Category: Book news

Book review: ‘From Ashes to Song’ by Hilary Hauck

‘From Ashes to Song’ by Hilary Hauck. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Hilary Hauck is a writer and translator whose work has appeared in the Mindful Writers Retreat Series anthologies, the Ekphrastic Review, Balloons Lit. Journal, and the Telepoem Booth. She moved to Italy from her native UK as a young adult, where she mastered the language, learned how to cook food she can no longer eat, and won a karate championship. After meeting her husband, Hilary came to the US and drew inspiration from Pennsylvania coal history, which soon became the setting for her debut novel, “From Ashes to Song.” Inspired by true events, “From Ashes to Song” is a story of unconventional love, hope, and the extraordinary gifts brought to America by ordinary people in the great wave of immigration.

“From Ashes to Song” begins in the family vineyard in Piedmont, Italy in 1911. Pietro’s idyllic life revolves around music and vineyards. He plays the clarinet and he is practicing his first composition that he wants to play at the end of harvest celebration. His grandfather, who he calls Nonno, has taught him everything he knows about music and Pietro is nervous about playing it for him first. His perfect life starts to unravel when news of a deadly disease spreading through the countryside reaches their vineyard. The family has no choice but to burn it and brokenhearted, Pietro’s grandfather passes away. Now that he has lost the two most important things in his life, Pietro leaves for America to start a new life. Faced with the grueling life of a miner in Pennsylvania, Pietro puts music on the backburner but when he meets Assunta, a friend’s wife, she becomes his musical muse. Admiring her from a distance, he begins writing music again but the harsh realities of everyday life threaten to end his musical aspirations for good. The story ends in 1952 as the years have taken their toll on Pietro but not before he experiences music’s amazing power to heal the soul. He develops miner’s lung, which affects his ability to play his clarinet: “whistling and wheezing filled his ears, drowning out the music.” He passes away peacefully surrounded by family, which by this point includes Assunta as his wife.

“From Ashes to Song” is a beautifully written novel that perfectly captures the hardships of turn of the century immigrant life in Pennsylvania. Using charming and lyrical prose which includes music metaphors: “From the vantage point of the courtyard, the hills rolled like the rise and fall of a tempo…,” the reader is immersed in Pietro and Assunta’s daily struggles to create a better life. The story is written in third person point of view and alternates between Pietro and Assunta; two separate stories until they collide in Pennsylvania. Helped along by exquisite poetic language, the story flows effortlessly through the pages until its heartbreaking yet happily ever after ending. The in-depth character development creates characters that are relatable and by the end, it is hard not to get emotionally invested in their turbulent lives. Throughout the years, Pietro is distant and patient with Assunta but after going through so much loss in their lives, when he finally plays his clarinet for Assunta, their relationship begins to heal: “Doubts and sorrow erased like a message drawn in the sand on an incoming tide.” Since it is inspired by true events, this story of heart break, survival, and triumph of the human experience might resonate with anyone with Italian ancestors. “From Ashes to Song” by Hilary Hauck is a captivating novel that combines the beauty of the Italian countryside and the determination of immigrants to build a better life in a foreign land. It is recommended for fans of historical fiction who appreciate the importance that music can play in someone’s life.

“He just played, eyes closed, his heart aching yet healing at the same time. Him, his clarinet, love. If his music had ever had the power to heal, now was the time to wield it for this woman he loved, who tolerated him by her side.”

