#BookReview - High Flying @4kaylin

High Flying

By: Kaylin McFarren
Publisher: Creative Edge Publishing LLC
Publication Date: May 2019
ASIN: B07QYH3CD4
Reviewed by: Lynette Latzko
Review Date: December 8, 2019

By all accounts, Skylar Haines has lived a hard life in the few years she’s been alive. Having lost both of her parents at a very young age, she was forced to bounce around in foster care until her cold, abusive grandfather took her into his home. Life unfortunately did not improve despite the new living arrangements; Skylar continued to feel alienated and was bullied at school. Anxiety, fear and depression managed to slither its way into every aspect of her life, causing her to feel as if nothing could ease the insurmountable emotional pain she lived with on a daily basis. The only relief she seemed able to find was when she cut herself. This was the only way Skylar felt she could cope with the unbearably dark emotions that plagued every aspect of her life. To make matters worse, she lost her best friend, Roxy, in a horrible accident. In a totally desperate move, she ran away, and dreamt of a future flying away from her terrible life.

As the years pass by, Skylar takes her destiny into her own hands, and learns to become a stunt pilot and is quite successful. At the tender age of twenty-one, she participates in the Reno National Championship Air Show and is scheduled to perform a challenging duo act with her boyfriend in her own World War II biplane. Despite some reservations from her mentor, Skylar takes off and successfully completes several maneuvers, but is soon confronted by an unusually intense weather system, full of dark clouds, and loses radio contact with her flying partner. The next thing she knows, she’s heading straight for another plane, which she ends up clipping a part of, sending her into a panicked nosedive. Luckily, a mysterious voice radios her from the headset, calms her down, and guides her to a safe landing back at the airport she took off from, or so she thinks. 

Immediately after Skylar exits her plane, she notices a few odd things. Familiar employee faces, even those in the crowds, seem to have disappeared, and the buildings, which were recently remodeled, look old. The most confusing and shocking part is when she notices a banner with the words “Welcome to the ‘97 Reno National Championship Races & Air Show,” which is twenty-one years in the past. A young man walks up to Skylar and introduces himself as not only the man who was flying the plane and successfully guided her to a safe landing, but as Dylan Haines, her father, who sadly died eight months before she was born. After a bit of a new reality adjustment, and being confronted face-to-face with the men who would later cause her father’s untimely death, Skylar discovers that she has landed in an unusual, yet critical situation, and has been handed the ultimate power. A chance to change her father’s destiny, and ultimately change her entire family’s future, for better or for worse. But will Skylar be able to navigate her way through numerous treacherous situations to help her father, or will Skylar also be swept up into a dangerous life, and succumb to the tangled, evil forces that led to his death?

Author Kaylin McFarren has produced not only a genre-bending novel with the mix of science fiction, mystery and suspense, but has also successfully penned a thought-provoking read in her use of the time-travel theme. Questions such as “Would you go back in time to alter the past in order to benefit from it in the future?” and “What would you want to change about a past event, if given the opportunity to travel back in time to do so?” will have readers thinking about their answers long after finishing the book.

It should be pointed out that the author makes note, in the beginning of this novel, that a bit of creative license was used in the creation of High Flying. What the author means is that not all of the story should be scrutinized as factual, or even based in reality. This reader had to on occasion remind herself that while some aspects of the story seemed to be a bit implausible and farfetched, the author did this on purpose to accurately convey raw emotions and the real meaning behind the story. However, with the introduction of numerous characters midway through the read, it left this reader a bit confused and at times disinterested in the storyline. Thankfully the writing picked up towards the end and loose ends seemed to resolve themselves enough to deem High Flying a novel worth reading. 

Quill says: High Flying is a fast-paced, fantastical thriller that will have readers riveted to every word and breathlessly zooming around with Skylar Haines as she navigates a treacherous past world in hopes of ultimately changing her future.

For more information on High Flying, please visit the author's website at: www.kaylinmcfarren.com/high-flying

#BookReview - Social Work @auctionguy28

Social Work

By: Thomas Duffy
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services
Publication Date: October 2019
ISBN: 978-1694404688
Reviewed by: Barbara Bamberger Scott
Review Date: December 6, 2019

Seasoned novelist Thomas Duffy explores the lives of a social worker, a patient, and the people around them who affect their lives in varied, complex ways in his newest book, Social Work.

