Book Review: Dark Star by Creston Mapes (Rock Star Chronicles #1)

Dark Star by Creston Mapes (Rock Star Chronicles #1)

Publisher: Multnomah Books

Publish Date: August 17, 2011

E-book, 400 pages 
Fiction, Christian fiction/thriller/suspense/court drama
 ASIN: B004EWEVSC

My Review:
Talk about a wild ride.  Everett Lester is the epitome of the bad boy rocker to the extreme.  Not the bad boys of today, but I think back to the Ozzy Ozbournes and the other extreme bands of the 70s and 80s that my generation was warned against (and I am sure there are still some of those today, they just aren't the mainstream, just like they weren't back then).  Drugs, sex, drinking, a psychic on tour with him, Everett had all of that.  He was hardly likable, yet there was one fan that wrote to him of God's love and she continued to write to him over a ten year period.   Everett kept her letters for some reason and always read her letters.  That was his turning point, this one girl who kept praying for him and kept the faith that he could change.

I really like how the book goes back and forth in the story between the current court case and Everett's previous life.  It slowly fills in the blanks of what happened that leads up to the court case and it's a thrill ride for sure.  I liked getting to know Everett and seeing what happened.  I also liked meeting Karen, her parents, Everett's sister Mary and her friend Jerry and the others along the way as well.  The story that Mr. Mapes weaves is really intriguing and it kept me reading into the wee hours of morning to see what would happen next.

I enjoyed the plot thoroughly.  It felt plausible.  Bad boy rocker one day realizes his life is empty and finds his way to God, but of course, it's really not that simple, you have to read the book because I don't want to give anything away.  Just know that it moves quickly alternating back and forth, but it's easy to tell which is in the past and which is in the present.  I was never confused so that was great.

The characters were also well done.  From the seemingly perfect like Karen (who had her flaws as well) to the down right evil and all of the ones in between, which is where most everyone else fell, the characters are down-to-earth and real.  Sometimes really scary, but still real to me.  I liked Everett even though he is deeply flawed to begin with, he is still redeemable, as well all are.  I think he reminded  me not to judge because we all sin and no sin is worse than another in God's eyes because it is all sin.  I like how the Christian characters preach love, but they still preach trying to live a life for God, so it's not skewed in either direction where it's too much law or too much love.  It's seems the perfect mix.  The book is not preachy at all, the Christian parts just seem to flow.  Karen never screams at Everett, she just gently writes to him over the years and prays.

This book is just amazing to me and I can't wait to start reading Full Tilt, which I have, but have a bunch of review books to finish before I can start.  But I will get to it soon and can't wait to get back to see what happens in Everett's life next.  Try it out, this book is one of those that can wow you.

My Rating: 4.5/5.0

Check back next month on December 22, for my review of the next book in the series Full Tilt.

About the Book:

Can Fame, Wealth, and Power Buy Happiness?
Everett Lester and his band, DeathStroke, ride the crest of a wave to superstardom. But the deeper they become immersed in fame, wealth, and power, the more likely they are to be swallowed alive by the drugs, alcohol, and discontentment that have become their only friends. Everett is headed down a perilous road of no apparent return when he’s charged with the murder of his personal psychic. The only hope he can cling to comes from Topeka , Kansas , and the letters written by a prayerful young lady who lives there. Consistent and persistent, the notes cut straight to Everett ’s empty heart, offering a fulfillment he’s never grasped before. But what if he’s found guilty of murder? Will he recognize the spiritual battle that’s raging for his soul?

About the Author: 

Talented storyteller Creston Mapes graduated from Bowling Green State University in 1983 with a BA in magazine journalism. Since then, he has written for major corporations, colleges, and ministries. He has written for Coca-Cola, TNT Sports, Focus on the Family, Walk Thru the Bible Ministries, and The Urban Alternative. His stories have been featured in magazines including Private Colleges and Universities, In Touch, Leaders for Today, and The Hockey News. Creston makes his home in Georgia.

