Book Review: The Texian Prisoners
Posted: May 10, 2024 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Review, Western | Tags: Book Review, Historic Fiction, Loretta Miles Tollefson, The Texian Prisoners, Western, Writing to be Read Leave a comment
About the Book
They called themselves “Texians.”
In Fall 1841, a band of roughly 300 men straggled out of the Staked Plains into New Mexico. They had intended to claim everything east of the Rio Grande for Texas. Instead, they were captured and sent south to El Paso del Norte, then on to Mexico City. The largest group of prisoners, which included journalist George Wilkins Kendall, was escorted to El Paso by Captain Damasio Salazar. Five prisoners died on that trek. Kendall would later write a book describing the experience, a book which accused Salazar of food deprivation, mutilation, and murder, and fed the glowing coals that would become the Mexican-American War.
But what really happened on the way to El Paso? The Texian Prisoners tells the story through the eyes of Kendall’s friend George Van Ness, a lawyer burdened with the ability to see his enemy’s point of view, and asks us to consider the possibility that Kendall’s report was not unbiased.
A historically accurate retelling of Larry McMurtry’s Dead Man’s Walk, this fictional memoir will make you question everything you thought you knew about Texas, New Mexico, and the boundary between them.
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Texian-Prisoners-Biographical-Novel-Mexico-ebook/dp/B0CQ9TYK9L/
My Review
I received a digital copy of The Texian Prisoners from author Loretta Miles Tollefson in exchange for an honest review. I am a fan of Tollefson’s historical western fiction and have reviewed several of her books:
I always learn much I did not know from Tolleffson’s well researched books, and The Texian Prisoners did not disappoint. I knew very little about this time period in Old New Mexico, which takes place prior to and was a precursor to the Mexican American war. It was a violent time and so many lost their lives in the struggle for independence, this story tells of the men who declared the independence of Texas, demanding recognition of both the United States and Mexico, and were subsequently captured by the Mexican militia and marched across the brutal landscape under harsh conditons to Mexico City to await the judgement of Santa Anna.
This story is well-crafted and well-written, making me feel the discomforts the Texian prisoners were subjected to as if I were marching along the trek with them. Tollefson has an uncanny ability to get into her historical character’s heads and bring it to the page. The story is told from the point-of-view of McCaferty, the only Spanish speaking prisoner, who was used as interpreter, and who was in a position to speak up for his fellow prisoners. Tollefson has done her homework, combing through diaries and documents to bring this true life journey to the page, offering the viewpoints of the prisoners as well as a peek into the the motivation behind the actions of the Mexican leaders. Such a journey would undoubtedly change the lives of those who endured it, prisoners and captors alike.
An enthralling story that will keep you reading to the end and may teach you a thing or two about this country’s history. I give The Texian Prisoners five quills.
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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARCs. Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.
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A Look at Poetry Reviews of the Past Year: In the Shadow of Rainbows
Posted: April 20, 2024 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Collection, Poetry, Review | Tags: Book Review, In The Shadow of Rainbows, Poetry, Poetry Collection, Selma Martin, Writing to be Read Leave a commentIt celebration of National Poetry Month, I’m reblogging my poetry reviews from the past year on Saturdays throughout April in case you missed any of these noteworthy poetry collections.
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Book Review: River Bones
Posted: April 19, 2024 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Crime, Fiction, Mystery, Review, Suspense | Tags: Book Review, Crime Fiction, Mary Deal, mystery, River Bones, Suspense, Writing to be Read 10 Comments
About the Book
A serial killer is on the loose in Sacramento River Delta.
When Sara Mason returns to her hometown to start a new life, she learns that a murderer is terrorizing its residents. Despite battling difficult childhood memories, Sara is determined to make peace with her past.
But she soon learns that the elusive psychopath is now stalking her. Sara’s attempt to rebuild her life is hindered even more by the discovery of skeletal remains on her property. As the investigation focuses on several suspects, Sara discovers critical clues and bravely volunteers to be a decoy for the sheriff’s department.
Sara’s destiny has brought her back home, but will her decision lead her down a path lined with danger… and straight into the arms of a madman?
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/River-Bones-Sara-Mason-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B076JDZJ8M/
My Review
The title and cover both drew me to this book, and I wasn’t disappointed. River Bones, by Mary Deal is a classic suspense thriller. This book carries a somber tone in setting and eerie feeling of mystery.
How many bones are hidden in the river’s depths? They are the bones of those who have been lost… and sometimes, they are found.
After many years away, the sale of the gaming software she developed sells and Sara returns to her hometown a wealthy woman. But there is a serial killer on the loose, which is unsetling to Sara but even moreso when dead bodies begin to turn up all around her. The human remains found on her property delays her restoration plans with police investigations, and it soon becomes clear that the killer is targeting Sara as his next victim.
