April's Book of the Month

Hello Everyone! I chose the picture posted above because it reminds me of reading to my daughter Mareena when she was little. Every afternoon until she was about eight or nine years old, we would take one of her books that she wanted to read or that she was reading and we would curl up together on my big bed. 

We would spend an hour or so reading a chapter of her book, and then take a nap together. Her absolutely favorite author at that time was an English author named Enid Blyton. Ahh, nice memories...

My picks for 'Books of the Month' will be decidedly more adult these days, but they will be from almost any genre. April's Book of the Month is: 

Cold Mountain: A Novel by Charles Frazier

Published as: Cold Mountain in May 1997

Publisher: Atlantic Monthly Press

Birth Name: Charles Frazier

Born: 4 November 1950 in Asheville, North Carolina

Canonical Name: Charles Frazier

Pseudonyms: None

Cold Mountain: A Novel by Charles Frazier was the forty-eighth book that I read in 2014. I have had this book on my TBR shelf since July 20, 2012 and it took me four days to read. This book is currently on several book swapping sites waiting to go to another good home.

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Betty Rollin - Last Wish

50. Last Wish by Betty Rollin (1985)
Length: 236 pages
Genre: Non-Fiction
Started: 28 April 2014
Finished: 29 April 2014
Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 20 April 2013
Why do I have it? I like non-fiction and Betty Rollin is a new author for me.

In a time when tempers flare over Oregon's assisted-suicide law, and the debate still rages on both sides of the issue regarding Jack Kevorkian's physician-aided 'death with dignity' practice - Betty Rollin's groundbreaking New York Times Bestseller, Last Wish is an intimate, fiercely honest memoir of a daughter's struggle to come to terms with her terminally ill mother Ida's, decision to die. More than a simple examination of the ethical, spiritual, and technical aspects of assisted suicide, Last Wish is a celebration of Ms. Rollin's imperfect family, a passionate tribute to Ida's character and courage in the face of adversity, and a compelling argument for the right of the terminally ill to a humane and dignified death.

I must say that while this book certainly is sad, by no means is it written in a morose or depressing way. I found it incredibly poignant and down-to-earth. This family faced an impossible, emotionally grueling situation and dealt with their issues in the most courageous and loving manner possible. I give this book an A+!

A+! - (96-100%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Mary Higgins Clark - All Through the Night: A Suspense Story

49. All Through the Night: A Suspense Story by Mary Higgins Clark (1998)
The Alvirah and Willy Meehan Series Book 2
Length: 170 pages
Genre: Contemporary Mystery
Started: 23 April 2014
Finished: 25 April 2014
Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale 
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 1 June 2001
Why do I have it? I like contemporary mysteries and have read and enjoyed Mount Vernon Love Story: A Novel of George and Martha Washington by the same author in the past.

A young unmarried woman leaves her newborn baby on the rectory doorstep of a church on Manhattan's Upper West Side. At that same moment, inside the church, a young man is in the process of stealing a treasured artifact - a chalice adorned with a single star-shaped diamond. Both the infant and the chalice subsequently disappear.

Seven years later, a few weeks before Christmas - lottery winner turned amateur sleuth - Alvirah Meehan and her husband Willy, are busy helping Willy's sister Cordelia - a nun who runs a thrift store that doubles as an after-school shelter for the neighborhood kids - prepare for the upcoming Christmas pageant. However, the shelter's future is threatened when the city condemns the building for that use. Then it is further jeopardized when the nearby brownstone to which the shelter was to be moved turns out to have been willed to a young couple who were already tenants in the building.

Convinced that something suspicious is going on, Alvirah refuses to believe that the will is genuine. She sets out to prove the couple are con artists. Soon she is involved with the mystery of the stolen chalice and child. 

While this was certainly a good story and I enjoyed reading it; I'm not entirely sure what grade to give it. In my opinion, the mystery was perhaps a little simplistic, and the plot seemed slightly hurried - at least to me. I would have preferred it if this story had been slightly longer, so that the plot could be better developed and the characters better drawn and more believable. Overall, I give this book a B+!

B+! - (89-85%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Introducing Schism: The Battle For Darracia by Michael Phillip Cash!