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Upcoming new book release: ‘The Premonition’ by Michael Lewis

Michael Lewis’ new book ‘The Premonition’ will be released on May 4, 2021. Photo: amazon

Michael Lewis is the best-selling author of “The Undoing Project,” “Liar’s Poker,” “Flash Boys,” “Moneyball,” “The Blind Side,” “Home Game,” and “The Big Short,” among other works. He is a columnist for Bloomberg View and a contributing writer to Audible. His articles have also appeared in Vanity Fair, The New York Times Magazine, The New Yorker, Gourmet, Slate, Sports Illustrated, Foreign Affairs, and Poetry Magazine. In his new book “The Premonition: A Pandemic Story” he writes about how for those who could read between the lines, the censored news out of China was terrifying; but the president insisted there was nothing to worry about.  It will be released Tuesday, May 4, 2021. (amazon, 2021)

Fortunately, there are those among us who study pandemics and are willing to look unflinchingly at worst-case scenarios. Michael Lewis’ taut and brilliant nonfiction thriller pits a band of medical visionaries against the wall of ignorance that was the official response of the Trump administration to the outbreak of COVID-19.

The characters you will meet in these pages are as fascinating as they are unexpected. A thirteen-year-old girl’s science project on transmission of an airborne pathogen develops into a very grown-up model of disease control. A local public-health officer uses her worm’s-eye view to see what the CDC misses, and reveals great truths about American society. A secret team of dissenting doctors, nicknamed the Wolverines, has everything necessary to fight the pandemic: brilliant backgrounds, world-class labs, prior experience with the pandemic scares of bird flu and swine flu…everything, that is, except official permission to implement their work.

Michael Lewis is not shy about calling these people heroes for their refusal to follow directives that they know to be based on misinformation and bad science. Even the internet, as crucial as it is to their exchange of ideas, poses a risk to them. They never know for sure who else might be listening in.

2021-05-04T13:21:00

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Mother’s Day gift guide: ‘Tears of Change’ by Debbie Monteggia

In her book ‘Tears of Change,’ Debbie Monteggia portrays human emotions as an opportunity for personal growth. Photo: amazon

Debbie Monteggia is an interior designer turned author. Diagnosed with acute anxiety, she turned her condition into an opportunity to live an authentic life, pursue her passion for writing, and inspire other people through her poems. Throughout her journey in life Debbie has recognized the depth, diversity, and power of emotions. She understands how important it is to honor all emotions and not to suppress or ignore the more challenging or fearful ones. These are the ones that will transition you into your joy once you move through them. All your experiences are necessary to get you through your life lessons. Her book “Tears of Change” is a collection of unique poems and quotes that take the reader on a cathartic journey through life’s everyday emotions— sorrow, acceptance, loss, renewal, pain, and joy. It emerged from the author’s own tears of sadness and despair, and carried her through subsequent tears of joy, grace, and gratitude. (Black Château, 2021)

With its heartfelt message and beautiful illustrations, “Tears of Change” makes the perfect Mother’s Day gift and the kind of book that finds a permanent and cherished home on the coffee table. The poetry collection provides a roadmap for navigating inner and outer challenges and turning them into opportunities for personal growth.

Debbie hopes that some of her poetry will touch readers’ hearts and bring them to a place of appreciation and peace. Most importantly, she hopes that her work will reveal to the reader the depth, diversity, and power of emotions and help them understand how important it is to honor all emotions. She is passionate about expressing her voice through poetry and hopes that that one or many of the poems included in “Tears of Change” will inspire readers to take a leap in expressing all their emotions, so they might reach a deeper place of love and gratitude within themselves.

Upcoming new release: ‘Moonlighting: An Oral History’ by Scott Ryan

‘Moonlighting: An Oral History’ will be released on June 1, 2021. Photo: amazon

Scott Ryan is the managing editor of The Blue Rose Magazine and the author of “thirtysomething at thirty: an oral history” and “The Last Days of Letterman.” He wrote about his bad luck in twenty comic short stories – Scott Luck Stories. Ryan is also the director of A Voyage to Twin Peaks and the host of The Red Room Podcast. His new book “Moonlighting: An Oral History,” tells the real story of the pioneering television series and the extraordinary behind-the-scenes challenges, battles, and rewards. It will be out on Tuesday, June 1 and is available for pre-order on amazon. (Black Château, 2021)

In “Moonlighting: An Oral History,” Actress Cybill Shepherd speaks openly for the first time about her time on Moonlighting, the pioneering television series broadcast by ABC in the 80s. Published by Fayetteville Mafia Press, the book also includes the memories of the creator, other stars, and the many key collaborators responsible for this benchmark of television history.

