Editing TLC

CHILD FINDER   Mike Angley used his experience as a Special Agent with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI) to create a suspenseful page-turner in Child Finder.  Being a criminal investigator, as well as a counterintelligence and counterterrorism specialist, gave him plenty of opportunities to put together characters that keep us guessing as we read.  The intriguing aspect, to me, is just how the paranormal adventures came to be part of the plot.  What do you believe about people having psychic abilities that could help in investigations?

In Child Finder, the main character, Major Patrick O’Donnell, is also an Air Force Special Agent who is assigned to the Pentagon.  He discovers that he has a psychic gift that the government then wants to put to use, first to help find abducted children, but then they take it further, and Major O’Donnell discovers another side of the FBI, as he becomes part of a TOP SECRET black world.

Be sure to carve out a chunk of time when you pick up Child Finder because you are not going to want to put the book down.  The characters pull you into the story and the mystery keeps you guessing right up to the very end.  We all have experiences in our lives but how many of us can turn them into a fantastic read?  Mike Angley has done just that.  I highly recommend this book to anyone that wants to see into the “intelligence world” and anyone that loves a great mystery thriller. The good news is…there are two more books to finish out the series and I can’t wait to get my hands on them.  Mike Angley is a terrific writer and you’ll find Child Finder a very well-written mystery. 

Child Finder Resurrection is Colonel Michael Angley’s (USAF retired) sequel to his book Child Finder.  We meet the main character, Air Force Special Agent Patrick O’Donnell a year and a half after he left the Top Secret child rescue program when events went horribly awry and his family was endangered.  Mike Angley brings much experience in criminal investigation and counterintelligence to his writing, which makes the storyline so real, but also so fascinating. 

Patrick O’Donnell is a psychic and in Child Finder Resurrection, he is called back into the Top Secret community to help the government track down a very sick and twisted child killer. Patrick’s son, Sean, who also has psychic abilities that come into play in a big way, proves to be a source of help to his father.  It is interesting how the author lets the reader see things that the characters don’t see, which makes the reader want to shout “Watch out/Beware!” a number of times during this thriller. The real twist in this story, I believe, is the fact that this murderer is a psychotic genius.  The mind games that go on are ones that you don’t want to read if you are alone late at night! This book can and will send chills down your spine.

Colonel Angley is proving himself to be a fantastic writer of mystery thrillers.  He promises that the last book in the series, Child Finder: Revelation will be “nonstop action and peril.” Readers will want to read all of the books in this series if they find enjoyment in great thrillers.

IF I HAD A DADDY    Mary M. Sullivan has written a charming and thought-provoking children’s book which was inspired by her daughter.  She felt that what she learned from Autumn, could help other children that are in a single-parent situation, no matter how they got to that point. Mary shares the thoughts of a little girl trying to figure out what her daddy would look and act like.  Mary Sullivan states, “This book, read along with a parent or guardian, can and will teach and help a young person describe their daddy and open up dialogue with certainty and truth.”

As a teacher of young children, I believe that this book could be beneficial to many children who have a “missing someone” in their life.  It might not just be a parent, but could be another relative, such as a grandparent, aunt, or uncle.  The basic premise is that children really need to “put a face” to the unknown person, and guardians should be aware that this book could be used to help have the conversation revolving a child’s thoughts.  It may also be beneficial to other children to help explain what some of their friends may be experiencing by not having a two-parent family situation.

The book is in a large format and the artwork adds a lot to the storyline.  In the back of the book is a page for children to draw a picture of their daddy.  It is a “simple” book with a very thought-provoking message.  Written with a child in mind, the adult in the child’s life should be involved in the reading of this book.  It is a valuable resource for the single-parent moms out there in our world.

GLADWOMAN by Marcia Freespirit

“A true story of a woman bound by pain, seeking hope and finding love.”

When teaching my third graders, I often hear the comment “This is hard,” meaning that the child is expressing a bit of frustration with the task to be completed.  Over the years, I’ve shown them that the desk they are writing at is “hard,” but the task is “challenging,” and “We’ll take the challenge.”  It seems in life that we are all faced with a number of challenges, and sometimes we just feel overwhelmed.  At times like these, it is often a good thing to read the story of another human being that has overcome adversity in his/her life. 