Skillfully crafted and completely enthralling. I give River Bones five quills.
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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARCs. Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.
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Wrapping Up the WordCrafter “Poetry Treasures 4” Book Blog Tour
Posted: April 13, 2024 Filed under: Anthology, Book Release, Book Review, Books, Giveaways, Poetry, Poetry Readings, Review, WordCrafter Book Blog Tours, WordCrafter Press | Tags: Book Review, Giveaway, Poetry, Poetry Anthology, Poetry Reading, Poetry Treasures 4: In Touch with Nature, Robbie Cheadle, WordCrafter Book Blog Tours Leave a comment
It’s the last stop on the WordCrafter Poetry Treasures 4 Book Blog Tour, and we’re over at Carla Loves to Read with Carla’s review and a lovely reading by Robbie Cheadle of her poem, “Long Day (In the Bush)”. The perfect way to wrap up this wonderful tour and send off for this delightful anthology, Poetry Treasures 4: In Touch with Nature. Won’t you join us?
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A Look at Poetry Reviews from the Past Year: The Hedge Witch & The Musical Poet
Posted: April 13, 2024 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Poetry, Review | Tags: Book Review, M.J. Mallon, National Poetry Month, Poetry, The Hedge Witch & The Musical Poet, Writing to be Read 3 Comments
It celebration of National Poetry Month, I’m reblogging my poetry reviews from the past year on Saturdays throughout April in case you missed any of these noteworthy poetry collections.
Today’s review is The Hedge Witch & The Musical Poet, by M.J. Mallon
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Book Review: The Body in the Attic
Posted: April 12, 2024 Filed under: Audio Books, Audiobook Review, Book Review, Books, Mystery, Review | Tags: Audiobook, Book Review, Devon Sorvari, Judi Lynn, mystery, The Body in the Attic, Writing to be Read 2 CommentsAbout the Book
Welcome to River Bluffs, Indiana, a cozy small town populated with charming homes, close-knit families, and the occasional deadly secret….
House-flipper Jazzi Zanders and her cousin Jerod have found their latest project. The property, formerly owned by the late Cal Juniper, is filled with debris that must be cleared before the real renovation begins. But a trip to the attic reveals something more disturbing than forgotten garbage – a skeleton wearing a locket and rings that Jazzi recognizes….
Tests confirm that the bones belong to Jazzi’s aunt Lynda, who everyone assumed moved to New York years ago after breaking up with Cal. Soon enough, the whole family is involved, sifting through memories and rumors as they try to piece together what really happened to Lynda – and the baby she gave up for adoption. In between investigating and remodeling, Jazzi is falling for the old house’s charms – and for her gorgeous contractor, Ansel. But with surprises lurking in every nook and cranny, a killer might be waiting to demolish her dreams for good….
Purchase Links:
Audible: https://www.amazon.com/The-Body-in-Attic-Judi-Lynn-audiobook/dp/B07TT8CFRP/
Chime: https://www.chirpbooks.com/audiobooks/the-body-in-the-attic-by-judi-lynn
My Review
I listened to the audiobook of The Body in the Attic, by Judi Lynn, and narrated by Devon Sorvari. I was drawn to this book by the title, and found the story to be well written, with all the makings of a good mystery, but I had difficulty with the narration, which often seemed just a little off, without proper inflection. The story was good enough to keep me listening through to the end, in spite of this, but each time an inflection was off, it pulled me out of the story.
When a body is found in a trunk in the attic of a house Jazzi is flipping, it solves the 30 year old mystery of why her aunt disappeared, but it opens up a new one. Who killed her? When a second, newer body is found on the property, it opens even more questions which need to be answered, especially when the two murders appear to be connected. While digging up the facts about her aunt’s disappearance, Jazzi uncovers the clues that will solve both mysteries, with the aid of a very helpful detective who, for some reason, shares the information on the case with her freely and takes her with him to confront the witnesses. (Okay, I admit, I had a hard time suspending disbelief on that one.)
A good mystery story, with less than perfect narration. I give The Body in the Attic three quills.
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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARCs. Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.
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A Look at Poetry Reviews from the Past Year: Ever So Gently
Posted: April 6, 2024 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Collection, Poetry, Review | Tags: Book Review, National Poetry Month, Poetry, Poetry Collection, Writing to be Read Leave a comment
It celebration of National Poetry Month, I’m reblogging my poetry reviews from the past year on Saturdays throughout April in case you missed any of these noteworthy poetry collections.