To get the details about the five-season saga, Ryan interviewed over twenty crew members. Among them are Glenn Gordon Caron, creator of Moonlighting, as well as the actors, writers, directors, and producers who made the TV series such a dynamic and unforgettable comedy-drama. Actors Cybill Shepherd, Allyce Beasley, and Curtis Armstrong are among those who speak openly to him about their time on the show. The fourteen chapters capture the initial excitement of the people making the series as well as the pain and sorrow of the creative and personal discord that tore it apart and doomed it. 

Author Scott Ryan promises readers, “Anyone who has any passing knowledge of how television is made, or who wants to know the truth about one of the most popular TV shows of all time, is going to be blown away by the stories of how Moonlighting was made.”

Aired from 1985 to 1989 on ABC, Moonlighting helped pave the way for today’s era of prestige television. Among the most buzzed-about shows in the country, it won three Golden Globe Awards. This was due largely to the bravado of creator Glenn Gordon Caron, who never met a TV-storytelling convention he did not want to break, as well as the sizzling on-screen chemistry between its unforgettable main characters: glamorous erstwhile film star Maddie Hayes (played by Cybill Shepherd) and irreverent private eye David Addison (played by an unknown New Jersey bartender named Bruce Willis). Their ceaseless bickering and flirting onscreen, and their epic battles off-screen, remain the substance of Hollywood legend.

 

“I will trust you to get this wonderful book, and delve into its pages to discover from multiple perspectives the ironic details of the behind the scenes machismo of this onscreen feminist fantasy.” – Martha Nochimson, Film Critic and Writer, 

 

Fayetteville Mafia Press is a dynamic new independent publishing house focusing on producing high-quality nonfiction books of all types by authors with distinctive voices and original insights into the world around them. The company specializes in pop culture, true crime, and sports. 

2021-06-01T11:07:00

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Release of ‘Moonlighting: An Oral History’ by Scott Ryan

Movie adaptation: ‘Without Remorse’ by Tom Clancy

The movie adaptation of Tom Clancy’s ‘Without Remorse’ will be released on Prime Video on April 30, 2021. Photo: google

Tom Clancy was an international thriller author. Starting with “The Hunt for Red October,” all thirteen of his previous books have hit #1 on the The New York Times bestseller list. His books, “The Hunt for Red October,” “Patriot Games,” “Clear and Present Danger,” and “The Sum of all Fears” have been made into major motion pictures. The latest one is “Without Remorse,” which shows how an ordinary man crossed the lines of justice and morality to become the CIA legend Mr. Clark. It is a spin-off of the Jack Ryan film series and stars Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Bell, Jodie Turner-Smith, and Guy Pearce. Release date on Prime Video is Friday, April 30, 2021. (amazon, 2021)

“Without Remorse” is set during the Vietnam War, it serves as an origin story of John Clark, one of the recurring characters in the Ryanverse. It introduces Clark as former Navy SEAL John Kelly and explains how he changed his name.

Movie synopsis: (Wikipedia) In a war-torn region of Syria, an elite team of US Navy SEALs led by Senior Chief John Clark rescues a CIA operative taken hostage by ex-Russian military forces. Three months later, in apparent retaliation for his role in the mission, Clark’s pregnant wife Pam is murdered by a squad of Russian assassins. Despite being shot multiple times himself, Clark manages to kill all but one of the attackers before being rushed to the hospital. In Washington D.C., Clark’s friend and former SEAL team member Lt. Commander Karen Greer meets with CIA officer Robert Ritter and Secretary of Defense Thomas Clay to discuss response options. Leaked news of Russia’s unprecedented attack on American soil has caused the already-strained relations between the two nations to sour further. If something is not done soon, the result could be a full-scale war. Healed from his injuries, Clark tracks down a corrupt Russian diplomat who issued the passports to his wife’s murderers and at gunpoint forces him to give up the name of the surviving assassin.