Lauren is the social worker, a woman with a solid niche in her profession and an extra talent, an air of positivity that surrounds her and infuses her clients with a wish to follow her example. The latest addition to the hospital group she conducts is a tough customer: Marc tried to kill himself, and wishes he had succeeded. He joins in group and private sessions with Lauren while secretly hoping to get free of the legal restrictions so he can have another try. But there’s something about her approach that begins to affect a turnaround in Marc as it has in others. It isn’t long before he is receiving monthly benefits based on his diagnosis, and has secured a low paying, decent job. And he’s met a woman, Holly, a reality show producer who sees in Marc the kind of unusual personality traits that she’s attracted to. Meanwhile Lauren is also dating; she has connected with Ahmad, who shares her profession and takes a calm, steady careful view of it. 

As Marc and Lauren talk one-on-one over the course of several months, they both privately nurse feelings of curiosity and attraction for one another. Lauren sees in Marc a challenging sparkle that is missing in her quietly evolving liaison with Ahmad. Marc clings to Lauren as the only person in his life who tells it like it is and keeps urging him to work, earn, and ultimately prosper. Eventually, they will need to make decisions – about what is best for each, and how to go on growing and progressing.

Duffy’s book is, remarkably, told mostly through conversation. This fits with the nature of his characters’ needs - one a dedicated counselor, the other a conflicted, inventive but lonely soul. As the talks continue, the helper and helping roles are often interchanged, as Marc, despite his needs and hang-ups, has much genuine wisdom to impart, and Lauren, despite her professional demeanor, is seeking the offbeat intuition that he has to share. By means of their mutually therapeutic talks together and with their chosen friends and lovers, the author reveals nuance and depth in a broad range of human relationships. Duffy himself is a social media reviewer who has had contact with notable actors and directors; he adds this dimension to the pursuits of, and discussions among, his protagonists. Their inner circumspection and outer circumstances keep changing in unexpected ways, at a fast clip, making this a compelling read. 

Quill says: Thomas Duffy is a practiced novelist whose work has tackled many diverse human connections. Social Work, with its cinematic feel, and vibrant, believable characters seems poised for wide acclaim.

#BookReview - Someplace to Call Home

Someplace to Call Home

By: : Sandra Dallas
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Publication Date: August 2019
ISBN: 978-1-58536-414-5
Reviewed by Diane Lunsford
Review Date: December 2019

Sandra Dallas delivers yet another solid read in her latest novel, Someplace to Call Home.

The year is 1933 and the Turner family, what’s left of it, has fallen on hard times. Hallie and her two brothers are orphaned. As they navigate their dearly, departed daddy’s rickety truck down the remote roads of the heartbeat of America in search of a new life, it’s hard to see a beacon of hope on their horizon. Their hardships are compounded by having to endure not only the Great Depression, but also the Dust Bowl of the 30s. Moving from town to town, all the young Turner siblings want is to find a place they can call home.

Sadly, the old Model T Ford stalled out...again. Tom Turner coasts to the side of the road. Barely sixteen, Tom Turner has a strong mechanical sense and his heart skips a beat when he discovers the transmission has given out on the old Ford. These were hard times indeed. The Turner’s aren’t the only ones experiencing little hope, but when they see the lush grove of trees just off the road, a trickle of hope is renewed. The youngest Turner, Bennie, was a handful. He was challenged and it took a lot of patience and a watchful eye from both Hattie and Tom to be sure Bennie didn’t find himself in harm’s way. Food was scarce and shelter was a necessity. As they set up camp and start a fire, Hattie focuses on making the last of the tomatoes (and food for that matter), into a weak soup. Not knowing how long this recent set back will have the Turner’s stranded, Tom needs to find work. When the strange man shows up toting a gun, Tom defends his family’s situation. Insisting they aren’t squatters may not be enough to get them out of the situation at hand.

Sandra Dallas consistently delivers an engaging tale. I’ve had the pleasure of reading some of Ms. Dallas’ previous works and I praise her for sticking to her roots of solid writing. She knows her subject matter and it resonates from beginning to end in each of her novels. She has an innate ability to add color to all her characters and the dialogue further complements their credibility. Ms. Dallas is a master at showing her storyline versus telling it. This story has great flow and solid voice and I can say with certainty, I look forward to her next novel. Well done Ms. Dallas!

Quill says: Someplace to Call Home is a delightful read of heartfelt hope and new beginnings.

#BookReview - RetireSMART!

RetireSMART!: How to Plan for a Tax-Free Retirement

By: Mark Anthony Grimaldi
Publisher: Page Publishing
Publication Date: July 2019
ISBN: 978-1644628911
Reviewed by: Barbara Bamberger Scott
Review Date: November 29, 2019

A highly regarded expert in the field of money management, Mark Anthony Grimaldi, shares his insider knowledge of markets, investments, and retirement in this practical guide.