Marcia Freespirit is a very brave woman, in that she has opened up her life to the readers of GLADWOMAN.  She shares the difficulties, painful experiences, and challenges but leaves us with hope and a triumphant spirit.  She is now an author, publisher, and business leader.  What impresses me most about her is that she truly believes in and encourages many others to set their goals high.  The struggles that she has faced in life are proving to help her lead others on the road to success. True self-esteem comes from the effort that we put into life, and Marcia is a perfect example of someone who has accomplished a life of success after living through much adversity.

CELLINI'S REVENGE: THE MYSTERY OF THE SILVER CUPS 

by Wendy Bartlett

History has never been a topic that has been an interest for me, due in part to teachers in my schooling that did not bring a “love of the past” to their students.  I could never understand my husband’s love for the History Channel, and he can’t understand my love of fiction.  However, authors such as Wendy Bartlett are teaching me that I can learn a lot about history through the reading of well-written fiction based on a piece of history that piques my curiosity enough to do some research to find out more about the historical person, setting, and/or time period. 

The author’s parallel storyline takes the reader on two journeys.  One tells us the story of the four-hundred-year history of the twelve small silver astrological cups which were stolen from Cellini in 1527.  The second story is about an American named Catherine, who was accused of murdering her husband, and spent twelve years in prison in England.  At the age of sixty-five, she decides to go back to England to try to find the real murderer.  What is the tie-in?  The Cellini cups.  Here is where Ms. Bartlett takes a small piece of history and makes it her own within the context of her fiction.  Having lived in England herself, Ms. Bartlett is able to take us right into the setting with her vivid descriptions.  Her knowledge of England comes through beautifully.  Wendy Bartlett does a wonderful job of tying the two stories together.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading this mystery, and it kept me wondering to the very end of the book.  I also really appreciated the epilogue in which Ms. Bartlett shared a number of real life coincidences that happened to her related to the writing of this book. 

THE NEARLY PERFECT PLAN by Karl Boyd

Karl Boyd shares quite a story in The Nearly Perfect Plan and readers get a crime drama that keeps them guessing to the very end.  And the good news is that there are two more adventures being written for a trilogy of thrillers.  All three books revolve around the characters of Roger Booth and Carl James, two young and ambitious “con” men. 

This is not a “Who dunnit?” story because the reader gets to see both sides of the crime scene, from inside and then from the side of the police and FBI.  It is more of a “Holy cow (or in this case a bull), how did they manage to pull this one off?” type of drama.  Roger and Carl are able to enlist the help of twenty of their ex-Army buddies to pull off a “perfect plan” that seems to be just that, until the very end of the book. The story revolves around setting up the Crossed X Ranch and using it as a legitimate business to cover up all of the goings-on to pull off a few Brinks’ heists.

This book is a perfect match for readers who enjoy getting into the characters’ minds and are always trying to figure out the mystery of it all.  Karl Boyd does a great job of creating a masterful crime plan and he keeps the authorities at bay, as are the readers.  In the end, “good” wins out over “evil,” or does it? 

In an interview of Mr. Boyd that I read on his website (www.karlboyd.com) I discovered that he gets a lot of his inspiration for his writing from his dreams.  Being an elementary teacher who wakes up from dreams with great lesson plans rolling in my mind, I can truly understand that.  What I am thankful about is that Mr. Boyd WRITES about his dream inspirations and doesn’t act them out!  The other inspiration that I personally received from him is that he only began to seriously write at the age of sixty-five.  I am thoroughly looking forward to reading his other novels.

SAIGON GOLD by Hugh Scott

Saigon Gold is a mystery thriller enhanced by the job well-done regarding the setting.  Authors who do their research to take the readers into the “real world” make their stories seem closer to nonfiction than fiction. Hugh Scott was able to do that, as well as to keep the mystery going right up to the very end.  This book is filled with surprises at every turn.  For those who appreciate a thriller, this is a book not to miss.  Another great addition to the book is the website www.saigongold.com which takes you to Vietnam via photos of locations in the story along with snippets from the book and then gives “bits of history” that relate.  This adds a depth to Saigon Gold that I really appreciate.  This book would make a great addition to anyone’s library.

Hugh Scott wrote Saigon Gold set in present-day Vietnam with the main character being a U.S. war veteran, Robert Anderson, going back to the country where he served many years earlier, expecting a business venture revolving around a winery consulting job.  However, from the moment he enters the country things just don’t seem right.  Just why was he questioned at the airport? And who was the interviewer?