Upcoming new release: ‘Good Lookin” by T.L. Bequette

‘Good Lookin’,’ T.L. Bequette’s debut novel, will be out Monday, May 24, 2021. Photo: amazon

T.L. Bequette is a criminal defense attorney with degrees from The University of the Pacific and Georgetown Law School. He serves annually on faculty of the Stanford Law School Trial Advocacy Clinic.  Located in Oakland, California, most of his practice involves defending Oakland youths accused of murder. His writing is fueled by the criminal justice system’s need for reform and two decades of defending America’s youth on the front lines. Bequette’s writing is inspired by his time in the courtroom where he has tried more than 20 murder cases. His skill in delivering closing arguments and presenting the stories of his clients to the jury make him a master storyteller. “Good Lookin’” is his debut novel and weaves his expertise from the courtroom into the pages of a thrilling mystery. “Good Lookin’: A Joe Turner Mystery” will be out on May 24th, 2021 and is written from the protagonist’s first-person perspective and will hook readers with its storyline, authenticity, and unexpected twists and turns. It is available for pre-order in paperback and digital formats on Amazon. (Black Château, 2021)

“Good Lookin’” – From the gang-ravaged streets of inner-city Oakland to the rolling hills of Berkeley, California, attorney Joe Turner defends the most hardened criminals. Yet his latest case, representing Darnell Moore, a 19-year-old accused of a drive-by murder, seems impossible to unravel. Joe believes in his client’s innocence, but the defense is baffled by the snitch culture of the Oakland streets. Darnell refuses Joe’s pleas to name the actual shooter for fear of reprisal against his family.

A parallel story from twelve years ago follows the struggles of the identical twins Damon and Jesse, who suffer under the thumb of an abusive foster dad. The boys are forced to work, forage for food in dumpsters, and endure the random shoulder-punches of their beer-swilling guardian. They are reluctant to report the abuse for fear they will be separated, but eventually, retribution proves deadly. Over a decade later, the twins’ path crosses Darnell’s and the two tales merge into a rousing denouement of self-defense and vigilante justice.

At the heart of Bequette’s debut novel is a decade-old murder and a tangled web of family, loyalty, and devotion that has the trial hanging in the balance. “Good Lookin’,” the shorthand street term for “good lookin’ out,” examines the challenges of protecting a loved one in the snitch culture of the streets—all through the prism of the unique bond of twins.

“Good Lookin’” is a “zesty, addictive tale that incorporates plenty of criminal hijinks and courtroom melodrama and will satisfy fans of suspense novels and literary crime dramas.” – Kirkus Reviews

2021-05-24T13:25:00

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Upcoming new release: ‘Complicit’ by Amy Rivers

‘Complicit’ by Amy Rivers will be released on Tuesday, April 20, 2021. Photo: amazon

Amy Rivers writes novels, short stories, and personal essays and holds degrees in psychology and political science, two topics she loves to write about. She is the Director of Northern Colorado Writers. Her novel “All The Broken People” was recently selected as the Colorado Author Project winner in the adult fiction category. She has been published in We Got This: Solo Mom Stories of Grit, Heart, and Humor, Flash! A Celebration of Short Fiction, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Inspiration for Nurses, and Splice Today, as well as Novelty Bride Magazine and ESME.com. Her new novel, “Complicit (A Legacy of Silence) is a tangled web of deception where predators are shielded by respectability and no one is safe. It is the first book in the A Legacy of Silence series and will be released on Tuesday, April 19, 2021. (amazon, 2021)

In “Complicit,” Kate Medina had been working as a forensic psychologist and loving every minute until a violent attack left her shaken to the core. Retreating to her hometown where it is safe, she accepts a job where the prospect of violence is slim to none. As a high school psychologist, Kate tends to the emotional needs of the students. It is not the career she envisioned for herself.

