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Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week

Self Published Book Review of the Week: Searching for Salvation

Searching for Salvation

by Albert L. Pike, Jr.

This self-published book was recently reviewed by ReaderViews:

“Searching for Salvation” is a poetry book that shows just because someone may appear to have it “all together” doesn’t make that fact. The author, Albert L. Pike, Jr., is a former public school teacher and administrator who became a priest in the Roman Catholic Church after a series of physical and emotional battles.

The poetry Pike writes in “Searching for Salvation” vividly shows his battles with depression, bipolar disorder, and seeking validation in other people such as his wife. His belief in God and his desire to serve, which he states in a narrative began at age seven when he felt called to the priesthood, shines through most of his work.

Most poetry books do not have narrative essays explaining the progression of the poems or even an introduction, but Pike does this without ruining the fact that “Searching for Salvation” is primarily a book of poetry. The explanations work well and help support the theme of his work, which is going from spiritual brokenness to spiritual enlightenment.

I am not Catholic, but I still feel “Searching for Salvation” has a lot of validity especially for those who are trying to go from emotional darkness into emotional sunlight. There are a number of Catholic themes noted in the book, especially once Pike enters the priesthood. Thus, those who are staunchly against the Catholic Church or other forms of Western religion may not wish to pick up a copy of this book. However, it is not necessary to be Catholic or Christian to enjoy the message of “Searching for Salvation” or the pain and then joy reflected in Pike’s words. This book is ideal for anyone who is interested in poetry, prose, self-help, and general spirituality and is appropriate for a wide range of age groups.

What I found most valuable out of “Searching for Salvation” by Albert L. Pike, Jr. is that a priest can admit a history of serious challenges, even note that the church to which he has devoted the remainder of his life had “innumerable scandalous activities.” Pike also beautifully illustrates through words the importance of even painful experience as perhaps life’s most lasting teacher.

For more information or to order the book, visit the author’s webpage: www.outskirtspress.com/searchingforsalvation


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Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week

Self-Published Book Review of the Week: Riddle of Berlin

Review_CoverRiddle of Berlin

by Cym Lowell

A recent review submitted by this self-published author:

An arms dealer orchestrates acts of terrorism throughout the world, vexing international authorities.

Mark Anton is an Internet wunderkind living in Germany, a 27-year-old Californian who went abroad to take advantage of the wild free market conditions in Eastern Europe. Little does Anton know that his empire has caught the attention of an international terrorist mastermind. The Lion, frequently posing as an old German frau, is a sophisticated and cultured criminal holdover from the Old World who orchestrates attacks from a plush library in his suite at Berlin’s finest hotel. The shadowy international financier decides to frame Anton—as well as his unsuspecting mother—as the perpetrator of a series of attacks on NATO intelligence and civilians in Germany, using Anton’s online venture, an auction site for sports memorabilia, as a coverup for arms dealing. Anton’s only hope of escaping this nefarious web—one that also includes the American vice president (who is a friend of his mother’s) Chinese militants and the FBI—is an investigator named John Jaëgerman, a decorated war hero and skilled soldier who somehow knows to warn Anton a few days before the first attack. Jaegërman, however, jumps off the Notre Dame Cathedral into the Seine shortly thereafter, in hopes of meeting a mysterious female entity who resides in the water. He is rescued by a Slovakian nurse driven by her own carnal and spiritual desires. For such an integral character in the book, Jaegërman is touched upon too infrequently and without enough emphasis. His relationship with the Slovak Carmen is distracting and even unnecessary in light of the tremendous amount of action going on elsewhere in the book. These disparate storylines eventually come together, but the novel as a whole feels overly plotted. The European settings are top-notch, a Jason Bourne-like mix of sex, immense manses and fast cars. However, NATO seems like a prosaic and harmless target for such a skilled criminal to focus on, and more so, the ability of The Lion to repeatedly defeat the authorities is not entirely plausible.

A dense amalgam of genre elements, but fans of international thrillers will be pleased.



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Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week

Self Published Book Review of the Week: Anointed for Appointment

Anointed for Appointment

by Olaniyi Adelabu

A recent review submitted by this self-published author:

The book – Anointed for Appointment – is non-fiction. It’s the most explanatory book I’ve ever read on the use and power of anointed oil. The author has written this book to educate the reader on the real meaning, purpose, uses, spiritual components, dos and don’ts of anointing oil. He reveals the source of anointing, its importance and different ways of administering it, just with the main purpose of getting readers equipped with necessary things to be know about this concept – Anointing.

This book is an eye-opener which will definitely meet the need of the reader in providing them with the necessary information on Anointing and anointing oil – a physical symbol. It would clear all misconceptions and mishandling of anointing oil. And readers will surely become better in their beliefs and administering/application of anointing oil after reading the book.

The book is writhing for people of all ages with or without any amount of belief in anointing oil. That’s why its written in such a way that clears all doubt about the source, importance, handling and so on of the anointing oil.

