Before Ever After - by Samantha Sotto

Before Ever After

by

Samantha Sotto

Copyright 2011 by Samantha Sotto-Yambao

Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc.

ISBN 978-0-307-71987-4

Reviewed Uncorrected Proof

This is the amazing story of Max, an immortal, and the woman he desires to be his ever-after soul mate, Shelley.

This isn't the usual story that I read... which is why this book is so utterly amazing! I couldn't put it down once I started reading it! Sotto's writing style leaves us with that 'gotta know more' feeling!

Max's story is actually told through the reminiscing of Shelley. Her remembering the things that Max has told her brings his life, his very long life!, into reality for the reader, and Max's grandson, Paolo.

I can't praise this story enough. For the writer to so capture my attention, and my heart!, is simply amazing. This is a feel good love story that you will want to read again and again. And it's one that you can only hope they will find a screen writer who can turn it into a movie. What an awesome flick it would be!

Before Ever After earns...

...Five Stars and...

...my Thumbs Up Award!

I highly recommend this read for anyone with a wish for a feel-good story!

**** DISCLOSURE: This book was sent for private review by the Amazon Vine program.

The Kingdom - by Clive Cussler

The Kingdom

A Fargo Adventure

by

Clive Cussler with Grant Blackwood

G.P. Putnam's Sons, publisher

Copyright 2011 by Sandecker, RLLLP

ISBN 978-0-399-15742-4

As always, Cussler leaves us breathtakingly following the adventures of Sam and Remi Fargo as they traipse across continents in search of yet another fortune.

This time, the 'Golden Man'.

The married duo are approached by a wealthy individual who wants them to locate a friend of theirs. In no short order they discover their friend was not missing, but taken and the wealthy man is searching for a relic that is absolutely priceless.

True to form, Sam and Remi use their cunning, wit, and adoration of one another to see them through a series of trials that ends, of course, with them finding their lost friend and obtaining the artifact.

What they find may defy the current norm for belief as to how mankind evolved.

Or is it.... womankind?

Yet another brilliant work from Cussler!

I give this one...

...Five Stars and my...

...Thumbs Up Award!

****DISCLOSURE: This book was a private purchase and I was under no obligation to offer a review as such.

George Washington Carver - by John Perry

Christian Encounters

George Washington Carver

by

John Perry

Copyright 2011

Thomas Nelson

ISBN 978-1-59555-026-2

Yet another biography in the Christian Encounters series which is truly a masterpiece!

Perry brings to life this remarkable Chistian! Born into slavery, and on his death a man whose name was well known in nearly every American household, Carver was a man worthy of being called an American hero!

Articulate and educated, Carver was first and foremost a Christian. An educator who was more at home in the laboratory than the classroom, believing that education came fom practice! And a man who wanted the African-American man to know that he could accomplish anything!

Known for his life-long work with the Tuskogee Institute, and his moniker "the Peanut Man", Carver was also friends with the likes of Booker T. Washington, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford and others. He dined with the elite, including President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

As with all persons of celebrity and notoriety, Carver had his quirks. Perry handled these with great dignity and sensitivity.

A truly gifted writer, I highly recommend John Perry's George Washington Carver.

I rate this book....

...Five Stars and...

...give it my

Thumbs Up! award.

****DISCLOSURE:  This book was povided by Thomas Nelson publishing's BookSneeze program, in exchange for a non-biased review of the text.

Manual for Living: Connection

Manual For Living: A User's Guide to the Meaning of Life - Connection - Book Two

by

Seth David Chernoff

Spirit Scope Publishing

2011

ISBN-13: 978-19372

It's not often that I find a book or text that I am totally turned off by.... however, this is one of the exceptions.

I found the author's "advice" to be so much rhetoric and "foofraw" that I simply could not get into it!

Not insightful in the least, and appears to be based upon the common knowledge of others!

The sole truth that I found in the book was a quote at the beginning of the Conclusion  of the book by Friedrich Nietzche: "There are no facts, only interpretations." And I am certain Chernoff feels he has made astounding interpretations here. And perhaps for some it is so. However, I was bored beyond tears, and found nothing insightful, educational, or entertaining about the book. And those are the three that would have caught me. Any single one of them would have had me hanging on. This, however, lacked any of these ingredients.

I cannot willingly give the writer any stars, however, since I have never NOT given any stars, I will concede to a single star...

...for having good grammar and correctly making the quotes he made at the beginning of each section of the book.

Unfortunately, I do not recommend this book, and advise you not to waste your time borrowing it, or your money buying it!

I give this book...

...my Thumbs Down award.

****DISCLOSURE: This book was sent to me by the publisher as a pre-release for non-biased independent review.

The Kin - Peter Dickinson

The Kin

by

Peter Dickinson

Published by Penguin Group

Copyright 1998

ISBN 0-399-24022-5

A wonderful storyteller, Dickinson brings the dawn of human civilization to life!

A wonderful tale of a small group of talking individuals who survive numerous death-defying encounters, both with natural disaster and with other humans and animals!

It is also a tale of coming-of-age for these youngsters, at a time when they should still have had the freedom of childhood.

Reminscent of the Clan of the Cave Bear series, The Kin brings us details about post-Neanderthal man's life, and the imagination for us to view and feel it as well.

I couldn't put this one down!

I give it...

...five stars! And...

...my Thumbs Up award!

***DISCLOSURE: This book was a private purchase and I was under no obligation to offer review.