I was delighted to learn recently that four books by Michael Phillip Cash have recently won several awards! Congratulations on such a great achievement, Mr. Cash - it is certainly well-deserved. I have had the pleasure of reading three of Mr. Cash's books, and my daughter Mareena is currently reading his fourth award winner - Schism: The Battle For Darracia. For the next four Fridays, I will be highlighting all of Mr. Cash's award-winning books - and once again, I wish him my heartiest congratulations on such a wonderful achievement!

As I've said before, Mareena is currently reading Schism: The Battle For Darracia and is thoroughly enjoying the book so far; although she is slightly miffed at her slower reading pace. I've told her repeatedly, "Mareena, your reading pace isn't necessarily slower, it's just more leisurely." I'm continually astounded that Mareena can remember details from the plots of several different books in such detail. She likes reading science fiction more than I do, so that's why she's reading Schism: The Battle For Darracia instead of me.

Schism: The Battle For Darracia. by Michael Phillip Cash was a Finalist for the Foreword Review's Book of the Year Award of 2013 in the Science Fiction Category, and also received Second Place for the Rebecca's Reads Readers Choice Awards of 2013 in the Science Fiction Category.

Meet Michael Phillip Cash

Michael Phillip Cash is an award winning and best selling author of horror, paranormal, and science fiction novels. Stillwell: A Haunting on Long Island, The Hanging Tree, and Schism: The Battle For Darracia have all been named to Foreword Review's Book of the Year Awards. Michael currently resides on Long Island with his wife and children.

Connect and Socialize with Michael!

Website * Blog * Facebook * Twitter

Schism: The Battle For Darracia by Michael Phillip Cash (2013)

Length: 202 pages

Purchase your copy from Amazon!

Schism: The Battle For Darracia Blurb: 

On the planet Darracia, an ever-widening social gap between its inhabitants is causing turmoil that is fracturing a once peaceful world. Struggling with his identity, nineteen year old Prince V'sair must harness the power of the elusive Fireblade, the secret to a warrior's heart, in order to overcome his uncle Staf Nuen's lust for supremacy. Will the energy of the Elements guide the young prince to his true destiny or will Staf Nuen conquer Darracia? 

After the success of his first three books (Brood X, Stillwell, and The Hanging Tree) Michael is fulfilling a dream and creating his own epic fantasy world. Schism: The Battle For Darracia is the first book in a planned series.

Schism: The Battle For Darracia Book Trailer:

 

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Charles Frazier - Cold Mountain: A Novel

48. Cold Mountain: A Novel by Charles Frazier (1997)
Length: 449 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
Started: 18 April 2014
Finished: 22 April 2014
Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 20 July 2012
Why do I have it? I like historical fiction and have recently developed an interest in the American Civil War. Charles Frazier is also a new author for me.

Critically wounded and severely disillusioned by the fighting at Petersburg, Inman - a Confederate soldier - turns his back on the carnage of the battlefield and begins the treacherous journey to his home in the Blue Ridge Mountains and to Ada, the woman he loved before the war began. As he attempts to make his way across the mountains, through the devastated landscape of a disintegrating South, Inman comes into intimate and sometimes lethal contact with a variety of different people. Slaves and marauders, bounty hunters and witches - people who are both helpful and malign.

At the same time, the intrepid Ada struggles to revive her father's derelict farm. She had once lived a fairly affluent life - now her circumstances have been reduced to subsistence level by such a brutal war. Ada is learning to survive - and hoping to eventually thrive - in a world where all the old certainties have been irrevocably swept away.

As it masterfully interweaves both Inman's and Ada's stories, Cold Mountain: A Novel portrays an era and a landscape that is at once hugely powerful, majestically lovely, and keenly moving. 

In my opinion, this was an absolutely brilliant book - a new American classic. The story was evocative of a time that was incredibly harrowing and brutal for everyone - soldiers and survivors alike. It had a reality and a poignancy to it that I found extremely moving. Cold Mountain: A Novel captures the brutality of the Civil War perfectly - I give it a definite A+! This is a book which stands in a class all its own.   

A+! - (96-100%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

James Patterson and Martin Dugard - The Murder of King Tut: The Plot to Kill the Child King

47. The Murder of King Tut: The Plot to Kill the Child King by James Patterson and Martin Dugard (2009)
Length: 357 pages
Genre: True Crime
Started: 16 April 2014
Finished: 18 April 2014
Where did it come from? From Paperback Swap
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 27 October 2012
Why do I have it? I like true crime and since Mareena also knows how much I'm fascinated by ancient Egypt (particularly the life and death of King Tut), she got this book for me in October of 2012.