Five years later a student disappears, leaving the school in crisis and Kate at the helm of another traumatic event. Roman Aguilar, the lead detective, reaches out to Kate for assistance. Kate’s position at the school and her training make her an ideal ally, but her complicated relationship with Roman puts them at odds.

When the girl’s body is found, it changes the focus of the investigation to homicide and Kate finds herself in the middle of a situation she never anticipated. What started as her desire to help puts Kate directly in the crosshairs of an enemy who remains largely in shadows. As her past and present collide, Kate is dragged into the middle of a dangerous game where only one thing is clear-no one can be trusted.

2021-04-20T10:00:00

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Upcoming new release: ‘I Am a Girl from Africa’ by Elizabeth Nyamayaro

‘I Am a Girl from Africa’ is Elizabeth Nyamayaro memoir and first book. Photo: amazon

Elizabeth Nyamayaro is an award-winning humanitarian and former United Nations Senior Advisor on Gender Equality. Born in Zimbabwe, Elizabeth has worked at the forefront of global development for over two decades improving the lives of underserved populations and has held leadership roles at the World Bank, World Health Organization, UNAIDS, and UN Women. “I Am a Girl from Africa,” the inspiring journey of a girl from Africa whose near-neath experience sparked a dream that changed the world, is her first book. It will be released on Tuesday, April 20, 2021. (amazon, 2021)

When severe draught hit her village in Zimbabwe, Elizabeth, then eight, had no idea that this moment of utter devastation would come to define her life purpose. Unable to move from hunger, she encountered a United Nations aid worker who gave her a bowl of warm porridge and saved her life. This transformative moment inspired Elizabeth to become a humanitarian, and she vowed to dedicate her life to giving back to her community, her continent, and the world.

Grounded by the African concept of ubuntu—’I am because we are’—”I Am a Girl from Africa” charts Elizabeth’s quest in pursuit of her dream from the small village of Goromonzi to Harare, London, New York, and beyond, where she eventually became a Senior Advisor at the United Nations and launched HeForShe, one of the world’s largest global solidarity movements for gender equality. For over two decades, Elizabeth has been instrumental in creating change in communities all around the world; uplifting the lives of others, just as her life was once uplifted. The memoir brings to vivid life one extraordinary woman’s story of persevering through incredible odds and finding her true calling—while delivering an important message of hope and empowerment in a time when we need it most.

 

2021-04-20T14:29:00

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Patrice Shavone Brown at The BookFest Spring 2021

Patrice Shavone Brown’s appearance at The BookFest Spring 2021 is part of her ongoing effort to help people. Photo: amazon

Patrice Shavone Brown is the CEO of Restoring Bodies and Minds, LLC. She is a Mental Health Counselor and founder of The Confident Fat Girl’s Movement.  A helper at heart, she has dedicated her life to better the world around her, helping others shine, and spreading joy and support as a Mental Health Counselor.  Brown is also a prolific writer with seven books under her belt, including “Secrets of a Crazy Mental Health Counselor,” “A Fat Girl’s Confidence: Beating Depression and Building Self Esteem,” “We Blend Well Together,” “The Day Momma Made Me Dance,” “The Finesser,” and “The Finesser 2.” Her latest book “A Fat Girl’s Confidence Guide: I’m Fat, So What” is a powerful and uplifting read that enables big girls to embrace their bodies just as they are, to feel attractive, love themselves, and celebrate life. (Black Château, 2021)

As a speaker at The BookFest Spring 2021, happening this Saturday April 17 and Sunday April 18, she will give insights and practical advice on how people can tend to their minds, bodies and our hearts during long-term social distancing and the extended effects of the pandemic. It is free to attend, just visit the website during the event. 