Mr. Scott takes us through Vietnam via the experiences of his main character, remembering the country as it had been during the war and noticing changes in this his first return.  The connection Robert Anderson had with a Vietnamese officer, who had saved his life during the war, puts him into a scheme to get recovered gold out of the country, from a fortune that went missing in 1975.  Mr. Anderson went into Vietnam with all good intentions, and even in the gold scheme, he planned to give back to the Vietnamese.

So just who was that man that questioned Anderson at the airport?  Is he just imagining being followed?  Anderson has to get answers to why his name is on enemy documents.  What did the ambush that he survived years ago have to do with this trip to Vietnam? Who can he get to help him that he can trust?  He turns to the American consulate employee Jenny Ngo who knows the language and will help him get to the people he needs to question.  The plot thickens as the people that they question end up dead. The mystery of it all is very intense and takes the reader right along with Robert Anderson who if he wants to remain alive must figure out the person(s) plotting against him.  All the while, China's expansionist navy lurks in the background, planning an operation that threatens America's supremacy in the Western Pacific.

Hugh Scott served his country for twenty years as an army officer.  Saigon Gold is his debut novel and I am hoping for many more books to come from this great author.  He is now serving readers worldwide with this great work of historical fiction.  Be sure to read this book and keep your eyes open for more to come from Hugh Scott.

                WILL AND DENA: LOVE AND LIFE IN WORLD WAR II  by Bob Rogers

Readers will find Will and Dena both a beautiful love story as well as a walk through the times of World War II.  It is also a reminder of the prejudice that Afro-Americans have faced in our country, even when serving in our military.  Will, the main character is a lumberjack and an amateur baseball player.  Dena, the girl that he falls in love with, has struggles with her own mother, in that she doesn’t feel like Will is an appropriate choice in a boyfriend.  After all, Will has no plans to go to college and that is the direction Dena is heading.  So even within his race, Will faces those that feel he just doesn’t match what they think he should be.

A group of businessmen in his area decide that they would like to bring in this “colored” baseball player to help make a name for their town and to bring financial gain to their businesses.  Readers will discover how the Ku Klux Klan affects Will and his family.  Will ends up having to run for his life and finds refuge in the U.S. Army in the 366^th Infantry Regiment and the famed Buffalo Soldiers of the 92^nd Infantry Division which ends up fighting Hitler in Italy.  (Will and Dena is dedicated to LT John Fox from the 366^th and to Italian Partisans.)  During his army days, Will becomes friends with three members of his infantry platoon and they become known as the Four Musketeers.

Personally, I loved the way that Bob Rogers wove the works of Langston Hughes into this book.  Dena sends articles to Will from the Chicago Defender and the reading that Will does brings him out of his “small world” in North Carolina and eventually helps him to find his mission in life.  He realizes the “war” that is going on in his home country while also fighting a war abroad for his country.  One line that shows this realization for Will is: “The deal for us in this war has to be a Double Victory – abroad and at home.” He makes a vow to do his best to make his stay in the army count for something.  “Maybe my little bit added to that of all the colored soldiers will help strike a blow for Mr. Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms.  I hope I remember what they are.  He rolled his eyes upward, ‘Freedom of speech and worship, and freedom from want and fear.’”  Will wants his fighting in WW II to help colored soldiers to be able to take away the fears from their families of being beaten or killed.  This would make everything he had experienced worth it to him. 

Author Bob Rogers had done a beautiful job of weaving a love story within a war story.  Readers will be captivated by Will and feel his struggles as he proceeds through life and the many decisions he has to make as he determines his personal mission in life, while serving the mission his country has called him to do in World War II.

             Jeanetta Lynn Parker and the Birth of a Nation by Dorene Stamper

Dorene Stamper has written a fine book for middle schoolers and beyond.  Jeanetta Lynn Parker and the Birth of a Nation is a great work of historical fiction combined with fantasy that makes the time travel almost believable.  If you are familiar with the Magic Tree House Series, this book takes that concept and really bumps it up for readers beyond the elementary grades and those that enjoy learning about history through other channels than history books.  This book will be enjoyed by tweens through adults.

The content is not all fluff by any means.  This book deals with the reality of what it took for a nation to be born, and readers must face the cold, hard facts that people died and whole families lost their lives, and read how this affected those left behind to continue the fight for our nation.  Ms. Stamper does a great job of tying in the fantasy of the time travel and making the connections happen between different historical time periods.