Ascending to Egypt's most powerful throne at the tender age of nine, King Tutankhamen's reign sparked debate from the very outset. Behind the palace's veil of prosperity, bitter rivalries and jealousies raged among the Boy King's most trusted advisers, and after only nine years, King Tut suddenly perished, his name effectively purged from Egyptian history. To this day, his death remains shrouded in controversy - a secret buried for centuries.

Enthralled by the ruler's tragic story and hoping to unlock answers to the 3,000 year-old mystery, Howard Carter - an English archaeologist and Egyptologist - made it his life's mission to discover the pharaoh's tomb. He began his search in 1907, but encountered numerous setbacks and countless dead-ends, before he finally, finally uncovered the long-lost crypt and ultimately found the keys to an unsolved mystery.

In The Murder of King Tut, James Patterson and Martin Dugard reveal the clues that point to murder. Digging through all the evidence - X-rays, Howard Carter's files, forensic clues, and stories told through the ages - the authors reveal their own account of King Tut's life and death. The result is an exhilarating true crime tale of intrigue, passion and betrayal that shines a bright light on the most ancient mystery of all.

I've always had an interest in Egyptology, and specifically in King Tutankhamen himself, so reading this book was absolutely fascinating for me. I found all three sections of the book - King Tut's story, Howard Carter's story, and the present-day story of how the book was written - extremely interesting in their own right. I learned so much more about each individual and their own personal histories, as well as the various periods of history, than I already knew before I read this book. I give The Murder of King Tut: The Plot to Kill the Child King by James Patterson and Martin Dugard a definite A+!

A+! - (96-100%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Introducing The Hanging Tree: A Novella by Michael Phillip Cash!

I was delighted to learn recently that four books by Michael Phillip Cash have recently won several awards! Congratulations on such a great achievement, Mr. Cash - it is certainly well-deserved. I have had the pleasure of reading three of Mr. Cash's books, and my daughter Mareena is currently reading his fourth award winner - Schism: The Battle For Darracia. For the next four Fridays, I will be highlighting all of Mr. Cash's award-winning books - and once again, I wish him my heartiest congratulations on such a wonderful achievement!

I had the pleasure of reading The Hanging Tree: A Novella by Michael Phillip Cash back in October of 2013, and must say, the book was just the right one for me to read for the Halloween Season. The Hanging Tree: A Novella by Michael Phillip Cash was a Finalist for the Foreword Review's Book of the Year Award of 2013 in the Horror Category.

Meet Michael Phillip Cash

Michael Phillip Cash is an award winning and best selling author of horror, paranormal, and science fiction novels. Stillwell: A Haunting on Long Island, The Hanging Tree, and Schism: The Battle For Darracia have all been named to Foreword Review's Book of the Year Awards. Michael currently resides on Long Island with his wife and children.

Connect and Socialize with Michael!

Website * Blog * Facebook * Twitter

The Hanging Tree: A Novella by Michael Phillip Cash (2013)

Length: 90 pages

Purchase your copy from Amazon!

The Hanging Tree: A Novella Blurb:

Enter a world where spirits roam the earth in Michael Phillip Cash's haunting new novella, The Hanging Tree. Set amid the eerie backdrop of Long Island, an area famously steeped in old legend, two young would-be lovers contemplate their future while visits from those who have come before them reveal the lure of fate...and the power of free will. 

At seventeen years old, Arielle's relationship with her parents is slowly deteriorating. Angry and defiant, she is at a loss on how to cope with the tumultuous situation in which she finds herself. Arielle's only comfort is Chad, an eighteen-year-old young man who seems to truly understand her struggles. 

Arielle and Chad meet beneath the low-hanging branches of what the local community has nick-named the "Hanging Tree". An ancient and majestic landmark, it has long been rumored that the tree is haunted by ghosts. These ghosts span various centuries and vary wildly in age, but each one of them has one thing in common: their deaths are all somehow connected to the tree itself. 

