Tuesday Book Review: “Cursed”

Book reviews are a great way for self-publishing authors to gain exposure. After all, how can someone buy your book if he or she doesn’t know it exists? Paired with other elements of your book promotion strategy, requesting reviews is a great way to get people talking about what you’ve written.
When we read good reviews, we definitely like to share them. It gives the author a few (permanent) moments of fame and allows us to let the community know about a great book. Here’s this week’s book review:

cursed jeanne blanchet

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Cursed

by Jeanne Blanchet, PhD

ISBN: 9781478747901

Synopsis*:

The year is 394 CE. Christianity has recently been declared Rome’s state religion, and the empire’s pagan temples are being shut down. When Christian Princess Serena accompanies Theofilus, a young priest, to oversee the closing of Vesta’s sanctuary, she pilfers a necklace from the statue of a goddess, inciting the head Vestal to call a horrific curse down on her and her family. Cursed traces the remainder of Serena’s life as she wonders if the curse will destroy her completely and attempts to cope with her gradually rising desperation. Meanwhile, Father Theofilus embarks on a lifelong quest to find the priceless antique Palladium, which had been housed in the sanctuary and which he plans to donate to the Church as a means of furthering his ecclesiastical career. Stilicho, Alaric, Theodosius I, Bishops Ambrose and Augustine, and Saint Jerome are among the fascinating individuals who return to life in this historical fiction thriller. Their exciting adventures are set against the background of the fall of the once-mighty Roman Empire, the rise of Christianity, and the mass migrations characteristic of Europe’s turbulent fourth and fifth centuries.

 * courtesy of Amazon.com

Featured Review

Jeanne Blanchet’s “Cursed” is an epic historical account of Christianity’s strong entrance into Roman culture, and how religion came to be more absolute than the power of even the emperors.

Christian Princess Serena and a young priest and aspiring Bishop of Rome, Presbyter Theofilus, make up two of the principal characters in the cast. Serena is pampered and used to living a life of luxury.  While her heart is often in the right place, she is easily misguided, however, by material aspirations and the beauty and allure of things, like jewelry.  Presbyter Theofilus started out as a promising young military prospect but turned his sights on the Church when religious traditions in Rome became overrun by Christian teachings and power.  What these two young people learned during their years, as did every other Roman citizen and intruder, was that Christianity’s power was to be stronger than anything else.

“Cursed” starts out strongly and is filled with rich details and obvious research.  The terminology which the author inputs into the story represents long hours of academic study, which help produce an authentic picture of Rome in its final century.  While the details remain strong throughout the novel, the pace staggers a bit as the story progresses.  It seemed that the author’s aspirations for the novel almost became a little too broad.  Whereas the synopsis of the book intimates at the book being about a young woman being evilly cursed by one of the remaining pagan priestesses, or Vestals, of Rome, and about Presbyter Theofilus’s journey to find the antique Palladium, these storylines become a little blurred.

While most of “Cursed” takes place toward the end of the 4th century CE, there are various chapters that almost randomly go back in time 30, 40, or 50 years.  One contains details about the coming of the Goths, while another provides backstory on the current Bishop of Rome.  While the historical details are strong, the context of why these chapters are included in the midst of the main story is lost.  I think the too-broad aspirations and outlook for the plot ended up overshadowing the intended theme and main point of the book, albeit unintentionally.

I am not sure I would consider this a read for the general audience.  The historical and technical terms may make the prose seem a little dense and hard to understand.  I am a history student and an aspiring historian, so the inclusion of the historical facts was perfectly normal, easy to understand, and even exciting to me, but it may pose as a barrier for those who aren’t as historically inclined.

“Cursed” certainly shows a lot of promise as a work of heavily research historical fiction.  The idea for the story is unique and captivating, and the characters are unique enough to make you want to know what happens to them by the end of the book.  In the end, “Cursed” by Jeanne Blanchet is a great example to aspiring writers of how important structure, pacing, and context are in contributing to the overall understanding, execution, and package that is a novel.

