"Cynde's "What's-Up-Wednesday" Book Review!"

The book that I am going to review today is entitled "ROSE: A True Lady" and it was written by Diane L. Wood. Diane has attended a weekly, six-lesson creative writing class and she enjoys memberships in local writing groups, Romance Writers of Australia and Queensland Writing Centre. She has written many poems, a play, three novel-length manuscripts and many short stories. Two of her poems have won prizes and a short story entitled "Revenge" was published in a magazine. Her next project is going to be "the life of her father".





The Synopsis:

"Rose loved her family, endured the hardship of the economic depression of the 1930s, the savage widespread bushfires of 1939... and lay at death's door four times. By sheer luck or determination she refused to die. Losing her mother without closure hung heavily in her heart and affected her entire adult life. Set in Victoria, Australia during the 1900s this true story is about a family and a mother and glimpses everyday life of over a century ago. A valuable piece of Australian heritage."





My Review:

"ROSE: A True Lady" is the true-life account of the author's maternal grandmother. As you can see by the photo of her on the front cover of the book, she was a very beautiful woman and by all accounts, she was just as lovely on the inside as she was on the outside. She was a God-fearing woman who loved her family and did her best to raise them in the proper way; she was definitely a true lady.

For Diane, this book was a labor of love. She spent hours contacting relatives by email, in person, whatever way she could to get to get as much information as possible about the life and struggles of her grandmother. The following is the "Introduction" to her book:

" A life-time fascination with my grandmother brought this story to fruition. Her life was one of illness, hardship and deathly incidents. She found humour where
appropriate and sometimes perhaps where it was not, and laughed at her own doings. She was deeply loved by her own family and friends who have generously shared their
memories of her. The documenting of this story is therefore a valuable collection of
memories. To those who were not fortunate in meeting her, her story is a fine example of living during the hard times of the early 1900s through to the 1970s and as such is a part of our heritage. It gives a glimpse of how it was back then. Through all of it Rose remained true to herself and her family.
In 2004, thirty years after her passing, she was contacted via the wonder of
hypnotherapy. The session was recorded and transcribed. The edited transcript has been slotted into the story in relevant sections and appears in blocks of Italics.
Hypnotherapy sessions can reveal a lot of information. The details are heard by
the subject while in a trance state, the subject then passes it on to the hypnotherapist, much like the party game where a sentence is whispered from ear to ear down a line of players. At the end of the line the sentence is said out loud. By the nature of the human brain the words are always altered slightly by each person and ends up totally different.
Similarly, during hypnotherapy the details said by the subject often are not the exact words or wording they hear. In this case it may not portray Rose’s exact manner of speech.
Everyone remembers from different perspectives. The police, for example, interviewing those present at an incident scene know they will hear a different story from each witness. The accounts herein are no exception and sometimes may seem
contradictory.
No-one’s life can be compacted down to a few hundred pages of text and be
complete. Life is complex and has many facets, too many to document in one volume.
The following collection of memories gives an overview of a mother and her family. It is a story of a family.
These most memorable moments are intended as a tribute to my grandmother and
her life achievements.
Where possible historical facts have been verified."

My Rating: (poor, fair, good, great, or excellent)



I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to: anyone who likes to read historical pieces or stories about the true-life struggles of women set in the early 1900's. In fact, anyone who likes non-fiction stories would enjoy this book. It was great.

Ms. Wood did a wonderful job incorporating the transcript from the hynotherapy session. It was added to the text so seamlessly that after a while, it was hardly noticeable and just became another enhancement that added flair to her prose.

I know that when people read the description of this book as "a story about someone's grandmother", that you might think it was boring. Let me assure you that it is not! This story is well told, heart-warming, interesting, informational, and even funny in spots. It's a good book, I am so glad that I read it, and I hope that more people will read it, too.

I read the book two times. I am so amazed that she was able to take snippets of her grandmother's life, plus her own memories and those of several family members, plus the account of a doctor's interview from the transcript, and piece them together into such a compelling, poignant and interesting account of a loving, complex, loyal, strong, and fascinating woman.

This story shows interesting vignettes of how people lived in the past, struggling with extreme poverty and living gracefully in the midst of it, always hanging on to their strong faith and love of family. There were heartbreaks and cute little pranks. It was true-to-life throughout, plus delightfully honest and real. I enjoyed it immensely. I could tell it was written from the heart, and by the end, I felt I knew the essence of Rose, a true lady.

GREAT JOB, Diane! If you would like to learn more about Diane L. Wood, you can also check out her incredible short story "Writing Felicity".

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DON'T FORGET: Keep an eye out for the upcoming "Guest Author Interview" that I will be having with Diane L. Wood in the very near future. You'll be able to learn more information about her and find out what she's working on next.




Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde


Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Cynde's "What's-Up-Wednesday" Book Review!"

"Cynthia's Attic: Curse of the Bayou" is the third in a four book "Cynthia's Attic Series" written by Mary Cunningham, that I am going to review for you here on my blog today.

The first book in the series, entitled "Cynthia's Attic: The Missing Locket"was already reviewed for you on my blog here. "Cynthia's Attic: The Magic Medallion" is the second book in the series, and it was already reviewed here.

Before I go any further, let me say that you could read each of the books without reading the others, and still get a lot of enjoyment out of them. However, I highly recommend that you read all four of the books in this series! If you don't, you would be missing out on loads of fun and adventure, plus I think you would really regret it.



The Synopsis:

"Colorful pirates. SuRana— a shape-shifting puma, and an old Cajun guide named Mud Bug join Cynthia and Gus as they explore the "Curse of the Bayou". The latest quest for the adventurous, twelve-year-old best friends finds them in a Louisiana bayou. There, they search for answers in the disappearance of Cynthia's great-grandfather, Beau Connor, who was on his way down the Mississippi River to sell a flatboat full of produce.

With the help of a magic truck in Cynthia's attic, this time-traveling duo venture back to 1914 New Orleans. The warm welcome and advice from old friend, Gabriella, is small comfort when Mud Bug warns them to stay away from Buzzard Jack LaBuse, the meanest, orneriest pirate this side of the Mississippi, and his gang of misfits, Snags, Darby, and Salty Sam, their thieving parrot mascot.

A trip to Connor's Southern Indiana farm reveals a strange connection between Beau and Buzzard Jack, and a family curse that might be responsible for Cynthia's great-grandfather's disappearance. Returning to New Orleans, a harrowing ride on a roller coaster sends them farther back in time to 1844, straight into the clutches of the evil pirate, fighting for their lives.

A mysterious treasure and heart-stopping adventure lead to a final confrontation in the girls' mission to save Great Granddaddy Beau."



My Review:

This is the second book in a series of four (so far) exciting books in the "Cynthia's Attic Series". Once again, Gus (Augusta Lee) and her best friend Cynthia, the twelve-year-old, time-traveling duo in these adventures, are reunited to solve another suspenseful mystery.

As the two girl time travel from the Connor's farm in Southern Indiana to the Louisiana bayou, they meet up with several colorful characters. Gabriella, their fortune-telling gypsy friend from book two, "The Magic Medallion", appears to give them friendship, comfort, and much-needed advice. They meet an old, gruff Cajun guide named Mud Bug who warns them to steer clear of the evil pirate, Buzzard Jack Labuse and his gang. They later meet up with the sweet Jasmine and her little boy Mooty, who they finally figure out is Mud Bug as a youngster. You'll have to keep your eyes open in this book because it's fast-paced and there are hidden clues everywhere.

The evil pirate, Buzzard Jack LaBuse and his gang are after them, they have an encounter with a shape-shifting Puma, there are witch's spells, an alligator follows them, people and boats disappear, and Gus even has to use a hunk of bologna to save herself! The intrigue is never-ending in this book. I could't bare to put this book down—I wanted to read the entire book straight through, and I almost did—it's really a great book!



My Rating: (poor, fair, good, great, or excellent)



I like this book the best so far out of the three that I've read in the "Cynthia's Attic Series"—and that's really saying a lot. All of these books have been incredible; however, in my opinion, Ms. Cunningham improves with every book that she writes. This episode is extremely fast paced and exciting, plus it's loaded with fun twists and turns that will make it difficult for you to put the book down for a minute. Believe me—you're going to want to read it from start to finish in one sitting, so you had better prepare for a reading marathon! I recommend this book for children between the ages of 9 and 13 or anyone who enjoys fun and adventure—I'm 50+ years old and I loved every minute of it. This is an excellent book—well done, Mary!

I can't wait to read book four in the series, which is entitled "Cynthia's Attic: The Magician's Castle".

Anyone wishing to learn more about the author, Mary Cunningham, please visit her website by clicking here.

Also, don't forget: as soon as I have completed reviewing the entire "Cynthia's Attic Series" here on my blog, Mary Cunningham will be coming here for a "Guest Author Interview!" So...keep watching!

Also...don't miss your chance to win a FREE,Autographed copy of "Cynthia's Attic: The Magician's Castle". The contest details are here and the contest ends: midnight on Sunday, 11 April 2010.




Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde


Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Cynde's "What's-Up-Wednesday" Book Review!"

In case you haven't already heard, I have decided that as a special treat for you, my readers, I will be reviewing the entire, amazing "Cynthia's Attic Series", books one through four, followed by an exciting interview with the author, the awe-inspiring Mary Cunningham.