As Arielle and Chad commiserate over their current situation and their precarious nature of their future, the spectral inhabitants of the Hanging Tree witness their conversation. One by one, the ghosts begin reminiscing about their own lives - and deaths - as they examine the inner demons with which their human forms long struggled. An eerie meditation on the oft-overlooked power of choice, Cash's The Hanging Tree will stay with readers long after they turn out the light.

The Hanging Tree: A Novella Book Trailer:

 

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Barbara Delinsky - While my Sister Sleeps

46. While my Sister Sleeps by Barbara Delinsky (2009)
Length: 326 pages
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Started: 12 April 2014
Finished: 15 April 2014
Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 9 April 2014
Why do I have it? I like contemporary fiction and have read and enjoyed several books by this author in the past.

The Snow sisters - Molly and Robin - are as close as two sisters can possibly be. Like most sisters, the women share a bond that has sustained them through the good times and the bad. Throughout their childhood, and now as adults, the women's love for each other and their friendship has endured, and is just as strong as ever. 

Their careers are flourishing - Molly is a horticulturist and Robin is a world-class runner - and they are both in the prime of their lives. So when Molly receives the news that Robin has suffered a massive heart attack, she couldn't be more shocked. At the hospital, the Snow family is given the grim prognosis: Robin may never regain consciousness.

As Robin's parents and siblings struggle to cope, the complex nature of their relationship is put to the ultimate test. Molly has always lived in Robin's shadow and her feelings for her sister have run the gamut, from love to resentment and back again. In fact, the last time the sisters spoke, they argued. Now, however, there is so much more at stake. 

Under such devastating circumstances, Molly's parents begin to fold, and her brother retreats into a cool reserve that threatens his own family. So, it's up to Molly to make the tough decisions, and she soon makes discoveries that shatter some of her most cherished beliefs about the sister she thought she knew.

Once again, New York Times bestselling author Barbara Delinsky has created a masterful family portrait, filled with thought-provoking ideas about the nature of life itself, how emotions influence the decisions we make, and how letting go can sometimes be the hardest thing to do and also the greatest expression of love all at the same time.

While I will admit that a few of Barbara Delinsky's books that I've read in the past may not have been her best work - at least in my opinion - I would give While my Sister Sleeps a definite A+! I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. In my opinion, Barbara Delinsky has once again created characters that are absolutely realistic and easy to relate to, people who the reader can't help but care for as they suffer through their various trials and tribulations. I'm certainly looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.  

A+! - (96-100%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Jeffrey Konvitz - The Guardian

45. The Guardian by Jeffrey Konvitz (1978)
The Sentinel Trilogy Book 2
Length: 293 pages
Genre: Horror
Started: 8 April 2014
Finished: 12 April 2014
Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 10 October 2000
Why do I have it? I like horror and Jeffrey Konvitz is a new author for me.

The very gates of Hell are about to open on the twentieth floor of an apartment building on the West Side. Evil is flourishing and soon no innocent will be safe. Through a window without curtains, an ancient blind nun sits perpetually gazing...keeping watch against the evil.

A body is found, burned beyond recognition. Then there are two more murders...strangely connected. And the discoverer of one of the bodies, a beautiful young woman, is brutally raped. Her innocent young child is exposed to horror. Her furious husband sets out on a relentless path of revenge.

In the final hour of evil, paralyzing terror is unleashed. One step beyond the very boundaries of belief is a cool, calculating, laughing priest intent on saving more lives from destruction. And so it begins...powerful, satanic, terrifying...a time you will never forget. The battle has already begun.

I must say that I wasn't all that sure what grade to give this book after I finished reading it. The story was certainly very scary, but I found that the horror was almost overwhelming. In my opinion, the frightening elements began to overshadow the actual story so much that this book confused me. This book is actually the second in a trilogy, so my feelings might be somewhat influenced by not having read the first book - The Sentinel - but I had to give this book a B+! 

B+! - (89-85%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Introducing Brood X: A Firsthand Account of the Great Cicada Invasion by Michael Phillip Cash!

I was delighted to learn recently that four books by Michael Phillip Cash have recently won several awards! Congratulations on such a great achievement, Mr. Cash - it is certainly well-deserved. I have had the pleasure of reading three of Mr. Cash's books, and my daughter Mareena is currently reading his fourth award winner - Schism: The Battle For Darracia. For the next four Fridays, I will be highlighting all of Mr. Cash's award-winning books - and once again, I wish him my heartiest congratulations on such a wonderful achievement!

