The Lincoln Myth by Steve Berry

The Lincoln Myth by Steve Berry refers to Lincoln and his interactions with the Mormons who were being hounded from state to state at the time. The issue was secession. The troubles on both side almost unimaginable.

The contemporary story takes a little getting used to as it jumps from one continent to another and from spies  (not C.I.A.) to Mormons to the President. Rowan is a United States senator from Utah who is also next in line to be the prophet of the Latter Day Saints after the current one dies. He is trying to trace a document that will prove it's legal for states to secede from the Union. The President and his agents do everything in their power to prevent that from happening. In the midst of all of this, Rowan's right-hand man Salazar sees visions of an angel who encourages him to kill people. The agents find themselves in one hair-raising situation after another and have to come up with solutions in a matter of seconds.

It's a wild ride figuring out how, or if, it's all going to come out right. And I can't tell you that it has a "happily ever after" ending.

Kathi

In a Glass Grimmly by Adam Gidwitz

 In a Glass Grimmly by Adam Gidwitz

As delightful as A Tale Dark & Grimm, In a Glass Grimmly is the tale of Jack and Jill and their search for the Seeing Glass. Their journey is chronicled in gruesome detail as they meet with giants, goblins and a giant salamander. There are guts, blood and vomit galore so be forewarned.
There is plenty of humor as well and the children learn a valuable lesson about self-acceptance along the way.

Lola

A Pedigree to Die For by Laurien Berenson

Melanie Travis, the single mother of a rambunctious four-year-old son and the niece of a cantankerous old aunt, finds herself visiting dog shows to discover who stole her aunt's champion standard black poodle, Beau. Melanie's uncle died in the kennel on the night Beau was stolen, so she may be on the trail of a murderer as well.

Melanie's knowledge of dog shows and things pertaining to champion dogs would fit into a thimble until her aunt teaches her what she needs to know to ask intelligent questions of other dog breeders.

The trail leads all over the northeastern states as she tracks a number of suspects until she discovers her aunt's dog. But that's actually where the story takes a very unexpected twist. I did not see the ending coming at all. Maybe you will figure it out earlier in the book than I did.

This book is on Overdrive.

Kathi Linz

A Tale Dark & Grimm by Adam Gidwitz

 A Tale Dark & Grimm by Adam Gidwitz

What a great first novel for Gidwitz. This is the nail-biting, sleep with the lights on version of the fairy tales we all heard as children. The real, more like the Grimm brothers intended, not always happy but lesson at the end stories. Loved the narrator interjecting telling little children to leave the room or the faint at heart to stop reading adding humor and needed breaks from intense scenes. This book follows Hansel and Gretel as they search for better parents - read the book and you'll know why - fighting through decapitation, boiling lava, and a dragon on their quest. 

Lola

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Divergent by Veronica Roth is the first book of a trilogy set in a dystopian future. The setting is Chicago which lies next to a marsh that used to be a lake. A fence surrounds the city - and the locks are on the outside of the fence!

Inside are five factions and one group of factionless people. Each faction plays to one personality trait. One is joy and creativity, one bravery, one selflessness, another knowledge, the last honesty. At age 16, each person must choose which faction they want to be in for the rest of their life. They can stay in the faction in which they were raised, or they can choose any other faction. After they choose, they go into training and pass through an initiation.

Beatrice (selfless faction) chooses to become Tris of the Dauntless faction (bravery). The training is intense. She makes both friends and enemies. During her training, she discovers corruption on such a scale that it threatens everything she knows and everyone she loves. She is one of those very few who will be able to do anything about this threat because she has more than one ability - she is divergent.

This book does not close her story. Please see future posts for more of this story.

Kathi Linz

Walking on Water by Richard Paul Evans

I had not picked up any of Richard Paul Evans' The Walk series until I read A Step of Faith for the Fantastic Fiction book discussion group.  It was a thought-provoking journey and I enjoyed it immensely, but realized it was book number 4 in the series.  Since I try to never start a book series in the middle, I went back and began the series from the beginning.  In Walking on Water, the fifth and final book in the series, Alan Christoffersen prepares to finish his walk across the United States from Seattle to Key West.  Like the rest of his journey, he deals with many personal issues using faith and humor.


Walking on Water by Richard Paul Evans

Brink of Chaos by Tim LaHaye and Craig Parshall

Brink of Chaos by Tim LaHaye and Craig Parshall is book three in The End Series.

Joshua Jordan has so far saved New York City from being nuked and his wife Abigail saved Washington, D.C. from a similar fate. The government is so interested in becoming part of the global economy/one world government that the Jordans are put on trial. Joshua currently lives in Israel, having fled the United States. His wife is about to be imprisoned for not accepting a BIDtag on her right hand.

A Presidential campaign is coming up to the primaries and Senator Hewbright looks like he might win the Presidency. That actually would be good thing for the country since the last President was poisoned at the command of Vice President Tulrude. She takes the oath of office and becomes the most corrupt President in the history of the nation, determined to win the election at any cost. The Secretary-General of the United Nations is no gem either. He manipulates global events without any concern for the life of his enemies or his friends. Meanwhile, certain Arab militants are working on nuclear and biological weapons that will kill off "the infidels".