– reviewed by Megan Weiss on Reader Views

Other Reviews

History come to life.

The author has taken the historical account of early Christianity and the fall of Rome and woven together a most descriptive narrative to bring the events to life.

– reviewed by Nancy Redmond on Amazon

This book has inspiring attention to detail and emotional depth. The knowledge and research that went into the writing of Cursed has made it a real page turner that pulls you right in and won’t let you put it down.

– reviewed by MacLennan on Amazon

 


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Tuesday Book Review: “Church Plays”

Book reviews are a great way for self-publishing authors to gain exposure. After all, how can someone buy your book if he or she doesn’t know it exists? Paired with other elements of your book promotion strategy, requesting reviews is a great way to get people talking about what you’ve written.
When we read good reviews, we definitely like to share them. It gives the author a few (permanent) moments of fame and allows us to let the community know about a great book. Here’s this week’s book review:

church plays fran shaw

 

Church Plays

by Fran Shaw

Publisher: Outskirts Press

ISBN: 9781478773702

Synopsis*:

Church Plays is a God given book which is comprised of 21 short plays and skits. Each play is ministering and entertaining while delivering a profound message. It will make you laugh and cry. This book will bless the readers, performers and the directors. You won’t be able to put it down and will never be the same. A few of the titles are ‘You Had Better Praise Him] (A young man with a drinking problem at the end of his rope is visited by the Devil), ]Pearls] (A single lady is beguiled by Mr. Casanova later finds out she is pregnant and HIV+), ‘God I Ain’t Mad At You’ (A mother loses her child to cancer), and ‘The Christmas Star’ (An old homeless bag lady brighten Christmas for a mother and her three children). Although this book is titled Church Plays, any audience will enjoy these delightful heart felt plays. These plays are a must see and the book is a must read.

 * courtesy of Amazon.com

Reviews

A favorite! Ms. Shaw’s plays were very inspiring and had a realistic perspective on matters that we are currently experiencing. There were a variety of plays that could easily be used not only in churches, but in various settings. A great read!!!

– Amazon reviewer April Moses

The book was written by a God-fearing woman ms Fran Shaw Who poured her heart into it you will be blessed by this book because the stories in it can be applied to every day life situations

– Amazon reviewer Linda Howell

OMG! This book is phenomenal! Glad I discovered, this hidden jewel! Look forward to seeing what else the author has.

– Amazon reviewer LadyShaw08


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Tuesday Book Review: “e-Love”

Book reviews are a great way for self-publishing authors to gain exposure. After all, how can someone buy your book if he or she doesn’t know it exists? Paired with other elements of your book promotion strategy, requesting reviews is a great way to get people talking about what you’ve written.
When we read good reviews, we definitely like to share them. It gives the author a few (permanent) moments of fame and allows us to let the community know about a great book. Here’s this week’s book review:

e love i a nova

e-Love: Escapades in Search of Romance in the Digital Age

by I. A. Nova

Publisher: Outskirts Press

ISBN: 9781478776727

cipa evvy award

a CIPA EVVY Award Nominee!

Synopsis*:

Swipe right for E-Love, I. A. Nova’s charming, witty tale of love in the digital age. After being dumped by the man she thought was her one and only, Claire, a romantic, finds herself looking for love online.

A romantic using an online dating site? What could go wrong?

To Claire’s surprise, after only a few missteps, she meets Ian, an enigmatic musician and horseman. Their love burns bright and true.

For a while.

Once again, Claire finds herself alone, but this time she understands that romantic love is not the only thing that can fill the space in her heart. She decides to make her way to Africa, where she will fully devote herself to helping others by volunteering at an orphanage.

Claire’s life is not done twisting and turning, though. The online world is infinite, and so are the paths our real lives can take. After a chance encounter, Claire finds herself at a crossroads. Which way will she swipe this time?