I had the pleasure of reading Brood X: A Firsthand Account of the Great Cicada Invasion by Michael Phillip Cash back in August of 2013, and have to say, I will never look at cicadas in the same way again. Brood X: A Firsthand Account of the Great Cicada Invasion by Michael Phillip Cash won First Place for the Readers Views Literary Awards of 2013 in the Mystery/Thriller/Horror/Suspense Category, and also received First Place for the Rebecca's Reads Readers Choice Awards of 2013 in the Mystery/Thriller Category.

Meet Michael Phillip Cash

Michael Phillip Cash is an award winning and best selling author of horror, paranormal, and science fiction novels. Stillwell: A Haunting on Long Island, The Hanging Tree, and Schism: The Battle For Darracia have all been named to Foreword Review's Book of the Year Awards. Michael currently resides on Long Island with his wife and children.

Connect and Socialize with Michael!

Website * Blog * Facebook * Twitter

Brood X: A Firsthand Account of the Great Cicada Invasion by Michael Phillip Cash (2013)

Length: 308 pages

Purchase your copy from Amazon!

Brood X: A Firsthand Account of the Great Cicada Invasion Blurb:  

Seth is laid off from work. His wife Lara just found out they are expecting a baby this summer. Seth plans on documenting the entire pregnancy with his brand new digital camcorder.  

During an evening home watching television, the news reports that a swarm of cicada (Brood Ten) are expected to overwhelm the entire Northeast. Brood Ten is vicious and ready to invade.  

During a sweltering summer night, Brood Ten emerges and wreaks havoc with the electric grid, phone and cell service, wi-fi, food and water supply. Civilization as they know it is gone.  

Seth and Lara are thrown back to the stone age in their own home with trillions of cicada trying to deposit their eggs and breed.  

Will Seth grow up and take responsibility for his family? Or will the devastating bugs destroy humanity?

Brood X: A Firsthand Account of the Great Cicada Invasion Book Trailer:

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Our Library Visit For April

Hello Everyone! How are you on this fine Wednesday? I'm doing just fine. :) Last week, Mareena and I discussed whether we could fit in a visit to our local library - to raid the perpetual book sale! LOL! :)

Well, today was the day and it turned out absolutely wonderfully! We spent about an hour and a half - from 1:45 P. M. to 3:30 P. M. - at the library, and stopped to get tuna subs from Subway.

Between us, we bought 15 hardcovers, 12 paperbacks and 1 jigsaw puzzle . We spent a whopping $15 for a total of 27 books. A pretty good haul, if I do say so, myself. :)

At the moment, I'm reading The Guardian by Jeffrey Konvitz - which I started yesterday, April 8th! I had thought I read this book once before, many years ago, but now I'm not so sure. :) 

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Erich Segal - Man, Woman and Child

44. Man, Woman and Child by Erich Segal (1980)
Length: 213 pages
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Started: 7 April 2014
Finished: 8 April 2014
Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 5 April 2001
Why do I have it? I like contemporary fiction and Erich Segal is a new author for me.

In another unforgettable story of love by the author of Love Story comes the story of a father and the son he never knew...And a marriage that must withstand the greatest test of all.

Robert and Sheila Beckwith had everything: rewarding careers - Robert as a statistics professor and Sheila as an editor for a distinguished publishing house; two wonderful, precocious daughters - twelve-year-old Jessica and nine-year-old Paula - and a marriage that was almost...perfect. For there was one thing thing that Sheila didn't know - that while on a business trip to France a decade before, Bob had been unfaithful to her. It had only happened one time, and was never repeated...

However, what Bob never realized was that his brief affair had produced a son. Now a tragic accident - and one fateful phone call - will change Bob and Sheila Beckwith's life forever...

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was incredibly poignant and compulsively readable - although, I must say that I found the ending both satisfactory - and decidedly unsatisfactory - all at once. I was absolutely enthralled by this story. In my opinion, this was truly an excellent book - I give it an A+!

A+! - (96-100%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Edward Klein - Katie: The Real Story

43. Katie: The Real Story by Edward Klein (2007)
Length: 278 pages
Genre: Non-Fiction
Started: 1 April 2014
Finished: 5 April 2014
Where did it come from? From Paperback Swap
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 3 March 2014
Why do I have it? I like non-fiction and Edward Klein is a new author for me.