Grimaldi begins by debunking the notion that a 401K is the ultimate retirement blessing; in fact, he asserts here, it was “designed for Uncle Sam’s ‘financial’ gain.” He asks readers to open and clear their minds and follow his advice on investing for retirement. Examining the hidden costs of standard 401K plans, he clearly demonstrates that taxation regulations embedded in the system comprise one of the largest factors preventing a secure, comfortable retirement. 

Grimaldi’s book is dramatic, with all the relevant data leading to an “act three” climax in which he simply and boldly states his three-part Action Plan: 1) Stop contributing to 401K plans, and instead, utilize an after tax account, explained in his narrative; 2) Get out of debt – most of us owe for cars, houses, vacations and credit card buying, and paying these down – to zero - is one of the best “investments” we can make; 3) Save by using the formula, “your age divided by three.” The author offers an easily understandable model for this third requirement: divide your age by 3, and take that percentage as a rate of savings on your total income. For someone aged 25 earning $50,000 per year, the savings amount using this formula comes to what seems a reasonable amount, $347.00 per month. He also offers basic rules that delineate the means to take advantage of tax deduction regulations, which can play a critical role in what one’s heirs will inherit.

In this well-organized how-to, Grimaldi - chief economist for the NO-LOAD Sector Rotation Fund (NAVFX) - combines both down-to-earth examples - such as the contrast in investing strategies between a “Mrs. Smart” and a “Mr. Uninformed” – with rigidly accurate fiscal data that may require a bit of study among some of his less financially adept readers. But the basic logic is there for all to see. In laying out his guidelines, he considers the needs of three generations of Americans: Boomers, Millennials and Gen X. Each group has different perspectives and different long-term prospects for investment and each has lived through different financial eras in America. 

Quill says: Grimaldi’s colorful, fact-dense manual can be a handy carry-along for financial planning encounters. Reading his wise words would benefit all forward-looking Americans, assuring them that they have a right to anticipate a smooth transition from the stress of working life to the rewards of retirement years.

#BookReview - Do You Like Trains? @thegingerbreadtrain

Do You Like Trains?

By: Ann Tarpley Francesco
Illustrated by: Rebecca Solow
Publisher: Locomotion Press
Publication Date: January 2020
ISBN: 978-0999291931
Reviewed by: Holly Connors
Review Date: November 2019

Do you like trains? Would you like to go for a train ride? Trains are so fun, so pretty, so cool. And in the delightful new book, Do You like Trains?, an adorable squirrel does his best to convince his new friend, Racoon, that trains are about the most fantastic things you will ever see.

On the very first page we meet Squirrel, a fluffy, and very happy, little rodent. And the reason he is so happy? Because he has a toy train engine in his hand and it’s time to play! “I love trains everywhere I go!” he exclaims. But will his excitement over “everything train,” be shared by others? 

As Squirrel plays with his toy train, and moves it along the track, he notices Racoon, a new friend, who is off to the side playing with a bunch of colorful blocks. Racoon seems perfectly happy with his blocks and isn’t really interested in the train. Is that possible? How can Racoon not like trains?

Squirrel decides it’s up to him to show Racoon all the wonders of trains and he certainly does a grand job of describing all the various things trains can do:

There’s hoppers, boxcars,
and the caboose!
And best of all the cowcatchers
That push aside cattle and moose.

And yet, even with all the wonderful things about trains that Squirrel describes, Racoon is still not convinced that trains are all that fascinating. Maybe he’ll continue playing with his blocks. Will Squirrel ever be able to persuade Racoon that trains are worth investigating?

Told in lively rhyme that keeps the story moving along, Do You Like Trains? will undoubtedly appeal to young readers who love trains. But it's also quite likely to be a favorite with children who may not have considered trains to be as fascinating as Squirrel insists they are. But the little squirrel's enthusiasm is contagious and youngsters will certainly be drawn to his character and it just might pique their curiosity. A review of this book would not be complete without mentioning the wonderful artwork by Rebecca Solow that decorates each page. The animal characters are adorable, the colors bright, and they truly add much to the story. 

Quill says: Do You Like Trains? is an entertaining, spirited tale full of fun rhymes about the awesomeness of trains. How can a child resist such a story?

