stop missing our loved ones, we can hold the memories close. This author lists the birth and death dates of three family members at the beginning of the book, so you know right away this is a deeply personal expression.

Here’s one example of the striking poetry you’ll find in this book:

this wasn’t supposed to happen
this final indignity
this querulous voice
this hollow-eyed stare
this startled shuffle
this bemused bobble
this timorous tremor
this unreasoning hope
for life

If you have lost someone you love, are seeking healing, or even just confirming words, you will enjoy this book of poetry. The photos the author includes add to the personal expressions.

That’s it from me this month. Hope you enjoy!

66 thoughts on “April #BookReviews @JenMcMurrain @dlfinnauthor @Virgilante Elizabeth Gauffrau Leona Nichole Black”

  2. Beautiful reviews Jan for a nice variety of books. I’m going to order that tarot book in paperback. Sounds like we’re the same with certain books. Anything I want to highlight or go back to later, I like to mark in a tangible book. 🙂 x

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  6. Wonderful reviews, Jan. I’ve yet to read Craig’s latest, but Grief Songs and In the Tree’s Shadows are fabulous were great reads. Jennifer’s and Leona’s books sound terrific as well. Congratulations to all! 🎉🎊🎉

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    1. Lol, John. Your comment made me chuckle. I highly recommend C.S. Boyack’s latest! And the new short stories from D.L. Finn are equally entertaining and so well written. Without reading, I do not believe a writer can grow. When an author tells me they don’t read, I immediately pass over their books. Thanks for visiting!

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  14. Thank you for including In the Tree’s Shadow here, Jan. Your review kicked off a happy dance here in the trees 🙂 I will have to check out the tarot book and I love the cover of Winter Song! Sounds like a good read . I loved Craig’s latest too. Xo

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    2. It’s my pleasure to include Tree’s Shadow, Denise. What a great collection of short stories! I enjoyed it so much. Thanks for adding your recommendation for Craig’s latest. And, I’m glad you are intrigued by the other two. Winter Song was so entertaining, although at times, I wanted to strangle the ghost. 🙂

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    1. I really did enjoy Winter Song, Joan. And it was my first time reading anything by this author. I think you’d enjoy it. Nothing like a stubborn and territorial ghost. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by and for adding your recommendation for Denise’s new book!

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    1. Oh my, Karen. My heart goes out to your daughter. I was only 58 when I lost my husband. I pray that she finds peace. Thank you for stopping by. I appreciate your comment.

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  23. Great reviews, Jan! I really enjoyed In the Tree’s Shadow (The Bike was also a favorite of mine in Denise’s collection), and I purchased Craig’s book. Winter Song sounds like a fun read.
    Congratulations to all the authors on the excellent reviews!

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    1. I’m glad you enjoyed the reviews, Mae. Winter Song was very entertaining. At times I wanted to shake the ghost and tell him to move on, but it made for a fun read. I know you will enjoy Craig’s new book. I hesitate to say it, but it may be his best yet. It’s hard to compare apples to oranges. Thank you for the added boost to Tree’s Shadow!

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