CHARACTERS: 10/10

The characters in the story are well fleshed out, given many human-relatable characteristics to where the audience can even feel the same emotions as a dragon. The two heroes of the story are Garrett Terago and Megan Crunk, two unique individuals thrust together after a near-tragic collision. A meeting filled with humor, romance and lust. The villains, as well are well crafted, with each being uniquely mapped out for the reader in an original and detailed fashion, but I’ll leave their descriptions out to leave you with some mystery.

PLOT: 10/10

Without ruining anything, this is a love story and a war novel. It is a great original piece of writing in a game-changing way as The Lord of the Rings was. Peaking my interest in reading and reigniting my joy for it after many years without being able to finish a book, this story is a grabber and it holds you until the end.

WRITING: 10/10

The mindset of the characters are well revealed to the reader and the writing is descriptive and informing. Beautifully written with great care and detail, Poindexter is a writer to look out for after this captivating and intriguing novel.

OVERALL: 10/10

The novel is filled with many elements for a mature audience to read. Those with a strong mind and grand humor will most enjoy this tale of war and love. The ultimate bests and worsts of our world. Be ready to eclipse your mind with many great dealings and emotions as you go on this grand adventure with Garrett and Megan as the story unfolds before your eyes and within your mind. The Shadow of Tiamat is the first in a grand scheme of novels and I can’t wait for the sequel.

Here are a few places to purchase the book.

Paperback from Amazon: http://amzn.to/tiamat-ppb
Paperback from B&N: http://bit.ly/voMy5Z
Kindle from Amazon: http://amzn.to/tiamat-kindle
Other ebook formats: http://bit.ly/utxfuB (this is where you can find a Nook compatible eBook edition)
Paperback from Books-A-Million: http://bit.ly/rMQ7fi
Paperback from Powell’s Books : http://bit.ly/uRJbpK
Paperback/ebook from Indiebound: http://bit.ly/vwKpcP

Review by Kale Slade

If you want to read more of Lucky Santangelo here are the other books:

CHANCES
LUCKY
LADY BOSS
VENDETTA:LUCKYS REVENGE
DROP DEAD BEAUTIFUL

GODDESS OF VEGEANCE is coming out in the US on Sept.13th. And in the UK it will be available April 14th.
You can pre-order the book GODDESS OF VENGEANCE, and order other books at her website: www.JackieCollins.com

She is smart, funny, and not afraid to tell it like it is, as she shares her past experiences of an difficult childhood, failed relationships, money struggles, and bad career choices. She shows how she took these past experiences and changed them into positive experiences. How she developed and used the ten rules to pursue her goals with authenticity and drive.

Here are some of the rules:

FIND YOUR TRUTH-Dig deep inside and figure out what is authentic for you and not anybody else.
ACT ON IT-You don’t have to have a master plan. But unless you do something, you’ve done nothing.
EVERYTHING’S YOUR BUSINESS-Treat every job, person, and experience as if it could lead your next big opportunity.
OWN IT-If you do it, say it, think it, then own it. Stand up for yourself and fully acknowledge who you really are.

This book is a must to have.

Drew Henriksen has just released his newest book, DRAGONS AND SCIENCE. Apparently there is also interest in Drew’s screenplays in the film world by Brad Thornton’s HopeWood Films.

By Joan Hartenstine-Lemon

Published by: Outskirts Press

111 pages

Anthologies books are a interesting type to read. The editor/writer picks a theme and either  fills out with their own original content or invites other writers to contribute a story. Some are great, some good and some are pretty much just filler.

Writing an intense short story with a beginning, middle and solid ending is a real challenge and not one that is always met. And in anthologies this is a steady constant as that’s what the reader is going to get. Which is why a solo writer has it harder to present several good stories that holds one’s attention.

Night Shade is the debut of Pennsylvania based writer,Joan Hartenstine-Lemon.

To do a collection of horror stories is very ambitious for a first novel and Hartenstine-Lemon does a fairly good job here. Some of the stories are pretty bumpy but the ones that work….are excellent and showcase the promise of her future writing.