For the past twenty-five years - initially as the perky and spirited host of the 'Today' show, then as the only woman ever to anchor a network news program solo - Katie Couric has been a familiar visitor into millions of homes all across America. Yet, despite all her public exposure, no one - until now - has been able to penetrate the shield of her closely guarded personal life - to reveal her secrets and her struggles in the cutthroat world of television news.

In this stunning portrait of America's queen of news, bestselling author Edward Klein rips away the mask that has hidden the many faces of Katie Couric: the strong, independent woman and the needy wife and lover; the grieving widow famed for her kindness toward others and the fiercely competitive diva; the consummate television interviewer and the stumbling network anchor.

Drawing on scores of interviews of people who have never spoken openly about Katie before, Katie: The Real Story chronicles her meteoric rise to the top - from her early days at CNN and local television stations (where she was told she would never succeed) to her phenomenal fifteen-year run on 'Today'. For the first time, the author reveals the critical role Katie's father played in her risky decision to leave 'Today' for the hallowed anchor chair once occupied by Walter Cronkite and Dan Rather.

What is made clear in this book, is that Katie's road to stardom has been paved by a series of rocky personal relationships: a turbulent marriage to Jay Monahan, who died of colon cancer; testy associations with her 'Today' cohosts Bryant Gumbel and Matt Lauer; and several star-crossed love affairs, including one with a man seventeen years her junior.

Katie: The Real Story by Edward Klein is a candid portrait of a folksy, charming woman, a loving single mother, cunning business woman, feminist icon and notorious diva. It is a remarkably insightful, honest and unflinching look at an exceptional woman and the media kingdom she sought to rule.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. In my opinion, it was an excellent and intriguing portrait of the perils of show business. It was very interesting and certainly opened my eyes to a side of Katie Couric that is rarely seen by the public. I give Katie: The Real Story by Edward Klein an A+! and am looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.

A+! - (96-100%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Introducing Stillwell: A Haunting on Long Island by Michael Phillip Cash!

I was delighted to learn recently that four books by Michael Phillip Cash have recently won several awards! Congratulations on such a great achievement, Mr. Cash - it is certainly well-deserved. I have had the pleasure of reading three of Mr. Cash's books, and my daughter Mareena is currently reading his fourth award winner - Schism: The Battle For Darracia. For the next four Fridays, I will be highlighting all of Mr. Cash's award-winning books - and once again, I wish him my heartiest congratulations on such a wonderful achievement!

I had the pleasure of reading Stillwell: A Haunting on Long Island by Michael Phillip Cash back in July of 2013, and must admit that this is still my favorite book by this author. Stillwell: A Haunting on Long Island by Michael Phillip Cash was a Finalist for the Foreword Review's Book of the Year Award of 2013 in the Horror Category, and also received an Honorable Mention for the Rebecca's Reads Readers Choice Awards of 2013 in the General Fiction Category.

Meet Michael Phillip Cash

Michael Phillip Cash is an award winning and best selling author of horror, paranormal, and science fiction novels. Stillwell: A Haunting on Long Island, The Hanging Tree, and Schism: The Battle For Darracia have all been named to Foreward Review's Book of the Year Awards. Michael currently resides on Long Island with his wife and children.

Connect and Socialize with Michael!

Website * Blog * Facebook * Twitter

Stillwell: A Haunting on Long Island by Michael Phillip Cash (2013)

Length: 232 pages

Purchase your copy from Amazon!

Stillwell: A Haunting on Long Island Blurb: 

Paul Russo’s wife just died. While trying to get his family’s life back in order, Paul is being tormented by a demon who is holding his wife's spirit hostage on the other side. His fate is intertwined with an old haunted mansion on the north shore of Long Island called Stillwell Manor. Paul must find clues dating back hundreds of years to set his wife's soul free.