Readers will fall in love with the main character, Jeanetta Lynn Parker, her cousin Serenity Stewart, and their wonderful “Auntie” who introduces them to the Society of Time Travelers.  The society members find that when asked to travel back in time, a mission will be given to them, and they must do what they can to accomplish the mission, but are not allowed to do anything that would change the course of history.

Ms. Stamper, through her series of Jeanetta Lynn Parker books, is on a mission of her own, and that is to introduce a generation of readers to the very important history of the United States of America in a fun and exciting way.  Ms. Stamper has been writing for many years, but in this her first book, the reader will find himself/herself asking for more and more books to appear in the series.

GET OUT OF THE WAY by Daniel Dinges

In Get Out of the Way, author Daniel Dinges takes us back to the 1960s and through the life of his main character, Thomas Daniels, tells us a story of a young man that believed in serving his country but did not believe in the war going on in Vietnam.  This conflict of thinking helped to determine a lot of choices that he made about his future.  Thomas had many family members who had served in the military and he was proud of that fact.  However, he could not see himself “over there” in the jungles killing people.  So, for a length of time, Thomas played the college deferment “game” of signing up for a full load of classes, getting his deferment, and then dropping classes so he could work and this cycle repeated itself for a number of semesters.  He eventually let his deferment drop and voluntarily walked in and “turned himself in” to the draft board. 

The text to self connection that I made with this book was one that has resulted from having a son who served eight years in the U.S. Marine Corps.  My son enlisted in 2001 and during his service time he never received orders to go to a war zone.  He traveled the world to many other places but did not see either Iran or Afghanistan.  Did he volunteer himself to join a combat unit?  No, he served to support the troops in other ways.  I believe, just as Thomas Daniels in Get Out of the Way, they both have that sense of “Did I do my part?” when they know how many sacrificed their lives.  This is something they live with the rest of their lives.  I think that many of our veterans are truly affected emotionally whether they saw action or not.

Today we are living with many veterans dealing with numerous issues on a daily basis.  This story about Thomas Daniels can open up a lot of conversation regarding memories of serving our country in the army (or any branch of service).  Get Out of the Way reads as a nonfiction book reminding of us of the 1960s and the Cultural Revolution that was happening in our country during that time.  The fact that Daniel Dinges served in the HHC 22^nd FASCOM during the late sixties would bring the reader to believe that there probably is a lot more fact than fiction in this book.

Readers who appreciate the following topics would enjoy Get Out of the Way:  the Vietnam War, the sixties, historical fiction, Vietnam Veterans, active military, military history, and even early computer programming.  Daniel Dinges quickly pulls the reader into the life of his character Thomas Daniel and pages keep turning to find out which direction he takes in different areas of his life.  The fact that this character could be your brother, son, grandson, uncle, nephew, or the like, and that we all know someone who has experienced military service keeps the reader involved.  Daniel Dinges has done a great job with his first book and his dedication reads: “To the generation for whom stories like this are just the way things were.”

Author Karl Boyd has stated that he doesn’t sleep a lot and he dreams up stories when he is asleep.  I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again, that I am truly glad that Karl Boyd writes about his dreams and doesn’t act upon them.  From China with Love is built on the premise that China needs land for her millions of citizens, and the ministers of China formulate a plan to conquer all of North America as its “New China.” 

The main characters in this book could be you, your neighbors, or relatives; just “every-day folk” who managed to survive the attack.  How did China take over all of North America without an all-out war?  Well, Mr. Boyd came up with a plan that will make you think differently when you drink your cup of coffee and/or use any of your technological equipment.  Since reading From China with Love, I reflect on the story just about every time I pick up my cell phone.

It has been said that this book is not for the faint of heart, and I agree that if you cannot handle blood (and guts) you might want to read Mr. Boyd’s other novels and give this one to someone you know that will want to read every detail of the gruesome Chinese takeover.  This isn’t an easy read in that sense, but it truly will make the reader stop and think about our world situation.  It certainly relays a plan that I pray will always remain fiction. 

Court of Foxes is a great mystery read for adolescents and adults. The setting is in the Welsh village of Morredin and readers will feel as if they are visiting that country because author Brian Lux does a wonderful job of describing the area in Wales. Legend and magic are brought together to create a very exciting tale.

