Dead on the Water by R.W.K. Clark
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Dead on the Water: Abandon Ship is a well crafted Sci-Fi Fantasy Horror. And I would imagine that fans of this genre will love sinking their teeth into this one! I have read this author several times before and must say I’m always very impressed.

The story had every element a good story should have. An exciting plot, attention to detail, but best of all fleshed out, well-written and well-rounded character development. There’s an abundance of well illustrated scenes that really make you feel like you are right there in the story, and that's something I really look for in a good book.

Thanks to a sick, twisted scientist in Belize, a terrible thing has found its way about the ship. It is about to take over everyone and everything, and neither the captain, his crew, or any passenger on board will be immune. Welcome to Dead on the Water, a trembling good tale by RWK Clark. I personally was most entertained by the part where the captain, who is now the leader of the zombie movement, addresses all of his troops on the deck of the ship, relating his plan to them. Just picturing the situation and feeling the despair of it was enough to make me say, “I love it! Bring on more!”

This captivating and commendable work had me immersed from the beginning. The story flows from scene to scene with ease, and the author shows exceptional skill when it comes to storytelling. There are twists and turns in this page turner that will take the reader on a gripping journey!

It’s one of those stories that come along once in awhile that makes you want to read it non-stop until you get to the end. I’m giving nothing further away here. And this, I hope, will only add to the mystery and enjoyment for the reader!

I’ll certainly be looking forward to reading more from RWK Clark in the future! I would definitely recommend this book. I’d give this 6 stars if I could. Unfortunately, I can only give it a mere 5!


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The Ghost Years by Mutch Katsonga
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A Masterclass in Storytelling...

Author Mutch Katsonga weaves an outstanding and noteworthy tale of drug addiction and homelessness, with intriguing twists and turns that will easily captivate the reader’s attention from the beginning. The author paints a compelling story of despair and hope in a very vivid and convincing way. In addition, the characters are drawn with great credibility and conviction. It’s a relatively fast-paced novel that will keep you engaged from the first page to the last. The emotion is accomplished in the delivery of exciting and titillating prose. From wildish illusions through detailed, graphic scenes, the concept is wonderfully delivered in truly amazing writing.

I’ve no doubt you’ll walk away a better person for having read this extraordinary story. It’s given me a different perspective and understanding on the plight of drug addicts and the homeless. In so much that, there’s something to be gained when we trade a longing for truth and authenticity for the hope that new modes of storytelling can be found and disseminated, stories that might make people whom we wouldn’t willingly invite into our living rooms seem familiar enough so that we might want to change our minds.

The book description gives a sneak preview; ‘Sometimes our simplest wishes can be the most difficult to attain. The Ghost Years is brutally honest and jarring, from its immersive beginning right through to it's startling, unpredictable conclusion. It's a young man's attempt to pick up the pieces and start over only to be presented with greater obstacles than he could ever have envisioned. He is taken to unimaginable and devastating places, both physically and mentally. How much control does he really have over his fate? The Ghost Years goes deep beneath the surface through unflinching plot twists and hauntingly poetic prose.’

Now, if that’s not enough to get your whet your appetite, I don’t know what will. But if you want to find out what happens, you’ll just have to turn the pages for yourself! However, I will say it was well worth the read. It’s my first time reading this author and I must say I was very impressed.

Captivating and commendable, this work had me immersed from the beginning. The story flowed from scene to scene with ease, and the author shows exceptional ability when it comes to storytelling. There are plenty of attention-grabbing moments in this page turner that will take the reader on a truly compelling and intriguing journey!

It’s one of those books that come along occasionally that makes you want to read it non-stop until you get to the end. I’m giving nothing further away here. And this, I hope, will only add to the mystery and enjoyment for the reader.

The Ghost Years is a brilliant read that somehow leaves you feeling more enlightened for having read it. It’s an impressive work and I’ll certainly be looking forward to reading more from this author in the future. Very few books had this kind of impact on me. Read it and you’ll know what I mean. Furthermore, I could easily see this being adapted as a television series or even receiving a sympathetic Hollywood treatment. A well-deserved five stars from me.


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Ronaldo: Rudi's Birthday Extravaganza by Maxine Sylvester
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A wonderfully written and illustrated story with important life lessons...

Ronaldo: Rudi's Birthday Extravaganza is another delightful and charming book in this series. I read it with my grand-kids and they loved not only the story, but also the amazing illustrations. I thought the text and illustrations worked very well together.

Author Maxine Sylvester writes in a wonderfully simple and imaginative style that will guarantee the attention of young minds. If you ever wanted to bond even more with your children or grandchildren, this would be a lovely story to share with them.

It seems to me that this book was created with a lot of love and joy and it’s clear that the author really enjoys creating such wonderful stories. Thank you for sharing with us the gift that you have obviously worked so hard to refine. We’ll be looking forward to seeing what’s coming next. A well-deserved five stars from us!

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Ronaldo: The Reindeer Flying Academy by Maxine Sylvester
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A wonderfully written and illustrated story by a very talented author and illustrator.