Stillwell: A Haunting on Long Island Book Trailer:

 

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Carole P. Roman - The If You Were Me and Lived In...Series

36-42. The If You Were Me and Lived In...Series by Carole P. Roman (2013-2014)
The If You Were Me and Lived In...Series Books 1-7 (If You Were Me and Lived In...Mexico; If You Were Me and Lived In...France; If You Were Me and Lived In...South Korea; If You Were Me and Lived In...Turkey; If You Were Me and Lived In...Kenya; If You Were Me and Lived In...Norway; If You Were Me and Lived In...India)
Length: 194 pages
Genre: Non-Fiction
Started/Finished: 2 April 2014
Where did it come from? Many thanks to Red Feather Publishing for sending me copies of these books to read.

How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 2 April 2014
Why do I have it? Actually, Red Feather Publishing was kind enough to send me several books to read. Occasionally, I enjoy reading children's books and I have read and enjoyed several books by this author in the past. 

This exciting new children's series written by Carole P. Roman, focuses on learning about and appreciating the many cultures that make up our small planet. Interesting facts and colorful illustrations help children to realize that although the world is large, people all over the globe are basically the same. Perfect for children from Pre-K to age eight.

I enjoyed reading this series, myself. In my opinion, each book teaches children about new cultures effortlessly - in a way that is entertaining and fully captures a child's attention. I give the whole series a definite A+! 

A+! - (96-100%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Carole P. Roman - The Captain No Beard Series

31-35. The Captain No Beard Series by Carole P. Roman (2012-2014) 
The Captain No Beard Series Books 1-5 (Captain No Beard: An Imaginary Tale of a Pirate's Life; Pepper Parrot's Problem With Patience; Stuck in the Doldrums: A Lesson in Sharing; Captain No Beard: Strangers on the High Seas; The Treasure of Snake Island: A Captain No Beard Story)
Length: 184 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Started/Finished: 2 April 2014
Where did it come from? Many thanks to Red Feather Publishing for sending me copies of these books to read.
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 2 April 2014
Why do I have it? Actually, Red Feather Publishing was kind enough to send me several books to read. Occasionally, I enjoy reading children's books and I have read and enjoyed I Want to do Yoga Too by the same author in the past.

Whenever Alexander and his cousin Hallie hop on Alexander's bed to play, they become Captain No Beard and his fearless pirate crew of 'The Flying Dragon'. They set sail for a voyage of imagination as First Mate Hallie, Mongo the Monkey, Linus the loudmouthed lion, and Fribbet the floppy frog - who are in reality, three stuffed animals. Together, Alexander and Hallie sail the seven seas in a magical vessel bound for dangerous and exciting adventures. 

I must say that I enjoyed reading these books. They were quick reads for me and overall, I would give the entire series an A+! In my opinion, this series would make a great gift for children. Each book teaches children valuable lessons such as patience and tolerance; sharing; responsibility and cooperation; being a good friend and what to do when meeting strangers.

A+! - (96-100%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Carole P. Roman - I Want to do Yoga Too

30. I Want to do Yoga Too by Carole P. Roman (2012)
Length: 24 pages
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Started/Finished: 2 April 2014
Where did it come from? Many thanks to Red Feather Publishing for sending me a copy of this book to read.
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 2 April 2014
Why do I have it? Actually, Red Feather Publishing was kind enough to send me several books to read. Occasionally, I enjoy reading children's books and Carole P. Roman is a new author for me.

Hallie always loves to do what Mommy does. One day, she and mommy go to the yoga studio and Hallie is excited to join her mommy's yoga class. However, Mommy tells her that she isn't allowed. Hallie is upset, so she complains to the babysitter, who then gently guides her through four yoga poses. Hallie learns that not only is yoga easy, but fun as well.

I must say that I enjoyed this book. As with all of Carole P. Roman's children's books that I've read, I found that the illustrations were colorful and eye-catching. I also appreciated that Ms. Roman's books teach children about subjects in a way that is fun, engaging, and easy for them to understand. I give this book an A!

A! - (90-95%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Anne Tyler - The Tin Can Tree

29. The Tin Can Tree by Anne Tyler (1965)
Length: 188 pages
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Started: 29 March 2014
Finished: 1 April 2014
Where did it come from? From Bookmooch
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 3 February 2014
Why do I have it? I like contemporary fiction and have read and enjoyed several books by this author in the past.

In the small town of Larksville, the Pike family is in the midst of terrible crisis. They are hopelessly out of step with the rhythms of daily life after the tragic, accidental death of six-year-old Janie Rose. Janie Rose's absence is keenly felt by everyone and her family will never be whole again.