Mr. Lux tells the readers that Court of Foxes is “based on a true story of Dr. John Harries, a wizard, whose powers were legendary in a small village in Mid-Wales.” Visit the National Library of Wales for proof of the photograph that is part of this story. This book could make readers question their own beliefs in wizards and magical happenings.

As a teacher, I often see what happens to students who move in to a new school district.  The main character, Bryn, has this experience of moving with his mother from the city out to the village of Morredin to his grandfather’s home.  Being the “new kid” in town, leaving the city where “all the action is,” experiencing language barriers, and the like, are all issues facing this teenager.  Then on top of all of the “common” issues, he experiences nightmares, “sees things,” and discovers much about the “happenings” of Morredin.  People in this village are keeping secrets about many things and Bryn is led to seek out answers.  In the end, it is up to Bryn to make decisions that could change the world forever.  The theme of good versus evil is a strong part of this book, which is a part of everyone’s life in small or big ways.  We all can relate to this theme and learning to find courage within ourselves.

Author Brian Lux has created a wonderful book for middle school readers and beyond.  He takes U.S. readers on a trip “across the big pond” and even with the sprinkling of the Welsh language within the book, does a masterful job of teaching us within the text. After reading this book, it is obvious why Brian Lux received the Welsh regional winner of the 2006 Undiscovered Authors novel competition.  Here’s hoping for more novels from this gifted writer.

Loppylugs and the Dam by Brian Lux is a wonderful children’s book.  It received all thumbs-up from my class of third graders.  They absolutely loved the book and were thrilled to write to Mr. Lux and share their thoughts with him.  They made connections with all of the dogs in the story but more importantly they were able to take a great message away with them.  Loppylugs shares that many dog breeds are known for special jobs that they can do, which is similar to the fact that children are gifted with certain abilities.  In this story, Loppylugs, isn’t sure about anything that is special about him.  He is “just a bit of this, and a bit of that.”  Children can relate to the “I don’t feel special” feeling.  Loppylugs discovers that he was able to “save the day” for a whole village due to his special abilities.  Children often need the adults in their lives to help them find those special abilities within themselves.  Loppylugs and the Dam is a book that you will want to share with any and all children in your life. 

Author Scott M. Shafer has written a very thought-provoking book in What Every Dream Means.  Just how does God choose to speak to us?  I must admit that growing up in the Christian community, I can not remember any Bible study on this topic.  Having just visited my mother, who is now 85 years old, and a Bible scholar herself who leads Bible studies, she told me that she has never been part of a study about dreams.  She can remember discussions with friends about this topic, however. This is a book that I am now going to share with her because I very much want her opinion on Mr. Shafer’s study of dreams.

He shows us through Bible scriptures how God has used dreams in the lives of many Bible characters, so why wouldn’t God continue to choose to also speak to us through dreams?  This book has totally given me a new look into the Scripture.  More importantly, Mr. Shafer gives us the tools that we need to begin to take a deeper look into our dream life.  So whether this is a brand new concept for you, as it was for me, or something that you have wondered about, What Every Dream Means can help you on your journey through life.  Thank you, Mr. Shafer, for taking the time to enlighten others about this very important topic and life-changing concept. 

Calling All Boomers: Reflect Now Before the Memory Goes! by Randall D. Howard is a delightful read.  Being a baby boomer myself, it brought back so many events in history that I could remember and relate to, as well as now realize what an impact our generation has had on the world.  Sometimes as we walk our journey through life we cannot realize the big picture of all that is going on around us.

Many times I caught myself saying, “Yes, yes, yes!” to the memories that Mr. Howard was sharing with his readers.  He has a sense of humor that makes reading this book a real pleasure.  However, he also shares from his heart about personal issues that he has had to deal with on his life’s journey.  I appreciate his testimony and events in his life that brought him to his personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 

This quote from Mr. Howard puts Calling All Boomers into perspective: “We had the highest standard of living, saw the most advanced technological changes, lived through wars in foreign countries and in our cities’ streets, and set musical genres and fashion trends that some of us would like to forget.  We were invincible.”  I believe that boomers and their children would both appreciate reading this book.  Maybe, just maybe, the next generations will have a better understanding of the baby boomer generation by taking a look at all of the changes and struggles that baby boomers faced.  This definitely is a book for everyone to add to their personal library.