It is also to be noted that the author is duly qualified to write this book. Because of his gathered enormous experiences from the use of anointing oil in the due course of ministry as a seasoned deliverance minister for years. The last chapter – chapter six – of the book provides readers with some of his experience in the deliverance ministry. They are interesting! He also has some other works on the pipe line which are also going to shake the kingdom with grate implications.

The bottle of “Goya or Olive’ oil you buy from a shop is mere chemistry. But when it’s sanctified – prayed on – it becomes purer with God the father, Son and the Holy Ghost as the components. It’s really a weapon of warfare! Pastor Michael Olaniyi Adelabu has really downloaded from heaven to write this ageless book.
Now, ‘do more than read, absorb’

~ Omole – Great G. K.

For more information or to order the book, visit the author’s webpage: www.outskirtspress.com/anointedforappointment


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Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week

Self Published Book Review of the Week: One Lonely Mind

Review_CoverOne Lonely Mind

by Alis Rowe

Recent reviews for this self-published book:

Review 1: Excellent!

By Mr. J. Campbell (UK)

One Lonely Mind follows the turbulent exploits of Nazim, a desolate soul, as he attempts to find peace and closure after the passing of his mother.

Nazim, a sensitive, caring and thoughtful persona, is alone in a world of suffering and despair until he meets the love of his life: Angel (a character so deep and intriguing she warrants her own book).

Captivated and enthralled with Angel, Nazim will stop at nothing to provide for her and give her the lifestyle she desires. Nazim’s character undergoes considerable transformations as he attempts to win Angel’s heart.

I found One Lonely Mind to be a gripping read from start to finish. This book had me in awe over the depth of emotion and sensitivity explored by the author – for this reason alone, I would be happy to recommend this book to anyone.

~

Review 2: An amazing story!

By Mr. T. Nolan (UK)

One Lonely Mind is a fantastic journey concerning two lost souls who meet on a beach on a cold winter’s night with nothing but each other for company. This book engages the reader right from the word go and from the first word I read, I could not put this book down. The language the author has used is emotive and encapsulating with deep heartfelt meanings which the reader can interpret for themselves.

The book also explores the deep meanings that they feel towards eachother from the perspective of Nazim and his constant battles with his own feelings towards this girl he has met on the beach. Who goes from being a complete unknown and almost ghost like to the love of his life and the person he knows as if they had known each other all their lives.

Their situation is far from perfect, but Nazim does his best to make sure Angel has the life she deserves and to be treated like the princess he holds her as.

Will there be a fairytale ending? Or is life too complicated?

As a person who reads very few books and struggles to engage and relate to the subject matter, I found this book an absolute joy to read and have read it many times, each time finding different meanings and turmoils the pair face and will definitely be reading it once more and looking out for another addition to this one!

For more information or to order the book, visit the author’s webpage: www.alisrowe.co.uk


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Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week

Self Published Book Review of the Week: Unstoppable Confidence

Unstoppable Confidence

by Astrid Harris

This self-published book was recently reviewed by www.readerviews.com:

Life coach and author Astrid Harris describes her new book, “Unstoppable Confidence,” as ‘lifechanging’ and ‘a ticket to a whole new life.’ Are these things possible coming from a workbook comprised of only 29 pages? Harris thinks so.

“Unstoppable Confidence” is divided into six different lessons meant to be read individually and their strategies practiced thoroughly before moving on to the next section. Within each, there are ample writing areas for the reader to answer questions relating to their own situation, thereby personalizing the exercises and assignments. Harris utilizes each reader’s personal belief system and a deserving role model to further explain her empowering techniques.

As someone who has studied Daniel Goleman’s “Emotional Intelligence,” I had great doubts as to Astrid Harris’ ability to get the basic concept of self-awareness and self-confidence across in a mere 29-page workbook but I was pleasantly surprised. Without going into an enormous amount of detail, she explains self-confidence and the importance of knowing the ‘why’ behind various integral aspects of personality such as religious beliefs, personal convictions, opinions, etc. Her questions to the reader are thought-provoking and lead them on to further questions and deeper considerations. Her language and intents are easily understandable and free of the psychological jargon commonly found in books of the same genre.

“Unstoppable Confidence” is an easy to absorb book and perfect for someone with no prior studies or background in psychology. Its succinct format allows for even the busiest person to learn its methods without a great deal of time spent reading. Although additional resources at the end of the book for further study would have been nice to see, Harris gives her readers enough to get their confidence-boosting balls rolling. Ironically, the excitement and motivating nature she exudes in the pages of “Unstoppable Confidence” is not reflected in its bland and nondescript cover.

“Unstoppable Confidence” by Astrid Harris is a surprising find. Short, sweet, and to the point, these methods cater to already-overflowing schedules and frazzled minds with too much going on. Astrid Harris’ work is more like the ‘executive version’ of much thicker confidence building books yet with the same crucial information. Higher confidence and deeper self-knowledge is as quick as today.

For more information or to order the book, visit the author’s webpage: www.outskirtspress.com/unstoppableconfidence



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