  Night Shade contains 11 stories including a very unique story that has ties to a Stephen King short story that ended up being made into “The Shawshank Redemption”. Joan’s story,”A Buxton Tale” is the story about the convict that was killed  during Andy Dufresne’s (play by Tim Robbins) first night at prison.

The real gem of this collection is the interesting and heartfelt “A Letter from Bill” in which the founder of  Alcohol Anonymous, Bill Wilson sends a letter to a local ABC board urging them to take steps to save lives from the menace that is alcoholism. There is a nice twist to this tale and the real life horror of alcoholism makes this story even more powerful.

The nine other stories featured range from fair (Reigning Cats and Dogs) to first time jitters (“Oops”). Enough to get excited about Joan’s future writings and wanting to see what she can do in a full length novel. 

My only drawback about this novel is the publisher’s disservice to Hartenstine-Lemon by making this slim volume 21.99 and a hardcover. It would have been better served at a lower price and as a paperback…making her book much more affordable for a first time reader.

Recommended.

For more information: www.OutskirtsPress.com

 In Plymouth,Michigan two librarians have decided to wage war on these books and started “weeding”out those books whose 15 minutes of shelf time should have been over years ago. The women,Mary and Holly,not only go through and weed out their library’s dead books but they created a website dedicated to blogging about the books they pull,but also about the pitched battles they wage with dust bunnies and the spiders who make those books home. Okay,so maybe I am a little dramatic about the battle part,but you get the point.
   Pulling these books not only frees up space but I’m sure thanks to the website and a recent appearance on the Jimmy Kimmel show,new fresh and more exciting reading material is on its way to the Plymouth Library.

To learn more about these two book crusaders,I posted the website below.

http://awfullibrarybooks.wordpress.com/

  I picked this up on one of my Dollar Tree book runs. I was caught by the cover and the tagline:

“A deadly drunk driver,a grieving young mother,and their astonishing true story of tragedy and forgiveness”.

  So I bought this book,went home,fixed some coffee and was blown away on so many levels.
   On 25 March 2000,Audrey Kishline,who had achieved national fame as the founder of Moderation Management,a group which taught drinking is ok IF you do it with moderation and control,got behind the wheel of her truck and while driving the wrong way on a cold wintery I-90 in Washington,hit and murdered two people.
   The people killed were Sheryl Maloy’s 12 year old daughter,LaShell and her ex-husband,Danny.

  This book chronicles the impact both before,during and after this terrible act of violence and the aftermath.
  Both women take turns in writing chapters,sharing how they grew up and what led them to that fateful night.
   Audrey’s story is the most compelling..she up grew up a promising ballet dancer. But when she gave it up and moved to live with her father.

 Audrey writes that when she started working for her dad,thats when her drinking started in ernest. It continued after she met and married her husband Brian and increased as time went despite the public image she had as founder of MM.
   Sheryl’s story of growing to adulthood is also a difficult one.  Despite marrying a good military man,events and a hateful family conspired to keep Sheryl was complete happiness. Danny and Sheryl embraced a Christian lifestyle but mistrust and deceit by Sheryl’s family helped end her marriage.

Both women continued to go different directions,Audrey went deeper into the botttle while Sheryl worked hard towards giving Danny and her another chance. It was a little rocky but at the time of the murders,the future looked bright for Sheryl. Her faith and grace were going to be put to the ultimate test.

    Audrey writes about her life after the murders. Due to Washngton laws at the time,she only spent 4 and a half years in prison total for BOTH Danny and LaShell. She writes on what prison was like for her and her family.
   When Sheryl decided she needed to see Audrey to forgive her,it felt right. Despite being warned not to do it,her faith in God helps her reach a peace that is so rarely,ever seen. The bittersweet meeting in jail does wonders for both women on different levels.
   The end of the book recounts how Audrey and Sheryl have become good friends and how Sheryl’s forgiveness has helped her heal. Audrey is not so lucky as she even today struggles with her inability to stop drinking.

I guess as a reader and a victim of a crime like Sheryl was,its the both the forgiveness and the sad fact that that Kishline mocks Danny and LaShell’s deaths by still drinking to really strikes a chord. Why would anyone w/not only a 2nd chance but also forgiveness by her victim,continue to do the same things that led to those deaths.
There are no  easy answers..

Highly recommended.