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First, I'll begin by reviewing the number one book in the series, which is entitled, "Cynthia's Attic: The Missing Locket":







The Synopsis:

"Magical costumes, disappearing stairs and a spooky attic filled with dusty antiques–what more could two, adventurous, young girls ask for?

Best friends, Cynthia and Gus as she prefers to be called, are as “different as bubble gum and broccoli.” They are, however, equal in their ability to get into trouble without much effort.

In trying to escape the “boring summer” of 1964, the adventurous twelve-year-old girls stumble upon a trunk in Cynthia’s attic that has been in her family for three generations.

They discover its mystical qualities when they are swept into the trunk and whisked back to 1914, literally into the lives of their twelve-year-old grandmothers, Clara and Bess. The mystery of a missing family locket is revealed. Their quest takes numerous twists and turns, including a life-and-death struggle on a large steamship traveling from England to America.

Along with perilous escapades, they make important, sometimes humorous discoveries about their ancestors, and even manage to change history–for the better–along the way."





My Review:

This is the first book in a series of four (so far) exciting stories that are told through the voice of the tomboyish character of Gus (Augusta Lee). Gus and her "girlie-girl" best friend, Cynthia, are exact opposites, but they are also as close as sisters. They have made the discovery that they can travel through time via an old trunk that they found in Cynthia's attic and by doing so, they are having the most delightful adventures with some of Cynthia's ancestors.

In this particular story, these two 12-year-old girls must solve a mystery involving a locket that was lost fifty years earlier when their grandmothers were also 12-year-old best friends. Furthermore, they must also solve the mystery of the disappearance of Cynthia's great-great Aunt Isabelle, who was the original owner of the locket in the first place. They are exciting and sometimes hair-raising adventures as Gus and Cynthia use their wits and humor to solve these mysteries and fix things in their own special ways.

Even though this is supposed to be a children's book series, trust me when I tell you that anyone of any age would enjoy this book (above infants, of course). I'm a little over fifty myself, and I couldn't put this book down, it was so exciting! I loved the characters--they were well-rounded, believable and I actually cared about what happened to them. The story was thrilling and playful, plus you can tell that every step was carefully planned out in advance. I can't wait to read the next book! Ms. Cunningham is a brilliant and thoughtful writer.



My Rating: (poor, fair, good, great, or excellent)



I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I would highly recommend it to both children and adults alike, and I assure you that neither age group would be disappointed in the least. I'm so glad that I have all four of these books; that way I can read one right after the other. Don't miss out on reading this fabulous story--you should go out and buy it today!

I give this book an absolute rating of: EXCELLENT! Well done, Mary!

To learn more about Mary Cunningham, visit her at her website here.





Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde


Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Cynde's "What's-Up-Wednesday"Guest Author Interview!"

I’d like to welcome Kathryn Casey, author of the blockbuster fiction mystery novels, “SINGULARITY” and “BLOOD LINES”, as well as several non-fiction, award-winning, true crime novels, to my blog.

C: Welcome, Kathryn. It’s an honor to have you here.


K: Thank you so much, Cynde. It’s my pleasure.


C: I know that a lot of my readers are very curious about you, so if you wouldn’t mind, I have a few questions that I’d like to ask, so that we can all get to know you a little better. Is that alright with you?


K: It sure is.



C: Great, then let’s get started:



C: When the name “Kathryn Casey” is mentioned, most people would associate you with your award-winning, true crime novels. What inspired you to finally “take the plunge” and try your hand at writing your first work of fiction, “SINGULARITY”?


K: True crime is frustrating. I interview dozens and dozens of people, a hundred or more for each book, but I rarely know what happens at the most important moment, when the crime actual occurs. You see, if I’m writing about a case, it’s probably a murder case. There are most often only two people who know the truth about that last moment: the victim and the killer. Unfortunately, the victims aren’t alive to be interviewed. And, this is shocking I know, but the killers don’t always tell the truth. So, I ultimately have a good sense of what happened and why, but I don’t conclusively know.
That can be frustrating. So at some point I thought, you know, if I wrote fiction, I’d know everything, because all the details would come out of my imagination. So, that’s what I did. I made it all up, using much of what I’ve experienced over my career as a crime writer. And it’s been very freeing, a lot of fun.


C: When you wrote “SINGULARITY” and “BLOOD LINES”, what technique did you use? In other words, did you use an outline or did you just start writing and figure it out as you went along?


K: With both the novels and the third novel in the Sarah Armstrong mystery series, THE KILLING STORM, coming out in November 2010, I had the basic concepts in my head along with some of the major plot points, but I didn’t have anything resembling an outline. I sat down at the computer, typed Chapter One, and I was on my way.