More often than not children relate themselves with the characters of a good story. In such circumstances, reading fiction can help them to get inspiration from the characters. These stories often portray real life implications through anecdotes, and as such makes it easier for them to understand the complex aspects of life. Moreover, reading these stories at regular intervals can actually help them to develop a positive outlook towards life, which eventually proves beneficial for good character development.

Ronaldo: The Reindeer Flying Academy is a delightful and charming book for the younger reader. I read it with my grand-kids and they loved not only the story, but also the amazing illustrations. I thought the text and illustrations worked very well together.

Author Maxine Sylvester writes in a wonderfully simple and imaginative style that will guarantee the attention of young minds. If you ever wanted to bond even more with your children or grandchildren, this would be a lovely story to share with them.

It seems to me that this book was created with a lot of love and joy and it’s clear that the author really enjoys creating such wonderful stories. Thank you for sharing with us the gift that you have obviously worked so hard to refine. We’ll be looking forward to seeing what’s coming next. A well-deserved five stars from us!

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Amazing Dogs: Adult Coloring Book by Tali Carmi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Hands-on activity that involves minimal commitment and maximum nostalgia...

Adult coloring books are, very simply, coloring in books for grownups. Like children's coloring books, they are full of outline illustrations designed to be filled in with colored pencils, markers, crayons, or whatever other media you wish to use.

Believe It or not, adult coloring books gives you a reality check. First and foremost, it allows you to touch paper. And paper, as it turns out, is missing more and more from our daily lives, being replaced with all kinds of tech gadgets. You can also feel the pen you're coloring with, sense its texture, you can smudge and smear with your own fingers. And there's no "undo" button.

"Escapism" is defined as "entertainment or recreation, as an "escape"... from the perceived unpleasant, boring, arduous, scary, or banal aspects of daily life." In other words - coloring helps you cope with an otherwise stressful or boring routine or even with depression. The magical world of shapes and colors takes you to a far nicer place, where you can enjoy simple pleasures.

Amazing Dogs by Tali Carmi contains over 30 different and creative dog designs that will allow you to have hours of enjoyment and help develop your creative expression. As a non-practicing counselor, I would highly recommend this book if you are looking for ways to relax.


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The Day My Fart Followed Me To The Zoo by Ben Jackson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The title alone made my grandkids laugh and giggle!

Farts are funny. There’s just no way to get around it. No matter who you are, or what your background is, chances are you have found some kind of fart, or something even sounding like a fart, pretty darn funny! Children know this, and fathers know this because their children keep reminding them of it all the time. There is no way to get more joy out of children with less work!

This is an amazing fun book for readers of all ages. I read it with my grandkids and they loved not only the story, but also the illustrations (by Danko Herrera). I thought the text and illustrations worked well together. This time Timmy and his best friend the Little Fart walk around the zoo together, visiting the animals and learning fun facts. Anybody who is following this series will know that they are in for another great adventure!

I have shared your stories with my own family and we have all found great delight in them. Thank you for sharing with us the gift that you have obviously worked so hard to refine. I trust your book will soon be on the best seller list. If not, it should be!

Finally, my advice as a parent and grandparent on the subject of farting would be to just let them roll, laugh at them, take a step back if you have to, and just be immature about it for a minute or two. They don’t say laughter is the best medicine for nothing. A good laugh can actually improve your health, strengthen your immune system, improve mood, lessen pain and protect you from the damaging effects of stress. That’s why I stated above that this book is suitable for all ages! Another well deserved five stars again from us.

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The Fyfield Plantation by Andrew R. Williams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another well-crafted sci-fi fantasy sequel...

Author Andrew R. Williams weaves another fantastic sci-fi fantasy with intriguing twists and turns that will easily captivate the reader’s attention from the opening page. The author paints an exciting and adventurous story of aliens, robots and clones in a very vivid and convincing way. In addition, the characters are drawn with great credibility and integrity.

The story had every element a good story should have. An exciting plot, attention to detail, but best of all fleshed out, well-written and well-rounded character development. There’s an abundance of well-illustrated scenes that make you feel like you are right there in the story, and that’s something I really look for in a good book.

The book description gives a sneak preview: ‘Continuing the story line of ARCADIA’S CHILDREN: SAMANTHA’S REVENGE, this futuristic sci-fi tale brings back Mick Tarmy and a cast of characters guaranteed to create a fascinating journey to destroy a plantation dedicated to growing zuka milk, which produces a powerful narcotic street drug. The Great Ones, who use the drug to raise funds for their war against humanity, will go to any lengths to stop Mick, his cohorts Claire Hyndman and Nonie Tomio, from their mission…’

This was a fascinating and captivating read that had me immersed from the beginning. The story flowed from scene to scene with ease, and the author shows exceptional ability when it comes to storytelling. There are plenty of attention-grabbing moments in this page turner that will take the reader on a truly mesmerizing journey!

There is something very magical about reading fantasy fiction. It speaks to the very thread of my imagination, jolting it to life and transporting it on an exhilarating journey. This story did exactly that. Fans of the sci-fi fantasy genre will not be disappointed. I’ll be looking forward to reading more from this author in the future. Highly recommended and a well-deserved five stars from me.

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