Lou - Janie's mother - blames herself for her daughter's death, and so has retreated into her own private world of grief. She seldom speaks to those around her and is barely aware of her surroundings. Roy - Janie's father - has been forced to emerge from his many years of long, comfortable silence. Janie's ten-year-old brother, Simon, is suddenly without his baby sister or any proper understanding of why she's gone.

Those closest to this shattered family must learn to comfort them - as well as confront their own private shadows of hidden grief. If time cannot draw them out of the dark, and thus foster any expectation of creating a meaningful future, then love just may be their only hope...

In my opinion, this was a gripping story. The plot was thoroughly engrossing and I was completely captured from the first page. I wanted to see how each character would cope with their grief. I give this book an A!

As I may have said before, I think that Ms. Tyler is an excellent writer. Those books of hers that I've read, have been filled with characters that you can't help but care for, going through circumstances that are absolutely plausible. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

A! - (90-95%)
   
Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Reading Wrap-up For March at Moonshine and Rosefire

Hello everyone out there and I hope that you all had a terrific reading month for yourselves. I am known as Rosefire around the Internet and this is my new personal reading blog. I originally posted my reviews over at my daughter's blog, Emeraldfire's Bookmark but am now in the process of transferring them all over to my own blog. My daughter makes blogging look like so much fun that I thought that I would try it out for myself! :)

Anyway, I started out March with 945 unread books lying around the house and ended the month with 937 books unread. All the books that I acquired this month came from Bookmooch, Paperback Swap and authors.

Let me try to break down the influx for you:

Rereads

- My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier

Changes to the TBR pile

Read from my TBR pile (Yes! I am a reading machine :))
- Put Yer Rosary Beads Away Ma: A Salty Tale of a Young Man's Musical Dreams and Struggles in 1970's Ireland by Cahal Dunne
- Class Reunion by Rona Jaffe
- The Rose and the Yew Tree by Mary Westmacott
- Earthly Possessions by Anne Tyler
- The Scapegoat/The Last Angry Man/The Muses Are Heard/The Fruit Tramp/The Enemy Below by Daphne du Maurier, Gerald Green, Truman Capote, Vinnie Williams and D. A. Rayner
- A Slipping-Down Life by Anne Tyler
- Ashenden: A Novel by Elizabeth Wilhide

Added to my TBR pile (oh well, you win some and you lose some! Not too bad though, I suppose:))
- Put Yer Rosary Beads Away Ma: A Salty Tale of a Young Man's Musical Dreams and Struggles in 1970's Ireland by Cahal Dunne (4 copies)
- Katie: The Real Story by Edward Klein
- Jamaica Inn Daphne du Maurier
- The Scapegoat/The Last Angry Man/The Muses Are Heard/The Fruit Tramp/The Enemy Below by Daphne du Maurier, Gerald Green, Truman Capote, Vinnie Williams and D. A. Rayner
- Mommy's a Mole: Unraveling the Joan Webster Murder and Other Secrets in a CIA Family by Eve Carson
- Extreme Makeover: Home Edition - The Official Companion Book by Madison Press

Taken off my TBR pile and sent to a new home (Yay! Happy Dance! :))  
- The Affair: A Novel by Alicia Clifford
- Lost Souls by Michael Collins
- The Firm by John Grisham
- The Hope: A Novel by Herman Wouk
- The Onion Field by Joseph Wambaugh
- To Turn the Tide by John F. Kennedy
- Paige by Paige: A Year of Trading Spaces by Paige Davis
- Time is a River: A Novel by Mary Alice Monroe
- Put Yer Rosary Beads Away Ma: A Salty Tale of a Young Man's Musical Dreams and Struggles in 1970's Ireland by Cahal Dunne (2 copies)
- Disobedience by Jane Hamilton
- The Red Scream: A Novel of Suspense by Mary Willis Walker
- Cruel Doubt by Joe McGinniss
- James Connolly: 'A Full Life' by Donal Nevin

Well, there it is...the breakdown! All in all, a very good reading month for me. Here's a further breakdown:

Books Read: 8 
Pages Read: 2,163
Grade Range: A+! to A!

So, there you go! The reading month that was March. I hope that you all had an equally good reading month; if not a little better. :) See you all next month! :)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight