#BookReview - Traveling Light

Traveling Light

By: Lynne Branard
Publication Date: January 2017
Publisher: Berkley
ISBN: 978-1-101-98904-3
Reviewed by: Diane Lunsford
Review Date: February 25, 2017

Lynne Branard takes her audience on a delightful road trip in her latest novel, Traveling Light.

She is thirty-something, has worked for her Dad’s newspaper since she finished school and that’s just how life was meant to play out for Alissa Wells. This is until she bids on an abandoned storage unit and discovers the ashes of some strange man by the name of Roger Hart. It turns out he has a family miles away in New Mexico. Is she supposed to leave the comforts of her North Carolina home and deliver Roger to his rightful resting place? Is this a sign from the guy upstairs telling her it’s high time she broke out of her comfort zone and dare to do something beyond her complacent existence?

Alissa assumed adulthood far too early in life. She had to. Her mom passed from a brain tumor far too early in life. It was a natural fruition for Alissa to assume the role of accommodating her demanding baby sister, Sandra. They used to get along once upon a time. Sandra left North Carolina when she was old enough to pursue the life she was deserving of—fancy house, lots of money and a husband who took over where Alissa left off in acquiescing Sandra’s every whim. Yet Alissa never left. It was time to break out of her comfort zone and perhaps the discovered remains of Roger Hart would help her do just that.

She covers her duties and responsibilities at the newspaper, informs her Dad she is headed to New Mexico to return Roger’s ashes to the rightful owner and she is off. With her three-legged dog in tow, all that is left is to watch North Carolina fade into the distance of her rearview mirror. She never reached far beyond the city limits let alone considered a solo road trip. When she meets Blossom, a recent grad from high school, and agrees to allow her to hitch a ride as far as Texas, life as Alissa once knew it was about to become a distant memory.

Lynne Branard has the ability to open her arms and welcome her audience in with a natural flow and style that is delivered through her obvious writing ability. She is a true storyteller and knows how to engage with her audience within the first handful of pages. The dialogue is crisp and credible and the storyline flows. Her characters are believable and there is no predictability toward what will unfold with the turn of each page. There is a soothing tone to her voice which beckons the reader to sit back and relax as he or she enjoys the journey of her story. I give Ms. Branard praise for delivering yet another must read in her catalogue of terrific stories.

Quill says: Traveling Light pairs well with a rainy day and a comfy recliner.

#BookReview - Zurga's Fire @lee_eiland

Zurga's Fire: The Orfeo Saga, Book Three

By: Murray Lee Eiland, Jr.
Publisher: CreateSpace
Publication Date: November 2015
ISBN: 978-1519278364
Reviewed by: Anita Lock
Date: February 2017

Book Three of the Orfeo Saga shines a light on past civilizations of nomads and city dwellers during the heroic age of Greece.

In the third installment of The Orfeo Saga, the barbaric Hannae are on the move. Their persistent attacks, killing people and pillaging town after town has a curious aftereffect: no booty. It's not until the invasion of the town of Megara that the Achians and Dorrae outdo the Hannae. Under the command of Orfeo, a Hannae warrior is taken captive. Interrogating the soldier, Orfeo learns of the reason behind the Hannae's relentless assaults and lack of booty: the Getae, "masters of the great grasslands west and north of the smaller inland sea." The Getae use the Hannae to do their bidding—to kill, to collect and relinquish all booty, and to capture as many slaves as possible.

Bayanu, Getae's ruler, believes that when slaves have "all been returned to their rightful place under their Getae masters, then the world would blossom forth, and the grass would last forever." With world domination as their ultimate goal, the Getae determine their next attack will be the Achians. Orfeo, Telemon, Clarice, Daryush, and King Kiros believe the best way to penetrate the Getae is to send a spy. Daryush volunteers for the job and wastes no time busily collecting information about the Getae and getting acquainted with Bayanu and his daughter Semina. When Daryush doesn't report back, the Achians have no choice but to organize for the Getae's dreaded attack.

One could easily assume that a historical fiction/fantasy story about ancient civilizations in southeastern Europe would be nothing less that heavily doused with data. Not so with Eiland's third book of his Orfeo Saga. This reviewer was pleasantly surprised to find his storyline to be particularly light and easy to follow, especially considering that there was no prior knowledge of books one and two. Key to the book's readability is Eiland's formatting. Divided into four books and set within brief chapters, Eiland tells the tale of a group of people desperately devising plans to overthrow the evil Bayanu and his Getae tribe.