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FTC Information: I received this book through Media Guests for an honest review.  

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Book Review: Remembering You by Tricia Goyer

Remembering You by Tricia Goyer

Publisher: Guideposts

Release Date: November 2011

Trade Paperback, 312 Pages

Fiction, Historical, Christian

ISBN: 978-0824948122

My Review 

First I would like to say that I really appreciate one of the underlying messages of this book.  Listen to the stories of your grandparents, they won't always be around and they have some important stories to share.  I am thankful that my husband asked my "Pa" about his time during WWII, things I would have never thought to ask so I did get a little glimpse into his life back then.  He was one of 5 brothers and all 5 brothers went off to WWII.

Now to the review, I just wanted to mention that because this book really touched me and felt near and dear to my heart because of the subject matter.  My "Pa" was in the Pacific, but it didn't matter, the stories are the same, young boys off to war.

I found Remembering You to be a very interesting story.  There are several layers or plotlines to the story.  First is Ava's relationship with her Grandfather Jack.  In the beginning we know something has strained it and she sees this trip as something to bring them back together.  Ava also sees this trip as a way to see the world and get herself back together after being jilted by her fiancee.  Another layer is the ability to turn the trip into a way to help her with her flailing career.  Then there is the purpose of Jack and Paul and why they must make the trip across Europe together this year.  And finally, Ava and Dennis.  Dennis was Ava's first love, but it ended badly and doesn't seem to be going very well at the beginning of this trip either.  Ava just wants to get a grasp on one area of her life.

I often felt myself cheering for Ava.  And sometimes I kind of wanted to smack her.  But truthfully I felt for her.  She really had been beaten down and beaten down until she really did not know which end was up.  She had lost her spark and was trying to get it back on this trip, but Grandpa Jack wasn't helping and it seemed like every time things started going well with Dennis things took a huge backwards leap.  But that was part of what made the story.  Her continued trials, make the ending worth it.

Then the mystery of what is going on with Grandpa Jack and why he is being mysterious.  I enjoyed this part but felt like it was done up and then kind of tossed aside to be picked back up later.  I guess I felt this was a little choppy.  But not enough to detract from my overall enjoyment of the book.  I still found this a book I could not put down.

I found it easy to identify with every character in the book.  I enjoyed the scenery and the situations in the book and the pages just about turn themselves.  The plot sped along and except for the choppiness I mentioned this book really impressed me.  I enjoyed Remembering You because it was different.  It delved into remembrances and current lives simultaneously and I love how Ms. Goyer wove these stories together like she did.  I highly recommend this book to anyone fascnated with the WWII era.  Though it takes place in the modern era, it's worth reading just for those remembrances and the respect that is given to the soldiers all through Europe in the liberated towns.  Beautifully researched and beautifully done.

My Rating: 4.25/5.0

About Tricia Goyer:

Tricia Goyer is a homeschooling mom of four (two graduated!) and an acclaimed and prolific writer, publishing hundreds of articles in national magazines. She has also written books on marriage and parenting and contributed notes to the Women of Faith Study Bible. Tricia's written numerous novels inspired by World War II veterans, including her new release Remembering You. Tricia has a weekly radio show Living Inspired and loves to share inspiring, true stories. The Goyer family live in Arkansas. For more information please visit www.triciagoyer.com.

About Remembering You:

35-year-old Ava Andrews' dream job is interrupted by an unusual request--fulfill her 84-year-old grandfather's last wish by joining him on a battle site tour of Europe. Ava is sure her boss will refuse her request. But, instead, he gives her a directive of his own--to videotape the tour and send it back as mini-segments for the show she produces. As if juggling these two things isn't hard enough, Ava is soon surprised again ... twice. First, Ava and Grandpa Jack arrive in Europe, only to discover the tour is cancelled. Unwilling to let down her grandfather or her boss, Ava and Grandpa Jack head out on their own. Then, while they're on their way, the pair soon meet up with Paul, her grandpa's best friend, and his grandson Dennis. The same Dennis who just happens to be Ava's first love.