 * courtesy of Amazon.com

Featured Review:

Nowadays new technologies have affected all spheres of life, including love. Virtual love supplanted the real, affecting the quality of relationships and values between women and men. True love has become sort of a ghost and found its place in the imagination and hopes of desperate cyberspace voyageurs. Claire is one of them. She is bathing in the rays of loneliness and disappointment, living through truth and lies, tears and joy, occasionally sharing the mystery of her heart with her dear friend. The book is about a chapter in a life of a young, intelligent, and divorced woman who realized that “the world is made for couples” and in her efforts to find “the One” dives into the world of online dating. She discovers not only surprises that come along with online dating but also herself, the new Claire, who is ready to share the warmth of her heart at any distance in the cyberspace in order to find true feelings in the second world, which is the reality. Unfortunately, virtual love hurts the real heart. Will Claire be able to say goodbye to e-cards and e-flowers ending online love games and textationships and lay a solid foundation for the lasting and beautiful relationship with someone from the real world; or will she drown in the gigabytes of virtual memories and affection? It is for the reader to find out.
I highly recommend this book for both women and men. It will grasp your attention to the last page. Witness the richness of imagination intertwined with bitter reality that single women often face when exposing their souls to e-love. The book is well-written and contains numerous scenes that will make you laugh and cry (the scene with the river otters made me cry and feel so much for Claire). I read this book non-stop for 8 hours and, in the end, I wanted to know more. I think the author should consider writing the second part, and, in my opinion, the story is an excellent choice for a modern romance movie.
Single men, who face difficulties in finding a partner online, are recommended this read because they can learn more about the mysterious mind of a woman in search of love, her inner desires, and what she really wants in a man. The novel reveals the author’s mastery of interpreting the matters of the heart and explores the mind of a single woman. Very compelling and details-rich story. Impressive debut by a new and talented American author who, no doubt, should be noticed and rewarded. I.A. Nova rocks!

– Review by Natasha R on Amazon

 

Here’s what some other reviewers are saying:

This isn’t a short book, but it reads quick. It starts off quickly and keeps going all the way to the end — never slowing a bit.

If you’re looking for a quick, clean, fun look at a woman’s journey through the tangled mess of internet dating, this is a good choice.

The only thing I didn’t like was the end. I didn’t know if Claire ended up with Ian, Yves or just went to Africa by herself. The story just sort of ends… with that question hanging in the air… and I prefer endings where everything is wrapped up neatly with a bow.

But, regardless… I enjoyed the heck outta this little book. It’s probably one of the sweetest reads I’ve had in a long time.

– Amazon Reviewer J Carl

I recently had the pleasure of reading “E-Love” by I. A. Nova, and was happily surprised. The readers follow the “online” adventures of Claire, the main character, whose great personality and determination takes her on a roller coaster ride of emotions and experiences. The story is eloquently written, filled with twist and turns, and presented with a touch of humour. Everyone can easily identified with Claire and her adventures, frustrations, and hopes that comes with joy of “finding love” online and in life! I highly recommend this book! 🙂

– Amazon Reviewer Vic

 


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Saturday Book Review: “The Highly Effective Habits of 5 Successful Authors”

Book reviews are a great way for self-publishing authors to gain exposure. After all, how can someone buy your book if he or she doesn’t know it exists? Paired with other elements of your book promotion strategy, requesting reviews is a great way to get people talking about what you’ve written.
When we read good reviews, we definitely like to share them. It gives the author a few (permanent) moments of fame and allows us to let the community know about a great book. Here’s this week’s book review:

High Effective Habits of 5 Successful Authors

The High Effective Habits of 5 Successful Authors:
How They Beat the Self-Publishing Odds
(and how you can too)

by Outskirts Press

Publisher: Outskirts Press

ISBN: 9781432760915

Synopsis*:

Meet five successfully self-published authors and discover in their own words what contributed to their success.