Today’s selection is Ever So Gently, by Lauren Scott
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Let’s Talk About Book Reviews
Posted: March 22, 2024 Filed under: Audiobook Review, Book Review, Review | Tags: Audiobook, Audiobook Review, Book Review, Book Reviews, Books, Writing to be Read 37 CommentsInstead of offering a book review today, I’d like to talk about book reviews. If you follow the blog, you know that I post at least one book review almost every week. I hope no one feels shorted because I chose to do things differently this week. You might also know that I offer up honest reviews in exchange for an ARC copy of the book, digital, print or audiobook, for those who request it. (ARC stands for A Review Copy, or a copy which was sent out early in hopes of review by traditional publishers. I send out between thirty and sixty requests for review for each WordCrafter Press book published.) Obviosly, if I’m writing that many book reviews, I am a voracious reader, so I also pick up other books to read and I review them as well. As a rule, if I read it, I review it. It’s just one way to help out my fellow authors, and I often, though not always, know the authors of the books I choose to read.
But today, I find myself in a dilemma. I just finished the most awful audiobook I have ever listened to. The audiobook was one that I purchased, by an author which I had previously read one of her books. That first one I listened to was well-written, a good story, and had a decent narrator, so I thought I would give this book a go.
To start off, it was a different narrator, a very poor narrator. The inflections were all wrong, there were pauses where there shouldn’t be, with starts and stops that made the reading jerky and chopped, and there was little or no emotion. Honestly, my AI narrated audiobooks did a better job.
But then I realized that it wasn’t just that. The book was poorly written, as well. Perhaps this was one of the authors earlier works and the first book I read was a later work? After the first time I tried to listen to it, I put it down for some time, but since I haven’t been financially able to replenish my audiobook library, I decided to give it a go, since I had already listened to everything else. So, I struggled through it for lack of better input. But about halfway through, I realized that there was no way I could review this book without trashing both author and narrator, and I really don’t like doing that.
They say that a negative review is better than no review, but I’m not sure if I buy that. All reviewers are critics, but I don’t believe that a critic must harsh to be effective. I offer my reviews to help other authors, and my reviews are honest, even if there are things I didn’t like about a book. I always try to emphasive the positive, but the negative is still there.
I know many of my readers are bloggers who are reviewers, so I’m asking you all today – how would you handle this? Am I obligated as a critic to write a negative review of this audiobook? Would you write it? Or would you just put the book into the archive and forget about it? I would love to get someone else’s thoughts on this. What do you think?
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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARCs. Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.
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Book Review: Cashing Checks with Jim Morrison
Posted: March 15, 2024 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Collection, Poetry, Review | Tags: Book Review, Cashing Checks with Jim Morrison, Lindsay Martin-Bowen, Poetry, Poetry Collection, Writing to be Read 11 CommentsAbout the Book
“CASHING CHECKS with Jim Morrison offers a surreal cascade of archetypes from, among others, ancient Greece, the Bible, American Literature, and pop culture. Moving through it is the speaker’s companion spirit and guru, Jim Morrison-Lizard King, Narcissus/Adonis. Set in a world where, in Albert Einstein’s words, ‘reality is merely an illusion, ‘ Lindsey Martin-Bowen’s poems are alive with wit, evocative imagery, insight, and sometimes downright playfulness. Through heeding Morrison’s counsel to ‘go weirder, ‘ she’s made this collection reader-friendly.”-William Trowbridge, Missouri Poet Laureate, 2012-2016 Author, Call Me Fool (2022)
“In Lindsey Martin-Bowen’s CASHING CHECKS with Jim Morrison, I relish every word, compelled by the poet’s stories and singing voice. Fantasy and fact merge in these invocations of the seminal American rocker Morrison and of his spirit. Join me as a reader in exploring this exciting testament to the power of language to resurrect history and wonder.”-Denise Low, Kansas Poet Laureate, 2007-2009 Poetry Unbound Featured Poet
My Review
I was thrilled to receive a print copy of Cashing Checks with Jim Morrison, by Lindsay Martin-Bowen. The title alone, was enough to peak my interest, and lend anticipation as to what I could expect within its covers.
This collection of poems is all about hanging out, and philosphizing with the spirit of the late, great, Jim Morrison. I was amazed by the way the author captured the voice of Morrison in many of the poems, enough to let me believe briefly that maybe the author truly does converse with the dead musician. Included are poems that serve as social commentaries on life and love, on the state of the world today, and on possible futures; topics which every one of us can relate to.
So many of these poems struck a chord with me that it is impossible to pick one favorite. but I really loved the imagry in “Coming Back to Me”.
The dawn inhales and holds its breath, drawing
wisps of clouds up the foothills, where theyb hover.