Before she knows it, Ava and Dennis are swept down memory lane as they visit the sites that are discussed in the history books. And even though Ava's videotaping old soldiers, she can see their youth, their hopes and fears, and their pride in their eyes. Soon Ava learns the trip isn't just for them ... it's for her too--especially for her heart.

Watch a video about the real-life stories Remembering You is based on.

Read an excerpt.

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FTC Disclaimer:  I received this book from Litfuse Publicity for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any other way except receiving the book for free.  

I do receive commission for purchases made through my B&N and The Book Despository Links included in my posts, but this money goes towards funding giveaways and shipping for the giveaways I run. :)

Win Chill Run by Russell Brooks

Want to win one of ten ebook copies of Chill Run by Russell Brooks?  Simply leave a comment on his blog post.  The giveaway ends Wednesday November 30, and 10 winners will be drawn by Russell's cat Chilton on Thursday December 1.  Again don't enter here, enter on his blog post.

My review will be coming soon.

Chill Run by Russell Brooks

Release:  December 1, 2011

You know a publicity stunt has backfired when someone dies. 

Starving author Eddie Barrow, Jr., will do anything to get a book deal with a NYC publisher. Even if it means getting caught by the media while engaging in S&M with a female celebrity as a publicity stunt. What Eddie gets instead are details of a billion dollar fraud scheme from a suicidal client who's fatally shot minutes later. Now on the run from the law and the killers, Eddie seeks help from two unlikely friends—an alcoholic and a dominatrix. 

With few resources, Eddie races to clear his name, unveil the fraud scheme, and expose the killers before he becomes their next victim

Book Review: Hospice Tails by Debra Stang #HospiceTails

Hospice Tails by Debra Stang

Publisher: Booklocker.com, Inc.

Publish Date: May 31, 2011

Paperback, 108 pages 
Non-Fiction, Anthology
 ISBN: 978-1614342618

My Review:
Hospice Tails is a quick read and much lighter than one might think given the subject matter.  I jumped at the chance to do this tour since I have a love of pets (especially cats) and a profound love and respect for Hospice after my Grandmother was cared for by Hospice after she broke her hip and never really recovered and then passed away almost 2 years ago.  So I wanted to read these stories as told by a Hospice worker of how pets were important at the end of life to the patients and families.

I enjoyed the stories, they were quick reads and I found none of them depressing at all.  Ms. Stang has a quick wit and a gift to tell the stories of how the animals were special (or not special, yet still important in one case) to each patient or family.  Each story is told completely and I got to know the pet and the patient and how Ms. Stang interacted with each patient.

Two things stood out to me in this book.  Pets were important in each case to the well-being of the patient and the family was the first one.  And second, Ms. Stang really cares about what she does and about each patient.  Not all the patients were eager for Hospice care, but through her thoroughness and drive to give them the best care possible I see that she gets to know them and does her best and this is what I see as the shining star of Hospice care.  It's the fact that they really do care.  I think Ms. Stang really brings this to light in this book whether she means to or not.  The pets provided the humor a lot of the time and Ms. Stang provided the heart.

My Rating: 4.5/5.0


About the Book:

Hospice Tails shares the stories of those without voices. This books tells the stories of fourteen pets and the role they played when their loved one was ill or dying. The stories range from sad to touching to downright hysterical. There was King, who had the hospice nurses very nervous. Until they realized he was a lap dog in a pit bull’s body. Jasper and Jackie, Amazon parrots who put on a daily concert for their owner, even on the last day of his life. As an Alzheimer’s patient’s world shrunk Washington, a golden retriever, became the only “person” he recognized. This book is ideal for animal lovers as well as those who are caretakers—either as a profession or for a loved one.

About the Author: 

In addition to her parents and two sisters, Debra’s family includes four cats. The current crew includes a grouchy nine-year-old named Achilles; an orange tabby and alpha male named, appropriately enough, Alexander, and a black and white long-haired cat with attitude named Leroux. Then there’s the foster cat named Pumpkin. Of course it all started with a three-month-old brown-and-gray tabby named Calypso who had strong feeling about most people. And not warm fuzzy feelings. Calypso even had the dubious honor of being banned by not one, but two vets.

When not caring for cats or writing, Debra spent many years as a social worker. She worked with AIDS patients, emergency room patients, and those with Alzheimer’s. Her final years as a social worker were spent with hospice patients. Although some would view that as a depressing job Debra chose to view herself as a catalyst helping people make their final hopes and dreams come true. Sometimes it was making up with a family member after a decades long feud or leaving behind the stress of the office to reconnect with another aspect of their personality.

Debra took a clue from her patients and recently decided her writing – for years a part-time career – couldn’t wait any longer. Worried she would become one of those people who would one day say, “I wish I had…” she handed in her resignation and is now living her dream as a full time writer.

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FTC Information: I received through WOW (Women on Writing) tours for an honest review. 


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Guest Blog: Taking Care of Yourself First by Debra Stang (author of #HospiceTails)

Taking Care of Yourself First by Debra Stang

If you’ve ever been on an airplane, you’ve heard the spiel about the oxygen masks: always put your own mask on before assisting your child.

That flies right in the face of instinct, doesn’t it? Most of us are hard-wired to want to help the child first.

But the simple, cold truth is that if you pass out due to lack of oxygen, there’s no one left to help the child. What seems like a selfless act, helping the child first, could actually endanger both your lives.

A cabin-pressure change in an airplane is a single, catastrophic event. Caring for an elderly loved one is more like a marathon, but the analogy still fits. If you always put your loved one’s needs first and your needs second, you will become depleted, burned out, and perhaps even physically ill. Who will care for your loved one then?

When you’re a caregiver, it’s important to take some time each day to attend to your own wants and needs. For instance, you might walk on a treadmill before your loved one wakes up in the morning, read a few chapters of a good book while your loved one is involved in something else, or take a hot, relaxing bath or shower after your loved one goes to bed.

Finding a few minutes here and there is usually not so difficult. The real challenge is finding a block of time, at least two or three hours each week, when you don’t have to worry about being a caregiver. You can use this time for anything you find refreshing—taking a nap, having lunch with a friend, getting a massage, window-shopping downtown, or writing in a journal.

If you don’t think you could possibly get away from your caregiving duties for that long, I have some ideas that may help.

• Involve other family members. If they can’t or won’t help you with caregiving duties, perhaps they could chip in some money to help hire respite care. 
• Look into day programs at the local senior center, or look into adult daycare. Even if your loved one only attends once a week, this is a free day for you. 
• Arrange a trade with another caregiver. Perhaps you could cut your neighbor’s hair for free or watch her son for a couple of hours after school if your neighbor agrees to stay with your loved one for a couple for a little while each morning.
• Reach out to your religious community. Many churches, synagogues, and mosques have programs to help caregivers. 
• Call your local Area Agency on Aging and ask if they know of any respite programs.
• Hire private-duty care through a reputable agency. While this option may seem expensive, it is actually cost-effective if it keeps you mentally and physically healthy enough to provide care.

Caring for an elderly loved one is no easy task, but scheduling regular hours when you focus on nurturing yourself and help you reduce your stress level and avoid burnout. Remember the airplane analogy. Always put your own oxygen mask on first.

Thanks Debra for that great advice and for all you do working with Hospice.  

And stay tuned, later today my review of Hospice Tails will be posting.

In My Mailbox (11)

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren. To see this weeks list of participants go here.

I had a great mailbox week - here's what I received so be on the lookout for reviews in the next few months for these great books! Thanks to the great authors, publishers and publicists who sent me these books.







What did you get in your mailbox this week?