This book is a wild ride on a global scale. It bares no resemblance to Tim LaHaye's Left Behind series. These books are separate and distinct from those.

Kathi Linz

Formatting Tips for Publishing a Createspace Book & Kindle Direct eBook by John J. Sullivan

If you have a book manuscript in your bottom drawer just aching to be sent out into the world, but you have had trouble finding a publisher, this book might be the answer you were looking for. There's no longer any need to persuade a traditional publisher that you have a brilliant book which is going to make you tons of money. Rake all that dough in for yourself by epublishing through Amazon.

The main trick to putting your book on the market is to format the manuscript correctly. If you follow the instructions in this book your manuscript will pass the test. Each new instruction comes with a screen shot showing you exactly what to do each step of the way. By the time you finish going through this book, you will have your book available in POD and Kindle-ready format.

Kathi Linz

Fairy Quest: Outlaws by Paul Jenkins

    Fairy Quest: Outlaws

What's a fairy tale character to do when they don't want to tell their story anymore? Join Red Riding Hood as she make the perilous journey to Realworld. Expressive illustrations, larger than life fairy tale characters, Grimm and the Thought Police make this graphic novel intriguing and thoroughly enjoyable.

Lola

Hollow City: The Second Novel of Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

I loved Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children so I was really looking forward to the sequel Hollow City.  I was not disappointed. The book picks up exactly where Miss Peregrine's leaves off with the children fleeing their home to find a place of safety. The book centers on the children's quest to find help for their beloved caretaker Miss Peregrine who is stuck in bird form and can only be helped by another like her. There is much drama, nail-biting action, and plot twists as the children make their way to London. You won't be bored. I can't wait for the next!

Lola

Craft Business: Sewing Books, Quilting Books, Knitting Books Compilation by Mary Kay Hunziger

Craft Business: Sewing Books, Quilting Books, Knitting Books Compilation by Mary Kay Hunziger is very little explanation and several lists of websites you can go to to sell your crafts. If you are looking for resources to sell your work, try this book. If you are looking for "how to", this is not the one for you.

Kathi

Any Other Name by Craig Johnson

Any Other Name

Ten years ago, Craig Johnson published the first Walt Longmire novel, The Cold Dish. The third season of the A&E series based on the books will begin in June.  I love them both!

In Any Other Name, the 10th installment in the series, Johnson still delivers.  Walt is involved in an investigation in a neighboring county as a favor to Lucien, the former sheriff, just as his daughter Cady is expecting her first child in Philadelphia.  With obstacles such as missing women, an officer's suicide, hit men, snow and buffalo, will Walt close the case in time to make his flight to Philadelphia?

Death of a Policeman by M.C. Beaton

 

In Death of a Policeman, Macbeth has to find the killer of a policeman who was sent to spy on him. Inspector Blair is up to his old tricks of trying to get rid of Macbeth. Even though we know that Blair is unbalanced, this book goes farther into some of the things happening inside Strathbane police station. Macbeth deals with the murders and secrets in ways I did not expect. I understand why he did the things he did and the results were good, but I am not Machiavellian enough to appreciate his methods in this story. There should be a clear difference between the good guys and the bad guys.

Kathi Linz

Half Bad by Sally Green

Half Bad by Sally Green

I have conflicting feelings about this book so let's start with the bad and get it over with.

Bad: I understand the literary choice of writing first person and that this first person isn't very educated but the halting short sentence narrative drove me bananas. I nearly stopped reading. The story is a bit slow and is mostly important for background information on Nathan our horribly abused protagonist. And worst of all, it's yet another trilogy.

But... 

Good: It's a good story. I think it might be one of the few trilogies where the second book might be more enjoyable than the first. Nathan has an indomitable will to survive, couple that with the ability to heal quickly and it makes for some pretty awful scenes of brutality which are well written and don't feel gratuitous. There are some pretty interesting characters, my favorite is Celia. She's fascinating. You want to learn about the motivations behind these characters behaviors. 

Like I said, it's a good story; one you will want to finish. And you will HATE waiting for the next installment.

Lola Snyder, MLS
Head of Youth Services

Sell It Online: How to Make Money Selling on eBay, Amazon, Fiverr and Etsy by Nick Vulich

Sell It Online: How to Make Money Selling on eBay, Amazon, Fiverr and Etsy by Nick Vulich is similar to the Freaking Idiots Guides: 4 Book Bundle by the same author. Nick Vulich covers the big four in each book but includes information on other ways to make online money in each. Sell It Online has a section on blogging and life coaching besides selling items and services in Amazon, eBay, Fiverr and Etsy. He gives very clear instructions for setting up accounts and listing items. He thoroughly covers customer service.

If you have a notion to try selling online or posting ebooks to Kindle, check out this book for more information.

Kathi Linz