Along with other experts, Brown will share her wisdom on the keynote panel, Mental Health and Physical Wellness: Books for the Extended Pandemic on Saturday, April 17, at 2pm. She will also discuss what people can do when their coping strategies stop working, and how they can overcome feeling ugly, down, overwhelmed, or exhausted.

Patrice Shavone Brown’s appearance at The BookFest Spring 2021 is part of her ongoing effort to help people, which is at the heart of everything she does. For the last two decades, she has served her community as a Mental Health Counselor and continues to dedicate herself to empowering others and assisting in people’s healing through the power of words.

“My role is to inform others, challenge, and inspire people to live life better than yesterday.” Patrice Shavone Brown

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The BookFest Spring 2021

Book review: ‘Fatal Intent’ by Tammy Euliano

‘Fatal Intent’ is Tammy Euliano’s debut novel. Photo: amazon

Tammy Euliano, MD is a practicing anesthesiologist and tenured professor at the University of Florida. In addition to a prolific list of academic publications, YouTube teaching videos, and numerous teaching awards, she has also written award-winning short fiction. In her debut novel “Fatal Intent,” anesthesiologist Dr. Kate Downey must confront difficult situations when her elderly patients start dying at home days after minor surgery; is it end of life care, or assisted death.

“Fatal Intent” begins as anesthesiologist Dr. Kate Downey begrudgingly begins her Sunday by going to church with her great-aunt Irm. While there, Kate finds out that the VIP patient she was taking care of at the hospital has died days after being discharged, just like one of her neighbors who was also one of Kate’s patients. When she brings this information up to the surgeon who performed the surgeries, Dr. Charles Ricken, he ends up blaming her. Since she is currently on probation, her career is in jeopardy but she is determined to find out why patients are dying after they are sent home from the hospital. To make matters worse, her husband Greg is in a prolonged coma and his brother Adam is constantly urging her to pull the plug. Together with her Great Aunt Irm, a precocious medical student named Jenn, and Christian, the lawyer son of a victim, Kate launches her own unorthodox investigation of these unexpected deaths. As she comes closer to exposing the killer’s identity, she faces professional intimidation, threats to her life, a home invasion, and the suspicious death of someone close to her. The stakes escalate to the breaking point when Kate, under violent duress, is forced to choose which of her loved ones to save—and which must be sacrificed.

Some of the most authentic novels come from authors who write about what they know. Since the author is an anesthesiologist, this gives her outstanding debut novel the authenticity it needs to deliver an exciting medical mystery drama. It gives readers an intriguing look at the inner workings of hospitals, namely, after a patient dies, the staff holds a “root cause analysis” meeting where they analyze what happened. By using descriptive language “I ran down the hall, holding onto my bouncing lanyard,” readers can picture the drama unfolding in hospital hallways. When Kate gets overwhelmed and anxiety rolls in, “There was no air. I was suffocating. My heart pounded, faster and faster,” anyone who has been in such situations can relate. Written in the first person point of view, it contains likeable and relatable characters and the story flows easily from page to page. The action intensifies during Chapter Fifty when Kate is lured to the hospital basement and is forced to choose between saving her Aunt Irm, her friend Christopher, or her husband Greg. In the end, the killer turns out to be someone who was hired by relatives of ailing patients to “euthanize” them.  Aside from being a medical suspense novel, “Fatal Intent” deals with difficult end-of-life issues. In the Author’s Note at the end, Tammy Euliano stresses that her hope is that it will start an open dialogue about such issues and prompt families to consider Living Wills and Health Care Surrogates and directs readers to where they can find more information.  “Fatal Intent” is a must-read thrilling medical mystery novel and is recommended for fans of Robin Cook and Tess Gerritsen who appreciate medical thrillers. Hopefully, there will be more in the future.

“I broke down in his arms, overwhelmed by utter exhaustion and crippling guilt. But Aunt Irm and Christian had suffered too. Would my grief over Greg be construed as regret over the decision?”

 *The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Rating: 4 out of 5.