Eiland's plot, set approximately during the 3rd century BC, brims with a wide array of colorful fictional characters, many of which are warriors. Front and center is Eiland's protagonist, Orfeo, who exemplifies all the wonderful attributes one would expect from a true warrior. Amid the well thought out casting, Eiland punctuates a flurry of history and geography throughout. Aficionados will especially appreciate Eiland's historical note at the close of the book, which makes common connections to geological areas (i.e., the Great River/the Danube, Inland Sea/the Black Sea) and includes information on the mysterious Getae and the plausibility of historical stories associated with this powerful tribe.

Quill says: Zurga's Fire carries broad reader appeal for both history and fantasy enthusiasts.

Book Review - Argyle Fox

Argyle Fox

Written & Illustrated By: Marie Letourneau
Publisher: Tanglewood Publishing
Publication Date: March 2017
ISBN: 978-1-939100-09-2
Reviewed by: Amy Lignor
Review Date: February 19, 2017

I love, love, love (have I said love?) children’s books. No matter what “adult fiction” authors present, it is still the beautifully done children’s tale that hits you right where you live. It is also a true necessity in a world where children look more and more at digital screens than they do actual books.

So parents, I present Argyle Fox. Not only is he a precious character who lives in the woods and is surrounded by really cool things – like the Badger’s Place and the Beaver’s Pond – but he is also a young man who loves to play outside! (Without a cellphone in sight, by the way).

Argyle has one problem when it comes to his home in the forest. He lives in a really cool tree, don’t get me wrong, but in the springtime the winds will literally whip down the mountainside making it almost impossible to find a game to play that doesn’t get interrupted by Mother Nature. Readers will follow Argyle on a day such as this as he heads out to choose various activities that the wind most definitely interrupts. From building a card tower to playing “pirate” at the Beaver’s Pond, the “WHOOSH” of the wind literally scatters his hopes of having a fun day outside. Mr. Badger explains to Argyle that the wind will mess up his games, as well as the groundhog popping out of his burrow.
But...what’s a boy to do? Well...Argyle uses his imagination. He thinks and thinks and thinks about a game that can be played using the wind as an ally and not seeing it as an enemy. Can you guess what that game is? Well, read the book and find out!

The illustrations in this one are absolutely adorable. The colors are bright as readers get a full view of the true beauty that exists in the forest. Plus, the story is all about using your imagination and creativity and not giving up...no matter how frustrated you get with something. The author/illustrator gets a huge A+ for this one, and a standing ovation from a fan who absolutely believes that children’s books must be a part of a child’s life for the rest of time.

Quill says: Sit with your child and spend time with Argyle. You will absolutely love him and want to return to his forest again and again.

#BookReview - Hello There, Do You Still Know Me?

Hello There, Do You Still Know Me?

By: Laurie B. Arnold
Publisher: Prospecta Press
Publication Date: March 2017
ISBN: 978-1-63226-061-1
Reviewed by: Amy Lignor
Review Date: February 19, 2017

There are two things that can be difficult for readers: One, finding a title that is so magical and fun that you can't put it down (AKA: Harry Potter); and, two, coming across a sequel that is as good or even better than the first in the series. Well...look no more. For those who missed out on Hello There, We've Been Waiting for You, author Laurie B. Arnold has not only "followed up" with that title in a big way, but also created a sequel where the characters are even more fun; the location is even cooler; and the magical TV (that's right, I said TV) is even more awesome than before.

This time out, we begin with Madison McGee enjoying the last two weeks of her summer vacation in Jaco, Costa Rica, visiting Rosalie Claire and her husband, Thomas. Thomas is taking the time to teach Madison how to surf those Costa Rican waves. (This upsets her dog, Leroy, by the way, who howls like crazy when she's out on the "high seas"). For these last two weeks Madison's best buds, Noah and Violet, have joined her in the sunshine. Unfortunately, their fun starts to slip away when Madison's Grandma, Florida, arrives in Costa Rica sick as a dog. In fact, she has some sort of mystery illness that no one knows how to cure. Now, for those who are unaware, Rosalie Claire has a magic fanny pack. But as of late, that fanny pack has gone "dead," and there is only one person who knows how to bring the magic back. Problem is, that person passed away five years ago. Grandma Daisy was her name, and apparently she was the owner of a special piece of amber that could recharge the fanny pack and make it work again.