For more information on Do You Like Trains?, please visit the author's website at: www.locomotionpress.com

#BookReview - Nian, The Chinese New Year Dragon

Nian, The Chinese New Year Dragon

By: Virginia Loh-Hagan
Illustrated by: Timothy Banks
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Publication Date: December 2019
ISBN: 978-1585364138
Reviewed by: Ellen Feld
Review Date: December 1, 2019

Nian, The Chinese New Year Dragon is loosely based on a Chinese legend that explains the origins of Chinese New Year traditions. In this, author Virginia Loh-Hagan's version, a young girl by the name of Mei (pronounced "May") must outwit the evil dragon if her village is to survive.

Mei hated spring. In fact, her whole village hated spring. Why? Because every spring, Nian, the dragon who slept in a mountain under the sea, would wake up and head to the village in search of food. And he'd eat everything, or everyone, he came upon. 

One night, a warrior came to Mei in a dream and said that it was up to her to stop the dragon. He gave her his magic cane, and said she had fifteen days to stop the beast or he would be free forever. Could Mei stop the dragon?

When the villagers heard the roar of Nian, they all went running. Mei's mother called to her, telling her to get the animals and hide in the barn. At the last minute, however, Mei realized she had left the warrior's cane in the house. She ran to get it, but before she could get back to the barn, Nian appeared. He roared, showed his sharp teeth and it looked like Mei might be the dragon's next meal. Would Mei be able to save herself, and the village, as well as defeat Nian?

Nian, The Chinese New Year Dragon is a fabulous story that had me hooked on the first page. I have no doubt that young readers will love following along with Mei to see what will happen to her and the dragon. In the story, Mei first outwits the dragon by making loud noises, but then he returns with cotton in his ears. Each time Mei comes up with an idea and defeats the dragon, the evil beast comes back. Children will stay latched to the pages to see if Mei can finally defeat Nian. The whole story also ties in very nicely to the traditions of the Chinese New Year - endnotes explain the origins of the legend and how the author came up with her version. The illustrations were perfect for this title, where the colors really play a part in the story, with dark colors of the dragon in sharp contrast to the bold reds that play an important role in defeating Nian.

Quill says: Nian, The Chinese New Year Dragon is a fantastically fun story that will engage young readers as they follow along with Mei to see if she can outwit the dragon that has been terrorizing her village.

#BookReview - Tracking Game

Tracking Game: A Timber Creek K-9 Mystery

By: Margaret Mizushima
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Publicatino Date: November 2019
ISBN: 978-1643851358
Reviewed by: Gina Montanha
Review Date: November 29, 2019

Deputy Mattie Cobb and her date, Cole Walker, are enjoying the Celebration of Summer dance in their small town of Timber Creek. Just when they are getting quite cozy, an explosive boom nearby calls them away from their rendezvous. They discover a burning van and the dead body of local outfitter Nate Fletcher. As if that wasn’t gruesome enough, further investigation reveals the true cause of death to be gunshot wounds. To make matters worse, Cole’s best friend Garrett Hartman had tried to rescue Nate and his life was now hanging by a thread.

Timber Creek may be a small town, but there’s no shortage of murder suspects here. Nate was married to Kasey Redman, whose parents owned a great deal of land in town - land that they may be in danger of losing. Kasey’s protective brother Tyler was never fond of Nate and her friend Wilson Nichol has been carrying a torch for Kasey since childhood. Then there’s the suspicious pair of men from out-of-town, who were supposed to go on a hunting trip with Nate the very weekend he turned up dead.
As Mattie and her best friend and canine partner Robo further examine the details surrounding Nate’s death, they uncover more than they bargained for. Before they’re able to make too much headway on the case, another man gets shot. But when Mattie and Robo rush out to the scene, they are threatened by a dangerous and menacing animal.

At the core of this murder mystery are two beautiful relationships. The first one is between a couple whose friendship blossoms into a beautiful romance. Both Mattie and Cole have complicated pasts, but they discover it’s worth the effort to help each other manage their pain and regrets. Then there’s the sweet, yet stern connection between Mattie and Robo, a master and her highly skilled police dog, each of who are willing to give their lives to protect the other. 

I really enjoyed trying to solve the crimes in Tracking Game, only to find out I had been duped. Very clever plot twists kept my interest and were sure to surprise me in the end. As an animal lover, I truly appreciated the canine characters that were intertwined in the story and the human connections they shared. The author has an obvious knowledge and understanding of these bonds.

Quill says: Tracking Game is stimulating & exciting, keeping you guessing at every turn. That combined with the tender moments shared between man, woman and dog, make this a very well-rounded mystery indeed!