How did Gang Chen earn over $100,000 in 180 days? How has Sally Shields transformed herself from a stay-at-home mom to a #1 Amazon.com bestselling author and book marketing dynamo? How did Ronnie Lee become one of the most prolific published authors in the world? How has Charlotte Endorf turned personal hardships into life-affirming successes? How did Andrew J. Rafkin find the motivation during a boating trip to write not one, not two, not three, but four award-winning novels?

Regardless of whether you are just starting to write your book, or exploring all your publishing options with a completed manuscript in your hands, the personal stories and effective habits of these five authors will surely inspire you!

Here they are:

Andrew J. Rafkin is a San Pedro native, a successful entrepreneur, and the current president of Palos Verdes Security Systems. Rafkin has received numerous awards for his books, including the EVVY literary award for Red Sky Morning and a gold, silver, and bronze “sweep” of the Action/Adventure category in the Readers Favorite Awards for his Madness trilogy: Creating Madness, Mediterranean Madness and Mexican Madness.

Charlotte Endorf was recognized as “Toastmaster of the Decade” and is a two-time winner of the coveted “Distinguished Toastmaster” award through her 10-year affiliation with Toastmasters International. She inspires and educates audiences with her professional talks designed to complement each of her many books, including By Train They Came, Plains Bound: Fragile Cargo, and Unsung Neighbors.

Gang Chen is a LEED AP BD+C and a licensed architect in California. He is also the internationally-acclaimed author of Architectural Practice Simplified, Planting Design Illustrated and several LEED exam guides including LEED AP Exam Guide, LEED BD&C Exam Guide, and LEED GA EXAM GUIDE.

Sally Shields is an award-winning pianist, composer, speaker, and author. She is also the #1 Amazon.com bestselling author of The Daughter-in-Law Rules: 101 Surefire Ways to Make Friends with Your Mother-In-Law! as well as The Collaborator Rules: 101 Surefire Ways to Stay Friends with Your Co-Author!

Ronnie Lee is a Chinese poet and philosopher. He has lived and studied in the United Kingdom, but now resides in Hong Kong, where he is working to establish greater awareness of modern philosophy and poetry. As one of the most prolific published authors today, his tomes include The Philosophy of Life, The Genius of the Metropolis, and The Meaning of Life, among many others.

 * courtesy of Amazon.com

Here’s what some other reviewers are saying:

This book means a lot to me even though I have written 8 books of my own on important subjects such as philosophy, politics, religion and science. Beyond my theories and experience, I realize there are some very kind people in this World. In this book, I can see four authors beside myself that are dedicated to success. This success from all five authors seems to be motivated by four different purposes, one money, one fame, one awards, one personal and one spiritual. Yet it is not what any of us really expected in our early childhood years, but whether this was an accident rather than a destiny seems to be the underlining theme of the lives of us all. We all show signs of some greater path that we reached beyond our own consciousness of our childhoods and we all succeeded in reaching high levels of honor and gratitude in our ambitions. Each path is interesting and each path has its own merits. Throughout the hardships of life, each has a moral and each has a strategy and each has a result. All these morals in this book may seem determined, aggressive and even established, yet throughout the memoirs of each author, there seems to be a single drive that was not supported by any major institution or financial backer, so each success was an independent movement and work in its own right. This shows that anyone can succeed, even if you are individuals with a rejected history. The emphasis of each author shows the cost of experience and the hope of success for others who may learn from the obstacles faced by each author. Each one has an experience that contended with social ignorances of some sort and each wants to open the truths to their specific subjects. The kindness is shown by the motivation and outcome of each author and Outskirts Press has allowed that to be known. Although each author is clear on his or her own success whether in profit, honor or happiness, it is still the process and result of how each came to succeed that makes him or her value their experience and that is through patience, learning and acting on wise decisions. They kept their faith of goodness and acted according to the needs of life so that success was not just for themselves but for society as a whole. Outskirts Press has chosen five authors that seem to resemble a success through low odds, almost as underdogs of this World. It has chosen five successful authors who were not rich to start with but ended up rich with their writings and books. These five authors represent hope in many ways. Mr Chen with an educated background. Ms Shields with a family background. Mr Rafkin with an agricultural background. Ms Endorf with a welfare background. And myself with a business background. This book shows anyone can succeed with a book in any field of living. It is a book that will be seen as an advertisement, not just for the five authors, or for Outskirts Press, but maybe for a rememembrance of a time in history when things took off, not just in books but in fields of information, love and hope. It is a book of intense dedication to following dreams and ideas, for the betterment of life.