So...what will the kids do in order to save Grandma Florida? That's right...they will get in a time machine and head back to Grandma Daisy to see how the "magic" can be revived in time to save Florida's life. Of course, you can't just build a time machine. Thankfully, in Madison's world there exists a television set called the MegaPix 6000. These amazingly bright kids use that TV to create a mode of transportation that shoots them back in time. But what happens on their journey is way more than they hoped for, considering that special piece of amber was stolen long ago and there's a criminal out there that needs to be found. If he can't be tracked down, Grandma Florida's time is sure to run out.

The characters in this series are a whole lot of fun, guys and gals. This is the perfect book, according to the 'experts,' for ages 9-12. But I must say, parents and people who get a true kick out of magic and adventure will also be enchanted by what this author has put together. Not only will you want that TV, but you will run to the nearest Humane Society and search for a Leroy of your very own.

Quill says: This sequel rocks. The toughest part in all this will be waiting for Book III and the return of Madison McGee.

#BookReview - Natalie's Dilemma

Natalie’s Dilemma: A Frank Renzi Crime Thriller

By: Susan Fleet
Publisher: Music and Mayhem Press
Publication Date: January 2017
ISBN: 978-0-9847235-9-1
Reviewed by: Amy Lignor
Review Date: January 19, 2017

There is no better place to begin a suspense/thriller than on the gritty streets of New Orleans. And there is no better person to begin with than Homicide Detective Frank Renzi and his longtime partner, Kenyon Miller. This is how the 7th tale in the “Frank Renzi” series starts, but where it heads is far from New Orleans, into the stunning world of Venice. Renzi is also not the only character that author Susan Fleet has created over the previous stories that appears in this tale. Frank’s longtime adversary – a woman by the name of Natalie - is back, and in a real bind.

Cesare Valenti, along with two of his carabiniere officers, are in Venice monitoring a house directly across the street. Inside that house is a defenseless five-year-old girl who doesn’t belong there. Her name is Bianca, and not only is her mother dead, but her father is currently in a comatose state and might die at any moment. Her parents met their horrible fates when two Mafia brothers organized a diamond heist, shooting the owners and kidnapping their daughter. Europol knows that they need a spy to be set inside that house in order to bring these Mafia criminals down and save the child. Enter...Natalie.

Now, Natalie has been chased by NOPD Homicide Detective Frank Renzi for more than a little while, and she has managed to evade capture. This time around, however, an agent who is fully aware of Natalie’s long list of crimes is the one who forces her to act as the spy. Natalie has more than a dilemma; she is in a quandary that basically comes down to a child’s life versus her own freedom and staying one step ahead of Frank Renzi.

Natalie ran from her past and ended up in Venice, where she starts out by thinking that she has finally found that perfect sanctuary where all will be well and all will leave her alone. She certainly didn’t count on being immersed in a Europol sting operation. As a spy, she must take on the role of nanny. If she doesn’t do this, she will be shipped back to the states and placed on Renzi’s doorstep. But there are other questions and fears pulling on her heartstrings. Will the Mafia gang kill the child? Will she blow it completely and end up being the one the Mafia sends to an early grave? Or...will Frank Renzi somehow step into all this and find a way to finally apprehend her? Let me just say that Frank and Natalie do find themselves in the same place at the same time. But what these longtime rivals may just figure out is that when you have to face a different demon head-on, what you once saw as your enemy may just turn out to be your only ally.

Susan Fleet has delved into these characters and their cat-and-mouse game before, and it’s always a thrill to be able to say that these books just keep getting better. With as much talent and savvy as both Frank and Natalie have, they actually would be a killer team if they weren’t on completely different sides of the law.

Quill says: You will not see the end of this one coming...and you may just feel a roller-coaster of emotions when it does.

For more information on Natalie’s Dilemma: A Frank Renzi Crime Thriller, please visit the book's website: susanfleet.com/nat-dilemma

#BookReview - Dream Big @katkronenberg

Dream Big

By: Kat Kronenberg
Illustrated by: Stephanie Dehennin
Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group Press
Publication Date: January 2017
ISBN: 978-1626343474
Reviewed by: Ellen Feld
Review Date: February 15, 2017

There once lived a moody, grouchy baboon who never smiled. Things were as they were so why should anybody hope for more? He seemed to think that dreaming was for silly animals who didn't know any better. But Baboon was about to learn a very important lesson.