Jim steps out of the mist, unsteady as some soldier
searching for his platoon on a surreal battlefield.
He wedges boot heels into fissures be3tween rock
ledges, ambles down to where gravel meets asphalt.
Then he steps onto the road leading to my Dutch
Colonel on a corner in this mountain college town,
where I chose to spend many of my remaining days,
watching parades of seasons pass in the hills’
keleidescope of colors revolving — in fall, scarlet,
gold, and bronze. In winter, cobalt blue and white.
Spring brings a rushed array — one week yellow,
the next red, then purple, and green never leaves
till late August, just before the aspen twitter
with orange and gold coins glittering in sunlight.
I don’t see a move to Kansas or any spot east, wonder
if Jim and I will land in Venice, his California beach.
He raises a hand and yells, ‘lo,’ his voice echoing
down the street, falling at my knees, now trembling.
When he heads my way, I smell his Jade East, see
his hazy body morph into solid physique, black
leather pants, jacket, and sandaled feet. He lifts his chin,
shakes his curls, then lowers his face and stares at me.
Still trembling, I remember our jaunts on a motorcycle
and a persnickety jeep — wonder if I’ll ever be free again
or if I’ll ride highways like some banshee for eternity.
And I also enjoyed the section of Tanka strings, always the sucker for syllabic poetry. Most have five Tankas, but “Jim Morrison and I Lose Our Way on a Moon Dog Night” isonly two, and short enough to share with you here.
The drive home’s always
this way — too long, when sudden
changes shakes us up.
After a few warm, sunny
days, cold winds hit us again.
Tonight, an odd haze
encircles the moon like white
light in an X-ray
outlining a frail hip bone
fallen into necrosis.
An unusual collection of poetry through which to view the world through different eyes; perhaps through the eyes of Jim Morrison. I thoroughly enjoyed Cashing Checks with Jim Morrison, and I give it five quills.
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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARCs. Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.
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Book Review: The Haunting of Blackwood House
Posted: March 8, 2024 Filed under: Audio Books, Audiobook Review, Book Review, Books, Fiction, Ghost Stories, Paranormal, Review | Tags: Audiobook, Book Review, Darcy Coates, Ghost Story, Paranormal, Piper Goodeve, The Haunting of Blackwood House, Writing to be Read 8 CommentsAbout the Book
As the daughter of spiritualists, Mara’s childhood was filled with séances and scam mediums. Now she’s ready to start over with her fiancé, Neil, far away from the superstitions she’s learned to loathe, but her past isn’t willing to let her go so easily. And neither is Blackwood House.
When Mara and Neil purchased the derelict property, they were warned that ever since the murder of its original owner, things had changed. Strange shadows stalk the halls. Doors creak open by themselves. Voices whisper in the night. And watchful eyes follow her every move. But Mara’s convinced she can’t possibly be in danger. She doesn’t believe in ghost stories, and she didn’t buy a haunted house; it’s just not possible.
Because ghosts aren’t real, are they?
Purchase Links:
Audible: https://www.amazon.com/The-Haunting-of-Blackwood-House/dp/B0CNBRKQGP/
Chirp: https://www.chirpbooks.com/audiobooks/the-haunting-of-blackwood-house-by-darcy-coates
First time Chirp users can get this book for $2 here: https://www.chirpbooks.com/r/7bae7e35a7a4/device_share?source=referral_fallback_1dollar
My Review
I listened to the audiobook of The Haunting of Blackwood House, by Darcy Coates and narrated by Piper Goodeve. I have to say that the tale was skillfully crafted, making it one of the best haunted house stories that I’ve heard, or read, in a long time. The narration was was honed and precise, distinguishing the different characters, and building suspense at all the right places. Bravo!
Mara grew up in a spiritualist household, in a long line of spiritualists, and has an aversion to anything having to do with ghosts and spirits now that she is free of their crazy beliefs and fraudulant medium friends. Because Mara knows first hand that it’s all a sham. There’s no such thing as ghosts.
Until she buys a house with a history: Blackwood House. The history of deaths and reports of hauntings don’t bother her, but the house has a strange attraction for her and she just has to have it. In spite of the misgivings of her boyfriend Neil, who stands by her, lending his support in spite of her strange behavior when it comes to the house, and the odd things which have occurred since she moved in.
Mara denies that anything is amiss at Blackwood, and refuses to consider abandoning the house, even when ethereal activities escalate, and she learns that the house was built by her spiritualist great-grandfather, determined not to let what she believe to be non-existant, or her past haunt her. But, what if she’s wrong?
Thoroughly emmersive story. An excellent example of what a ghost story should be. I give The Haunting of Blackwood House five quills.
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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARCs. Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.
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