C: Your writing has been compared to that of award-winning novelist Patricia Cornwell. Do you envision yourself being able to build a multi-novel series around your “Sarah Armstrong” character that could have the same endurance as Patricia Cornwell’s “Scarpetta” character?


K: I, of course, hope this will be a long series. Sarah is a multi-dimensional character. She’s a Texas Ranger/profiler/investigator, but she’s also the single mom of Maggie, age 11 in the first book. Sarah is the daughter of Nora, a sometimes opinionated sixty three year old who bakes cakes for fancy restaurants and boards horses. They’re a family with a home, the Rocking Horse ranch. When I invented Sarah, I invented her world. Many of the reviews have remarked that the characters in this series are remarkable for their depth, that they’re changing in the first two books. There’s more development in the third book. I’m hoping there’ll be more books in the series, so I get to spend more time in Sarah’s world. But three is a good start, a very good start.


C: Have you ever considered collaborating with another author on writing a novel? If so, who would it be, and if not, why not?




K: If the right opportunity presented itself, I might, but it would have to be something I considered at the time. I have no plans to collaborate.


C: Would you please describe for us one of your typical writing days, from start to finish?


K: When I’m into the writing mode, I get up about seven, have coffee and a slice of toast with peanut butter, and then sit down at my computer. Except for bathroom and stretch breaks and lunch, I’m there for the duration of the day, until I hear the garage door open announcing that my husband is home from the office. If I get stuck, can’t figure out what to do next, I take the dog for a walk. Fresh air and a bit of relaxation can open up creative channels. It’s a great way to get moving again.


C: What do you think would be the most valuable pieces of advice that anyone could pass on to someone struggling to become a published writer?



K: To realize that along with talent, the most important trait is determination. You have to truly want to write. It’s a tough business for most of us to break into, so be patient and focused, and don’t worry if your first attempts are rejected. I once had a file filled with rejection slips for short stories I sent to magazines. My favorite was from the New Yorker. Most were standard, pre-printed rejection letters, but at the bottom of that particular one someone wrote: “Keep trying.” Wonderful advice.


C: Thanks a lot for visiting us today, Kathryn! I had a great time and I'm sure my readers enjoyed your great answers to my questions. I hope you'll come back and visit us when your new book, the next one in this series, "THE KILLING STORM" comes out in the fall, so we can see what the latest news is with you.


If anyone wants to learn more about Kathryn Casey and the other books that she has written, please feel free to visit her amazing website by clicking here.




Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde


Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!






Be on the lookout next for:

• A book review of "Cynthia's Attic: The Missing Locket" written by Mary Cunningham.


• A book review of "Cynthia's Attic: The Magic Medallion" written by Mary Cunningham.


• A book review of "Cynthia's Attic: Curse of the Bayou" written by Mary Cunningham.


• A book review of "Cynthia's Attic: The Magician's Castle" written by Mary Cunningham.


• An interview with Mary Cunningham, who wrote the delightful "CYNTHIA'S ATTIC SERIES"

"Cynde's "What's-Up-Wednesday" Book Review!"

The book that I have chosen to review for you this time is "THE HATE LIST" written by Jennifer Brown.

The synopsis reads:

"Five months ago, Valerie Leftman's boyfriend, Nick, opened fire on their school cafeteria. Shot trying to stop him, Valerie inadvertently saved the life of a classmate, but was implicated in the shootings because of the list she helped create. A list of people and things she and Nick hated. The list he used to pick his targets.

Now, after a summer of seclusion, Val is forced to confront her guilt as she returns to school to complete her senior year. Haunted by the memory of the boyfriend she still loves and navigating rocky relationships with her family, former friends and the girl whose life she saved, Val must come to grips with the tragedy that took place and her role in it, in order to make amends and move on with her life."

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Jennifer was able to get into the inside of each of her characters' heads and present what I thought were authentic reactions to a very tragic situation.

Each of her characters were well-rounded, believable, likeable or sometimes hateable characters that you would definitely want to learn more about. I found myself getting very wrapped up in the story, remembering how it was when I was in high school and I watched some of the very same things happening around me. There are always bullies and snots that seem to be mean for no reason, and Jennifer was able to put herself in the shoes of everyone, no matter what side they were coming from.

Be prepared for a gripping and sensitive look at how people would react to a senseless act of violence in a school full of teenagers. This is a thoughtful ficticious account of the reactions of the children that were there, the friends left behind, the widow of a teacher that was killed, the parents of the dead and many more.

The book travels from the present, then back to the day of the shooting, then back again, several times, so that it can keep a running account of each person's reaction. Trust me...the story is done tastefully and the ending is a pleasant surprise. I highly recommend that you read this book.








Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde



Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!