– Amazon Reviewer Ronnie Lee

This book is very motivating. It shows you that anyone can publish their book-and be very successful at it. Although the 5 featured authors each start with different goals, the outcome is similar-they learn ways to effectively market their books and have reaped the benefits from doing so. This book is very moving and you come to appreciate the determination of these 5 authors to follow their dreams.

– Amazon Reviewer Elizabeth

 


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Saturday Book Review: “The Fine Line”

Book reviews are a great way for self-publishing authors to gain exposure. After all, how can someone buy your book if he or she doesn’t know it exists? Paired with other elements of your book promotion strategy, requesting reviews is a great way to get people talking about what you’ve written.
When we read good reviews, we definitely like to share them. It gives the author a few (permanent) moments of fame and allows us to let the community know about a great book. Here’s this week’s book review:

the fine line Margaret Watkins

The Fine Line

by Margaret Watkins

Publisher: Outskirts Press

ISBN: 9781432702502

Synopsis*:

A middle-aged woman on snowshoes in the mountains of Idaho. A fighter jet pilot at the apex of his career. Drawn together by the same medical misfortune, one finds the other’s friendship amidst the debris of their mutual calamities.

This is the true story of two strangers whose lives intersect because of simultaneous ruptured cerebral aneurysms. Their descent into darkness and slow journey back into life will touch your heart.

 * courtesy of Amazon.com

Here’s what some other reviewers are saying:

Margaret Watkins is my sister-in-law. I have always known that she is a remarkable person. However, as I watched from afar her struggle to survive a cerebral aneurysm, I knew she was even more remarkable. Now, as she tells her (and a stranger’s story) about experiencing and surviving this medical nightmare and subsequent miracle of survival, I am even more in awe of her. I am reminded of the daily struggle she endured and cannot believe it has been almost ten years since she suffered the aneurysm. Her story made me think about how I would cope as a patient struck with a serious illness or injury. I also hope that if I should experience such a catastrophic event, I would be fortunate to have as knowledgeable and talented physicians tending to me. What a joy it is to read about the tremendous professionals who give of themselves every day so patients can return to life. I truly think readers will appreciate this book and be uplifted by the two individuals’ struggles and wills to live. After reading the book, I suspect that many readers–like me–will be interested in reading a book about Margaret’s Mt. Everest climb six years after suffering the aneurysm. I feel so blessed that my brother brought her into our lives.

– Amazon Reviewer Alexis Jarrett

This is an intense, well-written true story of how a woman in the mountains of Idaho and a fighter jet pilot in Washington were drawn together by the simultaneous medical catastrophes of ruptured cerebral aneurysms. The physician author does a great job of explaining a complex and not-uncommon frequently-fatal disaster. She deftly weaves parallel stories between her misfortune and Colonel Robbin’s meltdown and their overlapping descents into the nightmare of brain surgery at the cutting-edge of technology.

– Amazon Reviewer IdahoBob

More of Interest:

Margaret Watkins is in the process of publishing another book, Off to Tibet, and needs help choosing her book cover! Visit our sister blogSelf Publishing News, to help her choose between several great options!


saturday self-published book review

Thanks for reading!  Keep up with the latest in the world of indie and self-published books by watching this space every Saturday!

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