One night while Baboon sat with his drum, Caterpillar wandered onto a nearby branch and wished upon a star, "Oh, I wish I could be like Bird and fly." Baboon couldn't believe what he heard and laughed and made fun of Caterpillar's dream. How, he reasoned, could an animal with 16 feet and no wings fly? What a foolish dream. Caterpillar felt bad and cried - Baboon was right, what a silly dream. Caterpillar spun a cocoon to hide but within that cocoon he kept dreaming until...he emerged from the cocoon as a butterfly! He could fly! Baboon was truly amazed.

The next night Baboon spotted Tadpole who also wished upon a star. Tadpole wanted to dance to the wonderful beat that Baboon was playing on his drum. Again, Baboon made fun of a dreamer - How can Tadpole dance? He doesn't even have feet. Tadpole felt so bad that he went deep into the water to sulk. But he continued to dream until...he emerged from the water as a frog. Baboon couldn't believe his eyes! What was going on? Did dreaming really work?

Dream Big is the enchanting story of a baboon who learns a very important lesson - that of believing in yourself and reaching for the stars. Baboon eventually dares to dream a dream for himself and through his wish, brings many of the animals together. Children will love seeing what happens to Caterpillar, Tadpole, Flamingo and even little Termite as they reach for the stars and dream big. Add in the wonderful illustrations that bring the savannas of East Africa to life, and children will want to read this book again and again.

Quill says: Dream Big is a delightful story that teaches children to never stop believing and dreaming.

#BookReview - Shoes For Anthony

Shoes For Anthony

By: Emma Kennedy
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
ISBN: 978-1-250-09096-6
Review by: Janice M. Ladendorf
Review Date: Feb. 15, 2017

This heartwarming story is set in a Welsh coal mining town in 1944. It is a company town where most of the men work in the local coal mine. The protagonist is a bright eleven-year-old boy whose father and older brothers are miners. His character is based on the author's father. Most of the men in this town die young or are permanently disabled from mine accidents or diseased lungs. They say the coal they bring out is earned with their blood.

Their community is a close one with a moral code followed by all who live there. Wives and mothers work hard with none of the facilities we take for granted today, but they can dominate their families and no man dares argue with them. War rationing has already done much to worsen the already impoverished lives of these people.

The hero, Anthony or Ant, is part of the Scott Street gang. They play together, compete with each other, and fight other boys. All of them have to wear hand-me-down clothes and Ant's rubber boots are two sizes too big for him. When a banana comes to town, everyone runs to see what it is, but nobody knows how to eat it. The next excitement is the news American troops are coming to train on their mountains.

Ant's gang likes to climb up the slope of the mountain above their home to a place where they can watch bombers fly in and out of the nearby RAF base. One day a plane crashes near them and they help rescue a Polish prisoner of war who is brought to Ant's home. The next day the boys salvage everything they can find from the crash site and bring it to their hideout on the mountain. Ant's mother nurses the soldier and he soon becomes part of the family. When Ant's father is disabled, he helps out with funds passed onto him by an RAF officer.

The boys discover someone has been stealing food from their hideout and messing around with their salvaged treasures. They couldn't figure out who had discovered it; then the RAF discovers there should have been one more body at the crash site. The horrified town realizes there must be a German airman hiding out on their mountain. Fear-based hatred and anger run through the town like wildfire. When the man is caught, Ant becomes a hero when he prevents the German officer from stealing a plane from the RAF base.

After Ant's father dies, he no longer wants to be a miner. He takes the eleven plus exam, does very well, and wins a scholarship to a Grammar School. He will be required to wear the school uniform and is given a new set of clothes and a pair of shoes, all of which fit him well. He can hardly believe how fortunate he is.

Ant's many adventures realistically evoke both the beautiful physical setting and the close community life of this impoverished town. The horrors of war are brought home to Ant and the town by the stories of the Polish and German soldiers. Ant figures out they are both people just like those from his town who are serving in the British army.

Quill says: An exciting story with an unusual setting. Well worth reading.